Home

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.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.

Copyright information:

The text is in the public domain.

Fair use statement:

This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.

LIB. XIV.

Now Nestor with Macaon drinking sat,
And heard the Greeks and Trojans fighting roar,
And to him said: Macaon, hear you that?
The noise is greater much than ’twas before.

Juno, by the help of Venus, layeth Jove asleep, whilst Neptune assisteth the Greeks.

5Let Hecamede o’er the fire set water,

And wash away the blood from off your sore,
While I go hence and see what is the matter.
But at the wine sit you still as before.
This said, he took up Thrasymedes’ shield,
10And Thrasymedes, his son, took up his,

And with a good sharp spear went to the field;
And going forth, a shameful sight he sees,
The Trojans chasing, while the Argives fly,
And down unto the ground was torn their wall.
15And then, as when a wave is raised high

By secret gales, on neither side can fall,
Until some certain and prevailing wind
Commandeth in the air: so Nestor stood,
And with two thoughts distracted was his mind.
20Sometimes to go t’ Atrides he thought good,

And sometimes to the battle. But at last
Resolved, unto Agamemnon goes,
Whilst shields and helmets, all the way he past,
Resounded in his ears with frequent blows.
25And as he went, the wounded chiefs he met,

Ulysses, Agamemnon, Diomed.
For far off from the fight the ships were set,
And close unto the shore lay at a head.
Only the foremost haul’d were to the plain,
30And close astern of those was built the wall.

For with so many ships they cross’d the main,
That near the field they could not place them all.
But side-by-side along the shore they lay,
And took up all the compass of the bay.
35The wounded men, to look upon the fray,

Help’d by their spears, went softly on the way,
Griev’d at the heart, and met with Nestor there,
Who, with his coming, made them more afraid.
And when unto them Nestor was come near,
40Then Agamemnon spake, and to him said:

O Nestor, glory of the Argive nation,
I am afraid that Hector will make good
That which he promised once in his oration,
Before the Trojans, when he boasting stood.
45I never will to Troy come back, said he,

Till I have slain these Greeks, and set on fire
Their ships. And now performed it will be.
Oh, strange! Do all the other Greeks conspire
Against me with Achilles, Thetis’ son,
50And therefore are resolved not to fight?

’Tis plain, said Nestor, some such thing is done,
Else Jove himself could not with all his might
Have made such work. The wall is broken down,
In which, to save ourselves we did confide;
55And at the ships they fight, nor was it known,

Nor could it be observed on which side
The Greeks that fighting were, were most distrest,
So thick to th’ ground in ev’ry part they fall.
But let’s consult what course to take were best,
60If counsel can do any thing at all.

But that we all should fight I’ll not advise.
For what can wounded men in battle do?
To Nestor, Agamemnon then replies,—
Nestor, since now the war is brought unto
65Our ships, and that, nor wall, nor trench does good,

And much the Argives suffer’d have who thought
Their wall for all the Trojans would have stood,
And all our hopes built on it come to nought.
For though I know Jove once was to us kind,
70Yet now I see our ruin he designs,

And pleasure takes in changing of his mind,
And aids the Trojans whilst our hands he binds.
Let’s all to what I saying am agree.
The ships that nearest lie to the sea-side,
75Drawn down into the water let them be,

And there till night let them at anchor ride.
And if the Trojans then give over fight,
We’ll fetch away the rest. For ’tis less shame
A danger to eschew, although by night,
80Than needlessly to perish in the same.

Ulysses frowning on him then replied:
Atrides, what a word have you let fall?
You ought of cowards to have been the guide,
And not of us Achæans general.
85For we by Jove are fram’d for actions high,

And to achieve the wars we undertake,
How dangerous soever, or to die.
And must we now the siege of Troy forsake,
And after so much labour lost go hence?
90Peace! let no other Greek hear what you say.

Who would have said this that had common sense,
And whom so great an army did obey?
Nor is, in how to fly, your counsel right.
Must we our ships draw down from off the shore,
95And at the same time with the Trojans fight,

Who now rejoice, but would do then much more,
And we that fight be utterly destroy’d?
For they that were at anchor on the main
Would go their way the danger to avoid.
100Thus by your counsel we should all be slain.

