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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. VIII.

The second battle; and the Trojans stay all night in the field.
The morning now was quite display’d, and Jove
Upon Olympus’ highest top was set:
And all the Gods and Goddesses above
By his command were there together met.
5And Jupiter unto them speaking said,

You Gods all, and you Goddesses, d’ye hear,
Let none of you the Greeks or Trojans aid;
I cannot do my work for you. Forbear.
For whomsoever I assisting see
10The Argives or the Trojans, be it known

He wounded shall return and laugh’d at be,
Or headlong into Tartarus be thrown,
Into the deepest pit of Tartarus,
Shut in with gates of brass, as much below
15The common hell, as ’tis from hell to us.

But if you will my pow’r by trial know,
Put now into my hand a chain of gold,
And let one end thereof lie on the plain,
And all you Gods and Goddesses take hold;
20You shall not move me howsoe’er you strain.

At th’ other end, if I my strength put to’t,
I’ll pull you Gods and Goddesses to me,
Do what you can, and earth and sea to boot,
And let you hang there till my pow’r you see.
25The Gods were out of countenance at this,

And to such mighty words durst not reply,
Till Pallas said, Well known, O father, is
Your mighty pow’r. But do not us deny,
When we so many Argives falling see,
30To show we have compassion, and grieve.

And though in fight we no assistants be,
Yet let us sometimes counsel to them give,
Lest in your anger they be all destroy’d.
Dear child, said Jove, it goes against my mind.
35I would not have my orders disobey’d.

’Tis granted though. For I’ll to you be kind.
This said, he set his horses to his car,
Hard hoof’d, swift-footed horses two. Like gold
Their manes profound well-combed shined far.
40Then arm’d himself, and on the whip laid hold.

No sooner had the horses felt the whip,
But up they start, and ’twixt the earth and sky
The winds themselves with swiftness they outstrip,
And came unto the top of Ida high
45To Gargarus, and there Jove took them out,

And hiding them with air on th’ hill sat down;
And as he sat he cast his eyes about
With great content upon the fleet and town.
The Argives at their tents short breakfast make,
50And arm’d themselves as soon as they had done.

The Trojans, for their wives’ and children’s sake,
(Though fewer) arm’d and made haste to be gone.
Then open’d were the gates, and to the field
Out came they horse and man; and being met,
55They man to man came up with shield to shield,

And spear to spear; and on each other set.
Some groan’d, some vaunted, mighty was the din
Of those that kill, and those that falling cry.
And this condition they continued in
60Until the sun had mounted half the sky.

Then Jove took up a pair of scales of gold,
And weigh’d the fates of both the nations,
And equally suspended them did hold;
But not so equal were their inclinations.
65For th’ Argive scale sat still upon the ground,

While th’ other lifted was up to the skies.
Heaven and earth did then with thunder sound,
And Jove threw lightning in the Argives’ eyes,
Then all the Greeks amazed ran away.
70Idomeneus and Agamemnon ran;

Nor either of the Ajaxes durst stay:
Except old Nestor they fled ev’ry man.
And Nestor too had fled, had he known how:
For of his horses Paris one had shot,
75And pierc’d his forehead just above the brow

Into the brain, so that his chariot
Now useless was, and the horse troublesome.
Then cuts he th’ harness; but so long did stay,
That Hector now was almost to him come,
80And th’ old man surely had been cast away,

But that Tydides saw him in this pain,
And terribly t’ Ulysses cried out,
Whether d’ye fly, Ulysses? Come again,
Help to defend old Nestor; face about.
85While he said this, Ulysses still ran on,

Not minding what he said. And Diomed,
To succour Nestor, to him went alone,
And with him stood before his chariot’s head,
And said, O Nestor, youthful is the foe
90That cometh on, and you now very old,

Your charioteer not strong, your horses slow,
Come up into my char’ot, and behold
My Trojan horses how well they can run
When there is cause t’approach or shun the fight;
95From Venus’ son Æneas I them won,

A man of much experience in flight:
Send back your horses, and with mine we’ll go
And fight the Trojans. ’Twill not be amiss
To let the mighty champion Hector know,
100A spear as mad is in my hand as his.

