1.3: The Iliad and the Odyssey (2023) (2023)

Buch i

Sing, O goddess, the wrath of Achilles son of Peleus, who brought innumerable evils upon the Achaeans. Many brave souls he sent to Hades, and many heroes he made prey to hounds and vultures, for thus the counsel of Jupiter was fulfilled from the day that the son of Atreus, king of men, and the great Achilles first Once was born once they quarreled with each other. .with the other.

And which of the gods made them fight? He was the son of Jupiter and Leto; for he was angry with the king, and sent a plague upon the army to devastate the people, because the son of Atreus had dishonored Chryses his priest. Now Chryses had come to the Achaean ships to deliver his daughter, and he had brought a great ransom; He also carried in his hand the scepter of Apollo, crowned with a suppliant crown, and supplicated the Achaeans, but especially the two sons of Atreus, who were their chiefs.

“Sons of Atreus,” he exclaimed, “and all other Achaeans, may the gods who dwell on Mount Olympus grant you to plunder the city of Priam and reach your homeland safely; but release my daughter, and accept a ransom for her, in obedience to Apollo son of Jupiter."

Thereupon the rest of the Achaeans went with one voice to respect the priest and to accept the ransom he offered; but not Agamemnon, who persuaded him vigorously and abruptly dismissed him. 'Old man,' he said, 'don't let him stop you at our ships or even pass by. Your scepter of god and your crown will avail you nothing. I won't let her go. He will grow old in my house in Argos, far from his own homeland, tending his loom and visiting my bed; so go and don't provoke me or it will get worse for you.

The old man feared him and obeyed. He said not a word, but walked along the shore of the sounding sea and prayed beside King Apollo, from whom beautiful Leto was born. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, who protects Chrysa and Saint Cilla and rules Tenedos with his might, hear me, O thou of Sminthe. If ever I have garlanded your temple, or burned your thighs with the fat of bulls or goats, hear my prayer, and may your arrows avenge these tears of mine upon the Danaans.

So he prayed and Apollo heard his prayer. Furious, he descended from the peaks of Olympus, bow and quiver over his shoulder, and the arrows cracked in his back with rage that shook him inside. He sat far from the ships, his face dark as night, and his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow into their midst. First he wounded their mules and their dogs, but then he aimed his arrows at the people themselves, and all day long the pyres of the dead burned.

For a full nine days he hurled his arrows among the people, but on the tenth day Achilles called them to an assembly beloved by Juno, who saw the Achaeans in their torment and took pity on them. When they were gathered, he got up and spoke to one another.

"Son of Atreus," he said, "I think we must go home now if we are to avoid destruction, since war and plague are ravaging us at the same time. Let's ask a priest or prophet or a reader of Dreams (that dreams are also of Jupiter) to tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry and whether it's because of a vow we broke or because of a hecatomb that we have not offered, and whether he will accept the smell of lambs and young goats without blemish to blot out the plague from us.”

With these words he sat down, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest of the augurs, who knew things of the past, the present, and the future, rose to speak. It was he who led the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilius, through the prophecies that Phoebus Apollo inspired him. With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed her as follows:

“Achilles, beloved of heaven, you ask me to tell you of King Apollo's wrath, so I will do it; but look first and swear to me that you will support me with all your heart in word and deed, for I know that I shall offend him who governs the Argives with power, to whom all the Achaeans are subject. A simple man cannot resist anger
a king who, if he swallows his anger now, will avenge himself before he causes it. So consider whether this protects me or not.

And Achilles answered: "Fear not, but speak as it comes from heaven, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray and whose oracle you reveal to us, not one Danaan in our ships will lay on his hands as long as I live, to see the face of the earth, no, even if you name the same Agamemnon, who is by far the first of the Achaeans.

Then the seer spoke boldly. “The god,” he said, “is angry, not with the vow or the hecatomb, but with his priest, whom Agamemnon has dishonored because he neither betrayed his daughter nor accepted a ransom for her; therefore he has sent these evils upon us, and will send others yet. He will not rid the Danaans of this plague until Agamemnon returns the girl to her father without payment or ransom and sends a sacred hecatomb to Chrysa. Maybe we can calm him down.

With that he sat down and Agamemnon stood up angrily. His heart was black with anger and his eyes blazed with fire as he frowned at Calchas and said, "Evil seer, you never prophesied good things about me, but you always liked to predict what was bad. You brought me neither comfort nor achievement; and now you see it with the Danaans and say that Apollo flogged us because I would not take ransom for that girl, the daughter of Chryses. I have decided to keep her in my own house, loving her even more than my own wife Clytemnestra, whom she resembles in form and features, understanding and accomplishments. Still, I'll give up if I have to, because I want people to live and not die; but you must find a price for me instead, or I shall be alone among the Argives without one. That is not right; Well, you see, y'all, my price is to go somewhere else.

And Achilles answered: Noble son of Atreus, greedy above all men, how shall the Achaeans get you any other price? We don't have a joint store where we can get one. Those we took out of the cities were rewarded; We cannot cancel awards that have already been given. Then give this girl to the god, and if Jupiter lets us plunder the city of Troy, we'll pay him three and four times as much.

Then Agamemnon said, "Achilles, brave as you are, you will not deceive me so. You will not exaggerate and you will not convince me. Will you keep your own prize while I sit humbly at my loss and put the girl at your command? May the Achaeans give me a prize I like, or I will come for yours, or that of Ajax or Odysseus; and he to whom I come will regret my coming. But we'll get to that later; For the time being let us put a ship to sea and expressly seek a crew for it; let's get a hecatomb on board and send Chryseis over too; Let a leader also have authority among us, whether it be Ajax or Idomeneus or yourself, son of Peleus, who is a great warrior, so that we may make sacrifices and appease the wrath of the god.

Achilles frowned at him and replied, "You are immersed in insolence and lust. With what heart can one of the Achaeans do what you will, whether on the offensive or in open battle? I didn't come to fight here because the Trojans harmed me. I have no problems with them. They have not raided my cattle or my horses, nor cut down my crops in the fertile plains of Phthia; for between them and me is a great space, both a mountain and a healthy sea. We're following you, Mr. Insolence! for their pleasure, not for us, satisfaction from the Trojans for their impudence, and for Menelaus. You forget this and threaten to take away the price for which I worked and which the sons of the Achaeans gave me. Never when the Achaeans sack a rich city from the Trojans do I get as good a price as you do, though it is my hands that do most of the fighting. When the time of sharing comes, your share is much greater, and indeed I must return to my ships, take what I can, and thank you when my work of battle is done. So now I will return to Phthia; it is far better for me to return home with my ships, for I shall not remain here in disgrace to collect gold and goods for you.

And Agamemnon answered, "Fly if you will, I will not pray to stop you." I have others here who will honor me, and above all Jupiter, Lord of the Council. I hate no king here as much as you, for you are always quarrelsome and malicious. And if you are brave? Wasn't it heaven that made you this way? Then return home with your ships and comrades to subdue the Myrmidons. I don't care about you or your anger; and so will I do it: since Phoebus Apollo takes Chryseis from me, I will send you with my ship and my followers, but I will go to your tent and take your own prize, Briseis, that you may know how much stronger I am than I am. . you are, and what other thing to make you equal or comparable to me.”

The son of Peleus was angry, and his heart in his hairy chest was torn between drawing his sword, pushing the others away, and killing the son of Atreus or containing and controlling his anger. As he hesitated and unsheathed his mighty sword, Minerva descended from heaven (for Juno had sent her in the love she had for them both) and seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair, visible only to him. ., because of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in astonishment and from the fire that blazed in her eyes he knew immediately that she was Minerva. "Why are you here," he said, "daughter of the aegis bearer Jupiter? Do you see the pride of Agamemnon son of Atreus? Let me tell you, and I'm sure he'll pay for that insolence with his life."

And Minerva said: "I come from heaven, if you will hear me, to ask you to stop your anger. I was sent by Juno, who takes care of both of us equally. So stop this fight and don't draw your sword; Insult him if you wish, and your insult will not be in vain, for I am telling you and it will be certain that from now on you will receive three times the magnificent gifts because of this gift of insult. So resist and obey."

"Goddess," Achilles replied, "no matter how angry a man is, he must do as both of you say. That will be for the best, for the gods always answer the prayers of those who obey them.

He stopped his hand on the silver hilt of his sword and sheathed it as Minerva commanded. Then he returned to the other gods to Olympus and to the house of Jupiter, bearer of the aegis.

But the son of Peleus started insulting the son of Atreus again because he was still angry. "Wine drinker," he exclaimed, "with the face of a dog and the heart of a doe you will never dare go to battle with the army, nor ambush our chosen ones. You avoid it as you avoid death itself. You'd rather go around stealing your prizes from any man who disagrees with you. You devour your people because you are king of a weak people; Otherwise, son of Atreus, you will no longer offend anyone. Therefore I say, and I swear by a strong oath it will not, by this scepter of mine that it has not sprout, nor will sprout, nor sprout again since the day it left its tribe in the mountains , because the ax is broken off, it peels and barks. and now the sons of the Achaeans bear him as judges and keepers of the heavenly decrees, so sure and solemn swearing that henceforth they shall seek Achilles lovingly, and shall not find him. In the day of your distress, when your men die at Hector's murderous hands, you will not know how to help them, and your heart will break with anger at the hour in which you insulted the bravest of the Achaeans.

With that, the son of Peleus laid down his gold-studded scepter and sat down, while the son of Atreus rose violently from his place on the other side. Then Nestor rose up with a smooth tongue, the easy orator of the Pilians, and the words fell sweeter than honey from his lips. Two generations of men born and raised on Pylos had died under his rule, and now he ruled over the third. In all sincerity and good will he addressed her thus:

"Truly," he said, "great sorrow has fallen upon the land of the Achaeans. Surely Priam with his sons would be delighted, and the Trojans would be overjoyed to hear this argument between you two, who are so excellent at arguing and guessing. I am older than all of you; so let me guide you Also, I'm close friends with men who are even taller than you, and they haven't ignored my advice. Never again shall I see men like Pirithous and Dryas, shepherds of their people, or like Ceneus, Exadius the divine Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus, equal of the immortals. These were the mightiest men ever born in this land: the mightiest that they were, and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they were utterly defeated. I came from distant Pylos and walked between them because they wanted me to come and I fought as if it was within me to do so. None of those alive now can resist them, but they heard my words and were convinced by them. So be it with you, for that is the most excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon, even if you are strong, do not take this girl, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles; and you, Achilles, fight no more with the king, for none wielding a scepter by the grace of Jupiter has such honor as Agamemnon. You are strong and have a goddess for a mother; but Agamemnon is stronger than you because he has more men under his command. son of Atreus, control your anger, I pray you; End this quarrel with Achilles, who is a strong tower for the Achaeans on the day of battle.

And Agamemnon replied: "Lord, all you have said is true, but this individual must absolutely become our lord and master: he must be lord of all, king of all, and captain of all, and that will scarcely be." Did they admit that the gods made him a great warrior, did they also give him the right to speak to the grid?

Achilles stopped him. "I would be a little coward," he exclaimed, "if I gave in to you in everything. Giving orders to other people, not me, because I no longer obey. Also, I say and put my saying in your heart: I will not fight with you or any man for this girl, because who has taken has also given. But you won't take anything else on my ship by force. Test it for others to see; If you do, my spear will turn red with your blood.

After arguing so furiously, they rose up and broke the assembly on the Achaean ships. The son of Peleus returned to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company, while Agamemnon put to sea a ship and chose a crew of twenty oarsmen. He escorted Chryseis aboard and also sent the god a hecatomb. And Ulysses went as captain.

These then embarked and sailed across the sea. But the son of Atreus commanded the people to purify themselves; so they cleaned themselves and threw their refuse into the sea. Then they sacrificed hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the beach, and the smoke scented with their sacrifice spiraled into the sky.

With this they occupied the entire army. But Agamemnon did not forget the threat he had made to Achilles, and called upon his faithful messengers and squires, Taltibius and Eurybates. 'Go,' said he, 'to the tent of Achilles son of Peleus; take Briseis by the hand and bring her here; if you don't give it to me, I'll go with others and take it, which will put even more pressure on you.

He carried them straight and dismissed them, so they sadly continued their way across the sea until they came to the tents and ships of the Smyrmidons. They found Achilles seated beside his tent and ships, and he was displeased to see them. They stood before him in awe and awe and said not a word, but he recognized them and said: “Welcome, heralds, messengers of gods and men; Approach; my quarrel is not with you, but with Agamemnon, who sent you after young Briseis. Therefore, Patroclus, bring it to them and give it to them, but testify by blessed gods, by mortal men, and by the fury of Agamemnon's wrath, that when they need me again to save the people from perdition, they will seek me, and will not Agamemnon is mad with rage and does not know how to see before and after that the Achaeans can safely fight with their ships.

Patroclus did as his dear comrade asked. He fetched Briseis from the tent and handed her over to the heralds, who took her to the Achaean ships, and the woman would not go. So Achilles went alone to the shore of the gray sea, weeping and contemplating the immensity of the water. She raised her hands in prayer to her immortal mother: “Mother,” she exclaimed, “you gave birth to me, condemned to live alone for a little while; Surely Jupiter thundering from Olympus could have made this little girl glorious. You are not. Agamemnon son of Atreus dishonored me and stole my prize by force.

As he spoke he cried loudly, and his mother heard him sitting in the depths of the sea beside his elderly father. Immediately she rose from the waves like a gray mist, sat down opposite him while he was crying, stroked him with her hand and said: “My son, why are you crying? What bothers you? Don't hide it from me, tell me so we can know together."

Achilles sighed deeply and said: 'You know that; Why say what you already know well? We went to Thebe, the strong city of Eetion, and plundered it and brought the booty hither. The sons of the Achaeans duly divided it among themselves, and chose the beautiful Chryseis for Agamemnon's mother; but Chryses, priest of Apollo, came to the
ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter, bringing a great ransom; he also carried in his hand the scepter of Apollo, crowned with a supplicant's crown, and besought the Achaeans, but especially the two sons of Atreus, who were their chiefs.

“Then the rest of the Achaeans went with one voice to respect the priest and to receive the ransom he offered; but not Agamemnon, who persuaded him vigorously and abruptly dismissed him. Then he returned angry, and Apollo, who loved him very much, heard his prayer. Then the god hurled a deadly arrow at the Argives, and the people slew one against the other, for the arrows went far and wide through the great multitude of the Achaeans. Finally, a seer at the height of his knowledge announced the oracles of Apollo to us, and I myself was the first to say that we should appease him. Then the son of Atreus rose up in anger and threatened what he had been doing ever since. The Achaeans now take the girl on a ship to Chrysa and send offerings to the god; but the heralds have just brought out of my tent the daughter of Briseus, which the Achaeans had given me.

"So help your brave son if you can. Go to Olympus, and when you have rendered service in word or deed, invoke Jupiter's help. Many times have I heard you boast in my father's house that you alone among the immortals saved Saturn's son from destruction when the others with Juno, Neptune and Pallas Minerva chained him. It was you, goddess, who set him free, calling to Olympus the hundred-handed monster, which the gods call Briareo, but men call Aegeon because it is stronger than his father; When he sat down in all glory beside the son of Saturn, the other gods feared and did not arrest him. So go to him, remind him of all this, hug his knees and ask him to help the Trojans. May the Achaeans be trapped in the stern of their ships and perish on the shore, that they may reap as much joy as possible from their king, and that Agamemnon mourn his blindness by insulting the first of the Achaeans. ”

Thetis wept and answered: "My son, woe is me that I gave birth to you or took care of you! I wish you had spent your time free from all pain in your ships, for everything is very brief; Oh that you had less life and more pain than your fellow men! Ah, such was the hour when I bore you! but I will
Go to the snowy heights of Olympus and tell this tale to Jupiter if he answers our prayer: In the meantime, stay where you are with your ships, quench your anger against the Achaeans, and stay out of combat. For Jupiter went yesterday to Okeanos, to a festival of the Ethiopians, and the other gods went with him. He will return to Olympus in twelve days; I will then go to his bronze-paved mansion and beseech him; I don't doubt that I can convince him either.

So she left him, still angry at the loss of what had been taken from her. Meanwhile, Ulises arrived in Crisa with the hecatomb. Upon entering port, they furled the sails and deposited them in the ship's hold; They loosened the front outriggers, lowered the mast, and rowed the boat to where they wanted to lie. There they laid the mooring lines and tied the mooring lines. So they went out to the beach and landed the hecatomb for Apollo; Chryseis also left the ship and Odysseus led her to the altar to hand her over to her father. "Cryses," he said, "King Agamemnon sent me to fetch his son, and
to offer sacrifices to Apollo in the name of the Danaans, that we might appease the god who now grieved the Argives.

With these words he handed the girl over to her father, who received her with pleasure, and they placed the sacred hecatomb around the altar of the god. They washed their hands and took barley flour to sprinkle on the victims while Chryses raised his hands and prayed aloud for them. "Hear me," he cried, "O god of the silver bow, who protects Chrysa and Saint Cilla and rules Tenedos by his power. As you heard me once when I prayed and afflicted the Achaeans hard, so hear me again and stop this terrible plague of the Danaans.

So he prayed and Apollo heard his prayer. When they had finished praying and distributing the barley flour, they decapitated the victims, killed them and skinned them. They cut up the thigh bones, wrapped them in two layers of fat, put a few pieces of raw meat on top, and then Chryses put them on a wood fire and poured wine over them while the young men stood by. he with five-pronged spears in his hands. When the thigh-bones were seared and the inner flesh tasted, they cut the rest into small pieces, put the pieces on skewers, roasted until cooked, and removed them; then when they had finished their work and the meal was ready, they ate, and each ate his portion, so that they were all full. Once they had eaten and drunk enough, the sides filled the bowl with wine and water and shared it out after giving each their libation.

So all day long the youths worshiped the god with songs, hymns to him and singing the joyful hymn, and the god rejoiced in their voices; but when the sun went down and it was dark they lay down to sleep on the stern lines of the ship, and when the son of the morning appeared, the red-fingered dawn, they sailed again to the host of the Achaeans. . Apollo sent them a favorable wind, so they raised the mast and hoisted the white sails. As the sail rippled in the wind, the ship floated through the deep blue water, splashing hissing water against the bow. When they came to the vast army of the Achaeans, they drew the ship ashore, high and dry above the sand, laid their strong props beneath, and built their own tents and ships.

But Achilles stayed on his ships and stoked his anger. He did not go to the honorable assembly and did not go out to fight, but he bit his heart and longed for the battle and the battle cry.

Now, after twelve days, the immortal gods have returned to Olympus in one body, and Jupiter has led the way. Thetis did not forget the burden her son had placed on her, so she rose from the bottom of the sea and early in the morning crossed the great sky to Mount Olympus, where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting alone on its peaks. She sat down in front of him and grabbed his knees with her left hand while she grabbed his chin with her right hand and begged and said:

“Father Jupiter, if I have ever ministered to you among the immortals, hear my prayer and honor my son, whose life will soon come to an end. King Agamemnon dishonored him by taking his prize and keeping it for himself. Honor him himself, O Olympian councillor, and grant the Trojans victory, until the Achaeans give my son what he deserves and shower him with riches in return.

Justus sat there for a while, speechless, but Thetis still held his knees and begged a second time. "Bend your head," she said, "and make sure you promise me or refuse me, for you have nothing to fear, that I know how much you despise me."

Jupiter was very angry at this and replied, “I will get into trouble if you let me quarrel with Juno, because she will tease me with her mocking speeches; even now she always insults me in front of the other gods and accuses me of helping the Trojans. Go back now so she doesn't find out. I'll look into the matter and do whatever you want. Look, I bow my head for you to believe me. That's the most solemn thing I can give a god. I never remember my word, nor do I cheat, nor do what I say when I nod.

As he spoke, the son of Saturn arched his dark brows, and the ambrosial tresses swayed on his immortal head until mighty Olympus trembled.

As the couple thus formed their plans, they left Jupiter for their homeland, while the goddess left the splendor of Olympus and plunged into the depths of the sea. The gods rose from their seats before the coming of your father. None of them dared to remain seated, but they all rose when he reached between them. So there he sat. But Juno, when she saw him, knew that he and the old merman's daughter, Thetis of the Silver Feet, were up to mischief, so she immediately began to scold him. "Trickster," he cried, "which of the gods will you take your advice on now?" You always arrange things secretly behind my back and, if you can help it, never tell me a word of your intentions.

"Juno," replied the father of gods and men, "do not expect them to share all my advice with you. You are my wife, but it would be difficult for you to understand her. If it is convenient for you to listen, there is no one, God or man, who can be pre-informed, but if I intend to hide a matter from me, you must not intervene or ask questions.

"Terrible son of Saturn," Juno replied, "what are you talking about?" YOU? Browse and ask questions? Never. I'll let you do whatever you want in anything. Having said that, I very much doubt that Thetis, the old merman's daughter, spoke to you, because she was with you this morning and grabbed your knees. So I believe you promised to honor Achilles and kill many people on the Achaean ships.

“Woman,” Jupiter said, “all I can do is suspect myself and find out. You won't take anything for it, because it will only disgust me more, and it will make it harder for you. Admittedly it is as you say; I want it to be like this; Sit and be silent as I command you, because once I start laying my hands on you, it would not be good for you, even if all heaven were on your side.

Juno was startled by this, so she suppressed her stubborn urge and sat in silence. But the celestial beings were restless in Jupiter's house until the cunning craftsman Vulcan began placating his mother Juno. "It will be unbearable," he said, "if the two of you get into a fight and tear open the sky for a bunch of mortals. If such bad advice prevails, we will not enjoy our feast. So let me advise my mother, and I want her to know that it would be better for me to befriend my dear father, Jupiter, so that he doesn't scold her again and disturb our party. If Olympic Thunder wants to knock us out of our seats, he can since he's by far the strongest, so give him fair words and he'll be in a good mood with us soon.

As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar and placed it in his mother's hand. "Take courage, my dear mother," he said, "and do your best. I love you very much and would be very sorry to see your ass kicked; As desperate as I am, I couldn't help it because there's no way I can resist Jupiter. When I tried to help him once before, he grabbed my foot and threw me off the threshold of heaven. All day, from morning to night, I fell until I landed on the island of Lemnos at night and lay there with very little life in me, until the Sintians came and nursed me.

Juno smiled at this and, while smiling, took the cup from her son's hands. Then Vulcan took the sweet nectar from the bowl and served it among the gods, left to right; and the blessed gods gave a resounding applause as they saw him roaming the heavenly estate.

So they partied all day until sunset, and everyone had their full portion, so that everyone was full. Apollo played his lyre, and the Muses raised their sweet voices, calling and answering one another. But when the glorious sunlight faded, they went home to sleep, each in their own dwelling which the lame Vulcan's consummate skill had fashioned for them. Then Jupiter, the Olympian lord of thunder, brought him to the bed where he always slept; and as he climbed in he fell asleep, with Juno of the golden throne at his side.

Book II

The other gods and armed warriors on the plain slept soundly, but Jupiter was awake, thinking of ways to honor Achilles, and he destroyed many people on the Achaean ships. In the end he thought it best to send King Agamemnon a false dream; Then he called one of them and said to him: “Lying dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, to the tent of Agamemnon, and speak to him word for word, as I command you now. Tell him to arm the Achaeans at once because he will take Troy. There are no more councils among the gods; Juno brought them into their own minds, and woe to the Trojans!

The dream was over when he heard their message and soon overtook the Achaean ships. He sought out Agamemnon son of Atreus and found him fast asleep in his tent. He hovered over his head in the form of Nestor son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honored above all his counselors, and said:

“You sleep, son of Atreus; he who has the welfare of his host and so many other cares on his shoulders must sleep. Hear me at once, for I come as a messenger from Jupiter, who, though not near, cares for you and pities you. He orders you to arm the Achaeans immediately because you will take Troy. There are no more councils among the gods; Juno brought them into their own minds, and woe to the Trojans in the hands of Jupiter! Keep that in mind and when you wake up you'll see that you don't miss it.

Then the dream left him and he thought of things that would surely not come true. He thought he would take Priam's city that very day, but he did not know what was on the mind of Jupiter, who had many other battles in store for the Danaans and Trojans. Then he awoke with the divine message still ringing in his ears; then he sat up and put on his soft shirt, so nice and new, and his heavy cloak over it. She tied the sandals on her fair feet and slung the silver-tipped sword over her shoulders; so he took his father's incorruptible staff and departed to the ships of the Achaeans.

The goddess Dawn now proceeded to vast Olympus to announce the day to Jupiter and the other immortals, and Agamemnon sent the heralds to call the people to an assembly; that's what they called her and the people who gathered there. But first he called a meeting of the elders on the ship of Nestor king of Pylos, and when they were assembled he gave them cunning advice.

"My friends," he said, "I had a dream in the middle of the night about heaven, and your face and form resembled none other than Nestor. He hovered over my head and said: “You sleep, son of Atreus; he who has the welfare of his host and so many other cares on his shoulders must sleep. Hear me at once, for I am a messenger from Jupiter, who, although not near, worries and pities you. He orders you to arm the Achaeans immediately because you will take Troy. There are no more councils among the gods; Juno brought them into their own minds, and woe to the Trojans in the hands of Jupiter! Remember that. The dream disappeared and I woke up. Let us now arm the sons of the Achaeans. But it will do me good to sound them out first, and for that I will tell them to fly their ships; but you, the others, walk among the army and prevent them from doing so.

Then he sat down, and Nestor, prince of Pylos, addressed them in all sincerity and goodwill thus: 'My friends,' said he, 'princes and counselors of the Argives, if other men of the Achaeans had told us this dream, we should have declared it wrong and we shouldn't have had anything to do with it, but the one who saw it is the biggest man among us, so we should start arming people.

With that he opened the way for the assembly, and the other kings with scepters rose up with him in obedience to the word of Agamemnon; but the people hastened to listen. They fluttered like bees from a hollow cave, and fluttered in innumerable flocks among the spring flowers crowded in knots and clusters; likewise the mighty crowd hastened from the ships and tents to the assembly, and stood by the broad bank of the water, while the rumor of Wildfire, Jupiter's messenger, ran among them, urging them on and on. So they came together in a whirlpool of insane confusion, and the earth groaned under the steps of the people as the people sought their place. Nine heralds went out and called to each other to stop the tumult and begged them to listen to the kings, until at last they took their various places and ceased their shouting. Then King Agamemnon appeared with his scepter. This was the work of Vulcan who gave it to Jupiter son of Saturn. Jupiter there was Mercury, assassin of Argos, guide and guardian. King Mercury gave it to Pelops, the mighty charioteer, and Pelops Atreus, the shepherd of his people. After his death, Atreus left him in the care of the cattle-rich Thyestes, and Thyestes in turn left him in charge of Agamemnon, so that he might become lord of all Argos and the islands. He therefore leaned on his scepter and addressed the Argives.

"My friends," he said, "Heroes, servants of Mars, the hand of Heaven has fallen heavily on me. Cruel Jupiter made me his solemn promise that he would sack Priam's city before returning, but he has deceived me and is now ingloriously sending me to Argos, with the loss of many people. This is the will of Jupiter, who has destroyed many proud cities and will forsake others because his power is above all. It will henceforth be a sad tale that an Achaean army, at once so great and valiant, fought in vain against men fewer in number than themselves; but there is still no end in sight. Remember that the Achaeans and Trojans took a solemn oath, and that each of them was counted as a Trojan by the list of their fathers, and we by groups of ten; Keep in mind that each of our companies wanted a Trojan householder to serve their wine; we are so much more numerous that many companies would have to do without their butler. But they have allies elsewhere in the city, and it is they who keep me from sacking the rich city of Ilius. Nine of Jupiter's years are over; the timbers of our ships have rotted away; Your approach is no longer solid. Our wives and young children at home eagerly await our arrival, but the work we came here to do is not yet done. So now let's all do as I say: let's sail back to our own land, for we shall not take Troy.

With these words he touched the hearts of the crowd, so many of them who did not know Agamemnon's wise counsel. They came and went like the waves of the sea of ​​Icaria, when the east and south winds come from the clouds of heaven to lash them; or as when the west wind blows over a cornfield, and the ears of corn bend under the blow, so they stagger as they fly toward the ships with loud cries, and the dust beneath their feet rises to heaven. They encouraged each other to put the ships to sea; they cleared the canals in front of them; They began to pull the braces from under them, and the sky echoed with their shouts of joy, so eager were they to come back.

Then surely the Argives would have returned in an unpredictable manner. But Juno said to Minerva: "Alas, daughter of Jupiter, bearer of the aegis, indefatigable, the Argives will fly to their own land across the wide sea, and leave to Priam and the Trojans the glory of keeping Helen still, for whose sake Are many died by the Achaeans in Troy, far from their homeland? Go at once to the midst of the army and speak honestly to them, man by man, lest they drag your ships into the sea.”

Minerva wasted no time carrying out her orders. He threw himself from the highest peaks of Olympus and in no time was on the ships of the Achaeans. There he found Odysseus, Jupiter's fellow councillor, alone. He hadn't gotten his hands on his ship yet, as he was sad and sad; then she approached him and said: 'Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, do you want to jump into your ships and thus set out for your own country? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of keeping Helen from their homes, for whom so many Achaeans died at Troy? Go straight to the center of the army and speak honestly with them, man for man, lest they drag your ships out to sea.

Odysseus recognized the voice as that of the goddess: he took off his cloak and began to run. His servant Eurybates, a man of Ithaca who served him, took the cloak in which Odysseus went straight to Agamemnon and received from him his ancestral and imperishable staff. With that he walked among the ships of the Achaeans.

Whenever he met a king or chief, he supported them and spoke fairly to them. "Lord," he said, "this flight is cowardly and unworthy." Stand up in your cabin and ask your people to sit down as well. You don't yet know the full spirit of Agamemnon; he has sounded us out and shortly he will visit the Achaeans with his displeasure. We weren't all in council to hear what he said then; make sure he doesn't get angry and hurt us; for the pride of kings is great, and the hand of Jupiter is with them."

But when he found an ordinary man making noise, he struck him with his rod and rebuked him, saying, “Lord, shut up and listen to better men than you. You are a coward and not a soldier; you are nobody, neither in battle nor in council; not all of us can be kings; it is not good that there are many teachers; A man must be supreme, a king to whom the son of scheming Saturn has given the scepter of sovereignty over you all.

Thus he walked masterfully among the army, and the people hastened back to the council of their tents and ships with a sound like the sound of the waves beating the shore, and all the sea is in turmoil.

The others now sat down and remained in their places, but Thersites still wagged his unbridled tongue, a man of many and improper words; a rebel, a slanderer against all authorities, who doesn't care what he says to make the Achaeans laugh. He was the ugliest man that ever came before Troy, bow-legged, lame on one foot, round-shouldered, and hunched over the chest. Her head was raised to a point, but there was hardly any hair at the top. Achilles and Odysseus hated him more than anyone else because they were the ones he quarreled with the most; but now he began to insult Agamemnon in a high, high voice. The Achaeans were angry and upset, but he kept fighting, shouting at the son of Atreus.

"Agamemnon," he exclaimed, "what's the matter with you now, and what more do you want? Its stores are full of bronze and beautiful women because every time we take a city we give you the choice. Do you want more gold, which some Trojan will give you as a ransom for your son if I or another Achaean capture you? Or is it a young woman to hide and lie down? It is not right of you, ruler of the Achaeans, to bring them to such misery. Weak cowards, women instead of men, let's go home and let this fellow here in Troy cook for himself and find out whether we serve him or not. Achilles is a much better man than he is and see how he treated him, stole his prize and kept it. Achilles meekly accepts and does not fight; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never offend him again.

Thus Thersites criticized, but Ulysses approached him and severely rebuked him. 'Hold your talkative tongue, Thersites,' said Ser, 'and babble not another word. Don't scold princes if you have no one to support you. There is no more hideous creature that came before Troy with the sons of Atreus. Stop talking about kings and don't insult them and don't insist on going home. We do not yet know what will happen next, whether the Achaeans will return with good or bad success. How dare you mock Agamemnon because the Danaans gave him so many awards? So I'm telling you, and it sure will be, if I catch you talking such nonsense, I'll either lose my own head and stop being called the father of Telemachus, or I'll catch you and strip you stark naked, and whip you. Leave the gathering until you come whimpering back to the ships.

With that, he hit him on the back and shoulders with his stick until he fell down and began to cry. The golden scepter caused a bloody wound on his back, so he sat up, frightened and in pain, looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes. The people mourned him but laughed heartily, and one of them turned to his neighbor and said: 'Odysseus has done much good in battle and counsel before, but he has never done the Argives a better favor than in his arrest.” . your partner's mouth clatters more. He will no longer give to kings for their insolence.”

That's what people said. Then Odysseus rose, scepter in hand, and Minerva, in the guise of a herald, commanded the people to be silent, lest afar may hear him and heed his counsel. Therefore, in all sincerity and goodwill, he addressed her thus:

"King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are here to make you known among all mankind. They forget the promise they made to you when they left Argos, that you would not return until they sacked the city of Troy, and like children or widows they grumble and turn back. It is true that they have had enough work to be discouraged. It galls a man to be separated from his wife for even a month when he's aboard a ship at the mercy of wind and sea, but we've been stuck here nine long years; I cannot, therefore, blame the Achaeans when they become restless; we shall still be ashamed when we return home empty after so long a stay, so my friends, be patient a little longer, that we may know whether the prophecies of Calchas were true or false.

"All who have not died since must remember as if it were yesterday or the day before yesterday, how the ships of the Achaeans were halted at Aulis when we were about to make war against Priam and the Trojans. We stood around a fountain that offered hecatombs to the gods on their sacred altars, and there was a beautiful plane tree from which flowed a stream of pure water. Then we saw a miracle; for Jupiter sent from the earth a terrible serpent, smeared with red blood on its back, and it darted under the altar to the planetary tree. Now there was a young brood of sparrows, very small, on the highest branch peeking out from under the leaves, eight in all, and their mother who hatched them made nine. The serpent ate the poor twittering things while the old bird flew and wailed for its little ones; but the serpent coiled around her and caught her wing as she cried. So when he ate the sparrow and his young, the god who sent him made a sign; for the son of scheming Saturn turned him to stone, and we stood and marveled at what had happened. Then, when Calchas saw such a terrible omen breaking into our hecatombs, he immediately proclaimed to us the oracles of heaven. Why, Achaeans, he said, are you so speechless? Jupiter sent us this sign belatedly and belatedly, although his glory is forever. How the serpent ate the eight young and the sparrow that hatched them, that's nine, so we'll fight in Troy for nine years, but in the tenth we'll take the city.' That's what he said, and now it's all true. . So everyone stay here until we take Priam's city.

Then the Argives shouted until the ships echoed with the noise. Then Nestor, knight of Gerene, turned to her. "What a pity," he exclaimed, "to stand here and talk like children when you're supposed to be fighting like men. Where are our covenants now and where are the oaths we made? Are our counsels thrown into the fire, with our libations and the right hands of the community in which we place our trust? We are wasting our time with words and despite what we have said here, we are going no further. So, son of Atreus, persevere in your firm resolution; Lead the Argives into battle and rot that handful of men who vainly plan to return to Argos before they know if Jupiter is true or a lie. For the mighty son of Saturn has promised that we shall prosper if we put to sea Argives to bring death and destruction to the Trojans. He has shown us auspicious signs by flashing his lightning bolt in our right hand; Therefore let no one hurry to go until he has first lain with a Trojan's wife, and avenged the toil and pain he suffered for Helen's sake. However, if anyone is in such a hurry to get home, please put your hand on the ship so you can find your destination in sight. But, O king, heed and heed my counsel, for the word I speak cannot be lightly neglected. Divide your men, Agamemnon, into your different tribes and clans so that clans and tribes stand firm and help each other. If you do this and the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who is brave and who is cowardly, both leaders and people; because they will compete against each other. In this way you will also know whether it is the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of men that you will not take the city.

And Agamemnon answered, Nestor, you have once again surpassed the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. I wish, by Father Jupiter, Minerva, and Apollo, that I had ten more counselors among them, for King Priam's city would soon fall into our hands, and we would plunder it. But the son of Saturn plagues me with fruitless quarrels and quarrels. Achilles and I quarreled about this girl, and I was the first to be offended; If we agree again, the Trojans will not stop the destruction for a day. So eat your breakfast now, let our hosts fight along. Sharpen your spears well; pay close attention to the order of your shields; give your horses good pasture and feed your chariots, that we may fight all day; for we shall have no rest, not a moment, until night falls to part us. The ribbons that support your shields will be wet with sweat on your shoulders, your hands will be weary on your spears, your horses will run ahead of your chariots, and if I see anyone dodging combat or trying to keep the ships at bay, I will not do it, he will be helped, but he will fall prey to dogs and vultures.

So he spoke, and the Achaeans roared their approval. As when the waves rise in the breath of the south wind and break on a high promontory, break on it and lash it without ceasing, while storms drive them away from all sides, so the Achaeans arose and ran in all directions for your ships. They lit their fires in their tents and ate, each man making offerings to one or other of the gods and praying that each of them might live to get out of the fight. Agamemnon, the king of men, sacrificed a fat five-year-old bull to the mighty son of Saturn and invited the princes and elders of his army. First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneo, then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixth Odysseus, a pair of gods in council; but Menelaus came of his own accord, knowing how busy his brother was then. They stood around the bull with barley flour in their hands, and Agamemnon prayed, saying: "Jupiter, Most Glorious, Most High, who dwells in heaven and rides on the storm cloud, grant that the sun shall not set nor night fall. Night until Priam's palace is destroyed and its gates consumed by fire. Strike my sword in Hector's shirt around his heart, and many of his comrades will die as they collapse around him in agony.

So he prayed, but the son of Saturn did not fulfill his prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, but still steadily increased his work. When they finished praying and sprinkled barley flour over the victim, they pulled back his head, killed him, and then skinned him. They cut the femurs and wrapped them in two layers
Fat and put pieces of raw meat on top. They burned them on the broken logs of firewood, but they spat out the flesh in them and brought them to the fire to cook. When the femurs were seared and the inner flesh tasted, they cut the rest into small pieces, put the pieces on skewers, roasted them until done, and removed them; then when they had finished their work and the meal was ready, they ate, and each ate his portion, so that they were all full. As soon as they had eaten and drunk enough, Nestor, Knight of Gerene, began to speak. "King Agamemnon," he said, "let us not sit here and talk, nor let us miss the work that Heaven has placed in our hands. Let the heralds call the people to assemble in their various ships; then we will go under the army so that we can start fighting immediately.

So he spoke, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He immediately sent out the criers to call the people to an assembly. That's what they called her, and people would gather there. The chiefs of the son of Atreus chose and commanded their men, while Minerva walked among them with her priceless aegis, which knows neither age nor death. From it fluttered a hundred tassels of pure gold, all intricately woven, each worth a hundred oxen. With that, he threw himself furiously around the hosts of the Achaeans, urging them forward and giving courage to each one that they may fight and fight without ceasing. So the war became sweeter for them than going home with their ships. As when a great forest fire burns on a mountain and its light is seen in the distance, so as they marched the splendor of their armor shone in the vastness of the sky.

They were like great flocks of geese or cranes or swans on the plains round the waters of Cayster, flying hither and thither, rejoicing in the pride of flight, and weeping as they settle till the marsh is animated by your cries. . Even so, their tribes descended from their boats and tents onto the plain of Scamander, and the ground rang like bronze under the feet of men and horses. They lay as close to the flower-strewn field as the leaves that bloom in summer.

Just as in spring, when the pails are full of milk, innumerable swarms of flies buzz around a shepherd's house, so the Achaeans rushed out into the plain to attack and destroy the Trojans.

The caciques arranged their men from side to side before the fight began, and led them out as easily as goatherds lead their flocks when they mingle in the pasture; and among them was King Agamemnon, with a head and face like Jupiter, the lord of thunder, a waist like Mars, and a breast like Neptune. Like a great bull ruling the flocks on the plain, Jupiter made the son of Atreus unique among the multitude of heroes.

And now, O Muses, dwellers of the mansions of Olympus, tell me why ye are goddesses, and are everywhere, that ye may see all things, while we only know by heart who were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans. As for the common soldiers, so many that I could not name them all, if I had ten tongues, and if my voice did not fail, and my heart within me was of brass, except ye, O Olympian Muses, daughters the aegis . -Who wore Jupiter, tell me. However, I will tell the captains of the ships and the entire fleet together.

Peneleos, Leitus, Arcesilaos, Prothoenor and Clonius were captains of the Boeotians. It was these who dwelt in Hyria and in stony Aulis, and possessed Schonus, Scolus, and the high lands of Eteonus with Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of Mykalessos. They also had Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong fortress of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis and Thisbe, pigeon hole; Coronea and Haliartus willows; platea and glisas; the fortress of Thebes less; Saint Onchestus with his famous Neptune Forest; Arne rich in vines; Midea, holy Nisa and Anthedon over the sea. From these came fifty ships, and in each were one hundred and twenty young boats.

Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Mars, led the people who dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus, the kingdom of Minyas. Astyoche, a noble girl, bore her in the house of Actor son of Azeus; for she had secretly gone into an upper room with Mars, and he had slept with her. With these came thirty ships.

The Phocaeans were led by Schedio and Epistrophus, sons of the mighty Ifito son of Naubolus. It was these who had Cyparissus, the rocky Pytho, Saint Chrysa, Daulis, and Panopeus; also those who dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis and by the waters of the river Cephissus, and Lilaea by the springs of Cephissus; forty ships came with their commanders and ordered the Phocian forces stationed alongside the Boeotians to the left.

Ajax, the swift son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not so great, nor as great as Ajax son of Telamon. He was a small man and his breastplate was of linen, but he excelled at the spear of all Hellenes and Achaeans. These inhabited Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, Fair Augeae, Tarphe and Thronium around the Boagrius River. With him came forty ships from the Locrians who live beyond Euboea.

The wild Abantes ruled Euboea with its cities of Chalcis, Eretria, Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus by the sea, and the city of Dium enthroned on a rock; with them also were the men of Carystus and Styra; Elephenor of the race Mars was responsible for them; he was son of Chalcodon and chief of all the Abantes. With him came light-footed and long-haired brave warriors who would always strive to pierce their enemies' armor with their long gray spears. Of these, fifty ships came.

And those who had the strong city of Athens, the people of the great Erechtheus, born of the earth itself but raised by Jupiter's daughter Minerva, and settled in Athens in her own rich sanctuary. Year after year, Athenian youths worship him there with sacrifices of bulls and rams. These were commanded by Menesteo, son of Peteos. No living man could equal him in driving chariots and foot soldiers. Only Néstor could match him because he was older. With him came fifty ships.

Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis and placed them alongside the Athenians.

Again the men of Argos and those defending the walls of Tiryns, with Hermione and Asine over the gulf; Troezene, Eionae and the vineyards of Epidaurus; also the Achaean youths who came from Aegina and Mases; these were led by Diomedes, the loud war-cry, and Sthenelos, son of the famous Capaneus. With them ruled Euryalus son of king Mecisteus son of Talaus; but Diomedes was the chief of them all. With these came eighty ships.

Those who ruled the strong city of Mycenae, rich Corinth, and Cleonae; Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon, where Adrastus ruled in ancient times; Hyperesia, Tall Gonoessa and Pellena; Agios and all the coast around Helice; These sent a hundred ships under the command of King Agamemnon son of Atreus. Their strength was far greater and more numerous, and in their midst was the king himself, all glorious in his shining armor of bronze, foremost among heroes, for he was the greatest king and had the greatest number of men under his command.

And those who dwelt in Lacedaemon, which is among the hills, Pharis, Sparta, with Mass, the den of doves; Bryseae, Augeae, Amyclae and Helos over the sea; Laas also and Oetylos; These were led by Menelaus, he with the cry of war, brother of Agamemnon, and of them sixty ships were separated from the others. Among them was Menelaus himself, eager to challenge his men to battle; for he wished to avenge himself for the troubles and pains he had endured because of Helena.

The men of Pylos and Arene and Tryum, where is the ford of the river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis and Amphigenea; Pteleum, Helos and Dorium, where the muses found Thamyris and pacified their minstrel forever. He returned from Ecalia, where Eurytus lived and reigned, and he boasted that he would surpass even the Muses, the daughters of Jupiter, who wears the aegis, if they sang against him; so they got angry and mutilated him. His divine singing power was stolen from him, since then he can no longer play the lyre. These were commanded by Nestor, the knight of Gerene, and with him came ninety ships.

And those who occupied Arcadia, beneath the high mount Kyllene, near the tomb of Aepytus, where men fight hand in hand; Also the men of Pheneus and Orchomenos were rich in flocks; from Rhipae, Stratie, and desolate Enispe; of Tegea and the beautiful Mantinea; from Stymphelus and Parrhasia; over these king Agapenor son of Ancaios was the commander, and they had sixty ships. Many Arcadians, good soldiers, got into each of them, but Agamemnon found for them the ships to cross the sea, because they were not people who did their business on the water.

Also men from Buprasium and Elis, also trapped between Hyrmine, Myrsinus on the beach, Olene Rock and Alesium. These had four chiefs and each had ten ships with many soldiers on board. Their chiefs were Amphimachus and Talpius, a son of Cteato, and the other of Eurytus, both of the Actors' lineage. The other two were Diores son of Amarynces and Polyxenus son of King Agasthenes son of Augeas.

and those of Dulichium, with the sacred Echinese Isles, lying across the sea from Elis; At their head was Meges, peer of Mars and son of brave Phyleus, loved by Jupiter, who quarreled with his father and settled in Dulichium. Forty ships came with him.

Odysseus led the brave Kefalenians who occupied Ithaca, Neritum with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, Samos and Zacinto, with the mainland also facing the islands. These were led by Odysseus, Jupiter's fellow councillor, and with him came twelve ships.

Thoas son of Andraemon commanded the Aetolians who dwelt in Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Chalkis by the sea, and rocky Calydon, for the great king Aeneus had no living sons, and he himself was dead as gold. Meleager, who had been proclaimed king of the Aetolians. And with Thoas came forty ships.

The famous spearmen Idomeneus led the Cretans who occupied Knossos and the walled city of Gortis; Lyctus, Miletus and Lycastus are also on the Chalk; the populous cities of Festus and Rithion, with the other peoples who inhabited the hundred cities of Crete. All of this was directed by Idomeneo and Meriones, the partner of the assassin Mars. And with these came eighty ships.

Tlepolemus son of Hercules, a brave man of great stature, brought nine ships of noble warriors from Rhodes. These dwelt on Rhodes, which is divided into the three cities of Lindus, Ielysus and Cameirus, which lies on the Cretaceous. These were commanded by Tlepolemus, son of Hercules of Astyochea, whom he brought from Ephyra on the river Selleis after sacking many cities of brave warriors. As Tlepolemus grew up, he killed his father's uncle Licymnius, who had been a famous warrior in his day but later grew old. With this he built up a fleet, gathered a large number of followers, and fled across the sea, being threatened by the other sons and grandsons of Hercules. After a trip. during which he suffered great hardships, he reached Rhodes, where men were divided into three communities according to their tribes and greatly loved by Jupiter, lord of gods and men; then the son of Saturn rained upon them great wealth.

And Nireus brought three ships from Syme Nireus, who was the handsomest man who emerged under Ilius of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus, but he was a man without substance and had very few followers.

And those who occupied Nisyrus, Crapathus, and Casus with Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the islands of Chalydnia, were commanded by Pheidippus and Antiphos, two sons of king Thessalus son of Hercules. And with them came thirty ships.

Those who reoccupied Pelasgian Argos, Alos, Alope, and Trachis; and those of Phthia and Hellas, land of fair women, who were called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans; these had fifty ships over which Achilles was in command. But now they did not take part in the war, as there was no one to command them; for Achilles stood beside his ships, angry at the loss of the maiden Briseis, whom he had taken from Lyrnessus at great peril, sacking Lyrnessus and Thebe, and overthrowing Mynes and Epistrophus, sons of king Evenor son of Selepos. Because of them, Achilles was still grieving, but it wasn't long before he rejoined them.

And those who protected Phylace and the flowering meadows of Pyrasus, sanctuary of Ceres; Iton, the mother of the sheep; Antrum in the sea and pteleum in the grasslands. Of these warriors, Protesilaus had been the captain in life, but now he lay underground. He had left a woman in Filace to tear his cheeks in pain, and his house was only half finished, having been killed by a Dardanian warrior while leaping over Trojan lands before the Achaeans. Yet though his people lamented their leader, they were not without leaders, for Podarces of the House of Mars commanded them; He was the son of the rich Iphiclos, the son of Philaccus, and the brother of Protesilaus, who was only younger, Protesilaus being both the eldest and the bravest. So the people were not without a leader, although they mourned the one they had lost. Forty ships came with him.

And those who had Pherae at Lake Boebe, with Boebe, Glaphyrae, and the populous city of Iolcus, these with their eleven ships were led by Eumelus son of Admetus, who bore him Alcestis, the fairest of the daughters of Pelias.

And those who garrisoned Methone and Thaumacia, with Melibea and the rude Olizon, these were led by the skilled archer Philoctetes, and they had seven ships, each with fifty oarsmen, all good archers; but Philoctetes was in great pain on the island of Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaeans had left him, because he had been bitten by a poisonous water snake. There he became ill and sad, and soon the Argives began to miss him. But his people, though feeling their loss, were not without leaders, for Medon, the bastard son of Oileus of Rhene, set them right.

Those of Trica and the stony region of Itome, and those who occupied Ecalia, the city of Oechalian Eurytus, were commanded by Asclepius' two sons, Podalirio and Machaon, skilled in the art of healing. And with them came thirty ships.

The men of Ormenius and of the fountain of Hypereia, with which they supported Asterius and the white crests of Titanus, were led by Eurypylus son of Euaemon, and forty ships came with them.

Those who occupied Argissa and Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone and the white city of Oloosson, of these brave polypoets were the leaders. He was the son of Pirithous, who was himself the son of Jupiter, because Hippodameia bore him the day after Pirithous that he took vengeance on the savages of the hairy mountain and drove them from Mount Pelion to Aithices. But Polypoetes was not the only one responsible, for with him was Leontheus of the lineage of Mars, son of Coronus son of Ceneus. And with these came forty ships.

Guneus brought twenty-two ships from Cyphus, and he was followed by the Aenenes and the valiant Peraebi, who dwelt in wintry Dodona and commanded the lands around the fair river Titaresius, which sends its waters to the Peneus. They do not mingle with the silver vortices of Peneus, but flow over them like oil; for the Titaresius is a branch of the fearsome Orcus and the river Styx.

Of the magnets, Prothous son of Tenthredon was the commander. They were the ones who lived around the Peneo River and Mount Pelion. Prothous, quick on his feet, was their leader, and with him came forty ships.

These were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans. Who then, O Muse, was first, man or horse, among those who followed the sons of Atreus?

Of the horses, by far the best were those of the son of Pheres. Led by Eumelus, they were swift as birds. They were the same age and color and perfectly matched in size. Apollo of the silver bow had bred them in Perea, both mares and terrible as Mars in battle. Of men, Ajax son of Telamon was far more
That was as long as Achilles' anger lasted, for Achilles far surpassed him and had better horses too; but Achilles now kept aloof from his ships because of his quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time on the beach, throwing discs or aiming spears at targets, and shooting with bows and arrows. Their horses each sat in their own carriage and munched on lotus and wild celery. The chariots were hidden, but their owners, for lack of leadership, bypassed the army and did not go out to fight.

Thus marched the host like a consuming fire, and the earth groaned beneath them, as the Thunderlord raged and scourged the land around Typhoeus among the Arimi, where Typhoeus shall lie. Likewise, the earth groaned beneath them as they raced across the plain.

And now, swift as the wind, Iris has been sent by Jupiter to bring the bad news among the Trojans. They assembled, old and young, at Priam's gates, and Iris approached Priam and spoke in the voice of Polites, Priam's son, who, being swift on foot, was placed in the tomb as a sentinel for the Trojans. , to watch over any departure of the Achaeans. In her likeness, Iris spoke and said, "Old man, you speak in vain, as in peacetime when war is near. I've been in many battles, but I've never seen an army like the advancing one. They cross the plain to attack the city, which is as dense as the leaves or the sand of the sea. Hector, I command you above all others, do as I say. There are many allies scattered across Priam City from faraway places, speaking many languages. Let each chief, therefore, give orders to his own people, command them separately into formation, and lead them into battle."

So he spoke, but Hector knew it was the goddess and immediately broke up the assembly. The men took up arms; All the gates were opened, and the people passed through on horseback and on foot in a great multitude.

Now in front of the city there is a high hill rising alone from the plain. Men call it Bateia, but the gods know it is the tomb of the swift Myrine. Here the Trojans and their allies divided their forces.

The son of Priam, the great Hector with the shining helmet, commanded the Trojans, and with him went the greatest number and the bravest of those who longed for battle.

The Dardanians were led by the brave Aeneas, who gave birth to Venus to Anchises when, although a goddess, she lay with him on the slopes of Mount Ida. He was not alone, for with him were Antenor's two sons, Archilochus and Acamas, both versed in all the arts of war.

Those who dwelt in Telea under the lower hills of Mount Ida, men of rank, who drink the clear waters of Esepo, and are of Trojan blood, were led by Pandarus son of Lycaon, who taught Apollo how to use the bow had. .

Those who possessed Adrestia and the land of Apaesus with Pityeia and the high mount Tereia were led by Adrestus and Anphius, whose breastplate was of linen. These were the sons of Merops of Percote, who excelled in all kinds of divination. He told them not to take part in the war, but they ignored him because fate led them to their undoing.

Those who dwelt around Percothus and Practius, with Sestos, Abydos, and Arisbe, these were led by Asius son of Hyrtacus, a valiant general of the river. Selleis, brought by Arisbe.

Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearmen who inhabited the fertile Larissa Hippothous, and Pylaeus of the lineage of Mars, two sons of the Pelasgian Lethus son of Teutamus.

Acamas and the warrior Peirous commanded the Thracians and those who came from across the mighty current of the Hellespont.

Euphemus son of Troezenos son of Ceos was captain of the Cikonian spearmen.

Pyraechmes led the Paeonian archers from distant Amydon across the wide waters of the River Axius, the fairest river on earth.

The Paphlagonians were led by the strong-hearted Pylaemanes of Enetae, where herds of mules roam wild. These ruled Cytorus and the land around Sesamus with the cities on the river Parthenius, Cromna, Aegialus and the upper Erithini.

Odius and Epistrophus were captains of the Halizoni from far away Alybe, where there are silver mines.

Chromis and Ennomo the Augur led the Mysians, but their skill at Omen did not save him from destruction, for he fell to the fleet descending from Aeacus into the river, where he also slew other Trojans.

Phorcys in turn and noble Ascanius led the Phrygians from the distant land of Ascania, and both were eager for battle.

Mesthles and Antiphos commanded the Meonians, sons of Talaemenes born to him of Lake Gygean. These led the Meonians who dwelt under Mount Tmolus.

Nastes led the Carians, men of a foreign tongue. These possessed Miletus and the wooded Mount Phthires with the waters of the river Meander and the high peaks of Mount Mycale. These were commanded by Nastes and Amphimachus, the brave sons of Nomion. She came into battle with gold around her like a girl; Stupid as he was, his gold did not save him, for he fell in the river into the hands of the swift descendant of Aeacus, and Achilles took his gold.

Sarpedon and Glaucus led the Lycians from their distant lands near the choppy waters of Xanthus.

Buch III

When the companies were thus organized, each under their own captain, the Trojans advanced like a flock of wild birds or cranes, screeching overhead as rain and winter drive them across the turbulent waters of the ocean for death and destruction upon them bring to. , and they fight in the air while they fly; but the Achaeans marched in silence, hearts high and ready to stand side by side.

As when the south wind spreads a layer of mist over the tops of the mountains, bad for shepherds but better than night for thieves, and a man cannot see farther than a stone can throw, so it stirred up the dust from under their feet as they did went. done at full speed across the plane.

When they were close, Alexandrus presented himself as the champion of the Trojan side. On his shoulders he wore the skin of a panther, his bow and sword, and brandished two shod bronze spears to challenge the bravest of the Achaeans to face him in single combat. Menelaus saw him thus walking in front of the ranks and rejoiced like a hungry lion that chases the carcass of a horned goat or a deer and devours it on the spot, though dogs and young men charge him. Nonetheless, Menelaus was glad when his eyes caught Alexander, thinking that now he had to avenge himself. Then he jumped out of his chariot in his armor.

Alexandrus shuddered as Menelaus advanced and fought for his life under the protection of his men. Like one cowering in fear, trembling and pale at the sudden encounter of a serpent in a mountain clearing, Alexander threw himself into the crowd of Trojan warriors, terrified of seeing the son of Atreus.

Then Hector rebuked him. "Paris," he said, "wicked Paris, pretty to look at but woman-crazy and false-tongued, wish you'd never been born or died single." Better that than being dishonored and looked down upon. Won't the Achaeans mock us and say that we sent someone to defend us who is beautiful to look at but lacking in intelligence and courage? Didn't you gather your followers as you are and sail the seas? Have you not brought with you from your far land a beautiful woman, to be married among a warring people, to bring sorrow to your father, and to your city, and to all your country, and joy to your enemies, and shame to yourself? And now you dare not defy Menelaus and find out what kind of man he is whose wife you stole? Where was your lyre and your love tricks, your pretty hair and your pretty favors when you lay in the dust before him? Trojans are people with weak knees, otherwise you would have a shirt of stones for the wrong you have done them.

And Alexandrus answered: “Hector, your rebuke is just. You are as tough as the ax the shipwright wields at work, and he cuts the wood as he pleases. As the ax in your hand is the edge of your contempt. Still, do not mock me with the gifts that golden Venus gave me; they are precious; let no one despise them, for the gods give them where they think, and no one can make them ask for them. If you want me to fight Menelaus, seat the Trojans and Achaeans while he and I fight in their midst for Helen and all her riches. Whoever emerges victorious and proves godfather, take the woman and all she has to take you home, but make the others swear a solemn peace pact, after which you Trojans will stay here in Troy while the others go away. Home of Argos and the land of the Achaeans.

Hearing this, Hector was glad, and, with his spear in the midst, passed through the ranks of the Trojans to stop them, and they all sat down at his command; but the Achaeans still aimed at him with stones and arrows, until Agamemnon cried out and said to them: Hold fast, Argives, shoot not, sons of the Achaeans; Hector wants to talk.

They stopped aiming and stopped, and Hector spoke. "Hear from me," he said, "Trojans and Achaeans, the word of Alexander, by whom this quarrel came. Command the Trojans and Achaeans to lay down their arms while he and Menelaus fight each other for Helen and all her riches. Whoever emerges victorious and is godfather takes the wife and everything she has to bring into his own house, but the others are to conclude a solemn peace pact.

So he spoke, and all were silent until Menelaus, he with the loud war-cry, spoke to them. “And now,” he said, “listen to me too, for I am the most damaged. I appreciate that the separation of the Achaeans and Trojans is coming, no matter how good it may be, seeing how much they suffered from my struggle with Alexander and the evil he did to me. That the one who dies dies and the others don't fight anymore. So bring two lambs, a white ram and a black sheep, to the earth and the sun, and we will bring a third to Jupiter. Besides, you will invite Priam to come and swear the pact himself; for his children are haughty and untrustworthy, and Jupiter's oaths are not to be transgressed or taken in vain. Young people's minds are as light as air, but when an old man walks by, he looks back and forth, trying to figure out what's fairest to both sides."

The Trojans and Achaeans rejoiced, thinking they had peace. They drew their wagons back to the ranks, got out, and took off their weapons and laid them on the ground; and the hosts were close together with a little distance between them. Hector sent two messengers into the city to bring the lambs and beg Priam to come, while Agamemnon told Talthybius to bring the other lamb from the ships and he did as Agamemnon said.

Meanwhile, Iris went to Helena in the form of her sister-in-law, the wife of Antenor's son, because Helicaon, Antenor's son, had married Laodice, the fairest of Priam's daughters. He found her in her room working on a large purple linen cloth on which she was embroidering the battles between the Trojans and the Achaeans that Mars made them fight for them. Then Iris approached her and said: “Come here, daughter, and behold the strange deeds of the Trojans and Achaeans, who hitherto have fought in the plain, mad with lust for battle, but now they have stopped fighting and lean on theirs Shields sitting still with their spears at their sides. Alexander and Menelaus will fight for you, and you are the victor's wife.

Thus spoke the goddess, and Helena's heart longed for her ex-husband, her city and her parents. Throwing a white robe over her head, she hurried weeping from her room, not alone, but accompanied by two of her servants, Aethrae daughter of Pittheus and Clymene. And soon they were at the gates of Scaeer.

The two sages Ucalegon and Antenor, the elders of the people, sat at the gates of Scaean with Priam, Panthous, Thymoetes, Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the clan of Mars. These were too old to fight, but they spoke fluently and sat on the tower like cicals singing softly in the branches of a tall tree in a forest. As they saw Helen approaching the tower, they whispered to each other, "No wonder the Trojans and Achaeans suffer so much and so much because of a woman so wonderful and divinely beautiful. But beautiful as it is, let her take it and go, or it will bring pain to us and to our children after us."

But Priam commanded him closer. “My daughter,” he said, “sit in front of me so you can see your ex-husband, your relatives and your friends. I don't blame you, it's the gods who are to blame, not you. They provoked this terrible war with the Achaeans. Then tell me who is this great great good hero? I've seen men a head taller, but none as handsome and as real. Surely he must be a king.

"Lord," Helen replied, "father of my husband, dear and honored in my eyes, I wish you had chosen death rather than come here with your son, far from my bridal chamber, my friends, my dear daughter, and all companions of my childhood. But it wasn't, and my lot is one of tears and sadness. As for your question, the hero you are asking is Agamemnon son of Atreus, a good king and a brave soldier, brother-in-law as sure as he lives, for I am hated and miserable.

The old man marveled at him and said: "Fortunate son of Atreus, son of fortune. I see that the Achaeans are subject to you in large numbers. When I was in Phrygia I saw many horsemen, the people of Otreus and Mygdon, encamped on the banks of the river Sangario; I was their ally and with them when the Amazons opposed them like men, but even they were not as numerous as the Achaeans.

Then the old man looked at Ulises; "Tell me," he said, "who is this other, smaller in head than Agamemnon, but broader in chest and shoulders?" His armor is on the ground and he walks at the head of the ranks like a great woolly ram tending his sheep.

And Helena answered, "This is Odysseus, a man of great cunning, son of Laertes. Born in harsh Ithaca, he excels at all manner of stratagems and subtle cunning.

Then Antenor said: "Madame, you have told the truth. Odysseus once came to you as a messenger, and Menelaus with him. I received her in my own home, so I know her both by sight and by conversation. When they rose in the presence of the assembled Trojans, Menelaus had the broadest shoulders, but when they were both seated, Odysseus had the most regal presence. After a while they delivered their message, and the speech of Menelaus rolled off the tongue like crazy; he did not speak much, being a man of few words, but he spoke very clearly and to the point, although he was the younger of the two; Ulisses, on the other hand, fell silent at first when he stood up to speak, and kept his eyes on the floor. There was no play, no graceful swing of his scepter; he held it straight and rigid like a man untrained in rhetoric, and might be thought a mere lout or a fool; but when he raised his voice and the words came out of his deep breast like winter snows blown away by the wind, there was no one to touch him, and no one thought of his appearance any more.

Priam then saw Ajax and asked, "Who is this tall and handsome warrior, whose broad head and broad shoulders tower above the rest of the Argives?"

"That," answered Helena, "is the great Ajax, stronghold of the Achaeans, and on the other side, among the Cretans, is Idomeneus in the form of a god, and with the chiefs of the Cretans around him. Menelaus often received him as a guest in our house when he visited us from Crete. I also see many other Achaeans whose names I could tell you, but there are two I cannot find anywhere, Castor the horse trainer, and Pollux the mighty boxer; They are my mother's children and my own brothers. They either didn't leave Lacedaemon, or even if they brought their ships with them, they wouldn't face the battle because of the disgrace and disgrace they brought them.

Little did she know that these two heroes were already buried in their own land, Lacedaemon.

Meanwhile the heralds brought the offerings of the holy oath to the city, two lambs and a wineskin, the bounty of the land; and Idaios brought the mixing bowl and the golden bowls. He approached Priam and said: "Son of Laomedon, the princes of the Trojans and Achaeans invite you to go down to the plain and make a solemn pact. Alexander and Menelaus will duel for Helena so that she, with all her riches, will go with the victor. We must swear a solemn peace pact whereby the rest of us will live here in Troy while the Achaeans return to Argos and the land of the Achaeans.

The old man flinched at this, but ordered his followers to harness the horses, and they hastened to do so. He mounted the chariot, took the reins in hand, and Antenor sat beside him; so they went through the Scaean gates onto the plain. When they reached the ranks of the Trojans and Achaeans, they left the chariot and advanced with measured steps into the space between the hosts.

Agamemnon and Odysseus rose to greet them. Helpers brought the oath offerings and mixed the wine in the bowls; they poured water on the hands of the chiefs, and the son of Atreus drew the dagger that hung on his sword and cut the wool from the heads of the lambs; This was given by the servants between the Trojan and Achaean princes, and the son of Atreus raised his hands in prayer. "Father Jupiter," he exclaimed, "who reigns in Ida, glorious in power, and you, O sun, who see and hear all things, the earth and the rivers, and you who in the nether realms are the soul punish.” of the one who has broken his oath, bear witness to these rites and guard them lest they be in vain. If Alexander kills Menelaus let him have Helen and all her riches while we sail our ships home; but if Menelaus kills Alexander, the Trojans shall return Helen and all she has; that they also pay the agreed penalty to the Achaeans as a testimony of those born later. It helps when Priam and his sons refuse such a fine when Alexander falls, so I'll stay here and fight until I'm satisfied.

As he spoke, he drove the knife down the victims' throats, leaving them gasping and dying on the ground, for the knife had sapped their strength. Then they poured the wine from the vase into the cups and prayed to the eternal gods, Trojans and Achaeans, saying to one another: "Jupiter, the greatest and most glorious, and you other eternal gods, grant that the brains of those who first sin against their oath, and their children will be poured out on the earth like this wine, and their wives will be enslaved to strangers.

So they prayed, but Jupiter still didn't answer their prayer. Then Priam, a descendant of Dardanus, spoke and said: “Hear, Trojans and Achaeans, I will now return to the windswept city of Ilium: I dare not see with my own eyes this quarrel between my son and Menelaus, for only Jupiter and the other immortals know who will fall.

Then he put the two lambs in his wagon and sat down. He took the reins and Antenor sat down beside him; The two then returned to Ilius. Hector and Odysseus survey the ground and cast lots with a bronze helmet to see who would aim first. Meanwhile the two hosts raised their hands and prayed, saying: "Father Jupiter, reigning from Ida, most glorious in power, grant that he who first made this war between us die and enter the house of Hades may while we rest remain in peace and fulfill our vows."

Grand Hector now turned his head to one side while waving his helmet, and all of Paris flew first. The rest occupied their various posts, each with his horses and the place where their weapons were, while Alexander, the husband of the fair Helena, donned his fine armour. First he covered his legs with well-made greaves and girded his ankles with silver buckles; after that he put on his brother Lycaon's breastplate and fitted it to his own body; He slung his silver-studded bronze sword over his shoulders, then his mighty shield. He donned his well-crafted helm, with a mane floating above his blond head, and picked up a fearsome spear to match his hands. Menelaus put on his armor in the same way.

Thus armed, each amidst his people, they entered the open space looking fierce, and both Trojans and Achaeans were surprised to see them. They stood close together on the measured ground, brandishing their spears and raging at each other. Alexander aimed first and hit the round shield of the son of Atreus, but the spear did not pierce him because the shield twisted the tip. Menelaus then took aim while praying to Father Jupiter. "King Jupiter," he said, "grant me vengeance on Alexander who has wronged me; subject him to my hand, that in the ages to come a man may be restrained from doing evil deeds in his host's house.

As he spoke, he raised the spear and hurled it at Alexandrus' shield. He tore through shield and breastplate and tore the shirt on his flank, but Alexandrus dodged aside and saved his life. Then the son of Atreo drew his sword and put the mace on the protruding part of his helmet, but the broken sword fell between three or four pieces of his hand and, looking to the sky, cried out: "Father Jupiter, of all gods And thou, the most hateful; I took revenge, but the sword broke in my hand, my spear was thrown in vain, and I did not kill him.

Saying this, he flew at Alexander, grabbed him by the horsehair feather of his helmet, and began to drag him toward the Achaeans. The strap of the helmet passing under his chin was choking him, and Menelaus would have dragged him to his great glory had not Jupiter's daughter Venus hastened to brand and break the oxhide strap so that the empty helmet came out in his hand . He hurled himself to his companions among the Achaeans and jumped on Alexander again to impale him with a spear, but Venus caught him in a moment (as a god can), hid him under a cloud of darkness and carried him away. him to his own room.

So he went to get Helena and found her in a high tower with the Trojan women gathered around her. She took the form of an old woman, which she dressed in wool when she was still in Lacedaemon, and whom she loved dearly. Thus disguised, he tore her off with a scented cloak and said to her: “Come here; Alexandrus says you must go home; he lies on his bed in his own room, radiant with beauty and clothed in splendid clothes. Nobody would think that he came from a fight but that he was going to a ball or that he had just finished dancing and sat down.

With these words he stirred Helen's heart to anger. As he met the goddess' fair neck,

her beautiful bosom and her shining eyes, he marveled at her and said: "Goddess, why are you cheating on me like this? Do you want to send me on, a man you took in in Phrygia or in beautiful Meonia? Menelaus just defeated Alexandrus and will take my hateful self with him. You came here to betray me. Sit with Alexandrus; henceforth you are no longer a goddess; never let your feet lead you back to Olympus; Do you worry about him and take care of him until he makes you his wife or really his slave besides me? I will not go; I can no longer decorate your bed; I should be a proverb among all Trojan women. Also, I have problems in my head.

Venus was very angry and said: "Brazen boldness, do not provoke me; If you do, I'll leave you to your own devices and hate you as much as I loved you. I will foment fierce hatred between the Trojans and the Achaeans, and you will end badly.

That freaked Helen out. She wrapped her cloak around herself and walked silently, following the goddess and unnoticed by the Trojan women.

When they arrived at the house of Alexandrus, the maids set to work, but Helen went to her own room, and the laughing goddess sat and placed her opposite Alexandrus. On it sat Helena, daughter of Jupiter, the bearer of the aegis, and with a suspicious look began to scold her husband.

"So you come out of the fight," she said; I wish you had fallen into the hands of that brave man who was my husband. You used to boast that you were a better man than Menelaus with your hands and a spear. go, but then I'll challenge him again, but I have to advise you against it, because if you're stupid enough to face him in single combat, you'll soon do anything for your spear.

And Paris replied: "Woman, don't bother me with your accusations. This time Menelaus defeated me with Minerva's help; again I can win myself because I also have gods who will be on my side. Come on, let's lie together and make friends. I've never been more passionately in love with you than in that moment, not even when I first took you out of Lacedaemon and sailed with you, not even when I spoke to you on the bed of love on the island of Cranae I enchanted it. for your wish as now.” With these words he led her to the bed, and his wife went with him.

Then they lay together on the bed; but the son of Atreus went through the crowd looking far and wide for Alexander, and neither the Trojans nor the allies could find him. If they saw him, they had no intention of hiding him because everyone hated him to death. Then Agamemnon, the king of men, spoke and said: Hear me, Trojans, Dardans and allies. The victory was with Menelaus; therefore return to Helen all her riches and pay the agreed penalty as a testimony among those who are born.

Thus spoke the son of Atreus, and the Achaeans acclaimed.

Book IV

Now the gods sat in council with Jupiter on the golden earth while Hebe served them nectar to drink, and as they promised one another in their golden cups they looked down on the city of Troy. Saturn's son then taunted Juno and spoke to her to mock her. 'Menelaus,' he said, 'has two good friends among the goddesses, Juno of Argos and Minerva of Alalcomene, but they only stand and watch while Venus is always at Alexander's side to defend him in every danger; In fact, she only saved him when he was satisfied that it was all over for him, because victory really was Menelaus'. We need to think about what to do with all of this; Will we let them fight again or make peace between them? If you agree to the latter, Menelaus can bring Helen back and Priam's city can continue to be inhabited.

Minerva and Juno murmured their displeasure as they sat side by side plotting mischief for the Trojans. Minerva frowned at her father for being angry with him and said nothing, but Juno couldn't help it. "Terrible son of Saturn," she said, "what does that mean?" So it is my business to go in vain, and I sweat the sweat, to say nothing of my horses, as I lead the people against Priam and his sons incited? Do as you wish, but we other gods will not all approve of your advice.

Justus was angry and replied, “My dear, what have Priam and his sons done to you that makes you so intent on plundering the city of Ilius? Does it suit you but to have to stay within your walls and eat Priam raw with your children and all the other Trojans on top of it? Then do it your way; because I don't want this matter to become a point of contention between us. I'll go on and take my words to heart, if I'm going to sack a town your friends own, you mustn't try to stop me; You're gonna have to let me do this because I'm giving in to you against my will. Of all the inhabited cities under the sun and the stars of heaven there was none that I respected so much as Ilius with Priam and all his people. Just banquets have never failed at my altar, nor the taste of burnt tallow, which is our honor.”

"My three favorite cities," Juno replied, "are Argos, Sparta, and Mycenae. Fire them if they make you angry. I won't defend her and I don't care. Even if I tried to stop you, I wouldn't take anything for it, because you are much stronger than me, but I will not waste my own work. I am also a god and of the same race as you. I am the eldest daughter of Saturn and I am honored not only for that but also because I am your wife and you are the king of the gods. Let there be give and take between us and the rest of the gods will follow our example. Tell Minerva to go and join the fight immediately, and let her try to get the Trojans to break their oaths and attack the Achaeans first.

The father of gods and men heard his words and said to Minerva: "Go immediately to the Trojan and Achaean hosts and let the Trojans be the first to break their oaths and attack the Achaeans."

That's what Minerva was already dying to do, so she started from the highest peaks of Olympus. He has flown across the sky like a bright meteor sent by the son of scheming Saturn as a signal to sailors or a great army, and a train of fiery light follows him. The Trojans and Achaeans were amazed to see them, and one turned to his neighbor and said: Either we have war again and the noise of battle, or Jupiter, the lord of battle, will now make peace between us.

That's how they talked. Then Minerva assumed the form of Laodocus son of Antenor and broke through the ranks of the Trojans to meet Pandarus, the fearsome son of Lycaon. He found him standing among the brave heroes who had followed him from the shores of Aesop, so he approached him and said, 'Brave son of Lycaon, will you do as I say? If you dare to shoot an arrow at Menelaus, you will earn the honor and thanks of all Trojans, and especially Prince Alexander, he would be the first to reward you generously if he could see Menelaus from an arrow killed ascending his funeral pyre. out of your hand Then aim at your house and pray to Lycian Apollo, the famous archer; swear that when you return to your mighty city of Zelea, you will offer her a hecatomb of firstborn lambs in her honour.

His foolish heart was convinced and he took the bow out of its case. This bow was made from the horns of a wild ibex, which he killed by jumping off a rock; she had chased after him and fallen when the arrow struck him through the heart. Its horns were sixteen spans long, and a horn-maker had fashioned them into a bow, smoothing them well and tipping them with gold. As Pandarus drew his bow, he laid it carefully on the ground, and his brave followers raised their shields before him lest the Achaeans attack him before he slew Menelaus. Then he opened the lid of his quiver and took out an unfired winged arrow laden with mortal pain. He tied the arrow to the string and prayed to Lycius Apollo, the famous archer, promising that when he reached his strong city of Zelea, he would offer a hecatomb of firstborn lambs in his honor. He placed the notch on the leather bowstring and drew the notch and string to his chest until the arrowhead was close to the bow; then, as the bow formed a semicircle, he released it, and the bow jingled and the string sang as the arrow flew merrily over the heads of the crowd.

But the blessed gods have not forgotten you, O Menelaus, and Jupiter's daughter, she who stole the spoils, stood before you first and protected herself from the piercing arrow. She wiped it from her skin as a mother wipes a fly from her child when it sleeps sweetly; He led her to where the golden buckles of the belt that passed over his double breastplate were fastened, and the arrow struck the belt that held him so tight. He passed right by it and the armor of cunning work; he also pierced under himself the belt he wore tight against his skin to protect himself from arrows or darts; however, this served him best, and the arrow pierced him and scraped his skin, causing blood to spurt from the wound.

Just as a Meonian or Carian woman dyes a piece of ivory purple for a horse's cheek and it is kept in a treasury, many knights are fond of wearing it, but the king keeps it as such an ornament for horse and rider to be proud of, too when, O Menelaus, your beautiful thighs and your legs were stained with blood up to your beautiful ankles.

When King Agamemnon saw blood pouring from the wound, he was frightened, and Menelaus himself cheered himself up until he saw that the arrow's barbs and the thread that held the arrowhead to the shaft were still out of the wound. Then he perked up, but Agamemnon took a deep breath as he held Menelaus' hand in his, and his companions groaned in unison. "Dear brother," he exclaimed, "I was your death when I signed this pact and allowed you to act as our champion. The Trojans trampled on your oaths and hurt you; but the oath, the blood of the lambs, the libations, and the right hand of the community in which we place our trust shall not be in vain. If the one who rules Olympus does not fulfill it here and now, he will nevertheless fulfill it in the hereafter, and they will pay dearly for it with their lives and with their wives and children. Surely the day will come when mighty Ilius will be slain with Priam and Priam's people, when Saturn's son from his high throne will eclipse them with his terrible Aegis as punishment for their present treachery. It will surely be; but how, Menelaus, can I weep for you when it is your turn to die? I must return to Argos, as the saying goes, for the Achaeans will go home immediately. We will leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, and the earth will rot your bones while you lie here in Troy, unfulfilled to your purpose. Then an arrogant Trojan will leap upon his grave and say, 'Whenever Agamemnon can take revenge; in vain he brought his army; He went to his own country with empty ships, leaving Menelaus behind. ' So shall one of them say, and devour me from the earth.

But Menelaus reassured him and said: 'Have courage and do not frighten the people; the arrow missed me fatally, for my outer girdle of polished metal stopped it first, and beneath it my breastplate and the girdle of mail the bronzesmiths had fashioned for me.

And Agamemnon replied, "I hope so, dear Menelaus, but the surgeon will examine your wound and use herbs to ease your pain."

Then he said to Taltibius: Taltibius, tell Machaon, the son of the great physician Aesculapius, to come to Menelaus at once. Some Trojan or Lycian archer hit him with an arrow, to our dismay and great glory.

Talthybius did as he was told and made his way to the army to find Machaon. He soon found himself among the brave warriors who had followed him from Tricca; Then he approached him and said: "Son of Aesculapius, King Agamemnon says that you must come to Menelaus immediately. Some Trojan or Lycian archer wounded him with an arrow, to our dismay and to his great glory."

So he spoke, and Machaon was taken away. Passing the growing army of the Achaeans, they continued on their way until they reached the spot where Menelaus had been wounded and lay with their leaders gathered in a circle around him. Machaon stepped into the center of the circle and immediately drew the arrow from his belt, the barb bending backwards with the force he drew it. He opened the polished girdle and beneath it the breastplate and chain girdle the smiths had made; Then, seeing the wound, he cleaned the blood and applied some sedatives that Chiron had willingly given to Aesculapius.

While they were thus dealing with Menelaus, the Trojans advanced against them, for they had laid down their arms and were now taking up the fight again.

Then you wouldn't have found Agamemnon asleep or cowardly and unwilling to fight, but ready to fight. He left his bronze chariot and jadeante steed-horses to Eurymedon son of Ptolemy and Peiraeus, and ordered them to be prepared when his members were tired of going and giving orders to so many because he was between the ranks too Foot. Seeing the men running forward, he stood beside them and encouraged them. 'Argives,' he said, 'don't slow down a bit in your attack; Father Jupiter will not help liars; the Trojans were the first to break their oaths and attack us; therefore they are eaten by vultures; We will take your city and take your women and children with us on our ships.

But he angrily rebuked those he saw evading and unwilling to fight. 'Argives,' he cried, 'you pathetic cowards, are you not ashamed to stand here like frightened deer who, when they can no longer walk across the plain, cower but do not fight? You're as dazed and discouraged as a deer. Will you wait till the Trojans reach the stern of our ships lying on the beach to see if the son of Saturn stretches out his hand to protect you?

So he gave his orders between the ranks. Passing through the crowd he then found the Cretans armed around Idomeneus leading wild as a wild boar while Meriones led the battalions that formed the rear guard. Agamemnon was glad to see him and spoke fairly to him. 'Idomeneus,' he said, 'I treat you with more respect than any other Achaean, whether in war or not, or at table. When princes mix my best wines in their bowls, they each have a fixed portion, but your glass is always full like mine, so you can drink whenever you like. So go into battle and prove you're the man you were always proud of."

Idomeneus replied, "I will be a trusted companion, as I promised you from the beginning. Call on the other Achaeans to go into battle immediately, for the Trojans have broken their pacts. Death and destruction will be theirs, for they were the first to break their oath and attack us."

The son of Atreus remained merry until he found the two armed Ajax in the midst of a crowd of foot soldiers. As when a goatherd from a high seat watches a storm moving across the deep, before the pitch black west wind comes up and a mighty whirlpool blows over him, so that he becomes frightened and drives his flock into a cave, so he did. the ranks of stout youths move in a dark mass to fight the vile Ajaxes with shield and spear. King Agamemnon was delighted when he saw her. “There is no need,” he cried, “to give orders to Argive leaders like yourselves, for you yourselves urge your men to fight mightily and mightily. Would Father Jupiter, Minerva and Apollo think like you, for the city of Priam would soon fall into our hands and we would plunder it!

With these words he left them and turned to Nestor, the easy orator of the Pylians, who commanded and encouraged his men, along with Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, Haemon, and Bias, the shepherd of his people. He put his knights, with their chariots and horses, in the forefront, while the foot soldiers, brave men, and many he could trust, brought up the rear. He pushed the cowards into the middle so they could fight whether they wanted to or not. He gave his orders to the riders first, asking them to keep their horses well under control to avoid confusion. "None," he said, "relying on his strength or his ability to mount a horse, go ahead of the others and fight the Trojans alone, or leave them behind lest they weaken their attack; but let each, when meeting an enemy chariot, throw his own javelin; that is much better; so the old men conquered cities and fortresses; they thought so.

So the old man commanded them because he had taken part in many battles and King Agamemnon was happy. "I wish," he said, that your limbs were as supple and your strength as sure as your judgment; but old age, mankind's common enemy, has laid its hands on you; I wish I had fallen over someone else and you were still young.

And Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered: “Son of Atreus, I too would be the man that I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion; but the gods will not give us all at once. I was young then, and now I am old; I can still go to my masters and give them the advice that old men are entitled to. I leave the use of the spear to those who are younger and stronger than me.

Agamemnon went his way rejoicing, and soon found Menestheus son of Peteus tarrying in his stead, and with him the loud-tongued Athenians were in battle. Beside him also stood cunning Odysseus, with his brave Kefalenians about him; They had not yet heard the battle cry, for the Trojan and Achaean lines had barely started moving, so they stood still, waiting for other Achaean columns to engage the Trojans and begin the fight. Seeing this, Agamemnon rebuked them, saying: "Son of Peteus, and you, full of cunning and a deceitful heart, why do you crouch here and wait for others? You two must be men first of all when it comes to fighting hard, for you are always the first to accept my invitation when we, the Achaean counselors, celebrate a festival. Then you like to eat roast meat and drink wine to your heart's content, while now you don't mind if you see ten columns of Achaeans ahead of you to face the enemy.

Odysseus stared at him and replied, "Son of Atreus, what are you talking about? How can you say that we're lazy? When the Achaeans are in the midst of a battle with the Trojans, see if you want Telemachus' father to go into battle with the first of them. You speak in vain.

Seeing that Odysseus was angry, Agamemnon gave him a friendly smile and retracted his words. "Odysseus," he said, "noble son of Laertes, excellent in all good advice, I need not find you or give you orders, knowing your heart is right and that you and I are of one mind." Enough; I will make up for what I said, and if something bad is said now, may the gods undo it.

So he left her and went to the others. Immediately he saw the son of Tydeus, the noble Diomedes, standing by his chariot and horses, with Sthenus son of Capaneus at his side; whereupon he began to scold him. 'Son of Tydeus,' he said, 'why are you hiding here on the edge of the battle? Tydeus did not yield to that, but he was always at the head of his men when leading them against the enemy, say those who have seen him in battle, because I have never seen him in person. They say there was no man like him. He once came to Mycenae, not as an enemy, but as a guest, along with Polynices to recruit his troops, for they were at war with the strong city of Thebes, and he prayed to our people for a group of chosen men to help - you . The men of Mycenae were willing to let them have one, but Jupiter dissuaded them by showing them unfavorable omens. So Tydeus and Polynices went their way. When they reached the banks of the Aesop, full of meadows and reeds, the Achaeans sent Tydeus as their envoy, and he found the Cadmies gathered in large numbers for a feast in the house of Eteocles. Strange as it was, he did not know the fear of being alone among so many, but he challenged them to competitions of all kinds, and in each of them he emerged victorious, aided so mightily by Minerva. Enraged at his success, the Kadmies assembled a force of fifty youths, with two captains, the divine hero Maeon son of Haemon, and Polyphonte son of Autophonus, at their head, to await their return voyage; but Tydeus killed them all except Maeon, whom he let go in obedience to the omens of heaven. Such was Tydeus of Aetolia. His son can speak more fluently, but he can't fight like his father."

Diomedes did not answer, embarrassed by Agamemnon's rebuke; but the son of Capaneo took up his words again and said: “Son of Atreus, do not lie, for you can tell the truth if you wish. We flatter ourselves that we are better men than our fathers; we took Thebes with seven gates, though the wall was stronger and our men fewer, for we relied on the omens of the gods and the help of Jupiter while they perished by their own folly; therefore do not hold our fathers in equal honor with us.

Diomedes looked at him sternly and said: "Be silent, my friend, as I command you. It is not wrong that Agamemnon urges the Achaeans forward, for their glory will be theirs if we take the city, and their shame if we are defeated. So let's be brave."

As he spoke he sprang from his chariot, his armor clanging around his body so violently that even a brave man might be startled to hear it.

Like as a mighty wave that pounded on the shore as the west wind whipped her with fury, lifted her head and now hits the shore hard; Leaning the arching crest over the jagged rocks and spewing its salty foam in all directions, the combined phalanxes of the Danaans marched resolutely into battle. Each of the chiefs gave orders to his own people, but the men never said a word; no one would think so, for great as the company was, there seemed to be no language between them, so silent were they in their obedience; and as they marched, the armor that encased their bodies gleamed in the sun. But the cry of the Trojan ranks was like that of many thousands of sheep waiting to be milked in the pens of a rich shepherd, and they bleated incessantly in answer to the bleating of his lambs; because they didn't have a single word or language, but their languages ​​were varied and they came from many different places. These were inspired by Mars, but the others by Minerva, and with them came Panic, Fugue and Strife, whose fury never tires, sister and friend of murderous Mars, who, from the bottom up at the beginning, grows to raise his head. to the sky even if your feet are still on the ground. It was she who walked between them, one hand balanced between them, throwing discord into the rising pain.

When they were gathered in one place, in the heat of battle, shield against shield and spear against spear. The embossed shields clashed, and a great crowd was heard passing: death cries and shouts of triumph of the slain and murderers, and the earth was stained with blood. Like torrents filled with rain, they tumble madly through their deep channels, until the raging waters meet in a gorge, and the shepherd on the hillside hears their roar from afar, such was the toil and tumult of the hosts as they faced the battle connected.

First, Antilochus killed an armed Trojan warrior, Echepolus, son of Thalysius, who was fighting in the front ranks. It struck the protruding part of his helm and drove the spear into his forehead; the bronze point pierced the bone, and darkness veiled his eyes; headlong as a tower he fell under the pressure of battle, and when King Elephenor son of Chalcodon and captain of the proud Abantes fell he began to drag him in haste out of reach of the arrows that fell upon him. because he took it with him. his armor But his purpose did not last long; Agenor saw him carrying the body and struck him in the side with his bronze spear, for when he bent his side was not protected by his shield, and so he died. Then the strife between the Trojans and the Achaeans raged through his body, and they rushed like wolves, crushing man and man.

Then Ajax son of Telamon killed the handsome young man Simeisios son of Anthemius, whom his mother had borne on the banks of the Simois, when she was coming down from Mount Ida, where she had been with her fathers to see their flocks. . That is why he was called Simoeisius, but he did not live to pay for his parents' education, since he was cut off at the wrong time by the spear of the mighty Ajax, who wounded him in the chest in the right nipple while he was among the first addressed. Fighter; The spear pierced his shoulder, and he fell like a poplar that grew straight and tall in a meadow near a plain, the top of which was covered with branches. Then the carter dips his ax in its roots, that he may make a companion for the wheel of a fair chariot, and stand at the water's edge. Then Ajax fell to the ground of Simeisios son of Anthemius. Immediately afterwards Antiphos son of Priam, he in shining breastplate, hurled a spear at Ajax from the midst of the crowd and missed him, but struck Leucus, Odysseus' brave comrade, in the groin as he dragged the corpse. Simeisio on the other side; then he landed on the corpse and dropped it. Odysseus was furious to see Leucus dead and, in full armor, pushed through the first ranks until he was very close; so he looked around and took aim, and the Trojans flinched as he did. His spear was not in vain, for he met Democoon, Priam's illegitimate son, who had come to him from Abydos, where he was tending his father's mares. Ulysses, enraged at the death of his comrade, pierced his temple with his spear, and the bronze point pierced the other side of his forehead. Then darkness covered his eyes and his armor enveloped him as he fell heavily to the ground. Hector and those in front turned as the Argives screamed and dragged the dead out, squeezing even harder. But Apollo looked from Pergamum and called the Trojans because he was dissatisfied. "Trojans," he shouted, "hurry up the enemy and don't let the Argives defeat you. Their skin isn't made of stone or iron, so hitting them won't hurt. Also, Achilles, son of the fair Thetis, does not fight but fuels his anger against ships.

Thus spoke the mighty god, calling to them from the city, while the fearsome daughter of Jupiter, Triton, walked among the hosts of the Achaeans, and roused them when he saw them slack.

Then the fate of Diore, the son of Amarynkeus, fell, for he was struck by a sharp stone near his right leg. The one who shot was Peirous son of Imbrasus, captain of the Thracians, descended from Aenus; the bones and both tendons were crushed by the merciless stone. He fell to the ground on his back and in his agony reached out to his companions. But Peirous, who had wounded him, rushed at him and thrust a spear into his stomach, causing his entrails to fall to the ground and darkness to cover his eyes. As he left his body, Thoas of Aetolia struck him on the chest near the nipple, the point penetrating his lungs. Thoas went to him, drew the spear from his chest, and then he drew his sword and struck him square in the stomach and killed him; but he did not shed his armor, for his Thracian comrades, men who wore their hair in a curl on their heads, surrounded the body and restrained it with their long spears, despite their great stature and courage. so he had to turn back. So the two corpses lay stretched out on the ground, one close together, one a Thracian captain and the other an Epaean; and many others fell around them.

And now no man would have looked down on the fight if he had gone in unscathed and unscathed, with Minerva leading his hand and protecting him from the storm of spears and arrows. For many Trojans and Achaeans lay side by side on the ground that day.

Book V

Then Pallas Minerva put courage in the heart of Diomedes son of Tydeus that he would surpass all other Argives and cover himself with glory. She burst a ray of fire from her shield and helm like the brightest star in summer after her bath in the waters of the ocean, even such fire kindled over her head and shoulders as she urged him to hurry in the thickest commotion. -Corpulent from the fight.

Now among the Trojans there was a rich and honorable man, a priest of Vulcan, and his name was Dares. He had two sons, Fegeo and Ideo, both skilled in all martial arts. These two preceded the main body of the Trojans and attacked Diomedes, who was on foot, while they fought from his chariot. When they were close together, Phegeus aimed first, but his spear went over Diomedes' left shoulder and missed him. Then Diomedes hurled, and his spear was not in vain, for it struck Phegeus in the chest near the nipple, and he fell from his chariot. Idaeus dared not ride over his brother's body, but he sprang from the chariot and fled, or he would have shared his brother's fate; whereby Vulcan saved him by enshrouding him in a cloud of darkness lest his aged father be completely overcome with grief; but the son of Tydeus set out with the horses, and commanded his followers to lead them to the ships. The Trojans were terrified when they saw the two sons of Dares, one frightened and the other dead in his chariot. Minerva therefore took Mars by the hand and said: "Mars, Mars, scourge of men, bloodthirsty invader of the cities, let's not now fight Trojans and Achaeans and see which of the two will bring victory to Jupiter?" let us go, and thus avoid your wrath.”

With these words he led Mars out of the battle and set him down on the steep banks of the Scamander. Then the Danaans drove out the Trojans, and each of their leaders killed his man. The first king Agamemnon threw the mighty Odio, captain of the Halizoni, from his chariot. Agamemnon's spear struck him just in the back as he spun in flight; it hit him between the shoulders and in the chest, his armor rattling around him as he landed heavily on the ground.

Then Idomeneo killed Phaesus, the son of Borus the Meonier, who was from Varne. The mighty Idomeneus pierced his right shoulder with a spear as he mounted his chariot, and the darkness of death enveloped him as he fell heavily from the chariot.

Idomeneo's squires stripped him of his armor, while Menelaus son of Atreus slew Escamandrio son of Stropius, a mighty hunter and great lover of the hunt. Diana herself had taught him to slay all sorts of wild creatures that nest in the mountain forests, but neither she nor his famous archery skills could save him now, for Menelaus' spear caught him in the back in flight. it hit him between the shoulders and in the chest, sending him falling on his head and his armor rattling around him.

Meriones then killed Fereclus son of Tecton, who was the son of Hermon, a man whose hand was skillful in all sorts of inventive works, for Pallas Minerva loved him dearly. It was he who built the ships for Alexander, which were the beginning of all evil, and brought calamity both to the Trojans and to Alexander himself; because he did not obey the commandments of heaven. Meriones caught up with him in flight and hit him in the right buttock. The spearhead pierced the bone in the bladder, and death caught up with him as he cried out and fell to his knees.

Meges also killed Pedeo, son of Antenor, who, though a bastard, had been raised by Theano as one of his own sons for love of his husband. Phileo's son approached him and thrust a spear into his neck: he stuck his tongue under his teeth, bit into the cold bronze, and fell dead in the dust.

And Eurypylus son of Euaemon slew Hypsenor son of noble Dolopion, who had been appointed priest of the river Scamander, and was worshiped as a god by the people. Euripylus pursued him as he flew ahead of him, striking his arm with his sword and cutting off his strong hand. The bloody hand fell to the ground, and the shadows of death covered his eyes with a fate no man can bear.

So the battle between them raged furiously. As for the son of Tydeus, it could not be said whether he belonged more to the Achaeans or to the Trojans. It flowed across the plain like a winter stream that broke its barrier in full tide; there are no dikes, no walls of fertile vineyards to corner him when he is swollen from the rain from heaven, but in a moment he falls raging, ravaging many fields that have claimed the hands of many strong men, as well as the dense phalanxes of the Trojans scattered by the son of Tydeus, and though they were many they dared not resist his attack.

Now when Lycaon's son saw him marching across the plain and the Trojans driving before him, he shot an arrow and struck the front of his breastplate near the shoulder: the arrow pierced the metal and flesh, so that the breastplate was covered with blood . With that the son of Lycaon cried out in triumph: “Riders of Troy, come forward; the bravest of the Achaeans is wounded, and it will not be long if King Apollo was with me running hither from Lycia.

So he boasted; but his arrow did not kill Diomedes, who retired and went to the chariot and horses of Sthenelos son of Capaneus. "Dear son of Capaneo," he said, "get down from your chariot and take the arrow from my shoulder."

Sthenelus jumped from his chariot and drew the arrow from the wound, blood spurting through the hole in his shirt. Then Diomedes prayed, saying: “Hear me, daughter of Jupiter, indefatigable bearer of the aegis, if you have ever loved my father well and stood by him in the midst of a quarrel, do the same now; Let me spear this man and kill him. It was too fast for me and it hurt me; and now he boasts that I shall not see the sunlight much longer.

So he prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard him; She made her limbs flexible and quickened her hands and feet. Then she approached him and said: "Do not fear, Diomedes, to fight against the Trojans, for I have put in your heart the spirit of your knightly father Tydeus. I also took the veil from your eyes so that you could distinguish between gods and men. So if some other god comes here and offers you battle, don't fight with him; but when Venus daughter of Jupiter comes, strike her with your spear and set her free.

When he said this, Minerva was gone, and the son of Tydeus resumed his place among the first combatants, three times fiercer than before. It was like a lion that a mountain shepherd wounded but did not kill when he leaped over a pen wall to attack the sheep. The shepherd angered the animal, but could not defend his flock and took refuge in the shelter of the buildings, while the sheep, panicked about it, are smothered in heaps on top of each other, and the enraged lion, he jumps the hurdle wall. Despite this, Diomedes raged among the Trojans.

He killed Astinoo, the shepherd of his people, one with a spear thrust that wounded him in the nipple, the other with a sword cut through the collarbone that broke his neck, shoulder and back. Leaving them both, he went in search of Abas and Poliidos, the sons of the ancient dreamer Euridamas: they never came back to read him any more dreams because the mighty Diomedes ended them. Then he went after Xanthus and Thoon, the two sons of Fenops, both of whom were very dear to him, for he was now weary of old age, and begot no more sons to inherit his estate. But Diomedes took their lives both and made his father suffer bitterly, for he never saw them return alive from battle, and his relatives divided his wealth between them.

Then he met two of Priam's sons, Echemmon and Chromius, as they were both in the same chariot. He sprang at them as a lion clings to the neck of a cow or heifer when the herd is grazing in a grove. Despite all their futile struggles, he threw them both from their chariots and tore their armor from their bodies. Then he gave his horses to his comrades to ride back to their ships.

Seeing him wreaking havoc among the ranks, Aeneas fought his way through the hail of spears to see if he could find Pandarus. When he found the brave son of Lycaon, he said: "Pandarus, where are now your bow, your winged arrows, and your fame as an archer, for which no man here can contest you, nor is there anyone in Lycia who lies may hands on Jupiter and shoot an arrow at that man who walks so masterly and has done such deadly work among the Trojans: he has slain many mighty men, unless he is a god angry at the Trojans for sacrifice is and has laid his hand against them in their grief."

