W^v^xC
'Z. THE
FIRST SIX BOOKS
OF THE
ILIAD OF HOMER,
literally translated into
ENGLISH PROSE,
WITH COPIOUS
lExpIaitatorg ^ott^y
AND A
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION ON HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS.
BY
A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY.
Is ego ,««w, i]iii Homero tantvm trilun, quantum hominem verecundum et
literarvm amantem, ei, qui tnt eetatvm prde.tcriptiorie princeps ivgeniorum,
bonaruvi omnium artium et doctrinnrum Seminarium, humance deniqufi sapi-
enti<B apex audiaf, trihuere fms est.
M. Casaubox.
CAMBRIDGE;
PRINTED EY AND FOR J. HALL, NEAR PEMDROKE COLLEGE; AND
E. JOHNSON, SIDNEY STREET; HAMILTON AD VMS il' CO. AND
sniPKlN & MARSHALL, LONDON.
PREFACE.
In offering the following work to the Public, we
feel it our humble conviction that no apology will
be required by those that are in any degree con-
cerned, — either in imparting to others, or in ac-
quiring for themselves, a knowledge of the ancient
and venerable language of Greece, — whilst a te-
dious prolixity of prefatory observations would be
altogether needless and superfluous. Suflice it to
say, that our sole and exclusive object has been
utility, and our aim in the translation has been
to give as correct and literal a version as the
idiomatic constructions of the Greek and English
languages can bear. The necessary consequence
of this design was the total exclusion of the
beauties and ornaments of Homer's style ; but in
sacrificing the elegance, we hope that the simpli-
city of his poetical diction has been in some
measure preserved, — nay, we would almost ven-
ture to affirm that the sublimity of the Iliad is not
entirely lost in the following pages.
IV
With regard to our Preliminary Dissertation, —
we cannot but be apprehensive lest our admira-
tion of Homer and of the Sages of antiquity in
general, may appear to have prejudiced us too
much in their favour, and to have inclined us to
attribute excellencies to them which they never
possessed. The tide of our admiration was indeed
strong and vehement, — but we have not advanced
a single conjecture that is not founded upon
sufficient data, nor drawn a single conclusion
that is not borne out by the concurrent testimonies
of ancient history. A full discussion of the scientific
and the Theological knowledge of early ages
would require far deeper and more extensive re-
searches than the narrow bounds of a preliminary
essay would allow.
As for the merit of the whole work, — we have
only to say that we have attentively done our
pint ; the rest is confided to the scrutiny of im-
jiartial criticism. Our object was not to write
for fume, but merely to benefit the less forward
sons of Alma Mater, and to hold out our feeble
aid for tlie encouragement of the young, but
aspiring members of the vast republic of literature.
If our labours shall prove in any degree success-
ful, we shall roet perfectly satisfied, and covet no
other applause than the simple attestation of a
self-approving conscienee, — that our desig^n origi-
nated from motives of doing good, and that the
result has entailed at least no injuries upon
Society.
Trinity Collegf., Camiuiidgk,
October 20, li\'2H.
ERRATA.
Diss. p. xi, 1. 7, their for tliis.
B. 1. V. 222, dele the.
Note, V. 202, moneo for inoveo.
Note, V. 606, bellore for hellare.
B.IT. V. 708, leaders for a leader,
B. III. V. 150, wanted were.
Note, V. 124, both is for both are.
B. V. V. 463, wanted the.
V. 473, would for wouldst.
Note, V. 215. Thamysis for Thamyris.
Note, V. 487, "X**^' ^oi' "4'*<'''
B. VI. V. 54. wanted a.
Note, V, 275, compound for compounded.
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION.
Section I.
CONTAINING A BRIEF ACCOUNT
OF THE
LIFE AND V^RITTNGS OF HOMER.
When a reflecting and philosophic mind takes a general survey
of the wide and diversified scenery of literature, — wlien it con-
templates every branch of intellectual investigation, and beholds
with wonder and delight the flourishing aspect of science in the
present times, — a more interesting topic of consideration can
scarcely engage its attention, than to trace in all their varieties of
forms — in all their ramifications and expansions, the beauteous
orders of mental vegetation that bloom around, and to follow
their progress with a retrospective view along the verdant annals
of history, till the prospect dies at last, beyond the towering hills
of fabulous obsciuity, and imagination alone wings her adventurous
flight into the enchanting scenes of fiction. In this bright pano-
rama of splendid visions, surely no part bespangles with greater
beauties — no region smiles with more delightful attractions than
the flowery vale of Poesy; — this is the emblem of the paradise of
bliss, the peculiar province of fancy, — where the virgins of har-
a
IV
mony delight to rove, and the Zephyr's gale wafts on its genial
winjT, the warblinsf voice of angels. Methinks I see the shades
of sainted bards attuning their melodies to the harp of joy, — yes!
methinks I perceive the immortal Young, the serapliic Milton,
with an innumerable assembly, mingling their loud acclamations,
and weaving their garlands to the British Muse, — the venerable
Goronwy Owain, Taliesin, and Aneurin, with the legions of the
Cambrian bands, reposing by the streams of immortality, and
chanting forth, in cherubic strains, the praises of their country's
glory ; — w hilst the martial Maro veils our feeble sight from the
piercing lustre of the Ionian Bard, till he gently leads us up the
rising sublimities of poetic flights, and enables us gradually to
gaze upon that Orb, whose splendour envelopes the world with
a celestial halo, and whose rays have continued for a period of
nearly three thousand years, to spread their encircling influence
wider and wider over the remotest habitations of man, — and will
continue to attract the admiration of generations yet unborn, till
the wonders of time are swallowed up in eternity, and till the
breath of terrestrial music shall die away in the deluge of angelic
song, that carols amid the ecstacies of the fields of bliss !
This great luminary of poetic fame was an Asiatic Greek, a
native of Smyrna. His mother's name was Crytheis, who, having
been found illegally with child, was banished in consequence, by
her uncle, from Cumac ; and after a short time, being unexpectedly
taken in labour on the banks of the river Meles, in the neighbour-
hood of Smyrna, she gave birth to the father of poetry, who, from
that circumstance, was called Mele.sigenes. Herodotus' says, that
1. Lib. ii. c. !)3, 'Ylirwcov yap kul 'Ofir][joy iiXikiTjv Terpa-
KOffioiat ertffi cokeu) fiev Trptaftvrepovc ytveaOat, cat ov TrXeoct.
Hesiod and Homer, wliom he makes cotemporaries, lived no
more than 400 years before his time; so that by his account they
flourished about 845 years before the Christian era. But the
ancient author of his life,' ascribed to Herodotus, says, that Homer
was born 622 years before the expedition of Xerxes into Greece;
and if so, he must have been born in the year 1102, before
Christ. Tiie Parian Marbles place Hesiod in the Archonship of
Megacles, or in the year 936 before Christ; and Homer is
placed 29 years later, in the year 907, before the Christian era.
Aristophanes'' makes Hesiod older than Homer by the order of
the poets whom he mentions. According to Philochorus^ and
Tatian,^ Homer flourished about the year 1004 before Christ;
according to ApoUodorus^ he flourished b. c. 943 ; according to
Aristarchus,^ b. c. 1044; and according to Euthymenes,'' b. c.
983. Velleius Paterculus^ says, that Homer flourished 950 years
before his time ; he wrote his history in the seventeenth year of
Tiberius, and in the thirtieth year of the Christian era; so that
Homer must have flourished 920 years before Christ. He also
makes Hesiod cotemporary with Caranus in the year 814 before
1. Vit. Homer, ad finem. af 6v Be 'O/UTjpoc eyevEro, erea
ecTTiv klaKOffia eiKoai cvo ^tXP'- '"''C Xtp^ew Siajjacrewc, ijy arpartv-
crafitvog etzl tovq 'EWijyuQ, icai ^ev^ag tov 'YXXeairovTOVy hufii] ik
TiJQ Aaiag eg rrjv }Lvpu)Tn]y.
2. Ran. 1032 — 4. The succession of the poets here men-
tioned, is, Orpheus, — Musjeus, — Hesiod, — Homer.
3. Apud CI. Alex. Strom, lib. I. p. 326. airo h tG)v Tpwi-
K(m)v ein tj]v ' O fii]pov yeveaiv, Kara jaei' *\}iXo-)(^npoy, li^aToy oy^oijKoyrn
ETK] yivETui, varepov rijg Iwyiicijg airoit^uig. 'I'he destruction of Troy
happened about 1184 years before Christ.
4. Orat. cont. Greec. p. 166.
5. Apud CI. Alex, ubi supra, p. 327.
C. Ibid. 7. Ibid.
8. Hist. Rom. lib. I. c. 5. Hie longius a tcmporibus belli,
quod composuit, Troici, quam quidam renlur, ahfuit; nam ferme
ante annos OOOJloruit, intra millc natus est.
VI
Christ. Suidas, in voce'Raio^oe says, that Porphyry and many others
made Homer a hundred years older than Hesiod, and Hesiod to
flourish only 32 years before the Olympiads. Now the Olym-
piads commenced b. c. 77G; so that by this accoimt Homer must
have flourished b. c. 908, which agrees with the Parian Marbles,
and nearly with the relations of Velleius Paterculus and Cornelius
Nepos.* CyriP makes Homer and Hesiod flourish together,
164 years after the taking of Troy, i. e. b. c. 1019.
Varro^ said it was uncertain which was the more ancient
poet, but that they certainly lived together some years. This he
inferred from an epigram'* written upon a Tripod, which was
related to have been dedicated to the Muses, on mount Helicon,
by Hesiod himself, upon his having obtained a victory in Poesy,
over Homer, at Chalcis. From the foregoing testimonies, con-
cernin<T the age of Homer and Hesiod, we may infer that they
were cotemporaries, — though Homer might be the elder poet,
and that they flourished together in the years 950 — 1000 before
the Christian era.^
1. Corn. Nepos, in his Chronicon, placed Homer 160 years
before the building of Rome, i. e. b. c. 913.
2. Contra Julian, lib. I. p. 11. tKaToaru ti,r)ToaTf tcai
TfiyiirTff ETEi Ttjc IXiov aXwfftwf, 'Ofiripov Kai 'litjiocov faai ytvta-
Oat, K. T. X.
3. Apud A. Cell. Noel. Attic, lib. iii. c. 2. Marcus autem
Varro, in prinio de Imaginibus, uter sit prior sit natus jiarum con-
stare dicit ; sed non esse dubium, quin aliquo tempore eodem vixe-
rint ; idrjue ex cpigrammale oslendi, quod in tripode scriptum est,
qui in monle Ilelicone ab Ilesiodo posilus traditur.
4. 'llffiococ Mouffatc 'EXucwvto-t roy o* avedrjKf.,
'Y/ivw viKTiauc tv XuXkici Otlof 'Ofiripoy.
We might also infer, that they were cotemporaries, from the
following distich, which is cited by Eustathius, from Hesiod:
Ev A»;X^ tore Tcpii)TOv cyw Kai 'O^rjpog aoicoi,
MtX7ro/J£V ty veuptnc vpyoic paypayrtr aoicrjy.
5. Vid. Jackson's C/ironul, Jntiquilics, vol. 2. p. 224.
Vll
No less than seven illustrious cities disputed with the utmost
pertinacity the honour of having given birth to the Prince of
poets. This spirit of rivalry gave rise to the following distich:
Smyrna, Chios, Colophon, Salamis, Rhodos, Argos, Athenae,
Orbis de patria certat, Homere, tua. 1
There prevailed a report that he had established a school at
Chios in the latter part of his life; and this tradition is still
cherished by the present inhabitants of the island, who glory in
shewing to travellers, the seats where the venerable master and
his pupils sat in the hollow of a rock, at the distance of about
four miles from the modern capital. In his hymn to Apollo, he
refers to his residence at Chios, and also to his blindness :
TvfXoQ avrjp, olkeI ce Xtw evL iranraXoetTOT}.
It is probable that whilst he retained his sight, he spent most ot
his time in travelling, and, like our old bards, recited his own
compositions, vvhich procured him a maintenance and a hospitable
reception on his journeys. It is said that he was the father of two
daughters, having married at Chios, and amassed considerable
wealth. One of these daughters died young ; the other was
married to a person whose children he had been educating. If
1. The verse comprising the contending Cities is read in
three other different ways:
Cuince, Smyrna, Chios, Colophon, Rhodos, Argos, Athence,
Smyrna, Rhodos, Colophon, Salam'in, los, Argos, Athence,
Smyrna, Chios, Colophon, Ithacc, Pylos, Argos, Athene^.
The second of these forms is the same as that in the Greek distich :
'ETrra -koXeiq Siepii^ovaiv -rtepi piC^iv 'O/dripov,
^jjivpya, 'Poioe, KoXo^wy, SaXo/iti', log, Apyoq, AQrivai.
Four of the competitors are mentioned by Cicero in his
oration, Pro Archia Poeta: — Homerum Colophonii civcm esse
dicunt suum; Chit simm vindicant; Salaminii rcpetunt; Smyrncci
vero suum esse conjirmant, — itaque ctiam deluhrum ejus in oppido
dedicaverunt. Permulti alii prcelerca pugnant inter se, ct contcn-
dunt.
VIII
this was the case, it is not impossible but the Poet may have
given birth to posterity. There did exist, in fact, certain Rhap-
sodists, who called themselves Homeridse, and pretended to be
the lineal descendants of Homer;' but most probably, however,
these were only strolling bards, who wandered from place to
place, and recited certain detached pieces from the Iliad and the
Odyssey.*
From the ninth to the sixth century before the Christian era,
it is probable there were no other writings but those of Homer
and Hcsiod; — indeed it is not certain that these were committed
to writing, — at least, in the alphabetical form in which we now
find them;^ and some have gone so far as to suppose that they
were only handed down by memory from generation to generation,
till the art of alphabetical writing was introduced. There is no
prose writer upon record before Cadmus, of Miletus, and Phere-
cydes, of Scyros, who flourished 544 years before Christ; that is,
according to the date of Herodotus, three centuries after the time
of Homer. This circumstance induced Mr. Wood'* to conclude
1. Plato speaks of these Homerida; as still in existence in
his time. Vid. his Dialogue entitled Iwv. Fid. etiam Suidam in
voce 'O^rjpicai; and Athen. lib. xiv. where paxpwooi are said to be
called 'Of^iTjpKTTCu: — ort c" ekuXovvto paxpwSoi Kcii 'Ofiripiarai, &c.
2. 'I'he portions delivered at each recitation were called
pa\p^ciai, from pairTU), to seiv, or according to others, from pnfi^oQ,
the staff, which the Rhapsodist carried in his hand. Hence, each
Book of the Iliad and tlie Odyssey is entitled pa\po)Cia.
5. Josephus relates that, it was the opinion of some persons
in his time, that Homer did not leave his Poems in writing: tpaaiv,
ouc£ O^ripov tv ypaj-ifxatri rijy avrov Troir/aiv KaraKnreiv. Contra
Apion. I. 2.
4. Vid. Wood's Essay on Homer, where he treats of the
Poet's language and learning. Eustathius and the Scholiast seem
also to have considered that Homer was ignorant of the art of
writing.
IX
that alpliahctical writing was not known, or bnt little practised
before that period. If, however, we patiently search and examine
the records of antiquity, we shall find very strong reasons to think
that this art was known — not only in the age of Homer, but for
many centuries before his time. Chronologers have calculated
that Moses' was born in the year of the world 2428, or 1576,
before the coming of Christ. In the eightieth year of his age, or
B. 0. 149G, and after the Deluge 718, he delivered the Israelites
from their bondage in the land of Egypt." This agrees almost
exactly with the time when Cadmus is said to have introduced
the knowledge of letters into Greece, b. c. 1494. The country of
Cadmus was Phoenicia, and for this reason the letters which he
introduced were called ypa/ifiaTa (j>oiviKia in opposition to the
Pelasg'ic Alphabet, which the ancient inhabitants of Greece used
before that time.^ But though Cadmus brought his letters out
writing. Vid. Iliad VI. 1 68, and VII. 175, with the commentaries
in locis. They appear to have been misled by the original mean-
ing of the word ypaijiiiv, which properly signifies to engrave with
a sharp-pointed instrument, and the words c tX-oc, ItKrapiov, invn^,
TTivaKioy, TTivai^uiov, aaviQ (xariSiov, &c. vvliich signify the tablets
of stone or brass on which the engraving was made. But this
aflfects only the manner of writing, and not the knowledge of the
art itself.
1. Vid. Simpson's Chron. Cathol. ed. Wessel. p. 173.
2. Vid. Clayton's Chronologij of the Hebrew Bible, ]^. 210.
3. Dionysius, the Milesian, an ancient mythological writer,
related that Cadmus having brought letters from Phoenicia, Liiuis,
who lived then in Bocotia, and was the inventor of rhythm and
melody, was the first who introduced them into the Greek language,
and gave tliem their names and forms: (I)-i](tl toivvv (Dionysius)
Trap' 'EX\>/(Tt TrpCJrov evpeTrjy yeveffdcu ATvov pvQ^wv Kai /.leXovg'
£Ti ce Kacytjou KOjXKTavTOQ tK ^oiviKrjg ra kaXov/i£va ypaf-t^ara,
irpuiTOP etc 'EXXj;)'(Cf/j/ j-iETaUelyat CioXeKror, kcu rnc Trpoffijyoptac
tcooTw Tat,ai Kai rovg j^opa^TT/pac SiaTViruxrai' Kaiyi} ovv ra ypnju-
jLtara ^oiytKia KX»;Oj;vot cia to Trnpa rovg EXXj/voc £i^ ^oivikiov
fuerevej^drivai' i^it^ ^e rioy IleXoffydij' irpwrur ^pqaa^tvuv ■^npaK-
Tijpai, lleXao-yfKo -rrpac^ayopEvdrirai. Vid. Diod. Sic. lib. iii. p. 200.
of Pliociiicia, they were probably the Egyptian characters, — and
must be so, if Cadmus was born in Egypt, and fled thence into
Phoenicia, for fear of his uncle Busiris. And it is generally
agreed that Agenor,' the father of Cadmus, went out of Egypt
into Phcenicia, and reigned there; and he, no doubt, used the
Egyptian letters, and taught them to his son Cadmus. Now,
since Moses received his education in Egypt, it is probable that
he also wrote the Pentateuch, in the Egyptian Characters, or in
other words, that the ancient Egyptian and Hebrew alphabet
were nearly of the same kind. From hence we infer, that the
Cadmaean Letters, which were brought into Greece b. c. 1494,
were exactly the same as the letters which Moses used in the
composition of his history about the very same time. Indeed
tliere can be nothing absurd or romantic in the notion, if we were
to suppose that Moses and Cadmus were personally acquainted
with each other, since they lived at the same time and in the
same country, — the one being the son of a prince of great cele-
brity, the other being the adopted heir to the throne of Egypt, and
might therefore have received their education in the same semi-
nary of learning. It is perhaps owing to some information brought
by Cadmus into Greece, that we find so many mythological allu-
sions in the classic writers which coincide so nearly with our
Scripture history. This however is only a conjecture ; — the main
design of our inquiry regards only the extent of the knowledge of
Cadmus in alphabetical writing. If we take it for granted that
this art was certainly known to Moses, — and consequently to
other learned men of his age; — if we consider that it must
liave been always cultivated in Phoenicia and Egypt, since the
1. Vid. Jackson's Chronol. Antiq. vol. iii. p. 147.
XI
time oi Hermes or Tholh, the inventor of letters', — we may con-
clude tliat Cadmus was acquainted not only with the art of hiero-
glyphical representations, or alphabetical engraving, — but with the
very same species of writing in which Moses and Joshua wrote
their histories. If then Cadmus disseminated the knowledge of it
among the early inhabitants of Greece, it appears a thing scarcely
possible that their knowledge could be altogether eradicated, till
by some chance or other it should be revived again nearly a thou-
sand years after its first introduction. The art must have been
a thing of great notoriety, and its utility perfectly understood, —
and even if it should die away among the warlike tribes of the
Greeks, it could never have perished among the Phoenicians,
who were a nation devoted to merchandize and commerce.
But, independent of any positive testimonies in favour of our
hypothesis, we may gather sufficient evidence by a very slight
examination of the remains of antiquity, that the art of alphabetical
writing was known, not only in the age of Homer, but for at least
1. Letters were first invented in Phoenicia, and most pro-
bably by Taaut or Thoth, the son of Misor or Misrahn, soon
after the dispersion of the descendants of Noah ; from Phoenicia
they were carried into Egypt by Taaut himself; and the know-
ledge of them was soon after spread into Syria, Arabia, Clialdrea,
and ^Ethiopia. The Pdasgi, descended from the Dioscuri or
Cabiri, were the first who carried them out of Asia into the
islands of the ^gean sea, into Attica, and other parts of Greece;
and into Peloponnesus, where they founded tlie two most ancient
kingdoms of Sicyon and Argos. But the Pelasgi never established
their language, which was Phoenician, in Greece. The descen-
dants of Javan and Tiras, who had settled with their families in
Thrace and several parts of Greece, before the Pelasgi came
thither, as in Macedonia, Thessaly, Achaia, Bocotia, and Attica,
and all the country anciently called Ionia, — used another language,
which was the original Greek tongue, derived from Japheth, —
and was also the Scythian and Gomeric language, which is known
at this day to possess a considerable similarity with the Greek.
Vid. Jackson's Chronol. Antiq. vol. iii. p. 142.
b
Xll
a thousand years before his time, and that even general Hterature
was in a state of considerable advancement^ Indeed there is
sufficient internal evidence, in the works of Homer himself, to
convince every unbiassed mind, that he cannot possibly be con-
sidered in the true sense of the term, the father of poetry. That
the same individual should conceive and give birth to the very
existence of poetry, and produce such stupendous compositions
as the Iliad and the Odyssey, would certainly be an effort of
genius, far transcending the powers of the human mind. It is not
at all unreasonable to think that Poetry was in a state of very
great perfection before the time of Homer. In fact we can trace
the existence of it among the Greeks for about twenty generations
before his birth. Even if we suppose Linus to be the first poet
of note, — he flourished about six hundred years before Homer.
1. The knowledge of Letters had long existed in Greece
before the introduction of the Phoenician characters by Cadmus.
We are told by Zenobius Paroemiograj)hus in his Ka^jueta vikt},
that Linus, an ancient Poet, and cotemporary with Cadmus, was
killed for opposing the Phoenician Usurper in introducing his
letters, and teaching the characters of his own language : ra €k
<ifoiviKr]Q ypannara ftovXofiEvoe ciacodrjvai toIq 'EXXTjcrt, KaBfxog
avtlXe AIvov /cat avTOv iCia ypa^fiara ETnceiKvvjitvov. These
ancient letters are called by Harpocration and Hesychius irnXaia,
npyjiCui, t-Kiyuypia ypafifxara. In hitter times they were called
Ar-tka ypanfjaTa, as having been originally used by the Pelasgic
Attics. Orpheus, and Pronapides, the master of Homer, used
in tlieir poems the Pelasgic Letters, — as also Thymaetes, cotem-
porary with Orpheus, who composed a poem called Phrygia,
concerning the exploits of Bacchus, in the ancient language of
Greece. Diod. Sic. lib. III. p. 201. Tov S" ovv Alvov 0a<7t toIq
T\t\a<jyit:oic yfiufifjatn avvTaiu^tvov rac rov Trpwrov Awvvaov
TTpuiuQ' — ifioiWQ Zt TOVTOtc ')(pi)iraadai ro'ic HeXaayiKoig ypcififiaai
TOV Op(pea Krti Upovairurjt' tov 'Ofjrjpov cicaaKuXov. — Upoc Se rov-
ToiQ OvfJioiTTjv TOV (Jv/^toiTOv TOV AuofJ-fCovTOQ, Kat Tt]v riXiKiav
yiyovoTU tov ()p({)tu)Q — upyaiKibc Tr\ re cuiXekto) kui toIq ypa^ijxatn
yj)r}iraiitvov. Hence the Phrijgia of Thymsctes must have been
written in the ancient Gomeric tongue. Vid. Jackson's Chronol.
Anliq. vol. iii. p. 1 37.
Xlll
But the Sibyls lived four or five centuries before Linus. From
Linus, we have a regular succession of poets down till the time
of Homer, and from him till the grand revival of literature, in the
fifth century before Christ. The most remarkable were Orpheus,
who was scholar of Linus, — Musaeus, who was scholar of Orphe-
us, — Eumolpus, the son of Musaeus, and who flourished, according
to the Parian Marbles, b. c. 1373, in the reign of Erectheus, king
of Athens, — Pamphus, who was the most ancient Attic poet, and
flourished about the year b. c. 1300; he composed some hymns,
and wrote an elegy on the death of Linus, which he called CE^o-
linus, or the lamentation of Linus^, — and he was immediately
followed by Orpheus, the Argonaut, who flourished b. c. 1250,
and about one generation before the Trojan war. From this, till
the age of Homer and Hesiod, there is no poet of note upon
record ; but this is no proof at all that there was none, for we
find that philosophy and historical writing were much cultivated
about that period. Dictys Cretensis lived during the Trojan war,
and his history of that event is still extant ; and Zoroaster, the
Persian Philosopher, who was also a great poet, according to
Herniippus," is supposed to have flourished soon after this time,
about the year b. c. 1806. The learned are divided, however,
in their opinion, concerning the age when he lived.^ But we
1. From the old Greek word oTroc, Bprivoc,, Hesych. It is
often used by Homer: Iliad, y. 417; 0. 34, 354, 465; w. 388,
&c. and in the Odyssey: a. 350; y. 134; 6.489—491; v. 384,
&c. Sappho, afterwards taking the name from Pamphus, sang
the diro-e oi Adonis and (Etoliaus.
2. Plin. Nat. Hist. XXX. Cap. 1. Hermippits, qui do tola
ea arte diligcntissime scripsit, et vicics centum millia versuum a
Zoroastrecondita, indicibus quoque voluminum ejus positis, explana-
vit, 8j-c.
3. Prceceptorem, a quo institutum (Zoroastrem) dicerct, tra-
dit Azouaccm, ipaum vera quinquc millibus annonim ante Trojanum
helium fuissc. Plin. ubi supra.
XIV
know that tlie celebrated Sanchoiiiathon, the Phoenician Philoso-
pher, flourished about the year 1040 before the Christian era;
he dedicated his history of Phoenicia to Abibal, king of Tyre, and
father of Hiram, who was cotemporary with David and Solomon.'
And this brings us down to Homer and Hesiod, who flourished some
time in the tenth century before Christ.- Literature, and even Sci-
ence, were certainly in a very flourishing state in the age of Homer.
What can be more sublime than the rapturous effusions of the
royal Harper — the sweet singer of Israel! Perhaps his humble
calling had, however, prevented him from making great progress
in Science, during his youth, but his son is supposed not only to
have surpassed all the generations of men in wisdom and jurispru-
dence, but also to have been in possession of a vast store of intel-
lectual knowledge, and to have devoted himself especially to the
science of Botany. Some have even conjectured that Homer was
no other than king Solomon ;^ this perhaps may appear extraor-
dinary, but, certainly, there can be nothing absurd in the idea that
they might have been personally acquainted with each other.
According to Dufresnoy's calculation, Homer was born in the
year before Christ 1041, and Solomon was born b. c. 103.5; so
that Solomon was exactly six years younger than Homer. We
see then that they lived at the same time, and their native countries
were not at a great distance from one another. And surely the
1. Vid. Dufresnoy's Chronology, vol. I. p. 237.
2. W^e do not think it necessary to enumerate here the poets
and learn(.'d men tliat lived from the time of Homer till the
Persian Invasion. A list of them may be seen in Dufresnoy's
C/ironologij, vol. I. p. 237—240.
3. The celebrated Joshua Barnes wrote a Treatise in order
to prove this. The Treatise was not, however, published, but is
preserved in the British Museum.
XV
victories of David, and tlie renown and prosperity of Solomon,*
must necessarily have reached the ears of Homer, who was a man
of such extensive travels. We can gather from the works of
Homer himself, that he spent some time among the Egyptians
and Phoenicians, and there is a stro^ig probability that he was not
unacquainted with Judaea and its inhabitants f nay, some have
even conjectured that he had read some parts of our Sacred
Scriptures of the Old Testament, from the numerous and striking
points of resemblance which are scattered over his poems.
Dr. Young^ and others strongly contend that the Book of Job
1 . The country of the Queen of Sheba was probably much
more distant from Judaja, than Smyrna in Ionia. Commentators
are divided with regard to the situation of Sheba. Some suppose
it was a part of Ethiopia or Abyssynia, others tliat it was a part
of Egypt, and some have considered it the same as the island of
Meroe. Grotius is of the latter opinion. Vid. Calmet's Com-
ment. 1 Kings X. 1.
2. A line cited by Strabo from Homer, which is not, however,
found in the MSS. strongly favours this opinion ;
Xwpo) £vi dpvoerTc Y^rje ev iriovi CrjfXb).
Strab. hb. xiii. p. 929.
This verse is thus corrected by Taylor :
Hoipb) eyt cpvoevr lovdrjg tv ttiovi hr^jxi^.
Civil Law, p. 554.
The Geographer is speaking of the bed of Typhon, who was
buried in fire and sulphur among the Arimi. If Mr. Taylor's
correction be admissible, the scene of the defeat of Typhon will
be no other than the plain of Sodom and Gomorrah. Vicl. Wood's
Essay, p. 50.
3. There has been much dispute, among the learned, con-
cerning the Chronology and Author of the Book of Job. It is
probably a poetical composition of Job himself, and was written
about two thousand years before the Christian era. As it is not con-
nected with our sulyoct, we shall not enter into the merits of the
debate ; but a very learned dissertation on the history and malady
of Job by the celebrated Augustin Calmet may be seen in his
Commentary and Dictionary of the Bihle. Huetius, also, in his
Demonstratio Evangclica, jnop. iv. Dc Libro Job. has fully dis-
cussed this question, and endeavoured to prove that the Book of
Job was written by Moses when he lived with Jethro, in the land
of Midian.
XVI
was originally written in Egypt ; and if this be the case, it is not
at all improbable but that Homer may have seen a copy of it
during his stay in that country. We are informed by Herodotus
that he was furnished by the Egyptians with the outlines of his
Mythology, which became the basis of the religion of Greece.
From these considerations we may infer, that whatever was known
regarding the construction of poetry among the Hebrews, Egyp-
tians, and Phccnicians, was also known to Homer.
Another argument, or at least, a very strong probability,
that Poetry was cultivated long before the time of Homer, in
Greece, may be founded upon the origin of his nation. Taking
even the fabulous account of the descent of the Greeks from Hellen
the son of Deucalion, we may see that they must have been at first
very closely connected, both as to their language and customs
with the ancient Celts. The kingdom of Deucalion was Thessaly
and those parts bordering upon Illyria towards the Adriatic
gulph; and it is pretty certain that Italy on the other side of this
gulph, as well as the regions along the banks of the Danube,
were about that time inhabited by the Celta3, or descendants of
Gomer the son of Japheth, who afterwards spread themselves over
most of Europe, and fixed their habitations especially in Celto-
galatia and Britain, part of which they occupy to this very day.'
Now we may trace back to a very remote age the cultivation of
poetry among these Celts or Cymry ; — and indeed the cultivation of
this art seems almost co-eval with the existence of man, for the
faculty of imagination, which is the peculiar nurse of poetic
effusions, displays her romantic fictions in their full luxuriance,
when the other more vigorous powers of the mind have not yet
1. Vid. Davies' Celtic Researches. Pezron, Antiquite de
Gaulois. Strabo lib. I. cap. 2.
XVll
combined their efforts in the fabrication of the grand machinery of
intellectual science. Considering then that the Celts and
Hellenes were originally closely connected, or perhaps even the
same lineal descendants of Gomer, — as there is a striking re-
semblance between the languages of their posterity, we may infer
that nearly the same arts, customs, and manners prevailed among
both these nations. Homer flourished only about four centuries after
the separation of the Celts and the Hellenes, so that it is highly
probable that the Ionian Bard was in a great measure acquainted
with the poetry, the Druidical institutions, and the mythology of
the ancient Cymry. To the travels of the Poet into Egypt and
Phoenicia, we may add his excursions into the more neighbouring
countries, Mesopotamia and Assyria, together with the surround-
ing regions. Whence we perceive that this great phenomenon of
profound information, had actually a considerable intercourse with
the descendants of all the three sons of Noah ; for he sprung from
the laones, who were most probably the descendants of Javan,
the son of Japheth, and who were originally closely allied with
the Cymry, another very extensive collateral branch of the same
family, and among whom the poet is even thought to have
extended his travels, especially into Italy, Spain, &c. he lived
some time in Egypt and Phoenicia among the descendants of Cham,
and had probably considerable converse with the posterity of
Shem whom he found scattered over Judaea, Syria, Mesopotamia,
and all those regions bordering on the Euphrates and the Tigris.'
It is not our intention in this brief Dissertation to strengthen these
conjectures with any learned discussion ; but it appears at least
1 . For a full account of the dispersion and settlements of the
Noachida;, vid. Calmet's Commentary on the tenth chapter of
Genesis.
XVI 11
plausil)le from what we have ah-cady advanced, that wliatever was
known in tlic age of Homei-j respecting the art of alphabetical
writing and of poetry, among the ancient Cymry,^ Hellenes,
Phoenicians, Egyptians, Arabians, Assyrians, and Chaldaeans, we
may fairly presume it was also known to Homer. And the pro-
bability that something very considerable was known, among some
of these nations, arises almost to a certainty from the improbability,
that such unrivalled productions as the Iliad and the Odyssey, could
have sprun_g- forth at the first invention of Epic poetry, and that
they could have glided down from memory to memory, — evidently
without any material injury, over a lapse of time of nearly
four hundred years, when they are said to have been collected
and arranged into their present form by Pisistratus, tyrant of
Athens.'
The two great works of Homer are the Iliad and the Odyssey
1. The learned Edward Davies, in his Celtic Researches,
Sect. 6. 7. has given an ingenious account and most curious
specimen of the Druidical Letters of the ancient Cymry.
2. Pisistratus, the father of Hipparchus, is generally thought
to have first brought Homer's Poems into Athens; but Hippar-
chus was the first who, by a law, ordered them to be chaunted at
the great Panathenaic Festival, instituted in honour of Minerva.
Vid. Plat. Lysis. Fabric. Bibl. Grcec. vol. I. p. 270. Pisistratus
gathered them by causing a proclamation to be made throughout
all Greece, that whosoever should bring him any verses of Homer,
should be rewarded with an obolus for every verse. He then
selected seventy Grammarians, and gave them each a copy of all
the collections to revise apart; and when they had finished their
tasks, they compared their works together and made out one
perfect copy among them, prefixing with an obelisk those verses
which they thought spurious. Homer had left all his Poems
with Creophylus at Samos ; and Creophylus transmitted them to
his posterity, by whom they were privately kept, till Lycurgus, of
Laced.xMnon, coming thither, transcribed them and carried them
out of Ionia to Peloponnesus, and hence they were dispersed in
Rhapsodies throughout Greece. Vid. Ogilby's Preliminary Re-
marks to the Iliad.
XIX
both of them Epic poems. The basis of the Iliad is the tenth
year of tlie Trojan vvar, and it has been generally considered that
the primary design of the Poet was to celebrate the praises of
Achilles : — but, according to this opinion, there would be a re-
dundancy of nearly seven Books, and the poem could never agree
with the rule of Aristotle respecting Epic poetry, who proposes
the Iliad as a perfect model. Mr. Penn, who is also followed by
Mr. Trollope, considers the poem as a mere delineation of the
supreme power of God, and that the intention of the poet may be
detected in the short clause, Aioq ce TtKutro ftovXr], a. 5. which is
generally put in a parenthesis, as quite distinct from what follows,
but which seems more properly to belong to the two following
verses ; according to this punctuation the sense would be, that
the will of the supreme God was gradually accomplishing, from the
first commencement of the wrath of Achilles till the death of Hector,
which was an immediate preliminary to the destruction of Troy}
In the Odyssey we have an account of the travels and return
of Ulysses from the Trojan War. Some think that the poet de-
lineates his own peregrinations in the person of Ulysses. As a
record of the manners and customs of antiquity, this poem is far
more valuable than the Iliad.
The other works of Homer which are still extant, and
generally considered genuine, are Hymns to some of the gods,
and the Batrachomuomachia. We have an account of a great
number of other poems attributed to him, such as the Geranoma-
1 . Vid. Granville Penn's Examination of the primary argu-
ment of the Iliad, " where it is ably maintained that the poem is
to be taken as a whole, and that its primary and governing argu-
ment is the sure and irresistible jwwer of the divine will exemplified
in the death and burial of Hector, by the instrumentality of Achilles"
XX
chia, Arachmnachia, Psaromachia, the Epigoni, Cannina Ci/pria,
the Margites, Thebais, Phocce'is, &c. &c. It is supposed that he
was called Homer, ano tov fxr] opav, from his blindness. This
however is only a conjecture, — and a very absurd conjecture of
those who suppose that he was born blind.* For is it possible
that a person who had never enjoyed the faculty of vision, could
give such exact and unparalleled descriptions of the scenes of
nature, as we every where find dispersed over the works of
Homer ? Indeed we may feel tolerably assured that he did not
lose his sight till he was very far advanced in age, or at least,
till after the composition of his works now remaining ; for in these
voluminous poems, there is not a single observation made that
can lead to the most distant idea of his blindness, — a thing it is
scarcely possible he could conceal, — except in one of the Hymns
attributed to him, where he calls himself rvfXog aj/jjp. The
compositions of all preceding poets seem to have been drowned
as it were by the transcendent superiority of the poems of Homer
and Hesiod, and were consequently soon forgotten, — while in
succeeding ages, a period of about five hundred years elapsed,
before a genius had the courage to conjure up the shades of the
long-departed Muse, and dare himself to traverse on her ad-
venturous wing through the wilds of poetic fiction, — through
regions yet unknown. The ancients had such veneration for
Homer, that they not only raised temples and altars to him, but
offered sacrifices to him, and worshipped him as a god. The in-
habitants of Chios celebrated festivals every fifth year in his
honour, and medals were struck, which represented him as sitting
1. Velleius Paterculus, after venting out his admiration of
Homer in the grandest eulogies, indignantly concludes: quern si
quis ccecum genitum putal, omnibus sensibus orbus est ! lib. I. cap. 5.
XXI
on a throne, holding in his hands his Iliad and Odyssey.* Of
his death nothing is positively known. Plutarch relates a tra-
dition, that he died from grief, in consequence of his inability to
solve a riddle proposed to him by some fishermen at los, having
been previously warned by an oracle to beware of attempting
the solution.^ In the biographical sketch of his Life, attributed
to Herodotus, it is related, that having taken a voyage to Athens,
he fell sick at los, where he died, and was buried on the sea
shore. ^
We shall conclude this account of Homer with an extract
from Longinus on the Sublime:
" Yet Homer himself shews, in the Odyssey, that when a
great genius is in decline, a fondness for the fabulous clings fast
to age. Many arguments may be brought to prove, that this
poem was written after the Iliad, but especially this, that in the
1.^ Those who wish to gather the particulars of the Life and
Writings of Homer, from ancient Authors, may consult Strabo,
lib. XIV. Lucian, in Encomio Demoslhenis ; Heliodorus, lib. III.
Pausanias, in Phocicix; ^lian. Var. Hist. lib. XIII. cap. 22;
Antholog. lib. IV. Theocrit. IdijU. XVI. Cicero p/o Archia, &c.
and among more modern Authors, Leo Allatius dej^atria Homeri,
and Cuper on the Apotheosis of Homer.
2. This riddle is preserved in the Life of Homer, at the end
of the History of Herodotus. The Poet, in a voyage to Athens,
having fallen sick at los, and being in company with his friends
on the sea-shore, some fisher-boys came up and challenged any
of them to interpret this ocnigma: JFhat we took, we left behind, —
What we took not, we brought along with us. Homer, and his
companions being unable to solve the riddle, the boys themselves
unfolded the meaning of it, which was, — that when the// could not
fsh, ihei/ used to jjut ashore, and louse themselves ; the vermin
they took they threw away, but those which they could not fnd they
brought home.
3. Long after, when his poems had gained universal applause,
the inhabitants of los engraved this epigram on his sepulchre ;
Ev0a^£ Tr)v hpifv Ke(pa\T]i' Kara yala KaXvirrei,
AvSp(t)y 7fp(i)(t)v KoajJirjTopa, Belov 'Oj-iripov.
XXII
Odyssey he has occasionally mentioned the sequel of those cala-
mities which began at Troy, as so many episodes of that fatal
war ; — and that he there introduces those lamentations and woeful
disasters, as formerly undergone by his heroes. For in reality,
the Odyssey is nothing else but the epilogue of the Iliad.
EvSa fiev Aiag Ksirai aprj'ioQ, evda c' Aj^iXXeuc,
Eyda ^£ HarpoKXoQ, deoipiv ixr](TT(t)p araXarroc,
Evfla ^ efioQ (piXog viog. Odyss. y. 109.
There warlike Ajax, there Achilles lies,
Patroclus there, a man divinely wise;
There too my dearest son. —
It proceeds, I suppose, from the same reason, that having written
the Iliad in the youth and vigour of his genius, he has furnished
it with continued scenes of action and combat; — whereas, the
greatest part of the Odyssey is spent in narration, the delight of
old age. So that, in the Odyssey, Homer may with justice be
resembled to the setting-sun ; whose grandeur still remains, with-
out the meridian heat of his beams. The style is not so grand
and majestic as that of the Iliad ; the sublimity not continued with
so much spirit, nor so uniformly noble ; the tides of passion flow
not along with so much profusion, nor do they hurry away the
reader in so rapid' a current. There is not the same volubility
and quick variation of the phrase; nor is the work embellished
with so many strong and expressive images. Yet, like the
ocean, whose very shores when deserted by the tide, mark out
how wide it sometimes flows, so Homer's genius, when ebbing
into all those fabulous and incredible ramblings of Ulysses, shews
plainly how sublime it once had been.' When I speak these
1 . Never did any criticism equal, much less exceed, this of
Longinus in sublimity. — Let us here take a view of him, whilst
he
XXllI
things, I am not, however, forgetful of those storms, which are
so terribly described in several parts of the Odyssey ; — of the
adventures of Ulysses with the Cyclop, some other instances of
the true sublime; — I am merely speaking of old age, but never-
theless 'tis the old age of Homer. However, it is evident from
the whole series of the Odysseij, that there is far more narration
in it, than action.
I have digressed thus far merely for the sake of shewing, that
in the decline of their vigour, minds of the greatest genius are apt
to turn aside into trifles. Those stories of shutting up the winds
in a bag; — Of the men in Circe's island, metamorphosed into
swine, whom Zoilus calls squeaking little pigs; — Of Jupiter's
nurture by the doves like one of their young; — Of Ulysses, in a
vsTeck, when he took no sustenance for ten days, and all those in-
credible absurdities concerning the death of the suitors; — what
else can we call these things but dreams, — though such indeed
as Jove might dream ! Another reason which has induced me to
relate these things concerning the Odyssey, was my desire of
convincing you, that a decrease of the pathetic in great orators
and poets often ends in the moral kind of writing ; thus the
Odyssey, furnishing us with rules of morality, drawn from that
course of life which the suitors led in the palace of Ulysses, has,
in some degree, the air of a comedy, where the various manners
of men are ingeniously and faithfully described." De Suhlim.
Sect. IX.
he points out the beauties of the best writers, and at the same time
his own. Equal himself to the most celebrated authors, ho gives
them the eulogies due to their merit. He not only judges his
predecessors by the true laws and standard of good writing, but
leaves posterity in himself a model and pattern of genius and
judgment. Dr. Pearce.
^
SECTION II.
CONCERNING THE MYTHOLOGY OF HOMER.
It is impossible to read the works of Homer without being im-
pressed with the wonderful strain of pious feeling which runs
through the whole of them ; every sentiment that is expressed
appears to be the offspring of a holy contemplation, — every design
that is planned is the result of the irreversible decrees of the
Supreme Disposer of the Universe, — every scheme that is accom-
plishing is directed by the overruling hand of providential agency,
and every action that is carried into execution bears the indelible
stamp of the Divine wisdom, justice, and power. The whole
fabric of the Iliad and the Odyssey is but one vast superstructure
built upon faith — upon the solemn consciousness that there is a
Supreme Governor who superintends over the affairs of men, —
whose moral attributes combine with the efforts of his sovereign
and immutable will, in animating the whole machinery of moral
actions, — a fabric reared indeed in all the stupendous majesty of
poetic fiction, adorned with all the decorations of fancy, and en-
veloped with the wildest and most picturesque enchantments, that a
mind the most inventive could conceive, or imagination the most
sublime could pourtray, — still, a fabric designed as it were for the
habitation of the Most High, a temple for the worship of Jehovah,
XXVI
where we behold with astonishment the representations of his
cliaracter delineated in the most masterly images, — his power
arrayed in the most awful terrors, his wrath and resolution em-
pictured in the most gloomy solemnities, his wisdom and goodness
surrounded with a halo of the most ineffable splendour, and his
mercy and love beaming forth the rays of the most refreshing and
cheering consolation, till we are lost awhile amid the mystic
wonders, and dream that we are gazing in the sacred shrine of
inspiration on the grand revelations of human Redemption ! '
We are well aware that the poetic effusions of ancient days are
scarcely ever appreciated in this light ; they are perused as
affording means to become acquainted with the languages in which
1 . Probably the above sketch may appear somewhat hyper-
bolical ; a comparison of the gnomologies of Homer with similar
passages in the Holy Scriptures, may, however, shew that it is
not altogether groundless. Those who have leisure and inclination,
in reading the first six books of the Iliad, may find great pleasure
in comparing Iliad a. 178, and Jerem. ix. 23, 1 Cor. iv. 7; a. 218,
and Prov. xv. 29, St. John ix. 31 ; /3. 117, and Ezek. xxxv. 4 ;
fi. 197, and Prov. viii. 15, Dan. ii. 21, Rom. xiii. 1 ; /3. 204, and
Judges ix. 2, 1 Sam. viii. 5, Prov. xxviii. 2, St. James iii. 1 ;
ft. 435, and Eccles. ix. 10; p. 833, and 1 Sam. ii. 25; y, 165,
and Eccles. iii. 13, 1 Tim. iv. 4; y. 108, Eccles. xi. 10, and Tit.
ii. 6; ^. 62, and Eccles. x. 4 ; c. 84, and 1 Sam. xvii. 47, Prov.
xxi. 31 ; c. 160, and Habac. ii. 3, St. Luke xviii. 7. 8; B. 442,
and Prov. xvii. 14, St. James iii. 5 ; e. 130, and Acts xxiii. 9 ;
c. 178, and Psal. ii. 12, xc. 2, Revel, vi. 17; e. 441, and Esai.
xlvi. 5; £. 606, and Acts v. 39 ; C 112, and 1 Sam. iv. 9, 2 Sam.
X. 12, 1 Cor. xvi. 13 ; (T. 129, and Acts xi. 17 ; i^. 146, and Sirac.
xiv. 18. 19, Eccles. i. 4; ^. 208, and 1 Cor. xii. 31. xiv. 12;
<r. 266, and Psal. xxvi. 6, Esai. i. 15 ; 4". 353, and Psal. cvii. 17 ;
t 487, and St. John vii. 30 ; C 488, and 2 Sam. xiv. 14, Heb.
ix. 27 ; C 491, and Prov. xxxi. 19. These similar passages
with a vast number of others throughout the Iliad and the
Odyssey, as well as an immense and valuable collection of cor-
responding apophthegms from other authors of antiquity, may be
seen at one view in the Gnomologia Homerica of the learned
Duport, who was formerly Regius Professor of Greek in the
University of Cambridge.
XXVll
they were written, revered as meimorials of antiquity, admired
as master-pieces of art, and felt as piercing the heart with touches
of tlie most exquisite tenderness, or deluging the soul with a
flood of the most overwhelming sublimities. But when they are
found multiplying their gods without number, and investing even
the most ridiculous affections of nature with the incommunicable
attributes of the Divinity, — when they are perceived introducing
these holy objects of adoration upon the wide stage of the world,
brutalized by the foulest passions that can draw a blush on the face
of humanity, actuated by the most malicious feelings that can
distort the countenance of envy, hurried forth into the most bar-
barous actions that can be stamped on the haggard looks of cruelty,
and planning and executing the most atrocious crimes, in proportion
as their schemes were uncontrolable by the more wise decrees,
and irresistible by the more just desires of man, — nay, when even
the father of poetry divides the republic of his gods into the most
hostile factions, who originally kindled the spark of the direful war
of Troy, who were the continual stimulants during the progress
of that tremendous contest, and often dyed the Scamandrian
plain with the innocent blood of heroes, and finally eradicated
from the face of being a whole nation,' that had served both
parties with the most scrupulous piety, and had spent its wealth
in temples for their honour and sacrifices for their worship,
— when such monstrous inconsistencies are every where scattered
over the remains of the ancient Muses, we are apt to turn away
with disgust, and consider them as a mere mass of absurdity.
1. It is generally considered that the Romans derived their
origin from the Trojans, but perhaps this is only a fiction in-
vented by that vain and superstitious people. Vid. Wood's Essay
on Homer.
XXVlll
altogetlier incongruous with every shadow of reason, and perfectly
incompatible with the character of the Divine essence. The
slightest consideration would however teach ns, that we have
drawn our conclusions far too hastily ; there lies concealed under
the mantle of outward appearance, a mystery which involves the
most momentous truths ; we find depicted amid these sacred
arcana the existence, the unity, and all the essential attributes of
the Supreme God, nay — we find these attributes harmonizing in
the most beautiful symmetry, and affording such a perfect mirror
of the nature of the Deity, that the ancient system of heathen
theology may be looked upon as little inferior to the oracles of
the patriarchal and prophetic sages, save in the grand covenant
of human Redemption through the death of the promised
Messiah.
Ancient History is tolerably clear from the era of Cyrus the
great, or the time when Cadmus and Pherecydes introduced the
art of prose alphabetical writing, about 544 years before Christ.
From this time down to the birth of our Saviour, including a
period of nearly six hundred years, we have one continued series
of writers, who agree concerning the existence of a God, and in
every succeeding age the system of their mythology grows more
and more complex and absurd ; at least, in the time of the Roman
Republic, the true theology became a branch of philosophy con-
fined only to men of learning, whereas, the ignorant multitude
followed the gods of fiction and romance, and worshipped the
phantoms of their own bewildered imaginations. But the higher
we trace the footsteps of time, and explore the annals of antiquity,
the more clearly and distinctly we recognize the knowledge of the
one Eternal God. In the course of the following observations we
shall endeavour to shew that the generation of Hesiod's gods, was
{
XXIX
nothing more than an allegorical representation of the agency of
the one Supreme Essence operating by a combination of different
attributes, and guiding by a mysterious influence the affairs of
the universe : and we shall at the same time attempt to cxplahi
the harmonij of the Homeric Theology, which is the principal
object of our present investigation.^ And for tliis purpose we
shall now extract the substance of the learned Dr. Cudworth's
General Survey of the Pagan Deities.
As the opinion of many self-existent Deities is irrational in
1 . "I am very sensible, my lord, that Homer's Mythology is
little understood, — or to express it better, is little felt. And for
this reason, the effects of his Egyptian education are lost upon
the greater part of his readers. There are but few who look
upon the Divine Persons he employs, odierwise than so many
groundless fictions, which he made at pleasure, and might employ
indifferently ; giving to Neptune, for instance, the work done by
Apollo, and introducing Venus to perform what he now ascribes
to Minerva. But it is mere want of perception. His gods are
all natural feelings of the several powers of the universe, — or, as
the Bishop of Thessalonica calls them, twoicDv (.vyeviov aKiai ei-
aiv r] TrapcnrETaff^iciTu, sliadowings or ivrappers of noble sentiments.
They are not a bundle of extravagant stories, but the most
delicate, and at the same time, the most majestic method of ex-
pressing the effects of those natural powers, which have the
greatest influence upon our minds and bodies." BlachvalVs In-
quiry into the Life of Homer, p. 142. We shall cpiote another
passage to the same effect from the ancient Poet Aratus :
fitoTaL ce Aiog Tzaaai fxtv ayvua,
flciffat 2' avdptJTriov ayopai, peari] Et OaXucraa,
Kat Xif.iereQ' Trcivri] Se ^w£ Ke-)(pi)p£Oa TTUv-ee'
ToD yap Kat ysvoc eapev.
St. Paul, Acts xvii. 28, cited this last hemistich before the court
of the Areopagus: ei> ourw yap (lOfxev kui Kiroufizda, Kai ea^tV
wQ Kat Tivec tCjv icad' vf-Uie iroiT]~wy tipi]Kaai, Tuv yap Kai yei'og
t(7[.isy. The former part of this verse seems also to have reference
to an old Iambic :
i^wf-iEv ci' £v avT(i) Kai KivovixsQa, —
We have also in Virgil, the expression Jovis omnia plena, and in
another place, Dcu/n namque ire per omncs Tcrrasque traclusquc
maris, &c.
