HOMER: "ILIAD": BOOK XV: THE ACHAEANS AT BAY.

HOMER: "ILIAD": BOOK XV: THE ACHAEANS AT BAY.

Introduction:

This book completes the three-book 'retardation' of the plot of the "Iliad" for the purpose of entertainment, which began with Book XIII, and like the previous two books Book XV is immensely enjoyable to read. The Book's structure is relatively complex, and divides into the following five sections: i) Zeus awakes on Mount Ida and arranges to reverse the situation (ll. 1-280); ii) the Achaeans are driven back to their defensive positions (ll. 281-366); iii) interludes involving Nestor and Patroclus (ll. 367-404); iv) the fighting at the ships (ll. 405-591); and v) Hector's breakthrough to the ships (ll. 592-746). The first of these five sections is especially significant because it includes within it Zeus' speech to Hera, in which the future outcome of the siege of Troy is revealed (see ll. 49-77). The last two of these sections are almost entirely taken up with details of fighting, and make good reading for Trojan enthusiasts, since it is in this book that the Trojans enjoy their greatest moments of success in the whole of the 'Iliad'. Sabidius has not made use of the ancient title of the Book, παλίωξις παρὰ τῶν νεῶν ("The Repulse from the Ships"), since this applies only to the situation at the beginning.

Ll. 1-33. Zeus' fury at the rout of the Trojans. 

But, when they (i.e. the Trojans), in their flight, had crossed the stakes and the trench, and many had been brought down at the hands of the Danaans, then, as they stayed by their chariots, they were brought to a halt, panic-stricken and pale with fear. And Zeus awoke on the peaks of (Mount) Ida, beside Hera of the golden throne, and he sprang up and stood (erect), and he saw the Trojans and the Achaeans, the former thrown into confusion, and the Argives behind (them) driving (them) on, and the lord Poseidon among them; and he saw Hector lying on the plain, and his comrades were sitting around (him), and he was gripped with painful breathing, dazed in mind, (and) vomiting blood, for it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who had smitten him (i.e. he had in fact been smitten by Ajax the Greater.) Seeing him, the father of men and gods felt pity, and, frowning terribly, he said these words to Hera: "Now in very truth (it is) your artful trick (that) has taken Hector out of the battle and put his army to flight. I truly know not whether you are to be the first to reap the results of your grievous ill-contrivance, and I shall scourge you with stripes. Or do you not remember when you were hung up on high and I suspended two anvils from your feet and placed an unbreakable golden band around your wrists? And in the air and amid the clouds you did hang; and throughout high Olympus the gods were indignant, but they were not able to set you free. And whomever I caught I would seize and hurl from the threshold, so that they fell to earth with little strength (in them) (i.e. this seems to be referring to the fate of Hephaestus, punished by Zeus for trying to come to the aid of his mother); yet not even so would that ceaseless pain for godlike Heracles let go of my heart: you, together with the North Wind, prevailed on the blasts and sent him over the barren sea, and then, in your evil scheming, you carried him off to the well-inhabited (island of) Cos (i.e. an island off the south-west coast of Asia Minor). From there I rescued him and brought (him) back again to horse-rearing Argos (i.e. the Peloponnese), even though he had suffered many hardships. I will remind you of these (things) again, in order that you may desist from your deceitful ways, to the end that you may see whether love-making and the bed, where you lay (with me), were of any help to you, when you came from the gods and tricked me." 

Ll. 34-77. Zeus prophesies the course of the war. 

So he spoke, and the ox-eyed queenly Hera shuddered and, in speaking, she said these winged words to him: "May Earth now witness this, and broad Heaven above, and the downstreaming water of the Styx, which is the greatest and most dread (basis of) an oath for the blessed gods, and your own sacred head, and the marriage-bed belonging to the two of us, something on which I would never swear a false oath - (it is) not by my will that Poseidon, the earthshaker, is doing harm to the Trojans and Hector, and giving succour to the (others) (i.e. the Achaeans), but methinks it is his own heart that drives (him) on and prompts (him), and, when he saw the Achaeans in sore distress by their ships, he took pity on (them). But, let me tell you, I would exhort even him to walk in that way in which you, lord of the dark clouds, may lead (him)." 

So she spoke, and the father of gods and men smiled, and spoke these winged words to her in answer: "If you, (O) ox-eyed queenly Hera, are now thinking the same as me, as you sit among the immortals, in that case Poseidon, even if he wants (something) very different, would quickly alter the direction of his mind to follow your heart and mine. But, if you are speaking truly and honestly, go now among the tribes of the gods and summon Iris and Apollo, renowned for his bow, to come here, so that she may go amid the host of the bronze-clad Achaeans, and tell lord Poseidon to stop fighting and return to his own house, and let Phoebus Apollo spur Hector into battle, and breathe strength into (him) once more, and make him forget the pains which are now distressing (him) around the heart, and may he turn the Achaeans back again and push (them) into feeble flight, and, as they flee, they shall collapse into the well-benched ships of Peleus' son, Achilles; and he will send his comrade Patroclus into action; and glorious Hector will slay him with his spear in front of Ilium, after he has slain many other vigorous (men), and among them my son, godlike Sarpedon. And in his anger for his (friend), godlike Achilles will slay Hector. Then, from that time forth, let me tell you, I shall ensure a continuous return pursuit from the ships right up until the Achaeans shall take steep Ilium through the schemes of Athene. But before then, I shall not cease my rage, or allow any other of the immortals to bring help here to the Danaans, until the desire of Peleus' son has been fulfilled, just as I promised him in the first place, and gave the nod to with my head, on that day when the goddess Thetis clasped my knees, as she begged me to show honour to Achilles, sacker of cities." 

