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

Argument Of The Twentieth Book.     By permission of Jupiter the Gods descend into the battle, and range themselves on either side respectively. Neptune rescues neas from death by the hand of Achilles, from whom Apollo, soon after, rescues Hector. Achilles slays many Trojans.      The Grecians, thus, before their lofty ships      Stood arm'd around Achilles, glorious Chief      Insatiable with war, and opposite      The Trojans on the rising-ground appear'd.[1]      Meantime, Jove order'd Themis, from the head      Of the deep-fork'd Olympian to convene      The Gods in council. She to every part      Proceeding, bade them to the courts of Jove.[2]      Nor of the Floods was any absent thence      Oceanus except, or of the Nymphs      Who haunt the pleasant groves, or dwell beside      Stream-feeding fountains, or in meadows green.      Within the courts of cloud-assembler Jove      Arrived, on pillar'd thrones radiant they sat,      With ingenuity divine contrived      By Vulcan for the mighty Sire of all.      Thus they within the Thunderer's palace sat      Assembled; nor was Neptune slow to hear      The voice of Themis, but (the billows left)      Came also; in the midst his seat he took,      And ask'd, incontinent, the mind of Jove.[3]      King of the lightnings! wherefore hast thou call'd      The Gods to council? Hast thou aught at heart      Important to the hosts of Greece and Troy?      For on the battle's fiery edge they stand.      To whom replied Jove, Sovereign of the storms,      Thou know'st my council, Shaker of the shores!      And wherefore ye are call'd. Although ordain'd      So soon to die, they interest me still.      Myself, here seated on Olympus' top,      With contemplation will my mind indulge      Of yon great spectacle; but ye, the rest,      Descend into the field, Trojan or Greek      Each to assist, as each shall most incline.      For should Achilles in the field no foe      Find save the Trojans, quickly should they fly      Before the rapid force of Peleus' son.      They trembled ever at his look, and since      Such fury for his friend hath fired his heart,      I fear lest he anticipate the will      Of Fate, and Ilium perish premature.      So spake the son of Saturn kindling war      Inevitable, and the Gods to fight      'Gan move with minds discordant. Juno sought      And Pallas, with the earth-encircling Power      Neptune, the Grecian fleet, with whom were join'd      Mercury, teacher of all useful arts,      And Vulcan, rolling on all sides his eyes      Tremendous, but on disproportion'd legs,      Not without labor hard, halting uncouth.      Mars, warrior-God, on Ilium's part appear'd      With Phoebus never-shorn, Dian shaft-arm'd,      Xanthus, Latona, and the Queen of smiles,      Venus. So long as the immortal Gods      Mixed not with either host, Achaia's sons      Exulted, seeing, after tedious pause,      Achilles in the field, and terror shook      The knees of every Trojan, at the sight      Of swift Achilles like another Mars      Panting for blood, and bright in arms again.      But when the Olympian Powers had enter'd once      The multitude, then Discord, at whose voice      The million maddens, vehement arose;      Then, Pallas at the trench without the wall      By turns stood shouting, and by turns a shout      Sent terrible along the sounding shore,      While, gloomy as a tempest, opposite,      Mars from the lofty citadel of Troy      Now yell'd aloud, now running o'er the hill      Callicolone, on the Simois' side.      Thus the Immortals, ever-blest, impell'd      Both hosts to battle, and dire inroad caused      Of strife among them. Sudden from on high      The Sire of Gods and men thunder'd; meantime,      Neptune the earth and the high mountains shook;      Through all her base and to her topmost peak      Ida spring-fed the agitation felt      Reeling, all Ilium and the fleet of Greece.      Upstarted from his throne, appall'd, the King      Of Erebus, and with a cry his fears      Through hell proclaim'd, lest Neptune, o'er his head      Shattering the vaulted earth, should wide disclose      To mortal and immortal eyes his realm      Terrible, squalid, to the Gods themselves      A dreaded spectacle; with such a sound      The Powers eternal into battle rush'd.[4]      Opposed to Neptune, King of the vast Deep,      Apollo stood with his wing'd arrows arm'd;      Pallas to Mars; Diana shaft-expert,      Sister of Phoebus, in her golden bow      Rejoicing, with whose shouts the forests ring      To Juno; Mercury, for useful arts      Famed, to Latona; and to Vulcan's force      The eddied River broad by mortal men      Scamander call'd, but Xanthus by the Gods.      So Gods encounter'd Gods. But most desire      Achilles felt, breaking the ranks, to rush      On Priameian Hector, with whose blood      Chiefly his fury prompted him to sate      The indefatigable God of war.      