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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. XX.

The eighth battle, and the Gods permitted to assist.

Whilst with Achilles th’ Argives armed stand,
And on the plain the Trojans ready all,
Jove to the goddess Thetis gave command
The common council of the Gods to call.
5Then down she came, and calling went about.

Ye Gods, said she, Jove calls you to his house.
And straight the Rivers from their streams came out,
All but their father old Oceanus.
The Nymphs from ev’ry meadow, spring and grove,
10Up to the Mount Olympus went in haste;

And when they come were to the house of Jove,
In porches round on polish’d seats were plac’d;
And Neptune also having heard the call,
Leap’d from the sea up to Olympus’ hill,
15And sitting in the midst, before them all

To Jove he spake, and said, What is your will?
D’ye call us hither our advice to hear;
To give the day to Trojan or to Greek;
For I perceive the battle now is near?
20My mind, said Jupiter, you need not seek.

For of the Greeks distrest I have a care.
But on Olympus I intend to stay,
And please myself with looking on the war.
But let the other Gods go down to Troy,
25And take which side they will. For else I fear,

Achilles, whom the Trojans did so dread,
When in the battle no immortals were,
And more enrag’d is since his friend is dead;
When he has driv’n the Trojans from the field,
30Will then directly go to Ilium,

And overthrow the wall which you did build,
Before the time, by fate appointed, come.
This said, the fight began. On th’ Argives’ side
Stood Juno, Pallas, Neptune, Mercury;
35And Vulcan, taking in his strength great pride,

Went halting ’mongst them with his legs awry.
On th’ other side, Mars for the Trojans stood,
And Phœbus, and his sister Artemis,
Their mother Leto, and Scamander-flood,
40And Venus that of all the fairest is.

And whilst they from the battle stood aside,
The Argives mightily encourag’d were,
And in Achilles’ presence took great pride;
For long it seem’d they had not seen him there.
45The Trojans, when they saw him, shook for fear,

So like to Mars he was, his arms so bright.
But when the Gods on both sides with them were,
Then all about was filled with affright,
And in the air heard was Athena’s shrill
50As from the ditch, and sometimes from the shore,

And Mars sometimes from Callidone hill,
And sometimes as at Troy was heard to roar,
The Trojans he, but she the Greeks to incite.
Thus by the Gods from heav’n encouraged,
55The armies met, and cruel was the fight,

And terribly above Jove thundered,
And Neptune shook the earth on ev’ry side;
The Argive ships, and stately Trojan tow’rs,
The plain beneath, and lofty tops of Ide.
60And frighten’d with it were th’ infernal pow’rs;

And Pluto, starting from his ugly throne,
To Neptune cried out his hand to hold,
For fear his dismal dwelling should be shown
To men and Gods, so hateful to behold.
65So great a noise the Gods make when they fight.

Phœbus to Neptune now opposed is,
And Pallas stands against rude Mars his might,
And Juno matched is with Artemis,
And Mercury against Latona stood.
70But he that Vulcan had to deal withal,

Was the divine and deep swift-running flood,
Which Xanthus Gods, but men Scamander call.
Thus were th’ Immortals matched one to one.
Achilles would have given any good
75That he had matched been to Priam’s son,

T’ have made to Mars a breakfast of his blood.
And then Apollo sets Æneas on
T’ encounter with Achilles; and array’d
In th’ person and the voice of Lycaon
80Came to his side, and thus unto him said:

Æneas, when the wine was in your head,
I oft have heard you of yourself say this,
That ’gainst Achilles you in fight durst stand.
What say you to him now? See, there he is.
85Priamides, Æneas then replied,

Why would you have me with Achilles fight?
I once already was, upon mount Ide
Keeping our cattle, by him put to flight;
And thence for safety to Lyrnessus fled.
90But he the town Lyrnessus quickly won,

And Pedassus. And then I had been dead
If Jove had not enabled me to run.
For Pallas with him was and made him way,
Striking his foes before him with affright,
95And urging him the Trojans to destroy.

’Tis more than man can do t’ oppose his might;
One God or other always with him is
To put aside the spears before they come.
And whom he aims at he doth never miss,
100And to the mark his spear flies always home.

But if the Gods unpartial would be,
Although of solid brass his body were,
He should not eas’ly get the victory.
Æneas, then said Phœbus, do not fear,
105But pray unto the Gods. Your mother is

Jove’s daughter Cytherea, as they say,
A greater Goddess by descent than his;
And therefore boldly to him go your way.
His mighty words and threats you must not fear.
110This said, he courage breath’d into his breast.