Ll. 78-112. Hera warns the gods to obey Zeus.  

So he spoke, and the white-armed goddess Hera did not disobey, and she went forth from the mountains of Ida to high Olympus. As when the mind of a man, who has travelled over many lands, shoots thoughts into his subtle imagination, and he calls many (things) to mind, (saying to himself) "Let me be here, or there," so did queenly Hera fly swiftly on her way in her eagerness; and she came to steep Olympus and found the immortal gods gathered together in the house of Zeus; and, when they saw (her), they all sprang up and welcomed her with cups (of drink). She let the others be, but took a cup from Themis with the fair cheeks; for she came running to meet (her) first, and, in addressing her she spoke these winged words: "Hera, why have you come? You look distraught; now in very truth, the son of Cronos, (he) who (is) your husband, must have alarmed you."   

Then, the white-armed goddess Hera answered her: "Do not ask me about this, goddess Themis; you know yourself how overbearing and harsh his nature (is). But do you now make preparations for a shared banquet for the gods in the palace; and you will hear, together with all the immortals, of those evil deeds which Zeus is proposing; nor do I think there will be any joy in the hearts of all alike, either mortals or gods, even if anyone is still now feasting happily." 

Having spoken thus, queenly Hera sat down, and throughout Zeus's house the gods are angered; and she laughed with her lips, but the forehead above her eye-brows was not relaxed; and in her annoyance she said to all (of them): "We who rage foolishly against Zeus are idiots; indeed, we still have it in mind to draw near (to him) to try to stop him, either by argument or by force; but he, sitting apart (from us), neither notices (us) nor cares about us; for he says that he is by far the best among the immortal gods, both in power and in strength. Therefore, you must endure whatever evil (thing) he may send to each of you. For now I believe that sorrow has already been inflicted upon Ares; for his son, to him the dearest of men, has perished in battle, Ascalaphus (i.e. co-commander of the Minyan contingent from Orchomenos), (that is), (he) whom mighty Ares declares to be his own."

Ll. 113-148.  Athene rebukes Ares. 

So she spoke, but Ares slapped his sturdy thighs with the flat of his hands, and, in his sorrow, spoke these words: "(O you) who have your dwellings on Olympus, do not blame me now for going to the ships of the Trojans to avenge my son, even if (it is) my fate to be struck by a thunderbolt of Zeus and to lie with the corpses amid blood and dust."

So he spoke and he bade Terror and Rout (i.e. the sons of Ares and Aphrodite) to harness his horses, while he himself put on his gleaming armour. Then, an even greater and more bitter rage and fury would have broken out between Zeus and the other immortals, if Athene, seized with great fear for all the gods, had not gone out through the doorway and left the chair where she was sitting, and taken the helmet from his (i.e. Ares') head and the shield from his shoulders, and, taking the bronze spear from his sturdy hand, she stood (it) up (against a wall); then, she rebuked the angry Ares with these words: "You deranged madman, you are out of your mind; in vain do you have ears to hear, and your understanding and sense of right are gone from you. Did you not hear what the white-armed goddess Hera said, she who has just now come from the side of Olympian Zeus? Do you yourself wish to endure many woes and to be forced to go back to Olympus despite your grief, and to sow the seeds of suffering for all the rest (of us)? For he will instantly leave the high-spirited Trojans and the Achaeans, and he will come back to Olympus to wreak havoc on us, and to deal with us one after the other, the guilty and the guiltless alike. Therefore, I bid you now to let go of your anger for your good son; for (many) a man, (who is) better in might and (strength of) hand than he, has either been struck down already or will be felled hereafter; and hard (it is) to protect all men's family and offspring."

So saying, she made the angry Ares sit down on his seat. Then, Hera called Apollo and Iris, the messenger of the gods, out of the hall, and she spoke to them, and addressed these winged words (to them): "Zeus bids you go to Ida as quickly as possible; and when you have come, and looked upon the face of Zeus, you are to do whatever he may urge and command."

Ll. 149-183. Iris carries Zeus' message to Poseidon. 

When she had spoken thus, queenly Hera came back and sat down on her chair, and the two of them darted off in flight. They came to Ida with its many fountains, the mother of wild beasts, and found the far-seeing son of Cronos seated on the top of Gargaron (i.e. the central peak of Mount Ida, and one of Zeus's favourite vantage points); and a fragrant cloud was wreathed around him. And the two came before Zeus the cloud-gatherer; and, when he saw them, he was not angered in his heart, as they had promptly obeyed his dear wife's instructions. And he spoke these winged words to Iris first: "Go away with you, swift Iris, bear all these (tidings) to lord Poseidon, and do not bring (him) a false message. Tell him to cease from war and battle, and go to join the tribes of gods or into the bright sea. And, if he will not obey my words, but pays no regard to (them), let him then consider in his mind and heart that, even though he is strong, he may not be able to withstand my attack, for I declare that I am much better than him in strength and that I was born before (him); yet in his heart he does not take heed of this, when he says that he is on equal terms with me, of whom even the other gods are in dread."    

So he spoke, and Iris, with her feet as swift as the wind, did not disobey, but she went down from the hills of Ida to sacred Ilium. And, as when snow or chilly hail flies from the clouds, (driven) by a blast of the air-born North Wind, even so did swift Iris fly, rushing eagerly, and she drew near to and addressed the renowned earthshaker: "I have come here, bringing a certain message for you, (O) dark-haired upholder of the earth, from aegis-bearing Zeus. He commands you to cease from war and battle, (and) to go to join the tribes of gods or into the bright sea. And if you will not comply with his words, but pay no regard (to them), then he threatens to come here himself to fight against (you); and (he warns) you to keep out of his hands, since he says that he is far better than you in strength and that he was born before (you); yet your heart does not take heed (of this), but you declare that you are equal with him, of whom even the other gods are in dread."

