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

Ah, Socus, son of Hippasus, a chief Of fame equestrian! swifter far than thou Death follow’d thee, and thou hast not escaped. Ill-fated youth! thy parents’ hands thine eyes Shall never close, but birds of ravenous maw550 Shall tear thee, flapping thee with frequent wing, While me the noble Grecians shall entomb!

So saying, the valiant Socus’ spear he drew From his own flesh, and through his bossy shield. The weapon drawn, forth sprang the blood, and left555 His spirit faint. Then Ilium’s dauntless sons, Seeing Ulysses’ blood, exhorted glad Each other, and, with force united, all Press’d on him. He, retiring, summon’d loud His followers. Thrice, loud as mortal may,560 He call’d, and valiant Menelaus thrice Hearing the voice, to Ajax thus remark’d.

Illustrious son of Telamon! The voice Of Laertiades comes o’er my ear With such a sound, as if the hardy chief,565 Abandon’d of his friends, were overpower’d By numbers intercepting his retreat. Haste! force we quick a passage through the ranks. His worth demands our succor, for I fear Lest sole conflicting with the host of Troy,570 Brave as he is, he perish, to the loss Unspeakable and long regret of Greece.

So saying, he went, and Ajax, godlike Chief, Follow’d him. At the voice arrived, they found Ulysses Jove-beloved compass’d about575 By Trojans, as the lynxes in the hills, Adust for blood, compass an antler’d stag Pierced by an archer; while his blood is warm And his limbs pliable, from him he ’scapes; But when the feather’d barb hath quell’d his force,580 In some dark hollow of the mountain’s side, The hungry troop devour him; chance, the while, Conducts a lion thither, before whom All vanish, and the lion feeds alone; So swarm’d the Trojan powers, numerous and bold,585 Around Ulysses, who with wary skill Heroic combated his evil day. But Ajax came, cover’d with his broad shield That seem’d a tower, and at Ulysses’ side Stood fast; then fled the Trojans wide-dispersed,590 And Menelaus led him by the hand Till his own chariot to his aid approach’d. But Ajax, springing on the Trojans, slew Doryclus, from the loins of Priam sprung, But spurious. Pandocus he wounded next,595 Then wounded Pyrasus, and after him Pylartes and Lysander. As a flood Runs headlong from the mountains to the plain After long showers from Jove; many a dry oak And many a pine the torrent sweeps along,600 And,

turbid, shoots much soil into the sea, So, glorious Ajax troubled wide the field, Horse and man slaughtering, whereof Hector yet Heard not; for on the left of all the war He fought beside Scamander, where around605 Huge Nestor, and Idomeneus the brave, Most deaths were dealt, and loudest roar’d the fight. There Hector toil’d, feats wonderful of spear And horsemanship achieving, and the lines Of many a phalanx desolating wide.610 Nor even then had the bold Greeks retired, But that an arrow triple-barb’d, dispatch’d By Paris, Helen’s mate, against the Chief Machaon warring with distinguish’d force, Pierced his right shoulder. For his sake alarm’d,615 The valor-breathing Grecians fear’d, lest he In that disast’rous field should also fall.[16] At once, Idomeneus of Crete approach’d The noble Nestor, and him thus bespake.

Here are we busied, Hector! on the skirts Of roaring battle, and meantime I see635 Our host confused, their horses and themselves All mingled. Telamonian Ajax there Routs them; I know the hero by his shield. Haste, drive we thither, for the carnage most Of horse and foot conflicting furious, there640 Rages, and infinite the shouts arise.

He said, and with shrill-sounding scourge the steeds Smote ample-maned; they, at the sudden stroke Through both hosts whirl’d the chariot, shields and men Trampling; with blood the axle underneath645 All redden’d, and the chariot-rings with drops From the horse-hoofs, and from the fellied wheels. Full on the multitude he drove, on fire To burst the phalanx, and confusion sent Among the Greeks, for nought[17] he shunn’d the spear.650 All quarters else with falchion or with lance, Or with huge stones he ranged, but cautious shunn’d The encounter of the Telamonian Chief.

But the eternal father throned on high With fear fill’d Ajax; panic-fixt he stood,655 His seven-fold shield behind his shoulder cast, And hemm’d by numbers, with an eye askant, Watchful retreated. As a beast of prey Retiring, turns and looks, so he his face Turn’d oft, retiring slow, and step by step.660 As when the watch-dogs and assembled swains Have driven a tawny lion from the stalls, Then, interdicting him his wish’d repast, Watch all the night, he, famish’d, yet again Comes furious on, but speeds not, kept aloof665 By frequent spears from daring hands, but more By flash of torches, which, though fierce, he dreads, Till, at the dawn, sullen he stalks away; So from before the Trojans Ajax stalk’d Sullen, and with reluctance slow retired.670 His brave heart trembling for the fleet of Greece. As when (the boys o’erpower’d) a sluggish ass, On whose tough sides they have spent many a staff, Enters the harvest, and the spiry ears Crops persevering; with their rods the boys675 Still ply him hard, but all their puny might Scarce drives him forth when he hath browsed his fill, So, there, the Trojans and their foreign aids With glittering lances keen huge Ajax urged, His broad shield’s centre smiting.[18] He, by turns,680 With desperate force the Trojan phalanx dense Facing, repulsed them, and by turns he fled, But still forbad all inroad on the fleet. Trojans and Greeks between, alone, he stood A bulwark.

