As Hektor spoke he came out through the gateway
running, with Aléxandros beside him,
both resolved on battle.
Like a wind,
a sailing wind heaven may grant to oarsmen
desperate for it at the polished oars,
when they have rowed their hearts out, far at sea,
so welcome to the Trojans in their longing
these appeared.
And each one killed his man.
Aléxandros
brought down Menésthios from Arnê, son
of a mace-wielder, Lord Arêithoös |
10 |
and wide-eyed Phylomedousa.
Eïoneus under his helmet rim
and cut his nape, so that his legs gave way.
Young Glaukos, too, leader of Lykians,
in the rough mêlée hit Iphínoös
Dexíadês just as he swung aboard
his fast war-car: he rammed him in the shoulder,
and down he tumbled from his chariot.
Seeing these Argive warriors overthrown
in the sharp fighting, grey-eyed Athêna came |
20 |
in a gust downward from Olympos peaks
to the old town of Troy—and up to meet her
from Pergamos, where he surveyed the fight,
his heart set on a Trojan victory,
Apollo rose. By the great oak they met,
and the son of Zeus began:
“Down from Olympos to this field again?
What passion moves you now? To give Danáäns
power for a breakthrough? Daughter of Zeus,
you waste no pity on the Trojan dead. |
30 |
If you would listen, I know a better plan.
Why not arrange an interval in battle,
a day’s respite? They can fight on tomorrow
until they find the end ordained for Ilion—
as that is all you goddesses have at heart,
the plundering of this town.”
The grey-eyed goddess
answered him:
“So be it, archer of heaven.
I, too, thought of a truce, on my way down
toward Trojans and Akhaians. Only tell me:
how do you plan to make them break off battle?” |
40 |
Apollo said:
“By firing the spirit
of Hektor, breaker of wild horses. Let him
defy some champion of Danáäns
to measure spears with him in mortal combat.
When they are challenged, let them pick a man
to stand up against Hektor in his pride.”
The grey-eyed one did not dissent from this,
and Priam’s dear son, Hélenos, aware
of what these gods were pleased to set afoot,
moved over to Hektor and accosted him: |
50 |
“Hektor, gifted as you are with foresight
worthy of Zeus himself, will you consent
to my new plan? I tell you as your brother.
Make all the others, Trojans and Akhaians,
rest on their arms, and you yourself defy
whoever may be greatest of Akhaians
to face you in a duel to the death.
Your hour, you know, has not yet come to die;
I have it from the gods who live forever.”
At this, great Hektor’s heart beat high. Along |
60 |
the battle line he went, forcing the Trojans
back with a lance held up mid-haft. They halted
and sank down in their tracks, while Agamémnon
brought to a halt Akhaians in their armor.
Now Athêna rested, with Apollo,
god of the silver bow—both gods transformed
to hunting birds, perched on the royal oak
of Father Zeus who bears the shield of storm.
Here with delight they viewed the sea of men
in close order at rest, with shields and helms |
70 |
and lances ruggedly astir.
A west wind rising
will cast a rippling roughness over water,
a shivering gloom on the clear sea. Just so
the seated mass of Trojans and Akhaians
rippled along the plain.
Hektor addressed them:
“Hear me, Trojans and Akhaians: listen
to what I am moved to say. The peace we swore to
Lord Zeus throned on high would not confirm.
He has adversity for both in mind
until you take high Troy, or are defeated, |
80 |
beated back to your deep-sea-going ships.
Knowing the bravest of Akhaia’s host
are here with you, my pride demands that I
engage some champion: let one come forward,
the best man of you all, to fight with Hektor.
And here is what I say—Zeus be my witness—
if with his whetted bronze he cuts me down,
my armor he may take away and carry
aboard the long decked ships; not so my body.
That must be given to my kin, committed |
90 |
to fire by the Trojans and their women.
And if I kill this man, if Lord Apollo
grants me victory, his helm and shield
I shall unstrap and bring to Ilion
to hang before the Archer Apollo’s shrine.