Ll. 184-219. Despite his anger, Poseidon is persuaded by Iris to comply with Zeus's instructions.   

Then, greatly disturbed, the renowned Earthshaker, spoke to her: "For shame, strong though he may be, he has spoke arrogantly if he seeks to restrain me by force against my will, when I am equal (to him) in honour. For we are three brothers, whom Rhea begot by Cronos, Zeus and I, and the third (is) Hades, lord of those who live beneath the earth. And everything has been divided into three parts, and each one (of us) has obtained his share of honour. When (we) shook the lots, it is indeed the case that I obtained possession of the grey sea as my eternal habitation, and Hades won the murky darkness, and Zeus won the broad heaven amid the air and the clouds; but the earth and lofty Olympus (were) yet common to (us) all. Therefore, I shall in no way live according to the will of Zeus, but however strong he is, let him abide quietly in his own third share. Let him try not to frighten me like (I was) some utter coward; for it would be better (for him) to threaten with his fearful words the daughters and sons, whom he himself begot, and they will be forced to listen to his goadings."

Then Iris, with her feet as swift as the wind, answered him: "(O) dark-haired upholder of the earth, is this then really the message, harsh and unyielding, that I am to bear to Zeus, or will you alter (it) in some way? For the hearts of the good (are) pliable. You know how the Furies always follow (the interests of) the elder-born." 

Then, the Earthshaker Poseidon addressed her again; "Goddess Iris, you have spoken these words very much in accordance with the truth; and a good thing it is, when a messenger thinks sensibly. But this dread distress comes over my heart and soul, when he is willing to abuse with angry words (someone) who has an equal share with him, and (who is) destined to have a common endowment. But now indeed I shall give way, despite my anger; but let me tell you something else, and I make this threat in my wrath; if, despite myself and Athene, driver of the spoil, (and) Hera, and Hermes, and lord Hephaestus, he shall spare lofty Ilium and shall be prepared not to utterly destroy (it), and not to give great might to the Argives, let him know this, that between us two there shall be an incurable anger."

So saying, the Earthshaker left the host of the Achaeans, and went to the sea and plunged (into it), and the Achaean warriors missed (him) sorely.    

Ll. 220-252. Apollo goes to revive Hector.  

And then cloud-gathering Zeus addressed Apollo: "Go now dear Phoebus to bronze-armoured Hector; for now indeed has the Upholder and Shaker of the Earth gone into the bright sea to avoid our utter wrath, for others too would have heard our great strife. That is the gods who are in the lower regions (of the earth) (i.e. the Titans), (gathered) as they are around Cronos. But it was much better both for me and for him that, before (that happened), he escaped my hands, despite his anger, since (the matter) could not have been resolved without sweat. But do you take in your hands the tasselled aegis, and shake it hard so as to strike fear into the Achaean warriors; and for yourself, far-shooter, let glorious Hector be your concern. for now you must arouse his great might, until the Achaeans come fleeing to their ships and the Hellespont. Then, I myself shall consider what is to be said and done, so that the Achaeans may once more get a respite from their toil." 

So he spoke, and Apollo did not fail to obey his father, but down he went from the hills of Ida like a swift dove-killing hawk, which is the swiftest of winged creatures. He found the son of thoughtful Priam, godlike Hector, sitting up, and no longer lying (on the ground), and he was just beginning to recover his consciousness and to recognise the friends around him, while his gasping and sweating ceased, as the will of aegis-bearing Zeus revived him. Then, Apollo, who works from afar, drew near and said to (him): "Hector, son of Priam, why are you sitting (here) powerlessly, apart from the others? Has some trouble perhaps come upon you?" 

Then, in his feeble state, Hector of the shining helmet said to him: "Which of the gods are you, most mighty one, who asks me this face to face? Do you not know that, as I was slaying his comrades by the sterns of the Achaeans' ships, Ajax, good at the war-cry (i.e. Ajax the Greater, or Ajax, son of Telamon), struck me on the chest with a large stone, and put a stop to my impetuous might? Then I thought that I should behold the dead and the house of Hades on that day, when I had breathed out my life."    

Ll. 253-280. Hector revives and leads the Trojans into battle once more. 

Then, lord Apollo, who works from afar, spoke to him again: "Be of good cheer now; (for) the son of Cronos has sent you such a helper from Ida, to stand by your side and assist (you), (namely) Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, and I will keep you safe, as I did before, yourself and your lofty citadel alike. But come now, tell your host of charioteers to drive their swift horses to the hollow ships; and I will go ahead and smooth the whole way for the horses, and turn the Achaean warriors to flight."

So saying, he breathed great strength into the shepherd of the host. And, as when a stalled horse, fully fed with barley at the manger, breaks his halter and gallops over the plain, stamping (his feet), and, being wont to bathe in the waters of the fair-flowing river, he exults; and he holds his head on high and his mane streams around his shoulders; and, relying as he does on his splendour, his knees nimbly bear him to the haunts and pasture of the mares, so does Hector lightly ply his feet and knees, urging on his charioteers, since he has heard the voice of a god. But, as when dogs and men of the countryside pursue a horned stag or a wild goat, but a sheer rock-face or a shadowy thicket save him (from them), nor was it destined for them to catch (him), then, due to their clamour, a bearded lion appears in their path, and at once it turns them all away, despite their eagerness; so, for a time, the Danaans constantly followed them in droves, thrusting with their swords and their two-headed spears, but, when they saw Hector going up and down the ranks of his men, they were alarmed, and the spirits of (them) all sank down to their feet. 

