The Iliad: Book 11 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIBHJKLCAMNCA OPQARSTEQUAVEICSIFWX PYZA2B2FDAC2QSD2E2AP F2G2EPH2I2RJ2FAFK2EL 2SM2CSN2O2QSP2BFPQ2R 2S2PFR2CCPT2RR2U2EV2 R2IFCPMAJ2RT2AM2R2W2 X2M2CQEY2Z2CPIEFFAIR 2R2QIR2QR2A3UAB3C3PP PPAD3C3B3E3B3CCB3FB3 CR2QB3CFPB3FE3FAF3B3 C3FB3B3B3B3B3V2B3R2B 3R2AAR2B3G3B3CB3FFC3 A2B3B3FPAR2A2B3PR2PR 2ECR2PR2B3H3R2FR2R2R 2FR2B3BPPB3I3R2FAR2V 2R2B3JAQPR2HAECPB3R2 B3R2CB3R2R2R2B3J3APA EB3B3B3CR2QPR2PR2V2C 3PV2HEAAB3AR2R2B3FPA B3B3B3B3B3FB3R2B3K3Q B3B3B3B3B3C3CB3R2R2A CFB3C3AJ2B3F3APR2R2B 3FQX2QAPB3B3AB3PG3R2 PB3B3V2V2R2EU2R2B3FB 3R2HL3B3R2PEB3B3FR2B 3QAA2K3B3R2EEB3BB3R2 G3R2G3FB3PM3QQJ2R2R2 R2B3B3R2A2B3R2AB3CB3 PH3R2N3FPAO3G3QAB3AR 2R2B3B3ER2C3EEER2R2P PFB3AP3B3ER2B3FB3QJ2 Q3B3G3B3CB3R3R2R2BR2 PR2R2FPAB3G3J2CEU2PC 3CR2PFB3BV2EBC3B3R2P CB3S3R2B3R2B3B3R2PAR 2R2B3FT3EB3FPB3R2R3P T3PQB3AB3C3FB3B3AR2A R2B3V2B3PFCB3U3EJV3B 3QPCPCB3B3EB3B3B3CER 2B3EAAFFFFR2QCFR2J2R 2B3R2EAB3PC3AR2B3B3P B3B3B3B3R2B3AW3FR2C3 R2FFER2PBB3B3V2B3R2R 2B3EAAFQR2PCB3R2EP3E B3B3B3R2ACN2B3PPB3B3 AB3EFFFB3J2X3ER2B3B3 PQQCB3PFC3B3R2Y3B3B3 FR2R2AEPER2PR2EPC3B3 B3B3QPR2AR2EB3AR2B3B 3B3R2B3EEZ3R2PAPR2R2 PB3AFR2QAR2B3EA4PR2V 3AC3

And now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus harbinger ofA
light alike to mortals and immortals Jove sent fierce Discord withB
the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans SheC
took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses' ship which wasD
middlemost of all so that her voice might carry farthest on eitherE
side on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon and onF
the other towards those of Achilles for these two heroesG
well assured of their own strength had valorously drawn up theirH
ships at the two ends of the line There she took her stand andI
raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the Achaeans withB
courage giving them heart to fight resolutely and with all theirH
might so that they had rather stay there and do battle than go homeJ
in their shipsK
The son of Atreus shouted aloud and bade the Argives gird themselvesL
for battle while he put on his armour First he girded his goodlyC
greaves about his legs making them fast with ankle clasps ofA
silver and about his chest he set the breastplate which Cinyras hadM
once given him as a guest gift It had been noised abroad as far asN
Cyprus that the Achaeans were about to sail for Troy and therefore heC
gave it to the king It had ten courses of dark cyanus twelve ofA
gold and ten of tin There were serpents of cyanus that rearedO
themselves up towards the neck three upon either side like theP
rainbows which the son of Saturn has set in heaven as a sign to mortalQ
men About his shoulders he threw his sword studded with bosses ofA
gold and the scabbard was of silver with a chain of gold wherewith toR
hang it He took moreover the richly dight shield that covered hisS
body when he was in battle fair to see with ten circles of bronzeT
running all round see wit it On the body of the shield there wereE
twenty bosses of white tin with another of dark cyanus in the middleQ
this last was made to show a Gorgon's head fierce and grim with RoutU
and Panic on either side The band for the arm to go through was ofA
silver on which there was a writhing snake of cyanus with three headsV
that sprang from a single neck and went in and out among one anotherE
On his head Agamemnon set a helmet with a peak before and behind andI
four plumes of horse hair that nodded menacingly above it then heC
grasped two redoubtable bronze shod spears and the gleam of hisS
armour shot from him as a flame into the firmament while Juno andI
Minerva thundered in honour of the king of rich MyceneF
Every man now left his horses in charge of his charioteer to holdW
them in readiness by the trench while he went into battle on footX
clad in full armour and a mighty uproar rose on high into theP
dawning The chiefs were armed and at the trench before the horses gotY
there but these came up presently The son of Saturn sent a portentZ
of evil sound about their host and the dew fell red with blood forA2
he was about to send many a brave man hurrying down to HadesB2
The Trojans on the other side upon the rising slope of the plainF
were gathered round great Hector noble Polydamas Aeneas who wasD
honoured by the Trojans like an immortal and the three sons ofA
Antenor Polybus Agenor and young Acamas beauteous as a godC2
Hector's round shield showed in the front rank and as some banefulQ
star that shines for a moment through a rent in the clouds and isS
again hidden beneath them even so was Hector now seen in the frontD2
ranks and now again in the hindermost and his bronze armour gleamedE2
like the lightning of aegis bearing JoveA
And now as a band of reapers mow swathes of wheat or barley upon aP
rich man's land and the sheaves fall thick before them even so didF2
the Trojans and Achaeans fall upon one another they were in no moodG2
for yielding but fought like wolves and neither side got the betterE
of the other Discord was glad as she beheld them for she was theP
only god that went among them the others were not there but stayedH2
quietly each in his own home among the dells and valleys of OlympusI2
All of them blamed the son of Saturn for wanting to Live victory toR
the Trojans but father Jove heeded them not he held aloof fromJ2
all and sat apart in his all glorious majesty looking down uponF
the city of the Trojans the ships of the Achaeans the gleam ofA
bronze and alike upon the slayers and on the slainF
Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning their dartsK2
rained thick on one another and the people perished but as the hourE
drew nigh when a woodman working in some mountain forest will getL2
