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

But when the flying Trojans had o’erpass’d Both stakes and trench, and numerous slaughtered lay By Grecian hands, the remnant halted all Beside their chariots, pale, discomfited. Then was it that on Ida’s summit Jove5 At Juno’s side awoke; starting, he stood At once erect; Trojans and Greeks he saw, These broken, those pursuing and led on By Neptune; he beheld also remote Encircled by his friends, and on the plain10 Extended, Hector; there he panting lay, Senseless, ejecting blood, bruised by a blow From not the feeblest of the sons of Greece. Touch’d with compassion at that sight, the Sire Of Gods and men, frowning terrific, fix’d15 His eyes on Juno, and her thus bespake.

No place for doubt remains. Oh, versed in wiles, Juno! thy mischief-teeming mind perverse Hath plotted this; thou hast contrived the hurt Of Hector, and hast driven his host to flight.20 I know not but thyself mayst chance to reap The first-fruits of thy cunning, scourged[1] by me. Hast thou forgotten how I once aloft Suspended thee, with anvils at thy feet, And both thy wrists bound with a golden cord25 Indissoluble? In the clouds of heaven I hung thee, while from the Olympian heights The Gods look’d mournful on, but of them all None could deliver thee, for whom I seized, Hurl’d through the gates of heaven on earth he fell,30 Half-breathless. Neither so did I resign My hot resentment of the hero’s wrongs Immortal Hercules, whom thou by storms Call’d from the North, with mischievous intent Hadst driven far distant o’er the barren Deep35 To populous Cos. Thence I deliver’d him, And after numerous woes severe, he reach’d The shores of fruitful Argos, saved by me. I thus remind thee now, that thou mayst cease Henceforth from artifice, and mayst be taught40 How little all the dalliance and the love Which, stealing down from heaven, thou hast by fraud Obtain’d from me, shall profit thee at last.

Be witness Earth, the boundless Heaven above, And Styx beneath, whose stream the blessed Gods Even tremble to adjure;[2] be witness too Thy sacred life, and our connubial bed, Which by a false oath I will never wrong,50 That by no art induced or plot of mine Neptune, the Shaker of the shores, inflicts These harms on Hector and the Trojan host Aiding the Grecians, but impell’d alone By his own heart with pity moved at sight55 Of the Achaians at the ships subdued. But even him, oh Sovereign of the storms! I am prepared to admonish that he quit The battle, and retire where thou command’st.

Juno! wouldst thou on thy celestial throne Assist my counsels, howso’er in heart He differ now, Neptune should soon his will Submissive bend to thy desires and mine.65 But if sincerity be in thy words And truth, repairing to the blest abodes Send Iris hither, with the archer God Apollo; that she, visiting the host Of Greece, may bid the Sovereign of the Deep70 Renounce the fight, and seek his proper home. Apollo’s part shall be to rouse again Hector to battle, to inspire his soul Afresh with courage, and all memory thence To banish of the pangs which now he feels.75 Apollo also shall again repulse Achaia’s host, which with base panic fill’d, Shall even to Achilles’ ships be driven. Achilles shall his valiant friend exhort Patroclus forth; him under Ilium’s walls80 Shall glorious Hector slay; but many a youth Shall perish by Patroclus first, with whom, My noble son Sarpedon. Peleus’ son, Resentful of Patroclus’ death, shall slay Hector, and I will urge ceaseless, myself,85 Thenceforth the routed Trojans back again, Till by Minerva’s aid the Greeks shall take Ilium’s proud city; till that day arrive My wrath shall burn, nor will I one permit Of all the Immortals to assist the Greeks,90 But will perform Achilles’ whole desire. Such was my promise to him at the first, Ratified by a nod that self-same day When Thetis clasp’d my knees, begging revenge And glory for her city-spoiler son.95

He ended; nor his spouse white-arm’d refused Obedience, but from the Idæan heights Departing, to the Olympian summit soar’d. Swift as the traveller’s thought,[4] who, many a land Traversed, deliberates on his future course100 Uncertain, and his mind sends every way, So swift updarted Juno to the skies. Arrived on the Olympian heights, she found The Gods assembled; they, at once, their seats At her approach forsaking, with full cups105 Her coming hail’d; heedless of all beside, She took the cup from blooming Themis’ hand, For she first flew to welcome her, and thus In accents wing’d of her return inquired.

To whom the white-arm’d Goddess thus replied. Themis divine, ask not. Full well thou know’st How harshly temper’d is the mind of Jove,115 And how untractable. Resume thy seat; The banquet calls thee; at our board preside, Thou shalt be told, and all in heaven shall hear What ills he threatens; such as shall not leave All minds at ease, I judge, here or on earth,120 However tranquil some and joyous now.

