The Iliad of Homer. Homer

We will hereafter mend it, and may heaven

       Obliterate in thine heart its whole effect!

      He ceased, and ranging still along the line,

       The son of Tydeus, Diomede, perceived,

       Heroic Chief, by chariots all around435

       Environ'd, and by steeds, at side of whom

       Stood Sthenelus, the son of Capaneus.

       Him also, Agamemnon, King of men,

       In accents of asperity reproved.

      Ah, son of Tydeus, Chief of dauntless heart440

       And of equestrian fame! why standest thou

       Appall'd, and peering through the walks of war?

       So did not Tydeus. In the foremost fight

       His favorite station was, as they affirm

       Who witness'd his exploits; I never saw445

       Or met him, but by popular report

       He was the bravest warrior of his day.

       Yet came he once, but not in hostile sort,

       To fair Mycenæ, by the godlike prince

       Attended, Polynices, at what time450

       The host was called together, and the siege

       Was purposed of the sacred city Thebes.

       Earnest they sued for an auxiliar band,

       Which we had gladly granted, but that Jove

       By unpropitious tokens interfered.455

       So forth they went, and on the reedy banks

       099 Arriving of Asopus, there thy sire

       By designation of the Greeks was sent

       Ambassador, and enter'd Thebes. He found

       In Eteocles' palace numerous guests,460

       The sons of Cadmus feasting, among whom,

       Although a solitary stranger, stood

       Thy father without fear, and challenged forth

       Their best to cope with him in manly games.

       Them Tydeus vanquish'd easily, such aid465

       Pallas vouchsafed him. Then the spur-arm'd race

       Of Cadmus was incensed, and fifty youths

       In ambush close expected his return.

       Them, Lycophontes obstinate in fight,

       Son of Autophonus, and Mæon, son470

       Of Hæmon, Chief of godlike stature, led.

       Those also Tydeus slew; Mæon except,

       (Whom, warned from heaven, he spared, and sent him home

       With tidings of the rest) he slew them all.

       Such was Ætolian Tydeus; who begat475

       A son in speech his better, not in arms.

      He ended, and his sovereign's awful voice

       Tydides reverencing, nought replied;

       But thus the son of glorious Capaneus.

      Atrides, conscious of the truth, speak truth.480

       We with our sires compared, superior praise

       Claim justly.[15] We, confiding in the aid Of Jove, and in propitious signs from heaven, Led to the city consecrate to Mars Our little host, inferior far to theirs,485 And took seven-gated Thebes, under whose walls Our fathers by their own imprudence fell. Their glory, then, match never more with ours.

      He spake, whom with a frowning brow the brave

       Tydides answer'd. Sthenelus, my friend!490

       100 I give thee counsel. Mark it. Hold thy peace.

       If Agamemnon, who hath charge of all,

       Excite his well-appointed host to war,

       He hath no blame from me. For should the Greeks

       (Her people vanquished) win imperial Troy,495

       The glory shall be his; or, if his host

       O'erpower'd in battle perish, his the shame.

       Come, therefore; be it ours to rouse at once

       To action all the fury of our might.

      He said, and from his chariot to the plain500

       Leap'd ardent; rang the armor on the breast

       Of the advancing Chief; the boldest heart

       Had felt emotion, startled at the sound.

      As when the waves by Zephyrus up-heaved

       Crowd fast toward some sounding shore, at first,505

       On the broad bosom of the deep their heads

       They curl on high, then breaking on the land

       Thunder, and o'er the rocks that breast the flood

       Borne turgid, scatter far the showery spray;

       So moved the Greeks successive, rank by rank,510

       And phalanx after phalanx, every Chief

       His loud command proclaiming, while the rest,

       As voice in all those thousands none had been

       Heard mute; and, in resplendent armor clad,

       With martial order terrible advanced.515

       Not so the Trojans came. As sheep, the flock

       Of some rich man, by thousands in his court

       Penn'd close at milking time, incessant bleat,

       Loud answering all their bleating lambs without,

       Such din from Ilium's wide-spread host arose.520

       Nor was their shout, nor was their accent one,

       But mingled languages were heard of men

       From various climes. These Mars to battle roused,

       Those Pallas azure-eyed; nor Terror thence

       Nor Flight was absent, nor insatiate Strife,525

       Sister and mate of homicidal Mars,

       Who small at first, but swift to grow, from earth

       Her towering crest lifts gradual to the skies.

       101 She, foe alike to both, the brands dispersed

       Of burning hate between them, and the woes530

       Enhanced of battle wheresoe'er she pass'd.

      And now the battle join'd. Shield clash'd with shield[16] And spear with spear, conflicting corselets rang, Boss'd bucklers met, and tumult wild arose. Then, many a yell was heard, and many a shout535 Loud intermix'd, the slayer o'er the maim'd Exulting, and the field was drench'd with blood. As when two winter torrents rolling down The mountains, shoot their floods through gulleys huge Into one gulf below, station'd remote540 The shepherd in the uplands hears the roar; Such was the thunder of the mingling hosts. And first, Antilochus a Trojan Chief Slew Echepolus, from Thalysias sprung, Contending valiant in the van of Troy.545 Him smiting on his crested casque, he drove The brazen lance into his front, and pierced The bones within; night overspread his eyes, And in fierce battle, like a tower, he fell. Him fallen by both feet Calchodon's son550 Seized, royal Elephenor, leader brave Of the Abantes, and in haste to strip His armor, drew him from the fight aside. But short was that attempt. Him so employ'd Dauntless Agenor mark'd, and as he stoop'd,555 In his unshielded flank a pointed spear Implanted deep; he languid sunk and died. So Elephenor fell, for whom arose Sharp conflict; Greeks and Trojans mutual flew Like wolves to battle, and man grappled man.560 102 Then Telamonian Ajax, in his prime Of youthful vigor Simöisius slew,[17] Son of Anthemion. Him on Simoïs' banks His mother bore, when with her parents once She came from Ida down to view the flocks,565