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The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart., (London: Bohn, 1839-45). 11 vols. Vol. 10.

Author: Homer
Translator: Thomas Hobbes
Editor: Sir William Molesworth

Part of: The English Works of Thomas Hobbes, 11 vols.

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LIB. IV.

The articles broken by the Trojans.
Mean while the Gods at counsel drinking sat.
Hebe the nectar carried up and down.
And Jove amongst them present was thereat,
And sitting had his eyes upon Troy town.
5Then Jupiter puts out a word, to see

What Juno would unto the same reply.
Two Goddesses assistants are (said he)
To Menelaus, but sit idly by,
Pallas and Juno; but on th’other side
10Venus gives Paris aid, and really

Has helpt him when he thought he should have died;
Though Menelaus have the victory.
But let us now think which the best will be,
To suffer war to make an end of Troy,
15Or let Troy stand and make them to agree,

And Helen with Atrides go her way.
Juno and Pallas that together sat,
Grumble and plot; Pallas her spite kept in.
But such of Juno was the choler, that
20Had she not spoke, her heart had broken been.

Harsh Jove, said she, what do you mean by this?
Shall I with so much sweat, and labour spent,
And horses tir’d, now of my purpose miss?
Do. But the other Gods will not consent.
25Devil, said Jove, what hurt is done to you

By Priam and his sons, that you should so
Fiercely the ruin of the town pursue?
I think if you int’ Ilium should go,
And eat up Priam and his children all,
30And every Trojan in the town beside,

Man, woman, child alive within the wall,
Your anger will at last be satisfied.
Do as you please. It shall breed no contention
’Twixt you and me. But then remember this,
35When I to raze a city have intention

That yours, and greatly in your favour is,
To let me do’t without plea or request;
Since to give you your will I lose my own.
For Ilium I love above the rest,
40Though under Heaven be many a goodly town.

For I by Priam and his people still
Have honour’d been, my altars richly serv’d
With wine and sacrifices to my will,
Which is the honour to the Gods reserv’d.
45To this the Goddess Juno then replied,

Three cities I prefer before the rest,
Argos, and Sparta, and Mycena wide.
Destroy you may which of them you think best,
If you see cause; I’ll not stand in your way.
50Or if I do, what mends can I have so?

For since your power does mine so much outweigh,
It will be done whether I will or no.
But you ought not t’undo what I have done,
For I a Goddess am, and have the same
55Parents, of whom you boast to be the son.

And further of your wife I bear the name,
Whom mortals and immortals all obey.
Then let us not in such things disagree.
But I to you, and you to me give way.
60For of our two minds all the Gods will be.

Let Pallas to the army straight be sent
To make the Trojans first the peace to break.
And Jupiter to do so was content,
And did (as he was bid) to Pallas speak.
65Pallas, said he, down to the armies go,

Let not this peace be by the Trojans kept.
When Pallas heard her father Jove say so,
Glad of the errand, from the sky she leapt,
Just like a falling star, which Saturn sends
70To armies or unto seafaring men;

Which change of fortune, commonly portends.
The Goddess through the air descending then,
Splendid and sparkling on the ground did light.
The armies that were in the field array’d,
75Both Greeks and Trojans wond’red at the sight;

And one unto another next him said,
This bloody war will sure return again,
Or else the peace be surer made than ’tis;
But which o’ th’ two Jove has not yet made plain,
80Who both of peace and war disposer is.

Pallas the form took of Laodocus,
Antenor’s son, and went into the throng
O’ th’ Trojans to inquire for Pandarus.
At last she found him his own troops among,
85That were of Lycaonia the bands,

And from Zeleia led by Pandarus
To Ilium. There Pallas by him stands
Like to Antenor’s son; and to him thus:
Lycaon’s son, says she, dare you let fly
90A shaft at Menelaus? For I know

The Trojans all would thank you, specially
Paris, the son of Priam, and bestow
Great presents on you if you should him kill.
Shoot at him then, and to Apollo pray,
95The God of archers, that he help you will.