XXX
itself, so is it likewise plainly repugnant to the phenomena of the
world ; in which, as Macrobius writes, omnia sunt connexa, all things
conspire together into one harmony, and are carried on peaceably
and quietly, without any tumult or confusion, or the least appear-
ance of schism or faction ; which could not possibly be supposed,
were the world made and governed by a rabble of self-existent
Deities, co-ordinate and independant upon one Supreme. Where-
fore this kind of Polytheism was confuted by Origen in the
followinfT manner : ttoctw ovj' /jcXnoj' to bk twv opwfitvtav TTtiQojxtvov
To'iQ Kara rrfv evTciiiav tov KotTfiov aejjeiv ray crj jJiiovpyov avrnv tvog
OVTOQ kva, Kui (Tv/XTTveovTog avTOV oXw l«i»rw, kcu Oict tovto jxri
^vvajxtvov VTTo TToWwv Sr]iJ.iovpyCJv ysyoyfyai, wg ovd' vtto ttoXXwv
%l^v\uiv avveytaQaL i\ov tov ovpavov Kivovawv ; How much better is
it, agreeably to what we see in the harmonious system of the world,
to worship one only Maker of the world, which is one, and conspir-
ing throughout with its whole self, and therefore cannot have been
made by many artificers, as neither can it be contained by many
souls regulating the motion of the whole heaven ? Now, since this
opinion is both irrational in itself and repugnant to the phenomena,
there is the less probability that it should have been received and
entertained by all the more intelligent Pagans. And that they did
not thus universally look upon all their gods as so many unmade,
self-existent beings, is unquestionably manifest from hence, be-
cause ever since Homer's and Hesiod's time at least, the Greeks
generally acknowledged a Theogonia, a generation and temporary
production of the gods. Concerning this Theogonia, Herodotus
(Euterp. 53.) writes in this manner: oQev yap eyej/ero tKaaTog
TU)V Bibir, eiTE (lei r)aay TravTtg, oKoloi re riyeg ra tioea, ou/c eTriuTE-
UTO l^fXf"- ^'w Trpiorjy re Kui \OEg, wc tnrf.iy ^oyf 'llcriocoy yap Kat
'OfLrjpoy }]\iKir}v TiTpaKaaioiai trtai coKeo) fitv Trp£ff(3vTepovc ye-
XXXI
vtffOai, Kui ov TrXeofff. 'Ovroi c eicri ol iroirjcravTee Qtoyoyiay 'E\-
Xrjffi, Kftt To'tai OeoiiTi ran nziavv^iac ^ovrtQ. Whence every one of
the gods was generated, or ivhether they were all of them always
in existence, and what are their forms, is a thing that mas not
known till very lately ; for I consider that Hesiod and Homer
flourished no more than four hundred years before my time ; and
these were they who introduced the Theogonia among the Greeks,
and gave the gods their several names; that is, settled the Pagan
Theology. Now if before Hesiod' s and Homer's time it was a thing
unknown and undetermined among the Greeks, whether their gods
were generated, or all of them existed from eternity, then it was
not universally concluded by them, that they were all unmade and
self-existent. And though perhaps in those ancient times, there
might be different opinions concerning the generation and eternity of
the gods, yet it docs not follow that they who thought them to be all
eternal, must therefore necessarily suppose them to be also un-
made and self -existent. For Aristotle, who asserted the eternity
of the world, and consequently also, of his gods, the heavenly
bodies, did not however suppose them to be self-existent or frst
'principles, but all dependent upon one principle or original Deity.
And indeed the true meaning of that question in Herodotus,
whether the gods were generated, or existed all of them from
eternity, is really no other than that of Plato's, tt ytyovev i KoafjLoc,
rj ayEpr]Q tan, whether the world was made or unmade; and
whether it had a temporary beginning, or existed such as it is from
eternity.
We are not able to find, among the Pagans, any who asserted
a multitude of unmade, self-existent deities; — on the contrary we
shall now find one — no less than Aristotle, who took notice of
this opinion of ttoXXcu opx*^'' many principles, in such a manner
XXXil
as to confute it, — but who was not occasioned, however, to do
that, because it was a doctrine then generally received, but only
because he had a mind odiously to impute such a thing to the
Pythagoreans and Platonists, who made Ideas — or, as they were
sometimes called, Numbers, in a certain sense, the principles of
tilings. Nevertheless, the opinion itself is well refuted by that
Philosopher (Met. lib. xiv. cap. 10.) in this manner : bi ce Xeyovrec
TOV apiBnov irpwTOV tov jj.adr][iaTiKoy, Kat 6vtu)q aei aWrjy e)(OfxevT]v
ovaiav cat ap-^^aq eKaffrrie aWa^, airuaolniicri rrjv tov Travrog ovaiav
TTOiovcriv, K. T. \. They who say that Mathematical number is the
Jirsl, and suppose one jyrinciple of one thing, and another of another,
would make the world to be like an incoherent and disagreeing
2)oem, where things do not all mutually contribute to one another,
7wr conspire together to make up one sense and harmony ; but the
contrary is most evident in the world ; and therefore there cannot
be many p)rinciples, but only one. From whence it is manifest,
that though Aristotle, as well as the other Pagans, was a worship-
per oi many gods, since he somewhere represents it very absurd
to sacrifice to none but Jupiter, yet he was no Polytheist, in the
proper sense of the term, of many unmade, self-existent deities;
nor indeed a Ditheist, or assertor oi two understanding principles,
a good and evil god, as Plutarch pretended him to be, since here
he not only explodes that opinion of TroXXai upyju, many jninciples,
but also expressly derives all from one, and in that very chapter
affirms that good is a principle, but not evil. But as for the
Platonists and Pythagoreans there perstringed by him, thougli it
be true that they made Ideas in some sense. Principles, as the
Paradigms of things, yet according to Aristotle's own confession,
they declared also that there was aWr} ap-j^ri Kvpiwrepa, another
superior or more excellent principle, which is indeed that which
XXXIU
was called by them the to ty, i /torac, Umhj itself, or Monad,
that is, One most Simple Deity.
Though we have already demonstrated that the Pagan gods
were not all supposed to be unmade self-existent beings, because
a Theogonia, a Generation and temporari/ production of the gods,
was acknowledged, yet for as much as it might be suspected,
that the ancients held, notwithstanding, a multitude of unmade
Deities; we have now made the best enquiry we could concerning
this, and the utmost that we have been able yet to discover is,
that some few of the professed Pagans, as well as of pretended
Christians, have indeed asserted a duplicity of such gods, one good,
and the other evil, but no more ; whereas, on the contrary we
have found, that Aristotle professedly opposed this opinion of
many principles, or unmade gods, which certainly he should never
have done, had it then been the generally received opinion of the
Pagans. But we should be enabled to make a more clear judg-
ment concerning this controversy, — whether there was not among
the Pagan Deities, a multitude of supposed unmade beings, if we
were to take a short survey of the religion of the Pagans, and
consider all the several kinds of gods worshipped by them, —
which may be reduced to the following heads : First, it is certain,
that many of the Pagan gods were nothing else but dead men, or
the souls of men deceased, called by the Greeks, Heroes, and by
the Latins, Manes, such as Hercules, Liber, JEsculapius, Castor,
Pollux, Quirinus, and the like. Nor was this true only of the
Greeks and Romans, but also of the Egyptians, Syrians, and
Babylonians. For which cause, the Pagan Sacrifices are con-
temptuously called in the Scriptures the Sacrifices of the Dead,
that is, not of dead and lifeless Statues, but of Dead Mm. And
this was the reason, why many of the religious Rites and Solem-
XXXIV
nities observed by the Pagan Priests, were mournful ?mA funereal,
as it is expressed in Baruch (vi. 31) concerning the Babylonians:
T/icir Priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and
their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads ; they
roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is
dead. And tlie same is noted likewise by the Poet concerning
the Egyptians,
Et quern, tu plangens, hominem testaris, Osirin :
and intimated by Xenophanes the Colophonian, when he repre-
hensively admonished the Egyptians after this manner : ei Oeovq
vofiiCovai, firj OprjvEiv, el ^e 6pr]vov(Tt, fxr} deovg ro/xi^eiv, that if they
considered them gods, they should not lament them, but if they
would lament them, they should no longer think them gods. More-
over, it is well known that this custom of deifying men, was after-
wards carried much farther, and that living men, as Emperors,
had temples and altars erected to them, — nay, human Polities and
Cities, were also sometimes deified by the Pagans, Rome itself
being made a goddess. Now no man can imagine that those
men-gods and city-gods, were looked upon by them as so many
unmade, self-existent Deities, as they were not indeed so much
as <l>vaii ytvr}T0i Beat, gods made or generated by nature, but rather
artificially made by human will and pleasure. Again, another sort
of the Pagan Deities, were all the greater parts of the visible
Mundane System, or corporeal world, as supposed to be animated,
the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, and even the Earth itself
under the names of Festa and Cybele, the mother of the gods, and
the like. Now it is certain also, that none of these could be
taken for unmade self-existent Deities, by those who supposed
the whole world itself to have been generated, or had a beginning,
which, Aristotle tells us, was the generally received opinion before
XXXV
his time. There was, moreover, a third sort of Pagan deities,
jEthereal and Aerial Animals invisible, called Demons, Genii, and
Lares, superior indeed to men, but inferior to the celestial or
mundane gods before mentioned. Wherefore, these also must
necessarily be looked upon by them as merely yevijroi deoi, gene-
rated or created gods, since they were but certain inferior parts
of the whole generated world. Besides all these, the Pagans had
yet another sort of gods, that were nothing but mere accidents, or
affections of substances, and which, therefore, could not be sup-
posed by them to be self-existent Deities, because they could not
so much as subsist by themselves; — such were. Virtue, Piety,
Felicity, Truth, Faith, Hope, Justice, Clemency, Love, Desire,
Health, Peace, Honor, Fame, Liberty, Memory, Sleep, Night, &c.
all of which had their temples or altars erected to them. Now
this kind of Pagan gods, cannot well be conceived to have been
any thing else, but the various manifestations, of the One Divine
Force, Power, and Providence, that runs through the whole world,
as respecting the good and evil oi xaen, fictitiously personated, and
represented as so many gods and goddesses. Lastly, there is still
another kind of Pagan gods, having substantial and jiersonal
names, which, however, cannot be conceived to so many Under-
standing Beings, unmade and independent upon any Supreme,
were it for no other reason than this, — because they have all
of them their particular places and provinces, offices and functions
severally assigned to them, and to which they are confined, so as
not to interfere with one another, but agreeably to make up one
orderly and harmonious system of the whole ; — one of those gods
ruling only in the heavens, another in the air, another in the sea,
and another in the earth and hell ; — one being the god or goddess
of Learning and Wisdom, another ot Speech and Eloquence, another
e
XXXVl
of Justice and political order^ — one the god of mar, another of
pleasure, another of corn, another of nine, &c. For how can it
be conceived, that a multitude of understanding beings, self-existent
and independent, could thus of themselves have fallen into such
an uniform order and harmony, and having quietly and peaceably
shared the government of the whole world among them, should
carry it on with such constant regularity ?
But the truth of the whole matter appears to be this, — that
the ancient Pagans physiologized in their Theology, and whether
looking upon the whole world animated, as the Supreme God,
and consequently the several parts of it as his living members, or
else apprehending it to be at least a mirror, or visible image of the
invisible Deity, and consequently all its several parts, as so many
manifestations of the Divine Power and Providence, they imagined
that all their devotion towards the Deity ought not to be huddled up
in one general and confused acknowledgement of a Supreme
Invisible Being, the Creator and Governor of all, but that all the
several manifestations of the Deity in the world, considered singly
and apart by themselves, should be made so many distinct objects
of their devout veneration ; and for this reason they did irpoao)-
Tcoiroitiv, speak of the things in nature and the parts of the world,
as persons, and consequently as so many gods aiid goddesses, —
yet in such a manner, that the intelligent might easily understand
the meaning, that all these were really nothing else, but so many
names and notions of that One Numen, Divine Force and Power,
which runs through the whole world, variously displaying itself
therein. To this effect, Balbus in Cicero : Videtisne ut a Physicis
rebus, tracta ratio sit ad commentitios et fictos Deos ? See you
not how from the things of nature fictitious gods have been made ?
And Origen seems to insist upon this very thing, (where Celsus
xxxvu
upbraids the Jews and Christians for worshipping one only God)
shewing that all that seeming multiplicity of Pagan gods could not
be understood of so many distinct, substantial, independent
Deities : SetKWTO roivvv ttwc ovTog ^uvarai irapaaTTjtrai to ttXtjOoq
Tbjy K'a0' '^Wfjvac, 7/ rovf Xoittovq (3apl3apov£' ^eikvvto viroaraaiv
Kai ovcriav Mpt] fxoavvrjQ yEvvuxj-qq utto Atog rag Movaag, t] QefAi^og
rac 'ilpoc, Tj rag Xapirag aiei yvfivag TrapaffTTjaaro Bwatrdai kcit'
ovaiav ixpecrrrficevai' aW ov cwTjcerat ra 'EXXtjvwv ava7rXa<7/iara
awfiaTonoisiaQai ^OKovvra airo ruiv -Kpay^arwv SeiKvvvai Qeovg.
Let Celsus therefore himself shew how he is able to make out a
multiplicity of gods substantial and self-existent, according to the
Greeks and other barbarous Pagans ; let him declare the essence
and substantial personality of that Memory which by Jupiter
generated the Muses, or of that Themis which brought forth the
Hours ; or let him shew how the graces always naked do subsist by
themselves. But he will never be able to do this, nor to make it
appear that those figments of the Greeks, which seem to be really
nothing else but the things of nature allegorically personated, are.
so many disinct, self-existent Deities.
This fictitious personifying and deifying of things by the
Pagan Theologists were done in two different ways : First, when
those things in nature were themselves, without any change of
names, spoken of as persons, and thus made gods and goddesses.
Secondly, when there were distinct Proper and Personal names
accommodated severally to those things, as that of Minerva to
wisdom, of Neptune to the sea, of Ceres to corn, of Bacchus to
ivine, &:c. This mystery of the Pagan Polytheism is thus fully
expounded by Moscopidus (in Hesiod. p. 1): ktteov in Tavra ol
EXXrjvee a Svva^iv tj^ovro Icjpovv, ovk avEv EirnTrafftag deiHv ttjv
Svva/xiv av-wv Evepysly evo/ia^ov, eyi ^' oyofjari to re ttjv ^vva/uiv
, xxxviu
tvov, hcai Tov eTTiffTdrovvTa rovrui dtnv wvofxa^ov' odev 'Hcpaiarov
EKaXovy TO re huKOviKOv tovto Trvp, Kat tov EinaTaTOvvTa Taiq 2ia
TOVTOv eyepyovfievaiQ rex^'^i-Q) "^"^ ^rjjiriTpav tov (titov fcai roue
tcapnovQ, Kai ttjv ^o}pov[xevT]v tovtovq 6eov, icai einaTaTOvaav avroXg,
icai A6f]vav ttiv <ppovi](nv, kui £(popov rtjs (ppovriOEwg deoV /cat tov
Aiovvaov tov olvov, kui tov clcovtu tovtov deoy, 6v icai airo tov
hcovai TOV olvov 6 UXaTOJv Trapayei, Kai Zicoivvaov tovtov tto'ui situ
i:ai :liovv(ToV Kai EiXftQutac roue tokovq, Kat rae Et^iopiiJaaQ roue
TOKovQ, Oeag' icai A(ppohTr)v tt}v avvovaiav Kai ETziaTaTovaav raurrj
Hiov' Kara tovto Kai Movcrag eXeyov Tag te XoyiKag TEyvag, biov
priropiKrjv, aaTpovofxiav, Kiofjiwciav, Tpayo)Ciav, Kai rag zi^opovg Kai
Trapoypvg tovtiov dEag. We must know that whatsoever the Greeks
saw to have any power, virtue, or ability in it, they looked upon it as
not acting according to such power, without the providence, presi-
dency, or influence of the gods; and they called both the thing itself
which halh the power, and the deity presiding over it, by one and
the same name ; whence the ministerial fire, used in mechanic arts,
and the god jiresiding over those arts that work by fire, were both
called Hephaestus, or Vulcan; so the name Demetra or Ceres,
was given as well to corn and fruits, as to that goddess which be-
stows them; Athena or Minerva signified both wisdom and the
goddess which is the dispenser of it; and Dionysus or Bacchus
signified wine and the god that giveth wine, — whence Plato derives
the etymology of the word avo tov hcovai o'lvov, from giving of
wine. In like manner, they called the child-bearings of women,
and the goddesses which superintend over them, Eilithuiae, — and
coition or copulation, and the deity pt^^siding over it. Aphrodite or
Venus; and lastly, in the same manner by the Muses, they signi-
fied both those rational arts, such as Rhetoric, Astronomy, Comedy,
Tragedy, and the goddesses that preside over and promote such
XXXIX
arts. Now, as the several things in nature, and parts of the cor-
poreal world, are thus mclonymically called gods and goddesses, it
is evident that such deities as these could not be supposed to be
unmade or self-existent^ by those who acknowledged the whole
world to have been generated and to have had a beginning. But,
as these names were used more properly to signify invisible and
understanding powers, presiding over the things in nature, however
they may have an appearance of so many distinct deities, yet they
all seem to have been in reality nothing else, but, as Balhus in
Cicero expresses it, Dcus perlinens 2Jer naturam cujusque rei, God
jmssing through and acting in the nature of everij thing, and con-
sequently but several names, or so many different notions and
considerations of that One Supreme Numen, the Divine Force,
Power, and Providence, whicli runs through the whole world,
and operates therein according to its various manifestations.*
Vid. The Intellectual System of the Universe, book I. c. iv.
§. 13.
The limits of this brief Dissertation will not allow us to enter
into deep researches concerning these interesting topics. That
the ancient Pagans acknowledged but One Supreme Essence is
sufficiently evident from this consideration, that ihey invested their
deity with the incommunicable attribute of Omnipotence, wliich
we observe was the case from various passages of their writings.
Homer, Iliad I. 587.
apyaXeoG yap OXv^TnoQ avTi^eptGQai.
Difficilis enim Olynqmis, cut resistatitr.
1. irac c o TTipi Twy dedjv Xoyog apj^atag EL,era^£i Co£,aQ Kai
[xvBovQ' aiviTTOfJitviiiv rwv TraXatwv as ti\ov Eyvotac (^vaiKag irtpi
Tu)v Trpayfiaroiv, kcu irpotTTidevrtov oei TO~ir \oyoiQ rov Mvdoy.
Strabo, lib. I.
f
xl
Odyss. IV. 397.
ApyaXeoQ yap t eotl Qeoq (ipOTM avdpi Safirfvai.
Difficllis enim est Deus mortali homini domari.
Odyss. IV. 237.
aTcip 0£oc aXXoT tit oXXy
Zeuc ayaQov rt kukov re h^o7' ^vvaTai yap airayra.
Enimvero Deus alias in alium
Jupiter honumque malumque dat^ Potest enim Omnia.
Odyss. XIV. 444.
0£OC ^e TO fi£V ^Wff£t, TO ^' EdCTSl,
'O, n KEV y Ovj-icp eBeXei, ^vyarai yap airayra.
Deus aulem quidem dabit, illud vero sinet,
Quodcunque suo animo voluerit, — Potest enim Omnia.
To the same effect also the ancient poet Linus:
'Pa^ia wavra Qei^ TEkEoat, Kai avrjvvToy ov^Ey,
God can easily do all things, and nothing may not be accomplished
by him.
CaUimachus Fragm. 137.
fi dEoy olada,
IffO', vri Kai pE^ai ^aifioyi Trav ^vyarov.
Si Deum nosti,
Scias etiam, quod Deus Omnia facerc possit.
Pindar, Isth. Ode V. 6G.
Zevq race Kat ra vEfiEi,
Ztuc, o TravT(i)v KvpioQ.
Jupiter hcec et ilia tribuit,
Jupiter, Omnium Dominus.
Agalho, an ancient poet, who affirms that nothing is impossible
to God, but that which implies contradiction.
xli
Moyov yap aurov, Kai Oeo£ crrepiaKETai,
AyEvr]Ta Troie'iy, aaa ay ij TreTrpayfieyu.
Hoc namque dunlaxal, negatum ctiam Deo est,
Quce facta sunt, infecta posse reddere.
And finally, Epicharnius:
Ovoey ota^evyei to delay tovto yiyucriceiy ae Cti'
AvTog tad' iifxu>v eTroTTTrje, acvyareiy ^' ovoey Oeo).
lies nulla est Deum quce luteal, scire quod te convenit;
Ipse est noster Introspecior, — Deus certe nil non potest!
The Latin Poets also often speak of Paler Omnipotens, Jupiter
Omnipotens, Sec. so that we may conclude, with certainty, that the
ancients universally attributed Omnipotence to their deity, in the
same manner as the Jews or Christians to the supreme Jehovah.'
1. We might gather many passages from ancient authors
where the existence and unity of a God is ear^j/ic/f/?/ acknowledged.
Thus Euripides,
AW earty, eari, Kay tiq fyyeX^ ^oyu),
Zevc, K'at deoi, (jportia \evaaovTtq Tradr].
Plutarch, in his Platonic Questions: kui S,evoKpuTi]c Aia 'Ynaroy
Ka\e~i, TTpo-epov B' 'O^y/poc tov ru/y ap-)(^oyT(i)y Apj^orra Qeoy, 'Yva-
Tov Kpetovruy Trpoae'nre. This is exactly similar to the Scripture
phraseology, King of kings and Lord of lords. Proclus, upon
Plato's Tlviceus : ovtw roiyvy avp-Tzaaay T-qy '^\\r\viKr)v OeoXoyiay
anecprit'apey, rw Aa T7]y uXrjy cijpiovpyiav airoye^ovaav.
The famous passage of Sophocles :
'Eie rate aki)Qeiai(rLv, e~iQ ecrriy deog,
'Oc ovpayov t' trcv^e Kai ya'iay f^uiKpay,
TiovTOV TE •yiipoTToy di^fia, Kavepibr ftuiy, &c.
These verses are not to be found in the Tragedies of Sophocles
now extant, but they have often been quoted by the ancient
Fathers, and Clemens Alexandrinus relates, that they were ascribed
to Sophocles by Hccatneus the historian. Vid. Cudworth's Jntcll.
Syst. p. 3G'6. It would be an endless task to quote all the de-
votional pieces and ejaculations to the One Divine Being, which
are every where scattered over tlie 'i'ragedies of Euripides.
Valerius Soranus, recorded by Varro :
Jupiter Omnipotens, regum Hex ipse Denmque
Progenitor, Genitrixque Deum, — Deus Umis ct Omnis !
xlii
We sliall here conclude with a short pki/siological interpretation
of the principal Divinities in Homer.
Zevg, Jupiter, is so called, according to some, mro rov ainog
rov ^Tjy eivai, because he is the cause of life; but others de-
rive the word from ho£, terror, because the supreme god is an
object of fear; for, in the true Theology of the ancient Pagans ,
this name represented the being of the Divine Essence. In My-
thology, however, many poetical fictions were confounded with
the real notions of his character, such as his amours with women,
his quarrels with his wife in heaven, &c. History makes him a
king of Crete; — politically, he denotes empire and the regal dig-
nity ; allegorically, he signifies the influence or directing agency
of princes; but in Natural Philosophy, he denotes the upper air
or tlie higher heavens, from whence, in Astronomy, the name of
Jupiter was given to one of the planets which moves in those
remote regions.
'llpa, Juno, is said to be the wife and sister of Jupiter, because
in Natural Philosophy, she represented the lower air, or the
atmosphere round the earth, and hence her name, airo tqv aepoe,
ah acre; and hence also the epithet XevicwXevog, white-armed, is
applied to lier, because of the splendor of the atmosphere, ^la to
cid({)aveg tou cupog. In j^olitical institutions, she signified the
regal power, and hence states and nations are said to be harrassed
by the resentments of this malicious goddess.
AOtjvj], Minerva, is said to have sprung from the head of
Jupiter, because she denoted the mental agency which arises from
In Ciidworth, p. 433, there is quoted a inost devout Hymn of
Cleanthcs, or a religious address to the Supreme God, with an
elegant Latin translation by Dr. Duport, but it is too long to be
in.sertetl in this note.
xliii
the pure intellectual principle of intelligence ; hence we find ap-
plied to her those epithets which are descriptive of mental
energy, — such as evKofioQ, having beautiful hair, 'C. 92, where the
mind is represented as a charming virgin, attracting the admiration
of her lovers; — yXavKuiriq, blue-eyed, ft. 280. 4". 88; denoting the
clearness and perspicacity of the intellect; rpiToyeveia, sprung
from the head, S. 515, because counsel and design emanate from
the intellectual faculties operating in the head; epvcrtTrroXig,
guardian of the city, ^. 305, because a City or State is preserved
by the assiduous care of the mind ; ttoXvjmvXoq, forming many
counsels, e. 260, because the mind is the source of all plans and
schemes; arpvrwvr], indefatigable, e. 115, signifying that the soul
or intellectual principle is never worn out with weariness, but
always ready for )ii, and giving rise to new machinations and
contrivances, &c
AttoXXwj', ^.jjoUo, signifies the Sun, in Physical Science.
He is said to be the son of Jupiter and Latona, that is, the off-
spring of the air and night, because the sun issues as it were from
the womb of night, which is metaphorically represented as having
been embraced by Jupiter, denoting that the dark nocturnal at-
mosphere is surrounded by the regions of the more remote heavens.
Ajjrw, Latona, is so called, quia noctu dormientes vravrwr Xav-
Oai'OjJtda, et visui Travra Xavdapd, because in the sleep of night
we are buried in oblivion, and the scenes of nature escape our
observation. In Theology, Apollo is the chief instrument by
which Jupiter, the Supreme God, confers blessings upon mankind,
and answers in the kingdom of nature to the influences of the
Holy Spirit in the kingdom of grace. He derives his name
partly from airoXveiv, to heal, and partly from uTroXXveiv, to
destroy; because the rays of the sun jwe productive both of
xliv
health and of disease. He is called No/xioc, one that giveth
pastures, airo rov VEfxeiy, from feeding the flocks, because the
earth, cherished by the warmth of the sun, produces grass for
fodder. He was worshipped, particularly in Lycia, because the
Fables relate that Latona immediately after the birth of Apollo
and Diana, departed with her infant twins into Lycia, and hence
he is called iXvkioq and Ai/CTyyfj^/je, I. 101. This, however, is only
a physiological allegory ; light was called \vkoq by the ancient
Greeks ; hence Latona, after the birth of Apollo, is said to have
gone into Lycia, which signifies that night after the rise of the
sun departs into light, or becomes day. His peculiar epithets are
KkvToro'ioQ, renowned nith the how, tKijfjoXog and eKartjfjoXog, far-
darting, yjpvaaopoQ, having a golden sword, apyvpoTo'ioQ, having a
silver-how, &c. all of which have reference to the rays of the sun,
which are shot as it were, like arrows from a bow. He is like-
wise emphatically called <J)0~i(3oq, quasi ^aog (3iov, denoting that he
is the light or principle of life.
Kpovoe, Saturn, is that period of time, or that eternity which
happened before the Creation of the world. There is no subject
whatever, except the nature of a spiritual essence, so incom-
prehensible as this KpovoQ, or Eternity. However, we may
endeavour to divest ourselves of external notions, and penetrate
into the deep profundities of metaphysical conceptions, all our
ideas, in their various relations, compositions, and analyzations,
must necessarily bear the stamp of material perceptions, because
they are derived from sensation, which is the grand, original
source of every species of intellectual knowledge. Now, we obtain
our notions of time from a succession of ideas, arising from a
succession of things or events affecting our external senses ; and
by a reference to certain fixed standards, we form the different
/'
xlv
conceptions ol' tlays, weeks, months, years, &c. and hence, the
idea of Time is properly speaking, the consciousness whicli wc
have in oitr minds of a separation or limitation between the oc-
currences of our thoughts, — or, it is the idea oi the absence of all
ideas; and in this sense, it is analogous to the void of empty
space, which can only be made a subject of consideration from
the absence of things, — that our external senses are not con-
tinually affected by external objects. This distance or separation
between our thoughts may be conceived as small as we please,
and enlarged as far as our imaginations can reach ; and this wide
extent or absence of all ideas of existence is the only notion we
can form of Eternity. Hence, since all our conceptions of dura-
tion have necessarily a reference to a termination in ideas of
material existence, and that the very definition of Eternity im-
plies a duration of boundless infinitude, and utterly unmeasurable
by the relations of natural phenomena, it follows that Eternity is
a thing to which it is altogether impossible for us to attach any
proper meaning. It is, therefore, not at all surprising that this
abstruse subject involved many of the ancient philosophers in
labyrinths of inextricable difficulties respecting the creation of the
world, and forced them to conjecture the eternity of matter, and
even the eternity of the forms or images of things by which the
Deity fabricated the Universe.^
1 . " The answer of a great man, to one who asked what Time
was. Si non rogas iulelUgo, (which amounts to this ; the more
I set myself to think of it, tlie less I understand it,) might perhaps
persuade one, that Time, which reveals all other things, is itself
not to be discovered. Durallon, Time, and Elcrnitij are not,
without reason, thought to have something very abstruse in their
nature. But however remote these may seem from our compre-
hension, yet if we trace them right to their originals, I doubt not
but
xlvi
Rhea, the wife of Saturn, denotes the eternal existence of in-
corporeal substance, v\r}v ap-)^r]Yoyoy, which was a doctrine of
the ancient Atomical Philosophy, even before the time of the
Atheistical Physiologists, Leucippus and Democritus. And Ju-
piter is said to be the offspring of Saturn and Rhea, signifying
that the Supreme God has existed from all eternity, and that he
is of an incorporeal essence ; though it does not appear that the
Pagan Theologists had any conception of the spirituality of his
nature. Indeed, it may be proved, without having recourse to
any metaphysical subtilty, that the notion of a spirit is a thing
absolutely incomprehensible to the human mind ; for there is no
faculty of the soul entirely distinct from material perceptions,
and, therefore, there is no medium by which we can derive an
idea of the positive properties of an immaterial Being. We are
taught by tlie records of inspiration, that '* God is a spirit," but
we can only learn from this some of the negative attributes of his
character, — that they bear not the slightest analogy to the quali-
ties of natural phenomena, which are subject to the investigations
of human reason.' The Fables of Mythology relate, that Saturn
devoured all his children as soon as they were born, till Rhea
gave birth to Jupiter, who dethroned his merciless Father, and
but one of those sources of all our knowledge, viz. sensation and
reflection, will be able to furnish us with these Ideas, as clear and
distinct as many other, which are thought much less obscure ; and
we shall find, that the Idea of Eternity itself is derived from the
same common original with the rest of our Ideas." Locke's Essay,
B. II. Chap. XIV. Sec. 2.
1 . Wlien Hiero, king of Syracuse, " asked the famous Simo-
nides his opinion with regard to the nature and attributes of the
Deity, the learned sage desired one day's time for consideration ;
the next day lie asked two, and went on increasing in the same
proportion. The prince pressing him to give his reasons for these
delays, he confessed that the subject was above his comprehension
and that the more he reflected, the more obscure it appeared to
him." liollin'.s /indent Ilisiory, B. vii. Chap. 2.
xlvii
usurped his dominions. This signifies that the existence of the
Deity is beyond the utmost extent of duration which it is possible
for the mind to conceive; but tliat the existence of all other
Beings, compared vvitli Eternity, is swallowed up as it were, like a
drop of water in the boundless infinitude of the ocean. It is
wonderful how these poetic fictions, which, at first sight, appear
in the highest degree absurd and ridiculous, are fraught with the
most momentous mysteries, and every where manifest that they
are only allegorical embellishments of traditions from a Divine
Revelation.
Uoaeicdv, Neptune, is the Divine power manifested in the
watery element, and more especially in the sea. By a poetical
metaphor it denotes tt}v vyporTjra evxpvxpv, the energetic elasticity
of the mind, as in </». 284 — 299. Because the sea was supposed
to be the cause of earthquakes, he was called aeiaL^dioy and
Evoaiyatog. And because the earth was thought to be surrounded
and engirt entirely by the sea, he was called yanjoxoQ and acrfaXiog.
It is said that he conspired against Jupiter, a. 400 ; which is
probably a fictitious allegory built upon some tradition respecting
the deluge, when the element of v/ater tlu-eatened, as it were, to
usurp the dominions of the upper air. He is represented as
harrassing the Greeks, t;. 445 — 4G4, signifying that they were at
that time distressed by storms and violent hurricanes blowing from
the sea; on the contrary, v. 17 — 19, he is said to assist the
Greeks, where the Poet metaphorically describes a storm, that
proved advantageous to his countrymen. He loosens the horses of
Jupiter, 6. 440 ; which signifies that the atmospheric air reaches as
far as the surface of the sea, and there terminates, or that a mass
of electric clouds gathers over the sea, and there discharges itself
in volleys of thunder and lightning. Laomedon is said to have
xlviii
hired Apollo and Neptune to build the walls of Troy, but tliat he
refused to reward the labours of the gods. This happened only
four generations before tlie time of Homer, so that it could not
be a thing of great obscurity how the walls were built ; we may
therefore feel assured, that the people of that age perfectly com-
prehended the meaning of the Poet, who only related in a poetical
style, that Laomedon, when he was building the walls of Ilium,
borrowed some pecuniary assistance from the temples of Neptune
and Apollo, which afterwards he never restored or refused to pay
an interest, according to his stipulated engagements. Vid. <j>.
435 — 4G9. A bull was sacrificed to Neptune, from the similarity
between the bellowing of that animal and the boisterous roar of
the sea, and from the winding curvature of the billows in the form
of the victim's horns ; but a lamb was sacrificed to him, because
moisture produces a fresh verdure over the earth, causing her as
it were, to grow young and tender like a lamb. Vid. Odyss. a. 25.
X. 129 — 130. He is called the father of Nausithous, because
that hero was skilled and successful in navigation, Odyss. 56 —
62. Coll. 35. But he is hostile to Ulysses, because that unfor-
tunate traveller endured great hardships by sea and land, Odyss.
X. 1 00 — 103 ; whilst again he is called the father of Polyphemus,
because that fictitious giant was probably a terrible pirate on the
coasts of Sicily, who derived great wealth from the sea. The
word rroaticibv signifies the moisture, or more literally, the drink
of the earth, from voaig, potto, and ^a, the earth. The Athenians
worshipped, with great devotion, lioaticwva tov AtrfaXewv, be-
cause they were so much devoted to Navigation. Aristoph.
Acharn. 682.
Aprjc, Mars, denoted war in general, but more especially a
furious impetuosity in the field of battle ; and hence the epithet
xlix
dovpoQ, impeluosus, is so often applied to him. He generally
favours the Trojans, signifying that these barbarians fought with
a blind and obstinate fury, whereas Minerva, a deliberate resolution
and courage, manifests the superior skill of the Greeks in military
tactics ; S. 439 ; c. 355, &c. He is wounded by Diomede,
£, 855, sqq. and raises the most hideous clamour, which signifies
that many of the boldest ranks of the Trojans were overthrown
by that hero ; and the flight of the wounded god to heaven, de-
notes a complete rout of his protegees, whilst the dust rose in
columns to the air. In the same manner Diomede wounds Venus,
as she is rescuing her son ^Eneas, e. 336 ; which signifies that,
whilst a band of effeminate youths, were endeavouring to preserve
^neas from destruction, Diomede scattered a terrible havoc
among them.
A'iSrfg, or 'A^jje, Hades, is the region of departed spirits ;
from a not, and eidio, to see ; because it is dark and gloomy;
others derive it from j/^w, to delight, signifying, by anliphrasis, a
place w T/^erat ovSetg, where no one is delighted; — in the same
manner as Xupojy, the old Stygian ferry-man, is deiived, by
anliphrasis, from x^'P^^j '^ rejoice. Hades, in the poetical alle-
gory is the same as Pluto, the god of the infernal world, and
who occupies the dominions of the third part of the Universe.
Maximus Tyrius observes, that Homer shared the government of
the world amongstatriumvirate of gods : Tpi)(Ba'Ofii}r)(o ^eSaarai ra
Travra, UoasiCuty ^i.v eXa^e ttoXuji' a\a vau/uey aui, 'Acijg ^' eXa^f
^ocpoy T]£poevra, Zevg ^' ovpavov. All things arc portioned out by
Homer in three divisions; — the hoary sea is allotted to Neptune,
the dark subterraneous regions are assigned to Pluto, and Jupiter
rules in heaven; and these three monarchal gods are sometimes
called respectively, the Marine, the Terrestrial, and the Celestial
1
Jupiter. But we have seen, however, that Homer and the
ancient Pagans in general acknowledged hut One Supreme Deity ;
so that these three divinities are only fictitious subdivisions of his
power, as it rules among the orders of super-human intelligences
in heaven, — directs the affairs of men upon earth, — and extends
its influence to the dark, mysterious regions of the dead in the
land of Hades.'
We have now considered some of the most prominent points
in the allegorical and physiological Mythology of Homer. The
same rule of interpretation will always hold, and we shall find
that, however wrapped up in the garb of poetic fiction, and
arrayed in metaphorical embellishments, the fables which are
scattered in such profusion over his works, may always be ex-
plained on the principles of Natural Science, or by a reference to
some historical tradition, which bears so strong a similarity or
analogy to the sacred records of inspiration, as evidently to prove,
that it was handed down from generation to generation, from the
primeval communication of knowledge to the parent source of
1 . Vid. Damm. Lexicon Homcricum. For a full explanation
of ancient Mythology, on the principle of pliysiological interpre-
tation, vid. Gale's Opuscula Mylliologka I'liysica ct Eth'ica, and
especially Phurnuti Librum de NaLura Dcorum ; in this collection
also an Investigation of the Life and Writings of Homer may be
seen. Those who wish to see the Mythology of the Greeks and
Romans treated of more at large, may consult Van Staveren's
Mijthogrnp/ii Lalini, and especially, Fulgentii Mythologicon.
Tliose wlio have a desire to trace the whole system of heathen
Tlieology into its original sources, may derive much satisfaction
from the learned and ingenious theories of Bryant in his Analysis
of A7icient Mythology, and frcjm the still more learned work of
the Abbe Banier, where the Mythology and Fables of the Ancients
are explained from history. Vid. etiam Paber on the Mysteries of
the C'abiri; Jamieson's JJisscrtotion on the Origin of the Greeks,
prefixed to his Hermes Scythicus; MaWct's Northern Antiquities;
Ouvaroff's Essay on the Elciisinian Mysteries; Bocatius on the
Genealogy of the gods ; Gyraldus De Deis Gentium, &c. Src.
li
mankind, as well as from the succeeding explications of Divine
mysteries that were made to the antidiluvian Patriarchs. Some
of the foregoing considerations may also enable us to conjecture
the reasons which induced Homer to represent his divinities as
beinsi at variance amid the conflicting interests of the Greeks and
Trojans, The immediate cause of the Trojan war was the rape
of Helen, which was an action in itself highly unjust and atrocious,
and especially such, when it was accompanied by a violation of
every principle of honour, friendship and hospitality. To vindi-
cate the equitable dealing of Providence, it was necessary that God
should inflict upon the guilty a punishment proportionable to his
crime. But as all the Trojans were not implicated in the guilt of
Parfs, and especially Hector appears to have been perfectly inno-
cent, and displeased at the conduct of his brother, it was evidently
unjust to involve the wliole nation at once in the same over-
whelming catastrophe. However, by their contempt to the
embassies of the Greeks, who demanded the restoration of the
princess before the commencement of hostilities, Priam and his
court of legislature subjected themselves to the wrath of heaven,
and thus brought upon themselves tlie tremendous horrors of
war. In this predicament therefore it is reasonable to suppose,
that the various claims of Justice, Mercy, and Truth, would
operate upon the superintending mind of the Deity, with such a
contrariety of impulses, that the system of Provid3nce would ap-
pear to stand for a time as it were in equUihrio. The angry voice
of Justice, which was represented under the character of Juno,
would continually cry for revenge, whilst Minerva, the effluence
of truth, would echo forth the sound, and appeal to the immuta-
bility of the Divine perfections. These attributes of God there-
fore would set all their terrors in array against the guilty Trojans,
Hi
and persecute them with unquenchable fury ; — whilst the
milder emanations of mercy and universal love would descend
in the beams of the sun, or distill in showers of blessings
witli the morning dew, or manifest the Divine forbearance
and willingness to pardon the contrite and humble spirit, by
summoning forth the wilder commotions and the more direful
horrors of nature — to arrest the arm of justice and stay the
progress of revenge. Here then we observe the harmony of the
Homeric Theology ; the sole design of the Poet seems to have
been to give a perfect delineation of the Divine Character, — to
embody the traditions of ancient days with the romantic effusions
of fancy, — to array every perfection of the Deiiy with the loftiest
sublimities of imagination, and to pourtray his functions and
relations towards the affairs of men, with the most exquisite
symmetry and order.' The whole texture of the Iliad and the
1. We have already noticed a few parallelisms in the Holy
Scriptures and the first Six Books of the Iliad. We shall now shew,
that the same train of thought pervades likewise t'le Odyssey.
God is the giver of all blessings, Qeoi, ^wrj/p£c eciioy. Od. d. 325.
Matt. vii. 11. St. James i. 17. Vid etiam Procl. in Platan. Theol.
cap. 17. Cic. Oral. j}ro Sext. Rose. Amerino. — He is the dispen-
ser of both good and evil, Zevc ayaQovTs kukovte Elco'i, Od. S. 237.
Job ii. 10. Eccles. vii. 14 ; coi pey irapa i:at kukw eadXoy edrjKe Zevg,
Od. o. 487. Vid. Pindar. Islh. V. GG. — He is the protector of the
poor, the siippUani and the stranger, Upog yap Aloq eicnv InravreQ,
'i,tivoi r£ TTTioyoL, &c. Od. C- 208. ^. 58. Prov. xix. 17 ; Zevq B'
C7nriiJr]T(jjp iKeruLJV re, ^eivujy re, ieivioQ, &c. Od. i. 270. Dent, x.
18, 19; Ps. cxlvi. d ; Hob. xiii. 2. etcel ^eivovg ou^ ui^eo a<o evt
oiKi,), — TO) at Zevc TiuuTt), Od. t. 479. Exod. xxii. 21. sqq. Urco^ioy
ye 0£O£ (Cat epiyyveg tirjiv, Od. p. Alb ; Psal. xii. 5. and Ixix. 33;
V.ivr (T0£ac TifTdiTO 'u:tTi~>(nor, uc re i:ai aWovg civOpoJTrovc ecpopu, See.
Od. V. 213. vid. Apollon. Argon. III. 985. He knows and beholds
all things, Qeoi Be re iravra laaaiv, Od. o. 379; Job xxi. 17;
Hob. iv. 17; O yap r' tv oicev aTravru, fJo7pa}' t af.ifxopii]y te
KuradyrfTWV ayOpioirwy, Od. v. 7o; Psal. cxxxix. 1. sqq. Jfe
jmnishcs the nicked; i:ui rtyvrai oarir afxaprrj, Od. v. 214; Psal.
X. 14. He abominates evil deeds; ov pey ayErXia Epya Qeoi fxa-
KOpEC
Hi
111
Odyssey is interwoven with attestations of the most unhesitating
belief in the existence of a God, — and interspersed with aspirations
of the profoundest reverence towards his character as the Su-
preme Disposer of the Universe ; the whole machinery of moral
actions winds round its forces in their infinite involutions and
complications under the sole guidance of his unerring wisdom; —
the most rigorous regard towards the conduct of moral agents,
who were endowed with freedom of volition, and capabilities of
discerning the limits between right and wrong, is a conclusive evi-
dence that the Poet attributed to his Divinity the principles of the
strictest rectitude and justice, — whilst patience and long-suffering
KapiQ cpiXeovenv, but loves rectitude and justice, — aXXa Siktiv riovai,
nai aLOijxa epy* m'dpwirwi', Od. s. 83 ; Psal. v. 5 — 6, and xxxiii.
5, and xlv, 7. He humbles one and exalts another; prficiov Se
deo'icri, Toi ovpavov tvpvv eypvcriv, r^iEv icvcTjvai, Qvr^TOV fipoTov, tjoe
KaKwaai, Od. tt. 212; 1 Sam. ii. 7; 2 Chron. xxv. 8; Psal. Ixxv.
7; Luke i. 52. His counsel is inscrutable; XoXettov ite Oeuiv
auiyeverawy crjyea eipvcrdai, Od. v^. 81; Sap. Solom. ix. 13;
Rom. ii. 33 — 34 ; infallible, aXXa yitaX' outtwc tori Atoe yooy
aiyioyoio, ovre irape^ eXOcIv aWov Oeou, ovd' aXiwffai, Od. £. lOi;
Job xxiii. 13; Prov. xix. 21. The punishment of the wicked
proves the existence of a God, 'Lev irarEp, fj pa et ectte Qeui Kara
fiaKpov OXv^tTTOV, £t ETEOV fivrjaTripEc araadaXoi vftpiv ETicray, Od.
w. 350; Psal. ix. 16. Ita apud Eurip. Supp. 731 — 3: vvy, rrjyo'
aEXiTToy i\fXEpav idovg' Eyu), Qeovq yof.LiCio, kul cokw raq av/jcpopac:
c^etv eXao-ffoj', rCjyh naavTwy hKrjy. Sic etiam apud Livium, III.
.56 ; pro se quisque, Deos tandem esse, et non negligere humana,
fremunt. Vid. eundem, VIII. 6, et Lucan. Pharsal. VII. 445; —
though it is difficult to behold him, rig ay Geov oufc EdEXoy-a o(pOaX-
ixo'iaiy i^oiT, t] £yd\ t) Evda Kioyra, Od. t:. 573; Isa. xlv. 15;
St. John, i. 18; 1 John, iv. 12; 1 Tim. vi. ] G. j\Icn impioushj
represent him as the author oj evil, SI ttottoi, oloy crj yv Oeovg f3po-
Toi aiTiowyrai, El, fj^Ewy yap (patTL KaK' E^pEynt, — though they are
themselves the cause of their own misery, 6i ce Kai avrot (T(l)i](Tty
aTatrdaXitjffiv vivEp fjiopoy aXye' E')(ovcrty, Od. a. 32 — 33 ; Lament,
iii. 33. 39 ; Ezek. xviii. 24 — 25. A vast number of other passages
might be gathered both from Homer and other Authors of anti-
quity, which breathe a faithful echo to the sacred voice of the
Volume of Inspiration.
liv
towards a stubborn perseverance in the accumulation of guilt, and
continual demonstrations of tenderness and compassion in scenes
of wretchedness and misery, are an indubitable proof that the
God of Homer delighted in the acts of love — in distilling the
balm of consolation into the wounds of afflicted sorrow, and in
diffusing blessings over the world, in rich profusions like the
evening dew, till happiness exulted in her full luxuriance, like the
enchanting scenery of Paradise, or the flush of nature in the
vernal bloom !
THE
ILIAD OF HOMER.
BOOK I.
THE ARGUMENT.
Alexander, son of Priam, coming to Sparta, is hospitably enter-
tained by king Menelaus ; but carrying away Helen, he departs
for Troy. The Greeks being informed of this, send as am-
bassadors to Priam, Menelaus, Ulysses, Diomede, and Acamas,
the son of Theseus. These having been in danger of being
destroyed by the Trojans, are safely dismissed from Troy by
their host Antenor; and on their return, report to the Greeks
the event of their embassy. After this, Agamemnon gathering
together all the tribes of the Greeks, carries war into the ter-
ritory of Ilium: the siege of that place having lasted nine
years, a furious quarrel breaks out between Agamemnon and
Achilles in the tenth year, with which the action of the Poem
opens. The quarrel arose in this manner: — the Greeks, in
plundering some of the neighbouring towns, take two beautiful
captives, Chryseis and Briseis, the lirst of whom is allotted to
Agamemnon, and the last to Achilles. Chryses, father of
Chryseis and priest of Apollo, comes to the camp of the Greeks
to ransom his daughter, but he is refused and insolently dis-
missed by Agamemnon, for which he imprecates ventreance
from his god. The Greeks are punished by a terrible pesti-
lence sent among them, which rages incessantly for nine days,
after which Achilles calls an assembly, and encourages Chalcas
to declare the cause of it, who attributes it to the anger of
Apollo for the refusal of Chryseis. Agamemnon is compelled
to send back his captive, but imperiously demands Briseis.
Achilles resigns her, and carries his complaints to his mother
Thetis, who undertakes to plead his cause with Jupiter. She
supplicates for revenge upon the Greeks by giving victory to
the Trojans. Ihe book closes with a debate between Jupiter
and Juno, who are reconciled by the address of Vulcan.
The time of two and twenty days is taken u]) in this Book; nine
during the plague, one in the council and quarrel of the princes,
and twelve for Jupiter's stay with the Ethiopians. The scene
lies in the Grecian camp, then changes to Chrysa, and lastly
to Olympus.
Sing, O Goddess, the pernicious wrath of Achilles, son
of Peleus, which caused numberless afflictions to the Greeks,
and sent, before their time, to the land of Hades many
g-allant souls of heroes, and made themselves a prey to
dogs and to all the fowls of heaven, (for thus the design of
5 Jove was accomplished) from the time when Atreides,
king of men, and the godlike Achilles first stood apart in
contention.
Which of the Gods then impelled them to the contest
that they should fight *? It was the son of Jupiter and
Latona; for, being indignant with the king, he excited a
10 destructive disease throughout the army, and the people
perished; because Atreides had dishonoured Chryses the
priest. For he came to the swift ships of the Greeks, with
a view to ransom his daughter, bringing invaluable gifts of
redemption, and bearing in his hands, upon a golden
15 sceptre, the garlands of the far-darting Apollo. And he
supplicated all the Greeks, but especially the sons of Atreus,
the two leaders of the people :
" Ye sons of Atreus, and ye other well-booted Greeks,
may the gods inhabiting the Olympic mansions grant that
Vers. 1 . Hri\ri'iac£ii) is Ionic for TJtjXeicov, from the patro-
nymic U.j]\eicrie, from IlTjXEiie. The general rule for the formation
of 7na/e patronymics, is, to change the final syllable of the genitive
of the father's name into if r/r, or if the penult, be long, into ta^jjc,
as Arpevc, eoc, Arpttt/jc, TtXa/xwi', wvoc, TtXa^wviacTje ; but from
nouns in oq the Ionic dialect forms the patronymic in itav, as
Kpovor, ov, Kpovib)v. The feminine patronymics are formed
either from the masculines by eliding cr/, and end in ac, or te, as
'HXtaCrjg, HXiac, Nfffroptfjjr, Ntoroptc; or, from the primitives by
changing the termination into rj'ig, ivrj, wvr], as Bpio-j/c, Bpto-jjVc,
Acpaarog, Acpairriyri, lleTitoy, HeTuoyr], &c.
3. Aici from A<c, toe, the abode, or state of departed spirits;
the land of shades. See Damm's Lexicon.
13. The daughter of Chryses is by some called Astynome ;
she was taken captive at Thebes, a town belonging to the Trojans.
Vid. Trollope in loco.
ye may destroy the city of Priam, and return home with
success. But liberate to me mv beloved daughter and 20
receive the gifts of redemption, reverencing the far-darting
Apollo, the son of Jove."
Then all the other Greeks assented both to reverence
the priest and to receive the splendid gifts of redemption;
but it did not please the mind of Agamemnon, the son of
Atreus; and h^ sent him away with disgrace and added
this threatening speech: 25
" Be on thy guard, old man, that I find thee not either
now loitering among the hollow ships, or again returning,
lest the sceptre and the garland of the god avail thee not.
For her I will not set at liberty till old age come upon
her, working at the loom and sharing my bed in my house
at Argos, far from her paternal land. But begone and 30
provoke me not, whilst thou mayst yet depart in safety."
Thus he spoke, and the old man feared, and obeyed
the order. He walked in silence along the shore of the
loud-resounding sea, and having wandered apart by him-
self, the old man then poured forth many supplications to 35
king Apollo, whom the fiiir-haired Latona bore :
"Hear me, thou silver bow-boaring Apollo, thou who
defendest Chrysa and the glorious Cilia, and bravely
rulest over Tenedos; if ever I have adorned thv beautiful
20. \vaai, ^EyEtrQai, infinitives for imperatives, where some
other verb, as fiEf^n'ijcro, or 0£\£, is understood. So again in
V. 26. some verb, as opa, or cpvXaaaov is to be supjilicd.
28. XpaitTfitiy, properly to avert an evil, constructed with
an accusative of tlie thing, and a dative of the person.
31. apTio(0(ray, Poetice for avriuxrar, from avnaoj. So K.a-
prjKo^owvrec for Kapr]KOf.i<LvTeQ, from ^:apl]^:ofia^^J.
37. Chrysa was situated on the sea-coast near Adraniyttium,
in the territory of Eetion king of Asiatic Thebes. Vid. Trollope
in loco.
S8. ^aderjv, very divi7ie, from the ^Eolic particle ^a and QtoQ,
Deus.
40 temple with a crown ; if ever I have consumed in honour
of thee, the fat thighs of bulls and of goats, accomplish
this prayer to me. May the Greeks give satisfaction by thy
darts, for my tears."
Thus he spoke in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard
him. And he descended from the summits of Olympus,
enraged in his mind, bearing on his shoulders, his bow,
45 and his quiver covered on every side. And as he moved
in anger, the arrows clattered on his shoulders, and he
marched on-wards like night. Then he sat down apart
from the ships, and sent forth an arrow, and the clang of
the splendid bow was terrible. At first he attacked the
50 mules and the swift dog-s, but afterwards discharffino" a
deadly arrow at the meji themselves, he struck them; and
the numerous funeral piles of the dead were continually
burning. Nine days did the arrows of the god pass
through the army; but on the tenth, Achilles called the
people to an assembly, for the white-armed goddess Juno
55 had put this resolution in his mind; for she was in anxiety
for the Greeks, because she beheld them perishing. And
when they were collected together and were in assembly,
the swift-footed Achilles rising up among them, thus spoke:
" Atreides, I imagine that we should commence our
60 wanderings again, and retreat back, if only we might
escape death; since war and the pestilence at once oppress
the Greeks. But come, let us consult some prophet or
priest, or even interpreter of dreams, (for a dream is also
from Jupiter,) who may say for what cause is Phoebus
65 Apollo so much enraged with us; — whether he blames
us for the neglect of paymy some vow or hecatomb;
59. IlaXt/iTrXayj^Qtvrac, wandering hade, from ttoXiv and
TrXa^oj, vagarifacio. HaXtj' in Homer is always applied to place
and not to thne. It is the opposite of vpoao), furwards. Vid.
