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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. VI.

The first battle yet continued. The other Gods forbidden by Jove to assist.

The Gods to neither side assistance yield,
But on his own hand each man’s fortune lies;
Now here, now there, they skirmish in the field,
Betwixt the streams Xanthus and Simseis.
5And first great Ajax killed Acamas,

And for his fellows opened a door
For slaughter ’mongst the files and ranks to pass,
And caus’d thereby the loss of many more.
And by Tydides Axylus was slain,
10That at Arisbe dwelt near the highway,

Rich, and the Greeks did often entertain;
But none of them would save him in the fray,
For slain he was by Diomedes there,
Together with his squire, Calesius,
15That by him sat, and was his charioteer.

Euryalus then slew Opheltius
And Dresus. After Pedasus he runs,
And Æsepus, sons of Bucalion,
Who by Abarbarea had two sons,
20But he for father had Laomedon,

And th’ eldest was, but not in wedlock got;
And twins the sons were of Bucalion.
But from Euryalus they ’scaped not,
Nor long they lay there with their armour on.
25Then Polypœtes by Astyalus,

Pidytes by Ulysses, and by Teuc-
er Areton, and by Antilochus
Ablerus; by Atrides Eleteus
Was slain, that the Pedasians led
30From the delightful bank of Satnius.

And Leitus Philacus slew as he fled.
Eurypylus then slew Melanthius;
And then Adrestus taken was alive
By Menelaus. For his horses frighted,
35Whilst to the town they labour’d to arrive,

Upon two branches of a tree they lighted,
And brake the char’ot pole off at the head.
The horses loose away ran tow’rd the town,
As did the rest that from the battle fled.
40Adrestus headlong from the seat fell down,

And by him with a spear Atrides stood.
Adrestus then lays hold upon his knee.
Save me, said he, my ransom will be good,
At any rate I shall redeemed be.
45My father wants nor iron, nor brass, nor gold,

And any thing to set me free will give,
When he of my condition shall be told,
And that I am your prisoner and live.
This said, Atrides was thereto inclin’d,
50And ready for to send him to the ships.

But Agamemnon came and chang’d his mind
Before he had confirm’d it with his lips.
Brother, said he, what makes you be so kind
To any of these men? Is it because
55You did at home the Trojans faithful find,

And that they had well served Menelaus?
No, no, we must no quarter give at Troy,
Nor spare the child yet in his mother’s womb,
But utterly the nation destroy,
60And pluck up by the root proud Ilium.

Then Menelaus pitied him no more,
But violently push’d him from his knee,
Wherewith he backward tumbled o’er and o’er,
And soon by Agamemnon slain was he.
65Then Nestor to the Greeks, with voice as high

As he could raise it, cried out, Let none
Yet on the spoil and booty set his eye,
But follow killing now, plunder anon:
The dead will stay till back again we come.
70The Greeks by Nestor thus encouraged,

Had chas’d the Trojans unto Ilium,
But that by Helenus was hindered.
For standing near to Hector and Æneas,
Since all the work, said he, lies on your hand,
75And you in fight and counsel chiefly please

Both Lycians and Trojans, make them stand;
About them go, and put yourselves between
The gates and them, lest followed by the foe
They should be by their loving wives there seen,
80And the Argives stand triumphing in our woe.

And when you once have them encouraged,
Æneas and myself will with them stay,
And fight against the Greeks, though wearied.
But Hector to the town go you away,
85And bid your and my mother take with her

The eldest Trojan matrons, and make haste
To Pallas’ temple, and present her there
With the best robe she has; and having plac’d
It on her knee, vow to her deity
90(If she protect our wives and children will,

And city from this raging enemy,
And take off Diomed) that you will kill
Twelve heifers at her altar. For in fight
He has the great Achilles much outdone,
95Who never did the Trojans thus affright,

Although they say he is a Goddess’ son.
Then Hector armed leapt down to the ground,
And with two spears about the army goes,
Courage inspiring to the Trojans round,
100And straight they turn’d their faces to the foes.