And vow a hecatomb of lambs to pay,
When to Zeleia safely you come home.
For there your people to Apollo vow.
When this was said, the vain man overcome,
100From off his shoulders taketh down his bow,

(Which did a lusty goat’s head once adorn,
Which with a shaft he killed had among
The rocks, and taken from his head the horn,
Which was no less than sixteen handfuls long.
105And to a fletcher gave it to be wrought,

Shaven, and polish’d, and gilt at the hand.)
This bow he bent; and lest the foe should know’t,
He crouched down, and laid it on the sand.
But lest the Greeks should rush on him, before
110He ready were to shoot, they that stood near,

Before him with their bucklers stood good store.
And being now delivered of that fear,
From out the quiver takes an arrow keen,
And new, well wing’d to carry mischief true,
115Which shot before that time had never been.

But yet his vow before his arrow flew.
Phœbus, said he, if I Atrides slay;
As soon as I shall to Zeleia come,
I vow unto your deity to pay
120Of my first-yeaned lambs an hecatomb.

Then to his breast he drew the leather string,
And to the bow return’d the arrow head.
Out leapt the shaft, and as it went did sing
Amongst the throng, as pleas’d man’s blood to shed.
125And, Menelaus, now the Gods you blest,

And chiefly Pallas, that before you stood,
And turn’d the deadly arrow from your breast,
About as much as a kind mother could
From her child’s face divert a busy fly;
130And made it on the golden buckle fall,

Where of his breast-plate double was the ply,
And though it pass’d through buckle, plate, and all,
And girdle which his coat unto him bound,
The shaft into his body penetrated,
135And made, though not a great one, yet a wound,

The force it went with being much abated;
Yet out the blood ran. As when ivory
Is stain’d with crimson, to adorn the cheeks
Of the proud steeds, and please the driver’s eye,
140Many a cavalier to have it seeks.

The dame that stain’d it then holds up the prize,
And keeps it by her as a precious thing;
So lovely seems the colour to her eyes,
As to be sold to none but to a king.
145So look’d his body when the streams of blood

His iv’ry legs and insteps did defile.
But Agamemnon stiff with horror stood;
And so did Menelaus for a while.
But when he saw the arrow barbs appear
150Above the nerve, his courage came again.

But Agamemnon, not yet out of fear,
Did of the Trojans’ perjury complain.
Brother, said he, and took him by the hand,
Dear brother, ’tis the oath that has you slain,
155Making you thus before the Trojans stand.

But sure I am the oath cannot be vain,
Confirmed with so great solemnity.
They shall, though late, pay for it with their lives;
(For Jove ne’er fails to punish perjury)
160Both they themselves, their children, and their wives.

For I well know the fatal day will come
To Priam, and to Priam’s people all.
Jove will his black shield shake o’er Ilium,
And for this ugly action make it fall.
165This, Menelaus, is a thing to come.

But what if of your wound you chance to die?
The Argives straight will think of going home.
How by the Greeks then scorned shall be I!
How proud will Priam and the Trojans be,
170When Argive Helen shall be left behind,

And your bones rotting in the ground they see,
Without effecting what they had design’d?
Some trampling on your grave perhaps will say,
Would Agamemnon thus would always vent
175His choler, as he now has done at Troy,

Now gone with empty ships back to repent,
Leaving his brother Menelaus here.
Then should I wish the earth would swallow me.
But Menelaus, to displace that fear,
180Fright not the army, brother, thus said he.

Not mortal is the wound. ’Twixt me and death
My armour and the clasps stood, all of brass;
Besides a good tough girdle underneath.
Pray God ’t be true, said he to Menelaus,
185But we must send for a chirurgeon,

To mitigate with lenitives the pain.
Talthybius, said he, call Machaon,
And having found him quickly come again.
Tell him he must to Menelaus come,
190Who by a foe is with an arrow shot,

Trojan or Lycian, I know not whom,
That with great grief to us has honour got.
This said, the herald went and look’d about
Amongst the troops of Tricca which he led.
195Nor was it long before he found him out

With many targetiers environed.
You must, said he, to Menelaus come,
Who by some foe is with an arrow shot,
Trojan or Lycian, I know not whom,
200That, with great grief to us, has honour got.