Alas! how vain against the Thunderer’s will Our anger, and the hope to supersede His purpose, by persuasion or by force! He solitary sits, all unconcern’d130 At our resentment, and himself proclaims Mightiest and most to be revered in heaven. Be patient, therefore, and let each endure Such ills as Jove may send him. Mars, I ween, Already hath his share; the warrior God135 Hath lost Ascalaphus, of all mankind His most beloved, and whom he calls his own.

He spake, and bidding Horror and Dismay145 Lead to the yoke his rapid steeds, put on His all-refulgent armor. Then had wrath More dreadful, some strange vengeance on the Gods From Jove befallen, had not Minerva, touch’d With timely fears for all, upstarting sprung150 From where she sat, right through the vestibule. She snatch’d the helmet from his brows, the shield From his broad shoulder, and the brazen spear Forced from his grasp into its place restored. Then reprimanding Mars, she thus began.155

Frantic, delirious! thou art lost for ever! Is it in vain that thou hast ears to hear, And hast thou neither shame nor reason left? How? hear’st thou not the Goddess? the report Of white-arm’d Juno from Olympian Jove160 Return’d this moment? or perfer’st thou rather, Plagued with a thousand woes, and under force Of sad necessity to seek again Olympus, and at thy return to prove Author of countless miseries to us all?165 For He at once Grecians and Trojans both Abandoning, will hither haste prepared To tempest[6] us in heaven, whom he will seize, The guilty and the guiltless, all alike. I bid thee, therefore, patient bear the death170 Of thy Ascalaphus; braver than he And abler have, ere now, in battle fallen, And shall hereafter; arduous were the task To rescue from the stroke of fate the race Of mortal men, with all their progeny.175

So saying, the awful Goddess to her throne Return’d and sat. They, cleaving swift the air,185 Alighted soon on Ida fountain-fed, Parent of savage kinds. High on the point Seated of Gargarus, and wrapt around With fragrant clouds, they found Saturnian Jove The Thunderer, and in his presence stood.190 He, nought displeased that they his high command Had with such readiness obey’d, his speech To Iris, first, in accents wing’d address’d

Swift Iris, haste—to royal Neptune bear My charge entire; falsify not the word.195 Bid him, relinquishing the fight, withdraw Either to heaven, or to the boundless Deep. But should he disobedient prove, and scorn My message, let him, next, consider well How he will bear, powerful as he is,200 My coming. Me I boast superior far In force, and elder-born; yet deems he slight The danger of comparison with me, Who am the terror of all heaven beside.

He spake, nor storm-wing’d Iris disobey’d,205 But down from the Idæan summit stoop’d To sacred Ilium. As when snow or hail Flies drifted by the cloud-dispelling North, So swiftly, wing’d with readiness of will, She shot the gulf between, and standing soon210 At glorious Neptune’s side, him thus address’d.

To thee, O Neptune azure-hair’d! I come With tidings charged from Ægis-bearing Jove. He bids thee cease from battle, and retire Either to heaven, or to the boundless Deep.215 But shouldst thou, disobedient, set at nought His words, he threatens that himself will haste To fight against thee; but he bids thee shun That strife with one superior far to thee, And elder-born; yet deem’st thou slight, he saith,220 The danger of comparison with Him, Although the terror of all heaven beside.

Her then the mighty Shaker of the shores Answer’d indignant. Great as is his power, Yet he hath spoken proudly, threatening me225 With force, high-born and glorious as himself. We are three brothers; Saturn is our sire, And Rhea brought us forth; first, Jove she bore; Me next; then, Pluto, Sovereign of the shades. By distribution tripart we received230 Each his peculiar honors; me the lots Made Ruler of the hoary floods, and there I dwell for ever. Pluto, for his part, The regions took of darkness; and the heavens, The clouds, and boundless æther, fell to Jove.235 The Earth and the Olympian heights alike Are common to the three. My life and being I hold not, therefore, at his will, whose best And safest course, with all his boasted power, Were to possess in peace his proper third.240 Let him not seek to terrify with force Me like a dastard; let him rather chide His own-begotten; with big-sounding words His sons and daughters govern, who perforce Obey his voice, and shrink at his commands.245

To whom thus Iris tempest-wing’d replied, Cœrulean-tress’d Sovereign of the Deep! Shall I report to Jove, harsh as it is, Thy speech, or wilt thou soften it? The wise Are flexible, and on the elder-born250 Erynnis, with her vengeful sisters, waits.[7]

