Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 20

Page 8

But him Aeneas answered in turn, and said:

"Do not think, O son of Peleus, to affright me, like an infant boy, with words; since I also well know how to utter both threats and reproaches. But we know each other's race, and we know our parents, hearing the words of mortal men long since uttered; although by sight, indeed, neither dost thou know mine, nor I thine. They say, indeed, that thou art the offspring of renowned Peleus, and of thy mother Thetis, the fair-haired sea-nymph; whereas I boast myself to be sprung from magnanimous Anchises, and Venus is my mother. Of these the one or the other shall this day lament their beloved son; for I think we shall not return from the battle thus separated by childish words. But if thou desirest to be taught these matters, that thou mayest well know our race (for many men know it), cloud-compelling Jove indeed first begat Dardanus.[652] And he built Dardania, for sacred Ilium, the city of articulate-speaking men, was not as yet built in the plain, and they still dwelt at the foot of many-rilled Ida. Dardanus again begat a son, king Erichthonius, who was then the richest of mortal men; whose three thousand mares pastured through the marsh, rejoicing in their tender foals. Boreas, however, was enamoured of some of these when pasturing, and having likened himself to an azure-maned steed, covered them; and they, becoming pregnant, brought forth twelve female foals; which when they bounded upon the fruitful earth, ran over the highest fruit of the stalks of corn, nor did they break them:[653] but when they sported over the broad back of the ocean, they ran along the surface of the ridge of the hoary sea. But Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans. From Tros again were descended three illustrious sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and godlike Ganymede, who indeed was the handsomest of mortal men; and whom the gods caught up into heaven, to pour out wine for Jove,[654] that, on account of his beauty, he might be with the immortals. Ilus again begat his renowned son Laomedon; but Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam, Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, a branch of Mars; and Assaracus Capys, who also begat his son Anchises.

But Anchises begat me, and Priam noble Hector. Of this race and blood do I boast myself to be. But Jove increases and diminishes valour to men, as he pleases; for he is the most powerful of all. But come, let us no longer talk of these things, like little boys, standing in the middle combat of the strife. For it is possible for both to utter very many reproaches, so that a hundred-oared galley[655] would not contain the burthen; for the language of mortals is voluble,[656] and the discourses in it numerous and varied: and vast is the distribution[657] of words here and there. Whatsoever word thou mayest speak, such also wilt thou hear. But what need is there to us of disputes and railing, that we should quarrel with each other like women, who, being angry with a soul-destroying strife, proceeding into the middle of the way, chide each other with many things true and not true: for rage also suggests those things?[658] With words, however, thou shalt not turn me, courageous, from my valour, before thou lightest against me with thy brass; but come, quickly let us make trial of each other with brazen spears."

[Footnote 652: On Dardanus, the eponymus of Dardania, see Grote, vol. i. p. 387, where the whole legend of Troy is admirably discussed. Cf. Virg. Aen. i. 292; iii. 167, where the Roman poet has made use of Homer in tracing the pedigree of Aeneas to Jove.]

[Footnote 653: This hyperbole has been emulated by numberless poets. Cf. Oppian, Cyn. i. 231; Apollon. Rh. i. 183; Quintus Calab. viii. 156; Virg. Aen. vii. 808; Claudian in 3rd Cons. Hon. i. 97.]

[Footnote 654: Cf. Pindar, Ol. i. 69, and Serv. on Aen. i. 32.]

[Footnote 655: Compare the Latin phrase, "plaustra convitiorum," and Duport, p. 116.]

[Footnote 656: [Greek: Strepte—ygra kai eylygistos].—Eustath.]

[Footnote 657: [Greek: Nomos, epinemesis eph' ekateoa].—Eustath. See Kennedy.]

[Footnote 658: "_I.e._ prompts to utter all sorts of things, true and false."—Oxf. Tr.]

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