HOMER: "ILIAD": BOOK XIV: THE SEDUCTION OF ZEUS.

HOMER: "ILIAD": BOOK XIV: THE SEDUCTION OF ZEUS. 

Introduction:

Book XIV is the second book in the three book interlude in the plot of the 'Iliad' (i.e. Chapters XIII-XV) in which the action on the third day of the fighting which began in Book XI is deliberately 'retarded' by Homer for the sake of entertainment. The book, itself, consists of three distinct sections: 1) a meeting between Nestor and the three major Achaean fighters wounded in Book XI, Agamemnon, Odysseus and Diomedes (ll. 1-152; 2); the seduction of Zeus by his wife Hera, from which the book gets its name, "Διὸς ἀπάτη" (ll. 153-351); and the resumption of fighting, in which the Achaeans are mostly victorious (ll. 352-522). In the famous second section, Hera decides to seduce her husband Zeus on the peak of Mount Ida, so he will fall asleep and lose his control of the battlefield, in which he has been assisting the Trojans at the request of Thetis, because of Agamemnon's treatment of her son Achilles. With the assistance of the god Hypnos (Sleep), Hera's plan succeeds, Zeus falls asleep, her brother Poseidon openly helps the Achaeans, Hector is wounded by Ajax the Greater and leaves the field, and the Trojans are driven into flight. The story of Zeus' seduction is brilliantly told by Homer, in a way that combines fantasy and subtle humour, and one can well imagine how entertaining it must have been to his listeners.

Ll. 1-26.  Nestor sees that the Achaeans are in retreat.  

The cry (of battle) does not escape the notice of Nestor, even though he is drinking (wine), but he addressed these winged words to the son of Asclepius: "Think (now), godlike Machaon, what are the things we can do? The shouting of the active young men by the ships is (now growing) louder. But you should sit and drink this gleaming wine, until lovely-haired Hecamede (i.e. the maiden given as a slave to Nestor after Achilles captured the island of Tenedos) has heated a hot bath (for you) and washed away the clotted blood; but I will go quickly to a place where I shall discover (what is going on)."

So he spoke, and he took the well-made shield of his son, the horse-taming Thrasymedes, (that was) lying in the hut, all gleaning with bronze; now his son was carrying his father's shield. Then, he grasped a strong spear, tipped with sharp bronze, and he stood outside the hut, and at once he saw a shameful situation, (the Achaeans) being in a state of confusion, and, behind (them), the high-spirited Trojans driving (them) on; and the Achaeans' wall had fallen. And just as when the great sea heaves with a noiseless swell, thus presaging the rapid pathways of the shrill winds, nor does it roll forward one way or the other until some steady wind comes down from Zeus, so the old man ponders, divided in his mind between two (courses), whether he should join the throng of the Danaans with their swift horses, or (go) after Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the host. And so, as he pondered, it seemed the better (course) to go in quest of the son of Atreus. And the others fought, and went on slaying one another; and the unyielding bronze rang around their bodies, as they thrust at one another with their swords and their double-pointed spears. 

Ll. 27-63. Nestor meets with the wounded leaders of the Achaeans. 

The kings fostered by Zeus met with Nestor as they came up from the ships, (namely) the son of Tydeus (i.e. Diomedes), Odysseus and Atreus' son, Agamemnon. For, far away from the fighting, the ships had been drawn up on the shore of the grey sea; for they had drawn up the foremost (ones) on to the plain, and had built the wall along their sterns. For, though the beach was wide, it was not able to hold all the ships, and the host was confined. So, they had dragged (the ships) up in rows, and had filled the wide mouth of the whole bay, which the headlands enclosed. So, wishing to see (the state) of the battle and the war, they were all going along together, (each) leaning on his own spear (for support), and the heart in the chest of each one of them was grieving. And the old man Nestor came to meet (them), and the spirit quailed in the breasts of the Achaeans. The lord Agamemnon spoke to him and said: "O Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, pray why have you left the deadly battle and come back here? I am afraid that mighty Hector may fulfil his word, the one with which he once threatened us when speaking in (the assembly) of the Trojans, that he would not return to Ilium from beside our ships, until he had set the ships on fire, and  killed the (men) as well. So he spoke in such a way; and now all these (things) are being brought to pass. Oh yes, surely the other well-greaved Achaeans are laying up anger against me in their hearts, even as Achilles (does), and have no wish to fight by the sterns of the ships.    

