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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. XV.

Jupiter awakes and sends away Neptune. Hector chaseth the Greeks again to their ships, and fireth one of them. The acts of Ajax. Which is the fifth battle.
When flying they had pass’d the ditch and wall,
They at the horses and the chariots stay’d,
With loss of many men, and looking pale.
And Jove, awak’d, stood and the field survey’d,
5And saw the Greeks pursue, and Trojans fly,

And Neptune with the Greeks, and Hector laid
Upon the plain, his friends there sitting by,
And not a little of his life afraid,
For gasping he scarce able was to draw
10His breath, and blood abundance vomited,

Nor knew his friends. When Jupiter him saw,
Offended his condition pitied.
And then on Juno fiercely look’d and said,
Juno, I see all this is done by you;
15And if you for it with a whip were paid,

’Twould be no more than for your work is due.
Have you forgot how once you swung i’ th’ air,
And had two anvils hanging at your feet,
Your hand with a gold chain tied to my chair?
20Though sorry were the other Gods to see’t;

Yet had I any seen but go about
Your manacles or shackles to untie,
I from the sill of heaven had thrown him out,
And strengthless made him on the earth to lie.
25I was not so much griev’d for Hercules

When Boreas, set on by you, arose
As he went off from Troy, enrag’d the seas,
And at the last threw him ashore at Coos.
But I to Argos brought him safe again.
30And this I now repeat, that you may try

Whether you likely are to lose or gain,
Abusing our familiarity.
This said, the Goddess Juno, struck with fear,
By Earth, said she, and Heaven about it spread,
35By Styx, which is our greatest oath, I swear,

And by your life, and by our nuptial bed,
I never did to Neptune speak a word,
To hurt the Trojans, or the Greeks to aid;
But all he did was of his own accord,
40By pity only and compassion sway’d.

And from henceforward I will him advise,
Seeing what way you lead, the same to take.
Then Jupiter with favourable eyes
On Juno look’d, and thus unto her spake.
45Juno, if we were both one way inclin’d,

Neptune would quickly with us both comply.
Now if your words dissent not from your mind,
Go ’mongst the other Gods, and presently
Bid Iris and Apollo to me come.
50For Iris unto Neptune I will send,

To bid him leave the battle and go home.
To Hector and the Trojans I intend
To send Apollo, to give Hector might,
And cure him of his pain, that he may lead
Jupiter awakes and sends away Neptune.
55The Trojans on, and put the Greeks to flight,

That Thetis’ son may see them scattered;
And he shall send Patroclus to the field,
Who shall the Trojans rout and kill my son
Sarpedon, and himself shall then be kill’d
60By Hector’s spear. And after that is done,

Achilles in revenge again shall fight,
And by his hand stout Hector shall be kill’d
Under the walls of Troy, i’ th’ Trojans’ sight,
And beaten be the Trojans from the field,
65Till Troy by Pallas’ counsel taken be.

Nor till I have performed all I said
To Thetis, supplicating at my knee,
Let any God presume the Greeks to aid.
This said, went Juno to Olympus high.
70As when a man looks o’er an ample plain,

To any distance quickly goes his eye;
So swiftly Juno went with little pain,
And found the Gods at wine together set.
And at her coming in they all stood up.
75But Themis forward went and Juno met,

And to her hand delivered the cup,
And said, You look as if you frighted were
By Jupiter for something. But what is’t?
You know, said Juno, that he is severe;
80And you shall hear the matter if you list,

Together with the other Gods, though bad.
They will not all contented with it be;
But some of them will troubled be and sad.
And griev’d was she, though speaking smilingly.
85Then Juno went up to her throne, and sat;

And unto all the Gods spake angrily,
How mad, said she, or foolish are we, that
Are thinking how again Jove’s hands to tie,
Who, careless and unmov’d on Ida hill,
90Knows his own strength, and does our plots despise.

And therefore what he sends, be’t good or ill,
We’ll take it patiently, if we be wise.
Nor must the God of war on Jove complain,
Or in rebellion against him rise
95Because his son Ascalaphus is slain.