Atrides to him then this answer gave:
Ulysses, your reproof is very smart;
Yet not command but counsel ’twas I gave,
And better I would hear with all my heart.
105And so you shall, said Diomed, and though

Amongst you all the youngest man I be,
Be not offended with it. For you know
That born I am of a good family.
For Portheus three worthy sons begat,
110In Calydon and Pleuron they all dwelled;

Melas, and Agrius, and Œneus, that
The other two in deeds of arms excelled.
Of him my father, Tydeus, was the son,
But in exile at Argos led his life,
115And of Adrastus’ daughters married one,

And great possessions had he with his wife;
And there a rich and noble house did keep.
For corn, and wine, and fruit he had much ground,
And in his pastures had great store of sheep,
120And chiefly was for chivalry renown’d.

Therefore, my counsel, if you find it good,
You should not for my person take amiss,
Since I dare fight and am of noble blood.
The counsel I shall give you now is this:
125Let ev’ry man unto the battle go,

And place the wounded out o’th’ reach o’th’ shot,
That they encourage may against the foe,
Those discontented men that fight would not.
This said, they went together to the fight,
130Which, Neptune spying, did not idle stand,

But, like unto an aged man in sight,
Came in, and took Atrides by the hand.
Achilles’ heart, said he, now leaps to see
The slaughter of the Argives, and the flight,
135And joys therein, so little wit has he.

May death and shame upon him for it light!
Atrides, do not all the Gods mistrust,
For sure I am you’ll aided be by some,
And see the Trojans fill the air with dust,
140As from your ships they fly to Ilium.

This said, amongst the Greeks he went about,
And loud, as if nine or ten thousand men
Together on a plain had made a shout,
He shouted, and the Greeks took heart again.
145Now Juno standing on Olympus high,

Her brother ’mongst the Argives saw with joy,
And Jove on Ida with an angry eye;
And in her mind consid’ring was which way
To cozen him. And was resolv’d, at last,
150To go to Ida to him finely drest,

And after she had by him been embrac’d,
To bind him fast, in gentle sleep to rest.
Then went she to her chamber, which her son
Vulcan had for her made, with door-posts high,
155And solid doors, which of the Gods not one

Could open but herself, such mystery
Was in the lock and key. Then went she in,
And fast she lock’d the door, and there alone
She with ambrosia cleans’d her dainty skin,
160Till not a speck unmeet was left thereon.

Then ’noints herself with sweet ambrosian oil,
That as unto the house of Jove she went,
The scent thereof diffus’d was all the while
Throughout the space ’twixt th’ earth and firmament.
165Then comb’d and plaited she her golden hair,

And cloth’d herself with her ambrosian vest,
And many figures on’t embroid’red were,
And with gold buttons button’d at her breast.
A hundred tassels at her girdle hung.
170And wore a precious pendant at her ear

Of three rich gems. And over all she flung
A dainty scarf, by which they cover’d were.
Then on her tender feet she tied her shoes.
And when herself she fully had array’d
175From out her chamber presently she goes,

And Venus took aside and to her said,
Sweet child, I come a favour to request;
But tell me, will you grant it, yea or nay.
I fear you bear me ill will in your breast,
180’Cause I for th’ Argives am, and you for Troy.

And Venus to her answer made and said,
Juno, Jove’s sister, do not from me hide
Your mind, which to my power shall be obey’d.
Juno to Venus then again replied,
185Lend me Desire and Love, by which you tame

Both mortal men and the immortal Gods.
For to Oceanus I going am,
And Tethys, far from hence, that are at odds.
For when beneath the earth Jove Saturn sent,
190I was by them receiv’d and cherished.

But now with one another discontent,
They will not come together in one bed.
If by this means I him can get within
Love’s arms again, no jar shall them divide,
195And I from both shall love and honour win.

