 Book 10 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 Anna Simon. The Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler. Book 10. Ulysses and Diomed go out as spies and meet Dolan, who gives them information. They then kill him and, profiting by what he had told them, kill Reese's, King of the Thracians and take his horses. Now the other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly the whole night through, but Agamemnon, son of Atreus, was troubled so that he could get no rest. As when Fer 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 Agamemnon heave many a heavy sigh. For his soul trembled within him. When he looked upon the plain of Troy, he marveled at the many watchfires burning in front of Ilias, and at 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 Jove on high, and groaned aloud for the very disquietness of his soul. In the end he deemed it best to go at once to Nestor, son of Ilias, 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, bowed an 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 honoured by the people as though he were a god. He found him by the stern of his ship, already putting as 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, Manaleos, we both of us need shrewd counsel to save the archives and our ships, for Jove has changed his mind and inclines towards hectares 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 too 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 Ajax and Idomineus. Meanwhile I will go to Nestor 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 Mariani's, brother in arms to Idomineus, are 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 your 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 all titular observance and stand not too much upon your own dignity. We must take our full share of toil, for at our birth Jov laid this heavy burden upon us. With these instructions he sent his brother on his way and went on to Nestor, shepherd of his people. He found him sleeping in his tent, hard by his own ship. His goodly armour 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 thus 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? Do not stand there and say nothing but speak. What is your business? And Agamemnon answered, Nestor, son of Nilius, honour to the Achaean name. It is I, Agamemnon, son of Atreus, on whom Jove has laid labour 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 am in great fear for the Danaians. 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 encamped hard, and we know not, but he may attack us by night. Nestor replied, Most noble son of ages, king of men, Agamemnon, Jove will not do all for Hector that Hector thinks he will. He will have troubles yet in plenty if Achilles will lay aside his anger. I will go with you and will rouse others. Either the son of Tydeus or Ulysses or fleet Ajax and the valiant son of Philius. Someone had also better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus for their ships are not near at hand, but the farthest of all. I cannot however refrain from blaming Menelaus 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 is 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 the owner called. I have 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 there I said that we would meet him. In that case, answered Nestor, 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 his shirt and bound his sandals about his comely feet. He buckled on his purple coat with two thicknesses, large and of a rough, shaggy texture, grasped his redoubtable bronze shot spear and wended 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 Nestor, night of Jureen, answered, Ulysses, noble son of Lertus, take it not amiss, 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 his shield about his shoulders and came out with them. First they went to Diamond, son of Tidius and found him outside his tent clad in his armor, with his comrades sleeping round 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. Nestor 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 Tidius, how can you sleep on in this way? Can you not see that the Trojans are encamped on the brow of the plain, hard by our ships, with but a little space between us and them? On these words, Diamond leapt up instantly and said, Old man, your heart is of iron. You rest on one moment from your labours. Are there no younger men among the Achaeans who could go about to rouse the princes? There is no tiring you. And Nestor, night of Jereen, 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 Achaeans are in the graveest danger. Life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a razor. Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your curtsy, rouse Ajax in the fleet, son of Phileus. Diamond 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 the round 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 ewe and cry of dogs and men and slumber is broken. Even so was sleep chased from the eyes of the Achaeans as they kept the watches of the wicked knight, for they turned constantly towards the plain whenever they heard any stir among the Trojans. The old man was glad, bade them 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 Achaeans who had been called to the council. Morionis and the brave son of Nestor went also, for the princes bade them. When they were beyond the trench that was dug round 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 had turned 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 worsted the Achaeans, 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 give him a black hue with her lamp, which is a present of surpassing value, and he would be asked as a guest to all feasts and clan gatherings. They all held their peace, but the diameter of the loud war cry spoke, saying, Nestor, 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 Diomed. The two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, Marionis, and the son of Nestor all wanted to go, so did Manilaus, son of Atreus. Ulysses also wished to go among the host of the Trojans, for he was ever full of daring, and thereon Agamemnon, thus. Diomed, 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 Manilaus. Diomed answered, if you bid 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 Pallas Minerva 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 the stars have gone forwards, two-thirds of the night are already spent, and a third is alone left us. They then put on their armour. Brave Thrasymides 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 skullcap, and is a common headgear. Morionees found a bow and quiver of Ulysses, and on his head he set a leavened 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 Atollicus out of Illian when he broke into the house of Amontor, son of Orminus. He gave it to Amphidamus of Sithra to take to Scandia, and Amphidamus gave it as a guest gift to Molus who gave it to his son Morionees and now it was set upon the head of Ulysses. When the pair had armed, they set out and left the other chieftains behind them. Pallas Minerva 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 Minerva. Hear me, he cried, daughter of Aegis bearing Jove, you who spy out all my ways and who are with me in 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 Diamond of the Loud War cry also prayed. Hear me, too, said he, daughter of Jove, unvariable. 