So then, the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him: "Verily then, these (things that you speak of) have been made ready, nor could Zeus himself, who thunders on high, have fashioned (them) otherwise. For the wall has now been thrown down, (that wall) in which we trusted that it would be an unbreakable defence for our ships and ourselves. And men maintain a ceaseless fight by the ships without pause; now you could not tell, however hard you looked, from what side the Achaeans are being driven in confused rout, as they are being slain indiscriminately, and their cry goes up to heaven. But let us consider what are the (things) we can do, if thought can accomplish anything; but I do not urge us to enter the battle; for it is not at all possible for a wounded (man) to fight." 

Ll. 64-102.  Odysseus reproaches Agamemnon. 

Then again, Agamemnon, king of men, answered him: "Since they are now fighting at the sterns of the ships, and the well-made wall was of no help (to us), nor in any way the trench, at which the Danaans sorely laboured and hoped in their hearts that it would prove to be an unbreakable defence for their ships and themselves; so I think that it must be pleasing to almighty Zeus that the Achaeans should perish here without names far from Argos. For I knew when he was willing to help the Danaans, and I know now when he exalts them equally with the blessed gods, and has bound our strength and hands. But come, let us all be persuaded to do as I say. Let us haul down the ships that are drawn up in the front line near the sea, and pull them into the shining sea, and let us moor (them) out at sea with anchor-stones, until immortal night shall come, and then the Trojans may hold back from war; and then we might drag down all the ships. For it is in no way shameful to flee from ruin, not even by night. (It is) better that (a man) should flee and avoid ruin than that he should fall into the hands of an enemy."  

Then, looking askance (at him), Odysseus, (that man) of many wiles, said to him: "Son of Atreus, what sort of word has slipped past the barrier of your teeth!  Disastrous (man that you are), would that you were in command of some other pitiful army and not be king over us, (men) on whom Zeus has imposed the burden of grievous wars from youth to old age, until we pine away, each one (of us). Are you really so keen to leave behind the broad-paved city of Troy, for the sake of which we have endured so many evils? Be silent, lest some other of the Achaeans hear these words, which no man should let pass through his mouth, (no) man (that is) who knows in his heart (what are) the right (things) to say, and who is a sceptered (king) and (one) whom as many hosts obey as the Argives, among whom you rule. But now I blame you entirely for the thoughts which you have uttered; (you it is) who bids (us), when war and battle have been joined, to haul our well-benched ships down to the sea, so that the Trojans, victorious as they already are, may gain even more of what they wish for, and utter destruction may fall upon us. For the Achaeans will not carry on fighting once the ships have been drawn to the sea, but they will look around as if to flee, and withdraw from the battle. Then will your plan prove disastrous, (you) leader of the hosts." 

Ll. 103-152.  Poseidon encourages the Achaeans to go on fighting. 

Then, Agamemnon, king of men, answered him: "O Odysseus, I do not require the sons of the Achaeans to drag the well-benched ships down to the sea against their will. But now let there be someone, whether he be young or old, who can propose a better plan than this; for it would be welcome to me."   

