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

[1]But when they came, at length, where Xanthus winds His stream vortiginous from Jove derived, There, separating Ilium’s host, he drove Part o’er the plain to Troy in the same road By which the Grecians had so lately fled5 The fury of illustrious Hector’s arm. That way they fled pouring themselves along Flood-like, and Juno, to retard them, threw Darkness as night before them. Other part, Push’d down the sides of Xanthus, headlong plunged10 With dashing sound into his dizzy stream, And all his banks re-echoed loud the roar. They, struggling, shriek’d in silver eddies whirl’d. As when, by violence of fire expell’d, Locusts uplifted on the wing escape15 To some broad river, swift the sudden blaze Pursues them, they, astonish’d, strew the flood,[2] So, by Achilles driven, a mingled throng Of horses and of warriors overspread Xanthus, and glutted all his sounding course20 He, chief of heroes, leaving on the bank His spear against a tamarisk reclined, Plunged like a God, with falchion arm’d alone But fill’d with thoughts of havoc. On all sides Down came his edge; groans follow’d dread to hear25 Of warriors smitten by the sword, and all The waters as they ran redden’d with blood. As

smaller fishes, flying the pursuit Of some huge dolphin, terrified, the creeks And secret hollows of a haven fill,30 For none of all that he can seize he spares, So lurk’d the trembling Trojans in the caves Of Xanthus’ awful flood. But he (his hands Wearied at length with slaughter) from the rest Twelve youths selected whom to death he doom’d,35 In vengeance for his loved Patroclus slain. Them stupified with dread like fawns he drove Forth from the river, manacling their hands Behind them fast with their own tunic-strings, And gave them to his warrior train in charge.40 Then, ardent still for blood, rushing again Toward the stream, Dardanian Priam’s son He met, Lycaon, as he climb’d the bank. Him erst by night, in his own father’s field Finding him, he had led captive away.45 Lycaon was employ’d cutting green shoots Of the wild-fig for chariot-rings, when lo! Terrible, unforeseen, Achilles came. He seized and sent him in a ship afar To Lemnos; there the son of Jason paid50 His price, and, at great cost, Eëtion The guest of Jason, thence redeeming him, Sent him to fair Arisba;[3] but he ’scaped Thence also and regain’d his father’s house. Eleven days, at his return, he gave55 To

recreation joyous with his friends, And on the twelfth his fate cast him again Into Achilles’ hands, who to the shades Now doom’d him, howsoever loth to go. Soon as Achilles swiftest of the swift60 Him naked saw (for neither spear had he Nor shield nor helmet, but, when he emerged, Weary and faint had cast them all away) Indignant to his mighty self he said.

Gods! I behold a miracle! Ere long65 The valiant Trojans whom my self have slain Shall rise from Erebus, for he is here, The self-same warrior whom I lately sold At Lemnos, free, and in the field again. The hoary deep is prison strong enough70 For most, but not for him. Now shall he taste The point of this my spear, that I may learn By sure experience, whether hell itself That holds the strongest fast, can him detain, Or whether he shall thence also escape.75

While musing thus he stood, stunn’d with dismay The youth approach’d, eager to clasp his knees, For vehement he felt the dread of death Working within him; with his Pelian ash Uplifted high noble Achilles stood80 Ardent to smite him; he with body bent Ran under it, and to his knees adhered; The weapon, missing him, implanted stood Close at his back, when, seizing with one hand Achilles’ knees, he with the other grasp’d85 The dreadful beam, resolute through despair, And in wing’d accents suppliant thus began.

Oh spare me! pity me! Behold I clasp Thy knees, Achilles! Ah, illustrious Chief! Reject not with disdain a suppliant’s prayer.90 I am thy guest also, who at thy own board Have eaten bread, and did partake the gift Of Ceres with thee on the very day When thou didst send me in yon field surprised For sale to sacred Lemnos, far remote,95 And for my price receiv’dst a hundred beeves. Loose me, and I will yield thee now that sum Thrice told. Alas! this morn is but the twelfth Since, after numerous hardships, I arrived Once more in Troy, and now my ruthless lot100 Hath given me into thy hands again. Jove cannot less than hate me, who hath twice Made me thy prisoner, and my doom was death, Death in my prime, the day when I was born Son of Laothöe from Alta sprung,105 From Alta, whom the Leleges obey On Satnio’s banks in lofty Pedasus. His daughter to his other numerous wives King Priam added, and two sons she bore Only to be deprived by thee of both.110 My brother hath already died, in front Of Ilium’s infantry, by thy bright spear, The godlike Polydorus; and like doom Shall now be mine, for I despair to escape Thine hands, to which the Gods yield me again.115 But hear and mark me well. My birth was not From the same womb as Hector’s, who hath slain Thy valiant friend for clemency renown’d.