And Venus then again to her replied,
Juno, Jove’s wife and sister, your request
Cannot by me, nor ought to be denied.
And as she spake, she from about her breast
200The fine enchanting girdle straight untied;

Wherein embroid’red were love and desire,
Soothing, and comfort, that sufficient were,
A heart, though very wise, to set on fire.
And to her hands she puts it, and said, Here,
205Take it. There’s nothing wanting that you need

When you would have a man or God beguiled.
Put it but in your bosom, you will speed.
So Juno did, and as she did it smiled.
And to the house of Jove then Venus goes.
210But Juno o’er Æmathia, and all

Pierra, and all the Thracian snows,
And never on the ground her foot lets fall.
And from the mountain Athos o’er the deep,
And came to Lemnos where king Thoas sway’d.
215And there she met the gentle God of sleep.

And took him by the hand, and to him said,
Sweet Sleep, to whom both men and Gods all bow,
If ever with my will you did comply,
Deny not what I shall request you now.
220Diffuse sound sleep a while upon Jove’s eye,

As soon as he with love is satisfied.
And I will thank you for it whilst I live.
And from my hand you shall receive beside,
A chair of beaten gold which I’ll you give;
225Vulcan my son shall make it curiously,

Together with a foot-stool for your foot.
And Sleep to Juno then made such reply,
As if he were afraid and durst not do’t.
Juno, said he, if ’twere another God,
230Though Ocean the great sire of them all,

I durst upon his eyes have softly trod.
But not on Jove’s, unless he for me call.
Your order once, like this, I did obey
Before, when Hercules, Jove’s mighty son,
235Went off to sea after he conquer’d Troy.

Meanwhile the strong unruly Winds set on
By you, with mighty blasts at sea arose,
And from his best friends hurried him in pain,
And at the last threw him ashore at Coos.
240But Jupiter, when he awoke again,

The Gods at home he all tost up and down,
And chiefly would of me have had a sight.
Into the sea then sure I had been thrown,
But that I fled, and was conceal’d by Night,
245Till of his anger blunted was the edge.

For Night great power has with Gods and men,
And loth was Jove to break her privilege.
T’encourage him then Juno said again,
D’ye think Jove will as angry be for Troy,
250As he was then for Hercules his son?

But go. Pasiphae you shall enjoy;
She’s fair and young, and of my Graces one,
And with you as a wife shall always stay.
Content, said Sleep; but I will have you swear
255By Styx. Come, on the earth now one hand lay,

The other on the sea, that witness bear
May all the Gods below, that Juno will
Give me the Grace Pasiphae to wife,
And that as wife she shall dwell with me still,
260That love her dearly as I do my life.

Then Juno, as she was required, sware
By all the subtartarian Gods, by name
The Titans and the brood of Saturn are.
And then together both from Lemnos came
265To Lectos, at the foot of Ida hill,

And o’er the woods upward their way they took.
But out of sight of Jove there Sleep stood still;
And as they went the wood below them shook.
Then Sleep went up into a high fir tree,
270And there he sat in likeness of a fowl,

All cover’d o’er with boughs and leaves was he,
Call’d Chalcis by the Gods, by us an owl.
Juno went on to Gargarus, where Jove
Saw her and met her with no less desire
275Than when the first time to enjoy her love

Without their parents’ knowledge he lay by her.
And Jove then standing by her very near,
What made you from Olympus come, said he,
Neither your car nor horses have you here.
280Deceitfully then to him answer’d she,

I going am upon a visit now
To th’ father and the mother of the Gods,
Oceanus and Tethys; who, you know,
Did bring me up. For now they are at odds,
285And angry he abstaineth from her bed.

