Iliad of Homer, Rendered into English Blank Verse — Book 2 Part 2

Say now, ye Nine, who on Olympus dwell, Muses (for ye are Goddesses, and ye Were present, and know all things: we ourselves But hear from Rumour’s voice, and nothing know), Who were the chiefs and mighty Lords of Greece.

But should I seek the multitude to name, Not if ten tongues were mine, ten mouths to speak, Voice inexhaustible, and heart of brass, Should I succeed, unless, Olympian maids, The progeny of aegis-bearing Jove, Ye should their names record, who came to Troy.

The chiefs, and all the ships, I now rehearse.

Bœotia’s troops by Peneleus were led, And Leitus, and Prothoenor bold, Arcesilas and Clonius: they who dwelt In Hyria, and on Aulis’ rocky coast, Scoenus, and Scolus, and the highland range Of Eteonus; in Thespeia’s vale, Graia, and Mycalessus’ wide-spread plains: And who in Harma and Eilesium dwelt, And in Erythrae, and in Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon, and Ocalea, In Copae, and in Medeon’s well-built fort, Eutresis, Thisbe’s dove-frequented woods, And Coronca, and the grassy meads Of Haliartus; and Plataea’s plain, In Glissa, and the foot of Lower Thebes, And in Anchestus, Neptune’s sacred grove;

And who in viny-cluster’d Arne dwelt, And in Mideia, and the lovely site Of Nissa, and Anthedon’s utmost bounds.

With these came fifty vessels; and in each Were six score youths, Bœotia’s noblest flow’r. Who in Aspledon dwelt, and in Minyas’ realm Orehomenus, two sons of Mars obey’d, Ascalaphus, and bold Ialmenus;

In Actor’s house, the son of Azeus, born Of fair Astyoche, a maiden pure, Till in the upper chamber, where she slept, Stout Mars by stealth her virgin bed assail’d: Of these came thirty ships in order due.

By Schedius and Epistrophus, the sons Of great Iphitus, son of Naubolus, Were led the Phocian forces; these were they Who dwelt in Cyparissus, and the rock Of Python, and on Crissa’s lovely plain;

And who in Daulis, and in Panope, Anemorea and IIyampolis, And by Cephisus’ sacred waters dwelt, Or in Lilaea, by Cephisus’ springs.

In their command came forty dark-ribb’d ships.

These were the leaders of the Phocian bands, And on Bœotia’s left their camp was pitch’d. Ajax, Oileus’ son, the Locrians led;

Swift-footed, less than Ajax Telamon, Of stature low, with linen breastplate arm’d: But skill’d to throw the spear o’er all who dwell In Hellas or Achaia: these were they From Cynos, Opus, and Calliarus, Bessa, and Scarpha, and Augaea fair, Tarpha, and Thronium, by Boagrius’ stream.

Him from beyond Euboea’s sacred isle, Of Locrians follow’d forty dark-ribb’d ships.

Breathing firm courage high, th’ Abantian host, Who from Euboea and from Chalcis came, Or who in vine-clad Histiaea dwelt, Eretria, and Cerinthus maritime, And who the lofty fort of Dium held, And in Carystus and in Styra dwelt: These Elephenor led, true plant of Mars, Chalcodon’s son, the brave Abantian chief.

Him, all conspicuous with their long black hair, The bold Abantians follow’d: spearmen skill’d, Who through the foemen’s breastplates knew full well, Held in firm grasp, to drive the ashen spear.

In his command came forty dark-ribb’d ships.

Those who in Athens’ well-built city dwelt, The noble-soul’d Erectheus’ heritage;

Child of the fertile soil, by Pallas rear’d, Daughter of Jove, who him in Athens plac’d In her own wealthy temple; there with blood Of bulls and lambs, at each revolving year, The youths of Athens do him sacrifice;

These by Menestheus, Peteus’ son, were led.

With him might none of mortal men compare, In order due of battle to array Chariots and buckler’d men; Nestor alone Perchance might rival him, his elder far.

In his command came fifty dark-ribb’d ships.

