Complete Works of Homer, page 23
Jove is against us, and accepts great Hector's sacrifice.
For I have never seen, nor heard, in one day, and by one,
So many high attempts well urged, as Hector's power hath done
Against the hapless Sons of Greece; being chiefly dear to Jove,
And without cause, being neither fruit of any Goddess' love,
Nor helpful God; and yet I fear the deepness of his hand,
Ere it be razed out of our thoughts, will many years withstand.
But, brother, hie thee to thy ships, and Idomen dis-ease,
With warlike Ajax; I will haste to grave Neleides,
Exhorting him to rise, and give the sacred watch command,
For they will specially embrace incitement at his hand,
And now his son their captain is, and Idomen's good friend,
Bold Merion, to whose discharge we did that charge commend."
“Command'st thou then," his brother asked, " that I shall tarry here
Attending thy resolved approach, or else the message bear,
And quickly make return to thee 1" He answered : " Rather stay,
Lest otherwise we fail to meet, for many a different way
Lies through our labyrinthian host. Speak ever as you go,
Command strong watch, from sire to son urge all t' observe the foe,
Familiarly, and with their praise, exciting every eye,
Not with unseasoned violence of proud authority.
We must our patience exercise, and work ourselves with them,
Jove in our birth combined such care to either's diadem."
Thus he dismissed him, knowing well his charge before he went.
Himself to Nestor, whom he found in bed within his tent,
By him his damask curets hung, his shield, a pair of darts,
His shining casque, his arming waist; in these he led the hearts
Of his apt soldiers to sharp war, not yielding to his years.
He quickly started from his bed, when to his watchful ears
Untimely feet told some approach; he took his lance in hand,
And spake to him : " Ho, what art thou that walk'st at midnight? Stand.
Is any wanting at the guards? Or lack'st thou any peer?
Speak, come not silent towards me; say, what intend'st thou here?"
He answered : " O Neleides, grave honour of our host,
'Tis Agamemnon thou mayst know, whom Jove afflicteth most
Of all the wretched men that live, and will, whilst any breath
Gives motion to my toiled limbs, and bears me up from death.
I walk the round thus, since sweet sleep cannot inclose mine eyes,
Nor shut those organs care breaks ope for our calamities.
My fear is vehement for the Greeks; my heart, the fount of heat,
With his extreme affects made cold, without my breast doth beat;
And therefore are my sinews struck with trembling; every part
Of what my friends may feel hath act in my dispersed heart.
But, if thou think'st of any course may to our good redound,
(Since neither thou thyself canst sleep) come, walk with me the round,
In way whereof we may confer, and look to every guard,
Lest watching long, and weariness with labouring so hard,
Drown their oppressed memories of what they have in charge.
The liberty we give the foe, alas, is over large,
Their camp is almost mixed with ours, and we have forth no spies
To learn their drifts; who may perchance this night intend surprise."
Grave Nestor answered: " Worthy king, let good hearts bear our ill.
Jove is not bound to perfect all this busy Hector's will;
But I am confidently given, his thoughts are much dismayed
With fear, lest our distress incite Achilles to our aid,
And therefore will not tempt his fate, nor ours, with farther pride.
But I will gladly follow thee, and stir up more beside;
Tydides, famous for his lance; Ulysses; Telamon;
And bold Phyleus' valiant heir. Or else, if any one
Would haste to call king Idomen, and Ajax, since their sail
Lie so removed, with much good speed, it might our haste avail.
But, though he be our honoured friend, thy brother I will blame,
Not fearing if I anger thee. It is his utter shame
He should commit all pains to thee, that should himself employ,
Past all our princes, in the care, and cure, of our annoy,
And be so far from needing spurs to these his due respects,
He should apply our spirits himself, with prayers and urged affects.
Necessity (a law to laws, and not to be endured)
Makes proof of all his faculties, not sound if not inured."
“Good father,'" said the king, " sometimes you know I have desired
You would improve his negligence, too oft to ease retired.
Nor is it for defect of spirit, or compass of his brain,
But with observing my estate, he thinks, he should abstain
Till I commanded, knowing my place; unwilling to assume,
For being my brother, anything might prove he did presume.
But now he rose before me far, and came t' avoid delays,
And I have sent him for the men yourself desired to raise.
Come, we shall find them at the guards we placed before tbe fort,
For thither my direction was they should with speed resort."
“Why now,'' said Nestor, " none will grudge, nor his just rule withstand,
Examples make excitements strong, and sweeten a command."
Thus put he on his arming truss, fair shoes upon his feet,
About him a mandilion, that did with buttons meet,
Of purple, large, and full of folds, curled with a warmful nap,
A garment that 'gainst cold in nights did soldiers use to wrap;
Then took he his strong lance in hand, made sharp with proved steel,
And went along the Grecian fleet. First at Ulysses' keel
He called, to break the silken fumes that did his senses bind.