Then, Diomedes, good at the war-cry, also spoke among them: "That man (is) here; we shall not need to seek (him) for very long, if you are willing to be persuaded and not to feel any angry resentment, anyone of you, that I am the youngest among you in years; but I too claim to be from a noble father by birth, Tydeus (that is), whose (body) a mound of earth covers in Thebes (i.e. he was one of the Seven against Thebes and had been killed in an unsuccessful assault on that city). For three peerless sons were born to Portheus, and they dwelt in Pleuron and steep Calydon  - Agrius and Melas, and the third was the horseman Oeneus, the father of my father: and in valour he was pre-eminent among them. But, while he continued to live there, my father moved away and settled in Argos; for, doubtless, Zeus and the other gods so willed (it). And he wedded (one) of the daughters of Adrastus (i.e. the king of Argos during the war of the Seven against Thebes), and lived in a house rich in substance, and he had wheat-bearing fields in plenty, and there were many rows of trees round about, and he owned many flocks of sheep; and he surpassed all the Achaeans in his (use of the) spear; of these (things) it seems likely that you will know whether they are true. Therefore, you will not say that I am a coward and a weakling by birth, and so despise any spoken counsel that I may have said well. Come then, we must go back to the fighting, even though (we are) wounded. When (we are) there, let us keep away from the missiles of the battle-field, lest, by chance, one (of us) should get a wound on wound; but the others we shall encourage and send in (to battle), even (those) who have previously given way to their own feelings, and have stood aloof and not fought."

So he spoke, and they listened to him readily and obeyed; then they went their way, and Agamemnon, king of men, led them. 

Now, the famous Earthshaker (i.e. Poseidon) was not keeping a blind man's watch; but he went with them in the shape of an old man, and he took hold of the right hand of Agamemon, son of Atreus, and in addressing him he spoke these winged words: "Son of Atreus, the baneful heart of Achilles is doubtless now rejoicing in his breast when he sees the slaughter and headlong flight of the Achaeans, since he has no sense, (no,) not even a small amount. But so may he perish and may some god bring him down; but in no way are the blessed gods utterly resentful of you, but even yet do I believe that the leaders and rulers of the Trojans will raise the dust of the wide plain, and you yourself will behold (them) fleeing to their city from your ships and your huts."

Ll. 153-192.  Hera plans to distract Zeus by the beauty of her appearance. 

Now, golden-throned Hera looked with her eyes, as she stood on a peak of Olympus, and at once she recognised him (i.e. Poseidon) as he went busily across the battle-field where men win glory, her own brother and her husband's brother, and she rejoiced at heart; and Zeus she saw seated on the highest peak of Ida with its many springs, and he was hateful to her heart. Then, ox-eyed queenly Hera wondered how she might completely deceive the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus; and this seemed to her (to be) the best plan, to go to Ida, having beautifully adorned herself, (to see) if he might perhaps desire to lie beside her body in love-making, and she might cast a warm and gentle sleep upon his eyelids and his sagacious mind. So, she went her way to her chamber, which her dear son Hephaestus had made for her, and he had fitted strong doors to the door-posts with a secret bolt that no other god might open; (and) there she entered and closed the bright doors. First, she cleansed all the dirt from her lovely body with ambrosia, and then she richly anointed herself with sweet ambrosial oil, which was itself full of perfume; if it had been shaken in the palace of Zeus with its threshold of bronze, its scent would still have reached earth and heaven. With it she anointed her beautiful body, and she combed her loose flowing hair, and with her hands she made plaits of her bright locks of hair, fair and ambrosial (as they were), (coming) from her immortal head. Then, she put an ambrosial robe around herself, which Athene had made for her with great adornment, and on it she embroidered many decorations; and she fastened (it) over her breast with golden brooches. And she girded herself with a girdle fitted with a hundred tassels, and into her pierced ear-lobes she put earrings richly wrought with three bright drops; and much beauty shone from (them). Then did that most divine of goddesses with a bright newly-made veil; and it was bright like the sun; and she bound fine sandals under her shining feet. But, when she had put every adornment around her body, she went forth from her chamber, and, having summoned Aphrodite aside from the other gods, she said these words to (her): "Will you now oblige me to some extent, dear child, in terms of what I shall say, or will you refuse me, being angry in your heart at the (fact) that I (am helping) the Danaans, and you are helping the Trojans?" 

Ll. 193-241.  Hera borrows Aphrodite's belt. 

