The Iliad
Book XII
So the son of Menoetius was attending to the hurt of Eurypylus within the
tent, but the Argives and Trojans still fought desperately, nor were the
trench and the high wall above it, to keep the Trojans in check longer.
They had built it to protect their ships, and had dug the trench all round
it that it might safeguard both the ships and the rich spoils which they
had taken, but they had not offered hecatombs to the gods. It had been
built without the consent of the immortals, and therefore it did not last.
So long as Hector lived and Achilles nursed his anger, and so long as the
city of Priam remained untaken, the great wall of the Achaeans stood firm;
but when the bravest of the Trojans were no more, and many also of the
Argives, though some were yet left alive when, moreover, the city was sacked
in the tenth year, and the Argives had gone back with their ships to their
own country- then Neptune and Apollo took counsel to destroy the wall,
and they turned on to it the streams of all the rivers from Mount Ida into
the sea, Rhesus, Heptaporus, Caresus, Rhodius, Grenicus, Aesopus, and goodly
Scamander, with Simois, where many a shield and helm had fallen, and many
a hero of the race of demigods had bitten the dust. Phoebus Apollo turned
the mouths of all these rivers together and made them flow for nine days
against the wall, while Jove rained the whole time that he might wash it
sooner into the sea. Neptune himself, trident in hand, surveyed the work
and threw into the sea all the foundations of beams and stones which the
Achaeans had laid with so much toil; he made all level by the mighty stream
of the Hellespont, and then when he had swept the wall away he spread a
great beach of sand over the place where it had been. This done he turned
the rivers back into their old courses.
This was what Neptune and Apollo were to do in after time; but
as yet battle and turmoil were still raging round the wall till its timbers
rang under the blows that rained upon them. The Argives, cowed by the scourge
of Jove, were hemmed in at their ships in fear of Hector the mighty minister
of Rout, who as heretofore fought with the force and fury of a whirlwind.
As a lion or wild boar turns fiercely on the dogs and men that attack him,
while these form solid wall and shower their javelins as they face him-
his courage is all undaunted, but his high spirit will be the death of
him; many a time does he charge at his pursuers to scatter them, and they
fall back as often as he does so- even so did Hector go about among the
host exhorting his men, and cheering them on to cross the
trench.
But the horses dared not do so, and stood neighing upon its brink,
for the width frightened them. They could neither jump it nor cross it,
for it had overhanging banks all round upon either side, above which there
were the sharp stakes that the sons of the Achaeans had planted so close
and strong as a defence against all who would assail it; a horse, therefore,
could not get into it and draw his chariot after him, but those who were
on foot kept trying their very utmost. Then Polydamas went up to Hector
and said, "Hector, and you other captains of the Trojans and allies, it
is madness for us to try and drive our horses across the trench; it will
be very hard to cross, for it is full of sharp stakes, and beyond these
there is the wall. Our horses therefore cannot get down into it, and would
be of no use if they did; moreover it is a narrow place and we should come
to harm. If, indeed, great Jove is minded to help the Trojans, and in his
anger will utterly destroy the Achaeans, I would myself gladly see them
perish now and here far from Argos; but if they should rally and we are
driven back from the ships pell-mell into the trench there will be not
so much as a man get back to the city to tell the tale. Now, therefore,
let us all do as I say; let our squires hold our horses by the trench,
but let us follow Hector in a body on foot, clad in full armour, and if
the day of their doom is at hand the Achaeans will not be able to withstand
us."
Thus spoke Polydamas and his saying pleased Hector, who sprang
in full armour to the ground, and all the other Trojans, when they saw
him do so, also left their chariots. Each man then gave his horses over
to his charioteer in charge to hold them ready for him at the trench. Then
they formed themselves into companies, made themselves ready, and in five
bodies followed their leaders. Those that went with Hector and Polydamas
were the bravest and most in number, and the most determined to break through
the wall and fight at the ships. Cebriones was also joined with them as
third in command, for Hector had left his chariot in charge of a less valiant
soldier. The next company was led by Paris, Alcathous, and Agenor; the
third by Helenus and Deiphobus, two sons of Priam, and with them was the
hero Asius- Asius the son of Hyrtacus, whose great black horses of the
breed that comes from the river Selleis had brought him from Arisbe. Aeneas
the valiant son of Anchises led the fourth; he and the two sons of Antenor,
Archelochus and Acamas, men well versed in all the arts of war. Sarpedon
was captain over the allies, and took with him Glaucus and Asteropaeus
whom he deemed most valiant after himself- for he was far the best man
of them all. These helped to array one another in their ox-hide shields,
and then charged straight at the Danaans, for they felt sure that they
would not hold out longer and that they should themselves now fall upon
the ships.
