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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. XII.

The fourth fight, Hector having entered the Argive camp, at the ships.
Thus was Eurypylus of pain releas’d.
Meanwhile the Greeks and Trojans fiercely fought,
Nor could the Argive wall and trench (unbless’d,
For on a hecatomb they never thought)
5Though made their ships and booty to defend,

Keep Hector and the Trojans long time out.
For very quickly cometh to an end
Whate’er without the Gods men go about.
Indeed while Hector liv’d, and angry lay
The fourth fight.
10Achilles at his tent, and would not fight,

And standing were the walls and town of Troy,
The great wall of the Argives stood upright.
But when the bravest Trojans once were slain,
And many Greeks, and burnt was Ilium,
15That had almost ten years held out in vain,

And what remained of the Greeks gone home.
Then Neptune and Apollo both devise
The wall to ruin, and the rivers all
That in this spacious mountain Ida rise
20Upon this Argive mighty work make fall.

Aresus, Rhesus, Heptaporius,
Æsepus, Rhodius, Scamander, and
Besides these six, the river Granicus,
And Simoeis, upon whose banks of sand
25Many a shield and helmet scatter’d lay,

And many a Demi-God. These rivers all
Apollo turned from their wonted way,
Directing them unto the Argives’ wall.
Nine days perpetually they thither run,
30And Jove nine days together pour’d down rain,

To th’ end the work might be the sooner done.
And Neptune with his trident from the main
Before them went and wrenched out the stone
And timber which had there been laid with pain
35The deep’st of all for the foundation,

And made it to the sea all smooth again.
And strew’d again with sand the ample shore;
And made the brooks in their own channels run
No otherwise than they were wont before:
40But this not yet, but afterwards was done.

For Hector had the Greeks with show’rs of spears
Constrain’d to quit their walls and tow’rs so high,
That rattled terribly about their ears,
And back unto their hollow ships to fly.
45As when a lion or a boar beset

With hounds and hunters, this and that way tries
(Close as they stand) through them by strength to get,
And passing on their spears prevails or dies,
And as he goes still makes them to give way;
50So Hector ’mongst his friends went here and there,

Exhorting them the trenches to assay.
The horses when upon the brink they were
Boggled and whinnied, and refus’d to pass;
For broad it was and not to be leap’d o’er:
55And to descend into, too deep it was,

And on each side bristled with stakes good store,
Fix’d by the Achæans to keep off the foe;
So that for horse and cars there was no way.
But very willing were the foot to go,
60And only to receive command did stay.

And then to Hector said Polydamas,
Hector and you, the princes of our friends,
We strive in vain to make our horses pass
O’er such great stakes, so sharpen’d at the ends,
65Having above our heads the enemy.

Where (though we could get down) we cannot fight,
Though Jove unto our side inclined be,
And to the Greeks should bear as much despite,
As I, that wish their name were rooted out.
70Yet if the Greeks, when we encumber’d were

For want of room, should turn and face about,
And set upon us in the ditch, I fear
A man of us would not be left alive
To tell at Troy what is become of us.
75But if you mean to have the bus’ness thrive,

Then hear my counsel, Let us all do thus:
Till of our horse and chariots we have need
Let servants hold them to the trenches nigh,
And we on foot fight; for if Jove indeed
80Intend us victory, the Greeks will fly.

Thus he advis’d; and Hector thought it best,
And from his chariot leap’d unto the sand,
Arm’d as he was; and so did all the rest,
And to their charioteers they gave command
85All in their order near the trench to stand.

The Trojans in five parts themselves divide;
And Hector of the first took the command.
But with himself he joined two beside,
Polydamas and stout Cebriones,
90And left a meaner man to hold his car.

Of all the Trojan host the best were these.
O’ th’ second party Paris had the care,
Join’d with Agenor and Alcathous.
The third commanded was by leaders three:
95First Helenus, and then Deiphobus,

The third was Asius. From Arisbe he
With mighty horses, colour’d like to flame,
Bred on the bank of Sellis, came to Troy.
The fourth command unto Æneas came;
100And he likewise two seconds had, and they

Two sons were of Antenor (both well skill’d
In war), Archelochus and Acamas.
Lastly, Sarpedon led into the field
The Trojan aids; and he assisted was
105By valiant Glaucus and Asterapæus.

For of the Lycians which he led thither
The ablest and the best men he thought these.
And then with bucklers joined close together,
Away they march directly to the foe,
110And to the combat had a great desire.

