The Iliad
BOOK XV
Zeus awakening, biddeth Apollo revive Hector, and restore the
fortunes of the Trojans. Fire is thrown on the ship of
Protesilaos.
Now when they had sped in flight across the palisade and trench, and
many were overcome at the hands of the Danaans, the rest were stayed,
and abode beside the chariots in confusion, and pale with terror, and
Zeus awoke, on the peaks of Ida, beside Hera of the golden throne. Then
he leaped up, and stood, and beheld the Trojans and Achaians, those in
flight, and these driving them on from the rear, even the Argives, and
among them the prince Poseidon. And Hector he saw lying on the plain,
and around him sat his comrades, and he was gasping with difficult
breath, and his mind wandering, and was vomiting blood, for it was not
the weakest of the Achaians that had smitten him. Beholding him, the
father of men and gods had pity on him, and terribly he spoke to Hera,
with fierce look: "O thou ill to deal with, Hera, verily it is thy
crafty wile that has made noble Hector cease from the fight, and has
terrified the host. Nay, but yet I know not whether thou mayst not be
the first to reap the fruits of thy cruel treason, and I beat thee with
stripes. Dost thou not remember, when thou wert hung from on high, and
from thy feet I suspended two anvils, and round thy hands fastened a
golden bond that might not be broken? And thou didst hang in the clear
air and the clouds, and the gods were wroth in high Olympus, but they
could not come round and unloose thee."
So spake he, and the ox-eyed lady Hera shuddered, and spake unto him
winged words, saying: "Let earth now be witness hereto, and wide heaven
above, and that falling water of Styx, the greatest oath and the most
terrible to the blessed gods, and thine own sacred head, and our own
bridal bed, whereby never would I forswear myself, that not by my will
does earth-shaking Poseidon trouble the Trojans and Hector, and succour
them of the other part. Nay, it is his own soul that urgeth and
commandeth him, and he had pity on the Achaians, when he beheld them
hard pressed beside the ships. I would even counsel him also to go even
where thou, lord of the storm-cloud, mayst lead him."
So spake she, and the father of gods and men smiled, and answering her
he spake winged words: "If thou, of a truth, O ox-eyed lady Hera,
wouldst hereafter abide of one mind with me among the immortal gods,
thereon would Poseidon, howsoever much his wish be contrariwise,
quickly turn his mind otherwhere, after thy heart and mine. But if
indeed thou speakest the truth and soothly, go thou now among the
tribes of the gods, and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, the
renowned archer, that Iris may go among the host of mail-clad Achaians
and tell Poseidon the prince to cease from the war, and get him unto
his own house. But let Phoebus Apollo spur Hector on to the war, and
breathe strength into him again, and make him forget his anguish, that
now wears down his heart, and drive the Achaians back again, when he
hath stirred in them craven fear. Let them flee and fall among the
many-benched ships of Achilles son of Peleus, and he shall rouse his
own comrade, Patroklos; and him shall renowned Hector slay with the
spear, in front of Ilios, after that he has slain many other youths,
and among them my son, noble Sarpedon. In wrath therefor shall goodly
Achilles slay Hector. From that hour verily will I cause a new pursuit
from the ships, that shall endure continually, even until the Achaians
take steep Ilios, through the counsels of Athene. But before that hour
neither do I cease in my wrath, nor will I suffer any other of the
Immortals to help the Danaans there, before I accomplish that desire of
the son of Peleus, as I promised him at the first, and confirmed the
same with a nod of my head, on that day when the goddess Thetis clasped
my knees, imploring me to honour Achilles, the sacker of cities."
So spake he, nor did the white-armed goddess Hera disobey him, and she
sped down from the hills of Ida to high Olympus, and went among the
gathering of the immortal gods. And she called Apollo without the hall
and Iris, that is the messenger of the immortal gods, and she spake
winged words, and addressed them, saying: "Zeus bids you go to Ida as
swiftly as may be, and when ye have gone, and looked on the face of
Zeus, do ye whatsoever he shall order and command."
