 Book 1 of the Iliad This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librivox.org. The Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler. Book 1 Recording by Joshua Christensen The quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles Achilles withdraws from the war and sends his mother Thetis to ask Jove to help the Trojans. The quarrel between Jove and Juno on Olympus. Seeing O goddess the anger of Achilles, son of Palaeus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans, many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the councils of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another. And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel? It was the son of Joven Leto, for he was angry with the king and sent a pestilence upon the host to plague the people, because the son of Atreus had dishonored Crises his priest. Now Crises had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, and had brought with him a great ransom. Moreover he bore in his hand the scepter of Apollo, wreathed with a suppliant wreath, and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefs. Sons of Atreus he cried, and all other Achaeans, may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam and to reach your homes in safety, but free my daughter, and accept a ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo son of Jove. On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered, but not so Agamemnon, who spoke fiercely to him, and sent him roughly away. Old man, said he, let me not find you tarrying about our ships, nor yet coming hereafter. Your scepter of the god and your wreath shall profit you nothing. I will not free her. She shall grow old in my house at Argos, far from her own home, busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch. So go, and do not provoke me, or it shall be the worst for you. The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke, but went by the shore of the sounding sea, and prayed apart to King Apollo, whom lovely Leto had borne. Hear me, he cried, O God of the silver bow, the protectist, Christy, and holy Scylla, and ruleous Tenedos with thy might. Hear me, O thou of Smyntha. If I have ever decked your temple with garlands, or burned your thighbones in fat of bowls or goats, grant my prayer, and let your arrows avenge these my tears upon the Deneans. Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He came down furious from the summits of Olympus, with his bow and his quiver upon his shoulder, and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage that trembled within him. He sat himself down away from the ships, with a face as dark as night, and his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow in the midst of them. First he smote their mules and their hounds, but presently he aimed his shafts at the people themselves, and all day long the pyres of the dead were burning. For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people, but upon the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly, moved there too by Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their death rows and had compassion upon them. Then, when they were got together, he rose and spoke among them. Son of Atreus said he, I deem that we should now turn roving home if we would escape destruction, for we are being cut down by war and pestilence at once. Let us ask some priest or prophet or some reader of dreams, for dreams too are of Jove, who can tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry and say whether it is for some vow that we have broken or hecatom that we have not offered, and whether he will accept the savor of lambs and goats without blemish, so as to take away the plague from us. With these words he sat down, and Calcas, son of Thastor, wisest of augurs, who knew things past, present, and to come, rose to speak. He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilias, through the prophesies of which Phoebus Apollo had inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them thus. Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo. I will therefore do so, but consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed, for I know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection. A plain man cannot stand against the anger of a king, who if he swallow his displeasure now, will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it. Consider therefore whether or no you will protect me. And Achilles answered, Fear not, but speak as it is born upon you from heaven, for by Apollo, Calcas, the whom you pray, and whose oracles you reveal to us, not a Denean at our ships shall lay his hand upon you, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth. No, not though you name Agamemnon himself, who is by far the foremost of the Achaeans. Thereon the Seer spoke boldly. The God, he said, is angry neither about vow nor hecatom, but for his priest's sake, whom Agamemnon has dishonored, in that he would not free his daughter, nor take a ransom for her. Therefore he has sent these evils upon us, and will yet send others. He will not deliver the Deneans from this pestilence, till Agamemnon has restored the girl without fee or ransom to her father, and has sent a holy hecatom to Chrissy. Thus we may perhaps appease him. With these words he sat down, and Agamemnon rose in anger. His heart was black with rage, and his eyes flushed fire as he scowled on Calchus and said, Seer of evil, you never yet prophesied smooth things concerning me, but have ever loved to foretell that which was evil. You have brought me neither comfort nor performance, and now you come seeing among the Deneans, and saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a ransom for this girl, the dover of crisis. I have set my heart on keeping her in my own house, for I love her better even than my own wife, Clemenestra, whose peer she is alike in form and feature, in understanding and accomplishments. Still, I will give her up if I must, for I would have the people live, not die, but you must find me a prize instead, for I alone among the Argyves shall be without one. This is not well, for you behold, all of you, that my prize is to go elsewhere. And Achilles answered, Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond all mankind, how shall the Achaeans find you another prize? We have no common store from which to take one. Those we took from the cities have been awarded. We cannot disallow the awards that have been made already. Give this girl therefore to the God, and if ever Jov grants us to sack the city of Troy, we will requite you three and fourfold. Then Agamemnon said, Achilles, valiant though you be, you shall not thus outwith me. You shall not overreach, and you shall not persuade me. Are you to keep your own prize, while I sit tamely under my loss, and give up the girl that you are bidding? Let the Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking, or I will come and take your own, or that of Ajax, or of Ulysses, and he to whomsoever I may come shall rule my coming. Out of this we will take thought hereafter. For the present, let us draw a ship into the sea and find a crew for her expressly. Let us put a heketom on board, and let us send Chrissias also. Further, let some chief man among us be in command, either Ajax, or Idominius, or yourself, son of Palaeus, mighty warrior that you are, that we may offer sacrifice and appease the anger of the God. Achilles scowled at him and answered, you are steeped in insolence and lust of gain. With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding, either on foray or in open fighting? I came not warring here for any ill detrogens had done me, I had no quarrel with them. They have not raided my cattle nor my horses, nor cut down my harvests on the bridge plains of Pythia. For between me and them there is a great space both mountain and sounding sea. We have followed you, Sir Insolence, for your pleasure, not ours, to gain satisfaction from the detrogens for your shameless self and for Menelaus. You forget this, and threaten to rob me of the prize for which I have toiled and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me. Remember when the Achaeans sacked any rich city of the detrogens, do I receive so good a prize as you do, though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting. When the sharing comes, your share is far the largest, and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships, take what I can get and be thankful, when my labor of fighting is done. Now, therefore, I shall go back to Pythia. It will be much better for me to return home with my ships, for I will not stay here dishonored to gather gold and substance for you. And I am not answered. Fly, if you will, I shall make you no prayers to stay you. I have others here who will do me honor, and above all, Jove, the lord of council. There is no king here so hateful to me as you are, for you are ever cordalsome and ill-affected. What though you be brave, was it not heaven that made you so? Go home, then, with your ships and comrades, to lord it over the remittance. I care neither for you nor for your anger, and thus will I do. Since Phoebus Apollo is taking Craceus from me, I shall center with my ship and my followers, but I shall come to your tent and take your own prize, Braceus, that you may learn how much stronger I am than you are, and that another may fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me. The son of Palaeus was furious, and his heart within his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword, push the others aside and kill the son of Atreus, or to restrain himself and check his anger. While he was thus in two minds and was drawing his mighty sword from its scabbard, Minerva came down from heaven, for Juno had center in the loves you boarded and both, and seized the son of Palaeus by his yellow hair, visible to him alone, for of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in amaze, and by the fire that flashed from her eyes it once knew that she was Minerva. Why are you here, said he, daughter of Aegeus bearing Jo, to see the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus? Let me tell you, and it shall surely be, he shall pay for this insolence with his life. And Minerva said, I come from heaven, if you will hear me, to bid you stay your anger. Juno has sent me, who cares for both of you alike. Cease then this brawling, and do not draw your sword, rail at him if you will, and your railing will not be vain, for I tell you, and it shall surely be, that you shall hear after receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this present insult. Hold, therefore, and obey. God is, answered Achilles. However angry a man may be, he must do as you two command him. This will be best, for the gods ever hear the prayers of him who has obeyed them. He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword, and thrust it back into the scabbard as Minerva bait him. Then she went back to Olympus among the other gods, and to the house of Aegis bearing Jove. But the son of Palaeus again began railing at the son of Atreus, for he was still in a rage. Wine-bibber, he cried, with the face of a dog and the heart of a hind, you never dare to go out with a host in fight, nor yet with our chosen men in Amphyscade. You shun this as you do death itself. You had rather go round and rob his prizes from any man who contradicts you. You devour your people, for you are king over a feeble folk. Otherwise, son of Atreus, henceforward you would insult no man. Therefore, I say, and swear it with a great oath. Nay, by this my scepter which shall sprout neither leaf nor shoot, nor but anew from the day on which it left its parent's stem upon the mountains, for the axe stripped of leaf and bark, and now the sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven. So surely and solemnly do I swear, that hereafter they shall look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him. In the day of your distress, when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them, and shall rend your heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the Achaeans. With this, the son of Pilius dashed his gold-be-studded scepter on the ground and took his seat while the son of Atreus was beginning fiercely from his place upon the other side. Then up rose smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pilians, and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey. Two generations of men, born and bred in Pylos, had passed away under his rule, and he was now reigning over the third. With all sincerity and good will, therefore, he addressed them thus. Of a truth, he said, a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean land. Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice, and the Trojans be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two, who are so excellent in fight and counsel. I am older than either of you, therefore be guided by me. Moreover, I have been the familiar friend of men even greater than you are, and they did not disregard my counsels. Never again can I behold such men as Pyrethus and Dreyas, shepherd of his people, or as Caneus, Exadius, Godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus, and of Aegeus, here are the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born upon this earth. Mightiest were they, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages, they utterly overthrew them. I came from distant Pylos, and went about among them, for they would have me come, and I fought as was in me to do. Not a man now living could withstand them, but they heard my words, and were persuaded by them. So be it also with yourselves, for this is the more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, though you be strong, take not this girl away, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles. And you, Achilles, strive not further with the king, for no man who by the grace of Job wields a scepter has like honour with Agamemnon. You are strong and have a goddess for your mother, but Agamemnon is stronger than you, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus, check your anger I implore you. End this quarrel with Achilles, who in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans. And Agamemnon answered, Sir, all that you have said is true, but this fellow must needs become our lord and master. He must be lord of all, king of all and captain of all, and this shall hardly be. Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior, have they also given him the right to speak with railing? Achilles interrupted him. I should be a mean coward, he cried, were I to give in to you in all things, order other people about, not me, for I shall obey no longer. Furthermore, I say, and lay my saying to your heart, I shall fight neither you nor any man about this girl, for those that take were those also that gave. But of all else that is at my ship, you shall carry away nothing by force. Try that others may see, if you do, my spear shall be reddened with your blood. When they had quarreled thus angrily, they rose and broke up the assembly at the ships of the Achaeans. The son of Pilius went back to his tents and ships, with the son of Menoritius and his company, while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Criseus on board and sent more over a hecatome for the god, and Ulysses went as captain. These then went on board and sailed their ways over the sea, but the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves, so they purify themselves and cast their filth into the sea, then they offered hecatomes of bulls and goats without blemish on the seashore, and the smoke with the savor of their sacrifice rose curling up towards heaven. Thus did they busy themselves through the host, but Agamemnon did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles and called his trusty messengers and squires Halthibius and Eurybides, Go, said he, to the tent of Achilles, son of Palaeus, take Briseus by the hand and bring her hither. If he will not give her, I shall come with others and take her, which will press him harder. He charged them straightly further and dismissed them, whereon they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside, till they came to the tents and ships of the myrmidons. They found Achilles sitting by his tent in his ships, and ill-pleased he was when he beheld them. They stood fearfully and reverently before him, and never a word did they speak, but he knew them and said, Welcome, heralds, messengers of gods and men, draw near, my quarrel is not with you, but with Agamemnon, who has sent you for the girl Briseus. Therefore, Patroclus, bring her and give her to them, but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods, by mortal men and by the fierceness of Agamemnon's anger, that if ever again there be need of me to save the people from ruin, they shall seek and they shall not find. Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how to look before and after that the Achaeans may fight by their ships in safety. Patroclus did, as his dear comrade had bitten him. He brought Briseus from the tent and gave her over to the heralds, who took her with them to the ships of the Achaeans, and the woman was lost to go. The Achaeans went all alone by the side of the whole sea, weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters. He raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother. Mother, he cried, you bore me doomed to live but for a little season. Surely Jo, who thunders from Olympus, might have made that little glorious. It is not so. Agamemnon, son of Atreus, has done me dishonor and has robbed me of my prize by force. As he spoke, he wept aloud and his mother heard him where she was sitting in the depths of the sea, hard by the old man her father. Forthwith she rose as it were a gray mist out of the waves, sat down before him as he stood weeping, caressed him with her hand and said, my son, why are you weeping? What is it that grieves you? Keep it not from me, but tell me that we may know it together. Achaeans drew a deep sigh and said, you know it, why tell you what you know well already? We went to Thebes, the strong city of Aetion, sacked it and brought hitherto the spoil. The sons of the Achaeans shared it duly among themselves and chose lovely Criseus as the need of Agamemnon. But Criseus, priest of Apollo, came to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter and brought with him a great ransom. Moreover, he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant wreath and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefs. On this, the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered, but not so Agamemnon who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. So he went back in anger and Apollo who loved him dearly heard his prayer. Then the gods sent a deadly dart upon the Argives and the people died thick on one another for the arrows went every wither among the wide host of the Achaeans. At last, the seer and the fullness of his knowledge declared it was the oracles of Apollo and I was myself first to say that we should appease him. Whereon the son of Atreus rose in anger and threatened that which he has since done, the Achaeans are now taking the girl in a ship to Criseus and sending gifts of sacrifice to the god. But the heralds have just taken from my tent the daughter of Briseus whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself. Help your brave son therefore if you are able. Go to Olympus and if you have ever done him service in word or deed implore the aid of Job. Oftentimes in my father's house have I heard you glory in that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruin when the others with Juno, Neptune and Pallas, Minerva would have put him in bonds. It was you goddess who delivered him by calling to Olympus the hundred-handed monster whom gods call Briarius but men age on for he is stronger even than his father when therefore he took his seat all glorious beside the son of Saturn the other gods were afraid and did not bind him. Go then to him remind him of all this clasp his knees and bid him give succor to the Trojans let the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships and perish on the seashore that they may reap what joy they may have their king and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to the foremost of the Achaeans. Thedas wept and answered my son woe is me that I should have borne or suckled you would indeed that you had lived your span free from all sorrow at your ships for it is all too brief alas that you should be at once short of life and long of sorrow above your peers woe therefore was the hour in which I bore you nevertheless I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus and tell this tale to Joe if he will hear our prayer meanwhile stay where you are with your ships nurse your anger against the Achaeans and hold aloof from fight for Joe went yesterday to Oceanus to a feast among the Ethiopians and the other gods went with him he will return to Olympus 12 days hence I will then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will beseech him nor do I doubt that I shall be able to persuade him. On this she left him still furious at the loss of her that had been taken from him meanwhile Ulysses reached Chrysie with the hecatome when they had come inside the harbor they furled the sails and laid them in the ship's hold they slackened the force days lowered the mast into its place and rode the ship to the place where they would have her lie there they cast out their mooring stones and made fast the houses then they got out upon the seashore and landed the hecatome for Apollo Chrysieus also left the ship and Ulysses led her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her father Chrysieus said he King Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your child and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Denaeans that we may propitiate the god who has now brought sorrow upon the Argyves so saying he gave the girl over to her father who received her gladly and they ranged the holy hecatome all orderly round the altar of the god they washed their hands and took up the barley meal to sprinkle over the victims while Chrysieus lifted up his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf hear me he cried oh god of the silver bow that protects us Chrysie and holy Scylla and rule us Tenedos with thy might even as thou didst hear me a foretime when I prayed and it's pressed hardly upon the Achaeans so hear me yet again and stay this fearful pestilence from the Denaeans thus did he pray and Apollo heard his prayer when they had done praying and sprinkling the barley meal they drew back the heads of the victims and killed and flayed them they cut out the thigh bones wrapped them round in two layers of fat set some pieces of raw meat on the top of them and then Chrysieus laid them on the wood fire and poured wine over them while the young men stood near him with five pronged spits in their hands when the thigh bones were burnt and they had tasted the inward meats they cut the rest of small put the pieces upon the spits roasted them till they were done and drew them off then when they had finished their work and the feast was ready they ate it and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink pages filled a mixing bowl with wine and water and handed it round after giving every man his drink offering thus all day long the young men worshiped the god with song hymning him and chanting the joyous peiyan and the god took pleasure in their voices but when the sun went down and it came on dark they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of the ship and when the child of mourning rosy finger dawn appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans Apollo sent them a fair wind so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft as the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deep blue water and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward when they reached the wide stretching host of the Achaeans they drew the vessel ashore high and dry upon the sands set her strong props beneath her and went their ways to their own tents and ships but Achilles aboded his ships and nursed his anger he went not to the honorable assembly and sally not forced to fight but nod at his own heart pining for battle and the war cry now after 12 days the immortal gods came back in a body to Olympus and jove led the way Thetis was not unmindful of the charge her son had laid upon her so she rose from under the sea and went through great heaven with early mourning to Olympus where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon its topmost ridges she sat herself down before him and with her left hand seized his knees while with her right she caught him out of the chin and we saw him saying Father Jove, if I ever did you service in word or deed among the immortals hear my prayer and do honour to my son whose life is to be cut short so early King Agamendon has dishonoured him by taking his prize and keeping her honour him then yourself Olympian Lord of Council and grant victory to the Trojans till the Achaeans give my son his dew and load him with riches and requital Jove sat for a while silent and without word but Thetis still kept firm hold of his knees and we saw him a second time incline your head said she and promise me surely or else deny me for you have nothing to fear that I may learn how greatly you disdain me at this Jove was much troubled and answered I shall have trouble if you set me quarreling with Juno for she will provoke me with her taunting speeches even now she is always railing at me before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans go back now lest she should find out I will consider the matter and will bring it about as you wish see I incline my head that you may believe me this is the most solemn promise that I can give to any god I never recall my word or deceive or fail to do what I say when I have nodded my head as he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows and the Ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head till vast Olympus reeled when the pair had thus laid their plans they parted Jove to his house while the goddess quitted the splendor of Olympus and plunged into the depths of the sea the gods rose from their seats before the coming of their sire not one of them dared to remain sitting but all stood up as he came among them there then he took his seat but Juno when she saw him knew that he and the old merman's daughter silver-footed Thetis had been hatching mischief so she had once began to abrade him trickster she cried which of the gods have you been taking into your councils now you are always settling matters in secret behind my back and have never yet told me if you could help it one word of your intentions Juno replied the sire of gods and men you must not expect to be informed of all my councils you are my wife but you would find it hard to understand them when it is proper for you to hear there is no one god or man who will be told sooner but when I mean to keep a matter to myself you must not prying or ask questions dread son of Saturn answered Juno what are you talking about I? pry and ask questions? never I let you have your own way in everything still I have strong misgivings that the old merman's daughter Thetis has been talking you over for she was with you and at hold of your knees this self-same morning I believe therefore that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles and to kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans wife said Jo I can do nothing but you suspect me and find it out you will take nothing by it for I shall only dislike you the more and it will go harder with you granted that it is as you say I mean to have it so sit down and hold your tongue as I bid you for if I once began to lay my hands about you though all heaven were on your side it would profit you nothing on this Juno was frightened so she curved her stubborn will and sat down in silence but the heavenly beings were disquieted throughout the house of Job though the cunning workman Vulcan began to try and pacify his mother Juno it will be intolerable said he if you two fall to wrangling and setting heaven in an uproar about a pack of mortals if such ill councils are to prevail we shall have no pleasure at our banquet let me then advise my mother and she must herself know that it will be better to make friends with my dear father Joe lest he again scold her and disturb our feast if the Olympian Thunderer wants to hurl us all from our seats he can do so for he is far the strongest so give him fair words and he then will soon be in a good humor with us as he spoke he took a double cup of nectar and placed it in his mother's hand cheer up my dear mother said he and make the best of it I love you dearly and should be very sorry to see you get a thrashing however grieved I might be I could not help for there is no standing against Joe once before when I was trying to help you he caught me by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold all day long from mourn till eve was I falling till its sunset I came to ground in the island of Leninos and there I lay with very little life left in me till the Syntians came and tended me Juno smiled at this and as she smiled she took the cup from her son's hands then Volkan drew sweet nectar from the mixing bowl and served it round among the gods going from left to right and the blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw him bustling about the heavenly mansion thus through the live long day to the going down of the sun they feasted and everyone had his full share so that all were satisfied Apollo struck his lyre and the muses lifted up their sweet voices calling and answering one another but when the sun's glorious light had faded they went home to bed each in his own abode which lame Volkan with his consummate skill had fashioned for them so Job the Olympian lord of thunder hide him to the bed in which he always slept and when he had got onto it he went to sleep with Juno of the golden throne by his side end of book one book two of the Iliad this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book two recorded by ML Cohen Job sends a lying dream to Agamemnon who thereon calls the chiefs in assembly and proposes to sound the mind of his army in the end they march to fight catalog of the Achaian and Trojan forces now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plane slept soundly but Job was wakeful for he was thinking how to do honors to Achilles and destroyed much people at the ships of the Achaians in the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying dream to King Agamemnon so he called one to him and said lying dream go to the ships of the Achaians into the tent of Agamemnon and say to him word for word as I now bid you tell him to get the Achaians instantly under armed for he shall take Troy there are no longer divided councils among the gods Juno has brought them to her own mind and woe betides the Trojans the dream went when it had heard its message and soon reached the ships of the Achaians it sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and found him in his tent wrapped in a profound slumber it hovered over his head in the likeness of Nestor son of Nelius whom Agamemnon honored above all his counselors and said you are sleeping son of Atreus one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep hear me at once or I come as a messenger from Jov who though he be not near yet takes thought for you and bids you he bids you to get the Achaians instantly under arms for you shall take Troy there are no longer divided councils among the gods Juno has bought them over to her own mind and woe betide the Trojans at the hand of Jov remember this and when you wake see that it does not escape you the dream then left him and he thought of things that were surely not to be accomplished he thought that on the same day he was to take the city of Priam but he knew little what was in the mind of Jov who had many another hard fought fight and store light for Danians and Trojans then presently he woke with the divine message still ringing in his ears so he sat upright and put on a soft shirt so fair and new and over this his heavy cloak he bound his sandals onto his comely feet and slung his silver studded sword about his shoulders then he took the imperishable staff of his father and sallied forth to the ships of the Achaians the goddess dawn now wended her way to Vast Olympus that she might herald the day to Jov and to the other immortals and Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly so they called them and the people gathered there on but first he summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor King of Pylos and when they were assembled he laid a cunning council before them my friends said he I have had a dream from heaven in the dead of night and its face and figure resembled none but Nestor's it hovered over my head and said you are sleeping son of Atreus one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep hear me at once for I am a messenger from Jov who though he be not near he takes thought for you and pities you he bids you to get the Achaians instantly under arms for you shall take Troy there are no longer divided councils among the gods Juno has bought them over to her own mind and woe betides the Trojans at the hand of Jov remember this the dream then vanished and I awoke let us now therefore arm the sons of the Achaians but it will be well that I should first sound them and to this end I will tell them to fly with their ships but do you others go about them among the host and prevent their doing so he then sat down and Nestor the prince of Pylos with all sincerity and good will addressed them thus my friends said he princes and counselors of the Argives if any other man of the Achaians had told us of this dream we should have declared it false and would have had nothing to do with it but he who has seen it is the foremost man among us we must therefore set about getting the people under arms with this he led the way from the assembly and the other scepter kings rose with him in obedience to the word of Agamemnon but the people pressed forward to hear they swarmed like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit and countless throng among the spring flowers bunched in knots and clusters even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the assembly and range themselves upon the wide watered shore while among them ran wildfire rumor messenger of Jov urging them ever to the fore thus they gathered an appellamel of mad confusion and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as the people sought their places nine heralds went crying about among them to stay their tumult and build them listen to the kings till at last they were gotten to their several places and cease their clamour then king Agamemnon rose holding his scepter this was the work of Vulcan who gave it to Jov the son of Saturn Jov gave it to Mercury slayer of argus guide and guardian king mercury gave it to pilops the mighty charioteer and pilops to Atreus shepherd of his people Atreus when he died left it to Thaestes rich in flocks and Thaestes in his turn left it to be borne by Agamemnon that he might be the lord of the all argos and of the isles leaning then on his scepter he addressed the argives my friends he said heroes serbents of mars the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me cruel Jov gave me his solemn promise that i should sack the city of Priam before returning but he has played me false and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to argos with the loss of much people such as the will of Jov who has laid many a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others for his powers above all it will be a sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host at once so great and valiant battled in vain against men fewer numbered than themselves but as yet the end is not in sight think that the Achaeans atrogyns have sworn to a solemn covenant and that they have each been numbered the Trojans by the role of their householders and we by companies of ten think further that each of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out their wine we are so much greatly more in number than four many company would have us go without the cup-bearer they have in the town allies from other places and it is these that hinder me from being able to sack the rich city of Ilius nine of Jov's years are gone the timbers of our ships have rotted their tackling is sound no longer our wives and little ones at home look anxiously for our coming but the work that we came hitherto has not been done now therefore let us all do as I say let us sell back to our own land for we shall not take Troy with these words he moved the hearts of the multitude so many of them as new not the cunning council of Agamemnon they searched to and fro like waves of the Akarian sea when the east and south winds break from heaven's cloud to lash them or as when the west wind sweeps over a field of corn in the ears bow beneath the blast even so where they swayed as they flew with loud cries towards the ships and the dust from under their feet rose heavenward they cheered each other on to draw the ships into the sea they cleared the channels in front of them they began taking away the stage from underneath them and the welcome rang with their glad cries so eager were they to return then surely the Argaids would have returned after a fashion that was not faded but you know said to Minerva alas daughter of a just bearing jove unwearable shall the Argaids fly home to their own land over the broad sea and leave pream in the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen for whose sake so many of the Akans have died to Troy far from their homes go about it once among the host and speak fairly to them man by man that they draw not their ships into the sea Minerva was not slack to do her bidding down she darted from the top most summits of Olympus and in a moment she was at the ships of the Akans there she found Ulysses pure of joven council standing alone he had not yet as laid a hand upon his ship for he was grieved and sorry so she went close up to him and said Ulysses noble son of Laertes are you going to fling your shelf into your ships and be off home to your own land in this way will you leave pream in the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen for whose sake so many of the Akans have died at Troy far from their homes go about at once among the host and speak fairly to them man by man that they draw not their ships into the sea Ulysses knew the voice of that goddess he flung his cloak from him and set off to run his servant Eurobates a man of Ithaca who waited on him took charge of the cloak where on Ulysses went straight up the Agamemnon and received from him his ancestral imperishable staff with this he went to among the ships of the Akans whenever he met a king or chieftain he stood by him and spoke fairly sir said he this flight is cowardly and unworthy stand to your post and bid your people also keep their places you do not yet know the full mind of Agamemnon he was sounding us and ere long will visit the Akans with his pleasure we were not all of us at the council to hear what he then said see do it lest he be angry and do us a mischief for the pride of kings is great and the hand of Job is with them but when he came across any common man who was making a noise he struck him with a staff and rebuked him saying sir hold your peace and listen to better men than yourself you are a coward and no soldier you are nobody either in fight or council we cannot all be kings it is not well that there should be so many masters one man must be supreme one king to whom the son of scheming Saturn has given a scepter of sovereignty over you all thus masterfully did he go about among the host and the people hurry back to the council from their tents and ships from the sound of the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the shore and all the sea is in an uproar the rest now took their seats and kept to their own several places but their sight he still went on wagging his unbridled tongue a man of many words and those unseemly a monger of sedition a railer against all who were in authority who cared not what he said so that he might set the Akans in a laugh he was the ugliest man of all those that came before Troy bandy leg lame of one foot with his two shoulders rounded and hunched over his chest his head ran up to a point but there was little hair on top of it Achilles and Ulysses hated him worst of all for it was with them that he was most want to wrangle now however with a squil squeaky voice he began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon the Akans were angry and disgusted yet nonetheless he kept on brawling and bawling at the son of Atreus agamemnon he cried what else you now and what more do you want your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women for whenever we take the town we give you the pick of them would you have yet more gold which some trojan is to give you was ransom for his son when I are another gain as they can imprison her or is it some young girl to hide and lie with it is not well that you the rule of the Akans should bring them into such misery weakling cowards women rather than men let us sail home and leave this fellow here at Troy to stew in his own means of honor and discover whether we were any service to him or no Achilles is a much better man than he is and see how he has treated him robbing him of his prize and keeping it to himself Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight if he did son of Atreus you would never again insult him thus rail Thursides but Ulysses at once went up to him and rebuked him sternly check your clip tong Thursides said to be and babble not a word further tried not with princes when you have none to back you there is no vile creature come before Troy with the son of Atreus drop this chatter about kings and neither revile them nor keep harping about going home we do not yet know how things are going to be nor whether the Akans are to return with good success or evil how dare you jive at agamemnon become the day nuns have awarded him so many prizes i tell you therefore and it shall surely be that if i again catch you talking such nonsense i will either forfeit my own head and be called no more father of Telemachus or i will take you strip you start naked and whip you out of the assembly till you go blubbering back to the ships on this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders till he dropped and fell a weeping the golden scepter raised the bloody wheel on his back so he sat down frightened in pain looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes the people were sorry for him yet they laughed hardly and what would turn to his neighbor saying Ulysses has done many a good thing air now and fight in council but he never did the argives a better turn than when he stopped this fellow a mouth from praddling further he will give the kings no more of his insolence thus said the people then Ulysses rose scepter in hand and maneuver in the likeness of a herald made the people be still that those who were far off might hear him and consider his council he therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus king agamemnon the akeans are for making you a byword among all mankind they forget the promise they made you and they set out from argos that you should not return till you had sacked the town of Troy and like children or widowed women they murmur and would set off homeward true it is that they have had toil enough to be disheartened a man chafes it having to stay away from his wife either for a single month when he's on shipboard at the mercy of wind and sea but now it is nine long years that we have been kept here i cannot therefore blame the akeans if they turn restive still we shall be shamed if we go home empty after so long as stay therefore my friends be patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether the prophecies of couches were false or true all who have not since paris must remember as though it were yesterday or the day before how the ships the akeans were destined and owless while we are on our way hither to make war on premium and atrogens we were ranged about the fountain offering hecate homes to the gods upon their holy altars and there was a fine plain tree from beneath where we're well to stream pure water then we saw a prodigy for joe sent a fearful serpent out of the ground with blood and stains upon his back and it darted from under the altar onto the plain tree now there was a brood of young sparrows quite small upon the topmost bow peeping out from under the leaves eight and all and their mother that hatched made them nine the serpent ate the poor cheeping things while the old bird flew about lamenting her little ones but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught her by the wing as she was screaming then when he had eaten both the sparrow and her young the guy who had sent him made him become a sign for the son of scheming satyr and turned him into stone and we stood wondering if that which had come to pass seeing then there's such a fearful portent had broken upon our hecate homes couches for which declared to us the oracles of heaven why a caeans said he are you such speechless joe sent us this sign long and coming and long air be fulfilled though its fame shall last forever has the serpent eight the eight fledglings in the sparrow that hatched them which makes nine so shall we fight nine years at troy but in the tenth shall take the town this was what he said and now it is all coming true stay here therefore all of you till we take the city of pream on this the archive raised a shout till the ships rang again with the uproar nester night of jureen then addressed them shame on you he cried to stay here talking like children when you should fight like men where are our covenants now and where are the hosts that we have taken shall our councils be flung into the fire with our drink offerings at the right hands of fellowships wherein we are put our trust we waste our time in words and for all our talking here shall be no further forward stand therefore son of atreus by your own steadfast purpose lead the archives on to battle and leave this handful of men to rot who scheme and scheme in vain to get back to argos ere they have learned whether job be true or liar for the mighty son of satan surely promise that we should succeed and when we are guys set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans he showed us favorable signs by flashing his lightning on our right hands therefore let none make haste to go till he is first lain with the wife of some Trojan and avenge the toil and sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of helen nevertheless if any man is in such haste to be at home again let him lay his hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all but okay and consider and give ear to my council for the word that i say may not be neglected lightly divide your men agamemnon into the several tribes and clans the clans and tribes may stand by and help one another if you do this and if the acaians obey you you'll find out who both chiefs and people are brave and who are cowards for they will vie against the other thus you'll shall also learn whether it's through the council of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall fail to take the town and agamemnon answered nester you have again outdone the sons of the acaians and council would by father joe minerva and apollo that i had among them ten more such counselors for the city of king prion would then soon fall beneath our hands and we should sack it but the son of satin afflicts me with bootless wranglings and strife achilles and i are quarreling about this girl in which matter was the first to offend if we can be of one mind again the trojans will not stave off destruction for a day now therefore get your morning meal that our hosts join us and fight wet well your spears see well to the ordering of your shields give good feasts to your horses and look your chariots carefully over that we may do battle the live long day for we shall have no rest not for a moment till night falls depart us the bands that bear your shield shall be wet with sweat upon your shoulders your hand shall be weary upon your spears your horses shall steam in front of your chariots and if i see any man shirking the fight or trying to keep out of it at ships there shall be no help for him but he shall be prayed to dogs and vultures us he spoke and the acayans roared applause as when the waves run high before the blast of the south wind and break on some lofty headland dashing against it and buffeting without ceasing as the storms from every quarter drive them even so the acayans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships then they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods and praying each one of them that he might live to come out of the fight agamemnon king of men sacrificed a fat five-year-old bolt to the mighty son of saturn and invited the princes and elders of his host first he asked nester and king idemennaeus then the two ajaxes and the son of tides and sixthly ulysses pure of gods and council but menelaus came of his own accord for he knew how busy his brother was then they stood round the bowl with the barley meal in their hands and agamemnon prayed saying job most glorious supreme the dualist in heaven and rightest upon the storm cloud grant that the sun may not go down nor the nightfall till the palace of premium is laid low and its gates are consumed with fire grant that my sword may pierce the shirt of hector about his heart and that full many of his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him thus he prayed but the son of saturn would not fulfill his prayer he accepted the sacrifice yet nonetheless increased their toil continually when they had done praying and sprinkling the barley meal upon the victim they drew back its head killed it and then flayed it they cut out thigh bones wrapped them round and two layers of fat and set pieces of raw meat on top of them these they burned upon the split logs of firewood but they spitted the inward meats and held them to the flames to cook when the thigh bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats they cut the rest up small but the pieces upon the spits roasted them till they were done and drew them off then when they had finished their work and the feast was ready they ate of it and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink nester night of jareen began to speak king agamemnon said he let us not stay talking here nor be slack in the work that heaven has put into our hands let the heralds summon the people to gather at their several ships who will then go about among the host that we may begin fighting at once thus did he speak and agamemnon he did his words he at once sent the choirs around to call the people in assembly so they called them and the people gathered thereon the chiefs about the son of atreus chose their men and marshaled them while the nerve went among them holding her priceless ages that knows neither age nor death from it there waved a hundred tassels of pure gold all deftly woven in each one of them worth a hundred oxen with this she darted furiously everywhere i'm in the host of the akeans urging them forward and putting courage into the heart of each though they might fight and do battle without ceasing thus war became sweeter in their eyes even then returning home in their ships has when some great forest fires raging upon a mountaintop in its lightest scene afar even so as they marched the gleam of their armor flashed up to the fermenting of heaven they were like great flocks of geese or cranes or swans on the plane about the waters of caster that winged their way hither and did their glorying in the pride of flight and crying as they settled to the fen is alive with their screaming even thus did the tribes pour from the ships intense on the plan of scamander and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and horses they stood as thick upon the flowered spangled field as leaves that bloom in summer as countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman homestead in the time of spring when pales are drenched with milk even so did the akeans swarm on the plane to charge the trojans and destroy them the chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight began drafting them out as easily as goat herds draft their flock when they have gotten mixed while feeding and among them when king agamemnon with a head and face like jove the lord of thunder a waist like mar isn't a chest like that of neptune as some great bull that lords had over the herds upon the plane even so the jug make the sun of atreus down peerless among the multitude of heroes and now oh muses dwellers in the mansions of olympus tell me for you are the goddesses and are all places that you see all things while we know nothing but by report who were the chiefs and princes of the danons as for the common soldiers they were so that i could not name every single one of them though i had ten tongues and though my voice failed not in my heart were bronze within me unless you olympium muses daughters of the adjust bearing jove were to recount them to me nevertheless i will tell the captains of the ships and all the fleet together painelos latis arcaselius prothana and clonius were the captains of the bothians these were they the twelton heria and rocky aulis who held shonus skolus in the highlands of ectonius with thespia graia and the Pharisee of mycolasus they also held harma elisium and erythrae and they had ellion hyal and peteon osilia and a strong fortress of medion copia eutreses and fizzby the haunt of doves coronia and the pastors of haleartus plateia and glissus the fortress of thebes the less holy on kestis with his famous chrome of nectune arnie and richon vineyards medea sacred nisa and anthedon upon the sea from these came the 50 ships and in each there were 120 young men of the bothians a scallophus and almas son of mars led the people that dwell in the splendan and our communus the realm of minus astiocci a noble maiden bore them in the house of actor son of asius for she had gone with mars secretly into an upper chamber and he had lain with her with these there came 30 ships the foshions were led of sadus and epistrophus son of mudia fetus the son of nabulus these were those that truly held cyperisus rocky pytho holy christa dalus and panapias they also that dwelton anemora and hyanpolis and about the waters of the river sephysis and lalea by the springs of sephysis with their chieftains came 40 ships and they marshaled the foshions of the foshions which were stationed next to the boetians on their left ajax the fleet son of oilius commanded the locrians he was not so great nor nearly so great as ajax to sell of telaman he was a little man and his breastplate was made of linen but in use of the spear he excelled all the haleens and the akeans these dwelt ensinus opius calerius besus scarfe fair algae a tarfe anthonium about the river bogrius with him there came 40 ships of the locrians who dwell beyond yuboia the fierce abantes held yuboia with its cities chalcis eritria histea richen vines syrinthes upon the rock and the rock perched down of diam with them were also men of caristhus and styra a laffiniar of the race of mars was his command of these he was son of chalcadon and chief over all the abantes with him they came fleet of foot and wearing their hair long behind brave warriors who would ever strive to tear open the courselets of their foes with their long ash and spears of these there came 50 ships and they that held the strong city of ethans the people of great ericthias who were born of the soil itself but jub's daughter maneuvered fostered him and established him at ethans in her own rich sanctuary there year by year the athean use worshiped him with sacrifices of bulls and rams these were commanded by menestheus son of pedios no man living could equal him in marshaling of chariots and foot shoulders nester could alone rival him for he was older with him there came 50 ships a jacks bought 12 ships from salamis and stationed them alongside those of the athenians the men of argos again and those who held the wall of tyreans with hermani and a sign upon the gulf trozene ilianae and the vineyard lands of epidorus the achean used more over who came from a gena and masses these were led by diamond of the law bottle cry and stanisthenes son's fame of capaneus with them in command was uralia son of king misetus son of talus but diamond was chief over them all with these there came 80 ships those who held the strong city of mycenae rich correnton cleontae ornair arithea and lycean were a drastic reign of old hyperesia high gonesa and palene aegean and all the coastland around about the helis these sent a hundred ships under the command of king agumemnon son of atrias his force was far both finest and most numerous and in their midst was the king himself all glorious in his armor of gleaming bronze foremost among the heroes for he was the greatest king and had the most men under him and those that dwelt and lassidamon lying low among the hills far as sparta would messy the haunt of doves brescia agae amacle and helos upon the sea leis morover and odalis these were led by men leis of the loud battle cry brother to agumemnon and of them there were 60 ships drawn apart from the others among them went main leis himself strong and zeal urging his men to fight for he longed to avenge the toil and sorrow that he had suffered for the sake of helen the men of pilos and arene and thorium were at the fort of the river alpheus strong ap cyperesis and amphigenia helium helos and orium where the muses met thrimius and stilled his minsterly forever he was returning from oklalia where utraeus lived and reigned and boasted that he would surpass even the muses daughters of a just bearing jove if they should sing against him whereon they were angry and maimed him they robbed him of his divine power of song and thenceforth he could strike the lyre no more these were commanded by nester night of jureen and with him there came 90 ships and those that held arcadia under the high mountain of sylene near the tomb of elliptus where the people fight hand to hand the men of finias also and orkeminus rich in flocks of ripae stride the bleak of anispa of tegea and fairmentinea of stimphialis and parhasa of these king agepnor son of anseus was commander and they had 60 ships many arcadians good soldiers came in each one of them but agamemnon found them the ships in which to cross the sea where they were not a people that occupied their business upon the waters the men moreover of eupraeusium and avelis so much of it is enclosed between her main name you're seen upon the seashore the rock of olene and lyseum these had four leaders and each of them had 10 ships with many opinions on board their captains were enfymarchus and philippeus the one son of cetaceous and the other of uratus both of the race of actor the two others were diorus son of amaranthes and polyxonus son of king agastonis son of olgeus and those of dolceum were the sacred akinian islands who dwelt beneath the sea of elis these were led by megis pier of mars and the son of valiant phyleus steered a jove who quarreled with his father and went to sedland dolceurium with him there came 40 ships ulysses led the brave cephalanians who held ithica newreden with his forest crocolia rugged egyptus samos and zachneus with the mainland also that was over against the islands these were led by ulysses pier of joven council and with them there came 12 ships thawus son of andramion commanded the altolians who dwelled in pleuron only as pyleine chalcus by the sea and rocky caledon for the great king onius had now no sons living and was himself dead as was also the golden haired malaguer who had been sent over the etolians to be their king and with thawus there came 40 ships the famous spearsman idomonaeus led the cretins who held crosses and the well-walled city of gordis liked to saw some elitus and lycastes that lies upon the chalk the populist town of faeistus and rydium with all the other peoples that dwell in the hundred cities of crete all these were led by idomonaeus and by marionis pier of murtus mars and with these there came 80 ships lepolemus son of hercules a man both brave and largest stature bought nine ships of lordly warriors from roads these dwelton roads which is divided among the three city of lindus aeslius and camorinas that lie upon the chalk these were commanded by lepolemus son of hercules by astiocia whom he had carried off from aferia on the river cilius after sacking many cities of valent warriors when telepomus grew up he killed his father's uncle lyceum anianus who had been a famous warrior in his time but was then grown old on this he built himself a fleet gathered the great following and fled beyond the sea for he was menaced by the other sons and grandsons of hercules after a voyage during which he suffered great hardship he came to roads where the people divided into three communities according to their tribes and were dearly loved by joe the lord of gods and men wherefore the son of saturn showered down great riches upon them and nereus bought three ships from sime nereus who was the handsomest man that came up under ileus of all the danians after the son of pilius but he was a man of no substance and had but a small following and those that held nysiris papathis and castes with cost the city of euripolis and the caledinian islands these were commanded by fedipus and antithesis two sons of king thesilus the son of hercules and with them there came 30 ships those again who held pelagacic argos allos aleppian trackus and those of fithieth and hellest land of fair women who were called the miradans, helens, and akeans these had 50 ships over which achilles was in command but now they took no part in the war in as much as there was no one to marshal them for achilles stayed by his ships furious about the loss of the girl bryceus whom he had taken from lernesis at his own great peril when he had sack linersus and thebe and an overthrown minus synopephistrophus son of king evenor son of celibus for her sake achilles was still grieving but erelong he was again to join them and those that held place in the foul remittals of persares sanctuary of sirius eitan the mother of sleep entram upon the sea and tilium that laws upon the grasslands of these brave portesaleus had been captained while he was yet alive but he was now lying under the earth he had left the wife behind him in philis to tear her cheeks and sorrow and his house was only half finished for he was slain by a dardanian warrior while leaping foremost of the akeans upon the soil of troi still those people mourned their chieftain they were not without a leader for pogorrisis the race of mars marshal them he was son of ifeclis rich and sheep who was the son of flylacius and he was own brother to protesaleus only younger protesaleus being at once the elder and more valiant so the people were not without a leader though they mourned him whom they had lost with him there came 40 ships and those that held fury by the bobean lanc with bobe glafere in the populous city of aiocas those with their 11 ships were led by umelius son of adametius with al-sestes bore to him loveliest of the daughters of pilius and those that held methone and thomasia with melobia and rugged olezon these were led by the skillful archer philac tedes and they had seven ships each with 50 oresmen all of them good archers but philac tedes was lying in great pain in the island of lemnos where the sons of the akeans left him or he had been bitten by a poisonous watersnake there he lay sick and sorry and full soon did the argives come to miss him but his people though they felt his loss were not leaderless for medan the bastard son of oileus by rain set them in array those again of trica and the stony region of aethomi and they that held ocalius are the city of ocalian urethus these were commanded by the two sons of asclepius skilled in the art of healing odalyrius and makion and with them came 30 ships the men moreover of armenius and by the fountain of hyperia with those that held asterius and the white crest of titanus these were led by uriplus the son of you may own and with them there came 40 ships those that held a grissa and gyton or the aloni the out city of uleuson of those brave pelipodes was a leader he was the son of parithius who was the son of joe himself for hippodamia bore him to parithius on the day when he took his revends on the shaggy mountain savages and drove them from apileon to the ayenthes apollipedus was not solon command for with him was leontius of the race of mars who was son of coronus the son of canius and with these there came 40 ships Coneas bought two in 20 ships from syphus and he was followed by the muneus and the valon parabi who dwelt about the wintry dodona and held the lands around the lovely river of titarius which sends its waters into peneus they do not mingle with the silver eddies of the peneus but flow on top of them like oil for the tartariceus is a branch of dread orcas and of the river sticks of the magnities prothis son of tathridon was commander they were they that dwelt about the river peneus and mount pilion prothos fleet of foot was their leader and with them there came 40 ships such were the chiefs and princes of the danins who then omuse was the foremost with their man or horse among those that followed after the sons of atreus of the horses those of the son of ferries were by far the finest they were driven by umalis and were fleet as birds they were the same age and color and perfectly matched in height apollo of the silver bow had bred them in parea both of them mayors and terrible as mars in battle of men ajax son of teleman was much the foremost so long as the tekeli's anger lasted for achilles excelled him greatly when he also had better horses but achilles was now holding aloof at his ship by reason of his quarrel with agamemnon and his people passed their time upon the seashore throwing discs or aiming with spears at mark and an archery their horses stood each by his own chariot jamping lotus and wild celery the chariots were housed undercover but their owners for lack of leadership wandered hither and dither about the host and went not forth to fight thus marched the host like a consuming fire and the earth grown beneath them when the lord of thunder is angry and lashes about the land of typhoes among the arimee where they say typhoes lies even so did earth grown beneath them as they sped over the plane and now iris fleet as the wind was sent by jove to tell the bad news among the trojans they were gathered in assembly old and young at priam's gates and iris came close up to priam speaking with the voice of priam's son polities who being fleet of foot with stations as watchmen for the trojans on the tome of old estes to look out for any sally of the akeans in his likeness iris spoke saying old man you talk idly as in times of peace while wars at hand i have been in many a battle but never yet saw such a host as is now advancing they are crossing the plane to attack the city as thick as leaves or as the sands of the sea hector i charge you above all others do as i say there are many allies dispersed about the city of priam from distant places and speaking diverse tongues therefore let each chief give orders to his own people setting them severly in array and leading them forth to battle thus she spoke but hector knew that it was the goddess and at once broke up the assembly the men flew to arms all the gates were open and the people thronged through them horse and foot with a tramp as of a great multitude now there is a high mound before the city rising by itself upon the plane men called it batayib but the gods know that it is the tomb of life mereneen here the trojans and their allies divided their forces priam's son great hector of the gleaming helmet commanded trojans and with him were arrayed by far the greatest number and most valiant of those who were longing for the fray the dardanians were led by bravenias whom venus bore to an kaisus when she goddess though she was had lain with him upon the mountain slopes of aida he was not alone for with him were the two sons of antonore aca colocus and a camis both skilled in the arts of war day that dwelt in tilia under the lowest spurs of martaida men of substance who drank the limpid waters of the sippus and are of trojan blood these were led by pandora's son of lycheon whom apollo had taught to use the bow they that held adrastea at the land of apesius with paitenia in the high mountain of tarea these were led by adrestus and ampheus whose breastplate was of linen these were the sons of mirops of percote who excelled in all kinds of divination he told them not to take part in the war but they gave him no heed for fate lured them to destruction day that dwelt about percotean practice with cestos albedos and irispe these were led by asius son of hercicus a brave commander asius the son of hercicus whom his powerful dark base deeds of the breed that comes from the river celius had brought from irisby hippithos led the tribes of pelagzi and spearmen who dwelt in furtola rissa hippithos and pilius of the race of mars two sons of pelagian lethis son of tutimus a commis in the war is perius commanded the thracians and those that came from beyond the mighty stream of the hell's font euphemus son of troesius the son of ceos was captain of the seronium spearmen pyrachemies led the pionian archers from distant amidon by the broad waters of the river axius the ferris that flow upon the earth the palphagonians were commanded by stout hardest pilomeus from entae where the mules run wild and herds these were a day that held site tourists in the country around cesmus with the cities by the river parthenius chromina aegylus and lofty erythenae odious and epistrofus were captains over the house on i from distant alibi where there are mines of silver chromis and enema the auger led the myseans but his skill and augury avowed him not to save him for destruction for he fell by the hand of the fleet descended the vacuous in the river where he slew other of the trojans forces again and noble ascanius led the fridians from the far country of ascania and both were eager for the fray messes and antifists commanded the mionians son of talaminis born to him of the gideon lake these led the mionians who dwelt under mount tamolus nasties led the carrians men of strange speech these held malidus and the wooden mountain of fifth aries with the water in the river melander and the lofty crest of mount mykali these were commanded by nasties and effamaches brave son of nomion he came into the fight with gold about him like a girl fooled that he was his gold was no avail to save him for he fell in the river by the hand of the fleet descended of achius and achilles bore away his gold sarpedon and glaucus led the lysians from their distant land by the eddying waters of xanthus end of book two recording by ml cohen cleaveland ohio www.mojo move 411.com this is a libruvox recording all libruvox recordings are in the public domain for further information or to volunteer please visit libruvox.org the iliad by homer in samuel butler's translation book three alexandris also called paris challenges menelaus helen and priam view the achaeans from the wall the covenant paris and menelaus fight and paris is worsted venus carries him off to save him seen between him and helen when the companies with us arrived each under its own captain the trojans advanced as a flight of wildfowl or cranes that scream overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters of oceanus to bring death and destruction on the pygmies and they wrangle in the air as they fly but the achaeans march silently in high heart and minded to stand by one another as when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the mountaintops bad for shepherds but better than night for thieves and a man can see no further than he can throw a stone even so rose the dust from under their feet as they made all speed over the plane when they were close up with one another alexandris came forward as champion on the trojan side on his shoulders he bore the skin of a panther his bow and his sword and he brandished two spears shod with bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the achaeans to meet him in single fight menelaus saw him thus stride out before the ranks and was glad as a hungry lion that lights on the carcass of some goat or horned stag and devours it there and then though dogs and youths set upon him even thus was menelaus glad when his eyes caught sight of alexandris for he deemed that now he should be revenged he sprang therefore from his chariot clad in his suit of armor alexandris quailed as this old menelaus come forward and shrank in fear of his life under cover of his men as one who starts back a frighted trembling and pale when he comes suddenly upon a serpent in some mountain glade even so did alexandris plunge into the throng of trojan warriors terror-stricken at the sight of the son of achaeus then hector up braided him paris said he evil hearted paris fair to see but woman mad and false of tongue would that you had never been born or that you had died unwed better so than lived to be disgraced and looked to scant that will not the achaeans mock at us and say that we have sent one to championess who is fair to see but who has neither wit nor courage did you not such as you are get your following together and sail beyond the seas did you not from a far country carry off a lovely woman wedded among a people of warriors to bring sorrow upon your father your city your whole country but joy to your enemies and hang dog shame facedness to yourself and now can you not dare face menelaus and learn what manner of man he is whose wife you have stolen where indeed would be your liar and your love tricks your company locks and your fair favor when you were lying in the dust before him the trojans are a weak need people or air this you would have had a shirt of stones for the wrongs you have done them and alexander answered hector your rebuke is just you are hard as the axe which is shipwright wields at his work and cleaves the timber to his liking as the axe in his hand so keen is the edge of your scorn still taunt me not with the gifts that golden venus has given me they are precious let not a man disdain them for the gods give them where they are minded and none can have them for the asking if you would have me do battle with menelaus bid the trojans and achaeans take their seats while he and i fight in their midst for helen and all her wealth let him who shall be victorious and proved to be the better man take the woman and all she has to bear them to his home but let the rest swear a solemn covenant of peace whereby you trojans shall stay here in troi while the others go home to argus and the land of the achaeans when hector heard this he was glad and went about among the trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back and they all sat down at his bidding but the achaeans still aimed at him with stones and arrows till agamemnon shouted to them saying hold argives shoot not sons of the achaeans hector desires to speak they ceased taking aim and were still where on hector spoke here from my mouth said he trojans and achaeans the saying of alexandris through whom this quarrel has come about he bids the trojans and achaeans lay their armor upon the ground while he and menelaus fight in the midst of you for helen and all her wealth let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the woman and all she has to bear them to his own home but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace thus he spoke and they all held their peace till menelaus of the loud battle cry addressed them and now he said hear me too for it is i who am the most aggrieved i deem that the parting of achaeans and trojans is at hand as well it may be seeing how much they have suffered for my quarrel with alexandris and the wrong he did me let him who shall die die and let the others fight no more bring then two lambs a white ram and a black you for earth and sun and we will bring a third for joe moreover you shall bid prime come that he may swear to the covenant himself for his sons are high-handed and ill to trust and the oaths of joe must not be transgressed or taken in vain young men's minds are light as air but when an old man comes he looks before and after deeming that which shall be the fairest upon both sides the trojans and achaeans were glad when they heard this for they thought that they should now have rest they backed their chariots toward the ranks got out of them and put off their armor laying it down upon the ground and the hosts were near to one another with a little space between them hector sent two messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid prime come while agamemnon told talthibius to fetch the other lamb from the ships and he did as agamemnon had said meanwhile aris went to helen in the form of her sister-in-law wife of the son of antina her helicion son of antina had married la odiki the fairest of prime's daughters she found her in her own room working at a great web of purple linen on which she was embroidering the battles between trojans and achaeans that mars had made them fight for her sake iris then came close up to her and said come here the child and see the strange doings of the trojans and achaeans till now they've been warring upon the plane mad with lust of battle but now they have left off fighting and are leaning upon their shields sitting still with their spears planted besides them alexandris and menelaus are going to fight about yourself and you are to be the wife of him who is the victor thus spoke the goddess and helen's heart yearned after her former husband her city and her parents she threw a white mantle over her head and hurried from the room weeping as she went not alone but attended by two of her handmaids our aethrai daughter of pithaeus and plimony and straightway they were at the ski and gates the two sages bukalegon and antinor elders of the people were seated by the sky and gates with priam pantheus thimoetes lampus clitius and hikataion of the race of mars these were too old to fight but they were fluent orators and sat on the tower like cicadas that chirip delicately from the bowels of some high tree in the wood when they saw helen coming towards the tower they said softly to one another small wonder that trojans and achaeans should endure so much and so long for the sake of a woman so marvellously and divinely lovely still fair though she be let them take her and go or she will breed sorrow for us and for our children after us but priam bad her drawn eye my child said he take your seat in front of me that you may see your former husband your kinsmen and your friends i lay no blame upon you it is the gods not you who are to blame it is they that have brought about this terrible war with the achaeans tell me then who is your under huge hero so great and goodly i've seen men taller by head but none so come in so royal surely he must be a king sir answered helen father of my husband dear and reverend in my eyes would that i had chosen death rather than to have come here with your son far from my bridal chamber my friends my darling daughter and all the companions of my girlhood but it was not to be in my lot is one of tears and sorrow as for your question the hero of whom you ask his agamemnon son of atreus a good king and a brave soldier brother-in-law is surely as that he lives to my abhorred and miserable self the old man marveled at him and said happy son of atreus child of good fortune i see that the achaeans are subject to you in great multitudes when i was in trigia i saw a much horseman the people of otreus and migdon who were camping upon the banks of the river sangarius i was their ally and with them when the amazon's peers of men came up against them but even they were not so many as the achaeans the old man next looked upon the ulysses tell me he said who is that other shorter my head than agamemnon but broader across the chest and shoulders his armor is laid upon the ground and he stalks in front of the ranks as if it was some great woolly ram ordering his use and helen answered his ulysses a man of great craft son of laertes he was born in rugged ithica and excels in all manner of stratagems and subtle cunning on this anthena said madame you have spoken truly ulysses once came here as an envoy about yourself and menelaus with him i received them in my own house and therefore know both of them by sight and conversation when they stood up in the presence of the assembled trojans menelaus was the broader shoulder but when both were seated ulysses had the more royal presence after a time they delivered their message and the speech of menelaus ran trippingly on the tongue he did not say much for he was a man of few words but he spoke very clearly and to the point though he was the younger man of the two ulysses on the other hand when he rose to speak was at first silent kept his eyes fixed upon the ground there was no plain or graceful movement of his scepter he kept it straight and stiff like a man unpracticed in oratory one might have taken him for a mere chir or simpleton but when he raised his voice and the words came driving from his deep chest like winter snow before the wind then there was none to touch him and no man thought further of what he looked like priam then caught side of ajax and asked who is that great and goodly warrior whose head and broad shoulders tower above the rest of the archives that answered Helen is huge ajax bulwark of the achaeans and on the other side of him among the cretans stands it dominos looking like a god and with the captains of the cretans around him often did menelaus receive him as a guest in our house when he came visiting us from crete i see moreover many other achaeans whose names i could tell you but there are two whom i can nowhere find castor breaker of horses and pollocks the mighty boxer they are children of my mother and own brothers to myself either they have not left lassidemen or else though they have brought their ships they will not show themselves in battle for the shame and disgrace that i have brought upon them she knew not that both these heroes were already lying under the earth in their own land of lassidemen meanwhile the heralds were bringing the holy oath offerings through the city two lambs and a goat's skin of wine the gift of earth and ideas brought the mixing bowl and the cups of gold he went up to prime and said son of leomidon the princes of the trojans and achaeans bid you come down onto the plane and swear to a solemn covenant alexandris and menelaus are to fight for helen in single combat that she and all her wealth may go with him who is the victor we are to swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby we others shall dwell here in troi while the achaeans return to argos and the land of the achaeans the old man trembled as he heard but bad his followers yoke the horses and they made all haste to do so he mounted the chariot gathered the reins in his hand and anantina took his seat beside him they then drove through the ski and gates onto the plane when they reached the ranks of the trojans and achaeans they left the chariot and with measured pace advanced into the space between the hosts agamemnon and eulises both rose to meet them the attendants brought on the oath offerings and mixed the wine in the mixing bowls they poured water of the hands of the chieftains and the son of atreus drew the dagger that hung by his sword and cut wool from the lamb's heads this the men servants gave about among the trojan and achaean princes and the son of atreus lifted up his hands in prayer father jove he cried that rulest in ida most glorious in power and thou o son that seest and givest ear to all things earth and rivers and ye who in the realms below chastise the soul of him that has broken his oath witness his rights and guard them that they be not vain if alexandris kills menelaus let him keep helen and all her wealth while we sail home with our ships but if menelaus kills alexandris let the trojans give back helen and all that she has let them moreover pay such fine to the achaeans there shall be agreed upon in testimony among those that shall be born hereafter and if prime and his sons refuse such fine when alexandris has fallen then will i stay here and fight on till i've got satisfaction as he spoke he drew his knife across the throats of the victims and laid them down gasping and dying upon the ground for the knife had ref them of their strength then they poured wine from the mixing bowl into the cups and prayed to the everlasting god saying trojans and achaeans among one another jove most great and glorious and ye other everlasting gods grant that the brains of them who shall first sin against their oaths of them and their children may be shed upon the ground even as this wine and let their wives become the slaves of strangers thus they prayed but not as yet would jove grant them their prayer then prime descendant of dardanas spoke saying hear me trojans and achaeans i will now go back to the wind beaten city of ileus i dare not with my own eyes witness this fight between my son and menelaus for jove and the other immortals alone know which shall fall on this he laid the two lambs on his chariot and took his seat he gathered the reins in his hand and anantina sat beside him the two then went back to ileus hector and ulysses measured the ground and cast lots from a helmet of bronze to see which should take aim first meanwhile the two hosts lifted up their hands and prayed saying father jove that rulist from ida most glorious in power grant that he who first brought about this war between us may die and enter the house of hades while we others remain at peace and abide by our oaths great hector now turned his head aside while he shook the helmet and the lot of parrots flew out first the others took their several stations each by his horse and the place where his arms were lying while alexandrus husband of lovely helen put on his goodly armor first he grieved his legs with grieves of good make and fitted with ankle clasps of silver after this he donned the curass of his brother lecaion and fitted it to his own body he hung his silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders and then his mighty shield on his comely head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horse hair that nodded menacingly above it and he grasped the redoubtable spear that suited his hands in light fashion men ileus also put on his armor when they had thus armed each amid his own people they strode fearsome aspect into the open space and both trojans and akeans were struck with awe as they beheld them they stood near one another on the measured ground brandishing their spears and each furious against the other alexandrus aimed first and struck the round shield of the son of atreus but the spear did not pierce it for the shield turned its point men ileus next took aim praying to father joevis he did so king joevis said grant me revenge on alexandrus who has wronged me subdue him under my hand that in ages yet to come a man may shrink from doing ill deeds in the house of his host he poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it at the shield of alexandrus through shield and cuirass it went and tore the shirt by his flank but alexandrus swerved aside and thus saved his life then the son of atreus drew his sword and drove at the projecting part of his helmet but the sword fell shivered in three or four pieces from his hand and he cried looking towards heaven father joevis of all gods thou art the most despiteful i made sure of my revenge but the sword has broken in my hand my spear has been hurled in vain and i have not killed him with this he flew at alexandrus caught him by the horsehair plume of his helmet and began dragging him towards the achaeans the strap of the helmet that went under his chin was choking him a men ileus would have dragged him off to his own great glory had not joevis daughter venus been quick to mark and break the strap of oxide so that the empty helmet came away in his hand this he flung to his comrades among the achaeans and was again springing upon alexandrus to run him through with a spear but venus snatched him up in a moment as a god can do hit him under a cloud of darkness and conveyed him to his own bedchamber then she went to call helen and found her on a high tower with the trojan women crowding about her she took the form of an old woman who used to dress wolf for her when she was still in lacedemon and a fume she was very fond thus disguised she plucked her by perfume robe and said come hither alexandrus says you are to go to the house he is on his bed in his own room radiant with beauty and dressed in gorgeous apparel no one would think he had just come from fighting but rather that he was going to a dance or had done dancing and was sitting down with these words she moved the heart of helen to anger when she marked the beautiful neck of the goddess her lovely bosom and sparkling eyes she marveled at her and said goddess why do you thus beguile me are you going to send me a field still further to some man whom you have taken up in frigia or fermionia menelaus has just vanquished alexandrus and it's to take my hateful self back with him you will come here to betray me go sit with alexandrus yourself henceforth be a goddess no longer never let your feet carry you back to olympus worry about him and look after him till he make you his wife or for the matter of that his slave but me i shall not go i can garnish his bed no longer i should be a byword among all the women of troi besides i have trouble on my mind venus was very angry and said bold hussey do not provoke me if you do i shall leave you to your fate and hate you as much as i have loved you i will stir up fierce hatred between trojans and akeans and you shall come to a bad end but this helen was frightened she wrapped her mantle about her and went in silence following the goddess and unnoticed by the trojan women when they came to the house of alexandrus the maid servants set about their work helen went into her own room and the laughter loving goddess took a seat and set it for her facing alexandrus on this helen daughter of eegee sparing joe sat down and with eyes of scance began to up braid her husband so you will come from the fight said she would that you had fallen rather by the hand of that brave man who was my husband used to brag that you were a better man with hands and spear than menelaus go then and challenge him again but i should advise you not to do so for if you are foolish enough to meet him in single combat you will soon fall by his spear and paris answered wife do not vex me with your reproaches this time with the help of minerva menelaus has vanquished me another time i may myself be victor for i too have gods that will stand by me come let us lie down together and make friends never yet was i so passionately enamored of you as at this moment not even when i first carried you off from lasa demon and sailed away with you not even when i had converse with you upon the couch of love in the island of crannay was i so enthralled by desire of you as now on this he led her towards the bed and his wife went with him thus they laid themselves on the bed together that the son of atreus strode amongst the throng looking everywhere for alexandrus and no man neither of the trojans nor of the allies could find him if they had seen him they were in no mind to hide him for they all of them hated him as they did death itself then agamemnon king of men spoke saying hear me trojans dardanians and allies the victory has been with menelaus therefore give back helen with all her wealth and pay such fine as shall be agreed upon in testimony among them that shall be born hereafter thus spoke the son of atreus and the achaeans shouted in applause end of book three book four of the iliad this is the libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org a quarrel and olympus manurva goes down to persuade pandaras to violate the oath by wounding menelaus with an arrow agamemnon makes a speech and sends for macaeon he then goes about among his captains and operates ulysses since the thanois who each of them retort fiercely diamid checks the thanois and the two hosts engage with great slaughter on either side now the gods were sitting with joven council upon the golden floor while hebe went around pouring out nectar for them to drink and as they pledged one another in their cups of gold they looked down upon the town of troi the son of sadrin then began to tease juno talking at her so as to provoke her menelaus he said has two good friends among the goddesses juno of argos and manurva of olal khamene but they only sit still and look on while venus keeps ever at alexandra's side to defend him at any danger indeed she has just rescued him when he made sure that it was all over with him for the victory really did lie with menelaus we must consider what we shall do about all this shall we set them fighting anew or make peace between them if you will agree to this last menelaus can take back helen and the city of prion may remain still inhabited manurva and juno muttered their discontents as they sat side by side hatching mischief for the trojans manurva scowled at her father for she was in a furious passion with him and said nothing but juno could not contain herself dread son of sadrin said she what prey is the meaning of all this is my trouble then to go for nothing and the sweat that i have sweated to say nothing of my horse while getting the people together against prion and his children do as you will but we the other gods shall not all of us approve your council joe was angry and answered my dear what harm have prion and his sons done you that you are so hotly bent on sacking the city of ilias well nothing do for you but you must within their walls and eat prion raw with his sons and all the other trojans to boot have it your own way then for i would not have this matter become a bone of contention between us i say further and i lay my saying to your heart if ever i want to sack a city belonging to friends of yours you must not try to stop me you will have to let me do it for i am giving in to you sorely against my will of all inhabited cities under the sun and stars of heaven there was none that i so much respected as ilias with prion and his whole people equitable feasts were never wanting about my altar nor the savor of burning fat which is honor due to ourselves my own three favorite cities answer gino are our ghosts sparta and my sine sac them whenever you may be displeased with them i shall not defend them i shall not care even if i did and tried to say to you i should take nothing by it for you are much stronger than i am but i will not have my own work wasted i to him a god and have the same race with yourself i'm saddened eldest daughter and i'm honorable not on this ground only but also because i am your wife and you are king over the gods let it be a case then of give and take between us and the rest of the gods will follow our lead tell minerva to go and take part in the fighting at once and let her contrive that the trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the achaeans the sire of gods and men heeded to her words and said to minerva go at once to the trojans and the achaean host and contrive that the trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the achaeans this was what minerva was already eager to do so she darted from the top most summits of olympus she shot through the sky is some brilliant meteor which the son of scheming satan has sent as a sign to mariners or to some great army and a fiery train of light falls in its wake the trojans and the achaeans were struck with awe as they be held and one would turn to his neighbor and say either we shall have a war and den of combat or jove the lord of battle will now make peace between us thus they did converse then the nibba took the form of laudicus son of antonar and went through the ranks of the trojans to find pandaris the redoubtable son of lycan she found him standing among the stalwart heroes who had followed him from the banks of the asipus so she went close to him and said brave son of lycaon will you do as i tell you if you dare send an arrow at menelaus you will win honor and thanks from all the trojans and especially from the prince alexandris he would be the first to require you very handsomely if he could see menelaus mount his funeral pyre slain by an arrow from your hand take your whole name then and pray to the lycean apollo the famous archer vow that when you get home to your strong city of zeely you will offer a hectatome of firstling lambs in his honor his fool's heart was persuaded and he took his bow from its case this bow was made from the horns of a wild ibex which he had killed as it was bounding from a rock he had stalked it and it had fallen as the arrow struck its heart its horns were 16 palms long and a worker and horn had made them into a bow smoothing them well down and giving them tips of gold when pandarus had strung his bow he laid it carefully on the ground and his brave followers held their shields before him lest the achaeans should set upon him before he had shot menelaus then he opened the lid of his quiver and took out a winged arrow that had not yet been shot fraught with the pangs of death he laid the arrow on the string and prayed to lycean apollo the famous archer