This said, both Sthen’lus and Eurymedon
With Nestor’s horses went to Nestor’s tent:
Nestor and Diomed, both mounted on
Tydides’ chariot, up to Hector went.
105And when they were to one another near,

At Hector Diomedes threw in haste,
And miss’d of him, and kill’d his charioteer;
Clean through his breast the spear well driven pass’d;
Down dead he fell, but Hector lets him lie,
110And turns aside to seek a charioteer,

The place of Heniopeus to supply.
And Archeptolemus then being near,
Call’d up by Hector, on the reins laid hold.
Then mighty work and slaughter there had been,
115And Trojans shut like lambs within a fold

In Troy, but that it was by Jove foreseen;
For in a clap of thunder Jove down threw
His bolt at Diomedes’ horses’ feet,
And th’ earth with sulphur flaming looked blue.
120Nestor himself astonish’d was to see’t;

Lets go the reins, and down the horses fell.
And Nestor then to Diomedes said,
’Tis Jove, you see, that doth our force repel,
And Hector, for this day, intends to aid.
125Another day to us he will be kind,

If he see cause; for no man can him tie,
Nor able is to make him change his mind,
And therefore now our best course is to fly.
’Tis true, O Nestor, said Tydides then,
130But what a pain then at my heart will lie,

When Hector, speaking to the Trojan men,
Shall brag he made Tydides from him fly?
Then should I wish the earth would swallow me.
Though Hector says so, Nestor then replied,
135Believed by the Trojans ’twill not be,

So many of them by your hand have died.
And at this word his steeds he turn’d about.
A show’r of spears then from the Trojans flies,
Who them pursued with a mighty shout.
140Then Hector loud unto Tydides cries,

Ho! Diomed, by th’ Argives honoured
Above the most, serv’d with a greater mess,
And higher seat, and wine unlimited,
You will hereafter be esteemed less.
145Unmanly Diomed. Fly, baggage, fly;

You ne’er shall come within the walls of Troy,
To freight your ship with women here; for I
Intend to send you first another way.
This said, Tydides was awhile in doubt
150Whether to turn or no and Hector meet,

And thrice to turn his horses was about,
And Jove thrice thund’ring turn’d them tow’rd the fleet,
Shewing that he the honour of that day
Had granted to the Trojans. Hector then
155Pursu’d them close, and roaring all the way,

Trojans, said he, and aids, now play the men,
For sure I am that Jove is on our side,
And give us will the victory this day.
And fools they are that in their wall confide;
160For through their trench our horse shall find a way.

When we are at the ships, let one or other
Have fire to burn them ready, and then fall
Upon the men confounded in the smother.
This said, he did upon his horses call,
165Xanthus, Podargus, Æthon, Lampus, see

You pay now what you owe me for your meat,
Laid in your mangers by Andromache,
Who always served you with pleasant wheat,
And steep’d sometimes, when she thought fit, in wine;
170And very oft, though I her husband be,

Your dinner was made ready before mine.
Now, now pursue the Argives lustily,
That Nestor’s shield of gold I may obtain;
Nor of Tydides’ armour must we fail,
175By Vulcan wrought. If we but these can gain,

The Argives will this very night hoist sail.
At Hector’s speech Juno upon her throne
Unquiet sitting, made Olympus shake;
For mov’d she was with his presumption,
180And looking upon Neptune to him spake.

Neptune, said she, are you not stirr’d at this?
You know at Ægæ, and at Helice,
Their liberality abundant is,
And sure I am you wish them victory.
185What! cannot we, who with the Argives side,

If we our pow’rs together join in one,
Drive back the Trojans, and abate their pride,
And leave Jove here to sit and chafe alone?
Juno, said Neptune, griev’d, these words are bold:
190I’ll not rebel; for we shall have the worst,

And so we have by Jupiter been told.
Thus Neptune and the wife of Jove discours’d.
And now between the walls and ships, the place
With horses and with armed men was fill’d,
195And crammed were within a narrow space

By Hector, that was master of the field.
And had not Agamemnon been inspired
By Juno to put courage in his men,
The Argive ships had certainly been fired,
200And never had the Greeks gone back again.

