The Iliad by Homer

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Then Aineias leapt down with shield and long spear,

fearing lest perchance the Achaians might take from him the corpse; and strode over him like a lion confident in his strength,

and held before him his spear and the circle of his shield,

eager to slay whoe’er should come to face him,

crying his terrible cry.

Then Tydeides grasped in his hand a stone—a mighty deed—such as two men,

as men now are,

would not avail to lift;

yet he with ease wielded it all alone.

Therewith he smote Aineias on the hip where the thigh turneth in the hip joint,

and this men call the “cup-bone.”

So he crushed his cup-bone,

and brake both sinews withal,

and the jagged stone tore apart the skin.

Then the hero stayed fallen upon his knees and with stout hand leant upon the earth;

and the darkness of night veiled his eyes.

And now might Aineias king of men have perished,

but that Aphrodite daughter of Zeus was swift to mark.

About her dear son wound she her white arms,

and spread before his face a fold of her radiant vesture,

to be a covering from the darts,

lest any of the fleet-horsed Danaans might hurl the spear into his breast and take away his life.
 
So was she bearing her dear son away from battle;

but the son of Kapaneus forgat not the behest that Diomedes of the loud war-cry had laid upon him;

he refrained his own whole-hooved horses away from the tumult,

binding the reins tight to the chariot-rim,

and leapt on the sleek-coated horses of Aineias,

and drave them from the Trojans to the well-greaved Achaians,

and gave them to Deipylos his dear comrade whom he esteemed above all that were his age-fellows,

because he was like-minded with himself;

and bade him drive them to the hollow ships.

Then did the hero mount his own chariot and take the shining reins and forthwith drive his strong-hooved horses in quest of Tydeides, eagerly.

Now Tydeides had made onslaught with pitiless weapon on Kypris [Aphrodite],

knowing how she was a coward goddess and none of those that have mastery in battle of the warriors.

Now when he had pursued her through the dense throng and come on her,

then great-hearted Tydeus’ son thrust with his keen spear,

and leapt on her and wounded the skin of her weak hand;

straight through the ambrosial raiment that the Graces themselves had woven her pierced the dart into the flesh,

above the springing of the palm.

Then flowed the goddess’s immortal blood,

such ichor as floweth in the blessed gods;

for they eat no bread neither drink they gleaming wine,

wherefore they are bloodless and are named immortals.

And she with a great cry let fall her son:

him Phoebus Apollo took into his arms and saved him in a dusky cloud,

lest any of the fleet-horsed Danaans might hurl the spear into his breast and take away his life.

But over her Diomedes of the loud war-cry shouted afar:

“Refrain thee,

thou daughter of Zeus,

from war and fighting.

Is it not enough that thou beguilest feeble women?

But if in battle thou wilt mingle,

verily I deem that thou shalt shudder at the name of battle,

if thou hear it even afar off.”
 
So spake he,

and she departed in amaze and was sore troubled:

and wind-footed Iris took her and led her from the throng tormented with her pain,

and her fair skin was stained.

There found she impetuous Ares sitting,

on the battle’s left;

and his spear rested upon a cloud,

and his fleet steeds.

Then she fell on her knees and with instant prayer besought of her dear brother his golden-frontleted steeds:

“Dear brother,

save me and give me thy steeds,

that I may win to Olympus,

where is the habitation of the immortals.

Sorely am I afflicted with a wound wherewith a mortal smote me,

even Tydeides,

who now would fight even with father Zeus.”
 
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APHRODITE, WOUNDED IN THE HAND, CONDUCTED BY IRIS TO ARES.​
 
So spake she,

and Ares gave her his golden-frontleted steeds,

and she mounted on the chariot sore at heart.

By her side mounted Iris,

and in her hands grasped the reins and lashed the horses to start them;

and they flew onward nothing loth.

Thus soon they came to the habitation of the gods,

even steep Olympus.

There wind-footed fleet Iris loosed the horses from the chariot and stabled them,

and set ambrosial forage before them;

but fair Aphrodite fell upon Dione’s knees that was her mother.

