Iliad, Book 12: The Wall Breached

1ὣς 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

5εὐρύ, 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.

1So in the huts the valiant son of Menoetius

was tending wounded Eurypylus, while Argives and Trojans

fought in a mass. No longer was the Danaans’ trench

or the broad wall above it destined to hold—

5the wall they had built to defend the ships, driving a trench

around it, without giving the gods glorious hecatombs,

so that it might guard the swift ships and the mass of plunder

held inside. It had been built against the immortal gods’ will,

and so it did not stand firm for long.

10ὄφρα 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,

15πέρθετο δὲ Πριάμοιο πόλις δεκάτῳ ἐνιαυτῷ,

Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἐν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἔβησαν,

10As long as Hector lived and Achilles remained enraged

and King Priam’s city stood unsacked,

so long the Achaeans’ great wall stood firm.

But when all the best men of Troy had died,

and many Argives had been killed while others survived,

15and Priam’s city was sacked in the tenth year,

and the Argives sailed in their ships to their dear native land,

17δὴ τότε μητιόωντο Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀπόλλων

τεῖχος ἀμαλδῦναι ποταμῶν μένος εἰσαγαγόντες.

ὅσσοι ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἅλα δὲ προρέουσι,

20Ῥῆσός 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,

25ἐννῆμαρ 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

φιτρῶν καὶ λάων, τὰ θέσαν μογέοντες Ἀχαιοί,

30λεῖα 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.

17then Poseidon and Apollo planned

to erase the wall by bringing the rivers’ force against it—

all the rivers that flow from the mountains of Ida to the sea:

20Rhesus and Heptaporus, Caresus and Rhodius,

Granicus and Aesepus, godlike Scamander

and Simoeis, where many oxhide shields and helmets

had fallen in the dust, with the race of demigod men.

Phoebus Apollo turned all their river mouths toward one place,

25and for nine days drove their flood against the wall. Zeus rained

without cease, so he might sooner wash the wall into the sea.

The Earth-shaker himself, trident in his hands,

led the way and swept into the waves every foundation

of timber and stone the Achaeans had laid with such labor.

30He leveled all beside the strong-flowing Hellespont,

then covered the broad shore again with sand

after erasing the wall, and turned the rivers back

into the channels where their fair-flowing waters had run before.

34ὣς ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ὄπισθε Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀπόλλων

35θησέμεναι· 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·

40αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὡς τὸ πρόσθεν ἐμάρνατο ἶσος ἀέλλῃ·

34So Poseidon and Apollo were to bring it about in time to come.

35But now battle and the din of war blazed around

the well-built wall, and the timbers of the towers clattered under blows.

The Argives, beaten down by Zeus’s lash,

were penned beside their hollow ships and held in check,

in fear of Hector, the formidable deviser of rout.

40He fought as before, a match for the whirlwind.

41ὡς 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

45αἰχμὰς 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

50τάφρον 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

55ἕστασαν 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.

41As when a wild boar or lion among hounds and hunting men

wheels about, exulting in its strength,

while they array themselves in a tower-like formation,

stand against it, and cast thick volleys

45of spearheads from their hands; yet its glorious heart never

cowers or flees, and its own boldness kills it.

Again and again it turns, testing the ranks of men,

and wherever it charges, the ranks of men give way.

So Hector moved through the press, appealing to his companions

50to cross the trench. But his swift-footed horses did not dare;

they neighed loudly, standing at the trench’s very lip,

for the broad trench frightened them back. It was not easy

to leap across at close quarters or to make the crossing:

steep overhanging banks stood along its whole length

55on either side, while its upper edge bristled with sharp

stakes that the sons of the Achaeans had planted,

close-set and tall, as a defense against enemy warriors.

No horse pulling a well-wheeled chariot could easily

enter there, but the infantry were eager to see if they could manage it.

60δὴ 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,

65ἔνθʼ 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,

ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι καὶ αὐτίκα τοῦτο γενέσθαι,

70νωνύμνους 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.

75ἀλλʼ 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.

