The Iliad by Homer (ebooks children's books free TXT) 📕

Pour’d forth in groans his multitudinous grief, His spirit within him sinking. On the plain He look’d, and there, alarm’d, the watchfires saw, Which, far advanc’d before the walls of Troy, Blaz’d numberless; and thence of pipes and flutes He heard the sound, and busy hum of men.

Upon the ships he look’d, and men of Greece, And by the roots his hair in handfuls tore To Jove on high; deep groan’d his mighty heart.

Thus as he mus’d, the wisest course appear’d, With Nestor, son of Neleus, to confer, If they some scheme in council might devise To ward destruction from the Grecian host.

He rose, and o’er his body drew his vest, And underneath his well-turn’d feet he bound His sandals fair; then o’er his shoulders threw, Down reaching to his feet, a lion’s skin, Tawny and vast; then grasp’d his pond’rous spear.

On Menelaus weigh’d an equal dread;

Nor on his eyes that night had slumber sat, Lest ill befall the Greeks; who, in his cause, Crossing the wat’ry waste, had come to Troy, And bold defiance to the Trojans giv’n.

Round his broad chest a panther’s skin he threw; Then on his head his brazen helmet plac’d, And in his brawny hand a lance he bore.

To meet his brother went he forth, of Greece The mighty monarch, as a God rever’d.

Him by the ship he found, in act to arm; And welcome was his presence to the King.

Then valiant Menelaus first began:

“Why thus in arms, good brother? seek’st thou one The Trojan camp to spy? I greatly fear That none will undertake the task, alone To spy the movements of the hostile camp In the dark night: stout-hearted he must be.”

To whom the monarch Agamemnon thus:

“Great need, my noble brother, have we both Of sagest counsels, if we hope the Greeks And Grecian ships from ruin to preserve, Since turn’d against us is the mind of Jove.

To Hector’s off’rings most his soul inclines; For never have I seen, or heard men tell, How in one day one man has wrought such loss As Hector, dear to Jove, yet not the son Of God or Goddess, on the Greeks has wrought.

Such deeds hath he achiev’d, such havoc made, As we shall long in bitter mem’ry keep.

Haste thou amid the ships, and hither bring Idomeneus and Ajax; I the while

Will Nestor rouse, and urge that he with us The outposts visit, and instruct the guard.

To him they best will listen; for his son Commands the watch; with him Meriones, The follower of the King Idomeneus:

To them by pref’rence hath this charge been giv’n.”

He said: and Menelaus answer’d thus:

“What wouldst thou have me do then? here remain With them, and wait thy coming, or to them Thy message give, and follow in thy steps?”

Him answer’d Agamemnon, King of men:

“Remain thou here, lest haply we might fail To meet; for in the camp are many paths.

But thou, where’er thou go’st, each sev’ral man Address, and ask to rise; to each his name And patronymic giving; pay to each

All due respect; nor bear thee haughtily; We like the rest must share the load of toil.

Which Jove assigns to all of mortal birth.”

His brother thus with counsels wise dismiss’d, The King to aged Nestor took his way:

Him by his tent and dark-ribb’d ship he found On a soft couch; beside him lay his arms, His shield, two lances, and a glitt’ring helm: There lay the rich-wrought belt the old man wore, When to the battle, arm’d, he led his troops; For nought to age’s weakness would he yield.

Raising his head, and on his elbow propp’d, He question’d thus Atrides: “Who art thou, That wand’rest through th’ encampment thus alone, In the dark night, when other mortals sleep?

Seek’st thou some mule broke loose, or comrade lost?

Speak, nor in silence come; what wouldst thou here?”

To whom thus Agamemnon, King of men:

“O Nestor! son of Neleus, pride of Greece, Know me for Agamemnon, Atreus’ son,

On whom hath Jove, beyond the lot of men, Laid grief that ne’er shall end, while I retain Breath in my lungs, and vigour in my limbs.

I wander thus, because these eyes of mine Sweet slumber visits not, by cares of war Oppress’d, and harass’d by the woes of Greece.

Much for the Greeks I fear; nor keeps my mind Its wonted firmess; I am ill at ease;

And leaps my troubled heart as tho’ ‘twould burst My bosom’s bounds; my limbs beneath me shake.

But if thou wilt, since thou too know’st not sleep, Together to the outposts let us go,

And see if there, by toil and sleep o’erpow’r’d, The guard repose, neglectful of their watch.

The foe is close at hand; nor are we sure He may not hazard e’en a night attack.”

To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied;

“Most mighty Agamemnon, King of men,

Not all the hopes that Hector entertains Shall by the Lord of counsel be fulfill’d; For him are toil and danger yet in store, If but Achilles of his wrath repent.

Gladly will I attend thee; others too, Tydides, spearman bold, Ulysses sage,

Ajax the swift, and Phyleus’ noble son, Should all be summon’d; and ‘twere well that one Across the camp should run, to call in haste The godlike Ajax, and Idomeneus;

Theirs are the farthest ships, nor near at hand.

But, dear to me as Menelaus is,

And highly honour’d, I must blame, that thus (Though thou shouldst take offence, I needs must say) He sleeps, and leaves the toil to thee alone.