vowing that when he got home to his strong city of zeely he would offer a hectatome of firstling lambs in his honor he laid the notch of the arrow on the oxide bow string and drew both the notch and the string to his breast till the arrowhead was near the bow then when the bow was arched into a half circle he let fly and the bow twanged and the string sang as the arrow flew gladly on over the heads of the throng but the blessed gods did not forget the oh menelaus and joe's daughter driver of the spoil was the first to stand before thee to ward off the piercing arrow she turned it from his skin as a mother whisks a fly from off her child when it is sleeping sweetly she guided it to the part where the golden buckles of the belt that pass over his double queer ass were fastened so the arrow struck the belt that went tightly around him it went through this and through the queer ass of cunning workmanship it also pierced the belt beneath it which he wore next to his skin to keep out darts or arrows it was this that served him in the best stead nevertheless the arrow went through it and grazed the top of the skin so that blood began to flow from the wound as when some woman of mayonia or caria strains purple dies on a piece of ivory that is to be the cheekpiece of a horse it is to be laid up in the treasure house many a knife is trained to bear it but the king keeps it as an ornament of which both the horse and the driver may be proud even so oh menelaus where your shapely thighs and your legs down to your fair ankles stained with blood when king agamemnon saw the blood flow from the wound he was afraid and so was brave menelaus himself till he saw that the barb of the arrow and the thread that bound the arrow head to the shaft were still outside the wound then he took heart but agamemnon heaved a deep sigh as he held menelaus his hand in his own and his comrades made moan in concert dear brother he cried i've been the death of you in pledging this covenants and letting you come forward as our champion the trojans have trampled on their oaths and have wounded you nevertheless the oath the blood of lambs the drinking of offerings and the right hand of fellowship in which we have put our trust shall not be in vain if he that rules olympus fulfill it not here and now he will yet fulfill it hereafter and they shall pay dearly with their lives and with their wives and children the day will surely come when mighty elias shall be laid low with priam and priam's people when the sound of saturn from his high throne shall overthrow them with his awful eges and punishment of their present treachery this shall surely be but how menelaus shall i mourn you if it is your lot now to die i should return to argos as a byword for the echeans will at once go home we shall leave priam in the trojans the glory of still keeping helen and the earth will rot your bones as you lie here at troi with your purpose not fulfilled then shall some braggart trojan leap upon your tune and say ever thus may egomemnon wreak his vengeance he brought his army in vain he's gone home to his own lands with empty ships and has left menelaus behind him thus will one of them say and may the earth then swallow me but menelaus reassured him and said take heart and do not alarm the people the arrow has not struck me in a mortal part for my outer belt of burnished metal first stated and under this my queerness and the belt of mail which the bronze myths made me and egomemnon answered i trust dear menelaus that it may be even so but the surgeon shall examine your wound and lay herbs upon it to relieve your pain he then said to tauthebius tauthebius tell macaeon son of the great physician is glapius to come to see menelaus immediately some trojan or lessy in archer has wounded him with an arrow to our dismay into his great victory tauthebius did as he was told and went about the host trying to find macaeon presently he found standing amid the brave warriors who had followed him from trichia whereon he went up to him and said son of us glapius king egomemnon says you are to come to see menelaus immediately some trojan or lessy in archer has wounded him with an arrow to our dismay and to his great glory thus did he speak and macaeon was moved to go they passed through the spreading host of the achaeans and went on till they came to the place where menelaus had been wounded and was lying with the chieftains gathered in a circle around him macaeon passed into the middle of the ring and at once drew the arrow from the belt finding its barb back through the force with which he pulled it out he undid the burnished belt and beneath this the quiris and the belt of mail which the bronsmiths had made then when he had seen the wound he wiped away the blood and applied some soothing drugs which cairon had given to his glapius out of the goodwill he bore him while they were busy about menelaus the trojans came forward against them for they had put on their armor and now renewed the fight he would not have then found agamemnon asleep nor cowardly and unwilling to fight but eager rather for the fray he left his chariot rich with bronze and his panting steeds in the charge of uri madan son of tolemnayus the son of pirias and about him hold them in readiness against the time his limbs should weary of going about and giving orders to so many for he went among the ranks on foot when he saw men hasting to the front he stood by them and cheered them on our gifts he said slacken not one with near onset father jove will be no helper of liars the trojans have been the first to break their oats and attack us therefore they shall be devoured of vultures we shall take their city and carry off their wives and children in our ships but he angrily rebuked those he saw shirking and disinclined to fight our gifts he cried cowardly miserable creatures have you no shame that you stand here like frightened fawns who when they can no longer scud over the plane huddle together but show no fight you are as dazed and spiritless as deer would you wait till the trojans reach the stern of our ships as they lie on the shore to see whether the son of saturn will hold his hand over you to protect you thus did he go about giving orders among the ranks passing through the crowd he presently came to the cretins arming around idomenius who was at their head fiercest of wild boar wild merianese was bringing up battalions that were in the rear agamemnon was glad when he saw him and spoke him fairly idomenius said he i treat you with greater distinction than i do any others of the achaeans whether in war or in other things or at the table when the princes are mixing my choice of wines in the mixing bowls they each of them have a fixed allowance but your cup is kept always full like my own that you may drink whenever you are minded go therefore into battle and show yourself the man you have been always proud to be idomenius answered i will be a trusty comrade as i promised you from the first day would be urge on other achaeans that we may join battle at once for the trojans have trampled upon their covenants death and destruction shall be theirs seeing they have been the first to break their oaths and attack us the son of atreus went on clad at heart till he came upon the two ajaxes arming themselves and made a host of foot soldiers as when a goat heard from some high post watches a storm drive over the deep before the west wind blackest pitch is the offing and a mighty whirlwind draws towards him so that he's afraid and drives his flock into a cave even thus did the ranks of stalwart youths move in a dark mass to battle under the ajaxes horrid with shield and spear glad was king agamemnon when he saw them no need he cried to give orders to such leaders of the our gifts as you are for your own selves you spur your men on to fight with might and main would my father joe of manerva and apollo that all were so minded as you are for the city of prime would then soon fall beneath our hands and we should sack it with this he left them and went onward to nester the facile speaker of the pylons who was marshaling his men and urging them on in company with palagon alastor chromius haemon and bias shepherd of his people he placed his knights with their chariots and horses in the front rank while his foot soldiers brave men and many whom he could trust were in the rear the cowards he drove into the middle that they might fight whether they would or no he gave his orders to the knights first bidding them to hold their horse while in hand so as to avoid confusion let no man he said relying on his strength or horsemanship get before the others and engage singly with the trojans nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your attack but let each one he meets an enemy chariot throw his spear from his own this be much the best this is how the men of all took towns and strongholds in this wise they were minded thus did the old man charge them for he had been in many a fight and king agamemnon was glad i wish he said to him that your limbs were supple and your strength is sure as your judgment is but age the common enemy of mankind has laid his hand upon you would that it had fallen upon some other and that you were still young and nester knight of geronet answered son of atreus i too would gladly be the man i was when i slew him by the eerie othallion but the gods will not give us everything at one in the same time i was young then and now i'm old still i can go with my knights and give them that council which old men have the right to give the wielding of the spear i leave to those who are younger and stronger than myself agamemnon went his way rejoicing and presently found menestheus son of pitos tarrying in his place and with him were the athenians loud of tongue in battle near him also tarried cunning ulysses with his sturdy cathalanians around him they had not yet heard the battle cry for the ranks of trojans and akeans had only just begun to move so they were standing still waiting for some other columns of the akeans to attack the trojans and begin the fighting when he saw this agamemnon rebuked them and said son of pitos and you other steeped in cunning heart of guile why stand you here cowering and waiting on others you too should be of all man foremost when there is hard fighting to be done for you are ever foremost to accept my invitation when we counselors of the akeans are holding feast you are glad enough then to take your filth roasted meats and to drink wine as long as you please whereas now you would not care though you saw 10 columns of akeans engage the enemy in front of you ulysses glared at him and answered son of atreus what are you talking about how can you say that we are slack when the akeans are in full fight with the trojans you shall see if you care to do so that the father of telomachus will join the battle with the foremost of them you are talking idly when agamemnon saw that ulysses was angry he smiled pleasantly at him and withdrew his words ulysses said he noble son of laertes excellent in all good counsel i have neither fault defined nor orders to give you for i know that your heart is right and that you and i are of a mind enough i will make you amends for what i have said and if any ill has now been spoken may the gods bring it to nothing he then left them and went on to others presently he saw the son of tidius noble diamond standing by his chariot and horses with the stenolus the son of capanius beside him whereon he began to upgrade him son of tidius he said why stand you cowering here upon the brink of battle tidius did not shrink thus but was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe so at least they say that saw him in battle for i never set eyes upon him myself they say that there was no man like him he came once to mycenae not as an enemy but as a guest in company with polinaeces to recruit his forces for they were levying war against the strong city of thebes and prayed our people for a body of picked men to help him the men of mycenae were willing to let them have one but jove dissuaded them by showing them unfavorable omens tidius therefore and polinaeces went their way when they had got as far as the deep meadowed and rush grown banks of the asipus the achaean sent tidius as their envoy and he found the cadmians gathered in great number to a banquet in the house of etiocles stranger though he was he knew no fear on finding himself single-handed amongst so many he challenged them to contests of all kinds and in each one of them was he at once victorious so mightily did manner to help him the cadmians were incensed at his success and sent a force of fifty youths with two captains the godlike hero mayon son of haemon and poly fontis son of autophanus at their head to lie and wait for him on his return journey but tidius slew every man of them save only mayon whom he let go in obedience to happen zomans such was tidius of etolia his son can talk more glidly but he cannot fight us his father did diamid made no answer for he was shamed by the rebuke of agamemnon but the son of companion took up his words and said son of atreus tell no lies for you can speak the truth if you will we boast ourselves as even better men than our fathers we took seven gated thieves though the walls were stronger and our men were fewer in number for we trusted in the omens of gods and in the help of jove whereas they perished through their own sheer folly hold not then our fathers in like honor with us diamid looked sternly at him and said hold your peace my friend desire video it is not a mess that agamemnon should urge the achaeans forward for the glory will be his if we take the city and his the shame if we are vanquished therefore let us acquit ourselves with valor as he spoke he sprang from his chariot and his armor rang so fiercely about his body that even a brave man might well have been scared to hear it as when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the west wind has lashed it into fury it has reared its head afar and now comes crashing down on the shore it bows its arching crest high over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all directions even so did the seared phalanxes of the danians marched steadfastly to battle the chiefs gave orders each to his own people but the men said never a word no man would think it for as huge as the host was it seemed as though there was not a tongue among them so silent were they in their obedience as they marched the armor about their bodies glistened in the sun but the clamor of the trojan ranks was as that of many thousand us that stand waiting to be milked in the yard of some rich flockmaster and bleeding incessantly in answer to the bleeding of their lambs for they had not one speech nor language but their tongues were diverse and they came from different places these were inspired of mars but the others by manurva and with them came panic rout and strife whose fury never tires sister and friend of the murderous mars who from being at first but small in stature grows till she up rears her head to heaven though her feet are still on the earth she it was that went about among them and flung down discord to the waxing of sorrows with even hand between them when they were got together in one place shield crashed with shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle the boss shields beat upon one another and there was a tramp as of a great multitude death cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers and the earth ran red with blood as torrents swollen with rain course madly down their deep channels till the angry floods meet in some gorge and the shepherd on the hill side hears their roaring from afar even such was the toil and uproar of the hosts as they joined battle first a toacus slew an armed warrior of the trojans a couple is son of the liceus fighting in the foremost ranks he struck at the projecting part of his helmet and drove his spear into his brow the point of bronze pierced the bone and darkness failed his eyes headlong as a tower he fell amid the press of the fighting and as he dropped king alathinor son of colcadon and captain of the proud of bantis began dragging him out of reach of the darts that were falling around him in haste to strip him of his armor but his purpose was not for long asinor saw him hauling away the body and smote him in the side with his bronze shod spear for as he stooped his side was left unprotected by his shield and thus he perished then the fighting between trojans and akeans grew furious over his body and they flew upon each other like wolves man and man crushing one upon the other forthwith ajax son of talomon slew the fair youth simoesis son of anthemion whom his mother bore by the banks of the simos as she was coming down from mount ida where she had been with her parents to see their flocks therefore he was named simoesis but he did not live to pay his parents for his bearing for he was cut off untimely by the spear of mighty ajax who struck him in the breast by the right nipple as he was coming on among the foremost fighters the spear went right through his shoulder and he fell as a poplar that has grown straight and tall in a meadow by some mirror and his top is thick with branches then the wheel right lays his axe to its roots that he may fashion a fellow for the wheel of some goodly chariot and it lies seasoning by the water side in such wise did ajax fell to earth simoesis son of anthemion where on antifas of the gleaming corset son of prion hurled his spear at ajax from amid the crowd and missed him but he hit lucus the brave comrade of ulysses in the groin as he was dragging away the body of simoesis over to the other side so he fell upon the body and loosed his hold upon it ulysses was furious when he saw leucus slain and strode in full armor through the front ranks till he was quite close then he glared round about him and took aim and the trojans fell back as he did so his dart was not sped in vain where it struck demo koon the bastard son of prion who had come to him from a bydos where he had charge of his father's mares ulysses infuriated by the death of his comrade hit him with his spear on one temple and the bronze point came through on the other side of his forehead there on darkness veiled his eyes and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground hector and they that were in front then gave round while the argives raised a shout and drew off the dead pressing further forward as they did so but apollo looked down from pyrogamous and called aloud to the trojans for he was displeased trojans he cried rush on the foe and do not let yourselves be thus beaten by the argives their skins are not stone nor iron that when hit you do them no harm moreover achilles the son of lovely thetis is not fighting but nursing his anger at the ships thus spoke the mighty god crying to them from the city while joe's rededible daughter the tritoborn went about among the host of the akeans and urged them forward whenever she beheld them slackening then fate fell upon diaries son of a marinkius for he was struck by a jagged stone near the ankle of his right leg he that hurled it was pyroas son of ambrasis captain of the thracians who had come from enus the bones in both the tendons were crushed by the pedulous stone he fell to the ground on his back and in his death rows stretched out his hand towards his comrades but pyroas who had wounded him sprang on him and thrust a spear into his belly so that his bowels came gushing out upon the ground and darkness failed his eyes as he was leaving the body though as a vatolia struck him in the chest near the nipple and the point fixed itself in his lungs though as came close up to him pulled the spear from his chest and then drawing his sword smote him in the middle of the belly so that he died but he did not strip him of his armor for his thracian comrades men who wear their hair and tufts upon the top of their head stood round the body and kept him off with their long spears for all his great stature and valor so he was driven back thus the two corpses lay stretched on the earth near to one another and one captain of the thracians and the other of the apeans and many another fell round them and now no man would have made light of the fighting if he could have gone about among it scatheless and unwounded with Minerva leading him by the hand and protecting him from the storm of spears and arrows for many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay stretched side by side face downwards upon the earth and of book four of the Iliad book five of the Iliad this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer visit LibriVox.org recording by Joshua Christensen the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book five the exploits of Diomed the exploits of Diomed who though wounded by Pandaris continues fighting he kills Pandaris and wounds Aeneas Venus rescues Aeneas but being wounded by Diomed commits him to the care of Apollo and goes to Olympus where she is tended by her mother Dione Mars encourages the Trojans and Aeneas returns to the fight cured of his wound Minerva and Juno help the Achaeans and by the advice of the former Diomed wounds Mars who returns to Olympus to get cured then palace Minerva put Valor into the heart of Diomed son of Tideas that he might excel all the other Argyves and covered himself with glory she made a stream of fire flare from his shield and helmet like the star that shines most brilliantly in summer after its bath in the waters of Oceanus even such a fire did she kindle upon his head and shoulders as she made him speed into the thickest hurly burly of the fight now there was a certain rich and honorable man among the Trojans priests of Vulcan and his name was Darius he had two sons Fegius and Edeus both of them skilled in all the arts of war these two came forward from the main body of Trojans and set upon Diomed he being on foot while they fought from their chariot when they were close up to one another Fegius took aim first but his spear went over Diomed's left shoulder without hitting him Diomed then threw and his spear sped not in vain for it hit Fegius on the breast near the nipple and he fell from his chariot Edeus did not dare to bestride his brother's body but spraying from the chariot and took to flight or he would have shared his brother's fate whereon Vulcan saved him by wrapping him in a cloud of darkness that his old father might not be utterly overwhelmed with grief but the son of Tideas drove off with the horses and bait his followers take them to the ships the Trojans were scared when they saw the two sons of Darius one of them in fright and the other lying dead by his chariot Minerva therefore took Mars by the hand and said Mars Mars bane of men bloodstains stormer of cities maybe not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans to fight it out and see to which of the two Joval bouts saved the victory let us go away and thus avoid his anger so saying she drew Mars out of the battle and set him down upon the steep banks of the Scamander upon this the Deneans drove the Trojans back and each one of their chieftains killed his man first King Agamemnon flung mighty odious captain of the Halzoni from the chariot the spear of Agamemnon caught him on the broad of his back just as he was turning in flight it struck him between the shoulders and went right through his chest and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground then Idomanius killed Phasus son of Boris the meonian who had come from Varne mighty Idomanius speared him on the right shoulder as he was mounting his chariot and the darkness of death enshrouded him as he fell heavily from the car the squires of Idomanius spoiled him of his armor while Menelaus son of Atreus skilled Scamanderous the son of Strophius a mighty huntsman and keen lover of the chase Diana herself had taught him how to kill every kind of wild creature that is bred in mountain forests but neither she nor his famed skill and archery could now save him for the spear of Menelaus struck him in the back as he was flying it struck him between the shoulders and went right through his chest so that he fell headlong and his armor rang rattling round him Meryonis then killed Faraclus the son of Tecton who was the son of Hermon a man whose hand beskilled an all manner of cutting workmanship for palace Minerva had dearly loved him he it was that made the ships for alexandris which were the beginning of all mischief and brought evil alike both on the Trojans and on alexandris himself for he did not the decrees of heaven Meryonis overtook him as he was flying and struck him on the right buttock the point of the spear went through the bone into the bladder and death came upon him as he cried aloud and fell forward on his knees Mygis moreover slew Pideas son of Antinor who though he was a bastard had been brought up by Theano as one of her own children for the love she bore her husband the son of Phileus got close up to him and drove a spear into the nape of his neck it went under his tongue all along his teeth so he bit the cold bronze and fell dead in the dust and Eurypilus son of Eumon killed Hispanor the son of noble Delopion who had been made priest of the river's commander and was honored among the people as though he were a god Eurypilus gave him chase as he was flying before him smote him with his sword upon the arm and locked his strong hand from of it the bloody hand fell to the ground and the shades of death with fate that no man can withstand came over his eyes thus furiously did the battle rage between them as for the son of Tadeus you could not say whether he was more among the Achaeans or the Trojans he rushed across the plane like a winter torrent that has burst its barrier in full flood no dykes no walls of fruitful vineyards can imbank it when it is swollen with rain from heaven but in a moment it comes tearing onward and lays many a field waste that many a strong man's hands has reclaimed even so were the dense phalanxes of the Trojans driven and route by the son of Tadeus and many though they were they dared not abide his onslaught now when the son of Lecheon saw him scouring the plane and driving the Trojans pel mail before him he aimed an arrow and hit the front part of his cuirass near the shoulder the arrow went right through the metal and pierced the flesh so that the cuirass was covered with blood on this the son of Lecheon shouted in triumph night's Trojans come on the bravest of the Achaeans as wounded and he will not hold out much longer if king apollo was indeed with me when i sped from lissia hither thus did he want but his arrow had not killed dyomed who withdrew and made for the chariot and horses of stenolus the son of capaneus dear son of capaneus said he come down from your chariot and draw the arrow out of my shoulder stenolus sprained from his chariot and drew the arrow from the wound where on the blood came spouting out through the hole that had been made in his shirt then dyomed prayed saying hear me daughter of ages bearing joe unwearable if ever you love my father well and stood by him in the thick of a fight do the like now by me grant me to come within a spear's throw of that man and kill him he has been too quick for me and has wounded me and now he is boasting that i shall not see the light of the sun much longer thus he prayed and palace minerva hurt it she made his limbs supple and quickened his hands and his feet then she went up close to him and said fear not dyomed to do battle with the trojans for i have set in your heart the spirit of your nightly father tedius moreover i have withdrawn the veil from your eyes that you know gods and men apart if then any other god comes here and offers you battle do not fight him but should joe's daughter venus come strike her with your spear and wound her when she had said this minerva went away and the son of tedius again took his place among the foremost fighters three times more fierce even than he had been before he was like a lion that some mountain shepherd had wounded but not killed as he is springing over the wall of a sheep yard to attack the sheep the shepherd has roused the brute to fury but cannot defend his flock so he takes shelter under cover of the buildings while the sheep panic-stricken on being deserted are smothered in heaps one on top of the other and the angry lion leaps out over the sheep yard wall even thus did dyomed go furiously about among the trojans he killed astinus an hyperion shepherd of his people the one with a thrust of his spear which struck him above the nibble the other with a sword cut on the collarbone that severed his shoulder from his neck and back he let both of them die and went in pursuit of avus and polyitis sons of the old reader of dreams iridymus they never came back for him to read them any more dreams for mighty dyomed made an end of them he then gave chase to xanthus and thune the two sons of phaenops both of them very dear to him for he was now worn out with age and he got no more sons to inherit his possessions but dyomed took both their lives and left their fathers sorrowing bitterly for he never more saw them come home from battle alive and his kinsmen divided his wealth among themselves then he came upon two sons of preon ecomon and chromius as they were both in one chariot he's springing upon them as a lion fastens on the neck of some cow or heifer when the herd is feeding in a compass for all their vain struggles he flung them both from their chariot and stripped the armor from their bodies then he gave their horses to his comrades to take them back to the ships when the neus saw him thus making havoc among the ranks he went through the fight amid the rain of spears to see if he could find panderous when he had found the brave son of lecheon he said panderous where's now your bow your winged arrows you're renowned as an archer in respect of which no man here can rival you nor is there any in licea that can beat you lift then your hands to joe and send an arrow at this fellow who's going so masterfully about and has done such deadly work among the trojans he has killed many a brave man unless indeed he is some god who is angry with the trojans about their sacrifices and is said his hand against them in his pleasure and the son of lecheon answered and he is i take him for none other than the son of tides i know him by his shield the visor of his helmet and by his horses it is possible that he may be a god but if he is the man i say he is he is not making all this havoc without heaven's help but as some god by his side it was shrouded in a cloud of darkness and who turned my arrow aside when it had hit him i had taken aim at him already and hit him on the right shoulder my arrow went through the breast piece of his cures and i made sure i sent him hurrying to the world below but it seems that i have not killed him there must be a god who is angry with me moreover i am neither horse nor chariot in my father's stables there are 11 excellent chariots fresh from the builder quite new with claws spread over them and by each of them there stand a pair of horses chomping barley and rye my old father lecheon urged me again and again when i was at home and on the point of starting to take chariots and horses with me that i might lead the trojans in battle but i would not listen to him it would have been much better if i had done so but i was thinking about the horses which had been used to eat their fill and i was afraid that in such a great gathering of men they might be ill fed so i left them at home and came on foot to ileus armed only with my bow and arrows these it seems are of no use for i've already hit two chieftains the son of atrius and of titius and though i drew blood surely enough i have only made them still more furious i did ill to take my bow down from its peg on the day that i led my band of trojans to ileus and hector service and if ever i get home again does it eyes on my native place my wife and the greatness of my house may someone cut my head off then and there if i do not break the bow and set it on a hot fire such pranks as it plays me a neus answered say no more things will not mend till we too go against this man with chariot and horses and bring him to a trial of arms mount my chariot and note how cleverly the horses of tross can speed hither and thither over the plane in pursuit or flight if joe again vouchsafe's glory to the son of titius they will carry us safely back to the city take hold then of the whip and reins will i stand up on the car to fight or else do you wait this man's onset while i look after the horses a neus replied the son of likeion take the reins and drive if we have to fly before the son of titius the horses will go better for their own driver if they miss the sound of your voice when they expect it they may be frightened and refuse to take us out of the fight the son of titius will then kill both of us and take the horses therefore drive them yourself and i will be ready for him with my spear they then mounted the chariot and drove full speed towards the son of titius stenolus son of companion saw them coming and said to diamed diamed son of titius man after my own heart i see two heroes speeding towards you both of the men of might the one a skillful archer pandora son of likeion the other a neus who sire is an kaisies while his mother is venus mount the chariot and let us retreat do not i pray you press so furiously forward or you make it killed diam had looked angrily at him and entered talking out of flight for i shall not listen to you i am of a race that knows neither flight nor fear and my limbs are as yet unwearyed i am in no mind to mount but it will go against them even as i am palace minerva bids me be afraid of no man and even though one of them escape their steed shall not take both back again i say further and lay my saying to your heart if minerva sees fit to vouch safe me the glory of killing both stay your horses here and make the rains fast in the rim of the chariot then be sure you spring in neus's horses and drive them from the trojan to the achaean ranks there of the stock the great jove gave to tross in payment for his son ganemede and are the finest that live and move under the sun king and kaisies stole the blood by putting his mares to them without leomidon's knowledge and they bore him six foals four are still in his stables but he gave the other two to a neus we shall win great glory if we can take them thus did they converse but the other two had now driven close up to them and the son of lecheon spoke first great and mighty son said he of noble tides my arrow failed to lay you low so i will now try with my spear he poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from it it struck the shield on the son of tides the bronze point pierced it and passed on till it reached the breastplate thereon the son of lecheon shouted out and said you are hit clean through the belly you will not stand up for long and the glory of the fight is mine but i am at all on this maid made answer you have missed not hit and before you too see the end of this matter one or other of you shall glut tough shielded mars with his blood with this he hurled his spear and the nervous guided it on the pandaris's nose near the eye it went crashing in among his white teeth the bronze point cut through the root of his tongue coming out under his chin and his glistening armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground the horses started aside for fear and he was reft of life and strength a neus sprang from his chariot armed with shield and spear fearing less the achaeans should carry off the body he bestrode it as a lion in the pride of strength with shield and spear before him at a cry of battle on his lips resolute to kill the first that should dare face him but the son of tides caught up a mighty stone so huge and great that his men now are it would take two to lift it nevertheless he bore it aloft with ease unaided and with this he struck a neus on the groin where the hip turns in the joint that is called the cup bone the stone crushed this joint and broke both the sinews while its jagged edges tore away all the flesh the hero fell on his knees and propped himself with his hand resting on the ground till the darkness of night fell upon his eyes and now a neus king of men would have perished then and there had not his mother joe's daughter venus who had conceived him by achaeans when he was hurting cattle then quick to mark and thrown her two white arms about the body of her dear son she protected him by covering him with a fold of her own fair garment lest some denian should drive his spear into his breast and kill him thus then did you bear her dear son out of the fight but the son of companionus was not unmindful of the orders the diamond had given him he made his own horses fast away from the hurly burly by binding the reins to the rim of the chariot then he sprang upon a neus's horses and drove them from the trojan to the achaean ranks when he had so done he gave them over to his chosen comrade dipolis whom he valued above all others as the one who is most like minded with himself to take them on to the ships he then remounted his own chariot seized the reins and drove with all speed in search of the son of titius now the son of titius was in pursuit of the syprian goddess spear in hand for he knew her to be feeble and not one of those goddesses that can lord at the mongmen in battle like manerva or ennio the waster of cities and when at last after a long chase he caught her up he flew with her and thrust his spear into the flesh of her delicate hand the point tore through the ambrosial robe which the graces had woven for her and pierced the skin between her wrist and the palm of her hand so that the immortal blood or icor that flows in the veins of the blessed gods came pouring from the wound for the gods do not eat bread nor drink wine hence they have no blood such as ours and are immortal lina screamed aloud and that her son fall but feebus apollo caught him in his arms and hid him in a cloud of darkness lest some danaean should drive his spear into his breast and kill him and diamant shouted out as he left her daughter of joe leave war and battle alone can you not be contented with beguiling silly women if you meddle with fighting you will get what will make you shudder at the very name of war the goddess went dazed and discomforted away and iris fleet is the wind drew her from the throng in pain and with her fair skin all besmirched she found fierce mars waiting on the left of the battle with his spear and his two fleet steeds resting on a cloud whereon she fell on her knees before her brother and implored him to let her have his horses your brother she cried save me and give me your horses to take me to olibis where the gods dwell i am badly wounded by a mortal the son of tadeus who would now fight even with the father joe thus she spoke and mars gave her his gold bedisen steeds she mounted the chariot sick and sorry at heart while iris sat beside her and took the reins in her hand she lashed her horses on and they flew forward nothing left till in a trice they were at high olympus where the gods have their dwelling there she stayed them unloosed them from the chariot and gave them their ambrosial forage but venus flung herself on the lap of her mother dione who threw her arms about her and caressed her saying which of the heavenly beings has been treating you in this way as though you had been doing something wrong in the face of day and laughter loving venus answered how diamet the son of tadeus wounded me because i was bearing my dear son and neus whom i love best of all mankind out of the fight the war is no longer one between trojans and akeans for the denians have now taken to fighting with the immortals buried my child replied dione and make the best of it we dwellers in olympus have to put up with much of the hands of men and we lay much suffering on one another mars had to suffer when autus and afialtus children of oleus bound him in cruel bonds so that he lay 13 months imprisoned in a vessel of bronze mars would have then perished had not fair irriboya stepmother to the son of aloeus called mercury who stalled him away when he was already well now worn out by the severity of his bondage juno again suffered when the mighty son of amphotrion wounded her on the right breast with a three barbed arrow and nothing could assuage her pain so also did huge hades when the same man the son of a just bearing jove hit him with an arrow even at the gates of hell and hurt him badly there on hades went to the house of jove on great olympus angry and full of pain and the arrow in his brawny shoulder caused him great anguish palpeon healed him by spreading soothing herbs on the wound for hades was not of mortal mold daring headstrong evil doer who wracked not of his sin and shooting the gods that dwell in olympus and now minerva has egged this son of tides on against yourself fool that he is for not reflecting that no man who fights with gods will live long or hear his children praddling about his knees when he returns from battle let then the son of tides see that he does not have to fight with one who is stronger than you are then shall his brave wife aegalia daughter of adrastus rouse her whole house from sleep wailing for the loss of her wedded lord diomed the bravest of the achaeans so saying she wiped the icor from the wrist of her daughter with both hands where on the pain left her and her hand was healed but minerva and juno who were looking on began to taunt jove with their mocking talk and minerva was first to speak father jove said she to not be angry with me but i think the syprian must have been persuading some one of the achaean women to go with the trojans of whom she is so very font and while caressing one of the other of them she must have torn her delicate hand with the gold pin of the women's brooch the sire of gods and men smiled and called golden venus to his side my child said he it has not been given you to be a warrior attend henceforth to your own delightful matrimonial duties and leave all this fighting to mars and to minerva thus did they converse but diomed spraying upon anis though he knew him to be in the very arms of apollo not one wit did he fear the mighty god so sat was he on killing anis and stripping him of his armor thrice did he spring forward with his might and main to slay him and thrice did apollo beat back his gleaming shield when he was coming on for the fourth time as though he were a god apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said take heed son of ideas and draw off think not to match yourself against gods for men that walk the earth cannot hold their own with the immortals the son of ideas then gave way for a little space to avoid the anger of the god while apollo took anis out of the crowd and set him in sacred pergamas where his temple stood there within the mighty sanctuary latona and diana healed him and made him glorious to behold while apollo of the silver bow fashioned a wraith in the likeness of anis and armed as he was round this the trojans and akeans hacked at the bucklers about one another's breasts hewing each other's round shields and light hide covered targets then feebus apollo said to mars mars mars bane of men bloodstained stormer of cities can you not go to this man the son of tides who would fight even with father joe and draw him out of the battle he first went up to the syprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist and afterwards sprang upon me too as though he were a god he then took a seat on the top of pergamas while murderous mars went about among the ranks of the trojans cheering them on in the likeness of fleet akemos chief of the thracians sons of priam said he how long will you let your people be thus slaughtered by the akeans would you wait till they are at the walls of troj and nears the son of entizies has fallen he whom we held in as high honor as hector himself helped me then to rescue our brave comrade from the stress of the fight with these words who put heart and soul into them all then sarpedan rebuked hector very sternly hector said he where is your prowess now you used to say that though you had neither people nor allies you could hold the town alone with your brothers and brothers-in-law i see not one of them here they cower as hounds before a lion it is we your allies who bear the brunt of the battle i have come from afar even from licea and the banks of the representus where i have left my wife my infant son and much wealth to tempt whoever is needy nevertheless i head my lisian soldiers and stand my ground against any who would fight me though i have nothing here for the akeans to plunder while you look on without even bidding your men stand firm in defense of their wives see that you fall not into the hands of your foes as men caught in the meshes of a net and they sack your fair city forthwith keep this before your mind night and day and beseech the captains of your allies to hold on without flinching and thus put away their approaches from you so spoke sarpedan and hector smarted under his words he sprang from his chariot clad in his suit of armor and went about among the host brandishing his two spears exhorting the men to fight and raising the terrible cry of battle then they rallied and again faced the akeans but the argives stood compact and firm and were not driven back as the breezes sport with the chaff upon some goodly threshing floor when men are winnowing while yellow series blows with the wind to sift the chaff from the grain and the chaff heaps grow whiter and whiter even so did the akeans whiten in the dust which the horses hooves raised to the firmament of heaven as their drivers turned them back to battle and they bore down with might upon the foe fierce mars to help the trojans covered them in a veil of darkness and went about everywhere among them in as much as febus apollo had told him that when he saw palace minerva leave the fray he was to put courage into the hearts of the trojans for it was she who was helping the denayans then apollo sent an eus forth from his rich sanctuary and filled his heart with valor whereon he took his place among his comrades who were overjoyed at seeing him alive sound and have a good courage but they could not ask him how it at all happened for they were too busy with the turmoil raised by mars and by strife who raged insatiably in their midst the two ajax's ulysses and diamet cheered the denayans on fearless of the fury and onset of the trojans they stood as still as clouds which the son of saturn had spread upon the mountaintops when there is no air and fierce boreas sleeps with the other boisterous winds whose shrill blasts scatter the clouds in all directions even so did the denayans stand firm and unflinching against the trojans the son of atreus went about among them and exhorted them my friends said he quit yourselves like brave men and shun dishonor in one another's eyes amid the stress of battle they that shunned his honor more often live than get killed but they that fly save neither life nor name as he spoke he hurled his spear and hit one of those who were in the front rank the comrade of anus daikun son of pergasus whom the trojans held in no less honor than the sons of pream for he was ever quick to place himself among the foremost the spear of king agamemnon struck his shield and went right through it for the shield stayed it not it drove through his belt into the lower part of his belly and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground then anus killed two champions of the denayans crethon and orcilicus their father was a rich man who lived in a strong city of firre and was descended from the river alpheus whose broad stream flows through the land of the pillions the river begat orcilicus who ruled over much people and was father to daiklis who in his turn begat twin sons crethon and orcilicus well skilled in all the arts of war these when they grew up went to ileus with the argae fleet in the cause of menileus and agamemnon sons of atreus and there they both of them fell as two lions whom their dam has reared in the depths of some mountain forest to plunder homesteads and carry off sheep and cattle till they get killed by the hand of man so were these two vanquished by anus and fell like high pine trees to the ground brave menileus pitted them in their fall and made his way to the front glad and gleaming bronze and brandishing his spear for mars egg demanded do so with intent that he should be killed by anus but antilicus the son of nester saw him and spraying forward fearing that the king might come to harm and thus bring all their labor to nothing when therefore anus and menileus were setting their hands and spears against one another eager to do battle antilicus placed himself by the side of menileus anus bold though he was drew back on seeing the two heroes side by side in front of him so they drew the bodies of crethon and orcilicus to the ranks of the achaeans and committed to two poor fellows into the hands of their comrades they then turned back and fought in the front ranks they killed pila emanis peer of mars leader of the pathologonian warriors menileus struck him on the collar bone as he was standing on his chariot while antilicus hid his charioteer in squire myon the son of antimneus who was turning his horses in flight he hit him with a stone upon the elbow and the reins enriched with white ivory fell from his hands into the dust antilicus rushed towards him and struck him on the temples with his sword where on he fell headfirst from the chariot to the ground there he stood for a while with his head and shoulders buried deep in the dust for he had fallen on sandy soil till his horses kicked him and laid him flat on the ground as antilicus lashed them and drove them off to the host of the achaeans but hector marked them from across the ranks and with a loud cry rushed towards them followed by the strong battalions of the trojans mars and dread ennio led them on she fraught with ruthless turmoil of battle while mars wielded a monstrous spear and went about now in front of hector and now behind him diamed shook with passion as he saw them as a man crossing a wide plain as dismayed to find himself on the brink of some great river rolling swiftly to the sea he sees its boiling waters and starts back in fear even so did the son of titius give ground then he said to his men my friends how can we wonder that hector wields the spear so well some god is ever by his side to protect him and now mars is with him in a likeness of mortal man keep your faces therefore towards the trojans but give ground backwards for we dare not fight with gods as he spoke the trojans drew close up and hector killed two men both in one chariot menesthes and in chialis heroes well versed in war ajax son of telemon pity them in their fall he came close up and hurled his spear hitting ampheus the son of selegus a man of great wealth who lived in paesus and owned much corn growing land but his lot had led him to come to the aid of priam and his sons ajax struck him in the belt the spear pierced the lower part of his belly and he fell heavily to the ground then ajax ran towards him to strip him of his armor but the trojans reigned spears upon him many of which fell upon his shield he planted his heel upon the body and drew out his spear but the darts pressed so heavily upon him that he could not strip the goodly armor from his shoulders the trojan chieftains moreover many in valiant came about him with their spears so that he dare not stay great brave and valiant though he was they drove him from them and he was beaten back thus then did the battle rage between them presently the strong hand of fate impelled tlapolamus the son of hercules a man both brave and of great stature defied sarpedan so the two son and grandson of great joe drew near to one another and tlapolamus spoke first sarpedan said he counselor of the lesions why should you come skulking here you who are a man of peace they lie who call you son of ages burying joe for you are little like those who were of old his children far other was hercules my own brave and lie and hearted father who came here for the horses of leomedan and though he had six ships only and few men to follow him sacked the city of ileus and made a wilderness of her highways you are a coward and your people are falling from you for all your strength and all your coming from lacya you will be no help to the trojans but will pass the gates of hades vanquished by my hand and sarpedan captain of the lesions answered tlapolamus your father overthrew ileus by reason of leomedan's folly and refusing payment to one who had served him well he would not give your father the horses which he had come so far to fetch as for yourself you shall meet death by my spear you shall yield glory to myself and your soul to hades of the noble thus spoke sarpedan and tlapolamus upraised his spear they threw at the same moment and sarpedan struck his foe in the middle of his throat the spear went right through and the darkness of death fell upon his eyes tlapolamus's spear struck sarpedan on the left thigh with such force that it tore through the flesh and grazed the bone but his father as yet warded off destruction from him his comrades bore sarpedan out of the fight in great pain by the weight of the spear that was dragging from his wound they were in such haste and stress as they bore him that no one thought of drawing the spear from his thigh so as to let him walk up rightly meanwhile the achaeans carried off the body of tlapolamus whereon ulysses was moved to pity and panned it for the fray as he beheld him he doubted whether to pursue the son of joe or to make slaughter of the lycean rank and file it was not decreed however that he should slay the son of joe minerva therefore turned him against the main body of the lyceans he killed koreanus, alastor, chromius, altandris, halius, noamon, and persanus and what if slain yet more had not great hector marked him and sped to the front of the fight clad in his suit of nail filling the denayans with terror sarpedan was glad when he saw him coming and he saw him saying son of priam let me not be here to fall into the hands of the denayans help me and since i may not return home to gladden the hearts of my wife and of my infant son let me die within the walls of your city hector made him no answer but rushed onward to fall at once upon the achaeans and kill many among them his comrades then bore sarpedan away and lay him beneath joe's spreading oak tree heligon his friend and comrade drew the spear out of his thigh but sarpedan fainted and a mist came over his eyes presently he came to himself again for the breath of the north wind as it played upon him gave him new life and brought him out of the deep swoon into which he had fallen meanwhile the argives were neither driven towards their ships by mars and hector nor yet did they attack them when they knew that mars was with the trojans they were treated but kept their faces still turned towards the foe who then was first and who was last to be slain by mars and hector they were valiant tootharists and arrestees the renowned charioteer trikas the etolian warrior owenemaus helanus the son of owenops and orcibius of the gleaming girdle who was possessed of great wealth and dwelt by the syphesian lake with the other boesians who lived near him owners of a fertile country now when the goddess juno saw the argives thus falling she said to minerva alas daughter of agesbearing joe unwariable the promise we made menelaus that he should not return to Lee it sacked the city of ileus will be of no effect if we let mars rage thus furiously let us go into the fray at once minerva did not gainsayer there on the august goddess daughter of great Saturn began to harness her gold bedyson steeds hebe with all speed fitted on the eight smoked wheels of bronze that were on either side of the iron axle tree the fellows of the wheels were gold imperishable and over these there was a tire of bronze wondrous to behold the knaves of the wheels were silver turning round the axle upon either side the car itself was made with plated bands of gold and silver and it had a double top rail running all round it from the body of the car there went a pole of silver on to the end of which she bound the golden yoke with the bands of gold that were to go under the necks of the horses then juno put her steeds under the yoke eager for battle and the war cry meanwhile minerva flung her richly embroidered vesture made with her own hands on to her father's threshold and dawned the shirt of joe arming herself for battle she threw her tasseled aegis about her shoulders wreathe ground with route as with a fringe and on it were strife and strength and panic whose blood runs cold moreover there was the head of the dread monster gorgon grim and awful to behold hortent of ages bearing joe on her head she set her helmet of gold with four plumes and coming to a peak both in front and behind decked with the emblems of a hundred cities then she stepped into her flaming chariot and grasped the spear so stout and sturdy and strong with which she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her juno lashed the horses on and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord gates over which the hours preside in whose hands are heaven and olympus either to open the dense cloud that hides them or to close it through these the goddesses drove their obedient steeds and found the son of saturn sitting all alone on the topmost ridges of olympus there juno stayed her horses and spoke to joe the son of saturn lord of all father joe said she are you not angry with mars for these high doings how great and goodly a host of the akians he has destroyed to my great grief and without a the right or reason while the syprian and apollo are enjoying it all at their ease and setting this unrighteous madman on to do further mischief i hope father joe that you will not be angry if i hit mars hard and chase him out of the battle and joe answered set manurva onto him for she punishes them more often than anyone else does juno did as he had said she lashed her horses and they flew forward nothing loth midway between earth and sky as far as a man can see when he looks out upon the sea from some high beacon so far can the loud neighing horses of the gods spring at a single bound when they reached troi and the place where its two flowing streams samois and skamander meet their juno stayed them and took them from the chariot she hid them in a thick cloud and samois made ambrosia spring out for them to eat the two goddesses then went on flying like turtledoves in their eagerness to help the archives when they came to the part where the bravest and most in number were gathered about mighty diamond fighting like lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance there juno stood still and raised a shot like that of brazen voiced stentor whose cry was as loud as that of fifty men together our guys she cried shame on cowardly creatures brave in semblance only as long as akiles was fighting if his spear was so deadly that the trojans dare not show themselves outside the ordainian gates but now they sell it far from the city and fight even at your ships with these words you put heart and soul into them all while manurva sprang to the side of the son of todias whom she found near his chariot and horses cooling the wound that pandorus had given him for the sweat caused by the hand that bore the weight of his shield irritated the hurt his arm was weary with pain and he was lifting up the strap to wipe away the blood the goddess laid her hand on the yoke of his horses and said the son of todias is not such another as his father todias was a little man but he could fight and rushed madly into the fray even when i told him not to do so when he went all unattended as envoy to the city of thieves among the cadmians i bait him feast in their houses and be at peace but with that high spirit which was ever present with him he challenged the use of the cadmians and at once beat them and all that he attempted so mightily did i help him i stand by you too to protect you and i bid you be instant in fighting the trojans but either you are tired out or you are afraid and out of heart and in that case i say that you are no true son of todias the son of oenius diamet answered i know you goddess daughter of age is bearing jove and will hide nothing from you i am not afraid nor out of heart nor is there any slackness in me i am only following your own instructions you told me not to fight any of the blessed gods but if joe's daughter venus came in a battle i was to wound her with my spear therefore i am retreating and bidding the other argives gather in this place for i know that mars is now lording it in the field diamet son of todias replied minerva man after my own heart fear neither mars nor any other of the immortals for i will befriend you nay drive straight at mars and smite him in close combat fear not this raging madman villain incarnate first on one side and then on the other but now he was holding talks with you know and myself saying he would help the argives and attack the trojans nevertheless he is with the trojans and has forgotten the argives with this she caught hold of stenolus and lifted him off the chariot onto the ground in a second he was on the ground whereupon the goddess mounted the car and placed herself by the side of diamet the oaken axel groaned aloud under the burden of the awful goddess and the hero palace minerva took the weapon reins and drove straight at mars he was in the act of stripping huge paraffus son of okissias and bravest of the italians bloody mars was stripping him of his armor and minerva donned the helmet of hades that he might not see her when therefore he saw diamet he made straight for him in that paraffus lie where he had fallen as soon as they were at close quarters he let fly with his bronze spear over the reins and yoke thinking to take diamet's life a minerva caught the spear in her hand and made it fly harmlessly over the chariot diamet then threw and palace minerva drove the spear into the pit of mars's stomach where his undergirdle went round him there diamet wounded him tearing his fair flesh and then drawing his spear out again mars roared as loudly as nine or ten thousand men in the thick of a fight and the akeans and trojans were struck with panic so terrible was the cry he raised as a dark cloud in the sky when it comes on to blow after heat even so did diamet son of tidias see mars ascend into the broad heavens with all speed he reached high olympus home of the gods and in great pain sat down beside joe the son of saturn he showed joe the immortal blood that was flowing from his wound and spoke piteously saying father joe are you not angered by such doings we gods are continually suffering in the most cruel manner at one another's hands while helping mortals and we all owe you a grudge for having be gotten that mad termigant of a daughter who was always committing outrage of some kind we other gods must all do as you bid us but her you neither scold nor punish you encourage her because the pestilent creature is your daughter see how she has been inciting proud diamet to vent his rage on the immortal gods first he went up to the syprian and wounded her in the hand near her wrist and then he sprang upon me too as though he were a god had i not run for it i must either have lain there for long enough in torment among the ghastly corpses or else have been eaten alive with spears till i had no more strength left in me joe looked angrily at him and said do not come whining here surfacing both ways i hate you worst of all the gods in olympus for you are ever fighting and making mischief you have the intolerable and stubborn spirit of your mother juno it is all i can do to manage her and it is her doing that you are now in this plight still i cannot let you remain longer in such great pain you are my own offspring and it was by me that your mother conceived you if however you had been a son of any other god you are so destructive that by this time you should have been lying lower than the titans he then bade peyon heal him whereon peyon spread pain-killing herbs upon his wound and cured him for he was not a mortal mold as the juice of the fig tree curdles milk and thickens it in a moment though it is liquid even so instantly did peyon cure fierce mars then he be washed him and clothed him in goodly rain and he took his seat by his father joe all glorious to behold but juno of argos and manurva avalalkomin now that they had put a stop to the murderous doings of mars went back again to the house of joe end of book five this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information want to volunteer visit libra vox.org recorded by kirsten ferrari the iliott by homer translated by samuel butler book six locus and diamid the story of bellarophone hector and andromica the fight between trojans and akeans was now left to rage as it would and the tide of war surged hither and nither over the plane as they aimed their bronze shot spears at one another between the streams of simoas and xanthus first ajax son of telemon tower of strength to the akeans broke a phalanx of the trojans and came to the assistance of his comrades by killing a camis son of usaurus the best man among the thracians being both brave and of great stature the spear struck the projecting peak of his helmet its bronze point then went through his forehead into the brain and darkness failed his eyes then diamid killed exilis son of tuthranus a rich man who lived in the strong city of erisby and was beloved by all men for he had a house by the roadside and entertained everyone who passed how be it not one of his guests stood before him to save his life and diamid killed both him and his squire calesius who was then his charioteer so the pair passed beneath the earth uriolus killed jresus and afeltius and then went in pursuit of asipus and pettisus whom the night nymph abarbarae had born to noble bucolion bucolion was eldest son to laudamen but he was a bastard while tending his sheep he had converse with the nymph and she conceived twin sons these the son of mesistius now slew and he stripped the armor from their shoulders polypoeties then killed a stylus ulysses pedaites of percoti and two sir aritan ableris fell by the spear of nestor's son antillicus and agamemnon king of men killed elatus who dwelt in pettisus by the banks of the river satanoius latus killed phylacus as he was flying and urupilus slew melanthus then menelaus of the loud war cry took adrestus alive for his horses ran into a tamarisk bush as they were flying wildly over the plane and broke the pole from the car they went on towards the city along with the others in full flight but adrestus rolled out and fell in the dust flat on his face by the wheel of his chariot menelaus came up to him spear in hand but adrestus caught him by the knees begging for his life take me alive he cried son of atreus and you shall have a full ransom for me my father is rich and has much treasure of gold bronze and wrought iron laid by in his house from this store he will give you a large ransom should he hear of my being alive and at the ships of the acheans thus did he plead and menelaus was for yielding and giving him to a squire to take to the ships of the acheans but agamemnon came running up to him and rebuked him my good menelaus said he this is no time for giving quarter has then your house fared so well at the hands of the trojans let us not spare a single one of them not even the child unborn and in its mother's womb let not a man of them be left alive but let all in ilius perish unheeded and forgotten thus did he speak and his brother was persuaded by him for his words were just menelaus therefore thrust adrestus from him where unking agamemnon struck him in the flank and he fell then the son of atrius planted his foot upon the breast to draw his spear from the body meanwhile nester shouted to the our guy of saying my friends danaean warriors servants of mars let no man lag that he may spoil the dead and bring back much booty to the ships let us kill as many as we can the bodies will lie upon the plain and you can despoil them later at your leisure with these words he put heart and soul into them all and now the trojans would have been routed and driven back into ilius had not priam's son helanus wisest of augurs said to hector and danaeus hector and danaeus you two are the mainstays of the trojans and lysians for you are foremost at all times alike in fight and counsel hold your ground here and go about among the host to rally them in front of the gates where they will fling themselves into the arms of their wives to the great joy of our foes then when you have put heart into all our companies we will stand firm here and fight the danaeans however hard they press us for there is nothing else to be meanwhile do you hector go to the city and tell our mother what is happening tell her to bid the matrons gather at the temple of manurva in the acropolis let her then take her key and open the doors of the sacred building there upon the knees of manurva let her lay the largest fairest robe she has in her house the one she sets most store by let her moreover promise to sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goat in the temple of the goddess if she will take pity on the town with the wives and little ones of the trojans and keep the son of tydeus from falling on the goodly city of ileus for he fights with fury and fills men's souls with panic i hold him mightiest of them all we did not fear even their great champion achilles son of a goddess though he be as we do this man his rage is beyond all bounds and there is none can buy with him in prowess hector did as his brother bait him he sprang from his chariot and went about everywhere among the host brandishing his spears urging the men on to fight and raising the dread cry of battle thereon they rallied and again faced the acaians who gave ground and ceased their murderous onset for they deemed that some one of the immortals had come down from starry heaven to help the trojans so strangely had they rallied and hector shouted to the trojans trojans and allies be men my friends and fight with might and main while i go to ileus and tell the old men of our council and our wives to pray to the gods and vow hecatums in their honor with this he went his way and the black rim of hide that went round his shield beat against his neck and his ankles then glocus son of hipolicus and the son of tydeus went into the open space between the hosts to fight in single combat when they were close up to one another diamede of the loud war cry was the first to speak whom i could sir said he who are you among men i have never seen you in battle until now but you are daring beyond all others if you abide my onset woe to those fathers whose sons face my might if however you are one of the immortals and have come down from heaven i will not fight you for even valiant like urgus son of dryus did not live long when he took to fighting with the gods he it was drove the nursing women who were in charge of frenzied back us through the land of nisa and they flung their thyrsie on the ground as murderous like urgus beat them with his ox goat back us himself plunged terror stricken into the sea and fetus took him to her bosom to comfort him for he was scared by the fury with which the man reviled him there on the gods who levities were angry with like urgus and the son of saturn struck him blind nor did he live much longer after he had become hateful to the immortals therefore i will not fight with the blessed gods but if you are of them that eat the fruit of the ground draw near and meet your doom and the son of hypolycus answered son of tydeus why ask me of my lineage men come and go as leaves year by year upon the trees those of autumn the wind sheds upon the ground but when spring returns the forest butts forth with fresh vines even so is it with the generations of mankind the news spring up as the old are passing away if then you would learn my descent it is one that is well known to many there is a city in the heart of argos pastureland of horses called ifira where sisyphus lived who is the craftiest of all mankind he was the son of ailus and had a son named glaucus who was fathered to bolerophon whom heaven endowed with the most surpassing comeliness and beauty but protus devised his ruin and being stronger than he drove him from the land of the archives over which joe had made him ruler for anthea wife of protus lusted after him and would have had him lie with her in secret but bolerophon was an honorable man and would not so she told lies about him to protus protus said she killed bolerophon or die for he would have had converse with me against my will the king was angered but shrank from killing bolerophon so he sent him to licea with lying letters of introduction written on a folded tablet and containing much ill against the bearer he bade bolerophon show these letters to his father-in-law to the end that he might thus perish bolerophon therefore went to licea and the gods conveyed him safely when he reached the rivers anthus which is in licea the king received him with all good will feasted him nine days and killed nine heifers in his honor but when rosy fingered mourn appeared upon the tenth day he questioned him and desired to see the letter from his son-in-law protus when he had received the wicked letter he first commanded bolerophon to kill that savage monster the chimera who was not a human being but a goddess for she had the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent while her body was out of a goat then she breathed forth flames of fire but bolerophon slew her for he was guided by signs from heaven he next fought the far famed soly me and this he said was the hardest of all his battles thirdly he killed the amazons women who were the peers of men and as he was returning thence the king devised yet another plan for his destruction he picked the bravest warriors in all licea and placed them in ambuscade but not a man ever came back for bolerophon killed every one of them then the king knew that he must be the valiant offspring of a god so he kept him in licea gave him his daughter in marriage and made him of equal honor in the kingdom with himself and the liceans gave him a piece of land the best in all the country fair with vineyards and tilled fields to have and to hold the king's daughter bore bolerophon three children isander Hippolychus and laodonia the lord of council lay with laodonia and she bore him noble sarpedon but when bolerophon came to be hated by all the gods he wandered all desolate and dismayed upon the alien plane gnawing at his own heart and shunning the path of men mars in satiate of battle killed his son isander while he was fighting the solemn he his daughter was killed by diana of the golden reins for she was angered with her but Hippolychus was father to myself and when he sent me to Troy he urged me again and again to fight ever among the foremost and out by my peers so as not to shame the blood of my fathers who were the noblest in Ifira and in all licea this then is the descent I claim thus did he speak and the heart of diamid was glad he planted his spear in the ground and spoke to him with friendly words then he said you are an old friend of my father's house great aneus once entertained bolerophon for twenty days and the two exchanged presents aneus gave a belt rich with purple and bolerophon a double cup which I left at home when I sent out for Troy I do not remember tydeus for he was taken from us while I was yet a child when the army of the acans was cut to pieces before thieves henceforth however I must be your host in middle argos and you mine in licea if I should ever go there let us avoid one another's spears even during a general engagement there are many noble trojans and allies whom I can kill if I overtake them and heaven delivers them into my hand so again with yourself there many acans whose lives you may take if you can we too then will exchange armor that all present may know of the old ties that subsist between us with these words they sprang from their chariots grasped one another's hands and plighted friendship but the son of Saturn made Glaucas take leave of his wit for he exchanged golden armor for bronze the worth of a hundred head of cattle for the worth of nine now when hector reached the scam gates and the oak tree the wives and daughters of the trojans came running towards him to ask after their sons brothers kinsmen and husbands he told them to set about praying to the gods and many were made sorrowful as they heard him presently he reached the splendid palace of king priam adorned with colonnades of hewn stone in it there were fifty bed chambers all of hewn stone built near one another where the sons of priam slept each with his wedded wife opposite these on the other side of the courtyard there were 12 upper rooms also of hewn stone for priam's daughters built near one another where his sons-in-law slept with their wives when hector got there his fond mother came to him with lout to see the fairest of her daughters she took his hand within her own and said my son why have you left the battle to come hither are the achaeans woe betide them pressing you hard about the city that you have thought fit to come and uplift your hands to jove from the citadel wait till i can bring you wine that you may make offering to jove into the other immortals and may then drink and be refreshed wine gives a man fresh strength when he is wearied as you now are with fighting on behalf of your kinsmen and hector answered honored mother bring no wine lest you unmand me and i forget my strength i dare not make a drink offering to jove with unwashed hands one who is bespattered with blood and filth may not pray to the son of satan get the matrons together and go with offerings to the temple of minerva driver of the spoil there upon the knees of minerva lay the largest and fairest robe you have in your house the one you set most store by promise moreover to sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goat in the temple of the goddess if she will take pity on the town with the wives and little ones of the trojans and keep the son of taideis from off the goodly city of ilias where he fights with fury and fills men's souls with panic go then to the temple of minerva while i seek Paris and exhort him if he will hear my words would that the earth might open her jaws and swallow him for jove bred him to be the bane of the trojans and of premium and premium sons could i but see him go down into the house of hades my heart would forget its heaviness his mother went into the house and called her waiting women who gathered the matrons throughout the city she then went down into her fragrant storeroom where her embroidered robes were kept the work of Sidonian women whom alexandris had brought over from Sidon when he sailed the seas upon that voyage during which he carried off Helen Huckuba took out the largest robe and the one that was most beautifully enriched with embroidery as an offering to minerva it glittered like a star and lay at the very bottom of the chest with this she went on her way and many matrons with her when they reached the temple of minerva lovely theano daughter of sasaus and wife of antinort opened the doors for the trojans had made her priestess of minerva the women lifted up their hands to the goddess with a loud cry and theano took the robe to lay it upon the knees of minerva praying the while to the daughter of great jove holy minerva she cried protect us of our city mighty goddess break the spear of diamide and lay him low before the skein gates do this and we will sacrifice twelve heifers that have never yet known the goat in your temple if you will have pity upon the town with the wives and the little ones of the trojans thus she prayed but palace minerva granted not her prayer while they were thus praying to the daughter of great jove hector went to the fair house of alexander's which he had built for him by the foremost builders in the land they had built him his house storehouse and courtyard near those of priam and hector on the acropolis here hector entered with a spear eleven cubits long in his hand the bronze point gleamed in front of him and was fastened to the shaft of the spear by a ring of gold he found alexander's within the house busy about his armor his shield and cures and handling his curved bow there too sat our guy felon with her women setting them their several tasks and as hector saw him he rebuked him with words of scorn sir said he you do ill to nurse this rancor the people perish fighting round this our town you would yourself child one whom you saw shirking his part in the combat up then or ere long the city will be in a blaze and alexander's answered hector your rebuke is just listen therefore and believe me when I tell you that I am not here so much through rancor or ill will towards the Trojans as from a desire to indulge my grief my wife was even now gently urging me to battle and I hold it better than I should go for victory is ever fickle wait then while I put on my armor or go first and I will follow I shall be sure to ever take you hector made no answer but Helen tried to soothe him brother said she to my abhorred and sinful self would that a whirlwind had caught me up on the day my brother brought me forth and had borne me to some mountain or to the waves of the roaring sea that should have swept me away ere this mischief had come about but since the gods have devised these evils would at any rate that I had been wife to a better man to one who could smart under dishonour and men's evil speeches this fellow was never yet to be depended upon nor never will be and he will surely reap what he has sown still brother come in and rest upon this seat for it is you who bear the brunt of that toil that has been caused by my hateful self and by the sin of alexander's both of whom jove has doomed to be a theme of song among those that shall be born hereafter and hector answered it may not be seated Helen for all the good will you bear me I cannot stay I am in haste to help the Trojans who miss me greatly when I am not among them but urge your husband and of his own self also let him make haste to overtake me before I'm out of the city I must go home to see my household my wife and my little son for I know not whether I shall ever again return to them or whether the gods will cause me to fall by the hands of the Achaeans then hector left her and forthwith was at his own house he did not find Andromaca for she was on the wall with her child and one of her maids weeping bitterly seeing them that she was not within he stood on the threshold of the women's rooms and said women tell me and tell me true where did Andromaca go when she left the house was it to my sisters or to my brother's wives or is she at the temple of Minerva where the other women are propitiating that awful goddess his good housekeeper answered Hector since you bid me tell you truly she did not go to your sisters nor to your brother's wives nor yet to the temple of Minerva where the other women are propitiating the awful goddess but she is on the high wall of Ilias for she had heard the Trojans were being hard pressed and that the Achaeans were in great force she went to the wall in frenzied haste and the nurse went with her carrying the child Hector hurried from the house when she had done speaking and went down the streets by the same way that he had come when he had gone through the city and had reached the scan gates through which he would go out on to the plane his wife came running toward him Andromaca daughter of great Etion who ruled in Thebes under the wooded slopes of Mount Placus and was king of the Sicilians his daughter had married Hector and now came to meet him with a nurse who carried his little child in her bosom a mere babe Hector's darling son and lovely as a star Hector had named him Scamandrias but the people called him Asteionics for his father stood alone as chief guardian of Ilias Hector smiled as he looked upon the boy but did not speak and Andromaca stood beside him weeping and taking his hand in her own Dear husband said she your valor will bring you to destruction think on your infant son and on my hapless self who ere long shall be your widow where the Achaens will set upon you in a body and kill you it would be better for me should I lose you to lie dead and buried for I shall have nothing left to comfort me when you are gone save only sorrow I have neither father nor mother now Achilles slew my father when he sacked Thebes the goodly city of the Sicilians he slew him but did not for very shame to spoil him when he had burned him in his wondrous armor he raised a barrow over his ashes and the mountain nymphs daughters of ages bearing Jove planted a grove of elms about his tomb I had seven brothers in my father's house but on the same day they all went within the house of Hades Achilles killed them as they were with their sheep and cattle my mother her who had been queen of all the land under Mount Bacchus he brought hither with the spoil and freed her for a great sum but the archer queen Diana took her in the house of your father nay Hector you who to me our father mother brother and dear husband have mercy upon me stay here upon this while make not your child fatherless and your wife a widow as for the host place them near the fig tree where the city can be best scaled and the wall is weakest Rice had the bravest of them come thither and assailed it under the two Ajaxes Idomenius the sons of Atreus and the brave son of Tideus either of their own bidding or because some soothsayer had told them and Hector answered wife I too have thought on all this but with what face should I look upon the Trojans men or women if I shirked battle like a coward I cannot do so I know nothing safe to fight bravely in the forefront of the Trojan host and when renowned unlike for my father and myself well do I know that the day will surely come when mighty Ilias shall be destroyed with Priam and Priam's people but I grieve for none of these not even for Hecuba nor King Priam nor for my brothers many and brave who may fall in the dust before their foes for none of these do I grieve as for yourself when the day shall come on which one of the Achaeans shall rob you forever of your freedom and bear you weeping away it may be that you will have to ply the loom in Argos at the bidding of a mistress or to fetch water from the springs Maceus or Hyperia treated brutally by some cruel task master then will one say who sees you weeping she was wife to Hector the bravest warrior among the Trojans during the war before Ilias on this your tears will break forth anew for him who would have put away the day of captivity for you may I lie dead under the barrow that has heaped over my body and I hear you cry as they carry you into bondage he stretched his arms toward his child but the boy cried and nestled in his nurse's bosom scared at the sight of his father's armor and at the horsehair bloom that nodded fiercely from his helmet his father and mother laughed to see him but Hector took the helmet from his head and laid it all gleaming upon the ground then he took his darling child kissed him and dandled him in his arms praying over him the wild to Jove and to all the gods Jove he cried grant that this my child may be even as myself chief among the Trojans let him be not less excellent in strength and let him rule Ilias with his might then may one say of him as he comes back from battle the son is far better than the father may he bring back the bloodstained spoils of him he has laid low and let his mother's heart be glad with this he laid the child again in the arms of his wife who took him to her own soft bosom smiling through her tears as her husband watched her his heart yearned towards her and he caressed her fondly saying my own wife do not take these things too bitterly to heart no one can hurry me down to Hades before my time but if a man's hour has come be he brave or be he coward there is no escape for him when he has once been born go then within the house and busy yourself with your daily duties your loom your distaff and the ordering of your servants for war is man's matter and mine above all others of them that have been born in Ilias he took his plumed helmet from the ground and his wife went back again to her house weeping bitterly and often looking back towards him when she reached her home she found her maidens within and bade them all joined her in her lament so they mourned Hector in his own house so he was yet alive where they deemed that they should never see him return safe from battle and from the furious hands of the Achaeans Paris did not remain long in his house he donned his goodly armor overlaid with bronze and hastened through the city as fast as his feet could take him as a horse stabled and fed breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is want to bathe in the fair flowing river he holds his head high and his main streams upon his shoulders as he exalts in his strength and flies like the wind to the haunts and feeding ground of mayors even so went forth Paris from high Pergamus gleaming like sunlight in his armor and he laughed aloud as he spent swiftly on his way forthwith he came upon his brother Hector who was then turning away from the place where he had held converse with his wife and he was himself the first to speak sir said he I fear that I have kept you waiting when you are in haste and have not come as quickly as you bade me my good brother answered Hector you fight bravely and no man with any justice can make light of your doings in battle but you are careless and willfully remiss it grieves me to the heart to hear the ill that the Trojans speak about you where they have suffered much on your account let us be going and we will make things right here after should joe vouchsafe us to set the cup of our deliverance before ever living gods of heaven in our own homes when we have chased the Achaeans from Troy end of book six book seven of the aliyah this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Hector and HX fight Hector is getting worsted when night comes on and parts them they exchange presents the burial of the dead and the building of the wall around their ships by the Achaeans the Achaeans by their wine of Agamemnon and Menelaus with these words Hector passed through the gates and his brother Alexandros with him both eager for the fray as one heaven sends a breeze to sailors who have long looked for one in vain and have labored at their oars till they are faint with toil even so welcome was the sight of these two heroes to the Trojans there on Alexandros killed Manusthias the son of Arithos he lived in Arnae and was the son of Arithos the mace man and of Philo Medusa Hector threw a spear at Oynius and struck him dead with a wound in the neck under the bronze room of his helmet Glaucus moreover son of Hippolocus captain of the Lyceans in hard hand to hand fight smote Ifinus son of Dexias on the shoulder as he was spring onto his chariot behind his fleet mares so he fell to the earth from the car and there was no life left in him when therefore Minerva saw these men making havoc of the Argyves she darted down to Ilius from the summit of Olympus and Apollo who was looking on from Pergamus went out to meet her for he wanted the Trojans to be victorious the pair met by the oak tree and King Apollo son of Jov was first to speak what would you have he said daughter of great Jov that your proud spirit has sent you hither from Olympus have you no pity upon the Trojans and would you incline the scales of victory in favor of the Danans let me persuade you for it will be better thus stay the combat for today but let them renew the fight here after till they compass the doom of Ilius since you goddess have made up your mind to destroy the city and Minerva answered so be it far darter it was in this mind that I came down from Olympus to the Trojans and Achaeans tell me then how do you propose to end this present fighting Apollo son of Jov replied let us incite great Hector to challenge one of the Danans in single combat on this the Achaeans will be shamed into finding a man who will fight him Minerva assented and Hellenus son of Priam to find the council of the gods he therefore went up to Hector and said Hector son of Priam here of gods in council I am your brother let me then persuade you fit the other Trojans and Achaeans all of them take their seats and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to meet you in single combat I've heard the voice of the ever living gods and the hour of your doom is not yet come Hector was glad when he heard this saying and went in among the Trojans grasping his spear in the middle to hold them back and they all sat down Agamemnon also bad the Achaeans be seated but Minerva and Apollo in the likeness of vultures perched on Father Jov's high oak tree proud of their man and the ranks sat close ranged together bristling with shield and helmet and spear as when the rising west wind furs the face of the sea and the waters grow dark beneath it so sat the companies of Trojans and Achaeans upon the plane and Hector spoke thus hear me Trojans and Achaeans that I may speak even as I am minded Jov on his high throne has brought our oaths and covenants to nothing and foreshadows ill for both of us till you either take the towers of Troy or are yourselves vanquished at your ships the princess of the Achaeans are here present in the midst of you let him then that will fight me stand forward as your champion against Hector thus I say and may Jov be witness between us if your champion slay me let him strip me of my armor and take it to your ships but let him send my body home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead in like manner if Apollo Verge save me glory and I slay your champion I will strip him of his armor and I will take it to the city of Ilias where I will hang it in the temple of Apollo but I will give up his body that the Achaeans may bury him at their ships and build him a mound by the wide waters of the helis pond then we'll one say here after as he sails his ship over the sea this is the monument of one who died long since a champion who was slayed by mighty Hector thus will one say and my fame shall not be lost thus did he speak but they all held their peace a shame to decline the challenge yet fearing to accept it till at last Manilaus rose and rebuked them for he was angry alas he cried vain braggarts woman forsooth not man that will died indeed will be the stain upon us if no man of the denons will now face Hector may you be turned every man of you into earth and water as you sit spiritless and inglorious in your places I will myself go out against this man but the upshot of the fight will be from on high in the hands of the immortal gods with these words he put on his armor and then oh Manilaus your life would have come to an end at the hands of Hector for he was a far better man had not the princes of the Achaean sprung upon you and checked you King Agamemnon caught him by the right hand and said Manilaus you are mad a truce to this is folly be patient in spite of passion do not think of fighting a man so much stronger than yourself as Hector son of prime who is feared by many another as well as you even Achilles who's far more doubty than you are shrank for meeting him in battle sit down your own people and the Achaeans will send some other champion to fight Hector fearless and fond of battle though he be I wean his when he's will bend gladly under him if he comes out alive from the hurly burly of this fight with these words of reasonable counsel he persuaded his brother where on his spires gladly stripped the armor from off his shoulders then Nestor rose and spoke of a truth he said the Achaean land is fallen upon evil times the old knight Palaeus counselor in order to are among the mermidons loved when I was in his house to question me concerning the race and lineage of all the argives how would it not grieve him could he hear of them now is quailing before Hector any time would he lift his hands in prayer that his soul might leave his body and go down within the house of Hades would by Father Joe of Minerva and Apollo that I was still young and strong as when the Pyleans and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the rapid river Caledon under the walls of Fia and around about the waters of the river Yardinus the god like hero Ariothalion stood forward as their champion with the armor of King Ariothos upon his shoulders Ariothos who men and women surnamed the mace man because he fought neither with bow nor spear but broke the battalions of the foe with his iron mace Lycurgus killed him not in fair fight but by entrapping him in a narrow way where his mace served him in no stead for Lycurgus was too quick for him and speared him through the middle so he fell to earth on his back Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armor which Mars had given him and bore it in battle thence forward but when he grew old and stayed at home he gave it to his faithful squire Ariothalion who in the same armor challenged the foremost man among us but my high spirit made me fight him though none other would venture I was the youngest man of them all but when I fought him Minerva Veg saved me victory he was the biggest and strongest man I ever killed and conquered much ground as he laid sprawled upon the earth with that I was still young and strong as I was then for the son of Priam would then soon find one who would face him foremost among the whole host though you be have none of you any stomach for fighting Hector thus did the old man rebuke them and forthwith nine men started to their feet for most of all uproads king Agamemnon and after him brave dyamed the son of Tidius next were the two age axes man clothed in