But his dead body I’ll restore
to your encampment by the well-trimmed ships.
Akhaians there may give him funeral
and heap a mound for him by Hellê’s water.
One day a man on shipboard, sailing by |
100 |
on the winedark sea, will point landward and say:
‘There is the death-mound of an ancient man,
a hero who fought Hektor and was slain.’
Someone will say that someday. And the honor
won by me here will never pass away.”
He finished, and the Akhaians all sat hushed,
ashamed not to respond, afraid to do so,
until at length Lord Meneláos arose
groaning in disgust, and stormed at them:
“Oh god, you brave noisemakers! Women, not men! |
110 |
Here is disgrace and groveling shame for us
if none of the Danáóns fight with Hektor!
May you all rot away to earth and water,
sitting tight, safe in your ignominy!
I will myself tie on a breastplate with him.
Out of our hands, in the gods’ hands above us,
ultimate power over victory lies.”
With this he began buckling on his gear,
and now—O Menelóos!—it seemed foregone
your end of life was near at Hektor’s hands, |
120 |
as Hektor was far stronger; but Akhaian
officers in a rush laid hold of you,
and Agamémnon, lord of the great plains,
taking your right hand, said:
“You’ve lost your head,
my lord; no need of recklessness like this.
Galling as it may be, hold on! Give up
this wish for emulation’s sake to face
a stronger fighter. Everyone else dreads
Prince Hektor, Priam’s son. Even Akhilleus
shivered when for glory he met this man |
130 |
in combat—and he had more driving power
than you, by far.
Go back, then, take your seat
with fellow-countrymen of your command.
The Akhaians will put up another champion.
And gluttonous though he may be for carnage,
with no fear in him—still he’ll be relieved
if he comes through this deadly fight, no quarter
asked or given.”
Greatly had he recalled
his brother’s mind to a just sense of duty,
and Meneláos complied; his own retainers |
140 |
happily relieved him of his gear.
Then Nestor stood up, saying to the Argives:
“Ah, what distress for our Akhaian land!
How Pêleus, the old master of horse, would grieve,
that noble counselor of Myrmidons!
One day, questioning me in his own hall,
he took delight in learning of the Argives’
lineage and birth. If he should hear
how every man here quails before Hektor now,
he’d lift his, arms to the immortal gods |
150 |
and pray to quit his body, to go down
into the house of Death!
O Father Zeus,
Athêna and Apollo! Could I be young again
as in those days of fighting by the rapids
of Keladôn, between the mustered men
of Pylos and the pikemen of Arkadía,
near Phêra’s walls and Iardanos riverside!
Ereuthalíôn was their champion,
and he stood out, foremost, magnificent,
buckled in Lord Arêithoês’ arms— |
160 |
Arêithoös, the mace-wielder, so called
by fighting men and by their sumptuous women
for using neither bow nor spear: he swung
an iron mace to break through ranks in battle.
Lykoörgos had killed him, but by guile
and not by force at all: in a byway
so narrow that his mace could not avail him—
there Lykoörgos, lunging first,
had run him through with his long spear
and pinned him backward to the ground. He took |
170 |
the arms given to Arêithoös by Arês
and bore them afterward in grinding war.
Then Lykoörgos, when he aged, at home,
passed them on to his friend, Ereuthalíôn.
Equipped with these he challenged all our best,
but all were shaken, full of dread; no one
would take the field against him. Well, my pride
drove me to take him on with a high heart,
though I was then still youngest of us all.
I fought him, and Athêna gave me glory. |
180 |
Tallest and toughest of enemies, I killed him,
that huge man, and far and wide he sprawled.
Would god I had my youth again, my strength
intact: Lord Hektor would be soon engaged!
But you that are the best men of Akhaia
will not go forward cheerfully to meet him.”
