The Iliad of Homer Translated into English Blank Verse by...

So she, whom Pallas with delight obey’d; To Venus swift she flew, and on the breast With such force smote her that of sense bereft The fainting Goddess fell. There Venus lay And Mars extended on the fruitful glebe,500 And Pallas thus in accents wing’d exclaim’d.

I would that all who on the part of Troy Oppose in fight Achaia’s valiant sons, Were firm and bold as Venus in defence Of Mars, for whom she dared my power defy!505 So had dissension (Ilium overthrown And desolated) ceased long since in heaven.

So Pallas, and approving Juno smiled. Then the imperial Shaker of the shores Thus to Apollo. Phœbus! wherefore stand510 We thus aloof? Since others have begun, Begin we also; shame it were to both Should we, no combat waged, ascend again Olympus and the brass-built hall of Jove. Begin, for thou art younger; me, whose years515 Alike and knowledge thine surpass so far, It suits not. Oh stupidity! how gross Art thou and senseless! Are no traces left In thy remembrance of our numerous wrongs Sustain’d at Ilium, when, of all the Gods520 Ourselves alone, by Jove’s commandment, served For stipulated hire, a year complete, Our task-master the proud Laomedon? Myself a bulwark’d town, spacious, secure Against assault, and beautiful as strong525 Built for the Trojans, and thine office was To feed for King Laomedon his herds Among the groves of Ida many-valed. But when the gladsome hours the season brought Of payment, then the unjust King of Troy530 Dismiss’d us of our whole reward amerced By violence, and added threats beside. Thee into distant isles, bound hand and foot, To sell he threatened, and to amputate The ears of both; we, therefore, hasted thence535 Resenting deep our promised hire withheld. Aid’st thou for this the Trojans? Canst thou less Than seek, with us, to exterminate the whole Perfidious race, wives, children, husbands, all?

To whom the King of radiant shafts Apollo.540 Me, Neptune, thou wouldst deem, thyself, unwise Contending for the sake of mortal men With thee; a wretched race, who like the leaves Now flourish rank, by fruits of earth sustain’d, Now sapless fall. Here, therefore, us between545 Let all strife cease, far better left to them.

Fly’st thou, Apollo! and to Neptune yield’st An unearn’d victory, the prize of fame Resigning patient and with no dispute? Fool! wherefore bearest thou the bow in vain? Ah, let me never in my father’s courts555 Hear thee among the immortals vaunting more That thou wouldst Neptune’s self confront in arms.

How hast thou dared, impudent, to oppose My will? Bow-practised as thou art, the task To match my force were difficult to thee. Is it, because by ordinance of Jove Thou art a lioness to womankind,565 Killing them at thy pleasure? Ah beware— Far easier is it, on the mountain-heights To slay wild beasts and chase the roving hind, Than to conflict with mightier than ourselves. But, if thou wish a lesson on that theme,570 Approach—thou shalt be taught with good effect How far my force in combat passes thine.

She said, and with her left hand seizing both Diana’s wrists, snatch’d suddenly the bow Suspended on her shoulder with the right,575 And, smiling, smote her with it on the ears. She, writhing oft and struggling, to the ground Shook forth her rapid shafts, then, weeping, fled As to her cavern in some hollow rock The dove, not destined to his talons, flies580 The hawk’s pursuit, and left her arms behind.

Then, messenger of heaven, the Argicide Address’d Latona. Combat none with thee, Latona, will I wage. Unsafe it were To cope in battle with a spouse of Jove.585 Go, therefore, loudly as thou wilt, proclaim To all the Gods that thou hast vanquish’d me.

Collecting, then, the bow and arrows fallen In wild disorder on the dusty plain, Latona with the sacred charge withdrew590 Following her daughter; she, in the abode Brass-built arriving of Olympian Jove, Sat on his knees, weeping till all her robe Ambrosial shook. The mighty Father smiled, And to his bosom straining her, inquired.595

Thus they in heaven mutual conferr’d. Meantime Apollo into sacred Troy return’d Mindful to guard her bulwarks, lest the Greeks605 Too soon for Fate should desolate the town. The other Gods, some angry, some elate With victory, the Olympian heights regain’d, And sat beside the Thunderer. But the son Of Peleus—He both Trojans slew and steeds.610 As when in volumes slow smoke climbs the skies From some great city which the Gods have fired Vindictive, sorrow thence to many ensues With mischief, and to all labor severe, So caused Achilles labor on that day,615 Severe, and mischief to the men of Troy.