Eurypylus, Evæmon’s noble son, Him seeing, thus, with weapons overwhelmed690 Flew to his side, his glittering lance dismiss’d, And Apisaon, son of Phausias, struck Under the midriff; through his liver pass’d The ruthless point, and, falling, he expired. Forth sprang Eurypylus to seize the spoil;695 Whom soon as godlike Alexander saw Despoiling Apisaon of his arms, Drawing incontinent his bow, he sent A shaft to his right thigh; the brittle reed Snapp’d, and the rankling barb stuck fast within.700 Terrified at the stroke, the wounded Chief To his own band retired, but, as he went, With echoing voice call’d on the Danaï—

Friends! Counsellors, and leaders of the Greeks! Turn ye and stand, and from his dreadful lot705 Save Ajax whelm’d with weapons; ’scape, I judge, He cannot from the roaring fight, yet oh Stand fast around him; if save ye may, Your champion huge, the Telamonian Chief!

Thus burn’d the embattled field as with the flames Of a devouring fire. Meantime afar715 From all that tumult the Neleian mares Bore Nestor, foaming as they ran, with whom Machaon also rode, leader revered. Achilles mark’d him passing; for he stood Exalted on his huge ship’s lofty stern,720 Spectator of the toil severe, and flight Deplorable of the defeated Greeks. He call’d his friend Patroclus. He below Within his tent the sudden summons heard And sprang like Mars abroad, all unaware725 That in that sound he heard the voice of fate. Him first Menœtius’ gallant son address’d.

Brave Menœtiades! my soul’s delight!730 Soon will the Grecians now my knees surround Suppliant, by dread extremity constrain’d. But fly Patroclus, haste, oh dear to Jove! Inquire of Nestor, whom he hath convey’d From battle, wounded? Viewing him behind,735 I most believed him Æsculapius’ son Machaon, but the steeds so swiftly pass’d My galley, that his face escaped my note.[19]

Now when Neleian Nestor to his tent Had brought Machaon, they alighted both, And the old hero’s friend Eurymedon Released the coursers. On the beach awhile Their tunics sweat-imbued in the cool air745 They ventilated, facing full the breeze, Then on soft couches in the tent reposed. Meantime, their beverage Hecamede mix’d, The old King’s bright-hair’d captive, whom he brought From Tenedos, what time Achilles sack’d750 The city, daughter of the noble Chief Arsinoüs, and selected from the rest For Nestor, as the honorable meed Of counsels always eminently wise. She, first, before them placed a table bright,755 With feet cœrulean; thirst-provoking sauce She brought them also in a brazen tray, Garlic[20] and honey new, and sacred meal. Beside them, next, she placed a noble cup Of labor exquisite, which from his home760 The ancient King had brought with golden studs Embellish’d; it presented to the grasp Four ears; two golden turtles, perch’d on each, Seem’d feeding, and two turtles[21] form’d the base. That cup once fill’d, all others must have toil’d765 To move it from the board, but it was light In Nestor’s hand; he lifted it with ease.[22] The graceful virgin in that cup a draught Mix’d for them, Pramnian wine and savory cheese Of goat’s milk, grated with a brazen rasp,770 Then sprinkled all with meal. The draught prepared, She gave it to their hand; they, drinking, slaked Their fiery thirst, and with each other sat Conversing friendly, when the godlike youth By brave Achilles sent, stood at the door.775

Oh venerable King! no seat is here780 For me, nor may thy courtesy prevail. He is irascible, and to be fear’d Who bade me ask what Chieftain thou hast brought From battle, wounded; but untold I learn; I see Machaon, and shall now report785 As I have seen; oh ancient King revered! Thou know’st Achilles fiery, and propense Blame to impute even where blame is none.

