s: For their old lord, and yearning for the new.


s: Then from the surge of heavy-plunging seas


s: Rose the Earth-shaker.  No man saw his feet


s: Pace up the strand, but suddenly he stood


s: To Thetis, yet for Achilles bowed with grief:


s: "Refrain from endless mourning for thy son.


s: Not with the dead shall he abide, but dwell


s: With Gods, as doth the might of Herakles,


s: Dread doom shall prison in darkness evermore,


s: Nor Hades keep him.  To the light of Zeus


s: Soon shall he rise; and I will give to him


s: A God thy son shall be.  The tribes that dwell


s: Around shall as mine own self honour him


s: With incense and with steam of sacrifice.


s: Hush thy laments, vex not thine heart with grief."


s: Then like a wind-breath had he passed away


s: Revived the spirit of Thetis: and the God


s: Brought this to pass thereafter.  All the host


s: Moved moaning thence, and came unto the ships


s: That brought them o'er from Hellas.  Then returned


s: Wailing the dear dead, Nereus' Daughters sank,


s: How in the Funeral Games of Achilles heroes contended.


s: Nor did the hapless Trojans leave unwept


s: But laid, in front of the Dardanian gate,


s: Upon the pyre that captain war-renowned.


s: Out of the blazing fire, and to the winds


s: And fast and far they bare him, 'neath the glens


s: Upheaved a granite rock. The Nymphs therefrom


s: Made gush the hallowed water of a stream


s: For ever flowing, which the tribes of men


s: Still call fair-fleeting Glaucus. This the gods


s: Wrought for an honour to the Lycian king.


s: But for Achilles still the Argives mourned


s: Beside the swift ships: heart-sick were they all


s: With dolorous pain and grief.  Each yearned for him


s: Was tearless.  But the Trojans with great joy


s: And the great fire that spake their foe consumed.


s: And thus a vaunting voice amidst them cried:


s: "Now hath Cronion from his heaven vouchsafed


s: Now he is smitten down, the glorious hosts


s: Of Troy, I trow, shall win a breathing-space


s: From blood of death and from the murderous fray.


s: Ever his heart devised the Trojans' bane;


s: In his hands maddened aye the spear of doom


s: With gore besprent, and none of us that faced


s: Shall flee unto their galleys shapely-prowed,


s: Since slain Achilles lies.  Ah that the might


s: Of Hector still were here, that he might slay


s: The Argives one and all amidst their tents!"


s: But one more wise and prudent answered him:


s: "Thou deemest that yon murderous Danaan host


s: Will straightway get them to the ships, to flee


s: Over the misty sea.  Nay, still their lust


s: Is hot for fight: us will they nowise fear,


s: Still are there left strong battle-eager men,


s: Though dead Achilles be, I still fear these.


s: Oh that Apollo Silverbow would end them!


s: Then in that day were given to our prayers


s: A breathing-space from war and ghastly death."


s: In heaven was dole among the Immortal Ones,


s: Even all that helped the stalwart Danaans' cause.


s: In clouds like mountains piled they veiled their heads


s: For grief of soul.  But glad those others were


s: Who fain would speed Troy to a happy goal.


s: "Zeus, Lightning-father, wherefore helpest thou


s: Troy, all forgetful of the fair-haired bride


s: Whom once to Peleus thou didst give to wife


s: Midst Pelion's glens?  Thyself didst bring to pass


s: Those spousals of a Goddess: on that day


s: All we Immortals feasted there, and gave


s: Gifts passing-fair.  All this dost thou forget,


s: And hast devised for Hellas heaviest woe."


s: So spake she; but Zeus answered not a word;


s: For pondering there he sat with burdened breast,


s: Thinking how soon the Argives should destroy


s: In war and on the great sea thunder-voiced.


s: Such thoughts were his, ere long to be fulfilled.


s: Now sank the sun to Ocean's fathomless flood:


s: O'er the dim land the infinite darkness stole,


s: Wherein men gain a little rest from toil.


s: Then by the ships, despite their sorrow, supped


s: Hunger's importunate craving, when it comes


s: Upon the breast, but straightway heavy and faint


s: Therefore these ate the meat of eventide


s: Constrained them all.  And, when they had broken bread,


s: Sweet sleep came on them, loosening from their frames


s: Care's heavy chain, and quickening strength anew


s: But when the starry Bears had eastward turned


s: Their heads, expectant of the uprushing light


s: Of Helios, and when woke the Queen of Dawn,


s: Then rose from sleep the stalwart Argive men


s: Purposing for the Trojans death and doom.


s: Stirred were they like the roughly-ridging sea


s: In harvest field, what time the rushing wings


s: Of the cloud-gathering West sweep over it;


s: So upon Hellespont's strand the folk were stirred.


s: And to those eager hearts cried Tydeus' son:


s: "If we be battle-biders, friends, indeed,


s: More fiercely fight we now the hated foe,


s: Lest they take heart because Achilles lives


s: No longer.  Come, with armour, car, and steed


s: Let us beset them.  Glory waits our toil?"


s: "Brave be thy words, and nowise idle talk,


s: Kindling the dauntless Argive men, whose hearts


s: But we must needs abide amidst the ships


s: Till Goddess Thetis come forth of the sea;


s: For that her heart is purposed to set here


s: Fair athlete-prizes for the funeral-games.


s: This yesterday she told me, ere she plunged


s: From other Danaans; and, I trow, by this


s: Her haste hath brought her nigh.  Yon Trojan men,


s: Though Peleus' son hath died, shall have small heart


s: And thou, and noble Atreus' son, the king."


s: But knew not that a dark and bitter doom


s: For him should follow hard upon those games


s: By Fate's contrivance.  Answered Tydeus' son


s: "O friend, if Thetis comes indeed this day


s: With goodly gifts for her son's funeral-games,


s: Then bide we by the ships, and keep we here


s: Though the Immortals willed it not, ourselves


s: Must render honour grateful to the dead."


s: And lo, the Bride of Peleus gliding came


s: Forth of the sea, like the still breath of dawn,


s: Where eager-faced they waited, some, that looked


s: Soon to contend in that great athlete-strife,


s: And some, to joy in seeing the mighty strive.


s: Amidst that gathering Thetis sable-stoled


s: Set down her prizes, and she summoned forth


s: Achaea's champions: at her best they came.


s: But first amidst them all rose Neleus' son,


s: To toil, nor strain of wrestling; for his arms


s: And all his sinews were with grievous eld


s: Outworn, but still his heart and brain were strong.


s: Of all the Achaeans none could match himself


s: Against him in the folkmote's war of words;


s: Ever gave place when men for speech were met;


s: Now in their midst he sang the gracious Queen


s: Of Nereids, sang how she in willsomeness


s: Of beauty was of all the Sea-maids chief.


s: Well-pleased she hearkened.  Yet again he sang,


s: Which all the blest Immortals brought to pass


s: By Pelion's crests; sang of the ambrosial feast


s: When the swift Hours brought in immortal hands


s: Meats not of earth, and heaped in golden maunds;


s: Sang how the silver tables were set forth


s: In haste by Themis blithely laughing; sang


s: How breathed Hephaestus purest flame of fire;


s: Mingled ambrosia; sang the ravishing dance


s: Twined by the Graces' feet; sang of the chant


s: The Muses raised, and how its spell enthralled


s: All mountains, rivers, all the forest brood;


s: How raptured was the infinite firmament,


s: Cheiron's fair caverns, yea, the very Gods.


s: Such noble strain did Neleus' son pour out


s: Hearkened with ravished souls.  Then in their midst


s: He sang once more the imperishable deeds


s: Of princely Achilles.  All the mighty throng


s: Acclaimed him with delight.  From that beginning


s: The glorious hero; how he voyaged and smote


s: Twelve cities; how he marched o'er leagues on leagues


s: Of land, and spoiled eleven; how he slew


s: In Thebe; how his spear laid Cyenus low,


s: Troilus the goodly, princely Asteropaeus;


s: And how he dyed with blood the river-streams


s: Of Xanthus, and with countless corpses choked


s: His murmuring flow, when from the limbs he tore


s: Lycaon's life beside the sounding river;


s: And how he smote down Hector; how he slew


s: Of splendour-throned Dawn;--all this he sang


s: Sang of his giant mould, how no man's strength


s: In fight could stand against him, nor in games


s: Where strong men strive for mastery, where the swift


s: Contend with flying feet or hurrying wheels


s: Was measureless in the stormy clash of war.


s: Last, he prayed Heaven that he might see a son


s: Like that great sire from sea-washed Scyros come.


s: That noble song acclaiming Argives praised;


s: Yea, silver-looted Thetis smiled, and gave


s: The singer fleetfoot horses, given of old


s: To Achilles, when he healed the torturing wound


s: With that same spear wherewith himself had pierced


s: Telephus' thigh, and thrust the point clear through.


s: These Nestor Neleus' son to his comrades gave,


s: And, glorying in their godlike lord, they led


s: The steeds unto his ships.  Then Thetis set


s: Her prizes for the footrace, and by each


s: Ran a fair suckling calf.  These the bold might


s: From slopes of Ida, prizes of his spear.


s: To strive for these rose up two victory-fain,


s: These twain with swift hands girded them about


s: With loin-cloths, reverencing the Goddess-bride


s: Of Peleus, and the Sea-maids, who with her


s: Came to behold the Argives' athlete-sport.


s: And Atreus' son, lord of all Argive men,


s: Showed them the turning-goal of that swift course.


s: Then these the Queen of Rivalry spurred on,


s: As from the starting-line like falcons swift


s: They sped away.  Long doubtful was the race:


s: Now, as the Argives gazed, would Aias' friends


s: Shout, now rang out the answering cheer from friends


s: Of Teucer.  But when in their eager speed


s: Close on the end they were, then Teucer's feet


s: Were trammelled by unearthly powers: some god


s: Or demon dashed his foot against the stock


s: Of a deep-rooted tamarisk.  Sorely wrenched


s: Was his left ankle: round the joint upswelled


s: The veins high-ridged.  A great shout rang from all


s: That watched the contest.  Aias darted past


s: Their lord, with sudden joy in all their souls.


s: Then to his ships they drave the kine, and cast


s: Fodder before them.  Eager-helpful friends


s: Led Teucer halting thence.  The leeches drew


s: Blood from his foot: then over it they laid


s: Soft-shredded linen ointment-smeared, and swathed


s: With smooth bands round, and charmed away the pain.


s: Then swiftly rose two mighty-hearted ones


s: Eager to match their strength in wrestling strain,


s: Into the midst they strode, and marvelling gazed


s: Then grappled they, like lions famine-stung


s: Fighting amidst the mountains o'er a stag,


s: Whose strength is even-balanced; no whit less


s: So these long time in might were even-matched,


s: Till Aias locked his strong hands round the son


s: Of Tydeus, straining hard to break his back;


s: But he, with wrestling-craft and strength combined,


s: Shifted his hip 'neath Telamon's son, and heaved


s: The giant up; with a side-twist wrenched free


s: With one huge shoulder-heave to earth he threw


s: That mighty champion, and himself came down


s: Astride him: then a mighty shout went up.


s: But battle-stormer Aias, chafed in mind,


s: That grim encounter.  From his terrible hands


s: He dashed the dust, and challenged furiously


s: That other quailed, but rushed to close with him.


s: Rolled up the dust in clouds from 'neath their feet:


s: Hurtling they met like battling mountain-bulls


s: That clash to prove their dauntless strength, and spurn


s: The dust, while with their roaring all the hills


s: Dash their strong heads together, straining long


s: Against each other with their massive strength,


s: Hard-panting in the fierce rage of their strife,


s: While from their mouths drip foam-flakes to the ground;


s: So strained they twain with grapple of brawny hands.


s: 'Neath that hard grip their backs and sinewy necks


s: Cracked, even as when in mountain-glades the trees


s: Dash storm-tormented boughs together.  Oft


s: Tydeides clutched at Aias' brawny thighs,


s: But could not stir his steadfast-rooted feet.


