The Iliad (Audiobook) by Homer - Book 15

Book 15: Zeus Awakens
Zeus realizes the deception and orders Poseidon to withdraw. The Trojans regain the upper hand.
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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section fifteen of the Iliad by Homer, translated by Samuel Butler.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by
Peter Dan, Book fifteen, Jove awakes tells Apollo to heal Hector,
and the Trojans again become victorious. But when their flight

(00:22):
had taken them past the trench and the set stakes,
and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaeans,
the Trojans made a halt. On reaching their chariots, routed
and pale with fear. Jove now woke on the crests
of Ida, where he was lying with golden throned Juno
by his side, and starting to his feet, he saw
the Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and

(00:45):
the others driving them pell mell before them, with King
Neptune in their midst. He saw Hector lying on the ground,
with his comrades gathered round him, gasping for breath, wandering
in mind, and vomiting blood. For it was not the
feeblest of the Achaeans whose struck him. The sire of
gods and men had pity on him, and looked fiercely

(01:05):
on Juno. I see Juno said, he you, mischief making trickster,
that your cunning has stayed Hector from fighting and has
caused the route of his host. I am in half
a mind to thrash you, in which case you will
be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy, knavery,
Do you not remember how once upon a time I
had you hanged. I fastened two envils to your feet

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and bound your hands in a chain of gold, which
none might break, and you hung in mid air among
the clouds. All the gods in Olympus were in a fury,
but they could not reach you to set you free.
When I caught any one of them, I gripped him
and hurled him down from the heavenly threshold, till he
came fainting down to earth. Yet even this did not

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relieve my mind from the incessant anxiety which I felt
about Noble Hercules, whom you and Boreas had spitefully conveyed
beyond the seas to Coss after suborning the tempest. But
I rescued him, and notwithstanding all his mighty labors, I
brought him back again to our goss. I would remind
you of this that you may learn to leave off

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being so deceitful, and discover how much you are likely
to gain by the embraces out of which you have
come here to trick me. Juno trembled as he spoke,
and said, may Heaven above and earth below be my
witnesses with the waters of the river Styx. And this
is the most solemn oath that a blessed God can take. Nay,

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I swear also by your own almighty head and by
our bridal bed things over which I could never possibly
perjure myself that Neptune is not punishing Hector and the
Trojans and helping the Achaian through any doing of mine.
It is all of his own me emotion, because he
was sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at their ships.
If I were advising him, I should tell him to

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do as you bid him. The sire of gods and
men smiled and answered, if you do, you know were
always to support me when we sit in Council of
the Gods. Neptune, like it or no, would soon come
round to your and my way of thinking. If then
you are speaking the truth and mean what you say.

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Go among the rank and file of the gods and
tell Iris and Apollo, lord of the Beau, that I
want them. Iris that she may go to the Achaean
host and tell Neptune to leave off fighting and go home.
And Apollo that he may send Hector again into battle
and give him fresh strength. He will thus forget his
present sufferings and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till

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they fall among the ships of Achilles, son of Pelius.
Achilles will then send his comrade Petroclas into battle, and
Hector will kill him in front of Ilius. After he
has slain many warriors, and among them my own noble
sons Arpadon. Achilles will kill Hector to avenge Petroclus, and
from that time I will bring it about that the

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Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfill
the counsels of Minerva and take Ilius. But I will
not stay my anger nor permit any god to help
the Darnaians till I have accomplished the desire of the
son of Peleus, according to the promise I made by
bowing my head on the day when Thetus touched my
knees and besought me to give him honor. Juno heeded

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his words and went from the heights of Ida to
Great Olympus, swift as the thought of one whose fancy
carries him over vast countenance, and he says to himself,
now be here or there, and he would have all
manner of things. Even so swiftly did Juno wing her
way till she came to high Olympus and went in
among the gods who were gathered in the house of Jove.

