The Iliad Part 23

He said, and turn'd his brother's vengeful mind; He stoop'd to reason, and his rage resign'd, No longer bent to rush on certain harms; His joyful friends unbrace his azure arms.

He from whose lips divine persuasion flows, Grave Nestor, then, in graceful act arose; Thus to the kings he spoke: "What grief, what shame Attend on Greece, and all the Grecian name!

How shall, alas! her h.o.a.ry heroes mourn Their sons degenerate, and their race a scorn!

What tears shall down thy silvery beard be roll'd, O Peleus, old in arms, in wisdom old!

Once with what joy the generous prince would hear Of every chief who fought this glorious war, Partic.i.p.ate their fame, and pleased inquire Each name, each action, and each hero's sire!

G.o.ds! should he see our warriors trembling stand, And trembling all before one hostile hand; How would he lift his aged arms on high, Lament inglorious Greece, and beg to die!

Oh! would to all the immortal powers above, Minerva, Phoebus, and almighty Jove!

Years might again roll back, my youth renew, And give this arm the spring which once it knew When fierce in war, where Jardan's waters fall, I led my troops to Phea's trembling wall, And with the Arcadian spears my prowess tried, Where Celadon rolls down his rapid tide.(179) There Ereuthalion braved us in the field, Proud Areithous' dreadful arms to wield; Great Areithous, known from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e By the huge, knotted, iron mace he bore; No lance he shook, nor bent the tw.a.n.ging bow, But broke, with this, the battle of the foe.

Him not by manly force Lycurgus slew, Whose guileful javelin from the thicket flew, Deep in a winding way his breast a.s.sailed, Nor aught the warrior's thundering mace avail'd.

Supine he fell: those arms which Mars before Had given the vanquish'd, now the victor bore: But when old age had dimm'd Lycurgus' eyes, To Ereuthalion he consign'd the prize.

Furious with this he crush'd our levell'd bands, And dared the trial of the strongest hands; Nor could the strongest hands his fury stay: All saw, and fear'd, his huge tempestuous sway Till I, the youngest of the host, appear'd, And, youngest, met whom all our army fear'd.

I fought the chief: my arms Minerva crown'd: p.r.o.ne fell the giant o'er a length of ground.

What then I was, O were your Nestor now!

Not Hector's self should want an equal foe.

But, warriors, you that youthful vigour boast, The flower of Greece, the examples of our host, Sprung from such fathers, who such numbers sway, Can you stand trembling, and desert the day?"

His warm reproofs the listening kings inflame; And nine, the n.o.blest of the Grecian name, Up-started fierce: but far before the rest The king of men advanced his dauntless breast: Then bold Tydides, great in arms, appear'd; And next his bulk gigantic Ajax rear'd; Oileus follow'd; Idomen was there,(180) And Merion, dreadful as the G.o.d of war: With these Eurypylus and Thoas stand, And wise Ulysses closed the daring band.

All these, alike inspired with n.o.ble rage, Demand the fight. To whom the Pylian sage:

"Lest thirst of glory your brave souls divide, What chief shall combat, let the G.o.ds decide.

Whom heaven shall choose, be his the chance to raise His country's fame, his own immortal praise."

The lots produced, each hero signs his own: Then in the general's helm the fates are thrown,(181) The people pray, with lifted eyes and hands, And vows like these ascend from all the bands: "Grant, thou Almighty! in whose hand is fate, A worthy champion for the Grecian state: This task let Ajax or Tydides prove, Or he, the king of kings, beloved by Jove."

Old Nestor shook the casque. By heaven inspired, Leap'd forth the lot, of every Greek desired.

This from the right to left the herald bears, Held out in order to the Grecian peers; Each to his rival yields the mark unknown, Till G.o.dlike Ajax finds the lot his own; Surveys the inscription with rejoicing eyes, Then casts before him, and with transport cries:

"Warriors! I claim the lot, and arm with joy; Be mine the conquest of this chief of Troy.

Now while my brightest arms my limbs invest, To Saturn's son be all your vows address'd: But pray in secret, lest the foes should hear, And deem your prayers the mean effect of fear.

Said I in secret? No, your vows declare In such a voice as fills the earth and air, Lives there a chief whom Ajax ought to dread?

Ajax, in all the toils of battle bred!

