Hector and Ajax fight—Hector is getting worsted when night comes
      on and parts them—They exchange presents—The burial of the dead,
      and the building of a wall round their ships by the Achaeans—The
      Achaeans buy their wine of Agamemnon and Menelaus.

      With these words Hector passed through the gates, and his brother
      Alexandrus with him, both eager for the fray. As when heaven
      sends a breeze to sailors who have long looked for one in vain,
      and have laboured at their oars till they are faint with toil,
      even so welcome was the sight of these two heroes to the Trojans.

      Thereon Alexandrus killed Menesthius the son of Areithous; he
      lived in Arne, and was son of Areithous the Mace-man, and of
      Phylomedusa. Hector threw a spear at Eioneus and struck him dead
      with a wound in the neck under the bronze rim of his helmet.
      Glaucus, moreover, son of Hippolochus, captain of the Lycians, in
      hard hand-to-hand fight smote Iphinous son of Dexius on the
      shoulder, as he was springing on to his chariot behind his fleet
      mares; so he fell to earth from the car, and there was no life
      left in him.

      When, therefore, Minerva saw these men making havoc of the
      Argives, she darted down to Ilius from the summits of Olympus,
      and Apollo, who was looking on from Pergamus, went out to meet
      her; for he wanted the Trojans to be victorious. The pair met by
      the oak tree, and King Apollo son of Jove was first to speak.
      “What would you have,” said he, “daughter of great Jove, that
      your proud spirit has sent you hither from Olympus? Have you no
      pity upon the Trojans, and would you incline the scales of
      victory in favour of the Danaans? Let me persuade you—for it will
      be better thus—stay the combat for to-day, but let them renew the
      fight hereafter till they compass the doom of Ilius, since you
      goddesses have made up your minds to destroy the city.”

      And Minerva answered, “So be it, Far-Darter; it was in this mind
      that I came down from Olympus to the Trojans and Achaeans. Tell
      me, then, how do you propose to end this present fighting?”

      Apollo, son of Jove, replied, “Let us incite great Hector to
      challenge some one of the Danaans in single combat; on this the
      Achaeans will be shamed into finding a man who will fight him.”

      Minerva assented, and Helenus son of Priam divined the counsel of
      the gods; he therefore went up to Hector and said, “Hector son of
      Priam, peer of gods in counsel, I am your brother, let me then
      persuade you. Bid the other Trojans and Achaeans all of them take
      their seats, and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to
      meet you in single combat. I have heard the voice of the
      ever-living gods, and the hour of your doom is not yet come.”

      Hector was glad when he heard this saying, and went in among the
      Trojans, grasping his spear by the middle to hold them back, and
      they all sat down. Agamemnon also bade the Achaeans be seated.
      But Minerva and Apollo, in the likeness of vultures, perched on
      father Jove’s high oak tree, proud of their men; and the ranks
      sat close ranged together, bristling with shield and helmet and
      spear. As when the rising west wind furs the face of the sea and
      the waters grow dark beneath it, so sat the companies of Trojans
      and Achaeans upon the plain. And Hector spoke thus:—

      “Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak even as I am
      minded; Jove on his high throne has brought our oaths and
      covenants to nothing, and foreshadows ill for both of us, till
      you either take the towers of Troy, or are yourselves vanquished
      at your ships. The princes of the Achaeans are here present in
      the midst of you; let him, then, that will fight me stand forward
      as your champion against Hector. Thus I say, and may Jove be
      witness between us. If your champion slay me, let him strip me of
      my armour and take it to your ships, but let him send my body
      home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire
      when I am dead. In like manner, if Apollo vouchsafe me glory and
      I slay your champion, I will strip him of his armour and take it
      to the city of Ilius, where I will hang it in the temple of
      Apollo, but I will give up his body, that the Achaeans may bury
      him at their ships, and then build him a mound by the wide waters
      of the Hellespont. Then will one say hereafter as he sails his
      ship over the sea, ‘This is the monument of one who died long
      since a champion who was slain by mighty Hector.’ Thus will one
      say, and my fame shall not be lost.”

      Thus did he speak, but they all held their peace, ashamed to
      decline the challenge, yet fearing to accept it, till at last
      Menelaus rose and rebuked them, for he was angry. “Alas,” he
      cried, “vain braggarts, women forsooth not men, double-dyed
      indeed will be the stain upon us if no man of the Danaans will
      now face Hector. May you be turned every man of you into earth
      and water as you sit spiritless and inglorious in your places. I
      will myself go out against this man, but the upshot of the fight
      will be from on high in the hands of the immortal gods.”

      With these words he put on his armour; and then, O Menelaus, your
      life would have come to an end at the hands of hands of Hector,
      for he was far better the man, had not the princes of the
      Achaeans sprung upon you and checked you. King Agamemnon caught
      him by the right hand and said, “Menelaus, you are mad; a truce
      to this folly. Be patient in spite of passion, do not think of
      fighting a man so much stronger than yourself as Hector son of
      Priam, who is feared by many another as well as you. Even
      Achilles, who is far more doughty than you are, shrank from
      meeting him in battle. Sit down your own people, and the Achaeans
      will send some other champion to fight Hector; fearless and fond
      of battle though he be, I ween his knees will bend gladly under
      him if he comes out alive from the hurly-burly of this fight.”

      With these words of reasonable counsel he persuaded his brother,
      whereon his squires gladly stripped the armour from off his
      shoulders. Then Nestor rose and spoke, “Of a truth,” said he,
      “the Achaean land is fallen upon evil times. The old knight
      Peleus, counsellor and orator among the Myrmidons, loved when I
      was in his house to question me concerning the race and lineage
      of all the Argives. How would it not grieve him could he hear of
      them as now quailing before Hector? Many a time would he lift his
      hands in prayer that his soul might leave his body and go down
      within the house of Hades. Would, by father Jove, Minerva, and
      Apollo, that I were still young and strong as when the Pylians
      and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the rapid river Celadon
      under the walls of Pheia, and round about the waters of the river
      Iardanus. The godlike hero Ereuthalion stood forward as their
      champion, with the armour of King Areithous upon his
      shoulders—Areithous whom men and women had surnamed ‘the
      Mace-man,’ because he fought neither with bow nor spear, but
      broke the battalions of the foe with his iron mace. Lycurgus
      killed him, not in fair fight, but by entrapping him in a narrow
      way where his mace served him in no stead; for Lycurgus was too
      quick for him and speared him through the middle, so he fell to
      earth on his back. Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armour which
      Mars had given him, and bore it in battle thenceforward; but when
      he grew old and stayed at home, he gave it to his faithful squire
      Ereuthalion, who in this same armour challenged the foremost men
      among us. The others quaked and quailed, but my high spirit bade
      me fight him though none other would venture; I was the youngest
      man of them all; but when I fought him Minerva vouchsafed me
      victory. He was the biggest and strongest man that ever I killed,
      and covered much ground as he lay sprawling upon the earth. Would
      that I were still young and strong as I then was, for the son of
      Priam would then soon find one who would face him. But you,
      foremost among the whole host though you be, have none of you any
      stomach for fighting Hector.”

      Thus did the old man rebuke them, and forthwith nine men started
      to their feet. Foremost of all uprose King Agamemnon, and after
      him brave Diomed the son of Tydeus. Next were the two Ajaxes, men
      clothed in valour as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and
      Meriones his brother in arms. After these Eurypylus son of
      Euaemon, Thoas the son of Andraemon, and Ulysses also rose. Then
      Nestor knight of Gerene again spoke, saying: “Cast lots among you
      to see who shall be chosen. If he come alive out of this fight he
      will have done good service alike to his own soul and to the
      Achaeans.”

      Thus he spoke, and when each of them had marked his lot, and had
      thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus, the people
      lifted their hands in prayer, and thus would one of them say as
      he looked into the vault of heaven, “Father Jove, grant that the
      lot fall on Ajax, or on the son of Tydeus, or upon the king of
      rich Mycene himself.”

      As they were speaking, Nestor knight of Gerene shook the helmet,
      and from it there fell the very lot which they wanted—the lot of
      Ajax. The herald bore it about and showed it to all the
      chieftains of the Achaeans, going from left to right; but they
      none of them owned it. When, however, in due course he reached
      the man who had written upon it and had put it into the helmet,
      brave Ajax held out his hand, and the herald gave him the lot.
      When Ajax saw his mark he knew it and was glad; he threw it to
      the ground and said, “My friends, the lot is mine, and I rejoice,
      for I shall vanquish Hector. I will put on my armour; meanwhile,
      pray to King Jove in silence among yourselves that the Trojans
      may not hear you—or aloud if you will, for we fear no man. None
      shall overcome me, neither by force nor cunning, for I was born
      and bred in Salamis, and can hold my own in all things.”

      With this they fell praying to King Jove the son of Saturn, and
      thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven,
      “Father Jove that rulest from Ida, most glorious in power,
      vouchsafe victory to Ajax, and let him win great glory: but if
      you wish well to Hector also and would protect him, grant to each
      of them equal fame and prowess.”

      Thus they prayed, and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming
      bronze. When he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous
      Mars when he takes part among men whom Jove has set fighting with
      one another—even so did huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans,
      spring forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his
      long spear and strode onward. The Argives were elated as they
      beheld him, but the Trojans trembled in every limb, and the heart
      even of Hector beat quickly, but he could not now retreat and
      withdraw into the ranks behind him, for he had been the
      challenger. Ajax came up bearing his shield in front of him like
      a wall—a shield of bronze with seven folds of ox-hide—the work of
      Tychius, who lived in Hyle and was by far the best worker in
      leather. He had made it with the hides of seven full-fed bulls,
      and over these he had set an eighth layer of bronze. Holding this
      shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hector,
      and menaced him saying, “Hector, you shall now learn, man to man,
      what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides
      lion-hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men. He now abides
      at the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people, but
      there are many of us who are well able to face you; therefore
      begin the fight.”