And these twain came before the face of Zeus the cloud gatherer, and
stood there, and he was nowise displeased at heart when he beheld them,
for that speedily they had obeyed the words of his dear wife. And to
Iris first he spake winged words: "Go, get thee, swift Iris, to the
prince Poseidon, and tell him all these things, nor be a false
messenger. Command him to cease from war and battle, and to go among
the tribes of the gods, or into the bright sea. But if he will not obey
my words, but will hold me in no regard, then let him consider in his
heart and mind, lest he dare not for all his strength to abide me when
I come against him, since I deem me to be far mightier than he, and
elder born."
So spake he, nor did the wind-footed fleet Iris disobey him, but went
down the hills of Ida to sacred Ilios. And as when snow or chill hail
fleets from the clouds beneath the stress of the North Wind born in the
clear air, so fleetly she fled in her eagerness, swift Iris, and drew
near the renowned Earth-shaker and spake to him the message of Zeus.
And he left the host of the Achaians, and passed to the sea, and sank,
and sorely they missed him, the heroes of the Achaians.
Then Zeus, the gatherer of the clouds, spake to Apollo, saying: "Go
now, dear Phoebus, to Hector of the helm of bronze. Let glorious Hector
be thy care, and rouse in him great wrath even till the Achaians come
in their flight to the ships, and the Hellespont. And from that moment
will I devise word and deed wherewithal the Achaians may take breath
again from their toil."
So spake he, nor was Apollo deaf to the word of the Father, but he went
down the hills of Ida like a fleet falcon, the bane of doves, that is
the swiftest of flying things. And he found the son of wise-hearted
Priam, noble Hector, sitting up, no longer lying, for he had but late
got back his life, and knew the comrades around him, and his gasping
and his sweat had ceased, from the moment when the will of
aegis-bearing Zeus began to revive him. Then far-darting Apollo stood
near him, and spake to him: "Hector, son of Priam, why dost thou sit
fainting apart from the others? Is it perchance that some trouble
cometh upon thee?"
Then, with faint breath answered him Hector of the glancing helm: "Nay,
but who art thou, best of the gods, who enquirest of me face to face?
Dost thou not know that by the hindmost row of the ships of the
Achaians, Aias of the loud war-cry smote me on the breast with a stone,
as I was slaying his comrades, and made me cease from mine impetuous
might? And verily I deemed that this very day I should pass to the
dead, and the house of Hades, when I had gasped my life away."
Then prince Apollo the Far-darter answered him again: "Take courage
now, so great an ally hath the son of Kronos sent thee out of Ida, to
stand by thee and defend thee, even Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword,
me who of old defend thee, thyself and the steep citadel. But come now,
bid thy many charioteers drive their swift steeds against the hollow
ships, and I will go before and make smooth all the way for the
chariots, and will put to flight the Achaian heroes."
So he spake, and breathed great might into the shepherd of the host,
and even as when a stalled horse, full fed at the manger, breaks his
tether and speedeth at the gallop over the plain exultingly, being wont
to bathe in the fair-flowing stream, and holds his head on high, and
the mane floweth about his shoulders, and he trusteth in his glory, and
nimbly his knees bear him to the haunts and pasture of the mares, even
so Hector lightly moved his feet and knees, urging on his horsemen,
when he heard the voice of the god. But as when hounds and country folk
pursue a horned stag, or a wild goat, that steep rock and shady wood
save from them, nor is it their lot to find him, but at their clamour a
bearded lion hath shown himself on the way, and lightly turned them all
despite their eagerness, even so the Danaans for a while followed on
always in their companies, smiting with swords and double-pointed
spears, but when they saw Hector going up and down the ranks of men,
then were they afraid, and the hearts of all fell to their feet.
Then to them spake Thoas, son of Andraimon, far the best of the
Aitolians, skilled in throwing the dart, and good in close fight, and
in council did few of the Achaians surpass him, when the young men were
striving in debate; he made harangue and spake among them: "Alas, and
verily a great marvel is this I behold with mine eyes, how he hath
again arisen, and hath avoided the Fates, even Hector. Surely each of
us hoped in his heart, that he had died beneath the hand of Aias, son
of Telamon. But some one of the gods again hath delivered and saved
Hector, who verily hath loosened the knees of many of the Danaans, as
methinks will befall even now, for not without the will of
loud-thundering Zeus doth he rise in the front ranks, thus eager for
battle. But come, as I declare let us all obey. Let us bid the throng
turn back to the ships, but let us as many as avow us to be the best in
the host, take our stand, if perchance first we may meet him, and hold
him off with outstretched spears, and he, methinks, for all his
eagerness, will fear at heart to enter into the press of the Danaans."
