The Iliad (Audiobook) by Homer - Book 13

Book 13: Poseidon Aids the Greeks
Poseidon secretly helps the Greeks, giving them the strength to resist the Trojan assault. Summary by Dream Audiobooks

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents section thirteen of the Iliad by Homer,
translated by Samuel Butler, Book thirteen. Neptune helps the Achaeans
the feats of Idemenaeus Hector at the ships. Now, when
Jovid thus brought Hector and the Trojans to the ships,

(00:20):
he left them to their never ending toil, and turned
his keen eyes away, looking elsewhether towards the horse breeders
of Thrace, the Mysians fighters at close quarters, the noble
Hippamalgi who live on milk, and the Abians justice of mankind.
He no longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy,
for he did not think that any of the immortals

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would go and help by the Trojans or Danayans. But
King Neptune had kept no blind lookout. He had been
looking admiringly on the battle from his seat on the
topmost crests of wooded Samothrace, whence he could see all Ida,
with the city of Priam, and the ships of the Achaeans.
He had come from under the sea and taken his
place here, for he pitied the Achaeans who were being

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overcome by the Trojans, and he was furiously angry with jove.
Presently he came down from his post on the mountain top,
and as he strode swiftly onwards the high hills and
the forest quaked beneath the tread of his immortal feet.
Three strides he took, and with a fourth he reached
his goal aegi where is his glittering golden palace, imperishable

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in the depths of the sea. When he got there,
he yoked his fleet brazen footed steeds, with their manes
of gold, all flying in the wind. He clothed himself
in raiment of gold, grasped his gold whip, and took
his stand upon his chariot. As he went his way
over the waves, the sea monsters left their lairs, for
they knew their lord, and came gamboling round him from

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every quarter of the deep. While the sea, in her gladness,
opened a path before his chariot. So lightly did the
horses fly that the bronze axle of the car was
not even wet beneath it. And thus his bounding steeds
took him to the ships of the Achaeans. Now there
is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea,
midway between Tenidos and Rocky Imbrus. Here, Neptune, lord of

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the Earthquake, stayed his horses, unyoked them, and set them
before their ambrosial forage. He hobbled their feet with hobbles
of gold, which none could either unloose or break, so
that they might stay there in that place until their
lord should return. This done, he went his way to
the host of the Achaeans. Now the Trojans followed Hector,

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son of Priam, in close array, like a storm cloud
or flame of fire, fighting with might and main, and
raising the cry of battle, for they deemed that they
should take the ships of the Achaeans and kill all
their chiefest heroes. Then and there, Meanwhile earth encircling Neptune,
lord of the Earthquake, cheered on the Argives, for he
had come up out of the sea and had assumed

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the form and voice of Cauchus. First, he spoke to
the two Ajaxes, who were doing their best already, and said, Ajaxes,
you two can be the saving of the Achaeans, if
you will put out all your strength and not let
yourselves be daunted. I am not afraid that the Trojans,
who have got over the wall in force, will be
victorious in any other part, for the Achaeans can hold

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all of them in check. But I much fear that
some evil will befall us here where furious hector, who
boasts himself the son of Great Jove himself, is leading
them on like a pillar of flame. May some God
then put it into your hearts to make a firm
stand here, and to incite others to do the like.
In this case, you will drive him from the ships.

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Even though he be inspired by Jove himself. As he
spoke the earth encircling Lord of the Earthquake struck both
of them with his scepter and filled their hearts with daring.
He made their legs light and active, and also their
hands and their feet. Then, as the soaring fulc and
boises on the wing high above some sheer rock, and

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presently swoops down to chase some bird over the plain.
Even so did Neptune, lord of the Earthquake, wing his
flight into the air and leave them of the two swift. Ajax,
son of Oelius, was the first to know who it
was that had been speaking with them, and said to Ajax,
son of Telamon, Ajax this is one of the gods

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that dwell on Olympus, who, in the likeness of the prophet,
is bidding us fight hard by our ships. It was
not Couchius, the seer and diviner of Omens. I knew
him at once by his feet and knees as he
turned away. For the gods are soon recognized. Moreover, I
feel the lust of battle burn more fiercely within me,
while my hands and my feet under me are more

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eager for the fray. And Ajax, son of Telamon, answered,
I too feel my hands grasp my spear more firmly.
My strength is greater, and my feet more nimble. I
long moreover to meet furious Hector, son of Priam, even
in single combat. Thus did they converse, resulting in the
hunger after battle with which the God had filled them. Meanwhile,

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the earth in circlar roused the Achaeans, who were resting
in the rear by the ships, overcome at once by
hard fighting and by grief at seeing that the Trojans
had got over the wall in force. Tears began falling
from their eyes as they beheld them, for they made
sure that they should not escape destruction. But the Lord
of the earthquake passed lightly about among them, and urged

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their battalions to the front. First he went up to
Teuca and Laitus, the hero, Penelaeus, and Thoas, and Aeparus,
Mariones also and Antilochus, valiant warriors all did he exhort.
Shame on you, young argives, he cried, It was on
your prowess I relied for the saving of our ships.