The Greeks retiring then no longer fought.
Some God from heav’n descended was, they thought,
And t’ Hector and the Trojans aid had brought.
Then Hector to the Trojans cried out,
105Trojans and aids, said he, be sure to stay

And play the men, whilst I to Ilium
Return, and cause them to the Gods to pray,
And to them sacrifice an hecatomb.
And as he walk’d, the edges of his shield
110By turns his ankle and his neck did smite.

Tydides then, and Glaucus, on the field
Met one another, and prepar’d to fight.
Tydides speaking first, Brave man, said he,
Who are you? Let me know your name and race,
115That dares so boldly thus advance on me.

I never yet in battle saw your face.
Men mortal to provoke me thus none dare,
But they whose parents are condemn’d to woe.
But if some God come down from heaven you are,
120Do what you will I’ll not return a blow.

Licurgus, son of Dryas, chas’d the train
Of Bacchus with a goad at Nyssa, where
The Mænades threw from them on the plain
Their ivy-twined staves, and fled for fear;
125Bacchus himself leapt into Thetis’ lap,

Trembling and frighted, and the Goddess kind
Receiv’d him, and defended from mishap.
But for this act Jove struck Licurgus blind,
Who died soon after. For the Gods above
130All hated him. And that’s the cause that I

Dare not the anger of the Gods to move.
But if thou mortal art, come near and die.
O brave Tydides, Glaucus answer’d then,
To what end serves it you to know my race?
135As with green leaves, so fareth it with men;

Some fall with wind, others grow in their place.
But since you ask me (though it be well known)
My pedigree at large I shall you tell.
Within a creek of Argos stands a town
140Call’d Ephyre. There Sisyphus did dwell;

The subtle Sisyphus, who Glaucus got.
Glaucus, the father of Bellerophon,
Than whom a fairer person there was not,
Nor valianter in all the land not one.
145But Prætus sought to take away his life;

For so enamour’d of him was the queen
Anteia, who of Prætus was the wife,
That she a suitor to him oft had been.
But still in vain; for he would not consent.
150The fury of her love then turn’d to hate.

And spitefully she to her husband went,
And weeping bitterly, down by him sate,
And to him said, O king, resolve to die
Yourself, or else Bellerophon to kill,
155For he attempted has my chastity,

And would have lain with me against my will.
The king incens’d, to kill him did intend,
But loth to do it there, he thought it better
Unto the King of Lycia him to send
160(Who was Anteia’s father) with a letter,

Wherein he had declar’d his cruel mind,
And many ways to bring it to effect.
He, ignorant of what was then design’d,
The king’s commandement did not neglect.
165To Lycia he went, and coming thither,

In favour with the Gods, was honoured
And treated like a God, nine days together.
O’ th’ tenth his letter he delivered.
The letter read, the king him first employ’d
170The terrible Chimæra to assail,

That by the monster he might be destroy’d.
A lion’s head it had and dragon’s tail,
And in the midst the body of a goat;
A flame of burning fire was its breath.
175Bellerophon with this foul monster fought,

And put it (by the aid o’ th’ Gods) to death.
The next adventure that he set him on,
Was th’ expedition ’gainst the Solymi.
The third when from the Amazons he won
180(Those martial females) a great victory.

And as he came from thence the king had laid
An ambush for him on the way in vain,
Of choicest Lycians, whom he destroy’d,
That not a man of them return’d again.
185The king receiv’d him then, believing now

That he descended was of heavenly race,
And gave him half his pow’r, and land enough,
And with his daughter’s marriage did him grace.
Bellerophon by her had children three;
190Two sons, Isandrus and Hippolochus,

And one fair daughter, call’d Laodamie,
On whom by Jove Sarpedon gotten was.
Her father, by the Gods forsaken, then
Liv’d up and down in the Alean plain,
195And shunn’d the conversation of men.