So chided by the old man, volunteers
arose then, nine in all—first on his feet
being Lord Marshal Agamémnon, second
Diomêdês, powerful son of Tydeus, |
190 |
and, joining these, those two who were called Aías,
rugged impetuous men, and joining these
Idómeneus and that lord’s right-hand man,
Merínonês, the peer of the battle-god
in butchery of war; along with these
Eurýpylos, Euaimôn’s handsome son,
Thoas Andraimónidês, and Odysseus.
These were all willing to encounter Hektor
in single combat. Then again they heard
from Nestor of Gerênia, charioteer: |
200 |
“By lot now: whirl for the one who comes out first.
He is the one to make Akhaians proud,
and make himself, too, proud, if he survives
this bitter fight, no quarter asked or given.”
At this each put his mark upon a stone
and dropped it in the helmet of Agamémnon.
Meanwhile the troops addressed the gods in prayer
with hands held up. You might have heard one say,
his eyes on heaven:
“Father Zeus, let Aías’
pebble jump! Or make it Diomêdês! |
210 |
Make it the king himself of rich Mykênê!”
So they murmured. Then Lord Nestor gave
the helm a rolling shake and made that stone
which they desired leap out: Aías’ token.
A herald took it round amid the nine,
showing the fortunate mark, this way and that,
to all the Akhaian champions; but none
could recognize it or acknowledge it.
Only when he had come at length to him
who made the sign and dropped it in the helmet, |
220 |
Aías, the giant, putting out his hand
for what the pausing herald placed upon it,
knew his mark. A thrill of joy ran through him.
Down at his feet he tossed the stone, and said:
“Oh, friends, the token’s mine! And glad I am,
as I believe I can put Hektor down.
Come, everyone, while I prepare to fight,
pray to Lord Zeus the son of Krónos! Keep it
under your breath so Trojans will not hear—
or else be open about it; after all, |
230 |
we have no fear of any. No man here
will drive me from the field against my will,
not by main force, not by a ruse. I hope
I was not born and bred on Sálamis
to be a dunce in battle.”
At this the soldiers
prayed to Zeus. You might have heard one say,
his eyes on heaven:
“Father Zeus, from Ida
looking out for us all: greatest, most glorious:
let Aías win the honor of victory!
Or if you care for Hektor and are inclined |
240 |
to favor him, then let both men be even
in staying power and honor!”
So they prayed,
while Aías made his brazen helmet snug,
fitted his shield and sword strap. He stepped out
as formidable as gigantic Arês,
wading into the ranks of men, when Zeus
drives them to battle in bloodletting fury.
Huge as that, the bastion of Akhaians
loomed and grinned, his face a cruel mask,
his legs moving in great strides. He shook |
250 |
his long spear doubled by its pointing shadow,
and the Argives exulted. Now the Trojans
felt a painful trembling in the knees,
and even Hektor’s heart thumped in his chest—
but there could be no turning back; he could not
slip again into his throng of troops;
he was the challenger. Aías came nearer,
carrying like a tower his body shield
of seven oxhides sheathed in bronze—a work
done for him by the leather-master Tykhios |
260 |
in Hylê: Tykhios made the glittering shield
with seven skins of oxhide and an eighth
of plated bronze. Holding this bulk before him,
Aías Telamônios came on
toward Hektor and stood before him. Now he spoke,
threatening him:
Hektor, you’ll realize that we Danáäns
have our champions, too—I mean besides
the lionhearted breaker of men, Akhilleus.
He lies now by the beaked seagoing ships |
270 |
in anger at Lord Marshal Agamémnon.
But here are those among us who can face you—
plenty of us. Fight then, if you will!”
To this, great Hektor in his shimmering helmet
answered:
“Son of the ancient line of Télamôn,
Aías, lordly over fighting men,
when you by me you try no callow boy
or woman innocent of war. I know
and know well how to fight and how to kill,
how to take blows upon the right or left |
280 |
shifting my guard of tough oxhide in battle,
how to charge in a din of chariots,
or hand to hand with sword or pike to use
timing and footwork in the dance of war.
