The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer (Cowper)/Volume 1/The Iliad/Book II

 ARGUMENT OF THE SECOND BOOK.

 BOOK II.



All night both Gods and Chiefs equestrian slept, But not the Sire of all. He, waking soon, Mused how to exalt Achilles, and destroy No few in battle at the Grecian fleet. This counsel, at the last, as best he chose And likeliest; to dispatch an evil Dream To Agamemnon's tent, and to his side The phantom summoning, him thus addressed.

Haste, evil Dream! Fly to the Grecian fleet, And, entering royal Agamemnon's tent, His ear possess thou thus, omitting nought Of all that I enjoin thee. Bid him arm His universal host, for that the time When the Achaians shall at length possess Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above No longer dwell at variance. The request Of Juno hath prevail'd; now, wo to Troy! So charged, the Dream departed. At the ships Well-built arriving of Achaia's host, He Agamemnon, son of Atreus, sought. Him sleeping in his tent he found, immersed In soft repose ambrosial. At his head The shadow stood, similitude exact Of Nestor, son of Neleus; sage, with whom In Agamemnon's thought might none compare. His form assumed, the sacred Dream began.

Oh son of Atreus the renown'd in arms And in the race! Sleep'st thou? It ill behoves To sleep all night the man of high employ, And charged, as thou art, with a people's care. Now, therefore, mark me well, who, sent from Jove, Inform thee, that although so far remote, He yet compassionates and thinks on thee With kind solicitude. He bids thee arm Thy universal host, for that the time When the Achaians shall at length possess Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above No longer dwell at variance. The requests Of Juno have prevail'd. Now, wo to Troy From Jove himself! Her fate is on the wing. Awaking from thy dewy slumbers, hold In firm remembrance all that thou hast heard.

So spake the Dream, and vanishing, him left In false hopes occupied and musings vain. Full sure he thought, ignorant of the plan By Jove design'd, that day the last of Troy. Fond thought! For toils and agonies to Greeks And Trojans both, in many a bloody field To be endured, the Thunderer yet ordain'd. Starting he woke, and seeming still to hear The warning voice divine, with hasty leap Sprang from his bed, and sat. His fleecy vest New-woven he put on, and mantle wide; His sandals fair to his unsullied feet He braced, and slung his argent-studded sword. Then, incorruptible for evermore The sceptre of his sires he took, with which He issued forth into the camp of Greece.

Aurora now on the Olympian heights Proclaiming stood new day to all in heaven, When he his clear-voiced heralds bade convene The Greeks in council. Went the summons forth Into all quarters, and the throng began. First, at the ship of Nestor, Pylian King, The senior Chiefs for high exploits renown'd He gather'd, whom he prudent thus address'd.

My fellow warriors, hear! A dream from heaven, Amid the stillness of the vacant night Approach'd me, semblance close in stature, bulk, And air, of noble Nestor. At mine head The shadow took his stand, and thus he spake.

Oh son of Atreus the renown'd in arms And in the race, sleep'st thou? It ill behoves To sleep all night the man of high employ, And charged as thou art with a people's care. Now, therefore, mark me well, who, sent from Jove, Inform thee, that although so far remote, He yet compassionates and thinks on thee With kind solicitude. He bids thee arm Thy universal host; for that the time When the Achaians shall at length possess Wide Ilium, hath arrived. The Gods above No longer dwell at variance. The requests Of Juno have prevail'd. Now, wo to Troy From Jove himself! Her fate is on the wing. Charge this on thy remembrance. Thus he spake, Then vanished suddenly, and I awoke. Haste therefore, let us arm, if arm we may, The warlike sons of Greece; but first, myself Will prove them, recommending instant flight With all our ships, and ye throughout the host Dispersed, shall, next, encourage all to stay.

He ceased, and sat; when in the midst arose Of highest fame for wisdom, Nestor, King Of sandy Pylus, who them thus bespake.

Friends, Counsellors, and Leaders of the Greeks! Had any meaner Argive told his dream, We had pronounced it false, and should the more Have shrunk from battle; but the dream is his Who boasts himself our highest in command. Haste, arm we, if we may, the sons of Greece.

So saying, he left the council; him, at once The sceptred Chiefs, obedient to his voice, Arising, follow'd; and the throng began. As from the hollow rock bees stream abroad, And in succession endless seek the fields, Now clustering, and now scattered far and near, In spring-time, among all the new-blown flowers, So they to council swarm'd, troop after troop, Grecians of every tribe, from camp and fleet Assembling orderly o'er all the plain Beside the shore of Ocean. In the midst A kindling rumor, messenger of Jove, Impell'd them, and they went. Loud was the din Of the assembling thousands; groan'd the earth When down they sat, and murmurs ran around. Nine heralds cried aloud—Will ye restrain Your clamors, that your heaven-taught Kings may speak? Scarce were they settled, and the clang had ceased, When Agamemnon, sovereign o'er them all, Sceptre in hand, arose. (That sceptre erst Vulcan with labor forged, and to the hand Consign'd it of the King, Saturnian Jove; Jove to the vanquisher of Ino's guard, And he to Pelops; Pelops in his turn, To royal Atreus; Atreus at his death Bequeath'd it to Thyestes rich in flocks, And rich Thyestes left it to be borne By Agamemnon, symbol of his right To empire over Argos and her isles) On that he lean'd, and rapid, thus began.

Friends, Grecian Heroes, ministers of Mars! Ye see me here entangled in the snares Of unpropitious Jove. He promised once, And with a nod confirm'd it, that with spoils Of Ilium laden, we should hence return; But now, devising ill, he sends me shamed, And with diminished numbers, home to Greece. So stands his sovereign pleasure, who hath laid The bulwarks of full many a city low, And more shall level, matchless in his might. That such a numerous host of Greeks as we, Warring with fewer than ourselves, should find No fruit of all our toil, (and none appears) Will make us vile with ages yet to come. For should we now strike truce, till Greece and Troy Might number each her own, and were the Greeks Distributed in bands, ten Greeks in each, Our banded decads should exceed so far Their units, that all Troy could not supply For every ten, a man, to fill us wine; So far the Achaians, in my thought, surpass The native Trojans. But in Troy are those Who baffle much my purpose; aids derived From other states, spear-arm'd auxiliars, firm In the defence of Ilium's lofty towers. Nine years have passed us over, nine long years; Our ships are rotted, and our tackle marr'd, And all our wives and little-ones at home Sit watching our return, while this attempt Hangs still in doubt, for which that home we left. Accept ye then my counsel. Fly we swift With all our fleet back to our native land, Hopeless of Troy, not yet to be subdued.