But ancient Priam from a sacred tower Stood looking forth, whence soon he noticed vast Achilles, before whom the Trojans fled All courage lost. Descending from the tower620 With mournful cries and hasting to the wall He thus enjoin’d the keepers of the gates.

Hold wide the portals till the flying host Re-enter, for himself is nigh, himself Achilles drives them home. Now, wo to Troy!625 But soon as safe within the walls received They breathe again, shut fast the ponderous gates At once, lest that destroyer also pass.

He said; they, shooting back the bars, threw wide The gates and saved the people, whom to aid630 Apollo also sprang into the field, They, parch’d with drought and whiten’d all with dust, Flew right toward the town, while, spear in hand, Achilles press’d them, vengeance in his heart And all on fire for glory. Then, full sure,635 Ilium, the city of lofty gates, had fallen Won by the Grecians, had not Phœbus roused Antenor’s valiant son, the noble Chief Agenor; him with dauntless might he fill’d, And shielding him against the stroke of fate640 Beside him stood himself, by the broad beech Cover’d and wrapt in clouds. Agenor then, Seeing the city-waster hero nigh Achilles, stood, but standing, felt his mind Troubled with doubts; he groan’d, and thus he mused.645

[10]Alas! if following the tumultuous flight Of these, I shun Achilles, swifter far He soon will lop my ignominious head. But if, these leaving to be thus dispersed Before him, from the city-wall I fly650 Across the plain of Troy into the groves Of Ida, and in Ida’s thickets lurk, I may, at evening, to the town return Bathed and refresh’d. But whither tend my thoughts? Should he my flight into the plain observe655 And swift pursuing seize me, then, farewell All hope to scape a miserable death, For he hath strength passing the strength of man. How then—shall I withstand him here before The city? He hath also flesh to steel660 Pervious, within it but a single life, And men report him mortal, howsoe’er Saturnian Jove lift him to glory now.

So saying, he turn’d and stood, his dauntless heart Beating for battle. As the pard springs forth665 To meet the hunter from her gloomy lair, Nor, hearing loud the hounds, fears or retires, But whether from afar or nigh at hand He pierce her first, although transfixt, the fight Still tries, and combats desperate till she fall,670 So, brave Antenor’s son fled not, or shrank, Till he had proved Achilles, but his breast O’ershadowing with his buckler and his spear Aiming well-poised against him, loud exclaim’d.

Renown’d Achilles! Thou art high in hope675 Doubtless, that thou shalt this day overthrow The city of the glorious sons of Troy. Fool! ye must labor yet ere she be won, For numerous are her citizens and bold, And we will guard her for our parents’ sake680 Our wives and little ones. But here thou diest Terrible Chief and dauntless as thou art.

He said, and with full force hurling his lance Smote, and err’d not, his greave beneath his knee The glittering tin, forged newly, at the stroke685 Tremendous rang, but quick recoil’d and vain The weapon, weak against that guard divine. Then sprang Achilles in his turn to assail Godlike Agenor, but Apollo took That glory from him, snatching wrapt in clouds690 Agenor thence, whom calm he sent away.

Then Phœbus from pursuit of Ilium’s host By art averted Peleus’ son; the form Assuming of Agenor, swift he fled Before him, and Achilles swift pursued.695 While him Apollo thus lured to the chase Wide o’er the fruitful plain, inclining still Toward Scamander’s dizzy stream his course Nor flying far before, but with false hope Always beguiling him, the scatter’d host700 Meantime, in joyful throngs, regain’d the town. They fill’d and shut it fast, nor dared to wait Each other in the field, or to inquire Who lived and who had fallen, but all, whom flight Had rescued, like a flood pour’d into Troy.705

The Trojans being now within the city, excepting Hector, the field is cleared for the most important and decisive action in the poem; that is, the battle between Achilles and Hector, and the death of the latter. This part of the story is managed with singular skill. It seems as if the poet, feeling the importance of the catastrophe, wished to withdraw from view the personages of less consequence, and to concentrate our attention upon those two alone. The poetic action and description are narrowed in extent, but deepened in interest. The fate of Troy is impending; the irreversible decree of Jupiter is about to be executed; the heroes, whose bravery is to be the instrument of bringing about this consummation, are left together on the plain.—Felton.