      And Hector answered, “Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, captain of the
      host, treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that
      cannot fight. I have been long used to the blood and butcheries
      of battle. I am quick to turn my leathern shield either to right
      or left, for this I deem the main thing in battle. I can charge
      among the chariots and horsemen, and in hand to hand fighting can
      delight the heart of Mars; howbeit I would not take such a man as
      you are off his guard—but I will smite you openly if I can.”

      He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it from him. It
      struck the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer—the eighth,
      which was of bronze—and went through six of the layers but in the
      seventh hide it stayed. Then Ajax threw in his turn, and struck
      the round shield of the son of Priam. The terrible spear went
      through his gleaming shield, and pressed onward through his
      cuirass of cunning workmanship; it pierced the shirt against his
      side, but he swerved and thus saved his life. They then each of
      them drew out the spear from his shield, and fell on one another
      like savage lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance:
      the son of Priam struck the middle of Ajax’s shield, but the
      bronze did not break, and the point of his dart was turned. Ajax
      then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hector; the spear
      went through it and staggered him as he was springing forward to
      attack; it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring from the
      wound, but even so Hector did not cease fighting; he gave ground,
      and with his brawny hand seized a stone, rugged and huge, that
      was lying upon the plain; with this he struck the shield of Ajax
      on the boss that was in its middle, so that the bronze rang
      again. But Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone, swung it
      aloft, and hurled it with prodigious force. This millstone of a
      rock broke Hector’s shield inwards and threw him down on his back
      with the shield crushing him under it, but Apollo raised him at
      once. Thereon they would have hacked at one another in close
      combat with their swords, had not heralds, messengers of gods and
      men, come forward, one from the Trojans and the other from the
      Achaeans—Talthybius and Idaeus both of them honourable men; these
      parted them with their staves, and the good herald Idaeus said,
      “My sons, fight no longer, you are both of you valiant, and both
      are dear to Jove; we know this; but night is now falling, and the
      behests of night may not be well gainsaid.”

      Ajax son of Telamon answered, “Idaeus, bid Hector say so, for it
      was he that challenged our princes. Let him speak first and I
      will accept his saying.”

      Then Hector said, “Ajax, heaven has vouchsafed you stature and
      strength, and judgement; and in wielding the spear you excel all
      others of the Achaeans. Let us for this day cease fighting;
      hereafter we will fight anew till heaven decide between us, and
      give victory to one or to the other; night is now falling, and
      the behests of night may not be well gainsaid. Gladden, then, the
      hearts of the Achaeans at your ships, and more especially those
      of your own followers and clansmen, while I, in the great city of
      King Priam, bring comfort to the Trojans and their women, who vie
      with one another in their prayers on my behalf. Let us, moreover,
      exchange presents that it may be said among the Achaeans and
      Trojans, ‘They fought with might and main, but were reconciled
      and parted in friendship.’”

      On this he gave Ajax a silver-studded sword with its sheath and
      leathern baldric, and in return Ajax gave him a girdle dyed with
      purple. Thus they parted, the one going to the host of the
      Achaeans, and the other to that of the Trojans, who rejoiced when
      they saw their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the
      strong hands of mighty Ajax. They led him, therefore, to the city
      as one that had been saved beyond their hopes. On the other side
      the Achaeans brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon.

      When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon
      sacrificed for them a five-year-old bull in honour of Jove the
      son of Saturn. They flayed the carcass, made it ready, and
      divided it into joints; these they cut carefully up into smaller
      pieces, putting them on the spits, roasting them sufficiently,
      and then drawing them off. When they had done all this and had
      prepared the feast, they ate it, and every man had his full and
      equal share, so that all were satisfied, and King Agamemnon gave
      Ajax some slices cut lengthways down the loin, as a mark of
      special honour. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,
      old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak; with all
      sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:—

      “Son of Atreus, and other chieftains, inasmuch as many of the
      Achaeans are now dead, whose blood Mars has shed by the banks of
      the Scamander, and their souls have gone down to the house of
      Hades, it will be well when morning comes that we should cease
      fighting; we will then wheel our dead together with oxen and
      mules and burn them not far from the ships, that when we sail
      hence we may take the bones of our comrades home to their
      children. Hard by the funeral pyre we will build a barrow that
      shall be raised from the plain for all in common; near this let
      us set about building a high wall, to shelter ourselves and our
      ships, and let it have well-made gates that there may be a way
      through them for our chariots. Close outside we will dig a deep
      trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot, that the
      Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us.”

      Thus he spoke, and the princes shouted in applause. Meanwhile
      the Trojans held a council, angry and full of discord, on the
      acropolis by the gates of King Priam’s palace; and wise Antenor
      spoke. “Hear me,” he said, “Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that
      I may speak even as I am minded. Let us give up Argive Helen and
      her wealth to the sons of Atreus, for we are now fighting in
      violation of our solemn covenants, and shall not prosper till we
      have done as I say.”

      He then sat down and Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen rose to
      speak. “Antenor,” said he, “your words are not to my liking; you
      can find a better saying than this if you will; if, however, you
      have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of
      your reason. I will speak plainly, and hereby notify to the
      Trojans that I will not give up the woman; but the wealth that I
      brought home with her from Argos I will restore, and will add yet
      further of my own.”

      On this, when Paris had spoken and taken his seat, Priam of the
      race of Dardanus, peer of gods in council, rose and with all
      sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: “Hear me, Trojans,
      Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded. Get
      your suppers now as hitherto throughout the city, but keep your
      watches and be wakeful. At daybreak let Idaeus go to the ships,
      and tell Agamemnon and Menelaus sons of Atreus the saying of
      Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about; and let him
      also be instant with them that they now cease fighting till we
      burn our dead; hereafter we will fight anew, till heaven decide
      between us and give victory to one or to the other.”

      Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They took
      supper in their companies and at daybreak Idaeus went his way to
      the ships. He found the Danaans, servants of Mars, in council at
      the stern of Agamemnon’s ship, and took his place in the midst of
      them. “Son of Atreus,” he said, “and princes of the Achaean host,
      Priam and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the
      saying of Alexandrus through whom this quarrel has come about, if
      so be that you may find it acceptable. All the treasure he took
      with him in his ships to Troy—would that he had sooner
      perished—he will restore, and will add yet further of his own,
      but he will not give up the wedded wife of Menelaus, though the
      Trojans would have him do so. Priam bade me inquire further if
      you will cease fighting till we burn our dead; hereafter we will
      fight anew, till heaven decide between us and give victory to one
      or to the other.”

      They all held their peace, but presently Diomed of the loud
      war-cry spoke, saying, “Let there be no taking, neither treasure,
      nor yet Helen, for even a child may see that the doom of the
      Trojans is at hand.”

      The sons of the Achaeans shouted applause at the words that
      Diomed had spoken, and thereon King Agamemnon said to Idaeus,
      “Idaeus, you have heard the answer the Achaeans make you and I
      with them. But as concerning the dead, I give you leave to burn
      them, for when men are once dead there should be no grudging them
      the rites of fire. Let Jove the mighty husband of Juno be witness
      to this covenant.”

      As he spoke he upheld his sceptre in the sight of all the gods,
      and Idaeus went back to the strong city of Ilius. The Trojans and
      Dardanians were gathered in council waiting his return; when he
      came, he stood in their midst and delivered his message. As soon
      as they heard it they set about their twofold labour, some to
      gather the corpses, and others to bring in wood. The Argives on
      their part also hastened from their ships, some to gather the
      corpses, and others to bring in wood.

      The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh risen into
      the vault of heaven from the slow still currents of deep Oceanus,
      when the two armies met. They could hardly recognise their dead,
      but they washed the clotted gore from off them, shed tears over
      them, and lifted them upon their waggons. Priam had forbidden the
      Trojans to wail aloud, so they heaped their dead sadly and
      silently upon the pyre, and having burned them went back to the
      city of Ilius. The Achaeans in like manner heaped their dead
      sadly and silently on the pyre, and having burned them went back
      to their ships.

      Now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn, chosen bands of the
      Achaeans were gathered round the pyre and built one barrow that
      was raised in common for all, and hard by this they built a high
      wall to shelter themselves and their ships; they gave it strong
      gates that there might be a way through them for their chariots,
      and close outside it they dug a trench deep and wide, and they
      planted it within with stakes.

      Thus did the Achaeans toil, and the gods, seated by the side of
      Jove the lord of lightning, marvelled at their great work; but
      Neptune, lord of the earthquake, spoke, saying, “Father Jove,
      what mortal in the whole world will again take the gods into his
      counsel? See you not how the Achaeans have built a wall about
      their ships and driven a trench all round it, without offering
      hecatombs to the gods? The fame of this wall will reach as far as
      dawn itself, and men will no longer think anything of the one
      which Phoebus Apollo and myself built with so much labour for
      Laomedon.”

      Jove was displeased and answered, “What, O shaker of the earth,
      are you talking about? A god less powerful than yourself might be
      alarmed at what they are doing, but your fame reaches as far as
      dawn itself. Surely when the Achaeans have gone home with their
      ships, you can shatter their wall and fling it into the sea; you
      can cover the beach with sand again, and the great wall of the
      Achaeans will then be utterly effaced.”