60Then Polydamas stood beside bold Hector and said:

“Hector, and you other leaders of the Trojans and their allies,

we are recklessly driving our swift horses across the trench.

It is desperately hard to cross: sharp stakes stand

inside it, and directly beyond them rises the Achaean wall.

65There is no way for chariot fighters to descend and fight there;

the space is narrow, and I think we will be wounded.

If Zeus who thunders on high, bent wholly on their ruin,

is crushing them and longs to help the Trojans,

then I too would want this to happen at once:

70for the Achaeans to perish here without a name, far from Argos.

But if they turn on us, if a counterattack comes

from the ships and we crash into the dug trench,

I do not think even a messenger will make his way

back to the city once the Achaeans have wheeled us into rout.

75Come then, let us all do as I propose:

let the attendants hold the horses beside the trench,

while we foot soldiers, armored in our war gear,

all follow Hector in a body. The Achaeans

will not stand if the bonds of destruction have fastened upon them.”

80ὣς 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

85ἵππους εὖ κατὰ κόσμον ἐρυκέμεν αὖθʼ ἐπὶ τάφρῳ·

οἳ δὲ διαστάντες σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες

πένταχα κοσμηθέντες ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποντο.

80So Polydamas spoke, and Hector welcomed the sound advice.

At once he leapt from the chariot to the ground in his armor.

Nor did the other Trojans remain assembled in their chariots;

all sprang down when they saw godlike Hector.

Then each man instructed his own charioteer

85to hold his horses there in good order by the ditch.

The warriors spread apart and arrayed themselves,

formed into five divisions, and followed their leaders.

88οἳ μὲν ἅμʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἴσαν καὶ ἀμύμονι Πουλυδάμαντι,

οἳ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι ἔσαν, μέμασαν δὲ μάλιστα

90τεῖχος 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

95υἷε 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

100Ἀρχέλοχός 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.

88The first went with Hector and faultless Polydamas—

the most numerous and best, and the most eager

90to breach the wall and fight beside the hollow ships.

Cebriones followed them as the third leader; beside the chariot

Hector left another man, inferior to Cebriones.

Paris led the second division, with Alcathous and Agenor.

The third was led by Helenus and godlike Deiphobus,

95two sons of Priam; the third leader was the hero Asius,

Asius son of Hyrtacus, whom horses bore from Arisbe—

great fiery horses from the river Selleeis.

The fourth division was led by Aeneas, Anchises’ noble son,

and with him came two sons of Antenor,

100Archelochus and Acamas, skilled in every kind of battle.

Sarpedon led the far-famed allies

and chose Glaucus and warlike Asteropaeus beside him,

for to him they seemed by far the best

of all the others after himself—and he stood out among them all.

105οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλους ἄραρον τυκτῇσι βόεσσι

βάν ῥʼ ἰθὺς Δαναῶν λελιημένοι, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔφαντο

σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.

105Once they had locked together behind their well-made oxhide shields,

they went straight at the Danaans, eager, thinking their enemies would no longer

hold back, but would fall upon the black ships.

108ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες τηλεκλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροι

βουλῇ Πουλυδάμαντος ἀμωμήτοιο πίθοντο·

110ἀλλʼ 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

115ἂψ 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·

120τῇ 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

125ὀξέα κεκλήγοντες· ἔφαντο γὰρ οὐκ ἔτʼ Ἀχαιοὺς

σχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι

108Then the other Trojans and their far-famed allies

obeyed the counsel of faultless Polydamas.

110But Asius son of Hyrtacus, leader of men, would not

leave his horses and charioteer-attendant there.

He brought them with him as he approached the swift ships—

the fool! He was not destined to escape the evil death-spirits

and leave the ships exulting in his horses and chariot

115and return again to windy Ilium.

Before that, an ill-named fate was to close around him

beneath the spear of glorious Idomeneus, Deucalion’s son.

He made for the left side of the ships, where the Achaeans

were returning from the plain with horses and chariots.

120There he drove his horses and chariot through. At the gates

he did not find the doors pulled shut or the long bar set in place;

men were holding them wide open, hoping to save some companion

fleeing from battle and bring him safely among the ships.