But if I can I reconcile them will.
The horses that me brought unharnessed
Attend me at the foot of Ida hill.
But that I from Olympus hither came,
290Was that I would not such a journey take,

And not make you acquainted with the same.
This said, to Juno Jove again thus spake.
You may, said he, at any time do that,
But let us now with love ourselves delight.
295For never yet upon my heart love sat

For woman or for Goddess with such might.
Not when upon the wife of Ixion
The wise Perithous I did beget;
Nor when the fair maid Danae I won
300That brought forth godlike Perseus; nor yet,

When by Europa I two children got,
Minos and Rhadamant, both famous men,
For her; nor Semele, when I begot
Bacchus, man’s joy; nor for Alcmena, when
305I Hercules begot, my lusty boy;

Nor Ceres, Leto, nor yourself till now,
So much I long your beauty to enjoy.
Fierce Cronides, then answered Juno, how?
On Ida top, for some o’ th’ Gods to spy,
310And tell it to the rest to make them sport?

Then so ashamed of it shall be I,
That I shall never after come to court.
You have a chamber without chink or hole,
Made you by Mulciber, my son, whereat
315Neither the sun nor any living soul

Can peep. Go thither if you will do that.
And Jove to Juno then again replied.
That man or God shall see us do not fear;
With such a cloud of gold I will us hide,
320As to the Sun himself we’ll not appear.

This said, within his arms his wife he caught,
Whilst under them the Earth made to arise
Great store of saffron, hyacinth, and lote.
There pleased Jupiter with Juno lies,
325Closely concealed in a cloud of gold.

Away went Sleep unto the Argive fleet,
And speaking there to Neptune said, Be bold,
And help the Greeks awhile. Jove cannot see’t.
I clos’d his eyes as he by Juno lay.
330He’ll soon awake; but help the Greeks till then,

Who now before the Trojans dare not stay.
This said, Sleep went amongst the tribes of men,
And Neptune to the Argive ranks, and cried,—
Shall Hector think to get the victory
335Because Achilles is not on our side?

No. Of Achilles little need would be
If every man would his companion cheer.
But now the counsel I shall give obey:
Arm every man himself with a good spear,
340And shield, and helmet strong, and come away,

And follow me. I’ll lead you to the field.
Hector, though bold, my coming will not stay.
But let the best man take the largest shield,
And to a weaker put his own away.
345This said, well pleased were the Argives all;

The wounded princes arm’d themselves each one;
King Agamemnon first, the general;
Ulysses and Tydides then put on
Their arms, and every way the field they range,
350Surveying men and arms; and all along

Make weak men with their betters armours change,
And give their heavy arms to men more strong.
Thus armed all, and Neptune at the head,
Who with a great and long sword in his hand,
355Went brandishing as if ’t had lightened,

To th’ fight they go; no man durst him withstand.
And Hector, with the Trojans well array’d,
On th’ other side came on. And then began,
Betwixt the Greeks that had the God for aid,
360And those of Troy led by a valiant man,

A cruel fight. And high the sea arose
Up to the ships and tents. And presently,
With Alalaes the mighty armies close;
And up unto the heavens went the cry.
365So loud as now, the sea did never roar,

When beaten ’twas int’ heaps by Boreas;
Nor wind, when in the woods great oaks it tore
Up by the roots, nor th’ wood when fir’d it was.
And here did Hector first begin the fight,
370And at the greater Ajax threw his spear,

Which hit him; but upon two belts did light,
Which one upon another lying were,—
One of his sword, the other of his shield.
Hector was angry that in vain he flung,
375For he was in great hope he had him kill’d,

And now retired backward to the throng.
Then Ajax in his hand took up a stone,
Of those to which the Greeks their ships did tye,
For there amongst their feet lay many a one,
380And at him, as he parted, lets it fly;

And as a top he made it flying spin.
It but a little o’er his buckler flew,
And hit him ’twixt his buckler and his chin,
Upon the breast, and to the ground him threw.
385As when an oak is overthrown by thunder,

Which known is eas’ly by the brimstone smell,
Men look upon’t with horror and with wonder;
So gazed they at Hector when he fell.
And from his hands went out both shield and spear,
390And helmet from his head; and with great cry

The Greeks rush on, and in fair hope they were
To gain his body, and their spears let fly.
But all in vain. For by Polydamas,
Divine Æneas, and Agenor, and
395Sarpedon, and by Glaucus sav’d he was,

Who all before him with their bucklers stand.
His friends then from the battle him convey’d
Unto his chariot and charioteer,
That close behind the squadrons for him stay’d,
400And in his car tow’rds Ilium him bear.