Fool! speak’st of ransom? Name it not to me. For till my friend his miserable fate Accomplish’d, I was somewhat given to spare, And numerous, whom I seized alive, I sold. But now, of all the Trojans whom the Gods125 Deliver to me, none shall death escape, ’Specially of the house of Priam, none. Die therefore, even thou, my friend! What mean Thy tears unreasonably shed and vain? Died not Patroclus. braver far than thou?130 And look on me—see’st not to what a height My stature towers, and what a bulk I boast? A King begat me, and a Goddess bore. What then! A death by violence awaits Me also, and at morn, or eve, or noon,135 I perish, whensoe’er the destined spear Shall reach me, or the arrow from the nerve.

He ceased, and where the suppliant kneel’d, he died. Quitting the spear, with both hands spread abroad He sat, but swift Achilles with his sword140 ’Twixt neck and key-bone smote him, and his blade Of double edge sank all into the wound. He prone extended on the champain lay Bedewing with his sable blood the glebe, Till, by the foot, Achilles cast him far145 Into the stream, and, as he floated down, Thus in wing’d accents, glorying, exclaim’d.

Lie there, and feed the fishes, which shall lick Thy blood secure. Thy mother ne’er shall place Thee on thy bier, nor on thy body weep,150 But swift Scamander on his giddy tide Shall bear thee to the bosom of the sea. There, many a fish shall through the crystal flood Ascending to the rippled surface, find Lycaon’s pamper’d flesh delicious fare.155 Die Trojans! till we reach your city, you Fleeing, and slaughtering, I. This pleasant stream Of dimpling silver which ye worship oft With victim bulls, and sate with living steeds[4] His rapid whirlpools, shall avail you nought,160 But ye shall die, die terribly, till all Shall have requited me with just amends For my Patroclus, and for other Greeks Slain at the ships while I declined the war.

He ended, at those words still more incensed165 Scamander means devised, thenceforth to check Achilles, and avert the doom of Troy. Meantime the son of Peleus, his huge spear Grasping, assail’d Asteropæus son Of Pelegon, on fire to take his life.170 Fair Peribœa, daughter eldest-born Of Acessamenus, his father bore To broad-stream’d Axius, who had clasp’d the nymph In his embrace. On him Achilles sprang. He newly risen from the river, stood175 Arm’d with two lances opposite, for him Xanthus embolden’d, at the deaths incensed Of many a youth, whom, mercy none vouchsafed, Achilles had in all his current slain. And now small distance interposed, they faced180 Each other, when Achilles thus began.

To whom the noble son of Pelegon. Pelides, mighty Chief? Why hast thou ask’d185 My derivation? From the land I come Of mellow-soil’d Pœonia far remote, Chief leader of Pœnia’s host spear-arm’d; This day hath also the eleventh risen Since I at Troy arrived. For my descent,190 It is from Axius river wide-diffused, From Axius, fairest stream that waters earth, Sire of bold Pelegon whom men report My sire. Let this suffice. Now fight, Achilles!

So spake he threatening, and Achilles raised195 Dauntless the Pelian ash. At once two spears The hero bold, Asteropæus threw, With both hands apt for battle. One his shield Struck but pierced not, impeded by the gold, Gift of a God; the other as it flew200 Grazed at his right elbow; sprang the sable blood; But, overflying him, the spear in earth Stood planted deep, still hungering for the prey. Then, full at the Pœonian Peleus’ son Hurl’d forth his weapon with unsparing force205 But vain; he struck the sloping river bank, And mid-length deep stood plunged the ashen beam. Then, with his falchion drawn, Achilles flew To smite him; he in vain, meantime, essay’d To pluck the rooted spear forth from the bank;210 Thrice with full force he shook the beam, and thrice, Although reluctant, left it; at his fourth Last effort, bending it he sought to break The ashen spear-beam of Æacides, But perish’d by his keen-edged falchion first;215 For on the belly at his navel’s side He smote him; to the ground effused fell all His bowels, death’s dim shadows veil’d his eyes. Achilles ardent on his bosom fix’d His foot, despoil’d him, and exulting cried.220