valor as with a garment and then Idomenius and Mirionys his brother in arms after these eerie pilus son of Oymon the last son of Andrei Amon and Ulysses also rose then nester night of Jarennae again spoke saying cast lots among you to see who will be chosen if he comes alive out of this fight he will have done good service elect to his own soul into the Achaeans thus he spoke and when each of them had marked his lot and had thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus the people lifted their hands in prayer and thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven father Jov granted the lot fall on age axe or on the son of Tidius or upon the king of rich Mycenae himself as they were speaking nester night of Jarennae shook the helmet and from it there fell the very lot which they wanted the lot of age axe the herald borrowed about and showed it to all the chief dens of the Achaeans going from left to right but they none of them owned it when however in due course he reached the man who had written upon it and had put it into the helmet the brave age axe held out his hand and the herald gave him the lot when age axe saw his mark he knew it and was glad he threw it to the ground and said my friends the lot is mine and I rejoice for I shall vanquish Hector I will put on my armor meanwhile pray to King Jov in silence among yourselves that the Trojans may not hear you or loud if you will for we fear no man none shall overcome me neither by force nor cunning for I was born and bred in Salamis and can hold my own in all things with this they fell praying to King Jov the son of Saturn and thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven Father Jov the rulers from Ida most glorious in power vouchsave victory to age axe and let him win great glory but if you wish well to Hector also and would protect him grant to each of them equal fame and prowess thus they prayed and age axe armed himself in his suit of cleaning bronze when he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous Mars when he takes part among men whom Jov is set fighting with one another even so did huge age axe bulwark of the Achaeans spring forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his long spear and strode onward the argives were elated as they beheld him but the Trojans trembled in every limb and the heart even of Hector beat quickly but he could not now retreat and withdraw into the ranks behind him for he had been the challenger age axe came up bearing his shield in front of him like a wall a shield of bronze with seven folds of oxide the work of taekyus who lived in high lay and was by far the best worker in leather he had made it with the hides of seven full fed bulls and over these he had set an eighth layer of bronze holding his shield before him age axe son of Telemon came close up to Hector and menaced him saying Hector you shall now learn man to man what kind of champions the Danons have among them even besides the lionhearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men he now abides at the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people but there are many of us who are well able to face you therefore begin the fight and Hector answered noble age axe son of Telemon captain of the host treat me not as though i were some puny boy or woman that cannot fight i have long been used to the blood and butcheries of battle i'm quick to turn my leather shield either to the right or left for this i deem the main thing in battle i can charge among the chariots and horsemen and in hand to hand fighting can delight the heart of mars albeit i would not take such a man as you off his guard but i will smite you openly if i can he poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it from him it struck the seven fold shield in its outermost layer the eighth which was a bronze and went through six of the layers but in the seventh hide it stayed then age axe through his intern and struck the round shield of the son of Priam the terrible spear went through his gleaming shield and pressed onward through his queer ass of coming workmanship it pierced the shirt against his side but he swerved and thus saved his life they then each of them drew out the spear from his shield and fell on one another like savage lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance the son of Priam struck the middle of age axe's shield but the bronze did not break and the point of his dart was turned age axe then sprang forward and pierced the shield of hector the spear went through it and staggered him as he sprang forward to attack it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring out from the wound but even so hector did not cease fighting he gave ground and with his brawny hand seized his stone rugged and huge that was lying upon the plane with this he struck the shield of age axe on the boss that was in the middle so that the bronze rang again but age axe in his turn caught up a far larger stone swung it aloft and hurled it with prodigious force this millstone of a rock broke hector's shield inwards and threw him down on his back the shield crushing him under it but apollo raised him at once thereon they would have hacked at one another in close combat with their sword had not the heralds messengers of the gods and men come forward one from the trojans and the other from neokeans talthebius and aidaeus both of the honorable men these parted them with their stabs and the good herald aidaeus said my sons fight no longer you are both of you valiance and both are dear to joe we know this but night is falling and the behest of night may not be well gained said age axe son of talomon answered aidaeus bid hector say so for it was he that challenged our princes let him speak first and I will accept his saying then hector said age axe heaven has vegged to you stature and strength and judgment and in wielding the spear you excel all others the achaeans let us for this day cease fighting hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us and give victory to one or the other night is now falling and the behest of night may not be well gained said gladden then the hearts of the achaeans at your ships and more especially those of your own followers and clansmen while I in the great city of king prime bring comfort to the trojans and their women who vie with one another in their prayers on my behalf let us moreover exchange presents that it may be said among the achaeans and the trojans they fought with might and main but were reconciled and parted in friendship on this he gave age axe a silver studded sword with its sheath and leather balderic and in return age axe gave him a girdle died with purple thus they parted and one going to the host of the achaeans and the other to that of the trojans who rejoiced when they saw their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the strong hands of the mighty age axe they let him therefore to the city as one who had been saved beyond their hopes on the other side the achaeans brought age axe elated with victory to agamemnon when they reached the quarters of the son of atreus agamemnon sacrificed for them a five-year-old bull in honor of joe the son of saturn they fled his carcass made it ready and divided it into joints these they cut carefully into smaller pieces putting them on the spits roasting them sufficiently and then drawing them off when they had done all this and had prepared the feast they ate it and every man had his full and equal share so that they were satisfied and king agamemnon gave age axe some slices cut lengthways down the loin as a mark of special honor as soon as they had had had enough to eat and drink old nester whose council was ever truest began to speak with all sincerity and goodwill therefore he addressed them thus son of atreus and other chieftains in as much as many of the achaeans are now dead whose blood mars has shed by the banks of the skamander and their souls have gone down to the house of hades it will be well when morning comes that we should cease fighting we will then wheel our dead together with oxen and mules and burn them not far from the ships that when we sail hence we may take the bones of our comrades home to their children hard by the funeral pier we will build a barrow that shall be raised from the plain for all in common near this let us set about building a high wall to shelter ourselves and our ships and let it have well-made gates that there may be a way through them for our chariots close outside we will dig a deep trench all around it to keep off both horse and foot that the trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us thus he spoke and the princes shouted in a pause meanwhile the trojans held a council angry and full of discord on the acropolis by the gates of king priam's palace and why is antonore spoke hear me he said trojans and dardanians and allies that i may speak even as i am minded let us give up our give helen and her wealth to the sons of atreus for we are now fighting in violation of our solemn covenants and shall not prosper till we have done as i said he then sat down and alexandris husband of the lovely helen rose to speak antonore he said your words are not to my liking you can find a better saying than this if you will if however you have spoken in good earnest then indeed has happened robbed you of your reason i will speak plainly and hereby notified to the trojans that i will not give up the woman for the wealth that i brought home with her from argos i will restore and i will add yet further of my own on this when paris had spoken and taken his seat prime of the race of darkness peer of the gods and council rose and with all sincerity and good will address them thus hear me trojans dardanians and allies that i may speak even as i am minded get your suppers now as hitherto throughout the city but keep your watches and be wakeful at daybreak let ideus go to the ships and tell agamemnon and menelaus sons of atreus the saying of alexandris through whom the squirrel has come about and let him also be instant with them that they now cease fighting till we burn our dead hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us and give victory to one or the other thus did he speak and they did even what he said they took their supper in their companies and at daybreak ideus went his way to the ships he found the denians servants of mars in council at the stern of agamnon ship and took his place in the midst of them sons of atreus he said and princes of the achian host priam and the other trojans have sent me to tell you of the sayings of alexandris through whom the squirrel has come about if so be that you may find it acceptable all the treasure he took with him in his ships to troi would be he had sooner perished he will restore and will add yet further of his own but he will not give up the wedded wife of menelaus though the trojans would have him do so priam bed me inquire further if you will cease fighting till we burn our dead hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us and give victory to one or to the other they all held their peace but presently diamant of the lad war cry saying let there be no taking neither treasure nor yet hellen for even a child may see that the doom of the trojans is at hand the sons of the achians shouted their applause at the words that diamant had spoken and there on agamnon said to ideus ideus you have heard the answer the achians make you and i with them but as concerning the dead i give you leave to bury them for when men are once dead there should be no grudging them the rites of fire let joe the mighty husband of juno be witness to this covenant as he spoke he upheld deceptor in the side of the gods and ideus went back to his strong city of ilias the trojans and dardanians were gathering in council waiting his return when he came he stood in their midst and delivered his message as soon as they heard it they said about their twofold labor some gathering corpses others bringing wood the argues on their part also hastened from their ships some to gather corpses and others to bring in wood the sun was beginning to beat upon the field fresh risen into the vault of heaven from the slow still currents of deep oceanics when the two armies met they could hardly recognize their dead but they washed the cotted gore from off them shed tears over them and lifted them upon their wagons priam had forbidden the trojans to wail aloud so they heaped their dead sadly and silently upon the pyre and having burned them went back to the city of ilias the achians in like manner heaped their dead sadly and silently on the pyre and having burned them went back to their ships now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn chosen bands of the achians were gathering around the pyre and built one barrow that was raised in common for all and hard by this they built a high wall to shelter themselves in their ships they gave it strong gates that there might be a way through them for their chariots and close outside it they dug a trench deep and wide and they planted it within with stakes thus did the achians toil and the gods seated by the side of joe for the lord of lightning marveled at their great work but nettoon lord of the earthquake spoke saying father joe what mortal in the whole world will again take the gods into his council see you not how the achians have built a wall about their ships and driven a trench around it without offering hectic tomes for the gods the fame of this wall will reach as far as dawn itself and men will no longer think anything of the one which feebus apollo and myself built with so much labor for leomon joe was displeased and answered what oh shaker of the earth are you talking about a god less powerful than yourself might be alarmed at what they are doing but your fame reaches as far as dawn itself surely when the achians have gone home with their ships you can shatter their wall and fling it into the sea you can cover the beach with sand again and the great wall of the achians will then be utterly afaced thus did they converse and by sunset the work of the achians was complete they had slaughtered oxen in their tents and got their supper many ships had come with wine from lemnos sent by oinus the son of jason born to him by hip sapile the son of jason freighted them with 10 000 measures of wine which they sent especially to the sons of atreus agamemnon and menelaus from this supply the achians bought their wine some with bronze some with iron some with hides some with whole heifers and some again with captives they spread a goodly banquet and feasted the whole night through as also did the trojans and their allies in the city but all the time joe voted ill and roared with his portentous thunder hail fear got hold upon them and they spilled the wine from their cups onto the ground nor did any dare to drink till he had made offerings to the most mighty son of satyr then they laid themselves down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep and of book seven of the iliad book eight of the iliad this is a leverbox recording all leverbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit leverbox.org this recording is by mark smith of simpsonville south carolina the iliad by homer book eight the victory of the trojans now in mourning clad in her robe of saffron had begun to suffuse light over the earth joe called the gods in council on the topmost crest of serrated ellipis then he smoke and all the other gods gave ear hear me said he gods and goddesses that i may speak even as i am minded let none of you neither goddess nor god try to cross me but obey me every one of you that i may bring this matter to an end if i see anyone acting apart and helping either trojans or denayans he shall be beaten inordinately ere he come back again to ellipis or i will hurl him down into the dark tartarist far into the deepest pit under the earth where the gates are iron and the floor bronze as far beneath hades as heaven is high above the earth that you may learn how much the mightiest i am among you try me and find out for yourself hangs me a golden chain from heaven and lay hold of it all of you gods and goddesses together tug as you will you will not drag joe the supreme counselor from heaven to earth but were i to pull at it myself i should draw you up with earth and see into the bargain then would i bind the chain about some pinnacle of olympus and leave you all dangling in the mid fergament so far am i above all others either of gods or men they were frightened and all of them held their peace for he had spoken masterfully but at last minerva answered father son of saturn king of kings we all know that your might is not to be gained said but we are also sorry for the denayan warriors who are perishing and coming to a bad end we will however since you so bit us refrain from actual fighting but we will make serviceable suggestions to the our guys that they may not all of them perish in your displeasure joe smiled at her and answered take heart my child trito born i am not really an earnest and i wish to be kind to you with this he yoked his fleet horses with hopes of bronze and names of glittering gold he girded himself also with gold about the body seized his gold whip and took his seat in his chariot thereon he lashed his horses and they flew forward nothing lost bitway tweaked earth and starry heaven after a while he reached many fountain dida mother of wild beasts and gargurus where are his grove and fragrant altar there the father of gods and men stayed his horses took them from the chariot and hid them in a thick cloud then he took his seat all glorious upon the topmost crests looking down upon the city of troi and the ships of the akeans the akeans took their morning meal hastily at the ships and afterwards put on their armor the trojans on the other hand likewise armed themselves throughout the city fewer in numbers but nevertheless eager perforce to do battle for their wives and children all the gates were flung wide open and horse and foot sallied forth with a trap as of a great multitude when they were got together in one place shield clashed with shield and spear with spear in the conflict of male clad men mighty was the din as the bust shields pressed hard on one another death cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers and the earth ran red with blood now so long as the day waxed and it was still mourning their weapons beat against one another and the people fell but when the sun had reached mid heaven the sire of all balanced his golden scales and put two fates of death within them one for the trojans and the other for the akeans he took the balance by the middle and when he lifted it up the day of the akeans sank the death fraught scale of the akeans settled down upon the ground while that of the trojans rose heavenwards then he thundered aloud from ida and sent the glare of his lightning upon the akeans when they saw this pale fear fell upon them and they were sore afraid itomanias dare not stay nor yet agaman not nor did the two ajaxes servants of mars hold their ground nester night of jareen alone stood firm bulwark of the akeans not of his own will but one of his horses was disabled alexandris husband of lovely helen had hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head where the main begins to grow away from the skull a very deadly place the horse bounded in his anguish as the arrow pierced his brain and his struggles through others into confusion the old man immediately began cutting the traces with his sword but hector's fleet horses bore down upon him through the route with their bold charioteer even hector himself and the old man would have perished there and then had not diamad bitten quick to mark and with a loud cry called ulysses to help him ulysses he cried noble son of liertes where are you flying to with your back turned like a coward see that you are not struck with a spear between the shoulders stay here and help me to defend nester from this man's furious onset ulysses would not give ear but sped onward to the ships of the akeans and the son of titias flinging himself alone into the thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of nilius sir said he these young warriors are pressing you hard your forces spent and age is heavy upon you your squire is not and your horses are slow to move mount my chariot and see what the horses of troess can do how cleverly they can scud hither and thither over the plane either in flight or in pursuit i took them from the hero anias let us squires attend to your own steeds but let us drive mine straight at the trojans that hector may learn how furiously i too can wield my spear nester night of jereen harken to his words there on the dowdy squires stenilis and kind-hearted uremadan saw to nester's horses while the two both mounted diameds chariot nester took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on they were soon close up with hector and the son of titias aimed to spirit him as he was charging full speed towards them he missed him but struck his charioteer and squire any opious son of noble thibias in the breast by the nipple while the reins were in his hands so that he died there and then and the horses swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer but let him lie for all his sorrow while he went in quest of another driver nor did his steeds have to go long without one for he presently found brave architalumus the son of ifetus and made him get up behind the horses giving the reins into his hand all had then been lost and no help for it for they would have been penned up in ileus like sheep had not the sire of gods and men been quick to mark and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt which fell just in front of diamead's horses with a flare of burning brimstone the horses were frightened and tried to back beneath the car while the reins dropped from nester's hands then he was afraid and said to diamead son of titias turn your horses in flight see you not that the hand of joe is against you today he vouchsafes victory to hector tomorrow if it so please him he will again grant it to ourselves no man however brave may thwart the purpose of joe for he is far stronger than any diamead answered all that you have said is true there is a grief however which pierces me to the very heart for hector will talk among the trojans and say the son of titias fled before me to the ships this is the vaught he will make and the earth then swallow me son of titias replied nester what mean you though hector say that you were a coward the trojans and ardentians will not believe him nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you have laid low so saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the battle and with a cry that rent the air the trojans and hector reigned their darts after them hector shouted to him and said son of titias the denayans have done you honor hitherto as regard your place at table the meals they give you and the filling of your cup with wine henceforth they will despise you for you have become no better than a woman be off girl and coward that you are you shall not scale our walls through any flinching upon my part neither shall you carry off our wives in your ships for I shall kill you with my own hand the son of titias was in two minds whether or no to turn his horses round again and fight him thrice did he doubt and thrice did joe thunder from the height sabita entoken to the trojans that he would turn the battle in their favor hector then shouted to them and said trojans lyceans and dardanians lovers of close fighting be men my friends and fight with might and with main I see that joe is minded about safe victory and great glory to myself while he will deal destruction upon the denayans fools for having thought of building this weak and worthless wall it shall not stay my fury my horses will spring lightly over their trench and when I am out their ships forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them while I slaughter the archives who will be all dazed and bewildered by the smoke then he cried to his horses santhus and podargoth and you athon and goodly lampus pay me for your keep now and for all the honey sweet corn with which andromache daughter of great etion has fed you and for which she has mixed wine and water for you to drink whenever you would before doing so even for me who am her own husband haste in pursuit that we may take the shield of nester the fame of which ascends to heaven for it is of solid gold arm rods and all and that we may strip from the shoulders of diamet the queer ass which vulcan made him could we take these two things the achaeans would set sail in their ships this self-same night thus did he vaunt the queen juno made high olympus quake as she shook with rage upon her throne then said she to the mighty god of neptune what now wide ruling lord of the earthquake can you find no compassion in your heart for the dying denayans who bring you many a welcome offering to helis and to achae wish them well then if all of us who are with the denayans were to drive the trojans back and keep joe from helping them he would have to sit there sulking alone on ida king neptune was greatly troubled and answered juno rash of tongue what are you talking about we other gods must not set ourselves against joe for he is far stronger than we are thus did they converse but the whole space enclosed by the ditch from the ships even to the wall was filled with horses and warriors who were pent up there by hector son of priam now that the hand of joe was with him he could even have set fire to the ships and burn them had not queen juno put it into the mind of angamendon to bestir himself and to encourage the achaeans to this end he went round the ships in tents carrying a great purple cloak and took his stand by the huge black hall of ulysses ship which was middlemost of all it was from this place that his voice would carry farthest on the one hand towards the tents of ajax son of talamon and on the other towards those of achilles for these two heroes well assured of their own strength had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line from this spot then with a voice that could be heard afar he shouted to the denayans saying our guys shame on you cowardly creatures brave in semblance only where are now our vaunts that we should prove victorious the vaunts we made so vengloriously in lemnos when we ate the flesh of horned cattle and filled our mixing bowls to the brim you vowed that you would each of you stand against a hundred or two hundred men and now you prove no match even for one for hector who will be the air long setting our ships in a blaze father jove did you ever so ruin a great king and rob him so utterly of his greatness yet one to my sorrow i was coming hither i never let my ship pass your altars without offering the fat and thigh bones of heifers upon every one of them so eager was i to sack the city of troi about safe me then this prayer suffer us to escape at any rate with our lives and let not the akeans be so utterly vanquished by the trojans thus did he pray and father jove pitying his tears about safe tim that his people should live not die forthwith he sent them an eagle most unfailingly portentous of all birds with a young fawn in its talons the eagle dropped the fawn by the altar on which the akeans sacrificed to jove the lord of omens when therefore the people saw that the bird had come from jove they sprang more fiercely upon the trojans and fought more boldly there was no man of all the many denayans who could then boast that he had driven his horses over the trench and gone forth to fight sooner than the son of titius long before anyone else could do so he slew an armed warrior of the trojans agilist the son of fragman he had turned his horses in flight but the spear struck him in the back midway between his shoulders and went right through his chest and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell forward from his chariot after him came agamemnon and menelus sons of atreus the two ajaxes clothed in valor as with a garment he dominious on his companion and arms naryonis pier of murderous mars and euripolis the brave son of yueyamon ninth came toyser with his bow and took his place under cover of the shield of ajax son of telemon when ajax lifted his shield two sir would peer around and when he had hit anyone in the throng the man would fall dead then two sir would hide back to ajax as a child to its mother and again duck down under his shield which of the trojans did brave two sir first kill orselacus and then orminus and ophelestes dator chromius and godlike lecomphatis amopean son of polyamon and melanippus these in turn did he lay low upon the earth and king agamemnon was glad when he saw him making a habit of the trojans with his mighty bow he went up to him and said two sir man after my own heart son of telemon captain among the host shoot on and be it once the saving of the denayans and the glory of your father telemon who brought you up and took care of you in his own house when you were a child bastard though you were cover him with glory although he is far off i will promise and i will assuredly perform if ajax bearing jove and minerva grant me to sack the city of ilias you shall have the next best mead of honor after my own a tripod or two horses with their chariot or a woman who shall go up into your bed and two sir answered most noble son of atreus you need not urge me from the moment we began to drive them back to ilias i have never ceased so far as in me lies to look out for men whom i can shoot and kill i have shot eight barb shafts and all of them have been buried in the flesh of warlike youths but this mad dog i cannot hit as he spoke he aimed another arrow straight at hector for he was bent on hitting him nevertheless he missed him and the arrow hit crime's brave son gorgithion in the breast his mother fair castiniera lovely as a goddess had been married from asaimi and now he bowed his head as a garden poppy in full bloom when it is weighed down by showers and spring even thus heavy bowed his head beneath the weight of his helmet again he aimed at hector for he was longing to hit him and again his arrow missed for apollo turned it aside but he hit hector's brave charioteer arcatalamus in the breast by the nipple as he was driving furiously into the fight the horses were of decide as he fell headlong from the chariot and there was no life left in him hector was greatly grieved at the loss of his charioteer but for all his sorrow he let him lie where he fell and bade his brother sebreonis who was hard by take the reins sebreonis did as he had said hector thereon with a loud cry sprang from his chariot to the ground and seizing a great stone made straight for toyser with intent to kill him toyser had just taken an arrow from his quiver and had laid it upon the bow string but hector struck him with a jagged stone as he was taking aim and drawing the string to his shoulder he hit him just where the collarbone divides the neck from the chest a very deadly place and broke the sinew of his arms so that his wrist was less and the bow dropped from his hand as they fell forward on his knees ajax saw that his brother had fallen and running towards him bestowed him and shelled at him with a shield meanwhile his two trusty squires mesistius son of achius and alastor came up and bore him to the ships groaning in his great pain jove now again put heart into the trojans and they drove the akeans to their deep trench with hector in all his glory at their head as a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or buttock when he gives him chase and watches rarely for his wheeling even so did hector follow close upon the akeans ever killing the hindmost as they rushed panic-stricken onwards when they had fled to the set stakes and trench and many akeans had been laid low at the hands of the trojans they halted at their ships calling upon one another and praying every man instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods but hector wheeled his horses this way and that his eyes glaring like those of gorgo or murderous mars you know when she saw them had pity upon them and it once said to manurva alas child of aegis bearing jove shall you and i take no more thought for the dying denayans though it be the last time we ever do so see how they perish and come to a bad end before the onset of but a single man hector the son of prime rages with intolerable fury and has already done great mischief manurva answered would indeed this fellow might die in his own land and fall by the hands of the akeans but my father jove is mad with spleen ever foiling me ever headstrong and unjust he forgets how often i saved his son when he was worn out by the labor's uristias had laid on him he would weep till his cry came up to heaven and then jove would send me down to help him if i had had the sense to foresee all this when uristias sent him to the house of hades to fetch the hellhound from arabus he would never have come back alive out of the deep waters of the river sticks and now jove hates me while he lets thetas have her way because she kissed his knees and took hold of his beard when she was begging him to do honor to achilles i shall know what to do next time he begins calling me his gray eye darling get her horses ready while i go within the house of aegis bearing jove and put on my armor we shall then find out whether prime son hector will be glad to meet us in the highways of battle or whether the trojans will glut hounds and vultures with the fat of their flesh as they be dead by the ships of the acaians thus did she speak and white armed juno daughter of great saturn obeyed her words she set about harnessing her gold bedisoned steeds while minerva daughter of aegis bearing jove flung her richly vesture made with her own hands on to the threshold of her father and donned the shirt of jove arming herself for battle then she stepped into her flaming chariot and grasped the spear so stout and sturdy and strong with which she quells the ranks of heroes who would have displeased her juno lashed her horses and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew open of their own accord gates over which the hours preside in whose hands are heaven and olympus either to open the dense cloud that hides them or to close it through these the goddesses drove their obedient steeds but father jove when he saw them from ida was very angry and sent winged iris with a message to them go said he bleed iris turn them back and see that they do not come near me for if we come to fighting there will be mischief this is what i say and this is what i mean to do i will lame their horses for them i will hurl them from their chariot and will break it in pieces it will take them all ten years to heal the wounds my lightning shall inflict upon them my grey eyed daughter will then learn what quarreling with her father means i am less surprised and angry with judo for whatever i say she always contradicts me with this iris went her way fleet as the wind from the heights of ida to the lofty summits of lupus she met the goddesses at the outer gates of its many valleys and gave them her message what said she are you about are you mad the son of satan forbids going this is what he says and this is what he means to do he will lame your horses for you he will hurl you from your chariot and will break it in pieces it will take you all ten years to heal the wounds his lightning will inflict upon you that you may learn grey eyed goddess what quarreling with your father means he is less hurt and angry with judo for whatever he says she always contradicts him but you bold hussy will you really dare to raise your huge spear in defiance of joe with this she left them and judo said to minerva of a truth child of age aspiring joe i am not for fighting men's battles further in defiance of joe let them live or die as luck will have it and let joe meet out his judgments upon the trojans and denians according to his own pleasure she turned her speeds the hours presently on yoke them made them fast through their ambrosial majors and lean the chariot against the end wall of the courtyard the two goddesses then sat down upon their golden thrones amid the company of the other gods but they were very angry presently father joe drove his chariot to olympus and entered the assembly of gods the mighty lord of the earthquake unyoked his horses for him set the car upon its stand and threw a cloth over it joe then sat down upon his golden throne and olympus reeled beneath him minerva and judo sat alone apart from joe and neither spoke nor asked in questions but joe knew what they meant and said minerva and judo why are you so angry are you fatigued with killing so many of your dear friends the trojans be this as it may such as the might of my hands that all the gods and olympus cannot turn me you were both of you trembling all over or ever you saw the fight in its terrible doings i tell you therefore and it would have surely been i should have struck you with lightning and your chariots would never have brought you back again to olympus minerva and judo groaned in spirit as they sat side by side and brooded mischief for the trojans minerva sat silent without a word for she was in a furious passion and bitterly incensed against her father but judo could not contain herself and said what dread son of saturn are you talking about we know how great your power is nevertheless we have compassion upon the deneyan warriors who are perishing and coming to a bad end we will however since you so bid us refrain from actual fighting but we will make serviceable suggestions to the argives that they may not all of them perish in your displeasure and joe answered tomorrow morning judo if you choose to do so you will see the son of saturn destroying large numbers of the arg-guides for fierce hector shall not cease fighting till he has roused the son of pilius when they are fighting in dire straits at their ship's sterns about the body of patricklas like it or no this is how it is decreed for odd high care you may go to the lowest depths beneath earth and sea where eapodists and saturn dwell in lone tartarists with neither ray of light nor breath of wind to cheer them you may go on and on till you get there and i shall not care one wit for your displeasure you are the greatest vixen living jeno made him no answer the son's glorious orb now sank into oceanus and drew down night over the land sorry indeed where the trojans when light failed them but welcome and thrice prayed for did darkness fall upon the acheans then hector led the trojans back from the ships and held a council on the open space near the river where there was a spot clear of corpses they left their chariots and sat down on the ground to hear the speech he made them he grasped the spear eleven cubits long the bronze point of which gleamed in front of it while the ring rounded spearhead was of gold spear in hand he spoke hear me said he trojans dardanians and allies i deemed but now that i should destroy the ships and all the acheans with them ere i went back to ileus but darkness came on too soon it was this alone that saved them and their ships upon the seashore now therefore let us obey the behests of night and prepare our suppers take your horses out of their chariots and give them their feeds of corn then make speed to bring sheep and cattle from the city bring wine also and corn for your horses and gather much wood that from dark till dawn we may burn watchfires whose flare may reach to heaven for the acheans may try to fly beyond the sea by night and they must not embark scatheless and unmolested many a man among them must take a dart with him to nurse at home hit with spear or arrow as he is leaping on board his ship that others may fear to bring war and weeping upon the trojans moreover let the heralds tell it about the city that the growing youths and gray-bearded men are to camp upon its heaven-built walls let the women each of them light a great fire in her house and let watch be safely kept lest the town be entered by surprise while the host is outside see to it brave chariots as i have said and let the suffice for the moment at daybreak i will instruct you further i pray and hope to joven to the gods that we may then drive those fates bed hounds from our land for tis the fates that have borne them and their ships hither this night therefore let us keep watch but with early morning let us put on our armor and rouse fierce war at the ships of the acheans i shall then know whether brave diamet the son of titius will drive me back from the ships to the wall or whether i shall myself slay him and carry off his bloodstained spoils tomorrow let him show his medal abide by spear if he dare i wean that at break of day he shall be among the first to fall and many another of his comrades round him would that i were sure of being immortal and never growing old and of being worshiped like manurva and apollo as i am that this day will bring evil to the argives thus spoke hector and their trojans shouted applause they took their sweating steeds from under the yoke and made them fast each by his own chariot they made haste to bring sheep and cattle from the city they brought wine also and corn from their houses and gathered much wood they then offered unblemished peccatooms to the immortals and the wind carried the sweet savor of sacrifice to heaven but the blessed gods per took not thereof for they bitterly hated alias with prime and primes people thus high in hope they sat through the live long night by the highways of war at many a watch fire did they kindle as when the stars shine clear and the moon is bright there is not a breath of air not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland when it stands out in the ineffable radiance that breaks from the serene of heaven the stars can all of them be told and the heart of the shepherd is glad even thus shown the watch fires of the trojans before alias midway between the ships and the river xanthus a thousand campfires gleamed upon the plane and in the glow of each there sat fifty men while the horses champing oats and corn beside their chariots waited till dawn should come and a book eight book nine of the iliad this is a leber vox recording all leber vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit leber vox.org the iliad by homer translated by samuel butler book nine recording by michael helion the embassy to achilles thus did the trojans watch but panic comrade of bloodstained route had taken fast hold of the achaeans and their princes were all of them in despair as when the two winds that blow from thrace the north and the northwest spring up of a sudden and rouse the fury of the mane in a moment the dark waves up rear their heads and scatter their sea rack in all directions even thus troubled were the hearts of the achaeans the son of aches and dismay bade the heralds called the people to a council man by man but not to cry the matter aloud he made haste also himself to call them and they sat sorry at heart and their assembly agamemnon shed tears as it were a running stream or cataract on the side of some sheer cliff and thus with many a heavy sigh he spoke to the achaeans my friends said he princes and counselors of the archives the hand of heaven has been laid heavily upon me cruel jove gave me his solemn promise that i should sack the city of troi before returning but he has played me false and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to argos with the loss of much people such is the will of jove who has laid many a proud city in the dust as he will yet lay others for his power is above all now therefore let us all do as i say and sail back to our own country for we shall not take troi thus he spoke and the sons of the achaeans for a long while sat sorrowful there but they all held their peace till it last diamied if the loud battle cry made answer saying son of atreus i will chide your folly as is my right in council be not then aggrieved that i should do so in the first place you attacked me before all the danians and said i was a coward and no soldier the argives young and old know that you did so but the son of scheming sadden and doubt you by haves only he gave you honor as the chief ruler over us but valor which is the highest both right and might he did not give you sir think you that the sons of the achaeans are indeed as unwarlike and cowardly as you say they are if your own mind is set upon going home go the way is open to you the many ships that followed you from mykenei stand ranged upon the seashore but the rest of us stay here till we have sacked troi nay though these two should turn homeward with their ships stenolus and myself will still fight on till we reach the goal of ileus for heaven was with us when we came the sons of the achaeans shouted applause at the words of diamied and presently nest or rose to speak son of tydeus said he in war your prowess is beyond question and in council you excel all who are of your own years no one of the achaeans can make light of what you say nor gainsay it but you have not yet come to the end of the whole matter you are still young you might be the youngest of my own children still you have spoken wisely and have counseled the chief of the achaeans not without discretion nevertheless i am older than you and i will tell you everything therefore let no man not even king agamemnon disregard my saying for he that foment civil discord is a clanless heartless outlaw now however let us obey the behests of night and get our suppers but let the sentinels every man of them camp by the trench that is without the wall i'm giving these instructions to the young men when they have been attended to do you son of achaeus give your orders for you are the most royal among us all prepare a feast for your counselors it is right and reasonable that you should do so there is abundance of wine in your tents which the ships of the achaean spring from thrace daily you have everything at your disposal wherewith to entertain guests and you have many subjects when many are got together you can be guided by him whose counsel is wisest and sorely do we need shrewd and prudent counsel for the foe has lit his watch fires hard by our ships who can be other than dismayed this night will either be the ruin of our host or save it thus did he speak and they did even as he had said the sentinels went out in their armor under command of nester's son thrasimides a captain of the host and the bold warriors is caliphus and yelemannus there were also marionis apharius and depyrus and the son of crayon noble like amides there were seven captains of the sentinels and with each they went a hundred youths armed with long spears they took their places midway between the trench and the wall and when they had done so they lit their fires and got every man his supper the son of atreus then bade many counselors of the achaeans to his quarters prepared in a great feast in their honor they laid their hands on the good things that were before them and as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink old nestor whose counsel was ever truest was the first to lay his mind before them he therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus with yourself most noble son of atreus king of men agamemnon will i both begin my speech and end it for you a king over much people jove moreover has vouchsafed you to wield the scepter and to uphold righteousness that you may take thought for your people under you therefore it behooves you above all others both to speak and to give ear and to out the counsel of another who shall have been minded to speak wisely all turns on you and on your commands therefore i will say what i think will be best no man will be of a truer mind than that which has been mine from the hour when you sir angered achilles by taking the girl brisceus from his tent against my judgment i urged you not to do so but you yielded to your own pride and dishonored a hero whom heaven itself had honored for you still hold the prize that had been awarded to him now however let us think how we may appease him both with presence and fair speeches that may conciliate him and king agamemnon answered sir you have proved my folly justly i was wrong i own it one whom heaven befriends is in himself a host and jove has shown that he befriends this man by destroying much people of the achaeans i was blinded with passion and yielded to my worser mind therefore i will make amends and will give him great gifts by way of atonement i will tell them in the presence of you all i will give him seven tripods that have never yet been on the fire and ten talents of gold i will give him 20 iron cauldrons and 12 strong horses that have won races and carried off prizes rich indeed both in land and gold is he that has as many prizes as my horses have won me i will give him seven excellent work women lesbians whom i chose for myself when he took lesbos all of surpassing beauty i will give him these and with them her whom i airwild took from him the daughter of brisceus and i swear a great oath that i never went up into her couch nor have been with her after the manner of men and women all these things will i give him now and if you're after the gods vouchsafe me to sack the city of prime let him come when we achaeans are dividing the spoil and load his ship with gold and bronze to his liking furthermore let him take 20 trojan women the loveliest after hell in herself then when we reach a key in argos wealthiest of all lands he shall be my son-in-law and i will show him like honor with my own dear son arrestees who is being nurtured in all abundance i have three daughters chrysothemus leodici and ifia nasa let him take the one of his choice freely and without gifts of wooing to the house of paleos i will add such dower to boot as no man had ever yet gave his daughter and will give him seven well-established cities cardameli anope and hiri where there is grass holy fairy and the rich meadows of anthea epia also and the vine clad slopes of peticis all near the sea and on the borders of sandy pilus the men that dwell there are rich in cattle and sheep they will honor him with gifts as though he were a god and be obedient to his comfortable ordinances all this will i do if he will now forego his anger let him then yield it is only hades who is utterly ruthless and unyielding and hence he is of all gods the one most hateful to mankind moreover i am older and more royal than himself therefore let him now obey me then nestor answered most noble son of atreus king of men agamemnon the gifts you offer are no small ones let us then send chosen messengers who will make go to the tent of achilles son of paleos without delay let those go whom i shall name let phoenix dear to joe lead the way let ajax and ulysses follow and let the heralds odious and uribities go with them now bring water for our hands and bid all keep silence while we pray to joe for the son of saturn if so be that he may have mercy upon us thus did he speak and his saying pleased them well men servants poured water over the hands of the guests while pages filled the mixing bowls with wine and water and handed it round after giving every man his drink offering then when they had made their offerings and had drunk each as much as he was minded the envoy set out from the tent of agamemnon son of atreus and nestor looking first to one and then to another but most especially at ulysses was instant with them that they should prevail with the noble son of paleos they went their way by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed earnestly to earth encircling neptune that the high spirit of the son of aeacus might incline favorably towards them when they reached the ship's intense of the murmur dense they found achilles playing on a lyre fair of conning workmanship and its crossbar was of silver it was part of the spoils which he had taken when he had sacked the city of the ishan and he was now diverting himself with it and singing the feats of heroes he was alone with patrickless who sat opposite to him and said nothing waiting till he should cease singing ulysses and ajax now came in ulysses leading the way and stood before him achilles sprang from his seat with the lyre still in hand and patrickless when he saw the strangers rose also achilles then greeted them saying all hail and welcome you must come upon some great matter you who for all my anger are still dearest to me of the aeacians with this he led them forward and made them sit on seats covered with purple rugs then he said to patrickless who was close by him son of menetius set a larger bowl upon the table mix less water with the wine and give every man his cup for these are very dear friends who are now under my roof patrickless did as his comrade made him he set the chopping block in front of the fire and on it he laid the loin of a sheep the loin also of a goat and the chin of a fat hog auto meat and held the meat while achilles chopped it he then sliced the pieces and put them on spits while the son of menetius made the fire burn high when the flame had died down he spread the embers laid the spits on top of them lifting them up and setting them upon the spit racks and he sprinkled them with salt when the meat was roasted he set it on platters and handed bread around the table in fair baskets while achilles dealt them their portions then achilles took his seat facing ulysses against the opposite wall and made his comrade patrickless offer sacrifice to the gods so he cast the offerings into the fire and they laid their hands upon the good things that were before them as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink a jacks made a sign to phoenix and when he saw this ulysses filled his cup with wine and pledged achilles hail said he achilles we have had no scant of good cheer neither in the tent of agamemnon nor yet here there's been plenty to eat and drink but our thoughts turn upon no such matter sir we are in the face of great disaster and without your help know not whether we shall save our fleet or lose it the trojans and their allies have camped hard by our ships and by the wall they have lit watch fires throughout their host and deemed that nothing can now prevent them from falling on our fleet jove moreover has sent his lightning on their right hector in all his glory rages like a maniac confident that jove is with him he fears neither god nor man but he's gone raving mad and prays for the approach of day he vows that he will hew the high sterns of our ships and pieces set fire to their hulls and make havoc of the achaeans while they are dazed and smothered in smoke i much fear that heaven will make good his boasting and it will prove our lot to perish at troi far from our home in argos up then and late though it be save the sons of the achaeans who faint before the fury of the trojans you will repent bitterly hereafter if you do not for when the harm is done there will be no curing it consider erot be too late and save the danians from destruction my good friend when your father paleo sent you from fithia to agamemnon they did not charge you saying son manurva and juno will make you strong if they choose but check your temper for the better part is in goodwill ashuvane quarreling and the achaeans old and young will respect you more for doing so these were his words but you have forgotten them even now however be appeased and put away your anger from you agamemnon will make you great amends if you will forgive him listen and i will tell you what he has said in his tent that he will give you he will give you seven tripods that have never yet been on the fire and 10 talents of gold 20 iron cauldrons and 12 strong horses that have won races and carried off prizes rich indeed both in land and gold as he who has had as many prizes as these horses have won at for agamemnon moreover he will give you seven excellent work women lesbians whom he chose for himself when you took lesbos all of surpassing beauty he will give you these and with them her whom the airwild took from you the daughter of brisius and he will swear a great oath he has never gone up into her couch nor been with her after the manner of men and women all these things will he give you now down and if hereafter the gods vouchsafe him to sack the city of priam you can come when we achaeans are dividing the spoil and load your ship with golden bronze to your liking you can take 20 trojan women the loveliest after helen herself then when we reach a key in argos wealthiest of all lands you shall be his son-in-law and he will show you like honor with his own dear son arrestees who is being nurtured in all abundance agamemnon has three daughters chrysothemus leodice and ifian asa you may take the one of your choice freely and without gifts of wooing to the house of paleus he will add such dower to boot as no man ever yet gave his daughter and will give you seven well-established cities cardameli and api and hiri where there is grass holy ferius and the rich meadows of anthea ipia also and the vine clad slips of peticis all near the sea and on the borders of sandy pelos the men that dwell there are rich in cattle and sheep they will honor you with gifts as though you were a god and be obedient to your comfortable ordinances all this will he do if you will now forego your anger moreover though you hate both him and his gifts with all your heart yet pity the rest of the achaeans who are being harassed and all their host they will honor you as a god and you will earn great glory at their hands you might even kill hector he will come within your reach for he is infatuated and declares that not a dana on whom the ships have brought can hold his own against him achilles answered ulysses noble son of laertes i should give you formal notice plainly in an all fixity of purpose that there be no more of this cajoling from whatsoever quarter it may come him do i hate even as the gates of hell who says one thing while he hides another in his heart therefore i will say what i mean i will be appeased neither by agamemnon son of atreus nor by any of the other danaans for i see that i have no thanks for all my fighting he that fights fares no better than he that does not coward and hero are held in equal honor and death deals like measure to him who works and to him who is idle i have taken nothing by all my hardships with my life ever in my hand as a bird when she has found a morsel takes it to her nestlings and herself fares hardly even so many a long night have i been wakeful and many a bloody battle have i waged by day against those who are fighting for their women with my ships i have taken 12 cities and 11 round about troi have i stormed with my men by land i took great store of wealth from every one of them but i gave all up to agamemnon son of atreus he stayed where he was by his ships yet of what came to him he gave little and kept much himself nevertheless he did distribute some means of honor among the chieftains and kings and these have them still for me alone of the achaeans that he take the woman in whom i delighted let him keep her and sleep with her why pray must the argives need spite the trojans what made the son of atreus gather the host to bring them was it not for the sake of helen are the sons of atreus the only men in the world who love their wives any man of common right feeling will love and cherish her who is his own as i this woman with my whole heart though she was but a fruitling of my spear agamemnon has taken her from me he has played me false i know him let him tempt me no further for he shall not move me let him look to you ulysses and the other princes to save his ships from burning he has done much without me already he has built a wall he has dug a trench deep and wide all rounded and he has planted it with stakes but even so he stays not the murderous might of hector so long as i fought the achaeans hector suffered not the battle range far from the city walls he would come to the ski and gates and the oak tree but no further once he stayed to meet me and hardly did he escape my onset now however since i am in no mood to fight him i will tomorrow offer sacrifice to jove and all the gods i will draw my ships into the water and then victual them duly tomorrow morning if you care to look you will see my ships on the helispaunt and my men rowing out to sea with might and main if great neptune vouch saves me a fair passage in three days i shall be in fifth year i have much there that i left behind me when i came here to my sorrow and i shall bring back still further store of gold of red copper of fair women and of iron my share of the spoils that we have taken but one prize he who gave his insolently taken away tell him all as i know bid you and tell him in public that the achaeans may hate him and be aware of him should he think that he can yet do others for his effrontery never fails him as for me hound that he is he dares not look me in the face i will take no counsel with him and i will undertake nothing in common with him he has wronged me and deceived me enough he shall not poison me further let him go his own way for jove has robbed him of his reason i loathe his presence and for himself care not once straw he may offer me 10 or even 20 times what he has now done nay not though it be all that he has in the world both now or ever shall have he may promise me the wealth of orcominos or of egyptian thieves which is the richest city in the whole world for it has a hundred gates through each of which 200 men may drive it once with their chariots and horses he may offer me gifts as the sands of the sea or of the dust of the plane in multitude but even so he shall not move me till i have been revenged in full for the bitter wrong he has done me i will not marry his daughter she may be fair as venus and skillful as menerva but i will have none of her let another take her who may be a good match for her and who rules a larger kingdom if the gods spare me to return home palaeus will find me a wife there are a key in women in helis and vithia daughters of kings that have cities under them of these i can take whom i will and marry her many a time i was minded when at home in vithia to woo and wed a woman who would make me a suitable wife and to enjoy the riches of my old father palaeus my life is more to me than all the wealth of helius while it was yet at peace before the achaeans went there or than all the treasure that lies on the stone floor of apollo's temple beneath the cliffs of pitho cattle and sheep are to be had for harrying and a man may buy both tripods and horses if he wants them but when his life is once left him it can either be bought nor harried back again my mother thetis tells me that there are two ways in which i may meet my end if i stay here and fight i shall not return alive but my name will live forever whereas if i go home my name will die but it will be long air death shall take me to the rest of you i say go home for you will not take ilius joevis held his hand over her to protect her and her people have taken heart go therefore as in duty bound and tell the princes of the achaeans the message that i've sent them tell them to find some other plan for the saving of their ships and people for so long as my displeasure lasts the one that they have now hit upon may not be as for phoenix let him sleep here that he may sail with me in the morning if he so will but i will not take him by force they all held their peace dismayed at the sternness with which he had denied them till presently the old knight phoenix and his great fear of the ships of the achaeans burst into tears and said nobile achilles if you are now minded to return and in the fierceness of your anger will do nothing to save the ships from burning how am i son can i remain here without you your father paleo spayed me to go with you when he sent you here as a mere lad from fithia to agamemnon you knew nothing neither of war nor of the arts whereby men make their mark in council and he sent me with you to train you in all excellence of speech and action therefore my son i will not stay here without you no not though heaven itself vouchsafe to strip my years from off me and make me young as i was when i first left helis the land of fair women i was then flying the anger of father amateur son of ormenus who was furious with me in the matter of his concubine of whom he was enamored to the runging of his wife my mother my mother therefore prayed me without ceasing to lie with the woman myself that's so she hate my father and in the course of time i yielded but my father soon came to know and cursed me bitterly calling the dread irini's to witness he prayed that no son of mine might ever sit upon knees and the gods jove of the world below an awful prasparini fulfilled his curse i took counsel to kill him but some god stayed my rashness and bade me think on men's evil tongues and how i should be branded as the murderer of my father nevertheless i could not bear to stay in my father's house with him so bitter against me my cousins and my clansmen came about me and pressed me sorely to remain many a sheep and many an ox did they slaughter and many a fat hog did they set down to roast before the fire many a jar too did they brooch of my father's wine nine whole nights did they set a guard over me taking it in turns to watch and they kept a fire always burning both in the cloister of the outer court and in the inner court at the doors of the room where i lay but when the darkness of the tenth night came i broke through the closed doors of my room and climbed the wall of the outer court after passing quickly and unperceived through the men on guard and the women servants i then fled through hellas till i came to fertile fifthia mother of sheep and to king paleos who made me welcome and treated me as a father treats an only son who will be heir to all his wealth he made me rich and set me over much people establishing me on the borders of fifthia where i was chief ruler over the dilopians it was i achilles who had the making of you i loved you with all my heart for you would eat neither at home nor when you had gone out elsewhere till i had first set you upon my knees cut up a dainty morsel that you were to eat and held the wine cup to your lips many a time have you slobbered your wine and baby helplessness over my shirt i had infinite trouble with you but i knew that heaven had vouchsafed me no offspring of my own and i made a son of you achilles that in my hour of need you might protect me now therefore i say battle with your pride and beat it cherish not your anger forever the might and majesty of heaven are more than ours but even heaven may be appeased and if a man has sinned he prays the gods and reconciles them to himself by his piteous cries and by frankincense with drink offerings and the savor of burnt sacrifice for prayers are his daughters to great jove halt wrinkled with eyes of scents they follow in the footsteps of sin who being fierce and fleet of foot leaves them far behind and ever baneful to mankind outstrips them even to the ends of the world but nevertheless the prayers come hobbling and healing after if a man has pity upon these daughters of jove when they draw near him they will bless him and hear him too when he is praying but if he deny them and will not listen to them they go to jove the son of sadden and pray that he may presently fall into sin to his ruin bitterly hereafter therefore achilles give these daughters of jove due reverence and bow before them as all good men will bow we're not the son of atreus offering you gifts and promising others later if he were still furious and implacable i am not he that would bid you throw off your anger and help the achaeans no matter how great their need but he is giving much now and more hereafter he has sent his captains to urge his suit and he has chosen those of who have all the archives are most acceptable to you make not then their words and their coming to be of none effect your anger has been righteous so far we have heard in song how heroes of old time quarreled when they were aroused to fury but they could still be won by gifts and fair words could soothe them i have an old story in my mind a very old one but you are all friends and i will tell us the curates and the itoleans were fighting and killing one another round caledon the itoleans defending the city and the curates trying to destroy it for diana of the golden throne was angry and did them hurt because onius had not offered her his harvest first fruits the other gods had all been feasted with hecatoms but to the daughter of great jove alone he had made no sacrifice he had forgotten her or somehow or other it had escaped him and this was a grievous sin thereon the archer goddess in her displeasure sent a prodigious creature against him a savage wild boar with great white tusks that did much harm to his orchard lands uprooting apple trees in full bloom and throwing them to the ground but meliagra son of onius got huntsman and hounds from many cities and killed it for it was so monstrous that not a few were needed and many a man did it stretch upon his funeral pyre on this the goddess set the curates and the itoleans fighting furiously about the head and skin of the boar so long as meliagra was in the field things went badly for the curates and for all their numbers that could not hold their ground under the city walls but in the course of time meliagra was angered as even a wise man will sometimes be he was incensed with his mother althea and therefore stayed at home with his wedded wife fair cleopatra who was daughter of marpessa daughter of unius and of ides the man then living he it was who took his bow and faced king apollo himself for fair marpessa's sake her father and mother then named her alcyon because her mother had mourned with the plaintive strains of the halcyon bird when febus apollo had carried her off meliagra then stayed at home with cleopatra nursing the anger which he felt by reason of his mother's curses his mother grieving for the death of her brother prayed the gods and beat the earth with her hands calling upon hades and an awful prosperity she went down upon her knees and her bosom was wet with tears as she prayed that they would kill her son an erinese that walks the darkness and knows no ruth heard her from arabus then there was the din of battle about the gates of caledon and the dull thump of the battering against their walls there on the elders of the itolians besot meliagra they sent the chiefest of their priests and begged him to come out and help them promising him a great reward they bade him choose 50 plow gates the most fertile in the plane of caledon the one half vineyard the other open plow land the old warrior onus implored him standing at the threshold of his room and beating the doors in supplication his sisters and his mother herself besot him soar but he the more refused them those of his comrades who are nearest and dearest to him also prayed him but they could not move him till the foe was battering at the very doors of his chamber and the curatees had scaled the walls and were setting fire to the city then at last his sorrowing wife detailed the horrors that befall those whose city is taken she reminded him how the men are slain and the city is given over to the flames while the women and children are carried into captivity when he heard all this his heart was touched and he donned his armor to go forth thus of his own inward motion he saved the city of the etolians but they now gave him nothing of those rich rewards that they had offered earlier and though he saved the city he took nothing by it be not then my son thus minded let not heaven lure you into any such course when the ships are burning it will be a harder matter to save them take the gifts and go for the achaeans will then honor you as a god whereas if you fight without taking them you may beat the battle back but you will not be held in like honor and achilles answered phoenix old friend and father i have no need of such honor i have honor from joe himself which will abide with me at my ship so i'll have breath in my body and my limbs are strong i say further and lay my saying to your heart vex me no more with this weeping and lamentation all in the cause of the son of atreus love him so well and you may lose the love i bear you you ought to help me rather in troubling those that trouble me be king as much as i am and share like honor with myself the others shall take my answer stay here yourself and sleep comfortably in your bed at daybreak we will consider whether to remain or go on this he nodded quietly to patrickless as a sign that he was to prepare a bed for phoenix and that the others should take their leave ajax son of talamon then said ulysses noble son of laertes let us be gone for i see that our journey is vain we must now take our answer unwelcome though it be to the danayans who are waiting to receive it achilles is savage and remorseless he is cruel and cares nothing for the love his comrades lavished upon him more than on all the others he is implacable and yet if a man's brother or son has been slain he will accept a fine by way of amends from him that killed him and the wrongdoer having paid in full remains in peace among his own people but as for you achilles the gods have put a wicked unforgiving spirit in your heart and this all about one single girl whereas we now offer you the seven best we have and much else into the bargain be then of a more gracious mind respect the hospitality of your own roof we are with you as messengers from the host of the danayans and would feign beheld nearest and dearest to yourself of all the achilles ajax replied achilles noble son of talamon you have spoken much to my liking but my blood boils when i think it all over and remember how the son of atreus treated me with contumely as though i were some vile tramp and that too in the presence of the archives go then and deliver your message say that i will have no concern with fighting till hector son of noble prime reaches the tents of the mermidans in his murderous course and flings fire upon their ships for all his lust of battle i take it he will be held in check when he is at my own tent and ship on this they took every man his double cup made their drink offerings and went back to the ships ulysses leading the way but patrickless told his men and the maid servants to make ready a comfortable bed for phoenix they therefore did so with sheepskins a rug and a sheet of fine linen the old man then laid himself down and waited till morning came but achilles slept in an inner room and beside him the daughter of forbus lovely diamede whom he had carried off from lesbos patrickless lay on the other side of the room and with him fair ifis whom achilles had given him when he took skyroast the city of inus when the envoys reached the tents of the son of atreus the achilles rose pledged them in cups of gold and began to question them king agamemnon was the first to do so tell me ulysses said he will he save the ships from burning or did he refuse and is he still furious ulysses answered most noble son of atreus king of men agamemnon achilles will not be calmed but is more fiercely angry than ever and spurns both you and your gifts he bids you take counsel with the achilles to save the ships and host as you best may as for himself he said that at daybreak he should dry ships into the water he said further that he should advise every one of them to sail home likewise for that you will not reach the goal of alias jove he said has laid his hand over the city to protect it and the people have taken heart this is what he said and the others who were with me can tell you the same story ajax and the two heralds men both of them who may be trusted the old man phoenix stayed where he was to sleep for so achilles would have it that he might go home with him in the morning if he so would but he will not take him by force they all held their peace sitting for a long time silent and dejected by reason of the sternness with which achilles had refused them till presently diamead said most noble son of atreus king of men agamemnon you ought not to have sued the son of paleus nor offered him gifts he is proud enough as it is and you encouraged him in his pride still further let him stay or go as he will he will fight later when he is in the humor and heaven puts it in his mind to do so now therefore let us all do as i say we have eaten and drunk our fill let us then take our rest for in rest there is both strength and stay but one fair rosy fingered morn appears forthwith bring out your host and your horsemen in front of the ships urging them on and yourself fighting among the foremost thus he spoke and the other chieftains approved his words they then made their drink offerings and went every man to his own tent where they laid down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep end of book nine book 10 of the idiot this is a leper fox recording all leper fox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit leperfox.org recording by anasumon the idiot by homa translated by samuel butler book 10 ulysses and diamid go out as spies and meet dolem who gives them information they then kill him and profiting by what he had told them kill rhesus king of the thracians and take his horses now the other princess of the achaeans slept soundly the whole night through but akemenon son of atreus was troubled so that he could get no rest as when fair juno's lord flashes his lightning in token of great rain or hail or snow when the snowflakes whiten the ground or again as a sign that he will open the white jaws of hungry war even so did akemenon heave many a heavy sigh for his soul trembled within him when he looked upon the plain of trey he marveled at the many watch fires burning in front of ileus and that the sound of pipes and flutes and of the hum of man but when presently he turned towards the ships and hosts of the achaeans he tore his hair by handfuls before joe von high and groaned aloud for the very disquietness of his soul in the end he deemed it best to go at once to nester son of nileus and see if between them they could find any way of the achaeans from destruction he therefore rose put on his shirt bound his handles about his comely feet flung the skin of a huge tawny lion over his shoulders a skin that reached his feet and took his spear in his hand neither could manaleo sleep for he too boated ill for the archives who for his sake had sailed from far over the seas to fight the trojans he covered his broad back with the skin of a spotted panther put a cask of bronze upon his head and took his spear in his brawny hand then he went to rouse his brother who was by far the most powerful of the achaeans and was honored by the people as though he were a god he found him by the stern of his ship already putting his goodly array about his shoulders and right glad was he that his brother had come manaleos spoke first why said he my dear brother are you this arming are you going to send any of our comrades to exploit the trojans i greatly fear that no one will do you this service and spy upon the enemy alone in the dead of night it will be a deed of great daring and king agamemnon answered menaleos we both of us need through counsel to save the archives and our ships for joeves has changed his mind and inclines towards hectors sacrifices rather than ours i never saw nor heard tell of any man as having wrought such ruin in one day as hector has now wrought against the sons of the achaeans and that two of his own unaid itself for his son neither to god nor goddess the archives will ruid long and deeply run therefore with all speed by the line of the ships and call ajex and idominaeus meanwhile i will go to nester and bid him rise and go about among the companies of our sentinels to give them their instructions they will listen to him sooner than to any man for his own son and marionese rather in arms to idominaeus our captains over them it was to them more particularly that we gave this charge manaleos replied how do i take your meaning am i to stay with them and wait you're coming or shall i return here as soon as i've given your orders wait answered king agamemnon for there are so many paths about the camp that we might miss one another call every man on your way and bid him be stirring name him by his lineage and by his father's name give each old titular observance and stand not too much upon your own dignity we must take our full share of toil for at our birth joe flayed this heavy burden upon us with these instructions he sent his brother on his way and went on to nester shepherd of his people he found him sleeping in his tent hard by his own ship his goodly armor lay beside him his shield his two spears and his helmet beside him also lay the gleaming girdle with which the old man girded himself when he armed to lead his people into battle for his age stayed him not he raised himself on his elbow and looked up at agamemnon who is it said he that goes there's about the host and the ships alone and in the dead of night when men are sleeping are you looking for one of your mules or for some comrade you don't stand there and say nothing but speak what is your business and agamemnon answered nester son of neelius honor to the achaean name it is i agamemnon son of atreus on whom joe has laid label and sorrow so long as there is breath in my body and my limbs carry me i am thus abroad because sleep sits not upon my eyelids but my heart is big with war and with the jeopardy of the achaeans i'm in great fear for the danians i am at sea and without your counsel my heart beats as though it would leap out of my body and my limbs fail me if then you can do anything for you too cannot sleep let us go the round of the watch and see whether they are drowsy with toil and sleeping to the neglect of their duty the enemy is in camped heart and we know not but he may attack us by night nester replied most noble son of achaeus king of men agamemnon joe will not do all for hector that hector thinks he will he will have troubles yet in plenty if a killers will lay aside his anger i will go with you and will rouse others either the son of tydeus or ulyssus or fleet aegex and the valiant son of phileus someone had also better go and call aegex and king idomeneus for their ships are not near at hand but the farthest of all i cannot however refrain from blaming men aegex much as i love him and respect him and i will say so plainly even at the risk of offending you for sleeping and leaving all this trouble to yourself he ought to be going about imploring aid from all the princes of the achaeans for we are in extreme danger and agamemnon answered sir you may sometimes blame him justly for he's often remiss and unwilling to exert himself not indeed from sloth nor yet heedlessness but because he looks to me and expects me to take the lead on this occasion however he was awake before i was and came to me of his owner called i've already sent him to call the very man whom you have named and now let us be going we shall find them with the watch outside the gates for it was then i said that we would meet him in that case answered nester the archives will not blame him nor disobey his orders when he urges them to fight or gives them instructions with this he put on a shirt and bound his sandals about his commonly feet he buckled on his purple coat of two thicknesses large and of a rough shaggy texture grasped his redoubtable bronze shot spear and went at his way along the line of the achaean ships first he called loudly to ulysses peer of gods in council and woke him for he was soon roused by the sound of the battle cry he came outside his tent and said why do you go thus alone about the host and along the line of the ships in the stillness of the night what is it that you find so urgent and nester night of jureen answered ulysses the noble son of lirtus take it not a miss for the achaeans are in great straits come with me and let us wake some other who may advise well with us whether we shall fight or fly on this ulysses went at once into his tent put a shield about his shoulders and came out with them first they went to diamet son of titius and found him outside his tent clad in his armor with his comrades sleeping around him and using their shields as pillows as for their spears they stood upright on the spikes of their butts that were driven into the ground and the burnished bronze flashed afar like the lightning of father jove the hero was sleeping upon the skin of an ox with a piece of fine carpet under his head nester went up to him and stirred him with his heel to rouse him abrading him and urging him to bestow himself wake up he exclaimed son of titius how can you sleep on in this way can you not see that the trojans are encamped on the brow of the plane hard by our ships with but a little space between us and them on these words diamet leapt up instantly and said old man your heart is of iron you rest on one moment from your labors are there no younger men among the akeens who could go about to rouse the princess there is no tiring you and nester night of jureen made answer my son all that you have said is true i have good sons and also much people who might call the chieftains but the akeens are in the gravest danger life and death are balanced as it were on the act of a razor go then for you are younger than i and of your curtsy rouse ajax in the fleet son of filius diamet threw the skin of a great tawny lion about his shoulders a skin that reached his feet and grasped his spear when he had roused the heroes he brought them back with him they then went around of those who were on guard and found the captains not sleeping at their posts but wakeful and sitting with their arms about them as sheep dogs that watched their flocks when they are yarded and hear a wild beast coming through the mountain forest towards them forthwith there is a you and cry of dogs and men and slumber is broken even so was sleep chased from the eyes of the akeens as they kept the watches of the wicked knight for they turned constantly towards the plane whenever they heard any stir among the trojans the old man was glad bait and be of good cheer watch on my children said he and let not sleep get hold upon you lest our enemies triumph over us with this he passed the trench and with him the other chiefs of the akeens who had been called to the council marionese and the brave son of nestor went also for the princess bait them when they were beyond the trench that was dug around the wall they held their meeting on the open ground where there was a space clear of corpses for it was here that one night fell hector returned back from his onslaught on the archives they sat down therefore and helped debate with one another nestor spoke first my friends said he is there any man bold enough to venture the trojans and cut off some straggler or bring us news of what the enemy mean to do whether they will stay here by the ships away from the city or whether now that they have worse at the akeens they will retire within their walls if he could learn all this and come back safely here his fame would be high as heaven in the mouths of all men and he would be rewarded richly for the chiefs from all our ships would each of them give him a black u with their lamp which is a present of surpassing value and he would be asked as a guest to all feasts and planned gatherings they all held their peace the diameter of the loud war cry spoke saying nester gladly will i visit the host of the trojans over against us but if another will go with me i shall do so in greater confidence and comfort when two men are together one of them may see some opportunity which the other has not caught sight of if a man is alone he is less full of resource and his wit is weaker on this several offered to go with diamond the two age exes servants of mars marionese and the son of nester all wanted to go so did manilaeus son of atreus he lists us also wish to go among the host of the trojans for he was ever full of daring and thereon agamemnon king of man spoke thus diamad said he son of tidius man after my own heart choose your comrade for yourself take the best man of those that have offered for many would now go with you do not through delicacy reject the better man and take the worst out of respect for his lineage because he is of more royal blood he said this because he feared for manilaeus diamad answered if you bit me take the man of my own choice how in that case can i fail to think of ulysses than whom there is no man more eager to face all kinds of danger and palasminerva loves him well if he were to go with me we should pass safely through fire itself for he is quick to see and understand son of tidius replied ulysses say neither good nor ill about me for you are among archives who know me well let us be going for the night wanes and dawn is at hand the stars have gone forwards two-thirds of the night are already spent and the third is alone left us they then put on their armor brave thracimides provided the son of tidius with a sword and a shield for he had left his own at his ship and on his head he set a helmet of bull's hide without either peak or crest it is called a skull cap and is a common hat gear morione's found a bow and quiver for ulysses and on his head he's had a leaven helmet that was lined with a strong plating of leavened thongs while on the outside it was thickly studded with boar's teeth well and skillfully set into it next ahead there was an inner lining of felt this helmet had been stolen by octolicus out of illian when he broke into the house of amontor son of orminus he gave it to amphidamus of citra to take to scandia and amphidamus gave it as a guest gift to molus who gave it to his son morione's and now it was set up on the head of ulysses when the parrot aunt they set out and left the other chieftains behind them palos manerva sent them a heron by the wayside upon their right hands they could not see it for the darkness but they heard its cry ulysses was glad when he heard it and prayed to manerva hear me he cried daughter of aegis bearing jove you who spy out all my ways and who are with me and all my hardships befriend me in this mine hour and grant that we may return to the ships covered with glory after having achieved some mighty exploit that shall bring sorrow to the trojans then diamet of the loud war cry also prayed hear me too said he daughter of jove unwearable be with me even as you were with my noble father tidius when he went to thebes as envoys sent by the achaeans he left the achaeans by the banks of the river isopus and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the ketmians on his return thence with your help goddess he did great deeds of daring for you were his ready helper even so guide me and guard me now and in return i will offer you in sacrifice a broad-browed hyfer of a year old unbroken and never yet brought by man under the yoke i will guilt her horns and will offer her up to you in sacrifice thus they prayed and palos manerva heard their prayer when they had done praying to the daughter of great jove they went their way like two lions prowling by night amid the armor and blood stained bodies of them that had fallen neither again did hector let the trojans sleep for he too called the princes and counselors of the trojans that he might set his council before them is there one said he who for a great reward will do me the service of which i will tell you he shall be well paid if we will i will give him a chariot and a couple of horses the fleet is that can be found at the ships of the achaeans if he will dare this thing and he will win infinite honor to boot he must go to the ships and find out whether they are still guarded as here to four or whether now that we have beaten them the achaeans designed to fly and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches they all held their peace but there was among the trojans a certain man named dolom son of umides the famous herald a man rich in golden bronze he was ill-favored but a good runner and was an only son among five sisters he it was that now addressed the trojans i hector said he will to the ships and will exploit them but first hold up your scepter and swear that you will give me the chariot we died with bronze and the horses that now carry the noble son of pilius i will make you a good scout and will not fail you i will go through the host from one end to the other till i come to the ship of agamemnon where i take the princes of the achaeans are now consulting whether they shall fight or fly when he had done speaking hector held up his scepter and swore him his oath saying may jove the thundering husband of juno bear witness that no other trojan but yourself shall mount those steeds and that you shall have your will with them forever the oath he swore was bootless but it made dolom more keen on going he hung his bow over his shoulder and as an overall he wore the skin of a gray wolf while on his head he set a cap of ferret skin then he took a point of javelin and left the camp for the ships but he was not to return with any news for hector when he had left the horses and the troops behind him he made all speed on his way but ulysses perceived his coming and said to diamede diamede here is someone from the camp i'm not sure whether he is his spy or whether it is some thief who would plunder the bodies of the dead let him get a little past us we can then spring upon him and take him if however he is too quick for us go after him with your spear and hem him in towards the ships away from the trojan camp to prevent his getting back to the town with this they turned out of their way and lay down among the corpses dolom suspected nothing and soon passed them but when he had got about as far as the distance by which a mule plowed furrow exceeds one that has been plowed by oxen from mules can plow fellow land quicker than oxen they ran after him and when he heard their footsteps he stood still for he made sure they were friends from the trojan camp come by hector's orders to bid him return when however they were only a spears cast or less away from him he saw that they were enemies and ran away as fast as his legs could take him the others gave chase at once and as a couple of well-trained hounds pressed forward after a doe or hare that runs screaming in front of them even so that the son of tidious and ulysses pursued dolom and cut him off from his own people but when he had fled so far towards the ships that it would soon have fallen in with the outposts minerva infused fresh strength into the son of tidious for fear some other of the achaeans might have the glory of being first to hit him and he might himself be only second he therefore sprang forward with his spear and said stand or I shall throw my spear and in that case I shall soon make an end of you he threw as he spoke but missed his aim on purpose the dart flew over the man's right shoulder and then stuck in the ground he stood stuck still trembling and in great fear his teeth shattered and he turned pale with fear the two came breathless up to him and seized his hands whereon he began to weep and said take me alive I will ransom myself we have great store of gold bronze and wrought iron and from this my father will satisfy you with a very large ransom should he hear of my being alive at the ships of the achaeans fear not replied ulysses let no thought of death be in your mind but tell me and tell me true why are you thus going about alone in the dead of night away from your camp and towards the ships while other men are sleeping is it to plunder the bodies of the slain or did hector sent you to spy out what was going on at the ships or did you come here of your own mere notion lolan answered his limbs trembling beneath him hector with his veins flattering promises lured me for my better judgment he said he would give me the horses of the noble son of pilius and his bronze beddison terriot he made me go through the darkness of the flying night get close to the enemy and find out whether the ships are still guarded as here to for or whether now that we have beaten them the achaeans designed to fly and through sheer exhaustion are neglecting to keep their watches ulysses smiled at him and answered you had indeed set your heart upon a great reward but the horses of the descendant of eacus are hardly to be kept in hand all driven by any other mortal man than Achilles himself whose mother was an immortal but tell me and tell me true where did you leave hector when you started where lies his armor and his horses how two are the watches and sleeping ground the trojans ordered what are their plans will they stay here by the ships and away from the city or now that they have worsted the achaeans will they retire within their walls and lolan answered i will tell you truly all hector and the other counselors are now holding conference by the monument of great illus away from the general tumult as for the guards about which you asked me there is no chosen watch to keep guard over the host the trojans have their watch fires for they are bound to have them they therefore are awake and keep each other to their duty as sentinels but the allies who have come from other places are asleep and leave it to the trojans to keep guard for their wives and children are not here ulysses then said now tell me are they sleeping among the trojan troops or do they lie apart explain this that i may understand it i will tell you truly all replied dolan to the seaweed like the carrions the peonian bowman the leleges the cauconians and the noble pilastry the lisians and proud missians with the fridgens and meonians have their place on the side towards thimbra but why ask about all this if you want to find your way into the host of the trojans there are the thracians who have lately come here and lie apart from the others at the far end of the camp and they have rhesus son of ionias for their king his horses are the finest and strongest that i've ever seen they are whiter