The Iliad Of Homer: Translated Into English Blank Verse: Book XIV.

Argument Of The Fourteenth Book.     Agamemnon and the other wounded Chiefs taking Nestor with them, visit the battle. Juno having borrowed the Cestus of Venus, first engages the assistance of Sleep, then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails. Jove sleeps; and Neptune takes that opportunity to succor the Grecians.      Nor was that cry by Nestor unperceived      Though drinking, who in words wing'd with surprise      The son of sculapius thus address'd.      Divine Machaon! think what this may bode.      The cry of our young warriors at the ships      Grows louder; sitting here, the sable wine      Quaff thou, while bright-hair'd Hecamede warms      A bath, to cleanse thy crimson stains away.      I from yon eminence will learn the cause.      So saying, he took a shield radiant with brass      There lying in the tent, the shield well-forged      Of valiant Thrasymedes, his own son      (For he had borne to fight his father's shield)      And arming next his hand with a keen lance      Stood forth before the tent. Thence soon he saw      Foul deeds and strange, the Grecian host confused,      Their broken ranks flying before the host      Of Ilium, and the rampart overthrown.      As when the wide sea, darken'd over all      Its silent flood, forebodes shrill winds to blow,      The doubtful waves roll yet to neither side,      Till swept at length by a decisive gale;[1]      So stood the senior, with distressful doubts      Conflicting anxious, whether first to seek      The Grecian host, or Agamemnon's self      The sovereign, and at length that course preferr'd.      Meantime with mutual carnage they the field      Spread far and wide, and by spears double-edged      Smitten, and by the sword their corselets rang.      The royal Chiefs ascending from the fleet,      Ulysses, Diomede, and Atreus' son      Imperial Agamemnon, who had each      Bled in the battle, met him on his way.      For from the war remote they had updrawn      Their galleys on the shore of the gray Deep,      The foremost to the plain, and at the sterns      Of that exterior line had built the wall.      For, spacious though it were, the shore alone      That fleet sufficed not, incommoding much      The people; wherefore they had ranged the ships      Line above line gradual, and the bay      Between both promontories, all was fill'd.      They, therefore, curious to survey the fight,      Came forth together, leaning on the spear,      When Nestor met them; heavy were their hearts,      And at the sight of him still more alarm'd,      Whom royal Agamemnon thus bespake.      Neleian Nestor, glory of the Greeks!      What moved thee to forsake yon bloody field,      And urged thee hither? Cause I see of fear,      Lest furious Hector even now his threat      Among the Trojans publish'd, verify,      That he would never enter Ilium more      Till he had burn'd our fleet, and slain ourselves.      So threaten'd Hector, and shall now perform.      Alas! alas! the Achaians brazen-greaved      All, like Achilles, have deserted me      Resentful, and decline their fleet's defence.      To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied.      Those threats are verified; nor Jove himself      The Thunderer can disappoint them now;      For our chief strength in which we trusted most      That it should guard impregnably secure      Our navy and ourselves, the wall hath fallen.      Hence all this conflict by our host sustain'd      Among the ships; nor could thy keenest sight      Inform thee where in the Achaian camp      Confusion most prevails, such deaths are dealt      Promiscuous, and the cry ascends to heaven.      But come--consult we on the sum of all,      If counsel yet may profit. As for you,      Ye shall have exhortation none from me      To seek the fight; the wounded have excuse.      Whom Agamemnon answer'd, King of men.      Ah Nestor! if beneath our very sterns      The battle rage, if neither trench nor wall      Constructed with such labor, and supposed      Of strength to guard impregnably secure      Our navy and ourselves, avail us aught,      It is because almighty Jove hath will'd      That the Achaian host should perish here      Inglorious, from their country far remote.      When he vouchsafed assistance to the Greeks,      I knew it well; and now, not less I know      That high as the immortal Gods he lifts      Our foes to glory, and depresses us.      Haste therefore all, and act as I advise.      Our ships--all those that nearest skirt the Deep,      Launch we into the sacred flood, and moor      With anchors safely, till o'ershadowing night      (If night itself may save us) shall arrive.      Then may we launch the rest; for I no shame      Account it, even by 'vantage of the night      To fly destruction. Wiser him I deem      Who 'scapes his foe, than whom his foe enthralls.      But him Ulysses, frowning stern, reproved.      What word, Atrides, now hath pass'd thy lips?      