Then, Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, answered her: "Hera, august goddess, daughter of great Cronos, say what is in your mind; my heart bids me do (it), if I can do (it), and if it is (something) that can be done."

Queenly Hera replied to her with deceitful intentions: "Now give me that (charm of) love and desire, by which you subdue all immortals and mortal men. For I am going to visit the ends of the bountiful earth, and Ocean, the source of the gods, and mother Tethys, (the ones) who well-nourished and reared me in their halls, after they had taken (me) from Rhea, when far-seeing Zeus forced Cronos to settle beneath the earth and the barren sea; so them I am going to see, and I shall settle their endless strife; for they have, each one of them, held aloof for a long time now from the marriage-bed and from love-making, since anger entered into their hearts. If by persuading them in their hearts, I might bring them back to their marriage-bed to be united in love-making, I should ever be called dear by them and worthy of their regard."

The laughter-loving Aphrodite replied to her again: "It is not possible, nor is it right, that I should refuse what you ask. For you sleep enfolded in the arms of Zeus, the noblest (of the gods)."

(So) she spoke, and from her bosom she loosed her many-coloured band embroidered band, and it was there that all her charms were fashioned; in (it) there (is) love, and in (it there is) desire, and in (it there is) the allurement of fond discourse, which even steals the wits of those of good sense. She put this into her hands, and addressed (her) by speaking these words: "Here now, lay upon your bosom this many-coloured band, in which all (things) are fashioned; nor do I think you will return unsuccessful in regard to whatever you desire in your heart."

So she spoke, and ox-eyed queenly Hera smiled, and then, as she smiled, she laid the band in her bosom. 

Then, Aphrodite, the daughter of Zeus, went to her house, but Hera darted away and left the peak of Olympus, and came to Pieria (i.e. the region of Thessaly around Mount Olympus) and lovely Emathia (i.e. the ancient name for Macedonia), and she sped across the snowy hills of the horse-herding Thracians (and over) their highest peaks; nor did she touch the ground with her feet; and from Athos (i.e. a mountainous promontory in the northern Aegean) she went across the swelling sea and arrived at Lemnos (i.e. an island in the northeastern Aegean), the city of godlike Thoas (i.e. the son of Dionysus and Ariadne, and father of Hypsipyle). There she met Sleep, the brother of Death, and she clasped him by the hand and addressed him by speaking these words: "Sleep, lord of all gods and all men, as you have hearkened to my word in the past, so now do what I ask once more, and I shall feel gratitude towards you all my days. Close the bright eyes of Zeus beneath his brows in sleep, as soon as I shall have lain at his side in love-making. Then, I will give you gifts, a fine throne made of gold, ever imperishable; and my son Hephaestus, (he who is) lame in both feet, shall design (it) and make (it for you), and he will set a footstool beneath (it), on which you can rest your shining feet when you are feasting at a banquet."    

Ll. 242-269.  In order to overcome Sleep's reluctance to meet her request, Hera offers him one of the Graces in marriage. 

Then, sweet Sleep said to her in reply: "Hera, august goddess, daughter of great Cronos, another of the gods who live forever might I readily lull to sleep, even the streams of the river of Ocean, the source who has created all (of them); but to Zeus, son of Cronos, I shall not come nearer, nor lull to sleep, unless he bids (me do so). For a behest of yours has already taught me a lesson on another occasion, on the day when that high-spirited son of Zeus (i.e. Heracles) sailed from Ilium, after he had sacked the city of the Trojans. In truth, I put to sleep the mind of Zeus who bears the aegis (by) shedding my sweetness all around (him); and you devised evil (things) in your heart against his (son), when you aroused blasts of harsh winds over the deep, and then did you carry him away to well-peopled Cos (i.e. an island in the south-eastern Aegean off the south-west coast of Asia Minor), far away from all his friends. But, when he awoke, he was full of wrath, and tossed gods to and fro around his palace, and he sought for me above all (others); and he would have hurled me from heaven into the sea to be seen no more, if Night, the tamer of gods and men, had not saved (me); I came to her in my flight, and despite his anger he (i.e. Zeus) refrained. For he was anxious lest he should do (things that were) displeasing to swift Night. Now again you are asking me to undertake this other impossible (task)."