’Tis Agamemnon calls you. Then they pass
Together through the host, and hastened
Till they were come where Menelaus was
With many other lords encompassed.
205There Machaon the arrow first pulls out.

(The barbs were broken as they came away)
Then took he off his armour and his coat.
Then sucked he the wound the blood to stay;
And laid on unguents to allay the pain.
210Meanwhile the Trojans arm’d were coming in.

And then the Greeks were forc’d to arm again.
And Agamemnon’s virtue now was seen.
He did not at their coming sleep nor start,
But speedily prepared for the fight,
215And of a chief commander did the part,

His own commanders first to disaffright.
His horses and his chariot he sent off.
T’ Eurymeaon, the son of Ptolemy,
The son of Pirus he gave charge thereof,
The first battle.
220And bad him with it always to be nigh,

To use when labour tired had his knees.
Through the great army then on foot he went,
And where them hasting to the fight he sees,
He gives them in few words encouragement.
225On, Argives, and be sure Jove never fights

Against good men for such perfidious knaves,
But leave them will for food to dogs and kites,
And to their foes their wives and children slaves.
But where he saw the soldiers negligent,
230His admonition was then severe.

Fie, Argives, what d’ you fear? To what intent
Stand you thus staring like a herd of deer?
Just like so many deer that had been chased
O’er some great plain looking about they stay,
235So stand you here like frighted deer amazed,

Till to our ships come down the troops of Troy,
To try if Jove will help you there or no.
Thus he commanding went the host throughout.
And when the martial Cretans he came to,
240Where armed stood Idomeneus stout.

(Meriones the rear led, he the van)
And Agamemnon look’d on them with joy;
And to Idomeneus thus began.
Of all the Greeks that me assist at Troy
245I value you the most, both in the war

And otherwise. And when at feast we drink,
Other men’s cups by measure stinted are,
But yours, as mine, stands always full to th’ brink.
The King of Crete replied, I shall, said he,
250Continue still your good confederate,

As heretofore I promis’d you to be.
But go, and th’ other leaders animate,
That we may with the Trojans quickly fight.
Then woe be to them, sure they are to die
255Who of the Gods and sacred oaths make light.

Then on went Agamemnon joyfully;
And came to the quarters of the Ajaxes,
There armed both complete, and followed
With a huge multitude of Greeks he sees,
260And ready to the battle to be led.

As when a shepherd from a hill espies
A full-charg’d cloud march tow’rds him in the deep,
It seems as black as pitch unto his eyes,
And makes him seek a shelter for his sheep;
265So black the squadrons of the Ajaxes,

And horrible with thick and upright spears
T’ Atrides seem, and well it did him please,
And both of them he thus commends and cheers.
O Ajaxes, expect not I should bid
270You hearten up your army for the fight;

’Tis done so well already, there’s no need.
O Jove, Apollo, Pallas, that I might
Find all the other leaders such as you,
We should not need from Argos long to stay
275Ere we the town of Priam should subdue

And rifle. And this said, he went away,
And came to Nestor, who was ordering
His troops and bands of horse and foot, each one
Against the enemy encouraging.
280And with him stood Alastor, Pelagon,

Hæmon, and Chromius, skilful men in war.
I’ th’ front the char’ots and the horsemen were.
The most and best infantry placed are
(A hedge unto the battle in the rear.)
285The middle ranks were filled up with those,

Upon whose courage he did least rely.
For these would fight because they could not choose;
Since they could neither back nor forward fly.
And Nestor to the horsemen spake. Let none,
290Said he, before another go, to shew

His manhood or his skill. But all go on
At once. To single is to weaken you.
Further, If any of you should have need
To mount into another’s chariot,
295There let him use his spear; but still take heed

That with the horses reins he meddle not.
Our fathers have before us us’d these laws,
And thereby many cities level laid.
Thus Nestor taught them. Glad Atrides was,
300And with great approbation to him said,

O Nestor, that your arms were but as strong
As is your mind! But they’re decay’d by age.
Or could you give your age to some man young,
And with the youngest of the foes engage.
305Atrides, then said Nestor, so wish I.