Ll. 281-311. Thoas rallies the Achaeans. 

Then, Thoas, the son of Andraemon, addressed them, (he who was) by far the best of the Aetolians, skilled at throwing the javelin and in close fighting, and few of the Achaeans could surpass him in the place of assembly, when young men competed in debate; he addressed them in a well-meaning manner and spoke these words among (them): "Well this (is) certainly a great marvel that I behold with my eyes, how Hector has avoided the fates and is back on his feet once more; for sure, the heart of each one (of us) had really hoped that he had died beneath the hand of Ajax, son of Telamon. But one of the gods has again rescued and saved Hector, (he) who has loosened the knees of many Danaans, as I think will now happen again; for not without (the help of) Zeus the thunderer could he stand forth so eagerly as their foremost man. But come, even as I say, let us all obey. Let us order the bulk of our troops to go back to the ships; but we who declare ourselves to be the best (men) in the army, let us take our stand, (to see) if we can meet (him) first and hold (him) off with our outstretched spears; for I think that, despite his eagerness, he will fear in his heart to enter the throng of the Danaans."

So he spoke, and they readily listened to him and obeyed; those who were in the company of Ajax and lord Idomeneus (i.e. king of Crete), Teucer (i.e. half-brother of Telamonian Ajax and the best archer in the Achaean army) and Meriones (i.e. second-in-command of the Cretan contingent) and Meges (i.e. leader of the men from Dulichium and the Echinades), peer of Ares, summoned their best (men) and formed a battle-line to face Hector and the Trojans; but behind (them) the bulk of the troops made their way back to the ships of the Achaeans. 

The Trojans charged forward in a mass, and Hector was at their head, taking long strides; and before him went Phoebus Apollo, wrapping a cloud around his shoulders, and he bore the impetuous aegis, a fearful (thing) distinguished by its shaggy tassels, which the coppersmith Hephaestus gave to Zeus to put men to flight; bearing this in his hands, he (i.e. Apollo) led on the host. 

Ll. 312-342. Apollo and Hector inflict serious losses on the Achaeans.

But the Argives, packed together, held their ground, and a shrill war-cry arose from both sides, and arrows leapt from the bow-string; many spears (were propelled) by bold hands, and some lodged in the flesh of vigorous (young men), swift in battle, but many, (though) longing to taste flesh, stuck in the earth between (them), before they could reach white skin. Now, as long as Phoebus Apollo held the aegis motionless in his hands, so missiles from both sides readily reached their target and men continued to fall. But, when he looked straight into the faces of the Danaans with their swift horses and shook the aegis, and he himself shouted very loudly at (them), then he bewitched the hearts within their breasts, and they forsook their fighting spirit. As when two wild beasts drive a herd of cattle or a great flock of sheep in confusion, coming upon them suddenly in the dead of a black night when their herdsman was not present, so in their enfeebled state were the Achaeans put to flight; for Apollo had put fear into (them), and granted glory to the Trojans and to Hector.      

Then man slew man as the battle-line broke in pieces. Hector struck down Stichius and Arcesilaus, the latter a leader of the bronze-coated Boeotians, and the former a trusty comrade of great-hearted Menestheus (i.e. the commander of the Athenians); and Aeneas (i.e. son of Anchises and the leader of the Dardanians) slew Medon and Iasus. Now Medon was a bastard son of godlike Oïleus (i.e. king of the Locrians) and a half-brother of Ajax (i.e. Ajax the Lesser); but he dwelt in Phylace (i.e. a town in Thessaly), away from his native-land, for he had slain a man (who was) a kinsman of his step-mother Eriopis; and Iasus had been made a leader of the Athenians, and he was called the son of Sphelus, son of Boucolus. And Polydamas slew Mecisteus, and Polites (i.e. son of Priam) (slew) Echius in the forefront of the battle, and godlike Agenor (i.e. son of Antenor, the renowned  Trojan elder) slew Clonius. And Paris (i.e. son of Priam and husband of Helen) struck Deïochus from behind on the base of his shoulder, as he fled among the front-fighters, and he drove the bronze (point) right through. 

Ll. 343-378. Apollo and Hector drive the Achaeans back to their ships. 

While they were stripping the (bodies) of their armour, so the Achaeans were falling into the trench they had dug and on to its stakes, and they were fleeing in all directions and were forced to dive down behind their wall. Then, Hector called out to the Trojans, shouting loudly, "Fall upon their ships and leave the blood-stained spoils alone. Whomever I shall espy on the other side, far away from their ships, there I shall contrive his death, nor then will his kinsmen and kinswomen win the rite of burning his body, (when he is) dead, but dogs will tear (it) apart in front of our city."

So saying, he drove on his horses from his shoulder with a whip, calling on the Trojans along the ranks; and they all called out together with him and guided their chariot-drawing horses with wondrous sounds; and before (them) Phoebus Apollo easily dashed down the banks of the deep ditch with his feet and cast (their pieces) into the space between, and he piled up a causeway long and broad, with (a width) as great as is the flight of a spear (i.e. ten to  twenty paces), whenever a man should make a trial of his strength. So they poured across this in their massed ranks, and before (them went) Apollo, bearing the precious aegis; and very easily did he cast down the wall of the Achaeans, as when a boy (knocks down) a sandcastle near the sea, and so, when he makes a plaything in his childishness, then again he flattens (it) with his hands and feet as he plays. So did you, lord Phoebus, disturb the great toil and hardship of the Argives and send (them) into flight. 