Counsellor of despair! thou should'st command      (And would to heaven thou didst) a different host,      Some dastard race, not ours; whom Jove ordains      From youth to hoary age to weave the web      Of toilsome warfare, till we perish all.      Wilt thou the spacious city thus renounce      For which such numerous woes we have endured?      Hush! lest some other hear; it is a word      Which no man qualified by years mature      To speak discreetly, no man bearing rule      O'er such a people as confess thy sway,      Should suffer to contaminate his lips.      I from my soul condemn thee, and condemn      Thy counsel, who persuad'st us in the heat      Of battle terrible as this, to launch      Our fleet into the waves, that we may give      Our too successful foes their full desire,      And that our own prepondering scale      May plunge us past all hope; for while they draw      Their galleys down, the Grecians shall but ill      Sustain the fight, seaward will cast their eyes      And shun the battle, bent on flight alone.      Then, shall they rue thy counsel, King of men!      To whom the imperial leader of the Greeks.      Thy sharp reproof, Ulysses, hath my soul      Pierced deeply. Yet I gave no such command      That the Achaians should their galleys launch,      Would they, or would they not. No. I desire      That young or old, some other may advice      More prudent give, and he shall please me well.      Then thus the gallant Diomede replied.      That man is near, and may ye but be found      Tractable, our inquiry shall be short.      Be patient each, nor chide me nor reproach      Because I am of greener years than ye,      For I am sprung from an illustrious Sire,      From Tydeus, who beneath his hill of earth      Lies now entomb'd at Thebes. Three noble sons      Were born to Portheus, who in Pleuro dwelt,      And on the heights of Calydon; the first      Agrius; the second Melas; and the third      Brave Oeneus, father of my father, famed      For virtuous qualities above the rest.      Oeneus still dwelt at home; but wandering thence      My father dwelt in Argos; so the will      Of Jove appointed, and of all the Gods.      There he espoused the daughter of the King      Adrastus, occupied a mansion rich      In all abundance; many a field possess'd      Of wheat, well-planted gardens, numerous flocks,      And was expert in spearmanship esteem'd      Past all the Grecians. I esteem'd it right      That ye should hear these things, for they are true.      Ye will not, therefore, as I were obscure      And of ignoble origin, reject      What I shall well advise. Expedience bids      That, wounded as we are, we join the host.      We will preserve due distance from the range      Of spears and arrows, lest already gall'd,      We suffer worse; but we will others urge      To combat, who have stood too long aloof,      Attentive only to their own repose.      He spake, whom all approved, and forth they went,      Imperial Agamemnon at their head.      Nor watch'd the glorious Shaker of the shores      In vain, but like a man time-worn approach'd,      And, seizing Agamemnon's better hand,      In accents wing'd the monarch thus address'd.      Atrides! now exults the vengeful heart      Of fierce Achilles, viewing at his ease      The flight and slaughter of Achaia's host;      For he is mad, and let him perish such,      And may his portion from the Gods be shame!      But as for thee, not yet the powers of heaven      Thee hate implacable; the Chiefs of Troy      Shall cover yet with cloudy dust the breadth      Of all the plain, and backward from the camp      To Ilium's gates thyself shalt see them driven.      He ceased, and shouting traversed swift the field.      Loud as nine thousand or ten thousand shout      In furious battle mingled, Neptune sent      His voice abroad, force irresistible      Infusing into every Grecian heart,      And thirst of battle not to be assuaged.      But Juno of the golden throne stood forth      On the Olympian summit, viewing thence      The field, where clear distinguishing the God      Of ocean, her own brother, sole engaged      Amid the glorious battle, glad was she.      Seeing Jove also on the topmost point      Of spring-fed Ida seated, she conceived      Hatred against him, and thenceforth began      Deliberate how best she might deceive      The Thunderer, and thus at last resolved;      Attired with skill celestial to descend      On Ida, with a hope to allure him first      Won by her beauty to a fond embrace,      Then closing fast in balmy sleep profound      His eyes, to elude his vigilance, secure.      She sought her chamber; Vulcan her own son      That chamber built. He framed the solid doors,      And to the posts fast closed them with a key      Mysterious, which, herself except, in heaven      None understood. Entering she secured      The splendid portal. First, she laved all o'er      Her beauteous body with ambrosial lymph,      Then polish'd it with richest oil divine      Of boundless fragrance;[2] oil that in the courts      Eternal only shaken, through the skies      Breathed odors, and through all the distant earth.      