And the son of Lycaon answered: "Aeneas, I consider you none other than the son of Tydeus. I know him by his shield, helmet visor, and horses. He may be a god, but if he is the man I claim he is not wreaking all this havoc without heaven's help, but he has a god on his side shrouded in a cloud of darkness and my attention has lost. arrow when it hit her. I've already aimed and hit him in the right shoulder; my arrow pierced the breastplate of his breastplate; and I made it my mission to hastily send him to the world below, but apparently I didn't kill him. There must be a god who's mad at me. Besides, I have neither a horse nor a wagon. In my father's stables there are eleven excellent carts, fresh from the builder, brand new, with cloths draped over them; and beside each of them is a pair of horses eating barley and rye; My aged father Lycaon repeatedly urged me, when I was at home and about to set off, to take chariots and horses with me, that I might lead the Trojans into battle, but I would not listen; it would have been much better if I had, but I thought of the horses being accustomed to eating their fill and I feared they might be malnourished in such a large gathering of men, so I left they stand home and I came to Ilius on foot, armed only with bow and arrow. These don't seem to do any good, as I've already defeated two bosses, the Sons of Atreus and Tydeus, and while there certainly was blood, it only made them angrier. The day I led my troop of Trojans to Ilius in Hector's service, I was wrong to take my bow from the pyre, and if I ever return home to see my homeland and my wife and the greatness of my house, has someone cut my head off... right there if I don't break the bow and put it on the hot fire like the jokes he makes to me.

Aeneas replied, "Speak no more. Things don't get any better until we both face this man with a carriage and horses and take him to a gunnery test. Ride my chariot and see how dexterously the horses of Tros can dash hither and thither across the plains in pursuit or flight. If Jupiter brings honor to the son of Tydeus again, they will bring us safely back to the city. Then hold the whip and reins while I get in the carriage to fight, or wait for that man to come while I tend to the horses.

"Aeneas." answered the son of Lycaon: “Take the reins and lead them; If we must flee from the son of Tydeus, the horses had better go by their own driver. If they lose the tone of their voice while waiting, they might freak out and refuse to take us out of the fight. Then the son of Tydeus will kill us both and take the horses. So guide them yourself and I'll be ready for him with my spear.

Then they got into the chariot and raced towards the son of Tydeus. Sthenelos son of Capaneus saw them coming and said to Diomeds: “Diomeds son of Tydeus, a man after my own heart, I see two heroes coming towards you, both men of power, a skilled archer, Pandarus son of Lycaon, the other, Aeneas, whose father is Anchises while his mother is Venus. Get in the car and we'll retire. No, I beg you, advance so furiously or you may be killed.

Diomedes looked at him angrily and answered: "Speak not of flight, for I will not listen to you: I am of a generation that knows neither flight nor fear, and my limbs are not yet weary. I have no intention of riding, but I will face them as I am; Pallas Minerva bids me fear no one, and even if one escapes, his steeds will not catch them again. I say more, and take my words to heart, if Minerva sees fit to give me the credit of killing them both, halt your horses here and tighten the reins to the edge of the carriage; then jump the horses of Aeneas and lead them from the Trojan ranks to the Achaean ranks. They are of the lineage given by the great Jupiter to Tros in exchange for his son Ganymede, and they are the best for living and moving under the sun. King Anchises stole the blood by breeding his mares with them unbeknownst to Laomedon, and she bore him six foals. Four are still in his stables, but he gave the other two to Aeneas. We will attain great glory if we can conquer them.”

So they talked, but the other two had already approached them, and Lycaon's son spoke first. "Great and mighty son," he said, "of noble Tydeus, my arrow could not cut him down, so now I will try my spear."

As he spoke, he raised his spear and hurled it away from him. He smote the shield of the son of Tydeus; The bronze point pierced him and continued until it struck the breastplate. Then the son of Lycaon cried out and said: “You are wounded in the stomach; you will not be noticed for long, and the glory of the fight is mine.

But Diomedes, undaunted, replied: "He was wrong, he was wrong, and before you both see the end of this affair, one or the other will efface the hard shield of Mars with his blood."

With that he hurled his spear and Minerva guided it by the eye into Pandarus' nose. It rattled against her white teeth; the bronze tip pierced the root of his tongue and jutted out from under his chin, and his gleaming armor enveloped him as he landed heavily on the ground. The horses fell back in fear and he lost his life and strength.

Aeneas jumped down from his chariot, armed with shield and spear, afraid the Achaeans would take the body. He rode like a proud lion, with shield and spear in front of him and a war cry on his lips, determined to slay the first who dared oppose him. But the son of Tydeus lifted a mighty stone, so great and great that, as men do today, it would take two to lift it; However, he easily lifted it unaided, hitting Aeneas in the groin where the hip bends at the joint called the "cup bone". The stone shattered that joint, severing both tendons while its jagged edges tore through flesh. The hero fell to his knees, his hand on the ground for support until the darkness of night settled over his eyes. And now Aeneas, king of men, would have perished on the spot if his mother, Venus daughter of Jupiter, who had sired him by Anchises while he was tending cattle, had not hastened to embrace his body with her two white arms mark and surround . your beloved son. She protected him by covering him with a fold of her beautiful dress lest some Danaan thrust a spear into his chest and kill him.

So she took her beloved son out of the fight. But Capaneo's son did not neglect the orders given to him by Diomedes. He galloped his own horses away from the commotion and tied the reins to the edge of the carriage. Then he jumped on the horses of Aeneas and led them from the Trojan ranks to the Achaean ranks. After that, he gave them to his chosen comrade Deipylus, whom he considered the most sympathetic above all, to take them to the ships. So he got into his own chariot, grabbed the reins, and went in search of the son of Tydeus.

Now the son of Tydeus pursued the goddess Cyprian spear in hand, knowing that she was weak and not of the goddesses who can rule men in battle like Minerva or Enio the slayer of cities, and if at last afterward After a long chase he overtook her, flew towards her and plunged his spear into the flesh of her delicate hand. The point tore the ambrosia cloak the Graces had woven for her and pierced the skin between her wrist and palm, spurting out in abundance the immortal blood or ichor that flows in the veins of the blessed gods. from the wound; for the gods neither eat bread nor drink wine, therefore they have no blood like us and are immortal. Venus cried out loudly and dropped her son, but Phoebus Apollo caught him in his arms and hid him in a cloud of darkness lest some Danaan thrust a spear into his chest and kill him; and Diomedes wept as he left her: "Daughter of Jupiter, leave war and battle alone, cannot content yourself with seducing foolish women? If you engage in combat, you will get what makes you shudder at the very name of war.

The goddess backed away, dazed and confused, and Iris, swift as the wind, carried her out of the crowd, bruised and mottled white skin. He found wild Mars waiting on the left of the battle, with his spear and two swift steeds resting on a cloud; so he knelt before his brother and begged him to let him have his horses. “Dear brother,” he cried, “save me and give me your horses to take me to Mount Olympus, where the gods dwell. I am badly wounded by a mortal son of Tydeus, who would now fight even Father Jupiter.

So he spoke, and Mars gave him his steeds decked with gold. Sick and heavy-hearted, she entered the carriage while Iris sat beside her, holding the reins. He tied his horses and they flew off without difficulty until in a moment they were on Mount Olympus where the gods dwell. There he stopped her, untied her from the wagon, and fed her ambrosia fodder; but Venus threw herself on the lap of her mother Dione, who embraced and caressed her and said: 'Who of the heavenly beings has treated you as if you had done something wrong to your face? during the day?"

And Venus, who loved to laugh, answered: “The proud Diomedes son of Tydeus struck me because I bore from battle my dear son Aeneas, whom I love above all men. The war is no longer between the Trojans and the Achaeans, for the Danaus now began to fight with the immortals.

"Wait son," Dione replied, "and do your best." We Olympians have to endure a lot at the hands of humans and cause a lot of suffering to one another. Mars suffered when Otus and Ephialtes, the sons of Aloeus, bound him with cruel bonds so that he was imprisoned in a bronze vessel for thirteen months. Mars would then have perished if the beautiful Eribea, stepmother of the children of Aloeus, had not told Mercury, who stole it from him when he was almost exhausted by the severity of his slavery. Juno suffered again when the mighty son of Amphitryon wounded her right breast with a three-headed arrow, and nothing could ease her pain. So also the great Hades, when that same man, the son of Jupiter, who bears the Aegis, struck him with an arrow even at the gates of Hell, and severely wounded him. Then Hades went to the house of Jupiter on Mount Olympus, angry and in pain; and the arrow in his muscular shoulder caused him great agony until Paeon cured him by sprinkling soothing herbs on the wound, for Hades was not of mortal form. Brave, stubborn criminal who has not repented his sin by shooting at the gods inhabiting Mount Olympus. And now Minerva has stirred up against you that son of Tydeus, a fool who thinks no man who fights with the gods will live long, or hear his sons chattering on his knees when he returns from battle. So let the son of Tydeus see that he need not fight against one stronger than you. Then his brave wife Aegialeia, daughter of Adrestus, will wake his whole house from sleep and to the loss of her betrothed Diomedes the brave the Achaeans weep.

As she said this, she wiped the discharge from her daughter's wrist with both hands, and the pain left her and her hand was healed. But Minerva and Juno, looking on, began to insult Jupiter with their mocking words, and Minerva was the first to speak. "Father Jupiter," she said, "don't be angry, but I think Cyprian must have persuaded one of the Achaean women to go to the Trojans whom he loved so much, and while stroking one or the other of them, he must have torn her delicate hand with the golden pin from the woman's brooch."

The father of gods and men smiled and called the golden Venus to his side. "My son," he said, "you were not given to be a warrior. From now on, carry out your delightful marital duties and leave all these struggles to Mars and Minerva.

That's how they talked. But Diomedes, knowing he was in Apollo's arms, threw himself on Aeneas. He was not in the least afraid of the mighty god, so determined was he to kill Aeneas and strip him of his armor. Three times he sprang forward with might and main to kill him, and three times Apollo pushed back his glowing shield. When he came the fourth time, Apollo cried out at him like a god in a terrible voice, saying: “Be careful, son of Tydeus, and stay away; Don't think about facing the gods, for humans who walk the earth cannot compete with the immortals.

The son of Tydeus then gave way for a little space to escape the god's wrath, while Apollo took Aeneas out of the crowd and brought him to holy Pergamum, where his temple was. There, within the mighty sanctuary, Latona and Diana healed him and made him a glorious sight, while Apollo with the silver bow fashioned a specter in the likeness of Aeneas and was armed as he was. Around these, the Trojans and Achaeans clipped their shields around their breasts, carving round, white shields covered with light-colored leather. Then Phoebus Apollo said to Mars: "Mars, Mars, scourge of men, tormentor of the bloodstained cities, can you not go to this man, the son of Tydeus, who would now even fight against father Jupiter and drive him out?" The fight? First he approached Cipriana and injured her hand on the wrist, then he jumped on me too like I was a god."

So he sat on the top of Pergamum, while murderous Mars walked through the ranks of the Trojans, encouraging them, like swift Akamas, the chief of the Thracians. Sons of Priam, he said, how long will you allow your people to be slaughtered like this by the Achaeans? Would you wait till they were on the walls of Troy? Aeneas, son of Anchises, whom we held in high honor as Hector himself, has fallen. Then help me rescue our brave comrade from the stress of battle."

With these words, he poured out his heart and soul into them all. Then Sarpedon rebuked Hector very severely. "Hector," he said, "where's your ability now? You always said that even if you had no people or allies, you could only keep the city with your brothers and brothers-in-law. I don't see any of them here; They shrink like dogs before
a lion; We, your allies, bear the brunt of the battle. I come from afar, even from Lycia and the banks of the river Xanthus, where I have left my wife, my little son, and much wealth to seduce the needy; but I command my Lycian soldiers, and resist any who would fight against me, though I have naught here for the Achaeans to plunder while you look on, without so much as asking your men to defend their women firmly. Be careful not to fall into the hands of your enemies like in a net and plunder your beautiful city in one fell swoop. Ponder this day and night, and pray to your allied captains that they will stand firm and thus take their reproaches from you.”

Thus spoke Sarpedon, and Hector mourned his words. He jumped down from his chariot clad in his armor and walked through the army, brandishing his two spears, calling on the men to fight and uttering the terrible war cry. They then regrouped and attacked the Achaeans again, but the Argives remained compact and steadfast and were not repulsed. As the air plays with the chaff on a good threshing floor when people sift, while the yellow Ceres blows with the wind to separate the chaff from the grain, and the heaps of chaff grow whiter and whiter, so the Achaeans grew white in the dust . that the horses' hooves were raised to the firmament of heaven as their drivers brought them back into battle, and they charged the enemy with violence. To help the Trojans, wild Mars covered them with a veil of darkness and walked all around between them, for Phoebus Apollo had told him that when he saw Pallas, Minerva left the battle, he courage in the hearts of the Trojans should take. . from the Trojans because she was the one who helped the Danaans. Then Apollo sent Aeneas from his rich sanctuary, and filled his heart with courage, whereupon he took his place among his comrades, who were overjoyed to see him alive and well and in good spirits; but they couldn't ask him how it all happened because they were too busy with the commotion caused by Mars and Strife roaring insatiably in their midst.

The two Ajaxes, Odysseus and Diomedes, applauded the Danaans unafraid of the anger and attack of the Trojans. They stood as still as the clouds which Saturn's son spread over the tops of the mountains when there is no air and wild Boreas sleeps with the other stormy winds whose shrill gusts scatter the clouds in every direction, so the Danaans stood firm and unbroken. against Trojans. The son of Atreus walked among them and admonished them. “My friends,” he said, “feel yourselves to be brave men, and avoid being dishonored in the eyes of others in the midst of the struggle. Those who avoid shame live more often than they die, but those who fly save neither lives nor names."

As he spoke he hurled his spear and struck one of those in the front line, Deicoon son of Pergasus, companion of Aeneas, whom the Trojans honored no less than the sons of Priam for ever being swift. even among the first. King Agamemnon's spear hit his shield and pierced him because the shield didn't stop him. He dove through his belt into his lower abdomen and his armor fell around him as he landed heavily on the ground.

Then Aeneas killed two champions of Danaos, Creton and Orsilocus. His father was a wealthy man who lived in the strong city of Phere and was descended from the river Alpheus, whose broad stream flows through the lands of the Pylians. The river gave birth to Orsilochus, who ruled over many men and was the father of Diocles, who in turn gave birth to the twins Crethon and Orsilochus, who were highly gifted in all the arts of war. These, when grown up, went with the Argive fleet in the cause of Menelaus and Agamemnon sons of Atreus to Ilius, and there they both fell. Like two lions raised by their mother deep in a mountain forest to plunder farms and drive sheep and cattle to their deaths at the hands of men, these two were overpowered by Aeneas and fell to the ground like tall pines.

Pitying them in their fall, the brave Menelaus walked before them, clad in shining bronze and brandishing his spear, for Mars urged him to do so, as he intended to be killed by Aeneas; but Antilochus son of Nestor saw him, and sprang forward, afraid lest the king should do harm, and so nullify all his labors; Therefore, when Aeneas and Menelaus put their hands and spears together to fight, Antilochus stood by Menelaus. Aeneas, bold as he was, recoiled from him at the sight of the two heroes side by side, so that they brought the corpses of Krethon and Orsilochus to the ranks of the Achaeans, and delivered the two poor men into the hands of their comrades. Then they turned and fought in the front ranks.

They killed the Pylaemenes couple from Mars, the leader of the Paphlagonian warriors. Menelaus struck him in the collarbone while he stood in his chariot, while Antilochus struck his charioteer and squire Midon son of Atiminius, who turned his fleeing horses. He hit him in the elbow with a stone, and the white ivory reins fell from his hands to the ground. Antilochus lunged at him and struck him in the temple with his sword, where he fell headlong from the chariot to the ground. There he remained for some time buried with his head and shoulders in the dust, having landed on sandy ground, until his horses kicked him and knocked him to the ground while Antilochus whipped them and led them to the Achaean army. .

But Hector saw them on the other side of the ranks and ran towards them with a great shout, followed by the strong battalions of the Trojans. Mars and the fearsome Enyo led her, charging with the unrelenting tumult of battle while Mars wielded a monstrous spear and walked in front of and behind Hector.

Diomed shuddered with passion when he saw her. As a man crossing a vast plain is dismayed to find himself on the bank of a great river flowing swiftly into the sea, sees its boiling waters, and withdraws in fear, so the son of Tydeus yielded. He then said to his men, "My friends, how can we be surprised that Hector is so skilled with the spear? Some god is always by his side to protect him and now Mars is with him in the form of a mortal man. So keep your face to the Trojans, but retreat, for we dare not fight the gods."

As he spoke, the Trojans approached and Hector killed two men, Menesthes and Anchialus, both in a chariot, heroes well versed in warfare. Ajax son of Telamon regretted their fall; He approached and threw the spear and wounded Amphios son of Selago, a very rich man who lived in Peso and owned a lot of land with corn cultivation, but fortune had led him to help Priam and his sons. Ajax hit him on the belt; The spear pierced his abdomen and he landed heavily on the ground. Then Ajax rushed to take his weapons from him, but the Trojans hurled spears at him, many of which fell into his shield. He put his heel on his body and drew his spear, but the spears hit him with such force that he could not remove the fine armor from his shoulders. The chief Trojans, many and brave, surrounded him with their spears, so that he dared not stop; As big and brave and brave as he was, they took him from them and he was defeated.

Thus began the fight between them. Soon the strong hand of fate compelled Tlepolemus son of Hercules, a brave man of great stature, to fight against Sarpedon; then the two, son and grandson of the great Jupiter, drew near, and Tlepolemus spoke first. "Sarpedon," he said, "Council of the Lycians, why do you come and hide here, you who are a man of peace? They lie who call you the son of Jupiter, the one who wears the Aegis, because you are small like his children of old. Gone was Hercules, my own brave and lion-hearted father, who came hither on horses from Laomedon, and though he had but six ships and few men to follow him, sacked the city of Ilius and turned its streets into a desert. . You are a coward and your people turn their backs on you. In spite of all your strength and all your coming from Lycia, you will not help the Trojans, but will pass through the gates of Hades defeated by my hand.

And Sarpedon, captain of the Lycians, answered: “Tlepolemus, your father overthrew Ilius by the foolishness of Laomedon, by withholding payment from one who had served him well. I wouldn't give your father the horses he came all this way to get. As for you, you will find death by my spear. You will honor me and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds.

So spoke Sarpedon, and Tlepolemus raised his spear. They launched simultaneously, and Sarpedon caught his opponent in the throat; the spear pierced him and the darkness of death fell across his eyes. Tlepolemus' spear struck Sarpedon's left thigh with such force that it grazed flesh and bone, but his father still prevented its destruction.

His comrades dragged Sarpedon out of the fight in great pain as the weight of the spear released from his wound. So hasty and tense were they in carrying him that no one thought to remove the spear from his thigh so that he could walk upright. Meanwhile, the Achaeans took away the corpse of Tlepolemus, which Odysseus took pity on and gasped in confusion at the sight of it. He was reluctant to pursue Jupiter's son or kill the Lycian soldiers; it was not yet decreed that he should kill the son of Jupiter; Minerva therefore turned it against the main body of the Lycians. He slew Coeranus, Alastor, Chromius, Alcandrus, Halius, Noemon and Prytanis and would have slain more had the great Hector not identified him, and he charged to the front of the battle in his armor and filled the Danaans. horror. Sarpedon was delighted when he saw him coming and begged him, saying: "Son of Priam, do not leave me here to fall into the hands of the Danaans. Help me, and since I cannot return home to gladden the hearts of my wife and son, let me die within your city walls.

Hector did not answer, but hastened to fall upon the Achaeans at once and. kill many of them. Sarpedon was then taken away by his companions and placed under Jupiter's massive oak tree. Pelagon, his friend and comrade, drew the spear from his thigh, but Sarpedon fainted, a veil covering his eyes. After a while he regained consciousness, for the breath of the north wind that touched him gave him new life and brought him out of the deep swoon into which he had fallen.

Meanwhile, Mars and Hector neither brought the Argives to their ships nor attacked them; Learning that Mars was with the Trojans, they retreated but continued to face the enemy. Then who was the first and the last to be killed by Mars and Hector? They were the brave Teutras and Orestes, the famous charioteer, Trecos, the Aetollian warrior, Oenomaus, Helenus son of Oenops, and Oresbius, the bright band, who had great wealth and dwelt with the other living boats in Lake Cephisius. near him, owner of a fertile land.

When the goddess Juno saw the Argives fall, she said to Minerva: Ah, daughter of Jupiter, bearer of the aegis, tireless! Effect if we let Mars rage so furiously. Let's get right into the fray.

Minerva didn't contradict her. Then the sublime goddess, daughter of great Saturn, began to harness her gold-decked steeds. Hebe rode at full speed on the eight-spoked bronze wheels that stood on either side of the iron axle. The wheel arches were of incorruptible gold, and upon them a bronze tyre, wonderful to behold. The wheel sleeves were silver and rotated around the axle on both sides. The chariot itself was made of braided bands of gold and silver and had a double head rail around it. From the body of the chariot came a silver pole, to the end of which he fastened the golden yoke with golden ribbons that were to pass under the horses' necks. Then Juno eagerly gathered up their steeds. for the battle and the war cry.

Meanwhile, Minerva threw her richly embroidered robe, which she had made with her own hands, over her father's door and put on Jupiter's shirt to arm herself for battle. He threw his tasseled aegis over his shoulders and encircled it with Rout like a fringe, and upon it was battle, strength, and blood-chilling panic; there was also the head of the fearsome Gorgon-monster, dark and terrible to behold, a harbinger of Jupiter bearing the Aegis. He put his golden helmet with four feathers on his head, and reached a spire adorned front and back with the emblems of a hundred cities; So he climbed into his burning chariot and seized the spear, so strong

and strong and strong, overcoming the ranks of heroes who have displeased her. Juno whipped the horses, and the gates of heaven opened, as would the gates that rule over the flour, in whose hands are the heavens and Olympus, either to open the dense cloud that hides them, or around to close them. Through her the goddesses led their obedient steeds and found the son of Saturn sitting alone on the highest peaks of Olympus. There Juno halted their horses and conversed with Jupiter, son of Saturn, lord of all. "Father Jupiter," she said, "are you not angry with Mars for these great works? What a great and good army of Achaeans he has destroyed, to my sorrow and without reason, while Cyprian and Apollo enjoy it all in peace, urging this unjust madman to do more evil! I hope Father Jupiter that you will not be angry if I hit Mars hard and knock him out of the fight."

And Jupiter replied: "Put Minerva on him, because she punishes him more often than anyone else."

Juno did as she was told. He whipped his horses and they flew no less than halfway between earth and sky. As far as a man can see when he looks out to sea from a high lighthouse, as far as the loudly neighing horses of the gods can leap in one leap. When they reached Troy and the place where the Simois and Scamander rivers meet, Juno stopped them and lowered them from the chariot. He hid them in a thick cloud, and Simois made ambrosia sprouts for them to eat; The two goddesses then flew on like doves in their eagerness to help the Argives. When they reached the part where the bravest and most numerous had gathered around mighty Diomedes, fighting like lions or boars of great strength and endurance, Juno stopped and uttered a cry like the brazen Stentor whose cry was as high as fifty men together. "Argives," she cried; “Shame on cowardly creatures who are brave only in appearance; While Achilles was fighting, his spear was so deadly that the Trojans did not dare show themselves at the gates of Dardania, but now they stray far from the city and even fight in their ships.

With these words he poured heart and soul into them all, while Minerva sprang to the side of the son of Tydeus, whom she found beside his chariot and horses, and cooled the wound Pandarus had inflicted on him. For the sweat of the hand that bore the weight of the shield irritated the wound: his arm was weary with pain, and he lifted the strap to wipe the blood. The goddess put her hand on the yoke of her horses and said, "The son of Tydeus is not like his father. Tydeus was a small man but he knew how to fight and he joined the fight even when I told him not to. When he went alone as ambassador to the Kadmies at Thebes, I commanded him to celebrate in their houses and be at peace; but with that exalted spirit ever present in him, he challenged the youth of the Kadmys, and then conquered them in all they tried, so mightily did I help him. I am also by your side to protect you and I ask you to be prompt in the fight against the Trojans; but either you are tired, or you are afraid and discouraged, in which case I say you are not a true son of Tydeus son of Aeneus.

Diomedes replied: "I know you, goddess, daughter of Jupiter, who wears the aegis, and I will hide nothing from you. I am not afraid, nor discouraged, nor is there laziness in me. I'm just following your own orders; you told me not to fight any of the blessed gods; but if Venus daughter of Jupiter went into battle I would slay her with my spear. Therefore I withdraw and command the other Argives to gather at this place, knowing that Mars now dominates the field.

"Diomedes son of Tydeus," replied Minerva, "a man after my own heart, fear not Mars, nor any other of the immortals, for I will be your friend. No, go straight to Mars and hit him in melee; fear not this angry madman, villain incarnate, first on one side and then on the other. But now he spoke to Juno and me and said he would help the Argives and attack the Trojans; However, he is with the Trojans and has forgotten about the Argives.

Saying this, he grabbed Sthenelus and lifted him from the cart to the ground. In a second he was on the ground, after which the goddess mounted the chariot and stood next to Diomedes. The oak shank groaned aloud under the onslaught of the terrible goddess and hero; Pallas Minerva took the whip and reins and headed straight for Mars. He undressed the giant Periphas, son of Ochesius and the bravest of the Aetolians. Bloody Mars removed his armor and Minerva put Hades' helmet on so he wouldn't see her; So when he saw Diomedes, he went straight to him and left Periphas where he had fallen. As soon as they drew near, he hurled his bronze spear over the reins and yoke to take Diomedes' life, but Minerva caught the spear in her hand and sent it flying harmlessly over the chariot. Then Diomedes hurled, and Pallas Minerva thrust the spear into the pit of Mars' stomach where his inner girdle encircled him. There Diomedes struck him, tearing his pale flesh, and then drew his spear again. Mars roared in the midst of a fight as loud as nine or ten thousand men, and Achaeans and Trojans alike panicked at the terrible cry he uttered.

Like a dark cloud in the sky when it blows after the heat, Diomedes son of Tydeus saw Mars rising in the wide heavens. At full speed he reached the high Olympus, the dwelling place of the gods, and in great pain sat down next to Jupiter, the son of Saturn. He showed Jupiter the immortal blood that flowed from his wound and said plaintively: "Father Jupiter, are you not angry at such deeds? We gods constantly suffer cruelly at the hands of others while we aid mortals; and we all owe you a grudge for being the father of that crazy renegade daughter who is always committing some kind of crime. All other gods must do as you say, but she will not be reprimanded or punished; you encourage her because the plague creature is your daughter. See how he incited the proud Diomedes to vent his wrath on the immortal gods. First he approached Cipriana and injured her hand on the wrist, then he jumped on me like I was a god. If I hadn't run away, I would have lain in agony among the hideous bodies long enough, or I would have been eaten alive by spears until my strength was exhausted."

Jupiter looked at him angrily and said, "Don't come here to complain, Lord of the Two Sides. I hate you, worst of all the gods of Olympus, because you are always fighting and fooling around. You have the unbearable and stubborn spirit of your mother Juno: I can only control you and thanks to her you are in this situation now: but I cannot allow you to suffer any amount of pain. ; You are my child, and your mother begot you from me; However, if you were the child of another god, you would be so destructive that at that moment you would be inferior to the titans.

He then asked Paeeon to heal him, and Paeeon sprinkled pain-relieving herbs on his wound and healed it, for it was not of deadly mold. Since the sap of the fig tree coagulates the milk and makes it thicken in a moment, even though it is liquid, Paeon immediately healed the wild Mars. So Hebe washed him and put good clothes on him and sat down beside her father Jupiter, all lovely to look at.

But Juno of Argos and Minerva of Alalcomene, having put an end to the murderous deeds of Mars, returned again to the house of Jupiter.

Book VI

The fighting between the Trojans and the Achaeans was now raging, and the tide of war rose to and fro across the plain as they aimed their bronze spears at each other between the streams of Simois and Xanthus.

First, Ajax son of Telamon broke through the mighty tower of the Achaeans, a phalanx of Trojans, and came to the aid of his companions by slaying Acamas son of Eussoros, the best man among the Thracians, who was valiant and courageous mad Stature. . . The spear struck the protruding visor of his helm, its bronze point piercing his forehead to the brain, and darkness covering his eyes.

Then Diomedes killed Axylus son of Teuthranus, a rich man who lived in the strong city of Arisbe and was loved by all men; because he had a house by the roadside and entertained all who passed; However, none of his guests stood before him for their lives, and Diomedes killed him and his squire Calesio, who was then his charioteer, after which the couple went underground.

Euryalus killed Dreso and Ofelcio and then went in search of Aesepo and Pedaso, to whom the nymph Naiad Abarbarea gave birth to the noble Bucolion. Bucolion was the eldest son of Laomedon, but he was a bastard. While tending his sheep, he conversed with the nymph, and she conceived twin sons; This now killed Mecisteo's son and took their weapons from their shoulders. Polypoetes then killed Astyalos, Ulysses Pidytes of Percote, and Teucer Aretaon. Ablerus fell by the spear of Antilochus son of Nestor, and Agamemnon king of men slew Elatus who dwelt in Pedasus on the banks of the river Satnioeis. Leitus killed Phylacus in flight and Eurypylus killed Melanthus.

Then, with a loud war-cry, Menelaus took Adrestus alive, for his horses, flying madly over the plain, ran into a tamarisk bush, and broke the chariot-post; They flew towards the city with the others in full flight, but Adrestus rolled and landed face down in the dust by the wheel of his chariot; Menelaus approached him spear in hand, but Adrestus grabbed his knees and begged for his life. "Take me alive," he cried, "son of Atreus, and you will have a full ransom for me. My father is rich and kept many treasures of gold, bronze and wrought iron in his home. From this camp he will give you a large ransom if he finds out that I am alive and on the ships of the Achaeans.

So he begged, and Menelaus was about to give in and hand him over to a squire to take him to the Achaean ships, but Agamemnon ran to him and rebuked him. "My good Menelaus," he said, "this is not the time to give in. So your house prospered in the hands of the Trojans? Let us not spare any of them, not even the unborn child in the womb; None of them are left alive, but may all Ilius perish, neglected and forgotten."

So he spoke, and his brother allowed himself to be persuaded because his words were right. Menelaus, therefore, threw Adrestus from him, and King Agamemnon struck him in the flank, and he fell: then the son of Atreus put his foot on his chest to draw the spear out of his body.

Meanwhile Nestor called out to the Argives and said: "My friends, Danaan warriors, servants of Mars, leave none behind who plunders the dead and brings much booty to the ships. Let's kill as many as possible; The corpses will lie on the level and you can loot them later at your leisure.

With these words, he poured out his heart and soul into them all. And now the Trojans would have been defeated and driven back to Ilius, had not Helenus, son of Priam, the wisest of all augurs, said to Hector and Aeneas: "Hector and Aeneas, you two are the pillars of the Trojans. and Lycians because they are the first. at all times alike in battle and in council; Stand firm here and pass among the hosts to gather them at the gates, or they will throw themselves into the arms of their wives, much to the delight of our enemies. So if you've put your heart into all of our endeavors, let's stand firm and fight the Danaans no matter how hard they push us, because there's nothing left to do. In the meantime, Hector, you go into town and tell our mother what's going on. Tell him to order the matrons to assemble in the Temple of Minerva on the Acropolis; then let her take her key and open the doors of the sacred building; there, on Minerva's knees, let her lay the largest and fairest cloak she has in her house, the one she cherishes most; also promises to sacrifice twelve-year-old heifers in the temple of the goddess, which have not yet felt the sting, if he wants to pity the people with the women and children of the Trojans and save the son of Tydeus from falling in the beautiful city of Ilius; because he fights with anger and fills people's souls with panic. I consider him the mightiest of all; we feared not even their great champion, Achilles, son of a goddess, whatever he may be, as we fear this man: his fury is beyond all bounds, and nothing compares to his ability.

Hector did as his brother commanded. Leaping down from his chariot, he walked through the army, brandishing his spears, urging the men to fight and uttering the terrible battle cry. Then they united and once again faced the Achaeans, who relented and stopped their murderous attack, believing that one of the immortals had descended from the starry heavens to help the Trojans, so strangely did they join forces. And Hector called out to the Trojans: "Trojans and allies, be men my friends, and fight mighty and mighty while I go to Ilios and tell the elders of our council and our women to pray to the gods and take hecatomb vows in their lost honor".

With that he set off, the fringe of black fur covering his shield slapping at his neck and ankles.

Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus and son of Tydeus entered the open space between the hosts to fight in single combat. When they were close, Diomedes, with the loud war cry, spoke first. 'Who, my good sir,' he said, 'who are you among men? I've never seen you in battle, but you're bolder than anyone if you accept my attack. Woe to the fathers whose children oppose my power But if you are one of the immortals and have come down from heaven, I will not fight with you, for even the brave Lycurgus son of Dryas did not live long when he fought with the gods wet nurses who were responsible
of Bacchus in a frenzy across the land of Nyssa, throwing his Thyrsi to the ground when the murderous Lycurgus struck it with his sting. Bacchus himself, frightened, fell into the sea and Thetis took him to her breast to comfort him, for she was frightened by the anger with which the man had insulted him. Then the gods, who live comfortably, became angry with Lycurgus, and Saturn's son blinded him, and he did not live long after becoming hated by the immortals. Therefore I will not fight with the blessed gods; but if you are one of those who eat the fruit of the earth, come near and find your destiny".

And the son of Hippolochus answered: Son of Tydeus, why do you ask me about my lineage? People come and go year after year like leaves on a tree. Those of autumn are blown across the earth by the wind, but when spring returns, the forest sprout with fresh vines. So it is with the generations of humanity, the new ones sprout while the old ones disappear. So if I want to know my parentage, it is known to many. In the heart of Argos, the land of horse pastures, there is a city called Ephyra, where lived Sisyphus, who was the cunningest of men. He was the son of Aeolus and had a son named Glaucus, who was the father of Bellerophon, whom heaven endowed with the most incomparable beauty and beauty. But Black plotted his downfall and, being stronger than himself, drove him out of the land of the Argives, over which Jupiter had made him lord. Because Antea, Proitos' wife, desired him and secretly let him sleep with her; but Bellerophon was an honorable man and didn't want it, so he told Proteus lies about him. 'Proetus,' she said, 'kill Bellerophon or die, for he would have spoken to me against my will.' on a folded plate and contains many evils against the user. He ordered Bellerophon to show these letters to his father-in-law lest he die; Bellerophon therefore went to Lycia, and the gods carried him to safety.

“When he came to the river Xanthus, which is in Lycia, the king received him joyfully, they celebrated him for nine days, and killed nine heifers in his honor, but when the rosy-fingered morning appeared on the tenth day, he interrogated -o and wanted to see the letter from Preto's son-in-law. When he received the evil letter, he first ordered Bellerophon to kill this ferocious monster, the Chimera, which was not a human but a goddess because she had the head of a lion and the tail of a snake while her body was one goat and exhaled flames of fire; but Bellerophon killed her because he was guided by signs from heaven. Then he fought the famous Solymi, and this, according to him, was the toughest of all his fights. Thirdly, he killed the Amazons, women equal to men, and when he returned from there the king devised another plan to destroy them; He chose the bravest warriors from all over Lycia and ambushed them, but none returned, for Bellerophon killed them all. Then the king knew he must be the brave son of a god, so he kept him in Lycia, gave him his daughter in marriage, and gave him equal honor in the kingdom as himself; and the Lycians gave him a piece of land to own and possess, the best in all the land, fair with vines and fields.

"The king's daughter bore Bellerophon three sons, Isander, Hippolochus and Laodamea. Jupiter, the lord of the council, lay with Laodamea, and she bare noble Sarpedon; but when Bellerophon was hated by all the gods, he wandered disconsolate and dismayed across the plain of Alean, gnawing at his own heart and shunning the path of men. Mars, insatiable for battle, killed his son Isander in battle against the Solymi; her daughter was killed by Diana of the Golden Reins because she was angry with her; but Hippolochus was my father, and in sending me to Troy he kept urging me always to fight among the first, and to surpass my peers, lest the blood of my parents be shamed, those in Ephyra, and in all the noblest were. Lycia. So this is the offspring I claim."

So he spoke, and Diomedes' heart rejoiced. He planted his spear in the ground and spoke kind words to him. "So," he said, you're an old friend from my father's house. The Great Aeneus once entertained Bellerophon for twenty days, and the two exchanged gifts. Aeneus gave a rich purple sash, and Bellerophon a double cup, which I left at home when I went to Troy. I don't remember Tydeus because he was taken from us when I was a child when the Achaean army broke up at Thebes. From now on, however, I must be your host in the center of Argos and you mine in Lycia, if you ever go there; let us avoid each other's spears even during a general encounter; there are many Trojan nobles and allies I can slay if I reach them and heaven hands them over; so with you there are many Achaeans whose lives you can take if you can; The two of us will therefore exchange armor so that all present know of the old bonds that remain between us.

With that, they jumped out of their cars, held hands, and became friends. But the son of Saturn divorced Glaucon from his prudence, for he exchanged a suit of gold for bronze, the value of a hundred head of cattle for the value of nine.

So when Hector came to the gates of Scaea and the oak, the wives and daughters of the Trojans ran to him to ask about their sons, brothers, kin, and husbands: he told them to pray to the gods, and many went . sad to hear it.

He soon reached the magnificent palace of King Priam, adorned with carved stone colonnades. In it were fifty chambers, all of hewn stone, built side by side, where Priam's sons slept, each with his wife. Opposite them, on the other side of the courtyard, were twelve upper rooms, also of carved stone, built side by side for Priam's daughters, where his sons-in-law slept with their wives. When Hector got there, his loving mother came to him with Laodice, the most beautiful of her daughters. She took his hand and said, "My son, why did you leave the battle to come here? Do the Achaeans press you, woe to them, to come hard against the city you have thought fit, and lift up your hands to Jupiter from the citadel? Wait till I bring wine to make an offering to Jupiter and the other immortals, then drink and refresh yourself. Wine gives a man renewed strength when he is tired, as you do now when fighting for your relatives.

And Hector replied: "Honest mother, don't bring any wine, lest you leave me naked and I forget my strength. I dare not offer a libation to Jupiter with dirty hands; he who is spattered with blood and dirt cannot pray to the son of Saturn. Gather the matrons and go to the Temple of Binding Minerva with offerings; there, on Minerva's knees, lay the largest and most beautiful cloak you have in your house, the one you love most; He also promises to sacrifice twelve-year-old heifers, who have not yet felt the sting, in the temple of the goddess if she pities the city with the Trojans' wives and children, and to save the son of Tydeus from without. . the beautiful city of Ilius, which fights furiously and fills people's souls with panic. So go to Minerva's temple while I visit Paris and admonish him if he heeds my words. Would that the earth would open its jaws and devour him, for Jupiter created him as the curse of the Trojans, Priam and Priam's sons. If I could see you going down to the house of Hades, my heart would forget its sadness."

Her mother entered the house and called her maids, who gathered the matrons from all over the city. Then she went down to her fragrant pantry, where were kept her embroidered robes, the work of the Sidonians brought by Alexander from Sidon when he sailed the seas on which he took Helen. Hecuba brought the largest and most beautifully embroidered tunic as an offering to Minerva: it shone like a star and sat low on her breast. With that she set out, and many matrons with her.

When they reached the Temple of Minerva, the beautiful Theano, daughter of Ciseo and wife of Antenor, opened the doors because the Trojans had made her a priestess of Minerva. The women raised their hands to the goddess with a loud cry and Theano took the cloak to place on Minerva's knees while she prayed to the daughter of great Jupiter. "Saint Minerva," he cried, "protector of our city, mighty goddess, break the spear of Diomedes and throw it at the gates of Scaea. Do this and we will sacrifice twelve heifers in your temple, who do not yet know the sting, if you have pity on the city, with the wives and children of the Trojans. So he prayed, but Pallas Minerva did not answer his prayer.

While they were praying for the daughter of the great Jupiter, Hector went to Alexander's beautiful house, which had been built for him by the best builders in the land. His house, shop and court were built for him near those of Priam and Hector on the Acropolis. Here Hector entered, with a spear eleven yards long in his hand; the bronze point gleamed before him and was fastened to the shaft of the spear with a gold ring. He found Alexandrus in the house, busy with his armour, shield and cuirass, brandishing his curved bow; there also sat the Argive Helena with her wives, and assigned them their various duties; and when Hector saw him, he rebuked him with words of contempt. 'Lord,' he said, 'you are wrong to harbor this grudge; people are dying in the struggle for this people of ours; You yourself would rebuke someone you saw fleeing their part of the fight. By then, or soon, the city will be on fire.

And Alexandrus answered: “Hector, your rebuke is just; So listen, and believe me when I tell you, I'm not here out of malice or resentment against the Trojans so much as out of a desire to assuage my pain. My wife gently urged me to fight, and I think I'd better go, because victory is always fickle. So wait while I don my armor, or go first and I'll follow. I'll make sure I catch up.

Hector didn't answer, but Helen tried to calm him down. “Brother,” she said, “for my hated and sinful self, I wish I had gotten caught in a whirlpool the day my mother gave birth to me and carried me to a mountain or to the waves of the raging sea , that should have swept me earlier that this evil happened. But when the gods invented these evils, I still wish I had been a better man's wife, who could endure the shame and evil words of men. This guy has never been trusted and never will be, and he will certainly reap what he sows. Still, brother, come in and rest in this seat, for it is you who bears the burden of this work caused by my hateful self and the sin of Alexander, whom Jupiter has condemned to be a song among them who will be born from now on. ”

And Héctor replied: 'Don't ask me to sit down, Helena, with all the good will you have for me. I can not stay. I'm in a hurry to help the Trojans, who miss me very much when I'm not among them; but urge your husband, also at your expense, to hurry to reach me before I leave town. I must go back to see my house, my wife and my little son, for I do not know if I shall return to them or if the gods will please me at the hands of the Achaeans.

So Hector left her and immediately went to his own house. He did not find Andromache because she was standing by the wall with her son and one of her servants, weeping bitterly. Then, seeing that she wasn't inside, he stopped on the threshold of the ladies' room and said, "Women, tell me, tell me the truth, where did Andromache go when she left the house? Was it my sisters or my brothers' wives? Or is it in Minerva's temple where the other women appease the terrible goddess?

Her good governess replied: 'Hector, since you command me to tell the truth, she has not gone to her sisters or her brothers' wives, nor to the Temple of Minerva, where the other women appease the terrible goddess, but she is in the high wall of Ilium, for she had heard that the Trojans were in distress and the Achaeans in great strength: she approached the wall with mad haste, and the nurse followed her with the child.

Heitor hurriedly left the house when she had finished speaking and walked the streets the way he had come. As he passed through the city and reached the Scaean gates by which he would enter the plain, his wife came running to him, Andromache, daughter of the great Aetion, who reigned in Thebes beneath the wooded slopes of Mount Placus, and was king of her had married Hector and now found him with a wet nurse who was carrying her young son, a baby. Hector's favorite and charming as a star. Hector called him Scamandrius, but people called him Astyanax because his father was Ilius' sole guardian. Hector smiled as he looked at the child but said nothing, and Andromache stood beside him, crying, holding his hand. 'Dear husband,' she said, 'your courage will lead you to ruin; Think of your little son and my unfortunate wife who will soon be your widow, for the Achaeans will attack and kill you en masse. It would be better for me to be dead and gone when I lose you, for I have nothing to console you when you are gone but only pain. Now I have neither father nor mother. Achilles killed my father when he was sacking Thebes, the beautiful city of Cilicia. He killed him but did not dispossess him out of shame; Having burned him in his wondrous armor, he raised a mound over his ashes, and the mountain nymphs, daughters of Jupiter, bearers of the aegis, planted a grove of elms round his grave. I had seven brothers in my father's house, but on the same day they all entered the house of Hades. Achilles killed them just like they did with their sheep and flocks. My mother, who had been Queen of all the lands below Mount Placus, brought them here with the spoils and freed them for a large sum, but the archer-queen Diana brought them to her father's house. No, Hector, you who are my father, mother, brother and beloved husband, pity me; stay here on this wall; do not leave your son an orphan or your wife a widow; As for the army, place it near the banyan tree where the city is easier to climb and the wall is weaker. Three times the bravest of them got there and, under the command of the two Ajaxes Idomeneus, the sons of Atreus and the brave son of Tydeus, invaded, either of their own accord or because a soothsayer had told them so.

And Hector replied: 'Woman, I have thought of all this, too, but with what face shall I look at the Trojans, male or female, when I flee the battle like a coward? I cannot do this: I know nothing but to fight valiantly at the head of the Trojan army and gain glory for my father and me. I know well that the day will come when mighty Ilium will be destroyed with Priam and Priam's people, but for none of them do I mourn, not even for Hecuba, nor for King Priam, nor for my many brave brethren who fall could. in the dust before your enemies, for none of them will grieve me like you do when the day comes when one of the Achaeans steals
forever your freedom and I will carry you cry. You may be required to guide the loom in Argos at the behest of a lover, or fetch water from the springs of Messeis or Hyperea, brutalized by a cruel overseer; then everyone who sees you cry will say: "She was the wife of Hector, the bravest warrior among the Trojans in the war against Ilium." . May I lie dead under the mound that lies over my body before I hear your cry as you are led into slavery.

He held out his arms to his son, but the boy cried and snuggled against his nurse's chest, startled to see his father's armor and the tufts of horsehair poking wildly from his helmet. His father and mother laughed when they saw him, but Hector took off his helmet and let it shine on the ground. Then she took her beloved son, kissed him and cradled him in her arms and prayed for him to Jupiter and all the gods. “Jupiter,” he exclaimed, “make this my son like me, leader of the Trojans; let him not be less strong and let Ilius rule by his power. So one can say of him when he comes out of the battle: "The son is much better than the father."

With these words he put the child back in the arms of his wife, who held him to her soft breast and smiled through her tears. As her husband watched her, his heart longed for her, and he tenderly stroked her, saying, “My own wife, do not take these things too bitterly. No one can throw me into Hades before my time, but when a man's time comes, whether brave or cowardly, there is no escape for him after his birth. So go indoors and attend to your daily chores, your loom, your distaff, and the order of your servants; for war is a man's business, and mine before all others who are born in Ilius.

He picked up his plumed helm from the ground, and his wife returned home, weeping bitterly and looking at him often. When she reached her house, she found her girls inside and asked them all to join her lament; therefore they mourned for Hector in his house, though he was still alive, thinking they would never see him return safely from battle and the angry hands of the Achaeans.

Paris did not stay long in his house. He donned his fine bronze-plated armor and paced through the city as fast as his feet could carry him. As a horse, stabled and fed, breaks loose and gallops gloriously across the plain to its usual bathing spot in the crystal clear river, so it holds its head high and its mane billows over its shoulders as it exults in its strength. and flies like the wind to the sleeping and feeding places of the mares, Paris rose from the heights of Pergamum, shining like sunlight on his armor, and laughing aloud as he hastened his way. He immediately found his brother Hector moving away from the place where he had spoken with his wife, and he himself was the first to speak. "Sir," he said, "I'm afraid I kept you waiting when I was in a hurry, and didn't come when you asked me."

'My good brother,' Hector replied, 'you fight bravely, and no righteous man can despise your deeds in battle. But you are careless and willfully reckless. It pains me to hear how evil the Trojans speak of you, for they have suffered much.” Much for your sake. Let us go, and we shall all be well from now on, if Jupiter will permit us to present the cup of our salvation before the eternal gods of heaven in our own homes, having driven the Achaeans out of Troy.

Book VII

With these words, Heitor passed through the gates, and his brother Alejandro with him, both eager for a fight. As when heaven sends a breeze to sailors who have long sought in vain, and have labored at their oars until they faint from the work, so the sight of these two heroes was welcomed by the Trojans.

Immediately afterwards, Alexander killed Menestio, son of Areitoo; he dwelt in Ame, and was the son of Areitoo, the man with the apple, and Philomedusa. Hector hurled a spear at Eioneo, killing him, wounding his neck under the bronze rim of his helmet. Besides, Glaucus son of Hippolocus, captain of the Lycians, wounded Ifinoo son of Dexius in the shoulder in a hard hand-to-hand combat, as he sprang up in his chariot at his swift mares; then she fell off the wagon and lost her life.

Therefore, when Minerva saw these men ravaging the Argives, she ran from the heights of Olympus to Ilius, and Apollo, looking on from Pergamum, went to meet her; because he wanted the Trojans to emerge victorious. The pair met by the oak, and King Apollo, son of Jupiter, was the first to speak. What would you have said, daughter of great Jupiter, that your proud spirit sent you here from Olympus? Have no pity on the Trojans and tip the scales in favor of the Danaans? Let me convince you that it is better to end the fight for today, but from now on, renew the fight until Ilius' destruction is complete, since you goddesses have decided to destroy the city.

And Minerva answered: 'So be it, Far-Darter; With this in mind I brought the Trojans and Achaeans from Olympus. Then tell me how do you intend to end this present struggle?

Apollo son of Jupiter replied: 'Let us goad great Hector to challenge one of the Danaans to single combat; therefore the Achaeans will be ashamed to find a man to fight them.

Minerva consented, and Helenus son of Priam divined the counsel of the gods; so he approached Hector and said: 'Hector, son of Priam, councilor of the gods, I am your brother, let me persuade you then. Command the other Trojans and Achaeans to take their places and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to face him in single combat. I have heard the voice of the eternal gods, and the hour of your downfall has not yet come."

Hector rejoiced at this word and went into the midst of the Trojans, taking his spear among them to stop them, and they all sat down. Agamemnon also ordered the Achaeans to sit down. But Minerva and Apollo sat like vultures on Father Jupiter's tall oak, proud of their men; and the ranks sat together laden with shields and helmets and javelins. As when the rising west wind covers the face of the sea and the waters are darkened beneath, so the companies of the Trojans and Achaeans sat on the plain. And Hector spoke thus:

“Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak as I think; Jupiter on his high throne has nullified our oaths and pacts and augurs evil for both of us until you take the towers of Troy or are defeated in his ships. The princes of the Achaeans are present here in their midst; Make whoever fights with me stand against Hector as his champion. So I say, and let Jupiter be a witness between us. If your champion kills me, take off my armor and take it to your ships, but send my body home to the Trojans and their wives to give me my right to fire when I'm dead. Likewise, if Apollo gives me glory and I kill his champion, I will take his armor and take him to the city of Ilius where I will hang him in Apollo's temple, but I will surrender his body. that the Achaeans may bury him in their ships and raise him a mound in the wide waters of the Hellespont. Then from now on someone will say, as he sails his ship on the sea: "This is the memorial of one who died long ago a champion, slain by the mighty Hector." Then someone will say, and my glory will not be lost.

So he spoke, but all were silent, ashamed to refuse the challenge but afraid to accept it, until finally Menelaus stood up and rebuked them, for he was angry. "Ah," he exclaimed, "haughty Vasos, women not men, verily the stain shall be doubly stained upon us if no man of Danaere now opposes Hector." May each of you become earth and water when you feel gloomy and inglorious in your place. I will fight that man myself, but the outcome of the battle will fall into the hands of the immortal gods from above.”

With these words he donned his armor; and then, O Menelaus, your life would have ended in the hands of Hector, for he was a far better man, had not the princes of the Achaeans fallen upon you and prevented you. King Agamemnon took him by the right hand and said, “Menelaus, you are mad; a truce to this madness. Despite the passion, be patient, do not think of fighting a man much stronger than you, like Hector son of Priam, feared by many others like you. Even Achilles, who is much braver than you, dodged him in battle. Sit down with your own people and the Achaeans will send another champion to fight Hector; As fearless and fierce as he is, I think his knees will bow with pleasure if he makes it out of the fray alive."

With this sensible advice he persuaded his brother, whereupon his squires cheerfully removed the armor from his shoulders. Then Nestor stood up and said: "Truly," he said, "the land of the Achaeans has fallen into evil times. The old knight Peleus, counselor and orator among the Myrmidons, loved it when I was at home to ask me about the race and descent of all Argives. How could he not be sad to hear that they were now shaking before Hector? He often raised his hands in prayer for his soul to leave his body and descend to the house of Hades. I wish, by Father Jupiter, Minerva, and Apollo, I was as young and strong as when the Pylia and Arcadians met to brave the swift River Celadon, beneath the walls of Ugly, and around the waters of the River Iardan battle. The divine hero Ereuthalion emerged as his champion, the armor of King Areithous upon his shoulders. Areithous, nicknamed "the Mace" by men and women, because he fought not with bow or spear, but shattered the enemy battalions with his iron. Hammer. Lycurgus did not kill him in a fair fight, but by trapping him in a narrow path where his mace was useless; because Licurgo was too fast for him and went right through, so that he fell backwards to the ground. Then Lycurgus took from him the armor that Mars had given him, and he has worn it in battle ever since; but when he was old and at home he gave to his faithful squire Ereuthalion, who in just this armor defied the greatest men among us. The others trembled and flinched, but my good humor told me to fight him, though no one else dared; I was the youngest of them all; but when I fought him, Minerva gave me the victory. He was the tallest and strongest man I had ever killed, and he covered a lot of ground while he was sprawled on the ground. I wish I was as young and strong as I was then, because Priam's son would soon find someone to stand against him. But you, despite being the first among all the hosts, do not have the courage to fight Hector.

Then the old man rebuked them, and then nine men stood up. First came King Agamemnon, and after him brave Diomedes son of Tydeus. Then there were the two Ajaxes, bravely clad men as if in a cloak, and then Idomeneus and Meriones, his brothers in arms. After these also appeared Eurypilus son of Euaemon, Thoas son of Andraemon, and Odysseus. Then Nestor, the knight of Gerene, spoke again and said: “Cast among yourselves to see who will be chosen. If he emerges from this battle alive, he has done his own soul and the Achaeans a good service.

Thus spoke he, and when each had chosen his lot and cast it in the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus, the people raised their hands in prayer, and thus one of them, looking up at the heavens, said: "Father Jupiter, give that the lot falls on Ajax, or on the son of Tydeus, or on the king of rich Mycenae himself.

As they spoke, Nestor, the knight of Gerene, shook his helm, and from him fell the same fate as the fate of Ajax would have it. The herald took it and showed it to all the chiefs of the Achaeans, from left to right; but none of them had it. However, when he reached the man who had written on it in time and put it on his helmet, brave Ajax stretched out his hand and the herald bestowed luck on him. When Ajax saw him score, he knew and was happy; threw him to the ground and said: "My friends, happiness is mine and I am happy because I will defeat Heitor. I will put on my armor; Meanwhile, pray to King Jupiter in silence lest the Trojans hear you, or aloud if you will, for we fear no one. No one will defeat me, neither by force nor by cunning, because I was born and raised in Salamis and can defend myself against anything.

With that they began to pray to King Jupiter, son of Saturn, and so one of them, looking up at the heavens, said: "Father Jupiter, who reigns from Ida, glorious in power, grant Ajax victory and leave him one." gain great victory.” Fame: but if you also wish Hector's good and want to protect him, give each of them equal fame and fortune.

So they prayed, and Ajax armed himself in his gleaming bronze suit. When in full formation he sprang forward like monstrous Mars when dealing with the men Jupiter made to fight one another, even as great Ajax, stronghold of the Achaeans, sprang forward with a grim smile on his face while he waved his face . Sword. long spear and continued. The Argives were overjoyed to see him, but the Trojans were trembling in every limb, and even Hector's heart was beating fast, but now he could not retreat into the ranks behind him, for he had been the challenger. Ajax approached with his shield like a wall before him, a bronze shield with seven folds of oxhide, the work of Tychius, who lived in Hyle and was by far the finest tanner. He made it from the skins of seven fattened oxen and laid an eighth layer of bronze on top. Ajax son of Telamon, holding this shield in front of him, approached Hector and threatened him, saying, "Hector, now you'll learn, man.
What champions do the Danaans have among them, even beyond Achilles the Lionheart-splitter in the ranks of men? Now he dwells in ships, angry with Agamemnon, the shepherd of his people, but we are many who can meet him; therefore begin the fight.”

And Hector answered: "Noble Ajax son of Telamon, captain of the army, do not treat me like a child or an insignificant woman who cannot fight. I've long grown accustomed to the blood and carnage of battle. I rush to turn my leather shield left or right, which I think is the most important thing in battle. I can charge between chariots and horsemen, and in close combat I can charm the heart of Mars; I wouldn't catch a man like you off guard though, but I'll beat you openly if I can.

As he spoke, he raised his spear and threw it at him. It struck the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer, the eighth, which was bronze, and pierced six of the layers, but stayed on the seventh skin. Then Ajax hurled in his turn, hitting the round shield of Priam's son. The terrible spear pierced his glittering shield and burst through his intricately worked breastplate; it pierced the shirt on his side but dodged, thus saving his life. Then each of them drew his spear from his shield, and they charged against one another like wild lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance: Priam's son struck right in the shield of Ajax, but the bronze did not break, and the point did not . turned his spear. Ajax then leapt forward and broke Hector's shield; the spear pierced him and staggered him as he lunged to attack; He opened his neck and blood flowed from the wound, but Héctor still didn't stop fighting; he gave way to ground and seized with his muscular hand a coarse and huge boulder that lay on the plain; with that he hit Ajax's shield on the head, which was in the middle, so that the bronze rang again. But Ajax, in turn, picked up a much larger rock, lifted it and threw it with tremendous force. This millstone broke Hector's shield inward and he was thrown backwards, the shield crushing him beneath it, but Apollo immediately got him up again. Then they would have struck with their swords, had not there appeared heralds, messengers of gods and men, one from the Trojans and one from the Achaeans, Taltibius and Ideus, both gentlemen; these they parted with their staves, and the good herald Idaeus said: 'My children, fight no more, you are both brave, and both are loved by Jupiter; We know that; but now night is falling, and the law of the night must not well be transgressed.

Ajax son of Telamon answered: Ideus, ask Hector to tell, for it was he who challenged our princes. Let him speak first and I will take his word for it.”

Then Hector said: 'Ajax, Heaven has given you greatness, strength and discernment; and in the use of the spear you surpass all other Achaeans. Let's stop fighting for this day; from now on we will fight again until heaven decides between us and gives victory to one or the other; Night is falling now, and the commands of the night cannot well be thwarted. Rejoice then, the hearts of the Achaeans on their ships, and especially of their followers and tribesmen, when in the great city of King Priam I bring consolation to the Trojans and their wives who are vying with one another. prayers for me Also, let us exchange gifts so that it is said between the Achaeans and the Trojans, "They fought long and hard, but were reconciled and parted in friendship."

In return, he gave Ajax a silver-studded sword with a scabbard and leather girdle, and Ajax gave him a belt dyed purple in return. So they set out, one to the army of the Achaeans and the other to the army of the Trojans, who rejoiced to see their hero reach them safely from the strong hand of mighty Ajax. They therefore took him into the city as one who had been saved beyond his hope. On the other hand, the Achaeans brought Ajax euphoria for defeating Agamemnon.

When they reached the chambers of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon sacrificed to them a five-year-old bull in honor of Jupiter, son of Saturn. The corpse was skinned, prepared, and divided into pieces; These are carefully cut into smaller pieces, put on skewers, roasted long enough and then removed. When they had done all this and prepared the feast, they ate, and each had his full and equal portion, so that they were all full, and King Agamemnon, as a token of his specialness, gave Ajax some slices cut across his back. to honor. As soon as they had eaten and drunk enough, old Nestor, whose counsel became more and more true, began to speak; in all sincerity and good will he addressed her thus:

"Son of Atreus and other chiefs, since many of the Achaeans are already dead, whose blood Mars shed on the banks of the Scamander, and their souls descended into the house of Hades, it will be good when the morning comes. that we stop fighting; Then we will take our dead with oxen and mules, and burn them not far from the ships, so that when we sail we can bring the bones of our comrades to their children. Beside the pyre we will build a hill that will rise out of the plain for all together; near it we shall build a high wall to protect ourselves and our ships, and we shall have gates well made for our chariots to pass through. Outside we will dig a deep ditch around it to keep horses and feet away lest the Trojan chiefs pressure us.

So he spoke, and the princess cried out in applause. Meanwhile, on the Acropolis, at the gates of King Priam's palace, the Trojans were in council, angry and discordant; and the wise Antenor spoke. "Listen to me," he said, "Trojans, Dardanians and allies, so I speak as I think. We shall give Argive Helen and her wealth to the children of Atreus, for we now fight in violation of our solemn covenants, and we shall not prosper until we have done as I say.

So she sat down, and Alexandrus, the beautiful Helen's husband, rose to speak. 'Antenor,' he said, 'I don't like your words; You can find a better spell than this if you want; However, if you spoke sincerely, Heaven robbed you of your sanity. I will speak clearly and hereby tell the Trojans that I will not hand over the woman; but the riches I brought home with her from Argos I will repay and add to my own.

When Paris had spoken and taken his place, Priam of the lineage of Dardanus, a pair of gods in the council, arose and addressed them in all sincerity and benevolence thus: "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak how I think. Now prepare your meals as before across the city, but keep your guards and stay awake. At daybreak let Idaeo go to the ships, and tell Agamemnon and Menelaus, the sons of Atreus, what Alexander had done, tell who escaped this quarrel; and let him also urge with them that they cease fighting now, till we burn our slain; henceforth we will fight again until heaven decides between us and gives victory to one or the other.

So he spoke, and they did what he said. They ate in their company, and at dawn Idaeus went to the ships. He found the Danaans, servants of Mars, in the council at the stern of Agamemnon's ship, and he placed himself in their midst. "Son of Atreus," he said, "and the princes of the Achaean host, Priam, and the other Trojan nobles, sent me to relate to you the words of Alexander, about whom this dispute was made, if you think fit. . All the treasures he took on his ships to Troy, he wishes he had lost earlier, he will restore them and add even more on his own account, but he will not give up Menelaus' wife, although the Trojans want him to. Then. Priam asked me to ask if you would stop fighting until we burn our dead; from now on we will fight again until heaven decides between us and gives victory to one or the other”.

All fell silent, but soon Diomedes spoke out of the loud battle cry, saying, "Let no one take, neither the treasure nor Helena, for even a child can see that the Trojans' doom is near."

The sons of the Achaeans loudly applauded the words of Diomedes, and then King Agamemnon said to Ideus: “Ideus, you heard the answer that the Achaeans gave you, and I with them. But as for the dead, I give you permission to burn them, for once people are dead they cannot be charged with fire rites. May Jupiter, Juno's mighty husband, witness this pact."

As he spoke, he raised his scepter in the sight of all the gods, and Idaeus returned to the strong city of Ilius. The Trojans and Dardans were in council, awaiting his return; When he arrived, he stood in their midst and delivered his message. As soon as they found out, they began their double work, some collecting the bodies and others bringing firewood. The Argives also disembarked from their ships, some to collect the corpses, others to fetch firewood.

The sun was just beginning to scorch the fields that had risen anew into the heavens from the slow, calm currents of the deep ocean when the two armies met. They could scarcely recognize their dead, but they washed the clotted blood from them, shed tears over them, and loaded them into their wagons. Priam forbade the Trojans to mourn aloud, so sadly and silently they heaped their dead on the stake and, having burned them, returned to the city of Ilius. The Achaeans, too, sadly and silently heaped their dead on the pyre and, after burning, returned to their ships.

At dusk, before dawn, the chosen bands of the Achaeans gathered around the pyre, and built a mound common to all, and a high wall beside it to protect themselves and their ships; they gave him strong gates for his chariots to pass through, and barricaded outside they dug a deep and wide ditch, and planted it with stakes.

So the Achaeans are weary, and the gods sit beside Jupiter, the lord of lightning, and marvel at his great work; but Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, spoke and said: “Father Jupiter, what mortal in all the world will bring the gods to his counsel again? Don't you see how the Achaeans built a wall around their ships and dug a ditch around it without sacrificing hecatombs to the gods? The glory of this wall will last until dawn, and men will think of nothing. Apollo and I worked to build Phoebus for Laomedon.

Justus was disgusted and replied, "What are you talking about, oh shudder? A god less powerful than you might be troubled by what they do, but your glory lasts until dawn. When the Achaeans return home with their ships, you will surely be able to break down your wall and surround them in the sea; You can cover the beach with sand again, and the great wall of the Achaeans will be completely destroyed.

So they conversed, and by sundown the work of the Achaeans was done; So they slaughtered oxen in their tents and ate. Many ships came from Lemnos with wine, sent by Eneuus son of Jason, born to him of Hypsipyle. Jason's son loaded them with ten thousand jars of wine, which he sent specially to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus. In this shop the Achaeans bought their wine, some with bronze, some with iron, some with skins, some with whole heifers and some with captives. They held a good feast and partied all night, as did the Trojans and their allies in the city. But all along Jupiter was an ill omen, roaring with its mighty thunder. A pale fear seized them, and they poured out the wine from their cups on the ground, and no one dared drink until they had offered sacrifices to the mightiest son of Saturn. Then they lay down to rest and enjoyed the bliss of sleep.

Book VIII

As dawn began to lighten the earth, draped in its saffron cloak, Jupiter summoned the gods to council on the highest peak of rugged Olympus. Then he spoke, and all the other gods listened. "Hear me," he said, "gods and goddesses, that I may speak as I think. Let none of you, goddess or god, try to upset me, but let each of you obey me so that I can end this matter. If I see anyone acting from the side and helping the Trojans or the Danaus, they will be defeated before they return to Olympus. or I will throw you into dark Tartarus, the deepest abyss under the earth, where the gates are of iron and the floor is of bronze, as low as Hades, as the heavens are above the earth, so that you may know how mighty I am am . between them. Give me a chance and see for yourself. Hang me a chain of gold from heaven and take hold of it, all gods and goddesses, join as you will, you will not drag Jupiter, the supreme counselor, from heaven to earth ; but if I draw it myself, I would haul them by land and sea as well, then tie the chain to some peak of Olympus, and leave them all hanging in the middle of the firmament. So far I am above all others, whether gods or humans."

They were afraid and everyone was silent because he had spoken confidently; but at last Minerva replied: “Father, son of Saturn, King of kings, we all know that your power cannot be contradicted, but we also mourn the Danaan warriors who perish and meet an evil end. However, as you command us, we will refrain from actual combat, but will make useful suggestions to the Argives lest they perish in their discontent.

Jupiter smiled at her and replied: “Take courage, my daughter, born in Triton; I'm not serious and I want to be nice to you.

With this he harnessed his swift horses with bronze hooves and shining golden manes. He also girded himself with gold around his body, took his golden whip and sat in his chariot. There he whipped his horses and they flew no less than halfway between the earth and the starry sky. After a while he came to Ida, the mother of animals, from many sources, and to Gargaro, where are her small grove and her fragrant altar. There the father of gods and men halted his horses, took them from the chariot, and hid them in a thick cloud; so he sat in all splendor on the highest peaks and looked down on the city of Troy and the ships of the Achaeans.

The Achaeans ate lunch hastily on the ships and then took up arms. The Trojans, on the other hand, also armed themselves across the city, outnumbered but still anxious to fight for their wives and children. All the gates were flung open, and horse and foot came out in a great multitude.

When they were gathered in one place, shield against shield and spear against spear, in the clash of armored men. Mighty was the roar of embossed shields pressed together, death cries and triumphant cries of dead and slayer, and the earth was red stained with blood.

Now, as the day grew and it was still morning, their weapons clashed and men fell, but as the sun reached mid-heaven the Father of All balanced his golden scales and laid two fates of death within himself. them, one for the Trojans and one for the Achaeans. He took the scales in half, and when he lifted them, they sank in the days of the Achaeans; the mortal scale of the Achaeans landed on earth, while those of the Trojans ascended to heaven. Then he thundered loudly from Ida and sent the lightning of his thunderbolt upon the Achaeans; When they saw this, they became terrified, and they were very afraid.

Idomeneus dared not get up, neither Agamemnon nor the two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, remained steadfast. Only Nestor, knight of Gerene, held fast, stronghold of the Achaeans, not of his own accord, but because one of his horses was disabled. Alexandrus, husband of the beautiful Helen, shot him straight in the head with an arrow, where the mane begins to grow away from the skull, a very fatal spot. The horse flinched in fear as the arrow pierced its brain, and its struggle confused the others. The old man immediately began cutting the rails with his sword, but Hector's swift horses chased him across the path with his daring charioteer, Hector himself, and the old man would have died on the spot had Diomedes not hastened to signal . , and with a great cry he called Ulises to help him.

"Odysseus," he exclaimed, "noble son of Laertes, where are you flying backwards like a coward? Be careful not to get wounded with a spear between your shoulders. Stay here and help me defend Nestor from this man's attack.

Odysseus would not listen, but went to the ships of the Achaeans, and the son of Tydeus, throwing himself alone in the heat of battle, stopped before the horses of the son of Neleus. 'Lord,' he said, 'these young warriors oppress you, your strength is gone and age has weighed you down, your squire is nothing and your horses are slow to move. Get into my chariot and see what the horses of Tros can do, how dexterously they can run back and forth across the plain, whether in flight or in pursuit. I took it from the hero Aeneas. Let our squires tend their own steeds, but let us lead mine to the Trojans so Hector will know how furiously I can wield my spear.

Nestor Knight of Gerene heard his words. Immediately afterwards, the brave squires Stenelo and gentle Eurymedon tended to Nestor's horses while the two rode in Diomedes' chariot. Nestor took the reins and whipped the horses; soon they were near Hector, and the son of Tydeus aimed a spear at him as he charged at them at full speed. He missed, but struck his charioteer and squire Eniopeus, son of noble Thebaeus, in the nipple while holding the reins, so he was killed at that moment and the horses dodged as he fell headfirst. From car. Hector was very saddened by the loss of his coachman, but in spite of all the pain he left him while he looked for another driver; His steeds did not have to go far without one, for he soon found the brave Archeptolemus, son of Ifito, and made him get behind the horses and put the reins in his hands.

Then all was lost and there was no cure, for they would have been herded like sheep to Ilius had not the father of gods and men quickly dialed in and sent a flaming jet of fire that landed right in the middle of the path. before them the horses of Diomedes. with a flame of burning brimstone. The horses were startled and tried to retreat under the wagon as the reins fell from Nestor's hands. Then he got scared and said to Diomedes: “Son of Tydeus, send your horses away; Don't you see that Jupiter's hand is against you? Today he grants victory to Hector; tomorrow, if he likes it, he will give it back to us; No man, no matter how brave, can thwart Jupiter's plan, for he is far stronger than anyone else.

Diomedes replied: “Everything you said is true; but there is an ache that wounds my heart, for Hector will speak among the Trojans, saying, "The son of Tydeus fled to the ships from before me." That's the pride he'll make, and let the earth devour me. .”

"Son of Tideo," replied Nestor, "what do you mean? Even if Hector says you're a coward, the Trojans and Dardens won't believe him, nor will the wives of the brave warriors you killed.

With these words he led the horses back into the midst of the battle, and with a cry that rent the air, the Trojans and Hector hurled their spears after them. Hector called to him and said: 'Son of Tydeus, the Danaans have honored you by your place at table, by the meals they give you, and by the fact that you fill your cup with wine. From now on they will despise you because you are no better than a woman. Go away, child and coward that you are, you will not scale our walls for me; nor will you take our women on your ships, for I will kill you with my own hands.

The son of Tydeus debated whether or not to turn his horses and fight him. Three times he hesitated, and three times Jupiter thundered from the heights of Ida to signal the Trojans that he would turn the battle in their favor. Then Hector cried out to them and said: Trojans, Lycians and Dardians, lovers of hand-to-hand combat, be men, my friends, and fight with might and might; I see that Jupiter is ready to give me victory and great glory while wreaking havoc on the Danaans. Fools for thinking of building that weak and worthless wall. It won't stop my anger; My horses will leap lightly over your trenches, and when I'm on your ships, don't forget to bring me fire so I can burn them while I kill the Argives, who will be stunned and confused by the smoke.

Then he called to his horses: "Xanthus and Podargus, and you Aethon and good Lampus, pay me now for your keep, and for all the honeyed corn that Andromache daughter of the great Etion fed you, and for mixing it has wine. and water that you can drink whenever you want, even before you make it for me, since I am her own husband. Hurry up with the pursuit so we can take the shield of Nestor, whose fame rises to heaven because it's solid gold, with weapons and all, and take it off the shoulders of Diomedes. the breastplate that Vulcan made for him. If we could take those two things, the Achaeans would set sail with their ships tonight.

So he boasted, but Queen Juno made Mount Olympus tremble as she trembled with anger on her throne. Then he said to the mighty god of Neptune: “What now, great ruler of the earthquake? Can't you find sympathy in your heart for the dying Danaer who bring many welcome offerings to Helice and Aegae? Then wish them all the best. If we all fought off the Trojans with the Danaans and stopped Jupiter from helping them, he would be alone in Ida, sulking.

King Neptune was very worried and replied: "Juno, rash on the tongue, what are you talking about? We, the other gods, must not oppose Jupiter, for he is much stronger than we are.

So they talked; but all the space enclosed by the moat, from the ships to the wall, was filled with horses and warriors, which Hector son of Priam had shut up there now that the hand of Jupiter was upon him. He would even have set fire to the ships and burned them if Queen Juno had not given Agamemnon's mind the cheering and cheering of the Achaeans. To this end he encircled the ships and tents with a great purple cloak and stood beside the huge black hull of Odysseus' ship which was in their midst; from that place his voice would go forth, on the one hand to the tents of Ajax son of Telamon, and on the other to those of Achilles, because these two heroes, sure of their own strength, valiantly raised their forces. Ships at both ends of the line. Then from that place he cried out to the Danaans in a voice far audible, saying: 'Argives, be ashamed, cowardly creatures brave in appearance; Where are our boasts now that we should prove victorious, the boasts that we made so boastful on Lemnos when we ate the flesh of horned oxen and filled our bowls to the brim? You promised that each of you would face a hundred or two hundred men, and now you're no match for Hector, who's about to set our ships on fire. Father Jupiter, have you ever ruined a great king and completely robbed him of his greatness? But when I came hither, to my sorrow, I never let my ship pass your altars without laying the fat and thighs of heifers on all, so anxious was I to plunder the city of Troy. So grant me this prayer, let's get away with our lives anyway and don't let the Achaeans be so completely defeated by the Trojans.

So he prayed, and Father Jupiter, touched by his tears, granted him that his people might live and not die; immediately he sent them an eagle, the most unerring of birds, with a fawn in its claws; the eagle dropped the stag near the altar where the Achaeans sacrificed to Jupiter, lord of omens; Therefore, when the people saw that the bird had come from Jupiter, they fell on the Trojans with greater force and fought with greater force.

Not one of the many Danaans could boast of having led his horses across the ditch and gone to battle before the son of Tydeus; long before anyone else could, he slew an armed Trojan warrior, Agelaus son of Phradmon. He had turned his horses in flight, but the spear caught him mid-shoulder in the back and pierced his chest, his armor rattling around him as he fell forward from his chariot.

He was followed by Agamemnon and Menelaus, the sons of Atreus, the two valiantly clad Ajaxes, Idomeneus and his comrade-in-arms Meriones, a peer of murderous Mars, and Eurypylus, the valiant son of Euaemon. The ninth was Teucer with his bow, and he took his place under the shield of Ajax son of Telamon. As Ajax raised his shield, Teucer looked around, and when he met someone in the crowd, the man dropped dead; then Teucer would return to his mother in Ajax as a child and crouch under his shield again.

Which of the Trojans did brave Teucer kill first? Orsilochus and then Ormenus and Ophelestes, Daetor, Chromius and the divine Lycophontes, Amopaon son of Polyaemon and Melanippus. These in turn he brought to earth, and King Agamemnon rejoiced to see him wreaking havoc on the Trojans with his mighty bow. He approached him and said: "Teucer, a man after my own heart, son of Telamon, captain among hosts, shoot and be the salvation of the Danaans and the glory of your father Telamon who created you." . and cared for you in your own house when you were a kid, even though you were a bastard. Cover him with glory even when he is far away; I promise and will surely fulfill; If Jupiter and Minerva, carrying the Aegis, allow me to sack the city of Ilius, you will have next to me the second best prize of honor: a tripod, or two horses with your chariot, or a woman to climb into your bed.

And Teucer answered: “Noble son of Atreus, you need not goad me; From the moment we began driving them back to Ilius, as far as I was concerned, I never stopped looking for men to shoot and kill; I've fired eight barbed arrows and they've all been buried in the flesh of young warriors, but I can't hit that mad dog.

As he spoke, he aimed another arrow directly at Hector, desperate to hurt him; but he missed, and the arrow struck Gorgythion, Priam's valiant son, in the chest. His mother, the fair Castianeira, fair as a goddess, had married Aesyme, and now he bowed his head like a poppy in bloom when the spring rains beset it. Helmet.

Again he aimed at Hector, wanting to hurt him, and again his arrow missed, because Apollo distracted it; but he struck Archeptolemus, Hector's brave charioteer, in the chest, on the nipple, while he was about to fight furiously. The horses turned as he fell off the carriage and there was no life left in him. Hector was very saddened by the loss of his charioteer, but despite the pain he left him where he had fallen and ordered his brother Cebriones, who was nearby, to take the reins. Cebriones obeyed. Hector jumped down from his chariot with a loud cry and, grabbing a large rock, drove straight at Teucer to kill him. Teucer had just taken an arrow from his quiver and fastened it to his bowstring, but Hector caught it with the jagged stone as he took aim and drew the string over his shoulder; it hit him right where the collarbone separates the neck from the chest, a very fatal spot, severed the tendon in the arm causing the wrist to narrow and the bow fell from his hand as he fell to his knees. Ajax saw that his brother had fallen, ran towards him, mounted him and protected him with his shield. Meanwhile his two trusted squires, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor, went up and carried him to the ships, weeping with great pain. He was glad to see that Jupiter encouraged the Trojans again and they drove the Achaeans into their deep trenches with Hector in all his glory at their head. As a hound seizes the flank or rump of a boar or a lion in pursuit, and carefully watches to see if it turns away, Hector followed the Achaeans close on their heels, always killing the last as they advanced in terror. Fleeing through stakes and trenches, and many Achaeans being slain at the hands of the Trojans, they halted in their ships, called to one another and prayed all at once, and raised their hands to the gods; but Hector turned his horses hither and thither, and his eyes shone like those of Gorgo, or the murderer of Mars.

When Juno saw them, she took pity on them and immediately said to Minerva, "Alas, daughter of Jupiter who bears the Aegis, you and I must think no more of the dying Danaans, even if this is the last time we shall do this See them perish and meet a bad end before Hector son of Priam rages with unbearable fury and has already wreaked great havoc.

Minerva replied: “I want this man to die in his own country and fall into the hands of the Achaeans; but my father Jupiter is mad with anger, always frustrating me, always stubborn and unfair. Forget how many times I rescued your son when he was exhausted from the work Eurystheus gave him. He would weep until his cry reached heaven, and then Jupiter would send me to help him; If he had had the common sense to foresee all this when Eurystheus sent him to the house of Hades to look for the hellhound of Erebus, he would never have returned alive from the deep waters of the River Styx. And now Jupiter hates me, made Thetis kiss his knees and grasp his beard as he begged him to honor Achilles. I know what to do next time he starts calling me his gray eyed darling. Prepare our horses while I enter the house of Jupiter, wearing the Aegis, and donning the armour; Then we shall know whether Hector son of Priam will be glad to meet us in the ways of battle, or whether the Trojans will feed dogs and vultures with their fat when the Achaean ships kill them.

Thus spoke he, and white-armed Juno, the daughter of great Saturn, obeyed his words; He prepared to harness his gold-decked steeds, while Minerva, daughter of Jupiter, wearing the Aegis, threw her rich robe, forged with her own hands, over her father's threshold, and donned Jupiter's shirt about herself to arm for battle. Then she mounted her chariot aflame and seized the spear so strong, strong and strong, with which she subdues the ranks of heroes who displease her. Juno whipped their horses, and the gates of heaven roared as the gates that rule the hours, in whose hands are heaven and Olympus, flew open, either to open the dense cloud that conceals them or about them close. Through them the goddesses led their obedient steeds.

But Father Jupiter, seeing her from Ida, was very angry and sent the winged Iris with a message for her. 'Go on,' he said, 'levitate Iris, drive them away and be careful they don't get too close to me, because if we get to the fight there will be damage. That's what I say and that's what I intend to do. I will limp your horses; I will throw you out of your chariot and tear it to pieces. It will take you all ten years to heal the wounds that my ray will inflict on you; My grey-eyed daughter will then learn what it means to argue with her father. I'm less surprised and angry with Juno because everything she says always contradicts me."

With that Iris went swift as the wind from the heights of Ida to the lofty peaks of Olympus. He met the goddesses at the outer gates of their many valleys and gave them his message. "What," she said, "are you doing? You are crazy? Saturn's son forbids to go. That's what he says, and that's what he wants to do: He'll cripple your horses, throw you off your chariot, and tear you to pieces. It will take you ten years to heal the wounds his lightning inflicted on you, so you can learn, grey-eyed goddess, what it means to fight your father. He is less hurt and angry with Juno, because no matter what he says, she always contradicts him, but you brave and courageous without shame, will you really dare to raise your huge spear against Jupiter in defiance?

With that he left her, and Juno said to Minerva: 'Truly, daughter of Jupiter, who bears the aegis, I must no longer wage man-fights against Jupiter. Let them live or die according to fate, and let Jupiter judge the Trojans and Danaus according to his will.

She turned her steeds; The hours took their yokes from them, tied them in their ambrosia cribs, and dragged the cart against the back wall of the yard. The two goddesses then sat on their golden thrones amidst the company of the other gods; but they were very angry.

Then father Jupiter drove his chariot to Olympus and entered the assembly of the gods. The mighty Earthquake Lord unhitched his horses, brought the chariot into position, and covered it with a cloth. So Jupiter sat upon his golden throne, and Olympus staggered beneath him. Minerva and Juno sat alone apart from Jupiter and did not speak or ask him any questions, but Jupiter knew what they meant and said: “Minerva and Juno, why are you so angry? Tired of killing so many of your dear friends the Trojans? Be that as it may, the power of my hands is so great that all the gods of Olympus cannot convert me; both trembled before seeing the battle and their terrible deeds. I tell you then that surely I would have struck you with lightning and your chariots would never have brought you back to Olympus.

Minerva and Juno wailed in spirit as they sat side by side plotting mischief for the Trojans. Minerva sat silently, without saying a word, for she was angry and bitterly indignant against her father; but Juno could not control himself and said: 'What are you talking about, fearsome son of Saturn? We know your power, but we sympathize with the dying warriors of Danaan who meet a tragic end. However, since you have ordered us, we will refrain from actual fighting, but will make useful suggestions to the Argives, lest all perish in their discontent.

And Jupiter answered: "Tomorrow morning, Juno, if you decide to do so, you will see the son of Saturn destroy a large number of Argives, for fierce Hector will not stop fighting until he has awakened the son of Peleus when they fight." in distress at the stern of their ships to the corpse of Patroclus. Whether you like it or not, that's for sure; As far as I'm concerned, you can go to the deepest depths beneath land and sea, where Iapetus and Saturn dwell in lonely Tartarus, without a ray of light or a breath of wind to encourage you until you get there, and I don't give a damn about your displeasure, you are the biggest bitch there is.

Juno didn't answer. The glorious orb of the sun now dipped into the Oceanus and brought night upon the earth. The Trojans repented when the light left them, but darkness fell over the Achaeans, saluting and praying thrice.

Then Hector drove the Trojans from the ships and called a council in an open square near the river where there was a place where corpses lay. They left their carts and sat on the ground to listen to the speech he made to them. She took a spear eleven cubits long, the point of which glowed before her of bronze, while the ring around the spearhead was of gold. Spear in hand spoke. "Listen to me," he said, "Trojans, Dardanians and allies. I now considered destroying the ships and all the Achaeans with them before returning to Ilius, but darkness came too soon. That's all that saved them and their ships on the beach. Well then, let us obey the commands of the night and prepare our supper. Get your horses out of their carts and give them your cornmeal; then hurry to get sheep and flocks out of the city; Also bring wine and grain for your horses and gather plenty of firewood so that we can light bonfires from dusk to dawn, the brightness of which reaches the sky. For the Achaeans may attempt to fly over the sea at night, and are not permitted to board without injury or discomfort; Many men among them will carry a spear to keep at home, pierced by spear or arrow when jumping aboard his ship, lest others fear to bring war and cry out about the Trojans. Also, let heralds speak of the city, which shall encamp upon its heaven-built walls growing youths and grey-bearded men. Have each of the women start a big fire in their house and guard it securely so they can't sneak into town while the army is gone. Lo, brave Trojans, as I have told you, and that is enough now; at daybreak I will instruct you further. I hopefully pray to Jupiter and the gods that we can drive these fated dogs from our land, for it was fate that brought them and their ships here. So let us watch this night, but at dawn let us take up arms and wage fierce war against the ships of the Achaeans; Then will I know whether brave Diomedes son of Tydeus will drive me from the ships to the wall, or whether I will kill him myself and take his bloodstained booty. Let him show his courage tomorrow, use my spear if he dares. I believe that at dawn he will be among the first to fall, and many of his companions will surround him. I would be as sure that I am immortal and never old and revered like Minerva and Apollo as I am sure that day will do harm to the Argives.

Thus spoke Hector, and the Trojans cheered. They took their sweaty steeds from under the yoke and tied them each to his chariot. They rushed to take sheep and cattle out of the city, they also brought wine and grain from their homes, and gathered a lot of firewood. Then they offered the immortals unblemished hecatombs, and the wind carried the sweet smell of sacrifice to heaven, but the blessed gods did not partake, because they bitterly hated Ilius with Priam and Priam's people. So full of hope that they sat on the war roads all night, lighting many bonfires. As when the stars shine and the moon shines, there is no breath of air, no crest, no clearing, no promontory that does not stand out in the indescribable brightness that breaks the serenity of the sky; the stars may be counted and the shepherd's heart rejoices, but the Trojan fires blazed before Ilius halfway between the ships and the river Xanthus. A thousand fires blazed on the plain, and by the light of each fifty men sat while the horses, eating oats and corn beside their wagons, waited till dawn.

Buch IX

SO the Trojans were watching. But panic, the attendant of bloody defeat, gripped the Achaeans, and their princes were all in despair. As when the two winds that blow from Thrace, the north and the north-west, suddenly rise and arouse the anger of the majority in a moment, the dark waves lift their heads and scatter their sea debris in all directions, so were the hearts of the people worried. the Achaean

The son of Atreus, dismayed, commanded the heralds to call the people to a man-by-man conference, but not to cry out the cause; he also hastened to call them, and they sat down in their assembly with sad hearts. Agamemnon shed tears like a stream or a waterfall on a cliff; and so he spoke with many heavy sighs
to the Achaeans "My friends," he said, "princes and counselors of the Argives, the hand of heaven is heavy on me. Cruel Jupiter made me his solemn promise that before my return I would sack the city of Troy, but he deceived me and now commands me to return ingloriously to Argos with the loss of many people. This is the will of Jupiter, who has destroyed many proud cities while he will destroy others because his power is above all. So now let's all do as I say and sail back to our own country, 'cause we're not going to take Troy.

So he spoke, and the sons of the Achaeans sat sadly for a long time, but all were silent, until finally Diomedes answered with a loud war cry and said: "Son of Atreus, I will rebuke your folly, as it is my right to counsel. So don't regret it. First you attacked me in front of all the Danaans and said I was a coward and not a soldier. The Argives, young and old, know you did it. But the son of the scheming Saturn who gave you half gifts. He gave you honor as sovereign chief over us, but he did not give you bravery, which is the supreme of right and power. My lord, do you believe that the sons are of the Achaeans? really not so little warriors and cowards as you say, the rest of us stay here until we sack Troy, besides, even if they return home with their ships too, Sthenelus and I will keep fighting until we reach the goal of Ilius, for heaven was with us upon our arrival.

The sons of the Achaeans applauded the words of Diomedes, and then Nestor rose to speak. 'Son of Tydeus,' he said, 'in war your valor is undoubted, and in council you surpass all your years; none of the Achaeans can take lightly or contradict what you say, but you are not finished yet. You are still young, you may be the youngest of my sons, but you have spoken wisely and prudently advised the chief of the Achaeans; but I am older than you and I will tell you everything”; so let no one, not even King Agamemnon, ignore my words, for whoever stirs up civil war is a clan and heartless outlaw.

"But now let us obey the orders of the night and eat supper, but the sentries shall camp each of them in the ditch outside the wall. I give these instructions to young people; When they are answered, you, son of Atreus, give your commands, for you are the most royal among us all. Prepare a feast for your Advisors; it is right and reasonable for him; In their shops there is a lot of wine, which the ships of the Achaeans bring daily from Thrace. They have everything available to entertain guests and it has many themes. When many gather, they may be led by the one whose advice is wisest, and wise and circumspect advice is much needed, for the enemy has lit his watch fires beside our ships. Who can be more than shocked? Tonight will ruin or save our host.

So he spoke, and they did what he said. The sentries went out with their arms under Thrasymedes son of Nestor, captain of the host, and the valiant warriors Ascalaphus and Ialmenus; there were also Meriones, Aphareus, and Deipyrus, and Kreion's son, the noble Lycomedes. There were seven captains of the posts, and with each went a hundred young men armed with long spears: they stood halfway between the ditch and the wall, and when they did they kindled their fires and gave each man his Dinner.

Then the son of Atreus invited many of the Achaean counselors to his chambers and prepared a great feast in their honor. They laid their hands on the good things they had before them, and as soon as they had enough to eat and drink, old Nestor, whose advice was becoming more and more true, made up his mind first before them. He therefore addressed her in this way in all sincerity and goodwill.

"With you, noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, I will begin and end my speech, for you are king of many peoples. Jupiter has also bestowed upon you the power to wield the scepter and uphold justice so that you may care for your people beneath you. therefore it behooves you above all others to speak and listen and take advice from one who intended to speak wisely. Everything goes against you and your orders, so I'll say what I think is best. From the hour in which you, lord, angered Achilles by fetching young Briseis from her tent against my judgment, no man will have a truer mind than I. I have urged you not to do so, but you have given in to your own pride and dishonored a hero whom Heaven itself honored by still holding the prize bestowed upon you. But now we are considering how we can appease him, both with gifts and with nice words that can reconcile him.

And King Agamemnon answered, "Lord, you have justly rebuked my folly. I was wrong. I have. He whom Heaven befriends is an army himself, and Jupiter has shown that he befriends this man by destroying many Achaean men. I was blinded by passion and giving in to my worst mind; therefore I will make amends and give him great gifts as atonement. I will say them in the presence of all of you. I will give you seven tripods that have not yet gone into the fire and ten talents of gold. I give you twenty iron cauldrons and twelve strong horses that have won races and won prizes. Rich in both lands and gold is he who has as many prizes as my horses have won for me. I give you seven superb workers, lesbians, picked by myself when I conquered Lesvos, all of unsurpassed beauty. These I will give to him, and with them what I took from him before, to Briseo's daughter; and I swear I have never climbed into her bed, nor been with her like men and women.

All this I will give him now, and if henceforth the gods permit me to plunder the city of Priam, let him come, if we Achaeans share the spoils, and load his ship with gold and bronze as he pleases; moreover he takes twenty Trojan wives, the most beautiful after Helen herself. Then when we come to Achaean Argos, richest of all countries, he will be my son-in-law, and I will do him the same honor as my dear son Orestes, who in all abundance is fed. I have three daughters, Chrysothemis, Laodice, and Ifianasa, that, at her option, she may bring freely and without gifts to the house of Peleus; I will add a dowry such as no man has ever given his daughter, and I will give her seven well-established towns, Cardamyle, Enope, and Hire, where there is grass; sacred Pherae and the rich meadows of Anthea; Also Epea and the vine-covered slopes of Pedasus, all close to the sea and on the edges of sandy Pylos. The men living there are rich in cattle and sheep; They will honor him with gifts as if he were a god and obey his convenient ordinances. I will do all this if he forgets his anger now. Then give up. Only Hades is absolutely implacable and unyielding and therefore the most hateful of all gods for mankind. Also, I'm older and more real than him. So obey me now

Then Nestor answered: "Noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon. The gifts you offer are not small, so let us send chosen messengers who can go to the tent of Achilles son of Peleus without delay. Leave aside the ones I will quote. Let the phoenix, darling of Jupiter, lead the way; Let Ajax and Odysseus follow, and let the heralds follow Odio and Eurybates. Now bring water to our hands and ask everyone to be silent while we pray to Jupiter, son of Saturn, for mercy.

So he spoke, and his words pleased them greatly. The servants poured water into the hands of the guests, while the pages filled the bowls with wine and water and distributed them, after offering each their libation; When they had offered their sacrifices and everyone had drunk as much as they wanted, the messengers left the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus. and Nestor, looking first at one and then at the other, but chiefly at Odysseus, was quick to assert himself against the noble son of Peleus.

They walked along the shore of the Sea of ​​Resonance and fervently prayed to Neptune, who was orbiting the earth, that the high spirit of the son of Aeacus would be kind to them. When they reached the ships and tents of the Myrmidons, they found Achilles playing a lyre, beautiful, well made, and its cross piece was of silver. It was part of the spoils he had taken when he sacked the city of Eetion, and now he reveled in it and sang of the heroes' deeds. He was alone with Patroclus sitting across from him and saying nothing, waiting for him to stop singing. Odysseus and Ajax now entered Odysseus, opened the way and stood in front of him. Achilles jumped up from his seat, lyre still in hand, and Patroclus rose when he saw the strangers. Then Achilles greeted them with the words: "Hail and welcome! Great difficulties must lie ahead for you, you who, despite my anger, are still my favorite among the Achaeans.

With these words he led them forward and ordered them to sit on chairs covered with purple carpets; then he said to Patroclus who was standing beside him: “Son of Menoetius, put a larger bowl on the table, mix less water with the wine and give each their cup, for these are very dear friends who are now under my command . " . Roof."

Patroclus did as his comrade commanded him; He put the block in front of the fire and put on it the back of a sheep, the back of a goat, and the back of a fat pig. Automedon held the flesh while Achilles cut it; then he cut the pieces and put them on skewers while the son of Menoetius kept the fire high. When the flame was out he spread out the coals, put the skewers on them, lifted them up and put them on the skewers; and sprinkled them with salt. When the meat was roasted, he laid it on platters and spread the bread across the table in handsome baskets while Achilles distributed portions to them. Thus Achilles sat opposite Odysseus on the far wall and commanded his comrade Patroclus to offer sacrifices to the gods; so he threw the offerings into the fire, and they laid hands on the good things that were before them. As soon as they had enough to eat and drink, Ajax made a sign to Phoenix, and seeing this, Odysseus filled his goblet with wine and promised Achilles.

'Hail,' he said, 'Achilles, we have not yet fainted, either in Agamemnon's tent or here; there was enough to eat and drink, but our thoughts are not on the subject. Sir, we are facing a great catastrophe and without your help we don't know if we will save or lose our fleet. The Trojans and their allies encamped near our ships and near the wall; They have lit fires throughout their army and now believe nothing can stop them from swooping down on our fleet. In addition, Jupiter sent its rays to the right; Hector, in all his glory, rages like a madman; Confident that Jupiter is with him, he fears neither God nor man, but has gone mad and prays that the day is near. He swears that he will rend the high sterns of our ships, set their hulls on fire, and devastate the Achaeans while they are dazed and choked with smoke; I greatly fear that Heaven will repay their boasting, and our lot will be to perish in Troy, far from our home in Argos. Rise therefore, and though it is late, save the children of the Achaeans who are fainting at the wrath of the Trojans. From now on you will regret it bitterly if you don't, because once the damage is done there is no healing; Think before it's too late and save the Danaans from annihilation.

"My good friend, when your father Peleus sent you from Phtia to Agamemnon, he did not send you there saying: 'Son, Minerva and Juno will strengthen you if they will, but control your temper, for the greater part is good Willing? . Avoid vain quarrels, and the Achaeans, old and young, will respect you all the more for it. Those were his words, but you forgot them. But calm down now and let go of your anger.

Agamemnon will make amends if you forgive him; Listen and I will tell you what he said in his tent, which he will give you. He will give you seven tripods that have not yet gone into the fire and ten talents of gold; twenty iron cauldrons and twelve strong horses that have won races and won prizes. Rich in land and gold is he who has as many prizes as these horses have won for Agamemnon. In addition, he will give you seven excellent workers, lesbians, of incomparable beauty, which he himself selected when you took over Lesvos. These he will give you, and with them those whom he took from you before, the daughter of Briseus, and he will swear a great oath: He never climbed into her bed, nor was he with her like men and women. All this he will give you now, and when the gods henceforth plunder Priam's city, you may come, if we Achaeans share the spoils, and load your ship with gold and bronze as you please. You can take twenty Trojan wives, the most beautiful after Helen herself. So when we come to Achaean Argos, richest of all countries, you will be his son-in-law, and he will honor you as his beloved son Orestes, richly fed. Agamemnon has three daughters, Chrysothemis, Laodice and Ifianasa; You can bring the one of your choice to Peleo's house freely and without gifts; he will add to the booty such a dowry as no man ever gave to his daughter, and he will give her seven well-established cities, Cardamyle, Enope, and Hire, where there is grass; holy Pheras and the rich meadows of Anthea; Epea and the vine-covered slopes of Pedasus are also nearby.
the sea and on the borders of sandy Pylos. The men living there are rich in cattle and sheep; They will honor you with gifts as if you were a god and obey your convenient ordinances. All of this will suffice if you forget your anger now. Even if you hate him and his gifts with all your heart, pity the rest of the Achaeans pursued by your army. They will honor you as a god and you will gain great glory from their hands. You can even kill Hector; he will come within his reach because he is in love, and he explains that not even a Danaan brought by ships can fight back against him.

Achilles replied: "Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, I must tell you clearly and with all firmness that there shall be no more such flattery, from wherever it may come. I hate him like the gates of hell who says one thing and hides another in his heart; so i will say what i mean. I will not be appeased by Agamemnon son of Atreus, nor by any other of the Danaans, for I see that I have no gratitude for all my struggle. Those who fight are no better than those who don't; the coward and the hero have equal honor, and death treats the working man and the idle man alike. I never took anything in my hands for all my troubles with my life; Like a bird that when it finds a piece, carries it to its young and can hardly turn itself, so man, I've lain up long nights and fought many bloody battles during the day with those who fought for you women. I took twelve cities with my ships, and eleven about Troy I attacked on land with my men; I took much wealth from each of them, but I gave it all to Agamemnon son of Atreus.
He stayed where he was with his ships, but of what he came he gave little and kept much.

