The Iliad and the Odyssey (Classics of World Literature) (19 page)

Objected all ’twixt me and death, the shaft scarce piercing one.’

‘Good brother,’ said the king, ‘I wish it were no further gone;

For then our best in medicines skill’d shall ope and search the wound,

Applying balms to ease thy pains, and soon restore thee sound.’

This said, divine Talthybius he call’d, and bad him haste

Machaon (Aesculapius’ son), who most of men was grac’d

With physic’s sovereign remedies, to come and lend his hand

To Menelaus, shot by one well skill’d in the command

Of bow and arrows; one of Troy, or of the Lycian aid,

‘Who much hath glorified our foe, and us as much dismay’d.’

He heard and hasted instantly, and cast his eyes about

The thickest squadrons of the Greeks, to find Machaon out.

He found him standing guarded well with well-arm’d men of Thrace,

With whom he quickly join’d, and said: ‘Man of Apollo’s race,

Haste – for the king of men commands – to see a wound impress’d

In Menelaus (great in arms) by one instructed best

In th’ art of archery, of Troy, or of the Lycian bands,

That them with much renown adorns, us with dishonour brands.

Machaon much was mov’d with this, who with the herald flew

From troop to troop alongst the host, and soon they came in view

Of hurt Atrides, circled round with all the Grecian kings,

Who all gave way; and straight he draws the shaft, which forth he brings

Without the forks; the girdle then, plate, curets, off he plucks,

And views the wound; when first from it the clotter’d blood he sucks,

Then medicines, wondrously compos’d, the skilful leech applied,

Which loving Chiron taught his sire; he from his sire had tried.

While these were thus employ’d to ease the Atrean martialist,

The Trojans arm’d, and charg’d the Greeks; the Greeks arm and resist.

Then not asleep, nor maz’d with fear, nor shifting off the blows,

You could behold the king of men, but in full speed he goes

To set a glorious fight on foot: and he examples this

With toiling, like the worst, on foot; who therefore did dismiss

His brass-arm’d chariot, and his steeds, with Ptolomeus’ son,

(Son of Pyraides) their guide, the good Eurymedon;

‘Yet,’ said the king, ‘attend with them, lest weariness should seize

My limbs, surcharg’d with ordering troops so thick and vast as these.’

Eurymedon then rein’d his horse, that trotted neighing by;

The king a footman – and so scow’rs the squadrons orderly.

Those of his swiftly-mounted Greeks that in their arms were fit,

Those he put on with cheerful words, and bad them not remit

The least spark of their forward spirits, because the Trojans durst

Take these abhorr’d advantages, but let them do their worst:

For they might be assur’d that Jove would patronise no lies,

And that who with the breach of truce would hurt their enemies,

With vultures should be torn themselves; that they should raze their town,

Their wives, and children at their breast, led vassals to their own.

But such as he beheld hang off from that increasing fight,

Such would he bitterly rebuke, and with disgrace excite:

‘Base Argives, blush ye not to stand, as made for butts to darts?

Why are ye thus discomfited like hinds that have no hearts?

Who wearied with a long-run field, are instantly emboss’d,

Stand still, and in their beastly breasts is all their courage lost:

And so stand you struck with amaze, nor dare to strike a stroke.

Would ye the foe should nearer yet your dastard spleens provoke,

Even where on Neptune’s foamy shore our navies lie in sight,

To see if Jove will hold your hands, and teach ye how to fight?’

Thus he (commanding) rang’d the host, and passing many a band,

He came to the Cretensian troops, where all did armed stand

About the martial Idomen; who bravely stood before

In vanguard of his troops, and match’d for strength a savage boar,

Meriones, his charioteer, the rearguard bringing on.