With fixed intent he steered his horses straight through, and his men followed

125with piercing cries. They thought the Achaeans would no longer

hold back, but would fall upon the black ships—

127νήπιοι, ἐν δὲ πύλῃσι δύʼ ἀνέρας εὗρον ἀρίστους

υἷας ὑπερθύμους Λαπιθάων αἰχμητάων,

τὸν μὲν Πειριθόου υἷα κρατερὸν Πολυποίτην,

130τὸν 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·

135ὣς 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

140Ἀσιάδην τʼ Ἀδάμαντα Θόωνά τε Οἰνόμαόν τε.

127fools! At the gates they found two of the best warriors,

high-hearted sons of the spear-fighting Lapiths.

One was strong Polypoetes, son of Pirithous,

130the other Leonteus, a match for Ares, destroyer of mortals.

The two stood before the high gates

like lofty-crowned oaks in the mountains,

which withstand wind and rain through all their days,

fixed fast by great roots stretching without break.

135So those two, trusting in their hands and in their own might,

awaited mighty Asius as he came on and did not flee.

The attackers advanced straight toward the well-built wall, their dry oxhide shields

raised high, as they came with a tremendous war cry,

around lord Asius, Iamenus, Orestes,

140Adamas son of Asius, Thoon, and Oenomaus.

141οἳ 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,

145ἐκ 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

πρυμνὴν ἐκτάμνοντες, ὑπαὶ δέ τε κόμπος ὀδόντων

150γίγνεται 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

155βάλλον 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

160ἠδὲ καὶ ἐκ Τρώων· κόρυθες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὖον ἀΰτευν

βαλλομένων μυλάκεσσι καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι.

141Until then the two had remained inside,

rousing the well-greaved Achaeans to defend the ships.

But when they saw the Trojans surging against the wall

and a cry and rout arose among the Danaans,

145the two darted out and fought before the gates,

like wild boars in the mountains that face

the charging tumult of men and dogs.

They spring obliquely, breaking the brush around them

and cutting it away at the roots, while their tusks clatter

150until someone strikes and takes the life from them.

So the bright bronze on the two men’s chests clanged

under blows struck face-on; for they fought with all their strength,

trusting in the troops above them and in their own might.

The defenders hurled stones from the well-built towers

155as they fought for themselves and their huts

and their swift-running ships. The stones fell to earth like snowflakes

when a raging wind shakes the shadowy clouds

and pours them thick upon the rich-pasturing earth.

So missiles streamed from the hands of the Achaeans

160and the Trojans alike. Helmets rang with a dry, sharp sound

under the blows of millstone rocks, and so did bossed shields.

162δή ῥα τότʼ ᾤμωξεν καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ

Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης, καὶ ἀλαστήσας ἔπος ηὔδα·

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ ῥά νυ καὶ σὺ φιλοψευδὴς ἐτέτυξο

165πάγχυ 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

170ἄνδρας θηρητῆρας ἀμύνονται περὶ τέκνων,

ὣς οἵ γʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι πυλάων καὶ δύʼ ἐόντε

χάσσασθαι πρίν γʼ ἠὲ κατακτάμεν ἠὲ ἁλῶναι.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδὲ Διὸς πεῖθε φρένα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύων·

Ἕκτορι γάρ οἱ θυμὸς ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι.

162Then Asius son of Hyrtacus groaned and struck both thighs

and, bitterly indignant, spoke these words:

“Father Zeus, so now you too have proved

165an utter lover of lies! I never thought the Achaean heroes

would withstand our force and our invincible hands.

But like wasps, quick and lithe at the waist, or bees

that make their home beside a rugged road

and do not abandon their hollow house, but stand

170defending their young against men who hunt them,

so these two, though only two, refuse to withdraw from the gates

until they have killed or been captured.”

So he spoke, but his words did not persuade the mind of Zeus,

for Zeus’s heart was set on granting Hector ascendancy.