So spake he, and they heard him eagerly, and obeyed him. They that were
with Aias and the prince Idomeneus, and Teukros, and Neriones, and
Meges the peer of Ares, called to all the best of the warriors and
sustained the fight with Hector and the Trojans, but behind them the
multitude returned to the ships of the Achaians.
Now the Trojans drave forward in close ranks, and with long strides
Hector led them, while in front of him went Phoebus Apollo, his
shoulders wrapped in cloud, and still he held the fell aegis, dread,
circled with a shaggy fringe, and gleaming, that Hephaistos the smith
gave to Zeus, to bear for the terror of men; with this in his hands did
he lead the host.
Now the Argives abode them in close ranks, and shrill the cry arose on
both sides, and the arrows leaped from the bow-strings, and many spears
from stalwart hands, whereof some stood fast in the flesh of young men
swift in fight, but many halfway, ere ever they reached the white
flesh, stuck in the ground, longing to glut themselves with flesh. Now
so long as Phoebus Apollo held the aegis unmoved in his hands, so long
the darts smote either side amain, and the folk fell. But when he
looked face to face on the Danaans of the swift steeds, and shook the
aegis, and himself shouted mightily, he quelled their heart in their
breast, and they forgot their impetuous valour. And as when two wild
beasts drive in confusion a herd of kine, or a great flock of sheep, in
the dark hour of black night, coming swiftly on them when the herdsman
is not by, even so were the Achaians terror-stricken and strengthless,
for Apollo sent a panic among them, but still gave renown to the
Trojans and Hector.
And Hector smote his horses on the shoulder with the lash, and called
aloud on the Trojans along the ranks. And they all cried out, and level
with his held the steeds that drew their chariots, with a marvellous
din, and in front of them Phoebus Apollo lightly dashed down with his
feet the banks of the deep ditch, and cast them into the midst thereof,
making a bridgeway long and wide as is a spear-cast, when a man throws
to make trial of his strength. Thereby the Trojans poured forward in
their battalions, while in their van Apollo held the splendid aegis.
And most easily did he cast down the wall of the Achaians, as when a
boy scatters the sand beside the sea, first making sand buildings for
sport in his childishness, and then again, in his sport, confounding
them with his feet and hands; even so didst thou, archer Apollo,
confound the long toil and labour of the Argives, and among them rouse
a panic fear.
So they were halting, and abiding by the ships, calling each to other;
and lifting their hands to all the gods did each man pray vehemently,
and chiefly prayed Nestor, the Warden of the Achaians, stretching his
hand towards the starry heaven: "O father Zeus, if ever any one of us
in wheat-bearing Argos did burn to thee fat thighs of bull or sheep,
and prayed that he might return, and thou didst promise and assent
thereto, of these things be thou mindful, and avert, Olympian, the
pitiless day, nor suffer the Trojans thus to overcome the Achaians."
So spake he in his prayer, and Zeus, the Lord of counsel, thundered
loudly, hearing the prayers of the ancient son of Neleus.
But the Trojans when they heard the thunder of aegis-bearing Zeus,
rushed yet the more eagerly upon the Argives, and were mindful of the
joy of battle. And as when a great wave of the wide sea sweeps over the
bulwarks of a ship, the might of the wind constraining it, which
chiefly swells the waves, even so did the Trojans with a great cry
bound over the wall, and drave their horses on, and at the hindmost row
of the ships were fighting hand to hand with double-pointed spears, the
Trojans from the chariots, but the Achaians climbing up aloft, from the
black ships with long pikes that they had lying in the ships for battle
at sea, jointed pikes shod at the head with bronze.