Which seen to Atreus’ son, to him it was a sight alone,

And Idomen’s confirmed mind with these kind words he seeks:

‘O Idomen! I ever lov’d thy self past all the Greeks,

In war, or any work of peace, at table, every where;

For when the best of Greece besides mix ever at our cheer

My good old ardent wine with small, and our inferior mates

Drink even that mix’d wine measur’d too, thou drink’st without those rates

Our old wine neat, and evermore thy bowl stands full like mine,

To drink still when and what thou wilt. Then rouse that heart of thine,

And whatsoever heretofore thou hast assum’d to be,

This day be greater.’ To the king in this sort answer’d he:

‘Atrides, what I ever seem’d, the same at every part

This day shall show me at the full, and I will fit thy heart.

But thou should’st rather cheer the rest, and tell them they in right

Of all good war must offer blows, and should begin the fight

(Since Troy first brake the holy truce) and not indure these braves,

To take wrong first, and then be dar’d to the revenge it craves:

Assuring them that Troy in fate must have the worse at last,

Since first, and ’gainst a truce, they hurt, where they should have embrac’d.’

This comfort and advice did fit Atrides’ heart indeed;

Who still through new-rais’d swarms of men held his laborious speed,

And came where both th’ Ajaces stood; whom like the last he found

Arm’d, casqued, and ready for the fight. Behind them hid the ground

A cloud of foot, that seem’d to smoke. And as a goatherd spies,

On some hill’s top, out of the sea, a rainy vapour rise,

Driv’n by the breath of Zephyrus, which though far off he rest,

Comes on as black as pitch, and brings a tempest in his breast,

Whereat he frighted drives his herds apace into a den:

So dark’ning earth with darts and shields show’d these with all their men.

This sight with like joy fir’d the king, who thus let forth the flame,

In crying out to both the dukes: ‘O you of equal name,

I must not cheer, nay, I disclaim all my command of you;

Yourselves command with such free minds, and make your soldiers show,

As you nor I led, but themselves. O would our father Jove,

Minerva, and the God of Light, would all our bodies move

With such brave spirits as breathe in you: then Priam’s lofty town

Should soon be taken by our hands, for ever overthrown.’

Then held he on to other troops, and Nestor next beheld,

The subtle Pylian orator, range up and down the field,

Embattelling his men at arms, and stirring all to blows;

Points every legion out his chief, and every chief he shows

The forms and discipline of war: yet his commanders were

All expert, and renowned men: great Pelagon was there,

Alastor, manly Chromius, and Hemon worth a throne,

And Byas that could armies lead. With these he first put on

His horse troops with their chariots: his foot (of which he choos’d

Many, the best and ablest men, and which he ever us’d

As rampire to his general power) he in the rear dispos’d.

The slothful, and the least in spirit, he in the midst inclos’d,

That such as wanted noble wills, base need might force to stand.

His horse troops, that the vanguard had, he strictly did command

To ride their horses temperately, to keep their ranks, and shun

Confusion, lest their horsemanship and courage made them run

(Too much presum’d on) much too far, and (charging so alone)

Engage themselves in th’ enemy’s strength, where many fight with one.

‘Who his own chariot leaves to range, let him not freely go,

But straight unhorse him with a lance: for ’tis much better so.

And with this discipline,’ said he, ‘this form, these minds, this trust,

Our ancestors have walls and towns laid level with the dust.’

Thus prompt, and long inur’d to arms, this old man did exhort;

And this Atrides likewise took in wondrous cheerful sort;

And said: ‘O father, would to heav’n that as thy mind remains

In wonted vigour, so thy knees could undergo our pains.

But age, that all men overcomes, hath made his prize on thee;

Yet still I wish that some young man, grown old in mind, might be

Put in proportion with thy years; and thy mind, young in age,

Be fitly answer’d with his youth, that still where conflicts rage,

And young men us’d to thirst for fame, thy brave exampling hand

Might double our young Grecian spirits, and grace our whole command.’

The old knight answer’d: ‘I myself could wish, O Atreus’ son,

I were as young as when I slew brave Ereuthalion;

But gods at all times give not all their gifts to mortal men.

If then I had the strength of youth, I miss’d the counsels then

That years now give me, and now years want that main strength of youth;

Yet still my mind retains her strength (as you now said the sooth),

And would be where that strength is us’d, affording counsels sage

To stir youth’s minds up; ’tis the grace and office of our age.