But, the encourager of Ilium's host      Apollo, urged neas to assail      The son of Peleus, with heroic might      Inspiring his bold heart. He feign'd the voice      Of Priam's son Lycaon, and his form      Assuming, thus the Trojan Chief address'd.      neas! Trojan leader! where are now      Thy vaunts, which, banqueting erewhile among      Our princes, o'er thy brimming cups thou mad'st,      That thou would'st fight, thyself, with Peleus' son?      To whom neas answer thus returned.      Offspring of Priam! why enjoin'st thou me      Not so inclined, that arduous task, to cope      With the unmatch'd Achilles? I have proved      His force already, when he chased me down      From Ida with his spear, what time he made      Seizure of all our cattle, and destroy'd      Pedasus and Lyrnessus; but I 'scaped      Unslain, by Jove himself empower'd to fly,      Else had I fallen by Achilles' hand,      And by the hand of Pallas, who his steps      Conducted, and exhorted him to slay      Us and the Leleges.[5] Vain, therefore, proves      All mortal force to Peleus' son opposed;      For one, at least, of the Immortals stands      Ever beside him, guardian of his life,      And, of himself, he hath an arm that sends      His rapid spear unerring to the mark.      Yet, would the Gods more equal sway the scales      Of battle, not with ease should he subdue      Me, though he boast a panoply of brass.      Him, then, Apollo answer'd, son of Jove.      Hero! prefer to the immortal Gods      Thy Prayer, for thee men rumor Venus' son      Daughter of Jove; and Peleus' son his birth      Drew from a Goddess of inferior note.      Thy mother is from Jove; the offspring, his,      Less noble of the hoary Ocean old.      Go, therefore, and thy conquering spear uplift      Against him, nor let aught his sounding words      Appal thee, or his threats turn thee away.      So saying, with martial force the Chief he fill'd,      Who through the foremost combatants advanced      Radiant in arms. Nor pass'd Anchises' son      Unseen of Juno, through the crowded ranks      Seeking Achilles, but the Powers of heaven      Convened by her command, she thus address'd.      Neptune, and thou, Minerva! with mature      Deliberation, ponder the event.      Yon Chief, neas, dazzling bright in arms;      Goes to withstand Achilles, and he goes      Sent by Apollo; in despite of whom      Be it our task to give him quick repulse,      Or, of ourselves, let some propitious Power      Strengthen Achilles with a mind exempt      From terror, and with force invincible.      So shall he know that of the Gods above      The mightiest are his friends, with whom compared      The favorers of Ilium in time past,      Who stood her guardians in the bloody strife,      Are empty boasters all, and nothing worth.      For therefore came we down, that we may share      This fight, and that Achilles suffer nought      Fatal to-day, though suffer all he must      Hereafter, with his thread of life entwined      By Destiny, the day when he was born.      But should Achilles unapprized remain      Of such advantage by a voice divine,      When he shall meet some Deity in the field,      Fear then will seize him, for celestial forms      Unveil'd are terrible to mortal eyes.      To whom replied the Shaker of the shores.      Juno! thy hot impatience needs control;      It ill befits thee. No desire I feel      To force into contention with ourselves      Gods, our inferiors. No. Let us, retired      To yonder hill, distant from all resort,      There sit, while these the battle wage alone.      But if Apollo, or if Mars the fight      Entering, begin, themselves, to interfere      Against Achilles, then will we at once      To battle also; and, I much misdeem,      Or glad they shall be soon to mix again      Among the Gods on the Olympian heights,      By strong coercion of our arms subdued.      So saying, the God of Ocean azure-hair'd      Moved foremost to the lofty mound earth-built      Of noble Hercules, by Pallas raised      And by the Trojans for his safe escape,      What time the monster of the deep pursued      The hero from the sea-bank o'er the plain.      There Neptune sat, and his confederate Gods,      Their shoulders with impenetrable clouds      O'ermantled, while the city-spoiler Mars      Sat with Apollo opposite on the hill      Callicolone, with their aids divine.      So, Gods to Gods in opposite aspect      Sat ruminating, and alike the work      All fearing to begin of arduous war,      While from his seat sublime Jove urged them on.      The champain all was fill'd, and with the blaze      Illumined wide of men and steeds brass-arm'd,      And the incumber'd earth jarr'd under foot      Of the encountering hosts. Then, two, the rest      Surpassing far, into the midst advanced      Impatient for the fight, Anchises' son      neas and Achilles, glorious Chief!      