Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 15

Page 8

Then Thoas, the son of Andraemon, addressed them, by far the bravest of the Aetolians, skilled in the use of the javelin, and brave in the standing fight; few also of the Greeks excelled him in the council when the youths contended in eloquence. Who wisely counselling, harangued them, and said:

"O gods, surely I behold with mine eyes this mighty miracle, since Hector has thus risen again, having escaped death. Certainly the mind of each was in great hopes that he had died by the hands of Telamonian Ajax. But some one of the gods has again liberated and preserved Hector, who hath already relaxed the knees of many Greeks; as I think is about [to occur] now also, for not without far-sounding Jove does he stand in the van, thus earnest. But come, let us all obey as I shall desire. Let us order the multitude to retreat towards the ships. But let us, as many as boast ourselves to be the best in the army, take a stand, if indeed, opposing, we may at the outset interrupt him, upraising our spears; and I think that he, although raging, will dread in mind to enter the band of the Greeks."

Thus he spoke; but all heard him attentively, and obeyed. Those around the Ajaces and king Idomeneus, Teucer, Meriones, and Meges, equal to Mars, calling the chiefs together, marshalled their lines against Hector and the Trojans; whilst the multitude in the rear retreated to the ships of the Greeks. But the Trojans in close array pressed forward; and Hector, taking long strides, led the way; but before him walked Phoebus Apollo, clad as to his shoulders with a cloud,[493] and he held the mighty, dreadful, fringed,[494] dazzling aegis, which the artist Vulcan had given to Jove, to be borne along for the routing of men. Holding this in his hands, he led on the people. But the Greeks remained in close array, and a shrill shout arose on both sides. [Many] arrows bounded from the strings, and many spears from gallant hands: some were fixed in the bodies of warlike youths, but many half way, before they had touched the fair body, stuck in the earth, longing to satiate themselves with flesh. As long as Phoebus Apollo held the aegis unmoved in his hands, so long did the weapons reach both sides, and the people fell. But when, looking full in the faces of the swift-horsed Greeks, he shook it, and he himself besides shouted very loudly, then he checked the courage in their breasts, and they became forgetful of impetuous valour. But they, as when two wild beasts, in the depth of the dark night,[495] disturb a drove of oxen or a great flock of sheep, coming suddenly upon them, the keeper not being present—so the enfeebled Greeks were routed; for amongst them Apollo sent terror, and gave glory to the Trojans and to Hector. Then indeed man slew man, when the battle gave way. Hector slew Stichius and Arcesilaus; the one the leader of the brazen-mailed Boeotians; but the other the faithful companion of magnanimous Menestheus. But Aeneas slew Medon and Iasus: Medon indeed was the illegitimate son of godlike Oileus, and brother of Ajax; and he dwelt in Phylace, away from his father-land, having slain a man, the brother of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oileus had betrothed. Iasus, however, was appointed leader of the Athenians, and was called the son of Sphelus, the son of Bucolus. But Polydamas slew Mecistis, and Polites Echius, in the van, and noble Agenor slew Klonius. Paris also wounded Deiochous in the extremity of the shoulder from behind, whilst he was flying amongst the foremost combatants; and drove the brass quite through.

[Footnote 493: "Nube candentes humeros amictus, Augur Apollo."—Hor. Od. 2, 31.]

[Footnote 494: Cf. ii. 448. Literally, "shaggy, rugged, with fringes around."]

[Footnote 495: Cf. Buttm. Lexil. p. 89, whose translation of [Greek: nyktos amolgo] I have followed.]

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Rhapsody 15

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