So spake the King, whom all the concourse heard With minds in tumult toss'd; all, save the few, Partners of his intent. Commotion shook The whole assembly, such as heaves the flood Of the Icarian Deep, when South and East Burst forth together from the clouds of Jove. And as when vehement the West-wind falls On standing corn mature, the loaded ears Innumerable bow before the gale, So was the council shaken. With a shout All flew toward the ships; uprais'd, the dust Stood o'er them; universal was the cry, "Now clear the passages, strike down the props, Set every vessel free, launch, and away!" Heaven rang with exclamation of the host All homeward bent, and launching glad the fleet. Then baffled Fate had the Achaians seen Returning premature, but Juno thus, With admonition quick to Pallas spake.

Unconquer'd daughter of Jove Ægis-arm'd! Ah foul dishonor! Is it thus at last That the Achaians on the billows borne, Shall seek again their country, leaving here, To be the vaunt of Ilium and her King, Helen of Argos, in whose cause the Greeks Have numerous perish'd from their home remote? Haste! Seek the mail-arm'd multitude, by force Detain them of thy soothing speech, ere yet All launch their oary barks into the flood.

She spake, nor did Minerva not comply, But darting swift from the Olympian heights, Reach'd soon Achaia's fleet. There, she perceived Prudent as Jove himself, Ulysses; firm He stood; he touch'd not even with his hand His sable bark, for sorrow whelm'd his soul. The Athenæan Goddess azure-eyed Beside him stood, and thus the Chief bespake.

Laertes' noble son, for wiles renown'd! Why seek ye, thus precipitate, your ships? Intend ye flight? And is it thus at last, That the Achaians on the billows borne, Shall seek again their country, leaving here, To be the vaunt of Ilium and her King, Helen of Argos, in whose cause the Greeks Have numerous perish'd from their home remote? Delay not. Rush into the throng; by force Detain them of thy soothing speech, ere yet All launch their oary barks into the flood.

She ceased, whom by her voice Ulysses knew, Casting his mantle from him, which his friend Eurybates the Ithacensian caught, He ran; and in his course meeting the son Of Atreus, Agamemnon, from his hand The everlasting sceptre quick received, Which bearing, through Achaia's fleet he pass'd. What King soever, or distinguish'd Greek He found, approaching to his side, in terms Of gentle sort he stay'd him. Sir, he cried, It is unseemly that a man renown'd As thou, should tremble. Go—Resume the seat Which thou hast left, and bid the people sit. Thou know'st not clearly yet the monarch's mind. He proves us now, but soon he will chastize. All were not present; few of us have heard His speech this day in council. Oh, beware, Lest in resentment of this hasty course Irregular, he let his anger loose. Dread is the anger of a King; he reigns By Jove's own ordinance, and is dear to Jove,

But what plebeian base soe'er he heard Stretching his throat to swell the general cry, He laid the sceptre smartly on his back, With reprimand severe. Fellow, he said, Sit still; hear others; thy superiors hear. For who art thou? A dastard and a drone, Of none account in council, or in arms. By no means may we all alike bear sway At Ilium; such plurality of Kings Were evil. One suffices. One, to whom The son of politic Saturn hath assign'd The sceptre, and inforcement of the laws, That he may rule us as a monarch ought.

With such authority the troubled host He sway'd; they, quitting camp and fleet again Rush'd back to council; deafening was the sound As when a billow of the boisterous deep Some broad beach dashes, and the Ocean roars.

The host all seated, and the benches fill'd, Thersites only of loquacious tongue Ungovern'd, clamor'd mutinous; a wretch Of utterance prompt, but in coarse phrase obscene Deep learn'd alone, with which to slander Kings. Might he but set the rabble in a roar, He cared not with what jest; of all from Greece To Ilium sent, his country's chief reproach. Cross-eyed he was, and halting moved on legs Ill-pair'd; his gibbous shoulders o'er his breast Contracted, pinch'd it; to a peak his head Was moulded sharp, and sprinkled thin with hair Of starveling length, flimsy and soft as down. Achilles and Ulysses had incurr'd Most his aversion; them he never spared; But now, imperial Agamemnon 'self In piercing accents stridulous he charged With foul reproach. The Grecians with contempt Listen'd, and indignation, while with voice At highest pitch, he thus the monarch mock'd.

What wouldst thou now? Whereof is thy complaint Now, Agamemnon? Thou hast fill'd thy tents With treasure, and the Grecians, when they take A city, choose the loveliest girls for thee. Is gold thy wish? More gold? A ransom brought By some chief Trojan for his son's release Whom I, or other valiant Greek may bind? Or wouldst thou yet a virgin, one, by right Another's claim, but made by force thine own? It was not well, great Sir, that thou shouldst bring A plague on the Achaians, as of late. But come, my Grecian sisters, soldiers named Unfitly, of a sex too soft for war, Come, let us homeward: let him here digest What he shall gorge, alone; that he may learn If our assistance profit him or not. For when he shamed Achilles, he disgraced A Chief far worthier than himself, whose prize He now withholds. But tush,—Achilles lacks Himself the spirit of a man; no gall Hath he within him, or his hand long since Had stopp'd that mouth, that it should scoff no more.

Thus, mocking royal Agamemnon, spake Thersites. Instant starting to his side, Noble Ulysses with indignant brows Survey'd him, and him thus reproved severe.

Thersites! Railer!—peace. Think not thyself, Although thus eloquent, alone exempt From obligation not to slander Kings. I deem thee most contemptible, the worst Of Agamemnon's followers to the war; Presume not then to take the names revered Of Sovereigns on thy sordid lips, to asperse Their sacred character, and to appoint The Greeks a time when they shall voyage home. How soon, how late, with what success at last We shall return, we know not: but because Achaia's heroes numerous spoils allot To Agamemnon, Leader of the host, Thou therefore from thy seat revilest the King. But mark me. If I find thee, as even now, Raving and foaming at the lips again, May never man behold Ulysses' head On these my shoulders more, and may my son Prove the begotten of another Sire, If I not strip thee to that hide of thine As bare as thou wast born, and whip thee hence Home to thy galley, sniveling like a boy.