Now the Trojans, like ravening lions, rushed upon the ships, fulfilling
the behests of Zeus, that ever was rousing their great wrath, but
softened the temper of the Argives, and took away their glory, while he
spurred on the others. For the heart of Zeus was set on giving glory to
Hector, the son of Priam, that withal he might cast fierce-blazing
fire, unwearied, upon the beaked ships, and so fulfil all the
presumptuous prayer of Thetis; wherefore wise-counselling Zeus awaited,
till his eyes should see the glare of a burning ship. For even from
that hour was he to ordain the backward chase of the Trojans from the
ships, and to give glory to the Danaans. With this design was he
rousing Hector, Priam's son, that himself was right eager, against the
hollow ships. For short of life was he to be, yea, and already Pallas
Athene was urging against him the day of destiny, at the hand of the
son of Peleus. And fain he was to break the ranks of men, trying them
wheresoever he saw the thickest press, and the goodliest harness. Yet
not even so might he break them for all his eagerness. Nay, they stood
firm, and embattled like a steep rock and a great, hard by the hoary
sea, a rock that abides the swift paths of the shrill winds, and the
swelling waves that roar against it. Even so the Danaans steadfastly
abode the Trojans and fled not away. But Hector shining with fire on
all sides leaped on the throng, and fell upon them, as when beneath the
storm-clouds a fleet wave reared of the winds falls on a swift ship,
and she is all hidden with foam, and the dread blast of the wind roars
against the sail, and the sailors fear, and tremble in their hearts,
for by but a little way are they borne forth from death, even so the
spirit was torn in the breasts of the Achaians.
So again keen battle was set by the ships. Thou wouldst deem that
unwearied and unworn they met each other in war, so eagerly they
fought. And in their striving they were minded thus; the Achaians
verily deemed that never would they flee from the danger, but perish
there, but the heart of each Trojan hoped in his breast, that they
should fire the ships, and slay the heroes of the Achaians. With these
imaginations they stood to each other, and Hector seized the stern of a
seafaring ship, a fair ship, swift on the brine, that had borne
Protesilaos to Troia, but brought him not back again to his own
country. Now round his ship the Achaians and Trojans warred on each
other hand to hand, nor far apart did they endure the flights of
arrows, nor of darts, but standing hard each by other, with one heart,
with sharp axes and hatchets they fought, and with great swords, and
double-pointed spears. And many fair brands, dark-scabbarded and
hilted, fell to the ground, some from the hands, some from off the
shoulders of warring men, and the black earth ran with blood. But
Hector, after that once he had seized the ship's stern, left not his
hold, keeping the ensign in his hands, and he called to the Trojans:
"Bring fire, and all with one voice do ye raise the war-cry; now hath
Zeus given us the dearest day of all,--to take the ships that came
hither against the will of the gods, and brought many woes upon us, by
the cowardice of the elders, who withheld me when I was eager to fight
at the sterns of the ships, and kept back the host. But if even then
far-seeing Zeus did harm our wits, now he himself doth urge and command
us onwards." So spake he, and they set yet the fiercer on the Argives.
And Aias no longer abode their onset, for he was driven back by the
darts, but he withdrew a little,--thinking that now he should die,--on
to the oarsman's bench of seven feet long, and he left the decks of the
trim ship. There then he stood on the watch, and with his spear he ever
drave the Trojans from the ships, whosoever brought unwearied fire, and
ever he shouted terribly, calling to the Danaans: "O friends, Danaan
heroes, men of Ares' company, play the man, my friends, and be mindful
of impetuous valour. Do we deem that there be allies at our backs, or
some wall stronger than this to ward off death from men? Verily there
is not hard by any city arrayed with towers, whereby we might defend
ourselves, having a host that could turn the balance of battle. Nay,
but we are set down in the plain of the mailed men of Troy, with our
backs against the sea, and far off from our own land. Therefore is
safety in battle, and not in slackening from the fight." So spake he,
and rushed on ravening for battle, with his keen spear. And whosoever
of the Trojans was coming against the ship with blazing fire, to
pleasure Hector at his urging, him would Aias wound, awaiting him with
his long spear, and twelve men in front of the ships at close quarters
did he wound.