than snow and fleeter than any wind that blows his chariot is bedied with silver and gold and he's brought his marvelous golden armor of the rarest workmanship too splendid for any mortal man to carry and meet only for the gods now therefore take me to the ships or bind me securely here until you come back and have proved my words whether they be false or true diamid looked sternly at him and answered think not dolan for all the good information you have given us that you shall escape now you are in our hands for if we ransom you or let you go you will come some second time to the ships of the achaeans either as a spy or as an open enemy but if i kill you and make an end of you you will give no more trouble on this dolan would have caught him by the beard to besiege him further but diamid struck him in the middle of his neck with his sword and cut through both sinews so that his head fell rolling in the dust while he was yet speaking they took the ferret skin capped from his head and also the wolf skin the bow and his long spear ulysses hung them up aloft in honor of minerva the goddess of plunder and prayed saying accept these goddess for we give them to you in preference to all the gods in olympus therefore speed us still further towards the horses and sleeping ground with the thracians with these words he took the spoils and set them upon a temerisk tree and they marked the place by pulling up reeds and gathering boughs of temerisk that they might not miss it as they came back through the flying hours of darkness the two then went onwards amid the fallen armor and the blood and came presently to the company of thracian soldiers who were sleeping tired out with our day's toil their goodly armor was lying on the ground beside them all orderly in three rows and each man had his yoke of horses beside him resus was sleeping in the middle and hard by him his horses were made fast to the topmost rim of his chariot ulysses from some way off saw him and said this diamede is the man and these are the horses about which dolan whom we killed told us do you're very utmost dally not about your armor but lose the horses at once or else kill the man yourself while i see to the horses thereon minerva put courage into the heart of diamede and he smote them right and left they made a hideous groaning as they were being hacked about and the earth was red with their blood as alliance springs furiously upon a flock of sheep or goats when he finds them without their shepherd so that the son of tidious set upon the thracian soldiers till he had killed twelve as he killed them ulysses came and drew them aside by their feet one by one that the horses might go forward freely without being frightened as they pass over the dead bodies for they were not yet used to them when the son of tidious came to the king he killed him two which made thirteen as he was breathing hard for by the council of minerva an evil dream the seed of urnius hovered that night over his head meanwhile ulysses untied the horses made them fast one to another and drove them off striking them with his bow for he had forgotten to take the whip from the chariot then he whistled as a sign to diamede but diamede stayed where he was thinking what other there indeed he might accomplish he was doubting whether to take the chariot in which the king's armor was lying and draw it out by the pole or to lift the armor out and carry it off or whether again he should not kill some more thracians while he was thus hesitating minerva came up to him and said get back diamede to the ships or you may be driven thinner should some other god rouse the trojans diamede knew that it was the goddess and at once sprang upon the horses ulysses beat them with his bow and they fled onward to the ships of the echeans but apollo kept no blind lookout when he saw minerva with the son of tydeus he was angry with her and coming to the host with the trojans he roused hypochon a counselor of thracians and a noble kinsman of rhesus he started up out of his sleep and saw that the horses were no longer in their place and that the man were gasping in their death agony on this he groaned aloud and called upon his friend by name then the whole trojan camp was in an uproar as the people kept hurrying together and they marveled at the deeds of the heroes who had now got away towards the ships when they reached the place where they had killed hector scout ulysses stayed his horses and the son of tydeus leaping to the ground placed the bloodstained spoils in the hands of ulysses and remounted then he lashed the horses onwards and they flew forward nothing lost towards the ships as though of their own free will nester was first to hear the tramp of their feet my friends said he princes and counselors of the archives shall i guess right or wrong but i must say what i think there is a sound in my ears as of the tramp of horses i hope it may be diamede and ulysses driving in horses from the trojans but i much fear that the bravers of the archives may have come to some harm at their hands yet hardly done speaking when the two men came in and dismounted where on the others shook hands right gladly with them and congratulated them nester night of jereen was first to question them tell me said he renowned ulysses how did you to come by these horses did you steal in among the trojan forces or did some god meet you and give them to you they're like some beams i am well conversant with the trojans for all warrior though i am i never hold back by the ships but i never yet saw or heard of such horses as these are surely some god must have met you and given them to you for you are both of you dear to joe and to joe's daughter minerva and ulysses answered nester son of nilius honored to the achaean name heaven if it's a will can give us even better horses than these for the gods are far miter than we are these horses however about which you asked me are freshly come from thrace diamede killed their king with the 12 bravers of his companions hard by the ships we took a 13th man a scout whom hector and the other trojans had sent as a spy upon our ships he laughed as he spoke and drove the horses over the ditch while the other achaeans followed him gladly when they reached the strongly built quarters of the son of tidius they tied the horses with tongs of leather to the manger where the steeds of diamede stood eating their sweet corn but ulysses hung the bloodstained spoils of dolon at the stern of his ship that they might prepare a sacred offering to minerva as for themselves they went into the sea and washed the sweat from their bodies and from their necks and thighs when the seawater had taken all the sweat from of them and had refreshed them they went into the baths and washed themselves after they had done so and had anointed themselves with oil they sat down to table and drawing from a full mixing bowl made a drink offering of wine to minerva end of book 10 book 11 of the iliad this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org the iliad by hobe translated by samuel buckler book 11 in the forenoon the fight is equal but agamemnon turns over the day towards the achaeans until he gets wounded and leaves the field hector then drives everything before him till he is wounded by diamet paris wounds diamet ulysses nestor and determinists perform prodigies of valour baccaion is wounded nester drives him off in his chariot achilles sees the pair driving towards the camp and sends patriclus to ask who it is that he's wounded this is the beginning of evil for patriclus nester makes a long speech and now as dawn rose from her couch besides titherness abringer of lighter like to mortals and immortals jove sent fierce discord with the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the achaeans she took her stand by the huge black hull of ulysses ship which was middle most of all so that her voice might carry farthest on either side on the one hand towards the tense of hijack's son of telemon and on the other towards those of achilles for these two heroes well assured of their own strength had valorously drawn up their ships at the two ends of the line there she took her stand and raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the achaeans with courage giving them heart to fight resolutely and with all their might so that they had rather stay there and do battle than go home in their ships the son of atreus shouted aloud and bade the achaeans girt themselves for battle while he put on his armor first he girded his goodly grooves about his legs making them fast with ankle clasps of silver first he girded his goodly grooves about his legs making them fast with ankle clasps of silver and about his chests he set the breastplate which kenyras had once given him as a guest gift it had been noised abroad as far as cyprus that the achaeans were about to sail for Troy and therefore he gave it to the king it had 10 courses of dark cyanus 12 of gold and 10 of tin there were serpents of cyanus and reared themselves up towards the neck three upon either side like the rainbows which the son of satan has set in heaven as a sign to mortal men about his shoulders he threw his sword studied with bosses of gold and the scabbard was of silver with the chain of gold wherewith to hang it he took more over the richly dyed shield that covered his body when he was in battle fair to see with 10 circles of bronze running all round it on the body of the shield there were 20 bosses of white tin with another of dark cyanus in the middle this last was made to show a gorgon's head fierce and grim with route and panic on either side the band for the arm to go through was of silver on which there was a writhing snake of cyanus with three heads that sprang from a single neck and went in and out of mung one another on his head Agamemnon set a helmet with a peak before and behind and four plumes of horse hair that knotted it menacingly above it then he grasped two redoubtable bronze shod spears and the gleam of his armor shot from him as a flame into the firmament while Juno and Minerva thundered in honor of the king of rich Mycenae every man now left his horses in charge of his charioteer to hold them in readiness by the trench while he went into battle on foot climbing full armor and a mighty uproar rose on high unto the dooring the chiefs were armed at the trench before the horses got there but these came up presently the son of satan sent a portent of evil sound about their host and the duel fell red with blood for he was about to send many a brave man hurrying down to Hades the trojans on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain were gathered round great hector noble parliadamus a niece who was owned by the trojans like an immortal and the three sons of antinor paribus agonore and young akamas mutious as a god hector's round shield showed in the front rank and a some baneful star that shines for a moment thrown into the clouds and it is again hidden beneath them even so was hector now seen in the front ranks and now again in the hindermost and his bronze armor gleamed like the lightning of aegis bearing jove and now was a band of reapers most swathes of wheat or barley upon a rich man's land and the shoes fall thick before them even so did the trojans and akians fall upon one another they were in no mood for yielding but fought like wolves and neither side got the better of the other discord was glad as she beheld them for she was the only god that went among them the others were not there but stayed quietly each in his own home among the dels and valleys of olympus all of them blamed the son of satan for wanting to give victory to the trojans but father jove he did not he held aloof from all and sat apart in his all glorious majesty looking down upon the city of the trojans the ships of the akians the gleam of bronze and alike upon the slayers and on the slain now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning the darts reigned thick on one another and the people perished but as the hour drew nigh were a woodman working in some mountain forest will get his midday meal but he has felled till his hands are weary he's tired out and must now have food then the denians with a cry that rang through all their ranks broke the battalions of the enemy agamendon led them on until first vien or a leader of his people and afterwards his comrade and charioteer oyleas who sprung from his chariot and was coming full towards him but agamemnon struck him on the forehead with his spear his bronze visor was of no affair against the weapon which pierced both bronze and bone so that his brains were battered in and he was killed in full fight agamemnon struck their sherds from off them and left them with their breasts all bare to lie when they had fallen he then went on to kill isis and andufus two sons of pran the one of aster the other born in wedlock they were in the same chariot the buster driving well noble antyphus fought beside him akiles had once taken both of them prisoners and the glades of aida and had bound them with fresh withes as they were shepherding but he had taken a ransom for them now however agamemnon son of atreus smote isis in the chest above the nipple with his spear while he struck antyphus hard by the ear and threw him from his chariot for with he stripped their goodly armor from off them and recognized them for he had already seen them at ships when akiles brought them from ida as a lion fastens on the thorns of a hind and crushes them in his great jaws robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back to his lair the hind can do nothing for them even though she be close by for she is in an agony of fear and flies through the thick forest sweating and at her utmost speed before the mighty monster so no man of the trojans could help isis and antyphus for they were themselves flying panic before the argives then king agamemnon took the two sons of antymachus pisandar and bathe apolicus it was antymachus who had been foremost in preventing helens being restored to menelaus for he was largely bribed by alexandrus and now agamemnon took his two sons both in the same chariot trying to bring their horses to a stand but they had lost the hold of their reins and the horses were mad with fear the son of atreus sprang upon them like a lion and the pair besought him from their chariot take us alive they cried son of atreus and you shall receive a great ransom for us our father antymachus has a great store of gold bronze and wrought iron and from this he will satisfy you with a very large ransom should he hear about being alive at the ships of the achaeans with such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king but they heard no pitiful answer in return if said agamemnon you are sons of antymachus we once at a council of trojans proposed that menelaus and eulises who had come to you as envoys should be killed and not suffered to return you shall now pay for the foul iniquity of your father as he spoke he fell pisandar from his chariot to the earth smiting him on the chest with his spear so that he lay face uppermost upon the ground apolicus fled but him too did agamemnon smite he cut off his hands and his head which he sent rolling in among the crowd as though it were a ball there he let them both lie and wherever the ranks were thickest thither he flew while the other achaeans followed foot soldiers drove the foot soldiers of the foe and route before them and slew them horsemen did the like by horsemen and the thundering trample the horses raised a cloud of dust from off the plane king agamemnon followed after ever slaying them and cheering on the achaeans as when some mighty forest is all ablaze the indian gusts whirl fired in all directions till the thickets shrivel and are consumed before the blast of flame even so fell the heads of the flying trojans before agamemnon son of atreus and many a noble pair of steams drew an empty chariot along the highways of war for lack of drivers who are lying on the plane were useful now to vultures and to their wives jove drew hector away from the darts and dust with a carnage and din of battle but the son of atreus sped onwards calling out lustily to the dinayans they flew on by the tomb of old islas son of darliness in the middle of the plane and passed the palace of the wild fig tree making always for the city the son of atreus still shouting and with hands all bedrabelled in gore but when they had reached the sea and gates the oak tree there they halted and waited for the others to come up meanwhile the trojans kept on flying over the middle of the plane like a herd of cows maddened with fright when a lion has attacked them in the dead of night he springs on one of them seizes her neck in the grip of his strong teeth and laps of her blood and gorges himself upon her entrails even so did king agamemnon son of atreus pursue the foe ever slaughtering the hind post as they fled pale mel before him many a man was flung headlong from his chariot by the hand of the son of atreus for he wielded his spear with fury when he was just about to reach the high wall and the city father of gods and men came down from heaven and took his seat thunderbolt in hand upon the crest of many fountain nider he then told iris of the golden wings to carry a message for him go said he fleet iris and speak thus to hector say that so long as he sees agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the trojan ranks he is to keep aloof with the others bear the brunt of the battle but when agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow and takes to his chariot then will i vouchsafe him strength to slay till he reach the ships and night falls at the going down of the sun iris harkened and obeyed down she went to strong ileus from the crest of ida and found hector son of priam standing by his chariot and horses then she said hector son of priam peer of gods in council father joe has said me to bear you this message so long as you see agamemnon heading his men making havoc of the trojan ranks you are to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of the battle but when agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow and takes to his chariot then will joe vouchsafe you strength to slay till you reach the ships until night falls the going down of the sun when she had thus spoken iris left him and hector sprang full arm from his chariot to the ground brandishing his spear as he went about everywhere among the host cheering his men on to fight and stirring the dread strife of battle the trojans and wheeled round and again met the achaeans or the our guys on their part strengthened their battalions the battle was now in array and they stood face to face with one another agamemnon ever pressing forward in his eagerness to be ahead of all others tell me now ye muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus who whether of the trojans or of their allies was first to face agamemnon it was ifidamus son of antonore man both brave and of great stature who was brought up in fertile frayce the mother of sheep kissy's his mother's father brought him up in his own house when he was a child kissy's father to fair theano when he reached manhood kissy's would have kept him there and was forgiving him to his daughter in marriage but as soon as he had married he set out to fight the achaeans with 12 ships that followed him these he had left at percote and had come on by lounge to willias he it was that now met agamemnon son of atreus when they were close up with one another the son of atreus missed his aim and if it was hit him upon the girdle below the kyrus then flung himself upon him trusting to his strength of arm the girdle however was not pierced nor nearly so for the point of the spear struck against the silver and was turned aside as though it had been led king agamemnon caught it from his hand and threw it towards him with a fury of a lion he then drew his sword and killed ifidamus by striking him on the neck so there the poor fellow lay sleeping asleep as it were of bronze killed in the defense of his fellow citizens far from his wedded wife of whom he had no joy though he had given much for her he had given a hundred head of cattle down and had promised later on to give a thousand sheep and goats mixed from the countless flocks of which he was possessed agamemnon salvatreus then despoiled him and carried off his armor into the host of the achaeans when noble koan antonors eldest son saw this saw indeed were his eyes the sight of his fallen brother unseen by agamemnon he got beside him spear in hand and wounded him in the middle of his arm below the elbow the point of the spear going right through the arm agamemnon was convulsed with pain but still not even for this did he leave off struggling and fighting but grossed this spear that flew as sweet as the wind and sprang upon koan who was trying to drag off the body of his brother his father's son by the foot and was crying for help to all the bravest of his comrades but agamemnon struck him with a bronchial spear and killed him as he was dragging the dead body through the press of men undercover of his shield he then cut off his head standing over the body of ifidamus thus did the sons of antonor meet their fate at the hands of the son of atreus and go down into the house of hades as long as the blood still well warm from his wound agamemnon went about attacking the ranks of the army with spear and sword and with great handfuls of stone that when the blood had ceased to flow with the wound grew dry the pain became great as the sharp pangs which the aelith uei goddesses of childbirth daughters of juno and dispensers of cruel pain send upon a woman when she is in labor even so sharp with the pangs of the son of atreus he sprang on to his chariot and bad his charioteer drive to the ships for he was in great agony with a loud clear voice he shouted to the denayans my friends princes and counselors of the argaiers defend the ships yourselves for jove has not suffered me to fight the whole day through against the trojans with this the charioteer turned his horses towards the ships and they flew forward nothing lost their chests were wiped with foam with their bellies with dust as they drew the wounded king out of the battle when hector saw agamemnon quit the field he shouted to the trojans and the lysians saying trojans lysians and our danian warriors bemen my friends and equip yourselves in battle bravely their best man has left them and jove has vouchsafed me a great triumph charge the foe with your chariots that you may win still greater glory with these words he put heart and soul into them all and as a huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or a wild boar even so did hector peer of mars hounds the proud trojans on against the achaeans full of hope he plunged in among the foremost and fell in the fight like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the sea and lashes its deep blue waters into fury what then is the full tale of those whom hector son of triumph killed in the hour of triumph with jove then vouchsafed him first a seaus alternus and a peteese dollops son of afeltius and agilaus isymnus orus and herponois steadfast in battle these chieftains of the achaeans did hector slay and then he fell upon the rank and file as when the west wind hustles the clouds of the white south and beats them down with the fierceness of its fury the ways of the sea roll high and the sprays flung aloft in the rage of the wandering wind even so thick were the heads of them that fell by the hand of hector all had then been lost and no help for it and the achaeans would have fled pelmel to their ships had not eulises cried out to dimed son of tyrius what has happened to us that we thus forget our prowess come my good fellow stand by my side and help me wish we shame forever if hector takes the ships and dimed answered come what may i will stand firm but we shall have scant joy of it but jove is minded to give victory to the trojans rather than to us with these words he struck thymbrius from his chariot to the ground smiting him in the left breast with his spear while eulises kidmolian who was his squire these they let lie now that they had stopped their fighting the two heroes they went on playing havoc with the foe like two wild boars that turn in fury and render hounds that had them thus did they turn upon the trojans and slay them and the achaeans were thankful to have breathing time in their flight from hector they then took two princes with their chariot the two sons of merobs of perkity who excelled on others in the arts of divination he had forbidden his sons to go to the war but they would not obey him for fate lured them to their fall diameter son of tidius slew both of them and stripped them of their armor while eulises killed hippodamus and hyperochus and now the son of satan as he looked down from ida ordained that neither side should have the advantage and they kept on killing one another the son of tidius speared a gastrophos son of peon in the hip joint with his spear his chariot was not at hand for him to fly with so blindly confident had he been his choir was in charge of it at some distance and he was fighting on foot a month the foremost until he lost his life hectors who marked the havoc diamet and eulises were making and bore down upon them with a loud cry followed by the trojan ranks brave diamet was dismayed when he saw them and said to eulises who was beside him great hector is bearing down upon us and we shall be undone let us stand firm and wait his onset he poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it nor did he miss his mark he had aimed at hector's head near the top of his helmet but bronze was turned by bronze and hector was untouched for the spear was stayed by the visor hell made with three plates of metal which feebus apollo had given him hector sprang back with a great bound under cover of the ranks he fell on his knees and propped himself with his brawling hand leaning on the ground for darkness had fallen on his eyes the son of tidius having thrown his spear dashed in among the foremost fighters to the place where he had seen it strike the ground meanwhile hector recovered himself and springing back into his chariot mingled with the crowd by which means he saved his life but diamet made at him with his spear and said dog you have again got away though death was close on your heels feebus apollo to whom i will you pray are you going to battle has again saved you nevertheless i will meet you and make an end of you hereafter if there is any god who will stand by me too and be my helper for the present i must pursue those i can lay hands on as he spoke he began stripping the spoils from the sons of peon but alexanderous husband of lovely helen aimed an arrow at him leaning against a pillar of the monument which men had raised to illus son of darthlas a ruler in the days of old diamet had taken the cure as for off the breast of agastrophos his heavy helmet also and the shields from off his shoulders when paris drew his bow and a fly an arrow that sped not from his hand in vain but pierced the flat of diamet's right foot going right through it and fixing itself in the ground there on paris with a hearty laugh sprang forward in front of his hiding place and taunted him saying you're wounded my arrow has not been shot in vain world that it had hit you in the belly and killed you for that's the trojans who fear you as goats fear a lion would have had a truce from evil diamet all undaunted answered aren't you you who without your boat are nothing slanderer and seducer if you were to be tried in single combat fighting in full armor your bow and your arrows would serve you in little stead vain is your boast in that you have scratched the sole of my foot i care no more than if a girl or some silly boy had hit me a worthless coward can inflict but a light wound when i wound a man though i but graze his skin it is another matter for my weapon will lay him low his wife will tear her cheeks for grief and his children will be fatherless there he will rot reddening the earth with his blood and vultures not women will gather around him thus he spoke but ulysses came up and stood over him under this cover he sat down to draw the arrow from his foot and sharp was the pain he suffered as he did so that he sprang on to his chariot and bad the chariotier drove him to the ships but he was sick at heart ulysses was now alone not one of the augur i stood by him but they were all panic-stricken alas he said to himself in his dismay what will become of me it is ill if i turn and fly before these odds it would be worse if i am left alone and taken prisoner for the son of satan has struck the rest of the denians with panic but why talk to myself in this way will do i know that though coward spit the field a hero whether he wound or be wounded or stand firm and hold his own while he was thus in two minds the ranks of the trojans advanced and hemmed him in and bitterly did they come to ruin as hounds and lusty youths set upon a wild boar that sallies from his lair watching his white tusks they attack him from every side and can hear the mashing of his jaws but for all his fierceness they still hold their ground even so furiously did the trojans attack ulysses first he sprang spear in hand upon diopitase and wounded him on the shoulder with a downward blow then he'll throw on and enimus after these he struck cermus in the loins under his field as he had just sprung down from his chariot so he fell in the dust and clutched the earth with the hollow of his hand these he let lie and went on to wound carops son of hipposus own brother to noble socus socus hero that he was made all speed to help him and when he was close to ulysses said far failed ulysses insatiable of craft and toil this day you shall either boast of having killed both the sons of hipposus and stripped them of their armor or you shall fall before my spear with these words he struck the shield of ulysses the spear went through the shield and passed on through his richly wrought giraffes tearing the flesh from his side but palasminerva did not suffer it to pierce the entrails of the hero ulysses knew that his hour was not yet come but he gave ground and said to socus wretch you shall now surely die you're stayed me from fighting further with the trojans but you shall now fall by my spear yielding glory to myself and your soul to hades of the noble steeds socus had turned in flight but as he did so the spear struck him in the back midway between the shoulders and went right through his chest he fell heavily to the ground and ulysses vaulted over him saying oh socus son of hipposus tamer of horses death has been too quick for you and you have not escaped him poor wretch not even in death shall your father and mother close your eyes but the ravening vultures shall enshroud you with the flapping of their dark wings and devour you where as even though i fall the achaeans will give me my due rights of burial so saying he drew socus heavy spear out of his flesh and from his shield and the blood-willed forth when the spear was withdrawn so that he was much dismayed when the trojans saw that ulysses was bleeding they raised a great shout and came on in a body toward him he therefore gave ground and called his comrades to come and help him thrice did he cry loudly as man can cry and thrice did brave menelaus hear him he turned therefore to ajax who was close beside him and said ajax noble son of teleman captain of your people the cry of ulysses rings in my ears as though the trojans had cut him off and were worsting him while he is single-handed let us make our way through the throng it will be well that we defend him i fear he may come to harm for all his valour if he be left without support and the denayans would miss him sorely he led the way and mighty ajax went with him the trojans had gathered around ulysses like ravenous mountain jackals round the carcass of some horned stag that has been hit with an arrow the stag has fled at full speed so long as his blood was warm and his strength was lasted but when the arrow has overcome him the savage jackals devoured him in the shady glades of the forest then heaven said the fierce lion dither whereupon the jackals fly in terror and the lion robs them of their prey even so did trojans many and brave gather round crafty ulysses but the hero stood at bay and kept them off with his spear ajax then came up with his shield before him like a wall and stood hard by whereon the trojans fled in all directions manelaus took ulysses by the hand and led him out of the press while his squire brought up his chariot but ajax rushed furiously on the trojans and killed doriklus bastard son of priam then he wounded pandakas lesandres paresus and pilates as some swollen torrent comes rushing in full front from the mountains onto the plain link with the reign of heaven many a dry oak and a pine does it engulf and much mud does it bring down and cast into the sea even so did brave ajax chased the foal furiously over the plain slaying both men and horses hector did not yet know what ajax was doing for he was fighting on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river skamander where the carnage was thickest at the wall cry loudest round nestor and brave inominious among these hector was making great slaughter with his spear and furious driving and was destroying the ranks that were opposed to him still the ikeans would have given no ground had not alexandras husband of lovely helens stayed the prowess of macaean shepherd of his people by wounding him in the right shoulder with a triple barbed arrow the ikeans were in great fear that as the fight had turned against them the trojans might take him prisoner and idominious said to nestor nestor son of nelius honor to the ikean name mount your chariot at once take macaean with you and drive your horses to the ships as fast as you can a physician is worth more than several other men put together for he can cut out arrows and spread healing herbs nestor night of green he did as idominious had cancelled he had once mounted his chariot and macaean son of the famed physician ascolapius went with him he lashed his horses and they flew onward nothing loath towards the ships as though of their own free will then kebrione seeing the trojans in confusion said to hector from his place beside him hector here are we two fighting on the extreme wing of the battle while the other trojans are in pel mel wrapped they and their horses ajax are of telemonis driving them before him i know him by the breadth of his shield let us turn our chariot and horses dither where horse and foot are fighting most desperately and where the cry of battle is loudest with this he lashed his goodly steeds and when they felt the whip they drew the chariot full speed amongst the ikeans and trojans over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen the axle was bespattered with blood and the rail around the car was covered with splashes both from the horses hooves and from the tires of the wheels hector tore his way through and flung himself into the thick of the fight and his presence threw the deniance into confusion for his spear was not long idle nevertheless he went among the ranks with sword and spear and throwing great stones he avoided ajax son of telemon for jove would have been angry with him if he had fought a better man than himself then father jove from his high throne struck fear into the heart of ajax so that he stood there dazed and threw his shield behind him looking fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he were some wild beast turning hither and thither but crouching slowly backwards as peasants with their hounds chase a lion from their stockyard and watch by night to prevent his carrying off the pick of their herd he makes his greedy spring but in vain for the darts from many a strong hand full thick around him with burning brands that scare him for all his fury and when morning comes he slinks foiled and angry away even so did ajax sorely against his will retreat angrily before the trojans fearing for the ships of the achaeans or as some lazy ass that has had many at cudgel broken about his back when he into a field begins eating the corn boys beat him but he is too many for them and though they lay about with their sticks they cannot hurt him still when he has had his fill they at last drive him from the field even so did the trojans and their allies pursue great ajax ever smiting the middle of his shield with their darts now and again he would turn and show fight keeping back the battalions of the trojans and then he would again retreat but he prevented any of them from making his way to the ships single-handed he stood midway between the trojans and the achaeans the spears that sped from their hands stuck some of them in his mighty shield while many those thirsting for his blood fell to the ground here they could reach him to the wounding of his fair flesh now when Eurypilus the brave son of Eumann saw that Ajax was being overpowered by the rain of arrows he went up to him and hurled his spear he struck a pizzerian son of Phosius in the liver below the midriff and laid him low Eurypilus sprung upon him and stripped the armor from his shoulders but when alexandra saw him he aimed an arrow at him which struck him in the right thigh the arrow broke but the point that was left in the wound dragged on the thigh he drew back therefore and a cover of his comrades to save his life shouting as he did so to the Deneans my friends princes and counselors of the argives rally to the defense of Ajax who is being overpowered and i doubt whether he will come out of the fight alive hither then to the rescue of great Ajax son of Telemann even so did he cry when he was wounded there on the others came near and gathered around him holding their shields upwards from their shoulders so as to give him cover Ajax then made towards them and turned round to stand at bay as soon as he had reached his men thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire meanwhile the mares of Nelius all in a lather with sweat were bearing nest door out of the fight and with him Machian the shepherd of his people Achilles saw and took note for he was standing on the stern of his ship watching the hard stress and struggle of the fight he called from the ship to his comrade patroclus who heard him in the tent and came out looking like mares himself here indeed was the beginning of the ill that presently befell him why is it he Achilles do you call me what do you want with me and Achilles answered noble son of Menotius a man after my own heart i take it that i shall now have the Achilles praying at my knees but they are in great straits go patroclus and ask nest door who it is that he is bearing away wounded from the field from his back i should say it was Machian son of Asclepius but i could not see his face for the horses went by me at full speed patroclus did as his dear comrade had bitten him and set off running by the ships and tents of the Achaeans when nester on Machian had reached the tents of the son of Nelius they dismounted and an Esquire Eurymidon took the horses from the chariot the pair then stood in the breeze by the seaside to dry the sweat from their shirts when they had so done they came inside and took their seats fair her comedy whom nester had awarded him from tennitus when Achilles took it mixed them away she was daughter of wise Arsinois and the Achaeans had given her to nest door because he excelled all of them in council first she said for them a fair and well made table that had feet of science on it there was a vessel of bronze and an onion to give relish to the drink with honey and kinks of barley meal there was also a cup of rare workmanship which the old man had brought with him from home studded with bosses of gold it had four handles on each of which there were two golden doves feeding and it had two feet to stand on anyone else would hardly have been able to lift it from the table when it was full but nest door could do it quite easily in this the woman as fair as a goddess mixed them a mess with pramnian wine she grated goat's milk cheese into it with a bronze grater throw in a handful of white barley meal and having thus prepared the mess she made them drink it when they had done so and had thus quenched their thirst they fell talking with one another and at this moment patricles appeared at the door when the old man saw him he sprang from his seat seized his hand led him into the tent and made him take his place among them but patricles stood where he was and said well sir i may not stay you cannot persuade me to come in here that sent me was not one to be trifled with and he begged me ask who the wounded man was who we were bearing away from the field i can now see for myself that he's macael shepherd of his people i must go back and tell achilles you sir know what a terrible man he is and how ready to blame even where no blame should lie and nest door answered why should achilles care to know how many of the achilles may be wounded he begs not of the dismay that rains in our host our most valiant chieftains lie disabled brave diamet son of tidius is wounded so are eulises and agamemnon the aripeles has been hit with an arrow in the thigh and i have just been bringing this man from the field he too wounded with an arrow nevertheless achilles so valiant though he be cares not and knows no rules will he wait till the ships do what we may are in a blaze and we perish one upon the other as for me i have no strength nor stay in me any longer would that i was still young and strong isn't the days when there was a fight between us and the men of ailis about some cattle raiding then i killed it hominace the valiant son i fire pericus the dweller in ailis as i was driving in the spoil he was hit by a dart thrown by my hand while fighting in the front rank in defense of his cows so he fell and the country people about him were in great fear we drove off a vast quantity of booty from the plane 50 hertz of cattle and as many flocks of sheep 50 droves also of pigs and as many winds spreading flocks of goats of horses more over we seized 150 all of the bears and many had foals running with them all these did we drive by night to pilus the city of neleus taking them within the city at the heart of neleus was glad in that i had taken so much though it was the first time i had ever been in the field at daybreak the heralds went round crying that all in ailis to whom there was a debt owing should come and the leading pylians assembled to divide the spoils there were many to whom the apeans old shadows for we men of pilus were few and had been oppressed with wrong in former years hercules had come and ladies had heavy upon us so that all our best men had perished neleus had had 12 sons but i alone was left the others had all been killed the apeans presuming upon all this had looked down upon us and done us much evil my father chose a herd of cattle and a great flock of sheep 300 in all and he took their shepherds with him though there was a great debt to him in ailis to wit four horses winners of prizes they and their chariots with them had gone to the games and were to run for a tripod the king augus took them and sent them back their driver grieving for the loss of his horses neleus was angered by what he had both said and done and took great value in return but he divided the rest that no man might have less than his full share thus did we order all things and offer sacrifices to the gods throughout the city but three days afterwards the apeans came in our body many in number they and their chariots in full array and with them the two molliones in their armor though they were still lads and unused to fighting now there is a certain town theorosia perched upon a rock in the river alpheus the border city pilus this they would destroy and pitch their camp about it but when they had crossed their whole plane been nervous darted down by night from Olympus and better set ourselves in array and she found willing soldiers in pilus for the men meant fighting neleus would not let me arm and hid my horses for he said that as yet i could know nothing about war nevertheless whenever so ordered the fight that all on foot as i was i fought among our mounted forces and vied with the foremost of them there is a river many aeus that falls into the sea near arini and they are they that were mounted and i with them waited till morning when the companies of foot soldiers came up with us in force thence in full panoply and equipment we came towards noon to the sacred waters of the alpheus and there we offered victims to almighty jove with a bull to alpheus another to neptune had heard heffa to minerva after this we took supper in our companies and laid us down to rest each in his armor by the river the apeans were beleaguering the city and were determined to take it but here this might be there was a desperate fight in store for them when the sun's rays began to fall upon the earth we joined battle-brained to jove and to minerva and when the fight had begun i was the first to kill my man and take his horses to wit the marion millius he was sun-in-law to algeus having married his eldest daughter golden hair agamady who knew the virtues of every herb which grows upon the face of the earth i speared him as he was coming towards me and when he fell headlong in the dust i sprang upon his chariot and took my place in the front ranks the apeans fled in all directions when they saw the captain of the horsemen the best man they had laid low and i swept down on them like a whirlwind taking 50 chariots and in each of them two men bit the dust slain by my sphere i should have even killed the two marionis sons of actor unless their real father neptune lord of the earthquake had hidden them in a thick mist and borne them out of the fight there on jove vouchsafed the pylians a great victory for we chased them far over the plain killing the men and bringing in their hour so we had brought our horses to buprazium rich in wheat and to the olenean rock with the hill that is called alicium at which point minerva turned the people back there i slew the last man and left him then the achaeans drove their horses back from buprazium to pilus and gave thanks to jove among the gods and among mortal men to nestor such was i among my peers as surely as ever was but achilles is for keeping all his valor for himself bitterly will he rue it here after when the host is being cut to pieces my good friend did not menuitious charge you thus on the day when he sent you from pithia to agamennon eulises and i were in the house inside and heard all that he said to you but we came to the fair house of pilius while beating up recruits throughout all agia and when we got there we found menuitious and yourself and achilles with you the old knight pilius was in the outer court roasting the fat thigh bones of a heifer to joe of the lord of thunder and he held the gold chalice in his hand for which he poured drink offerings of wine over the burning sacrifice you two were busy cutting up the heifer and at that moment we stood at the gates whereupon achilles sprang to his feet led us by the hand into the house placed us at table and set before us such hospitable entertainment as guests expect when we had satisfied ourselves with meat and drink i said my say and urge both of you to join us you were ready enough to do so and the two old men charged you much and strictly old pilius beat his son achilles to fight ever among the foremost and have by his peers well menuitious the son of actor spoke thus to you my son said he achilles is of noble birth and you are but you are older than he though he is far better than the man of the two counsel him wisely guide him in the right way and he will follow you to his own prophet thus did your father charge you but you have forgotten nevertheless even now say all this to achilles if he will listen to you who knows but with heaven's help you may talk him over but it is good to take a friend's advice if however he is fearful about some oracle or if his mother has told him something from jove then let him send you let the rest of the mermidans follow with you if for chance you may bring light and saving to the deneyans now let him send you into battle clad in his own armor but the trojans may mistake you for him and leave off fighting the sons of the achilles may thus have time to get their breath for they are hard-pressed and there is little breathing time in battle you how our fresh might easily drive a tired enemy back to his walls and away from the tents and ships with these words he moved the heart of patricles who set off running by the line of the ships to achilles descendant aurelius when he had got as far as the ships of eulises where was the place of assembly and court of justice with their altars dedicated to the gods the euripilus son of you a woman met him wounded in the thigh with an arrow and limping out of the fight sweat rained from his head and shoulders and black blood welled from his cruel wound but his mind did not wonder the son of menouitius when he saw him had compassion upon him and spoke piteously saying oh and happy princes and counselors of the deneyans are you then doomed to feed the hounds of troi with your fat far from your friends and your native land say noble euripilus will the achilles be able to hold great hector in check or will they fall now before his spear wounded euripilus made answer noble patricles there is no hope left for the achilles but they will perish at their ships all day that were princes among us a line struck down and wounded at the hands of the trojans who are waxing stronger and stronger but save me and take me to your ship cut out the arrow from my thigh wash the black blood from off it with warm water and lay upon it those gracious herbs which so they say have been shown you by achilles who was himself shown them by chiron was righteous of all the centaurs or of the physicians podilelius and macaen i hear that the one is lying wounded in his tent and is himself in need of healing while the other is fighting the trojans on the plane hero euripilus replied the brave son of many wishes how may these things be what can i do i am on my way to bear a message noble achilles from nester of garini bulk of the nickians and even so i will not be unmindful of your distress with this he classed him round the middle and led him into the tent and a servant when he saw him spread bullock skins on the ground for him to lie on he laid him at full length and cut out the sharp arrow from his thigh he washed the black blood from the wound with warm water he then crushed a bitter herb rubbing it between his hands and spread it upon the wound this was a virtuous herb which killed all pain so the wound presently dried and the blood left off flowing end of book 11 recording by peter darby pete underscore darby dot livejournal dot com book 12 of the iliad this is a liberbox recording all liberbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberbox.org the iliad by homer translated by samuel butler book 12 recording by ml cohen book 12 the trojans and their allies break the wall led on by hector so the son of minotius was attending to the hurt of euripolis within the tent but the archives and trojans still fought desperately nor were the trench in the high wall above it to keep the trojans in check any longer they had built it to protect their ships and had dug to trench all around it that it might safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils they had taken but they had not offered hecatoms to the gods it had been built without the consent of the immortals and therefore it did not last so long as hector lived and achilles nursed his anger and so long as the city of priam remained untaken the great wall of the akean stood firm but when the bravest of the trojans were no more and many also of the archives though some were yet still left alive when more over the city was sacked in 10th year and the archives had gone back with their ships to their own country then neptune and apollo took counsel to destroy the wall and they turned onto it the streams of all the rivers from mount ida to the sea rhesus heptoporus carius rhodius granitius esopus and goodleys commander which some of us were many a shield and helm had fallen and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust febus apollo turned the mouths of all the rivers together and made them flow for nine days against the wall while joe vrain the whole time that he might wash it sooner into the sea neptune himself tried and in hand surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams and stones which the akeans had laid with so much toil he made all level by the mighty stream of the hellspawnt and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a great beach of sand over the place where it had been this done he turned the rivers back into their old courses this was what neptune and apollo were to do in after time but as yet badland turmoil were still raging around the wall till its timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them the archives cowed by the scourge of joe were hemmed in at their ships in fear of hector the mighty minister of rout who was heretofore fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind as a lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him while these form solid wall and shower the javelins as they face him his courage is all indaunted but his high spirit will be the death of him many a time as he charged his pursuers to scatter them and they fall back as often as he does so even so did hector go about among the host exhorting his men and cheering them on to cross the trench but the horses dared not do so and stood neighing upon its spring for the width frightened them they could neither jump it nor cross it for it had overhanging banks all round upon either side above which there were the sharp stakes that the sons of the akeans had planted so close and strong as a defense against all who would assail it a horse therefore could not get into it and draw his chariot after him but those who were on foot kept trying their very utmost then polydamus went up to hector and said hector and you other captains of the trojans and allies it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across the trench it will be very hard to cross for it is full of sharp stakes and beyond this there is a wall our horses therefore cannot get down into it and would be of no use if they did moreover it is a narrow pass and we should come to harm if indeed great jove is minded to help the trojans and in his anger will utterly destroy the akeans i would myself gladly see them perish now and hear far from argos but if they should rally and we are driven back from the ship's pell mellon to the trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to tell the tale now therefore let us all do as i said let our squires hold our horses by the trench but let us follow hector in a body on foot clad in full armor and if the day of their doom is at hand the akeans will not be able to withstand us thus spoke polydamus and his saying pleased hector who sprang in full armor to the ground and all the other trojans when they saw him do so also left their chariots each man then gave his horses over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for him at the trench then they formed themselves and the companies made themselves ready and in five bodies followed their leaders those that went with hector and polydamus were the bravest and most in number and the most determined to break through the wall and fight at the ships sabrionis were also joined with them as a third in command for hector had left his chariot in charge of a less valiant soldier the next company was led by paris al-qathis and eganor the third by helenus and theophobus two sons of priam and with them was the hero asias as he is the son of hercticus whose great black horses of the breed that come from the river celius had bought him from iris b aneus the valiant son of ancaisis led the fourth he and the two sons of antonaur akeologus and akhamas men well versed in all the arts of war sarped on was captain over the allies and took with him glaucus and aster opus whom he deemed most valiant after himself for he was by far the best man of them all these helped to array one another in their oxide shields and then charged straight at the danians for they felt sure they would not hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the ships the rest of the trojans and their allies now followed the consul of palidamus but asias son of hercticus would not leave his horses in his esquire behind him in his foolhardiness he took them on with him towards the ship nor did he fail to come by his ending consequence never more was he to return to will and in ileus exalting in his chariot and his horses ere he could do so death of ill omen maim had overshadowed him and he had fallen by the spear of otominius noble son of dukeleon he had driven towards the left wing of the ships by which the akans used to return with their chariots and horses from the plane hither he drove and found the gates with their doors open wide and the great bar down for the gay men kept them open so as to let those of the comrades enter who might be flying towards the ships hither a set purpose that he direct his horses and his men followed him with a loud cry for they felt sure that the akans would not hold out longer and that they should now fall upon the ships little did they know that at the gates they should find two of the bravest jeepkins proud sons of the fighting lapithae the one polypoetus mighty son of parithius and the other leontius pure of murderous mars they stood before the gates like two high oak trees upon the mountains that tower from their wide spreading roots and year after year battle with wind and rain even so did these two men await the onset of the great asius confidently and without flinching the trojans led by him and iaminus arrestees adama son of asius thun and oemonus raised a loud cry of badlan made straight for the wall holding their shields of dry oxide above their heads for a while the two defenders remained inside and cheered the akans on to stand firm in defense of their ships when however they saw that the trojans were attacking the wall while the danins were crying out for help and being routed they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men and dogs and charging on either side break down the wood all around them tearing it up by the roots and no one can hear the clattering of the tusks till someone hits them and makes an end of them even so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their breasts as the weapons fell upon them for they fought with great fury trusting to their own prowess and to those who were on the wall above them these threw great stones at their assailants in defense of themselves their tents and their ships the stones fell thick as flakes of snow which some fierce blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down and sheets upon the earth even so fell the weapons from the hands of like of trojans and akans helmet and shield rang out as the great stones rained upon them and asius the son of hercticus in his dismay cried aloud and smote his two thighs father jove he cried of a truth you two are altogether given to lying i made sure the argive heroes could not withstand us whereas like slim wisted wasps or bees that have the nest in the rocks by the wayside they leave not the holes wherein they have built undefended but fight for their little ones against all who would take them even so these men's though they be but two will not be driven from the gates but stand firm either to slay or be slain he spoke but moved not the mind of jove whose counsel it then was to give glory to hector meanwhile the rest of the trojans were fighting about the other gates i however am no god to be able to tell about these things for the battle raged everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace the argives discomforted though they were were forced to defend their ships and all the gods who were defending the akans were vexed in spirit but the lap they kept on fighting with might and main there upon polypoetis mighty son of pyretheus hit the messes with a spear upon his cheek pierced helmet the helmet did not protect him for the point of the spear went through it and broke the bones so the brain inside was scattered about and he died fighting he then slew pylon and or menace leontis the race of mars killed hit the mochus the son of anti mochus by striking him with a spear upon the girdle he then drew his sword and sprang first upon the teftes whom he killed in combat and fell face upwards upon the earth after him he killed men and iamanus and resties and laid them low one after the other while they were busy stripping the armor from these heroes they used to were led on by polydamus and hector and these were the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break through the wall and fire the ships were still standing by the trench uncertain what they should do for they had seen a sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it a soaring eagle that flew skirting to the left wing of their host with a monstrous blood red snake in its talon still alive and struggling to escape the snake was still bent on revenge wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it struck the bird that held it on the neck and breast where upon the bird being in pain let it fall dropping it into the middle of the host and then flew down the wind with a sharp cry the trojans were struck with terror when they saw the snake portent of ages bearing joe writhing in the midst of them and polydamus went up to hector and said hector at our councils of war you were ever given to rebuke me even when i speak wisely as though we're not well forsoothed that one of the people should cross your will either in the field or at council board you would have them support you always nevertheless i will say what i think be best let us not now go on the fight the danians at their ship for i know what will happen if the soaring eagle which skirted the left wing of our host with a monstrous blood red snake in its talons the snake still being alive was really sent as an omen to the trojans on their essaying to cross the trench the eagle let go her hold she did not succeed in taking it home to her little ones and so will it be with ourselves even though by a mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the akeans and they give way before us still we shall not return in good order by the way we came but shall leave many a man behind us whom the akeans will do the death and defense of their ships thus would any seer who was expert in these matters and was trusted by the people read the portent hector look fiercely at him and said oledamus i like not you of your reading you can find a better saying than this if you will if however you have spoken in good earnest and indeed has heaven robbed you of your reason you would have me pay no heed to the councils of jove nor to the promises he made me and he bowed his head in confirmation you bid me be ruled rather by the flight of a wildfowl what kaira whether they fly on towards dawn or dark and whether they be on my right hand or my left let us put our trust rather in the council of great joe king of mortals and immortals there is one omen and one only that a man should fight for his country why are you so fearful though we all be of the slain at the ships of our guys you are not likely to be killed yourself for you are not steadfast nor courageous if you will not fight or would talk others over from doing so you shall fall forthwith before my spear with these words he led the way and the others followed after with a cry that rent the air then jove the lord of thunder set the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of ida that bore the dust down towards the ships he thus lulled the acaians into security and gave victory to hector into the trojans who trusting their own might into the signs he had shown them essay to break through the great wall of the acaians they tore down the breastworks from the walls and overthrew the battlements they upheaved the buttresses which the acaians had set forth in front of the wall in order to support it when they pulled these down they made sure of breaking through the wall but the danians still showed no sign of giving ground they still fenced the battlements with their shields of oxide and hurled the missiles down upon the foe as soon as any came below the wall the two ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering the acaians giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to anyone whom they sought to be remiss my friends they cried our guys won an all good bad indifferent for there was never fight yet in which we were all of equal prowess there is now work enough as you very well know for all of you see that you none of you turn and flight towards the ship stunted by the shouting of the foe but press forward and keep one another in heart if it may so be that olympian jove the lord of lightning will about save us three polar foes and drive them back towards the city thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the acaians on as the flakes did fall thick upon a winter's day when joe was minded to snow and to display his arrows to mankind he lulls the winter rest and snows hour after hour till he has buried the tops of high mountains the headlands that jut into the sea the grassy plains and the tilled fields of men the snow lies deep upon the forelands and havens of the gray city but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it can come no further though all else is wrapped as with the mantle so heavy are the heavens with snow even thus thickly did the stones fall on one side and the other some thrown at the trojans and some by the trojans at the acaians and the whole wall was in an uproar still the trojans and brave hector would not yet have broken down the gates in the great bar had not joe's turned his son's sarpedon against the archives as a line against the herd of horn cattle before him he held a shield of hammered bronze that the smith had beaten so fair and round head lined with oxides which he had made fast with rivets of gold all around the shield this he held in front of him and brandishing his two spears came on like some line of the wilderness who had been long famished for want of meat and will dare break even into a well-fenced homestead to try and get at the sheep he may find the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks with dogs and spears but he is of no mind to be driven from the fold until he has had a try for it he will either spring on a sheep and carry it off or by hit by a spear from some strong hand even so was sarpedon feigned to attack the wall and break down its battlements then he said to glaucus son of aprolicus glaucus why in lycea do we receive a special honor as regards our place at the table why are the choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming and why do men look up to us as though we were gods moreover we hold a large estate by the banks of the river zanthith fair with oratory lawns and wheat growing land it becomes us therefore to take our stand at the head of all the lyceans to bear the brunt of the fight that they may say one to another our princes and lycea eat the fat of the land and drink best of wine but they are fine fellows they fight well and are ever at the front in this battle my good friend if when we were once out of this fight we could escape old age and death this forward and forever i should neither press forward myself nor bid you do so but death in 10 000 shapes hangs ever over our heads and no man can elude him therefore let us go forward and either win glory for ourselves or yield it to another glaucus he did his thing and a pair forthwith led on the host of lyceans menesias son of pedias was dismayed when he saw them for was against his part of the wall that they came bringing destruction with them he looked along the wall for some chieftain to support his comrades and saw the two ajaxes men ever eager for the fray and tusser who had just come from his tent standing near them but he could not make his voice heard by shouting to them so great an uproar was there from the crashing seals and helmet and the battering of gates with the din which reached the skies for all the gates had been closed and the trojans were hammering them to try and break their way through them menesias therefore sent thutes with a message to ajax run good dude as he said and call ajax or better still did both come for it will be all over with us here directly the leaders of the lyceans are upon us men who have ever fought desperately here before but if they have too much on their hands to let them come at any rate let ajax son of telemon do so and let tusser the famous bowman come with him the messenger did as he was told and set off running along the wall the acaians when he reached the ajax as he said to them sirs princes of our guides the son of noble pedias bid you come to him for a while and help him you would better both come if you can or it will be all over with him directly the leaders of lyceans are upon him men who have ever fought desperately here before if you have too much on your hands to let both come at any rate let ajax son of telemon do so and let tusser the famous bowman come with him great ajax son of telemon he did the message and at once spoke to the son of oilis ajax he said do you two to yourself and brave like a meaty stay here and keep the danians in heart to fight their hardest i will go over yonder and bear my part in the fray but i will come back here at once as soon as i've given them the help they need with this ajax son of telemon set off and tusser his brother by the same father went also with pandion to carry tusser's bow they went along inside the wall and when they came to the tower when mnestius was and heart pressed indeed that they find him the brave captains and leaders of the lyceans were storming the battlements as it were a thick dark cloud fighting in close quarters and raising the battle cry aloud first ajax son of telemon killed brave epicles a comrade of sarpeton hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the battlements at the very top of the wall as men now are even one who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two hands but ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down smashing epicles four crusted helmet so that the bones of his head were crushed to pieces and he fell from the high wall as though he were diving with no more life left in him then tusser wounded glaucus the brave son of apolicus as he was coming on to attack the wall he saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it which made glaucus leave off fighting thereon he sprang covertly down for fear some of the acans might see that he was wounded and taunt him sarpeton was stung with grief when he saw glaucus leave him still he did not leave off fighting but aimed a spear at alchemon son of thester and hit him he drew a spear back again and alchemon came down headlong after with his bronze dharma rattling around him then sarpeton seized the battlement in the strong hands and tugged at it until it gave way altogether and a breach was made through which many men might pass ajax and tusser then both of them attacked him tusser hit him with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his body but joe saved his son from destruction that he might not fall by the ship's turns meanwhile ajax sprang on him and pierced his shield but the spear did not go clean through that would hustle him back that he could come on no further he therefore retired a little space from the battlement yet without losing his ground for he still thought to cover himself with glory then he turned around and shouted the brave lisian saying lisians why do you thus fail me for all my prowess i cannot break through the wall and open away to the ship single-handed come close on behind me for the more there are of us the better the lisians shamed by his rebuke pressed close around him who was their counselor and their king the archives on their part got their men in fighting order within the wall and there was a deadly struggle between them the lisians could not break through the wall and force their way to the ships nor could the danons drive the lisians from the wall now once they had reached it as two men measuring rods and heads quarrel about their boundaries in a field that they own in common and stickle for the rights though they'd be but an amir strip even so did the battlements now serve as a bone of contention and they beat one another's round shields for their possession many a man's body was wounded with a pitiless bronze as he turned round and barred his back to the foe and many were struck clean through their shields and the wall and the battlements were everywhere deluged with the blood of like of trojans and of a caeans but even so the trojans could not route the a caeans who still held on and as some honest hard-working woman weighs wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true for she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones even so was the fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when joe gave the greater glory to hector's song of priam who was first to spring towards the wall of the a caeans when he had done so he cried aloud to the trojans up trojans break the wall of the archives and fling the fire upon their ships thus did he hound them on and in one body they rushed straight at the wall as he had bitten them and scaled the battlements with sharp spears in their hands hector lay hold of a stone that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end pointed at the other two of the best men in a town as men now are could hardly raise it from the ground and put it onto a wagon but hector listed it quite easily by himself for the son of scheming satyr and made it light for him as a shepherd picks up a ram's fleece with one hand and finds it no burden so easily did hector lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors to close the gates so strong and so firmly set these doors were double and high they were kept closed by two crossbars to which there was but one key when he had got close up to them hector strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and struck them in the middle leaning his whole weight against them he broke both hinges and the stone fell inside by reason of its great wake the portals re-echoed with the sound and the bars held no longer and the doors flew open one one way and the other the other through the force of the blow then brave hector leaped inside with the face as dark as that of flying night the gleaming bronze flash fiercely about his body and he had two spears in his hand none but a god could have withstood him as he flung himself into the gateway and his eyes glared like fire then he turned around towards the Trojans and called them on to scale the wall and he did as they bade him some of them at once climbing over the wall while others passed through the gates the Danes then floods panic stricken towards their ships and all was uproar and confusion end of book 12 recording by ML Cohen Cleveland Ohio www.mojo move 411.com book 13 of the Iliad this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book 13 Neptune helps the Achaeans the feats of Idomenius Hector at the ships now when Jove had thus bought Hector and the Trojans to the ships he left them to the never ending toil and turned his keen eyes away looking else withered towards the horse breeders of Thrace the Missians fighters at close quarters the noble hippomulgee who live on milk and the Albians just test the mankind he no longer turned so much as a glance toward Troy for he did not think that any of the immortals would go and help either Trojans or Danians but King Neptune had kept no blind lookout he had been looking admirably on the battle from a seat on the top most crests of wooded Semmelthraise once he could see all Ida with the city of Priam the ships of the Achaeans he had come from under the sea and had taken his place here for he pity the Achaeans were being overcome by the Trojans and he was furiously angry with Jove presently he came down from his post on the mountaintop and as he strode swiftly onwards the high hills in the forest quake beneath the tread of his immortal feet three strides he took and with the fourth he reached his gold Agee whereas his glittering golden palace imperishable in the depths of the sea when he got there he yoked his fleet brazen footed steeds with their mains of gold all flying in the wind he closed himself in raiment of gold grasped his gold whip and took a stand upon his chariot as he went his way over the waves the sea monsters left their lairs for they knew their lord and came gambling around him from every quarter of the deep while the sea and her gladness opened a path before his chariot so lightly did the horses fly that the bronze axle of the car was not even wet beneath it and thus his bounding steeds took him to the ships of the Achaeans now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea midway between Tenedos and Rocky Imbrus here Neptune lord of the earthquake status horses unyoke them and set before them their umbrosial forage he hobbled their feet with hobbles of gold which none could either unloose or break so that they might stay there in their place until the lord should return this done he went this way to the host of the Achaeans now the Trojans followed Hector sent a premium in close array like a storm cloud or flame of fire fighting with might in main and raising the cry battle for they deemed that they should take the ship to the Achaean and kill all their chiefest heroes then and there meanwhile earth encircling Neptune lord of the earthquake cheered on the Argives for he had come up out of the sea and had assumed the form and voice of couches first he spoke to the two Ajaxes who were doing their best already and said Ajaxes you too can be the saving of the Achaeans if you will put out all your strength and not let yourselves be daunted I am not afraid that the childrens who have got over the wall and force will be victorious in any other part for the Achaeans can hold all of them in check but I much fear that some evil will befall us here were furious Hector who boasts himself the son of great joe himself is leading them on like a pillar of flame may some god then put it into your hearts to make a firm stand here and to incite others to do the like in this case you will drive him from the ships even though he be inspired by joe himself as he spoke the earth encircling lord of the earthquake struck both of them with a scepter and filled their hearts with daring he made their legs light and active as also their hands and their feet then as the soaring falcon poises on the wing high above some sheer rock and presently swoops down to chase some bird over the plane even so did Neptune lord of the earthquake wing his flight into the air and leave them of the two swift Ajax son of oilist was the first to know who it was that had been speaking with them and said to Ajax son of Telemann Ajax this is one of the gods that dwell on Olympus who in the likeness of the prophet is bidding us fight hard by our ships it was not couches to sear and diviner of omens i knew him at once by his feet and knees as he turned away for the gods are soon recognized moreover i feel the lust of battle burn more fiercely within me while my hands and my feet under me are more eager for the fray and Ajax son of Telemann answered i too feel my hands grasp my spear more firmly my strength is greater and my feet more nimble i long more over to meet furious Hector son of Priam even in single combat thus did they converse exulting in the hunger after battles to which the gods had filled them meanwhile the earth encircle aroused the acaians who were resting in the rear by the ships overcome at once by hard fighting and by grief at seeing that the Trojans had got over the wall and force here's began falling from their eyes as they beheld them for they made sure that they should not escape us to destruction but the lord of the earthquake passed lightly among them and urged their battalions to the front first he went up to to sir and lay at us the hero pinellas and though us and up here is marionese and until out his valiant waters all did he exhort shame on you young archives he cried it was on your prowess i relied for the saving of our ships if you fight not with might main this very day we'll see us overcome by the Trojans of a truth my eyes behold a great and terrible portent which i had never thought to see the Trojans at our ships they who are here to for like panic stricken hinds the prey of jackals and wolves in a forest with no strength but in flight for the cannot defend themselves hither or two the Trojans dared not for one moment face the attack of the akeans but now they have sallied far from their city and are fighting in our very ships through the cowardice of our leader and the disaffection of the people themselves who in their discontent care not to fight in defense of the ships but are being slaughtered near them true king agamemnon son of atreus is the cause of our disaster by having insulted the son of pelius still this is no reason why we should leave off fighting let us be quick to heal for the hearts of the brave heal quickly you do ill to be thus remiss you who are the finest soldiers in our whole army i blame no man for keeping out of battle if he is a weakling but i am indignant with such men as you are my good friends matters will soon become even worse through this slackness think each one of you of his honor and credit for the hazard of the fight is extreme great hector is now fighting at our ships he has broken through the gates and the strong bolt that held them thus to the earth and circular adjust the akeans and urge them on they're on round the two ajaxes they're gathered strong biomes of men of whom not even mars normanerva marshaler of hosts could make light if they went among them for they were the picked men of all those who were now awaiting at the onset of hector and the trojans they made a living fence spear to spear shield to shield buckler to buckler helmet to helmet and man to man the horsehair crests on their gleaming helmets touched one another as they nodded forward so closely sirried were they the spears they brandished in their strong hands were interlaced and their hearts were set on battle the trojans advanced in a dense body with hector at their head pressing right on as a rock becomes thundering down the side of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn it the foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by floods of rain and as it bounds headlong on its way the whole forest is set in an uproar it's where it's neither to right nor left till it reaches level ground but then for all its fury cannot go further even so easily did hector for a while seem as though he would career through the tents and ships of the akeans till he had reached the sea in his murderous course but the closely sirried battalions stayed with him when he reached them for the sons of the akeans thrusted him with swords and spears pointed at both ends and drove him from them so he staggered and gave ground there on he shouted to the trojans trojans lisians and dardanians fight in close combat stand firm the akeans have set themselves as a wall against me but they will not check me for long they will give ground before me if the mightiest of the gods the thundering spouse of juno has indeed inspired my onset with these words he put heart and soul into them all deofobus son of priam went about among them intent on deeds of daring with his round shield before him undercover of which he strode quickly forward marionis took aim in him with a spear nor did he fail to hit the broad orb of oxide but he was far from piercing it for the spear broke in two pieces long air he could do so moreover deofobus had seen it coming and has held the shield well away from him marionis drew back undercover of his comrades angry alike having failed to vanquish deofobus and having broken his spear he turned therefore towards the ships and tents to fetch a spear which he had left behind in his tent the others continued fighting in the cry of the battle rose up into the heavens two sir son of telemon was the first to kill his man to wit the warrior imbrius son of mentor richon horses until the akeans came he had lived in pideum and had married medus casti a bastard daughter of priam but on the arrival of the danian fleet he had gone back to ileus and was a great man among the trojans dwelling near priam himself who gave him like honor with his own son the son of telemon now struck him under the air with a spear which he then drew back again and imbrius fell headlong as an ashtree when it has felled on the crest of saum high mountain beacon and its delicate green foliage comes toppling down to the ground thus to the fall with his bronze dite armor ringing harshly around him and two sir sprang forward with intent to strip him of his armor but as he was doing so hector could aim in him with a spear two sir saw the spear coming and swerved aside where upon it hit emphimakis son of cetaceous son of actor in the chest as he was coming into battle and his armor rang rattling around him as he fell heavily to the ground hector sprang forward to take emphimakis's helmet from office temples and in a moment ajax threw a spear at him but did not wound him for he was encased all over in his terrible armor nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses which the akeans then drew off stickiest and menaceous captains of the athenians bore away emphimakis to the host of the akeans while the two brave and impetuous ajaxes did delight by imbrius as two lions snatch a goat from the hounds that have it in their fangs and bear it through thick brushwood high above the ground in their jaws thus to the ajaxes barrel off the body of imbrius and strip it of its armor then the son of oileus severed the head from the neck in revenge for the death of emphimakis and said it whirling over the crowd as though it had been a ball till it fell into dusted hector's feet nettoon was exceedingly angry that his grandson emphimakis should have fallen he therefore went to the tents and ships of the akeans to urge the danes still further and to devise evil for the trojans eidomanius met him as he was taking leave of a comrade who had just come from the fight wounded in the knee his fellow soldiers bore him off the field and eidomanius having given orders to the physician went on to his tent for he was still thirsting for battle nettoon spoke in the likeness and with the voice of though a son of andremen who ruled the eitolians and all pleuron and halkaldion and was honored among his people as though he were a god eidomanius said he log over to the cretins what has now become of the threats with which the sons of the akeans used to threaten the trojans and eidomanius chief among the cretins answered though as no one so far as i know is in fault for we can all fight none are held back neither by fear nor slackness but it seems to be the will of all maybe joe of the akeans should perish engorously here far from argos you though us have always been staunch and you keep others in heart if you see any fail in duty be not then remiss now but exhort all to do their utmost to this nettoon lord of the earthquake made answer eidomanius may he never return from troi but remain here for the dogs to batten upon who is this day willfully slack in fighting get your armor and go we must make haste all together for maybe of any use though we are only two even cowards gain courage from companionship and we too can hold our own with the bravest there with the god went back into the thick of the fight and eidomanius when he had reached his tent don disarmor grasps his two spares and sallied forth as the lightning which the son of saturn brandishes from bright olympus when he should show a sign to mortals and its gleam flashes far and wide even so did his armor gleam about him as he ran marionis his sturdy squire met him while he's still near his tent for he was going to fetch his spear and eidomanius said marionis fleet son of molest best of comrades why have you left the field are you wounded and is the point of the wet and hurting you or have you been sent to fetch me i want no fetching i had far rather fight than stay in my tent eidomanius answered marionis i come for a spear if i can find one in my tent i have broken the one i had and throwing it at the shield of deophobus and eidomanius captains the cretins answered you will find one spear or 20 if you please standing up again the end wall of my tent i have taken them from trojans who i'm killed for i am not one to keep my enemy at arm's length therefore i have spears boss shields helmets and burnish porcelains and marionis said i too in my tent and at my ship have spoils taken from the trojans but they are not at hand i have been at all times valorous and wherever there has been hard fighting it held my own among the foremost there may be those among the akans who do not know how i fight but you know it well enough yourself eidomanius answered i know you for a brave man you need not tell me if the best men at the ship for being chosen to go on an ambush and there's nothing like this for showing what a man is made of it comes out then who was cowardly and who brave the coward will change color at every touch in turn he is full of fears and keeps shifting his weight first on one end then on the other his heart beats fast as he thinks of death and one can hear the chattering of his teeth whereas the brave man will not change color nor be frightened i'm fighting himself in an ambush but is all the time longing to go into action if the best men were being chosen for such a service no one can make light of your courage nor feats of arms if you were struck by a dart or smitten in close combat it would not be from behind in your neck nor back but the weapon would hit you in the chest or belly as you were pressing forward to place in the front ranks but let us no longer stay here talking like children lest we be ill-spoken of go fetch your spear from the tent at once on this marionese pier of mars went to the tent and got himself a spear of bronze he then followed after itemenius big with great deeds of valor as when baneful mars sally's false to battle his son panicked so strong and dauntless goes with him to strike terror even into the heart of a hero the pair have gone from thrace to arm themselves among the aphiri or the brave phlegions but they will not listen to both the contending host and will give victory to one side or the other even so did marionese and itemenius captains of men go out the battle clad in their bronze armors marionese was first to speak son of duke leon said he where would you have us begin fighting on the right wing of the host in the center on the left wing where i take it the acaians will be the weakest itemenius answered there are others to defend the center the two ajaxes and tusser who is the finest arser of all the acaians and is good also in a hand-to-hand fight these will give hector son a premium enough to do fight as he may he will find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury and to fire the ships unless the son of satan fling a firebrand upon them with his own hand great ajax son of teleman will yield to no man who is in mortal mode and eats the grain of series if bronze and great stones can overthrow him he would not yield even to achilles in a hand-to-hand fight and in fleeting as a foot there is none to beat him let us turn therefore towards the left wing that we may know forthwith whether we're to give glory to some other or heed to us marionese pure of fleet mars then led the way till they came to the part of the host which itemenius had named now when the trojan saw itemenius coming on like a flame of fire him and his squire clad in the richly wrought armor they shouted and made towards him all in a body and a furious hand-to-hand fight raged under the ship's turns fierce as the shrill winds that whistle upon a day when dust lies deep on the roads and the gusts raise it into a thick cloud even such was the fury of combat and might in main did they hack at each other with spear and swords throughout the host the field bristle with the long and deadly spears which they bore dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets their fresh burnished breast plates and glittering shields as they joined battle with one another iron indeed must be as courage who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil and look on it without being dismayed thus the two mighty sons of saturn devised evil for mortal heroes joe was minded to give victory to the trojans and the hectares so as to do honor to the fleet achilles nevertheless he did not mean to utterly overthrow the akeans host before ilias and only wanted to glorify thetis and her valiant son neptune on the other hand went about the archives to incite them having come up from the gray sea in secret for he was grieved at seeing them vanquished by the trojans and he was furiously angry with joe both were of the same race and country but joe was the elderborn in newmore therefore neptune feared to defend the archives openly but in the likeness of mandy kept on encouraging them throughout their host thus then did these two devise a not-of-war in battle that none could unloose or break and set both sides tugging at it to the failing of men's needs beneath them and now i de menius though his hair was already flecked with gray called loud on the danon's and spread panic among the trojans as he leaked in among them he slew athrionis from cabesius a sojourner who had but lately come to take part in the war he sought kassandra the fiercest of priam's daughters in marriage but offered no gifts of wooing for he promised a great thing to wit that he would drive the sons of the akeans willingly from troj old king priam had given his consent and promised her to him whereon he fought on the strength of the promises thus made to him i de menius aimed a spear and hit him as he came striding on his carousel bronze did not protect him and the spear stuck in his belly so that he fell heavily to the ground then i de menius wanted over him saying athrionis there is no one in the world whom i shall admire more than i do you if you indeed perform what you have promised priam son of dardanius in return for his daughter we too will make you an offer we will give you the loveliest daughter of the son of atrius and we'll bring her from argos for you to marry if you will sack the goodly city of ileus and company with ourselves so come along with me that we may make a covenant at the ships about the marriage and we will not be hard upon you about gifts of wooing wit this i de menius began dragging him by the foot through the thick of the fight but asius came up to protect the body on foot in front of his horses which his squire drove so close behind him that he could feel their breath upon his shoulder he was longing to strike down on menius but ere he could do so i de menius smote him with a spear and a throat under the chin and the bronze point went clean through it he fell as an oak or poplar or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship's timbers upon the mountain with wedded axes even thus did he lie in full length in front of his chariot and horses grinding his teeth and clutching at the bloodstained dust his charioteer was strict with panic and did not dare turn his horses around and escape thereupon at the locus have them in the middle of the body with a spear his caress of browns did not protect him and his spear stuck in his belly he fell gasping from his chariot and that the locus great nester's son drove his horses from the trojans to the acheans deofobus then came close up to i de menius to avenge asius and took aim at him with a spear but enemius was on the lookout and avoided it for he was covered by the round shield he's always bore a shield of oxide and bronze with two arm rods on the inside he crouched under cover of this and the spear flew over him but the shield rang out as the spear grazed it and the weapon sped not in vain from the strong head of deofobus for its truck hypsin or son of a passage shepherd of his people in the liver under the midriff and his limbs fell beneath him deofobus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying of a truth asius has not fallen unevenged he will be glad even while passing into the house of eighties strong warden of the gate that i have sent someone to escort him thus did he vaunt and the our guides were stunned by his saying noble antilicus was more angry than anyone but grief did not make him forget his friend and comrade he ran up to him bestowed him and covered him with a shield then two of his staunch comrades missus de son of a kindness and aliastor stooped down and bore him away groaning heavily to the ships but i de menius ceased not his fury he kept on striving continually either to enshroud some toren in the darkness of death or himself to fall while warding off the evil day from the akeans then fell alcathias son of noba estes he was son-in-law to angkaesis having married his eldest daughter hippodamea who was the darling her father and mother and extolled all her generation in beauty accomplishments and understanding wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wife him did neptune lay low by the hand of itaminias blinding his bright eye and binding his strong limbs and fetters so he can neither go back nor to one side but sit stock still like a pillar or lofty tree when itaminias struck him with a spear in the middle of his chest the coat of