Lie there; though River-sprung, thou find’st it hard To cope with sons of Jove omnipotent. Thou said’st, a mighty River is my sire— But my descent from mightier Jove I boast; My father, whom the Myrmidons obey,225 Is son of Æacus, and he of Jove. As Jove all streams excels that seek the sea, So, Jove’s descendants nobler are than theirs. Behold a River at thy side—let him Afford thee, if he can, some succor—No—230 He may not fight against Saturnian Jove. Therefore, not kingly Acheloïus, Nor yet the strength of Ocean’s vast profound, Although from him all rivers and all seas, All fountains and all wells proceed, may boast235 Comparison with Jove, but even he Astonish’d trembles at his fiery bolt, And his dread thunders rattling in the sky. He said, and drawing from the bank his spear[5] Asteropæus left stretch’d on the sands,240 Where, while the clear wave dash’d him, eels his flanks And ravening fishes numerous nibbled bare. The horsed Pœonians next he fierce assail’d, Who seeing their brave Chief slain by the sword And forceful arm of Peleus’ son, beside245 The eddy-whirling stream fled all dispersed. Thersilochus and Mydon then he slew, Thrasius, Astypylus and Ophelestes, Ænius and Mnesus; nor had these sufficed Achilles, but Pœonians more had fallen,250 Had not the angry River from within His circling gulfs in semblance, of a man Call’d to him, interrupting thus his rage.

Oh both in courage and injurious deeds Unmatch’d, Achilles! whom themselves the Gods255 Cease not to aid, if Saturn’s son have doom’d All Ilium’s race to perish by thine arm, Expel them, first, from me, ere thou achieve That dread exploit; for, cumber’d as I am With bodies, I can pour my pleasant stream260 No longer down into the sacred deep; All vanish where thou comest. But oh desist Dread Chief! Amazement fills me at thy deeds.

To whom Achilles, matchless in the race. River divine! hereafter be it so.265 But not from slaughter of this faithless host I cease, till I shall shut them fast in Troy And trial make of Hector, if his arm In single fight shall strongest prove, or mine

He ended, and Achilles spear-renown’d Plunged from the bank into the middle stream. Then, turbulent, the River all his tide280 Stirr’d from the bottom, landward heaving off The numerous bodies that his current chok’d Slain by Achilles; them, as with the roar Of bulls, he cast aground, but deep within His oozy gulfs the living safe conceal’d.285 Terrible all around Achilles stood The curling wave, then, falling on his shield Dash’d him, nor found his footsteps where to rest. An elm of massy trunk he seized and branch Luxuriant, but it fell torn from the root290 And drew the whole bank after it; immersed It damm’d the current with its ample boughs, And join’d as with a bridge the distant shores, Upsprang Achilles from the gulf and turn’d His feet, now wing’d for flight, into the plain295 Astonish’d; but the God, not so appeased, Arose against him with a darker curl,[6] That he might quell him and deliver Troy. Back flew Achilles with a bound, the length Of a spear’s cast, for such a spring he own’d300 As bears the black-plumed eagle on her prey Strongest and swiftest of the fowls of air. Like her he sprang, and dreadful on his chest Clang’d his bright armor. Then, with course oblique

He fled his fierce pursuer, but the flood,305 Fly where he might, came thundering in his rear. As when the peasant with his spade a rill Conducts from some pure fountain through his grove Or garden, clearing the obstructed course, The pebbles, as it runs, all ring beneath,310 And, as the slope still deepens, swifter still It runs, and, murmuring, outstrips the guide, So him, though swift, the river always reach’d Still swifter; who can cope with power divine? Oft as the noble Chief, turning, essay’d315 Resistance, and to learn if all the Gods Alike rush’d after him, so oft the flood, Jove’s offspring, laved his shoulders. Upward then He sprang distress’d, but with a sidelong sweep Assailing him, and from beneath his steps320 Wasting the soil, the Stream his force subdued. Then looking to the skies, aloud he mourn’d.

Eternal Sire! forsaken by the Gods I sink, none deigns to save me from the flood, From which once saved, I would no death decline.325 Yet blame I none of all the Powers of heaven As Thetis; she with falsehood sooth’d my soul, She promised me a death by Phœbus’ shafts Swift-wing’d, beneath the battlements of Troy. I would that Hector, noblest of his race,330 Had slain me, I had then bravely expired And a brave man had stripp’d me of my arms. But fate now dooms me to a death abhorr’d Whelm’d in deep waters, like a swine-herd’s boy Drown’d in wet weather while he fords a brook.335

Achilles! moderate thy dismay, fear nought.340 In us behold, in Pallas and in me, Effectual aids, and with consent of Jove; For to be vanquish’d by a River’s force Is not thy doom. This foe shall soon be quell’d; Thine eyes shall see it. Let our counsel rule345 Thy deed, and all is well. Cease not from war Till fast within proud Ilium’s walls her host Again be prison’d, all who shall escape; Then (Hector slain) to the Achaian fleet Return; we make the glorious victory thine.350

So they, and both departing sought the skies. Then, animated by the voice divine, He moved toward the plain now all o’erspread By the vast flood on which the bodies swam And shields of many a youth in battle slain.355 He leap’d, he waded, and the current stemm’d Right onward, by the flood in vain opposed, With such might Pallas fill’d him. Nor his rage Scamander aught repress’d, but still the more Incensed against Achilles, curl’d aloft360 His waters, and on Simoïs call’d aloud.

