Iliad

So the son of Menoitios was attending to the hurt of Eurypylos within the tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately, nor were the trench and the high wall above it, to keep the Trojans in check longer. They had built it to protect their ships, and had dug the trench all round it that it might safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they had taken, but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had been built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it did not last. So long as Hektor lived and Achilles continued his anger [ mênis ], and so long as the city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm; but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the Argives, though some were yet left alive when, moreover, the city was sacked in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their own country - then Poseidon and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporos, Caresus, Rhodios, Grenicus, Aesopos, and goodly Skamandros, with Simoeis, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned the mouths of all these rivers together and made them flow for nine days against the wall, while Zeus rained the whole time that he might wash it sooner into the sea. Poseidon himself, trident in hand, surveyed the work and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams and stones which the Achaeans had laid with so much toil;

ὣς ὃ μὲν ἐν κλισίῃσι Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱὸς

ἰᾶτʼ Εὐρύπυλον βεβλημένον· οἳ δὲ μάχοντο

Ἀργεῖοι καὶ Τρῶες ὁμιλαδόν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε

τάφρος ἔτι σχήσειν Δαναῶν καὶ τεῖχος ὕπερθεν

εὐρύ, τὸ ποιήσαντο νεῶν ὕπερ, ἀμφὶ δὲ τάφρον

ἤλασαν· οὐδὲ θεοῖσι δόσαν κλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας·

ὄφρά σφιν νῆάς τε θοὰς καὶ ληΐδα πολλὴν

ἐντὸς ἔχον ῥύοιτο· θεῶν δʼ ἀέκητι τέτυκτο

ἀθανάτων· τὸ καὶ οὔ τι πολὺν χρόνον ἔμπεδον ἦεν.

ὄφρα μὲν Ἕκτωρ ζωὸς ἔην καὶ μήνιʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς

καὶ Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος ἀπόρθητος πόλις ἔπλεν,

τόφρα δὲ καὶ μέγα τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν ἔμπεδον ἦεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μὲν Τρώων θάνον ὅσσοι ἄριστοι,

πολλοὶ δʼ Ἀργείων οἳ μὲν δάμεν, οἳ δὲ λίποντο,

πέρθετο δὲ Πριάμοιο πόλις δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,

Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἐν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔβησαν,

δὴ τότε μητιόωντο Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀπόλλων

τεῖχος ἀμαλδῦναι ποταμῶν μένος εἰσαγαγόντες.

ὅσσοι ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἅλα δὲ προρέουσι,

Ῥῆσός θʼ Ἑπτάπορός τε Κάρησός τε Ῥοδίος τε

Γρήνικός τε καὶ Αἴσηπος δῖός τε Σκάμανδρος

καὶ Σιμόεις, ὅθι πολλὰ βοάγρια καὶ τρυφάλειαι

κάππεσον ἐν κονίῃσι καὶ ἡμιθέων γένος ἀνδρῶν·

τῶν πάντων ὁμόσε στόματʼ ἔτραπε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ἐννῆμαρ δʼ ἐς τεῖχος ἵει ῥόον· ὗε δʼ ἄρα Ζεὺς

συνεχές, ὄφρά κε θᾶσσον ἁλίπλοα τείχεα θείη.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐννοσίγαιος ἔχων χείρεσσι τρίαιναν

ἡγεῖτʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πάντα θεμείλια κύμασι πέμπε

he made all level by the mighty stream of the Hellespont , and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a great beach of sand over the place where it had been. This done he turned the rivers back into their old courses.

φιτρῶν καὶ λάων, τὰ θέσαν μογέοντες Ἀχαιοί,

λεῖα δʼ ἐποίησεν παρʼ ἀγάρροον Ἑλλήσποντον,

αὖτις δʼ ἠϊόνα μεγάλην ψαμάθοισι κάλυψε

τεῖχος ἀμαλδύνας· ποταμοὺς δʼ ἔτρεψε νέεσθαι

κὰρ ῥόον, ᾗ περ πρόσθεν ἵεν καλλίρροον ὕδωρ.

This was what Poseidon and Apollo were to do in after time; but as yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives, cowed by the scourge of Zeus, were hemmed in at their ships in fear of Hektor the mighty minister of Rout, who as heretofore fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind. As a lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him, while these form solid wall and shower their javelins as they face him - his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be the death of him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to scatter them, and they fall back as often as he does so - even so did Hektor go about among the host exhorting his men, and cheering them on to cross the trench.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ὄπισθε Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀπόλλων

θησέμεναι· τότε δʼ ἀμφὶ μάχη ἐνοπή τε δεδήει

τεῖχος ἐΰδμητον, κανάχιζε δὲ δούρατα πύργων

βαλλόμενʼ· Ἀργεῖοι δὲ Διὸς μάστιγι δαμέντες

νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐελμένοι ἰσχανόωντο

Ἕκτορα δειδιότες, κρατερὸν μήστωρα φόβοιο·

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὡς τὸ πρόσθεν ἐμάρνατο ἶσος ἀέλλῃ·

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἔν τε κύνεσσι καὶ ἀνδράσι θηρευτῇσι

κάπριος ἠὲ λέων στρέφεται σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων·

οἳ δέ τε πυργηδὸν σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες

ἀντίον ἵστανται καὶ ἀκοντίζουσι θαμειὰς

αἰχμὰς ἐκ χειρῶν· τοῦ δʼ οὔ ποτε κυδάλιμον κῆρ

ταρβεῖ οὐδὲ φοβεῖται, ἀγηνορίη δέ μιν ἔκτα·

ταρφέα τε στρέφεται στίχας ἀνδρῶν πειρητίζων·

ὅππῃ τʼ ἰθύσῃ τῇ εἴκουσι στίχες ἀνδρῶν·

ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἰὼν ἐλλίσσεθʼ ἑταίρους

But the horses dared not do so, and stood neighing upon its brink, for the width frightened them. They could neither jump it nor cross it, for it had overhanging banks all round upon either side, above which there were the sharp stakes that the sons of the Achaeans had planted so close and strong as a defense against all who would assail it; a horse, therefore, could not get into it and draw his chariot after him, but those who were on foot kept trying their very utmost. Then Polydamas went up to Hektor and said, "Hektor, and you other leaders of the Trojans and allies, it is madness for us to try and drive our horses across the trench; it will be very hard to cross, for it is full of sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall. Our horses therefore cannot get down into it, and would be of no use if they did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should come to harm. If, indeed, great Zeus is minded to help the Trojans, and in his anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans,

τάφρον ἐποτρύνων διαβαινέμεν· οὐδέ οἱ ἵπποι

τόλμων ὠκύποδες, μάλα δὲ χρεμέτιζον ἐπʼ ἄκρῳ

χείλει ἐφεσταότες· ἀπὸ γὰρ δειδίσσετο τάφρος

εὐρεῖʼ, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ὑπερθορέειν σχεδὸν οὔτε περῆσαι

ῥηϊδίη· κρημνοὶ γὰρ ἐπηρεφέες περὶ πᾶσαν

ἕστασαν ἀμφοτέρωθεν, ὕπερθεν δὲ σκολόπεσσιν

ὀξέσιν ἠρήρει, τοὺς ἵστασαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

πυκνοὺς καὶ μεγάλους δηΐων ἀνδρῶν ἀλεωρήν.