Let younger sinews, men sprung up whole ages after me,

And such as have strength, use it, and as strong in honour be.’

The king, all this while comforted, arriv’d next where he found

Well-rode Menestheus (Peteus’ son) stand still, environ’d round

With his well-train’d Athenian troops; and next to him he spied

The wise Ulysses, deedless too, and all his bands beside

Of strong Cephalians; for as yet th’ alarm had not been heard

In all their quarters, Greece and Troy were then so newly stirr’d,

And then first mov’d, as they conceiv’d; and they so look’d about

To see both hosts give proof of that they yet had cause to doubt.

Atrides seeing them stand so still, and spend their eyes at gaze,

Began to chide: ‘And why,’ said he, ‘dissolv’d thus in amaze,

Thou son of Peteus, Jove-nurs’d king, and thou in wicked sleight,

A cunning soldier, stand ye off? Expect ye that the fight

Should be by other men begun? ’Tis fit the foremost band

Should show you there; you first should front who first lifts up his hand.

First you can hear, when I invite the princes to a feast,

When first, most friendly, and at will ye eat and drink the best;

Yet in the fight most willingly ten troops ye can behold

Take place before ye.’ Ithacus at this his brows did fold,

And said: ‘How hath thy violent tongue broke through thy set of teeth

To say that we are slack in fight, and to the field of death

Look others should enforce our way, when we were busied then,

Ev’n when thou speak’st, against the foe to cheer and lead our men?

But thy eyes shall be witnesses, if it content thy will,

And that (as thou pretend’st) these cares do so affect thee still:

The father of Telemachus (whom I esteem so dear,

And to whom as a legacy I’ll leave my deeds done here)

Even with the foremost band of Troy hath his encounter dar’d,

And therefore are thy speeches vain, and had been better spar’d.’

He, smiling, since he saw him mov’d, recall’d his words, and said:

‘Most generous Laertes’ son, most wise of all our aid,

I neither do accuse thy worth, more than thyself may hold

Fit (that inferiors think not much – being slack – to be controll’d),

Nor take I on me thy command: for well I know thy mind

Knows how sweet gentle counsels are, and that thou stand’st inclin’d,

As I myself, for all our good. On then: if now we spake

What hath displeas’d, another time we full amends will make:

And gods grant that thy virtue here may prove so free and brave,

That my reproofs may still be vain, and thy deservings grave.’

Thus parted they; and forth he went, when he did leaning find,

Against his chariot, near his horse, him with a mighty mind,

Great Diomedes (Tydeus’ son) and Sthenelus, the seed

Of Capaneius, whom the king seeing likewise out of deed,

Thus cried he out on Diomed: ‘O me! In what a fear

The wise great warrior, Tydeus’ son, stands gazing everywhere

For others to begin the fight! It was not Tydeus’ use

To be so daunted, whom his spirit would evermore produce

Before the foremost of his friends in these affairs of fright,

As they report that have beheld him labour in a fight.

For me, I never knew the man, nor in his presence came,

But excellent above the rest he was in general fame.

And one renown’d exploit of his I am assur’d is true;

He came to the Mycenian court, without arms, and did sue

At godlike Polinices’ hands, to have some worthy aid

To their designs, that ’gainst the walls of sacred Thebes were laid.

He was great Polinices’ guest, and nobly entertain’d:

And of the kind Mycenian state what he requested gain’d,

In mere consent: but when they should the same in act approve,

By some sinister prodigies, held out to them by Jove,

They were discourag’d; thence he went, and safely had his pass

Back to Aesopus’ flood, renown’d for bulrushes and grass.

Yet, once more their ambassador the Grecian peers address,

Lord Tydeus to Eteocles; to whom being given access,

He found him feasting with a crew of Cadmeans in his hall;

Amongst whom, though an enemy, and only one to all,

To all yet he his challenge made at every martial feat,

And eas’ly foil’d all, since with him Minerva was so great.