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If you fight night with might and main, this very
day will see us overcome by the Trojans. Of a truth,
my eyes behold a great and terrible portent which I
had never thought to see, the Trojans at our ships.
They who were here to fall like pa stricken hinds,
the prey of jackals and wolves in a forest, with
no strength, but in flight, for they cannot defend themselves

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hitherto The Trojans dared not for one moment face the
attack of the Achaeans. But now they have sullied far
from their city and are fighting at our very ships.
Through the cowardice of our leaders and the disaffection of
the people themselves, who in their discontent care not to
fight in defense of the ships, but are being slaughtered
near them. True, Agamemnon, son of Atreus, is the cause

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of our disaster by having insulted the son of Pelius. Still,
this is no reason why we should live off fighting.
Let us be quick to heal, for the hearts of
the brave heal quickly. You do ill to be thus
from mess, you, who are the finest soldiers in our
whole army. I blame no man for keeping out of
battle if hears are weakling. But I am indignant with

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such men as you are, my good friends. Matters will
soon become even worse through this slackness. Think each one
of you of his own honor and credit for the
hazard of the fighters. Extreme great Hector is now fighting
at our ships. He has broken through the gates and
the strong bolt that held them. Thus did the earth

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encirclar address the Achaeans and urge them on thereon. Round
the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of men, of
whom not even Mars nor Minerva, marshaler of hosts could
make light if they went among them. For they were
the picked men of all those who were now awaiting
the onset of Hector and the Trojans. They made a
living fence spear to spear, shield to shield, buckler to buckler,

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helmet to helmet, and man to man. The horsehair crests
on their gleaming helmets touched one another as they nodded forward.
So closely serried were they the spears they brandished in
their strong hands were interlaced, and their hearts were set
on battle. The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with
Hector at their head, pressing right on as the rock

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that comes thundering down the side of some mountain, from
whose brow the winter torrents have torn it. The foundations
of the dull thing have been loosened by floods of rain,
and as it bounds headlong on its way, it sets
the whole forest in an uproar. It swerves neither to
right nor left till it riches ground level. But then,
for all its fury, it can go no further. Even

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so easily. Did Hector for a while seem as though
he would career through the tents and ships of the
Achaeans till he reached the sea in his murderous course.
But the closely serried battalions stayed him when he reached them.
For the sons of the Achaeans thrust at him with
swords and spears pointed at both ends, and drove him
from them, so that he staggered and gave ground. Thereon,

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he shouted to the Trojans, Trojans, Lyssians and Ardanians fighters
in close combat, stand firm. The Achaeans have set themselves
as a war against me, but they will not check
me for long. They will give ground before me. If
the mightiest of the gods, the thundering spouse of Juno,
has indeed inspired my onset these words, he put heart

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and soul into them all. Diophabus, son of Priam, went
about among them, intent on deeds of daring, with his
round shield before him, under cover of which he strode
quickly forward. Mariones took aim at him with a spear,
nor did he fail to hit the broad orb of
ox hide, but he was far from piercing it, for
the spear broke in two piece, as long as he

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could do so. Moreover, Diephabus had seen it coming and
had held his shield well away from him. Mariones drew
back under cover of his comrades, angry alike at having
failed to vanquish Deephabus, and having broken his spear. He
turned therefore towards the ship's in tents to fetch a
spear which he had left behind in his tent. The

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others continued fighting, and the cry of battle rose up
into the heavens. Tusu, son of Telamon, was the first
to kill his man to wit the warrior Imbrius, son
of Mentor, rich in horses. Until the Achaeans came, he
had lived in Pideum and had married Medisicaste, a bastard
daughter of Priam. But on the arrival of the Danaan fleet,

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he had gone back to Wilius, and was a great
man among the Trojans, dwelling near Priam himself, who gave
him like honor with his own sons. The son of
Telamon now struck him under the ear with a spear,
which he then drew back again, and Imbrius fell headlong
as an ash tree when it is felled on the
crest of some high mountain beacon, and its delicate green
foliage comes toppling down to the ground. Thus did he fall,

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with his bronzed dyed armor ringing harshly round him, and
Tusa sprang forward with intent to strip him of his armor,
but As he was doing so, Hector took aim at
him with a spear. Theusa saw the spear coming and
swerved aside, whereon it hit Amphemchus, son of Creatus, son
of Actor, in the chest as he was coming into battle,
and his armor rang rattling round him. As he fell

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heavily to the ground. Hector sprang forward to take Amphemchus's
almet from off his temples, and in a moment Ajax
threw a spear at him, but did not wound him,
for he was cased all over in his terrible armor. Nevertheless,
the spear struck the boss of his shield with such
force as to drive him back from the two corpses,
which the Achaeans then drew off. Stychius and Menestheus, captains

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of the Athenians, bore away Amphemicus to the host of
the Achaeans, while the two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did
the like by Imbrius, as two lions snatch agoat from
their hounds that have it in their fangs, and bear
it through a thick brushwood high above the ground in
their jaws. Thus did the Ajaxes bear aloft to the
body of Imbrius and strip it of its armor. Then