Her whole fair body with those sweets bedew'd,      She passed the comb through her ambrosial hair,      And braided her bright locks streaming profuse      From her immortal brows; with golden studs      She made her gorgeous mantle fast before,      Ethereal texture, labor of the hands      Of Pallas beautified with various art,      And braced it with a zone fringed all around      A hundred fold; her pendants triple-gemm'd      Luminous, graceful, in her ears she hung,      And covering all her glories with a veil      Sun-bright, new-woven, bound to her fair feet      Her sandals elegant. Thus full attired,      In all her ornaments, she issued forth,      And beckoning Venus from the other powers      Of heaven apart, the Goddess thus bespake.      Daughter beloved! shall I obtain my suit,      Or wilt thou thwart me, angry that I aid      The Grecians, while thine aid is given to Troy?      To whom Jove's daughter Venus thus replied.      What would majestic Juno, daughter dread      Of Saturn, sire of Jove? I feel a mind      Disposed to gratify thee, if thou ask      Things possible, and possible to me.      Then thus with wiles veiling her deep design      Imperial Juno. Give me those desires,      That love-enkindling power by which thou sway'st      Immortal hearts and mortal, all alike;      For to the green earth's utmost bounds I go,      To visit there the parent of the Gods,      Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused,      Mother of all. They kindly from the hands      Of Rhea took, and with parental care      Sustain'd and cherish'd me, what time from heaven      The Thunderer hurled down Saturn, and beneath      The earth fast bound him and the barren Deep.      Them go I now to visit, and their feuds      Innumerable to compose; for long      They have from conjugal embrace abstain'd      Through mutual wrath, whom by persuasive speech      Might I restore into each other's arms,      They would for ever love me and revere.      Her, foam-born Venus then, Goddess of smiles,      Thus answer'd. Thy request, who in the arms      Of Jove reposest the omnipotent,      Nor just it were nor seemly to refuse.      So saying, the cincture from her breast she loosed      Embroider'd, various, her all-charming zone.      It was an ambush of sweet snares, replete      With love, desire, soft intercourse of hearts,      And music of resistless whisper'd sounds      That from the wisest steal their best resolves;      She placed it in her hands and thus she said.      Take this--this girdle fraught with every charm.      Hide this within thy bosom, and return,      Whate'er thy purpose, mistress of it all.      She spake; imperial Juno smiled, and still      Smiling complacent, bosom'd safe the zone.      Then Venus to her father's court return'd,      And Juno, starting from the Olympian height,      O'erflew Pieria and the lovely plains      Of broad Emathia; soaring thence she swept      The snow-clad summits of the Thracian hills      Steed-famed, nor printed, as she passed, the soil.      From Athos o'er the foaming billows borne      She came to Lemnos, city and abode      Of noble Thoas, and there meeting Sleep,      Brother of Death, she press'd his hand, and said,      Sleep, over all, both Gods and men, supreme!      If ever thou hast heard, hear also now      My suit; I will be grateful evermore.      Seal for me fast the radiant eyes of Jove      In the instant of his gratified desire.      Thy recompense shall be a throne of gold,      Bright, incorruptible; my limping son,      Vulcan, shall fashion it himself with art      Laborious, and, beneath, shall place a stool[3]      For thy fair feet, at the convivial board.      Then answer thus the tranquil Sleep returned      Great Saturn's daughter, awe-inspiring Queen!      All other of the everlasting Gods      I could with ease make slumber, even the streams      Of Ocean, Sire of all.[4] Not so the King      The son of Saturn: him, unless himself      Give me command, I dare not lull to rest,      Or even approach him, taught as I have been      Already in the school of thy commands      That wisdom. I forget not yet the day      When, Troy laid waste, that valiant son[5] of his      Sail'd homeward: then my influence I diffused      Soft o'er the sovereign intellect of Jove;      While thou, against the Hero plotting harm,      Didst rouse the billows with tempestuous blasts,      And separating him from all his friend,      Brought'st him to populous Cos. Then Jove awoke,      And, hurling in his wrath the Gods about,      Sought chiefly me, whom far below all ken      He had from heaven cast down into the Deep,      But Night, resistless vanquisher of all,      Both Gods and men, preserved me; for to her      I fled for refuge. So the Thunderer cool'd,      Though sore displeased, and spared me through a fear      To violate the peaceful sway of Night.