He ceased, and with his sceptre on the back And shoulders smote him. Writhing to and fro, He wept profuse, while many a bloody whelk Protuberant beneath the sceptre sprang. Awe-quell'd he sat, and from his visage mean, Deep-sighing, wiped the rheums. It was no time For mirth, yet mirth illumined every face, And laughing, thus they spake. A thousand acts Illustrious, both by well-concerted plans And prudent disposition of the host Ulysses hath achieved, but this by far Transcends his former praise, that he hath quell'd Such contumelious rhetoric profuse. The valiant talker shall not soon, we judge, Take liberties with royal names again. So spake the multitude. Then, stretching forth The sceptre, city-spoiler Chief, arose Ulysses. Him beside, herald in form, Appeared Minerva. Silence she enjoined To all, that all Achaia's sons might hear, Foremost and rearmost, and might weigh his words. He then his counsel, prudent, thus proposed.

Atrides! Monarch! The Achaians seek To make thee ignominious above all In sight of all mankind. None recollects His promise more in steed-famed Argos pledged, Here to abide till Ilium wall'd to heaven Should vanquish'd sink, and all her wealth be ours. No—now, like widow'd women, or weak boys, They whimper to each other, wishing home. And home, I grant, to the afflicted soul Seems pleasant. The poor seaman from his wife One month detain'd, cheerless his ship and sad Possesses, by the force of wintry blasts, And by the billows of the troubled deep Fast lock'd in port. But us the ninth long year Revolving, finds camp'd under Ilium still. I therefore blame not, if they mourn beside Their sable barks, the Grecians. Yet the shame That must attend us after absence long Returning unsuccessful, who can bear? Be patient, friends! wait only till we learn If Calchas truly prophesied, or not; For well we know, and I to all appeal, Whom Fate hath not already snatch'd away, (It seems but yesterday, or at the most A day or two before) that when the ships Wo-fraught for Priam, and the race of Troy, At Aulis met, and we beside the fount With perfect hecatombs the Gods adored Beneath the plane-tree, from whose root a stream Ran crystal-clear, there we beheld a sign Wonderful in all eyes. A serpent huge, Tremendous spectacle! with crimson spots His back all dappled, by Olympian Jove Himself protruded, from the altar's foot Slipp'd into light, and glided to the tree. There on the topmost bough, close-cover'd sat With foliage broad, eight sparrows, younglings all, Then newly feather'd, with their dam, the ninth. The little ones lamenting shrill he gorged, While, wheeling o'er his head, with screams the dam Bewail'd her darling brood. Her also next, Hovering and clamoring, he by the wing Within his spiry folds drew, and devoured. All eaten thus, the nestlings and the dam, The God who sent him, signalized him too, For him Saturnian Jove transform'd to stone. We wondering stood, to see that strange portent Intrude itself into our holy rites, When Calchas, instant, thus the sign explain'd.

Why stand ye, Greeks, astonish'd? Ye behold A prodigy by Jove himself produced, An omen, whose accomplishment indeed Is distant, but whose fame shall never die. E'en as this serpent in your sight devour'd Eight youngling sparrows, with their dam, the ninth, So we nine years must war on yonder plain, And in the tenth, wide-bulwark'd Troy is ours.

So spake the seer, and as he spake, is done. Wait, therefore, brave Achaians! go not hence Till Priam's spacious city be your prize.

He ceased, and such a shout ensued, that all The hollow ships the deafening roar return'd Of acclamation, every voice the speech Extolling of Ulysses, glorious Chief.

Then Nestor the Gerenian, warrior old, Arising, spake; and, by the Gods, he said, Ye more resemble children inexpert In war, than disciplined and prudent men. Where now are all your promises and vows, Councils, libations, right-hand covenants? Burn them, since all our occupation here Is to debate and wrangle, whereof end Or fruit though long we wait, shall none be found. But, Sovereign, be not thou appall'd. Be firm. Relax not aught of thine accustomed sway, But set the battle forth as thou art wont. And if there be a Grecian, here and there, One, adverse to the general voice, let such Wither alone. He shall not see his wish Gratified, neither will we hence return To Argos, ere events shall yet have proved Jove's promise false or true. For when we climb'd Our gallant barks full-charged with Ilium's fate, Saturnian Jove omnipotent, that day, (Omen propitious!) thunder'd on the right. Let no man therefore pant for home, till each Possess a Trojan spouse, and from her lips Take sweet revenge for Helen's pangs of heart. Who then? What soldier languishes and sighs To leave us? Let him dare to lay his hand On his own vessel, and he dies the first. But hear, O King! I shall suggest a course Not trivial. Agamemnon! sort the Greeks By districts and by tribes, that tribe may tribe Support, and each his fellow. This performed, And with consent of all, thou shalt discern With ease what Chief, what private man deserts, And who performs his part. The base, the brave, Such disposition made, shall both appear; And thou shalt also know, if heaven or we, The Gods, or our supineness, succor Troy.

To whom Atrides, King of men, replied. Old Chief! Thou passest all Achaia's sons In consultation; would to Jove our Sire, To Athenæan Pallas, and Apollo! That I had ten such coadjutors, wise As thou art, and the royal city soon Of Priam, with her wealth, should all be ours. But me the son of Saturn, Jove supreme Himself afflicts, who in contentious broils Involves me, and in altercation vain. Thence all that wordy tempest for a girl Achilles and myself between, and I The fierce aggressor. Be that breach but heal'd! And Troy's reprieve thenceforth is at an end. Go—take refreshment now that we may march Forth to our enemies. Let each whet well His spear, brace well his shield, well feed his brisk High-mettled horses, well survey and search His chariot on all sides, that no defect Disgrace his bright habiliments of war. So will we give the day from morn to eve To dreadful battle. Pause there shall be none Till night divide us. Every buckler's thong Shall sweat on the toil'd bosom, every hand That shakes the spear shall ache, and every steed Shall smoke that whirls the chariot o'er the plain. Wo then to whom I shall discover here Loitering among the tents; let him escape My vengeance if he can. The vulture's maw Shall have his carcase, and the dogs his bones.