At this, with both his hands Mars clapp’d his thighs,
And to the Gods above complaining said,
Pardon me, Gods; I will revenge my son,
And ’mongst the Argives go and give them aid,
100Though I should lie amongst the dead. Then on

He puts his armour, and gives order to
Terror and Flight his chariot to prepare;
And then there had been twice as much ado
T’appease Jove’s anger ere it came to war,
105If Pallas had not (for the Gods afraid)

Pluck’d off his helmet, and set up his spear,
And pull’d his buckler off, and to him said,
Fool, Bedlam, what! have you no ears to hear?
You hear what news now Juno brings from Jove.
110And if you care not though yourself be lost,

Yet let the danger of us all you move.
For Jove will leave both Greek and Trojan host,
And, coming hither, seize us one by one,
And never ask who guilty is or not.
115Therefore give over vexing for your son,

For better men than he, by Gods begot,
Already here have been and shall be slain.
The Gods cannot preserve their children all.
This said, she brought Mars to his place again.
120And Juno to their houses went to call

Iris and Phœbus. You must go, said she,
To Jove on Ida. What you are to do,
You will by Jove himself informed be,
As soon as you his presence come into.
125Her message done, Juno resumes her place,

Iris and Phœbus down to Ida fly,
And finding Jove, stood still before his face.
Nor look’d he on them with an angry eye;
For soon they did his wife’s command obey.
130Then speaking first to Iris, Go, said he,

To Neptune quickly, tell him what I say.
Bid him no longer at the battle be,
But either go t’Olympus to the Gods,
Or to the sea. If he will neither do,
135Bid him consider if there be no odds

As well in strength as age between us two.
He knows that all the other Gods me fear,
And for my coming dareth none to stay,
As strong as to himself he doth appear.
140This said, swift-footed Iris went her way

From Ida hill, and Jove without delay,
And swift as any cloud before the winds,
Came down unto the battle before Troy,
And there amongst the Argives Neptune finds,
145And going to his side, I came, said she,

To speak with you a word or two from Jove.
You must not in the war a party be.
He bids you go up to the Gods above,
Or down to th’ sea, where lies your own command.
150If you refuse, he threatens you with war,

And bids you have a care t’avoid his hand;
And th’elder is, he says, and stronger far,
Which you yourself, he thinks, will not deny,
Since th’other Gods of him stand all in awe.
155Neptune to this replying, first spake high:

Good as he is, said he, it is not law,
Thus to usurp upon my liberty.
For sons and heirs of Saturn we were three,
Begot on Rhea. Pluto, Jove, and I.
160By lot the rule o’ th’ waters came to me.

To Jove the government of heaven fell,
And of the clouds, and the ethereal sky.
To Pluto darkness, and the rule of hell.
Earth and Olympus did as common lie.
165Let Jove then with his share contented be,

And not encroach on me. For well ’tis known
I hold not any thing of him in fee,
But live as he should do, upon my own.
He should not unto me such language use,
170But to his children, that will be afraid,

And dare not what he bids them to refuse.
Thus Neptune spake. Again then Iris said,
Neptune, shall I this haughty answer carry
To Jove? And will you that I with it go
175As ’tis? The wise their minds oft vary;

And Furies on the eldest wait you know.
So she to him. Then Neptune thus to her.
Iris, this word was spoken in good season.
Much worth, I see, is a wise messenger.
180But I was vex’d, because thus without reason,

When I his equal am by birth and lot,
Jove uses me as if I were his slave.
Well. For the present, cross him I will not,
Though I be vex’d. That answer let him have.
185And further, that if he without consent

Of me, Athena, Juno, Mercury,
And Vulcan, Troy shall spare, our discontent
For th’ Argives’ wrong implacable will be.
And when he this had said he fight forbears,
190Nor any longer ’mongst the Argives stay’d,

But div’d into the sea o’er head and ears.
Then Jove unto Apollo spake, and said,
To Hector go; for Neptune now is gone
For fear of my displeasure; had he stay’d,
195The sons of Saturn of our war had known.