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the son of Oelius severed their head from the neck
in revenge for the death of Amphimchus, and sent it
whirling over the crowd as though it had been a bowl,
till it fell in the dust at Hector's feet. Neptune
was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimchus should have fallen.
He therefore went to the tents and ships of the Achaeans,
towards the Daranaeans still further and to devise evil for

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the Trojans. Eemenaeus met him as he was taking leave
of a comrade who had just come to him from
the fight. Wounded in the knee. His fellow soldier bore
him off the field, and did Amenaeus, having given orders
to the physician, went on to his tent, for he
was still thirsting for battle. Neptune spoke in the likeness
and with the voice of Thoas, son of Andreemon, who

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ruled the Aetolians of all Pleuron and high Khalidon, and
was honored among his people as though he were a god.
Did Amanaeus said he lor give her to the Cretans.
What has now become of the threats with which the
sons of the Achaeans used to threaten the Trojans, and
did Amaneus, chief among the Cretans, answered thois, no one,

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so far as I know, is in fault, For we
can all fight, none are held back, neither by fear
nor slackness. But it seems to be the will of
Almighty Joe that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here far
from Argos. You thoas have always been staunched, and you
keep others in heart. If you see any fail in duty,
be not then remissed now, but exhort all to do

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their utmost to this Neptune lord of the earthquake, made
answer Idomeneus, may he never return from Troy, but remain
here for dogs to batten upon. Who is this day
wilfully slack in fighting? Get your armor and go, for
we must make all haste together if we may be
of any use. Though we are only two, even cowards

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gain courage from companionship, and we two and hold our
own with the bravest. Therewith the god went back into
the thick of the fight, and Idamaneus, when he had
reached his tent, donned his armor, grasped his two spears,
and sallied forth. As the lightning which the son of
Satin brandishes from bright Olympus when he would show a
sign to mortals, and its gleam flashes far and wide.

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Even so did his arm a gleam about him as
he ran. Mariones his stirred. His squire met him while
he was still near his tent, for he was going
to fetch his spear. And Idamaneus said Mariones Fleet, son
of Molus of Comrades, why have you left the field?
Are you wounded and is the point of the weapon
hurting you? Or have you been sent to fetch me?

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I want no fetching. I had far rather fight than
stay in my tent. I Domineus, answered Mariones, I come
for a spear, if I can find one in my tent,
I have broken the one I had in throwing it
at the shield of Deiphobus. Anidam Andeus, captain of the Cretans, answered,
you will find one spear, or twenty, if you so please,

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standing up against the end wall of my tent. I
have taken them from Trojans, whom I have killed, for
I am not one to keep my enemy at arm's length.
Therefore I have spears, boshed shield helmets, and burnished corselets.
Then Marione said, I too, in my tent and at
my ship, have spoils taken from the Trojans, but they
are not at hand. I have been at all times valorous,

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and wherever there has been hard fighting, have held my
own among the foremost. There may be those among the
Achaeans who do not know how I fight. But you
know it well enough yourself, Idomeneus answered, I know you
for a brave man. You need not tell me. If
the best men at the ships were being chosen to
go on an ambush, and there is nothing like this

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for showing what a man is made of. It comes out,
then who is cowardly and oo brave? The coward will
change color at every turn. He is full of fears,
and keep shifting his weight, first on one knee and
then on the other. His heart beats vast as he
thinks of death, and mon can hear the chattering of
his teeth, or as the brave man will not change
color nor be frightened on finding himself in ambush, but

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is all the time longing to go into action. If
the best men were being chosen for such a service,
no one could make light of your courage nor feats
of arms. If he were struck by a dart or
smitten in close combat, it would not be from behind,
in your neck nor back, but the weapon would hit
you in the chest or barely, as you are pressing
forward to a place in the front ranks. But let

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us no longer stay here talking like children, lest we
beels spoken of. Go fetch your spear from the tent
at once. On this Mariones, peer of Mars, went to
the tent and got himself a spear of bronze. He
then followed after Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valor,
as when baneful Mars sallies forth to battle, and his

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son Panic, so strong and dauntless, goes with him to
strike terror even into the heart of a hero. The
pair of God from thrace to arm themselves among the
Aphari or the brave Phlegeans. But they will not listen
to both the contesting hosts, and will give victory to
one side or to the other. Even so did Mariones
and Idomeneus, captains of men, go out to battle clad

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in their bronze armor. Marionius was first to speak, son
of Deucalion, said he where would you have us begin
fighting on the right wing of the hosts, in the center,
or on the left wing, where I take it the
Achaeans will be weakest. Idrominaeus answered, there are others to
defend the center, the two Ajaxes, and Teusa, who is

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the finest archer of all the Achaeans, and is good
so in a hand to hand fight. These will give Hector,
son of Priam, enough to do. Fight as he may.
He will find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury
and fire the ships, unless the son of Satin fling
a firebrand upon them with his own hand. Great Ajax,
son of Telemann, will yield to no man who is