Seeing the man you are, I would not trick you
but let you have it with a straight shot,
if luck is with me.”
Rifling his spear,
he hurled it and hit Aías’ wondrous shield
square on the outer and eighth plate of bronze.
The spearhead punched its way through this and through |
290 |
six layers, but the seventh oxhide stopped it.
Now in his turn great Aías made his cast
and hit the round shield braced on Hektor’s arm.
Piercing the bright shield, the whetted spearhead
cut its way into his figured cuirass,
ripping his shirt along his flank; but he
had twisted and escaped the night of death.
Now both men disengaged their spears and fell
on one another like man-eating lions
or wild boars—no tame household creatures. Hektor’s |
300 |
lancehead scored the tower shield—but failed
to pierce it, as the point was bent aside.
Then Aías, plunging forward, rammed his spear
into the round shield, and the point went through
to nick his furious adversary, making
a cut that welled dark blood below his ear.
But Hektor did not slacken, even so.
He drew away and in one powerful hand
picked from the plain a boulder lying there,
black, rough and huge, and threw it, |
310 |
hitting Aías’ gigantic sevenfold shield
square on the boss with a great clang of bronze.
Then Aías lifted up a huger stone
and whirled, and put immeasurable force
behind it when he let it fly—as though
he flung a millstone—crushing Hektor’s shield.
The impact caught his knees, so that he tumbled
backward behind the bashed-in shield. At once
Apollo pulled him to his feet again,
and now with drawn swords toe to toe |
320 |
they would have doubled strokes on one another,
had not those messengers of Zeus and men,
the heralds, intervened—one from the Trojans,
one from the Akhaian side—for both
Idaíos and Talthýbios kept their heads.
They held their staves out, parting the contenders,
and that experienced man, Idalos, said:
“Enough, lads. No more fighting. The Lord Zeus,
assembler of bright cloud, cares for you both.
Both are great spearmen, and we all know it. |
330 |
But now already night is coming on,
and we do well to heed the fall of night.”
Said Aías Telamônios in reply:
“Idaíos, call on Hektor to say as much.
He was the one who dared our champions
to duel with him. Let him take the lead.
Whatever he likes, I am at his disposition.”
Hektor in his shimmering helmet answered:
“Aías, a powerful great frame you had
as a gift from god, and a clear head; of all |
340 |
Akhaians you are toughest with a spear.
And this being shown, let us break off our duel,
our bloodletting, for today. We’ll meet again
another time—and fight until the unseen
power decides between these hosts of ours,
awarding one or the other victory.
But now already night is coming on,
and we do well to heed the fall of night.
This way you’ll give them festive pleasure there
beside the ships, above all to your friends, |
350 |
companions at your table. As for me,
as I go through Priam’s town tonight
my presence will give joy to Trojan men
and to our women, as in their trailing gowns
they throng the place of god with prayers for me.
Let us make one another memorable gifts,
and afterward they’ll say, among Akhaians
and Trojans: ‘These two fought and gave no quarter
in close combat, yet they parted friends.’”
This he said, and lifting off his broadsword, |
360 |
silver-hilted, in its sheath, upon
the well-cut baldric, made a gift of it,
and Aías gave his loin-guard, sewn in purple.
Each then turned away. One went to join
the Akhaian troops; the other joined his Trojans,
and all were full of joy to see him come
alive, unhurt, delivered from the fury
of Aías whose great hands no man withstood.
Almost despairing of him still, they led him
into the town. |
370 |
On their side, the Akhaians
conducted Aías in his pride of victory
to Agamémnon. In the commander’s hut
Lord Marshal Agamémnon sacrificed
a five-year ox to the overlord of heaven.
Skinned and quartered and cut up in bits
the meat was carefully spitted, roasted well,
and taken from the fire. When all the food
lay ready, when the soldiers turned from work,
they feasted to their hearts’ content, and Lord
380 |
gave Aías the long marrowy cuts of chine.