The rest of the Trojans and their allies now followed the counsel
of Polydamas but Asius son of Hyrtacus would not leave his horses and his
esquire behind him; in his foolhardiness he took them on with him towards
the ships, nor did he fail to come by his end in consequence. Nevermore
was he to return to wind-beaten Ilius, exulting in his chariot and his
horses; ere he could do so, death of ill-omened name had overshadowed him
and he had fallen by the spear of Idomeneus the noble son of Deucalion.
He had driven towards the left wing of the ships, by which way the Achaeans
used to return with their chariots and horses from the plain. Hither he
drove and found the gates with their doors opened wide, and the great bar
down- for the gatemen kept them open so as to let those of their comrades
enter who might be flying towards the ships. Hither of set purpose did
he direct his horses, and his men followed him with a loud cry, for they
felt sure that the Achaeans would not hold out longer, and that they should
now fall upon the ships. Little did they know that at the gates they should
find two of the bravest chieftains, proud sons of the fighting Lapithae-
the one, Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, and the other Leonteus, peer
of murderous Mars. These stood before the gates like two high oak trees
upon the mountains, that tower from their wide-spreading roots, and year
after year battle with wind and rain- even so did these two men await the
onset of great Asius confidently and without flinching. The Trojans led
by him and by Iamenus, Orestes, Adamas the son of Asius, Thoon and Oenomaus,
raised a loud cry of battle and made straight for the wall, holding their
shields of dry ox-hide above their heads; for a while the two defenders
remained inside and cheered the Achaeans on to stand firm in the defence
of their ships; when, however, they saw that the Trojans were attacking
the wall, while the Danaans were crying out for help and being routed,
they rushed outside and fought in front of the gates like two wild boars
upon the mountains that abide the attack of men and dogs, and charging
on either side break down the wood all round them tearing it up by the
roots, and one can hear the clattering of their tusks, till some one hits
them and makes an end of them- even so did the gleaming bronze rattle about
their breasts, as the weapons fell upon them; for they fought with great
fury, trusting to their own prowess and to those who were on the wall above
them. These threw great stones at their assailants in defence of themselves
their tents and their ships. The stones fell thick as the flakes of snow
which some fierce blast drives from the dark clouds and showers down in
sheets upon the earth- even so fell the weapons from the hands alike of
Trojans and Achaeans. Helmet and shield rang out as the great stones rained
upon them, and Asius the son of Hyrtacus in his dismay cried aloud and
smote his two thighs. "Father Jove," he cried, "of a truth you too are
altogether given to lying. I made sure the Argive heroes could not withstand
us, whereas like slim-waisted wasps, or bees that have their nests in the
rocks by the wayside- they leave not the holes wherein they have built
undefended, but fight for their little ones against all who would take
them- even so these men, though they be but two, will not be driven from
the gates, but stand firm either to slay or be slain."
He spoke, but moved not the mind of Jove, whose counsel it then
was to give glory to Hector. Meanwhile the rest of the Trojans were fighting
about the other gates; I, however, am no god to be able to tell about all
these things, for the battle raged everywhere about the stone wall as it
were a fiery furnace. The Argives, discomfited though they were, were forced
to defend their ships, and all the gods who were defending the Achaeans
were vexed in spirit; but the Lapithae kept on fighting with might and
main.