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When they saw her, they all of them came up
to her and held out their cups to her by
way of greeting. She let the others be, but took
the cup offered her by lovely themis who was first
to come running up to her. Juno said she, why
are you here? And you seem troubled. Has your husband,
the son of Satin, been frightening you? And Juno answered

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themUS do not ask me about it. You know what
a proud and cruel disposition my husband has lead the
gods to table where you and all the immortals can
hear the wicked designs which he has avowed. Many a
one mortal and immortal will be angered by them. However,
peaceably he may be feasting now on these. Juno sat down,

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and the gods were troubled throughout the house of Jove.
Laughter sat on her lips, but her brow was furrowed
with care, and she spoke up in a rage. Fools
that we are, she cried to be thus madly angry
with Jove. We keep on wanting to go up to
him and stay him by force or by persuasion. But
he sits aloof and cares for nobody, for he knows

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that he is much stronger than any other of the immortals,
make the best. Therefore, of whatever ills he may choose
to send each one of you, Mars, I take it
has had a taste of them already, for his son
Ascalfus has fallen in battle, the man whom of all
others he loved most dearly, and whose father he owns
himself to be. When he heard this, Mars smote his

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two sturdy thighs with the flat of his hands, and said,
in anger, do not blame me, you gods that dwell
in heaven, if I go to the ships of the
Achaeans and avenge the death of my son, even though
it end in my being struck by Jove's lightning and
lying in blood and dust among the corpses. As he spoke,
he gave orders to yoke his horse as Panic and

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rout while he put on his armor. On this, Jove
would have been roused to still more fierce and implacable
enmity against the other immortals, had not Minerva, alarmed for
the safety of the gods, sprung from her seat and
hurried outside. She tore the helmet from his head and
the shield from his shoulders, and she took the bronze
spear from his strong hand and set it on one side.

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Then she said to Mars, madman, you are undone. You
have ears that hear not, or you have lost all
judgment and understanding. Have you not heard what Juno has
said on coming straight from the presence of Olympian Jove,
do you wish to go through all kinds of suffering
before you were brought back sick and sorry to Olympus.
After having caused infinite mischief to all us others, Jove

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would instantly leave the Trojans and Ikians to themselves. He
would come to Olympus to punish us, and would group
us up one after another, guilty or not guilty. Therefore,
lay aside your anger for the death of your son.
Better men than he have either been killed already or
will fall hereafter, And one cannot protect everyone's whole family

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With these words. She took Mars back to his seat. Meanwhile,
Juno called Apollo outside with Iris, the messenger of the
gods Jove. She said to them, desires you to go
to him at once on Mount Ida. When you have
seen him, you are to do as he may then
bid you. Thereon, Juno left them and resumed her seat inside,

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while Iris and Apollo made all haste on their way.
When they reached Many Fountain Dieder, Mother of wild Beasts,
they found Jove seated on topmost Gagarus, with a fragrant
cloud encircling his head as with a diadem. They stood
before his presence, and he was pleased with them for
having been so quick and obeying the orders his wife
had given them. He spoke to Iris first, go, said

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he fleet Iris, tell King Neptune what I now bid you,
and tell him true. Bid him leave off fighting and
either join the company of the gods or go down
into the sea. If he takes no heed and disobeys me.
Let him consider well whether he is strong enough to
hold his own against me if I attack him. I
am older and much stronger than he is. Yet he

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is not afraid to set himself up as on a
level with myself, of whom all the other gods stand
in awe. Iris Fleetes the wind obeyed him, and as
the cold hail or snowflakes that fly from out of
the clouds before the blust of Boreas. Even so did
she wing her way till she came close up to
the great shaker of the earth. Then she said, I

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have gone, dark haired king that holds the world in
his embrace, to bring you a message from Jove. I
bid you leave off fighting and either join the company
of the gods or go down into the sea. If, however,
you take no heed and disobey him, he says he
will come down here and fight you. He would have
you keep out of his reach, for he is older

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and much stronger than you are, And yet you are
not afraid to set yourself up as on a level
with himself, of whom all the other gods stand in awe.
Neptune was very angry and said, great heavens, strong as
Jove may be he has said more than he can do,
if he has threatened violence against me, who am of
like honor with himself. We were three brothers whom Rhea

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bore to Saturn, Jove myself and Hades, who rules the
world below. Heaven and Earth were divided into three parts,
and each of us was to have an equal share.
When we cast lights, it felt to me to have
my dwelling in the sea forevermore. Hades took the darkness
of the realms under the earth, while he and sky
and clouds with a portion that fell to Jove. But

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Earth and greater Limpus are the common property of all.
Therefore I will not walk as Jove would have me
for all his strength. Let him keep to his own
third share and be contented, without threatening to lay hands
upon me as though I were nobody. Let him keep
his bragging talk to his own sons and daughters, who
must perforre obey him. Iris Fleet of the Wind then answered,