The Greeks (they thought) as fast as they could go,
Would presently unto their ships retire,
But Asius would not his horses leave
And man, without the trench, as others did.
115Fool as he was himself so to deceive.

Upon his chariot tow’rds the ships he rid;
But never came triumphant back again
For all his flaming horses and his car,
But by Idomeneus’ spear was slain.
120When Hector to the ships had brought the war,

The Greeks had in their wall a gate, whereat
Their horses to the field were us’d to pass,
And Asius with his chariot drave to that,
Which now left open by the Argives was,
125Their people chas’d by Hector to let in.

And all his party with a mighty cry
March’d after him, as if they sure had been
The Argives to their hollow ships would fly;
But were deceived. For at the gate they found
130Two mighty men that like two great oaks stood

With deep and large roots fixed in the ground,
That many winds and storms had long withstood.
And Lapiths they were both; Leontes one,
The other Polypœtes gotten by
135Pirithous. Both saw them coming on,

And staying, on their hands and strength rely.
The Trojans led by Asius came on
With mighty noise, Orestes, Adamas,
(This Adamas of Asius was the son)
140Thoon, Iamenus, and Œnomaus,

And o’er their heads they held their shields on high,
For fear of stones and spears from off the wall.
The Greeks within to one another cry
To save the ships, the tents, themselves, and all.
145But when they saw the Trojans went about

To scale the wall, they roar’d and frighted were;
But the two Lapiths presently leap’d out,
And furiously fell on the Trojans there.
As if two boars the men and hounds withstood,
150You’d often hear the boughs before them snap,

While with their bended necks they tear the wood;
So thick they did the Trojan armours rap.
For valiantly they fought, in part relying
Upon their strength, and partly on the showers
155Of mighty stones perpetually flying

Upon the Trojans from the wall and tow’rs.
As thick as to the ground fall flakes of snow,
When by a cold wind stirred is the cloud,
Their weapons from their hands on both sides go,
160And shields and helmets crack apace and loud.

But Asius at this vex’d to the heart,
Then spake to Jove, and clapping of his thigh,
Aye me, said he, thou too a liar art,
That mad’st us to believe the Greeks would fly;
165Who like so many motly wasps or bees

That in the hollow way their houses build,
And for their young resist their enemies,
Till they repel them or themselves be kill’d,
Still sharply fight and will not quit the place.
170Thus Asius said, but Jove unmoved sate,

And none that day but Hector meant to grace.
And as at this they fought at ev’ry gate,
I cannot like a God relate it all,
The flaming stones that from the Trojans flew
175With fire divine up to the Argive wall

On ev’ry side. How th’ Argives no way knew
To save themselves but for the ships to fight;
And how the Gods that with the Greeks took part
Sat discontent in heav’n, and full of spite,
180To see Jove so severely make them smart.

But for the fight without, ’twas first begun
By the bold Lapiths, though but two they were.
For Polypœtes, Pirithous’ son,
At Damasus threw first a heavy spear,
185And through his helmet’s brazen cheeks it went,

And through the bone into the brain went on;
And when unto the shades he him had sent,
He killed Orminus and Pyloon:
And then a deadly spear Leontes threw,
190Which through the body pierc’d Hippolochus.

And on Antiphates his sword he drew
And killed him, and then Iamenus,
Orestes, Menon, one upon another.
But whilst they stay’d to strip these and the rest,
195Hector, Polydamas, and many other,

That of the Trojan army were the best,
Were at the trench, and stood upon the brink
The wall to break, and set the ships on fire.
But as they stood a little while to think,
200There came a bird not suiting their desire.

An eagle in his pounces held a snake,
And over Hector’s soldiers carried it
Alive, but that could yet resistance make,
And by and by the snake the eagle bit.
205The eagle smarting cried and flew away,

And ’mongst the Trojans lets the serpent fall,
And there amazed they, and gaping stay
To see Jove’s prodigy before them crawl.
O Hector, said Polydamas, though you
210In courts and councils cross whate’er I say,

How good soe’er it for you be and true,
Unless in ev’ry thing I go your way,
(Which is not well done, for your counsel ought
In peace and war to have their voices free,
215And never give advice against their thought,

But always for the public good to be);
Yet now I’ll tell you, if this bird be sent
Unto the Trojans as a prodigy,
’Tis not uneasy to foresee th’ event.
220For this I think the end of it will be:

As th’ eagle in his pounces bore the snake,
But could not to her young ones bear it home;
So if the Trojans this attempt shall make,
They’ll back unto the city smarting come,
225And many good companions leave behind,

Whom th’ Argives, to defend their ships, will kill.
And this, I think, will any augur find
That in’s profession has any skill.
Then Hector sourly looking thus replied:
230Polydamas, this counsel I like not;

You have a better which you from me hide.
But if indeed it be your very thought,
The Gods have sure depriv’d you of your sense,
That bids me not on Jove to set my rest,
235But feather’d fowls, that fly I care not whence,

Nor whither, right or left, or east or west;
But we to Jove, the greatest God, will trust,
That all the other Gods excels in might.
He one bird has, that still observe we must,
240And that is, for our country well to fight.

But why are you so much afraid? For though
You ne’er so many see before you slain,
You of yourself will have a care I know,
And not adventure where you may abstain.
245But if you stay or counsel other men

To stay behind, my spear shall strike you dead.
This said, he led them further on; and then
They all with mighty clamour followed.
And Jove a mighty wind from Ida sent,
250Which to the ships directly blew the dust,

That to the Trojans gave encouragement,
But to the Argives horror and distrust.
Encourag’d thus, unto the wall they go
And brake down battlements, and posts pluck’d out,
255And piles that had been planted by the foe,

With levers strong they wring up by the root.
Thus at the wall the Trojans laboured,
And hope they had the same to overthrow.
Before the battlements the Argives spread
260Cow-hides, and thence threw stones on them below.

The Ajaxes then ran from tow’r to tow’r,
Endeavouring to give the Argives heart,
Some with sweet words, and some of them with sour,
According as they each one did his part.
265Fellows, said they, you that excel in war,

And you that great strength have, and you that small
(For well you know, all men not equal are)
Now play the men, there’s bus’ness for you all.
Fear not the clamour of this threat’ning man;
270Endure this brunt, which if you overcome,

As (if Jove hinder not) I know you can,
We’ll course him to the gates of Ilium.
Thus they encouraged the Greeks. And now,
As when great Jove to show his armory
275Upon a winter’s day sends down his snow,

Innumerable are the flakes that fly
And cover hills, and woods, and pastures green,
And all the fruitful works of husbandry,
And cover would, but that the sea comes in,
280Both ports and shores; for there snow cannot lie;

The wall with stones resounded round about,
Yet Hector ne’er had broken wall nor gate,
But by the Greeks had still been kept without,
Had not Jove sent, the Trojans t’ animate,
285His son Sarpedon. With his shield of brass,

Lined with many folds of strong cow-hide,
And which with golden circles strength’ned was,
And two spears in his hand, to th’ wall he hied.
And as a lion that had fasted long
290Comes from the hill upon a flock of sheep,

Will try what he can do, for all the throng
Of men and dogs that them are set to keep;
So boldly goes Sarpedon to the walls,
With mighty hand the battlements to tear,
295And as he going was to Glaucus calls.

Glaucus, said he, what cause think you is there
That we in Lycia more honour’d are
Than other men, and look’d upon like Gods,
And higher sit at feasts, and better fare,
300And drink best wine, and more land have by odds?

Is’t not because we foremost are in fight!
’Tis not in vain, they’ll say, our princes have
More honour, since they are of greater might,
And their lives venture other men to save.
305Glaucus, if we could death eschew and age

By running from the battle cowardly,
D’ye think I foremost would myself engage,
Or ever counsel you to follow me?
You know the ways to death are infinite.
310Though we ne’er fight we cannot always live.

Therefore come on, and let us bravely fight,
And either honour gain, or honour give.
So said Sarpedon. Glaucus him obey’d;
And tow’rds the Greeks well followed they went.
315Then Mnesteus was terribly afraid,

For to assault his tower he saw them bent,
And look’d about what heroes he could spy
On other towers unto his aid to call.
He saw th’ Ajaxes two, and Teucer by,
320But too far off to hear. For at the wall

Of shields and helmets so great thumping was,
That ’twas impossible to hear him call.
The gates resounded no less than the brass;
For fiercely they were fighting at ’em all.
325Then Mnesteus to the squire, Thootes, said,

Run quickly, call the Ajaxes to me,
Both, if they can be spar’d. I am afraid
Against these men I shall not able be
To keep my place. Keen warriors they are.
330But if they be themselves distressed there,

Let Telamonius of the place take care,
And Teucer use his bow and arrows here.
Thootes then unto th’ Ajaxes ran
Along the Argive wall, and to them said,
335Mnesteus entreats both of you, if you can,

To come unto his tow’r and give him aid.
Keen warriors, he says, these Lycians are:
But if you be yourselves distressed here,
Let Telamonius of the place take care,
340And Teucer use his bow and arrows there.