He spake; whom all applauded with a shout Loud as against some headland cliff the waves Roll'd by the stormy South o'er rocks that shoot Afar into the deep, which in all winds The flood still overspreads, blow whence they may. Arising, forth they rush'd, among the ships All scatter'd; smoke from every tent arose, The host their food preparing; next, his God Each man invoked (of the Immortals him Whom he preferr'd) with sacrifice and prayer For safe escape from danger and from death. But Agamemnon to Saturnian Jove Omnipotent, an ox of the fifth year Full-flesh'd devoted, and the Princes call'd Noblest of all the Grecians to his feast. First, Nestor with Idomeneus the King, Then either Ajax, and the son he call'd Of Tydeus, with Ulysses sixth and last, Jove's peer in wisdom. Menelaus went, Heroic Chief! unbidden, for he knew His brother's mind with weight of care oppress'd. The ox encircling, and their hands with meal Of consecration fill'd, the assembly stood, When Agamemnon thus his prayer preferred.

Almighty Father! Glorious above all! Cloud-girt, who dwell'st in heaven thy throne sublime, Let not the sun go down, till Priam's roof Fall flat into the flames; till I shall burn His gates with fire; till I shall hew away His hack'd and riven corslet from the breast Of Hector, and till numerous Chiefs, his friends, Around him, prone in dust, shall bite the ground.

So prayed he, but with none effect, The God Received his offering, but to double toil Doom'd them, and sorrow more than all the past.

They then, the triturated barley grain First duly sprinkling, the sharp steel infix'd Deep in the victim's neck reversed, then stripp'd The carcase, and divided at their joint The thighs, which in the double caul involved They spread with slices crude, and burn'd with fire Ascending fierce from billets sere and dry. The spitted entrails next they o'er the coals Suspended held. The thighs with fire consumed, They gave to each his portion of the maw, Then slash'd the remnant, pierced it with the spits, And managing with culinary skill The roast, withdrew it from the spits again. Thus, all their task accomplished, and the board Set forth, they feasted, and were all sufficed. When neither hunger more nor thirst remain'd Unsatisfied, Gerenian Nestor spake.

Atrides! Agamemnon! King of men! No longer waste we time in useless words, Nor to a distant hour postpone the work To which heaven calls thee. Send thine heralds forth. Who shall convene the Achaians at the fleet, That we, the Chiefs assembled here, may range, Together, the imbattled multitude, And edge their spirits for immediate fight.

He spake, nor Agamemnon not complied. At once he bade his clear-voiced heralds call The Greeks to battle. They the summons loud Gave forth, and at the sound the people throng'd. Then Agamemnon and the Kings of Greece Dispatchful drew them into order just, With whom Minerva azure-eyed advanced, The inestimable Ægis on her arm, Immortal, unobnoxious to decay A hundred braids, close twisted, all of gold, Each valued at a hundred beeves, around Dependent fringed it. She from side to side Her eyes cerulean rolled, infusing thirst Of battle endless into every breast. War won them now, war sweeter now to each Than gales to waft them over ocean home. As when devouring flames some forest seize On the high mountains, splendid from afar The blaze appears, so, moving on the plain, The steel-clad host innumerous flash'd to heaven. And as a multitude of fowls in flocks Assembled various, geese, or cranes, or swans Lithe-neck'd, long hovering o'er Caÿster's banks On wanton plumes, successive on the mead Alight at last, and with a clang so loud That all the hollow vale of Asius rings; In number such from ships and tents effused, They cover'd the Scamandrian plain; the earth Rebellow'd to the feet of steeds and men. They overspread Scamander's grassy vale, Myriads, as leaves, or as the flowers of spring. As in the hovel where the peasant milks His kine in spring-time, when his pails are fill'd, Thick clouds of humming insects on the wing Swarm all around him, so the Grecians swarm'd An unsumm'd multitude o'er all the plain, Bright arm'd, high crested, and athirst for war. As goat-herds separate their numerous flocks With ease, though fed promiscuous, with like ease Their leaders them on every side reduced To martial order glorious;[19] among whom Stood Agamemnon "with an eye like Jove's, To threaten or command," like Mars in girth, And with the port of Neptune. As the bull Conspicuous among all the herd appears, For he surpasses all, such Jove ordain'd That day the son of Atreus, in the midst Of Heroes, eminent above them all.

Tell me, (for ye are are heavenly, and beheld A scene, whereof the faint report alone Hath reached our ears, remote and ill-informed,) Tell me, ye Muses, under whom, beneath What Chiefs of royal or of humbler note Stood forth the embattled Greeks? The host at large; They were a multitude in number more Than with ten tongues, and with ten mouths, each mouth Made vocal with a trumpet's throat of brass I might declare, unless the Olympian nine, Jove's daughters, would the chronicle themselves Indite, of all assembled, under Troy. I will rehearse the Captains and their fleets.

Bœotia's sturdy sons Peneleus led, And Leïtus, whose partners in command Arcesilaus and Prothoenor came, And Clonius. Them the dwellers on the rocks Of Aulis followed, with the hardy clans Of Hyrie, Schoenos, Scholos, and the hills Of Eteon; Thespia, Græa, and the plains Of Mycalessus them, and Harma served, Eleon, Erythræ, Peteon; Hyle them, Hesius and Ocalea, and the strength Of Medeon; Copæ also in their train Marched, with Eutresis and the mighty men Of Thisbe famed for doves; nor pass unnamed Whom Coronæa, and the grassy land Of Haliartus added to the war, Nor whom Platæa, nor whom Glissa bred, And Hypothebæ, and thy sacred groves To Neptune, dark Onchestus. Arne claims A record next for her illustrious sons, Vine-bearing Arne. Thou wast also there Mideia, and thou Nissa; nor be thine Though last, Anthedon, a forgotten name. These in Bœotia's fair and gallant fleet Of fifty ships, each bearing o'er the waves Thrice forty warriors, had arrived at Troy.

In thirty ships deep-laden with the brave, Aspledon and Orchomenos had sent Their chosen youth; them ruled a noble pair, Sons of Astyoche; she, lovely nymph, Received by stealth, on Actor's stately roof, The embraces of a God, and bore to Mars Twins like himself, Ascalaphus the bold, And bold Iälmenus, expert in arms.

