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

Laërtes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! Short reprimand and exhortation short425 Suffice for thee, nor did I purpose more. For I have known thee long, that thou art one Of kindest nature, and so much my friend That we have both one heart. Go therefore thou, Lead on, and if a word have fallen amiss,430 We will hereafter mend it, and may heaven Obliterate in thine heart its whole effect!

He ceased, and ranging still along the line, The son of Tydeus, Diomede, perceived, Heroic Chief, by chariots all around435 Environ’d, and by steeds, at side of whom Stood Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus. Him also, Agamemnon, King of men, In accents of asperity reproved.

Ah, son of Tydeus, Chief of dauntless heart440 And of equestrian fame! why standest thou Appall’d, and peering through the walks of war? So did not Tydeus. In the foremost fight His favorite station was, as they affirm Who witness’d his exploits; I never saw445 Or met him, but by popular report He was the bravest warrior of his day. Yet came he once, but not in hostile sort, To fair Mycenæ, by the godlike prince Attended, Polynices, at what time450 The host was called together, and the siege Was purposed of the sacred city Thebes. Earnest they sued for an auxiliar band, Which we had gladly granted, but that Jove By unpropitious tokens interfered.455 So forth they went, and on the reedy banks Arriving of Asopus, there thy sire By designation of the Greeks was sent Ambassador, and enter’d Thebes. He found In Eteocles’ palace numerous guests,460 The sons of Cadmus feasting, among whom, Although a solitary stranger, stood Thy father without fear, and challenged forth Their best to cope with him in manly games. Them Tydeus vanquish’d easily, such aid465 Pallas vouchsafed him. Then the spur-arm’d race Of Cadmus was incensed, and fifty youths In ambush close expected his return. Them, Lycophontes obstinate in fight, Son of Autophonus, and Mæon, son470 Of Hæmon, Chief of godlike stature, led. Those also Tydeus slew; Mæon except, (Whom, warned from heaven, he spared, and sent him home With tidings of the rest) he slew them all. Such was Ætolian Tydeus; who begat475 A son in speech his better, not in arms.

Atrides, conscious of the truth, speak truth.480 We with our sires compared, superior praise Claim justly.[15] We, confiding in the aid Of Jove, and in propitious signs from heaven, Led to the city consecrate to Mars Our little host, inferior far to theirs,485 And took seven-gated Thebes, under whose walls Our fathers by their own imprudence fell. Their glory, then, match never more with ours.

He spake, whom with a frowning brow the brave Tydides answer’d. Sthenelus, my friend!490 I give thee counsel. Mark it. Hold thy peace. If Agamemnon, who hath charge of all, Excite his well-appointed host to war, He hath no blame from me. For should the Greeks (Her people vanquished) win imperial Troy,495 The glory shall be his; or, if his host O’erpower’d in battle perish, his the shame. Come, therefore; be it ours to rouse at once To action all the fury of our might.

As when the waves by Zephyrus up-heaved Crowd fast toward some sounding shore, at first,505 On the broad bosom of the deep their heads They curl on high, then breaking on the land Thunder, and o’er the rocks that breast the flood Borne turgid, scatter far the showery spray; So moved the Greeks successive, rank by rank,510 And phalanx after phalanx, every Chief His loud command proclaiming, while the rest, As voice in all those thousands none had been Heard mute; and, in resplendent armor clad, With martial order terrible advanced.515 Not so the Trojans came. As sheep, the flock Of some rich man, by thousands in his court Penn’d close at milking time, incessant bleat, Loud answering all their bleating lambs without, Such din from Ilium’s wide-spread host arose.520 Nor was their shout, nor was their accent one, But mingled languages were heard of men From various climes. These Mars to battle roused, Those Pallas azure-eyed; nor Terror thence Nor Flight was absent, nor insatiate Strife,525 Sister and mate of homicidal Mars, Who small at first, but swift to grow, from earth Her towering crest lifts gradual to the skies. She, foe alike to both, the brands dispersed Of burning hate between them, and the woes530 Enhanced of battle wheresoe’er she pass’d.