s: Oft Aias hurled his whole weight on him, bowed


s: His shoulders backward, strove to press him down;


s: And to new grips their hands were shifting aye.


s: All round the gazing people shouted, some


s: Cheering on glorious Tydeus' son, and some


s: The might of Aias.  Then the giant swung


s: The shoulders of his foe to right, to left;


s: Then gripped him 'neath the waist; with one fierce heave


s: And giant effort hurled him like a stone


s: To earth.  The floor of Troyland rang again


s: With giant Aias for the third last fall:


s: But Nestor rose and spake unto the twain:


s: "From grapple of wrestling, noble sons, forbear;


s: Of Argives since the great Achilles died."


s: Then these from toil refrained, and from their brows


s: Wiped with their hands the plenteous-streaming sweat:


s: They kissed each other, and forgat their strife.


s: Then Thetis, queen of Goddesses, gave to them


s: Four handmaids; and those strong and aweless ones


s: Marvelled beholding them, for these surpassed


s: All captive-maids in beauty and household-skill,


s: Save only lovely-tressed Briseis.  These


s: And in their service joyed.  The first was made


s: Stewardess of the feast and lady of meats;


s: The second to the feasters poured the wine;


s: The third shed water on their hands thereafter;


s: The fourth bare all away, the banquet done.


s: These Tydeus' son and giant Aias shared,


s: And, parted two and two, unto their ships


s: Sent they those fair and serviceable ones.


s: Next, for the play of fists Idomeneus rose,


s: But none came forth to meet him, yielding all


s: To him, the elder-born, with reverent awe.


s: A chariot and fleet steeds, which theretofore


s: Drave, when he slew Sarpedon, seed of Zeus,


s: To drive unto the ships: himself remained


s: Still sitting in the glorious athlete-ring.


s: Then Phoenix to the stalwart Argives cried:


s: Awaiteth the swift play of cunning hands.


s: Step forth then: gladden great Peleides' soul."


s: He spake, they heard; but each on other looked,


s: And, loth to essay the contest, all sat still,


s: Till Neleus' son rebuked those laggard souls:


s: "Friends, it were shame that men should shun the play


s: Of clenched hands, who in that noble sport


s: Have skill, wherein young men delight, which links


s: Glory to toil.  Ah that my thews were strong


s: As when we held King Pelias' funeral-feast,


s: In gauntlet-strife, in even-balanced fray,


s: Mightier than all beside, yet feared and shrank


s: From me, and dared not strive with me that day,


s: For that ere then amidst the Epeian men--


s: No battle-blenchers they!--I had vanquished him,


s: For all his might, and dashed him to the dust


s: By dead Amaryncus' tomb, and thousands round


s: Sat marvelling at my prowess and my strength.


s: Raised he his hands, strong wrestler though he were;


s: But now old age is on me, and many griefs.


s: Therefore I bid you, whom it well beseems,


s: To win the prize; for glory crowns the youth


s: Who bears away the meed of athlete-strife."


s: Stirred by his gallant chiding, a brave man


s: The man who framed the Horse, the bane of Troy,


s: Not long thereafter.  None dared meet him now


s: In play of fists, albeit in deadly craft


s: Of war, when Ares rusheth through the field,


s: He was not cunning.  But for strife of hands


s: To bear it thence unto the Achaean ships;


s: But one strode forth to meet him, Theseus' son,


s: The spearman Acamas, the mighty of heart,


s: The hard hide-gauntlets, which Evenor's son


s: With courage-kindling words.  The comrades then


s: Of Panopeus' princely son for Epeius raised


s: A heartening cheer.  He like a lion stood


s: Forth in the midst, his strong hands gauntleted


s: With bull's hide hard as horn.  Loud rang the cheers


s: From side to side of that great throng, to fire


s: Hands in the gory play.  Sooth, little spur


s: Needed they for their eagerness for fight.


s: But, ere they closed, they flashed out proving blows


s: To wot if still, as theretofore, their arms


s: Were limber and lithe, unclogged by toil of war;


s: Then faced each other, and upraised their hands


s: With ever-watching eyes, and short quick steps


s: Each still eluding other's crushing might.


s: Then with a rush they closed like thunder-clouds


s: Hurled on each other by the tempest-blast,


s: Flashing forth lightnings, while the welkin thrills


s: As clash the clouds and hollow roar the winds;


s: So 'neath the hard hide-gauntlets clashed their jaws.


s: Down streamed the blood, and from their brows the sweat


s: Blood-streaked made on the flushed cheeks crimson bars.


s: Fierce without pause they fought, and never flagged


s: Epeius, but threw all his stormy strength


s: Never lose heart, but baffled the straight blows


s: Of those strong hands, and by his fighting-craft


s: Flinging them right and left, leapt in, brought home


s: A blow to his eyebrow, cutting to the bone.


s: Even then with counter-stroke Epeius reached


s: Acamas' temple, and hurled him to the ground.


s: Swift he sprang up, and on his stalwart foe


s: Rushed, smote his head: as he rushed in again,


s: The other, slightly swerving, sent his left


s: Clean to his brow; his right, with all his might


s: Behind it, to his nose.  Yet Acamas still


s: Warded and struck with all the manifold shifts


s: Of fighting-craft.  But now the Achaeans all


s: Bade stop the fight, though eager still were both


s: To strive for coveted victory.  Then came


s: Their henchmen, and the gory gauntlets loosed


s: In haste from those strong hands.  Now drew they breath


s: From that great labour, as they bathed their brows


s: With sponges myriad-pored.  Comrades and friends


s: With pleading words then drew them face to face,


s: And prayed, "In friendship straight forget your wrath."


s: So to their comrades' suasion hearkened they;


s: They kissed each other, and their hearts forgat


s: That bitter strife.  Then Thetis sable-stoled


s: Gave to their glad hands two great silver bowls


s: These had Hephaestus fashioned for his gift


s: His bride divine to Olympus, Minos' child


s: Far-famous, whom in sea-washed Dia's isle


s: Theseus unwitting left.  The Wine-god brimmed


s: With nectar these, and gave them to his son;


s: With great possessions left them.  She bequeathed


s: The bowls to her godlike son, who gave them up


s: And goodly Epeius sent to his ship with joy


s: The other.  Then their bruises and their scars


s: First pressed he out black humours, then his hands


s: Deftly knit up the gashes: salves he laid


s: Thereover, given him by his sire of old,


s: The deadliest hurts, yea, seeming-cureless wounds.


s: Straight was the smart assuaged, and healed the scars


s: Upon their brows and 'neath their clustering hair


s: Stood forth with Teucer, they which in the race


s: Erewhile contended.  Far away from these


s: Agamemnon, lord of spears, set up a helm


s: Crested with plumes, and spake: "The master-shot


s: Is that which shears the hair-crest clean away."


s: Then straightway Aias shot his arrow first,


s: And smote the helm-ridge: sharply rang the brass.


s: Then Teucer second with most earnest heed


s: Shot: the swift shaft hath shorn the plume away.


s: Loud shouted all the people as they gazed,


s: And praised him without stint, for still his foot


s: Halted in pain, yet nowise marred his aim


s: When with his hands he sped the flying shaft.


s: Then Peleus' bride gave unto him the arms


s: No joy she had; the prowess and the spear


s: Of fell Achilles reft his life from him.


s: As when a gardener with new-whetted scythe


s: Mows down, ere it may seed, a blade of corn


s: And blossom-flushed, which by a water-course


s: Crowdeth its blooms--mows it ere it may reach


s: Its goal of bringing offspring to the birth,


s: And with his scythe-sweep makes its life-work vain


s: Now to be fostered by the dews of spring;


s: The god-like beautiful, the beardless yet


s: To war, upon the threshold of glad youth,


s: When youth is bold, and the heart feels no void.


s: From the swift-speeding hand did many essay


s: To hurl; but not an Argive could prevail


s: To cast that ponderous mass.  Aias alone


s: Sped it from his strong hand, as in the time


s: Of harvest might a reaper fling from him


s: A dry oak-bough, when all the fields are parched.


s: Flew from his hand the bronze which scarce two men


s: Hard-straining had uplifted from the ground.


s: Even this Antaeus' might was wont to hurl


s: Erstwhile, ere the strong hands of Hercules


s: O'ermastered him.  This, with much spoil beside,


s: Hercules took, and kept it to make sport


s: Had smitten fair-towered Ilium's burg renowned;


s: And he to Achilles gave it, whose swift ships


s: He fought with stalwart Trojans, and to be


s: A worthy test wherewith to prove his strength.


s: Fling far.  So then the Nereid gave to him


s: The glorious arms from godlike Memnon stripped.


s: Marvelling the Argives gazed on them: they were


s: A giant's war-gear.  Laughing a glad laugh


s: That man renowned received them: he alone


s: Could wear them on his brawny limbs; they seemed


s: As they had even been moulded to his frame.


s: The great bar thence he bore withal, to be


s: His joy when he was fain of athlete-toil.


s: Still sped the contests on; and many rose


s: Now for the leaping.  Far beyond the marks


s: Loud shouted all for that victorious leap;


s: And Thetis gave him the fair battle-gear


s: From many more, till Peleus' son slew him


s: First of the chiefs of grief-enshrouded Troy.


s: Hurled far beyond all rivals, while the folk


s: Shouted aloud: no archer, so they deemed,


s: Could speed a winged shaft farther than his cast;


s: To him a deep wide silver oil-flask, ta'en


s: By Achilles in possession, when his spear


s: Slew Mynes, and he spoiled Lyrnessus' wealth.


s: Rose, challenging to strife of hands and feet


s: The mightiest hero there; but marvelling


s: They marked his mighty thews, and no man dared


s: Confront him.  Chilling dread had palsied all


s: Their courage: from their hearts they feared him, lest


s: His hands invincible should all to-break


s: His adversary's face, and naught but pain


s: Be that man's meed.  But at the last all men


s: For well they knew him skilled in fighting-craft;


s: But he too feared that giant, and he cried:


s: "Friends, any other Achaean, whom ye will,


s: Blithe will I face; but mighty Alas--no!


s: I trow, I should not win to the ships alive."


s: Loud laughed they all: but glowed with triumph-joy


s: The heart of Aias.  Gleaming talents twain


s: Of silver he from Thetis' hands received,


s: His uncontested prize.  His stately height


s: Called to her mind her dear son, and she sighed.


s: They which had skill in chariot-driving then


s: Menelaus first, Eurypylus bold in fight,


s: Harnessed their steeds, and led them to the cars


s: Then rode they in a glittering chariot rank


s: Out to one place, to a stretch of sand, and stood


s: Ranged at the starting-line.  The reins they grasped


s: In strong hands quickly, while the chariot-steeds


s: To take the lead at starting, pawed the sand,


s: Pricked ears, and o'er their frontlets flung the foam.


s: With sudden-stiffened sinews those ear-lords


s: Lashed with their whips the tempest-looted steeds;


s: Then swift as Harpies sprang they forth; they strained


s: Furiously at the harness, onward whirling


s: The chariots bounding ever from the earth.


s: Thou couldst not see a wheel-track, no, nor print


s: Of hoof upon the sand--they verily flew.


s: Up from the plain the dust-clouds to the sky


s: Soared, like the smoke of burning, or a mist


s: Rolled round the mountain-forelands by the might


s: Of the dark South-wind or the West, when wakes


s: A tempest, when the hill-sides stream with rain.


s: Burst to the front Eumelus' steeds: behind


s: Close pressed the team of godlike Thoas: shouts


s: Still answered shouts that cheered each chariot, while


s: Onward they swept across the wide-wayed plain.


s: "From hallowed Elis, when he had achieved


s: A mighty triumph, in that he outstripped


s: The ruthless slayer of youths who sought to wed


s: Had no such fleetfoot steeds as Atreus' son--


s: Far slower!--the wind is in the feet of these."