To whom the brave Gerenian thus replied. Why feels Achilles for the wounded Greeks790 Such deep concern? He little knows the height To which our sorrows swell. Our noblest lie By spear or arrow wounded in the fleet. Diomede, warlike son of Tydeus, bleeds, Gall’d by a shaft; Ulysses, glorious Chief,795 And Agamemnon[23] suffer by the spear; Eurypylus is shot into the thigh, And here lies still another newly brought By me from fight, pierced also by a shaft. What then? How strong soe’er to give them aid,800 Achilles feels no pity of the Greeks. Waits he till every vessel on the shore Fired, in despite of the whole Argive host, Be sunk in its own ashes, and ourselves All perish, heaps on heaps? For in my limbs805 No longer lives the agility of my youth. Oh, for the vigor of those days again, When Elis, for her cattle which we took, Strove with us and Itymoneus I slew, Brave offspring of Hypirochus; he dwelt810 In Elis, and while I the pledges drove, Stood for his herd, but fell among the first By a spear hurl’d from my victorious arm. Then fled the rustic multitude, and we Drove off abundant booty from the plain,815 Herds fifty of fat beeves, large flocks of goats As many, with as

many sheep and swine, And full thrice fifty mares of brightest hue, All breeders, many with their foals beneath. All these, by night returning safe, we drove820 Into Neleian Pylus, and the heart Rejoiced of Neleus, in a son so young A warrior, yet enrich’d with such a prize. At early dawn the heralds summon’d loud The citizens, to prove their just demands825 On fruitful Elis, and the assembled Chiefs Division made (for numerous were the debts Which the Epeans, in the weak estate Of the unpeopled Pylus, had incurr’d; For Hercules, few years before, had sack’d[24]830 Our city, and our mightiest slain. Ourselves The gallant sons of Neleus, were in all Twelve youths, of whom myself alone survived; The rest all perish’d; whence, presumptuous grown, The brazen-mail’d Epeans wrong’d us oft).835 A herd of beeves my father for himself Selected, and a numerous flock beside, Three hundred sheep, with shepherds for them all. For he a claimant was of large arrears From sacred Elis. Four unrivall’d steeds840 With his own chariot to the games he sent, That should contend for the appointed prize A tripod; but Augeias, King of men, Detain’d the steeds, and sent the charioteer Defrauded home. My

father, therefore, fired845 At such foul outrage both of deeds and words, Took much, and to the Pylians gave the rest For satisfaction of the claims of all. While thus we busied were in these concerns, And in performance of religious rites850 Throughout the city, came the Epeans arm’d, Their whole vast multitude both horse and foot On the third day; came also clad in brass The two Molions, inexpert as yet In feats of arms, and of a boyish age.855 There is a city on a mountain’s head, Fast by the banks of Alpheus, far remote, The utmost town which sandy Pylus owns, Named Thryoëssa, and, with ardor fired To lay it waste, that city they besieged.860 Now when their host had traversed all the plain, Minerva from Olympus flew by night And bade us arm; nor were the Pylians slow To assemble, but impatient for the fight. Me, then, my father suffer’d not to arm,865 But hid my steeds, for he supposed me raw As yet, and ignorant how war is waged. Yet, even thus, unvantaged and on foot, Superior honors I that day acquired To theirs who rode, for Pallas led me on870 Herself to victory. There is a stream Which at Arena falls into the sea, Named Minuëius; on that river’s bank The Pylian horsemen

waited day’s approach, And thither all our foot came pouring down.875 The flood divine of Alpheus thence we reach’d At noon, all arm’d complete; there, hallow’d rites We held to Jove omnipotent, and slew A bull to sacred Alpheus, with a bull To Neptune, and a heifer of the herd880 To Pallas; then, all marshall’d as they were, From van to rear our legions took repast, And at the river’s side slept on their arms. Already the Epean host had round Begirt the city, bent to lay it waste,885 A task which cost them, first, both blood and toil, For when the radiant sun on the green earth Had risen, with prayer to Pallas and to Jove, We gave them battle. When the Pylian host And the Epeans thus were close engaged,890 I first a warrior slew, Mulius the brave, And seized his coursers. He the eldest-born Of King Augeias’ daughters had espoused The golden Agamede; not an herb The spacious earth yields but she knew its powers,895 Him, rushing on me, with my brazen lance I smote, and in the dust he fell; I leap’d Into his seat, and drove into the van. A panic seized the Epeans when they saw The leader of their horse o’erthrown, a Chief900 Surpassing all in fight. Black as a cloud With whirlwind

fraught, I drove impetuous on, Took fifty chariots, and at side of each Lay two slain warriors, with their teeth the soil Grinding, all vanquish’d by my single arm.905 I had slain also the Molions, sons Of Actor, but the Sovereign of the deep Their own authentic Sire, in darkness dense Involving both, convey’d them safe away. Then Jove a victory of prime renown910 Gave to the Pylians; for we chased and slew And gather’d spoil o’er all the champain spread With scatter’d shields, till we our steeds had driven To the Buprasian fields laden with corn, To the Olenian rock, and to a town915 In fair Colona situate, and named Alesia. There it was that Pallas turn’d Our people homeward; there I left the last Of all the slain, and he was slain by me. Then drove the Achaians from Buprasium home920 Their coursers fleet, and Jove, of Gods above, Received most praise, Nestor of men below.