Her answer’d then the Shaker of the shores. Prudent is thy advice, Iris divine! Discretion in a messenger is good At all times. But the cause that fires me thus,255 And with resentment my whole heart and mind Possesses, is the license that he claims To vex with provocation rude of speech Me his compeer, and by decree of Fate Illustrious as himself; yet, though incensed,260 And with just cause, I will not now persist. But hear—for it is treasured in my heart The threat that my lips utter. If he still Resolve to spare proud Ilium in despite Of me, of Pallas, Goddess of the spoils,265 Of Juno, Mercury, and the King of fire, And will not overturn her lofty towers, Nor grant immortal glory to the Greeks, Then tell him thus—hostility shall burn, And wrath between us never to be quench’d.270

Hence, my Apollo! to the Trojan Chief275 Hector; for earth-encircler Neptune, awed By fear of my displeasure imminent, Hath sought the sacred Deep. Else, all the Gods Who compass Saturn in the nether realms, Had even there our contest heard, I ween,280 And heard it loudly. But that he retreats Although at first incensed, shunning my wrath, Is salutary both for him and me, Whose difference else had not been healed with ease. Take thou my shaggy Ægis, and with force285 Smiting it, terrify the Chiefs of Greece. As for illustrious Hector, him I give To thy peculiar care; fail not to rouse His fiercest courage, till he push the Greeks To Hellespont, and to their ships again;290 Thenceforth to yield to their afflicted host Some pause from toil, shall be my own concern.

He ended, nor Apollo disobey’d His father’s voice; from the Idæan heights, Swift as the swiftest of the fowls of air,295 The dove-destroyer falcon, down he flew. The noble Hector, valiant Priam’s son He found, not now extended on the plain, But seated; newly, as from death, awaked, And conscious of his friends; freely he breathed300 Nor sweated more, by Jove himself revived. Apollo stood beside him, and began.

To whom with difficulty thus replied The warlike Chief.—But tell me who art Thou, Divine inquirer! best of powers above! Know’st not that dauntless Ajax me his friends Slaughtering at yonder ships, hath with a stone310 Surceased from fight, smiting me on the breast? I thought to have beheld, this day, the dead In Ades, every breath so seem’d my last.

Then answer thus the Archer-God return’d. Courage this moment! such a helper Jove315 From Ida sends thee at thy side to war Continual, Phœbus of the golden sword, Whose guardian aid both thee and lofty Troy Hath succor’d many a time. Therefore arise! Instant bid drive thy numerous charioteers320 Their rapid steeds full on the Grecian fleet; I, marching at their head, will smooth, myself, The way before them, and will turn again To flight the heroes of the host of Greece.

He said and with new strength the Chief inspired.325 As some stall’d horse high pamper’d, snapping short His cord, beats under foot the sounding soil, Accustom’d in smooth-sliding streams to lave Exulting; high he bears his head, his mane Wantons around his shoulders; pleased, he eyes330 His glossy sides, and borne on pliant knees Soon finds the haunts where all his fellows graze; So bounded Hector, and his agile joints Plied lightly, quicken’d by the voice divine, And gather’d fast his charioteers to battle.335 But as when hounds and hunters through the woods Rush in pursuit of stag or of wild goat, He, in some cave with tangled boughs o’erhung, Lies safe conceal’d, no destined prey of theirs, Till by their clamors roused, a lion grim340 Starts forth to meet them; then, the boldest fly; Such hot pursuit the Danaï, with swords And spears of double edge long time maintain’d. But seeing Hector in his ranks again Occupied, felt at once their courage fall’n.345

Then, Thoas them, Andræmon’s son, address’d, Foremost of the Ætolians, at the spear Skilful, in stationary combat bold, And when the sons of Greece held in dispute The prize of eloquence, excell’d by few.350 Prudent advising them, he thus began.

Ye Gods! what prodigy do I behold? Hath Hector, ’scaping death, risen again? For him, with confident persuasion all Believed by Telamonian Ajax slain.355 But some Divinity hath interposed To rescue and save Hector, who the joints Hath stiffen’d of full many a valiant Greek, As surely now he shall; for, not without The Thunderer’s aid, he flames in front again.360 But take ye all my counsel. Send we back The multitude into the fleet, and first Let us, who boast ourselves bravest in fight, Stand, that encountering him with lifted spears, We may attempt to give his rage a check.365 To thrust himself into a band like ours Will, doubtless, even in Hector move a fear.

