HOMER: "ILIAD": BOOK XXI: THE FIGHT WITH THE RIVER.

 HOMER: "ILIAD": BOOK XXI: THE FIGHT WITH THE RIVER.

Introduction: 

Achilles' aristeia continues into Book XXI, but largely in set confrontations, as Homer uses every device he can to delay his eventual meeting with Hector. The book falls into four distinct episodes, each one skilfully joined to its predecessor and successor by a transitional passage: 1) single combats with Lycaon and Asteropaeus (ll. 34-210); 2) the fight between Achilles and the river Xanthus (ll. 227-327); 3) the battle of the gods (ll. 383-513); and 4) Achilles' pursuit of the Trojans into their city, with the brave Agenor providing a diversion (ll. 520-611). In the third of these episodes the conflict between the pro-Achaean and pro-Trojan gods provides one with some comic relief, as the gods cannot seriously hurt one another. 

Ll. 1-33. Achilles reaches the Scamander. 

But, when they came to the ford of the swirling fair-flowing river Xanthus (i.e. men called it the Scamander), which immortal Zeus had begot, there he split (them) in two, and one part he chased over the plain in the direction of the city, to where the bewildered Achaeans had fled on the previous day, when glorious Hector was raging; so they poured across it in flight, and Hera spread a thick mist before (them) in order to hold (them) back; and the other half were forced together into the deep-flowing river with its silver eddies, and into (it) they fell with a great crash, and the rapid torrent resounded, and the banks echoed greatly all around (them); and they swam this way and that with a shout, as they were whirled around in the eddies. And, as, when beneath the blast of a fire, locusts float in the air, and flee to the river; and, having been suddenly aroused, the tireless fire blazes, and they shrink down into the water; and so beneath Achilles the roaring stream of the deep-swirling Xanthus was filled with a mixture of horses and men.   

But the god-begotten (warrior) (i.e. Achilles) left his spear there on the bank, leaning against the tamarisk (bushes) and he leapt in like a demon with only his sword, and he devised grim deeds in his mind, and he struck out in all directions; and pitiful groaning arose from those that were struck by his sword, and the water became red with blood. And, as the other fish flee from under a dolphin of huge size and, in their terror, fill the nooks of a well-sheltered harbour - for greedily does he devour whichever (one) he catches - so the Trojans cowered down beneath the overhanging banks of the streams of that dread river. And, when his hands grew weary of slaying, he chose twelve youths live from the river (as) payment for the dead Patroclus, son of Menoetius. These he led outside, amazed like fawns, and he bound their hands behind (them) with the well-cut straps, which they themselves used to wear on their pliant tunics, and he gave (them) to his comrades to lead (them) down to the hollow ships. Then, back he sprang again, eager to slaughter.  

Ll. 34-63. Achilles captures Lycaon, son of Priam. 

There he met a son of Dardanian Priam, (as he was) fleeing from the river, (namely) Lycaon, whom he himself had once taken and brought, against his will, from his father's orchard, having come forth during the night; and he was cutting the young shoots of a wild fig-tree, in order to be the rims of a chariot; but upon (him) came godlike Achilles, that unexpected bane. Then, he sold him to well-established Lemnos, having led (him there) in his ships, but the son of Jason (i.e. Euneos) had given a price (for him). But a guest-friend ransomed him from there, (namely,) Eëtion of Imbros, and a good price he gave, and he sent him to sacred Arisbe (i.e. probably a sanctuary on Lemnos); from there he secretly escaped and came to his ancestral home (i.e. Troy). Having come from Lemnos, his heart was joyful amid his loved ones for eleven days; but on the twelfth (day) a god threw him once more into the hands of Achilles, who would send him to Hades, loath though he was to go (there). Now, when swift-footed godlike Achilles became aware of him, (he was) unarmed, without helmet and shield, nor was he carrying a spear, but he had thrown away all these (things) on to the ground; for sweat oppressed (him), as he fled from the river, and weariness came over his knees; then, sorely angered, he (i.e. Achilles) spoke to his great-hearted spirit: "Oh, in truth, this is a great wonder that I behold with my eyes; the great-hearted Trojans, whom I have slain, will assuredly rise up again from the murky darkness below, seeing that this (man) has come (here), having escaped the pitiless day (of doom), when he was sold across the sea into sacred Lemnos; nor has the salt of the grey sea held him back, though it restrains many (men) against their will. But come now, the point of our grey spear shall he taste, so that I may see in my heart and know whether he will come back from that place in a similar manner, or whether the life-giving earth, which holds down even a strong (man), will restrain him."  