’Twas wisely done of him my hand t’ avoid.
And better both for him and me; but go,
And shaking your great shield, the Greeks affright,
And strengthen Hector, and encourage so
200That he the Argive lords may put to flight,

And follow them down to the Hellespont,
And make them for their hollow ships to fight.
What then is to be done? I’ll think upon’t.
For I intend not to destroy them quite.
Hector chaseth the Greeks again to their ships.
205This said, Apollo left his father Jove,

And down he came to Troy from Ida hill,
Swift as a falcon flying at a dove,
And Hector on the ground found sitting still,
Not laid, but to his senses come anew,
210And freely breathing, although very weak,

And very well his friends about him knew.
There Phœbus standing nigh did to him speak.
Hector, said he, why sit you here alone?
O, kindest of the Gods, said he, you know
215That Ajax wounded has me with a stone,

So that I am disabled with the blow,
And once to-day I thought I should have gone
To Erebus with other shadows dim;
With such a force he threw the mighty stone.
220Then thus again Apollo answered him.

Hector, I Phœbus am, and hither come
From Jove, against the Greeks to give you aid,
And ever have wish’d well to Ilium.
Lead to the ships your troops. Be not afraid.
225Hector at this encourag’d was again,

And as a horse at rack and manger fed,
Breaking his headstall, scuds upon the plain,
And high into the air he holds his head,
His mane upon his shoulders plays with th’ air,
230And proud is in his freedom to behold

The pleasant river and the pastures fair,
To which he had accustom’d been of old,
And swiftly to the same is carried;
So swiftly now went Hector to each part,
235And in the field his troops encouraged,

After Apollo once had giv’n him heart.
But as when swains with curs to chase a roe,
Go forth into the field, and with their cry
Rouse a fierce lion, they the prey let go
240To save itself i’ th’ woods or rochers high,

And both the men and dogs are forc’d to fly;
Just so the Greeks whilst they in bodies fight,
They save themselves; but seeing Hector nigh,
They troubled were, and lost their courage quite.
245Then to them spake Thoas, Andræmon’s son,

Well skill’d at distance or at hand to fight.
Amongst th’ Ætolians better there was none.
And few compare with him for counsel might.
O strange, said he, what wond’rous sight is this!
250I verily thought Hector had been slain

By Ajax’ hand. But see he risen is.
Some God or other rais’d him has again.
He kill’d us has already many men,
And many more is likely now to slay.
255For Jupiter defends him now as then.

But come, let all my counsel now obey.
Let us that most pretend to fortitude
Stay here embattl’d to receive the foe,
And to the ships send back the multitude.
260For thither, I think, Hector dares not go:

This counsel was approv’d, and then stood out
Ajax, Idomeneus, Meriones,
Teucer, Meges, and such as were most stout,
And one battalion was made of these,
265Th’impression of Hector to sustain,

Till to the ships the rest retreated were.
And Hector with his troops came on amain,
Himself the foremost shaking his long spear.
Apollo march’d before him to the field,
270Concealing in a cloud his glorious head,

And carried in his hand a shining shield,
Which whosoever laid his eyes on fled.
’Twas made at first by Mulciber, and then
Given to Jove when he came down to fight
275Against the squadrons of rebellious men,

To make them fly the field at the first sight.
Expecting Hector, close the Argives stand,
And loud and sharp on both sides was the cry,
And many a spear from every lusty hand,
280And in the air, arrows abundant fly,

And spears; whereof some flying home did kill,
And others would have done, but short they fell.
As long as Phœbus did his shield hold still,
Many a soul on both sides flew to Hell.
285When shaking it, he made the Argives see ’t,

They stricken were with fear and suddenly
Their heavy hearts fell down into their feet,
And then they made all haste they could to fly.
And as a herd or flock is frighted when
290A wolf or lion coming on they see,

And no assistance have of dogs or men;
So th’ Argives scatter’d before Hector flee.
Then slain by Hector was Arcesilaus,
And Stichius who the Bœotians led.
295The other a good friend of Mnesteus was;

Both killed were by Hector as they fled;
Æneas Medon slew, and Iasus.
Medon was little Ajax’ bastard brother,
And lived from his father Oileus,
300By th’ instigation of his stepmother

Eriopis, whose brother he had slain.
And Iäsus th’ Athenian leader was,
But back to Athens led them not again.
His father was Sphelus Bucalidas.
305Mecestes slain was by Polydamas.