his midday meal for he has felled till his hands are weary he isS
tired out and must now have food then the Danaans with a cry thatM2
rang through all their ranks broke the battalions of the enemyC
Agamemnon led them on and slew first Bienor a leader of hisS
people and afterwards his comrade and charioteer Oileus who sprangN2
from his chariot and was coming full towards him but Agamemnon struckO2
him on the forehead with his spear his bronze visor was of no availQ
against the weapon which pierced both bronze and bone so that hisS
brains were battered in and he was killed in full fightP2
Agamemnon stripped their shirts from off them and left them withB
their breasts all bare to lie where they had fallen He then went onF
to kill Isus and Antiphus two sons of Priam the one a bastard theP
other born in wedlock they were in the same chariot the bastardQ2
driving while noble Antiphus fought beside him Achilles had onceR2
taken both of them prisoners in the glades of Ida and had boundS2
them with fresh withes as they were shepherding but he had taken aP
ransom for them now however Agamemnon son of Atreus smote Isus inF
the chest above the nipple with his spear while he struck AntiphusR2
hard by the ear and threw him from his chariot Forthwith heC
stripped their goodly armour from off them and recognized them for heC
had already seen them at ships when Achilles brought them in from IdaP
As a lion fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his greatT2
jaws robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back toR
his lair the hind can do nothing for them even though she be closeR2
by for she is in an agony of fear and flies through the thickU2
forest sweating and at her utmost speed before the mighty monsterE
so no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus for theyV2
were themselves flying panic before the ArgivesR2
Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus Pisander andI
brave Hippolochus It was Antimachus who had been foremost inF
preventing Helen's being restored to Menelaus for he was largelyC
bribed by Alexandrus and now Agamemnon took his two sons both in theP
same chariot trying to bring their horses to a stand for they hadM
lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with fear The son ofA
Atreus sprang upon them like a lion and the pair besought him fromJ2
their chariot Take us alive they cried son of Atreus and youR
shall receive a great ransom for us Our father Antimachus has greatT2
store of gold bronze and wrought iron and from this he will satisfyA
you with a very large ransom should he hear of our being alive atM2
the ships of the AchaeansR2
With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king butW2
they heard no pitiful answer in return If said Agamemnon you areX2
sons of Antimachus who once at a council of Trojans proposed thatM2
Menelaus and Ulysses who had come to you as envoys should beC
killed and not suffered to return you shall now pay for the foulQ
iniquity of your fatherE
As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earthY2
smiting him on the chest with his spear so that he lay face uppermostZ2
upon the ground Hippolochus fled but him too did Agamemnon smite heC
cut off his hands and his head which he sent rolling in among theP
crowd as though it were a ball There he let them both lie andI
wherever the ranks were thickest thither he flew while the otherE
Achaeans followed Foot soldiers drove the foot soldiers of the foe inF
rout before them and slew them horsemen did the like by horsemenF
and the thundering tramp of the horses raised a cloud of dust frim offA
the plain King Agamemnon followed after ever slaying them andI
cheering on the Achaeans As when some mighty forest is all ablazeR2
the eddying gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thicketsR2
shrivel and are consumed before the blast of the flame even so fellQ
the heads of the flying Trojans before Agamemnon son of Atreus andI
many a noble pair of steeds drew an empty chariot along the highwaysR2
of war for lack of drivers who were lying on the plain more usefulQ
now to vultures than to their wivesR2
Jove drew Hector away from the darts and dust with the carnageA3
and din of battle but the son of Atreus sped onwards calling outU
lustily to the Danaans They flew on by the tomb of old Ilus son ofA
Dardanus in the middle of the plain and past the place of the wildB3
fig tree making always for the city the son of Atreus still shoutingC3
and with hands all bedrabbled in gore but when they had reached theP
Scaean gates and the oak tree there they halted and waited for theP
others to come up Meanwhile the Trojans kept on flying over theP
middle of the plain like a herd cows maddened with fright when aP
lion has attacked them in the dead of night he springs on one ofA
them seizes her neck in the grip of his strong teeth and then laps upD3
her blood and gorges himself upon her entrails even so did KingC3
Agamemnon son of Atreus pursue the foe ever slaughtering the hindmostB3
as they fled pell mell before him Many a man was flung headlongE3
from his chariot by the hand of the son of Atreus for he wieldedB3
his spear with furyC
But when he was just about to reach the high wall and the cityC
the father of gods and men came down from heaven and took his seatB3
thunderbolt in hand upon the crest of many fountained Ida He thenF
told Iris of the golden wings to carry a message for him Go saidB3
he fleet Iris and speak thus to Hector say that so long as heC
sees Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the Trojan ranksR2
he is to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt of the battleQ
but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrow and takes toB3
his chariot then will I vouchsafe him strength to slay till heC