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 Isapus and went to the city bearing a message of peace to the Chetmians. 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 your 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 Pallas Minerva 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 counsellors 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 he will. I will give him a chariot and a couple of horses, the fleetest that can be found at the ships of the Achaeans if he will dare this thing and he will win infinite honour 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 Dolan, son of Humides, the famous Herald a man rich in gold and bronze he was ill-favoured but a good runner and was it 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 be dyed 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 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 the oath he swore was bootless but it made Dolan more keen on going he hung his bow over his shoulder and as an overall he wore the skin of a grey 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 Diomed Diomed, here is someone from the camp I'm not sure whether he is a 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 Dolan 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 for 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 so he could stay as fast as his legs could take him the others gave chase at once and as a couple of well trained hounds press forward after a doe or hare that runs screaming in front of them even so that the son of Tidias and Ulysses pursued Dolan 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 Tidias 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 chattered 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 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 Dolan answered his limbs trembling beneath him Hector with his vain 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 bed as a chariot he bade 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 Iacus are hardly to be kept in hand or 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 of 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 Dolan 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 ask me there is no chosen watch to keep guard over the host the Trojans have their watchfires for they are bound to have them they therefore are awake either 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 seaward like the Kerians the peonian bowmen the Laleges the Cauconians and the noble Palaesgi the Lysians and proud Mysians with the Phrygians and Mionians 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 Ryses son of Ionius for their king his horses are the finest and strongest 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 marvellous golden armour 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 Diomed looked sternly at him and answered think not Dolon for all the good information you've 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 Dolon would have caught him by the beard to besiege him further but Diomed 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 honour 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 of Thracians with these words he took the spoils and set them upon a tamarisk tree and they marked the place by pulling up reeds and gathering bows of tamarisk that they might not miss it as they came back through the flying hours of darkness the two then went onwards amid the fallen armour and the blood and came presently to the company of Thracian soldiers who were sleeping tired out with our day's toil their goodly armour was lying on the ground beside them mortally in three rows and each man had his yoke of horses beside him Rhesus 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, Diomedes, is the man and these are the horses about which Dolan whom we killed told us do you are very utmost dally not about your armour but lose the horses at once kill the man yourself while I see to the horses thereon Minerva put courage into the heart of Diomedes 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 a lion springs furiously upon a flock of sheep or goats when he finds them without their shepherd so that the son of Tidius 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 Tidius came to the king he killed him too which made thirteen as he was breathing hard for by the council of Minerva an evil dream the seed of Onius hovered that night over his head and 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 Diomedes but Diomedes stayed where he was thinking what other daring deed 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 Diomedes to the ships or you may be driven thither should some other guard rouse the Trojans Diomedes 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 Achaeans but Apollo kept no blind lookout when he saw Minerva with the son of Tidius he was angry with her and coming to the host with the Trojans he roused Hippoquon a counselor of the 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 at 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's scout Ulysses stayed his horses and the son of Tidius, leaping to the ground placed the blots taint spoils in the hands of Ulysses and remounted then he lashed the horses onwards and they flew forward nothing loth towards the ships as though of their own free will Nestor was first to hear the tramp of their feet my friends said he princes and counsellors 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 Diomed 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 the others shook hands right gladly with them and congratulated them Nestor, knight 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 are like some beams I am well conversant with the Trojans for old warrior though I am I never hold back by the ships 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 Jove and to Jove's daughter Minerva and Ulysses answered Nestor, son of Nelius honoured to the Achaean name heaven, if it so will can give us even better horses than these for the gods are far miter than we are these horses however about which you ask me from Thrace Diomed killed their king with the 12 bravest 