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am I really neptune to take this daring and unyielding
message to Jove? Or will you reconsider your answer? Sensible
people are open to argument, and you know that the
errhinies always range themselves on the side of the older person.
Neptune answered, God, is Syris, Your words have been spoken
in season. It is well when a messenger shows so

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much discretion. Nevertheless, it cuts me to the very heart
that anyone should rebuke so angrily another who is his
own peer and of like empire with himself. Now, however,
I will give way in spite of my displeasure. Furthermore,
let me tell you, and I mean what I say, if,
contrary to the desire of myself Minerva, driver of the spoil,

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Juno Mercury, and King Vulcan, Jove spares steep Ilias and
will not let the Achaeans have the great triumph of
sacking it, let him understand that he will incur our
implacable resentment. Neptune now left the field to go down
under the sea, and sorely did the Achaeans miss him.
Then Jove said to Apollo, go, dear Phoebus to hector,

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for Neptune, who holds the earth in his embrace, has
now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity
of my displeasure. Had he not done so, those gods
who are below with Saturn would have come to hear
of the fight between us it is better for both
of us that he should have curbed his anger and
kept out of my reach, for I should have had
much trouble with him. Take then your tasseled aegis, and

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shake it furiously, so as to set the Achaean heroes
in a panic. Take more over, brave Hector, o far
data into your own care, and rouse him to deeds
of daring, till the Achaeans assent flying back to their
ships and to the airless pot. From that point I
will think it well over how the Achaeans may have
a respite from their troubles. Apollo obeyed his father's saying

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and left the crests of Ida, flying like a falcon,
bane of doves and swiftest of all birds. Hef aunt Hector,
no longer lying upon the ground, but sitting up, for
he had just come to himself again. He knew those
who were about him, and the sweat and hard breathing
had left him from the moment when the will of
aegis bearing Jove had revived him. Apollo stood beside him

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and said, Hector, son of Priam, why are you so faint,
and why are you here away from the others? Has
any mishap befallen you. Hector, in a weak voice, answered,
and which kind, sir, of the gods, are you who
now ask me? Thus? Do you not know? That Ajax
struck me on the chest with a stone as I
was killing his comrades at the ships of the Achaeans,

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and compelled me to leave off fighting. I made sure
that this very day I should breathe my last and
go down into the house of Hades. Then King Apollo
said to him, take heart, the son of Saturn has
sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand by
you and defend you, even me Phoebus, Apollo of the
Golden Sword, who have been guardian hitherto not only of yourself,

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but of your city. Now, therefore, order your horsemen to
drive their chariots to the ships in great multitudes. I
will go before your horses to smooth away for them,
and will turn the Achaeans in flight. As he spoke,
he infused great strength into the shepherd of his people,
And as a horse, stabled and full fed, breaks loose

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and gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where
he is wont to take his bath in the river.
He tosses his head, and his mane streams over his shoulders.
As in all the pride of his strength, if lies
full speed to the past, is where the meres are feeding.
Even so, Hector, when he heard what the gods said,
urged his horsemen on and sped forward as fast as

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his limbs could take him. As country peasants set their
hounds onto a homed stag or wild goat, He has
taken shelter under rock or thicket, and they cannot find him.
But lo, a bearded lion, whom their shouts have roused,
stands in their path, and they are in no further
humor for the chase. Even so, the Achaeans were still
charging on in a body, using their swords and spears

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pointed at both ends. But when they saw Hector going
about among his men, they were afraid, and their hearts
fell down into their feet. Then spoke thoas son of Andreyeimon,
leader of the Aetolians, a man who could throw a
good throw, and who was staunch or so in a
close fight, while few could surpass him in debate. When
opinions were divided, he then, with all sincerity and good will,

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addressed them. Thus what in Heavens name, do iron as see?
Is it not Hector come to life again? Every one
made sure he had been killed by Ajax, son of Talaman,
But it seems that one of the gods has again
rescued him. He has killed many of us Daraeans already,
and I take it will yet do so, for the
hand of Jove must be with him, or he would
never dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of

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the battle. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say.
Let us order the main body of our forces to
fall back upon the ships. But let those of us
who profess to be the flower of the army stand
firm and see whether we cannot hold Hector back at
the point of our spears. As soon as he comes
near us, I can see that he will then think
better of it before he tries to charge into the