Would I were as when Eruthalyon
I slew. But Gods’ gifts come successively.
I then was young; and age is now come on.
But as I am I’ll ride amongst my horse,
310And as becomes an old man, give advice,

While they that may presume upon their force,
With spear in hand charge on their enemies.
Atrides pass’d on to th’ Athenians
That by Menestheus commanded were.
315And by these stood the Cephalonians

Ulysses’ bands. Neither of these did hear
The clamour of the battle new begun,
But stood unmoved, because they did expect
Some greater troops of Greeks should first fall on.
320For this Atrides grievously them check’d.

Menestheus, said he, son of a king,
And you the crafty man Ulysses, why
When you your men should to the battle bring,
Stand you here shrinking from the enemy?
325You hear the first when there will be a feast,

And stay for no man. For your messes are
Greater than other men’s; your wine the best,
And without stint. And therefore in the war
You should strive who should be the first to fight.
330But now, though ten troops were before you there,

You would not be displeased with the sight.
These words came harshly to Ulysses’ ear,
And with a frowning look, what’s this, said he,
Are we not making all the haste we can?
335Telemachus his father you shall see

By and by fighting in the Trojan van,
And that this reprehension needless was.
But Agamemnon smiling then replied,
(Seeing his censure did not kindly pass)
340Noble Ulysses, I meant not to chide,

Nor to direct you, that so skilful are.
For we are both of us of the same mind.
What’s said amiss I shall again repair.
But let it now away go with the wind.
345Then on he went and came to Diomed,

Whom mounted on his chariot he found
With Capaneus’ son accompanied,
And other lords that him encompass’d round.
Ay me, Tydides, wherefore stand you thus,
350As if you for some bridge did look about.

You do not as your father Tydeus,,
Who still before his fellows leaped out.
So said they that had seen him at the war,
Which I did not, but take it upon fame,
355Which him above the rest preferred far.

But certain ’tis, he to Mycena came
With Polynices, to desire their aid
Against the Thebans. And they willingly
Had granted it, but that they were afraid.
360For Jove forbad them by a prodigy.

Then to the brook Asopus back they went,
Which doth the Theban territory bound.
To Tydeus the Greeks a letter sent
To enter Thebes, and terms of peace propound.
365To Thebes he went, and with Eteocles

He found the chief o’ th’ Thebans at a feast.
And at all manly games the prize with ease,
By Pallas’ help, he carried from the best.
And when for spite they sent out fifty men
370With Mæon Hæmon’s son, and Lycophon

To murder him as he went back again,
Slain by Tydeus they were all but one.
For he sav’d Mæon, warned by the Gods.
Such Tydeus was, but left a son behind
375That less could do, but for words had the odds.

But valiant Diomed reply declined,
Who gave t’Atrides what respect was due.
The other answered him with language rude.
You say, said he, what you know is not true.
380We than our fathers there more manhood shew’d.

For we with fewer men proud Thebes did gain,
By Jove’s help, and observances divine,
Whilst the Cadmeans for their pride were slain.
How from our fathers then do we decline?
385But straight reprov’d he was by Diomed.

My friend, said he, are you more grieved than I?
Would you not have the army ordered?
Atrides, both i’ th’ loss and victory
Is most concern’d. Let us of battle think,
390And down he leapt, as soon as that was said,

In complete arms, with such a sudden chink,
As might a constant man have made afraid.
As when the billows of the sea rais’d high
By some great wind, go rolling to the shore,
495And follow one another to the dry,

There stopp’d and broken are, and foam, and roar:
So then the Greeks up to the Trojans come,
Obeying each his leader silently,
(You would have thought them, though so many, dumb)
400In glittering arms, and glorious to the eye.