And so they halted and stood by the side of their ships, and they called out to one another, and, raising their hands to all of the gods, they prayed aloud, each one (of them); and Nestor, the Gerenian, warden of the Achaeans, prayed most of all, stretching out his hands to the starry sky: "(O) father Zeus, if ever anyone of us in Argos, very rich in corn, burned the fat thigh-bones of an ox or a ram, and prayed that he might return, and you nodded in assent and promised (it), be you mindful of these (things) and ward off, (O) Olympian, the pitiless day (of doom); and do not allow the Achaeans to be vanquished by the Trojans."

So he spoke in prayer, and Zeus the counsellor thundered loudly, as he heard the prayers of the aged son of Neleus.  

Ll. 379-404. The fighting at the ships.

But, when the Trojans heard the thunder of Zeus, who bears the aegis, they leapt all the more on the Argives, and filled their minds with the joy of battle. As a huge wave of the broad-pathed sea sweeps down over the sides of a ship, when the force of the wind drives it on - for it swells the waves especially; so did the Trojans sweep over the wall with a great cry, and, driving their horses, they (fought) at close quarters from their chariots by the sterns (of the ships) with their double-pointed spears, while the (Achaeans) climbed up high (and fought) from their black ships with their long javelins which lay on board the ships, jointed (i.e. held together by metal clasps) and shod in bronze at their tips. 

And Patroclus, as long as the Achaeans and the Trojans were fighting around the the wall outside the swift ships, then he sat in the hut of the manly Eurypylus and gladdened him with talk, as he was applying medicines on his grievous wound as a remedy for his dark pains. But now, when he saw the Trojans charging at the wall, and there was a cry of panic from the Danaans, then he let out a groan and slapped his two thighs with the flat of his hands, and, in his sorrow spoke these words: "Eurypylus, I cannot stay beside you here any longer, however much you may need (it); for now a mighty struggle has arisen. But may your squire bring you comfort, while I shall hasten to Achilles to urge (him) to go into battle. But who knows, perhaps with a god's (help) I may stir his spirit and win (him) over? For the encouragement of a comrade is a good (thing)."   

Ll. 405-441. Men on both sides continue to die by the ships. 

As he (i.e. Patroclus) spoke, his feet carried him away; now the Achaeans firmly withstood the Trojans (who were) attacking (them), but they could not push (them) back from their ships, even though they were lesser (in number); nor could the Trojans ever break up the ranks of the Danaans and get among their huts and their ships. But, as the carpenter's line keeps straight the (cutting of) a ship's timber in the hands of an experienced workman, who is well-skilled in all (aspects of) his craft through the inspiration of Athene, so was their war and battle stretched tightly on level (terms); and one side fought a battle around the other (men's) ships, but Hector went straight for glorious Ajax. Then, the two of them struggled around a single ship, nor could the one (i.e. Hector) drive back the other (i.e. Ajax) and set the ship on fire, nor could the other push him back, since a god (i.e. Apollo) had brought (him) there. Then did glorious Ajax strike Caletor, son of Clytius (i.e. the brother of Priam), on the breast as he was bringing fire to the ship. And he fell with a crash and the firebrand dropped from his hand. But, when Hector beheld with his eyes that his cousin had fallen in the dust in front of the black ship, he called to the Trojans and Lycians, shouting loudly: "(You) Trojans and Lycians, and (you) Dardanians that fight in close combat, do not give any ground in this phase of the battle, but you must rescue the son of Clytius, so that the Achaeans do not strip him of his armour, now that he has fallen among the assembly of the ships." 

So saying, he took aim at Ajax with his bright spear. Him he missed, but then (he did hit) Lycophron, son of Mastor, a squire of Ajax from Cythera, who lived with him, as he had slain a man in sacred Cythera, and he smote him on the head above the ear with his sharp bronze, as he stood near Ajax; and he fell to the ground on his back in the dust from the stern of the ship, and his knees were loosed. Then, Ajax shuddered and said to his brother: "Dear Teucer, our faithful comrade has now been slain, (namely) the son of Mastor, whom, when he came to our household from Cythera, we honoured in our halls, (as did) our parents equally; him has great-hearted Hector slain. Where now (are those) quick-killing arrows of yours, and that bow that Phoebus Apollo gave you?" 

Ll. 442-477. Hector receives divine protection from Teucer's arrows.

So he (i.e. Ajax) spoke, and the other one (i.e. Teucer) heard him and ran and stood near to him, holding in his hand his bent-back bow and his quiver full of arrows; and very quickly did he begin to fire his darts at the Trojans. And he hit Cleitus, the glorious son of Peisenor, the comrade (i.e. he was also his charioteer) of Polydamas, the noble son of Panthoüs, as he was holding the reins in his hands; and he was busy with the horses, for he was guiding (them) to the place where by far the most of the battalions were fleeing in confusion, so as to please Hector and the Trojans; but evil swiftly came upon him, and not one (of them) could ward it off, eager though they were (to do so). For the fatal arrow landed on the back of his neck; and he fell from the chariot, and the horses swerved aside, rattling the empty carriage. And lord Polydamas saw (this), and (was) the first to go over to the horses. These he gave to Astynoüs, the son of Protiaön, and he told (him) to keep an eye on the horses and to hold (them) closely; and he himself went back and mingled with the foremost fighters.  