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 Tidias they tied the horses with thongs of leather to the manger and Diomed 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 sea water 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 they sat down to table and drawing from a full mixing bowl made a drink offering of wine to Minerva end of book 10 The Iliad by Homer translated by Samuel Butler 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 Diomed Paris wounds Diomed Ulysses, Nestor and Eutomanias perform prodigies of Valar Macaeon is wounded Nestor drives him off in his chariot Achilles sees the pair driving towards the camp and sends Patroclus to ask who it is that is wounded this is the beginning of evil for Patroclus Nestor makes a long speech and now as Dawn rose from her couch besides Tithonus harbinger 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 Ajax's son of Telemond 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 the Argaeus Gerd themselves were battle while he put on his armour first he girded his goodly greaves about his legs making them fast with ankle clasps of silver first he girded his goodly greaves about his legs making them fast with ankle clasps of silver and about his chests he set the breastplate which Keneras 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 ten courses of dark Cyannus twelve of gold and ten of tin there were serpents of Cyannus that reared themselves up towards the neck three upon either side like the rainbows which the son of Saturn 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 ten circles of bronze running all round it on the body of the shield there were twenty bosses of white tin with another of dark Cyannus in the middle this last was made to show where Gorgon's head fierce and grim with rout and panic on either side the band for the arm to go through was of silver on which there was a writhing snake of Cyannus with three heads that sprang from a single neck and went in and out among 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 shot spears the gleam of his armor shot from him as a flame into the firmament while Juno and Minerva thundered in honour 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 clad in fellow armor and a mighty uproar rose on high unto the dawning the chiefs were armed and ducked the trench before the horses got there but these came up presently the son of Saturn sent a portent of evil sound about their host and the dew 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 Polydomus a neus who was owned by the Trojans like an immortal and the three sons of Antonore Polybus, Agenore and young Akamas, mutious as a god Hector's round shield showed in the front rank and a some baneful star it shines for a moment through a rent in 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 gleaned 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 sheaves fall thick before them even so did the Trojans and Akians fall upon one another they were in no mood for yielding they 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 Saturn for wanting to give victory to the Trojans but father Jove he did them not he held a loop 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 a like upon the slayers and on the slain now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning the darts rained thick on one another and the people perished but as the hour drew nigh when a woodman working in some mountain forest will get his midday meal for he has felled till his hands are weary he is tired out and must now have food then the Denaeans with a cry their ranks broke the battalions of the enemy Agamemnon led them on and stood first Mienor a leader of his people and afterwards his comrade and charioteer Euliaeus 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 avail against the weapon which pierced both bronze and bone so that his brains were battered in Agamemnon strict their shirts from off them and left them with their breasts all bare to lie where they had fallen he then went on to kill Isis and Antifas, two sons of Priam the one abasted, the other born in Wedlock they were in the same chariot the bastard driving while noble Antifas fought beside him Achilles had once taken both of them prisoners in the glades of Idae and had bound them with fresh wives as they were shepherding they 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 Antifas hard by the ear and threw him from his chariot for with he stripped their goodly armor from off them and recognised them for he had already seen them at ships when Achilles brought them from Idae as a lion fastens on the thorns of a hind and crushes them with 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 Antifas for they were themselves flying panic before the archives then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus Pissander and Bave Hippolicus it was Antimachus 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 for 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 brought him from their chariot take us alive they cried son of Atreus and you shall receive a great ransom for us our father Antimachus 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 of our 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 Antimachus who once at a council of Trojans proposed that Menelaus and Ulysses 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 Pizander from his chariot to the earth smiting him on the chest with his spear so that he lay face uppermost upon the ground Hippolycos 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 in route before them and slew them horsemen did the like by horsemen and the thundering tramp of the horses raised a cloud of dust from off the plain King Agamemnon followed after ever slaying them and cheering on the Achaeans as when some mighty forest is all ablaze the eddying gusts whirl fire 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 Antrius and many a noble pair of steams drew an empty chariot along the highways of war for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain more useful now to vultures than to their wives Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust with the carnage and din of battle but the son of Antrius sped onwards calling out lustily to the Danayans they flew on by the tomb of Odylus son of Dardinus in the middle of the plain 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 up her blood and gorges himself upon her entrails and he sees them and he sees them and sees them and he sees them and he sees them and he sees them and he sees them and he sees them and then gorges himself upon her entrails even so did King Agomemnon son of Altreas pursue the foe ever slaughtering the hind boasters they fled Pelmel before him came down from heaven and took his seat thunderbolt in hand and upon the crest of many fountain-eider. 