Damm. Lex. in verbo. «/i/i£, Dor. for J/y^iac; so a///xt, v/x/ii, for
hlJ'l-V, VfJ.IV.
and whether, having- obtained i'vom us the fat of lambs and
of chosen goats, he will avert from us the [)estilence."
When he had thus spoken he sat down; then arose
CalcIuLs, the son of Thestor, who was by far the chief of
the Augurs, who knew both the present, the future, and 70
the past, and who guided the ships of the Greeks as far as
Troy, by means of that art of prophecy which PluEbus
Apollo bestowed upon him, who, with a benevolent dispo-
sition addresed them, and thus spoke:
"O Achilles, beloved of Jupiter, thou charg-est me to
declare the cause of the anger of Apollo, the far-darting- 75
king. Wherefore I will explain it; but do you agree, and
swear to me, that you will readily protect me, both by
word and deed. P^or I suspect that man will be irritated,
who rules with g-reat sway over all the Argives, and whom
the Greeks obey. For a king- is more powerful when he 80
is angry with a man of lower rank; for though he may
restrain his passion the present day, still he retains his
anger in his breast, till at a future period, he may carry it
to execution: but say if you will defend me?"
Him the swift footed Achilles, answered, and spoke:
"Declare, with full confidence, the prophecy, whatsoever 85
thou knowest. For, by Apollo, beloved of Jove, to whom
ottering prayers, O Calchas, thou declarest his counsels to
the Greeks, — no one of all the Greeks, while 1 live, and
behold upon the earth, shall lay his heavy hands upon thee,
at the hollow ships; — no, not even if thou wert to mention 90
Agamemnon, who now boasts that he is by far the most
powerful man in the army."
Then the excellent prophet took courage, and spoke:
"He blames us neither for the neglect of a vow, nor of a
75. EKarrilDeXeTao , far-darting, ^olic for tkrarTj/StXerov, from
tKagJar, and liaWtif to tlirow, an epithet applied to the sun.
81. ypXov KciTaireTTTeiy is metaphorically applied to the
affection of the mind ; literally, to digest the bile.
hecatomb, but on account of liis Priest, vvliora Agamemnon
95 luis dishonoured, whose daughter he has not set at liberty,
nor has he accepted the gifts of redemption. For this
reason hath the far-darting Apollo sent afflictions among'
us, and will yet send them; neither will he withdraw his
heavy hands from harassing us with the pestilence, till
Agamemnon restores the black-eyed maid, unpurchased,
unredeemed, to her beloved father; and lead a sacred heca-
100 tomb to Chrysa; then, we may perhaps, appease and bend
him with our prayers."
Having thus spoken he sat down. Then arose among
them, with a troubled mind, the hero, the son of Atreus,
the wide-rulingr Agamemnon; his soul suffused with black-
est bile, was greatly filled with anger, and his eyes were
105 like flaming fire. Having cast a stern look upon Calchas,
he thus addressed him:
" Prophet of evil, never hast thou said what was agreeable
to me, but it is always a pleasure to thy soul to forbode
misfortunes; and never yet hast thou uttered a favourable
prediction, nor brought it to its accomplishment. And
110 now, pronouncing the counsel of the gods; thou declarest
among the Greeks, that the far-darting Apollo sends af-
flictions upon them on this account, because I was unwilling
to accept the splendid gifts of redemption for the damsel,
the daughter of Chryses, since I am far more desirous to
have her at home; for I prefer her even to my wife Civ-
il 5 temnestra herself, whom I married when a virgin; since
98. tXiK-wTTic, according to Heyne signifies, having rolling
eyes, from tXiaau), to roll, and w^*? o« eye. Eustadiius also derives
the word from iXiaacj^ to roll, but he says, it is an epithet applied
to those who are a^toQtaroi, — cat rove fpaarag K^eKKOfxtvai.
Hence it should be rendered, attractive, beautiful. But the
Scholiast derives it from tXiKoc, hlack, which is also the root of
kXiKoftXecpapoQ, having black eyelids, used by Pindar. Vid. Troliope
in loco.
she is not inferior to her, eitlier in the comeliness of her
person and stature, or in her meritul endowments or
accomplishments. Yet even thus I am willing to restore
her, if this is better; for I wish my people to live rather
than to perish. But immediately propose a reward for me,
that I alone of the Argives may not be unrewarded; since
that would be unbecoming. For ye all perceive this, that 120
my prize g-oeth elsewhere."
Him, then, the godlike swift-footed Achilles answered:
"Most glorious Atrides, most avaricious of all, how shall
the magnanimous Greeks bestow a reward upon thee?
Nor do we know of many common stores laid up. But
those things which we have plundered from the cities have 1*25
been divided, and it would not become the people to col-
lect and bring them together again. But do thou now give
her up to the god, and we Greeks will requite thee, three
or four-fold, if ever Jupiter will permit us to spoil the
w ell-fortified city of Troy."
Him the kinsT Aofamemnon addressed in answer: 130
"Brave as thou art, thou godlike Achilles, do not thus
attempt to cheat in thy mind, since thou shalt not overreach
me, nor wilt thou persuade me. Is it thy wish that thou
shouldest have a reward thyself, but that 1 should thus sit
down destitute of one ? And dost thou bid me to restore
her? If indeed, the magnanimous Greeks, giving satisfac- 135
lion to my mind, will bestow a reward that may be of
equal value, it is well. But if perchance they will not
bestow it, then I myself will go and seize either thy prize
or that of Ajax, or forcibly taking that of Ulysses, 1 will
118. Tepng, a rervard set apart for an elder, from yepioy,
senex.
l'2'l'. Idfiev, for layitv, by syncope for Krajjey, from kttj^i.
130. Kpeiwv, lonic^ for cpewv, from Kp£(o, impero, derived from
tcapa, a head, or chief, which is also the root of the English word,
garret.
8
»
bear it awav; and he, against whom I may come, will
140 possibly be moved to anger. But on these subjects we
shall hereafter consult; but now, come, let us launch a
black ship into the vast ocean; and let us collect a suffici-
ent number of rowers, embark a hecatomb, and put the
fair-cheeked daughter of Clnyses on board; and let there
145 be one commander chosen out of the chiefs, either Ajax, or
Idomeneus, or the godlike Ulysses; or thyself, O son of
Pelcus, thou most terrible of all men, that by offering a
sacrifice thou mayest reconcile to us the far-darting
Apol/o."
But him the swift-footed Achilles, with a stem look,
loO addressed: "Ah me! thou, clothed with impudence, thou
most crafty of men, when does any of the Greeks obey with
alacrity thy commands, either to undertake an expedition,
or bravely to fight with men? I came not here to fight on
account of the warlike Trojans; since they are in no way
blameable before me; for they never drove away my cattle,
155 or my horses, nor have they ever injured the crops in the
fertile populous Phthia; because very many shadowy
mountains and resounding seas lie between us. But thee,
most impudent man, did v/e follow, that thou mightest
rejoice; seeking honour to Menelaus and to thee, thou
IGO dog-face, from the Trojans. Which favours thou dost
neither respect nor regard of any value. And, indeed, thou
threatenest to deprive me of my reward, for which I have
endured many labours, and which the sons of the Greeks
146. The adjective EKTrayXoc, by metathesis, for eKTzXayoc,
from Ek-TrXrjo-orw, is explained in Hesychius by duviAaaToraroc, most
rvonderful, and in tlie Etym. Mag. by (pol3epioTaTOQ, most fearful.
Vid. 'J'roUope in loco.
149. KipcaXtofpov, dolose, vel lucristudiose, from wp^aXfoc,
lucrosus et ^jjv, mens, or from Kspcw, vulpes, Xttov, leo, et <ppr}v,
mens. So that it may signify, a man pursuing his own interest
with the cunning of a fox and the resolution of a lion.
have given ine. 1 never receive u reward equal to thine,
when the Greeks lav waste a well-inhahiteil town of the 165
Trojans, although my hands perform the chief part of
impetuous war; but if ever a division takes place, to thee
is given the greatest prize by far, while 1 return to the
fleet, when I am worn down with fatis^ue in fio-htinir,
having a fj^jU small indeed, but still agreeable to me.
But now I go to Phthia, since it is much better to return 170
home with our curve-beaked ships; nor do I imagine,
while 1 am here disgraced, that thou wilt hoard up wealth
and riches."
To him, then, Agamemnon, king of men replied:
"Begone by all means, if thy mind thus incites thee; nor
do I entreat thee to remain on my account; there are
others also with me, who will possibly honour me, and
especially counselling Jove. But tliou art the most odious 17-3
to me, of princes nourished by .Jupiter, for contention is
always agreeable to thee, and wars and battles. If thou
dost' possess great [)rowess, 'tis surely God that gave
it to thee. Having returned home with thy ships and thy
companions, rule over the Myrmidons; for 1 neither regard 180
thee, nor care for thee when angry; but this threat will
I pronounce to thee, — since Phcebus Apollo deprives
me of the daughter of Chryses, whom 1 will send
with my own ship and my own companions, — I also will
170. Kopojvit;, an epithet of a ship, because it was curved at
both the stern and the prow. Eustathius : a-rro tov ^u)ov ti]c
Kop(i)vr]c, evKvyiarov t^ov(T)]Q tov rpa^rfKov, from the crow, nhicli
has a curved neck. Some render the word, black, from the colour
of the crow ; but Damm : praestat cum antiqiiis dicere, KopmicaQ
vijag, esse, rag, ra afXafrra ra Kara Trpwpay i:ai Trpvfiytjr, aia ei'
Xvyifffiw ETTiKa^TTOf^eva, e^ovffUQ. Oxen were also called ^:opwylC£c,
from their having curved horns, as in Theocr. Idyll. XXV. 151.
em jjovai KopwvKji ftovKoXoi ; and generally any curved extremity
or any end of a thing, from whence the expression, £7rt0£i»'at ko-
puri^a, Ji7iire rem, to finish a thing.
6
10
repair to thy tent and take away thy prize, the fair-cheeked
185 dauo'hter of Brises, that thou mavst well know how much
more powerful than thou, J am, and that another may
dread to declare himself my equal, and to be compared
in opposition to me."
Thus he spoke, and pain seized the son of Peleus, and
his heart within his furious breast deliberated between two
190 ways ; whether, having snatched the sharp sword from his
thigh, he should disperse those around him, and put
Atrides to death ; or, whether he should calm his wrath
and assuage his fury. Whilst he was agitating these things
in his mind and soul, and drawing the great sword from
195 the scabbard, Minerva came from heaven ; for the white-
armed goddess Juno had sent her forth, bearing in her
soul an equal affection and regard for them both. She
stood behind them and took hold of the son of Peleus, by
the yellow hair visible to him alone, and no one of the rest
200 beheld her. But Achilles was frightened, turned round,
and immediately recognized Pallas Minerva, whose eyes
appeared terrible. And addressing her, he uttered these
winged words :
" Why, offspring of the aegis-bearing Jove, hast thou
184. Briseis is the patronymic o£ Hippodamia, daughter of
Brises. Eustathius mentions an ancient tradition, that Bryses
and Chryses were brothers, sons of Ardys ; and consequently
Briseis and Chryseis must have been cousins. Vid. Trollope, in loco.
200. (paavdev for efavdrjffav, from (paivu), luceo, taken in an
intransitive sense.
202. aiyiQ, the shield of Jupiter, Apollo and Minerva. But
physically, by tfie cegis of Jupiter are understood, the clouds
that gather in the air during a storm of thunder and lightning.
By the cegis of Apollo are imderstood, the vapours which the sun
attracts in the season of summer, and from which the clouds of
thunder storms arise. The word is derived from aiaau), ai^io, im-
petu moneo impeluose spiro. Aiyir is also the name of a mountain
and promontory near Lesbos, from whence the Mgean sea derives
its
11
come hither? Is it that thou mayest behold tlie insolence
of Agamemnon, the son of Atreus? But I will declare
to thee, what I think will also be accomplished, that he 205
may soon perhaps lose his life by his own hau<^litiness."
But to him in return the blue-eyed goddess JMinerva
spoke : " I am come from heaven to cause thine anger to
cease, if perchance thou shoiddest obey me ; and the
white-armed goddess Juno sent me forth, as she has an
equal affection and regard for you both in her soul. But, 210
come, cease from contention, nor draw the sword with tiiy
hand. But nevertheless, reproach him in words, as it may
happen ; for thus I will declare what shall also be accom-
plished, — that on account of this insolence, three times as
many splendid gifts shall be thine; but do thou restrain
thyself and be obedient to me."
But her in reply the sw ift-footed Achilles addressed : 215
" It behoves me, O goddess, to observe thy command,
although greatly enraged in my soul ; for thus it is better.
Whosoever is obedient to the gods, to him they readily
listen."
He said, and pressed his heavy hand upon the silver
hilt, and thrust the great sword back into the scabbard, nor 220
was he disobedient to the command of Minerva ; but she
ascended to the Olympus, to the mansions of the a'gis-
bearing Jove, to the other gods. But the son of Peleus
again addressed Atreides with reproachful words, nor de-
sisted yet from his anger :
"Thou drunkard, who hast the eyes of a dog, but the 225
heart of a stag, thou hast never had the courage in thy
its name. Vid. Damm. Lex. in verba. Eustatliius refers the de-
rivation of the epithet aiyioxoQ to a tradition, that Jupiter was
nursed by a goat, the skin of which he ever afterwards preserved
as a memorial stretched upon a shield, wliich was thence called
atyig.
12
mind either to arm thyself to war with the people, or to g-o
into an ambuscade with the chiefs of the Greeks ; for this
appears to thee to be death. Truly it is much better, amid
230 the extensive army of the Greeks, to deprive him of his
rewards, whoever shall speak in opposition to thee. O
king-, the devourer of thy people, since thou rulest over
worthless men, — otherwise, thou son of Atreus, thou shouldst
now have been insolent for the last time. But I will tell
235 thee, and besides I will swear a mighty oath by this sceptre,
which will nevermore bear leaves and branches, nor bloom
ag-ain, since the time it left its trunk among- the mountains;
for the axe hath stripped from about it the leaves and bark ;
but now the sons of the Greeks, who are judg-es, and who
preserve the laws delivered by Jupiter, bear it in their
240 hands ; and this will be a great oath to thee, — of a truth, a
desire for Achilles will at some time come upon all ih^ sons
of the Greeks ; and them, though grieved, thou wilt be unable
to assist, when many fall dead bv the hand of Hector, the
slayer of men. Then thou shall inwardly tear thy soul in
rage, because thou didst not honour the most valiant of the
Greeks."
245 Thus spoke the son of Peleus ; and he cast upon the
earth his sceptre, adorned with golden studs, and sat down.
On the other hand, Atreides was raving with anger; but to
them the sweet-speaking Nestor, tlie shrill orator of the Py-
lians, arose, from whose tongue there flowed a speech sweeter
250 than honey. Over him there had already passed two gene-
rations of articulate-speaking men, who, in former days
were brought up and lived with him in delightful Pylus,
and now he ruled among the third. He with a prudent
soul harangued them, and said :
"O heavens! great sorrow surely comes upon the Grecian
255 land;— surely Priam would rejoice, and the sons of Priam,
and the other Trojans would be vastly delighted in their
13
souU, if tliey heard all this respecting you contending, you,
who excel the Greeks in council, and in fight. But be
persuaded ; for you are both younger than 1. Already, in
my former days, 1 have associated with men more valiant 2G0
even tiian you, and they, at all events, never undervalued
me. Never have I seen, nor shall I see such heroes as
Pirithous, and Dryas, shepherd of his people, and Ca^neus,
and Exadius, and the god-like Polyphemus, and Theseus, the
son of yEgeus, who resembled the immortals. Trulv, these '265
were brougiit up the bravest of terrestrial heroes, they were
the bravest, and fought with the bravest, even w ith the Cen-
taurs who dw elt amid the mountains, and terribly slew them.
With them I associated, having come from Pylus, far from 270
the Apian land ; for they invited me, and 1 fought to the
utmost of my power; but none of those, who are now
terrestrial men, could have fought with them. Nevertheless,
they hearkened to my counsels and obeyed mv words.
But be you also persuaded, since to be persuaded is better ;
neither do you, Affamemnoii, though powerful as you are, 275
deprive him of the maid, but forbear, as the sons of the
Greeks first gave her as a reward to him ; nor do thou, son
of Peleus, seek to strive in opposition to the king; since
no sceptre-bearing king, to whom Jupiter hath given glory,
ever equalled him in honour. If thou art more valiant,
a goddess-mother gave thee birth ; still he is more power- oqq
ful, since he rules over more. Son of Atreus, assuage thy
wrath; but I will intreat Achilles, who is to all the
2C8. (pTjpcTiy, Police for dijpaiv, in the same manner as (pXCiv
is used for tiXdv. The word is generally rendered ' Centaurs,'
who are supposed to be die ancient inhabitants of Tliessaly, so
called OTTO tov Ktvrtly tovq ravpovg, from their pursuing on horse-
back a herd of wild bulls and destroying them with their javelins.
270. The Ap'tan land, — so called from Apis, who rendered
the Peloponnesus tirst habitable.
282. Is generally rendered as above; but there is some
difficulty with regard to the verb Xiaoro/xai, which governs only
an
14
Greeks a mighty bulwark against evil war, to lay aside his
rage."
285 But him Agamemnon addresed in reply : " Truly, old
man, thou hast said all this in a manner becoming thee.
But this man seeks to be superior to all ; he wishes to rule
and domineer over all, and that he may have to give the
signal of command, to all, which I do not imagine he will
290 persuade. And if the everlasting gods have made him a
warrior, do they, on this account, permit that he should be
reproachful in his language ?"
But him, interrupting his speech, the godlike Achilles
answered : " I may indeed be called a coward and a man
of no esteem, if J shall yield to thee in every thing whatever
295 thou shouldest say. Give these orders to others indeed, for
thou shalt not command me, as I imagine I will no longer
obev thee. And 1 will tell thee another thing, and do thou
lay it to thy consideration, — I will not fight, indeed, on
account of the damsel, either with thee or with any other, since
300 ye are taking away' what you gave me. But of the other
effects, which I possess at my swift black ship, — of these not
a tittle shalt thou remove and bear away against my will.
But come now, make the trial, that these also may know ;
soon shall thv black blood flow around my spear."
305 Having thus contended with disputatious words, they
arose and dismissed the assembly at the ships of the Greeks.
an accusative case, and therefore A'^^iKkyjl cannpt depend on it.
Mr. TroUope renders it thus : Do thou, Alreides, repress your
rage ; and then J entreat you, to give up your anger against
Achilles. Vid. Person on Orest. G63.
284. tpKOQ, properly, a fence, a court-yard, and hence, a
hulnarlc, ai)i)!itd to persons.
300. v»jac £V(T«c, liter;illy, equal ships. The adjective i'laoQ
(poctice for laoq) is applied by Homer to four substantives, caiQ,
vavc, offTTtc, and (pprjy. So cairoc eitrrjc is used, A. 468, to denote
tliat each received an equal portion of dainties ; vrjag iiaac is
equivalent to v7/ac laoitXivpovQ, ships having equal sides, denoting
that
15
The sonofPeleus went to li is tents and well-built ships,
aionty with the son of Men(jetius and his companions. But
Atreides launched a swift shi|) to the sea, and chose twenty
rowers, and embarked a hecatomb for the jrod. Leadino-
her up, he placed the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses on 310
board, and the wise Ulysses went as pilot. Having em-
barked, they sailed along the watery paths. And Aga-
memnon commanded the people to be purified ; and they
were purified and cast the ablutions into the sea. And, by
the shore of the unfruitful sea, they sacrificed to Apollo, 315
perfect hecatombs of bulls and of goats; and the odour
intermingled with the smoke ascended uj) to heaven.
Thus they were employing themselves throughout the
army; nor did Agamemnon cease from the contention
with which he first threatened Achilles. But Talthvbius 320
and Eurybates, who were his heralds and zealous attendants,
he thus addressed :
" Go to the tent of Achilles, the son of Peleus, and
taking hold of her by the hand, lead away the fair-cheeked
Briseis; and if possibly he will not resign her, I will come
with greater numbers and seize her myself; and this will 325
even be more bitter for him."
" So saying, he sent them forth, and added a threatening
message. And they went against their will along the shore
of the barren sea, till they arrived at the tents and ships of
the Myrmidons; and him they found sittino- by his tent
and black ship ; nor was Achilles rejoiced when he saw 330
them. Fearing; and reverencino- the kino;, they stood, nor
that they were perfecdy round ; iiaaQ is applied to (ppevug, X. 336,
to denote an intellijrent and upright mind, heing an epithet
derived metaphorically from the beauty of external shape.
Some derive eiaag from eib), to go, so that vijac iiaac would be
equivalent to vriaq tropevriKag, which miglit apply here but not in
other cases. Vid. Damm. Lex. in verba.
16
did they address him, nor speak a word. But he knew
their business in his mind, and said :
" Hail, ye heralds, messong-ers of Jove and of men ;
liSo approach, for by me ye are not to be blamed, but Aga-
memnon, who has sent you for the damsel Briseis. But go,
generous Patroclus, bring forth the maid, and give her to
them that they may lead her away ; and let them be wit-
nesses before the happy gods and mortal men, and before
340 the relentless king. But if ever, hereafter, there shall be
need of me to ward off destructive pestilence from the
rest — , for he surely raves with pernicious counsels, nor does
he by any means possess the power of surveying at once the
future and the past, in what manner the Greeks mav fight
for him in safety by their ships."
345 Thus he spoke. And Patroclus obeyed his beloved
companion, and brought the fair-cheeked daughter of
Brises from the tent, and gave her to them to lead away; and
they returned to the ships of the Greeks. But unwillingly
did the woman go along with them, whilst Achilles,
350 removed apart from his companions, s.at down on the shore
of the foaming sea, weeping, and gazing upon the black
ocean. And many supplications he uttered, with uplifted
hands, to his beloved mother :
" Since, O mother, thou hast borne me doomed to a
short existence, surely the loud-thundering Olympic Jove
ought to have bestowed tipon me honour; but now he
355 hath not honoured me, even in the smallest degree ; for,
truly, the wide-ruling Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, has
334. 1 he Krjpviuc were considered sacred, as being de-
scended from Mercury, their name, according to the Scholiast,
was derived from Kr/pv^, son of Mercury and Pandrosus, daughter
of Cecrops. Hence Enrip. Suppl. 120. K-qpv^iv 'Y^pjjov.
34 1 . There is an aposiopes'is lierc. Heyne supplies the
sense thus : turn .sentiet ille quam et <:ui injuriam hancfecerit.
17
treated me with ignominy, since having himself taken and
carried it away, he possesses my reward."
Thus he spake in tears. But his venerable mother
heard him, as she sat beside her aged father in the depths
of the ocean. And swiftly, like a cloud, she rose from the 3G0
hoary sea. And she seated herself before him, as he wept,
soothed him with her hand, addressed herself to him, and
called him by his name :
" Why weepest thou, my son, and what sorrow is come
upon thy mind ? Declare it, nor hide it in thy soul, that we
both may know it."
But her, with a heavy sigh, the swift-footed Achilles 365
addressed : " Thou knowest ; why should I declare these
matters to thee, who art acquainted with all things'? We
marched against Thebes the sacred city of Eetion, and this
we phmdered, and brought hither all the spoil which the
sons of the Greeks properly divided among themselves,
and chose the fair-cheeked Chryseis for Atreides. But 370
afterwards, Chryses, the priest of the far-darting Apollo,
came to the swift ships of the brazen-coated Greeks, with
a view to ransom his da\ighter, and bringing invaluable
gifts of redemption, and bearing in his hands, on a golden
sceptre, the garlands of the far-darting Apollo. And he
entreated all the Greeks, but especially the sons of Atreus, 375
the two leaders of the people. Then all the other Greeks
assented both to reverence the priest, and to accept the
splendid ransoms, but it did not please Agamenmon, the
son of Atreus in his soul, but he dismissed him with
disgrace, and added a threatening speech. Wherefore, the
old man returned in anger; and Apollo heard him praying, 380
since he was much beloved of him. And he shot a de-
structive weapon among the Argives ; and the peoi)le, one
after another, now died, whilst the arrows of the god went
in all directions, throujrhout the wide armv of the Greeks.
c
18
386 But to lis a skilful prophet declared the counsels of Apollo.
Then I first advised them immediately to appease the god ;
when anger seized the son of Alreus, and instantly rising
up, he uttered a threat, which is indeed accomplished ; for
tlie black-eyed Greeks send her with a swift ship to Chryses,
390 and carry presents to the king ; but the heralds arc but this
moment gone from my tent, carrying away the virgin
daughter of Brises, whom the sons of the Greeks had given
to me. But do thou, if indeed thou art able, assist thy
son; go to 01ymj)us, and intreat Jupiter mm?/ behalf, if at
any time tliou hast pleased the heart of Jove either in word
395 or in deed. For oft have I heard you boasting in the halls of
my father, when you said, that you alone, among the im-
mortals, did ward oif unworthy destruction from the cloud-
collecting son of Saturn, when tlie other inhabitants of Olym-
400 pus, Juno, and Neptune, and Pallas Minerva, wished to bind
him in chains. But you, having come, O goddess, de-
livered him from his bonds, by instantly calling up to lofty
01ymj)us, him of the hundred hands, whom the gods call
Briareus, and all men, JEgeon, because he was superior
405 in strength to his father, who then, exulting in glory, sat
by the son of Saturn. But him the hap])y gods dreaded, nor
did tliey attempt any longer Joi^e to bind. Recalling now
this to his remembrance, sit down before him, and embrace
his knees, if j)era(lventurc he will give assistance to the
Trojans, and drive the Greeks slaughtered before them to
410 the ships and to the sea, that all may enjoy tlieir king, and
that the wide-ruling Agamemnon, the son of Atreus, may
know his fault, that he has dishonoured the most valiant
of the Greeks."
Then Thetis pouring down tears, spoke in reply:
" Ahts ! my son, why did J bring thee up, having borne thee
415 in an evil hour? Would tliat thou hadst sat by the ships
without tears, and uninjured, since now thy life is short and of
19
no long- continuance. But now, above all others, tliy lij'e
is at once short and full of afflictions ; wherefore have I
brought thee forth in the halls to an evil fate. But I will
g'o to the snow-white Olympus, and communicate this 'i-O
message to Jove, who delights in thunder, if perchance he
may be persuaded. But th) thou, remaining by the swift
ships, breathe out thine anger against the Greeks, and
abstain altogether from the war. For Jupiter went yester-
day to Oc;eanus to feast with the blameless ^Ethiopians ;
and all the gods attended him. But on the twelfth day he 425
will again return to Olympus. Then I will repair to the
brazen-founded mansion of Jove, and kneel before him,
and I tliink he will be persuaded."
Having thus s{)oken she departed ; and left him there
indignant in his soul, on account of his well-girded spouse,
whom they had forcibly taken away from him against his 430
will. But Ulysses came to Chryses, bringing the sacred
hecatomb. When they had arrived witliin the profound
harbour, thev furled the sails and stowed them in the black
ship. The mast they removed to its proper receptacle,
swiftly lowering it by the braces. But the vessel itself 435
they drove to its station with oars, cast out the anchors, and
made fast the cables. They landed themselves u{)on the
shore of the sea, and disembarked the hecatomb for the
far-darting A[)ollo; whilst Chryseis also came from the
sea-passing ship. Tlien leading her to the altar, the crafty 440
Ulysses gave her into the hands of her beloved father,
and thus addressed him :
" O Chryses, Agamemnon, king of men, has sent me to
restore thy daughter to thee, and to sacrifice for the Greeks
423. By the ocean, some uiulerstaiid tliu rivir Nile, but
probably the Southern ocean is meant, near the Western extremity
of which was the country of the ^ilthiopians, Virg. /En. IV. -iSO.
Oceaiil Jincm juxta, solcmquc cadcntem, uUimiis ^Etlnopum locus
est.
20
a sacred hecatomb to Phoebus, that we may appease the
445 king", who has now sent the most bitter sorrows upon the
Argives."
Having" thus spoken, he gave her into his hands ; but
with joy he received his beloved daughter; whilst they
speedily arranged around the well-built altar, the splendid
hecatomb for the god. Then they washed their hands,
450 and raised up the salted cakes. But Chryses prayed for
them, with a loud voice, and uplifted hands :
" Hear me, O silver bow-bearing Apollo, who defendest
Chrysa, and the glorious Cilia, and dost bravely rule over
Tenedos, even as thou hast already heard me when I prayed
to thee. Thou hast honoured me, and done a great injury
455 to the people of the Greeks. And now also perform this
my prayer, — ^vard off now from the Greeks this undeserved
pestilence."
Thus he spoke in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard
him. But when they had prayed and thrown down the
salted cakes, they first drew back the necks of the victims,
460 then slew them and skinned them. And they cut oflf the
thighs, and covered them with fat, doing it above and
beneath, and upon them they placed raw pieces of flesh.
Then the old man burnt them upon cleft wood, and poured
upon them the sparkling wine, and young men beside him
held five-pronged forks in their hands. But when the
thighs were consumed, and they had tasted the entrails,
465 they cut the rest into small pieces, and pierced them with
spits, cooked them skilfully and drew them all away.
And when they had ceased from labour and prepared a
feast, they eat, nor was the appetite of any without an
461. liTTTv^a TToiriaavreQ, is rendered by Clarke, postquam
duplicaveruntf which is not very intelligible. Damm : duplici adipe,
superne cl infernc, involventcs carnem adolendam in sacrificio.
Some render it, doing it twice over.
21
equal portion. Then when they had removed the desire
of drink and of food, the boys crowned the goblets witli 470
wine ; and, beginning with cupsy'rom the rif/lit, they distri-
buted them among all. And the youths of the Greeks
were all day appeasing the god, with singing, chanting the
joyful paean, and celebrating the far-darting Apollo ; and
as he heard them he was delijjhted in his soul. But when
the sun had set, and darkness succeeded, they slept by the 475
halsers of their ship ; and when the rosy-fingered Aurora,
daughter of morn, appeared, they directed back their
course towards the wide army of the Greeks ; and tlie far-
darting Apollo sent to them a favourable gale, and they
erected the mast, and imfurled the white sails. The wind 480
filled the middle of the sail, and the purple wave loudly
roared around the keel, as the ship scudded along, and she
bounded forth, cutting her path through the billows. But
when they were come to the wide army of the Greeks, they
drew the black ship upon land, high upon the sand, and 485
stretched long props beneath her; and then they were
dispersed amid their tents and ships. But the swift-footed
Achilles, the noble son of Peleus, sitting by the quick-
moving ships, fomented his rage, nor was he any longer 490
present in the assembly of illustrious men, nor in war;
though it grieved his beloved heart by remaining there,
for he longed for the shout and the battle. But when the
twelfth morning from that time had arrived, and when the
everlasting gods, led by Jove, returned in a body to Olym- 495
pus, Thetis was not forgetful of the charge of her son, but
she emerged above the wave of the ocean, and at an early
hour, ascended up to the vast heaven and to Olympus.
And she found the loud-sounding son of Saturn, sitting
498. cupuoTra, either loud- sounding, or all-seeing, from evpvc,
wide, and o\p, a voice, or from evpuf, and owrofiai, to see. It is
used
22
apart from the rest, on the highest summit of the many-
500 peaked Olympus. And she sat down before him, and with
her left hand embraced his knees, while taking hold of his
beard by the right, she suppliantly addressed king Jove,
tlie son of Saturn :
" O father Jove, if ever I have assisted thee among the
immortals, either by word or by deed, accomplish this my
605 petition. Honour my son, who of all others, is doomed to
the shortest life ; but now Agamemnon, king of men, has
dishonoured him; for having taken and carried off his
reward, he possesses it himself. But do thou honour him,
Olympic, counselling Jove. Give victory for a while to
510 the Trojans, that the Greeks may reverence my son and
increase him with honour."
Thus she spake, but the cloud-compelling Jupiter
answered not, but sat a long time in silence. Thetis, as
she had embraced his knees, kept clinging to him still, and
besought him a second tim3 :
" Promise to me now truly and consent, or refuse, since
515 there is no fear in thee ; that 1 may well know how far of
all the o-oddesses I am the least honoured."
Then, with a heavy groan, the cloud-compelling Jupiter
addressed her : " Surely, thy deed is pernicious since thou
imj)ellest me to give otfence to Juno, when she may irritate
520 me with contumelious language. For thus does she always
contend with me among the immortal gods, and affirm that
1 assist the Trojans in battle. But do thou again retire,
lest Juno should perceive tliee; and it shall be my care
that f periorm these thy prayers. But come, I will nod
used in the ^olic dialect for tvfwoTrrfc^ as fjrjTiEra, for fxijTUTijg,
vi({)t\T]ytpETa for vE(p£\riyepeTric, &c. hence in Latin, we liave poeta
fioni TTOiriTriv, AlldeLa from AO\r]rr]g, &.c. The ^olic genitive
of these nouns ends in ao, in the singular, and in awj/, in the
plural, with the penultinia long.
23
to tliee with iii\ lioatl tluit thou niavst bolicvc mo. I'or 525
this is the {greatest j)lo(l<re from me anioiio- the immortals,
and my promise is neither revocable, fallacious, nor fails of
its accomplishment, whatever 1 t/rant witli a nod of my
head.
. The son of Saturn spake, and nodded with his dark-
brows. But the ambrosial locks of the kin"- were shaken
upon his immortal head, and he made the vast Olvmpus
tremble. When they had thus deliberated the affair, thev 530
parted. She again leaped down from splendid Olvmpus
into the deep sea; and Jupiter irent to his own mansion.
But all the g-ods rose in a body from their seats to meet
their father ; nor did any dare to wait as he approached,
but all stood up to meet him. 535
Thus he sat down there upon his throne. Nor was
Juno ignorant when she saw him, that the silver-footed
Thetis, daughter of die aged g-od of the sea, had been
forming plans with him. And immediately, with taunt in"-
words, she addressed Jupiter the son of Saturn :
" Which of the gods, thou treacherous one, has been 540
forming plans with thee? It is ever diy delight, being
apart from me, to meditate upon and establish clandestine
counsels; nor dost thou ever venture to declare to me, with
a willing mind, a word of w hat thou w ilt resolve."
Her then the father of men and of gods addressed in
reply : " Juno, expect not to be acquainted w ith all my 545
counsels, for they would be difficult for thee to comprehend,
although being my w ife. But whatever is becoming for
thee to know, no one of the gotls or men shall know it
before thee. But what 1 wish to determine in my mind,
apart from the gods, do thou neither search into these
things, nor scrutinize tliem too closely." ^-^0
532. oXro, by sj'ncopc for aXaro, lonice for T/Xaro, aor. 1.
mid. from aXXoyi/ai, to leap.
24
To him again the large-eyed, venerable Juno replied :
" Thou most severe son of Saturn, what speech hast thou
uttered ? Never before have I been much in the habit of
interrogating thee or scrutinizing thy plans ; but much at
thine ease dost thou deliberate whatever counsels thou dost
555 choose. But now I fear much in my mind, lest the silver-
footed Thetis, daughter of the aged god of the sea, has
seduced thee. For early in the morning she sat before
thee and embraced thy knees ; to whom I strongly suspect
thou didst assent that thou wouldst give honour to Achilles,
and destroy many at the ships of the Greeks."
560 But the cloud-compelling Jupiter answered her and
said: "Wretch, thou art ever suspicious, nor can I ever
escape thy notice. Thou wilt not however be able to do
any thing, but thou shalt be the more odious to my mind,
and this shall be the more bitter for thee. And if the
matter be thus, it will be agreeable to me. But do thou
665 sit down in silence and obey my command, lest all the gods
that are in Olympus may not be able to avail thee against
me approaching, when I shall lay upon thee my invincible
hands."
Thus he spake, and the large-eyed, venerable Juno
trembled; and curbing her passion she sat down in silence,
670 whilst the heavenly gods uttered a groan throughout the
551. ftowniQ, from /3ovc, an ox, and u)\p, an eye ; fiovg and
iTTToc, when compounded widi other substantives, so as to form
descriptive epithets, are taken as mere intensitive particles, de-
noting magnitude.
5G1. caijjiop IT), 'is one of those words which cannot be ex-
actly ren(kred into any other language. It admits of a great
variety of significations, which must be gathered according to the
tenour of tlie context. Damm : Fox plerumque honorijica, stiepe
tamen admixta aliqua admirattone fortunce vel animi insignioris in
utramquc partem, ft. 190. Ulysses addresses an individual of
distinction with caifiovu, evidently as a term of honour, prces-
tans Vir! But in v. 200, we find him applying the same term to
the common soldier in a very different signification, O infelix vir!
25
mansion of Jove. But Vulcan, the renowned artist, began
to harano'uc them, agreeably gratifying- his beloved mother,
the white-armed Jnno :
" Of a truth there will be pernicious doings, and no
long-er to be tolerated, if for the sake of mortals you con-
tend in this manner, and excite a tumult among the gods; 575
nor will there be any pleasure in a good feast, since worse
things prevail. But 1 advise my mother, who is conscious
of it even herself, to behave in a maimer pleasing to my
beloved father Jove, tliat he may not chide again, and thus
disturb our feast. For if the Olympic thunderer choose to
hurl us down from our seats, — for he is by far the most 580
powerful. But do thou soothe him with gentle words,
then immediately the Olympic Jove will become mild to
us."
Thus he spake ; and rising, he put a circular double cup
in the hands of his beloved mother, and thus addressed 585
her:
" Grieved as thou art, my mother, endure this, and
sustain it, lest T see thee, dear as thou art to me, beaten
before my eyes ; for then, however concerned, I shall be
unable to aid thee, as the Olympic Jove is hard to be
resisted. For already, when on a former occasion I 590
desired to assist thee, he seized me by the foot, and whirled
me from this sacred threshold. A whole day was I borne
along, till at sunset I fell in Lemnos, when there was now
580. There is an elegant oposiopesis here similar to that iii
vcr. 135, 342. The sense may be thus supplied : tovto Swarai
7rOl£fV.
584. o/x^tK-vTTfXXov, according to Damm, is the same as the
KvweWoy. ai^ifi (says he) rotund'itatem ampUoris veniris ejus vas'is
in circidtu exprhn'it. Others consider it as the same with the
ciKviztWoi', whicli was a double cup, having a bottom in the
middle common to both. But others understand by it, a cup nith
two handles, and wider in the body than at the moutli.
591, reroywj', aor. 2. willi the Ionic reduplication, liom
ro^w, to seize.
D
26
but little life in me. But there the Sintian men immediately
received mo as I fell."
595 Thus he spake, and the white-armed goddess Juno
smiled; and smiling-, she received the cup from the hand
of her son. But, beginning on the right, he poured out
wine for all the other gods, drawing the sweet nectar from
the goblet. Then an incessant laughter rose among the
600 happy gods, as they beheld Vulcan ministering to them
throughout the house.
Thus then they feasted all the day till the setting of the
sun ; nor was the soul ungratified with an equal portion of
dainties, or with the beauteous harp, which Apollo
possessed, or with the Muses, who sang alternately with
delightful voice.
605 But when the brilliant lamp of the sun had set, they de-
parted each to his home to rest, wherever the renowned
Vulcan, lame in both feet, had built with skilful mind, a
mansion for each.
And Jove, the Olympic thunderer, went to his own bed
where at former times he lay, when sweet sleep came upon
610 him. He ascended it, and there slept; and close by his
side, the golden-throned Juno.
594. Stvrtec avSpeg, the first inhabitants of the isle of
Lesbos.
606. KaKKeiovTEQ, for (cara/cecovrfc, from (caroKtiw, decumbere
cupio, which is derived from the future of the old verb, (caraicfw,
KaraKTicrw. In the same manner are formed the desiderative verbs,
ya/i»j«T£tw, nupturio, from ya/xew, rjaii), nubo, TroXeixriffeiu), bellore
gestio, from TroXe/ntw, jjerw, helium gero, &c.
THE
ILIAD OF HOMER.
BOOK II.
THE ARGUMENT.
Jupiter, mindful of the requests of Thetis, sends a deceitful
vision to Agamemnon, persuading him to lead the army to
battle; but the General, being apprehensive lest the Greeks
"were shaken in their resolution to remain before Troy, contrives
to make trial of their dispositions by a stratagem. Having
called a council of the princes, he first communicates to them
his design, that he would offer to the soldiers their liberty to
return to their own land, but that they should be detained if
the proposal was embraced. He then assembles the whole
army and moves for a return to Greece, when the soldiers, not
comprehending his design, joyfully accept the offer, and run to
prepare for departure.
Ulysses, at the suggestion of Minerva, manages to detain them,
and chastises the insolence of Thersites. The assembly being
re-called, Ulysses, Nestor, and Agamemnon, harangue the
people. After offering up prayers and saciifice to Jupiter, a
general muster is made, and the army prepares for battle.
Here, in a large catalogue, the poet takes occasion to enume-
rate all the forces of the Greeks and Trojans.
The time taken up in this book consists not entirely of a day.
'ihe scene lies in the Grecian camp, and upon the sea shore ;
towards the end it removes to Troy.
The other «Tods indeed and equestrian warriors slept
all night ; but sweet sleep came not upon Jove, for he was
anxiously meditating in his mind, how he might do honour
to Achilles, and destroy many at the ships of the Greeks.
Vers. 1 . iinroKopvffTai, from linTOc and Kopvacrot, to arm, from
Kopvg, a helmet.
28
5 But tliis plan appeared best lo his mind, to send a perni-
cious dream to Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. And
addressing it, he uttered these winged words:
" Come, pernicious dream, go to the swift ships of the
Greeks; having repaired to the tent of Agamemnon, the
son of Atreus, he careful to repeat all that I shall charge
10 thee ; bid him to arm the lonfj-haired Greeks with all their
forces; for peradventure he may now take the broad-streeted
city of the Trojans ; for no longer do the immortals, who
inhabit the Olympic mansions, differ in opinion ; since Juno,
15 by her supplication, has bent them all. But evils impend
over the Trojans."
Thus he spake, and the dream departed as soon as it
had heard the charge ; and forthwith it came to the swift
ships of the Greeks, and repaired to Agamemnon the son
of Atreus. But him he found reposing in his tent, and
20 ambrosial sleep was spread around him. And he stood
over his head, resembling Nestor, the son of Neleus, whom
of the old men, Agamemnon mostly honoured. Having
assumed his image, the divine dream thus addressed him :
" Dost thou sleep, thou son of the war-like, horse-taming
Atreus ? It does not become a man, who is a counsellor, to
25 whose charge nations are entrusted, and who has so many
cares, to sleep all night. But now pay attention to me with
speed ; for I am a messenger to thee from Jove, who,
thougli far distant, has great anxiety and compassion for
thee. He bids thee to arm the long-haired Greeks in full
force ; for now peradventure thou mayst take the broad-
streeted city of the Trojans ; because the immortals, who
:{0 possess the Olympic mansions, no longer differ in opinion,
since Juno, by her supplications, has bent them all ; and
evils from Jove impend over the Trojans. But do thou
2 J, eTTiTiTpa^arai, for EinTiTpafxntvoi eiai.
29
retain tlii:; in thv recollection, nor let oblivion seize thee,
when bahny sleep has left thee."
Having- thus spoken, he departed, and left him there 35
revolving things in his mind, that vcere not to be accom-
plished. For he thought, in his folly, that he would take
the city of Priam on that day; nor knew the deeds that
Jupiter was contriving ; that he was yet about to heap upon
the Greeks and Trojans, sorrows and sighings, in hard- 40
fought battles. And he roused himself from sleep, while
yet the heavenly voice was poured aroimd him. He sat
erect, and put on his soft tunic, beautiful and new, and
threw his largfe cloak about him. He likewise bound his
fair sandals on his shining feet, and hung about his shoulders 45
the silver-studded sword. Then he took his paternal scep-
tre, ever incorruptible, with which he marched to the ships
of the brazen-coated Greeks.
The goddess Morn ascended the vast Olympus, to report
the dawn of day to Jove and the other immortals ; whilst 50
he commanded the shrill-voiced heralds to convoke to an
assembly the long-haired Greeks. These uttered the
siunmons, and the people speedily assembled. And first
he convened a council of magnanimous old men, at the
ship of Nestor, the Pylian-born prince; and having assem-
bled them together, he entered with them upon a prudent 55
considtation :
" Hear me, my friends. A heavenly vision came to me
in my sleep, during the ambrosial night; and it chiefly
resembled the noble Nestor, in shape, stature, and in person.
And it stood over my head, and addressed these words to
me : ' Dost thou sleep, thou son of the war-like, horse- oo
taminnf Atreus? It does not become a counsellor-man, to
54. The genitive ftaai\i}og is in opposition with ^enropog
implied in the adjective ^effTopifj.
30
whose charge nations are entrusted, and who has so many
cares, to sleep all night. But now pay attention speedily
to me; for I am a messenger to thee from Jove, who,
tiioug-h far distant, has great anxiety and compassion for
C.> thee. He bids thee to arm the long-haired Greeks in full
force ; for now, pcradventure, thou mayst take the broad-
streeted city of the Trojans, since no longer do the immor-
tals, who possess the Olympic mansions, differ in their
opinion; because Juno, by her supplications, has bent them
all; and evils from Jove impend over the Trojans.
70 But do thou retain this in thy recollection. Thus having
spoken, it fled away on its wings ; and delightful sleep left
me. But come, let us consult, how we may arm the sons
of the Greeks. And first I will try them with my words,
as far as is proper, and exhort them to fly with their ships
of many benches; but dispersing yourselves in different
76 directions among them, be ye careful to restrain them with
your words."
When he had thus spoken, he sat down. Then among
them, Nestor, who was king of sandy Pylus, rose, who
prudently harangued and addressed them :
" My friends, leaders and chiefs of the Greeks, if any
80 other of the Greeks had reported this dream, pcradventure
we should have pronounced it to be false, and have rather
turned away from it, than given credit to it. But now he,
who boasts that he is by far the chief in the army, hath seen
it. Come then, let us see how we may arm the sons of the
Greeks."
Having tlius spoken, he began to depart from the as-
85 sembly; and the sceptered kings arose, and obeyed the
shepherd of the people, whilst the nations ran to meet him.
74. Y{o\vKKr}iQ, from ttoKvq and KXri'ic, lonice for Kktiq.
Scliol. -KoXvKKriiai, woXvKadtcpoig, e^ ov TroXvaiairotg' KXij'ihg yap
KaXovyrai a'l tuiv tpiaaoyriov KuOe^pai.
31
As arc the swarms of assembled bees which come ever and
anon from the hollow rock, and fly in clusters over Ihe 90
vernal flowers, while some fiy in bodies in this direction,
and some in that ; thus did the mnnerous nations of these
march in troops in front of the vast shore to the place of
assembly. And among- them, Fame was inflamed, the mes-
senger of Jove, inciting them to go, and they were assembled. 95
The council was in tumult, and the earth groaned under
them as the people sat down, and there was a bustling
noise. And nine heralds exclaiming, restrained them, that
they sliould desist ^om their clamour, and listen to the
princes nourished by Jove. With difficulty, the people
having at length ceased from their out-cry, sat down and 100
possessed their seats; when king Agamemnon, rose up,
holding forth the sceptre, which Vulcan had laboured to
form. Vulcan gave it to king Jove, the son of Saturn, and
Jupiter gave it to his messenger, the slayer of Argos; but
king Mercury bestowed it upon Pelops, the knight, and
again Pelops gave it to Atreus, shepherd of the people ; 105
but Atreus, at his death, left it to Thyestes rich in cattle,
and lastly, Thyestes left it to be borne by Agamemnon, tiiat
with it he might rule over many islands, and the whole of
Argos. Supporting himself by this, he spoke these winged
words :
" My friends, Grecianheroes, ministers of Mars, Jupiter, no
the son of Saturn, hath entangled me in a heavy calamity.
Cruel he must he, who formerly made to me a promise and
confirmed it with a nod, that 1 should return home having
destroyed the well-fortified city of Ilium; but now he has
formed a malicious fraud, and orders that I should repair.
103. Apyct^ovrtj, Mercury, the slayer of Argus, the monster,
employed by Juno to guard lo. Vid. Ovid. Metam. I. GIG.
112. ayirXioQ, may be taken either actively ov 2)assivcli/; it
has here an active signification.
32
InglorioiKs to Argos, after I have lost many of my people.
115 Tluis will it be agreeable to almighty Jove, who lias already
overthrown the summits of many states, and will as yet
demolish them; for his power is supreme. But this will
be disgraceful to be heard among posterity, that such, and
120 so vast an army of the Greeks vainly waged a fruitless
war, and fought with men less numerous ; but that as yet
no end of that loar has appeared. For if we, Greeks and
Trojans, were willing to strike a faithful league, and be
125 both of us numbered ; that we should select as many Tro-
jans as are natives of the city; but tha^ we Greeks should
arrange ourselves into tens, and choose a single man of the
Trojans who might pour out wine for each, many decades
would indeed be without a pourer out of wine. So vastly
130 do I say the sons of the Greeks are superior in number to
the Trojans who inhabit the city. But there are auxiliaries
from many states, men who brandish the spears, who are a
great obstacle, and permit me not, as I wish, to destroy the
well-peopled town. Nine years of mighty Jove have passed
135 away, whilst the wood of our ships is putrified, and the ca-
bles are dissolved. But our wives and our infant children
sit awaiting for us in our halls ; and the work for which
137. etar', for Eiarai, lonice for ijvrai from iifxai.
124. opKia TTicTTa rafiovTeQ, icto foedere Jido et firmo. The
plirase ipiua renveiv is the same as the Hebrew phrase, karath
bcrith, to cut a covenant, and l)oth is derived from the circum-
stance of cutting the victim in twain, when the stipulating parties
passed between the two parts, and imprecated the most dreadful
curses upon themselves if they violated the covenant The same
idiom passed from the Greeks into the Romans, who usedybnVe,
ccedere, &c. victimas, to signify the ratification of a covenant.
The English expression, to strike a league, must have sprung from
the same source. St. Cyril, against Julian, observes that this
same phraseology was used also by the Chaldaeans. It is pro-
bable that all nationsderivcditfromtheoriginalmode of contracting
an agreement by offering sacrifice to the gods. Vid. Gen. xv.
10. 17; Deut. xxix. 12; Josh. ix. 6; Jerem. xxxiv. 18. Also,
Liv. i. 24.
33
wc came lii(lu>r ronKiiiis tlnis uiiaccoinplisluMl. But, conu',
let us alt obey as I shall advise; let us depart with our 140
sjiips to our beloved native land, for never shall we take
the broad-streeted city of Troy."
Thus he spake, and disturbed, in their breasts, the hearts
of" all throuohout the crowd, who had not heard his design.
And tlie assembly was all in commotion, like the vast bil-
lows of the sea, even the Icarian sea, which the East and the 145
South winds have excited, when rushing upon them from
the clouds of father Jove; — or as the tempestuous West
wind, descending' violently from above, is wont to move a
deep corn-field and bend the stalks; — thus was the whole
assembly moved. Some with a war-whoop rushed to the
ships, whilst the excited dust rose from beneath their feet ; loO
others exhorted one another to seize the vessels, and launch
them into the vast ocean, and cleared out the hulks. The
shout of them about to hasten home ascended up to heaven,
and they dragged off the scantlings from beneath the ships.
Then, peradventure, a return in opposition to the will of 155
fate would have been effected by the Greeks, had not Juno
addressed this speech to Minerva :
"Alas! invincible dauo^hter of the a'ofis-bearinof Jove,
shall the Greeks thus fly home over the wide surface of the
sea to their dear paternal land! And must they leave glory ico
to Priam, and the Argive Helen to the Trojans, on account
of whom many of the Greeks have perished before Troy,
far from their dear paternal land? But go now to the
people of the brazen-coated Greeks, and restrain every
man with thy gentle words, nor suffer them to drag into 1G5
the sea their ships which are impelled on every side."
157. aTpvTcoyrj, from arpvTOQ, and that from a, jniv. and rpvu),
tero.
1C5. yijciQ o^^ttXto-fTaf, Scliol. a/((/jorepa»Oe>' raic t;u):rai£ iXav-
vofjieyag, impelled on both sides by the oars.
E
34
Thus she spake, nov tlid the bluc-cycd goddess Minerva
disobey; but she went, liastening- down over the summits
of Olympus, and fortliwith arrived at the swift ships of the
Greeks. Then she found Ulysses, where he stood, a coun-
170 sellor equal to Jove; nor did he touch his black ship, that
was well fitted with benches, since sorrow had come upon
his heart and soul. But, standing" by him, the blue-eyed
Minerva addressed him :
" Generous son of Laertes, most crafty Ulysses, will
you thus, embarking in your ship of many benches, fly
175 home to your dear paternal land? And will you leave
glory to Priam, and the Argive Helen to the Trojans, for
the sake of whom many of the Greeks have perished at
Troy, far from the beloved land of their fathers ? But go
now to the people of the Greeks, and do not desist, but
180 restrain every man with thy gentle words, nor suffer them
to drag into the sea their ships that are impelled on every
side."
Thus she spake, and he recognized the voice of the
goddess who addressed him; and he hurried on in haste and
cast from him his cloak ; but the herald Eurybates, of Ithaca,
lO.j who followed him, took it up. And having met Agamem-
non, the son of Atrcus, he received from him the ever-in-
corruptible paternal sceptre, with which he went to the
ships of the brazen-coated Greeks.