“It is true that he distributed some gifts of honor among the princes and kings, and they still have them; only from me, from the Achaeans, did he take the woman I liked to keep and lie with her. Why would the Argives fight the Trojans? What caused the son of Atreus to gather and bring the army? Wasn't it because of Helen? Are the sons of Atreus the only men in the world who love their wives? Any man of normal righteousness will love and cherish his, as I do this woman with all my heart, even if she were but the fruit of my spear. Agamemnon took it from me; He cheated on me; I know him; Try me no more 'cause it won't move me. May he listen to you, Odysseus, and the other princes, lest their ships be burned. He's already done a lot without me. He built a wall; He dug a deep and wide ditch around it and marked it there; but it still doesn't stop Hector's deadly power. While I was fighting the Achaeans, Hector endured the field of battle not far from the city walls; He would reach the Gates of Scaean and the Oak, but no further. Once he rose to meet me and narrowly escaped my attack; but now, as I am in no mood to fight him, tomorrow I shall sacrifice to Jupiter and all the gods; I will put my ships in the water and then take care of them properly; If you will look tomorrow morning you will see my ships on the Hellespont and my men rowing out to sea with might and main. If great Neptune grants me safe passage, I shall be in Phtia in three days. I have left much behind when I came hither to mourn, and I will bring back still more stores of gold and red copper and fair women and iron, my share of the booty we have made; but a price which he impudently gave he took away. Tell him all that I command you now, and tell him openly that the Achaeans hate him and might beware of him if he thinks he can still deceive others, because his impudence never fails him.

As for me, bloodhound that I am, he dare not look me in the face. I will not take any advice from him or share anything with him. He has wronged me enough and betrayed me, he will betray me no more; let him go his way, because Jupiter stole his sanity. I hate his gifts and I don't give a shit about him anyway. He can offer me ten or even twenty times what he has now, even if it is all he has in the world, now and forever; You can promise me the wealth of Orchomenos, or of Thebes in Egypt, the richest city in the world because it has a hundred gates through which two hundred men can pass at once with their chariots and horses; He may offer me gifts such as the sands of the sea or the dust of the plains in abundance, but he will not move me until he has fully avenged the bitter wrong he has done me. I will not marry your daughter; She may be beautiful like Venus and cunning like Minerva, but I want nothing from her: to be taken by another, to be worthy of her, and to rule a greater kingdom. If the gods allow me to return home, Peleus will find me a wife; there are Achaean women in Hellas and Phthia, daughters of kings who have cities under their command; I can take whoever I want and marry them. When I was at home in Phtia I often thought of courting and marrying a woman who would make me a suitable wife and enjoy the riches of my aged father Peleus. My life is dearer to me than all the riches of Ilius while it was at peace before the Achaeans came thither, or all the treasures that lie in the stone floor of the Temple of Apollo beneath the cliffs of Pytho. It takes cattle and sheep to hunt them, and a man buys tripods and horses if he wants, but once his life leaves him he can no longer buy them or hunt them.

“My mother Thetis tells me that there are two ways I can reach my end. If I stay here and fight, I won't come back alive, but my name will live forever; whereas when I go home my name will die, but it will be a long time before death takes me. Then I say to the rest of you, 'Go home, because you're not taking Ilius.' Jupiter put his hand on them to protect them, and their people cheered. So go, as if you were bound, and tell the princes of the Achaeans the message I sent them; Tell them to find another plan to save their ships and people, because as long as my anger persists, what they have now found may not exist. As for Phoenix, let him sleep here so he can sail with me in the morning if he wants. But I won't take it by force."

All were silent, horrified at the severity with which he had denied them, until the old Phoenix Knight, in his great anxiety for the ships of the Achaeans, burst into tears and said: 'Noble Achilles, if you are now ready to turn back, and in the anger of your Anger you will do nothing to stop the ships from burning, how, my son, can I stay here without you Peleus, your father, asked me to go with you when he sent you as a mere boy out of Phtias to Agamemnon "You knew nothing of war, or of the arts which the men of the council excel in, and he has sent me with you to instruct you in all excellence in word and deed. Therefore, my son, I will not be here without you. "Nay, if Heaven itself condescended to rob me of my years and make me young, as when I left Hellas, the land of fair women. , with whom he was in love to the detriment of his wife, my mother. So my mother , he incessantly begged me to lie to the woman herself, lest she hate my father, and in the course of time I gave in that no son of mine could sit on his knees, and the gods, the god of the world below and the terrible Proserpina, fulfilled her curse. I followed the advice to kill him, but some god curbed my audacity and bade me think of the gossip of men and how I could be branded my father's murderer: yet I could not bear to remain in my father's house , with him so bitter against me. My cousins ​​and clan members surrounded me and pushed me hard to stay; too many sheep and many oxen they sacrificed, and many fat pigs they roasted over the fire; many jars also opened with my father's wine. For a full nine nights they guarded me in shifts and always kept a fire burning, both in the cloister of the forecourt and in the inner courtyard by the doors of the room where I was; but when the darkness of the tenth night fell, I passed through the locked doors of my chamber and scaled the wall of the forecourt, having passed swiftly and unseen by the guards and servants. Then I fled through Hellas until I reached fertile Phthia, mother of the sheep, and King Peleus, who welcomed me and treated me as a father treats his only son, who will be heir to all his wealth. He enriched me and put me above many people, establishing me in the borders of Phtia, where I was the supreme ruler of the Dolopen.

“It was I, Achilles, who fashioned you; I loved you with all my heart: for not eating at home or when you went somewhere else, until I put you on my knees, cut the tasty bite you wanted to eat and held the glass of wine. to your lips Many times you've drooled your wine in a baby's swoon
my shirt; I had endless troubles with you, but I knew Heaven had given me no offspring of my own, and I made you a son, Achilles, so that you would protect me in my time of need. So now I say fight your pride and conquer it; do not harbor your anger forever; the power and majesty of heaven are greater than ours, but even heaven can be appeased; and when a man has sinned, he prays to the gods and atones them with his cries and with incense, with drink offerings and the savor of burnt offerings. Because prayers are like daughters of great Jupiter; lame, wrinkled, wide-eyed they step in the footsteps of sin, which, wild and swift on foot, leaves them behind and ever devastating to mankind, overpowering them to the ends of the world; but still prayers come limping and healing afterwards. If a man takes pity on these daughters of Jupiter when they approach him, they will bless him and also listen to him when he prays; but when he denies them and does not listen to them, they go to Jupiter son of Saturn and pray that he may fall into sin now and suffer bitterly in the future. Therefore, Achilles, pay due homage to these daughters of Jupiter, and bow to them as all good men bow. If the son of Atreus offered you no gifts and then promised others if he were still angry and implacable, it would not be me who would command you to put your anger aside and help the Achaeans as much as they need it ? ? but he gives much now and more in the future; he has sent his captains to meet your demand, and has chosen those most agreeable to you of all the Argives; therefore do not make your words and your coming null and void. Her anger has been appropriate so far. We hear in songs how the heroes of the past fought furiously, but they could still be won with gifts, and kind words could appease them.

"I have an old story in my head, very old, but you are all friends and I will tell it. The Curetes and Aetolians fought and killed each other over Calydon, the Aetolians defended the city and the Curetes tried to destroy it. For Diana, seated on the golden throne, was angry and hurt her because Eneo had not offered her the firstfruits of his harvest. All the other gods were treated to hecatombs, but only the daughter of the great Jupiter did not make a sacrifice. He had forgotten or somehow escaped it, and that was a grave sin. Then the arch goddess, in her displeasure, sent against him an amazing creature, a boar with large white tusks, which wreaked great havoc on the lands of his orchard, uprooting blossoming apple trees and throwing them to the ground. But Meleager son of Oineus fetched hunters and hounds from many cities, and slew him, because he was so monstrous that not a few were needed, and many put him on their pyres. Upon this, the goddess set up the curettes and Aetolians, who fought furiously for the boar's head and skin.

“While Meleager was in the field things went badly for the curettes, and notwithstanding their numbers they could not hold their ground under the city walls; but in time Meleager grew angry, as even a wise man can sometimes be. He was disgusted with his mother Althea and therefore stayed at home with his wife, the beautiful Cleopatra, who was the daughter of Marpessa, daughter of Eunus, and Ides, the man then living. It was he who took his bow and faced King Apollo himself for the beautiful Marpessa; Her father and mother then named her Alcyone because her mother wept at the plaintive tones of the Alcyon bird as Phoebus Apollo carried her away. Meleager therefore stayed at home with Cleopatra and nurtured the anger he felt at his mother's curses. His mother, saddened by the death of her brother, prayed to the gods and struck the earth with her hands, invoking Hades and the terrible Proserpina; She knelt, her chest heaving with tears as she prayed they would kill her son and Erinys, who walks in the dark, unaware that Ruth heard her from Erebus.

"Then the noise of battle was heard around the gates of Calidon, and the rumble of blows against its walls. Then the elders of the Aetolians besought Meleager; They sent their high priest and asked him to come to their aid and promised him a great reward. They asked him to select fifty plough-gates, the most fertile in the plains of Calydon, half vineyard and the other open plough. The ancient warrior Eneo begged him, stood in the doorway of his room and knocked on doors imploringly. His sisters and his own mother besought him fervently, but he refused them all the more; His comrades, who were closest and dearest to him, also prayed to him, but they could not move him until the enemy reached the doors of his chamber, and the curettes scaled the walls and set the city ablaze. Finally, his grieving wife described the horrors that befall those whose city is taken; she reminded him of men being killed and the city bursting into flames while women and children are taken prisoner; Hearing all this, his heart was touched and he put on his armor to go out. Thus, by his own inner movement, he saved the city from the Aetolians; but now he received none of the rich rewards which had previously been offered to him, and though he saved the city he received nothing in return. No, my son, think so; do not let heaven lure you to such a course. As ships burn, it becomes more difficult to save them. Take the gifts and go, for the Achaeans will honor you as a god; If you fight it without taking it, you can win the battle, but you won't have the same honor.

And Achilles answered: "Phoenix, old friend and father, I need no such honor. I have the honor of Jupiter himself, who will remain with me in my ships as long as I breathe in my body and my limbs are strong. I say more, and put my word in your heart, do not bother me with these weeping and wailing, all for the sake of the son of Atreus. Love him so much and you could lose the love I have for you. Rather, you must help me trouble those who trouble me; Be king as much as I am, and share the same honor with myself; the others will accept my answer; stay here and sleep comfortably in your bed; at dawn we will decide whether to stay or go.”

With that, she silently nodded to Patroclus as a sign that she would prepare a bed for Phoenix and the others should leave. Ajax son of Telamon then said: “Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, let us go, for I see our journey is in vain. Now we must take our answer, even if it doesn't go down well, to the Danaans who hope to receive it. Achilles is fierce and relentless; He is ruthless and doesn't care about the love his teammates have for him more than anyone else. He is implacable, and yet if a man's brother or son is slain, he will accept a fine in reparation from him who slew him, and the wrongdoer, having paid in full, has peace among his own people; But as for you, Achilles, the gods have placed an evil and unforgiving spirit in your heart, and all for the sake of a girl, while we now offer you the best seven we have and much more. So be kinder, respect the hospitality from your own rooftop. We are with you as messengers of Danaan's host, and I wish he had you nearer and dearer than all the Achaeans.

"Ajax," replied Achilles, "noble son of Telamon, you have spoken much to my delight, but my blood boils when I think of all this, and I remember how the son of Atreus treated me with insults as if I a Vile Vagabond, even in the presence of the Argives. So go and deliver your message, say that I shall not endeavor to fight till Hector, noble Priam's son, comes in his murderous course to the tents of the guards, and pours fire upon their ships. For all his fighting spirit, he will probably be contained in my own tent and ship.

With that, each took his double cup, made his libations, and returned to the ships, Odysseus at the head. But Patroclus ordered his men and maids to prepare a comfortable bed for Phoenix; so they made it with sheepskins, a blanket, and a sheet of fine linen. So the old man lay down and waited for it to get light. But Achilles slept in an inner chamber, and with him the daughter of Phorbas, the beautiful Diomedes, whom he had taken from Lesbos. Patroclus lay across the room and with him the beautiful Ifis, whom Achilles had given him when he had taken the city of Aeneus from Cyrus.

When the messengers arrived at the tents of the son of Atreus, the Achaeans arose, pledged them in cups of gold, and began to interrogate them. King Agamemnon was the first to do this. Tell me Odysseus, he said, will he save the ships from burning or will he be destroyed, and is he still angry?

Odysseus replied: "Noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Achilles does not calm down, but is more angry than ever and despises you and your gifts. He orders you to confer with the Achaeans to save the ships and army as best you can. he himself said to launch his ships at daybreak. He also said that he should advise everyone to return home the same way so that they would not reach Ilius' goal. "Jove," he said, "put his hand on the city to protect it and people took heart." That's what he said, and others who have been with me can tell the same story, Ajax and them both heralds, both trustworthy men. The old phoenix slept where he had to sleep, for Achilles wanted it that way, so that he could go home with him in the morning if he wished; but he will not take it by force.

They were all silent, sitting in silence for a long time, dismayed at the severity with which Achilles had rejected them, until Diomedes said, "Noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, you should not have done that." accused the son of Peleus or offered him gifts. He's proud enough, and you've encouraged his pride even more. Let him stay or go as he pleases. He will fight later when he feels like it, and Heaven will send him for it. Well then, let's all do as I say; We've eaten and drunk our fill, so let's rest, because in rest there is strength and strength. But when the beautiful morning with the rosy fingers appears, immediately lead your army and cavalry in front of the ships, spur them on and fight among the first.

So he spoke, and the other chiefs approved of his words. So they made their libations, and each went to his own tent, where they lay down and enjoyed the favor of sleep.

Buch X

The other princes of the Achaeans slept soundly all night, but Agamemnon son of Atreus was restless and could not rest. As when the lord of fair Juno sends his thunderbolts as a sign of great rain, or hail, or snow, when snowflakes whiten the ground, or as a sign that he will open the wide jaws of a hungry war, so Agamemnon hurled many heavy ones. He sighed. for his soul trembled within him. As he gazed across the plain of Troy he marveled at the many fires burning before Ilius and at the sound of whistles and whistles and the murmur of men, but as he turned to the ships and hosts of the Achaeans he realized . She tore her hair in heaps before Jupiter on high and moaned loudly from the inner restlessness of her soul. In the end he thought it best to go to Nestor son of Neleus at once and see if they could find a way among them for the Achaeans to escape. So he got up, put on his shirt, tied his sandals on his beautiful feet, threw over his shoulders the skin of a huge tawny lion, a skin that reached down to his feet, and took up his spear.

Menelaus could not sleep either, for it was also a bad omen for the Argives, who had sailed from distant seas to fight the Trojans because of him. He wrapped his broad back in the hide of a spotted panther, placed a bronze helmet on his head, and gripped his spear in his muscular hand. So he went to wake up his brother, by far the most powerful of the Achaeans, and the people worshiped him as a god. He found him at the stern of his ship, already putting his beautiful clothes on his shoulders and very happy for his brother's arrival.

Menelaus spoke first. 'Why,' he said, 'my dear brother, are you arming yourself like this? Will you send one of our comrades to scout out the Trojans? I am very afraid that no one will do this service for you and spy on the enemy alone in the dark of night. It will be an act of great daring.

And King Agamemnon answered: Menelaus, we both need wise advice to save the Argives and our ships, for Jupiter has changed his mind and is more inclined to Hector's sacrifices than ours. I have never seen or heard of a man wreaking such ruin in one day as Hector has now wreaked upon the sons of the Achaeans, and that too on his own account, for he is neither son of god nor goddess. The Argives will regret this long and deeply. So quickly run down the ship line and call Ajax and Idomeneus. In the meantime I will go to Nestor and order him to rise and go between the companies of our posts to give them his orders; they will hear him before all others, because his own son and Meriones, the brothers in arms of Idomeneus, are their captains. In particular, we have given this order to them”.

Menelaus replied, "How can I understand what you mean? Shall I stay with them and await their arrival, or shall I return here once they have given their orders? "Wait," answered King Agamemnon, "for there are so many paths around the camp that we could get lost. Call all the men in your path and tell them to move; Call him after his lineage and after his father's name, give each full titular obedience, and care not too much for his own dignity; we must shoulder our full share of the work, for Jupiter laid this heavy burden on us at birth.

With these instructions, he sent his brother away and overtook Nestor, the shepherd of his people. He found him sleeping in his tent beside his own ship; his fine armor was beside him, his shield, his two spears, and his helm; next to it was also the shining girdle with which the old man girded himself when he armed himself to lead his people into battle, because his age did not prevent him from doing so. He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at Agamemnon. "Who is it," he said, "that walks alone and in the dark of night over armies and ships when people are asleep? Are you looking for one of your mules or a companion? Don't just stand there and say nothing, speak. What's your business?"

And Agamemnon answered: Nestor son of Neleus, glory to the Achaean name, it is I, Agamemnon son of Atreus, upon whom Jupiter has laid toil and pain, while breath is in my body and my limbs support me. So I am far away because sleep does not reach my eyelids, but my heart is heavy because of the war and the danger of the Achaeans. I'm very afraid for the Danaans. I am at sea and without sure advice; my heart is beating like it's about to jump out of my body and my limbs are giving way. So if there's something you can do because you can't sleep either, let's go around and see if they're tired from work and sleeping from dereliction of duty. The enemy is in dense camp and we don't know it, but they can attack us at night."

Nestor replied: “Very noble son of Atreus, king of men, Agamemnon, Jupiter will not do for Hector all that Hector thinks he can do; He will still have many problems when Achilles gets rid of his anger. I will go with you and we will raise others, be it the son of Tydeus or Odysseus or the swift Ajax and the brave son of Phileo. Someone had better go and call Ajax and King Idomeneus too, for their ships are not near but farthest of all. But I can't help but blame Menelaus, much as I love and respect him, and I will say so clearly, even at the risk of offending him by sleeping and letting him do all the work. I should ask all the princes of the Achaeans for help, because we are in great danger.

And Agamemnon answered, "Lord, you may rightly blame him at times, because he is often careless and will not exert himself, not from laziness or carelessness, but because he looks at me and expects me to take the initiative. This time, however, he woke up before me and came to me of his own accord. I've already sent for the same men you named. And now let's move on. We'll meet them at the guard at the gates, because, as I said, that's where we'll meet them.

'In that case,' replied Nestor, 'the Argives will not blame him or disregard his orders when he admonishes them to fight or gives them orders.

With that he put on his shirt and tied his sandals on his beautiful feet. He buttoned his purple cloak, twice thick, tall and rough and hairy, grasped his terrible spear with bronze horseshoes, and struggled along the line of the Achaean ships. First he called loudly to Odysseus, the pair of gods in council, and woke him up, for he was soon awakened by the sound of the war-cry. He came out of his tent and said: Why are you walking around the camp alone, following the line of ships in the middle of the night? What do you find so urgent? And Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered: Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, do not take it amiss, for the Achaeans are in great trouble. Come with us and let's wake up someone else who can give us good advice on whether we should fight or flee.

With that, Odysseus immediately entered his tent, shouldered his shield, and went with them. First they went to Diomedes son of Tydeus, and found him outside his tent in his armor, while his comrades slept about him, using their shields for pillows; As for their spears, they stood erect on the tips of their arrows stuck in the earth, and the burnished bronze shone in the distance like Father Jupiter's lightning. The hero slept on an ox-skin, with a piece of fine carpet under his head; Nestor walked over to him and kicked him awake, scolding him and urging him to move. "Wake up," he cried, "son of Tydeus. How can you keep sleeping like this? Don't you see that the Trojans are encamped high up on the plain near our ships, with very little space between us and them?

With these words, Diomedes immediately jumped up and said: “Old man, your heart is iron; You never rest from your work for a moment. Are there not young men among the Achaeans who can awaken princes? There is no tiring.

And Nestor Knight of Gerene made him answer: "My son, everything you said is true. I have good children, and also many people who could name chiefs, but the Achaeans are in grave danger; Life and death are balanced like a razor blade. So go, for you are younger than I, and by your courtesy awaken Ajax and the nimble son of Phileo.

Diomedes threw the skin of a large, tawny lion over his shoulders, a skin reaching to his feet and holding his spear. When he raised the heroes, he brought them with him; Then they turned away the guards and found the captains not asleep at their posts but awake and sitting with their arms around them. Like shepherd dogs herding their flocks, when in the yard and hearing an animal coming toward them through the mountain forest, immediately there is a riot and a cry of dogs and men, and the dream is interrupted as sleep flees. before the eyes of the Achaeans they kept vigils of the notorious night, for whenever they heard movement among the Trojans they turned steadily toward the plain. The old man was glad they were in a good mood. "Be careful, my children," he said, "and do not fall asleep, lest our enemies triumph over us."

With that the ditch passed, and with it the other chiefs of the Achaeans who had been called to the council. Meriones and the brave son of Nestor also went because the princes commanded them to do so. Passing the ditch dug around the wall, they found themselves in an open field where there was a corpse-free space, for here Hector retreated from his attack on the Argives at nightfall. . So they sat down and talked to each other.

Nestor spoke first. "My friends," he said, "is there anyone daring to venture out on the Trojans and cut off any stragglers, or do we have news of what the enemy is up to, whether they stay here on ships far from the city or yes, now that they have vanquished the Achaeans they will retire within their walls.If he could learn all this and return hither safely, his glory would be heaven-high in the mouths of all men, and he would be richly rewarded ; for the chiefs of all our ships would give him a black sheep with his lamb, which is a gift of unsurpassed value and would be requested as a guest at all feasts and clan meetings.

All fell silent, but Diomedes spoke with a loud war-cry: "Nestor, I will gladly visit the Trojan army at our head, but if another goes with me, I will do so with greater confidence and comfort. When two men are together, one of them can see an opportunity that the other doesn't; when a man is alone he is less resourceful and his mind is weaker."

With that, several have voluntarily agreed to go with Diomed. The two Ajaxes, servants of Mars, Meriones son of Nestor, and also Menelaus son of Atreus wanted to go; Odysseus also wanted to go to the Trojan army because he was always full of boldness, and there spoke Agamemnon, the king of men, thus: "Diomedes," said he, "son of Tydeus, a man after my heart, choose your comrade , take for yourself the best man of those you have offered, for many would now go with you. Reject not the best out of tenderness, and accept the worst out of respect for his lineage, for he is of more royal blood."

He said this because he feared for Menelaus. Diomedes replied: “If you ask me to choose the man of my own choice, how can I not think of Odysseus in this case, that there is no man more eager to face all kinds of dangers, and Pallas Minerva him loves so much? If he were with me we would surely walk through the fire itself, for he sees and understands quickly."

"Son of Tydeus," replied Odysseus, "speak neither good nor bad of me, for you are one of the Argives who know me well." Come on, night is falling and dawn is near. The stars have come out, two thirds of the night has passed and we only have a third left.

Then they don their armor. The valiant Thrasymedes furnished the son of Tydeus with sword and shield (for he had left his own in his ship), and put on his head a helm of bullskin without point or crest; It is called a skullcap and is a common head covering. Meriones found a bow and quiver for Odysseus, and put on his head a leather helmet lined with a strong plait of leather thongs, and stuffed on the outside with boar's tusks, well and skillfully fitted; Next to the head was a felt lining. This helmet was stolen from Eleon by Autolycus when he broke into the house of Amyntor son of Ormenus. He gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to take to Scandea, and to Amphidamas as a hostess to Molus, who gave it to his son Meriones. and now it was put on the head of Odysseus.

Arming themselves, the two left, leaving the other bosses behind. Pallas Minerva sent them a heron into the street on their right; they couldn't see him because of the darkness, but they heard his scream. Odysseus rejoiced at this and implored Minerva: "Hear me," he cried, "daughter of Jupiter who wears the aegis, you who search all my ways and who are with me in all my needs; Make me a friend in this hour, and grant us to return to the ships covered with glory, having accomplished a great deed that torments the Trojans.

Then also the loud war-cry Diomedes prayed: “Hear me also,” he said, “Jupiter's daughter, tirelessly; stay with me as with my noble father Tydeus when he went to Thebes as a messenger of the Achaeans. Leaving the Achaeans on the banks of the river Aesop, he went into the city with a message of peace to the Cadmeans; When he returned from there, he performed great deeds of daring with your help, O Goddess, for you were his intelligent helper. So guide and protect me now, and in return I will offer you a year-old broad-browed heifer, undamaged and never united by men. I will gild its horns and offer it to you as a sacrifice.

So they prayed and Pallas Minerva heard their prayer. When they had finished praying to the daughter of the great Jupiter, they walked like two lions roaming the night among the armored and bloodied bodies of the fallen.

Hector didn't let the Trojans go back to sleep either; for he also called the princes and advisers of the Trojans to present his advice to them. "Is there any," he said, "who, for a great reward, can render me the service I am telling you about?"
let him be found on the ships of the Achaeans, if he dare; and he will, moreover, attain infinite glory; he must go to the ships and find out if they are still guarded as before, or if the Achaeans, now that we have defeated them, intend to flee and are so exhausted that they forget to keep their guards.

They were all silent; but among the Trojans was a man named Dolon, the son of Eumedes, the famous herald, a man rich in gold and bronze. He was ugly but a good runner and the only child of five sisters. It was he who now turned to the Trojans. 'I, Hector,' he said, 'love ships and will blow them up. But first raise your scepter and swear to give me the chariot, the bronze robe, and the horses that now carry the noble son of Peleus. I will make you a good scout and I will not disappoint you. I will traverse the army from end to end until I reach Agamemnon's ship, where I will take him. The princes of the Achaeans now consider whether to fight or flee.

When he had finished speaking, Hector raised his scepter and swore to him, saying: "May Jupiter, the thundering husband of Juno, testify that no Trojan other than you shall ride these steeds, and that your will is with them forever." will have. .”

The oath he took was useless, but Dolon wanted to go even more. He slung his bow over his shoulder and wore the pelt of a gray wolf like a monkey, with a ferret-skin cap on his head. So he took a sharp spear and left the camp to the ships, but he was not to return to Hector with news. Having left the horses and troops, he hastily set out, but Odysseus saw him coming and said to Diomedes: “Diomed, someone from the camp is here; I'm not sure if he's a spy or a thief who would plunder the bodies of the dead; let him pass us a bit, then we can jump on him and catch him. However, if he is too fast for us, hunt him down with your spear and take him to the ships leaving the Trojan camp to prevent him from returning to the city.

Saying this, they made every effort to lie down among the corpses. Dolon, suspecting nothing, soon passed them, but when he came into the distance, where a furrow plowed by mules beats a furrow plowed by oxen (for mules can plow the tilled earth quicker than oxen), they hurried after him in steps he stopped in his steps, for he was sure they were friends from the Trojan camp who had come at Hector's command to tell him to turn back; however, when they were a javelin throw or less from him, he saw that they were enemies as fast as his legs could carry him. The others at once gave chase, and as two well-behaved dogs pursued a deer or a hare that ran screaming before them, so the son of Tydeus and Odysseus pursued Dolon and separated him from his own people. . But when he had fled so far to the ships that would soon have fallen with the outposts, Minerva infused new strength into the son of Tydeus, fearing that another Achaean might gain the glory of beating him first, and he himself might it's only the second; so he lunged forward with his spear and said, "Get up, or I'll throw my spear, in which case I'll finish you off."

He threw as he spoke, but intentionally missed the target. The arrow flew over the man's right shoulder and then hit the ground. He stood there trembling and very afraid; his teeth chattered and he blanched with fear. The two, out of breath, came up to him and grabbed his hands, at which point he began to cry and said, “Take me alive; I will redeem myself; we have much gold, bronze, and wrought iron, and my father will satisfy you with a very large ransom, knowing that I live on the ships of the Achaeans.

"Fear not," replied Odysseus, "don't think of death; but tell me, and tell me the truth, why do you go alone from your camp and to the ships in the middle of the night while other men sleep? Is it to loot the bodies of the dead, or did Hector send him to spy on what's going on on the ships? Or did you come here based on your own imagination?

Dolon answered, his limbs trembling beneath him: "Hector has lured me beyond my better knowledge with his flattering vain promises. He said he would give me the horses of the noble son of Peleus, and his chariot decked with bronze; He ordered me to cross the darkness of the flying night, approach the enemy and find out if the ships are still protected as before, or if the Achaeans, after we have defeated them, intend to flee and from sheer tiredness their watches are slowing down.

Odysseus smiled at him and replied, "You must have a great reward in mind, but the horses of the descendant of Aeacus can scarcely be held by the hand or driven by any mortal other than Achilles himself, whose mother was an immortal." . . But tell me, and tell me the truth, where did you put Hector when you started? Where is your armor and your horses? Also, how are the guards and rooms of the Trojans arranged? What are your plans? Will they stay here with the ships and stay away from the city, or will they retreat within its walls after defeating the Achaeans?

And Dolon replied: "I really will tell you everything. Hector and the other council members are now holding a conference at the Monument to the Great Illus, away from the general commotion; As for the guards you are asking me about, there is no guard that has been chosen to watch over the army. Trojans have their fire because they have to; they are therefore awake and doing their duty as watchmen; but the allies who have come from elsewhere sleep and let the Trojans wake, for their wives and children are not here.

Ulises then said: 'Now tell me; Do they sleep among Trojan troops or are they apart? Explain that to me so I can understand.

"I'll tell you everything," Dolon replied. “Toward the sea are the Karians, the Paeonian archers, the Leleges, the Caucasus, and the noble Pelasgians. The Lysians and the proud Mysians with the Phrygians and the Meonians have their place on the Timbra side; but why ask for it? If you want to find your way to the Trojan army, there are the Thracians who have recently arrived here and are separated from the rest on the other side of the camp; and they have Rhesus the son of Eioneus as their king. Their horses are the best and strongest I have ever seen, whiter than snow and faster than any wind that blows. His chariot is adorned with silver and gold, and he has brought with him his marvelous armor of gold, of the rarest workmanship, too rich for any mortal to wear, and unique to the gods. Well then, take me to the ships or tie me here until you come back and prove my words true or false.

Diomedes gave him a stern look and replied, "Don't think, Dolon, despite all the good information you've given us, that now that you're in our hands you'll flee unless we rescue you or you go you will arrive eventually.. time for the ships of the achaeans, be it as a spy or an open enemy, but if i kill you and finish you off, you won't cause any more trouble.

Dolon would have grabbed his beard to beg for more, but Diomedes struck him square in the neck with his sword, severing both tendons so that his head fell rolling in the dust as he spoke. The ferret fur hat has been removed from his head, as have the wolfskin, bow, and long spear. Odysseus hung them up in honor of Minerva, goddess of plunder, and prayed: "Accept these, goddess, for we give them to you before all the gods of Olympus: therefore hasten even more for the horses." and the sleepers. ". Soil of the Thracians.

With these words he took the spoils and placed them in a tamarisk tree, and they marked the spot by uprooting reeds and gathering branches from tamarisk trees lest they lose them if they returned in the flying hours of darkness. The two advanced through fallen armor and blood, and soon joined the company of Thracian soldiers sleeping, weary from the day's work; his fine armor lay on the ground beside them, all arranged in three rows, and each man had his team of horses at his side. Rhesus slept in the middle, and beside him his horses were tied to the top edge of his chariot. Odysseus saw him from afar and said, “This, Diomedes, is the man, and these are the horses, that Dolon told us about that we killed. Do everything you can; Don't waste time on your armor, release the horses immediately, or kill the men yourself while I tend to the horses.

Then Minerva gave Diomedes courage in his heart, and he struck her right and left. They groaned horribly as they were cut, and the ground turned red with their blood. As a lion leaps furiously at a flock of sheep or goats when it cannot find its shepherd, so the son of Tydeus charged the Thracian soldiers until he killed twelve. While he was killing them, Odysseus came and lifted them off the ground one by one so the horses could roam freely without being afraid when they walked over the corpses because they weren't used to them yet. When the son of Tydeus came to the king, he killed him too (making him thirteen) because he was breathing heavily because, on Minerva's advice, a nightmare, the Seed of Aeneus, was hovering over his head that night. Meanwhile, Odysseus untied the horses, tied them up and chased them away by hitting them with his bow for forgetting to take the whip out of the chariot. Then he whistled as a sign for Diomedes.

But Diomedes stayed where he was, wondering what other daring feat he could accomplish. He was in doubt whether to take the chariot in which were the king's arms, and lift it by the pole, or to lift the arms and carry them away; or whether he shouldn't kill a few more Thracians. When he hesitated, Minerva approached him and said, "Go back, Diomedes, to the ships or you will be taken there when another god awakens the Trojans."

Diomedes knew it was the goddess and immediately jumped onto the horses. Odysseus hit them with his bow and they flew towards the Achaean ships.

But Apollo was not blinded when he saw Minerva with the son of Tydeus. He was angry with them and when he reached the Trojan army he awoke Hippocoön, an adviser to the Thracians and a noble relative of Rhesus. He was awakened from his sleep and saw that the horses were no longer in place and the men were panting in their agony; Then he groaned loudly and called his friend by name. Then the whole Trojan camp was in an uproar as the people ran and marveled at the deeds of the heroes who had now gone to the ships.

When they reached the spot where Hector's scout had been slain, Odysseus reined in his horses, and the son of Tydeus sprang to the ground, placed the bloodstained booty in Odysseus' hands, and mounted again: then whipped the horses forward. it flew towards the ships as if by itself. Nestor was the first to hear the sound of her feet. "My friends," he said, "princes and counselors of the Argives, am I right or wrong? but I must say what I think: it is a sound in my ears like the step of horses. I hope that Diomedes and Odysseus will bring back horses from the Trojans, but I very much fear that the bravest of the Argives has suffered harm at their hands.

He had scarcely finished speaking when the two men entered and dismounted, whereupon the others happily shook hands and congratulated them. Nestor Caballero de Gerene was the first to question her. "Tell me," he said, "exalted Odysseus, how did you both get these horses?" Did you infiltrate the Trojan troops or did a god find you and give you? They are like sunbeams. I know the Trojans well, for though I am an ancient warrior I have never stood beside ships, but I have never seen or heard of such horses as these. Surely some god must have found you and given you, for both are dear to Jupiter and Minerva, daughter of Jupiter.

And Odysseus answered: Nestor son of Neleus, honor the Achaean name, heaven can give us even better horses than these, if it pleases, for the gods are much mightier than we. But these horses, ask me, are newcomers from Thrace. Diomedes slew his king with the twelve bravest of his companions. Very close to the ships we picked up a thirteenth man, a scout whom Hector and the other Trojans had sent to spy on our ships.

He laughed as he spoke and led the horses across the ditch while the other Achaeans followed happily. Reaching the stout chambers of Tydeus' son, they tied the horses with leather straps to the manger where the steeds of Diomedes were eating corn, but Odysseus hung Dolon's bloodstained booty from the stern of his ship that they might prepare a holy sacrifice for Minerva. They went into the sea and washed the sweat from their bodies, from their necks and thighs. When the sea water washed away all the sweat and refreshed them, they went to the baths and washed. After preparing it and anointing themselves with oil, they sat down at the table and drank from a full bowl and made a libation of wine to Minerva.

Buch XI

And now, as Dawn rose from her bed beside Tithonus, Herald of Light to mortal and immortal alike, Jupiter sent forth fierce discord to the ships of the Achaeans, banners of war in hand. He stopped by the huge black hull of Odysseus' ship, which was the center of it all, so his voice could carry on to either side, to the tents of Ajax son of Telamon on one side and to the other that of Achilles for these two heroes, sure of his own strength, had boldly stationed his ships at either end of the line. There he rose and uttered a loud and shrill cry, which gave courage to the Achaeans and encouraged them to fight resolutely and with all their might, so that they stayed there and fought rather than return home with their ships. .

The son of Atreus cried out loudly, commanding the Argives to prepare for battle while he donned his armour. First he girded his beautiful leggings about his legs and fastened them to his ankles with silver buckles; and around his chest he put the breastplate that Cinyras had once given him as a gift. The rumor spread to Cyprus that the Achaeans were sailing to Troy, so he gave it to the king. It had ten rows of dark cyan, twelve of gold, and ten of pewter. There were blue-green serpents reaching to the neck, three on each side, like the rainbows that the son of Saturn placed in the sky as a sign for mortal men. On his shoulders he threw his gold-inlaid sword; and the scabbard was of silver with a golden chain for hanging. He still took the rich dark shield that covered his body when he was in a fair fight to see, with ten circles of bronze running around him see wit. On the body of the shield were twenty projections of white pewter, with one in dark cyan in the centre: the last was made to show the head of a gorgon, wild and fierce, with defeat and panic on either side. The armband was silver, above which was a coiling turquoise serpent with three heads protruding from a single neck, darting into each other. Agamemnon donned a helm, with a visor front and back, and four feathers of horsehair looming over it; then he seized two awesome spears clad in bronze, and the luster of his armor shot from him like a flame in the firmament, while Juno and Minerva thundered in homage to the rich Mycenae's king.

Each man now left his horses, under the command of his charioteer, to keep ready in the trench while he rode into battle on foot in full armour, and a mighty tumult arose at dawn. The chiefs were armed and in the trench before the horses arrived, but they arrived at once. The son of Saturn sent a bad omen upon his army, and the dew fell red with blood, for he was about to send many mighty men to Hades.

The Trojans gathered on the other side of the rising slope of the plain around the great Hector, the noble Polydamas, Aeneas, who was worshiped as immortal by the Trojans, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybius, Agenor and the young You love beauty . like a god's round shield appeared Hector in the first rank, and like an evil star shining for a moment through a gap in the clouds, and sinking again beneath them; so Hector found himself now in the front and now in the back, and his bronze armor shone like the lightning of Jupiter bearing the Aegis.

And now, as a company of reapers gathers wheat or barley in a rich man's land, and the sheaves fall close before them, so the Trojans and the Achaeans rushed in; They didn't want to give in, but they fought like wolves and neither side could defeat the other. Discord was happy to see her as she was the only goddess among them; the others were not there, but each stayed quietly in his own house among the valleys and gorges of Olympus. They all accused the son of Saturn of wanting to live out the victory of the Trojans, but father Jupiter paid them no heed: he kept aloof from all and sat aloof in his glorious majesty, gazing upon the city of the Trojans, the ships of the Achaeans , the splendor of bronze, and the same with murderers and dead.

Now, as the day grew longer and it was still morning, their arrows rained heavily on one another and people died, but as the time drew near when a woodcutter working in a mountain forest received his lunch because he was hewn to death. hands are tired; he is tired and needs food now, so with a cry that echoed through all his ranks, Danaos broke the enemy battalions. Agamemnon led them and killed first Bienor, a chief of his people, and then his companion and charioteer Oileus, who jumped down from his chariot and came to him; but Agamemnon struck him on the forehead with his spear; his bronze visor was useless against the weapon, which pierced bronze and bone, hitting his brain and dying in battle.

Agamemnon stripped off their shirts and left them shirtless where they had fallen. Then he killed Isus and Antiphos, two sons of Priam, one a bastard, the other born in wedlock; They rode in the same chariot driven by the bastard, while noble Antiphus fought at his side. Achilles once took the two captives in the clearings of Ida and bound them as they grazed with fresh willows, but begged a ransom for them; but now Agamemnon son of Atreus struck Isus with his spear in the breast above the nipple, while striking Antiphos hard in the ear and throwing him from his chariot. He immediately took off her beautiful armor and recognized her as he had seen her on the ships when Achilles brought her from Ida. Just as a lion seizes the fawns of a deer and crushes them with his great jaws and robs them of their tender life when he returns to his den, so the deer can do nothing for her though it is near, for she is in fear of death . out of fear. , and flies sweating and at full speed through the middle of the forest in front of the mighty monster, so that no man could help the Trojans Isus and Antiphos, for they themselves flew in panic from the Argives.

Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus, Pisander and the brave Hippolochus. It was Antimachus who first prevented Helen from being brought back to Menelaus, having been badly bribed by Alexander; and now Agamemnon was taking his two sons, both in the same chariot, and trying to stop their horses, because they had lost the reins, and the horses were going mad with fear. The son of Atreus sprang at them like a lion, and the couple entreated him from their chariot. "Take us alive," they cried, "Son of Atreus, and you will have a great ransom for us. Our father Antimachos has a great deal of gold, bronze and wrought iron, and with that he will satisfy you with a very large ransom when he discovers that we live on the Achaean ships.

With such pathetic words and tears they begged the king, but received no pathetic answer. "Yes," said Agamemnon, "you are the sons of Antimachos, who once at a council of Trojans suggested that Menelaus and Odysseus, who came to you as ambassadors, be killed and not return, now you will pay for yours." heinous injustice from your father.

As he spoke, he knocked Pisander off his chariot and struck him in the chest with his spear, causing him to fall face down on the ground. Hippolocus fled, but Agamemnon wounded him too; he cut off his hands and head, causing him to roll through the crowd like a ball. There he made the two lie down, and where the ranks were thickest he flew away, while the other Achaeans followed him. The foot soldiers let the enemy foot soldiers flee and killed them; the riders did the same to the riders, and the thunderous step of the horses raised a cloud of dust from the plain. King Agamemnon followed them, always killing them and encouraging the Achaeans. As when a great forest is ablaze, the whirling gusts hurling fire in all directions until the thickets wither and are consumed by the bursting flames, so the heads of the flying Trojans fell before Agamemnon son of Atreus and many noble fellows of the Rosse pulled an empty carriage across the driverless warways that lay on the plain, more useful now to the vultures than to their wives.

Jupiter drove Hector out of arrows and dust, with carnage and the noise of battle; but the son of Atreus went on, and vigorously called the Danaans. They flew past the tomb of old Ilo son of Dardanus, in the middle of the plain, and out over the place of the wild plane tree, always carrying the son of Atreus into the city, still screaming and with blood on his hands. ; but when they reached the Skaean gates and the oak tree, they halted and waited for the others to come up. Meanwhile, the Trojans were still flying across the plain like a herd of cows gone mad with fear, when a lion attacked them in the dead of night, pounced on one of them, seized his neck with his strong teeth, and then licked them. their blood and entrails stuffed full, then king Agamemnon son of Atreus pursued the enemy, always killing the last while they fled from him. Many men were thrown from their chariots at the hands of the son of Atreus, because he drove his spear in anger.

But just as he was about to reach the high wall and the city, the father of gods and men descended from heaven and, lightning in hand, sat on the peak of Ida with many springs. He then told Golden Winged Iris to take a message for him. "Go," he said, "go to Iris and tell Hector that while he sees Agamemnon leading his men and ravaging the Trojan ranks, he must keep his distance and ask the others to bear the brunt of the fall." battle, but if Agamemnon is wounded by spear or arrow, and takes his chariot, I will give him strength to kill till he reaches the ships and night falls at sunset.

Iris listened and obeyed. Descending from the heights of Ida to the mighty Ilius, he found Hector son of Priam standing by his chariot and horses. Then she said: "Hector son of Priam, pair of gods in council, father Jupiter has sent me to bring you this message, when you see Agamemnon leading his men and rampaging through the ranks of the Trojans, you must stand aside and the others ask Take the worst part of the battle but if Agamemnon is herido by launching or arrow and taking his chariot then Jupiter will give you the power to kill until you reach the ships and until you get into the night fall, Bajada do Rio. Sol."

With that said, Iris left him, and Hector, fully armed, sprang down from his chariot and brandished his spear as he charged far and wide through the army, urging his men to fight, and instigating the terrible struggle of the battle. Then the Trojans turned back and met the Achaeans again, while the Argives in turn reinforced their battalions. The fight was alright now and they faced each other, Agamemnon always moving forward in his eagerness to get ahead of everyone else.

Tell me now, Muses who dwell in the mansions of Olympus, who of the Trojans or their allies was the first to confront Agamemnon? He was Ifidamas son of Antenor, a brave man of great stature, brought up in fertile Thrace, mother of sheep. Cisses, his mother's father, raised him in his own home as a child. Cisses, father of the beautiful Teano. When he reached manhood Cisses would have kept him there, and it was to give him his daughter in marriage, but as soon as he was married he set out to fight the Achaeans with twelve ships that followed him: these he had left at Percote and he had come overland to Ilius. It was he who met Agamemnon son of Atreus. When they were close together, the son of Atreus missed his mark, and Iphidamas struck him in the girdle beneath his breastplate, and then threw himself upon him, relying on the strength of his arm; the girdle, however, was not pierced even by a long shot, for the point of the spear struck silver, and was deflected like lead: King Agamemnon snatched it from his hand and, in his lion's fury, drew him to himself; So he drew his sword and killed Ifidamas by hitting him in the neck. And there lay the poor man, asleep a bold sleep, slain in defense of his fellow-citizens, far from his wife, for whom he had not been happy, though he had given much for her: he had given a hundred head of cattle, and later promised to give a thousand sheep and mixed goats from the innumerable flocks he owned. Agamemnon son of Atreus undressed him and brought his weapons to the Achaean army.

When the noble raccoon, Antenor's eldest son, saw this, his eyes were sad to see his fallen brother. Unseen by Agamemnon, he fell sideways, spear in hand, and caught him in the middle of the arm below the elbow, piercing the arm with the tip of the spear. Agamemnon spasmed in pain, but even for this he did not stop fighting and fighting, but took his spear, which flew as fast as the wind, and jumped on Raccoon, who was trying to take the body of his brother, his father's son, to tug. at the foot, and cried out for help from all the brave of his comrades; but Agamemnon struck him with a bronze spear, and slew him as he dragged the corpse through the crowd under the protection of his shield: then he cut off its head, and stood over the body of Iphidamas. So the sons of Antenor found their fate in the hands of the son of Atreus and went down to the house of Hades.

While the blood was still hot from his wound, Agamemnon charged the enemy ranks with spear and sword and with large handfuls of stones, but when the blood stopped and the wound dried up, the pain increased. As the severe pains which the Eilithuiae, goddesses of childbirth, daughters of Juno and givers of cruel pain, inflict on a woman in labor, so severe were the pains of the son of Atreus. He jumped into his chariot and, being in great distress, ordered his driver to the ships. In a loud and clear voice he called to the Danaans: "My friends, princes and advisors of the Argives, defend the ships yourself, for Jupiter has not allowed me to fight the Trojans all day long."

With that the coachman directed his horses to the ships, and they flew away without difficulty. Their chests were white with foam and their bellies with dust as they led the wounded king out of battle.

When Hector saw Agamemnon leaving the field, he called to the Trojans and Lycians, saying: Trojan warriors, Lycians and Dardanians, be men, my friends, and be valiant in battle; her best man left her, and Jupiter brought me a great triumph; Charge the enemy with your cars. you can attain even greater fame.”

With these words he laid heart and soul in them, and as a hunter sets his hounds against a lion or a wild boar, so Hector, peer of Mars, pursued the proud Trojans against the Achaeans. Full of hope he dived among the first and rushed into the fray like a mighty storm that breaks on the sea and lashes its deep blue waters with fury.

What then is the full story of those whom Hector son of Priam killed in the hour of triumph that Jupiter then bestowed upon him? First Asaeus, Autonomous and Opites; Dolop's son by Clitio, Ofelcio and Agelao; Aesynus, Orus, and Hipponous steadfast in battle; Hector slew these Achaean chiefs and then fell on the troops. As when the west wind pushes the clouds from the white south, and casts them down with the fury of its rage, the waves of the sea rise and the foam rise in the rage of the wandering wind, so thick were the heads of those who fell at Hector's hand.

All was then lost and helpless, and the Achaeans would have fled to their ships en masse had not Odysseus called to Diomedes, "Son of Tydeus, what has happened to us that we have so forgotten our art? Come my good friend stand by me and help me, we'll be ashamed forever when Hector takes over the ships.

And Diomedes answered: “Whatever happens, I will stand firm; but we shall have little pleasure in it, for Jupiter is ready to give victory to the Trojans in our place.

With these words he threw Thymbraeus from his chariot and wounded him in the left breast with his spear, while Odysseus slew his squire Molion. These left them alone after they stopped fighting; The two heroes continued to ravage the enemy like two wild boars rampaging and tugging at the dogs pursuing them. So they attacked and killed the Trojans, and the Achaeans were grateful for a respite from their flight from Hector.

Then they took two princes with their chariot, the two sons of Merops of Percote, who excelled above all others in the art of divination. He forbade his sons to go to war, but they disobeyed him because fate led them to perdition. Diomedes son of Tydeus killed them both and stripped them of their armor while Odysseus killed Hippodamus and Hypeirochus.

And now the son of Saturn, looking down from Ida, commanded that neither side should have the advantage, and they proceeded to kill each other. The son of Tydeus pierced Agastrophus son of Paeon in the hip joint with his spear. His chariot was not available for him to fly, so blind had he been in confidence. Her squire took care of her at a distance and she fought on foot among the first until she lost her life. Hector soon realized that Diomedes and Odysseus were wreaking havoc and with a loud cry charged towards them, followed by the Trojan ranks; the brave Diomedes was terrified at the sight of them and said to Odysseus, who was by his side: “The great Hector will throw himself upon us, and we will be destroyed; Let us stand firm and await his coming.”

As he spoke, he raised his spear and hurled it, not missing the mark. She had aimed for Hector's head near the top of his helmet, but the bronze turned to bronze and Hector was unharmed when the spear was stopped by the three-plate visored helmet Phoebus Apollo had given him. Hector sprang back under the cover of the ranks in a great bound; he fell to his knees and braced himself on the ground with one muscular hand, for darkness had fallen in his eyes. The son of Tydeus, after throwing his spear, ran among the first warriors to the place where he saw it fall to the ground; Meanwhile, Hector recovered and jumped back into his chariot, which mingled with the crowd, saving his life. But Diomedes attacked him with his spear and said: "Dog, you escaped again, although death was at your heels. Phoebus Apollo, to whom I pray before you go into battle, has saved you again, but I will find and kill him in the future if there is a god who is on my side and helps me. For now I have to go after the ones I can get my hands on.

As he spoke he began to snatch his prey from the son of Paeon, but Alexandrus, the husband of the beautiful Helena, aimed an arrow at him and leaned against a pillar of the monument dedicated to Ilus, son of Dardanus, a man In the olden days Diomedes had taken the breastplate from Agastrophus' chest, his heavy helmet and shield from his shoulders, when Paris drew his bow and shot an arrow, which not in vain went out of his hand, but Diomedes's abode pierced . right foot, cross and fix on the floor. Then Paris, with a hearty laugh, sprang from his hiding place and taunted him, saying: “You are wounded, my arrow was not shot in vain; I wish I could have punched you in the stomach and killed you, because then the Trojans, who fear you like goats fear lions, would have a break from evil!

Undaunted, Diomedes answered: "Archer, you who are nothing without your bow, slanderer and seducer, if you were to fight in full armor in single combat, bow and arrow would be of little use to you. Your bragging about scratching the soles of my feet is in vain. I don't care any more than if a stupid girl or boy hit me. A useless coward can only inflict a light wound; If I hurt a man, even if it just grazes his skin, that's another matter, because my gun will cut him down. Your wife will tear her face in pain and your children will be orphaned; There he will rot and stain the earth red with his blood, and vultures, not women, will gather around him.

Then he spoke, but Ulysses approached and stood over him. Under this blanket he sat down to remove the arrow from his foot, and the pain he suffered was great. So he jumped into his car and ordered the carter to take him to the boats because he had a heart condition.

Ulysses was alone now; None of the Argives supported him as they were all frightened. Ah, he said to himself in dismay, what will become of me? It's bad when I turn around and face the odds, but it gets worse when they leave me alone and capture me because the Son of Saturn terrorized the rest of the Danaans. But why talk to me like that? I know full well that even when cowards leave the field, a hero wounded or injured must stand firm and defend himself.

While he was so indecisive, the ranks of the Trojans advanced and surrounded him, and came at me bitterly. Like hounds and strong young men attacking a wild boar coming out of its den, sharpening its white tusks, they attack you from all sides and you can hear the crunch of their jaws, but for all their ferocity they hold their ground anyway a lot of anger... Just like the trojans. Attack Ulysses. First he threw a spear in his hand at Deiopites, and struck him in the shoulder with a downward blow; so he killed Thoon and Ennomus. After this he struck Chersidamas in the loins under his shield, just as he had jumped down from his chariot; then he fell to dust and grasped the earth in the palm of his hand. Leaving them alone, he proceeded to smite Carops son of Hippasus, brother of the noble Socus himself. Punch, the hero that he was, hastened to his aid, and when he was near Odysseus he said: 'Famous Odysseus, insatiable for cunning and work, you boast today that you killed the two sons of Hippasus and took their weapons from them . , or you will fall before my spear.

With these words he struck Odysseus' shield. The spear pierced the shield and his richly carved breastplate, tearing the flesh of his side, but Pallas Minerva would not allow it to pierce the hero's entrails. Odysseus knew his time was not yet, but he gave in and said to Socus, "You wretched one, now you will surely die. You prevented me from fighting the Trojans any further, but now you will fall by my spear and praise me and your soul to Hades of noble steeds.

Socus had turned in mid-air, but as he did so the spear struck him in the back, mid-shoulder, piercing his chest. He fell heavily to the ground, and Odysseus boasted that he said: "O Soco, son of Hippasus, horse tamer, death was too quick for you, and you have not escaped it: poor wretch, not even in death did your father and mother, close your eyes, but ravenous vultures will circle you with their dark wings and devour you, while even if I fall, the Achaeans will give me my due funeral rites.

Saying this, he drew the heavy spear of Socus from his flesh and shield, and blood spurted out as the spear was drawn back, so that he was greatly dismayed. When the Trojans saw that Odysseus was bleeding, they gave a great cry and rushed to him; so he yielded and called his companions to help him. Thrice he cried out as loud as a man can weep, and thrice brave Menelaus heard him; Then he turned to Ajax, who was beside him, and said: Ajax, noble son of Telamon, captain of thy people, the cry of Odysseus echoes in my ears, as if the Trojans had cut him down and would strike him while he was is a man. let's go through the crowd; it will be good for us to defend it; I fear he could suffer damage to his full worth if left unsupported and he will be sorely missed by the Danaans."

He went ahead and the mighty Ajax went with him. The Trojans rallied around Odysseus like wild jackals hungry for the carcass of a horned stag struck by an arrow, the stag fled while its blood was hot and its strength lasted, but when the arrow defeated they devoured it in the wild jackals dark clearings of the forest. Then the sky sends there a wild lion, over which the jackals fly in terror and the lion steals their prey, so many Trojans and brave men also gathered around the cunning Odysseus, but the hero kept them at bay and kept them at bay with his spear . Then Ajax rose with his shield like a wall in front of him and stood nearby, whereupon the Trojans fled in all directions. Menelaus took Odysseus by the hand and led him out of the crowd while his squire drew up his chariot, but Ajax rushed furiously at the Trojans and killed Doriclus, a bastard son of Priam; then he struck Pandocus, Lysandrus, Pyrasus, and Pylartes; Like a swollen torrent that flows in full tide from the mountains to the plain, great with rain from the sky, many dry oaks and many pines it devours, and much mud it throws down and throws into the sea, so valiantly Ajax pursued enraged the enemy through the plain, killing men and horses.

Hector still did not know what Ajax was doing, for he was fighting on the far left in the battle on the banks of the River Scamander, where the carnage was thickest and the battle cry loudest for Nestor and the brave Idomeneus. Among them, Hector, with his spear and mad dash, caused a great slaughter, destroying the ranks that opposed him; However, the Achaeans would not have yielded if Alexander, the husband of the beautiful Helena, had not prevented the exploits of Machaon, the shepherd of his people, by wounding him in the right shoulder with a three-pronged arrow. The Achaeans greatly feared that the Trojans might arrest him as soon as the fighting turned against them, and Idomeneus said to Nestor: “Son of Neleus, Nestor, honor the name of the Achaeans, get into your chariot at once; take Machaon and get your horses to the ships as fast as you can. A doctor is worth more than many other men combined, for he can cut arrows and distribute medicinal herbs.

Nestor, knight of Gerene, did as Idomeneus advised; He immediately got into his chariot and Machaon, son of the famous doctor Asclepius, rode with him. He whipped his horses and they flew towards the ships no less of their own accord.

Then Cebriones, seeing the confused Trojans, said to Hector from his seat beside him: 'Hector, here we two fight on the extreme wing of the battle, while the other Trojans are in disorder, they and their horses. Ajax son of Telamon leads them before him; I know him by the breadth of his shield: let us ride our chariots and horses where cavalry and infantry fight most desperately and where the battle cry is loudest.

With that he whipped his good steeds, and when they felt the whip they dragged the chariot at full speed between the Achaeans and Trojans, over the bodies and shields of the fallen: the axle was spattered with blood, and the railing around the chariot. it was covered with spray from the horses' hooves and tires. Hector broke and fell in the heat of battle, and his presence confused the Danaans, for his spear was not long idle; Though he traversed the ranks with sword and spear and hurled great stones, he avoided Ajax son of Telamon, for Jupiter would have been angry with him had he fought a better man than himself.

Then father moved Jupiter from his high throne in fear into the heart of Ajax, so that he stood as if in a trance, throwing back his shield, looking anxiously at the crowd of his enemies as if it were a wild beast, and turning away .if from here after there, but squatting. slowly back. While the peasants with their dogs chase a lion from its enclosure and keep vigil at night to prevent it from snatching the best of its pack, it makes its greedy leap, but in vain, for the spears of many strong hands fall to the ground . .around him hard. flaming torches that frighten him with all their fury, and when morning comes he runs away in frustration and anger, so much so that Ajax, much against his will, retreated in anger from the Trojans, fearing for the ships of the Achaeans. Or like a lazy donkey that has many sticks broken on its back, when it goes into a field and begins to eat, the corn boys beat it, but it is too much for them, and though they lie down with their sticks they can it doesn't hurt him.; When he is satisfied, however, he is finally driven from the field, and so the Trojans and their allies pursued the great Ajax, always striking the center of his shield with their spears. From time to time he would turn and show combat, holding off the Trojan battalions, and then withdrawing again; but prevented one of them from going to the ships. He stood only halfway between the Trojans and the Achaeans: the spears that flew from his hands trapped some of them in his mighty shield, while many, though thirsty for his blood, fell to the ground before reaching him could. your light meat

So when Eurypylus, the valiant son of Euaemon, saw that Ajax was defeated by a hail of arrows, he approached him and threw his spear at him. He struck Pisaón, son of Fausius, in the liver below the stomach and knocked him out. Eurypylus sprang at him and removed the armor from his shoulders; but when Alexandrus saw him, he aimed an arrow at him, which wounded him in the right thigh; the arrow broke, but the point that remained in the wound dragged on the thigh; he therefore fell back for his life under the protection of his comrades, and cried out as he did to the Danaans: 'My friends, princes and advisers of the Argives, join the defense of Ajax, which is being defeated, and I doubt if he will get out of the fight alive, so come and save the great Ajax son of Telamon.

So he cried when he was hurt; Then the others closed in and gathered around him, shields slung over their shoulders for cover. Ajax then walked towards them and turned to keep clear once he reached his men.

So they fought like a flame of fire. Meanwhile Neleo's mares, all soapy with sweat, dragged Nestor out of the fight and with him Machaon, the shepherd of his people. Achilles saw and knew it, for he stood at the stern of his ship and watched the hard effort and the struggle of the battle. He called from the ship to his comrade Patroclus, who heard him in the tent and came out looking like Mars himself; here indeed was the beginning of the evil that now beset him. "Why," he said, "do you call me Achilles? what do you want from me? Achilles replied: "Noble son of Menoetius, a man after my own heart, I think I will now make the Achaeans pray on their knees, for they are in big trouble; Go, Patroclus, and ask Nestor who it is that is bringing the wounded from the field; From behind I would tell it was Machaon son of Aesculapius, but I couldn't see his face because the horses passed me at full speed.

Patroclus did as his dear comrade asked and hurried past the ships and tents of the Achaeans.

When Nestor and Machaon arrived at the tents of the son of Neleus, they dismounted and a squire, Eurymedon, led the chariot horses. The couple then stood in the sea breeze to wipe the sweat from their shirts and when they were done they went inside and sat down. The beautiful Hecamedes, which Nestor had given him of Tenedos when Achilles took her, bewildered her; She was the daughter of the sage Arsinoo, and the Achaeans gave her to Nestor because he was the best in council. First he set them a beautiful and well-made table, which had blue-green feet; on it was a bronze vessel and an onion to flavor the drink, with honey and barley cakes. There was also a goblet of rare craftsmanship which the old man had brought from home, set with gold inlays; it had four handles, each grazing with two golden doves, and it had two feet for standing. Few would have been able to lift it off the table when it was full, but Nestor managed it easily enough. With this the woman, fair as a goddess, mixed them in a concoction with Pramnian wine; with a brass grater he grated the goat's cheese, poured in a handful of white barley flour and, having thus prepared the dish, ordered them to drink. When they had done this and quenched their thirst, they began to talk, and at that moment Patroclus appeared at the door.

When the old man saw him, he sprang up from his seat, took him by the hand, led him into the tent, and begged him to take his place among them; but Patroclus stayed where he was, saying: 'Noble sir, I cannot stay, you cannot persuade me to come in; He who sent me is not an easy man, and he sent me to ask who was the wounded man whom you brought from the field. Now I can see for myself that he is the Machaon shepherd of his people. I have to go back and tell Achilles. You, sir, know what a terrible man you are, and how willing to blame even when there should be no blame.

And Nestor answered, "Why should Achilles care how many Achaeans can be defeated? He cares not for the dismay that reigns in our army; Our brave chiefs lie crippled, brave Diomedes son of Tydeus is wounded; as well as Odysseus and Agamemnon; Euripylus was wounded in the thigh by an arrow, and I have just brought this man from the field, he was wounded by an arrow too; But Achilles, brave as he is, doesn't care and doesn't know the truth. Will you wait until whatever we do the ships are on fire and we die to each other? As for me, I no longer have the strength or stay within myself; I'd like to be as young and strong as I was when we and Elis' men quarreled about stealing cattle. Then I slew Itymoneus, the valiant son of Hypeirochus, a resident of Elis, while he was carrying away the spoil; he was hit by a spear thrown into my hand as he was fighting in the front row in defense of his cows, after which he fell and the peasants around him were very frightened. We took much booty from the plain, fifty oxen and as many flocks of sheep; also fifty herds of swine, and as many herds of goats. We also took one hundred and fifty horses, all of them mares, and many had foals with them. We had brought all these by night to Pylus, the city of Neleus, and brought them into the city; and the heart of Neleus rejoiced that I had taken so much, though it was my first time in the field. At dawn the heralds went out and cried that all Elis who owed a debt must come; and the leading Pillians gathered to share the spoils. There were many to whom the Epics owed personal goods, for we men of Pylus were few and oppressed by injustice; Years ago Hercules came and laid his hands on us so all our best men died. Neleus had twelve sons, but I was the only one left; the others were killed. The Epics, who boasted of all this, despised us and did us much harm. My father chose a flock of cows and a large flock of sheep, three hundred in all, and took their shepherds with him, as he owed him a great debt at Elis, four horses, which were rewarded. They and their chariots went with them to the games and were about to run after a tripod, but King Augeas caught them and sent back his driver, mourning the loss of his horses. Resentful of what he had said and done, Neleus received a great deal in return, but he shared the remainder so that no one was left with less than their full share.

“So we arranged everything and offered sacrifices to the gods throughout the city; but three days later the Epeans came in droves, many in number, they and their chariots, in full formation, and with them the two Moliones in their arms, though still boys and accustomed to battle. Now there is a certain people, Thryoessa, enthroned on a rock by the river Alfeo, the frontier town of Pylus; They wanted to destroy it and encamped around it, but when they had traversed all its plain, Minerva came down from Olympus like an arrow in the night and commanded us to form ourselves; and he found willing soldiers on Pylos, for men should fight. Neleus wouldn't let me arm and hide my horses because he said he still couldn't know about the war; However, Minerva arranged the battle so that, since all was on foot, I fought between our mounted forces, competing with the first of them. There is a river Minyeius, which flows into the sea near Arene, and there the horsemen (and I with them) waited until morning, when the infantry companies came in force with us. From there, with all the gear and equipment, we reached the sacred waters of Alpheus around noon, and there we made sacrifices to Almighty Jupiter, Alpheus a bull, Neptune another, and Minerva a cow. After that we ate in our company and, each in our armor, lay down on the river bank to rest.

"The Epeans besieged the city and were determined to take it, but before that could happen, a desperate battle awaited them. When the sun's rays fell on the earth, we went into battle and prayed to Jupiter and Minerva, and when the battle began, I was the first to kill my husband and lead his horses, that is, the warrior Mulius. He was the son-in-law of Augeas after marrying his eldest daughter, Agamede the golden-haired, who knew the virtues of all the herbs that grow on the surface of the earth. I met him as he came towards me and as he landed headfirst in the dust I jumped into his carriage and took my place in the front rows. The Epeans fled in all directions, when they saw the captain of their cavalry, the best man they had, struck down, and I rushed towards them like a whirlwind, carrying fifty chariots and in each of them two men biting the dust , killed by mine I should have killed Actor's two Moliones sons unless their real father, Neptune, Earthquake Lord, hid them in thick fog and dragged them out of battle. Then Jupiter gave the Pyli a great victory, for we pursued them across the plain, killing the men and bringing their weapons till we brought our horses to Buprasium, rich in wheat, and the Olenian rock, with the hill called Alsion, back then Minerva pushed the people back. There I killed the last man and left him; So the Achaeans brought their horses from Buprasios to Pylos, giving thanks to Jupiter among gods and Nestor among mortals.

"So was I among my companions, as true as ever, but let Achilles keep all his worth to himself; henceforth he will regret it bitterly if the Host is dismembered. My good friend, did not Menoetius command you on the day he sent you from Phtia to Agamemnon? Ulises and I were at home, inside, and we heard everything he told you; for we reached the beautiful house of Peleus, while recruiting throughout all Achaia, and when we got there we found Menoetius and you, and Achilles with you. The old knight Peleus was in the court roasting the thick femurs of a heifer for Jupiter, the lord of thunder; and he held in his hand a golden cup, from which he poured a drink offering of wine over the burnt offering. They were both busy shearing the heifer, and by that time we were at the gate, where Achilles got up, led us into the house by the hand, sat us down, and gave us the hospitable reception that guests have. wait. . When we had eaten and drunk our fill, I gave my opinion and invited them both to join us. You were smart enough to do that and those two old men accused you very, very badly. Old Peleus commanded his son Achilles always to fight among the first and among his equals, while Menoetius, son of the actor, thus spoke to you: "My son," he said, "Achilles is of nobler birth than you. , but you older than you." him, though he is by far the better man of the two. Advise him wisely, lead him on the right path, and he will follow you for his own benefit. So your father commanded you, but you forgot; but tell all this to Achilles now if he wants to hear you. Who knows, but by heaven's help you can persuade him, for it is good to take a friend's advice. But if he fears an oracle or if his mother has told him something of Jupiter then let him send you and let the rest of the Smyrmidons follow if you can bring light and salvation to the Danaans.. And let him send you into battle in your own armor for the Trojans to admit you bring him and stop fighting; This would give the children of the Achaeans time to catch their breath, for they are in dire straits and there is little time to breathe in battle. You fresh ones could easily drive a weary enemy back into your walls and away from shops and ships.

With these words he touched the heart of Patroclus, who was running along the ship's line towards Achilles, the descendants of Aeacus. When he reached the ships of Odysseus, where his place of assembly and judgment was, with its altars dedicated to the gods, Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon, met him, wounded in the thigh by an arrow and limping. by him. . Dispute. Sweat trickled down his head and shoulders and black blood oozed from his malignant wound, but his mind didn't wander. When the son of Menoetius saw him, he took pity on him and said lamentably: "O unfortunate princes and counselors of the Danaans, are you condemned to feed your fat on the dogs of Troy, far from your fatherland and your friends? Speak, noble Euripylus, will the Achaeans stop great Hector, or will they now fall before his spear?

The wounded Euripylus replied: "Noble Patroclus, there is no hope for the Achaeans, but they will perish in their ships. All who were princes among us lie wounded at the hands of the Trojans, who are growing stronger. But save me and take me to your ship; cut the arrow from my waist; Wash the black blood with lukewarm water and lay over it those graceful herbs which, it is said, Achilles taught him to whom Chiron, the fairest of centaurs, showed himself. For I heard from the doctors Podalirius and Machaon that one is wounded in his tent and must be healed by himself, while the other is fighting the Trojans in the plain.

"Hero Eurypylus," replied the brave son of Menoetius, "how can that be? What can I do? I will deliver a message from Nestor of Gerene, the stronghold of the Achaeans, to noble Achilles, but I will not stop thinking about his fear.

Saying this, he hugged him in the middle and led him to the tent, and a servant, seeing him, spread ox skins on the ground for him to lie down. He stretched it to its full length and cut the sharp arrow from its thigh; washed the black blood from the wound with warm water; then he ground a bitter herb, rubbed it between his hands, and rubbed it over the wound; this was a virtuous herb that killed all pain; then the wound dried up and the blood stopped flowing.

Book XII

So the son of Menoetius dealt with the harm of Eurypylus in the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately, neither the ditch nor the high wall above to keep the Trojans at bay any longer. They built it to protect their ships and dug the moat around it to protect the ships and each other.
they had taken the rich spoils, but they had not sacrificed any hecatombs to the gods. It was built without the consent of the immortals, so it didn't last long. As long as Hector lived and Achilles appeased his anger, and as long as Priam's city was not taken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood; but when the bravest of the Trojans were gone, and many of the Argives too, though some survived, when, moreover, in the tenth year the city was sacked, and the Argives returned with their ships to their own country. so Neptune and Apollo agreed to destroy the wall, and diverted the currents of all the rivers from Mount Ida to the sea in it, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesop, and the good Scamander, with Simois, where many shields and Helms had fallen and many heroes of the semi-divine race had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo united the mouths of all these rivers and made them flow against the wall for nine days, while Jupiter made it rain all the time, only to throw it into the sea sooner. Neptune himself, pitchfork in hand, surveyed the work, and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had so laboriously laid; it leveled everything by the mighty current of the Hellespont, and then as it swept over the wall it spread a great sandy beach over where it stood. After this was done, he returned the rivers to their former channels.

Neptune and Apollo were to do so later; but the fighting and tumult continued to ravage the wall, until its beams rang under the blows that rained down on them. The Argives, cowed by the scourge of Jupiter, approached their ships in fear of Hector, the powerful minister of Rout, who had hitherto fought with the strength and fury of a hurricane. As a lion or a boar turns violently against the dogs and men who charge him while they make a solid wall and hurl their spears when they hit him, his courage is undaunted, but his cockiness will kill him; often he attacks his pursuers to scatter them, and they retreat as often as he does, so Hector walked among the army, admonishing his men and encouraging them to cross the ditch.

But the horses didn't dare and whinnied at the edge, for the vastness frightened them. They could not leap over it or traverse it, for it had collapsed on either side, on which stood the pointed stakes which the sons of the Achaeans had planted so thick and strong as a defense against all who had attacked it; a horse could not therefore enter and pull his chariot behind, but those on foot still did their best. Then Polydamas approached Hector and said: 'Hector and you, the other captains of the Trojans and allies, it is madness that we try to cross the ditch with our horses; it will be very difficult to cross because it is full of sharp spikes and behind them is the wall. Our horses therefore cannot descend there, nor would it avail if they did; it's also a tight spot and we have to take some damage. If great Jupiter really wants to help the Trojans, and in his rage completely destroys the Achaeans, I myself would like to see them perish here and now, far from Argos; but when they unite, and we are thrown from the ships crammed into the trenches, not a single man will return to the city to tell the tale. Well then, let's all do as I say; Let our squires keep our horses in the trenches, but we shall follow Hector on foot, in full armour, and when the day of his death is near the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us.

Thus spoke Polydamas, and his words pleased Hector, who sprang to the ground in all his armor, and all the other Trojans, seeing him do so, also left their chariots. Each man then turned his horses over to his coachman, who was charged with keeping them ready for him in the ditch. Then they were formed into companies, prepared, and followed their leaders in five bodies. Those who went with Hector and Polydamas were the bravest and most numerous, and the most determined to breach the wall and fight on the ships. They also joined Cebriones as third in command because Hector had surrendered his chariot to a less brave soldier. The next company was led by Paris, Alcathous, and Agenor; the third of Helenus and Deiphobus, two sons of Priam, and with them was the hero Asio Asio son of Hirtacus, whose great black horses of the breed that came from the river Selleis, he brought him from Arisbe. Aeneas, the valiant son of Anchises, led the fourth; he and Antenor's two sons, Archelochus and Acamas, men skilled in all arts of war. Sarpedon was the captain of the allies and he took with him Glaucus and Asteropaeus, whom he considered the bravest after him because he was by far the best man of them all. They helped clad each other in their oxhide shields and then attacked the Danaans directly, confident that they could no longer hold out and would now fall to their own ships.

The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the advice of Polydamas, but Asio son of Hirtacus would leave neither his horses nor his squire; in his rashness he took them to the ships and did not fail to meet his end accordingly. Never again would he return to windswept Ilius and cheer in his chariot and horses; Before he could do so, a dark death caught up with him and he fell by the spear of Idomeneus, the noble son of Deucalion. He had gone to the left flank of the ships, whither the Achaeans were returning from the plain with their chariots and horses. When he got there he found the gates wide open and the great low pole for the porters holding them open to admit those of his comrades who might have flown to the ships. Thither he led his horses steadfastly, and his men followed him with loud shouts, for they were sure that the Achaeans would not resist any longer and would now fall on the ships. Little did they know that at the gates they would meet two of the bravest leaders, proud sons of the fighting Lapitae, one Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, and the other Leontheus, an equal of murderous Mars. These stood like two tall oaks in the mountains at the gates, rising from their broad roots and battling wind and rain year after year, so these two men confidently and relentlessly awaited the attack of the great Asio. The Trojans, led by him and Iamenus, Orestes, Adama's son by Asius, Thoon, and Oenomaus, uttered a loud war-cry, and advanced straight towards the wall, holding their shields of dried ox-hide high above their heads; The two defenders stayed inside for a while, encouraging the Achaeans to firmly defend their ships. but seeing the Trojans charge the wall, while the Danaans screamed and were put to flight, they ran and fought at the gates like two wild boars in the mountains, enduring the onslaught of men and dogs, and breaking from both pages. .. the wood around them snaps at the root, and you hear the cracking of their fangs, until someone hits and kills them, while the bright bronze echoes around their chests as the weapons fell on them; for they fought with great fury, trusting in their own abilities and those on the wall above them. These hurled large stones at their attackers to defend themselves, their tents, and their ships. The stones fell thick, like snowflakes, which a violent breeze drives out of the dark clouds, and rained down on the earth in layers; so also the weapons fell from the hands of the Trojans and Achaeans. Helmet and shield rattled as the great stones rained down on them, and Asio son of Hyrtacusa cried out and slapped both thighs. "Father Jupiter," he exclaimed, "in truth you are also very fond of lying." I have made sure that the Argive heroes do not resist us while they, like wasps or thin-bodied bees, build their nests in the rocks by the wayside , not leaving defenseless the holes in which they have built, but fighting for their little ones against all they lead, then these men, though they are two, will not be driven out of the gates, but will stand firm to kill or get killed.

He spoke but did not move Jupiter, who then advised honoring Hector. Meanwhile, the rest of the Trojans fought their way through the other gates; I, however, am not a god to speak of all these things, for the battle raged around the stone wall like a fiery furnace. The Argives, in spite of their uneasiness, were compelled to defend their ships, and all the gods who defended the Achaeans were sad in spirit; but the Lapitas fought hard and mightily.

Immediately afterwards, Polypoetes, the powerful son of Piritus, struck Damasus with a spear in his helmet, pierced through the cheek. The helmet did not protect him, for the spear's point went through and broke the bone, scattering the brain inside and dying in battle. Then he killed Pylon and Ormenus. Leontheus of the race of Mars killed Hippomachus son of Antimachus by striking him with his spear at his belt. Then he drew his sword and sprang first on Antiphates, whom he killed in battle and who fell on his face. After him he killed Menon, James and Orestes and overthrew them one by one.

While busy stripping these heroes of their armor, the youths, led by Polydamas and Hector (and these were the largest and bravest parts of those attempting to breach the wall and shoot the ships), still stood. beside the ditch, not knowing what to do; for they saw a sign from heaven as they attempted to cross it: an eagle soaring high about the left wing of his host, with in its claws a monstrous blood-red serpent, still alive, striving to escape. Still vengeful, the serpent writhed and writhed until it reached the bird that pinned it by the neck and breast; then the bird, feeling pain, let go of him, dropped him in the middle of the host, and then with a shrill cry flew away with the wind. The Trojans were terrified to see the serpent, the progenitor of Jupiter, who bore the aegis, coiling in their midst, and Polydamas approached Hector and said: 'Hector, in our councils of war you are always permitted to see me blame. , even when I speak wisely, as if it were indeed wrong for any of the people to oppose his will, whether in the field or in council; You will want them to always support you: however, I will say what I think is best. Now let's not fight the Danaans in their ships, because I know what will happen when that flying eagle, circling our left wing with a monstrous blood-red serpent in its claws (the serpent is still alive), really sent as an omen to the would Trojans in their attempt to cross the moat. The eagle loosened its grip; he has neglected to take him home to his little ones and so will we; Even if, with great effort, we break down the gates and walls of the Achaeans and they give way to us, still we will not return the way we came, but will leave behind many men who will slay the Achaeans in defense of their ships. So any seer who was an expert in these things and who was trusted by the people could read the omen."

Hector looked at him sharply and said, "Polydamas, I don't like your reading. You can find a better saying than this if you want. However, if you spoke sincerely, Heaven would rob you of your sanity. You don't want me to follow Jupiter's advice, nor the promises he made me and bowed his head in confirmation; You ask me to rule instead of the flight of wild birds. What do I care if they fly at dawn or dusk and if they are on my right or on my left? Let us rather trust in the advice of the great Jupiter, the king of mortals and immortals. There is one omen, and one only, that a man must fight for his country. Why are you so scared? Even if we all die on the Argive ships, they probably won't kill you because you are neither steadfast nor brave. If you want. If you don't fight back or dissuade others, you will immediately fall on my spear.

With these words he went ahead, and the others followed him with a cry that rent the air. Then Jupiter, the lord of thunder, sent a mighty gust of wind from the mountains of Ida, blowing the dust to the ships; so he put the Achaeans to sleep, and gave victory to Hector and the Trojans, who, relying on their own strength and the signs he had shown them, attempted to breach the great wall of the Achaeans. They knocked down the parapets from the walls and knocked down the battlements; they raised the buttresses which the Achaeans had set up in front of the wall to support it; When they struck them down, they tried to breach the wall, but still the Danaus showed no sign of yielding; they still encircled the battlements with their oxhide shields and hurled their missiles at the enemy whenever anyone passed under the wall.

The two Ajaxes were all over the walls applauding the Achaeans, speaking kind words to some while speaking harshly to those they considered careless. "My friends," they cried, "everybody's good at it, they're mean and indifferent, because there's never been a fight where everyone was equally good, there's enough work now, as you know, for all you." See that none of you flee to the ships, intimidated by the enemy's cries, but go forward and guard one another when Jupiter Olympians, the Lord of Lightning, allows us to repel our enemies. , and take her back to town.

So the two went to the Achaeans, shouting and applauding. Like the flakes that fall thickly on a winter's day, when Jupiter wants to snow and show his arrows to mankind, he stills the wind to rest, and it snows hour after hour till he bury the tops of the high mountains, the headlands has. . that goes to the sea, to the prairies, and to the fields tilled by men; the snow lies deep on the headlands and harbors of the gray sea, but the waves hold it back, and they can go no further, though all else is shrouded like a cloak, so heavy is the sky with snow all the same. Heavy stones fell on both sides, some thrown at the Trojans, others by the Trojans upon the Achaeans; and the whole wall was in an uproar.

Nevertheless, the Trojans and brave Hector would not have broken down the gates and the great barrier had not Jupiter set his son Sarpedon against the Argives like a lion against a herd of horned oxen. Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze, which the smith had beaten so well and round, and lined with an oxhide which he had fastened round the shield with gold rivets; he held it in front of him and brandished his two spears and advanced like a lion of the desert, long starved for want of meat, who will dare to enter even a well-fenced farm to try to reach the sheep. You may find shepherds guarding their flocks with dogs and spears, but you have no intention of being cast out of the flock until you try; Either he jumps on a sheep and carries it away, or he gets wounded by a powerful spear, so Sarpedon wanted to attack the wall and break down its battlements. Then he said to Glaucon son of Hippolochus: “Glaucon, why do we have a special honor in Lycia regarding our place at the table? Why are we served the finest portions, and our cups overflow, and why do people look up to us as if we were gods? In addition, we own a large property on the banks of the Xanto River, beautifully landscaped with orchard grass and wheat cultivation; It behooves us, therefore, to place ourselves at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of the struggle, so that one may say to another: Our princes in Lycia eat the bounty of the land and drink the best wine, but they are good boys. ; You fight well and you are always on the front line of the fight.” My good friend, if, having put this struggle behind us, we could escape old age and future death forever, I must not proceed or ask you to do so. so, but death in ten thousand forms always hangs over our heads, and none can escape it; therefore let us go out and obtain the glory for ourselves or give it to another.”

Glaucus heeded his words and the two immediately made their way to the Lycian army. Menestheus son of Peteus was terrified when he saw them, for they came against his part of the wall and brought destruction with them; he looked along the wall for a leader who might support his companions, and saw the two Ajaxes, men always looking for a fight, and Teucer, who had just come out of his tent, standing close to them; but he could not hear his voice as he called, so great was the crash of breaking shields and helmets, and the slamming of doors with a noise that reached heaven. Because all the doors were closed and the Trojans were knocking to try and force their way through them. Menestheus therefore sent Thootes with a message for Ajax. "Run, good Thootes," he said, and call Ajax, or better yet, ask them both to come, for it will all end with us here; the leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who hitherto have fought desperately. But if they are too busy to let them come, let Ajax son of Telamon do it, and Teucer the famous archer go with him.

The messenger obeyed and ran along the wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the Ajaxes, he said to them: “Lords, princes of the Argives, the son of noble Peteos asks you to come and help him a little. You two better come if you can, or it'll all end with him at once; the leaders of the Lycians are above him, men who hitherto have fought desperately; If you are too busy to let them come, let Ajax son of Telamon do it, and Teucer, the famous archer, go with him.

The great Ajax son of Telamon heard the message and immediately spoke to the son of Oileus. "Ajax," he said, "both of you, you and brave Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in your hearts to fight with all your strength. I'll go there and join the fight, but I'll come right back here as soon as you tell me to provide the help they need.

With that departed Ajax son of Telamon, and also Teucer, his brother by the same father, went with Pandion to carry Teucer's bow. They breached the wall, and when they reached the tower where Menestheus was (and indeed found him in danger), the brave captains and leaders of the Lycians stormed the battlements like a thick dark cloud and fought hand in hand. Barracks and loud war cries.

First, Ajax son of Telamon slew the brave Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon, by striking him with a jagged stone that was set in the battlements on top of the wall. Men as they are now, even in their prime could hardly lift him with two hands, but Ajax picked him up and threw him to the ground, shattering Epicles' four-headed helmet, shattering the bones of his head. it broke and fell off the high wall as if jumping, with no life in it. Then Teucer defeated Glaucus, the brave son of Hippolochus, as he came to attack the wall. He saw his bare shoulder and aimed an arrow at him, causing Glaucus to stop fighting. So he jumped in secretly so that some of the Achaeans could see that he was wounded and make fun of him. Sarpedon was filled with sorrow when he saw Glaucus leave him, but he did not stop fighting, instead pointing his spear at Alcmaon son of Thestor and wounding him. Again he drew his spear. Alcmaon ran after her, his bronze armor rattling around him. Then Sarpedon grasped the battlement in his strong hands and pulled on it until it gave way and a gap was opened through which many could pass.

Ajax and Teucer then attacked him. Teucer wounded him with an arrow in the ribbon that carried the shield covering his body, but Jupiter saved his son from destruction lest he fall on the ships' stern. Meanwhile, Ajax lunged at him and pierced his shield, but the spear didn't go through cleanly, although he knocked it back and he couldn't go any further. Then he moved a little away from the battlement, but without losing all the ground, because he still wanted to cover himself in glory. Then he turned and called out to the brave Lycians: “Lycians, why are you disappointing me so? Despite all my skill, I can't break through the wall and clear the way for the ships without help. Follow me, the closer we are the better.

The Lycians, embarrassed by his correction, approached him who was their counselor, their king. The Argives, in turn, stationed their men within the wall, and a deadly fight ensued between them. The Lycians could not breach the wall and break through to the ships, nor could the Danaans drive the Lycians off the wall now that they had reached it. As two men, rulers in hand, quarrel for the boundaries of a field common to them, and quarrel for their rights, though they are only a margin, so the battlements now served as a point of contention, and the round won. Shield against each other to grab them. Many men's bodies were struck by the merciless bronze as he turned and turned his back to the enemy, and many were stabbed through their shields; the blood of the Trojans and Achaeans flooded the walls and battlements everywhere. Even so, the Trojans could not defeat the Achaeans, who still resisted; and as an honest and industrious woman weighs wool on her scales, and sees the scales right, because she would make a paltry profit for her little ones, so the struggle between them was evened until the time came when Jupiter had the greatest glory gave Hector, son of Priam, who was the first to jump on the wall of the Achaeans. He shouted to the Trojans: "Rise, Trojans, break through the wall of the Argives and set fire to their ships."

So he pursued them, and they ran as one, as he had commanded, straight to the wall and scaled the battlements with sharp spears in their hands. Hector grasped a stone which lay before the gates, and was thick at one end but pointed at the other; Two of the best men in a city as it is today could scarcely lift it off the ground onto a wagon, but Hector lifted it easily enough, for the scheming Son of Saturn made it easy. Just as a shepherd takes a ram's wool in a hand and finds no burden, Hector lightly lifted the great stone and drove it straight into the gates, which shut the gates so strong and tightly shut. These doors were double and high, and were locked by two bolts, for which there was only one key. When he was close to them, Heitor moved towards them so that his punch gained strength and hit her in the middle, leaning against her with all his weight. It broke the two hinges, and the stone fell in because of its great weight. The portals echoed, the bolts no longer held, and the doors jerked open from the force of the blow. Then brave Hector sprang in, with a face as dark as the flying night. Bright bronze gleamed wildly around his body and he had dragging spears in his hands. No one but a god could have resisted him as he lunged for the door, his eyes blazing like fire. Then he turned to the Trojans and ordered them to scale the wall and they did as he commanded, some of them immediately jumping over the wall while others breached the gates. The Danaans then fled to their ships in terror, and all was turmoil and confusion.

Buch XIII

Now, as Jupiter thus leading Hector and the Trojans to ships, he left them to their endless toil, and averted his penetrating eyes, and beheld the Thracian horse-breeders, the Mysians, hand-to-hand combatants, the noble Hippemolgi, the living milk, and the Abians, the fairest of the Humanity. He never looked back at Troy because he didn't think any of the immortals would help the Trojans or the Danaans.

But King Neptune kept no blind watch; he watched the battle with admiration from his perch on the highest peaks of wooded Samothrace, from where he could see all of Ida with the city of Priam and the ships of the Achaeans. He came from the bottom of the sea and settled here because he felt sorry for the Achaeans who were defeated by the Trojans; and he was angry with Jupiter.

Immediately he descended from his post on the mountaintop, and as he hastened forward the high hills and forest trembled under the steps of his immortal feet. He took three steps, and with the fourth he reached his goal of Aegean, where his palace of shining, imperishable gold lies in the depths of the sea. When he got there he gathered his swift bronze steeds with their golden manes flying in the wind; he clothed himself in golden clothes, took his golden whip and got into his chariot. As he rode over the waves, the sea monsters left their dens, for they knew their master, and sprang at him from every corner of the deep, while the sea gave way before his chariot in its joy. The horses flew so lightly that the chariot's bronze axle was not wet from below; and so his leaping horses carried him to the ships of the Achaeans.

Now there is a certain huge cave in the depths of the sea, halfway between Tenedos and the rocky Imbrus; Here Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, stopped his horses, untied them, and laid before them his ambrosial fodder. He bound their feet with gold bands that no one could loosen or break, so they could stay there until their Lord returned. With that he made his way to the army of the Achaeans.

Now the Trojans followed Hector son of Priam like a storm cloud or a flame of fire, fighting mighty and mighty, and raising the battle cry; because they thought they should take the ships of the Achaeans and kill all their main heroes on the spot. Meanwhile, Neptune, the lord of the earthquake that envelops the earth, made the Argives rejoice, for he had risen from the sea and taken the form and voice of Calchas.

First he addressed the two Ajaxes who were already doing their best and said to them: “Ajaxes, you two can be the salvation of the Achaeans if you use all your strength and don't let yourself be intimidated. I am not afraid that the Trojans who jumped over the wall will triumph elsewhere, for the Achaeans can contain them all, but I am very afraid that here, where the angry Hector boasting that he is , do some harm will the same son of the great Jupiter, lead them like a pillar of fire. May God put it in their hearts to stand firm here and urge others to do the same. In that case, throw him out of the ships, even if he's inspired by Jupiter himself.

As he spoke, the Lord of the earthquake that shook the earth struck them both with his scepter and filled their hearts with boldness. It made his legs light and active, as did his hands and feet. Then, as the hawk soared high over a sheer cliff, and then swooped down to chase a bird across the plain, Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, flew into the air and left them behind. Of the two, the nimble Ajax son of Oileus was the first to know who was speaking to them, and he said to Ajax son of Telamon: “Ajax, this is one of the gods who inhabit Olympus, who likes to prophesy to command us to fight hard alongside our ships. Calchas was not the seer and soothsayer of omens. I recognized him immediately by his feet and knees as he turned around as the gods will soon be recognized. Also, I feel the lust for battle burn brighter and fiercer inside me, while my hands and feet beneath me are more ready for battle."

And Ajax son of Telamon answered: “I also feel that my hands hold my spear tighter; my strength is greater and my feet more agile; Also, I would like to meet the angry Hector son of Priam even in single combat.

So they talked, hungry for the battle the god had filled them with. However, the land siege awoke the Achaeans, who rested with the ships at their backs, simultaneously defeated by the hard struggle and pain when they saw that the Trojans had jumped over the wall by force. Tears began to flow from their eyes at the sight of them, for they were sure they would not escape annihilation; but the Earthquake Prince walked lightly between them, urging his battalions forward.

First ascended Teucer and Leitus, the hero Peneleos and Thoas and Deipyrus; Meriones also, and Antilochus, valiant warriors; He admonished everyone. 'Shame on you, young Argive!' he exclaimed, 'I have trusted in your skill to save our ships; If you don't fight hard and strong, today we will see ourselves defeated by the Trojans. Yes, my eyes see such a great and terrible omen that I never thought to see the Trojans on our ships, they who hitherto were like frightened hinds, prey to jackals and wolves in a forest, with no more strength than in flight. . Because they can't defend themselves. Hitherto the Trojans have not dared for a moment to face the onslaught of the Achaeans, but now they have gone far from their city and are fighting in our own ships, because of the cowardice of our leader and the dissatisfaction of the people themselves, who in their dissatisfaction are concerned about not to fight in defense of the ships, but to be massacred near them. It is true that King Agamemnon son of Atreus is the cause of our disaster because he insulted the son of Peleus, but that is no reason to stop fighting. Let's heal quickly, for the hearts of the brave heal quickly. You are wrong to be so careless, you who are the finest soldier in our entire army. I don't blame anyone for staying out of the fray if they're a coward, but I'm disgusted with men like you. My good friends, this indolence will soon make things worse; Think, each of you, of your own honor and honor, because the danger of combat is extreme. The Great Hector now fights on our ships; passed the doors and the strong bolt that held them.

So he, who was besieging the land, spoke to the Achaeans and urged them on. Strong bands of men gathered round the two Ajaxes, of whom neither Mars nor Minerva, marshal of armies, could tell if they were among them, for they were the chosen of all those who now awaited the attack of Hector and the Trojans. . They made a hedge, spear with spear, shield with shield, pavement with pavement, helmet with helmet, man with man. The crests of their maned gleaming hooves touched as they nodded, so closely bound were they; the spears they held in their strong hands were entwined and their hearts were ready for battle.

The Trojans advanced in great ranks, with Hector at their head, pressing like a rock thundering down the side of a mountain whose brow had been torn by winter's torrents; the threadbare thing's foundations have been loosened by the downpours, and when it leaps headfirst into its course it upsets the whole forest; he doesn't swerve left or right until he hits the ground, but then, for all his anger, he can't go any further, not so easily. Hector looked for a moment as if he would fall from the tents and ships of the Achaeans into the sea on his murderous course; but the battalions at close range stopped him as he came to them, for the sons of the Achaeans thrust him with swords and sharp javelins at both ends, and drove him from them, so that he staggered and gave way; Then he called to the Trojans: Trojans, Lycians and Dardians, melee warriors, it is certain: The Achaeans have risen up against me like a wall, but they will not detain me long; they will give me ground when the mightiest of gods, the thundering wife of Juno, has truly inspired my attack.

With these words, he poured out his heart and soul into them all. Deiphobus son of Priam walked among them with his round shield before him, engaged in exploits, under whose protection he hastened forward. Meriones aimed a spear at him, not missing the broad ball of oxhide; but he was far from piercing him, for the spear broke long before he could; Also, Deiphobus had seen it coming and held his shield well away from it. Meriones retreated to the protection of his comrades, angry both at not having defeated Deiphobus and at having broken his spear. So he turned to ships and shops to look for a spear he had left in his tent.

The others fought on and the war cry rose to the sky. Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man, that is, the warrior Imbrius son of Mentor, rich in horses. Until the arrival of the Achaeans he lived in Pedeus and married Medisicaste, an illegitimate daughter of Priam; but by the arrival of Danaan's fleet he had returned to Ilios, and was a great man among the Trojans, dwelling near Priam himself, and giving him the same honor as his own sons. Telamon's son now hit him under the ear with a spear, which he drew back again, and Imbrius fell headlong like an ash tree as it landed on a high mountain fire, its delicate green foliage crumbling. on the ground. So he fell, his armor of dark bronze echoing around him, and Teucer sprang forward, intending to strip him of his armor; but as he did so, Hector aimed a spear at him. Teucer saw the spear coming and swung sideways, striking Amphimachus son of Cteatos son of Actor in the chest as he charged into battle, his armor rattling around him as he fell heavily to the ground. Hector sprang forward to take the helm from Amphimachus's temples, and in a moment Ajax hurled a spear at him, but it missed, for he was fully shrouded in his terrible armour; However, the spear struck the tip of his shield with such force that it knocked him off the two corpses, which the Achaeans then executed. Stichius and Menestheus, captains of the Athenians, led Anphimachus to the Achaean army, while the two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did the same for Imbrius. As two lions snatch a goat from the hounds they hold in their tusks and carry it in their jaws through a dense undergrowth high above the ground, so the Ajaxes carried the body of Imbria and stripped off his armor. Then the son of Oileus, in revenge for the death of Anphimachus, cut off his head from his neck and threw it like a ball over the crowd, spinning until it fell to the dust at Hector's feet.

Neptune was extremely angry at the fall of his grandson Amphimachus; therefore he went to the tents and ships of the Achaeans to further incite the Danaans and plan evil for the Trojans. Idomeneo went to meet him as he said goodbye to a comrade who had just returned from battle with a wounded knee. His companions carried him from the field, and Idomeneus, having given orders to the doctors, went to his tent, still thirsty for battle. Neptune spoke in the likeness and voice of Thoas son of Andraemon, who ruled the Aetolians of all Pleuron and Upper Kalydon, and was worshiped by his people as if he were a god. "Idomeneus," he said, "legislators of the Cretans, what has become of the threats the sons of the Achaeans threatened the Trojans with?"

And Idomeneo, the chief of the Cretans, answered: Thoas, no one is guilty as far as I know, because we can all fight. Neither fear nor laziness break away, but it seems to be the all-powerful Jupiter, whom the Achaeans let ingloriously perish here far from Argos: You, Thoas, were always firm and keep others in your heart when you see that any failure. In service; do not be careless now, but exhort everyone to do their best.”

To this Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, he answered: "Idomeneus, may he never return from Troy, but remain here for the dogs to strike him, who today is willingly lazy in battle. Take your armor and go, we must hurry together if we can be of any use, even though there are only two of us. Even cowards gain courage from society, and we can both compete with the bravest."

With that the god returned to the heat of battle, and when he reached his tent Idomeneus put on his armor, took his two spears, and went out. Like the thunderbolt which the son of Saturn swings from bright Olympus when he wants to show a sign to mortals, and its brilliance shines far and wide, so his armor flashed around him as he ran. Meriones, his strong squire, met him while he was still near his tent (for he was about to fetch his spear), and Idomeneus said to him: 'Meriones, swift son of Molus, best comrade, why have you left the field ?” Are you wounded and the tip of the gun hurt you? Or were you sent to find me? I don't want to search; I would rather fight than stay in my tent.”

'Idomeneus,' answered Meriones, 'I come for a spear if I find one in my tent; I broke what I had and threw it against Deiphobo's shield.

And Idomeneus, the captain of the Cretans, answered: You will find a spear, or twenty if you will, leaning against the back wall of my tent. I took them from the Trojans I killed because I am not one to keep my enemy at bay; That's why I have spears, embossed shields, helms, and polished breastplates.

Then Meriones said, I also took prey from the Trojans in my tent and in my ship, but they are not near. I was always brave, and wherever there was hard fighting, I was among the first. There may be some among the Achaeans who do not know how I fight, but you yourself know very well.

Idomeneus replied: “I know that you are a brave man; you don't have to tell me. When the best men on the ships have been chosen for the ambushes and nothing shows what a man is made of; then comes out who is cowardly and who is brave; the coward changes color with every tap and twist; he is full of fears and always shifts his weight to one knee and then to the other; your heart beats fast at the thought of death, and you hear your teeth chattering; While the brave will not change color or lie in ambush, but will call for action all the time, when the best men are chosen for such service, none of them could underestimate their bravery or exploits. . If he was hit with a spear or in hand-to-hand combat, it wasn't from behind, neck, or back, but the weapon hit him in the chest or stomach as he advanced to a seat in the front ranks. But let's not stand here any longer and talk like children, lest they speak ill of us; Go and get your spear from the shop now.

Thereupon Meriones, Peer of Mars, went into the shop and took a bronze spear. Then he followed Idomeneus, great with great deeds of valor. As when the hapless Mars goes into battle and his son Panic goes with him, so strong and fearless as to terrify even the heart of a hero, the pair set out from Thrace to arm themselves among the Ephyri, or the mighty Phlegyans , but they will not listen to the two rival armies and give victory to one side or the other, so Meriones and Idomeneo, captains of men, went into battle clad in their bronze weapons. Meriones was the first to speak. "Son of Deucalion," he said, "where should we start fighting?" On the host's right wing, in the center, or on the left wing, whichever way I take, will the Achaeans be weaker?

Idomeneus replied: “There are others defending the center, the two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the best goalkeeper of all the Achaeans and is also good at hand-to-hand combat. That will give Hector son of Priam much to do; Fight as hard as he will, it will be difficult for him to contain his uncontrollable anger and set the ships ablaze unless the son of Saturn throws an ember at them with his own hand. The great Ajax son of Telamon will not yield to a man who is in a mortal form and eats the grain of Ceres when bronze and great stones can bring him down. He would not yield even to Achilles in hand-to-hand combat, and in the lightness of his feet there is none who can defeat him; So let's turn to the left wing to know immediately whether we should give credit to someone else or he should give credit to us.”