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in mortal mold and eats the grain of Ceres. If
bronze and great stones can overthrow him, he would not
yield even to Achilles in hand to hand fight, and
in fleetness afoot there is none to beat him. Let
us turn therefore towards the left wing, that we may
know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some
mother or he to us. Marione's peer of fleet Mars

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then led the way till they came to the part
of the host which Idomeneus had named. Now in the
Trojans are Idamaneus coming on like a flame of fire.
Him and his squire, clad in their richly wrought armor.
They shouted and made towards him all than a body
and a furious hand to hand fight raged under the
ship's sterns, fierce as the shrill wind that whistle upon

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a day when the dust lies deep on the roads
and the gusts raise it into a thick cloud. Even
such was the fury of the combat, and might and
maine did they hack at each other with spear and
sword throughout the host. The field bristled with the long
and deadly spears which they bore. Dazzling was the sheen
of their gleaming helmets, their fresh burnished breastplates, and glittering

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shields as they joined battle with one another. Iron indeed,
must be his courage. You could take pleasure in the
sight of such a turmoil, and look on it without
being dismayed. Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn
devise evil for mortal heroes. Jove was minded to give
victory to the Trojans and to hector so as to
do honor to flee to Chilles. Nevertheless, he did not

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mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius, and
only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son. Neptune,
on the other hand, went about among the Argives to
incite them, having come up from the Gray Sea in secret,
for he was grieved at seeing them vanquished by the Trojans,
and was furiously angry with Jove. Both were of the

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same race and country, but Jove was elder born and
knew more. Therefore, Neptune feared to defend the Argives openly,
but in the likeness of man, he kept on encouraging
them throughout their host. Thus then did these two devise
a knot of war and battle that none could unloose
or break, and set both sides tugging at it to
the failing of men's knees beneath them. And now I Demanaeus,

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though his hair was already flecked with gray, called loud
on the Dnaeans, and spread panic among the Trojans. As
he leapt in among them, he slew Othryoneus from Cabesus,
a sojourner who had but lately come to take part
in the war. He sought Cassandra the fairest to Priam's
daughters in marriage, but offered no gifts of wooing, for
he promised a great thing to wit, that he would

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drive the sons of the Achaeans Willynilly from Troy. Old
King Priam had given and his consent and promised her
to him. Whereon he fought on the strength of the
promise thus made to him. Hidomeneus aimed a spear and
hit him as he came striding on his carass of
bronze did not protect him, and the spear stuck in
his belly, so that he fell heavily to the ground.

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Then Idomeneus vaunted over him, saying, Authorhonius, there is no
one in the world whom I shall admire more than
I do you. If you indeed perform what you have
promised Priam, son of Dardanus, in return for his daughter,
we too will make you an offer. We will give
you the loveliest daughter of the son of Atreus, and
will bring her from Argos for you to marry. If

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you will sack the goodly city of Elias, in company
with ourselves. So come along with me, that we may
make a covenant at the ships about the marriage, and
we will not be hard upon you about gifts of wooing.
With this, Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through
the thick of the fight. But Aceus came up to
protect the body on foot in front of his horses,

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which is a squire, drove so close behind him that
he could feel their breath upon his shoulder. He was
lying to strike down Idomeneus, but ere he could do so.
Idomeneus smote him with his spear in the throat under
the chin, and the bronze point went clean through it.
He fell as an oak or poplar or pine, which
shipwrights have felled for ship's timber, upon the mountain with

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wetted axes. Even thus did he lie full length in
front of his chariot and horses, grinding his teeth and
clutching at the blood stained dust. His charioteer was struck
with panic, and did not dare turn his horses round
and escape. Thereon, Antilochus hit him in the middle of
his body with a spear, his carass of bronze did
not protect him, and the spear stuck in his belly.

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He fell gasping from his chariot, and Antilochus, great Nest's son,
drove his horses from the Trojans to the Achaeans. Diephabus
then came close up to I Domineus to Avengasius, and
took aim at him with a spear, but Didmaneus was
on the lookout and avoided it, for he was covered
by the shield. He always bore, a shield of oxhide
and bronze, with two armrods on the inside. He crouched

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under cover of this, and the spear flew over him,
But the shield rang out as the spear grazed it,
and the weapon sped not in vain from the strong
hand of Deephebus, for it struck Hepsainov, son of Herphesus,
shepherd of his people, in the liver under the midriff,
and his limbs failed beneath him. Deephabus haaunted over him
and cried with a loud voice, saying of a truth,

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Aseus has not fallen unavenged, he will be glad. Even
while passing into the house of Hades, strong warden of
the gate, that I have sent some one to escort him.
Thus did he vaunt, and the Argives were stung by
his saying. Noble Antilochus was more angry than any one,
But grief did not make him forget his friend and comrade.