He ceased, with whose advice all, glad, complied. Then Ajax with Idomeneus of Crete, Teucer, Meriones, and Meges fierce370 As Mars in battle, summoning aloud The noblest Greeks, in opposition firm To Hector and his host their bands prepared, While others all into the fleet retired. Troy’s crowded host[8] struck first. With awful strides375 Came Hector foremost; him Apollo led, His shoulders wrapt in clouds, and, on his arm, The Ægis shagg’d terrific all around, Tempestuous, dazzling-bright; it was a gift To Jove from Vulcan, and design’d to appall,380 And drive to flight the armies of the earth. Arm’d with that shield Apollo led them on. Firm stood the embodied Greeks; from either host Shrill cries arose; the arrows from the nerve Leap’d, and, by vigorous arms dismiss’d, the spears385 Flew frequent; in the flesh some stood infixt Of warlike youths, but many, ere they reach’d The mark they coveted, unsated fell Between the hosts, and rested in the soil. Long as the God unagitated held390 The dreadful disk, so long the vollied darts Made mutual slaughter, and the people fell; But when he look’d the Grecian charioteers Full in the face and shook it, raising high Himself the shout of

battle, then he quell’d395 Their spirits, then he struck from every mind At once all memory of their might in arms. As when two lions in the still, dark night A herd of beeves scatter or numerous flock Suddenly, in the absence of the guard,400 So fled the heartless Greeks, for Phœbus sent Terrors among them, but renown conferr’d And triumph proud on Hector and his host. Then, in that foul disorder of the field, Man singled man. Arcesilaüs died405 By Hector’s arm, and Stichius; one, a Chief[9] Of the Bœotians brazen-mail’d, and one, Menestheus’ faithful follower to the fight. Æneas Medon and Iäsus slew. Medon was spurious offspring of divine410 Oïleus Ajax’ father, and abode In Phylace; for he had slain a Chief Brother of Eriopis the espoused Of brave Oïleus; but Iäsus led A phalanx of Athenians, and the son415 Of Sphelus, son of Bucolus was deem’d. Pierced by Polydamas Mecisteus fell, Polites, in the van of battle, slew Echion, and Agenor Clonius; But Paris, while Deïochus to flight420 Turn’d with the routed van, pierced him beneath His shoulder-blade, and urged the weapon through.

While them the Trojans spoil’d, meantime the Greeks, Entangled in the piles of the deep foss, Fled every way, and through necessity425 Repass’d the wall. Then Hector with a voice Of loud command bade every Trojan cease From spoil, and rush impetuous on the fleet. [10]And whom I find far lingering from the ships Wherever, there he dies; no funeral fires430 Brother on him, or sister, shall bestow, But dogs shall rend him in the sight of Troy.

So saying, he lash’d the shoulders of his steeds, And through the ranks vociferating, call’d His Trojans on; they, clamorous as he,435 All lash’d their steeds, and menacing, advanced. Before them with his feet Apollo push’d The banks into the foss, bridging the gulf With pass commodious, both in length and breadth A lance’s flight, for proof of vigor hurl’d.440 There, phalanx after phalanx, they their host Pour’d dense along, while Phœbus in the van Display’d the awful ægis, and the wall Levell’d with ease divine. As, on the shore Some wanton boy with sand builds plaything walls,445 Then, sportive spreads them with his feet abroad, So thou, shaft-arm’d Apollo! that huge work Laborious of the Greeks didst turn with ease To ruin, and themselves drovest all to flight. They, thus enforced into the fleet, again450 Stood fast, with mutual exhortation each His friend encouraging, and all the Gods With lifted hands soliciting aloud. But, more than all, Gerenian Nestor pray’d Fervent, Achaia’s guardian, and with arms455 Outstretch’d toward the starry skies, exclaim’d.

Jove, Father! if in corn-clad Argos, one, One Greek hath ever, burning at thy shrine Fat thighs of sheep or oxen, ask’d from thee A safe return, whom thou hast gracious heard,460 Olympian King! and promised what he sought, Now, in remembrance of it, give us help In this disastrous day, nor thus permit Their Trojan foes to tread the Grecians down!

So Nestor pray’d, and Jove thunder’d aloud465 Responsive to the old Neleïan’s prayer. But when that voice of Ægis-bearing Jove The Trojans heard, more furious on the Greeks They sprang, all mindful of the fight. As when A turgid billow of some spacious sea,470 While the wind blow that heaves its highest, borne Sheer o’er the vessel’s side, rolls into her, With such loud roar the Trojans pass’d the wall; In rush’d the steeds, and at the ships they waged Fierce battle hand to hand, from chariots, these,475 With spears of double edge, those, from the decks Of many a sable bark, with naval poles Long, ponderous, shod with steel; for every ship Had such, for conflict maritime prepared.

While yet the battle raged only without480 The wall, and from the ships apart, so long Patroclus quiet in the tent and calm Sat of Eurypylus, his generous friend Consoling with sweet converse, and his wound Sprinkling with drugs assuasive of his pains.485 But soon as through the broken rampart borne He saw the Trojans, and the clamor heard And tumult of the flying Greeks, a voice Of loud lament uttering, with open palms His thighs he smote, and, sorrowful, exclaim’d.490