175ἄλλοι 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

180πάντες ὅσοι Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἐπιτάρροθοι ἦσαν.

175Others fought their battle around the other gates;

it would be hard for me to recount all this as a god could,

for everywhere around the wall a divinely blazing fire

of stone had risen. The Argives, though grieving, were forced

to defend the ships; the gods were grieved at heart,

180all who aided the Danaans in battle.

181σὺν δʼ ἔβαλον Λαπίθαι πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα.

ἔνθʼ αὖ Πειριθόου υἱὸς κρατερὸς Πολυποίτης

δουρὶ βάλεν Δάμασον κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου·

οὐδʼ ἄρα χαλκείη κόρυς ἔσχεθεν, ἀλλὰ διὰ πρὸ

185αἰχμὴ 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.

190αὖτις 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.

181There the Lapiths clashed in war and deadly combat.

There again strong Polypoetes, son of Peirithous,

struck Damas with his spear through the bronze-cheeked helmet.

The bronze helmet did not stop it; the bronze point

185burst through and shattered bone, and all the brain

was spattered inside, and he subdued Damas as he charged;

then killed Pylon and Ormenus.

Leonteus, scion of Ares, struck Antimachus’ son,

Hippomachus, catching him at the belt with his spear.

190Then, drawing his sharp sword again from its sheath,

he sprang through the press and struck Antiphates first

at close quarters; the man fell backward onto the ground.

Then Menon, Iamenus, and Orestes—

all one after another he laid on the rich-pasturing earth.

195ὄφρʼ 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.

200ὄρνις 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

205ἰδνωθεὶς 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.

195While the two were stripping the glittering armor from these men,

the young warriors who followed Polydamas and Hector—

the most numerous and best, and the most eager

to breach the wall and burn the ships with fire—

still stood beside the trench, deliberating.

200For a bird came upon them as they strained to cross:

a high-flying eagle hemming the host on the left,

carrying in its talons a monstrous blood-red snake,

still alive and writhing, not yet forgetful of battle.

For the snake struck its captor on the chest beside the neck,

205coiling backward; the eagle dropped it away to the ground,

wracked by pain, and cast it down amid the throng,

then screamed aloud and flew upon the breaths of wind.

The Trojans shuddered when they saw the glittering snake

lying in their midst, a portent of aegis-bearing Zeus.

210δὴ 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·

215νῦν 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

220φοινήεντα 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

ῥηξόμεθα σθένεϊ μεγάλῳ, εἴξωσι δʼ Ἀχαιοί,

225οὐ 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.

210Then Polydamas stood beside bold Hector and said:

“Hector, somehow you always rebuke me in the assemblies

when I devise sound counsel, since it is not fitting

for a man of the people to speak out of turn, either in council

or ever in war, but always to build up your power.

215Now once again I will say what seems to me best:

let us not go to fight the Danaans around the ships.

For I think this is how it will be fulfilled, if in truth

this bird came for the Trojans as they strained to cross—

a high-flying eagle hemming the host on the left,

220carrying in its talons a monstrous blood-red snake,

still alive; but it dropped the snake at once before reaching its own dear home

and failed to carry it there and give it to its young.

So we—even if with great force we break through the Achaeans’ gates

and wall, and the Achaeans yield—

225will not come back in order from the ships along those same paths.

We will leave behind many Trojans whom the Achaeans

will cut down with bronze as they defend the ships.

That is how a diviner would interpret this, one who clearly in his heart

understood portents, and whom the people obeyed.”

230τὸν 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,

235ὃς 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,

240εἴτʼ 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;

245εἴ 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,

250αὐτίκʼ ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσεις.

230Flashing-helmeted Hector looked at him from under his brows and answered:

“Polydamas, what you say no longer pleases me.

You know how to devise a better proposal than this.

But if you truly speak this in earnest,

then indeed the gods themselves have destroyed your wits,

235you who tell me to forget the counsels of loud-thundering Zeus,

which he himself promised me and confirmed with a nod.

Yet you tell me to obey the long-winged birds,

which I neither turn toward nor care about,

whether they fly to the right, toward dawn and sun,

240or to the left, toward the misty dark.