But at the ford of Xanthus, by the way,
They poured water on his face, and then,
In little time, as on the ground he lay,
He breath’d, and came unto himself again.
405Then sitting on his knees, he cast up blood;

And backward fell unto the ground again:
Upon his eyes again the darkness stood,
For of the stroke remained still the pain.
The Greeks, as soon as they saw Hector gone,
410Took heart, and on the Trojans fiercer were.

Then Ajax, of Oileus the son,
Slew Satnius, son of Enops, with his spear.
His mother, Neis, was a very fine
Nymph of the river Satnius. Of the same,
415Enops upon the bank sat keeping kine,

And on her got a son called by that name.
Him Ajax now struck through the flank and slew;
Then for the body there was much ado.
At him Polydamas a spear then threw,
420Which Prothoenor’s shoulder pierced through.

And on his hands into the dust he fell.
To th’ Greeks then, boasting, said Polydamas,
I have not thrown in vain. I know full well
That one Greek or another taken ’t has
425To lean on as a staff i’ th’ way to Hell.

At this, the Greeks were griev’d, but specially
The heart of Telamonius did swell.
For Prothoenor slain did near him lie;
And with his spear threw at Polydamas,
430Who nimbly leapt aside and it declin’d.

But by Archelocus receiv’d it was,
Antenor’s son, whose death the Fates design’d,
Who having on his neck receiv’d the wound,
His forehead, and his eyes, and lips, and nose,
435Before his legs or knees came to the ground.

Then Ajax took his turn, and at it crows.
Polydamas, said he, was Prothoenor
As good a man in your own estimation,
As this man that was brother to Antenor,
440Or son? For he is not unlike that generation.

This said he, though he well knew who it was.
Then Promachus, as he drew off the dead,
Was killed by a spear from Acamas.
And in it Acamas then gloried.
445Argives, said he, great threat’ners as you are

You vulnerable are as well as we,
And no less subject to the chance of war.
How quiet Promachus now lies you see,
And so I hope ere long you all shall lie.
450My brother not long unrevenged lay.

’Tis good you see to have a brother nigh.
And when he this had said he went away.
Peneleus then went to throw his spear
At Acamas, but Acamas was gone.

Neptune assisteth the Greeks.

455But yet he threw and kill’d another there,

Iliones, of Phorbas th’ only son,
A man much favoured by Mercury.
The spear beneath his eyebrow enter’d in,
And to the ground fell down the bloody eye.
460The spear went on unto the brain within,

Then sitting down with both his hands outspread,
The deadly spear yet sticking in his eye,
Peneleus with his sword cuts off his head,
Which to the ground with helmet on did fly.
465Then looking up, he to the Trojans said,

Tell this in Troy. And let his parents mourn.
For Promochus’s wife will not be joy’d,
When we without her husband shall return.
This said, the Trojans stricken were with fear,
470And look’d about each one which way to fly.

Now tell me, Muse, who and by whom slain were
When they pursu’d the flying enemy.
Great Ajax first, the son of Telamon,
Killed the Mysian leader, Hyrtius,
475Of Gyrtias the strong and valiant son;

Antilochus then killed Mermerus
And Phalces. By Meriones were slain
Hippotion and Morys. Teucer slew
Prothon and Periphetes, good men twain.
480At Hyperenor then Atrides threw,

And gave him on the flank a cruel wound,
And where the spear went in, his life went out,
And suddenly he fell unto the ground,
And on his eyes sat darkness all about.
485But he that far the greater number slew,

The lesser Ajax was, Oïleus’ son.
’Twas hard to scape when Ajax did pursue;
For of the Argives all he best could run.

Home

The Forum

Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

The Library

Return to Title Page for The English Works, vol. X (Iliad and Odyssey)

The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

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

Edition used:

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

About Liberty Fund:

Copyright information:

Fair use statement:

LIB. XIV.