Twelve ships from Salamis with Ajax came, And they beside th’ Athenian troops were rang’d. Those who from Argos, and the well-wall’d town Of Tyrins came, and from Hermione, And Asine, deep-bosom’d in the bay;

And from Troezene and Eione, And vine-clad Epidaurus; and the youths Who dwelt in Mases, and Ægina’s isle;

O’er all of these the valiant Diomed Held rule; and Sthenelus, th’ illustrious son Of far-fam’d Capaneus; with these, the third, A godlike warrior came, Euryalus, Son of Mecistheus, Talaus’ royal son.

Supreme o’er all was valiant Diomed.

In their command came eighty dark-ribb’d ships.

Who in Mycenæ’s well-built fortress dwelt, And wealthy Corinth, and Cleone fair, Orneia, and divine Araethure, And Sicyon, where Adrastus reign’d of old, And Gonoessa’s promontory steep, And Hyperesia, and Pellene’s rock;

Ægina, and the scatter’d towns that lie Along the beach, and wide-spread Helice;

Of these a hundred ships obey’d the rule Of mighty Agamemnon, Atreus’ son.

The largest and the bravest host was his;

And he himself, in dazzling armour clad, O’er all the heroes proudly eminent, Went forth exulting in his high estate, Lord of the largest host, and chief of chiefs.

Those who in Lacedaemon’s lowland plains, And who in Sparta and in Phare dwelt, And who on Messa’s dove-frequented cliffs, Bryseia, and Ægaea’s lovely vale, And in Amyclae, and the sea-bathed fort Of Helos, Œtylus and Laas dwelt;

His valiant brother Menelaus led, With sixty ships; but ranged apart they lay.

Their chief, himself in martial ardour bold, Inspiring others, fill’d with fierce desire The rape of Helen and his wrongs to avenge.

They who in Pylos and Arene dwelt, And Thyrum, by the ford of Alpheus’ stream, In Cyparissus and Amphigene, Pteleon, and lofty Œpus’ well-built fort, Helos, and Dorium, where the Muses met, And put to silence Thracian Thamyris, As from Œchalia, from the royal house Of Eurytus he came; he, over-bold, Boasted himself pre-eminent in song, Ev’n though the daughters of Olympian Jove, The Muses, were his rivals: they in wrath Him of his sight at once and powr’r of song Amerc’d, and bade his hand forget the lyre.

These by Gerenian Nestor all were led, In fourscore ships and ten in order due.

They of Arcadia, and the realm that lies Beneath Cyllene’s mountain high, around The tomb of Æpytus, a warrior race;

The men of Pheneus and Orchomenus In flocks abounding; who in Ripa dwelt, In Stratia, and Enispe’s breezy height, Or Tegea held, and sweet Mantinea, Stymphalus and Parrhasia; these were led By Agapenor brave, Anchaeus’ son, In sixty ships; in each a num’rous crew Of stout Arcadian youths, to war inur’d. The ships, wherewith they crossed the dark-blue sea, Were giv’n by Agamemnon, King of men, The son of Atreus; for th’ Arcadian youth Had ne’er to maritime pursuits been train’d. Who in Buprasium and in Elis dwelt, Far as Hyrmine, and th’ extremest bounds Of Myrsinus; and all the realm that lies Between Aleisium and the Olenian rock;

These by four chiefs were led; and ten swift ships, By bold Epeians mann’d, each chief obey’d. Amphimachus and Thalpius were the first, Sons of two brothers, Cteatus the one, The other Eurytus, to Actor born;

Next Amarynceus’ son, Diores bold;

The fourth Polyxenus, the godlike son Of Augeas’ royal heir, Agasthenes.

They of Dulichium, and the sacred isles, Th’ Echinades, which face, from o’er the sea, The coast of Elis, were by Meges led, The son of Phyleus, dear to Jove, in arms Valiant as Mars; who, with his sire at feud, Had left his home, and to Dulichium come: In his command were forty dark-ribb’d ships.

Those who from warlike Cephalonia came, And Ithaca, and leafy Neritus, And Crocyleium; rugged Ægilips, And Samos, and Zacynthus, and the coast Of the mainland with its opposing isles;

These in twelve ships, with scarlet-painted bows, Ulysses led, in council sage as Jove.