Beneath Epistrophus and Schedius, took Their destined station on Bœotia's left, The brave Phocensians; they in forty ships From Cyparissus came, and from the rocks Of Python, and from Crissa the divine; From Anemoria, Daulis, Panopeus, And from Hyampolis, and from the banks Of the Cephissus, sacred stream, and from Lilæa, seated at its fountain-head.

Next from beyond Eubœa's happy isle In forty ships conveyed, stood forth well armed The Locrians; dwellers in Augeia some The pleasant, some of Opoëis possessed, Some of Calliarus; these Scarpha sent, And Cynus those; from Bessa came the rest, From Tarpha, Thronius, and from the brink Of loud Boagrius; Ajax them, the swift, Son of Oïleus led, not such as he From Telamon, big-boned and lofty built, But small of limb, and of an humbler crest; Yet he, competitor had none throughout The Grecians of what land soe'er, for skill In ushering to its mark the rapid lance.

Elphenor brought (Calchodon's mighty son) The Eubœans to the field. In forty ships From Histrïæa for her vintage famed, From Chalcis, from Iretria, from the gates Of maritime Cerinthus, from the heights Of Dios rock-built citadel sublime, And from Caristus and from Styra came His warlike multitudes, all named alike Abantes, on whose shoulders fell behind Their locks profuse, and they were eager all To split the hauberk with the pointed spear.

Nor Athens had withheld her generous sons, The people of Erectheus. Him of old The teeming glebe produced, a wondrous birth! And Pallas rear'd him: her own unctuous fane She made his habitation, where with bulls The youth of Athens, and with slaughter'd lambs Her annual worship celebrate. Then led Menestheus, whom, (sage Nestor's self except, Thrice school'd in all events of human life,) None rivall'd ever in the just array Of horse and man to battle. Fifty ships Black-prowed, had borne them to the distant war.

Ajax from Salamis twelve vessels brought, And where the Athenian band in phalanx stood Marshall'd compact, there station'd he his powers.

The men of Argos and Tyrintha next, And of Hermione, that stands retired With Asine, within her spacious bay; Of Epidaurus, crown'd with purple vines, And of Trœzena, with the Achaian youth Of sea-begirt Ægina, and with thine, Maseta, and the dwellers on thy coast, Wave-worn Eïonæ; these all obeyed The dauntless Hero Diomede, whom served Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, a Chief Of deathless fame, his second in command, And godlike man, Euryalus, the son Of King Mecisteus, Talaüs' son, his third. But Diomede controll'd them all, and him Twice forty sable ships their leader own'd.

Came Agamemnon with a hundred ships, Exulting in his powers; more numerous they, And more illustrious far than other Chief Could boast, whoever. Clad in burnish'd brass, And conscious of pre-eminence, he stood. He drew his host from cities far renown'd, Mycenæ, and Corinthus, seat of wealth, Orneia, and Cleonæ bulwark'd strong, And lovely Aræthyria; Sicyon, where His seat of royal power held at the first Adrastus: Hyperesia, and the heights Of Gonoëssa; Ægium, with the towns That sprinkle all that far-extended coast, Pellene also and wide Helice With all their shores, were number'd in his train.

From hollow Lacedæmon's glen profound, From Phare, Sparta, and from Messa, still Resounding with the ring-dove's amorous moan, From Brysia, from Augeia, from the rocks Of Laas, from Amycla, Otilus, And from the towers of Helos, at whose foot The surf of Ocean falls, came sixty barks With Menelaus. From the monarch's host The royal brother ranged his own apart, and panted for revenge of Helen's wrongs, And of her sighs and tears. From rank to rank, Conscious of dauntless might he pass'd, and sent Into all hearts the fervor of his own.

Gerenian Nestor in thrice thirty ships Had brought his warriors; they from Pylus came, From blithe Arene, and from Thryos, built Fast by the fords of Alpheus, and from steep And stately Æpy. Their confederate powers Sent Amphigenia, Cyparissa veiled With broad redundance of funereal shades, Pteleos and Helos, and of deathless fame Dorion. In Dorion erst the Muses met Threïcian Thamyris, on his return From Eurytus, Oechalian Chief, and hush'd His song for ever; for he dared to vaunt That he would pass in song even themselves The Muses, daughters of Jove Ægis-arm'd. They therefore, by his boast incensed, the bard Struck blind, and from his memory dash'd severe All traces of his once celestial strains.

Arcadia's sons, the dwellers at the foot Of mount Cyllene, where Æpytus sleeps Intomb'd; a generation bold in fight, And warriors hand to hand; the valiant men Of Pheneus, of Orchomenos by flocks Grazed numberless, of Ripe, Stratia, bleak Enispe; Mantinea city fair, Stymphelus and Parrhasia, and the youth Of Tegea; royal Agapenor these, Ancæus' offspring, had in sixty ships To Troy conducted; numerous was the crew, And skilled in arms, which every vessel brought, And Agamemnon had with barks himself Supplied them, for, of inland realms possessed, They little heeded maritime employs.

The dwellers in Buprasium, on the shores Of pleasant Elis, and in all the land Myrsinus and the Hyrminian plain between, The rock Olenian, and the Alysian fount; These all obey'd four Chiefs, and galleys ten Each Chief commanded, with Epeans filled. Amphimachus and Thalpius govern'd these, This, son of Cteatus, the other, sprung From Eurytus, and both of Actor's house. Diores, son of Amarynceus, those Led on, and, for his godlike form renown'd, Polyxenus was Chieftain o'er the rest, Son of Agasthenes, Augeias' son.

Dulichium, and her sister sacred isles The Echinades, whose opposite aspect Looks toward Elis o'er the curling waves, Sent forth their powers with Meges at their head, Brave son of Phyleus, warrior dear to Jove. Phyleus in wrath, his father's house renounced, And to Dulichium wandering, there abode. Twice twenty ships had follow'd Meges forth.

Ulysses led the Cephallenians bold. From Ithaca, and from the lofty woods Of Neritus they came, and from the rocks Of rude Ægilipa. Crocylia these, And these Zacynthus own'd; nor yet a few From Samos, from Epirus join'd their aid, And from the opposite Ionian shore. Them, wise as Jove himself, Ulysses led In twelve fair ships, with crimson prows adorn'd.

From forty ships, Thoas, Andræmon's son, Had landed his Ætolians; for extinct Was Meleager, and extinct the house Of Oeneus all, nor Oeneus self survived; To Thoas therefore had Ætolia fallen; Him Olenos, Pylene, Chalcis served, With Pleuro, and the rock-bound Calydon.