Ll. 64-96. Lycaon begs Achilles not to slay him.

So he (i.e. Achilles) waited and pondered; but the other one (i.e. Lycaon) came near him in a dazed state, eager to touch his knees, and he very much wished in his heart to escape grim death and dark fate. Now, godlike Achilles raised his long spear, eager to smite (him), but the other one ran under it, and, bending forward, took hold of his knees; and the spear stuck in the ground over his back, eager to have its fill of human flesh. Then, he began to beg (for mercy), as he clasped his knees with one hand, and held the sharp-edged spear with the other, nor would he let (it) go; and he spoke these winged words as he addressed him: "By your knees, I beseech you, Achilles; and do you take pity on me and show me mercy; beloved of Zeus, I am equivalent to you and deserving of respect; for I first ate the grain of Demeter with you, on that day when you took me captive in that well-ordered orchard, and you sold me across the sea, taking me to sacred Lemnos far from my father and my friends, and I earned you the price of a hundred oxen. And now I have bought my freedom by paying three times as much; and this is my twelfth morning, since I came to Ilium, having suffered much; now deadly fate has put me in your hands once more; I must surely be hated by Father Zeus, (seeing that) he has given me to you again; now, my mother bore me to a short span of life, Laothoe (that is), the daughter of old man Altes, Altes (that is), he who is lord of the war-loving Leleges and who dwells in lofty Pedasus (i.e. a town in the Troad) on the (river) Satnioeis. Priam had his daughter to be his wife, and many others too; and from her the two (of us) were born, and you will cut the throats of (us) both. In truth, you overcame him among the foremost men-at-arms, godlike Polydorus (that is), when you struck (him) with a sharp spear; and now evil shall come upon me even here; for I do not think I shall escape your hands, since a god has brought (me to them). And I will tell you another (thing), and do you bear it in your mind; do not slay me, since I am not (come) from the same womb as Hector, who killed your kind and valiant companion."

Ll. 97-135. The death of Lycaon.     

So the glorious son of Priam spoke to him with words of entreaty, but the voice he heard (was) a harsh (one): "(You) fool, do not talk to me of ransom, nor try to lecture me; for, until Patroclus met his fateful day, so it was, to some extent, a better (thing) in my mind to spare the Trojans, and I took many (of them) alive and sold them overseas; but now there is not one (of them) who shall escape death, not one of all those Trojans whom a god shall deliver into my hands, and (that is) particularly (the case) with regard to the sons of Priam. And you too shall die, my friend; why then do you lament in such a way? Patroclus also died, though (he was) a much better (man) than you. Do you not see what kind (of man) I (am), both tall and handsome? I am (the son) of a noble father (i.e. Peleus), and the mother (who) bore me (i.e. Thetis) (is) a goddess; but, let me tell you, over me too (hang) death and mighty fate; a morning, or an evening, or a mid-day shall come, when some (man) shall take my life in battle, whether he struck me with a spear or with an arrow from the string."   

So he (i.e. Achilles) spoke, and then did his (i.e. Lycaon's) knees and his heart collapse; and he let go of the spear, and he sat with both his hands outstretched; then, Achilles drew his sharp sword and smote (him) on the collar-bone beside the neck, and the whole of his two-edged sword sank into him; and he lay there prone stretched upon the ground, and dark blood flowed forth and soaked the earth. Then, Achilles seized him by the  foot and flung (him) into the river to float, and, as he exulted over him, he spoke these winged words: "Lie there now among the fishes, who shall carelessly lick the blood from your wound; nor shall your mother lay you on a bier and lament, but the swirling Scamander will bear you into the broad gulf of the sea; many a fish, as he springs beneath the waves, shall dart beneath the black ripples, and he shall eat the white fat of Lycaon. So shall you perish as we come to the city of sacred Ilium, you in flight and I creating havoc in your rear. Not even the fair-flowing river with his silver eddies will assist you, and to him you used, for a long time, to sacrifice many bulls, and to cast single-hooved horses into his eddies, (while they were still) alive. But even so you will perish by an evil fate, until you have all paid the price for the death of Patroclus and the destruction of those Achaeans, whom you slew by the swift ships in my absence."

Ll. 136-160. Asteropaeus challenges Achilles.

