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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. VII.

The Greeks enclose their ships with a wall and ditch. The duel betwixt Hector and Ajax.

This said, they went together to the fight,
For Paris now no more the war declin’d,
And welcome to the Trojans was the sight,
As to a weary rower a good wind.
5There Paris slew Menesthius, the son

Of the great clubman Areïthous
Of Arne. And by Hector overthrown
And struck clean through the neck was Eionus.
Iphinous, the son of Dexias,
10As to his car he mounted to have fled,

By Glaucus through the shoulder wounded was,
And to the ground again fell backward dead.
When Pallas saw the Argives fall so fast,
She from Olympus leaped to Ilium:
15Apollo then to meet her made great haste,

That saw her from his tow’r in Pergamum.
And when they were together at the beach,
He for the Trojans, for the Argives she,
Apollo to her thus address’d his speech:
20Daughter of Jove, what great necessity

Brought you to Troy? Was it to please your mind,
Or give unto the Greeks the victory?
For well I know to Troy you are not kind.
But for the present be advis’d by me.
25Let th’ armies both give over fight to day,

And fight it out hereafter, till they know
What end the Fates assigned have to Troy,
Since you and Juno needs will have it so.
Your counsel’s good, said Pallas, and the same
30I thought upon. But tell me how to do it.

For to that end I from Olympus came.
Tell me but how, and I’ll consent unto it.
Why then, said Phœbus, Hector I’ll excite
In duel all the Argives to defy;
35And they some one will choose with him to fight,

And both the armies quietly stand by.
This counsel was by both agreed upon;
And known to Helenus by augury,
To Helenus, that was King Priam’s son.
40And he to Hector did himself apply.

Hector, said he, will you do that which I,
That am your brother, shall advise you to?
Go to th’ Achæan army, and defy
The best of all the Argives; boldly go;
45For in this combat you are not to die:

The Gods have told me so. Then never fear.
Then to the front came Hector joyfully,
With both his hands o’ th’ middle of his spear
To keep the Trojans back and make them stand;
50And straight King Agamemnon seeing it,

Unto the Argives gave the like command.
Then on the ground both Greeks and Trojans sit.
Phœbus and Pallas flew up to the tree,
The high beech-tree that sacred was to Jove,
55I’ th’ likeness of two vultures, thence to see

How the two armies looked from above.
As when a west wind ruffled has the main,
It black and horrid to the eye appears;
So look’d the Greeks and Trojans on the plain,
60Grisly and dark with helmets, shields, and spears.

Into the midst between them Hector stept.
You, Trojans and well-armed Greeks, said he,
Since ’twas Jove’s will our oath should not be kept,
But that the war continued shall be
65Till either you shall win the town of Troy,

Or we your army and your ships confound,
Fighting till one another we destroy;
I to you, Argives, somewhat will propound.
The best of all the Greeks are present here.
70Let one of them come forth and fight with me,

On these conditions (witness Jupiter)
If by his hand I slain in combat be,
Let him do with my armour what he will,
But send my body into Ilium.
75But if Apollo grant me him to kill,

His armour I will have and carry home,
And in Apollo’s temple dedicate.
His body to the ships shall rendered be,
That on his urn the Greeks may elevate
80A mount of earth for passengers to see

Upon the shore of Hellespont, and say,
Here lies a valiant Greek by Hector slain
Long since, when th’ Argives were besieging Troy.
My honour thus for ever will remain.
85So Hector said. The Greeks all silent were.

For shame the challenge they could not refuse;
And to accept it ev’ry one did fear.
But Menelaus then his valour shews,
And rising up in anger, thus he said,
90Women of Argos, what a shame is this,

That you should all of Hector be afraid!
What now become of all your threat’ning is?
There (dust and water, heartless, nameless), sit.
Myself I’ll arm (for I perceive no odds)
95And will this sturdy champion Hector meet.

For victory comes only from the Gods.
This said, he rose and arm’d himself; and there
Depriv’d of life had Menelaus been
(So much too weak he was) by Hector’s spear,
100But that the princes starting up came in.

And Agamemnon seizing on his hand,
Why, Menelaus, are you mad, said he,
In fight you cannot against Hector stand,
How much soever you concerned be.
105Avoid him in the field as others do.