At Solym battle was Isander slain.
But of Hippolochus the son am I,
And he of noble ancestors descended.
To Troy he sent me, and especially
200Unto me th’ honour of my race commended,

Than which in Ephyre none nobler is,
Nor in the land of Lycia more renown’d.
And Diomedes, joyful to hear this,
Turn’d his spear’s point and stuck it in the ground,
205And to him kindly spake. There is, said he,

Between your ancestors and mine of old,
A mutual bond of hospitality.
Bellerophon, as I have oft been told,
Was by my grandsire, Œneus, freely treated,
210And stayed with him twenty days and nights,

And when again he from his house retreated,
They tokens gave of hospitable rights;
Œneus to him a belt most glorious,
Bellerophon to him a golden cup,
215Which I not with me brought, but in my house

When I came thence I safely left lock’d up.
My father I remember not. For he
Left me too young when last he went from home.
Henceforth my guest in Argos you must be,
220I yours in Lycia, when I thither come.

Meantime, let’s one another’s spear decline;
For many Trojans more I have to kill,
Unless I cross’d be by some pow’r divine.
And of the Achæans kill you whom you will.
225And that our friendship may the more appear,

I will present you with these arms of mine;
And you to me present the arms you wear.
This said, they lighted and their hands did join.
But Glaucus surely here bewitched was,
230Or cursed by the Gods, that had forgot

His arms were gold, and Diomed’s but brass.
An hundred his, nine beeves the other bought.
Hector was now come to the Scæan gates;
To him the Trojan wives and daughters run
235To ask their husbands’ and their brothers’ fates,

But to those questions he answer’d none.
But to the temples bade them go and pray;
Inquire no more for what you will lament;
Then to the royal palace went his way.
240For great the danger was and imminent.

On every side within were galleries
Magnificent, of square well-plained stones,
With fifty lodgings for the families
(One by another) of King Priam’s sons;
245And for his daughters twelve apartments were

(In the same court, but on the other side)
To lodge his sons-in-law when they were there,
Of the same stone in like form beautified.
Here Hecuba, as she conducted home
250Laodice, her beautifulest daughter,

Met her son Hector that was newly come
In dusty bloody armour from the slaughter.
And took him by the hand, and to him said,
Why come you from the fight? Have we the worst,
255And you come to solicit Jove for aid,

And after that is done to quench your thirst?
A little wine will much the strength sustain
Of one that labour’d has as you have done.
No, no, from wine (said he) I must abstain,
260Lest I forget and leave my work undone.

Besides, to Jove I dare not offer wine
With bloody hands, lest I should him incense.
But, mother, go you to Minerva’s shrine
With other ladies, and with frankincense;
265And of the robes in your perfumed chest

Take with you that which in your judgment is
Amongst them all the largest and the best,
And lay it down upon the Goddess’ knees.
And vow that at her altar you will kill
270Twelve yearling heifers of the best you have,

If at your prayer condescend she will
Your children with yourselves and Troy to save,
And from the fight this Diomed remove.
To th’ temple presently go you away.
275But I to Paris now must go, and prove

If he th’ advice I give him will obey.
Then Hecuba into the chamber came
Where many divers-colour’d vestures lay,
The work of many a Sidonian dame,
280Which then from Sidon Paris brought to Troy,

When thither he from Sparta Helen brought.
Of these, to give the Goddess, she took one
The largest and most curiously wrought,
And that like to a star in heaven shone.
285And when unto the temple come they were,

Theano opened the door; for she
(Antenor’s wife) was Pallas’ priest. And there
She took the robe, and laid it on her knee.
Then prayed she (whilst with a mighty cry
290They to the Goddess lifted up their hands.)