Then ’mongst the ships he went, and stayed at
Ulysses’ ship, which was the middlemost
Of all the navy, and the tallest; that
He might be heard to both ends of the host,
205Both to Achilles and to Ajax’ tent,

Clad in th’ imperial robe, that all might see’t;
For these two being the most confident,
Had plac’d themselves at th’ utmost of the fleet;
And with a mighty voice to th’ Argives cried,
210Disgrace of Greece, mere outsides, where are now

Your brags, that any of you durst abide
An hundred Trojans, and yet dare not show
A face to Hector, who our ships would fire?
But this was said at Lemnos in your wine,
215Which rais’d your language than your nature higher;

But cooled now the battle you decline.
Was ever king afflicted as I am,
O Jove, or lost a victory so near?
And yet at all your altars as I came,
220My sacrifices duly payed were,

In hope that I the town of Troy should sack.
But grant at least, O Jove, that we may come
Ourselves into Achæa safely back,
And not be here destroy’d at Ilium.
225This said, Jove grants them safely to depart,

And from him presently his eagle came,
And brought the tender issue of a hart,
And near unto his altar dropp’d the same.
The Argives when they saw the bird of Jove,
230Were to the fight again encouraged,

And who should first repass the trenches strove.
And he that first came forth was Diomed.
And much before that any of the rest
Had any slain, he killed Agelaus,
235Whom with his spear he pierc’d from back to breast,

When from him he his char’ot turning was.
Then Agamemnon came, and Menelaus,
And then the greater Ajax, then the less.
The sixth the king Idomeneus was,
240And with him came his squire Meriones.

And next Eurypylus, Euæmon’s son.
The ninth was Teucer with his bow unbent.
Hid with the shield of Ajax Telamon
His mighty brother, to the field he went,
245Which Ajax lifting, Teucer chose his man,

And having at him aim’d, and shot, and kill’d,
As children to their mothers, back he ran,
And hid himself behind his brother’s shield.
How many were the men he killed thus?
250Orstolochus, Ophlestus, Lycophon,

And Melanippus, Dætor, Ormenus,
And Chromius, and last Amopaon.
All those lay dead together on the sands.
When Agamemnon saw what work was done
255By Teucer’s arrows on the Trojan’s bands,

He to him came, and said, O valiant son
Of Telamon, so, so your shafts bestow,
Unto the Argives all an honour be,
And to your father Telamon; for though
260Unto your mother married not was he,

Yet has he still maintain’d you as his own.
And if it please Jove and the pow’rs divine
To make me once the master of this town,
Your share shall be the next set out to mine,
265And to your honour shall receive from me

A tripod, and two horses with the car;
Or if you will, your bed shall honour’d be
With some fair woman taken in the war.
Teucer to this then answer made and said,
270Of this encouragement no need have I.

Since we came forth I have no time delay’d,
But done as much as in my pow’r did lie.
Eight shafts already have gone from my bow,
And in as many Trojans fix’d have been.
275Of this mad dog I miss I know not how.

Then took he out another arrow keen,
And aim’d at Hector, but he hit him not,
But wounded on the breast Gorgythion,
Who on fair Castianira was begot,
280And of King Priam’s valiant sons was one.

Who falling on his knees hung down his head,
Just as a poppy charg’d with fruit and rain,
So had his casque his head o’erburthened.
And Teucer then at Hector shot again,
285And miss’d again. Apollo put it by.

But Archeptolemus, his charioteer,
He missed not. Hector ’scap’d narrowly,
And Archeptolemus expired there
Shot through the breast. Hector was sorry, but
290Left him. Cebriones chanc’d to be nigh,

And in his hands Hector the reins did put,
And from his chariot leap’d down suddenly,
And took a heavy stone into his hand.
Teucer the while again his bow had bent.
295But drawing did so long, and aiming stand,

The stone from Hector the arrow did prevent,
And near the shoulder on the breast him struck.
And broken was the bow-string with the blow,
And his benumbed arm all sense forsook,
300And sinking on his knees he dropped the bow.