Achilles, who than you much stronger is,
Strong as he is, considers Hector too,
And cooler grows as oft as he him sees.
Therefore, good brother, sit still at your troop.
110Some other we’ll oppose to Hector’s might,

That, haughty as he is, shall make him stoop,
And thank the Gods if safe he come from fight.
To this good counsel yielded Menelaus.
Whereat his servants not a little joy’d,
115Came in, and soon by them unarm’d he was,

And to the Greeks then Nestor rose, and said,
O how unwelcome will this story be
To Greece, and Peleus king o’ th’ Myrmidons,
Who at his house the names enquir’d of me
120Both of yourselves, your fathers, and your sons;

If he should know how much you Hector dread,
How oft would he hold up his hands, and pray
The Gods to send him down amongst the dead,
And from his body take all sense away!
125O that I were as young as I was then

When war was ’twixt Arcadia and Pyle,
And at the walls of Pheia stood the men
Ready for bloody fight in rank and file!
Amongst them stood one Ereuthalion,
130And of the great man Areïthous

Upon his shoulders had the armour on,
Who Clubman commonly surnamed was,
Because he used neither bow nor spear,
But with an iron club the battles brake.
135Lycurgus slew him though he weaker were,

(When at advantage great he did him take)
By craft, not strength. For in a narrow way
He watch’d him at a turning with his spear,
And on a sudden took his life away,
140So that the club had nothing to do there.

Then took he off his arms, and wore the same
In battle when there was occasion,
But gave them, when old age upon him came,
To this his squire Ereuthalion.
145Who wearing them our army did defy,

At which, when others trembling stood and shook,
Although the youngest of them all was I,
Great as he was, the man I undertook,
And slew him by the Goddess Pallas’ aid,
150The strongest and tallest that I e’er slew,

As when upon the ground he stretch’d was laid,
The place he covered did plainly show.
If I were now as young and strong as then,
The Greeks for Hector soon a match should find,
155Though none of you that are their bravest men

To try your fortune with him have a mind.
Thus Nestor th’ Argive lords did reprehend,
And nine of them in number (all that durst
In single fight with Hector to contend)
160Armed, and Agamemnon was the first.

And next the strong and valiant Diomed,
And then the greater Ajax, then the less,
Then King Idomeneus, of Crete the head,
And with him his good squire Meriones,
165Who as the God of battle valiant was,

Besides Eurypylus Euæmon’s son,
And of Andremon the stout son Thoas,
And wise Ulysses last of all made one.
So many Greeks durst Hector undertake.
170Bring in your lots, said Nestor then, and we

Will in a helmet them together shake.
And who by lot our champion shall be
Shall please us all, but please himself much more
When back again he cometh from the fight.
175Then brought they in their lots; which o’er and o’er

He shook in Agamemnon’s helmet bright.
Meanwhile the people lift their hands, and pray,
O Jove, let now the lot to Ajax fall,
Or that on Diomedes light it may,
180Or on Atrides our great general.

The helmet shaken threw out Ajax’ lot,
Which th’ herald took and carried about
To th’ Argive princes, but they own’d it not,
Till to the hand of Ajax it was brought,
185Who sign’d it had, and into th’ helmet thrown.

He took it, and awhile consider’d it;
And when he was assured ’twas his own,
Rose up, and lets it fall before his feet.
And to the princes said, This lot is mine,
190And glad I am, and hope for victory.

But send your pray’rs up to the pow’rs divine,
While I put on my arms; and silently,
So that, at least, the Trojans may not hear.
Or, now I think on’t, plain and openly.
195For I see nothing that I need to fear.

I am not forc’d to fight unwillingly,
Nor rashly undertook the enterprise.
For I was born and bred in Salamis,
And hope I am not so weak or unwise.
200As soon as mighty Ajax had said this,

The people looking up to heav’n pray’d.
O Jove, said one, grant Ajax victory,
Or if you be inclin’d Hector to aid,
Then let their strength and glory equal be.
205When Ajax had his arms put on complete,

He walked away with a majestic pace,
As Mars goes to the war. His strides were great,
And scornful smiles with terror in his face.
And as he went he shook his mighty spear,
210Which joyfully the Argives did behold;

But by the Trojans look’d on was with fear;
And Hector at the heart himself was cold,
But was ashamed back again to fly,
Since he provok’d him had into the field.
215And Ajax now was come unto him nigh,

As from a tower, looking o’er his shield,
By Tychius of Hyla made it was,
And cover’d with sev’n fat bulls’ hides well tann’d,
And over them an eighth of shining brass,
220And at his breast he held it with his hand,

And threat’ning said, Hector, I’ll make you see,
That in the army many yet remain,
Though from us angry gone Achilles be,
And discontent from battle now abstain,
225That fear not Hector. Do the worst you can.