Then through the foremost went he with his spear,
And helmet of strong brass with glitt’ring crest.
Now Juno of his going was aware,
And calling to her th’ other Gods, she said,
115Neptune and Pallas, let us have a care;

I see a danger that ought to be weigh’d.
Æneas yonder, with his spear in hand,
Goes to Achilles with a mind to fight.
Let’s keep him off, or by Achilles stand,
120And add both to his courage and his might,

That he may know the Gods of greatest pow’r
Are on his side, and those that stand for Troy
In virtue much to us inferior,
And dare not in the field against us stay;
125And that we from Olympus hither came

To save him now; hereafter, whatsoe’er
Mischances come, he must endure the same,
Since at his birth they woven with him were.
For if unknown our purpose to him be,
130To meet a God will put him into fear.

’Tis dangerous Gods as they are to see;
So terrible to mortals they appear.
And Neptune unto Juno then replied,
You are too fierce: a fight between the Gods
135I would not have begin upon our side;

Nor does it need, so much we have the odds.
But let’s go hence to yonder mountain top,
And leave the battle in the hands of men.
If Mars or Phœbus then Achilles stop,
140We to the battle will return again,

And send them to Olympus home with shame,
’Mongst other of the Gods at court to stay,
Well beaten at our hands, disgrac’d, and tame.
And when he this had said, he led away,
145And when he come was to the castle-wall,

Which was by th’ Trojans built for Hercules
By Pallas’ help, to save him from the whale
That much annoy’d the Trojans from the seas,
He and his party of the Gods staid there,
150Concealed by a cloud, and looking on.

But Mars and Phœbus, with their party, were
Sitting upon the brow of Callidon.
Thus from the field the Gods on both sides staid,
Consulting how their friends the day might win,
155But neither side effectually would aid,

For not a God amongst them durst begin.
Now cover’d over was the field with men,
Both horse and foot, array’d in armour bright;
The earth resounded with their feet. And then
160Two warriors in the midst stood out to fight,

Achilles and Æneas, the two best.
And first Æneas, with fierce looks, went on
With spear in hand, and shield before his breast.
To meet him then advanced Thetis’ son.
165As when to chase a lion from the plain,

The people of the town with weapons rise,
The lion looks upon them with disdain,
As if he did their multitude despise;
But when a spear from any of them comes,
170He whips himself int’ anger with his tail,

And terribly goes on, and yawns and foams,
To kill, or to be killed if he fail:
So at the seeing of Æneas’ spear,
Achilles did himself to th’ fight provoke.
175And when they stood to one another near,

Achilles first unto Æneas spoke.
Æneas, why, said he, come you away
So far before the rest? To fight with me?
Will Priam, think you, make you king of Troy,
180If by your hand perhaps I slain should be?

No. He is wise, and sons has of his own.
Or will the Trojans set you out great lands,
Some to be planted, others to be sown,
Whenever I am killed by your hands?
185But that I hope will never be. You know

How once I made you run down Ida hill,
Into Lyrnessus, in great haste; and how
You ne’er look’d back for fear of greater ill;
And how the town I won, and led away
190The women captives; though ’twas then Jove’s will

That from my hands you should escape that day,
You must not look that you should do so still.
And therefore I advise you to be gone,
And in the throng o’ th’ Trojans to abide,
195For ev’ry fool his harm knows when ’tis done.

This said, Æneas to him thus replied:
Pelides, do not think you can me fright,
As if I were a child, with words of scorn;
For if in evil words I took delight,
200I could as many easily return.

We one another’s parents know by fame;
Peleus your father was, Anchises mine.
Your mother is divine, Thetis by name;
And Venus mine, of the celestial line;
205And one of them to-day must lose a son,

For ’tis not words can fetch us off this place.
But if you’ll know my generation,
I’ll by my father likewise count my race;
For first by Jove was Dardanus begot,
210That rul’d the Dardans under Ida hill,

In divers towns; for Ilium yet was not,
But at the foot of Ida they dwelt still.
And Dardan Erichthonius begat,
That was the wealthiest of mortal men:
215Three thousand mares he had, and unto that

As many foals, all feeding on the fen.
And twelve of these were got by Boreas,
That leapt their dams in likeness of a horse,
And o’er the ears of standing corn could pass
220And never make them stoop, such was their force;

And run upon the sea, and never wet
Their hoofs, which very wondrous was to see.
And Erichthonius did Tros beget.
And Tros the father was of children three,
225Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymed.

But Ganymed was taken up by Jove,
So fair he was, and t’ heaven carried,
To minister unto the Gods above.
The son of Ilus was Laomedon,
230And he Tithonus got, and Priamus,

And Lampus, Clytius, Icetaon.
But Capys son was of Assaracus.
Capys begat Anchises, and he me.
I need not be ashamed of my race,
235Though virtue lieth not in pedigree,

But given is to them whom Jove will grace.
Then let us from reproachful words abstain,
Whereof there is great plenty ev’rywhere,
To serve all men that will them entertain,
240That as a man will speak, so he may hear.