From warlike Salamis I drew my birth, And, born to combats, fear no force on earth."

He said. The troops with elevated eyes, Implore the G.o.d whose thunder rends the skies: "O father of mankind, superior lord!

On lofty Ida's holy hill adored: Who in the highest heaven hast fix'd thy throne, Supreme of G.o.ds! unbounded and alone: Grant thou, that Telamon may bear away The praise and conquest of this doubtful day; Or, if ill.u.s.trious Hector be thy care, That both may claim it, and that both may share."

Now Ajax braced his dazzling armour on; Sheathed in bright steel the giant-warrior shone: He moves to combat with majestic pace; So stalks in arms the grisly G.o.d of Thrace,(182) When Jove to punish faithless men prepares, And gives whole nations to the waste of wars, Thus march'd the chief, tremendous as a G.o.d; Grimly he smiled; earth trembled as he strode:(183) His ma.s.sy javelin quivering in his hand, He stood, the bulwark of the Grecian band.

Through every Argive heart new transport ran; All Troy stood trembling at the mighty man: Even Hector paused; and with new doubt oppress'd, Felt his great heart suspended in his breast: 'Twas vain to seek retreat, and vain to fear; Himself had challenged, and the foe drew near.

Stern Telamon behind his ample s.h.i.+eld, As from a brazen tower, o'erlook'd the field.

Huge was its...o...b.. with seven thick folds o'ercast, Of tough bull-hides; of solid bra.s.s the last, (The work of Tychius, who in Hyle dwell'd And in all arts of armoury excell'd,) This Ajax bore before his manly breast, And, threatening, thus his adverse chief address'd:

"Hector! approach my arm, and singly know What strength thou hast, and what the Grecian foe.

Achilles shuns the fight; yet some there are, Not void of soul, and not unskill'd in war: Let him, unactive on the sea-beat sh.o.r.e, Indulge his wrath, and aid our arms no more; Whole troops of heroes Greece has yet to boast, And sends thee one, a sample of her host, Such as I am, I come to prove thy might; No more--be sudden, and begin the fight."

"O son of Telamon, thy country's pride!

(To Ajax thus the Trojan prince replied) Me, as a boy, or woman, wouldst thou fright, New to the field, and trembling at the fight?

Thou meet'st a chief deserving of thy arms, To combat born, and bred amidst alarms: I know to s.h.i.+ft my ground, remount the car, Turn, charge, and answer every call of war; To right, to left, the dexterous lance I wield, And bear thick battle on my sounding s.h.i.+eld But open be our fight, and bold each blow; I steal no conquest from a n.o.ble foe."

He said, and rising, high above the field Whirl'd the long lance against the sevenfold s.h.i.+eld.

Full on the bra.s.s descending from above Through six bull-hides the furious weapon drove, Till in the seventh it fix'd. Then Ajax threw; Through Hector's s.h.i.+eld the forceful javelin flew, His corslet enters, and his garment rends, And glancing downwards, near his flank descends.

The wary Trojan shrinks, and bending low Beneath his buckler, disappoints the blow.

From their bored s.h.i.+elds the chiefs their javelins drew, Then close impetuous, and the charge renew; Fierce as the mountain-lions bathed in blood, Or foaming boars, the terror of the wood.

At Ajax, Hector his long lance extends; The blunted point against the buckler bends; But Ajax, watchful as his foe drew near, Drove through the Trojan targe the knotty spear; It reach'd his neck, with matchless strength impell'd!

Spouts the black gore, and dims his s.h.i.+ning s.h.i.+eld.

Yet ceased not Hector thus; but stooping down, In his strong hand up-heaved a flinty stone, Black, craggy, vast: to this his force he bends; Full on the brazen boss the stone descends; The hollow bra.s.s resounded with the shock: Then Ajax seized the fragment of a rock, Applied each nerve, and swinging round on high, With force tempestuous, let the ruin fly; The huge stone thundering through his buckler broke: His slacken'd knees received the numbing stroke; Great Hector falls extended on the field, His bulk supporting on the shatter'd s.h.i.+eld: Nor wanted heavenly aid: Apollo's might Confirm'd his sinews, and restored to fight.

And now both heroes their broad falchions drew In flaming circles round their heads they flew; But then by heralds' voice the word was given.