Then, hunger and thirst being dispelled, they heard
Lord Nestor first in discourse. The old man
had new proposals to elaborate—
he whose counsel had been best before.
Concerned for them, he said:
“Lord Agamémnon,
princes of Akhaia, think of our losses.
Many are dead, their dark blood poured by Arês
around Skamánder river, and their souls
gone down to undergloom. Therefore at dawn |
390 |
you should suspend all action by Akhaians.
Gathering here, we’ll bring the dead men back
in wagons drawn by oxen or by mules.
These corpses we must fire abaft the ships
a short way from the sterns, that each may bear
his charred bones to the children of the dead
whenever we sail home again. We’ll bring
earth for a single mound about the fire,
common earth from landward; based on this,
a line of ramparts to defend our ships |
400 |
and troops—with gates well fitted in the walls
to leave a way out for our chariots.
Outside, beyond the walls, we’ll dig a moat
around the perimeter, to hold at bay
their teams and men, and break the impetus
of Trojans in assault.”
To this proposal
all the great captains gave assent. And now
at that same hour, high in the upper city
of Ilion, a Trojan assembly met
in tumult at the gates of Priam. First |
410 |
to speak before them all, clear-eyed Antênor
cried out:
“Trojans, Dardans, and allies,
listen to me, to what I am moved to say!
Bring Argive Helen and the treasure with her,
and let us give her back to the Atreidai
to take home in the ships! We fight as men
proven untrustworthy, truce-breakers. I see
no outcome favorable to ourselves unless
we act as I propose.”
With this short speech,
he took his seat. But Prince Aléxandros, |
420 |
husband of the fair-haired beauty, Helen,
rose and in a sharp tone answered him:
“What you propose, Antênor, I do not like.
You can conceive of better things to say.
Or if you take it seriously, this plan,
the gods themselves have made you lose your wits.
To all you Trojan handlers of fast horses
here is my speech: I say ‘No’ to your face:
I will not give the woman up! The treasure,
all that I once brought home from Argos, though, |
430 |
I offer willingly, and with increment.”
After this declaration he took his seat.
Then Priam, son of Dárdanos, arose,
sage as a god in counsel, and spoke out
in his concern amid them all:
“Now hear me,
Trojans, Dardans, and allies,
listen to what I feel I must propose.
At this hour take your evening meal as always
everywhere in the city. Bear in mind
that sentries must be posted, every man |
440 |
alert. Then let Idaíos go at dawn
among the decked ships, bearing the Atreidai,
Agamémnon and Meneláos, report
of what was said here by Aléxandros
because of whom this quarrel began. Then too
let him make inquiry to this effect:
will they accept a truce in the hard fighting,
allowing us to burn our dead? Next day
again we’ll fight, until inscrutable power
decides between us, giving one side victory.” |
450 |
They listened and abided by his words.
In companies the soldiers took their meal,
and then at dawn Idaíos made his way
amid the decked ships. Finding the Danáäns,
companions of Arês, gathered in assembly
before the bow of Agamémnon’s ship,
he took his stand among them, calling out:
“Agamémnon and all princes of Akhaia,
Priam and the noble men of Troy
direct me to report, and may it please you, |
460 |
the offer of Aléxandros
because of whom this quarrel began. The treasure,
all that he brought to Troy in his long ships—
would god he had foundered on the way!—he now
desires to give back, with increment.
Meneláos’ wife, on the other hand,
he has affirmed that he will not restore,
let Trojans urge it as they will.
I am directed
further to make this inquiry:
will you accept a truce in the hard fighting, |
470 |
allowing us to burn our dead? Next day
again we’ll fight, until inscrutable power
decides between us, giving one side victory.”
He finished, and they all sat hushed and still.
At last Diomêdês of the great warcry
burst out:
“Let no man here accept
treasure from Aléxandros—nor Helen
either. Even a child can see the Trojans
live already on the edge of doom!”