reach the ships and night falls at the going down of the sunF
Iris hearkened and obeyed Down she went to strong Ilius from theP
crests of Ida and found Hector son of Priam standing by his chariotB3
and horses Then she said Hector son of Priam peer of gods inF
counsel father Jove has sent me to bear you this message so longE3
as you see Agamemnon heading his men and making havoc of the TrojanF
ranks you are to keep aloof and bid the others bear the brunt ofA
the battle but when Agamemnon is wounded either by spear or arrowF3
and takes to his chariot then will Jove vouchsafe you strength toB3
slay till you reach the ships and till night falls at the goingC3
down of the sunF
When she had thus spoken Iris left him and Hector sprang full armedB3
from his chariot to the ground brandishing his spear as he went aboutB3
everywhere among the host cheering his men on to fight andB3
stirring the dread strife of battle The Trojans then wheeled roundB3
and again met the Achaeans while the Argives on their partB3
strengthened their battalions The battle was now in array and theyV2
stood face to face with one another Agamemnon ever pressing forwardB3
in his eagerness to be ahead of all othersR2
Tell me now ye Muses that dwell in the mansions of Olympus whoB3
whether of the Trojans or of their allies was first to faceR2
Agamemnon It was Iphidamas son of Antenor a man both brave and ofA
great stature who was brought up in fertile Thrace the mother ofA
sheep Cisses his mother's father brought him up in his own houseR2
when he was a child Cisses father to fair Theano When he reachedB3
manhood Cisses would have kept him there and was for giving himG3
his daughter in marriage but as soon as he had married he set outB3
to fight the Achaeans with twelve ships that followed him these heC
had left at Percote and had come on by land to Ilius He it was thatB3
naw met Agamemnon son of Atreus When they were close up with oneF
another the son of Atreus missed his aim and Iphidamas hit him onF
the girdle below the cuirass and then flung himself upon him trustingC3
to his strength of arm the girdle however was not pierced norA2
nearly so for the point of the spear struck against the silver andB3
was turned aside as though it had been lead King Agamemnon caughtB3
it from his hand and drew it towards him with the fury of a lionF
he then drew his sword and killed Iphidamas by striking him on theP
neck So there the poor fellow lay sleeping a sleep as it were ofA
bronze killed in the defence of his fellow citizens far from hisR2
wedded wife of whom he had had no joy though he had given much forA2
her he had given a hundred head of cattle down and had promisedB3
later on to give a thousand sheep and goats mixed from theP
countless flocks of which he was possessed Agamemnon son of AtreusR2
then despoiled him and carried off his armour into the host of theP
AchaeansR2
When noble Coon Antenor's eldest son saw this sore indeed wereE
his eyes at the sight of his fallen brother Unseen by Agamemnon heC
got beside him spear in hand and wounded him in the middle of hisR2
arm below the elbow the point of the spear going right through theP
arm Agamemnon was convulsed with pain but still not even for thisR2
did he leave off struggling and fighting but grasped his spear thatB3
flew as fleet as the wind and sprang upon Coon who was trying to dragH3
off the body of his brother his father's son by the foot and wasR2
crying for help to all the bravest of his comrades but AgamemnonF
struck him with a bronze shod spear and killed him as he wasR2
dragging the dead body through the press of men under cover of hisR2
shield he then cut off his head standing over the body of IphidamasR2
Thus did the sons of Antenor meet their fate at the hands of the sonF
of Atreus and go down into the house of HadesR2
As long as the blood still welled warm from his wound Agamemnon wentB3
about attacking the ranks of the enemy with spear and sword and withB
great handfuls of stone but when the blood had ceased to flow and theP
wound grew dry the pain became great As the sharp pangs which theP
Eilithuiae goddesses of childbirth daughters of Juno andB3
dispensers of cruel pain send upon a woman when she is in labourI3
even so sharp were the pangs of the son of Atreus He sprang on to hisR2
chariot and bade his charioteer drive to the ships for he was inF
great agony With a loud clear voice he shouted to the Danaans MyA
friends princes and counsellors of the Argives defend the shipsR2
yourselves for Jove has not suffered me to fight the whole dayV2
through against the TrojansR2
With this the charioteer turned his horses towards the ships andB3
they flew forward nothing loth Their chests were white with foamJ
and their bellies with dust as they drew the wounded king out ofA
the battleQ
When Hector saw Agamemnon quit the field he shouted to theP
Trojans and Lycians saying Trojans Lycians and Dardanian warriorsR2
be men my friends and acquit yourselves in battle bravely theirH
best man has left them and Jove has vouchsafed me a great triumphA
charge the foe with your chariots that you may win still greaterE
gloryC
With these words he put heart and soul into them all and as aP
huntsman hounds his dogs on against a lion or wild boar even so didB3
Hector peer of Mars hound the proud Trojans on against the AchaeansR2
Full of hope he plunged in among the foremost and fell on the fightB3
like some fierce tempest that swoops down upon the sea and lashes itsR2
deep blue waters into furyC
What then is the full tale of those whom Hector son of Priam killedB3
in the hour of triumph which Jove then vouchsafed him First AsaeusR2
Autonous and Opites Dolops son of Clytius Opheltius and AgelausR2
Aesymnus Orus and Hipponous steadfast in battle these chieftainsR2
