The Iliad (Audiobook) by Homer - Book 12

Book 12: The Trojans Storm the Wall
The Trojans break through the Greek defenses, pushing them toward their ships. Summary by Dream Audiobooks

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents section twelve of the Iliad by Homer,
translated by Samuel Butler, Book twelve. The Trojans and their
allies break the wall led on by Hector, so the
son of Menoetius was attending to the herd of Irebulus
within the tent, But the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately.

(00:22):
Nor were the trench and the high wall above it
to keep the Trojans in check longer. They had built
it to protect their ships, and had dug the trench
all round it, that it might safeguard both the ships
and the rich spoils which they had taken. But they
had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had been
built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it
did not last. So long as Hector lived and Achilles

(00:46):
nursed his anger, and so long as the city of
Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaean stood firm.
But when the bravest of the Trojans were no more,
and many also of the archives, though some were yet
left alive, when were over, the city was sacked in
the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with
their ships to their own country. Then Neptune and Apollo

(01:07):
took counsel to destroy the wall, and they turned on
to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount
Idor into the sea Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grynechus, Esippus,
and Goodlis commander with Simous, where many a shield and
helm had fallen, and many a hero of the race
of Demi gods had bitten the dust fevers. Apollo turned

(01:28):
the mouths of all these rivers together and made them
flow for nine days against the wall, while Jove rained
the whole time, that he might wash it sooner into
the sea. Neptune himself, trident in hand, surveyed the work
and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams
and stones which the Achaeans had laid with so much toil.
He made all level by the mighty stream of the Hallaspond.

(01:51):
And then when he had swept the wall away, he
spread a great beach of sand over the place where
it had been. This done, he turned the rivers back
into their old courses. This was what Neptune and Apollo
were to do, and after time, but as yet battle
and turmoil were still raging round the wall till hiss
timbers rang under the blows that rained upon them. The argives,

(02:14):
cowed by the scourge of Jove, were hemmed in at
their ships in fear of Hector, the mighty minister of
a route, who has heretofore fought with the force and
fury of a whirlwind as a lion or wild boar,
turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him.
While these form a solid wall and shout their javelins
as they face him. His courage is all undaunted, but

(02:35):
his high spirit will be the death of him, and
ere timed. As he charged his pursuers to scatter them,
and they fall back as often as he does so.
Even so did Acta go about among the host, exhorting
his men and cheering them on to cross the trench.
But the horses dared not do so, and stood neighing
upon its brink, for the width frightened them. They could

(02:55):
neither jump it nor cross it, for it had over
hanging banks all round upon either side, above which there
were sharp stakes that the sons of the Achaeans had
planted so close and strong as a defense against all
who would assail it. A horse therefore could not get
into it and draw his chariot after him, But those
who were on foot kept trying the very utmost. Then

(03:16):
Polydarmus went up to Hector and said, Hector, and you
other captains of the Trojans and allies, it is madness
for us to try and drive our horses across the trench.
It will be very hard to cross, for it is
full of sharp stakes, and beyond these there is the wall.
Our horses therefore cannot get down into it, and it
would be of no use if they did. Moreover, it

(03:37):
is a narrow place, and we should come to harm.
If indeed Great Jove is minded to help the Trojans,
and in his anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I
would myself gladly see them perish now and here far
from Argos. But if they should rally and we are
driven back from the ship's pell mell into the trench,
there will be not so much as a man get
back to the city to tell the tale. Now, therefore,

(04:00):
let us all do as I say. Let our squires
hold our horses by the trench, but let us follow
Hector in a body on foot clad in full armor,
and if the day of their doom is at hand,
the Achaeans will not be able to withstand us. Thus
spoke Polydarmus, and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang in
full armor to the ground, and all the other Trojans,

(04:20):
when they saw him do so, also left their chariots.
Each man then gave his horses over to his charioteer
in charge, to hold them ready for him at the trench.
Then they formed themselves into companies, made themselves ready, and
in five bodies followed their leaders. Those that went with
Hector and Polydarmus were the bravest and most in number,

(04:41):
and the most determined to break through the wall and
fight at the ships. Sebriones was also joined with them
as third in command, for Hector had left his chariot
in charge of a less valiant soldier. The next company
was led by Paris Arcuatous and Aganore, the third by
Helenus and Dave Phoebus, two sons of Prior, and with
them was the hero Asus Aseus, the son of Hurtarchus,

(05:04):
whose great black horses of the breed that come from
the river Salius, had brought him from arisbee Aeneas, the
valiant son of Anchises, led the fourth He and the
two sons of Antenor, Hyclochus and Acamas, men well versed
in all the arts of war. Sarpadon was captain over
the allies, and took with him Glaucus and asta Apaeus,

(05:25):
whom he deemed most valiant after himself, for he was
far from the best man of them. All. These helped
to array one another in their ox hide shields, and
then charged straight at the Danaeans. But they felt sure
that they would not hold out longer, and that they
should themselves now fall upon the ships. The rest of
the Trojans and their allies now followed the council of Polydamus.