Then, Teucer drew another arrow for bronze-armoured Hector, and would have made (him) cease from battle by the ships of the Achaeans, if he had hit him in all his glory and taken away his life. But this had not escaped the notice of the cautious mind of Zeus, who was keeping watch on Hector, and he deprived Telamonian Teucer of his triumph, and broke the well-twisted string in his excellent bow; and his arrow loaded with bronze went off course in another direction, and the bow fell from his hand. Then, Teucer shuddered and said to his brother: "For shame, in truth a god is utterly destroying out battle plans, and he has cast the bow from my hands and he has broken the newly-twisted string that I bound on (it) this morning, so that it would withstand the arrows that would frequently spring from (it)." 

Then, great Telamonian Ajax answered him (thus): "Very well, my friend, but let your bow and your cluster of arrows lie (where they are), since some god, out of antipathy to the Danaans, has rendered (them) useless; but take a long spear in your hands and a shield upon your shoulder and do battle with the Trojans, and urge on the rest of your host. Even though they may be victorious over (us), they shall not take our well-benched ships without a real struggle, so now let us turn our minds to battle."

Ll. 478-513. Hector and Ajax rally their men. 

So he spoke, and he (i.e. Teucer) laid down the bow within the hut, and then he slung a four-layered shield around his shoulders, and upon his stout head he placed a well-wrought helmet with a plume of horse-hair, and its crest nodded fearfully from its top; then, he grasped a mighty spear, sharply tipped with bronze, and went his way, and he ran most quickly to stand at the side of Ajax. 

And, when Hector saw that Teucer's shafts were blighted, he called out to the Trojans and Lycians with a loud shout: "(You) Trojans, and Lycians, and Dardanians who fight in close combat, be you men, my friends, and remember your fighting spirit amid the hollow ships; for with my own eyes I have beheld how Zeus has blighted the shafts of their leading warrior. The strength that comes from Zeus is easily recognised by men, both (those) to whom he has granted the glory of victory, and (those) whom he belittles and is unwilling to protect, as he is now belittling the strength of the Argives and is helping us. But do you fight at the ships in throngs; and whichever one of you, having been hit (with an arrow) or stabbed (by a sword), shall incur death and fate, let him die; but his wife (is) safe and his children after (him), and his house and his plot of land (are) unimpaired, if the Achaeans shall be gone with their ships to their native-land."

So speaking, he (i.e. Hector) stirred the strength and spirit of each one (of them). And again Ajax, on the other side, called out to his comrades: "Shame on you, Argives; (for) now (it is) certain that we either perish, or we save ourselves and beat back disaster from our ships. Or do you have any reason to think that, if Hector of the shining helmet takes our ships, anyone of us will will come back on foot to his native-land? For sure, he is not ordering (them) to come to a dance, but to fight. And for us there is not any counsel or plan (that is) better than this, that we intertwine our hands and our might (with theirs) in hand-to-hand (battle). (It is) better to die or to live once and for all, than to be drained of our strength like this for so long in this grim conflict beside our ships by men (who are) weaker (than us)." 

Ll. 514-558. The Achaeans and the Trojans fight in close combat. 

So saying, he aroused the strength and the courage of each (man). Then, Hector slew Schedius, son of Perimedes, a leader of the Phocians, and Ajax slew Laodamas, a captain of the foot-soldiers, (and) the glorious son of Antenor; then, Polydamas slew Otus of Cyllene (i.e. a town in Elis), comrade of Phyleus' son (i.e. Meges), (and) the leader of the great-hearted Epeians. And, seeing (this), Meges sprang at him; but Polydamas ducked down underneath (him); and so he missed him; for Apollo would not suffer the son of Panthoüs to be vanquished amid the foremost fighters; but he did strike Croesmus in the middle of his chest with his spear. And he fell with a crash; and (his adversary) began to strip the armour from his shoulders. Meanwhile, Dolops, the son of Lampus (i.e. a brother of King Priam), well-skilled with his spear, leapt upon him, (he) whom Lampus, the son of Laomedon, had fathered (as) his bravest son, well-known for his fighting spirit, and he then rushed near to the son of Phyleus and struck the middle of his shield with his spear; but the thick corselet which he wore, with its front and back plates joined together, protected him; Phyleus had once brought this out of Ephyre from the river of Selleëis (i.e. in Elis). For his guest-friend Euphetes, lord of men (i.e. a king of Ephyre), had given (it) to him to wear in battle (as) a defence against his adversaries; now it also warded off destruction from the body of his son. Then, Meges stabbed with his sharp-pointed spear at the top of the crest of his bronze helmet thick with horse-hair, and he sheared off a tuft of horse-hair from it; and, bright with its freshly (dyed) purple, all (of it) fell to the ground in the dust. Now, while he (i.e. Meges) stayed and fought with him, and still hoped for victory, Menelaus, meanwhile, came to him (as) a helper, and he stood on one side with his spear unnoticed, and smote him (i.e. Dolon) on the shoulder from behind; and the point of the spear sped through his chest, pressing eagerly forwards; and he sank (to the ground) head-foremost. Then the two of them (i.e. Menelaus and Meges) went to strip the bronze armour from his shoulders; Then, Hector called out especially to all of his kinsmen, and in the first place he reproached Hicetaon's son, the sturdy Melanippus. Now, at one time, he had tended his cattle with their shambling gait in Percote (i.e. a town in Asia Minor to the north-east of Troy), while their enemies were (still) far away; but, when the balanced ships of the Danaans arrived, he went back to Ilium and acquired a distinguished position among the Trojans, and he lived beside Priam, who honoured him equally with his children; now, Hector reproached him, and addressed these words to him and called him by name: "Are we really going to be so slack, Melanippus? Does your heart feel no shame that your first cousin has been slain? Do you not see how they are busying themselves around Dolops' armour? But (come), follow (me); for it is no longer possible (for us) to do battle with the Argives from afar, (but we must fight,) until we either slay (them), or they take steep Ilium entirely and her citizens are slaughtered."     