She took her daughter in her arms and stroked her with her hand,

and spake and called upon her name:

“Who now of the sons of heaven,

dear child,

hath entreated thee thus wantonly,

as though thou wert a wrong-doer in the face of all?”
 
Then laughter-loving Aphrodite made answer to her:

“Tydeus’ son wounded me,

high-hearted Diomedes,

because I was saving from the battle my dear son Aineias,

who to me is dearest far of all men.

For no more is the fierce battle-cry for Trojans and Achaians,

but the Danaans now are fighting even the immortals.”
 
Then the fair goddess Dione answered her:

“Be of good heart,

my child,

and endure for all thy pain;

for many of us that inhabit the mansions of Olympus have suffered through men,

in bringing grievous woes one upon another.”
 
So saying with both hands she wiped the ichor from the arm;

her arm was comforted,

and the grievous pangs assuaged.

But Athene and Hera beheld,

and with bitter words provoked Zeus the son,

of Kronos.

Of them was the bright-eyed goddess Athene first to speak:

“Father Zeus,

wilt thou indeed be wroth with me whate’er I say?

Verily I ween that Kypris was urging some woman of Achaia to join her unto the Trojans whom she so marvellously loveth;

and stroking such an one of the fair-robed women of Achaia,

she tore upon the golden brooch her delicate hand.”
 
So spake she,

and the father of gods and men smiled,

and called unto him golden Aphrodite and said:

“Not unto thee,

my child,

are given the works of war;

but follow thou after the loving tasks of wedlock,

and to all these things shall fleet Ares and Athene look.”
 
Now while they thus spake in converse one with the other,

Diomedes of the loud war-cry leapt upon Aineias,

knowing full well that Apollo himself had spread his arms over him;

yet reverenced he not even the great god,

but still was eager to slay Aineias and strip from him his glorious armour.

So thrice he leapt on him,

fain to slay him,

and thrice Apollo beat back his glittering shield.

And when the fourth time he sprang at him like a god,

then Apollo the Far-darter spake to him with terrible shout:

“Think,

Tydeides,

and shrink,

nor desire to match thy spirit with gods;

seeing there is no comparison of the race of immortal gods and of men that walk upon the earth.”
 
So said he,

and Tydeides shrank a short space backwards,

to avoid the wrath of Apollo the Far-darter.

Then Apollo set Aineias away from the throng in holy Pergamos where his temple stood.

There Leto and Archer Artemis healed him in the mighty sanctuary,

and gave him glory;

but Apollo of the silver bow made a wraith like unto Aineias’ self,

and in such armour as his;

and over the wraith Trojans and goodly Achaians each hewed the others’ bucklers on their breasts,

their round shields and fluttering targes.
 
Then to impetuous Ares said Phoebus Apollo:

“Ares,

Ares,

blood-stained bane of mortals,

thou stormer of walls,

wilt thou not follow after this man and withdraw him from the battle,

this Tydeides,

who now would fight even with father Zeus?

First in close fight he wounded Kypris in her hand hard by the wrist,

and then sprang he upon myself like unto a god.”
 
So saying he sate himself upon the height of Pergamos,

and baleful Ares entered among the Trojan ranks and aroused them in the likeness of fleet Akamas,

captain of the Thracians.

On the heaven-nurtured sons of Priam he called saying:

“O ye sons of Priam,

the heaven-nurtured king,

how long will ye yet suffer your host to be slain of the Achaians?

Shall it be even until they fight about our well-builded gates?

Low lieth the warrior whom we esteemed like unto goodly Hector,

even Aineias son of Anchises great of heart.

Go to now,

let us save from the tumult our valiant comrade.”
 
So saying he aroused the spirit and soul of every man.

Thereat Sarpedon sorely chode noble Hector:

“Hector,

where now is the spirit gone that erst thou hadst?

Thou saidst forsooth that without armies or allies thou wouldest hold the city,

alone with thy sisters’ husbands and thy brothers;

but now can I not see any of these neither perceive them,

but they are cowering like hounds about a lion;

and we are fighting that are but allies among you.”
 