      Thus did they converse, and by sunset the work of the Achaeans
      was completed; they then slaughtered oxen at their tents and got
      their supper. Many ships had come with wine from Lemnos, sent by
      Eueneus the son of Jason, born to him by Hypsipyle. The son of
      Jason freighted them with ten thousand measures of wine, which he
      sent specially to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus.
      From this supply the Achaeans bought their wine, some with
      bronze, some with iron, some with hides, some with whole heifers,
      and some again with captives. They spread a goodly banquet and
      feasted the whole night through, as also did the Trojans and
      their allies in the city. But all the time Jove boded them ill
      and roared with his portentous thunder. Pale fear got hold upon
      them, and they spilled the wine from their cups on to the ground,
      nor did any dare drink till he had made offerings to the most
      mighty son of Saturn. Then they laid themselves down to rest and
      enjoyed the boon of sleep.


1  ὣς εἰπὼν πυλέων ἐξέσσυτο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,
2  τῷ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κίʼ ἀδελφεός· ἐν δʼ ἄρα θυμῷ
3  ἀμφότεροι μέμασαν πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.
4  ὡς δὲ θεὸς ναύτῃσιν ἐελδομένοισιν ἔδωκεν
5  οὖρον, ἐπεί κε κάμωσιν ἐϋξέστῃς ἐλάτῃσι
6  πόντον ἐλαύνοντες, καμάτῳ δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα λέλυνται,
7  ὣς ἄρα τὼ Τρώεσσιν ἐελδομένοισι φανήτην.
8  ἔνθʼ ἑλέτην ὃ μὲν υἱὸν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος
9  Ἄρνῃ ναιετάοντα Μενέσθιον, ὃν κορυνήτης
10  γείνατʼ Ἀρηΐθοος καὶ Φυλομέδουσα βοῶπις·
11  Ἕκτωρ δʼ Ἠϊονῆα βάλʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι
12  αὐχένʼ ὑπὸ στεφάνης εὐχάλκου, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.
13  Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν
14  Ἰφίνοον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην
15  Δεξιάδην ἵππων ἐπιάλμενον ὠκειάων
16  ὦμον· ὃ δʼ ἐξ ἵππων χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.
17  τοὺς δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
18  Ἀργείους ὀλέκοντας ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,
19  βῆ ῥα κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα
20  Ἴλιον εἰς ἱερήν· τῇ δʼ ἀντίος ὄρνυτʼ Ἀπόλλων
21  Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην·
22  ἀλλήλοισι δὲ τώ γε συναντέσθην παρὰ φηγῷ.
23  τὴν πρότερος προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
24  τίπτε σὺ δʼ αὖ μεμαυῖα Διὸς θύγατερ μεγάλοιο
25  ἦλθες ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο, μέγας δέ σε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν;
26  ἦ ἵνα δὴ Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην
27  δῷς; ἐπεὶ οὔ τι Τρῶας ἀπολλυμένους ἐλεαίρεις.
28  ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·
29  νῦν μὲν παύσωμεν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα
30  σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχήσοντʼ εἰς ὅ κε τέκμωρ
31  Ἰλίου εὕρωσιν, ἐπεὶ ὣς φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ
32  ὑμῖν ἀθανάτῃσι, διαπραθέειν τόδε ἄστυ.
33  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
34  ὧδʼ ἔστω ἑκάεργε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέουσα καὶ αὐτὴ
35  ἦλθον ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.
36  ἀλλʼ ἄγε πῶς μέμονας πόλεμον καταπαυσέμεν ἀνδρῶν;
37  τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
38  Ἕκτορος ὄρσωμεν κρατερὸν μένος ἱπποδάμοιο,
39  ἤν τινά που Δαναῶν προκαλέσσεται οἰόθεν οἶος
40  ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,
41  οἳ δέ κʼ ἀγασσάμενοι χαλκοκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
42  οἶον ἐπόρσειαν πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.
43  ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
44  τῶν δʼ Ἕλενος Πριάμοιο φίλος παῖς σύνθετο θυμῷ
45  βουλήν, ἥ ῥα θεοῖσιν ἐφήνδανε μητιόωσι·
46  στῆ δὲ παρʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
47  Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντε
48  ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο, κασίγνητος δέ τοί εἰμι·
49  ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
50  αὐτὸς δὲ προκάλεσσαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος
51  ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι·
52  οὐ γάρ πώ τοι μοῖρα θανεῖν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·
53  ὣς γὰρ ἐγὼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσα θεῶν αἰειγενετάων.
54  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτε χάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,
55  καί ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας,
56  μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· οἳ δʼ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.
57  κὰδ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων εἷσεν ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·
58  κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
59  ἑζέσθην ὄρνισιν ἐοικότες αἰγυπιοῖσι
60  φηγῷ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
61  ἀνδράσι τερπόμενοι· τῶν δὲ στίχες εἵατο πυκναὶ
62  ἀσπίσι καὶ κορύθεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι.
63  οἵη δὲ Ζεφύροιο ἐχεύατο πόντον ἔπι φρὶξ
64  ὀρνυμένοιο νέον, μελάνει δέ τε πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς,
65  τοῖαι ἄρα στίχες εἵατʼ Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε
66  ἐν πεδίῳ· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·
67  κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
68  ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
69  ὅρκια μὲν Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν,
70  ἀλλὰ κακὰ φρονέων τεκμαίρεται ἀμφοτέροισιν
71  εἰς ὅ κεν ἢ ὑμεῖς Τροίην εὔπυργον ἕλητε
72  ἢ αὐτοὶ παρὰ νηυσὶ δαμείετε ποντοπόροισιν.
73  ὑμῖν δʼ ἐν γὰρ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν·
74  τῶν νῦν ὅν τινα θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει
75  δεῦρʼ ἴτω ἐκ πάντων πρόμος ἔμμεναι Ἕκτορι δίῳ.
76  ὧδε δὲ μυθέομαι, Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμμʼ ἐπιμάρτυρος ἔστω·
77  εἰ μέν κεν ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἕλῃ ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ,
78  τεύχεα συλήσας φερέτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,
79  σῶμα δὲ οἴκαδʼ ἐμὸν δόμεναι πάλιν, ὄφρα πυρός με
80  Τρῶες καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι λελάχωσι θανόντα.
81  εἰ δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τὸν ἕλω, δώῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,
82  τεύχεα σύλησας οἴσω προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν,
83  καὶ κρεμόω προτὶ νηὸν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο,
84  τὸν δὲ νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀποδώσω,
85  ὄφρά ἑ ταρχύσωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,
86  σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύωσιν ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ.
87  καί ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων
88  νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·
89  ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,
90  ὅν ποτʼ ἀριστεύοντα κατέκτανε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.
91  ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται.
92  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·
93  αἴδεσθεν μὲν ἀνήνασθαι, δεῖσαν δʼ ὑποδέχθαι·
94  ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπε
95  νείκει ὀνειδίζων, μέγα δὲ στεναχίζετο θυμῷ·
96  ὤ μοι ἀπειλητῆρες Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτʼ Ἀχαιοί·
97  ἦ μὲν δὴ λώβη τάδε γʼ ἔσσεται αἰνόθεν αἰνῶς
98  εἰ μή τις Δαναῶν νῦν Ἕκτορος ἀντίος εἶσιν.
99  ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὕδωρ καὶ γαῖα γένοισθε
100  ἥμενοι αὖθι ἕκαστοι ἀκήριοι ἀκλεὲς αὔτως·
101  τῷδε δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς θωρήξομαι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
102  νίκης πείρατʼ ἔχονται ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.
103  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατεδύσετο τεύχεα καλά.
104  ἔνθά κέ τοι Μενέλαε φάνη βιότοιο τελευτὴ
105  Ἕκτορος ἐν παλάμῃσιν, ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἦεν,
106  εἰ μὴ ἀναΐξαντες ἕλον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν,
107  αὐτός τʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
108  δεξιτερῆς ἕλε χειρὸς ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·
109  ἀφραίνεις Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
110  ταύτης ἀφροσύνης· ἀνὰ δὲ σχέο κηδόμενός περ,
111  μηδʼ ἔθελʼ ἐξ ἔριδος σεῦ ἀμείνονι φωτὶ μάχεσθαι
112  Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.
113  καὶ δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς τούτῳ γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ
114  ἔρριγʼ ἀντιβολῆσαι, ὅ περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.
115  ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἵζευ ἰὼν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,
116  τούτῳ δὲ πρόμον ἄλλον ἀναστήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί.
117  εἴ περ ἀδειής τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εἰ μόθου ἔστʼ ἀκόρητος,
118  φημί μιν ἀσπασίως γόνυ κάμψειν, αἴ κε φύγῃσι
119  δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.
120  ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως
121  αἴσιμα παρειπών, ὃ δʼ ἐπείθετο· τοῦ μὲν ἔπειτα
122  γηθόσυνοι θεράποντες ἀπʼ ὤμων τεύχεʼ ἕλοντο·
123  Νέστωρ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
124  ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει.
125  ἦ κε μέγʼ οἰμώξειε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺς
126  ἐσθλὸς Μυρμιδόνων βουληφόρος ἠδʼ ἀγορητής,
127  ὅς ποτέ μʼ εἰρόμενος μέγʼ ἐγήθεεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
128  πάντων Ἀργείων ἐρέων γενεήν τε τόκον τε.
129  τοὺς νῦν εἰ πτώσσοντας ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι πάντας ἀκούσαι,
130  πολλά κεν ἀθανάτοισι φίλας ἀνὰ χεῖρας ἀείραι
131  θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.
132  αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον
133  ἡβῷμʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἐπʼ ὠκυρόῳ Κελάδοντι μάχοντο
134  ἀγρόμενοι Πύλιοί τε καὶ Ἀρκάδες ἐγχεσίμωροι
135  Φειᾶς πὰρ τείχεσσιν Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.
136  τοῖσι δʼ Ἐρευθαλίων πρόμος ἵστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς
137  τεύχεʼ ἔχων ὤμοισιν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος
138  δίου Ἀρηϊθόου, τὸν ἐπίκλησιν κορυνήτην
139  ἄνδρες κίκλησκον καλλίζωνοί τε γυναῖκες
140  οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐ τόξοισι μαχέσκετο δουρί τε μακρῷ,
141  ἀλλὰ σιδηρείῃ κορύνῃ ῥήγνυσκε φάλαγγας.
142  τὸν Λυκόοργος ἔπεφνε δόλῳ, οὔ τι κράτεΐ γε,
143  στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ ὅθʼ ἄρʼ οὐ κορύνη οἱ ὄλεθρον
144  χραῖσμε σιδηρείη· πρὶν γὰρ Λυκόοργος ὑποφθὰς
145  δουρὶ μέσον περόνησεν, ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη·
146  τεύχεα δʼ ἐξενάριξε, τά οἱ πόρε χάλκεος Ἄρης.
147  καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔπειτα φόρει μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος·
148  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Λυκόοργος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐγήρα,
149  δῶκε δʼ Ἐρευθαλίωνι φίλῳ θεράποντι φορῆναι·
150  τοῦ ὅ γε τεύχεʼ ἔχων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους.
151  οἳ δὲ μάλʼ ἐτρόμεον καὶ ἐδείδισαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη·