neas first, under his ponderous casque      Nodding and menacing, advanced; before      His breast he held the well-conducted orb      Of his broad shield, and shook his brazen spear.      On the other side, Achilles to the fight      Flew like a ravening lion, on whose death      Resolved, the peasants from all quarters meet;      He, viewing with disdain the foremost, stalks      Right on, but smitten by some dauntless youth      Writhes himself, and discloses his huge fangs      Hung with white foam; then, growling for revenge,      Lashes himself to battle with his tail,      Till with a burning eye and a bold heart      He springs to slaughter, or himself is slain;      So, by his valor and his noble mind      Impell'd, renown'd Achilles moved toward      neas, and, small interval between,      Thus spake the hero matchless in the race.      Why stand'st thou here, neas! thy own band      Left at such distance? Is it that thine heart      Glows with ambition to contend with me      In hope of Priam's honors, and to fill      His throne hereafter in Troy steed-renown'd?      But shouldst thou slay me, not for that exploit      Would Priam such large recompense bestow,      For he hath sons, and hath, beside, a mind      And disposition not so lightly changed.      Or have the Trojans of their richest soil      For vineyard apt or plow assign'd thee part      If thou shalt slay me? Difficult, I hope,      At least, thou shalt experience that emprize.      For, as I think, I have already chased      Thee with my spear. Forgettest thou the day      When, finding thee alone, I drove thee down      Headlong from Ida, and, thy cattle left      Afar, thou didst not dare in all thy flight      Turn once, till at Lyrnessus safe arrived,      Which city by Jove's aid and by the aid      Of Pallas I destroy'd, and captive led      Their women? Thee, indeed, the Gods preserved      But they shall not preserve thee, as thou dream'st      Now also. Back into thy host again;      Hence, I command thee, nor oppose in fight      My force, lest evil find thee. To be taught      By suffering only is the part of fools.      To whom neas answer thus return'd.      Pelides! hope not, as I were a boy,      With words to scare me. I have also taunts      At my command, and could be sharp as thou.      By such reports as from the lips of men      We oft have heard, each other's birth we know      And parents; but my parents to behold      Was ne'er thy lot, nor have I thine beheld.      Thee men proclaim from noble Peleus sprung      And Thetis, bright hair'd Goddess of the Deep;      I boast myself of lovely Venus born      To brave Anchises; and his son this day      In battle slain thy sire shall mourn, or mine;      For I expect not that we shall depart      Like children, satisfied with words alone.      But if it please thee more at large to learn      My lineage (thousands can attest it true)      Know this. Jove, Sovereign of the storms, begat      Dardanus, and ere yet the sacred walls      Of Ilium rose, the glory of this plain,      He built Dardania; for at Ida's foot      Dwelt our progenitors in ancient days.      Dardanus was the father of a son,      King Ericthonius, wealthiest of mankind.      Three thousand mares of his the marish grazed,      Each suckling with delight her tender foal.      Boreas, enamor'd of no few of these,      The pasture sought, and cover'd them in form      Of a steed azure-maned. They, pregnant thence,      Twelve foals produced, and all so light of foot,      That when they wanton'd in the fruitful field      They swept, and snapp'd it not, the golden ear;      And when they wanton'd on the boundless deep,      They skimm'd the green wave's frothy ridge, secure.      From Ericthonius sprang Tros, King of Troy,      And Tros was father of three famous sons,      Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede      Loveliest of human kind, whom for his charms      The Gods caught up to heaven, there to abide      With the immortals, cup-bearer of Jove.      Ilus begat Laomedon, and he      Five sons, Tithonus, Priam, Clytius,      Lampus, and Hicetaon, branch of Mars.      Assaracus a son begat, by name      Capys, and Capys in due time his son      Warlike Anchises, and Anchises me.      But Priam is the noble Hector's sire.[6]      Such is my lineage, and such blood I boast;      But valor is from Jove; he, as he wills,      Increases or reduces it in man,      For he is lord of all. Therefore enough--      Too long like children we have stood, the time      Consuming here, while battle roars around.      Reproach is cheap. Easily might we cast      Gibes at each other, till a ship that asks      A hundred oars should sink beneath the load.      