So spake Sarpedon,

and his word stung Hector to the heart,

Forthwith he leapt from his chariot in his armour to the earth,

and brandishing two keen spears went everywhere through the host,

urging them to fight,

and roused the dread battle-cry.

So they were rallied and stood to face the Achaians:

and the Argives withstood them in close array and fled not.

Even as a wind carrieth the chaff about the sacred threshing-floors when men are winnowing,

and the chaff-heaps grow white—so now grew the Achaians white with falling dust which in their midst the horses’ hooves beat up into the brazen heaven,

as fight was joined again,

and the charioteers wheeled round.

Thus bare they forward the fury of their hands:

and impetuous Ares drew round them a veil of night to aid the Trojans in the battle,

ranging everywhere.

And Apollo himself sent forth Aineias from his rich sanctuary and put courage in the heart of him,

shepherd of the hosts.

So Aineias took his place amid his comrades,

and they were glad to see him come among them alive and sound and full of valiant spirit.

Yet they questioned him not at all,

for all the toil forbade them that the god of the silver bow was stirring and Ares bane of men and Strife raging insatiably.
 
And on the other side the two Aiantes and Odysseus and Diomedes stirred the Danaans to fight;

yet these of themselves feared neither the Trojans’ violence nor assaults,

but stood like mists that Kronos’ son setteth in windless air on the mountain tops,

at peace,

while the might of the north wind sleepeth and of all the violent winds that blow with keen breath and scatter apart the shadowing clouds.

Even so the Danaans withstood the Trojans steadfastly and fled not.

And Atreides ranged through the throng exhorting instantly:

“My friends,

quit you like men and take heart of courage,

and shun dishonour in one another’s eyes amid the stress of battle.

Of men that shun dishonour more are saved than slain,

but for them that flee is neither glory found nor any safety.”
 
So saying he darted swiftly with his javelin and smote a foremost warrior,

even great-hearted Aineias’ comrade Deikoon son of Pergasos,

whom the Trojans held in like honour with Priam’s sons,

because he was swift to do battle amid the foremost.

Him lord Agamemnon smote with his dart upon the shield,

and it stayed not the spear,

but the point passed through,

so that he drave it through the belt into his nethermost belly:

and he fell with a crash and his armour clanged upon him.
 
Then did Aineias slay two champions of the Danaans,

even the sons of Diokles, Krethon and Orsilochos.

Like them,

two lions on the mountain tops are nurtured by their dam in the deep forest thickets;

and these harry the kine and goodly sheep and make havoc of the farmsteads of men,

till in their turn they too are slain at mel’s hands with the keen bronze;

in such wise were these twain vanquished at Aineias’ hands and fell like tall pine-trees.
 
But Menelaos dear to Ares had pity of them in their fall,

and strode through the forefront,

harnessed in flashing bronze,

brandishing his spear;

and Ares stirred his courage,

with intent that he might fall beneath Aineias’ hand.

But Antilochos,

great-hearted Nestor’s son,

beheld him,

and strode through the forefront;

because he feared exceedingly for the shepherd of the host,

lest aught befall him and disappoint them utterly of their labour.

So those two were now holding forth their hands and sharp spears each against the other,

eager to do battle;

when Antilochos came and stood hard by the shepherd of the host.

But Aineias faced them not,

keen warrior though he was,

when he beheld two men abiding side by side;

so these haled away the corpses to the Achaians’ host,

and laid the hapless twain in their comrades’ arms,

and themselves turned back and fought on amid the foremost.
 
But Hector marked them across the ranks,

and sprang on them with a shout,

and the battalions of the Trojans followed him in their might:

and Ares led them on and dread Enyo,

she bringing ruthless turmoil of war,

the while Ares wielded in his hands his monstrous spear,

and ranged now before Hector’s face,

and now behind.
 
Then Diomedes of the loud war-cry shuddered to behold him;

and even as a shiftless man crossing a great plain cometh on a swift-streaming river flowing on to the sea,

and seeing it boil with foam springeth backwards,

even so now Tydeides shrank back and spake to the host:

“Friends, how marvel we that noble Hector is a spearman and bold man of war!