Meriones, peer of swift Mars, led the way until they reached the part of the army that Idomeneus had appointed.

Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming like a blaze of fire, he and his squire, clad in his richly carved armor, immediately cried out and rushed at him, and a furious hand-to-hand combat broke out among the ships. Fierce as the shrill winds that howl in a day when the dust gathers in the streets and the gusts raise it up in a thick cloud, so was the fury of battle, and might and might charged each other with spear and sword. about the host. The field was littered with the long, deadly spears they carried. Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helms, freshly polished breastplates, and gleaming shields as they joined the battle. The iron courage must indeed be the one who could enjoy seeing and contemplating such a commotion without fainting.

Thus the two mighty sons of Saturn plotted evil for mortal heroes. Jupiter was ready to give victory to the Trojans and Hector to honor the swift Achilles, but he had no intention of completely defeating the Achaean hosts before Ilios, only wanting to glorify Thetis and her brave son. Neptune, on the other hand, went among the Argives to stir them up, having risen secretly from the gray sea, sad to see them defeated by the Trojans and angry at Jupiter. They were both of the same race and country, but Jupiter was older and knew better, so Neptune was afraid to openly defend the Argives, but like the man, he continued to encourage them throughout his army. Then these two created a knot of war and combat that no one could untie or break, and they let both sides pull at it until the knees of the men beneath them broke.

And now Idomeneus, though his hair was already mottled gray, cried out loudly to the Danaans, panicking the Trojans as he sprang between them. He killed Otrioneo de Cabesus, a foreigner who had just arrived to take part in the war. He sought Kassandra, the most beautiful daughter of Priam, as a wife, but offered her no courtesy, because he promised great things, namely, to drive the sons of the Achaeans out of Troy by any means necessary; Old King Priam had agreed and promised her so he struggled with the power of the promises he had made. Idomeneus aimed a spear and struck it as he advanced. His bronze breastplate failed to protect him, and the spear penetrated his stomach, sending him falling heavily to the ground. Then Idomeneo boasted his words: “Otrioneus, there is no one in the world I admire more than you, if you really fulfill what you promised Priam son of Dardanus in exchange for your daughter. We also make an offer; We will give you the most beautiful daughter of the son of Atreus and wed her to you from Argos if you plunder the beautiful city of Ilius with us; so come with me so we can make a pact on the ships about marriages and we don't treat you harshly over freebies.

With that, Idomeneus began to drag him into the thick of the fight by the foot, but Asio rose to protect the body on foot from his horses, which his squire was leading so close he could feel his breath on his head. '. Shoulder. He wanted to strike down Idomeneus, but before he could do that, Idomeneus caught him in the throat below the chin with his spear, the bronze point going right through. He fell over the mountains with axes sharp as oaks, poplars, or pines that shipwrights cut for the wood of ships, but he stood long before his chariot and horses, gnashing his teeth and clinging to the stained blood. His charioteer was seized with panic, and dared not turn his horses and escape: then Antilochus struck him in the midst with a spear; his bronze breastplate did not protect him and the spear penetrated his stomach. He fell panting from his chariot, and Antilochus son of the great Nestor led his horses from the Trojans to the Achaeans.

Deiphobus then approached Idomeneus to avenge Asio and aimed a spear at him, but Idomeneus was alert and dodged him because he was covered by the round shield he always wore, a shield of oxhide and bronze with two bracers on it or inside . He crouched under the Disso cover and threw Voou over him, but
The shield resounded as the spear grazed it, and the weapon did not fly in vain from the strong hand of Deiphobus, for it struck Hipsenor son of Hypasus, the shepherd of his people, in the liver below the diaphragm, and his limbs became met . collapsed under him. Deifobo boasted about him and cried out in a loud voice: 'Verily, Asio did not fall unprepared; He will be glad even when he enters the house of Hades, the strong guardian of the gate, that he has sent someone to accompany him.

So he boasted, and the Argives were incited by his words. Noble Antilochus was more angry than anyone, but pain did not make him forget his friend and comrade. He ran towards him, mounted him, and covered him with his shield; then two of his faithful comrades, Mecisteus son of Echius, and Alastor, stooped and, groaning heavily, carried him to the ships. But Idomeneo didn't stop his anger. He constantly fought to enshroud a Trojan in the darkness of death or fall himself to protect the evil day from the Achaeans. Then fell Alcathous, the son of the noble Aesyete: he was the son-in-law of Anchises, having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia, who was the mistress of her father and mother, and surpassed her whole generation in beauty, achievement and understanding that the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wife, Neptune laid himself by the hand of Idomeneus, blinded his shining eyes, and handcuffed his strong limbs so that he could not even turn sideways, but he remained upright... still like a pillar or a tall tree when Idomeneus hit him square in the chest with a spear. The mail that had previously protected his body was now broken, and it rattled loudly as the spear passed through. He fell heavily to the ground, and the spear pierced his still beating heart, shaking the spearhead until the terror of Mars ended his life. Idomeneus boasted about him, shouting aloud: "Deiphobo, since you are in a mood to boast, shall we cry for peace now, having killed three men for one? No sir, fight with myself to know what kind of man I am, born of Jupiter, who came here. Jupiter first begot Minos, supreme ruler of Crete, and Minos in turn begot a son, the noble Deucalion; Deucalion fathered me to rule many men in Crete, and my ships brought me here now to be the bane of you and your father and the Trojans.

So he spoke, and Deifobo debated whether he should go back and find another Trojan to help him, or accept the challenge himself. In the end, he thought it best to find Aeneas, whom he found behind, having long been displeased with Priam for not having given him due honor despite his bravery. Deiphobus approached him and said: “Aeneas, prince among the Trojans, if you know any relatives, help me now to defend the corpse of your sister's husband; Come with me to save Alcathous who raised him as his sister's husband when he was a child in his home and now Idomeneus has killed him.

With these words he moved the heart of Aeneas, and he went after Idomeneo, great in great deeds of valour; but Idomeneo was not to be bullied as if he were a mere child; Standing firm like a boar cornered in the mountains, he endured the arrival of a great crowd in a lonely place, bristles on his back, eyes gleaming, and fangs sharper in his eagerness to ward off dogs and men . , so the famous Idomeneus remained steadfast and did not move from the arrival of Aeneas. He called out loudly to his companions while looking at Ascalaphus, Aphareus, Deipyrus, Meriones and Antilochus, all brave soldiers. "Here, my friends," he cried, "and don't leave me alone. I am terrified of swift Aeneas coming at me, a formidable fighter to the death. Besides, he is in the prime of his youth when man's strength is greater, if I were his age and in my present condition, he or I would soon receive the prize of victory.

With that, they all stood beside him as one, shield on shoulder. Aeneas, on the other hand, called his companions to him and looked upon Deiphobus, Paris and Agenor, who were with him commanders of the Trojans, and the people followed them as sheep follow the ram when they go down to drink after being fed. , and the heart of the shepherd rejoices, so did the heart of Aeneas rejoice when he saw his people following him.

So they fought furiously hand in hand for the body of Alcathous, brandishing their long spears; and the iron armor about their bodies echoed terribly as they took aim at each other in the exertion of battle, while the two heroes, Aeneas and Idomeneus, peers of Mars, excelled all in their desire to charge one another with sword and spear. . Aeneas aimed first, but Idomeneus, aware of this, dodged the spear, shooting in vain from Aeneas' strong hand and falling to the ground, trembling. Meanwhile, Idomeneus struck Oenomaus squarely in the stomach, snapping the panel of his corset where his entrails spilled out and he clutched the earth in his hands as he fell sprawled in the dust. Idomeneus drew his spear from his body, but was unable to free his armor from the hail of spears that rained down on him; moreover, his powers now began to wane, so that he could no longer attack and no longer attack. . neither leap forward to retrieve his own weapon nor dodge to avoid one pointed at him; Although he still held his own in hand-to-hand combat, his heavy feet could not pull him out of combat quickly. Deiphobus aimed a spear at him as he slowly retired from the field, for their bitterness against him was more violent than ever, but again he missed and struck Ascalaphus son of Mars; The spear pierced his shoulder and he gripped the ground with his palms as he fell sprawled in the dust.

The gloomy Mars of the terrible voice did not yet know that his son had fallen, for he sat on the heights of Olympus under the golden clouds, forbidden by Jupiter's command, where the other gods also sat, to take part in the battle. Meanwhile, the men fought furiously over the body. Deiphobus tore his helmet from his head, but Meriones sprang at him and struck him in the arm with a spear, causing the visored helmet to fall from his hand and clatter to the ground. Then Meriones lunged at him like a vulture, ripped the spear from his shoulder, and fell back under the protection of his men. Then Polites, Deifobo's own brother, put his arms around his waist and led him away from the battle until he reached his horses, who stood with the chariot and its driver at the end of the fight. They carried him into town groaning and in great pain, and blood spurted from his arm.

The others fought on, and the war cry rose incessantly into the sky. Aeneas sprang upon Aphareus son of Caletor, and struck him in the twisting throat with a spear; his head fell to the side, his helm and shield fell with him, and death, the enemy of life, fell around him. Antilochus saw his chance and flew at Thoon, wounding him as he turned. He opened the vein that runs from the back to the neck; He sliced ​​that vein cleanly all along its course, and Thoon fell face down in the dust, hands out in supplication to his comrades. Antilochus lunged at him and pulled the armor from his shoulders while he looked around anxiously. The Trojans surrounded him on all sides and attacked his broad and bright shield, but they could not harm his body, for Neptune guarded Nestor's son even though the spears fell close around him. He was never free from the enemy, but he was always in the thick of battle; his spear was never idle; he aimed and aimed in all directions, so anxious was he to hit someone at a distance or fight them hand-to-hand.

As he took aim in the crowd, he was seen by Adamas son of Asio, who lunged at him and struck him squarely in his shield with a spear, but Neptune had no effect as he spared his life. antiloco Thus half of the spear was driven firmly into Antilochus' shield like a charred stake, while the other remained in the ground. Then Adamas took refuge under the protection of his men, but Meriones followed and impaled him halfway between the genitals and the navel, where a wound is particularly painful to wretched mortals. There Meriones pierced him, and he twisted convulsively around the spear like a bull that the mountain shepherds had tied with willow ropes and dragged away. Even so, he squirmed for a while, but not for long, until Meriones came and drew the spear from his body and his eyes were shrouded in darkness.

Helenus then struck Deipiros with a Thracian greatsword, striking him in the temple in hand-to-hand combat and knocking his helm off his head; The helmet fell to the ground and one of the combatants on the Achaean side caught it as he rolled to his feet, but Deipiro's eyes were closed in the darkness of death.

Menelaus was saddened by this, and turned menacingly on Helenus, brandishing his spear; but Helenus untied his bow and the two immediately charged each other, one with his spear and the other with bow and arrow. Priam's son struck Menelaus' breastplate, but the arrow ricocheted off him. As black beans or legumes fall from the sieve's wide blade onto a threshing floor, blown by shrill winds and knocked off the blade, the arrow ricocheted and rebounded off Menelaus' shield, which in turn hit. the hand with which Helenus carried his bow; The spear passed through the hand and clavó itself in its own arc so that it withdrew its life into the protection of its men, the hand dragging itself to the side as it threw oppression until Agenor sacked it and she the hand cautiously met . in a woolen sling carried by his squire.

Stepping on it, he showed Menelaus directly his evil fate and lured him to his doom, because he was about to fight you, O Menelaus. When the two were together, the spear of the son of Atreus deviated and missed the mark; Pisander then struck brave Menelaus' shield, but could not pierce him, for the shield stopped the spear and broke the shaft; however, he was happy and sure of victory; but immediately the son of Atreus drew his sword and threw himself upon him. Then Pisander seized the bronze ax with its long handle of polished olive wood that hung at his side under his shield, and the two struck at each other. Pisander reached the summit
of Menelaus's crowned helmet just below the ridge itself, and Menelaus, coming towards him, struck Pisander on the forehead, just above the nose; Bones creaked and his two bloodshot eyes fell in the dust on her feet. He fell backward to the ground, and Menelaus put his heel on him, took off his weapons, and boasted to him, saying: 'You Trojans will leave the ships of the Achaeans, however proud and insatiable you may be in battle; Will you miss some of the shame and shame you heaped on me? Cowardly wolves that you are, you have not feared the wrath of fearsome Jupiter, avenger of violated hospitality, who will one day destroy your city; You stole my wife and trespassed many treasures when you were your guest, and now you would burn our ships and kill our heroes. There will come a day when you will be stopped no matter how angry you get. O father Jupiter, you who say that you are above all gods and men in wisdom and from whom comes everything that happens to us, how can you favor the Trojans, men so proud and arrogant that they not get tired of fighting? ? ? All things darken after a while, the dream, love, the sweet song and the majestic dance; but these are things a man would surely eat his fill of before battle, while the Trojans are insatiable for battle.

With these words, Menelaus took the blood-stained armor from Pisander's body and handed it to his men; then he returned to position himself at the front line of battle.

Harpalion son of King Pylaemenes then sprang at him; He came to Troy with his father to fight, but did not return home. He hit the center of Menelaus' shield with his spear, but could not pierce it, and to save his life he retreated under the protection of his men, looking on all sides lest he be hurt. But Meriones shot a bronze-tipped arrow at him as he was leaving the field, and hit him in the right buttock; the arrow pierced through and through the bone and pierced the bladder, so he sat where he was and died in the arms of his companions, lying on the ground like a worm, watering the earth with the blood that flowed from his wound. The brave Paphlagonian tended to him carefully; they put him in their chariot and drove him sadly to the city of Troy; his father also went with him and wept bitterly, but there was no rescue that could bring his dead son back to life.

Paris was deeply saddened by the death of Harpalion, who had been her host when she went under the Paphlagonians; he therefore aimed an arrow to avenge him. Now there was a man named Euchenor, son of the prophet Polyid, a valiant and rich man, who had his house in Corinth. This Euchenor left for Troy, knowing full well that this would be his death, for his good father Polyid had often told him that he should either stay at home and die of a terrible disease, or go with the Achaeans and at the hands of the Achaeans Trojan must die; he therefore chose to avoid the heavy fine that the Achaeans would have imposed on him, while escaping the pain and suffering of the disease. Paris struck him on the chin below the ear, whereupon the life drained from him and he was enveloped in the darkness of death.

So they fought like a flame of fire. But Hector had not yet heard or known that the Argives among his men were wreaking havoc on the left wing of the battle, where the Achaeans would not hesitate to defeat them, so greatly encouraged and aided by Neptune. So he stood where he first breached the gates and wall, after breaking through the tight ranks of Danaan warriors. Here the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus lay at sea; here the wall was at its lowest point, and the fighting between men and horses was fiercest. The Boeotians and Ionians in their long robes, the Locrians, the Phthians, and the famous force of the Epeas could scarcely stop Hector as he advanced toward the ships, nor could they drive him from them, for he was like a wall. from fire. The chosen men of the Athenians were at their head, led by Menestheus son of Peteos, with whom also Pheidas, Stichius and the brave Bias went: Meges son of Phyleus, Amphion and Dracius commanded the Epeians, while Medon and the steadfast Podarces Epaeans led the way. phthic men. Of these, Medon was the illegitimate son of Oileus and brother of Ajax, but lived far from his own country in Phylake, because he had slain the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, the wife of Oileus; the other, Podarces, was the son of Iphiclo son of Philacus. These two stood at the head of the Fthians and defended the ships along with the Boeoters.

Ajax son of Oileus did not leave the side of Ajax son of Telamon for a moment, but like two brown oxen they both strain at the plow they pull in a desolate field, and sweat rises on the ground. roots of their horns. nothing but the yoke separates them as they break through the earth until they reach the end of the field, then the two Ajaxes stand shoulder to shoulder. Many brave comrades followed the son of Telamon to draw his shield when he was overcome with sweat and toil, but the Locrians did not follow the son of Oileus so closely, unable to defend themselves with one hand. melee. They had neither bronze helmets with horsehair feathers, nor shields, nor spears of ash, but they arrived in Troy armed with bows and slings of twined wool, from which they hurled their projectiles to break through the ranks of the Trojans. The others, therefore, in their heavy armour, bore the brunt of the battle with the Trojans and with Hector, while the Locrians, under their protection, fired from behind; and so the Trojans began to lose heart because the arrows confused them.

The Trojans would have been driven back to windy Ilius in wretched conditions of ships and tents had Polydamas not said to Hector: 'Hector, there is no need to persuade you to take advice. Because Heaven has so richly endowed you with the arts of war, you think you must excel others in council; but you cannot claim preeminence in all things. Heaven made a good soldier out of a man; of another he made a dancer or singer and hurdy-gurdy player; while Jupiter planted in another a wise understanding that men bear fruit for the salvation of many, and he himself knows more than anyone; so I'll say what I think is best. The fighting surrounded him like a ring of fire, and even now that the Trojans are within the wall, some of them in full armor stand to the sides, while others are scattered and outnumbered fighting near the ships. Go back, therefore, and summon your chiefs so that we can deliberate together whether to rush to the ships now, hoping Heaven grants us victory, or retreat while we can do so safely . I am very afraid that the Achaeans will pay all of us yesterday's debts, because on their ships there is someone who never tires of fighting and does not last long.

Thus spoke Polydamas, and Hector was very pleased with his words. He jumped down from his chariot in full armor and said: “Polydamas, assemble the chiefs here; I will go there to fight, but I will return as soon as I have given your orders.

Then he charged forward, rising like a snowy mountain, and with a loud cry he flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies. Hearing his voice, everyone hastened to gather around Polydamas, the excellent son of Panthous, but Hector stayed among the first, searching far and wide for Deiphobus and Prince Helenus, Adamas son of Asios, and Asios , the son of Hirtakus; he could not find them alive and unharmed, for the last two lay at the stern of the Achaean ships, slain by the Argives, while the others had also been struck and wounded by them; but on the left wing of the terrible battle he found Alexander, the husband of the beautiful Helena, encouraging his men and urging them to fight. He approached him and scolded him. "Paris," he said, "wicked Paris, beautiful to behold, but crazy about women and false speech, where are Deiphobus and King Hellenus?" Where are Adamas son of Asius and Asius son of Hirtacus? Where is Otrioneo too? Ilius has been undone and now he is sure to fall!

Alexandrus replied, "Hector, why criticize when there is no one to criticize? I should stay out of the fight every day before because my mother gave birth to me with nothing cowardly about me. Ever since you sent our men to fight for the ships, we've stayed here and fought the Danaan. Our comrades you ask about are dead; Only Deiphobo and the Hellenic king left the field, both wounded in the hand, but Saturn's son saved them alive. Well then, lead us where you want us to be, and we shall follow you with due goodwill; You will not find us failing you as far as our strength will resist, but no man can do more than is within him, however willing he may be.

With these words he satisfied his brother, and the two proceeded to that part of the battle where the fighting was hardest, for Cebriones, the valiant Polydamas, Falces, Orteo, the divine Polyphetes, Palmis, Ascanius, and Morys son of Hippotion . , that came. from fertile Askania the day before to relieve other troops. Then Jupiter urged them to fight. They flew like the gusts of a violent wind that struck the land in a gale's fury, struck the Salt Sea in a tumult; numerous and mighty are the great waves, which, with their heads bowed, all crowned with foam, crash one after the other on the beach, while rank after rank of Trojans in shining armor followed their leaders. At the head stood Hector son of Priam, equal of murderous Mars, with his round shield before him, his shield of oxhide covered with bronze plates, and his helmet shining on his temples. Under the cover of his shield he advanced in all directions, testing the ranks to see if he would give way, but he could not discourage the courage of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first to come out and challenge him. “Lord,” he called, “come here; Why do you think in vain to discourage the Argives? We Achaeans make excellent soldiers, but Jupiter's scourge hit us hard. While your heart is set on destroying our ships, we too have gangs that can control you, and your beautiful city will be taken and plundered by us first. The time is near when you will pray to Jupiter and all the gods in your flight that your steeds will outstrip hawks as they raise the dust of the plains and carry you back to your city.

As he spoke a bird flew over his right hand, and the army of the Achaeans cried out, for the omen encouraged them. But Hector replied: Ajax, haughty and false-tongued, I wish to be so sure that I am forever the son of Jupiter, bearing the Aegis, with Queen Juno for mother, and that I have the same honor with Minerva and Apollo, like me, that this day is great with the destruction of the Achaeans; and you will fall among them if you dare wield my spear; He will rend your beautiful body and command you to fill yourself with the fat and flesh of our dogs and birds of prey as you fall alongside the Achaean ships.

With these words he led the way, and the others followed with a shriek that ripped the air as their host yelled after them. For their part the Argives also cried out, not forgetting their bravery, but they withstood the onslaught of the Trojan chiefs, and the cry of both armies rose to the heavens and the splendor of Jupiter's presence.

Buch XIV

NESTOR sat down with his wine, but the war cry did not escape him, and he said to the son of Aesculapius: "What is all this, noble Machaon? The screams of the men fighting alongside our ships grow louder; so stay here and sit down to drink your wine while the beautiful Hecamedes heats you a bath and washes the curdled blood from you. I'll go to the surveillance station immediately and see what it is.

As he spoke he took the shield of his son Thrasymedes, which was in his tent and shone all with bronze, because Thrasymedes had borne his father's shield; He took his terrible spear in a bronze stocking and, as soon as he got out, saw the devastating defeat of the Achaeans, who, having torn down his wall, flew headlong in front of the Trojans. As when there is a strong swell in the sea, but the waves are still, they keep their eyes in the direction from which the strong winds may blow over them, but they remain where they are, and turn not this way or that until a Wind blows coming down from the sky to determine them, still the old man considered whether he should go to the crowd of Danaans or go in search of Agamemnon. In the end he thought it best to choose the son of Atreus; but meanwhile the hosts fought and slew, and hard brass resounded in their bodies as they struck one another with their swords and spears.

The wounded kings, son of Tydeus, Odysseus, and Agamemnon son of Atreus, fell on Nestor as they disembarked from their ships, because his were far from where the battle was taking place, because they were on the same shore, because they had run aground. first while the wall was built behind the last. The length of the shore, wide as it was, could not accommodate all ships, and the army was in a hurry to get space, so they lined up the ships, filling the entire opening of the bay. . between the two points that formed it. The kings, leaning on their spears, went out to watch the battle in great terror, and when old Nestor found them they were filled with terror. Then King Agamemnon said to him: Nestor son of Neleus, honor the name of the Achaeans, why did you leave the battle to come here? I fear that shall be fulfilled what the fearsome Hector said when he boasted among the Trojans, that he would not return to Ilium until he had burned our ships and slain us; that's what he said, and now it's coming true. poor me! other Achaeans, like Achilles, are angry with me for refusing to fight for the stern of our ships.

Then Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered: "Surely it is as you say; now it's all coming true, and not even Jupiter thundering from above can stop it. The wall on which we stand as an impregnable bulwark for us and our fleet has fallen. The Trojans fight stubbornly and incessantly in the ships; no matter where you look, you don't see where the defeat of the Achaeans comes from; they are slaughtered in a confused mass, and the battle cry goes up to heaven; Let's consider what would be the best thing we could do if the advice can be of use. but I do not advise that we go into battle ourselves, for a man cannot fight when he is wounded.

And King Agamemnon answered: Nestor, if the Trojans fight in the rear of our ships, and neither the wall nor the ditch in which the Danaans labored, and which they considered an impregnable bulwark for us and for us, served not Well, our fleet, I see , it must be Jupiter's will that the Achaeans perish ingloriously here, far from Argos. I knew when Jupiter was ready to defend us, and I know now that while we are bound hand and foot, he will raise the Trojans to the glory of the gods. Well then, let's all do as I say; Let us upset the ships that lie on the beach and put them into the water; let us tie them a little further to their chains against the falling night, when the Trojans give up the fight even at night; then we can bring in the rest of the fleet. There's nothing wrong with flying broke at night, too. It is better for a man to flee and be saved than to be caught and killed."

Odysseus looked at him and said, "Son of Atreus, what are you talking about? Wretched one, you should have commanded another inferior army, and should not have been lord over us, to whom Jupiter bestowed a life of hard fighting from youth to old age, till we all perish. Is that how you want to leave the city of Troy, for which we have suffered so much? Shut up lest other Achaeans hear you say what no man who knows how to give good advice, no king of an army as great as the Argives, should have uttered. I completely ignore your judgment on what you say. Do you want us to throw our ships into the water during the battle and play along with the Trojan conquerors? It would be doom; the Achaeans will no longer resist when they see the ships being pulled into the water, but will stop attacking and continue watching them; So your advice, Mr. Captain, it would be our downfall.

Agamemnon replied, "Odysseus, your correction has broken my heart. However, I do not command the Achaeans to put their ships into the sea, whether they like it or not. Anybody old or young can give us better advice I'd love to hear.

Then Diomedes said: “It is near; it is not far to look for it if you listen to me and do not take offense at my words, although I am younger than all of you. I am the son of a noble father, Tydeus, buried in Thebes. For Porteo had three noble sons, two of whom, Agrio and Melas, dwelt in Pleuron and in rocky Calidon. The third was the knight Eneus, my father's father, and he was the bravest of all. Aeneus stayed in his own country, but my father (as Jupiter and the other gods commanded) migrated to Argos. He married into the family of Adrastus, and his house was of great wealth, for he had large estates of fertile land for corn-cultivation, with much orchard, and he had many sheep; he also excelled all Argives in spear-handling. You must have heard for yourself whether these things are true or not; therefore, when I say well, do not despise my words as if I were a coward or of ignoble birth. So what I am saying is that even if we are wounded, we will go into battle if necessary. Once there, we can stay out of the fray and out of range of the spears, lest we take new wounds on top of the ones we already have, but we can encourage others who give in to their anger. and stay out of the fight so far. ”

That's how I talk; so they did as he said and went, with King Agamemnon at their head.

Meanwhile, Neptune was not looking blindly and approached them with the appearance of an old man. He took Agamemnon's right hand in his own and said: Son of Atreus, I suppose Achilles is happy now to see the Achaeans defeated and dead, for he has no remorse, let him meet a bad end and be confused by Heaven. As for you, the blessed gods are not so angry with you yet, but the Trojan princes and advisers will raise dust again on the plain, and you will see them fly from ships and tents to your city.

With that he uttered a mighty battle cry and rushed towards the plain. The voice that came from his deep breast was like that of nine or ten thousand men crying out in the midst of battle, and it gave new courage to the hearts of the Achaeans to make war and fight without ceasing.

Juno looked down from the golden throne as she stood on the top of Olympus, and her heart rejoiced to see him who was her brother and brother-in-law, running to and fro in the midst of battle. Then he fixed his eyes on Jupiter, who sat on the highest peaks of Ida of many springs and hated him. She began to think how to deceive him, and finally she thought that it would be better for her to go to Ida and dress in rich ornaments, hoping that Jupiter would fall in love with her and embrace her. by him. While he was so busy, a sweet, carefree dream gripped his eyes and senses.

He then went into the room that his son Vulcan had made for him and whose doors he had skillfully locked with a secret key so no other god could open them. Here she entered and closed the doors behind her. She wiped all dirt from her beautiful body with ambrosia, then anointed herself with olive oil, ambrosia, very soft and perfumed especially for her, when she stirred in the house of Jupiter with bronze floors, the fragrance permeated the universe of heaven and earth . With this he anointed her delicate skin and then braided the ambrosial blond locks that flowed from her immortal head in a stream of golden braids. She put on the wonderful tunic which Minerva had made for her with consummate skill and embroidered with many designs; He fastened it to his breast with golden clasps, and girded himself with a girdle with a hundred tassels; then she fastened her earrings, three glittering pendants that shone beautifully, through her pierced ears and threw a beautiful new veil over her head. She tied her sandals on her feet, and when she was perfectly settled to her satisfaction, left the room, calling to Venus to stand aside and speak to her. "My daughter," she said, "will you do as I ask, or will you reject me because you are angry that I sided with Danaa while you sided with Troy?"

Venus, daughter of Jupiter, replied: "Juno, exalted queen of the goddesses, daughter of mighty Saturn, say what you will, and I will do it at once, if I can and if it can be done."

So Juno lied to her and said, "I want you to give me some of those enchanting amulets whose spells bring all mortal and immortal to your feet. I go to the ends of the world to visit Oceanus (from whom all gods come) and mother Thetis: they took me into their house, nurtured me and raised me, having taken me from Rhea, as Jupiter the great Saturn imprisoned. in the abysses that are under the earth and under the sea. I must go to them to make peace between them; they fight and are so angry that they haven't slept together in so long; If I can bring them back and bring them back into each other's embrace, they will be grateful to me and love me forever."

Then Venus, who loved laughter, said: "I cannot and must not reject you because you are sleeping in the arms of Jupiter, who is our king."

As she spoke she unfastened from her bosom the strangely embroidered girdle upon which all her charms were wrought: love, desire, and that sweet flattery that robs the wisest of judgment. She gave Juno the girdle and said, "Take this girdle, which contains all my charms, and put it on your chest. If you wear it, I assure you that whatever your mission, it will not be in vain.

Hearing this, Juno smiled and, still smiling, draped the belt across her chest.

Venus has now returned to Jupiter's house while Juno has fallen from the heights of Olympus. He passed Pieria and fair Emathia and continued on his way until he reached the snowy mountain ranges of the Thracian Horsemen, over whose highest peaks he soared without ever setting foot on the ground. Reaching Athos, he followed the waves of the sea until he reached Lemnos, the city of noble Thoas. There he met Sleep, brother of death, took him by the hand and said: "Sleep, ruler of mortals and immortals, if you have rendered me a service in the past, do me one now." , and I will be forever grateful to you. Close Jupiter's piercing eyes in your sleep as I hold him in my arms, and I will give him a beautiful golden seat that can never be broken; my son Vulcan, who has a clubfoot, will do this for you and give you a footstool to rest your beautiful feet on when you sit at the table.

Then Dream replied: "Juno, great queen of the goddesses, daughter of mighty Saturn, would have no qualms about lulling any other of the gods to sleep, not even save the waters of the ocean from whence they all come, but I dare not myself." to approach them. Jupiter, don't even send him to sleep unless he tells me to. I have already learned a lesson by doing what you asked, the day the mighty Hercules son of Jupiter set sail from Ilius after sacking the city of the Trojans. At his command I sprinkled sweet self upon the spirit of Jupiter, bearer of the Aegis, and laid him to rest; Meanwhile, you hatched a conspiracy against Hercules, sending wild gusts of wind to whip the sea until you pushed him far away from all your friends to the beautiful city of Cos. Jupiter was furious when he woke up and started throwing the gods all over the house; I looked for myself especially and would have thrown myself across space into the sea, where I would never be heard again if the night that terrifies men and gods had not protected me. I fled to her and Jupiter, despite his anger, stopped looking for me because he didn't dare anything that displeased Night. And now you're asking me again to do something I dare not do.

And Juno said: "Sleep, why do you build such thoughts into yourself? Do you think Jupiter will help the Trojans like he did his own son? Come, I will marry you to one of the youngest Graces, and she will be your own Pasithea, whom you have always wanted to marry.

Dream was happy when he heard this, and replied: 'Then swear to me by the dreadful waters of the River Styx; lay one hand on the fertile earth and the other on the shining sea, that all the gods who dwell below with Saturn may be our witnesses, and see that you really give me one of the youngest graces, Pasithea, whom I always wanted to marry . "

Juno did as she was told. She swore and called as witnesses all the gods of the underworld called Titans. When he finished his oath, the two were enveloped in a thick mist and moved forward slightly, leaving Lemnos and Imbrus behind. Then they came to Ida, the fountain of many beasts, the mother of beasts, and to Lectum, where they traded the sea for the land, and the treetops of the forest whispered beneath their feet. Here Dream stopped, and before Jupiter saw him, he was climbing onto a tall pine tree, the tallest in all of Ida, which was craning its head toward the sky. He hid himself behind the branches, and there he sat in the form of the sweet songbird that haunts the mountains, whom the gods call Chalcis, but men call Cimindis. Juno then went to Gargarus, the highest peak of Ida, and Jupiter, the ladder of clouds, looked down on them. As soon as she did, he was ignited by the same passionate desire for her he'd felt when they'd enjoyed cuddling and sleeping together unbeknownst to his loving parents. He approached her and said: "What do you want that you came from Olympus and also without carts or horses to carry you?"

Then Juno lied to him and said: “I will go to the ends of the earth to visit Oceanus, from whom all gods come, and mother Thetis; They welcomed me into their home, took care of me and raised me. I have to go to them to make things up: They had a fight and are so angry that they haven't slept together in a long time. The horses that will carry me across land and sea are stationed at the foot of the many springs of Ida, and I have come from Mount Olympus to consult you. I was afraid that later you would be mad at me if I went to Oceanus' house without telling you.

And Jupiter said: “Juno, you can choose another time to visit the ocean, let us devote ourselves to love and mutual enjoyment for the time being. I have never been so overcome with passion, goddess or mortal, as at this moment I am alone, not even when I was in love with the wife of Ixion who bore me Pirithous, equal of the gods in Council, not even Danae. the tender-armed daughter of Acrisius, who bore me the famous hero Perseus. Then there was the daughter of the phoenix who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus; there were Semele and Alcmene in Thebes, with whom I bore my lion-hearted son Hercules, while Semele was the mother of Bacchus, the Comforter of mankind. There was Queen Ceres again and the beautiful Leto and you, but I wasn't in love with any of them like I am in you now."

Juno again answered with a lie. "Fearsome son of Saturn," he exclaimed, "what are you talking about? Do you want us to have fun up here on Mount Ida where everything is on display? What if one of the eternal gods saw us sleeping together and told the others? It would be so scandalous that, having left her arms, I could never appear in her house again; but if it seems so to you, there is a room your son Vulcan made for me, and gave him good strong doors; If you want, let's go to bed.

And Jupiter answered: “Juno, you need not fear that neither God nor man shall see you, for I will envelop us both in a golden cloud so thick that the sun itself, with all its penetrating and radiant rays, cannot able will see someone." through her. ." With that, the son of Saturn embraced his wife; where the earth made her sprout a mattress of young grass, with lotus flowers, crocuses, and hyacinths sprinkled with dew, so soft and thick that they lifted them above the ground There they lay down, and a fair golden cloud covered them over their heads, from which fell bright drops of dew.

So the father of all things rested peacefully on Ida, overcome with sleep and love, and holding his wife in his arms. Meanwhile, Dream departed for the Achaean ships to speak with Neptune, orbiting the earth, the lord of the earthquake. Finding it, he said, "Well, Neptune, you are welcome to help the Danaans and give them victory, if only for a short while while Jupiter still sleeps. I sent him into a sweet dream and Juno made him sleep with her.

The dream vanished, making its way back and forth between humans, leaving Neptune more eager than ever to help the Danaans. He advanced to the front ranks and called out, 'Argives, shall we allow Hector son of Priam the triumph of taking over our ships and covering himself in glory? That's what he says he'll do now that Achilles is still in the brig on his ship; We will be fine without him if we keep each other in our hearts and support each other. Well then, let's all do as I say. Let us each take the biggest and best shield we can, put on our helms, and go out with our longest spears in our hands; He will guide you, and Hector son of Priam, angry as he may be, will not dare oppose us. If a good soldier only has a small shield, give it to a worse one and take a bigger one."

So he spoke, and they did what he said. The son of Tydeus, Odysseus and Agamemnon, though wounded, put the others in order, and went everywhere to change their armour; The bravest took the best armor and gave the worst man the worst. As they donned their bronze armor, they marched with Neptune at their head. In his strong hand he held his terrible sword, sharp and bright as lightning; Woe to him who finds him on the day of battle! all people tremble with fear and turn away from him.

Hector, on the other hand, fixed the Trojans. Then Neptune and Hector collided violently. Hector on the Trojan side and Neptune on the Argive side. Mighty was the uproar when the two forces met; the sea has entered the ships and tents of the Achaeans, but the waves roar no louder on the shore when roused by the breath of Boreas, nor do the flames of a forest fire roar louder when they rest on the shore. mountains, nor does the wind howl with harsher music as it rends the peaks than blowing louder than the terrible cry that the Trojans and Achaeans uttered as they fell on one another.

Hector aimed his javelin at Ajax first, who turned right at him and didn't miss. The spear struck him where two bands ran across his chest, his shield band and his silver-studded sword band, and these protected his body. Enraged that his spear was thrown in vain, Hector retreated under the protection of his men. As he retreated, Ajax son of Telamon struck him with a stone, many of which were hurled under the warriors' feet, and they made them brace the sides of the ships that lay on the beach. Ajax took one of them and hit Hector on the end of the shield, near the neck; the blow sent him spinning like a top, tumbling in all directions. Like an oak tree when it is uprooted by Father Jupiter's thunderbolt, it falls headfirst and there is a terrible smell of sulfur, nobody can help but faint when they are near him, because lightning is something very terrible, so Hector fell to the ground and bit the dust. . His spear fell from his grasp, but his shield and helm were strapped to his body, and his bronze armor rattled around him.

The sons of the Achaeans threw themselves upon him with a great cry, hoping to drag him away, and hurled their spears at the Trojans, but none of them could hit him before he was surrounded and covered by the princes Polydamas, Aeneas, Agenor. , Sarpedon, captain of the Lycians, and nobleman Glaucus: None of the others forgot him either, and they covered him with their round shields to cover him. Then his companions picked him up from the ground and carried him from the battle to where his horses, with their driver and chariot, awaited him at the end of the fight; then, groaning and in great pain, they took him to the city. When they reached the ford of Xanthus' procession, spawned by the immortal Jupiter, they lowered him from his chariot and laid him on the ground; they poured water over him, and as they did so he breathed and opened his eyes. Then, kneeling, he vomited blood, but soon fell back to the ground, his eyes closing again in the dark, still stunned from the blow.

Seeing Hector leave the field, the Argives came to life and attacked the Trojans with even greater fury. The fleet of Ajax son of Oileus began to attack Satnius son of Enops and hit him with his spear: a beautiful nymph Naiad brought him to Enops while he was tending cattle on the banks of the river Satnioeis. The son of Oileus approached him and struck him in the side, causing him to fall and a fierce battle raged between Trojans and Danaans for his body. Polydamas son of Panthous rose to avenge him, and smote Prothoenor son of Areilycus in the right shoulder; The terrible spear pierced his shoulder and clung to the earth as it fell to dust. Polydamas boasted that he said: “Again, I suppose the spear came not in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthous; an Argive carried it in his body, and it will serve him as a staff when he descends to the house of Hades.

This boasting drove the Argives insane. Ajax son of Telamon was more angry than all because the man had fallen near him; then he aimed at Polydamas as he retreated, but Polydamas saved himself by dodging, and the spear struck Archelocus son of Antenor, as Heaven ordained its destruction; it hit where the head sprouts from the top of the spine and severed the two tendons at the back of the head. His head, mouth and nostrils hit the ground long before his legs and knees could, and Ajax called out to Polydamas, "Think, Polydamas, and tell me honestly if this man isn't worth it, like that." Prothoenor being killed.” : He looks rich and comes from a rich family, future brother or son of the knight Antenor, who bears a close resemblance to him.

But he knew who he was and the Trojans were very angry. Then Acamas rode over his brother's body and struck Promachus the Boeotian with his spear for trying to drag his brother's body away. Acamas boasted that he said: "Give archers, boasters that you are, the work and suffering will not only be ours, but some of you will also fall here as we do." See how Promachus sleeps now, vanquished by my spear; the payment of my brother's blood did not last long; a man can therefore be very grateful if he leaves a relative in his home to avenge his fall.

His taunts enraged the Argives, and Peneleus was angrier than anyone else. He rushed to Acamas, but Acamas could not resist and killed Ilioneo, the son of the rich shepherd Phorbas, whom Mercury had favored and endowed with greater wealth than any other Trojan. Ilioneus was his only son, and Peneleus now struck him in the eye below the eyebrows and knocked the eyeball out of its socket: the spear went through the eye to the back of the head, and he fell, holding both hands in front of him. Then Peneleus drew his sword and struck him in the neck, so that his head and helmet fell to the ground, spear still in its eye; then he lifted up his head as if it were the head of a poppy, and showed it to the Trojans, boasting to them. – Troyanos – cried – command the priest and the mother of the noble Ilioneo, who mourn for him in their house, to bring the wife of Prómaco son of Alegenor, and neither will she be happy at the arrival of her beloved husband, when the Argives return with our children. Trojan Ships.

As he spoke, fear gripped them, and each man looked around to see where he could run to safety.

Tell me now, O Muses who dwell on Mount Olympus, who was the first of the Argives to carry away bloodstained spoils, after Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, had turned the tide of the war. Ajax son of Telamon was the first to defeat Hyrtius son of Gyrtius, captain of the steadfast Mysians. Antilochus killed Phalkes and Mermerus while Meriones killed Morys and Hippotion, Teucer also killed Prothon and Periphetes. Then the son of Atreus struck Hyperenor, the shepherd of his people, in the flank, and the bronze point burst out and tore his entrails; with that his life fled from him at the spot where he had been wounded and his eyes closed in the darkness. Ajax son of Oileus killed more than any other, for there was no man who pursued flying foes as swiftly as he did when Jupiter had caused panic among them.

Book XV

BUT as flight caught them at the trenches and stakes and many fell upon the Danaans, the Trojans halted when they reached their chariots, defeated and pale with fear. Justus awoke now on the ridges of Ida, lying with Juno enthroned in gold at his side, and as he rose he saw the Trojans and Achaeans, some confused, others whirling before them. with King Neptune in their midst. He saw Hector lying on the ground, his companions gathered around him, panting and striding and spitting blood, for it was not the weakest of the Achaeans that struck him.

The father of gods and men took pity on him and looked at Juno. "I understand, Juno," he said, "you mischief-maker, deceiver, that your cunning prevented Hector from fighting and caused the defeat of his army." I'm about to whip you, in which case you'll be the first to reap the rewards of your heinous mischief. Don't you remember how I once made you hang up? I tied two anvils to your feet and bound your hands with a golden chain that no one could break, and you floated in the air among the clouds. All the gods of Olympus were angry, but they could not reach him to free him; When I caught one of them, I grabbed him and threw him from the heavenly threshold until he fainted to earth; but even that did not relieve me of the ceaseless concern I felt for noble Hercules, whom you and Boreas brutally carried across the seas to Cos, after you bribed the storms; but I saved him and brought him back to Argos in spite of all his hard work. I want to remind you of this so that you learn to stop being so deceitful and discover how much you can gain from the hugs of those who came here to deceive me.

Juno trembled as she spoke, saying: "The heavens above and the earth below shall be my witnesses, with the waters of the river Styx, and this is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can swear. No, I also swear on your own almighty head. and for our bridal bedding I could never swear that Neptune would not punish Hector and the Trojans, and help the Achaeans in any of my labors; it is all for his mere movement, for he was sorry to see the Achaeans on his ships in distress: if I advised him, I would tell him to do as thou hast commanded.

The father of gods and men smiled and replied: “If you, Juno, had always supported me when we sat in the council of the gods, Neptune, whether you like it or not, would soon accept your way of thinking and mine. So if you tell the truth and say what you say go to the troops of the gods and tell Iris and Apollo the lord of the bow that I want Iris so she can go to the Achaean hosts and tell Neptune stop to fight and go home and to Apollo who can send Hector back into battle and give him new strength; so he will forget his present afflictions and drive the Achaeans back in confusion until they fall under the ships of Achilles son of Peleus. Then Achilles will send his comrade Patroclus into battle, and Hector will slay him before Ilius, having slain many warriors, including my noble son Sarpedon. Achilles will kill Hector to avenge Patroclus, and from then on I will persistently let the Achaeans repel the Trojans until they heed Minerva's advice and take Ilius. But I will not restrain my anger, nor will I allow any god to help the Danaans, until I have fulfilled the wish of the son of Peleus, according to the promise I made when I kneeled on the day Thetis touched and begged me, my head bent me to do it. give him honor.”

Juno heard his words and went from the heights of Ida to great Olympus. Fast as the thought of a man whose imagination takes him across vast continents, and he says to himself, "Now I'll be here or there," and he would have all sorts of things as fast as Juno would have flown his way. until it came. to the top of Olympus and stood among the gods assembled in the house of Jupiter. When they saw her, everyone came up to her and offered her their glasses in greeting. He left the others alone, but accepted the cup offered to him by the beautiful Themis, who was the first to run towards him. "Juno," she said, "why are you here? And you seem concerned, did your husband, son of Saturn, frighten you?

And Juno answered, "Themis, don't ask me about it. You know what a proud and cruel temper my husband has. Bring the gods to the table where you and all immortals can hear the evil intentions he has proclaimed. Many, mortal and immortal alike, will be angry with them no matter how peacefully they celebrate now.

On it sat Juno, and the gods were troubled by all the house of Jupiter. Laughter touched her lips, but her brow was carefully furrowed and she spoke angrily. 'Fools that we are,' he exclaimed, 'that we are so madly angry at Jupiter; We always want to approach him and stop him with force or persuasion, but he stays on the sidelines and doesn't care about anyone, knowing that he is much stronger than all other immortals. Therefore, take advantage of the evils that I want to send to each of you; Mars, I suppose, has already proved it, for his son Ascalaphus fell in battle, the man he loved best and whose father he himself admits.

Hearing this, Mars smacked his two strong thighs with the palm of his hand and said angrily: In the end he will be struck by Jupiter's lightning and lie in blood and dust among the corpses.

As he spoke, he ordered his horses, Panic and Rout, to be tied while he donned his armor. With that, Jupiter would have awakened to an even more violent and implacable enmity against the other immortals had Minerva, armed for the safety of the gods, not leapt from her seat and run outside. She tore his helm from his head and his shield from his shoulders, took the bronze spear from his strong hand, and laid it aside; so he said to Mars: “Fool, you are lost; you have ears that do not hear, or you have lost all judgment and understanding; Didn't you hear what Juno said as she walked right out of the presence of Olympian Jupiter? Do you want to go through all kinds of suffering before being taken back to Olympus sick and sad after causing endless harm to all of us? Jupiter would leave the Trojans and Achaeans at once; he would come to Olympus to punish and arrest us one by one, guilty or innocent. So release your anger at the death of your child; Better men than him have already been killed or will die in the future, and you can't protect everyone's family."

With these words he led Mars back to his place. Meanwhile, Juno summoned Apollo with Iris, the messenger of the gods. “Jupiter,” he told them, “wants you to go to him on Mount Ida at once; When you see him, do as he tells you.”

Then Juno left her and sat inside while Iris and Apollo went on their way. Reaching Ida, mother of wild beasts, from many sources, they found Jupiter seated on Gargaro, with a fragrant cloud encircling his head like a diadem. They were in his presence, and he was pleased that they obeyed the orders his wife had given them so quickly.

First he spoke to Iris. "Go," he said, "Fleet Iris, tell King Neptune what I'm about to tell you, and tell him the truth. Ask him to stop fighting and join the company of the gods or dive into the sea. If he doesn't listen to me and doesn't obey me, let him think twice if he's strong enough to face me if I attack him. I am older and much stronger than him; yet he does not fear to measure himself against me, whom all other gods fear.”

Iris, swift as the wind, obeyed him, and like the cold sleet or snowflakes that fly from the clouds before Boreas explodes, she flew until she drew near the great earthbreaker. Then she said: 'I have come, O dark-haired king, holding the world in his arms, to bring a message from Jupiter. He commands you to cease fighting and join the company of the gods or go to sea; However, if you don't listen to him and disobey him, he says that he will come here and fight you. He wants you out of his reach for he is older and much stronger than you, and yet you are not afraid to rise to the level of him that all other gods fear.

Neptune was very angry and said, "Big heavens! Strong as Jupiter is, he has said more than he can do in threatening me with violence equal to his own. We were three brothers, Rhea gave birth to Saturn Jupiter, I and Hades who rules the world below. Heaven and earth were divided into three parts and each of us should have an equal share. When we drew lots, it fell to me to have my home at sea forever; Hades took the darkness of the realms beneath the earth, while the air, sky, and clouds were part of Jupiter; but the earth and the great Olympus are the common property of all. So I won't go the way Justus wants me to. For all his power, let him have the third and, without threatening, settle for touching me like I'm a nobody. Let him continue his haughty talk to his own sons and daughters, who are forced to obey him. Iris, swift as the wind, replied: "Really, Neptune, shall I take this bold and uncompromising message to Jupiter, or will you reconsider your answer? ? Reasonable people are willing to argue, and you know that Erinyes always takes the side of the older person.

Neptune replied, "Goddess Iris, your words were spoken in time. It is okay for a courier to show such discretion. It pains me, however, that someone who is so angry would rebuke another who is their equal and of the same realm as them. But now, despite my resentment, I will give in; Besides, let me tell you, and I mean this, if against my will Minerva, Juno, Mercury, and King Vulcan, forgive Jupiter, the brusque Ilius, and not allow the Achaeans the great triumph of plunder, understand that he will will incur our unrelenting grudges.

Neptune now left the field to dive into the sea and missed the Achaeans very much. Then Jupiter said to Apollo: 'Go, dear Phoebus, to Hector, for Neptune, who holds the earth in his arms, is now sunk in the sea to escape the weight of my anger. If I hadn't, those gods would have come with Saturn to hear of the battle between us. It's better for both of us that he pent up his anger and stay out of my reach because I should have been in a lot of trouble with him. So take your tasseled aegis and brandish it furiously to make the Achaean heroes panic; moreover, take brave Hector, O Far Dart, under your own care, and encourage him to daring deeds, till the Achaeans fly back to their ships and to the Hellespont. From then on, I will give serious thought to how the Achaeans can recover from their troubles.

Apollo obeyed his father's dictates and left the crests of Ida, flying like a hawk, whipped of doves and the swiftest of birds. He found Hector no longer lying on the ground but sitting up straight, having just woken up. He knew his surroundings, and sweat and shortness of breath left him since the will of Jupiter, bearer of the aegis, revived him. Apollo stood beside him and said: "Hector, son of Priam, why are you so weak and why are you here far away from the others?" Did you have an accident?

Hector said in a weak voice, "And which of the gods are you, sir, to ask me like this? Don't you know that when Ajax killed his companions on the Achaean ships, he hit me in the chest with a stone and forced me to stop fighting? I made sure that today I would breathe my last and go down to the house of Hades.”

Then King Apollo said to him: 'Cheer up; Saturn's son sent from Ida a mighty helper who will stand by you and defend you, I too, Phoebus Apollo with the golden sword, who has hitherto been protector not only over you but also over your city. So now command your horsemen to drive their chariots to the ships in great droves. I will go ahead of their horses, make way for them, and let the Achaeans flee.

As he spoke, he gave great power to the shepherd of his people. And like a horse, stabled and well-fed, it breaks out and gallops splendidly across the plain to the spot where it used to bathe in the river, bobbing its head and its mane falling over its shoulders with pride. In his strength he flies at full speed toward the pastures where the mares are grazing, but Hector, hearing what the god said, spurred on his riders and sped on as fast as his limbs would allow. When the peasants set their dogs on a stag or a horned ibex, he has taken refuge under a rock or a thicket, and they cannot find him, but behold a bearded lion, awakened by his cries, is in his way and in danger. there was no more hunting spirit, though the Achaeans still charged in droves, with their swords and javelins sharpened at both ends, but when they saw Hector walking among his men, they grew afraid and their hearts sank. .

Then spoke Thoas son of Andraemon, chief of the Aetolians, a man who could shoot well and who was steadfast even in hand-to-hand combat, while few could surpass him in debates when opinions were divided. Then, in all sincerity and goodwill, he addressed her thus: “What do I see now? Doesn't Hector come back to life? All claimed to have been killed by Ajax son of Telamon, but it seems that one of the gods saved him again. He has already slain many of us Danaans, and I suspect he will, for Jupiter's hand must be with him or he would never dare to show such mastery at the front. Well then, let's all do as I say; Let's order the bulk of our forces back to ships, but those of us who call ourselves the flower of the army should stand our ground and see if we can stop Hector with the tip of our spears as soon as possible. possible. approaches us; I suppose you'd better try attacking Danaan's press then.

So he spoke, and they did what he said. Those who were around Ajax and King Idomeneus, the supporters alongside Teucer, Meriones and Meges, peers of Mars, mustered all their best men and continued the fight against Hector and the Trojans, but the main body retreated in the Achaean ships .

The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with Hector at their head. Before him was Phoebus Apollo, shrouded in a cloud, on his shoulders. He carried aloft the dreadful Aegis with its hairy fringes, given to Jupiter by the blacksmith Vulcan to sow terror in the hearts of men. With that he turned to the Trojans.

The Argives stood together and stood their ground. The war cry rose loudly from both sides and arrows flew from the bowstrings. Many spears flew from strong hands and pierced the bodies of many mighty warriors, while others fell halfway before they could taste the man's white flesh and fill with blood. As Phoebus Apollo kept his aegis still and unwavering, the weapons worked on either side and the men fell, but as he shook them squarely into the faces of the Danaus and uttered his mighty battle cry, their hearts sank within them. and they forgot their old ability. As when two wild beasts leap over a herd of cows or a large flock of sheep in the middle of the night when the shepherd is not present, so the Danaans were powerless, for Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to Hector and his men. Trojan. .

The fighting then became more scattered and they killed each other as best they could. Hector killed Stichius and Arcesilaus, a leader of the Boeotians, the other friend and comrade of Menestheus. Aeneas killed Medon and Iasus. The first was the illegitimate son of Oileus and brother of Ajax, but he lived in Phylake far from his country for killing a man, a relative of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oileus had married. Iasus had become leader of the Athenians and was the son of Sphelus son of Boucolos. Polydamas killed Mecisteus and Polites Echius at the forefront of the battle, while Agenor killed Clonius. Paris hit Deiochus from behind on the underside of the shoulder as he flew between the fronts and the spearhead went right through him.

While these heroes were stripped of their armour, the Achaeans fell toward the moat and the stakes and were pushed back into the wall. Then Hector called to the Trojans: "Go ahead to the ships and leave the booty. If I see a man staying away from the ships on the other side of the wall, I will kill him: his relatives and relatives will not give him his right to fire, but the dogs will tear him to pieces in front of our city.

As he spoke he laid his whip on the shoulders of his horses and cried out to the Trojans in all their ranks; cried the Trojans with a shriek that rent the air, and held their horses close to him. Phoebus Apollo went ahead and stepped the edges of the deep ditch in the middle to form a great wide bridge, as wide as
like throwing a spear when a man is trying his strength. The Trojan battalions crossed the bridge and Apollo with his fearsome aegis led the way. He tore down the wall of the Achaeans as easily as a child playing by the sea building a house of sand, and then trampling on it and destroying it, so thou, O Apollo, poured labor and toil upon the Argives. . , filled her with panic and confusion.

Then the Achaeans were surrounded in their ships, calling to one another and raising their hands to heaven with loud cries. Nestor of Gerene, the strong tower of the Achaeans, lifted his hands to the starry heavens and prayed more fervently than anyone else. “Father Jupiter,” he said, “if anyone in Argos, where wheat is grown, has burned your fat thighs of sheep or veal and prayed that you might return home safely, after which you bowed your head in agreement before him, then receive consider it now, and let not the Trojans triumph over the Achaeans.

The whole Council of Jupiter thundered loudly in answer to the prayer of Neleus' elder son. When they heard the thunder of Jupiter, they attacked the Achaeans with even more violence. Like the wave that breaks over the side of a ship when the sea is rough in a gale, for it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so great that the Trojans leapt over the wall with a cry, and their chariots forward drifted . . . The two sides fought side by side with their double-edged spears: the Trojans from their chariots and the Achaeans climbing into their ships and brandishing the long spears that lay on deck for use at sea. Wrestling, articulated and paved with bronze.

Now, while the Achaeans and Trojans fought for the wall, but were not yet in it and in the ships, Patroclus sat in good Euripylus' tent, amusing him with his speeches and rubbing herbs into his wound to ease his pain. . Pain. However, seeing the Trojans running through the gap in the wall while the Achaeans screamed and panicked, he let out a loud cry and slapped both thighs with the palm of his hand. 'Eurypylus,' he said in dismay, 'I know that you love me very much, but I cannot stay with you any longer because a hard battle is going on; A servant will attend to you now, for I must go quickly to Achilles and make him fight if I can; who knows, but with heaven's help I can persuade him. A man does well to take a friend's advice."

With these words he left. The Achaeans held their ground and resisted the attack of the Trojans, but although the Trojans were outnumbered, they could not drive them off the ships, nor could the Trojans break through the ranks of the Achaeans and break through the tents and ships. As a carpenter's rope gives a real edge to a piece of ship's timber in the hands of a skilled craftsman, whom Minerva trained in all sorts of useful arts, so the outcome of the struggle between the two sides was evened, and some fought over it one thing and some at the other.

Hector headed straight for the Ajax and the two fought fiercely for the same ship. Hector could not force Ajax to turn back and burn the ship, nor could Ajax drive Hector from where Heaven had taken him.

Then Ajax struck Caletor son of Clytius in the chest with a spear as he brought fire to the ship. He fell heavily to the ground and the torch fell out of his hand. When Hector saw his cousin lying in front of the ship, he called out to the Trojans and Lycians and said: "Trojans, Lycians and Dardians, good at hand-to-hand combat, lose not an iota, but save the son of Clytius lest the Achaeans steal your hand armor from him, after she fell.

He then aimed a spear at Ajax and missed, but he hit Lycophron, a follower of Ajax who was from Cythera but lived with Ajax, having killed a man among the Cythereans. Hector's spear caught him in the head, just below the ear, and he fell lifeless from the bow of the ship. Ajax trembled with anger and said to his brother: "Teucer, my good friend, our faithful comrade Mastor's son has fallen, he has come to live with us from Cythera, and whom we honor as much as our own fathers. Hector just killed him; Immediately bring your deadly arrows and the bow that Phoebus Apollo gave you.

Teucer heard him and ran towards him, bow and quiver in hand. Immediately he shot his arrows at the Trojans, and struck Cleitus son of Pislor, comrade of Polydamas, noble son of Panthous, with the reins in his hand, while tending his horses; he was in the middle of the hardest part of the fight, serving Hector and the Trojans well, but now evil had crossed his path and none of those ready could stop him, for the arrow stuck. him by the neck. He fell off the wagon and his horses rocked the empty wagon as they dodged. King Polydamas saw what had happened and was the first to approach the horses; and he entrusted them to Astinous son of Prothiaon, and commanded him to look after them, and to keep the horses in hand. Then he returned and took his place in the front rows.

Then Teucer aimed another arrow at Hector, and there would have been no more fighting the ships if he had hit and killed him on the spot: but Jupiter, watching Hector, had his eye on Teucer and stole his triumph. , snapping the string just as he was drawing it back and about to aim; the arrow was deflected and the bow fell from his hands. Teucer trembled with anger and said to his brother: “Oh, look how heaven throws a spanner in the works in everything we do; he has snapped my bowstring and knocked the bow out of my hand, although I strung it this morning so that it might serve me many arrows.

Ajax son of Telamon replied: "Good fellow, leave your bow and arrows alone, for Jupiter has rendered them useless to annoy the Danaans. Take your spear, put your shield on your shoulder and fight the Trojans yourself and incite others to do the same. At the moment they may succeed, but if we fight as we must, it will be difficult for them to capture the ships.

Then Teucer took his bow and stowed it in his tent. A shield four hides thick hung over his shoulders, and on his blond head he mounted his well-made helm, topped by a crest of horsehair; He grabbed his fearsome bronze-tipped spear and was instantly at Ajax's side.

When Hector saw that Teucer's bow was no longer suitable for him, he called out to the Trojans and Lycians: "Trojans, Lycians and Dardanians, you are good at hand-to-hand combat, be men, my friends, and prove your courage here. on the ships, for I see the weapon of one of their chiefs, rendered useless by the hand of Jupiter. It's easy to tell when Jupiter is helping people and wants to help them more, or when he's dragging them down and won't do anything for them; now he's on our side, moving against the Argives. So swarm around the ships and fight. If any of you are wounded by spear or sword and lose your life, let him die; He who dies fighting for his fatherland dies with honor; and he will protect his wife and children without plundering his house and inheritance while the Achaeans are driven back to his land, they and their ships.

With these words, he poured out his heart and soul into them all. Ajax, on the other hand, urged his comrades, saying: "Shame on you, Argives, we are now utterly doomed if we cannot save ourselves by driving the enemy from our ships. Do you think if Hector takes her away you can return home by land? Can't you hear him cheering on his entire army to shoot our fleet and begging them to remember that they are not in a ball but in a battle? Our only option is to fight them with might and main; It is better for us to risk life and death once and for all than to fight long and in vain, trapped in our ships by men worse than us.

With these words he breathed life and soul into them all. Hector then killed Schedius son of Perymedes, leader of the Phocaeans, and Ajax killed Laodamas, captain of the infantry and son of Antenor. Polydamas killed Otus of Cyllene, a comrade of Phyleus' son and chief of the proud Epaeans. Seeing this, Meges sprang at him, but Polydamas ducked and missed, for Apollo would not allow the son of Panthous to fall in battle; but the spear struck Cremo square in the chest, where he fell heavily to the ground, and Meges stripped off his armor. At that time the valiant soldier Dolops son of Lampus son of Laomedon sprang upon Lampus for his bravery, while his son Dolops was skilled in all kinds of warfare. Then he plunged his spear right into Phileo's son's shield and charged him at point-blank range, but his good corset of tin saved him; Phyleus had brought it from Ephyra and the River Selleis, where his host, King Euphetes, had given it to protect him in battle. Now it was used to save his son's life. Then Meges struck the top crest of Dolops' bronze helm with her spear, and plucked off the horsehair bush, so that everything so freshly stained scarlet crumbled to dust. Still fighting and sure of victory, Menelaus seemed to help Meges and slipped past Dolops unnoticed; then it pierced him from behind in the shoulder, and the point, penetrating his chest with such fury, pierced his chest where he landed upside down. So the two went to take his armor from him, but Hector called all his brothers for help, and especially rebuked brave Melanippus son of Hiketaon, who used to herd his cattle at Percoth before the storm broke. but when the ships of the Danaans arrived he returned to Ilios, where he held a prominent position among the Trojans, and lived near Priam, who treated him as one of his own sons. Hector now rebuked him and said: 'Why, Melanippus, are we so careless? Don't you notice the death of your relative and don't you see how they try to take away Dolop's armor? follow me; Now we must not fight the Argives from afar, we must do so in close combat until we kill them or they take the high wall of Ilius and kill his people.

He continued as he spoke, and the hero Melanippus followed him. Meanwhile, Ajax son of Telamon encouraged the Argives. 'My friends,' he exclaimed, 'be men and fear shame; abandon each other in battle to earn one another's respect. Men who respect the good opinions of others are less likely to die than those who don't, but there is no gain or glory in flight.

So he admonished the men who were already busy fending off the Trojans. Heeding his words, they surrounded the ships with a bronze wall while Jupiter spurred on the Trojans. Menelaus from the loud war cry urged Antilochus. "Antilochus," he said, "you are young, and none of the Achaeans are quicker on their feet or braver than you." See if you can't jump on a trojan and kill it.

He fled as he spurred on Antilochus, who immediately fired from the front ranks, aiming a spear after carefully looking around. The Trojans flinched as he hurled it, and the arrow did not fly out of his hand useless, for it struck Melanippus, the proud son of Hiketaon, in the breast, in the nipple as he approached, and his armor reverberated around him hereabouts . As he advanced, he fell heavily to the ground. Antilochus lunged at him like a dog at a stag struck and killed by a hunter escaping from hiding. Thus, O Melanippus, valiant Antilochus hastened to rob you of your weapons; but noble Hector saw him, and ran to him in the midst of battle. Antilochus, the brave soldier that he was, did not stop to meet him, but fled like a wild creature that knows he has done wrong and flees when he kills a dog or a man who is his livestock beware before a group of men can gather and attack him. So Nestor's son fled, and the Trojans and Hector threw their weapons at him with a shriek that pierced the air; He also didn't turn around and halted his flight until he reached his comrades.

The Trojans, fierce as lions, still advanced on the ships to obey the commands of Jupiter, who spurred them on to new exploits while quenching the courage of the Argives and defeating them by encouraging the Trojans. For he wished to honor Hector son of Priam, and made him set fire to the ships until he fulfilled the unjust prayer that Thetis had offered him; Jupiter therefore waited until he could see the glow of a burning ship. From that moment he was about to throw the Trojans from the ships and do honor to the Achaeans. For this he inspired Hector, son of Priam, who was already quite imprisoned, to attack the ships. His anger was like that of Mars, or like when a fire burns in the clearings of a dense mountain forest; he was foaming at the mouth, his eyes gleamed beneath his terrible brows, and his helm trembled at his temples with the fury with which he fought. Jupiter from heaven was with him, and though he was one against many, gave him victory and glory; for he was doomed to an early death, and Pallas Minerva was already hastening the hour of his destruction by the son of Peleus. Now, however, he continued to try to break through the enemy's ranks wherever he could see them thicker and better armored; but he did what he did, he did not pass them, for they stood like a square tower, or like a high cliff rising out of the gray sea, defying the wrath of the storm and the waves roaring against it . It fell on them from all sides like flames of fire. As when a wave, a high mountain heaved up by wind and storm, breaks over a ship and covers it with thick foam, the wild winds roar against the mast, the sailors' hearts fail with fear, and they are but a small one saved for a while. far from destruction, the hearts of the Achaeans deserted her. Or like a wild lion attacking a herd of cows that graze by the thousands in the low meadows by a broad waterfront, the shepherd, not knowing how to protect his flock, rides sometimes in the chariot, sometimes with his cattle behind, while the lion is in the middle jumping among them and seizing a cow, so that they all tremble with fear, the Achaeans were terribly afraid of Hector and Father Jupiter. However, Hector only killed Periphetes of Mycenae; he was the son of Copreaus who delivered the orders of King Eurystheus to the mighty Hercules, but the son was in every respect a far better man than his father; He was quick on his feet, a brave warrior and ranked among the leading men of Mycenae in his intelligence. It was he then who gave Hector a triumph, who, as he turned, stumbled over the tip of his shield, which reached his feet and served to prevent the arrows from hitting him. He tripped over her and landed on his back, helmet clattering loudly around his head. Hector saw him fall and ran towards him; then he plunged a spear into his chest and killed him alongside his own comrades. Despite all the pain, they couldn't help him because they themselves were very afraid of Hector.

They had already reached the ships, and the bugs of those who boarded them first were on all sides, but the Trojans came after them. The Argives were driven from the front of the ships, but halted beside their tents, not being divided or scattered; Shame and fear held her back. They cried out to one another without ceasing, and Nestor of Gerene, the strong tower of the Achaeans, was the strongest in summoning every man to his fathers, and imploring him to stand firm.

“Be men, my friends,” he exclaimed, “and respect the good opinions of others. You are all thinking of your children, your wives, your possessions and your parents, living or dead. On their behalf, even if you are not here, I ask you to stand firm and not turn away."

With these words, he poured out his heart and soul into them all. Minerva lifted the thick veil of darkness from her eyes and much light fell into her, both from the side of the ships and from the side where the fighting was taking place. You could see Hector and all of his people, both those in the rear not taking part in the battle and those fighting alongside the ships.

Ajax did not dare retreat with the others, but went from deck to deck with a great sea-spear in his hand, twelve cubits long and suspended by rings. Just as a man skilled in horseback combines four horses and goes at full speed down the public road from the countryside to a large city, so many men and women marvel at the sight of him, because he is constantly changing horses and jumping from one to another, another without never loses his balance when the horses gallop, so Ajax walked from deck to ship, his voice rising to the sky. He continued to shout orders to the Danaans, urging them to defend their ships and supplies. Hector did not remain in the main group of Trojan warriors either, but as a brown eagle swoops down on a flock of wild birds feeding near a river goose or cranes or long-necked swans, so Hector leaps straight up to a dark, curved ship that is directly on it runs up for Jupiter led him on with his mighty hand, and urged his people to follow him.

And now the battle raged again with fury on the ships. One would have thought the men had arrived refreshed and indefatigable, so fiercely did they fight; and so the Achaeans thought they did not believe they would escape annihilation, but they thought they were lost, while there was no Trojan without his heart beating in hopes of burning the ships and men with the sword to kill.

Both sides thought so. So Hector grabbed the stern of the good ship that had brought Protesilaus to Troy but never brought him back to his homeland. Hand-to-hand combat between Danaans and Trojans broke out around this ship. They did not fight at a distance with bows and javelins, but with one accord they cut one another in hand-to-hand combat with their mighty swords and spears aimed at both ends; They even fought with sharp axes and axes. Many strong and good blades, wielded with iron and encased in scabbards, fell from their hands or shoulders in battle, and the earth was stained with blood. Hector, as he seized the ship, did not loosen his grip, but clung to the bowed stern and shouted to the Trojans: “Bring fire and shout all with one voice. Now Jupiter has given us a day that will pay for everything else; On that day we will take the ships that came here against the will of Heaven and that, through the cowardice of our advisers, caused us so much suffering that when I tried to fight the ships, they stopped and banned me army to follow me; if Jupiter really perverted our judgments then, he himself commands and encourages me now.

As he was saying this, the Trojans attacked the Achaeans with even more fury, and Ajax could resist no longer, for he was defeated by the arrows hurled at him and caused his downfall. Then he left the raised deck at the stern and returned to the seven-foot oar bench. Here he stood guard and stopped Trojan with his spear, whom he saw bringing fire to the ships. All the while he screamed at the top of his lungs, admonishing the Danaans. “My friends,” he exclaimed, “Heroes of Danaan, servants of Mars, be men, my friends, and fight with might and might. Can we expect to find helpers in the future, or a wall to protect us more securely than we have hitherto? There is no strong city within our reach from which we can draw renewed strength to tip the balance in our favor. We are on the plane of the armed Trojans, with the sea behind us and far from our own land. Our salvation therefore lies in the power of our hands and in hard struggle".

As he spoke he brandished his spear with even greater fury, and when Trojans under Hector's command advanced on the flaming ships, he lay in wait and charged them with his long spear. So he killed twelve men in hand-to-hand combat in front of the ships.

Buch XVI

So they fought for the ship of Protesilaus. Then Patroclus approached Achilles with tears streaming from his eyes as from a spring whose crystalline flow falls on the edges of a high abyss. When Achilles saw him weeping like this, he took pity on him and said: "Why, Patroclus, are you standing there weeping like a foolish child who runs to his mother and begs her to pick him up and have her mother carry him? to stop her though she is in a hurry and she looks up with tears in her eyes until her mother carries her in her arms, even those tears Patroclus sheds you now have you heard of Pthia only you know? I was told that Menoetius son of Actor still lives, like Peleus son of Aeacus, among the men of Myrmidons, whose loss we must both bitterly mourn, or do you mourn with the Argives and the 'How shall they in killed the boats by their own authoritarian actions? Don't hide anything from me, but tell me so we both know."

Then you answered, O knight Patroclus, with a deep sigh: "Achilles, son of Peleus, chief fighter of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but I weep for the misfortune that has now befallen the Argives. All who have hitherto been their champions lie on the ships, wounded by sword or spear. the brave Diomedes son of Tydeus was wounded with a spear, while the famous Odysseus and Agamemnon suffered sword wounds; Eurypylus was again wounded in the thigh by an arrow; skillful apothecaries tend to these heroes and heal their wounds; Are you still so implacable, Achilles? May it never be my turn to nurture a passion like the one you created, to desecrate your own good name. Who will speak well of you in future history unless you now save the Argives from destruction? You know no mercy; Your father was not Peleus the Knight, nor was your mother Thetis, but the gray sea gave birth to you and the sheer cliffs gave birth to you, so cruel and pitiless are you. However, if you are stopped by the knowledge of an oracle, or if your mother Thetis told you something from the mouth of Jupiter, at least send me and the Smyrmidons with me if I can bring liberation to the Danaans. Let me put on your armor too; then the Trojans bring me to you, and leave the field, that the afflicted sons of the Achaeans may have a truce, which while they fight can scarcely be. We who are refreshed shall soon drive weary men from our ships and tents to their own city.

He did not know what he was asking, nor that he was asking for his own destruction. Achilles was deeply moved and answered: "What are you saying, noble Patroclus? I have no prophecies that I am aware of, nor did my mother tell me anything from the mouth of Jupiter, but it pains my heart that someone of my rank would dare steal from me because he is mightier than I Am . This is more than I can take after everything I've been through. The maiden chosen for me by the sons of the Achaeans, given as a spearfruit when I plundered a city, King Agamemnon took away from me like a vagrant vagabond. Leave the past behind, however: no man can hold back his anger forever; I said I wouldn't regret until the battle and the war-cry reached my own ships; but now gird my armor on thy shoulders, and lead the squadrons into battle, for the black cloud of the Trojans broke furiously upon our fleet; the Argives are being driven back to shore, shut up in a confined space, and all the Trojans have been encouraged to move against them because they do not see the visor of my helmet gleaming near them. Had they seen this, there would not have been a stream or dam that did not fill with their dead as they fled back. And so it would have been if King Agamemnon had treated me fairly. It looks like our host has been harassed by trojans. Diomedes son of Tydeus no longer brandishes his spear to defend the Danaans, nor do I hear the voice of the son of Atreus from his hated head, while that of murderous Hector echoes in my chariots and commands the Trojans that triumph . over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with his war cry. But still, Patroclus, attack them and save the fleet, lest the Trojans shoot him and prevent us from returning. However, do as I command now, that you bestow upon me great honor from all Danaans, and bring back the child to me, and bounty gifts as well. After driving the Trojans off the ships, go back. Though Juno's thundering husband brings triumph within your reach, fight no more Trojans in my absence, or you will rob me of the glory that should be mine. And stop killing the Trojans out of lust for battle and lead the Achaeans to Ilio, lest one of the eternal gods of Olympus attack you, for Phoebus Apollo loves them very much: come back when you freed the ships from danger, and let others do it wage war on the plain. I wish, by Father Jupiter, Minerva, and Apollo, that of all the Trojans not a single man would remain, not even the Argives, but that we two would be left alone to rend the cloak that covers Troy's forehead! .”

That's how they talked. But Ajax could no longer hold back the hail of arrows that rained down on them; the will of Jupiter and the arrows of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet gleaming on his temples echoed with the incessant crackle of the shells that fell on him and on the cheeks that protected his face. Also, his left shoulder was tired from holding his shield for so long, but with all of that, no matter how much they let him fly, they couldn't get him to budge. He could hardly breathe, sweat ran from every pore of his body, he could not rest for a moment and he was surrounded by danger after danger on all sides.

And now tell me, O Muses, who keep your dwellings on Mount Olympus, how fire was thrown on the ships of the Achaeans. Hector stepped forward and thrust his greatsword into Ajax's gray spear. He cut it in two just behind where the point attached to the shaft of the spear. So Ajax was left with a blunt spear, while the bronze tip flew off and fell to the ground with a resounding clang. Ajax knew the hand of heaven and was dismayed to see that Jupiter had left him completely defenseless and wished the Trojans victory. So he turned back and the Trojans set fire to the ship, which immediately burst into flames.

The fire was now raging around the stern of the ship where Achilles caught both thighs and said to Patroclus: 'Rise, noble knight, for I see the brilliance of enemy fire upon our fleet; stand up so they don't destroy our ships and there's no way we can retreat. Put on your armor at once when I summon our people.”

Patroclus donned his armor as he spoke. First he covered his legs with neat greaves and fastened them to the ankles with silver buckles; then he put on the richly inlaid and studded breastplate of the son of Aeacus. He slung his silver-tipped bronze sword over his shoulders, then his mighty shield. On his handsome head sat the well-made helmet with a crest of horsehair towering above it. He seized two terrible spears that fit him in his hands, but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles, which was so strong and strong that no other Achaean could wield it, although Achilles could so easily. This was the Ash Spear from Mount Pelion, which Chiron carved on a mountaintop and gave to Peleus to spread death among the heroes. He ordered Automedon to draw his horses in haste, for he was the man he honored next to Achilles and on whose support he could most trust in battle. Automedon therefore united the swift horses Xanthus and Balio, steeds that could fly like the wind: it was these who led the harpy Podarge to the west wind as she grazed in a meadow by the waters of the Ocean River. On the side reins he placed the noble horse Pedasus, which Achilles had taken with him when he sacked the city of Eetion, and which, though a mortal steed, was able to take its place with the immortals.

Meanwhile, Achilles ran between the tents and ordered his squadrons to take up arms. As wild, ravenous wolves feast on a horned stag they have killed in the mountains, and their jaws are red with blood, so they go in packs to lick the clear spring water with their long slender tongues; and they smell of blood and carnage; they don't know what fear is because hunger drives them; so the commanders and advisers of the squadrons gathered round the good squire of Aeacus's descending fleet, and among them was Achilles himself, encouraging men and horses.

Fifty ships brought the noble Achilles to Troy, each with a crew of fifty oarsmen. Over these he put five captains whom he could trust, while he himself was the commander over them all. Menestio of the shining corset, son of the river Esperqueo that flows from heaven, was captain of the first company. The beautiful Polidora, daughter of Peleus, gave birth to the ever-abundant Espercaeus, a woman married to a god, but he was named son of Borus son of Perieres, with whom his mother lived as wife, and who bestowed great wealth on conquer - it. The second company was commanded by the nobleman Eudorus, the son of an unmarried woman. Polymele daughter of Phylas the graceful dancer bare him; the mighty assassin of Argos fell in love with her when he saw her among the singers at a ball celebrated in honor of Diana, the swift hunter of the golden arrows; Therefore Mercury, the giver of all good, stepped with her into an upper chamber and secretly lay with her, where she bore him a noble son, Eudorus, singularly quick on his feet and valiant in battle. When Ilithuia, the goddess of childbirth, brought him to light and he saw the face of the sun, the mighty Echecles son of Actor took his mother to wife and gave her great riches to win her, but his father Phylas bore this child and cared for it, loving it tenderly as if it were his own child. The third company was led by Pisander, son of Maemalus, the finest spearman of all the Myrmidons, alongside Achilles' own comrade Patroclus. The old knight Phoenix was captain of the fourth company, and Alcimedon, the noble son of Laerkeus, of the fifth.

When Achilles was chosen from among his men and made them all his captains, he commanded them with determination, saying: "Myrmidons, awake from the great threats against the Trojans while they were in the ships at the time of my anger, and all those that were mine . "Cruel son of Peleus," you would say, "your mother must have raised you with gall, you are so ruthless." They keep us here against our will on ships; If you're so ruthless, we'd better go home by sea. Many times you found me and called me names like that. The time has come for the great feats of arms you have longed for; therefore each of you lift up your heart to fight the Trojans.

With these words he poured out his heart and soul to them all, and they gathered their companies all the more when they heard it from their king. Like the stones a bricklayer sets in the wall of a tall house that must protect the winds, so close together lay the hammered helms and shields. Shield upon shield, helm upon helm, and man upon man; so close were they that the horsehair feathers on the shiny crests of their hooves touched as they bowed their heads.

Before them the two men donned their armor, Patroclus and Automedon, two men willing to lead the Smyrmidons. So Achilles went into his tent and opened the lid of the thick chest which the silver-footed Thetis had given him to carry on board, and which she had filled with shirts, cloaks against the cold, and good thick blankets. In this chest he had a cup of rare work, from which no one could drink but him, and sacrifice to no god other than Father Jupiter. He took the cup out of the chest and cleaned it with brimstone; When he had done that, he rinsed it out with clear water and, after washing his hands, took out the wine. So he stood in the middle of the courtyard and prayed, looking up to heaven and making his libation of wine; nor was it invisible to Jupiter, whose joy is in thunder. "King Jupiter," he exclaimed, "Señor de Dodona, gods of the Pelasgians who dwell far away, you who have under your dominion a la invernal Dodona, from where your prophets the Selli live around you, with your feet without washing you and your old hands across the floor. If you heard me when I prayed to you in another time and honored me when you sent evil to the Achaeans, grant me the fulfillment of this additional prayer now. I will remain here where my ships are, but I will send my comrade into battle at the head of many Myrmidons. Grant, O all-seeing Jupiter, that victory may go with him; Put your courage in your heart so that Hector will know if my squire is enough to fight alone, or if his power is only so indomitable when I join the turmoil of war myself. Thereafter, when he drives the battle and war-cry from the ships, grant him to return unharmed, with his weapons and his fellow melee fighters."

So he prayed, and Jupiter, who advises all, answered his prayer. He gave him a part, but not the whole. He admitted that Patroclus opposed war and battle of ships, but refused to release him safely from battle.

After offering his libation and praying with it, Achilles entered his tent and placed the cup back on his chest.

So he left, still enjoying watching the fierce battles between the Trojans and the Achaeans.

Meanwhile, the armed group surrounding Patroclus continued until he leaped at the Trojans in hope. They swarmed like wasps, whose nests are by the roadside and which foolish children like to disturb, lest whoever passes be stung or disturbed again by a traveler coming down the road. Accident, every wasp will. She flew furiously to defend her little ones, even with such fury and courage that the henchmen jumped from their ships and her war cry soared to the skies. Patroclus shouted at the top of his lungs to his men: "Myrmidons, followers of Achilles son of Peleo, be men, my friends, fight with might and main, that we may win glory for the son of Peleo who is at hand of the earth . the first man on the ships of the Argives, he and his followers in hand-to-hand combat. Atreus' son, King Agamemnon, will learn his folly in showing no respect to the bravest of Achaeans.

With these words he poured out heart and soul into them, and they fell on the Trojans in one body. The ships echoed again with the call of the Achaeans, and when the Trojans saw the valiant son of Menoetius and his squire gleaming in their arms, they ducked and their battalions were confused, thinking that the swift son of Peleus must now be gone , laid aside his anger, and was reconciled with Agamemnon; Everyone therefore looked around to see where it might be safe to fly.

Patroclus first aimed a spear at the center of the crowd where the men were closest, near the stern of Protesilaus' ship. He defeated Pyraechmes, who had led his Paeonian knights from Amydon and the wide waters of the river Axius; the spear struck him in the right shoulder, and with a groan he fell backward to the ground; This confused his men, for by killing their leader, who was the best soldier among them, Patroclus sowed panic among them all. So he threw her overboard and put out the fire that was burning then, leaving the half-burned ship where it was. The Trojans were now being pushed back with a scream that rent the skies as the Danaans pursued them from their ships, roaring incessantly. As when Jupiter, the storm-cloud gatherer, spreads a dense canopy over the top of a high mountain, and all the peaks, projecting tongues of land, and forest glades are shown in the great light that shines from the exploding sky, so when the Danaans already had the fire of their ships repelled, they had breathed a little; but the fury of battle was not yet over, for the Trojans were not repelled in a complete defeat, but fought on, and were driven from their territory only by sheer combat.

The fight then broke up and the caciques killed each other when and how they could. The brave son of Menoetius plunged his spear first into Areilycus' thigh as soon as he turned; The tip went through and broke the bone, causing it to fall forward. Meanwhile, Menelaus struck Thoas in the chest where he was exposed at the edge of his shield and fell dead. Phileu's son saw Anphiclos about to attack him, and before he could he had aimed at the upper part of his thigh, where the muscles are thicker than elsewhere; the spear pierced every tendon in his leg and his eyes closed in the darkness. One of Nestor's sons, Antilochus, pierced Atymnius, driving the point of his spear into his throat, and he fell. Maris then leaped over Antilochus in hand-to-hand combat to avenge her brother, mounting the body spear in hand; but brave Thrasymedes was too quick for him, and had struck him in the shoulder before he could strike; His aim was precise, and the spear sliced ​​through every muscle at the base of his arm, tearing it down to the bone, causing him to fall heavily to the ground, his eyes closing in the darkness. So these two noble comrades of Sarpedon, slain by Nestor's two sons, went down to Erebus; They were the warlike sons of Amisodorus who raised the invincible Chimera to the ruin of many. Ajax son of Oileus sprang upon Cleobulus and took him alive while entangled in the crowd; but he killed him at that very moment with a sword blow to the neck. The sword smelled of his blood as dark death and the strong hand of fate gripped him and closed his eyes.

Peneleos and Lycon were now engaged in hand-to-hand combat when their spears missed. Both seemed ineffective, so now they drew their swords. Lykon struck the feathered crest of Peneleos' helmet, but his sword broke at the hilt while Peneleos struck Lykon in the neck below the ear. The blade sank so low that the head was supported only by the skin and there was no life left. Meriones pursued Acamas on foot and overtook him as he was about to get into his carriage; He thrust a spear into his right shoulder, causing him to fall headfirst out of the car, closing his eyes in the dark. Idomeneus pierced Erymas' mouth; The spear's bronze point pierced the brain, shattering and crushing the white bones. All his teeth were knocked out and blood was running from both eyes; it gurgled from his mouth and nose too, and the blackness of death enveloped him.

So these chiefs of the Danaans slew, each his man. Just as ravenous wolves will grab goats or lambs when they are alone on the slopes and have strayed from the main flock through the shepherd's carelessness, and when the wolves see this they immediately pounce on them, unable even to defend themselves . . so now the Danaans fell upon the Trojans, who in their panic fled with ominous shrieks, and there was no more battle for them.

Meanwhile, the great Ajax was still trying to drive a spear into Hector, but Hector was adept enough to keep his broad shoulders well protected under the protection of his oxhide shield, always listening for the whirr of the arrows and the crack. of Spears He knew full well that the fate of the day had changed, but he stood his ground and tried to protect his companions.

As when a cloud rises to the sky of Olympus, rising from a clear sky, when Jupiter himself prepares a storm with such dreadful flight, the Trojans now flew, and there was no command for their march. Hector's swift horses carried him and his armor out of the battle, leaving the Trojan hosts against their will beside the deep ditch. Many teams of horses broke the carriage post in the ditch and left their master's chariot. Patroclus pursued them, shouting impetuously to the Danaans and enraged at the Trojans, who, no longer in one body, filled all the streets with their cries of panic and defeat; the air was dark with the clouds of dust they raised, and the horses strained their nerves as they fled from the shops and boats toward town.

Patroclus continued to direct his horses to where he saw most of the men flying about in confusion, meanwhile cheering on his men. The chariots were smashed in all directions, and many men dismounted from their own chariots to fall under the wheels of Patroclus, whose immortal steeds, bestowed upon Peleus by the gods, jumped the ditches as they ran. Advance payment. He wanted to try to approach Hector because he wanted to run straight through him, but Hector's horses were now urging him away. When all dark earth bows to a storm on an autumn day, when Jupiter rains the heaviest rain to punish men for making crooked judgments in their courts and coming to court without heeding the decrees of heaven, all flow Rivers overflow and rip apart many streams. . a new channel while they roar impetuously from the mountains to the dark sea, and fare poorly with the deeds of men, even so was the stress and exertion of the Trojan horses in their flight.

Patroclus now cut off the battalions closest to him and drove them back to the ships. They did everything to reach the city, but he didn't want them and attacked them between the river, the boats and the wall. So he avenged many fallen comrades. He hit Pronous first with a spear in the chest where it was exposed at the edge of his shield and he fell heavily to the ground. Then he sprang upon Thestor son of Enops, who was crouched in his chariot, for he had lost his head and the reins had been torn from his hands. Patroclus approached him and thrust a spear into his right jaw; then he seized him by the teeth, and the spear drew him to the edge of his chariot, like one sitting on the edge of an overhanging rock, drawing a strong fish out of the sea with hook and line, so also with his spear. he pulls the gaping Thestor into his carriage; then he threw him face down and fell to his death. Then, as Erylaus was about to attack him, he struck him squarely in the head with a rock and his brain was smashed into his helmet, where he fell headfirst and the agony gripped him. Then he defeated successively Erymas, Anphotero, Epaltes, Tlepolemus, Equio son of Damastor, Piris, Ifeus, Euipus, and Polymelo son of Argeas.

Now, when Sarpedon saw his companions, men in wide tunics, defeated by Patroclus son of Menoetius, he rebuked the Lycians, saying: What a shame, where are you going to fly? Show your courage; I myself will face this man in battle and see who is so masterful; He has done us much harm and brought down many a mighty man.

As he spoke he jumped down from his chariot, and Patroclus, seeing this, also jumped to the ground. Then the two charged each other with loud screams, like crooked-clawed eagle-billed vultures screeching and charging at each other in a high mountain fortress.

The son of the schemer Saturn looked at her pityingly and said to Juno, who was his wife and sister: "Oh, that the fate of Sarpedon, whom I love so dearly, should perish at the hands of Patroclus! I doubt whether I should take him out of battle and leave him alive and well in the fertile land of Lycia, or deliver him now at the hand of Menoetius' son.

And Juno answered: "Timid son of Saturn, what are you saying? Would you rescue a mortal man whose fate has long been determined from the jaws of death? Do what you want, but not all of us will agree with you. I say further, and I take my words to you, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own house, another of the gods also wishes to escort his son from the battle, for there are many sons of gods fighting in the field. . city ​​of Troy and you will make everyone jealous. However, if you love and pity him, drop him from the hand of Patroclus, but once his life is past send death and sweet sleep to carry him from the field and into the open fields of the lands of Lycia, where he is his brothers and relatives will be buried with tombs and pillars in honor of the dead.”

The father of gods and men agreed, but he rained blood on the earth in honor of his son, whom Patroclus was about to slay in the rich plains of Troy, far from his homeland.

When they were close together, Patroclus struck Thrasidemus, Sarpedon's brave squire, in the abdomen and killed him. Sarpedon then aimed a spear at Patroclus and missed, but he struck the horse Pedasus in the right shoulder, and he cried out aloud as he lay, wailing in the dust until he lost his life. The other two horses began to charge; the axle of the chariot cracked, and they were pinched by the reins, because the horse carrying the yoke fell; but Automedon knew what to do; without wasting a moment he drew the sharp blade that hung from his thick thigh and slashed at the third drifting horse; whereupon the other two straightened up and, pulling hard on the reins, rushed into the fight together.

Sarpedon aimed a second time at Patroclus and missed again, missing the spearhead that went over his left shoulder. Then Patroclus aimed in his turn, and the spear did not fly out of his hand in vain, for it struck Sarpedon right where the diaphragm encircles the ever-beating heart. He fell like an oak, or a white poplar, or a tall pine, which the loggers drove up the mountains with their axes to make wood for shipbuilding, and yet he lay full length in front of his carriage and horses, groaning and his arms clutching. Bloodstained Dust

As when a lion leaps upon a herd of cattle and grabs a great black bull which roars to death in its claws, so was the leader of the Lycian warriors fighting when he fell into the hands of Patroclus. Calling out to his faithful comrade, he said: “Glaucus, my brother, hero among heroes, show all your might, fight mighty and mighty, be a brave soldier now, if ever. Go first to the Lycian captains and challenge them to fight for Sarpedon; So you too fight to save my armor from being stolen. My name will haunt you now and forever when the Achaeans steal my weapons after I fall from their ships. Do your best and gather all my people.”

Death closed his eyes as he spoke. Patroclus planted his heel in his chest and drew the spear from his body as his senses caught up, and he simultaneously drew the spearhead and Sarpedon's soul. Very close to the Myrmidons were their snorting steeds, mad with panic at being abandoned by their masters.

Glaucus was overcome with sorrow upon hearing what Sarpedon said because he could not help him. He had to hold his arm with his other hand and felt great pain from the wound Teucer's arrow had inflicted on him as Teucer defended the wall while he, Glaucus, stormed through it. Therefore, he prayed to the swift Apollo, saying: “Hear me, O king, from your place, I may be in the rich land of Lycia, or I may be in Troy, for everywhere you can hear the prayer of a person in danger. as I am now. I have a serious injury; My hand is sore with pain, there is no way to stop the blood, and my whole arm is dragging because of my wound, so I can neither pick up my sword nor go among my enemies and fight them, you our prince son of Jupiter Sarpedon, thou art dead. Jupiter did not defend his son, therefore, O king, heal my wound, assuage my pain, and give me strength both to encourage the Lycians and to fight with them for the body of the fallen.

So he prayed and Apollo heard his prayer. It eased his pain, stopped the black blood from the wound, and gave him renewed strength. Glaucus noticed this and was grateful that the mighty god had answered his prayer; So he immediately turned to the Lycian captains and ordered them to come and fight for the corpse of Sarpedon. From these he went under the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthous and Agenor; So he went in search of Aeneas and Hector, and when he found them he said: "Hector, you have completely forgotten your allies, who languish here for your sake, far from their friends and home, while you do nothing, to help you. . .keep them. Sarpedon, chief of the Lycian warriors, who was the right and might of Lycia, fell; Mars struck him down with Patroclus' spear. Stay with him, my friends, and don't let the Myrmidons strip him of his armor and treat his body with contempt, in vengeance for all the Danaans we throw into ships.

As he spoke, the Trojans plunged into extreme, uncontrollable pain; for Sarpedon, though a stranger, had been one of the principal supporters of his city, both in having many people with him and in being first among all. Led by Hector, enraged at Sarpedon's fall, they immediately attacked the Danaans with all their might, while the intrepid spirit of Patroclus, son of Menoetius, revived the Achaeans. First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, men who didn't need orders. Ajaxes, he said, it pleases you to show yourself now as the men you always were, or rather, Sarpedon has fallen, the first to leap over the wall of the Achaeans; let's take the body and revolt it; We will strip your armor off your shoulders and kill your comrades if they try to recover your body."

He spoke to people filled with longing; So both sides, the Trojans and Lycians on one side and the Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other, reinforced their battalions and fought desperately for Sarpedon's body, all the while roaring fiercely. As they came together, the rumble of their armor was loud, and Jupiter shrouded the fight in dense darkness to increase the intensity of the struggle for his son's body.

At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for one of the best men among the Myrmidons was slain, Epeigeus son of noble Agakles, who had previously been king in the good city of Budeum; but then, after killing a brave kinsman of his, he sought refuge with Peleus and Thetis, who sent him to Ilius, the land of noble steeds, to fight the Trojans under Achilles. Hector hit him in the head with a rock as he grabbed the body, and his brain was all crushed inside his helmet, causing him to fall face first into Sarpedon's body and die there. Enraged at the death of his comrade, Patroclus charged through the front ranks as swiftly as a hawk swooping down on a flock of pebbles or starlings. So, noble knight Patroclus, you went straight to the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade. Immediately he struck Stenelaus son of Itamenes in the neck with a stone, tearing the tendons that held him to his head and spine. With that, Hector and the first line of his men gave way. As much as a man can throw a spear in battle for a prize, or even in battle, that far did the Trojans retreat from the Achaeans. Glaucus, captain of the Lycians, was the first to gather them and killed Baticles son of Calcon, who lived in Hellas and was the richest man in the Myrmidons. Glaucus turned suddenly, just as Batikles, who was pursuing him, was about to seize him, and thrust his spear through his chest, where he fell heavily, and the fall of so good a man filled him. His body. The Achaeans were horrified while the Trojans rejoiced and crowded around the corpse. However, the Achaeans, aware of their abilities, attacked them.

Meriones then slew a helmeted Trojan warrior, Laogonus son of Onetor, who was a priest of Jupiter on Mount Ida and was worshiped as a god by the people. Meriones struck him under the jaw and under the ear, so that life died out of him and the darkness of death overcame him. Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones, hoping to catch him under the shield as he advanced, but Meriones saw him coming and ducked to avoid him, whereupon the spear flew past him and the point struck the ground as the spear's shaft flew. The end kept shaking until Mars stole its power. The spear shot out of Aeneas' hand in vain and fell trembling to the ground. Aeneas got angry and said, "Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if I had hit you, my spear would have finished you soon."

And Meriones answered: "Aeneas, despite all your bravery, you will not be able to defeat all who come against you. You are just a mortal like me, and if I were to strike you in the middle of your shield with my spear, strong and confident as you are, I would soon defeat you and you would give your life to Hades of the noble steeds.

Therefore the son of Menoetius rebuked him, saying: “Meriones, even if you are a hero, you must not speak like that; Taunts, my good friend, will not drive the Trojans from the corpse; some of them have to go underground first; Combat Strikes and Advice; So fight and say nothing.

He went ahead as he spoke, and the hero went ahead with him. As the sound of lumberjacks is heard in a clearing above the mountains, and the thumping of their axes in the distance, such a roar rose now from the clashing of the land of bronze armor and good oxhide shields, as men slashed with their swords. and pointed spears at both ends. It took a man good eyesight to recognize Sarpedon now, he was covered from head to toe in spears, blood and dust. Men swarmed about the body, like flies that buzz around full milk pails in spring when they are overflowing with milk, so they crowded about Sarpedon; Jupiter never took his keen eyes off the fight, but he kept looking at it, wondering how best to kill Patroclos and wondering if he would allow Héctor to end it now in the fight for the World. Sarpedon's corpse and strip him of his armor, or whether I must allow him to cause even more trouble for the Trojans. In the end he thought it best that the brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should lead Hector and the Trojans back to the city and take the lives of many. First he terrified Hector, mounted his chariot and fled, commanding the other Trojans to flee too, for he saw that the scales of Jupiter had turned against him. Even the brave Lycians would not defend themselves; They were shocked to see their king broken in the heart in the midst of a heap of corpses, for when the son of Saturn kindled the battle, many fell on him. The Achaeans therefore drew the shining armor from their shoulders, and the valiant son of Menoetius gave it to his men to take to the ships. Then Jupiter, the lord of the storm cloud, said to Apollo: “Dear Phoebus, go, I pray you, and bring Sarpedon out of range of the weapons; wipe off the black blood from him, and then take him to where you can wash him in the river, anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him in immortal clothes; When this is done, entrust him to the two swift messengers, Death and Sleep, who will immediately carry him to the rich land of Lycia, where his brothers and kin will bury him and erect a tomb and pillar in his memory. , in due homage to the dead.”

That's how I speak. Apollo heeded his father's words, and descended from the heights of Ida into the heat of battle; he immediately took Sarpedon out of reach of his arms, and then carried him away, where he washed him in the river, anointed him with ambrosia, and clothed him in immortal robes; With that he handed him over to the two swift messengers of death and sleep, who soon dropped him off in the rich country of Lycia.

Meanwhile Patroclus, with many shouts to his horses and to Automedon, pursued the Trojans and Lycians with the pride and madness of his heart. Had he obeyed the orders of Peleus' son, he would have escaped death and been unharmed; but Jupiter's advice surpasses human understanding; he will even make a mighty man flee and snatch victory from his hands, or send him back into battle as he did now when he excited Patroclus' heart.

Who did you slay first and last, O Patroclus, when the gods now called you to your fate? First Adrestus, Autonomous, Echeclus, Perimus, son of Megas, Epistor and Melanippus; then he killed Elaso, Mulio and Pylartes. These he killed, but the rest escaped.