So he spoke, and the river (god) (i.e. Xanthus) was further angered in his heart, and pondered in his mind how he might restrain godlike Achilles from his work, and ward off ruin from the Trojans. Meanwhile, in his eagerness to slay (him), the son of Peleus leapt with his long-shafted spear upon Asteropaeus, the son of Pelegon; and the broad-flowing Axius and Periboea, Acessamenus' eldest daughter, had begotten him; for the deeply-eddying river (god) had lain with her. So, Achilles sprang at him, and he stood forth from the river to face (him), holding two spears. Now, Xanthus put courage in his heart, since he had been angered at the slaying of the active men, whom Achilles was cutting down along the stream without pity. But, when they were at close range, as they advanced against one another, swift-footed godlike Achilles spoke to him first: "Who among men, and from where, are you, who has dared to come against me? Unhappy (are they whose) children will face my might."  

Then, the glorious son of Pelegon replied to him: "Great-hearted son of Peleus, why indeed do you ask about my birth? I come from fertile Paeonia (i.e. a region of Thrace), (a place) which is far away, bringing (with me) men of Paeonia with their long spears; and, as for me, this is now the eleventh morning since I came to Ilium. But my descent (is) from the wide-flowing Axius, whose water is the loveliest on earth, who begat Pelegon, renowned for his spear; and they say that he was my father; now then, glorious Achilles, let us fight!"

Ll. 161-199. The death of Asteropaeus.

So he spoke in a threatening manner, but godlike Achilles lifted up his spear of Pelian ash; then, the warrior Asteropaeus threw spears from both of his hands at the same time, for he was ambidextrous. Now, with one spear he struck his shield, but it did not pierce the shield right through; for gold, the gift of a god, blocked (it); and with the other (hand) he smote him with a grazing blow on the elbow of his right arm, and black blood spouted forth; but, though longing to taste the flesh, it fixed itself in the earth above him. Then, secondly, in his eagerness to slaw (him), Achilles hurled his straight-flying ashen spear at Asteropaeus. But he missed his (man), and he struck the lofty bank, and he drove the ashen spear up to half of its length into the bank. But the son of Peleus, drawing his sharp sword from beside his thigh, leapt eagerly upon him; but the other (one) could not draw Achilles' ashen spear from the bank with his stout hand. Three times he made it quiver in his eagerness to draw (it), and three times he withdrew his efforts; but on the fourth (occasion) he wished in his heart to bend and break the ashen spear of the son of Aeacus (i.e. Achilles' father, Peleus), but before that Achilles (drew) near and took away his life with his sword. For he struck him in the belly beside his navel, and all his bowels gushed forth on to the ground; and darkness covered his eyes as he (lay) gasping; then, Achilles leapt upon his breast, and stripped him of his armour and said these words in triumph: "So, lie (there); hard (it is) for you to strive with the children of the most mighty son of Cronos, begat from a river (god) though (you may be). You said you were born from a wide-flowing river, but I claim to be sprung from almighty Zeus. The man who begat me is lord of the many Myrmidons, (namely) Peleus, son of Aeacus; and Aeacus himself was sprung from Zeus. Therefore, as Zeus is mightier than the rivers that flow into the sea, so the stock of Zeus (is) mightier than (that which) stems from a river. For beside you there is a great river, if it can help you in any way; but there is (to be) no fighting with Zeus, the son of Cronos, and not even lord Achelous (i.e. by tradition the largest and most ancient river in Greece, it rises in the Central Pindus Mountains and flows for 140 miles to the Ionian Sea to the west) can vie with him, nor the great might of the deep-flowing Ocean, from whom flow all rivers and all seas, all springs and all deep wells; but he too is afraid of the lightning and dread thunder of great Zeus, when it crashes down from heaven." 

Ll. 200-232. Achilles continues to kill one Trojan after another, until the Scamander makes a protest. 

So he (i.e. Achilles) spoke, and he drew forth his spear of bronze from the bank, and there he left him (i.e. Asteropaeus) lying on the sand, since he had robbed him of his life, and they dark water kept him wet. Then, the eels and the fishes took charge of him, plucking out and feeding on the fat on his kidneys, but he (i.e. Achilles) went his way after the Paeonian horsemen, who were still running in panic along the swirling river, when they saw their best (man) in the fierce conflict forcibly vanquished beneath the hands and sword of the son of Peleus. There he slew Thersilochus, and Mydon, and Astypylus, and Mnesus, and Thrasius, and Aenius and Ophelestes; and yet more of the Paeonians would Achilles have slain, if the deep swirling river, in the guise of a man, had not addressed (him) in anger and sent forth his voice from a deep whirlpool: "O Achilles, beyond (all) men you are the strongest, and beyond (all men) do you perform evil (deeds); for the gods themselves always give you assistance. If the son of Cronos has given you (the power) to slay all the men of Troy, do you drive them from my (stream) and do your deadly deeds on the plain; nor, choked with bodies (as I am), can I pour forth my waters into the bright sea, while you continue your murderous slaughter. But come, let (things) be! Amazement takes hold of me, (you) leader of hosts."

