The Iliad of Homer Part 21

??e?????? ed???sa. Like ???a? ???????, in ver. 141, it is an expression denoting excessive fertility.]

[Footnote 320: So Xenoph. de Venat. -- 1. ???e?? d' ?? ????

?p??a?????? t?? ?e??. See an excellent sketch of the story in Grote, vol. i. p. 195, sqq. Cf. Hygin. Fab. clxxii.; Lactant.

Arg. fab. Ovid. viii. 4; Antonin. Lib. Met. -- 2.]

[Footnote 321: _I. e._ the boar.]

[Footnote 322: On the legend of this war, see Apollodor. i. 8, 2; Callimach. Ib. Dian. 216; Ovid, Met. viii. 260. A catalogue of the heroes who accompanied Meleager is given by Hyginus, Fab.

clxxiii.]

[Footnote 323: See Antonin. Liberal. Met. -- 2. who follows Homer rather closely.]

[Footnote 324: Literally, "digesting."]

[Footnote 325: See n. 2, p. 41, and on the death of Meleager, by his mother burning a fatal brand, Apollodor. i. c.; Zen.o.bius Cent. Adag. v. 33; Anton. Lib. Met. -- 2.]

[Footnote 326: _I. e._ the Calydonians.]

[Footnote 327: This catalogue of the horrors of war seems to have been in the minds of Sall.u.s.t, Cat. -- 51, and Cicero, Or. iv. in Catil.]

[Footnote 328: Rudolf on Ocellus Lucan. p. 266, well observes, "Antiquissimis temporibus, quorum repetere memoriam possumus, da??? nihil aliud erat, quam deus. Horn. Od. ?, 165, 160; Il. ?, 420; II. ?, 791. Neque in eo vocabuli discrimen est, si aut prosunt hominibus, aut iis nocent; utroque enim modo da???e?

dic.u.n.tur." Kennedy and some of the translators have erred on this point.]

[Footnote 329: _I. e._ ?a?' ??s?. See Heyne.]

He said, and in silence nodded to Patroclus from beneath his brows, that he should strew a thick bed for Phnix, whilst they were meditating to withdraw as quickly as possible from the tent. But them G.o.dlike Telamonian Ajax addressed:

"O Jove-born son of Laertes, crafty Ulysses, let us go, for the object of our address appears not to me to be attainable, in this way at least, and we must report the message to the Greeks with all haste, although it be not good. They now sit expecting us; but Achilles stores up within his breast a fierce and haughty soul, unyielding; nor does he regard the friends.h.i.+p of his companions, with which we have honoured him at the s.h.i.+ps beyond others. Merciless one! and truly some one hath accepted compensation even for a brother's death, or his own son slain, whilst [the murderer] remains at home among his people, having paid many expiations: and the mind and n.o.ble soul of the other is appeased upon his having received compensation. But in thy breast the G.o.ds have put an unyielding and evil mind, for the sake of a maid only; whereas we now offer thee seven far excelling, and many other gifts beside them. Do thou then a.s.sume a propitious disposition; and have respect to thy house, for we are guests beneath thy roof from the mult.i.tude of the Greeks, and desire to be most dear and friendly to thee beyond all the Achaeans, as many as they are."

But him swift-footed Achilles, answering, addressed: "Most n.o.ble Ajax, son of Telamon, chief of the people, thou appearest to me to have said all this from thy soul, yet does my heart swell with indignation as often as I recollect those things, how the son of Atreus hath rendered me dishonoured among the Greeks, as if it were some contemptible stranger. But go ye, and carry back my message, for I shall not think of b.l.o.o.d.y war, before the son of warlike Priam, n.o.ble Hector, slaughtering the Greeks, shall reach the s.h.i.+ps of the Myrmidons, and burn the s.h.i.+ps with fire. But about my tent and black s.h.i.+p, however, I think that Hector, although eager, will desist from combat."

Thus he spake; but they, each having seized a double goblet, having made libations, went back by the side of the fleet, and Ulysses led the way.

But Patroclus gave orders to his companions and female domestics to strew, with all haste, a thick couch for Phnix; and they, obedient, spread a bed as he desired,--sheep-skins, coverlets, and the fine fabric of flax: there lay the old man, and awaited heavenly Morn. But Achilles slept in the recess of his well-made tent; and beside him lay a lady, fair-cheeked Diomede, daughter of Phorbas, whom he had brought from Lesbos. And Patroclus on the other side reclined: and by him also lay fair-waisted Iphis, whom n.o.ble Achilles gave him, having taken lofty Scyros, a city of Enyeus.

But when they were within the tents of Atrides, the sons of the Greeks, rising one after another, received them with golden cups, and interrogated thus. And first the king of men, Agamemnon, inquired:

"Come, tell me, O Ulysses, much praised, great glory of the Greeks, whether does he wish to ward off the hostile fire from the s.h.i.+ps, or has he refused, and does wrath still posses his haughty soul?"