Ll. 559-591. The death of Melanippus.

Thus speaking, he led the way, and the godlike man (i.e. Melanippus) followed after (him); and great Telamonian Ajax urged on the Argives, (saying): "Be men, my friends, and put pride in your hearts, and have respect for one another throughout this mighty conflict: of the men who take pride in themselves, more are saved than are slain. And of those who flee, there comes neither glory nor any courage." So he spoke, and even they themselves were eager to ward off (the foe), and they took his words to heart, and they fenced in the ships with a wall of bronze (i.e. their shields); and Zeus stirred up the Trojans against (them). Then, Menelaus, good at the war-cry, exhorted Antilochus (i.e. the son of Nestor): "No one else among the Achaeans (is) younger than you (are), Antilochus, nor swifter of foot, nor as valiant in battle as you; if only you would leap out and strike down one of the Trojan men."  

So saying, he darted away again, but (his words) encouraged him (i.e. Antilochus); and he sprang forward from among the foremost fighters, and, looking sharply around him, he flung his shining spear; and the Trojans shrank back from the man as he threw (it); nor did he cast his missile in vain, but he smote Hicetaon's son, the high-spirited Melanippus, on the breast beside the nipple, as he was coming into battle. And he fell with a crash, and darkness covered his eyes. Then, Antilochus sprang upon (him) like a hound that pounces on a smitten fawn, whom a hunter happened to hit with his shot as he sprung from his lair, and he loosened his limbs; so did Antilochus, staunch in battle, spring at you, Melanippus, in order to strip off your armour; but he did not escape the notice of godlike Hector, who came running through the battle to meet him. And Antilochus, swift warrior though he was, did not stand his ground, but he fled like a wild beast that has done (something) bad; for instance it has killed a hound or a herdsman beside his cattle, and it flees just before a throng of men can be gathered together; so fled the son of Nestor, and the Trojans and Hector let flow their grievous missiles with a wondrous noise; but, when he reached the body of his comrades, he turned around and stood fast.   

Ll. 592-652. Hector reaches the ships.

But the Trojans rushed at the ships like flesh-eating lions, and they were fulfilling the behests of Zeus, who constantly aroused great might in them, but he bewitched the hearts of the Argives and took away their glory, while he urged on the (others). For his heart wished to give glory to Hector, son of Priam, so that he might cast untiring supernatural fire upon the beaked ships and wholly bring about the unjust prayer of Thetis; for Zeus the counsellor was waiting to behold with his eyes the blaze of a burning ship. For, from that (time), he was destined to institute a return pursuit of the Trojans from the ships, and to grant glory to the Danaans. With these (things) in his mind, he was spurring on Hector, son of Priam, against the hollow ships, though he himself was very eager too. He was raging, like when Ares  brandishes his spear, or when deadly fire rages in the mountains in the thickets of a deep forest; and there was foam around his mouth, and his two eyes shone out beneath his grim bushy brows, and Hector's helmet shook terribly around his temples as he fought; for his ally Zeus was himself in the sky, and he was also giving him honour, as he was alone among a multitude of warriors. For he was going to be short-lived; for Pallas Athene was already advancing the day of his doom beneath the might of the son of Peleus. And now he was wishing to break the ranks of men, putting (them) to the test, wherever he could see the greatest throng and the best armour; but even so he could not break (them) despite all his eagerness; for they stood firm fixed like a tower, as a huge steep rock is near to the grey sea, that firmly meets the swift tracks of the shrill winds, and the swelling waves that break foaming against it; so the Danaans firmly stood their ground against the Trojans, and were not put to flight. But he, gleaming with fire (i.e. a reference to Hector's shining bronze armour), leapt into the throng, and falls upon (them), as when, beneath the clouds, a fierce-rushing wave, swollen by the winds, falls upon a swift ship; and she is all hidden by the foam, and the dreadful blast of the wind roars in the sail, and the sailors tremble in their hearts with fear; for they narrowly escape from death; so were the hearts of the Achaeans torn asunder within their breasts. But he (i.e. Hector) (fell on them) like a baneful lion coming across cattle that are grazing in large numbers in the pastures of a great marsh-meadow, and among them (is) a herdsman, who does not yet clearly know (how) to fight with a wild beast about the slaying of a cow with crumpled horns; for he (i.e. the herdsman) always walks together with the foremost or the hindmost (of the cattle), but it darts upon, and devours, a cow among those in the centre, and then they all shrink back in terror. So were all the Achaeans then put to flight in a wondrous manner by Hector and father Zeus, but he (i.e. Hector) slew one man only, (namely) Periphates of Mycenae, the dear son of Copreus, (the man) who had been accustomed to go (as) a messenger from king Eurystheus to the mighty Heracles. From him, a much worse father, was born a son much better in all sorts of fine qualities, both (speed) of foot and fighting, and mentally he was among the foremost of the Myceneans; (he it was) who now then granted the higher glory (i.e. the glory of victory) to Hector. For, as he turned back (in flight), he tripped on the rim of the shield which reached down to his feet, which he himself bore (as) a defence against spears; stumbling upon it, he fell on his back, and his helmet clashed fearfully round about his temples as he fell. And Hector quickly noticed (this), and ran and stood close beside him, and stuck his spear in his breast and slew him near to his comrades; and they could not prevent (this), despite their grief for their comrade; for they themselves were absolutely terrified of godlike Hector.   