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, and 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 Ilias from the crests 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 Jove has sent me to bear you this message. So long as you see Agamemnon heading his men and 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 Jove vouchsafe you strength to slay till you reach the ships and night falls at the going down of the sun. When she had thus spoken, Iris left him, and Hector sprang full arm from his chariots 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 wheels round, and again met the Achaeans, or the Argyres 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 Iphidamus, son of Antenor, man both brave and of great stature, who was brought up in fertile Thrace, the mother of sheep. His, his mother's father, brought him up in his own house when he was a child, Gisees, father to Fair Theano. When he reached manhood, Gisees 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 twelve ships that followed him. These he had left at Percote, and had come on by land to Ilius. 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 Iphidamus hit him upon the girdle below the curas, 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 drew it towards him with a fury of a lion. He then drew his sword, and killed Iphidamus by striking him on the neck. So there the poor fellow lay, sleeping asleep as it were of bronze, killed him in the defence 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 armour into the host of the Achaeans. The noble co-on, Antonor's eldest son, saw this, saw indeed were his eyes at 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 grasped his spear that flew as fleet as the wind, and sprang upon co-on 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 bronze-shod spear, and killed him as he was dragging the dead body through the press of men under cover of his shield. He then cut off his head, standing over the body of Iphidamus. 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 welled warm from his wound, Agamemnon went about attacking the ranks of the enemy with spear and sword, and with great handfuls of stone, but when the blood had ceased to flow with the wound grew dry, the pain became great. As the sharp pangs which the Elythuei, goddesses of childbirth, daughters of Juno, and dispenses of cruel pain, send upon a woman when she is in labour, even so sharp with the pangs of the son of Atreus. He sprang onto his chariot, and bade his charioteer drive to the ships, for he was in great agony. With a loud, clear voice, he shouted to the Denaeans, My friends, princes, and counsellors of the Argives, 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 loath. Their chests were white with foam, and their bellies with dust, as they threw 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 Ardanian warriors, be men, my friends, and acquit yourselves in battle bravely. The 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, hound the proud Trojans on against the Achaeans. Full of hope he plunged in among the foremost, and fell on 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 Priam, killed in the hour of triumph with Jove, then vouchsafed him? First Aseus, Ortonus, and Opetes, Dallup's son of Pleitius, Opheltius, and Agilaus, Isymnus, Orus, and Hipponous 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 waves 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 Ulysses cried out to Diomed, son of Tydeus, what has happened to us that we thus forget our prowess? Come, my good fellow, stand by my side, and help me, which we shame forever if Hector takes the ships. And Diomed answered, come what may, I will stand firm, but we shall have scant his joy of it, for Jove is minded to give victory to the Trojans rather than to us. With these words he struck Thimbrius from his chariot to the ground, smiting him in the left breast with his spear, while Ulysses kidmolion, who was his squire. These they let lie now that they had stopped their fighting. The two heroes then went on playing havoc with the foe, like two wild boars that turn in fury and rend the hounds that hunt them. Once 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 Merops of Percoty, who excelled all 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. Diomed son of Tydeus slew both of them and stripped them of their armour, while Ulysses killed Hippodamus and Hyperocas. And now the son of Saturn, as he looked down from Ida, ordained that neither side should have the advantage, and they kept on killing one another. The son of Tydeus speared a gastrophous son of Pion 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 squire was in charge of it at some distance, and he was fighting on foot among the foremost until he lost his life. Hector, who marked the Havoc, Diomed and Ulysses were making, and bore down upon them with a loud cry, followed by the Trojan ranks. Brave Diomed was dismayed when he saw them, and said to Ulysses, 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 staid by the visoured helm made with three plates of metal, which Phoebus 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 brawny hand, leaning on the ground, but darkness had fallen on his eyes. The son of Tydeus, 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 sprung him back into his chariot, mingled with the crowd, by which means he saved his life. But Diomed made at him with his spear, and said, Dog, you have again got away, though death was close on your heels. Hector's Apollo, to whom I wean you, Praier, you go into 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 Pion, but Alexandra's husband of lovely Helen aimed an arrow at him, leaning against a pillar of the monument which men had raised to Ilas, son of Dardanus, a ruler in the days of old. Diomed had taken the cuirass for off the breast of Agastraphus, his heavy helmet also, and the shield from off his shoulders, when Paris drew his bow and that fly an arrow that sped not from his hand in vain, but pierced the flat of Diomed's right foot, going right through it and fixing itself in the ground. Thereon Paris, with a hearty laugh, sprang forward in front of his hiding place, and taunted him, saying, Your wounded, my arrow has not been shot in vain. Would that it had hit you in the belly and killed you, for thus the Trojans, who fear you as goats fear a lion, would have had a truce from evil. Diomed, all undaunted, answered, Aren't you? You who without your bow are nothing, slanderer, and seducer. If you were to be tried in single combat fighting in full armour, 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 round 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. Then