Then, swift-footed Achilles said to him in answer: "So shall it be, Scamander, nurtured of Zeus, just as you say. But I shall not cease from slaying the proud Trojans, until I have penned (them) in the city, and I have tried to match myself with Hector face to face, whether he should slay me, or I him."

So saying, he leapt upon the Trojans like a god; and then the deep-swirling river addressed Apollo: "Shame on you, (lord) of the silver bow, child of Zeus, you have not respected the will of the son of Cronos, who strongly enjoined you to stand by the Trojans and protect (them), until the the late-setting (star of) evening shall come, and has darkened the very fertile ploughland."   

Ll. 233-271. Achilles is harassed by the Scamander. 

So he (i.e. Xanthus/the Scamander) spoke, and Achilles, famed for his spear, sprang from the overhanging bank and leapt into the midst (of the stream); and he (i.e. Xanthus/the Scamander) rushed furiously upon him in a swell, and whipped up all his waters into turmoil, and pushed away the many dead bodies that were heaped in his (bed, of men) whom Achilles had slain, and cast them out on to (dry) land, bellowing like a bull; and the living he rescued by means of his lovely streams, hiding (them) in his eddies deep (and) wide. But the water rose up around Achilles, seething terribly, and the stream beat upon his shield and thrust (him back), nor was he able to stand firmly on his feet; but he grasped in his hands an elm-tree tall (and) shapely; but it fell from the roots and tore away the whole bank, and it held back the whole stream with its thick branches, and he (i.e. Xanthus/the Scamander) dammed himself up as they crashed into the entire river, but he (i.e. Achilles) sprang out from the eddy, and, in his fear, he darted in flight across the plain on his swift feet; but the great god (i.e. Xanthus/the Scamander) did not leave off, but rushed upon him in a darkening swell, so that he might stop godlike Achilles from his work, and ward off destruction from the Trojans. But the son of Peleus rushed off as far as the cast of a spear with the swoop of a black eagle, the hunter that (is) both the strongest and the swiftest of winged (creatures); like him he darted, and the bronze (armour) on his breast rang terribly; and he fled from beneath the swerving of the flood, but it followed behind him, flowing with a mighty roar. And, as when a man conducts water from a dusky spring amid his plants and gardens, he guides its flow, and, with a mattock in his hands, he clears away the obstacles from the water-course; and, as it flowed forwards, all the small pebbles are swept away by (the water), and it murmurs as it glides swiftly along in sloping country, and even outstrips its guide; so did the flood of the river always overtake Achilles, even though he was fleet of foot; for gods are mightier than men. As often as the swift-footed godlike Achilles sought to make a stand against (him), and to see if all the immortals who hold broad heaven were forcing him to flee, so often would the great flood of the heaven-sent river crash down upon his shoulders from above; and the river would overpower his knees, as it flowed furiously beneath (him), and wash away the dust beneath his feet. 

Ll. 272-297. Poseidon and Athene come to the assistance of Achilles. 

Then, the son of Peleus uttered a bitter cry as he looked at the broad heaven; "Father Zeus, how (is it) that not one of the gods undertook to rescue me in my plight from the river? Then should I suffer anything! In my case, not one of the heavenly beings (is) as culpable as my dear mother, who beguiled me with falsehoods; she said that I should perish by the swift missiles of Apollo beneath the wall of the mail-clad Trojans. Would that Hector had slain me, (he) who is the best (man) bred here; then would a brave (man) have been the slayer, and a brave (man) would have been slain; but now I am fated to be taken by a miserable death, trapped (as I am) in the great river like a boy herding pigs, whom the torrent sweeps away as he is crossing in a storm."

So he spoke, and then Poseidon and Athene came very quickly and stood by his side, like mortal men in form, and they clasped his hands in their hands and reassured him with their words. And of the two of them, Poseidon the Earth-Shaker was the first to speak: "Son of Peleus, do not tremble so much, and do not be at all afraid; for we, let me tell you, are your helpers from the gods, of whom Zeus approves, even I and Pallas Athene; therefore, it is not your destiny to be vanquished by a river, but he will soon give you respite, and you shall know (it) yourself; but we will give you wise counsel, if you should hearken to (it); do not withhold your hands from fearful battle, until you have penned the Trojan host who have escaped you within the famed walls of Ilium; and, when you have deprived Hector of his life, go you back to the ships; and we grant that you win this glory."    