s: Of those good steeds, and to Atreides' self;


s: Straightway his henchmen from the yoke-band loosed


s: The panting team, and all those chariot-lords,


s: Who in the race had striven, now unyoked


s: Their tempest-footed steeds.  Podaleirius then


s: Hasted to spread salves over all the wounds


s: Upon their frames when from the cars they fell


s: Of victory glowed, when Thetis lovely-tressed


s: Gave him a golden cup, the chief possession


s: Achilles spoiled the far-famed burg of Thebes.


s: Down to the course: they grasped in hand the whip


s: And bounding from the earth bestrode their steeds,


s: The while with foaming mouths the coursers champed


s: The bits, and pawed the ground, and fretted aye


s: To dash into the course.  Forth from the line


s: Swiftly they darted, eager for the strife,


s: Or shouting Notus, when with hurricane-swoop


s: He heaves the wide sea high, when in the east


s: So swift they rushed, spurning with flying feet


s: The deep dust on the plain.  The riders cried


s: Each to his steed, and ever plied the lash


s: And shook the reins about the clashing bits.


s: On strained the horses: from the people rose


s: On, on across the level plain they flew;


s: And now the flashing-footed Argive steed


s: By Sthenelus bestridden, had won the race,


s: But from the course he swerved, and o'er the plain


s: Once and again rushed wide; nor Capaneus' son,


s: Good horseman though he were, could turn him back


s: By rein or whip, because that steed was strange


s: Still to the race-course; yet of lineage


s: Noble was he, for in his veins the blood


s: By the loud-piping West-wind on a Harpy,


s: The fleetest of all earth-born steeds, whose feet


s: Could race against his father's swiftest blasts.


s: And from him sprang the steed of Sthenelus,


s: Which Tydeus' son had given unto his friend


s: In hallowed Troyland.  Filled with confidence


s: In those swift feet his rider led him forth


s: Unto the contest of the steeds that day,


s: Looking his horsemanship should surely win


s: Renown: yet victory gladdened not his heart


s: In that great struggle for Achilles' prizes;


s: Nay, swift albeit he was, the King of Men


s: By skill outraced him.  Shouted all the folk,


s: "Glory to Agamemnon!"  Yet they acclaimed


s: The steed of valiant Sthenelus and his lord,


s: Wide of the course he swerved.  Then Thetis gave


s: To Atreus' son, while laughed his lips for joy,


s: God-sprung Polydorus' breastplate silver-wrought.


s: Two lances, and a taslet strong, she gave.


s: Came at Achilles' funeral-feast to strive


s: She gave gifts.  But the son of the old war-lord,


s: From contests of the strong, how fain soe'er,


s: By that sore wound which Alcon dealt to him


s: In the grim fight around dead Aeacas' son.


s: Thetis the Goddess laid down in the midst


s: Great-souled Achilles' arms divinely wrought;


s: And all around flashed out the cunning work


s: Wherewith the Fire-god overchased the shield


s: Fashioned for Aeacus' son, the dauntless-souled.


s: Were first high heaven and cloudland, and beneath


s: Lay earth and sea: the winds, the clouds were there,


s: The moon and sun, each in its several place;


s: There too were all the stars that, fixed in heaven,


s: Are borne in its eternal circlings round.


s: Above and through all was the infinite air


s: Where to and fro flit birds of slender beak:


s: Thou hadst said they lived, and floated on the breeze.


s: Here Tethys' all-embracing arms were wrought,


s: And Ocean's fathomless flow.  The outrushing flood


s: All round, to right, to left, rolled o'er the land.


s: Round it rose league-long mountain-ridges, haunts


s: Of terrible lions and foul jackals: there


s: Fierce bears and panthers prowled; with these were seen


s: Wild boars that whetted deadly-clashing tusks


s: In grimly-frothing jaws.  There hunters sped


s: After the hounds: beaters with stone and dart,


s: To the life portrayed, toiled in the woodland sport.


s: And there were man-devouring wars, and all


s: Horrors of fight: slain men were falling down


s: Mid horse-hoofs; and the likeness of a plain


s: Blood-drenched was on that shield invincible.


s: Panic was there, and Dread, and ghastly Enyo


s: With limbs all gore-bespattered hideously,


s: And deadly Strife, and the Avenging Spirits


s: Fierce-hearted--she, still goading warriors on


s: To the onset they, outbreathing breath of fire.


s: Around them hovered the relentless Fates;


s: Beside them Battle incarnate onward pressed


s: Yelling, and from their limbs streamed blood and sweat.


s: There were the ruthless Gorgons: through their hair


s: Horribly serpents coiled with flickering tongues.


s: A measureless marvel was that cunning work


s: Of things that made men shudder to behold


s: Seeming as though they verily lived and moved.


s: And while here all war's marvels were portrayed,


s: Yonder were all the works of lovely peace.


s: Dwelt in fair cities.  Justice watched o'er all.


s: To diverse toils they set their hands; the fields


s: Were harvest-laden; earth her increase bore.


s: Most steeply rose on that god-laboured work


s: The rugged flanks of holy Honour's mount,


s: And there upon a palm-tree throned she sat


s: Exalted, and her hands reached up to heaven.


s: All round her, paths broken by many rocks


s: Thwarted the climbers' feet; by those steep tracks


s: Few won by sweat of toil the sacred height.


s: And there were reapers moving down long swaths


s: Swinging the whetted sickles: 'neath their hands


s: The hot work sped to its close.  Hard after these


s: Many sheaf-binders followed, and the work


s: Grew passing great.  With yoke-bands on their necks


s: Oxen were there, whereof some drew the wains


s: Heaped high with full-eared sheaves, and further on


s: Were others ploughing, and the glebe showed black


s: Behind them.  Youths with ever-busy goads


s: Followed: a world of toil was there portrayed.


s: And there a banquet was, with pipe and harp,


s: Dances of maids, and flashing feet of boys,


s: All in swift movement, like to living souls.


s: Hard by the dance and its sweet winsomeness


s: Out of the sea was rising lovely-crowned


s: Cypris, foam-blossoms still upon her hair;


s: And round her hovered smiling witchingly


s: Desire, and danced the Graces lovely-tressed.


s: And there were lordly Nereus' Daughters shown


s: Leading their sister up from the wide sea


s: And round her all the Immortals banqueted


s: On Pelion's ridge far-stretching.  All about


s: Lush dewy watermeads there were, bestarred


s: With flowers innumerable, grassy groves,


s: And springs with clear transparent water bright.


s: There ships with sighing sheets swept o'er the sea,


s: Some beating up to windward, some that sped


s: Before a following wind, and round them heaved


s: The melancholy surge.  Seared shipmen rushed


s: This way and that, adread for tempest-gusts,


s: Hauling the white sails in, to 'scape the death--


s: It all seemed real--some tugging at the oars,


s: While the dark sea on either side the ship


s: Grew hoary 'neath the swiftly-plashing blades.


s: And there triumphant the Earth-shaker rode


s: Drew him, and seemed alive, as o'er the deep


s: They raced, oft smitten by the golden whip.


s: Around their path of flight the waves fell smooth,


s: Dolphins on either hand about their king


s: Swarmed, in wild rapture of homage bowing backs,


s: And seemed like live things o'er the hazy sea


s: Marvels of untold craft were imaged there


s: By cunning-souled Hephaestus' deathless hands


s: Upon the shield.  And Ocean's fathomless flood


s: Clasped like a garland all the outer rim,


s: And compassed all the strong shield's curious work.


s: Zeus in his wrath was set upon the crest


s: Throned on heaven's dome; the Immortals all around


s: Fierce-battling with the Titans fought for Zeus.


s: Already were their foes enwrapped with flame,


s: For thick and fast as snowflakes poured from heaven


s: The thunderbolts: the might of Zeus was roused,


s: And burning giants seemed to breathe out flames.


s: And therebeside the fair strong corslet lay,


s: Unpierceable, which clasped Peleides once:


s: There were the greaves close-lapping, light alone


s: To Achilles; massy of mould and huge they were.


s: And hard by flashed the sword whose edge and point


s: No mail could turn, with golden belt, and sheath


s: Brightest amid those wondrous arms it shone.


s: Stretched on the earth thereby was that dread spear,


s: Long as the tall-tressed pines of Pelion,


s: Still breathing out the reek of Hector's blood.


s: Then mid the Argives Thetis sable-stoled


s: "Now all the athlete-prizes have been won


s: Which I set forth in sorrow for my child.


s: Now let that mightiest of the Argives come


s: Who rescued from the foe my dead: to him


s: Which even the blessed Deathless joyed to see."


s: Then rose in rivalry, each claiming them,


s: Laertes' seed and godlike Telamon's son,


s: He seemed the star that in the glittering sky


s: "And let these judge," he cried, "Idomeneus,


s: Nestor, and kingly-counselled Agamemnon,"


s: For these, he weened, would sureliest know the truth


s: Of deeds wrought in that glorious battle-toil.


s: Odysseus said, "for prudent of their wit


s: Be these, and princeliest of all Danaan men."


s: Spake Nestor apart, and willingly they heard:


s: This day the careless Gods have laid on us,


s: Aias the mighty hath been thrust by them


s: To whichsoe'er God gives the victor's glory--


s: O yea, he shall rejoice!  But he that loseth--


s: All for the grief in all the Danaans' hearts


s: For him!  And ours shall be the deepest grief


s: Of all; for that man will not in the war


s: It shall be for us, whichsoe'er of these


s: Shall break into fierce anger, seeing they


s: Are of our heroes chiefest, this in war,


s: And that in counsel.  Hearken then to me,


s: Is prudence joined, for I have suffered and wrought


s: Who knoweth much, excelleth younger men.


s: Therefore let us ordain to judge this cause


s: 'Twixt godlike Aias and war-fain Odysseus,


s: Our Trojan captives.  They shall say whom most


s: Our foes dread, and who saved Peleides' corse


s: From that most deadly fight.  Lo, in our midst


s: Be many spear-won Trojans, thralls of Fate;


s: And these will pass true judgment on these twain,


s: To neither showing favour, since they hate


s: He spake: replied Agamemnon lord of spears:


s: "Ancient, there is none other in our midst


s: Wiser than thou, of Danaans young or old,


s: In that thou say'st that unforgiving wrath


s: Will burn in him to whom the Gods herein


s: Deny the victory; for these which strive


s: Are both our chiefest.  Therefore mine heart too


s: Is set on this, that to the thralls of war


s: Shall against Troy devise his deadly work


s: Of vengeance, and shall not be wroth with us."


s: He spake, and these three, being of one mind,


s: Judgment so thankless: they would none of it.


s: Therefore they set the high-born sons of Troy


s: There in the midst, spear-thralls although they were,


s: To give just judgment in the warriors' strife.


s: My peer in might invincible?  Dar'st thou say


s: That thou, when slain Achilles lay in dust,


s: When round him swarmed the Trojans, didst bear back


s: That furious throng, when I amidst them hurled


s: Death, and thou coweredst away?  Thy dam


s: Bare thee a craven and a weakling wretch


s: No battle-biding heart is in thy breast,


s: But wiles and treachery be all thy care.


s: Hast thou forgotten how thou didst shrink back


s: Forced thee, the cowering craven, how loth soe'er,


s: To follow them--would God thou hadst never come!


s: For by thy counsel left we in Lemnos' isle


s: Didst thou contrive destruction--ha, he was


s: Alike in battle and council better than thou!


s: And now thou dar'st to rise up against me,


s: Who rescued thee erewhile, when thou didst quaff


s: When thou, forsaken of all Greeks beside,


s: Midst tumult of the fray, wast fleeing too!


s: Oh that in that great fight Zeus' self had stayed


s: My dauntless might with thunder from his heaven!