The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy into the hands of Patroclus, for his spear flew in all directions, if Phoebus Apollo had not stayed on the wall to thwart his plan and help the Trojans. Three times Patroclus charged a corner of the high wall, and three times Apollo struck back, striking his shield with his own immortal hands. When Patroclus approached like a god for the fourth time, Apollo yelled at him in a terrible voice and said, "Step aside, noble Patroclus, it is not your business to sack the city of the Trojan chiefs, and neither is it." be that of Achilles, who is a far better man than you. Hearing this, Patroclus drew back a little, avoiding Apollo's wrath.

Meanwhile, Hector waited with his horses inside the Scaean Gates, debating whether to turn back and continue the fight, or summon the army within the gates. As he hesitated, Phoebus Apollo approached him in the form of a vigorous young warrior, Asius, who was the uncle of Hector, brother of Hecuba, and son of Dymas, who lived in Phrygia on the waters of the river Sangarius; In his likeness, Apollo, son of Jupiter, spoke to Hector and said: "Hector, why have you stopped fighting? It's wrong of you. If I were a much better person than you, since I am worse, you would soon regret your laziness. Go straight to Patroclus when Apollo grants you a triumph over him and you can rule him.

As he spoke, he threw himself on Cebriones with the leap of a lion beating his chest in an attack on a pen, and his courage is his own undoing. zebrios. Hector also jumped out of his car onto the ground. The pair then argued over Cebriones' body. As two lions fight on a high mountain for the carcass of a stag they have killed, so these two brave warriors, Patroclus son of Menoetius, and brave Hector, cut and tore each other for the corpse of Cebriones. Hector would not let go of him once he grabbed his head while Patroclus held his feet and a fierce fight ensued between the other Danaans and the Trojans. As east and south winds meet when they meet a dense forest in the mountains, beech, ash, and dogwood spread; the branches of the trees roar as they strike one another, and the branches are heard creaking and snapping, so that the Trojans and the Achaeans jumped and fell over one another, and neither side yielded. Many pointed spears fell to the ground, and many winged arrows shot from his bowstring round Cebriones' body; many large rocks also struck many shields as they struggled for his body, but there he lay in the swirling clouds of dust, all huge and huge, now indifferent to his direction.

While the sun was still high in the sky, the weapons on both sides were equally lethal, and the men fell; but just as he was dismounting, as the men let loose their oxen, the Achaeans proved stronger than all had foreseen, so that they drove Cebriones out of reach of the arrows and the tumult of the Trojans, and took the weapons from their shoulders. Then Patroclus, like Mars, sprang upon the Trojans with wild intent and a terrible cry, and thrice slew nine men; but as he came for a time as God, so, O Patroclus, the hour of your end drew near, for Phoebus grappled earnestly with you. Patroclus did not see him as he moved through the crowd, for he was shrouded in thick darkness, and the god slapped his back with the open hand on his back and broad shoulders, making his eyes dizzy. Phoebus Apollo took his helm from his head and rolled noisily under the horses' hooves, where their horsehair feathers were all caked with dust and blood. In fact, this helmet had never worked so well before, for it had served to protect the head and beautiful forehead of the divine hero Achilles. However, now Zeus has given it to Hector to use. However, Hector's end was near. The bronze spear, so large and strong, broke in Patroclus' hand, while his shield that covered him from head to foot fell to the ground and the sash that supported it, and Apollo untied Patroclus' bonds.

With that her mind was clouded; His limbs gave out and he stood stunned; Then Euphorbus son of Panthous, Dardanian, the best spearman of his time, as well as the best horseman and fastest runner, came up behind him and struck him in the back with a spear between the shoulders. This man, as soon as he arrived in his chariot, was dismounted from twenty men, so skillful was he in all the arts of war that, O knight Patroclus, he was the first to thrust a weapon into you, but he was not wholly vanquished. You. Euphorbus then rushed into the crowd, having drawn his gray spear from the wound; he would not stand and wait for Patroclus to attack him, though now unarmed; but Patroclus, troubled both by the blow the god had dealt him and by the spear's wound, fell back under the protection of his men and feared for his life. Hector, seeing that he was wounded and yielding, pushed through the ranks and, when he was close, struck him in the lower abdomen with a spear, driving the bronze point inside. fell heavily on the ground of the chief of the Achaeans. When a lion fought and defeated a wild boar, the two fought furiously in the mountains over a small spring from which they would both drink, and the lion defeated the boar until it could barely breathe, as did Hector Jr. of Priam killed the brave son of Menoetius who had killed so many, beating him at close range and showing him all the time. "Patroclus," he said, "you thought you should sack our city, deprive our Trojan women of their liberty, and take them on their ships to their own country. Fool; Hector and his swift horses did their best to defend them I am the first of all Trojan warriors who freed them from the day of bondage, the vultures will eat you here, poor fellow, Achilles did not serve you with all his might, and yet, when you left, he directly commanded you saying, "Return not to the ships, knight Patroclus, until you have torn murderous Hector's bloody shirt round your body." So he commanded you, and your foolish Heart answered yes in you.

Then, when life was spent in you, you answered, O knight Patroclus: “Hector, boast as you wish, for Jupiter, son of Saturn and Apollo, gave you the victory; they defeated me so easily and took the armor from my shoulders; If twenty men like you attacked me, they would all have fallen before my spear. Destiny and Leto's son conquered me, and among mortals Euphorbus; you yourself are the third person killing me right now. I also say, and I put my word in your heart, you too will live a little longer; death and the day of your doom are near, and you will be slain by the hand of Achilles son of Aeacus.

Saying this, his eyes closed in death, his soul left his body and he flew to the house of Hades, bemoaning his sad fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of his manhood. Even though he was dead, Hector still spoke to him and said, "Patroclus, why do you have to predict my fate like that? Who knows, but Achilles, son of fair Thetis, might be wounded by my spear and die before me?

As he spoke, he drew the bronze spear from the wound, placed his foot on the body, pushed it off, and let it rest on his back. So, spear in hand, he pursued Automedon, the squire of the fleet who was descended from Aeacus, because he wanted to overthrow him, but the immortal steeds, which the gods gave Peleus as a rich gift, quickly drove him from the field.

Book XVII

Brave Menelaus son of Atreus, seeing that Patroclus had fallen, went through the front ranks in full armor to ride over him. Like a cow mooing for her first calf, Menelaus the blond mounted Patroclus. He held his round shield and spear in front of him, determined to kill anyone who dared stand against him. But the son of Panthus also noticed the corpse and turned to Menelaus with the words: "Menelaus, son of Atreus, go back, leave the corpse and leave the bloodstained booty behind. I was the first of the Trojans and their valiant allies to thrust my spear into Patroclus, so let me have all my glory among the Trojans, or I will shoot and kill him." To this Menelaus, in great anger, replied: "For Father Jupiter, Bragging is a bad thing. The brown is no bolder, neither the lion nor the boar, which is the fiercest and most fearless of all creatures, than the proud sons of Panthous. However, Hyperenor did not see the end of his youth when he taunted and defied me, believing that I was the cruellest soldier among the Danaans. His own feet never brought him back to cheer for his wife and parents. Then I will destroy you too if you resist me; Face the crowd and don't look me in the face or it will only get worse for you. Even a fool can be wise after the event."

Euphorbus did not listen and said: 'Well, Menelaus, you will pay for the death of my brother, whom you boasted of and whose wife you widow in your bridal chamber, while causing untold suffering to your parents. I will comfort these poor folk when I bring their head and armor and deliver them into the hands of Panthous and noble Phrontis. The time has come when this matter will be resolved and settled, for me or against me."

As he spoke, he hit Menelaus squarely in the shield, but the spear didn't go through because the shield tipped over. Menelaus then took aim while praying to Father Jupiter; Euphorbus fell back, and Menelaus caught him at the root of the throat, leaning all his weight on the spear to carry him home. The spike pierced his neck and his armor rattled around him as he landed heavily on the ground. Her hair, which was like that of the Graces, and her hair, so elaborately tied with silver and gold ribbons, was all stained with blood. Like one who has planted a beautiful young olive tree in a clear, water-rich place, the plant is full of promise, and though the winds beat it on all sides, it produces its white flowers until the gusts of a violent hurricane come. swept it and leveled it with the ground, then Menelaus stripped handsome young Euphorbus of his armor after killing him. Or how a wild mountain lion, proud of his strength, grabs the best heifer in a herd as she feeds, first breaking her neck with his strong jaws and then swallowing her blood and entrails; the dogs and the shepherds yell and yell at him, but they keep their distance and do not approach him, for they are pale with fear, so that no one has the courage to face the brave Menelaus. The son of Atreus would have easily taken the armor of the son of Panthous if Phoebus had not enraged Apollo and incited Hector, disguised as Mentes, the chief of the Cicons, to attack. 'Hector,' he said, 'you will now pursue the horses of the noble son of Aeacus, but you will not lead them; they cannot be held and driven by a mortal man save by Achilles, who is the son of an immortal mother. Meanwhile Menelaus son of Atreus mounted the corpse of Patroclus and killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphorbus son of Panthous, so that he could no longer fight.

The god then returned to work and confusion, but Hector's soul was darkened by a cloud of sorrow; He

He looked down the ranks and saw Euphorbus lying on the ground, blood still oozing from his wound, and Menelaus removing his armor. Then he died out like a flame of fire, clad in his shining armor and screaming loudly. When the son of Atreus heard this, he said to himself in dismay: “Ah! What should I do? Let not the Trojans take the armor of Patroclus, who fell fighting for me, lest Danaan who sees me shame me. Still, if on my honor I fight Hector and the Trojans with one hand, they will be too much for me, for Hector gathers them in strength. But why should he hesitate so? If a man fights heaven with someone who is a friend of a god, he will soon regret it. Let no Danaan think badly of me for giving in to Hector, for the hand of heaven is with him. However, if I could find Ajax, we would fight both Hector and Heaven if we could save the body of Patroclus for Achilles son of Peleus. This would be the least of many evils."

While he hesitated, the Trojans charged him with Hector at their head; therefore he withdrew and left the body and became like a bearded lion chased out of a pen by dogs and men with spears, noise and shouts, so that he is frightened and runs off offended. Exit the body of Patroclus. As he entered the corps of his men, he looked around for the mighty Ajax son of Telamon, and soon saw him on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his men and urging them to fight on, for Phoebus Apollo had sowed great panic. . . between them. He ran to him and said: "Ajax, my good friend, come immediately with the dead Patroclus, if it is possible that we can take the corpse to Achilles, as for his armor, Hector already has it."

Those words touched Ajax's heart, and he picked his way through the front ranks with Menelaus at his heels. Hector had stripped Patroclus of his armor and dragged him off to cut off his head and take his body to the hounds of Troy. But Áyax rose in front of him with his shield like a wall, over which Hector retired to the protection of his men and sprang into his chariot and gave his armor to the Trojans to take to the city as a great trophy for themselves ; Ajax therefore covered the body of Patroclus with his broad shield and mounted him; how a lion is about his cub when hunters meet him in a forest when he is with his cubs in the pride and ferocity of his strength he lowers his brows furrowed to cover his eyes then Ajax rode across the body of Patroclus , and by his side was Menelaus son of Atreus, having great pain in his heart.

Then Glaucus son of Hippolochus confronted Hector and severely rebuked him. "Heitor," he said, "you showed bravery, but you failed a lot in battle. Such a reputation does not belong to a refugee like you. Consider how you may now save your city and citadel at the hands of your own Ilius-born people; for you will not be able to get the Lycians to fight for you, given the graces they had for their incessant work. Is it likely, sir, that you would do anything to help a lesser man, having left Sarpedon, who was your guest and comrade-in-arms, as prey and booty to the Danaans? While he was alive he did both his city and you a good service; but you didn't have the courage to save his body from the dogs. If the Lycians listen to me, they will go home and leave Troy to its fate. If the Trojans had that bold, undaunted spirit that would seize men who fight for their country and pursue those who wish to attack it, we would soon be bringing Patroclus to Ilius. If we could get this dead man out and bring him to Priam's city, the Argives would easily give up Sarpedon's armor and we would have his body back. For he whose squire has now died is the first ship of the Achaeans, he and his followers in hand-to-hand combat. Yet you have not dared to face Ajax, nor do you dare to meet him face to face in the battle around him, for he is a braver man than you.

Hector frowned at him and replied, 'Glaucus, you should know better. Up until now I've had you as the nicest man in Lycia, but now I despise you for saying I'm scared of Ajax. I fear neither battle nor chariot roar, but Jupiter's will is stronger than ours; One moment Jupiter will repel even the strong and snatch victory from him, the next he will challenge him to battle. Come here my friend, stand beside me and see if I play cowardly all day like you say, or if I stop some of the braver Danaans fighting for Patroclus' body.

As he spoke he cried aloud to the Trojans and said: Trojans, Lycians and Dardians, melee fighters, be men my friends, and fight mighty and mighty while I don the fair armor of Achilles, which I took when I slew Patroclus .

With that, Hector gave up the fight and ran at full speed after his men, who were carrying Achilles' weapons to Troy, but they still hadn't got far. He stood apart from the pathetic combat for a while, changing his armor. He sent his own to the strong city of Ilius and to the Trojans, while wearing the immortal armor of the son of Peleus, given by the gods to Peleus, who in his old age gave it to his son; but the son grew not old in his father's armor.

When Jupiter, lord of the thundercloud, saw Hector standing armed in the armor of the son of Peleus, he shook his head and murmured to himself, "A! Poor you don the armor of a hero that makes many others tremble and ignore the fate that is already near you. You killed your brave and strong comrade, but taking the armor off your head and shoulders wasn't right. In fact, I now give you great power, but in contrast, you will not return from the battle to place the armor of the son of Peleus in front of Andromache.

The son of Saturn lowered his ominous brows and Hector wrapped his armor around his body as the terrible Mars entered him, filling his whole body with strength and courage. With a cry he strode between his allies, his armor gleaming around him so that he looked as if he were the great son of Peleus himself. He passed among them applauding Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Asteropaeus, Deisenor and Hippothous, Forcys, Chromius and Ennomus the Augur. He admonished them all and said: Listen to me, allies of other cities who are here by the thousands, I did not call you here to have a crowd around me, every one of your city, but you can with your heart and soul Women defend and children of the Trojans from the wild Achaeans. Therefore I oppress my people with their food and the gifts that enrich them. So turn around and attack the enemy to stand or fall like in war game; Whoever takes Patroclus, even dead, into the hands of the Trojans and lets Ajax give way to him, I'll give half the booty and keep the other. Therefore you will share the same honor with me.”

When he had said this, they charged the Danaans with all their weight, spears stretched out before them, and the hopes of all were high to force Ajax son of Telamon to yield the body of fools that they were , because he was in the hand . about to do it. take the lives of many. Then Ajax said to Menelaus: “My good friend Menelaus, it is unlikely that you and I will get out of this fight alive. I'm less concerned for the corpse of Patroclus, which is in danger of being prey to Trojan hounds and vultures, than for the safety of my head and yours. Hector has thrown us into a storm of battle from all sides, and our doom now seems certain. So summon the lords of the Danaans, if there are any who can hear us.

Menelaus did as he was told and cried out to the Danaans for help. "My friends," he exclaimed, "princes and counselors of the Argives, all you who drink with Agamemnon and Menelaus at public expense and rule your own people, each like Jupiter bestowing upon you power and glory, the battle is so hard on me, who cannot distinguish them separately; So goes uninvited, finding it a pity that Patroclus becomes food and treats for the dogs of Troy.

Fleet Ajax, son of Oileus, heard him, and broke through to fight first, and hastened to his aid. Then came Idomeneo and Meriones, his squire, peer of the assassin Mars. As for the others who entered the fight after them, who could name them?

Trojans led by Hector attacked en masse. Like a great wave roaring out of the mouth of a heaven-born river, and the rocks that flow into the sea reverberate with the roar of the waves battering and lashing them, even with such a roar came the Trojans; but the Achaeans stood with simple hearts round the son of Menoetius, and surrounded him with their bronze shields. Besides, Jupiter hid the splendor of their helmets in a thick cloud, because he had no grudge against the son of Menoetius while he lived, and was a squire to the descendant of Aeacus; therefore he did not want to let him fall victim to the dogs of his enemies, the Trojans, and urged his comrades to defend him.

First the Trojans repulsed the Achaeans, and they retreated from the dead in fear. The Trojans couldn't kill anyone, but they took the body. But those who did not waste much time, for Áyax, the first of all hunters after the son of Fur in both size and skill, quickly gathered them together and, like a wild boar, went forward over the mountains he is in the field in cornered. the clearings of the forest and the defeats of the dogs and the energetic youths who attacked him, so that Ajax son of Telamon, easily passing between the phalanxes of the Trojans, scattered those who rode Patroclus and were more intent on gaining glory , by dragging him to the city. At this time the valiant Hippotous son of the Pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for Hector and the Trojans, dragged the body under the pressure of battle by the foot, having tied a strap to the tendons near the ankle. but an evil soon befell him, from which none of those willing could save him, for the son of Telamon rushed forward and struck him on the cheek with his brazen helmet. The feathered plume snapped at the tip of the weapon, struck by both the spear and Ajax's strong hand, bloody brains spurting from the ridge's cavity. Then his strength failed him, and he dropped Patroclus' foot from his hand, and it fell dead over the body; so he died far from the fertile land of Larissa and never paid his parents the cost of his upbringing, for his life was shortened by the mighty spear of Ajax. Hector then aimed a javelin at Ajax but saw him coming and managed to dodge him. the spear passed and wounded Esquedio, son of noble Ifitos, captain of the Phoceans, who lived in the famous Panopeo and ruled over many peoples; it hit him just below the middle of his collarbone, the bronze point piercing him, protruding from the underside of his shoulder blade, and his armor falling around him as he landed heavily on the ground. Ajax, for his part, struck noble Phorcys son of Fenops in the stomach as he rode Hippothous, and broke the breastplate of his breastplate; where the spear ripped out his insides and he held onto the ground with his palm as he fell to the ground. Hector and those in the front rank gave way while the Argives let out a loud cry of triumph and carried off the bodies of Phorcys and Hippotous, stripping them of their armor.

The Trojans would have been vanquished by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilius by their own cowardice, while the Argives, great as their courage and perseverance, would have gained victory even against Jupiter's will had Apollo not awakened. . Aeneas, like Periphas son of Epytus, a servant who grew old in the service of Aeneas' aged father and was always devoted to him. Then Apollo, in his own image, said: "Aeneas, even if heaven is against us, can you not save tall Ilius? I have known men whose numbers, courage, and confidence have saved their people in spite of Jupiter, when in that case I would rather give us victory than the Danaans if they fought, rather than fear so terribly.

Aeneas recognized Apollo as he looked directly at him and shouted to Hector: "Hector and all other Trojans and allies, shame us if the Achaeans defeat us and drive us back to Ilius by our own cowardice. A god just came up to me and told me that Jupiter, the supreme arranger, will be with us. So let's go to the Danaans to give them a hard time before carrying dead Patroclus to the ships.

As he spoke, he leaped well ahead of the others, who then recovered and attacked the Achaeans again. Aeneas impaled Leicritus son of Arisbas, a valiant follower of Lycomedes, with a spear, and Lycomedes was moved to see him fall; so he approached and pierced Rampage son of Hippasus, the shepherd of his people, with a spear in the liver below the midriff, so that he died; it came from the fertile peony and was the godfather of all after Asteropaeus. Asteropaeus flew to avenge him and attack the Danaans, but this could not be more as those surrounding Patroclus were well covered with their shields and held their spears in front of them, as Ajax had given strict orders that no human attacked should be . either to give in or to stand out from the rest, but all had to keep their bodies stable and fight hand in hand. Thus commanded the great Ajax, and the land was stained with blood, as corpses fell upon one another, both on the side of the Trojans and allies, and on the side of the Danaans; for even these did not fight without blood, let alone died, because they carefully defended and supported one another.

So they fought like a blazing fire; it seemed he had hardened even with the sun and moon, for they were hidden wherever the mightiest heroes fought for the slain son of Menoetius, while the other Danaus and Achaeans fought at will in broad daylight. with a bright sun encircling them on all sides, and not a cloud was to be seen on the plain or the mountain. These latter also rested a mouse and stopped fighting because they were at a certain distance from each other and out of reach of the weapons of the others, while those who were in the noise of melee sacrificed both to the fight and to the darkness . The best of them were exhausted by the great weight of their armor, but the two brave heroes, Thrasymedes and Antilochus, had not heard of Patroclus' death and believed that he was still alive and leading the vanguard against the enemy. trojans; They held a reserve against the death or defeat of their own comrades, as Nestor had commanded when he sent them into battle from ships.

So they fought a bitter war all day long, and the sweat of their work rained incessantly from their legs, into their hands and eyes as they fought for the squire of Peleus' swift son. It was like a man giving his men a large, fat-soaked oxhide and telling them to spread it out; around which they stand in a ring and pull until the moisture leaves it, and the fat is soaked through to many who pull, and it is well stretched, and yet both sides dragged the corpse back and forth in the compass. For want of space, the Trojans devoted themselves to the task of dragging him to Ilio, while the Achaeans no less took him to their ships; and fierce was the struggle between them. Neither Mars himself, lord of armies, nor Minerva, even in her full rage, could face such a battle lightly.

Such a terrible tumult of men and horses commanded Jupiter that day around the body of Patroclus. Meanwhile, Achilles was unaware that he had fallen because the fighting was taking place under the wall of Troy, far from the ships. He therefore had no idea that Patroclus was dead and thought that once he approached the gates he would come back alive. He knew he would not plunder the city with or without him, for his mother had told him so many times when he sat alone with her and informed him of Jupiter's great advice. But now she had told him nothing of the great misfortune that had befallen him with the death of his dearest of all his companions.

The others were still attacking each other around the body with their pointed spears, killing each other. Then someone would say: "My friends, we can never show our face to ships again, it is better, much better, to have the land open and devour us here in this place than to let the Trojans triumph in the landing." "City.

The Trojans, in turn, also spoke among themselves, saying: "Friends, even if we fall in front of a man next to this body, let no one be afraid to fight." With such words they admonished one another. They fought and fought, and a rumble rose through the empty air to the bronze heavens. The descendant of Aeacus's horses retreated from the fight, weeping when they heard that their rider had been felled by the murderous Hector's hand. Automedon, the brave son of Diores, whipped her again and again; Many times he spoke kindly to them, and many times he rebuked them, but they returned not to ships across the waters of the wide Hellespont, nor entered into battle with the Achaeans; They kept the head of their chariot motionless like a pillar standing on the grave of a dead man or woman, and bowed their heads to the ground. Hot tears ran from their eyes as they mourned the loss of their coachman, and their fine manes fell soaking under the straps on either side of the yoke.

Saturn's son saw her and felt sorry for her pain. He shook his head and muttered to himself, "Poor things, why did we hand you over to mortal king Peleus while you are eternal and immortal? Was it so you could share in the afflictions afflicting mankind? for of all creatures that live and move on earth, none is so wretched as he, Hector son of Priam, who will not drive you and your chariot. I won't have it. It's enough for him to have the armor he boasts about. Furthermore, I will give you the strength of heart and limb to bring Automedon safely to the battleships, while I will keep the Trojans triumphing and killing until they reach the ships; where night falls and darkness covers the land.”

As he spoke, he gave his horses courage and strength to shake the dust from their manes and drive his chariot swiftly into the battle between the Trojans and the Achaeans. Behind them, Automedon fought in mourning for his comrade like a vulture in the midst of a flock of geese. In and out, and here and there, he charged at full speed through the crowd of Trojans, but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no one, for he could not wield his spear or keep his horses close when he did was in the field hand, alone in the field. Transport; at length, however, a comrade, Alcimedon son of Laerces son of Haemon, saw him, and followed his chariot. "Automedon," he said, "what god put this madness into your heart and robbed you of your common sense, that you alone should fight the Trojans in the first place? His companion is killed and Hector is proud to be armed with the armor of Aeacus' descendants.

Automedon son of Diores replied: "Alcimedon, there is none who can control and direct immortal steeds as well as you, save Patroclus, while he lived, two gods in council. So take the whip and the reins while I get out of the car and fight.

Alcimedon jumped into the chariot and grabbed the whip and reins while Automedon jumped off the chariot. When Hector saw him, he said to Aeneas, who was standing beside him: "Aeneas, adviser to the armed Trojans, I see the steeds of the swift son of Aeacus going into battle with weak hands to lead them. I'm sure if you think about it we can get them; They won't dare face us if we attack them both.

The brave son of Anchises agreed, and the two went on, their shoulders covered with shields of dry, hard oxhide, covered with much bronze. Chrome and Aretus also went with them, their hearts pounding in the hope that they could kill the men and catch the foolish horses they were, lest they return unscathed from their encounter with Automedon, who had prayed to Father Jupiter. full of courage and strength. He turned to his faithful comrade Alcimedon and said: “Alcimedon, keep your horses close enough that I can feel your breath on my back; I doubt we shall not hold Hector son of Priam till he kills us and rides after the horses; then he will either sow panic among the ranks of the Achaeans, or he himself will be among the first to be killed.

With that he called to Ajaxes and Menelaus: “Ajaxes, captains of the Argives, and Menelaus, give the body to those who can best defend it, and come save us alive; for Hector and Aeneas, the two best men among the Trojans, beset us in the full tide of war. The outcome is in heaven's hands, though, so I'll throw my spear and leave the rest to Jupiter."

As he spoke, he swung and darted around, bringing the spear to Aretus' round shield and, when the shield failed to stop him, pierced him, penetrating his belt at the bottom of his stomach. As when a strong young man with an ax in hand swings his blow behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons in the neck so that he leaps forward and then falls, Aretus leapt and landed on his back. the spear ripped through his body until he was done. Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon, but Automedon saw him coming and ducked to avoid him, so he flew past him, point digging into the ground, butt trembling until Mars stole his power. Then they would have fought, swords hand in hand, if the two Ajaxes had not cut through the crowd when they heard their mate's call, and parted them in all their fury, because Hector, Aeneas, and Chromium were frightened and retreated and left Aretus behind. return. lay there, struck in the heart. Automedon, like swift Mars, then stripped off his armor and boasted, "I have done little to ease my grief over the son of Menoetius, for the man I have killed is not so good as he."

As he spoke he picked up the bloodstained booty and placed it on his cart; so he climbed into the chariot with blood-soaked hands and feet like a lion that has had its fill of a bull.

And now the fierce and sad battle raged again for Patroclus, for Minerva descended from heaven and aroused his wrath at the command of Jupiter, who changed his mind and sent her to please the Danaans. As when Jupiter stretches its bright arc across the heavens to signal mankind, whether before war or the frigid storms that keep men from their work and whip the flocks, Minerva stepped, clothed in such a radiant robe shrouded, joined the army and spoke to the people ear man for each. She first assumed the form and voice of the phoenix and spoke to Menelaus, son of Atreus, who was standing beside her. "Menelaus," she said, "it will be a disgrace and a disgrace to you when dogs tear to pieces the noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy. So be steadfast and ask your men to be steadfast too.”

Menelaus answered: “Phoenix, my good old friend, may Minerva give me strength and save me from the arrows, for then I will stand by Patroclus and defend him; his death has touched my heart, but Hector is like a raging fire and strikes incessantly because Jupiter is now granting him a time of triumph.

Minerva was pleased to have named herself before one of the other gods. So she put strength in his knees and shoulders and made him as bold as a fly, which, though driven away, comes back and bites when it can, loves the blood of men, even as bold as that made him. while he stood over Patroclus and threw his spear. Now among the Trojans was a man named Podes son of Eetion, who was rich and valiant. Hector held him in the highest esteem for being his comrade and helper; Menelaus' spear struck this man in the belt as he turned in flight and pierced him. Then he fell heavily forward, and Menelaus son of Atreus dragged his body from the Trojans to the ranks of his own people.

Then Apollo approached Hector and challenged him to fight like Phaenops son of Asius who lived in Abydos and was the favorite of all Hector's guests. Apollo, in his likeness, said: "Hector, who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforth, now that you cower before Menelaus, who was never ill-qualified as a soldier? He snatched only a corpse from the Trojans, however, and slew his true companion, a brave man among the first, Podes son of Aetion.

A dark cloud of pain fell over Hector as he heard it, and he advanced in full armor. Then the son of Saturn took his radiant aegis with tassels and covered Ida with a cloud: he sent his lightning and thunder, and shaking his aegis gave victory to the Trojans and defeated the Achaeans.

The panic was caused by Peneleus the Boat, for although he always kept his face to the enemy, he had been pierced by a spear in the upper part of the shoulder; a spear thrown by Polydamas scratched the tip of the bone, for Polydamas approached it and hit it point-blank. Then, in hand-to-hand combat, Hector struck Leitus son of noble Alectryon in the hand on the wrist, preventing him from fighting further. He looked around in dismay, knowing he must never wield a spear again in battle against the Trojans. As Hector pursued Leito, Idomeneo struck him on the breastplate near the nipple; but the spear broke on the shaft, and the Trojans cheered loudly. Then Hector aimed at Idomeneus son of Deucalion, who was standing in his chariot, and narrowly missed him, but the spear struck Coiranus, a follower and charioteer of Meriones, who came with him from Lyctus. Idomeneus had abandoned the ships on foot and would have brought the Trojans a great triumph had Choiranus not swiftly approached him, whereupon he gave Idomeneus his life and ransom, but he himself fell into the hands of murderous Hector. Because Hector hit him on the chin below the ear; the point of the spear broke his teeth and cut his tongue in two, causing him to fall from his chariot and drop the reins to the ground. Meriones picked them up from the ground and took them in his own hands and then said to Idomeneus: "Lie down until you get back to the ships, for you must see that the day is no longer ours."

With this Idomeneu tied the horses to the ships because he was overcome with fear.

Ajax and Menelaus noted how Jupiter had tipped the scales in favor of the Trojans, and Ajax was the first to speak. "Unfortunately," he said, "even a fool can see that Father Jupiter is helping the Trojans. All their weapons hit the mark; it doesn't matter if it's a brave man or a coward who throws them, Jupiter directs them all equally while ours falls on each of them without effect. What will be best then, both in terms of saving the body and our return to the joy of our friends who will be sad to see here? for they will see that nothing can stop Hector's terrible hands and that he rushes upon our ships. I wish someone would tell the son of Peleus immediately as I believe he has not yet heard the sad news that his best friend has passed away. But I see none among the Achaeans to send, for they and their chariots are equally hidden in darkness. O father Jupiter, lift up this cloud from the children of the Achaeans; calm the heavens and let us see; If you want us to perish, still let us fall by day.

Father Justus heard him and felt sorry for his tears. Immediately he pushed back the cloud of darkness so the sun would shine and the entire battle would be revealed. Then Ajax said to Menelaus: "Look, Menelaus, and if Antilochus son of Nestor is still alive, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest of all his comrades has fallen."

Menelaus heard his words and came out like a lion from a pen. The lion is tired of attacking men and dogs that keep watch all night and do not allow him to feed on the fat of his pack. In his lust for the flesh he goes straight to her, but in vain, because he is attacked by arrows from strong hands and embers, which frighten him with all his hunger, so that in the morning he runs away depressed, so that Menelaus rises against him. your will. Patroclus, who was very afraid that the Achaeans would turn back and abandon him to enemy hands. He blamed Meriones and the two Ajaxes directly, saying: “Ajaxes and Meriones, chiefs of the Argives, do indeed now remember how good Patroclus was; He was always polite in life, think about it now that he's dead."

With that Menelaus left them, looking about as attentively as an eagle, whose sight, they say, is keener than any other bird, however high in the sky may be, no running hare can escape it, crouching under brush or thicket. , for you will attack him and finish him off, so, O Menelaus, your keen eyes wandered over the mighty company of your followers to see if you could find Nestor's son alive. At that moment Menelaus saw him on the far left of the battle, encouraging his men and urging them to fight bravely. Menelaus approached him and said: "Antilochus, come here and hear the sad news, which surely would not be true. You must see with your own eyes that Heaven brings disaster to the Danaans and bestows victory on the Trojans. Patroclus, the bravest of the Achaeans, has fallen and the Danaus are sorely missed. Run to the ships immediately and tell Achilles to come and get the body and take it to the ships. As for the armor, Hector already has it.

Antilochus was horrified. For a long time he was speechless; his eyes welled with tears and he could not find words, but he did as Menelaus told him and ran as soon as he had given his armor to a comrade, Laodocus, who urged his horses near him.

So he ran from the field weeping to bring the bad news to Achilles, son of Peleus. Nor did you, O Menelaus, think of helping your besieged companions when Antilochus left the Pylians and they missed him greatly, but he sent to them noble Thrasymedes and himself returned to Patroclus. He came running to the two Ajaxes and said: 'I sent Antilochus to the ships to tell Achilles, but however he rages against Hector, he cannot come, for without armor he cannot fight. What will then be our best plan, both in terms of rescuing the dead and our own escaping death amid the roar of the Trojans?

Ajax replied: Menelaus, you said well: so crouch and Meriones, pick up the body and carry it out of the fray, while the two of us behind you hold Hector and the Trojans at bay, one heart like the other. Names and have long been accustomed to fighting side by side.

Then Menelaus and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and lifted him with great effort. The Trojan army cried after them at the sight of the corpse captured by the Achaeans, and they flew after them like dogs attacking a wounded boar in the bath of a group of young hunters. For a while the dogs fly at him as if to tear him to pieces, but every now and then he angrily attacks them, frightening them and scattering them in all directions. with swords and spears at either end, but when the two Ajaxes met them and held them back they turned pale, and no man dared fight for the dead any more.

In this way, the two heroes strove to get the body of the ships out of the fight. The battle raged around them like wild flames which, once kindled, spread like wildfire over a town, and houses fell in the glow of their fire, such was the roar and stamping of men and horses that they pursued as they brought out Patroclus. from camp. . Or like mules that use all their strength to pull a beam or a large piece of timber from a ship over a rough mountain road, and as they pant and sweat, so they panted and sweat while carrying the body of Patroclus. . Behind them, the two Ajaxes fought back bravely. Just as the foothills of a wooded mountain stretching across a plain divert water and stop even a great river, and there is no current strong enough to cross it, so the two Ajaxes met the Trojans and held the tide back. her river. fighting, though they drew nearer and nearer, and the first of them was Aeneas son of Anchises, with the brave Hector. As shingles or starlings shriek and cackle when they see approaching a hawk, the enemy of small birds, so the young Achaean Babylon shrieked as he fled from Aeneas and Hector, notwithstanding his former skill. With the defeat of the Danaans, a mass of fine armor fell around the moat and the fighting was endless.

book eighteen

So they fought like a blazing fire. Meanwhile the swift Antilochus, who had been sent as messenger, came to Achilles and found him seated beside his great ships and a foreshadowing of what was very true indeed. "Ah," he said to himself with a heavy heart, "why are the Achaeans running across the plain again and running towards the ships? God grant that the gods will not now bring me the pain my mother Thetis spoke of when she said so while I lived the bravest Myrmidons would fall victim to the Trojans, and see no more the light of the sun, which they set with fire pelted and did not join the fight with Hector.

While he was meditating, Nestor's son approached him and told him his sad story, all the while crying bitterly. "Ah!" he exclaimed, "son of noble Peleus, I bring you bad tidings, if indeed they were false. Patroclus has fallen and there is fighting over his naked body because Hector is holding his armor.

A black cloud of pain fell over Achilles as he listened. He filled both hands with dust from the ground and poured it over his head, disfiguring his handsome face and letting the debris settle on his nice new shirt. He threw himself on the ground huge and mighty all his length and tore his hair out with his hands. The female slaves that Achilles and Patroclus captured cried out in pain, beating their chests and their limbs fainting from the pain. Antilochus bent over him as we cried, holding both hands as he groaned in fear of a knife at his throat. Then Achilles uttered a loud cry, and his mother heard it, as she sat down beside her old father in the depths of the sea, to which she called, and all the daughters of the goddesses of Nereus, who dwelt in the depths of the sea, came and gathered around him. she. There were Glauce, Thalia and Cymodoce, Nesaia, Speo, Thee and Halie of Dark Eyes, Cymothoe, Actaea and Limnorea, Melite, Iaera, Amphithhoe and Agave, Doto and Proto, Pherusa and Dynamene, Dexamene, Amphinome and Callianeira, Doris, Panope , and the famous sea nymphs Galatea, Nemertes, Apseudes and Callianassa. There were also Clymene, Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera, Oreithuia and Amatheia of the Fair Locks, with other Nereids who dwell in the depths of the sea. The Crystal Cave was filled with their multitude, and they all beat their breasts as Thetis led them in their lament.

“Hear,” he cried, “sisters, daughters of Nereus, that you may hear the weight of my pain. Woe to me, woe to me, that I have borne the most glorious offspring! I gave birth to him handsome and strong, a hero among heroes, and he blossomed like a bud; I tended him like a plant in a beautiful garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, but I will never take him back to Peleus' house. As long as he lives to see the sunlight he will be sad, and though I hold out my hand I cannot help him. However, I will go to see my beloved son and know what pain has befallen him, although he is still far from the battle.

She came out of the cave as she spoke while the others followed her crying and the waves parted before them. When they reached the fertile plain of Troy, they came in a long line out of the sea onto the sand where the ships of the Myrmidons were pitching in close order around the tents of Achilles. His mother came to him as he moaned; She put her hand on his head and said wistfully, "My son, why are you crying so much? What pain has taken care of you now? Tell me; don't hide it from me! Jupiter answered your prayer when you raised your hands and begged all the Achaeans to lock themselves in their ships and lament bitterly that you were no longer with them.

Achilles nodded and replied: “Mother, Olympian Jupiter has granted me the fulfillment of my prayer, but what is it to me when I see that my dear comrade Patroclo has fallen, whom I cherished and loved more than any other my friend? own life? I lost it; yea, and Hector, when he slew him, took from him that wondrous armour, so glorious to behold, which the gods gave Peleus when they laid thee in a mortal man's bed. I wish you were still alive among the immortal sea nymphs and Peleus had taken a mortal wife. Because now you will have infinite pain over the death of this child that you will never be able to receive at home. No, I will not live or walk among men unless Hector falls from my spear and pays me back by killing Patroclus son of Menoetius. .”

Thetis wept and answered: "Then, my son, your end is near, for your own death awaits you soon after Hector's."

Then Achilles said in his great sadness: "I would die here and now if I could not save my comrade. He fell far from home, and in his distress my hand was not there to help him. What's in it for me? I shall not return to my own country, and I did not save Patroclus and my other comrades, so many of whom were slain by mighty Hector; I am here, beside my ships, like a useless burden on earth, matched in battle among the Achaeans, though there are better than I in the Council. Therefore cease the strife between gods and men and the anger in which even the righteous hardens his heart, which rises like smoke in the soul of man and tastes sweeter than drops of honey. That's how Agamemnon pissed me off. And so be it, for it is over; I will force my soul to submit as needed; I will go; I will go after Hector who killed the one he loved so much, and then I will carry my fate if Jupiter and the other gods choose to send it. Even Hercules, Jupiter's lover, could not escape the hands of death, but fate and Juno's fierce anger brought him down, for I too shall be dead if a similar fate awaits me. Till then I shall gain glory and command the Trojan and Dardanian women, in the heaviness of their great sorrow, to wipe with both hands the tears from their tender cheeks; That way they will know that whoever has been gone for so long will never be farther away. Therefore, do not stop me in your love for me, for you will not move me.

Then Thetis of the Silver Feet answered: "My son, what you say is true. It is good to save your comrades from destruction, but your armor is in the hands of the Trojans; Hector carries her triumphantly on his own shoulders. I know very well that his glory will not last, for his end is near; don't enter the heat of battle until you see me coming back here; I'll be here tomorrow at daybreak, bringing you some good armor of the Vulcan King.

With that he left his brave son, and as he walked away he said to the sea nymphs, his sisters: 'Dive into the bosom of the sea and go to the house of the ancient sea god my father. tell him everything; As for me, I will go to the cunning craftsman Vulcan on Mount Olympus and ask him to provide my son with splendid armor."

When she said this, they immediately threw themselves into the waves while Thetis, the silver-footed, fetched the armor for her son.

Thus her feet carried the goddess to Olympus, and meanwhile the Achaeans flew shouting ahead of the murderous Hector until they reached the ships and the Hellespont, and could no longer carry the body of Patroclus, the servant of Mars, from there. the range of the prey. Weapons that fell on him, because Hector son of Priam, with his army and his horsemen, fell upon him again like the flame of a fiery furnace; thrice brave Hector seized him by the feet, struggling with all his might to drive him away, and yelled at the Trojans; but undaunted, sometimes penetrating the heat of battle, sometimes stopping and screaming loudly but not yielding. Just as highland shepherds cannot frighten a hungry lion from a carcass, so the two Ajaxes did not frighten Hector son of Priam from the body of Patroclus.

And now he would have dragged him along and gained eternal fame if Iris had not flown swiftly as a messenger from Olympus to the son of Peleus and ordered him to arm himself. She came secretly, unbeknownst to Jupiter and the other gods, for Juno sent her, and when she was near him she said: 'Rise, son of Peleus, mightiest of men; Hail Patroclus, for whom this terrible battle is now being fought alongside the ships. Men kill each other, Danaos in defense of the corpse while the Trojans attempt to drag and carry him to the wind. Ilios: Hector is the angriest of them all; he must cut the head off the body and fasten it to the pegs in the wall. Arise, then, and wait no longer here; from the idea that Patroclus could become flesh for the Trojan dogs. You should be ashamed if his body has suffered any kind of indignity.

And Achilles said: "Iris, which of the gods sent you to me?"

Iris replied, "It was Juno, the royal wife of Jupiter, but Saturn's son knows nothing of my arrival, nor any of the immortals who inhabit the snowy peaks of Olympus."

Then swift Achilles answered him and said: "How can I go into battle? You have my armor. My mother forbade me to arm myself until I saw her coming because she promised to bring me some good Vulcan armor; I know of no man whose weapons he could lay upon me save the shield of Ajax son of Telamon, and surely he must fight in the front line, swinging his spear over the dead body of Patroclus.

Iris said, "We know your armor has been removed, but leave it as is; Go to the deep well and show yourself to the Trojans to make them afraid of you and stop fighting. So the powerless sons of the Achaeans get a short respite, which can hardly happen in battle.

Iris left him speaking like this. But Achilles, darling of Jupiter, rose, and Minerva threw her tasseled aegis over his strong shoulders; she crowned her head with a halo of golden clouds, from which he kindled a bright flame of fire. Like smoke rising into the sky from a city besieged all day on an island in the open sea, the men come out of the city and fight with all their might, and at sunset the row of beacons shines and shines high for those who dwell there near them, to see if they can come with their ships and help them, so the light flashed from Achilles' head while he was in the ditch and went over the wall, but he did not help, to join the Achaeans because he was obeying the commandment his mother laid on him.

Then he got up and screamed loudly. Minerva too raised her voice from afar, spreading unspeakable terror among the Trojans. Like the sound of a trumpet sounding the alarm, then the enemy stands at the gates of a city, so insolent was the voice of Aeacus' son, and when the Trojans heard his trumpet calls they were terrified; the horses returned with their chariots, for they augured evil, and their drivers trembled at the constant flame which the gray-eyed goddess had kindled on the head of Peleus' great son.

Thrice Achilles uttered his mighty cry as he stood in the ditch, and thrice the Trojans and their valiant allies were confused; where twelve of their noblest champions fell under the wheels of their chariots and perished by their own spears. With great joy the Achaeans took Patroclus out of reach of their weapons and laid him on a stretcher; his companions surrounded him in mourning, and among them the swift Achilles, who wept bitterly when he saw his true companion dead in his bier. He had sent him into battle with horses and chariots, but he did not welcome his return.

Then Juno sent the excited sun, however small, into the waters of Oceanus; so it was, and the Achaeans rested from the tug of war.

Now, as the Trojans got out of the fight, they untied their horses and assembled in assemblies before preparing supper. They rose, and none dared sit down, for the fear which Achilles had shown after being so long withdrawn from the battle fell upon them all. Polydamas son of Panthus spoke first, a man of discernment, the only one among them who could look this way and that. He was Hector's mate and they were born on the same night; in all sincerity and good will he addressed her thus:

“Look well, my friends; I beg you to return to your city now and not to wait here by the ships until morning, for we are a long way from our walls. While this man was at enmity with Agamemnon, the Achaeans were easier to deal with, and he would have liked to camp near the ships in hopes of capturing them; but now I dread the swift son of Peleus; He is so bold that he will never stay here on the plains where Trojans and Achaeans fight with equal courage, but he will try to invade our city and kidnap our women. So do as I say and let's go back. Because that will happen. The darkness of the night will delay the son of Peleus for a while, but if he finds us here in the morning, when he appears in full armor, we shall hear from him in earnest. Those who can escape and return to Ilius will rejoice, and many a Trojan will become prey to dogs and vultures, may they never see it. If we do as I say, even if we like it a little, overnight we shall have strength in the council, and the great gates with the gates they close shall protect the city. At dawn we can arm ourselves and stand on the walls; then he will regret leaving the ships to fight against us. He will return when he has tricked his horses into being led under our walls, and he will have no intention of entering the city by force. He will never plunder either, the dogs will devour him before he does."

Hector looked at him fiercely and replied, "Polydamas, I don't like what you're saying because you're asking us to go back and lock ourselves in the city. Aren't you tired of being locked behind walls? In ancient times the city of Priam was famous throughout the world for its wealth of gold and bronze, but our treasures were squandered outside our homes and many goods were sold to Phrygia and beautiful Meonia, heavily laid upon us by the hand of Jupiter. Well then, since the son of the schemer Saturn made it possible for me to achieve fame here and corner the Achaeans with their ships, the people no longer talk about this fool. You will have no one with you; will not be; do all of you what I tell you now; Dine in your companies across the army and hold your night watches and watch over each of you. If a Trojan is worried about your goods, let it collect them and distribute them among the people. Better than these before the Achaeans had them. At dawn we will arm ourselves and fight for the ships; Assuming Achilles has come forward again to defend her, leave him as he pleases, but it will end badly for him. I won't avoid it, I'll fight it to fall or conquer. The War God distributes an equal measure to everyone, and the Hunter can still be killed.

So spoke Hector; and the Trojans, fools that they were, shouted their applause because Pallas had stolen their understanding from Minerva. They listened to Hector's bad advice, but no one heeded Polydamas' wise words. The whole army ate, and meanwhile the Achaeans wept all night for Patroclus, and the son of Peleus led them in their lamentations. He laid his murderous hands on his comrade's chest, and kept wailing like a bearded lion when a man hunting deer stole their young in a thick forest; When the lion returns he is furious and searches valleys and valleys to follow the hunter if he can find him, for he is mad with rage, so Achilles spoke with many sighs among the guards and said: “Ah! In vain were the words with which I hailed the hero Menoetius in his own house; I said I would bring your brave son back to Opoeis after he sacked Ilius and took his share of the spoils, but Jupiter does not grant every man's heart's desire. The ground here in Troy will be red with the blood of both, for neither the old knight Peleus will welcome me nor my mother Thetis, but even in this place the earth will cover me. Yet, O Patroclus, now that I am behind you, I will not bury you until I have brought the head and armor of mighty Hector that slew you. I will behead twelve noble sons of Trojans before your coffin to avenge you; Until then you lie by the ships, and the beautiful women of Troy and Dardanus, whom we seized with spear and arm might when we plundered the fair cities of men, will weep for you day and night.

So Achilles ordered his men to set up a great tripod over the fire so that they could wash away the blood that had dried up from Patroclus. There they placed a tripod filled with bathwater over a clear fire: sticks were thrown in to make it burn, and the water was heated while the flame played around the tripod's belly. When the water in the cauldron boiled, they washed the body, anointed it with oil, and closed the wounds with an ointment they had kept for nine years. Then they put him in a coffin and covered him from head to foot with a linen cloth, and over him they put a beautiful white robe. So the guards gathered around Achilles all night to mourn Patroclus.

Then Jupiter said to Juno, his sister-wife: "Well, Queen Juno, you have reached your end and awakened the swift Achilles. Anyone would think that the Achaeans were his own flesh and blood.

And Juno answered: “Terrible son of Saturn, why do you say that? Can't a man, even if he is mortal and knows less than we do, do what he can for someone else? And I, chief of all goddesses, both of descent and of your wife who reigns in heaven, will I not plan evil for the Trojans when I am angry with them?

That's how they talked. Meanwhile Thetis came to Vulcan's house, the immortal, star-studded, most beautiful dwelling place in heaven, a house of bronze forged by the lame god's own hands. He found him busy with his bellows, sweating and hard at work, for he made twenty tripods to stand against the wall of his house, and put golden wheels under them all, that they might go alone to the meetings of the people, Gods, and come back to see wonders. They were all finished except for the expertly worked ears, which still needed repairing: he was now repairing them and hammering in the rivets. While he was thus working, Thetis, the silver-footed one, came into the house. Charis, in elegant headdress, wife of the lame god of great renown, approached her as soon as she saw her, took her hand and said: "Why have you come to our house, Thetis, honored and never welcome?" Why don't you visit us often? Come in and let me set you a snack.

The goddess led the way as she spoke, beckoning Thetis to sit on a seat richly decorated with silver; There was also a stool under his feet. Then he called Vulkan and said "Vulkan, come here, Tethys loves you"; and the lame god of great fame replied: 'Then it is indeed a sublime and honored goddess who has come hither; It was she who took care of me when I suffered the bad fall I had because of the anger of my cruel mother who would have gotten rid of me because I was lame. I would scarcely have gone if Eurynome, daughter of the ever-enveloping waters of Oceanus, and Thetis had not taken me to her bosom. Nine years was I with them, and many fine works of bronze, brooches, spiral bracelets, chalices, and necklaces I made for them in their cave, while the turbulent waters of Oceanus foamed as they passed; and no one knew either gods or men except Thetis and Eurynome, who tended me. So if Thetis came to my house, I must pay her what is due for saving me; So receive it with all hospitality while I put away my bellows and all my tools.

With that, the mighty monster limped off its anvil, its slender legs moving vigorously underneath. He removed the bellows from the fire and stowed his tools in a silver chest. Then he took a sponge and washed his face and hands, his hairy chest and muscular neck; He pulled on his shirt, picked up his sturdy cane, and limped toward the door. There were also golden servants who worked for him, and they were like true maidens, with sound mind and understanding, also voice and strength and all the wisdom of the immortals; These occupied themselves as the king had commanded them, while he approached Thetis, seated her in a good place, took her hand and said: "Why have you come to our house, O honored Thetis, and always welcomed by you? "Do you visit us often? Tell me what you like and I'll do it for you immediately if I can and if I can."

Thetis wept and answered: "Vulcanus, is there another goddess on Olympus that the son of Saturn liked to try with as much pain as mine?" I alone among the sea goddesses submitted them to a mortal husband, Peleus son of Aeacus, and against my will I submitted to the embraces of a man only mortal, now home weary of old age. That's not all. Heaven gave me a son, a hero among heroes, and he opened like a bud. I tended him like a plant in a beautiful garden and sent him with his ships to Ilius to fight the Trojans, but I will never take him back to Peleus' house. As long as he lives to see the sunlight he is sad, and though I go to him I cannot help him; King Agamemnon gave him the maiden given him by the sons of the Achaeans, and for her grief consumes him. Then the Trojans surrounded the Achaeans from the sterns of their ships and did not let them go; The elders of the Argives therefore besought Achilles and offered him great treasures, whereupon he refused to release them personally, but put on Patroclus his own armor and sent him into battle with many people behind him. They fought all day at the gates of Scaean and would have taken the city on the spot had Apollo not bestowed glory on Hector and killed the brave son of Menoetius after having done much harm to the Trojans. Therefore I beg you on my knees if you will give my son, whose end is near, a helmet and shield, good greaves with ankle buckles and a breastplate, as he lost his when his faithful companion fell to the ground. hands of the Trojans, and now he lies prostrate in the bitterness of his soul."

And Vulcan replied: 'Take heart and worry no more about this matter; I wish I could hide him from the sight of death when his time comes, as sure as I can find him armor that will startle the eyes of all who see it.

Saying this, he left them and went to his hides, turned them to the fire, and ordered them to go about their business. Twenty bellows blew into the crucibles, and gusts of all kinds blew, some fierce to help him when he needed them, and others less fierce than Vulcan wished as his labors progressed. He threw hard copper into the fire, and tin with silver and gold; He placed his large anvil on his block and gripped his mighty hammer in one hand while holding the tongs in the other.

First he made the shield so great and strong, adorning it on all sides, and enclosing it with a brilliant circle in three layers; and the baldric was of silver. He made the shield five thick, and his skillful hand enriched it with many wonders.

He forged the earth, the heavens and the sea; the moon also in its fullness and the indefatigable sun, with all the signs that glorify the face of heaven, the Pleiades, the Hyades, the mighty Orion and the bear, which people also call the chariot and which always turns in one place and looks at . Orion, and alone, never dips into the Oceanus Current.

He also forged two cities, beautiful to behold and full of crowds. In one there were weddings and wedding feasts, and they went about the city, the brides being escorted from their chambers by torchlight. Loud was the cry of Hymenaeus, and the young men danced to the sound of the flute and the lyre, while the women each stood at the door of their house to watch them.

Meanwhile the town gathered, for there was a quarrel, and two men quarreled over the blood money of a deceased, one said before the town that he had paid full damages, the other that he had not, they paid it. Each tried to plead his own case, and the people took sides, each man supporting the side he had taken; but the heralds stopped them, and the old men sat in a solemn circle on their stone seats, holding the sticks which the heralds had placed in their hands. So they stood up, and each in his turn gave his judgment, and two talents were given to the one whose judgment was deemed the fairest.

Two armies in shining armor encamped around the other city, and they were torn between sacking it, sparing it, or taking half of its possessions. But the men of the town still did not agree, and braced themselves for a surprise; their wives and little children stood guard on the walls, and with them were the men who had fought through the ages; but the others went, with Mars and Pallas Minerva at their head, both wrought in gold and clad in golden robes, tall and handsome, with their weapons like real gods, while those who followed were lesser. When they got to the spot where they were going to set up the ambush, it was on the bed of a river where cattle of all kinds would come from near and far from the water; so here they lay hidden, clad in full armour. At some distance from them were two scouts waiting for sheep or cows to arrive, followed by two shepherds playing their flutes, unaware of the danger. Seeing this, the ambushers struck down the sheep and flocks and killed the shepherds. Meanwhile the besiegers sprang on their horses and rode towards them at full speed, hearing much noise among the cattle while they sat in council; When they reached it, they lined up on the bank of the river, and the hosts leveled their bronze spears at each other. With them were Strife and Riot, and Fate fell and dragged behind it three men, one freshly wounded and the other unharmed, while the third was dead, and she dragged him by the heel; and her cloak was stained with the blood of men. they walked in and out of each other and fought as if they were living people carrying each other's dead.

He also tilled a good fallow field, large and plowed three times. Many men were plowing in it, turning their oxen over furrow after furrow. Each time they turned toward the cape, a man would approach and offer them a glass of wine, and they would return to their ruts, awaiting the moment when they would again reach the cape. The part they had plowed was dark behind them so the field, although golden, still looked as if it was being plowed, a very odd sight.

He also tended a cornfield, and the reapers mowed with sharp scythes in their hands. Strand after strand fell behind them in a straight line, and the Riders tied them with strips of twisted straw. There were three gatherers, and behind them boys who gathered the corn cut into armsfuls and made it tie up: all the landowners among them were silent and rejoiced. The servants prepared the food under an oak tree, for they had butchered a large ox and were butchering it, while the women were preparing a porridge of plenty of white barley for the workers' food.

He also made a vineyard golden and beautiful to look at, and the branches were heavy with grapes. The grapes above were black, but the vines were planted on silver poles. He cut a ditch of dark metal around it and surrounded it with a tin fence; There was only one way to get there and the grape harvesters used it when they went to pick the grapes. Boys and girls, all merry and jubilant, carried the precious fruit in woven baskets; and with them was a boy playing sweet music on his lyre, and singing the song of Linus in his clear boyish voice.

He also forged a herd of domesticated cattle. He made the cows of gold and tin, and they bellowed as they scampered out of the yards to graze among the billowing reeds that grew along the riverbank. With the cattle were four shepherds all of gold, and their nine swift dogs went with them. Two terrible lions clung to a roaring bull that was driving the cows, and with loud cries restrained it, while dogs and men pursued it: the lions pierced the bull's thick skin and ate its blood and gore. guts, but the shepherds were afraid to do anything and only bother their dogs; The dogs didn't dare cling to the lions, but kept barking and staying out of the way.

The god also forged a pasture in a beautiful mountain valley and a large flock of sheep with a farm and sheltered huts and pens.

He also forged a green one, like the one Daedalus had once made at Knossus for the beautiful Ariadne. Here young men and girls, each eager to court, danced with their hands on each other's wrists. Girls wore tunics of light linen, and boys wore tightly woven and lightly oiled shirts. Girls were crowned with garlands, while boys hung golden daggers from silver baldrics; sometimes they danced nimbly in circles with happy shiny feet, as if he were a potter sitting at his work trying to see if his wheel worked, and sometimes they all lined up and many people gathered happily . around the green. . There was also a bard who sang to them and played his lyre while two acrobats danced in their midst while the man began to play his tune.

Around the outer rim of the shield he ordered the mighty current of the Ocean River.

So when he fashioned the shield so great and strong, he also fashioned a breastplate that shone brighter than fire. He made a helmet girded on the forehead, and richly wrought, with a golden plume hanging over it; and he also made greaves of hammered tin.

Finally, when the famous lame god had made all the armor, he took them and laid them before Achilles' mother; Then he descended like a hawk from the snowy peaks of Olympus, wearing the shining armor of Vulcan's house.

Buch XIX

NOW, as the saffron Aurora hastened from the currents of the ocean to bring light to mortal and immortal, Thetis came to the ships in the armor the god had given her. He found his son lying on the corpse of Patroclus, weeping bitterly. Many of his followers were also weeping around him, but as the goddess approached them, she took his hand and said, "My son, sad as we are, we must let this man rest, for it is the will of Heaven. that he fell; Accept, therefore, now from Vulcan this rich and beautiful armor which no man has borne on his shoulders.

As he spoke he placed the armor in front of Achilles, playing bravely as he did so. The servants were startled, and no one dared look directly at him for fear; but Achilles was even more angry, and his eyes shone with a fierce light, for he rejoiced as he touched the glorious gift the god had given him. Then, as soon as she was satisfied with looking at it, she said to her mother: “Mother, the God has given me armor, a work worthy of an immortal, such as no living thing could have done; Now I will arm myself, but I am very afraid that the flies will land on the son of Menoetius and put worms around his wounds so that, now that he is dead, his body will be disfigured and the flesh will rot.

Thetis of the Silver Feet replied, "My son, don't worry about it. I will find ways to protect you from the swarms of plague flies that feed on the bodies of men who have died in battle. It can be a year and your meat will still be as healthy as ever or even healthier. Then call the Achaean heroes to assembly; remove your anger against Agamemnon; Arm yourself immediately and fight harder and harder.

As he spoke, he put strength and courage in his heart, and then he threw ambrosia and red nectar on the wounds of Patroclus so that his body would not suffer any change.

Then Achilles went ashore and called out to the Achaean heroes with a loud cry. With that, those who had always remained on the ships until then, the pilots and helmsmen and even the stewards who stood around the ships and distributed the rations, all came to the meeting place because Achill had shown himself after their departure. . from far. long time to fight Two sons of Mars, Odysseus and the son of Tydeus, came limping, for their wounds still hurt; however, they came and sat in the front row of the congregation. Last was Agamemnon, king of men, he too was wounded because Coon son of Antenor struck him with a spear in battle.

When the Achaeans were gathered, Achilles stood up and said, "Son of Atreus, it would certainly have been better for you and me if we were both so angry with Briseis, surely it would have been better if Diana's arrow had killed her." on the ships the day I took it after sacking Lyrnessus. Then fewer Achaeans would have died before the enemy in the days of my anger. It was good for Hector and the Trojans, but the Achaeans will remember our quarrel for a long time. But let it be now, because it's over. When we were angry, need produced our anger. I put it away from me: I dare not keep it forever; therefore orders the Achaeans to arm themselves at once. that I can go out against the Trojans and know whether they want to sleep next to the ships or not.

So he spoke, and the Achaeans rejoiced because he had calmed their anger.

Then Agamemnon spoke, rising in his place and not stepping into the midst of the assembly. "Heroes of Danaan," he said, "Servants of Mars, it is good to hear when a man rises to speak, and it is not fitting to interrupt him lest it become difficult even for an experienced speaker. Who can hear or speak in a riot? Even the best speaker will be amazed. I will speak to the son of Peleus, and you other Achaeans, listen to me and watch me closely. Many times the Achaeans spoke to me of this matter and reproached me, but it was not I who did it: Jupiter and Fate and Erinis walking in darkness drove me mad when we were together that day at which I took from Achilles the bounty I was granted what was given to him. What can I do? All things are in Heaven's hands, and Folly, the eldest of Jupiter's daughters, shuts men's eyes to their destruction. She walks gracefully, not on solid ground but hovering over men's heads to stumble or catch them.

“There was a time when she deceived Jupiter himself, who is supposed to be the greatest among gods or men; because Juno, although she was a woman, betrayed him on the day Alcmene would give birth to the mighty Hercules in the fair city of Thebes. He said this among the gods, saying: “Hear me, all gods and goddesses, that I may speak as I think; On that day an Ilithuia, a helpmate of the birthing ones, will give birth to a male child, who will be the lord of all who live around him who are of my blood and lineage.' Then Juno said very cunningly and insidiously: You will play false and not keep your word. Swear to me, Olympian, swear to me a great oath, that whoever falls between the feet of a woman today will be lord of all who live around him, who are of his blood and lineage.

"Thus spoke she, and Jupiter did not suspect her, but took the great oath, to her great grief afterwards. For Juno fell down from the high peak of Olympus and hastened to Achaean Argos, where she then knew the noble wife of Sthenelus son of Perseus. When she was pregnant and in her seventh month, Juno gave birth to the child, although it was still a month away, but she retained Alcmene's lineage and retained the Ilithuae. Then he went to Jupiter, son of Saturn, and said: “Father Jupiter, lord of lightning, I have a word for your ear. A fair child was born that day, Eurystheus son of Sthenelos son of Perseus; he is of your lineage; So it is good that he rules over the Argives.

"In doing so, Jupiter was quickly stung, and in his anger he grabbed madness by the hair and swore a great oath that she would never again invade the starry heavens and Olympus, for she was the bane of all. Then, with a wave of his hand, he spun it and hurled it from the sky to fall upon the fields of mortal men; and he was always angry with her when he saw her son groaning under the cruel labor which Eurystheus laid upon him. Then I was sad when mighty Hector slew the Argives in his ships, and all the time I thought of the madness that had so banished me. I was blind and Jupiter stole my mind; Now I will make atonement and add many treasures as indemnity. So go into battle, you and your people with you. I will give you everything that Odysseus offered you yesterday in your tents; or, if you please, wait, though you wish to fight at once, and my squires will bring my ship's gifts to see if what I give you is sufficient.

And Achilles answered: “Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, you may give whatever you see fit, or you may withhold it: it is in your own hands. Now let's put ourselves in order of battle; It's no good delaying nonsense, because there's still work to be done. Again Achilles will be seen fighting among the first and overthrowing the ranks of the Trojans: remember each of you as you fight.

Then Odysseus said: Achilles, divine and valiant, do not so send the Achaeans against Ilium to fight fasting with the Trojans, for the battle will not be short once it has begun, and heaven has filled both sides with wrath; Command them first to eat the bread and wine by the ships, for in this there is strength and support. No one can fight all day until sundown if they have nothing to eat; As much as he wants to fight, his strength will fail him before he knows it; Hunger and thirst will overwhelm him, and his limbs will tire under him. But a man can fight all day when he is satiated with meat and wine; his heart beats and his strength remains until he has conquered all his enemies; therefore send away the people and let them prepare their food; King Agamemnon will bring the offerings in the presence of the assembly for everyone to see and you will be satisfied. Besides, he shall swear before the Argive that he never climbed to Briseis' bed, nor was with her like men and women; and also show you a gracious disposition; Let Agamemnon entertain you in his tents with a feast of atonement that you may get what you deserve. As for you, son of Atreus, treat people more justly in the future; it is not disgraceful even for a king to atone when he has been wrong from the beginning.

And King Agamemnon answered: "Son of Laertes, your words please me greatly, for in all things you have spoken wisely. I swear as you want me to; I do it of my own free will, nor will I take Heaven's name in vain. Let Achilles wait, though he wants to fight immediately, and you, the others, wait too, until the gifts from my supply arrive and we reaffirm the oath with the sacrifice. Therefore I command you: Take some noble Achaean youths with you, and bring from my tents the gifts that I promised Achilles yesterday, and bring the women also; and let Talthybius get me a boar from those with the army and prepare it for a sacrifice to Jupiter and the sun.

Then Achilles said: "Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, attend to these matters at another time, when there is time to breathe and I am calmer. Want men to eat while the bodies of Hector son of Priam lie mutilated on the plain? Let the sons of the Achaeans, I say, fast and fight without food, until we avenge them; then let them eat at sunset until they are full. As for me, Patroclus lies dead in my tent, all cut up and slashed open, with his feet in the door and his fellow mourners around him. So all I can think about is the killing and the blood and the rattling in the throats of the dying."

Odysseus replied, "Achilles son of Peleus, mightiest of all Achaeans, you are better than me in battle, and more than a little at that, but I am far ahead of you in counsel, because I am older and wiser. So be patient with my words. Combat soon wears people out, and when Jupiter, commander of war, weighs the outcome, it may well prove that the chaff our sickles have gathered is far heavier than the grain. It cannot be that the Achaeans mourn the dead with their bellies; Men are losing weight day by day and continuously trebling; When should we take a break from our pain? We will mourn our dead for a day, burying them out of sight and out of mind, but letting those who remain eat and drink so that we may arm ourselves and fight our enemies with greater vigour. At that time when nobody stops and waits for a second call; such a summons does not bode well for those who remain in our boats; We go out better than one man and unleash the fury of war against the Trojans.

Having said this, he took Nestor's sons, Meges son of Phileo, Thoas, Meriones, Lycomedes son of Creon, and Melanippus, and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus. As soon as the word was spoken, the deed was done: they brought the seven tripods that Agamemnon had promised, with the twenty metal cauldrons, and the twelve horses; They also brought the women skilled in useful arts, seven in number, with Briseis, who were eight years old. Odysseus weighed the ten golden talents and returned to the front while the young Achaeans brought in the remaining gifts and placed them in the center of the assembly.

Then Agamemnon got up, and Taltibius, whose voice was like that of a god, approached him with the boar. The son of Atreus drew the knife he was carrying from the scabbard of his mighty sword and began cutting some bristles from the boar while raising his hands in prayer. The other Achaeans sat in silence, commanding the king to listen, and Agamemnon looked up at the vault of heaven and prayed: "I call Jupiter, the first and mightiest of all gods, to witness I call also the earth and the sun and the Erinyes that are below live, and avenge the one who falsely swears that I did not touch, take to my bed, or otherwise take the Briseis girl, but left her untouched in my tents, falsely swear Heaven punish me with all the punishments that he inflicts on those who commit perjury.”

As he spoke he cut off the boar's neck, then Talthybius twisted it around his head and threw it into the wide sea to feed the fish. Achilles also rose and said to the Argives: "Father Jupiter, truly you blind people's eyes and banish them. The son of Atreus has never tempted me so, nor has he so stubbornly taken Briseis from me against my will. Surely Jupiter must have advised the destruction of many Argives. Now go and get your food so we can start fighting."

With these words he broke up the assembly and everyone returned to their ship. The servants took care of the gifts and brought them to Achilles' ship. They took them to their tents while the grooms led the horses among the others.

Briseis, beautiful as Venus, saw the torn body of Patroclus, threw herself on him and screamed loudly, tearing his chest, neck and beautiful face with both hands. Beautiful as a goddess, she wept and said: 'Patroclus, dear friend, when I left I let you live; I come back, oh prince, to find you dead; thus new pains multiply upon me one after the other. I saw the man whom my father and mother married with me slain before our town, and my three beloved brothers died with him on the same day; but you, Patroclus, even when Achilles killed my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes, you told me not to cry, for you said you would make Achilles marry me and take me to Phthia, we should have done that. a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. You have always been nice to me and I will never stop crying for you.

She cried as she spoke, and the women cried with her as if her tears were for Patroclus, but in reality each was crying of their own pain. The Achaean elders gathered around Achilles and asked him to eat, but he groaned and refused. "I beg you," he said, "if anyone wants to listen to me, do not let them order me to eat or drink, for I am sorry and I will fast until sunset."

With that he dismissed the other princes, save the two sons of Atreus and Odysseus, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the Knight of the Phoenix, who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of his grief: but he was not comforted until he should have played in the grip of battle and sighed after sighs, always thinking of Patroclus. so he said

“Unfortunate and dear comrade, it was you who immediately and without delay prepared me a good meal when the Achaeans rushed to fight the Trojans; now then, though I have food and drink in my tents, I will fast in mourning. I could not know greater pain than this, even though I learned from the death of my father, who is now mourning my son in Phthia, that here in a foreign land I am fighting for the damned against the Trojans. Not even for Helena when I find out that my son is no longer the one growing up on Skyros if Neoptolemus is still alive. Until now I was certain that I would only end up here in Troy, far from Argos, while you returned to Phtia, bringing my son in your own ship and showing him all my belongings, my servants and my greatness. from my house because Peleus must surely be dead, or what little life he has left will be crushed by the diseases of old age and the ever-present fear that he will have to hear the sad news of my death.

He cried as he spoke and the elders sighed in unison as everyone thought of what they had left at home. The son of Saturn looked at her with pity and said to Minerva: “My daughter, you have completely abandoned your hero; Is your memory that clean? There he sits by the boats, utterly devastated at the loss of his dear companion, and although the others have eaten dinner, he neither eats nor drinks. Go then and sprinkle nectar and ambrosia in his breast, so that he will not know hunger.

With these words he urged Minerva, who already agreed. He fell from the sky into the air like a hawk soaring and screaming on its broad wings. Meanwhile the Achaeans had armed the whole army, and when Minerva had poured nectar and ambrosia on Achilles lest cruel hunger desert her, she returned to the house of her mighty father. Thick as the cold snowflakes that fall from Jupiter's hand and are borne away by the strong gusts of the north wind, so thick were the gleaming helms, embossed shields, heavily armored breastplates, and gray spears that sprouted from the ships. Brightness pierced the sky, the whole land shone in his shining armor, and the sound of his footsteps rose beneath his feet. In their midst Achilles put on his armor; he gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing like fire, for his pain was more than he could bear. Then, furious with the Trojans, he clothed himself in the god's gift, the armor that Vulcan made for him.

First he donned the beautiful buckled greaves, then the breastplate that encircled his chest.

He slung the silver-tipped bronze sword over his shoulders and then raised the shield, so large and strong it shone in the distance with a brilliance like that of the moon. Like the light sailors see from the sea when men light a fire in their homes high in the mountains, but sailors are blown overboard by wind and storm far from port where they should be, so did the sailors . the splendor of Achilles' wondrous shield ascended to heaven. He lifted the fearsome helm and placed it on his head, where it shone like a star and the golden feathers Vulcan had attached to the rim of the helm billowed around him. So Achilles tried on his armor to see if it fit him so his limbs could play freely underneath it and he seemed to be holding them like wings.

He also drew from his cradle his father's spear, a spear so large and heavy and strong that none of the Achaeans but Achilles had the strength to wield it; This was the Pelian Ashen Spear from the highest peaks of Mount Pelion, which Chiron once gave to Peleus, who was accused of killing heroes. Automedon and Alcimus busied themselves harnessing their horses; They tied the thongs around them and put the bridle in their mouths and pulled the reins to the chariot. Automedon, whip in hand, sprang after the horses, and behind him rode Achilles in full armor, radiant like the sun god Hyperion. Then, in a loud voice, he reprimanded his father's horses, saying, "Xanthus and Balius, this time illustrious sons of Podarge, when we have finished the battle, bring your driver safely back to the Achaean army," and do not let him. dead." on the plane like you did with Patroclus.

Then the swift Xanthus answered under the yoke, because Juno of white arms endowed him with human speech, bowing his head until his mane touched the ground while hanging under the yoke. "Terrible Achilles," he said, "now we will save him, but the day of his death is near and the fault will not be ours, for it will be Heaven and a heavy fate that will destroy him." Nor was it our laziness or negligence that the Trojans stripped Patroclus of his armour; It was the mighty god who gave birth to the beautiful Leto, who killed him while fighting among the first, and gave Hector a triumph. We can both fly as fast as Zephyrus, which is said to be the fastest of all winds; Their destiny, however, is to fall into the hands of a man and a god.”

When he had said this, the Erinyes ceased to speak, and Achilles answered him with great sorrow, saying: "Why, O Xanthus, dost thou thus foretell my death? You need not do this, for I know very well that I am going to fall here, far from my dear father and mother, but I will hold back my hand no longer until I have given the Trojans their share of the fight .

With these words he urged his horses forward with a loud cry.

book twentieth

Then the Achaeans gathered their ships round you, O son of Peleus, who was hungry for battle; while the Trojans before them were armed in the ascent of the plain.

Meanwhile Jupiter commanded Themis from the height of Olympus of many valleys to gather the gods in council, and she called them to Jupiter's house. No river was missing except the Oceanus, not one of the nymphs that frequent the beautiful forests or the springs of the rivers and the meadows of green grass. Reaching the cloud-shrouded House of Jupiter, they seated themselves in the polished marble arches that Vulcan had made for Father Jupiter with his consummate skill.

So they found themselves in Jupiter's house. Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, also obeyed the call of the goddess and came out of the sea to join them. Sitting there in their midst, he asked what Jupiter's intention was. "Why," he said, "thunderbolt user, have you called the gods for counsel? Are you considering a matter concerning the Trojans and the Achaeans because the fire of battle will kindle between them?

And Jupiter answered: You know my intention, Earthshaker, and that is why I have called you here. I think of them even in their destruction. For my part, I will sit here on Mount Olympus and look in peace, but you, the others, walk between Trojans and Achaeans and help each side, as far as you are ready, in solidarity. If Achilles fights the Trojans unopposed, they will not oppose him; they always trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is so angry with his comrades he will overrule his own fate and invade their city.

Thus spoke Jupiter and gave the war order, whereupon the gods took their various sides and went to battle. Juno, Pallas Minerva, Neptune orbiting the earth, Mercury the bringer of good luck and excellent in cunning all joined the army that came from the ships; with them came Vulcan in all his glory, limping but with his thin legs moving vigorously beneath him. Mars the shining helm joined the Trojans, and with him Apollo the uncut mane and Diana the bow goddess, Leto, Xanthus and Venus the lover of laughter.

As long as the gods kept their distance from the mortal warriors, the Achaeans would triumph, for Achilles, who had long refused to fight, was now with them. There was not a single Trojan who did not pause in fear at the sight of the swift son of Peleus, glorious in armor and resembling Mars himself. However, when the Olympians came to partake among the men, a mighty battle arose at once, stirring up the hosts, and Minerva raised her mighty voice, now standing by the deep ditch that ran outside the wall, and now all her forces yelled at. may on the shore of the sonorous sea. Mars roared on the other side too, dark as a black storm cloud, and called out to the Trojans at the top of his voice, now from the Acropolis, now racing along the banks of the Simois river to the hill. calicocolon.

So the gods urged both hosts to fight and also provoked a violent quarrel between them. The father of gods and men thundered from heaven, while Neptune shook the wide earth from below and made the high hills tremble. The foothills and peaks of Ida trembled from many sources, as did the city of the Trojans and the ships of the Achaeans. Hades, king of the lower realms, was seized with fear; He jumped down from his throne in a panic and cried out aloud, afraid Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, would break up the ground above his head and expose his musty mansions to the eyes of mortal and immortal, mansions so terribly dark. the gods shudder
Think of her. Such was the tumult when the gods went into battle. Apollo opposed King Neptune with his arrows, while Minerva opposed the god of war; the Archgoddess Diana with her golden arrows, sister of the swift Apollo, rose to face Juno; Mercury, the lustful talisman, was pitted against Leto, while the mighty whirling river, whose people may be Scamander but gods Xanthus, was pitted against Vulcan.

So the gods were lined up against each other. But Achilles' heart burns to find Hector son of Priam, for what he craved was his blood to satiate the unruly warrior. Meanwhile, Apollo sent Aeneas to attack the son of Peleus, and he put courage in his heart by speaking with the voice of Lycaon son of Priam. In his own image, therefore, he said to Aeneas, Aeneas the counselor of the Trojans, where are the valiant words with which you boasted of your wine before the Trojan princes, that you would fight in single combat against Achilles son of Peleus? ?

And Aeneas replied: "Why do you send me to fight thus against the proud son of Peleus if I have no intention of doing so? If I faced him now, it wouldn't be the first time. His spear already set me on Ida's right hand as he attacked our cattle and plundered Lirnessus and Pedasus; Jupiter really saved me because it gave me power to fly, otherwise he would have fallen into the hands of Achilles and Minerva, who went before him to protect him, urging him to fall on the Lelegae and Trojans. None can fight Achilles, for one of the gods is always with him as his guardian angel, and even if it were not so, his weapon always flies in a straight line, and never fails to pierce the flesh of him who is against him; If heaven allowed me to fight as equals, he would not soon overcome me, though he boasts of being made of bronze.

Then King Apollo, son of Jupiter said: "No, hero, pray to the eternal gods, for people say that you were born of Jupiter's daughter Venus, while Achilles is the son of a goddess of inferior rank. Venus is the daughter of Jupiter while Tethys is nothing more than the daughter of the ancient sea. So aim your spear at him and don't let him scare you with his taunts and threats.

As he spoke, he instilled courage in the pastoral hearts of his people, and strode through the ranks of the leading combatants in full armor. The son of Anchises did not escape the attention of white-armed Juno as she pushed through the crowd to find Achilles. He called the gods around him and said: “Look at him, you two, Neptune and Minerva, and think how that will be; Phoebus Apollo sends Aeneas in full armor to fight Achilles. Should we throw him out immediately, or should one of us stand with Achilles and give him strength so that his heart will not fail and he will know that the heads of the immortals are with him while the others always have? ? Defense against the Trojans are nothing but vain helpers? Let's all come down from Olympus and join the fight lest it suffer harm at the hands of the Trojans today. From now on let him suffer the fate that was his when he was conceived and when his mother gave birth to him. Unless Achilles is thus reassured by the voice of a god, he may soon be frightened when one of us meets him in battle, for the gods are terrible to see face to face.”

Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, answered by saying: “Juno, control your anger; It is not good; I'm not in favor of forcing the other gods to fight us because the advantage is very much ours; Let's take our places on a hill off the beaten track and let the mortals fight each other. If Mars or Phoebus Apollo start fighting or keep Achilles at bay so he can't fight, we too will sound the battle cry, in which case they will soon leave the field and return to Olympus defeated among the others. gods."

With these words, the dark-haired god made his way to the high mound of Hercules, which was built around solid masonry and tricked into flying towards him by the Trojans and Pallas Minerva as the sea monster pursued him from coast to coast. The plane. Here Neptune and his companions took their places, shrouded in a thick cloud of darkness; but the other gods sat round him on the forehead of Callicolone, O Phoebus, and Mars, the desolate of cities.

So the gods sat apart and made their plans, but neither side was willing to go to war with the other, and Jupiter commanded them all from his seat on high. By now the whole plain was filled with men and horses, and ablaze with armor. The earth rang again under their stamping feet as they advanced toward one another, and two warriors, by far the greatest of all, met among the hosts to fight with intelligence, Aeneas son of Anchises and the noble Achilles.

Aeneas charged first, his brave helm challenging him as he walked. He held his strong shield in front of his chest and brandished his bronze spear. The son of Peleus on the other side sprang to meet him, like a wild lion whom the whole field had gathered to hunt and kill, at first it is an ill omen, but when a brave young man struck him with a spear, he was pushed. Jaws foaming, he roars in anger, swings his tail back and forth around his ribs and loins, and looks while leaping directly in front of him to know whether to kill or be killed among humans. of his enemies, even with so much anger he burned Achilles to attack Aeneas.

When they were very close, Achilles was the first to speak. "Aeneas," he said, "why do you appear before the army to fight with me? Do you hope to rule over the Trojans on Priam's throne? No, even if you kill me, Priam will not give you his kingdom. He is a man of common sense and has children of his own. Or will the Trojans grant you an estate of fleeting wealth, beautiful with orchards and cornfields, if you kill me? You will hardly do that. I confused you before. Have you forgotten how, when you were alone, I chased you in haste from your flocks over the slopes of Ida? You didn't turn to look back; you took refuge in Lyrnessus, but I attacked and plundered the city with the help of Minerva and Father Jupiter and captured their women, though Jupiter and the other gods saved him. You think they will protect you now, but they won't; That's why I'm telling you, go back to the hostel and don't look me in the face or you'll regret it. Even a fool can be wise after the event."

Aeneas answered: "Son of Peleus, do not think that your words can frighten me like a child. I, too, can brag and speak indecently if I wish. We know each other's race and parentage as things of common glory, though neither my parents nor I have seen yours. People say that you are the son of noble Peleus and that your mother is Thetis, the blond daughter of the sea. I have noble Anchises for father and Venus for mother; the parents of one or the other of us will mourn a child today, for it will be more than a word that will tear us apart when the fight is over. So get to know my lineage if you will, and it is known to many.

“In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jupiter, and he founded Dardania because Ilius had not yet settled in the plain to be inhabited by men, and his people still dwelt at the foot of Ida, the fountainhead of many springs. Dardanus had a son, King Erichthonius, who was the richest of all living men; He had three thousand mares grazing in the meadows, she and her foals with them. Boreas fell in love with her when they fed and covered her in the form of a stallion with a dark mane. Twelve colts conceived and gave birth to him, and these, as they ran across the rich plain, sprang over the ripe ears and did not break them; or if playing on Ocean's broad back, they might gallop over the crest of a surf. Erichthonius begot Tros king of the Trojans, and Tros had three noble sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede, fairest of mortals; wherefore, because of his beauty, the gods considered him Jupiter's cupbearer, that he might dwell among the immortals. Ilus begot Laomedon, and Laomedon begot Tithonus, Priam, Lampus, Clytius, and Hiketaon of the lineage of Mars. But Assaracus was the father of Capys and Capys of Anchises, who was my father, while Hector is the son of Priam.

“Thus do I declare my blood and lineage, but as to value Jupiter gives or takes as he pleases, for he is lord of all. And now that we're not chattering like kids in the middle of a fight. We could hurl endless insults at each other; a hundred-oared galley would not contain them. The tongue can run anywhere and speak wisely; he can go to and fro, and, as a man says, he will be defeated. What's the use of fighting like women who, when angry at each other, take to the streets and fight half-true and half-false depending on how the anger inspires them? Not a word from you will change me now that I'm ready to fight, so let's test each other with our spears.

As he spoke he plunged his spear into Achilles' great and terrible shield, which hummed as the point struck it. The son of Peleus held the shield before him in his strong hand and was afraid, for he thought that the spear of Aeneas would pierce him easily enough, and did not think that the glorious gifts of the god would scarce yield to the mortal blows of men . . ; and indeed the spear of Aeneas did not pierce the shield, for the golden cloak, a gift from the god, stopped the point. It went through two layers, but the god made the shield in five, two of bronze, the inner two of tin, and one of gold; there the spear stopped.

Achilles, in turn, threw and struck the round shield of Aeneas at the very point where the bronze was thinnest; Pelios Ash Spear went straight through, and the shield rattled under the blow; Aeneas grew frightened and fell back, drawing the shield away from him; however, the spear flew over his back and struck the ground after piercing the two circles of the shield. Aeneas, though avoiding the spear, stood still, blinded by fear and grief that the weapon had come so near to him; then Achilles sprang furiously at him, with a death cry and sharp blade drawn, and Aeneas grasped a large stone, so large that two men, as now men, could not lift it, but Aeneas held it fast. loud enough. light.

Then Aeneas would have struck Achilles as he leaped at him, either on his helmet or on the shield covering him, and Achilles would have reached him and finished him off with his sword, had Neptune, the lord of the earthquake, not hastened . Attack. signs and immediately said to the immortals: "Alas, I mourn for the great Aeneas, who will now descend to the house of Hades, vanquished by the son of Peleus. Fool who listened to Apollo's advice. Apollo will never save you from destruction. Why does this man have to suffer when he is innocent, in vain and at someone else's trial? Has he not always offered an acceptable sacrifice to the gods who dwell in heaven? Then let us snatch him from the jaws of death, lest the son of Saturn become angry when Achilles kills him. It is also destined that he escape and that the race of Dardanus, whom Jupiter loved above all children born to him by mortal women, should not perish utterly without seed or mark. For now Jupiter has abhorred the blood of Priam, while Aeneas will rule over the Trojans, he and his children's children to be born later.

Then Juno answered: "He who causes the earth to tremble, investigate the matter for himself and consider as to Aeneas, whether you save him or, brave as he may be, fall into the hands of Achilles son of Peleus leaves. For verily, both Pallas Minerva and I have sworn many times before all immortals that we would never save the Trojans from annihilation, even if all Troy burns in the flames that the Achaeans will kindle.

Hearing this, Neptune, orbiting the earth, entered the battle amidst the clash of spears and came to the place where Achilles and Aeneas were. Immediately he plunged darkness before the eyes of Peleus' son, took the bronze-headed ash spear from Aeneas' shield, and placed it at Achilles' feet. Then he picked up Aeneas from the ground and hastily carried him away. Above the heads of many bands of warriors on horseback and on foot he flew as the hand of the god hastened him until he reached the edge of battle where the Caucasus were arming for battle. Then Neptune, who made the earth tremble, approached him and said: Aeneas, which god caused you to commit this madness, fighting the son of Peleus, who is a valiant man and more beloved of heaven? Give in to him every time you meet him to avoid going down to Hades' house, even if fate would have it otherwise. If Achilles dies, you can fight among the first without losing heart, because no other Achaean can kill you.

The god left him giving these instructions and immediately removed the darkness from the eyes of Achilles, who opened them wide and said in great anger, “Alas! What miracle do I see now? Here is my spear on the ground, but I don't see who I meant to kill when I threw it. Yes, Aeneas must also be under the protection of heaven, though I thought his boasting was in vain. Leave him hanging; He won't be in the mood to fight me when he sees how close he came to being killed. Now I will give my orders to the Danaern and attack other Trojans.

He leapt along the line, cheering on his men. "Don't let the Trojans in," he cried, "keep your distance, Achaeans, but go after them and fight them man to man. As brave as I am, I can't hunt that many and fight them all. Even Mars, who is an immortal, or Minerva, would be afraid to throw himself into the clutches of such a battle and lie about it; however, as for me, I shall not for a moment show weakness of hand or foot, or want of endurance; I will break their ranks once and for all, and woe to the Trojan who dares come within the reach of my spear!

So he admonished her. Meanwhile, Hector called the Trojans and stated that he would fight Achilles. Do not be afraid, proud Trojans, he said, to face the son of Peleus; I could fight the gods myself if the battle were only about words, but I would be more than a match if we used our spears. Even so, Achilles' actions will fall a little short of his word; partly it will be enough, partly it will be shorter. I will move against him, though his hands are fire, though his hands are fire, and his strength is iron."

Thus emboldened, the Trojans raised their spears against the Achaeans, uttering war cries as they advanced in their ranks. But Phoebus Apollo approached Hector and said: 'Hector, you must not challenge Achilles to a single combat; Keep an eye on him while he's protected by the others and stays away from the heat of battle or he'll throw or punch at point-blank range.

So he spoke, and Hector walked away from the crowd, afraid to hear what the god had said to him. Then Achilles, bravely clad in a cloak, sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry. First he slew Iphition son of Otrynteus, a leader of many men who had been carried by a Naiad nymph to Otrynteus, the builder of cities, in the land of Hyde, beneath the snowy heights of Mount Tmolus. Achilles hit him squarely in the head as he came towards him, splitting him in two; Then he fell heavily to the ground, and Achilles boasted about him, saying: 'You little one, son of Othrintheus, mighty hero; his death is here, but his lineage lies in Lake Gygaean where his father's estate is, near the fish-rich Hyllus, and in the turbulent waters of Hermus.

So he boasted, but the darkness closed the other's eyes. The Achaean chariots tore him to pieces as their wheels passed him on the front of the battle, and after him Achilles slew Demoleon, a mighty warrior and son of Antenor. It caught him in the temple through his bronze-cheeked helm. The helm did not stop the spear but continued, shattering the bone so that the brain within splattered in all directions and his will to fight was gone. He then hit Hippodames in the stomach as he jumped out of his chariot in front of him and tried to flee. He exhaled his last breath, and roared like a bull's bellows, while the youths drag him to sacrifice to the King of Helix, and the trembling heart rejoices; yet he cried out as he lay dying. Achilles then went in search of Polidoro, son of Priam, whom his father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest of his children, the one he loved most and was the fastest runner. The latter, in his madness and to show the lightness of his feet, rushed back and forth between the front rows until he lost his life because Achilles hit him in the middle of his back as he passed in front of him at full speed: he hit him straight into the golden. the loops of his belt and where the two pieces of double breastplate overlapped. The spearhead pierced him and exited through his navel, where he fell to his knees, groaning, a dark cloud shadowing him as he fell to the ground, entrails in his hands.

When Heitor saw his brother Polidoro fall to the ground with his entrails in his hands, a fog covered his eyes and he could bear it no longer; so he prepared his spear and rushed toward Achilles like a flame of fire. Seeing him, Achilles sprang forward and boasted, "This is the one who wounded my heart most deeply and killed my beloved comrade. Not long shall we both tremble in the ways of war before one another.”

He looked at Hector and said, "Come closer so you can find your target as soon as possible." Hector was not afraid of him and answered: "Son of Peleus, do not think that your words can frighten me as if I were a child; I, too, can boast and speak indecently if I wish; I know that you are a brave warrior, much more powerful than I, but the question is in the bosom of heaven if I, the worst man I am, cannot kill you with my spear, for that too was sooner than sharp viewed. Now."

He threw his spear as he spoke, but Minerva breathed on it, and though she was breathing very softly, she pulled it from Achilles so that it returned to Hector and fell at her feet before him. Then Achilles angrily threw himself on him with a loud cry, ready to kill him, but Apollo grabbed him as lightly as a god and hid him in the thick darkness. Three times Achilles sprang at him spear in hand, and three times he squandered the blow in the air. As he advanced like a god for the fourth time, he cried out loudly, "Dog, this time you escaped death too, but actually he came very close to you. Phoebus Apollo, to whom you seem to pray before going into battle, has saved you again; but if I also have friends among the gods, I will surely finish you off when I meet you another time. However, now I will hunt and catch up with other trojans.

He caught Dryops in the neck with his spear and fell head over heels. There he laid him down, and restrained Demouchus son of Philetor, a mighty man of great stature, who struck him in the knee with a spear; So he struck him with his sword and killed him. After that he sprang upon Laogonus and Dardanus, sons of Bias, and hurled them from his chariot, one with the blow of a thrown spear while the other fell hand in hand. There was also Tros son of Alastor, he approached Achilles and brought his knees together hoping that he would forgive him and not kill him but let him go because they were both the same age. Unfortunately, he should have known better than to get his way, as the man was in no mood for mercy or patience, but he meant business. Therefore, when Tros grasped his knees and sought an audience for his prayers, Achilles plunged his sword into his liver, and the liver rolled away, while his chest was all covered with the black blood oozing from the wound. So death closed its eyes as it lay lifeless.

So Achilles went to Mulius and struck him in the ear with a spear, and the bronze point of the spear struck the other ear. He also struck Echeclus, son of Agenor, on the head with his blood-heated sword, while death and misfortune closed Echeclus's eyes. Then the bronze point of his spear struck Deucalion in the forearm, where the elbow tendons met, where he awaited the arrival of Achilles, arm dangling and death in his face. Achilles cut off his head with a sword blow and threw his helmet and all away from him, marrow oozing from his spine as he lay. Then he pursued Rhigmus, the noble son of Peires, who came from fertile Thrace, and struck him in the stomach with a spear, causing him to fall headlong from his chariot. He also threw Areitoo's squire onto Rhigmu's back as he spun his fleeing horses and pushed him out of his carriage while the horses were startled.

Like a fire burning in a mountain valley after a long drought, and the dense forest aflame, while the wind carries great tongues of fire in all directions, so furious did Achilles rage, brandishing his spear as if it were a spear. . God and giving hunted those he wanted to kill until the dark earth ran with blood. Or like a broad-faced ox that is driven up a threshing floor to thresh barley and soon bruises under the hooves of the howling cattle, so Achilles' horses trampled on the shields and bodies of the slain. The axle below and the railing around the wagon were spattered with clots of blood thrown from the horses' hooves and tires; but the son of Peleus gained still more glory, and his hands were stained with blood.

Book XXI

When they reached the ford of the mighty river Xanthus, father of the immortal Jupiter, Achilles divided his forces in two: half pursued them across the plain towards the city by the same route taken by the Achaeans when they fled in panic . defeated the day before with Hector in full triumph; so they flew in disorder, and Juno sent a dense fog ahead of him to stop them. The other half was surrounded by the deep silver vortex and crashed in. The water echoed and the shores echoed as they swam back and forth with loud screams amid eddies. Like locusts flying to a river before a fire breaks out in the grass, the flame continues until it finally catches up with them and they curl up in the water. in confusion before Achilles.

Immediately, the hero left his spear on the bank, leaned it against a tamarisk tree, and threw himself into the river like a god, armed only with his sword. Fallen was his intention to bring down the Trojans on all sides. Her dying wail became terrible when the sword struck her, and the river was red with blood. As when fish fly in terror of a huge dolphin, and fill every corner of a beautiful harbor, for they will surely eat what they can catch, so the Trojans crouched beneath the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles' weapons tired of slaying them he pulled twelve living young men out of the water to sacrifice them in revenge for Patroclus son of Menocius. He led them out like drugged puppies, tied their hands behind their backs with the belts of their own shirts, and turned them over to his men to take to the boats. So he jumped into the river and thirsted for more blood.

There he found Lycaon son of Priam, descended from Dardanus, fleeing from the water; it was he who was once captured while in his father's vineyard, having ambushed him at night while he was cutting saplings from a wild fig tree to make willow walls for a chariot. So Achilles surprised him and sent him by sea to Lemnos where Jason's son bought him. But a kind guest, Eetion of Imbros, released him with a large sum and sent him to Arisbe, where he escaped and returned to his father's house. He spent eleven days happily with his friends after arriving from Lemnos, but on the twelfth day heaven delivered him back into the hands of Achilles, who was to send him against his will to the house of Hades. He was unarmed when Achilles saw him, and had neither helmet nor shield; he didn't even have a spear, for he had thrown all his weapons on the bank and was sweating in the struggle to get out of the river, so that he now lacked strength.

Then Achilles said to himself in surprise: "What wonder do I see here? If this man comes back alive after being sold to Lemnos, I will also revive the Trojans I killed from the underworld. Couldn't even the waters of the gray sea imprison him as they do so many others, whether he likes it or not? Let him try my spear this time, so I'll know for sure if Mother Earth, who can hold a strong man too, can hold him, or if he'll come back from there too.

Then he stopped and thought. But Lycaon came to him in a daze and tried with all his might to hug his knees, wanting to live rather than die. Achilles jabbed him with his spear, intending to kill him, but Lycaon crouched over him and grabbed his knees, driving the spear into his back and into the ground even as he hungered for blood. With one hand he gripped Achilles knees as he pleaded with him, and with the other he grabbed the spear and held it tight. Then he said: "Achilles, have mercy on me and forgive me, for I am your supplicant. In your tents I broke bread for the first time on the day you locked me in the vineyard; After that you sold yourself to Lemnos, far from my father and my friends, and I brought you the price of a hundred oxen. I paid three times as much to get my freedom; It is only twelve days since I arrived in Ilius after much suffering, and now a cruel fate has thrown me back into your hands. Surely Father Jupiter must hate me who gave me to you the second time. My mother Laothoe was short-lived, daughter of the old old of old who rules over the warrior Lelegae and holds steep Pedaso by the river Satnioeis. Priam married his daughter to many other women and gave birth to two sons you will have killed. Your spear slew the noble Polidoro while he was fighting in the front line, and now evil will happen to me here, for I fear I shall not escape from you, since Heaven gave me to you. I also say, and I put my word in your heart, forgive me, for I am not of the same bosom as Hector, who slew his brave and noble comrade.

With these words the princely son of Priam addressed Achilles; but Achilles answered sternly. "Idiot," he said, "don't talk to me about ransom." Until the fall of Patroclus I preferred to give barracks to the Trojans, and sold many of those I had carried alive across the sea; but now none shall live of those whom heaven delivers into my hand before the city of Ilius, and all the Trojans shall be worse with the sons of Priam. Therefore, my friend, you too will die. Why should you complain like that? Patroclus fell and he was a better man than you. Can I see that I'm not great and good? I am the son of a noble father and a goddess to a mother, but the hands of fate and death shadow me just as surely. The day will come, at dawn, or at dusk, or at noon, when someone will take my life too in battle, either with his spear or with an arrow from his bow.

So he spoke, and Lycaon's heart sank into him. He dropped the spear and stretched out both hands in front of him; but Achilles drew his sharp blade and struck him in the clavicle of the neck; she plunged her double-edged sword into him to the hilt, where he fell sprawled on the ground, oozing dark blood until the ground was soaked. Then Achilles grabbed him by the foot and threw him into the river to go down the river and boasted about him as he said: “Lie there among the fishes, which will lick the blood of your wound and rejoice; your mother will not lay you in a coffin to mourn, but Scamander's whirls will carry you to the wide bosom of the sea. There the fish will feed on the blubber of Lycaon while diving under the dark waves of water so that you all perish until we reach the strong Ilius' citadel in flight, and I pursue you to destroy you. The river with its broad silver chain will avail you nothing for all the bulls you offered it and all the horses you threw alive into its waters. But you will perish miserably until there is not a single man left who has not paid in full for Patroclus' death and for the chaos you caused among the Achaeans, which you slew when I left the battle.

Thus spoke Achilles, but the river grew more and more angry, and he thought to himself how to stop Achilles' hand and save the Trojans from harm. Meanwhile, the son of Peleus, spear in hand, threw himself on Asteropaeus son of Pelegon to kill him. He was the son of the broad river Axius and Peribea, the eldest daughter of Acessamenus; for the river had slept with her. Asteropaeus came out of the water to face him with a spear in each hand, and Xanthus encouraged him, angered by the deaths of the young men Achilles mercilessly slew in his waters. When they were close together, Achilles was the first to speak. "Who are you from and where are you from," he said, "who dares confront me? Woe to the fathers whose son rises up against me!” And the son of Pelegón answered: “Great son of Peleus, why do you ask about my lineage? I come from the fertile land of the distant peony, captain of the peonies, and I have been in Ilius for eleven days. I am of the blood of the river Axius of Axius, which is the fairest of all flowing rivers. He fathered the famous warrior Pelegon, whose son men call me. Let's fight now, Achilles.