Brother! oh let us with united force Check, if we may, this warrior; he shall else Soon lay the lofty towers of Priam low, Whose host appall’d, defend them now no more.365 Haste—succor me—thy channel fill with streams From all thy fountains; call thy torrents down; Lift high the waters; mingle trees and stones With uproar wild, that we may quell the force Of this dread Chief triumphant now, and fill’d370 With projects that might more beseem a God. But vain shall be his strength, his beauty nought Shall profit him or his resplendent arms, For I will bury them in slime and ooze, And I will overwhelm himself with soil,375 Sands heaping o’er him and around him sands Infinite, that no Greek shall find his bones For ever, in my bottom deep immersed. There shall his tomb be piled, nor other earth, At his last rites, his friends shall need for him.380

He said, and lifting high his angry tide Vortiginous, against Achilles hurl’d, Roaring, the foam, the bodies, and the blood; Then all his sable waves divine again Accumulating, bore him swift along.385 Shriek’d Juno at that sight, terrified lest Achilles in the whirling deluge sunk Should perish, and to Vulcan quick exclaim’d.

Vulcan, my son, arise; for we account Xanthus well able to contend with thee.390 Give instant succor; show forth all thy fires. Myself will haste to call the rapid South And Zephyrus, that tempests from the sea Blowing, thou may’st both arms and dead consume With hideous conflagration. Burn along395 The banks of Xanthus, fire his trees and him Seize also. Let him by no specious guile Of flattery soothe thee, or by threats appall, Nor slack thy furious fires till with a shout I give command, then bid them cease to blaze.400

She spake, and Vulcan at her word his fires Shot dreadful forth; first, kindling on the field, He burn’d the bodies strew’d numerous around Slain by Achilles; arid grew the earth And the flood ceased. As when a sprightly breeze405 Autumnal blowing from the North, at once Dries the new-water’d garden,[7] gladdening him Who tills the soil, so was the champain dried; The dead consumed, against the River, next, He turn’d the fierceness of his glittering fires.410 Willows and tamarisks and elms he burn’d, Burn’d lotus, rushes, reeds; all plants and herbs That clothed profuse the margin of his flood. His eels and fishes, whether wont to dwell In gulfs beneath, or tumble in the stream,415 All languish’d while the artist of the skies Breath’d on them; even Xanthus lost, himself, All force, and, suppliant, Vulcan thus address’d.

So spake he scorch’d, and all his waters boil’d. As some huge caldron hisses urged by force425 Of circling fires and fill’d with melted lard, The unctuous fluid overbubbling[8] streams On all sides, while the dry wood flames beneath, So Xanthus bubbled and his pleasant flood Hiss’d in the fire, nor could he longer flow430 But check’d his current, with hot steams annoy’d By Vulcan raised. His supplication, then, Importunate to Juno thus he turn’d.

Ah Juno! why assails thy son my streams, Hostile to me alone? Of all who aid435 The Trojans I am surely least to blame, Yet even I desist if thou command; And let thy son cease also; for I swear That never will I from the Trojans turn Their evil day, not even when the host440 Of Greece shall set all Ilium in a blaze.

But contest vehement the other Gods Now waged, each breathing discord; loud they rush’d And fierce to battle, while the boundless earth Quaked under them, and, all around, the heavens Sang them together with a trumpet’s voice.455 Jove listening, on the Olympian summit sat Well-pleased, and, in his heart laughing for joy, Beheld the Powers of heaven in battle join’d. Not long aloof they stood. Shield-piercer Mars, His brazen spear grasp’d, and began the fight460 Rushing on Pallas, whom he thus reproach’d.

Wasp! front of impudence, and past all bounds Audacious! Why impellest thou the Gods To fight? Thy own proud spirit is the cause. Remember’st not, how, urged by thee, the son465 Of Tydeus, Diomede, myself assail’d, When thou, the radiant spear with thy own hand Guiding, didst rend my body? Now, I ween, The hour is come in which I shall exact Vengeance for all thy malice shown to me.470

So saying, her shield he smote tassell’d around Terrific, proof against the bolts of Jove; That shield gore-tainted Mars with fury smote. But she, retiring, with strong grasp upheaved A rugged stone, black, ponderous, from the plain,475 A land-mark fixt by men of ancient times, Which hurling at the neck of stormy Mars She smote him. Down he fell. Seven acres, stretch’d, He overspread, his ringlets in the dust Polluted lay, and dreadful rang his arms.480 The Goddess laugh’d, and thus in accents wing’d With exultation, as he lay, exclaim’d.