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press of the Daraeans. Thus did he speak, and they
did even as he had said. Those who were about
Ajax and King Idomeneus, the followers moreover of Teusa, Mariones
and Megas, peer of Mars, called all their best men
about them, and sustained the fight against Hector and the Trojans.
But the main body fell back upon the ships of

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the Achaeans. The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body,
with hectors striding on at their head. Before him went
Phoebus Apollo, shrouded in cloud about his shoulders. He bore
aloft the terrible ages with its shaggy fringe, which Vulcan
the Smith had given jove to strike terror into the
hearts of men. With this in his hand, he led

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on the Trojans. The Argives held together and stood their ground.
The cry of battle rose high from either side, and
the arrows flew from the bowstrings. Many a spear sped
from strong hands and fastened in the bodies of many
a valiant warrior, while others fell to earth midway before
they could taste of man's fear, flesh and glut themselves

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with blood. So long as Phoebus Apollo held his aeges
quietly and without shaking it, the weapons on either side
took effect, and the people fell. But when he shook
it straight in the face of the Daraeans and raised
his mighty battle cry, their hearts fainted within them, and
they forgot their former prowess, As when two wild beasts

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spring in the dead of night on a herd of
cattle or a large flock of sheep, when the herdsman
is not there. Even so were the Danaeans struck helpless,
for Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to
Hector and the Trojans. The fight then became more scattered,
and they killed one another where they best could. Actor
killed Stychius and Archasilus, the one leader of the Poetians,

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and the other friend and comrade of Menestheus. Aeneas killed
Medon and Iasus. The first was bastard, son to Oelius
and brother to Ajax, but he lived in Phylace, away
from his own country, for he had killed a man,
a kinsman of his stepmother Areopus, whom Aelius had married.
Arsus had become a leader of the Athenians and was

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son of Sphelus, the son of Buculos. Polytamus killed Mesestius
and Polaites. Echius in the front of the battle, while
Agenor killed Clonius. Paris struck Deochus from behind in the
lower part of the shoulder as he was flying among
the foremost, and the point of the spear went clean
through him. While they were spoiling these heroes of their armor.

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The Achaeans were flying pell mell to the trench and
the set stakes, and were forced back within their wall.
Hector then cried out to the Trojans, forward to the ships,
and let the spoils be. If I see any man,
keep him back on the other side the wall, away
from the ships. I will have him killed. His kinsmen
and kinswomen shall not give him his jews of fire,
but dogs shall tear him in pieces in front of

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our city. As he spoke, he laid his whip about
his horses shoulders and called to the Trojans throughout their ranks.
The Trojans shouted with a cry that rent the air,
and kept their horses neck and neck with his own phoebus.
Apollo went before and kicked down the banks of the
deep trench into its middle, so as to make a
great broad bridge, as broad as the throw of a

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spear when a man is trying his strength. The Trojan
battalions poured over the bridge, and Apollo, with his redoubtable aegis,
let the way. He kicked down the wall of the
Achaeans as easily as a child who playing on the
seashore has built a house of sand, and then kicks
it down again and destroys it. Even so did you,
o Apollo, shed toil and trouble upon the Argives, filling

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them with panic and confusion. Thus then were the Achaeans
hemmed in at their ships, calling out to one another,
and raising their hands with loud cries, every man to Heaven.
Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, lifted
up his hands to the starry firmament of Heaven, and
prayed more fervently than any of them far. The Jove

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said he, if ever anyone in wheat growing argus burned
you fat thigh bones of sheep or heifer, and prayed
that he might return safely home whereon you bowed your
head to him in assent, bear it in mind now,
and suffer not the Trojans to triumph. Thus over the Achaeans,
all counseling, Jove thundered loudly an answer to the prayer

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of the age so of Nelius. When they heard Jove thunder,
they flung themselves yet more fiercely on the Achaeans, as
a wave breaking over the bulwarks of a ship when
the sea runs high before a gale, for it is
the force of the wind that makes the waves so great.
Even so did the Trojans spring over the wall with
a shout and drive their chariots onwards. The two sides fought,