ἔνθʼ οὔ κεν ῥέα ἵππος ἐΰτροχον ἅρμα τιταίνων

ἐσβαίη, πεζοὶ δὲ μενοίνεον εἰ τελέουσι.

δὴ τότε Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστάς·

Ἕκτορ τʼ ἠδʼ ἄλλοι Τρώων ἀγοὶ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων

ἀφραδέως διὰ τάφρον ἐλαύνομεν ὠκέας ἵππους·

ἣ δὲ μάλʼ ἀργαλέη περάαν· σκόλοπες γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ

ὀξέες ἑστᾶσιν, ποτὶ δʼ αὐτοὺς τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν,

ἔνθʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν καταβήμεναι οὐδὲ μάχεσθαι

ἱππεῦσι· στεῖνος γάρ, ὅθι τρώσεσθαι ὀΐω.

εἰ μὲν γὰρ τοὺς πάγχυ κακὰ φρονέων ἀλαπάζει

Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, Τρώεσσι δὲ ἵετʼ ἀρήγειν,

I would myself gladly see them perish now and here far from Argos ; but if they should rally and we are driven back from the ships pell-mell into the trench there will be not so much as a man get back to the city to tell the tale. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let our squires [ therapontes ] hold our horses by the trench, but let us follow Hektor in a body on foot, clad in full armor, and if the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us."

ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι καὶ αὐτίκα τοῦτο γενέσθαι,

νωνύμνους ἀπολέσθαι ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιούς·

εἰ δέ χʼ ὑποστρέψωσι, παλίωξις δὲ γένηται

ἐκ νηῶν καὶ τάφρῳ ἐνιπλήξωμεν ὀρυκτῇ,

οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ὀΐω οὐδʼ ἄγγελον ἀπονέεσθαι

ἄψορρον προτὶ ἄστυ ἑλιχθέντων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·

ἵππους μὲν θεράποντες ἐρυκόντων ἐπὶ τάφρῳ,

αὐτοὶ δὲ πρυλέες σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες

Ἕκτορι πάντες ἑπώμεθʼ ἀολλέες· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

οὐ μενέουσʼ εἰ δή σφιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.

Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hektor, who sprang in full armor to the ground, and all the other Trojans, when they saw him do so, also left their chariots. Each man then gave his horses over to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready, in proper order [ kosmos ], for him at the trench. Then they formed themselves into companies, made themselves ready, and in five bodies followed their leaders. Those that went with Hektor and Polydamas were the bravest and most in number, and the most determined to break through the wall and fight at the ships. Kebriones was also joined with them as third in command, for Hektor had left his chariot in charge of a less valiant warrior. The next company was led by Paris , Alkathoos, and Agenor; the third by Helenos and Deiphobos, two sons of Priam, and with them was the hero Asios - Asios the son of Hyrtakos, whose great black horses of the breed that comes from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe. Aeneas the valiant son of Anchises led the fourth; he and the two sons of Antenor, Arkhelokhos and Akamas, men well versed in all the arts of war. Sarpedon was leader over the allies, and took with him Glaukos and Asteropaios whom he deemed most valiant after himself - for he was far the best man of them all. These helped to array one another in their ox-hide shields, and then charged straight at the Danaans, for they felt sure that they would not hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon the ships.

ὣς φάτο Πουλυδάμας, ἅδε δʼ Ἕκτορι μῦθος ἀπήμων,

αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.

οὐδὲ μὲν ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἐφʼ ἵππων ἠγερέθοντο,

ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ πάντες ὄρουσαν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον Ἕκτορα δῖον.

ἡνιόχῳ μὲν ἔπειτα ἑῷ ἐπέτελλεν ἕκαστος

ἵππους εὖ κατὰ κόσμον ἐρυκέμεν αὖθʼ ἐπὶ τάφρῳ·

οἳ δὲ διαστάντες σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες

πένταχα κοσμηθέντες ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποντο.

οἳ μὲν ἅμʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἴσαν καὶ ἀμύμονι Πουλυδάμαντι,

οἳ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι ἔσαν, μέμασαν δὲ μάλιστα

τεῖχος ῥηξάμενοι κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ μάχεσθαι.

καί σφιν Κεβριόνης τρίτος εἵπετο· πὰρ δʼ ἄρʼ ὄχεσφιν

ἄλλον Κεβριόναο χερείονα κάλλιπεν Ἕκτωρ.

τῶν δʼ ἑτέρων Πάρις ἦρχε καὶ Ἀλκάθοος καὶ Ἀγήνωρ,

τῶν δὲ τρίτων Ἕλενος καὶ Δηΐφοβος θεοειδὴς

υἷε δύω Πριάμοιο· τρίτος δʼ ἦν Ἄσιος ἥρως

Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης, ὃν Ἀρίσβηθεν φέρον ἵπποι

αἴθωνες μεγάλοι ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.

τῶν δὲ τετάρτων ἦρχεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο

Αἰνείας, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω Ἀντήνορος υἷε

Ἀρχέλοχός τʼ Ἀκάμας τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.

Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ἡγήσατʼ ἀγακλειτῶν ἐπικούρων,

πρὸς δʼ ἕλετο Γλαῦκον καὶ ἀρήϊον Ἀστεροπαῖον·

οἳ γάρ οἱ εἴσαντο διακριδὸν εἶναι ἄριστοι

τῶν ἄλλων μετά γʼ αὐτόν· ὃ δʼ ἔπρεπε καὶ διὰ πάντων.

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους ἄραρον τυκτῇσι βόεσσι

βάν ῥʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν λελιημένοι, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔφαντο

σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.

The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel of Polydamas but Asios son of Hyrtakos would not leave his horses and his esquire [ therapôn ] behind him; in his foolhardiness he took them on with him towards the ships, nor did he fail to come by his end in consequence. Nevermore was he to return to wind-beaten Ilion , exulting in his chariot and his horses; ere he could do so, death of ill-omened name had overshadowed him and he had fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deukalion. He had driven towards the left wing of the ships, by which way the Achaeans used to return with their chariots and horses from the plain. Hither he drove and found the gates with their doors opened wide, and the great bar down - for the gatemen kept them open so as to let those of their comrades enter who might be fleeing towards the ships. Hither of set purpose did he direct his horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they felt sure that the Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they should now fall upon the ships. Little did they know that at the gates they should find two of the bravest chieftains, proud sons of the fighting Lapiths - the one, Polypoites, mighty son of Peirithoos, and the other Leonteus, peer of murderous Ares. These stood before the gates like two high oak trees upon the mountains, that tower from their wide-spreading roots, and year after year battle with wind and rain - even so did these two men await the onset of great Asios confidently and without flinching. The Trojans led by him and by Iamenos, Orestes, Adamas the son of Asios, Thoon and Oinomaos, raised a loud cry of battle and made straight for the wall, holding their shields of dry ox-hide above their heads; for a while the two defenders remained inside and cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defense of their ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking the wall, while the Danaans were crying out for help and being routed, they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like two wild boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men and dogs, and charging on either side break down the wood all round them tearing it up by the roots,

ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες τηλεκλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροι

βουλῇ Πουλυδάμαντος ἀμωμήτοιο πίθοντο·

ἀλλʼ οὐχ Ὑρτακίδης ἔθελʼ Ἄσιος ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν

αὖθι λιπεῖν ἵππους τε καὶ ἡνίοχον θεράποντα,

ἀλλὰ σὺν αὐτοῖσιν πέλασεν νήεσσι θοῇσι

νήπιος, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλε κακὰς ὑπὸ κῆρας ἀλύξας

ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν ἀγαλλόμενος παρὰ νηῶν

ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·

πρόσθεν γάρ μιν μοῖρα δυσώνυμος ἀμφεκάλυψεν

ἔγχεϊ Ἰδομενῆος ἀγαυοῦ Δευκαλίδαο.