of the Achaeans did Hector slay and then he fell upon the rank andB3
file As when the west wind hustles the clouds of the white southJ3
and beats them down with the fierceness of its fury the waves ofA
the sea roll high and the spray is flung aloft in the rage of theP
wandering wind even so thick were the heads of them that fell byA
the hand of HectorE
All had then been lost and no help for it and the Achaeans wouldB3
have fled pell mell to their ships had not Ulysses cried out toB3
Diomed Son of Tydeus what has happened to us that we thus forgetB3
our prowess Come my good fellow stand by my side and help me weC
shall be shamed for ever if Hector takes the shipsR2
And Diomed answered Come what may I will stand firm but we shallQ
have scant joy of it for Jove is minded to give victory to theP
Trojans rather than to usR2
With these words he struck Thymbraeus from his chariot to theP
ground smiting him in the left breast with his spear while UlyssesR2
killed Molion who was his squire These they let lie now that theyV2
had stopped their fighting the two heroes then went on playingC3
havoc with the foe like two wild boars that turn in fury and rend theP
hounds that hunt them Thus did they turn upon the Trojans and slayV2
them and the Achaeans were thankful to have breathing time in theirH
flight from HectorE
They then took two princes with their chariot the two sons ofA
Merops of Percote who excelled all others in the arts ofA
divination He had forbidden his sons to go to the war but they wouldB3
not obey him for fate lured them to their fall Diomed son ofA
Tydeus slew them both and stripped them of their armour while UlyssesR2
killed Hippodamus and HypeirochusR2
And now the son of Saturn as he looked down from Ida ordained thatB3
neither side should have the advantage and they kept on killing oneF
another The son of Tydeus speared Agastrophus son of Paeon in theP
hip joint with his spear His chariot was not at hand for him to flyA
with so blindly confident had he been His squire was in charge of itB3
at some distance and he was fighting on foot among the foremostB3
until he lost his life Hector soon marked the havoc Diomed andB3
Ulysses were making and bore down upon them with a loud cry followedB3
by the Trojan ranks brave Diomed was dismayed when he saw them andB3
said to Ulysses who was beside him Great Hector is bearing down uponF
us and we shall be undone let us stand firm and wait his onsetB3
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it nor did he miss hisR2
mark He had aimed at Hector's head near the top of his helmet butB3
bronze was turned by bronze and Hector was untouched for the spearK3
was stayed by the visored helm made with three plates of metalQ
which Phoebus Apollo had given him Hector sprang back with a greatB3
bound under cover of the ranks he fell on his knees and proppedB3
himself with his brawny hand leaning on the ground for darkness hadB3
fallen on his eyes The son of Tydeus having thrown his spear dashedB3
in among the foremost fighters to the place where he had seen itB3
strike the ground meanwhile Hector recovered himself and springingC3
back into his chariot mingled with the crowd by which means heC
saved his life But Diomed made at him with his spear and saidB3
Dog you have again got away though death was close on your heelsR2
Phoebus Apollo to whom I ween you pray ere you go into battle hasR2
again saved you nevertheless I will meet you and make and end ofA
you hereafter if there is any god who will stand by me too and beC
my helper For the present I must pursue those I can lay hands onF
As he spoke he began stripping the spoils from the son of Paeon butB3
Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen aimed an arrow at him leaningC3
against a pillar of the monument which men had raised to Ilus son ofA
Dardanus a ruler in days of old Diomed had taken the cuirass fromJ2
off the breast of Agastrophus his heavy helmet also and the shieldB3
from off his shoulders when Paris drew his bow and let fly an arrowF3
that sped not from his hand in vain but pierced the flat ofA
Diomed's right foot going right through it and fixing itself in theP
ground Thereon Paris with a hearty laugh sprang forward from hisR2
hiding place and taunted him saying You are wounded my arrow hasR2
not been shot in vain would that it had hit you in the belly andB3
killed you for thus the Trojans who fear you as goats fear a lionF
would have had a truce from evilQ
Diomed all undaunted answered Archer you who without your bow areX2
nothing slanderer and seducer if you were to be tried in singleQ
combat fighting in full armour your bow and your arrows would serveA
you in little stead Vain is your boast in that you have scratched theP
sole of my foot I care no more than if a girl or some silly boy hadB3
hit me A worthless coward can inflict but a light wound when I woundB3
a man though I but graze his skin it is another matter for myA
weapon will lay him low His wife will tear her cheeks for grief andB3
his children will be fatherless there will he rot reddening theP
earth with his blood and vultures not women will gather round himG3
Thus he spoke but Ulysses came up and stood over him Under thisR2
cover he sat down to draw the arrow from his foot and sharp was theP
pain he suffered as he did so Then he sprang on to his chariot andB3
bade the charioteer drive him to the ships for he was sick at heartB3
Ulysses was now alone not one of the Argives stood by him for theyV2
were all panic stricken Alas said he to himself in his dismayV2
what will become of me It is ill if I turn and fly before theseR2
odds but it will be worse if I am left alone and taken prisonerE
for the son of Saturn has struck the rest of the Danaans with panicU2