Whatever prince or man of illustrious rank he found,
he stood beside him and restrained him with gentle words:
190 " My good sir, it does not become thee to tremble like
a coward ; but rather sit down thyself, and make the other
188. bvTiva f^iev, k. t. X. Wlicn the relative is used de-
finitely, it is joined with the indicative, if indefinitely, and a
reference is made with the whole ])roposition to past time, the
verb, withotit av, is put in the optative, but if an indefinite
aflirmation is made of sometliing present or future, tlie verb, with
a>', is placed in the subjunctive. Vid. Mattli. Gr. Gr. §. 527.
:i5
[)coplc Ih! ij[uiel, lor as yet thou tlost not clearly discern
what the mind ol" Atreides is. ilc now tries, and will
quickly inflict punishment upon the sons of tlie Greeks.
We have not all heard what he said in the council; there-
lore we must beware, lest in his wralh he may do some li^«>
mischief to the sons of the Greeks. For the anoer of a
king that is nourished by Jove is mighty; and, his honour is
from Jove, yea and counselling- Jupiter loves him."
But, on the other hand, whatever man of the common
people he saw or found shouting", him he struck with the
sceptre, and rebuked in these words :
"Thou dastardly wretch, sit down (piiet and listen to 'ioo
the speech of others, who are Ihy superiors, since thou art
weak and unwarlikc, nor ever to be esteemed in war or in
council. We Greeks must not all be kings here, ft)r the
government of many is not good. Let there be one
chief, one king-, to whom the son of the crafty Saturn has '205
already given a sceptre, and laws, that by them he may
g'overn."
Thus, acting- the commander, he directed the army.
13ut they rushed back again with tumult to the assembly,
from the ships and from the tents; like as when the waves
of the far-resounding- sea roar on the mighty shore, whilst '210
the deep re-bellows.
The rest sat down and possessed their seats ; but still
babbling-, Thersites alone, who knew many scurrilous ex-
pressions in his mind, kept vainly exciting- a tumult, not for
the purpose of contending, with decorum, with the princes, *21o
but to saij whatever he was sure would appear ritliculous
to the Greeks. He vvjis the basest man that came to Ilium.
IJe wasscpiint-eyeil, and lame of one loot ; and his shoulders
were gibbous and drawn together over his breast ; whilst
217. 0o\fcoc, squinting: Eustath. O rove o^OuA^t/ur fiq
opOov£ e\Mv, a\V taT{nifXf.iiyov£, from eXvw, (raJiu..
36
the upper part of his liead terminated in a point like a cone^
and but a few tuj'ts of hair grew upon it. To Achilles and
220 Ulysses he was especially odious, since he was wont to
revile them. But at that time, however, clamouring with a
shrill voice, he poured contumelious insults upon the noble
Agamemnon ; wherefore the Greeks were vehemently en-
raged with him, and indignant in their souls. But loudlv
shouting, he reproached Agamemnon in this speech :
225 " Of what now dost thou complain, thou son of Atreus,
or what dost thou need ? Thy tents arc full of brass, and
in thy tents there are many chosen dames, whom upon thee,
before all others, we Greeks bestow, whenever vre capture
230 a town. Or, dost thou as yet require gold, which some one
of the horse-taming Trojans shall bring from Ilium, as a
ransom for his son, whom 1, or some other of the Greeks,
may bind and lead away captive? Or a young woman,
that thou mayst have connexion with her in love, and
detain her apart for thyself? In no way does it become a
235 man who is chief in command, to lead the sons of the Greeks
into calamities. Ah, vile disgrace ! ye dastardly Grecian
women, no longer Grecian men, let us return home with
our ships, and here let us leave this man in Troy, to digest
his rewards, that he may know whether we are any addition
to his power or not, him, I fniy, who has now dishonoured
240 Achilles, a man much braver than himself, in that he
forcibly took, carried off, and possesses for himself his
reward ; there is however not much passionate feeling in
the soul of Achilles, but he is of a remiss disposition.
218. {Tvyo-)(^u)i;()Te, coarcii, in angustum cocuntes ; nom. dual,
perf. part. act. Allicc pro avvo')(r]KnT£, lonice pro avvioyr^KOTt,
from avvoytia, which is derived from avvEyu), constringo, from
the root ex^, haheo.
219. E7revr)voO£, from nravOto) to flourish, impcrf. ttrrfvOov,
and by the insertion of u, ETrrjvuOoi , and with the Attic redupli-
cation Enevt]vod()V.
37
otliervvise, son of Atrcus, tlioii wouldst now lor (lie la^l
time have been f»uilty of iloino- an injury."
Thus spake Thersites, reviling- Aganienuion, shepherd
of the [)cople. But speedily to him arose the godlike
Ulysses, and casting a stern look upon him, he reproved 240
him in this severe speech :
" Loquacious Thersites, although being a shrill orator,
desist, nor seek alone to contend with kings; for 1 affirm,
that there is not another mortal man more base than thou,
of as many as came with the sons of Atreus to Troy. 250
Wherefore, tliou shouldst not harangue, having kings in thy
mouth, nor heap reproaches upon these, nor watch for their
return. As yet we do not clearly see how these matters will
be, whether in j)rosperity or adversity we sons of the Greeks
shall return. For this reason thou sittest down reviling the 255
son of Atreus, Agamemnon, the she[)herd of the people,
because the Grecian heroes bestow upon him many honours,
whilst thou haranguest in insulting language. But 1 will
tell thee what also shall be accomplished — . If ever again 1
shall find thee playing the fool, as at present, no longer
may the head of Ulysses remain on his shoulders, and no 2(J0
more may 1 be called the father of Telemachus, if I do not
seize thee, and tear olf thy garments, thy cloak anil thy
tunic, and that which covereth thy nakedness, and tlrive
thee from the assembly to the swift ships, weeping and
beaten with severe blows."
Thus he spake, and struck him with the scej)tre on the 265
back and on the shoidders; but he bent back his head,
while the startinjr tear fell from him, ;md a bloodv tumor
rose on his back from the golden sceptre. Then he sat
2C6. itvwBi], Eustath, atro rov to ivioy ^vvTjOijyai, i. c. oc-
ciput roflectcndo. In another place we have urudi) te irtaiov, and
in Vii<f. vEn. xi. G4 1. Latos huk hasla per annus acta trcuiil,
duplicatcpie virum transjiva dolore.
38
down and Ircnibled, whilo, — misorabli' looking objed, ho
grieved and wiped away the tears.
270 The rest, though sorrowful, laughed at him with
pleasure. And thus many a one, looking at the man who
sat next him, said :
" Good heavens ! of a truth, numberless useful actions
has Ulvsses already performed, both in giving commence-
ment to Pood counsels and in arranoino- the war ; but
now surely he hath done this by far the best among the
275 Greeks, who hath restrained from his babbling this reproach-
ful insulter. No more will his furious mind again stimulate
him to revile kinjrs with such contumelious words."
Thus the multitude spoke; and Ulysses, destroyer of
cities, arose, holding forth the sceptre, and beside him the
280 blue-eyed Minerva, having assumed the likeness of a herald,
charged the people to be silent, that the first and the last of
the sons of the Greeks might together hear his speech, and
weigh his counsel ; — who then prudently harangued them,
and said :
" King Atreides, of a truth, the Greeks are now willing
285 to render thee the most disgraceful among articulate-speak-
ing men ; nor will they perform the promise w liich they
made, when they came hither from horse-feeding Argos,
that thou shouldst return having destroyed the well-fortified
Ilium. For, like young children or bewidowed women,
•21)0 f liev wail out to one another their desire of returning: home.
It is truly a hardsliip for one to return in affliction, when
hu object is not accompluhed ; for even one who is absent
but a single month from his wife, bewails beside his ship of
many benches, which the wintry storms and a boisterous
295 sea detain ; b«it over us, remaining here, the ninth year is
revolvinir : wherel'ore 1 am not ollended that the Greeks
275. \o)ftr)Tri(ja. Sclioliast, vjipiaTrjv; according to Eustath.
£7r£ff/Jo\o>, ewtai i]nW()PTn, ihat is, vcrhia instclantem.
39
bonail besidf lln^ sliips wifli rroulu'il prows; lu'vcrllielcss
it is diso-racofiil lo remain so Ion"- and return williont ob-
taininfv onr object. Forbear, mv friends, and remain yet
awhile, tliat we may know if Calclias foretells the truth or
not. For this we well know in our minds, and yc all, vipon sou
whom the fates of death have not come .ind borne you
awav, are witnesses, that yesterday and the day before yes-
terday, when the ships of the Greeks were assembled at
Aidis, to bring- evils upon Priam and the Trojans, whilst
we, about the fountain and the sacred altars, were ollering 305
perfect hccatom])s to the immortals, beneath a beauteous
plane-tree, whence flowed a limpid stream, there a j^reat
prodig-y appeared. A terrible serpent, marked on the
back with purple spots, which the Olympic Jove himself
had sent forth to light, gliding from beneath the altar,
hastily advanced towards the plane-tree. But there, con- .310
cealed under the leaves, on the highest branch, were eight
young ones of a sparrow, a tender brood; and the mother
w}iich had hatched the brood was the ninth. Then he
devoured them, piteously shrieking, whilst the mother,
mourning for her beloved young, hovered about, till 315
folding himself around her, he seized her, screaming, by
the winf. Rut when he had devoured the voung of the
sparrow and herself, the god who had shewed him, made
him an object of wonder; for the son of the crafty Saturn
turned him to a stone, whilst we, as we stood by, were 320
astonished at what was done. In this manner did the
terrible portents of the gods attend the hecatombs. But
Calchas then immediately spoke with prophetic voice:
'Why are ye struck dumb, ye long-haired Creeks? Coun-
309. anephtXeof, terrible in appearance, from tifxep^u) or
fiepho, aspicio.
312. VTroireKTiioTet: for vTrmrenniKOTti:. from tlic old verb
VKOTTTElt).
40
sollinq' Jove lias shewn to us this i^reat proilioy, hite, and
325 lafo fo be accomplished, the glory of which shall never
perish. As this serpent devoured the eight young ones of
the sparrow and the sparrow herself, and the mother which
hatched the brood was the ninth; so there for a like num-
ber of years we must wage war, but in tlie tenth the broad-
330 streeted city shall we capture.' Thus he spoke, and all of
which shall now be accomplislied. But come, remain here,
all of vou, well-booted Greeks, until we take the great
city of Priam."
Thus he spake, and the Greeks uttered a loud shout,
applauding- the speech of the godlike Ulysses, whilst the
33r> ships round about terribly re-echoed, as the Greeks were
shouting. Then Nestor, the Gerenian knig-ht, addressed
them :
" By heavens, ye talk like infant children, who have
no care of warlike deeds. What, I ask, will become of
340 your promises and oaths'? Of a truth, the coimsels and the
cares of men, the agreements confirmed by libations of
unmixed wine, and thej'oldhu/ of right hands in which we
trusted, must have been consumed in the fire ; for thus do
we vainly contend with words, and although being here so
long a time, we can contrive no remedy for the delay.
But do thou, son of Atreus, maintaining as before thy
345 resolution unshaken, command forth the Greeks into hard
battles; and leave to pine away the one and the other of the
Greeks who form a separate consultation, (for of their de-
liberations there shall be no fulfilment,) that we should
return to Argos, before even we know of aegis-bearing
350 Jove, whether his promise be a falsehood or not ; for I
affirm, that the almighty son of Saturn confirmed it by a
3-iI. aK(>r)TOQ, lonice for aicparoc, unmixed; for in forming
libations tlie wine was not mixed with vvater as was usual at
entertainments.
41
nod on that day, whon tlio Greeks embarked in their swift
ships, about to carry slauji^htor and (h'slruction to the
Trojans, as he shot his lig-htnings to the ri<^ht, and shewed
their propitious sij^ns. Let none therefore hasten to return
home, before each has slept with a wife of the Trojans, and 355
revenged the rape and the lamentations of Helen. But if
any one has a vehement desire of returning home, let him
touch his black ship that is well fitted with benches, that
he may overtake death and ruin before others. But do
thou deliberate well, O king, and be persuaded by 3G0
another; the advice which I shall otFer is not to be rejected.
Divide out the troops, Agamemnon, into their tribes and
wards, that wards may support wards, and tribes support
tribes. And if thou shouldst thus act, and should the
Greeks obey thee, thou shalt then know which of the leaders 3G5
and which of the soldiers is a coward, and which of them
is brave ; for they shall fight by themselves ; — and also learn
whether by divine interposition thou shalt not capture the
city, or by the cowardice of the troops and the unskilfulness
of war."
But king Agamemnon addressed him. in reply :
" Truly, old man, liiou excellcst the sons of the Greeks in 370
council. Would to father Jupiter, Minerva and Apollo,
that of the Greeks I possessed ten such counsellors ! For
then quickly would the city of king Priam fall, captured
and destroyed by our hands. But the a'gis-bearing Jove, 375
the son of Saturn, hath brought sorrow upon me, w ho casts
me into fruitless litigations and disputes. For I and
Achilles have contended about a maid, with opposing
words: and I commenced the hostility. But if ever no-ain
we shall ajrree in our counsel, then no longer shall there be
a reprieve of evil to the Trojans, no, not for a moment. 3»0
But now take refreshment, that we may join the battle.
381. The early Greeks seem to have had three meals in the
day, tlie aptarov, jcntaculum, or breakfast, the ceiTri-oy, prandium,
F
42
Let every nian stiarpeii well his spear, and well adapt his
shield ; let him give a feed to his swift-footed horses, and
closely examining" his chariot on every side, let him prepare
385 for war ; that we may contend all day in hori'id war ; for
there shall be no respite, no, not for a moment, unless
night coming on shall separate the ardour of heroes. The
thong of the man-})rotecting shield of each shall sweat
aroimd his breast, and his hand shall be weary about the
390 sword. And whomsoever I shall perceive desirous of
tarrving by the ships of crooked prows, it will not be pos-
sible for him afterwards to escape the dogs and the fowls
of the air."
Thus he spake, and the Greeks shouted aloud, like a
395 wave upon the deep shore, when the South wind blowing
shall dash it against a projecting- rock, which the billows
never quit, under any winds when they arise in this or in that
direction. And rising up, they rushed forth, and were
dispersed among the ships. They kindled fires in their
tents and took refreshments. And they sacrificed, the one
400 to this, the other to that of the everlasting- gods, praying-
that they might escape death and the peril of war. But
Agamemnon, king of men, offered up a fat ox, of five
years old, to the all-powerful son of Saturn, and invited to
Mm the sages, the chiefs of all the Greeks ; first of all,
or dinner, and the lop-jrov, ccena, or supper. Apiarov is so called,
quasi aopicrrov ri cy, utpote aoptirrov Kara Kaipov, or because it is
prepared for tliose going out, irpoq rov Apea, to war, or it is
derived from the word apai, because the ancients never took
their itpLarov without offering up prayers to the gods. The
cenrroy is considered by some, tlie same as the supper, so called on
Twy TTOVhJv ciavcnravei, but the commentators on Homer take notice
of two t£i7rva, the one a neffrjfifjpivoy £[jfjpu)fia, or dinner, the
other a irpmyov i/iftpMiJici, which answers to our hwydamhor, and
so called, quasi /xtO' u Trovtiv cti. Athen. lib. 7. speaks of vvKrepiva
ceiTTva as distinguished from other cenrya. Eustathius derives
CopTTov, TTupa Tov copv TTaviiv, ([. d. ev fci ^opv Travel, in which the
spear is at rest.
43
Nestor, ami prince Idomeneiis ; and next the two Ajaxes, 405
and the son of Tydeus, and then Ulysses, who was etjual to
Jove in coiuisel. IJut xMenelaus, excelling in the shout,
came of his own accord, for he knew in his mind how his
brother toiled. Then they stood round the ox, and raised 410
up tiic salted cakes, whilst king Agamemnon offered up
this prayer for them :
" Most mighty, most glorious Jove, thou who gatherest
the dark clouds, and dwellest in the air, grant that the sun
may not set, nor darkness come, before I overthrow the
glittering ])alacc of Priam and burn its gates with hostile 415
fire ; and till I tear olf from his breast the tunic of Hector,
broken by the sword, whilst many of his compjmions,
headlong in the dust, shall bite the earth around him."
Thus he prayed, but the son of Saturn did not tiien
assent, yet accepted he the sacrifice, and increjised the 420
mighty toil. But when they had sujiplicated, and cast
down the salted cakes, they first drew back the neck oj'the
victim, then cut its throat and skinned it, next cut off its
thighs, and covered them with fat, laying it on doubly,
and over them they placed raw pieces of flesh ; and these 425
they consumed with cleft wood without leaves. Then
piercing the entrails with spits they held them over the
fire. But when the thighs were consumed and they had
tasted the entrails, they divided the rest into small pieces,
and skilfully dressed them, and drew the whole away.
And when they had ceased from labour, and prepared the 430
victuals, they feasted, nor was the appetite without an
equal portion of dainties. And when thev had removeil the
desire of drink and of food, then Nestor, the Gerenian
knight, began his harangue to them :
413. fir) TTpiv £7r' TfeXioy Swat ; some such verb, as Toe or
7roi>/(Tov is to be supplied here. This elHpse frecpicntly liapiwns
in Ionic writers; Thus, Herod. V. 105. w Zev, eKyirtaOiu fwt
AOijvaiovg TicrciffOai.
44
" Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of
435 men, here no more let iis waste om* time in words, nor any
longer defer the work, which the god shall put into our
hands. But come, let the heralds make their proclamations,
and assemble the people of the brazen-coated Greeks at the
ships; and let us, thus assembled, go through the wide
440 army of the Greeks, that we may the sooner excite keen
battle."
Thus he spoke, nor did Agamemnon, king of men,
disobey, but immediately he commanded the shrill-voiced
heralds to call the long-haired Greeks to battle. These
uttered their proclamations, and the people were speedily
445 assembled, and the princes that were brought up by Jove,
hastened to draw them up in array ; and among' them was
the blue-eyed Minerva, bearing the precious aegis, that
grows not old and is immortal, from which were suspended
a hundred golden fringes, all well-woven, and each of the
450 value of an hecatomb. With this she violently rushed on,
and ran through the people of the Greeks, exciting them
to advance ; and she roused the vigour of each in his breast,
that they might war and fight unceasingly. Then, instantly,
war became sweeter to them, than to return in their hollow
ships to the dear land of their fathers.
455 As when a devouring fire consumes a vast forest on the
summits of a mountain, the blaze is seen from afar ; — thus,
as they advanced, the glittering splendour of their beaute-
ous arms ascended through the air to heaven.
And, as when in the Asian meadow, by the streams of
4G0 Cayster, many tribes of winged birds, geese, cranes, or
450. TTUKpaaaovaa, occulos cum impetu irruendi intendens
acr'iler. -rraiiparjaio is derived from <paw, wliicli is the root of ^aco-w ;
by redoubling the first syllable and changing the aspirate into
a tenius, f/iaoro-w becomes Trwjjuaffo), and then by inserting an i, we
have Truajjaarru). It denotes svOovauocwg Kai t7ri(f)U)/u>Q op/jidv,
furenter el aperle trniere. Vid. Damm. Lex. in voce.
45
lon^-nccked swans, fly hero and there, o.\ultin<>- in then-
wings, whilst the meadow resounds as tliey ali<:«ht, the one
before the other, with chnii>our; — so did the inanv nations
of these pour themselves foiili from the ships, and from the 4G5
tents, into the [)hiin of Scamander. But tlie earth, fearfully
re-echoed under the tread of them, and of the horses;
whilst myriads stood on the flowery vale of Scamantler,
as numerous as are the leaves and flowers in the s[)ring.
Like the many tribes of swarming- flies, which wander
round the she})lierd's fold in the vernal se;\son, when the 470
milk moistens the pails; — so numerous did the long-haired
Greeks stand, against the Trojans, on the plain, eagerly
desiring to destroy them.
And, as goat- herds easily separate the extensive flocks
of goats, when they have been mixed in the pasture, — so did 475
the generals marshal these in array, that they might ad-
vance to battle. But, among them, was king Agamem-
non, with his eyes and head like Jove, who delights in
thunder, with his belt like Mars, and his breast like Nep-
tune.
As the bull is by far the most cons})icuous in the herd, 4ao
since he excels the collected cattle ; — such on that day did
Jove render Atreides, distinguished and excelling among
many heroes.
Declare to me now, ye Muses, who possess the Olympic
mansions, (for ye are goddesses, and are ever present, and 485
know all things, whilst we hear bnt a rumour, and are
acquainted with nothing,) who were the leaders and the
chiefs of the Greeks. For, I could not mention nor reckon
their number, even though I had ten tongues and ten 41)0
461. Affiw lonic^ foi" Aaiov, There was a meadow on the
banks of the Cayster, so called, from Asiits, a king of Lydia, and
from whom the Lydians suppose Asia derived its name. This
line is imitated by Virg. Georg. I. 383. Jam var'ias pclagi volu-
cres, et quce Asia circuni dulcibus in stoi^nis rimanlur pralci.
Catjslri.
46
mouths, a voice unln'oakable, and a heart of brass, — did not
tlie Olympic Muses, daughters of the a?gis-bearing Jove,
remind me of how many came to lliiun. I will now
rehearse the commanders of the ships, and all the vessels :
495 Peneleus and Leitus, and Arcesilaus, and Prothoenor
and Clonius, commanded the Boeotians ; those who inhabit-
ed Hvria, and the rocky Aulis, Schoenus, Scolus, and the
ridgy Eteonus, Thespia, Grsea, and the spacious Mycales-
500 sus; and those who dwelt at Harma, Ilesium, and Erythrae,
who possessed Eleon, Hyla, and Peteon, Ocalea, and the
well-built town of Medeon, Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe,
abounding in doves; and those who held Coronea, Haliar-
505 tus, full of herbs, and Plata^a, who inhabited Glissas, and
who held Hypothebae, a well-built town, and sacred On-
chestus, a beauteous grove dedicated to Neptune; and those
who possessed Arne, abounding in grapes, Midea, glorious
Nisa, and the farthest Anthedon. Of these went fifty
510 vessels, and in each a hundred and twenty young men of
the Boeotians embarked.
But others inhabited Aspledon, and the Minyeian Or-
cliomenus ; these Ascalaphus and lalmenus commanded,
sons of Mars, whom Astyoche, a chaste virgin, having as-
cended to the top of the house, in the mansion of Actor,
515 the son of Azeus, bore to valiant Mars; for he had lain
with her in secret. Thirty hollow ships, belonging to these,
advanced in order.
But Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of the magnani-
mous l()hitus, son of Nauboles, commanded the Phoceans;
520 those who possessed Cyparissus and rocky Python, and
glorious Crissa, and Daulis, and Panopia; and those who
inhabited the country round Anemoria and Hyampolis, who
499. 'Ap/xtt, so called from apfxa, the chariot of Amphiaraus,
who was there swallowed by the earth. It was hence sometimes
called XeKrpa Afiiptapaov. Straho IX. p. 279.
47
dwelt by llie noble river of ('e[)bisus, ami who possessed
Lil.Tu, near the source of Iho Cephisus. Witli tliese fort}
bhick ships foHowed. These wiieeling round, formed the
ranks of the Phoceans, and they were posted in arms next 525
the BcBotians on the left.
But swift Ajax, the son of Odeus, commanded the Lo-
crians; (he was less, and not near so large, but far less,
than the Telamonian Ajax ; he was a little man, wearing a
corslet of linen, but excelled in the use of the spear among 530
all the Greeks and Acha^ans.) those who inhabited Cynus,
Opoe'js, Calliarus, Besse, Scarphe, and lovely Auoeia%
Tarphe and Thronium, around the streams of Boagrius.
And with him followed forty black ships of the Locrians,
who dwell beyond sacred Euboca. 535
Next came the Abantes, breathing strength, who
possessed Euboea, Chalcis, Eretria, IIistia.'a, abounding in
grapes, maritime Cerinthus, and the lofty town of Dium,
and those who possessed Carystus and inhabit Styr. The 540
leader of these was El})henor, branch of Mars, the son of
Chalcodon, the chief of the magnanimous Abantes. With
him followed the Abantes, who had their hair hanging-
down behind them, w arriors trained with ashen spears to
tear ofFthe corslets of the enemy from around their breiibts; 545
and with him followed forty black ships.
Next those who possessed Athens, a well-built town,
the people of the high-minded Erechtheus, w horn Minerva,
daughter of Jove, in former time sustained, (but whom the
gracious earth brought forth) and placed at Athens, in her
own rich temple ; where the youths of tlie Athenians, in 550
revolving years, appease her with bulls and with goats.
542. OTTiBev KnjJobJVTeg. 'riiesc people shaved die fore part of
their heads, that tlieir enemies might not be able lo seize them
by the liair. Vid. Plut. in Thcs. vita.
550, 551. Eustathius anil others suppose, that these lines
refer to the feast of tlie Panalhauea, vvliich was celebrated every
fifth year.
48
Tlioni, Mcnostheus, son of Peteiis, led. To liim there was
never a terrestrial man equal in niarslialling- horses and
555 shielded men ; Nestor alone disputed the priority with him,
since he was his superior in age. And with him followed
fifty black ships.
But Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis, and
having- led them uj), he posted them where stood the
columns of the Athenians.
5C0 ^<^'^* those who possessed Argos, and the well-fortified
Tirvns, Hermione, and Asine, having a profound bay,
Troezene, Eionae, and Epidaurus, abounding in vines ; and
the youths of the Greeks who held JEgma, and Mases.
These, Diomede, strenuous in the shout of' war, and Sthe-
nelus, beloved son of glorious Capaneus, led; and
5G5 with them, as a third, went Euryalus, a godlike man, the
son of kinjy Mecisteus, who was son of Talai'anus. But
Diomede, strenuous in the shout o/* ivar, was chief in
command. With these followed eighty black ships.
Next those who possessed Mycena% a well-built town,
570 and the wealthy Corinth, and well-fortified Cleonae, and
inhabited Orneise, the pleasant Arathyrea, and Sicyon,
where first Adrastus reigned ; likewise those who possessed
Hvperesie, the lofty Gonoessa, and Pellene, and inhabited
57t» iEgium, along all the maratime coast, and around spacious
Helice. A hundred ships of these did king Agamemnon,
the son of Atrcus command; with him came by far the
most numerous and the most valiant troops. And he put
on his glittering mail, exulting in his glory, — that he was
080 conspicuous among all the heroes, because he was chief, and
led by far the most numerous forces.
Next those who held the vast hollow LacedtTmon, and
578. vupona, from ya)po\}/, dazzling, which is compoundetl of
vw, a ne^jfativc particle, and opuio, to see. Damm : Qui oh ful-
gorem suum se aspici tion paliiur,
581. KtjTwtaffciv, large, from Ktjroc, a whale, or any other
larfje sea-fish.
49
inhabit TMiaris, and Sparta, ai\(l Mcssa ahoiindinj::^" in doves,
and nryscia',and the h)volv Angeia*; who possessed Aniycla;
and Ilelos, a maritime town, and those who possessed Laas, 505
and dwelt around CEtyhis. His brother Menehius, strenuous
in the shout oj' war, commanded sixty ships of these,
which were armed apart ; and among- them he went, relying
on his valour, urging them forth to war ; for, above all, he
was desirous to revenge the rape and the siglis of Helen, oyo
Next those who inhabited Pylus, and the lovely Arene,
and dwelt by Thryus and the ford Alphanis, the well-built
iEpy, Cyparisseis, Am[)higenia, Ptelius, Helos and
Dorion; where the Muses caused Thamyris, the Thracian, 595
to cease from his singing, as they met him coming from
(Echalia, from Eurytus, the ffichalian ; for he boastingly
affirmed, that he would bear oflf the palm, even though the
Muses themselves, the daughters of the iegis-bearing Jove,
should sing against him ; but they, in their anger, struck COO
him blind, deprived him of his divine song, and caused him
to forget the use of the harp. These, Nestor, the Gerenian
Knight, commanded, with whom ninety hollow ships
advanced in order.
Next those who possessed Arcadia, by the foot of the
lofty mountain of Cyllene, near the tomb of /Ej)ytus, where
men fight hand in hand, ;md who dwell at Pheneus and g05
Orchomenus, abounding in sheep, Ripe, Stratia, and
windy Enispe, who held Tegea, and lovely Mantinea,
possessed Stymphelus, and inhabited Parrhasia. These
king Agapcnor, the son of Anca;us, commanded, with sixtv
ships, and, on board each vessel, went many Arcadian men, ciO
skilful in war. For, Agamemnon, son of Atreus, king of
men, had himself, supplied them Avith well-benched ships
that they might cross over the dark sea ; since they did not
concern themselves about naval affairs.
Next, those who inhabited lluprasium and tioble I'^lis, (;(;-,
G
50
ami the territory wliicli Ifvrniina and farthest Myrsimis, the
rock Olenia and Alisium, contain between them. Of these
there Avere fom* leaders ; and ten swift ships followed each
^-^ man. and many E})ians were onboard. For, some of tliem,
Amphimachns and Thalpins led, the one, the son of Ctea-
tus, the other, tlie son of Eurytus, who was son of Actor ;
others, the valiant Diores, son of Amarynceus, led; whilst
the godlike Polyxenns, son of Agasthenes, who was son of
Augeias, commanded the fourth division.
C25 Next, those from Dnlichium, and the sacred islands of
the Echinades, that are situated beyond the sea, which is
opposite Elis. These, Meges, the son of Phyleus, com-
manded, a rival of Mars, whom Phyleus, a knight beloved
of Jove, begot ; who, enraged with his father, had formerly
630 migrated to Dulichium And with him forty black ships
followed.
But, Ulysses led the magnanimous Cephallenians, those
who possessed Ithaca, and Neritus, abounding in leaves
which are shaken, who inhabited Crocylea, and rugged
iEgilipa, who held Zacynthus, dwelt around Samos, who
033 possessed Epirus, and peopled the opposite regions. These
Ulvsses commanded, a counsellor equal to Jove ; and with
him followed twelve ships with prows dyed with vermilion
But Thoas, the son of Andra^mon, commanded the
iEtolians ; those who inhabited PIcuron, Olenos, Pylene,
G40 Chalcis, on the sea coast, and the rocky Calydon. For
the sons of the magnanimous ffineus were no more, nor did
he himself survive, and the yellow Meleager was dead. To
629. irarpi ')(oX(oOeic, is rendered by some, on account of the
anger of his father. Phyleus was the son of Augeas, to vvliose
treachery, in refusing to give the promised reward to Hercules,
lie bore witness. Vid. Apollod. Biblioth. II. 5. 5.
637. fiiXT07rapr]oi, having red chce/cs, from fxtXroc, vermilion,
and TTupeui, a check. Eustath. /utXroc XP'**/"" forir epvQpov.
642. ^avdoc MeXtaypor, the name is derived from fxeXei, curce
est, and aypa, venatio. He was son of iEneus, king of Calydon,
and
51
To him, (licroCoiv, su[)ivme [)o\v('r wiis oiitrusled that lie
niiolit rule over the iEiollaas. And witli him forty bhick
ships followed.
But Idomeneus, renowned in the use of the spear, led 013
the Cretans, who possessed Cnossus, Gortyn, fortilied with
walls, Lyctus, Miletus, and chalky Lycastus, Pha'stus,
Uhvtius, well-inhabited towns, and others who dwelt around
the lumdred-citied Crete. These, Idomeneus, renowned OGO
with the spear, and Meriones, the rival of man-slaying-
Mars, led. And with them followed eighty black ships.
Tlepolemus, the son of Hercules, brave and mighty,
led from Rhodes, nine ships of the illustrious Khodians,
who inhabited Rhodes, divided into three districts, Lindus, G55
lalyssus, and chalky Camirus. These, TIe[)olemus, re-
nowned with the spear, led, whom Astyocheia bore to
mighty Hercules, she whom he brought from Ephyre, from
the river Selleis, wliere he had laid waste many cities of GGO
Jove-supported youths. But Tlepolemus, when he had
been brought up in the well-framed house, forthwith slew
the beloved uncle of his father, the aged Licymnius, branch
of Mars. And immediately he built ships, and when he
had collected a great force, he took his ilight over the sea; mo
for the other sons and grandsons of the mighty Hercules
and Althaea ; when he was newly born, his mother heard the
Fates, who sat by the fire, saying, the cliild should live till that
billet, which one of them laid in tlie fire, was consumed. I pon
which they departed, and his mother immediately extinguished
the stick, and laid it up carefully. When lie was grown uj), he
killed the Calydonian boar, a prodigious monster, which Diana
had sent to ravage the lands of his father, antl presented tiie liead
of it to Atalanta, the daughter of Jasius, king of the Argives ;
for this, his imcles, on the mother side, were so much incensed,
that they offered to take away the Iiead irom the princess, and
he, opposing their violence, slew them in the conllict, wiiich so
irritated his mother that she burned the billet, and presently,
Meleager was seized with a burning fevei ami died. Vid. Ov.
Met. VIII. 270. ct scqq.
52
threatened him. But wandering- and cndurinn- hardships,
lie arrived in Khodes. These separated into three divisions,
dwelt by tribes, and were beloved of Jove, who rules over
070 goils and men; and the son of Saturn poured abundant
wealth upon them.
Nircus next led three equal ships from Syme ; — Nireus,
the son of Aglaia and king Charops ; — Nireus, who, next
to the illustrious son of Peleus, was the handsomest man of
C75 all the Greeks who came to Ilium. But he was effeminate,
and a small force followed him.
Next, those who possessed Nisyrus, Crapathus, Casus,
Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnean isles.
These, Pliidippus and Antiphus commanded, the two sons
(J80 of Thessalus, the king, the son of Hercules. Of these thirty
hollow ships advanced in order.
And now with regard to those, as many as dwelt at the
Pelasg"ian Argos, who inhabited Alus, Alope, and Trechin,
possessed Phthia and Hellas, abounding in beautiful women,
and were called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans ; of
C85 fifty ships belonging to these, Achilles was the commander.
But they were unmindful of horrid-sounding war, as there
was none who might lead them to their ranks; for the
swift-footed Achilles lay at his ships, indignant for the loss
of the maid, the fair-haired daughter of Brises, whom he had
GDO carried away from Lyrnessus, after he had endured many
toils, and laid wasteLymessusand the walls of Thebe; when,
moreover, he smote Mynes and Epistrophus, the warriors,
sons of Euenus, the king, the son of Selepius. For the
sake of her he lay in sorrow, but was soon to rise again.
(>i>5 Next, those who possessed Phylace and flowery Pyr-
671. Nircus, being wholly deficient in warlike courage
never appears in the field of action.
08 1 . WEkuayiKov A^^yoc, so called to distinguish it from the
Achaian Argos in Peloponnesus, v. !i5d.
53
rliasus, a region sacred to Ceres, Hon, mother of flocks,
maritiine Antron, and Pteleus abomuliiinf in lierbs. Tliese
the warlike Protesilaiis coinnianded w hile he lived ; biit now
the dark earth covered him. 1 lis wife with both her cheeks
lacerated, and his house but half completed were left at 700
Phylace ; but him, a Dardan slew, as he was leapin^^ from
his ship by far the first of the Greeks. And thou<^h they
mourned for their own general, nevertheless they were not
without leaders; for Podarces, sprout of Mars, marshalled
them, the son of Iphiclus, son of Phylacus, rich in flocks, 705
the younger brother of the magnanimous Protesilaiis; for
the warlike hero Protesilaiis was both older and more
valiant ; still the people, though they longed for him who
was brave, were in no want of a leader. With him
followed forty black ships. 710
Next, those who dwelt at Phera?, by the Ho^bean lake,
at Boebe, Glaphyra', and well built laolchus. Eleven
ships belonging to them, Eumelus, the beloved son of
Admetus, commanded, whom Alcestis, loveliest of women, 715
fairest of the daughters of Pelias, bore to Admetus.
Next, those who inhabited Methone, and Thaumacia,
and possessed Meliboea, and rugged Olizon. Seven ships
belonging to these, Philoctetes, skilful in the use of the
bow, commanded; and in each fifty rowers had embarked, 720
700. aii(pi^()v(j)r]g, from o^^i and ^pvirTio, tojlay.
701. lo^oq i)f.iLTi\r]q, Schol. rjroi citekvoq, a(lnjpi)i.a)voq tov
tTfpov TO)y ^eanoTuJi', t) uteXeuotoq. /stXrtov ^e £if)f)(Tdui j/yutreXj;
5ta TO firi yeyopyiKOTCi irauac TrXevaai. That is, either a house
without children, a house deprived of the master or the mistress,
or a house that is not finished. The first of these interpretations
is most generally adopted. Marriage is Irecpiently called rtAof,
and married persons 01 TeXswi. Eustath. teXuq v yafiot;, vOey re-
Xtiovc Tovg ytya/ur/Korng eXiyoy. Thus in the Odyssey we have,
reXug OuXepoio yajj.010 ; and in iEschylus av^pog rtXeiov cio^a,
and still more similar in Valerius Flaccus, cotijua: riiiscranda Caico
Lmgidlu)\ et primo domus imperfecta cuhili.
54
well knowing liowlo fiolit bravely with bows. But he lay,
sutt'ering" severe pains, in the divine island of Lemnos, where
the sons of the Greeks left him, afflicted with a bad ulcer,
from the bite of a deadly snake. There he lay in distress,
725 but the Greeks, at the ships of king Philoctetes, were soon
to remember him ; nor were they without a commander,
thouo-li thev lonaed for their chief; for Medon, an
illegitimate son of Oileus, marshalled them, whom Rhena
bore to Oileus, destroyer of cities.
Next, those who possessed Tricca, and mountainous
730 ithome, and held CEchalia, the city of Eurytus, the
CEchalian. These, the two sons of iEsculapius, Podalirius
and Machaon, skilful surgeons, commanded; and with
them thirty hollow ships advanced in order.
Next, those who possessed Ormenium and the fountain
of fivperea, and dwelt at Asterium and the white summits
735 of Titan. These, Eurypylus, the illustrious son of Euse-
mon, commanded ; and with him followed forty black
ships.
Next, those who held Argissa, and inhabited Gyrtone,
Orthe, Eleone and the white city of Oloosson. These,
740 likewise, the resolute warrior, Polypa3tus, led, the son of
Pirithous, whom the immortal Jove begot; him, the
illustrious Hippodamia bore to Pirithous on that day when
he punished the shaggy Centaurs, expelled them from
745 Pelion, and drove them to the /Ethices. He was not alone,
for with him was Leonteus, branch of Mars, the son of
high-minded Coronus, the son of Cajneus. With them
followed forty black ships.
729. kXw/LtakO£CTcroj', craggy and mountainous, — ubi sunt
kXwua/ctc, i. c. roTTOt kai \o({)Oi vxprjXvi, 7rerf>w^£«c e-)(0VT£s avcij3(t(TEic.
It is an cpitliet of a town built on a craggy hill, and very difficult
of access.
742. kXvtoc, by the Schema Atticum for KXvTrj, Vid. Malth.
Gr. Gr. §.110. Obs. 0. c\c.
55
15ut Ciineus led from Cyplnis two and twenlv ships.
Witli liiin followed the Eiiienes, and llie l*era>l)i firm in
battle, those who iiad fixed their ahode around wintry 750
Dodona, and who cidtivated the fields aroimd agreeable
Titaresiiis, which disembogues its fair-ilowing stream into the
Peneus. But it mixes not itself with the silver-eddied
Peneus, but floats on its surface, like oil ; for it is a
branch of the water of Styx, the awful oath. 765
And Prothous, son of Tenthredon, commanded the
Mag-nesians, who dwelt around Peneus, and Pelion abound-
ing- in leaves. These, the swift Prothous led, and with him
followed forty black ships.
These then w ere the leaders and chiefs of the Greeks. 760
But tell me, O 3Iuse, which was by far the best of the
heroes themselves and horses, who followed the sons of
A treus. By far the best mares w ere those of the grandson of
Pheres, which Eumehis drove, swift as birds, having their
manes of tlic same colour, and being of the same age, and 7G5
equal at the back by measurement; which the silver bow-
bearing- Apollo bred in Pieria, both females bearing the
terror of war. But of the heroes, bv far the miohtiest
was the Telamonian Ajax, as long as Achilles remained in
anger; for he was by far the most valiant, as well as the 770
horses which bore the illustrious son of Peleus. But he
lay at the sea-passing ships of crooked prows, breathing-
out anger against Af^amemnon, shepherd of the people, the
son of Atreus, whilst his soldiers deliohted themselves bv
the shore of the sea by hurling- quoits, javelins, and arrows,
and the horses stood, each by his own chariot, feeding upon 775
751. IfiipTov TiTap)](Twv. Herodotus VI. 74. relates that
there was a fountain named Sti/x, in Arcadia, by which the
people of this country used to swear. Probably the 'I'itaresius
had its source near this fountain.
765. OTpi\ag, oicreac, for 6/.<oiorptx°?> f^f^oereng.
56
lotus, and flio fenny parsley, and the well-covered cars lay
in the tents of tlieir possessors, whilst tliey wandered them-
selves in different directions throughout the army, longing
for their warlike chief, and engaged not in the battle.
7B0 The troops then advanced, and appeared as if the whole
earth was in flames, and the ground uttered a groan be-
neath them, as if to Jove who delighteth in thunder, when,
in his anger, he strikes the earth near Typhon, among the
Arimi, where they report the bed of Typhon to be; — thus, as
785 they were advancing, and passed with great speed over the
plain, the earth loudly groaned beneath their feet.
But Iris, swift as the wind, a messenger from aegis-bear-
ing Jove, came with the sad intelligence to the Trojans, as
they were, old and young, all assembled together, holding
790 a meeting by the gates of Priam. Standing near them,
the swift-footed Iris addressed them. But she assimilated
her voice to that of Polites, the son of Priam, who, relying
on his speed, sat as a sentinel for the Trojans, on the sum-
mit of the tomb of the aged iEsyetes, observing when the
Greeks advanced from their ships. Having assumed his
795 likeness, the swift-footed Iris said :
Endless words are ever agreeable to thee, old man, as
formerly in the time of peace, but now an inevitable war
has arisen. Of a truth I have often already gone into bat-
tles of heroes, but such and so numerous an army I have
800 never seen ; for, like many leaves or sand, they advance,
about to fight around the city. Hector, thee particularly
I advise to act in this manner. There are many allies in
782. a/i^t Tu^wct, the name is derived from Tv^ojxai, to be
in flames, ut qui fulminatus perierit. It appears from Strabo,
Josephus, Bocliart, &c. that the Aptfioi of Homer are the same as
the Syrians. Hence it is conjectured by Mr. Wood in his Essay
on Homer, that the story is a mytholofrical invention, buik upon
the fates of tlie cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Vid. Trollope
in loco.
57
tlic vast city of Priam, and various tongues of widoly-scat-
tcrcd men. I.ot eacli hero i^ivc orders to tliose whom he 805
himself commands, h'thim act ;ts tlieir "feneral, and marshal
the citizens."
Thus she spake, and Hector was not ignorant of the
speech of the goddess, but he immediately dismissed the
assembly, and they rushed to arms. Then all the gates
were opened, and the forces, foot and horse, volleyed out, 810
and a miglity tumult arose.
But there is in front of the city, an elevated mound,
apart in the plain and accessible from every direction,
which men call Batiea, but the immortals, the tomb of the
nimble Myrina. There then the Trojans and the allies 815
were marshalled.
Hector, the miglity, the son of Priam, swiftly agitating
his helmet, led the Trojans; with him by far the most
numerous and the most valiant troops were armed, prompt
in the use of the spear.
But iEneas, the vigorous son of Anchises, commanded
the Dardans, whom divine Venus bore to Anchises on the 820
top of mount Ida, a goddess that lay with a mortal. He
was not alone, for with him were the two sons of Antenor,
Archilochus and Acamas, skilful in every kind of light.
But those Trojans who inhabited Zeleia, at the lowest
foot of mount Ida, a wealthv race, who drank the dark water 825
814. 7ro\v(Tt:apdiuoio. Schol. iroXvicii'rjTOv, raj^etac aK(tpQj.ioQ
yap }/ TO)v TTOCtov Kivj](ng, from oKeipw, to leap.
816. KopvdaioXog, according to some commentators, is de-
rived from i^opvg and aioXoc, variegated — ovk eart h, says Por-
phyry, Quaest. Horn. 3. aWa arjfxairtL tov rayyV ytroneyov cnro
r»;c AfXX»;c» Vtkj (itto tov Aeiv KOt EtXcTj- TreiroujTcii. — KopvOuwXor
oijy, (Tvye-)(^u)g icirwi' Ti]y Kopvdu, 'I'hat is, it is dcrivetl from
kopuc and atWr}, a storm, and signifies, one who coniinuallij moves
his helmet. It is thus explained by the Sclioliast : ha rac f r
ttoXe/vw (Tvve-)(^E.~iQ Kai <j(j)olpctc frtpyeiac, on account of iueesiuiil Olid
ardeni exertions in war.
H
58
of the Jilsepus ; — these, the illustrioiis son ol' Lycaon com-
manded, Pandarus, to whom Apollo himself had given
a bow.
But those who possessed Adrastaea and the state of
Apa^sus, and held Pitueia and the lofty movmtain of
830 Tereia; — these Adrastus commanded, and Amphius wearing^
a linen corslet, the two sons of Pcrcosi.an Merops, who was,
above all, skilful in the prophetic art, and was unwilling
that his sons should go to destructive war ; but they were
not persuaded, for the fates of black death led them on.
835 But those who inhabited Percote, and Practium, and
possessed Sestus, Abydos, and renowned Arisba ; — these,
Asius, the son of Hyrtacus, prince of heroes, commanded,
whom his shining mighty steeds, brought from Arisba,
from the river Selleis.
840 But Hippothoiis led the tribes of Pelasgians skilful in
the use of the spear, those who inhabited the fertile Larissa;
these Hippothoiis commanded, and Pylreus, sprout of
Mars, the two sons of Lethus, the Pelasgian, the son of
Teutamis.
But Acamas, and the hero Piroiis, led all the Thracians,
845 as many as the boistero\is Hellespont contains within it.
And Euphemus, son of Troezenus, the son of Jove-sup-
ported Ceas, was general of the warlike Cicones.
Moreover, Pyr.-cchmes led the Pa?onians armed with
crooked bows, far from A my don, from the wide-flowing
850 Axius, — Axius, whose stream is diffused the most beauteous
over the earth.
But rough-souled Pylajmenes commanded the Paphla-
gonians from among the Enetians, whence comes a race of
83G. Aftvcoy, Abydos, famous for the bridge of Xerxes over
tlie Hellespont, and the loves of Hero and Leander,
252. t'^ EvETwv. After the 'I'rojan war, these people passed
with Antenor, into Italy, and built the city now called Venice, upon
the Adriatic gulph. Vid. Virg. /^'n. I. 242. Liv. 1,1. Also,
Strabo, lib. v.
59
rustic mules, — those who possessed Cytoriis, dwelt at Sesii-
mus, and inlial)lfo(l nol)le mansions by the river I'arlhenius, 0o5
Cromna, iE<jialus, and lofty Erythini.
Odius, moreover, and Epistrophus commanded the Ila-
lizonians, far from Alybe, from whence istheorign of silver.
Likewise, Chromis commanded the Mysians, and Enno-
mus the Aiigur ; — but by his augury, he did not escape black iiOO
death, for he was overwhelmed by the hands of the swift
iEacidcs in the river, where he massacred also other Trojans.
Phorcys, moreover, and the goillike Ascanius, led
the Phrygians far from Ascania, who were eager to fight
in the battle.
Mesthlcs, moreover, and Antiphus, sons of Pyhcmenes, 865
whom the Gygwan lake bore, connnanded the Ma-oniaiis ;
who also led the M.Tonians that were born near Tmolus.
Niistes, moreover, commanded the Carians of barbarous
tongue, — those who possessed Miletus, the wood-crowned
mountain of the Phthirians, the streams of the Meander,
and the lofty summits of Mycale. These, Am[)hima(hus B70
and Nastcs led, Nastes and Amphimachus, the illustrious
sons of Nomion, who foolishly went to war, adorned with
867. Kapiov []apijaf}0(pu)y(t)v. The Curiaiis were not so called,
merely because they were not Greeks, but on account of their
language, which was a mixture of Carion and Greek. Thuc. I.
iiiiit. Ov fxi]v ovce Vtap'pupovQ eiptjKey ('O)U//|0oc), ha to {.irjce 'K\-
\r)vaQ irti), wc e/iot ^okei, aymraXoy eig ty oyofxa airoKEKpitrdai. The
custom of calling all nations but themselves Barbarians did not
yet prevail among the Greeks in the time of Homer. The word
fiapj^japog is derived from fia^eiv, to apeak, which by redoubling
the syllable /3a, and inserting p becomes ftapf^ui^eiy, and to make
the sound correspond more with the sense, the 4 is again changed
into p, from whence (iapfiapog is formed.
872. 'Oc Kui ■)(pvaov e\(t)v k, t. \. There is an ambiguity
here with regard to the relative <)g, since it is not certain to which
of the two brothers it is to he referred; — the rules of Granunar
would indeed direct us to refer it to l^of^loyoc, were it not that the
copulative fcai denotes that the Poet is now describing the cHenii-
nacy of a person of whom he has related something already.
Nastcs
60
oolcl as a ffirl ; nor did this ward off from him bitter
destruction, but he was overwhelmed in the river by the
«75 hands of the swift-footed iEaeides, and Achilles, skilled in
war, bore off' the gold.
But Sarpedon commanded the Lycians, along with the
illustrious Glaucus, far from Lycia, from the eddying
Xanthus.
Nastes alone is said at first to be the commander of the Carians,
from whence it appears tliat principal reference is made to him,
and to him therefore this description seems most properly appli-
cable.
THE
ILIAD OF HOMER.
BOOK III.
THE ARGUMENT.
The armies being ready to engage, the Poet introduces Paris,
challenging the heroes of the Greeks, to a single combat. Mc-
nelaus advances to accept the challenge, when Paris immediately
shrinks back into the crowd of his companions ; however, by
the intervention of Hector, he is forced to stand forth, and a
duel between iiim and Menclaus is agreed upon, which should
put an end to the war, and the victorious champion should re-
ceive Helen as his prize. Helen is led out to the walls of Troy
to behold the fight, where she gives an account of the most
distinguished of the Grecian chiefs to Priam and his counsellors.
A description of the duel. Paris is overcome, and snatched
away by Venus in a cloud, and transported to his own apart-
ment. Helen is brought to him from the walls, who reproaches
his cowardice. Agamemnon demands the restoration of Helen,
and a performance of the articles of the contract.
The three and twentieth day still continues throughout this Book.
The scene is sometimes in the fields before Troy, and some-
times in Troy itself
But when the armies were drawn up in battle-arrav, each
under their respective leaders, the Trojans advanced forth,
like birds, vvitli clangor and shout, as is the din of cranes
Ihrough Ihc air, which, when Ihey have escaped a storm 5
iuid a vast shower, flv wi(h a clamour over the floods of
62
llic ocean, carrying death and destruction to tlie pigmy
men; for these, flying- througli the air, bring on tlie
dire contention. But the Greeks, breathing out valour,
marched in silence, exulting in their minds to support
each other.
10 As when the South wind has poured down a mist upon
the summits of a mountain, in no way agreeable to the
shepherds, but more commodious than night for the thief,
and one can see but as far as he can cast a stone ; — thus as
they advanced, and speedily crossed over the plain, the
turbid dust was excited from beneath their feet.
16 But when they were now nearly approaching one
another, the godlike Paris advanced in front of the Trojans,
bearing, upon his shoulders, the skin of a panther, a crooked
bow and a sword. And brandishing two spears, pointed
with brass, he challenged all the most valiant of the Greeks
20 to fio-Jit aofainst him in horrid combat.
But when the warlike Menelaus observed him advancins;
with long strides before the army, he exulted, as a lion
when he lights in his hunger on a huge body, and finds
25 either a horned stag, or a rustic goat, for he greedily de-
vours it, though swift hounds, and blooming youtlis, pursue
him ; thus Menelaus rejoiced, when he perceived, with his
eyes, Alexander of beauteous form, for he conceived that
6. avcpaai Ylvyfiaiotfft, so called from Truyjurj, a cubit. They
were a people of Thrace said to be only three inches in height,
who had continual war with the cranes. Also a people of India.
Of the first, vid. Plin. IV. 11. Of the second, Id. G. 19. But
Strabo and Aristotle place them on the banks of the Nile, and the
Scholiast describes them as a diminutive race of men in upper
Egypt who assemble in their fields for the purpose of scaring the
cranes from their corn at the time of their periodical passage to
tlie warmer climate of the South. The Gammadim, a people of
Phanicia, mentioned in Ezck. xxvii. 7. are rendered Pigmai,
in the Latin Vulgate, because the Hebrew Gammcul signifies a
cubit. Vid. Trollope in loco.
G3
he would rovonj^-e llio jriiilty wrclcli; and inimodiatelv lie
leaped with his arms from his chariot to the j^round.
But wiieii the f^odlike Paris recognized him aj)|)earin<^ 30
in the van, he was dismayed in his beloved heart, and
avoidin<^ death, he shrunk back into the column of his
companions.
As when one, seeing- a serpent in the thickets of a
mountain, halts, and starts away, whilst trembling seizes his
limbs, and he retires back, whilst paleness spreads over his 35
countenance ; thus Alexander, of beauteous form, dreading
the son of Atreus, shrunk into the ranks of the Trojans of
illustrious honour.
