Homer ILIAD : Rhapsody 17

Page 11

But they, ever around the dead body, holding their sharp spears, charged incessantly, and slaughtered one another, and thus would some of the brazen-mailed Greeks say:

"O friends, surely it will not be honourable for us to retreat to the hollow ships; but [rather] let the black earth here gape for all. This indeed would at once be better for us, than that we should permit the horse-breaking Trojans to drag him to their city, and obtain glory."

And thus also would some one of the magnanimous Trojans say:

"O friends, although it be our destiny that all be equally subdued beside this man, never let any one retire from the battle."

Thus, then, some one said, and aroused the spirit of each. Thus indeed were they fighting; and the iron clangour[558] reached the brazen heaven through the unfruitful air. But the horses of Aeacides being apart from the combat, wept, when first they perceived that their charioteer had fallen in the dust, beneath man-slaughtering Hector. Automedon, indeed, the brave son of Diores, frequently urged them on, beating them with the sharp lash, and frequently addressed them in mild terms and in threats; but they chose neither to go back to the ships towards the wide Hellespont nor into the battle among the Greeks; but, as a pillar remains firm, which stands at the tomb of a dead man or woman, so they remained detaining the splendid chariot motionless, and drooping their heads to the earth. But warm tears[559] flowed from their eyelids to the earth, complaining from desire of their charioteer; and their thick mane was defiled, flowing down on both sides from the collar at the yoke. But the son of Saturn beholding them lamenting, felt compassion, and shaking his head, communed with his own mind:

"Ah! luckless pair, why did we give you to king Peleus, a mortal; for ye are free from old age, and immortal? Was it that ye might endure griefs with unhappy men? For there is not anything at all more wretched than man,[560] of all, as many as breathe and move over the earth. But Hector, the son of Priam, shall not be borne by you, even in the curiously-wrought chariot, for I will not permit it. Is it not enough that he both possesses those arms, and vainly boasts? But into your knees and spirit will I cast vigour, that ye may safely bear Automedon from the battle to the hollow ships; for still will I give glory to them (the Trojans), to slay, until they reach the well-benched ships, till the sun set, and sacred darkness come on."

[Footnote 558: Clarke compares Aen. xii. 284, from Ennius, apud Macrob. vi. 1: "Hastati spargunt hastas, fit ferreus imber." See Columna's notes. p. 82, ed. Hessel. The Scholiast rather interprets it, of a strong and violent shout, [Greek: stereos kai poly schyros].]

[Footnote 559: See Virg. Aen. xi. 89, sqq. with Servius, Quintus Calab. iii. 740: [Greek: oude min aubrotoi ippoiatarbeos Aiakidao Mimnon adakrytoi para neestin' alla kai autoi Myronto spheteroio daikiamenou basileos. Oud' etholon mogeroisin et' andrasin oude meth' ippois Misgesth' Argeion, olopn peri penthos echontes].]

[Footnote 560: On this comfortable and satisfactory sentiment, see the lugubrious collection of parallel passages in Duport, p. 98.]

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