But why talk to myself in this way Well do I know that though cowardsR2
quit the field a hero whether he wound or be wounded must standB3
firm and hold his ownF
While he was thus in two minds the ranks of the Trojans advancedB3
and hemmed him in and bitterly did they come to me it As houndsR2
and lusty youths set upon a wild boar that sallies from his lairH
whetting his white tusks they attack him from every side and can hearL3
the gnashing of his jaws but for all his fierceness they still holdB3
their ground even so furiously did the Trojans attack UlyssesR2
First he sprang spear in hand upon Deiopites and wounded him on theP
shoulder with a downward blow then he killed Thoon and Ennomus AfterE
these he struck Chersidamas in the loins under his shield as he hadB3
just sprung down from his chariot so he fell in the dust and clutchedB3
the earth in the hollow of his hand These he let lie and went onF
to wound Charops son of Hippasus own brother to noble Socus SocusR2
hero that he was made all speed to help him and when he was close toB3
Ulysses he said Far famed Ulysses insatiable of craft and toilQ
this day you shall either boast of having killed both the sons ofA
Hippasus and stripped them of their armour or you shall fall beforeA2
my spearK3
With these words he struck the shield of Ulysses The spear wentB3
through the shield and passed on through his richly wrought cuirassR2
tearing the flesh from his side but Pallas Minerva did not sufferE
it to pierce the entrails of the hero Ulysses knew that his hourE
was not yet come but he gave ground and said to Socus Wretch youB3
shall now surely die You have stayed me from fighting further withB
the Trojans but you shall now fall by my spear yielding glory toB3
myself and your soul to Hades of the noble steedsR2
Socus had turned in flight but as he did so the spear struck himG3
in the back midway between the shoulders and went right through hisR2
chest He fell heavily to the ground and Ulysses vaunted over himG3
saying O Socus son of Hippasus tamer of horses death has beenF
too quick for you and you have not escaped him poor wretch notB3
even in death shall your father and mother close your eyes but theP
ravening vultures shall enshroud you with the flapping of their darkM3
wings and devour you Whereas even though I fall the Achaeans willQ
give me my due rites of burialQ
So saying he drew Socus's heavy spear out of his flesh and fromJ2
his shield and the blood welled forth when the spear was withdrawn soR2
that he was much dismayed When the Trojans saw that Ulysses wasR2
bleeding they raised a great shout and came on in a body towardsR2
him he therefore gave ground and called his comrades to come andB3
help him Thrice did he cry as loudly as man can cry and thrice didB3
brave Menelaus hear him he turned therefore to Ajax who was closeR2
beside him and said Ajax noble son of Telamon captain of yourA2
people the cry of Ulysses rings in my ears as though the Trojans hadB3
cut him off and were worsting him while he is single handed Let usR2
make our way through the throng it will be well that we defend him IA
fear he may come to harm for all his valour if he be left withoutB3
support and the Danaans would miss him sorelyC
He led the way and mighty Ajax went with him The Trojans hadB3
gathered round Ulysses like ravenous mountain jackals round theP
carcase of some homed stag that has been hit with an arrow the stagH3
has fled at full speed so long as his blood was warm and hisR2
strength has lasted but when the arrow has overcome him the savageN3
jackals devour him in the shady glades of the forest Then heavenF
sends a fierce lion thither whereon the jackals fly in terror and theP
lion robs them of their prey even so did Trojans many and braveA
gather round crafty Ulysses but the hero stood at bay and kept themO3
off with his spear Ajax then came up with his shield before himG3
like a wall and stood hard by whereon the Trojans fled in allQ
directions Menelaus took Ulysses by the hand and led him out ofA
the press while his squire brought up his chariot but Ajax rushedB3
furiously on the Trojans and killed Doryclus a bastard son ofA
Priam then he wounded Pandocus Lysandrus Pyrasus and PylartesR2
as some swollen torrent comes rushing in full flood from the mountainsR2
on to the plain big with the rain of heaven many a dry oak andB3
many a pine does it engulf and much mud does it bring down and castB3
into the sea even so did brave Ajax chase the foe furiously overE
the plain slaying both men and horsesR2
Hector did not yet know what Ajax was doing for he was fightingC3
on the extreme left of the battle by the banks of the river ScamanderE
where the carnage was thickest and the war cry loudest round NestorE
and brave Idomeneus Among these Hector was making great slaughterE
with his spear and furious driving and was destroying the ranksR2
that were opposed to him still the Achaeans would have given noR2
ground had not Alexandrus husband of lovely Helen stayed theP
prowess of Machaon shepherd of his people by wounding him in theP
right shoulder with a triple barbed arrow The Achaeans were inF
great fear that as the fight had turned against them the Trojans mightB3
take him prisoner and Idomeneus said to Nestor Nestor son ofA
Neleus honour to the Achaean name mount your chariot at once takeP3
Machaon with you and drive your horses to the ships as fast as youB3
can A physician is worth more than several other men put togetherE
for he can cut out arrows and spread healing herbsR2
Nestor knight of Gerene did as Idomeneus had counselled he atB3
once mounted his chariot and Machaon son of the famed physicianF
Aesculapius went with him He lashed his horses and they flew onwardB3
nothing loth towards the ships as though of their own free willQ