he sprang on to his chariot and bade the charioteer drive him to the ships, for he was sick at heart. Ulysses was now alone, not one of the Argyves stood by him, for 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, but it would be worse if I am left alone and taken prisoner, for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the denayans with panic. But why talk to myself in this way? Well do I know that though cowards quit the field a hero, whether he wound or be wounded, must 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 youth set upon a wild boar that sallies from his lair whiting his white tusks, they attack him from every side, and can hear the gnashing 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 Diopides, and wounded him on the shoulder with a downward blow. Then he held Thorn and Enimus. Under these he struck Cercidimus in the loins under his shield, 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 Carrups, 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 famed 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 keras, 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 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 Steens. 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 vaunted over him, saying, O Socus, son of Hippasus, 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. Whereas 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 whilled 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. Next 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 Telemann, 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 Deneans would miss him sorely. He led the way, and mighty Ajax went with him. The Trojans had gathered round 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 thus lasted. But when the arrow had overcome him, the savage jackals devoured him in the shady glades of the forest. Then heaven said the fierce lion dither, who had upon 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 to the press while his squire brought up his chariot. And Ajax rushed furiously on the Trojans, and killed Doriclus, bastard son of Priam. Then he wounded Pandacus, Lysandrus, Parasus, and Pilates. As some swollen torrent comes rushing in full, frud from the mountains onto the plain, nigg with the rain 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, chase the foe 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 Scamander, where the carnage was thickest, and the wall cried loudest round Nestor, and brave Idomenius. 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 Achaeans would have given no ground, had not Alexandrus, husband of lovely Helen, stayed the prowess of Macaen, shepherd of his people, by wounding him in the right shoulder with a triple barbed arrow. The Achaeans were in great fear that as the fight had turned against them the Trojans might take him prisoner, and Idomenius said to Nestor, Nestor, son of Nelius, honor to the Achaean name, mount your chariot at once, take Macaen 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, knight of Garene, he did as Idomenius had counseled. He at once mounted his chariot, and Macaen's son of the famed physician Ascalapius went with him. He lashed his horses, and they flew onward nothing loathed towards the ships, as though of their own free will. Then Caprione, 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 Pelmel Rant, they and their horses. Agex, son of Telemon, is driving them before him. I know him by the breadth of his shield. Let us turn our chariot and horses thither, 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 of speed amongst the Achaeans 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 Denaeans 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 Agex, 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 Agex, 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 fall 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 Agex, sorely against his will, retreat angrily before the Trojans, fearing for the ships of the Aegeans, or as some lazy ass that has had many a 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 Agex 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. Still handed he stood midway between the Trojans and the Keyans. The spears that sped from their hands stuck some of them in his mighty shield, while many, though thirsting for his blood, fell to the ground, ere they could reach him to the wounding of his fair flesh. Now when Eurypilus, the brave son of Euroman, saw that Agex was being overpowered by the reign of Arrows, he went up to him and hurled his spear. He struck Apizion, son of Phosius, in the liver below the midriff, and laid him low. Eurypilus sprung upon him and stripped the armour from his shoulders, but when Alexanderus 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 under cover of his comrades to save his life, shouting as he did so to the Deneans. My friends, princes and counsellors of the Argives, rallied to the defence of Agex, who was being overpowered, and I doubt whether he will come out of the fight alive, hither then to the rescue of great Agex, son of Telemon. Even so did he cry when he was wounded. Thereon the others came near, and gathered round him, holding their shields upwards from their shoulders, so as to give him cover. Agex 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 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 Mars himself. Here indeed was the beginning of the ill that presently befell him. Why, said 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 Achians preying at my knees, for they are in great straits. Go, Patroclus, and ask Nestor 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 Nestor and Machian had reached the tents of the son of Nellius, they dismounted and an esquire, Eurymedon, 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 Nestor had awarded him from Tenedus when Achilles took it, mixed them of S. She was daughter of wise Arsinois, and the Achaeans had given her to Nestor because he excelled all of them in council. First she set for them a fair and well-made table that had feet of cyanoes. 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 Nestor 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, threw in a handful of white barley-meal, and having thus prepared the mess, she bade them drink it. When they had done so and had thus quenched their thirst, they fell talking with one another, and at this moment Patroclus 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. Patroclus stood where he was, and said, No, sir, I may not stay, you cannot persuade me to come in. He that sent me is not one to be trifled with, and he bade me ask who the wounded man was whom you were bearing away from the field. I can now see for myself that he is Maccaion, 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 Nestor answered, Why should Achilles care to know how many of the Achaeans may be wounded? He wrecks not of the dismay that reigns in our host. Our most valiant chieftains lie disabled. Brave Diomed, son of Tydeus, is wounded. So are Ulysses and Agamemnon. Euripales 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 roof. 