εἴσατο γὰρ νηῶν ἐπʼ ἀριστερά, τῇ περ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐκ πεδίου νίσοντο σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφι·

τῇ ῥʼ ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρμα διήλασεν, οὐδὲ πύλῃσιν

εὗρʼ ἐπικεκλιμένας σανίδας καὶ μακρὸν ὀχῆα,

ἀλλʼ ἀναπεπταμένας ἔχον ἀνέρες, εἴ τινʼ ἑταίρων

ἐκ πολέμου φεύγοντα σαώσειαν μετὰ νῆας.

τῇ ῥʼ ἰθὺς φρονέων ἵππους ἔχε, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

ὀξέα κεκλήγοντες· ἔφαντο γὰρ οὐκ ἔτʼ Ἀχαιοὺς

σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι

νήπιοι, ἐν δὲ πύλῃσι δύʼ ἀνέρας εὗρον ἀρίστους

υἷας ὑπερθύμους Λαπιθάων αἰχμητάων,

τὸν μὲν Πειριθόου υἷα κρατερὸν Πολυποίτην,

τὸν δὲ Λεοντῆα βροτολοιγῷ ἶσον Ἄρηϊ.

τὼ μὲν ἄρα προπάροιθε πυλάων ὑψηλάων

ἕστασαν ὡς ὅτε τε δρύες οὔρεσιν ὑψικάρηνοι,

αἵ τʼ ἄνεμον μίμνουσι καὶ ὑετὸν ἤματα πάντα

ῥίζῃσιν μεγάλῃσι διηνεκέεσσʼ ἀραρυῖαι·

ὣς ἄρα τὼ χείρεσσι πεποιθότες ἠδὲ βίηφι

μίμνον ἐπερχόμενον μέγαν Ἄσιον οὐδὲ φέβοντο.

οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς πρὸς τεῖχος ἐΰδμητον βόας αὔας

ὑψόσʼ ἀνασχόμενοι ἔκιον μεγάλῳ ἀλαλητῷ

Ἄσιον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα καὶ Ἰαμενὸν καὶ Ὀρέστην

Ἀσιάδην τʼ Ἀδάμαντα Θόωνά τε Οἰνόμαόν τε.

οἳ δʼ ἤτοι εἷος μὲν ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς

ὄρνυον ἔνδον ἐόντες ἀμύνεσθαι περὶ νηῶν·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῖχος ἐπεσσυμένους ἐνόησαν

Τρῶας, ἀτὰρ Δαναῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,

ἐκ δὲ τὼ ἀΐξαντε πυλάων πρόσθε μαχέσθην

ἀγροτέροισι σύεσσιν ἐοικότε, τώ τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσιν

ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ κυνῶν δέχαται κολοσυρτὸν ἰόντα,

δοχμώ τʼ ἀΐσσοντε περὶ σφίσιν ἄγνυτον ὕλην

and one can hear the clattering of their tusks, till some one hits them and makes an end of them - even so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their breasts, as the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with great fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who were on the wall above them. These threw great stones at their assailants in defense of themselves their tents and their ships. The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow which some fierce blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down in sheets upon the earth - even so fell the weapons from the hands alike of Trojans and Achaeans. Helmet and shield rang out as the great stones rained upon them, and Asios the son of Hyrtakos in his dismay cried aloud and smote his two thighs. "Father Zeus," he cried, "of a truth you too are altogether given to lying. I made sure the Argive heroes could not withstand us, whereas like slim-waisted wasps, or bees that have their nests in the rocks by the wayside - they leave not the holes wherein they have built undefended, but fight for their little ones against all who would take them - even so these men, though they be but two, will not be driven from the gates, but stand firm either to slay or be slain."

πρυμνὴν ἐκτάμνοντες, ὑπαὶ δέ τε κόμπος ὀδόντων

γίγνεται εἰς ὅ κέ τίς τε βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἕληται·

ὣς τῶν κόμπει χαλκὸς ἐπὶ στήθεσσι φαεινὸς

ἄντην βαλλομένων· μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἐμάχοντο

λαοῖσιν καθύπερθε πεποιθότες ἠδὲ βίηφιν.

οἳ δʼ ἄρα χερμαδίοισιν ἐϋδμήτων ἀπὸ πύργων

βάλλον ἀμυνόμενοι σφῶν τʼ αὐτῶν καὶ κλισιάων

νηῶν τʼ ὠκυπόρων· νιφάδες δʼ ὡς πῖπτον ἔραζε,

ἅς τʼ ἄνεμος ζαὴς νέφεα σκιόεντα δονήσας

ταρφειὰς κατέχευεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ·

ὣς τῶν ἐκ χειρῶν βέλεα ῥέον ἠμὲν Ἀχαιῶν

ἠδὲ καὶ ἐκ Τρώων· κόρυθες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὖον ἀΰτευν

βαλλομένων μυλάκεσσι καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι.

δή ῥα τότʼ ᾤμωξεν καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ

Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης, καὶ ἀλαστήσας ἔπος ηὔδα·

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ ῥά νυ καὶ σὺ φιλοψευδὴς ἐτέτυξο

πάγχυ μάλʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγʼ ἐφάμην ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς

σχήσειν ἡμέτερόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους.

οἳ δʼ, ὥς τε σφῆκες μέσον αἰόλοι ἠὲ μέλισσαι

οἰκία ποιήσωνται ὁδῷ ἔπι παιπαλοέσσῃ,

οὐδʼ ἀπολείπουσιν κοῖλον δόμον, ἀλλὰ μένοντες

ἄνδρας θηρητῆρας ἀμύνονται περὶ τέκνων,

ὣς οἵ γʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι πυλάων καὶ δύʼ ἐόντε

He spoke, but moved not the mind of Zeus, whose counsel it then was to give glory to Hektor. Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans were fighting about the other gates; I, however, am no god to be able to tell about all these things, for the battle raged everywhere about the stone wall as it were a fiery furnace. The Argives, discomfited though they were, were forced to defend their ships, and all the gods who were defending the Achaeans were vexed in spirit; but the Lapiths kept on fighting with might and main.

χάσσασθαι πρίν γʼ ἠὲ κατακτάμεν ἠὲ ἁλῶναι.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδὲ Διὸς πεῖθε φρένα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύων·

Ἕκτορι γάρ οἱ θυμὸς ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι.