Pallas, said she, daughter of Jove most high,
In whose protection ev’ry city stands,
Great Pallas, break the spear of Diomed,
And overthrow him at the Scæan gate,
295That at thy altar may be offered

Twelve yearling heifers; and commiserate
The wives and children and the state of Troy.
Thus prayed they; but Pallas would not hear.
To th’ house of Paris Hector went away
300That was unto his own and Priam’s near,

Built by himself the citadel within,
With all the art the Trojans understood.
There Hector with his spear in hand went in,
That was in length eleven cubits good,
305And pointed at the head with polish’d brass,

Fasten’d into the staff with a gold ring.
Busy about his armour Paris was,
And Helen work to th’ maids distributing.
Here Hector Paris chid. Is this, said he,
310The fittest time to manifest your spite

Against the Trojans, when the enemy
Under our walls is killing them in fight?
When none but you the cause is of the war
And tumult, which surrounds the town of Troy.
315I think it would become you better far

To rate those men that from the battle stay.
Brother, said Paris, what you say is right.
But hear me, too. I stayed not behind
Because I to the Trojans bear a spite,
320But from their slanders to avert my mind.

And now my wife too has persuaded me,
Who of myself was ready to begone.
Not sure to any side is victory.
Stay only while I put my armour on.
325Or go. I’ll follow you and find you out.

Thus he. But Hector to it nothing said.
And to begone his face he turn’d about,
But Helen saw about to speak, and stayed.
Brother, said she, though I unworthy am
330To call you so, I would I had been thrown

Into the sea the same day that I came
Into the world, so many shames to own.
Or that this husband sensible had been,
As men of honour should be of ill-fame;
335But that’s not now, nor ever will be seen,

He one day will, I fear, repent the same.
But brother, pra’ ye, sit down and rest awhile,
That with the toil of battle weary are;
The cause whereof am I the woman vile,
340That with me brought to Troy this cruel war.

Unlucky day that brought me first acquainted
With Alexander to our infamy,
Which through the world hereafter will be chaunted,
And make us loathsome to posterity.
345Helen, said Hector, now I cannot stay,

The Trojans of my presence stand in need;
But bid you Alexander come away,
While I am in the town, and that with speed.
For hence unto my house I must go home
350To see my wife, my child, and family,

And ’t may be never back again shall come,
But by the hands of the Achæans die.
This said, home Hector went, and there was told
His wife Andromache at home was not.
355For with the nurse the battle to behold,

Into the tow’r on Scæa gate was got.
Then Hector of the women ask’d again,
Is she gone to some sister or some brother?
Or to the Goddess temple in the train
360Of those that thither waited on my mother?

To this one of the women said again,
She neither went to sister nor to brother,
Nor to the Goddess’ temple, in the train
Of those that thither waited on your mother.
365But when I know not who inform’d her had

That th’ Argives did the Trojans overpower,
With her young son and nurse as one that’s mad
Ran to the gate, and up into the tower.
Then back went Hector passing the same streets
470Through which he went when he came from the fight,

Where in the way Andromache he meets
That now was running home in great affright.
The daughter she was of Eetion,
Who of Cilicia the sceptre carried,
375And dwelt at Thebe in Hypoplacion,

But unto noble Hector she was married.
Now Hector met her with their little boy
That in the nurse’s arms was carried,
And like a star upon her bosom lay
380His beautiful and shining golden head.

Scamandrius he called was by Hector,
Astyanax he named was in Troy.
Because his father was their sole protector,
The people from his honour nam’d the boy.
385Then Hector smiling look’d upon his son.

And to him weeping said Andromache,
My dear, you’ll by your courage be undone,
And this your son a wretched orphan be.
The Greeks at once on you alone will fall,
390And then a woeful widow shall be I,

And have no comfort in the world at all,
But live in misery and wish to die.
Father or mother they have left me none,
For by the great Achilles he was slain
395When he the goodly town of Thebe won.

But from disarming him he did refrain.
Together with his arms he did him burn,
And with such rites as did a prince become.
And having put his ashes in an urn
400Buried the same, and o’er it rais’d a tomb.

The mountain-nymphs, daughters of Jupiter,
Planted about it many elmen-trees.
My seven brothers all were killed there.
In one day by Achilles slain were these,
405As they defending were their kine and sheep.

My mother with the booty he brought hither,
And her he at the ships did pris’ner keep
Until her friends her ransom had sent thither.
Then to her country back they sent my mother,
410Who shortly after there fell sick and died.