Thoas, Andraemon’s son, th’ Ætolians led;

From Pleuron, and Pylone, Olenus, Chalcis-by-sea, and rocky Calydon: The race of Œneus was no more; himself, And fair-hair’d Meleager, both were dead: Whence all Ætolia’s rule on him was laid.

In his command came forty dark-ribb’d ships.

The King Idomeneus the Cretans led, From Cnossus, and Gortyna’s well-wall’d town, Miletus, and Lycastus’ white-stone cliffs, Lyctus, and Phaestus, Rhytium, and the rest Whom Crete from all her hundred cities sent: These all Idomeneus, a spearman skill’d, Their King, commanded; and Meriones, In battle terrible as blood-stain’d Mars.

In their command came fourscore dark-ribb’d ships.

Valiant and tall, the son of Hercules, Tlepolemus, nine vessels brought from Rhodes, By gallant Rhodians mann’d, who tripartite Were settled, and in Ialyssus dwelt, In Lindus, and Cameirus’ white-stone hills.

These all renown’d Tlepolemus obey’d, Who to the might of Hercules was born Of fair Astyoche; his captive she, When many a goodly town his arms had raz’d, Was brought from Ephyra, by Selles’ stream.

Rear’d in the royal house, Tlepolemus, In early youth, his father’s uncle slew, A warrior once, but now in life’s decline, Lycimnius; then in haste a fleet he built, Muster’d a num’rous host; and fled, by sea, The threaten’d vengeance of the other sons And grandsons of the might of Hercules.

Long wand’rings past, and toils and perils borne, To Rhodes he came; his followers, by their tribes, Three districts form’d; and so divided, dwelt, Belov’d of Jove, the King of Gods and men, Who show’r’d upon them boundless store of wealth.

Nireus three well-trimm’d ships from Syme brought;

Nireus, to Charops whom Aglaia bore;

Nireus, the goodliest man of all the Greeks, Who came to Troy, save Peleus’ matchless son: But scant his fame, and few the troops he led.

Who in Nisyrus dwelt, and Carpathus, And Cos, the fortress of Eurypylus, And in the Casian and Calydnian Isles, Were by Phidippus led, and Antiphus, Two sons of Thessalus, Alcides’ son;

With them came thirty ships in order due.

Next those who in Pelasgian Argos dwelt, And who in Alos, and in Alope, Trachys, and Phthia, and in Hellas fam’d For women fair; of these, by various names, Achaians, Myrmidons, Hellenes, known, In fifty ships, Achilles was the chief.

But from the battle-strife these all abstain’d, Since none there was to marshal their array.

For Peleus’ godlike son, the swift of foot, Lay idly in his tent, the loss resenting Of Brises’ fair-hair’d daughter; whom himself Had chosen, prize of all his warlike toil, When he Lyrnessus and the walls of Thebes O’erthrew, and Mynes and Epistrophus Struck down, bold warriors both, Evenus’ sons, Selepius’ royal heir; for her in wrath, He held aloof, but soon again to appear.

Those in the flow’ry plain of Pyrrhasus, To Ceres dear, who dwelt; in Phylace, In Iton, rich in flocks, and, by the sea, In Antron, and in Pteleon’s grass-clad meads;

These led Protesilaus, famed in arms, While yet he liv’d; now laid beneath the sod.

In Phylace were left his weeping wife, And half-built house; him, springing to the shore, First of the Greeks, a Dardan warrior slew.

Nor were his troops, their leader though they mourn’d, Left leaderless; the post of high command Podarces claim’d of right, true plant of Mars, Iphiclus’ son, the rich Phylacides;

The brother of Protesilaus he, Younger in years, nor equal in renown;

Yet of a chief no want the forces felt, Though much they mourn’d their valiant leader slain.

In his command came forty dark-ribb’d ships.

Those who from Pherae came, beside the lake Boebeis, and who dwelt in Glaphyrae, In Boebe, and Iolcos’ well-built fort, These in eleven ships Eumelus led, Whom Pelias’ daughter, fairest of her race, Divine Alcestis to Admetus bore.