ἄλλοι δʼ ἀμφʼ ἄλλῃσι μάχην ἐμάχοντο πύλῃσιν·

ἀργαλέον δέ με ταῦτα θεὸν ὣς πάντʼ ἀγορεῦσαι·

πάντῃ γὰρ περὶ τεῖχος ὀρώρει θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ

λάϊνον· Ἀργεῖοι δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἀνάγκῃ

νηῶν ἠμύνοντο· θεοὶ δʼ ἀκαχήατο θυμὸν

πάντες ὅσοι Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἐπιτάρροθοι ἦσαν.

σὺν δʼ ἔβαλον Λαπίθαι πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα.

Thereon Polypoites, mighty son of Peirithoos, hit Damasos with a spear upon his cheek-pierced helmet. The helmet did not protect him, for the point of the spear went through it, and broke the bone, so that the brain inside was scattered about, and he died fighting. He then slew Pylon and Ormenus. Leonteus, of the race of Ares, killed Hippomakhos the son of Antimakhos by striking him with his spear upon the belt. He then drew his sword and sprang first upon Antiphates whom he killed in combat, and who fell face upwards on the earth. After him he killed Menon, Iamenos, and Orestes, and laid them low one after the other.

ἔνθʼ αὖ Πειριθόου υἱὸς κρατερὸς Πολυποίτης

δουρὶ βάλεν Δάμασον κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου·

οὐδʼ ἄρα χαλκείη κόρυς ἔσχεθεν, ἀλλὰ διὰ πρὸ

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη ῥῆξʼ ὀστέον, ἐγκέφαλος δὲ

ἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα·

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Πύλωνα καὶ Ὄρμενον ἐξενάριξεν.

υἱὸν δʼ Ἀντιμάχοιο Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος

Ἱππόμαχον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ ζωστῆρα τυχήσας.

αὖτις δʼ ἐκ κολεοῖο ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺ

Ἀντιφάτην μὲν πρῶτον ἐπαΐξας διʼ ὁμίλου

πλῆξʼ αὐτοσχεδίην· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη·

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Μένωνα καὶ Ἰαμενὸν καὶ Ὀρέστην

πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.

While they were busy stripping the armor from these heroes, the youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hektor (and these were the greater part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break through the wall and fire the ships) were still standing by the trench, uncertain what they should do; for they had seen a sign from heaven when they had essayed to cross it - a soaring eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their host, with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons still alive and struggling to escape. The snake was still bent on revenge, wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it struck the bird that held it, on the neck and breast; whereon the bird being in pain, let it fall, dropping it into the middle of the host, and then flew down the wind with a sharp cry. The Trojans were struck with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegis-bearing Zeus, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to Hektor and said, "Hektor, at our councils of war you are ever given to rebuke me, even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well, indeed, that one of the people of the local district [ dêmos ] should cross your will either in the field or at the council board; you would have them support you always: nevertheless I will say what I think will be best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at their ships, for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted the left wing of our with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons (the snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the Trojans on their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle let go her hold; she did not succeed in taking it home to her little ones, and so will it be - with ourselves;

ὄφρʼ οἳ τοὺς ἐνάριζον ἀπʼ ἔντεα μαρμαίροντα,

τόφρʼ οἳ Πουλυδάμαντι καὶ Ἕκτορι κοῦροι ἕποντο,

οἳ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι ἔσαν, μέμασαν δὲ μάλιστα

τεῖχός τε ῥήξειν καὶ ἐνιπρήσειν πυρὶ νῆας,

οἵ ῥʼ ἔτι μερμήριζον ἐφεσταότες παρὰ τάφρῳ.

ὄρνις γάρ σφιν ἐπῆλθε περησέμεναι μεμαῶσιν

αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ λαὸν ἐέργων

φοινήεντα δράκοντα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον

ζωὸν ἔτʼ ἀσπαίροντα, καὶ οὔ πω λήθετο χάρμης,

κόψε γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔχοντα κατὰ στῆθος παρὰ δειρὴν

ἰδνωθεὶς ὀπίσω· ὃ δʼ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἧκε χαμᾶζε

ἀλγήσας ὀδύνῃσι, μέσῳ δʼ ἐνὶ κάββαλʼ ὁμίλῳ,

αὐτὸς δὲ κλάγξας πέτετο πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.

Τρῶες δʼ ἐρρίγησαν ὅπως ἴδον αἰόλον ὄφιν

κείμενον ἐν μέσσοισι Διὸς τέρας αἰγιόχοιο.

δὴ τότε Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστάς·

Ἕκτορ ἀεὶ μέν πώς μοι ἐπιπλήσσεις ἀγορῇσιν

ἐσθλὰ φραζομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ ἔοικε

δῆμον ἐόντα παρὲξ ἀγορευέμεν, οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ

οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐν πολέμῳ, σὸν δὲ κράτος αἰὲν ἀέξειν·

νῦν αὖτʼ ἐξερέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα.

μὴ ἴομεν Δαναοῖσι μαχησόμενοι περὶ νηῶν.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐκτελέεσθαι ὀΐομαι, εἰ ἐτεόν γε

Τρωσὶν ὅδʼ ὄρνις ἦλθε περησέμεναι μεμαῶσιν

αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ λαὸν ἐέργων

φοινήεντα δράκοντα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον

ζωόν· ἄφαρ δʼ ἀφέηκε πάρος φίλα οἰκίʼ ἱκέσθαι,

οὐδʼ ἐτέλεσσε φέρων δόμεναι τεκέεσσιν ἑοῖσιν.

ὣς ἡμεῖς, εἴ πέρ τε πύλας καὶ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν

even though by a mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the Achaeans, and they give way before us, still we shall not return in good order [ kosmos ] by the way we came, but shall leave many a man behind us whom the Achaeans will do to death in defense of their ships. Thus would any seer who was expert in these matters, and was trusted by the people, read the portent."

ῥηξόμεθα σθένεϊ μεγάλῳ, εἴξωσι δʼ Ἀχαιοί,

οὐ κόσμῳ παρὰ ναῦφιν ἐλευσόμεθʼ αὐτὰ κέλευθα·

πολλοὺς γὰρ Τρώων καταλείψομεν, οὕς κεν Ἀχαιοὶ

χαλκῷ δῃώσωσιν ἀμυνόμενοι περὶ νηῶν.

ὧδέ χʼ ὑποκρίναιτο θεοπρόπος, ὃς σάφα θυμῷ

εἰδείη τεράων καί οἱ πειθοίατο λαοί.

Hektor looked fiercely at him and said, "Polydamas, I like not of your reading. You can find a better saying than this if you will. If, however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of your reason. You would have me pay no heed to the counsels of Zeus, nor to the promises he made me - and he bowed his head in confirmation; you bid me be ruled rather by the flight of wild-fowl. What care I whether they flee towards dawn or dark, and whether they be on my right hand or on my left? Let us put our trust rather in the counsel of great Zeus, king of mortals and immortals. There is one omen, and one only - that a man should fight for his country. Why are you so fearful? Though we be all of us slain at the ships of the Argives you are not likely to be killed yourself, for you are not steadfast nor courageous. If you will. not fight, or would talk others over from doing so, you shall fall forthwith before my spear."

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Πουλυδάμα, σὺ μὲν οὐκ ἔτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις·

οἶσθα καὶ ἄλλον μῦθον ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοῆσαι.

εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ τοῦτον ἀπὸ σπουδῆς ἀγορεύεις,

ἐξ ἄρα δή τοι ἔπειτα θεοὶ φρένας ὤλεσαν αὐτοί,

ὃς κέλεαι Ζηνὸς μὲν ἐριγδούποιο λαθέσθαι

βουλέων, ἅς τέ μοι αὐτὸς ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσε·

τύνη δʼ οἰωνοῖσι τανυπτερύγεσσι κελεύεις

πείθεσθαι, τῶν οὔ τι μετατρέπομʼ οὐδʼ ἀλεγίζω

εἴτʼ ἐπὶ δεξίʼ ἴωσι πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τε,

εἴτʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ τοί γε ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα.

ἡμεῖς δὲ μεγάλοιο Διὸς πειθώμεθα βουλῇ,

ὃς πᾶσι θνητοῖσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀνάσσει.

εἷς οἰωνὸς ἄριστος ἀμύνεσθαι περὶ πάτρης.

τίπτε σὺ δείδοικας πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα;

εἴ περ γάρ τʼ ἄλλοι γε περὶ κτεινώμεθα πάντες

νηυσὶν ἐπʼ Ἀργείων, σοὶ δʼ οὐ δέος ἔστʼ ἀπολέσθαι·

οὐ γάρ τοι κραδίη μενεδήϊος οὐδὲ μαχήμων.

εἰ δὲ σὺ δηϊοτῆτος ἀφέξεαι, ἠέ τινʼ ἄλλον

παρφάμενος ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρέψεις πολέμοιο,

αὐτίκʼ ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσεις.

With these words he led the way, and the others followed after with a cry that rent the air. Then Zeus the lord of thunder sent the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the thinking [ noos ] of the Achaeans into security, and gave victory to Hektor and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans. They tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the battlements; they upheaved the buttresses, which the Achaeans had set in front of the wall in order to support it; when they had pulled these down they made sure of breaking through the wall, but the Danaans still showed no sign of giving ground; they still fenced the battlements with their shields of ox-hide, and hurled their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any came below the wall.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο, τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος

ὦρσεν ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἀνέμοιο θύελλαν,

ἥ ῥʼ ἰθὺς νηῶν κονίην φέρεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιῶν

θέλγε νόον, Τρωσὶν δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὄπαζε.

τοῦ περ δὴ τεράεσσι πεποιθότες ἠδὲ βίηφι

ῥήγνυσθαι μέγα τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν πειρήτιζον.

κρόσσας μὲν πύργων ἔρυον, καὶ ἔρειπον ἐπάλξεις,

στήλας τε προβλῆτας ἐμόχλεον, ἃς ἄρʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

πρώτας ἐν γαίῃ θέσαν ἔμμεναι ἔχματα πύργων.

τὰς οἵ γʼ αὐέρυον, ἔλποντο δὲ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν

ῥήξειν· οὐδέ νύ πω Δαναοὶ χάζοντο κελεύθου,

ἀλλʼ οἵ γε ῥινοῖσι βοῶν φράξαντες ἐπάλξεις

βάλλον ἀπʼ αὐτάων δηΐους ὑπὸ τεῖχος ἰόντας.

The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the Achaeans, giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to any one whom they saw to be remiss. "My friends," they cried, "Argives one and all - good bad and indifferent, for there was never fight yet, in which all were of equal prowess - there is now work enough, as you very well know, for all of you. See that you none of you turn in flight towards the ships, daunted by the shouting of the foe, but press forward and keep one another in heart, if it may so be that Olympian Zeus the lord of lightning will grant us to repel our foes, and drive them back towards the city."

ἀμφοτέρω δʼ Αἴαντε κελευτιόωντʼ ἐπὶ πύργων

πάντοσε φοιτήτην μένος ὀτρύνοντες Ἀχαιῶν.

ἄλλον μειλιχίοις, ἄλλον στερεοῖς ἐπέεσσι

νείκεον, ὅν τινα πάγχυ μάχης μεθιέντα ἴδοιεν·

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ὅς τʼ ἔξοχος ὅς τε μεσήεις

ὅς τε χερειότερος, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω πάντες ὁμοῖοι

ἀνέρες ἐν πολέμῳ, νῦν ἔπλετο ἔργον ἅπασι·

καὶ δʼ αὐτοὶ τόδε που γιγνώσκετε. μή τις ὀπίσσω

τετράφθω ποτὶ νῆας ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσας,

ἀλλὰ πρόσω ἵεσθε καὶ ἀλλήλοισι κέλεσθε,

αἴ κε Ζεὺς δώῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητὴς

νεῖκος ἀπωσαμένους δηΐους προτὶ ἄστυ δίεσθαι.

Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on. As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter's day, when Zeus is minded to snow and to display these his arrows to humankind - he lulls the wind to rest, and snows hour after hour till he has buried the tops of the high mountains, the headlands that jut into the sea, the grassy plains, and the tilled fields of men; the snow lies deep upon the forelands, and havens of the gray sea, but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it can come no further, though all else is wrapped as with a mantle so heavy are the heavens with snow - even thus thickly did the stones fall on one side and on the other, some thrown at the Trojans, and some by the Trojans at the Achaeans; and the whole wall was in an uproar.

ὣς τώ γε προβοῶντε μάχην ὄτρυνον Ἀχαιῶν.

τῶν δʼ, ὥς τε νιφάδες χιόνος πίπτωσι θαμειαὶ

ἤματι χειμερίῳ, ὅτε τʼ ὤρετο μητίετα Ζεὺς

νιφέμεν ἀνθρώποισι πιφαυσκόμενος τὰ ἃ κῆλα·

κοιμήσας δʼ ἀνέμους χέει ἔμπεδον, ὄφρα καλύψῃ

ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων κορυφὰς καὶ πρώονας ἄκρους

καὶ πεδία λωτοῦντα καὶ ἀνδρῶν πίονα ἔργα,

καί τʼ ἐφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς κέχυται λιμέσιν τε καὶ ἀκταῖς,

κῦμα δέ μιν προσπλάζον ἐρύκεται· ἄλλά τε πάντα

εἴλυται καθύπερθʼ, ὅτʼ ἐπιβρίσῃ Διὸς ὄμβρος·

ὣς τῶν ἀμφοτέρωσε λίθοι πωτῶντο θαμειαί,

αἱ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐς Τρῶας, αἱ δʼ ἐκ Τρώων ἐς Ἀχαιούς,

βαλλομένων· τὸ δὲ τεῖχος ὕπερ πᾶν δοῦπος ὀρώρει.

Still the Trojans and brave Hektor would not yet have broken down the gates and the great bar, had not Zeus turned his son Sarpedon against the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle. Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze, that the smith had beaten so fair and round, and had lined with ox hides which he had made fast with rivets of gold all round the shield;

οὐδʼ ἄν πω τότε γε Τρῶες καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

τείχεος ἐρρήξαντο πύλας καὶ μακρὸν ὀχῆα,

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ υἱὸν ἑὸν Σαρπηδόνα μητίετα Ζεὺς

ὦρσεν ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισι λέονθʼ ὣς βουσὶν ἕλιξιν.