152  ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἀνῆκε πολυτλήμων πολεμίζειν
153  θάρσεϊ ᾧ· γενεῇ δὲ νεώτατος ἔσκον ἁπάντων·
154  καὶ μαχόμην οἱ ἐγώ, δῶκεν δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.
155  τὸν δὴ μήκιστον καὶ κάρτιστον κτάνον ἄνδρα·
156  πολλὸς γάρ τις ἔκειτο παρήορος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
157  εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι, βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·
158  τώ κε τάχʼ ἀντήσειε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.
159  ὑμέων δʼ οἵ περ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν
160  οὐδʼ οἳ προφρονέως μέμαθʼ Ἕκτορος ἀντίον ἐλθεῖν.
161  ὣς νείκεσσʼ ὃ γέρων, οἳ δʼ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν.
162  ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
163  τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
164  τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν,
165  τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος
166  Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ,
167  τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,
168  ἂν δὲ Θόας Ἀνδραιμονίδης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
169  πάντες ἄρʼ οἵ γʼ ἔθελον πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.
170  τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
171  κλήρῳ νῦν πεπάλασθε διαμπερὲς ὅς κε λάχῃσιν·
172  οὗτος γὰρ δὴ ὀνήσει ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,
173  καὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ὃν θυμὸν ὀνήσεται αἴ κε φύγῃσι
174  δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.
175  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ κλῆρον ἐσημήναντο ἕκαστος,
176  ἐν δʼ ἔβαλον κυνέῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.
177  λαοὶ δʼ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον·
178  ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·
179  Ζεῦ πάτερ ἢ Αἴαντα λαχεῖν, ἢ Τυδέος υἱόν,
180  ἢ αὐτὸν βασιλῆα πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης.
181  ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
182  ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος κυνέης ὃν ἄρʼ ἤθελον αὐτοὶ
183  Αἴαντος· κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ
184  δεῖξʼ ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
185  οἳ δʼ οὐ γιγνώσκοντες ἀπηνήναντο ἕκαστος.
186  ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν ἵκανε φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ
187  ὅς μιν ἐπιγράψας κυνέῃ βάλε φαίδιμος Αἴας,
188  ἤτοι ὑπέσχεθε χεῖρʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμβαλεν ἄγχι παραστάς,
189  γνῶ δὲ κλήρου σῆμα ἰδών, γήθησε δὲ θυμῷ.
190  τὸν μὲν πὰρ πόδʼ ἑὸν χαμάδις βάλε φώνησέν τε·
191  ὦ φίλοι ἤτοι κλῆρος ἐμός, χαίρω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς
192  θυμῷ, ἐπεὶ δοκέω νικησέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον.
193  ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ πολεμήϊα τεύχεα δύω,
194  τόφρʼ ὑμεῖς εὔχεσθε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι
195  σιγῇ ἐφʼ ὑμείων ἵνα μὴ Τρῶές γε πύθωνται,
196  ἠὲ καὶ ἀμφαδίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης·
197  οὐ γάρ τίς με βίῃ γε ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα δίηται
198  οὐδέ τι ἰδρείῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ νήϊδά γʼ οὕτως
199  ἔλπομαι ἐν Σαλαμῖνι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.
200  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ εὔχοντο Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι·
201  ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·
202  Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε
203  δὸς νίκην Αἴαντι καὶ ἀγλαὸν εὖχος ἀρέσθαι·
204  εἰ δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορά περ φιλέεις καὶ κήδεαι αὐτοῦ,
205  ἴσην ἀμφοτέροισι βίην καὶ κῦδος ὄπασσον.
206  ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Αἴας δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.
207  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα περὶ χροῒ ἕσσατο τεύχεα,
208  σεύατʼ ἔπειθʼ οἷός τε πελώριος ἔρχεται Ἄρης,
209  ὅς τʼ εἶσιν πόλεμον δὲ μετʼ ἀνέρας οὕς τε Κρονίων
210  θυμοβόρου ἔριδος μένεϊ ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι.
211  τοῖος ἄρʼ Αἴας ὦρτο πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν
212  μειδιόων βλοσυροῖσι προσώπασι· νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν
213  ἤϊε μακρὰ βιβάς, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.
214  τὸν δὲ καὶ Ἀργεῖοι μὲν ἐγήθεον εἰσορόωντες,
215  Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον,
216  Ἕκτορί τʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι πάτασσεν·
217  ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχεν ὑποτρέσαι οὐδʼ ἀναδῦναι
218  ἂψ λαῶν ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ προκαλέσσατο χάρμῃ.
219  Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον
220  χάλκεον ἑπταβόειον, ὅ οἱ Τυχίος κάμε τεύχων
221  σκυτοτόμων ὄχʼ ἄριστος Ὕλῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων,
222  ὅς οἱ ἐποίησεν σάκος αἰόλον ἑπταβόειον
223  ταύρων ζατρεφέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ὄγδοον ἤλασε χαλκόν.
224  τὸ πρόσθε στέρνοιο φέρων Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
225  στῆ ῥα μάλʼ Ἕκτορος ἐγγύς, ἀπειλήσας δὲ προσηύδα·
226  Ἕκτορ νῦν μὲν δὴ σάφα εἴσεαι οἰόθεν οἶος
227  οἷοι καὶ Δαναοῖσιν ἀριστῆες μετέασι
228  καὶ μετʼ Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα θυμολέοντα.
229  ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι
230  κεῖτʼ ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν·
231  ἡμεῖς δʼ εἰμὲν τοῖοι οἳ ἂν σέθεν ἀντιάσαιμεν
232  καὶ πολέες· ἀλλʼ ἄρχε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο.
233  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
234  Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν
235  μή τί μευ ἠΰτε παιδὸς ἀφαυροῦ πειρήτιζε
236  ἠὲ γυναικός, ἣ οὐκ οἶδεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα.
237  αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδα μάχας τʼ ἀνδροκτασίας τε·
238  οἶδʼ ἐπὶ δεξιά, οἶδʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν
239  ἀζαλέην, τό μοι ἔστι ταλαύρινον πολεμίζειν·
240  οἶδα δʼ ἐπαΐξαι μόθον ἵππων ὠκειάων·
241  οἶδα δʼ ἐνὶ σταδίῃ δηΐῳ μέλπεσθαι Ἄρηϊ.
242  ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ σʼ ἐθέλω βαλέειν τοιοῦτον ἐόντα
243  λάθρῃ ὀπιπεύσας, ἀλλʼ ἀμφαδόν, αἴ κε τύχωμι.
244  ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
245  καὶ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον
246  ἀκρότατον κατὰ χαλκόν, ὃς ὄγδοος ἦεν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
247  ἓξ δὲ διὰ πτύχας ἦλθε δαΐζων χαλκὸς ἀτειρής,
248  ἐν τῇ δʼ ἑβδομάτῃ ῥινῷ σχέτο· δεύτερος αὖτε
249  Αἴας διογενὴς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
250  καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην.
251  διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,
252  καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο·
253  ἀντικρὺ δὲ παραὶ λαπάρην διάμησε χιτῶνα
254  ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἐκλίνθη καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.
255  τὼ δʼ ἐκσπασσαμένω δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἅμʼ ἄμφω
256  σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισιν
257  ἢ συσὶ κάπροισιν, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν.
258  Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρί,
259  οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμή.
260  Αἴας δʼ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ
261  ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα,
262  τμήδην δʼ αὐχένʼ ἐπῆλθε, μέλαν δʼ ἀνεκήκιεν αἷμα,
263  ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἀπέληγε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ,
264  ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος λίθον εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ
265  κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ μέλανα τρηχύν τε μέγαν τε·
266  τῷ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον
267  μέσσον ἐπομφάλιον· περιήχησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκός.
268  δεύτερος αὖτʼ Αἴας πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας
269  ἧκʼ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον,
270  εἴσω δʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔαξε βαλὼν μυλοειδέϊ πέτρῳ,
271  βλάψε δέ οἱ φίλα γούναθʼ· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐξετανύσθη
272  ἀσπίδι ἐγχριμφθείς· τὸν δʼ αἶψʼ ὤρθωσεν Ἀπόλλων.
273  καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσʼ αὐτοσχεδὸν οὐτάζοντο,
274  εἰ μὴ κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν
275  ἦλθον, ὃ μὲν Τρώων, ὃ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,
276  Ταλθύβιός τε καὶ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένω ἄμφω·
277  μέσσῳ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων σκῆπτρα σχέθον, εἶπέ τε μῦθον
278  κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς·
279  μηκέτι παῖδε φίλω πολεμίζετε μηδὲ μάχεσθον·
280  ἀμφοτέρω γὰρ σφῶϊ φιλεῖ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,
281  ἄμφω δʼ αἰχμητά· τό γε δὴ καὶ ἴδμεν ἅπαντες.
282  νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι.
283  τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
284  Ἰδαῖʼ Ἕκτορα ταῦτα κελεύετε μυθήσασθαι·
285  αὐτὸς γὰρ χάρμῃ προκαλέσσατο πάντας ἀρίστους.
286  ἀρχέτω· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μάλα πείσομαι ᾗ περ ἂν οὗτος.
287  τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
288  Αἶαν ἐπεί τοι δῶκε θεὸς μέγεθός τε βίην τε
289  καὶ πινυτήν, περὶ δʼ ἔγχει Ἀχαιῶν φέρτατός ἐσσι,
290  νῦν μὲν παυσώμεσθα μάχης καὶ δηϊοτῆτος
291  σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων
292  ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.
293  νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι,
294  ὡς σύ τʼ ἐϋφρήνῃς πάντας παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιούς,
295  σούς τε μάλιστα ἔτας καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ τοι ἔασιν·
296  αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
297  Τρῶας ἐϋφρανέω καὶ Τρῳάδας ἑλκεσιπέπλους,
298  αἵ τέ μοι εὐχόμεναι θεῖον δύσονται ἀγῶνα.
299  δῶρα δʼ ἄγʼ ἀλλήλοισι περικλυτὰ δώομεν ἄμφω,
300  ὄφρά τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·
301  ἠμὲν ἐμαρνάσθην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο,
302  ἠδʼ αὖτʼ ἐν φιλότητι διέτμαγεν ἀρθμήσαντε.
303  ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας δῶκε ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
304  σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι·
305  Αἴας δὲ ζωστῆρα δίδου φοίνικι φαεινόν.
306  τὼ δὲ διακρινθέντε ὃ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν
307  ἤϊʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐς Τρώων ὅμαδον κίε· τοὶ δὲ χάρησαν,
308  ὡς εἶδον ζωόν τε καὶ ἀρτεμέα προσιόντα,
309  Αἴαντος προφυγόντα μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους·
310  καί ῥʼ ἦγον προτὶ ἄστυ ἀελπτέοντες σόον εἶναι.
311  Αἴαντʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
312  εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον κεχαρηότα νίκῃ.
313  οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίῃσιν ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο γένοντο,
314  τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
315  ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.
316  τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,
317  μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,
318  ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
319  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