Then, ox-eyed queenly Hera spoke to him again: "Sleep, why in truth do you feel so strongly about these (things) in your mind? Do you really think that far-seeing Zeus (will feel the same anger) in support of the Trojans, as the anger he showed on behalf of his own son? But come (now), and I shall give you one of the younger Graces, to be married (to you) and to be called your wife, Pasithea (that is), for whom you have ever longed all your days."

Ll. 270-311.  Hera, secretly accompanied by Sleep, visits Zeus on Mount Ida.

So she spoke, and Sleep rejoiced and said in reply: "Come now, swear to me by the inviolable water of the Styx, and take hold of the bountiful earth with one hand and the sparkling sea with the other, so that all the gods who are below with Cronos  may be our witnesses that you will give me one of the younger Graces, (namely) Pasithea, whom I myself have longed for all my days." 

So he spoke, and the white-armed goddess Hera did not dissent, but swore the oath as he had bade (her), and she named all the gods who live beneath Tartarus, who are called Titans (i.e. the sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia). But, when she had sworn and completed the oath, the two (of them) set out and left the cities of Lemnos and Imbros (i.e. islands in the northern Aegean), (and,) covering themselves in mist, they went swiftly on their way. And they came to Ida (i.e. a mountain near Troy, and the favourite seat of Zeus) with its many springs, the mother of wild beasts, to Lecton (i.e. the westernmost promontory of Anatolia, situated between the islands of Tenedos and Lesbos), where they first left the sea; and they went on over dry land, and the tops of the trees shook beneath their feet. There Sleep came to a halt, before the eyes of Zeus could behold (him), and he climbed up into an exceedingly high fir-tee, which (was) the tallest that was ever produced on Ida, and it reached up through the mists into the upper air; here he perched, covered closely by the pine branches, in the shape of a clear-voiced bird of augury, which in the mountains gods call a 'chalcis' (i.e. a bronze-bird) and men a 'cymindis' (i.e. night-hawk).  

But Hera went swiftly onwards towards Gargaron, the summit of lofty Ida; and Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, saw (her). And when he saw (her), so love enveloped the thoughts of his heart, just as when they first joined in love-making and went to bed (together), without telling their parents. And he stood before her and, in addressing (her) he said the following words: "With what desire, Hera, have you come down to this (place) from Olympus? But the horses and chariot which you could have mounted are not here."

Then, queenly Hera answered him with a deceitful purpose (viz. she repeats the false story she told to Aphrodite in ll. 200-210 above): "I am going to the ends of the bountiful earth to visit Ocean, the source of the gods and mother Tethys, (the ones) who well-nourished and reared me in their halls; them I am going to see, and I shall settle their endless strife; for they have, each of them, held aloof for a long time from the marriage-bed and love-making, since anger entered their hearts. And my horses stand at the foot of Mount Ida with its many fountains, and they are ready to carry me over the dry and the wet (i.e. over land and water). But now I have come down here to this (place) from Olympus because of you, lest perhaps you should be angry with me afterwards, were I to go to the house of deep-flowing Ocean without a word (to you)."

Ll. 312-351.  Zeus makes love to Hera.  

Then, Zeus the cloud-gatherer spoke to her in reply: "Hera, you can make your journey there later. But come (now), let us go to bed and find pleasure in love-making; for never yet has desire for a goddess or a mortal woman so flooded the heart in my breast and overpowered me, (no,) not even when I fell in love with the wife of Ixion, who bore Peirithoüs (i.e. king of the Thessalian Lapiths and friend of Theseus), (who was) equal to the gods as a counsellor, nor when (I fell in love) with Danaë, the lovely-ankled daughter of Acrisius, who bore Perseus, the most glorious of men; nor when (I fell in love) with the daughter of the far-famed Phoenix (i.e. Europa), who bore me Minos and godlike Rhadamanthus; nor when (I fell in love) with Semele or Alcmene in Thebes, (she) who gave birth to a son, the stout-hearted Heracles; and Semele bore Dionysus (i.e. the God of Wine), the joy of mortals; nor when (I fell in love) with queen Demeter (i.e. the Goddess of Agriculture) with her lovely hair, nor when (I fell in love) with glorious Leto (i.e. the mother of Apollo and Artemis), nor with you, yourself, as the love I now have for you, and as sweet desire has taken hold of me."   