Idomeneus, spear-practised warrior, led The numerous Cretans. In twice forty ships He brought his powers to Troy. The warlike bands Of Cnossus, of Gortyna wall'd around, Of Lyctus, of Lycastus chalky-white, Of Phæstus, of Miletus, with the youth Of Rhytius him obey'd; nor these were all, But others from her hundred cities Crete Sent forth, all whom Idomeneus the brave Commanded, with Meriones in arms Dread as the God of battles blood-imbrued.

Nine ships Tlepolemus, Herculean-born, For courage famed and for superior size, Fill'd with his haughty Rhodians. They, in tribes Divided, dwelt distinct. Jelyssus these, Those Lindus, and the rest the shining soil Of white Camirus occupied. Him bore To Hercules, (what time he led the nymph From Ephyre, and from Sellea's banks, After full many a city laid in dust.) Astyocheia. In his father's house Magnificent, Tlepolemus spear-famed Had scarce up-grown to manhood's lusty prime When he his father's hoary uncle slew Lycimnius, branch of Mars. Then built he ships, And, pushing forth to sea, fled from the threats Of the whole house of Hercules. Huge toil And many woes he suffer'd, till at length At Rhodes arriving, in three separate bands He spread himself abroad, Much was he loved Of all-commanding Jove, who bless'd him there, And shower'd abundant riches on them all.

Nireus of Syma, with three vessels came; Nireus, Aglæa's offspring, whom she bore To Charopus the King; Nireus in form, (The faultless son of Peleus sole except,) Loveliest of all the Grecians call'd to Troy. But he was heartless and his men were few.

Nisyrus, Casus, Crapathus, and Cos Where reign'd Eurypylus, with all the isles Calydnæ named, under two valiant Chiefs Their troops disposed; Phidippus one, and one, His brother Antiphus, begotten both By Thessalus, whom Hercules begat. In thirty ships they sought the shores of Troy.

The warriors of Pelasgian Argos next, Of Alus, and Alope, and who held Trechina, Phthia, and for women fair Distinguish'd, Hellas; known by various names Hellenes, Myrmidons, Achæans, them In fifty ships embark'd, Achilles ruled. But these were deaf to the hoarse-throated war, For there was none to draw their battle forth, And give them just array. Close in his ships Achilles, after loss of the bright-hair'd Brisëis, lay, resentful; her obtained Not without labor hard, and after sack Of Thebes and of Lyrnessus, where he slew Two mighty Chiefs, sons of Evenus both, Epistrophus and Mynes, her he mourn'd, And for her sake self-prison'd in his fleet And idle lay, though soon to rise again.

From Phylace, and from the flowery fields Of Pyrrhasus, a land to Ceres given By consecration, and from Iton green, Mother of flocks; from Antron by the sea, And from the grassy meads of Pteleus, came A people, whom while yet he lived, the brave Protesilaüs led; but him the earth Now cover'd dark and drear. A wife he left, To rend in Phylace her bleeding cheeks, And an unfinish'd mansion. First he died Of all the Greeks; for as he leap'd to land Foremost by far, a Dardan struck him dead. Nor had his troops, though filled with deep regret, No leader; them Podarces led, a Chief Like Mars in battle, brother of the slain, But younger born, and from Iphiclus sprung Who sprang from Phylacus the rich in flocks. But him Protesilaüs, as in years, So also in desert of arms excell'd Heroic, whom his host, although they saw Podarces at their head, still justly mourn'd; For he was fierce in battle, and at Troy With forty sable-sided ships arrived.

Eleven galleys, Pheræ on the lake, And Boebe, and Iölchus, and the vale Of Glaphyræ supplied with crews robust Under Eumelus; him Alcestis, praised For beauty above all her sisters fair, In Thessaly to King Admetus bore.

Methone, and Olizon's craggy coast, With Melibœa and Thaumasia sent Seven ships; their rowers were good archers all, And every vessel dipped into the wave Her fifty oars. Them Philoctetes, skill'd To draw with sinewy arm the stubborn bow, Commanded; but he suffering anguish keen Inflicted by a serpent's venom'd tooth, Lay sick in Lemnos; him the Grecians there Had left sore-wounded, but were destined soon To call to dear remembrance whom they left. Meantime, though sorrowing for his sake, his troops Yet wanted not a chief; them Medon ruled, Whom Rhena to the far-famed conqueror bore Oïleus, fruit of their unsanction'd loves.

From Tricca, from Ithome rough and rude With rocks and glens, and from Oechalia, town Of Eurytus Oechalian-born, came forth Their warlike youth by Podalirius led And by Machaon, healers both expert Of all disease, and thirty ships were theirs.

The men of Ormenus, and from beside The fountain Hypereia, from the tops Of chalky Titan, and Asteria's band; Them ruled Eurypylus, Evæmon's son Illustrious, whom twice twenty ships obeyed.

Orthe, Gyrtone, Oloösson white, Argissa and Helone; they their youth Gave to control of Polypœtes, son Undaunted of Pirithoüs, son of Jove. Him, to Pirithoüs, (on the self-same day When he the Centaurs punish'd and pursued Sheer to Æthicæ driven from Pelion's heights The shaggy race) Hippodamia bore. Nor he alone them led. With him was join'd Leonteus dauntless warrior, from the bold Coronus sprung, who Cæneus call'd his sire. Twice twenty ships awaited their command.

Guneus from Cyphus twenty and two ships Led forth; the Enienes him obey'd, And the robust Perœbi, warriors bold, And dwellers on Dodona's wintry brow. To these were join'd who till the pleasant fields Where Titaresius winds; the gentle flood Pours into Peneus all his limpid stores, But with the silver-eddied Peneus flows Unmixt as oil; for Stygian is his stream, And Styx is the inviolable oath.

Last with his forty ships, Tenthredon's son, The active Prothoüs came. From the green banks Of Peneus his Magnesians far and near He gather'd, and from Pelion forest-crown'd.