Ll. 298-323. Xanthus seeks the assistance of Simois in checking Achilles. 

When the two of them had spoken thus, they went back among the immortals; but he (i.e. Achilles) went towards the plain, for the bidding of the gods had mightily aroused (him); and the whole (plain) was filled with a flood of water and the fair suits of armour and the corpses of young men slain in battle; but his knees leapt on high as he rushed straight on towards the plain, nor could the wide-flowing river hold him back; for Athene had put great strength in (him). nor would the Scamander abate his fury, but he was even more wrathful with the son of Peleus, and, raising himself aloft, he called out with a shout to Simois (the god of the River Simois, which flows from Mount Ida to the plain of Troy, where, he joined the Xanthus/Scamander): "May the two of us check the might of this man, seeing that he will soon destroy the great city of King Priam, and the Trojans will not withstand (him) in battle. But come you with all speed to my aid and fill your streams with water from your springs, and arouse all your torrents and make a great wave, and raise a great din of tree-trunks and stones, so that we may check this fierce man, who prevails even now, and he strives in equality with the gods. I do not think that his strength or his appearance will avail (him) at all, nor those fine arms which will lie deep beneath the mere, covered by slime; and himself will I enwrap in the sands of the seashore, and over him shall I spread a mass of shingle, beyond measurement, nor will the Achaeans know (from where) to gather his bones; such a pile of silt shall I heap on top of him. Here will his sepulchre be forged, nor will he have any need of a cairn, when the Achaeans shall come to inter him." 

Ll. 324-360. The fires of Hephaestus lead Xanthus into submission.

(So) he (i.e. Xanthus) spoke, and, in his excitement, he rushed at Achilles, raging on high and seething with foam, and blood and corpses. And a dark wave of the heaven-fed river stood hanging (above him), and was about to overwhelm the son of Peleus; but Hera cried out loudly, in her fear for Achilles, lest the great deep-swirling river should sweep him away, and forthwith she spoke to her dear son Hephaestus: "Rouse yourself, my crook-footed child, for it was against you that we thought to match the swirling Xanthus in fight; but do you bring help as quickly as possible, and kindle a great fire. But I will come and rouse from the sea a fierce blast of the West Wind and the brightening South Wind, which, by driving on the evil flame, shall utterly consume the Trojans and their battle-gear, and do you burn up his trees along the banks of the Xanthus, and set him on fire; and do not let him turn you back at all with soft words and threats; and do not put a stop to your fury, but only when I call (you) with a shout, and then do you quench your tireless fire."`So she spoke, and Hephaestus made ready a god-kindled fire. The fire was first kindled on the plain, and it buried many corpses, which lay in piles around him, (of men) whom Achilles had slain; and the whole plain was parched, and the shining water was held back. And, as when in the early autumn the North Wind dries up a freshly watered garden, and he who tills it is glad, so the whole plain was parched and he consumed the dead bodies; and then he turned his gleaming flame towards the river. And the elms, and the willows and the tamarisk bushes were burned, and burned were the lotus and the rushes and the galingale that grew in abundance around the fair streams of the river; distressed were the eels and the fishes in the eddies, and they tumbled this way and that in the fair streams, sore distressed by the blast of the quick-witted Hephaestus. And the mighty river (i.e. Xanthus) burned as well, and spoke these words in a loud voice: "None of the gods can vie with you (i.e. Hephaestus), nor can I fight with you, ablaze with fire as you are. Cease from strife, and (as for) the Trojans, let the godlike Achilles drive (them) out of their city at once; what have I to do with strife and the bearing of aid?" 

Ll. 361-399. The strife of the gods continues.

So he (i.e. Xanthus) spoke, burning with fire. And as a cauldron boils within, when driven by a fierce fire, and it melts the lard of a plump fatted hog, while bubbling up on every side, and dry pieces of timber are laid beneath (it), so his fair streams burned with fire, and the water boiled; nor did he wish to flow any further, but he held himself in check; and the blast of the might of resourceful Hephaestus distressed (him). Then, as he prayed urgently to Hera, he spoke these winged words: "Why, pray, has your son soiled my stream in order to torment me beyond (all) the others? Truly, I am not so much at fault as all the others, who are helping the Trojans. But I shall certainly stop, if you bid (me). But let him also stop; for I shall swear this (oath), never to ward off the evil day from the Trojans, not even when all of Troy is burning with raging fire, and the warlike sons of the Achaeans shall kindle (it)." 