This said, great Ajax said unto the less,
Æliades, stay here awhile, till I
Deliver Mnesteus from his distress.
That done, I shall be with you presently.
345Ajax and Teucer then together go

Unto the tow’r of Mnesteus with all speed,
Pandion with them, carry’ng Teucer’s bow,
And at their coming found him in great need.
The Lycians, like a black and low’ring cloud,
350Ascended to the wall, and fiercely fought.

The Greeks resist. The noise is mighty loud.
And with a heavy stone stood Ajax out,
That two men scarce could carry, such as now
The earth brings forth, and with the same he stroke
355Epicles on the helmet such a blow

As head and helmet both in pieces broke.
Down like a diver from the wall fell he
Headlong, and dead upon the ground he lay.
At Glaucus Teucer lets an arrow flee
360Which through his arm unarmed made its way.

Glaucus, no longer able now to fight,
Leapt from the wall unseen unto the ground,
For fear, if of his hurt they had a sight,
The Greeks would make a triumph of his wound.
365Griev’d was Sarpedon to see Glaucus gone,

But not so grieved but that still he fought,
And fix’d a heavy spear in Alcmaon,
And with the same his life and all pluck’d out.
Sarpedon then tore down a battlement,
370And wider for the Lycians made the way.

But Teucer then an arrow to him sent;
But Jupiter, to save his son that day,
The shaft unto his shield and belt directed,
So that it passed not unto the skin,
375The shield and belt together him protected.

And then, with spear in hand came Ajax in,
And with a push that pierc’d his shield clean through,
His coming on a little while he staid.
But with Sarpedon that could little do,
380That honour sought. Then to his friends he said,

Ye Lycians, what makes ye thus remiss?
Can I make way unto the ships alone?
Strong as I am, impossible it is.
For many hands much better are than one.
385This said, the Lycians heavier than before,

To please their prince, upon the Argives lay.
The Greeks within their broken ranks restore,
And terrible the battle was that day.
For neither could the Lycians passage make
390Unto the ships and break the Argives’ wall,

Nor Greeks compel the Lycians to forsake
The battlements, so fiercely fought they all.
As two men on the confines of their ground
At two ends of a measure tugging stand,
395Contending earnestly about their bound,

And each of them would fain enlarge his land:
So for the battlement they striving stood,
And wounded one another back and breast,
And sprinkled was the battlement with blood,
400Nor was it certain yet who had the best.

But as a woman that is fain to spin,
To find herself and children sorry food,
In one scale wool, in th’ other weight puts in
Till they hang ev’n: so ev’n the battle stood
405Till Hector came, to whom Jove chiefly meant

To give the honour of the victory.
Then Hector up the wall the foremost went,
And thence unto his Trojans loud did cry,
Trojans, come on, and break me down this wall,
410And set the Argives’ hollow ships on flame.

This said, he heard was by the Trojans all,
And straight unto the battlements they came.
Then Hector at the gate took up a stone,
Great and sharp pointed, two men such as now
415Could scarce have lifted up so great a one:

But Hector with one hand the same could throw;
For Jupiter to him had made it light.
And as unto a shepherd is a fleece
Of wool, that to be borne needs little might;
420So eas’ly borne the stone by Hector is;

And standing at the gate well fortified
With planks well join’d, and two cross-bars within,
And taking with his right foot back a stride,
Out flew the stone, and at the gate went in.
425The gate then roar’d; the hinges broken were;

The bars upon the ground asunder lay;
And pieces of the planks flew here and there;
And to the ships now open was the way.
And Hector with a countenance like night
430Flew in. And fire appeared in his eyes:

His armour as he marched shining bright,
And light reflected up unto the skies;
And two good spears he grasped in his fist.
And then the Greeks were mightily afraid;
435For none except a God could him resist.

And then unto the Trojans turning said,
Now Trojans to the wall. And presently
Great numbers of the Trojans that way pass,
And others at the gate. The Argives fly
Unto their ships. And great the tumult was.

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

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

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LIB. XII.