But him, Hector having- seen him, reproved with re-
proachful words : " Ill-fated Paris, thou deceiver, fair in 40
form, and burning for women, woiddthat thou hadst never
been born, or died without marriage ! surely T would have
preferred it, and poradventure it woidd have been flir more
advantageous, than that thus thou shouldst be a disgrace
and a spectacle to others. Of a truth, the long-haired
Greeks may laugh, who expected thee to be a cham[)ion,
since thou hadst a beautiful form; but there is no strength 45
nor vigour in thy mind. Didst thou, such as thou art,
having traversed the ocean in sea-passing ships, having
assembled thy beloved companions, and mixed with stran-
gers, — didst thou carry away the beauteous woman, from
the Apian land, the s})Ouse of warlike heroes? — great mis- 50
chief to thy father, to the city and the whole state, an object
of joy to the enemy, and a disgrace to thyself? Shouldst
thou not therefore await the warlike Menelaus? Then thou
mightest know of how brave a man thou possesses! the
bloomino" bride. Tin harii would not avail thee, nor the 55
39. AvffTTopi, unhappy Paris. So atvoTrn^ic in Eur. Hoc. 932.
Of the same class arc, cva7rciTi)i>, c^va/j)/ri;p, and tlic adjectives
SvaTTOTfioc, ?u(T7ro0»;e, &'C.
64
•rifts of Venus, tliy locks, and lliv beauty, when thou shouldst
be mingled in the dust. Surely the Trojans are dastardly
men, or thou sliouldst liaye already put on a tunic of stone,
on account of so many calamities thou hast brought upon
them."
Then Alexander of godlike form, addressed him in re-
ply : " Hector, since thou hast justly reproyed me, and not
60 unjustly, / ivill acquiesce; thy heart is eyer unwearied,
like an axe, which penetrates wood by the guidance of a
man, who by art is cutting nayal timber, and it increases
the force of the man ; such in thy breast is thy intrepid
G5 soul. Reproach me not with the loyely gifts of golden
Venus ; for the distinguished gifts of the gods are not to
be rejected, whateyer they may chance of themsehes to
bestow, but no one can forcibly take them at his own
pleasure. But now if thou desirest me to vyar and to fight,
cause the other Trojans and all the Greeks to sit down, and
70 brinsr tosrether myself and the warlike Menelaus, that we
may combat, in the middle, for Helen and all her wealth ;
and whoeyer will conquer and be yictorious, let him take
the riches altogether and the woman, and carry them home.
But may you, the others forming friendship and firm alli-
ances, inhabit fertile Troy, and let them return to Argos
75 that feedeth horses, and Acheea that abounds vyith beautiful
women."
Thus he spoke, and Hector, when he heard the propo-
sal, was greatly delighted; and adyancing between the
armies, and holding his spear by the middle, he restrained
the ranks of the Trojans, and they all sat down. And the
long-haired Greeks were at the point of shooting at him
their «irrovvs, and aiming vyith their missile vveapons, they
were about to strike him with stones, when Agamemnon,
80 king of men, loudly exclaimed:
" Desist, ye Argnes, strike not, ye youths of the Greeks,
05
for Ileclor, of the swift-moving lielmot, promises to make
some proposal."
Thus he spake, ami they abstained from the battle, and
were immediately silent, whilst Hector addressed them botli : »6
"Hear from me, Trojans and well-booted Greeks, the
proposal of Alexander, on whose account the contention
arose. He commands the other Trojans, and all the Greeks,
to lay down their beauteous arms on the earth that fecdeth
many, that he and the warlike Menelaus may combat alone, 90
in the middle, for Helen and all her wealth ; then, whoever
may conquer and be \fictorious, let him take the riches
altogether, and the woman, and carry them home ; — but
that we, the others, should strike a league of friendship and Oj
faithful alliance."
Thus he spake, and all were mute in silence, but Mene-
laus, strenuous in the shout of war, addressed them :
" Now hear me also, — since sorrow comes most upon
my soul ; but I perceive that ye Greeks and Trojans are
now to be separated, after ye have endured many calami- 100
ties through mv contention and the provocation of Paris;
— for whichever of us death and fate are prepared, let him
die, and do ye others separate yourselves as soon as possible.
But bring two lambs, one white, and the other black, as
victims to the Earth and the Sun, and we shall brinof
another to Jupiter, and conduct hither also the mighty lor>
Priam, that he may strike the treaties himself, since his
sons are faithless and violators of oaths, that no one may
83. oTfurai, per syncopen for OTeverai, from errevofiai, an
Homeric word which signifies, to offirm, to jjromisc.
99. -irETTocrde, Eustath. per syncopen for ireirorijaOe, Schol.
for TTETTOvdaTe. But others consider it as put for irtiroayaTE, from
iraayui, potior. However, as Tzaa^b) is one of those anomal. verbs
in <rx*^' ^^'hich are used only in the present and imperfect tenses,
we would rather follow the Scholiast, and derive it from the old
verb TTijGw, perf. mid. ■miroQa, and by inserting v, TmrovOa,
I
66
transgress the covenants of Jovo. For the minds of yonngcr
men are ever unstable, but when an aged man is present
110 among- them, he looks to the future and the past, so that
tlie best resuhs may ha]>pen to both parties."
Tims he spake, and the (ireeks and the Trojans were
delighted, hoping that they might cease from calamitous
war. Then they bridled back their horses to tlieir ranks,
115 dismounted themselves, put off their arms which they laid
on the ground near each other, and there was but a small
space between them.
Then Hector sent two heralds with all speed to the city
to brinjj the lambs and to call Priam, whilst kino- Ajra-
memnon despatched Talthybius to the hollow ships, and
120 ordered him to bring a lamb, nor did be disobey the noble
Agamemnon.
Iris, in the mean time, came, a messenger to the white-
armed Helen, having assumed the likeness of her sister-in-
law, the wife of the son of Antenor, Laodice, fairest in form
125 of the daughters of Priam, whom king Helicaon, the son
of Antenor possessed. But her she found in the house, as
she was weaving a large web, double and glittering, and
representing upon it many toils of the horse-taming Trojans
and the brazen-coated Greeks, which they endured for her
sake from the hands of Mars. And, standing nigh, the
swift-footed Iris thus addressed her:
108. r)EptQovTai, lonice for uepEdovrai, from aEpsdofiai, the
passive form of aepeOu), a verb derived by paragoge from aeipw.
Damm gives the following comment on this passage : EfCKpfyuete
eiai u)Q tv fupi, £\a(]>pai Kai evcraXevroi kui aftfftaioi tiaiy cd rijjv
vi(t)v (ppEver, ovK ijXTTtCoi Kfu TTajLUic, fteftuioi Kcii ao-^aXeTe : evfjie-
TaKivTjToi Eiaiy. Tliat is, the minds of young men are suspended as
it were in the air, light and easily moveable and vnjirm, not resolute
and strongly fixed and free from danger. Thus also, Horat.
Art. p. 1G5. Imberbis juvenis, tandem custode remoto, Sublimis cu-
pidusque, ct amata relinquere pernix. The word properly signifies,
to be suspended and fluctuate in the air. We have the exact mean-
ing of it in /3. 448, ttjc Ikutov Qvaavot Tray^pvaeoi rjepeOovro.
07
(Jonio hither, beh)vcil nymph, that llioii mayst beliold 130
the wonderful deeds of (lie horse-taming Trojans and tlie
brazen-coated Greeks, who formerly waged lamentable
war ag'ainst each other on the plain, eager for the per-
nicious battle, but who now sit in silence, as the war liath
ceased, leaning on their shields, and their long- spears are 135
fixed ill the yrounil beside them. But Alexander, and
Menelaus beloved of 3Iars, are to fight for thee with long
s[)ears, and thou wilt be called the dear spouse of him who
shall conquer."
Having thus spoken, the goddess infused into her soul
a sweet desire for her former husband, for her city and her 140
parents; and immediately covering herself with her white
robes, she rushed from the chamber, j)ouring out the tender
tear; — not alone, for with her two attendants followed,
iEthra, the daughter of Pittheus, and large-eyed Clymene.
And forthwith they arrived at the Scanm gates. Cut at the 145
Scauvn gates sat the elders of the people, Priam, Pantlioiis,
Thymoetes, Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, branch of Mars,
Ucalegon, and Antenor, both prudent men, having ceased
indeed from war on account of their age; but they, skilful IJO
haranguers, like grasshoppers, which, sitting on a tree in
the wood, send forth a pleasant sound. Such chiefs then
of the Trojans were sitting u[)on the tower, who, when they
saw Helen approaching to the tower, spoke to one another
in a whisper, these winged words : 155
" No wonder that the Trojans and well-booteil Greeks,
endure hardships for a long time, on account of such a
145. T^KaML TcvKat. Fleyne supposes tliat Troy liad no otlier
•^ates but diesc, but it appears iroin /3. SUi), that there were at
least, move than one. The word aKiuuQ means, lejtf ami hence
probably, the name of the gate, irom its situation on the Western
side of the town, for this part of tlie horizon (ra ^vtiku) is called
a^aia, when we look towards tlie Noi tli.
152. oira Xeipiosaaav kvreg, sending for ih a mcloilioits voice
amid the lilies, \etpiotii: from Xetpwy, a lily.
68
woman, tvho is altogether, in lier countenance, like the
immortal goddesses. But even thus, such as she is, may
KJO she return in the ships, that ruin may not be left to us and
to our children after us."
Thus they spake, and Priam called Helen with his
voice : " Come hither, my beloved child, and sit by me,
that thou mayst behold thy former husband, thy relations,
and thy friends, (for thou art blameless before me; the
1G5 gods are to blame, who have brought upon me the lament-
able war of the Greeks,) and that thou mayst name to me
that mighty man, and say, who is that Grecian hero, so
huge and tall. Of a truth, there are others taller by the
head, but so handsome and so venerable a man I have never
170 yet seen with these eyes; he appears like a royal warrior."
To him Helen, fairest of women, answered in these
words: "Thou art tome, my beloved father-in-law, an ob-
ject of reverence and awe. Would that disastrous death
had been my choice when I followed hither thy son, having
175 left my bridal bed, my brothers, my dearest daughter that
was my only offspring, and the sweet society of my equals !
175. irat^a re TrjXvyErrjv. Properly, a child born in old age,
from TTfXe, procul, and yivojiai, nascor. Thus the Scholiast : k'v-
pnog Tr]\vy£Tai KoXovvrai ol ttjXov tt)q yovr}g ovreg wai^eg, 6 eotiv
tv yepovTiKrj yXiKig. (nrapeyreg. And because to parents who are
advanced in age there is no hope of more cliiklren, rr/Xvyerrjc
is generally taken in a secondary signification, where it denotes
either an only, or a beloved, child. It also signifies, one son among
many daughters, or, one daughter among many sons ; thus I. 143,
and 285, it is said of Orestes, vg /uot Ti]\vyerr]g rpf-^Erai, qui miht
unicus nutritur, — rpeg ^e ol eiai Ovyarpeg, sed tres illi sunt Jilice.
Vid. Damm. Lex. in voce, and Mosch. Id. IV. 29, where a
mother speaks of her only daughter. It cannot possibly apply,
in its literal signification to Hermione, the daughter of Menelaus
and Helen, since they were not far advanced in years when she
was born, nor is it recorded that they l)ad any other children
besides lier. It probably means, that she was as dear to Helen,
as her last child is to a mother in her old age. For the true mean-
ing of it, vid. £. 153.
69
liut tliis did not come to pass, and wlicrefore I pine away
in tears! But that vvliich llioii askest, and incpiirest of me,
1 will tell ; this is the son of Atreus, the wide-ruling- Aga-
memnon, both a virtuous king' and a valiant warrior. Once
he was the brother-in-law of me immodest — if ever there 100
was an immodest woman,'^
Thus she spake, and the old man admired him, and
said : " O thou blessed, fortunate son of Atreus, born under
a happy destiny, of a truth, many sons of the Greeks arc
under thy command. Formerly I entered vine- bearing
Phrygia, where I beheld very numerous Phrygians, men 185
skilful in horsemanship, the forces of Otreus and godlike
Mygdon, who were then encamped on the banks of the
Sangarius; and I was numbered as an ally among them
on that day when the heroic Amazons came against them.
But these were not so many as the black-eyed Greeks." 190
In the second j)lace, observing Ulysses, the old man
asked : " And this also, my beloved child, come, tell me,
who is he; less, indeed, by the head than Agamemnon, the
son of Atreus, but he is broader in appearance in the
shoulders and chest; his arms are lying on the much-feeding ii)5
earth, but himself, like a ram, is stalking through the ranks
of heroes; — to a thick woolled ram I compare him, which
wanders amid an extensive flock of w liite sheep."
189. A/ia^ovef avriavtipai. The word A^a^wv is derived
from a priv. and ^a^oc, mamma; or according to others, from
ufia^riv, una vivcrc, i. e. sine viris. 'Ihese Amazons were a tribe
of warlike women, who entirely possessed a great part of Asia,
and inhabited Scythia, near the Mwotis and Tanais, whence
Seneca, Hippol. 401, calls them Mccolidas ct Tanail'nhis. They
fought with an axe and arrows, and used a small hall-round tar-
get for defence. Q. Smyrnaius relates in his Post-Homcrica,
that tliey assisted Priam in the Trojan war. For a full account
of them, vid. Virg. /En. I. 490. and 11. GIS, Sec Justin. '2, 5, ^c.
Diod. Sic. 3. 11. and 5. 2. Also, Bryant's Heathen Mi/t/iotogi/,
I. 32. V. 110. The epithet npnaveipai is thus explained by
the Scholiast: at lacu Kara evi((i.iiy ayciniTiy, i] n! lyayriovfieyai
av^paaiv, £s o'v noXefiiKcti,
70
Then Helen, sprung from Jove, answered him:
200 " This, moreover, is the crafty Ulysses, the son of Laertes,
who was brouo'ht up among the people of Ithaca, craggy
though it be, skilled in all manner of guile and prudent
counsel."
Her ao-ain the wise Antenor addressed in return :
" O woman, of a truth, thou hast given a very correct ac-
•JOO count; for already, on a former time, did the noble
Ulysses come hither, along with the warlike Menelaus, on
an embassv concerning thee t and them I entertained
with hospitality, and treated with kindness in my house,
and observed the disposition and prudent counsels of them
210 both ; but when they mingled witli the assembled Trojans,
as they stood, jMenelaus surpassed by the broad shoulders,
but when were both sitting, Ulysses was more august ;
and when thev were weaving harang-ues and counsels to the
multitude, Menelaus spoke concisely — a few words indeed,
215 but with a shrill voice, since, although he was younger hi
age, he was not a man of many words, nor wandering in
his speech. But when the skilful Ulysses arose, he stood,
and looked downwards with his eyes fixed upon the earth,
and he moved not his sceptre either backwards or forwards,
220 but held it motionless, like a man without knowledge ; so
that you might say he was at once furious and foolish. But
when he sent forth the mighty voice from his breast, and
words like flakes of wintry snow, no other mortal would
then dispute with Ulysses; but when we then looked at
the appearance of Ulysses, we did not so much admire it."
213. £TnTpo)(ucriv. Eustath. avri tov ve^aXatw^we, Ta\t(oc,
eantvafievbJCf tv tu einTpfyeiv ra ttoWu.
215. a^ujxupTontriz, ivander'mg from the 2)oint, from utto,
<ifiapTapu>, eiroQ. In Od. \. .510. we have, Aei Trpwroc f/^ai^e kot
ouj( ilfiapTUVE f.iv()u)V.
i3'22. vKputtcraiv eoh^otu yEiixEpLr](nv . Mr. Trollope quotes
a similar passage from Deut. xxxii. 2. LXX. Ylpoacui:aai)(>) wc
vtroc TO awofOtyfia fjov, kul KUTaftriTio wr Spoaog ra prjfiara fiov,
wff£i onftpoc tn aypwoTiv, kcu waei yulteror tni ■)(^rjpTvy.
71
Afrain, in (lie tliinl j>laoo, seeing Ajax, llic old man 225
Jisked: " Who is tliis ollior IJrofiau warrior, stout and
niio-htv, (Muinoiit above tlio Arrives by the head and broad
shoulders?"
Then Helen of the long- robe, noblest of women, answer-
ed him : " This is the mighty Ajax, bulwjuk of the Greeks ; 230
and on the other side stands Idomeneus amono- the Cretans,
like a g-od, and around him are assembled the leaders of
the Cretans. Many a time did the warlike Menelaus hos-
pitably entertain him in our house, when he came from
Crete. And now 1 behold all the other black-eyed Greeks, 235
whom T well could recoanize, and whose names I might
mention ; but two leaders of the people I cannot see, Castor,
the tamer of horses, and Pollux skilful in boxing, my own
twin-brothers, whom the same mother bore with myself.
Is it that tliev have not followed from lovelv Lacedaniion? 240
— or have they follow ed hither in the sea-passing ships, but
now are unwilling to engage in the battle of heroes,
fearing the disgraces and the many insults Avhich are
heaped upon me."
Thus she spake, but the life-supporting earth contained
them there in Lacedannon, in their dear paternal lanil.
But now the Heralds were carrying through the city 245
the faithful treaties of the gods, two lambs anil refreshing
wine, — produce of the land, in bottles of goat's skin ; and
the herald, Idspus, bore a glittering goblet and golden cujis ;
and standing beside the old man, he thus excited him
with his words :
" Arise, son of Laomedon, the chiefs of the horse-taming 250
Trojans and brazen-coated Greeks invite thee to descend
into the plain, that faithful treaties may be struck, ("or
Alexander and the warlike Menelaus are to fight with long
244. irarpih yoo;. This was Therapna'. Piml. Pydi. XT.
95. Nem. X. 106.
72
265 spears for llic woman, and the woman and lior wealth
shall follow him who shall conquer; but we, the others,
liavino- entered into friendsliip and iirm alliances, shall
inhabit fertile Troy, whilst they will return to horse-feeding
Arg-os and Acha^a aboimdino- with beautiful women."
Thus he spake, but the old man shuddered, and com-
260 manded his companions to yoke his horses, and they obeyed
with alacrity. Priam then ascended and drew back the
reins, and beside him Antenor moimted the beautiful
chariot. And they directed the swift horses to the plain
through the Seaman gates.
And when they were come to the Trojans and the
265 Greeks, they alighted from their horses on the fruitful
earth, and advanced into the middle between the Trojans
and the Greeks. Then immediately arose Agamemnon,
king of men, and the crafty Ulysses arose ; whilst the
illustrious heralds collected the things requisite for the
270 faithful treaties of the gods, and mingled wine in a goblet,
and poured water upon the hands of the kings. But the son
of Atrcus, having drawn with his hands the large knife, which
always hung beside the mighty scabbard of his sword, cut
off the wool from the heads of the lambs ; and then the
heralds distributed it among the chiefs of the Trojans and
275 the Greeks. And Atreides prayed for them with a loud
voice and uplifted hands :
"Father Jove, who rulest from Ida, most glorious,
most august, and thou sun who beholdest all things, and
hearest all things, ye rivers, and thou earth, and ye, who
2G0. OTpaXeioc, impigre, from orpuXeog which is the same as
oTprtpoc, an epitlict of active servants, from oTpvvw, I stir myself.
271. ytiptaai [la-^aipav. The fxaytupa was a large knife,
suspended by the side of the sword, and hence called Trapa^ifig.
It is derived from nuyjj), acriter contendo. Sec Kiistcr on Aris-
topli. Acharn. 845.
27G. Zew TTciTep. From this expression it is probable that
the word Jupiter is derived.
73
beneath flic earth, jiuiiish tlie dead, when any may have
violated an oath, bo ye witnesses and ouard these faithful 200
treaties. If peradventure AUwander shall slay Menelaus,
then let him possess Helen and all her riches, and let us
return in our sea-passing- ships ; but if the yellow-haired
Menelaus shall kill Alexander, then let the Trojans restore 285
Helen and all her weiUth, and pay that fine to the Greeks,
which is becoming, and which may be spoken of among
men of future ages. But if Priam, and the sons of Priam,
shall be imwilling to pay me the fine, after the fall of Alex-
ander, then will 1 fight again for the fine, till, remaining 290
here, I shall find an end of the war."
He said, and with the relentless knife he cut the throats
of the lambs, and laid them, panting on the ground, de-
prived of life, for the knife had taken away their strength.
And drawing wine from a goblet, they poured it into the 205
cups, and prayed to the everlasting gods. And thus many
a one of the Greeks and the Trojans said :
" Jupiter, most glorious and most mighty, and ye other
immortal gods, whoever shall first violate the treaties, may
the brains of them and of their children flow, as this wine, 300
to the ground ; and may their wives have connection w ith
others."
Thus they prayed, but the son of Saturn did not then
ratify their desire. Rut Priam, the son of Dardanus, spoke
among them :
"Hear me, Trojans and well-booted Greeks; 1 indeed 305
return airain to windv Ilium, since 1 shall not bear to be-
295. acpvaaafxevoi hiraecraiv, having 2^ourc(l out into ciqis.
The verb a<pvit> is derived from aTro, and vu, to rain, so that it sig-
nifies to pour out some liquid from one vessel into anotlier, so as
to wet it as if witli rain. I'he verb afvaaw, of the same import, is
the poetic futme of a(/>ua>. The poetic form hTrcuaffir, so often
used by Homer, is formed from the genitive singular, by changing
the termination oc into £(Tcri, as t'tTraf, ^ejra-oc, hira-eerat.
K
74
hold with lliose eyes, my bohwed son conlondino' with the
wnrliko IMenelaiis; l)ut Jupiter knows this, and the other
immortal gods, to which of them the end of death is de-
creed."
310 The g-odlike man spoke, and placed the lambs in the
chariot, and then mounted himself and drew back the
reins; and beside him, Antenor ascended the beauteous
car, and wheeling- round they departed for Ilium.
But Hector, son of Priam, and the noble Ulysses, first
315 measured out the ground; then taking- lots, they shook
them in a brazen helmet, to knoio, which should first throw
his brazen spear; whilst the people prayed and lifted up
their liands to the gods, and many a one of the Greeks and
the Trojans thus said :
320 " Father Jove, w ho rulest from Ida, most glorious, most
august, whoever, among both, is the author of these crimes,
grant that he may perish, and descend to the abode of
Pluto, but on the other hand that friendship and faithful
treaties may continue among us."
325 Thus they prayed, and the mighty Hector of the swift-
moving plume, shook the helmet, looking backwards, and
immediately the lot of Paris leaped out. Then the troops
sat down in their ranks, where each man's swift-footed hor-
ses stood, and variegated armour lay. But the noble
Alexander, the husband of the fair-haired Helen, put on
330 his beauteous arms over his shoulders; — first he placed, on
his logs, glittering greaves, fastened with silver clasps ;
next he braced upon his breast the corslet of his brother
Lycaon, for it fitted him; and around his shoulders he
331. apapviac, gen. sing, from apapioQ, part. perf. mid. from
apu), apto. From apw we have the 2 aor. rjpov, and with the Attic
rcdiiphcation -qpapov, or without the augment apapov ; and hence
tlic perf. mid. t]p(ipn and apapa, from whence, tlie particip. peif.
mid. ijpapior and upnpwr. 'I'he verb is formed by syncope from
aeiput.
75
hunfjf his brazen sword, adorned with silver studs; and
then hisliuoe and in:issy shield; and n[)on his valiant liead, 333
he placed a well-lornied helmet, plumed with horse-hair,
and the crest awfully waved from above; tlien he took a
strong" spear which fitted his hand. In the satne manner
the warlike Menelaus put on his armour.
When, therefore, they had armed themselves in each 340
army, tliey advanced forth into the middle, between the
Trojans and the Greeks, looking- fearfully; and stupor
seized the horse-taming- Trojans, and the well-booted
Greeks, as they gazed upon them. But the two Cham-
pions stood near each other within the measured ground,
blandishing their spears, and breathing anger against one 345
another; and first Alexander hurled his long sjjcar, and
struck the shield of Atreides, that was on all sides equal ;
nor did it pierce the brass, but its point was bent on the
mighty shield. Next, Menelaus, the son of Atreus, made
an attack with his brazen spear, having" thus prayed to 350
father Jove :
"King Jove, grant that 1 may avenge myself on the
noble Alexander, who tirst injuriously treated me, and
subdue him by my hands, that every one, even of lale [)os-
terity, may shudiler injuriously to treat an host who may
have shewn him kindness."
lie spake, and brandishing his long spear, he launched it , 355
350. Au Trarpi, from Atg, one of the names of Ju])itor, ot'
which there are ten different variations: B^£i/g, Asvc, ^fvf, At*.-,
Aiyj*, Any, ZriQ, Zi]y, Y^ag, Zay ; the most frequently occurrinpf are
ZevQ, Ate, and Zrjy. The name B^euc, and those beginning with Z,
are evidently corruptions. The most original seems to be A«Ci
from the old verb ciio, to reverence. From luo comes rttw, of the
same import, and hence hog, fear, from which Atuc is formed.
This last is evidently the source of the Latin /)t'«.v, and perhaps
the vocative Aeu is the origin of our word Diiiv. AnaU)gous to
these variations of names, we have, Mwd)/*., Mwi/jj/c, Mw<Tfi<f,
Mb)vatvr, Moses ; viog, utewc, v'lig, liiiiis, &c.
76
and struck the shield of the son of Priam, that was on overv
side equal ; the impetuous spear pierced through the glit-
tering- shield, and was fastened in the corslet of curious
workmanship : and the spear penetrated right through the
300 tunic, beside the flank ; but he inclined himself and avoided
black death ; then the son of Atreus drawing the silver-
studded sword, and raising it, struck the cone of his helmet;
but, being broken about it into three or four pieces, the
stPord fell from his hand. And the son of Atreus, looking
up to the wide heaven, ejaculated :
305 " Father Jove, no other of the gods is more pernicious
than thou ! — of a truth, I hoped that I should revenge
Alexander for his injury ; but now my sword is broken in
my hands, and my spear was hurled without effect, nor
have I wounded him."
He said, and rushing upon him, he seized him by the
helmet thickly plumed with horse-hair, and turning round,
370 dragged him to the well-booted Greeks. But the em-
broidered band, which was tied as the fastener of his helmet,
under his chin, was choaking him about the tender throat ;
and now he would have dragged him, and atchieved an
endless glory, had not Venus, the daughter of Jove, quickly
375 perceived it, who burst the thong of an ox, that was killed
with violence, — when the empty helmet followed his power-
ful hand ; then the hero whirling it round, threw it to the
well-booted Greeks, and his beloved companions took it
300 "p. Cut he rushed back again, eager to kill him with his
brazen spear, but Venus, as she was a goddess, snatched
him away with great ease, and enveloped him in a thick
cloud, and placed him in his perfumed, odoriferous cham-
ber. Then she went to call Helen, whom she found on the
lofty tower, and around her were Trojan women in abun-
382. K/jwtyrt, perfumed. Eustatli. wapa to Kijat, r)yovv,
KuvtTcu K(iL Ovfiuintn.
77 ■
dance; liavin<T lakcii hold oi her sweet-smell iiifr oarment, 305
she pulled it with her hand, and spoke to her in the likeness
of an old woman, an a<>od dresser of wool, who car-
ded her beautifid fleeces, when living at Laceda'mon, and
greatly loved her. Having jvssumed her likeness, the divine
Venus spoke :
" Come hither, Alexander invites thee to return home, 300
he is himself in his chamber, and well-fashioned couch,
glittering both in beauty and dress; nor couldst thou say
that he had returned from a combat with a hero, — but
rather that he was going to a dance, or that he had just
sat down, having ceased from dancing."
Thus she spake, and agitated her soul within her breast; 31)5
and when she perceived the beauteous neck of the goddess,
her lovely bosom and her sparkling eyes, she was struck
with amazement, and called her by her name, and addressed
her:
" Cursed goddess, why dost thou wish to deceive me
with these things? Wilt thou carry me to some one more 400
distant of the well-peopled cities, cither of Phrygia, or of
lovely M(eonia,' if there also some articulate-speaking man
be dear to thee 1 Is it because Menelaus, having conquered
the noble Alexander, is willing, odious as I am, to take me
home, that thou art come hither lavin"- snares for me? Go 405
thou, and sit beside him, and renounce the abodes of the
gods, nor mayst thou any more direct thy steps to Olym-
pus, but always be in misery with him and watch him, till
he makes thee either his wife or his handmaid. But thither 410
will I not go to adorn his bed, as indeed it would be
385. kavov, a garment from tw, induo, but kavog, the adjective
£. 734, having the penult, long, is derived from pew, fluo. Vid.
Maltby, hi voce.
391. c\jwro7o-t X£)(£(T<Tt. Literally, beds made H'ilh a turn or
lathe. ^ivwToc, from Siveu, gyro, instar vorticis circunuigo, from
the root Siyrj, a whirlpool.
78
blanio-uorJhy ; all the Trojan women will liencefortli
curse me, and even now 1 have numberless and unceasing-
sorrows upon my mind."
But the divine Venus replied with indignation : " Irri-
41.!> tate me not, thou wretched woman, lest I forsake thee in
my anger, and hate thee as much as I have hitherto
wonderfully loved thee; then should 1 raise pernicious
enmity towards thee among- both the Trojans and the
Greeks, and thou shouldst perish by an evil fate."
Thus she spake, and Helen, sprung- from Jove, trem-
bled, and she went in silence, enveloped in her white
120 shining robe, escaping the notice of all the Trojan women,
whilst the goddess led the way.
But when they arrived at the beauteous house of Alex-
ander, then the attendants turned with all haste to their
employments, butshe, — the noblest of women, ascended into
•125 the lofty chamber, when the goddess, the smile-loving
Venus, having seized a seat, carried it and placed it over
against Alexander, where Helen, the daughter of a^g'is-
bearing Jove, sat with averted eyes, and thus upbraided
her husband :
" Thou hast returned from the combat ! — Would thou
hadst perished there, subdued by the gallant hero, who was
430 my former husband ! Of a truth, thou didst formerly
boast, that thou wert superior to the warlike Menelaus in
Ihy strength, in thy hands, and in the use of the spear; but
go now and challenge the warlike Menelaus, again to com-
bat against thee, — but, 1 advise thee to cease, and not to
424. A<l>ociTr]. So called from afpog, spuma, because, according
to Hcsiod, slie sprang from the foam of the sea. Plato and others
follow this etymology, hut Aristophanes says, she was thus called,
(juod semmis naluru sit (i<j)i>wcrjr, i. e. sjnimosa. Hecuba in the
Troades of Euripides, playing upon the first syllable of the word,
affirms that she was called Af/^jwi^trj/, because she was u^poavyyc
Oea, (he goddess of JoUij.
79
waoo ail lioslilo war willi llic vcllovv-liairod Moiiolaiis, nor 433
rashly to cncounfor liini, lost tiioii l)i' (jiiickh dispatdieil
by hissjioar."
But Paris answering-, addressed her : " Woman, do
not upbraid my soul with severe rejiroaches; INJenelaus
hath now indeed conquered by the iielp of" Miner\ a, but I
will conquer him in my turn ; for there arc g-ods with us 440
also. But come, let us lie together and delight ourselves
in love ; — for never at any time hath love so enveloped my
mind, — no, not even when formerly having carried thee
away from pleasant Laced;rmon, I sailed in the sea- passing
ships, and mixed with thee in the pleasures of concubinage
in the island of Cranae, — as now I am in love for thee, and 44.3
sweet desire seizes me."
He spake, and led the way, ascending to the bed,
whilst at the same time his wife was following ; — then they
both lay in the perforated couch.
But the son of Atreus wandered through the hosts, like
a savage beast, tryhif] if by any means he might perceive 450
Alexander of the godlike form. But no one of the Trojans
or of the renowned allies could then shew Alexander to the
warlike Menelaus ; for had any seen him, they should not
have concealed him through friendship, as he was hated
equally with black-death by all. But Agamemnon, king 4,3,3
of men, addressed tliem :
" Hear me, Trojans, and Dardans and allies; the victory
441. rpaTretojuej', for Tapirwixiv, by transposition from Tepirio,
delecto.
4'56. K£h:\vTe, forcXurf, from kXu^t, which occurs only in the
imperative mood, from kXvco, and that IVom kuXeio, to call, in the
same manner as our verb clipved is probably derived from >:al)v.
Damm observes, that kXvco has somewhat ofa passive sij^nilication,
and lience it is that we never (ind it used in a passive or middle
form. Thus we would render tov ^ckXue ipniftoc, «. 43, Plicchus
heard and complied with ////?/.
80
oi warlike Menelaus is apparent; do you tlicn restore the
Argivc Helen, and her riches with Iier, and pay the fine
which is becoming, and which may be reported among
4G0 incn of future ages." Thus Atncides spoke, and the other
Greeks signified their approbation.
THE
ILIAD OF HOMER.
BOOK IV.
THE ARGUMENT.
The gods deliberate in council concerning the Trojan war. They
determine on the continuance of it, — when Jupiter, at the insti-
gation of Juno, sends Minerva to the Trojan army to contrive
a violation of the treaties. — On her arrival, she persuades Pan-
darus to discharge an arrow at Menelaus, — who is wounded,
but healed by Machaon, — whilst in the mean time, some of the
Trojan troops make their attack. — Agamemnon draws up his
forces in battle array, and urges on the leaders, some by
praises, others by reproofs. — Then a general engagement com-
mences, and vast numbers are slain on both sides.
The three and twentieth day still continues, as it does also through
the two following books, and almost to the end of the seventh
book. The scene is in the field before Troy.
In the mean time the gods were in consultation witli Jove,
sitting upon the goltlen pavement, and among them, the
venerable Hebe was pouring out nectar, whilst thev received
the golden cuj)s one from the other, looking down upon
the city of the Trojans. Then the son of Saturn endeavoured
to irritate Juno, addressing her by way of comparison in
reproachful words :
C. iraimflXritTji', is rendered by'Heyne, simidat'c, and by
Apollonius, e'i,airaTT]TiKwc, deceitfully, while others take it in the
sense of vicissim. But the literal meaning of -irapaj-inWeiy is
juxta ponere, apponcre, and hence, to compare. We have therefore
translated TrapajjXi^dijv in this sense, and, in tact, the context re-
quires
L
8-2
" Two of the goddesses are assistants to Menelaus, tlie
Argive Juno and Minerva of Alalcomenos ; but they sitting
10 apart from him, delight themselves in beholding him; —
^vllilst to the other, smile-loving Venus is ever present, and
wards off from him the fates ; and now she has preserved
him, when expecting to perish, — though the victory belongs
to the warlike Menelaus. But let us consult how these
15 matters shall be, — whether we shall again excite pernicious
war and direful contest, or conciliate friendship between
them both. If thus it be agreeable and pleasant to all,
then, by all means, let the city of king Priam be inhabited,
and Menelaus again lead away the Argive Helen."
20 Thus he spake, and Minerva and Juno murmured, as
they sat near, and were meditating evils for the Trojans.
Minerva was silent indeed, nor did she utter a word, being
indiofnant with father Jove, and fierce anjT-er had seized
her. Juno however retained not her passions within her,
but replied :
25 "Most awful son of Saturn, what speech hast thou
uttered ? How dost thou wish to render the labour in-
effectual, and the sweat fruitless, which, with toil, I have
sweated ? Even my horses were fatigued when I assembled
the forces, ivhich should be sources of evil upon Priam
and upon his children. Do so, — but all we other gods will
not give our approbation."
30 Then the cloud-gathering Jove, Avith great indignation,
quires tliat it should be taken in this acceptation ; for here Jupiter
is instituting a comparison between Venus and the two goddesses,
Juno and Minerva. However, as Jupiter was well aware that
tlie goddess of love was far inferior in military prowess to the two
mighty auxiliaries of the Greeks, lie must liave formed his com-
parison somewhat in the sense that Heyne gives to the word,
simulate, or dolose. Vid. Damm. Lex. in voce.
8. AXa\KOfi£vr)ic. Wc have followed Mr. Troliope in de-
riving this word from Alalcomenos, a district of Boootia. Vid.
Strabo IX, p. 233. ed. Casaub.
83
addressed her : "Cursed goddess, \vli;it injuries so <>ieat
have Priam and the sons of Priam done to thee, that thou
shouldst incessantly wish to overthrow the well-buiU town
of Ilium? If, having- entereil the gates imd the long walls, 35
thou shouldst eat up raw, Priam, and the sons of Priam,
and the other Trojans, then, perhaps, thou vvouldst satiate
thine ang-er. Do as tliou wilt, and for the future, let not
this contention be cause of great stiniggle between me and
thee. But I will tell thee another thing, and do thou lay
it to thy consideration ; whenever 1 may be eagerly desirous 40
to destroy a city, where men, beloved of thee, are born,
retard not my anger, but permit me, since 1 have w illingly, —
though with an unwilling- sovd, given up this cihj to thee.
For of the cities of terrestrial men, wliich are inhabited
under the sun and the starry heaven, of these the sacred 45
Ilium was honoured most in my heart, and Priam, and the
sons of Priam, skilled in the use of the aslien s[)ear ; be-
cause my altar was never without a proper portion of
dainties, libations and odour, for this honour we obtained."
Tiien the larce-eyed, venerable Juno answered: "Of 50
a truth, tiiere are three cities, of all others, by far the most
beloved by me, Argos, and S[)arta, and the wide-streeted
Mycenaj; these destroy, whenever they become odious in
thy mind ; I neither stand in defence of them nor grudge
them to thee, since, if I were to grudge them, and were 55
unwillino- that thou shouldst destroy them, I should oain
nothing by being envious, as thou art by far more powerfyl.
But it is also pro[)er to render my labour etFeetual ; for I also
am a ooddess, and derive my birth from the same source
59. ayK.-uXo)u»jr>jc, from nyKvXog, curvus, and /ojrtc, consilium
an epithet of Kpovog, or Satimi. It is thus explained by Damm:
This Kpovog is either eternity itself, which, like a circle, has
neither beginning nor end, and from which all things spring, —
or it is, 6 vuvg KaOapog, quasi Kopog {punis ct vigens) roue, '''ft to
KttT avToy ayKvKoy kcu avviarpafxiitvov, ov yup e^w 7rX«»'urat ttou
O TOlOVTOg
84
GO ;is tlioii dost ; and the crafty Saturn begot me, greativ to
be reverenced, both on account of my birth and ])ecause
1 am called thy wife ; but thou rulest anionsr all the im-
mortals. But let ns yield up these matters to one another,
I to thee, and tiiou to me, then the other immortal gods
will follow. But do thou quickly charge Minerva to repair
65 to the direful battle of the Trojans and the Greeks, and
endeavour, that, if possible, the Trojans may first begin,
contrary to the treaties, to injure the Greeks elated with
glorv."
Thus she spake, nor did the father of men and of gods
disobey, but immediately he addressed Minerva with these
winded words:
70 " Swiftly repair to the army, to the Trojans, and the
Greeks, and endeavour, that the Trojans may first, contrary
to the treaties, injure the Greeks, elated with glory."
Thus speaking, he excited Minerva already glowing,
and she descended with speed over the summits of Olympus.
75 As a glittering star which the son of the crafty Saturn
sends, as a portent to sailors, or to a wide army of nations,
• whilst many scintillations are emitted from it, — like to this
did Pallas Minerva rush towards the earth, and she leaped
into the middle, whilst amazement seized those gazing upon
her, the horse-taming Trojans and the well-booted Greeks.
80 And thus many a one, beholding her, addressed another
that stood near him.
" Either there will be again pernicious war and direful
o ToiovTOQ vovCi oXX' et£ tavTov eurpairrai. Hence it is that Jupiter
is called the son of Saturn, signifying that the supreme God is
eternal and all-wise, and born as it were from all eternity, /3. 205,
In the poetical mytliology we are to understand by Juno, t/ic lower
and more dense air, aer inferior et crassior. Vid. Prel. Diss. §. 2.
77. (nnpOr]f>£c, sparks. mrivOrjp, from airau), to draw ; nam
ftb.slrahilur a C/ialyhe el pyrito saxo scintilla, vela lignocombusio.
Damm.
82. (j)vX()-iric, from (pvXoy, natto, and o\p, vox; so that pro-
perly, it denotes, tlie shout of nations rushing into battle.
85
contest, or Jupitor who is tlio .irbiter of war amonjv men,
establislies friendship aniono- both."
Tluis then many a one of tlie Greeks and Trojans spake ; 85
bnt slie entered the army of the Trojans in the likeness of
a man, Laodocus, the son of Antenor, a gallant warrior,
seeking- the godlike Pandarus, if she might any where find
him. She found the illustrious and valiant son of Lvcaon,
sitting", and around him were the bold ranks of shielded 90
soldiers, who had followed him from the streams of the
^scpus. Then standing near him, she addressed him in
these winged w'ords :
" Wouldst thou obey me now in any thing, thou war-
like son of Lycaon? — Dare then to shoot a swift arrow at 95
Menclaus, and thou mayst obtain thanks and glory from all
the Trojans, but above all from prince Alexander, from
whoniespecially, indeed, thou wilt receive s})lcndid rewards,
if he should perceive the warlike Menelaus, the son of
Atreus, subdued by thy weapon, and ascending the mourn- loo
ful funeral pile. But come, direct an arrow at Menelaus
elevated in glory, and vow to the Lycian Apollo, skilled
with tlic bow, that thou w ilt sacrifice a magnificent hecatomb
of first-born lambs, when thou hast returned home to the
city of sacred Zelcia."
Thus 31inerva s[)ake, and she persuaded his mind, for
him foolish, and immediately he drew^ forth his polished 105
bow, made of a nimble rustic goat, w hich formerly he had
wounded to the heart, having struck him on the breast,
90. karaoT for eoraora, per sync, for kaTaKora, Doric^ for
IcrrriicoTa, from ItjrrjKtjjQ, part. perf. act. from arau), to stand.
92. ctyj^oD ^' 'laraniri], k. t. X. Homer never makes liis
divinities perform actions without having recourse to jjroper
means. Plutarch beautifully describes the wisdom wliicli Minerva
displays iu the completion of her various designs : U •yap ov)(_ opuQ —
Tr]V Adrjvdy, ore Trelcrai jSovXeTai rovg AOi]yaiovCy tov Oivaatu ttci-
paKuXovaav ; ore ffuyj^eai to opKia, tox' llov^opov ^ijTOvaay ; ore
Tpeipaadai rove Tptoac, ent tov \io/^it]^r]v (jaci^ovtrav ; O ftev yap,
evpuxTTOc
86
and caufrht liiin in snares as lie came out of a cavo ; but he
fell prostrate to the cave. Mis horns grew out of his liead,
110 sixteen palms in length; and the artist, the polisher of
horns, fitted them up with labour, and having nicely
smoothed them in every part, he placed upon them a golden
tip. This, having bent it, he skilfully disposed, inclining
towards the earth, and his strenuous companions held their
shields before him, lest the warlike sons of the Greeks
115 should rise against him, before the warlike Menelaus, the
chief of the Greeks, was wounded. Then he took off
the cover of his quiver, and drew out a feathered arrow
that was never shot, — the cause of blackest pains. And
immediately he fitted the bitter arrow to the string, and
made a vow to the Lycian Apollo skilled with the bow,
that he would sacrifice to him a mas^nificent hecatomb of
120 first-born lambs, when he had returned home to the city
of sacred Zeleia. Then seizing at once the notch of the
arrow and the leathern string, he pulled them, and the
string he moved close to his breast, and the iron point to
the bow. Then when he had bent the large circular bow,
125 the bow whizzed, and the string sounded loud, and the
shar[)-pointed arrow leaped forth, eager to fly among the
crowd.
Nor where the blessed immortal gods forgetful of thee,
Menelaus, and first, above all, the plundering daughter of
ivpuxTTOQ icai /^(a)(t/ioc* o C£, To^ii:o£ Kai avoriroQ' 6 ^e ^eipoq eittuv,
Kat (ppoyijuoQ. De Pylhice Oraculis.
119. AvKr]y£v(.i, from Auo/ytvr/e, which, according to Damm,
is p'.it for AvKi-qyeyrfQ, i. e. ep AvKty ytyovwg, because Latona
imniLcliately after the birth of Apollo and Diana, departed into
Lycia. But others derive it from Xvktj and ytvojuot ; the ancient
Greeks called the first dawn of the day Xvtcr], and cijui^tXvn? vv^
was, the morning IwiUglit ; hence, AttoXXwj' Av/cjjytvr/c signifies,
the iun which iwoduccs the dawn of light. Vid. Prel. Diss. §. 2.
125. Xiy^£, for tXiy^e, from Xtyyw, which is a beautiful Ovo-
fjLfiTOTTOiia. Eustatli. to te Xty^£ kcii to uij^ev wvu^aToneTroirivTai'
TtOtlTfU (E TO fJilf XElOTipOy, 0tl^ilU)Q ETTl TOV TO^OV TO ^£ TpU^VTEpOy,
ETTl
87
Jove, wlio, slandiii"' nioli tliop, -.iverted the dciully sliiifl.
Slic warded it olVIVom his body as mii(;li as when amolher 130
drives away a fly from her cliiUl, when he reposes in sweet
sleep. And she directed it to where the gohlwi chisps of
the belt fastened it, and the double corslet was o[)posed as
a defence. Then the bitter arrow fell upon the well-fitted
belt and forced itself throuf^li the belt of curious workman- 1:35
ship, and stuck in the curiously wroufTht corslet, and the
g-irdle which he wore as a protection for his body, a
defence ag-ainst darts, — which most protected him, but even
throus^h that it ])ierced; and the arrow slis^htly i^razed the
outer skin of the hero, and immediately the black blood 140
flowed from the Avound.
As when some Ma^onian or Carian maid hath stained
the ivory with purple, that it may be a bit for horses; it
lies in the chamber, and many knig-hts are desirous of
wearino^ it, but it is reserved as an ornament for the king, 146
both as trappings for the horse, and a glory for the rider,
— so, Menelaus, were thy handsome thighs, thy legs and
beauteous ancles beneath, stained with blood.
Then Agamemnon, king of men, shuddered, when he
rijc vevpag. Of the same kind is the expression ai^e ocpOaXfioc,
in Odyss. I. 394 ; and of a similar formation are tlic words
SovTTOg, apa/3oe, (^onftoq, po-)(d£i, ave/jpuj^e, KrvTrog, Kctva)(r], atyi),
aiKj(ai^()}, ETTipiwi^w, &c. So we have sibilus, susurrus, &c. in
Latin, whizz, whir, Sec. in English, and in our own language,
gorwyllt, ysgarllad, ysgyrion, &c. But to convey an association
of ideas by the sound, the celebrated distich of Goronwy Owain
is unrivalled :
AW mor a yrr a'r meirwon
Fily — fyrdd, uwch dyfn ffyrdd y do7i !
Cywydd on the Last Judgment.
14L eXe(^oj'rn, from tXt^og, which signifies, ivory, and never
the animal (elephant) in Homer, derived from iXij, the sjilcndour
of the sun, and faio, to shine. Pausan. ^i}Xo~i h vat '0/i»;f)oc, "C /5o-
aiXevai kXo'uc fiei' ^ai oiiciac toIq evSaiixoyeffTepoig avTU)v, eXcipavTi
eTTOirjat KEKOffjtn/^cvoc, d)]pivv ce eXtc^avrof f-iitjl-nii' ov^efxiav CTroit)-
(TUTO. Attic. \. 12.
88
saw the black blood flowing- from the wound ; and the war-
liO like Menehuis himself also shuddered. But when he
perceived the strino" and the barb of the arrow sticMrnj
out, his cquragc was again collected within his breast.
Then king Agamemnon, heaving a deep groan, spake
among them, holding Menelaus by the hand, whilst his
companions also groaned :
155 " ]My beloved brother, — for a death to thee I have struck
treaties, having opposed thee alone to fight for the Greeks
ao"ainst the Trojans, since the Trojans have thus woimded
thee and trodden under foot the faithful treaties. But the
leasrue and the blood of the lambs shall not be in vain, nor
the libations of unmixed wine, and the right hands in which
IGO we trusted ; for although the Olympic Jove hath not now
accomplished it, still he will accomplish it, and they shall
give satisfoction at a high price, with their own heads, their
wives and their children. For this I well know in my mind
and soul, that the day will come, when sacred Troy shall
165 perish, and Priam, and the people of Priam skilled in the
use of the ashen spear. Jupiter, the son of Saturn, who
sitteth aloft, and dvvelleth in the air, will shake against them
all his terrible a^gis, indignant for this fraud. These things
will not fail of accomplishment. But heavy sorrow will
170 be upon me on thy account, O Menelaus, if thou shouldst
die, and complete the destiny of life ; and I shall return,
loaded with infamy, to much-loved Argos ; for the Greeks
will immediately call to mind their paternal land, and we
shall leave the Argive Helen, a boast to Priam and the
159. eireindfiev, per sync. ^ol. for eTTETndofxey, 1. pi. aor. 2.
ind. act. by the Ionic reduplication from tteiOw ; or, according to
others, 1. pi. plusq. perf. mid. for eneTroideifxtv, from the perfect
TTtTTOlOa.
166. v\l/it,opoc, enthroned on high. The metaphor, according
to the Scholiast is derived airo riov tv vavai Cvywv, where the
rowers sit. 'J'hus Eurip. I'hwn. 72, etti 'Cvyo'iQ KuOe^er apyr)£.
89
Trojans; whilst the earth shall j)\itrify thy hones, as thou IT'i
liest ia Troy, after an unfinisheii war. And thus, pcrliaps,
some one of the ferocious Trojans will say, as he exults upon
the tomb of the glorious Menclaus: — 'Would that Aga-
memnon may thus accomplish his wrath upon all, as he
hath now led hither the army of the Greeks to no purpose; •
and truly he returned home to his dear paternal land with 100
empty ships, having- left the brave Menelaus!' When some
one will thus speak, then may the wide earth swallow me!"
But the vellow-haired Menelaus, encouraging him, said :
" Be of good cheer, nor terrify the army of the Greeks ; the
sharp weapon is not fixed in a mortal place, but the varie- liJi
irated belt has resisted it directlv in front, and beneath that,
the girdle and the quilt, which men that work in brass have
made."
Then king Agamemnon addressed him in reply :
"Would that it may be so, O beloved Menelaus; but a
surgeon shall })robe the woimd, and apply medicaments, 190
which may, peradventure, cause the black pains to cease."
He spake, and addressed Talthybius, the divine herald:
" Talthybius, call hither as fast as possible Machaon, a man,
the son of the celebrated physician ^Esculapius, that he may
seethe warlike Menelaus, the chief of the Greeks, whom 195
some one of the Trojans or Lycians, well skilled in the use
of bows, hath shot, with an arrow, and wounded, — a glory
to him indeed, but to us a sorrow."
Thus he spake, nor did the herald disobey when he
heard him, but he proceeded through the army of the
182. j^avoi evpi'ia x^*^*'- Ihe Scholiast understands evpda
adverbially for tvptuig, so that it should be rendered, mai/ the earth
widely gaj)e, or open wide ; in the same manner as tlie expression
in the Psalms, Open your mouths wide, and not, open your wide
mouths, as it is sometimes ridiculously read. Virg. JEn. IV. 24.
Sed mihi vel tcllus optem prius ima dchiscat.
M
90
2<>0 brazon-coated Greeks, looking- around for the hero
Machaon; and him he perceived sitting^, and around him
were the brave ranks of sliiehled warriors, who followed
him from horse-feedino- Tricca. Then standinof nio-h, he
addressed him with these winded words:
"Arise, son of ^sculapius, — king- Ag-ameranon calls
205 thee, that thou mayst see the warlike Menelaus, the son of
Atreus, whom some one of the Trojans or Lycians, well
skilled in the use of bows, hath shot with an arrow, and
wounded, — a glory to him indeed, but to us a sorrow."
Thus he spake, and agitated his heart within his breast,
and they proceeded through the crowd, along the wide army
210 of the Greeks. But when they came where the yellow-
haired Menelaus had been wounded, and where all the
chiefs were assembled around him in a circle, whilst he
stood, a godlike man, in the midst, — ^then forthwith he
drew out the arrow from the well fitted belt, and as it was
215 drawn, the sharp barbs were bent back ; then he loosed
200. TzaiTTaivuiv. Damm derives the verb TraTrrairw from
OTTTOfiui, video ; and Hesych. Tranrcuvctv* irepiftXeTreiv Travrrj. Ma-
chaon, was son of ^sculapius and brother to Podahrius, another
celebrated pliysician, and one of the pupils of tlie centaur Chiron.
Machaon liad a temple at Messenia, and Podalirius, among the
Carians.
215. The defensive armour of the ancients consisted of the
Kvi'ET), helmet, 6(opril, corslet, ^loixa, the cincture round the waist,
and the icvrj^iceg, greaves. Beneath the diopr]^ and ^(ojua, there
was also, the ^wpri or fxirpa, an iron lamina with the inner side
overlaid with wool. The kwet) was so called, because it was
covered with the skin of a dog, or more properly, of an otter,
copg. icvyoc TTora/jLiov rj daXaaffiov. The most ancient nations covered
their heads with otters' skins. The helmet rose up in the form of
a cone, (paXoc, and in the orifice, avXog, of this cone, was fixed
the Xofjioc or crest, which was jrenerally made of horse hair, whence
the helmet is often distinguished by the epithets, linrovpiQ,
intzoyjiuTrfc, 'nnvocatniu, i-mroKOfioc, &c. Virg. JEn. X. 869,
/Ere caput fulgens, cristaque hirsutus equina. From the orifice,
avXoQ, it is also called, avXwTtic, c. 182. X.S52. tt. 795. From
its
91
for liim his varie<^ate(l l)elt, and IxMioalh it, the girdle, and
the quilt which men that work in brass liad made. But
when he perceived the wound, where the bitter arrow had
alighted, having' sucked out the blood, he skilfully sprinkled
upon it gentle medicaments, which the friendly Chiron had
formerlv "iven to his father.
In the mean time, w hilst these were employed around 220
Menelaus, strenuous in the shout of war, the ranks of the
its having three or more p^M7«Ci", it was said to be Tpi\o<poc,
Terpa(l>a\oQ, cif.t(pi\otj)og, and was also called rpvcpaXtir], y. 372.