Yet ever is there beside him some god that wardeth off destruction;

even as now Ares is there by him in likeness of a mortal man.

But with faces towards the Trojans still give ground backwards,

neither be desirous to fight amain with gods.”
 
Now the Argives before the face of Ares and mail-clad Hector neither turned them round about toward their black ships,

nor charged forward in battle,

but still fell backward,

when they heard of Ares amid the Trojans.

But when the white-armed goddess Hera marked them making havoc of the Argives in the press of battle,

anon she spake winged words to Athene:

“Out on it,

thou daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,

unwearied maiden!

Was it for naught we pledged our word to Menelaos,

that he should not depart till he had laid waste well-walled Ilios,

—if thus we let baleful Ares rage?

Go to now,

let us twain also take thought of impetuous valour.”
 
So said she,

and the bright-eyed goddess Athene disregarded not.

So Hera the goddess queen,

daughter of Kronos,

went her way to harness the gold-frontleted steeds.

And Athene,

daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,

cast down at her father’s threshold her woven vesture many-coloured,

that herself had wrought and her hands had fashioned,

and put on her the tunic of Zeus the cloud-gatherer,

and arrayed her in her armour for dolorous battle.

About her shoulders cast she the tasselled aegis terrible,

whereon is Panic as a crown all round about,

and Strife is therein and Valour and horrible Onslaught withal,

and therein is the dreadful monster’s Gorgon head,

dreadful and grim,

portent of aegis-bearing Zeus.

Upon her head set she the two-crested golden helm with fourfold plate,

bedecked with men-at-arms of a hundred cities.

Upon the flaming chariot set she her foot,

and grasped her heavy spear,

great and stout,

wherewith she vanquisheth the ranks of men,

even of heroes with whom she of the awful sire is wroth.

Then Hera swiftly smote the horses with the lash;

self-moving groaned upon their hinges the gates of heaven whereof the Hours are warders,

to whom is committed great heaven and Olympus,

whether to throw open the thick cloud or set it to.

There through the gates guided they their horses patient of the lash.

And they found the son of Kronos sitting apart from all the gods on the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus.

Then the white-armed goddess Hera stayed her horses and questioned the most high Zeus,

the son of Kronos,

and said:

“Father Zeus,

hast thou no indignation with Ares for these violent deeds?

How great and goodly a company of Achaians hath he destroyed recklessly and in unruly wise,

unto my sorrow.

But here in peace Kypris and Apollo of the silver bow take their pleasure,

having set on this mad one that knoweth not any law.

Father Zeus,

wilt thou at all be wroth with me if I smite Ares and chase him from the battle in sorry plight?”
 
And Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered and said to her:

“Go to now,

set upon him Athene driver of the spoil,

who most is wont to bring sore pain upon him.”
 
So spake he,

and the white-armed goddess Hera disregarded not,

and lashed her horses;

they nothing loth flew on between earth and starry heaven.

As far as a man seeth with his eyes into the haze of distance as he sitteth on a place of outlook and gazeth over the wine-dark sea,

so far leap the loudly neighing horses of the gods.

Now when they came to Troy and the two flowing rivers,

even to where Simoeis and Skamandros join their streams,

there the white-armed goddess Hera stayed her horses and loosed them from the car and poured thick mist round about them,

and Simoeis made ambrosia spring up for them to graze.

So the goddesses went their way with step like unto turtle-doves,

being fain to bring succour to the men of Argos.

And when they were now come where the most and most valiant stood,

thronging about mighty Diomedes tamer of horses,

in the semblance of ravening lions or wild boars whose strength is nowise feeble,

then stood the white-armed goddess Hera and shouted in the likeness of great-hearted Stentor with voice of bronze,

whose cry was loud as the cry of fifty other men:

“Fie upon you,

Argives,

base things of shame,

so brave in semblance!

While yet noble Achilles entered continually into battle,

then issued not the Trojans even from the Dardanian gate;

for they had dread of his terrible spear.

But now fight they far from the city at the hollow ships.”
 
So saying she aroused the spirit and soul of every man.

