Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 16

Page 14

And as when from Olympus comes a cloud into heaven,[523] after a clear sky, when Jove stretches forth a whirlwind, thus was the clamour and rout of those [flying] from the ships. Nor did they repass [the trench] in seemly plight, but his fleet-footed steeds bore away Hector with his arms; and he deserted the Trojan people, whom against their will the deep trench detained. And many fleet car-drawing steeds left in the foss the chariots of their masters, broken at the extremity of the pole. But Patroclus pursued, vehemently cheering on[524] the Greeks, and devising destruction for the Trojans; but they, with clamour and rout, filled all the ways after they were dispersed. A storm [of dust] was tossed up beneath the clouds, and the solid-hoofed horses pressed back towards the city, from the ships and tents. But Patroclus, wherever he perceived the army in greatest confusion, thither directed [his steeds], exclaiming in a threatening manner; whilst beneath his axles men fell prone from their chariots, and the chariots were overturned. Then, from the opposite side, the fleet immortal steeds, which the gods had given as splendid presents to Peleus, eagerly pressing on, bounded quite across the trench; for his mind urged him against Hector, for he longed to strike him, but his swift horses kept bearing him away.

[Footnote 523: Heaven is here distinguished from Olympus, as in i. 597, and Tibull. iv. i. 131:--

"Jupiter ipse levi vectus per inania curru Adfuit, et coelo vicinum liquit Olympum."]

[Footnote 524: From this sense of [Greek: keleyo] arises its nautical meaning, also [Greek: keleystes], the man who gives the signal and cheers on the rowers. See Mollus on Long. Past. iii. 14. So Athenaeus, xii. p. 535: [Greek: Chrusoyonos men eylei to trierikon. Callipses de a tragodos ekeleye].]

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