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

Exhort the Greeks the struggle to maintain; While I go yonder, to affront the war, To aid their need, and back return in haste.”

Thus saying, Ajax Telamon set forth,

And with him Teucer went, his father’s son, While by Pandion Teucer’s bow was borne.

At brave Menestheus’ tow’r, within the wall, Arriv’d, sore press’d they found the garrison; For like a whirlwind on the ramparts pour’d The Lycians’ valiant councillors and chiefs.

They quickly join’d the fray, and loud arose The battle-cry; first Ajax Telamon

Sarpedon’s comrade, brave Epicles, slew, Struck by a rugged stone, within the wall Which lay, the topmost of the parapet, Of size prodigious; which with both his hands A man in youth’s full vigour scarce could raise, As men are now; he lifted it on high,

And downward hurl’d; the four-peak’d helm it broke, Crushing the bone, and shatt’ring all the skull; He, like a diver, from the lofty tow’r Fell headlong down, and life forsook his bones, Teucer, meanwhile, from off the lofty wall The valiant Glaucus, pressing to the fight, Struck with an arrow, where he saw his arm Unguarded; he no longer brook’d the fray; Back from the wall he sprang, in hopes to hide From Grecian eyes his wound, that none might see, And triumph o’er him with insulting words.

With grief Sarpedon saw his friend withdraw, Yet not relax’d his efforts; Thestor’s son, Alcmaon, with his spear he stabb’d, and back The weapon drew; he, following, prostrate fell, And loudly rang his arms of polish’d brass.

Then at the parapet, with stalwart hand, Sarpedon tugg’d; and yielding to his force Down fell the block entire; the wall laid bare, To many at once the breach gave open way.

Ajax and Teucer him at once assail’d;

This with an arrow struck the glitt’ring belt Around his breast, whence hung his pond’rous shield; But Jove, who will’d not that his son should fall Before the ships, the weapon turn’d aside.

Then forward Ajax sprang, and with his spear Thrust at the shield; the weapon pass’d not through, Yet check’d his bold advance; a little space Back he recoil’d, but not the more withdrew, His soul on glory intent; and rallying quick, Thus to the warlike Lycians shouted loud: “Why, Lycians, thus your wonted might relax?

‘Tis hard for one alone, how brave soe’er, E’en though he break the rampart down, to force A passage to the ships; but on with me!

For work is here for many hands to do.”

He said; and by the King’s rebuke abash’d, With fiercer zeal the Lycians press’d around Their King and councillor; on th’ other side Within the wall the Greeks their squadrons mass’d; Then were great deeds achiev’d; nor thro’ the breach Could the brave troops of Lycia to the ships Their passage force; nor could the warrior Greeks Repel the Lycians from the ground, where they, Before the wall, had made their footing good.

As when two neighbours, in a common field, Each line in hand, within a narrow space, About the limits of their land contend; Between them thus the rampart drew the line; O’er which the full-orb’d shields of tough bull’s-hide, And lighter bucklers on the warriors’ breasts On either side they clove; and many a wound The pitiless weapons dealt, on some who, turn’d, Their neck and back laid bare; on many more, Who full in front, and through their shields were struck.

On ev’ry side the parapet and tow’rs

With Greek and Trojan blood were spatter’d o’er.

Nor yet, e’en so, the Greeks to flight were driv’n; But as a woman that for wages spins,

Honest and true, with wool and weights in hand, In even balance holds the scales, to mete Her humble hire, her children’s maintenance; So even hung the balance of the war,

Till Jove with highest honour Hector crown’d, The son of Priam; he, the foremost, scal’d The wall, and loudly on the Trojans call’d: “On, valiant Trojans, on! the Grecian wall Break down, and wrap their ships in blazing fires.”

Thus he, exhorting, spoke; they heard him all, And to the wall rush’d numberless, and swarm’d Upon the ramparts, bristling thick with spears.

Then Hector, stooping, seiz’d a pond’rous stone That lay before the gates; ‘twas broad below, But sharp above; and scarce two lab’ring men, The strongest, from the ground could raise it up, And load upon a wain; as men are now;

But he unaided lifted it with ease,

So light it seem’d, by grace of Saturn’s son.

As in one hand a shepherd bears with ease A full-siz’d fleece, and scarcely feels the weight; So Hector tow’rd the portals bore the stone, Which clos’d the lofty double-folding gates, Within defended by two massive bars

Laid crosswise, and with one cross bolt secur’d.

Close to the gate he stood; and planting firm His foot, to give his arm its utmost pow’r, Full on the middle dash’d the mighty mass.

The hinges both gave way; the pond’rous stone Fell inwards; widely gap’d the op’ning gates; Nor might the bars within the blow sustain: This way and that the sever’d portals flew Before the crashing missile; dark as night His low’ring brow, great Hector sprang within; Bright flash’d the brazen armour on his breast, As through the gates, two jav’lins in his hand, He sprang; the Gods except, no pow’r might meet That onset; blaz’d his eyes with lurid fire.

Then to the Trojans, turning to the throng, He call’d aloud to scale the lofty wall; They heard, and straight obey’d; some scal’d the wall: Some through the strong-built gates continuous pour’d; While in confusion irretrievable

Fled to their ships the panic-stricken Greeks.

END OF VOLUME I.

VOLUME II.

ARGUMENT.

THE FOURTH BATTLE CONTINUED, IN WHICH NEPTUNE ASSISTS THE GREEKS. THE

ACTS OF IDOMENEUS.