Who in Methone and Thaumacia dwelt, In Meliboea and Olizon’s rock;

These Philoctetes, skilful archer, led.

Sev’n ships were theirs, and ev’ry ship was mann’d By fifty rowers, skilful archers all.

But he, their chief, was lying, rack’d with pain, On Lemnos’ sacred isle; there left perforce In torture from a venomous serpent’s wound: There he in anguish lay: nor long, ere Greeks Of royal Philoctetes felt their need.

Yet were his troops, their leader though they mourn’d, Not leaderless: Oileus’ bastard son, Medon, of Rhene born, their ranks array’d. Who in Œchalia, Eurytus’ domain, In Tricca, and in rough Ithome dwelt, These Podalirius and Machaon led, Two skilful leeches, Æsculapius’ sons.

Of these came thirty ships in order due.

Who in Ormenium and Asterium dwelt, By Hypereia’s fount, and on the heights Of Titanum’s white peaks, of these was chief Eurypylus, Euaemon’s gallant son;

In his command came forty dark-ribb’d ships.

Who in Argissa and Gyrtona dwelt, Ortha, Elone, and the white-wall’d town Of Oloosson, Polypoetes led;

Son of Pirithous, progeny of Jove, A warrior bold; Hippodamia fair Him to Pirithous bore, what time he slew The shaggy Centaurs, and from Pelion’s heights For refuge ’mid the rude Æthices drove.

Nor he alone; with him to Troy there came A scion true of Mars, Leonteus, heir Of nobly-born Coronus, Caeneus’ son.

In their command came forty dark-ribb’d ships.

With two and twenty vessels Gouneus came From Cythus; he the Enienes led, And the Peraebians’ warlike tribes, and those Who dwelt around Dodona’s wintry heights, Or till’d the soil upon the lovely banks Of Titaresius, who to Peneus pours The tribute of his clearly-flowing stream;

Yet mingles not with Peneus’ silver waves, But on the surface floats like oil, his source From Styx deriving, in whose awful name Both Gods and men by holiest oaths are bound.

Magnesia’s troops, who dwelt by Peneus’ stream, Or beneath Pelion’s leafy-quiv’ring shades, Swift-footed Prothous led, Tenthredon’s son;

In his command came forty dark-ribb’d ships.

These were the leaders and the chiefs of Greece: Say, Muse, of these, who with th’ Atridae came, Horses and men, who claim’d the highest praise.

Of steeds, the bravest and the noblest far Were those Eumelus drove, Admetus’ son: Both swift as birds, in age and colour match’d, Alike in height, as measur’d o’er the back;

Both mares, by Phoebus of the silver bow Rear’d in Pieria, thunderbolts of war.

Of men, while yet Achilles held his wrath, The mightiest far was Ajax Telamon.

For with Achilles, and the steeds that bore The matchless son of Peleus, none might vie: But ’mid his beaked ocean-going ships He lay, with Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, Indignant; while his troops upon the beach With quoits and jav’lins whil’d away the day, And feats of archery; their steeds the while The lotus-grass and marsh-grown parsley cropp’d, Each standing near their car; the well-wrought cars Lay all unheeded in the warriors’ tents;

They, inly pining for their godlike chief, Roam’d listless up and down, nor join’d the fray.

Such was the host, which, like devouring fire, O’erspread the land; the earth beneath them groan’d: As when the Lord of thunder, in his wrath, The earth’s foundations shakes, in Arimi, Where, buried deep, ’tis said, Typhoeus lies;

So at their coming, groan’d beneath their feet The earth, as quickly o’er the plain they spread.

To Troy, sent down by aegis-bearing Jove, With direful tidings storm-swift Iris came.

At Priam’s gate, in solemn conclave met, Were gather’d all the Trojans, young and old: Swift Iris stood amidst them, and, the voice Assuming of Polites, Priam’s son, The Trojan scout, who, trusting to his speed, Was posted on the summit of the mound Of ancient Æsuetes, there to watch Till from their ships the Grecian troops should march;

His voice assuming, thus the Goddess spoke: “Old man, as erst in peace, so still thou lov’st The strife of words; but fearful war is nigh.