s: Then with their two-edged swords the Trojan men


s: Had hewn thee limb from limb, and to their dogs


s: Had cast thy carrion!  Then thou hadst not presumed


s: Wretch, wherefore, if thou vauntest thee in might


s: Beyond all others, hast thou set thy ships


s: In the line's centre, screened from foes, nor dared


s: Because thou wast afraid!  Not thou it was


s: Who savedst from devouring fire the ships;


s: But I with heart unquailing there stood fast


s: Gave back before me everywhere in fight.


s: Thou--thou didst fear him aye with deadly fear!


s: Oh, had this our contention been but set


s: Then had thine own eyes seen me bearing forth


s: Out from the battle's heart and fury of foes


s: Unto the tents.  But here thou canst but trust


s: Amongst the mighty!  Thou--thou hast not strength


s: Nor sway his massy spear in thy weak hands!


s: But I they are verily moulded to my frame:


s: Yea, seemly it is I wear those glorious arms,


s: Who shall not shame a God's gifts passing fair.


s: But wherefore for Achilles' glorious arms


s: With words discourteous wrangling stand we here?


s: Come, let us try in strife with brazen spears


s: Who of us twain is best in murderous right!


s: For silver-footed Thetis set in the midst


s: This prize for prowess, not for pestilent words.


s: In folkmote may men have some use for words:


s: In pride of prowess I know me above thee far,


s: And great Achilles' lineage is mine own."


s: He spake: with scornful glance and bitter speech


s: Odysseus the resourceful chode with him:


s: "Aias, unbridled tongue, why these vain words


s: To me?  Thou hast called me pestilent, niddering,


s: Than thou in wit and speech, which things increase


s: The strength of men.  Lo, how the craggy rock,


s: Adamantine though it seem, the hewers of stone


s: Full lightly, and by wisdom shipmen cross


s: The thunderous-plunging sea, when mountain-high


s: It surgeth, and by craft do hunters quell


s: Strong lions, panthers, boars, yea, all the brood


s: Of wild things.  Furious-hearted bulls are tamed


s: To bear the yoke-bands by device of men.


s: Yea, all things are by wit accomplished.  Still


s: The witless man alike in toils and counsels.


s: Choose me of all men with him to draw nigh


s: To Hector's watchmen: yea, and mighty deeds


s: We twain accomplished.  I it was who brought


s: Their battle-helper.  Whensoe'er the host


s: Needeth some other champion, not for the sake


s: Of thine hands will he come, nor by the rede


s: Alone will draw him with soft suasive words


s: To where strong men are warring.  Mighty power


s: Inspires it.  Valour is a deedless thing;


s: But unto me the Immortals gave both strength


s: Made me a blessing.  Nor, as thou hast said,


s: Hast thou in time past saved me when in flight


s: From foes.  I never fled, but steadfastly


s: Withstood the charge of all the Trojan host.


s: But I by might of hands cut short the thread


s: Of many lives.  Herein thou sayest not true


s: Me in the fray thou didst not shield nor save,


s: But for thine own life roughtest, lest a spear


s: Should pierce thy back if thou shouldst turn to flee


s: From war.  My ships?  I drew them up mid-line,


s: Not dreading the battle-fury of any foe,


s: Far from their help thy ships.  Nay more, I seamed


s: With cruel stripes my body, and entered so


s: The Trojans' burg, that I might learn of them


s: All their devisings for this troublous war.


s: Nor ever I dreaded Hector's spear; myself


s: Rose mid the foremost, eager for the fight,


s: When, prowess-confident, he defied us all.


s: Slew foes far more than thou; 'twas I who saved


s: The dead king with this armour.  Not a whit


s: I dread thy spear now, but my grievous hurt


s: With pain still vexeth me, the wound I gat


s: In fighting for these arms and their slain lord.


s: He spake; strong Aias answered him again.


s: "Most cunning and most pestilent of men,


s: Thee toiling in that fray, when Trojans strove


s: My might it was that with the spear unstrung


s: The knees of some in fight, and others thrilled


s: With panic as they pressed on ceaselessly.


s: Then fled they in dire straits, as geese or cranes


s: Flee from an eagle swooping as they feed


s: The Trojans shrinking backward from my spear


s: To 'scape destruction.  If thy might came there


s: With foes thou foughtest: somewhere far aloot


s: Mid other ranks thou toiledst, nowhere nigh


s: Achilles, where the one great battle raged."


s: He spake; replied Odysseus the shrewd heart:


s: In wit or might, how goodly in outward show


s: Of wit than thou in all the Argives' eyes.


s: Haply surpass; and this the Trojans know,


s: Aye, thou too know'st, and others know my strength


s: By that hard struggle in the wrestling-match,


s: When Peleus' son set glorious prizes forth


s: So spake Laertes' son the world-renowned.


s: Then on that strife disastrous of the strong


s: The sons of Troy gave judgment.  Victory


s: With one consent to Odysseus mighty in war.


s: Greatly his soul rejoiced; but one deep groan


s: Brake from the Greeks.  Then Aias' noble might


s: Stood frozen stiff; and suddenly fell on him


s: Dark wilderment; all blood within his frame


s: Boiled, and his gall swelled, bursting forth in flood.


s: Against his liver heaved his bowels; his heart


s: With anguished pangs was thrilled; fierce stabbing throes


s: Shot through the filmy veil 'twixt bone and brain;


s: And darkness and confusion wrapped his mind.


s: With fixed eyes staring on the ground he stood


s: Still as a statue.  Then his sorrowing friends


s: Closed round him, led him to the shapely ships,


s: Aye murmuring consolations.  But his feet


s: Trod for the last time, with reluctant steps,


s: That path; and hard behind him followed Doom.


s: When to the ships beside the boundless sea


s: The Argives, faint for supper and for sleep,


s: Had passed, into the great deep Thetis plunged,


s: And all the Nereids with her.  Round them swam


s: Sea-monsters many, children of the brine.


s: Against the wise Prometheus bitter-wroth


s: The Sea-maids were, remembering how that Zeus,


s: Moved by his prophecies, unto Peleus gave


s: "O that the pestilent prophet had endured


s: All pangs he merited, when, deep-burrowing,


s: So to the dark-haired Sea-maids cried the Nymph.


s: Then sank the sun: the onrush of the night


s: Shadowed the fields, the heavens were star-bestrewn;


s: And by the long-prowed ships the Argives slept


s: By ambrosial sleep o'ermastered, and by wine


s: The which from proud Idomeneus' realm of Crete:


s: The shipmen bare o'er foaming leagues of sea.


s: Would none of meat or drink, nor clasped him round


s: The arms of sleep. In fury he donned his mail,


s: He clutched his sword, thinking unspeakable thoughts;


s: For now he thought to set the ships aflame,


s: And slaughter all the Argives, now, to hew


s: With sudden onslaught of his terrible sword


s: Guileful Odysseus limb from limb.  Such things


s: He purposed--nay, had soon accomplished all,


s: Had Pallas not with madness smitten him;


s: For over Odysseus, strong to endure, her heart


s: Yearned, as she called to mind the sacrifices


s: Therefore she turned aside from Argive men


s: The might of Aias.  As a terrible storm,


s: Whose wings are laden with dread hurricane-blasts,


s: Cometh with portents of heart-numbing fear


s: To shipmen, when the Pleiads, fleeing adread


s: The stream of tireless Ocean, when the air


s: Is turmoil, and the sea is mad with storm;


s: So rushed he, whithersoe'er his feet might bear.


s: This way and that he ran, like some fierce beast


s: Which darteth down a rock-walled glen's ravines


s: Against the hounds and huntsmen, who have torn


s: Out of the cave her cubs, and slain: she runs


s: This way and that, and roars, if mid the brakes


s: Haply she yet may see the dear ones lost;


s: Whom if a man meet in that maddened mood,


s: Straightway his darkest of all days hath dawned;


s: So ruthless-raving rushed he; blackly boiled


s: His heart, as caldron on the Fire-god's hearth


s: Maddens with ceaseless hissing o'er the flames


s: From blazing billets coiling round its sides,


s: To singe the bristles of a huge-fed boar;


s: So was his great heart boiling in his breast.


s: Like a wild sea he raved, like tempest-blast,


s: Like the winged might of tireless flame amidst


s: The mountains maddened by a mighty wind,


s: When the wide-blazing forest crumbles down


s: In fervent heat.  So Aias, his fierce heart


s: With agony stabbed, in maddened misery raved.


s: Foam frothed about his lips; a beast-like roar


s: Howled from his throat.  About his shoulders clashed


s: His armour.  They which saw him trembled, all


s: Cowed by the fearful shout of that one man.


s: From Ocean then uprose Dawn golden-reined:


s: Like a soft wind upfloated Sleep to heaven,


s: But yester-morn she went.  She clasped him round,


s: And kissed him, who had been her marriage-kin


s: Since at her prayer on Ida's erest he had lulled


s: Against the Argives.  Straightway Hera passed


s: To Zeus's mansion, and Sleep swiftly flew


s: All nations of the earth.  But Aias, like


s: Still bearing murderous madness in his heart.


s: He rushed upon the sheep, like lion fierce


s: Whose savage heart is stung with hunger-pangs.


s: Here, there, he smote them, laid them dead in dust


s: Thick as the leaves which the strong North-wind's might


s: Strews, when the waning year to winter turns;


s: And spake, but not in hearing of the rest:


s: For all, since Aias thus is sense-distraught.


s: And slay us all amidst our tents, in wrath


s: For those lost arms.  Would God that Thetis ne'er


s: In folly of soul to strive with a better man!


s: Fools were we all; and some malignant God


s: Beguiled us; for the one great war-defence


s: Left us, since Aeacus' son in battle fell,


s: Was Aias' mighty strength.  And now the Gods


s: Will to our loss destroy him, bringing bane


s: The cup of doom, and pass to nothingness."


s: He spake; replied Agamemnon, lord of spears:


s: "Now nay, Menelaus, though thine heart he wrung,


s: Be thou not wroth with the resourceful king


s: Who plot our ruin.  Blame not him, who oft


s: Hath been our blessing and our enemies' curse."


s: So heavy-hearted spake the Danaan kings.


s: 'Neath tamarisks shepherds cowered to hide from death,


s: 'Neath tangled copses, when with sharp fierce scream


s: This way and that with wings wide-shadowing


s: He wheeleth very nigh; so they here, there,


s: Quailed from the presence of that furious man.


s: At last above a slaughtered ram he stood,


s: "Lie there in dust; be meat for dogs and kites!


s: Achilles' glorious arms have saved not thee,


s: For which thy folly strove with a better man!


s: Lie there, thou cur!  No wife shall fall on thee,


s: And clasp, and wail thee and her fatherless childs,


s: Nor shalt thou greet thy parents' longing eyes,


s: The staff of their old age!  Far from thy land


s: Thy carrion dogs and vultures shall devour!"


s: So cried he, thinking that amidst the slain


s: Odysseus lay blood-boltered at his feet.


s: But in that moment from his mind and eyes


s: Of Madness havoc-breathing, and it passed


s: Thence swiftly to the rock-walled river Styx


s: Where dwell the winged Erinnyes, they which still


s: Then Aias saw those sheep upon the earth


s: Gasping in death; and sore amazed he stood,


s: His senses had been cheated.  All his limbs


s: Failed under him; his soul was anguished-thrilled:


s: He could not in his horror take one step


s: Forward nor backward.  Like some towering rock


s: Fast-rooted mid the mountains, there he stood.


s: But when the wild rout of his thoughts had rallied,


s: He groaned in misery, and in anguish wailed:


s: They have wrecked my mind, have with fell madness filled,


s: Making me slaughter all these innocent sheep!


s: Would God that on Odysseus' pestilent heart


s: Mine hands had so avenged me!  Miscreant, he


s: Brought on me a fell curse!  O may his soul


s: Suffer all torments that the Avenging Fiends


s: Devise for villains!  On all other Greeks


s: May they bring murderous battle, woeful griefs,


s: Not scatheless to the home may he return


s: So long desired!  But why should I consort,


s: Hath his due guerdon, but the baser sort


s: Are honoured most and loved, as this Odysseus


s: Hath worship mid the Greeks: but utterly


s: Have they forgotten me and all my deeds,


s: All that I wrought and suffered in their cause."