Neptune, concerned for the loss of the Grecians, upon seeing the fortification forced by Hector (who had entered the gate near the station of the Ajaces), assumes the shape of Calchas, and inspires those heroes to oppose him; then, in the form of one of the generals, encourages the other Greeks who had retired to their vessels. The Ajaces form their troops into a close phalanx, and put a stop to Hector and the Trojans. Several deeds of valour are performed; Meriones, losing his spear in the encounter, repairs to seek another at the tent of Idomeneus; this occasions a conversation between these two warriors, who return together to the battle. Idomeneus signalizes his courage above the rest; he kills Othryoneus, Asius, and Alcathous; Deiphobus and AEneas march against him, and at length Idomeneus retires. Menelaus wounds Helenus and kills Peisander. The Trojans are repulsed in the left wing. Hector still keeps his ground against the Ajaces, till, being galled by the Locrian slingers and archers, Polydamas advises to call a council of war: Hector approves his advice, but goes first to rally the Trojans; upbraids Paris, rejoins Polydamas, meets Ajax again, and renews the attack.

The eight-and-twentieth day still continues. The scene is between the Grecian wall and the seashore.

BOOK XIII.

When Jove had Hector and the Trojans brought Close to the ships, he left them there to toil And strife continuous; turning his keen glance To view far off th’ equestrian tribes of Thrace, The warlike Mysians, and the men who feed On milk of mares, thence Hippemolgi term’d; A peaceful race, the justest of mankind.

On Troy he turn’d not once his piercing glance; Nor deem’d he any God would dare to give To Trojans or to Greeks his active aid.

No careless watch the monarch Neptune kept: Wond’ring, he view’d the battle, where he sat Aloft on wooded Samos’ topmost peak,

Samos of Thrace; whence Ida’s heights he saw, And Priam’s city, and the ships of Greece.

Thither ascended from the sea, he sat; And thence the Greeks, by Trojans overborne, Pitying he saw, and deeply wroth with Jove.

Then down the mountain’s craggy side he pass’d With rapid step; and as he mov’d along, Beneath th’ immortal feet of Ocean’s Lord Quak’d the huge mountain and the shadowy wood.

Three strides he took; the fourth, he reach’d his goal, AEgae; where on the margin of the bay

His temple stood, all glitt’ring, all of gold, Imperishable; there arriv’d, he yok’d

Beneath his car the brazen-footed steeds, Of swiftest flight, with manes of flowing gold.

All clad in gold, the golden lash he grasp’d Of curious work, and mounting on his car, Skimm’d o’er the waves; from all the depths below Gamboll’d around the monsters of the deep, Acknowledging their King; the joyous sea Parted her waves; swift flew the bounding steeds, Nor was the brazen axle wet with spray, When to the ships of Greece their Lord they bore.

Down in the deep recesses of the sea

A spacious cave there is, which lies midway ‘Twixt Tenedos and Imbros’ rocky isle: Th’ Earth-shaking Neptune there his coursers stay’d, Loos’d from the chariot, and before them plac’d Ambrosial provender; and round their feet Shackles of gold, which none might break nor loose, That there they might await their Lord’s return; Then to the Grecian army took his way.

Meantime, by Hector, son of Priam, led, Like fire, or whirlwind, press’d the Trojans on, With furious zeal, and shouts and clamour hoarse; In hopes to take the ships, and all the chiefs To slay beside them; but from Ocean’s depths Uprose th’ Earth-shaker, Circler of the Earth, To Calchas’ likeness and deep voice conform’d, And rous’d the fainting Greeks; th’ Ajaces first, Themselves with ardour fill’d, he thus address’d: “‘Tis yours, Ajaces, fill’d with courage high, Discarding chilly fear, to save the Greeks: Elsewhere I dread not much the Trojan force, Though they in crowds have scal’d the lofty wall; The well-greav’d Greeks their onset may defy.

Yet greatly fear I lest we suffer loss, Where that fierce, fiery madman, Hector, leads.

Who boasts himself the son of Jove most high.

But may some God your hearts inspire, yourselves Firmly to stand, and cheer your comrades on; So from your swiftly-sailing ships ye yet May drive the foe, how bold soe’er he be, Though by Olympian Jove himself upheld.”

So spake th’ Earth-shaker, Circler of the Earth, And with his sceptre touching both the chiefs, Fill’d them with strength and courage, and their limbs, Their feet and hands, with active vigour strung; Then like a swift-wing’d falcon sprang to flight, Which down the sheer face of some lofty rock Swoops on the plain to seize his feather’d prey: So swiftly Neptune left the chiefs; him first Departing, knew Oileus’ active son,

And thus the son of Telamon address’d: “Ajax, since some one of th’ Olympian Gods, In likeness of a seer, hath hither come To urge us to the war (no Calchas he,

Our augur Heav’n-inspir’d; for well I mark’d His movements, as he went; and of a God ‘Tis easy to discern the outward signs), I feel fresh spirit kindled in my breast, And new-born vigour in my feet and hands.”

Whom answer’d thus the son of Telamon: “My hands too grasp with firmer hold the spear, My spirit like thine is stirr’d; I feel my feet Instinct with fiery life; nor should I fear With Hector, son of Priam, in his might Alone to meet, and grapple to the death.”

Such was their mutual converse, as they joy’d In the fierce transport by the God inspir’d.

Neptune, meanwhile, the other Greeks arous’d, Who, to the ships withdrawn, their wasted strength Recruited; for their limbs were faint with toil, And grief was in their hearts, as they beheld The Trojan hosts that scal’d the lofty wall; They saw, and from their eyes the teardrops fell, Of safety desp’rate; but th’ Earth-shaking God Amid their ranks appearing, soon restor’d Their firm array; to Teucer first he