Now, when the white-armed goddess Hera heard this (plea), she spoke at once to her dear son Hephaestus: "Check yourself, Hephaestus, my glorious child; for it is not seemly to strike an immortal god in this way for the sake of mortals!"  

So she spoke, and Hephaestus quenched his wondrous fire, and the fair streams rushed back down again, but, when the fury of Xanthus was overcome, then the two of them ceased (to fight), for Hera restrained (them) despite her anger; but strife, weighty (and) grievous, fell upon the other gods, and the spirit in their breasts was driven in different directions; then, they joined together with a great crash, and the wide earth rang (with it), and great heaven rang loudly round about (them), as with a trumpet. And Zeus heard (it) as he sat upon Olympus; and the heart within him laughed loudly with joy, as he beheld the gods joining in strife. Then, they no more held aloof; for Ares, piercer of shields, began (the fray), and he leapt first upon Athene with his brazen spear, and he spoke these words of reproach: "Why then, you dog-fly, are you driving the gods in strife with your stormy courage, as your mighty spirit forces (you) on with your stormy courage? Or do you not remember (the time) when you sent Diomedes, the son of Tydeus, to wound me and you openly grasped his spear and drove (it) straight at me, and rent my fair flesh? So, now I think that you will pay the price for all that you have done." 

Ll. 400-433. Athene overcomes Aphrodite.

Thus speaking, he struck at the dread tasselled aegis, against which not even the lightning of Zeus could prevail; there did the murderous Ares strike at it with his long spear. But she (i.e. Athene) drew back, and with her stout hand she seized a stone that lay on the plain, black, and jagged and huge (it was), which men of former times had set there to be the boundary mark of a field; with it she smote the furious Ares on the neck, and loosened his limbs. And in his fall he stretched over seven plethra (i.e. about seven hundred feet), and he sullied his hair with dust, and his armour clanged about him; but Athene laughed, and, exulting over him, she spoke these winged words: "(You) childish (one), not even yet have you now learned how much stronger (than you) I claim to be, so that you match your strength with mine. So you shall fully satisfy the Erinyes (i.e. the Furies) invoked by your mother (i.e. Hera), who devises evil (things) against you in her wrath, because you deserted the Achaeans and bring aid to the overbearing Trojans."

When she (i.e. Athene) had thus spoken, she turned her bright eyes away (from him); then, Aphrodite, the daughter of Zeus, took his hand and sought to lead him away, groaning very frequently (as he was); and scarcely were his senses recovering. But, when the white-armed goddess Hera became aware of her, forthwith she spoke these winged words to Athene: "Alas, Atrytone (i.e. the Tireless One, an epithet of Athene), the child of Zeus who bears the aegis, there again the dog-fly (i.e. Aphrodite) is leading Ares, the bane of mortals, amid the throng from the press of battle; but (you must) go after her." 

So she (i.e. Hera) spoke, and Athene pursued (her) glad at heart, and she came up and smote her (i.e. Aphrodite), and there her knees were loosened and her heart (melted). So, they both lay on the bounteous earth, and, exultingly, she (i.e. Athene) spoke these winged words: "Like this may they all now be, who fight against the mail-clad Argives to aid the Trojans, even as daring and steadfast as Aphrodite (was) when she came as an ally to Ares to face my strength; now soon after this we shall have ceased from war, having sacked the well-established city of Ilium." 

Ll. 434-467. Poseidon and Apollo argue with each other.

So she (i.e. Athene) spoke, and the white-armed goddess Hera smiled (at this). But the Lord Earth-shaker (i.e. Poseidon) addressed Apollo: "Why, Phoebus, are the two of us standing aloof? It does not seem right when others have made a start. Shameful it would be, if we went back without fighting to Olympus and to the house of Zeus with its brazen base; for you (are) the younger by birth; for in my case it would not be right, since I am the elder born, and know more. (You) fool, what a stupid heart you have! Nor do you now remember all the woes we two, alone of the gods, suffered around Ilium, when, at the bidding of Zeus, we came to serve the lordly Laomedon for a year at a stipulated price; and he gave us orders and told us what to do. Indeed, for the Trojans I built a wall around their city, wide and very magnificent (it was), so that their city would be impregnable. And you, Phoebus, tended cattle with a shambling gait and twisted horns on the slopes of wooded Ida with its many glens. But now, when the glad seasons were bringing to an end the (terms of) our hire, then did dread Laomedon defraud the two of us of all of our wages, and send us away in a threatening manner. And he threatened that he would bind our feet and hands together from above, and export us for sale to some distant islands; and he promised to lop off the ears of us both with his bronze (dagger). Then, the two of us (i.e. Poseidon and Apollo) went back with malice in our hearts, angry at the wages, which he had promised (us) but had not delivered. Now you (i.e. Apollo) are showing favour to his (i.e. Laomedon's) folks, nor do you seek with us that the overbearing Trojans should perish in a wretched plight with their children and their honoured wives."