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with their double pointed spears in hand to hand, encounter
the Trojans from their chariots, and the Achaeans climbing up
into their ships and wheelding the long pikes that were
lying on the decks, ready for use in a sea fight,
jointed and shod with bronze. Now Patroclus, so long as
the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting about the wall, but
were not yet within it, and at the ships, remained

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sitting in the tent of good Eurypolus, entertaining him with
his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease
his pain. When, however, he saw the Trojans swarming through
the breach in the wall, while the Achaeans were clamoring
and struck with panic, he cried aloud and smote his
two thighs with the flat of his hands. Eurepelas said

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he in dismay. I know you want me badly, but
I cannot stay with you any longer, for there is
hard fighting going on. A servant shall take care of
you now, for I must make all speed to Achilles
and induce him to fight. If I can, who knows,
But with Heaven's help I may persuade him. A man
does well to listen to the advice of a friend.
When he had thus spoken, he went his way. The

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Achaeans stood firm and resisted the attack of the Trojans.
Yet though these were fewer in number, they could not
drive them back from the ships. Neither could the Trojans
break the Achaean ranks and make their way in among
the tents and ships. As a carpenter's lyne gives a
true edge to a piece of ship's timber in the
hands of some skilled workman, whom Minerva has instructed in

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all kinds of useful arts. Even so, level was the
issue of the fight between the two sides. As they
fought some round one and some round another. Hector made
straight for Ajax and the who fought fiercely about the
same ship. Hector could not force Ajax back and fire
the ship. Nor yet could Ajax drive Hector from the
spot to which Heaven had brought him then Ajax struck Calator,

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son of Clytius, in the chest with a spear, as
he was bringing fire towards the ship. He fell heavily
to the ground, and the torch dropped from his hand.
When Hector saw his cousin fallen in front of the ship,
he shouted at the Trojans and Lysians, saying, Trojans, Lysians
and Ardanians good in close fight. Bait not a jot,
but rescue the son of Clytius, lest the Achaian strip

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him of his armor, now that he has fallen. He
then aimed a spear at Ajax and missed him, but
he hit like ap Fron, the follower of Ajax, who
came from Cethera but was living with Ajax inasmuch as
he had killed a man amongst the Satharians. Hector's spear
struck him on the head below the ear, and he
fell headlong from the ship's prow on to the ground,
with no life left in him. Ajax shook with rage

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and said to his brother, Tu, sir, my fellow, how
trusty comrade, the son of Mastor has fallen. He came
to live with us from Cythera, and whom we honored
as much as our own parents. Hector has just killed him.
Fetch your deadly arrows at once, and the bow which
Phoebus Apollo gave you. Tusa heard him and hastened towards him,
with his bow and quiver in his hands. Forthwith, he

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showered his arrows on the Trojans and hit Cletius, the
son of Peace and or comrade of Polydamus, the noble
son of Pantuus, with the reins in his hands, as
he was attending to his horses. He was in the
middle of the very thickest part of the fight, doing
good service to Hector and the Trojans. But evil had
now come upon him, and not one of those who
were fain to do so could avert it. For the

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arrows struck him on the back of the neck. He
fell from his chariot, and his horses shook the empty
car as they swerved aside. King Polydamus saw what had happened,
and was the first to come up to the horses.
He gave them in chance to Estenus, son of Proteon,
and ordered him to look on and to keep the
horses near at hand. He then went back and took

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his place in the front ranks. Tusa then named another
arrow at Hector, and there would have been no more
fighting at the ships if it had hit him and
killed him then and there. Jove, however, who kept watch
over Hector, had his eyes on Tusa and deprived him
of his triumph by breaking his bowstring for him. Just
as he was drawing it and about to take his
aim on this, the arrow went astray and the bow

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fell from his hands. Tusa shook with anger and said
to his brother, alas see, I haven't thoughts us and
all we do. It has broken my bowstring and snatched
the bow from my hand, though I strung at this
self same morning, that it might serve me for many
an arrow. Ajax, son of Telamon, answered, my good fellow,
let your bow and your arrows be, for Jove has

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made them useless. In order to spite the Danaeans, take
your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder, and both
fight the Trojans yourself, and urge others to do so.
They may be successful for the moment, but if we
fight them as we ought, they will find it a
hard matter to take the ships. Tusa then took his
bow and put it by. In his tent he hung