The tongue of man is voluble, hath words      For every theme, nor wants wide field and long,      And as he speaks so shall he hear again.      But we--why should we wrangle, and with taunts      Assail each other, as the practice is      Of women, who with heart-devouring strife      On fire, start forth into the public way      To mock each other, uttering, as may chance,      Much truth, much falsehood, as their anger bids?      The ardor of my courage will not slack      For all thy speeches; we must combat first;      Now, therefore, without more delay, begin,      That we may taste each other's force in arms.[7]      So spake neas, and his brazen lance      Hurl'd with full force against the dreadful shield.      Loud roar'd its ample concave at the blow.      Not unalarm'd, Pelides his broad disk      Thrust farther from him, deeming that the force      Of such an arm should pierce his guard with ease.      Vain fear! he recollected not that arms      Glorious as his, gifts of the immortal Gods,      Yield not so quickly to the force of man.      The stormy spear by brave neas sent,      No passage found; the golden plate divine      Repress'd its vehemence; two folds it pierced,      But three were still behind, for with five folds      Vulcan had fortified it; two were brass;      The two interior, tin; the midmost, gold;      And at the golden one the weapon stood.[8]      Achilles next, hurl'd his long shadow'd spear,      And struck neas on the utmost verge      Of his broad shield, where thinnest lay the brass,      And thinnest the ox-hide. The Pelian ash      Started right through the buckler, and it rang.      neas crouch'd terrified, and his shield      Thrust farther from him; but the rapid beam      Bursting both borders of the ample disk,      Glanced o'er his back, and plunged into the soil.      He 'scaped it, and he stood; but, as he stood,      With horror infinite the weapon saw      Planted so near him. Then, Achilles drew      His falchion keen, and with a deafening shout      Sprang on him; but neas seized a stone      Heavy and huge, a weight to overcharge      Two men (such men as are accounted strong      Now) but he wielded it with ease, alone.      Then had neas, as Achilles came      Impetuous on, smitten, although in vain,      His helmet or his shield, and Peleus' son      Had with his falchion him stretch'd at his feet,      But that the God of Ocean quick perceived      His peril, and the Immortals thus bespake.      I pity brave neas, who shall soon,      Slain by Achilles, see the realms below,      By smooth suggestions of Apollo lured      To danger, such as he can ne'er avert.      But wherefore should the Chief, guiltless himself,      Die for the fault of others? at no time      His gifts have fail'd, grateful to all in heaven.      Come, therefore, and let us from death ourselves      Rescue him, lest if by Achilles' arm      This hero perish, Jove himself be wroth;      For he is destined to survive, lest all      The house of Dardanus (whom Jove beyond      All others loved, his sons of woman born)      Fail with neas, and be found no more.      Saturnian Jove hath hated now long time      The family of Priam, and henceforth      neas and his son, and his sons' sons,      Shall sway the sceptre o'er the race of Troy.      To whom, majestic thus the spouse of Jove.      Neptune! deliberate thyself, and choose      Whether to save neas, or to leave      The hero victim of Achilles' ire.      For Pallas and myself ofttimes have sworn      In full assembly of the Gods, to aid      Troy never, never to avert the day      Of her distress, not even when the flames      Kindled by the heroic sons of Greece,      Shall climb with fury to her topmost towers.      She spake; then Neptune, instant, through the throng      Of battle flying, and the clash of spears,      Came where Achilles and neas fought.      At once with shadows dim he blurr'd the sight      Of Peleus' son, and from the shield, himself,      Of brave neas the bright-pointed ash      Retracting, placed it at Achilles' feet.      Then, lifting high neas from the ground,      He heaved him far remote; o'er many a rank      Of heroes and of bounding steeds he flew,      Launch'd into air from the expanded palm      Of Neptune, and alighted in the rear      Of all the battle where the Caucons stood.      Neptune approach'd him there, and at his side      Standing, in accents wing'd, him thus bespake.      What God, neas! tempted thee to cope      Thus inconsiderately with the son      Of Peleus, both more excellent in fight      Than thou, and more the favorite of the skies?      From him retire hereafter, or expect      A premature descent into the shades.      But when Achilles shall have once fulfill'd      His destiny, in battle slain, then fight      Fearless, for thou canst fall by none beside.      