And to Tydeides’ side sprang the bright-eyed goddess Athene.

That lord she found beside his horses and chariot,

cooling the wound that Pandaros with his dart had pierced,

for his sweat vexed it by reason of the broad baldrick of his round shield;

therewith was he vexed and his arm grew weary,

so he was lifting up the baldrick and wiping away the dusky blood.

Then the goddess laid her hand on his horses’ yoke,

and said:

“Of a truth Tydeus begat a son little after his own likeness.

Tydeus was short of stature,

but a man of war.”
 
And stalwart Diomedes made answer to her and said:

“I know thee,

goddess daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus:

therefore with my whole heart will I tell thee my thought and hide it not.

Neither hath disheartening terror taken hold upon me,

nor any faintness,

but I am still mindful of thy behest that thou didst lay upon me.

Thou forbadest me to fight face to face with all the blessed gods,

save only if Zeus’ daughter Aphrodite should enter into battle,

then to wound her with the keen bronze.

Therefore do I now give ground myself and have bidden all the Argives likewise to gather here together;

for I discern Ares lording it in the fray.”
 
Then the bright-eyed goddess Athene answered him:

“Diomedes son of Tydeus,

thou joy of mine heart,

fear thou,

for that,

neither Ares nor any other of the immortals;

so great a helper am I to thee.

Go to now,

at Ares first guide thou thy whole-hooved horses,

and smite him hand to hand,

nor have any awe of impetuous Ares,

raving here,

a curse incarnate,

the renegade that of late in converse with me and Hera pledged him to fight against the Trojans and give succour to the Argives,

but now consorteth with the Trojans and hath forgotten these.”
 
So speaking,

with her hand she drew back Sthenelos and thrust him from the chariot to earth,

and instantly leapt he down;

so the goddess mounted the car by noble Diomedes’ side right eagerly.

The oaken axle creaked loud with its burden,

bearing the dread goddess and the man of might.

Then Athene grasped the whip and reins;

forthwith against Ares first guided she the whole-hooved horses.

Now he was stripping huge Periphas,

most valiant far of the Aitolians,

Ochesios’ glorious son.

Him was blood-stained Ares stripping;

and Athene donned the helm of Hades,

that terrible Ares might not behold her.

Now when Ares scourge of mortals beheld noble Diomedes,

he left huge Periphas lying there,

where at the first he had slain him and taken away his life,

and made straight at Diomedes tamer of horses.

Now when they were come nigh in onset on one another,

first Ares thrust over the yoke and horse’s reins with spear of bronze,

eager to take away his life.

But the bright-eyed goddess Athene with her hand seized the spear and thrust it up over the car,

to spend itself in vain.

Next Diomedes of the loud war-cry attacked with spear of bronze;

and Athene drave it home against Ares’ nethermost belly,

where his taslets were girt about him.

There smote he him and wounded him,

rending through his fair skin,

and plucked forth the spear again.

Then brazen Ares bellowed loud as nine thousand warriors or ten thousand cry in battle as they join in strife and fray.

Thereat trembling gat hold of Achaians and Trojans for fear,

so mightily bellowed Ares insatiate of battle.
 
Even as gloomy mist appeareth from the clouds when after beat a stormy wind ariseth,

even so to Tydeus’ son Diomedes brazen Ares appeared amid clouds,

faring to wide heaven.

Swiftly came he to the gods’ dwelling,

steep Olympus,

and sat beside Zeus son of Kronos with grief at heart,

and shewed the immortal blood flowing from the wound,

and piteously spake to him winged words:

“Father Zeus,

hast thou no indignation to behold these violent deeds?

For ever cruelly suffer we gods by one another’s devices,

in shewing men grace.

With thee are we all at variance,

because thou didst beget that reckless maiden and baleful,

whose thought is ever of iniquitous deeds.

For all the other gods that are in Olympus hearken to thee,

and we are subject every one;

only her thou chastenest not,

neither in deed nor word,

but settest her on,

because this pestilent one is thine own offspring.

Now hath she urged on Tydeus’ son,

even overweening Diomedes,

to rage furiously against the immortal gods.