mail that had hitherto protected his body was now broken and rang harshly as the spear tore through it he fell heavily to the ground and the spear stuck in his heart which still beat and made the butt end of the spear quiver till dread mars put an end to his life i de menius vaunted over him in crowd with a lied voice saying deophobus since you are in a mood to vaunt shall we cry quits now that we have killed three men to your one nasir stand and fight with me yourself that you may learn what manner of joe begotten man am i that have come hither joe first begot minos chief ruler in crete and minos in turn begot a son the noble decalion decalion begot me to be a ruler over many men in crete and my ships have now brought me hither to be the bane of yourself your father and the trojans thus did he speak and deophobus was in two minds whether to go back and fetch some other trojan to help him or to take up the challenge single-handed in the end he deemed it best to go and fetch anias whom he found standing in the rear for he had long been agreed with premium because in spite of his brave deeds he did not give him his due share of honor deophobus went up to him and said anias prince among trojans if you know any ties of kinship help me now to defend the body of your sister's husband come with me to the rescue of al-kathius who being husband to your sister brought you up when you were a child in his house and now ita minas has slain him with these words he moved the heart of anias and he went in pursuit of ita minas big with great peace of valor but ita minas was not to be the staunt that is though he were a mere child he held his ground as a wild boar at bay upon the mountains who abides the coming of a great crowd of men in some lonely place the bristles stand up upon his back his eyes flash fire and he wets his tusks in his eagerness to defend himself against hounds and men even so defamed idominious hold his ground and budge not at the coming of anias he cried aloud to his comrades looking talled out sclafus apharius the operas morones and at the locus all of them brave soldiers hither my friends he cried and leave me not single-handed i go in great fear by fleet anias who is coming against me and is a redoubtable dispenser of death battle moreover as he is in the flower of youths when a man's strength is greatest if i was of the same age as he is and in my present mind either he or i shall soon bear away the prize of victory on this all of them is one man stood near him shield on shoulder anias on the other side called to his comrades looking towards the aphobos paris and the ajanor who were the legions of the trojans along with himself and the people followed them as sheep followed the ram when they go down to the drink after they had been feeding and the heart of the shepherd is glad even so was the heart of anias glad when he saw his people follow him then they fought furiously in close combat about the body of alcathus wielding the long spears and the bronze armors about their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at one another in the press of the fight while the two heroes anias and itomanias peers of mars outvide everyone in their desire to hack each other with sword and speared anias took aim first but itomanias was on the lookout and avoided the spear so that it sped from anias's strong hand in vain and fell quivering in the ground itomanias meanwhile smoked only malice in the middle of his belly and broke the plate of his corselit whereupon his bowels came gushing out as he clutched the earth into palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust item anias drew his spear out of his body but could not strip him of the rest of his armor for the reign of darts that were showered upon him moreover his strength was now beginning to fail him so that he could no longer charge and could no longer spring forward to recover his own weapon nor swerve aside to avoid one that was aimed at him therefore though he still defended himself in hand to hand fight his heavy feet could not bear him swiftly out of the battle deophobus aimed to spear at him as he was retreating slowly from the field for his bitterness against him was a fierce as ever but again he missed him and hit a scalphus the son of mars the spear went through his shoulder and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust grim mars of awful voice did not yet know that his son had fallen for he was sitting on the summits of olympus under the golden clouds by command of jove where the other gods were also sitting forbidden to take part in the battle meanwhile men fought furiously about the body deophobus tore the helmet from off his head but morona sprang upon him and struck him on the arm with the spear so that the visor helmet fell from his hand and came ringing down upon the ground therefore morione sprang upon him like a vulture drew a spear from his shoulder and fell back under the cover of his men then pilot days own brother of deophobus passed his arms around his waist and bore him away from the battle till he got to his horses that were standing in the rear with the chariot and their driver these took him towards the city groaning in in great pain with blood flowing from his arm the others still fought on and the battle cry rose to heaven without ceasing and he sprang on a furious son of calypter and struck him with a spear in his throat which was turned towards him his head fell on one side his helmet and shield came down along him and death life's foe was shed around him and tillica's spider's chance flew forward towards thune and wounded him as he was turning round he laid open the vein that runs all the way up the back of the neck he cut this vein clean away through its whole course and thune fell in the dust face upwards stretching out his hands imploringly towards his comrades and tillica sprang upon him and stripped the armor from his shoulders glaring around him fearfully as he did so the trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and gleaming shield but could not wound his body for neptune stood guard over the son of nester though the darts fell thickly around him he was never clear of the foe but was always in the thick of the fight his spear was never idle he poised and aimed it in every direction so eager was he to hit someone from a distance or to fight him hand to hand as he was thus aiming among the crowd he was seen by adonis son of asius who rushed toward him and struck him with a spear in the middle of his shield but neptune made his point without effect for he grudged him the life of antillicus one half therefore the spear stuck fast like a charred stake in the tullicus's shield while the other lay on the ground adamus then sought shelter on the cover of his mend but marionis followed after him and hit him with a spear midway between the private parts in the naval where a wound is particularly painful to wretched mortals there did marionis transfix him and he writhed convulsively about the spear of some bull whom mountain herdsmen have bound with ropes and wyes and are taking away perforce even so did he move convulsively for a while but not for very long till moronis came up and drew the spear out of his body and his eyes were veiled in darkness helenus then struck the a progress which a great thracian sword hitting him in the temple in close combat and tearing the helmet from his head the helmet fell to the ground and one of those who were fighting on the akean side took charge of it as it rolled at his feet but the eyes of the apyrus were closed in the darkness of death on this menelaus was grieved and made menacingly towards helenus brandishing his spear but helenus drew his bow and the two attacked one other at the same moment the one with a spear and the other with his bow and arrow the son of pream hit the breast place to menelaus's coarselet the hour glanced from it as black beans were pulse coming down onto a threshing floor from the broad winnowing shovel blown by shrill rins and shaken by the shovel even so did the arrow glance off and recoiled from the shield of menelaus who in his turn wounded the hand which was helenus carried his bow the spear went right through his hand and stuck in the bow itself so that to his life he retreated under cover of his men with his hand dragging by his side for the spear weighed it down till agen or drew it out and bound the hand carefully in a woollen sling which his esquire had with him high sander then made straight at menelaus his evil destiny luring him on to his doom for he was to fall and fight with you on menelaus when the two were hard by one another the spear of the son of atrius turned aside and he missed his aim high sander then struck the shield of brave menelaus but could not pierce it for the shield stayed the spear and broke the shaft nevertheless he was glad and made sure of victory forthwith however the son of atrius drew his sword and sprang upon him high sander then seized the bronze battle axe with his long and polished handle of alvoids that hung by his side under his shield and the two made it one another high sander struck the peak of menelaus's crested helmet just under the crest itself and menelaus hit by sander as he was coming towards him on forehead just at the rise of his nose the bones cracked and his two gory bedravelled eyes fell by his feet in the dust he fell backward to the ground and menelaus sent his heel upon him stripped him of his armor and vaunted over him saying even thus shall you Trojans leave the ships of the achaeans proud and insatiated a battle though you be nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame which you have heaped upon yourself cowardly she-wolves that you are you feared not the anger of dread jove avenger of violated hospitality who will one day destroy your city you stole my wedded wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were her guest and now you would fling fire upon our ships and kill our heroes a day will come when rage as you may you shall be stayed oh father joe view who they say are above all both gods and men in wisdom and from whom all things that fall us to proceed how can you thus favor the Trojans men so proud and overweening that they are never tired of fighting all things paul after a while sleep love sweet song and stately dance still these are the things of which a man would surely have as fill rather than a battle whereas it is a battle that the Trojans are insatiated so saying menelaius stripped the blood stained armor from the body of pysander and handed it over to his men then he again ranged himself among those who were in the front of the fight harpalion son of king palamanus then sprang upon him he had come to fight a troll along with his father but he did not go home again he struck the middle of menelaius his shield with a spear but could not pierce it and to save his life drew back under cover of his men looking around him on every side lest he should be wounded but marionis aimed a bronze tip arrow at him and as he was leaving the field and hit him on the right buttock the arrow pierced the bone through and through and penetrated the bladder so he sat down where he was and breathed his last in the arms of his comrades stretched like a worm upon the ground and watering the earth with blood that flowed from his wounds the brave pathologonians tended him with all to care they raised him into his chariot and bore him sadly off to the city of troj his father went also with him weeping bitterly but there was no ransom that could bring his dead son to life again paris was deeply grieved by the death of harpalion who was his host when he went among the pathologonians he aimed an arrow therefore in order to avenge him now there was a certain man named yukinor son of polyides the prophet a brave man and wealthy whose home was in carinth this yukinor had set sail for troi well-knowing that would be the death of him for his good old father polyides has often told him that he must either stay at home and die of a terrible disease or go with the acains and perish the hands of the trojans he chose therefore to avoid incurring the heavy fine the acains would have laid upon him and at the same time to escape the pain and suffering of disease paris now smote him on the jaw under his ear where on the life went out of him and he was enshrouded in the darkness of death thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire but hector had not yet heard and did not know that the argives were making havoc of his men on the left wing of the battle where the acains ere long would have triumphed over them so vigorously did neptune cheer them on and help them he therefore held on at the point where he had first forced his way through the gates and the wall after breaking through the syriad ranks of danian warriors it was here that the ships of ajax and protosalius were drawn up on the seashore here the wall was at its lowest and to fight both of man and horse raged most fiercely the boetians and aonians with their long tunics the locrians the men of fithia and the famous force of the apeans could hardly stay hector as he rushed on towards the ships nor could they drive him from them for he was as a wall of fire the chosen men of the athenians were in the van led by monistius son of pedios with whom were the also fedreus stickyus and stalwart bias megis the son of phileus antheon and gracious command of the apeans while median and stance podarsis led the men of fithia of these medan was bastard son of oileus and brother of ajax but he lived in philaceae away from his own country for he had killed the brother of a stepmother opus the wife of oileus the other podarsis with the son of vifcalus son of flakus the two stood in the van of the theans then defended the ships along with the boetians ajax son of oileus never for a moment left the side of ajax son of telemon but as this two sworn oxen both strained their utmost at the plow which they are drawing in a fallow field and the sweat steams upward from about the roots of their horns nothing but the oak divides them as they break up the ground till they reach the end of the field even so did the two ajaxes stand shoulder to shoulder by one another many and brave comrades followed the son of telemon to relieve him of his shield when he was overcome with sweat and toil but the locreans did not follow so close after the son of oileus for they could not hold their own in a hand-to-hand fight they had no bronze helmets with plumes of horsehair neither had they the shields nor ashen spears but they had come to troi armed with bows and with slings of twisted wool from which they showered their missiles to break the ranks of the trojans the others therefore with their heavy armor bore the brunt of the fight with the trojans and with hector while the locreans shot from behind under their cover and thus the trojans began to lose heart for the arrows threw them into confusion the trojans would now have been driven in a sorry plight from the ship's intent back to windy ileus had not palidamious presently said to hector hector there is no persuading you to take advice because heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of war you think that you must therefore sell others in counsel but you cannot thus claim preeminence in all things heaven has made one man an excellent soldier of another it has made a dancer or a singer and a player on the lyre while yet in another jove has implanted a wise understanding of which men reap fruit to the saving of many and he himself knows more about it than anyone therefore i will say what i think will be best the fight has hemmed you in is with a circle of fire and even now the trojans are within the wall some of them stand aloof and full armor while others are fighting scattered and outnumbered near the ships draw back therefore and call your chieftains around you that we may advise together whether to fall now upon the ships in the hope that heaven may outsafe us victory or to be the retreat while we can yet safely do so i greatly fear the acains will pay us their debt of yesterday and full for there is one abiding at their ships who has never weary a battle and who will not hold aloof much longer thus spoke polydamus in his words please hector well he sprang in full armor from his chariot and said polydamus gather the chieftains here i will go yonder into the fight but will return at once when i've given them their orders he then spied onward powering like a snowy mountain and with a loud cry flew through the ranks of the trojans and their allies when they heard his voice they all hastened to gather around polydamus the excellent son of pantheos but hector kept on among the foremost looking everywhere to find deofobus and princelinas adamus son of asias and asias son of hercticus living indeed and scavenous he can no longer find them for the last two are lying by the sterns of the acains ships slain by the archives while the others had also been stricken and wounded by them but upon the left wing of the dread battle he found alexander's husband of lovely helen cheering his men and urging them on the fight he went up to him and upgraded him paris said he evil-hearted paris fair to see but woman mad and false of tongue where are deofobus and king helanus where are adamus son of asias and asias son of hercticus where too is athrionius ileus has undone and will now surely fall alexander's answered hector why find fault when there is no one to find fault with i should hold a loop from battle on any day rather than this for my mother bore me with nothing of the coward about me from the moment when you said our men fighting about the ships that we have been staying here and doing battle with the danians our comrades about whom you asked me are dead deofobus and king helanus alone have left the field wounded both of them in the hand but the son of saturn saved them alive now therefore lead on where you would have us go and we will follow with right goodwill you shall not find us value in so far as our strength holds out but no man can do more than in him lies no matter how willing he may be with these words he satisfied his brother and the two went towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest about sebreone's brave polydamus flacis or theus godlike polyphetes palmus ascanius and morris son of hippodion who had come from fertile ascania on the preceding day to relieve other troops then jove urged them on to fight they flew forth like the blasts and some fierce wind and strike earth in the van of a thunderstorm they debuff it to salt sea into an uproar many and mighty are the great waves that come crashing in one after the other upon the shore with their arching heads all crested with foam even so did rank behind rank of trojans the raiding gleaming armor followed their leaders onward the way was led by hector son of pream peer of murderous mars with his round shield before him his shield of ox hide covered with plates of bronze and his gleaming helmet upon his temples he kept stepping forward under cover of his shield in every direction making trial of the ranks to see if they would give way before him but he could not daunt the courage of the akeans ajax was the first to stride out and challenge him sir he cried draw near why do you think thus vainly to dismay the our guides we akeans are excellent soldiers but the scourge of joe has fallen heavily upon us your heart forsooth is set on destroying our ships but we too have hands that can keep you at bay and your own fair account shall be soon taken and sat by ourselves the time is near when you so pray joe and all the gods in your flight that your steeds may be swifter than the hawks or they raise the dust on a plane and bear you back to the city as he was thus speaking a bird flew by upon his right hand and the host of the akeans shouted for they took heart at the omen but hector answered ajax braggarton falls of ton would that i were sure of being son forevermore to ages bearing joe with queen juneau for my mother and of being held in like honor with minerva and apollo as i am that this day is big with the destruction of the akeans and you shall fall among them if you dare abide my spear it shall rend your fair body and bid your glut our hounds and birds of prey with your fat and your flesh as you fall by the ships of the akeans with these words he led the way and the others followed after with a war cry that rent the air while the host shouted behind them the archives on their part raised a shout likewise nor did they forget their prowess but stood firm against the onslaught of the trojan chieftains and the cry from both the host rose up to heaven and to the brightness of joe's presence end of book 13 recording by ml cohen www.mojo move 411.com Cleveland Ohio november 2007 book 14 of the iliad this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org the iliad my homer translated by samuel butler book 14 agamemnon proposes that the akeans should sail home and is rebuked by ulysses juno beguile's jupiter hector is wounded nestor was sitting over his wine but the cry of battle did not escape him and he said to the son of esculapius what noba macaen is the meaning of all this the shouts of men fighting by our ships grow stronger and stronger stay here therefore and sit over your wine while fair he came a day heats you a bath and washes the clotted blood from off you i will go at once for the lookout station and see what it is all about as he spoke he took up the shield of his son thersemides it was lying in his fit all gleaming with bronze for thersemides had taken his father's shield he grasped his redoubtable bronze shod spear and as soon as he was outside saw the disastrous route of the akean who now that their wall was overthrown were flying pelmel before the trojans as when there is a heavy swell up on the sea but the waves are done they keep their eyes on the watch for the quarter whence the fierce winds may spring upon them but they stay where they are and set neither this way nor that though some particular wind sweeps down from heaven to determine them even so did the old man ponder whether to make for the crowd of denians or go in search of agamemnon in the end he deemed it best to go to the son of atreus but meanwhile the hosts were fighting and killing one another and the hard bronze rattled on their bodies as they thrust at one another with their swords and spears the wounded kings the son of tedius ulysses and agamemnon son of atreus fell in with nester as they were coming up from their ships where theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting was going on being on the shore itself in as much as they had been beat first while the wall had been built behind behind your most the stretch of the shore wide though it was did not afford room for all the ships and the host was cramped for space therefore they had placed the ships and rose one behind the other and had filled the whole opening of the bay between the two points that formed it the kings leaning on their spears were coming out to survey the fight being in great anxiety and when old nester met them they were filled with dismay then king agamemnon said to him nester son of nilius honor to the achian name why have you left the battle to come hither i fear that what dread hector said will come true when he vaunted among the trojans saying that he would not return to ilius till he had fired our ships and killed us this is what he said and now it is all coming true alas others of the achians like achilles are in such anger with me that they refuse to fight by the stewards of our ships then nester son of jereen answered it is indeed as you say it is all coming true at this moment and even joe who thunders from on high cannot prevent it fallen is the wall on which we relied as an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet the trojans are fighting stubbornly and without seizing at the ships look where you may you cannot see from what quarter the route of the achians is coming they're being killed in a confused mass and the battle cry ascends to heaven let us think if council could be of any use what we had better do but i do not advise our going into battle ourselves for a man cannot fight when he is wounded and king agamemnon answered nester if the trojans are indeed fighting to the rear of our ships and either the wall nor the trench has served us over which the danians spoiled so hard which they deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet i see it must be the will of joe that the achian should perish and gloriously hear far from argus i knew when joe was willing to defend us and i know now that he is raising the trojans to light on like honor with the gods well us on the other hand he has bound hand and foot now therefore let us all do as i say let us bring down the ships that are on the beach and draw them into the water let us make them fast to their mooring stones a little way out against the fall of night if even by night the trojans will desist from fighting we may then draw down the rest of the fleet there's nothing wrong and flying ruined even by night it's better for a man that he should fly and be saved than be caught and killed the illicis looked fiercely at him and said son of atreus what are you talking about wretch you should have commanded some other invasor army and not been ruler over us to whom joe has a lot of the life of hard fighting from youths old age till we every one of us perish is it thus that you would quit the city of troj to win which we have suffered so much hardship hold your peace bless some other of the achaeans here you say what no man who knows how to give good counsel no king over so great a host as that of the archives should ever have let fall from his lips i despised your judgment utterly for what you've been saying would you then have us draw down our ships into the water while the battle is raging and thus play further into the hands of the conquering trojans it would be ruined the achaeans will not go on fighting when they see the ships being drawn into the water but will seize attacking and keep turning their eyes toward them your counsel therefore sir captain would be our destruction agamemnon to answered illicis your rebuke has stung me to the heart i am not however ordering the achaeans to draw the ships into the sea whether they will or no someone it may be older young can offer us better counsel which i shall rejoice to hear then said de almond such a one is at hand he is not far to seek if you will listen to me and not resent my speaking though i am younger than any of you i am by lineage son to a noble sire tedious who lies buried at thebes for portheus had three noble sons two of whom agrius and melis abode in pleuron and rocky caladon the third was the knight oenius my father's father and he was the most valiant of them all oenius remained in his own country but my father as joe the other gods ordained it migrated to argus he married into the family of atrostus and his house was one of great abundance for he had large estates of rich corn growing land with much orchard ground as well and he had many sheep moreover he excelled all the archives and the use of the spear you must yourselves have heard whether these things are true or no therefore when i say well despised not my words as though i were a coward or a vignable birth i say then let us go to the fight as we needs must wounded though we be when there we may keep out of the battle and beyond the range of the spears lest we get fresh wounds in addition to what we have already but we can spur on others who have been indulging their spleen and holding aloof from battle hitherto thus did he speak whereon they did even as he had said and set out king agamemnon leading the way meanwhile neptune had kept no blind lookout and came up to them in the semblance of an old man he took agamemnon's right hand in his own and said son of atreus i take it achilles is glad now that he sees the achaeans routed in slain for he is utterly without remorse may he come to a bad end and heaven can found him as for yourself the blessed gods are not yet so bitterly angry with you but that the princes and counselors in the trojan shall again raise the dust upon the plain and you shall see them flying for the ships intense toward their city with this he raised a mighty cry of battle and sped forward to the plane the voice that came from his deep chest was his that of nine or ten thousand men when they are shouting in the thick of a fight and it put fresh courage into the hearts of the achaeans to wage war and do battle without ceasing juno of the golden throne looked down as she stood upon a peak of olympus and her heart was gladdened at the sight of him who was at once her brother and brother-in-law hurrying hither and thither and then fighting then she turned her eyes to jove as he said on the topmost crests of many fount and idem and loathed him she said herself to think how she might hoodwink him and in the end she deemed that it would be best for her to go to aida and array herself in rich attire in the hope that jove might become enamored of her and wish to embrace her while he was thus engaged a sweet and careless sleep might be made to steal over his eyes and senses she went therefore to the room which her son vulcan had made her and the doors of which he had cuddly fastened by means of a secret key so that no other god could open them here she entered and closed the doors behind her she cleansed all the dirt from her fair body with ambrosia then she anointed herself with olive oil ambrosial very soft and scented specially for herself if it were so much as shaken in the bronze floored house of jove the scent pervaded the universe of heaven and earth with this she anointed her delicate skin and then she plaited the fair ambrosial locks that flowed in a stream of golden tresses from her immortal head she put on the wondrous robe which Minerva had worked for her with consummate art and it embroidered her with manifold devices she fastened it about her bosom with golden clasps as she girded herself with a girdle that had a hundred tassels that she fastened her earrings three brilliant pendants that cluelessened most beautifully through the pierced lobes of her ears and through a lovely new veil over her head she bound her sandals onto her feet and when she had arrayed herself perfectly to her satisfaction she left her room and called venus to come aside and speak to her my dear child said she will you do what i'm going to ask of you or will refuse me because you are angry at my being on the danian side while you are on the trojan jove's daughter venus answered juno august queen of goddesses daughter of mighty saturn say what you want and i will do it for you at once if i can and if it can be done at all then juno told a relying tale and said i want you to endow me with some of those fascinating charms the spells of which bring all things mortal and immortal to your feet i'm going to the world's end to visit oceanus from whom all we gods proceed and mother teethus they received me in their house took care of me and brought me up having taken me over from rhea when jove imprisoned great saturn into the depths that are under earth and sea i must go and see them that i may make peace between them they've been quarreling and are so angry that they have not slept with one another this long while if i can bring them around and restore them to one another's embraces they will be grateful to me and love me forever afterwards thereon laughter loving venus said i cannot and must not refuse you for you sleep in the arms of jove who is our king as she spoke she loosed from her bosom the curiously embroidered girdle into which all her charms have been wrought love desire and a sweet flattery which steals the judgment even of the most prudent she gave the girdle to juno and said take this girdle wherein all my charms reside and lay it in your bosom if you will wear it i promise you that your errand be it what it may will not be bootless when she heard this juno smiled and still smiling she laid the girdle in her bosom venus now went back into the house of jove while juno darted down from the summits of olympus she passed over pyrrhea and fair emethia and went on and on till she came to the snowy ranges of the thracian horsemen over whose topmost crest she spread without ever setting foot to the ground when she came to athos she went on over the waves of the sea till she reached limnos the city of city of noble thois there she met sleep own brother to death and caught him by the hand saying sleep you who lorded alike over mortals and immortals if you ever did me a service in times past you went for me now and i should be grateful to you ever after close joe's keen eyes for me and slumber while i hold in class in my embrace and i will give you a beautiful golden seat that can never fall to pieces my club-footed son vulcan can make it for you and he should give it a footstool for you to rest your fair feet upon when you were at table then sleep answered juno great queen of goddesses daughter of bodhi saturn i would lull any other of the gods to sleep without compunction not even accepting the waters of oceanus from whom all of them proceed but i dare not go near jove nor send him to sleep unless he bids me i have had one lesson already through doing which you asked me on the day when joe's mighty son hercules set sail from ilias after having sacked the city of the trochans and your bidding i suffused my sweet self over the mind of eegis bearing joe and laid him to rest meanwhile you hatched a plot against hercules and set the blast of the angry winds beating upon the sea so you took him to the godly city of cos away from all his friends joe was furious when he awoke and began hurling the gods about all over the house he was looking more particularly for myself and would have flung me down through space into the sea where i should never have been heard of anymore had not knight who cast both men and gods protected me i fled to her and joe's left off looking for me in spite of his being so angry great did not dare do anything to displease knight and now you are again asking me to do something on which i cannot venture and you know said sleep why do you take such notions as those into your head do you think joe will be as anxious to help the trochans as he was about his own son come i will marry you to the one of the youngest of the graces and she shall be your own as the thea whom you've always wanted to marry sleep was pleased when he heard this and answered then swear it to me by the dread waters of the river sticks lay one hand on the bounteous earth and the other on the sheen of the sea so that all the gods who dwell down below with Saturn may be our witnesses and see that you really do give me one of the youngest of the graces pacithia whom i've always wanted to marry juno did as he had said she swore and invoked all the gods of the netherworld were called titans to witness when she had completed her oath the two enshrouded themselves in a thick mist and sped lightly forward leaving limnos and embras behind them presently they reached many fountained ida mother of wild beasts and lectin where they left the sea to go on by land and the tops of the trees of the forest sound under the going of their feet here sleep halted and air jove caught sight of him he climbed a lofty pine tree the tallest that reared its head toward heaven on all ida he hid himself behind the branches and sat there in the semblance of the sweet singing bird that haunts the mountains and is called calcice by the gods the men call it simendus juno then went to gargaras the topmost peak of ida and jove driver of the clouds set eyes upon her as soon as he did so he became inflamed with the same passionate desire for her that he had felt when they had first enjoyed each other's embraces and slept with one another without their dear parents knowing anything about it he went up to her and said what do you want that you've come hither from olympus and that too with neither chariot nor horses to convey you then juno told him a lying tale and said i'm going to the world's end visit oceanus remove all we gods proceed and mother teethis they received me into their house took care of me and brought me up i must go and see them that i may make peace between them they've been quarreling and are so angry that they have not slept with one another this long time the horses that will take me over land and sea are stationed on the lower most spurs of many fountain dida and i've come here from olympus on purpose to consult you i was afraid that you might be angry with me later on if i went to the house of oceanus without letting you know and joe said juno you can choose some other time for paying your visit to oceanus for the present let us devote ourselves to love and to the enjoyment of one another never yet have i been so overpowered by passion neither for goddess nor mortal woman as i am at this moment for yourself not even when i was in love with a wife of xion who bore me perithas peer of gods and council nor yet with danae the daintily angled daughter of a creus who bore me the famed hero persius then there was the daughter of phoenix who bore me minos and redamanthus uh there was simile and alchmina and thebes by whom i begot my lionhearted son irkulis while simile became mother to bakas the comforter of mankind there was queen saris again a lovely leto and yourself but with none of these was i ever so much enamored as i now am with you juno again answered him with a lying tale most dread son of saturn she explained what are you talking about would you have us enjoy one another here on the top of mount aida where everything can be seen what if one of the ever living god should see us sleeping together until the others it would be such a scandal that when i had risen from your embraces i can never show myself inside your house again but if you are so minded there is a room which your son vulcan has made me and he has given it good strong doors if you would so have it let us go thither and lie down and joe answered juno you need not be afraid that either god or man will see you for i will enshroud both of us in such a dense golden cloud that the very sun for all his bright piercing beams shall not see through it with this the son of saturn caught his wife in his embrace where on the earth sprouted them a cushion of young grass with dubus vangle glotus procus and hyacinth so soft and thick that raised them well above the ground here they laid themselves down and overhead they were covered by a fair cloud of gold for which there felt glittering dew drops thus then the desire of all things were posed peacefully on the crest of ida overcome it once by sleep and love and he held his spouse in his arms meanwhile sleep made off to the ships of the achaeans to tell earth encircling neptune lord of the earthquake when he had found him he said now neptune you can help the danians with the will and give them victory though it would be only for a short time while joe was still sleeping i have sent him into a sweet slumber and juno has beguiled him into going to bed with her sleep now departed and went his ways to and fro among mankind leaving neptune more eager than ever to help the danians he darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying our guys should we let hector's son of priam have the triumph taken our ships and covering himself with glory this is what he says that he shall now do saying that achilles is still in dungeon into ships we shall get on very well without him if we keep each other in heart and stand by one another now therefore let us all do as i say let us each take the best and largest shield we can lay hold of put on our helmets and sally forth with our longest spears in our hands i will lead you on and hector son of priam rage as he may will not dare to hold out against us if any good staunch soldier has only a small shield let him hand it over to a worst man and take a larger one for himself thus did he speak and they did even as he had said the son of tedious ulysses and agamemnon wounded though they were set the others in array and went about everywhere affecting the exchanges of armor the most valiant took the best armor and gave the worst to the worst man when they had dawned their bronze armor they marched on with neptune to their head in his strong hand he grasped his terrible sword keen of edge and flashing like lightning woe to him who comes across it in the day of battle all men quake for fear and keep away from it hector on the other side set the trojans in array there on neptune and hector waged fierce war on one another hector on the trojan and neptune on the archive side mighty was the uproar as the two forces meet the sea came rolling in toward the ships and tents of the achaeans the waves do not thunder on the shore more loudly when driven before the last of boreas nor the flames of a fat forest fire roar more fiercely when his well alight upon the mountains nor does the wind bellow with rudor music as it tears on through the tops of when it is blowing its hardest than the terrible shout which the trojans and achaeans raised as they sprang upon one another hector first aimed his spear at ajax who was turned full towards him nor did he miss his aim the spears struck him where two bands passed over his chest the band of his shield and that of his silver studded sword and these protected his body hector was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain and withdrew under cover of his men as he was thus retreating ajax son of telemon struck him with a stone of which there were many lying about under the men's feet as they fought brought there to give support to the ship's sides as they lay on the shore ajax caught up one of them and struck hector above the rim of his shield close to his neck the blow made him spin round like a top and reel in all directions as an oak falls headlong went up rooted by the lightning flash of father jove and there's a terrible smell of brimstone no man can help being dismayed if he's standing near it for a thunderbolt is a very awful thing even so did hector fall to earth and bite the dust his spear fell from his hand but his shield and helmet were made fast about his body and his bronze armor rang about it the sons of the achaeans came running with a loud cry towards him hoping to drag him away and they showered their darts on the trojans but none of them could wound him before he was surrounded and covered by the princes holly domos enius agenor sarpedan captain of the lichens and noble glocus of the others too there was not one who was unmindful of him and they held the round shields over him to cover him his comrades then lifted him off the ground and bore him away from the battle through the place where his forces stood waiting for him at the rear of the fight with the driver and the chariot these then took him towards the city groaning and in great pain when they reached the forward of the fair stream of xanthus he got enough immortal jove they took him from office chariot and laid him down on the ground they poured water over him and as they did so he breathed again and opened his eyes then kneeling on his knees he vomited blood but soon fell back onto the ground and his eyes were again closed in darkness but he was still stunned by the blow when the archives saw hector leaving the field they took heart and set up on the trojans yet more furiously ajax fleet son of oelius began by springing on satanus son of enobs and wounding him with his spear a fair naïve nymph had borne him to enobs as he was hurting cattle by the banks of the river satanus the son of oelius came up to him and struck him in the flanks that he fell in a fierce fight between trojans and danians ranged round the body holly domus son of panthus drew near to avenge him and wounded prothenior son of a relicus on the right shoulder the terrible spear went right through his shoulder and he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust holly domus vaunted loudly over him saying again i take it that the spear is not sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of panthus an argive has caught it in his body and it was serving for a staff as he goes down into the house of hades the argives were maddened by this posting ajax son of telemon was more angry than any but the man had fallen close beside him so he aimed at polydomas as he was retreating but polydomas saved himself by swerving aside and the spears struck archilocus son of antonore for heaven counseled his destruction it struck him where the head springs from the neck of the top joined at the spine and severed both the tendons at the back of the head his head mouth and nostrils reached the ground long before his legs and knees could do so an ajax shouted to polydomas saying thank polydomas and tell me truly whether this man is not as well worth killing as prothenor was he seems rich and a rich family a brother it may be or son of the night antonore where he's very like him but he knew well who it was and the trojans were greatly angry a camus then mistrode his brother's body and wounded from makas the bwaschen with his spear for he was trying to drag his brother's body away a camus vaunted loudly over him saying our guy archers braggarts that you are toil and suffering shall not be for us only but some of you too shall fall here as well as ourselves see how promocus now sleeps vanquished by my spear payment for my brother's blood has not been long delayed a man therefore may well be thankful if he leaves a kinsman in his house behind him to avenge his fall his taunts infuriated the archives and penelios was more enraged than any of them he sprang toward a commas but a commas did not stand his ground and he killed ilionius son of the rich flockmaster for us the mercury had favored and endowed with greater wealth than any other of the trojans ilionius was his only son and penelios now wounded him in the eye under his eyebrows tearing the eyeball from its socket the spear went right through the eye into the nape of the neck and he fell stretching out both hands before him penelios then drew his sword and smote him on the neck so that both head and helmet came tumbling down to the ground with the spear still sticking in the eye he then held up the head as though it had been a poppy head and showed it to the trojans vaunting over them as he did so trojans he cried bit the father and mother of noble ilionius make moan for him in their house for the wife also promocus son of a legion or will never be gladdened by the coming of her dear husband when we are guys return with our ships from troj as he spoke fear fell upon them and every man looked round about to see whether he might fly for safety tell me now home uses the dwell on olympus who was the first of the archives to bear away bloodstained spoils after neptune lord of the earthquake had turned the fortune of war a jack's son of telemon was first to win herteus son of gyratius captain of the staunch missions antelokas killed fail seas and murmurus while marionese sleumorys and hypotion the usur also killed brothoan and piratites the son of atreus then wounded typerinor shepherded his people in the flank and the bronze point made his entrails gush out as it tore in among them on this his life came hurrying out of him at the place where he had been wounded and his eyes were closed to darkness a jack's son of oelius killed more than any other for there was no man so flea to see to pursue flying foes when joe if it spread panic among them end of book 14 recording by kelly dordy of plaino texas september 15th 2007 this is a liber vox recording all liber vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liber vox.org the iliad by homer translated by samuel butler book 15 recording by kevin laverne jove awakes tells apollo to heal hector and the trojans again become victorious but when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set stakes and many had fallen by the hands of the denons the trojans made a halt on reaching their chariots routed and pale with fear joe now woke on the crests of ida where he was lying with golden throned juno by his side and starting to his feet he saw the trojans and the akeans the one thrown into confusion and the others driving them pal mel before them with king neptune in their midst he saw hector lying on the ground with his comrades gathered round him gasping for breath wandering in mind and vomiting blood for it was not the feeblest of the akeans who struck him the sire of gods and men had pity on him and looked fiercely on juno i see juno said he you mischief making trickster that you're coming has stayed hector from fighting and has caused the route of his host i am in half a mind to thrash you in which case you will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy navery do you not remember how once upon a time i had you hanged i fastened two anvils onto your feet and bound your hands in a chain of gold which none might break and you hung in mid air among the clouds all the gods and olympus were in a fury but they could not reach you to set you free when i caught any one of them i gripped him and hurled him from the heavenly threshold till he came fainting down to earth yet even this did not relieve my mind from the incessant anxiety which i felt about noble hercules whom you and boreus had spitefully conveyed beyond the sea to cause after suborning the tempests but i rescued him and notwithstanding all his mighty labours i brought him back again to argos i would remind you of this that you may learn to leave off being so deceitful and discover how much you are likely to gain by the embraces out of which you have come here to trick me juno trembled as he spoke and said may heaven above and earth below be my witnesses with the waters of the river sticks and this is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take may i swear also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed things over which i could never possibly perjure myself that neptune is not punishing hector and the trojans and helping the akeans through any doing of mine it is all of his own mere motion because he was sorry to see the akeans hard-pressed at their ships if i were advising him i should tell him to do as you bit him the sire of gods and men smiled and answered if you juno were always to support me when we sit in council of the gods neptune like it or no would soon come round to your and my way of thinking if then you are speaking the truth and mean what you say go among the rank and file of the gods and tell iris and apollo lord of the bow that i want them iris that she may go to the akean host and tell neptune to leave off fighting and go home and apollo that he may send hector again into battle and give him fresh strength he will thus forget his present sufferings and drive the akeans back in confusion till they fall among the ships of achilles son of pelius achilles will then send his comrade patriclus into battle and hector will kill him in front of ileus after he has slain many warriors and among them my own noble son sarpedon achilles will kill hector to avenge patriclus and from that time i will bring it about that the akeans shall persistently drive the trojans back till they fulfill the councils of manurva and take ileus but i will not stay my anger nor permit any god to help the denons till i have accomplished the desire of the son of pelius according to the promise i made by bowing my head on the day when thetis touched my knees and besought me to give him honor juno heated his words and went from the heights of aida to great olympus swift as the thought of one whose fancy carries him over vast continents and he says to himself now i will be here or there and he would have all manner of things even so swiftly did juno wing her way till she came up to high olympus and went in among the gods who were gathered in the house of joe when they saw her they all of them came up to her and held out their cups to her by way of greeting she let the others be but took the cup offered her by lovely themus who was first to come running up to her juno said she why are you here and you seem troubled has your husband the son of saturn been frightening you and juno answered themus do not ask me about it you know what a proud and cruel disposition my husband has lead the gods to table where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked designs which he has avowed many a one mortal and immortal will be angered by them however peaceably he may be feasting now on this juno sat down and the gods were troubled throughout the house of joe laughter sat on her lips on her brow was furrowed with care and she spoke up in a rage fools that we are she cried to be thus madly angry with joe we keep on wanting to go up to him and stay him by force or by persuasion but he sits aloof and cares for nobody for he knows that he is much stronger than any other of the immortals make the best therefore of whatever ills he may choose to send each one of you mars i take it has had a taste of them already for his son a scallophus has fallen in battle the man whom of all others he loved most dearly and whose father he owns himself to be when he heard this mars smoked his two sturdy thighs with the flat of his hands and said in anger do not blame me you gods that dwell in heaven if i go to the ships of the akeans and avenge the death of my son even though it end in my being struck by joe's lightning and lying in blood and dust among the corpses and as he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses panic and rout while he put on his armor on this joe would have been roused to still more fierce and implacable enmity against the other immortals had not minerva alarmed for the safety of the gods sprung from her seat and hurried outside she tore the helmet from his head and the shield from his shoulders and she took the bronze spear from his strong hand and set it on one side then she said to mars madman you are undone you have ears that hear not or you have lost all judgment and understanding have you not heard what juno has said on coming straight from the presence of olympian joe's do you wish to go through all kinds of suffering before you are brought back sick and sorry to olympus after having caused infinite mischief to all us others joe's would instantly leave the trojans and acayans to themselves he would come to olympus and punish us and would grip us up one after another guilty or not guilty therefore lay aside your anger for the death of your son better men than he have either been killed already or will fall here after and one cannot protect everyone's whole family with these words she took mars back to his seat meanwhile juno called apollo outside with iris the messenger of the gods joe she said to them desires you to go to him at once on mount ida when you have seen him you are to do as he may then bid you there on juno left them and resumed her seat inside while iris and apollo made all haste on their way when they reached many fountain ida mother of wild beasts they found joe seated on top most gargurus with a fragrant cloud encircling his head as with a diadem they stood before his presence and he was pleased with them for having been so quick in obeying the orders his life had given them he spoke to iris first go said he fleet iris tell king neptune what i now bid you and tell him true bid him leave off fighting and either join the company of the gods or go down into the sea if he takes no heed and disobeys me let him consider well whether he is strong enough to hold his own against me if i attack him i am older and much stronger than he is yet he is not afraid to set himself up as on a level with myself of whom all the other gods stand in all iris fleet as the wind obeyed him and as the cold hail or snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before the blast of boreus even so did she wing her way she came close up to the great shaker of the earth then she said i have come oh dark haired king that holds the world in his embrace to bring you a message from jove he did you leave off fighting and either join the company of the gods or go down into the sea if however you take no heed and disobey him he says he will come down here and fight you he would have you keep out of his reach for he is older and much stronger than you are and yet you are not afraid to set yourself up as on a level with himself of whom all the other gods stand in awe neptune was very angry and said great heavens strong as jove may be he has said more than he can do if he has threatened violence against me who am of like honor with himself we were three brothers whom ria bore to saturn jove myself and hades who rules the world below heaven and earth were divided into three parts and each of us was to have an equal share when we cast lots it fell to me to have my dwelling in the sea forever more hades took the darkness of the realms under the earth while air and sky and clouds were the portion that fell to jove but earth and great olympus are the common property of all therefore i will not walk as jove would have me for all his strength let him keep to his own third share and be contented without threatening to lay hands upon me as though i were nobody let him keep his bragging talk for his own sons and daughters who must perforce obey him iris fleet as the wind then answered am i really neptune to take this daring and unyielding message to joe or will you reconsider your answer sensible people are open to argument and you know that the aranese always range themselves on the side of the older person neptune answered goddess iris your words have been spoken in season it is well when a messenger shows so much discretion nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart that anyone should rebuke so angrily another who is his own peer and of like empire with himself now however i will give way in spite of my displeasure furthermore let me tell you and i mean what i say if contrary to the desire of myself manoeuvre driver of the spoil juno mercury and king vulcan joe spares steep ileus and will not let the akeans have the great triumph of sacking it let him understand that he will incur our implacable resentment neptune now left the field to go down under the sea and sorely did the akeans miss him then joe said to apollo go dear febus to hector for neptune who holds the earth in his embrace has now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity of my displeasure had he not done so those gods who are below with saturn would have come to hear of the fight between us it is better for both of us that he should have curbed his anger and kept out of my reach for i should have much trouble with him take then your tassled aegis and shake it furiously so as to set the akean heroes in a panic take more over brave hector oh far darter into your own care and rouse him to deeds of daring till the akeans are sent flying back to their ships and to the helispont from that point i will think it well over how the akeans may have a respite from their troubles apollo obeyed his father's saying and left the crests of aida flying like a falcon bane of doves and swiftest of all birds he found hector no longer lying upon the ground but sitting up for he had just come to himself again he knew those who were about him and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the moment when the will of aegis bearing joe had revived him apollo stood beside him and said hector son of pream why are you so faint and why are you here away from the others has any mishap befallen you hector in a weak voice answered and which kind sir of the gods are you who now ask me thus do you not know that ajax struck me on the chest with a stone as i was killing his comrades at the ships of the akeans and compelled me to leave off fighting i made sure that this very day i should breathe my last and go down into the house of hades then king apollo said to him take heart the son of saturn has sent you a mighty helper from aida to stand by you and defend you even me the bus apollo of the golden sword who have been guardian hit or two not only of yourself but of your city now therefore order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the ships in great multitudes i will go before your horses to smooth the way for them and we'll turn the akeans in flight as he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his people and as a horse stable and full fed breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the plane to the place where he is want to take his bath in the river he tosses his head and his main streams over his shoulders has in all the pride of his strength he flies full speed to the pastors where the mayors are feeding even so hector when he heard what the god said urged his horsemen on and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take him as country peasants set their hounds on to a honed stag or wild goat he has taken shelter under rock or thicket and they cannot find him but low a bearded lion whom their shouts have roused stands in their path and they are in no further humor for the chase even so the akeans were still charging on in a body using their swords and spears pointed at both ends but when they saw a hector going about among his men they were afraid and their hearts fell down into their feet then spoke though as son of andraemon leader of the aetolians a man who could throw a good throw and who was staunch also in close fight while few could surpass him in debate when opinions were divided he then with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus what in heaven's name do i see now is it not hector come to life again everyone made sure he had been killed by ajax son of telomon but it seems that one of the gods has again rescued him he has killed many of us denoms already and i take it will yet do so for the hand of joe must be with him or he would never dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of the battle now therefore let us all do as i say let us order the main body of our forces to fall back upon the ships but let those of us who profess to be the flower of the army stand firm and see whether we cannot hold hector back at the point of our spears as soon as he comes near us i conceive that he will then think better of it before he tries to charge into the press of the denons thus did he speak and they did even as he said those who were about ajax and king idomenius the followers moreover of telser marionese and megis pier of mars called all their best men about them and sustained the fight against hector and the trojans but the main body fell back upon the ships of the akhanians the trojans pressed forward in a dense body with hector striding on at their head before him went febus apollo shrouded in cloud about his shoulders he bore aloft the terrible eegis with its shaggy fringe which vulcan the smith had given joe to strike terror into the hearts of men with this in his hand he led on the trojans the archives held together and stood the ground the cry of battle rose high from either side and the arrows flew from the bow strings many a spear sped from strong hands and fastened in the bodies of many a valiant warrior while others fell to earth midway before they could taste of a man's fair flesh and glut themselves with blood so long as febus apollo held his eegis quietly and without shaking it the weapons on either side took effect and the people fell but when he shook it straight in the face of the denons and raised his mighty battle cry their hearts fainted within them and they forgot their former prowess as when two wild beasts spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle or a large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not there even so were the denons struck helpless for apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to hector and the trojans the fight then became more scattered and they killed one another where they best could hector killed stickyus and archicelias the one leader of the boyotians and the other friend and comrade of menestheus anias killed meadon and yasus the first was bastard son to oilius and brother to ajax but he lived in philace away from his own country for he had killed a man a kinsman of his stepmother aereopus whom oilius had married yasus had become a leader of the aphenians and was son of svelis the son of bukuloth polytamus killed mechistius and polities echius in the front of the battle while agonore flew clonius harris struck deokas from behind in the lower part of the shoulder as he was flying among the foremost and the point of the spear went clean through him while they were spoiling these heroes of their armor the acheans were flying pel mal to the trench and the set stakes and were forced back within their wall hector then cried out to the trojans forward to the ships and let the spoils be if i see any man keeping back on the other side of the wall away from the ships i will have him killed his kinsmen and kinswomen shall not give him his dues of fire but dog shall tear him in pieces in front of our city as he spoke he laid his whip about his horse's shoulders and called to the trojans throughout the ranks the trojans shouted with a cry that rent the air and kept the horse's neck and neck with his own thebus apollo went before and kicked down the banks of the deep trench into its middle so as to make a great broad bridge as broad as the throw of a spear when a man is trying his strength the trojan battalions poured over the bridge and apollo with his redotable aegis led the way he kicked down the wall of the acheans as easily as a child who playing on the seashore has built a house of sand and then kicks it down again and destroys it even so did you oh apollo shed toil and trouble upon the archives filling them with panic and confusion thus then were the acheans hemmed in at their ships calling out to one another and raising their hands with loud cries every man to heaven nester of gurini tower of strength to the acheans lifted up his hands to the starry firmament of heaven and prayed more fervently than any of them father jove said he if ever any one in wheat growing argos burned you fat thigh bones of sheep or heifer and prayed that he might return safely home whereon you bowed your head to him in ascent bear it in mind now and suffer not the trojans to triumph thus over the acheans all counseling jove thundered loudly in answer to the prayer of the aged son of nalias when they heard jove thunder they flung themselves yet more fiercely on the acheans as a wave breaking over the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high before a gale for it is the force of the winds that makes the waves so great even so did the trojans spring over the wall with a shout and drive their chariots onwards the two sides fought with their double pointed spears and hand to hand encounter the trojans from the chariots and the acheans climbing up into their ships and wielding the long pikes that were lying on the decks ready for use in a sea fight jointed and shod with bronze now patrickless so long as the acheans and trojans were fighting about the wall but were not yet within it and at the ships remained sitting in the tent of good euripolis entertaining him with his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease his pain when however he saw the trojans swarming through the breach in the wall while the acheans were clamoring and struck with panic he cried aloud and smote his two thighs with the flat of his hands euripolis he said in his dismay i know you want me badly but i cannot stay with you any longer for there is hard fighting going on a servant shall take care of you now for i must make all speed to achilles and induce him to fight if i can who knows but with heaven's help i may persuade him a man does well to listen to the advice of a friend when he had thus spoken he went his way the acheans stood firm and resisted the attack of the trojans yet though these were fewer in number they could not drive them back from the ships neither could the trojans break the achean ranks and make their way in among the tents and ships as a carpenter's line gives a true edge to a piece of ships timber in the hand of some skilled workman whom enerva has instructed in all kinds of useful arts even so level was the issue of the fight between the two sides as they fought some round one and some round another hector made straight for ajax and the two felt fiercely about the same ship hector could not force ajax back and fire the ship nor yet could ajax drive hector from the spot to which heaven had brought him then ajax struck calator son of qaitius in the chest with a spear as he was bringing fire towards the ship he fell heavily to the ground and the torch dropped from his hand when hector saw his cousin fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the trojans and lyceans saying trojans lyceans and dardanians good in close fight bait not a jot but rescue the son of qaitius lest the acheans strip him of his armor now that he is fallen he then aimed a spear at ajax and missed him but he hit lacophron a follower of ajax who came from tithera but was living with ajax in as much as he had killed a man among the kitharians hectors spear struck him on the head below the ear and he fell headlong from the ship's prowl on to the ground with no life left in him ajax shook with rage and said to his brother tell sir my good fellow our trusty comrade the son of mastor had fallen he came to live with us from kithera and whom we honored as much as our own parents hector has just killed him that's your deadly arrows at once and the bow with which phoenix apollo gave you tell sir heard him and hastened towards him with his bow and quiver in his hands forthwith he showered his arrows on the trojans and hit claitus the son of pysenor comrade of polygamous the noble son of penthouse with the reins in his hands as he was attending to his horses he was in the middle of the very thickest part of the fight doing good service to hector and the trojans but evil had now come upon him and not one of those who were fain to do so could avert it for the arrow struck him on the back of the neck he fell from his chariot and his horses shook the empty car as they swerved aside king polygamous saw what had happened and was the first to come upon the horses he gave them in charge to astanus son of proteion and ordered him to look on and to keep the horses near at hand he then went back and took his place in the front ranks tell sir then aimed another arrow at hector and there would have been no more fighting at the ships if he had hit him and killed him then and there jove however who kept watch over hector had his eyes on tell sir and deprived him of his triumph by breaking his posturing for him just as he was drawing it and about to take his aim on this the arrow went astray and the bow fell from his hands tell sir shook with anger and said to his brother alas see how heaven thwarts us in all we do it has broken my bowstring and satch the bow from my hand though i strung it the self same morning that it might serve me for many an arrow ajax son of telemon answered my good fellow let your bow and your arrows be for jove has made them useless in order to spite the denons take your spear lay your shield upon your shoulder and both fight the trojans yourself and urge others to do so they may be successful for the moment but if we fight as we ought they will find it a hard matter to take the ships tell sir then took his bow and put it by in his tent he hung a shield at four hides thick about his shoulders and on his cumbly head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horsehair that not admittedly above it he grasped his redoubtable bronze shod spear and forthwith he was by the side of ajax when hector saw that tell sir's bow was of no more use to him he shouted out to the trojans and lysians trojans lysians and dardanians good and close fight be men my friends and show your metal here at the ships for i see the weapon of one of their chieftains made useless by the hand of jove it is easy to see when jove is helping people and means to help them still further or again when he is bringing them down and will do nothing for them he is now on our side and is going against the argives therefore swarm around the ships and fight if any of you is struck by spear or sword and loses his life let him die he dies with honor who dies fighting for his country and he will leave his wife and children safe behind him with his house and allotment unplundered if only the akeans can be driven back to their own land they and their ships with these words he put heart and soul into them all ajax on the other side exhorted his comrades saying shame on you argives we are now utterly undone unless we can save ourselves by driving the enemy from our ships do you think if hector takes them that you will be able to get home by land can you not hear him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet and bidding them remember that they are not at a dance but in battle our only course is to fight them with might and main we had better chance at life or death once for all then fight long and without issue him in at our ships by worse men than ourselves with these words he put life and soul into them all hector then killed skidious son of pyramides leader of the focians and ajax killed leotimus captain of foot soldiers and son to antinor polytamus killed otis of selene a comrade of the son of phileus and chief of the proud epians when megis saw this he sprang upon him but polytamus crouched down and he missed him for apollo would not suffer the son of penthouse to fall in battle but the spear hit croesmus in the middle of his chest whereon he fell heavily to the ground and megis stripped him of his armor at that moment the valiant soldier dollops son of lampus sprang upon lampus was son of leomidon and for his valor while his son dollops was versed in all the ways of war he then struck the middle of the son of phileus's shield with his spear setting on him at close quarters but his good corset made with plates of metal saved him phileus had brought it from effera and the river sileus whereas host king euphates had given it him to wear in battle and protect him it now served to save the life of his son then megis struck the topmost crest of dollops's bronze helmet with his spear and tore away its plume of horsehair so that all newly died with scarlet as it was it tumbled down into the dust while he was still fighting and confident of victory menelaus came up to help megis and got by the side of dollops unperceived he then speared him in the shoulder from behind and the point driven so furiously went through into his chest whereon he fell headlong the two then made towards him to strip him of his armor that hector called on all his brothers for help and he especially up braided brave melanopus son of hikiteon who erewell used to pastor his herds of cattle and percoat before the war broke out but when the ships of the denons came he went back to ileus where he was eminent among the trojans and lived near pream who treated him as one of his own sons hector now rebuked him and said why melanopus are you we thus remiss do you take no note of the death of your kinsmen and do you not see how they are trying to take dollops's armor follow me there must be no fighting the argives from a distance now but we must do so in close combat till either we kill them or they take the high wall of ileus and slay her people he land on as he spoke and the hero melanopus followed after meanwhile ajax son of telemon was cheering on the argives my friends he cried be men and feared dishonor quit yourselves in battle so as to win respect from one another men who respect each other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than those who do not but in flight there is neither gain nor glory thus did he exhort men who are already bent upon driving back the trojans they laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as with a wall of bronze while jove urged on the trojans middle aus of the loud battle cry urged and to locus on and to locus said he you are young and there is none of the akeans more fleet afoot or more valiant than you are see if you can't spring upon some trojan and kill him he hurried away when he had thus spurred antelocus who at once darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear after looking carefully around him the trojans fell back as he threw and the dart did not speed from his hand without effect for it struck melanopause the proud son of hikatean in the breast by the nipple as he was coming forward and his armor rang rattling around him as he fell heavily to the ground antelocus sprang upon him as a dog springs on a phone which hunter has hit as it was breaking away from its covert and killed it even so oh melanopause did stalwart antelocus spring upon you to strip you of your armor but noble hector marked him and came running up to him through the thick of the battle antelocus brave soldier though he was would not stay to face him but fled like some savage creature which knows it has done wrong and flies when it has killed a dog or a man who is hurting his cattle before a body of men can be gathered to attack it even so did the son of nester fly and the trojans and hector was a cry that rent the air showered their weapons after him nor did he turn round and stay his flight till he had reached his comrades the trojans fierce as lions were still rushing on towards the ships in fulfillment of the behests of joe who kept spurring them on to new deeds of daring while he deadened the courage of the archives and defeated them by encouraging the trojans for he meant giving glory to hector son of pream and letting him throw fire upon the ships till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that sieges had made him joe therefore bided his time till he should see the glare of a blazing ship from that hour he was about so to order that the trojans should be driven back from the ships and to vouch safe glory to the akeans with this purpose he inspired hector son of pream who was cagey enough already to assail the ships his fury was as that of mars or as when a fire is raging in the glades of some dense forest upon the mountains he foamed at the mouth his eyes glared under his terrible eyebrows and his helmet quivered on his temples by reason of the fury with which he thought joe from heaven was with him and though he was but one against many vouch saved him his victory and glory for he was doomed to an early death and already palace minerva was hurrying on the hour of his destruction at the hands of the son of palius now however he was trying to break the ranks of the enemy wherever he could see them thickest and in the goodliest armor but do what he might he could not break through them for they stood as a tower four square or as some high cliff rising from the gray sea that braids the anger of the gale and of the waves that thunder up against it he fell upon them like flames of fire from every quarter as when a wave raised mountain high by wind and storm breaks over a ship and covers it deep in foam the fierce winds roller against the mast the hearts of the sailors fail them for fear and they are saved but by a very little from destruction even so were the hearts of the achaeans fainting within them or as a savage lion attacking a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the low lying meadows by some wide watered shore the herdsman is at his wit's end how to protect his herd and keeps going about now in the van and now in the rear of his cattle while the lion springs into the thick of them and fastens on a cow so that they all tremble for fear even so where the achaeans utterly panic stricken by hector and father jove nevertheless hector only killed perifities of mycenae he was son of coprius who was want to take the orders of king urus theus to mighty hercules but the son was a far better man than the father in every way he was fleet afoot a valiant warrior and an understanding ranked among the foremost men of mycenae he it was who then afforded hector a triumph for as he was turning back he stumbled against the rim of his shield which reached his feet and served to keep the javelins off him he tripped against this and fell face upward his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did so hector saw him fall and ran up to him he then thrust a spear into his chest and kill him close to his own comrades these for all their sorrow could not help him for they were themselves terribly afraid of hector they had now reached the ships and the prowls of those that had been drawn up first were on every side of them but the progences came pouring after them the argives were driven back from the first row of ships but they made a stand by their tents without being broken up and scattered shame and fear restrained them they kept shouting incessantly to one another and nester of garini tower of strength to the akeans was loudest and imploring every man by his parents and beseeching him to stand firm be men my friends he cried and respect one another's good opinion think all of you on your children your wives your property and your parents whether these be alive or dead on their behalf though they are not here i implore you to stand firm and not to turn in flight with these words he put heart and soul into them all manurva lifted the thick veil of darkness from their eyes and much light fell upon them alike on the side of the ships and on that where the fight was raging they could see hector and all his men both those in the rear who were taking no part in the battle and those who were fighting by the ships ajax could not bring himself to retreat along with the rest but strode from deck to deck with a great sea pike in his hands 12 cubits long and joined with rings as a man skilled in feats of horsemanship couples four horses together and comes tearing full speed along the public way from the country into some large town many both men and women marvel as they see him for he keeps all the time changing his horse spring from one to another without ever missing his feet while the horses are at a gallop even so did ajax go striding from one ship's deck to another and his voice went up into the heavens he kept on shouting his orders to the denons and exhorting them to defend their ships and tents neither did hector remain within the main body of the trojan warriors but as a done eagle swoops down upon a flock of wildfowl feeding near a river geese it may be or cranes or long-necked swans even so did hector made straight for a dark proud ship rushing right towards it for jove with his mighty hand impelled him forward and roused his people to follow him and now the battle again raged furiously at the ships you would have thought the men were coming on fresh and unwirried so fiercely did they fight and this was the mind in which they were the akeans did not believe they should escape destruction but thought themselves doomed while there was not a trojan but his heart beat high with the hope of firing the ships and putting the akean heroes to the sword thus were the two sides minded then hector seized the stern of the good ship that had brought proteselaus to trey but never bore him back to his native land round this ship they raged a close hand-to-hand fight between the denons and the trojans they did not fight at a distance with bows and javelins but with one mind hacked at another in close combat with their mighty swords and spears pointed at both ends they fought more over with keen battle axes and with hatchets many a good stop blade hilted and scabbarded with iron fell from hand or shoulder as they fought and the earth ran red with blood hector when he had seized the ship would not lose his hold but held on to its curved stern and shouted to the trojans bring fire and raise the battle cry all of you with a single voice now has jove vouch saved us a day that will pay us for all the rest this day we shall take the ships which came hither against heaven's will and which have caused us such infinite suffering through the cowardice of our counselors who when i would have done battle at the ships held me back and forbade the host to follow me if jove did then indeed warp our judgments himself now commands me and cheers me on as he spoke thus the trojans sprang yet more fiercely on the akeans and ajax no longer held his ground for he was overcome by the darts that were flung at him and made sure that he was doomed therefore he left the raised deck at the stern and stepped back on to the seven foot bench of the oarsmen here he stood on the lookout and with his spear held back trojan whom he saw bringing fire to the ships all the time he kept on shouting at the top of his voice and exhorting the denons my friends he cried denon heroes servants of mars beam in my friends and fight with might and with main can we hope to find helpers hereafter or a wall to shield us more surely than the one we have there is no strong city within reach once we may draw fresh forces to turn the scales in our favor we are on the plane of the armed trojans with the sea behind us and far from our own country our salvation therefore is in the might of our hands and in hard fighting as he spoke he wielded his spear with still greater fury and when any trojan made towards the ships with fire at hector's bidding he would be on the lookout for him and drive at him with his long spear twelve men did he thus kill and hand to hand fight before the ships end of book 15 book 16 of the iliad this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org the iliad by homer translated by samuel butler book 16 recorded by brad powers fire being now thrown on the ship of protesolaus patroclus fights in the armor of achilles he drives the trojans back but is in the end killed by euphorbis and hector thus did they fight about the ship of protesolaus then patroclus drew near to achilles with tears welling from his eyes as from some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice when achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for him and said why patroclus do you stand there weeping like some silly child that comes running to her mother and begs to be taken up and carried she catches hold of her mother's dress to stay her though she is in a hurry and looks tearfully up until her mother carries her even such tears patroclus are you now shedding have you anything to say to the mermidans or to myself or have you had news from fthaya which you alone know they tell me munisha son of actor is still alive is also a peelyu son of iacus among the mermidans men whose loss we too should bitterly deplore or are you grieving about the archives and the way in which they are being killed to the ships through their own high-handed doings do not hide anything from me but tell me that both of us may know about it then oh night patroclus with a deep sigh you answered achilles son of peelyus foremost champion of the achaeans do not be angry but i weep for the disaster that has now befallen the archives all those who have been their champions so far are lying at the ships wounded by sword or spear brave diamid son of tidius has been hit with a spear while famed ulysses and agamemnon have received sword wounds euripolis again has been struck with an arrow in the thigh skilled apothecaries are attending to these heroes and healing them of their wounds are you still oh achilles so inexorable may it never be my lot to nurse such a passion as you have done to the banning of your own good name who in future story will speak well of you unless you now save the our guys from ruin you know no pity night peelyus was not your father nor thetus your mother but the gray sea bore you and the sheer cliffs begot you so cruel and remorseless are you if however you're kept back through knowledge of some oracle or if your mother thetus has told you something from the mouth of joe at least send me in the myrmidons with me if i may bring deliverance to the denayans let me moreover wear your armor the trojans may thus mistake me for you and quit the field so that the hard-pressed sons of the achaeans may have breathing time which while they are fighting may hardly be we who are fresh might soon drive tired men back from our ships and tense to their own city he knew not what he was asking nor that he was suing for his own destruction achilles was deeply moved and answered what noble patroclus are you saying i know no prophesies which i am heeding nor has my mother told me anything from the mouth of joe but i'm cut to the very heart that one of my own rank should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than i am this after all that i've gone through is more than i can endure the girl whom the sons of the achaeans chose for me whom i won is the fruit of my spear on having sacked a city her has king agamebnon taken for me as though i were some common vagrant still let bygones be bygones no man may keep his anger forever i said i would not relent till battle and the cry of war had reached my own ships nevertheless now gird my armor about your shoulders and lead the myrmidons to battle for the dark cloud of trojans has burst furiously over our fleet the our guys are driven back onto the beach cooped within a narrow space and the whole people of troys taken heart to sally out against them because they see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near them had they seen this there would not have been a creek nor grip that had not been filled with their dead as they fled back again and so it would have been if only king agamebnon had dealt fairly by me as it is the trojans have beset our host diamid son of tidius no longer wields his spear to defend the denaians neither have i heard the voice of the son of atrus coming from his hated head whereas that of murderous hector rings in my ears as he gives orders to the trojans who triumph over the achaeans and fill the whole plane with the cry of battle but even so potroclus fall upon them and save the fleet lest the trojans fire it and prevent us from being able to return do however as i now bid you that you may win me great honor from all the denaians and that they may restore the girl to me again and give me rich gifts into the bargain when you have driven the trojans from the ships come back again though junos thundering husband should put triumph within your reach do not fight the trojans further in my absence or you will rob me of the glory that should be mine and do not for lust a battle go on killing the trojans nor lead the achaeans on the ileus lest one of the ever living gods from olympus attack you for febus apollo loves them well return when you have freed the ship from peril and let others wage war upon the plane would by father joe minerva and apollo that not a single man of all the trojans might be left alive nor yet of the argives but that we too might be alone left to tear aside the mantle that veils the brow of troi thus did they converse but ajax could no longer hold his ground for the shower of darts that rained upon him the will of joe and the javelins of the trojans were too much for him the helmet that gleamed about his temples reigning with the continuous clatter of the missiles that kept pouring onto it and onto the cheek pieces that protected his face moreover his left shoulder was tired with having held his shield so long yet for all this let fly at him as they would they could not make him give ground he could hardly draw his breath the sweat rained from every pore of his body he had not a moment's respite and on all sides he was beset by danger upon danger and now tell me oh muses that hold your mansions on olympus how fire was thrown upon the ships of the achaeans hector came close up and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of ajax he cut it clean in two just behind where the point was fastened onto the shaft of the spear ajax therefore had now nothing but a headless spear while the bronze point flew some way off and came ringing down onto the ground ajax knew the hand of heaven in this and was dismayed at seeing that joe had now left him utterly defenseless and was willing victory for the trojans therefore he drew back and the trojans flung fire upon the ship which was at once wrapped in flame the fire was now flaring about the ship's stern whereon achilles smote his two thighs and said to patroclus up noble knight for i see the glare of hostile fire at your fleet up lest they destroy our ships and there be no way by which we may retreat gird on your armor at once while i call our people together as he spoke patroclus put on his armor first he grieved his legs with grieves of good make and fitted with ankle clasps of silver after this he dawned the crerasse of the son of iacus richly inlaid and studded he hung his silver studded sword of bronze about his shoulders and then his mighty shield on his comely head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horsehair than not admenacingly above it he grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his hands but he did not take the spear of noble achilles so stout and strong for none other of the achaeans could wield it though achilles could do so easily this was the ashen spear from apelion which kairon had cut upon a mountaintop and had given to pelius wherewith to deal out death among heroes he bade atomodon yoke his horses with all speed for he was the man whom he held in honor next after achilles and on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly atomodon therefore yoked the fleet horses xanthus and belius steeds that could fly like the wind these were they whom the harpy podarji bore to the west wind as she was grazing in a meadow by the waters of the river oceanas in the side traces he set the noble horse pedicis whom achilles had brought away with him when he sacked the city of iedion and who mortal steed though he was could take his place along with those that were immortal meanwhile achilles went about everywhere among the tents and bade his mermidons put on their armor even his fierce ravening wolves that are feasting upon a honed stag which they have killed upon the mountains and their jaws are red with blood they go in a pack to lap water from the clear spring with their long thin tongues and they reek of blood and slaughter they know not what fear is for it is hunger drives them even so did the leaders and counselors of the mermidons gather around the good squire of the fleet descendant of iacus and among them stood achilles himself cheering on both men and horses fifty ships had noble achilles brought the troi and in each there was a crew of fifty oresmen over these he set five captains whom he could trust while he was himself commander over them all menestheus of the gleaming coarselet son to the river spurcius that streams from heaven was captain of the first company fair polydora daughter of pilius bore him to ever flowing spurcius a woman mated with a god but he was called son of borus son of periaries with whom his mother was living as his wedded wife and who gave great wealth to gain her the second company was led by noble eudorus son to an unwedded woman holly meal daughter of filus the graceful dancer bore him the mighty slayer of argos was enamored of her as he saw her among the singing women at a dance held in honor of diana the rushing huntress of the golden arrows he therefore mercury giver of all good went with her into an upper chamber and lay with her in secret whereon she bore him a noble son eudorus singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant when illithuya goddess of the pains of childbirth brought him to the light of day and he saw the face of the son mighty ecchelis son of actor took the mother to wife and gave great wealth to gain her but her father filus brought the child up and took care of him doting his fondly upon him as though he were his own son the third company was led by pysander son of memelus the finest spearman among all the mermidans next to achilles own comrade patroclus the old knight phoenix was captain of the fourth company and alchimadon noble son of lairsius of the fifth when achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with their captains he charged them straightly saying mermidans remember your threats against the trojans while you were at the ships in the time of my anger and you were all complaining of me cruel son of pilius you would say your mother must have suckled you on gall so ruthless are you you keep us here at the ships against our will if you are so relentless it were better we went home over the sea often have you gathered and thus chided with me the hours now come for those high feats of arms that you have so long been pining for therefore keep high hearts each one of you to do battle with the trojans with these words he put heart and soul into them all and they serried their companies yet more closely when they heard their king as the stones which a builder sets in the wall of some high house which is to give shelter from the winds even so closely where the helmets and boss shield set against one another shield pressed on shield helm on helm and man on man so close were they that the horsehair of plumes on the gleaming ridges of their helmets touched each other as they bent their heads in front of them all two men put on their armor a trockless and automaton two men with but one mind to lead the mermidans then achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest which silver-footed thetus had given him to take on board ship and which he had filled with shirts cloaks to keep out the cold and good thick rugs in this chest he had a cup of rare workmanship from which no man but himself might drink nor would he make offering from it to any other god save only to father jove he took the cup from the chest and cleansed it with sulfur this done he rinsed it in clean water and after he had washed his hands he drew wine then he stood in the middle of the court and prayed looking towards heaven and