αὐτίκα δʼ ἀσπίδα μὲν πρόσθʼ ἔσχετο πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

καλὴν χαλκείην ἐξήλατον, ἣν ἄρα χαλκεὺς

ἤλασεν, ἔντοσθεν δὲ βοείας ῥάψε θαμειὰς

χρυσείῃς ῥάβδοισι διηνεκέσιν περὶ κύκλον.

this he held in front of him, and brandishing his two spears came on like some lion of the wilderness, who has been long famished for want of meat and will dare break even into a well-fenced homestead to try and get at the sheep. He may find the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks with dogs and spears, but he is in no mind to be driven from the fold till he has had a try for it; he will either spring on a sheep and carry it off, or be hit by a spear from strong hand - even so was Sarpedon fain to attack the wall and break down its battlements. Then he said to Glaukos son of Hippolokhos, "Glaukos, why in Lycia do we receive especial honor as regards our place at table? Why are the choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming, and why do men look up to us as though we were gods? Moreover we hold a large estate by the banks of the river Xanthos , fair with orchard lawns and wheat-growing land; it becomes us, therefore, to take our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of the fight, that one may say to another, Our princes in Lycia eat the fat of the land and drink best of wine, but they are fine men; they fight well and are ever at the front in battle.’ My good friend, if, when we were once out of this fight, we could escape old age and death thenceforward and for ever, I should neither press forward myself nor bid you do so, but death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no man can elude him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for ourselves, or yield it to another."

τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γε πρόσθε σχόμενος δύο δοῦρε τινάσσων

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος, ὅς τʼ ἐπιδευὴς

δηρὸν ἔῃ κρειῶν, κέλεται δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

μήλων πειρήσοντα καὶ ἐς πυκινὸν δόμον ἐλθεῖν·

εἴ περ γάρ χʼ εὕρῃσι παρʼ αὐτόφι βώτορας ἄνδρας

σὺν κυσὶ καὶ δούρεσσι φυλάσσοντας περὶ μῆλα,

οὔ ῥά τʼ ἀπείρητος μέμονε σταθμοῖο δίεσθαι,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἢ ἥρπαξε μετάλμενος, ἠὲ καὶ αὐτὸς

ἔβλητʼ ἐν πρώτοισι θοῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἄκοντι·

ὥς ῥα τότʼ ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα θυμὸς ἀνῆκε

τεῖχος ἐπαΐξαι διά τε ῥήξασθαι ἐπάλξεις.

αὐτίκα δὲ Γλαῦκον προσέφη παῖδʼ Ἱππολόχοιο·

Γλαῦκε τί ἢ δὴ νῶϊ τετιμήμεσθα μάλιστα

ἕδρῃ τε κρέασίν τε ἰδὲ πλείοις δεπάεσσιν

ἐν Λυκίῃ, πάντες δὲ θεοὺς ὣς εἰσορόωσι,

καὶ τέμενος νεμόμεσθα μέγα Ξάνθοιο παρʼ ὄχθας

καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης πυροφόροιο;

τὼ νῦν χρὴ Λυκίοισι μέτα πρώτοισιν ἐόντας

ἑστάμεν ἠδὲ μάχης καυστείρης ἀντιβολῆσαι,

ὄφρά τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃ Λυκίων πύκα θωρηκτάων·

οὐ μὰν ἀκλεέες Λυκίην κάτα κοιρανέουσιν

ἡμέτεροι βασιλῆες, ἔδουσί τε πίονα μῆλα

οἶνόν τʼ ἔξαιτον μελιηδέα· ἀλλʼ ἄρα καὶ ἲς

ἐσθλή, ἐπεὶ Λυκίοισι μέτα πρώτοισι μάχονται.

ὦ πέπον εἰ μὲν γὰρ πόλεμον περὶ τόνδε φυγόντε

αἰεὶ δὴ μέλλοιμεν ἀγήρω τʼ ἀθανάτω τε

ἔσσεσθʼ, οὔτέ κεν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισι μαχοίμην

οὔτέ κε σὲ στέλλοιμι μάχην ἐς κυδιάνειραν·

νῦν δʼ ἔμπης γὰρ κῆρες ἐφεστᾶσιν θανάτοιο

μυρίαι, ἃς οὐκ ἔστι φυγεῖν βροτὸν οὐδʼ ὑπαλύξαι,

ἴομεν ἠέ τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν ἠέ τις ἡμῖν.

Glaukos heeded his saying, and the pair forthwith led on the host of Lycians. Menestheus son of Peteos was dismayed when he saw them, for it was against his part of the wall that they came - bringing destruction with them; he looked along the wall for some chieftain to support his comrades and saw the two Ajaxes, men ever eager for the fray, and Teucer, who had just come from his tent, standing near them; but he could not make his voice heard by shouting to them, so great an uproar was there from crashing shields and helmets and the battering of gates with a din which reached the skies. For all the gates had been closed, and the Trojans were hammering at them to try and break their way through them. Menestheus, therefore, sent Thoötes with a message to Ajax. "Run, good Thoötes," said and call Ajax, or better still bid both come, for it will be all over with us here directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore. But if the have too much trouble [ ponos ] on their hands to let them come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the famous bowman come with him."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδὲ Γλαῦκος ἀπετράπετʼ οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε·

τὼ δʼ ἰθὺς βήτην Λυκίων μέγα ἔθνος ἄγοντε.

τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν ῥίγησʼ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς·

τοῦ γὰρ δὴ πρὸς πύργον ἴσαν κακότητα φέροντες.

πάπτηνεν δʼ ἀνὰ πύργον Ἀχαιῶν εἴ τινʼ ἴδοιτο

ἡγεμόνων, ὅς τίς οἱ ἀρὴν ἑτάροισιν ἀμύναι·

ἐς δʼ ἐνόησʼ Αἴαντε δύω πολέμου ἀκορήτω

ἑσταότας, Τεῦκρόν τε νέον κλισίηθεν ἰόντα

ἐγγύθεν· ἀλλʼ οὔ πώς οἱ ἔην βώσαντι γεγωνεῖν·

τόσσος γὰρ κτύπος ἦεν, ἀϋτὴ δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκε,

βαλλομένων σακέων τε καὶ ἱπποκόμων τρυφαλειῶν

καὶ πυλέων· πᾶσαι γὰρ ἐπώχατο, τοὶ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὰς

ἱστάμενοι πειρῶντο βίῃ ῥήξαντες ἐσελθεῖν.

αἶψα δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντα προΐει κήρυκα Θοώτην·

ἔρχεο δῖε Θοῶτα, θέων Αἴαντα κάλεσσον,

ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον· ὃ γάρ κʼ ὄχʼ ἄριστον ἁπάντων

εἴη, ἐπεὶ τάχα τῇδε τετεύξεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

ὧδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν Λυκίων ἀγοί, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

ζαχρηεῖς τελέθουσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.

εἰ δέ σφιν καὶ κεῖθι πόνος καὶ νεῖκος ὄρωρεν,

ἀλλά περ οἶος ἴτω Τελαμώνιος ἄλκιμος Αἴας,

καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμα σπέσθω τόξων ἐῢ εἰδώς.