The voice through th' organs of his ears straight rung about his mind.
Forth came Ulysses, asking him: " Why stir ye thus so late?
Sustain we such enforcive cause? " He answered, " Our estate
Doth force this perturbation; vouchsafe it, worthy friend,
And come, let us excite one more, to counsel of some end
To our extremes, by fight, or flight." He back, and took his shield,
And both took course to Diomed. They found him laid in field,
Far from his tent; his armour by; about him was dispread
A ring of soldiers, every man his shield beneath his head;
His spear fixed by him as he slept, the great end in the ground,
The point, that bristled the dark earth, cast a reflection round
Like pallid lightnings thrown from Jove; thus this heroe lay,
And under him a big ox-bide; .his royal head had stay
On arras hangings, rolled up; whereon he slept so fast,
That Nestor stirred him with his foot, and chid to see him cast
In such deep sleep in such deep woes, and asked him why he spent
All night in sleep, or did not hear the Trojans near his tent,
Their camp drawn close upon their dike, small space 'twixt foes and foes?
He, starting up, said, " Strange old man, that never tak'st repose,
Thou art too patient of our toil. Have we not men more young,
To be employed from king to king? Thine age hath too much wrong."
“Said like a king," replied the sire, " for I have sons renowned,
And there are many other men, might go this toilsome round;
But, you must see, imperious Need hath all at her command.
Now on the eager razor's edge, for life or death, we stand.
Then go (thou art the younger man) and if thou love my ease,
Call swift-foot Ajax up thyself, and young Phyleides."
This said, he on his shoulders cast a yellow lion's hide,
Big, and reached earth, then took his spear, and Nestor's will applied,
Raised the heroes, brought them both. All met; the round they went,
And found not any captain there asleep or negligent,
But waking, and in arms, gave ear to every lowest sound.
And as keen dogs keep sheep in cotes, or folds of hurdles bound,
And grin at every breach of air, envious of all that moves,
Still list'ning when the ravenous beast stalks through the hilly groves,
Then men and dosis stand on their guards, and mighty tumults make,
Sleep wanting weight to close one wink; so did the captains wake,
That kept the watch the whole sad night, all with intentive ear
Converted to the enemies' tents, that they might timely hear
If they were stirring to surprise; which Nestor joyed to see.
“Why so, dear sons, maintain your watch, sleep not a wink," said lie,
“Rather than make your fames the scorn of Trojan perjury."
This said, he foremost passed the dike, the others seconded,
Even all the kings that had been called to counsel from the bed,
And with them went Meriones, and Nestor's famous son;
For both were called by all the kings to consultation.
Beyond the dike they chose a place, near as they could from blood,
Where yet appeared the falls of some, and whence, the crimson flood
Of Grecian lives being poured on earth by Hector's furious chase,
He made retreat, when night repoured grim darkness in his face.
There sat they down, and Nestor spake : " O friends, remains not one
That will rely on his bold mind, and view the camp, alone,
Of the proud Trojans, to approve if any straggling mate
He can surprise near th' utmost tents, or learn the brief estate
Of their intentions for the time, and mix like one of them
With their outguards, expiscating if the renowned extreme
They force on us will serve their turns, with glory to retire,
Or still encamp thus far from Troy? This may he well inquire,
And make a brave retreat untouched; and this would win him fame
Of all men canopied with heaven, and every man of name
In all this host shall honour him with an enriching meed,
A black ewe and her sucking lamb (rewards that now exceed
All other best possessions, in all men's choice request)
And still be bidden by our kings to kind and royal feasts."
All reverenced one another's worth; and none would silence break,
Lest worst should take best place of speech; at last did Diomed speak:
“Nestor, thou ask'st if no man here have heart so well inclined
To work this stratagem on Troy? Yes, I have such a mind.
Yet, if some other prince would join, more probable would be
The strengthened hope of our exploit. Two may together see
(One going before another still) sly danger every way;
One spirit upon another works, and takes with firmer stay
The benefit of all his powers; for though one knew his course,
Yet might he well distrust himself, which th' other might enforce."
This offer every man assumed; all would with Diomed go;
The two Ajaces, Merion, and Menelaus too;
But Nestor's son enforced it much, a,nd hardy Ithacus
Who had to every vent'rous deed a mind as venturous.
Amongst all these thus spake the king: " Tydides, most beloved,
Choose thy associate worthily; a man the most approved
For use and strength in these extremes. Many thou seest stand forth;
But choose not thou by height of place, but by regard of worth,
Lest with thy nice respect of right to any man's degree,
Thou wrong'st thy venture, choosing one least fit to join with thee,
Although perhaps a greater king." This spake he with suspect
That Diomed, for honour's sake, his brother would select.
Then said Tydides : " Since thou giv'st my judgment leave to choose,
How can it so much truth forget Ulysses to refuse
That bears a mind so much exempt, and vigorous in th' effect
Of all high labours, and a man Pallas doth most respect?