making his drink offering of wine nor was he unseen of jove whose joy is in thunder king jove he cried lord of dodona god of the pulaski who dwellest afar you who hold wintery dodona in your sway where your prophets the selly dwell around you with their feet unwashed and their couches made upon the ground if you heard me when i prayed to you a four time and did me honor while you sent disaster on the achaeans vouchsave me now the fulfillment of yet this further prayer i shall stay here where my ships are lying but i shall send my comrade into battle at the head of many mermidans grant oh all seen jove the victory may go with him put your courage into his heart that hector may learn whether my squire is man enough to fight alone or whether his might is only then so indomitable when i myself enter the turmoil of war afterwards when he has chased the fight and the cry of battle from the ships grant that he may return unharmed with his armor and his comrades fighters in close combat thus did he pray and all counseling jove heard his prayer part of it he did indeed vouchsave him but not the whole he granted that patrocles should thrust back war in battle from the ships but refused to let him come safely out of the fight when he had made his drink offering and had thus prayed achilles went inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest then he again came out for he still loved to look upon the fierce fight that raged between the trojans and the achaeans meanwhile the armed band that was about patrocles marched on till they sprang high in hope upon the trojans they came swarming out like wasps whose nests are by the roadside and whom silly children love to tease where on anyone who happens to be passing may get stung or again if a wayfarer going along the road vexes them by accident every wasp will come flying out in a fury to defend his little ones even with such rage and courage did the mermidans swarm from their ships and their cry of battle rose heavenwards a trochless called out to his men at the top of his voice mermidans followers of achilles son appealus be men my friends fight with might and with main that we may win glory for the son appealus who is far the foremost man at the ships of the argives he and his close fighting followers the son of atrus king agamemnon will thus learn his folly in showing no respect to the bravest of the achaeans with these words he put heart and soul into them all and they fell in a body upon the trojans the ships rang again with the cry which the achaeans raised and when the trojans saw the brave son of manesius and a squire all gleaming in their armor they were daunted and their battalions were thrown into confusion for they thought the fleet son appealus must now put aside his anger and have been reconciled to agamemnon everyone therefore looked round about to see whether he might fly for safety the trochless first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where men were packed most closely by the stern of the ship of protesoleus he hit perikmes who had led his peonian horsemen from the amadon and the broad waters of the river axeus the spear struck him on the right shoulder and with a groan he fell backwards in the dust on this his men were thrown into confusion for by killing their leader who was the finest soldier among them the trochless struck panic into them all he thus drove them from the ship and quenched the fire that was then blazing leaving the half burnt ship to lie where it was the trojans were now driven back with a shout that rent the skies while the daenians poured after them from their ships shouting also without ceasing as when jove gatherer of the thundercloud spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty mountain and all the peaks the jutting headlands and forest glades show out in the great light that flashes from the bursting heavens even so when the daenians had now driven back the fire from their ships they took breath for a little while but the fury of the fight was not yet over for the trojans were not driven back in utter route but still gave battle and were ousted from the ground only by sheer fighting the fight then became more scattered and the chieftains killed one another when and how they could the valiant son of munitius first drove his spear into the fire of a relicus just as he was turning round the point went clean through and broke the bone so that he fell forward meanwhile menelaus struck thoas in the chest where it was exposed near the rim of his shield and he fell dead the son of phylius saw amplicus about to attack him and ere he could do so took aim at the upper part of his thigh where the muscles are thicker than in any other part the spear tore through all the sinews of the leg and his eyes were closed in darkness of the sons of nestor one antilicus speared and timnius driving the point of the spear through his throat and down he fell marus then spraying on antilicus in hand to hand fight to avenge his brother and bestowed the body spear in hand but valiant thrasymides was too quick for him and in a moment had struck him in the shoulder if he could deal his blow his aim was true and the spear severed all the muscles at the root of his arm and tore them right down to the bone so he fell heavily to the ground and his eyes were closed in darkness thus did these two noble comrades of sarpedan go down to arabus slain by the two sons of nestor they were the warrior sons of emissiderus who had reared the invincible chimera to the bane of mini ajax son of olius spraying on cliobulus and took him alive as he was entangled in the crush but he killed him then and there by a sword blow on the neck the sword reeked with his blood while dark death and the strong hand of fate gripped him and closed his eyes henelaus and lycan now met in close fight for they had missed each other with their spears they had both thrown without effect so now they drew their swords lycan struck the plumed crest of henelaus helmet but his sword broke at the hilt while henelaus smote lycan on the neck under the ear the blade sank so deep that the head was held on by nothing but the skin and there was no more life left in him maryanese gave chase to achemis on foot and caught him up just as he was about to mount his chariot he drove a spear through his right shoulder so that he fell headlong from the car and his eyes were closed in darkness i domain use speared aromas in the mouth the bronze point of the spear went clean through it beneath the brain crashing in among the white bones and smashing them up his teeth were all of them knocked out and the blood came gushing in a stream from both his eyes it also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils and the darkness of death and folded him round about thus to these chieftains of the denayans each of them kill his man as ravening wolves seize on kids or lambs fastening on them when they are alone on the hill sides and have strayed from the main flock through the carelessness of the shepherd and when the wolves see this they pounce upon them at once because they cannot defend themselves even so did the denayans now fall on the trojans who fled with ill omen cries in their panic and had no more fight left in them meanwhile great ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into hector but hector was so skillful that he held his broad shoulders well under cover of his oxide shield ever on the lookout for the whizzing of the arrows and the heavy thud of the spears he well knew that the fortunes of the day had changed but still stood his ground and tried to protect his comrades as when a cloud goes up into heaven from olympus rising out of a clear sky when jove is brewing a gale even with such panic-stricken route did the trojans now fly and there was no order in their going hector's fleet horses bore him in his armor out of the fight and he left the trojan host penned in by the deep trench against their will many a yoke of horses snapped the pole of their chariots in the trench and left their master's car behind them but chakras gave chase calling impetuously on the denayans and full of fury against the trojans who being now no longer in the body filled all the waves with their cries of panic and rout the air was darkened with the clouds of dust they raised and the horses strained every nerve in their flight from the tents and ships towards the city patroclus kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men flying in confusion cheering on his men the while chariots were being smashed in all directions and many a man came tumbling down from his own car to fall beneath the wheels of that of patroclus whose immortal steeds given by the gods to pilius spraying over the trench at a bound as they sped onward he was intent on trying to get near hector for he had set his heart on spearing him but hector's horses were now hurrying him away as the whole dark earth bows before some tempest on an autumn day when joe rains his hardest to punch men for giving crooked judgment in their courts and arriving justice there for him without heed to the decrees of heaven all the rivers run full and the torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong from the mountains to the dark sea and it fares ill with the works of men even such was the stress and strain of the trojan horses in their flight patroclus now cut off the battalions that were nearest to him and drove them back to the ships they were doing their best to reach the city but he would not let them and bore down on them between the river and the ships and wall many a fallen comrade did he then avenge first he hit prano us with a spear on the chest where it was exposed near the rim of his shield and he fell heavily to the ground next he sprang on cester son of enops who was sitting all huddled up in his chariot for he had lost his head and the rains had been torn out of his hands patroclus went up to him and drove a spear into his right jaw he thus hooked him by the teeth and the spear pulled him over the rim of his car as one who sits at the end of some jetting rock and draws a strong fish out of the sea with a hook and a line even so with his spear did he pull fester all gaping from his chariot he then threw him down on his face and he died while falling on this as arolius was on to attack him he struck him full on the head with the stone and his brains were all battered inside his helmet whereon he fell headlong to the ground and the pangs of death took hold upon him then he laid low one after the other aromas and fodder us he paltese tlepolymus ichthyus son of damas torre pyrus iphius eupus and polymelis son of argeus now when sarpedon saw his comrades men who were ungirdled tunics being overcome by patroclus son of munitius he rebuked the lycean saying shame on you where are you flying to show your metal i will myself meet this man and fight and learn who it is that is so masterful he has done us much hurt and has stretched many a brave man upon the ground he sprang from his chariot as he spoke and patroclus when he saw this leaped onto the ground also the two then rushed at one another with loud cries like eagle-beaked crook taland vultures that scream and tear at one another in some high mountain fastness the son of scheming saturn looked down upon them in pity and said to juno who was his wife and sister alas that it should be the lot of sarpedon whom i love so dearly to perish by the hand of patroclus i am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile land of lycea or to let him now fall by the hand of the son of munitius and juno answered most dread son of saturn what is this that you are saying would you snatch a mortal man whose doom has long been faded out of the jaws of death do as you will but we shall not all of us be of your mind i say further and lay my saying to your heart that if you send sarpedon safely to his own home some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his son out of battle for there are many sons of gods fighting around the city of troi and you will make everyone jealous if however you are fond of him and pity him let him indeed fall by the hand of patroclus but as soon as the life has gone out of him send death and sweet sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad lands of lycea where his brothers and his kinsmen will bury him with mound and pillar and do honor to the dead the sire of gods and men assented but he shed a rain of blood upon the earth in honor of his son whom patroclus was about to kill on the rich plain of troi far from his home when they were now come close to one another patroclus struck thrasidimas the brave squire of sarpedon in the lower part of the belly and killed him sarpedon then aimed a spear at patroclus and missed him but he struck the horse pedicis in the right shoulder and it screamed aloud as it lay groaning in the dust until the life went out of it the other two horses began to plunge the pole of the chariot cracked and they got entangled in the rains through the fall of the horse that was yoked along with them but a tomodan knew what to do without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third horse adrift whereon the other two righted themselves and pulling hard at the reins again went together into battle sarpedon now took a second aim at patroclus and again missed him the point of the spear passed over his left shoulder without hitting him patroclus then aimed in his turn and the spear sped not from his hand in vain for he hit sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the ever-beating heart he fell like some oak or silver poplar or tall pine to which woodman have laid their axes upon the mountains to make timber for shipbuilding even so did he lie stretched at full length in front of his chariot and horses moaning and clutching at the bloodstained dust as when a lion springs with a bound upon a herd of cattle and fastens on a great black bull which dies bellowing in its clutches even so did the leader of the lycean warriors struggle in death as he fell by the hand of patroclus he called on his trusty comrade and said leicus my brother hero among heroes put forth all your strength fight with might and main now if ever quit yourself like a valiant soldier first go about among the lycean captains and bid them fight for sarpedon then yourself also do battle to save my armor from being taken my name will haunt you henceforth and forever if the achaeans rob me of my armor now that i've fallen at their ships do your very utmost and call all my people together death closed his eyes as he spoke patroclus planted his heel on his breast and drew the spear from his body where on his senses came out along with it and he drew out both spear point and sarpedon's soul at the same time hard by the myrmidons held his snorting steeds who were wild with panic at finding themselves deserted by their lords leicus was overcome with grief when he heard what sarpedon said for he could not help him he had to support his arm with his other hand being in great pain through the wound which tucer's arrow had given him when tucer was defending the wall as he leicus was assailing it therefore he prayed to far darting apollo saying hear me oh king from your seat maybe in the rich land of lycea or maybe in troy for in all places you can hear the prayer of one who is in distress as i now am i have a grievous wound my hand is aching with pain there is no staunching the blood and my whole arm drags by reason of my hurt so that i cannot grasp my sword nor go among my foes and fight them thou our prince joe's son sarpedon is slain joe defended not his son do you therefore oh king heal me of my wound ease my pain and grant me strength both to cheer on the lyceans and to fight along with them around the body of him who has fallen thus did he pray and apollo heard his prayer he eased his pain staunched the black blood from the wound and gave him new strength leicus perceived this and was thankful that the mighty god had answered his prayer forthwith therefore he went among the lycean captains and bade them come to fight about the body of sarpedon from these he strode on among the trojans to poletimus son of pantheos and aginor he then went on in search of enius and hector and when he had found them he said hector you have utterly forgotten your allies who languish here for your sake far from friends and home while you do nothing to support them sarpedon leader of the lycean warriors has fallen he who was at once the right and might of lycea mars has laid him low by the spear of patroclus stand by him my friends and suffer not the mermidans to strip him of his armor nor to treat his body with contumuli and revenge for all the denayans whom we have speared at the ships as he spoke the trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable grief for sarpedon alien though he was had been one of the mainstays of their city both is having much people with him and himself the foremost among them all led by hector who was infuriated by the fall of sarpedon they made instantly for the denayans with all their might while the undaunted spirit of patroclus son of manesius cheered on the achaeans first he spoke to the two ajaxes men who needed no bidding ajaxes said he may it now please you to show yourselves the men who have always been or even better sarpedon has fallen he who was first to overleap the wall of the achaeans let us take the body and outrage it let us strip the armor from his shoulders and kill his comrades if they try to rescue his body he spoke to men who of themselves were full eager both sides therefore the trojans and lyceans on the one hand and the mermidans and achaeans on the other strengthened their battalions and fought desperately about the body of sarpedon shouting fiercely the while mighty was the den of their armor as they came together and joe shed a thick darkness over the fight to increase the toil of the battle over the body of his son at first the trojans made some headway against the achaeans for one of the best men among the mermidans was killed a piadjus son of noble ajaxes who had airwild been king in a good city of buddhium but presently having killed a valiant kinsmen of his own he took refuge with pilius and thetus who sent him to ileus the land of noble steeds to fight the trojans under achilles hector now struck him on the head with a stone just as he had caught hold of the body and his brains inside his helmet were all battered in so that he fell face foremost upon the body of sarpedon and there died patroclus was enraged by the death of his comrade and sped through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daus or starlings even so swiftly oh noble knight patroclus did you make straight for the lyceans and trojans to avenge your comrade forthwith he struck then ileus the son of a themonys on the neck with a stone and broke the tendons that joined it to the head and spine on this hector and the front rank of his men gave ground as far as a man can throw a javelin when competing for some prize or even in battle so far did the trojans now retreat before the achaeans glaicus captain of the lyceans was the first to rally them by killing bathakles son of calsan who lived in helas and was the richest man among the mermidans glaicus turned around suddenly just as bathakles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him and drove his spear right into the middle of his chest whereon he fell heavily to the ground and the fall of so good a man filled the achaeans with dismay while the trojans were exultant and came up in a body around the corpse nevertheless the achaeans mindful of their prowess bore straight down upon them marionese then killed a helmed warrior of the trojans leogenus son of oneter who was the priest of jove of mount ida and was honored by the people as though he were a god marionese struck him under the jaw and ear so that life went out of him and the darkness of death laid hold upon him enius then aimed a spear at marionese hoping to hit him under the shield as he was advancing but marionese saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it whereon the spear flew past him and the point stuck in the ground while the butt end went on quivering till mars robbed it of its force the spear therefore sped from enius's hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground enius was angry and said marionese you are a good dancer but if i had hit you my spear would soon have made an end of you and marionese answered enius for all your bravery you will not be able to make an end of every one who comes against you you are only immortal like myself and if i were to hit you in the middle of your shield with my spear however strong and self-confident you may be i should soon vanquish you and you would yield your life to hades of the noble steeds on this the son of manesius rebuked him and said marionese hero though you may be you should not speak thus taunting speeches my good friend will not make the trojans draw away from the dead body some of them must go underground first blows for battle and words for counsel fight therefore and say nothing he led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him as the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the mountains and the thud of their axes is heard afar even such a den now rose from earth clash of bronze armor and of good oxide shields as men smote each other with their swords and spears pointed at both ends a man had need of good eyesight now to know sarpedon so covered was he from head to foot with spears and blood and dust men swarmed about the body as flies that buzz around the full milk pales and spring when they were brimming with milk even so did they gather around sarpedon nor did joe turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the fight but kept looking at it all the time for he was settling how best to kill patroclus and considering whether hector should be allowed to end him now in the fight around the body of sarpedon and strip him of his armor or whether he should let him give yet further trouble to the trojans in the end he deemed it best that the brave squire of akili's son of pilius should drive hector and the trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many first therefore he made hector turn faint hearted whereon he mounted his chariot and fled bidding the other trojans fly also for he saw that the scales of joe if it turned against him neither would the brave lyceans stand firm they were dismayed when they saw their king lying struck to the heart amid a heap of corpses for when the son of saturn made the fight wax hot many had fallen above him the akilians therefore stripped the gleaming armor from his shoulders and the brave son of munisha gave it to his men to take to the ships then joe lord of the storm cloud said to apollo dear febus go i pray you and take sarpedon out of range of the weapons cleanse the black blood from off him and then bear him a long way off where you may wash him in the river anoint him with ambrosia and clothe him in immortal raiment this done commit him to the arms of the two fleet messengers death and sleep who will carry him straightway to the rich land of lycea where his brothers and kinsmen will enter him and will raise both mound and pillar to his memory in due honor to the dead thus he spoke apollo obeyed his father saying and came down from the heights of ida into the thick of the fight forthwith he took sarpedon out of range of the weapons and then bore him a long way off where he washed him in the river anointed him with ambrosia and clothes him in immortal raiment this done he committed him to the arms of the two fleet messengers death and sleep who presently set him down in the rich land of lycea meanwhile patroclus with many a shout to his horses and to a tomadon pursue the trojans and lyceans in the pride and foolishness of his heart had he but obeyed the bidding of the son apelius he would have escaped death and have been scatheless but the councils of joe pass man's understanding he will put even a brave man to flight and snatch victory from his grasp or again he will set him on to fight as he now did when he put a high spirit into the heart of patroclus who then first and who last was slain by you a potroclus when the gods had now called you to meet your doom first adreistus a tonois a keekless paramus the son of migas epistor and melanippus after these he killed elisys muleus and pylardes these he slew but the rest saved themselves by flight the sons of the achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands of patroclus for his spear flew in all directions had not feebus apollo taken to stand upon the wall to defeat his purpose and to aid the trojans thrice did patroclus charge at an angle of the high wall and thrice did apollo beat him back striking his shield with his own immortal hands when patroclus was coming on like a god for yet a fourth time apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said draw back noble patroclus it is not your lot to sack the city of the trojan chieftains nor yet will it be that of achilles who is a far better man than you are on hearing this patroclus withdrew to some distance and avoided the anger of apollo meanwhile hector was waiting with his horses inside the ski and gates in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting or to call the army inside the gates as he was thus doubting feebus apollo drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior asias who was hector's uncle being owned brother to hecuba and son of dimus who lived in frija by the waters of the river san gerius in his likeness jove's son apollo now spoke to hector saying hector why have you left off fighting it is ill done of you if i were as much better a man than you as i am worse you should soon rue your slackness drive straight towards patroclus if so be that apollo may grant you a triumph over him and you may rule him with this the god went back into the hurly burly and hector bade cibrionis drive again into the fight apollo passed in among them and struck panic into the archives while he gave triumph to hector and the trojans hector let the other denians alone and killed no man but drove straight at patroclus patroclus then sprang from his chariot to the ground with a spear in his left hand and in his right a jagged stone as large as his hand could hold he stood still and threw it nor did it go far without hitting someone the cast was not in vain for the stone struck cibrionis hector's charioteer a bastard son of priam as he held the reins in his hands the stone hit him on the forehead and drove his browse into his head for the bone was smashed and his eyes fell to the ground at his feet he dropped dead from his chariot as though he were diving and there was no more life left in him over him did you then vaunt oh night patroclus saying bless my heart how active he is and how well he dives if he had been at sea this fellow would have dived from the ship's side and brought up as many oysters as the whole crew could stomach even in rough water for he has dived beautifully off his chariot onto the ground it seems then that there are divers also among the trojans as he spoke he flung himself on cibrionis with the spring as it were of a lion that while attacking a stockyard is himself struck in the chest and his courage is his own bane even so furiously oh patroclus did you then spring upon cibrionis hector spring also from his chariot to the ground the pair then fought over the body of cibrionis as two lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over the body of a stag that they have killed even so did these two mighty warriors patroclus son of munitius and brave hector hack and hew at one another over the corpse of cibrionis hector would not let him go when he had it once got him by the head while patroclus kept fast hold of his feet and a fierce fight raged between the other denayans and trojans as the east and south wind buffet one another when they beat upon some dense forest on the mountains there is beach and ash and spreading Cornell the top of the trees roar as they beat on one another and one can hear the bows cracking and breaking even so did the trojans and akeans spring upon one another and lay about each other and neither side would give way many appointed spear fell to the ground and many a winged arrow sped from its bowstring about the body of cibrionis many a great stone more over beat on many a shield as they fought around his body that there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust all huge and hugely heedless of his driving now so long as the sun was still high in mid heaven the weapons of either side were alike deadly and the people fell but when he went down towards the time when men loose their oxen the akeans proved to be beyond all forecast stronger so that they drew cibrionis out of range of the darts and tumult of the trojans and stripped the armor from his shoulders then patroclus spraying like mars with fierce intent and a terrific shout upon the trojans and thrice that he killed nine men but as he was coming on like a god for a time then oh patroclus was the hour of your end approaching for febus fought you and fell earnest patroclus did not see him as he moved about in the crush for he was enshrouded in thick darkness and the god struck him from behind on his back and on his broad shoulders with the flat of his hand so that his eyes turned dizzy febus apollo beat the helmet from off his head and it rolled rattling off under the horse's feet where its horsehair plumes were all begrimed with dust and blood never indeed had that helmet fared so before for it had served to protect the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero achilles now however zeus delivered it over to be worn by hector nevertheless the end of hector also was near the bronze shod spear so great and so strong was broken in the hand of patroclus while his shield that covered him from head to foot fell to the ground as did also the band that held it and apollo undid the fastenings of his corset on this his mind became clouded his limbs failed him and he stood as one dazed where on euphorbis son of pantheos a dardanian the best spearman of his time as also the finest horseman and flitus runner came behind him and struck him in the back with a spear midway between the shoulders this man as soon as ever he had come up with his chariot had dismounted twenty men so proficient was he in all the arts of war he it was oh night patroclus that first drove a weapon into you but he did not quite overpower you euphorbis then ran back into the crowd after drawing his ashen spear out of the wound he would not stand firm and wait for patroclus unarmed though he now was to attack him but patroclus unnerved alike by the blow the god had given him and by the spear wound drew back under cover of his men in fear for his life hector on this seeing him to be wounded and giving ground forced his way through the ranks and when close up with him struck him in the lower part of the belly with a spear driving the bronze point right through it so that he fell heavily to the ground to the great of the achians as when a lion has fought some fierce wild boar and worsted him the two fight furiously upon the mountain over some little fountain at which they would both drink and the lion has beaten the boar till he can hardly breathe even so did hector son of priam take the life of the brave son of manishas who had killed so many striking him from close at hand and vaunting over him the while patroclus said he you deemed that you should sack our city rob our trojan women of their freedom and carry them off in your ships to your own country fool hector and his fleet horses were ever straining their utmost to defend them i am foremost of all the trojan warriors to stave the day of bondage from off them as for you vultures shall devour you here poor wretch achilles with all his bravery availed you nothing and yet i weaned when you left him he charged you straightly saying come not back to the ships night patroclus to you have rent the bloodstain shirt of murderous hector about his body thus i weaned did he charge you and your fools hard answered him yay within you then as the life ebbed out of you you answered oh night hector vaunt as you will for joe the son of saturn and apollo have vouchsafed you victory it is they who have vanquished me so easily and they who have stripped the armor from my shoulders had 20 such men as you attacked me all of them would have fallen before my spear fate and the son of lido have overpowered me and among mortal men you forbes you are yourself third only in the killing of me i say further and lay my saying to your heart you too shall live but for a little season death and the day of your doom are close upon you and they will lay you low by the hand of achilles son of eacus when he had thus spoken his eyes were closed in death his soul left his body and flitted down to the house of hades mourning his sad fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of its manhood dead though he was hector still spoke to him saying patroclus why should you thus foretell my doom who knows but achilles son of lovely fetus may be smitten by my spear and die before me as he spoke he drew the bronze spear from the wound planting his foot upon the body which he thrust off and let lie on its back he then went spear in hand after atomodon squire of the fleet descendant of eacus for he longed to lay him low but the immortal steeds which the gods had given as a rich gift appeal use bore him swiftly from the field end of book 16 of the iliad book 27 of the iliad this is a liber box recording all liber box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberbox.org the iliad by homework translated by samuel butler book 17 recording by ml cohen the light around the body of patroclus brave menelaus son of atrius now came to know that patroclus had fallen and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armor to be stride him as the cow stands lowing over her first calf even so did yellow haired menelaus bestride patroclus he held his round shield and his spear in front of him resolute to kill any who should dare face him but the son of pantheos also had noted the body and came up to menelaus saying menelaus son of atrius draw back leave the body and let the bloodstain spoils be i was first of the trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into patroclus let me therefore have my full glory among the trojans or i will take aim and kill you to this menelaus answered in great anger my father joe boasting is an ill thing the part is not more bold nor the lion nor savage wild boar which is fiercest and most stauntless of all creatures then are the proud sons of pantheos yet hyperinor did not see out the days of his youth when he made light of mean what stood me being the meanest soldier among the dainines his own feet never bore him back to gladden his wife and parents even so shall i make an end of you too if you would stand me get you back into the crowd and do not face me or it shall be the worst for you even a fool may be wise after the event euphorbis would not listen and said now indeed menelaus shall you pay for the death of my brother oh mohoom you vaunted and whose wife you widowed in her bridal chamber while you bought grief unspeakable on his parents i shall comfort these poor people if i bring your head and armor and place them in the hands of pantheos and noble fronthus the time has come when the matter shall be fought out and settled for me or against me as he spoke he struck menelaus full on the shield but the spear did not go through for the shield turned his point menelaus then took aim praying to the father joves he did so euphorbis was drawing back and menelaus struck him about the roots of his throat leaving his whole weight on the spear so as to drive it home the point when clean through his neck and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground his hair which was like that of the graces and his locks so definitely bound in bands of silver and gold were all be traveled with blood as one who has grown a fine young alvatry in a clear space where there is abundance of water the plant is full of promise and though the wind speed upon it from every quarter puts forth its white blossoms till the blast of some fierce hurricanes sweep down upon it and level it with the ground even so did menelaus strip the fair euthuphorbis of his armor after he had slain him or as some fierce line upon the mountains in the pride of his strength fastens on the finest effer and a herd as it's feeding first he breaks her neck with a strong jaws and then gorges on her blood and entrails dogs and shepherd raise a hue and cry against him but they stand aloof and will not come close to him for they are pale with fear even so no one had the courage to face valiant meleus the son of atreus would have then carried off the armor of the son of panthos would ease had not fiebus apollobon angry and in the guise of menti's chief of the psychons incited hector to attack him hector said he you are now going after the horses of the noble son of atreus but you will not take them they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man save owned by achilles who was son to an immortal mother meanwhile menelaus son of atreus had bestridden the body of patrocalist and killed the noblest of the trojans euphorbis son of pantheus so that he can fight no more the god then went back into the toilet turmoil but the soul of hector was darkened with a cloud of grief he looked along the ranks and saw euphorbis lying on the ground with the blood still flowing from his wound and menelaus stripping him of his armor on this he made his way to the front like a flame of fire clad in his gleaming armor and crying with a loud voice when the son of atreus heard him he said to himself in his dismay alas what shall i do i may not let the trojans take the armor patrocalist would fall in fighting on my behalf less some dainan who sees me should cry shame upon me still if for my honor's sake i fight hector and the trojans single-handed they will prove too many for me for hector is bringing them up in force why however should i thus hesitate when a man fights in despite of heaven with one whom a god be friends he will soon ruin let no dainan think ill of me if i give place to hector for the hand of heaven is with him yet if i could find ajax the two of us would fight hector in heaven too if we might only save the body of patrocalist for achilles son of this of many evils would be the least while he was thus in two minds the trojans came up to him with hector at their head he therefore drew back and left the body turning about like some bearded line who was being chased by dogs and men from the stockyard with spears and you and cry whereupon he is daunted and slinks sulkly off even so did men allay a son of atreus turn and leave the body of patrocalist when among the body of his men he looked around for mighty ajax son of telemon and presently saw him on the extreme left of the fight cheering on his men and exhorting them to keep on fighting for thiebus apollo had spread a great panic among them he ran up to him and said ajax my good friend come with me at once to dead patrocalist if so be that we may take the body to achilles as for his armor hector already has it these words stirred the heart of ajax and he made his way among the front ranks men allay is going with him hector had stripped patrocalist of his armor and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the body to fling before the dogs of trey but ajax came up with a shield like a wall before him on which hector with jew under shelter of his men and sprang on to his chariot giving the armor over to the trojans to take to the city as a great trophy for himself ajax therefore covered the body of patrocalist with his broad shield and bestowed him as a line stands over his welps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he is with its little ones in the pride and fierceness of his strength he draws his knit brows down so they cover his eyes even so did ajax bestride the body of patrocalist and by his tides of menelaus son of atrias nursing great sorrow in his heart then glaucus son of the apollicus looked fiercely at hector and rebuked him sternly hector said he you make a brave show but in fight you're sadly wanting a runaway like yourself has no claim to so great a reputation think how you may now save your town and citadel by the hands of your own people born in ileus for you will get no lyceans to fight for you seeing what thanks they have had for their incessant hardships are you likely sure to do anything to help a man of less note after leaving sarpedon who was at once your guest in comrade in arms to be the spoil and pray of the danons so long as he lived he did good service both to your city and yourself yet you had no stomach to save his body from the dogs if the lyceans will listen to me they will go home and leave troy to its fate if the trojans had any of that daring fearless spirit which lays hold of men who were fighting for the country and harassing those who would attack it we should soon bear off patroclus into ileus could we get this dead man away and bring him to the city of priam the our guides would readily give up the armor of sarpedon and we should get his body to boot for he whose squire has now been killed is the foremost man at the ships of the aions he and his close fighting followers nevertheless you dare not make a stand against ajax nor face him eye to eye with the battle all around you for he is a braver man than you are hector scowled at him and answered glaucus you should know better i have held you so far as a man of more understanding than any and all i see you but now i despise you for saying that i am afraid of ajax i feared neither battle nor gin of chariots but joe's will is stronger than ours joe vitt one time makes even a strong man draw back and snatch his victory from his grasp while at another he will set him on to fight come hither then my friend stand by me and see indeed whether i shall play the coward the whole day through as you say or whether i shall not stay some even of the boldest danons from fighting around the body of patroclus as he spoke he called loudly on the trojans saying trojans lyceans and dardanians fighters in close combat we made my friends and fight might and main while i put on the goodly arm of achilles which i took when i killed patroclus with this hector left the fight and ran full speed after his men who are taking the arm of achilles to troi but had not yet got far standing for a while apart from the woeful fight he changed his armor his own he sent to the strong city of ileus and to the trojans while he put on the immortal armor of the son of pilius which the gods had given to pilius who in his age gave it to his son but the son did not grow old in his father's armor when joe lord of the storm cloud saw hector standing aloof and arming himself in the armor of the son of pilius he wagged his head in muttertume's self ah poor wretch you arm in the armor of a hero before whom many another trembles and you wreck nothing of the doom that is already close upon you you have killed his comrades so brave and strong but it was not well that you should strip the armor from his head and shoulders i do indeed endow you with a great might now but as against this you shall not return from battle to lay the armor of the son of pilius before andromache the son of satyr and bowled his pretentious brows and hector fitted the army to his body while terrible mars entered into him and filled his whole body with might and valor with a shout he strode in among the allies and his armor flashed about him so he seemed to all of them like the great son of pilius himself he went about among them and cheered them on mesleys glaucus meadon thyriscales ariapius disinorned hippithus frosty's chromius and inamis the auger all these did he exhort saying hear me allies from other cities who are here in your thousands it was not in order to have a crowd about me that i called you hither each from his several city but that with heart and soul you might defend the wives and little ones of the trojans from the fiercichans for this do i oppress my people with your food and the presence that make you rich therefore turn and charge at the foe to stand or fall as is the game of war whoever shall bring protoculus dead though he be into the hands of the trojans and shall make ajax give way before him i will give him one half the spoils while i keep the other he will thus share like honor with myself when he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the danons with their spears held out before them and the hopes of each ran hide that he should force ajax son of telemont to yield up the body fools that they were for he was about to take the lives of many then ajax said to menelaus my good friend menelaus you and i shall hardly come out the fist fight alive i am less concerned for the body of protoculus who will shortly become meat for the dogs and vultures of troi than for the safety of my own head and yours hector has wrapped us round in a storm of battle from every quarter and our destruction seems now certain called on upon the princes of the danons if there is any who can hear us menelaus did as he said and shouted to the danons for health at the top of his voice my friends he cried princes and counselors of the archives all you were with agamemnon and menelaus drink at the public cost and give orders each to his own people as joe vouchsates him tower and glory the fight is so thick about me that i cannot distinguish you severly come on therefore every man unbidden and think it's shame that protoculus should become meat and morsel for trojan hounds fleet ajax son of oiles heard him and was first to force his way through the fight and run to help him next came ideminius and marionis his esquire peer of murderous mars as for the others they came into the fight after theirs who of his own self could name them the trojans would hector at their head charged in a body as a great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some heaven-born river and the rocks that jet into the searing with a roar of breakers that beat and buffet them even with such a roar did the trojans come on but the akeans in singleness of hearts did firm about the son of minotius and fenced him in with their bronze shields joe moreover hid the brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud for he had borne no grudge against the son of minotius while he was still alive and squire to the descendant of akes therefore he was loath to let him fall prey to the dogs of his foes the trojans and urged his comrades on to defend him at first the trojans drove the akeans back and they withdrew from the dead man daunted the trojans did not succeed in killing anyone nevertheless they drew the body away but the akeans did not lose it long for ajax foremost of all the daenans after the son of peliaisa like can stature and prowess quickly rally them and made towards the front like a wild boar upon the mountain when he stands at bay in the forest glades and routes to hounds and lusty use that have attacked him even so did ajax son of telemon passing easily among the phalanxes of the trojans disperse those who had bestridden the trochalus and who were most spent on winning glory by dragging him off to the city at this moment hypothesis brave son of pegasi and lethias in his zeal for hector and the trojans was dragging the body off by the foot through the press of the fight having bound a strap around the sinners near the ankle but a mischief soon befell him from which none of those could save him who would gladly done so for the son of telemon sprang forward and smoked him on his brown cheeked helmet the plume headpiece broke about the point of the weapon struck it once by the spear and by the strong hand of ajax so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the crest socket his strength then failed him and he let the trochalus foot drop from his hand as he fell full length dead upon the body thus he died far from the fertile land of larissa and never repaid his parents the cost of bringing him up for his life was cut short early by the spear of mighty ajax hector then took aim at ajax with a spear but he saw it's coming and just managed to avoid it the spear passed on and struck psidias son of noble ifthias captain of the foshans who dwelt in fame panopias and reigned over much people it struck him under the middle of the collar bone the bronze point went right through him coming out the bottom of his shoulder blade and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground ajax in his turn struck noble forces son of phenops in the middle of his belly as he was bestriding hippothus and broke the plate of his gyrus whereupon the spear tore out his entrails and he clutched to ground in a palm as he fell to the earth hector and those who were in the front rank then gave ground while the argives raised a loud cry of triumph and drew off the bodies of four-season hippothus which they stripped presently of their armor the trojans would now have been worsted by the brave acaians and driven back to illies through their own cowardice while the argives so great was their courage and endurance would have achieved a triumph even against the will of joe if apollo had not royors denius and the likeness of paraffius son of epthias an attendant who had grown old in the service of anus's aged father and was at all times devoted to him in his likeness then apollo said anus can you not manage even though heaven be against us to save high illies i have known men whose numbers courage and self-reliance have saved their people in spite of joe whereas in this case he would much rather give victory to us than to danes if you would only fight instead of being so terribly afraid anus knew apollo when he looked straight at him and shouted to hector saying hector and all other trojans and allies shame on us if we are beaten by the acaians and driven back to illies through our own cowardice a god has just come up to me and told me that joe of the supreme disposer will be with us therefore let us make for the danes that it may go hard with them ere they bear away dead per crocalus to their ships as he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others who then rallied and again faced the acaians anus spiritedly octurus son of orizbus a valent follow of lycomedes and lycomedes would move with pity as he saw him fall he therefore went close up in spirit apassia and son of epthias shepherd of his people under the liver in a midriff so that he died he had come from fertile peonia it was the best man of all them after aster operas aster apias flew forward to avenge him and attack the danans but this might no longer be in as much as those about patroclus were well covered by their shields and held their spears in front of them for ajax to give them strict orders that no man was either to give ground or to stand out before the others were all were to hold well together about the body and fight hand to hand thus did huge ajax bid them in the earth ran red with blood as the corpses felt thick on one another alike decided the trojans and allies and on that of the danes for these last two fought no bloodless fight though many fewer of them perished through the care they took to defend and stand by one another thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire it seemed as though it had gone hard even with the sun and moon for they were hidden over all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting about the dense settlement alias where the other danans and akayans fought at their ease and full daylight with bright sunshine all around them and there was not a cloud to be seen neither on plain nor mountain these last more would rest for a while and leave off fighting for they were some distance apart and beyond the range of one another's weapons whereas those who were in the thick of the phrase suffered both from battle and darkness all the best of them were being worn out by the great weight of their armor at the two valiant heroes thrasomedes and intelicus had not yet heard of the death of patroclus and believed him still to be alive and leading the van against the trojans they were keeping themselves in reserve against the death or out of their own comrades for so nester had ordered when he sent them from the ships into battle thus through the live long day did they wage fierce war and the sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs under them and on their hands and eyes as they fought over the squire of the fleet son of pilius it was as when a man gives a great oxide all drenched in fat to his men and bids them stretch it whereupon they stand rounded in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves it and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it and it is well stretched even so did the two sides tug the dead body hither and thither within the compass of but a little space the trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into ileus while the acaans were no less so on taking it to the ships and fierce was the fight between them not marris himself lord of hosts nor yet manurva even in their fullest fury can make light of such a battle such fear for turmoil of men and horses did jove on that day ordained around the body of patroclus meanwhile Achilles did not know that he had fallen for the fight was under the wall of Troy a long way off from the ships he had no idea therefore that patroclus was dead and deemed that he would return alive as soon as he had gone close up to the gates he knew that he was not the sacked city neither with nor without himself for his mother had often told him this when he sat alone with her and she had informed of the councils of great jove now however she had not told him how a great disaster had befallen him of the death of the one who was far dearest to him of all his comrades the others still kept on charging one another around the body with their pointed spears and killing each other then one would say my friends we can never again show our faces at the ships better and greatly better that the earth should open and swallow us here in this place that we should let the Trojans have to try and put bearing off patroclus to their city the Trojans also on their part spoke to one another saying friends though we fall to a man beside this body let none shrink from fighting with such words do they exhort each other they fought and fought and an iron clank rose through the void air to the brazen vault of heaven the horses of the descendant of Asia stood out and fight and wept when they heard that the driver had been laid low by the hand of murderous hector automadan valiant son of diaries lashed them again and again many a time did he speak kindly to them and many a time did he upgrade them but they wouldn't either go back to the ships by the waters of the broad helispont nor yet into battle among the achaeans they stood with their chariot stocked still as a pillar set over a tomb of a dead man or woman and bowed their heads to the ground hot tears fell from their eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer and their noble mains drooped all wet from under the yolkstrapped on either side of the yolk the son of Saturn saw them and took pity upon their sorrow he wagged his head and muttered to himself saying poor things why did we give you to king pilius who was immortal while you are yourselves ageless and immortal what is that you might share the sorrows that fall mankind for of all creatures that live and move upon the earth there is none so pity both he is still hector son of pream shall drive neither you nor your chariot i will not have it it is enough that he should have the armor over which he vaunts so vainly furthermore i will give you strength of heart and limb to bear a timidon safely to the ship from battle for i shall let the trojans try him still further and go on killing till they reach the ships whereupon night shall fall and darkness overshadow the land as he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so that they shook the dust from out of their mains and bore their chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between trojans and akeans behind them fought a timidon full of sorrow for his comrade as a vulture amid a flight of geese in and out here and there full speed he dashed amid the throng of the trojans but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man for he could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone in the chariot at last however a comrade al-simidon son of lair see son of amen caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot atomidon said he what god has put this folly into your heart and robbed you of your right mind that you fight the trojans in the front rank single-handed he was your comrade as plain and hector plumes himself on being armed in the armor of the descendant of the akeans atomidon son of diaries answered al-simidon there is no one else who can control and guide the immortal steed so well as you can save only patroclus while he was alive peer of gods and council take the whip and reigns while i go from the car and fight al-simidon sprung onto the chariot and caught up in the whips and reigns while atomidon leaped from off the car when hector saw him he said to aneus who was near him aneus counselor of the malechad trojans i see the steeds of the fleet son of aekus coming into battle with weak hands to drive them i am sure if you think well that we might take them they will not dare face us if we both attack them the valiant son of ancais was of the same mind and the pair went right on with their shoulders covered on the shields of tough dry oxide overlaid with much browns chromius and redis went along with them and their hearts beat high with the hopes they might kill them and capture the horses fools that they were for they were not to return skateless from their meeting with latimidon who prayed to his father joven was forthwith filled with courage and strength abounding he turned to his trusty comrade al-simidon and said al-simidon keep your horses so close up that i may feel their breath upon my back i doubt that we shall not stay hector son of pream till he has killed us and mounted behind the horses he will then either spread panic among the ranks of the akeans or himself be killed among the foremost on this he cried out to the two ajaxes and menelaus ajaxes captain of the argives and menelaus give the dead body over to them that were best able to defend it and come to the rescue of us living for hector and anias are the two breast men among the trojans are pressing us hard in the full tide of war nevertheless the issue lies in the lap of heaven i will therefore hurl my spear and leave no rest to jove he poised and hurled as he spoke whereon the spear struck the round shield of aridus and went right through it for the shield stayed it not so it was driven through his belt into the lower part of his belly as when some sturdy youth axe in hand deals his blow behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons at the back of it next so that it springs forward and then drops even so did aridus give one bound and then fall in his back the spear quivering in his body till it made an end of him hector then aimed a spear at otimidon but he saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it so that it flew past him and the point struck in the ground while the butt end went on quivering till mars robbed it of its force they would then have fought hand to hand with swords had not the two age axes forced their way through the crowd when they heard their comrades calling and parted them for all their fury for hector anias and chromius were afraid and drew back leaving a reedus to lie there struck to the heart otimidon pier of fleet mars then stripped him of his armor and vaunted over him saying i have done little to assuage my sorrow for the son of milcius for the man i have killed is not so good as he was as he spoke he took the bloodstained spoils and laid them upon his chariot then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all steeped and gore as a line that has been gorging upon a bowl and now the fierce groanful fight again raged about patroclus from a nerve it came down from heaven and roused his fury by the commander far seeing jove who had changed his mind and sent her to encourage the danons as when joe bends his bright bow in the heaven to token the mankind neither of war or the chill storms that stay men from their labor and plague the flocks even so wrapped in such radiant raiment and the nerve of going among the host and speak man by man to each first she took the form and voice of phoenix and spoke to menelaeus son of atreus who was standing near her menelaeus said she it will be a shame to dishonor to you if the dogs tear the noble comrade of achilles under the walls of troi therefore be staunch and urge your men to be so also menelaeus answered phoenix my good old friend may menelaeus out-save me strength and keep the darts from off me for so else just stand by patroclus and defend him his death has gone to my heart but hector is a raging fire and deals his blow without ceasing for joe was now granting him a time of triumph menelaeus was pleased that his having named herself before any other of the gods therefore she put strength into his knees and shoulders and made him as bold as a fly which though driven off the will yet come again and bite it can so dearly doesn't love man's blood even so bold as this that she make him as he stood over patroclus and threw his spear now there was among the trojans a man named potis son of etion who was both rich and valiant hector held him in the highest honor for he was a comrade and boomed companion the spear of menelaeus struck this man in a girdle just to see it turn in flight and went right through him whereon he fell heavily forward and menelaeus son of atreus drew off his body from the trojans into the ranks of his own people Apollo then went up to hector and spurred him on to fight in the likeness of fain of son of asius who lived in abidos and was the most favorite of all hectored guests in his likeness Apollo said hector who of the acanes will fear you hence forward now that you have quailed before menelaeus who has ever been rated poorly as a soldier yet he now has a corpse away from the trojans single-handed and slain your own true comrade a man brave among the foremost potis son of etion a dark cloud of grief fell upon hector as he heard and he made his way to the front clad in full armor thereon the son of saturn seized his bright tasseled aegis and veiled Ida in a cloud he sent forth his lightning in his thunders and as he shook his aegis he gave victory to the trojans and routed the acanes the panic was begun by penelios the boetian for while keeping his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear on the upper part of the shoulder a spear thrown by polydamus had grazed the top of his bone for polydamus had come up to him and struck him from close to the hand then hector in close combat struck letius son of noble acetrion in the hand by the wrist and disabled him from fighting further he looked about him in dismay knowing that never again should he wheeled spear in battle with the trojans while hector was in pursuit of letius eidomenius struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the nipple but the spear broke in the shaft and the trojans cheered aloud hector then aimed at eidomenius son of dukeleon as he was standing on his chariot and very narrowly missed him but the spear hit corianus following charioteer marionis who had come with him from lyctius eidomenius had left the ships on foot and would have afforded a great triumph to the trojans if corianus had not driven quickly up to him he therefore bought life and rescued eidomenius himself fell by the hand of murderous hector for hector hit him on the jaw under the ear the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in two pieces so that he fell from his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground marionis gathered him up from the ground and took him into his own hands then he said to eidomenius lay on till you get back to the ships for you must see that today is no longer ours on this eidomenius lashed the horses to the ships for fear had taken hold upon him a jacks and menelius noted how jovic turned to scale in favor of the trojans and a jacks with a first to speak alas said he even a fool may see that father jove is helping the trojans all their weapons strike home no matter whether it be a brave man or a coward that hurls them jove speeds all alike where ours fall each one of them without effect what then will be best both as regards rescuing the body and our return to the joy of our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards for they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands of hector and that he will sling himself upon our ships I wish that someone would go and tell the son of pelius at once for I do not think that he can yet have heard the sad news that the dearest of his friends has fallen but I can see not a man among the acaians descend for they and their chariots are all alike hidden in darkness oh father jove lift this cloud from over the sons of the acaians make heaven serene and let us see if you will that we perish let us fall at any rate by daylight father jove heard him and had compassion upon his tears forth whisked he chased away the cloud of darkness so that the sun shone out and all the fighting was revealed a jacks then said to minelaus look minelaus and if until like a son of nester beast to living sentiment wants to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades has fallen minelaus heeded his words and went his way as a line from a stockyard the line is tired of attacking the men and hounds who keep watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on the fat of their herd in his lust of meat he makes straight at them but in vain for darts from strong hands to sail them and burning brands which taunt him for all his hunger so in the morning he slink sulkly away even so did minelaus sorely against his will lead patroclus in great fear lest the acclaimed should be driven back and route and let him fall into the hands of the foe he charged marionis into two ajaxes straightly saying ajaxes and marionis leaders of the argots now indeed remember how good patroclus was he was ever courteous while alive bear it in mind now that he is dead with this minelaus left them looking round as keenly as an eagle who cite this as keener than of any other bird however high he may be in the heavens not a hare that runs can escape him by crouching under the bushes thicket for he will swoop down upon it and make an end of it even so oh minelaus did your keen eyes range round the mighty host of your followers to see if you could find the son of nester still alive presently minelaus saw him in the extreme left of the battle cheering on his men and exhorting them to fight boldly minelaus went up to him and said and pilikus come here and listen to sad news which I would indeed war untrue you must see with your own eyes that heaven is heaping calamity upon the danians and giving victory to the trojans patroclus has fallen who was the bravest of the achaeans and sorely will the danians miss him run instantly to the ships and pilikiles that he may come to rescue the body and bear it to the ships as for the armor hector already has it and pilikus was struck with horror for a long time he was speechless his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance but he did as minelaus had said and set off running as soon as he had given his armor to a comrade laioticus who was wheeling his oars round close behind him thus then did he run weeping from the field to carry the bad news to Achilles son of pilius nor were you on minelaus minded to succor his hurried comrades when on pilikus had left the pilians and greatly did they miss him but he sent them noble thrasamides and himself went back to patroclus he came running up to the two ajaxons and said i have sent then pilikus to the ship to telechillies but rage against hector as he may he cannot come for he cannot fight without armor what then will be our best plan both his regards rescuing the dead and our own escape from death among the bundle cry of the trojans ajax answered minelaus you have said well do you then a maryoni stoop down raise the body and bear it out of the fray while we too behind you keep off hector and the trojans one in heart as a name and long used to fighting side by side with one another on this menelaus and maryonis took the dead man in their arms and lifted him high aloft with a great effort the trojan host raised a hue and cried behind them when they saw the akeans bearing the body away and flew after them like hounds attacking a wounded beer at the lieu of a band of young unspent for while the hounds fly at him as though they would tear him the pieces but now again he turns on them in a fury scarring and scattering them in all directions even so did the trojans for a while charged in a body striking with sword and spears pointed at both ends but when the two ajaxes faced them and stood at bay they would turn pale and no man dared press on to fight further about the dead in this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the body to the ships out of the fight the battle raged round them like fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire over a city and the houses fall in the glare of its burning even such was the war and tramp of men and horses that pursued them as they bore petroclists from the field or as mules that put forth all their strength to draw some beam of a great piece of ships timber down a rough mountain track and they pant and sweat as they go even so did menelaus and pant and sweat as they bore in the body of petroclists behind them the two ajaxes held stoutly out as some wooded mountain spur that stretches across a plane will turn water and check the flow even of a great river nor is there any stream strong enough to break through it even so did the two ajaxes face the Trojans and stern the tide of their fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost among them all was a neist son of nine caisses with valiant hector as a flock of Dawes or starlings fall to screaming and chattering when they see a falcon foe to all small birds come soaring near them even so did the Achean youth raise a battle of cries as they fled before a neist and hector unmindful of their former prowess in the route of the danians much goodly armor fell round about the trench and the fighting there was no end end of book 17 recording by ml cohen www.mojoemoo411.com Cleveland, Ohio November 2007 book 18 of the Iliad this is a labor fox recording all labor fox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit www.liberfox.org recording by Anosimum the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book 18 the grief of Achilles over Patroclus the visit of Thetis to Vulcan and the armor that he made for Achilles thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire meanwhile the fleet runner Antillicus who had been sent as messenger reached Achilles and found him sitting by his tall ships and boating that which was indeed too surely true alas said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart why are the Achaeans again scouring the plane and flocking towards the ships heaven grant the gods be not now bringing that sorrow upon me of which my mother Thetis spoke saying that while I was yet alive the bravest of the mermidans should fall before the Trojans and see the light of the sun no longer I fear the brave son of Manetius has fallen through his own daring and yet I bait him return to the ships as soon as he had driven back those that were bringing fire against him and not joined battle with Hector as it was this pondering the son of Nestor came up to him and told his sad tale weeping bitterly the while alas he cried son of Noble Palaeus I bring you bad tidings would indeed that they were untrue Patroclus has fallen and a fight is raging about his naked body for Hector holds his armor a dark cloud of grief fell upon Achilles as he listened he filled both hands with dust from off the ground and poured it over his head disfiguring his comely face and letting the refuse settle over his shirt so fair and new he flung himself down all huge and hugely at full length and tore his hair with his hands the bondswomen whom Achilles and Patroclus have taken captive screamed aloud for grief beating their breasts and with their limbs failing them for sorrow Antillicus bent over him the while weeping and holding both his hands as he lay groaning for he feared that he might plunge a knife into his own throat then Achilles gave a loud cry and his mother heard him as she was sitting in a death stone to see by the old man her father whereon she screamed and all the goddesses daughters of Nereus that dwelled at the bottom of the sea came gathering round her there were Glauci Thalia and Chimadoki Nisaya Speo Soe and Dark-Eyed Haley Chimazoe Actia and Lymnorea Maliti Aera Amphithoe and Agave Dotto and Proto Carusa and Dinamini Examini Amphinomy and Callianera Doris Canopy and the famous Cyninth Galatia Nemerthus Apsiodes and Callianasa there were also Clemini Aionira and Aionasa Mira Orathea and Amathia of the lovely locks with other Nirites who dwell in the depths of the sea the crystal cave was filled with their multitude and they all beat their breasts while Thetis let them in their lament Listen, Crychee sisters daughters of Nereus that you may hear the burden of my sorrows alas woe is me woe and that I've borne the most glorious of offspring I bore him fair and strong hero among heroes and he shot up as a sapling I tendered him as a plant in a goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Pelius so long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun he is in heaviness and though I go to him I cannot help him nevertheless I will go that I may see my dearest son and learn what sorrow has befallen him though he is still holding a loop from battle she left the cave as she spoke while the others followed weeping after and the waves opened the path before them when they reached the rich plain of Troi they came up out of the sea in a long line onto the sands at the place where the ships of the Mermidans were drawn up in close order around the tents of Achilles his mother went up to him as he lay groaning she laid her hand upon his head and spoke pitchlessly saying my son why are you this weeping what sorrow has now befallen you tell me hide it not from me surely Jovis granted you the prayer you made him when you lifted up your hands and besought him that the Achaeans might all of them be pent up at their ships and ruined bitterly in that you were no longer with them Achilles groaned and answered mother Olympian Jov has indeed vouchsaved me the fulfillment of my prayer but what puts it to me seeing that my dear comrade Patrickus has fallen he whom I valued more than all others and loved as dearly as my own life I have lost him I and Hector when he had killed him stripped the wondrous armor so glorious to behold which the gods gave to Pellius when they laid you in the couch of a mortal man would bet you were still dwelling among the immortal synims and that Pellius had taken to himself some mortal bride for now you shall have grief infinite by reason of the death of that son whom you can never welcome home nay I will not live nor go about among mankind unless Hector fall by my spear and thus pay me for having slain Patrickus son of Menicius Thete is wept and answered then my son is your end near at hand for your own death await you full soon after that of Hector then said Achilles in his great grief I would die here and now in that I could not save my comrade he has fallen far from home and in his hour of need my hand was not there to help him what is there for me return to my own land I shall not and I have brought no saving neither to Patrickus nor to my other comrades of whom so many have been slain by mighty Hector I stay here by my ships a bootless burden upon the earth I who in fight have no peer among the Achaeans though in council there are better than I therefore perish strife both from among gods and men and anger wherein even a righteous man will harden his heart which rises up in the soul of a man like smoke and the taste thereof is sweeter than drops of honey even so has Achaemenon angered me and yet so be it for it is over I will force my soul into subjection as I need must I will go I will pursue Hector who has slain him whom I loved so dearly and will then abide my doom when it may please Jov and the other gods to send it even Hercules the best beloved of Jov even he could not escape the hand of death but fate and Juno's fierce anger laid him low as I too shall lie when I am dead if a like doom awaits me till then I will win fame and will be Trojan and Dardanian women ring tears from the tender cheeks with both their hands in the grievousness of their great sorrow thus shall they know that he who has held aloof so long will hold aloof no longer hold me not back therefore in the love you bear me for you shall not move me then Silverfooted Thedas answered my son what you have said is true it is well to save your comrades from destruction but your armor is in the hands of the Trojans Hector bears it in triumph upon his own shoulders full well I know that his bond shall not be lasting for his end is close at hand go not however into depressive battle till you see me return hither tomorrow at break of day I shall be here and will bring you goodly armor from King Vulcan on this she left her brave son and as she turned away she set to the sea nymphs her sisters dive into the bosom of the sea and go to the house of the old sea god my father tell him everything as for me I will go to the cunning workman Vulcan on high Olympus and ask him to provide my son with a suit of splendid armor when she had so said they dived forthwith beneath the waves while Silverfooted Thedas went away that she might bring the armor for her son thus then let her feet bear the goddess to Olympus and meanwhile the Achaeans were flying with loud cries before murderous Hector till they reached the ships and the helispond and they could not draw the body of Mars' servant Patroclus out of reach of the weapons that were showered upon him for Hector, son of Priam, with his host and horseman had again called up to him like the flame of a fiery furnace Thrice did brave Hector seize him by the feet striving with might and main to draw him away and calling loudly on the Trojans and Thrice did the two Aegexes clothed in valor as with a garment beat him off from off the body but all undaunted he would now charge into the sick of the fight and now again he would stand still and cry aloud but he would give no ground as upland shepherds that cannot chase some famished lion from a carcass even so could not the two Aegexes scare Hector, son of Priam, from the body of Patroclus and now he would even have dragged it off and have one imperishable glory had not Iris, fleet as the wind winged her way as messenger from Olympus to the son of Pilius and bid in him arm she came secretly without knowledge of Joven of the other gods Fortuno sent her and when she had got close to him she said up son of Pilius mightiest of all mine pint rescue Patroclus about whom this fearful fight is now raging by the ships men are killing one another the Danans in defense of the dead body while the Trojans are trying to hail it away and take it to win the Ilius Hector is the most furious of them all he is for cutting the head from the body and fixing it on the stakes of the wall up then and bite here no longer shrink from the thought that Patroclus may become meat for the dogs of Troi shame on you should his body suffer any kind of outrage and Achilles said Iris which of the gods was it that sent you to me Iris answered it was Juno the royal spouse of Joven but the son of Saturn does not know of my coming nor yet does any other of the immortals who dwell on the snowy summits of Olympus then fleet Achilles answered her saying how can I go up into the battle they have my armor my mother forbade me to arm till I should see her come for she promised to bring me goodly armor from Vulcan I know no man whose arms I can put on save only the shield of Ajax son of Telemann and he surely must be fighting in the front rank and wielding a spear about the body of that Patroclus Iris said we know that your armor has been taken but go as you are go to the deep trench and show yourself before the Trojans that they may fear you and seize fighting thus will the fainting sons of the Achaeans gain some brief breathing time which in battle may hardly be Iris left him when she had so spoken but Achilles, dear to Jove, arose and Minerva flung her tassled aegis round his strong shoulders she crowned his head with a halo of golden cloud from which he kindled a glow of gleaming fire as the smoke that goes up into heaven from some city that is being beleaguered on an island far out at sea all day long do men sally from the city and fight their hardest and at the going down of the sun the line of beacon fires blazes forth flaring high for those that dwell near them to behold if so be that they may come with their ships and succor them even so did the light flare from the head of Achilles as he stood by the trench going beyond the wall but he did not join the Achaeans for he heeded the charge which his mother laid upon him there did he stand and shout aloud Minerva also raised her voice from afar and spread terror unspeakable among the Trojans ringing as the note of a trumpet that sounds alarm when the foe is at the gates of a city even so Brazen was the voice of the son of Iacos and when the Trojans heard its clarion tones they were dismayed the horses turned back with their chariots for they bowed at mischief and the drivers were all struck by the steady flame which the grey-eyed goddess had kindled above the head of the great son of Pellis Thrice did Achilles raise his loud cry as he stood by the trench and Thrice were the Trojans and their brave allies thrown into confusion whereon twelve of their noblest champions fell beneath the wheels of their chariots and perished by their own spears the Achaeans to their great joy then drew Patrickus out of reach of the weapons and laid him on a litter his comrades stood mourning round him and among them fleet Achilles who wept bitterly as he saw his true comrade lying dead upon his beer he had sent him out with horses and chariots into battle but his return he was not too welcome then Juno sent the busy son Loth though he was into the waters of Oceanus so he set and the Achaeans had rest from the tug and turmoil of war now the Trojans when they had come out of the fight unyoke their horses and gathered in assembly before preparing their supper they kept their feet nor would any dare to sit down for fear had fallen upon them all because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof so long from battle Polydermus, son of Pantheris, was first to speak a man of judgment who alone among them could look both before and after he was comrade to Hector and they had been born upon the same night with all sincerity and goodwill therefore he addressed them thus look to it well my friends I would urge you to go back now to your city and not wait here by the ship till morning for we are far from our walls so long as this man was at enmity with Agamemnon the Achaeans were easier to deal with and I would have gladly camp by the ships in the hope of taking them but now I go in great fear of the fleet son of Palaeus he is so daring that he will never bite here on the plane where on the Trojans and Achaeans fight with equal Vela but he will try to storm our city and carry off our women do then as I say and let us retreat for this is what will happen the darkness of night will for a time stay the son of Palaeus but if he find us here in the morning when he sell his fourth in full armor we shall have knowledge of him in good earnest glad indeed will he be who can escape and get back to Ilius and many a Trojan will become meat for dogs and vultures may I never live to hear it if we do as I say little though we may like it we shall have strengthened council during the night and the great gates with the doors that close them will protect the city at dawn we can arm and take our stand on the walls he will then ru it if he sell his from the ships to fight us he will go back when he's given his horses their fill of being driven all with us under our walls and will be in no mind to try and force his way into the city neither will he ever second dog shall the varum ear he do so Hector looked fiercely at him and answered Pallidamus your words are not to my liking in that you bid us go back and be pent within the city have you not had enough of being cooped up behind walls in the old days the city of Priam was famous the whole world over for its wealth of gold and bronze but our treasures are wasted out of our houses and much goods have been sold away to Frigia and Fer Meonia for the hand of Jove has been laid heavily upon us now therefore that the son of scheming Sethan has vouched save me to win glory here and to hem the Achaeans in at their ships pray no more in this false wise among the people you will have no man with you it shall not be do all of you as I now say take your suppers in your companies throughout the host and keep your watches and be wakeful every man of you if any Trojan is uneasy about his possessions let him gather them and give them out among the people better let these rather than the Achaeans have them at daybreak we will arm and fight about the ships rounded that Achilles has again come forward to defend them let it be as he will but it shall go hard with him I shall not shun him but will fight him to fall or conquer the god of war deals out like measure to all and the slayer may yet be slain thus spoke Hector and the Trojans fools that they were shouted in applause for Palas Minerva had robbed them of their understanding they gave ear to Hector with his evil counsel but the wise words of politimus no man would heed they took their supper throughout the host and meanwhile through the whole night the Achaeans mourned Patrickus and the son of Palais let them in their lament he laid his murderous hands upon the breast of his comrade groaning again and again as a bearded lion when a man who was chasing deer has robbed him of his young in some dense forest when the lion comes back he is furious and searches Dingle and Dell to track the hunter if he can find him for his mad would rage even so with many assided Achilles speak among the mermenans saying alas vain were the words with which I cheered the hero Menicius in his own house I said that I would bring his brave son back again to Appius after he had sacked Ilius and taken a share of the spoils but Jo does not give all men their heart's desire the same soil shall be reddened here at Troy by the blood of his both for I too shall never be welcomed home by the old night Pellius nor by my mother Thyrus but even in this place shall the earth cover me nevertheless oh Patrickus now that I am left behind you I will not bury you till I have brought hither the head and armor of mighty Hector who is slain you twelve noble sons of Trojans while I behead before your beer to avenge you till I have done so you shall lie as you are by the ships and fair women of Troy and darkness whom we have taken with spear and strength of arm when we sacked men's goodly cities shall weep over you both night and day then Achilles told his men to set a large tripod upon the fire that they might wash the clotted gore from off Patrickus thereon they set a tripod full of bathwater onto a clear fire they threw sticks onto it to make it blaze and the water became hot as the flame played about the belly of the tripod when the water in the cauldron was boiling they washed the body anointed it with oil and closed its wounds with ointment that had been kept nine years then they laid it on a beer and covered it with a little cloth from head to foot and over this they laid a fair white robe thus all night long did the murmidants gather around Achilles to mourn Patrickus then Jov said to Juno his sister wife so Queen Juno you have gained your end and have roused fleet Achilles one would think that the Achaeans were of your own flesh and blood and Juno answered dread son of Saturn why should you say this thing may not a man though we be only mortal and knows less than we do do what he can for another person and shall not I for most of all goddesses both by descent and as wife to you who reign in heaven devise evil for the Trojans if I'm angry with them and thus did they converse meanwhile Theodos came to the house of Vulcan imperishable star bespangled fairest of the abodes in heaven a house of bronze wrought by the lame gods own hands she found him busy with his bellows sweating and hard at work for he was making 20 tripods that were to stand by the wall of his house and he set wheels of gold and done them all that they might go of their own selves the assemblies of the gods and come back again marvels indeed to see they were finished all but the ears of cunning workmanship which yet remained to be fixed to them easy was now fixing and it was hammering at the rivets while he was this at work silver-footed Theodos came to the house carousel of graceful headdress wife to the far famed lame god came towards her soon she saw her and took her hand on her own saying why have you come to her house Theodos honored and ever welcome for you do not visit us often come inside and let me set refreshment before you the goddess led the way as she spoke and made Theodos sit on a ritly decorated seat inlaid with silver there was a footstool also under her feet then she called Vulcan and said Vulcan come here Theodos wants you and the far famed lame god answered then it is indeed an august and honored goddess who has come here she it was that took care of me when I was suffering from the heavy fall which I had through my cruel mother's anger for she would have got rid of me because I was lame it would have gone hardly with me had not your enemy daughter of the ever encircling waters of oceanus and Cetus taken me to their bosom nine years that I stay with them and many beautiful works and bronze roaches spiral armlets cups and chains that I make for them in their cave with the roaring waters of oceanus foaming as they rushed ever past it and no one knew neither of gods nor man save only Cetus and your enemy who took care of me if then Cetus has come to my house I must make her jewelry quittle for having saved me entertain her therefore with all hospitality while I put by my bellows and all my tools on this the mighty monster hobbled off from his anvil his thin legs plying lustily under him he set the bellows away from the fire and gathered his tools into a silver chest then he took a sponge and washed his face and hands his shaggy chest and brawny neck he done this shirt grassed his strong staff and limped towards the door there were golden handmaids also who worked for him and were like real young women with sense and reason voice also and strength and all the learning of the immortals these visit themselves as the king bait them while he drew near to Cetus seated her upon a goodly seat and took her hand in his own saying why have you come to our house Cetus honored and ever welcome or you do not visit as often say what you want and I will do it for you at once if I can and if it can be done at all Cetus wept and answered Vulcan is there another goddess in Olympus whom the son of Saturn has been pleased to try with so much affliction as he has me me alone of the marine goddesses that he makes subject to a mortal husband Helios son of Iacus and sorely against my will did I submit to the embraces of one who was but mortal and who now stays at home worn out with age neither is this all heaven vouch saved me a son hero among heroes and he shot up as a sapling I tended him as a plant in a goodly garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans but never shall I welcome him back to the house of Palaeus so long as he lives to look upon the light of the sun he is in heaviness and though I go to him I cannot help him king Agamemnon has made him give up the maiden whom the sons of the Achaeans had awarded him and he wastes with sorrow for her sake then the Trojans hemmed the Achaeans in at their ships sterns and would not let them conforce the elders therefore of the archives besought Achilles and offered him great treasure whereon he refused to bring deliverance to them himself but put his own armor on Patroclus and sent him into the fight with much people after him all day long they fought by the skin gates and would have taken the city there and then had not Apollo vouch saved glory to Hector and slain the valiant son of Manitius after he done the Trojans much evil therefore I am suppliant at your knees if happily you may be pleased to provide my son whose end is near at hand with helmet and shield what goodly grieves fitted with ankle clasps and with a breastplate for he lost his own when his true comrade fell at the hands of the Trojans and he now lies stretched on earth in the bitterness of his soul and Vulcan answered take heart and be no more disquieted about this matter would that I could hide him from death's sight when his hour has come so surely as I can find him armor that shall amaze the eyes of all who beholded when he had so said he left her and went to his bellows turning them towards the fire and bidding them to their office 20 bellows blew upon the melting pots and they blew blasts of every kind some fears to help him when he had need of them and others less strong as Vulcan wielded in the course of his work he threw tough copper into the fire and tinned with silver and gold he set his great anvil on its block and with one hand grasped his mighty hammer while he took the tongs in the other first he shaped the shield so great and strong adorning it all over and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three layers and the Baldrick was made of silver he made the shield in five thicknesses and with many a wonder that is cunning hand and richard he wrought the earth the heavens and the sea the moon also at her full and the untiring sun with all the signs that glorify the face of heaven the planets the hyads huge orient and the bear which men also called the wane and which turns round ever in one place facing orient and alone never dips into the stream of oceanus he wrought also two cities fair to sea and busy with the home of men in the one were weddings and wedding feasts and they were going about the city with brides whom they were escorting by torchlight from their chambers loud rose the cry of hymen and the youths danced the music of flute and lyre while the women stood each at her house door to see them meanwhile the people were gathered in assembly for there was a quarrel and two men were wrangling about the blood money for a man who had been killed the one saying before the people that he had paid damages in full and the other that he had not been paid each was trying to make his own case good and the people took sides each man was backing the side that he had taken but the heralds kept them back and the eldest sat on their seats of stone in a solemn circle holding the staves which the heralds had put into their hands then they rose and each in his turn gave judgment and there were two talons laid down to be given to him whose judgment should be deemed the fairest about the other city they lay encamped two hosts in gleaming armor and they were divided whether to second or to spare it and accept the half of what it contained but the man of the city would not yet consent and armed themselves for a surprise their wives and little children kept guard upon the walls and with them were the men who were past fighting through age but the others sided forth with mars and palestinava at their head both of them rod in gold and clad in golden raiment grayed and fair with their armor as befitting gods while they that followed were smaller when they reached the place where they would lay their ambush it wasn't a riverbed to which livestock of all kinds would come from far and near to water here then they they concealed clad in full armor some way off them there were two scouts who were on the lookout for the coming of sheep or cattle which presently came followed by two shepherds who were playing on their pipes and have not so much as a thought of danger when those who were in ambush saw this they cut off the flocks and herds and killed the shepherds meanwhile the procedures when they heard much noise among the cattle as they sat in council sprang to their horses and made with all speed towards them when they reached them they sat battle in a raid by the banks of the river and the hosts aimed their bronze shot spears at one another with them was strife and riot and fell fate who was dragging three men after her one with a fresh wound and the other unwounded while the third was dead and she was dragging him along by his heel and the robe was bedravelled in man's blood they went in and out with one another and thought as though they were living people hailing away one another's dead he brought also a fair fellow field large and thrice plowed already many men were working at the plow within it turning their oxen to and fro furrow after furrow each time that they turned on reaching the headland a man would come up to them and give them a cup of wine and they would go back to their furrows looking forward to the time when they should again reach the headland the part that they plowed was dark behind them so that the field though it was