Then, the far-shooting lord Apollo spoke to him (i.e. Poseidon) again: "(You would) not (consider) me to be of sound mind, if I should go to war with you for the sake of wretched mortals, who are like leaves, at one time full of flames, consuming the fruit of the field, and at another time they pine away and perish. But let us speedily cease from fighting; and may they do battle by themselves." 

Ll. 468-501. Artemis is overpowered by Hera.

So, having spoken, he (i.e. Apollo) turned back, for he felt ashamed to engage hand to hand with his father's brother (i.e. Poseidon). But his sister, the huntress Artemis, the queen of wild beasts, strongly berated him, and spoke these words of reproach: "Then, far-shooter, you are fleeing, and you have yielded a complete victory to Poseidon, and a worthless offering you have given him; (you) fool, why do you now bear a bow (which is) so windy (i.e. useless)? Now I shall no longer hear you boasting in the halls of our father that once among the immortal gods, you fought face to face against Poseidon."

So she spoke, but Apollo the far-shooter did not reply to her at all, but the revered wife of Zeus (was) angered and rebuked the lady of the bow (i.e. Artemis) with these reproachful words: "How do you now strive to stand against me, (you) fearless bitch? I am, let me tell you, hard to match in might, even in the case of a bow-bearer, since it was against women that Zeus made you a lion, and granted that you slay whichever one you wish. Surely it is better to be slaying wild beasts and deer in the mountains than to be fighting (those) mightier (than you) in strength. But, if you wish to learn about war, then may you know full well how much stronger I am, whenever you match your strength with mine." 

So she (i.e. Hera) spoke, and she grabbed both her arms at the wrist with her left hand, and with her right hand she took the bow and quiver from her shoulders, and with these she beat (her) about the ears, as she kept on turning around smiling; and the swift arrows fell from (their quiver). Then, from underneath (her) the goddess (i.e. Artemis) fled away in tears, like a dove that flew before a falcon into a hollow rock, a cleft; so, it is not her fate to be caught; then she ran away in tears, and she left her bow and arrows there. But the messenger, the slayer of Argos (i.e. Hermes), spoke to Leto (i.e. the mother of Artemis):  "I will not fight with you in any way; for hard (it is) to bandy blows with the wives of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, but I am very willing that you should boast among the immortal gods that you did overpower me with your mighty strength." 

Ll. 502-536. While the gods quarrel, Achilles continues to slay the Trojans. 

So he (i.e. Hermes) spoke, and Leto gathered up the curved bow and arrows that had fallen here and there amid the whirl of dust. When she had taken her daughter's bow and arrows, she went back; and the maiden (i.e. Artemis) went to the bronze-floored mansion of Zeus on Olympus, and sat weeping on her father's knees, and her immortal robe quivered around (her); then, her father, the son of Cronos, drew her to him, and, laughing pleasantly, he began to question her: "Which of the heavenly beings has been treating you in so thoughtless a manner as this, my dear child, as if you were openly doing something wicked?" 

And the well-crowned (goddess) answered him again in a clear voice: "(It was) your wife, white-armed Hera, who beat me, Father; because of her, quarrels and strife have taken hold of the immortals." 

Thus did they say such (things) to each other; then did Phoebus Apollo enter the sacred (city of) Ilium; for it was a matter of concern to him that the Danaans should not sack the wall of the well-built city on that day contrary to its destiny. But the rest of the ever-living gods went (back) to Olympus, some angry, and some openly rejoicing; and they sat down beside their father, wrapt in clouds (as he was); but Achilles continued to slay the Trojans, both them and their single-hooved horses alike. And, as when smoke from some burning city goes up to the broad sky, when the anger of the gods has kindled it, and toil comes upon everyone, and sorrow is extended to many, even so did Achilles bring toil and sorrow to the Trojans.  