The sacred ministers of earth and heaven: Divine Talthybius, whom the Greeks employ.

And sage Idaeus on the part of Troy, Between the swords their peaceful sceptres rear'd; And first Idaeus' awful voice was heard:

[Ill.u.s.tration: HECTOR AND AJAX SEPARATED BY THE HERALDS.]

HECTOR AND AJAX SEPARATED BY THE HERALDS.

"Forbear, my sons! your further force to prove, Both dear to men, and both beloved of Jove.

To either host your matchless worth is known, Each sounds your praise, and war is all your own.

But now the Night extends her awful shade; The G.o.ddess parts you; be the night obey'd."(184)

To whom great Ajax his high soul express'd: "O sage! to Hector be these words address'd.

Let him, who first provoked our chiefs to fight, Let him demand the sanction of the night; If first he ask'd it, I content obey, And cease the strife when Hector shows the way."

"O first of Greeks! (his n.o.ble foe rejoin'd) Whom heaven adorns, superior to thy kind, With strength of body, and with worth of mind!

Now martial law commands us to forbear; Hereafter we shall meet in glorious war, Some future day shall lengthen out the strife, And let the G.o.ds decide of death or life!

Since, then, the night extends her gloomy shade, And heaven enjoins it, be the night obey'd.

Return, brave Ajax, to thy Grecian friends, And joy the nations whom thy arm defends; As I shall glad each chief, and Trojan wife, Who wearies heaven with vows for Hector's life.

But let us, on this memorable day, Exchange some gift: that Greece and Troy may say, 'Not hate, but glory, made these chiefs contend; And each brave foe was in his soul a friend.'"

With that, a sword with stars of silver graced, The baldric studded, and the sheath enchased, He gave the Greek. The generous Greek bestow'd A radiant belt that rich with purple glow'd.

Then with majestic grace they quit the plain; This seeks the Grecian, that the Phrygian train.

The Trojan bands returning Hector wait, And hail with joy the Champion of their state; Escaped great Ajax, they survey him round, Alive, unarm'd, and vigorous from his wound; To Troy's high gates the G.o.dlike man they bear Their present triumph, as their late despair.

But Ajax, glorying in his hardy deed, The well-arm'd Greeks to Agamemnon lead.

A steer for sacrifice the king design'd, Of full five years, and of the n.o.bler kind.

The victim falls; they strip the smoking hide, The beast they quarter, and the joints divide; Then spread the tables, the repast prepare, Each takes his seat, and each receives his share.

The king himself (an honorary sign) Before great Ajax placed the mighty chine.(185) When now the rage of hunger was removed, Nestor, in each persuasive art approved, The sage whose counsels long had sway'd the rest, In words like these his prudent thought express'd:

"How dear, O kings! this fatal day has cost, What Greeks are perish'd! what a people lost!

What tides of blood have drench'd Scamander's sh.o.r.e!

What crowds of heroes sunk to rise no more!

Then hear me, chief! nor let the morrow's light Awake thy squadrons to new toils of fight: Some s.p.a.ce at least permit the war to breathe, While we to flames our slaughter'd friends bequeath, From the red field their scatter'd bodies bear, And nigh the fleet a funeral structure rear; So decent urns their snowy bones may keep, And pious children o'er their ashes weep.

Here, where on one promiscuous pile they blazed, High o'er them all a general tomb be raised; Next, to secure our camp and naval powers, Raise an embattled wall, with lofty towers; From s.p.a.ce to s.p.a.ce be ample gates around, For pa.s.sing chariots; and a trench profound.

So Greece to combat shall in safety go, Nor fear the fierce incursions of the foe."

'Twas thus the sage his wholesome counsel moved; The sceptred kings of Greece his words approved.

Meanwhile, convened at Priam's palace-gate, The Trojan peers in nightly council sate; A senate void of order, as of choice: Their hearts were fearful, and confused their voice.

Antenor, rising, thus demands their ear: "Ye Trojans, Dardans, and auxiliars, hear!

'Tis heaven the counsel of my breast inspires, And I but move what every G.o.d requires: Let Sparta's treasures be this hour restored, And Argive Helen own her ancient lord.

The ties of faith, the sworn alliance, broke, Our impious battles the just G.o.ds provoke.