[6]      And thou wouldst now embroil me yet again!      To whom majestic Juno thus replied.      Ah, wherefore, Sleep! shouldst thou indulge a fear      So groundless? Chase it from thy mind afar.      Think'st thou the Thunderer as intent to serve      The Trojans, and as jealous in their cause      As erst for Hercules, his genuine son?      Come then, and I will bless thee with a bride;      One of the younger Graces shall be thine,      Pasithea, day by day still thy desire.      She spake; Sleep heard delighted, and replied.      By the inviolable Stygian flood      Swear to me; lay thy right hand on the glebe      All-teeming, lay thy other on the face      Of the flat sea, that all the Immortal Powers      Who compass Saturn in the nether realms      May witness, that thou givest me for a bride      The younger Grace whom thou hast named, divine      Pasithea, day by day still my desire.      He said, nor beauteous Juno not complied,      But sware, by name invoking all the powers      Titanian call'd who in the lowest gulf      Dwell under Tartarus, omitting none.      Her oath with solemn ceremonial sworn,      Together forth they went; Lemnos they left      And Imbrus, city of Thrace, and in dark clouds      Mantled, with gliding ease swam through the air      To Ida's mount with rilling waters vein'd,      Parent of savage beasts; at Lectos[7] first      They quitted Ocean, overpassing high      The dry land, while beneath their feet the woods      Their spiry summits waved. There, unperceived      By Jove, Sleep mounted Ida's loftiest pine      Of growth that pierced the sky, and hidden sat      Secure by its expanded boughs, the bird      Shrill-voiced resembling in the mountains seen,[8]      Chalcis in heaven, on earth Cymindis named.      But Juno swift to Gargarus the top      Of Ida, soar'd, and there Jove saw his spouse.      --Saw her--and in his breast the same love felt      Rekindled vehement, which had of old      Join'd them, when, by their parents unperceived,      They stole aside, and snatch'd their first embrace.      Soon he accosted her, and thus inquired.      Juno! what region seeking hast thou left      The Olympian summit, and hast here arrived      With neither steed nor chariot in thy train?      To whom majestic Juno thus replied      Dissembling. To the green earth's end I go,      To visit there the parent of the Gods      Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused,      Mother of all. They kindly from the hands      Of Rhea took, and with parental care      Sustain'd and cherish'd me;[9] to them I haste      Their feuds innumerable to compose,      Who disunited by intestine strife      Long time, from conjugal embrace abstain.      My steeds, that lightly over dank and dry      Shall bear me, at the rooted base I left      Of Ida river-vein'd. But for thy sake      From the Olympian summit I arrive,      Lest journeying remote to the abode      Of Ocean, and with no consent of thine      Entreated first, I should, perchance, offend.      To whom the cloud-assembler God replied.      Juno! thy journey thither may be made      Hereafter. Let us turn to dalliance now.      For never Goddess pour'd, nor woman yet      So full a tide of love into my breast;      I never loved Ixion's consort thus      Who bore Pirithos, wise as we in heaven;      Nor sweet Acrisian Dane, from whom      Sprang Perseus, noblest of the race of man;      Nor Phoenix' daughter fair,[10] of whom were born      Minos unmatch'd but by the powers above,      And Rhadamanthus; nor yet Semele,      Nor yet Alcmena, who in Thebes produced      The valiant Hercules; and though my son      By Semele were Bacchus, joy of man;      Nor Ceres golden-hair'd, nor high-enthroned      Latona in the skies, no--nor thyself      As now I love thee, and my soul perceive      O'erwhelm'd with sweetness of intense desire.      Then thus majestic Juno her reply      Framed artful. Oh unreasonable haste!      What speaks the Thunderer? If on Ida's heights.      Where all is open and to view exposed      Thou wilt that we embrace, what must betide,      Should any of the everlasting Gods      Observe us, and declare it to the rest?      Never could I, arising, seek again,      Thy mansion, so unseemly were the deed.      But if thy inclinations that way tend,      Thou hast a chamber; it is Vulcan's work,      Our son's; he framed and fitted to its posts      The solid portal; thither let us his,      And there repose, since such thy pleasure seems.      To whom the cloud-assembler Deity.      Fear thou not, Juno, lest the eye of man      Or of a God discern us; at my word      A golden cloud shall fold us so around,      That not the Sun himself shall through that veil      Discover aught, though keenest-eyed of all.      So spake the son of Saturn, and his spouse      Fast lock'd within his arms. Beneath them earth      With sudden herbage teem'd; at once upsprang      The crocus soft, the lotus bathed in dew,      And the crisp hyacinth with clustering bells;      Thick was their growth, and high above the ground      Upbore them. On that flowery couch they lay,      Invested with a golden cloud that shed      Bright dew-drops all around.