(05:47):
But Asus, the son of Hutarchus, would not leave his
horses and his squire behind him. In his foolhardiness, he
took them on with him towards the ships. Nor did
he fail to come by his end in consequence. Never more,
or was he to return to wind beaten Ilius, exulting
in his chariot and his horses, he could do so.
Death of ill omened name had overshadowed him, and he

(06:09):
had fallen by the spear of Idomenaeus, the noble son
of Deucalion. He had driven towards the left wing of
the ships, by which way the Achaeans used to return
with their chariots and horses from the plain. Hither he
drove and found the gates with their doors opened wide,
and the great bar down. For the gatesmen kept them
open so as to let those of their comrades enter

(06:29):
who might be flying towards the ships. Hither of set
purpose did he direct his horses, and his men followed
him with a loud cry, for they felt sure that
the Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they
should now fall upon the ships. Little did they know
that at the gates they should find two of the
bravest chieftains, proud sons of the fighting lapithig the one Polypoetes,

(06:52):
mighty son of Piritus, and the other Leontius, peer of
murderous Mars. These stood before the gates like two high
trees upon the mountains that tower from their wide, spreading roots,
and year after year battled with wind and rain. Even
so did these two men await the onset of great
Asius confidently, and without flinching. The Trojans, led by him

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and Eamenus Orestes Adamus, the son of Asus Doan and
Onamaas raised a loud cry of battle and made straight
for the wall, holding their shields of dry ox hide
above their heads. For a while, the two defenders remained
inside and cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in
the defense of their ships. When, however, they saw that
the Trojans were attacking the wall, while the Deneans were

(07:37):
crying out for help and being routed, they rushed outside
and fought in front of the gates, like two wild
boars upon the mountains that abide the attack of men
and dogs, and charging on either side, break down the
wood or round them, tearing it up by the roots,
and one can hear the clattering of their tusks till
someone hits them and makes an end of them. Even
so did the gleaming bronze rattle about their breasts as

(08:00):
the weapons fell upon them, For they fought with great fury,
trusting to their own prowess and to those who were
on the wall above them. These threw great stones at
their assailants in defense of themselves, their tents, and their ships.
The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow, which
some fierce blast drives from the dark clouds and showers
down in sheets upon the earth. Even so fell the

(08:22):
weapons from the hands alike of Trojans and Achaeans. Helmet
and shield rang out as the great stones rained upon them.
And Aceus, the son of her Tarkus, in his dismay,
cried aloud and smote his two thighs. Father Jove, he cried,
of a truth, you too are altogether given to lying.
I made sure the argy of heroes could not withstand us. Whereas,

(08:45):
like slim waisted wasps or bees that have their nests
in the rocks by the wayside, they leave not the
holes wherein they have built undefended, but fight for their
little ones against all who would take them. Even so,
these men, though they be but two, will be driven
from the gates, but stand firm, either to slay or
be slain. He spoke, but moved not the mind of Jove,

(09:08):
whose counsel it then was to give glory to Hector. Meanwhile,
the rest of the Trojans were fighting about the other gates. I, however,
am no god to be able to tell about all
these things, For the battle raged everywhere about the stone wall,
as it were a fiery furnace. The Argives, discomfited, though
they were, were forced to defend their ships, and all

(09:28):
the gods who were defending the Achaeans were vexed in spirit,
but the Lapithai kept on fighting with might and main. Thereon, Polypoiites, mighty,
son of Pirritus, hit Damasus with a spear upon his
cheek pierced helmet. The helmet did not protect him, for
the point of the spear went through it and broke
the bone, so that the brain inside was scattered about,