On th’other side, the Trojans made a noise,
Like ewes a milking kept off from their lambs
When in the field abroad they hear their cries,
And they again bleat back unto their dams.
405But did not one another understand;

For few there were whose language was the same.
Some were of one, some of another land,
And most of them from far off thither came.
Pallas the Greeks, Mars Trojans favoured.
410Then Fright came in, with (Mars his sister) Strife,

Little when born, but grew until her head
Was in the clouds; for she grows all her life.
But when the armies were together near,
Then man to man came close, and shield to shield,
415And mingled in the front was spear with spear,

And horrible the noise was in the field;
Whilst some insult and others groaning die.
And th’earth they stood on covered was with blood.
As when great torrents from the mountains high
420Pour down into the valleys a great flood;

The streams through thousand channels falling roar;
The trembling shepherds hear it on the hills.
So much the noise o’th’ battle the air tore,
And all the region with terror fills.
425A Trojan was the first man that was slain,

Echepolus son of Thalysias.
He smote was with a spear into the brain;
Antilochus the man that smote him was.
His armour rattled on him as he fell,
430As if some tow’r had fall’n. But then Elphenor

(To strip him of his arms that hoped well)
Dragging him off was killed by Agenor.
For whilst in stooping he his flank unhides.
Agenor quickly his advantage spies,
435And pierc’d him with his spear through both his sides.

Then down he fell, and darkness seiz’d his eyes.
And then about his body rose great strife,
And one upon another falling on,
Antheman’s son, a fair youth, lost his life,
440Slain by great Ajax, son of Telamon,

And Simoisius called was by name,
’Cause born upon the bank of Simois,
Whither from Ida both his parents came
To view their flocks, lest aught should be amiss;
445But had no joy of him. He was unblest

To be the first that came in Ajax’s way,
Who smote him with his spear quite through the breast.
There dead he fell, and by the river lay.
As when a man has fell’d a poplar tree,
450Tall, straight, and smooth, with many fair boughs on,

Of which he meant a cart-wheel made shall be,
And leaves it on the bank to dry i’ th’ sun;
So lay the comely Simoisius,
Slain by great Ajax, son of Telamon.
455At Ajax then a spear threw Antiphus,

Bright-arm’d Antiphus, King Priam’s son.
Death the spear carries, but of Ajax misses,
And deadly wounds the groin of Leucus bold,
And well beloved soldier of Ulysses,
460Who dragg’d the dead, but now lets go his hold.

Ulysses, angry that his friend was slain,
Went out before the rest, and coming close
To th’ Trojan front, some fit revenge to gain.
Democoon, King Priam’s son, he chose,
465(A lawful son where nature is the law).

The Trojans when they saw him look about,
Into the shelter of the ranks withdraw.
Then soon his spear Democoon pick’d out,
And through both temples forward went the head.
470Then heavily he falls, his armour chinks,

His eyes with endless night are covered,
And Hector with his Trojans from him shrinks.
The Greeks then shouted, and drew off their slain,
And on the Trojans pressing further were.
475But then Apollo cried out amain

From Pergam tow’r, O Trojans, what d’ye fear?
Go on upon the Greeks; no more give way.
Their bodies neither are of stone nor steel,
Nor able are the force of brass to stay,
480No less than you the wounds it makes they feel.

Nor fights Achilles here, but angry lies,
And wishes that the Greeks were overthrown.
So Phœbus. ’Mongst the Argives Pallas flies,
Through ranks and files encouraging each one.
485And then Diores slain was with a stone,

By Pyros, whom the Thracians obey’d.
Crush’d of his right leg was the ankle-bone,
And in the dust upon his back was laid,
Unto his fellows holding up his hands.
490Ready to die he for assistance cries.

Pyros comes quickly in, and o’er him stands,
And wounds him in the belly. Then he dies.
But Thoas then slew Pyros with his spear,
That pass’d his breast till in his lungs it stopp’d.
495Then coming in he drew his sword, and there

His belly ripp’d till out his bowels dropp’d,
But to disarm him could not stay, because
So many Thracians about him stood.
Then back retir’d he, and well pelted was,
500Leaving two leaders wrapp’d in dust and blood,

One an Epeian, th’ other Thracian,
And many others lying by them dead.
This battle was well fought. Although a man
Through both the armies safely had been led
505By Pallas, and protected by her shield,

He had no want of courage seen that day,
So many Greeks and Trojans in the field
Depriv’d of life by one another lay.

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LIB. IV. - Homer, The English Works, vol. X (Iliad and Odyssey) [1839]

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LIB. IV.