[11] His heart at ease,      There lay the Sire of all, by Sleep and Love      Vanquish'd on lofty Gargarus, his spouse      Constraining still with amorous embrace.      Then, gentle Sleep to the Achaian camp      Sped swift away, with tidings for the ear      Of earth-encircler Neptune charged; him soon      He found, and in wing'd accents thus began.      Now Neptune, yield the Greeks effectual aid,      And, while the moment lasts of Jove's repose,      Make victory theirs; for him in slumbers soft      I have involved, while Juno by deceit      Prevailing, lured him with the bait of love.      He said, and swift departed to his task      Among the nations; but his tidings urged      Neptune with still more ardor to assist      The Dana; he leap'd into the van      Afar, and thus exhorted them aloud.      Oh Argives! yield we yet again the day      To Priameian Hector? Shall he seize      Our ships, and make the glory all his own?      Such is his expectation, so he vaunts,      For that Achilles leaves not yet his camp,      Resentful; but of him small need, I judge,      Should here be felt, could once the rest be roused      To mutual aid. Act, then, as I advise.      The best and broadest bucklers of the host,      And brightest helmets put we on, and arm'd      With longest spears, advance; myself will lead;      And trust me, furious though he be, the son      Of Priam flies. Ye then who feel your hearts      Undaunted, but are arm'd with smaller shields,      Them give to those who fear, and in exchange      Their stronger shields and broader take yourselves.      So he, whom, unreluctant, all obey'd.      Then, wounded as they were, themselves the Kings,      Tydides, Agamemnon and Ulysses      Marshall'd the warriors, and from rank to rank      Made just exchange of arms, giving the best      To the best warriors, to the worse, the worst.      And now in brazen armor all array'd      Refulgent on they moved, by Neptune led      With firm hand grasping his long-bladed sword      Keen as Jove's bolt; with him may none contend      In dreadful fight; but fear chains every arm.      Opposite, Priameian Hector ranged      His Trojans; then they stretch'd the bloody cord      Of conflict tight, Neptune coerulean-hair'd,      And Hector, pride of Ilium; one, the Greeks      Supporting firm, and one, the powers of Troy;      A sea-flood dash'd the galleys, and the hosts      Join'd clamorous. Not so the billows roar      The shores among, when Boreas' roughest blast      Sweeps landward from the main the towering surge;      Not so, devouring fire among the trees      That clothe the mountain, when the sheeted flames      Ascending wrap the forest in a blaze;      Nor howl the winds through leafy boughs of oaks      Upgrown aloft (though loudest there they rave)      With sounds so awful as were heard of Greeks      And Trojans shouting when the clash began.      At Ajax, first (for face to face they stood)      Illustrious Hector threw a spear well-aim'd,      But smote him where the belts that bore his shield      And falchion cross'd each other on his breast.      The double guard preserved him unannoy'd.      Indignant that his spear had bootless flown,      Yet fearing death at hand, the Trojan Chief      Toward the phalanx of his friends retired.      But, as he went, huge Ajax with a stone      Of those which propp'd the ships (for numerous such      Lay rolling at the feet of those who fought)      Assail'd him. Twirling like a top it pass'd      The shield of Hector, near the neck his breast      Struck full, then plough'd circuitous the dust.      As when Jove's arm omnipotent an oak      Prostrates uprooted on the plain, a fume      Rises sulphureous from the riven trunk,      And if, perchance, some traveller nigh at hand      See it, he trembles at the bolt of Jove,      So fell the might of Hector, to the earth      Smitten at once. Down dropp'd his idle spear,      And with his helmet and his shield himself      Also; loud thunder'd all his gorgeous arms.      Swift flew the Grecians shouting to the skies,      And showering darts, to drag his body thence,      But neither spear of theirs nor shaft could harm      The fallen leader, with such instant aid      His princely friends encircled him around,      Sarpedon, Lycian Chief, Glaucus the brave,      Polydamas, neas, and renown'd      Agenor; neither tardy were the rest,      But with round shields all shelter'd Hector fallen.      Him soon uplifted from the plain his friends      Bore thence, till where his fiery coursers stood,      And splendid chariot in the rear, they came,      Then Troy-ward drove him groaning as he went.      Ere long arriving at the pleasant stream      Of eddied Xanthus, progeny of Jove,      They laid him on the bank, and on his face      Pour'd water; he, reviving, upward gazed,      And seated on his hams black blood disgorged      Coagulate, but soon relapsing, fell      Supine, his eyes with pitchy darkness veil'd,      And all his powers still torpid by the blow.      