(09:51):
and he died fighting. He then slew Pylon or meanness.
Leonteus of the race of Mars, killed Heppamachus, the son
of anti Amichus, by striking him with his spear upon
the girdle. He then drew his sword and sprang first
upon Antifatis, whom he killed in combat, and who fell
face upwards on the earth. After hem, he killed Minon, Yarmenus,

(10:13):
and Orestes, and laid them low one after the other.
While they were busy stripping the armor from these heroes.
The youths who were led on by Polydamus and Hector
and these were the greater part and the most valiant
of those that were trying to break through the wall
and fire. The ships were still standing by the trench,
uncertain what they should do, for they had seen a

(10:33):
sign from heaven when they had assayed to cross it,
a soaring eagle that flew skirting the left wing of
their host with a monstrous, blood red snake in its talons,
Still alive and struggling to escape, the snake was still
bent on revenge, wriggling and twisting itself backwards till it
struck the bird that held it on the neck and breast,
where on the bird, being in pain, let it fall,

(10:55):
dropping it into the midst of the host, and then
flew down the wind with a sharp cry. The Trojans
were struck with terror when they saw the snake portent
of aegis bearing jove, writhing in the midst of them,
And Polodamus went up to Hector and said, Hector, at
our councils of war, you are ever given to rebuke me,
even when I speak wisely, And though it were not

(11:16):
well forsooth that one of the people should cross your will,
either in the field or at the council board, you
would have them support you always. Nevertheless, I will say
what I think will be best. Let us not now
go on to fight the Danaeans at their ships, For
I know what will happen if this soaring eagle, which
skirted the left wing of our host with a monstrous
blood red snake in its talons. The snake, being still alive,

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was rarely sent as an omen to the Trojans on
their essaying to cross the trench. The eagle let go
her hold. She did not succeed in taking at home
to her little ones, And so will it be with ourselves.
Even though by a mighty effort we break through the
gates and walls of the Achaeans and they give way
before us. Still we shall not return in good order
by the way we came. But you'll leave many a

(12:01):
man behind us, whom the Achaeans will do to death
in defense of their ships. Thus would any seer who
was expert in these matters and was trusted by the
people read the poortent hector looked fiercely at him and said, Balidamus,
I like not of your reading. You can find a
better saying than this if you will, If, however, you

(12:22):
have spoken in good earnest. Then indeed has Heaven robbed
you of your reason? You would have me pay no
heed to the councils of Jove, nor to the promises
he made me, And he bowed his head in confirmation.
You bid me be ruled rather by the flight of
wild fowl. What care I whether they fly towards dawn
or dark, or whether they be on my right hand

(12:43):
or on my left hand. Let us put our trust
rather in the council of Great Jove, King of mortals
and immortals. There is one omen and one only that
a man should fight for his country. Why you so fearful,
though we be all of a slain at the ships
of the Argives, you are not likely to be killed yourself,
for you are not steadfast nor courageous. If you will

(13:05):
not fight, or would talk others over from doing so,
you shall fall forthwith before my spear. With these words,
he led the way, and the others followed after, with
a cry that rent the air. Then Jove, the Lord
of Thunder, sent the blast of a mighty wind from
the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards
the ships. He thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and

(13:27):
gave victory to Hectar and to the Trojans, who, trusting
to their own might and to the signs he had
shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of
the Achaeans. They tore down the breastworks from the walls
and overthrow the battlements the upheave the buttresses which the
Achaeans had set in front of the wall in order
to support it. When they had pulled these down, they
made sure of breaking through the wall. But the Darnayans

(13:49):
still showed no sign of giving ground. They still fenced
the battlements with their shields of ox hide, and hurled
their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any
came below the wall. The two Ajexes went about everywhere
on the walls, cheering the Achaeans, giving fair words to some,
while they spoke sharply to any one whom they sought
to be remiss. My friends, they cried Argey's one, and

(14:11):
all good, bad and indifferent, For there was never fight
yet in which all were of equal prowess. There is
now work enough, as you very well know. For all
of you see that you none of you turn in
flight towards the ships daunted by the shouting of the foe,
But press forward and keep one another in heart, if
it may be so that Olympian Jove, the Lord of Lightning,
will vouchsafe us to repel our foes and drive them

(14:34):
back towards the city. Thus did the two go about,
shouting and cheering the Achaeans on. There's the flakes that
fall thick upon a winter's day. When Jove is minded
to snow, and to display these his arrows to mankind,
he lulls the wind to rest, and snows hour after
hour till he is buried. The tops of the high mountains,