Now Hector you my father are and brother,
Husband and mother. In you I confide.
For pity’s sake then on this turret stay,
Lest fatherless your son, I widow be;
415And set your armed people in array,

And those that aid you at the syc’more-tree,
Where to the city easiest is th’ access.
For there it was the Argives thrice fell on
Led by Idomeneus, and th’ Ajaxes,
420The two Atrides, and Tydeus’ son.

Whether they had some God for their director,
Or had observ’d some weakness in the place,
I know not. And to this replied Hector,
Dear wife, this might be done. But what disgrace
425Shall I be in? How will the Trojans scoff,

Both men and women, and deride my fear,
If on the tow’r they saw me standing off
When others fighting with the Argives were?
Besides, by nature I am framed so,
430I am not able to abstain from fight,

But must be ’mongst the foremost, when the foe
Invades my father’s honour in my sight.
And yet I know the evil day will come,
That Priam and his people perish must,
435And utterly destroy’d be Ilium,

And all her stately buildings lie in dust.
Yet am not griev’d so much to think upon
The fate of Troy, of Priam, of my mother,
Or all my brothers, as for you alone
440When by a proud Achæan one or other

You dragg’d are weeping into slavery,
And when t’ Achæa he has brought you home,
To fetch in water you employ’d shall be,
And made to labour at another’s loom.
445And one that sees you weeping, there will say,

This woman was the noble Hector’s bride,
The bravest man of all that fought for Troy,
And of your tears bring back again the tide.
But dead may I be first and buried
450Before I see you dragg’d or hear you cry.

And when he thus had said, his arms he spread
The childto take, who terrified thereby,
And unacquainted with a glittering crest
And horse’s mane that nodding at it hung,
455Turn’d his face crying to the nurse’s breast,

And with his little arms close to her clung;
Which made his father and his mother smile.
Then Hector on the ground his helmet laid,
And took the child, and dandled him awhile,
460And then to Jove and all the Gods he pray’d.

O Jove and Gods, grant that this son of mine
No less in Troy may honour’d be than I,
Nor from his father’s virtue e’er decline,
But hold the reins of Ilium steadily,
465That men may say when he hath slain his foe,

And bringeth with him home his spoil to Troy,
In battle he his father doth outdo,
And fill his loving mother’s heart with joy.
This said, he gave the child t’ Andromache,
470Which she receiving hugg’d, and laugh’d, and cried.

Which Hector with compassion did see,
And thus with gentle words his wife did chide.
Dear wife, do not afflict yourself for me.
No man can die before his hour is come;
475And when ’tis come, put off it cannot be

By weak nor strong. Therefore I pray go home,
And tend your work, and give your women theirs,
And sit still at your spindle and your loom,
And leave to men these martial affairs,
480And me that have the charge of Ilium.

Then up he takes his helmet and departs,
And homewards she; but often turn’d her head.
At home with grief she fill’d her women’s hearts,
And made them mourn for Hector not yet dead.
485Nor Paris at his house did longer stay

Than he must needs his armour to put on,
And up and down the streets went ev’ry way,
To see if he could Hector light upon.
As when a horse i’ th’ stable pampered,
490And used to be washed in the river

His headstall breaks, or be delivered
From that which held him by what means soever;
Then proudly he sets up his tail and head,
And beats the plain, and with the wind he makes
495His mane play in the air dishevelled,

Then to the pasture known the way he takes:
So from his house went Paris through the streets
With shining arms, and courage at his heart;
And quickly with his valiant brother meets,
500Turning from where he and his wife did part.

And first to Hector Paris thus began.
Brother, I fear I’ve made you stay too long.
No, he replied, your courage no man can
Accuse, but such as mean to do you wrong.
505But when you, out of humour, will not fight,

The Trojans that much suffer for your sake
Speak all the ill they can of you in spite.
Which, when I hear, it makes my heart to ache.
But now let’s go. If e’er the powers divine
510Displace the Achæan host, and give us peace,

That freely to them we may offer wine,
Your quarrel with the Trojans soon will cease.

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LIB. VI. - 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. VI.