320  δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·
321  νώτοισιν δʼ Αἴαντα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν
322  ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.
323  αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
324  τοῖς ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτος ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν
325  Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
326  ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
327  Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,
328  πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,
329  τῶν νῦν αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐΰρροον ἀμφὶ Σκάμανδρον
330  ἐσκέδασʼ ὀξὺς Ἄρης, ψυχαὶ δʼ Ἄϊδος δὲ κατῆλθον·
331  τώ σε χρὴ πόλεμον μὲν ἅμʼ ἠοῖ παῦσαι Ἀχαιῶν,
332  αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀγρόμενοι κυκλήσομεν ἐνθάδε νεκροὺς
333  βουσὶ καὶ ἡμιόνοισιν· ἀτὰρ κατακήομεν αὐτοὺς
334  τυτθὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ νεῶν, ὥς κʼ ὀστέα παισὶν ἕκαστος
335  οἴκαδʼ ἄγῃ ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε νεώμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν.
336  τύμβον δʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν ἕνα χεύομεν ἐξαγαγόντες
337  ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου· ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν δείμομεν ὦκα
338  πύργους ὑψηλοὺς εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.
339  ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ποιήσομεν εὖ ἀραρυίας,
340  ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·
341  ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ὀρύξομεν ἐγγύθι τάφρον,
342  ἥ χʼ ἵππον καὶ λαὸν ἐρυκάκοι ἀμφὶς ἐοῦσα,
343  μή ποτʼ ἐπιβρίσῃ πόλεμος Τρώων ἀγερώχων.
344  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνησαν βασιλῆες.
345  Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴ γένετʼ Ἰλίου ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ
346  δεινὴ τετρηχυῖα, παρὰ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι·
347  τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·
348  κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,
349  ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
350  δεῦτʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἅμʼ αὐτῇ
351  δώομεν Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἄγειν· νῦν δʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ
352  ψευσάμενοι μαχόμεσθα· τὼ οὔ νύ τι κέρδιον ἡμῖν
353  ἔλπομαι ἐκτελέεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ ῥέξομεν ὧδε.
354  ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη
355  δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο,
356  ὅς μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
357  Ἀντῆνορ σὺ μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις·
358  οἶσθα καὶ ἄλλον μῦθον ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοῆσαι.
359  εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ τοῦτον ἀπὸ σπουδῆς ἀγορεύεις,
360  ἐξ ἄρα δή τοι ἔπειτα θεοὶ φρένας ὤλεσαν αὐτοί.
361  αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω·
362  ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπόφημι γυναῖκα μὲν οὐκ ἀποδώσω·
363  κτήματα δʼ ὅσσʼ ἀγόμην ἐξ Ἄργεος ἡμέτερον δῶ
364  πάντʼ ἐθέλω δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.
365  ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη
366  Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,
367  ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
368  κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,
369  ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
370  νῦν μὲν δόρπον ἕλεσθε κατὰ πτόλιν ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,
371  καὶ φυλακῆς μνήσασθε καὶ ἐγρήγορθε ἕκαστος·
372  ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἴτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας
373  εἰπέμεν Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ
374  μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·
375  καὶ δὲ τόδʼ εἰπέμεναι πυκινὸν ἔπος, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσι
376  παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς
377  κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων
378  ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.
379  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο·
380  δόρπον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσιν·
381  ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας·
382  τοὺς δʼ εὗρʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Δαναοὺς θεράποντας Ἄρηος
383  νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι
384  στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν μετεφώνεεν ἠπύτα κῆρυξ·
385  Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν
386  ἠνώγει Πρίαμός τε καὶ ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ
387  εἰπεῖν, αἴ κέ περ ὔμμι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,
388  μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·
389  κτήματα μὲν ὅσʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσὶν
390  ἠγάγετο Τροίηνδʼ· ὡς πρὶν ὤφελλʼ ἀπολέσθαι·
391  πάντʼ ἐθέλει δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι·
392  κουριδίην δʼ ἄλοχον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο
393  οὔ φησιν δώσειν· ἦ μὴν Τρῶές γε κέλονται.
394  καὶ δὲ τόδʼ ἠνώγεον εἰπεῖν ἔπος αἴ κʼ ἐθέλητε
395  παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς
396  κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων
397  ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.
398  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·
399  ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
400  μήτʼ ἄρ τις νῦν κτήματʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δεχέσθω
401  μήθʼ Ἑλένην· γνωτὸν δὲ καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστιν
402  ὡς ἤδη Τρώεσσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.
403  ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπίαχον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
404  μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο·
405  καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἰδαῖον προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
406  Ἰδαῖʼ ἤτοι μῦθον Ἀχαιῶν αὐτὸς ἀκούεις
407  ὥς τοι ὑποκρίνονται· ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπιανδάνει οὕτως
408  ἀμφὶ δὲ νεκροῖσιν κατακαιέμεν οὔ τι μεγαίρω·
409  οὐ γάρ τις φειδὼ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
410  γίγνετʼ ἐπεί κε θάνωσι πυρὸς μειλισσέμεν ὦκα.
411  ὅρκια δὲ Ζεὺς ἴστω ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.
412  ὣς εἰπὼν τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνέσχεθε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν,
413  ἄψορρον δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
414  οἳ δʼ ἕατʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες
415  πάντες ὁμηγερέες, ποτιδέγμενοι ὁππότʼ ἄρʼ ἔλθοι
416  Ἰδαῖος· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθε καὶ ἀγγελίην ἀπέειπε
417  στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν· τοὶ δʼ ὁπλίζοντο μάλʼ ὦκα,
418  ἀμφότερον νέκυάς τʼ ἀγέμεν ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην·
419  Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋσσέλμων ἀπὸ νηῶν
420  ὀτρύνοντο νέκυς τʼ ἀγέμεν, ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην.
421  Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας
422  ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο
423  οὐρανὸν εἰσανιών· οἳ δʼ ἤντεον ἀλλήλοισιν.
424  ἔνθα διαγνῶναι χαλεπῶς ἦν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
425  ἀλλʼ ὕδατι νίζοντες ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα
426  δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντες ἀμαξάων ἐπάειραν.
427  οὐδʼ εἴα κλαίειν Πρίαμος μέγας· οἳ δὲ σιωπῇ
428  νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,
429  ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
430  ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
431  νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,
432  ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.
433  ἦμος δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πω ἠώς, ἔτι δʼ ἀμφιλύκη νύξ,
434  τῆμος ἄρʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν κριτὸς ἔγρετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν,
435  τύμβον δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὴν ἕνα ποίεον ἐξαγαγόντες
436  ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου, ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν τεῖχος ἔδειμαν
437  πύργους θʼ ὑψηλούς, εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.
438  ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ἐνεποίεον εὖ ἀραρυίας,
439  ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·
440  ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ τάφρον ὄρυξαν
441  εὐρεῖαν μεγάλην, ἐν δὲ σκόλοπας κατέπηξαν.
442  ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί·
443  οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἀστεροπητῇ
444  θηεῦντο μέγα ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.
445  τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
446  Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν
447  ὅς τις ἔτʼ ἀθανάτοισι νόον καὶ μῆτιν ἐνίψει;
448  οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅτι δʼ αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
449  τεῖχος ἐτειχίσσαντο νεῶν ὕπερ, ἀμφὶ δὲ τάφρον
450  ἤλασαν, οὐδὲ θεοῖσι δόσαν κλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας;
451  τοῦ δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς·
452  τοῦ δʼ ἐπιλήσονται τὸ ἐγὼ καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
453  ἥρῳ Λαομέδοντι πολίσσαμεν ἀθλήσαντε.
454  τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
455  ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες.
456  ἄλλός κέν τις τοῦτο θεῶν δείσειε νόημα,
457  ὃς σέο πολλὸν ἀφαυρότερος χεῖράς τε μένος τε·
458  σὸν δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς.
459  ἄγρει μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
460  οἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
461  τεῖχος ἀναρρήξας τὸ μὲν εἰς ἅλα πᾶν καταχεῦαι,
462  αὖτις δʼ ἠϊόνα μεγάλην ψαμάθοισι καλύψαι,
463  ὥς κέν τοι μέγα τεῖχος ἀμαλδύνηται Ἀχαιῶν.
464  ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
465  δύσετο δʼ ἠέλιος, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν,
466  βουφόνεον δὲ κατὰ κλισίας καὶ δόρπον ἕλοντο.
467  νῆες δʼ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέσταν οἶνον ἄγουσαι
468  πολλαί, τὰς προέηκεν Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος,
469  τόν ῥʼ ἔτεχʼ Ὑψιπύλη ὑπʼ Ἰήσονι ποιμένι λαῶν.
470  χωρὶς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ
471  δῶκεν Ἰησονίδης ἀγέμεν μέθυ χίλια μέτρα.
472  ἔνθεν οἰνίζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,
473  ἄλλοι μὲν χαλκῷ, ἄλλοι δʼ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ,
474  ἄλλοι δὲ ῥινοῖς, ἄλλοι δʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,
475  ἄλλοι δʼ ἀνδραπόδεσσι· τίθεντο δὲ δαῖτα θάλειαν.
476  παννύχιοι μὲν ἔπειτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
477  δαίνυντο, Τρῶες δὲ κατὰ πτόλιν ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·
478  παννύχιος δέ σφιν κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεὺς
479  σμερδαλέα κτυπέων· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει·
480  οἶνον δʼ ἐκ δεπάων χαμάδις χέον, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
481  πρὶν πιέειν πρὶν λεῖψαι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.
482  κοιμήσαντʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.