Ajax, said Hector, I am not a child,
Nor woman, to be threaten’d, but a man
That understands the bus’ness of the field,
And can my buckler bear from left to right,
230And have whereon in battle to rely,

And know to guide my horses in a fight,
And move my feet to Mars his melody.
But no such cunning will I use with you,
My spear I’ll send unto you openly.
235And at that word the long spear from him flew,

And pierc’d his target to the seventh ply.
But there it staid. Then Ajax threw his spear,
Which Hector’s shield, armour, and coat went thro’;
But Hector shrunk his belly in for fear,
240For else it pierced had his belly too.

Then from their shields the spears they plucked out,
And them no more at one another threw,
But came unto each other close, and fought,
And like two lions on each other flew.
245And Hector made a thrust at Ajax’ shield

Which enter’d not, resisted by the brass:
But Hector’s shield to Ajax’ spear did yield,
Which pierc’d it through, and so far in did pass,
That grazing on his neck it fetch’d the blood.
250But Hector, not dismay’d, took up a stone.

Ajax took ’t on his shield and firmly stood,
And with his hand took up a greater one,
And rougher, which did Hector’s buckler tear,
And with the weight unto the ground him threw,
255But up again Apollo did him rear.

Then both of them, the combat to renew,
Their swords were drawing. But the heralds then,
Idæus and Talthibius, came in,
The sacred messengers of Gods and men,
260And put themselves the combatants between.

Troy’s herald then, Idæus, to them spake.
Good sons, belov’d of Jove, give over fight,
For all men of your valour notice take.
And now ’tis late; we must submit to night.
265Idæus, then said Ajax, let these words

From Hector come, from whom came the defy.
’Twas he that challeng’d all the Argive lords.
Let him give over first, and then will I.
Then Hector spake. Ajax, since you, said he,
270The Gods endued have with strength and wit,

Let for to-day the quarrel ended be.
Hereafter let the Gods determine it,
And give which side they please the victory,
For now ’tis late. To night we must submit;
275That you the Greeks may cheer, and specially

Your own friends and companions, at your fleet:
And I the Trojans from their fear relieve,
And wives, that for my safe return do pray.
But come, let’s t’ one another tokens give,
280That Greeks and Trojans seeing them may say,

These two men fought and sought each other’s death,
Yet parted friends. This said, he to him gave
His belt with his good sword and iv’ry sheath;
Ajax to him his shining girdle brave.
285Thus parted, Ajax to the Argives went;

And Hector back into the troops of Troy;
Who mightily rejoic’d at the event
That past all hope they saw him come away.
The lords conducted him to Ilium:
290The Greeks to Agamemnon Ajax led.

And when they all unto his tent were come,
He for them sacrific’d a bull well fed,
Which flay’d, divided, roasted, taken up,
The carvers into messes cut. This done,
295King Agamemnon and the princes sup.

The chine at Ajax’ table was set on,
And when their thirst and hunger were subdu’d,
Nestor, whose counsel still had been the best,
What further was to be consider’d shew’d,
300And to the princes all his speech address’d.

Atrides, and you other princes, know
How Mars with Argives strewed hath the plain,
And sent their souls down to the pow’rs below,
Whose bloody bodies in the field remain.
305Tomorrow, therefore, let us cease from war,

And early in the morning fetch the dead,
And burn them somewhere from the ships not far,
That t’ Argos back they may be carried,
When we depart from hence; that their bones may
310By their own friends and children buried be.

Let’s raise a mount upon the shore of Troy,
One for them all, for passengers to see,
And fortify our good ships with a wall,
And turrets in it, and a ditch without,
315Lest unawares the Trojans on us fall,

And gates for char’ots to go in and out.
Meanwhile the Trojan lords at counsel were
Loud and discordant. Then Antenor said,
Trojans and aids, I pray to me give ear,
320For of the worst I greatly am afraid.

Let Menelaus have his wife again,
And all the goods she brought with her. Take heed;
Against our oath we shall but fight in vain.
Then let her go, or never look to speed.
325Antenor, then said Paris, this is not

The best advice you could have given, or
(If what you say dissent not from your thought)
You are not now so wise as heretofore:
Thus much to you. But to the Trojans this:
330Her wealth I’ll render, with more of mine own,

But my wife Helen I will not dismiss.
And when he that had said, again sat down.
Then Priam rose. Trojans and aids, said he,
Now take your supper as you us’d to do,
335And sentinels set, such as careful be;

To-morrow I will send Idæus to
The Greeks with Paris’ answer, and to try
If they from battle for so long will cease,
That we may burn our slain men quietly,
340And fight again hereafter when they please.