of gold still looked as it were being plowed very curious to behold he brought also a field of harvest corn and the reapers were reaping with sharp sickles in their hands swath after swath fell to the ground in a straight line behind them and the binders bound them in bands of twisted straw there were three binders and behind them there were boys who gathered the cut corn and armfuls and kept on bringing them to be bound among them all the owner of the lands took by in silence and was glad the servants were getting a meal ready under an oak for they had sacrificed a great ox and were busy cutting them up while the women were making a porridge of much white barley for the laborer's dinner he brought also a vignette golden and fair to see and the vines were loaded with grapes the bunches overhead were black but the vines were trained on poles of silver he ran a ditch of dark metal all around it and fenced it with a fence of tin there was only one path to it and by this the vintages went when they would gather the vintage youths and maidens all blith and full of glee carried the luscious fruit and plated baskets and with them there went a boy who made sweet music with his lair and sang the lino song with his clear boyish voice he brought also a herd of horned cattle he made the cows of golden tin and they loat as they came full speed out of the yards to go and feed among the waving reeds that grow by the banks of the river along with the cattle there went four shepherds all of them in gold and at nine fleet dogs went with them two terrible lions had fastened on a bellowing bull that was with the full most cows and bellow as he might they hailed him while the dogs and men gave chase the lions tore through the bull's thick hide and were gorging on his blood and bowels but the herdsmen were afraid to do anything and only hounded on their dogs the dogs there knocked fast on the lions but stood by barking and keeping out of harm's way the god wrought also a pasture in a fair mountain dell and a large flock of sheep with a homestead and huts and sheltered sheepfolds furthermore he brought a green like that which Daedalus once made in crosses for lovely Ariadne he ran their danced youths and maidens whom all would woo with their hands on one another's wrists the maidens were roads of light linen and the youths well-woven shirts that were slightly oiled the girls were crowned with garlands while the young men had daggers of gold that hung by silver boldrics sometimes they would dance deftly in a ring with merry twinkling feet as it were a potter sitting as woke and making trial of his wheel to see whether it will run and sometimes they would go all in line with one another and much people was guarded joyously about the green there was a bard also to sing to them and play his lyre while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up with his tune all around the outermost rim of the shield he set the mighty stream of the river oceanus then when he had fashioned the shield so great and strong he made a breastplate also that shone brighter than fire he made a helmet close fitting to the brow and richly worked with a golden plume overhanging it and he made grieves also of beaten tin lastly when the famed lame god had made all the armor he took it and set it before the mother of Achilles whereon she darted like a falcon from the snowy summons of Olympus and bore away the gleaming armor from the house of falcon end of book 18 book 19 of the Iliad this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Gesine the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book 19 Achilles is reconciled with Agamemnon puts on the armor which valken had made him and goes out to fight now when dawn in robe of saffron was hasting from the streams of oceanus to bring light to mortals and immortals Cetus reached the ships with the armor that the god had given her she found her son fallen about the body of patroclus and weeping bitterly many also of his followers were weeping around him but when the goddess came among them she clasped his hand in her own saying my son grieve as we may we must let this man lie for it is by heaven's will that he has fallen now therefore except from valken this rich and goodly armor which no man has ever yet borne upon his shoulders as she spoke she set the armor before Achilles and it rang out bravely as she did so the murmurans were struck with awe at none dared look full at it for they were afraid but Achilles was roused to still greater fury and his eyes gleamed with a fierce light for he was glad when he handled the splendid present which the god had made him then as soon as he had satisfied himself with looking at it he said to his mother mother the god has given me armor meet handiwork for an immortal and such as no one living could have fashioned i will now arm but i much fear that flies will settle upon the son of menowicious and breed worms about his wounds so that his body now he is dead will be disfigured and the flesh will rot silver footed cetus answered my son be not disquieted about this matter i will find means to protect him from the swarms of noisome flies that pray on the bodies of men who have been killed in battle he may lie for a whole year and his flesh shall still be sounder's ever or even sounder call therefore the achian heroes in assembly unsay your anger against agamemnon armored once and fight with might and main as she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart and she then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the ruins of patroclus that his body might suffer no change then achilles went out upon the seashore and with a loud cry called on the achian heroes on this even those who as yet had stayed away always at the ships the pilots and helmsmen and even the stewards who were about the ships and served out rations all came to the place of assembly because achilles had shown himself after having held aloft so long from the fighting two sons of mars helices and the son of today's came limping for their wounds still pained them nevertheless they came and took their seats in the front row of the assembly last of all came agamemnon king of men he too wounded for kooned son of antonore had struck him with a spear in battle when the achians were got together achilles rose and said son of atreus surely it would have been better like for both you and me when we too weren't such high anger about briseus sure it would have been better had diana's arrows slain her at the ships on the day when i took her after having sacked leonesses for so many in achian the less would have bitten dust before the foe in the days of my anger it has been well for hector and the trojans but the achians will long indeed remember our quarrel now however let it be for it is over if we have been angry necessities schooled our anger i put it from me i dare not nest it forever therefore with the achians armed forthwith that i may go out against the trojans and learn whether they will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no glad i wean will he be to rest his knees who may fly my spear when i wield it thus did he speak and the achians rejoiced in that he had put away his anger then agamemnon spoke rising in his place and not going into the middle of the assembly the nane heroes said he servants of mars it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak and it is not seemly to interrupt him or it will go hard even with a practised speaker who can either hear or speak in an uproar even the finest orator will be disconcerted by it i would expound to the sound of paleos and do you other achians heed me and mark me well often have the achians spoken to me of this matter and upgraded me but it was not i that did it drove and fate and erinis that walks and darkness struck me mad when we were assembled on the day that i took from achilles the mead that had been awarded to him what could i do all things are in the hand of heaven and folly eldest of joe's daughters shuts men's eyes to their destruction she walks delicately not on the solid earth but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or to ensnare them time was when she fooled joe himself who they say is greatest whether of gods or men for juno woman that she was beguiled him on the day when alchmina was to bring forth mighty hockleys in the fair city of thebes he told it out among the gods saying hear me all gods and goddesses that i may speak even as i am minded this day shallan illisuya helper of women who are in labor bring a man child into the world who shall be lord overall that dwell about him who are of my blood and lineage then said juno all crafty and full of guile you will play false and will not hold to your word swear me o olympian swear me a great oath that he who shall this day fall between the feet of a woman shall be lord overall that dwell about him who are of your blood and lineage thus she spoke and joe suspected her not but swore the great oath to his much ruin thereafter for juno darted down from the high summit of olympus and went in haste to acian argos where she knew that the noble wife of stenolus son of perseus then was she being with child and in her seventh month juno brought the child to birth though there was a month still wanting but she stayed the offspring of alchmina and kept back the illisuya then she went to tell joe the son of satan and said father joe lord of the lightning i have a word for your ear there was a fine child born this day here is theus son to stenolus the son of perseus he is of julinage it is well therefore that he should reign over the argos on this joe was stung to the very quick and in his rage he caught folly by the hair and swore a great oath that never should she again invade starry heaven and olympus for she was the bane of all then he whirled around with the twist of his hand and flung her down from heaven so that she fell onto the fields of mortal men and he was ever angry with her when he saw his son groaning under the cruel labours that urus seos laid upon him even so did i grieve when mighty hector was killing the argives at their ships and all the time i kept thinking of folly who had so bane me i was blind and joe robbed me of my reason i will now make atonement and would add much treasure by way of amends go therefore into battle you and your people with you i will give you all that ulysses offered you yesterday in your tents or if it's so please you wait though you would vain fight at once and my squire shall bring the gifts from my ship that you may see whether what i give you is enough and achilles answered son of atreus king of men agamemnon you can give such gifts as you think proper or you can withhold them it is in your own hands let us now set battle in array it is not well to tarry talking about trifles for there is a deed which is as yet to do achilles shall again be seen fighting among the foremost and laying low the ranks of the trojans bear this in mind each one of you when he is fighting then ulysses said achilles godlike and brave sent not the achaeans thus against ileus to fight the trojans fasting for the battle will be no brief one when it is once begun and heaven has filled both sides with fury with them first to take food both bread and wine by the ships for in this there is strength and stay no man can do battle the live long day to the going down of the sun if he is without food however much he may want to fight his strength will fail him before he knows it hunker and thirst will find him out and his limbs will grow weary under him but a man can fight all day if he is full fed with meat and wine his heart beats high and his strength will stay till he has routed all his foes therefore sends people away and bid them prepare their meal King Agamemnon will bring out the gifts in presence of the assembly that all may see them and you may be satisfied moreover let him swear an oath before the archives that he has never gone up into the couch of briseus nor been with her after the manner of men and women and do you too show yourself of a gracious mind let Agamemnon entertain you in his tents with a feast of reconciliation that so you may have had your dues in full as for you son of Atreus treat people more righteously in future it is no disgrace even to a king that he should make amends if he was wrong in the first instance and King Agamemnon answered son of laertes your words please me well for throughout you have spoken wisely i will swear as you will have me do i do so of my own free will neither shall i take the name of heaven in vain let then Achilles wait so he would faint fight at once and do your others wait also till the gifts come from my tent and we ratify the oath with sacrifice thus then do i charge you take some noble younger Keyens with you and bring from my tents the gifts that i promised yesterday to Achilles and bring the women also further more let tell Sibius find me a bore from those that are with the host and make it ready for sacrifice to Jove and to the sun then said Achilles son of Atreus king of men Agamemnon see to these matters at some other season when there is breathing time and when i am calmer would you have men eat while the bodies of those whom Hector son of Priam slew are still lying mangled upon the plane let the sons of the Achaeans say i fight fasting and without food till we have avenged them afterwards at the going down of the sun let them eat their fill as for me Petroclus is lying dead in my tent all hacked and hewn with his feet to the door and his comrades are mourning around him therefore i can take sort of nothing save only slaughter and blood and the rattle in the throat of the dying Ulysses answered Achilles son of Palaeus mightiest of all the Achaeans in battle you are better than i and that more than a little but in council i am much before you for i am older and of greater knowledge therefore be patient under my words fighting is a thing of which men soon surfeit and when Jove who is wars steered weighs the upshot it may well prove that the straw which our sickles have reaped is far heavier than the grain it may not be that the Achaeans should mourn the dead with their bellies day by day men fall sick and three fold continually when should we have respite from our sorrow let us mourn our dead for a day and bury them out of sight and mind but let those of us who are left eat and drink that we may arm and fight our foes more fiercely in that hour let no man hold back waiting for a second summons such summons shall bode ill for him who is found lagging behind at our ships let us rather sally as one man and lose the fury of war upon the Trojans when he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor with megas son of Phileus so as marionese like amides son of creyantis and melanopus and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus the word was not sooner said than the deed was done they brought out the seven tripods which Agamemnon has promised with the 20 metal cauldrons and the 12 horses they also brought the women skilled in useful arts seven in number with preseus which made eight Ulysses weighed out the 10 talents of gold and then led the way back while the younger Keyans brought the rest of the gifts and laid them in the middle of the assembly Agamemnon then rose and talcibius whose voice was like that of a god came to him with a bore the son of Atreus drew the knife which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword and began by cutting off some bristles from the bore lifting up his hands in prayer as he did so the other Keyans sat where they were all silent and orderly to hear the king and Agamemnon looked into the vault of heaven and prayed saying I call jove the first and mightiest of all gods to witness I call also earth and sun and the irinias who dwell below and to take vengeance on him who shall swear falsely that I have laid no hand upon the girl brisay's neither to take her to my bed nor otherwise but that she has remained in my tense inviolate if I square falsely may heaven visit me with all the penalties which it meets out to those who purge themselves he cuts the bore's throat as he spoke where on talcibius worlded around his head and flung it into the wide sea to feed the fishes then the killies also rose and said to the our guys father jove of a truth you blind man's eyes and bane them the son of atreus has not else stirred me to so fierce an anger nor so stubbornly taking brisay's from me against my will surely jove must have cancelled the destruction of many an archive go now and take your food that we may begin fighting on this he broke up the assembly and every man went back to his own ship the mermidans attended to the presence and took them away to the ship of achilles they placed them in his tents while the stable men drove the horses in among the others brisay's fair as venus when she saw the mangled body of patroclus flung herself upon it and cried aloud tearing her breast her neck and her lovely face with both her hands beautiful as a goddess she wept and said patroclus dearest friend when i went hence i left you living i return no prince to find you dead thus do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one after the other i saw him to whom my father and mother married me cut down before our city and my three own dear brothers perished with him on the self same day but you patroclus even when achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble minis told me that i was not to weep for you said you would make achilles marry me and take me back with him to persia we should have a wedding feast among the mermidans you were always kind to me and i shall never cease to grieve for you she wept as she spoke and the women joined in her lament making as though their tears were for patroclus but in truth each was weeping for her own sorrows the elders of the achilles gathered round achilles and prayed him to take food but he groaned and would not do so i pray you said he if any comrade will hear me bid me neither eat nor drink for i am in great heaviness and will stay fasting even to the going down of the sun on this he sent the other princes away save only for the two sons of atreus and ulysses nestor and eduminaeus and the knight phoenix who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of his sorrow but he would not be comforted till he should have flung himself into the jaws of battle and he fetched sigh on sigh thinking ever of patroclus then he said hapless and dearest comrade you it was who would get a good dinner ready for me at once and without delay when the achaeans were hasting to fight the trojans now therefore though i have meat and drink in my tents yet will i fast for sorrow grief greater than this i could not know not even though i were to hear of the death of my father who is now in psia weeping for the loss of me his son who am here fighting the trojans in a strange land for the accursed sake of helen nor yet though i should hear that my son is no more he who is being brought up in skyros if indeed neoptolomus is still living till now i made sure that i alone was to fall here atroi away from argos while you were to return to psia bring back my son with you in your own ship and show him all my property my bondsman and the greatness of my house for peleus must truly be either dead or what little life remains to him is oppressed alike with the infirmities of age and ever present fear lest you should hear the sad tidings of my death he wept as he spoke and the elders sighed in concert as each thought on what he had left at home behind him the son of satan looked down was pity upon them and said presently to minerva my child you have quite deserted your hero is he then gone so clean out of your recollection there he sits by the ships all desolate for the loss of his dear comrade and though the others are gone to their dinner he will neither eat nor drink go then and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast that he may know no hunger with these words he urged minerva who was already of the same mind she darted down from heaven into the air like some falcon sailing on his broad wings and screaming meanwhile the achaeans were arming throughout the host and when minerva had dropped nectar and ambrosia into achilles so that no cruel hunger should cause his limbs to fail him she went back to the house of her mighty father sick as the chilled snowflakes shed from the hand of drove and born on the keen blasts of the north wind even so sick did the gleaming helmets the bost shields and the strongly plated breast plates and the ashen spears streamed from the ships the sheen pierced the sky the whole land was radiant with their flashing armor and the sound of the tramp of their treading rose from under their feet in the midst of them all achilles put on his armor he gnashed his teeth his eyes gleamed like fire for his grief was greater than he could bear thus then full of fury against the trojans did he don the gift of the god the armor that valken had made him first he put on the goodly greaves fitted with ankle clasps and next he did on the breastplate about his chest his lung the silver studded sword of bronze about his shoulders and then took up the shield so great and strong that tron afar with the splinters of the moon and the light seen by sailors from out at sea when men have lit a fire in their homestead high up among the mountains but the sailors are carried out to sea by wind and storm far from the haven where they would be even so did the gleam of achilles wondrous shield strike up into the heavens he lifted the redoubtable helmet and set it upon his head from whence it shone like a star and the golden plumes which valken had set sick upon the ridge of the helmet waved all around it then achilles made trial of himself in his armor to see whether it fitted him so that his limbs could play freely under it and it seemed to boy him up as though it had been wings he also drew his father's spear out of the spear stand the spear so great and heavy and strong that none of the achians save only achilles had strength to wield it this was the spear of pelion ash from the topmost ridges of mount pelion which kairon had once given to pilaeus fraught with the death of heroes automadan and alchemists busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses they made the bands fast about them and put the bit in their mouths drawing the rain back towards the chariot automadan whip in hand sprang up behind the horses and after him achilles mounted in full armor resplendent as the sun god hyperion then with a loud voice he chided with his father's horses saying zanzis and baleus famed offspring of padagi this time when we have done fighting be sure and bring your driver safely back to the host of the achians and do not leave him dead on the plane as he did petroclus then fleet zanzis answered under the yoke for white armed juno had endowed him with human speech and he bowed his head till his mane touched the ground as it hung down from under the yoke band dread achilles said he we will indeed save you now but the day of your death is near and the blame will not be ours for it will be heaven and stern fate that will destroy you neither was it through any sloths or slackness on our part that the trojans stripped petroclus of his armor it was the mighty god whom lovely leto bore that slew him as he fought among the foremost and vouchsafed a triumph to hector we took and fly as swiftly as zephyrus who they say is fleet of all winds nevertheless it is your doom to fall by the hand of a man and of a god when he had thus said the orinus stayed his speech and achilles answered him in great sadness saying why is zanzis do you thus foretell my death you need not do so for i well know that i'm to fall here far from my dear father and mother none the more however shall i stake my hand until i have given the trojans their fill of fighting so saying with a loud cry he drove his horses to the front end of book 19 read by gazine in march 2007 book 20 of the iliad this is a leber vox recording all leber vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit leber vox.org the iliad by homer translated by samuel butler book 20 achilles fights anias the gods hold a council and determined to watch the fight from the hill at calicoloni and the barrel of hercules a fight between achilles and anias is interrupted by neptune who saves anias achilles kills many trojans thus then did the keans armed by their ships round you o son of palaeus who were hungering for battle while the trojans over against them armed upon the rise of the plane meanwhile joe from the top of many dildolympus paid themus gathered the gods in council whereon she went about and called them to the house of joe there was not a river absent except oceanus nor single one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves or springs of rivers and meadows of grain grass when they reached the house of cloud compelling joe they took their seats in the arcades of polished marble which vulcan with his consummate skill had made for father joe in such wise therefore did they gather in the house of joe neptune also lord of the earthquake obeyed the call of the goddess and came up out of the sea to join them there sitting in the midst of them he asked what joe's purpose might be why said he wielder of the lightning have you called the gods in council are you considering some batter that concerns the trojans and akeans for the blaze of battle is on the point of being kindled between them and joe answered you know my purpose shaker of earth and wherefore i have called you hither i take thought for them even in their destruction for my own part i shall stay here seated on mount olympus and look on in peace but do you others go about among trojans and akeans and help either side as you may be severally disposed if akeli's fights the trojans without hindrance they will make no stand against him they have ever trembled at the sight of him and now that he is roused to such fury about his comrade he will override fate itself and storm their city the spoke joe and gave the word for war where on the gods took their several sides and went into battle juno palace minerva earth encircling neptune mercury bringer of good luck and excellent and all cunning all these joined the host that came from the ships with them also came vulcan in all his glory limping but yet with his thin legs plying lustily under him mars of gleaming helmet joined the trojans and with him a palo of locks on shorn and the archer goddess diana leto xanthus and laughter loving venus so long as the gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors the akeans were triumphant for achilles who had long refused to fight was now with them there was not a trojan but his limbs failed him for fear as he beheld this fleet son of paleus all glorious in his armor and looking like mars himself when however the olympians came to take their part among men forthwith upro strong strife rouser of hosts and minerva raised her loud voice now standing by the deep trench that ran outside the wall and now shouting with all her might upon the shore of the sounding sea mars also bellowed out upon the other side dark as some black thunder cloud and called on the trojans at the top of his voice now from the acropolis and now speeding up the side of the river simoas till he came to the hill calicoloni thus did the gods spur on both hosts to fight and rouse fierce contention among themselves the sire of gods and men thundered from heaven above while from beneath neptune shook the vast earth and bade the high hills tremble the spurs and crests of many fountain dyda quaked also the city of the trojans and the ship of the achaeans hades king of the realms below was struck with fear he sprang panic stricken from his throne and cried aloud in terror less neptune lord of the earthquake should crack the ground over his head and lay bare his moldy mansions to the site of mortals and immortals mansions so ghastly grim that even the gods shudder to think of them such was the uproar as the gods came together in battle apollo with his arrows took his stand to face king neptune while minerva took hers against the god of war the archer goddess diana with her golden arrows sister of far darting apollo stood to face juno mercury the lusty bringer of good luck faced leto while the mighty eddying river who men call scamander but god xanthus matched himself against vulcan the gods then were thus ranged against one another but the heart of achilles was set on meeting hector son of pream for it was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut the stubborn lord of battle meanwhile apollo said aneus on to attack the son of paleus and put courage into his heart speaking with the voice of lycaeon son of pream in his likeness therefore he said to aneus aneus counselor of the trojans where are now the brave words with which you've wanted over your wine before the trojan princes saying that you would fight Achilles son of paleus in single combat aneus answered why do you thus bid me to fight the proud son of paleus when i am in no mind to do so were i to face him now it would not be for the first time his spear has already put me to write from ida when he attacked our cattle and sacked lernesis and pettisus jove indeed saved me in that he vouchsafed me strength to fly else had the fallen by the hands of achilles and menerva who went before him to protect him and urged him to fall upon the ligue and trojans no man may fight achilles for one of the gods is always with him as his guardian angel and even were it not so his weapon flies ever straight and fails not to pierce the flesh of him who was against him if heaven would let me fight him on even terms he should not soon overcome me though he boasts that he is made of bronze then said king apollo son to jove nay hero pray to the everliving gods for men say that you were born of joe's daughter venus whereas achilles is son to a goddess of inferior rank venus is child to jove while thetus is but daughter to the old man of the sea bring therefore your spear to bear upon him and let him not scare you with his taunts and menaces as he spoke he put courage into the heart of the shepherd of his people and he strode in full armor among the ranks of the foremost fighters nor did the son of ancaisis escaped the notice of white armed juno as he went forth into the throng to meet achilles she called the gods about her and said look to it you two neptune in manurva and consider how this shall be feebus apollo has been sending an eus clad in full armor to fight achilles shall we turn him back at once or shall one of us stand by achilles and endow him with strength so that his heart fail not and he may learn that the chiefs of immortals are on his side while the others who have all along been defending the trojans are but vain helpers let us all come down from olympus and join in the fight that this day he may take no hurt at the hands of the trojans hereafter let him suffer whatever fate may have spun out for him when he was begotten and his mother bore him if achilles be not thus assured by the voice of a god he may come to fia presently when one of us meets him in battle for the gods are terrible if they are seen face to face neptune lord of the earthquake answered her saying juno restrain your fury it is not well i am not in favor of forcing the other gods to fight us but the advantage is too greatly on our own side let us take our places on some hill out of the beaten track and let mortals fight it out amongst themselves if mars or feebus apollo begin fighting or keep achilles in check so that he cannot fight we too will at once raise the cry of battle and in that case they will soon leave the field and go back vanquish to olympus among the other gods with these words the dark haired god led the way to the high earth barrow of hercules built round solid masonry and made by the trojans and palace manurva for him to fly when the sea monster was chasing him from the shore up onto the plane here neptune and those that were with him took their seats wrapped in a thick cloud of darkness but the other god seated themselves in the brow of calcoloni round you will feebus and mars the waster of cities thus did the gods sit apart and form their plans but neither side was willing to begin battle with the other and joe from his seat on high was in command over them all meanwhile the whole plane was alive with men and horses and blazing with the gleam of armor the earth rang again under the tramp of their feet as they rushed towards each other and two champions by far the foremost of them all met between the hosts to fight anus son of ancaisis and noble achilles anus was first to stride forward in the attack his dowdy helmet tossing defiance as he came on he held his strong shield before his breast and brandished his bronze spear the son of paleus from the other side sprang forth to meet him like some fierce lion that the whole countryside has met to hunt and kill at first he bodes no ill but when some daring youth has struck him with a spear he crouched his open mouth his jaws foamed he roars with fury he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs and loins and glares as he springs straight before him to find out whatever he is to slay or be slain among the foremost of his foes even what such fury did achilles burn to spring upon anus when they were now close up with one another achilles was first to speak anus he said why do you stand thus out before the host to fight me is it that you hope to reign over the trojans in the ceta priam nay though you will kill me priam will not hand his kingdom over to you he is a man of sound judgment and he has sons of his own or have the trojans been allotting you a demesnae of passing richness fair with orchard lawns and corn lands if you should slay me this you shall hardly do i have disconfident you once already have you forgotten how when you were alone i chased you from your herds held a skelter down the slopes of ida you did not turn round to look behind you you took refuge in larnesis but i attacked the city and with the help of manurva and father jove i sacked it and carried its women into captivity though jove and the other gods rescued you you think they will protect you now but they will not do so therefore i say go back into the host and do not face me or you will ruin it even a fool may be wise after the event then anus answered son of palius think not that your words can scare me as though i were a child i too if i will can brag and talk unseemly we know when another's race and parentage has matters of common fame though neither have you ever seen my parents nor are yours men say that you are son to noble palius and that your mother is thetis fair-haired daughter of the sea i have noble and kyces for my father and venus for my mother the parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son for it will be more than silly talk that shall part us when this fight is over learn then my lineage if you will and it is known to many in the beginning dardinus was the son of jove and founded dardania for ilius was not yet established on the plane for men to dwell in and her people still abode on the spurs of many fountain dida dardinus had a son king ericthonius who was the wealthiest of all men living he had three thousand mares that fed by the water meadows they and their foals with them borius was enamored of them as they were feeding and covered them in the semblance of a dark main stallion twelve philly foals did they conceive and bear him and these as they sped over the rich plane would go bounding on over the ripe years of corn and not break them or again when they would deport themselves on the broad back of ocean they could gallop on the crest of a breaker ericthonius beget tross king of the trojans and tross had three noble sons illus a saracus and ganymede who was the cumulus of mortal men wherefore the gods carried him off to the jobe's cover for his beauty's sake that he might dwell among the immortals illus beget leomidon and leomidon beget tithonius priam lamthus clidius and heiketeon of the stock of mares but a saracus was father to capes and capes to encaices who was my father while hector his son to priam so i do clear my blood and lineage but as for valor jove gives it or takes it as he will for he is lord of all and now let there be no more of this prating in mid battle as though we were children we could flink taunts without end at one another a hundred or galley would not hold them the tongue can run all withers and talk all wise it can go here and there and as a man says so shall he be gained said what is the use of our bandying hard like women who when they fall foul of one another go out and wrangle in the streets one half true in the other lies as rage inspires them no words of yours shall turn me now that i am feigned to fight therefore let us make trial of one another with our spears as he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield of achilles which rang out as the point struck it the son of paleus held the shield before him with a strong hand and he was afraid for he deemed aneus's spear would go through it quite easily not reflecting that the god's glorious gifts were little likely to yield before the blows of mortal men and indeed aneus spear did not pierce the shield for the layer of gold gift of the god stayed the point it went through two layers but the god had made the shield in five two of bronze the two innermost ones of tin and one of gold it was in this that the spear was stayed achilles in his turn through and struck the round shield of aneus at the very edge where the bronze was thinnest the spear of paleon ash went clean through and the shield rang under the blow aneus was afraid and crouched backwards holding the shield away from him the spear however flew over his back and struck quivering in the ground after having gone through both circles of the sheltering shield aneus though he had avoided the spear stood still blinded with fear and grief because the weapon had gone so near him then achilles sprang furiously upon him with a cry as of death and with his keen blade drawn and aneus seized a great stone so huge that two men as men now are would be unable to lift it but aneus wielded it quite easily aneus would have then struck achilles as it was springing towards him either on the helmet or on the shield that covered him and achilles would have closed with him and dispatched him with his sword had not neptune lord of the earthquake been quick to mark and said forthwith to the immortals alas i am sorry for great aneus for who will now go down to the house of hades vanquished by the son of paleus fool that he was to give ear to the council of apollo apollo will never save him from destruction why should this man suffer when he is guiltless to no purpose in another's quarrel has he not at all times offered acceptable sacrifice to the gods that dwell in heaven let us then snatch him from death's jaws lest the son of satan be angry should achilles lay him it is fated more over that he should escape and that the race of darkness whom joe loved above all the sons born to him of mortal women shall not perish utterly without seed or sign for now indeed has joe hated the blood of priam while aneus shall reign over the trojans he and his children's children that shall be born hereafter then answered you know earth shaker look to this matter yourself and consider concerning aneus whether you will save him or suffer him brave though he be to fall by the hand of achilles son of paleus for of a truth we too i in palace manorva have sworn full many a time before all the immortals that never would we shield trojans from destruction not even when all Troy is burning in the flames that the achians shall kindle when earth encircling Neptune heard this he went into the battle amid the clash of spears and came to the place where achilles and neus were forthwith he shed a darkness before the eyes of the son of paleus drew the bronze headed ash and spear from the shield of aneus and laid it at the feet of achilles then he lifted aneus on high from off the earth and hurried him away over the heads of many a band of warriors both horse and foot did he soar as the gods hand spent him till he came to the very fringe of the battle where the cauconians were arming themselves for fight Neptune shaker of earth then came near him and said aneus what god has egged you on to this folly in fighting the son of paleus who is both a mightier man of valor and more beloved of heaven than you are give way before him once whoever you meet him lest you go down to the house of hades even though fate would have it otherwise when achilles is dead you may then fight among the foremost undaunted for none other of the achians shall slay you the god left him when he had given him these instructions and at once removed the darkness from before the eyes of achilles who opened them wide indeed and said in great anger alas what marvel am i now beholding here is my spear upon the ground but i see not him who i meant to kill when i hurled it of a truth aneus also must be under heaven's protection although i had thought his boasting was idle let him go hang he will be in no mood to fight me further seeing how narrowly his miss being killed i will now give my orders to the denians and attack some other of the trojans he sprang forward along the line and cheered his men on as he did so let not the trojans he cries keep you at arm's length the key ins but go for them and fight them man for man however valiant i may be i cannot give chase to so many and fight all of them even mars who is an immortal or minerva would shrink from flinging himself into the jaws of such a fight and laying about him nevertheless so far as in me lies i will show no slackness of hand nor foot nor want of endurance nor even for a moment i will utterly break their ranks and woe to the trojan who shall venture within reach of my spear thus did he exhort them meanwhile hector called upon the trojans and declared that he would fight achilles be not afraid proud trojans said he to face the son of paleus i could fight gods myself if the battle were one of words only but there would be more than a match from me if we had to use our spears even so the deed of achilles will fall somewhere short of his word he will do in part and the other part he will clip short i will go up against him though his hands be as fire though his hands be as fire and his strength of iron thus urged the trojans lifted up their spears against the achians and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves into the midst of their ranks but feebus apollo came up to hector and said hector on no account much you challenge achilles to single combat keep a lookout for him when you are undercover of the others and away from the thick of the fight otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down at close quarters thus he spoke and hector drew back within the crowd for he was afraid when he heard what the god had said to him achilles then sprang upon the trojans with a terrible cry clothed in valor as with a garment first to kill defidean son of atrentius a leader of much people whom an aiad nymph had born to atrentius waster of cities in the land of heidi under the snowy heights of mount tamales achilles struck him full on the head as he was coming towards him and split it clean in two whereon he fell heavily to the ground and achilles vaunted over him saying be low son of atrentius mighty hero your death is here but your lineas is on the gaegean lake where your father's estate lies by hilas rich in fish and the eddying waters of hermos thus did evaunt but darkness closed the eyes of the other the chariots of the keyans cut him up as their wheels passed over him in the front of battle and after him achilles killed demolian a valiant man of war and son to antonore he struck him on the temple through his bronze cheeked helmet the helmet did not stay the spear but it went right on crushing the bone so that the brain inside was shed in all directions and his lust of fighting was ended then he struck him a damus in the midriff as he was springing down from his chariot in front of him and trying to escape he breathed his last bellowing like a bull bellows when young men are dragging him to offer him in sacrifice to the king of helikey and the heart of the earth shaker is glad even so did he bellow as he lay dying achilles then went in pursuit of palidoris son of priam whom his father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest of his sons the one he loved best and the fastest runner he and his follow and showing off the fleetness of his feet was rushing about among front ranks until he lost his life for Achilles struck him in the middle of the back as he was darting past him he struck him just at the golden fastenings of his belt and where the two pieces of the double breastplate overlapped the point of the spear pierced him through and came out by the navel whereon he fell groaning onto his knees in a cloud of darkness overshadowed him as he sank holding his entrails in his hands when hector saw his brother palidoris with his entrails in his hands and sinking down upon the ground a mist came over his eyes and he could not bear to keep longer the distance he therefore poised his spear and darted toward Achilles like a flame of fire when Achilles saw him he bounded forward and vaunted saying this is he that has wounded my heart most deeply and has slain my beloved comrade not for long shall we too quail before one another on the highways of war he looked fiercely on hector and said draw near that you may meet your doom the sooner hector feared him not and answered son of palius think not that your words can scare me as though i were a child i too if i will can brag and talk unseemly i know that you are a mighty warrior might hear by far than i nevertheless the issue lies in the lap of heaven whether i worse man though i be may not slay you with my spear for this too has been found keen air now he hurled his spear as he spoke but menerva breathed upon it and though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from going towards Achilles so that it returned to hector and lay at his feet in front of him Achilles then sprang furiously on him with a loud cry bent on killing him but apollo caught him up easily as a god can and hit him in a thick darkness thrice did Achilles spring towards him spear in hand and thrice did he waste his blow upon the air when he rushed forward for the fourth time as though he were a god he shouted aloud saying hound this time too you have a skig death but of a truth it came exceedingly near you feebus apollo to whom it seems you pray before you go into battle has again saved you but if i too have any friends among the gods i will surely make an end of you when i come across you at some other time now however i will pursue and overtake other trojans on this he struck dry up to the spear about the middle of his neck and he fell headlong at his feet there he let him lie and stayed to malkus son of filior a man both brave and of great stature by hitting on the knee with the spear then he smote him with his sword and killed him after this he sprang on leogonus and dardanus son of bias and threw them from their chariot the one with a blow from a thrown spear while the other he cut down in hand to hand fight there was also tross the son of alastor he came up to achilles and clasped his knees in the hope that he would spare him and not kill him but let him go because they were both of the same age fool he might have known that he should not prevail with him for the man was in no mood for pity or forbearance but was in grim earnest therefore when tross laid hold of his knees and sought a hearing for his prayers achilles drove his sword into his liver and the liver came rolling out while his bosom was all covered with the black blood that welled from the wound thus did death close his eyes as he lay lifeless achilles then went up to maleus and struck him on the ear with a spear and the bronze spearhead came right out through the other ear he also struck ecocluse son of agonore on the head with a sword which became warm with the blood while death and stern fate closed the eyes of ecocluse next in order the bronze point of his spear wounded dukeleon in the forearm where the sinews of the elbow are united where on he awaited achilles onset with his arm hanging down and death staring him in the face achilles cut his head off with a blow from his sword and flung a helmet in all away from him and the marrow came oozing out of his backbone as he lay he then went in pursuit of rigmus noble son of paris who had come from fertile thrace and struck him through the middle with a spear which fixed itself in his belly so that he fell headlong from his chariot he also spear deriithus squire to rigmus in the back as he was turning with horses in flight and thrust him from his chariot while the horses were struck with panic as a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought and the dense forest is in a blaze while the wind carries great tongues of fire in every direction even so furiously did achilles rage wielding his spear as though he were a god and giving chase to those whom he would slay till the dark earth ran with blood or as one who yolks broad brat oxen that they may tread barley in a threshing floor and it is soon bruised small under the feet of the lowing cattle even so do the horses of achilles trample on the shields in the bodies of the slain the axle underneath and the railing that ran round the car were bespattered with clots of blood thrown up by the horses hooves and from the tires of the wheels but the son of paleus pressed on to win still further glory and his hands were bedravelled with gore end of book 20 recording by entropy visit me at myspace.com forward slash side door book 21 of the iliad this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org recording by leon meyer the iliad by homer translated by samuel butler book 21 the fight between achilles and the rivers commander the gods fight among themselves achilles drives the trojans within their gates now when they came to the ford of the full flowing rivers anthus be gotten of immortal jove achilles cut their forces in two one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the achilles had taken when flying panic stricken on the proceeding day with hector and full triumph this way did they fly pal mel and juno sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them the other half were hemmed in by the deep silver eddying stream and fell into it with a great uproar the waters resounded and the banks rang again as they swim hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies as locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire the flame comes on and on till it lasted over takes them and they huddle into the water even so was the eddying stream of xanthus filled with the uproar of men and horses all struggling in confusion before achilles forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank leaning it against a tamarisk bush and plunged into the river like a god armed with his sword only fell was his purpose as he hewed the trojans down on every side their dying groans rose hideous as the sword smote them and the river ran red with blood as when fish fly scared before a huge dolphin and fill every nook and corner of some fair haven for he is sure to eat all he can catch even so did the trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river and when achilles arms grew weary with killing them he drew twelve youths alive out of the water to sacrifice in revenge for patroclus son of munitius he drew them out like dazed fawns found their hands behind them with the girdles of their own shirts and gave them over to his men to take back to the ships then he sprang into the river thirsting for still further blood there he found like kaon son of prime seed of darkness as he was escaping out of the water he it was whom he had once taken prisoner when he was in his father's vineyard having set upon him by night as he was cutting young shoots from a wild fig tree to make the wicker sides of a chariot achilles then caught him to his sorrow unawares and sent him by sea to lemnos where the son of jason bought him but a guest friend ietian of embrace freed him with a great sum and sent him to orizby whence he had escaped and returned to his father's house he had spent eleven days happily with his friends after he'd come from lemnos but on the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of achilles who was to send him to the house of hades sorely against his will he was unarmed when achilles caught side of him and had neither helmet nor shield nor yet had he any spear for he had thrown all his armor from him onto the bank and was sweating with his struggles to get out of the river so that his strength was now failing him then achilles said to himself in his surprise what marvel do i see here if this man can come back alive after having been sold over into lemnos i shall have the trojans also whom i have slain rising from the world below could not even the waters of the gray sea imprison him as they do many another whether he will or not this time let him taste my spear that i may know for certain whether mother earth who can keep even a strong man down will be able to hold him or whether thence too he will return thus did he pause and ponder but like kaon came up to him dazed and trying hard to embrace his knees for he would feign live not die achilles thrusted him with his spear meaning to kill him but like kaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees whereby the spear passed over his back and stuck in the ground hungering though it was for blood with one hand he caught achilles knees as he besought him and with the other he clutched the spear and would not let it go then he said achilles have mercy upon me and spare me for i am your suppliant it was in your tents that i first broke bread on the day when you took me prisoner in the vineyard after which you sold me away to lemnos far from my father and my friends and i brought you the price of a hundred oxen i have paid three times as much to gain my freedom it is but twelve days that i have come to ileus after much suffering and now cruel fate has again thrown me into your hands surely father jove must hate me that he has given me over to you a second time short of life indeed did my mother leothoey bear me daughter of aged altis of altis who reigns over the warlike lelegy and holds steep peticis on the riversat neus i am married his daughter along with many other women and two sons were born of her both of whom you will have slain your spear slew noble polydorus as he was fighting in the front ranks and now evil will hear befall me for i fear that i shall not escape you since heaven has delivered me over to you furthermore i say and lay my saying dear heart spare me for i am not of the same womb as hector who slew your brave and noble comrade with such words did the princely son of priam beseech achilles but achilles answered him sternly idiot said he talked not to me of ransom until patroclus fell i preferred to give the trojans quarter and sold beyond the sea many of those whom i had taken alive but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven delivers into my hands before the city of ileus and of all trojans that shall fare hardest with the sons of priam therefore my friend you too shall die why should you whine in this way patroclus fell and he was a better man than you are i too see you not how i am great and goodly i am son to a noble father and have a goddess for my mother but the hands of doom and death overshadow me all as surely the day will come either at dawn or dark or at the noon tide when one shall take my life also in battle either with his spear or with an arrow sped from his bow thus did he speak and like kaon's heart sank within him he lost his hold of the spear and held out both hands before him but achilles drew his keen blade and struck him by the collarbone on his neck he plunged his two-edged sword into him to the very hilt whereon he lay at full length on the ground with the dark blood welling from him till the earth was soaked then achilles caught him by the foot and flung him into the river to go downstream vaunting over him the while and saying lie there among the fishes who will lick the blood from your wound and gloat over it your mother shall not lay on you any beer to mourn you but the eddies of skamander shall bear you into the broad bosom of the sea there shall the fishes feed on the fat of like kaon as they dart under the dark ripple of the waters so perish all of you till we reach the citadel of strong ileus you in flight and i following after to destroy you the river with its broad silver stream shall serve you in no stead for all the bulls you offered him and all the horses that you flung living into his waters nonetheless miserably shall you perish till there is not a man of you but is paid in full for the death of patroclus and the havoc he wrought among the achaeans whom you have slain while i held aloof from battle so spoke achilles but the river grew more and more angry and pondered within himself how he should stay the hand of achilles and save the trojans from disaster meanwhile the son of pelius spear in hand sprang upon esteropeus son of pelican to kill him he was son to the broad river axius and parabia eldest daughter of acus eminus for the river had lain with her esteropeus stood up out of the water to face him with a spear in either hand and xanthus filled him with courage being angry for the death of the youths whom achilles was slaying ruthlessly within his waters when they were close up with one another achilles was the first to speak who and whence are you said he who dared to face me woe to the parents whose son stands up against me and the son of pelican answered great son of pelius why should you ask me my lineage i am from the fertile land of far peonia captain of the peonians and it is now 11 days that i am at alias i am with the blood of the river axius of axius that is fairest of all rivers that run he begot the famed warrior pelican whose son men call me let us now fight achilles thus did he defy him and achilles raised his spear of pelian ash esteropeus failed with both his spears for he could use both hands alike with the one spear he struck achilles shield but did not pierce it for the layer of gold gift of the god stayed the point with the other spear he grazed the elbow of achilles right arm drawing dark blood but the spear itself went by him and fixed itself in the ground foiled of its bloody banquet then achilles feigned to kill him hurled his spear at esteropeus but failed to hit him and struck the steep bank of the river driving the spear half its length into the earth the son of pelius then drew his sword and springed furiously upon him esteropeus vainly tried to draw achilles spear out of the bank by main force thrice did he tug at it trying with all his might to draw it out and thrice he had to leave off trying the fourth time he tried to bend and break it but ere he could do so achilles smote him with his sword and killed him he struck him in the belly near the navel so that all his bowels came gushing out onto the ground and the darkness of death came over him as he lay gasping then achilles set his foot on his chest and spoiled him of his armor vaunting over him and saying lie there be gotten of a river though you be it is hard for you to strive with the offspring of saturn son you declare yourself sprung from the blood of a broad river but i am of the seed of mighty jove my father is pelius son of yacus ruler of the mini mermidans and the kiosk was the son of jove therefore as jove is mightier than any river that flows into the sea so are his children stronger than those of any river whatsoever moreover you have a great river hard by if he can be of any use to you but there is no fighting against jove the son of saturn with whom not even king acalois can compare nor the mighty stream of deep flowing oceanus from whom all rivers and seas with all springs and deep wells proceed even though oceanus fears the lightnings of great jove and his thunder that comes crashing out of heaven with this he drew his bronze spear out of the bank and now that he had killed asteropias he let him lie where he was on the sand with a dark river flowing over him and the eels and fishes busy nibbling and gnawing the fat that was about his kidneys then he went in chase of the peonians who were flying along the bank of the river in panic when they saw their leader slain by the hands of the son of pilius therein he slew through silica's midan as typhilus moniesus thoracius enius and ophelestes and would have slain yet others had not the river in anger taken human form and spoken to him from out the deep water saying achilles if you excel all in strength so do you also in wickedness for the gods are ever with you to protect you if then the son of saturn has vouchsafed it to you to destroy all the trojans at any rate drive them out of my stream and do your grim work on land my fair waters are now filled with corpses nor can i find any channel by which i may pour myself into the sea for i am choked with dead and yet you go on mercilessly slain i am in despair therefore oh captain of your host trouble me no further achilles answered so be it's commander jove descended but i will never cease dealing out death among the trojans till i have pinned them up in their city and made trial of hector face to face that i may learn whether he is to vanquish me or i him as he spoke he set upon the trojans with a fury like that of the gods but the river said to apollo surely son of jove lord of the silver bow you are not obeying the commands of jove who charged you straightly that you should stand by the trojans and defend them till twilight fades and darkness is over the earth meanwhile achilles sprang from the bank into midstream where on the river raised a high wave and attacked him he swelled his stream into a torrent and swept away the many dead whom achilles had slain and left within his waters these he cast out onto the land bellowing like a bull the while but the living he saved alive hiding them in his mighty eddies the great and terrible wave gathered about achilles falling upon him and beating on a shield so that he could not keep his feet he caught hold of a great elm tree but it came up by the roots and tore away the bank damning the stream with its thick branches and bridging it all across whereby achilles struggled out of the stream and fled full speed over the plane for he was afraid but the mighty god ceased not in his pursuit and sprang upon him with a dark crested wave to stay his hands and save the trojans from destruction the son of pelius darted away a spear's throw from him swift is the swoop of a black hunter eagle which is the strongest and flitest of all birds even so did he spring forward and the armor rang loudly about his breast he fled on in front but the river with a loud roar came tearing after as one who would water his garden leads the stream from some fountain over his plants and all his ground spade in hand he clears away the dams to free the channels and the little stones run rolling round and round with the water as it goes merrily down the bank faster than the man can follow even so did the river keep catching up with achilles albeit he was a fleet runner for the gods are stronger than men as often as he would strive to stand his ground and see whether or not all the gods in heaven were in league against him so often would the mighty wave come beating down upon his shoulders and he would have to keep flying on and on in great dismay for the angry flood was tiring him out as it flowed past him and ate the ground from under his feet then the son of pilius lifted up his voice to heaven saying father jove is there none of the gods who will take pity upon me and save me from the river i do not care what may happen to me afterwards i blame none of the other dwellers on olympus so severely as i do my dear mother who's beguiled and tricked me she told me i was to fall into the walls of troi by the flying arrows of apollo would that hector the best man among the trojans might there slay me then should i fall a hero by the hand of a hero whereas now it seems that i shall come to a most pitiable end trapping this river as though i were some swine herds boy who gets carried down a torrent while trying to cross it during a storm as soon as he had spoken thus neptune and manurba came up to him in the likeness of two men and took him by the hand to reassure him neptune spoke first son of pilius said he be not so exceeding fearful we are two gods come with joe's sanction to assist you i and palis manurba it is not your fate to perish in this river he will abate presently as you will see moreover we strongly advise you if you will be guided by us not to stay your hand from fighting till you've pent the trojan host within the famed walls of ileus as many of them as may escape then kill hector and go back to the ships for we will vouchsafed you a triumph over him when they had so sad they went back to the other immortals but achilles drove onward over the plane encouraged by the charge the gods had laid upon him all was now covered with the flood of waters and much goodly armor of the use that had been slain was rifting about as also many corpses but he forced his way against the stream speeding right onwards nor could the broad water stay him for manurba had endowed him with great strength nevertheless commander did not slacken in his pursuit but was still more furious with the son of pelius he lifted his waters into a high crest and cried aloud to simoas saying dear brother let the two of us unite to save this man or he will sack the mighty city of king prim and the trojans will not hold out against him help me at once fill your streams with water from their sources rouse all your torrents to a fury raise your wave on high and let snags and stones come thundering down you that we may make an end of the savage creature who is now lording it as though he were a god nothing shall serve him longer not strength nor cuddliness nor his fine armor which forsooth shall soon be lying low in the deep waters covered over with mud i will wrap him in sand and pour tons of shingle around him so that the acian shall not know how to gather his bones for the silt in which i shall have hidden him and when they celebrate his funeral they need build no barrow on this he upraised his tumultuous flood high against achilles seething as it was with foam and blood and the bodies of the dead the dark waters of the river stood upright and would have overwhelmed the son of pelius but you know trembling lest achilles should be swept away in the mighty torrent lifted her voice on high and called out to vulcan her son crookfoot she cried my child be up and doing for i deem it is with you that xanthus is feigned to fight help us at once kindle a fierce fire i will then bring up the west in the white south wind in a mighty hurricane from the sea i shall bear the flames against the heads and armor of the trojans and consume them while you go along the banks of xanthus burning his trees and wrapping him round with fire let him not turn you back neither by fair words nor foul and slacken not till i shout and tell you then you may stay your flames on this vulcan kindle the fierce fire which broke out first upon the plane and burned the many dead whom achilles had killed and whose bodies were lying about in great numbers by this means the plane was dried and the flood stayed as the north wind blowing on an orchard that has been sought in with autumn rain soon dries it and the heart of the owner is glad even so the whole plane was dried and the dead bodies were consumed then he turned tongues of fire onto the river he burned the alms the willows and the tamarisks the lotus also with the rushes and marshy herbage that grew abundantly by the banks of the river the eels and fishes that go darting about everywhere in the water these two were sorely harassed by the flames that cunning vulcan had kindled and the river himself was scalded so that he spoke saying vulcan there is no god that can hold his own against you i cannot fight you when you flare out your flames in this way strive with me no longer let achilles drive the trojans out of the city immediately what have i to do with quarreling and helping people he was boiling as he spoke and all his waters were seething as a cauldron upon a large fire boils when it is melting the lard of some fatted hog and the lard keeps bubbling up all over when the dry faggots blaze under it even so were the goodly waters of xanthus heated with the fire till they were boiling he could flow no longer but stayed his stream so afflicted was he by the blasts of fire which cunning vulcan had raised then he prayed to juno and besaught her saying juno why should your son vex my stream with such a special fury i am not so much to blame as all the others are who have been helping the trojans i will leave off since you so desire it and let son leave off also furthermore i swear never again will i do anything to save the trojans from destruction not even when all trojans burning in the flames which the achaeans will kindle as soon as juno heard this she said to her son vulcan son vulcan hold now your flames we ought not to use such violence against a god for the sake of mortals when she had thus spoken vulcan quenched his flames and the river went back once more into his own fair bed xanthus was now beaten so these two left off fighting for juno stayed them though she was still angry but a furious quarrel broke out among the other gods for they were of divided councils they fell on one another with a mighty uproar earth groaned and the spacious firmament rang out as with a blare of trumpets jove heard as he was sitting on olympus and laughed for joy when he saw the gods coming to blows among themselves they were not long about beginning and marr's piercer of shields opened the battle sword in hand he sprang it once upon manurba and reviled her why vixen said he have you again set the gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your heart have you forgotten how you said diamide son of titius on to wound me and you yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the heart of my fair body you shall now suffer for what you then did to me as he spoke he struck her on the terrible tassled aegis so terrible that not even can jove's lightning pierce it here did murderous marr's strike her with his great spear she drew back and with her strong hand seized a stone that was lying on the plane great and rugged and black which men of old had set for the boundary of a field with this she struck marr's on the neck and brought him down nine roots did he cover in his fall and his hair was all soiled in the dust while his armor rang rattling round him but manurba laughed and vaunted over him saying idiot have you not learned how far stronger i am than you but you must still match yourself against me thus do your mother's curses now roost upon you for she is angry and would do you mischief because you've deserted the akeans and are helping the trojans she then turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere where on jove's daughter venus took marr's by the hand and led him away groaning all the time for it was only with great difficulty that he had come to himself again when queen juno saw her she said to manurba look daughter of eget sparing jove unwearable that vixen venus is again taking marr's through the crowd out of the battle go after her at once thus she spoke manurba sped after venus with a will and made it her striking her on the bosom with her strong hand so that she fell fainting to the ground and there they both lay stretched at full length then manurba vaunted over her saying may all you who helped the trojans against the archives prove just as redoubtable and stalwart as venus did when she came across me while she was helping marr's had this been so we should long since have ended the war by sacking the strong city of ilias juno smiled as she listened meanwhile king neptune turned to apollo saying febus why should we keep each other at arm's length it is not well now that the others have begun fighting it will be disgraceful to us if we return to jove's bronze floored mansion on olympus without having fought each other therefore come on you are the younger of the two and i ought not to attack you for i am older and have had more experience idiot you have no sense and forget how we too alone of all the gods fared hardly round about ilias when we came from joe's house and worked for leomiden a whole year at a stated wage and he gave us his orders i built the trojans the wall about their city so wide and fair that it might be impregnable while you febus heard a cattle for him in the dales of many valley dita when however the glad hours brought round the time of payment mighty leomiden robbed us of all our hire and sent us off with nothing but abuse he threatened to bind us hand and foot and sell us over into some distant island he tried more over to cut the ears off of both of us so we went away in a rage furious about the payment he had promised us and yet withheld in spite of all this you are now showing favor to his people and will not join us encompassing the other ruin of the proud trojans with their wives and children and king apollo answered lord of the earthquake you would have no respect for me if i were to fight you about a pack of miserable mortals who come out like leaves in summer and eat the fruit of the field and presently fall lifeless to the ground let us stay this fighting at once and let them settle it among themselves he turned away as he spoke for he would lay no hand on the brother of his own father but his sister the huntress diana patroness of wild beasts was very angry with him and said so you would fly far darter and hand victory over to naptoon with a cheap vaunt to boot baby why keep your bow thus idle never let me again hear you bragging in my father's house as you have often done in the presence of the immortals that you would stand up and fight with naptoon apollo made no answer but joe's august queen was angry and upgraded her bitterly old vixen she cried how dare you cross me thus for all your bow you'll find it hard to hold your own against me joe made you as a lion among women and lets you kill them whenever you choose you will find it better to chase wild beasts and deer upon the mountains than to fight those who are stronger than you are if you would try war do so and find out by pitting yourself against me how far stronger i am than you are she caught both diana's wrist with her left hand as she spoke and with her right she took the bow from her shoulders and laughed as she beat her with it about the ears while diana wriggled and writhed under her blows her swift arrows were shed upon the ground and she fled weeping from under juno's hand as a dove that flies before a falcon to the cleft of some hollow rock when it is her good fortune to escape even so did she fly weeping away leaving her bow and arrows behind her then the slayer of argus guide and guardian said to leto leto i shall not fight you it is ill to come to blows of any of joe's wives therefore boast as you will among the immortals that you worsted me in a fair fight leto then gathered up diana's bow and arrows that had fallen about amid the whirling dust and when she had got them she made all haste after her daughter diana had now reached joe's bronze floored mansion on olympus and sat herself down with many tears on the knees of her father while her ambrosial raiment was quivering all about her the son of saturn drew her towards him and laughing pleasantly the while began to question her saying which of the heavenly beings my dear child has been treating you in this cruel manner as though you had been misconducting yourself in the face of everybody and the fair crown goddess of the chase answered it was your wife juno father who has been beating me it is always her doing when there is any quarreling among the immortals dust they converse and meanwhile febus apollo entered the strong city of ilias for he was uneasy lest the wall should not hold out and the danians should take the city then and there before its hour had come but the rest of the ever-living gods went back some angry and some triumphant to olympus where they took their seats beside joe lord of the storm cloud while achilles still kept on dealing out death alike on the trojans and on their horses as when smoke from some burning city ascends to heaven when the anger of the gods has kindled it there is then toil for all in sorrow for not a few even so did achilles bring toil and sorrow on the trojans old king primes stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on huge achilles as the trojans fled panic stricken before him and there is none to help them presently he came down from off the tower and with many a groan went along the wall to give orders to the brave warders of the gate keep the gates said he wide open till the people come flying into the city her achilles is hard by and is driving them and route before them i see we are in great peril as soon as our people are inside and in safety close the strong gates dry fear lest that terrible man should come bounding inside along with the others as he spoke they drew back the bolts and opened the gates and when these were opened there was a haven of refuge for the trojans apollo then came full speed out of the city to meet them and protect them right for the city in the high wall parched with thirst and grimy of dust still they fled on with achilles wielding his spear furiously behind them for he was as one possessed and was thirsting after glory then had the sons of the achians taken the lofty gates of troi if apollo had not spurred on a genor valiant the noble son to entinor he put courage into his heart and stood by his side to guard him leaning against the beach tree and shrouded in thick darkness when a genor saw achilles he stood still and his heart was clouded with care alas said he to himself in his dismay if i fly before mighty achilles and go where all the others are being driven and route he will nonetheless catch me and kill me for a coward how would it be if i were to let achilles drive the others before him and then fly from the wall to the plane that is behind ileus till i reach the spurs of ida and can hide in the underwood that is there on i could then wash the sweat from off me in the river and in the evening return to ileus but why commune with myself in this way like enough he would see me as i am hurrying from the city over the plane and would speed after me till he had caught me i should stand no chance against him for he is mightiest of all mankind what then if i go out and meet him in front of the city his flesh too i take it can be pierced by pointed bronze life is the same in one and all and men say that he is but mortal despite the triumph that joe's son of saturn vouchsafes him so saying he stood on his guard and awaited achilles for he was now feigned to fight him as a leopardist that bounds from out of thick covert to attack a hunter she knows no fear and is not dismayed by the bang of the hounds even though the man be too quick for her and wound her either with thrust or spear still though the spear is pierced her she'll not give in till she's either caught him in a grip or been killed outright even so did noble aginor son of antinor refused to fly till he had made trial of achilles and took aim at him with a spear holding his round shield before him and crying with a loud voice of a truth said he noble achilles you deem that you shall this day sack the city of the proud trojans fool there will be trouble enough yet before it for there is many a brave man of us still inside who will stand in front of our dear parents with our wives and children to defend ileus here therefore huge and mighty warrior though you be here shall you die as he spoke his strong hand hurled the javelin from him and the spear struck achilles on the leg beneath the knee the grieve of the newly wrought tin rang loudly but the spear recoiled from the body of whom it had struck and did not pierce it for the god's gift stayed it achilles in his turn attacked noble aginor but apollo would not vouchsafed him glory for he snatched aginor away and hid him in a thick mist sending him out of the battle unmolested then he craftily drew the son of pelius away from going after the host for he put on the semblance of a aginor and stood in front of achilles who ran towards him to give him chase and pursued him over the corn lands of the plain turning him towards the deep waters of the river's commander apollo ran but a little way before him and beguiled achilles by making him think all the time that he was on the point of overtaking him meanwhile the rabble of routed trojans was thankful to crowd within the city till their numbers thronged it no longer did they dare wait for one another outside the city walls to learn who had escaped and who were fallen in flight but all those whose feet and needs could still carry them horde pel mel into the town end of book 21 book 22 of the illid this is a liver box recording all liver box recordings are in the public domain or more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book 22 the death of Hector thus the trojans in the city scared like thorns wiped the sweat from off them and drank to quench their thirst leaning against the goodly battlements while the akeans with their shields laid upon their shoulders drew close up to the walls but stern fate made Hector stay where he was before Ilias and the say in gates then Phoebus apollo spoke to the son of pelius saying why son of pelius do you who are a but man give chase to me who am immortal have you not yet found out that it is a god whom you pursue so furiously you did not harass the trojans whom you had routed and now they are within the walls while you have been decoyed hither away from them me you cannot kill for death can take no hold upon me Achilles was greatly angered and said you have balked me far darter most malicious of all gods and have drawn me away from the wall where many another man would have bitten the dust there he got with an Ilias you have robbed me of great glory and have saved the trojans at no risk to yourself for you have nothing to fear but I would indeed have my revenge if it were in my power to do so on this with felon tent he made towards the city and as the winning horse in a chariot race strains every nerve when he is flying over the plane even so fast and furiously to the limbs of Achilles bear him onwards king premium was the first to know him as he scoured the plane all radiant as the star which men called Orion's hound and whose beam blaze forth in time of harvest more brilliantly than those of any other that shines by night brightest of them although he be he yet bodes ill for mortals for he brings fire and fever in his train even so did Achilles armor gleam on his breast as he sped onwards premium raised a cry and beat his head with his hands as he lifted them up and shouted out to his dear son imploring him to return but Hector still stayed before the gates for his heart was set upon doing battle with Achilles the old man reached out his arm towards him and beat him for pity's sake come within the walls Hector he cried my son stay not to face this man alone and unsupported or you will meet death at the hands of the son of Pilius for he is mightier than you monster that he is would indeed that the gods loved him no better than I do for so dogs and vultures would soon devour him as he lay stretched on earth and a load of grief would be left it from my heart for many a brave son has he rep from me either by killing them or selling them away in the islands that are beyond the sea even now I miss two sons from among the Trojans who have thronged within the city like Chaon and Polydorus whom Lothia purless among women bore me should they be still alive in the hands of the Achaeans we will ransom them with gold and bronze of which we have store for the old man at least indulged his daughter richly but if they are already dead and in the house of Hades sorrow will it be to us too who were their parents albeit the grief of others will be more short lived unless you too perish at the hands of Achilles come then my son within the city to be the guardians of Trojan men and Trojan women or you will both lose your own life and afford a mighty triumph to the son of Pilius have pity also on your unhappy father while life yet remains to him on me whom the son of Saturn will destroy by a terrible doom on the threshold of old age after I have seen my son slain and my daughters held away as captives my bridal chambers pillaged little children dashed to earth amid the rage of battle and my son's wives dragged away by the cruel hands of the Achaeans in the end fierce hounds will tear me in pieces at my own gates after someone has beaten the life out of my body with sword or spear hounds that I myself reared and fed up my own table to guard my gates but who will yet lap my blood and then lie all distraught at my doors when a young man falls by the sword in battle he may lie where he is and there is nothing unseemly let what will be seen all is honorable and death but when an old man is slain there is nothing in this world more pitiable than that dog should defile his gray hair and beard and all that men hide for shame the old man tore his gray hair as he spoke but he moved not the heart of Hector his mother hurried by wept and moaned aloud as she barred her bosom and pointed to the breast which had suckled him Hector she cried weeping bitterly in the while Hector my son spurred not this breast but have pity upon me too if I have ever given you comfort for my own bosom think on it now dear son and come within the world to protect us from this man stand not without to meet him should the wretch kill you neither I nor your richly dowered wife shall ever weep dear offshoot of myself over the bed on which you lie for dogs will devour you at the ships of the Achaeans thus did the two with many tears employ their son but they moved not the heart of Hector and he stood his ground awaiting huge Achilles as he drew nearer towards him as serpent in its den upon the mountains full fed with deadly poison waits for the approach of man he is filled with fury and his eyes glare terribly as he goes writhing around his den even so Hector leaned his shield against the tower that jetted out from the wall and stood where he was undaunted alas said he to himself in the heaviness of his heart if I go within the gates polydamus will be the first to he approach upon me for it was he that urged me to lead the Trojans back to the city on that awful night when Achilles came forth against us I would not listen but it would have been indeed better if I had done so now that my folly has destroyed the host I dare not look Trojan men and Trojan women in the face lest the worst man should say Hector has ruined us by his self confidence surely it would be better for me to return after having fought Achilles and slain him or to die gloriously here before the city what again if I were to lay down my shield and helmet lean my spear against the wall and go straight up to noble Achilles what if I were to promise to give up Helen who was the fountainhead of all this war and all the treasure that Alexander's bought with him in his ships to Troy I and to let the Acans divide the half of everything that the city contains among themselves I might make the Trojans by the mouth of their princes take a solemn oath that they would hide nothing but would divide into two shares all that is within the city but why argue with myself in this way were I to go up to him he would show me no kind of mercy he would kill me then and there as easily as though I were a woman when I had off my armor there is no parlaying with him from some rocker oak tree his young men and maidens prattle with one another better fight him at once and learn to which of us jove will vouchsave victory thus did he stand in ponder but Achilles came up to him as it were Mars himself plume lord of battle from his right shoulder he brandished his temporal spear of pillion ash and the bronze gleamed around him like flashing fire or the rays of the rising sun fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him and he dared not stay longer where he was but fled in dismay from before the gates while Achilles started after him at his utmost speed as a mountain falcon swift as his all birds swooped down upon some cowering dove the dove flies before him at the falcon with a shrill scream follows close after resolved to have her even so did Achilles make strength for Hector with all his might while Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his limbs could take him on they flew along the wagon road that ran hard by under the wall past the lookout station and past the weather beaten wild fig tree so they came to two fair springs which feed the river skimander one of these two springs is warm and steam rises from it is smoked from a burning fire but the other even in summer is as cold as hallowed snow and the ice that forms on the water here hard by the springs are the goodly washing Charles a stone we're in the time of peace before the coming the Achaeans the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash their clothes past these did they fly the one in front and the other giving chase behind him good was the man that fled but better far was he that followed after and swiftly indeed did they run for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullocks hide as it might be for a common foot race but they ran for the life of Hector as horses in a chariot rates speed round the turning points when they were running from some great prize a tripod or woman at the games in honor of some dead hero so did these two run full speed three times around the city of Priam all the gods watched them and the sire of gods and men was the first to speak alas said he my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being pursued around the walls of Troy my heart is full of pity for Hector who has burned the thigh bones of many a heifer in my honor one while on the crest of many valedita and again on the citadel of Troy and now I see a noble Achilles in full pursuit of him around the city of Priam what say you consider among yourselves and decide whether we shall now save him or let him fall valiant though he may be before Achilles son of Pilius then Minerva said father wielder of the lightning lord of cloud and storm what mean you would you pluck this mortal whose doom has long been decreed out of the jaws of death do as you will but we other shall not be of a mind with you and joe answered my child tried o born take heart I did not speak in full earnest and I will let you have your way do without let or hindrance as you were minded thus to the urge Minerva who was already eager and down she darted from the top most summit of Olympus Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector as a howling chasing a fawn when he started from its covert on the mountains and hunts through glade and thicket the fawn may try to elude him by crouching under cover of a bush but he will sent her out and follow her up until he gets her even so there was no escape for Hector from the fleet son of Pilius whenever he made set to get near the Dardanian gates and under the walls that his people might help him by showering down weapons from above Achilles would gain on him and head him back towards the plane keeping himself always on the city side as a man in a dream who fails to lay hands upon another whom he is pursuing the one cannot escape nor the other overtake even so neither could Achilles come up with Hector nor Hector break away from Achilles nevertheless he might even yet have escaped death had not the time come when Apollo who thus far had sustained his strength the nerve his running was now no longer to stay by him Achilles made signs to the Achaean host and shook his head to show that no man was to aim a darted Hector lest another might win the glory of having hid him and he might come in second then at last as they were nearing the fountains for the fourth time the father of all balanced his golden scales in place to doom in each of them one for Achilles and the other for Hector as he held the scales by the middle the doom of Hector fell down deep into the house of Hades and that's Phoebus Apollo left him thereon Minerva went close up to the son of Peleus and said noble Achilles favorite of the heaven we too shall surely take back to the ships of triumph the Achaeans by slaying Hector for all his lust to battle he would Apollo may as he lied groveling before his father ages bearing Jove Hector cannot escape us longer stay here and take breath while I go up to him and persuade him to make a stand and fight you thus spoke Minerva Achilles obeyed her gladly and stood still leaning on his brawn pointed ash and spear while Minerva left him and went after Hector in the form in with the voice of the aphobos she came close up to him and said dear brother I see your heart pressed by Achilles who is chasing you at full speed round the city of Priam let us await his onset and stand on our defense and Hector answered the aphobos you have always been dearest to me of all my brothers children of Hecuba and Priam but henceforth I shall rate you more highly in as much as you have ventured outside the wall for my sake when all others remain inside then Minerva said dear brother my father and mother went down on their knees and implored me as did all my comrades to remain inside so great a fear has fallen upon them all but I was in agony of grief when I beheld you now therefore let us too make a stand and fight and let there be no keeping our spears in reserve that we may learn whether Achilles shall kill us and bear off our spoils to the ships or whether he shall fall before you thus did Minerva and vagal him by her cunning and when the two were now close to one another great Hector was the first to speak I will no longer fly you son of Pilius said he as I have been doing hithera to three times have I fled around the mighty city of Priam without daring to withstand you but now let me either slay or be slain for I am in the mind to face you let us then give pledges to one another by our gods who are the fittest witnesses and guardians of all covenants let it be agreed between us that if Joe Vouch sates me the longer stay and I take your life I am not to treat your dead body in any unseemly fashion but when I have stripped you of your armor I am to give your body to the Achaeans and do you likewise Achilles glared at him and answered full prep not to me about covenants there can be no covenants between men and lions wolves and lambs can never be of one mind but hate each other out and out and through therefore there can be no understanding between you and me nor may there be any covenants between us till one or other shall fall glutton grim Mars with his life's blood put forth all your strength you have need now to prove yourself indeed a bold soldier and man of war you have no more chance and palace maneuver will forthiest vanquish you by my spear you shall now pay me in full for the grief you have caused me on account of my comrades who you have killed in battle he poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it Hector saw it coming and avoided it he watched it and crouched down so that flew over his head and stuck in the ground beyond but Nerva then snatched it up and gave it back to Achilles without Hector seeing her Hector thereon said to the son of Pelius you've missed your aim Achilles spear of the gods and Joe has not revealed to you the hour of my doom though you made sure that he had done so you were a false tongue liar when you deemed that I should forget my value and quell before you you shall not drive spear into the back of a runaway drive it should heaven so grant you the power drive it into me as I make straight towards you and now for your own part avoid my spear if you can would that you would receive the whole of it into your body if you were once dead the Trojans would find the war an easier matter for it is you who have harmed them most he poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it his aim were true for he hit the middle of Achilles shield but the spear rebounded from it and did not pierce it Hector was angry when he saw that the weapon had sped from his hand in vain and stood there in dismay for he had no second spear with a loud cry he called Diaphobus and asked him for one but there was no man then he saw the truth and said to himself last the gods have lured me on to my destruction I deemed that the hero Diaphobus was by my side but he is within the wall and Minerva hasn't veggled me death is now indeed exceedingly near at hand and there is no way out of it for so job and his son Apollo the far garter I've willed it though heretofore they have been ever ready to protect me my doom has come upon me let me not then die and gloriously without a struggle but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter as he spoke he drew the keen blade that hung so great and strong by his side and gathering himself together he sprang on Achilles like a soaring eagle which swoops down from the clouds onto some lammer timid hair even so did Hector brandis his sword and spring upon Achilles Achilles mad with rage started towards him with his wondrous shield before his breast and his gleaming helmet made with four layers of metal knotting fiercely forward the thick tresses of gold with which Vulcan had crested the helmet flouted round it and as the evening star that shines brighter than all others through the stillness of the night even such was the gleam of the