Then, queenly Hera answered him with crafty intent: "Most dread son of Cronos, what things you have said! If now you long to lie in love-making on the peaks of Ida, and all (things) are open to view, what would happen if one of the everlasting gods should behold us sleeping and point (us) out to all the gods? I could not go back to your house, for it would be (something) worthy of shame. But, if is your wish and it is dear to your heart, you do have a bed-chamber, which my dear son Hephaestus constructed for you, and he fitted strong doors to the door-posts; there let us go and lie down, since bed is now delightful to you."

Then, Zeus the cloud-gatherer spoke to her in reply: "Hera, do not fear any of the gods or men shall behold such a thing; with this golden cloud I shall enfold you; (for) not even Helios might discern the two of us, (he) whose light is the sharpest (of all) to behold things."

So speaking, the son of Cronos took his wife into his arms; and beneath them the divine earth put forth budding grass, and dewy clover, and saffron, and hyacinth, thick and soft, which kept them away from the ground. In this (spot) they lay, and they were covered by a beautiful golden cloud; and glistening dew-drops fell from (it). 

Ll. 352-377.  Poseidon urges the Achaeans to fight on.

So the father slept calmly on the heights of Gargaron, subdued by sleep and love-making, and he held his wife in his arms; and sweet Sleep went running to the ships of the Achaeans to give the news to the Mover and Shaker of the Earth; and he stood near (him) and spoke these winged words: "Please now bring help to the Danaans, Poseidon, and bring them glory, if only for a short space of time, while Zeus still sleeps, since I have completely enveloped him in soft slumber; now Hera seduced him into lying down and making love (to her)." 

So he (i.e. Sleep) spoke, and away he went to (visit) the glorious tribes of men, but it made the other (i.e. Poseidon) yet more eager to bring help to the Danaans. And at once, with a great leap forward amongst the foremost (fighters), he exhorted (them thus): "Are we Argives willing to let victory go once more to Hector, son of Priam, so he can take our ships and win (himself) glory? But so he thinks and prays, because Achilles stays by the hollow ships with his heart full of wrath; but our longing for him will in no way be so great, if the rest of us should arouse ourselves to bring help to one another. But come now, let us all do as I say; let us don shields which (are) the strongest and the biggest in the army, and let us cover our heads with all-blazing helmets, and take the longest spears in our hands, and go forth; and I shall lead the way, nor do I think that Hector, son of Priam, will stay (here) any longer, great though his eagerness may be. And (he) who (is) a man staunch in battle, but has a small shield on his shoulder, let him give (it) to a poorer man, and let him clad himself in a larger shield."

Ll. 378-401.  The Achaeans and the Trojans clash once more in battle. 

So he spoke, and so they listened closely to him and obeyed (him); and the kings, wounded though (they were), supervised the (men), (namely) the son of Tydeus (i.e. Diomedes), Odysseus and Agamemnon, the son of Atreus; and they went about everywhere and effected the exchange of armour; the good (man) donned the good (armour), and gave the poorer (armour) to the poorer (man). Then, when they had put gleaming bronze around their bodies, they went on their way; and Poseidon the Earth-Shaker was their leader, holding in his stout hand his terrible long-pointed sword like a lightning-flash; it is not the right (thing) to engage with it in the sadness of battle, but fear holds men back. 