This said, the Trojans to their suppers went.
Next morn Idæus found the Argive lords
Together met at Agamemnon’s tent,
And coming in, unto them said these words:
345Atrides, and you Argives all, I come

With terms from Paris, and by Priam sent,
On which you may depart from Ilium,
And end the war, if thereto you consent.
The wealth which he with Helen brought ashore,
350(I would before he brought it he had died)

To Menelaus he will give, and more;
But his wife Helen shall with him abide.
Besides, the people have commanded me
To ask you if you will the war suspend,
355Until our dead fetch’d off and burned be,

And after fight till Jove the war shall end.
So said Idæus. The Greeks silent were
Awhile. At last Tydides rose and spake.
Let not the Greeks so much the Trojans fear
360As Helen’s goods, or her herself to take

At Alexander’s hands. The hour is come
(As any child may manifestly see)
That must o’erthrow the state of Ilium.
So said Tydides, and much prais’d was he.
365Then Agamemnon answer’d to Idæus,

You hear what the Argives say. I say the same.
As for the dead men, burn them if you please;
They’re good for nothing. I contented am.
And of this truce let Jove a witness be.
370This said, to Jove his sceptre up he heav’d.

Idæus back to Troy went speedily,
The answer to relate he had receiv’d.
Meanwhile the states of Troy in council sat,
And there their herald’s coming back expected.
375Idæus then went in, and told them that

The offer made by Paris was rejected,
But that a truce was granted for a day.
Next morn the Trojans, early as they could,
Went some to th’ field to fetch their dead away,
380And others to the hill to fetch down wood.

So did the Argives some to Ida go
For wood, and others to the bloody field,
But could not then distinguish friend from foe.
But by and by the sun began to gild
385Scamander’s plain; then wash’d they off the gore

And dust, and laid their dead men upon carts.
But Priam had forbidden them to roar,
Or cry outright, though grieved at their hearts.
When they had burnt them, back they went again.
390The Greeks too, when they had consum’d with fire

And done their lamentation for the slain,
Unto their ships did back again retire.
But this th’ Achæans did at break of day,
And rais’d one mighty monument for all.
395And the incursion of the foe to stay,

Their navy they inclosed with a wall,
With turrets high, and a great ditch without,
(Upon the sides whereof sharp pales they fix)
And gates for char’ots to go in and out.
400And all the day thus toiling were the Greeks.

Meanwhile the Gods together sat above,
And wond’ring look’d upon this work of men;
And Neptune then address’d his speech to Jove.
What mortals will the Gods consult again?
405See you not what a wall the Greeks have rear’d,

And what a ditch about it made, said he,
The fame whereof ’mongst people will be heard
As far as the sun-beams extended be?
Yet to the Gods they hecatomb gave none.
410Whereas the walls that I and Phœbus rais’d

About the city for Laomedon,
Obscur’d by this, no longer will be prais’d.
Then answer’d Jove. Neptune, I never thought
That such a word would e’er have come from you,
415That have the pow’r to bring their work to nought.

A lesser God might have complain’d, ’tis true;
But of your pow’r Aurora sees no bound.
Stay only till the Greeks be gone away;
Then break their wall, and throw it to the ground,
420And hide the place with sand. Thus talked they.

The sun now set, and finish’d was the wall.
The Greeks went back then each man to his tent,
And many good fat beeves they made to fall;
And wine they had great store from Lemnos sent.
425For ships abundance laden were come in,

Which by Euneus (th’ hero Jason’s son,
Got on Hypsiphile) thither sent had been,
For which the army barter’d. Hides gave one,
Another th’ ox itself, another brass;
430One iron, and another gave a slave,

Beside what by Euneus given was
To the two Atrides of free gift to have.
When supper ready was they all sat down,
And all night long the feast continued,
435Greeks in their tents, and Trojans in the town.

And all night long aloud Jove thundered,
Meaning no good to th’ Greeks. Then pour’d they on
The ground the offer’d wine, Jove to content,
And no man durst to drink till that was done.
And when they had well drunk to sleep they went.

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LIB. VII. - 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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Copyright information:

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LIB. VII.