Then he challenged him, and Achilles raised his Pelius Ashen Spear. Asteropaeus was wrong with both spears because he could use both hands equally; with a spear he hit Achilles' shield, but did not pierce it, because the golden cloak, a gift from the god, stopped the point; with the other spear he scratched Achilles elbow! the right arm drew dark blood, but the spear itself pierced it and he pinned himself to the ground, prevented from his bloody feast. Then Achilles, wanting to kill him, threw his spear at Asteropaeus, but it missed and hit the steep bank of the river, driving the spear halfway into the earth. Then the son of Peleus drew his sword and threw himself on him furiously. Asteropaeus tried in vain to drive Achilles' spear off the bank with all his might; three times he pulled, trying with all his might to get it out, and three times he had to stop trying; The fourth time, he tried to bend and break it, but before he could, Achilles struck him with his sword, killing him. It hit him near the navel in the stomach, sending all his entrails spilling onto the floor and the blackness of death enveloping him as he gasped. Then Achilles put his foot on his chest and stripped off his armor, boasting to him and saying: “You lie there, born of a river, though it is difficult for you to fight with the descendants of the son of Saturn. You claim to be from the blood of a broad river, but I am from the seed of mighty Jupiter. My father is Peleus son of Aeacus, ruler of many Myrmidons, and Aeacus was son of Jupiter. Just as Jupiter is mightier than any river that flows into the sea, so his children are mightier than any river. Besides, you have a great river near you, if it can be of any use to you, but there is no way Jupiter, son of Saturn, with whom not even King Achelous can match, nor the mighty current of the deep ocean, of him all rivers and seas with all springs and deep wells; even Oceanus fears the lightning of great Jupiter and its thunder coming from heaven.

With that he drew his bronze spear from the shore, and after slaying Asteropaeus, left it where it was on the sand while the dark water washed over him and the eels and fish busy nibbling at the washed-up fat and gnaw away. It was about your kidneys. He then pursued the Paionians, who flew terrified along the banks of the river when they saw their leader slain at the hands of Peleus' son. In it he slew Thesilochus, Mydon, Astypylus, Mnesus, Thrasius, Aeneus, and Ophelestes, and would have slain many more had not the river angrily assumed human form and spoken to it from the deep waters: "Achilles, if thou overcome all things in strength , even if you do it in evil, for the gods are always with you to protect you: So if the son of Saturn has granted you the right to destroy all the Trojans, at least drive them out of my stream and do your devastating work on earth . My fair waters are full of corpses now, and I can't find a channel. I can throw myself into the sea because I'm drowning, and yet you kill without mercy. I am therefore in despair, o captain of thy army, molest me no more."

Achilles replied: "So be it, Scamander, descendant of Jupiter; but I shall never cease to distribute death among the Trojans until I have shut them up in their city and tested Hector face to face to know whether he will defeat me or I him.

As he spoke he attacked the Trojans with a fury like that of the gods. But the river said to Apollo: "Truly, son of Jupiter, lord of the silver bow, you do not obey the commands of Jupiter, who has sternly commanded you to stand by the Trojans and defend them until the dawn and darkness fade away. " about the country."

Meanwhile, Achilles jumped from the bank into the middle of the creek, where the river made a great wave and attacked him. It turned its current into a torrent and swept away the many dead that Achilles slew and left in its waters. These he threw into the earth and roared like a bull all the time, but he saved the living and hid them in his mighty whirlpools. The great and terrible wave enveloped Achilles, fell on him, and struck his shield so that he could not resist; it clung to a great elm tree, but it sprang and ripped open the bank, blocking the stream with its thick branches and making it a bridge; so Achilles left the brook and fled at full speed across the plain, for he was afraid.

But the mighty god did not stop chasing him and rushed at him with a black crowned wave to restrain his hands and save the Trojans from annihilation. The son of Peleus was struck by a spear he shot; Swift as the flight of a black hunting eagle, which is the strongest and swiftest of all birds, he sprang forward, armor clanging loudly on his chest. He fled ahead, but the river followed him with a loud roar. Like one about to water his garden, he carries a stream from some spring over his plants, and his whole shovel of earth in his hand clears the dikes to clear the canals, and the pebbles run endlessly with the water on theirs Away. He tumbled merrily down the bank faster than man can follow, but the river still caught up with Achilles, though he was a swift runner, for gods are stronger than men. Every time he struggled to stand his ground and see if all the gods of the sky were united against him or not, the mighty wave would hit his shoulders and he would have to keep flying again and again. in great dismay; for the torrent was tiring him as it swept past him and swallowed up the earth beneath his feet.

Then the son of Peleus raised his voice to heaven and said: “Father Jupiter, is there not one of the gods who will have pity on me and save me from the river? I don't care what happens to me after that. I do not reproach any of the other inhabitants of Olympus so severely as my dear mother, who cheated and betrayed me. He told me that he would fall under the walls of Troy by the flying arrows of Apollo; I wish Hector, best of Trojans, would kill me there; so will I fall like a hero at a hero's hand; while now it seems I'll meet a sad end, trapped in that river like a swineherd boy, swept away by a stream trying to cross it in a storm.

As soon as he said this, Neptune and Minerva came to him in the form of two men and took his hand to calm him down. Neptune spoke first. 'Son of Peleus,' he said, 'do not be so afraid; we are two gods, we come with the consent of Jupiter to help you, me and Pallas Minerva. It is not your destiny to perish in this river; it will soon subside, as you will see; Furthermore, if you let us guide you, we strongly advise you not to cease your hand in battle until you have trapped the Trojan army within the famous walls of Ilius, allowing as many as possible to escape. Then kill Hector and return to the ships, because we will give you a triumph over him.

Saying this, they went back to the other immortals, but Achilles hastened across the plain, borne by the burden the gods had placed upon him. All was now covered by the tide of water, and much fine armor of the slain youths was torn, as were many corpses, but he fought his way against the current, going at full speed, and as broad as the water could not withstand , stop doing that. , for Minerva gave him great strength. However, Scamander did not give up his pursuit and instead became even more angry with the son of Peleus. Raising his waters to a high crest, he cried aloud to Simois: “Dear brother, let us unite to save this man, or he will plunder the mighty city of King Priam, and the Trojans will not resist him. . Help me immediately; Fill your streams with water from your fountains, rage all your streams; Raise your wave and drop the obstacles and rocks on you so we put an end to this wild creature that now rules like a god. Nothing will serve him anymore, not strength, not beauty, not his fair armor, which indeed will soon sink into the deep and muddy waters. I wrap him in sand and throw tons of pebbles around him so the Achaeans don't know how to collect his bones for the mud I hid him in, and when they celebrate his burial they don't have to make a mound. ”

With that he raised his stormy tide against Achilles, seething with foam and blood and the bodies of the slain. The dark waters of the river rose and would have subdued the son of Peleus, but Juno, fearing that Achilles would be swept away by the mighty tide, raised her voice and called Vulcan to her son. 'Clockfoot,' he cried, 'my son, rise and go, for I think it is you that Xanthus is ready to fight; help us immediately, kindle a fierce fire; Then I will bring from the sea the west and the white wind from the south in a mighty hurricane that will drive the flames against the heads and weapons of the Trojans and consume them, while you walk along the banks of the Xanthus and burn your trees and enveloping them, it burns with fire. Don't make me turn my back on good or bad words and don't give up until I scream and say it. Then you can stop your flames.

Thereupon Vulcan kindled a fierce fire, which broke out first on the plain, and burned up the many slain whom Achilles had slain, and whose bodies lay in great numbers; so the plain dried up and the flood stopped. Just as the north wind, blowing over an orchard drenched by autumn rain, soon withers it and the owner's heart rejoices, so the whole plane withers and the corpses are consumed. Then he threw tongues of fire across the river. He burned the elms, willows, and tamarisks, also the lotus flowers, along with the reeds and marsh grass that grew in abundance on the banks of the river. The eels and fish that swarmed in the water were also badly struck by the flames the wily Vulcan kindled, and the river itself was scalded, so that it said, "Vulcan, there is no god to stand against you can... I can't fight you when you light your flames like this; Don't fight me anymore May Achilles expel the Trojans from the city at once. What do I have to do with fighting and helping people?

He boiled while he spoke, and all his waters boiled. As a cauldron boils over a great fire when it melts the butter of a fat pig, and the butter keeps bubbling all around when the heaps of dry wood burn beneath, so the fair waters of Xanthus were heated by the fire till they were glowing hot . Boil. It could no longer flow, but it stopped its current, so desperate was it from the bursts of fire unleashed by the wily Vulcan. So he prayed to Juno and entreated her, saying: “Juno, why should your son anger my chain with such special anger? I'm not as guilty as everyone else who helped the trojans. I'll let him, if you want, and I'll let my son too. Also, I swear that even if all of Troy burns in the flames that the Achaeans will ignite, I will never again do anything to save the Trojans from annihilation.

As soon as Juno heard this, she said to her son Vulcan: “Son Vulcan, now hold your flames; For the sake of mortals we must not use such violence against a god.

As she said this, Vulcan doused her flames and the river returned to its beautiful bed once more.

Xanthus was defeated now, so these two stopped fighting because Juno stopped them, although she was still angry; but among the other gods a furious quarrel broke out, because they had divided councils. They fell one on top of the other with a great crash, the earth groaned and the wide firmament resounded as with the sound of trumpets. Jupiter listened as he sat on Mount Olympus and laughed with delight as he watched the gods fight each other. They soon set off, and the shieldbreaker Mars opened the battle. Sword in hand, he immediately lunged at Minerva and taunted her. "Why, bitch," he said, "have you got the gods by your ears again in the pride and haughtiness of your heart? Have you forgotten how you sent Diomedes son of Tydeus to attack me and yourself took a spear visible and rammed it into me, wounding my beautiful body? Now you will suffer for what you did to me back then.

As he spoke he smote them in the terrible Aegis with tassels so terrible that not even Jupiter's lightning could pierce them. Here the assassin Mars met her with his large spear. She took a step back and in her strong hand grasped a stone that lay on the great black and rough plain that ancient people had made to mark the boundary of a field. With it he hit Mars in the neck and knocked him off his feet. Nine paths he traversed in his fall, and his hair was streaked with dust while his armor rattled around him. But Minerva laughed and boasted, "Idiot, you haven't learned how much stronger I am than you, but you still have to face me? So now your mother's curses are falling on you, who are angry and want to hurt you because you left the Achaeans and are helping the Trojans.

Then she turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere, whereupon Jupiter's daughter Venus took Mars by the hand and led him away, all the while moaning, for he was struggling to come to. Seeing her, Queen Juno said to Minerva: “Behold, daughter of Jupiter, Aegis-bearer, indefatigable Fox-Venus takes Mars out of the fray again; go after her immediately.

That's how she spoke. Willingly, Minerva ran after Venus and threw herself upon her, slapping her breast with her strong hand so that she fell unconscious to the ground, and there they both lay stretched out at her full length. Then Minerva boasted that, "May all who help the Trojans against the Argives be as fearsome and courageous as Venus when she found me helping Mars." If that were the case, we would have ended the war long ago by sacking the strong city of Ilius.

Juno smiled as she listened. Meanwhile, King Neptune turned to Apollo and said, "Phoebus, why should we keep our distance? it's not right now that the others have started fighting; it would be a pity for us to return to Jupiter's bronze-floored villa on Mount Olympus without having fought each other; Come on, you're the younger of the two and I shouldn't attack you because I'm older and have more experience. You idiot, you are nonsense, and forget how we two of all gods alone wronged Ilius when we came of the house of Jupiter and worked a whole year for Laomedon on a steady salary and he gave us his orders. I built for the Trojans the wall around their city so broad and fair that it would have been impregnable, while you, Phoebus, tend cattle for him in the valleys of the many valleys of Ida. However, when the happy hours brought payday, mighty Laomedon stole all our wages and sent us away with nothing but insults. He threatened to tie us hand and foot and sell us to a distant island. Also, he tried to cut off our ears, so we left angry, angry about the promised reward, and yet he kept us; Despite all this, you are now doing your people a favor and will not bring about the utter destruction of the proud Trojans with their wives and children with us.”

And King Apollo answered: "Lord of the earthquake, you would have no respect for me if I fought you for a flock of wretched mortals, who, like leaves in summer, come out and eat the fruit of the field, and after a little while they fall lifeless. on the ground. Let's end this fight once and for all and let them settle it among themselves."

He walked away as he spoke, not wanting to touch his own father's brother. But his sister, the huntress Diana, patron saint of beasts, was very angry with him and said: 'Then you would fly, Far Dart, and hand the victory to Neptune with cheap bravery at first. Baby, why are you holding your bow so idle? Don't let me hear you boast again in my father's house, as you always did before immortals, that you would rise up and fight Neptune.

Apollo did not answer, but the exalted Queen of Jupiter was furious and rebuked her bitterly. "Bold bitch," he yelled, "how dare you betray me like that? With all due deference, you will find it difficult to defend yourself against me. Jupiter has made you a lion among women and lets you kill whenever you want. You will. And it's better to hunt wild animals and deer in the mountains than to fight against those who are stronger than you. If you want to try war, do it and find out how much stronger I am than you when you look at me

As he spoke he clasped Diana's wrists in his left hand and with his right he took the bow from her shoulders and laughed as he slapped his ears while Diana squirmed and squirmed under his blows. Her swift arrows were hurled to the ground, and she fled weeping under Juno's hand like a dove that flies before a hawk into the crevice of a hollow rock if lucky enough to escape. Nevertheless, she flew away crying, leaving her bow and arrows behind.

Then the assassin of Argos, Guide and Guardian, said to Leto: “Leto, I will not fight you; it is bad to quarrel with any of Jupiter's wives. Therefore, glorify yourself among the immortals as you will that you have defeated me in a fair fight.

Leto then picked up Diana's bow and arrows that had fallen into the dust swirl, and when she caught them, he ran after his daughter. Diana had arrived at Jupiter's bronze-floored mansion on Mount Olympus, and she sat tearfully on her father's knees, her ambrosia-colored robe trembling around her. The son of Saturn drew her to him and at the same time, with a gentle laugh, began to question her, saying: "Which of the heavenly beings, my dear girl, has treated you so cruelly as if you had misbehaved? ? ? from all? and the beautiful goddess of the hunt answered: 'It was your wife Juno, father, who struck me; it is always his doing when there is strife between the immortals.

Thus they conversed, and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the strong city of Ilius, for he feared that the wall would not hold, and the Danaans would take the city on the spot before the time had come; but the rest of the Eternal Gods, some angry and others triumphant, returned to Olympus, where they sat beside Jupiter, lord of the storm cloud, while Achilles continued to inflict death on the Trojans and their aces as the smoke of a city burst into flames rising ascended to heaven when the wrath of the gods kindled them, so there is work for all and pain for not a few, so Achilles brought work and pain to the Trojans.

Old King Priam was in a tower high on the wall looking down at the giant Achilles when the Trojans fled in terror from him and there was no one to help them. Then he descended from the tower and, with much groaning, walked along the wall to give orders to the brave guards of the gate. 'Keep the gates wide open,' he said, 'until the people run into the city, for Achilles is very close and is putting them to flight before him. I see that we are in great danger. Once our people are inside and safe, close the doors tightly as I'm afraid this horrible man will come in with the others.

As he spoke the bolts were drawn back and the gates opened, and when they were opened there was refuge for the Trojans. Apollo then left the city to find and protect her. Straight at the city and the high wall, parched with thirst and smeared with dust, they kept firing, Achilles angrily brandishing his spear behind them. For he was like a man possessed, thirsting for fame.

Then the sons of the Achaeans would have taken the high gates of Troy, had not Apollo spurred on Agenor, the brave and noble son of Antenor. He took courage in his heart and stood by his side to protect him, leaning against a beech tree and shrouded in thick darkness. When Agenor saw Achilles, he froze, his heart heavy with worry. Ah, he said to himself in dismay, if I flee from mighty Achilles and go where all others are beaten, he will still catch and kill me for being a coward. How about I let Achilles lead the others in front of him and then flew off the wall onto the plain behind Ilius until I reached Ida's foot and ducked for cover?
Up in the undergrowth? Then I could wash my sweat in the river and drive back to Ilius in the afternoon. But why communicate with myself in this way? He saw me a little as I ran across the plain from the town and he ran after me until he caught up with me. I wouldn't have a chance against him, because he is the most powerful of mankind. What if I go meet you across town? Their flesh, too, I presume, may be pierced with sharp brass. Life is the same in all, and people say she is only mortal, notwithstanding the triumph bestowed upon her by Jupiter, son of Saturn.

Saying this, he remained on guard and awaited Achilles, as he was now ready to fight against him. Like a leopard leaping from thick cover to attack a hunter, she is unafraid and undeterred by the barking of dogs; Even if the man is too quick for her and hits her with a slash or a spear, even if the spear pierces her, she will not budge until he catches him with his hands or kills her outright. So also the noble son of Agenor. en Antenor refused to flee until he had tasted Achilles, and he aimed his spear at him, holding his round shield in front of him and shouted aloud. "Truly," he said, "noble Achilles, you think that today you will plunder the city of the proud Trojans. Fool, there will be enough trouble before then, for there are many brave men of ours who will stand before our dear fathers with our wives and children to defend Ilius. Here, then, though you are a mighty and mighty warrior, here you will have your mark.

As he spoke his strong hand hurled the spear from him, and the spear caught Achilles in the leg below the knee; The freshly made pewter blow reverberated loudly, but the spear ricocheted off the body of the one it struck and did not pierce him, for the gift of the gods held him back. Achilles, in turn, attacked the noble Agenor, but Apollo granted him no glory, for he snatched Agenor and hid him in a thick fog, sending him out of the battle unmolested. Then he skillfully distracted the son of Peleus from pursuing the army. , for he put on Agenor's form and stood before Achilles, who rushed to pursue him, pursued him through the cornfields of the plain, and led him into the deep waters of the River Scamander. Apollo ran a little ahead of him, tricking Achilles into thinking he was catching up all the time. Meanwhile, the mob of defeated Trojans were grateful to crowd the city until their numbers overwhelmed them; they no longer dared wait for one another outside the city walls to learn who had escaped and who had died in battle, but all who could still carry them on their knees and feet ran into the city en masse.

Buch XXIII

So the Trojans in the city, frightened as puppies, wiped their sweat and drank to quench their thirst, leaning on the good battlements, while the Achaeans, with their shields on their shoulders, approached the walls. But hard fate ordered Hector to stay where he was before Ilius and the Scaean Gates. Then Phoebus Apollo spoke to the son of Peleus, saying: Why, son of Peleus, do you persecute me, being a man who is immortal? Haven't you discovered that it is a god you are persecuting with such fury? You did not pursue the Trojans you defeated and now they are within your walls while you have been tricked by them. You can't kill me because death can't catch me.

Achilles was very angry, and said: 'You have frustrated me, Far Dart, fiercest of gods, and driven me from the wall where many other men would have bitten the dust before Ilius came; you robbed me of great glory and saved the Trojans without risking yourself, for you have nothing to fear, but you would surely avenge me if it were in my power.

Then he rode with wild intent toward the city, and as the victorious horse in a chariot race strains every nerve flying across the plain, so swift and furious did the limbs of Achilles urge him on. King Priam was the first to watch him as he walked across the plain, all radiant like the star which men call the hound of Orion, whose rays shine brighter at harvest time than any other that shine at night; Though the wisest of all, he is an ill omen to mortals, for he brings with him fire and fever, just as the armor of Achilles on his chest glowed as he accelerated. Priam screamed and hit his head with his hands as he raised his hands and cried out to his dear son, begging him to come back; but Hector still stood at the gates, for his heart was set on fighting Achilles. The old man stretched out his arms and, out of mercy, ordered him to enter the walls. “Hector,” he cried, “my son, do not cease to face this man alone and unsupported, or you will meet your death at the hands of the son of Peleus, for he is mightier than you. Monster, that is; I wish the gods didn't love him more than I do, for dogs and vultures would soon devour him as he lay prostrate on the ground, and a burden of sorrow would rise from my heart for the many brave children he left behind . from me, either killing them or selling them in the islands beyond the sea: Even now two sons are wanting among the Trojans who populated the city, Lycaon and Polydorus, to whom Laohoe, a kinsman among women, my Se bare, if they are still alive, and in the hands of the Achaeans we shall redeem them with gold and bronze which we have in reserve, because old Altes made his daughter rich; but if they are already dead and in the house of Hades, the pain will be for both of us who were their parents; though the pain of others is shorter unless they also perish at the hand of Achilles. Come then, my son, to the city to protect the men and women of Trojan, or you lose your own life and bring great triumph to the son of Peleus. Have pity also on your wretched father while I live for him, whom the son of Saturn will destroy at the threshold of old age with a terrible fate, having seen my sons killed and my daughters taken prisoner, my bridal chambers plundered . cast down in the heat of battle, and my sons' wives carried away at the cruel hands of the Achaeans; In the end wild dogs will tear me to pieces at my own gates, after someone strikes my life with sword or spear, dogs I have bred myself and fed at my own table to guard my gates, but lick my blood anyway and then lie all-in afraid of my gates. If a youth falls by the sword in battle, he can remain where he is, and it is not improper; All will be seen to be honorable in death, but when an old man is murdered there is nothing more pitiful in this world than dogs to desecrate his gray hair and beard, and all that men hide in shame.

The old man tugged at his gray hair as he spoke, but it didn't move Hector's heart. His mother cried and moaned loudly as she bared her breast and pointed to the breast that had been nursing him. "Hector," she cried, weeping bitterly, "Hector, my son, do not despise this breast, but also have pity on me: if I have ever comforted you in my own bosom, think now, dear son, and come to me , behind the wall to protect us from this man; don't miss to meet him. If the wretched man kills you, neither I nor your rich wife will ever weep, dear daughter of mine, on the bed where you lie, for the dogs will eat you on the Achaean ships.

Both begged their son through many tears, but they did not move Hector's heart, and he stood steadfastly waiting for tall Achilles as he approached him. Like a serpent in its mountain cave, Filled with deadly venoms, it awaits the coming of men, It is full of anger and its eyes shine with fear as it coils around its cave, So Hector leaned his shield against a projecting tower. off the wall and stayed where he was, undaunted.

Ah, he said to himself with a heavy heart, if I go through the gates, Polydamas will be the first to attack me, for it was he who urged me, on that terrible night when Achilles advanced against us, to take the Trojans into the bring back town again. I didn't want to hear it, but it would have been so much better if I had heard it. Now that my madness has crushed the army, I dare not look Trojan men and women in the face, lest a worse man say, "Hector has ruined us with his confidence." after fighting Achilles and killing him or dying gloriously here before the city. What if I dropped my shield and helmet, banged my spear against the wall and headed straight for noble Achilles? What if he promised to give to Troy Helena, who was the source of all this war, and all the treasures that Alexander took with him on his ships, yes, and the Achaeans half of everything that the city contains, split among themselves? She? I could get the Trojans by the mouth of their princes to swear a solemn oath that they would hide nothing but divide everything within the city in two, but why argue with me like that? If I got close to him, he would have no mercy; he killed me then and there as easily as a woman when he stripped my armor. You cannot speak to him from a rock or an oak tree as young men and girls speak to one another. You better fight him now, then you'll know which of us Jupiter will give the victory to.

So he rose and meditated, but Achilles approached him as if he were Mars himself, the feathered lord of battle. From his right shoulder he swung his terrible spear of Pelian ash, and the bronze glowed around him like flickering fire or the rays of the rising sun. When Hector saw him he was terrified and no longer daring to remain where he was, he fled in terror from the gates while Achilles chased after him at full speed. When a mountain hawk, the fastest of birds, charges a crouching pigeon, the pigeon flying in front of him, but the hawk following close behind with a high-pitched squawk, determined to catch him, Achilles nonetheless charged straight at Hector with all his might. while Hector fled under the wall of Troy as fast as his limbs would allow.

They flew along the wagon track below the wall, past the lookout point and the old wild banyan tree, until they came to two beautiful springs that feed the Scamander River. One of these two springs is hot, and steam rises like smoke from a fire, but the other is cold, even in summer, like sleet or snow or ice that forms on water. Here, next to the springs, are the beautiful stone basins where, in the peaceful times before the Achaeans arrived, the wives and beautiful daughters of the Trojans washed their clothes. They flew past them, one leading and the other giving Ha. after him: Good was the fleeing one, but much better was the one that followed, and they ran swiftly, for the prize was not merely a sacrificial animal or the skin of an ox, as might be the case for a race. . stand together, but they rushed to save Hector's life. Just as horses in a chariot race around the poles of conversion when they race for a grand prize, a tripod, or a woman in the games for a slain hero, these two at high speed ran three times around the city of Priam. All the gods watched her, and the father of gods and men spoke first.

'Ah,' he said, 'my eyes see a man dear to me being driven over the walls of Troy; my heart is full of pity for Hector, who burned the thighs of many heifers in my honor, once in the Ida of many valleys, and then again in the citadel of Troy; and now I see the noble Achilles chasing him through the city of Priam. What do you say? Decide among yourselves whether we save him now or, brave as he is, let him fall before Achilles son of Peleus.

Then Minerva said: "Father, bringer of lightning, lord of clouds and storms, what do you mean? Would you pluck this mortal, whose fate was long ago determined, from the jaws of death? Do what you want, but the rest of us will not agree with you.

And Jupiter answered: "My son, born of Triton, take heart. I wasn't entirely serious, and I'll let you get away with it. Do as you see fit without hindrance or obstacles.

So he spurred on the already eager Minerva, and she threw herself from the highest peaks of Olympus.

Achilles still pursued Hector, like a dog chasing a deer he has driven from its mountain hideout, chasing through clearings and thickets. The stag may try to avoid him by ducking under the cover of a bush, but he will sniff him out and follow him until he catches up, lest Hector escape the swift son of Peleus. Whenever he approached the gates of Dardania and under the walls for his people to help him throw weapons from above, Achilles caught up with him and led him back into the plain, always keeping to the side of the city. Like a man who in a dream cannot catch up with another he is pursuing, one cannot escape or the other catch up, so Achilles could not catch up with Hector, nor could Hector break with Achilles; yet he would have escaped death had not the time come when Apollo, who had hitherto maintained his strength and promoted his career, was no longer at his side. Achilles motioned to the Achaean army and shook his head to indicate that no one should throw a spear at Hector, lest another gain the glory of having struck him, and he himself takes second place. Finally, as they approached the well for the fourth time, the father of all was balancing his golden scales and laying down a fate on each one, one for Achilles and one for Hector. While balancing the scales, Hector's fate fell deep into the house of Hades, and so Phoebus Apollo left him. Then Minerva approached the son of Peleus and said: 'Noble Achilles, minion of heaven, we two shall surely bring the ships a triumph for the Achaeans by killing Hector in spite of all his lust for battle. Whatever Apollo does while groping before his father Jupiter, the bearer of the aegis, Hector can no longer escape us. Stay here and breathe as I reach out and convince him to resist and fight you.

Thus spoke Minerva. Achilles readily obeyed, leaning on his bronze spear of ashes while Minerva left him and Hector went after him in the form and voice of Deiphobus. She approached him and said: "Dear brother, I see that Achilles is harassing you very much and is chasing you through the city of Priam at full speed, let's wait for his attack and defend ourselves."

And Hector replied: "Deiphobe, you were always dearest to me of all my brothers, sons of Hecuba and Priam, but from now on I will appreciate you more for venturing over the wall for me when everyone else stays inside. "

Then Minerva said: “Dear brother, my father and mother knelt down and begged me, like all my companions, to stay inside, so afraid they all fell; but I was in great pain when I saw you; Now let us arise and fight and not put our spears away, that we may know whether Achilles will kill us and carry our spoils to the ships, or whether he will fall before you. ”

So Minerva persuaded him with her ruse, and when the two were already close together, the tall Hector spoke first. "I will no longer destroy you, son of Peleus," he said, "as I have done hitherto." Three times I have fled around the mighty city of Priam, not daring to resist you, but now let me kill or be killed, for I am thinking of meeting you. So let us promise one another by our gods, who are the ablest witnesses and keepers of all covenants; Let's agree that if Jupiter allows me the longest stay and I take his life, I must not treat his corpse improperly, but once I have removed his armor, I must give up his corpse. to the Achaeans And do the same.

Achilles looked at him and replied, "You fool, don't talk to me about pacts. There can be no pact between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never agree but hate each other deeply. So there can be no understanding between you and me, no pact between us, until one or the other falls and drenches dark Mars with his lifeblood. Distribute all your strength; Now you must show that you are a fearless soldier and a man of war. You have no more chance, and Pallas Minerva will defeat you immediately with my spear: now you will pay me in full for the pain you caused me because of my comrades killed in battle.

As he spoke, he raised his spear and hurled it. Hector saw it coming and avoided it; he looked at it and crouched down so that it flew over his head and stuck to the ground; Minerva then took it back and handed it back to Achilles without Hector seeing her; Hector then said to the son of Peleus: 'You have missed your mark, Achilles, noble of the gods, and Jupiter has not yet revealed to you the hour of my downfall, although you are sure of it. You were a phony liar when you thought I should lose my courage and give in to you. You will not stick a spear in a fugitive's back; If Heaven gives you the power, preach it to me as I come right to you; and now, for my part, avoid my spear if you can, so that you may receive it fully in your body; once you were dead, the trojans would have an easier war because you're the one who did them the most damage.

As he spoke, he raised his spear and hurled it. His aim was accurate, hitting the center of Achilles' shield, but the spear ricocheted and missed. Hector was enraged to see that the weapon had slipped from his hand in vain and was dismayed that he did not have a second spear. With a great cry he called Diphobus and begged for one, but there was no man; then he saw the truth and said to himself, “Oh! The gods drew me to my destruction. I thought the hero Deiphobus was at my side, but he is within the wall, and Minerva has deceived me; Death is now very close and there is no way out, because Jupiter and his son Apollo, the distant arrow, wanted it that way, although until now they have always been ready to protect me. My destiny has come upon me; So don't let me die ingloriously and without a fight, but do something great first that will be counted among the people from now on."

As he spoke he drew the sharp blade that hung so great and strong at his side, and, recovering, sprang on Achilles like an eagle flying out of the clouds and swooping down on a sheep or a frightened hare, whereupon Hector threw his sword swung . and jumps on Achilles. Achilles, mad with rage, charged at him, his wondrous shield across his chest and his gleaming helmet of four layers of metal pointing wildly ahead. The thick threads of gold with which Vulcan had crowned his helm floated about him, and like the evening star that shines brighter than all others in the still night, so bright was the spear Achilles held in his hand. Right, full of light. . with the death of noble Hector. He glanced at her pale skin several times to see where best to hit her, but everything was protected by the fine armor Hector had spoiled Patroclus in after killing him, save for the throat where the collarbones were neck halved. the shoulders, and this is a most deadly spot: here Achilles struck him as he came towards him, and the point of his spear pierced the fleshy part of his throat but did not cut off his trachea so that he could still speak. Hector fell headfirst, and Achilles boasted about him, saying, 'Hector, you thought you should get away with spoiling Patroclus and you didn't bother with me because I wasn't with him. You were stupid: because I, your comrade, much more powerful than he, was still behind him in the ships, and now I'm going to cut him down. The Achaeans will give you all the proper funeral rites while the dogs and vultures do as they please.

Then, as his life was ending, Hector said: “I beg you for your life and your knees and for your parents, let not the dogs on the Achaean ships eat me, but accept the rich treasure of gold and bronze that is mine Father has and my mother will sacrifice you and send my corpse home so that the Trojans and their wives can worship me fervently when I die.

Achilles looked at him and replied: “Dog, don't talk to me about knees or fathers; I wish I was so sure I could cut up your meat and eat it raw, because evil made me the way I am that nothing will save you from the dogs. It won't even if they bring ten or twenty double the ransom and weigh it to me right away with the promise of later. Even if Priam son of Dardanus asks her to offer me his weight in gold, his mother will never lay him down or mourn for the son she has borne, but dogs and vultures will devour him whole.

Hector then said with his last breath: 'I know what you are and I was sure I wouldn't move you because your heart is as hard as iron; Behold, I will not bring upon you the wrath of heaven on the day that Paris and Phoebus Apollo, brave as you are, will slay you at the gates of Scaea.

As he said this, the shrouds of death enveloped him so that his soul left him and flew to the house of Hades, lamenting his sad fate of having no more youth and strength. But Achilles said to the corpse: “Die; For my part, I will accept my destiny whenever Jupiter and the other gods see fit to send it.

As he spoke he drew his spear from his body and laid it aside; then he took the blood-stained armor from Hector's shoulders, while the other Achaeans rushed to see his wondrous strength and beauty; and no one approached him without inflicting a fresh wound on him. Then one turned to his neighbor and said, "Hector is easier to deal with now than when he shot down our ships," and as he spoke thrust the spear back into him.

When Achilles had finished removing Hector's armour, he stood up among the Argives and said: "My friends, princes and advisors of the Argives, now heaven has given us to defeat this man who has done us more harm than all others Consider together whether we shouldn't attack the city by force and find out what the Trojans might be thinking, so we should know if they will leave their city after Hector falls or if they will still fight back , even if he is no longer alive.Why still argue with myself while Patroclus still lies unburied in the ships, weeping for him whom I can never forget while I live and my strength fails?Though men theirs Forget the dead when they are in the house of Hades , even there I will not forget the lost companion, now now, young Achaeans, let us sing the song of victory and return to the ships with this man, for we have won a great triumph and the Noble killed Hector, to whom the Trojans throughout the city prayed as if he were a god.

In it he treated the body of Hector with contempt: he pierced the tendons in the backs of both feet from heel to ankle, and threaded strips of oxhide through the slits he had made: thus he tied the body to his cart, leaving the head grind on the floor. So when he put the beautiful armor on the chariot and mounted, he tied his horses and they flew away without difficulty. Dust rose from Hector as they dragged him away, his dark hair flew everywhere, and his head, once so beautiful, rested on the earth, for Jupiter had now delivered it into the hands of his enemies to rebel. Earth.

Thus Hector's head was dishonored in the dust. His mother pulled her hair and removed her veil with a loud squeak as she looked down at her son. His father let out a plaintive howl, and people across the city began to weep and wail. It was as if the whole dark Ilius was stained with fire. The people could hardly restrain Priam in their haste to rush out of the city gates. He crawled through the mud and begged her, calling everyone by name. Leave him, my friends, he cried, and in all his sorrow let him go alone to the Achaean ships. Allow me to ask this cruel and terrible man if he respects the feelings of those around him and feels sorry for my age. Your own father is another like me, Peleus, who raised and raised you to the detriment of us Trojans, and I more than all the rest. He has killed many of my sons in the prime of their youth, and yet, much as I mourn for them, I do it for one Hector more than for all of them, and the bitterness of my grief will make me fall. to the house. from Hades. I wish he had died in my arms so that both his evil mother who gave birth to him and I could have the comfort to cry and mourn for him!

So he spoke with many tears, and all the people of the city joined in their lamentation. Hecuba then raised a lamentation among the Trojans. "Oh, my son," he exclaimed, "what's left for me to live on now that you're gone? Day and night I boasted of you throughout the city, because you were a strong tower for all in Troy, and men and women greeted you as a god. While you were alive you were your pride, but now death and destruction have come upon you."

Hector's wife still didn't know, because no one had come to report that her husband had been left at the gates. She was at her loom in an inner part of the house, weaving a double purple fabric and embroidering it with many flowers. She told the maids to put a large tripod on the fire so that she would have a hot bath ready for Hector when he came from the battle; Poor woman, she didn't know that he was now out of reach of the baths and that Minerva had thrown him into Achilles' hands. He heard the scream that came from the wall and shuddered in every limb; The shuttle fell from her hands and she spoke to the servants again. 'Two of you,' he said, 'come with me so I know what happened; I heard the voice of my husband's honest mother; my own heart beats as if it would enter my mouth, and my limbs refuse to support me; a great calamity must be in store for the sons of Priam. May I never see it, but I very much fear that Achilles prevented brave Hector's retreat, and pursued him to the plain, where he stood alone; I fear it has put an end to the reckless boldness of my husband, who would never keep his men's bodies, but would rush forward, especially them in bravery.

Her heart was pounding, and as she spoke she flew out of the house like a madwoman, followed by her servants. When he reached the battlements and the crowd, he stood and looked at the wall and saw Hector being herded outside the city, the horses heedlessly and heedlessly dragging him across the ground to the ships of the Achaeans. Her eyes would then roll like in the darkness of the night and she would faint. She tore the basket from her head and threw it away, the breastplate and the net with the plaited sash and the veil that the golden Venus had given her the day Hector had taken her from the house of Eetion, after she had given her countless had given courtship. . gifts for her. Her husband's sisters and her brothers' wives surrounded and supported her, as she was ready to die in her distraction; when he breathed again and came to himself, he sobbed and wailed among the Trojans, saying, Woe is me, O Hector! Ah, we were born for a common lot, you in Troy in the house of Priam and I in Thebes under the wooded Plakosberg in the house of Eetion, who brought me up as an unhappy child! Father of an unhappy daughter I wish he had never fathered me. You now go to the house of Hades, among the secret places of the earth, and you leave me in your house like a grieving widow. The child whose parents you and I are unhappy parents is still a baby. Now that you are gone, O Hector, you can do nothing for him and he can do nothing for you. Even if he escapes the horrors of that ill-fated war with the Achaeans, his life from now on will be one of toil and pain as others will take his land. The day he steals a child from his parents separates him from his own kind; his head is bowed, his cheeks are wet with tears, and he will be in distress among his father's friends, tearing one for his cloak and another for his shirt. Some of them may pity him enough to hold the glass close for a moment and let him lick his lips, but he must not drink enough to lick the palate; then the one whose parents are alive will push him off the table with beatings and angry words. "Away with you," he will say, "you have no father here," and the child will return weeping to his widowed mother, he, Astyanax, who formerly sat on the father's lap and had nothing but the tenderest and choicest. . pieces laid in front of him. If he played until he fell asleep, he would lie down in the arms of his nurse on a soft sofa, not knowing that he neither wanted nor cared, while now that he has lost his father, fate will be full of weariness for him whom the Trojans call Astyanax, because, O Hector, you were the only defense of their gates and battlements. Squirming, squirming worms will now eat you on ships away from your parents when the dogs get fed up with you. You will lie down naked, although in your house you have fine and beautiful clothes made by women's hands. I'll burn that now; it is of no use to you because you will never be able to use it again, and so you will have the respect of Trojans, both male and female.

In this way he wept aloud through his tears, and the women joined in his lamentation.

Buch XXIII

Then they howled throughout the city, while the Achaeans, when they reached the Hellespont, each returned to his ship. But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and addressed his brave comrades, saying: “Myrmidons, illustrious knights and my own trusted friends, no, we shall lose the yoke, but with horses and chariots we shall approach the body and weep for him. Patroclus. in honor of the dead. When we have fully recovered from the lamentation, we shall untie our horses and all dine here.

With that they all joined in a lamentation, and Achilles led them in his lamentation. Three times they drove sadly around the body with their chariots, and Thetis awakened in them an even deeper desire. The sands of the shore and the weapons of men were wet with their tears, such a great servant of fear was he that they had lost. The head of all mourning was the son of Peleus: he laid his bloody hand on his friend's breast. "Farewell," he cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of Hades. Now I will do everything I promised you before; I'll drag Hector here and let the dogs eat him raw; I will also kill twelve noble sons of the Trojans before your pyre to avenge you. As he spoke he treated the corpse of noble Hector with contempt and left it in the dust beside Patroclus' coffin. Then the others drew their weapons, took their chariot-horses, and sat in a great crowd beside the ship of the swift descendant of Aeacus, who offered them a rich funeral feast. Many good oxen, many bleating sheep and goats they killed and slaughtered; many tusked boars, fat and well-fed, burned and roasted in Vulcan's flames; and streams of blood flowed around where the body lay.

Then the princes of the Achaeans brought the son of Peleus to Agamemnon, but they could hardly persuade him to go with them, so angry was he at the death of his companion. As soon as they reached Agamemnon's tent, the servants were ordered to set up a large tripod over the fire if they could persuade the son of Peleus to wash the clotted blood from that body, but he sternly refused, swearing by a solemn oath, and said: "No, by King Jupiter, the first and mightiest of all gods, it is not good for water to touch my body, until I have set Patroclus on fire, built a mound for him, and shaved my head. As long as I live, shall not come near me a second of this pain.So now let us do whatever this sad festival calls for,but at dawn, King Agamemnon, command your men to fetch wood,and see to it that the dead may duly enter the realm of darkness worn, then the fire will burn it up and it will lose our sight as soon as possible and people will go back to their own jobs.

So he spoke, and they did what he said. They rushed to prepare the food, they ate, and everyone ate their portion so that everyone was full. After they had eaten and drunk, the others went to sleep, each in his own tent, but the son of Peleus lay in mourning among his squadrons on the shore of the raging sea, in an open place where the waves came one by one. . Here a very deep sleep fell upon him, and lightened the burden of his pains, for his limbs were weary from chasing Hector round the windy Ilius. Then the sad spirit of Patroclus approached him, as he was in size, voice and the light of his radiant eyes, dressed as he was dressed in life. The ghost hovered over his head and said

“You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; You loved me alive, but now that I'm dead you don't think of me anymore. Bury me quickly so I can pass through the gates of Hades; Ghosts, vain shadows of people who can no longer work, take me away from them; They still won't let me go to those across the river, and I'll walk alone through the wide gates of the house of Hades. Now give me your hand, I beg you, for once you give me my fiery rights, I will never leave the house of Hades. Never again shall we sit aside and give loving counsel among the living; the cruel fate that was my birthright opened its jaws wide around me, yes, you too, Achilles, pair of gods, are doomed to die under the wall of noble Trojans.

“I'll say one more prayer for you if you give it to me; Do not separate my bones from yours, Achilles, but with them; how were we brought up together in your own house, when Menoetius brought me to you son of Opoeis, because out of sad malice I killed the son of Amphidamas, not for any purpose but in a childish quarrel over the dice? The knight Peleus took me into his house, treated me kindly, and made me his squire; let our bones rest in one urn, the golden two-handled vessel your mother gave you.

And Achilles answered: "Why, honest heart, did you come here to accuse me of these accusations? Will of me to do whatever you have commanded me. Come close to me, let's hold each other once more and find sad comfort in sharing our pain.

She held out her arms to him as she spoke and would have squeezed him between her, but there was nothing and the ghost vanished like a vapor, gurgling and moaning into the earth. Achilles jumped up, clapped his hands and wailed, saying: “Verily, even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and ghosts that have no life in them; All night the sad spirit of Patroclus hovered over his head, wailing pitifully, telling me what I must do for him, and looking wonderfully like him.

So spoke he, and his words made them weep and mourn for the poor mute dead, till the morning came with rosy fingers. So King Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp to fetch wood, and Meriones, the squire of Idomeneus, was in charge of them. With logging axes and strong ropes in their hands they went, and before them went the mules. By straight and crooked paths they climbed up hills and down valleys, and when they reached the heights of the many springs of Ida they drove their axes into the roots of many great and branched oaks, which fell with a crash as they felled. They split the trees and tied them behind the mules, who then pushed their way through the thick undergrowth toward the plain as best they could. All those chopping wood carried sticks, as Meriones the squire of Idomeneus had commanded, and cast them in a line on the beach where Achilles would erect a great monument to Patroclus and himself.

As they flung their great logs across the ground, all stayed where they were, but Achilles ordered his brave minions to gird their arms and groan each of their horses; So they arose, girded with their weapons, and each got into his chariot, they and their charioteers with them. The carriages drove ahead and those on foot followed like a cloud by the tens of thousands. In their midst, his companions gave birth to Patroclus and covered him with their strands of hair, cutting them off and throwing him over his body. Last was Achilles, head bowed in sorrow, such a noble companion was he, leading to the house of Hades.

Arriving at the place Achilles had shown them, they placed the body and built the wood. Achilles then thought of something else. He moved a little way from the pyre and cut the yellow lock he had let grow into the river Spercheius. He looked sadly at the dark sea and said: “Sperchius, my father Peleus swore to you in vain that on my return to my beloved land I would cut through this lock and offer you a sacred hecatomb; I would offer you fifty goats by your springs, where your forest is, and your fragrant altar of burnt offerings. So my father swore, but you did not fulfill your prayer; now that I shall no longer see my house, I give this castle as a souvenir to the hero Patroclus.

As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dear companion, and all present were filled with longing and lamentation. The sun would have set on his grief if Achilles had not said to Agamemnon at that moment: “Son of Atreus, for the people will hear you, there is a time to weep and a time to stop weeping; command the people to leave the pyre and prepare their supper: We who love the dead will provide what is necessary here and leave the other princes to stand by me too.

When King Agamemnon heard this, he dismissed the people to his ships, but those around the dead piled up wood and erected a pyre, a hundred feet on each side; so they put the very sad dead on it. They skinned and skinned many fat sheep and oxen before the pyre, and Achilles stripped the fat from all of them and wrapped the body from head to toe and piled the skinned carcasses around. In the coffin he put honey and ointment jars with two handles; Then he threw four proud horses onto the pyre and groaned. The dead hero had dogs; Achilles killed two of them and burned them at the stake; He also slew twelve brave sons of Trojan nobles with the sword and laid them with the others because he was filled with bitterness and anger. So he surrendered everything to the irresistible, consuming power of fire; he groaned loudly and called his dead comrade by name. "Farewell," he cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of Hades; Now I'll do everything I promised you. Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans will burn with you, but dogs, not fire, will devour the flesh of Hector son of Priam.

So he bragged, but the dogs did not approach Hector's body because Venus, daughter of Jupiter, kept them away from him day and night, anointing him with pink ambrosia oil so his flesh would not be torn when Achilles dragged him, Phoebus Apollo also sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth, shading the whole place where Hector lay, lest the sun's heat burn his body.

Now the funeral pyre of dead Patroclus would not be kindled. Achilles therefore thought of something else; he retired and prayed to the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus and promised them good offerings. He made many libations out of the golden chalice and asked them to come to his aid so that the wood would quickly catch fire and the corpses would be consumed. Fleet Iris heard him pray and set out to meet the winds. They were having a great feast at the house of the boisterous Zephyr when Iris ran to the stone threshold of the house and stopped there, but as soon as they saw her they all came to her and each of them called out to her. . but Iris would not sit down. 'I cannot stay,' he said, 'I must return to Oceanus' currents and to the land of the Ethiopians who offer hecatombs to the immortals, and I want my share; but Achilles prays for Boreas and shrill Zephyrus to come to him, and promises them good offers; I would blow you on the pyre of Patroclus, whom all Achaeans mourn.

With that he left them, and the two winds rose with a cry that rent the air and swept away the clouds before them. Again and again they blew until they reached the sea, and the waves rose high beneath them, but when they reached Troy they fell on the pyre until mighty flames roared under the breath they blew. All night they blew strong and beat the fire, and all night Achilles took his double chalice, drew wine from a golden bowl, and invoked the spirit of dead Patroclus while he poured it on the earth until the earth was soaked. . As a father mourns when he burns the bones of his betrothed's son, whose death shook the hearts of his parents, so Achilles mourns when he burns the corpse of his comrade, and goes about the coffin with wails and pitiful wails.

At last, as the morning star began to herald the light that the saffron dawn would soon cast across the sea, the flames fell and the fire began to die out. Then the winds returned home over the Thracian Sea, which roared and boiled as they passed. The son of Peleus now turned from the pyre and, overwhelmed by the work, lay down until he fell into a sweet sleep. Immediately those around the son of Atreus drew near
a body, and was awakened by the noise and footsteps of its arrival. He sat down and said: Son of Atreus and all the other princes of the Achaeans, first pour the red wine all over the fire and quench it; let us then collect the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius and select them carefully; They are easy to find as they lie in the center of the pyre while everyone else, men and horses, have been thrown into a heap and burned around the outer edge. We shall place the bones in a golden urn, in two layers of fat, until I descend to the House of Hades myself. As for the heap, now you're not working on lifting a big one, but one that's sensible. So let the Achaeans who remain in the ships when I go build it wide and high.

Thus spoke he, and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus. First they poured red wine over the thick layer of ash and put out the fire. With many tears, they took the whitish bones of their beloved companion and placed them in a golden urn with two layers of fat: then they covered the urn with a cloth and put it in the tent. They marked the circle where the mound should have been, laid a foundation around the pyre, and immediately filled in the earth. When they were building a hill, they were about to leave, but Achilles stopped the people and made them sit in meetings. He brought prizes from the ships: cauldrons, tripods, horses and mules, noble oxen, women with beautiful belts and black iron.

The first prize he offered was for a chariot race, a woman skilled in all the useful arts, and a three-legged cauldron that had ears for handles and would fit in twenty-two measures. This was for the man who came first. For the second there was a whole six-year-old mare and a young donkey; the third should have a good cauldron that had never burned; It still had the shine it had when it was manufactured and would fit four sizes. The fourth prize was two talents of gold, and the fifth was an urn with two handles, not yet polluted with smoke. Then he got up and spoke among the Argives

"Son of Atreus and all other Achaeans, these are the prizes that await the winners of the chariot races. Any other time I must take the first prize and bring it to my own shop; you know how far my steeds surpass all others, because they are immortal; Neptune gave them to my father Peleus, who in turn gave them to me; but I will stay away, I and my horses, who have lost their brave and kind driver, who washed them many times with clean water and anointed their manes with oil. See them cry here, their long hair dragging the floor in pain. But you, form yourselves in all the army that trusts in their horses and in the strength of their chariot.”

Thus spoke the son of Peleus, and the charioteers were excited. First among them all came Eumelus, king of men, son of Admetus, a distinguished horseman. Beside him stood mighty Diomedes son of Tydeus; He harnessed the Trojan horses he had taken from Aeneas when Apollo pulled him out of battle. Beside him rose the blond Menelaus son of Atreus and harnessed his swift horses, Agamemnon's mare Aete, and his own horse Podargus. Echepolus son of Anchises had given the mare to Agamemnon, that he might not have to follow him to Ilius, but stay at home and rest; for Jupiter had endowed him with great riches, and he dwelt in wide Sicyon. Menelaus joined this mare, all excited about the race.

Fourth, Antilochus son of the noble Nestor son of Neleus prepared his horses. These were educated on Pylos, and his father came to him with good advice, which he rarely used. 'Antilochus,' said Nestor, 'you are young, but Jupiter and Neptune loved you dearly and made you a fine knight. So I don't need to say much about the instruction. You're adept at turning your horses around the stable, but the horses themselves are very slow, and that's what I'm afraid will spoil your chances. The other drivers know less than you, but your horses are faster; So, my dear son, see if you can't find some means of preventing the loot from slipping through your fingers. The woodcutter does more with skill than brute force; Skillfully the pilot steers his storm-tossed boat across the sea, and so one pilot with skill can outrun another. When a man swerves while turning from side to side, while a man who knows what he's doing may have worse horses but have good control over them when he sees the double post; He knows the exact moment when he needs to pull the reins and he doesn't lose sight of the man in front of him. I'll give you that sure sign that can't escape your attention. There is a dead tree stump, like an oak or pine, maybe two meters above the ground and not yet rotted by the rain; it is at the fork in the road; It has two white stones, one on each side, and there is a clear path all the way around. It might have been a memorial to someone long dead, or it might have been used as a double pole in times past; now, however, it has been fixed by Achilles as the goal about which the chariots will turn; Hug him as close as you can, but when you get on the cart, lean a little to the left; Urge your horse on the right with your voice and whips, and let him run free, but let the horse on the left stay so close that the center of his wheel almost brushes the post; but beware of the stone, or you will injure your horses and break your carriage in pieces, which would be fun for others but confusion for you. So, my dear son, watch what you do, because if you can be the first around the pole, there is no chance that anyone will give you the goby afterwards, even if you are behind the horse Arion, the horse of Adrestus , stand who is of the divine lineage, or those of Laomedon, who are the noblest in this land."

When Nestor had advised his son, he sat down in his place, and fifth, Meriones prepared the horses. So everyone got in their cars and cast lots. Achilles shook his helm, and the fortunes of Antilochus son of Nestor fell first; then came that of King Eumelus, and after him that of Menelaus son of Atreus and Meriones. Last place went to the fate of Diomedes son of Tydeus, who was the godfather of all. They took their places in the line; Achilles showed them the double pole about which they were to turn at some distance across the plain; Here he placed his father's supporter, Fénix, as referee to take note of the progress and report truthfully.

At the same moment, they all whipped their horses, hit them with the reins and yelled at them with all their might. They flew across the plain at full speed, away from the ships, the dust rising beneath them like a cloud or a hurricane, their manes all blowing in the wind. In a moment the wagons seemed to hit the ground, and again they leapt into the air; The riders stood tall, their hearts beating fast and furious in their desire for victory. Everyone called their horses, and the horses rode across the plain in the clouds of dust they raised.

As they made the final leg of the journey back to the sea, the rhythm became maximally tense and they saw what each one could accomplish. The horses of the descendant of Pheres now took the lead, and close behind them came the Trojan stallions of Diomedes. They looked ready to jump into Eumelus' chariot and he could feel their warm breath on his broad back and shoulders as their heads were close to him as they flew across the track. Diomedes would have passed him already, or there would have been a draw, but Phoebus Apollo, to annoy him, dropped his whip. Tears of anger welled up in her eyes as she watched the mares run faster than ever while her own horses lost ground for lack of whips. Minerva saw the trick Apollo had played on the son of Tydeus, so she brought him her whip and encouraged his horses; moreover, she furiously pursued the son of Admetus and broke his yoke for him; The mares in the race went one way, the other the other, and the pole broke on the ground. Eumelus was thrown from his chariot near the wheel; his elbows, mouth and nostrils were all torn apart and his forehead was bruised above the eyebrows; her eyes filled with tears and she couldn't find the words. But the son of Tydeus turned his horses away and went on, because Minerva gave them new strength and covered Diomedes himself with glory.

Menelaus son of Atreus followed him, but Antilochus called his father's horses. "Go on with you two," he yelled, "and do your best. I do not command you to strike the steeds of Tydeus' son, because Minerva let them go and covered Diomedes with glory; but you must catch up with the horse son of Atreus and must not be left behind, otherwise Aethe, who is so quick, will mock you. Why, my dears, are you lagging behind? I tell you, and surely Nestor will not take either of you, but kill you both, if we get a worse reward for your negligence, fly after them at full speed; I'll come up with a plan to overtake her on a narrow part of the road and it won't let me down.

Fearing their master's rebuke, they were quicker for a short time. At that moment Antilochus saw a narrow spot where the path had caved in. The ground had cracked as the winter rains had accumulated and eroded the path, making the whole place deeper. Menelaus wanted to get there first, fearing a foul, but Antilochus turned his horses and followed him a little to one side. The son of Atreus was startled and cried out: “Antilochus, you drive recklessly; control your horses; the road is very narrow here, soon it will be wider, and then you can pass me; If you get my car dirty, you could hurt us.

But Antilochus used his whip and hurried on as if he had heard nothing. They rode side by side as far as a young man could pull a discus from his shoulder when trying his strength, and then Menelaus' mares fell back when he stopped, afraid the horses would become tangled and the turn street. . Cars; So if they advance in search of victory, they could both fall headfirst to the ground. Menelaus then rebuked Antilochus, saying: “There is no greater deceiver than you; go, and misfortune be with you; The Achaeans are not right in saying that you understand, and whatever happens, you will not receive the prize without an oath on my part.

So he called his horses and told them, “Keep the pace and don't relax; Other horses' limbs will tire before yours because none of them are young.

Fearing their master's rebuke, the horses were quicker, almost on top of each other. Meanwhile the Achaeans watched from their seats as the horses rode across the plain in clouds of their own dust. Idomeneo, captain of the Cretans, was the first to notice the rush because he wasn't in the crowd but in the most dominant part of the field. The coachman was far away, but Idomeneus heard him calling and clearly saw the horse before him, a chestnut tree with a round white star like the moon on its forehead. He got up and said to the Argives: “My friends, princes and counselors of the Argives, can you see the race as well as I can? It looks like there's a different couple up front and a different driver now; those who left initially must have been disabled on the level. I first saw them around the double mast, but now, despite searching the plains of Troy, I can't find them. The driver may have dropped the reins and lost control of his horses on the opposite post and was unable to turn. I suppose he must have been thrown in and wrecked his wagon while his mares left the track and ran wild in panic. Climb up and see for yourself, I can't say for sure but the driver appears to be of Aetolian descent, ruler of the Argives, brave Diomedes son of Tydeus.

Ajax, son of Oileo, took him rudely and said: Idomeneus, why are you in such a hurry to tell us all this when the mares are still so far across the plain? You're not one of the youngest, nor do you have the sharpest eyesight, but you always make the law. You have no right to do that, because there are better men here than you. Eumelus' horses now lead as they always have, and he sits in the chariot, holding the reins.

The captain of the Cretans got angry and replied: "Ajax, you are a great joker, but you have no judgment and you lack even more because you have a foul temper. I'll bet you a tripod or a cauldron, and Agamemnon son of Atreus will decide which horses go first. Then you know your money's worth.

Ajax son of Oileus was about to answer him angrily, and there would have been more quarreling between them if Achilles had not stood up in his place and said: 'Stop insulting Ajax and Idomeneus; Not that you'd be shocked if you saw someone else do the same: sit down and keep an eye on the horses; You are accelerating towards the winning position and will be right there. Then you both know which horses go first and which come later.

As he spoke, the son of Tydeus rode in, swinging his whip vigorously over his shoulder as his horses stride across the field. Sand and dust rained heavily on the driver, and the gold- and tin-encrusted chariot chased after their swift horses. Hardly any wheel tracks could be seen in the fine dust, and the horses flew by at top speed. Diomedes stopped them in the crowd, and the sweat poured from their manes and chests to the ground. He sprang at once from his handsome chariot, and laid his whip against the yoke of his horses; Brave Sthenelus wasted no time now, but immediately pulled out the prize and gave his comrades the woman and the ear-handled cauldron to take away. Then he untied the horses.

After him came Antilochus, of the family of Neleus, who had overtaken Menelaus by a trick and not by the swiftness of his horses; but Menelaus was still as close to him as the wheel is to the horse that draws the chariot and its master. The hairs on the end of a horse's tail touch the tire of the wheel, and there is never much space between wheel and horse when the cart is moving; Menelaus was no further than that behind Antilochus, although at first he was a full discus throw behind him. He soon caught up again as Agamemnon's mare, Aethe, was pulling harder and harder so that on a longer course she would have overtaken him and there would not even have been a tie. Idomeneus' brave squire Meriones was behind Menelaus. His horses were the slowest of them all and he was the worst driver. Last of them came the son of Admetus, who drew his chariot and led his horses. Seeing this, Achilles repented and stood among the Argives and said: “The best man comes last. Let's give him an award for being sane. He will have the second, but the first must go to the son of Tydeus.

Then he spoke and everyone else applauded his word and were about to do as he said, but Nestor's son Antilochus stood up and claimed his rights as the son of Peleus. 'Achilles,' he said, 'I'll be very sick if you do that; You will rob me of my prize, for you think Eumelus' chariot and horses are thrown, and so is he, good man that he is. I should have prayed duly to the immortals; I wouldn't have gone in so quickly if I had. If you feel sorry for him and you choose to do so, you will have plenty of gold in your stores, with bronze, sheep, cows and horses. Take something from this shop if you want the Achaeans to speak well of you, and give it a better price than you just offered; but I will not give up the mare, and whoever fights with me for her shall come.

Achilles smiled at this and rejoiced in Antilochus, who was one of his dearest comrades. Then he said: 'Antilochus, if you want me to find another price for Eumelus, I will give him the bronze breastplate with a pewter border around it that I took from Asteropaeus. It will be worth a lot of money to him.

He ordered his comrade Automedon to get the breastplate from his shop, which he did. Achilles then gave it to Eumelus, who gladly accepted it.

But Menelaus stood up furious, furious with Antilochus. A servant put his staff in his hands and asked the Argives to be silent: the hero spoke to them. "Antilochus," he said, "what is it about you that has hitherto stood upright? You made me look bad and frustrated my horses by throwing yours at them, though yours are far worse than mine; Therefore, princes and councilors of the Argives, judge between us and do no favors, lest one of the Achaeans say: Menelaus took the mare for lying and corruption; His horses were far inferior to those of Antilochus, but he is of greater weight and influence.' No, I will decide the matter myself and no one will blame me for doing the right thing. Come, Antilochus, and stand before your chariot and horses, whip in hand, as is our custom; Lay your hand on your steeds and swear by Neptune, who orbits the earth, that you have not willfully and cunningly stood in the way of my horses.

And Antilochus answered: “Forgive me; I am much younger than you, King Menelaus; you are taller than me and the better man of the two; You know how easily young people are betrayed to indiscretion; their temper is more reckless and they have less judgment; therefore make due concessions and endure with me; Of my own free will I will give up the mare I have acquired, and if you claim any more personal property from my estate, I would rather give it to you at once than henceforth fall from grace and do evil in the sight of heaven.” .

So Nestor's son took the mare and gave her to Menelaus, whose anger was so calmed; As when the dew falls on a field of ripe corn, and the land brims with harvest, so, O Menelaus, did your heart rejoice within you. He turned to Antilochus and said: 'Well, Antilochus, although I was angry, I can give in to you of my own free will; Until now you have never been stubborn or malicious, but this time your youth has overcome your judgment; be careful how you deceive your superiors in the future; no one else could have reconciled me so easily, but your good father, your brother and yourself have had endless problems with me; I therefore yield to your entreaties and will give you the mare, although she is really mine; people will see that I'm not harsh or vindictive.

With these words he gave the mare to Noemon, Antilochus' companion, and then took the cauldron. Meriones, who had come fourth, took the two talents of gold and the fifth prize, the two-handed urn, when it was deserted gave it to Achilles Nestor, approached him among the assembled Argives, and said: My good old friend, as a family heirloom and souvenir to the burial of Patroclus, for you will never see him among the Argives again. I'll give you this prize even if you can't win one; Now you cannot wrestle or fight, and you cannot take part in the javelin throw or the foot races, because the hand of old age is heavy upon you.

Having said this, he gave the urn to Nestor, who took it happily and replied: “My son, everything you have said is true; now I have no strength in my legs and feet, nor can I hit my hands from either shoulder. If only he were as young and strong as when the Epeians buried King Amarinceus in Buprasium and his sons offered prizes in his honor! There was none then who could compete with me, neither the Epeians, nor the Pylia themselves, nor the Aetolians. I beat Clitomedes son of Enops in boxing, and Anceus of Pleuron in wrestling, who presented himself to me. Ificlo was a good runner, but I beat him and threw my spear farther than either Phyleus or Polydorus. Only in the chariot races did the actor's two sons overtake me, towering their horses in front of me, because they were annoyed at the way the victory went and because most of the prizes stayed where they were. offered. They were twins and one held the reins and held the reins while the other wielded the whip. That's how I was then, but now I have to leave such things to younger men; I have to bend under the weight of the years, but back then he was outstanding among heroes. And now, sir, proceed with the funeral contests in honor of your comrade: I accept this urn with great joy, and my heart is glad that you do not forget me, but always remember my goodwill and due regard to me from the Achaeans to all who have the grace of heaven in great abundance."

Then the son of Peleus, hearing Nestor's thanks, went through the crowd of the Achaeans offering prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing. He brought a strong mule and had a mule tied in the midst of the crowd, never tamed, but six years old when it is more difficult to tame them: that was for the victor, and for the vanquished he offered a double cup . Then he rose and said among the Argives: “Son of Atreus and all other Achaeans, I invite our two boxing champions to march vigorously and fight for these prizes. Whoever Apollo resists the most and whom the Achaeans recognize as the victor will take the mule to his own tent, while the vanquished will have a double chalice.

As he spoke, a brave and great champion, a skilled boxer, Epeus, son of Panopeus, rose. He put his hand on the mule and said, "Let the man who is going to get the jar come here, because no one is going to get the mule but me. I'm the best fighter out there and no one can beat me. Isn't it enough that I failed you in the real fight? Still, no man can be good at everything. I tell you clearly and it will come true; If anyone fights with me, I will wound his body and break his bones; So let your friends stay here in a body and be ready to take it with you when you're done with it.

All were silent and no one stood up except Euryalos son of Mecisteo who was son of Thalao. Once, after the fall of Oedipus, Mecisteo went to Thebes to attend his funeral and beat all of Cadmus' people. The son of Tydeus stood behind Euryalus, cheered him on and sincerely hoped he would win. First he gave him a girdle, and then he gave him well-trimmed strips of oxhide; The two men, now strapped in, entered the center of the ring and immediately fell; In fact, they severely punished each other, hitting them with their muscular fists. You could hear the terrible clanking of their jaws and they were sweating from every pore of their skin. At that moment Epeo appeared and landed a punch to Euryalus' chin as he looked around; Euryalus could not hold his legs; they gave way under him in a moment, and he sprang as a fish leaps into the air near a debris-strewn shore when Boreas covers the surface of the waves and then falls back to the depths. Water. But the noble Epeos seized him and lifted him up; his comrades also surrounded him and carried him out of the ring, his steps unsteady, his head tilted to the side and spitting up large clots of blood. They laid him down unconscious and then went to get the double cup.

The son of Peleus now brought the prizes of the third battle and showed them to the Argives. These were for the painful art of wrestling. A great tripod was set aside for the victor to light, and the Achaeans estimated it among themselves at twelve oxen. For the loser he chose a woman skilled in all arts, and they valued her at four oxen. He got up and said to the Argives: "Forward you who are rehearsing this contest."

Immediately the great Ajax son of Telamon arose, and also the cunning Odysseus, full of cunning. The two tied and walked to the center of the ring. They clung to each other with strong hands like the rafters a builder puts on the roof of a tall house to protect it from the wind. Their spines cracked as they tugged at each other with their powerful arms, and sweat poured off them. Many bloody wounds sprouted from their sides and shoulders, but they continued to fight with all their might for victory and for the tripod. Odysseus could not throw Ajax out, nor could Ajax throw him out; Ulises was too strong for him; but when the Achaeans grew tired of looking at them, Ajax said to Odysseus: "Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, either you educate me or I educate you, and let Jupiter decide between us."

He picked him up as he spoke, but Ulises did not forget his ruse. He hit Ajax in the back of his knees so that he could no longer stand, and he fell back with Odysseus on his chest, and all who saw him were amazed. Then, in his turn, Odysseus lifted Ajax up and shook him off the ground a bit, but he couldn't lift him off the ground, his knee buckled under him, and the two fell side by side to the ground, all covered in dust. . Now they sprang at each other and were about to fight a third time, but Achilles got up and stopped them. “Submit yourselves no more,” he said, “to this cruel suffering; Victory belongs to both of you equally, take the same prize from each of you and now let the other Achaeans compete against each other.

So he spoke, and they did as he said, putting their shirts back on after wiping the dust off their bodies.

The son of Peleus then offered prizes for speed in operating a beautifully crafted pure silver mixing bowl. It would be six measures tall, and would far surpass in beauty all others in the whole world; It was the work of skilled craftsmen from Sidon and brought to the port by sea by the Phoenicians and given as a gift to Thoas. Euneus, Jason's son, had given it to Patroclus as a ransom for Priam's son Lycaon, and Achilles now offered it as a prize in honor of his comrade to whoever should have been the fastest runner. For the second prize he offered a large, well-fed ox, for the last half a talent of gold. Then he got up and said to the Argives: "Go ahead, you who will rehearse this contest."

Immediately there appeared swift Ajax, son of Oileus, with cunning Odysseus and Nestor's son Antilochus, the fastest runner of all the youths of his time. They stood side by side and Achilles showed them the target. The course was set for them from the starting point, and the Son of Oileus immediately took the lead, with Odysseus behind him, as close as the Shuttle is to a woman's bosom as it throws the shot through the chain and catches it. . even her; even so close, Odysseus followed in his footsteps before the dust settled there, and Ajax could feel his breath on the back of his neck as he ran. All the Achaeans cheered when they saw him doing his best, and cheered when he passed them; but as they neared the end of the course, Odysseus inwardly prayed to Minerva. "Hear me," he cried, "and help my feet, O goddess." So he prayed, and Pallas Minerva heard his prayer; she made her hands and feet look light, and when the runners went to claim the prize, despite Minervas, Ajax slipped there some of the remains of the cattle that Achilles had sacrificed to Patroclus, and his mouth and nostrils were all full of cow dung. Odysseus therefore took the bowl because he preceded Ajax and went in first. But Ajax caught the ox and stood with his hand on one of its horns and spat the dung out of its mouth. Then he said to the Argives: 'Ah, the goddess has spoiled my career; he takes care of Ulises and supports him as if he were his own mother.” So he spoke and everyone laughed heartily.

Antilochus accepted the last prize and said to those present with a smile: “You can all see, my friends, that the gods of antiquity have also shown their respect. Ajax is a little older than I am, and Odysseus is of an older generation, but despite his age he is strong and no Achaean can stand against him except Achilles.

He said this in praise of the son of Peleus, and Achilles answered: “Antilochus, you will not have praised me in vain; I'll give you half a talent of gold.” Then he gave half a talent to Antilochus, who received it with joy.

Then the son of Peleus took off the spear, helmet, and shield that Sarpedon was carrying, and Patroclus took them from him. He rose and said to the Argives: 'We ask two champions to don their armour, take up their sharp blades, and test one another in the presence of the crowd; One of them can first injure the flesh of the other, pierce his armor and draw blood, to him I will give this beautiful silver-inlaid Thracian sword that I took from Asteropaeus, but the armor allows both to remain in partnership and me will give each of them a good meal in my own tent.”

Immediately the great Ajax son of Telamon rose, and the mighty Diomedes son of Tydeus. As they donned their armor on either side of the ring, they both moved to the center, eager to face each other, the fire blazing in their eyes. The Achaeans were surprised to see them, and when the two were already close, they leapt forward three times and tried three times to injure hand to hand. Ajax pierced the round shield of Diomedes, but did not let him bleed because the cuirass under the shield protected him; Then the son of Tydeus on his huge shield kept pointing the point of his spear at Ajax's neck, and the Achaeans, concerned for his safety, ordered them to cease fighting and divide the spoils among themselves. Achilles then gave the son of Tydeus the great sword with its scabbard and leather belt to hang on.

Achilles then offered the huge iron yew tree that the mighty Eetion had previously hurled until Achilles killed him and loaded it onto his ships along with other booty. He got up and said to the Argives: "Forward, you who rehearse this contest. Whoever wins has a supply of iron that will last for five years as it runs, and if your beautiful fields are far from a town, your shepherd or farmer will not have to make a journey to buy iron because he'll stock up have it in his own possessions.

Then the two brave Polypoets and Leonteus rose up with Ajax son of Telamon and the noble Epeus. They got up one by one and Epeos picked up the yew tree, spun it around and threw it at him, causing all the Achaeans to laugh. After him he freed Leontheus from the Mars race. Ajax son of Telamon hurled the third, and hurled the yew beyond every goal hitherto made, but when the mighty Polypoet caught the yew, he hurled it like a shepherd's staff which he hurls among his cattle in driving. . . them, so far he has made his shot from the distance of the others. All who saw him roared applause, and his comrades brought him the prize and laid it on board the ship.

Next, Achilles offered an iron prize for archery, ten double-edged axes and ten with plain swivels: he set up a ship's mast some distance across the sand, and tied a pigeon to the foot with a fine rope; that's what they should aim for. 'Whoever,' he said, 'who can beat the dove will have all the axes and take them with him; Whoever hits the rope without hitting the bird will have poorer aim and single-edged axes.

Then King Teucer rose, and Meriones, the strong squire of Idomeneus, rose. They cast lots for a bronze helmet, and Teucer's lot fell first. He immediately released his arrow, but promised King Apollo no hecatombs of firstborn lambs, and missed his bird as Apollo thwarted his aim; but he struck the rope by which the bird was tied near its foot; the arrow cut the string cleanly and it fell to the ground while the bird flew into the sky and the Achaeans cheered. Meriones, who had his arrow ready when Teucer took aim, snatched the bow from his hand and immediately vowed that he would sacrifice a hecatomb of firstborn lambs to Apollo, the lord of the bow; then, seeing the dove high below the clouds, he struck her midwing as she circled upward; The arrow passed through the wings and into the ground at Meriones' feet, but the bird landed on the ship's mast, its head hanging down and all its feathers hanging down; life left him and he fell heavily from the pole. Meriones therefore took the ten double-edged axes, while Teucer carried the single-edged ones to his ships.

Then the son of Peleus brought a spear and a cauldron that had never been burned; it was worth an ox and adorned with a floral design; and those who hurled the spear rose up before the son of Atreus, Agamemnon king of men, and Meriones strong squire of Idomeneus. But Achilles spoke and said: Son of Atreus, we know how much you surpass all others, both in strength and in throwing the javelin; Bring the cauldron back to your ships, but if you want we give the spear to Meriones; at least that's what I should wish for.

King Agamemnon agreed. So he gave Meriones the bronze spear and Talthybius, his squire, the beautiful cauldron.

Book XXIV

The assembly was then broken up and each people went to their own boat. There they prepared supper and then thought of the blessed gift of sleep; but Achilles still wept at the thought of his dear comrade, and the sleep to which all things bow could not seize him. He tossed and turned, longing for Patroclus' power and manhood; He thought of everything they had done together and what they had been through both on the battlefield and in the waves of the raging sea. Thinking of these things, he cried bitterly and lay on his side, back, and stomach, until at last he got up and went out like one dazed from a walk by the sea. Seeing that dawn was breaking over the beach and sea, he hitched the horses to the carriage and tied Hector's body behind him so he could pull it. Three times he dragged it around the tomb of the son of Menoetius and then returned to his tent, leaving the body full-length and face down on the ground. But Apollo did not leave him disfigured for pitying the man, though he was already dead; therefore he constantly protected him with his golden aegis, lest he be injured while Achilles dragged him along.

So shamefully did Achilles dishonor Hector in his anger; but the blessed gods looked down from heaven with pity, and commanded Mercury, the slayer of Argus, to steal the corpse. They all agreed, except Juno, Neptune, and the gray-eyed daughter of Jupiter, who clung to the hatred they had always felt for Ilius in Priam and his people; because they would not forgive the wrong done to them by Alexander, despising the goddesses who came to him when he was in his feathers, and preferring them, who had offered him a pleasure, to his downfall.

Therefore, when the morning of the twelfth day came, Phoebus Apollo spoke to the immortals, saying: “You gods should be ashamed of yourselves; You are cruel and hard-hearted. Didn't Hector burn the femurs of heifers and goats without blemish? And now don't you dare save even his dead body for his wife to watch with his mother and child, his father Priam and his people, who would immediately commit him to the flames and give him the proper funeral rites? So would you side with mad Achilles, who knows neither the law nor the truth? It is like a wild lion that, proud of its great strength and boldness, leaps over the herds of men and devours them. Likewise, Achilles threw off all pity and all that conscience that both condemns and greatly blesses those who pay attention. Man can lose one dearer than Achilles lost a son, or a brother born of his own mother's womb; However, when she has cried and mourned for him, she makes him wait as it takes much pain to kill a man. while Achilles, having slain the noble Hector, drags him behind his chariot around his comrade's grave. It would be better for him, and for him, if he did not, for though he is brave, we gods could blame him for unleashing his anger upon dead clay.

Juno spoke angrily. 'It would be good,' he cried, 'O lord of the silver bow, if you would give equal honor to Hector and Achilles; but Hector was mortal and suckled at a woman's breast, while Achilles is the son of a goddess whom I myself created and nurtured. I have married her to Peleus, who is well loved by the immortals; ye gods, ye have all come to his wedding; you yourself have feasted with them, and brought your false lyre, and you like low society, which you have always been.

Then Jupiter said, "Juno, don't be so bitter. His honor will not be the same, but of all who inhabit Ilium, Hector was dearest to the gods and to me, for his offerings have never failed me. My altar has never been spared its guilt, nor the offerings and flavors we rightly claim. I will therefore allow the mighty Hector's body to be stolen; and yet it is difficult for this to happen without Achilles knowing, for his mother spends day and night by his side. So have one of you send Thetis to me, and I will give her my advice, namely, have Achilles accept a ransom from Priam and hand over the body.

In this fleet, Iris went out like the wind to carry her message. Below, halfway between Samos and the rocky Imbrus, he plunged into the dark sea; the water hissed as it closed over her, and she sank like lead onto the tip of an ox's horn and hastened to bring death to the fish. He found Thetis seated in a large cave with the other sea goddesses gathered around her; there he sat among them, weeping for his noble son who would fall far from his own land, in the rich plains of Troy. Iris approached her and said: “Get up, Thetis; Jupiter, whose advice never fails, invites you to go to him." And Thetis answered: "Why does the mighty god command me to do this? I am very sad and afraid to go in and out among the immortals. and the word that I speak shall not be spoken in vain."

The goddess took her dark veil, for there can be no darker cloak, and she went out with the swift iris on her head. The waves of the sea gave way to them, and when they reached the shore they flew to heaven, where they found the all-knowing son of Saturn gathered around him with the blessed gods who live forever. Minerva gave up her seat for her and she sat down next to Father Jupiter. Juno then placed a beautiful golden goblet in her hand and spoke to her in comforting words, from which Thetis drank and gave her back the goblet; and the father of gods and men was the first to speak.

“So, goddess,” he said, “despite all your pain and the pain that I know well always reigns in your heart, you have come here to Olympus and I will tell you why I sent you . For nine days the immortals have been arguing over Achilles, the destroyer of cities, and the corpse of Hector. The gods wanted Mercury, the slayer of Argus, to steal the corpse, but for the sake of our peace and friendship I will henceforth show such honor to your son as I will say now. So go to the army and give them these commandments; Say the gods are angry with him and I'm angrier than them all because he's keeping Hector on the ships and won't let him go. Then you can fear me and leave the body. At the same time I will send Iris to the great Priam so that she goes to the Achaean ships and saves his son and brings Achilles the gifts that will satisfy him.

Silver-footed Thetis did as the god told her and immediately dived from the highest peaks of Olympus. He went to his son's tents, where he found him suffering bitterly, while his trusted companions were busy around him preparing his morning meal, for which they killed a large, shaggy sheep. His mother sat next to him and stroked him with her hand and said, “My son, how much longer are you going to cry and moan like this? You bite your heart and don't think about food or hugs from a woman; and yet it was right, because you don't have long to live and death with the strong hand of fate is already near. So now pay attention to what I tell you, for I come as a messenger from Jupiter; he says the gods are angry with you and he is more angry than they all for keeping Hector on the ships and not betraying him. So let him go and accept a ransom for his body.

And Achilles answered: "So be it. If Olympian Jupiter commands me, whoever brings the ransom shall carry the corpse.

So mother and son talked to each other on the boats in long conversations. Meanwhile, the son of Saturn sent Iris to the strong city of Ilius. Go, he said, flee from Iris, from the mansions of Olympus, and tell King Priam in Ilius he must go to the ships of the Achaeans and free the corpse of his beloved son. He must take with him such gifts as will satisfy Achilles, and he must go alone, with no other Trojan but an honest servant, who can drive his mules and chariot, and bring back the body of him whom noble Achilles slew. Let him not think or fear death in his heart, for we will send Argus's killers to escort him to Achilles' tent. Achilles will not kill him or allow another to do so, for he will keep his ways and not sin, and he will beseech a supplicant with all honorable courtesy."

Then, swift as the wind, Iris hurried to deliver her message. She went to Priam's house and found there weeping and lamentation. His children were sitting around the father in the courtyard, and their clothes were soaked with tears, and the old man was sitting in the midst of them, his robe wrapped around his body and his head and neck covered with the captured feces. as he dragged himself through the mud. His daughters and his sons' wives wept in the house, thinking of the many brave men slain by the Argives. Juste's messenger stood beside Priam and spoke to him in a low voice, but fear seized him when she did. 'Courage' he said, 'Priam was descended from Dardanus, take heart and fear not. I don't bring bad news, but I'm in a good mood with you. I come as a messenger from Jupiter, who, though not near, worries and pities you. The Lord of Olympus commands you to rescue noble Hector and take away the gifts that will satisfy Achilles. You will go alone, with no Trojans save an honest servant who can drive your mules and chariots, and bring back to the city the body of him whom noble Achilles slew. You must not think of or fear death, for Jupiter will send the assassin of Argus to escort you. If he takes you to Achilles' tent, Achilles will not kill you or allow anyone to kill you, for he will keep his ways and not sin, and he will beseech a supplicant with all honorable courtesy.

Having said this, Iris set out, and Priam ordered his sons to prepare a mule cart and nail the cart's body to his bed. So he went down to his fragrant, vaulted cedar storeroom where his many treasures were kept, and he called Hecuba his wife. "Woman," he said, "a messenger from Olympus came to me and told me to go to the ships of the Achaeans to save my beloved son, taking with me the gifts that will please Achilles." What do you think of this matter? For my part, I am very excited to get past the Achaeans and onto their ships.

His wife cried out loud when she heard this and said, "Ouch! What happened to that judgment, for which you have always been famous among strangers and among your own people? How dare you venture alone on the ships of the Achaeans and see the face of him who slew so many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage, for when the cruel savage sees you and seizes you, he will know neither respect nor mercy. So we mourn Hector from afar, here in our own home, for when I gave birth to him the threads of undone fate were woven so dogs could eat his flesh away from his parents, in the home of that dreadful man whose liver I am wants to tie him up and eat him. Thus will I avenge my son, who showed no cowardice when Achilles killed him, and thought no good or avoided battle while defending the Trojan men and women.

Then Priam said: “I would go, so do not tarry me and do not be like an omen in my house, for you will not move me. If a mortal had sent me a prophet or priest to guess the sacrifice, I would have thought it wrong and ignored it; but now i have heard the goddess and seen her face to face so i will go and your words will not be in vain. If my destiny is to die on the ships of the Achaeans, so will I; Let Achilles kill me if I could only take my son in my arms and weep for him in the comfort of my heart.

Saying this, he lifted the lids of his chests and took out twelve beautiful clothes. He also took twelve robes simply folded, twelve tapestries, twelve fine cloaks, and an equal number of shirts. It weighed ten talents of gold, and also had two polished tripods, four cauldrons, and a very fine cup, which the Thracians gave him when he went to them in an embassy; it was very valuable, but he didn't mind even that, so anxious was he to recover his son's body. Then he dismissed all the Trojans from the court and rebuked them with angry words. "Get out," he shouted, "that you are a shame and a dishonor to me. Don't you suffer in your own homes because you came to torment me here? Is it small, do you think, that Saturn's son sent me this sorrow at the loss of the bravest of my sons? No, you'll prove it yourself, because now that he's gone, the Achaeans will have an easier time killing him. As for me, let me descend to the house of Hades, that I may see before my eyes the sack and destruction of the city."

He chased the men away with his stick, and they left as the old man urged them on. Then he called his sons, scolding Hellenus, Paris, the noble Agathon, Pammon, Antiphonus, Polites of loud war-crying, Deiphobus, Hippothous and Dius. These nine he called old near him. 'Come to me at once,' he exclaimed, 'useless children who shame me; I wish they killed you all on the boats instead of Hector. I am a wretched man, he had the bravest sons in all Troy, the noble Néstor, Troilo the intrepid charioteer, and Héctor, who was a god among men, so that a Hubiera thought he was the son of an immortal, but there is no neither of them. They went. Mars killed them and those I am ashamed of were left alone. Liars and fast dancing heroes, lamb thieves and children of your own people, why don't you get me a wagon and throw all these things in so I can move on? ?”

So he spoke, and they feared their father's rebuke. They brought a strong mule-cart, freshly made, and put the body of the cart firmly on its bed. They took the mule's yoke from the post by which it hung, a boxwood yoke with a knob at the end and rings for the reins. Then they brought a strap eleven cubits long to fasten the yoke to the post; They tied it to the other end of the pole and slipped the ring onto the vertical stud, fastening it with three turns of ribbon on each side of the handle and tucking the yoke strip underneath. When they had done this, they fetched from the room the rich ransom that was to buy Hector's body, and put everything in order in the carriage; then they harnessed the strong mules from the harness which the Mysians had once given Priam as a handsome gift; but for Priam himself they gathered horses which the old king had bred and kept for his own use.

So nice that Priam and his servant busied themselves loading the gems onto their chariots in the palace. Then Hecuba sadly came to them all with a golden wine cup in his right hand to offer a libation before she left. He stood in front of the horses and said: 'Take this, bring a libation to Father Jupiter, and as you wish to go to the ships in spite of me, pray that you come back safe and sound from the hands of your enemies. Pray to Saturn's son, the lord of the whirlpool, who sits in Ida and looks over all Troy, ask him to send his swift messenger to your right, the bird of omen, the strongest and most beloved of all birds, so who sees with his own eyes and trust him when you go to the ships of the Danaer. If Jupiter, who sees all, does not send you this messenger, no matter how determined you are, he would not want you to go to the ships of the Argives.

And Priam answered: “Woman, I will do what you ask of me; It is good to raise hands to Jupiter in prayer if he can have mercy on me.

With these words, the old man ordered the servant to pour pure water into his hands, and the woman approached and brought the water in a bowl. He washed his hands and took the cup from his wife's hand; so he made the libation and prayed, standing in the center of the courtyard and looking up to heaven. "Father Jupiter," he said, "ruling from Ida, most glorious and greatest, grant me to be received kindly and sympathetically into the tents of Achilles; and send thy swift messenger on my right, the omen-bird, strongest and dearest of birds, that I may see with my own eyes and trust as I go to the ships of the Danaans.

So he prayed, and Justus, the Lord of the Council, heard his prayer. Immediately he sent an eagle, the most infallible omen of all flying birds, the dark hunter that people also call the Black Eagle. Its wings were spread out on either side, as wide as a well-made, well-closed door to a rich man's room. He came flying over the city on their right, and when they saw him they rejoiced and their hearts were comforted by them. The old man hurried to his carriage, out through the inner gate, and under the echoing gatehouse of the forecourt. Before him went the mules pulling the four-wheeled cart driven by the wise Idaeus; behind them were the horses, which the old man whipped and drove swiftly through the town, while his friends ran after him, lamenting and lamenting him as if he were on his way to his death. When they came down from the city and reached the plain, his sons and sons-in-law who had followed him returned to Ilius.

But Priam and Idaeus, who appeared on the plain, did not escape the all-seeing eye of Jupiter, which looked at the old man and took pity on him; so he spoke to his son Mercury and said: "Mercury, because it is you who is most willing to accompany the people on their way and to listen to those who are listening, go and thus lead Priam to the ships of the Achaeans." that none of the other Danaans see or notice him until he reaches the son of Peleus.

Thus spoke he, and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told. Immediately he put on his shining golden sandals, in which he could fly like the wind over land and sea; he took the magic wand, with which he seals people's eyes in their sleep or wakes them whenever he pleases, and flew, holding it in his hand, until he reached Troy and the Hellespont. To the eyes he was like a young man of noble birth in the prime of youth and beauty with hair sticking out of his face.

Now when Priam and Idaeus were passing by the great tomb of Ilius, they halted their mules and horses to drink from the river when the shadows of night fell, when therefore Idaeus saw Mercury standing beside them and said to Priam: " Beware, descendant of Dardanus; Here is a matter that demands attention. I see a man who I believe will soon attack us; Should we fly our horses or at least hug his knees and beg his mercy?

Hearing this, the old man's heart sank and he became very frightened; he stopped where he was stunned, and the hair stood on end all over his body; but the mascot approached him, took him by the hand and said: 'Where, father, do you drive your mules and horses in the middle of the night when others are asleep? Aren't you afraid of the wild Achaeans who are hard on you, so cruel and unforgiving? If any of them saw you carrying so many treasures through the darkness of the flying night, what would your condition be like? You are no longer young and the one with you is too old to protect you from those who would attack you. Alone I will not hurt you and I will defend you in front of everyone because you remind me of my own father."

And Priam answered: “Truly it is as you say, my dear son; but some god has stretched out his hand over me, in the sense that he has sent a traveler like you to meet me so favorably; you are so pretty of face and figure, and so fine of judgment, that you must be of blessed parents.

Then the slayer of Argus, guide and guardian said: “Lord, everything you have said is right; but tell me, and tell me the truth, will you take this rich treasure to send to a strange city where it might be safe, or will you leave strong Ilius now in dismay that your son was the bravest among you and never fell, did he fail in the battle against the Achaeans?

And Priam said: "Who are you, my friend, and who are your parents, that you speak so truthfully about the fate of my unfortunate son?"

The murderer of Argus, guide and guardian, answered him: "Lord, prove to me that you ask me about noble Hector. I have often seen him in battle, leading the Argives to his ships and striking them on the sword. We stand and marvel that Achilles, in his anger at the son of Atreus, allowed us not to fight. I am his squire and came with him on the same ship. I am a Myrmidon, and my father's name is Polyctor: he is a rich man, and of the same age as you; he has six children besides me and I am the seventh. We cast lots and it was my turn to sail here with Achilles. Now I have come from the ships to the plain, for at dawn the Achaeans will fight for the city. They resent doing nothing and are so concerned that their princes cannot stop them.”

Then Priam replied: "If you really are the squire of Achilles son of Peleus, then tell me the whole truth now. Is my son still on the ships, or did Achilles tear him to pieces and hand him over to the dogs?

"Lord," answered the murderer of Argos, guide and guardian, "neither dogs nor vultures have eaten him; He still lies in the tents of Achilles' ship, and though he was there twelve days, his flesh was not consumed or eaten by worms, though they feed on warriors. At dawn, Achilles cruelly drags him around his dear comrade's grave, but does not injure him. Ye shall come and see him lying dewy, his blood all washed away, and his wounds all healed, though many pierced him with their spears. Such care did the blessed gods have for their valiant son, for they loved him exceedingly."

Hearing this, the old man consoled himself, saying: “My son, see how good it is to have offered due sacrifices to the immortals; for as surely as when my son was born, he has never forgotten the gods who rule Olympus, and now even in death they give him back. Then take this good cup from my hands; Protect me and, with the help of heaven, lead me to the tent of Peleus' son.

Then the murderer of Argos, guide and guardian, answered: "Lord, you tempt me and play with my youth, but you will not move me, because you offer me gifts without the knowledge of Achilles, whom I fear and think innocent." . cheat so that nothing bad happens to me; but as your guide I would go with you to Argos and guard you so carefully, whether by sea or land, that no one should attack you because you have offended your companions.

Then the lucky charm jumped into the wagon and breathed fresh air into the mules and horses with a whip and reins. By the time they reached the moat and wall opposite the ships, the guards had just finished their supper, and Argus' killer had put them into a deep sleep. Then he drew the bolts to open the gates and led Priam in with the treasure he had in his chariot. In a short time they reached the majestic residence of the son of Peleus, for which the officers felled pines and built for their king; When they had built it, they covered it with thatch of thick grass cut from the plain, and made a large courtyard around it, surrounded by stilts at a great distance. The door was locked with a single bolt of pine which took three men to put in place and three to remove to open the door, but Achilles could do it himself. Mercury opened the door for the old man and brought the treasure he was carrying to Peleus' son. Then he jumped from the chariot to the ground and said: “Lord, it is I, the immortal Mercury, who is coming with you, because my father sent me to accompany you. Now I will leave you and not enter Achilles' presence, for it may irritate him that a god should befriend mortals so openly. Enter and embrace the knees of Peleus' son: ask him about his father, about his beautiful mother, and about his son; so you can move it.

With these words, Mercury returned to high Olympus. Priam jumped from his chariot to the ground, leaving Idaeus in charge of the mules and horses. The old man went straight to the house where Achilles, beloved of the gods, sat. There he found him with his men seated at some distance from him: only two, the hero Automedon and Alcimus of the House of Mars, were busy attending to his person, for he had just eaten and drunk, and the table was still there. King Priam entered unseen and approached Achilles, drew his knees together and kissed the fearsome murderous hands that had slain so many of his sons.

As cruel hatred fell upon a man who must have killed someone in his own country and had to flee in a foreign land for the protection of a great man, and amazed all who saw him, so Achilles marveled when he beheld Priam. The others looked at each other and marveled as well, but Priam begged Achilles and said: 'Remember your father, Achilles, like the gods, who is like me on the sad threshold of old age. It may be that those who dwell near him trouble him, and there is none who can take war and ruin away. However, when he discovers that you are still alive, he is overjoyed and his days filled with hope that he will see his beloved son return to him from Troy; but I, who am miserable, had the bravest children in all Troy for children, and not one of them is left. I had fifty sons when the Achaeans came hither; Nineteen of them came from a single womb, and the others were brought to me by the women of my house. Most of them have overthrown wild Mars, and Hector, who stood alone, the keeper of the city and of us, we have lately slain; therefore I have now come to the Achaean ships to redeem your body from you with a great ransom. Fear, Achilles, the wrath of heaven; Think of your own father and pity me, for I am more pitiable, for I grew stronger than any man before me, and put to my lips the hand of him who slew my son.

Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned to think of his father. He took the old man's hand and gently pulled him away. Both wept bitterly for Priam as he lay at Achilles' feet weeping for Hector, and Achilles prayed for his father, prayed for Patroclus, till the house was filled with lamentations. But when Achilles was already satiated with grief, and having vented the bitterness of his grief, he left his seat and, lifting the old man by the hand, pitied him for his white hair and beard; then he said: 'Unfortunate man, you were very bold indeed; How dare you go alone to the Achaean ships and step into the presence of the one who has slain so many of your brave sons? You must have iron courage: now sit in this seat and with all our pain let us hide our hurts in our hearts, for crying will not do us any good. Immortals care not, but the fate they pursue for man is filled with pain; On the floor of Jupiter's palace are two urns, one full of bad gifts and the other full of good gifts. To whom Jupiter, the lord of thunder, shuffles the gifts he sends will find good fortune and bad luck; but upon whom Jupiter sends only evil gifts, the finger of contempt will be pointed at him, the hand of hunger will pursue him to the ends of the world, and he will rise and fall on the face of the earth, without respect from gods or Men. So it was with Peleus; The gods endowed him with every good thing from birth, for he ruled over spiritists who surpassed all men in wealth and wealth, and though he was mortal they gave him a goddess to wife. But heaven hath sent calamity upon him also, for there is not a generation of royal children born in his house save a son who is doomed to die prematurely; I can't take care of him now that he's getting old either, because I have to stay here in Troy to ruin you and your children. And you too, O Priam, I hear that you were once happy. They say that in wealth and in abundance they have surpassed all that exists on Lesvos, the kingdom of Makar to the north, Phrygia further inland, and those who inhabit the great Hellespont; but ever since the day the denizens of heaven sent this evil upon you, your city has been constantly surrounded by war and slaughter. Hold on and let your pain take a few breaks. No matter how much you cry for your brave son, you will not take anything for it. You can't raise him from the dead, before you do another pain will hit you."

And Priam answered: O king, do not ask me to sit down while Hector is still left in his tents, but accept the great ransom that I have brought for you and give it to me at once, that I may see you. May you benefit from salvation and arrive safely in your own country, for you allowed me to live and see sunlight.

Achilles looked at him sternly and said: 'Don't trouble me, sir, no more; I'm determined to deliver Hector's body. My mother, the daughter of the old man of the sea, came to me from Jupiter to command me to deliver her to you. I also know, O Priam, and you cannot hide it, that a god brought you to the ships of the Achaeans, for otherwise no man, however strong and young, would dare to come to our army. He could not pass our vigil unnoticed, nor bolt my gates so easily; therefore provoke me no more, lest I sin against the word of Jupiter and leave you in my tents, even though you supplicate.

The old man feared him and obeyed. Then the son of Peleus sprang like a lion from the door of his house, not alone, but with him were his two squires, Automedon and Alcimus, who were nearer to him than any of his comrades since Patroclus had gone. They untied the horses and mules and ordered Priam's herald and servant to be seated in the house. They took the ransom for Hector's body from the car. but they left two cloaks and a good shirt for Achilles to wrap around the body when he handed it over to carry home. He then called his servants and ordered them to wash and anoint the body, but first he took it to a place where Priam could not see, lest he burst out in the bitterness of his grief and anger at Achilles. , only to kill him and sin against the word of Jupiter. When the servants washed and anointed the body and wrapped it in a beautiful tunic and cloak, Achilles himself lifted it onto a bier and he and his men loaded it into the chariot. As he did so, he called out loudly, calling on the name of his dear companion: "Do not be angry with me, Patroclus," he said, "if you hear yourself in the house of Hades that I gave Hector your father a ransom unworthy, and I will share it fairly with you.

Then Achilles re-entered the tent and took his seat on the ornate seat from which he had risen, against the wall which formed a right angle to the wall where Priam was seated. 'Lord,' he said, 'your son is now in his coffin and has been saved as desired; you will look at him when you go at dawn; Now let's prepare our dinner. Even the beautiful Niobe had to think about food, although her twelve children, six daughters and six strong sons, had been slain in her house. Apollo killed the sons with arrows from his silver bow to punish Niobe, and Diana killed the daughters because Niobe had boasted about Leto; She said that Leto gave birth to only two children, while she herself gave birth to many and the two killed many. Nine days they lay in confusion, and no one was there to bury them, because the son of Saturn turned men to stone; but on the tenth day the gods themselves buried them in heaven, and then Niobe, tired from weeping, ate. They say that somewhere among the rocks of the mountain pastures of Sipylo, where the nymphs who frequent the river Acheloos live, there they say lives in stone and still nourishes the pains sent to her by the hand of heaven. Therefore, noble sir, let us now eat together; you can weep for your beloved son from now on when you carry him back to Ilius and it will cost you many tears.

With that, Achilles jumped from his seat and slew a silver-white sheep, which his followers took turns skinning and grooming. They carefully cut the meat into smaller pieces, spat it out, and retrieved it when it was done. Automedon brought the bread in handsome baskets and spread it on the table, while Achilles distributed the meat, and they laid their hands on the good things before them. As soon as they had eaten and drunk enough, Priam, a descendant of Dardanus, marveled at the strength and beauty of Achilles, for he was like a god to behold, and Achilles marveled at Priam as he heard and beheld his presence. When they were filled with looks, Priam spoke first. "And now, O king," he said, "take me to my bed, that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed bounty of sleep. Not once have my eyes been closed since the day your hands took my son's life; I dragged myself endlessly through the mud of my stable, moaning and brooding over my many worries. Besides, I was now eating bread and drinking wine; So far I haven't tried anything.

As he spoke Achilles told his men and maids to put beds in the room which was in the gatehouse and to make good red carpets and spread blankets over them with layers of wool for Priam and Idaeus. . Then the maids came out with a flashlight and hastily prepared the two beds. Then Achilles laughingly said to Priam: "Dear sir, you will lie down outside so that an adviser, who keeps coming to advise me in due course, may see you here in the darkness of the flying night and tell Agamemnon. This can cause a delay in the body's delivery. And now tell me, and tell me the truth, how many days would you keep honorable Hector's funeral? Tell me so I can stay away from the war and contain the army.”