What need we, like two women in the street,
When they cannot agree, to rail and scoff?
Who, say they true or false, are indiscreet.
For from my purpose you’ll not put me off
245With scornful words, before your force I try,

Let’s therefore here no longer talk, but fight.
And as he spake his spear he letteth fly,
Which on Achilles’ mighty shield fell right,
And terribly it made the same resound,
250Achilles far before him held his shield,

For fear Æneas through it might him wound;
Though heav’nly arms to mortals will not yield.
But that he thought not on. Nor did the spear,
Well driven as it was, and strong, pass through;
255For of five plies that labour’d in it were

By Mulciber, it pierced only two,
And those were brass. There still remained three,
The one of gold, the other two of tin;
And stopped by the brass it could not be,
260But coming to the gold it there stuck in.

And then Achilles threw his spear at him,
Which flying with great force pass’d thro’ his shield,
Where thin the brass and hide was near the brim,
And over him it flew into the field.
265For when Æneas coming saw the spear,

He crouched low, and held his buckler high;
And though the same proceeded but from fear,
It made the spear above his head to fly.
Æneas at the first amazed stands;
270But when Achilles with his sword came on,

He stoop’d, and from the ground took in his hands,
That near unto him lay, a mighty stone,
Which two men, such as now are, scarce could bear,
And hit him had on th’ head or breast in vain,
275That with celestial arms defended were,

And by Achilles’ sword himself been slain,
If it had not by Neptune been foreseen.
Who speaking to the Gods did thus complain.
O Gods, said he, great pain I now am in
280To see Æneas by Achilles slain,

For heark’ning to Apollo foolishly;
Who will not help him though he set him on.
But wherefore should we let Æneas die,
Others to please, when he no fault has done?
285Let’s therefore save him, lest we Jove offend,

Who now the offspring of King Priam hates,
And that Æneas’ race shall without end
The Trojans rule, ’tis ordered by the Fates.
This said, to Neptune Juno did reply:
290If you Æneas have a mind to save,

Save him yourself. For well you know that I
And Pallas ’mongst the Gods sworn often have,
That neither of us shall a Trojan aid,
Though Ilium itself were in a flame.
295Away went Neptune soon as that was said,

And to Æneas and Achilles came,
And o’er Achilles’ eyes a mist he spread,
And drew his spear out of Æneas’ shield;
And to Achilles that he carried,
300And laid it at his feet upon the field.

And then Æneas, lifted by the force
Of an immortal God, skipp’d to the rear,
O’er many ranks of heroes and of horse,
Unto the Caucons, that the hindmost were,
305Where Neptune standing by him spake, and said:

Æneas, who was’t of th’ immortal Gods,
That to engage Achilles you betray’d,
That stronger is than you by so much odds?
Henceforth take heed you come not in his way,
310Lest by his hand you die. When he is gone,

You boldly on the best adventure may,
For of the rest you slain shall be by none.
This said, he to Achilles went again,
And made the mist to vanish from his eyes,
315And round about him look’d Achilles then,

And to his feet return’d, his spear espies,
And said unto himself, O strange, what’s this?
The man is gone, my spear come back I see.
Æneas of the Gods beloved is,
320And I thought all he said was vanity.

But fare him well. He will not come again,
So glad he is that he hath ’scaped so.
Now I will first put courage in my men,
And then unto some other Trojans go.
325Then through the Argive ranks he went, and said,

No longer of the Trojans be so shy,
But man to man go close. Be not afraid;
Strong as I am, you cannot think that I
Can follow such a multitude and fight;
330For neither Mars nor Pallas can do that,

Though Gods immortal, and of so great might,
That mortal men cannot resist. Yet what
My strength alone, with hands and feet can do,
I think I shall not anything forbear,
335But break their ranks, and make you way clean through;

Nor shall he joyful be whom I come near.
Whilst this Achilles to the Argives said,
Hector no less the Trojans did excite.
Why should you of Achilles be afraid?
340With words ’tis easy ’gainst the Gods to fight,

That are too strong to fight with, with a spear;
And to Achilles now I mean to go,
Though fire his hands, and steel his body were,
For more by half he says than he can do.
345When Hector to the Trojans this had said,

The fight began, and mighty was the cry;
And then for Hector Phœbus was afraid,
And presently came in, and standing nigh,
Hector, said he, return into the throng.
350Take heed. With Thetis’ son fight not at all,

Now nor henceforth (he for you is too strong)
Lest by his spear or sword you chance to fall.
Thus Hector, by the God admonished,
Into the Trojan troops retir’d again.
355The Trojans then before Achilles fled;