Polites Echius slew in the first fight,
And Clonius by Agenor killed was;
And Deiochus by Paris in the flight.
Whilst from the foe each one his armour takes,
310The flying Greeks into the ditch leap’d all,

And there encumber’d mightily with stakes,
Were forced to retire within the wall.
Then Hector roared to the Trojans, saying,
On to the ships, and let the dead men lie.
315I’ll be his death whom ever I find staying,

Nor shall he buried be or burned by
His friends and kin, but in the fields of Troy
Be left for dogs to tear and haul about.
This said, unto the ships he drave away,
320By th’ Trojans follow’d with a mighty shout.

Phœbus before them march’d, and with his foot
Into the trench threw down the earth again,
And made an easy and plain passage through’t
As far as one a spear can well hurl, when
325He hurleth for a wager. To the wall

The Trojans go, Apollo there again
Before them is, and eas’ly makes it fall,
As children when themselves they entertain
With making pretty things upon the sands,
330Then comes into their heads another toy,

And down they push this with their feet or hands;
So easily Apollo did destroy
The Argives’ mighty work, and bring the fight
Again unto the ships. Where now they pray’d,
335And one another’s courage did excite.

Nestor to heav’n held up his hands and said,
O Jove, if you the sacrifice accepted have
Of any Greek before he hither came,
And promis’d that the army you would save,
340O, at our prayer, now perform the same;

Let us not perish by the Trojans here.
Thus Nestor pray’d, and then Jove thundered,
Declaring that his prayers granted were.
At this the Trojans were encouraged,
345And by their hopes interpreting Jove’s mind,

Upon the Greeks with greater fury fall.
As when a wave is thrown by some great wind
Into a ship, so pass’d they at the wall,
And to the ships they went with horse and car.
350The Greeks went up into their ships to fight,

And with long spears, made for a naval war
And pointed well with brass, and shining bright,
The Greeks and Trojans push at one another,
These mounted stood upon their chari’ts high,
355And higher on their black ships stood the other.

Patroclus, that till now sat quietly,
Because the fight was only at the wall,
And to Eurypylus his care applied
And med’cines fit to cure his wounds withal,
360And sat discoursing with him by his side,

Now when he saw the Trojans were within,
And of the Argives heard the woful cries,
And saw the fear and danger they were in,
With both his hands then clapped he his thighs.
365Eurypylus, said he, I cannot stay;

For mightily increased is th’ affray.
Your wound be dressed by your servant may,
But to Achilles I must go away.
Who knows but I may win him at the last
370To help the Greeks? This said, away he went,

And left Eurypylus, and made what haste
He could to get unto Achilles’ tent.
Meanwhile the victory no way inclin’d.
Neither the Greeks could make the Trojans fly,
375Nor yet the Trojans, as they had design’d,

Back from the ships could force the enemy;
But level hung the wings of victory,
As when two scales are charg’d with equal weight,
Made by the art of Pallas curiously,
380The beam lies level in the air and straight.

And at one time at divers ships they fought.
Directly unto Ajax Hector went,
And there sharp fighting was one ship about.
Hector to burn, Ajax to save it meant.
385Here Ajax, with a long spear in his hand,

Killed Caletor, Hector’s brother’s son,
As he was coming with a flaming brand
To fire the ship, and died before ’twas done.
This Hector saw, and to his fellows cried,
390Trojans and friends, defend the body dead

Of Clytius’ son, and shrink not from my side.
And as he spake his long spear from him fled,
Which, aim’d at Ajax, fell on Lycophron,
A man that was to Ajax very dear,
395But born at Cythera, and Mastor’s son,

That having kill’d a man durst not stay there,
But unto Ajax fled, and with him staid,
Till now by Hector’s spear struck through the head
He died. Then Ajax to his brother said,
400Teucer, our friend Mastorides is dead.