And Priam answered: "Since you permit me to bury my noble son with all due rites, do so, Achilles, and I shall be grateful to you. You know how we're locked up in our town; It's too far for us to look for firewood in the mountains, and people live in fear. Nine days, then, shall we mourn for Hector in my house; on the tenth day we shall bury him, and a public feast shall be celebrated in his honor; On the eleventh day we will raise a mound over their ashes, and on the twelfth day we will fight if necessary.

And Achilles answered: Everything, King Priam, will be as you said. I will continue our fight for the time you indicated.

As he spoke he laid his hand on the old man's right wrist as a sign not to be afraid; So Priam and his servant slept thoughtfully in the front yard, while Achilles lay in an inner room of the house, with the beautiful Briseis at his side.

And now both gods and mortals slept soundly through the night, but only on Mercury, the bringer of good fortune, sleep could not overwhelm him, because all the while he was thinking how to get King Priam out of the ships without their seeing . The. by the mighty power of the guards. So he bent over Priam's head and said: 'My lord, now that Achilles has spared your life, he seems not afraid to sleep among his enemies. You paid a great ransom and received your son's body; if you were still alive and in prison, the children you left at home would have to give three times as much to free you; and so it would be if Agamemnon and the other Achaeans knew you were here.

When the old man heard this, he was startled and woke his servant. Mercury then harnessed his horses and mules and quickly led them through the army so no one would see them. Reaching the ford of whirling Xanthus, father of immortal Jupiter, Mercury returned to high Olympus, and the saffron dawn began to break all over the earth. Priam and Idaeus then rode howling and wailing toward the city, and the mules carried Hector's body. No one saw her, man or woman, until Cassandra, fair as the golden Venus standing in Pergamum, saw her beloved father in his chariot, and his servant, who was with him herald of the city. Then she saw him lying in the coffin, being drawn by the mules, and with a loud cry she ran through the city and said: “Come here, you Trojans, you men and women, and look at Hector; If you have ever rejoiced to see him return from battle while he was alive, look now upon him who was the glory of our city and all our people.

In this regard, there was no longer a man or woman in the city, so they were seized with great sorrow. Very close to the gates they found Priam bringing in the body. Hector's wife and mother were the first to cry for him: they flew to the car and put their hands on his head while the crowd around him wept. They would have stood at the gates and wept and lamented the long day until sunset if Priam had not spoken to them from the chariot and said, "Make way for the mules. Later, when I bring the body home, you'll cry.

With that, the people parted and made room for the wagon. When the corpse was brought into the house, they laid it on a bed and seated the troubadours around them to conduct the dirge, which the women joined to the mournful music of their lament. Andromache in particular led her wails as she took Hector's mighty head in her arms. “Husband,” she exclaimed, “you died young and left me a widow in your house; the one whose unfortunate parents we are is still a child, and I fear he will not live to manhood. Before I can
our city will be desolate and desolate, for you who took care of her are no longer you who were her savior, the keeper of our women and children. Our women are captured on the ships, and I among them; while you, my son, who will be with me, have to do some unseemly tasks by working for a cruel master. Or it may be that an Achaean threw you (oh wretched death) from our walls to avenge a brother, son, or father whom Hector murdered; many of them bit the dust of his hands, for his father's hand in battle was not light. That's why people regret it. Unspeakable pain you bequeathed, oh Hector, from your parents, and my own pain is the greatest of all, because you did not reach out and hug me when I was dying, and said no words that could have lived with me . in my tears day and night forever and ever."

Meanwhile she wept bitterly, and the women joined her. Hecuba, in turn, took up the chords of pain. "Hector," she exclaimed, "the dearest of all my sons. In life the gods loved you dearly, and even in death they have not quite forgotten you; for when Achilles took another of my sons, he sold him across the sea to Samos Imbrus, or rugged Lemnos; and when he also slew you with his sword, he often dragged you round your companion's grave, though that could not give you life, but here you lie fresh as dew and fair as that which Apollo slew with his axes. .”

So she spoke, through her tears with a bitter moan, and then Helen resumed her plaintive tone for the third time. "Hector," she said, "the dearest of all my brothers-in-law, as I am the wife of Alexander, who brought me here to Troy, I wish I had died before him." Twenty years have passed since I left my home. and he came over the sea, but I never heard a word of offense or unkindness from you. If another scolded me, like one of your brothers or sisters or your brothers' wives, or my mother-in-law from Priam was as kind to me as if she were my own father, you scolded him and controlled him. with words of sweetness and goodwill. That's why my tears flow over you and my unhappy self, because there is no one else good for me in Troy, but everyone twitches and shudders as they pass me.

She wept as she spoke, and the large crowd that had gathered around her joined in her lamentation. Then King Priam spoke to them and said: Trojan, bring wood into the city and do not fear the crafty ambushes of the Argives, for Achilles, releasing me from the ships, gave me his word that they would not attack us until morning . of the twelfth day."

They immediately hitched up their oxen and mules and assembled in front of the city. For nine days they brought great heaps of firewood, and on the morning of the tenth day, with many tears, they carried Hector out, laid his dead body on the heap, and set it on fire. When the red-fingered son of the morning appeared on the eleventh day, the people gathered again around the pyre of mighty Hector. Coming together, they first quenched the fire with wine wherever it burned, and then, with many bitter tears, their brothers and comrades gathered their white bones, wrapped them in soft purple garments, and placed them in a golden urn, which they put in a tomb and covered with large stones put together. So they quickly built a hill on it and kept watch on all sides lest the Achaeans attack them before they were done. After piling up the heap, they returned to the city, assembled, and had a great feast in the house of their king Priam.

Then they celebrated the funeral of Hector the horse tamer.

Buch i

Tell me, O Muse, of that hero of genius who traveled far and wide after sacking the famous city of Troy. He visited many cities and many were the nations whose customs and customs he learned; In addition, he suffered greatly at sea trying to save his own life and bring his men home safely. but he did what he could, he could not save his men, for they perished by their own folly in devouring the cattle of the sun god Hyperion; So the god prevented her from coming home. Speak to me also of all these things, O daughter of Jupiter, wherever you know them.

Now all who had escaped death in battle or shipwreck returned home safely except Odysseus, and although he yearned to return to his wife and country, he was prevented from doing so by the goddess Calypso, who blessed him brought into a big cave and wanted it. marry him But as the years passed, there came a time when the gods arranged for him to return to Ithaca; but even when he was among his own people his troubles were not over; however, all the gods already began to take pity on him, except Neptune, who still pursued him incessantly and would not let him return home.

Now Neptune had gone to the Ethiopians who stand at the end of the world and are divided in two, one to the west and the other to the east. He had come to receive a hecatomb of sheep and oxen, and was enjoying his feast; but the other gods met in the house of Olympian Jupiter, and the father of gods and men spoke first. At that moment he thought of Aegisthus killed by Orestes son of Agamemnon; then he said to the other gods:

“Now see how men blame us gods for what is, after all, only their own folly. Check out Aegisthus; he must have unfair sex with Agamemnon's wife and then kill Agamemnon knowing it would be his death; for I sent Mercury to warn him not to do any of these things, for Orestes would surely avenge himself when he grew up and wanted to go home. Mercury was happy to tell him, but he wouldn't listen, and now he's paid in full."

Then Minerva said: “Father, son of Saturn, King of kings, served Aegisthus well, and also him that did what he did; but Aegisthos is neither here nor there; For Odysseus, my heart bleeds when I think of his sufferings on that lonely island surrounded by the sea, far, poor man, from all his friends. It is a jungle-covered island in the middle of the sea, and there lives a goddess, the daughter of the magician Atlas, who tends to the bottom of the ocean and supports the great pillars that separate the sky from the earth. This daughter of Atlas has usurped the poor unfortunate Odysseus and continues to try, with all sorts of flattery, to make him forget his homeland, so that he grows weary of life and thinks only of how to see his own smoke chimneys again. Do not worry about that, sir, and yet when Odysseus was before Troy, did he not offer him many burnt offerings? So why would you still be so mad at him?

And Justus said, "My daughter, what are you talking about? How can Odysseus forget that there is not a man on earth more able, more generous in his offerings to the immortal gods who inhabit heaven? Note, however, that Neptune is still angry with Odysseus for blinding Polyphemus, king of the Cyclopes, in one eye. Polyphemus is the son of Neptune by the nymph Thoosa, daughter of the sea-king Phorcys; Although he will not kill Odysseus immediately, he torments him by preventing him from returning home. Still, let's think together and see how we can help you get back. Then Neptune will calm down, because if we all agree, he will hardly be able to face us.

And Minerva said: “Father, son of Saturn, King of kings, if now the gods want Odysseus to return home, we must first send Mercury to the island of Ogygia to tell Calypso that we have made our decision and that he must return . Meanwhile I will go to Ithaca to encourage Telemachus son of Odysseus; I will encourage you to call the Achaeans together and speak to your mother Penelope's suitors, eager to devour many of your sheep and oxen; I will also take him to Sparta and Pylos to see if he can learn about his dear father's return, as that will cause people to speak well of him.

Saying this, he put on his glittering golden sandals, immortal, in which he can fly like the wind over land or sea; she seized the terrifying bronze-plated spear, so thick and thick and strong, with which she cut down the ranks of heroes who had displeased her, and threw herself from the highest peaks of Olympus, halting at once at Ithaca, at the gate at the entrance to the house of Ulises, disguised as a visitor, Mentes, chief of the Tafians, with a bronze spear in his hand. There he found the noble suitors sitting on the skins of the oxen they had killed and eaten, playing checkers in front of the house. Servants and pages rushed to attend to them, some mixing wine and water in bowls, others wiping and setting down tables with wet sponges, and some slicing large quantities of meat.

Telemachus saw it long before anyone else. He sat sullenly among the suitors and thought of his brave father and how he would chase her out of the house when he was alone again and honored as in days gone by. Thinking so, as he sat between them, he saw Minerva and went straight to the door, bothered that a stranger had to wait to be let in. He took her right hand and asked her to give him her spear. "Welcome," he said, "to our home, and when you have eaten you will tell us why you have come."

He led the way as he spoke, and Minerva followed him. When they were inside, she took her spear and placed it, along with her unfortunate father's many other spears, in the spear stand against a strong support post and led it to an ornate seat, under which she threw an apricot-colored cloth. There was also a stool for her feet, and he put another seat beside her, away from the suitors, that she might not be disturbed by their noise and impertinence while she ate, and he might more freely ask her about her father. .

Then a maid brought them water in a beautiful golden pitcher and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands, and she brought a clean table beside them. An elderly servant brought them bread and offered them many good things from the house, the carver brought them plates of all kinds of meat and placed golden bowls beside them, and a servant brought them wine and served it to them.

Then the suitors entered and sat down on the benches and chairs. Immediately the servants poured water over their hands, the girls went about with the bread baskets, the pages filled the bowls with wine and water and laid their hands on the good things in front of them. Once they had enough to eat and drink, they wanted music and dancing, which are the main adornments of a festival, so a servant brought Phemius a lyre, which they forced to sing for them. As soon as he played his lyre and began to sing, Telemachus spoke softly to Minerva, holding his head close to hers so no one could hear him.

"I hope, sir," he said, "that what I am about to say will not offend you. Singing is cheap for those who don't pay, and all at the expense of one whose bones rot in the desert or crumble to dust in the waves. When these men saw my father return to Ithaca, they would pray for longer legs instead of a bigger purse, because money would be of no use; but unfortunately he had a bad fate, and even if people sometimes say he's coming, we don't hear them anymore; we will never see him again. And now, sir, tell me, and tell me the truth, who are you and where are you from? Tell me about your people and your parents, what ship you arrived on, how your crew got you to Ithaca and what nation they claim to be, why you couldn't come by land. Tell me the truth too, for I want to know, are you a stranger in this house, or were you here in my father's time? We used to get a lot of visits because my father was very careful with himself.

And Minerva answered: “Truly and privately I will tell you everything. I am Mentes son of Anchialus and I am the king of the Tafians. I came here with my ship and crew on a voyage for men of a foreign tongue, bound for Temesa with a load of iron, and I will bring back copper. My ship lies across open country, far from the city, in the port of Rheithron, beneath the wooded Mount Neritum. Our fathers were friends before us, as old Laertes will tell you if you ask him. However, they say that now he never comes to the city again and lives with great difficulty alone in the country, with an old woman who takes care of him and prepares food for him when he arrives tired from her walk through her vineyard. They told me your father is back home which is why I came but it seems the gods are still holding him back because he hasn't died on the mainland yet. More likely he's on a coastal island in the middle of the ocean, or a prisoner among savages holding him against his will. I am not a prophet and know very little about omens, but I speak as it is transmitted to me. from heaven, and I assure you it will not be long; for he is a man of so many resources that even if he were bound with irons he would find a way to get home. But tell me, and tell me the truth, could Ulises really have such a handsome boy for a son? Indeed you are wonderfully like him in mind and eyes, for we were close friends before he sailed to Troy, where he was also the flower of all Argives. Since then we have never seen her again.

"My mother," answered Telemachus, tells me that I am the son of Odysseus, but she is a wise child who knows her own father. I want to be the son of someone who has aged on his own estates, since you ask me there is no worse man under heaven than the one I am told is my father.

And Minerva said: 'There is no fear your race will die out yet, provided Penelope bears a son as good as you. But tell me, and tell me the truth, what's the point of all these parties and who are these people? what is all this Having a family banquet or wedding because nobody seems to be bringing their own supplies? And the guests, how they behave cruelly; what noise they make throughout the house; It's enough to disgust any respectable person who approaches them."

"Lord," said Telemachus, "on your question, while my father was here all was well with us and the house, but the gods, in their displeasure, would have it otherwise, and hid him closer than mortal was once within. He might have it better." endure even if he were dead, if he had fallen with his men before Troy, or died with friends around him, when the days of his fighting were at an end, for then the Achaeans would have raised a mound on his ashes, and I myself would inherit his fame but now the stormy winds have carried him away we don't know if he will wither he has vanished without a trace and I inherit nothing but dismay and the matter does not end simply with the pain of losing my father; Heaven has laid pains of a different kind on me; for the chiefs of all our islands, Dulichium, Same, and the wooded isle of Zacinthus, as well as all the chiefs of Ithaca itself, devour my homeland under the pretense of wooing my mother, who will say nothing vain. Say you won't get married, and you still won't end things; so they ravage my property, and soon they will do the same to me.”

"Is that so?" Minerva called out, "So you want Ulysses to come home. Give him his helm, shield, and pair of spears, and if he's the man he was when I found him drinking and feasting in our house, he'd soon be getting his hands on those rogue contenders, if only he could once raised . More on your doorstep. He came then from Ephyra, where he had borrowed poison for his arrows from Ilus son of Mermerus. Ilus feared the eternal gods and gave him nothing, but my father gave him something because he loved him so much. If Ulysses is the man he was then, these suitors will have a brief goodbye and a miserable marriage.

"But there are! It's up to heaven to decide whether or not he should return and take revenge in his own home; however, I urge you to try to get rid of these suitors immediately. Take my advice, call the Achaean heroes to tomorrow's meeting, plead your case before them, and call heaven to witness for you. Invite the suitors to go each to his place, and when your mother is determined to marry again, let her return to her father, who will find her a husband, and endow her with all the wedding gifts that your dear daughter can hope for. As for you, let me persuade you to take the best ship you can, with a crew of twenty, and go in search of your father, who has been missing for so long. Someone might tell you something, or (and this is often heard) a message sent from heaven might guide you: go first to Pylos and ask Nestor, from there he will go to Sparta and visit Menelaus, for the last of all Achaeans has returned if you find your father alive and on his way home, you can endure the prodigality of these suitors for another twelve months. However, when you hear of her death, return home immediately, celebrate her funeral rites with all pomp, build a tomb in her memory, and remarry her mother. After you have done all this, think about how you can kill these suitors by good or bad means in your own home. You are too old to claim childhood any longer; Have you not heard the people sing the praises of Orestes for killing Aegisthos, his father's murderer? You're a fine, intelligent-looking fellow; So show your courage and make your name in history. Now, however, I must return to my ship and crew, who grow impatient if I make them wait any longer; Think for yourself and remember what I told you.

'Lord,' replied Telemachus, 'it was very kind of you to speak to me as if I were your own son, and I will do whatever you tell me; I know you want to continue your journey, but stay a little longer to shower and freshen up. Then I will give you a present and you will go your merry way; I will give you one of great beauty and value, a keepsake that only good friends give to each other."

Minerva replied, "Don't try to hold me back because I would leave immediately. Any gift you want to give me, keep it until I come back and take it home. You will give me a very good one and I will give you one no less valuable in return.

With these words she flew into the air like a bird, but it encouraged Telemachus and made him think more of his father than ever. She felt the change, was amazed, and knew the stranger was a god, so she went straight to where the suitors were sitting.

Phemius sang on, and his audience fell silent as he related the sad tale of Troy's return and the evils Minerva had brought upon the Achaeans. Penelope, daughter of Icario, heard her singing from the upstairs room and went down the grand staircase, not alone but accompanied by two maids. Reaching the suitors, she paused at one of the posts that supported the cloister's roof, with a fierce maiden on either side of her. She also wore a veil over her face and cried bitterly.

'Phemius,' he exclaimed, 'you know many other deeds of gods and heroes such as poets love to celebrate. Sing one of these to the suitors and let them sip their wine in silence, but stop with this sad story, for it breaks my sad heart and reminds me of my lost husband, whom I mourn unceasingly and whose name was great especially Hellas and Middle Argos.

"Mother," replied Telemachus, "let the bard sing what he will; the bards do not the evils they sing of; it is Jupiter, not she, who makes them, and who sends good or evil to mankind according to his own will. This guy has no ill intentions and sings the ill-fated return of the Danaans because people always applaud the latest songs very enthusiastically. Make up your mind and endure it; Odysseus is not the only man who never returned from Troy, but many others liked him too. So go into the house and do your daily duties, your loom, your spinning-wheel, and the order of your servants; because the word is men's business and above all mine, because here I am the owner.

She returned home amazed and took her son's words to heart. Then she went to her room with her servants and wept for her beloved husband until Minerva poured sweet sleep into her eyes. But suitors rushed through the covered cloisters, and each prayed to be her bedfellow.

Then Telemachus spoke: 'Shameless,' he exclaimed, 'and insolent suitors, let us now eat as we will, and let no quarrel arise, for seldom is a man heard with so divine a voice as Phemius; but meet me in the whole congregation in the morning so I can formally tell you that you can go out and party in someone else's house, at your expense. If, on the contrary, you decide to continue to harass a man, God help me, but Jupiter will completely hit you, and if you fall in my father's house, there will be no one to avenge you. The suitors bit their lips when they heard him and marveled at the boldness of his words. Then Antinous son of Eupeites said: “It seems that the gods have given you lessons in boasting and speeches; may Jupiter never grant you to be chief in Ithaca as your father was before you.

Telemachus replied: "Antinous, do not scold me, but God willing I will also be the chief if I can. Is this the worst fate you can imagine for me? It's not bad to be a boss because it brings wealth and honor. But now that Odysseus is dead, there are many great men in Ithaca, old and young, and few others can lead; However, I will be the head of my own house and rule over those whom Odysseus won from me.

Then Eurymachos, son of Polybus, answered: “It is for heaven to decide who shall be the leader among us, but you will be master of your own house and goods; No one will mistreat you or rob you as long as there is a man in Ithaca. And now, my good friend, I want to know about this stranger. What country are you from? What family does he come from and where are his belongings? Did he bring you the news of your father's return, or was he busy alone? He looked like a wealthy man, but he left so suddenly he was gone a moment before we could find him."

"My father is dead and gone," replied Telemachus, "and even if rumor reaches me, I do not trust it now. In fact, my mother sometimes sends for and consults a fortune teller, but I don't heed her prophecies. As for the stranger, it was Mentes, son of Anchialus, chief of the Tafians, an old friend of my father's. But in his heart he knew it had been the goddess.

The suitors then returned to sing and dance until nightfall; but when night fell, to their delight, they went home to sleep each in his own quarters. Telemachus' room was on the top of a tower overlooking the courtyard; here then he went away, melancholic and thoughtful. A good old woman, Euricléia daughter of Ops son of Piseñor, stood before him with two torches lit. Laertes bought it with his own money when he was young; He gave her twenty oxen and showed her as much respect in his house as he did his own wife, but he did not take her to his bed for fear of his wife's resentment. It was she who brought Telemachus to her room, and she loved him more than any other woman in the house, for she had nursed him as a baby. He opened the bedroom door and sat on the bed; Taking off his shirt, he handed it to the good old lady, who folded it carefully and hung it on a hanger by the bed for him, then he went out, locked the door with a silver latch, and undid the latch. .House by means of leash. But Telemachus, lying covered in a fleece of wool, spent the whole night contemplating his proposed journey, based on the advice Minerva had given him.

Book II

Now when the son of the morning appeared, the rose-fingered Aurora, Telemachus got up and dressed. He tied his sandals on his beautiful feet, slung his sword over his shoulder and left his room looking like an immortal god. Immediately he sent the criers to call the people to an assembly, so they called them together and the people assembled there; So when they were assembled, he went spear in hand to the meeting place, not alone, for his two dogs were with him. Minerva bestowed on him a presence of such divine beauty that everyone marveled at his death, and when he took his place in his father's chair, even the senior councilors relented.

Egyptian, decrepit man of infinite experience, the first to speak. His son Antiphos had gone with Odysseus to Ilius, the land of noble horses, but the wild Cyclops slew him when everyone was shut up in the cave and prepared his last supper for him. He had three sons, two of whom were still working on their father's land, while the third, Eurynomus, was one of the suitors; However, his father could not get over the loss of Antiphus and was still weeping for him as he began his speech.

"Men of Ithaca," he said, "heed my words. Since the day Ulises left us, there has not been a meeting of our advisors until now; Who then, old or young, finds it so necessary to call us? Have you heard that an army is approaching and do you want to warn us, or do you want to speak about another matter of public importance? I'm sure he's a great person and I hope Jupiter will grant his heart's desire."

Telemachus took this speech as a good omen and rose at once, overflowing with what he had to say. He stood in the midst of the assembly, and the good herald Piseñor brought him his staff. Then he turned to Aegyptius: “Lord,” he said, “it is I who called you, as you will soon learn, for I am the most aggrieved public moment I wish to speak to you about. My complaint is purely personal and concerns two great calamities that have befallen my home. The first of these is the loss of my excellent father, who was the boss of you all here, and he was like a father to every one of you; the second is much more serious and will soon be the utter ruin of my property. The children of all the leaders among you are pressuring my mother to marry them off against her will. They are afraid to go to father Icario, ask him to choose what he likes best and give his daughter wedding gifts, but day after day they sneak around my father's house and sacrifice our oxen, sheep and goats for theirs Feasts and never think how much wine they drink.No state can endure such imprudence; now we have no Odysseus to protect our gates from harm, and I cannot defend myself against them. I shall never be as good a man as he is in all my life, and yet I would resist if I had the strength, for I can bear such treatment no longer; my house is dishonored and destroyed. So have respect for your own conscience and for public opinion. Also fear the wrath of heaven, lest the gods become angry and turn against you. I beseech you by Jupiter and Themis, who are the beginning and end of the councils, stop, my friends, and leave me alone, unless my brave father Odysseus has done some harm to the Achaeans whom you now want to avenge me by helping and favoring these suitors. Also, if you want me to be eaten out of the house and out of the house, I would rather you eat it yourself because that way I can file a lawsuit against you for any reason and send ads house to house to you me pay. in its entirety, while I have no cure now."

With that, Telemachus threw his staff to the ground and began to weep. Everyone felt very sorry for him, but everyone stopped and no one dared answer him angrily except Antinous, who said:

"Telemachus, insolent braggart, how dare you blame the suitors? It's your mother's fault, not ours, because she's a very smart woman. For the past three years, and almost four, he's been driving us all crazy, rooting for each and every one of us and texting them without understanding a word he's saying. And then there was this other prank he played on us. He set up a large drum structure in his room and set to work on a huge piece of fine embroidery. "Dear ones," she said, "Ulysses really is dead, don't rush me to marry again now, I hope he has no crafting skills to die unregistered until he has completed a shroud for the hero Laertes, um." to be armed against him the time when death takes him. He's very rich, and the local women will talk if they leave him without a shroud.

“That's what she said and we agree; where we could see her working on her great web all day, but at night she unraveled again by torchlight. She tricked us like that for three years and we never found her out but over time, she was already in her fourth year, one of her maids told us who knew what she was doing and we caught her in the act. to undo his work, so he had to finish it whether he wanted to or not. The suitors then give you this answer so that you and the Achaeans understand: "Shoot away your mother and ask her to marry the man of her choice and that of her father." because I don't know what will happen if she torments us much longer with the affections she gives for the skills Minerva taught her and for being so smart. We have never heard of such a woman; We know all about Tyre, Alcmene, Mycenae, and the famous women of the past, but none of them meant anything to your mother. It was not fair of her to treat us this way, and as long as she persists in the spirit that Heaven has now endowed her with, we shall continue to devour her possessions; and I don't see why she should change, because she gets all the credit and glory, and you're paying for it, not her. So understand that we will not return to our country, here or anywhere else, until she has made her choice and married one or the other of us.

Telemachus answered: "Antinous, how can I drive the mother who gave birth to me out of my father's house? My father is abroad and we don't know if he is dead or alive. It will be difficult for me to have to pay Icarius the large sum that I must give him if he insists on giving his daughter back to him. Not only will He treat me harshly, but Heaven will punish me; because my mother, when she leaves the house, will give birth to the Erinyes, to avenge her; besides, it would not be commendable and I have nothing to say about it. If this makes you angry, leave the house and party somewhere else at each other's homes at your own expense. On the other hand, if you choose to flog a man, God help me, but Jupiter will reckon with you, and if you fall in my father's house there will be no one to avenge you.

As he spoke Jupiter sent down two eagles from the top of the mountain, and they flew and flew with the wind, sailing side by side in their own majestic flight. When they were in the very center of the assembly, they turned and circled, flapping their wings in the air and hurling death in the eyes of those below; then, fighting fiercely and tearing each other to pieces, they flew right over the city. People were amazed to see it and asked each other what it could be; whereupon Halitherses, who was the best prophet and omen reader among them, spoke openly and in all honesty to them, saying:

"Hear me, men of Ithaca, and I speak especially to suitors, for I see disaster coming upon them. Ulysses won't be gone for long; In fact, he is about to wreak death and destruction not only on them, but on many of us who live in Ithaca. So let's be wise in time and end this evil before it comes. That applicants do so voluntarily; it will be better for them, because I do not prophesy without right knowledge; Everything happened to Odysseus as I foretold when the Argives set out for Troy, and he with them. I said that after going through many hardships and losing all his men, he should come home in his twentieth year and no one would recognize him; And now it's all coming true.”

Eurymachos, son of Polybus, then said: 'Go home, old man, and prophesy to your own children, or else they will get worse. I myself can read these omens much better than you; Birds are always flying around somewhere in the sunlight, but they rarely mean anything. Odysseus died in a far-off land, and it is a pity you are not dead with him, instead of here chattering omens and fanning the anger of Telemachus, which is already fierce enough. I guess you think you're going to give something to your family, but I'll tell you, and it will be safe when an old man like you, who should know better, talks to a young man till he becomes a nuisance, in primarily your young man. My friend will make it so much worse that he will not take anything for it, for the suitors will prevent it, and next time we shall punish him more, sir, than he cares to pay, as it will do him little harm. As for Telemachus, in the presence of all of you, I exhort him to send his mother back to her father, who will find her a husband and give her all the wedding gifts that a daughter so beloved could hope for. Until we keep chasing him in our suit; for we fear no one, nor care for him, for all his beautiful speeches, nor for any of his riddles. You can preach anything you want, but we're gonna hate you even more. We shall go back and continue devouring Telemachus' wares without paying him until his mother stops tormenting us, keeping us tiptoeing in anticipation day after day, each vying with the other in her claim to such a high price, rare perfection . Besides, we can't go by the other women we were supposed to marry back then, but by the way she treats us."

Then Telemachus said: “Eurymachus and the other suitors, I will say no more, nor will I ask for more, because the gods and men of Ithaca now know my story. So give me a ship and a crew of twenty to carry me back and forth, and I will go to Sparta and Pylos in search of my long-lost father. Someone could tell me something, or (and people often hear it that way) a heaven-sent message could guide me. If I hear from him that he is alive and on his way home, I will bear the waste of his suitors for another twelve months. However, if I hear of your death, I will return immediately, celebrate your funeral with all due pomp, erect a tomb in your memory, and arrange for my mother to remarry.

With that he sat down, and Mentor, who had been a friend of Ulysses and in charge of everything with full authority over the servants, rose to speak. Then he addressed her clearly and in all honesty

thus: “Hear me, men of Ithaca, I hope you shall never again have a good and well-meaning ruler, nor one who will rule you justly; I hope that from now on all your bosses will be cruel and unfair because none of you have forgotten Odysseus who ruled you as if he were your father. I am not so angry with the suitors, for if they choose to use violence in the wickedness of their hearts and stake their heads lest Odysseus return, they may prevail and devour his possessions, but as for the rest of you, I marvel at how you all stand by and not even try to stop these outrageous events, which you could if you wanted to, for you are many and they are few.

Leikritus, son of Evenor, answered him by saying, "Lord, what is this nonsense that you should send people to stop us? It is hard for a man to fight many for his supplies. Even if Odysseus himself ambushed us while we were feasting in his house and did everything to drive us away, his wife, who wants him back so badly, would have no reason to rejoice and her blood would fall on him. Shoulders. Head when fighting against such odds. It doesn't make sense what you're saying. So mind your business now and let your father's old friends Mentor and Halitherse speed this boy up on his journey when he goes away, which I don't think as he's more likely to get away. . where he is until someone comes and says something to him.

With that he broke up the assembly and each returned to his own dwelling while the suitors returned to Odysseus' house.

So Telemachus went to the beach alone, washed his hands in the gray waves and prayed to Minerva.

“Listen to me,” he exclaimed, “God who visited me yesterday and commanded me to sail the seas in search of my father who disappeared so long ago. I would obey you, but the Achaeans and especially the wicked hypocrites prevent me from doing so.

While he was thus praying, Minerva approached him with the likeness and voice of the mentor. "Telemachus," she said, "if you're made of the same stuff as your father, you won't be a fool or a coward from now on, for Odysseus never broke his word or did his work halfway." So if you're like him your journey won't go in vain, but unless you have the blood of Odysseus and Penelope in your veins, I don't see a chance you'll make it. Sons are seldom as good men as their fathers; they are usually worse, not better; nevertheless, since you will henceforth be neither a fool nor a coward, and not entirely lacking in your father's wise judgment, I look forward to your enterprise. But beware of collaborating with any of these stupid hypocrites, for they have no sense of virtue, and they do not think of death and fate that will soon befall each and every one of them, to perish in it, the same Day. Your journey will not take long; Your father was an old friend of mine. I'll get you a boat and go with you myself. Now, however, she returns home and walks among the suitors; Start preparing for your trip; looking at everything well taken care of, the wine in jugs and the barley flour that is sustenance in leather bags as I walk through town and immediately knock on the volunteers' door. There are many ships in Ithaca, old and new; I will go through them for you and pick the best one; We will prepare it and make the sea without delay.

Thus spoke Minerva, daughter of Jupiter, and Telemachus wasted no time in doing as the goddess bade him. He was in a bad mood and found the suitors skinning goats and searing pigs in the forecourt. Antinous immediately went to him and laughed as he took his hand and said, "Telemachus, my good fire-eater, bear no more bad blood in word and deed, but eat and drink with us as before." make. The Achaeans will come to meet you with a whole ship and a chosen crew, so that you can leave at once for Pylos and listen to your noble father.

"Antinous," replied Telemachus, "I cannot eat in peace, nor amuse myself with men like you. Wasn't it enough for you to have wasted so many of my good things when I was a kid? Now that I'm older and know more about it, I'm stronger too, and whether I'm here among these people or going to Pylos, I'll do as much damage as I can. I will go, and my departure will not be in vain, although thanks to you suitors I have neither a ship nor a crew of my own, and must be a passenger, not a captain.

As he spoke, he tore his hand from Antinous. Meanwhile, the others in the buildings continued to cook, taunting him as they did so.

“Telemachus,” said a young man, “means to be our death; I assume he thinks he can bring friends from Pylos to help, or from Sparta where he seems determined. Or will he also go to Ephyra to poison our wine and kill us?

Another said: “Perhaps when Telemachus boards a ship he will be like his father and die far from his friends. In that case we would have a lot to do, because in this way we could divide his goods between us: as for the house, we can leave it to his mother and the man who marries her.

That's how they spoke. But Telemachus went down into the high and spacious store-room where his father's gold and bronze treasure was heaped on the floor, and where linen and extra clothes were kept in open chests. Here too was a supply of fragrant oil, while casks of aged wine, well aged, pure and drinkable for a god, were lined up against the wall, in case Odysseus ever got home. The room was surrounded by well-made doors that opened in the middle; In addition, the old and faithful housekeeper Euricléia, daughter of Ops, son of Piseñor, was in charge of everything day and night. Telemachus called her into the shop and said:

Sister, bring me some of the best wine you have, after the one you save for my father's drink, in case, poor man, he escapes death and finally finds his way home. Give me twelve pots and see if they all have lids; I also fill well-sewn leather bags with barley flour, about twenty measures in all. Put these things together immediately and don't say anything about them. I'll take everything with me tonight as soon as my mother goes upstairs to bed. I'm going to Sparta and Pylos to see if I can hear about my dear father's return.

Hearing this, Eurycleia began to weep and said to him affectionately: “My dear son, what could have put such an idea into your head? Where on earth do you want to go for yourself who are the only hope at home? Your poor father is dead and gone to an unknown foreign land, and as soon as you turn your back on him these villains will scheme to get rid of you and divide all your goods among themselves; stay where you are, among your own people, and don't wander and worry about your life in the barren ocean.

“Fear not, nurse,” answered Telemachus, “my plan is not without heaven's consent; but swear you won't tell my mother till I'm gone ten or twelve days unless she finds I'm gone and asks you; because I don't want her to ruin her beauty by crying.

The old woman swore very solemnly that she would not, and when she had fulfilled her oath, she began pouring the wine into jars and stuffing the barley flour into sacks, while Telemachus returned with the suitors.

Then Minerva thought of something else. Taking her form, she toured the city with each crew and told them to meet at the ship at sunset. She also went to Noemon son of Phronius and begged him to give her a ship, to which he was very willing. As the sun went down and darkness covered all land, she lowered the ship into the water, loaded all the equipment that ships usually carry on board, and parked it at the end of the harbor. Soon the crew arrived and the goddess spoke encouragingly to each of them.

In addition, he went to the house of Odysseus and put the suitors into a deep sleep. He let the drink stun them and let them drop the goblets from their hands so that instead of sitting down in the wine, heavy-eyed and sleepy, they went back to the village to sleep. Then he took the form and voice of the mentor and called Telemachus.

"Telemachus," she said, "the men are on board rowing and waiting for you to give your orders, so hurry up and let's get out."

So she led the way, while Telemachus followed in her footsteps. When they reached the ship, they found the crew waiting in the water, and Telemachus said, “Now, my men, help me bring provisions on board; are all gathered in the convent, and my mother knows nothing, nor any of the servants except one.”

With these words he went ahead and the others followed him. When they had brought things up as he had said, Telemachus went on board, Minerva going before him, and sat down at the stern of the ship, while Telemachus sat beside her. Then the men released their bonds and took their places on the benches. Minerva sent them a good west wind whistling over the deep blue waves, over which Telemachus commanded them to hold the ropes and hoist the sails, and they did as he told them. They put the pole into its socket in the transom, lifted it up, and tied it; then they hoisted their white sails with twisted oxhide ropes. As the sail rippled in the wind, the ship floated through the deep blue water, splashing hissing water against the bow. Then they fasted throughout the ship, filling their bowls to the brim, and offering libations to the immortal gods that ever existed, but especially to the grey-eyed daughter of Jupiter.

So the ship raced through the waking hours of the night, from dusk to dawn.

Buch III

BUT when the sun rose from the beautiful sea into the vastness of the sky to pour out the plague on mortals and immortals alike, they came to Pylos, the city of Neleus. Now the people of Pylos gathered by the sea to sacrifice black bulls to Neptune, the lord of the earthquake. There were nine guilds of five hundred men each, and each guild had nine bulls. While eating the entrails and burning the thighs [on the coals] in the name of Neptune, Telemachus and his crew arrived, hoisted the sails, anchored the ship, and went ashore.

Minerva led the way and Telemachus followed. Then he said: 'Telemachus, you must not be the least bit shy or nervous; You made this journey to find out where your father is buried and how he died; So go straight to Nestor and we'll see what he has to say. Ask him to tell the truth and he will tell no lies because he is an excellent human being."

"But how, master," replied Telemachus, "dare I approach Nestor, and how shall I address him?" I'm still not used to having long conversations with people, and I feel ashamed to interview someone much older than me."

'Some things, Telemachus,' replied Minerva, 'are suggested to you by your own instinct, and Heaven will see you through; for I am sure the gods have been with you from your birth until now.

So he hurried on, and Telemachus followed in his footsteps until they reached the place where the guilds of the Pilians were assembled. There they found Nestor sitting with his children while his company busied themselves around him preparing supper and threading pieces of meat onto skewers while other pieces cooked. When they saw the strangers, they surrounded them, took their hands, and ordered them to take their places. Nestor's son Peisistratus immediately reached out to each of them and placed them on some soft sheepskins in the sand next to his father and brother Thrasymedes. Then he gave them their portions of inner flesh and served them wine in a golden goblet, first handing it to Minerva and greeting her at the same time.

'Worship King Neptune, sir,' he said, 'for it is his party he joins; When you have prayed correctly and made your libation, pass the cup to your friend so that he can do the same. I have no doubt that he also raises his hands in prayer, because man cannot live in the world without God. However, he is younger than you and he is very old with me; therefore, if he delivered me, I will give you priority.

As he spoke, he handed her the glass. Minerva thought it very fitting and typical of him to give it to her first; Consequently, he began to pray to Neptune earnestly. “O you,” he exclaimed, “who turns the earth, grant yourself to answer the prayers of your servants who call on you. In particular, we ask you to bestow your mercy on Nestor and his children; After that, also make the rest of Pylia's people a good reward for the good hecatomb they offer you. Finally, give me and Telemachus happy offspring in regard to the matter that brought us to Pylos.

When he had finished praying, he gave the chalice to Telemachus and he prayed in the same way. Gradually, when the outer meat was roasted and removed from the skewers, the cutters distributed each their portion, and each had an excellent supper. As soon as they had eaten and drunk enough, Nestor, Knight of Gerene, began to speak.

"Now," he said, "since our guests have made dinner, we'd better ask who they are. Who are you then, strange gentlemen, and from what port did you sail? Are you a dealer? Or do you sail the seas like vagabonds, with the hand against everyone and the hand of everyone against you?

Telemachus answered boldly, for Minerva had encouraged him to inquire about his father and to establish a good name for himself.

"Nestor," he said, "son of Neleus, honor of the Achaean name, you ask me where we come from and I will tell you." We come from Ithaca under Neritum, and the matter I wish to discuss is of private, not public, concern.

I am looking for news of my unfortunate father Odysseus, who is said to have sacked the city of Troy with him. We know the fate of each of the other heroes who fought at Troy, but as for Odysseus, Heaven has withheld even the knowledge that he is dead, for no one can confirm where he died, nor tell if he died fell in combat on dry land or was lost at sea between the waves of Amphitrite. So I beg you on my knees if you will tell me of his melancholy end, whether you have seen it with your own eyes or heard it from another traveller, for he was a man born to restlessness. Don't flatten things out of pity on me, but tell me frankly and accurately what you saw. If my brave father Odysseus ever faithfully served you when you Achaeans were being pursued by the Trojans, consider it an advantage now and tell me everything truthfully.

"My friend," replied Nestor, "you remember a time of great sadness, for the mighty Achaeans suffered much, both at sea when they ran under Achilles, and when they fought off the great city of King Priam. All our best men fell there Ajax, Achilles, Patroclus, two gods in council, and my dear son Antilochus, a man singularly light-footed and valiant in battle. But we suffer much more than that; What mortal tongue could truly tell the whole story? Even if you stayed here for five or even six years to interrogate me, I couldn't tell you everything the Achaeans went through, and you'd get tired of my story before it's over. Nine long years we tried every ruse, but the hand of heaven was against us; in all this time there was no one who could match your father for subtlety, if you really are his son i can hardly believe my eyes and you talk just like him, no one would guess that people of so different ages talk so much can as he does. He and I never had any disagreements from beginning to end, either in camp or in council, but with united hearts and common intentions we advised the Argives on how best to arrange things.

“However, when we had sacked the city of Priam and put to sea with our ships, when heaven had scattered us, Jupiter saw fit to anger the Argives on their homeward journey; for not all were wise or understanding, and therefore many ended badly because of the anger of Minerva, daughter of Jupiter, who caused a quarrel between the two sons of Atreus.

“The sons of Atreus called a meeting which was not what it should have been, because it was sunset and the Achaeans were drunk with wine. When they explained why they had called the people, it seemed that Menelaus would go home immediately and this disgusted Agamemnon told us to wait until we offered hecatombs to appease Minerva's wrath. Stupid as he was, he could have known he wasn't going to prevail over them, because when the gods make a decision, they don't change it lightly. Then the two argued harsh words, causing the Achaeans to stand up with a shuddering cry, wondering what to do.

"That night we rested and appeased our anger because Jupiter plotted evil against us. But in the morning some of us put the boats out and loaded the goods with the women on board, while the rest, about half, stayed behind with Agamemnon. We, the other half, boarded and sailed; and the ships prospered, for the sky had leveled the sea. When we arrived in Tenedos, we made offerings to the gods, longing to go home; Cruel Jupiter still would not, however, and stirred up a second quarrel, in the course of which some of us turned our ships and sailed under Odysseus to make our peace with Agamemnon; but I and all the ships that were with me advanced, because I saw that calamity was brewing. Tydeus' son also died with me, and his crew with him. Menelaus later joined us on Lesvos and found that we decided our course, not knowing whether to leave Chios via the island of Psira, keeping it to our left, or within Chios, facing the stormy headland of Mimas. So we asked heaven for a sign, and one was shown to us that if we steered our ships across the open sea to Euboea, we would be out of danger as quickly as possible. So we did, and a good wind arose, enabling us to make a speedy overnight crossing to Geraestus, where we made many offerings to Neptune for helping us on our way. Four days later, Diomedes and his men parked their ships at Argos, but I clung to Pylos, and the wind has never stopped since heaven made me beautiful.

"Therefore, my dear young friend, I have returned without knowing anything of the others. I do not know who

I have not come home safe and sound, nor have the lost, but I will dutifully share with you unreservedly the reports that have reached me since I have been here in my own home. The Myrmidons are said to have returned home safely under Neoptolemus son of Achilles; likewise the brave son of Poias, Philoctetes. Idomeneus, in turn, did not lose a man at sea, and all his followers who had escaped death on the field returned safely to Crete with him. No matter how far from the world you live, you must have heard of Agamemnon and the bad end he suffered at the hands of Aegisthus, and Aegisthus paid a terrible bill. See how good it is for a man to leave a son to do like Orestes who slew the false Aegisthus, his noble father's murderer. You too because you are a tall and smart looking guy, show your courage and make your name in history.

"Son of Neleus, Nestor," replied Telemachus, "honor the name of the Achaeans, the Achaeans applaud Orestes, and his name will stand forever, because he nobly avenged his father." I hope heaven will avenge me for the insolence of the wicked suitors who mistreat me and plan my downfall; but the gods have no such fortune in store for me and my father, so we must endure it as best we can.

"My friend," said Nestor, "now that you remind me, I remember hearing that your mother has many suitors who are mean to you and ravage your property." Do you humbly submit, or is public opinion and the voice of heaven against you? Who knows if Odysseus will finally return and pay these villains in full, alone or with an Achaean force at his back? If Minerva cared for you as much as Odysseus did when we fought at Troy (for I have never seen the gods cared for anyone so openly as Minerva cared for your father), if she cared for you, how she took care of you, how she took care of him These suitors would soon forget some of them their courtship.

Telemachus replied: “I can expect nothing of it; it would be too much to wait. I dare not think about it. Despite the fact that the gods themselves wanted it, such luck could not befall me.

Minerva said, "Telemachus, what are you talking about? Heaven has a long arm when it rises to save a man; and if it were me, I wouldn't care how much I suffered before I got home as long as I was safe there. I would rather do that than rush home and then be killed in my own home like Agamemnon was for betraying Aegisthos and his wife. Still, death is certain, and when a man's time comes, not even the gods can save him, no matter how much they love him.

"Mentor," replied Telemachus, "let us speak no more of this." There's no chance my father will come back; the gods have long advocated its destruction. However, there is one more thing I would like to ask Néstor, because he knows a lot more than everyone else. They say he ruled for three generations, so it's like talking to an immortal. So tell me, Nestor, and tell me the truth; How did Agamemnon end up dying like this? What did Menelaus do? And how did the false Aegisthus end up killing a man who was so much better than himself? Was Menelaus far from Achaean Argos traveling among men when Aegisthus took heart and killed Agamemnon?

"I'll tell you the truth," Nestor replied, "and in fact you yourself guessed how it all happened." If Menelaus had found Aegisthos alive in his house when he returned from Troy, no tomb would have been built for him after his death, but he would have been driven out of the city to the dogs and vultures. , and no woman would have wept for him, because he had done a great wrong; but we were there, fighting hard at Troy, and Aegisthus, resting quietly in the heart of Argos, flattered Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra with incessant flattery.

“At first she didn't want to hear about his evil plan, as she was naturally good; besides, there was with her a bard, whom Agamemnon had given strict orders to go to Troy, to look after his wife; but when Heaven ordered its destruction, Aegisthus, that is, this bard, went to a desert island and left him there to be attacked by crows and seagulls, whereupon she voluntarily went to the house of Aegisthus. Then he offered many burnt offerings to the gods and adorned many temples with tapestries and gilding, because he had far exceeded their expectations.

“Meanwhile, Menelaus and I drove home from Troy and got along well. When we reached Sunium, which is the capital of Athens, Apollo slew his painless arrows and slew Frontis, the helmsman of Menelaus' ship (and a man never knew how to handle a ship better in bad weather), so he was right there with rudder died in his hand, and Menelaus, though anxious to go on, had to wait to bury his comrade and give him the proper funeral rites. Then, when he too was able to return to the sea and sail to the horns of Malean, Jupiter counseled evil against him and blew him with might until the waves rose like mountains. Here he divided his fleet and took half to Crete where the Cydonians dwell around the waters of the river Iardanus. Near here there is a high promontory jutting out into the sea from a place called Gortyna, and along this part of the coast to Festus the sea rises when the south wind blows, but after Festus the coast is more sheltered because of a small promontory it can be a great shelter. Here this part of the fleet was thrown against the rocks and destroyed; but the crews were able to save themselves. The other five ships were carried by winds and seas to Egypt, where Menelaus collected much gold and wealth from among people of foreign languages. Meanwhile, here at home, Aegisthus plotted his evil deed. After killing Agamemnon he reigned in Mycenae for seven years and the people obeyed him, but in the eighth year Orestes returned from Athens to become his undoing and killed his father's murderer. Then he celebrated the funeral rites of his mother and false Aegisthos with a feast for the people of Argos, and that same day Menelaus returned home, carrying all the treasures his ships could carry.

"So take my advice, and don't travel so far from home for long, and don't leave your things in your house with such dangerous people; You will eat everything you have and you are looking for a fool. Still, I must definitely advise you to visit Menelaus, who recently departed from a voyage among peoples so distant, from which no one could hope to return if the winds had carried him so far away. ; even birds cannot cover the distance in twelve months, so vast and terrible are the seas they must cross. So go to him by sea and take your own people with you; or if you prefer to travel by land you can have a carriage, you can have horses, and here are my sons to accompany you to Lacedaemon where Menelaus lives. Ask him to tell the truth and he won't tell you lies because he's an excellent human being."

As he spoke the sun went down and darkened, whereupon Minerva said: “Lord, everything you have said is good; but now command that the tongues of the victims be cut out and the wine mixed so that we may bring libations to Neptune and the other immortals, and then go to bed, for it is time to go to bed. People should leave early and not stay long at a religious festival."

Thus spoke the daughter of Jupiter, and they obeyed her words. The servants poured water into the hands of the guests, while the pages filled the bowls with wine and water and distributed them, after offering each their libation; then they threw the tongues of the victims into the fire and rose to offer their libations. When they had offered their offerings and drunk as much as they wanted, Minerva and Telemachus retired aboard their ship, but Nestor immediately caught up with them and stopped them.

"Heaven and the immortal gods," he exclaimed, "forbid you to leave my house to board a ship. Do you think I'm so poor and poor in clothes, or that I have so few layers that I can't find comfortable beds for myself or my guests? Let me tell you I have a stash of rugs and blankets and I don't want my old friend Odysseus's son to be stored on the deck of a ship all my life and my children won't follow me but she will open remain. . home like me

Then Minerva answered: “Lord, you have spoken well, and it will be much better for Telemachus to do what you have said; he will therefore return with you and sleep in your house, but I must return to give orders to my crew and keep them good-hearted. I am the only old one among them; the rest are all young men of the same age as Telemachus, who made this journey out of friendship; then I must return to the ship and sleep there. Also, tomorrow I have to go to the Cauconians, where I have a large sum of money owed to me for a long time. As for Telemachus, now that he is your guest, send him to Lacedaemon in a cart and let one of your sons go with him. Feel free to put your best and fastest horses at his disposal.

Saying this, she flew away in the form of an eagle, and everyone was amazed to see her. Nestor was surprised and took Telemachus by the hand. "My friend," he said, "I see that one day you will be a great hero, for the gods are expecting you so young. This can be none other that inhabits the heavens than the fearsome daughter of Jupiter, Triton, who showed such sympathy to her brave father among the Argives. "Holy Queen," he continued, "deign to descend your mercy upon me, my good wife and children. In return, I offer you as a sacrifice a one-year-old cow with a broad forehead, intact and without a human yoke. I will gild its horns and offer it to you as a sacrifice.

So he prayed and Minerva heard his prayer. Then he went ahead to his own house, followed by his sons and sons-in-law. When they got there and sat down on the benches and chairs, she made them a glass of sweet wine eleven years old when their mistress discovered the jug that contained it. While mixing the wine, he prayed much and brought libations to Minerva, daughter of Jupiter, father of Aegis. So when they had offered their libations, and each had drunk as much as he wanted, the rest went to sleep, each in his own room; but Nestor put Telemachus to sleep in the room over the door with Peisistratos, who was his only unmarried son. He himself slept in an inner chamber of the house, with the queen, his wife, at his side.

When the girl of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, Nestor got out of bed and sat on the polished white marble benches in front of his house. Here Neleus, pair of gods, used to sit in council, but now he was dead and gone to the house of Hades; so Nestor sat in his place, scepter in hand, guardian of the common good. His sons, coming out of their chambers, gathered round him, Echephron, Stratius, Perseus, Aretus, and Thrasymedes; the sixth son was Peisistratos, and when Telemachus joined them, they forced him to sit with them. Nestor then spoke to her.

“My children,” he said, “make haste to do what I command. Above all, I wish to appease the great goddess Minerva, who visibly revealed herself to me during yesterday's celebrations. So if one of you or the other goes to the plain, tell the shepherd to get me a heifer and bring it here at once. Another must go to Telemachus' ship and load the entire crew, leaving only two men in charge of the ship. Another will run and bring Laerceus the goldsmith to gild the cow's horns. The rest of you stay where you are; Tell the household servants to prepare an excellent meal and to bring chairs and logs for the burnt offering. Also tell them to bring me clean bottled water.

With that they hurried on with their various tasks. The heifer was brought out of the plain, and Telemachus' crew came down from the ship; the goldsmith brought an anvil, hammer and tongs with which to work his gold, and Minerva herself was sacrificed. Nestor distributed the gold and the blacksmith gilded the heifer's horns so that the goddess would be pleased with her beauty. Then Stratius and Echephron brought it by the horns; Areto went into the house to fetch water in a vase with floral motifs, and in the other hand he held a basket of barley flour; The burly Thrasymedes had a sharp ax ready to strike the heifer while Perseus held a bucket. Then Nestor began to wash his hands and sprinkle barley flour on them, and he offered many prayers to Minerva while throwing a lock of hair from the heifer's head into the fire.

When they had finished praying and bringing out the barley, Thrasymedes struck with his blow and knocked the heifer down with a blow that severed the tendons at the base of the neck, whereupon the daughters and daughters-in-law of Nestor and his venerable wife Eurydice (she was the youngest daughter) crone of Clymenus) cried for joy. Then they lifted the cow's head off the ground and Peisistratus slit her throat. When she finished bleeding and was completely dead, they dismembered her. They cut the femurs in due course, wrapped them in two layers of fat and put a few pieces of raw meat on top; so Nestor placed them on a wood fire and poured wine over them, while the young men stood beside him with five-pronged spears in their hands. After the thighs were seared and the entrails tasted, they cut the remaining meat into small pieces, put the pieces on skewers, and roasted them over the fire.

Meanwhile, the beautiful Polycasta, Nestor's youngest daughter, was washing Telemachus. After washing him and anointing him with oil, I brought him a beautiful robe and shirt, and he looked like a god when he came out of the bath and sat down next to Nestor. When the outer meat was ready, they took it off the skewers and sat down to supper, where they were served by some dignified attendants, who served them wine in golden goblets. As soon as they had eaten and drunk, Nestor said, "Children, put Telemachus' horses in the carriage so that he can depart at once."

Thus spoke he, and they did as he said, and hitched the light horses to the chariot. The governess prepared for them a supply of bread, wine, and sweets worthy of the sons of princes. Then Telemachus got into the chariot while Peisistratus took the reins and sat beside him. He tied his horses and they flew out into the open country no less than the high citadel of Pylos. All day long they walked, swinging the yoke around their necks, until the sun went down and darkness covered the whole land. Then they came to Pherae, where lived Diocles, who was the son of Ortilochus and grandson of Alphaeus. Here they spent the night and were hospitably received by Diocles. as the child of the morning, the pink-fingered dawn; They appeared, changed horses, and rode out through the gate under the front door. Pisistratus whipped the horses and they flew off without difficulty; soon they reached the cornfields of the open country, and in time completed their journey, so well their steeds bore them.

Now when the sun has set and darkness has fallen across the land,

Book IV

They arrived in the lower city of Lacedaemon, where they drove straight to the residence of Menelaus [and found him in his own house celebrating with the many members of his clan in honor of his son's marriage and also that of his daughter, with whom he celebrated the son of the brave warrior Achilles married. He had consented and promised her while he was still in Troy, and now the gods consummated the marriage; and he sent them with chariots and horses to the city of Myrmidons, over which Achilles son reigned. For his only son he had found a bride from Sparta, daughter of Alector. This son, Megapenthes, was born to him by a slave, for Heaven bore no more children to Helen after she gave birth to Hermione, herself as beautiful as golden Venus.

And Menelaus' neighbors and relatives celebrated and rejoiced in his house. There was also a bard who sang to them and played his lyre while two acrobats danced in their midst as the man began to play his tune.]

The son of Telemachus and Nestor stopped his horses at the gate from which Etheoneus, the servant of Menelaus, came out, and as soon as he saw them he ran back to the house to tell his master. He approached him and said: "Menelaus, here come some strangers, two men who look like children of Jupiter. What do we do? Do we take away their horses or do we tell them to find friends elsewhere as best they can?

Menelaus was very angry and said: "Atheoneus son of Boetus, you were never a fool, but now you talk like a fool. Of course, take your horses and show them to strangers so they can dine; She and I slept in other people's homes many times before returning here, where heaven wants us to rest in peace from now on.

So Eteoneus ran back and asked other servants to follow him. Pulling their sweaty hands from under the yoke, they tied them to the cribs and fed them a mixture of oats and barley. Then they pulled the wagon to the back wall of the yard and entered the house. Telemachus and Pisistratus were amazed to see it, for its splendor was like that of the sun and moon; then, having admired everything to their satisfaction, they went into the bathroom and washed.

After washing them and anointing them with oil, the servants brought them woolen robes and shirts, and the two sat down beside Menelaus. A maid brought them water in a beautiful golden pitcher, and poured it into a silver basin for them to wash their hands; and she put a clean table next to her. An elderly servant brought them bread and offered them many good things from the house, while the carver brought them plates of all kinds of meat and placed golden bowls beside them.

Menelaus then greeted them with the words: “Come down and be welcome; When you have eaten I will ask you who you are, for the lineage of men like you cannot be lost. They must be descended from a line of scepter kings, because poor people don't have children like you.

Then he gave them a lump of fried fat, most of which had been laid beside him, and they took the good things before them; As soon as they had enough to eat and drink, Telemachus said to Nestor's son, his head so close that no one could hear: "Behold, Pisistratus, a man after my own heart, behold the splendor of bronze and the gold of amber, ivory and silver. Everything is so magnificent, as if I were seeing the palace of Olympian Jupiter. I am amazed.

Menelaus heard him and said: “No one, my children, can be on the level of Jupiter, for your house and everything around it is immortal; but among mortal men there may be another as rich as I, or not; but despite this I have traveled extensively and experienced many hardships, for it was almost eight years before I was able to return home with my fleet. I went to Cyprus, Phoenicia and the Egyptians; I also went to the Ethiopians, the Sidonians, and Erembies, and to Libya, where lambs have horns from birth and ewes give birth three times a year. Everyone in this country, boss or man, has plenty of cheese, meat and good milk because the sheep give it all year round. But while I was traveling and accumulating great wealth among these people, my brother was secretly and cruelly murdered by his wicked wife's betrayal, so I take no pleasure in being the lord of all these riches. Whoever your parents are, they must have told you about all this and about my great loss in the ruins of an entire stately mansion, sumptuously furnished. I wish I had only a third of what I have now to stay home with and all those who perished on the plain of Troy far from Argos were alive. Sitting here at home, I suffer for each and every one of them. Sometimes I cry out of pain, but then I stop because crying is a cold comfort and one gets tired easily. But as much as I grieve for her, I grieve for one man more than all. I can't even think of him without abhorring food and sleep, he makes me so unhappy, for none of the Achaeans worked as hard or risked as much as he did. He didn't take anything for himself and he left me a painful legacy because he's long gone and we don't know if he's alive or dead. His elderly father, his stricken wife Penelope and their son Telemachus, whom he left in his arms as a child, mourn for him.

Thus spoke Menelaus, and Telemachus' heart sank at the thought of his father. Tears ran from her eyes when she heard that, so she covered her face with both hands of the cloak. Seeing this, Menelaus hesitated to let him choose his own moment to speak or to ask him straight away and find out what the point was.

While he hesitated, Helen descended from her high, perfumed, vaulted room looking as beautiful as Diana herself. Adraste brought him a seat, Alcippe a soft woolen rug, while Phylo brought him the silver box given to him by Alcandra, the wife by Polybus. Polybus lived in Thebes, Egypt, the richest city in the world; he gave Menelaus two baths, both of pure silver, two tripods, and ten talents of gold; In addition to all this, his wife gave Helen some beautiful gifts, namely a gold distaff and a forged silver box on wheels with a gold band around the top. This Phylo laid by her side, full of fine thread, and on it she laid a distaff laden with violet wool. So Helen sat down, put her feet up on the stool and began questioning her husband.

"Do we, Menelaus," she said, "know the names of these strangers who came to visit us? Should I guess right or wrong? But I can't help but say what I think. I have never seen a man or woman so like (in fact, I hardly know what to think when I look at him) as this young man is like Telemachus whom Odysseus left as a baby when their Achaeans went to Troy. with battle in their hearts because of my more shameless nature.”

“My dear wife,” replied Menelaus, “I see the parable as you do. His hands and feet are like Odysseus's; that's her hair, with the shape of her head and the expression of her eyes. Also, when I spoke about Odysseus and told him how much he had suffered because of me, tears flowed from his eyes and he hid his face in his cloak.

Then Peisistratus said: "Menelaus son of Atreus, you are right in thinking that this young man is Telemachus, but he is too humble and ashamed to come here and converse with one whose conversation is so divine." is interesting like yours. have. My father, Néstor, sent me to accompany you here because he wanted to know if you could give him any advice or suggestions. A son always has problems at home when his father leaves him without support; and thus Telemachus is now put, because his father is absent and there is none of his own people by his side.

"Blessed be my heart," replied Menelaus, "then I shall have a visit from the son of a very dear friend who has suffered much suffering because of me. I have always expected to honor you with the highest distinction when Heaven grants us safe return from overseas. I should have founded a city for him in Argos and built him a house. I should have left him with his estates, his son, and all his people, Ithaca, and plundered them from one of the neighboring cities that are subject to me. We should therefore have seen each other constantly, and nothing but death could have broken such a close and happy relationship. However, I suppose Heaven spared us such a fate as it prevented the poor man from returning home.

So he spoke, and his words made everyone cry. Helena wept, Telemachus wept, and Menelaus wept, and Peisistratus could not help weeping at the memory of his dear brother Antilochus, whom the son of radiant Aurora had slain. Then he said to Menelaus: “Lord, my father Nestor, when we were talking about you at home, he told me that you were a man of rare and excellent understanding. So if it's possible, do as I ask. I don't like to cry at dinner. The morning will come in due time, and in the morning I don't care how much I weep for the dead and the past. That's all we can do for the poor. We can only shave our heads for them and wipe the tears from our cheeks. I had a brother who died in Troy; he was by no means the worst man there; you surely know him, his name was Antilochus; I've never seen him in person, but rumor has it he was uniquely light and brave in battle.

"Your discretion, my friend," replied Menelaus, "exceeds your years. You obviously resemble your father. It soon becomes evident when a man is the son of one whom heaven has blessed both wife and son, and Nestor has blessed from the beginning the end of all your days, giving you a green old age in your own house, with children about you around, which we willingly and courageously pour into our hands Telemachus and I can talk much in the morning.

Upon this Asphalion, one of the servants poured water on his hands, and they laid their hands on the good things that were before them.

Then Helena, the daughter of Jupiter, remembered her in another matter. She has drugged the wine with an herb that banishes all sorrow, sadness and bad mood. Whoever drinks wine so drugged cannot shed a single tear for the rest of the day, even if his father and mother drop dead or see a brother or son torn to pieces before his eyes. This drug of such sovereign power and virtue had been given to Helena Polydamna, the wife of Thon, a woman from Egypt, where all kinds of herbs grow, some good for mixing and some poisonous. Additionally, everyone across the country is a qualified doctor because they are Paeeon's breed. As Helen put the drug in the bowl and ordered the servants to pour the wine, she said:

“Menelaus, son of Atreus, and you, my good friends, sons of honest men (that is what Jupiter wills, for he is the giver of good and evil and can do as you please), feast here as you will. , and listen as I tell a story back then: I can't list all the exploits of Odysseus, but I can tell you what he did when he was at Troy and you Achaeans had all sorts of problems. He covered himself with wounds and bruises, dressed in rags, and entered the enemy city like a servant or a beggar, and quite differently from what he did when he was among his own people. With this disguise he entered the city of Troy, and no one said something to him, only I recognized him and began to question him, but he was too clever for me, but when I had washed and anointed him and given him clothes and made a solemn oath not to hand him over to the Trojans, until he returned safe and sound to his own camp and ships, he related to me all that the Achaeans were planning. He killed many Trojans and gained much information before reaching the Argive camp that the Trojan women mourned, but I was happy for my part, for my heart began to groan for my house and I was saddened by Venus's evil for me . He did this by taking me there, far from my homeland, my girl and my lawful husband, who in truth is neither lacking in person nor lacking in understanding.

Then Menelaus said, "Everything you said, my dear wife, is true. I've traveled a lot and dealt with heroes a lot, but I've never seen another man like Ulysses. What perseverance and what courage did he show in the wooden horse on which the bravest Argives waited to bring death and ruin to the Trojans! At that moment you approached us; Some god who wanted the Trojans' welfare must have put you in it, and you had Deiphobus with you. Three times you came around our hiding place and stroked it; You called our leaders by name and you imitated all our women Diomedes, Odysseus and I heard the noise you made from our seats inside. Diomedes and I didn't know whether to jump straight there or answer from within, but Odysseus stopped us all, so we were all very quiet, all except Anticlos, who started to answer as Odysseus covered his mouth with both muscular hands and grabbed his hands. . That saved us all because it silenced Anticlus until Minerva brought him back.

"How sad," cried Telemachus, "that all this saved neither him nor his own iron courage. But now, sir, please send us all to bed so that we may lie down and enjoy the blessed boon of sleep.

With that, Helen instructed the maids to put the beds in the room by the front door and to put good red rugs on them and blankets with layers of wool on them for the guests. Then the girls went out with a torch and made the beds, to which a servant led the strangers. So Telemachus and Pisistratus slept there in the courtyard, while the son of Atreus lay in an inner room with the beautiful Helen at his side.

When the girl of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, Menelaus got up and dressed. He buckled his sandals onto his beautiful feet, slung his sword over his shoulders and left his room looking like an immortal god. Then he sat down beside Telemachus and said:

"And what, Telemachus, made you take that long sea voyage to Lacedaemon? Are you in a public or private company? Tell me about it."

I have come, replied Mr. Telemachus, to see if you can tell me anything about my father. I'm eaten away from home and away from home; my fine property is laid waste, and my house is full of scoundrels who continue to slaughter large numbers of my sheep and oxen under the pretense of paying my mother for her instructions. So I beg you on your knees if you can tell me about my father's sad end, if you have seen it with your own eyes or heard it from another traveller; because he was a man born for trouble. Don't sugarcoat things out of self-pity, but tell me openly and honestly what you saw. If my brave father Odysseus ever faithfully served you in word and deed when you Achaeans were besieged by Trojans, now remember him as my favor and tell me everything truthfully.

When Menelaus heard this, he was very shocked. "Then," he exclaimed, "would these cowards usurp a brave man's bed? A deer may well lay her newborn cubs in a lion's den, and then go into the woods or into a grassy hollow to feed: the lion, when it returns to its den, will do both quickly. and also Odysseus with these suitors. Of Father Jupiter, Minerva and Apollo if Odysseus is still the man he was when he fought Philomeleides on Lesbos and struck him down so hard that all the Achaeans applauded him if he were still the man and honored these suitors approached, they would have had a brief union and a miserable marriage. Regarding your questions, however, I will not lie or deceive, but will openly say whatever the Sea-Ancient has told me.

"I tried to come here, but the gods stopped me in Egypt because my hecatombs didn't give them full satisfaction, and the gods are very strict about what's due them. Now, off Egypt, as far as a ship can sail in a day with a good strong breeze at its back, there is an island called Pharos, which has a good harbor from which ships can go out to the open sea after taking on water the gods soothed me for twenty days without a breath of favorable winds carrying me on. We should be without provisions, and my men would starve, had not some goddess taken pity on me and saved me in the person of Idothea, daughter of Proteus, the old man of the sea, who had a great as .

“She came to me one day when I was alone, as I used to be, for men used to go all over the island with their barbs, hoping to catch a fish or two to save them from starvation . . "Strange," she said, "it seems to me that you like to be starved like that, anyway it doesn't bother you too much how you lie here day after day and don't even try to escape, even though your men are dying degrees. .'

"Let me tell you," I said, "whatever goddess you may be, I did not stay here willingly, but I must have offended the gods who live in heaven. So tell me the gods know everything. Which of the immortals prevents me on this way and also tells me how to sail across the sea to reach my homeland?

"'Strange,' she replied, 'I'll make it very clear to you. There is an ancient immortal living under the sea here whose name is Proteus. He is Egyptian and people say he is my father; He is the leader of Neptune and knows every inch of land on the entire seabed. If you manage to pick him up and hold him, he will tell you about his journey, which directions to take and how to navigate the sea to reach your home. If you want, he will also tell you everything that happened in your house, good and bad, while you were on your long and dangerous journey.

'Can you show me,' I said, 'a trick I can use to get this old god without him knowing or finding out? For a god is not easy for a mortal to catch.

"'Strange,' she said, 'I'll make it very clear to you. About the time the sun has reached mid-heaven, the old man of the sea emerges from beneath the waves, heralded by the west wind covering the water above his head. As soon as he mounts he lies down and sleeps in a large sea-cave, where also the seals, Halosydne chickens as they are called, come up out of the gray sea and lie in swarms about him; and they carry with them a very strong fishy smell. I'll bring you here in the morning and mug you. Then choose the top three men you have in your fleet and I will tell you all the pranks the old man will play on you.

“First he will look at all your seals and count them; then when he has seen them and counted them on five fingers, he will sleep among them like a shepherd among his sheep. As soon as you see him sleeping, grab him; Use all your strength and hold onto him because he will do anything to get away from you. He will become every kind of creature that walks the earth, and he will also become fire and water; but you must hold him and hold him tighter and tighter until he starts talking to you and goes back to what he was when you saw him sleeping; then you can loosen your grip and let go; and you can ask him which of the gods is angry with you and what you must do to reach your home in the seas.

Saying this, he dove beneath the waves, whereupon I turned to where my ships were lined up on the shore; and my heart was filled with sorrow when it happened. When I got to my boat we cooked dinner as night fell and we camped on the beach.

“When the daughter of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, I took the three men whose abilities I could trust and walked along the beach and prayed earnestly to heaven. Meanwhile, the goddess has fetched four seal skins from the bottom of the sea for me, all freshly skinned, because she wanted to prank her father. Then he dug four holes for us to lie in and sat down to wait for us to climb up. When we were near her, she had us laid in the pits one by one, and threw a seal skin over each of us. Our ambush would have been unbearable as the stench from the seals was so frightening. Who would sleep with a sea monster if you could help it? But here too the goddess helped us, and she thought of something that brought us great relief, for she placed under each man's nostrils a little ambrosia, so fragrant it killed the smell of seals.

“We waited all morning and made the best of it, watching the seals come up by the hundreds to warm themselves by the sea, until midday the old man also emerged from the sea and, finding his fat seals, disappeared. about them and told them. We were among the first to count and he never suspected a mistake, but he fell asleep as soon as he finished counting. Then we run to him with a cry and catch him; whereupon he immediately started his old tricks and was first turned into a lion with a big mane; then he suddenly turned into a dragon, a leopard, a boar; the next moment it was running water, and then it was a tree again, but we kept close and never lost it, until at last the cunning creature was disturbed and said: Which of the gods was it? son of Atreus? , who conspired with you to arm me and take against my will? What do you want?'

"You know that yourself, dude," I replied, "you gain nothing by trying to convince me otherwise. That's because I've been trapped on this island for so long and I see no sign of escaping. I lose all courage; So tell me you gods know everything, which of the immortals is it that will stop me, and also tell me how to sail across the sea to reach my homeland?

"Then," he said, "if you wish to complete your voyage and return home soon, you must sacrifice to Jupiter and the other gods before embarking; for it is certain that you shall not return to your friends or to your own house until you have returned to the heaven-fed river of Egypt and sacrificed holy hecatombs to the immortal gods who rule in heaven. When you have done that, they let you finish your journey.

“It broke my heart to learn that during this long and dreadful journey I had to return to Egypt; but I answered: I will do whatever you have enjoined me, old man; but now tell me, and tell me the truth, whether all the Achaeans, Nestor and I, went when we left Troy, and whether any of them met a bad end aboard his own ship, or among their friends. days of your struggle.'

"'Son of Atreus,' he answered, 'why do you ask me? You better not know what I can tell you, for your eyes will surely fill when you hear my story the leading men among the Achaeans died returning home. What happened on the battlefield was you yourself. A third Achaean -Fuhrer is still at sea, alive, but he cannot Ajax was shipwrecked because Neptune drove him to the great rock of Gyrae, but he let him out of the water safely, and for all the hatred of Minerva, he would have escaped death if he would not have been spared. Said the gods couldn't drown him even if they tried In conversation, he grabbed his trident with his two muscular hands and split the rock of Gyrae in two, the pedestal remaining where it was, but the part on which Ajax sat, fell headlong into the sea and took Ajax with him, then he drank salt water and drowned.

"'His brother and his ships escaped, for Juno protected him, but as he was about to reach the high headland of Malea, he was overtaken by a violent storm, which carried him against his will back into the sea, and he was killed driven back . to the promontory where Thyestes dwelt, but where Aegisthus then dwelt. Gradually, however, it seemed as if he would finally return safely, for the gods drove the wind back to their old neighborhood and they returned home; where Agamemnon kissed his homeland and shed tears of joy when he found himself in his own land.

"There was now a guard whom Aegisthus kept watchful, and to whom he had promised two talents of gold. This man had watched for a whole year to make sure Agamemnon would not abandon him and prepare for war; Now, when this man saw Agamemnon passing by, he went to Aegisthus, who immediately began to plan a conspiracy for him. He chose twenty of his bravest warriors and ambushed them on one side of the cloister while preparing a feast on the other. So he sent his chariots and horsemen to Agamemnon and invited him to the feast, but he pretended to play dirty. He took him there, unaware of the fate that awaited him, and when the festival was over he killed him as if he were sacrificing an ox for slaughter; None of Agamemnon's followers was left alive, nor was any of Aegisthos, but they were all killed in the monasteries there.

"Thus spoke Proteus, and my heart broke when I heard it. I sat down on the sand and cried; I felt like I couldn't bear to live or look at sunlight anymore. Then, when I was tired of crying and writhing on the ground, the old man of the sea said: “Son of Atreus, waste no more time weeping so bitterly; it can do no good; Find your way home as soon as possible, because Aegisthus is still alive, and although Orestes previously helped you kill him, you can still go to his funeral.

"With that, despite all my grief, I consoled myself and said, 'So I know about these two; So tell me about the third man you spoke of; Still alive but at sea and can't make it home? or is he dead? Tell me no matter how sorry I am.

"'The third man,' he replied, 'is Odysseus, who lives in Ithaca. I see him on an island in dire need in the house of the nymph Calypso, who holds him captive and cannot reach his house because she has neither ships nor sailors to carry him across the sea. As for your own end, Menelaus, you will not die in Argos, but the gods will take you to the plain of Elysium, which is at the end of the world. There the beautiful Rhadamanthus reigns, and people live lighter than in any other place in the world, for in Elysium there is neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, but Oceanus always breathes with a west wind, softly singing from the sea, and gives new life. to all men. This will happen to you because you married Helen and are Jupiter's son-in-law.

"As he spoke he dove into the waves and I turned to the boats with my companions, my heart heavy with worry as I left. Arriving at the boats, we prepared dinner as it was already getting dark and camped on the beach. When the daughter of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, we put our ships into the water and hoisted our masts and sails; then we got in, sat down on the benches and paddled across the gray sea with our oars. Again I parked my ships in Egypt's heaven-fed stream, offering hecatombs that were full and sufficient. Having appeased the wrath of heaven, I erected a mound to commemorate Agamemnon, that his name might live forever, and thereafter I would have a speedy journey home, for the gods sent me a favorable wind.

"And now you stay here for another ten or twelve days, and then I'll get you on your way. As a noble gift, I'll give you a carriage and three horses. I will also give you a beautiful chalice so that as long as you live you will think of me whenever you offer a libation to the immortal gods.

"Son of Atreus," replied Telemachus, "don't urge me to stay; I would be happy to stay with you for another twelve months; I find their conversation so enjoyable that I never want to be at home with my parents; but my crew I left behind on Pylos is already impatient, and you keep me away from them. As for any gift you wish to give me, I would prefer it to be a plate. I will not take horses to Ithaca, but let them decorate your own stables, for you have much flat ground in your kingdom where the lotus thrives, as well as fennel, wheat, and barley, and oats with their white spikes and open . . ; while in Ithaca we have no open fields or racecourses, and the land is better suited to goats than to horses, and I like that better. None of our islands have much flat terrain suitable for horses, let alone Ithaca.

Menelaus smiled and took Telemachus' hand. "What you say," he said, "shows that you come from a good family. I can and will make this exchange for you and give you the finest and most valuable piece of silver in my entire home. It is a vessel made by Vulcan's own hand, of pure silver except for the rim, which is inlaid with gold. Fedimo, King of the Sidonians, gave it to me on a visit I made to him returning there on my journey home. i will give it to you

So they talked [and the guests continued to arrive at the king's house. They brought sheep and wine while their wives prepared bread for them to take away; so they were busy cooking their supper in the courtyards].

Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discus or aiming javelins at a target on the flat ground in front of Odysseus' house, and behaving with all their old impertinence. Antinous and Eurymachus, their leaders and the first among them all, were sitting together when Noemon son of Fronius approached and said to Antinous:

Do we, Antinous, know on what day Telemachus returns from Pylos? He has a ship of mine, and I want him to go over to Elis: I have twelve broodmares there with year-old mule foals beside her who have not yet been ridden, and one of them I want to bring here and ride. ”

They were surprised to hear this, as they were sure that Telemachus had not gone to the city of Neleus. They thought he was just somewhere on the farms and with sheep or pig farmers; then Antinous said: "When did he go away? Tell me honestly, and what young men did he take? Were they free men or his own slaves because he could handle that too? Also tell me, did you give him the ship voluntarily because he asked for it, or did he take it without your permission?

"I lent it to him," replied Noemon, "what else should I do if a man in his position said he was in trouble and asked me to help him?" I couldn't refuse. Those who went with him were the finest young men we have, and I saw Mentor come on board as a captain, or a god just like him. I can't understand it, because I saw Mentor here yesterday morning, and yet he was on his way to Pylos.

Noemon then returned to his father's house, but Antinous and Eurymachus were very angry. They told the others to stop playing and sit with them. When they arrived, Antinous son of Eupeithes spoke angrily. Her heart was black with anger and her eyes blazed with fire as she said:

“My God, this journey of Telemachus is a very serious matter; we had assured ourselves that nothing would come of it, but the young man escaped in spite of us and also with a chosen crew. He's going to give us trouble now; May Jupiter take him before he grows up. So find me a ship with a crew of twenty men, and I will wait for you in the straits between Ithaca and Samos; then he will rue the day he went out to get news of his father.

So he spoke, and the others applauded his words; then they all entered the buildings.

It didn't take long for Penelope to find out what the suitors were up to; for a servant, Medon, heard them conspiring outside the court outside, and went to tell his mistress. As she crossed the threshold of her room, Penelope said: "Medon, why did the suitors send you here? Is it to tell the maids to leave their master's shop and prepare supper for them? I hope they don't court or eat here and elsewhere, but let it be for the last time because of the waste they all make of my son's possessions. Didn't your parents tell you when you were kids how good Ulysses was to them, never doing anything despotic, never being harsh to anyone? Kings can say things sometimes, and they can fall in love with one man and not another, but Ulysses has never done anything unfair to show you have a bad heart and there is no gratitude in this world. ”

Then Medon said: “I would like, madam, that is all; but they are planning something far more terrible now, heaven forbid their plans. They will attempt to assassinate Telemachus when he returns from Pylos and Lacedaemon where he was for news of his father.

Then Penelope's heart sank in her, and for a long time she was speechless; her eyes filled with tears and she couldn't find the words. Eventually, however, he said, "Why did my son leave me? What was it to him to board ships that, like seahorses, make long voyages across the ocean? Does he want to die and leave no one to keep his name?

"I don't know," Medon replied, "if some god sent him there, or if he followed his own impulse to find out if his father was alive or dead and on his way home.

Then he went downstairs, leaving Penelope in excruciating pain. There were many places in the house besides her. he didn't have the heart to sit on one of them; she could only throw herself on the floor of her own room and weep; then all the servants of the house, young and old, gathered around her and also began to cry until finally, in a fit of pain, she cried out:

“Dear ones, Heaven has had the pleasure of trying me more than any other woman of my age and country. First I lost my brave and lion-hearted husband, who had all the good qualities under heaven and whose name was great over all Hellas and half-Argos, and now my beloved son is at the mercy of the winds and waves without my hearing anything. a word to say goodbye to home. You shameless bastards, none of you would think of calling me out of my bed when you all know exactly when it's going to start. If I had known he wanted to make this journey, I would have had to give up, try as I might, or leave a corpse, one way or the other. But now some of you will name old Dolius, whom my father gave me to wife and who is my gardener. Ask him to go immediately and tell anything to Laertes, who can devise a plan to win public sympathy on our side against those who are trying to exterminate his own race and Odysseus's.

Then dear old Nurse Eurykleia said: 'You can kill me, ma'am, or let me live in your house, whatever you like, but I will tell you the truth. I knew everything, and I gave him all he wanted in bread and wine, but he solemnly made me swear not to tell you for ten or twelve days unless you asked me or found out. left because I didn't want you to spoil your beauty by crying. And now, lady, wash your face, change your clothes, and go up with your maidens to pray to Minerva, daughter of Jupiter, who bears the Aegis, for she can save him even if he is in the clutches of the is death. Don't bother Laertes: he's in enough trouble as it is. Also, I can't imagine that the gods would hate the race of Arcisius' son that much, but there will be a son who will come after him and inherit both the house and the beautiful fields that surround it. .”

With these words he stopped his beloved from crying and wiped the tears from her eyes. Penelope washed her face, changed her dress and went upstairs with the maids. Then she put some ground barley in a basket and began to pray to Minerva.

"Listen to me," he cried, "daughter of Jupiter, wielding the Aegis, tirelessly. If ever Odysseus burned the fat thighs of ewes or heifers for you while he was here, consider it an advantage now, and save my dear son from the villainy of suitors.

He cried aloud as he spoke, and the goddess heard his prayer; Meanwhile the suitors roared through the covered cloister, and one of them said:

"The Queen is preparing for her marriage to one or the other of us. She has no idea that her son has been sentenced to death."

They said so, but they didn't know what would happen. Then Antinous said: "Comrades, don't speak aloud so as not to take anything into it. Let's stand up and do this quietly, which we all agree on."

So he chose twenty men and they came down to him. boat and sea; they put the boat in the water and put in the mast and the sails; They tied the oars to the spikes with twisted leather thongs, all in time, and unfurled the white sails in the air while their good servants brought them their armor. Then they moored the ship a little further, returned to shore, had supper and waited until nightfall.

But Penelope lay upstairs in her own bedroom, unable to eat or drink, wondering if her brave son would escape or be defeated by the evil suitors. Like a lioness caught in nets and surrounded on all sides by hunters, she thought and thought until she sank into a dream and lay in her bed without thought or movement.

Then Minerva thought of something else and saw a vision in the form of Penelope's sister Iphthime, daughter of Icarius, who had married Eumelus and was living in Pherae. He told the vision to go to Odysseus' house and make Penelope stop crying, so she entered his room through the hole where the strap was used to pull the door and hovered over his head and said:

“You sleep, Penelope: the gods who live in peace will not let you cry and be so sad. Your son didn't do anything to them, so he'll still come back to you."

Penelope, sweetly sleeping at the gates of the land of dreams, replied: “Sister, why did you come here? You don't come here often, but I think that's because you live so far away. Should I then stop crying and all the sad thoughts that are tormenting me? I who have lost my brave and lion-hearted husband, who had every good quality under heaven, and whose name was great over all Hellas and half Argos; and now my dear son has climbed on board a ship like a fool never accustomed to rudeness, nor to running about among crowds. I worry about him even more than my husband; I shudder when I think of him, afraid that something might happen to him, either from the people he was visiting or from the sea, for he has many enemies who are conspiring against him and out to destroy him to kill. before I can go home.

Then the vision said, “Take courage and don't be discouraged. Gone is someone many men would like to have by their side, I mean Minerva; She is the one who feels sorry for you and sent me to bring you this message.

"Now," said Penelope, "if you are a god or sent here by divine command, tell me about this other miserable one too, is he still alive or is he already dead and in the house of Hades?"

And the vision said, "I won't tell you for sure if he's alive or dead, and small talk is useless."

Then it disappeared through the hole in the door handle and vanished into thin air; but Penelope awoke from her sleep refreshed and comforted, so vivid was her dream.

Meanwhile, the suitors climbed aboard and sailed across the sea to assassinate Telemachus. Now in the middle of the channel between Ithaca and Samos there is a rocky island called Asteris, which is not very big, and on both sides there is a port where a ship can nest. So here the Achaeans laid an ambush.

Book V

AND NOW, as Dawn rose from her bed beside Tithonus, herald of light to mortal and immortal alike, the gods have gathered in council, and with them Jupiter, the Lord of Thunder, who is their king. Then Minerva began to tell them about the many sufferings of Odysseus because she had pitied him there in the house of the nymph Calypso.

"Father Jupiter," she said, "and all the other gods who dwell in eternal bliss, I hope that there will never again be a kind and willing ruler, nor one who rules justly. I hope that in the future they will all be cruel and unjust, because there is not a single one of their subjects who has not forgotten Odysseus, who ruled them as if he were their father. There he lies in great pain on an island where the nymph Calypso lives, who will not let him go; and he cannot return to his own country, because he finds no ships or sailors to carry him across the sea. Also, the evil people are now trying to murder his only son Telemachus, who is returning home where he was from Pylos and Lacedaemon to see if he can get news about his father.

"What are you talking about, darling?" replied the father, you yourself did not send him there because you thought he would help Odysseus return home and punish the suitors? Also, you are perfectly capable of protecting Telemachus and bringing him back home safely while the suitors have to run back without killing him.

Having said this, he said to his son Mercury: “Mercury, you are our messenger, go and tell Calypso that we have decided that poor Odysseus must return home. He must be guided neither by gods nor by men, but after a perilous journey of twenty days on a raft must reach fertile Esqueria, the land of the Phaeacians, who are close relatives of the gods, and they will honor him as if there is one out there would be from us. They will send him on a ship to his own country and give him more bronze, gold and clothing than he would have brought from Troy if he had had all the prize money and returned home without disaster. So we arrange for him to return to his country and friends.”

Thus spoke he, and Mercury, guide and guardian, slayer of Argus, did as he was told. He immediately put on his gleaming golden sandals, which enabled him to fly like the wind over land and sea. He took the magic wand, with which he seals the eyes of men in their sleep, or awakens them at will, and, holding it in his hand, flew over Pieria; then it plunged through the sky until it reached the level of the sea, over whose waves it flew like a cormorant fishing with a fly all the holes and nooks of the ocean, dipping its thick plumage in the foam. He flew and flew over many weary waves, but when he finally reached the island that was the end of his journey, he left the sea and proceeded overland until he reached the cave where the nymph Calypso lived.

He found her at home. A large fire was burning in the hearth, and the fragrant smell of burning cedar and sandalwood could be smelled from afar. As for her, she was busy at her loom, throwing her golden shuttle over the warp, and singing beautifully. Around his cave was a dense forest of alders, poplars, and fragrant cypresses, where all sorts of large birds built their nests, owls, hawks, and cackling cormorants going about their business on the water. A vine laden with grapes formed and grew luxuriantly around the entrance to the cave; There were also four streams of water in canals cut together, turning here and there to water the violet beds and the lush grass over which they flowed. Even a god couldn't help but be enchanted by such an enchanting place, so Mercury stopped and looked at him; but when he had sufficiently admired it, he entered the cave.

Calypso recognized him immediately because all gods know each other no matter how far apart they live, but Odysseus was not inside; She was on the seashore as usual, looking at the barren sea with tears in her eyes, crying and breaking her heart with pain. Calypso seated Mercury and said, "Why have you come to see me, dear and always welcome Mercury, since you do not often visit him? Say what you want; I will do it for you immediately if I can and if it is feasible; but come in and let me serve you refreshment.

As he spoke he brought a table full of ambrosia to his side and mixed in some red nectar, whereupon Mercury ate and drank his fill and then said:

“We talk to each other about god and goddess and you ask me why I came here and I will tell you the truth as you want. Jupiter sent me; it was not my work; Who wants to come here by sea when there aren't cities full of people offering me choice sacrifices or hecatombs? I had to come, however, because none of the other gods can oppose Jupiter or disobey his commands. He says you have here the unluckiest of all who fought nine years before King Priam's city and returned home the tenth year after the sack. On the way home they sinned against Minerva, who turned up winds and waves against them so that all his brave companions perished and he was carried hither by wind and tide alone. Jupiter says you must let this man go immediately, for it is certain that he will not die here, far from his own people, but will return to his homeland and country and see his friends again.

Calypso trembled with anger at hearing this, "Gods," she exclaimed to be ashamed. You are always jealous and hateful when you see a goddess fall in love with a mortal man and live in open marriage with him. When pink-fingered Dawn made love to Orion, you precious gods were angry until Diana went and killed him in Ortygia. When Ceres fell in love with Iasion and surrendered to him in a desert plowed three times, Jupiter found out in a short time and killed Iasion with his lightning. And now you're mad at me too, because I have a man here. I found the poor creature sitting alone on a keel, for Jupiter struck his ship with a thunderbolt and sank her in mid-ocean, drowning all the crew, while he himself was carried to my island by the wind and waves. I loved him and loved him and had decided to make him immortal so that in all his days he would never grow old; I cannot yet anger Jupiter, nor interrupt his counsel; So if you insist, let man walk the seas again. but I myself cannot send it anywhere, for I have neither ships nor men who can carry it. However, I will be happy to give you such advice in good faith, which will probably lead you safely to your own country.

"Then fire him," said Mercury, "or Jupiter will be angry with you and punish you."

With that he took his leave and Calypso set out to find Odysseus, for he had heard Jupiter's message. He found him sitting on the beach, eyes always full of tears and dying of longing; because he had grown weary of Calypso, and although he was forced to sleep with her in the cave at night, it was she, not he, who wanted it that way. As for the time of day, he spent it on the rocks and by the sea, weeping, screaming in despair, and always looking out to sea. Calypso then approached him and said:

"My poor friend, you will not stay here and torture your life any longer. I'll fire you on my own So cut some wooden beams and build a big raft with an upper deck so you can take it safely across the sea. I'll bring bread, wine and water on board so you don't starve. I will also give you clothes and send a favorable wind to carry you home, if the gods of heaven wish it, or if they know more about these things and can fix them better than I can.

Ulises shuddered when he heard her. “Well, goddess,” he replied, “there is something behind all this; You can't want to help me get home by asking me to do something as horrible as get on a raft. Not even a well-founded ship with favorable winds could dare so long a voyage: nothing you say or do will bring me aboard a raft unless you first solemnly swear not to harm me.

Calypso smiled at this and patted her hand: "You know a lot," she said, "but you are very wrong here. Let heaven above and earth below be my witness, with the waters of the river Styx, and this is the most solemn oath that a blessed God can take, that I mean you no harm and only counsel you to do just that, what I have to do. put me in your place, I am dealing with you very directly; My heart is not made of iron and I feel sorry for you.

When she had said this, she walked quickly in front of him, and Odysseus followed her; So the couple, goddess and man, went on until they reached the cave of Calypso, where Odysseus took the place left by Mercury. Calypso has set before him food and drink of the food mortals eat; but her maidens brought her ambrosia and nectar, and laid hands on the good things that were before them. When they were satisfied with eating and drinking, Calypso spoke and said:

"Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, would you then return to your own country at once? Good luck to you, but if you only knew how much suffering awaits you before you return to your own country, you would stay where you are, stay at home with me and let me immortalize you, no. however anxious you are to see that woman of yours whom you think about all the time, day after day; yet I am flattered to think that I am not an iota less tall or more beautiful than she, for a mortal woman cannot be expected to match an immortal in beauty.

"Goddess," Ulysses replied, "don't be angry with me for that. I know very well that my wife, Penelope, is not tall or pretty like you. She is only a woman while you are an immortal. But I want to go home and can't think of anything else. If some god wrecks me at sea, I will bear it and do my best. I've had endless problems both on land and at sea so leave that aside with the rest.

Then the sun went down and it got dark, so the couple retreated to the inner part of the cave and lay down.

When the girl of the morning, the pink-fingered Aurora, appeared, Odysseus put on his shirt and cloak, while the goddess wore a dress of light chiffon, very fine and graceful, with a beautiful golden belt around her waist and a golden belt. veil to cover it. cover your head He immediately started thinking about how to speed Ulysse's path. So she gave him a big bronze ax to fit his hands; it was pointed on both sides and had a beautiful olive wood handle securely fastened. She also gave him a sharp adze and then led him to the other side of the island where grew the tallest trees, alders, poplars and pines, which reached the skies very dry and well tempered, easy for him to sail on the water. . When she showed him where the best trees grew, Calypso went home and left him to chop them down, which he soon finished. He felled a total of twenty trees and flattened them, usually squaring them with good skill. Meanwhile, Calypso came back with some drill bits, so he used them to drill holes and fasten and rivet the beams together. He made the raft as wide as a skilled carpenter makes the beam of a great ship, and he built a deck on the ribs and put a rail around it. He also made a pole out of a ruler and an oar to steer. He surrounded the raft with willow fences to protect himself from the waves and then threw in a lot of wood. After a while Calypso brought him a canvas to make the sails, and he made them admirably, fastening them with staples and canvas. Finally he launched the raft with the help of crowbars.

In four days he had all the work done and on the fifth Calypso sent him off the island after washing him and giving him clean clothes. She gave him a goatskin full of black wine and a larger one full of water; she also gave him a bag full of provisions, and he found plenty of good food for him. Moreover, she made the wind soft and warm for him, and Odysseus happily spread his sail before him as he sat down and dexterously steered the raft with the oar. He never closed his eyes, but kept them fixed on the Pleiades, on Bootes, which sets late, and on the bear, which men also call chariots, and going round and round where it is, facing Orion, and alone, always under water outside. Oceanus' chain on Calypso told him to hold it on his left. On the seventh and tenth he sailed across the sea, and on the eighteenth the blurred outlines of the mountains on the nearest part of the Phaeacian coast appeared and rose like a shield on the horizon.

But King Neptune, returning from the Ethiopians, saw Odysseus in the distance from the Solymi Mountains. He could see him sailing across the sea and that made him very angry, so he shook his head and muttered to himself, damn it, the gods changed their mind about Odysseus while I was in Ethiopia and now he's here. near the land of the Phaeacians, where it is destined that he should escape the calamities that befell him. Even so, he will have many difficulties before he is even finished.”

Then he gathered his clouds, took his trident, swung it into the sea, and fanned the fury of every wind that blows, until earth, sea, and sky were hidden in the clouds, and night rose from the sky. Winds from the east, south, north, and west all hit him at once, and a mighty sea rose, causing Odysseus' heart to fail. Ah, he said to himself in dismay, what will become of me? I think Calypso was right when she said she would have trouble at sea before she got home. everything comes true How black Jupiter makes the sky with its clouds, and what a sea the winds lift from all sides at once! Now I'm safe from death. Blessed and thrice blessed were the Danaans who fell for the sons of Atreus at Troy. If only I had been killed the day the Trojans pressed me so hard over Achilles' body, I would have had a decent burial and the Achaeans would have honored my name! but now it seems that I will have a very sad end.

As he spoke, a sea broke upon him with such terrible fury that the raft rocked again and he was carried far overboard. He let go of the rudder and the hurricane was so great that it broke the mast in two and the sail and spar fell into the sea. Odysseus was under water for a long time and could not do more than rise to the surface because of the burden of the clothes Calypso had given him; but at last he lifted his head out of the water and spat out the bitter brine, which ran in rivulets down his face. Despite all this, he did not lose sight of his raft, but swam towards it as fast as he could, grabbed it and climbed back on board to avoid drowning. The sea caught the raft and hurled it while the autumn wind turned the thistles on a road. It was as if the south, north, east, and west winds touched wheel and wheel at the same time.

When he was in this situation, he was seen by Ino, daughter of Cadmus, also called Leucotea. Once a mere mortal, she has since been elevated to the rank of sea goddess. Seeing the great distress in which Odysseus now found himself, he took pity on him and, rising like a seagull from the waves, sat on the raft.

"My poor man," she said, "why is Neptune so mad at you? He'll cause you a lot of trouble, but for all his bluster he won't kill you. You seem like a reasonable person, so do as I say; Take off your clothes, let your raft sail with the wind and swim to the Phoenician coast where good luck awaits. And take, take my veil and wrap it around your breast; It is enchanted and you cannot take any damage while using it. Once you reach the shore, pull it out, throw it into the sea as far as you can, and then come back. With these words she took off her veil and gave it to him. Then he dove again like a seagull and disappeared under the dark blue water.

But Ulises didn't know what to think. "Ah," he said to himself in dismay, "this is but one or the other of the gods that lures me to perdition and advises me to forsake my raft. In any case, I won't do that now, because the country where she said she would be without problems seemed a long way off. i know what i will do I'm sure it will be for the best whatever happens. I will cling to the raft as long as its beams hold, but if the sea breaks it I will swim toward it; I don't see how I could do better."

While he was so indecisive, Neptune sent a great terrible wave that seemed to rise over his head until it broke just above the raft, which then crumbled to pieces like a heap of dry straw whipped up in a hurricane. Odysseus mounted a board and rode it as if on a horse; then she stripped off the clothes Calypso had given her, tied Ino's veil under her arms, and dove into the sea to swim to shore. King Neptune watched him do this and shook his head, muttering to himself and saying, "Now swim up and down as best you can until you find rich people. I don't think you can say I let you go too easily. With this he whipped his horses and drove to Aegae where his palace is located.

But Minerva decided to help Odysseus, so she limited the paths of all the winds but one and made them cease; but there came a good strong breeze from the north, which was to calm the waters until Odysseus reached the land of the Phaeacians, where he would be safe.

There he floated two nights and two days, with a heavy swell in the sea and Death staring in his face; but when the third day came the wind died down and there was a dead stillness without a draft. Rising above the swell, he looked ahead anxiously and could see land not far away. Then, as children rejoice when their dear father gets well after suffering a painful affliction sent by an angry spirit but the gods save him from harm, Odysseus was grateful when he found the land and trees again saw and swam with them all. your powers. can walk on dry land again. However, once he was within earshot, he began to hear the waves crashing against the rocks, for the waves were still beating against them with a terrible roar. Everything was covered with dew; there were no harbors for a ship to enter, no shelter of any kind, only promontories, low cliffs, and mountain peaks.

Odysseus' heart began to falter and he said to himself in despair, "Oh, Jupiter has let me see land after I've swum so far I've lost all hope, but I can't find a place to land because the shore is rocky. . and pounded by the waves, the rocks are smooth and rise steeply out of the sea, with deep waters close by that I cannot get out for lack of support. I'm afraid that if I come out of the water, a big wave will catch my legs and throw me against the rocks, causing a sad landing. On the other hand, if I keep swimming in search of shore or sloping harbor, a hurricane may drive me back out to sea against my will, or the sky may send a great monster from below to attack me; for Amphitrite breeds many such, and I know that Neptune is very angry with me.

As he hesitated, a wave caught up with him and carried him so hard against the rocks that he would have been crushed and blown to pieces if Minerva hadn't shown him what to do. He grabbed the rock with both hands and, moaning in pain, clung to it until the wave receded, so this time he was saved; but soon the wave rose again and carried him out to sea with it, tearing at his hands as the suckers of a polyp break when you tear him from his bed, and the stones rise with him, and so do they Rock. the skin of his strong hands, and then the wave pulled him under the water.