Thereon Polypoetes, mighty son of Pirithous, hit Damasus with a
spear upon his cheek-pierced helmet. The helmet did not protect him, for
the point of the spear went through it, and broke the bone, so that the
brain inside was scattered about, and he died fighting. He then slew Pylon
and Ormenus. Leonteus, of the race of Mars, killed Hippomachus the son
of Antimachus by striking him with his spear upon the girdle. He then drew
his sword and sprang first upon Antiphates whom he killed in combat, and
who fell face upwards on the earth. After him he killed Menon, Iamenus,
and Orestes, and laid them low one after the other.
While they were busy stripping the armour from these heroes, the
youths who were led on by Polydamas and Hector (and these were the greater
part and the most valiant of those that were trying to break through the
wall and fire the ships) were still standing by the trench, uncertain what
they should do; for they had seen a sign from heaven when they had essayed
to cross it- a soaring eagle that flew skirting the left wing of their
host, with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons still alive and struggling
to escape. The snake was still bent on revenge, wriggling and twisting
itself backwards till it struck the bird that held it, on the neck and
breast; whereon the bird being in pain, let it fall, dropping it into the
middle of the host, and then flew down the wind with a sharp cry. The Trojans
were struck with terror when they saw the snake, portent of aegis-bearing
Jove, writhing in the midst of them, and Polydamas went up to Hector and
said, "Hector, at our councils of war you are ever given to rebuke me,
even when I speak wisely, as though it were not well, forsooth, that one
of the people should cross your will either in the field or at the council
board; you would have them support you always: nevertheless I will say
what I think will be best; let us not now go on to fight the Danaans at
their ships, for I know what will happen if this soaring eagle which skirted
the left wing of our with a monstrous blood-red snake in its talons (the
snake being still alive) was really sent as an omen to the Trojans on their
essaying to cross the trench. The eagle let go her hold; she did not succeed
in taking it home to her little ones, and so will it be- with ourselves;
even though by a mighty effort we break through the gates and wall of the
Achaeans, and they give way before us, still we shall not return in good
order by the way we came, but shall leave many a man behind us whom the
Achaeans will do to death in defence of their ships. Thus would any seer
who was expert in these matters, and was trusted by the people, read the
portent."
Hector looked fiercely at him and said, "Polydamas, I like not
of your reading. You can find a better saying than this if you will. If,
however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed
you of your reason. You would have me pay no heed to the counsels of Jove,
nor to the promises he made me- and he bowed his head in confirmation;
you bid me be ruled rather by the flight of wild-fowl. What care I whether
they fly towards dawn or dark, and whether they be on my right hand or
on my left? Let us put our trust rather in the counsel of great Jove, king
of mortals and immortals. There is one omen, and one only- that a man should
fight for his country. Why are you so fearful? Though we be all of us slain
at the ships of the Argives you are not likely to be killed yourself, for
you are not steadfast nor courageous. If you will. not fight, or would
talk others over from doing so, you shall fall forthwith before my
spear."
With these words he led the way, and the others followed after
with a cry that rent the air. Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the blast
of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards
the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and gave victory
to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their own might and to the
signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the
Achaeans. They tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew
the battlements; they upheaved the buttresses, which the Achaeans had set
in front of the wall in order to support it; when they had pulled these
down they made sure of breaking through the wall, but the Danaans still
showed no sign of giving ground; they still fenced the battlements with
their shields of ox-hide, and hurled their missiles down upon the foe as
soon as any came below the wall.
The two Ajaxes went about everywhere on the walls cheering on the
Achaeans, giving fair words to some while they spoke sharply to any one
whom they saw to be remiss. "My friends," they cried, "Argives one and
all- good bad and indifferent, for there was never fight yet, in which
all were of equal prowess- there is now work enough, as you very well know,
for all of you. See that you none of you turn in flight towards the ships,
daunted by the shouting of the foe, but press forward and keep one another
in heart, if it may so be that Olympian Jove the lord of lightning will
vouchsafe us to repel our foes, and drive them back towards the
city."
Thus did the two go about shouting and cheering the Achaeans on.