(25:08):
a shield four hides thick about his shoulders, and on
his comely head. He set his helmet, well wrought with
a crest of horse hair that knodded menacingly. Above it,
he grasped his redoubtable bronze shod spear, and forthwith he
was by the side of Ajax. When Hector saw that
Tusa's bow was of no more use to him, he
shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians, Trojans, Lysians and Ardanians,

(25:30):
good in close fight, Be men, my friends, and show
your metal here at the ships, for I see the
weapon of one of their chieftains, made useless by the
hand of Jove. It is easy to see when Jove
is helping people and means to help them still further,
or again when he is bringing them down and will
do nothing for them. He is now on our side
and is going against the Argives. Therefore, swarm round the

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ships and fight. If any of you is struck by
spear or sword and loses his life, let him die.
He dies with honor, who dies fighting for his country,
and he will leave his wife and children safe behind him,
with his house and allotment unplundered. If only the Achaeans
can be driven back to their own land, they and
their ships. With these words he put heart and soul

(26:13):
into them all. Ajax on the other side, exhorted his comrade, saying,
shame on you, Argives. We are now utterly undone, unless
we can save ourselves by driving the enemy from our ships.
Do you think if Hector takes them, that you will
be able to get home by land? Can you not
hear him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet,
and bidding them remember that they are not at a dance,

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but in battle are only courses to fight them with
might and maine. We had better chance it life or
death once for all, than fight long and without issue
hemmed in at our ships by worse men than ourselves.
With these words he put life and soul into them all.
Hector then killed Shdier's, son of Pyramides, leader of the Fiesians,

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and Ajax cured Laodamas, captain of foot soldiers and son
to Antenor. Polytamus killed Otus of Ceiline, a comrade of
the son of Phylius and chief of the proud Apaeans.
When Meggi saw this, he sprang upon him, but Polydamus
crouched down and he missed him, for Apollo would not
suffer the son of Pantuus to fall in battle. But
the spear hit Croismus in the middle of his chest,

(27:17):
whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and Meggie stripped
him of his armor. At that moment, the valiant soldier Dolops,
son of Lampus, sprang upon him. Lampus was son of
Laomedon and noted for his valor, while his son Dolops
was versed in all the ways of war. He then
struck the middle of the son of Phylius's shield with
his spear, setting on him at close quarters, But his

(27:40):
good corselet made with plates of metal, saved him. Phyleus
had brought it from Mephara and the river Salius, where
his host King Aphetes, had given it him to wear
in battle and protect him. It now served to say
the life of his son. Then Meggie struck the topmost
crest of Dolop's bronze helmet with his spear and tore
away its tomb of horse hair, so that all newly

(28:02):
dyed with scarlet as it was it tumbled down into
the dust. While he was still fighting and confident of victory,
Menelaeus came up to help Maggie's and got by the
side of Dlops. Unperceived. He then speared him in the
shoulder from behind, and the point driven so furiously went
through into his chest, whereon he fell headlong. The two
then made towards him to strip him of his armor,

(28:24):
but Hector called on all his brothers for help, and
he especially upbraided brave Melanippus, son of Hectaeon, who erewhile
used to pass to his herds of cattle in Percote
before the war broke out, But when the ships of
the Danaeans came, he went back to Ilius, where he
was eminent among the Trojans and lived near Priam, who
treated him as one of his own sons. Hector now

(28:46):
rebuked him and said, why Melanippus, are we thus Ramesse.
Do you take no note of the death of your kinsman?
And do you not see how they are trying to
take Dolop's armor? Follow me, for there must be no
fighting the arguys from a distance now, but we must
do so in close combat till either we kill them,
or they take the high wall of Elias and slay
her people. He led on as he spoke, and the

(29:09):
hero Mellaanippus followed after. Meanwhile, Ajax, son of Telamonn, was
cheering on the argos. My friends, he cried, be men,
and fear dishonor quit yourselves in battle, so as to
win respect from one another. Men who respect each other's
good opinion are less likely to be killed than those
who do not. But in flight there is neither gain

(29:30):
nor glory. Thus did he exhort men who are already
bent upon driving back the Trojans. They laid his words
to heart and hedged the ships as with a wall
of bronze. While Jove verged on the Trojans Menelaus, of
the loud battle cry, urged Antilochus. On Antilicus said he,
you are young, and there is none of the Achaeans