And the old man Priam stood upon the sacred wall, and became aware of the monstrous Achilles; now the Trojans were being driven by him forthwith in headlong flight, and there was no help (for them). Then, he got down from the wall with a groan, and, calling upon the renowned gate-keepers along the wall, (he said): "Hold the gates wide open with your hands, until the people shall come to the city in their flight; for here at hand is Achilles as he drives (them) on; now I think there will be deadly (work). But, when they get their breath back, confined within the wall, then close the close-fitting double-doors again; for I am afraid lest that dreadful man should jump on to the wall."  

Ll. 537-570. Agenor prepares to take on Achilles.

So he spoke, and they opened the gates and pulled back the bolts; and the opening of the gates brought deliverance; but Apollo leapt forth to face (Achilles), in order to ward off ruin from the Trojans. And they were fleeing straight for the city and its high wall, parched with thirst and covered in dust from the plain; and he (i.e. Achilles) pursued (them) eagerly with his spear, and a mighty rage ever took hold of his heart, and he earnestly desired to win (himself) glory. 

Then would the sons of the Achaeans have taken high-gated Troy, if Phoebus Apollo had not aroused the godlike Agenor, son of Antenor, and a peerless and most powerful man (he was). He put courage in his heart, and he himself stood by his side, as he was leaning against an oak-tree (i.e. the one near the Scaean Gate), in order that he might ward off the heavy hands of death; and he was hidden in thick mist. But he halted, when he saw Achilles, sacker of cities, and his dark heart (pondered) many (things) as he waited; and, heavy at heart, he (i.e. Agenor) spoke to his great-hearted spirit: "Woe is me; if I flee from mighty Achilles (to the place) where the rest are being driven, distraught with terror (as they are); even so shall he slay me, and in my impotence behead (me).  But (what) if I should suffer these (men) to be driven in rout by Achilles, son of Peleus, and flee on my feet from the wall elsewhere towards the plain of Ilium, until I come to the slopes of Ida and dive into the bushes; then, in the evening, when I have washed myself in the river and got rid of my sweat, I may return to Ilium; but why does my heart converse with me about these (things)? Let him not notice me, as I set off from the city to the plain, and, darting after me, overtake me with his fleetness of foot. Then, it will no longer be possible to avoid death and the fates; for he is exceedingly mighty beyond all men. But (what) if I go forth to meet him in front of the city; for even his flesh may be vulnerable to this sharp bronze, and in him there is but one life, and mortal do men consider him to be; however, Zeus, the son of Cronos, gives the glory to him (i.e. Achilles)."

Ll. 571-611. Apollo saves Agenor.

So saying, he (i.e. Agenor) crouched down and awaited Achilles, and the valiant heart within him was eager to wage war and to fight. Just as a leopardess goes forth from a deep thicket before the face of a huntsman, and has no fear at all in her heart, and does not flee when she hears the baying (of hounds); for even though he outstrips her and wounds or strikes (her), yet, though she is pierced through by a spear, she does not cease from her fury, until she grapples with him or is slain; so did godlike Agenor, the son of lordly Antenor, refuse to flee until he should put Achilles to the test. But he held before (him) his all even (i.e. quite round) shield and took aim at him with his spear, and loudly shouted: "Now I think that you very much hope in your heart, glorious Achilles, to sack the city of the lordly Trojans on this day, fool (that you are); in truth, many woes will still be brought about because of her. For within her there are many valiant men, who in front of their dear parents, wives and sons are guarding Ilium; and here you shall meet your doom, despite your being so violent and daring a warrior."  

So he (i.e. Agenor) spoke, and he hurled the sharp spear from his heavy hand, and it struck (him) (i.e Achilles) on the shin below the knee, and it did not miss (him). And the greave of newly wrought tin rang out terribly around him; but the bronze (point) darted back from (him) after it had struck (him), nor did it pierce (him), but the gift of the god held it back.Then, the son of Peleus set upon godlike Agenor in his turn; but Apollo did not allow (him) to win glory, but snatched him away and covered (him) in thick mist, and sent him quietly away from the battle. But he kept the son of Peleus away from the people by a trick; for resembling Agenor himself in every way, the one who works from afar stood in front of his feet, and rushed to pursue (him) on his feet; while he pursued him over the wheat-bearing plain, and, turning towards the deep-swirling river Scamander, he kept running a little in front of him; and Apollo deceived (him) with his cunning, so that he ever hoped to overtake him on his feet; meanwhile, the rest of the Trojans, having been put to flight, came gladly to the city in a mass, and the town was filled with them thronging together. They no longer dared to await one another outside the city and its wall, and to know who had escaped and who had been slain in battle; but they poured eagerly into the city, whichever one of them his feet and his knees had saved.