As the flakes that fall thick upon a winter′s day, when Jove is minded
to snow and to display these his arrows to mankind- he lulls the wind to
rest, and snows hour after hour till he has buried the tops of the high
mountains, the headlands that jut into the sea, the grassy plains, and
the tilled fields of men; the snow lies deep upon the forelands, and havens
of the grey sea, but the waves as they come rolling in stay it that it
can come no further, though all else is wrapped as with a mantle so heavy
are the heavens with snow- even thus thickly did the stones fall on one
side and on the other, some thrown at the Trojans, and some by the Trojans
at the Achaeans; and the whole wall was in an uproar.
Still the Trojans and brave Hector would not yet have broken down
the gates and the great bar, had not Jove turned his son Sarpedon against
the Argives as a lion against a herd of horned cattle. Before him he held
his shield of hammered bronze, that the smith had beaten so fair and round,
and had lined with ox hides which he had made fast with rivets of gold
all round the shield; this he held in front of him, and brandishing his
two spears came on like some lion of the wilderness, who has been long
famished for want of meat and will dare break even into a well-fenced homestead
to try and get at the sheep. He may find the shepherds keeping watch over
their flocks with dogs and spears, but he is in no mind to be driven from
the fold till he has had a try for it; he will either spring on a sheep
and carry it off, or be hit by a spear from strong hand- even so was Sarpedon
fain to attack the wall and break down its battlements. Then he said to
Glaucus son of Hippolochus, "Glaucus, why in Lycia do we receive especial
honour as regards our place at table? Why are the choicest portions served
us and our cups kept brimming, and why do men look up to us as though we
were gods? Moreover we hold a large estate by the banks of the river Xanthus,
fair with orchard lawns and wheat-growing land; it becomes us, therefore,
to take our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of
the fight, that one may say to another, Our princes in Lycia eat the fat
of the land and drink best of wine, but they are fine fellows; they fight
well and are ever at the front in battle.′ My good friend, if, when we
were once out of this fight, we could escape old age and death thenceforward
and for ever, I should neither press forward myself nor bid you do so,
but death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no man
can elude him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for ourselves,
or yield it to another."
Glaucus heeded his saying, and the pair forthwith led on the host
of Lycians. Menestheus son of Peteos was dismayed when he saw them, for
it was against his part of the wall that they came- bringing destruction
with them; he looked along the wall for some chieftain to support his comrades
and saw the two Ajaxes, men ever eager for the fray, and Teucer, who had
just come from his tent, standing near them; but he could not make his
voice heard by shouting to them, so great an uproar was there from crashing
shields and helmets and the battering of gates with a din which reached
the skies. For all the gates had been closed, and the Trojans were hammering
at them to try and break their way through them. Menestheus, therefore,
sent Thootes with a message to Ajax. "Run, good Thootes," said and call
Ajax, or better still bid both come, for it will be all over with us here
directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon us, men who have ever fought
desperately heretofore. But if the have too much on their hands to let
them come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and let Teucer the
famous bowman come with him."
The messenger did as he was told, and set off running along the
wall of the Achaeans. When he reached the Ajaxes he said to them, "Sirs,
princes of the Argives, the son of noble Peteos bids you come to him for
a while and help him. You had better both come if you can, or it will be
all over with him directly; the leaders of the Lycians are upon him, men
who have ever fought desperately heretofore; if you have too much on your
hands to let both come, at any rate let Ajax son of Telamon do so, and
let Teucer the famous bowman come with him."
Great Ajax, son of Telamon, heeded the message, and at once spoke
to the son of Oileus. "Ajax," said he, "do you two, yourself and brave
Lycomedes, stay here and keep the Danaans in heart to fight their hardest.
I will go over yonder, and bear my part in the fray, but I will come back
here at once as soon as I have given them the help they
need."
With this, Ajax son of Telamon set off, and Teucer his brother
by the same father went also, with Pandion to carry Teucer′s bow. They
went along inside the wall, and when they came to the tower where Menestheus
was (and hard pressed indeed did they find him) the brave captains and
leaders of the Lycians were storming the battlements as it were a thick
dark cloud, fighting in close quarters, and raising the battle-cry
aloud.
