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

So saying, she turn’d the coursers; them the Hours505 Released, and to ambrosial mangers bound, Then thrust their chariot to the luminous wall. They, mingling with the Gods, on golden thrones Dejected sat, and Jove from Ida borne Reach’d the Olympian heights, seat of the Gods.510 His steeds the glorious King of Ocean loosed, And thrust the chariot, with its veil o’erspread. Into its station at the altar’s side. Then sat the Thunderer on his throne of gold Himself, and the huge mountain shook. Meantime515 Juno and Pallas, seated both apart, Spake not or question’d him. Their mute reserve He noticed, conscious of the cause, and said.

Juno and Pallas, wherefore sit ye sad? Not through fatigue by glorious fight incurr’d520 And slaughter of the Trojans whom ye hate. Mark now the difference. Not the Gods combined Should have constrain’d me back, till all my force, Superior as it is, had fail’d, and all My fortitude. But ye, ere ye beheld525 The wonders of the field, trembling retired. And ye did well—Hear what had else befallen. My bolts had found you both, and ye had reach’d, In your own chariot borne, the Olympian height, Seat of the blest Immortals, never more.530

He ended; Juno and Minerva heard Low murmuring deep disgust, and side by side Devising sat calamity to Troy. Minerva, through displeasure against Jove, Nought utter’d, for her bosom boil’d with rage;535 But Juno check’d not hers, who thus replied.

What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove most severe? We know thy force resistless; yet our hearts Feel not the less when we behold the Greeks Exhausting all the sorrows of their lot.540 If thou command, we doubtless will abstain From battle, yet such counsel to the Greeks Suggesting still, as may in part effect Their safety, lest thy wrath consume them all.

Then answer, thus, cloud-gatherer Jove return’d.545 Look forth, imperial Juno, if thou wilt, To-morrow at the blush of earliest dawn, And thou shalt see Saturn’s almighty son The Argive host destroying far and wide. For Hector’s fury shall admit no pause550 Till he have roused Achilles, in that day When at the ships, in perilous straits, the hosts Shall wage fierce battle for Patroclus slain. Such is the voice of fate. But, as for thee— Withdraw thou to the confines of the abyss555 Where Saturn and Iäpetus retired, Exclusion sad endure from balmy airs And from the light of morn, hell-girt around, I will not call thee thence. No. Should thy rage Transport thee thither, there thou may’st abide,560 There sullen nurse thy disregarded spleen Obstinate as thou art, and void of shame.

Then Hector on the river’s brink fast by The Grecian fleet, where space he found unstrew’d With carcases convened the Chiefs of Troy.570 They, there dismounting, listen’d to the words Of Hector Jove-beloved; he grasp’d a spear In length eleven cubits, bright its head Of brass, and color’d with a ring of gold. He lean’d on it, and ardent thus began.575

Trojans, Dardanians, and allies of Troy! I hoped, this evening (every ship consumed, And all the Grecians slain) to have return’d To wind-swept Ilium. But the shades of night Have intervened, and to the night they owe,580 In chief, their whole fleet’s safety and their own. Now, therefore, as the night enjoins, all take Needful refreshment. Your high-mettled steeds Release, lay food before them, and in haste Drive hither from the city fatted sheep585 And oxen; bring ye from your houses bread, Make speedy purchase of heart-cheering wine, And gather fuel plenteous; that all night, E’en till Aurora, daughter of the morn Shall look abroad, we may with many fires590 Illume the skies; lest even in the night, Launching, they mount the billows and escape. Beware that they depart not unannoy’d, But, as he leaps on board, give each a wound With shaft or spear, which he shall nurse at home.595 So shall the nations fear us, and shall vex With ruthless war Troy’s gallant sons no more. Next, let the heralds, ministers of Jove, Loud notice issue that the boys well-grown, And ancients silver-hair’d on the high towers600 Built by the Gods, keep watch; on every hearth In Troy, let those of the

inferior sex Make sprightly blaze, and place ye there a guard Sufficient, lest in absence of the troops An ambush enter, and surprise the town.605 Act thus, ye dauntless Trojans; the advice Is wholesome, and shall serve the present need, And so much for the night; ye shall be told The business of the morn when morn appears. It is my prayer to Jove and to all heaven610 (Not without hope) that I may hence expel These dogs, whom Ilium’s unpropitious fates Have wafted hither in their sable barks. But we will also watch this night, ourselves, And, arming with the dawn, will at their ships615 Give them brisk onset. Then shall it appear If Diomede the brave shall me compel Back to our walls, or I, his arms blood-stain’d, Torn from his breathless body, bear away. To-morrow, if he dare but to abide620 My lance, he shall not want occasion meet For show of valor. But much more I judge That the next rising sun shall see him slain With no few friends around him. Would to heaven! I were as sure to ’scape the blight of age625 And share their honors with the Gods above, As comes the morrow fraught with wo to Greece.

So Hector, whom his host with loud acclaim All praised. Then each his sweating steeds released, And rein’d them safely at his chariot-side.630 And now from Troy provision large they brought, Oxen, and sheep, with store of wine and bread, And fuel much was gather’d. [16]Next the Gods With sacrifice they sought, and from the plain Upwafted by the winds the smoke aspired635 Savoury, but unacceptable to those Above; such hatred in their hearts they bore To Priam, to the people of the brave Spear-practised Priam, and to sacred Troy.

Big with great purposes and proud, they sat,640 Not disarray’d, but in fair form disposed Of even ranks, and watch’d their numerous fires, As when around the clear bright moon, the stars Shine in full splendor, and the winds are hush’d, The groves, the mountain-tops, the headland-heights645 Stand all apparent, not a vapor streaks The boundless blue, but ether open’d wide All glitters, and the shepherd’s heart is cheer’d;[17] So numerous seem’d those fires the bank between Of Xanthus, blazing, and the fleet of Greece,650 In prospect all of Troy; a thousand fires, Each watch’d by fifty warriors seated near. The steeds beside the chariots stood, their corn Chewing, and waiting till the golden-throned Aurora should restore the light of day.655