Jove forbids the gods to interfere further—There is an even fight
      till midday, but then Jove inclines the scales of victory in
      favour of the Trojans, who eventually chase the Achaeans within
      their wall—Juno and Minerva set out to help the Trojans: Jove
      sends Iris to turn them back, but later on he promises Juno that
      she shall have her way in the end—Hector’s triumph is stayed by
      nightfall—The Trojans bivouac on the plain.

      Now when Morning, clad in her robe of saffron, had begun to
      suffuse light over the earth, Jove called the gods in council on
      the topmost crest of serrated Olympus. Then he spoke and all the
      other gods gave ear. “Hear me,” said he, “gods and goddesses,
      that I may speak even as I am minded. Let none of you neither
      goddess nor god try to cross me, but obey me every one of you
      that I may bring this matter to an end. If I see anyone acting
      apart and helping either Trojans or Danaans, he shall be beaten
      inordinately ere he come back again to Olympus; or I will hurl
      him down into dark Tartarus far into the deepest pit under the
      earth, where the gates are iron and the floor bronze, as far
      beneath Hades as heaven is high above the earth, that you may
      learn how much the mightiest I am among you. Try me and find out
      for yourselves. Hangs me a golden chain from heaven, and lay hold
      of it all of you, gods and goddesses together—tug as you will,
      you will not drag Jove the supreme counsellor from heaven to
      earth; but were I to pull at it myself I should draw you up with
      earth and sea into the bargain, then would I bind the chain about
      some pinnacle of Olympus and leave you all dangling in the mid
      firmament. So far am I above all others either of gods or men.”

      They were frightened and all of them of held their peace, for he
      had spoken masterfully; but at last Minerva answered, “Father,
      son of Saturn, king of kings, we all know that your might is not
      to be gainsaid, but we are also sorry for the Danaan warriors,
      who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We will, however,
      since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting, but we will
      make serviceable suggestions to the Argives that they may not all
      of them perish in your displeasure.”

      Jove smiled at her and answered, “Take heart, my child,
      Trito-born; I am not really in earnest, and I wish to be kind to
      you.”

      With this he yoked his fleet horses, with hoofs of bronze and
      manes of glittering gold. He girded himself also with gold about
      the body, seized his gold whip and took his seat in his chariot.
      Thereon he lashed his horses and they flew forward nothing loth
      midway twixt earth and starry heaven. After a while he reached
      many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, and Gargarus, where
      are his grove and fragrant altar. There the father of gods and
      men stayed his horses, took them from the chariot, and hid them
      in a thick cloud; then he took his seat all glorious upon the
      topmost crests, looking down upon the city of Troy and the ships
      of the Achaeans.

      The Achaeans took their morning meal hastily at the ships, and
      afterwards put on their armour. The Trojans on the other hand
      likewise armed themselves throughout the city, fewer in numbers
      but nevertheless eager perforce to do battle for their wives and
      children. All the gates were flung wide open, and horse and foot
      sallied forth with the tramp as of a great multitude.

      When they were got together in one place, shield clashed with
      shield, and spear with spear, in the conflict of mail-clad men.
      Mighty was the din as the bossed shields pressed hard on one
      another—death—cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers, and
      the earth ran red with blood.

      Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning their
      weapons beat against one another, and the people fell, but when
      the sun had reached mid-heaven, the sire of all balanced his
      golden scales, and put two fates of death within them, one for
      the Trojans and the other for the Achaeans. He took the balance
      by the middle, and when he lifted it up the day of the Achaeans
      sank; the death-fraught scale of the Achaeans settled down upon
      the ground, while that of the Trojans rose heavenwards. Then he
      thundered aloud from Ida, and sent the glare of his lightning
      upon the Achaeans; when they saw this, pale fear fell upon them
      and they were sore afraid.

      Idomeneus dared not stay nor yet Agamemnon, nor did the two
      Ajaxes, servants of Mars, hold their ground. Nestor knight of
      Gerene alone stood firm, bulwark of the Achaeans, not of his own
      will, but one of his horses was disabled. Alexandrus husband of
      lovely Helen had hit it with an arrow just on the top of its head
      where the mane begins to grow away from the skull, a very deadly
      place. The horse bounded in his anguish as the arrow pierced his
      brain, and his struggles threw others into confusion. The old man
      instantly began cutting the traces with his sword, but Hector’s
      fleet horses bore down upon him through the rout with their bold
      charioteer, even Hector himself, and the old man would have
      perished there and then had not Diomed been quick to mark, and
      with a loud cry called Ulysses to help him.

      “Ulysses,” he cried, “noble son of Laertes where are you flying
      to, with your back turned like a coward? See that you are not
      struck with a spear between the shoulders. Stay here and help me
      to defend Nestor from this man’s furious onset.”

      Ulysses would not give ear, but sped onward to the ships of the
      Achaeans, and the son of Tydeus flinging himself alone into the
      thick of the fight took his stand before the horses of the son of
      Neleus. “Sir,” said he, “these young warriors are pressing you
      hard, your force is spent, and age is heavy upon you, your squire
      is naught, and your horses are slow to move. Mount my chariot and
      see what the horses of Tros can do—how cleverly they can scud
      hither and thither over the plain either in flight or in pursuit.
      I took them from the hero Aeneas. Let our squires attend to your
      own steeds, but let us drive mine straight at the Trojans, that
      Hector may learn how furiously I too can wield my spear.”

      Nestor knight of Gerene hearkened to his words. Thereon the
      doughty squires, Sthenelus and kind-hearted Eurymedon, saw to
      Nestor’s horses, while the two both mounted Diomed’s chariot.
      Nestor took the reins in his hands and lashed the horses on; they
      were soon close up with Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a
      spear at him as he was charging full speed towards them. He
      missed him, but struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus son of
      noble Thebaeus in the breast by the nipple while the reins were
      in his hands, so that he died there and then, and the horses
      swerved as he fell headlong from the chariot. Hector was greatly
      grieved at the loss of his charioteer, but let him lie for all
      his sorrow, while he went in quest of another driver; nor did his
      steeds have to go long without one, for he presently found brave
      Archeptolemus the son of Iphitus, and made him get up behind the
      horses, giving the reins into his hand.