First, Ajax son of Telamon killed brave Epicles, a comrade of Sarpedon,
hitting him with a jagged stone that lay by the battlements at the very
top of the wall. As men now are, even one who is in the bloom of youth
could hardly lift it with his two hands, but Ajax raised it high aloft
and flung it down, smashing Epicles′ four-crested helmet so that the bones
of his head were crushed to pieces, and he fell from the high wall as though
he were diving, with no more life left in him. Then Teucer wounded Glaucus
the brave son of Hippolochus as he was coming on to attack the wall. He
saw his shoulder bare and aimed an arrow at it, which made Glaucus leave
off fighting. Thereon he sprang covertly down for fear some of the Achaeans
might see that he was wounded and taunt him. Sarpedon was stung with grief
when he saw Glaucus leave him, still he did not leave off fighting, but
aimed his spear at Alcmaon the son of Thestor and hit him. He drew his
spear back again Alcmaon came down headlong after it with his bronzed armour
rattling round him. Then Sarpedon seized the battlement in his strong hands,
and tugged at it till it an gave way together, and a breach was made through
which many might pass.
Ajax and Teucer then both of them attacked him. Teucer hit him
with an arrow on the band that bore the shield which covered his body,
but Jove saved his son from destruction that he might not fall by the ships′
sterns. Meanwhile Ajax sprang on him and pierced his shield, but the spear
did not go clean through, though it hustled him back that he could come
on no further. He therefore retired a little space from the battlement,
yet without losing all his ground, for he still thought to cover himself
with glory. Then he turned round and shouted to the brave Lycians saying,
"Lycians, why do you thus fail me? For all my prowess I cannot break through
the wall and open a way to the ships single-handed. Come close on behind
me, for the more there are of us the better."
The Lycians, shamed by his rebuke, pressed closer round him who
was their counsellor their king. The Argives on their part got their men
in fighting order within the wall, and there was a deadly struggle between
them. The Lycians could not break through the wall and force their way
to the ships, nor could the Danaans drive the Lycians from the wall now
that they had once reached it. As two men, measuring-rods in hand, quarrel
about their boundaries in a field that they own in common, and stickle
for their rights though they be but in a mere strip, even so did the battlements
now serve as a bone of contention, and they beat one another′s round shields
for their possession. Many a man′s body was wounded with the pitiless bronze,
as he turned round and bared his back to the foe, and many were struck
clean through their shields; the wall and battlements were everywhere deluged
with the blood alike of Trojans and of Achaeans. But even so the Trojans
could not rout the Achaeans, who still held on; and as some honest hard-working
woman weighs wool in her balance and sees that the scales be true, for
she would gain some pitiful earnings for her little ones, even so was the
fight balanced evenly between them till the time came when Jove gave the
greater glory to Hector son of Priam, who was first to spring towards the
wall of the Achaeans. As he did so, he cried aloud to the Trojans, "Up,
Trojans, break the wall of the Argives, and fling fire upon their
ships."
Thus did he hound them on, and in one body they rushed straight
at the wall as he had bidden them, and scaled the battlements with sharp
spears in their hands. Hector laid hold of a stone that lay just outside
the gates and was thick at one end but pointed at the other; two of the
best men in a town, as men now are, could hardly raise it from the ground
and put it on to a waggon, but Hector lifted it quite easily by himself,
for the son of scheming Saturn made it light for him. As a shepherd picks
up a ram′s fleece with one hand and finds it no burden, so easily did Hector
lift the great stone and drive it right at the doors that closed the gates
so strong and so firmly set. These doors were double and high, and were
kept closed by two cross-bars to which there was but one key. When he had
got close up to them, Hector strode towards them that his blow might gain
in force and struck them in the middle, leaning his whole weight against
them. He broke both hinges, and the stone fell inside by reason of its
great weight. The portals re-echoed with the sound, the bars held no longer,
and the doors flew open, one one way, and the other the other, through
the force of the blow. Then brave Hector leaped inside with a face as dark
as that of flying night. The gleaming bronze flashed fiercely about his
body and he had tow spears in his hand. None but a god could have withstood
him as he flung himself into the gateway, and his eyes glared like fire.
Then he turned round towards the Trojans and called on them to scale the
wall, and they did as he bade them- some of them at once climbing over
the wall, while others passed through the gates. The Danaans then fled
panic-stricken towards their ships, and all was uproar and
confusion.
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