Here poor Odysseus would surely have perished, despite his own fate, if Minerva had not helped him to maintain his judgment on him. He swam out to sea again, out of reach of the waves that lapped the land, and at the same time he looked to the shore to see if he could find a refuge or a tongue that would intercept the waves at an angle. Gradually, while swimming, he reached an estuary and thought that was the best place as there were no rocks and thus sheltered from the wind. He felt there was an undercurrent, so he prayed inwardly and said:

“Hear me, O king, whoever you are, and save me from the wrath of the sea god Neptune, for I come to you in prayer. He who is lost is always right over the gods, so in my fear I draw near to your stream and cling to your river knees. Have mercy on me, O king, for I declare myself a supplicant."

Then the god stopped his current and calmed the waves, calming everyone in front of him and taking him safely to the mouth of the river. Here at last Odysseus' strong knees and hands failed, for the sea had completely broken him. His body was swollen all over, and his mouth and nostrils ran like a river of seawater, so that he could neither breathe nor speak, and fainted from sheer exhaustion; then, catching her breath and coming to, she took off the shawl Ino had given her and threw it back into the salty current of the river, where Ino grabbed it from the wave that was carrying her there with her hands. . So he left the river, lay down in the reeds and kissed the generous earth.

"Oh!" he cried out in dismay, "what will become of me and how will this all end? If I stay here on the riverbed during the long night watches, I get so exhausted that the cold and damp can kill me because there is a strong wind blowing off the river at dawn. On the other hand, if I climb the slope, take shelter in the forest, and sleep in some thicket, I can escape the cold and have a good rest, but some wild animal can take advantage of me and devour me. ”

In the end he thought it best to go into the woods and found one on high ground not far from the water. There he slipped under two olive shoots sprouting from a single stem, one of the shoots ungrafted while the other had been grafted. No amount of wind could break through the cover they offered, nor could the sun's rays penetrate through them, nor could the rain penetrate through them, they were so close together. Odysseus slipped under it and began to make a bed to lie on, for there were many dead leaves strewn about, enough to cover two or three men even in the harsh winter. She was very happy to see this, so she lay down and piled the sheets around her. Then, as one who lives alone in the country, far from his neighbor, hides a brand like a seed of fire in the ashes, lest he look elsewhere for light, so Odysseus covered himself with leaves; and Minerva poured a sweet dream over his eyes, closing his lids and causing him to lose all memory of his sorrow.

Book VI

HERE Odysseus slept, overcome with sleep and work; but Minerva went into the land and city of the Phaeans, a people who dwelt in the beautiful city of Hypereia, near the wicked Cyclopes. Now the Cyclopes were stronger than them and they plundered them, so their king Nausithous removed them from there and settled them in Esqueria, far from all other peoples. He walled the city, built houses and temples, and divided the land among his people; but he was dead and gone to the house of Hades, and now reigned king Alcinous, whose counsels were inspired from heaven. So Minerva went to her house to encourage the return of Ulysses.

He walked straight into the beautifully decorated room where a beautiful girl slept like a goddess, Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous. Beside her slept two maids, both very pretty, one on each side of the door, which was closed with well-made double doors. Minerva took the form of the daughter of the famous sea captain Dymas, who was close friends and peers with Nausicaa; then, like a breath of wind, he approached the girl's bed, hovered over her head and said:

“Nausicaa, what would your mother have done to have such a lazy daughter? Here your clothes are all in disarray, but you will marry almost immediately, and you must not only dress well but also find good clothes for your servants. This is how you make a good name for yourself and make mom and dad proud of you. Suppose we do laundry day tomorrow and start at dawn. I will help you to prepare everything as quickly as possible, for all the best young men of your own people are courting you, and you will not remain as a servant for long. So ask your father to prepare a cart and mules for us at dawn, to bring us blankets, clothes and girdles; and you can also go horseback riding, which is much more pleasant than walking, as the toilets are some distance from town.

With these words, Minerva went to Mount Olympus, which is said to be the eternal home of the gods. There is no strong wind here, neither rain nor snow can fall; but abide in the everlasting sun and in a great peace of light where the blessed gods are enlightened forever and ever. From there the goddess came when giving instructions to the girl.

Gradually morning came and awoke Nausicaa, who began to wonder about her dream; so he went to the other side of the house to tell his father and mother and found them in his own room. His mother sat at the hearth spinning her purple thread with her maids about her, and he met his father as he went to attend a session of the city council called by the Phaeacian rulers. She interrupted him and said:

“Dear dad, can you give me a nice big car? I want to take all our dirty clothes to the river and wash them. You're the boss around here, so it's only fair that you wear a clean shirt when you go to board meetings. You also have five children at home, two of whom are married while the other three are beautifully single; You know, they always like it when they play to a clean sheet and I've been thinking about all of that.

She didn't say a word about her own marriage because she didn't like it, but her father knew and said, 'You get the mules, my dear, and whatever else you can think of. Go with you, and the men will give you a good strong chariot, with a body that will carry all your clothes.

With that he gave orders to the servants who brought the wagon, hitched and dressed the mules while the maid took the clothes from the linen closet and laid them on the wagon. His mother prepared him a basket with all sorts of goodies and a skin of wine; The girl got into the car and her mother also gave her a golden bowl of oil for them and their wives to anoint themselves. Then she took whip and bridle and tied up the mules, which they rode down the road, hooves clattering. They went tirelessly, carrying not only Nausicaa and her washed clothes, but also the maidservants who were with her.

When they reached the water's edge, they made their way to the wash cisterns, through which there always flowed enough pure water to wash even the most dirty laundry. Here they untied the mules and took them to feed on the sweet, succulent grass that grew near the water. They took the clothes from the wagon, put them in the water and competed to put them in the holes to get the dirt out. After washing her and leaving her perfectly clean, they spread her out by the sea where the waves had churned up a high pebble beach and began to wash and anoint themselves with oil. Then they had dinner by the stream and waited for the sun to finish drying their clothes. When they finished eating, they took off the veils covering their heads and started playing ball while Nausicaá sang to them. Just as Diana, the huntress, goes out into the mountains of Taygetus or Erymanthus to hunt boar or stags, and the nymphs of the forest, daughters of Jupiter, who bears the Aegis, play with her (so Leto is proud to see his daughter standing seen in front of her). all head higher than the others and outshine the fairest among a multitude of beauties), but the Virgin outshined her servants.

When it was time for them to go home and they folded their clothes and placed them on the chariot, Minerva began to think about how Odysseus would wake up and see the beautiful girl who would take him to the city of the Phaeacians. . The girl therefore threw a ball at one of the maids, who missed it and fell into the deep water. With that everyone screamed, and the noise they made woke Ulises, who sat down on his bed of leaves and began to wonder what it could all be.

"Oh!" he said to himself, "Among what kind of people did I find myself? Are they cruel, wild and uncivilized or hospitable and humane? I seem to hear the voices of young women, and they sound like those of the nymphs that haunt the mountain tops or the springs of rivers and the meadows of green grass. However, I belong to a race of men and women. Let me try if I can't see her.

Saying this, she climbed out from under the bush and broke off a branch covered with thick leaves to hide her nakedness. He was like a lion of the desert, joyous beyond his strength, defying wind and rain; His eyes light up when he looks out for oxen, sheep or deer, because he is hungry and dares to enter even a well-fenced yard and try to reach the sheep. This is how Odysseus appeared to the girls when he approached them completely naked because he was in great need. Seeing one so disheveled and so dirty with salt water, the others fled through the soles that went into the sea, but Alcínoo's daughter stood her ground because Minerva put courage in her heart and took away all fear. She stopped right in front of Odysseus, and he hesitated whether to go to her, throw himself at her feet and hug her knees like a supplicant, or stay where he was and beg her to give him some clothes and give him his to show the way to the city . . . . In the end, he figured it best to argue with her from a distance, should the girl take offense at him getting close enough to hug her knees, so he addressed her in sweet, persuasive language.

"O Queen," he said, "I beg your help, but tell me, are you a goddess or a mortal woman? If you are a goddess and dwell in heaven, I can only assume that you are Jupiter's daughter Diana, for your face and figure no longer resemble hers; On the other hand, if you are mortal and live on earth, your father and mother are thrice happy, as are your brothers and sisters; how proud and delighted they must be when they see an offspring as handsome as you go dancing; However, the happiest will be the one whose wedding gifts were the richest and who will welcome him into his own home. I have never seen anyone so beautiful, male or female, and I am filled with admiration when I look at you. I can only compare it to a young palm tree that I saw growing on Delos near the altar of Apollo, because I was there too, with many people behind me, as I was on this journey, which is the source of everything was. my problems Never has such a young plant grown out of the ground, and I admired and admired it as I admire and admire you now. I dare not hug your knees, but I am very distressed; Yesterday I did twenty days I spun in the sea. The winds and waves carried me from the island of Ogygia, and now fate has thrown me to this shore to endure more suffering; for I do not believe that I am already at the end, but that heaven still has many evils in store for me.

"And now, O Queen, have mercy on me, for you are the first man I have known, and I know no one else in this land. Show me the way to your town and let me get what you brought here to pack your clothes. May heaven grant you in all things your heart's desire, husband, home and a happy and peaceful home; because there is nothing better in this world than a man and a woman having the same feeling in a house. He confuses his enemies, gladdens the hearts of his friends, and they themselves know this better than anyone else.

To which Nausicaa replied: “Strange, you seem to be a reasonable and well-disposed person. You can't count on luck; Jupiter gives wealth to rich and poor as he pleases, so you must take what he sees fit to send to you and make the most of it. However, now that you have come to this country of ours, you will not lack for clothing or anything else that a foreigner in need might reasonably seek. I'll show you the way to the city and tell you the name of our city; We call ourselves Phaeacians, and I am the daughter of Alcinous, to whom all state power is vested.

Then she called the maids and said, 'Stay where you are, girls. Can't you see a man without running away from him? Do you think he's a thief or a murderer? Neither he nor anyone else can come here to harm us Phaeacians, for we are loved by the gods and live apart at one end of the land that juts out into the raging sea, and we have nothing to do with anyone else. This is just a poor man lost and we must be kind to him, for strangers and strangers in need are under Jupiter's protection, and they will take what they can and be thankful; So, girl, feed and drink the poor man and wash him in the wind somewhere in the stream.

With that, the girls stopped running and started yelling at each other. They made Ulisses sit in the shelter as Nausicaa had told them, and they brought him a shirt and a cloak. They also brought him the golden vessel full of oil and told him to go and wash himself in the stream. But Odysseus said, "Girl, step aside a little so I can wash the brine from my shoulders and anoint myself with oil, because my skin hasn't had a drop of oil for a long time. I can't wash them while they're still here. I am ashamed to undress in front of so many beautiful women.”

So they walked away and went to tell the girl while Odysseus washed in the stream, rubbing the brine from his broad back and shoulders. After washing himself thoroughly and removing the brine from his hair, he anointed himself with oil and put on the clothes that the girl had given him; Minerva then made him appear taller and stronger than before, she also made the hair grow luxuriantly on his head and flow in curls like hyacinth flowers; She glorified him head and shoulders as a skilled craftsman who studied all manner of art under Vulcan and Minerva, enriches a piece of silver by gilding it, and his work is full of beauty. So he went and sat down a little further on the bank, looking very young and pretty, and the girl looked at him admiringly; so she said to her maids:

"Hush, my dears, because I want to say something. I believe that the gods living in heaven sent this man to the Phaeacians. When I first saw him I thought he was vulgar, but now he looks like the gods who live in heaven. I want my future husband to be someone else who he is if he stays here and doesn't want to leave. Give him something to eat and drink."

They did as they were told and served food to Odysseus, who ate and drank greedily because he hadn't eaten in a long time. Meanwhile, Nausicaa was thinking about something else. He folded the linen and laid it on the wagon, hitched the mules, sat down and called to Ulises:

'Strange,' she said, 'get up and let's go back to town; I'm going to introduce you to my excellent father's house, where I can tell you that you'll meet the best of facials. But make sure you do what I say because you seem like a reasonable person. When we go through the fields and farmsteads, let's quickly follow the wagon with the maids, and I myself will lead the way. But now we come into the city, where you will find a high wall all around, and a good harbor on each side, with a narrow entrance into the city, and the ships will stop in the street, for each has a place where its own boat can dock. You will see the market square with a temple of Neptune in the center, paved with large stones buried in the ground. All kinds of ship's equipment are sold here, such as ropes and sails, and oars are also made here, for the Phaeacians are not archers; they know nothing of bows and arrows, but they are a seafaring people and proud of their masts, oars and ships with which they sail the seas.

“I'm afraid of the gossip and scandals that might later be hatched against me; for the people here are very ill-tempered, and any common man, upon meeting us, would say, 'Who is this fair stranger with Nausicaa? where did you land I think she will marry him. Perhaps it is a wandering sailor whom she took off a strange ship, for we have no neighbours; Or a god has finally come down from heaven in answer to her prayers, and she will live with him for the rest of her life. It would be well for her to come out and look elsewhere for a husband, as she would not look with her at one of the many Phaeacian youths. That's the kind of snide remark that's been made towards me and I couldn't complain because I myself would have been shocked if any other girl did the same thing, despite everyone else going out with guys while her father and her mother were still alive and without having married in front of the whole world.

'So if you want my father to escort you and help you home, do as I command; You will see a beautiful poplar grove by the roadside dedicated to Minerva; it has a fountain and a meadow around it. Here my father has fertile soil for vegetable gardens, as far from the city as a man's voice can carry. Sit there and wait a while for the rest of us to get into town and to my father's house. So if you think we should have, come into town and ask for directions to my father Alcinous' house. You won't have a hard time finding it; every child will tell you, because no one else in the whole town has a house as beautiful as his. After passing through the gates and the outer courtyard, go through the inner courtyard until you reach my mother. You will see her sitting by the fire spinning her purple wool in the firelight. It's a beautiful sight to see her leaning against one of the support posts with her girls lined up behind her. Next to his seat is my father's seat, on which he sits and climbs like an immortal god. Don't listen to him, but go to my mother and put your hands on her knees if you want to go home soon. If you can earn it, you can look forward to seeing your own country again, no matter how far away."

With these words he whipped the mules with his whip and they left the river. The mules pulled well, their hooves going up and down the path. He was careful not to rush toward Odysseus and the girls who were following him on foot along with the chariot, so he used his whip judiciously. At sunset they reached the sacred grove of Minerva, and there Odysseus sat praying to the mighty daughter of Jupiter.

"Hear me," he cried, "daughter of Jupiter, bearer of the Aegis, tireless, hear me now, for you did not hear my prayers when Neptune tore me apart. Well then, have mercy on me and allow me to meet friends and be hospitably received by the Phaeans.

So he prayed, and Minerva answered his prayer but did not reveal herself to him because she was afraid of her uncle Neptune, who was still angry in his efforts to prevent Odysseus from returning home.

Book VII

SO thus waited and prayed Ulysses; but the girl went into town. When she reached her father's house, she paused at the gate and her brothers, favored by the gods who surrounded them, unloaded the mules from the wagon and carried the clothes inside, while she went to her room, where an old maid lived, Eurymedusa of Apeira kindled fire for her. This old woman was brought by sea from Apeira and chosen as a prize for Alcínoo because he was king of the Phoenicians and the people obeyed him like a god. She had been Nausicaa's nursemaid, and now she had made a fire for him and brought supper to his own room.

After some time Ulises got up to go into town; and Minerva wrapped a dense mist around him to hide him in case any of the proud Feicians who knew him were rude to him or asked him who he was. Then, when he entered the city, she met him in the form of a girl carrying a jar. She stopped right in front of him and Ulises said:

'My dear, would you be so kind as to show me the house of King Alcinous? I'm an unfortunate alien in need and I don't know anyone in your city and country."

Then Minerva said: “Yes, foreign father, I will show you the house you want, since Alcínoo lives very close to my own father. I will walk before you and show you the way, but don't say a word as you walk, don't look at anyone or ask questions; because people here don't tolerate strangers and don't like men who come from somewhere else. They are a seafaring people and by the grace of Neptune they sail in ships that glide in the air like a thought or a bird.

In this she led the way, and Ulysses followed in her footsteps; but none of the phacians could see him as he passed through the city in their midst; for the great goddess Minerva, in her good will, had hidden him in a thick cloud of darkness. He admired the harbours, ships, meeting places and the high walls of the city, which were very visible with the palisade above, and when they reached the house of King Minerva he said: "This is the house, strange father, which I have given you wish to show you you will find a lot of great people around the table, but don't be afraid, get to the point because the bolder a man is, the more likely he is to get his point across, even if it's one of strangers . the Queen. Her name is Arete and she comes from the same family as her husband Alcínoo. Both originally descended from Neptune, who was the father of Nausitous of Peribea, a woman of great beauty. Periboea was the youngest daughter of Eurymedon, who once ruled the giants but ruined his unfortunate people and lost his own life.

“But Neptune was with his daughter, and she had a son by him, the great Nausithous, who reigned over the Phaeacians. Nausitous had two sons, Rexenor and Alcínoo; Apollo killed the first of them when he was still a friend and had no male children; but he left a daughter, Arete, who married Alcínoo, and honor like no other woman is honored by all who keep a house with their husbands.

She was and still is respected beyond measure by her children, by Alcínoo herself and by all the people who look at her like a goddess and greet her every time she walks through the city, because she is a good woman. .both in the head and in the heart, and if a woman is her friend, she will also help her husbands to solve their quarrels. If you can win their goodwill, you can hope to see your friends again and return safely to your homeland and country."

Then Minerva left Scheria and crossed the sea. He went to Marathon and into the rambling streets of Athens, where he entered the residence of Erechtheus; but Odysseus went to the house of Alcínoo and thought a lot, pausing a moment before he reached the bronze threshold, for the splendor of the palace was like that of the sun or the moon. The walls on either side were bronze throughout, and the cornice was enamelled in blue. The doors were of gold and hung on silver pillars rising on a bronze floor, while the lintel was of silver and the door hook was of gold.

On either side were hounds of gold and silver, which Vulcan had made with his consummate skill specifically to guard King Alcinous' palace; so they were immortal and could never grow old. Here and there along the wall were armchairs with finely woven covers made by the ladies of the house. Here the chiefs of the Phaeacians sat and ate and drank, for there was plenty in all seasons; and there were golden figures of youths with flaming torches in their hands, raised on pedestals to light the table companions at night. There are fifty maids in the house, some always grinding bright yellow grains in the mill, while others work at the loom, or sit and spin, and their boats come and go like the flapping of leaves. while the flax is so finely woven that it turns into oil. As the Phaecios are the best seafarers in the world, their wives excel all others at weaving, for Minerva taught them all the useful arts and they are very intelligent.

Outside the gate to the outer courtyard is a large garden of about ten acres surrounded by a wall. It is full of beautiful trees, pear trees, pomegranates and the most delicious apples. There are also delicious figs and olives in full growth. The fruit does not rot or die all year round, winter or summer, for the air is so mild that a new crop ripens before the old falls. Pear grows on pear, apple on apple, and fig on fig, and so do grapes, for there is a beautiful vineyard: on the flat ground of part of it, the grapes turn into raisins; elsewhere they gather; some are trampled in the mills, others have lost their bloom and are beginning to bear fruit, still others are discolored again. In the farthest part of the country there are beautiful flower beds that bloom all year round. Two streams flow through it, one meandering in pipes through the garden, while the other is led underground from the forecourt to the house itself and from which the townspeople draw water. Such, then, was the splendor with which the gods bestowed the house of King Alcinous.

So here Odysseus stopped for a while and looked around, but when he had looked around enough, he stepped over the threshold and stepped onto the edge of the house. There he found all the chiefs among the sorcerers offering their libations to Mercury, which they always did as the last step before going to bed. He crossed the courtyard, still covered by the cloak of darkness in which Minerva had wrapped him, until he reached Arete and King Alcinous; then he laid his hands on the Queen's knees, and at that moment the wondrous darkness vanished from him and became visible. Everyone was speechless with surprise to see a man there, but Ulises immediately began his request.

"Queen Arete," she exclaimed, "daughter of the great Rhexenor, in my need I humbly beseech you, as well as your husband and these your guests (whom heaven is blessed with long life and happiness, and your children bequeath your wealth) . , and all the honors bestowed on them by the state) to help me return to my country as soon as possible; because I've been in trouble for a long time and broke up with my friends.

Then he sat on the hearth under the ashes, and all were silent until the old hero Echeneus, who was an excellent orator and an eldest among the Phaeacians, simply and honestly addressed them thus: "Alcinous," he said. he: “Do you not believe that a stranger should be seen sitting in the ashes of your house; everyone is waiting to hear what you are about to say; Then tell him to get up and sit on a stool inlaid with silver, and command his servants to mix some wine and water, that we may offer a libation to Jupiter, Lord of Thunder, who welcomes all supplicants benevolently under your protection receives; and let the housekeeper feed you whatever's in the house for dinner.

Hearing this, Alcinous took Odysseus by the hand, lifted him from the hearth and ordered him to take the place of Laodamas, who was sitting next to him and was his favorite son. Then a maid brought her water in a beautiful gold pitcher, and poured it into a silver basin for her to wash her hands, and she put a clean table by her side; an elderly servant brought him bread and offered him many good things from the house, and Odysseus ate and drank. Then Alcinous said to one of the servants, "Pontonius, prepare a cup of wine and distribute it that we may offer libations to Jupiter, Lord of Thunder, who is the protector of all willing supplicants."

Pontonous then mixed wine and water and divided them after giving each their libation. When they had made their offerings and drunk as much as they wanted, Alcinous said:

"Counselors and counselors of the Phaeacians, listen to my words. You ate dinner, so now go home and sleep. Tomorrow morning I will invite more counselors and give a sacrifice in honor of our guest; then we can discuss the matter with his escort and how we can send him back to his own country immediately without difficulty or inconvenience, no matter how far away. We need to make sure she doesn't get harmed on her journey home, but once she's home she needs to enjoy the happiness she was born with, just like other people. However, it is possible that the stranger is one of the immortals who came down from heaven to visit us; but in this case the gods deviate from their usual practice, for hitherto they have fully revealed themselves to us when we offer them hecatombs. They come and sit at our feasts like one of us, and when a lone traveler stumbles upon one or the other of them he does not pretend to hide them, for we are as kin to the gods as the cyclopes and the gods. are wild giants.

Then Ulisses said: "Please, Alcínoo, don't get that idea. I have nothing immortal about me, either physically or spiritually, and I am very much like those of you who are most affected. If I told you everything that heaven wanted me to have, you'd say I was even worse off than them. But let me eat in spite of my pain, for an empty stomach is a very undesirable thing and leaps out at a man no matter how dire his need. I'm in big trouble but he insists I must eat and drink, he asks me to put aside all memories of my grief and just stop to replenish properly. As for you, do as you suggest and help me get home at daybreak. I would happily die if I could first see my possessions, my servants, and all the splendor of my house."

That's how I speak. Everyone approved of his words and agreed that he should have his escort as he had spoken sensibly. After she had made their libations and each drunk as much as he could, they went home to bed, each in his own room, leaving Odysseus in the monastery with Arete and Alcínoo while the servants carried the things away afterwards. . to have lunch. Arete was the first to speak, recognizing the shirt, cloak, and fine clothes worn by Odysseus as the work of her and her maidens; then she said, "Strange, before I continue, I want to ask you a question. Who and where are you from and who gave you these clothes? Didn't you say you came from across the sea?

And Ulysses answered: 'It would take time, madam, if I should tell the whole story of my misfortune, because the hand of heaven has grown heavy on me; But as for your question, there is an island far out in the sea called "la Ogygia". Here lives the cunning and powerful goddess Calypso, daughter of Atlas. She lives alone, far from human or divine neighbors. Luck, however, brought me to their homeland desolate and alone, for Jupiter struck my ship with his lightning and shattered it in mid-ocean. All my brave comrades were drowned, but I was keeled and carried for nine days, until finally, in the darkness of the tenth night, the gods took me to the island of Ogygia, where the great goddess Calypso lives. She greeted me and treated me with the greatest kindness; she actually wanted to make me immortal so that I would never age, but she couldn't persuade me to leave her.

“I was with Calypso for seven straight years, and I shed tears all the time on the good clothes he gave me; but finally, when the eighth grade came around, he invited me to go of my own accord, either because Jupiter had told him to or because he had changed his mind. She sent me from her island on a raft that provided her with plenty of bread and wine. In addition, she gave me good and solid clothes and sent me a wind that was warm and pleasant. On the seventh and tenth I sailed across the sea, and on the eighteenth I saw the first outlines of the mountains on its shore, and I was very happy to see them. However, many problems were still waiting for me, because Neptune did not let me go any further at this point and unleashed a great storm against me; the sea was so high that I could not continue on my raft, which broke under the fury of the storm, and I had to swim it until the wind and current brought me to its shore.

"I tried to land there, but I couldn't because it was a bad place and the waves broke me on the rocks, so I threw myself back into the sea and kept swimming until I reached a river that seemed the most likely to me. Country. . because there were no stones and it was sheltered from the wind. So here I came out of the water and came to my senses. It was getting dark so I left the river and went into a thicket where I covered myself with leaves and then the sky lulled me to a deep sleep. Sick and sad as I was, I slept all night between the sheets and all the next day until evening when I awoke at sunset to see your daughter's servants playing on the beach and your daughter among them. like a goddess. I asked for his help and he turned out to be of excellent character, much more than one could expect from someone so young, for young people tend to be thoughtless. He gave me much bread and wine, and after washing me in the river, he also gave me the clothes that you see on me. So now, even though it hurt me, I've told you the whole truth.

Then Alcinous said: Strange, my daughter was very wrong not to bring you to my house immediately with the maids, since you were the first one to ask for help.

"Please don't blame her," Ulises replied; "It is not your fault. She told me to follow her with the maids but I was embarrassed and scared because I thought you would be upset if you saw me. Everyone is a little suspicious and irritable at times.

“Strange,” answered Alcínoo, “I'm not one of those people who doesn't get angry about anything; it's always better to be reasonable; but by Father Jupiter, Minerva and Apollo, now that I see what kind of person you are and how much you think like me, I want you to stay here and marry my daughter and be my son-in-law. If you stay, I'll give you a house and a farm, but nobody (God forbid) will keep you here against your will, and just so you can be sure of that, I'll take care of the matter of your companion tomorrow. . You can sleep all the way if you like, and the men will take you across calm waters to your own house or wherever you like, even if it is much farther than Euboea than those of my people who saw carrying Rhadamanthus The hairy yellow one, when he sees Tityus son of Gaia, tells me that it is the furthest of all places, and yet they made the whole journey in a single day without a care and came back afterwards. Then you will see how my boats outperform all others and what great rowers my sailors are.

Then Odysseus rejoiced and prayed aloud, saying: "Father Jupiter, let Alcinous do all that he has said, for in this way he will gain an imperishable name among men, and at the same time I will return to my homeland."

That's how they talked. Arete then ordered her servants to put a bed in the room in the gatehouse and furnish it with good red carpets and spread blankets with woolen cloaks over them for Odysseus to carry. The girls came out with torches in their hands, and after making the bed, they approached Ulysses and said to him, "Get up, Mister Strange, and come with us, your bed is ready," and he just shut up happy to go. to your rest.

So Odysseus slept on a bed set up in a room above the echoing entrance; but Alcinous was in the inner part of the house, with the queen, his wife, at his side.

Book VIII

Now when the maiden of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, Alcinous, and Odysseus appeared, and Alcinous led them to the meeting place of the Phaeacians, which was near the ships. Once there, they sat side by side on a polished stone bench while Minerva assumed the form of one of Alcínoo's servants and walked through the city to help Odysseus return home. He approached the citizens one by one and said: “Counsellors and advisers of the Phaeacians, come all to the assembly and listen to the stranger who has just arrived from a long journey to the house of king Alcinous; looks like an immortal god.

With these words he made everyone want to come, and they crowded into the assembly until the seats and standing places were equally filled. All were impressed by the appearance of Ulises, for Minerva had beautified him of the head and shoulders, making him appear taller and more corpulent than he really was, so that he could favorably impress the Fecios as a very remarkable man and be all right. Well, on the many ability tests, he would be challenged. Then, when they were together, Alcinous said:

"Listen to me," he said, "ruler and counselor of the Phaeacians, that I may speak as I please." This stranger, whoever he is, came to my house from somewhere east or west. You want an escort and you want the matter settled. Therefore let us prepare one for him as we have done for others before him; In fact, nobody who has come to my house so far has been able to complain about me because I didn't leave soon. We shall design a ship at sea that has never made a voyage, and crew it with fifty-two of our brightest seamen. Then when you have tied your oars, each in his place, get off the ship and come to my house to prepare a feast. I will find you in everything I testify to these instructions to the young people who will form the crew, for you councilors will accompany me in the hospitality of our guest in the monastery. I cannot accept excuses and we will have Demodocus singing for us; for there is no bard like him, no matter what he sings.”

Alcinous then led the way and the others followed while a servant sought Demodocus. The fifty-two chosen oarsmen went to the beach as they were told, and when they got there they pulled the ship into the water, set the mast and sails in, tied the oars to the spikes with twisted leather thongs, all right Of course, time , and spread the white candles on high. They moored the ship a little from shore, then disembarked and went to King Alcínoo's house. The rooms, the yards, and all the enclosures were filled with crowds in great numbers, old and young; and Alcinous slaughtered for them a dozen ewes, eight full-grown pigs, and two oxen. These were skinned and dressed to make a great feast.

A servant brought the famous bard Demodocus, whom the muse loved very much, but whom she bestowed good and evil on, for although she had endowed him with the divine gift of music, she had robbed him of his sight. Pontonous seated him among the guests and propped him up against a support post. She hung the lyre on a pole above his head and showed him where to play it with his hands. He also put a nice table next to it with a basket full of groceries and a glass of wine for her to drink whenever she wanted.

So society laid their hands on the good things in front of them, but once they had enough to eat and drink, the muse inspired Demodocus to sing of the heroes' deeds, and most importantly, a theme on his lips. the quarrel between Odysseus and Achilles of all things and the violent words that accumulated when they met at a party. But Agamemnon was glad when he heard his chiefs fighting each other, for Apollo had predicted it to him in Python when he crossed the stone floor to consult the oracle. Here was the beginning of the evil that Jupiter willed to attack the Danaans and the Trojans.

Then the bard sang, but Odysseus threw his purple cloak over his head and covered his face, because he was ashamed that the Phaeacians should see that he wept. When the bard had finished singing, he wiped the tears from his eyes, uncovered his face, took his cup, and offered a libation to the gods; but when the Phaeacians urged Demodocus to sing more because he enjoyed their songs, Odysseus put his cloak back on his head and wept bitterly. No one noticed his fear except Alcinous, who sat beside him and heard the heavy sighs he uttered. Then he said at once: 'Counsellors and Counselors of the Phaeacians, we are fed up with both the feast and the minstrel who is his due accompaniment; So let's turn to the sport of track and field so that when our guest comes home he can tell his friends how much we surpass all other nations in boxers, wrestlers, jumpers and runners.

With these words he went ahead and the others followed him. A servant hung the lyre of Demodocus on its post, led him out of the monastery, and placed him in the same way that all the chiefs of the Phaeacians went to watch the games; a crowd of several thousand people followed, and there were many excellent competitors at all prizes. Acroneos, Ocyalus, Elatreus, Nauteus, Prymneus, Anchialus, Eretmeus, Ponteus, Proreus, Thoon, Anabesineus and Amphialus son of Polyneus son of Tecton. There was also Euryalus son of Naubolus, who was like Mars himself, and was the fairest man among the sorceresses except Laodamas. Three sons of Alcínoo, Laodamante, Halios and Clytoneo also participated.

First came the races. They were given a course from the starting point, and simultaneously kicked up a cloud of dust over the plain. Clytoneus was by far the first; he has outstripped all else by the length of a furrow that a pair of mules can plow in an empty field. So they turned to the painful art of wrestling, and here Euryalus proved the better man. Amphialus outperformed all others, while none came close to Elatreus on the disc. Alcínoo's son, Laodamas, was the best boxer and it was he who later said, as everyone was enjoying the games: “Let's ask the foreigner if he excels in any of these sports; looks very powerfully built; his thighs, nails, hands and neck are of amazing strength, he is not old, but he has suffered much lately, and nothing like the sea can harm a man, however strong.

"You are absolutely right, Laodamante," replied Euryalus, "go up to your guest and speak to him yourself."

Hearing this, Laodamante pushed through the crowd and said to Odysseus: "I hope, sir, that you will enter one or the other of our competitions, if you are skilled in any of them, and you must have passed many . You may." Now. Nothing in life gives a man more honor than showing himself to be a good man, tooth and nail. So try something and get all the pain out of your head. It won't be long coming home, as the ship has already been pulled into the water and the crew has been found.

Odysseus replied, "Laodamante, why are you insulting me like this? I think more of worries than of quarrels; I have endured countless hardships and now I come to you as a suppliant, praying to your king and people for help in my return home."

Then Euryalus openly insulted him, saying: 'Then I suppose you are inexperienced in any of the many sports that men generally enjoy. I assume you are one of those greedy merchants who sail like captains or merchants and think of nothing but your cargo home and back. There doesn't seem to be much of an athlete in you."

"What a pity, sir," Odysseus retorted fiercely, "you are insolent, it is so true that the gods do not honor all men equally in word, person, and mind." A man may have a faint presence, but heaven has adorned him with such refined conversation that he charms all who see him; his sweet demeanor carries his listeners with him, so that he is a leader in all the gatherings of his fellows and is admired wherever he goes. Another may be handsome as a god, but his good looks are not crowned with discretion. That's your case, no god could make a man more attractive than you, but you're an idiot. Your inconsiderate comments have made me very angry and you are very wrong because I excel in many athletic disciplines; In fact, when I was young and strong, I was among the top athletes of the day. Now, however, I am weary of toil and pain, for I have endured much, both on the battlefield and on the waves of the rough sea; I'm going anyway, because your insults have hurt me deeply.

So he hurried without removing his cloak and picked up a discus, larger, stronger and much heavier than the Phaeacians who threw discus at each other. Then he swung it back, tossing it from his muscular hand, making the air hum. The Phaeacians shuddered with haste as she gracefully slipped out of their grasp and flew past every mark that had ever been made. Minerva came in the form of a man and marked the spot where she had fallen. 'A blind man, sir,' she said, 'could easily recognize your mark by touch, it is far ahead of all others. You can count on this competition because no Phaeacian comes close to a field like yours.

Ulises was happy to discover he had a friend among the audience, so he began to speak more kindly. "Young people," he said, "come to this release if you can and I'll release another album that's just as heavy or even heavier. If anyone wants to fight with me, let them come, because I'm very angry; I box, fight or run, whatever it is, with any of you except Laodamante, but not with him because I'm his guest and you can't compete with your personal friend. At the very least, I don't think it's wise or reasonable for a guest to challenge their host's family to any game, especially when they're in a foreign country. If you do this, you will cut the ground under your feet; but I don't make an exception for anyone because I want to solve the problem and find out who's the best. I'm good at all sports known to mankind. I'm an excellent archer. In combat, I'm always the first to take down a man with my arrow, no matter how many others are aiming nearby. Philoctetes was the only man who could shoot better than me when we Achaeans faced Troy and in training. I far surpass everyone else around the world who still eats bread on earth, but I don't want to shoot the mighty dead, like Hercules or Eurytus, the men of Cecalia, who could shoot the gods themselves. So Eurythus actually ended prematurely because Apollo was angry with him and killed him for challenging him as an archer. I can throw a spear farther than anyone can shoot an arrow. Running is the only point where I'm afraid some of the spells will overwhelm me, because they hit me at the bottom of the sea; my supplies are exhausted, and therefore I am still weak.

Everyone was silent except King Alcinous, who began: "Lord, we were very pleased to hear everything you have told us, from which I understand that you are ready to show your skill, as if some rude remarks displease you would . that's what made you one of our athletes, and no one who knows how to speak with decency could ever say that. I hope you will understand what I mean and explain to your leaders, who may have dinner with you and your family when you get home, that we have an innate gift for achievement of all kinds. We're not particularly known for our boxing or fighters, but we're uniquely light and excellent sailors. We love good food, music and dancing; We also like frequent linen changes, hot showers and good beds, so please, some of you best dancers, get up and dance so that our guest can tell his friends how it went on the way home. all nations other than sailors, runners, dancers, minstrels. Demodocus left his lyre with me, so one or two of you run and bring it to him.

With that, a servant hastened to fetch the lyre from the king's house, and the nine men who had been chosen as stewards stepped forward. It was up to them to manage everything related to the sport, so they leveled the ground and demarcated a large space for the dancers. Immediately the servant with the lyre of Demodocus returned and stood beneath them, and the best young dancers in the city began to walk and stumble with such agility that Odysseus delighted in the gleeful clink of their feet.

Meanwhile, the bard began to sing about the love affair between Mars and Venus and how they began their intrigues at Vulcan's house. Mars gave many gifts to Venus and desecrated King Vulcan's wedding bed so that the Sun, seeing what was going on, told Vulcan. Vulcan was very angry when he heard such terrible news, so he went to his forge, meditated on his wickedness, put his great anvil in its place and began forging chains that no one could loosen or break, so that they could be there at this place would stay . Location. When he had finished his trap, he went into the bedroom and draped the headboards with chains like cobwebs; he also hung many from the great beam in the ceiling. Not even a god could see them, they were so fine and subtle. After spreading the chains all over the bed, he pretended to travel to the beautiful state of Lemnos, which was his favorite place of all places in the world. But Mars did not look blindly, and as soon as he saw him shudder, he rushed home, burning with love for Venus.

Now Venus had just returned from a visit to her father Jupiter and was about to sit down when Mars entered the house and took her hand: "Let us go to Vulcan's bed: he is not at home." , but he went to Lemnos to the Sintians, whose language is barbaric.

She didn't fight back so they went to bed to rest where they were caught in the nets the cunning Vulcan had laid out for them and they couldn't get up or move their hands or feet but they realized too late that they did were in a trap. . Then Vulcan approached them, for he had turned before they reached Lemnos, when his scout, the Sun, told him what was happening. He was angry and standing in the hallway making a terrible noise while shouting at all the gods.

"Father Jupiter," he exclaimed, "and all the other blessed gods who live forever, come and behold the ridiculous and shameful spectacle I am about to show you. Jupiter's daughter Venus always embarrasses me because I'm lame. She's in love with Mars, who's handsome and fair-skinned, while I'm crippled, but that's my parents' fault, not mine; You should never have fathered me. Come and see the couple sleeping in my bed. I go crazy looking at them. They like each other very much, but I don't think they stay there any longer than they can, nor do I think they sleep much; but there they remain until their father returns me the sum I gave him for the luggage of a daughter who is pretty but not honest.

The gods met in the house of Vulcan. Neptune came, orbiting the earth, and Mercury, the bringer of good luck, and King Apollo, but all the goddesses stayed at home out of shame. Then the givers of all goods stood at the door, and the blessed gods roared with insatiable laughter when they saw how cunning Vulcan had been, so that one turned to his neighbor and said:

“Evil deeds do not prosper, and the weak confuse the strong. See how crippled Vulcan, crippled as he is, caught Mars, who is the swiftest god in heaven; and now Mars is being seriously damaged.

So they talked, but King Apollo said to Mercury, "Messenger Mercury, giver of good things, wouldn't you mind the strength of the chains, would you if you could sleep with Venus?"

"King Apollo," Mercury replied, "I only wish I had the chance, although there were three times the chains and you could see all the gods and goddesses, but I would sleep with her if I could."

The immortal gods laughed at this, but Neptune took it all to heart and continued to implore Vulcan to free Mars again. "Let him go," he cried, "and I promise you, as you wish, that I shall pay you whatever damage shall be fair among the immortal gods."

“No,” replied Vulcan, “ask me; A bad man's bond is bad security; What remedy could he impose on you if Mars left your debts along with your chains?

"Vulcan," said Neptune, "if Mars goes without paying for its damage, I will pay for it myself." Vulcan replied: "Then I cannot and must not refuse you."

Then he loosed the bonds that bound them, and as soon as they were free they fled, Mars to Thrace, and laughing Venus to Cyprus and Paphos, where is their forest and altar fragrant with burnt offerings. Here the Graces held them and anointed them with ambrosia oil, such as was used by the immortal gods, and clothed them in robes of the fairest beauty.

So sang the bard, and both Odysseus and the Phaeacian sailors were delighted to hear it.

Then Alcinoo sent Laodamante and Halio to dance alone because there was no one to compete with them. So they picked up a red ball Polybus had made for them and one of them leaned back and threw it into the clouds while the other jumped off the ground and easily caught it before falling back. When they finished tossing the ball in a straight line, they started dancing while continuing to toss it back and forth while all the young people in the ring clapped their hands and kicked their feet. . Then Ulysses said:

"King Alkinoos, you said your people were the most agile dancers in the world, and they actually proved it. I was amazed when I saw her."

The king rejoiced and called out to the Phaics: “Jurymen and jurymen, our guest seems to be a person of unique judgment; Let's give him a token of our hospitality that he can reasonably expect. Among you are twelve leading men, and if I count myself there are thirteen; each of you bring a clean robe, a shirt and a talent of fine gold; let's give him all this at once so that he has a happy heart when he eats. As for Euryalus, he must formally apologize and also give a gift for being rude.

That's how I speak. Everyone else applauded his words and sent their servants to get the gifts. Then Euryalus said: 'King Alcinous, I will give the stranger all the satisfaction you need. He will have a sword that is made of bronze, all but the hilt, which is made of silver. I will also give you the freshly sawn ivory scabbard that it fits into. It will mean a lot to him.

As he spoke he pressed the sword into Odysseus' hand and said: 'Good luck, stranger father; If anything was wrongly said, may the winds take it and may Heaven grant you a safe return, for I understand that you have been away from home for a long time and have been through many difficulties.

To which Odysseus replied: "Good luck to you too, my friend, and may the gods grant you all happiness. I hope you don't lose the sword you gave me with your apology."

With these words he put his sword on his shoulders and at sunset the gifts that the servants of the donors brought to the house of King Alcínoo began to appear; here her children received her and entrusted her to their mother. Then Alcinous led the way into the house and asked his guests to sit down.

"Woman," he said, turning to Queen Arete, "go find the best chest we have and put a clean cloak and shirt in it." Also put a bucket on the fire and heat some water ; our guest will take a warm bath; He also takes care of the careful wrapping of the gifts that the Phaeacian nobles have given him; This way you can better enjoy both the dinner and the singing that follows. I myself will give him this golden cup, exquisitely worked, so that when he offers a libation to Jupiter or one of the gods, he will remember me for the rest of his life.

Then Arete told her girls to set up a large tripod over the fire as quickly as possible, on which they put a tripod filled with bath water over a clear fire; Sticks were thrown in to burn, and the water grew hot as the flame played around the tripod's belly. Meanwhile, Arete brought a magnificent chest to her own room, in which she kept all the fine gifts of gold and clothing brought by the Phaeacians. Finally he added a coat and a beautiful shirt from Alcínoo and said to Ulisses:

"Take care of the cover yourself and tie it all together so no one steals it en route while you sleep on your ship."

Hearing this, Odysseus put the lid on the chest and fastened it with a ribbon shown to him by Circe. He had done so before being ordered by a senior official to go to the toilet and wash himself. He was quite content with a hot bath as he had no one to look after him since he left Calypso's house who looked after him like a god while he was with her. . When the servants had finished washing and anointing him with oil and giving him a clean robe and shirt, he left the bath and joined the guests who were sitting over the wine. The beautiful Nausicaa stood by one of the pillars that supported the roof of the cloister and admired it as she passed. "Strange goodbye," she said, "don't forget me when you're safely home again, because first you owe me a ransom for saving your life."

And Odysseus said: Nausicaa, daughter of the great Alcinous, may Jupiter, the mighty husband of Juno, permit me to reach my house; then I want to bless you all my days as my guardian angel, because it was you who saved me.”

Having said that, he sat down next to Alcínoo. Then dinner was served and wine was mixed to drink. A servant led the favorite bard Demodocus and placed him in the center of the company, close to one of the posts that supported the cloister so that he could lean on it. Then Odysseus cut a piece of pork fried with much fat (because there was leftover from the roast) and said to a servant: “Bring this piece of pork to Demodocus and tell him to eat it; for all the pain your lies may cause me, I still salute you; Bards are revered and respected around the world because the muse teaches them their songs and loves them.

The servant carried the pig in his hands to Demodocus, who took it and was very pleased. So they laid their hands on the good things in front of them, and as soon as they had eaten and drunk, Odysseus said to Demodocus: “Demodocus, I admire nobody in the world more than you. You should have studied with the Muse, the daughter of Jupiter, and with Apollo, so precisely do you sing of the return of the Achaeans with all their sufferings and adventures. If you weren't there, you must have heard all this from someone who was. Now, however, change your song and tell us about the wooden horse that Epeus built with Minerva's help and that Odysseus planned in the Trojan fortress after loading it with the men who later sacked the city. If you sing this story right, I'll tell the whole world how great a gift Heaven has given you."

The heaven-inspired bard caught the tale as some of the Argives burned their tents and left, while others, hidden in the horse, waited with Odysseus at the Trojans' rendezvous. For the Trojans themselves brought the horse into their fortress, and it remained there while they conferred about it, and differed as to what to do. Some should break it right there; others dragged him to the top of the rock on which the fortress stood, and then threw him over the cliff; while others should leave it as an offering and atonement to the gods. And so they finally settled it, for the city was doomed when he took that horse with all the bravest of Argives sitting in it, waiting to bring death and destruction to the Trojans. Then he sang how the sons of the Achaeans dismounted from their horses and plundered the city to escape his ambush. He sang how the city was raided and ravaged hither and thither, and how Odysseus, like Mars, raged with Menelaus to the house of Deiphobus. There the battle was fiercest, but with Minerva's help, he emerged victorious.

He told all this, but Ulises was amazed to hear him, and his cheeks were wet with tears. She wept as a woman weeps when she throws herself over the body of her husband, who fell before his own city and people and fought valiantly in defense of his home and children. She screams loudly and throws her arms around him as he gasps and dies, but her enemies attack her from behind, on her back and on her shoulders, driving her into servitude, a life of toil and pain, and beauty fades. Odysseus wept terribly from his cheeks, but none of those present noticed his tears except Alcinous, who was sitting next to him and could hear his sobs and sighs. The king therefore rose immediately and said:

"Counselors and councilors of the Phaeacians, make Demodocus stop singing, for some present do not seem to like it. From the moment we finished dinner and Demodocus started singing, our guest moaned and wailed the whole time. He's obviously in trouble, so let the bard stop so we can all enjoy ourselves, hosts and guests alike. This will be much more as it should be, for all this celebration with the accompaniment and gifts we so willingly give you are entirely in your honor, and anyone with the slightest bit of justice knows that he must treat a guest and a supplicant as if he were his own brother.

"Therefore, sir, for your part, in the matter upon which I am about to inquire, pretend no more concealment or reserve; it will be very courteous of you to give me a clear answer; tell me the name by which your father and mother called you there and by which you were known to your neighbors and fellow citizens. There is no one, rich or poor, who has absolutely no names, because people's mothers and fathers give them names as soon as they are born. Also tell me your country, nation and city so that our ships can do their job properly and get you there. Because the Phaeacians have no pilots; their ships have no rudder like those of other nations, but the ships themselves understand what we think and want; They know all the cities and countries of the world, and they can cross the sea in fog and clouds so well that there is no risk of shipwreck or damage. Still, I remember my father saying Neptune was mad at us for being too lenient when it came to escorting people. He said that one of our ships returning from the escort would sink one of our ships and bury our city under a high mountain. That's what he used to say, but whether the god carries out his threat or not is up to him to decide.

"Now tell me and tell me the truth. Where have you been and which countries have you traveled to? Tell us about the very peoples and their cities that were hostile, savage, and uncivilized, and that on the other hand were hospitable and humane. Also tell us why you are unhappy to hear of the return of the Danaan Argives from Troy. The gods arranged all this and sent them their misfortunes so that future generations would have something to sing about. Did you lose any brave relatives of your wife when you were off Troy? a son-in-law or a father-in-law, what are the next of kin that a man has outside of his own flesh and blood? Or was it a brave and kind fellow, because a good friend is as dear to a man as his own brother?

Buch IX

And ULYSSES answered: “King Alcínoo, how good it is to hear a bard with a voice as divine as this man's. There is nothing better and more delicious than a whole town cheering as guests sit to listen while the table is laden with bread and meat and the butler brings wine and fills everyone's cup. This is truly the most beautiful sight a man can see. However, now that you are inclined to ask me the story of my pain and to relive my own sad memories of it, I do not know how to begin, nor even how to continue my account through Heaven's hand and should complete . was heavily burdened on me.

"So I'll say my name first so you'll know it too, and one day if I get through this moment of pain, you can be my guests, even though I live so far away from all of you. I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, famous among men for all sorts of subtleties, for which my fame rises to heaven. I live in Ithaca where there is a high mountain called Neritum covered with forests; and not far from it is a group of very close islands Dulichium, Same, and the wooded island of Zacynthus. He crouches above the horizon, tallest in the sea at sunset, while the others are far from him at sunrise. It's a rugged island, but it produces brave men, and my eyes know none they'd rather see. The goddess Calypso kept me in her cave and wanted me to marry her, as did the cunning goddess eaea Circe; but none of them could convince me, for there is nothing a man loves better than his own country and his parents, and however splendid his home may be in a foreign country, when he is separated from his father or mother , he hasn't. Now, however, I will tell you of the many dangerous adventures that I undertook at Jupiter's will on my return from Troy.

"When I sailed from there, the wind first carried me to Ismarus, the city of the Cycones. There I plundered the city and slew the people with the sword. We took their wives and much booty, which we divided evenly among ourselves so that no one could complain. So I said that it would be better for us to leave immediately, but my men stupidly disobeyed me, so they stayed there, drinking a lot of wine and killing large numbers of sheep and oxen on the sea shore. Meanwhile, the Cicons called for help from other Cicons living inland. These were more numerous, stronger, and skilled in the art of war, being able to fight in chariots or on foot according to the occasion; in the morning they came like thick leaves and blossoms in summer, and the hand of heaven was against us, and we were in distress. They ordered the battle close to the ships, and the hosts aimed their bronze-tipped spears at each other. As the day passed and it was still morning, we defended ourselves against them, though they outnumbered us; but when the sun went down, about the time the men let loose their oxen, the Cicons overcame us, and we lost half a dozen men from all the ships we had; So we run away with what's left.

"Thence we sailed with sadness in our hearts, but glad we had escaped death, though we had lost our companions, and we did not sail until we had thrice called upon all the poor who had perished at the hands of the Cicons. Then Jupiter raised the north wind against us until a hurricane blew, so that the earth and sky were covered in thick clouds and night fell from the sky. We put the boats out before the storm, but the force of the wind tore our sails to pieces, so we lowered them for fear of capsizing and rowed ashore with all our might. There we were two days and two nights, suffering both hardship and mental anguish, but on the morning of the third day we again hoisted our masts, hoisted the sails, and took our places, letting the wind and the helmsmen steer our ship. I would have made it home unscathed if the north wind and current hadn't been against me as I rounded Cape Malea and went off course over the island of Cythera.

“For nine days I was carried across the sea by foul winds, but on the tenth day we reached the land of the lotus eaters, who feed on some kind of flower. Here we disembarked for fresh water and our crews had lunch on the beach near the boats. After they had eaten and drunk, I sent two of my company to see what sort of men the locals might be, and they had a third man under their command. They immediately left and went to the lotus eaters who did not hurt them but fed them lotus that was so delicious that whoever ate them no longer bothered the house and didn't even want to go back and say what they said. it was over, but they went to stay with the lotus eater and chew lotus, without further thought of his return; Though they wept bitterly, I forced them back into the ships and had them moored under the banks. Then I told the others to get on board immediately so none of them would taste the lotus and not want to go home, so they took their places and pounded the gray sea with their oars.

"From here we always sailed in great torment, until we reached the land of the lawless and inhuman Cyclopes. Now the Cyclopes do not sow and plow, but trust in Providence and live on wheat, barley and grapes which are not cultivated, and their wild grapes give them wine as sun and rain can produce them. They have no laws or city assemblies, but live in caves on high mountains; each is the owner and master of his family, and they show no regard for their neighbors.

"Now beside their harbor lies a fertile, wooded island, not too close to Cyclopean land, but not far either. It is infested with wild goats, which breed in large numbers and are never disturbed by human feet; because the athletes who will suffer so much suffering usually in the forest or in the abysses of the mountains do not go there, it is not plowed or fed, but it remains a desert without plowing and without seed from year to year and has no life. thing about him, but only goats. Because the Cyclops have neither ships nor shipbuilders who can build ships for them; therefore they cannot go from city to city, or sail across the sea to another country, like people who have ships; If they did, they would have colonized the island, which is very good, and given everything in time. There are meadows that in some places reach the sea shore, well watered and full of green grass; the grapes would go there excellently; there is flat land for plowing, and at harvest time there was always plenty because the ground is deep. There is a good harbor where no ropes are needed, not even anchors, nor is it necessary to dock a ship, but simply to put the ship aground and stay there until the wind is right to put to sea again . At the top of the harbor there is a spring of clear water coming out of a cave and poplars grow around it.

“Here we entered, but the night was so dark that some god must have let us in, for there was nothing to see. A dense fog hung over our ships; the moon was hidden behind a mass of clouds, so that no one could have seen the island if they looked for it, and there were no waves to tell us we were approaching shore before we were on land ourselves; However, when we ran the ships aground, we put in the sails, disembarked and camped on the beach until dawn.

"When the maiden of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, we admired the island and wandered about it, while the nymphs, daughters of Jupiter, woke the wild goats that we might get some meat for our supper. With that we took our spears, bows and arrows from the ships and, divided into three groups, began to kill the goats. Heaven sent us excellent sport; I had twelve ships with me, and each ship had nine goats, while my own ship had ten; so we ate and drank our fill all day till sunset, and there was still much wine left, for each of us had filled many jars when we sacked the city of the Cicons, and that was not yet over. without. As we ate, we turned our eyes to the land of the Cyclopes, which lay very close by, and saw the smoke from their fires. We could almost imagine hearing their voices and the bleating of their sheep and goats, but when the sun went down and it got dark we camped on the beach and the next morning I called a meeting.

"'Stay here, my brave companions,' I said, 'everyone else, while I go with my ship and explore these people myself: I wish to see whether they are uncivilized savages, or a hospitable and humane race.'

“I boarded and ordered my men to do the same and let go of the lines; So they took their places and beat the gray sea with their oars. Coming ashore, not far away, we saw there on a cliff near the sea a large cave covered with laurels. It was season for many sheep and goats, and outside was a large yard surrounded by a high wall of stones and pines and oaks set into the ground. This was the abode of a huge monster far from home tending its flocks. He wanted nothing to do with others, but he lived the life of an outlaw. It was a hideous creature, not at all human like, but more like a stone set against the sky on a high mountain.

"I've told my men to put the ship ashore and stay where they are, all but the twelve best of them who are going with me. I also took a skin of sweet black wine given to me by Maron, Apollo son of Euanthes, who was a priest of Apollo, patron god of Ismarus, and lived in the wooded areas of the temple. When we sacked the city, we respected him and spared his life and his wife and son; and he gave me gifts of great value, seven talents of fine gold, and one jar of silver, and twelve jars of sweet wine, pure and delicious in taste. Neither a man nor a maid in the house knew of it, but only he, his wife, and a housekeeper: when he drank, he mixed twenty parts of water with one part of wine, and yet the scent of the bowl was so delicious . that it was impossible to refrain from drinking. I filled a large skin with this wine and took with me a bag full of provisions, my mind giving me the impression that I might be dealing with a savage who would be of great strength and would respect neither law nor law.

“We soon reached his den but he was grazing so we went in and took stock of everything we could see. His cheese racks were full of cheese and he had more lambs and kids than could fit in his pens. They were kept in separate herds; first were the ewes, then the eldest of the youngest lambs, and last the very young, all separated; As for the dairy, every pot, bowl, and pail of milk he milked in swam in whey. Seeing all this, my men asked me first to let them steal some cheese and go with them to the ship; So they went back, slaughtered the lambs and goats, brought them on board and sailed away with them. It would have been better if we had, but I didn't listen to them because I wanted to see the owner myself and hoped he would give me a gift. However, when we saw him, my poor men found him difficult to deal with.

“We made a fire, offered some of the sacrificial cheeses, ate some more, and then sat down to wait for the cyclops to come with his sheep. When he arrived he brought a large load of dry wood to light the food fire and threw it on the floor of his cave so loudly that we hid on the other side of the cave in fear. Cave. Meanwhile, he released all the sheep and goats he intended to milk, leaving the males, both rams and goats, outside in the pens. Then he rolled a huge boulder into the entrance of the cave, so big that twenty-two strong four-wheeled carts would not be enough to move it from its place at the entrance. When he had done that, he sat down and milked his ewes and goats, all in due time, and then left each of them to have their own young. He curdled half the milk and put it in willow colanders, but poured the other half into bowls to drink at supper. When he finished his work he lit the fire and then he saw us so he said:

"'Strangers, who are you? Where are they sailing from? Are you merchants, or do you sail like vagabonds, with your hands against everyone and everyone's hand against you?

"We were startled by his loud voice and monstrous form, but I managed to say, 'We are Achaeans returning from Troy, but by the will of Jupiter and the pressure of the weather we were taken. from our course. We are the people of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, who, by sacking so great a city and killing so many people, won infinite fame throughout the world. Therefore, we humbly ask that you show us some of the hospitality and gifts that visitors can reasonably expect. Excellency fears the wrath of heaven because we are his supplicants, and Jupiter takes under his protection all decent travelers because he is the avenger of all supplicants and strangers in need.

"Then he gave me a merciless answer: 'Strange,' he said, 'you're a fool, otherwise you don't know anything about this country. Are you really telling me about fearing the gods or avoiding their wrath? We Cyclopes don't care about Jupiter or any of his blessed gods because we are so much stronger than them. Out of respect for Jupiter, I will not forgive you and your companions unless you are willing. And now tell me where you docked your boat when you landed. Was it around the point or is it right on the floor?

"He said that to get me out, but I was too smart to get caught that way, so I responded with a lie; 'Neptune,' I said, 'sent my ship onto the rocks across your country and wrecked it. We were driven towards them from the open sea, but I and my companions escaped the jaws of death.

"The cruel fellow didn't give me a word of reply, but with a sudden jerk he grabbed two of my men at once and threw them to the ground like puppies. Their brains were spilled on the floor and the floor was wet with their blood. Then he tore them off piece by piece and ate them. He devoured them like a lion in the wilderness, flesh, bones, marrow and entrails, leaving nothing unforgotten. We wept to ourselves and raised our hands to heaven when we saw such a terrible spectacle, because we didn't know what else to do; but when the cyclops had filled his enormous belly and washed down his meal of human flesh with a gulp of pure milk, he lay down on the ground among his sheep and fell asleep. At first I felt like taking my sword, unsheathing it and stabbing him in the gut, but I thought that if I did, surely we would all be doomed, since we lost the stone that the monster had placed, could never move. The. outside the door so we cried and sighed where we were until dawn.

“When the girl of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, she rekindled her fire, milked her goats and sheep, all neatly, and then let each have their own young; As soon as he finished his work, he took two more of my men and started eating them for his morning meal. Then, with the greatest ease, he rolled back the stone from the gate and chased his sheep away, but immediately put it back as easily as if he were closing the lid on a quiver of arrows. As soon as he had done this, he whooped and shouted "Hush, hoot" to chase after his sheep to herd them up the mountain; So it fell to me to find a way to take revenge and cover myself in glory.

"In the end I figured the best plan would be to do the following. The cyclops had a large club lying by one of the sheepfolds; it was green olive wood and he had cut it with the intention of using it as a walking stick when dry. It was so tall that it could only be compared to the mast of a heavily laden twenty-oar merchant ship that could venture out to sea. I went to this club and cut off about two meters; Then I gave this piece to the men and told them to refine it evenly on one end, which they did, and finally I put it on myself and charred the end in the fire to make it tougher. When I did, I hid it under the dung strewn all over the cave and told the men to draw lots as to which of them would dare to pick it up and put it in the sleeping monster's eye put. The lot fell on the four I should have chosen, and I made five myself. In the evening the unfortunate one returned from the pasture and brought his flocks into the cave, this time taking them all in and leaving none in the yards; I suppose he must have come up with some fantasy, or a god must have prompted him to do so. As soon as he put the stone back in its place by the door, he sat down and milked his ewes and goats perfectly, leaving each his own calf; When he was done with all this work, he took two more of my men and made them dinner. So I approached him with a bowl of black wine in my hands:

"Look Cyclops, I said to him, you've eaten a lot of human flesh, so take that and have some wine to see what kind of drinks we had on board my ship. I brought it to you as a libation in the hopes that you would take pity on me and help me get home while you just keep on racing and rampaging in the most unbearable ways. You should be ashamed of yourself; How can you expect people to come to you when you treat them like that?

So he took the glass and drank. He was so delighted with the taste of the wine that he asked me to fill him another bowl. "Be nice," he said, "give me something else and tell me your name right away." I want to give you a gift that you will be happy about. We even have wine in this country because our land produces grapes and the sun ripens them, but it is drunk at the same time like nectar and ambrosia.

“So I gave him some more; three times I filled the bowl for him, and three times he emptied it without thinking or realizing it; then, seeing that the wine had gone to his head, I said to him as plausibly as possible: 'Cyclops, ask me my name and I will tell you; So give me the gift you promised me; my name is nobody; That's what my father, my mother and my friends used to call me.

"But the cruel wight said, 'Then I will eat all of Nobody's comrades before Nobody and save Nobody for last. This is the gift that I will give you.

As he spoke, he staggered and fell flat on his face. His large neck hung heavily back and a deep sleep settled over him. He fell ill immediately and vomited both the wine and the bits of meat he gorged himself on because he was so drunk. So I stuck the log in the embers to warm it up and encouraged my men not to let any of them rot. When the wood, though green, threatened to burn, I took it from the fire that was burning, and my men surrounded me, for the sky filled their hearts with courage. We stuck the sharp end of the beam into the monster's eye, and I held it with all my weight, pacing around and around as if I were poking a hole in a ship's plank that two men with a wheel and belt can turn as long as you want. Still, we thrust the glowing jet into his eye until boiling blood gushed over it as we moved it, so that the steam from the burning eyeball seared his lids and brows and sizzled the roots of his eye. in the fire As a blacksmith dips an ax or a hatchet in cold water to harden it, for that is what gives iron its strength, and it makes a great hissing sound as it does so, so the Cyclops' eye hissed around the oil beam. and their terrible cries resounded the cave again. We fled in terror, but he plucked the bloody spurt from his eye and threw it away in a frenzy of anger and pain while screaming at the other cyclops who lived on the desolate headlands near him. ; so they gathered from all sides around his cave when they heard him crying and asked what was the matter with him.

"'What is the matter with you, Polyphemus,' they said to him, 'that you make so much noise, breaking the stillness of the night and preventing us from sleeping? Surely no man leads his sheep? Surely no one tries to kill him by deceit or force?

"But Polyphemus called out to them from the cave, 'No one will kill me by cheating! No one will violently kill me!

"'Then,' they said, 'if no one attacks you, you must be ill; if Jupiter makes people sick, there is no cure, and you better pray to your father Neptune.

"Then they were gone, and I chuckled inwardly at the success of my ingenious ruse, but the cyclops, groaning and in agony, groped his hands until he found the stone, and snatched it from the door; So he sat by the gate and stretched out his hands to catch anyone who went out with the sheep, thinking I might be stupid enough to try.

“As for myself, I was at a loss as to how best to save my own life and that of my companions; I planned and planned as if your life depended on it because the danger was great. In the end I thought this plan was the best. The rams were well developed and had thick black fur, so I quietly tied them in groups of three along with some of the willow trees where the evil monster used to sleep. One man was to be under the middle sheep, and the two on each side were to cover him, so that there were three sheep for every man. As for me, there was one ram who was more beautiful than all the others, so I grabbed him from behind, hid in the thick wool under his belly, and patiently threw myself into his fur, face up, and held him tight . . the whole time.

"So we waited in great fear until the morning came, but when the son of the morning came, the rosy-fingered dawn, the sheep rushed to graze, while the sheep in the pens bleated, waiting to be fed. . milked because their udders were full to bursting; but his master, in spite of all his pain, felt the backs of all the sheep that stood, for he was not wise enough to notice that the men were under their bellies. When at last the ram came out, heavy with its wool and with the weight of my cunning being; Polyphemus grabbed him and said:

"My good ram, why are you the last to leave my cave this morning? You do not let the sheep go before you, but you lead the multitude in a race, either to the blooming meadow or to the bubbling fountain, and it is the first house in the evening; but now you're the last of them all. Is it because you know your master lost his eye and regret that the evil nobody and his vile crew put it in his drink and blinded him? But I'll still have your life. If you could understand and speak you would tell me where the bastard is hiding and I would smash his brains into the ground until they fly all over the cave. So I should get some compensation for the damage done to me by that good nobody.

“As he spoke he drew the ram, but when we were a little way out of the cave and courtyards, I first came out from under the ram's belly, and then released my companions; As for the sheep, which were very fat, we were able to guide them to the ship by constantly steering them in the right direction. The crew was very happy to see those of us who escaped death, but wept for the others the Cyclops had killed. I shook my head, however, and scowled at them to stop crying, and told them to get all the sheep on board at once and go to sea; so they climbed aboard, took their places, and beat the gray sea with their oars. So when I got as far as my voice could carry, I started making fun of the Cyclops.

"'Cyclops,' I said, 'you had better measured your man before you devoured your fellows in your cave. Misery, do you devour your visitors in your own home? You might have known that your sin would find you, and now Jupiter and the other gods have punished you.

"He got more and more angry when he heard me, so he ripped off the top of a high mountain and threw it right in front of my boat, making it miss the rudder. The sea shook as the rock fell in, and the current of the wave that lifted it carried us back to shore, forcing us to reach the shore. But I took a long pole and held the boat and waved at my men who are rowing for their lives so they happily dived in. As we repeated what we had done before, I started insulting the Cyclops again, but the men begged and prayed that I would bite my tongue.

"'Don't do it,' they exclaimed, 'foolish enough to provoke this wild creature further; He has already hurled a stone at us, driving us back to the mainland, and we testify that it was our death; if he had heard more voices he would have gelatinized our heads and the wood of our ship with the rough stones he would have thrown at us, for he can throw them very far.

"But I would not listen to them, and in my anger I called out to him: 'Cyclops, if anyone asks you who plucked out your eye and ruined your beauty, say it was the brave warrior Odysseus son of Laertes. , who lives in Ithaca.

"As he did so, he groaned and cried, 'Oh, oh! So the old prophecy about me is being fulfilled. There was once a prophet here, a valiant and great man, Telemus son of Eurymus, who was an excellent seer, and it was he who prophesied to the Cyclops to old age; He told me that all of this would happen to me one day, and he said that because of Ulises' hand, I would lose my sight. All along I was expecting someone of towering presence and superhuman strength, but it turned out to be a little coward who managed to blind my eyes by attacking me in my drink; Come here Odysseus so that I can show you my hospitality and ask Neptune to help you on your journey, for Neptune and I are father and son. He, if he wills, will heal me, which no other, neither God nor man, can do.

"Then I said, 'I wish I could be as certain to kill you immediately and send you to the house of Hades as I am sure it would take more than Neptune to heal your eye.'

“Then he raised his hands to the firmament of heaven and prayed, saying: 'Hear me, great Neptune; if I am really your true son, grant Odysseus that he never come alive to your house; or if he must finally return to his friends, let him do so late and in a difficult position, having lost all his men [he comes home in another man's boat and finds trouble at home'].

“So he prayed and Neptune heard his prayer. Then he picked up a rock much larger than the first, picked it up and hurled it with tremendous force. It landed directly under the ship but nearly hit the tip of the rudder. The sea shook as the rock fell in, and the swell that lifted it pushed us forward on our way to the shore of the island.

"When we finally reached the island where we had left the rest of our ships, we found our comrades weeping and anxiously awaiting our return. We drove our ship across the sand and left it on the beach; We also landed the Cyclopes' sheep and divided them evenly among us so no one could complain. As for the mutton, my companions agreed that I should have it as an extra; So I sacrificed him on the seashore and burned his thighs to Jupiter, who is lord of all. But he paid no attention to my sacrifice and only thought of how he could destroy my ships and my comrades.

“So we gorged on meat and drinks all day until sunset, but when the sun went down and it got dark we camped on the shore. When the daughter of the morning appeared, pink-fingered Aurora, I ordered my men to climb aboard and untie the lines. Then they took their places and struck the gray sea with their oars; so we sailed away with sadness in our hearts, but happy that we had escaped death, though we had lost our companions.

Buch X

FROM HERE we go to the island of Eoli, where lives Aeolus, son of Hippotas, loved by the immortal gods. It's an island floating in the sea (sort of) surrounded by an iron wall. Now Aeolus has six lustful daughters and six sons, so he made the sons marry the daughters and they all lived with their dear father and mother, partying and enjoying every possible luxury. All day long the atmosphere of the house is filled with the taste of roasted meat until it groans again, terrace and all; but at night they sleep in their well-made beds, each with his own wife between the covers. These were the people we had come among.

"Aeolus entertained me for a whole month, constantly asking me questions about Troy, the Argive fleet, and the return of the Achaeans. I told him exactly how it all happened and when I told him I had to go and asked him to help me along the way, he made no fuss and left straight away. He also skinned me a fine oxhide to enclose the paths of the raging winds, which he closed in the skin like in a pouch, because Jupiter made him captain of the winds, and he could shake or calm any one of them. according to your own taste. He put the bag in the boat and tied its opening with a silver thread so that not even a gust of crosswind could blow it from anywhere. The west wind, which was good for us, just let it blow as it liked; but it all came to nothing because we were lost in our own madness.

“We sailed for nine days and nine nights and on the tenth day our homeland appeared on the horizon. We came so close that we could see the fires burning, and I, being dead, fell into a light sleep, for I had never let go of the oar in my own hands that we might hurry home. The men started talking about this, saying I had gold and silver in the pouch Aeolus had given me. “Blessed be my heart,” one addressed his neighbor, saying, “How honorable and kind this man is no matter what city or country he goes to. See what great prizes he takes home from Troy, while we who have traveled so far came back empty-handed when we started, and now Aeolus has given him much more. Let's quickly see what it's all about and how much gold and silver is in the bag you gave him.

"So they spoke, and bad advice prevailed. They dropped the bag, then the wind howled, creating a storm that carried us tearfully to the sea and away from our land. Then I woke up and didn't know whether to throw myself into the sea or go on living and enjoying myself; but I persevered, covering myself up and lying on the ship while the men wept bitterly as the fierce winds drove our fleet back to the Aeolian island.

“When we got there, we got out to drink water and had dinner next to the boats. Immediately after supper I took a herald and one of my men and went straight to the house of Aeolus, where I found him feasting with his wife and family; so we sat like petitioners on the threshold. They were surprised to see us and said: Odysseus, what brings you here? Which god has mistreated you? We have made every effort to escort you back to Ithaca or wherever you wish to go.

"So they spoke, but I answered sadly, 'My men have ruined me; she and the cruel dream ruined me. My friends, fix this evil for me, for you can if you will.

"I spoke as movingly as I could, but they said nothing until their father replied, 'Most disgraceful of mankind, get off the island at once; whom heaven hates I will not help. Go away, for you come here hated from heaven. “And with these words he sadly sent me from his door.

“From then on we sailed sadly, until the men grew tired of rowing long and uselessly because no wind could help them. Six days, night and day, we labored, and on the seventh day we reached the rocky fortress of Lamus Telepylus, the city of the Lestrygonians, where the shepherd leading his sheep and goats [to milk them] greets the one who brings them leads out [to feed] his flock and she responds to the greeting. In this country a man who could not sleep could earn twice as much, one as a herdsman and one as a shepherd, because they worked day and night.

“When we reached the port we found it surrounded by steep slopes, with a narrow entrance between two promontories. My captains all took their boats and tied them together, for there was never a breath of wind, but it was always calm. I kept my own boat out and tied it to a rock at the end of the headland; So I climbed a high rock to explore, but I couldn't see any sign of people or livestock, just some smoke rising from the ground. So I sent two of my company with an assistant to find out what kind of people the inhabitants were.

"When they reached the beach the men were following a flat road, by which people bring firewood from the mountains into the town, until they met a young woman who had gone out to fetch water, and who was named a Lestrygonian's daughter Antiphates was . . . She went to the spring of Artacia, from which the people draw their water, and when my men approached her, they asked who was the king of this land, and what kind of people he ruled over; So he led them to his father's house, but when they got there they found that his wife was a giant the size of a mountain and they were horrified to see her.

"Immediately she telephoned her husband Antiphates from the meeting place, and immediately he proceeded to kill my men. He grabbed one of them and immediately started preparing his dinner, after which the other two ran as fast as they could back to their boats. But Antiphates let out a whoop of joy behind them, and thousands of burly Laestrygonians appeared on all sides - ogres, not men. Huge boulders were hurled from the cliffs onto knots as if they were mere stones, and I heard the horrid sound of ships crashing and the dying screams of my men as the Laistrygonians sliced ​​them up like fish and caught them. home to eat. While my men were being slaughtered in the harbor, I drew my sword, cut the rope of my own ship, and ordered my men to row with all their might, though they fared differently than the others; So they went for their lives, and we were thankful enough when we reached the open sea, out of reach of the rocks thrown at us. None of the others remained.

"From there we sailed sad, glad to have escaped death, although we had lost our companions, and arrived at the island of Aea, where lives Circe, a great and cunning goddess, who is the sister of the magician Aeetes, because both are children of the sun by Perse, the daughter of Okeanos. We took our ship to a safe harbor without saying a word, because some god had led us there, and after having landed there for two days and two nights, tired in body and mind. When morning came on the third day, I took my spear and sword and left the ship to explore it and see if I could make out any human hand signals or hear voices. Climbing to a high point, I saw the smoke from Circe's house billowing through a dense forest of trees, and as I saw it I doubted whether, having seen the smoke, I would not spot it at once. more, but in the end I thought it better to go back to the ship, feed the men supper, and send some of them away than go myself.

“As I was about to return to the ship, a god took pity on my loneliness and sent a beautiful antlered deer right in my path. I went down to his pasture in the woods to drink from the river, for the heat of the sun was oppressing him, and as I passed I hit him square in the back; the point of the bronze spear pierced him, and he lay moaning in the dust until he died. Then I put my foot on it, drew my spear from the wound, and laid it down; I gathered also coarse grass and reeds, and twisted them into an armful of good strong ropes, with which I bound the noble creature's four feet; With that I hung it around my neck and, leaning on my spear, went back to the ship, for the stag was too big to carry on my shoulder and hold in one hand. As I threw it in front of the ship, I called the men and talked animatedly to each of them, man after man. 'Look, my friends,' I said, 'we're not going to die that early and we're not going to starve anyway, as long as we have food and drink on board.' they uncovered their heads on the beach and admired the deer, for it was a splendid fellow indeed. Then, after feasting on it long enough, they washed their hands and began preparing it for dinner.

“So we sat all day until sunset eating and drinking our fill, but when the sun went down and it got dark we camped by the sea. When the morning girl, Finger Dawn, appeared, I called a council and said, “My friends, we are in deep trouble; Listen to me, so we have no idea where the sun rises or sets, so we can't even tell east from west. I see no way out; However, we must try to find one. We are certainly on an island, for this morning I climbed as high as I could and saw that the sea stretched to the horizon; it's getting low, but in the middle I saw smoke rising from a dense forest of trees.

"Their hearts sank when they heard me, for they remembered how they had been treated by the anti-fate Lestrygonians and the savage ogre Polyphemus. They wept bitterly in their dismay, but there was no use in weeping, so I divided them into two companies and assigned a captain to each; One party I handed over to Eurylochus, while I myself took charge of the others. So we cast lots for a helmet, and the lot fell on Eurylochus; so he went away with his twenty-two men, and they wept, as did we who stayed behind.

"When they reached Circe's house, they found it built of hewn stones in a prominent place in the middle of the forest. Wild mountain wolves and lions roamed about her, poor enchanted creatures she had tamed and drugged with her charms. They didn't attack my men, but wagged their big cocks, caressed and caressed them affectionately. As dogs crowd around their master when they see him coming home from supper, knowing that he will bring them something, so these wolves and lions swarmed around my men with their large claws, but the men were terribly frightened at the sight these strange creatures. They soon reached the gates of the Goddess' house, and while there they could hear Circe within, singing beautifully, while she worked at her loom, making a web so fine, so soft, and so dazzlingly colored. a goddess could weave. At this Polites, whom I liked better than any of my men, and trusted more, said: 'There is a man in there working at a loom, and singing very well; the whole place resonates with her, let's call her and see if she's a woman or a goddess.

"They called her and she came down and opened the door and told them to come in. They followed her without thinking of anything bad, all except Eurylochus, who suspected something bad and stayed outside. When she brought them into her house, she put them on benches and seats and mixed them with cheese, honey, flour and pramnian, but she drugged them with evil poisons to make them forget their homeland, and when they drank it she was transformed . They turned them into pigs with a handshake, their magic wand and locked them in their pigpens. They were like pig heads, hair and all, and they grunted like pigs; but their senses were the same as before, and they remembered everything.

'Then they screamed and fell silent, and Circe hurled acorns and beech branches at them while these pigs ate, but Eurylochus hastened to tell me once more of the sad fate of our comrades. He was so taken aback that, though he tried to speak, he could not find the words; Her eyes welled up with tears and all she could do was sob and sigh until we finally got the story out of her and she told us what happened to the others.

"We walked," he said, as you tell us, through the forest, and in the midst of it stood a beautiful house made of hewn stone, in a place that could be seen from afar. There we found a woman, or she was a goddess, working at her loom, singing sweetly; Then the men yelled at her and called her, and she immediately came down and opened the door and invited us in. The others didn't suspect any mischief, so they followed her into the house, but I stayed where I was, thinking there might be treason. From that moment I never saw them again because none of them left, although I spent a lot of time sitting and waiting for them.

“Then I took my bronze sword and slung it over my shoulders; I also bowed and told Eurylochus to come back with me and show me the way. But he grasped me with both hands and spoke longingly, saying: “Lord, force me not to go with you, but let me stay here, for I know that you will not bring any of them with you, nor even return alive yourself; Let's see if we can still escape with the few we have left because we can still save our lives.

"Then stay where you are," I replied, "eat and drink on the ship, but I must go as I have an urgent obligation to do so."

"With that, I left the ship and headed inland. As I walked through the enchanted forest and approached the great house of the sorceress Circe, I found Mercury with his golden wand, disguised as a young man in the prime of his youth and beauty, with hair falling in his face. . He came up to me, took my hand and said: “My poor unfortunate one, where are you going on this mountain, alone and not knowing the way? Her men are trapped in Circe's pigsty like so many boars are in their dens. You don't think you can free her, do you? I can tell you that you will never come back and you have to stay there with the others. But whatever, I will protect you and get you out of your predicament. Take this herb, which is of great virtue, and take it with you when you go to Circe's house, it will be a talisman for you against all kinds of evils.

"And I will tell you all the evil sorceries Circe will try to cast on you. She will make you a mess to drink, and she will drug the food she makes, but she will not be able to charm you because the power of the herb I will give you will prevent her spells from happening. Work. i will tell you everything If Circe hits you with her wand, draw your sword and jump on her like you're going to kill her. Then she will be scared and want you to sleep with her; in it you must not reject her categorically, because you want her to set her companions free and also take good care of you, but make her solemnly swear by all the blessed that she will do no more harm to you, else if he undresses you, he will strip you and render you useless.

"As he spoke, he pulled the grass off the ground and showed me what it looked like. The root was black while the flower was milky white; the gods call it moly, and mortals cannot eradicate it, but the gods can do as they will.

“Then Mercury returned to high Olympus and crossed the wooded island; but I made my way to Circe's house, and my heart was troubled as I went. When I got to the gate I stood there and called upon the goddess, and as soon as she heard me she came down and opened the gate and bade me come in; So I followed her very disturbed in thought. He made me sit on a seat richly decorated with silver, there was also a footstool under my feet, and he made me drink stew in a gold cup; but she drugged him because she wanted to hurt me. When he gave it to me and I drank it not liking it, he hit me, hit me with his wand. "That's it," he shouted, "go to the pigsty and fuck your hole with the others."

"But I charged at her, sword drawn, as if to kill her, whereupon she fell down with a loud cry, grabbed my knees and said pitifully, 'Who and where are you from? What place and people are you from? How can it be that my drugs don't have the power to put a spell on you? No one has yet been able to bear even to taste the herb I have given you; You must be spell-safe; surely you can be none other than the daring hero Odysseus, whom Mercury always said would come here with his ship one day when he returns from Troy; so be it; Put your sword in its sheath and let's rest so we can become friends and learn to trust each other.

"And I said, 'Circe, how do you expect me to be kind to you when you've just turned all my men into pigs? And now that you have me here you want to hurt me if you ask me to sleep with you and you will undress me and make me worthless.Of course I will not agree to sleeping with you unless you first take your solemn oath not to plan any further harm against me.

"Then she immediately swore as I told her and when she finished her vow I slept with her.

“Meanwhile your four servants, who are your maids, went to work. They are the children of groves and springs and of holy waters that flow into the sea. One of them spread a purple cloth over a seat and laid a rug underneath. Another carried silver tables to the seats and covered them with baskets of gold. A third mixed sweet wine with water in a silver bowl and placed golden bowls on the tables, while the fourth brought water and boiled it in a great cauldron over a good fire which she had kindled. When the water in the kettle boiled, he added cold water until it was just how I liked it, and then he sat me in the tub and proceeded to wash me out of the kettle around my head and shoulders remove the tire and stiffness. from my members. As soon as he had finished washing and anointing me with oil, he dressed me in a beautiful robe and shirt, and led me to a seat richly inlaid with silver; there was also a stool under my feet. Then a maid brought me water in a beautiful golden pitcher and poured it into a silver basin for me to wash my hands, and she brought a clean table by my side; An elderly servant brought me bread and offered me many things from the house, and then Circe invited me to dinner, but I refused and sat down, ignoring what was in front of me, still sullen and suspicious.

"When Circe saw me sitting without food and in great pain, she came to me and said, 'Odysseus, why do you sit there like a mute, gnawing at your own heart and refusing food and drink? Are you still suspicious? You shouldn't, because I've already solemnly sworn not to harm you.

"And I said, Circe, no man in his right mind can think of eating or drinking in your house until you set your friends free and let them see them. If you want me to eat and drink, you must free my men and bring them to me so I can see them with my own eyes.

"As I said this, he crossed the yard, wand in hand, and opened the doors of the pigsty. My men came out like so many pig cousins ​​and looked at them, but she walked between them and anointed each one with a second drug, from which the bristles fell, giving them the bad drug, and they became men again, younger than they were . . they were earlier and much bigger and prettier. They recognized me at once, seized each of my hands, and wept with joy until the whole house was filled with their noise, and Circe herself took such pity on them that she came up to me and said: 'Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, sweep Immediately return to the sea where you left your ship and bring it to land first. Then hide all your ship's equipment and belongings in a cave and return here with your men.

"I agreed to that, so I returned to the beach to find the men on the ship crying and wailing miserably. When they saw me, the stupid, whining boys started playing around me like calves that run away and jump around their mothers when they see them coming home to be milked after eating all day and the farm echoes with their roar. They looked so pleased to see me, as if they had returned to their own rugged Ithaca where they were born and raised. 'Lord,' said the loving creatures, 'we are glad to see you again, as if we had arrived safely at Ithaca; but tell us all about the fate of our comrades.

“I spoke to them to comfort them and said: 'We must land and hide the ship's crew with all our goods in some cave; So come with me as quickly as you can to Circe's house, where you will find your comrades eating and drinking in abundance.

"Then the men would have come with me at once, but Eurylochus tried to stop them, saying: 'Oh, poor fellows, what will become of us? we all into pigs or wolves or lions and we have to guard their house. Remember how the Cyclops treated us when our companions entered his cave and Odysseus with them. It was insane that these men lost their lives.

“Hearing this, I did not know whether I should draw the sharp blade that hung from my strong thigh and cut off his head, although he was a close relative of mine; but the men stood up for him, saying, "Lord, if it is possible, let this man stay here and guard the ship, but take the rest of us with you to Circe's house."

“With that we all went inland, and Eurylochus did not lag behind, but went ahead, being startled at the severe rebuke I had given him.

“Meanwhile Circe saw to it that the men left behind were washed and anointed with oil; he had also given them woolen cloaks and shirts, and when we arrived we found them enjoying themselves in their house eating. As soon as the men faced and met each other, they wept with joy and shouted loudly until the whole palace resounded again. Then Circe came up to me and said: 'Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, tell your men to stop weeping; I know how much you suffered at sea and how ill you fared among the cruel savages on land, but that is over, so stay here and eat and drink until you are as strong and vigorous as ever. You were there when you left Ithaca; because you are currently both physically and mentally debilitated; You go all the time thinking about the difficulties you have endured in your travels, leaving you with no joy.

“So she spoke and we agreed. We stayed with Circe for twelve months and enjoyed countless quantities of meat and wine. But as the year passed in the waning moon and the long days came, my men took me aside and said, “Lord, it is time to think about going home if you are to be forgiven. see your homeland and your homeland.

"That's what they said and I agreed. So we gorged on meat and wine all day until sunset, but when the sun went down and it was dark the men lay down to sleep in the covered cloisters. I, however, after lying with Circe, begged her on my knees, and the goddess heard what I had to say. "Circe," I said, "please keep your promise to help me on my journey home. I want to go back and so do my men, they always annoy me with their complaints as soon as your back is turned.

And the goddess answered: Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, none of you will stay here longer if you do not want to, but there is one more journey you must undertake before returning home. You must go to the house of Hades and the fearsome Proserpine to consult the spirit of the blind Theban prophet Tiresias, whose mind is still unshakable. Only for him did Proserpina leave her mind even in death, but the other spirits flutter about aimlessly.

"I was shocked when I heard that. I sat on the bed and cried, and I would have lived not to see the sunlight, but when I got tired of crying and tossing and turning, I said: “And who will guide me on this journey through the house of Hades and a port?" which no ship can reach.

"You won't want a guide," she answered; Raise the mast, hoist the white sails, sit very still, and the north wind alone will carry you there. As your ship crosses the waters of the ocean, you will reach the fertile coast of the land of Proserpine, with its forests of tall poplars and willows that release their fruit at the wrong time; Here, anchor your ship off the coast of Oceanus and head straight to the dark abode of Hades. You'll find it near the confluence of the Pyriphlegethon and Cocytus rivers (which is a branch of the River Styx) in Acheron, and you'll see a rock nearby, right where the two mighty rivers meet.

“When you arrive at this place, then dig a pit about a cubit long, wide and deep, and pour into it as a libation for all the dead, first honey mixed with milk, then wine, and then thirdly place water and sprinkle white barley flour above all. In addition, you must offer many prayers to the poor weak spirits, promising them that when you return to Ithaca you will sacrifice a barren heifer, the best you have and fill the pyre with good things. In particular, you must promise that Tiresias will have a black sheep for himself, the best of his flocks.

“When you have entreated the spirits with your prayers, offer them a ram and a black sheep and bow their heads to Erebus; but you yourself move away from them as if you are walking toward the river. In doing so, many spirits of the dead will come to you, and you must tell your men to skin the two sheep you just killed and offer them as a burnt offering with prayers to Hades and Proserpine. Then draw your sword and sit there lest other poor spirits approach the broken blood before Tiresias has answered your questions. The seer will come to you soon and tell you about your journey, what steps you must take and how you must navigate the sea to reach your home.

"It was light when he finished speaking, so he put my shirt and cloak on me. As for her, she threw a beautiful light gauze over her shoulders, fastened it around her waist with a golden belt, and covered her head with a cloak. So I walked around the house between the men and spoke kindly to each of them, man by man: "You mustn't sleep here anymore," I said to them, "we must go, because Circe told me everything. .' And this they did as I commanded.

“Nevertheless, I didn't drive it smoothly. We had with us a certain youth named Elpenor, not particularly remarkable in wit or courage, who was drunk, and lay separated from the other men on the roof of the house to sleep his drink in the cool. Hearing the sound of men running, he suddenly jumped up and completely forgot to go down the main staircase, so he fell off the roof and broke his neck, and his soul descended to the House of Hades. .

"As I gathered the men, I said to them, 'They think they are going straight home, but Circe explained to me that instead we should go to the house of Hades and Proserpine to consult the spirit of the prophet. Theban Tiresias.

“The men were heartbroken when they heard me and fell to the ground groaning and tearing their hair, but they did not calm themselves by crying. When we reached the beach, weeping and bemoaning our fate, Circe brought the ram and ewe, and we tied them to the side of the ship. She passed among us without our knowing it, for who can see the comings and goings of a god if the god does not wish to be seen?

Buch XI

THEN, when we reached the sea-shore, we put our ship into the water and hoisted her mast and sails; We also brought the sheep on board and took our places, weeping and in great anguish. Circe, that great and cunning goddess, sent us a good wind blowing from the stern, and stayed steadfast with us, always keeping our sails full; So we did what we wanted to do with the boat's gear and let it run as the wind and the helmsman dictated. All day her sails were full as she held her course across the sea, but when the sun went down and darkness covered the whole land we entered the deep waters of the river Ocean, where was the land and city of the Cimmerians. who live shrouded in fog and darkness, which the sun's rays never penetrate, which neither rise nor descend from heaven, but the poor wretches live in a long, melancholy night. Once there, we beached the ship, took out the sheep, and sailed through the waters of the ocean until we reached the place Circe had told us about.

"Here Perymedes and Eurylochus held the victims while I drew my sword and dug the trench a cubit in each direction. I brought a libation to all the dead, first with honey and milk, then with wine, and third with water, and I sprinkled the whole assembly with white barley flour, prayed fervently to the poor, irresponsible spirits, and promised that He would do it if I return sacrifice Ithaca a barren cow, the best he had, and he would fill the pyre with good things. I also privately promised that Tiresias would have a black sheep for herself, the best of all my animals. When I had prayed long enough for the dead, I slit the throats of the two sheep and let the blood flow into the ditch, where ghosts of Erebus brides, young bachelors, old men weary from work, maidens crossed swarmed . of love, and brave men who died in battle with their armor still stained with blood; they came from all sides and fluttered across the ditch with a strange cry that made me blanch with fear. When I saw them coming, I told the men to go quickly and skin the carcasses of the two dead sheep and make burnt offerings, and at the same time pray to Hades and Proserpine; but I sat where I was, sword drawn, and would not let the poor irresponsible spirits touch the blood until Tiresias answered my questions.

"The first ghost that appeared was that of my comrade Elpenor, for he was not yet buried. We had left his body unawakened and unburied with Circe because we had so many other things to do. I felt very sorry for him and cried when I saw him: 'Elpenor', I said, 'how did you get here in this dark and dark? You can walk here faster than I can in my boat.

"'Lord,' he answered with a groan, 'it was all bad luck and my own unspeakable drunkenness. I slept upstairs in Circe's house and never thought to go back down the grand staircase, but I fell off the roof and broke my neck, whereupon my soul descended to the house of Hades. And now I pray to you for all those who left you, even if they are not here, for you, for your wife, for the priest who raised you as a child and for Telémaco, the only hope is yours Haus, what are you doing now? I ask you. I know that when you leave this limbo, you will again point your ship towards the Isle of Eea. Do not leave me there unawakened and unburied, lest I bring the wrath of heaven upon thee; but burn me in whatever armor I'm in, make me a mound on the beach so I can tell people in days to come what a poor unfortunate man I was, and plant the oar I used to row with , on my grave. while I was alive and with my companions.' And I said to him, 'My poor thing, I'll do anything you asked me to do.'

"So we sat and talked sadly, me on one side of the ditch with my sword in the blood and my comrade's ghost telling me all this on the other side. Then came the spirit of my dead mother Anticlea daughter of Autolycus. I had let her live when I left for Troy, and I wept when I saw her, but in spite of my pain I would not let her touch the blood until I had asked Tiresias my questions.

“Then also came the spirit of the Theban Tiresias with his golden scepter in his hand. He found me and said to me: Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, why, poor man, have you left the daylight and gone down to visit the dead in this sad place? Step back from the ditch and draw your sword so I can drink the blood and answer your questions truthfully.

"Then I withdrew and sheathed my sword, whereupon, having drunk the blood, he began his prophecy.

"You want to know," he said, "about your homecoming, but Heaven will make it difficult for you. I don't think you will escape the gaze of Neptune, who still holds a bitter grudge against you for blinding his son. Still, after much suffering, you can return home if you can restrain yourself and your companions when your ship reaches the island of Trinacian, where you will find the sheep and cattle belonging to the all-seeing, all-hearing sun. If you leave these flocks unharmed and only think of returning home, it is possible that after many difficulties you will reach Ithaca. but if you injure her, I warn you of the destruction of your ship and your men. Even if you manage to escape alone, after losing all your men on another man's ship, you will come back in bad conditions and you will find trouble in your house raided by authoritarian people who will devour your goods Pretext for courting the woman and giving her presents.

"'When you come home you will take revenge on these suitors; and having killed them by force or by deceit in their own house, you must take an oar well made, and carry and carry it, till you reach a land where men have never heard of the sea and do not mingle. salt with their food, nor do they know anything about ships, nor about oars like ships' wings. I'll give you that sure sign that can't escape your attention. A hiker will find you and tell you it must be a sieve shovel slung over your shoulder. In this one you have to fix the oar on the ground and sacrifice a ram, a bull and a boar to Neptune. Then go home and offer hecatombs to the sky gods, one at a time. As for you, death will come to you from the sea, and your life will diminish very gently when you are filled with years and peace of mind, and your people will bless you. Everything I said comes true].

"That, I replied, must please heaven, but tell me, tell me, and tell me the truth, I see my poor mother's ghost near us; she sits by the blood without saying a word, and although I am her own child, she does not remember or speak to me; Tell me sir how to get you to know me.

"'That,' he said, 'maybe I can do it soon. Any ghost you let taste blood will talk to you as a rational being, but if you don't let them taste blood, they'll run away again."

"Then the spirit of Tiresias returned to the house of Hades, for its prophecies had already been uttered, but I stayed where I was until my mother came and tasted the blood. She recognized me immediately and spoke to me lovingly, saying: “My son, how did you descend into this darkness when you were alive? It is difficult for the living to see these places, for between us and them there are great and terrible waters, and there is the Oceanus, which no one can cross on foot, but must have a good ship to carry it. Have you been trying all this time to find your way home from Troy and never made it back to Ithaca or seen your wife in your own house?

'Mother,' I said, 'I was compelled to come here to consult the spirit of the Theban prophet Tiresias. That day I went with Agamemnon to Ilius, the land of noble horses, to fight the Trojans. But tell me and tell me the truth, how did you die? Were you ill for a long time or did heaven grant you a quiet and easy passage for eternity? Tell me also about my father and the son I left;is my property still in your hands,or has it been taken by someone else who thinks I can't claim it back? Tell me again, what is my wife up to and what does she think, does she live with my son and take care of my property, or did she do it? best marriage she could and marry again?

"My mother replied, 'Your wife is still living in your house, but she is very distressed and is crying day and night. No one has yet taken over his fine possessions, and Telemachus still keeps his lands intact. He has to entertain a lot, which of course he has to do, considering he's a judge and how everyone invites him; his father stays in his old house in the country and never goes near the village. Doesn't have a comfortable bed or bedding; in winter he sleeps with the men on the ground before the fire and goes about in rags, but in summer, when the heat returns, he lies down on the vine in a bed of vine leaves thrown wild on the ground. He suffers all the time because you never came home, and he suffers more and more as you get older. As for my own end, it was like this: Heaven didn't deliver me to my own home quickly and painlessly, nor was I stricken with some disease that usually wears down and kills people, but my desire to know what you do and the strength of my affection for you, that was my death.'

"So I tried to find a way to embrace my mother's spirit. Three times I jumped towards her and tried to take her in my arms, but each time she pulled out of my embrace as if she were a dream or a ghost and, deeply touched, I said to her: “Mother, why not” be you still? If I could hold you If we could hold each other, we could find sad comfort in sharing our sorrows, even in the house of Hades; Does Proserpina want to torment me even more by just mocking me with a ghost?

"'My son,' she answered, 'the most wretched of all mankind, it is not Proserpina who deceives you, but all men are like this when they are dead the violence of the consuming fire, as soon as life leaves the body and the soul flies away, like it's a dream Now, however, get back out there as soon as possible and write down all these things so that you can tell your wife about them in the future.

“So we talked, and then Proserpina sent the spirits of the wives and daughters of all the most famous men. They huddled around the blood and I wondered how to interrogate them separately. In the end, I decided it would be best to take the sharp blade hanging from my powerful thigh and prevent everyone from drinking the blood at once. So they went up one by one, and each one, when questioned, told me their race and parentage.

"The first one I saw was Tyro. She was the daughter of Salmoneo and the wife of Creteus son of Aeolus. He fell in love with the river Enipeus, the most beautiful river in the world. Once when she was drinking
Neptune, walking by her side as usual, lay down beside her at the mouth of the river, disguised as a lover, and a great blue wave arched over her like a mountain to hide the woman and the god to whom he gave his virginity released belt. . and put her into a deep sleep. When the god had completed the act of love, he took her hand and said: “Tyro, rejoice in all good will; The embraces of the gods are not without fruit, and by twelve months you will have beautiful twins. Take good care of her. I'm Neptune, so go home now, but bite yourself and don't tell him anything.

one.” “Then he fell into the sea, and in due time she gave birth to Pelias and Neleus, who served Jupiter with might and main. Pelias was a great shepherd and lived in Iolcus, but the other lived in Pylos his sons were from Cretheus, namely Aeson, Phere and Amythaon, who was a brave warrior and charioteer.

"Beside her I saw Antiope, the daughter of Asopus, who boasted that she had slept in the arms of Jupiter himself and had borne him two sons, Amphion and Zeto. They founded Thebes with its seven gates and built a wall around it; for though they were strong, they could not hold Thebes until they had surrounded it.

“Then I saw Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon, who also bore Jupiter to the irrepressible Hercules; and Megara, who was the daughter of the great king Creon, and who married the fearsome son of Amphitryon.

“I also saw the beautiful Epicaste, mother of King Oedipus, who without realizing it had to marry her own son. He married her after killing her father, but the gods told the whole story to the world; in which he remained king of Thebes, in great sorrow at the anger the gods brought upon him; but Epicaste went to the house of the mighty jailer Hades, having hanged himself from grief, and the vengeful spirits awaited hi