(14:55):
the headlands that jut into the sea, the grassy plains,
and the tilled fields. Men. The snow lies deep upon
the forelands and havens of the gray Sea. But the waves,
as they come rolling in, stay it that it can
come no further, though all else is wrapped as with
a mantle, so heavy are the heavens with snow. Even
thus thickly did the stones fall on one side and

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on the other, some thrown at the Trojans, and some
by the Trojans at the Achaeans. And the whole wall
was in an uproar, still the Trojans, and brave Hector
would not yet have broken down the gates and the
great bar had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon against
the archives, as a lion against a herd of horned cattle.
Before him he held his shield of hammered bronze that

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the smith had beaten so fair and round, and had
lined with ox hides, which he had made fast with
rivets of gold all round the shield. This he held
in front of him, and, brandishing his two spears, came
on like some lion of the wilderness who has been
long famished for want of meat, and will dare break
even into a well fenced homestead, try and get at
the sheep. He may find the shepherds keeping watch over

(16:04):
their flocks with dogs and spears, but he is in
no mind to be driven from the fold till he
has had a try for it. He will either spring
on a sheep or carry it off, or be hit
by a spear from some strong hand. Even so, was
Sarpenton fain to attack the wall and break down its battlements.
Then he said to Glaucus in a hippolochus, Glaucus, why

(16:24):
in Lysia do we receive a special honor as regards
our place at table. Why are the choicest portions served
us and our cups kept brimming? And why do men
look up to us as though we were gods. Moreover,
we hold a large estate by the banks of the
river Xanthus, fair with orchard lords and wheat growing land.
That becomes us. Therefore, to take our stand at the

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head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of
the fight. That one may say to another, our princes
in Lysia eat the fat of the land and drink
best of wine. But they are fine fellows. They fight well,
and are ever at the front in battle. My good friend,
if when we were once out of this fight we
could escape old age and death, thenceforward and forever. I

(17:07):
should neither press forward myself, nor bid you do so.
But death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads,
and no man can elude him. Therefore, let us go
forward and either win glory for ourselves or yield it
to another. Glaucus heeded his saying, and the pair forthwith
led on the host of Lycians. Menestheus, son of Petios,

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was dismayed when he saw them, for it was against
his part of the wall that they came, bringing destruction
with them. He looked along the wall for some chieftain
to support his comrades, and saw the two Ajaxes, men
ever eager for the fray, and Tusa, who had just
come from his tent, standing near them. But he could
not make his voice heard by shouting to them. So
great an uproar was there from crushing shields and helmets,

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and the battering of gates with a din which reached
the skies. For all the gates had been closed, and
the Trojans were hammering at them to try and break
their way through them. Menestheus therefore sent Tootes with a
message to Ajax. Run good Toetes, he said, and call Ajax,
or better still, bid both come, for it will be
all over with us here directly. The leaders of the

(18:14):
Lysians are upon us, men who have ever fought desperately, heretofore.
But if they have too much on their hands to
let them come at any rate, let Ajax, son of Talamon,
do so, and let Tusa, the famous bowmen, come with him.
The messenger did as he was told and set off
running along the wall of the Achaeans. When he reached
the ajax As he said to them, Sirs, princes of

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the Argives, the son of noble Petios, bids you come
to him for a while and help him. You had
better both come if you can, or it will be
all over with him directly. The leaders of the Lysians
are upon him, men who have ever fought desperately. Heretofore,
if you have too much on your hands to let
both come at any rate, let Ajax, son of Talamon,
do so, and let Tusa, the famous bowmen, come with him.

(19:01):
Great Ajax, son of Telamon, heeded the message, and at
once spoke to the son of Oelius. Ajax said, he
do you too yourself, and brave Liso meat he stay
here and keep the Daraeans in heart to fight their hardest.
I will go over yonder and bear my part in
the fray, but I will come back here at once
as soon as I have given them the help they need.