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 were still young and strong, as in the days when there was a fight between us, and the men of Aelis, about some cattle raiding? Then I killed Etomeneus, the valiant son of Hypericus, the dweller in Aelis, 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. He drove off a vast quantity of booty from the plain, fifty herds of cattle, and as many flocks of sheep, fifty droves also of pigs, and as many wide-spreading flocks of goats, of horses moreover, we seized a hundred and fifty all of them bears, and many had foals running with them. All these did we drive by night to Pylos, the city of Aelius, taking them within the city, and the heart of Nelius was glad in that eye 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 Aelis to whom there was a debt owing should come, and the leading Pylians assembled to divide the spoils. There were many to whom the Appians owed shadows, for we men of Pylos were few, and had been oppressed with wrong. In former years Hercules had come, and laid his hand heavy upon us, so that all our best men had perished. Nelius had had twelve sons, but I alone was left. The others had all been killed. The Appians, 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, three hundred in all. And he took their shepherds with him, for there was a great debt due to him in Aelis, 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 Aelius took them, and sent them back their driver, grieving for the loss of his horses. Nelius 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 Appians came in a body many in number, they and their chariots in full array, and with them the two Molliones in their armour, though they were still lads and unused to fighting. Now there is a certain town, Theoroessa, perched upon a rock in the river Alpheus, the border city Pylos. This they would destroy, and pitch their camp about it, but when they had crossed their whole plain, Minerva darted down by night from Olympus, and Bada set ourselves in array, and she found willing soldiers in Pylos, for the men meant fighting. Nelius would not let me arm and hid my horses, for he said that as yet I could know nothing about war. Nevertheless, Minerva 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 Miniaeus that falls into the sea near Arini, and there they that were mounted, and I with them waited till morning, when the companies of foot soldiers came up with us in force. Once, 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 bowl to Alpheus, another to Neptune, and a herd heifer to Minerva. After this we took supper in our companies, and laid us down to rest, each in his armor by the river. The Appians 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, praying 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 warrior Miniaeus. He was son in law to Audius, having married his eldest daughter, Golden Hair Agamedi, 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 Appians fled in all directions, when they saw the captain of their horsemen, the best man they had laid low, and I swept down on them like a whirlwind, taking fifty chariots, and in each of them two men bit the dust, slain by my sphere. I should have even killed the two Malionis, 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. Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory, for we chased them far over the plain, killing the men and bringing in their hour, till we had brought our horses to Buprasium, rich in wheat, and to the Olanean rock, with the hill that is called Elysian, 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 Buprasium to Pylos, 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 hereafter, when the host is being cut to pieces. My good friend, did not Menuatius charge you thus on the day when he sent you from Pithia to Agamemnon? Eulises and I were in the house inside, and heard all that he said to you, for we came to the fair house of Pelyus, while beating up recruits throughout all Achaea, and when we got there we found Menuatius, and yourself, and Achilles with you. The old knight Pelyus was in the outer court, roasting the fat thigh bones of a heifer to Jove, the Lord of Thunder, and he held a gold chalice in his hand, from 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 urged both of you to join us. You were ready enough to do so, and the two old men charged you much and straightly. Old Pelyus baited his son Achilles to fight ever among the foremost, and have vied his peers. Well, Menuatius, 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 ban 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, for 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, and let the rest of the Mermidans follow with you, if perchance you may bring light and saving to the Deneans. And let him send you into battle, clad in his own armour, that the Trojans may mistake you for him and leave off fighting. The sons of the Achaeans 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 Patroclus, who set off running by the line of the ships to Achilles, descendant of Aeceus. When he had got as far as the ships of Ulysses, where was the place of assembly and court of justice, with their altars dedicated to the gods, Euripilus, son of Eumon, 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 wander. The son of Menoetius, when he saw him, had compassion upon him, and spoke piteously, saying, O unhappy princes and counsellors of the Deneans, are you then doomed to feed the hounds of Troy with your fat, far from your friends and your native land? Say, noble Euripilus, will the Achaeans be able to hold great hector in check, or will they fall now before his spear? Wounded Euripilus made answer, noble Patroclus, there is no hope left for the Achaeans, but they will perish at their ships. All they that were princes among us are lying 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, who was righteous of all the centaurs. For of the physicians Podilearius and Machaean, 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 plain. Hero Euripilus replied the brave son of Manuishus, How may these things be? What can I do? I am on my way to bear a message to noble Achilles from Nestor of Garini, bulk of the Achaeans, but even so I will not be unmindful of your distress. With this he clasped him round the middle, and led him into the tent, and a servant when he saw him, spread bulk 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. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. So the son of Manuishus was attending to the hurt of Euripilus within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it to keep the Trojans in check any longer. They had built it to protect their ships, and had dug the trench all around it that it might safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils they had taken, but they had not offered hecatomes 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 Prium remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaean stood firm. But when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet still left alive, when more over the city was sacked in 10th year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own country. Then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida to the sea. Rhesus, Heptoporus, Carius, Rhodius, Grinitius, Ecipus, and Goodly Scamander, which simuous where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned the mouths of all the rivers together, and made them flow for nine days against the wall, while Jove reigned the whole time that he might wash it sooner into the sea. Neptune himself tried it in hand, surveyed the work, and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with so much toil. He made all level by the mighty stream of the hell-spont, and then when he had swept the wall away, he spread a great beech 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, Baddlin turmoil were still raging round the wall till its timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives, cowed by the scourge of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in fear of Hector, the mighty minister of Rout, who as 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 does he charge at 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 brink 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 Achaeans 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 Polydemus 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 Job is minded to help the Trojans, and in his anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I would myself gladly see them perish now and here, 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 say. 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 Achaeans 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 into 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. Sebrionis 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, Alcathus and Aegonor, the third by Hellenus and Diaphobus, two sons of Priam, and with them was the hero Asias, Asias the son of Hercticus, whose great black horses of the breed that come from the River Selyus had bought him from Orizbe. Aeneas, the valiant son of Ancaesis, led the fourth. He and the two sons of Antinor, Achaeolochus and Necomus, men well versed in all the arts of war. Sarpodon was captain over the allies, and took with him Glaucus and Asteropius, 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 Palaedemus, but Asias, son of Hercticus, would not leave his horses in his Asquire behind him. In his foolhardiness he took them on with him towards the ship, nor did he fail to come by ascending consequence. Nevermore was he to return to Wildenbitten Ilius, exalting in his chariot and his horses. ere he could do so, death of Il-Omen Mame had overshadowed him, and he had fallen by the spear of Atomenius, the noble son of Ducalion. He had driven towards the left wing of the ships, by which the Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the plain. Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors open wide, and the great bar down. For the gatemen kept them open, so as to let those of their comrades enter who might be flying towards the ships. Hither had set purpose that he direct his horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they felt sure that the Achaeans 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 cheaptons, proud sons of the fighting Lepithae, the one, Polypoetus, mighty son of Perithius, and the other, Leontius, pure of murderous Mars. These stood before the gates like too 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 Achaeus confidently and without flinching. The Trojans led by him and Iaminus, Arestes, Adamus, son of Achaeus, Thun, and Oemonus, raised a loud cry of battle and 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 Achaeans on to stand firm in defense of their ships. When, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking the wall, while the Danans 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 their 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, through great stones that their assailants in defense of themselves, their tents and their ships. The stones fell thick as flakes of snow, which some fierce blast dries from the dark clouds and showers down and sheets upon the earth. Even so, fell the weapons from the hands alike of Trojans and Achaeans. 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 Argyve heroes could not withstand us, whereas like slim-wisted wasps or bees that have their 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, 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 Argyves, discomfited though they were, were forced to defend their ships, and all the gods who were defending the Achaeans were vexed in spirit, but the lap they kept on fighting with might and main. Thereupon, Palaepewities, mighty son of Pyretheus hit Damascus 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 where the brain inside was scattered about, and he died fighting. He then slew Pylon and Ormenus. Lyontis the race of Mars killed Hippomachus, the son of Antimachus, by striking him with a spear upon the girdle. He then drew his sword and sprang first upon the Tefeities, whom he killed in combat, and who fell face upwards upon the earth. After him he killed Menon, Iamenus, and Restes, 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 Palaedemus 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 talons 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, whereupon 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 Palaedemus went up to Hector and said, Hector, at our counsels of war, you were ever given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well forsooth 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 to Danes into 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 so sure of it. 