You know how much we honour’d him at home.
’Tis Hector that has slain him. Where are now
Your deadly arrows? And what is become
Of Phœbus’ gift, your so egregious bow?
405Which Teucer hearing, quickly with him was

With bow and quiver in his hand, and shot
And slew the servant of Polydamas,
That had the guiding of his chariot,
Clitus by name, who while in vain he sought
410By driving to where hottest was the fight,

From Hector and the Trojans thanks t’ have got,
The fatal arrow on his neck did light.
Then down he fell. The frighted horses shook
The empty car. Then came Polydamas,
415And by the heads the cap’ring horses took,

And sets Astynous in Clytus’ place;
And gave him a strict charge to hold them nigh,
But not to come with them into the fight.
Then Teucer lets another arrow fly
420At Hector, which if it had hit him right,

He never at the ships again had fought.
But Jupiter was pleas’d to save him now,
And brake the bow-string. Then in vain flew out
The arrow, and into the dust the bow.
425And Teucer to his brother made his moan.

Ajax, said he, is’t not a wondrous thing?
My bow is started from my hand and gone,
Some God or other broken has the string,
Yet new ’twas made this morning purposely
430To last all day. Teucer, said Ajax then,

Cannot you let your bow and quiver lie,
And fight with spear in hand like other men,
And give unto the Greeks encouragement?
No. Though the Gods above should in their hate
435To let the Trojans take our ships be bent,

Yet let us sell them at a lusty rate.
Teucer then laid his bow up in his tent,
And arm’d himself with helmet and with shield,
And a good spear, and back to Ajax went,
440And found him where he left him in the field.

When Hector saw that Teucer’s noble bow
Was useless now, he to his squadrons cried,
Trojans and Lycians, come on boldly now,
For Teucer now his bow hath laid aside.
445Jove brake the string. I saw it with these eyes.

For easily it may discerned be
To whom the hand of Jove intends the prize,
And to whom he denies the victory.
And now upon our side he is you see,
450And from the Greeks their courage takes away.

Then to the ships let’s go courageously,
And let the fear of death no man dismay.
For why should any of us fear to die?
When for his country ’tis, it is no shame.
455And if we make the enemy to fly,

Sav’d are his wife and children, goods, and name.
Whilst Hector thus the Trojans did excite,
Ajax unto the Argives spake, and said,
We must now either put our foes to flight,
460Or make account we shall be all destroy’d.

If Hector here to burn our ships should chance,
Can you go home again, d’ye think, a-foot?
He calleth on his men; ’tis not to dance,
But fire our ships, if we will let him do’t.
465For us ’tis better in close fight to die

Here all at once, or get the victory,
Than here, God knows how long, consuming lie,
And peck in vain at a weak enemy.
Thus Ajax rais’d the courage of th’ Achæans.
470Then Hector slew the son of Perimed,

Stichius that had command of the Phocæans.
And Ajax slew Laodamas that led
The Trojan foot, and was Antenor’s son.
And Otus by Polydamas was slain,
475Otus, that led the bold Epeians on,

And was a friend of Meges. He again
A spear threw at Polydamas, and miss’d;
For Phœbus kindness had for Panthus’ son,
And with a present wit did him assist
480To turn about and let the spear go on,

And Crœsmus there receiv’d it on his breast,
And down he fell. Then Dolops, Lampus’ son,
(Lampus, that was of living men the best,
And grandchild of the King Laomedon)
485To be reveng’d, at Meges threw his spear,

Which pass’d his shield, but in his breastplate staid,
(The breastplate which his father used to wear,
With many plies of strong mail overlaid,
And given was to Phyleus by his guest
490At Ephyre, wherewith, in martial strife,

From deadly strokes of spears to save his breast,
And of his son it now preserv’d the life),
But Meges Dolops hit upon the head,
And from his crest struck off the goodly main,
495Which he but newly then had dyed red.