s: So spake the brave son of strong Telamon,


s: Then thrust the sword of Hector through his throat.


s: Forth rushed the blood in torrent: in the dust


s: Outstretched he lay, like Typhon, when the bolts


s: Of Zeus had blasted him.  Around him groaned


s: The dark earth as he fell upon her breast.


s: Then thronging came the Danaans, when they saw


s: None dared draw nigh him, but in deadly fear


s: They watched him from afar.  Now hasted they


s: And flung themselves upon the dead, outstretched


s: Upon their faces: on their heads they cast


s: Dust, and their wailing went up to the sky.


s: Out of the fleecy flock, to feast thereon,


s: And round the desolate pens the mothers leap


s: Wild echoes pealed from Ida forest-palled,


s: And from the plain, the ships, the boundless sea.


s: To rush on bitter doom: howbeit the rest


s: Held from the sword his hand.  Anguished he fell


s: That wails beside the hearth, with ashes strewn


s: On head and shoulders, wails bereavement's day


s: That brings death to the mother who hath nursed


s: The fatherless child; so wailed he, ever wailed


s: His great death-stricken brother, creeping slow


s: Around the corpse, and uttering his lament:


s: "O Aias, mighty-souled, why was thine heart


s: Distraught, that thou shouldst deal unto thyself


s: Murder and bale?  All, was it that the sons


s: Of Troy might win a breathing-space from woes,


s: Might come and slay the Greeks, now thou art not?


s: From these shall all the olden courage fail


s: When fast they fall in fight.  Their shield from harm


s: To see mine home again, now thou art dead.


s: That so the earth may shroud me--me and thee


s: Spared from the grave, in Salamis they dwell,


s: So cried he groaning sore; with answering moan


s: Queenly Tecmessa wailed, the princess-bride


s: Yet ta'en by him to wife, and household-queen


s: O'er all his substance, even all that wives


s: Won with a bride-price rule for wedded lords.


s: Clasped in his mighty arms, she bare to him


s: Yet cradled in his tent.  With bitter moan


s: Fell she on that dear corpse, all her fair form


s: Close-shrouded in her veil, and dust-defiled,


s: And from her anguished heart cried piteously:


s: Not by the hands of foes in fight struck down,


s: But by thine own!  On me is come a grief


s: To see thy woeful death-day here by Troy.


s: Ah, visions shattered by rude hands of Fate!


s: Oh that the earth had yawned wide for my grave


s: No sharper, more heart-piercing pang hath come--


s: And parents thou didst bear me, wailing sore


s: Mid other captives, when the day of bondage


s: Not for that dear lost home so much I grieve,


s: Nor for my parents dead, as now for thee:


s: For all thine heart was kindness unto me


s: The hapless, and thou madest me thy wife,


s: One soul with thee; yea, and thou promisedst


s: To throne me queen of fair-towered Salamis,


s: When home we won from Troy.  The Gods denied


s: Accomplishment thereof.  And thou hast passed


s: Me and thy child, who never shall make glad


s: His father's heart, shall never mount thy throne.


s: But him shall strangers make a wretched thrall:


s: For when the father is no more, the babe


s: The orphan knows, and suffering cometh in


s: To me too thraldom's day shall doubtless come,


s: Now thou hast died, who wast my god on earth."


s: "Princess, no man on earth shall make thee thrall,


s: While Teucer liveth yet, while yet I live.


s: As though yet living were that godlike man,


s: Aias, who was the Achaeans' chiefest strength.


s: Ah that he had not laid this load of grief


s: For all the countless armies of his foes


s: Never availed to slay him in fair fight."


s: So spake he, grieved to the inmost heart.  The folk


s: Woefully wafted all round.  O'er Hellespont


s: Echoes of mourning rolled: the sighing air


s: Darkened around, a wide-spread sorrow-pall.


s: Yea, grief laid hold on wise Odysseus' self


s: For the great dead, and with remorseful soul


s: To anguish-stricken Argives thus he spake:


s: "O friends, there is no greater curse to men


s: Than wrath, which groweth till its bitter fruit


s: Is strife.  Now wrath hath goaded Aias on


s: To this dire issue of the rage that filled


s: His soul against me.  Would to God that ne'er


s: Yon Trojans in the strife for Achilles' arms


s: Had crowned me with that victory, for which


s: Of soul, thus perished by his own right hand!


s: Yet blame not me, I pray you, for his wrath:


s: Blame the dark dolorous Fate that struck him down.


s: For, had mine heart foreboded aught of this,


s: Never for victory had I striven with him,


s: Though ne'er so eager, to contend with him.


s: With mine own hands, and gladly given them


s: To him, ay, though himself desired it not.


s: But for such mighty grief and wrath in him


s: I had not looked, since not for a woman's sake


s: I then contended, but for Honour's meed,


s: Which alway is for all right-hearted men


s: But that great-hearted man was led astray


s: By Fate, the hateful fiend; for surely it is


s: Unworthy a man to be made passion's fool.


s: The wise man's part is, steadfast-souled to endure


s: All ills, and not to rage against his lot."


s: So spake Laertes' son, the far-renowned.


s: But when they all were weary of grief and groan,


s: Then to those sorrowing ones spake Neleus' son:


s: "O friends, the pitiless-hearted Fates have laid


s: Sorrow for Aias dead, for mighty Achilles,


s: For many an Argive, and for mine own son


s: Day after day with passion of grief to wail


s: Men slain in battle: nay, we must forget


s: Of rendering dues beseeming to the dead,


s: The dues of pyre, of tomb, of bones inurned.


s: No note thereof he taketh, when the Fates,


s: The ruthless ones, have swallowed him in night."


s: So spake he words of cheer: the godlike kings


s: Gathered with heavy hearts around the dead,


s: And many hands upheaved the giant corpse,


s: And swiftly bare him to the ships, and there


s: Washed they away the blood that clotted lay


s: Dust-flecked on mighty limbs and armour: then


s: In linen swathed him round.  From Ida's heights


s: Wood without measure did the young men bring,


s: And piled it round the corpse.  Billets and logs


s: Yet more in a wide circle heaped they round;


s: And sheep they laid thereon, fair-woven vests,


s: And goodly kine, and speed-triumphant steeds,


s: And gleaming gold, and armour without stint,


s: From slain foes by that glorious hero stripped.


s: And lucent amber-drops they laid thereon,


s: Years, say they, which the Daughters of the Sun,


s: The Lord of Omens, shed for Phaethon slain,


s: When by Eridanus' flood they mourned for him.


s: The God made amber, precious in men's eyes.


s: Even this the Argives on that broad-based pyre


s: And round him, groaning heavily, they laid


s: They have who heap up goodly and glorious wealth.


s: Then thrust they in the strength of ravening flame,


s: And from the sea there breathed a wind, sent forth


s: Of Aias.  All the night and all the morn


s: Burned 'neath the urgent stress of that great wind


s: Beside the ships that giant form, as when


s: Beneath Thrinacia, when from all the isle


s: Smoke of his burning rose--or like as when


s: Hercules, trapped by Nessus' deadly guile,


s: Gave to devouring fire his living limbs,


s: What time he dared that awful deed, when groaned


s: Far-famous, to be numbered with the Gods,


s: When earth closed o'er his toil-tried mortal part.


s: So huge amid the flames, all-armour clad,


s: While a great multitude watching thronged the sands.


s: Glad were the Trojans, but the Achaeans grieved.


s: But when that goodly frame by ravening fire


s: Was all consumed, they quenched the pyre with wine;


s: They gathered up the bones, and reverently


s: Rhoeteium's headland heaped they up a mound


s: Measureless-high.  Then scattered they amidst


s: The long ships, heavy-hearted for the man


s: Whom they had honoured even as Achilles.


s: Then black night, bearing unto all men sleep,


s: Upfloated: so they brake bread, and lay down


s: Waiting the Child of the Mist.  Short was sleep,


s: Broken by fitful staring through the dark,


s: Haunted by dread lest in the night the foe


s: Should fall on them, now Telamon's son was dead.


s: How came for the helping of Troy Eurypylus, Hercules' grandson.


s: And climbed the steeps of heaven, scattering round


s: Flushed flakes of splendour; laughed all earth and air.


s: Then turned unto their labours, each to each,


s: Mortals, frail creatures daily dying.  Then


s: Streamed to a folkmote all the Achaean men


s: Were gathered all, then in their midst he spake:


s: "Hearken my words, ye god-descended kings:


s: Mine heart within my breast is burdened sore


s: For men which perish, men that for my sake


s: Came to the bitter war, whose home-return


s: Parents and home shall welcome nevermore;


s: For Fate hath cut off thousands in their prime.


s: Oh that the heavy hand of death had fallen


s: But now hath God laid on me cureless pain


s: In seeing all these ills.  Who could rejoice


s: Beholding strivings, struggles of despair?


s: Come, let us, which be yet alive, in haste


s: Flee in the ships, each to his several land,


s: I look not, now they are slain, that we the rest


s: Shall 'scape destruction; nay, but we shall fall


s: And shameless Helen's!  Think not that I care


s: Good men in battle slain.  Away with her--


s: Stole all discretion out of her false heart


s: When she forsook mine home and marriage-bed.


s: But let us straight return: 'twere better far


s: To flee from dolorous war than perish all."


s: Far other thoughts than these made his heart burn


s: With passionate desire to slay his foes,


s: To break the long walls of their city down


s: From their foundations, and to glut with blood


s: Ares, when Paris mid the slain should fall.


s: Fiercer is naught than passionate desire!


s: Thus as he pondered, sitting in his place,


s: And chode in fiery speech with Menelaus:


s: Hath gripped thee, that thou speakest so to us


s: As might a weakling child or woman speak?


s: Will hearken, ere Troy's coronal of towers


s: Be wholly dashed to the dust: for unto men


s: Valour is high renown, and flight is shame!


s: Of this thy counsel, I will smite from him


s: His head with sharp blue steel, and hurl it down


s: For soaring kites to feast on.  Up!  all ye


s: Who care to enkindle men to battle: rouse


s: Our warriors all throughout the fleet to whet


s: The spear, to burnish corslet, helm and shield;


s: And cause both man and horse, all which be keen


s: In fight, to break their fast.  Then in yon plain


s: So speaking, in his place he sat him down;


s: Then rose up Thestor's son, and in the midst,


s: Where meet it is to speak, stood forth and cried:


s: "Hear me, ye sons of battle-biding Greeks:


s: Erewhile I said that ye in the tenth year


s: Should lay waste towered Ilium: this the Gods


s: At the Argives' very feet.  Come, let us send


s: With speed to Scyros overseas, by prayers


s: So spake wise Thestius' son, and all the folk


s: Shouted for joy; for all their hearts and hopes


s: Yearned to see Calchas' prophecy fulfilled.


s: "Friends, it befits not to say many words


s: The immortal Muses, love it.  At such time


s: Few words do men desire.  But now, this thing


s: That pleaseth all the Achaean host, will I


s: For, if we twain go, we shall surely bring,


s: Won by our words, war-fain Achilles' son,


s: Yea, though his mother, weeping sore, should strive


s: Within her halls to keep him; for mine heart


s: Trusts that he is a hero's valorous son."


s: "Odysseus, the strong Argives' help at need,


s: Us who yearn for him, and some Heavenly One


s: Grant victory to our prayers, and I win home


s: With a glad heart.  I trow he shall not scorn


s: Either his bride or high-born sire-in-law."


s: With a great shout the Danaans hailed his words.


s: Then was the throng dispersed, and to the ships


s: They scattered hungering for the morning meat


s: Which strengtheneth man's heart.  So when they ceased


s: Drew down a swift ship to the boundless sea,


s: And victual and all tackling cast therein.