On the other side glorious Hector marshalled the Trojans. Then dark-haired Poseidon and glorious Hector strung out the most grim strife of war, with the latter indeed supporting the Trojans and the former the Argives; and they met with a mighty roar. The waves of the sea do not crash so loudly on the shore when driven from the deep by the cruel blast of the North Wind, nor (is) the roar of a fire blazing in the hollows of a mountain so loud, when it has stirred up the forest in its burning, nor does the wind shriek so loudly among the high crests of the oak-trees, (the wind) which roars particularly loudly when angry, as was the sound of the Trojans and the Achaeans, shouting fearfully, when they leapt at one another. 

Ll. 402-439.  Ajax wounds Hector. 

At Ajax did glorious Hector first cast his spear, since he was turned directly towards him, nor did he miss, but (he hit him in the place) where two straps were stretched across his chest, one indeed (holding) his shield, and the other his silver-studded sword; and they guarded his tender flesh. And Hector was angry that his swift spear had flown from his hand without result, and he fell back into the throng of his comrades, avoiding fate. But then, as he went back, great Telamonian Ajax (struck) him with a large stone, such as the many props of the swift ships that rolled amidst their feet as they fought, and he lifted one of these and smote (him) on the chest, just below the neck over the rim (of his shield), and sent him whirling like a top, and he staggered around in every direction. And, just as when an oak-tree should fall by the roots beneath the blast of father Zeus, and the dread reek of sulphur comes from it, and courage no longer possesses the man who, who, being nearby, should look at (it), for fearsome is the thunderbolt of mighty Zeus, so should the strength of Hector fall swiftly to the ground in the dust; and the spear fell from his hand, and his shield and his helmet were fixed on to him, and his armour, wrought with bronze, rang round about him. Then, the sons of the Achaeans ran up shouting loudly, hoping to drag (him) away, and they hurled a dense (volley of) spears; but no one was able to wound or to strike the shepherd of the host; for, ere that (should happen), the leading (men) stood over (him), (namely) Polydamas, and Aeneas, and godlike Agenor, and Sarpedon, the leader of the Lycians, and the peerless Glaucus. And none of the others neglected him, but they held their round shields in front of him. And his comrades lifted him up in their arms, and bore him from the toil (of battle), until they came to the swift horses that were standing with their driver and their embellished chariot behind the fighting and the (place of) battle; then, they carried him to the city groaning heavily. 

But, when they came to the ford of the fair-flowing river of the swirling Xanthus (i.e. the Scamander), which immortal Zeus begot (i.e. this refers to the river god), there they took him from the chariot to the ground, and poured water on him; and he took breath and looked up with his eyes, and, squatting on his knees, he vomited forth black blood; then, he sank back again to the ground, and black night covered both his eyes, and the blow still subdued his spirit.  

Ll. 440-474.  The fierce fighting continues.      

Now, when the Argives saw Hector going away, they sprang at the Trojans all the more, and thought of the joy of battle. Then, swift Ajax, son of Oïleus, (was) by far the foremost, and, as he leapt at (him) with his spear, he wounded Satnius, the son of Enops, whom a peerless water-nymph (i.e. a Naiad) had borne to Enops, as he was grazing his cattle by the banks of the Satnioïs (i.e. a river of the Troad). To him did the son of Oïleus, famed for his spear, draw near; and he (i.e. Satnius) fell on his back, and all around him the Trojans and the Danaans came together in fierce combat. To defend him came the spearman Polydamas, son of Panthoüs, and he struck Prothoënor, son of Areïlycus, in the right shoulder, and the spear kept on going right through his shoulder, and he fell in the dust and clawed the earth with his hand. And Polydamas exulted greatly, and cried aloud: "In truth I do not think that the spear has been hurled in vain from the stout hand of the great-hearted son of Panthoüs, but one of the Argives has got (it) in the flesh, and I think he will go down to the house of Hades supported by it (i.e. using it as a crutch)."   