Let us obey the counsel of great Zeus,

who rules over all mortals and immortals.

One omen is best: to fight in defense of our fatherland.

Why are you afraid of war and slaughter?

245Even if all the rest of us are killed

beside the Argives’ ships, there is no fear that you will perish;

your heart is not steadfast in battle or warlike.

But if you hold back from the fighting, or coax some other man

with words and turn him away from war,

250you will be struck at once by my spear and lose your life.”

251ὣς 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

255θέλγε 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

260πρώτας 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.

265ἀμφοτέρω 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

270ὅς 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,

275αἴ κε Ζεὺς δώῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητὴς

νεῖκος ἀπωσαμένους δηΐους προτὶ ἄστυ δίεσθαι.

ὣς τώ γε προβοῶντε μάχην ὄτρυνον Ἀχαιῶν.

251So he spoke and led the way; they followed after him

with a superhuman roar. Then Zeus, who delights in thunder,

raised a storm of wind from the mountains of Ida,

driving dust straight toward the ships; he beguiled

255the Achaeans’ minds and granted ascendancy to the Trojans and Hector.

Trusting in Zeus’s portents and in their own might,

they tried to break through the great wall of the Achaeans.

They tore at the tower merlons and demolished the parapets,

and levered the projecting posts the Achaeans had

260first set in the earth as buttresses for the towers.

They hauled these out, hoping to breach the Achaean wall,

but the Danaans did not yet yield the way.

They screened the parapets with oxhides

and hurled down at the enemy advancing beneath the wall.

265Both Ajaxes moved along the towers, giving orders,

going everywhere and rousing the Achaeans’ battle-force.

With gentle words to one man, harsh words to another,

they rebuked anyone they saw wholly slackening from battle:

“Friends—whoever among the Argives is outstanding, middling,

270or weaker—since men are not all equal

in war—now a task has come for everyone,

and you yourselves surely know it. Let no one turn back

toward the ships when he hears the rallying cry.

Press forward and urge one another on,

275if Olympian Zeus the lightning-hurler grants us

to drive back the battle and chase our enemies toward their city.”

So the two, shouting aloud, roused the Achaeans to battle.

278τῶν δʼ, ὥς τε νιφάδες χιόνος πίπτωσι θαμειαὶ

ἤματι χειμερίῳ, ὅτε τʼ ὤρετο μητίετα Ζεὺς

280νιφέμεν 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,

285κῦμα 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.

278And as thick snowflakes fall

on a winter’s day, when Zeus the counselor begins

280to snow upon mankind, displaying his own shafts;

he lulls the winds and pours without pause until he covers

the peaks of high mountains and the highest headlands,

lotus-flowering plains and the rich fields men work;

and spreads across the gray sea, its harbors and shores,

285but the washing wave keeps it back, while everything else

is wrapped from above when Zeus’s shower lies heavy—

so stones flew thick from both sides,

some toward the Trojans, others from the Trojans toward the Achaeans,

as both sides were struck, and a crash rose over the entire wall.

290οὐδʼ 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

295καλὴν χαλκείην ἐξήλατον, ἣν ἄρα χαλκεὺς

ἤλασεν, ἔντοσθεν δὲ βοείας ῥάψε θαμειὰς

χρυσείῃς ῥάβδοισι διηνεκέσιν περὶ κύκλον.

τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γε πρόσθε σχόμενος δύο δοῦρε τινάσσων

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ὥς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος, ὅς τʼ ἐπιδευὴς

300δηρὸν 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,

305ἀλλʼ 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·

310Γλαῦκε 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;

315τὼ 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

320οἶνόν 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

325οὔτέ 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.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδὲ Γλαῦκος ἀπετράπετʼ οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε·

330τὼ δʼ ἰθὺς βήτην Λυκίων μέγα ἔθνος ἄγοντε.

290Even then the Trojans and glorious Hector would not

have broken the wall’s gates and the long crossbar,

if Zeus the counselor had not driven his own son Sarpedon

against the Argives like a lion against spiral-horned cattle.