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He ran up to him, bestrode him, and covered him
with his shield. Then two of his staunch comrades, Mesistius,
son of Echius, and Alastor, stooped down and bore him away,
groaning heavily to the ships. But Didamaneus ceased, not his fury.
He kept on striving continually, either to enshroud some Trojan
in the darkness of death, or himself to fall while

(23:10):
warding off the evil day from the Achaeans. Then fell Alcatouus,
son of noble Asiettes. He was son in law to Anchises,
having married his eldest daughter, Hippodamia, who was the darling
of her father and mother, and excelled all her generation
in beauty, accomplishments, and understanding. Where of the bravest men
in all Troy had taken her to wife him? Did

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Neptune lay low by the hand of Idamanaeus, blinding his
bright eyes and binding his strong limbs in fetters, so
that he could neither go back nor to one side,
but stood stock still, like a pillar or lofty tree.
When Idamaneus struck him with a spear in the middle
of his chest. The coat of mail that had hitherto
protected his body was now broken and rang harshly as

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the spear tore through it. He fell heavily to the ground,
and the spear stuck in his heart, which still beat,
and made the butt end of the spear quiver, till
dread Mars put an end to his life. Idomeneus vaunted
over him and cried with a loud voice, saying, Diephabus,
since you are in a mood devaunt, shall we cry
quits now that we have killed three men to your one. Nay, sir,

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stand in fight with me yourself, that you may learn
what manner of Jove begotten man am I that have
come hither. Jove first begot Minos, chief ruler in crete,
and Minos in his turn Begotta's son, noble Dukealion. Ducalion
begot me to be a ruler over many men in crete,
and my ships have now brought me hither to be
the bane of yourself, your father, and the Trojans. Thus

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did he speak, and Aphabus was in two minds whether
to go back and fetch some other Trojans to help him,
or to take up the challenge single handed. In the end,
he deemed it best to go and fetch a Neus,
whom he found standing in the rear, for he had
long been aggrieved with Priam, because in spite of his
brave deeds, he did not give him his duce share
of honor. Dephabus went up to him and said, Aenaeus,

(25:04):
prince among the Trojans, if you know any ties of kinship,
help me now to defend the body of your sister's husband.
Come with me to the rescue of Alcatus, who, being
husband to your sister, brought you up when you were
a child in his house, And now Idamanaeus has slain him.
With these words, he moved the heart of Aeneas, and

(25:25):
he went in pursuit of Idamanaeus, big with great deeds
of valor. But Iromaneus was not to be thus daunted.
As though he were a mere child. He held his
ground as a wild boar at bay upon the mountains,
who abides the coming of a great crowd of men
in some lonely place. The bristles stand upright on his back.
His eyes flashed fire, and he wets his tusk in

(25:45):
his eagerness to defend himself against hounds and men. Even
so did fame Dinomaneus hold his ground and budge not
At the coming of Aeneus. He cried aloud to his comrades,
looking towards Ascalaephus, Apharius, day Yeppirus, Meriones, and Antilochus, all
of them brave soldiers. Heather, my friends, he cried, and

(26:06):
leave me not single handed. I go in great fear
by Fleeteneas, who is coming against me, And it is
a redoubtable dispenser of death in battle. Moreover, he is
in the flower of youth, when a man's strength is greatest.
If I were of the same age as he is,
and in my present mind, either he or I should
soon bear away the prize of victory on this all

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of them, as one man stood near him, shield on shoulder.
Aneas on the other side, called to his comrades, looking
towards Diephabus, Paris, and Aginor, who were the leaders of
the Trojans, along with himself and the people followed them,
as sheep follow the ram when they go down to
drink after they have been feeding, and the heart of
the shepherd is glad. Even so was the heart of

(26:49):
Aeneas glad, and when he saw his people follow him.
Then they fought furiously in close combat about the body
of alcatures, wielding their long spears, and the bronze armor
about their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at
one another. In the press of the fight, while the
two heroes, Aeneas and Idamanaeus, peers of bars outvied everyone

(27:10):
in their desire to hack at each other with sword
and spear. Aneas took aim first, but Ditmanaeus was on
the lookout and avoided the spear, so that it sped
from Aeneas's strong hand in vain and felt quivering in
the ground. Idomeneus meanwhile smote Oenomaeus in the middle of
his belly and broke the plate of his corslet, whereon

(27:31):
his bows came gushing out, and he clutched the earth
in the palms of his hands. As he fell, sprawling
in the dust. Idomaneus drew his spear out of the body,
but could not strip him of the rest of his
armor for the rein of darts that were shout upon him. Moreover,
his strength was now beginning to fail him, so that
he could no longer charge, and could neither spring ford
to recover his own weapon, nor swerve aside to avoid

(27:54):
one that was aimed at him. Therefore, though he still
defended himself in hand to hand fight, his heavy feet,
he could not bear him swiftly out of the battle.
Deephabus aimed a spear at him as he was retreating
slowly from the field, for his bitterness against him was
as fierce as ever, But again he missed him and
hit Asklaphus, the son of Mars. The spear went through

(28:15):
his shoulder, and he clutched the earth in the palms
of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust.
Grim Mars, of awful voice did not yet know that
his son had fallen, for he was sitting on the
summits of Olympus under the golden clouds, by command of Jove,
where the other gods were also sitting forbidden to take
part in the battle. Meanwhile, men fought furiously about the body.