With all the chiefs he should be busied now, Imploring aid, in this our utmost need.”

To whom thus Agamemnon, King of men:

“For other times, old man, reserve thy blame; Sometimes, I own, he lags behind, nor takes His share of labour; not from indolence, Or want of sense; but still regarding me; Waiting from me an impulse to receive.

But now, before me he was up, and came To visit me; and I have sent him on

To call those very men whom thou hast nam’d.

Come then; for we, beside the gates, and guard Shall find them; there my orders were to meet.”

To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied;

“Then none can blame him; nor can any Greek Justly refuse his summons to obey.”

He said, and round his body wrapped his vest; Then on his feet his sandals fair he bound, And o’er his shoulders clasp’d a purple cloak, Doubled, with ample folds, and downy pile; Then took his spear, with point of sharpen’d brass, And through the camp prepar’d to take his way.

Gerenian Nestor from his slumbers first Ulysses, sage as Jove in council, rous’d, Loud shouting; soon the voice his senses reach’d; Forth from his tent he came, and thus he spoke: “What cause so urgent leads you, through the camp, In the dark night to wander thus alone?”

To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied:

“Ulysses sage, Laertes’ godlike son,

Be not offended; such the stress that now Weighs down our army; come thou then with us, And others let us call; with whom ‘tis meet That we should counsel take, to fight or fly.”

He said; Ulysses to the tent return’d; Then, his broad shield across his shoulders thrown, Came forth again, and with them took his way.

To Diomed, the son of Tydeus, next

They went; and him they found beside his arms, Without his tent; his comrades slept around, Their heads upon their bucklers laid; their spears Stood upright, on the butts; the burnish’d brass Like Heav’n’s own lightning, flashing far around.

Stretch’d on a wild bull’s hide the chief repos’d, A gay-wrought carpet roll’d beneath his head.

Gerenian Nestor close behind him stood, And touched him with his foot, and thus in tone Reproachful spoke: “Arouse thee, Tydeus’ son!

Why sleep’st thou thus all night? or know’st thou not That on the very margin of the plain,

And close beside the ships the Trojans lie, And little space between the camps is left?”

Quick rous’d from sleep, thus answer’d Diomed: “Beshrew thy heart, old man! no labour seems For thee too hard; are there not younger men To run about the camp, and summon all

The sev’ral chiefs? thou dost too much, old man.”

To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied:

“True, friend, and full of wisdom are thy words; Good sons indeed I have, and followers brave And many, who might well my message bear; But great is now the stress that lies on Greece; For on a razor’s edge is balanc’d now, To all the Greeks, the chance of life or death.

Do thou then go (for thou my younger art), And if thou pity me, thyself arouse

Ajax the swift, and Phyleus’ noble son.”

He said; the warrior round his shoulders threw, Down reaching to his feet, a lion’s hide, Tawny and dark; and took his pond’rous spear.

He went, arous’d, and with him brought the chiefs.

When to the guard they came, not sunk in sleep Found they the leaders; but on wakeful watch Intent, and all alert beside their arms.

As round a sheepfold keep their anxious watch The dogs, who in the neighbouring thicket hear Some beast, that, bold in search of prey, has come Down from the mountain; loud the clamours rise Of men and dogs; all sleep is banish’d thence; So from their eyes was banish’d sleep, who watch’d Through that disastrous night; still plainward turning At ev’ry movement in the Trojan camp.

The old man saw, well-pleas’d; and thus address’d With cheering words the captains of the guard: “Watch ever thus, good youths; nor be surpris’d By slumber, lest the foe a triumph gain.”

This said, he cross’d the ditch, and with him went The Grecian leaders, to the council call’d: With them, admitted to the conf’rence, went Meriones, and Nestor’s noble son.

The deep-dug ditch they cross’d, and sat them down Upon an open space, from corpses clear; Where Hector from the slaughter of the Greeks Turn’d back, when Ev’ning spread her veil around: There sat they down, and there the conf’rence held.

Gerenian Nestor first took up the word: “O friends! is any here with heart so bold Who dares, self-confident, the Trojan camp To enter? there some straggler he might take, Or in the camp itself some tidings gain, What are their secret counsels; if they mean Here by the ships to hold their ground, or back, Sated with vict’ry, to the town retire.

This could he learn, and hither scatheless bring His tidings, high as Heav’n in all men’s mouths Would be his praise, and ample his reward.

For ev’ry captain of a ship should give A coal-black ewe, and at her foot a lamb, A prize beyond compare; and high should be His place at banquets and at solemn feasts.”

He said; but all the chiefs in silence heard; Then rose the valiant Diomed, and said: “Nestor, that heart is mine; I dare alone Enter the hostile camp, so close at hand; Yet were one comrade giv’n me, I should go With more of comfort, more of confidence.

Where two combine, one before other sees The better course; and ev’n though one alone The readiest way discover, yet would be His judgment slower, his decision less.”

He said, and many chiefs to Diomed

Proffer’d companionship; stood forth at once, With him to penetrate the Trojan camp, The two Ajaces, ministers of Mars;

Stood forth Meriones, and eagerly

Stood