Then Cebriones seeing the Trojans in confusion said to Hector fromJ2
his place beside him Hector here are we two fighting on the extremeQ3
wing of the battle while the other Trojans are in pell mell routB3
they and their horses Ajax son of Telamon is driving them before himG3
I know him by the breadth of his shield let us turn our chariot andB3
horses thither where horse and foot are fighting most desperatelyC
and where the cry of battle is loudestB3
With this he lashed his goodly steeds and when they felt the whipR3
they drew the chariot full speed among the Achaeans and TrojansR2
over the bodies and shields of those that had fallen the axle wasR2
bespattered with blood and the rail round the car was covered withB
splashes both from the horses' hoofs and from the tyres of the wheelsR2
Hector tore his way through and flung himself into the thick of theP
fight and his presence threw the Danaans into confusion for hisR2
spear was not long idle nevertheless though he went among the ranksR2
with sword and spear and throwing great stones he avoided Ajax sonF
of Telamon for Jove would have been angry with him if he had fought aP
better man than himselfA
Then father Jove from his high throne struck fear into the heartB3
of Ajax so that he stood there dazed and threw his shield behind himG3
looking fearfully at the throng of his foes as though he were someJ2
wild beast and turning hither and thither but crouching slowlyC
backwards As peasants with their hounds chase a lion from theirE
stockyard and watch by night to prevent his carrying off the pickU2
of their herd he makes his greedy spring but in vain for theP
darts from many a strong hand fall thick around him with burningC3
brands that scare him for all his fury and when morning comes heC
slinks foiled and angry away even so did Ajax sorely against hisR2
will retreat angrily before the Trojans fearing for the ships of theP
Achaeans Or as some lazy ass that has had many a cudgel brokenF
about his back when he into a field begins eating the corn boys beatB3
him but he is too many for them and though they lay about withB
their sticks they cannot hurt him still when he has had his fill theyV2
at last drive him from the field even so did the Trojans and theirE
allies pursue great Ajax ever smiting the middle of his shield withB
their darts Now and again he would turn and show fight keepingC3
back the battalions of the Trojans and then he would again retreatB3
but he prevented any of them from making his way to the shipsR2
Single handed he stood midway between the Trojans and Achaeans theP
spears that sped from their hands stuck some of them in his mightyC
shield while many though thirsting for his blood fell to the groundB3
ere they could reach him to the wounding of his fair fleshS3
Now when Eurypylus the brave son of Euaemon saw that Ajax wasR2
being overpowered by the rain of arrows he went up to him andB3
hurled his spear He struck Apisaon son of Phausius in the liver belowR2
the midriff and laid him low Eurypylus sprang upon him and strippedB3
the armour from his shoulders but when Alexandrus saw him he aimedB3
an arrow at him which struck him in the right thigh the arrowR2
broke but the point that was left in the wound dragged on theP
thigh he drew back therefore under cover of his comrades to saveA
his life shouting as he did so to the Danaans My friends princesR2
and counsellors of the Argives rally to the defence of Ajax who isR2
being overpowered and I doubt whether he will come out of the fightB3
alive Hither then to the rescue of great Ajax son of TelamonF
Even so did he cry when he was wounded thereon the others cameT3
near and gathered round him holding their shields upwards from theirE
shoulders so as to give him cover Ajax then made towards them andB3
turned round to stand at bay as soon as he had reached his menF
Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire Meanwhile theP
mares of Neleus all in a lather with sweat were bearing Nestor outB3
of the fight and with him Machaon shepherd of his people AchillesR2
saw and took note for he was standing on the stern of his shipR3
watching the hard stress and struggle of the fight He called from theP
ship to his comrade Patroclus who heard him in the tent and cameT3
out looking like Mars himself here indeed was the beginning of theP
ill that presently befell him Why said he Achilles do you callQ
me what do you what do you want with me And Achilles answeredB3
Noble son of Menoetius man after my own heart I take it that IA
shall now have the Achaeans praying at my knees for they are in greatB3
straits go Patroclus and ask Nestor who is that he is bearingC3
away wounded from the field from his back I should say it was MachaonF
son of Aesculapius but I could not see his face for the horses wentB3
by me at full speedB3
Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him and set offA
running by the ships and tents of the AchaeansR2
When Nestor and Machaon had reached the tents of the son ofA
Neleus they dismounted and an esquire Eurymedon took the horsesR2
from the chariot The pair then stood in the breeze by the seasideB3
to dry the sweat from their shirts and when they had so done theyV2
came inside and took their seats Fair Hecamede whom Nestor had hadB3
awarded to him from Tenedos when Achilles took it mixed them aP
mess she was daughter of wise Arsinous and the Achaeans had givenF
her to Nestor because he excelled all of them in counsel First sheC
set for them a fair and well made table that had feet of cyanus on itB3
there was a vessel of bronze and an onion to give relish to the drinkU3
with honey and cakes of barley meal There was also a cup of rareE
workmanship which the old man had brought with him from homeJ