Ll. 653-695. Nestor exhorts the Achaeans to be courageous, and Ajax stands firm. 

Now they (i.e. the Achaeans) came into the spaces between the ships, but the outer (line) of ships, the ones which had been hauled up first (on to the shore), outflanked (them); but (still) they (i.e. the Trojans) came on. And the Argives were compelled to pull back from the outermost ships, but remained there in a crowd beside their huts, and not scattered throughout the camp; for shame and fear held (them) back; for they called out continuously to one another. And Gerenian Nestor, the warden of the Achaeans, appealed (to them) most of all, beseeching each man (as follows) in the name of his parents: "Be men, my friends, and put regard for other men in your hearts, and, besides, let each one (of you) be mindful of your children and your wives, and of your property and your parents, both (the man) whose (parents) are (still) living and (he) whose (parents) are dead. For the sake of those that are not here (with us), I beseech you to stand firm, and not to turn around in flight."

So he spoke, and he roused the strength and courage of each (man). For Athene dispersed the wondrous cloud of mist from their eyes; and bright light came to them from both sides, both from the direction of the ships and of the equally-balanced fighting. And they perceived Hector, good at the war-cry, and his comrades, both (those) who stood in the background and were not fighting, and (those) who were fighting the battle beside the swift ships. 

Now, it was not at all gratifying to the soul of great-hearted Ajax to stand (in the place) where the rest of the sons of the Achaeans stood aloof; but he kept traversing the decks of the ships (i.e. these were raised half-decks at the prows and the sterns of the ships) with long strides, and he wielded a great sea-fighting pike in his hands, fitted with clamps, (and) twenty-two cubits (i.e. twelve feet) in length. And, as (happens) in the case of a man well-skilled in riding horses, when he has hitched together four horses (chosen) from many, he drives (them) from the plain and presses on towards a great city along a highway; many (people), both men and women, marvel at him; and he, with steady poise and sure feet, continually springs from one (horse) to another in turn, while on they go. So did Ajax keep going backwards and forwards over many of the decks of the swift ships with huge strides, and his voice went up to the sky, and, shouting fearfully on a constant basis, he ordered the Danaans to defend their ships and huts. Nor did Hector remain among the crowded throng of the heavily-armoured Trojans; but, as a tawny eagle swoops down upon a flock of winged birds that are feeding beside a river, (whether they are) wild geese, cranes or long-necked swans, so Hector pushed straight towards a dark-prowed ship, dashing (himself) against (it); and Zeus pushed him on from behind with his most mighty hand, and urged on the host together with him.   

Ll. 696-746. The bitter fighting continues by the ships. 

Then again, keen fighting took place beside the ships; you would have thought (they were) fresh and unwearied to meet one another in warfare, so eagerly did they fight. And such were their thoughts as on they fought: in truth, the Achaeans did not think they could escape from disaster, but expected to die, and, in the case of the Trojans, the heart in the breast of each (man) hoped to set the ships on fire and slay the Achaean warriors. These were their thoughts as they opposed one another; but Hector took hold of the stern of a sea-going ship, a fine (vessel) swift on the water, that had brought Protesilaus (i.e. the first of the Achaeans to land from his ship on Trojan soil, but he was slain as soon as he did so) to Troy, but did not take him back again to his native-land. Now, around his ship the Achaeans and the Trojans were slaying one another in close combat; nor could they keep their distance from one another any longer amid the flights of arrows and darts, but they fought standing close to one another in oneness of heart (i.e. with a single purpose) with sharp hatchets and battle-axes, and long swords and double-headed spears. And many fine black-bound hilted swords fell to the ground, some from their hands, others from the shoulders of men as they fought; and the earth ran black with blood. But Hector, when he had taken hold of (the ship) by the stern, would not let go (of it), (but,) gripping the curved poop-end with his hands, he called out to the Trojans (as follows): "Bring fire and at the same time raise the war-cry all together yourselves; now has Zeus granted us a day worthy of (i.e. in compensation for) all (our former toils), - to take the ships that came here against the will of the gods and brought us many woes, through the cowardice of the elders, who stopped me, when I myself wished to fight by the sterns of the ships and held back the army; but if Zeus, who sees from afar, was then dulling our wits, now he is urging (us) on and giving (us) orders."  

So he spoke and then they leapt on the Argives all the more. But Ajax was no longer standing his ground; for he was beset with darts; but, thinking he would be killed, he gave ground a little on to the seven-foot thwart (i.e. this is probably a bench in the middle and the widest part of the ship) and left the poop-deck of the well-balanced ship (i.e. it had oars on both sides). There he stood on watch and constantly repelled from the ships whichever one of the Trojans sought to bring untiring fire; and all the time he called out to the Danaans with terrible cries: "My dear Danaan heroes, squires of Ares, be men, my friends, and be mindful of  your fighting spirit. Or do you think there are men behind (us, who will be) our helpers, or that there is some better wall that could save men from disaster? There is no nearby city fitted with battlements, in which we may defend ourselves with (a mass of) people who might turn the tide of battle. But (that is not to be), seeing that we are set here on the plain of the thickly-armoured Trojans with our backs to the sea, far from our native-land; so, our deliverance (lies) in (the strength of) our hands, not slackness in battle." 

He finished speaking, and lashed out furiously with his sharp spear. And whichever one of the Trojans would come up to the hollow ships with blazing fire in accordance with Hector's commands, Ajax would wait for (him) and stab him with his long pike, and twelve men did he (so) wound at close quarters in front of the ships.