The messenger did as he was told, and set off running along the wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the Ajaxes he said to them, "Sirs, princes of the Argives, the son of noble Peteos bids you come to him for a while and help him. You had better both come if you can, or it will be all over with him directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately heretofore; if you have too much on your hands to let both come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the famous bowman come with him."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα οἱ κῆρυξ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας,

βῆ δὲ θέειν παρὰ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

στῆ δὲ παρʼ Αἰάντεσσι κιών, εἶθαρ δὲ προσηύδα·

Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε χαλκοχιτώνων

ἠνώγει Πετεῶο διοτρεφέος φίλος υἱὸς

κεῖσʼ ἴμεν, ὄφρα πόνοιο μίνυνθά περ ἀντιάσητον

ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον· ὃ γάρ κʼ ὄχʼ ἄριστον ἁπάντων

εἴη, ἐπεὶ τάχα κεῖθι τετεύξεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος·

ὧδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν Λυκίων ἀγοί, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

ζαχρηεῖς τελέθουσι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.

εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐνθάδε περ πόλεμος καὶ νεῖκος ὄρωρεν,

ἀλλά περ οἶος ἴτω Τελαμώνιος ἄλκιμος Αἴας,

καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμα σπέσθω τόξων ἐῢ εἰδώς.

Great Ajax, son of Telamon, heeded the message, and at once spoke to the son of Oileus. "Ajax," said he, "do you two, yourself and brave Lykomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight their hardest. I will go over yonder, and bear my part in the fray, but I will come back here at once as soon as I have given them the help they need."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας.

αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλιάδην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Αἶαν σφῶϊ μὲν αὖθι, σὺ καὶ κρατερὸς Λυκομήδης,

ἑσταότες Δαναοὺς ὀτρύνετον ἶφι μάχεσθαι·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κεῖσʼ εἶμι καὶ ἀντιόω πολέμοιο·

αἶψα δʼ ἐλεύσομαι αὖτις, ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπαμύνω.

With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer his brother by the same father went also, with Pandion to carry Teucer's bow. They went along inside the wall, and when they came to the tower where Menestheus was (and hard pressed indeed did they find him) the brave leaders and leaders of the Lycians were storming the battlements as it were a thick dark cloud, fighting in close quarters, and raising the battle-cry aloud.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμʼ ᾖε κασίγνητος καὶ ὄπατρος·

τοῖς δʼ ἅμα Πανδίων Τεύκρου φέρε καμπύλα τόξα.

εὖτε Μενεσθῆος μεγαθύμου πύργον ἵκοντο

τείχεος ἐντὸς ἰόντες, ἐπειγομένοισι δʼ ἵκοντο,

οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐπάλξεις βαῖνον ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσοι

ἴφθιμοι Λυκίων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·

σὺν δʼ ἐβάλοντο μάχεσθαι ἐναντίον, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτή.

First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epikles, a comrade of Sarpedon, hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the battlements at the very top of the wall. As men now are, even one who is in the bloom of youth could hardly lift it with his two hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft and flung it down, smashing Epikles' four-crested helmet so that the bones of his head were crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall as though he were diving, with no more life left in him. Then Teucer wounded Glaukos the brave son of Hippolokhos as he was coming on to attack the wall. He saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it, which made Glaukos leave off fighting. Thereon he sprang covertly down for fear some of the Achaeans might see that he was wounded and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief [ akhos ] when he saw Glaukos leave him, still he did not leave off fighting, but aimed his spear at Alkmaon the son of Thestor and hit him. He drew his spear back again Alkmaon came down headlong after it with his bronzed armor rattling round him. Then Sarpedon seized the battlement in his strong hands, and tugged at it till it an gave way together, and a breach was made through which many might pass.

Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα

Σαρπήδοντος ἑταῖρον Ἐπικλῆα μεγάθυμον

μαρμάρῳ ὀκριόεντι βαλών, ὅ ῥα τείχεος ἐντὸς

κεῖτο μέγας παρʼ ἔπαλξιν ὑπέρτατος· οὐδέ κέ μιν ῥέα

χείρεσσʼ ἀμφοτέρῃς ἔχοι ἀνὴρ οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἡβῶν,

οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑψόθεν ἔμβαλʼ ἀείρας,

θλάσσε δὲ τετράφαλον κυνέην, σὺν δʼ ὀστέʼ ἄραξε

πάντʼ ἄμυδις κεφαλῆς· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς

κάππεσʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῦ πύργου, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμός.

Τεῦκρος δὲ Γλαῦκον κρατερὸν παῖδʼ Ἱππολόχοιο

ἰῷ ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο,

ᾗ ῥʼ ἴδε γυμνωθέντα βραχίονα, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης.

ἂψ δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεος ἆλτο λαθών, ἵνα μή τις Ἀχαιῶν

βλήμενον ἀθρήσειε καὶ εὐχετόῳτʼ ἐπέεσσι.

Σαρπήδοντι δʼ ἄχος γένετο Γλαύκου ἀπιόντος

αὐτίκʼ ἐπεί τʼ ἐνόησεν· ὅμως δʼ οὐ λήθετο χάρμης,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε Θεστορίδην Ἀλκμάονα δουρὶ τυχήσας

νύξʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἔσπασεν ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἑσπόμενος πέσε δουρὶ

πρηνής, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,

Σαρπηδὼν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπαλξιν ἑλὼν χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν

ἕλχʼ, ἣ δʼ ἕσπετο πᾶσα διαμπερές, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε

τεῖχος ἐγυμνώθη, πολέεσσι δὲ θῆκε κέλευθον.

Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him. Teucer hit him with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his body, but Zeus saved his son from destruction that he might not fall by the ships' sterns. Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear did not go clean through, though it hustled him back that he could come on no further. He therefore retired a little space from the battlement, yet without losing all his ground, for he still thought to cover himself with glory. Then he turned round and shouted to the brave Lycians saying, "Lycians, why do you thus fail me? For all my prowess I cannot break through the wall and open a way to the ships single-handed. Come close on behind me, for the more there are of us the better."

τὸν δʼ Αἴας καὶ Τεῦκρος ὁμαρτήσανθʼ ὃ μὲν ἰῷ

βεβλήκει τελαμῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι φαεινὸν

ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης· ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς κῆρας ἄμυνε

παιδὸς ἑοῦ, μὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρύμνῃσι δαμείη·

Αἴας δʼ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ

ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.

χώρησεν δʼ ἄρα τυτθὸν ἐπάλξιος· οὐδʼ ὅ γε πάμπαν

χάζετʼ, ἐπεί οἱ θυμὸς ἐέλπετο κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

κέκλετο δʼ ἀντιθέοισιν ἑλιξάμενος Λυκίοισιν·

ὦ Λύκιοι τί τʼ ἄρʼ ὧδε μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς;

ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι καὶ ἰφθίμῳ περ ἐόντι

μούνῳ ῥηξαμένῳ θέσθαι παρὰ νηυσὶ κέλευθον·

ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτε· πλεόνων δέ τι ἔργον ἄμεινον.