So he spoke, and pain came upon the Argives because of his boasting; and he especially moved to anger the heart of the warrior Ajax, the son of Telamon (that is), for he (i.e. Prothoënor) fell (when he was) especially close to him. Then did he (i.e. Telamonian Ajax) swiftly cast at him (i.e. Polydamas) with his shining spear. But Polydamas himself avoided black fate (by) jumping sideways, and Archelochus, son of Antenor, got (it); for, in his case, the gods had decreed his destruction. He (i.e. Telamonian Ajax) smote him at the junction of his head and neck, at the topmost joint of the spine, and it sheared through both of the tendons; and far sooner did his head, and his mouth and his nose hit the ground, as he fell, than (did) his legs and his knees. Then Ajax shouted in turn to peerless Polydamas: "Think about (it), Polydamas, and tell me truly - for, in truth, (is) not (the fact) that this man (i.e. Archelochus) has been killed a fair exchange for Prothoënor? For he does not appear to me a mean (man) or (a man) of inferior (stock), but (to be) the brother of Antenor, tamer of horses, or his son; for he seemed the nearest to him in family."  

Ll. 475-505.  An even battle rages, but the Achaeans gradually gain the upper hand. 

So he spoke, knowing (the truth) full well, and pain seized the hearts of the Trojans. Then, Acamas, stepping around his brother's (body), stabbed the Boeotian Promachus with his spear; he was trying to drag (him) away by the feet. Then, Acamas exulted over him fearfully, and cried out loudly: "(You) Argives, full of threats (as you are), there shall surely not be toil and woe for us only, but you too will be killed at some time in this way. Consider how your Promachus sleeps, vanquished by by my spear, so that the blood-price for my brother will not be unpaid for long; so a man prays that he has a kinsman left in his house to avenge his destruction."

So he spoke, and pain came upon the Argives because of his exulting; and in particular did he arouse to anger the heart of the warrior Peneleos; and he rushed at Acamas; nor did he withstand the charge of lord Peneleos; but he (i.e. Peneleos) stabbed the son of Phorbas, rich in flocks, whom Hermes loved the most among the Trojans, and had bestowed property (on him); and for him did his mother bear Ilioneus as an only (child). Then him did he smite below the brow at the base of his eyes, and he knocked out an eyeball; and the spear came out through his eye-socket and through the nape of his neck, and he sat down and stretched out both his arms; but Peneleos drew his sharp sword and smote (him) in the middle of the neck and struck his head to the ground together with its helmet; and, holding (it) up like the head of a poppy, he showed (it) to the Trojans and smoke these words in an exultant voice: "On my behalf, (you) Trojans, tell the dear father and mother of noble Ilioneus to weep in their halls; for neither will the wife of Promachus, son of Alegenor, have the joy of her dear husband returning, when we, the sons of the Achaeans, shall leave Troy with our ships." 

Ll. 506-522.  Ajax and his companions wreak havoc on the Trojans.

So he spoke, and trembling came upon the limbs of them all, and each (man) looked about (him to see) how he might escape utter destruction. Now tell me, (you) Muses that have dwellings on Olympus who (was) the first of the Achaeans to win the bloody spoils of a dead man, when the renowned Earthshaker (i.e. Poseidon) swayed (the fortunes of) the battle. Telamonian Ajax (was) the first (when) he stabbed Hyrtius, son of Gyrtias, (he who was) the leader of the stout-hearted Mysians (n.b. Mysia was a region in the northwest of Anatolia to the east of the Troad); then Antilochus (i.e. the eldest son of Nestor) slew Phalces and Mermerus, and Meriones (i.e. the second-in-command of the Cretans) killed Morys and Hippotion; and Teucer (i.e. the son of Telamon and the half-brother of Ajax the Greater) slew Prothoön and Periphates; then, the son of Atreus (i.e. Menelaus) stabbed Hyperenor, shepherd of the host, in the loins and the bronze cut (him) down and drew out his entrails; and his soul sped swiftly through the wound (that had been) inflicted, and darkness covered his eyes. But Ajax, the swift son of Oïleus (i.e. Ajax the Lesser), slew the most; for there was no one equal to him in pursuing on foot men (who were) fleeing, when Zeus had stirred (them) into flight.