X. 352. 353, where the epithet TpiivTvypg is also added, fx. 22. a.
458, &c. The Oupift, was so called from dopw, sal'io cum impetu,
because of the perpetual palpitation of the lieart beneath it. It
reached from the neck as far as the flanks, where it met the i^wyua
and from whence also appendant skirts, called ^(oaTtfpeg, extended
down over the thiglis, till they met the Kvyj/uiceg. The iiioar^p
was so called because the upper part of it formed a sort of girdle
to fasten the dwpr)^ and C^pa, the clasp of the ^CJarrjp was called
oxEfc, from e-)(w, tcnco, which word is also applied to the thong
which ties the helmet under the chin, y. 'J72. or in general, to
any fastening whatever, as the bolt of a door, /i. 121. 291. ^. 517,
&:c. the ^(Ofia is any cincture, from l^uyvvfii, cingo. The ^lofia
spoken of, \. G83. and which was similar to the cavipcatrc, used
by the Roman Athletse, was probably different from the i^io^ia
({>aEipoy, or military shining belt, spoken of in the Odyss. v 182.
The KV7]pictg, from vj'j/yu?;, tibia, are said to be overlaid witli tin
or pewter, <p. 592, and when speaking of the greaves of a Chief,
they are said to be adorned with silver, y. J31. X. 17. tt. 131. &c.
The lower parts are called £Tri(T(pvpia, from (Tcpvpoy, the ankle.
The C*^yT] from i^uyyvio, cingo, is the same as the f^irpa, which is
derived by syncope from f-uTripog, made of thread, from fjurog,
thread or 7i'Ool. It properly means, the stays or bodice, worn by
women; unde Xveiy fxirpuy, coire cum aliqua ; as also in the
Odyss. X. 244. Xvae ^e Trapdevirjv fw>'?/>', ubi id aefiycig dicitur
de coiiu Neptuni cum j^ulchra Tupw ; nam solvi tunc debebat ista
Zona. From this bodice or fn-rpa, beautiful women are called
evi^ijyoi, KaWii^ojyoi, fiadvi^wroi, &:c. 'file military belt was after-
wards called by the same name from its shape and position round
a similar part of the body. Homer never uses fiiTpa in the sense
o^ mitre or turban, a signification which it bore even in the time of
Herodotus, who has : ayri Triktjy piTpoi\)opoi i]aav, loco jiUcorum
gestabant mitras. For a full explanation of these words, vid.
Damrn. Lexicon.
92
shielded Trojans were advancing ; and they again put on
their armoin", and called to mind the battle. Then you
might not behold the noble Agamemnon sleeping, nor
trembling, nor unwilling to fight, but eagerly hastening to
225 the glorious battle ; for he left his horses, and his chariot
variegated with brass, and his servant Eurymedon, the son
of Ptolemaeus, who was the son of Peirais, held them snorting
at a distance ; — to whom he gave many charges to have them
230 at hand, whenever weariness should seize his limbs, as he
should be acting the part of a general over many. But
he himself marched on foot throug-h the ranks of soldiers ;
and whomsoever of the Greeks, riding upon swift steeds, he
perceived hastening, he stood by them and encouraged
them much with his words :
" Argives, remit nothing of your impetuous valour, for
235 father Jove Avill never be an assistant for defending
falsehoods ; but those who have first committed an injury,
contrary to the treaties, the tender bodies of these shall the
vultures of a truth devour ; but we, on the other hand, when
we have taken the town, will carry off in our ships, their
beloved wives and infant children."
240 But whomsoever, on the other hand, he saw relaxing
from the hateful war, these he reproved much with indig-
nant words:
"Ye Argives, addicted to the bow, worthy of disgrace,
are ye not now ashamed ? Why do you thus stand stupi-
fied like fawns? — which, when they are wearied out by
running over a Vcist plain, halt, nor does there any strength
245 remain in their breasts ; so you stand stupified, nor do you
join the battle. Do you wait till the Trojans advance
242. iofiu)poi, Addicted to the how, or more probably, doomed
to perish by arrows, for it is here, as also in |. 479. taken in a bad
sense ; derived from ioq, an arrow. Schol. ol irepi iovq icul ro^a
fiefi(jpr)ixtyoi, o tariKUfxvovTtQ. And Damm : ol /uopoy efiTroiovvTsg
Tolg lolf . We have a similar epithet, EyxetTi/iwpoQ, in ft. 692. 840.
93
nearer where tlie fair-stcrned vessels are dragged u[) on the
shore of the hoary sea, that you may see, whether tlie son of
Saturn will protect you with his hand."
Thus giving orders, he went along the ranks of warriors, 250
and came to the Cretans, advancing through a crowd of
soldiers ; and they were arming around the warlike Idome-
neus ; — Idomeneus was with the foremost in the van,
resembling a boar in strength, and Meriones was uririnof on
the rear phalanxes. But Agamemnon, king of men, when 255
he saw them, was delighted, and immediately he addressed
Idomeneus in courteous terms:
"Idomeneus, of a truth, I honour thee above the Greeks
riding upon swift steeds, as well in battle or any other
work, as in the feast, when the chiefs of the Greeks mix in 260
the goblets the sparkling wine that is set before men of
honour ; for although the other long-haired Greeks drink
by measure, thy cup stands always full, as if for me, that
thou mayst drink when thy inclination bids thee ; but hasten
to the battle, such as thou formerly didst boast that thou
wert."
But Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, addressed him 265
in reply: "Son of Atreus, I shall be to thee a very
friendly companion, as at first I promised and nodded with
the assent; but excite the other long-haired Greeks, that,
as soon as possible, we may join the battle, since the Trojans
have broken the treaties; — but death and destruction shall 270
262. (Tov h TrXeTov, c. r. X. The cups of the chiefs were kept
constantly full in banquets. Athen. 'Oi Kpariipeg avroic, wa-rrep
£j^£i icai Tovyofici, KEKpafxtroi 'Kap(.aTr]Ktaav. tt, i)V o'l Kovpoi cuikov-
vvfievoi, Toig fiev errifiOTaroig aei ■zXi'ipec Trapti^ov to norrjpioy,
To'iQ ^' oXXotc £h i(Tov cuvE^ov. Cloblcts Containing mixed nine, as
their name imports, stood beside them ; from which the youths
that mere ministering, constantlij fdlcd up the cups of the most
honourable guests, but to the rest, they distributed equal portions.
Lib. v. cap. 4. i^priTi^p is derived from Kipawv^a misceo
94
be liereafter to them because they have first, contrary to
the truce, committed injuries."
Thus he spake, but the son of Atreus passed on, rejoic-
ing in his heart, and he came to the Ajaxes, advancing
through a crowd of warriors; but they were arming, and
with them followed a cloud of infantry. As when a man,
275 a shepherd, observed from an eminence a cloud coming
over the sea before the blasts of the West wind ; and to him,
being at a distance, it appears black as pitch, as it ad-
vances over the deep, and it brings on a terrible storm;
then he shudders as he beholds it, and drives his flocks
280 into a cave ; — so, round the Ajaxes, thick dark phalanxes
of Jove-supported youths, horrent with shields and spears,
were moving to the hostile fight. And king Agamemnon,
when he saw them, rejoiced, and addressing them he ut-
tered these winged words:
285 " Ye Ajaxes, leaders of the brazen-coated Greeks, I do
not command you to excite your troops, for it would not
become me, as yourselves strongly instigate your men to
fight bravely. Would to father Jupiter, Minerva, and
A})ollo, that such courage was in all bosoms, then soon
290 would the city of king Priam fall, being captured and de-
stroyed by our hands!"
282. Tr£(j)pu;v~iai, from ivti^piKioQ, particip. perf. act. Ion. for
in^pLyb)Q, from (jipieriru), horreo. Th. (ppii,, Jluclimm fremitus. The
word (paXuyi,, in the preceding verse, means properly, a long
smooth plank, along which ships were launched or drawn up on
the strand ; derived from 7r«X\w, vibro. From the notion of vi-
brating, the most ancient Greeks might easily apply the term
^aXay^ to a body of men rushing against their enemies, and
brandishing their clubs and cudgels, which were the military
weapons of that age ; and hence, in course of time, it would come
to signify a regular band of soldiers.
290. -qjxvatu. From rjj^vu), inclino, derived from r], Ion. for a
intensivo, and fxvu>, claudo, coniraho. It is properly applied to the
eyes when they are contracted together ; from hence it received
a secondary signification, which denotes a person bending down
his head throjigh shame or sorrow; and here it is poetically ap-
plied in that sense to the city of Priam.
95
Having tlius spoken he left them there, and went on to
others, where lie found Nestor, the shrill-voiced orator of the
Pyliaiis arrang-ino- his companions, and si iniulatin<^ them to
the battle, namely, the mighty Pelag-on, Alastor, Ciiro- 295
mius, kino- Ha>mon, and Bias, shepherd of the people. The
cavalry he posted in front, with their horses and chariots,
but the numerous and valiant infantry in the rear, that thev
might be a bulwark for the war; but the cowards he
drove to the centre, that every one, even though unwilling, 300
should fight tlirough necessity. To the cavalrv he first
gave orders, for he charged them to bridle in their horses,
and not to be thrown into confusion among the crowd;
neither let any, relying on his horsemanship and strength,
be too eager to fight alone, before the others, with the
Trojans, nor let him retreat back, for ye will be the more 305
easily routed. And if any warrior should go from his chariot
to another car, let him protend his spear, since thus it is much
better. Even thus the ancients overthrew cities and forts,
having this mind and resolution in their breasts."
Thus the old man, long since well-skilled in war, 310
urged them on, and king Agamemnon, seeing him, re-
joiced, and addressing him, uttered these winged words:
" Would, old man, that, as is thy courage in thy beloved
bosom, so thy knees might follow, and that thy strength
were firm! But old age, to which all are equally exposed,
afflicts thee; — would that some other of the men possessed it, 315
but that thou wert in the number of the youths!"
307. Eyx^' ope^aadu). There is some ambiguity in this ex-
pression. Eustathius gives four different interpretations, none of
which appears to be correct. Probably it means, that if any one
should leap down from his own chariot, and go against another chariot,
he should not launch his spear at his enemy, hiitjight nith him in
close combat, nith his spear jyrotrudcd out for a defence. Ey)^£t
optyEadai, is said of an enemy figliting on foot. Vid. £. 335. 851.
>//. 805. and tt. 314. 322, where eyx^i is left out.
96
Then Nestor, the Gerenian knight, replied: "Son of
Atreus, of a truth I could greatly desire, myself, that I
were the same as when I slew the noble Ereuthalion ; — but
320 never have the gods given all things at once to men. If
then 1 was a youth, now in turn, old age is come upon me ;
but nevertheless I will be present with the knights and
animate them with my counsel and my words, for this is
the office of old men. But the younger men will brandish
the spears, those who are by their age more fit than I for
^'^ arms, and who rely on their strength."
Thus he spake, and Atreides passed on, delighted in
his heart; then he found the son of Peteiis, Menestheus
skilled in horsemanship, standing, and around him the
Athenians, skilful in war; but close by stood the crafty
330 Ulysses, and by him stood the powerful ranks of the
Cephallenians; for their troops had not as yet heard the
shout, whilst the columns of the horse-taming Trojans and
Greeks, being but just excited, were in motion; but they
stood waiting till another phalanx of the Greeks, advancing,
335 should attack the Trojans and commence the battle. Then
Agamemnon, king of men, having seen them, reproved
them, and addressing them, uttered these winged words:
"O son of Peteiis, Jove-supported king, and thou,
340 trained in evil wiles, and crafty, why, trembling, do you
keep away, and await for others ? Surely it behoved you
319. Ep£v9aXtwj/a KarcKrav. Vid. an account of this exploit,
£. 136 — 157, where Nestor, as usual, expatiates on his own
atchievements. Cicero: Videtisne ut apud Homerum scjepissime
Nestor de virtutibus suis prcedicet ? tertiam enim jam cetatem
hominum vivehat ; nee erat ei verendum ne vera de se pradicans,
nimis videretur insolens aut loquax. Etenim, ut ait Homerus,
ex ejus lingua mdle dulcior fluebat oratio. De Setiectute.
325. onXoTEpoi. From oirXov, heavy armour, oTrXorepog, more
Jit to bear armour ; so that Nestor here uses tlie word in its literal
sense. It generally signifies younger , because the season of youth
is the most fit for military action.
\
97
two to stand amoiiir tlie foremost, and be Corvvard to meet
the glovvinf^ battle ; for you are first invited by me to a
feast, whenever we Greeks prepare a feast for the chiefs,
where it is agreeable to you to eat the roasted meat and to 3 4j
quaff the goblets of sweet wine, as long- as you choose ; but
now ye look on with reckless ease even if ten phalanxes of
the Greeks should fight before your eyes with direfid
weapons."
But the crafty Ulysses with a stern look addressed him:
" Atreides, what speech has escaped from the bulwark of 3.50
thy teeth ? How canst thou say that we are relaxing from
the battle ? When we Greeks excite the fierce fiofht with
the horse-taming Trojans, thou mayst behold, if thou wilt,
and if these matters be objects of care to thee, the beloved
father of Telemachus mingled with the foremost of the horse- 355
taming Trojans, — but thou utterest these empty words."
But king Agamemnon, when he observed that he was
angry, addressed him with a smile, and resumed his speech
agfain:
"Thou generous son of Laertes, most wise Ulysses, I
do not rashly chide thee, nor give thee orders, since I know
how thy sold within thy beloved bosom is acquainted with 3G0
benio-n coimsels, for thy sentiments concur with those I
hold. But come, we may arrange these matters hereafter,
if any thing has been improperly said, — but may the gods
cause all these thinos to vanish."
Having thus spoken, he left them there, and went on to
others, and found the magnanimous Diomede, the son of 3G5
Tydeus, standing among his horses and well-compacted
chariots, and beside him stood Sthcnelus, the son of
361. hr)vta, from hr]voq, consilium, derived from ^-qv, because
it is long in deliberation.
303. /nera/iwXtct, from ynTafxuiKioQ, for jjLerafjibjyioQ, quasi ah
avifxog, vcntus; or from fxera, nrj, and ov<!J,juvo.
N
98
t'apaneiis. Tlion king- Agamemnon, seeing him, re-
proved him, and addressing- him, uttered these winged
words:
370 "Ahis! thou son of the warlike horse-taming Tydeus,
why tremblest tliou, and lookest around upon the paths of
the war ? It was not agreeable to Tvdeus thus to tremble,
but to fight with the enemy, far before his beloved com-
375 panions; thus those report who have seen him toiling, for
I have never met with, nor saw him, but they report that
he surpassed others. For, of a truth, he entered with war
to IMycenae, as a guest, collecting forces along with the
godlike Polynices, — as they were then marching an army
against the sacred walls of Thebes, and they earnestly en-
380 treated that they would give illustrious auxiliaries. And
they were willing to give them, and assented to their request,
but Jupiter, by shewing unpropitious signs, altered their
desifpi. And when they had departed and were now on
their march, they came to the Asopus abounding- in grass
385 and bulrush; then the Greeks despatched Tydeus on an
embassy to Thebes; and he went and found many Cad-
* means feasting in the palace of the mighty Eteocles. There,
the knight Tydeus, .although he was a guest, trembled not,
being alone among many Cadmeans, — but rather he chal-
371. TToXfyiioto yefvpag. Schol. rag ^u^ocag tov ttoXe/kov.
Spondan. Ordinum mlervalla. Virg. Belli oras, JEn. IX. 528. The
■jToXefioio y£<pvpai were the spaces or intervals left between the
ranks, that the foremost warriors might have room to retreat in
case they were vanquished. The verb oirnrrevw, which signifies,
to look abmil earnestly, or diligently, comes from otttivw, and that
from OTrrw. We have it occurring again in f. 243. AW ov yap
a tSfXw /3a\££iv, toiovtov eovra, Aadprj OTnTrrevaae, aXX' a^i^adov,
aiKE Tvyum, and from these verses of Homer, Alexander took
that idea, when he said, that he was unwilling kKettthv viicrjv, to
steal the victory. We have it also occurring in the Odyss. r. 67.
oirnrTtvntig yvvaiKag, curiose spectabis fccminas ; and hence the
words yvvaiicoirnrr]g, oiyonnnjQ, TraicoTrnrrfg, TrapdevoTrinrjg, X. 385.
applied to Paris, irvppOTrnrTjg, &c.
jt
99
lenged them out to a combat, and easily conquered them 390
in every thing, — so (rreat an assistant was Minerva to liim.
Then the Cadmeans, spin-rers of horses, beinj^ indignant,
led fifty youtlis, and placed them as a thick ambuscade
against him returning* ; and the two leaders were jNIa'on,
the son of Haemon, resembling the immortals, and the son 395
of Autophonus, Lycophontes, firm in battle. Upon these,
however, Tydeus brought disgraceful death, for he slew
them all, and permitted one alone to return home; — thus
he dismissed Man^n, obeying the portents of the gods.
Such was Tydeus, the iEtolian ; but he begot a son inferior
to himself in battle, but superior in council." 400
Thus he spake, but the valiant Diomede answered him
not, having respect to the rej)roof of the venerable king.
But the son of the renowned Capaneus answered him:
" Son of Atreus, lie not, as thou knowest how to speak the
truth. Surely, we boast that we are far superior to our 405
fathers, and even we captured the city of seven-gated
Thebes, having led a smaller force into the wall of JMars,
relying on the omen of the gods and the aid of Jove,
whereas they perished by their own folly. Wherefore do
not hold our fathers in equal honour with us." 410
390. ETTtppodoQ. Properly, one tliat hurries on with noise, like
a torrent of water ; hence, a person that comes to the assistance
of another with speed and clamour, and hence, an auxiliari/ in
genera], from ctti and poOog, strcpitus, niaxime undarum. From
this comes the verb, eirippodeu}, assentior alicui cum strcpitu ct
clamore, Eurip. Orest. 899. Of the same import and derivation
is the word nnTappoQoQ, e. 808. 828. 0. 289, &-c. and in the
Odyss. 0). 181. but it is always applied to some auxiliary deity.
401. Vid. Diomed's reply, L 31. et seqq.
406. The first Theban war, to which Agamemnon alluded,
happened twenty-seven years before the Trojan war. Tb.e second
Theban war, mentioned by Sthenelus, happened ten years after
the first; this was celebrated in a poem called the E-TTiyoyoi, whicii
was in very early times attributed to Homer. Herodot. IV. 33.
EffTt ^e Kcu 'Oprjpu) Ey ILiriyovoiai, £t c^»; rw ovri ye 'O^u/fjoc Tuvra
ra £7r£a EwonjaE.
410. The dative /uoi is redundant. Tlie literal translation is :
Do not set before me our fathers in equal honour.
100
But the oallant Diomede with a stern look addressed
him: " My friend, sit down in silence, and obey my orders,
for 1 do not blame Agamemnon, shepherd of the people,
415 when exciting the well-booted Greeks to fight, because
upon him will glory attend, if, perchance, the Greeks over-
throw the Trojans, and capture sacred Ilium, — but on the
other hand, to him will be great sorrow, should the Greeks
be slain. But come, now let us think of impetuous valour."
He spake, and leaped with his arms from his chariot to
420 ^I't' ground, and the brass terribly clattered around the breast
of the king as he rapidly moved, and terror might perhaps
have seized the bravest.
As when the billow of the ocean is rolled in a heap into
the far-resounding shore before the blasting South- West
wind, at first it is raised in the deep, and afterwards being
426 dashed against the land it loudly roars, and swells aloft in
a convex ridge around the promontories, and belches out
the foam of the sea; — thus the collected columns of the
Greeks moved incessantly to battle, and each of the gene-
rals gave orders to his own troops, but the rest advanced
430 in silence, nor, could you say that so vast an army followed,
having voice within their breasts, reverencing their leaders
by their silence. And around all, their variegated armour
glittered, accoutred with which they advanced in order.
But the Trojans, as the innumerable flocks of a wealthy
435 man stand when milked in the fold, continually bleating as
they hear the voice of their lambs, — thus the clamour of the
Trojans was raised throughout the wide army ; for there
was not the same cry nor the same voice of all, but the
language was mixed, since they were men assembled from
421. VKO Ktv Tu\aai(j>povu, k. t. X. Vox, viro, non id sonat,
quod ait Scholiastes, v(f ov uv rjypv, scd quod Latine dicas, genua
timore suhtus intremisccre. Nimirum refertur i/tto, non ad
xonum terrefacientem, scd ad hominem mctu succvssum. Clarke,
in loco.
101
various parts. These, Mars was urging- on, and tliose, the
bhie-eyed Minerva, and Terror, and Fliglit, and Discord 440
insatiably raging, the sister and companion of Mars, the
shiyer of men, who at first is raised small indeed, but by
degrees hides her head in tlie heavens, and stalks along the
earth; — who then also cast an equal contention between
them, advancing through the crowd and increasing the 445
groans of warriors.
But now, when vmiting, they came to one place, they
dashed together their shields, their spears, and the might
of warriors, armed with brazen corslets, whilst their bossed
shields approached each other, and a vast tumult arose. 450
Then was heard at once the shriek and the boasting of men,
of the destroying and the destroyed, and the earth was
flowing with blood. As when wintry torrents rollino- down
the mountains from their vast sources, pour together their
impetuous flood into a valley within the hollow channel of
a whirl})ool, and the shepherd hears their roar afar otF in 455
the mountains ; — thus wiis the clamour and terror of them
mingled tooether. But Antilochus first slew a man, a
noble warrior, strenuous among the foremost in battle,
Echepolus, the son of Thalysias, whom he first struck on
the cone of the helmet, thickly plumed with horse- hair;
and the brazen spear fixed in his forehead, and penetrated 4G0
442. 'II T oXiyr] fxtv Trpwrci k. t. \. Heraclid. Ponticus :
Api,afitvi] airo XiTrjQ airiac, xpoc fxeya Srj Tt kokov ^toyvoOrot.
And Virg. ^n. IV. 17G. 177. Pana metu primo, mox sese aitoUit
in auras, ingredilurque solo, et cajmt biter nubila condit, wliere
he speaks of fame.
4.')4. The \cipacpa, means either a boiling torrent, rolling
down from a mountain, or deep cavity in the earth from such a
torrent, from j^opoo-o-w, incido ; it must bear the former significa-
tion in TT. 390. TToXXac ^e i^Xirve tot airoTpriyoven ■^^apncpiu. The
word fiitryayKeia in the preceding line, is tluis explained by Eus-
tath. ay.vog Eari u ftaOvQ (vcit (j)ai>ayyu)Ct]Q Kcti Ko'iXog tottoc' tay ?£
eig ToiovToy ayKog TroXXa (rvulDciXXioaiv u^ara, fxiffyayKtia tovto
XtysTai.
102
within the bone, and darkness covered his eyes, and he fell,
;is when a tower J'alh, in the hard-fought battle. But king-
Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, commander of the magnani-
mous Abantes, seized him, w hen fallen, by the feet, and
4(jo dragg-ed him with eagerness from the reach of the darts,
that he might, as soon as possible, plimder him of his ar-
mour; but the attempt was short, for the magnanimous
Agenor, perceiving him dragging the dead body, wounded
him with his brazen spear in the side, which was bared of
470 tlie shield as he stooped, and he relaxed his limbs. Thus
the soul left him, and over him there arose an obstinate
combat of the Trojans and Greeks, who rushed, like wolves,
upon one another, and man massacreed man. Then the
Telamonian Ajax slew the son of Anthemion, the youthful,
475 blooming Simoisius, whom his mother, once descending
from Ida, bore on the banks of the Simois, when she had
followed her parents to watch their flocks. For this reason
they called him Simoisius ; nor had he returned to his
beloved parents the reward of his education, for his life
Avas short to him, being slain by the lance of the magna-
480 nimous Ajax. For first he struck hifti, as he advanced, on
the breast beside the right pap, and the brazen s})ear
penetrated to the opposite side through the shoulder; and
he fell in the dust on the ground, like a poplar tree, which
grew smooth, in a meadow by an extensive fen, and its
branches were shooting forth from its highest top, — which
435 a cartwright hath cut down with his glittering hatchet,
that he may bend it i\s the circumference of a wheel for a
beauteous chariot, and it lies drying by the banks of the
river;— thus did the generous Ajax slay Simoisius, the son
482. x°/^"' -Kiatv, aiytipuQ wc, k. t. X, A similar description
is given by Virg. vEn. XI. G2G. The monosyllabic termination
of the verse is similar to opyidig wg, y. 2.
103
of Antliomion. Kiit at him, Aiilipliiis of tlie variegated
corslet, the son of Priam, darted with his sharp spear 1 hrou<]^li 490
the crowd; him indeed he missed, but he wounded Leucus,
the faithful companion of Uh'sses, in the g-roin, .as he was
drag-ging a corse to another quarter, and he fell upon it,
and the corse dropped from his hand. But Ulysses was
greatly grieved in his mind because of him being slain, and
he advanced through the foremost warriors, armed in glit- 495
tering brass, and having approached very near he halted,
and looking all around him, he launched his shining spear,
whilst the Trojans fell back as the hero was darting his
javelin. And he hurled not the weapon in vain, but he
struck Democoon, an illegitimate son of Priam, who came 500
to him from Abydus, from the charge of the swift mares;
him Ulysses struck on the temple with his lance, indignant
Jbr the death of his companion, and the brazen point
penetrated through the other temple, and darkness covered
his eyes, and falling he gave a crash and his arms rang
around him. Then the foremost combatants and the illus- 505
trious Hector retreated, while the Greeks shouted aloud and
dragged away the dea(tl, and were pushing forward much
farther ; — but Apollo, looking down from the citadel of
Troy, was indignant, and shouting, stimulated the Trojans :
"Rush on, horse-taming Trojans, nor yield the battle
to the Greeks, since their body, when struck, is neither 510
stone nor iron, to resist the flesh-cutting brass; nor does
489. ato\o9wpr/| is similar to the epithet /vopQotoXoc, apph'ed
to Hector. Thoracem — corpus suum thorace indutum agUitcr
viotans. Porphyr. Qucest. Homer'tc. 3.
508. The Tr£pya[.ioQ was the Citadel or Acropoh's of Troy,
similar to the Capitol at Rome. These citadels were built in tlie
highest part of tlie city for fear of an inundation, ])rol)al)ly in imi-
tation of the Tower of Babel ; they were hence called (tkyjoTroXt <e,
and in them were the royal palaces, and the principal temples of
the tutelary deities.
104
Achilles indeed, the son of the fair-haired Thetis, fight,
but is niitigating- his afflictive wrath among the ships."
Thus the awful god spoke from the city, whilst Minerva,
^1-^ most glorious daughter of Jove, advancing through the
army, urged on the Greeks, wherever she saw them relaxing.
Then fate entangled Diores, the son of Amarynceus, for he
was struck on the right leg near the ancle, by a rugged
520 stone, cast from the hand ; but Pirus, the son of Imbrasus,
leader of the Thracian warriors, who had come from ^Enos,
threw it ; and the destructive stone quite shivered both the
tendons and bones, and he fell prostrate in the dust,
stretching forth both his hands to his beloved companions,
while he was breathing out his soul. But Pirus, who had
525 struck him, rushed upon him, and wounded him with his
spear on the navel, and all the bowels gushed out on the
ground, and darkness covered his eyes.
But him again Thoas, the TEtolian, struck with his spear,
in the breast, above the pap, as he was rushing on, and the
630 brazen point was fixed in his lungs. Then Thoas advanced
close to him, and plucked the mighty spear from his
breast ; — then he drew his sharp sword, with which he struck
him in the middle of the belly, and deprived him of his
life. But he did not strip off his armour, for his com-
panions stood around him, — the Thracians, of the knotted
hair, holding long spears in their hands, who drove him
035 from them, mighty as he was, and brave and illustrious, and
he was repulsed by force and retreated. Thus these two
leaders, the one of the Thracians, the other of the brazen-
525. ovra, per Apocopen for ovraae, 3 sing. 1 aor. ind. act.
from ovTa'Cu), ovTaaw. Concerning the difference between ovraaai
and jjakelv, Clarke quotes fronti the Scholiast on Eurip. Hipp.
684. 'Ot vewTBpOi ovk laaat rrfv ^laipopav tov Ovraaai /cat BaXtlj'.
'Ofx-qpor OS OvTacrai jxevto iKytipoQ Kai iktov avveyyvc Tpdcrai, Ba-
Xe'iv ct TO TTOppwOev. This difference is clearly marked in v. 540.
105
coated Epeans, lay e.\teii(iod in tlie dust beside each other ;
and many others were slain around them.
Then no man being- present could repreliend the action,
whoever might look around him in the midst, unhurt and 540
unvvounded by the sharp-pointed brass, — and should 3Ii-
nerva, taking him bv the hand, conduct him, and ward off
the violence of the darts ; for ni.any of the Trojans and
Greeks were on that day stretched prostrate beside each
other in the dust.
539. ivQa Ktv ovketi, ».•. t. X. It was an old superstition,
that this fourth Book of the Iliad, being laid under the head, was
a cure for the Quartan ague. Sercnus Sammonicus, a celebrated
physician in the time of the younger Gordian, and preceptor to
that Emperor, gravely prescribed it among other receipts in his
medicinal precepts : Prsec. 50. Mceonice Iliados quartiirn supponc
timeriti. Pope.
THE
ILIAD OF HOMER.
BOOK V.
THE ARGUMENT.
Diomede, assisted by Minerva, scatters the wildest havoc among
tlie Trojans. — -Pandarus is killed, — and TEneas would have
shared the same fate, but for the assistance of Venus, — who,
as she is rescuing her son, is herself wounded by Diomede. —
Mars rallies the Trojans, and enables Hector to make a
powerful stand. — Minerva incites Diomede against Mars, — who
is wounded and compelled to repair to heaven in the most
dreadful agonies.
The first battle continues throughout this Book. The scene lies,
as before, in the fields before Troy.
Then Pallas Minerva bestowed strength and courage upon
Diomede the son of Tydeus, that he might become con-
spicuous among all the Greeks, and obtain distinguished
glory. She caused unwearied fire to blaze from his helmet
and shield, like to an autumnal star, which shines w ith the 5
greatest splendour when washed by the ocean ; — such fire
she caused to blaze from his head and his shoulders, and
impelled him to the midst, where the greatest numbers
were in confusion.
4. taie 01 CK Kopvdog, k. t. X. Virgil has often imitated this
beautiful simile : Ardct apex capiti, cristisgue a rcrticc JIamma
Fundilur, et vastos umbo vomit aureus ig)ics; Non sccus ac liquida
si quando node comctce Sanguinci lugubre ruhcnt, aut Sirius ardor,
^c. Mn. X. 270. Vid. also JEn. VHI. C20. JEn. IX. 732, &c.
108
There was among the Trojans, one Dares, wealthy,
10 blameless, the priest of Vulcan, and he had two sons,
Phegeus and Id»us, well-skilled in every combat. These,
removed from their companions, came against Diomede,
the two indeed from chariots, but he on foot, pushed on
the fight on the ground. And when they were now
15 approaching near to one another, Phegeus then first hurled
his long spear, and the point of the lance glided over the
left shoulder of the son of Tydeus, nor did it wound him;
and next the son of Tydeus made an attack with his brazen
spear, nor did the dart fly in vain from his hand, but he
struck him upon the breast between the paps, and thrust
20 him down from his chariot ; and Idaeus leaped down,
having left his beauteous car, nor did he venture to protect
his slaughtered brother ; nor would he have himself escaped
black death, had not Vulcan snatched him away, and hav-
ing enveloped him in darkness, preserved him, that the old
25 man might not have unmingled sorrow. But the son of
the magnanimous Tydeus leading off the horses, gave them
to his companions to conduct to the hollow ships. And
when the magnanimous Trojans saw the sons of Dares, the
one flying, and the other slain by his chariot, the mind of
all was disturbed. But the blue-eyed Minerva, taking
30 hold of impetuous Mars by the hand, addressed him with
these w ords :
" Mars, Mars, destroyer of men, polluted with slaughter,
overthrower of cities, shall we not leave the Trojans and
the Greeks to fight, to whomsoever father Jove may give
glory, whilst we two depart and avoid the anger of Jove?"
35 Having thus spoken, she led impetuous Mars from the
battle, and caused him tlien to sit upon the high-banked
Scamander. But the Greeks put the Trojans to flight.
36. r]ioEVTi, from ■qious, ripas habens, derived from jjVwi', ripa^
and not from lov, a violet.
109
and each of the generals sUnv a man. First Agamemnon,
king of men, hurled from his chariot, the mighty Odiiis,
genera! of the Halizonians, for lie thrust his spear into his 40
back, between the shoulders, ai> he was first turned to ilight,
and drove it through his breast ; and he gave a crash, as
he fell, and his armour rang around him.
Then Idomeneus slew Phaestus, the son of Borus the
M;iconian, who had come from fertile Tame. Ilim Ido-
meneus, renowned in the use of the spear, wounded through 45
the right shoulder with his long lance, as he was mounting
his chariot, and lie fell from his car, and horrible darkness
came upon him, and the attendants of Idomeneus plundered
him.
But Scamandrius, the son of Strophius, skilful in hunt-
ing, Menelaus, the son of Atreus, slew with his sharp- 50
pointed spear, — an eminent hunter, for Diana herself had
taufirht him, to shoot everv kind of wild beasts that the
forest supports on the mountains. But Diana, delighting
in arrows, availed him not then, nor his skill in shooting
from a distance, in which he had been before instructed,
but Menelaus, the son of Atreus, renowned in the use of
the spear, wounded him, as he was flying before him, with 55
his lance, in the back between his shoulders, and drove it
through his breast, and he fell down headlong and his
armour rano; around him.
But Meriones slew Phereclus, the son of the artist Ilar-
monides, who knew how to fabricate all manner of curious 60
things with his hands, for Pallas 3Iinerva exceedinoly loved
him ; — who also had formed, for Alexander, the equal ships,
the exordia of evil, which were a ruin to all the Trojans
imd to himself, because he understood not the oracles of
53. toxcctipc, sagittis-gaudcns, from ioq, an arrow, and x"'r"^>
to rejoice, or according to others, from log, sagitta, and yj.(t),J'undo^
and lience to be rendered, the discharger of arrows.
61. Beffiparoc for flto^aroc, from Oeoc and ^aroc, that which
is spoken by God. dtaipara might perliaps be more properly ren-
dered
no
66 the gods. Him, Meriones, when he had overtaken him in
tlic pursuit, struck on the right buttock, and the point of
the spear penetrated under the bone by the bladder, right
through to the opposite side, and, groaning, lie fell on his
knees and death enveloped him.
Then Meges slew Pedfeus, the son of Antenor, who
70 was a bastard indeed, but whom the noble Theano, gratify-
ing her husband, nourished with the same care as her own
beloved children. Him the son of Phyleus, renowned in
the use of the spear, when he came close to him, struck on
the back of the head with his sharp-pointed lance, and the
brazen point pierced right through by the teeth under the
75 tongue, and he tumbled in the dust, and seized the frigid
brass with his teeth.
Then Eurypylus, the son of Evaemon, sleiv the noble
Hypsenor, the son of the magnanimous Dolopion, who had
been made priest of Scamander, and who was honoured by
the people like a god. Him then, as he was flying before
no him, Eurypylus, the illustrious son of Evaemon, making a
rush upon him with his sword, struck on the shoulder, in
the midst of his course, and cut off his heavy arm ; but the
bloody hand fell on the plain, whilst black death and re-
lentless fate seized his eyes. Thus did they toil in the ruth-
less battle.
85 But as for the son of Tydeus, you could not discern to
which party he belonged, whether he fought with the Tro-
jans or with the Greeks, for he furiously raged along the
(lered, the counsels or mil of the gods. It is evident however, that
Homer used it in some determinate sense, as designs, decrees, &c.
witliout any reference to its etymological derivation, for otherwise
there would be some tautology in connecting it witli Oeojv.
83. TTopcpvpEoc davaroc, l/lack death. 7rop(pvpeoQ is not properly
purple, but a mixture of purple and black, from Trop^vpw, com-
misceo, and that from (/ju/jw, misceo, by a reduplication similar to
KfxWdivuv, which is derived from KaWq, Jlos, vel animal, quo
lingitur purpura.
Ill
phiiii, like an overflow iiio- wintry tonvnt, wliich rapidly
rolling- on, scatters the bridges, and wliicli even the fortified
bridges eannot restrain, nor the fences of blooming- fields i){)
withstand, suddenly coming on, when the rain of Jove
has swollen its flood, and many beauteous works of youth
are overwhelmed by it; — thus were the close phalanxes
of the Trojans thrown into confusion by the son of Tydeus,
nor did they abide him, although being numerous.
But when the illustrious son of Lycaon perceived him 05
furiously raging along the plain, and routing in confusion
the phalanxes before him, he forthwith bent his crooked
bow against the son of Tydeus, and woimded him as he was
rushing on, striking the cavity of the corslet upon the right
shoulder, and the bitter arrow penetrated through and
pierced into the opposite side, and the corslet was stained 1<1<'
with blood; — and upon this the illustrious son of Lycaon
loudly shouted :
" Push on, magnanimous Trojans, spurrers of horses,
for the most valiant of the Greeks is wounded, nor do I
imagine that he will lonjj- endure the direful arrow, if, of
a truth, the king, the son of Jove impelled me departing
from Lycia." 10;>
Thus he spake, boasting, but the sw ift arrow did not
slay him, but having retreated, he stood before his horses
and chariot, and achlressed Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus:
" Hasten, most friendly son of Capaneus, descend from
the chariot, that thou mayst draw the bitter arrow from my
shoulder." HO
Thus he spake, and Sthenelus leaped from the chariot
unto the ground, and standing beside him, he drew from
liis shoulder the swift arrows beingf driven ri<2ht through it.
and the blood spouted forth through the flexible corslet.
113. ffTpeTTTOio, JJe.r'ihle, from arpefu), to iivisl. The word
Xirior, here translated corslet, means properly an under-garmeut,
deriveil
112
Then Diomede strenuous in tlie shout ot war, prayed ;
115 "Hear me, invincible daughter of fegis- bearing Jove, -
if ever with benevolent intentions thou didst stand by me
and my father in glowing battle, — now also favour me, O
JMinerva ; and grant that I may approach within spear's
length and slay that man, who preventing me, wounded
120 me, and boasts and imagines, that I shall not long behold
the splendid light of the sun."
Thus praying he spake, and Pallas Minerva heard him,
and she made his limbs nimble, his feet and his hands
above, and standing nigh she uttered these winged
words :
" Taking courage now, O Diomede, fight against the
125 Trojans, for I have placed in thy breast the intrepid
paternal strength, which Tydeus, the shield-shaking knight
possessed. I have likewise removed from thy eyes the
mist which before was upon them, that thou mayst clearly
discern both god and man ; wherefore now, if perchance,
130 a god comes hither trying thee, do not thou fight against
the other immortal gods, — but if Venus, daughter of Jove,
come into the batde, wound her with thy sharp-pointed
brazen lance."
The blue-eyed Minerva, having th\is spoken, departed.
derived from the 3. sing. pevf. pass, kexvtcu, from x^w, to pour.
It was generally made of linen, and sometimes of wool. In j3. 42,
we find Agamemnon, when rising from his bed, where, according
to tlie custom of the ancients he lay naked, first putting on his
Xtrwj^ and then throwing over it his 0apoe, or outer garment ;
and these two were the only articles of apparel which he wore.
Women wore an under vest, called odovrj, instead of the x"'*^''?
S. 595. and for tlie (j)apoQ they wore the TnirkoQ, which was a loose
rrarment. The Greeks, as well as the Trojans, e. 180, p. 485. the
Cretans, v. 255. Boeotians, o. 330, are called x"^'^"X"'*^''^f 5 but
this expression is probably taken metaphorically, and means that
their bodies were covered with brass in the same way as they
were enrol)ed with the x'T'wvfc. x^^'^'^X"''^*' seems to be syno-
nymous with x"^'''Eoffw/)iji
^^
113
nut llie son of Tv<U'iis retiirnino- ajrain, was, ininalod with 135
the foremost warriors. And aUhoiioh before eaoer in iiis
mind to fight with the Trojans, then indeed three times the
strength seized him, like a lion, which a slu'[)herd in the
field has slightlv wounded among the fleecy flocks, as he
was leaping over the fold, and killed him not, but roused
his furv, and now no longer repels him, but shrinks back 140
by the stalls, whilst the abandoned sheep are put to flight; —
these indeed are strewed in heaps one upon another, but he
nimblv leaps out of the lofty fold; thus agile was the
valiant Diomede mingled with the Trojans.
Then he slew Astvnoiis, and Hypenor, shepherd of the
people, wounding the one above the pap with his brazen 145
spear, but the other he struck with his mighty sword upon
thc'collar-bone, near the shoulder, and cut off the shoulder
from the neck and from the back. These indeed he
quitted, but attacked Abas and Polyidus, the sons of
Eurydamas, an aged interpreter of dreams, to whom,
when departing, the old man h.ad not interpreted their 150
dreams, but the valiant Diomede spoiled them of their
arms when slain. He then went against Xanthus and Thoon,
the sons of PluTnops, both begotten when he was far ad-
vanced in years, and he was worn down with sorrowful old
age, and had begotten no other sons, whom he might leave
to enjoy his possessions. These then he slew and snatched
away their life from both, but left lamentations and doleful
cares to their father, since he received them not returnino-
140. AXXa KUTci aruO/jiovc ^verai. Some refer ^verat to llic
shepherd, and translate it, lie hides himself among the folds ; others
refer it to the lion, and render it, he enters info the folds. The
Scholiast also refers (pofie'irai to the shepherd, who is said, to be
afraid of the deserted jilnees, ttjv Epi]f.uav fofielfffiut. ,
141. ay)(^i(TT~irai, one close to another, from ayx'' Vop^t ^nd
karayni, to stand.
150. ovK must be referred to etcpiyaro, and not to cp^ofxevoie.
00
114
alive from the buttle ; and the next relations divided his
herita<i-e.
Then he seized two sons of the Dardan Priam, being
IGO both in one chariot, Echemon and Chromius; and as
a lion, springinj^ among- cattle, breaks off the neck of a
heifer or an ox, while feeding upon shrubs, — thus the son
of Tvdeus hurled them both grievously against their will
from the chariot, and then spoiled them of their armour ;
165 but the horses he gave to his companions to drive to the
ships.
But him iEneas perceived routing the ranks of men,
and he advanced through the battle and the din of spears,
seeking the godlike Pandarus, if he might any where find
170 him. He found the valiant and illustrious son of Lycaon,
and stood before him, and spake these words in his
presence :
" Pandarus, where is thy bow, thy winged arrows, and
thy glory ? — in which no one here contends with thee, nor
does any in Lycia boast that he is superior to thee. But
come, lifting up thy hands to Jove, shoot an arrow at this
175 man, whoever he may he that conquers, and hath caused
manv evils to the Trojans, since he has relaxed the limbs of
many and brave warriors ; — unless indeed he be some god,
indignant with the Trojans, and raging for neglect of
sacrifices; and the anger of a god is severe."
But him the renowned son of Lycaon addressed:
180 " TEneas, counsellor of the brazen-coated Trojans, I liken
this man in every respect to the warlike son of Tydeus,
recognizing him by the shield and oblong helmet, and
seeing his horses ; but I know not certainly whether he be
1.58. yr)pio(jTai. Schol. Villois. ol tov %r\pov oikov SiavcfioixEvoi
K\r)povofioi, those' who inherit and distribute among themselves the
possessions of one that dies without an heir. Compare Hesiod.
Theog. 607," and Find. Olymp. X. 106.
115
a god. But if this be the man, whom 1 mention, the war-
like son of Tydeiis, he does not perform these things in his 1B5
fury without the assistance of a god, but some one of the
immortals stands nigh him, involved, as to liisshodders, in a
cloud, who liath averted from him to another direction the
swift- flying arrow ; for ah*eady have I sliot at him an arrow
and struck him on the right shoulder, quite throug-h his
hollow corslet ; and 1 imagined that 1 would send him be- 1^0
fore his time into Hades, — but after all I have not killed him,
— surely some god is angry. But my horses are not present,
nor mv chariot which 1 mioht ascend ; but elsewhere, in the
halls of Lycaon, are eleven beautiful charioti*, new ly com-
pacted and lately made, and awnings are spread around
them, and beside each of them stand two yoked horses, ll>i>
eating white barley and oats. Of a truth, the aged w arrior
Lycaon, in his well-built palace, gave me very many
charges when setting out ; he commanded me, mounted
upon my horses and chariots to lead the Trojans into dire-
ful battles. But 1 did not obcA , which truly would have 200
been far better, sparing my horses, lest having been ac-
customed to eat largely, they shoidd be in want of fodder,
as the men were shut up in the cittj. Thus 1 left them,
and came on foot to Ilium, relying on my bows, which
how^ever were not about to avail me; for already have 205
1 shot an arrow at two chiefs, the son of Tydeus and the
son of Atreus, and striking them, have drawn real blood
19.5. ovx oy' avevde deov. Compare vers. 1. and o. 2G'?.
fi. 465. See. and Virg. ^n. II. 777. Non hcec sine nuininc Dicum
eveniunt.
186. vefiXrj eiXrjfieyoc Mf^ovz, so Horat. Carm.Hb. I.Oil. II. 31.
Nube candcntes humeros amictus.
196. Kpl, by Apocope lor Kplfivov, harlcij.
202. tTTTwi/ ^ei^ojievoc. Eustathiiis supposes that Pandarus
left his horses bcliiiul, through parsimony, but most probably it
was owing to the difficulty of procuring provciulcr in a besieged
city.
IK)
from both, but have irritated them the more. For an evil
210 fate therefore did 1 take the crooked bow from the peg on
that day, when I led the Trojans to lovely Ilium, bringing-
delight to noble Hector. But if ever 1 shall return and
behold with my eyes, my paternal land, my wife, and my
large and lofty mansion, then may immediately a foreign
man cut off my head, if I do not break these bows with my
215 hands, and throw them into the blazing fire,— for they are
useless attendants to me."
But iEneas, general of the Trojans, addressed him in
return : " Do not speak thus, for it shall not otherwise
happen, before we two, going with horses and chariots
220 against this man, be tried in arms. But come, mount my
chariot, that thou mayst see of what description Trojan
horses are, being trained speedily to pursue in different
directions over the plain, and to fly, — and which also will
225 carry us safe to the city, should Jove again bestow glory
on Diomede the son of Tydeus. But come, receive now
the whip and the splendid reins, and I will dismount from
the horses that I may fight ; or do thou meet this man and
the horses will be my care."
Again the renowned son of Lycaon addressed him in
230 return : " ^Eneas, do thou hold the reins thyself and thy
own horses; they will draw the crooked chariot better
imder their accustomed charioteer, if again we must fly
the son of Tydeus, lest, being afraid, they grow restive,
215. (jjutivo) ev TTvpi Ohtjv, k. t. \. Pandarus is enraged with
his bow ; so 'I'liamysis, who is mentioned ft. 595. was in a passion
with his lyre, and Xerxes inflicted stripes upon the Hellespont.
Of)yii^o[j.eda kul ttoXejuioic, kcu (jjiXoic, kui tekvoiq, i<ai yuvEvai, kcii
Oeoiq vt) Ata, »:ai Uripwic, kui u\pv)(ui-S atvEaiv. Vid. Plut. De Ira
Cohib.
233. fxaTr}(jETov, from fiuTau), segniler ago, deliberando quasi
semper et qucerendo an ct quid agendum sit ; from the adverb
fxarriv, quccrcndo opcrose cl cnpidc, sedfruslra. So Terence, moves
quidem, sed non promoves.
117
and should not be willing- to bear us oU'Cioni llie battle,
lonoiiicr for tliy voice, when the son of the niajrnaninious 23o
Tydeus springing- upon us, might kill us ourselves, and
drive away the solid-hoofed horses; — but do thou drive
thy chariot thyself and thy own horses, and 1 will receive
him, as he advances, with my sharp-})ointed lance."
Then having thus spoken, and mounted the variegated
chariot, they directed the swift horses in a furious gallo[) 040
against the son of Tydeus; — whom Sthenelus, the renown-
ed son of Capaneus, perceived, and immediately addressed
the son of Tydeus with these winged words :
" Diomede, son of Tydeus, most dear to my soul, I
perceive two valiant warriors possessing immense strength, 245
eager to fight with thee, — the one, Pandarus, well-skilled
in the use of bows, who boasts that he is the son of Lycaon,
the other, yEneas, boasts that he w^as born the son of the
240. tfifxep-aioT . For eiJiuenawre, impelu concitati, referring
to iEneas and Pandarus. Some take it for £/u/icyuow7-t, and refer
it to TvEei^t], to whom the same epitliet is applied above, v. 143.
But the I of the dative case ought never to be elided; and there-
fore it is better to admit the confusion of the dual and })Iural
numbers than violate this grammatical canon. Besides, there is no
impropriety in joining participles of the dual and plural numi)ers
with i7vo persons, since they are in fact both of the dual and the
j)lural number. Sometimes, but very rarely, the above rule is
overlooked in the Iliad: In II. v. 277. fero 0f)ri6\ Melius fuixset
Oi prodnctum ante Oti. Scepe Imjusmodi locis ita sueeurrcndum est,
ut casum quartum posilum a poeta cxisiiines. In II. e, 5. pveta
cecinerat :
aaT£p\ OTTOjpiva evaXiyKwy, k. t. X.
Beck. Acta Scmin. II. p. 411.
aoTsp' is put for offrepa, in apposition with Trvp, and another
acTTefji is understood to which oirupivM is to be referred. Perhaps
in ic. 277. we might read :
)^atp£ ce Tovpi'ilk y O^vatvc, k. t. X.
243. £/<w Ktyjiipiantvi. Uvuf. So Virg. /En. XII. 1 12. animo
gratisshna nostra.
245. ly for lyci, forlitudinem, from ir, a nerve or fibre, unt-
XeOpoy, i\om t( intcns. and -ntXeOpoy, an acre. Schol. (ifjerpoy,
7roXX»jj'.
118
magnanimous Anchises, and his mother is Venus. But
conic, 1 beseecli thee, let us retreat in the chariot, nor do
2-30 thou thus furiously bear along among the foremost lighters,
lest thou lose thy beloved life."
But him the valiant Diomedc with a stern look ad-
dressed : '• Do not urge me to flight, since 1 do not imagine
that thou wilt persuade me, for it is not decorous for me to
255 fight lljing", or to tremble, as yet my strength is entire. It
g-rieves me to mount my horses, but even thus will I go
against them, — Pallas JMinerva allows me not to fear. But
both of these their swift horses shall not carry away from
us, if even one should escape. And I will tell thee another
2(>0 thing, and do thou lay it to thy consideration : if the all-
wise JMinerva shall grant me the glory of killing both, do
thou fasten these swift horses here, suspending the reins
from the ring, and rush on mindful of the horses of iEneas,
and drive them from the Trojans to the well-booted Greeks.
2G2. f? avrvyoQ rjvia TEivag. The avrv'^ was properly any
external rim or border, as the circumference of a wheel or any
other round object. It is however, most generally applied to
a harp, a shield, a part of the chariot, and the horizon, or the line
that divides the celestial hemispheres. In Eurip. Hipp. 1135, we
have 'M.ovaa avirvog W avTvyt -^^ophdv, and in <^. 118. avrvi,, ?/
■KVfxaTt} atTTTiCoi;. The chariot consisted of a circular bottom, laid
upon tlie wheels, and in front of it, a sort of semi-circular pali-
sade raised up, either for a defence of the warrior, or to prevent
his falling ; this was called avrvi,, from uvTEyjEiv, contra niii.
Sometimes there was an avTv'i behind also, as in the chariot of
Juno, which is described below in v. 722. et seqq. The technical
terms still remaining in Astronomy, might lead us to suppose,
that the ancient philosophers made their first observations in that
science from this simple construction of a chariot. It is probable
that they compared the earth, which they considered a flat cir-
cular extent, to the bottom of a chariot, and then they would
naturally apply the term avrv^ to that part of the sky which
surrounds its extreme boundary. In the same manner we have
ovfiauov a'i,u)y, cali axis, which was a pole in this metaphoric
chariot, passing through the diameter of the earth, and terminated
at
119
For they are of that breed which the far-soundino- Jove 2G.j
g-ave tt) Tros as a price for his sou Ganymede, since they
are the hest of horses, as many as are under Aurora and
the Sun. Anchises, king of men, stole from this breed,
by netting- mares covered by them without the knowledge
of Laomedon ; from whose ottspring, six were foaled for him 270
in his halls, — four of which he retained himself, and fiittened
in his stable, but these two he sfavc to /Eneas, beino- trained
for the flight and pursuit of war. If by chance we should
take these, we should "-ain preat 2"lorv."
Thus they were addressing- such conversation to one
another, when the two hastily approached near, galloping 275
their swift horses, and him first the renowned son of Lvcaon
addressed :
"Thou gallant-souled, warlike son of the illustrious
at the points where the nvrvyec, or two semi-circular arches of
the horizon met one another. The succession of day and niglit
would moreover naturally lead these primeval Philosophers to
conceive an idea of motion in the planetary system ; and as the
earth formed the body of their chariot, we may infer with con-
siderable certainty, that tliey liad some notion of its diurnal rotation.
Having a knowledge, by tradition, of the creation of the world,
and that light succeeded darkness, they would of course, inake
their chariot commence its journey from IVcst to East, or from
that part of the heavens where darkness began to appear, towards
that part where they first perceived the dawn of light. According
to this disposition, the avrvi in front must have been directed
towards the East, and the corresponding avTvi, behind, must have
faced tlie West, whilst the ends of the ai,ujv were terminated in
the other rectangular diametrical points, North and South ; and
hence it is, perliaps, that we hear of the North and South pole,
rather than the East and West pole. Probably it is owing to our
want of historical information, that tlie Modern Astronomy exults
so much in her progress beyond the simple notions of the antients.