Then Ajax stepp’d before him with his shield.
Mecistheus and Alastor him convey’d
Unto the Argive ships from off the field,
Grievously bruised, groaning and dismayed.
305The courage of the Trojans now renew’d,

They chas’d the Argives back unto their wall,
And till the trenches they had pass’d, pursu’d,
And Hector at their heels the near’st of all.
As when a hound pursueth a wild boar,
310Or lion, and presuming on his feet

Pinches his haunch or side, and then gives o’er,
Not daring if he turn the beast to meet;
So Hector chasing them still slew the last.
And many of them had the Trojans slain
315Ere they the trenches and the pale had pass’d.

But being in they there themselves contain,
And comfort one another all they can;
And to the Gods and Goddesses they pray,
Lifting their hands to heaven every man;
320And Hector then turn’d off and went his way.

Which Juno seeing, unto Pallas said,
Daughter of Jupiter, do you not see
What Greeks one madman, Hector, has destroy’d?
Shall we sit still in this extremity?
325To Juno then Athena thus replied,

Had not my father’s wits been at a loss,
This furious Hector by the Greeks had died,
But he my counsel always loves to cross.
He has forgot how oft his son I sav’d
330Oppressed by Euristheus’ tyranny.

For always when his father’s help he crav’d,
Down to the earth from heaven sent was I.
But had I known as much as I do now,
When for the dog he went to Pluto’s gate,
335He had for me till this time staid below,

And by the odious Styx for ever sate.
But now he hates me. And by Thetis led,
He must Achilles honour. But my hope is,
The time will come I shall be favoured
340By him again, and called his dear Glaucopis.

But make you ready now your chariot,
While I put on my arms; that we may see
If Hector will thereof be glad or not,
Or if some Trojans rather shall not be
345Left dead for dogs and vultures to devour.

Then Juno to her car the horses brought.
To Jove’s house Pallas went, and on the floor
Threw down her long robe, and put on Jove’s coat.
And then her breast with armour covered.
350And on her shoulder hung her fearful shield.

Then took her heavy spear with brazen head,
Wherewith she breaketh squadrons in the field.
Then open of itself flew heaven-gate,
(Though to the Seasons Jove the power gave
355Alone to judge of early and of late)

And out the Goddesses the horses drave.
Then Jove to Iris said, Go, to them speak.
Tell them an ill match they will have of me.
I’ll lame their horses and their char’ot break,
360Unto the ground they both shall tumbled be;

And with my thunder wounded shall be so,
That ten years after they shall not be well.
For I would have Glaucopis well to know
What ’tis against her father to rebel.
365But Juno is so us’d to cross my will,

That towards her my anger is the less.
Then Iris went her way from Ida hill,
And near Olympus met the Goddesses,
And as she bidden was did to them speak.
370What fury’s this? Whither d’ye go, said she.

Jove will your horses lame, your char’ot break,
And to the ground you both will tumbled be,
And with his thunder wounded will be so,
That ten years after you will not be well.
375For you, Glaucopis, he will make to know

What ’tis against your father to rebel.
But Juno is so us’d to cross his will
That he affronts from her can better bear;
But, Pallas, at your hands he takes it ill
380That you should dare against him lift a spear.

Iris, her errand done, no longer stay’d,
And to Minerva thus said Juno then:
Jove shall no more for me be disobey’d,
By taking part in war with mortal men.
385But let one live and let another die,

As by the chance of war it shall fall out,
And let him do what he thinks equity.
This said, her chariot she turn’d about.
The horses by the Seasons freed and fed,
390The char’ot was set up against the wall.

The Goddesses themselves then entered,
And took their places in the council-hall
With th’ other Gods. And Jove himself from Ida
T’ Olympus came, and lighted from his car,
395And Neptune from the same his steeds untied,

And set them up, and of them had a care.
The chariot he set to the altar near
Cover’d with linen fine. Then to his throne,
His throne of gold, mounted the Thunderer,
400And made Olympus shake as he sat down.