(29:51):
more fleet of foot or more valiant than you are.
See if you cannot spring upon some Trojan and kill him,
he hurried away. When he had thus spurred Antilochus, who
at once darted out from the front ranks and aimed
a spear. After looking carefully round him, The Trojans fell
back as he threw, and the dart did not speed
from his hand without effect, for it struck Melanippus, the

(30:13):
proud son of hicketaon in the breast by the nippole
as he was coming forward, and his armor rang rattling
round him. As he fell heavily to the ground. Antilacus
sprang upon him as a dog springs on a fawn
which a hunter has hit as it was breaking away
from its covert, and killed it. Even so, o Melanippus
did stalwart Antilaicus spring upon you to strip you of

(30:35):
your armor. But noble Hector marked him and came running
up to him through the thick of the battle. Antilochus,
brave soldier though he was, would not stay to face him,
but fled, like some savage creature which knows it has
done wrong, and flies when it has killed a dog
or a man who is hurting his cattle, before a
body of men can be gathered to attack it. Even

(30:55):
so did the son of nest Or fly, and the
Trojans and Hector, with a cry that rent them yeah,
showered their weapons after him. Nor did he turn round
and stay his flight till he had reached his comrades.
The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards
the ships, in fulfillment of the behests of Jove, who
kept spurring them on to new deeds of daring, while

(31:16):
he deadened the courage of the Argives and defeated them
by encouraging the Trojans. For he meant giving glory to Hector,
son of Priam, and letting him throw fire upon the
ships till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis
had made him. Jove therefore bided his time till he
should see the glare of a blazing ship. From that

(31:37):
hour he was about so to order that the Trojans
should be driven back from the ships and de vouchsafe
glory to the Achaeans. With this purpose he inspired Hector
son of Priam, who was eager enough already to assail
the ships. His fury was as that of Mars, where
as when a fire is raging in the glades of
some dense forests upon the mountains, he foamed at the mouth,

(31:57):
his eyes glared under his terrible eyebrow, and his helmet
quivered on his temples. By reason of the fury with
which he fought, Jove from heaven was with him, and
though he was but one against many, vouchsafed him victory
and glory. For he was doomed to an early death,
and already Palace maneuver was hurrying on the hour of
his destruction at the hands of the son of Pelias. Now, however,

(32:21):
he was trying to break the ranks of the enemy
wherever he could see them, thickest and in the goodliest armor.
But do what he might, he could not break through them.
For they stood as a tower four square, or as
some high cliff rising from the gray sea that braves
the anger of the gale and of the waves that
thunder up against it. He fell upon them like flames
of fire from every quarter, as when a wave raised

(32:44):
mountain high by wind and storm, breaks over a ship
and covers it deep in foam. The fear's winds roar
against the mast. The hearts of the sailors fail them
for fear, and they are saved, but by a very
little from destruction. Even so were the hearts of the
Achaeans fainting within them, Or as a savage lion attacking
a herd of cows, while they are feeding by thousands

(33:06):
in the low lying meadows by some wide watered shore.
The herdsman is at his wits end how to protect
his herd, and keeps going about, now in the van
and now in the rear of his cattle, while the
lion springs into the thick of them and fastens on
a cow, so that they all tremble for fear. Even
so were the Achaeans utterly panic stricken by Hector and
Father Jove. Nevertheless, Hector only killed Periphides of Mycenae. He

(33:32):
was son of Coprius, who was wont to take the
order of King Eurystheus to Mighty Hercules. But the son
was a far better man than the father in every way.
He was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in
understanding ranked among the foremost men of Mycenae. He it
was who then afforded Hector a triumph, for as he
was turning back, he stumbled against the rem of his shield,

(33:54):
which reached his feet and served to keep the javelins
off him. He trepped against this and fell face, his helmet,
ringing loudly about his head as he did so. Hector
saw him fall and ran up to him. He then
thrust a spear into his chest and killed him close
to his own comrades. These, for all their sorrow, could
not help him, for they were themselves terribly afraid of Hector.