s: Then stepped they aboard, and with them twenty men,


s: Men skilled to row when winds were contrary,


s: Or when the unrippled sea slept 'neath a calm.


s: They smote the brine, and flashed the boiling foam:


s: On leapt the ship; a watery way was cleft


s: About the oars that sweating rowers tugged.


s: As when hard-toiling oxen, 'neath the yoke


s: Straining, drag on a massy-timbered wain,


s: While creaks the circling axle 'neath its load,


s: And from their weary necks and shoulders streams


s: Down to the ground the sweat abundantly;


s: So at the stiff oars toiled those stalwart men,


s: And fast they laid behind them leagues of sea.


s: Gazed after them the Achaeans as they went,


s: Then turned to whet their deadly darts and spears,


s: The weapons of their warfare.  In their town


s: The aweless Trojans armed themselves the while


s: Respite from slaughter, breathing-space from toil.


s: To these, while sorely thus they yearned, the Gods


s: Brought present help in trouble, even the seed


s: A great host followed him, in battle skilled,


s: Full of triumphant trust in their strong spears.


s: Round them rejoicing thronged the sons of Troy:


s: On him who casts them corn, and round his feet


s: Throng hissing uncouth love, and his heart warms


s: As he looks down on them; so thronged the sons


s: They gazed; and gladdened was his aweless soul


s: To see those throngs: from porchways women looked


s: Wide-eyed with wonder on the godlike man.


s: Above all men he towered as on he strode,


s: He comes on jackals.  Paris welcomed him,


s: Being of one blood with him, who was born Of


s: Whom Telephus embraced in his strong arms,


s: Auge the bright-haired bare in secret love.


s: That babe, a suckling craving for the breast,


s: A swift hind fostered, giving him the teat


s: As to her own fawn in all love; for Zeus


s: So willed it, in whose eyes it was not meet


s: That Hercules' child should perish wretchedly.


s: His glorious son with glad heart Paris led


s: Unto his palace through the wide-wayed burg


s: Beside Assaracus' tomb and stately halls


s: Hard by his mansion stood, and therebeside


s: Rose.  As they went, he lovingly questioned him


s: Of brethren, parents, and of marriage-kin;


s: And all he craved to know Eurypylus told.


s: So communed they, on-pacing side by side.


s: Then came they to a palace great and rich:


s: There goddess-like sat Helen, clothed upon


s: With beauty of the Graces.  Maidens four


s: About her plied their tasks: others apart


s: Within that goodly bower wrought the works


s: Beseeming handmaids.  Helen marvelling gazed


s: Then these in converse each with other spake


s: In that all-odorous bower.  The handmaids brought


s: And set beside their lady high-seats twain;


s: Without the city, where the Trojan guards


s: Kept watch.  Their armour laid they on the earth;


s: Their steeds, yet breathing battle, stood thereby,


s: And cribs were heaped with horses' provender.


s: Upfloated night, and darkened earth and air;


s: Then feasted they before that cliff-like wall,


s: Rose from the feasters: all around the glow


s: Of blazing campfires lighted up the tents:


s: Pealed out the pipe's sweet voice, and hautboys rang


s: With their clear-shrilling reeds; the witching strain


s: Of lyres was rippling round.  From far away


s: The Argives gazed and marvelled, seeing the plain


s: Aglare with many fires, and hearing notes


s: Of flutes and lyres, neighing of chariot-steeds


s: And pipes, the shepherd's and the banquet's joy.


s: Therefore they bade their fellows each in turn


s: Keep watch and ward about the tents till dawn,


s: Lest those proud Trojans feasting by their walls


s: Should fall on them, and set the ships aflame.


s: Within the halls of Paris all this while


s: With kings and princes Telephus' hero son


s: Each after each prayed him to play the man


s: To lay them low; and blithe he promised all.


s: So when they had supped, each hied him to his home;


s: But there Eurypylus laid him down to rest


s: Full nigh the feast-hall, in the stately bower


s: Where Paris theretofore himself had slept


s: With Helen world-renowned.  A bower it was


s: Most wondrous fair, the goodliest of them all.


s: There lay he down; but otherwhere their rest


s: Took they, till rose the bright-throned Queen of Morn.


s: Up sprang with dawn the son of Telephus,


s: And passed to the host with all those other kings


s: In Troy abiding.  Straightway did the folk


s: All battle-eager don their warrior-gear,


s: Burning to strike in forefront of the fight.


s: In armour that like levin-flashes gleamed;


s: Upon his shield by cunning hands were wrought


s: All the great labours of strong Hercules.


s: Thereon were seen two serpents flickering


s: Black tongues from grimly jaws: they seemed in act


s: To dart; but Hercules' hands to right and left--


s: Albeit a babe's hands--now were throttling them;


s: For aweless was his spirit.  As Zeus' strength


s: From the beginning was his strength.  The seed


s: Nor helpless, but hath boundless prowess, yea,


s: Strangled in the strong arms of Hercules,


s: His grim jaws dashed about with bloody foam:


s: He seemed in verity gasping out his life.


s: Thereby was wrought the Hydra many-necked


s: Flickering its dread tongues.  Of its fearful heads


s: Some severed lay on earth, but many more


s: Were budding from its necks, while Hercules


s: Toiled hard; the one with lightning sickle-sweeps


s: Lopped the fierce heads, his fellow seared each neck


s: With glowing iron; the monster so was slain.


s: Thereby was wrought the mighty tameless Boar


s: With foaming jaws; real seemed the pictured thing,


s: There fashioned was the fleetfoot stag which laid


s: The vineyards waste of hapless husbandmen.


s: The Hero's hands held fast its golden horns,


s: The while it snorted breath of ravening fire.


s: Thereon were seen the fierce Stymphalian Birds,


s: Some through the grey air darting in swift flight.


s: At this, at that one--hot in haste he seemed--


s: Augeias' monstrous stable there was wrought


s: With cunning craft on that invincible targe;


s: And Hercules was turning through the same


s: The deep flow of Alpheius' stream divine,


s: While wondering Nymphs looked down on every hand


s: Upon that mighty work.  Elsewhere portrayed


s: Was the Fire-breathing Bull: the Hero's grip


s: On his strong horns wrenched round the massive neck:


s: The straining muscles on his arm stood out:


s: The huge beast seemed to bellow.  Next thereto


s: Wrought on the shield was one in beauty arrayed


s: From her swift steed, with fierce resolve to wrest


s: With his strong hands the Girdle Marvellous


s: From the Amazon Queen, while quailing shrank away


s: The Maids of War.  There in the Thracian land


s: These at their gruesome mangers had he slain,


s: And dead they lay with their fiend-hearted lord.


s: Dead mid his kine.  His gory heads were cast


s: In dust, dashed down by that resistless club.


s: Before him slain lay that most murderous hound


s: His brother-hound: a herdman lay thereby,


s: There were the Golden Apples wrought, that gleamed


s: All round the fearful Serpent's dead coils lay,


s: And shrank the Maids aghast from Zeus' bold son.


s: And there, a dread sight even for Gods to see,


s: Was Cerberus, whom the Loathly Worm had borne


s: Of dead folk in the shadowy Gulf of Doom.


s: But lightly Zeus' son with his crashing blows


s: Tamed him, and haled him from the cataract flood


s: Of Styx, with heavy-drooping head, and dragged


s: The Dog sore loth to the strange upper air


s: All dauntlessly.  And there, at the world's end,


s: Were Caucasus' long glens, where Hercules,


s: Rending Prometheus' chains, and hurling them


s: This way and that with fragments of the rock


s: There stormed the wild rout of the Centaurs round


s: And wine, with Hercules the monsters fought.


s: Amidst the pine-trunks stricken to death they lay


s: Still grasping those strange weapons in dead hands,


s: While some with stems long-shafted still fought on


s: In fury, and refrained not from the strife;


s: And all their heads, gashed in the pitiless fight,


s: Were drenched with gore--the whole scene seemed to live--


s: With blood the wine was mingled: meats and bowls


s: There by Evenus' torrent, in fierce wrath


s: For his sweet bride, he laid with the arrow low


s: Nessus in mid-flight.  There withal was wrought


s: Antaeus' brawny strength, who challenged him


s: To wrestling-strife; he in those sinewy arms


s: Raised high above the earth, was crushed to death.


s: There where swift Hellespont meets the outer sea,


s: Lay the sea-monster slain by his ruthless shafts,


s: He seemed the War-god, as from rank to rank


s: He sped; rejoiced the Trojans following him,


s: Seeing his arms, and him clothed with the might


s: Of Gods; and Paris hailed him to the fray:


s: "Glad am I for thy coming, for mine heart


s: Trusts that the Argives all shall wretchedly


s: Be with their ships destroyed; for such a man


s: Mid Greeks or Trojans never have I seen.


s: Now, by the strength and fury of Hercules--


s: To whom in stature, might, and goodlihead


s: Most like thou art I pray thee, have in mind


s: Him, and resolve to match his deeds with thine.


s: Be the strong shield of Trojans hard-bestead:


s: Win us a breathing-space.  Thou only, I trow,


s: From perishing Troy canst thrust the dark doom back."


s: With kindling words he spake.  That hero cried:


s: "Great-hearted Paris, like the Blessed Ones


s: On the Gods' knees, who in the fight shall fall,


s: And as my strength sufficeth, will not flinch


s: From Troy's defence.  I swear to turn from fight


s: Rejoiced the Trojans.  Champions then he chose,


s: The staunchest man to stem the tide of war;


s: These chose he, cunning all in battle-toil,


s: To meet the foe in forefront of the fight.


s: Swiftly they strode before that warrior-throng


s: Then from the city cheering charged.  The host


s: Followed them in their thousands, as when bees


s: Follow by bands their leaders from the hives,


s: With loud hum on a spring day pouring forth.


s: So to the fight the warriors followed these;


s: And, as they charged, the thunder-tramp of men


s: And steeds, and clang of armour, rang to heaven.


s: The barren sea-plain from its nethermost floor,


s: And darkling to the strand roll roaring waves


s: Belching sea-tangle from the bursting surf,


s: And wild sounds rise from beaches harvestless;


s: So, as they charged, the wide earth rang again.


s: Now from their rampart forth the Argives poured


s: Round godlike Agamemnon.  Rang their shouts


s: Cheering each other on to face the fight,


s: And not to cower beside the ships in dread


s: They met those charging hosts with hearts as light


s: As calves bear, when they leap to meet the kine


s: Down faring from hill-pastures in the spring


s: Unto the steading, when the fields are green


s: With corn-blades, when the earth is glad with flowers,


s: And bowls are brimmed with milk of kine and ewes,


s: Uprises as the mothers meet their young,


s: And in their midst the herdman joys; so great


s: Was the uproar that rose when met the fronts


s: Of battle: dread it rang on either hand.


s: Hard-strained was then the fight: incarnate


s: Strife Stalked through the midst, with Slaughter ghastly-faced.


s: Crashed bull-hide shields, and spears, and helmet-crests


s: Meeting: the brass flashed out like leaping flames.


s: Bristled the battle with the lances; earth


s: Ran red with blood, as slaughtered heroes fell


s: And horses, mid a tangle of shattered ears,


s: Some yet with spear-wounds gasping, while on them


s: Others were falling.  Through the air upshrieked


s: For on both hosts fell iron-hearted Strife.


s: Here were men hurling cruel jagged stones,


s: There speeding arrows and new-whetted darts,


s: There with the axe or twibill hewing hard,


s: Slashing with swords, and thrusting out with spears:


s: Their mad hands clutched all manner of tools of death.


s: At first the Argives bore the ranks of Troy


s: Backward a little; but they rallied, charged,


s: Leapt on the foe, and drenched the field with blood.


s: Cheering his men on, hewing Argives down


s: Awelessly: measureless might was lent to him


s: By Zeus, for a grace to glorious Hercules.