Such once was I. But brave Achilles shuts His virtues close, an unimparted store; Yet even he shall weep, when all the host,925 His fellow-warriors once, shall be destroy’d. But recollect, young friend! the sage advice Which when thou earnest from Phthia to the aid Of Agamemnon, on that selfsame day Menœtius gave thee. We were present there,930 Ulysses and myself, both in the house, And heard it all; for to the house we came Of Peleus in our journey through the land Of fertile Greece, gathering her states to war. We found thy noble sire Menœtius there,935 Thee and Achilles; ancient Peleus stood To Jove the Thunderer offering in his court Thighs of an ox, and on the blazing rites Libation pouring from a cup of gold. While ye on preparation of the feast940 Attended both, Ulysses and myself Stood in the vestibule; Achilles flew Toward us, introduced us by the hand, And, seating us, such liberal portion gave To each, as hospitality requires.945 Our thirst, at length, and hunger both sufficed, I, foremost speaking, ask’d you to the wars, And ye were eager both, but from your sires Much admonition, ere ye went, received. Old Peleus charged Achilles to aspire950 To highest praise, and

always to excel. But thee, thy sire Menœtius thus advised. “My son! Achilles boasts the nobler birth, But thou art elder; he in strength excels Thee far; thou, therefore, with discretion rule955 His inexperience; thy advice impart With gentleness; instruction wise suggest Wisely, and thou shalt find him apt to learn.” So thee thy father taught, but, as it seems, In vain. Yet even now essay to move960 Warlike Achilles; if the Gods so please, Who knows but that thy reasons may prevail To rouse his valiant heart? men rarely scorn The earnest intercession of a friend. But if some prophecy alarm his fears,965 And from his Goddess mother he have aught Received, who may have learnt the same from Jove, Thee let him send at least, and order forth With thee the Myrmidons; a dawn of hope Shall thence, it may be, on our host arise.970 And let him send thee to the battle clad In his own radiant armor; Troy, deceived By such resemblance, shall abstain perchance From conflict, and the weary Greeks enjoy Short respite; it is all that war allows.975 Fresh as ye are, ye, by your shouts alone, May easily repulse an army spent With labor from the camp and from the fleet.

Thus Nestor, and his mind bent to his words. Back to Æacides through all the camp980 He ran; and when, still running, he arrived Among Ulysses’ barks, where they had fix’d The forum, where they minister’d the laws, And had erected altars to the Gods, There him Eurypylus, Evæmon’s son,985 Illustrious met, deep-wounded in his thigh, And halting-back from battle. From his head The sweat, and from his shoulders ran profuse, And from his perilous wound the sable blood Continual stream’d; yet was his mind composed.990 Him seeing, Menœtiades the brave Compassion felt, and mournful, thus began.

Ah hapless senators and Chiefs of Greece! Left ye your native country that the dogs Might fatten on your flesh at distant Troy?995 But tell me, Hero! say, Eurypylus! Have the Achaians power still to withstand The enormous force of Hector, or is this The moment when his spear must pierce us all?

To whom Eurypylus, discreet, replied.1000 Patroclus, dear to Jove! there is no help, No remedy. We perish at our ships. The warriors, once most strenuous of the Greeks, Lie wounded in the fleet by foes whose might Increases ever. But thyself afford1005 To me some succor; lead me to my ship; Cut forth the arrow from my thigh; the gore With warm ablution cleanse, and on the wound Smooth unguents spread, the same as by report Achilles taught thee; taught, himself, their use1010 By Chiron, Centaur, justest of his kind For Podalirius and Machaon both Are occupied. Machaon, as I judge, Lies wounded in his tent, needing like aid Himself, and Podalirius in the field1015 Maintains sharp conflict with the sons of Troy.

To whom Menœtius’ gallant son replied. Hero! Eurypylus! how shall we act In this perplexity? what course pursue? I seek the brave Achilles, to whose ear1020 I bear a message from the ancient chief Gerenian Nestor, guardian of the Greeks. Yet will I not, even for such a cause, My friend! abandon thee in thy distress.

He ended, and his arms folding around1025 The warrior bore him thence into his tent. His servant, on his entrance, spread the floor With hides, on which Patroclus at his length Extended him, and with his knife cut forth The rankling point; with tepid lotion, next,1030 He cleansed the gore, and with a bitter root Bruised small between his palms, sprinkled the wound. At once, the anodyne his pain assuaged, The wound was dried within, and the blood ceased.

It will be well here to observe the position of the Greeks. All human aid is cut off by the wounds of their heroes, and all assistance from the Gods forbidden by Jupiter. On the contrary, the Trojans see their general at their head, and Jupiter himself fights on their side. Upon this hinge turns the whole poem. The distress of the Greeks occasions first the assistance of Patroclus, and then the death of that hero brings back Achilles.