The Lycians, shamed by his rebuke, pressed closer round him who was their counselor their king. The Argives on their part got their men in fighting order within the wall, and there was a deadly struggle between them. The Lycians could not break through the wall and force their way to the ships, nor could the Danaans drive the Lycians from the wall now that they had once reached it. As two men, measuring-rods in hand, quarrel about their boundaries in a field that they own in common, and stickle for their rights though they be but in a mere strip, even so did the battlements now serve as a bone of contention, and they beat one another's round shields for their possession. Many a man's body was wounded with the pitiless bronze, as he turned round and bared his back to the foe, and many were struck clean through their shields; the wall and battlements were everywhere deluged with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so the Trojans could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as some honest hard-working woman weighs wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true [ alêthês ], for she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones, even so was the fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when Zeus gave the greater glory to Hektor son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the wall of the Achaeans. As he did so, he cried aloud to the Trojans, "Up, Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling fire upon their ships."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν

μᾶλλον ἐπέβρισαν βουληφόρον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα.

Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας

τείχεος ἔντοσθεν, μέγα δέ σφισι φαίνετο ἔργον·

οὔτε γὰρ ἴφθιμοι Λύκιοι Δαναῶν ἐδύναντο

τεῖχος ῥηξάμενοι θέσθαι παρὰ νηυσὶ κέλευθον,

οὔτέ ποτʼ αἰχμηταὶ Δαναοὶ Λυκίους ἐδύναντο

τείχεος ἂψ ὤσασθαι, ἐπεὶ τὰ πρῶτα πέλασθεν.

ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ἀμφʼ οὔροισι δύʼ ἀνέρε δηριάασθον

μέτρʼ ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες ἐπιξύνῳ ἐν ἀρούρῃ,

ὥ τʼ ὀλίγῳ ἐνὶ χώρῳ ἐρίζητον περὶ ἴσης,

ὣς ἄρα τοὺς διέεργον ἐπάλξιες· οἳ δʼ ὑπὲρ αὐτέων

δῄουν ἀλλήλων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι βοείας

ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους λαισήϊά τε πτερόεντα.

πολλοὶ δʼ οὐτάζοντο κατὰ χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ,

ἠμὲν ὅτεῳ στρεφθέντι μετάφρενα γυμνωθείη

μαρναμένων, πολλοὶ δὲ διαμπερὲς ἀσπίδος αὐτῆς.

πάντῃ δὴ πύργοι καὶ ἐπάλξιες αἵματι φωτῶν

ἐρράδατʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀπὸ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν.

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἐδύναντο φόβον ποιῆσαι Ἀχαιῶν,

ἀλλʼ ἔχον ὥς τε τάλαντα γυνὴ χερνῆτις ἀληθής,

ἥ τε σταθμὸν ἔχουσα καὶ εἴριον ἀμφὶς ἀνέλκει

ἰσάζουσʼ, ἵνα παισὶν ἀεικέα μισθὸν ἄρηται·

ὣς μὲν τῶν ἐπὶ ἶσα μάχη τέτατο πτόλεμός τε,

πρίν γʼ ὅτε δὴ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὑπέρτερον Ἕκτορι δῶκε

Πριαμίδῃ, ὃς πρῶτος ἐσήλατο τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν.

ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Τρώεσσι γεγωνώς·

ὄρνυσθʼ ἱππόδαμοι Τρῶες, ῥήγνυσθε δὲ τεῖχος

Ἀργείων καὶ νηυσὶν ἐνίετε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.

Thus did he hound them on, and in one body they rushed straight at the wall as he had bidden them, and scaled the battlements with sharp spears in their hands. Hektor laid hold of a stone that lay just outside the gates and was thick at one end but pointed at the other; two of the best men in a district [ dêmos ], as men now are, could hardly raise it from the ground and put it on to a wagon, but Hektor lifted it quite easily by himself, for the son of scheming Kronos made it light for him. As a shepherd picks up a ram's fleece with one hand and finds it no burden, so easily did Hektor lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors that closed the gates so strong and so firmly set.

ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων, οἳ δʼ οὔασι πάντες ἄκουον,

ἴθυσαν δʼ ἐπὶ τεῖχος ἀολλέες· οἳ μὲν ἔπειτα

κροσσάων ἐπέβαινον ἀκαχμένα δούρατʼ ἔχοντες,

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἁρπάξας λᾶαν φέρεν, ὅς ῥα πυλάων

ἑστήκει πρόσθε πρυμνὸς παχύς, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεν

ὀξὺς ἔην· τὸν δʼ οὔ κε δύʼ ἀνέρε δήμου ἀρίστω

ῥηϊδίως ἐπʼ ἄμαξαν ἀπʼ οὔδεος ὀχλίσσειαν,

οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος.

τόν οἱ ἐλαφρὸν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε ποιμὴν ῥεῖα φέρει πόκον ἄρσενος οἰὸς

χειρὶ λαβὼν ἑτέρῃ, ὀλίγον τέ μιν ἄχθος ἐπείγει,

ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἰθὺς σανίδων φέρε λᾶαν ἀείρας,

αἵ ῥα πύλας εἴρυντο πύκα στιβαρῶς ἀραρυίας

These doors were double and high, and were kept closed by two cross-bars to which there was but one key. When he had got close up to them, Hektor strode towards them that his blow might gain in force and struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against them. He broke both hinges, and the stone fell inside by reason of its great weight. The portals re-echoed with the sound, the bars held no longer, and the doors flew open, one one way, and the other the other, through the force of the blow. Then brave Hektor leaped inside with a face as dark as that of fleeing night. The gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body and he had tow spears in his hand. None but a god could have withstood him as he flung himself into the gateway, and his eyes glared like fire. Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to scale the wall, and they did as he bade them - some of them at once climbing over the wall, while others passed through the gates. The Danaans then fled panic-stricken towards their ships, and all was uproar and confusion.

δικλίδας ὑψηλάς· δοιοὶ δʼ ἔντοσθεν ὀχῆες

εἶχον ἐπημοιβοί, μία δὲ κληῒς ἐπαρήρει.

στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἐρεισάμενος βάλε μέσσας

εὖ διαβάς, ἵνα μή οἱ ἀφαυρότερον βέλος εἴη,

ῥῆξε δʼ ἀπʼ ἀμφοτέρους θαιρούς· πέσε δὲ λίθος εἴσω

βριθοσύνῃ, μέγα δʼ ἀμφὶ πύλαι μύκον, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ὀχῆες

ἐσχεθέτην, σανίδες δὲ διέτμαγεν ἄλλυδις ἄλλη

λᾶος ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσθορε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

νυκτὶ θοῇ ἀτάλαντος ὑπώπια· λάμπε δὲ χαλκῷ

σμερδαλέῳ, τὸν ἕεστο περὶ χροΐ, δοιὰ δὲ χερσὶ

δοῦρʼ ἔχεν· οὔ κέν τίς μιν ἐρύκακεν ἀντιβολήσας

νόσφι θεῶν ὅτʼ ἐσᾶλτο πύλας· πυρὶ δʼ ὄσσε δεδήει.

κέκλετο δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἑλιξάμενος καθʼ ὅμιλον

τεῖχος ὑπερβαίνειν· τοὶ δʼ ὀτρύνοντι πίθοντο.

αὐτίκα δʼ οἳ μὲν τεῖχος ὑπέρβασαν, οἳ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὰς

ποιητὰς ἐσέχυντο πύλας· Δαναοὶ δὲ φόβηθεν

νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς, ὅμαδος δʼ ἀλίαστος ἐτύχθη.