The Akhaian soldiers all roared “Aye!” to this, |
480 |
aroused by Diomêdês’ words, and Lord
Agamémnon responded to Idaíos:
“Idaíos, there by heaven you yourself
have heard the Akhaians’ answer! For my part
I am content with it. As to the dead,
I would withhold no decency of burning;
a man should spare no pains to see cadavers
given as soon as may be after death
to purifying flame. Let thundering Zeus,
consort of Hêra, witness I give my word.” |
490 |
And as he spoke he gestured with his staff
upward toward all the gods.
Turning around,
Idaíos made his way again to Ilion.
Upon the assembly ground Trojans and Dardans
were waiting all together for him to come.
Soon he arrived and standing in their midst
delivered his report.
Then all equipped themselves
at once, dividing into two working parties,
one for timber, one to bring in the dead,
as on the other side, leaving their ships, |
500 |
the Argives labored, gathering firewood
and bringing in the dead.
Bright Hêlios
had just begun to strike across the plowlands,
rising heavenward out of the deep
smooth-flowing Ocean stream, when these two groups
met on the battlefield, with difficulty
distinguishing the dead men, one by one.
With pails they washed the bloody filth away,
then hot tears fell, as into waiting carts
they lifted up their dead. All cries of mourning |
510 |
Priam forbade them; sick at heart therefore
in silence they piled corpses on the pyre
and burned it down. Then back they went to Ilion.
Just so on their side the Akhaians piled
dead bodies on their pyre, sick at heart,
and burned it down. Then back to the ships they went.
Next day before dawn, in the dim of night,
around the pyre, chosen Akhaian men
assembled to make one mound for all, with common
earth brought in from landward. Based on this |
520 |
they built a wall, a rampart with high towers,
to be protection for their ships and men.
And well-framed gateways in the wall they made
to leave a way out for the chariots.
Outside, beyond the wall, they dug a moat
and planted it with stakes driven in and pointed.
These were the labors of the long-haired earls
of Akhaia.
And the gods arrayed with Zeus,
lord of the lightning flash, looked down
on this great work of the Akhaian army. |
530 |
Then he who shakes the mainland and the islands,
Poseidon, made his comment:
“Father Zeus,
will any man on boundless earth again
make known his thought, his plan, to the immortals?
Do you not see? The long-haired earls of Akhaia
put up a rampart, inshore from the ships,
and ran a moat around; but they would not
propitiate us with glory of hekatombs!
The fame of this will be diffused as far
as Dawn sends light. Men will forget the wall |
540 |
I drudged at with Apollo for Laomédôn.”
Hot with irritation, Zeus replied:
“By thunder! Lord of the wide sea’s power, shaking
islands and mainland, sulking, you? Another
god, a hundred times feebler than you are
in force of hand and spirit, might be worried
over this stratagem, this wall. Your own
renown is widespread as the light of Dawn!
Come, look ahead! When the Akhaians take
again to their ships and sail for their own land, |
550 |
break up the wall and wash it out to sea,
envelop the whole shore with sand! That way
the Akhaian wall may vanish from the earth.”
So ran their colloquy. The sun went down
and now the Akhaian labor was accomplished.
Amid their huts they slaughtered beasts and made
their evening meal. Wine-ships had come ashore
from Lemnos, a whole fleet loaded with wine.
These ships were sent by Eunêos, Iêson’s son,
born to that hero by Hypsipylê.
To Agamémnon, as to Meneláos,
he gave a thousand measures of the wine
for trading, so the troops could barter for it,
some with bronze and some with shining iron,
others with hides and others still with oxen,
some with slaves. They made a copious feast,
and all night long Akhaians with flowing hair
feasted, while the Trojans and their allies
likewise made a feast.
But all night long
Zeus the Profound made thunder overhead |
570 |
while pondering calamities to come,
and men turned pale with fear. Tilting their cups
they poured out wine upon the ground; no man
would drink again till he had spilt his cup
to heaven’s overlord. But at long last
they turned to rest and took the gift of sleep.