We shall return through burning fire, if I with him combine,
He sets strength in so true a course with counsels so divine."
Ulysses, loth to be esteemed a lover of his praise,
With such exceptions humbled him as did him higher raise,
And said: " Tydides, praise me not more than free truth will bear,
Nor yet impair me; they are Greeks that give judicial ear.
But come, the morning hastes, the stars are forward in their course,
Two parts of night are past, the third is left t' employ our force."
Now borrowed they for haste some arms. Bold Thrasymedes lent
Advent'rous Diomed his sword (his own was at his tent),
His shield, and helm tough and well tanned, without or plume or crest,
And called a morion, archers' heads it used to invest.
Meriones lent Ithacus his quiver and his bow,
His helmet fashioned of a hide, the workman did bestow
Much labour in it, quilting it with bow-strings, and without
With snowy tusks of white-mouthed boars 'twas armed round about
Bight cunningly, and in the midst an arming cap was placed,
That with the fixed ends of the tusks his head might not be rased.
This, long since, by Autolycus was brought from Eleon,
When he laid waste Amyntor's house, that was Ormenus' son.
In Scandia, to Cytherius, surnamed Amphidamas,
Autolycus did give this helm; he, when he feasted was
By honoured Molus, gave it him, as present of a guest;
Molus to his son Merion did make it his bequest.
With this Ulysses armed his head; and thus they, both addressed,
Took leave of all the other kings. To them a glad ostent,
As they were ent'ring on their way, Minerva did present,
A hernshaw consecrate to her, which they could ill discern
Through sable night, but, by her clange, they knew it was a hern.
Ulysses joyed, and thus invoked : " Hear me, great seed of Jove,
That ever dost my labours grace with presence of thy love,
And all my motions dost attend! Still love me, sacred Dame,
Especially in this exploit, and so protect our fame
We both may safely make retreat, and thriftily employ
Our boldness in some great affair baneful to them of Troy."
Then prayed illustrate Diomed : " Vouchsafe me likewise ear,
O thou unconquered Queen of arms ' Be with thy favours near, '
As, to my royal father's steps, thou went'st a bounteous guide,
When th' Achives and the peers of Thebes he would have pacified,
Sent as the Greeks' ambassador, and left them at the flood
Of great iEsopus; whose retreat thou mad'st to swim in blood
Of his enambushed enemies; and, if thou so protect
My bold endeavours, to thy name an heifer most select,
That never yet was tamed with yoke, broad-fronted, one year old,
I'll burn in zealous sacrifice, and set the horns in gold."
The Goddess heard; and both the kings their dreadless passage bore
Through slaughter, slaughtered carcasses, arms, and discoloured gore.
Nor Hector let his princes sleep, but all to council called,
And asked," What one is here will vow, and keep it unappalled,
To have a gift fit for his deed, a chariot and two horse,
That pass for speed the rest of Greece? What one dares take this course,
For his renown, besides his gifts, to mix amongst the foe,
And learn if still they hold their guards, or with this overthrow
Determine flight, as being too weak to hold us longer war?"
All silent stood; at last stood forth one Dolon, that did dare
This dangerous work, Eumedes' heir, a herald much renowned.
This Dolon did in gold and brass exceedingly abound,
But in his form was quite deformed, yet passing swift tci run;
Amongst five sisters, he was left Eumedes' only son.
And he told Hector, his free heart would undertake t' explore
The Greeks' intentions," but," said he " thou shalt be sworn before,
By this thy sceptre, that the horse of great Aeacides,
And his strong chariot bound with brass, thou wilt (before all these)
Resign me as my valour's prize; and so I rest unmoved
To be thy spy, and not return before I have approved
(By venturing to Atrides' ship, where their consults are held)
If they resolve still to resist, or fly as quite expelled."
He put his sceptre in his hand, and called the thunder's God,
Saturnia's husband, to his oath, those horse should not be rode
By any other man than he, but he for ever joy
(To his renown) their services, for his good done to Troy.
Thus swore he, and forswore himself, yet made base Dolon bold;
Who on his shoulders hung his bow, and did about him fold
A white wolf's hide, and with a helm of weasels' skins did arm
His weasel's head, then took his dart, and never turned to harm
The Greeks with their related drifts; but being past the troops
Of horse and foot, he promptly runs, and as he runs he stoops
To undermine Achilles' horse. Ulysses straight did see,
And said to Diomed : " This man makes footing towards thee,
Out of the tents. I know not well, if he be used as spy
Bent to our fleet, or come to rob the slaughtered enemy.
But let us suffer him to come a little further on,
And then pursue him. If it chance, that we be overgone
By his more swiftness, urge him still to run upon our fleet,
And (lest he 'scape us to the town) still let thy javelin meet
With all his offers of retreat." Thus stepped they from the plain