s: His spear long-shafted stabbed beneath the ribs,


s: Down on the plain he fell, forth streamed the blood


s: Drenching his splendid arms, drenching the form


s: Glorious of mould, and his thick-clustering hair.


s: There mid the slain in dust and blood he lay,


s: Tearing its banks away, and cleaving wide


s: The goodly form, the grace of loveliness


s: Of Nireus on earth's breast.  But o'er the slain


s: "Lie there in dust!  Thy beauty marvellous


s: Naught hath availed thee!  I have plucked thee away


s: From life, to which thou wast so fain to cling.


s: Rash fool, who didst defy a mightier man


s: Unknowing!  Beauty is no match for strength!"


s: He spake, and leapt upon the slain to strip


s: His goodly arms: but now against him came


s: Doom-overtaken.  With his spear he drave


s: At his right shoulder: strong albeit he was,


s: He touched him, and blood spurted from the gash.


s: Yet, ere he might leap back from grapple of death,


s: Maddens mid thronging huntsmen, furious-fain


s: To rend the man whose hand first wounded him;


s: The long lance shot out swiftly, and pierced him through


s: On the right haunch; yet would he not give back,


s: Nor flinch from the onset, fast though flowed the blood.


s: In haste he snatched a huge stone from the ground,


s: And dashed it on the head of Telephus' son;


s: But his helm warded him from death or harm


s: With that strong warrior, and in fury of soul


s: Clear through Machaon's breast he drave his spear,


s: And through the midriff passed the gory point.


s: A bull, and round him clashed his glancing arms.


s: Swiftly Eurypylus plucked the lance of death


s: Out of the wound, and vaunting cried aloud:


s: "Wretch, wisdom was not bound up in thine heart,


s: That thou, a weakling, didst come forth to fight


s: A mightier.  Therefore art thou in the toils


s: Of Doom.  Much profit shall be thine, when kites


s: Devour the flesh of thee in battle slain!


s: Ha, dost thou hope still to return, to 'scape


s: Mine hands?  A leech art thou, and soothing salves


s: Thou knowest, and by these didst haply hope


s: To flee the evil day!  Not thine own sire,


s: On the wind's wings descending from Olympus,


s: Should save thy life, not though between thy lips


s: Faint-breathing answered him the dying man:


s: Not long: Fate is at point to meet thee here


s: On Troy's plain, and to still thine impious tongue."


s: Then to the dead man spake his conqueror:


s: "Now on the earth lie thou.  What shall betide


s: Hereafter, care I not--yea, though this day


s: Death's doom stand by my feet: no man may live


s: For ever: each man's fate is foreordained."


s: Stabbing the corpse he spake.  Then shouted loud


s: Far thence he stood hard-toiling in the fight,


s: Foe after foe pressed on; yet not for this


s: Was Teucer heedless of the fallen brave,


s: And with a great voice raised the rescue-cry:


s: "Charge, Argives!  Flinch not from the charging foe!


s: Come, with a good heart let us face the foe


s: To rescue these slain friends, or fall ourselves


s: Friends, and to aliens leave them not a prey,


s: Not without sweat of toil is glory won!"


s: Then were the Danaans anguish-stung: the earth


s: All round them dyed they red with blood of slain,


s: As foe fought foe in even-balanced fight.


s: How that in dust his brother lay, struck down


s: By woeful death.  Beside the ships he sat


s: Ministering to the hurts of men with spears


s: Stricken.  In wrath for his brother's sake he rose,


s: He clad him in his armour; in his breast


s: Dread battle-prowess swelled.  For conflict grim


s: He panted: boiled the mad blood round his heart


s: He leapt amidst the foemen; his swift hands


s: Swung the snake-headed javelin up, and hurled,


s: And slew with its winged speed Agamestor's son


s: Cleitus, a bright-haired Nymph had given him birth


s: Fleets smooth as oil through green lands, till it pours


s: Lassus, whom Pronoe, fair as a goddess, bare


s: Beside Nymphaeus' stream, hard by a cave,


s: Men say, unto the Nymphs, even all that haunt


s: The long-ridged Paphlagonian hills, and all


s: That cave is like the work of gods, of stone


s: In manner marvellous moulded: through it flows


s: Cold water crystal-clear: in niches round


s: Stand bowls of stone upon the rugged rock,


s: Seeming as they were wrought by carvers' hands.


s: Statues of Wood-gods stand around, fair Nymphs,


s: Looms, distaffs, all such things as mortal craft


s: Fashioneth.  Wondrous seem they unto men


s: Which pass into that hallowed cave.  It hath,


s: Up-leading and down-leading, doorways twain,


s: Facing, the one, the wild North's shrilling blasts,


s: And one the dank rain-burdened South.  By this


s: Do mortals pass beneath the Nymphs' wide cave;


s: Down-reaching unto Hades, yawns between.


s: This track the Blest Gods may alone behold.


s: So died a host on either side that warred


s: But at the last through desperate wrestle of fight


s: The Danaans rescued them: yet few were they


s: Which bare them to the ships: by bitter stress


s: Of conflict were the more part compassed round,


s: And needs must still abide the battle's brunt.


s: But when full many had filled the measure up


s: Then to their ships did many Argives flee


s: By throngs on throngs of foes on every hand,


s: Had not Oileus' son stabbed with his spear


s: 'Twixt shoulder and breast war-wise Polydamas;


s: Forth gushed the blood, and he recoiled a space.


s: By the right breast, that with swift feet he fled.


s: And many of that slaughter-breathing throng


s: He rushed on godlike Aethicus with the spear;


s: But he shrank from the forefront back mid friends.


s: Marked how the ranks of Troy gave back from fight,


s: He turned him from the host that he had chased


s: Even to the ships, and rushed with eagle-swoop


s: Stout-hearted, who was passing fleet of foot


s: And in fight peerless.  Swiftly he charged on these


s: Grasping his spear long-shafted: at Iris side


s: Charged Paris, charged Aeneas stout of heart,


s: Who hurled a stone exceeding huge, that crashed


s: On Aias' helmet: dashed to the dust he was,


s: Yet gave not up the ghost, whose day of doom


s: Was fate-ordained amidst Caphaerus' rocks


s: On the home-voyage.  Now his valiant men


s: Out of the foes' hands snatched him, bare him thence,


s: Scarce drawing breath, to the Achaean ships.


s: And now the Atreid kings, the war-renowned,


s: Were left alone, and murder-breathing foes


s: Encompassed them, and hurled from every side


s: Whate'er their hands might find the deadly shaft


s: Some showered, some the stone, the javelin some.


s: They in the midst aye turned this way and that,


s: As boars or lions compassed round with pales


s: On that day when kings gather to the sport


s: The people, and have penned the mighty beasts


s: Within the toils of death; but these, although


s: With walls ringed round, yet tear with tusk and fang


s: What luckless thrall soever draweth near.


s: So these death-compassed heroes slew their foes


s: Ever as they pressed on.  Yet had their might


s: Availed not for defence, for all their will,


s: Had Teucer and Idomeneus strong of heart


s: And godlike Thrasymedes, they which shrank


s: Unto the ships to 'scape the crushing doom,


s: But that, in fear for Atreus' sons, they rallied


s: Against Eurypylus: deadly waxed the fight.


s: Then Teucer with a mighty spear-thrust smote


s: Aeneas' shield, yet wounded not his flesh,


s: For the great fourfold buckler warded him;


s: Yet feared he, and recoiled a little space.


s: To aid her folk: him Meriones' keen spear


s: Stabbed 'neath the navel, and the lance-head tore


s: His bowels forth; swift sped his soul away


s: The warrior-friend of Aias, Oileus' son,


s: Shot mid the press of Trojans; for he sped


s: With taunting shout a sharp stone from a sling


s: Into their battle's heart.  They quailed in fear


s: Fate winged its flight to the bold charioteer


s: Of Pammon, Hippasus' son: his brow it smote


s: While yet he grasped the reins, and flung him stunned


s: Down from the chariot-seat before the wheels.


s: The rushing war-wain whirled his wretched form


s: 'Twixt tyres and heels of onward-leaping steeds,


s: And awful death in that hour swallowed him


s: When whip and reins had flown from his nerveless hands.


s: Then grief thrilled Pammon: hard necessity


s: Made him both chariot-lord and charioteer.


s: Now to his doom and death-day had he bowed,


s: Had not a Trojan through that gory strife


s: Leapt, grasped the reins, and saved the prince, when now


s: His strength failed 'neath the murderous hands of foes.


s: As godlike Acamas charged, the stalwart son


s: Of Nestor thrust the spear above his knee,


s: And with that wound sore anguish came on him:


s: Back from the fight he drew; the deadly strife


s: He left unto his comrades: quenched was now


s: His battle-lust.  Eurypylus' henchman smote


s: Echemmon, Thoas' friend, amidst the fray


s: Beneath the shoulder: nigh his heart the spear


s: Passed bitter-biting: o'er his limbs brake out


s: He turned to flee; Eurypylus' giant might


s: Chased, caught him, shearing his heel-tendons through:


s: There, where the blow fell, his reluctant feet


s: Stayed, and the spirit left his mortal frame.


s: Thoas pricked Paris with quick-thrusting spear


s: On the right thigh: backward a space he ran


s: For his death-speeding bow, which had been left


s: Upheaved a stone, huge as his hands could swing,


s: And dashed it on Eurypylus' arm: to earth


s: Fell his death-dealing spear.  Backward he stepped


s: To grasp another, since from out his hand


s: The first was smitten.  So had Atreus' sons


s: A moment's breathing-space from stress of war.


s: But swiftly drew Eurypylus' henchmen near


s: Bearing a stubborn-shafted lance, wherewith


s: He brake the strength of many.  In stormy might


s: Then charged he on the foe: whomso he met


s: He slew, and spread wide havoc through their ranks.


s: Now neither Atreus' sons might steadfast stand,


s: For ruinous panic suddenly gripped the hearts


s: Of all; for on them all Eurypylus rushed


s: Flashing death in their faces, chased them, slew,


s: Cried to the Trojans and to his chariot-lords:


s: "Friends, be of good heart!  To these Danaans


s: Let us deal slaughter and doom's darkness now!


s: Lo, how like scared sheep back to the ships they flee!


s: Forget not your death-dealing battle-lore,


s: O ye that from your youth are men of war!"


s: Then charged they on the Argives as one man;


s: And these in utter panic turned and fled


s: The bitter battle, those hard after them


s: Followed, as white-fanged hounds hold deer in chase


s: Up the long forest-glens.  Full many in dust


s: They dashed down, howsoe'er they longed to escape.


s: The slaughter grim and great of that wild fray.


s: Albeit they were, he slew them.  Then he smote


s: My strength should not suffice to sing their fate,


s: How fain soever, though within my breast


s: Molus the princely,--with king Sthenelus


s: He came from Argos,--hurled from far behind


s: A dart new-whetted, as he fled from fight,


s: Piercing his right leg, and the eager shaft


s: Cut sheer through the broad sinew, shattering


s: The bones with anguished pain: and so his doom


s: Then Paris' arrows laid proud Phorcys low,


s: And Mosynus, brethren both, from Salamis


s: Saw the home-land.  Cleolaus smote he next,


s: Meges' stout henchman; for the arrow struck


s: His left breast: deadly night enwrapped him round,


s: And his soul fleeted forth: his fainting heart


s: Still in his breast fluttering convulsively


s: Made the winged arrow shiver.  Yet again


s: Through his jaw leapt the sudden-flashing brass:


s: He groaned, and with his blood were mingled tears.


s: So ever man slew man, till all the space


s: Was heaped with Argives each on other cast.