      All had then been lost and no help for it, for they would have
      been penned up in Ilius like sheep, had not the sire of gods and
      men been quick to mark, and hurled a fiery flaming thunderbolt
      which fell just in front of Diomed’s horses with a flare of
      burning brimstone. The horses were frightened and tried to back
      beneath the car, while the reins dropped from Nestor’s hands.
      Then he was afraid and said to Diomed, “Son of Tydeus, turn your
      horses in flight; see you not that the hand of Jove is against
      you? To-day he vouchsafes victory to Hector; to-morrow, if it so
      please him, he will again grant it to ourselves; no man, however
      brave, may thwart the purpose of Jove, for he is far stronger
      than any.”

      Diomed answered, “All that you have said is true; there is a
      grief however which pierces me to the very heart, for Hector will
      talk among the Trojans and say, ‘The son of Tydeus fled before me
      to the ships.’ This is the vaunt he will make, and may earth then
      swallow me.”

      “Son of Tydeus,” replied Nestor, “what mean you? Though Hector
      say that you are a coward the Trojans and Dardanians will not
      believe him, nor yet the wives of the mighty warriors whom you
      have laid low.”

      So saying he turned the horses back through the thick of the
      battle, and with a cry that rent the air the Trojans and Hector
      rained their darts after them. Hector shouted to him and said,
      “Son of Tydeus, the Danaans have done you honour hitherto as
      regards your place at table, the meals they give you, and the
      filling of your cup with wine. Henceforth they will despise you,
      for you are become no better than a woman. Be off, girl and
      coward that you are, you shall not scale our walls through any
      flinching upon my part; neither shall you carry off our wives in
      your ships, for I shall kill you with my own hand.”

      The son of Tydeus was in two minds whether or no to turn his
      horses round again and fight him. Thrice did he doubt, and thrice
      did Jove thunder from the heights of Ida in token to the Trojans
      that he would turn the battle in their favour. Hector then
      shouted to them and said, “Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians,
      lovers of close fighting, be men, my friends, and fight with
      might and with main; I see that Jove is minded to vouchsafe
      victory and great glory to myself, while he will deal destruction
      upon the Danaans. Fools, for having thought of building this weak
      and worthless wall. It shall not stay my fury; my horses will
      spring lightly over their trench, and when I am at their ships
      forget not to bring me fire that I may burn them, while I
      slaughter the Argives who will be all dazed and bewildered by the
      smoke.”

      Then he cried to his horses, “Xanthus and Podargus, and you
      Aethon and goodly Lampus, pay me for your keep now and for all
      the honey-sweet corn with which Andromache daughter of great
      Eetion has fed you, and for she has mixed wine and water for you
      to drink whenever you would, before doing so even for me who am
      her own husband. Haste in pursuit, that we may take the shield of
      Nestor, the fame of which ascends to heaven, for it is of solid
      gold, arm-rods and all, and that we may strip from the shoulders
      of Diomed the cuirass which Vulcan made him. Could we take these
      two things, the Achaeans would set sail in their ships this
      self-same night.”

      Thus did he vaunt, but Queen Juno made high Olympus quake as she
      shook with rage upon her throne. Then said she to the mighty god
      of Neptune, “What now, wide ruling lord of the earthquake? Can
      you find no compassion in your heart for the dying Danaans, who
      bring you many a welcome offering to Helice and to Aegae? Wish
      them well then. If all of us who are with the Danaans were to
      drive the Trojans back and keep Jove from helping them, he would
      have to sit there sulking alone on Ida.”

      King Neptune was greatly troubled and answered, “Juno, rash of
      tongue, what are you talking about? We other gods must not set
      ourselves against Jove, for he is far stronger than we are.”

      Thus did they converse; but the whole space enclosed by the
      ditch, from the ships even to the wall, was filled with horses
      and warriors, who were pent up there by Hector son of Priam, now
      that the hand of Jove was with him. He would even have set fire
      to the ships and burned them, had not Queen Juno put it into the
      mind of Agamemnon, to bestir himself and to encourage the
      Achaeans. To this end he went round the ships and tents carrying
      a great purple cloak, and took his stand by the huge black hull
      of Ulysses’ ship, which was middlemost of all; it was from this
      place that his voice would carry farthest, on the one hand
      towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other
      towards those of Achilles—for these two heroes, well assured of
      their own strength, had valorously drawn up their ships at the
      two ends of the line. From this spot then, with a voice that
      could be heard afar, he shouted to the Danaans, saying, “Argives,
      shame on you cowardly creatures, brave in semblance only; where
      are now our vaunts that we should prove victorious—the vaunts we
      made so vaingloriously in Lemnos, when we ate the flesh of horned
      cattle and filled our mixing-bowls to the brim? You vowed that
      you would each of you stand against a hundred or two hundred men,
      and now you prove no match even for one—for Hector, who will be
      ere long setting our ships in a blaze. Father Jove, did you ever
      so ruin a great king and rob him so utterly of his greatness?
      Yet, when to my sorrow I was coming hither, I never let my ship
      pass your altars without offering the fat and thigh-bones of
      heifers upon every one of them, so eager was I to sack the city
      of Troy. Vouchsafe me then this prayer—suffer us to escape at any
      rate with our lives, and let not the Achaeans be so utterly
      vanquished by the Trojans.”

      Thus did he pray, and father Jove pitying his tears vouchsafed
      him that his people should live, not die; forthwith he sent them
      an eagle, most unfailingly portentous of all birds, with a young
      fawn in its talons; the eagle dropped the fawn by the altar on
      which the Achaeans sacrificed to Jove the lord of omens; when,
      therefore, the people saw that the bird had come from Jove, they
      sprang more fiercely upon the Trojans and fought more boldly.

      There was no man of all the many Danaans who could then boast
      that he had driven his horses over the trench and gone forth to
      fight sooner than the son of Tydeus; long before any one else
      could do so he slew an armed warrior of the Trojans, Agelaus the
      son of Phradmon. He had turned his horses in flight, but the
      spear struck him in the back midway between his shoulders and
      went right through his chest, and his armour rang rattling round
      him as he fell forward from his chariot.

      After him came Agamemnon and Menelaus, sons of Atreus, the two
      Ajaxes clothed in valour as with a garment, Idomeneus and his
      companion in arms Meriones, peer of murderous Mars, and Eurypylus
      the brave son of Euaemon. Ninth came Teucer with his bow, and
      took his place under cover of the shield of Ajax son of Telamon.
      When Ajax lifted his shield Teucer would peer round, and when he
      had hit any one in the throng, the man would fall dead; then
      Teucer would hie back to Ajax as a child to its mother, and again
      duck down under his shield.

      Which of the Trojans did brave Teucer first kill? Orsilochus, and
      then Ormenus and Ophelestes, Daetor, Chromius, and godlike
      Lycophontes, Amopaon son of Polyaemon, and Melanippus. All these
      in turn did he lay low upon the earth, and King Agamemnon was
      glad when he saw him making havoc of the Trojans with his mighty
      bow. He went up to him and said, “Teucer, man after my own heart,
      son of Telamon, captain among the host, shoot on, and be at once
      the saving of the Danaans and the glory of your father Telamon,
      who brought you up and took care of you in his own house when you
      were a child, bastard though you were. Cover him with glory
      though he is far off; I will promise and I will assuredly
      perform; if aegis-bearing Jove and Minerva grant me to sack the
      city of Ilius, you shall have the next best meed of honour after
      my own—a tripod, or two horses with their chariot, or a woman who
      shall go up into your bed.”

      And Teucer answered, “Most noble son of Atreus, you need not urge
      me; from the moment we began to drive them back to Ilius, I have
      never ceased so far as in me lies to look out for men whom I can
      shoot and kill; I have shot eight barbed shafts, and all of them
      have been buried in the flesh of warlike youths, but this mad dog
      I cannot hit.”

      As he spoke he aimed another arrow straight at Hector, for he was
      bent on hitting him; nevertheless he missed him, and the arrow
      hit Priam’s brave son Gorgythion in the breast. His mother, fair
      Castianeira, lovely as a goddess, had been married from Aesyme,
      and now he bowed his head as a garden poppy in full bloom when it
      is weighed down by showers in spring—even thus heavy bowed his
      head beneath the weight of his helmet.

      Again he aimed at Hector, for he was longing to hit him, and
      again his arrow missed, for Apollo turned it aside; but he hit
      Hector’s brave charioteer Archeptolemus in the breast, by the
      nipple, as he was driving furiously into the fight. The horses
      swerved aside as he fell headlong from the chariot, and there was
      no life left in him. Hector was greatly grieved at the loss of
      his charioteer, but for all his sorrow he let him lie where he
      fell, and bade his brother Cebriones, who was hard by, take the
      reins. Cebriones did as he had said. Hector thereon with a loud
      cry sprang from his chariot to the ground, and seizing a great
      stone made straight for Teucer with intent to kill him. Teucer
      had just taken an arrow from his quiver and had laid it upon the
      bowstring, but Hector struck him with the jagged stone as he was
      taking aim and drawing the string to his shoulder; he hit him
      just where the collar-bone divides the neck from the chest, a
      very deadly place, and broke the sinew of his arm so that his
      wrist was less, and the bow dropped from his hand as he fell
      forward on his knees. Ajax saw that his brother had fallen, and
      running towards him bestrode him and sheltered him with his
      shield. Meanwhile his two trusty squires, Mecisteus son of
      Echius, and Alastor, came up and bore him to the ships groaning
      in his great pain.

      Jove now again put heart into the Trojans, and they drove the
      Achaeans to their deep trench with Hector in all his glory at
      their head. As a hound grips a wild boar or lion in flank or
      buttock when he gives him chase, and watches warily for his
      wheeling, even so did Hector follow close upon the Achaeans, ever
      killing the hindmost as they rushed panic-stricken onwards. When
      they had fled through the set stakes and trench and many Achaeans
      had been laid low at the hands of the Trojans, they halted at
      their ships, calling upon one another and praying every man
      instantly as they lifted up their hands to the gods; but Hector
      wheeled his horses this way and that, his eyes glaring like those
      of Gorgo or murderous Mars.