spear which Achilles poised in his right hand fraught with the death of noble Hector he eyed his fair flesh over and over to see where he could best wounded but it was all protected by the goodly armor of which Hector had spoiled patroclus after he had slain him save only the throat where the collarbones divide the neck from the shoulders and this is a most deadly place here then did Achilles strike him as he was coming towards him and the point of his spear went right through the fleshy part of the neck but it did not sever the windpipe so that he could still speak Hector fell headlong and Achilles vaunted over him saying Hector you deemed that you should come off skateless when you were spoiling patroclus and wrecked not of myself who was not with him fool that you were for I his comrade mightier far than he was still left behind at the ships and now I have laid you low the Achaean shall give him all due funeral rites while dogs and vultures shall work the will upon yourself then Hector said as the life ebbed out of him I pray you by your life and knees and by your parents let not dogs devour me at the ships of the Achaeans but accept the rich treasure of golden bronze which my father and mother will offer you and send my body home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I'm dead Achilles glared at him and answered dog talk not to me neither of knees nor parents would that I could be assured being able to cut your flesh into pieces and eat it raw for the ill you have done me as I am that nothing shall save you from the dogs it shall not be though they bring 10 or 20 fold ransom and weigh it out for me on the spot with promise of yet more hereafter though Priam's son of Darnedanna should bid them off for me your weight in gold even so your mother shall never lay you out and make lament over the sun she bore but dogs and vultures shall eat you utterly up Hector with his dying breath then said I know you what you are and was sure that I should not move you for your heart is hard as iron look to it that I bring not heaven's anger upon you at the day when Paris and Phoebus Apollo valiant though you be shall slay you at the saiyan gates when he had thus said the shrouds of death unfolded him whereupon his soul went out of him and flew down to the house of eighties lamenting its sad fate that it should enjoy youth and strength no longer but Achilles said speaking to the dead body die for my part I will accept my fate whensoever Joven the other gods he fit descended as he spoke he drew a spear from the body and set it on one side then he stripped the bloodstained armor from Hector's shoulders while the other canes came running up the view as wondrous strength and beauty and no one came near him without giving him a fresh wound then would one turn on his neighbor and say it is easier to handle Hector now than when he was flinging fire onto our ships and as he spoke he would thrust his spear into him anew when Achilles had done spoiling Hector of his armor he stood among the argives instead my friends princes and counselors of the argives now that heaven has out saved us to overcome this man who has done us more hurt than all others together consider whether we should not attack the city in force and discover in what mind the children's may be we should thus learn whether they will desert their city now that Hector has fallen or will hold out even though he is no longer living but why argue with myself in this way while patroclus is still lying at the ships unburied and unmoored he whom I can never forget so long as I am alive and my strength falls not though men forget they're dead when once they are within the house of Hades yet not even there will I forget the comrade whom I've lost now therefore canutes let us raise the song of victory and go back to the ships taking this man along with us for we have achieved a mighty triumph and have slain noble Hector to whom Trojans prayed throughout their city as though he were a god on this he treated the body of Hector with contumely he pierced the sinews at the back of both his feet from heel to ankle and passed the thongs of oxide through the slits he had made thus he made the body fast to the chariot letting the head trail upon the ground then when he had put the goodly armor on the chariot and had mounted himself he lashed his horses and they flew forward nothing lost the dust rose from Hector as he was being dragged along his dark hair flew all abroad and his head once so comely was laid low on earth for joeva now delivered him into the hands of his foes to do him outrage in his own land thus was the head of Hector being dishonored in the dust his mother tore her hair and flung her veil from her with a loud cry she looked upon her son his father made piteous moan and throughout the city the people fell to weeping and wailing was as though to hold a frowning ileus was being smirked with fire hardly could the people hold priam back in his hot haste to rush without the gates of the city he groveled in the mire and besought them calling each one of them by his name let be my friends he cried and for all your sorrow suffered me to go single-handed to the ships of the achaeans let me beseech this cruel and terrible man if maybe he will respect the feeling of his fellow men and have compassion on my old age his own father is even such another as myself ileus who bred him and reared him to be the bane of astrogyns and of myself more than all others many a son of mine has he slain in the flower of his youth and yet grieve for these as i may i do so for one Hector more than for them all and the bitterness of my sorrow will bring me down to the house of eighties would that he had died in my arms for both his ill-starred mother who bore him and myself should have had the comfort of weeping and mourning over him thus did he speak with many tears and all the people of the city joined as his lament heck you have then raised the cry of welling among the children's alas my son she cried what have i left to live for now that you know more night and day did i glory in you throughout the city for you are a tower of strength all in Troy and both men and women alike held you as a god so long as you lived you were their pride but now death and destruction have fallen upon you Hector's wife had as yet heard nothing for no one had come to tell her that her husband had remained without the gates she was at her loom in an inner part of the house weaving a double purple web and importing it with many flowers she told her maids to set a large tripod on the fire so as to have a warm bath ready for Hector when he came out of battle poor woman she knew not that he was now beyond the reach of baths and that Minerva had him laid low by the hand of Achilles she heard the cry coming as from the wall and trembled in every limb the shuttle fell from her hands and again she spoke to her welling woman two of you she said come with me then i may learn what it has been fallen i heard the voice of my husband's honored mother my own heart beats as though it would come into my mouth and my limbs refuse to carry me some great misfortune for Priam's children must be at hand may i never live to hear it but i greatly feel that Achilles has cut off the retreat of brave Hector and has chased him on to the plane where he was single-handed i fear he may have put an end to this reckless staring which possessed my husband who would never remain with the body of his men but would dash on far in front for most of them all in valor her heart beat fast and as she spoke she flew from the house like a maniac with her waiting women following after when she reached the battlements in the crowd of people she stood looking out upon the wall and saw Hector being born away in front of the city the horse is dragging him without heat or care over the ground towards the ships of the Achaeans her eyes were then shrouded as with the darkness of night and she fell fainting backwards she tore the retiring from her head and flung it from her the front line to net with a plated band in the veil which golden venus had given her on the day when Hector took her with him from the house of Edion after having given countless gifts of wooing for her sake her husband's sister and the wives of his brothers crowded round her and supported her for she was feigned to die in her distraction when she again presently breathed and came to herself she sobbed and made lament among the Trojan saying whoa is me oh Hector whoa indeed that the share a common lot we were born you had trod the house of premium and I had thieves under wooded mountains of black as in the house of Edion who brought me up when I was a child ill-starred sire of an ill-starred daughter would that he had never begotten me you are now going into the house of Hades under a secret place of the earth and you leave me a soaring widow in your house the child of which you and I are the unhappy parents is yet a mere infant now that you are gone oh Hector you can do nothing for him nor eat for you even though he escaped the horrors of this woeful war with the Achaeans yet sell his life henceforth be one of labor and sorrow for others will seize his lands the day that robbed a child of his parents severed him from his own kind his head is bowed his cheeks are wet with tears and he will go about destitute among the friends of his fathers plucking one by the cloak and another by the shirt someone or another these may be so far pity him as to hold the cup for a moment towards him and let him moisten his lips but he must not drink enough to wet the roof of his mouth then one whose parents are alive will drive him from the table who's blows and angry words out with you he will say you have no father here and the child will go crying back to his widowed mother he asked the onyx who earwhile would sit upon his father's knees and have none but the daintiest and choicest morsel set before him when he had played till he was tired and went to sleep he would lie in the bed in the arms of his nurse on a soft couch knowing neither want nor care whereas now that he has lost his father his lot will be full of hardship he whom the Trojans named Asteanix because you oh Hector were their only defense of their gates and their battlements the wiggling writhing worms will now eat you at the ships far from your parents when the dogs have glutted themselves upon you you will lie naked although in your house you have fine and goodly raiment made by the hands of women this while I now burn it is of no use to you for you can never again wear it and thus you will have respect shown you by the Trojans both men and women in such wise that you cry loud and make her tears and the women joined in her lament end of book 22 recording by ML Cohen www.mojo move 411.com Cleveland Ohio December 31st 2007 book 23 of the Iliad this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.com the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book 23 the funeral of Patroclus and the funeral games thus did they make them own throughout the city while the Achaeans when they reached the helispent went back every man to his own ship that the killers would not let them Mimidon's girl and spoke to his brave comrades saying Mimidon's famed horsemen and my own trusted friends not yet for sooth let us unyoke but with horse and chariot drawn near to the body and mourn Patroclus in due honor to the dead when we have had full comfort of lamentation we will unyoke our horses and take supper all of us here on this they all joined in a cry of wailing and the killers led them in their lament thrice did they drive their chariots all sorrowing around the body and Tethys stirred within them a still deeper journey the sands of the seashore and the men's armor were wet with their weeping so great a minister of fear as he whom they had lost chief in all their mourning was the son of Perraeus he laid his bloodstained hand on the breast of his friend farewell he cried Patroclus even in the house of Hades I will now do all that I erewhile promised you I will drag Hector hither and let dogs devour him raw well of noble sons of Trojans where I also slay before your pyre to avenge you as he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely laying it at full length and just beside the beard of Patroclus the others then put off every man his armor took the horses from their chariots and seated themselves in great multitude by the ship or the fleet descendant of Icus who thereon feasted them with an abundant funeral banquet many a goodly ox with many a sheep and bleeding goat the day butchered and cut up many a tuskered boar moreover fat and well fed did they singe and set roast in the flames of Vulcan and the rivulets of blood flowed all around the place where the body was lying then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Perraeus to Agamemnon but hardly could they persuade him to come with them so wrought was he for the death of his comrade as soon as they reached Agamemnon's tent they told the serving men to set a large tripod over the fire in case they might persuade the son of Perraeus to wash the clotted gore from the body but he denied them sternly and swore it to the solemn note saying nay by King Joe first and mightiest of all gods it is not me that water should touch my body till I have led patroclus on the flames have built him a barrow and shaved my head for so long as I live no such second sorrow shall ever draw nigh me now therefore let us do all that this sad festival demands but at the break of day King Agamemnon did your men bring wood and provide all else that the dead may duly take into the realm of darkness the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight the sooner the people should turn again to their own labours thus did he speak and they did even as he had said they made haste to prepare the meal they ate and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied as soon as they had enough to eat and drink the others went to their rest and each in his own tent but the son of Perraeus lay grieving among his membranes by the shore of the sounding sea in an open place where the waves came surging in one after another he a very deep slumber too cold upon him and eased the burden of his sorrows for his limbs were wary with chasing hector around windy leaves presently the sad spirit of Patroclus junior hem like what he had been in stature voice and the light of his beaming eyes glad too as he had been glad in life the spirit hovered over his head and said you sleep a killers and have forgotten me you loved me in living but now that I'm dead you think for me no further bury me with all speed that I may pass the gates of Hades the ghosts vain shadows some men that can labor no more drive me away from them they will not yet suffer me to join those that are beyond the river and I wander all desolate by the white gates of the house of Hades give me now your hand I pray you for when you have once given me the dues of fire never shall I again come forth out of the house of Hades never more shall we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the living the cruel fate which was my birthright has yawned its white jaws around me may you too achilles fear of gods are doomed to die beneath the walls of the noble Trojans one prayer more will I make you if you will grant it let not my bones be laid apart from yours achilles but with them even as we were brought up together in your own house what time Minuitius brought me to you as a child from a poise because by a sad spite I had killed the son of Amphidhamas not of a set purpose but in childish quarrel over the dice the night biddeus took me in those house and treated me kindly and named me to be your squire therefore let our bones lie but in a single iron the two handled the golden vase given to you by your mother and achilles answered white through heart are you come here there to lay these charges upon me I will of my own self do all that you have bidden me draw closer to me let us once more throw our arms around one another and find sad comfort in the sharing of our sorrows he opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have clasped him in them but there was nothing and the spirit vanished as a vapor gibbering and whining into the earth achilles sprang to his feet smote his two hands and made lamentations saying of a truth even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and phantoms that have no life in them all night long the sad spirit of patroclus has hovered overhead making pity or small telling me what I am to do for him and looking wondrously like himself thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping and mourning about the poor dumb dead they were stiffing the mourn appeal then king Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp to bring wood and marionis squired to eat the minions was in charge over them they went out with woodmen's axes and strong ropes in their hands and before them went the mules uphill and down dale did they go by straight ways and crooked and when they reached the heights of many fountains to eat them they led their access to the roots of many at all branching oak that came thundering down as they felt it they split the trees and bound them behind the mules which then wended their way as best they could through the thick brushwood onto the plane all who had been cutting wood or logs for so many on a squad to eat the minions had bitten them and they threw them down in a line upon the seashore at the place where Achilles would make a mighty monument for patroclus and for himself when they had thrown down their great logs of wood over the whole ground they stayed all of them where they were but Achilles ordered his brave membranes to gird on their armor and they yoke each man his horses they therefore rose girded on their armor and mounted each his chariot they and their charioteers with them the chariots went before and they that were on foot followed as a cloud in their tens of thousands after in the midst of them his comrades wore patroclus and covered him with the locks of their hair which they cut off and threw upon his body last came Achilles with his head bowed for sorrow seven-year-old comrade was he taking to the house of Hades when he came to the place of which Achilles had told them they led the body down and built up the wood Achilles then thought him of another matter he went to space away from the pyre and cut off the yellow lock which he had let grow for the river Spercheius he looked all sorrowfully out upon the dark sea and said Spercheius invaded my father Pilius vowed to you that when I return home to my beloved native land I should cut off this lock and offer you a holy hecaton. Fifty-she-goes was I to sacrifice to you there at your springs. Where is your grove and your altar fragrant with burnt offerings? That's did my father vow. But you have not fulfilled his prayer and how therefore that I shall see my home no more. I give this lock as a keepsake to the hero Patroclus. As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dead comrade and all who stood by were filled with the earning and lamentation. The sun would have gone down upon the morning and not Achilles presently said to Agarion and them son of Achilles for it is to you that the people will give ear there's a time to mourn and a time to cease from mourning bid the people now leave the pyre and set about getting their dinners we whom the dead is dearest will see to what is wanted here and let the other princes also stay by me. When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed the people to their ships but those who were about the dead heaped up wood and built a pyre a hundred feet this way and that then they led the dead all sorrowfully upon the top of it they flayed and dressed many fat sheep and oxen before the pyre and the killers took fat from all of them wrapped the body therein from head to foot heeding the flayed carcasses all around against the bear he leaned two handed jars of honey and anguents four proud horses did he then cast upon the pyre groaning while he did so the dead hero had had house dogs two of them did a killer's sleigh and threw upon the pyre he also put twelve brave sons of noble trojans to the sword and laid them with the rest for he was full of bitterness and fury then he committed all to the resistless and devouring might of the fire he groaned aloud and called on his dead comrade by name farewell he cried aproclus even in the house of Hades i'm now doing all that i have promised you twelve brave sons of noble trojans shall the flames consume along with yourself but dogs not fire shall devour the flesh of hectors and a premium that's did he want but the dogs came not about the body of hector for joves daughter venus kept them off him night and day and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be torn when a killer's was dragging him about through ebus apollo moreover sent the dark cloud from heaven to earth which gave shade to the whole place where hector lay that the heat of sun might not part his body now the pyre about the dead patroclus would not kindle a killer's therefore be taught him of another matter went apart and prayed to the two winds bereus and syphirus vowing them goodly offerings he made them many drink offerings on the golden cup and besought them to come and help him that the wood might make haste to kindle and dead bodies be consumed fleet iris heard him praying and started off to fetch the winds they were holding high feast in the house of boisterous syphirus when iris came running up to the stone threshold of the house and stood there but as soon as they set eyes on her they all came towards her and each of them called her to him but iris would not sit down i cannot stay she said i must go back to the streams of oceans and the lands of the api opens who are offering hecatons to the immortals and i would have my share but the killing sprays the boreas and shrill syphirus will come to him and he vows them goodly offerings he would have you blow upon the pyre of patroclus for whom all the acaians are lamenting but this she left them and the two winds rose with a cry that rent the air and swept the clouds before them they blew on and on until they came to the sea and the waves rose high beneath them but when they reached droid they fell upon the pyre till the mighty flames are roared under the blast that they blew all night long did they blow hard and beat upon the fire and all night long did achilles grasp his double cup drawing wine from a mixing bowl of gold and calling one the spirit of dead patroclus as he poured it upon the ground earlier it was drenched as a father mourns when he's burning the bones of his bright groom's son whose death has wrung the hearts of his parents even so did achilles mourn while burning the body of his comrade pacing around the beer with piteous groaning and lamentation at length as the morning star was beginning to herald the light which saffron-metal dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea the flames fell and the fire began to die the winds then went home beyond the trachean sea which roared and boiled as they swept over it the son of believers now turned away from the pyre and lay down overcome with toil till he fell into a sweet slumber presently they who were about the son of atreus drew near in a body and roused him with the noise and tramp of their coming he sat upright and said son of atreus and all the other princes of the achaeans first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and quenched it that thus then gathered the bones of patroclus son of maynotius singling them out with care they are easily found or they lie in the middle of the pyre while all else both men and horses have been thrown in a heap and burned at the outer edge we will lay the bones in a golden urn in two layers of fat against the time when i shall myself go down into the house of hades as for the barrow labor not to raise a great one now but such as is reasonable afterwards that those achaeans who may be left at the ships when i'm gone build it both broad and high thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of pilius first they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and quenched the fire with many tears they singled out the whiteened bones of their beloved comrade and laid them within a golden urn in two layers of fat they then covered the urn with linen cloth and took it inside the tent they marked off the circle where the barrow should be made a foundation for it about the pyre but forthwith heaped up the earth when they had thus raised the mound they were going away but the killers stayed the people and made them sit in assembly they brought prices from the ships cauldrons, tripod, horses and mules, noble oxen, women with fair girdles with fourth iron the first price he offered was for the chariot race a woman skilled in all useful arts and a three-legged cauldron that had ears for handles and would hold 22 measures this was for the man who came in first for the second there was a six-year-old mare unbroken and in fold who he asked the third was to have a goodly cauldron that had never yet been on the fire it was still bright as when it left the maker and would hold four measures the fourth price was two talents of gold and the fifth to handle urn as yet unsoiled by smoke then he stood up and spoke among the archives saying son of a truce and all of the rackeins these are the prices that lie waiting the winners at the chariot races at any other time i should carry off the first price and take it to my own tent you know how far my steeds excel all others but they are immortal Neptune gave them to my father Pileus when his turn gave them to myself but i shall hold the luth i and my steeds that have lost their brave and kind driver who many a time has washed them in clear water and anointed their mains with oil see how they stand weeping here with their mains trailing on the ground in the extremity of their sorrow but do you others set yourselves in order throughout the host whosoever has confidence in his horses and in the strength of his chariot thus spoke the son of Pileus and the drivers of chariots bestowed themselves first among them all approached Eumelius king of men son of Admetus a man excellent in horsemanship next to him rose mighty the Omid son of Tideus he yoked the trotin horses which he had taken from Aeneas when Apollo bore him out of the fight next to him yellow haired menelaus son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet horses Agamemnon's mare Aethe and his own horse Podargus the mare had been given to Agamemnon by Ickipolus son of Ancesus that he might not have to follow him to Eileus but might stay at home and take his ease for Joe had endowed him with great wealth and he lived in spacious Sicium this mare all eager for the race did many leus put under the yoke forth in order Antelocus son to noble Nestor son of Nileus made ready his horses these were bred in Pileus and his father came to him to give him good advice on which however he stood in but little need Adelocus said Nestor you're young but Joe and Neptune have loved you well and have made you an excellent horseman I need not therefore say much by way of instruction you are skillful at wheeling your horses around the post but the horses themselves are very slow and it is this that will I fear my or chances the other drivers know less than you do but their horses are fleet therefore my dear son see if you cannot hit upon some artifice whereby you may ensure that the price shall not slip through your fingers the woodman does more by skill than by brute force by skill the pilot guides his storms tossed the bar over the sea and so by skill one driver can beat another if a man go wide and rounding this way in that whereas a man who knows what he's doing may have worse horses but he will keep them well in hand when he sees the doubling post he knows the precise moment at which to pull the rain he keeps his eye well on the man in front of him I will give you this certain token which cannot escape your notice there's a stump of a dead tree all copine as it may be some six feet above the ground and not yet rotted away by the rain it stands at the fork of the road it has two white stones set one on each side and there's a clear course all around it it may have been a monument to someone long since dead or it may have been used as a doubling post in days gone by now however it has been fixed on by Achilles as the more ground which the chariot shall turn hug it as close as you can but as you stand in your chariot lean over a little to the left urge on your right hand horse with voice and lash and give him a loose rein but let the left hand horse keep so close in that enable your wheel to almost graze the post but mind the stone or you will wound your horses and break your chariot in pieces which would be a sport for others with confusion for yourself therefore my dear son mind well what you are about for if you can be first around the post there's no chance of anyone giving you to go by later not even though you had addressed this horse Aryan behind you a horse which is of divine race or those of Laumidon which are the noblest in the country when Nestor had made an end of counseling his son he sat down in his place and 15 order Mirionis got ready his horses they then all mounted their chariots and cast lots Achilles shook the helmet and the lot of anti-locus son of Nestor fell out first next came that of king Eumelus and after his those of Mirionis the last place fell to the lot of diamonds son of Tideus was the best man of them all they took their places in line Achilles showed them the doubling post around which they were to turn some way off upon plane here he stationed his father's follower Phoenix as umpire to note the running and report to Uli at the same instant they all of them lashed their horses struck them with the reins and shouted at them with all their might they flew full speed over the plane away from the ships the dust rose from under them as it were cloud over all wind and their mains were all flying in the wind at one moment the chariot seemed to touch the ground and then again they bounded into the air drivers direct and the hearts beat fast and furious in the lust of victory each kept calling on his horses and the horses cowered the plane amid the clouds of dust that they raced it was when they were doing the last part of the course on their way back towards the sea that the pace was strained to the utmost and it was seen what each could do the horses of the descendant of Péris now took the lead and close behind them came the Trojan stallions of diamond they seemed as if about to mount Eumelus chariot and he could feel their warm breath on his back and his broad shoulders or their heads were close to him as they flew over the course diamond would have now passed him or there would have been a dead heat but Thebes Apollo despite him made him drop his whip tears of anger fell from his eyes as he saw the mares going on faster than ever while his own horses lost ground through his having no whip Minnava saw the trick which Apollo had played the son of Tidus so she brought him his whip and put spirit into his horses moreover she went after the son of Admitus in rage and broke his yoke for him the mares went one to one side of the course and the other to the other and the pole was broken against the ground Eumelus was thrown from his chariot close to the wheel his elbows mouth and nostrils were all torn and his forehead was bruised above the eyebrows his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance but the son of Tidus turned his horses aside and shot far ahead for Minnava put fresh strength into them and covered Dymid himself with glory Minnava's son and utterance came next behind him but Antelokas called to his father's horses on with you both he cried and do your very utmost I do not bid you try to beat the steeds of the son of Tidus for Minnava has put running into them and has covered Dymid with glory but you must overtake the horses of the son of Aptreus and not be left behind or Eiteu who is so fleetful taunt you why my good fellows are you lagging I tell you and it shall surely be Nesta will keep neither of you but will put both of you to the sword if we win any of the worst prize through your carelessness fly off to them at your utmost speed I will hit on a plan for passing them in a narrow part of the way and it shall not fail me a fair better buco than master and for a short space went quicker presently Antelokas saw a narrow place where the road had sunk the ground was broken for the winter's rain had gathered and had warned the road so that the whole place was deepened Minnavaus was making towards it as to get there first for fear of a foul but Antelokas turned his horses out of the way and followed him a little on one side the son of Aptreus was afraid and shouted out Antelokas you are driving recklessly rain in your horses the road is too narrow here it will be wider soon and you can pass me then if you foul my chariot you may bring both of us to a mischief but Antelokas applied his whip and drove faster as though he had not heard him they went side by side for about as far as a young man can hurl a disc from his shoulder when he's trying his strength and then Minnavaus mayors drew behind for he left off driving for fear the horses should foul one another and upset the chariots thus while pressing on in quest and victory they might both come headlong to the ground Minnavaus then up braided Antelokas and said there's no greater tricks for living than you are go and bad luck go with you the Acheans say not well that you have understanding and come what may you shall not bear away the price without sworn protest on my part then he called on his horses and said to them keep your face and slacken not the limbs of the other horses will wear it sooner than yours or they are neither of them young the horses feared a rebuke of their master and went faster so that they were soon nearly up with the others meanwhile the Acheans from their seats were watching how the horses went as they scoured the plain amidst clouds of their own dust Idomenius' captain of the Cretans was first to make out the running for he was not in the thick of the crowd but stood on the most commanding part of the ground the driver was a long way off but Idomenius could hear him shouting and could see the foremost horse quite plainly a chestnut with a round white star like the moon on its forehead he stood up and sat among the archives my friends princes and counselors of the archives can you see the running as well as I can there seems to be another pair in front now and another driver those that let off at the start must have been disabled out on the path I saw them at first making their way around the doubling post but now though I searched the plain of Troy I cannot find them perhaps the reins fell from the driver's hand so that he lost command of his horses at the doubling post and could not turn it I suppose he must have been thrown out there and broken his chariot whilst the smears have left the course and gone off wildly in a panic come up and see it for yourselves I cannot make out for certain but the driver seems an Aetolian by descent ruler over the archives brave daimid the son of Tideus Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said Idomenius why should you be in such a hurry to tell us all about it when the mares are still so far out upon the plain you are none of the youngest nor your eyes none of the sharpest but you're always laying down the law you have no right to do so but there are better men here than you are and maleous horses are in the front now as they've always been and he's on the chariot holding the reins the captain recreatance was angry and answered Ajax you're an excellent railer but you have no judgment and are wanting it much else as well for you have a vile temper I will wager you a tripod or cauldron and the game eminent son of Aetolius shall decide whose horses are first you will then know to your cost Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer and there would have been yet further brawling between them had not Achilles risen in his place and said cease your railing Ajax and Idomian use it is not you who would be scandalized if you saw anyone else do the like sit down and keep your eyes on the horses they are speeding towards the winning post and will be here directly you will then both of you know whose horses are first and who come after as he was speaking the son of Tideus came driving in flying his whip lustily from his shoulder and his horses stepping high as they flew over the course the sand and grit rained thick on the driver and the chariot inlaid with golden tin ran close behind his fleet horses there was little trace of wheel marks in the fine dust and the horses came flying in at their utmost speed daimid stayed them in the middle of the crowd and the sweat from their mains and chests fell in streams on the ground forthwith his prank from his good the chariot leaned his whip against this horse's yoke braves the Nelus now lost no time but at once brought him on the price and gave the woman and the ear handle cauldron to his comrades to take away then he unyoked the horses next after him came in until acus of the race of Nelus who had passed Menelaus by a trick and not by the fleet as resources but even so Menelaus came in as close behind him as the wheel is to the horse that draws both the chariot and its master the end hairs of a horse tail touched the tire of the wheel and there is never much space between wheel and horse when the chariot is going Menelaus was no further than this behind until acus though at first he had been a full disc throw behind him he had soon caught him up again far again eminence mere he kept pulling stronger and stronger so that if the course had been longer he would have passed him and they would not even have been at that heat Edomineus brave squire marionus was about the spears cast behind Menelaus his horses were slowest of all and he was the worst driver last of them all came the son of Adimetus dragging his chariot and driving his horses on in front when i clearly saw him he was sorry and stood up among the aji's saying the best man is coming in last let us give him a price but it is reasonable he shall have the second but the first must be out to the son of T. Deus thus did he speak and the others all of them applauded his saying and wait for doing as he had said but Nestor's son until acus stood up and claimed his right from the son of Peres Achilles said he i shall take it much amiss if you do this thing you would rob me of my price because you think Emelius chariot and horses were thrown out and himself too good man that is you should have prayed duly to the immortals he would not have come in last if he had done so if you are sorry for him and so choose you have much gold in your tents but bronze sheet cattle and horses take something from this store if you would have the aka and speak well of you and give him a better price even than that which you have now offered but i will not give up the mare and he that will fight me for her let him come on Achilles smiled as he heard this and was pleased with until acus who was one of his dearest comrades so he said until acus if you would have me find Emelius another price i would give him the bronze breastplate with the rim of tin running all around it which i took from aester of apes it will be worth much money to him he bated comrade autumidun bring the breastplate from his tent and he did so achilles then gave it over to emelius who received it gladly but many leus got up in a rage furiously angered until acus an attendant placed his staff in his hands and bade the archives keep silence the hero then addressed them until acus said he what is this from you who have been so far blameless you have made me cut a pole figure and bolt my horses by linking your own in front of them though yours are much worse than mine are therefore our princes and counselors of the archives judge between us and show no failure just one of the acanes say menelius has got the mare through lying and corruption the sources were far inferior to until acus but he has greater weight and influence nay i will determine the matter myself and no man will blame me for i shall do what is just come here until acus and stand as our customers whip in hand before your chariot and horses let your hand on your steeds and swear by earth and circling Neptune that you did not purposely and dialfully get in the way of my horses and until acus answered forgive me i'm much younger in many lives than you are you stand higher than i do and are the better man of the two you know how easily young men are betrayed into indiscretion their tempers are more hasty and they have less judgment make new allowances therefore and bear with me i will in my own accord give up the mare that i have won and if you claim any further chattel from my own possessions i would rather yield it to you at once and fall from your good graces henceforth and do wrong in the sight of heaven the son of nester then took the mare and gave her over to Minileus who was anguished as a beast as one do falls upon a field of ripening corn and the lands are bristling with the harvest even so old Minileus was your heart to make glad within you he turned to until acus and said now until acus angry though i have been i can give way to you on my own free will you have never been headstrong nor ill disposed to hitherto but this time your youth has gone the better of your judgment be careful how you're out with your betters in future no one else could have brought to me around so easily but your good father your brother and yourself have all of you had infinite trouble on my behalf i therefore yield to your entreaty and will give up the mare to you mine though it indeed be and people will thus see another harsh non vindicatory with this he gave the mare over to until acus comrade Neumann and then took the cauldron marionus were coming forth carried off the two talents of gold and fifth place the two handed urn being unawarded Achilles gave it to nester going up to him among the assembled archives and saying take this my good old friend as an heirloom and memorial or the funeral of patroclus for you shall see him no more among the archives i'll give you this prize though you cannot win one you can now neither wrestle nor fight and cannot enter for the javelin match nor foot races for the hand of age has been led heavily upon you so saying he gave the urn over to nester who received it gradually and answered my son all that you have said is true there's no strength now in my legs and feet nor can i hit out with my hands from either shoulder word that i was still young and strong as when the epeans were burying king amarin chev's in buprasio and his sons offered prizes in his honor there was the none that could be with me either of the apeans nor the filians themselves nor the itoleans in boxing i overcame collight to me this son of enups and in wrestling and chaos of pluron would come forward against me if iclus was a good runner but i beat him and threw father with my spear and either pilius or polydolus in chariot racing alone did the two sons of astor surpass me by crowning their horses in front of me or they were angry at the way victor had gone and at the greater part of the prizes remaining in the place in which they had been offered they were twins and the one kept on holding the reins and holding the reins while the other applied the whip such was i then but now i must leave these matters to younger men i must bow before the weight of years but in those days i was eminent among heroes and now sir bow on with the funeral contests in honor of your comrade gladly do i accept the learn and my heart rejoices that you do not forget me but are ever mindful of my goodwill towards you and of the respect due to me from the apeans for all which may the grace of heaven be most safe to you in great abundance there on the son of pilius when he had listened to the tanks of nester went about among the concourse of the apeans and presently offered prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing he brought out a strong mule and made it fast in the middle of the crowd a she mule never yet broken but six years old when it is the hardest of all to break them this was for the victor and for the vanquish to offer the double cup many stood up and said among the archives son of a truce and all of the apeans i invite our two champion boxers to lay about them lustily and compete with these prizes he to whom at hollow vouchsafe is the greater endurance and whom the acaeans and knowledge is victor shall take the mule back with him to his own tent while he that is vanquished shall have the double cup as he spoke there stood up a champion both grave and of great stature a skillful boxer a peice and a puny peice he laid his hand on the mule and said let the man who is to have the cup come hither or none but myself will take the mule i am the best boxer of all here present and none can beat me is it not enough that i should fall short of you in actual fighting still no man can be good at everything i tell you plainly and it shall come through if any man will box with me i will bruise his body and break his bones therefore let his friends stay here in a body and be at hand to take him away when i'm done with him they all held a peace and no man rose save euryale son of maki steus was the son of talaus maki steus went once to tb's after the fall of edepus to attend his funeral and he beat all the people of cuddams the son of the deus was eurylaus second cheering him on and hoping he hard to lead that he would win first he put the waistband around him and then he gave him some well-cut tongues of oxhide the two men being now girthed went into the middle of the ring and immediately fell to heavily indeed did they punish one another and lay about them with their brony fists one could hear the horrid crashing of their jaws and they sweated from every pore of their skin presently epeus came on and gave eurylaus a blow on his jaw as he was looking around eurylaus could not keep his legs they gave way under him in a moment and he sprang up with a bound as a fish leaps into the air near some shore that is all his strewn with sea rack when brave first the top of the waves and then falls back into deep water but noble epeus caught hold of him and raised him up his comrades also came around him and led him from the ring and stood in his gate his head hanging on one side and spitting great plots of gore they set him down in a swoo and then went to fetch the Delocca the son of epeus now brought out the prizes for the third contest and showed them to the archives these were for the painful art of restling for the winner there was a great tripod ready for setting up on the fire and the echeans valued it among themselves at twelve oxen for the looser he brought out one skilled in all of men's wards and they valued her at four oxen the rose who set him on the archives stand forward you will assay this contest fortuit rose great ajax the son of tiliman and craft Ulysses full of wilds rose also the two girded themselves and went into the middle of the ring they gripped each other in their strong hands like the rafters which some master built the frames for the roof of high house to keep the wind out the backbones cracked as they dug at one another with their mighty arms and sweat rain from them in torrents many a bloody wheel sprang up on their sides and shoulders but they kept on striving with might and main for victory and to win the tripod Ulysses could not throw ajax nor ajax him Ulysses was too strong for him but when the echeans began to tire of watching them ajax said to Ulysses Ulysses you should either lift me or i you and let joe settle it between us he lifted him from the ground as he spoke but Ulysses did not forget his cunning he hit ajax and hollow at the back of his knee so that he could not keep his feet but fell on his back with Ulysses lying upon his chest and all who saw it marveled the new Ulysses in turn lifted ajax and stirred him a little from the ground but could not lift him right off it his knees sank under him and the two fell side by side on the ground and were all begrined with dust they now sprang towards one another and were for wrestling at the third time but the curious rose and stayed in them could not each other further said he such cruel suffering the victories with both alike take each of you an equal price and let the other canes now complete as did he speak and they did even as he had said and put on their shirts once again after wiping the dust from off their bodies the son of Pilius then offered prices for speed and running a mixing bowl beautifully wrought of pure silver it would hold six measures and far exceeded all others in the whole world for beauty it was the work of cunning artificers in Cidon and had been brought into port by Phoenicians from beyond the sea who had made a present of it to us. Euneus son of Jason had given it to Patroclus in ransom of Priam's son Vikaun and Achilles now offered it as a prize in honor of his comrade to him who should be the swiftest runner for the second price he offered a large ox well fattened while for the last there was to be half a talent of gold he then rose and said among the archives stand forward you who will essay this contest fortuit uproads feed ajax son of Oileus with cunning Ulysses and Nestos son Antelocus the fastest runner among all the youth of his time they stood side by side and Achilles showed them the gold the course was set out for them from the starting post and the son of Oileus took the lead at once with Ulysses as close behind him as the shuttle is to a wounds bosom where she throws the wool across the wall and holds it close up to her even so close behind him was Ulysses threading in his footprints before the dust could settle there and Ajax could feel his breath on the back of his head as he runs swiftly on the acayans all shouted applause as they saw him straining his utmost and cheered him as he shot past them but when they were now nearing the end of the course Ulysses prayed inwardly to Minerva hear me he cried and help my feet oh goddess that's did he pray and palace Minerva heard his prayer she made his hands and his feet feel light when the runners were at the point of pouncing upon the price Ajax through Minerva's spite slipped upon some offal that was lying there from the cattle which Achilles had slaughtered in the honor of Batocles and his mouth and nostrils were all filled with cow dung Ulysses therefore carried off the mixing bowl for he got before Ajax and came in first but Ajax took the ox and stood with his hand on one of his swords spitting the dung out of his mouth then he said to the Archives alas the goddess has spoiled my running she watches over Ulysses and stands by him as though she were his own mother and thus did he speak and they all of them laughed heartily until August carried off the last price and smiled as he said to the bystanders he all seen my friends that now two the gods have shown their respect for seniority Ajax is somewhat older than I am and as for Ulysses he belongs to an earlier generation but he is hailed in spite of his years and no man of the Achaeans can run against him save only Achilles he said this to pay a compliment to the son of Pelius and Achilles answered Antelokus you shall not have praised me to no purpose I should give you an additional half talent of gold it then gave the half talent to Antelokus who received it gladly then the son of Pelius brought out the spear helmet and shield that had been worn by Sarpinum and were taken from him by Patroclus he stood up and sat among the Achaeans we bid two champions put on their armor take their king blades and make trial of one another in the presence of the multitude whichever of them can first wound the flesh of the other cut through his armor and draw blood to him will I give this good iteration resolved in labored silver which I took from esteropius but the armor let both hold in partnership and I will give each of them a hearty meave in my own tent fortuit apros great Ajax the son of Telemon has also a mighty diamond son of Tideus when they had put on their armor each on his outside of the ring they both went into the middle eager to engage and with fire flashing from their eyes the Achaeans marveled as they beheld them and when the two were now close up with one another thrice did they spring forward and thrice tried to strike each other in close combat Ajax pierced diamonds around shield but did not draw blood for the curas beneath the shield protected him there on the son of Tideus from over his huge shield kept aiming continuously at Ajax neck at the point of his spear and the Achaeans alarms for his safety made them leave of fighting and divide the price between them Achilles then gave the great sword to the son of Tideus with its scabbard and a leatheren belt with which to hang it Achilles next offered a massive iron quite which mighty Aetion had air while being used to her until Achilles had slain him and carried it off in his ships among with other spoils he stood up and said among the archives step forward you who essay this contest he who wins it will have a store of iron that will last him five years as they go rolling around and if his fair fields lie far from a town his shepherd or plowman will not have to make a journey to buy iron for he will have a stock of it on his own premises then approached the mighty men holy poetus and leontos with Ajax son of Tilemon and noble apeus they stood up one after the other and the apeus took the quote welded and flung it from him which set all the Achaeans laughing after him threw leontos for the race of Mars Ajax son of Tilemon threw third and sent the quote beyond any mark that had been made yet but when mighty holy poetus took the quote he hurled it as though it had been a stockman's stick which he sensed flying about among his cattle when he's driving them so far did his throw out distance to those of the others all who saw it roar the claws and his comrades carried the price for him and set it on board the ship Achilles next offered a price of iron for archery 10 double-edged axes and 10 with single edges he set up a ship's mast some way off upon the sands and with a fine string tied a pigeon to it by the foot this was what they were to aim at whoever he said and hit the pigeon shall have all the axes and take them away with him he who eats the string without hitting the bird will have taken the worst aim and shall have a single edge at the axes then approached King Teukar in marioness the stalwart squire of the dominion was also they cast lots in the bronze helmet and a lot of Teukar fell first he let fly with his arrow forthwith but he did not promise hecatombs of fistling lambs to King Apollo and missed his bird for Apollo foiled his aim but he hit the string with which the bird was tied near its foot the arrow cut the string clean through so that it hung down towards the ground while the bird flew up into the sky and the acayans shouted applause marioness where his arrow ready while Teukar was aiming snatched the bow out of his hand and at once promised that he would sacrifice a hecatomb of fistling lambs to Apollo lord of the bow then aspiring the pigeon high up under the clouds he hit her in the middle of the wing as she was circling upward the arrow went clean through the wing and fixed itself in the ground of marioness feet but the bird perched on the ship's mast hanging her head and with all her feathers stooping the life went out of her and she fell heavily from the mast marioness therefore took all the ten double-edged axes while Teukar wore off the single-edged ones to his ships then the son of Thileus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had never been on the fire it was worth an ox and was chased with a pattern of flowers and those that threw the javelin stood up to wit the son of Athreus king of men agamemnon and marioness stalwart squire of edamanius but Achilles spoke saying son of Athreus we know how far you excel all others both in power and in throwing the javelin take the cauldron back with you to your ships but if it so pleases you let us give the spear to marioness this at least is what i should do myself wish king agamemnon assented so he gave the bronze spear to marioness and handed the goodly cauldron to Thileus his squire and a book 23 recording by Monsbrew Helsingfors Finland book 24 of the Iliad this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler book 24 Priam ransoms the body of Hector Hector's funeral the assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to his own ship there they made ready their supper and then bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep but Achilles still wept for thinking of his dear comrade and sleep for whom all things bow could take no hold upon him this way and that did he turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Petroclus he thought of all they had done together and all they had gone through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary sea as he dwelt on these things he wept bitterly and lay now on his side now on his back and now face downwards till the last he rose and went out as one distraught to wander upon the seashore then when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea he yoked his horses to his chariot and bound the body of Hector behind it that he might drag it about thrice did he drag it around the tomb of the son of Minotius then went back to his tent leaving the body on the ground full length and with its face downwards but Apollo would not suffer it to be disfigured for he pitied the man dead though he now was therefore he shielded him with his golden eages continually that he might take no hurt while Achilles was dragging him thus shamefully did Achilles and his fury dishonor Hector but the blessed gods looked down and pity from heaven and urged Mercury slayer of Argus to steal the body all were of this mind save only Juno Neptune and Jove's gray-eyed daughter who persisted in the hate which they ever bore towards Ilius with Priam and his people for they forgave not the wrong done to them by Alexandrus and disdaining the goddesses who came to him while he was in his sheep yards and preferring her who had offered him a wanton to his ruin when therefore the morning of the twelfth day had now come Phoebus Apollo spoke among the immortal saying you gods ought to be ashamed of yourselves you are cruel and hard-hearted did not Hector burn you thigh bones of heifers and of unblemished goats and now dare you not rescue even his dead body for his wife to look upon with his mother and child his father Priam and his people who would forth with commit him to the flames and give him his due funeral rites so then you would all be on the side of Matt Achilles who knows neither right nor Ruth he is like some savage lion that in the pride of his great strength and daring springs upon men's flocks and gorgeous on them even so as Achilles flung aside all pity and all that conscious which once so greatly veins yet greatly boons him that will heed it man may lose one far dearer than Achilles is lost a son it may be or a brother born from his own mother's womb yet when he has mourned him and wept over him he will let him bide for it takes much sorrow to kill a man whereas Achilles now that he has slain noble Hector drags him behind his chariot around the tomb of his comrade it would be better of him and for him that he should not do so for brave though he be we gods may take it ill that he should vent his fury upon dead clay Juno spoke up in a rage this were well she cried oh lord of the silver bow if you would give like honor to Hector and to Achilles but Hector was moral and suckled at a woman's breast whereas Achilles is the offspring of a goddess whom I myself reared and brought up I married her to Pellius who is above measure dear to the immortals you gods came all of you to her wedding you feasted along with them yourselves and brought your liar false and fond of low company that you have ever been then said jove Juno be not so bitter their honor shall not be equal but of all that dwell in Ilias Hector was dearest to the gods as also to myself for his offerings never failed me never was my altar stinted of his dues nor of the drink offerings and savior of sacrifice which we claim of right I shall therefore permit the body of mighty Hector to be stolen and yet this may hardly be without Achilles coming to know it for his mother keeps night and day beside him let's send one of you therefore send Thetis to me and I will impart my counsel to her namely that Achilles is to accept a ransom for Priam and to give up the body on this iris fleet is the wind went forth to carry his message down she plunged into the dark sea midway between Samus and Rocky Imbrus the waters hissed as they closed over her and she sank into the bottom as the lead at the end of an oxhorn that is sped to carry death to fishes she found Thetis sitting in a great cave with the other sea goddesses gathered round her there she sat in the mist of them weeping for her noble son who was to fall far from his own land on the rich plains of Troy iris went up to her and said rise Thetis jove whose counsels failed not bid you to come to him and Thetis answered why does the mighty god so bid me I am in great grief and shrink from going in and out among the immortals still I will go and the word that he may speak shall not be spoken in vain the goddess took her dark veil then which there can be no row more somber and went forth with fleet iris leading the way before her the waves of the sea opened them a path and when they reached the shore they flew up into the heavens where they found the all-seeing son of Saturn with the blessed gods that live forever assembled near him Minerva gave a proceed to her and she sat down by the side of her father jove Juno then placed a fair cup in her hand and spoke to her in words of comfort whereon Thetis drank and gave her back the cup and the sire of the gods and men was the first to speak so goddess said he for all your sorrow and the grief that I know reigns ever in your heart you have come hither to Olympus and I will tell you why I have sent for you this nine days past the immortals have been quarreling about Achilles Waster of cities and the body of Hector the gods would have mercury slayer of argus steal the body but in furtherance of our peace and amity hands forward I shall concede such honor to your son as I will now tell you go then to the host and lay these commands upon him say that the gods are angry with him and that I am myself more angry than them all and that he keeps Hector at the ships and will not give him up he may thus fear me and let the body go at the same time I will send iris to great priam to bid him to go to the ships of the Achaeans and ransom his son taking with him such gifts for Achilles as may give him satisfaction silver foot to Thetis did as the god had told her and forthwith down she darted from the top most summits of Olympus she went to her son's tents where she found him grieving bitterly while his trusty comrades around him were busy preparing their morning meal for which they had killed a great woolly sheep his mother sat down beside him and caressed him with her hand saying my son how long will you keep on thus grieving and making moan you are gnawing at your own heart and think neither a food nor of women's embraces and yet these two were well for you have no long time to live and death with the strong hand of fate are already close beside you now therefore heed what I say for I come as a messenger from joe he says that the gods are angry with you and that himself more angry than them all in that you keep Hector at the ships and will not give him up therefore let him go and accept a ransom for his body and Achilles answered so be it if Olympian joe of his own motion thus commands me let him that brings the ransom bear the body away thus did mother and son talk together at the ships and long discourse with one another meanwhile the son of Saturn sent Iris to the strong city of Ilias go said he fleet Iris from the mansions of Olympus until King Priam in Ilias that he is to go to the ships of the Achaeans and free the body of his dear son he is to take such gifts with him and shall give satisfaction to Achilles and he is to go alone with no other Trojan save only some honored servant who may drive his mules and wagon and bring back the body of whom noble Achilles is slain let him have no thought nor fear of death in his heart for we will send the slayer of Argus to escort him and bring him within the tent of Achilles Achilles will not kill him nor let another do so for he will take heed to his ways and sin not and he will entreat the supplement with all honorable courtesy on this Iris fleet is the wind sped forth to deliver her message she went to Priam's house and found weeping and lamentation therein his sons were seated around their father in the outer courtyard and their raiment was wet with tears the old man sat in the mist of them with his mantle wrapped close around his body and his head and neck all covered with the filth which he had clutched while he lay groveling in the mire his daughters and his son's wives went wailing about the house as they thought of the many and brave men who lay dead slain by the Argus the messenger of Jove stood by Priam and spoke softly to him but fear fell upon him as she did so take heart she said Priam offspring of darkness take heart and fear not I bring no evil tidings but a minded well towards you I come as a messenger from Jove who though he'd be not near takes thought for you and pities you the lord of Olympus bid you go and ransom noble Hector and take with you such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles you are to go alone with no Trojan save only some honor servant who may drive your mules and wagon and bring back to the city the body of him whom noble Achilles is slain you are to have no thought nor fear of death for Jove will send the slayer of Argus to escort you when he has brought you within Achilles tent Achilles will not kill you nor let another do so for he will take heed to his ways and sin not and he will entreat a supplement with all honorable courtesy. Argus went away when she had thus spoken and Priam told his sons to get a mule wagon ready and to make the body of the wagons fast upon the top of its bed then he went down to his fragment storeroom high vaulted and made of cedarwood where his many treasures were kept and he called Hecuba his wife wife said he a messenger has come to me from Olympus and has told me to go to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom my dear son taking with me such gifts as shall give satisfaction to Achilles what do you think of this matter for my own part I am greatly moved to pass through the camps of the Achaeans and go to their ships his wife cried aloud as she heard him and said alas what has become of that judgment for which you have ever been famous both among strangers and your own people how can you venture alone to the ships of the Achaeans and look into the face of him who has slain so many of your brave sons you must have iron courage for if the cruel savage sees you and lays hold on you he will know neither respect nor pity let us then we picked her from afar here in our own house for when I gave him birth the threads of overruling fate respond for him that dog should eat his flesh far from his parents and the house of that terrible man on whose liver I have feigned fasted and devour it thus would I avenge my son who showed no cowardice when Achilles slew him and thought neither a flight nor of avoiding battle as he stood in defense of Trojan men and Trojan women then Priam said I would go do not therefore stay me nor be as a bird of Iloman in my house for you will not move me had it been some mortal man who had sent me some prophet or priest who divides from sacrifice I should have deemed him false and given him no heed but now I have heard the goddess and seen her face to face therefore I will go and her saying shall not be in vain if it be my fate to die at the ship of the Achaeans even so would I have it let Achilles slay me if I may but first have taken my son in my arms and mourned him to my heart's comfort him and so saying he lifted the lids of his chests and took out 12 goodly vestments he also took 12 cloaks of single fold 12 rugs 12 fair mantles and an equal number of shirts he weighed out 10 talons of gold and brought more over two burnished tripods four cauldrons and a very beautiful cup which the Thracians had given him when he had gone to them on an embassy it was very precious but he grudged not even this so eager was he to ransom the body of his son then he chased all the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with words of anger out he cried shame and disgrace to me that you are have you no grief in your own homes that you have come to plague me here is it a small thing think you that the son of Saturn has set the sorrow upon me to lose the bravest of my sons nay you shall prove it in person for now he is gone the Achaeans will have easier work in killing you as for me let me go down within the house of Hades air my eyes behold the sacking and wasting of the city he drove them and away with his staff and they went forth as the old man sped them then he called to his sons upgrading Hellenus Paris Noble Agathon Pamon Antiphonus Halites of the loud battle cry the Iphibus Hippithus and Dius these nine did the old man call near him come to me at once he cried worthless sons who do me shame would that you would all being killed at the ships rather than Hector miserable man that I am I have had the bravest sons and I'll Troy Noble Nestor Troilus the dauntless charioteer and Hector who is a god among men so that one would have thought he was a son of an immortal yet there is not one of them left Mars is slain them and those of whom I am ashamed are alone left me liars and light of foot heroes of the dance robbers of lambs and kids from your own people why do you not get a wagon ready for me at once and put all these things upon it that I might set upon my way thus did he speak and they feared the rebuke of their father they brought out a strong mule wagon newly made and set the body of the wagon fast on its bed they took the mule yoke from the peg on which it hung a yoke of boxwood with a knob on the top of it and rings for the reins to go through then they brought a yoke band 11 cubits long to bind the yoke to the pole they bound it on the far end of the pole and put the ring over the upright pin making it fast with three turns on the band on either side of the knob and bending the thug on the yoke behind it this done they brought from the store chamber the rich ransom which was to purchase the body of Hector and they set it all orderly on the wagons then they yoke the strong harness mules which the Missians had on a time given as a goodly present to Priam but for Priam himself they yoked horses which the old king had bred and kept for his own use thus heedfully did Priam and a servant see to the yoking of their cars at the palace then Hecobo came to them all sorrowful with a golden goblet of wine in the right hand that they might make a drink offering before they set out she stood in front of the horses and said take this make a drink offering to father jove and since you are minded to go to the ships in spite of me pray that you may come safely back from the hands of your enemies pray to the son of Saturn Lord of the whirlwind who sits on Ida and looks down over all Troy pray him to send a swift messenger on your right hand the bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to him of all birds that you may see it with your own eyes and trust it as you go forth to the ships of the denayans if all seeing jove will not send you this messenger however set upon it you may be I will not have you go to the ships of the archives and Priam answered wife I will do as you desire me it is well to lift hands and prayer to jove if so be it he may have mercy upon me with this the old man bade the serving woman pour pure water over his hands and the woman came bearing the water in a ball he washed his hands and took the cup from his wife then he made the drink offering and prayed standing in the middle of the courtyard and turning his eyes to heaven father jove he said that rule is from Ida most glorious and most great grant that I may be received kindly and compassionately in the tents of Achilles and send your swift messenger upon my right hand the bird of omen which is strongest and most dear to you of all birds and I may see it with my own eyes and trust it as I go forth to the ships of the denayans so did he pray in jove the lord of council heard his prayer forthwith he sent an eagle the most unerring portent of all birds that fly the dusky hunter that men also call the black eagle his wings were spread abroad on either side as wide as the well made and well bolted door of rich man's chamber he came to them flying over the city upon the right hands and when they saw him they were glad and their hearts took comfort within them the old man made haste to mount his chariot and drove out through the inner gateway and under the echoing gatehouse of the outer court before him went the mules drawing the four-wheeled wagon and driven by the wise adias behind these were the horses which the old man lashed with his whip and drove swiftly through the city all his friends followed after wailing and lamenting for him as though he were on the road to death as soon as they had come down from the city and reached the plane his sons and son-in-laws who had followed him went back to ileus but priam and adias as they showed out upon the plane did not escape the kin of all seeing jove who looked down upon the old man and pitied him then he spoke to his son mercury and said mercury for it is you who are the most disposed to escort men on their way and to hear those whom you will hear go and so conduct priam to the ships of the achaeans that no other of the danaeans shall see him or take note of him till he reached the son of peleus thus he spoke and mercury guide and guardian slayer of argus did as he was told forthwith he bound on his glittering golden sandals with which he could fly like the wind over land and sea he took the wand with which he seals men's eyes and sleep or wakes them just as he pleases and flew holding it in his hand till he came to trey into the helispont to look upon he was like a young man of noble birth in the heyday of his youth and beauty with the down just coming upon his face now when priam and adias had driven past the great tomb of ileus they stayed their mules and horses that they might drink in the river for the shades of night were falling when therefore adias saw mercury standing near them he said to priam take heed to send it of dartiness here is the matter which demands consideration i see a man who i think will presently fall upon us let us fly with our horses or at least embrace his knees and implore him to take compassion upon us when he heard this the old man's heart failed him and he was in great fear he stayed where he was as one dazed and the hare stood on end over his whole body but the bringer of good luck came up to him and took him by the hand saying with her father are you thus driving your mules and horses in the dead of night when other men are asleep are you not afraid of the fearsome kians who are hard by you so cruel and relentless should one of them see you bearing so much treasure through the darkness of the flying night what would not your state be then you are no longer young and he who is with you is too old to protect you from those who would attack you for myself i will do you no harm and i will defend you from anyone else for you remind me of my own father and prime answered it is indeed as you say my dear son nevertheless some god has held his hand over me in that he has sent such a way of error as yourself to meet me so opportunity you are so comely in me and in figure and your judgment is so excellent that you must come of blessed parents then said the slayer of argus guide and guardian sir all that you have said is right but tell me and tell me true are you taking this treasure to send it to a foreign people where it may be safe or are you leaving strong ilias in dismay now that your son is fallen who was the bravest men among you and was never lacking in battle with the echeans and prime said who are you my friend and who are your parents that you may speak so truly about the fate of my unhappy son the slayer of argus guide and guardian answered him sir you would prove me that you question me about noble hector many a time i have set eyes upon him in battle when he was driving the argives to their ships and putting them to the sword we stood still and marveled for Achilles in his anger with the son of atreus suffered has not to fight i am his squire and came with him in the same ship i am a murmur done and my father's name is polyctor he is a rich man and about as old as you are he has six sons besides myself and i am the seventh when we cast lots it fell upon me to sail hither with Achilles i am now come from the ships on the plane for with daybreak the echeans will set battle and array upon the city they chafe at doing nothing and are so eager that their princes cannot hold them back then answered prime if you are indeed the squire of achilles son of polyus tell me now the whole truth is my son still at the ships or has Achilles hewn him limb from limb and given him to his hounds sir replied the slayer of argus guide and guardian neither hounds nor vultures have yet devoured him he is still just lying at the tents by the ship of Achilles and though it is now 12 days that he is laying there his flesh is neither wasted nor have the worms eaten him although they feed on warriors at daybreak Achilles drags him cruelly around the sepulchre of his dear comrade but it does him no hurt you should come yourself and see how he lies fresh as do with the blood all washed away and his wounds every one of them closed though many pierced him with their spears such care of the blessed gods taken of your brave son for he was dear to them beyond all measure the old man was comforted when he heard this and said my son see what a good thing it is to have made do offerings to the immortals for assures that he was born my son never forgot the gods that hold olympus and now they were quieted to him even in death except therefore at my hands this goodly chalice guard me and with heaven's help guide me till i come to the tent at the son of pelleus then answered the slayer of argus guide and guardian sir you are tempting me and playing upon my youth but you shall not move me for you are offering me presence without the knowledge of Achilles who by fear and hold it great guilt to defraud lest some evil presently befall me but as your guide i will go with you even to Argos itself and will guard you so carefully whether by sea or land that no one should attack you through making light of him who was with you the bringer of good luck then sprang upon the chariot and seizing the whip and reins he breathed fresh spirit into the mules and horses when they reached the trench and the wall that was before the ships those who were on guard had just been getting their suppers and the slayer of argus threw all into a deep sleep then he drew back the bolts to open the gates and took prime inside with the treasures he had upon his wagon earlong they came to the lofty dwelling of the son of pelleus for which the mermidans had cut pine and which they had built for their king when they had built it they thatched it with the coarse tusset grass which they had mown out on the plain and all around it they made a large courtyard which was fenced with stakes set close together the gate was barred with a single bolt of pine which it took three men to force into its place and three to draw it back as to open the gate but Achilles could draw it back by himself mercury opened the gate for the old man and brought in the treasure that he was taking with him for the son of pelleus then he sprang from the chariot onto the ground and said sir it is I immortal mercury that have come with you for my father sent me to escort you I will leave you now and will not enter into the presence of Achilles for I might anger him that a god should befriend mortal men this openly though you within and embrace the knees of the son of pelleus beseech him by his father his lovely mother and his son thus you may move him with these words mercury went back on high olympus primes sprang from the chariot to the ground and leaving ideas where he was in charge of the mules and horses the old man went straight into the house where Achilles love of the gods was sitting there he found him with his men seated at a distance from him only two the hero automaton and alchemists of the waste of mars were busy in attendance about his person for he had but just been done eating and drinking and the table was still there king prime entered without there seeing him and going right up to Achilles he grasped his knees and kissed the dread murderous hands that had slain so many of his sons and when some cruel spite has befallen a man that he should have killed someone in his own country and was applied to a great man's protection in the land of strangers and all marvel who see him even so did Achilles marvel as he beheld prime the others looked one to another and marveled also but prime be sought Achilles saying think of your father o Achilles like unto the gods who is even as i am on the sad threshold of old age it may be that those who dwell near him harass him and there is none to keep war and ruin from him yet when he hears of you being still alive he is glad and his days are full of hope that he shall see his dear son come to him from Troy but i wretched man that i am had the bravest and all Troy for my sons and there was not one of them left i had 50 sons when the Achaeans came here 19 of them were from a single womb and the others were born to me by the women in my household the greater part of them has fierce mars laid low and hector him who was alone left him who was the guardian of the city and ourselves him have you lately slain therefore i am now come to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great ransom fear o Achilles the wrath of heaven think on your father and have compassion upon me who am the more pitiable for i have steeled myself as no man has ever steeled himself before me and have raised to my lips the hand of him who slew my son thus spoke priam and the heart of Achilles yearned as he bethought him of his father he took the old man's hand and moved him gently away the two wept bitterly priam as he laid Achilles feet weeping for hector and Achilles now for his father and now for patrickless till the house was filled with their lamentation but when Achilles was now sated with grief and had unburdened the bitterness of his sorrow he left his seat and raised the old man by the hand in pity for his white hair and beard then he said unhappy man you have indeed been greatly daring how could you venture to come alone to the ships of the Achaeans and enter the presence of him who has slain so many of your brave sons you must have iron courage sit now upon this seat and for all our grief we shall hide our sorrows in our hearts for weeping when out of alice the immortals know no care yet the lot they spin for manners full of sorrows on the floor of Job's palace they stand two urns the one filled with evil gifts the other with good ones he for whom Job the lord of thunder mixes the gifts he sends will now meet with good and now with evil fortune but he to whom Job sends none but evil gifts will be pointed at with a finger of scorn and the hand of famine will pursue him to the hands of the earth and he will go up and down the face of the earth respected neither by gods nor men even so that it befall Peleus the gods endowed him with all good things from his birth upwards for he reigned over the murmur dens excelling all men in prosperity and wealth and mortal though he was they gave him a goddess for his bride but even on him too did heaven send misfortune for there was no race of royal children born to him in his house save one son who was doomed to die all untimely nor may I take care of him now that he is growing old for I must stay here at Troy to be the bane of you and your children and you too opriam I have heard that you were a four-time happy they say that in wealth and plentitude of offspring you surpassed all that is in lesbos the realm of Mechar to the northward Phrygia that is more inland and those that dwell upon the great helispont but from the day when the dwellers in heaven sent this evil upon you war and slaughter have been about your city continually bear up against it and let there be some intervals in your sorrow mourn as you may for your brave son you will take nothing by it you cannot raise him from the dead here you do so yet another sorrow should befall you in prime answered oh king bid me not be seated while Hector is still lying uncared for in your tense but accept the great ransom which I have brought you and give him to me at once that I may look upon him may you prosper with the ransom and reach your own land in safety seeing that you have suffered me to live and to look upon the light of the sun Achilles looked at him sternly and said vex me sir no longer I am myself minded to give up the body of Hector my mother daughter of the old man of the sea came to me from jove to bid me deliver it to you moreover I know well opriam and you cannot hide it that some god has brought you to the ships of the Achaeans for else no man strong and in his prime would dare to come to our host he can either pass our guard unseen nor draw the bolt from my gates thus easily therefore provoke me no further lest I sin against the word of jove and suffer you not simply as though you are within my tense the old man feared him and obeyed then the son of Peleus sprang like a lion through the door of his house not alone but with him when his two squires Altamedon and Alchemist who were closer to him than any others of his comrades now that patrickless was no more these undyoked the horses and mules and bade primes herald and attended be seated within the house they lifted the ransom for Hector's body from the wagon but they left two mantles and a goodly shirt that Achilles might wrap the body in them when he gave it to them to be taken home then he called to his servants and ordered them to wash the body and anointed but he first took it to a place where prime would not see it lest if he did he should break out in the bitterness of his grief and enrage Achilles who might kill him and sin against the word of jove when the servants had washed the body and anointed it and had wrapped it in the fair shirt and mantle Achilles himself lifted it onto the buyer and he and his men then laid it on the wagon he cried aloud as he did so and called on the name of his dear comrade be not angry with me patrickless he said if you hear even in the house of Hades that I have given Hector to his father for the ransom it has been no unworthy one and I shall share it equitably with you Achilles then went back into the tent and took his place on the richly and laid seat from which he had risen by the wall which was at right angles to the one against Priam was sitting Suri said your son is now laid upon his buyer and has ransomed according to desire you shall look upon him when you take him away at daybreak for the present let us prepare our supper even lovely Naomi had to think about eating though her 12 children six daughters and six lusty sons had all been slain in her house Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver bow to punish Naomi and Diana slew the daughters because Naomi had vaulted herself against Leto she said leto had born two children only whereas she had born many whereupon the two killed the many nine days did they lie weltering and there was none to bury them for the son of Saturn turned the people into stone but on the tenth day the gods in heaven themselves buried them and Naomi then took food being worn out with weeping they say that somewhere along the rocks on the mountain pastures of syphilis where the nymphs live that haunt the river Achalos there they say she lives in stone and still nurses the sorrow sent upon her by the hand of heaven therefore noble sir let us too now take food you can eat for your dear son hereafter as you are burying him back to Ilias and many a tear will he cost you with this Achilles sprang from his seat and killed a sheep of silvery whiteness which is follower skinned and made ready all in due order they cut the meat carefully up into smaller pieces spitted them and drew them off again when they were well roasted Ottoman brought bread and fair baskets and served around the table while Achilles dealt out the meat and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them as soon as they had had enough to eat and drink priam descendant of dartiness marveled at the strength and beauty of Achilles for he was a god to see and Achilles marveled at priam as he listened to him and looked upon his noble presence when they had gazed their fill priam spoke first and now okaying he said take me to my couch and we may lay down and enjoy the blessed boon of sleep never once in my eyes been closed from the day your hands took the life of my son I have graveled without ceasing in the mire of my stable yard making moan and brooding over my countless sorrows now moreover I have eaten bread and drunk wine hitherto I have tasted nothing as he spoke Achilles told his men and women servants to set beds in the room that were in the gatehouse and to make with good red rugs and spread coverlets on the top of them with woollen cloaks for priam and idiots to wear so the maze went out carrying a torch and got the two breads ready in all haste then Achilles said laughingly to priam dear sir you shall lie outside lest some counselor of those who in due course keep coming to advise with me should see you here in the darkness of the flying night and tell it to Agamemnon this might cause delay in the delivery of the body and now tell me and tell me true for how many days would you celebrate the funeral rites of noble Hector tell me that I may hold a loo from war and restrain the host and priam answered since then you suffer me to bury my noble son with all due rites do thus Achilles and I shall be grateful you know how we are pent up within our city it is far for us to fetch wood from the mountains and the people live in fear nine days therefore will we mourn Hector in my house on the tenth day we will bury him and there shall be a public feast in his honor on the eleventh day we will build a mound over his ashes on the twelfth if there need be we will fight and Achilles answered all king priam shall be as you have said I will stay our fighting for as long time as you have named and as he spoke he lay his hands on the old man's right rest in token that he should have no fear thus then did priam and his attendant sleep there in the forecourt full of thought while Achilles lie in the inner room of the house with fair Brysus by his side and now both gods and mortals were fast to sleep through the live long night but upon mercury alone the bringer of good luck sleep could take no hold for he was thinking all the time how to get king priam away from the ships without his being seen by the strong force of sentinels he hovered therefore over priam's head and said sir now that Achilles has spared your life you seem to have no fear about sleeping in the thick of your foes you have paid a great ransom and you have received the body of your son where you're still alive in a prisoner the sons who may have left at home would have to give three times as much to free you and so it would be of agnomenon and the other Achilles were to know of you being here when he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant mercury then yoked their horses and mules and drove them quickly through the host so that no man perceived them when they came to the ford of ediings anthus begotten of immortal jove mercury went back to the high Olympus and dawn in robe of saffron began to break all over the land priam and edius then drove on towards the city lamenting a making moan and the mules drew the body of hector no one either man or woman were saw them cocasandra fair as golden venus standing on pergamas called sight of her dear father and his chariot and his servant that was the city's heralds with him then she saw him that was lying upon the buyer drawn by the mules and with a loud cry she went about the city saying come hither trojans man and woman and look upon hector if ever you were choice to see him coming from battle when he was alive look now on him that was the glory of our city and all of our people at this there was not a man or woman left in the city so great a sorrow had possessed them hard by the gates they met priam as he was bringing in the body hector's wife and his mother were the first to mourn him they flew towards the wagon and laid their hands upon his head while the crowd stood weeping around them they would have stayed before the gates weeping and lamenting the lived long day to the going down to the sun had not priam spoke to them from the chariot and said make way for the mules to pass you afterwards when i have taken the body home you shall have your fill of weeping at this the people stood asunder and made a way for the wagon when they had borne the body within the house they laid it upon a bed and seated minstrels rounded to lead the dirge where on the women joined in the sad music of their lament foremost among the mall and drama k led their wailing as she clasped the head of mighty hector in her embrace husband she cried you have died young and leave me in the house of widow he of whom we are the ill-starred parents is still a mere child and i fear that he may not reach manhood he or he can do so our city will be raised and overthrown for you who watched over it i know more you who were a savior the guardian of our wives and children our women will be carried away captives to the ships and i among them while you my child who will be with me will be put to some unseemly tasks working for a cruel master or maybe some mccheon will hurl you or miserable death from our walls to avenge some brother or son or father whom hector slew many of them have indeed bitten the dust in his hands for your father's hand in battle was no light one therefore do the people mourn him you have left oh hector sorrow unutterable to your parents and my own grief is greatest of all for you do not stretch forth your arms and embrace me as you lie dying nor say to me any words that might have lived with me in my tears night and day forevermore bitterly did she weep the while and the women joined in her lament hekuba and her turn took up the strains of well hector she cried dearest to me of all my children so long as you were alive the gods loved you well and even in death they have not been utterly unmindful of you for when achilles took other of my sons he would sell them beyond the seas to samos imbrose or to rugged lemnos and when he had slain you too with the sword many a time did he drag you around the sepulchre of his comrade though this could not give him life yet here you lie all fresh as dew and comely is one whom apollo is slain with his painless shafts thus did she too speak through her tears and bitter moan and then helen for a third time took up the strains of lamentation hector said she dearest of all my brothers-in-law for i am the wife to alexandris who brought me hither to troi would that i have died ere that he did so 20 years are coming gone since i left my home and come over the seas but i have never heard one word of insult or unkindness from you one another would chide me as it might be one of your brothers or sisters or of your brother's wives or my mother-in-law for priam was as kind to me as though he were my own father you would rebuke them and check them with words and gentleness and goodwill therefore my tears flow both for you and for my unhappy self for there was no one else in troi who was kind to me but all shrink and shudder as they go by me she wept as she spoke and the vast crowd that was gathered round her joined in her lament then king priam spoke to them saying bring wood otrogens to the city and fear no cunning ambush of the archives for achilles when he dismissed me from the ships gave me his word that they should not attack us until the morning of the 12th day forthwith they yoked their oxen and mules and gathered together before the city nine days long did they bring in great heaps of wood and on the morning of the 10th day with many tears they took brave hector forth laid his dead body upon the summit of the pile and set the fire there too then when the child of morning rosy finger dawn appeared on the 11th day the people then assembled around the pyre of mighty hector when they were got together they first quenched the fire with wine wherever it was burning and then his brothers and his comrades with many a bitter tear gathered his white bones and wrapped them in self robes of purple and laid them in a golden urn which they placed in a grave and covered with large stones set close together they then built a barrel hurriedly over it keeping guard on every side as the achilles should attack them before they had finished when they had heaped up the barrel they went back into the city and being well assembled they held nigh a feast in the house of prime their king thus then did they celebrate the funeral of hector tamer of horses end of book 24 and end of the Iliad by Homer