These are however conjectures of our own, which every body is
at liberty to reject. The ancient Pydiagorean Pliilosopliers were
perfectly acquainted with the modern Copernican System. Vid.
Aristot. Meteorol. lib. I. cap. G. Plutarch. De Plavit. PJtilosoph.
lib. III. capj), 2. 13. 30. Maclaurin's Account of Sir Isaac New-
ton's Discoveries, Book I. Chap. 2. 3.
120
Tydous, of a truth, the swift weapon, the bitter arrow slew
thee not, but now again I will try with my spear, whether
f may succeed."
280 He said, and brandishing his long spear, he hurled it,
and struck against the shield of the son of Tydeus, and
penetrating- right through it, the brazen point was driven
to the corslet ; and upon this, the renowned son of Lycaon
shouted loud:
" Thou art wounded rig-ht throug-h the flank, nor do I
285 imagine that thou wilt long" endure it, and to me tliou hast
given great glory."
But the valiant Diomede, unalarmed, replied: " Thor.
hast missed, nor hast thou gained thine object ; but I do
not conceive that you tw^o will cease, before one of you a1
least shall fall and satiate with his blood the invincible
warrior Mars."
21)0 Having thus spoken, he hurled, and Minerva directed
the dart to the nose, near the eye, and drove it through the
white teeth ; and the rigid brass cut oif the extremity of
his tongue, and the point came out at the lowest part of the
chin, then he tumbled down from the chariot, and his va-
295 riegated, glittering armour rang around him ; but the
swift-footed horses were frightened, and his life and strength
were then relaxed. But iEneas sprang forth with his shield
and long spear, fearing lest the Greeks should drag off
the corse, and he walked round it, like a lion, relying on
300 his might; and he held out before him his lance and his
shield on all sides equal, eager to kill the man whoever
might come against him, horribly shouting. But the son
297. ]£.veiaQ ^ erropovae, k. t. X. The ancients considered
it of the utmost moment to perform the rites of sepulture on the
bodies of their dead companions. And this was the reason of
those desperate combats around the bodies of tlie heroes so often
mentioned by Homer. Vid. \p. 69. and seqq. and Virg. TEn. VI.
325. and seqq.
121
of Tydeus seized a stone in liis liaiid, of »rre;it weight,
which two men could not bear, such ;is men now are ; but
he alone easily poized it. With this he struck TEncas by 3O1
the hip, and where thethi<;h turns in the hip, and which thev
call the socket ; he brake the socket, and moreover, burst
both the tendons; the rough stone tore off the skin, whilst
the hero stood falling upon his knees, and supported himself
with his robust hand upon the earth, and dark night covered 310
his eyes.
And now ^Eneas, king of men, would have perished
there, had not Venus, daughter of Jove, quickly perceived
it, — his mother who bore him to Anchises feeder of cattle ;
and she threw her white arms around her own beloved son,
and held out, as a covering, in front of him the fold of her 315
shining robe, to be a defence against darts, lest any of
the Greeks with the rapid steeds should hurl a brazen lance
at his breast and snatch aw'ay his life. She indeed was
carrying her own beloved son from the battle ; — nor was
the son of Capaneus forgetful of those charges, which Di-
omede strenuous in the shout of war had given him, but 320
fastened his own solid-hoofed horses apart from the tumult,
suspending the reins from the ring, but springing forth, he
drove away the fair-maned horses of /Eneas from the Trojans
to the well-booted Greeks, and gave them to Deipvlus, his 325
beloved companion, whom he honoured above all his
co-equals in age, because they w ere of congenial minds, to
drive to the hollow siti}) ; whilst the hero himself mounting
303. /^eya epyoy, put in opposition with \epna^iov in the
preceding Hne. So Virg. JEn. V. 119. /tiirejUi mole Chlmerani^
Urbis opus. Compare also v. 269. of the same Book, and XII.
897. and seqq. Mr. 'I'rollope extracts a most wonderful account
of the tooth of a giant from Augustin's Cili/ of Ood, XV. 23.
Fidi ipse, non solus, sed aliquot mccum, in Uticcnsi littore molarcm
hominis dentem tain ingentcm, ut si in nostrorum dentium viodulos
minutatim concideretur, centum nobis vidercturfaccre potuissc; sed
ilhon giganti.'s alicujus fuisse crediderim.
122
his own cliariot, seized the splendid reins, and eagerly drove
330 the strong-hoofed horses after the son of Tydeus ; but he
was pursuing Venus with his ruthless lance, knowing that she
was an unwarlike g-oddess, nor one of those goddesses who
sway the war of heroes, neither Minerva, nor Bellona,
destroyer of cities. When now, pursuing her through a
great crowd, he overtook her, then the son of the mag-
335 nanimous Tydeus, holding out his spear, leaping- upon her,
wounded with his sharp-pointed brazen lance the tender
extremity of her hand, and immediately the spear perforated
the skin, above the extreme palm, through the ambrosial robe,
Avhich the Graces themselves had wrought, and the immortal
340 blood of the goddess flowed, the ichor, such as flows from
the blessed gods; for they neither eat bread nor drink
sparkling- wine, and therefore they are bloodless and are
called immortal. But she, screaming- aloud, cast her son
from her, and him indeed Phoebus Apollo snatched away
345 with his hands in a dark cloud, lest any of the Greeks,
with the rapid steeds, should hurl a brazen lance at his
breast and take away liis life; — but after her, Diomede
strenuous in the battle, loudly shouted :
" Depart, daughter of Jove, from the war and the
battle; is it not enough that thou deceivest unwarlike
350 women? But if thou wilt employ thyself in war, of a truth,
336, aKprjv ovraae Xf-ipa.. Probably tlie wounding of Venus
means, that Diomede slew many of the Trojans, and thus brought
disgrace and infamy upon those who had carried away Helen.
Damm : Venus vulneratur a D'tomede, i. e. manus aliqua juvenum
pulchellorum abripiunt jacentem /Eneam, sed quidam ex iis inter-
jiciunlur a Diomede.
340. ix'^f'- Properly means, o Kara ipvaLv jjiEra rpotprjv x^^oc,
the Chyle, or while juice formed in the stomach by digestion of the
aliment, and which is afterwards changed into blood ; from x^w,
fundo, because it is poured throughout the whole body. It is how-
ever analogically and more generally applied to the a^ftporov
a'lfia, the immortal blood of the gods.
123
1 imagine that thou wilt dread the battle if thou shouldst
hear of it even elsewhere."
TIius he spake, and she, distracted with pain, departed,
for she was heavily afflicted. Then the wind-footed Iris,
taking hold of her, led her from the crowd, overwhelmed
with agonies, and her fair skin grew livid. Then she
found impetuous Mars sitting at the left side of the battle, 355
and his spear was laid up in a cloud, and his swift horses;
but she, falling on her knees, and making many suppli-
cations, requested the golden-reined horses of her beloved
brother ;
" Have compassion upon me, my beloved brother, and
grant me thy horses, that I may go to Olympus, where is 3(;o
the abode of the immortals. Much am I tormented with
a wound, w hich a mortal man, the son of Tydeus, inflicted
upon me, — who now would fight even with father Jove."
Thus she spake, and Mars gave her the horses with
golden frontlets, and she ascended the chariot, afflicted in 'Mo
her beloved heart, and beside her, Iris mounted and took
hold of the reins with her hands, and she w hipped them to
proceed, nor did they fly unwillingly, and immediately
they came to the lofty Olympus, the abode of the gods,
where the swift wind-footed Iris caused the horses to stop,
having loosed them from the chariot, and threw before
them ambrosial fodder. But the divine Venus fell at the 370
352. aXvovffci. Schol. a^r]fiovovaa, from o\uw, crro mcntc,
derived from aXaofiai, to wander. It signifies a distraction of
tlie mind from an excess of joy or sorroiv. In the former sense it
is used in the Odyss. a. 332. 392.
368, atTTi/g, lofty, the same as aiwog, and derived from at,
an exclamation of surprize or sorroiv, and aire, from ; so that tlie
word may have arisen from the circmnstance of one crying out at
the view of a lofty eminence which he had to chmb : ^Ilas .' how
far from vie the summit lies ! From this derivation we observe
how suitable an ci)ithet it is for Olympus, the §eat of haiipincss
and bliss.
124
knees of Dione, her mother, — and slie embraced her daugh-
ter in her arms, soothed her with lier hands, called her by
her name and addressed her :
" Which of the heavenly inhabitants hath rashly done
thee such wrongs, my beloved child, as if thou hadst pub-
licly committed some flag-itious crime?"
375 Her then the smile-lovinof Venus answered: "The
haughty Diomede, the son of Tydeus wounded me, because I
was snatching away from the battle my beloved son iEneas,
who, of all, is by far the most dear to me; for no longer is
it a direful contest between the Trojans and the Greeks,
380 but now the Greeks combat even with the immortals."
Her then Dione, noblest of the goddesses, answered :
" Bear it, my child, and endure, afflicted as thou art, for
many of us who possess the Olympic mansions have endured
much from men, bringing severe afflictions upon one
385 another ;— Mars indeed endured, when Otus and the brave
Ephialtes, sons of Aloeus, boimd him in massy chains, and
thirteen months was he enthralled in a brazen prison. And
now perhaps, Mars, insatiable of war, would there have
perished, had not his step-mother, the beautiful Eriboea,
390 reported it to Mercury, who stole away Mars already worn
out, for the cruel chain had subdued him. And Juno also
endured, when the valiant son of Amphytrion wounded
her upon the right pap with a three-prong-ed arrow, and
383. The fables related in the following verses are probably
allusions to some historical events which happened before the
time of Homer, and which he merely embellished into poetical
allegories. Perhaps the imprisonment of Mars means a long
continuation of peace ; and the wounding of Hades may possibly
refer to some tradition respecting Enoch being carried up to
heaven, without going to the place of departed spirits or Hades.
Hercules, the son of Jupiter, or the supreme god of the heathen,
is said to have inflicted the wound ; from whence we may suppose
that some tradition respecting the Messiah, was mythologically
embodied in the character of Hercules.
125
llien tlie most excruciatin«^ pain seized her. Amonf^ these
also the miohtv Pluto endured a swift arrow, when the 395
same man, the son of a^fjis-bearinjj Jove, havinir wounded
him at the ^ate, amon<^ the shades below, threw him to
ag-onv ; — but he ascended into the mansion of Jove and the
lofty Olympus, afflicted in his heart, and pierced tiirounh
with pain, for the arrow was driven into his thick shoulder, 400
and agonized his soul ; but Pa?on, sprinkling- upon him
])ain-soothing unguents, healed him, for he was in no way
subject to death. — Audacious, villainous wretch, who was
reckless in the perpetration of nefarious deeds, who hath
violated with his arrows, the gods wlvo possess Olvmpus! 405
But the blue-eyed goddess Minerva excited this man
against thee, foolish as he is, nor does the son of Tydeus
know in his mind, that he lives not long who combats with
the immortals, nor that children on his knees never call him
father, returning from war and direful battle. ^Vherefore, 410
now let tlie son of Tydeus, very valiant as he is, consider
lest a mightier than he should fight with him, — lest
iEgialea, before long, the affectionate daughter of Adrastus,
the generous wife of the horse-taming Diomede, rouse,
with her lamentations, her domestics from their sleep,
longing for her husband, the mightiest of the Greeks, who 415
married her a virgin."
She spake, and wiped offwith both her hands, the ichor
from her hand, — the hand was healed, and the heavy agonies
mitioated. Then JMinerva and Juno beholdin<T it, irritated
Jove, the son of Saturn, with grating words, and among
416. tx*''P' ^^ generally used in the masculine gender;
whence Eustathius affirms that the true reading is t^w, by apocope,
for iX'^P'^ ^y '^he same analogy as ISpio, for icpwra, Uoaeiioj, for
T\o(TeiB(lJva, Sec. Barnes reads: a^ttpoTepTja iX'''f' "''^^ X^'p<^c ofiop-
yvv. Clarke supposes tliat Homer used tx^f in the masculine
and neuter gender, and Iiencc we might react tx<^f' ''^ die accusa-«
live.
126
'i'20 tliem the blue-eyed goddess Minerva, began \vitli these
words :
"Father Jove, wilt thou be at all angry with me for
what I shall say ? — Of a truth, Venus, inciting some one of
the Grecian women to follow the Trojans, whom now she
425 vehemently loves, — soothing some one of these fair-veiled
Grecian women, hath grazed her tender hand upon the
golden clasp."
Thus she spake, and the father of men and of gods
smiled, and having called the golden Venus to him,
addressed her :
" Warlike deeds, my child, are not allotted to thy
charge, but do thou rather attend the lovely employments
430 of the marriage ; — but all these things shall be the care of
swift Mars and Minerva."
Thus they were addressing such conversation to one
another. But Diomede, strenuous in the shout of war,
sprang forth upon ^Eneas, knowing that Apollo himself
covered him with his hands, — yet he reverenced not the
435 mighty god, but he was ever eager to kill ^Eneas, and to
strij) him of his armour. Three times he rushed forth,
vehemently desirous to kill him, and three times Apollo
425. Hepovt). From xtiptOjiranseo, because it passed through
the kX>jVc or curvature in which it was inserted. In the Odyss. a.
292. we see that there were twelve of these golden Trepovai to the
TTETrXoc of women, but in Odyss. r. 226. we observe that the
' \\aivT] of men had only one irepovri, wliich was fixed SiSvfioKTiv
auXoTc in two eyes or staples. The points of the irtpovai were
exceedingly sharp ; the women are said to have sometimes per-
formed terrible havoc by them. Herod. V. 87. gives an account
of a man being goaded to death by them ; after which catastrophe,
the historian relates, a law was enacted by which the women were
compelled to change their dress, which till then was Doric, and
assume the Ionian, or more properly the Carian habiliment, which
had no TrEpovai attached to it. It was by the irtpovai of Jocasta
that (Edipus put out his eyes. See the account in the (Edip.
Tyrannus.
127
twirled aoainst liim his o-litterino- sliielil ; InU when now,
resomblinjj^ a god, lie made tlie fourth attack, then the far-
darting- Apollo, with a threatening- relnike, addresseil him:
'•Reflect, son of Tydeus, and retreat, nor desire to 440
meditate equal things with the gods, for the race of im-
mortal gods is by no means the same with that of men, who
walk upon the earth."
Thus he spake, and the son of Tydeus retreated a little
backwards, avoiding the anger of the ftir-darting Apollo. 44'i
But Apollo placed ^Eneas apart from the crowd in sacred
Pergamus, where a temple was for him, whilst Latona and
Diana delighting in arrows, cured him in the s[)acious
shrine, and ministered to him with honour. In the mean
time, the silver bow-bearing Apollo, formed a phantom,
resembling ^Eneas in person, and like to him in arms, and 4.30
around the phantom, the Trojans and noble Greeks
clashed upon each other's breasts, the well-circled bull's-
hide shields and light bucklers. Then Phcebus Apollo
addressed impetuous Mars :
" Mars, Mars, destroyer of men, overthrower of cities, 4.j5
wilt thou not attack this man, the son of Tvdeus, and drive
him from the battle, who would now fight even with father
Jove? — First, he wounded Venus, close to her, upon her
hand, near the wrist, and then, resembling a god, he sprang
upon me."
Having thus spoken, he indeed sat down in the loftv -iW
Pergamus, but pernicious IMars urged on the ranks of the
Trojans, going among them in the likeness of Acanuis, the
swift leader of the Thracians, — and he t/ivs encouraned
sons of Priam, the foster-children of Jove:
448. Kv^aivoy. Madame Dacicr would read Ki]^atyov, but
Clarke observes that this word was unknown to Homer, and ex-
plains Kv^aiveiv by the Latin phrase, hoiior'ificc excip'ire, to receive
or entertain one with due respect and lionour. Heyne <^ives it
the signification of tf^fpairtvov, in wliich sense it is frequently used
by Lycophron.
128
"O sons of Priam, Jove-supporteil king-, how long will
465 you permit the people to be massacreed by the Greeks? —
is it until they fight around the well-built gates? There
lies the hero, whom we honour equally with the noble
Hector, ^Eneas, the son of the magnanimous Anchises, —
but come, let us save our brave companion from the tu-
mult."
470 Having thus spoken, he excited the strength and
courage of each. Then again Sarpedon greatly reproved
the noble Hector :
" Hector, where is thy courage gone, which thou didst
formerly possess? Formerly thou didst say, that thou alone,
with thy relations and thy brothers, would defend the city
475 without forces, without allies, — not any of whom can I now
behold or perceive, but they tremble, like dogs around a
lion, whilst we on the other hand, who are here present as
allies, engage in the battle. I also am come as an ally
from a very far distance, for Lycia is far otF, upon the
400 eddying Xanthus, where I have left my beloved wife and
my infant child, and many possessions, which, whoever is
poor, desires. Yet even thus, I urge on the Lycians, and
am myself ready to fight with that warrior, although there
is not here for me such a thing as the Greeks may carry
485 off or drive away. But thou standest, and dost not even
encourage the other troops to make a stand, and to defend
their wives. Beicare, lest, like men caught in the meshes
474. The word yafx(3poQ properly signifies a son-in-law, the
husband of a daughter, as in ^i". 177, &c. but here it means a
brother-in-law, the liusband of a sister. With more modern
writers, however, it was applied to other relations by marriage ;
derived from yafnipog, an adjective from yufxoQ, a marriage.
487. The commentators have found considerable difficulty
in this verse, witli regard to a metrical, and still more serious
grammatical error in the word UXovte. The first syllable of akoa)
being invariably short, Clarke very properly remedies this metri-
cal
129
of a spacious not, ye become tlie booty and the prey of
hostile heroes, who will soon demolish your well-iiiliabited
city. All these thin<^s ouoht to be thy care, night and day, 400
entreating- the chiefs of the far-summoned allies, incessantly
to resist, and to abstain from severe re[)roof."
Thus Sarpedon spake, and the speech stung the soul of
Hector, and immediately he leaped from his chariot with
his arms to the ground, and brandishing his shari)-pointed
hmces, he went in all directions throuo-h the army, excitino- 495
them to fight, and roused a direful battle ; and they were
turned from Jiif/ht, and stood against the Greeks, and the
Greeks, in a close l)ody, sustained them, nor were tiiey put
to the rout.
As when the wind bears the chaff aloncr the sacred
granaries, when men are winnowing, what time the yellow 500
Ceres separates the grain and the chatF, by the blasting
winds, and the receptacles of the chaff are white beneath
it; — thus were the Greeks then whitened from above with
dust, which the feet of the horses, as they returned back
again to the conflict, excited through them into the brazen
sky, for the charioteers were wheeling them round. But
they straightway bore the strength of hands, and impetuous 505
cal error by inserting the particle ttov, before uXovte, or by
changing the genitive Xivov into the Ionic Xivoio ; the former of
which corrections seems the most preferable. As for the gram-
matical difficulty, we imagine, it miglit be easily removed with-
out altering any thing but the punctuation. The sense will not
be materially changed, if we punctuate the passage in tliis manner :
(^ei^w) [irjTrcjQ, wq ayjai Xivov nov aXovre iravaypov avcpaai Ivtr-
fitvtEfftriv tXcop Km Kvp[.ifi, yzri^rrBe. (I fear) lest ye hecojue like a
prey and a booty taken by hostile men in the meshes of a s'paeious
net; in which case aXopre is referred to the words tXwf) and
Kvp^a. The particle wq may have the signification of the Latin
word quasi.
500. ^avdr] li]fxr]Tr]p. So Virg. Georg. I. 90. Flava Ceres.
502. aj^vp^tat. Schol. aj^ypodrj^af ol tottoi, etc ovc yupiaof^uva
Tov criTov TCI a^vpa ek-kitttei. The receptacles into tvhich the chaff
separated from the grain falls.
R
130
M:irs Uirow darkness around the battle, as he was bringing*
aid to the Trojans, and marching' in every direction, and
accomplished the charges of Pho3bus Apollo of the golden
sword, who had commanded him to stimulate the courage
510 of the Trojans, when he perceived Pallas Minerva departing*,
for she was an auxiliary to the Greeks. And he sent forth
iEneas from his costly shrine, and inspired valour into the
breast of the shepherd of the people.
Then ^neas stood among his companions, and they
515 were delighted when they saw him advancing alive and
safe, possessing his strength entire, — yet they asked him no
questions, for the other labour suffered them not, which
the god of the silver bow had excited, and Mars, destroyer
of men, and Discord insatiably raging.
But the two Ajaxes, and Ulysses, and Diomede, urged
520 on the Greeks to fight, who, even themselves, did not fear
the strength nor the clamour of the Trojans, but awaited,
like clouds, which the son of Saturn, in calm weather,
places at rest on the highest mountains, when the force of
the North and other impetuous winds, is asleep, which,
525 when blowing, dissipate the dark clouds with tlioir whistling
blasts; — thus the Greeks firmly awaited the Trojans, nor
were they put to the rout ; whilst the son of Atreus was
ranging throughout the army, giving many charges.
" O friends, be men, and assume a courageous mind,
530 reverence each other in the fierce fights; for more of men
reverinjj each other arc saved than slain, but there docs
not arise a glory of the fugitives, nor any aid."
lie said, and swiftly launched his javelin, and struck a
535 chief warrior, the companion of the magnanimous ^neas,
525. ^a-)(^pr)wy, impelnons, from ^a, an intcnsitive particle, and
Xpno), irrifo. 'this is the reading of Eustatliius, which Mr. Trol-
lope has admitted into the text in preference to (ifaxpetwi'.
528. TToXXa. Might more properly be rendered adverbially
in this place, in the sense of magnopcre, very much, or with great
earnestness.
131
Deicoon, tlie son of Poro-nsus, whom the Trojans lionoured
equally with the sons of Priam, since he was alert to (ij^ht
among- the foremost combatants. Him then, kin^ ^S'*-
memnou struck with his spear on the shiehl, l)nl that did
not stay the dart, for it penetrated (piite throu<>ii it, and
pierced through the belt into the lower part of the belly; 510
and he gave a crash, as he fell, and his armour rang aroinul
him.
Hut then /Eneas slew the sons of Diodes, Crethon and
Orsilochus, the bravest warriors of the Greeks. Their
father dwelt in the well-built Pliere, rich in possessions, and
was of the race of the river Alpheus, which widely flows 545
through the territory of the Pylians; — who begat Orsilo-
chus, the king- of many men, and Orsilochus then begat
the ma":nanimous Diodes, and from Diodes were descended
twin sons, Crethon and Orsilochus, well skilled in every
kind of combat; these two, in the bloom of youth, followed 550
the Greeks in their black shi[)s to Ilium abounding with
horses, seekina' honour for the sonsof Atreus, Agamemnon,
and Menehaus ; — but there the end of death enveloped them.
Like two lions arc nourislied by their dam on the
summits of a mountain, in the tliick recesses of a deep 555
wood,— which, carrying away oxen and fatt sheej), deviis-
tate the stalls of men, till, at length, they were slain them-
selves by the shar[)-pointed brazen lance under the hands
of men; — so these two, subdued by the hands of iEnejis, 560
fell, like lofty pines. 13ut Menelaus, strenuous in the shout
of war, pitieil them fallen, and armed with glittering brass,
he advanced through the foremost lighters, brandishing his
545. The Pylus here referred to was a town of EUs, situated
at the mouth of the Alpheus. There was a Pylus also of Messenia,
and another of Arcadia. It is generally beheved that Nestor was
born in the Messeniau Pylus, from the words of Pindar, who
calls him yepwv Meaatjviog, Pyth. VI. 35.
132
spear ; and Mars excited his courage, supposing this, that
he would be subdued under the hands of ^neas.
665 But him Antilochus, the son of the magnanimous Nestor,
perceived, and he advanced through the foremost fighters,
for he feared much for the shepherd of the people, lest he
should suffer any thing, and greatly frustrate them of their
toil. Now they two were holding out their hands, and their
sharp-pointed spears against one another, eager to fight;
570 but Antilochus stood very near the shepherd of the people,
and iEneas remained not, though being an active warrior,
when he saw two heroes standing close to each other.
They therefore, when they had dragged the dead bodies
to the army of the Greeks, and placed them, miserable, in
the hands of their companions, returned themselves, and
575 fouffht amonff the foremost combatants.
Then they slew Pylaemenes, rival of Mars, the leader of
the magnanimous, shielded Paphlagonians. Him standing,
Menelaus, the son of Atreus, renowned in the use of the
lance, wounded with his spear, having struck him by the
580 collar-bone; but Antilochus struck the charioteer Mydon,
his attendant, the brave son of Atymnias, as he was driving
off the solid-hoofed horses, hitting him with a stone on the
middle of the elbow, and the reins, white with ivory,
dropped from his hands among the dust on the ground;
then Antilochus, springing forth, struck him with his sword
535 on the temple, when he fell panting from the well- wrought
chariot, headlong in the dust, upon his forehead, and upon
586. KvfxftaxoQ. Prceceps in caput. The verb kvtttu) signifies
to bend ones self; hence Kvftrj, a head, a thing that is bent into
a round form ; from Kvpr], by inserting ju we have tcv/jfit], wliich
Suidas explains by fcefaXri ; tlien by paragoge, from Kv/xftt} we
have Kvnfta-)(or, by the same analogy that we have TijjLuypQ from
THit). Taken substantively, KvjiftayoQ signifies the upper rotundity
of the head, and hence taken adjectively, it denotes a person
falling upon that part of the head.
133
his shoulders. For a lonjr- time lie stood lliere, for he had
fallen in a deep sand, till the horses, shakinj^- iiini oil", tlirew
him amonr^ tiie dust on the ground; and these Antiloclms
whipped and drove to the army of the Greeks.
But them, Hector perceived among- the ranks, and 51)0
shouting, he rusiied against them, and at the same time the
brave phalanxes of the Trojans followed; but Mars led
them on, and venerable Bellona, — she indeed bringing tlic
prodigious tumult of battle, whilst Mars was brandishing
in his hands a huge spear, and went sometimes in front of 595
Hector, sometimes behind him.
But Diomede, strenuous in the shout of war, seeing him,
shuddered; as when an unexperienced man, crossing a vast
plain, hath halted at a rapid river flowing towards the sea,
and seeing it thundering with foam, ran back again, — so ooo
then the son of Tydeus retreated and addressed his troops:
" My friends, how much do we admire the noble Hector
for being brave with the spear, and a courageous warrior!
But some one of the g-ods alwavs stands beside him, and
wards off death; and now Mars himself is beside him, like
to a mortal man. Retreat back therefore, always turning
upon the Trojans, and do not desire to fight bravely against eoi
the gods."
Thus then he spake, and the Trojans approached very
near to them. Then Hector slew two men skilled in battle,
Menesthes and Anchialus, being in one chariot. But the cio
mighty Telamonian Ajax pitied them fallen, and having
advanced very near, he stood and launched his glittering
spear and struck Amphius, the son of Selagus, who dwelt
'm Paesus, aboimding in riches and corn; but the fate led
608. ei^TE xnpA"'C* 'S^'i(/"^ "^ battle, ei^ors for uh)K0T£,
(romeihiD, scio. x"f>A"/> properly, joy, from x^'P*^' gaudco. Hence
Angl. Charm.
613. 7roXuKT/)/iw»', K. T. X. Compare Virg. iEn. VII. 537.
134
Clu him to aid Priam aiul his sons. Him then the Telamoniau
Ajax struck by the bch, and the long lance was fixed in the
lowest part of his belly ; and he gave a crash as he fell, and
the illustrious A jax sprang forth to strip off his armour, but
the Trojans hurled at him their sharp, glittering spears, and
his shield received many. Then pressing his foot upon it,
tj20 he plucked the brazen spear from the corse, nor could he
take away the rest of his beauteous armour from his shoul-
ders, for he was overwhelmed with darts; and lie feared a
strong enclosure of the valiant Trojans, who, numerous and
brave, were pushing forward holding their spears, — who
G25 drove him otF from them, mighty as he was, and gallant
and renowned, and retreating he was repulsed.
Thus they were toiling in the fierce battle, when ruth-
less fate roused Tlepolemus the son of Hercules, brave and
mighty against the godlike Sarpedon. When they had
030 now advanced and nearly approached one another, the son
and the grandson of the cloud- collecting Jove, Tlepolemus,
first addressed his antar/onist hi these words:
Sarpedon, counsellor of the Lycians, what necessity is
there for thee to tremble here, being a man unskilled in
635 battle? People falsely declare that thou art the offspring
of aegis-bearing Jove, since thou art far inferior to those
men, who, sprung from Jove among generations of former
times ; — such a one they say was the mighty Hercules, my
C40 courageous lion-hearted father, who once coming hither
G20. Xa^. An adverbial or undeclinable substantive. Eu-
Stath. TO VTrOKClTb) fXepOC TiOV TOV TTOCOC VaKTvXwV, so called UTTO
rov XrjyovTuc ttocoq. It is generally taken to represent t/ie heel,
or heels, but the verb XaiCTii^eiy, to kick, would lead us to adopt
the signification given to it by Eustathius, for a person does not
kick with his heels ; however, some persons translate Xukti^eiv in
the sense of calcare, to trample iqwn.
G40. Tlepolemus here refers to the first destruction of Troy
by Hercules. It having fallen to the lot of Hesione, daughter of
Laomedon, king of Troy, to be exposed to a sea monster, to
whom
135
on arcoiiiit of the horses of Fiaoniedon witli only six ships,
and a very few men, hiid wastethe city of Ilium and desolated
its streets; but to thee; is a dastardly soul, and thy jieople
perish, nor do T think that thou, having come from Lycia, G45
wilt be of any aid to the Trojans, — no, not even if tliou wert
much braver, but, subdued by my spear, wilt descend to the
gates of [Jades."
Him, Sarpedon, leader of the Lycians, addressed in
reply: "Tlepolemus, he surely destroyed the sacred Ilium,
from the imprudence of the renowned hero, Laomedon, GoO
who reviled him having shewn him kindness, with re-
proachful language, and gave him not the horses, on ac-
count of which he had come from afar. Out 1 imagine
that death and black fjitc will here overtake thee from me,
and tliat, subdued by my spear, thou wilt give glory to me
and thy soid to Pluto renowned for his horses."
Thus Sarpedon spake, and Tlepolemus raised his ashen C55
spear, and at the same moment the long lances flew from
their hands. Sarpedon indeed struck the middle of his
neck, and the afflictive point passed right through, and
whom the Trojans yearly presented a marriageable virgin, to
appease the resentment of Neptune and Apollo, Hercules pro-
mised to deliver her, provided he received, as a reward, six
beautiful horses. Laomedon consented, and Hercules attacked
the monster and killed him with his club ; or, according to Ly-
cophron, he threw himself, armed from head to foot, into his
mouth, and tore his belly to pieces, and came out safe, only with
the loss of his hair, after a confinement of three days. Laomedon,
however, refused to reward the hero's services and Hercules,
incensed at his treachery, hesieged Troy, and put the king and
all his family to the sword, except Podarces or Priam, whom he
established on his father's throne, because he had advised his
fadier to give the promised horses to his sister's deliverer, but
Hesione lie gave in marriage to his friend Telamon, who had
assisted him during the war ; and perhaps the indignation of
Priam at seeing his sister forcibly carried away by a foreigner
urged him to send Paris in revenge to Greece, who accomplislied
the rape of Helen, and gave rise to the second Trojan war. Vid.
ApoUod. n. 5. &-c. Ovid. Mctam. H. 212. J'hg. /En. H. 642.
in. 47C.
136
C5C0 gloomy night covered his eyes;— but Tlepolemus wounded
the left ihigh with his long spear, and the impetuous point
pierced through, driven upon the bone, but his father
averted death.
Then his noble companions carried the godlike Sarpe^
don from the battle, and the long lance dragged together
GC5 with him afflicted him with pain, w Inch no one considered,
nor did any observe to draw the ashen spear from his thigh,
hastening that he might ascend a chariot, — such \o'\\ they
had who attended him. And on the other hand the well-
booted Greeks bore off Tlepolemus from the battle; and
670 the noble Ulysses possessing a valiant soul perceived it,
and his beloved heart was moved, and he then anxiously
reflected in his mind and soul whether he would pursue
farther the son of the loud-sounding Jove, or take away the
life of more Lvcians. It was not then destined to the mao--
G75 nanimous Ulyssesto slay with his sharp-pointed brazen spear
the gallant son of Jove; wherefore Minerva directed his
fury to the multitude of the Lycians. Then he slew
Coeranus, Alastor, and Chromius, Alcander, Halius,
Noemon and Prytanis; and now the noble Ulysses would
have slain more of the Lycians, had not the mighty Hector
680 of the swift-waving plume, quickly perceived him, and he
went through the foremost fighters, armed with glittering
brass, and bringing terror to the Greeks; and Sarpedon
son of Jove, was delighted at his approach, and uttered
this lugubrious speech:
" O son of Priam, do not, I beseech thee, suffer me to
G8.J He a prey to the Greeks, but defend me, and then may
G63. SapTrrjCova clot eraipoi 'E^efepov tcoXejioio. So Virgil:
Interea yl'^ncam Mnestheus, et fidus Achates,
Ascaniusque comes, castris statuere cruentum,
Altcrnos longa nitentem cuspide gressus.
yEn. XII. 384.
137
life quit ini' in your city, since I was not to return home
to my dear paternal land, and embrace my beloved wife
and my infant son."
Thus he spake, but Hector of the swift-waving plume
answered him not, but flew by him, glowing with ardour, G90
that he might as soon as possible repulse the Greeks and take
away the life of many. Then his noble companions placed
the godlike Sarpedon beneath the beauteous beech-tree of
the aegis-bearing Jove, and the gallant Pelagon, who was
his beloved companion, drew out the ashen-spear from his 095
thigh ; then his soul left him, and mist was spread over his
eyes; — but he recovered animation again, and the breeze
of the North wind blowing aroimd him enlivened his soul
breathing with difficultv.
But the Greeks neither took to flight towards the black
ships before Mars and Hector, armed with brass, nor ever 700
bore themselves aofainst them in battle, — but alwavs re-
treated backwards, when they had understood that Mars was
with the Trojans.
Then whom iirst, and whom hist, did Hector, the son of
Priam and the brazen Mars slay ? — The godlike Teuthras, 705
and moreover Orestes driver of horses, Trechus an iEtolian
warrior, and Gilnomaus, and Helenus, the son of QCnops,
and Oresbius wearing a variegated belt, who dwelt at Hyl^,
very intent upon wealth, bordering upon the lake Cephisus,
GS6. tiret ouk: op' E^itWoi' eywye, /c. t. X. So Virgil :
luvidisse deos, patriis ut redditus oris,
Conjugium optatum et pulchram Calydona vidcrem.
^.n. XI. 269.
702. a\X cuEy oTTiacru) ya^ovff. They continually retreated
backwards with their front turned towards the enemy. This mode
of retreat was in use among the ancient Lacedaemonians, from an
apprehension of being slain with a wound received in the back,
for this was punished by a denial of the rights of burial, as well
as attended with the jireatest infoniv. In Thucydidcs we often
meet with the phrase Trpvfivtjy Kpovtir, whicli denotes a similar
retreat in naval engagements; and also in Polybius: ouk i]^vvaTO
■)(wpi(TBr}vaiy Kaiwep woWaKiQ ETTiftaXof-ievog Trpvfxvav Kpoveiy.
138
710 and beside him dwelt other Boootians, having' a verv
<)j)ident district. But when tlie white-armed goddess Juno
perceived these Greeks perishing in the direful battle,
she immediately addressed Minerva with these winded
w^ords :
"Alas ! invincible daughter of the a^gis-bearing Jove, of
715 a truth we pledged ourselves under a vain promise to Mene-
laus, that he should return home having destroyed the well-
fortified Ilium, if we suffer pernicious Mars thus to rage.
But come, let us also think of strenuous assistance."
Thus she spake, nor did the blue-eyed Minerva disobey ;
720 and Juno, — venerable goddess, daughter of the mighty
Saturn, departing, harnessed her golden-bridled horses ;
but Hebe quickly fastened the curved, brazen, eight-spoked
wheels upon the chariot, to the iron axle-tree on both
sides; their incorruptible circumference was of gold, but
720 — 730. In this description of the chariot of Juno, we
liave h(j>poQ, the hodij of the chariot, or that part within the avrv-
yeg, wliere tlie charioteer and warrior, iii'io)(oq and TrapafjaTTjg,
placed themselves; so called, quasi hcpopog, or that which carries
two persons. KvcXci, the wheels, which are here said to have
eight spokes, but the wheels of an ordinary chariot had only six,
vid. Schol. Pind. Pyth. II. 73. A^wy, the axletree, or more
properly, that iron bar which is fixed in the nave, from ayw, to
draw. True, the circumference, or wooden curvature of the wheels,
from 'levm, to go, because it is that by which the chariot moves ;
this is also called a^ic, from utttu), necto. ETrtcrwrpa, the exterior
lamina; of brass, around the true, from etti and awrpoi', another
name for the wooden circumference. The circumference of the
wheel consisted of as many arcs as it had radii or spokes ; the
wheel of Juno's chariot must therefore have consisted of eight
curvilinear pieces ; probably, one of these pieces was called
awTpov, from aw'Cu-v, to preserve, because tlie spokes were fastened
in them ; then the circumference was called oi/ztc, from joining
these pieces together, and the proper term for the whole was
iTVQ, from the motion of the wheel. Jl\r)fivr), the nave, otto tov
Tr\r]p()virdai vtto tov aiovoQ, from nXEOcfulL The avTvyeg, which
we have explained above, ver. 2G2. 'Pv/xoc, the pole between the
horses, from pvo), traho. Zvyov, the yoke, from i^evyvvpi, jungo.
Aeiracva, the collars, or hrnad breast bands, by which the liorses
were harnessed to the pole, from Xettw, decorlico.
139
on the outer side toere adapted brazen felloes, wonderful 725
to be seen ; the circular naves on both sides were of silver,
and tiie body of the chariot was extended upon gold and
silver cords, and there were two semi-circular verges ; the
pole of it was of silver, to the extremity of which she tied
the golden beauteous yoke, and to this she fastened the 730
beauteous collars ichich tcere adorned with gold; but Juno,
eager for the battle and the shout, led under the yoke her
swift-footed horses.
But Minerva, the daughter of a^gis-bearing Jove, suffer-
ed to drop on the floor of her f\ither, the flowing,
variegated robe, wliich she herself had worked and wrought 735
with her hands, and putting on tlic tunic of cloud-compell-
insT Jove, she accoutred herself in armour for the mournful
battle ; — around her shoulders she threw the awful, fringed
jegis, which Terror engirt in every direction ; — on it were
Contention, and Fortitude and fierce Pursuit, and likewise 740
upon it was the Gorgon head of the fearful monster, terri-
ble and horrible, the prodigy of a;gis-bearing Jove ;— upon
her head she placed her four- coned helmet, studded on
every side, made of gold, and sufficient for the infantry of a
hundred cities. And slie ascended with her feet into the 745
flaming chariot, and took lier spear, ponderous, huge and
strong, with which she subdues the ranks of heroic war-
riors, with whomsoever she, being descended from a power-
ful father, is enraged. But Juno quickly urged on the
horses with the lash, and the gates of heaven clattered of
their own accord, — which the Hours guarded, to whom are 750
entrusted the vast heaven and Olympus, both to open the
thick cloud and to shut it. In this direction, through them,
they drove the horses obedient to the spurs ; and they found
the son of Satmn sitting, apart from the other gods, on the
highest summit of the many-[)eaked Olympus. Then the 755
white-armed goddess Juno, stopping her horses, interrogat-
ed the son of Saturn, the supreme Jove, and addressed him :
140
" Fathei' Jove, art thou not angry with Mars lor these
atrocious deeds, seeiny how many and what people of the
Greeks he lias destroyed rashly, and not as it becomes
him? It is sorrow to me indeed, — but Venus and the
760 silver-bowed Apollo, being- at ease, are delighted, urging
on this mad Jelloio who knows no laws. Wilt thou then,
father Jove, be enraged, if I drive Mars, grievously beaten,
from the battle."
Her the cloud-gatliering Jove addressed in reply:
705 " Come now, incite the plundering Minerva against him,
who is most accustomed to throw him into afflicting pains."
Thus he spake, nor did the white-armed goddess Juno
disobey, but lashed on her steeds, and they not unwilling,
flew midway between earth and the starry heaven ; as far
770 through the air as a man can see with his eyes, sitting
on an eminence and looking towards the dark ocean,— so
far (lid the loud-sounding horses of the gods bound in a leap.
But when now they had arrived at Troy, and the flowing
rivers, where the Simois and the Scamander mingle their
775 streams, there the white-armed goddess Juno stopped the
horses, loosing them from the chariot, and poured around
them a large cloud, and for them to feed the Simois
produced ambrosia.
But they two went, resembling timid doves in their gait,
hastening to assist the Grecian heroes. But when they were
780 now come where the most numerous and the most valiant
stood, collected in a body round the mighty, horse-taming
Diomede, like flesh-devouring lions, or swine-boars whose
7G9. MfCTffTjyuc yatjjc, i^- t. X. We have a similar description
in Virgil : — terras inter coelunnque, legebat Littus arenosum Li-
bya?, ventosque secabat. ^n. IV. 25G.
781. fti-qv AiofirjceoQ. Literally, the force of Diomede, but
since force was the distinguishing quality of Diomede, that
quality is here personified, and made to reprcscHt the warrior
himself. In the same manner we have ftir} 'UpaK\rjeir],l3. 658, &c.
Hy the same analogy, a king is called regin majeslus, and other in-
dividuals, either from some quality belonging to tliem or from some
office which they hold, are called, the reverend, the worshipful, &c.
141
strcnotli is not feeble, — there the white-armed goddess
Juno, standing-, shouted aloud in the likeness of the mag-
nanimous, brazen-voiced Stentor, who vociferated as loud 700
as other fifty :
"Shame, Argives, foul disgrace, ye wondrous in ap-
pearance! — VV^hen the noble Achilles was present in the
war, the Trojans never advanced in front of the Dardanian
gates, for they dreaded his powerful spear, — but now afar 790
from the city they fight at the hollow ships."
Having thus spoken, she excited the strength and courage
of each. But the blue-eyed goddess Minerva sprang forth
towards the son of Tydcus, and found the king beside his
horses and chariot, medicating the wound which Pandarus
had inflicted upon him with an arrow ; for the sweat under the 795
broad thong of his well-circled shield chafed him, — with
which he was tortured, and his hand was w^eary ; and
holding up the thong, he was wiping oIFthe the black gore.
Then the iroddess touched the yoke of his horses and ad-
dressed him :
"Of a truth, Tydeus begat a son, very little resembling aoo
himself; Tydeus was indeed small in body, but he was a
warrior. For even when I was unwilling that he should
fight, or rush on in his fury, when he went apart from the
Greeks as an ambassjulor to Thebes, among many Cad-
means, and ordered him to feast quiet in the halls, — yet he 805
possessing his valiant soul as formerly, challenged the
youths of the Cadmeans, and easily overcame them in
every thing, — so great an assistant was I to him. 1 indeed
stand by thee also and guard thee, and eagerly urge thee
to fight against the Trojans, but cither weariness from much 810
labour has come upon thy limbs, or surely by some means
801. TV^EVQ TOl lllKpOQ, K. T.X. HcnCC Ovid I
Utilior Tydeus, qui, siquid credis Homero,
Ingenio pugnax, corpore parvus erat.
142
heartless fear restrains thee. Henceforth thou shalt not be
reckoned the offspring of Tydcus, the warlike son of
ffineus."
But the gallant Diomede addressed her in reply : " I
iU.5 recognize thee, goddess, daughter of the aegis-bearing
Jove, wherefore I will readily utter my speech to thee, nor
will 1 conceal it. Neither does heartless fear restrain me,
nor any slothfulness, but I am still mindful of thy charges
which thou gavest me ; thou didst not suffer me to fight
a20 against the other happy gods, — but if by chance, Venus,
the daughter of Jove, should come to the battle, to wound
her with my sharp-pointed spear. Wherefore I retreat
myself, and have commanded the other Greeks to assemble
here, for I know that Mars is acting as a general ayainst us
throuohout the battle."
«-i> Ilim then the blue-eyed goddess Minerva answered:
" Diomede, son of Tydeus, most beloved to my soul, fear
thou neither this Mars, nor any other of the immortals, — so
great an auxiliary am I to thee. But come, direct thy
solid-hoofed horses against Mars first ; strike him hand to
^30 hand, nor reverence this impetuous furious Mars, this
prffiter-natural, ever changing evil, who yesterday, conver-
sing with me and Juno, promised that he would fight
against the Trojans, and assist the Greeks, — but of these
he is forgetful, and now sides with the Trojans."
5535 Thus saying, she drove down .Sthenelus from the chariot
to the ground, dragging him backwards by the hand, and
812. aK^piov. Heartless, Schol. u^v-^ottoiov, tic a\pv)(^i.av
ayov. From cj/p, the heart. But the same word is used in a
contrary signification in tlie Odyss. /u. 98. and \p. 328; as if from
Krjp, fate,
830. ayj.cir)v. Used adverbially with an ellipse of rvir-qv or
TrXriyrjv, which is governed of Kara understood.
831. u\Xo7rpo(TaX\oj'. Eustath. airraTovyra, Kai aWore aXX^
Xfifiii^oitevov. Mars would naturally shift sides in order to keep
up the broil.
143
he leaped down quiolver (Iiaii a word; then the goddess
herself, incited w ith anj^cM-, ascended tlie chariot beside the
nobie Diome(U', and the beechen axle loudly i^roaned
under the weight, for it carried a terrible goddess and a
most valiant hero. But I^allas Minerva seized the whip 840
and the reins, and immediately directed the solid-hoofed
horses against 3Iars first ; — he had slain the mighty Peri-
phas, by far the bravest of the TEtolians, the renowned son
of Ochesius, — him the blood-stained JMars slew ; but
Minerva put on the helmet of Pluto, that impetuous Mars 845
might not perceive her.
But when Mars, destroyer of men, beheld the noble
Diomede, he suffered the mighty Periphas to lie there,
where first killing him, he had taken away his life, and he
advanced straightw ay as^ainst the horse-taminor Diomede ; 850
and when ap[)roaching against one another, they were near.
Mars first launched at him his brazen spear over the yoke and
reins of the horses, eager to destroy his life; but the blue-
eyed goddess Minerva, seizing it by her hand, turned it
away from the chariot, so that it might fly aside in vain. 855
Then second, Diomede strenuous in the shout of w^ar,
made an attack w^ith his brazen spear, and Pallas Minerva
fixed it in the low er part of the flank, where he was girt with
his belt; striking him in that part therefore, he wounded
him, and lacerated his fair skin, and she drew out the s[)ear 8(50
acrain, and brazen Mars roared as when nine or ten thousand
warriors shout in the battle, when joining the contest of
war; then a tremor seized the terrified Greeks and Tro-
jans, — so loud bellowed 3Iars, insatiable of war.
845. Auv 'A'icog Kvveiiy. Put on the helmet of Pluto; a
metaphorical expression (Icnotiiifr, that she became invisible. Per-
haps it would be better here, as in most other places in Homer,
to understand by 'A'tO/jc, the norld of departed spirits, the land of
shades; and then it would signify, that she became as one of the
invisible ghosts of Hades.
144
Like as the air appears darkened witli clouds, when a
8G5 tem|)estnoiis storm is excited by the heat, — so brazen Mars
ai)pearcd to Diomede, the son of Tydeus, ascending- with
clouds into the spacious heaven. And he swiftly came to
the lofty Olympus, the seat of the gods, and sat down be-
side Jove, the son of Saturn, grieving in his mind, and
870 shewed the immortal blood flowing from his wound, and
with doleful lamentations uttered these winofed words :
" Father Jove, tirt thou not indignant, perceiving these
villanous deeds'? We gods are ever enduring the most
875 afflictive things at the will of each other, giving gratifi-
cation to men. Throuo-h thee we all contend, for thou
hast begotten a mad pernicious daughter, to whom evil
deeds are ever a care. All the other gods, as many as are
in Olympus, are obedient to thee, and we are, each of us,
subject to thee ; — but her thou never restrainest, either by
880 word or by deed, but thou indulgest her, because thou
hast thyself begotten this pestiferous daughter, who hath
now incited the haughty Diomede, the son of Tydeus, to
wreak his fury upon the immortal gods; — first ilideed,
comhuj close to her, he wounded Venus on the hand, near
UiiH the wrist, and afterwards he rushed upon me also, like a
god, — ))ut my swift feet carried me off, otherwise, — of a
truth, I should have long endiu'ed tortures there, amid
horrible heaps of carcases, or perhaps I should have been
unnerved alive by the blows of his brazen weapons."
Then the cloud-gathering Jove, with a stern look.
864'. 'Ejpefteyvri, lonice for tpifttivt}, gloomy, from Ep£/3oe,
which physically denotes tliat hemisphere of the earth, which is
not enlightened by the sun, or that part of the globe which is
dark during night.
87G. (iTjffvXa tpya. Nefarious deeds. Ihe word arjavKog
occurs only in this place. Damm considers it as synonymous with
aiavKoQ, which is derived from aiaa, jus, and ffvKaM, spolio. Vid.
supra. V, 403, and the Odyss. ft. 232, &c.
!
14o
addressed liiin : •' VViiil not to me, sitting- beside n\c, thou
inconstant wretch, — thou art the most odious to me of the 890
g'ods, who possess Olympus; for contention is ever agree-
able to thee, and wars and battles. The intolerable,
unyielding disposition of thy mother Juno is in thee, whom
I indeed, with difficulty, govern with my words, — wherefore
I suspect that thou sutferest these things from her counsels.
Nevertheless Iwill not suffer thee yet long to endure pains, for 895
of me thou art begotten, and thy mother bore thee to me ; —
but if thou wert sprung thus pernicious from any other of
the gods, of a truth, thou shouldst have long since been
lower than the sons of Uranus."
Thus he spake, and ordered P^eeon to heal him ; and
Pfeeon sprinkling' pain-relieving medicaments upon him, 900
S94. evvESiiiaiv. Eustath. rjyovi' ffu^/3oXaic' cnro rov evirjfxi,
TO £/i/3aX\w. So Hesiod. Tlieog. 494. VairjQ evyeairjai -oXvtppa-
('eearai coXiodeiQ.
898. eyeprepoc OvpapKoyioy. Lower than the Titans ivJm
were the sons of Uranus ; or more hterally, more below the earth
than the sons of Uranus, for eyeprepoc, per sync, for eyeporepog, is
derived from eyepde, infra, which, is compounded of ev find tpa,
terra. These Titans vwre confined under Tartarus, the deepest
dungeon in the infernal regions. Vid. Hesiod. 'I'heog. 207.
717.
900. ocvVi)(pa~a (papfjuKo. Tvanauiv. The science of pliarmacy
appears to have been in great perfection in the time of Homer.
Chiron, the son of Saturn, was the first physician of celebrity,
and taught mankind the use of plants and medicinal herbs. He
lived about one generation before the Trojan war, and instructed
./Esculapius, as well as his two sons, Machaon and Podalirius, in
the art of medicine. 'Ihe healing efficacy of balm was well known
among the ancients: Jerem. viii. 22. Is there ?/o balm in Gdead?
xlvi. 2. Go ?<p into GileaH, and take balm, &c. li. 8. Take
balm for her imin, Sfc. In Gen. xliii, 2, we read that Jacob
commanded his sons to take halm and honey, Sec. for a present to
the governor of Egypt ; it is probable that these fruits of Canaan
were intended for medicinal use. In Gen. xxxvii. 25, we also
read that the Ishmaelites were bearing halm down to Egypt ; and
in Ezek. xxvii. 17, it is said that Judah traded with the Tyrians
in halm and honey. Homer has been highly extolled for his
knowledge
T
146
healed him, for ho was made in no way mortal ; as when
tlic fig-juice, put in motion, coag-ulates the white milk that
was liquid, and it is quickly turned round by the mixer, —
so quickly did he heal the impetuous Mars. Then Hebe
90o washed him, and put on his beautiful robes, and he sat down,
exulting in glory, beside Jove, the son of Saturn.
And again, the Argivc Juno, and Minerva, powerful
auxiliary, returned to the mansion of mighty Jove, having
caused destructive Mars to cease from the slaughter of men.
knowledge of Medicine and Anatomy, and particularly the latter.
His insight into the structure of the human body has been con-
sidered as so nice, that he has been imagined by some to have
wounded his heroes with too much science. Vid. Pope's Essay
on Homer.
909. AXaXKofieyrjiQ. Damm derives this word from aXaXKtiv,
i. e. fiorjdeiv, Sia fierog. The same expression occurs in ^. 8.
where we have rendered it, Minerva of Alalcomenos, which seems
to be the most probable signification of it. Alalcomenae was a
Town of Boeotia, where some suppose that Minerva was born.
Vid. Plut. Qusest. Gr.— Stat. Theb. VH. 330.
THE
ILIAD OF HOMER.
BOOK VI.
THE ARGUMENT.
After the departure of the gods from tiie battle, the Greeks pre-
vail. — Hector, by the advice of Heleniis, repairs to the city,
and recommends it to Hecuba, to go, accompanied with the
Trojan matrons, in solemn procession to the temple of Minerva,
— and entreat her to remove Diomede from the fight. — An
interview between Glaucus and Diomede, — who make an ex-
change of their armour. — Hector, having taken a tender leave of
his wife Andromache, sallies out with his brother Alexander to
the battle.
The scene is first in the field of battle, — then changes to Troy,
where the Episode of Hector and Andromache is introduced.
INow the direful battle of the Trojans and the Greeks was
abandoned hi) the f/ods, and oft did tlie combat direct its
fury hither and thither along* the plain, as the warriors were
launching at each other their brazen spears, between tlie
streams of the Simois and the Xanthus.