Then, seeing Hector borne away, the Greeks      Rush'd fiercer on, all mindful of the fight,      And far before the rest, Ajax the swift,      The Olean Chief, with pointed spear      On Satnius springing, pierced him. Him a nymph      A Naiad, bore to Enops, while his herd      Feeding, on Satnio's grassy verge he stray'd.      But Oliades the spear-renown'd      Approaching, pierced his flank; supine he fell,      And fiery contest for the dead arose.      In vengeance of his fall, spear-shaking Chief      The son of Panthus into fight advanced      Polydamas, who Prothenor pierced      Offspring of Arelocus, and urged      Through his right shoulder sheer the stormy lance.      He, prostrate, clench'd the dust, and with loud voice      Polydamas exulted at his fall.      Yon spear, methinks, hurl'd from the warlike hand      Of Panthus' noble son, flew not in vain,      But some Greek hath it, purposing, I judge,      To lean on it in his descent to hell.      So he, whose vaunt the Greeks indignant heard.      But most indignant, Ajax, offspring bold      Of Telamon, to whom he nearest fell.      He, quick, at the retiring conqueror cast      His radiant spear; Polydamas the stroke      Shunn'd, starting sideward; but Antenor's son      Archilochus the mortal dint received,      Death-destined by the Gods; where neck and spine      Unite, both tendons he dissever'd wide,      And, ere his knees, his nostrils met the ground.      Then Ajax in his turn vaunting aloud      Against renown'd Polydamas, exclaim'd.      Speak now the truth, Polydamas, and weigh      My question well. His life whom I have slain      Makes it not compensation for the loss      Of Prothenor's life! To me he seems      Nor base himself; nor yet of base descent,      But brother of Atenor steed-renown'd,      Or else perchance his son; for in my eyes      Antenor's lineage he resembles most.      So he, well knowing him, and sorrow seized      Each Trojan heart. Then Acamas around      His brother stalking, wounded with his spear      Boeotian Promachus, who by the feet      Dragg'd off the slain. Acamas in his fall      Aloud exulted with a boundless joy.      Vain-glorious Argives, archers inexpert!      War's toil and trouble are not ours alone,      But ye shall perish also; mark the man--      How sound he sleeps tamed by my conquering arm,      Your fellow-warrior Promachus! the debt      Of vengeance on my brother's dear behalf      Demanded quick discharge; well may the wish      Of every dying warrior be to leave      A brother living to avenge his fall.      He ended, whom the Greeks indignant heard,      But chiefly brave Peneleus; swift he rush'd      On Acamas; but from before the force      Of King Peneleus Acamas retired,      And, in his stead, Ilioneus he pierced,      Offspring of Phorbas, rich in flocks; and blest      By Mercury with such abundant wealth      As other Trojan none, nor child to him      His spouse had borne, Ilioneus except.      Him close beneath the brow to his eye-roots      Piercing, he push'd the pupil from its seat,      And through his eye and through his poll the spear      Urged furious. He down-sitting on the earth      Both hands extended; but, his glittering blade      Forth-drawn, Peneleus through his middle neck      Enforced it; head and helmet to the ground      He lopp'd together, with the lance infixt      Still in his eye; then like a poppy's head      The crimson trophy lifting, in the ears      He vaunted loud of Ilium's host, and cried.      Go, Trojans! be my messengers! Inform      The parents of Ilioneus the brave      That they may mourn their son through all their house,      For so the wife of Alegenor's son      Boeotian Promachus must him bewail,      Nor shall she welcome his return with smiles      Of joy affectionate, when from the shores      Of Troy the fleet shall bear us Grecians home.      He said; fear whiten'd every Trojan cheek,      And every Trojan eye with earnest look      Inquired a refuge from impending fate.      Say now, ye Muses, blest inhabitants      Of the Olympian realms! what Grecian first      Fill'd his victorious hand with armor stript      From slaughter'd Trojans, after Ocean's God      Had, interposing, changed the battle's course?      First, Telamonian Ajax Hyrtius slew,      Undaunted leader of the Mysian band.      Phalces and Mermerus their arms resign'd      To young Antilochus; Hyppotion fell      And Morys by Meriones; the shafts      Right-aim'd of Teucer to the shades dismiss'd      Prothus and Periphetes, and the prince      Of Sparta, Menelaus, in his flank      Pierced Hyperenor; on his entrails prey'd      The hungry steel, and, through the gaping wound      Expell'd, his spirit flew; night veil'd his eyes.      But Ajax Oliades the swift      Slew most; him none could equal in pursuit      Of tremblers scatter'd by the frown of Jove.