And by him first Iphition was slain,
Whom the nymph Neis to Otrynteus bare,
In Ida, at the foot of Tmolus hill;
Great troops he brought unto the Trojan war,
360And thought he could the great Pelides kill:

But coming on, he met Achilles’ spear,
The fatal spear, that cleft his head in twain.
Achilles then triumphed o’er him there,
Though fallen to the ground he were, and slain.
365So, Otryntides, die there on the earth,

Though where runs Hyllus into Hermus deep,
On the Gygean lake, you had your birth.
This said, he left him in eternal sleep,
For th’ Argive char’ot-wheels to crush and grind.
370And after him he slew Demoleon,

A warrior good, and of undaunted mind,
That of Antenor was a valiant son.
Him through the head, with spear in hand, he smote,
And out together came both blood and brain;
375His helmet, though of brass, preserv’d him not.

And after he Demoleon had slain,
He with his spear pursu’d Hippodamas,
Who from his car had leapt unto the ground;
Frighted, and now before him running was,
380And gave him on the back a mortal wound,

Whereat he blows and roars like any bull
Brought to the altar for a sacrifice,
When young men by the horns him thither pull
By violence; then down he falls, and dies.
385Unluckily, then in Achilles’ sight

Was Polydorus, Priam’s youngest son,
And best belov’d; whom he forbad to fight,
Though swiftest of them all he were to run:
But he, the virtue of his feet to shew,
390Betwixt the hosts ran up and down the field,

Until a spear Achilles at him threw,
And with a wound upon the back him kill’d;
Out at his navel went the spear again,
And for his guts to follow made a way.
395But Hector, when he saw his brother slain,

Amongst his troops he could no longer stay,
But going to Achilles, shook his spear.
Then, speaking to himself, Achilles said,
The man that slew Patroclus I see here,
400We must no more each other now avoid;

And sourly on him looking, said, Come near,
That I may quickly of you make an end.
And Hector to him answer’d without fear,
In vain, Achilles, your proud words you spend;
405Such words as these may children terrify,

And I can speak that language when I list;
And though you be a mightier man than I,
The victory does not in that consist,
But he shall have it whom the Gods appoint,
410Though he be weaker, if his spear fly true,

Which mine may do, and sharp is at the point.
This said, his spear he at Achilles threw,
Which back to Hector’s feet Athena blew,
With soft and gentle breath, without a sound;
415And straight Achilles, thund’ring, to him flew.

But then Apollo snatch’d him from the ground,
Which is by any God done in a trice,
And in a mist conceal’d him from his sight:
And after him Achilles leapt up thrice,
420And thrice the air obscure in vain did smite.

Then whoop’d he after him, and threat’ning said,
Dog, an ill death again thou ’scaped hast,
That fighting, to Apollo pray’st for aid;
But yet I shall dispatch you at the last,
425If any of the Gods for me appear;

But now I must to other Trojans go.
This said, at Dryops straight he threw his spear,
And sent his soul unto the shades below.
To meet Demuchus then he went half way,
430That with his sword came toward him to fight:

Him with a wound i’ th’ neck he made to stay,
And with his sword then killed him outright.
Then by him slain the sons of Bias were,
Laogonus and Dardanus, the one
435With his great sword, the other with his spear.

And next he killed Tros, Alastor’s son,
Who not resisted, but fell at his knee,
And begg’d his life, for being of his age,
Hoping for that he pitied might be.
440But that Achilles’ wrath could not assuage.

He quite mistook his nature like a child,
For cruel was Achilles, and hard-hearted;
But he sweet-natur’d thought he was, and mild,
Whereas he never thought how others smarted.
445And then Achilles gave him such a wound,

That with the blood his liver started out.
And there he left him dying on the ground,
And for more Trojan leaders look’d about;
Then, coming to him, he saw Mulius,
450And struck him through the head from ear to ear.

Then with his sword he killed Echeclus,
Antenor’s son, that to him came too near.
Then on the arm he hit Demolion,
The spear stuck in, and forc’d him there to stay;
455Achilles then came furiously on,

And with his sword he skimm’d his head away,
Helmet and all. Then Regmus, with a wound
Upon the belly, he slew with his spear,
Who from his char’ot fell unto the ground;
460And after him he slew his char’oteer,

Areithous, whilst he his horses turns.
As a thick coppice, on a windy day,
If set on fire, unmercifully burns;
So went Achilles killing ev’ry way.
465As oxen from the straw tread out the corn,

So trampling went his horses o’er the dead,
That with their bucklers by the wheels were torn,
And th’ axle-tree with blood was covered,
And spokes; in part with droppings from the wheels,
470(For going on the ground the wheels were gory)

And partly beaten up with th’ horses’ heels,
And bloody were his hands; and all for glory.

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LIB. XX. - 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. XX.