      Juno when she saw them had pity upon them, and at once said to
      Minerva, “Alas, child of aegis-bearing Jove, shall you and I take
      no more thought for the dying Danaans, though it be the last time
      we ever do so? See how they perish and come to a bad end before
      the onset of but a single man. Hector the son of Priam rages with
      intolerable fury, and has already done great mischief.”

      Minerva answered, “Would, indeed, this fellow might die in his
      own land, and fall by the hands of the Achaeans; but my father
      Jove is mad with spleen, ever foiling me, ever headstrong and
      unjust. He forgets how often I saved his son when he was worn out
      by the labours Eurystheus had laid on him. He would weep till his
      cry came up to heaven, and then Jove would send me down to help
      him; if I had had the sense to foresee all this, when Eurystheus
      sent him to the house of Hades, to fetch the hell-hound from
      Erebus, he would never have come back alive out of the deep
      waters of the river Styx. And now Jove hates me, while he lets
      Thetis have her way because she kissed his knees and took hold of
      his beard, when she was begging him to do honour to Achilles. I
      shall know what to do next time he begins calling me his
      grey-eyed darling. Get our horses ready, while I go within the
      house of aegis-bearing Jove and put on my armour; we shall then
      find out whether Priam’s son Hector will be glad to meet us in
      the highways of battle, or whether the Trojans will glut hounds
      and vultures with the fat of their flesh as they be dead by the
      ships of the Achaeans.”

      Thus did she speak and white-armed Juno, daughter of great
      Saturn, obeyed her words; she set about harnessing her
      gold-bedizened steeds, while Minerva daughter of aegis-bearing
      Jove flung her richly vesture, made with her own hands, on to the
      threshold of her father, and donned the shirt of Jove, arming
      herself for battle. Then she stepped into her flaming chariot,
      and grasped the spear so stout and sturdy and strong with which
      she quells the ranks of heroes who have displeased her. Juno
      lashed her horses, and the gates of heaven bellowed as they flew
      open of their own accord—gates over which the Hours preside, in
      whose hands are heaven and Olympus, either to open the dense
      cloud that hides them or to close it. Through these the goddesses
      drove their obedient steeds.

      But father Jove when he saw them from Ida was very angry, and
      sent winged Iris with a message to them. “Go,” said he, “fleet
      Iris, turn them back, and see that they do not come near me, for
      if we come to fighting there will be mischief. This is what I
      say, and this is what I mean to do. I will lame their horses for
      them; I will hurl them from their chariot, and will break it in
      pieces. It will take them all ten years to heal the wounds my
      lightning shall inflict upon them; my grey-eyed daughter will
      then learn what quarrelling with her father means. I am less
      surprised and angry with Juno, for whatever I say she always
      contradicts me.”

      With this Iris went her way, fleet as the wind, from the heights
      of Ida to the lofty summits of Olympus. She met the goddesses at
      the outer gates of its many valleys and gave them her message.
      “What,” said she, “are you about? Are you mad? The son of Saturn
      forbids going. This is what he says, and this is what he means to
      do, he will lame your horses for you, he will hurl you from your
      chariot, and will break it in pieces. It will take you all ten
      years to heal the wounds his lightning will inflict upon you,
      that you may learn, grey-eyed goddess, what quarrelling with your
      father means. He is less hurt and angry with Juno, for whatever
      he says she always contradicts him but you, bold hussy, will you
      really dare to raise your huge spear in defiance of Jove?”

      With this she left them, and Juno said to Minerva, “Of a truth,
      child of aegis-bearing Jove, I am not for fighting men’s battles
      further in defiance of Jove. Let them live or die as luck will
      have it, and let Jove mete out his judgements upon the Trojans
      and Danaans according to his own pleasure.”

      She turned her steeds; the Hours presently unyoked them, made
      them fast to their ambrosial mangers, and leaned the chariot
      against the end wall of the courtyard. The two goddesses then sat
      down upon their golden thrones, amid the company of the other
      gods; but they were very angry.

      Presently father Jove drove his chariot to Olympus, and entered
      the assembly of gods. The mighty lord of the earthquake unyoked
      his horses for him, set the car upon its stand, and threw a cloth
      over it. Jove then sat down upon his golden throne and Olympus
      reeled beneath him. Minerva and Juno sat alone, apart from Jove,
      and neither spoke nor asked him questions, but Jove knew what
      they meant, and said, “Minerva and Juno, why are you so angry?
      Are you fatigued with killing so many of your dear friends the
      Trojans? Be this as it may, such is the might of my hands that
      all the gods in Olympus cannot turn me; you were both of you
      trembling all over ere ever you saw the fight and its terrible
      doings. I tell you therefore-and it would have surely been—I
      should have struck you with lightning, and your chariots would
      never have brought you back again to Olympus.”

      Minerva and Juno groaned in spirit as they sat side by side and
      brooded mischief for the Trojans. Minerva sat silent without a
      word, for she was in a furious passion and bitterly incensed
      against her father; but Juno could not contain herself and said,
      “What, dread son of Saturn, are you talking about? We know how
      great your power is, nevertheless we have compassion upon the
      Danaan warriors who are perishing and coming to a bad end. We
      will, however, since you so bid us, refrain from actual fighting,
      but we will make serviceable suggestions to the Argives, that
      they may not all of them perish in your displeasure.”

      And Jove answered, “To-morrow morning, Juno, if you choose to do
      so, you will see the son of Saturn destroying large numbers of
      the Argives, for fierce Hector shall not cease fighting till he
      has roused the son of Peleus when they are fighting in dire
      straits at their ships’ sterns about the body of Patroclus. Like
      it or no, this is how it is decreed; for aught I care, you may go
      to the lowest depths beneath earth and sea, where Iapetus and
      Saturn dwell in lone Tartarus with neither ray of light nor
      breath of wind to cheer them. You may go on and on till you get
      there, and I shall not care one whit for your displeasure; you
      are the greatest vixen living.”

      Juno made him no answer. The sun’s glorious orb now sank into
      Oceanus and drew down night over the land. Sorry indeed were the
      Trojans when light failed them, but welcome and thrice prayed for
      did darkness fall upon the Achaeans.

      Then Hector led the Trojans back from the ships, and held a
      council on the open space near the river, where there was a spot
      clear of corpses. They left their chariots and sat down on the
      ground to hear the speech he made them. He grasped a spear eleven
      cubits long, the bronze point of which gleamed in front of it,
      while the ring round the spear-head was of gold. Spear in hand he
      spoke. “Hear me,” said he, “Trojans, Dardanians, and allies. I
      deemed but now that I should destroy the ships and all the
      Achaeans with them ere I went back to Ilius, but darkness came on
      too soon. It was this alone that saved them and their ships upon
      the sea-shore. Now, therefore, let us obey the behests of night,
      and prepare our suppers. Take your horses out of their chariots
      and give them their feeds of corn; then make speed to bring sheep
      and cattle from the city; bring wine also and corn for your
      horses and gather much wood, that from dark till dawn we may burn
      watchfires whose flare may reach to heaven. For the Achaeans may
      try to fly beyond the sea by night, and they must not embark
      scatheless and unmolested; many a man among them must take a dart
      with him to nurse at home, hit with spear or arrow as he is
      leaping on board his ship, that others may fear to bring war and
      weeping upon the Trojans. Moreover let the heralds tell it about
      the city that the growing youths and grey-bearded men are to camp
      upon its heaven-built walls. Let the women each of them light a
      great fire in her house, and let watch be safely kept lest the
      town be entered by surprise while the host is outside. See to it,
      brave Trojans, as I have said, and let this suffice for the
      moment; at daybreak I will instruct you further. I pray in hope
      to Jove and to the gods that we may then drive those fate-sped
      hounds from our land, for ’tis the fates that have borne them and
      their ships hither. This night, therefore, let us keep watch, but
      with early morning let us put on our armour and rouse fierce war
      at the ships of the Achaeans; I shall then know whether brave
      Diomed the son of Tydeus will drive me back from the ships to the
      wall, or whether I shall myself slay him and carry off his
      blood-stained spoils. To-morrow let him show his mettle, abide my
      spear if he dare. I ween that at break of day, he shall be among
      the first to fall and many another of his comrades round him.
      Would that I were as sure of being immortal and never growing
      old, and of being worshipped like Minerva and Apollo, as I am
      that this day will bring evil to the Argives.”

      Thus spoke Hector and the Trojans shouted applause. They took
      their sweating steeds from under the yoke, and made them fast
      each by his own chariot. They made haste to bring sheep and
      cattle from the city, they brought wine also and corn from their
      houses and gathered much wood. They then offered unblemished
      hecatombs to the immortals, and the wind carried the sweet savour
      of sacrifice to heaven—but the blessed gods partook not thereof,
      for they bitterly hated Ilius with Priam and Priam’s people. Thus
      high in hope they sat through the livelong night by the highways
      of war, and many a watchfire did they kindle. As when the stars
      shine clear, and the moon is bright—there is not a breath of air,
      not a peak nor glade nor jutting headland but it stands out in
      the ineffable radiance that breaks from the serene of heaven; the
      stars can all of them be told and the heart of the shepherd is
      glad—even thus shone the watchfires of the Trojans before Ilius
      midway between the ships and the river Xanthus. A thousand
      camp-fires gleamed upon the plain, and in the glow of each there
      sat fifty men, while the horses, champing oats and corn beside
      their chariots, waited till dawn should come.