(19:22):
With this, Ajax son of Telamon, set off, and sheu So,
his brother by the same father, went also with Pandion
to carry Tus's bow. They went along inside the wall,
and when they came to the tower, a Menystheus was
and hard pressed, indeed did they find him. The brave
captains and leaders of the Lysians were storming the battlements
as it were a thick dark cloud, fighting in close

(19:44):
quarters and raising the battle cry aloud. First, Ajax, son
of Telamon, killed brave Epicles, a comrade of Sarpadon, hitting
him with a jagged stone that lay by the battlements
at the very top of the wall. As men now are,
even one who was in the bloom of youth could
hardly lift it with his two hands, but Ajax raised
it higher, laughed, and flung it down, smashing Epicle's fore

(20:08):
crested helmet, so that the bones of his head were
crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall
as though he were diving, with no more life left
in him. Then Tusa wounded Glaucus, the brave son of Hippolochus,
as he was coming on to attack the wall. He
saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it,
which made Glaucus leave off fighting. Thereon, he sprang covertly

(20:30):
down for fear some of the Achaeans might see that
he was wounded and taunt him. Sarpadon was stung with
grief when he saw Glaucus leave him. Still, he did
not leave off fighting, but aimed his spear at Alcmaeon,
the son of Thestor, and hit him. He drew his
spear back again, and Alcmaeon came down headlong after it,
with his bronzed armor rattling around him. Then Sarpadon seized

(20:51):
the battlement in his strong hands and tugged at it
till it all gave way together, and a breach was
made through which many might pass a jaxon Tusa. Then
both of them attacked him. Tusa hit him with an
arrow and the band that bore the shield which covered
his body. But Jove saved his son from destruction that
he might not fall by the ship's sterns. Meanwhile, Ajax

(21:13):
sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear
did not go clean through, though it hustled him back
that he could come on no further. He therefore retired
a little space from the battlement, yet without losing all
his ground, for he still thought to cover himself with glory.
Then he turned round and shouted to the brave Lycians, saying, Lysians,
why do you thus fail me? For all my prowess

(21:34):
I cannot break through the wall and open away to
the ship's single handed. Come close arm behind me, for
the more there are of us, the better. The Lysians,
shamed by his rebuke, pressed closer round him, who was
their counselor and their king. The Argives, on their part,
got their men in fighting order within the wall, and
there was a deadly struggle between them. The Lysians could

(21:56):
not break through the wall and force their way to
the ships, nor could the Darnaeans drive the Lycians from
the wall, now that they had once reached it. As
two men measuring rods in hand, quarrel about their boundaries
in a field that they own in common, and stickle
for their rights, even though they be but a mere strip.
Even so did the battlements now serve as a bone
of contention, and they beat one another's round shields for

(22:18):
their possession. Many a man's body was wounded with a
pitiless bronze as he turned round and bared his back
to the foe, and many were struck clean through their shields.
The wool and battlements were everywhere deluged with the blood
alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so the
Trojans could not rout the Achaeans who still held on,

(22:39):
And to some honest, hard working woman waghs wool and
her balance and sees that the scales be true, for
she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones.
Even so was the fight balanced evenly between them, till
the time came when Jove gave the greater glory to Hector,
son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the
wall of the Achaeans. When he had done so, he

(23:00):
cried aloud to the Trojans. Up, Trojans, break the wall
of the Argives, and fling fire upon their ships. Thus
did he hound them on, and in one body they
rushed straight at the wall as he had bidden them,
and scaled the battlements with sharp spears in their hands.
Hector laid hold of a stone that lay just outside
the gates and was thick at one end, but pointed

(23:21):
at the other. Two of the best men in a
town as men now are, could hardly raise it from
the ground and put it onto a wagon. But Hector
left it quite easily by himself, for the son of
Scheming sat and made a light for him. As a
shepherd picks up a ram's fleece with one hand, and
finds it no burden. So easily did Hector lift the
great stone and drive it right at the doors that

(23:42):
closed the gate so strong and so firmly set. These
doors were double and high, and were kept closed by
two cross bars, to which there was but one key.
When he had got close up to them, Hector strode
towards them that his blow might gain in force, and
struck them in the middle. Leaning his whole weight against them,
he broke both hinges, and the stone fell inside. By

(24:03):
reason of its great weight. The portals re echoed with
the sound. The bars held no longer, and the doors
flew open, one one way and the other the other
through the force of the blow. Then, brave Hector leaped
inside with a face as dark as that of flying night.
The gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his body, and he

(24:23):
had two spears in his hand. None but a god
could have withstood him. As he flung himself into the gateway,
and his eyes glared like fire. Then he turned round
towards the Trojans and called on them to scale the wall,
and they did as he bade them, some of them
at once climbing over the wall while others passed through
the gates. The Danaeans then fled, panic stricken, towards their ships,

(24:45):
and all was uproar and confusion. End of Section twelve.
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