These were the princes and the Chiefs of Greece. Say, Muse, who most in personal desert Excell'd, and whose were the most warlike steeds And of the noblest strain. Their hue, their age, Their height the same, swift as the winds of heaven And passing far all others, were the mares Which drew Eumelus; on Pierian hills The heavenly Archer of the silver bow, Apollo, bred them. But of men, the chief Was Telamonian Ajax, while wrath-bound Achilles lay; for he was worthier far, And more illustrious were the steeds which bore The noble son of Peleus; but revenge On Agamemnon leader of the host Was all his thought, while in his gallant ships Sharp-keel'd to cut the foaming flood, he lay. Meantime, along the margin of the deep His soldiers hurled the disk, or bent the bow. Or to its mark dispatch'd the quivering lance. Beside the chariots stood the unharness'd steeds Cropping the lotus, or at leisure browsed On celery wild, from watery freshes gleaned. Beneath the shadow of the sheltering tent The chariot stood, while they, the charioteers Roam'd here and there the camp, their warlike lord Regretting sad, and idle for his sake.

As if a fire had burnt along the ground, Such seem'd their march; earth groan'd their steps beneath; As when in Arimi, where fame reports Typhoëus stretch'd, the fires of angry Jove Down darted, lash the ground, so groan'd the earth Beneath them, for they traversed swift the plain.

And now from Jove, with heavy tidings charged, Wind-footed Iris to the Trojans came. It was the time of council, when the throng At Priam's gate assembled, young and old: Them, standing nigh, the messenger of heaven Accosted with the voice of Priam's son, Polites. He, confiding in his speed For sure deliverance, posted was abroad On Æsyeta's tomb, intent to watch When the Achaian host should leave the fleet. The Goddess in his form thus them address'd.

Oh, ancient Monarch! Ever, evermore Speaking, debating, as if all were peace; I have seen many a bright-embattled field, But never one so throng'd as this to-day. For like the leaves, or like the sands they come Swept by the winds, to gird the city round.

But Hector! chiefly thee I shall exhort. In Priam's spacious city are allies Collected numerous, and of nations wide Disseminated various are the tongues. Let every Chief his proper troop command, And marshal his own citizens to war.

She ceased; her Hector heard intelligent, And quick dissolved the council. All took arms. Wide flew the gates; forth rush'd the multitude, Horsemen and foot, and boisterous stir arose. In front of Ilium, distant on the plain, Clear all around from all obstruction, stands An eminence high-raised, by mortal men Call'd Bateia, but the Gods the tomb Have named it of Myrinna swift in fight. Troy and her aids there set the battle forth.

Huge Priameian Hector, fierce in arms, Led on the Trojans; with whom march'd the most And the most valiant, dexterous at the spear.

Æneas, (on the hills of Ida him The lovely Venus to Anchises bore, A Goddess by a mortal man embraced) Led the Dardanians; but not he alone; Archilochus with him and Acamas Stood forth, the offspring of Antenor, each, And well instructed in all forms of war.

Fast by the foot of Ida, where they drank The limpid waters of Æsepus, dwelt The Trojans of Zeleia. Rich were they And led by Pandarus, Lycaon's son, Whom Phœbus self graced with the bow he bore.

Apæsus, Adrastea, Terie steep, And Pitueia—them, Amphius clad In mail thick-woven, and Adrastus, ruled. They were the sons of the Percosian seer Merops, expert in the soothsayers' art Above all other; he his sons forbad The bloody fight, but disobedient they Still sought it, for their destiny prevailed.

The warriors of Percote, and who dwelt In Practius, in Arisba, city fair, In Sestus, in Abydus, march'd behind Princely Hyrtacides; his tawny steeds, Strong-built and tall, from Sellcentes' bank And from Arisba, had him borne to Troy.

Hippothous and Pilmus, branch of Mars, Both sons of Lethus the Pelasgian, they, Forth from Larissa for her fertile soil Far-famed, the spear-expert Pelasgians brought.

The Thracians (all whom Hellespont includes Within the banks of his swift-racing tide) Heroic Acamas and Pirous led. Euphemus, offspring of Trœzenus, son Of Jove-protected Ceas, was the Chief Whom the spear-arm'd Ciconian band obey'd.

Pæonia's archers follow'd to the field Pyræchmes; they from Amydon remote Were drawn, where Axius winds; broad Axius, stream Diffused delightful over all the vale.

Pylæmenes, a Chief of giant might From the Eneti for forest-mules renowned March'd with his Paphlagonians; dwellers they In Sesamus and in Cytorus were, And by the stream Parthenius; Cromna these Sent forth, and those Ægialus on the lip And margin of the land, and some, the heights Of Erythini, rugged and abrupt.

Epistrophus and Odius from the land Of Alybe, a region far remote, Where veins of silver wind, led to the field The Halizonians. With the Mysians came Chromis their Chief, and Ennomus; him skill'd In augury, but skill'd in vain, his art Saved not, but by Æacides the swift, With others in the Xanthus slain, he died. Ascanius, lovely youth, and Phorcis, led The Phrygians from Ascania far remote, Ardent for battle. The Mœonian race, (All those who at the foot of Tmolus dwelt,) Mesthles and Antiphus, fraternal pair, Sons of Pylæmenes commanded, both Of the Gygæan lake in Lydia born.

Amphimachus and Nastes led to fight The Carians, people of a barbarous speech, With the Milesians, and the mountain-race Of wood-crown'd Phthira, and who dwelt beside Mæander, or on Mycale sublime. Them led Amphimachus and Nastes, sons Renown'd of Nomion. Like a simple girl Came forth Amphimachus with gold bedight, But him his trappings from a woful death Saved not, when whirled beneath the bloody tide To Peleus' stormy son his spoils he left.

Sarpedon with the noble Glaucus led Their warriors forth from farthest Lycia, where Xanthus deep-dimpled rolls his oozy tide.