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Deophabus drew the helmet from off his head, but Marione
sprang upon him and struck him on the arm with
a spear, so that the vised helmet fell from his
hand and came ringing down upon the ground. Thereon, Mariones
sprang upon him like a vulture, drew the spear from
his shoulder, and fell back under cover of his men.
Then Polites, own brother of Diophabus, passed his arm around

(29:00):
his waist and bore him away from the battle till
he got to his horses that were standing in the
rear of the fight with the chariot and their driver.
These took him towards the city, groaning and in great pain,
with the blood flowing from his arm. The others still
fought on, and the battle cry rose to heaven without ceasing.
Aeneas sprang on Nefarious, son of Calito, and struck him

(29:22):
with a spear in his throat, which was turned towards him.
His head fell on one side, his helmet and shield
came down along with him, and death life's foe was
shed around him. Antelachus spied his chance, flew forward towards
Thoon and wounded him. As he was turning round, he
laid open the vein that runs all the way up
the back to the neck. He cut this vein clear

(29:45):
away throughout its whole course, and Thoon fell in the dust,
face upwards, stretching out his hands imploringly towards his comrades.
Antelachus sprang upon him and stripped the armor from his shoulders,
clearing round him fearfully. As he did so, the trojans
came about him on every side and struck his broad
and gleaming shield, but could not wound his body, for

(30:05):
Neptune stood guard over the son of Nestor. Though the
darts fell thickly round him, he was never clear of
the foe, but was always in the thick of the fight.
His spear was never idle. He poised and aimed it
in every direction, so eager was he to hit someone
from a distance, or to fight him hand to hand.
As he was thus aiming among the crowd, he was

(30:26):
seen by Adamus, son of Asius, who rushed towards him
and struck him with a spear in the middle of
his shield. But Neptune made its point without effect, for
he grudged him the life of Antilochus. One half therefore
of the spear stuck fast like a charred stake in
Antilochus's shield, while the other lay on the ground. A
Damis then sought shelter under cover of his men, but

(30:48):
Mariones followed after and hid him with a spear Midway
between the private parts and the navel were a wound
as particularly painful to wretched mortals. There did Mariones transfix him,
and he writhed pulsively about the spear, as some bull
whom mountain herdsmen have bound with ropes of wires and
are taken away perforce. Even so did he move convulsively

(31:10):
for a while, but not for very long till Mariones
came up and drew the spear out of his body,
and his eyes were veiled in darkness. Elanus then struck
Deeparus with a great Thracian sword, hitting him on the
temple in close combat and tearing the helmet from his head.
The helmet fell to the ground, and one of those
who were fighting on the Achaean side took charge of

(31:31):
it as it rolled at his feet. But the eyes
of Dereperus were closed in the darkness of death. On
this Menelaus was grieved and made menacingly towards Helenus, brandishing
his spear, but Elenus drew his bow, and the two
attacked one another at one and the same moment, the
one with his spear and the other with his bow
and arrow. The son of Priam hit the breastplate of

(31:53):
Menelaus's corselet, but the arrow glanced from off it. As
black beans or pulse come pattering down on to a
threshing floor from the broad winnowing shovel, blown by shrill
winds and shaken by the shovel, Even so did the
arrow glance off and recoil from the shield of Menelaeus,
who in his turn wounded the hand with which Helenus

(32:13):
carried his bow. The spear went right through his hand
and stuck in the bow itself, so that to his
life he retreated under cover of his men, with his
hand dragging by his side, for the spear weighed it
down till Agenor drew it out and bound the hand
carefully up with the woolen sling which his a squire
had with him. Passander then made straight at Menelaeus his

(32:35):
evil destiny, luring him on to his doom, for he
was to fall in fight with you, our Menelaus. When
the two were hard by one another, the spear of
the son of Atreus turned aside, and he missed his aim.
Passander then struck the shield of brave Menelaus, but could
not pierce it, for the shield stayed the spear and
broke the shaft. Nevertheless, he was glad and made sure

(32:57):
of victory forthwith. However, the son of Atrius drew his
sword and sprang upon him. Passander then seized the bronze
battle axe with its long and polished handle of olive wood,
that hung by his side under his shield, and the
two made at one another. Passander struck the peak of
Menelaeus's crested helmert just under the crest itself, and Menelayus
hit Pissander as he was coming towards him on the forehead,

(33:20):
just at the rise of his nose. The bones cracked,
and his two gaubdroubled eyes fell by his feet in
the dust. He fell backward to the ground, and Menelaea
set his heel upon him, stripped him of his armor,
and vaunted over him, saying, even and thus shall you
Trojans leave the ships of the Achaeans, proud and insatiate
of battle though you be, nor shall you lack any

(33:43):
of the disgrace and shame which you have heaped upon
myself cowardly, she wolves that you are. You feared not
the anger of dread Jove, avenger of violated hospitality, who
will one day destroy your city. You stole my wedded
wife and wicked, carried off much treasure when you were
her guest, And now you would fling fire upon our

(34:05):
ships and kill our heroes. A day will come when
ragees you may you shall be stayed, Oh Father, Jove,
you who they say out above all, both gods and
men in wisdom, and from whom all things that before
us do proceed. How can you thus favor the Trojans,
men so proud and overweening that they are never tired