And now the battle join’d. Shield clash’d with shield[16] And spear with spear, conflicting corselets rang, Boss’d bucklers met, and tumult wild arose. Then, many a yell was heard, and many a shout535 Loud intermix’d, the slayer o’er the maim’d Exulting, and the field was drench’d with blood. As when two winter torrents rolling down The mountains, shoot their floods through gulleys huge Into one gulf below, station’d remote540 The shepherd in the uplands hears the roar; Such was the thunder of the mingling hosts. And first, Antilochus a Trojan Chief Slew Echepolus, from Thalysias sprung, Contending valiant in the van of Troy.545 Him smiting on his crested casque, he drove The brazen lance into his front, and pierced The bones within; night overspread his eyes, And in fierce battle, like a tower, he fell. Him fallen by both feet Calchodon’s son550 Seized, royal Elephenor, leader brave Of the Abantes, and in haste to strip His armor, drew him from the fight aside. But short was that attempt. Him so employ’d Dauntless Agenor mark’d, and as he stoop’d,555 In his unshielded flank a pointed spear Implanted deep; he languid sunk and died. So Elephenor fell, for whom arose Sharp conflict;

Greeks and Trojans mutual flew Like wolves to battle, and man grappled man.560 Then Telamonian Ajax, in his prime Of youthful vigor Simöisius slew,[17] Son of Anthemion. Him on Simoïs’ banks His mother bore, when with her parents once She came from Ida down to view the flocks,565 And thence they named him; but his parents’ He lived not to requite, in early youth Slain by the spear of Ajax famed in arms. For him advancing Ajax at the pap Wounded; right through his shoulder driven the point570 Stood forth behind; he fell, and press’d the dust. So in some spacious marsh the poplar falls Smooth-skinn’d, with boughs unladen save aloft; Some chariot-builder with his axe the trunk Severs, that he may warp it to a wheel575 Of shapely form; meantime exposed it lies To parching airs beside the running stream; Such Simöisius seemed, Anthemion’s son, Whom noble Ajax slew. But soon at him Antiphus, son of Priam, bright in arms,580 Hurl’d through the multitude his pointed spear. He erred from Ajax, but he pierced the groin Of Leucus, valiant warrior of the band Led by Ulysses. He the body dragg’d Apart, but fell beside it, and let fall,585 Breathless himself, the burthen from his hand. Then

burn’d Ulysses’ wrath for Leucus slain, And through the foremost combatants, array’d In dazzling arms, he rush’d. Full near he stood, And, looking keen around him, hurl’d a lance.590 Back fell the Trojans from before the face Dispersed of great Ulysses. Not in vain His weapon flew, but on the field outstretch’d A spurious son of Priam, from the shores Call’d of Abydus famed for fleetest mares,595 Democoon; him, for Leucus’ sake enraged, Ulysses through both temples with his spear Transpierced. The night of death hung on his eyes, And sounding on his batter’d arms he fell. Then Hector and the van of Troy retired;600 Loud shout the Grecians; these draw off the dead, Those onward march amain, and from the heights Of Pergamus Apollo looking down In anger, to the Trojans called aloud.

Such from the citadel was heard the voice610 Of dread Apollo. But Minerva ranged Meantime, Tritonian progeny of Jove, The Grecians, rousing whom she saw remiss. Then Amarynceus’ son, Diores, felt The force of fate, bruised by a rugged rock615 At his right heel, which Pirus, Thracian Chief, The son of Imbrasus of Ænos, threw. Bones and both tendons in its fall the mass Enormous crush’d. He, stretch’d in dust supine, With palms outspread toward his warrior friends620 Lay gasping life away. But he who gave The fatal blow, Pirus, advancing, urged Into his navel a keen lance, and shed His bowels forth; then, darkness veil’d his eyes.

Nor Pirus long survived; him through the breast625 Above the pap, Ætolian Thoas pierced, And in his lungs set fast the quivering spear. Then Thoas swift approach’d, pluck’d from the wound His stormy spear, and with his falchion bright Gashing his middle belly, stretch’d him dead.630 Yet stripp’d he not the slain, whom with long spears His Thracians hairy-scalp’d[19] so round about Encompassed, that though bold and large of limb Were Thoas, from before them him they thrust Staggering and reeling in his forced retreat.635

Then had Minerva led through all that field Some warrior yet unhurt, him sheltering safe640 From all annoyance dread of dart or spear, No cause of blame in either had he found That day, so many Greeks and Trojans press’d, Extended side by side, the dusty plain.