 * 1)  The poem now becomes more exciting; the language more animated; the descriptions more lively and figurative. Homer seems to kindle with his subject, and to press all the phenomena of nature into his service for the purpose of illustration and adornment. Jupiter prepares to keep his promise of avenging Achilles, by drawing Agamemnon into a deceitful expectation of taking the city. The forces are arranged for battle, which gives occasion for the celebrated catalogue.—.
 * 2)  The whole action of the Dream is natural. It takes the figure of one much beloved by Agamemnon, as the object that is most in our thoughts when awake, is the one that oftenest appears to us in our dreams, and just at the instant of its vanishing, leaves so strong an impression, that the voice seems still sounding in his ear.  The Dream also repeats the words of Jupiter without variation, which is considered as a great propriety in delivering a message from the father of gods and men.
 * 3)  King of Pylus, an ancient city of Elis.
 * 4)  [Agamemnon seems to entertain some doubts lest the army should so resent his treatment of their favorite Achilles, as to be indisposed to serve him.—]
 * 5)  [Mercury.]
 * 6)  [Argus.]
 * 7)  Homer, in a happy and poetical manner, acquaints us with the high descent of Agamemnon, and traces the origin of his power to the highest source, by saying, that the sceptre had descended to him from the hand of Jupiter.
 * 8)  The power of Agamemnon as a monarch refers to his being the leader of an army. According to the form of royalty in the heroic age, a king had only the power of a magistrate, except as he held the office of priest. Aristotle defines a king as a Leader of war, a Judge of controversies, and President of the ceremonies of the gods. That he had the principal care of religious rites, appears from many passages in Homer. His power was nowhere absolute but in war, for we find Agamemnon insulted in the council, but in the army threatening deserters with death. Agamemnon is sometimes styled king of kings, as the other princes had given him supreme authority over them in the siege.
 * 9)  [The extremest provocation is implied in this expression, which Thersites quotes exactly as he had heard it from the lips of Achilles.—]
 * 10)  The character of Thersites is admirably sketched. There is nothing vague and indistinct, but all the traits are so lively, that he stands before us like the image of some absurd being whom we have ourselves seen. It has been justly remarked by critics, that the poet displays great skill in representing the opponents of Agamemnon in the character of so base a personage, since nothing could more effectually reconcile the Greeks to the continuance of the war, than the ridiculous turbulence of Thersites.—.
 * 11)  [Some for πονος here read ποθος; which reading I have adopted for the sake both of perspicuity and connection.—]
 * 12)  The principal signs by which the gods were thought to declare their will, were things connected with the offering of sacrifices, the flight and voice of birds, all kinds of natural phenomena, ordinary as well as extraordinary dreams.
 * 13)  An epithet supposed to have been derived from Gerenia, a Messenian town, where Nestor was educated.  In the pictures which Homer draws of him, the most striking features are his wisdom, bravery, and knowledge of war, his eloquence, and his old age.  For some general remarks upon the heroes of the time, see Grecian and Roman Mythology.
 * 14)  In allusion to the custom of pouring out a libation of pure wine, in the ceremony of forming a league, and joining right hands, as a pledge of mutual fidelity after the sacrifice.—.
 * 15)  [Nestor is supposed here to glance at Achilles.—]
 * 16)  Homer here exalts wisdom over valor.
 * 17)  [Money stamped with the figure of an ox.]—
 * 18)  The encouragement of a divine power, seemed all that was requisite to change the dispositions of the Grecians, and make them more ardent for combat than they had previously been to return. This conquers their inclinations in a manner at once poetical and in keeping with the moral which is every where spread through Homer, that nothing is accomplished without divine assistance.
 * 19)  Homer's rich invention gives us five beautiful similes on the march of the army. This profusion and variety can never be sufficiently admired.
 * 20)  The superior knowledge that the poet here attributes to the Muses as divine beings, and then his occasional invocations to them, gives an air of importance to his subject and has an imposing effect.
 * 21)  However fabulous the other parts of Homer's poems may be, this account of the princes, people, and countries, is by far the most valuable piece of history and geography left us in regard to the state of Greece in that early period. Greece was then divided into several dynasties, which Homer has enumerated under their respective princes; and his division was considered so correct, that many disputes respecting the boundaries of Grecian cities were decided upon his authority. Eustathius has collected together the following instances: The city of Calydon was adjudged to the Ætolians, notwithstanding the pretensions of Æolia, because it was ranked by Homer as belonging to the former. Sestos was given to those of Abydos, upon the plea that he had said the Abydonians were possessors of Sestos, Abydos, and Arisbe. When the Milesians and people of Priene disputed their claim to Mycale, a verse of Homer gave it to the Milesians. The Athenians were put in possession of Salamis by another which was cited by Solon, or (according to some) interpolated by him for that purpose; and Porphyry says, that the catalogue was so highly esteemed, that the youths of some nations were required to commit it to memory.  Professor Felton remarks, "The student is advised to give particular attention to this important passage. He will find it the most interesting fragment of geography extant; interesting for the poetical beauty of the verse, the regular order which is followed, and the little characteristic touches which denote the peculiarities of the several provinces. The more he examines this catalogue with the subsidiary lights of geography, history and travels, the more cause will he find of wonder, that a description so ancient should combine so much accuracy, beauty, and interest. It is recommended to the student, to trace the provinces and cities on some good map of ancient Greece."
 * 22)  [Some say Thebes the less, others, the suburbs of Thebes the greater. It is certain that Thebes itself sent none.—.]
 * 23)  It was the custom of these people to shave the fore parts of their heads, that their enemies might not seize them by the hair; on the hinder part they allowed it to grow, as a valiant race that would never turn their backs. Their manner of fighting was hand to hand, without quitting their javelins.
 * 24)  Menelaus is occasionally distinguished by his activity, which shows his personal concern in the war.
 * 25)  The Arcadians, being an inland people, were unskilled in navigation, for which reason Agamemnon furnished them with shipping.
 * 26)  Nireus is nowhere mentioned as a leader but in these lines. As rank and beauty were his only qualifications, he is allowed to sink into oblivion.
 * 27)  The mud of the Peneus is of a light color, for which reason Homer gives it the epithet of silvery. The Titaresius, and other small streams which are rolled from Olympus and Ossa, are so extremely clear, that their waters are distinguished from those of the Peneus for a considerable distance from the point of their confluence.—.
 * 28)  Dr. Clarke, in his travels, describes this tomb as a conical mound; and says that it is the spot of all others for viewing the plain of Troy, as it is visible in all parts of Troas. From its top may be traced the course of the Scamander, the whole chain of Ida, stretching towards Lectum, the snowy heights of Gargarus, and all the shores of Hellespont, near the mouth of the river Sigæum and the other tumuli upon the coast.
 * 29)  A patronymic given to Achilles as descendant of Æacus, father of Peleus.
 * 30)  A river of Troas in Asia Minor, the same as the Scamander.
 * 31)  This expression is construed by critics as denoting an unpolished dialect, but not a foreign.