(34:26):
of fighting, All things pall after a while, sleep, love,
sweet song, and stately dance. Still, these are things of
which a man would surely have his fill, rather than
of battle. Whereas it is of battle that the Trojans
are in Sasiet. So saying Menelaus stripped the blood stained

(34:47):
armor from the body of Passander and handed it over
to his men. Then he again ranged himself among those
who are in the forefront of the fight. Arpalian, son
of King Pyalomenes, then sprang upon him. He had come
to fight at Troy along with his father, but he
did not go home again. He struck the middle of
Menelaus's shield with his spear, but could not pierce it,

(35:09):
and to save his life, drew back under cover of
his men, looking round him on every side, ast he
should be wounded, but Mariones aimed a bronze tipped darrow
at him as he was leaving the field, and hit
him on the right buttock. The arrow pierced the bone
through and through and penetrated the bladder. So he sat
down where he was and breathed his last in the

(35:29):
arms of his comrades, stretched like a worm upon the ground,
and watering the earth with the blood that flowed from
his wound. The brave Paphlogonians tendered him with all due care.
They raised him into his chariot and bore him sadly
off to the city of Troy. His father went also
with him, weeping bitterly, but there was no ransom that

(35:50):
could bring his dead son to life again. Paris was
deeply grieved by the death of Harpalion, who was his host.
When he went among the Paphlagonians, he aimed narrow. Therefore,
in order to avenge him. Now there was a certain
man named eukeen Or, a son of Polyidus the Prophet,
a brave man and wealthy, whose home was in Corinth.

(36:11):
This Euchenoi had set sail for Troy well, knowing that
it would be the death of him. For his good
old father Polyidus had often told him that he must
either stay at home and die of a terrible disease,
or go with the Achaeans and perish at the hands
of the Trojans. He chose therefore, to avoid incurring the
heavy fine the Achaeans would have laid upon him, and
at the same time to escape the pain and suffering

(36:33):
of disease. Paris now smote him on the jaw under
his ear, whereon the life went out of him, and
he was enshrouded in the darkness of death. Thus then
did they fight, as it were a flaming fire. But
Hector had not yet heard and did not know that
the Argives were making havoc of his men on the
left wing of the battle, where the Achaeans ere long

(36:55):
would have triumphed over them, so vigorously did Neptune cheer
them on and help them. He therefore held on at
the point where he had first forced his way through
the gates and the wall, after breaking through the serried
ranks of Daranayan warriors. It was here that the ships
of Ajax and Protosilaus were drawn up by the sea shore.
Here the wall was at its lowest, and the fight,

(37:16):
both of man and horses raged most fiercely. The Boetians
and the Ionians with their long tunics, the Locrians, the
men of Phythia, and the famous force of the Apians
could hardly stay Hector as he rushed on towards the ships,
nor could they drive him from them, for he was
as a wall of fire. The chosen men of the
Athenians were in the van, led by Menestheus, son of Petios,

(37:40):
with whom there were also Phidus, Stychius and Stalwart Buyers.
Meghi's son of Phileus, Amphion and Dracheus commanded the Apaeians,
while Meadon and storch Podhaces led the men of Phythia.
Of these, Medon was Bastard, son of Oelius and brother
of Ajax, but he lived in phyl Arsi, away from

(38:01):
his own country, for he had killed the brother of
his stepmother, Areopus, the wife of Oelius. The other Podarces
was the son of Efclus, son of Philachus. These two
stood in the van of the Pythians and defended the
ships along with the Boetians. Ajax, son of Oelius, never
for a moment left the side of Ajax, son of Telemon.

(38:23):
But as two swart oxen, both strain their utmost at
the plow which they are drawing in a fallow field,
and the sweat steams upwards from about the roots of
their horns. Nothing but the yoke divides them as they
break up the ground till they reached the end of
the field. Even so did the two Ajaxes stand shoulder
to shoulder by one another. Many and brave comrades followed

(38:45):
the son of Telemon to relieve him of his shield
when he was overcome with sweat and toil. But the
Locrians did not follow so close after the son of Oelius,
for they could not hold their own in a hand
to hand fight. They had no bronze helmets with plumes
of horsehair, neither had they shields nor ashen spears. But
they had come to Troy armed with bows and with
slings of twisted wool, from which they showered their missiles

(39:08):
to break the ranks of the Trojans. The others, therefore,
with their heavy armor, bore the brunt of the fight
with the Trojans and with Hector, while the Locrian shut
from behind under their cover, And thus the Trojans began
to lose heart, for the arrows through them into confusion.
The Trojans would now have been driven in sorry plight
from the ship's intense back to Windy Ilius had not

(39:30):
Poledemus presently said to Hector, Hector, there is no persuading
you to take advice, because Heaven has so richly endowed
you with the arts of war. You think that you
must therefore excel others in council. But you cannot thus
claim pre eminence in all things. Heaven has made one
man an excellent soldier of another. It has made a