studded with bosses of gold it had four handles on each of whichV3
there were two golden doves feeding and it had two feet to standB3
on Any one else would hardly have been able to lift it from the tableQ
when it was full but Nestor could do so quite easily In this theP
woman as fair as a goddess mixed them a mess with Pramnian wine sheC
grated goat's milk cheese into it with a bronze grater threw in aP
handful of white barley meal and having thus prepared the mess sheC
bade them drink it When they had done so and had thus quenchedB3
their thirst they fell talking with one another and at this momentB3
Patroclus appeared at the doorE
When the old man saw him he sprang from his seat seized his handB3
led him into the tent and bade him take his place among them butB3
Patroclus stood where he was and said Noble sir I may not stay youB3
cannot persuade me to come in he that sent me is not one to beC
trifled with and he bade me ask who the wounded man was whom you wereE
bearing away from the field I can now see for myself that he isR2
Machaon shepherd of his people I must go back and tell Achilles YouB3
sir know what a terrible man he is and how ready to blame even whereE
no blame should lieA
And Nestor answered Why should Achilles care to know how many ofA
the Achaeans may be wounded He recks not of the dismay that reigns inF
our host our most valiant chieftains lie disabled brave Diomed sonF
of Tydeus is wounded so are Ulysses and Agamemnon Eurypylus has beenF
hit with an arrow in the thigh and I have just been bringing this manF
from the field he too wounded with an arrow neverthelessR2
Achilles so valiant though he be cares not and knows no ruth WillQ
he wait till the ships do what we may are in a blaze and weC
perish one upon the other As for me I have no strength nor stay inF
me any longer would that I Were still young and strong as in the daysR2
when there was a fight between us and the men of Elis about someJ2
cattle raiding I then killed Itymoneus the valiant son of HypeirochusR2
a dweller in Elis as I was driving in the spoil he was hit by a dartB3
thrown my hand while fighting in the front rank in defence of hisR2
cows so he fell and the country people around him were in great fearE
We drove off a vast quantity of booty from the plain fifty herds ofA
cattle and as many flocks of sheep fifty droves also of pigs andB3
as many wide spreading flocks of goats Of horses moreover we seized aP
hundred and fifty all of them mares and many had foals runningC3
with them All these did we drive by night to Pylus the city ofA
Neleus taking them within the city and the heart of Neleus wasR2
glad in that I had taken so much though it was the first time I hadB3
ever been in the field At daybreak the heralds went round crying thatB3
all in Elis to whom there was a debt owing should come and theP
leading Pylians assembled to divide the spoils There were many toB3
whom the Epeans owed chattels for we men of Pylus were few and hadB3
been oppressed with wrong in former years Hercules had come andB3
had laid his hand heavy upon us so that all our best men hadB3
perished Neleus had had twelve sons but I alone was left the othersR2
had all been killed The Epeans presuming upon all this had lookedB3
down upon us and had done us much evil My father chose a herd ofA
cattle and a great flock of sheep three hundred in all and he tookW3
their shepherds with him for there was a great debt due to him inF
Elis to wit four horses winners of prizes They and their chariotsR2
with them had gone to the games and were to run for a tripod but KingC3
Augeas took them and sent back their driver grieving for the lossR2
of his horses Neleus was angered by what he had both said and doneF
and took great value in return but he divided the rest that no manF
might have less than his full shareE
Thus did we order all things and offer sacrifices to the godsR2
throughout the city but three days afterwards the Epeans came in aP
body many in number they and their chariots in full array and withB
them the two Moliones in their armour though they were still lads andB3
unused to fighting Now there is a certain town Thryoessa perchedB3
upon a rock on the river Alpheus the border city Pylus this theyV2
would destroy and pitched their camp about it but when they hadB3
crossed their whole plain Minerva darted down by night from OlympusR2
and bade us set ourselves in array and she found willing soldiersR2
in Pylos for the men meant fighting Neleus would not let me arm andB3
hid my horses for he said that as yet I could know nothing about warE
nevertheless Minerva so ordered the fight that all on foot as IA
was I fought among our mounted forces and vied with the foremost ofA
them There is a river Minyeius that falls into the sea near AreneF
and there they that were mounted and I with them waited tillQ
morning when the companies of foot soldiers came up with us in forceR2
Thence in full panoply and equipment we came towards noon to theP
sacred waters of the Alpheus and there we offered victims to almightyC
Jove with a bull to Alpheus another to Neptune and a herd heifer toB3
Minerva After this we took supper in our companies and laid usR2
down to rest each in his armour by the riverE
The Epeans were beleaguering the city and were determined to takeP3
it but ere this might be there was a desperate fight in store forE
them When the sun's rays began to fall upon the earth we joinedB3
battle praying to Jove and to Minerva and when the fight hadB3
begun I was the first to kill my man and take his horses to witB3
the warrior Mulius He was son in law to Augeas having married hisR2
eldest daughter golden haired Agamede who knew the virtues ofA
every herb which grows upon the face of the earth I speared him as heC