s: Now had the Trojans burnt with fire the ships,


s: Had not night, trailing heavy-folded mist,


s: And Troy's sons with him, from the ships aloof


s: A little space, by Simois' outfall; there


s: Camped they exultant.  But amidst the ships


s: Flung down upon the sands the Argives wailed


s: Heart-anguished for the slain, so many of whom


s: Dark fate had overtaken and laid in dust.


s: When heaven hid his stars, and Dawn awoke


s: Outspraying splendour, and night's darkness fled,


s: Then undismayed the Argives' warrior-sons


s: Marched forth without the ships to meet in fight


s: Eurypylus, save those that tarried still


s: Death-dues, with Nireus--Nireus, who in grace


s: And goodlihead was like the Deathless Ones,


s: Yet was not strong in bodily might: the Gods


s: Grant not perfection in all things to men;


s: By some strange fate: to Nireus' winsome grace


s: Was linked a weakling's prowess.  Yet the Greeks


s: Slighted him not, but gave him all death-dues,


s: And mourned above his grave with no less grief


s: Than for Machaon, whom they honoured aye,


s: For his deep wisdom, as the immortal Gods.


s: One mound they swiftly heaped above these twain.


s: Then in the plain once more did murderous war


s: Rose, as the shields were shattered with huge stones,


s: Were pierced with lances.  So they toiled in fight;


s: Fasting in dust and groaning, leaving not


s: His brother's tomb; and oft his heart was moved


s: With his own hands to slay himself.  And now


s: He clutched his sword, and now amidst his herbs


s: Sought for a deadly drug; and still his friends


s: Essayed to stay his hand and comfort him


s: With many pleadings.  But he would not cease


s: From grieving: yea, his hands had spilt his life


s: There on his noble brother's new-made tomb,


s: But Nestor heard thereof, and sorrowed sore


s: As now he flung him on that woeful grave,


s: Beating his breast, and on his brother's name


s: Crying, while thralls and comrades round their lord


s: Groaned, and affliction held them one and all.


s: Then gently spake he to that stricken one:


s: "Refrain from bitter moan and deadly grief,


s: My son.  It is not for a wise man's honour


s: To wail, as doth a woman, o'er the fallen.


s: Thou shalt not bring him up to light again


s: Whose soul hath fleeted vanishing into air,


s: Whose body fire hath ravined up, whose bones


s: Earth has received.  His end was worthy his life.


s: Endure thy sore grief, even as I endured,


s: Who lost a son, slain by the hands of foes,


s: With spears in battle, good in counsel.  None


s: Of all the youths so loved his sire as he


s: Loved me.  He died for me yea, died to save


s: His father.  Yet, when he was slain, did I


s: Endure to taste food, and to see the light,


s: Well knowing that all men must tread one path


s: Hades-ward, and before all lies one goal,


s: Death's mournful goal.  A mortal man must bear


s: All joys, all griefs, that God vouchsafes to send."


s: Made answer that heart-stricken one, while still


s: Wet were his cheeks with ever-flowing tears:


s: "Father, mine heart is bowed 'neath crushing grief


s: For a brother passing wise, who fostered me


s: Even as a son.  When to the heavens had passed


s: Gladly he taught me all his healing lore;


s: We had all things in common these, and love.


s: Now he is dead, to see the light of life."


s: Then spake the old man to that stricken one:


s: "To all men Fate assigns one same sad lot,


s: Bereavement: earth shall cover all alike,


s: Albeit we tread not the same path of life,


s: And none the path he chooseth; for on high


s: Gods Unnumbered, indistinguishably blent.


s: These no Immortal seeth; they are veiled


s: In mystic cloud-folds.  Only Fate puts forth


s: Her hands thereto, nor looks at what she takes,


s: But casts them from Olympus down to earth.


s: This way and that they are wafted, as it were


s: By gusts of wind.  The good man oft is whelmed


s: In suffering: wealth undeserved is heaped


s: On the vile person.  Blind is each man's life;


s: Now sloping down to sorrow, mounting now


s: From the beginning to the end, but still


s: The good and evil clash.  Our life is short;


s: Beseems not then in grief to live.  Hope on,


s: Still hope for better days: chain not to woe


s: Thine heart.  There is a saying among men


s: That to the heavens unperishing mount the souls


s: Of good men, and to nether darkness sink


s: Souls of the wicked.  Both to God and man


s: Dear was thy brother, good to brother-men,


s: Then raised he that reluctant mourner up


s: With comfortable words.  From that dark grave


s: He drew him, backward gazing oft with groans.


s: To the ships they came, where Greeks and Trojan men


s: Eurypylus there, in dauntless spirit like


s: The War-god, with mad-raging spear and hands


s: Resistless, smote down hosts of foes: the earth


s: Was clogged with dead men slain on either side.


s: On strode he midst the corpses, awelessly


s: He fought, with blood-bespattered hands and feet;


s: Never a moment from grim strife he ceased.


s: Against him in the pitiless fray: he fell


s: Fell round him.  Ceased not those destroying hands,


s: But wrathful on the Argives still he pressed,


s: As when of old on Pholoe's long-ridged heights


s: Upon the Centaurs terrible Hercules rushed


s: Storming in might, and slew them, passing-swift


s: And strong and battle-cunning though they were;


s: So rushed he on, so smote he down the array,


s: Heaps upon heaps, here, there, in throngs they fell


s: Strewn in the dust.  As when a river in flood


s: Comes thundering down, banks crumble on either side


s: To drifting sand: on seaward rolls the surge


s: Tossing wild crests, while cliffs on every hand


s: Ring crashing echoes, as their brows break down


s: Beneath long-leaping roaring waterfalls,


s: And dikes are swept away; so fell in dust


s: The war-famed Argives by Eurypylus slain,


s: Some few escaped, whom strength of fleeing feet


s: Delivered.  Yet in that sore strait they drew


s: Peneleos from the shrieking tumult forth,


s: And bare to the ships, though with swift feet themselves


s: Were fleeing from ghastly death, from pitiless doom.


s: Behind the rampart of the ships they fled


s: In huddled rout: they had no heart to stand


s: To crown with glory his son's stalwart son,


s: Thrilled them with panic.  There behind their wall


s: They cowered, as goats to leeward of a hill


s: Shrink from the wild cold rushing of the wind


s: That bringeth snow and heavy sleet and haft.


s: No longing for the pasture tempteth them


s: Over the brow to step, and face the blast,


s: But huddling screened by rock-wall and ravine


s: They abide the storm, and crop the scanty grass


s: Under dim copses thronging, till the gusts


s: Of that ill wind shall lull: so, by their towers


s: Screened, did the trembling Danaans abide


s: Telephus' mighty son.  Yea, he had burnt


s: The ships, and all that host had he destroyed,


s: The Argive men with courage.  Ceaselessly


s: From the high rampart hurled they at the foe


s: With bitter-biting darts, and slew them fast;


s: And all the walls were splashed with reeking gore,


s: So fought they: nightlong, daylong fought they on,


s: Ceteians, Trojans, battle-biding Greeks,


s: Fought, now before the ships, and now again


s: Round the steep wall, with fury unutterable.


s: From murderous fight; for to Eurypylus came


s: A Danaan embassage, saying, "From the war


s: Forbear we, while we give unto the flames


s: The battle-slain."  So hearkened he to them:


s: From ruin-wreaking strife forebore the hosts;


s: And so their dead they buried, who in dust


s: Had fallen.  Chiefly the Achaeans mourned


s: Peneleos; o'er the mighty dead they heaped


s: The multitude of heroes slain they laid,


s: Mourning with stricken hearts.  On one great pyre


s: They burnt them all, and buried in one grave.


s: So likewise far from thence the sons of Troy


s: Buried their slain.  Yet murderous Strife slept not,


s: But roused again Eurypylus' dauntless might


s: To meet the foe.  He turned not from the ships,


s: But there abode, and fanned the fury of war.


s: Meanwhile the black ship on to Scyros ran;


s: And those twain found before his palace-gate


s: Achilles' son, now hurling dart and lance,


s: Now in his chariot driving fleetfoot steeds.


s: The deeds of war, albeit his heart was sad


s: For his slain sire, of whom had tidings come


s: Ere this.  With reverent eyes of awe they went


s: To meet him, for that goodly form and face


s: "All hail, ye strangers, unto this mine home


s: Say whence ye are, and who, and what the need


s: That hither brings you over barren seas."


s: "Friends are we of Achilles lord of war,


s: Yea, when we look on thee we seem to see


s: That Hero's self; and like the Immortal Ones


s: Thou hast heard the name of Tydeus' warrior son


s: An end shall be.  Gifts beyond words to thee


s: The Achaean kings shall give: yea, I myself


s: Will give to thee thy godlike father's arms,


s: And great shall be thy joy in bearing them;


s: For these be like no mortal's battle-gear,


s: But splendid as the very War-god's arms.


s: Over their marvellous blazonry hath gold


s: Been lavished; yea, in heaven Hephaestus' self


s: Rejoiced in fashioning that work divine,


s: The which thine eyes shall marvel to behold;


s: For earth and heaven and sea upon the shield


s: Are wrought, and in its wondrous compass are


s: Creatures that seem to live and move--a wonder


s: Hath seen their like, nor any man hath worn,


s: Save thy sire only, whom the Achaeans all


s: From mine heart loved him, and when he was slain,


s: And through them all bare back to the ships his corse.


s: Therefore his glorious arms did Thetis give


s: To me.  These, though I prize them well, to thee


s: Will I give gladly when thou com'st to Troy.


s: Yea also, when we have smitten Priam's towns


s: His princess-child to wife, of love for thee,


s: And with his bright-haired daughter shall bestow


s: Rich dower of gold and treasure, even all


s: Fare forth upon the broad depths of the sea,


s: A light of help.  Now pass we to mine halls,


s: Before the stranger.  For my marriage-day--


s: To this the Gods in time to come shall see."


s: Then hall-ward led he them, and with glad hearts


s: They followed.  To the forecourt when they came


s: Of that great mansion, found they there the Queen


s: Grief-wasted, as when snow from mountain-sides


s: Before the sun and east-wind wastes away;


s: So pined she for that princely hero slain.


s: Then came to her amidst her grief the kings,


s: And greeted her in courteous wise.  Her son


s: Drew near and told their lineage and their names;


s: But that for which they came he left untold


s: There should be added grief and floods of tears,


s: And lest her prayers should hold him from the path


s: Whereon his heart was set.  Straight feasted these,


s: And comforted their hearts with sleep, even all


s: Which dwelt in sea-ringed Scyros, nightlong lulled


s: By long low thunder of the girdling deep,


s: Of kindly sleep.  She bore in mind the names


s: The godlike, how these twain had widowed her


s: Of battle-fain Achilles, how their words


s: Had won his aweless heart to fare with them


s: To meet the war-cry where stern Fate met him,


s: Shattered his hope of home-return, and laid


s: Therefore an awful dread oppressed her soul


s: Should speed, and grief be added to her grief.


s: Dawn climbed the wide-arched heaven, straightway they


s: Rose from their beds.  Then Deidameia knew;


s: And on her son's broad breast she cast herself,


s: And bitterly wailed: her cry thrilled through the air,


s: Seeks through the glens her calf, and all around


s: "Child, wherefore is thy soul now on the wing


s: The fount of tears, where perish many in fight,


s: Yea, cunning men in war and battle grim?


s: And thou art but a youth, and hast not learnt


s: The ways of war, which save men in the day


s: Here in thine home, lest evil tidings come


s: From Troy unto my ears, that thou in fight


s: Hast perished; for mine heart saith, never thou


s: Hitherward shalt from battle-toil return.


s: Not even thy sire escaped the doom of death--


s: He, mightier than thou, mightier than all


s: Heroes on earth, yea, and a Goddess' son--


s: But was in battle slain, all through the wiles


s: Therefore mine heart is full of shuddering fear


s: Lest, son, my lot should be to live bereaved


s: Of thee, and to endure dishonour and pain,


s: Than when her lord hath perished, and her sons


s: Her landmarks, yea, and rob her of her all,