Kypris first he wounded in close fight,

in the wrist of her hand,

and then assailed he me,

even me,

with the might of a god.

Howbeit my swift feet bare me away;

else had I long endured anguish there amid the grisly heaps of dead,

or else had lived strengthless from the smitings of the spear.”
 
Then Zeus the cloud-gatherer looked sternly at him and said:

“Nay, thou renegade,

sit not by me and whine.

Most hateful to me art thou of all gods that dwell in Olympus:

thou ever lovest strife and wars and battles.

Truly thy mother’s spirit is intolerable,

unyielding,

even Hera’s;

her can I scarce rule with words.

Therefore I deem that by her prompting thou art in this plight.

Yet will I no longer endure to see thee in anguish; mine offspring art thou,

and to me thy mother bare thee.”
 
So spake he and bade Paieon heal him.

And Paieon laid assuaging drugs upon the wound.

Even as fig juice maketh haste to thicken white milk,

that is liquid but curdleth speedily as a man stirreth,

even so swiftly healed he impetuous Ares.

And Hebe bathed him,

and clothed him in gracious raiment,

and he sate him down by Zeus son of Kronos,

glorying in his might.
 
Then fared the twain back to the mansion of great Zeus, even Hera and

Athene, having stayed Ares scourge of mortals from his man-slaying.
 

BOOK VI.​

How Diomedes and Glaukos,

being about to fight,

were known to each other,

and parted in friendliness.

And how Hector returning to the city bade farewell to Andromache his wife.
 
So was the dread fray of Trojans and Achaians left to itself,

and the battle swayed oft this way and that across the plain,

as they aimed against each other their bronze-shod javelins,

between Simoeis and the streams of Xanthos.
​
 
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Now had the Trojans been chased again by the Achaians,

dear to Ares,

up into Ilios,

in their weakness overcome,

but that Prism’s son Helenos,

far best of augurs,

stood by Aineias’ side and Hector’s,

and spake to them: “Aineias and Hector,

seeing that on you lieth the task of war in chief of Trojans and Lykians,

because for every issue ye are foremost both for fight and counsel,

stand ye your ground,

and range the host everywhither to rally them before the gates,

ere yet they fall fleeing in their womel’s arms,

and be made a rejoicing to the foe.

Then when ye have aroused all our battalions we will abide here and fight the Danaans,

though in sore weariness; for necessity presseth us hard: but thou,

Hector,

go into the city,

and speak there to thy mother and mine;

let her gather the aged wives to bright-eyed Athene’s temple in the upper city,

and with her key open the doors of the holy house; and let her lay the robe,

that seemeth to her the most gracious and greatest in her hall and far dearest unto herself,

upon the knees of beauteous-haired Athene;

and vow to her to sacrifice in her temple twelve sleek kine,

that have not felt the goad,

if she will have mercy on the city and the Trojans’ wives and little children.

So may she perchance hold back Tydeus’ son from holy Ilios,

the furious spearman,

the mighty deviser of rout,

whom in good sooth I deem to have proved himself mightiest of the Achaians.

Never in this wise feared we Achilles,

prince of men,

who they say is born of a goddess;

nay,

but he that we see is beyond measure furious;

none can match him for might.”
 
So spake he,

and Hector disregarded not his brother’s word,

but leapt forthwith from his chariot in his armour to earth,

and brandishing two sharp spears passed everywhere through the host,

rousing them to battle,

and stirred the dread war-cry.

So they were rallied and stood to face the Achaians,

and the Argives gave ground and ceased from slaughter,

and deemed that some immortal had descended from starry heaven to bring the Trojans succour,

in such wise rallied they.

Then Hector called to the Trojans with far-reaching shout:

“O high-souled Trojans and ye far-famed allies,

quit you like men,

my friends,

and take thought of impetuous courage,

while I depart to Ilios and bid the elders of the council and our wives pray to the gods and vow them hecatombs.”
 
So saying Hector of the glancing helm departed,

and the black hide beat on either side against his ankles and his neck,

even the rim that ran uttermost about his bossed shield.
 
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