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 Achaeans, 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 Achaeans will do to death in defense of their ships. Thus would any seer who was expert in these matters and was trusted by the people read the portent. Hector looked fiercely at him and said, Pallidamus, 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, then 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, and you bid me be ruled rather by the flight of a wildfowl. What cair are 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 Jove, 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 a slain at the ships of unarguives, 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 Akkadians into security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the Akkadians. They tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the battlements. They upheaved the buttresses, which the Akkadians had set forth in front of the wall in order to support it. When they had 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 Akkadians, giving fair words to some, while they spoke sharply to anyone whom they saw to be remiss. My friends, they cried, our guides, one and 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 in flight towards the ships, daunted by the shouting of the foe, but press forward, and keep one another in heart. If it may so be that Olympian Job, the Lord of Lightning, will vouchsafe us to repel our foes, and drive them back towards the city. Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Akkadians on, as the flakes did fall thick upon a winter's day, when Job is minded to snow and to display his arrows to mankind. He lulls the wind to 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 grey sea, but the waves as they come rolling in, stay it that it can come no further. Though all else is wrapped as with a 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 Akkadians, 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 Job turned his son Sarpedon against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle. Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze, that the smith had beaten so fair and round that he had lined with oxides which he had made fast with rivets of gold all round 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 with 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 Choices portion 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 Xanthith, fair with orchard, lawns, and wheat-growing land. It becomes us therefore to take our stand at the head of all the Lycians to bear the brunt of the fight that they may say one to another. I, 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's this forward and forever, I should neither press forward myself nor bid you do so. But death in ten thousand 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. Glaucas heeded his sing and the pair forthwith led on the host of Lyceans. Menesias, son of Pideos, 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 shields and helmet and the battering of gates with a 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 the Missus Ajax. Run, good thud, as he said, and call Ajax or better still bid both come, for it will be all over with us here directly. The leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have ever fought desperately here too far. But if they have too much on their hands to let them come at any rate, let Ajax son of Telemond do so, and let Tusser, the famous bowman, come with him. The messenger did as he was told, and sent off running along the wall the Achaians. When he reached the Ajax, as he said to them, sirs, princes of our guives, the son of Nobopideus, 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 the Lycians are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately here too far. If you have too much on your hands to let both come, at any rate, let Ajax son of Telemond do so, and let Tusser, the famous bowman, come with him. Great Ajax, son of Telemond, heated the message, and at once spoke to the son of Oilis. Ajax, he said, do you too, too, yourself, and brave like comedies, 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 have given them the help they need. With this, Ajax son of Telemond 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 where Mnestius was, and hard-pressed indeed that they find him, the brave captains and leaders of the Lycians 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 Telemond killed brave Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon, 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 Hippolychus, 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 Achaeans might see that he was wounded and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief when he saw Glaucus leave him. Still, he did not leave off fighting, but aimed his spear at Alchemon, son of Thestor, and hit him. He drew his spear back again, and Alchemon came down headlong after with his bronzed armor rattling round him. Then Sarpedon 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 Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not fall by the ship's sterns. Meanwhile, Ajax sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear did not go clean through, though it hustled 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 round and shouted a brave Lycean, saying, Lyceans, 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 Lyceans, ashamed by his rebuke, pressed close around him who was their counselor and their king. The Argives on their part got their men in fighting order within the wall, and there was a deadly struggle between them. The Lyceans could not break through the wall and force their way to the ships, nor could the Danans drive the Lyceans from the wall now once they had reached it. As two men, measuring rods and hads, quarrel about their boundaries in a field that they own in common, and stickle for their rights though they'd bebut in a mere 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 the 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 alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so, the Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on, and as some honest, hardworking woman weighs wool in their 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 Jove gave the greater glory to Hector's song of Priam, who was first to spring towards the wall of the Achaeans. When he had done so, he cried aloud to the Trojans, Up Trojans, break the wall of the archives, and fling a 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 but 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 lifted it quite easily by himself, for the sun of scheming Saturn 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 weight. 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 a face as dark as that of flying night. The gleaming bronze flashed 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 round towards the Trojans and called them on the 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 fled panicked stricken towards their ships, and all was uproar and confusion.