At once he held before him his shield, balanced on every side,

295a fine hammered shield of bronze, which a bronzesmith

had hammered out and stitched thick oxhides inside,

with continuous golden rods running all around the rim.

Holding it before him and brandishing two spears,

he went forward like a mountain-bred lion long

300in need of meat, whose proud spirit urges him

to make an attempt on the sheep and enter the close-built fold.

Even if he finds herdsmen there

guarding the sheep with dogs and spears,

he will not be driven away before testing the fold,

305but either he leaps in and snatches one, or he himself

is struck among the foremost by a spear from a swift hand.

So then his spirit urged godlike Sarpedon

to rush the wall and break through its battlements.

At once he addressed Glaucus, son of Hippolochus:

310“Glaucus, why are the two of us honored above all

with seats, meat, and brimming cups

in Lycia, and why do all look on us like gods?

Why do we possess a great estate beside the banks of Xanthus,

beautiful with orchard and wheat-bearing field?

315Now we must take our stand among the foremost Lycians

and face the burning battle,

so that some close-armored Lycian may say:

‘Our kings do not rule through Lycia without glory:

they feast on fat sheep

320and choice, honey-sweet wine; but their strength too

is noble, since they fight among the foremost Lycians.’

My friend, if, after escaping this war,

we were destined to live forever ageless and immortal,

neither would I fight among the foremost myself

325nor send you into battle where men win glory.

But now, since the fates of death stand over us

countless—no mortal can flee or escape them—

let us go and give triumph to another, or another to us.”

So he spoke, and Glaucus neither turned aside nor disobeyed.

330The two went straight forward, leading the great host of Lycians.

331τοὺς 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·

335ἐς 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

340καὶ πυλέων· πᾶσαι γὰρ ἐπώχατο, τοὶ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὰς

ἱστάμενοι πειρῶντο βίῃ ῥήξαντες ἐσελθεῖν.

αἶψα δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντα προΐει κήρυκα Θοώτην·

331Seeing them, Menestheus, son of Peteos, shuddered;

for they were advancing on his tower, bringing disaster.

He looked about the Achaeans’ tower, hoping to see

some leader who could ward ruin from his companions.

335He saw the two Ajaxes standing, never sated with war,

and Teucer nearby, just coming from his hut.

But no shout of his could make itself heard,

so great was the crash, and the battle cry reached heaven—

shields were struck, and horsehair-crested helmets,

340and gates. All were barred, and before each one men

stood trying to break through by force and enter.

At once he sent the herald Thoötes to Ajax:

343ἔρχεο δῖε Θοῶτα, θέων Αἴαντα κάλεσσον,

ἀμφοτέρω μὲν μᾶλλον· ὃ γάρ κʼ ὄχʼ ἄριστον ἁπάντων

345εἴη, 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,

350καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμα σπέσθω τόξων ἐῢ εἰδώς.

343“Go, godlike Thoötes—run and call Ajax,

both of them if possible; that would be best of all,

345since steep destruction will soon be upon us here.

The leaders of Lycia are pressing us hard, men who before now

have always been fierce in the grinding battles.

But if toil and fighting have risen where they stand as well,

at least let valiant Ajax, son of Telamon, come alone,

350and let Teucer, skilled with the bow, follow beside him.”

351ὣς 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

355ἠνώγει 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

360ζαχρηεῖς 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.

351So he spoke, and the herald heard him and did not disobey.

He ran beside the wall of the bronze-clad Achaeans,

came and stood beside the Ajaxes, and at once addressed them:

“Ajaxes, leaders of the bronze-clad Argives,

355the dear son of Zeus-nurtured Peteos orders you

to go there and face the struggle, if only for a little while—

both of them if possible; that would be best of all,

since steep destruction will soon be upon them there.

The leaders of Lycia are pressing us hard, men who before now

360have always been fierce in the grinding battles.

But if war and fighting have risen here as well,

at least let valiant Ajax, son of Telamon, come alone,

and let Teucer, skilled with the bow, follow beside him.”

364ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας.

365αὐτίκʼ 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.

370ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

καί οἱ Τεῦκρος ἅμʼ ᾖε κασίγνητος καὶ ὄπατρος·

τοῖς δʼ ἅμα Πανδίων Τεύκρου φέρε καμπύλα τόξα.

364So he spoke, and great Telamonian Ajax did not disobey.

365At once he spoke winged words to the son of Oileus:

“Ajax, you two stay here—you and mighty Lycomedes—

and urge the Danaans to fight with all their force.

I will go there and meet the battle,

then come back quickly once I have defended them well.”

370So Telamonian Ajax spoke and went away,

and Teucer went with him, his brother by the same father.

Pandion accompanied them, carrying Teucer’s curved bow.

373εὖτε Μενεσθῆος μεγαθύμου πύργον ἵκοντο

τείχεος ἐντὸς ἰόντες, ἐπειγομένοισι δʼ ἵκοντο,

375οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ἐπάλξεις βαῖνον ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσοι

ἴφθιμοι Λυκίων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες·

σὺν δʼ ἐβάλοντο μάχεσθαι ἐναντίον, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτή.

Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα

Σαρπήδοντος ἑταῖρον Ἐπικλῆα μεγάθυμον

380μαρμάρῳ 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

385πάντʼ ἄμυδις κεφαλῆς· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς

κάππεσʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλοῦ πύργου, λίπε δʼ ὀστέα θυμός.

373When they reached great-hearted Menestheus’ tower,

moving along inside the wall, they came upon men hard pressed:

375they were mounting the battlements like a dark whirlwind—

the mighty leaders and rulers of the Lycians.

They closed in to fight face to face, and the battle cry rose.

Telamonian Ajax was first to kill a man—

great-hearted Epicles, Sarpedon’s companion—

380striking him with a jagged stone that lay

inside the wall, huge and uppermost beside the battlements.

A man could not easily hold it with both hands, even in his prime,

such as mortals are now; yet Ajax lifted and hurled it from above.

It crushed his four-bossed helmet and smashed together

385all the bones of his head. Like a diver,

he plunged from the high tower, and his spirit left his bones.

387Τεῦκρος δὲ Γλαῦκον κρατερὸν παῖδʼ Ἱππολόχοιο

ἰῷ ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο,

ᾗ ῥʼ ἴδε γυμνωθέντα βραχίονα, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης.

390ἂψ 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

395νύξʼ, 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.

387Then Teucer shot strong Glaucus, Hippolochus’ son,

with an arrow as he charged along the high wall,

where he saw his arm exposed, and stopped him from the fight.

390Glaucus sprang back from the wall unseen, so no Achaean

would notice his wound and boast over it in words.

Grief came upon Sarpedon when Glaucus withdrew,

as soon as he noticed; yet he did not forget the battle.

Instead he came upon Alcmaon, son of Thestor, with his spear

395and stabbed him, then wrenched the shaft free. Following it, Alcmaon fell

face down, and his bronze-adorned armor clattered around him.

Then Sarpedon seized a battlement in his powerful hands

and pulled. The whole battlement came away, end to end; above it

the wall was stripped bare, opening a path for many.

400τὸν 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

405ἤλυθεν 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;

410ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι καὶ ἰφθίμῳ περ ἐόντι

μούνῳ ῥηξαμένῳ θέσθαι παρὰ νηυσὶ κέλευθον·

ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτε· πλεόνων δέ τι ἔργον ἄμεινον.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν

μᾶλλον ἐπέβρισαν βουληφόρον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα.

400Ajax and Teucer attacked him together: Teucer with an arrow

struck the shining strap across his chest,

the strap of his body-covering shield. But Zeus warded the death-spirits

from his own son, so he would not fall beside the ships’ sterns.

Ajax sprang and stabbed his shield. The spear did not pass through,

405but staggered him in his onrush.

He gave a little ground from the battlement, but did not

withdraw entirely, for his spirit still hoped to win ascendancy.

Wheeling around, he called to the godlike Lycians:

“Lycians, why do you let your furious battle-strength slacken so?