But him much-enduring, n.o.ble Ulysses then addressed: "Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, he wills not to extinguish his wrath, but is the more filled with anger, and despises thee as well as thy gifts. He bids thee thyself consult with the Greeks, in what manner thou mayest preserve both the s.h.i.+ps and the army of the Greeks, but has himself threatened, that with the rising dawn he will launch into the main his well-benched, equally-plied vessels. And he has declared that he would advise others also to sail home, since ye will not now effect the destruction of lofty Ilium; for far-resounding Jove hath greatly stretched forth his hand [over it], and the people have taken courage.

Thus he spoke; and here are these who followed me, Ajax, and the two heralds, both prudent men, to tell these things. But aged Phnix hath lain down there, for thus he ordered, that in the morning, if he chose, he might follow him in the s.h.i.+ps to his dear father-land; but he will by no means carry him off against his will."

Thus he spake; and they all became mute in silence, marvelling at his speech, for he harangued with great vehemence. Long were the sorrowing sons of the Greeks mute, till at length Diomede, valiant in the din of battle, addressed them:

"Most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, would that thou hadst not supplicated the ill.u.s.trious son of Peleus, offering countless gifts, for he is haughty even otherwise:[330] now again hast thou excited him much more to insolence. Let us, however, leave him alone, whether he go or remain, for he will fight again at that time when his mind within his breast urges, and the Deity incites him. But come, let us all obey as I shall advise: go now to rest, having satisfied your hearts with food and wine, for this is force and vigour. But when fair rosy-fingered morn has shone forth, draw up the infantry and cavalry with all haste before the s.h.i.+ps, cheering them: and do thou thyself likewise fight in the foremost ranks."

Thus he spake, but all the kings approved, admiring the speech of Diomede, the breaker of steeds. Having then offered libations, they departed each to his tent; there they lay do to to rest, and enjoyed the boon of sleep.[331]

[Footnote 330: I am indebted to Milton.]

[Footnote 331: Id.]

BOOK THE TENTH.

ARGUMENT.

Diomede and Ulysses, as spies, penetrate the camp of the Trojans by night, and first entrap and slay Dolon, who had set out on the same errand for the Trojans. Having obtained from him the desired information, they then attack the Thracians, and slay their king, Rhesus, while asleep. At the suggestion of Minerva, they then return to the camp.

The other chiefs, indeed, of all the Greeks were sleeping the whole night at the s.h.i.+ps, overcome by soft slumber; but sweet sleep possessed not Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, shepherd of the people, revolving many things in his mind. As when the husband of fair-haired Juno thunders, preparing either an abundant, immense shower, or hail or snow, when the snow whitens the fields; or somewhere [preparing] the wide mouth[332] of bitter war; so frequently groaned Agamemnon in his breast from the bottom of his heart, and his mind was troubled within him. As often indeed as he looked towards the Trojan plain, he wondered at the many fires which were burning before Ilium, the sound of flutes and pipes, and the tumult of men. But when he looked towards the s.h.i.+ps and army of the Greeks, he tore up many hairs from his head by the roots,[333]

[enraged at] Jove who dwells aloft, and deeply he groaned in his n.o.ble heart. But this plan appeared best to him in his judgment; to repair first to Neleian Nestor, [and see] whether with him he might contrive some blameless counsel, which might be an averter of evil. Rising, therefore, he wrapped his coat around his breast, and beneath his smooth feet bound the beautiful sandals; next he threw around him the blood-stained skin of a huge, tawny[334] lion, stretching to his ankles, and grasped his spear. In like manner, a tremor possessed Menelaus, for neither did sleep rest upon his eyelids, [through fear] lest the Greeks should suffer aught, who on his account had come over the wide sea to Troy, waging daring war. First with a spotted leopard's skin he covered his broad back; and next, lifting his brazen helmet, placed it upon his head, and grasped a spear in his stout hand. But he went to awaken his brother, who had the chief command of all the Greeks, and was honoured by the people like a G.o.d. Him he found by the prow of his s.h.i.+p, putting his bright armour around his shoulders; and arriving, he was welcome to him. Him first Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, addressed: "Why arm thus, my respected brother? Or whom dost thou urge of thy companions to go as a spy amongst the Trojans? In truth I very much fear that no one will undertake this deed, going alone through the dead of night to reconnoitre the enemy. Any one [who does so] will be bold-hearted indeed."

[Footnote 332: Cicero pro Arch. -- 5, "Totius belli ore ac faucibus."]

[Footnote 333: Or "one after another." Schol.: ?p' ????????, ?

p?????????. See Merrick on Tryphiodor. 388; Alberti on Hesych. t.

ii. p. 1029.]

[Footnote 334: Or, "active, raging." The other interpretation is, however, favoured by Virg. aen. ii. 721: "Fulvique insternor pelle leonis."]