Then first the Telamonian Ajax, bulwark of the Greeks, 5
broke a phalanx of the Trojans, and brought hope to his
companions, striking- a man, mIio was tlie most valiant
among the Thracians, Acamas, the son of Eussorus,strenuous
and mighty ;— him he first struck on the cone of the helmet
plumed with horse-hair, and fixed the lance in his foreliead, 10
and the brazen point penetrated in through the bone, and
darkness covered his eyes.
148
Then Diomede, strenuous In the shout of war, slew
Axylus, the son of Tcutliranus, who dwelt at the well-built
15 Arisbe, rich in possessions, and was beloved of men, for he
kindly entertained all, inhabiting a house by the way side;
but none of these, coming in front of him, warded off
lamentable death, — for he deprived both of life, him and his
servant Calesius, who was Ihen the charioteer of his
horses, — and they both entered beneath the earth.
20 But Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius, and advanced
against iEsepus .ind Pedasus, whom formerly Abarbarea,
the Naiad nymph bore to the renowned Bucolion; — Buco-
lion was the son of the illustrious Laomedon, his eldest
by birth, and his mother bore him in secret; but being a
25 shepherd he mingled with her in love and concubinage
among the flocks, and she becoming pregnant brought forth
twin sons; but the son of Mecisteus relaxed their strength
and beauteous limbs, and ])lundered off the armour from
their shoulders. Then Polypoetcs, resolute in war, slew
30 Astyalus, and Ulysses killed Pidytes, the Percosian, with his
brazen spear, and Teucer slew the noble Aretaon. Anti-
lochus, the son of Nestor, slew Ablerus with his glittering
spear, and Agamemnon, king of men, *7c?t'Elatus, who in-
habited the lofty Pedasus, on the banks of the fair-flowing
35 Satniois. But the hero Le'itus slew Phylacus, when flying,
and Eurypylus killed Melanthius.
Then Menelaus, strenuous in the shout of war, took
Adrastus alive; for the horses flying in terror over the
plain, beingentangledin a myrtle thicket, awr/having broken
40 the curved chariot at the extremity of the pole, proceeded
iheiTiselves towards the city, where the others were flying
24. aKDTiov. Illcgk'/mntc, or a child horn in secret. Hesycli.
<TKOTiO{;' roOo'j' XuOpa yevvyjOsiQ twv yovtiov Ti)t: Koprjg' rovQ yo/o
fiT] tK (pdvepur, \aOpaiac ce fititioc yijovornr, "SiKotiovq cKrtkovr,
Kurip. Alcest. 1009. Ofwr uKOTtm 7r«»ffr.
149
confounded wilii fear. But lie wiis hurled from the chariot,
near the wheel, headlong- on his face among- the dust, and
Menelaus, the son of Atreus, holding his long spear, stood
beside him ; then Adrastus, embracing his knees, entreated 45
him :
" Take me alive, son of Atreus, and thou shalt receive
worthy gifts of redemption; for in the house of my wealthy
Aithcr lie many stores, brass, gold, and much-wrought iron,
from which my father woidd present thee with invaluable
gifts of redemption, if he heard that I am alive among the 50
ships of the Greeks."
Thus he spake, and then persuaded his mind in his
breast ; and indeed he was soon about to deliver him to an
attendant to lead to the swift ships of the Greeks, — but
Agamemnon came \ip running to meet him, and uttered
his speech, shouting in threatening manner :
"O mild-hearted, O Menelaus, why art thou thus 55
solicitous for preservAnrj men? Surely the best offices
were done to thee at home by the Trojans, of whom may
none escape heavy destruction and our hands, — not even
he, whomsoever his mother bears, being an infant, in her
womb, let not even him esca])e, but let all at once utterly GO
perish from Troy, unpitied and forgotten."
Having thus sj)oken, the hero turned the mind of his
brother, admonishing* what was right, and he pushed from
46. ^iitypei. Take me alive. JLustath. i^wypsty' ^wvTa aypevciv
riva. In e. G9S. it is used in tlie sense of eie ^mjy aysipeiv, to
revive.
55. Tliere is a great similarity between this 1"-cbuke of
Agamemnon and Samuel's reproof of Saul for sparing Agag.
1 Sam. XV. apia-a in tlie next verse is used irnnicaUij.
GO. HKi]cea-oL. Pro])erIy, nnlamcnlcd, or those for ivliovi
there is no anxieti/ ; from a, non, and Kij^oc, which, according to
Damm, has the three following significations: 1. (ppovnc, mental
anxictij ; 2. \vwr], sorrow; 3. oikeioti^q KtceaTLKi], grief for tlie
loss of a relation, and hence in general, mourning or lamentation
for the dead.
150
him willi his hand the hero Adrastus, and king Agamem-
non wounded liim in the flank, and he was hiid prostrate,
65 fuitl the son of Atreus hiying his foot on his breast, pkicked
out the ashen spear — But Nestor exhorted the Greeks,
shouting loud :
"Friends, heroes of the Greeks, servants of Mars, let
no one now, desirous of spoils, remain behind, that he may
go to the ships, bearing as many as possible, but let us
70 slaughter the men, — then at your leisure you shall plunder
the bodies lying dead along the plain."
Thus having spoken, he excited the strength and
courage of each. Then surely the Trojans would have
again retreated to Ilium, from the warlike Greeks, sub-
75 dued by their slothfulness, had not Helenus the son of Priam,
by far the best of augurs, addressed /Eneas and Hector,
standing beside them :
"^neas and Hector, since chiefly upon you rests the
labour of the Trojans and Lycians, because ye are the best
for every attempt, both to fight and to consult, stand here
80 and restrain the people in front of the gates, going round
in different directions, before tliat, flying, they fall in the
embraces of their wives, and become a joy to the enemy.
And when you have exhorted all the phalanxes, we remain-
85 ing here, will fight with the Greeks, greatly pressed as we
are, for necessity compells us; but do thou, Hector, repair
to the city, and then speak to thy mother and mine ; — let
her, collecting the matrons with her into the temple of the
blue-eyed Minerva, in the highest part of the' city, having
opened with a key the gates of the sacred mansion, lay at
68. tvapwv. Spoils, from tvaipu), to slay, because they are
taken from the bodies of tlie slain. ETriftaWo/jtvoc is here used
in the sense of en-iOvfiaiy, and is therefore constructed witli a
genitive. The proper Syntax would be tTrifiaWtadai tov vow
Tiyi, to set one's mind upon a thing.
151
the knees of the fuir-liaired Minerva, the robe which 90
appears to l)e the larg-est and most elegant in her halls, and
whicli is by far the most vahied by her; — and let her vow
that she will sacrilice in the temple, twelve oxen of a year
old, that have not endured the yoke, if she should pitv the
city, the wives of the Trojans and their infant children ; — if 95
she should drive away from the sacred city, the son of
Tydeus, the ferocious warrior, the valiant contriver of the
rout, whom 1 imaoine to be the mio-htiest of the Greeks.
Never did we thus dread Achilles, the leader of heroes,
whom, they say, is sprung from a goddess,— but this man lOO
rages most furiously, nor can any one equal him in
streno'th."
Thus lie spake, nor did Hector disobey his brother, but
immediately leaped from his chariot with his arms to the
ground ; then brandishing his sliarp lances, he went in all
directions through the army, exciting them to fight, and he 105
roused up a direful contest, — and they were turned back
from flight and stood against the Greeks ; then the Greeks
retreated and ceased from the slaughter, for they conceived
that some one of the immortals had descended from the
starry heaven to assist the Trojans, because they were
turned back from flight. But Hector encouraged the no
Trojans, shouting aloud:
90. The 7r£7rXoc, was a long white robe, sacred and peculiar
to Minerva. A number of virgins were appointed to weave a long
embroidered garment, called TreTrXog, and ornamented with a
representation of the martial atchievements of the goddess, with
which her statue was clothed at the great festival of the Pana-
thenaaa at Athens.
109. cXeXtj^Qtv. Used in the Boeotian dialect for eXfXtxQ'jo'a*',
3 pi. aor. 1 pass, by the Attic reduplication for T^Xt^Or/o-ar, from
eXiaau), volvo.
110. fiaKpov avaae. This is similar to the phrase /3o»jv aya-
dog, wliich denotes that a warrior had the power tov fiuKpov avtiv
of shouting so as to be heard from a far distance. The verb
aiieiv is transitive, and governs the accusative of the person who
is called, /mk-pov agrees with some word to be supplied, such as
[.litKciQ, or haarr^fia, and that is governed of Kara understood.
152
iNlaonanimoiis Trojans, anil allies summoned from afar,
be men, my friends, and be mindful of your strenuous for-
titude, whilst I repair to Ilium, and enjoin the aged
115 counsellors and our wives, that they pray to the g-ods and
vow hecatombs."
Then having- thus spoken. Hector of the swift-moving
helmet departed, and the black hide, the rim which last
went round his bossy shield, beat against his heels and his
neck.
Then Glaucus, the son of Hippolochus, and tlie son of
120 Tydeus came together into the midst between both armies,
eao-er to fioht, and when, advancino- towards each other,
they were now near, — him, Diomede, strenuous in the shout
of war, first addressed :
"Who of mortal men art thou, most valiant heroi —
for never before have I seen thee in the olorious battle:
125 but now ihou advancest far beyond all in thy confidence,
since thou awaitest my long spear; but the sons of ill-fated
men oppose my strength. If, being any of the immortals,
thou hast descended from heaven, I would not contend
with the heavenlv gods; for the valiant Lycurgus, the son
130 of Dryas, did not live long, who combated with the celes-
tial gods; — who formerly pursued around sacred Nysa, the
nurses of raving Bacchus, when these, all at once, threw their
Thyrsi on the ground, being beaten by an ox-goad by
130. Lycurgus was a king of Thrace, the son of Dryas. He
offered violence to the god of wine, and abolished his worship
within liis dominions, for which impiety he suffered a severe
punishment. He put his son Dryas to death in a fury, and cut
off his own legs, mistaking them for vine-stumps. He was after-
wards put to death in the greatest torments by his subjects, who
had been informed by the oracle, that they should not taste wine
till Lycurgus was no more. Vid. Hygin. fab. 132. — Apollod IIL
.5, &c.
1.33. Atwvvaoto Tidrjvac. The nurses of Bacc/ius, commonly
called the Bacha;. According to Ovid and Apollotlorus, these
nurses
153
Lycur<rus, slayer of nii'ii. But IJiicchus, being- driven to 135
Higlit, (Icscendod hcneath the wave of the sea, and Thetis
received liim, tremblin*^, in her bosom, for viohmt tremour
had seized liim, on account of the threatening of the man.
But with him the gods that live in tranquillity were after-
wards enraged, and the son of Saturn struck him blind,
nor did he live Ions' afterwards, since he was hated bv all 140
the immortal gods ; — nor would I wish to combat with the
liappv gods, — but if thou art one of the mortals who feed
vipon the fruit of the earth, advance nearer, that thou mayst
the sooner arrive at the boundary of death."
Him, in his turn, the illustrious son of Hippolochus
addressed : " Magnanimous son of Tydeus, why dost thou 145
inquire of my race? As is the generation of leaves, so is
that of men; some leaves the wind strews upon the ground,
and others the budding wood produces, and they germi-
nate in the season of spring ; thus is the generation of men,
one springs up, and another dies away. But if thou 150
desirest to learn these things, that thou mayst well know
my family, many men are acquainted with it. There is a
city Ephvro, in the recess of Argos that feedetli horses,
nurses of Bacchus were the Hyades ; but Euripides assigns the in-
fant god to Dirce, tlie daughter of the river Acheloiis, It is,
again, related by Lucian, tliat he was transported by Mercury to
Nysa, a city of Arabia, where he was educated by the Nymphs,
and whence he is supposed to have derived his name, though
others derive it otto tov vvaativ Aioc jirjpoy, a fodicando Jovis
femur. Tliis Nysa, however, cannot be the place alluded to in
this passage, which must have been a city of Thrace. Concerning
Bacchus and his rites, ivc. vid. Philostr. I it. Apollon. Tyan.
II. 8. 56. llerod. III. 07. ApoUod. I. 9. III. 4, 8cc. (Jiid.
Metnvi. III. 3. Fast. III. 715, &c. Hi/gin.fab. 155, cS.c. Eiaip.
Bacch. Lucian rfe Sacrif. de Baccho. hi dial. Deorum, S^-c.
152. Ephyre was the same city which was afterwards called
Corinth, and was known by that name even in the time of Homer.
ft. 570.
153. Sisyphus was son of iEolus and Enaretta, tlie most
crafty prince of the heroic ages. After his death, he is said to
have
u
154
where lived Sisyphus, who was the most prudent of men, —
1^^ Sisyphus the son of yEohis, who begat Glaucon his son ;
and Ghiucon beg-at the renowned Bellcrophon ; to him the
gods gave beauty and amiable virtue, but Proetus designed
evil against him in his mind, who banished him from the
city, since he was by far the most powerful of the Argives,
160 as Jove had reduced them under his sceptre, — for the wife
of Proetus, the noble Antaea, had madly desired to mingle
with him in clandestine love, but had by no means per-
suaded the prudent Bellerophon, endued with a virtuous
mind; then she, with a lie, addressed king Proetus: 'Mayst
165 thou die, O Proetus, or slay Bellerophon, who desired to
mingle with me in love against my will !' Thus she spake,
but anger seized the king at what he heard ; he was how-
ever unwilling to kill him, for he had a religious awe upon
his mind, but he sent him to Lycia, and gave him pernicious
letters, having written many deadly things upon a folded
170 tablet, and he commanded him to shew them to his father-
have been doomed in hell to roll up eternally, to the top of a lofty
eminence, a huge stone, which had no sooner reached the summit
than it fell back again with tremendous impetuosity to the plain.
The causes of this rigorous sentence are variously reported. Vid.
Odyss. /3. 592. Virg. VI. G16. Apollod. III. 4, &c.
155. Bellerophon was so called airo rov BeXXepov foveveiy,
from the murder of his brother Bellerus and in consequence of
which crime he fled to the court of Proetus, king of Argos. His
original name was Hipponoiis. His resolute virtue in opposition
to the seducive attempts of Anta?a, or as Euripides and others
call her, Sthenoboca, will easily call to our remembrance the his-
tory of Joseph, who manifested equal resolution against a similar
attack in Egypt.
1G8. ffrj/iara Xvypa. Mournful characters. There has
been considerable controversy respecting the nature of these
characters. Some understand by them certain liieroglyphic
representations, whilst others, contend, that alphabetical writing
was known even in the age of Bellerophon. The ttivul, tttvktoq
was probably a roll of prepared skin or parchment, and which was
also called ciXtoq, as in Soph. Trach. 157. See a learned note
on this passage by Mr. TroUope, and our Prel. Diss. ^. 1.
155
in-law, that lie miglit pcrisli. Then lie departed for Lycia
under the favourable "uidance of the jrods. But when he
arrived in Lycia, and on the flowing Xanthus, the king- of
the extensive Lycia readily honoured him ; nine days he
feasted him, and sacrificed nine oxen, but when the tenth
rosy-fingercd morning ap[)eared, then he interrogated him, 175
and requested to see the letters, which he then brought
from his son-in-law Proetus. But after he had received
the fatal letter of his son-in-law, he then first commanded
him to kill the invincible Chimau'a ; she was of divine 180
origin, not of men, — in front, a lion; behind, a dragon;
and in the middle, a goat, breathing out the terrible force
of flaming fire. And her he slew, relying upon the por-
tents of the gods. Next, he fought with the renowned
Solyrai, and surely he said that he engaged in this, — the
hardest battle of heroes. Thirdly, he slew the heroic 185
Amazons. Then he contrived another cunnino; fraud
against him returning, — having chosen the most valiant men
from extensive Lycia, he placed an ambuscade ybr him;
but they never more returned home, for the renowned
Bellerophon slew them all. But when now he knew him loo
to be the illustrious offspring of a god, he detained him
there, and married to liim his own daughter, and present-
ed him with the half of all the royal honour ; and moreover,
the Lycians separated for him a portion of land, excelling
the rest, beautiful for the [)roduce of vines and tillage, that 195
179. The Chimaera is supposed to have been a burning
mountain in Lycia, the top of which, on account of its wildness,
was inhabited by lions, and the middle afforded fertile pastures for
goats, whilst the marshy ground, along the foot of it, abounded
with serpents. Bellerophon is said to have killed the Chimcera,
because he first rendered this mountain inhabitable. The Solymi,
mentioned in ver. 184, were the inhabitants of Solynia, or Soly-
mae, a city of Lycia, and who were anciently called iMi/i/ades, and
afterwards Termili and Lycians. It was among them that Sarpe-
don dwelt. Vid. Strabo. 14. Plin. V. 27 and 29. This was also
an ancient name o( Jerusalem. Juvcn. VI. 543.
156
he might cuhivate it. And she bore three childreii for the
warlike Bellerophon, Isandrus, Hippolochus, and Laodamia;
— with Laodamia, indeed, counselling Jove lay, and she
bore the godlike, brazen-helmeted Sarpedon. When now
200 even he was hated by all the g"ods, he wandered alone
through the Aleian plain, consuming his own soul, and
avoiding the footsteps of men. But Mars insatiable of war,
slew his son Isandrus when fio-htinff aofainst the illustrious
205 Solymi ; and her the golden-reined Diana slew in her rage.
But Hippolochus begat me, and of him I say that I am
sprung, and he sent me to Troy, and gave me very many
charges, that I should be ever the most brave, and superior
to others in valour, nor to disgrace the race of my fathers,
210 who were by far the most gallant in Ephyre, and in exten-
sive Lycia. Of this family and blood I boast that I am."
Thus he spake, and Diomede strenuous in the shout of
war, rejoiced ; he fixed his spear in the bounteous earth,
whilst he addressed the shepherd of the people in courteous
words :
ojc " Then now, surely, thou art an old paternal guest of
mine, for once the noble (Eneus entertained in his halls
the renowned Bellerophon, having retained him twenty
days, and they gave each other handsome gifts of hos-
pitality; — (Eneus indeed gave a belt glittering with purple
220 colour, and Bellerophon, a round double cup of gold,
which, wlien departing hither, I left in my house. I do
not recollect Tydeus, since he left me yet a little child,
when the army of the Acha^ans perished at Thebes. Where-
fore I am a friendly host to thee in the midst of Argos, and
225 thou to me in Lycia, if ever I come to the nation of the
208. auv apiffTEVEiv, k. t. \. Aurei versus, et alti animis
juvenum infigcndi ! Hcyne. To the same effect, Virg. iEn. III.
342. In aniiquam virlutcm animosrjne viriles Et 2^o,ter ^neas et
avunculus excitat Hector.
157
Lijciuna ; let us llion avoid to attack one another with our
spears even in the crowd. There are many Trojans and
renowned allies for me to kill, whomsoever a god may
present, or 1 overtake with my feet ; and on the other
hand, there are many Greeks for thee to slay, whomsoever
thou art able. But let us exchange armour with each other, 230
that these may know that we boast to be paternal hosts."
Thus having spoken and leaped from their chariots,
they seized each other's hands, and pledged their faith.
Then Jove the son of Saturn, took away his judgment from
Glaucus, who exchanged armour with Diomede the son of 235
Tydeus, golden for brazen, and those worth a hundred oxen
for those worth nine oxen.
But when Hector came to the Seaman gates and the beech-
tree, the wives and daughters of the Trojans ran around
him inquiring for children, brothers, friends and husbands;
but then he enjoined them all in order, to supplicate the 240
gods, for evils were impending over many oj'them.
But when he came to the beauteous palace of Priam,
built with carved porticos, and in which there were fifty
chambers of polished stone, built near to one another,
where the sons of Priam reposed beside their lawful wives, 245
and over against them on the other side, w ithin the court,
were twelve covered chambers of polished marble for his
daughters, built near to one another, where the sons-in-law
of Priam reposed beside their chaste wives, — there his 250
gentle mother met him, going to Laodice, the fairest of
236. kKarofxijoi evrealoouov. This unequal exchange of
armour passed into a proverb. Vid. Martial. Epigr. IX. Tmn
sUrpidns minqvam ncc tu, p;<to, Glaucc, fulst'i, XaXfjea donanti
\pv(Tea qui dcderas.
243. uiQovaijai. Porches or Porticos, from aiOu), spkndere
facto. Eustath. \iOivoiq v7rad)poic, (TTOalc aiGov/iEvatc J/X«w.
24'!', TrevnjKoi'r evEirnv OoXojttot, k. t. X. Hence Virg. ^n.
H. G03. Quinquaginta ilU Thalam'i, spcs tanta ncpotum, Barbarko
pastes aura spoUisqiie superhi.
158
her daughters in form, and she clung- to his hand, called
liini by his name and addressed him :
" My son, why, having left the fierce battle, hast thou
255 come hither? Surely now the detestable sons of the Greeks
press hard upon thee, contending round the city, and thy
mind hath impelled thee, coming hither, to lift up thy hands
to Jove from the highest part of the city, — but await until
1 bring to thee the sweet wine, that thou mayst first pour
260 a libation to father Jove and the other immortals, and then
refresh thyself if thou shouldst drink, for wine greatly in-
creases the strength of a man, weary, as thou art now weary,
fighting for thy citizens."
Her then, the mighty Hector, of the swift-moving helmet,
answered : " Bring- me not wine delicious to the soul,
265 venerable mother, lest thou shouldst enervate me, and that
I should forget my strength and fortitude. But I am
struck with reverential awe to pour the sparkling wine to
Jove with hands unwashed, nor is it in any way laicj'ul for
me thus stained with blood and gore, to make vows to the
cloud-collecting son of Saturn. But do thou, having as-
270 sembled the matrons, go with incense to the temple of the
plundering 3Iinerva, and place at the knees of the fair-
haired Minerva, that robe which is largest and most elegant
in thy hall, and is by far the most valuable to thee, and vow
that thou wilt sacrifice, in the temple, twelve heifers of one
275 year old, and that have not endured the yoke, if she should
261. KtKfir)iI>Ti. Poetice pro Kei:f.ir]OTi, lontce pro KeKfxrfKori,
from Kufiru), laboro. In alkision to this verse, Horace says:
Laudihus urguilur vini vinosus Homcrus. Compare Odyss. ^. 403.
275. T)viQ. Of one year old, accus. plur. contracted for
T^vme, in the same manner as ftovc is contracted for ftoaq. It is
declined r}vi£, uoq et wq. And compound of hg unus, and evog
annus, with the Ionic breathing.
Ibid. t}K(.aTag. Schol. uKeyrrjrovg, ahanaarovg. Poetice for
(iKEtTTOvr, from Ktrrew, stiniulo. Young heifers must be offered to
Minerva, because she always continues a virgin in the bloom of
159
pity the citv, the wives and the infant ehihh'en of the Tro-
jans, — if she slioiihl drive away, from sacred Ilium, the son
of Tydeus, the ferocious warrior, the valiant contriver of tlie
rout. But go thou to the temple of the plundering- Mi- 280
nerva, whilst 1 approach Paris, that 1 may call him, if he
should choose to hear me speaking. Would that the earth
may gape for him, for the Olympic Jove hath nourished
him a great destruction to the Trojans, the magnanimous
Priam and the sons of Priam! Could I but behold him
descending into Hades, I might indeed imagine that my 285
soul would forget its cheerless misery!"
Thus he spake, and she, having departed to her house,
gave orders to her maids, and these assembled the aged
matrons throughout the city; but she descended herself into
the frao-rant chamber, where were her robes of various
embroidery, the work of Sidonian women, whom the god-
like Alexander himself brought from Sidon, sailing over 290
the wide sea, the same way, by which he led Helen,
sprung from a noble father. Lifting up one of these, which
was the largest and the most beautiful with divers colours,
Hecuba carried it as a gift to Minerva, and it shone like a
star, and had lain lowest of the others. But she advanced, 295
and many matrons quickly follow ed in procession :
youth ; and the epidiet rjKEffTai, ungoadcd, is applied to them witli
the same analogy as the epithet arpvTtoyri, unconqiiered, is applied
to the goddess herself.
291. I,idoyii]6£y. Dictys Crctensis, lib. 1. acquaints us,
that Paris returned not directly to Troy after die rape of Helen,
but fetched a compass, probably to avoid pursuit. He touched
at Sidon, where he surprized die king of Phccnicia by night, and
carried off many of his treasures and captives, among which
probably were these Sidonian women. The author of the ancient
poem of tlie Cypnncs, says, he sailed from Sparta to Troy in
three days ; from which passage Herodotus concludes that poem
was not Homer's: H. 117. We find in the Scriptures, tliat Tyre
and Sidon vvere famous for works in gold, embroidery, &c. and
whatever regarded magnificence and luxury, rope.
160
But when they came to tlie temple oi' Minerva, in the
hig-hest part of the city, the fair-cheeked Theano, daughter
of Cisseus, and wife of horse-taming Antenor, opened the
300 gates for them, for the Trojans had made her priestess of
Minerva. Tlien, witli a doleful wail, they all lifted up
their hands to JMinerva, and the fair-cheeked Theano, taking
the robe, placed it on the knees of the fair-haired Minerva,
and praying, she supplicated the daughter of the mighty
Jove :
305 " Venerable Minerva, guardian of the city, most noble
of the goddesses, break now, I entreat thee, the spear of
Diomede, and grant that he may fall himself prostrate
before the Sca?an gates, that we may immediately sacrifice
in thy temple twelve oxen of one year old, that have not
310 endured the yoke, if thou shouldst pity the city, the wives,
and the infant children of the Trojans."
Thus she spake, praying, but Pallas Minerva assented
not. Thus these indeed prayed to the daughter of the
mighty Jove, but Hector proceeded to the beauteous man-
sion of Alexander, which he had himself built with men, who
315 were at that time the most skilful architects in fertile Troy,
who made for him a chamber, a roof and a court, near those of
Priam and Hector, in the highest part of the city. Thither
Hector, beloved of Jove, entered, and he held in his hand
299. Yt-iaariiQ. According to Euripides, as well as Virgil,
and the rest of the Latin poets, Hecuba was also the daughter of
Cisseus, in which case, she was the sister of Theano. But how-
ever, according to Homer, tt. 718, Hecuba was the daughter of
Dymas. Vid. Porson on Hec. 3.
305. -KOTVL AdrjuaiT}. Virgil has given almost a literal
translation of this prayer : Armipotcns belliprceses, Tr'donia virgo,
Frange manu telum I'hrygii prcedonis, et ipsum Pronum sterne solo,
porlm/tie ejfunde sub allis. Minerva was called the guardian-
goddess of iroy on account of her statue, the Palladium, which
fell down from heaven near the tent of Ilus, as that prince was
building the citadel of Ilium. The safety of the city depended
upon the preservation of this celebrated statue.
I
161
;i s[)oar of olovcii <iiljits' leng^th; bofbro liiiu shone the
brazen point of tliehmce, and a (golden ring went round it. 320
But him he found in his chamber furbishinir- his beauteous
armour, his sliiehl and his corslet, and liandlino- his crooked
bows ; and the Aro-ivc Helen was sittinfj amonof her female
domestics, and furnishing ilhistrious em[)loyments to her
attendants; but him Hector, having seen him, reproved 325
with opprobrious words:
" Wretched man, thou hast not becomingly conceived
that indignation in thy mind ; the people perish, fighting
round the city and the lofty wall ; but on thy accotmt do
the shout and the battle blaze around this city, and thou
wouldst reprove another, if thou didst any where see one 330
relaxing from the horrid fight; — l)nt arise, lest the city
may soon be consumed with hostile fire."
But him, the godlike Alexander, in his turn, addressed:
"'Hector, since thou hast justly, and not unjustly rebuked
me, wherefore will I speak to thee, and do thou pay
attention and listen to me : I sat in my chamber, not so 335
much from anger or indignation towards the Trojans, but
I wished to give wav to my grief; but now my wife, per-
suading me with gentle words, has impelled me to war,
and it appears to myself likewise that thus it would be
better, for victory inclines to men by turns. But come, 340
now wait, till I put on my martial armour, — or depart, and
I will follow, and I think I will overtake thee."
Thus he spake, and Hector, of the swift-waving plume,
answered him not, but Helen addressed him in [)lacid words :
" Brother-in-law of me detestable, evil-planning bitch,
339. viKTj o' tTrafjiBijjeTai avCpue. Virsr. iEn. II. 3G7. Quondam
et'iam vict'ts redit in prcecordin virtus, Victorcsqiie cadunt. — Livy :
Nunquam minus quam in betlo crentus respondent ; simul j)(irta ac
speratn decora unius horcp fortuna eiertcrc potest.
34"1'. Kvvoc KaKOfx-i]\avov, oKpvoeaaii£. It was by no means
an unusual thing in ancient times for ladies to call tliemselves
hitches,
X
162
345 would that on tliat day when my mother first bore me, a
pernicious storm of wind had carried me off into a mountain
or into tlic depth of the far-resounding sea, where the wave
would have overwhelmed me, before these crimes were
perpetrated; — but since the gods have thus determined
350 these evils, then would that I had been the wife of a more
valiant man, who would have felt the indignation and
many insults of men ! But the mind of this man is neither
now firm, nor will be hereafter, wherefore I think that he
will reap the fruit of his folly. But come, enter now, my
355 brother-in-law, and seat thyself on this chair, since labour
hath come chiefly upon thy mind, on account of me a bitch,
and the injury of Alexander, to whom Jupiter has assigned
an evil destiny, so that afterwards we may be subjects of
song among future generations."
Her then the mighty Hector of the swift-moving helmet,
3G0 addressed : " Do not cause me to sit down, Helen, loving
as thou art, for thou wilt not persuade me, for my soul is
already incited, that I may aid the Trojans, who have a
great longing for me being absent ; but do thou urge on
this man, and let him hasten himself, that he may overtake
365 me vet within the city, for I will also go to my house, that
I may behold my domestics, my beloved wife and my in-
fant child, — since I know not whether I may evermore re-
hitches, — and that often in a sense of self approbation: thus in
^schylus, y/^flw. 616, Clyttcmnestra speaks of herself : VvvaiKa
iridT-nv c' IV cofioiQ tvpoi fioXu)v, Oiav nep ovv eXetTre, ^wfiariov Kvva
EffflXjjv eKEiyo), TroXtfiiuv toIq Sv(T(j)po(ny, &c. Having returned, he
shall find nic Jus faithful wife in his palace, such as he left me, —
a watchful bitch to guard his house for him, hut hostile to his ene-
mies, 8fc. Again, in v. 1102. of the same Tragedy, Cassandra is
compared to a bitch from her sagacity, and in v. 1237, Clytsemnestra
is called a bitch in tlie same sense that Helen applies the term here
to herself, nKTrjTrJQ kvvoq. With the same analogy, men are also
often called dogs: thus Tlvsch. Agam. 3. the sentinel that watched
the return of Agamemnon compares himself to a dog, and in
v. 905, Orestes is called the dog of the folds, rwr aTcSfxm' Kvva.
163
turn back to tliem, or the g-oJs may subdue me under Ibe
hands of" the Greeks."
Then havino^ thus spoken, Hector, of the s\vift-\vavin<;r
plume dejjarted, and innned lately afterwards came to his 370
mansion, commodious for habitation, nor did he fmd tlie
wliite-armed Andromache in the halls, for she witli her
child, and her well-dressed maid, stood on the tower,
weeping and lamenting. But Hector, when he did not
find his blameless wife within, having- advanced, stood at
the threshold, and spoke to his domestics : 375
" Hoay, come, my maids, tell me the truth, — whither
has the white-armed Andromache o-one from the house '^
Has she departed to the mansions of the sisters of her hus-
band, or the well-dressed wives of her brothers, or to the
temple of Minerva, where the other fair-locked Trojan
women supplicate the terrible goddess?" 3B0
Then the sedulous housekeeper addressed him in her
turn : " Hector, since thou chargest us by all means to speak
the truth, she has gone neither to the mansions of the sisters
of her husband, nor of the well-dressed wives of her
brothers, nor to the temple of INIinerva, where the other 385
fair-locked Trojan women supplicate the terrible goddess;
but she hatii ascended to the lofty tower of Ilium, because
she heard that the Trojans were hard pressed, and that the
power of the Greeks was great ; she is gone indeed to the
wall, hastening like one mad, and the nurse carries the
child along with her." 390
Thus then spoke the female housekeeper, and Hector
rushed out of the house the same way back, along the well-
paved streets. When, passing through the great city, he
came to the Seaman gates, — for this way he was about to
389. TiBi]vr]. The same as n0/;j'Of, a nurse, from titOoq,
mamma.
390. Tafxir]. Properly, a dispcnsatrir, from repvw, scindo.
164
sally out into the plain, then his ^•ich-dowcred wife came
395 running- to meet him, Andromache, the daughter of the
magnanimous Eetion,— the Eetion, who dwelt at the woody
Hypoplacus, in Hypoplacian Thebes, governing Cilician
men ; his daughter had been married to the brazen-rarmed
Hector, who then met him, and along with her came an
400 attendant, bearing in her bosom the tender child, that was
likewise an infant, the beloved son of Hector, resembling a
beauteous star. Him Hector called Scamandrius, but
others, Astyanax, for Hector alone defended Ilium. Then
looking at his child in silence, he smiled, but Andromache
405 stood close to him weeping, and she clung to his hand,
called him by his name, and addressed him :
" Gallant hero, thy own courage will destroy thee, nor
dost thou pity thine infant child, nor me, miserable, who
shall soon be thy widow, for soon the Greeks will slay thee,
410 all making a simultaneous attack upon thee; and it would
be better for me, deprived of thee, to enter beneath the
earth, since, when thou shalt have died, there will be
no longer other consolation, but sorrows; nor have I a
father and venerable mother, for truly the noble Achilles
slew my father, and devastated the well-inhabited city of
415 the Cilicians, the lofty-gated Thebes; — he slew Eetion,
but spoiled him not, for he had a reverential dread of this
in his mind; but he burnt him with his armour, and threw
a mound of earth over him, and the nymphs, the Orestiades,
the daughters of the a;gis-bearing- Jove, planted elms
400. uTa\a<j)poya. Tender; an epithet of one whose mind
is set upon puerile things, or, properly, one whose soul is not
able to sustain severe and rigorous thoughts, from araXof, tender,
and ippJ]v, mens. araXoc is derived from a nan, and raXaw, patior.
418. K(irei:rie nvv ivreai. This was an act of great generosity.
yEneas manifested tlie hkc favour towards Lausus ; Virg. ^n.
X. 827 : Arma, quibus loslatus, hahe tua ; terpie parenlum Mani-
"f cineri, siqua est ea cura, remilto.
165
around it. Tlie seven brothers, whom I liad in our halls, — 420
these all descended into i lades on the same day, for the
noble swift-footed Achilles slew them all anions^ their wry-
footed oxen and white sheep. But with regard to my
mother, who ruled in woody Hyi)oi)lacus, after he had led
her thither with the other riches, he liberated her back 425
ao"ain, receiving" ransoms of infinite value,— but Diana, de-
lighting' in arrows, struck her in the halls of my father.
But thou, O Hector, art to me a father, a venerable mother,
and a brother, and thou art my blooming husband ; — there- 430
fore come now, have compassion upon me, and remain
here on the tower, that thou mayst not render thy child an
orjjhan, and thy wife a widow ; station the army near the
tig'-tree, where the city is easiest of ascent, and the wall is
scaleable ; for three times the most valiant advancing have 435
assailed it in this quarter, those with the two Ajaxes, and
the renowned Idomeneus, and those with the sons of Atreus,
and the gallant son of Tydeus, — whether some one well-
skilled in the counsels of the gods has advised them, or
their own soul hath now incited and impelled them."
Her then, the mighty Hector of the swift-waving plimie 440
addressed in return : '* Woman, all these tilings are
objects of my care, but I vehemently fear the Trojan men,
and the long-robed Trojan women, if, like a coward,
standing apart, I avoid the war, nor does my mind thus
urg-e me, since I have learned to be always brave, and to 445
fight among the foremost Trojans, acquiring great glory for
my father and myself; for this 1 well know in my mind and in
my soul, the day will come, when sacred Ilium will perish,
and Priam and the people of Priam skilled with the asiien
spear ; — but in future, the grief for the Trojans will not be so 450
439. 'Eicrop, arap av, k. t. \. Hence Propert. Eleg. I. 23 : Tu
mihi sola damus, lit, CipUhia, .sola parcntcs. Omnia tu nostra' tcm-
pora la't'U'ice. Compare the address of Tcmcssa, in Soph. Aj. 485.
166
much a care for me, — nor for Hecuba herself, nor for king
Priam, nor for my brothers, who may perhaps, numerous
and brave, fall in the dust, beneath hostile men,— as for
thee, when some one of the brazen-coated Greeks shall
455 lead thee away weeping, and deprive thee of the day of
liberty, and when perhaps in Argos thou shalt weave the
web for another, and carry water from the fountain of
Messeis or Hvperea, much against thy will, — but ruthless
necessity will lie upon thee ! And some one may some
400 time say, looking at thee weeping, 'this is the wife of
Hector, who was the most gallant of the horse-taming
Trojans in the fight, when they combated round Troy.'
Thus Avill some one say, and again there will be fresh
sorrow to thee, from the desire of such an husband to dis-
pel the day of slavery. But may the accumulated earth
465 cover me, dead, before I hear of thy wailing or captivity ! "
Thus liaving spoken, the illustrious Hector stretched
forth his hands to his son, but the child, screaming, shrunk
back into the bosom of his well-girded nurse, dreading the
aspect of his beloved father, and fearing the brazen armour,
and the horse-hair crest, perceiving it terribly waving from
470 the summit of the helmet; and his beloved father and ve-
nerable mother gently smiled. Then the illustrious Hector
immediately took off the helmet from his head, and laid it
olitterin<»- on the ofround, and when he had kissed his dear
child, and softly soothed him wiih his hands, he spoke,
475 praying to Jove and the other gods :
"Jupiter, and ye other gods, grant that this, my son,
45G. Kai KEv, ev Apyei, k. t. X. The particle kev has no par-
ticular meaning by itself, but when used in a sentence it always
weakens the force of the sense, and nearly answers to the English
words perhcqis, 2^crchance, pei'advenlure, possibly, &c. It has
the same signification as the particle ay, in prose. Vid. a. 32. 64.
137. 175. 324, ct passim.
47G. Ztv, aXKoi rt Oeoi, k. t. X. Soph. Aj. 550. Q.Trai, yevoio
TTUTpOC
107
may become disiliii^viislu'cl amon^- llie Trojans, ;ts I am,
thus gallant in might, and that ho may bravely rule over
Ilium, so that some one may in future say of him returning
from war, 'Truly he is far mightier than his father!' and 4H()
havino- slain his enemv, may he carry off the bloody spoils,
that his mother may be gladdened in her soul."
Having thus spoken, he placed his child in the arms of
his beloved wife, and smiling in tears, she received him into
her fragrant bosom, and her husband observing it i)itied
her, and he o-entlv soothed her w ith his hand, called her
by her name, and addressed her: 485
"My beloved, be not inuuoderately afflicted in thy
mind for me, for no man, against the will of fate can send
me before my time to Hades; but I imagine that no man,
neither the coward nor the brave, can escape death, after
he has first been born. But going to the house, attend to thy 490
employments, the web and the distaff, and command the
maids to perform their work, whilst war shall be the care
of all men that are born in Troy, and especially of me."
Then having thus spoken, the illustrious Hector took
uj) the helmet, plumed with horse-hair, and his beloved 49'j
wife went home, repeatedly looking back and pouring out
the sparkling tears, and immediately afterwards she came
to the commodious mansion of Hector, slayer of men, and
found her numerous handmaids within, and excited lament-
ation among them all. These indeed bewailed Hector in 500
TTorpoc evrvx^i^rfpoQ, Ta c aW bj.ioioQ' mi yet'oV av ov mKoc.
Virg. ^n. XII. 435. Disce, puer, virtutem ex me, vcrumquc la-
borem, Fortunam ex al'i'is.
480. ayiovra. Is referred to av-oy understood in the pre-
ceding verse, and governed of u-mjan.
488. Compare Herat. Od. I. 4. 13. Pallida vmrs crquo
jndsat i)cde pauperum tabcrnas Rcginnrjuc turres. To the same
effect is the oracular response of Apollo, quoted by Eustathius,
from JEVxan : Molpnv fXEv ilvriTolair (tiii]xciyov elaXmadai, '\\v eivi-
yeivofisi'OKn wanjp LevQ eyyvaXitf.
168
his house, being- yet alive, — for tliey did not think that he
would ever more return from war, having- escaped the
mig-ht and hands of the Greeks.
Nor did Paris loiter in his lofty mansion, but he, when
505 he had put on his beauteous armour, variegated with brass,
hastened then through the city, relying on his swift feet.
As when some stabled horse, fed on barley at his stall,
having biu'st the band, runs over the plain, beating the
earth with his feet, and exulting, being accustomed to
bathe himself in the fair-flowing river, — he bears his head
510 aloft, whilst his mane wavingly floats around his shoulders,
and trusting to his beauty, his limbs easily bear him to the
haunts and pastures of the mares ; — so Paris, son of Priam,
glittering with his armour like the sun, proceeded from
the citadel of Pergamus, exulting, and his swift feet bore
515 him along, and immediately after, he found his noble
brother Hector, when he was about to depart from the
place where he had been conversing with his wife.
Him first, Alexander of godlike form addressed: My
revered brother, delaying of a truth, I detain thee long,
hurrving as than art, nor have I come with speed as thou
didst command."
520 But him, Hector of the swift-waving crest, answering.
506. wc 2' ore nc, k. t. X. Virg. lEn. XI. 492. Qualis, iihi
abruptis fugit prccsepia vinclis, Tandem liher equus, campoque
potltus aperio ; Jut rile in paslus armentaque tend'it cquarum;
Aut assuelus aqucr pcrfundlfumine nolo, Evdcat, arrcctisquc /remit
cervicihus alte, Luxurians, luduntqne juhce per colla, per armos.
Mr. 'J'rollope quotes a somewliat similar passage from Shakspeare's
Henry IV. Act. I. 1. 9. Contention, like a horse, full of high
feeding, madly broke loose, and bears down all before him. aKoarrj-
aar, from uKoartio, to feed, is derived from ukooti), a sort of
bearded grain or barley. Eiistath. aKoaTrjtxai, TroXvKpiOrjaai, aKoarai
yap fit Kpidui.
.51(S. TjOtt, for riQtit, from r](kl.o<j, per prosth. pro. OeloQ, vene-
randus, colendus ; vox junioris ad scniorem. Schol. on x- 229.
aevTiKT] (pwvrj Trpog ivpiapvTtpov aceXcpov.
169
addressed: "My gallant brother, no intelligent man will
ever blame thy exploits in battle, since thou art valiant;
but thou relaxest of thine own accord, nor art thou willing
to Jiff ht ; but my heart is grieved in my uiind, when 1 hear
reproaches concerning thee from the Trojans, who endure 525
great toil on account of thee. But let us sally forth, and
we shall arrange these matters afterwards, if ever Jove will
grant that, having driven the well-booted Greeks away from
Troy, we consecrate the cup of freedom to the celestial
everlasting gods I "
521. eyaiffifiog. Intelligent; derived from €v, and aitra,
fatum. So that properly it means one that thinks, speaks, or acts
according to the decrees of fate ; hence it signifies just, fitting,
decent, becoming. In ft. 353, we have ivaiiniia aij^ara, which are
generally rendered propitious signs, but properly signify signs
denoting the determination of fate. In the Odyss. /3. 159, we liave
opvidag yvijvai, Kai eyaiarifia fxvOriaaadai, to understand the au-
gury of birds, and speak things agreeable to the designs of fate ;
and in Odyss. ft. 182, opyidsQ ov irayreg eyaiai/jLoi, all birds jwr-
tend not the omens of fate. Compare C 519, and w. 40. 425, &c.
528. Kpr]Tr]pa (TTijaaadai eXevdepoy. This seems to have refer-
ence to an ancient custom of dedicating cups to the gods after some
signal victory: Schol. Anomjm. et Hesych. eiwdatri tw Au virep
zXevdepiag iffrayai Kprjrijpa ol tovq TroXefiiovg aTzdxjafiEvoi. These
cups were called by the Greeks, ypa^ip.aTLKa eKiroy^ara, and by the
Latins, literata pocula, because the name of the deity to whom they
were consecrated was engraven upon them in golden cliaracters.
Athenaeus, Lib. xi. cap. 30. quotes from tlie old poet Alexis a de-
scription of a very ancient cup with tlie eleven letters AIOS
SiiTHPOS, inscribed in a circle round it; he mentions another also
with the inscription AI0NY20, where the genitive termination is o
instead of ou ; and, moreover, he relates that he saw at Capua in
Campania, a silver cup dedicated to Diana, which had been made
after the form of Nestor's cup described by Homer, Iliad X. 631.
— 636. The inhabitants asserted that it was the identical cup of
Nestor, and the verses of Homer were engraven upon it in
gold. Vid. Athen. lib. xi. cap. 76. seqq. where a Physiological
exposition of the Nestoris is given, and also Casaubon's Annota-
tions. Vid. etiam Athen. lib. xv. cap. 47. do poculo Boni Dei,
Jovis Servatoris, et Sanitatis. The phrase tcpyjrijpa an^naaOai is
the origin of the Latin phrase crateras statuere used by Virgil lEn.
1 . 724. and signifies that the cups were placed upon a fidcrum
Y
170
which was called viroKprjrrjpioy, oi' vTroKprjTiSiov, Athen. lib. v.
cap. 13. Madame Dacier observes that the expression KpriTrfp
sXevdepoe, resembles those of the Hebrews, the cup of Salvation,
the cup of Sorroiv, the cup of Benediction, &c. " From the ancient
custom (Iliad ^. 361.) of the master of the feasts appointing to
each guest his cup, i.e. his kind and measure of liquor, kos is used
for that j)ortion of happiness, or misery, which God sends upon men
in this Life. In Ps. Ixxv. 9 ; Isa. h. 17. 22 ; Jer. xxv. 15. 17.
28; Ezek. xxiii. 31. 32. 33; there seems to be an allusion to
the cup of malediction, as the Jews called that mixed cup of wine
and frankincense, which was given to condemned criminals before
their execution in order to take away their senses." Parkh. Heh.
Lex. in voce kos, jjoculum. To the same effect also, Bythner,
Lyra Prophetica, on Ps. x. 5. A similar reference is made in the
following verses :
Pe ba'ij'ud o^r alltudion,
Gynnau aur agai'n i Ion ;
Pe ba'i cil o'u heppil kwy,
Gwiw ran a ro'i Goronwy !
Goronwy 'r Drindod.
EXAMlNATlOiN QUESTIONS.
ILIAD I. II.
Trinity Collkge, l»27.
I. A. 37. og Xpv(Tr]V a/i(/.t/3e/3>/cac
KiXXav re Caderjp, Ttyecoio re ifi avaffacij;, ^jxivdev —
1. Explain tlie situation of these places with respect
to Troy.
2. Explain the name ^iiivdevQ — also 'Eicaepyoc
3. What particulars does Homer relate of the way
in which Chryseis and Briseis fell into the hands
of the Greeks? From what towns were they?
II. A. 247. 'Arpei^TiQ ^ ertpudty e/jajyu—B. 769. Ofp' 'Axt-
Xevq fxtviey —
B. 149. trrt T fijJLvu aaTayytaai.v — 373. r^ nt rax'
Tjfivaeie ttoXiq —
A. 100. rore kev fsiv iXaacraf^eyoi irtinOoiney, 886. KeXo-
IJ.TJV deoy iXaaKEcjOat.
1. Give some explanation of these variations in quan-
tity.
2. Explain how the syllables which arc marked in
the lines below are made long:
A. 193. £W£ o ravd' wpfiaive Kara ^ptva Kai Kara Ovfioy.
416. ovTi [.laXa h]y. 515. enei ov rot eiri hog —
34'2. 1} yap oy oXorjai ij)pe(n Ovsi.
B. 113. IXwy iKirepaavT (.vtel^iov aKOvesadai.
172
3. Explain the metre of the following lines:
B. 651. Mr/ptovrjc r' araXavrog 'EvvaXiw avSpei^ovrjj.
731. Tii)y avd* i]ye.iaQr]V 'KtJKkr^Tnov ^vo vaide.
4. In each of the following cases state whether you
approve or disapprove of the addition of the final
V, and give your reasons.
A. 2. aXye £0?jk/jv IloXXae ^'
333, Avrap o tyvio rjaiv evt ^peai, (pwvrjffev re.
B. 671. Ntpeuc CLV Su/i7j6fv ayty rpeig vrjag eiffag.
786. Tpwffij' 2' ayyeXog r]\de •
III. Explain the following expressions in the description
of a sacrifice: ovXoxvrag ayeXoyro, ouXo^vrae 7rpo/3a-
Xovro, iiv epvaay, u)fJLodeTr](rav, What were the ttc/x-
TTWjGoXa, and for what were they used ?
IV. A. 423. Zevg yap ew QiKeayoy fier' a fxvfioyag Aidioirijas
Xdi^og eftr) Kara ^aira —
1. In what senses is the word 'Slnavog used in Homer?
2. What appears to have been his idea of the ^Ethio-
pians, and the place of their habitation?
V. What is stated in the second book as to the number
of men that each of the Greek ships carried? Of
about how many ships and men did the whole
armament consist? From what cause or by what
influence were so large a number of chieftains from
various parts brought to join in the expedition?
B. 505. 01 0' YiroOriftag eixov.
1. Where was this place, and why thus called?
173
2. Why is not tlie name of Thebes itself mentioned,
among the cities of Boeotia, in the catalogue?
3. By what tribes was Boeotia at (his time occupied,
and what cliange in its inhabitants took place
afterwards?
B. 535. Aoh:pwy, oi vatovai XEpr]v leprig Evj3otT]Q.
4. What inference may be drawn from this line as to
the country in which the Iliad was composed?
5. B. 559. TipvvOa re TEixioeaaay. Explain the pro-
priety of this epithet.
G. Give a short history of the town of Mycena?.
B. 575. AtyiaXoy r ava iravra.
7. What part of Greece is here intended? By what
tribes was it successively inhabited?
8. What was the country and parentage of Diomedes?
How did he obtain the government of Argos?
9. In what sense could Agamemnon be said Apyei
iravri avao-o-civ? Quote instances of the application
of the name Apyo£ in Homer.
10. What place is meant by ro UeXatTyiKov Apyoc
(B. 681), and why is it so called?
11. B. 649. Kpjjrqy fcaro/xTroXtv. What account does
Homer give elsewhere of Crete and its inliabi-
tants?
12. B. 852. £^ 'Eyercjy. Where is this Jribe placed
by Homer ? What was their history afterwards ?
174
B. 461. Afftw Ev Xetjuwvt — ^
13. Where was the place here mentioned?
14. Whence was the name of the continent Asia de-
rived?
VI. 1. State in what district each of the following-
places was situated, and mention the circum-
stances for which any of them became after-
wards celebrated:
Platffia, Copne, Aulis, Coronea, Pytho, Dau-
lis, Pylus, Helos, Tegea, Mantinea, Amy-
cla?, Eretria, Pheree, Miletus, Mycale.
2. B. 714. 'Evfir]\og,Tovv'7r"A^iirjTfTe.KeclayvyaiK<i)V
AXKriariQ, TltXiao dvyarpoyv ei^og apiarr].
Mention the circumstances on account of which
each of the persons named in these lines was
more particularly celebrated.
B. 743. ore ^r^pag eriauTO XaxfrjCVTaQ.
3. What is the contest here alluded to? On what
occasion and in what part of Greece did it
take place?
4. Mention any circumstances in the Iliad, in
which the descendants of one of the tribes en-
gaged in this contest were distinguished.
VII. 1. Are the words E\Xt)veQ and EXXae of frequent
use in the Iliad? In what senses are they used?
175
2. Wliat jiro«tlic general terms vised by Homer
for ' Greek' and ' Greece'? Explain tlie origin
of any sucli terms that .you recollect, and the
reasons of their being' adopted in this compre-
hensive sense.
3. Is the distinction of Ionian, Dorian, and iEolian
tribes mentioned by Homer? Give some ac-
count of the state and extent of each of these
tribes at the time of the Trojan War.
VIII. From the names and pedigrees of persons
mentioned in the catalog-ue of Grecian leaders
calculate how many generations had passed
since each of the follovi^inof events:
1. The Argonautic expedition ;
2. The War under the seven Chiefs ao-ainst
Thebes ;
3. The Contest between the Lapitha? and Cen-
taurs ;
4. The Arrival of Pelops in Greece ;
5. The Hunt of the Calydonian Boar.
IX. 1. Investigate from internal evidence and histori-
cal testimony, the date to which tlie compo-
sition of the Iliad is probably to be assigned.
2. Shew from the Iliad, especially from these two
Books, what state and form of government
Homer appears to descril>e as existing in
Greece.
X. 1. In how many dialects did Homer write? What
is your idea of the lano-uao-e which he used,
and of its subsequent history ?
176
2. Wliat is meant by the Digamma? Mention one
or two words of common occurrence to which
it has been prefixed, and quote instances.
XI. 1. What is the earliest mention of writingr in his-
tory, sacred and profane, and what date is it ?
2. What are the first prose writings in Greek of
which we read, and how long after the age of
Homer were they written ?
3. What different materials are mentioned as
having been used for writing upon in Greece,
in early times?
4. What does Homer himself say about writing,
and the instruments and materials for it in his
time ?
5. Is it your opinion that his poems were origi-
nally written or not?
6. If not, when were they probably first committed
to writing ?
7. Mention any circumstances which shew that the
poems of Homer were in general use and esti-
mation through the various ages of Ancient
History.
./. Hall, Printer, near Pembroke College.
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