410It is difficult for me, even though I am strong,

to break through alone and open a path beside the ships.

Follow me—the work of many is better.”

So he spoke. Fearing their lord’s rebuke,

they pressed harder around their counselor-king.

415Ἀργεῖοι 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

420τείχεος 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

425δῄουν 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.

430πάντῃ 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

435ἰσάζουσʼ, 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.

415On the other side the Argives strengthened their ranks

inside the wall, and a mighty task stood before them.

The powerful Lycians could not break through

the Danaans’ wall and open a path beside the ships,

nor could the Danaan spearmen drive the Lycians

420back from the wall once they had first drawn near.

As two men quarrel over boundary markers,

holding measuring rods in their hands in a field they share,

and within a narrow strip contend for an equal portion,

so the battlements held them apart. Across the parapet they

425hacked at the oxhide shields guarding one another's chests,

the well-rounded shields and fluttering bucklers.

Many were wounded in the flesh by pitiless bronze—

some when, as they turned in combat, their backs were bared,

in combat, and many were pierced clean through the shield itself.

430Everywhere the towers and battlements were spattered

with warriors’ blood from both Trojans and Achaeans.

Yet even so they could not put the Achaeans to flight.

The Achaeans held steady like the scales of a careful working woman,

who lifts the weight and the wool on either side,

435balancing them so she may earn a meager wage for her children.

So battle and war were stretched evenly between them,

until Zeus gave Hector the greater ascendancy—

Priam’s son, the first to spring inside the Achaeans’ wall.

439ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Τρώεσσι γεγωνώς·

440ὄρνυσθʼ ἱππόδαμοι Τρῶες, ῥήγνυσθε δὲ τεῖχος

Ἀργείων καὶ νηυσὶν ἐνίετε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.

ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων, οἳ δʼ οὔασι πάντες ἄκουον,

ἴθυσαν δʼ ἐπὶ τεῖχος ἀολλέες· οἳ μὲν ἔπειτα

κροσσάων ἐπέβαινον ἀκαχμένα δούρατʼ ἔχοντες,

445Ἕκτωρ 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.

450τόν 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

455δικλίδας 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

460βριθοσύνῃ, 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

465δοῦρʼ 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

470ποιητὰς ἐσέχυντο πύλας· Δαναοὶ δὲ φόβηθεν

νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς, ὅμαδος δʼ ἀλίαστος ἐτύχθη.

439He shouted in a piercing voice, calling to the Trojans:

440“Rise, horse-taming Trojans! Break through the Argives’ wall

and hurl divinely blazing fire among their ships!”

So he urged them, and every man heard with his own ears.

They charged the wall in a mass. Some then

mounted the crenellations with sharp-pointed spears,

445while Hector seized and carried a stone that stood before the gates,

thick at its base but sharp at the top.

Not even two of the people’s strongest men

could easily lever it from the ground onto a wagon,

such as mortals are now; yet he alone swung it easily.

450The son of crooked-counsel Cronus had made it light for him.

As a shepherd easily carries the fleece of a ram,

gripping it in one hand, with its weight scarcely pressing on him,

so Hector lifted the stone and bore it straight at the planks

that guarded the gates, close-fitted and strongly built,

455the high, double-leaved gates. Two crossbars inside

held them in sequence, and a single bolt secured them.

He came and stood very close; bracing himself, he hurled it at their center,

feet planted wide, so his cast would lose none of its force.

It tore both pivots away, and the stone fell inside

460under its own weight. The gates groaned loudly; the crossbars

did not hold, and the planks split apart in every direction

under the stone’s impact. Glorious Hector leapt through,

his face like sudden night, and the bronze blazed

terribly around his body. He held two spears in his hands.

465No one who met him could have held him back

except a god when he sprang through the gates; his eyes burned with fire.

Wheeling among the throng, he called to the Trojans

to scale the wall, and they obeyed his urging.

At once some climbed over the wall, while others poured

470through the well-built gates themselves. The Danaans fled

among the hollow ships, and a ceaseless uproar rose.