So saying, he left the well-admonish'd Chief,      And from Achilles' eyes scatter'd the gloom      Shed o'er them by himself. The hero saw      Clearly, and with his noble heart incensed      By disappointment, thus conferring, said.      Gods! I behold a prodigy. My spear      Lies at my foot, and he at whom I cast      The weapon with such deadly force, is gone!      neas therefore, as it seems, himself      Interests the immortal Gods, although      I deem'd his boast of their protection vain.      I reck not. Let him go. So gladly 'scaped      From slaughter now, he shall not soon again      Feel an ambition to contend with me.      Now will I rouse the Dana, and prove      The force in fight of many a Trojan more.      He said, and sprang to battle with loud voice,      Calling the Grecians after him.--Ye sons      Of the Achaians! stand not now aloof,      My noble friends! but foot to foot let each      Fall on courageous, and desire the fight.      The task were difficult for me alone,      Brave as I boast myself, to chase a foe      So numerous, and to combat with them all.      Not Mars himself, immortal though he be,      Nor Pallas, could with all the ranks contend      Of this vast multitude, and drive the whole.      With hands, with feet, with spirit and with might,      All that I can I will; right through I go,      And not a Trojan who shall chance within      Spear's reach of me, shall, as I judge, rejoice.      Thus he the Greeks exhorted. Opposite,      Meantime, illustrious Hector to his host      Vociferated, his design to oppose      Achilles publishing in every ear.      Fear not, ye valiant men of Troy! fear not      The son of Peleus. In a war of words      I could, myself, cope even with the Gods;      But not with spears; there they excel us all.      Nor shall Achilles full performance give      To all his vaunts, but, if he some fulfil,      Shall others leave mutilate in the midst.      I will encounter him, though his hands be fire,      Though fire his hands, and his heart hammer'd steel.      So spake he them exhorting. At his word      Uprose the Trojan spears, thick intermixt      The battle join'd, and clamor loud began.      Then thus, approaching Hector, Phoebus spake.      Henceforth, advance not Hector! in the front      Seeking Achilles, but retired within      The stormy multitude his coming wait,      Lest his spear reach thee, or his glittering sword.      He said, and Hector far into his host      Withdrew, admonish'd by the voice divine.      Then, shouting terrible, and clothed with might,      Achilles sprang to battle. First, he slew      The valiant Chief Iphition, whom a band      Numerous obey'd. Otrynteus was his sire.      Him to Otrynteus, city-waster Chief,      A Naiad under snowy Tmolus bore      In fruitful Hyda.[9] Right into his front      As he advanced, Achilles drove his spear,      And rived his skull; with thundering sound he fell,      And thus the conqueror gloried in his fall.      Ah Otryntides! thou art slain. Here lies      The terrible in arms, who born beside      The broad Gygan lake, where Hyllus flows      And Hermus, call'd the fertile soil his own.      Thus gloried he. Meantime the shades of death      Cover'd Iphition, and Achaian wheels      And horses ground his body in the van.      Demoleon next, Antenor's son, a brave      Defender of the walls of Troy, he slew.      Into his temples through his brazen casque      He thrust the Pelian ash, nor could the brass      Such force resist, but the huge weapon drove      The shatter'd bone into his inmost brain,      And his fierce onset at a stroke repress'd.      Hippodamas his weapon next received      Within his spine, while with a leap he left      His steeds and fled. He, panting forth his life,      Moan'd like a bull, by consecrated youths      Dragg'd round the Heliconian King,[10] who views      That victim with delight. So, with loud moans      The noble warrior sigh'd his soul away.      Then, spear in hand, against the godlike son      Of Priam, Polydorus, he advanced.      Not yet his father had to him indulged      A warrior's place, for that of all his sons      He was the youngest-born, his hoary sire's      Chief darling, and in speed surpass'd them all.      Then also, in the vanity of youth,      For show of nimbleness, he started oft      Into the vanward, till at last he fell.      Him gliding swiftly by, swifter than he      Achilles with a javelin reach'd; he struck      His belt behind him, where the golden clasps      Met, and the double hauberk interposed.      The point transpierced his bowels, and sprang through      His navel; screaming, on his knees he fell,      Death-shadows dimm'd his eyes, and with both hands,      Stooping, he press'd his gather'd bowels back.      