(34:18):
They had now reached the ships and the prows of
those that had been drawn up first on every side
of them, but the Trojans came pouring after them. The
Argives were driven back from the first row of ships,
but they made a stand by their tents without being
broken up and scattered. Shame and fear restrained them. They
kept shouting incessantly to one another. A nestor of Gerene,

(34:39):
tower of strength to the Achaeans, was loudest in imploring
every man by his parents and beseeching him to stand firm.
Be men, my friends, he cried, and respect one another's
good opinion. Think all of you on your children, your wives,
your property, and your parents, whether these be alive or dead,
on their behalf, though they are not here. I implore

(35:00):
you to stand firm and not to turn in flight.
With these words, he put heart and zold into them all.
Minerva lifted the thick veil of darkness from their eyes,
and much light fell upon them. Alike. On the side
of the ships and on where the fight was raging,
they could see Hector and all his men, both those
in the rear who were taking no part in the

(35:21):
battle and those who were fighting by the ships. Ajax
could not bring himself to retreat along with the rest,
but strode from deck to deck with a great sea
pike in his hands, twelve cubits long and jointed with rings.
As a man skilled in feats of horsemenship, couples four
horses together and comes tearing a full speed along the
public way from the country into some large town. Many

(35:44):
both men and women, marvel as they see him, for
he keeps all the time changing his horses, springing from
one to another, without ever missing his feet while the
horses are at a gallop. Even so did Ajax go
striding from one ship's deck to another, and his voice
went up into the heavens. He kept on shouting his
orders to the Daraeans and exhorting them to defend their

(36:04):
ships and tents. Neither did Hector remain within the main
body of the Trojan warriors, but as a dun eagle
swoops down upon a flock of wild fowl feeding near
a river geese, it may be, or cranes, or long
necked swans. Even so did Hector make straight for a dark,
proud ship, rushing right towards it. For Jove, with his

(36:25):
mighty hand, impelled him forward and roused his people to
follow him. And now the battle again raged furiously at
the ships. He would have thought the men were coming
on fresh and unwearied. So fiercely did they fight. And
this was the mind in which they were. The Achaeans
did not believe that they should escape destruction, but thought
themselves doomed. While there was not a Trojan, but his

(36:47):
heart beat high in the hopes of firing the ships
and putting the Achaean heroes to the sword. Thus were
the two sides minded. Then Hector seized the stern of
the good ship that had brought Pratisselaeus to Troy, but
never bore him back to his native land. Round this
ship there raged a close hand to hand fight between
the Danaeans and Trojans. They did not fight at a

(37:09):
distance with bows and javelins, but with one mind, hacked
at one another in close combat. With their mighty swords
and spears pointed at both ends. They fought moreover with
keen battle axes and with hatchets. Many a good stout blade,
hilted and scabbarded with iron fell from hand or shoulder
as they fought, and the earth ran red with blood. Hector,

(37:32):
when he had seized the ship, would not loose his hold,
but held on to its curved stern, and shouted to
the Trojans, bring fire and raise the battle cry all
of you with a single voice. Now has Jove vouchsafed
us a day that will pay us for all the rest.
This day we shall take the ships which came hither
against Heaven's will, and which have caused us such infinite

(37:53):
suffering through the cowardice of our counselors, who, when I
would have done battle at the ships, held me back
and forbade our host to follow me. If Jove did
then indeed warp out judgments himself, now commands me and
cheers me on as he spoke. Thus the Trojans sprang
yet more fiercely on the Achaeans, and Ajax no longer

(38:13):
held his ground, for he was overcome by the darts
that were flung at him, and made sure that he
was doomed. Therefore he left the raised deck at the stern,
and stepped back on to the seven foot bench of
the oarsman. Here he stood on the lookout, and with
his spear, held back any Trojan whom he saw bringing
fire to the ships. All the time he kept on
shouting at the top of his voice and exhorting the Danaans,

(38:36):
my friends, he cried, Dunayan heroes, servants of Mars, be men,
my friends, and fight with might end with Maine. Can
we hope to find help us hereafter? Or a wall
to shield us more surely than the one we have?
There is no strong city within reach, whence we may
draw fresh forces to turn the scales in our favor.

(38:57):
We are on the plain of the armed Trojans, with
the sever behind us, and far from our own country.
Our salvation, therefore is in the might of our hands
and in hard fighting. As he spoke, he wielded his
spear with still greater fury, And when any Trojan made
towards the ships with fire, at Hector's bidding, he would
be on the lookout for him and drive at him

(39:18):
with his long spear. Twelve men did he thus kill
in hand to hand fight before the ships. End of
section fifteen,