But Dolops still the fight did well maintain,
Till Menelaus stole unto his side,
And struck him through the shoulder with his spear.
No longer stood he then, but fell and died,
500And both of them to strip him going were.

And Hector then call’d out to all his kin,
And unto Menalippus specially,
Who, while the Greeks were absent, lived in
Percote, and took care of th’ husbandry,
505But when the Argive fleet to Troy was come,

He then return’d his country to defend,
And liv’d in Priam’s house at Ilium,
And proud the Trojans were of such a friend,
And lov’d he was by Priam as his son.
510And now unto him Hector spake, and said,

Have we for Dolops no compassion,
Or to defend his body are afraid?
Come, follow me. We must no longer play
At distance with the Greeks, but either they
515Must utterly deface the town of Troy,

And kill us all, or we them all destroy.
This said, away they both together went
To save the body of their cousin dead;
And Ajax, with a contrary intent,
520His Argives to the fight encouraged.

Argives, said he, to honour have an eye,
And of your fellows’ censures have a care;
For slain are always more of those that fly
Than those that of base flight ashamed are.
525This said, though of it no great need there was

Amongst the Greeks, they presently obey’d,
And at the ships stood like an hedge of brass;
But on came Hector, not at all afraid.
T’ Antilochus then Menelaus said,
530Amongst us there is none that better can

Both fight and run. Why should you be afraid
To leap unto the throng and kill your man?
This said, away again went Menelaus.
Antilochus leapt out before the rest,
535And threw his spear at Menalippus, as

He coming was, and hit him on the breast.
No sooner was he fallen to the ground,
Than to the spoil Antilochus ran in,
As quick as when upon a deer a hound
540Runs in, that by the hunter kill’d had been.

But soon as he saw Hector coming on,
As valiant as he was, he durst not stay;
But as some wild beast that had mischief done,
Ere people could assemble, ran away.
545The Trojans follow’d him with clamour loud,

And spears abundance after him they threw,
But he ran on, and got into the crowd.
But they unto the ships the Greeks pursue;
For Jupiter to make his promise good
550To Thetis, hitherto the Greeks dismay’d,

And in the battle with the Trojans stood,
Until he had performed all he said;
But meant to stay no longer with them, than
To see some Argive ship with fire to shine,
555And then to let the Greeks prevail again.

From the beginning such was his design
In aiding Hector, who now furiously
Went on like Mars, or like fire in a wood,
With foam about his mouth, and fire in’s eye.
560And Jove himself came down, and o’er him stood,

To save him when he was hemm’d in by foes,
And honour him, since ’twas his destiny
That not long after he his life should lose,
And by none but Achilles’ hand should die.
565Now Hector, looking where the best men stood,

And armed best, tried first to break in there.
Keen as he was, he there could do no good;
So close they join’d to one another were,
And stuck like great stones in a tow’r or rock,
570That of the boist’rous winds and billows high

Which break upon it, still endures the shock.
Then Hector other places went to try,
And through he pass’d. Then as a wave high grown,
When in foul weather forced by the wind
575Under dark clouds, into a ship is thrown,

The mist and roaring sails bring to the mind
Of the poor seamen nothing but to die;
So frighted were the Greeks. But forward he
Still went; and as when in the meadows by
580The river’s side thousands of kine there be,

And th’ herdsmen see a lion to them come,
But with a wild beast know not how to fight,
Some go before them, and behind them some,
The lion falleth on them in their sight,
585Between both ends, and killeth only one,

The rest all fly; so th’ Argives all, before
Hector and Jupiter, dispersed run,
But only one was killed, and no more.
And Periphetes ’twas, the worthy son
590Of an unworthy father, Copreus, who,

When any labour great was to be done
By Hercules, did from Eurystheus go
As messenger, to carry the commands.
But Periphetes virtue wanted none.
595His feet were swift, and valiant were his hands,

A wiser man Mycena had not one.
But slain he was; for as he turn’d to fly,
He trod upon the edge of his own shield,
And overthrown, upon his back did lie;
600And with a stab of Hector’s spear was kill’d.