But him king Agamemnon, answering, addressed: "O Jove-nurtured Menelaus, need of prudent counsel [comes upon] both thee and me, which will protect and preserve the Greeks and their s.h.i.+ps, since the mind of Jove is altered. Surely he has rather given his attention to the Hectorean sacrifices; for never have I beheld, nor heard a person who related, that one man has devised so many arduous deeds in one day as Hector, dear to Jove, hath performed upon the sons of the Greeks in such a manner, [although] the dear child neither of a G.o.ddess nor of a G.o.d. But such deeds hath he done as I conceive will long and for many a day be a cause of care to the Greeks; so many evils hath he wrought against the Greeks. But go now, call Ajax and Idomeneus, running quickly to their s.h.i.+ps, but I will go to n.o.ble Nestor, and exhort him to arise, if he be willing to go to the sacred company[335] of guards and give orders; for to him will they most attentively listen, because his son commands the guards, along with Meriones, the armour-bearer of Idomeneus; for to them we intrusted the chief charge."

[Footnote 335: Some picked troop chosen for the especial purpose of keeping watch. Heyne compares S, 504: ?e??? ??????; O, 681: ?a??? ?e???? p??a?????. Compare, also, the ?e??? ????? of the Thebans, Plutarch, in Pelop. t. i. p. 285; E. Athen. xiii. p.

561.]

But him Menelaus, valiant in the din of war, then answered: "In what manner dost thou command and exhort me in thy speech? Shall I remain there with them, waiting till thou come, or shall I run back again to thee, after I have duly given them orders?"

But him, in turn, Agamemnon, king of men, addressed: "Wait there, lest, as we come, we miss[336] one another; for there are many ways through the camp. But shout aloud whithersoever thou goest, and enjoin them to be watchful, accosting each man by a name from his paternal race,[337]

honourably addressing all; nor be thou haughty in thy mind. Nay, let even us ourselves labour, whatever be our station, so heavy a calamity hath Jove laid upon us at our birth."

Thus saying, he dismissed his brother, having duly charged him. But he hastened to go to Nestor, the shepherd of the people. Him he found on his soft couch beside his tent and black s.h.i.+p, and by him lay his variegated arms, a s.h.i.+eld, two spears, and a glittering helmet: beside him also lay a flexible belt, with which the old man girded himself, when he was arming for man-destroying war, leading on his people; since he by no means yielded to sad old age. Being supported on his elbow,[338] and lifting up his head, he addressed the son of Atreus, and questioned him in [these] words:

[Footnote 336: b.u.t.tmann, Lexil. p. 85, comes to the conclusion that "we must include ????t??e?? among the forms of ?a?t???, whose etymological connections, as long as we are ignorant of them, we can easily do without."]

[Footnote 337: Instances of this complimentary style of address occur in ver. 144. ????e??? ?ae?t??d?. 86: ??st?? ??????d?.]

[Footnote 338: Cf. Propert. 1. 3, 34. "Sic ait in molli fixa toro cubitum."]

"Who art thou who comest thus alone by the s.h.i.+ps, along the army, during the gloomy night, when other mortals are asleep? Whether seeking any of the guards, or any of thy companions? Speak, nor approach me in silence; of what is there need to thee?"

But him Agamemnon, king of men, then answered: "O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Greeks, thou wilt recognize Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, whom beyond all Jove hath plunged into toils continually, whilst breath remains in my breast, or my knees have the power of motion. I wander[339] thus, because sweet sleep sits not on mine eyes, but war and the calamities of the Greeks are my care. For I greatly fear for the Greeks, neither is my heart firm, but I am confounded.[340] My heart leaps without my breast, and my fair limbs tremble beneath. But if thou canst do aught (since neither doth sleep come upon thee), come, let us go down to the guards, that we may see whether, worn out by toil and [overpowered][341] by sleep, they slumber, and are altogether forgetful of the watch. And hostile men are encamped near, nor do we at all know but that they perhaps meditate in their minds to engage even during the night." [342]

But him Nestor, the Gerenian knight, then answered: "Agamemnon, most glorious son of Atreus, king of men, a.s.suredly provident Jove will not accomplish to Hector all those devices, which now, perhaps, he expects; but I think that he will labour under even more cares if Achilles shall but turn away his heart from heavy wrath. Yet will I willingly follow thee; and let us moreover incite others, both spear-renowned Diomede, and Ulysses, swift Ajax, and the valiant son of Phyleus. But if any one going, would call G.o.dlike Ajax, and king Idomeneus; for their s.h.i.+ps are the farthest off,[343] and by no means near at hand. But I will chide Menelaus, dear and respected though he be, nor will I conceal, even if thou shouldst be displeased with me, since thus he sleeps, and has permitted thee alone to labour. For now ought he to labour, supplicating among all the chiefs, for a necessity, no longer tolerable, invades us."

[Footnote 339: aesch. Ag. 12: ??t' ?? d? ???t?p?a??t?? ??d??s?? t'

??? ????? ??e????? ??? ?p?s??p?????? ???, ????? ??? ???' ?p???

pa?astate?.]