(39:52):
dancer or a singer and player on the lyre, while
yet in another Jove has implanted a wise understanding of
which men read fruit to the saving of many. And
he himself knows more about it than any one. Therefore,
I will say what I think will be best. The
fight has hemmed you in as with a circle of fire.
And even now that the Trojans are within the wall,

(40:13):
some of them stand aloof in full armor, while others
are fighting scattered and outnumbered near the ships. Draw back, therefore,
and call your chieftains round you, that we may advise
together whether to fall now upon the ships, in the
hope that Heaven may vartsafe as victory, or to beat
a retreat while we can yet safely do so. I
greatly fear that the Achaeans will pay us their debt

(40:35):
of yesterday in full, for there is one abiding at
their ships who is never weary of battle, and who
will not hold aloof much longer. Thus spoke Polydamus, and
his words please hect A well. He sprang in fulamor
from his chariot, and said, Beledamus, gather the chieftains here.
I will go yonder into the fight, but will return

(40:56):
at once when I have given them their orders. He
then ed onward, towering like a snowy mountain, and with
a loud cry, flew through the ranks of the Trojans
and their allies. When they heard his voice, they all
hastened to gather round Polydamus, the excellent son of Panthus.
But Hector kept on among the foremost, looking everywhere to
find Diophabus and Prince Helenus, Adamus son of Asius, and Aesus,

(41:19):
son of Hertarkus, living indeed and scathless. He could no
longer find them, for the two last were lying by
the sterns of the Achaean ships, slain by the Argives,
while the others had been also stricken and wounded by them.
But upon the left wing of the dread battle he
found Alexandraus, husband of the lovely helen cheering his men

(41:40):
and urging them on to fight. He went up to
him and upbraided him. Paris, said he evil hearted, Paris
fair to see, but woman mad and false of tongue.
Where are Diophabus and King Helenus. Where are Adamas son
of Asius, and Aesus, son of Hertarkus. Whereto is Othrian,

(42:00):
Elias is undone and will now surely fall. Alexandrius answered Hector,
Why find fault when there is none to find fault with?
I should hold aloof from battle on any day rather
than this, For my mother bore me with nothing of
the coward about me. From the moment when you set
our men fighting about the ships, we have been staying

(42:22):
here and doing battle with the Danaeans. Our comrades about
whom you ask me are dead. Deephabus and King Elanus
alone have left the field wounded, both of them in
their hand, but the son of Satin saved them alive.
Now therefore, lead on where you would have us go,
and we will follow with right good will. You shall
not find us fail you in so far as our

(42:44):
strength holds out. But no man can do more than
Nium lies, no matter how willing he may be. With
these words, he satisfied his brother, and the two went
towards the part of the battle where the fight was thickest.
About Sebriones Brave, Polydamus, Falces or Theaeus god like Pelephatees,
Palmus Ascanius, and Maurus, son of Hippotion, who had come

(43:06):
from fertile Ascania on the preceding day to relieve other troops.
Then Joe verged them on to fight. They flew forth
like the blasts of some fierce wind that strikes earth
in the van of a thunderstorm, they buffet the salt
sea into an uproar. Many and mighty are the great
waves that come crashing in, one after the other upon
the shore, with their arching heads all crested with foam.

(43:30):
Even so did rank behind rank of Trojans, arrayed in
gleaming armor, follow their leaders onward. The way was led
by Hector, son of Priam, peer of Murderous Mars, with
his round shield before him, his shield of oxhides covered
with plates of bronze, and his gleaming helmet upon his temples.

(43:50):
He kept stepping forward under cover of his shield in
every direction, making trial of the ranks to see if
they would give way before him. But he could not
daunt the courage of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first
to stride out and challenge him. Sir, he cried, draw near.
Why do you think thus vainly to dismay the argives.
We Achaeans are excellent soldiers, but the scourge of Jove

(44:13):
has fallen heavily upon us. Your heart forsooth is set
on destroying our ships. But we two have hands that
can keep you at bay, and your own fair town
shall be sooner taken and sacked by ourselves. The time
is near when you shall pray Jove and all the
gods in your flight, that your steeds may be swifter
than hawks, as they raise the dust on the plain,

(44:34):
and bear you back to your city. As he was
thus speaking, a bird flew by upon his right hand,
and the host of the Achaean shouted, for they took
heart at the omen. But Hector answered, ay Jack's braggots
and false of tongue, would that I were as sure
of being Sun for evermore to ejis bearing Jove with

(44:55):
Queen Juno for my mother, and have been held in
like honor with Minerva and Apollo. As I am. That
this day is big with the destruction of the Achaeans,
and you shall fall among them. If you dare abide
my spear, it shall rend your fair body, and bid
you glut our hounds and birds of prey with your
fat and your flesh, as you fall by the ships

(45:16):
of the Achaeans. With these words, he led the way,
and the others followed after with a cry that rent
the air, while the host shouted behind them. The Argives,
on their part, raised a shout likewise, Nor did they
forget their prowess, but stood firm against the aunts Lord
of the Trojan chieftains, and the cry from both the
hosts rose up to heaven and to the brightness of

(45:38):
Jove's presence. End of Section thirteen Dream Audio Books. Hopes
you have enjoyed this program.