His friends, though many standing by him were,
And griev’d to see him fall, did him no good,
For ev’ry one now for himself did fear,
And out of Hector’s way kept all he could.
The acts of Ajax.
605The Greeks retreated were no further yet,

Than to between the first and second row
Of th’ Argive ships; but fore’d that place to quit,
Near to their tents themselves they rally now,
Where Nestor them encouraged again.
610Argives, my friends, be valiant now, said he,

And, if at any time, now play the men.
Of one another’s censures fearful be.
Besides, by what you should be moved most,
Your parents, children, wives, and goods and land,
615Whether you have them still, or have them lost,

I you conjure against the foe to stand.
This Nestor said, the Argives to excite:
And Pallas from them took the mist again,
That they might see who did, who did not fight,
620Both at the ships and elsewhere on the plain.

But Ajax Telamonius thought not good
To stay with other Argives in the throng,
But up into a ship he went and stood,
With a ship’s spear twenty-two cubits long.
625As when a man that taught has been to guide

Four horses at a time, and in his hand
Holdeth their reins while they go side by side,
And people on the way admiring stand,
He from one horse unto another skips,
630And makes them run together to the town;

So Ajax o’er the Argives’ ranged ships
To save them, and the tents, ran up and down.
And terribly unto the Argives cried
To play the men. Nor Hector ’mongst his troops
635Could be persuaded longer to abide;

But suddenly as a black eagle stoops
At a great flock of geese, or cranes, or swans,
So Hector of the Argive ships to one
Flew down, and Jove, with his puissant hands,
640Behind him marching, always push’d him on.

Then at the ships the fight began again,
More cruel than before. You would have said
They had no sense of weariness or pain,
So mightily they all about them laid.
645The Greeks were in despair of their return.

The Trojans thought the Argive lords to rout,
And all the ships that brought them thither burn.
Thus minded on each side, they fiercely fought.
Upon a ship then Hector laid his hand,
650Which brought Protesilaus unto Troy,

But never back unto his native land.
For this good ship they one another slay.
Arrows and darts no longer flew about;
But now with battle-axes of great strength,
655In one another’s reach they stood and fought,

And with great spears, and of a mighty length,
And great keen swords, whereof from dying hands
Abundance fell on either side to th’ ground;
And cover’d were with streaming blood the sands,
660That gushed out from many a ghastly wound.

But Hector on the ship his hand held fast,
And to his Trojans call’d aloud for fire.
This day, said he, requites our ill days past;
To burn these ships Jove with us doth conspire.
665And set on fire they had been long ago

(For I would gladly at the ships have fought)
But that the senate would not have it so,
And kept both you and me from going out.
But though by Jove then smitten were their hearts,
670Yet boldly now himself he leads us on.

This said, the Trojans bravely play their parts,
And with more vigour fought than they had done.
Then on the deck no longer Ajax staid,
So many spears went singing by his head.
675For if he there had stood he was afraid

That some unlucky spear would strike him dead;
And to the far side of the ship retreats,
Leaving the deck, which fenceless was and high,
And sat upon one of the rower’s seats,
680And still upon the Trojans kept his eye.

And thence he from the fire the ship defends,
And terribly on th’ Argive heroes calls
To do their best. We have, said he, no friends
Behind to save our lives, nor better walls
685Than those we made; nor any city nigh,

That can or willing are our part to take.
But far from home, in hostile ground we lie,
And hemmed in are by the briny lake;
And nothing can redeem us but our hands.
690This said, he look’d about him furiously,

To see if any durst approach with brands,
Resolved to kill him that with fire came nigh.
And many to the ship with fire were sent
By Hector; but when they approached near,
695Ajax continually did them prevent,

And twelve he killed with his naval spear.

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LIB. XV. - 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. XV.