was coming towards me and when he fell headlong in the dust I sprangN2
upon his chariot and took my place in the front ranks The Epeans fledB3
in all directions when they saw the captain of their horsemen theP
best man they had laid low and I swept down on them like aP
whirlwind taking fifty chariots and in each of them two men bitB3
the dust slain by my spear I should have even killed the twoB3
Moliones sons of Actor unless their real father Neptune lord ofA
the earthquake had hidden them in a thick mist and borne them outB3
of the fight Thereon Jove vouchsafed the Pylians a great victory forE
we chased them far over the plain killing the men and bringing inF
their armour till we had brought our horses to Buprasium rich inF
wheat and to the Olenian rock with the hill that is called AlisionF
at which point Minerva turned the people back There I slew the lastB3
man and left him then the Achaeans drove their horses back fromJ2
Buprasium to Pylos and gave thanks to Jove among the gods and amongX3
mortal men to NestorE
Such was I among my peers as surely as ever was but Achilles isR2
for keeping all his valour for himself bitterly will he rue itB3
hereafter when the host is being cut to pieces My good friend didB3
not Menoetius charge you thus on the day when he sent you from PhthiaP
to Agamemnon Ulysses and I were in the house inside and heard allQ
that he said to you for we came to the fair house of Peleus whileQ
beating up recruits throughout all Achaea and when we got there weC
found Menoetius and yourself and Achilles with you The old knightB3
Peleus was in the outer court roasting the fat thigh bones of aP
heifer to Jove the lord of thunder and he held a gold chalice inF
his hand from which he poured drink offerings of wine over the burningC3
sacrifice You two were busy cutting up the heifer and at that momentB3
we stood at the gates whereon Achilles sprang to his feet led usR2
by the hand into the house placed us at table and set before us suchY3
hospitable entertainment as guests expect When we had satisfiedB3
ourselves with meat and drink I said my say and urged both of youB3
to join us You were ready enough to do so and the two old menF
charged you much and straitly Old Peleus bade his son AchillesR2
fight ever among the foremost and outvie his peers while MenoetiusR2
the son of Actor spoke thus to you 'My son ' said he 'Achilles is ofA
nobler birth than you are but you are older than he though he is farE
the better man of the two Counsel him wisely guide him in theP
right way and he will follow you to his own profit ' Thus did yourE
father charge you but you have forgotten nevertheless even now sayR2
all this to Achilles if he will listen to you Who knows but withP
heaven's help you may talk him over for it is good to take a friend'sR2
advice If however he is fearful about some oracle or if his motherE
has told him something from Jove then let him send you and let theP
rest of the Myrmidons follow with you if perchance you may bringC3
light and saving to the Danaans And let him send you into battle cladB3
in his own armour that the Trojans may mistake you for him andB3
leave off fighting the sons of the Achaeans may thus have time to getB3
their breath for they are hard pressed and there is littleQ
breathing time in battle You who are fresh might easily drive aP
tired enemy back to his walls and away from the tents and shipsR2
With these words he moved the heart of Patroclus who set offA
running by the line of the ships to Achilles descendant of AeacusR2
When he had got as far as the ships of Ulysses where was theirE
place of assembly and court of justice with their altars dedicated toB3
the gods Eurypylus son of Euaemon met him wounded in the thighA
with an arrow and limping out of the fight Sweat rained from hisR2
head and shoulders and black blood welled from his cruel wound butB3
his mind did not wander The son of Menoetius when he saw him hadB3
compassion upon him and spoke piteously saying O unhappy princes andB3
counsellors of the Danaans are you then doomed to feed the houndsR2
of Troy with your fat far from your friends and your native landB3
say noble Eurypylus will the Achaeans be able to hold great HectorE
in check or will they fall now before his spearE
Wounded Eurypylus made answer Noble Patroclus there is no hopeZ3
left for the Achaeans but they will perish at their ships All theyR2
that were princes among us are lying struck down and wounded at theP
hands of the Trojans who are waxing stronger and stronger But saveA
me and take me to your ship cut out the arrow from my thigh wash theP
black blood from off it with warm water and lay upon it thoseR2
gracious herbs which so they say have been shown you by AchillesR2
who was himself shown them by Chiron most righteous of all theP
centaurs For of the physicians Podalirius and Machaon I hear thatB3
the one is lying wounded in his tent and is himself in need ofA
healing while the other is fighting the Trojans upon the plainF
Hero Eurypylus replied the brave son of Menoetius how may theseR2
things be What can I do I am on my way to bear a message to nobleQ
Achilles from Nestor of Gerene bulwark of the Achaeans but even so IA
will not be unmindful your distressR2
With this he clasped him round the middle and led him into the tentB3
and a servant when he saw him spread bullock skins on the ground forE
him to lie on He laid him at full length and cut out the sharpA4
arrow from his thigh he washed the black blood from the wound withP
warm water he then crushed a bitter herb rubbing it between hisR2
hands and spread it upon the wound this was a virtuous herb whichV3
killed all pain so the wound presently dried and the blood left offA
flowingC3

Homer



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