But Juno and Athena silent sat
Together by themselves from Jove apart
And discontent. But Jove knew well for what;
And answer made to what was in her heart.
405Juno, said he, and Pallas, why so sad?

Your fight against the Trojans was not long.
And more you had been vexed if it had;
So much for th’ other Gods I am too strong.
The danger scarce begun was when you fled.
410But had you dar’d the battle to maintain,

You had been by my hand so thundered,
You never had t’ Olympus come again.
Juno at this and Pallas grumbling sat,
And Pallas from replying did abstain,
415Although no less the Trojans she did hate.

But Juno was not able to contain.
O cruel Jove, said she, what words are these?
Must we unto our friends be so ingrate,
Because we know you can do what you please,
420As not the Argives to commiserate?

We are content, since you will have it so,
No longer in the war to give them aid;
But let us give them counsel what to do,
Lest in your anger they be all destroy’d.
425Juno, said Jove, tomorrow you shall know

If you’ll be pleas’d the battle to behold,
How many martial Greeks I’ll overthrow.
For Hector shall not be by me control’d
Until Achilles be fetch’d back again,
430And at the Argive ships the battle be

About the body of Patroclus slain.
For so it is ordain’d by destiny.
And for your anger, Juno, I not care,
Though to the end of earth and sea you go,
435(Where pent Iäpetus and Saturn are

In horrid darkness) and complain; yet so
I will not for your anger care a jot.
For you are grown extremely insolent.
Thus Jupiter; and Juno answer’d not.
440Then down the sun into the ocean went,

Drawing upon the fields a cloudy night,
Which gave the Trojan army no content,
But to the Greeks more welcome was than light.
The army Hector call’d to parliament,
445And led them to a clean place, free from blood,

And there they all on foot about him throng.
Hector unto them giving orders stood
With spear in hand eleven cubits long.
Hear me, you Trojans and you aids, said he,
450I thought we should have now the Greeks destroy’d,

And lodged in the town with victory.
But this my hope is by the night made void,
Nor can we help it. Let us now provide,
For supper, beeves and sheep, and wine and bread
455From Troy; and let the horses be untied,

And care be taken that they be well fed.
Then fetch in wood, and fires abundance make,
That with the flame light’ned may be the sky,
Lest th’ Argives in the dark advantage take,
460To go aboard and safe to Argos fly.

Let them embark at least in haste, and bear
Along with them their wounds uncured home,
That others who shall see’t may stand in fear,
And say, This ’tis to fight ’gainst Ilium.
465And let great boys and old men all night wake

Upon the walls and tow’rs, and guards be set,
And every wife at home a great fire make,
Lest into Troy the foe by treason get.
This, valiant Trojans, let be done to-night,
470To morrow I shall further order give.

I doubt not but to put these dogs to flight
By th’ help of Jove, and Ilium relieve.
But while ’tis night have on your guards a care,
Tomorrow early arm yourselves for fight.
475For to the Argive ships I’ll bring the war,

And trial make of Diomedes’ might,
If from the ships he drive me shall away,
Or with my spear I him shall overthrow
And send his bloody armour into Troy.
480Tomorrow he his strength will better know.

I would I were as certain not to die,
And of old age live still free from the sorrow,
As Phœbus and Athena do, as I
Am sure we shall defeat these Greeks tomorrow.
485Thus ended he. The Trojans, full of joy,

Their sweating horses soon took out and fed,
And some were sent into the town of Troy,
To bring in beeves and sheep, and wine, and bread,
While others fetch’d in wood. Then to the sky
490Arose the pleasant vapour of the roast.

The Trojans confident of victory
Sat cheerful at their arms throughout the host.
As many stars as in a heav’n serene
Together with the moon appear i’ th’ night,
495When all the tops of hills and woods are seen,

And joyful are the shepherds at the sight:
So many seem’d the fires upon the plain.
A thousand fires, and at each fifty men,
That by their horses there all night remain
Expecting till Aurora rose again.

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

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LIB. VIII.