Full many a host in line of battle rang’d My eyes have seen; but such a force as this, So mighty and so vast, I ne’er beheld: In number as the leaves, or as the sand, Against the city o’er the plain they come.

Then, Hector, for to thee I chiefly speak, This do; thou know’st how various our allies, Of diff’rent nations and discordant tongues: Let each then those command o’er whom he reigns, And his own countrymen in arms array.

” She said; and Hector knew the voice divine, And all, dissolv’d the council, flew to arms, The gates were open’d wide; forth pour’d the crowd, Both foot and horse; and loud the tumult rose.

Before the city stands a lofty mound, In the mid plain, by open space enclos’d;

Men call it Batiaea; but the Gods The tomb of swift Myrinna; muster’d there The Trojans and Allies their troops array’d. The mighty Hector of the glancing helm, The son of Priam, led the Trojan host: The largest and the bravest band were they, Bold spearmen all, who follow’d him in arms.

Anchises’ valiant son, Æneas, led The Dardans; him, ’mid Ida’s jutting peaks, Immortal Venus to Anchises bore, A Goddess yielding to a mortal’s love: With him, well skill’d in war, Archilochus And Acamas, Antenor’s gallant sons.

Who in Zeleia dwelt, at Ida’s foot, Of Trojan race, a wealthy tribe, who drank Of dark Æsepus’ waters, these were led By Pandarus, Lycaon’s noble son, Taught by Apollo’s self to draw the bow.

Who from Adraste, and Apaesus’ realm, From Pityeia, and the lofty hill Tereian came, with linen corslets girt, Adrastus and Amphius led; two sons Of Merops of Percote; deeply vers’d Was he in prophecy; and from the war Would fain have kept his sons; but they, by fate, Doom’d to impending death, his caution scorn’d. Those who from Practium and Percote came, And who in Sestos and Abydos dwelt, And in Arisba fair; those Asius led, The son of Hyrtacus, of heroes chief;

Asius the son of Hyrtacus, who came From fair Arisba, borne by fiery steeds Of matchless size and strength, from Selles’ stream.

Hippothous led the bold Pelasgian tribes, Who dwell in rich Larissa’s fertile soil, Hippothous and Pylaeus, Lethus’ sons, The son of Teutamus, Pelasgian chief.

The Thracians, by fast-flowing Hellespont Encompass’d, Acamas and Peirous brave;

The spear-skill’d Cicones Euphemus led, Son of Troezenus, Ceus’ highborn son.

From distant Amydon Pyraecmes brought The Paeon archers from broad Axius’ banks;

Axius, the brightest stream on earth that flows.

The hairy strength of great Pylaemenes The Paphlagonians led from Eneti (Whence first appear’d the stubborn race of mules), Who in Cytorus and in Sesamum, And round Parthenius’ waters had their home;

Who dwelt in Cromne, and Ægialus, And on the lofty Erythinian rock.

By Hodius and Epistrophus were brought From distant Alybe, the wealthy source Of silver ore, the Alizonian bands.

Chromis the Mysians led, and Ennomus;

A skilful augur, but his augury From gloomy death to save him nought avail’d;

Slain by the son of Peleus, in the stream, Where many another Trojan felt his arm.

From far Ascania’s lake, with Phorcys join’d, The godlike presence of Ascanius brought The Phrygians, dauntless in the standing fight.

From Lydia came Pylaemenes’ two sons, Born of the lake Gygeian; Antiphus, And Mesthles; these Maeonia’s forces led, Who dwelt around the foot of Tmolus’ hill.

In charge of Nastes came the Carian troops, Of barbarous speech; who in Miletus dwelt, And in the dense entangled forest shade Of Phthira’s hill, and on the lofty ridge Of Mycale, and by Maeander’s stream;

These came with Nastes and Amphimacus;

Amphimacus and Nastes, Nomion’s sons;

With childish folly to the war he came, Laden with store of gold; yet nought avail’d His gold to save him from the doom of death;

Slain by the son of Peleus in the stream;

And all his wealth Achilles bore away.

Sarpedon last, and valiant Glaucus led The Lycian bands, from distant Lycia’s shore, Beside the banks of Xanthus’ eddying stream.

ARGUMENT.