But noble Hector, soon as he beheld      His brother Polydorus to the earth      Inclined, and with his bowels in his hands,      Sightless well-nigh with anguish could endure      No longer to remain aloof; flame-like      He burst abroad,[11] and shaking his sharp spear,      Advanced to meet Achilles, whose approach      Seeing, Achilles bounded with delight,      And thus, exulting, to himself he said.      Ah! he approaches, who hath stung my soul      Deepest, the slayer of whom most I loved!      Behold, we meet! Caution is at an end,      And timid skulking in the walks of war.      He ceased, and with a brow knit into frowns,      Call'd to illustrious Hector. Haste, approach,      That I may quick dispatch thee to the shades.      Whom answer'd warlike Hector, nought appall'd.      Pelides! hope not, as I were a boy,      With words to scare me. I have also taunts      At my command, and can be sharp as thou.      I know thee valiant, and myself I know      Inferior far; yet, whether thou shalt slay      Me, or, inferior as I am, be slain      By me, is at the pleasure of the Gods,      For I wield also not a pointless beam.      He said, and, brandishing it, hurl'd his spear,      Which Pallas, breathing softly, wafted back      From the renown'd Achilles, and it fell      Successless at illustrious Hector's feet.      Then, all on fire to slay him, with a shout      That rent the air Achilles rapid flew      Toward him; but him wrapt in clouds opaque      Apollo caught with ease divine away.      Thrice, swift Achilles sprang to the assault      Impetuous, thrice the pitchy cloud he smote,      And at his fourth assault, godlike in act,      And terrible in utterance, thus exclaim'd.      Dog! thou art safe, and hast escaped again;      But narrowly, and by the aid once more      Of Phoebus, without previous suit to whom      Thou venturest never where the javelin sings.      But when we next encounter, then expect,      If one of all in heaven aid also me,      To close thy proud career. Meantime I seek      Some other, and assail e'en whom I may.      So saying, he pierced the neck of Dryops through,      And at his feet he fell. Him there he left,      And turning on a valiant warrior huge,      Philetor's son, Demuchus, in the knee      Pierced, and detain'd him by the planted spear,      Till with his sword he smote him, and he died.      Laogonus and Dardanus he next      Assaulted, sons of Bias; to the ground      Dismounting both, one with his spear he slew,      The other with his falchion at a blow.      Tros too, Alastor's son--he suppliant clasp'd      Achilles' knees, and for his pity sued,      Pleading equality of years, in hope      That he would spare, and send him thence alive.      Ah dreamer! ignorant how much in vain      That suit he urged; for not of milky mind,      Or placable in temper was the Chief      To whom he sued, but fiery. With both hands      His knees he clasp'd importunate, and he      Fast by the liver gash'd him with his sword.      His liver falling forth, with sable blood      His bosom fill'd, and darkness veil'd his eyes.      Then, drawing close to Mulius, in his ear      He set the pointed brass, and at a thrust      Sent it, next moment, through his ear beyond.      Then, through the forehead of Agenor's son      Echechlus, his huge-hafted blade he drove,      And death and fate forever veil'd his eyes.      Next, where the tendons of the elbow meet,      Striking Deucalion, through his wrist he urged      The brazen point; he all defenceless stood,      Expecting death; down came Achilles' blade      Full on his neck; away went head and casque      Together; from his spine the marrow sprang,      And at his length outstretch'd he press'd the plain.      From him to Rhigmus, Pireus' noble son,      He flew, a warrior from the fields of Thrace.      Him through the loins he pierced, and with the beam      Fixt in his bowels, to the earth he fell;      Then piercing, as he turn'd to flight, the spine      Of Areithus his charioteer,      He thrust him from his seat; wild with dismay      Back flew the fiery coursers at his fall.      As a devouring fire within the glens      Of some dry mountain ravages the trees,      While, blown around, the flames roll to all sides,      So, on all sides, terrible as a God,      Achilles drove the death-devoted host      Of Ilium, and the champain ran with blood.      As when the peasant his yoked steers employs      To tread his barley, the broad-fronted pair      With ponderous hoofs trample it out with ease,      So, by magnanimous Achilles driven,      His coursers solid-hoof'd stamp'd as they ran      The shields, at once, and bodies of the slain;      Blood spatter'd all his axle, and with blood      From the horse-hoofs and from the fellied wheels      His chariot redden'd, while himself, athirst      For glory, his unconquerable hands      Defiled with mingled carnage, sweat, and dust.