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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. XXI.

When to the river Xanthus they were come,
The Trojans at the ford half of them pass’d,
And on the highway fled to Ilium;
The other leapt into the stream for haste,

Achilles, with great slaughter, pursues the Trojans to Scamander, and takes twelve alive to kill at Patroclus’s tomb.

5And with the winding flood there swimming strive.

As locusts, when by sudden tier sprung,
In swarms into the river fly and dive;
So they themselves into Scamander flung,
And filled was the stream with horse and men.
10Achilles on the bank-side left his spear,

Set up on end against a tree; and then
Achilles leapt in with his sword; and there
He kill’d as fast as he could turn and strike,
And with their blood the stream was dyed red.
15And grievous ’twas to hear them groan and shriek,

That in the flood were by him massacred.
As when the dolphins in a river are,
The other fish scud to the banks in shoals,
So did it with the swimming Trojans fare;
20They fled to th’ banks, and hid themselves in holes.

And twelve of them alive Achilles took,
And with their girdles hands behind them bound,
Then caus’d them to be led out of the brook,
And to the ships conveyed safe and sound,
25To slay them at Patroclus’ funeral.

Then from the river out he came again,
And Priam’s son Lycaon met withal,
That from Scamander flying was in vain,
Whom prisoner he had taken once before,
30When in his father’s ground he was by night,

Cutting of spoke staves from a sycamore,
And on him now the second time did light.
To Lemnos first he sent him to be sold,
And bought he there was by Eetion.
35Achilles for him had good store of gold.

But he got loose and home again did run.
And there eleven days he staid; and well
Was entertained in his father’s house.
The twelfth into Achilles’ hands he fell
40Again, that sent him then to Erebus.

Achilles seeing him without a spear,
Without a shield, and nothing on his head,
(For he had cast away his arms for fear,
When almost tir’d he from the river fled.)
45Achilles, grumbling to himself, then said,

O strange! These Trojans are stout-hearted men,
That being sent away, will not be staid,
But to the war must needs come back again.
Here’s one I sent to Lemnos to be sold,
50And now he’s come to fight with me again,

’Tis strange the sea could not him from me hold,
That can against their will hold other men.
But well, I’ll give him of my spear a taste,
And send him to the earth that I may see

Achilles, with great slaughter, pursues the Trojans, &c.

55Whether the earth or no can hold him fast,

By which are holden better men than he.
Whilst thus Achilles said, the man came near
To beg his life, for loath to die was he.
To wound him then Achilles lifts his spear,
60But under it he got unto his knee,

And with one hand laid hold upon his spear,
And on Achilles’ knee the other laid.
And kneeling down before him shook with fear,
And lamentably to him speaking said,
65Achilles, I beseech you pity me,

And save my life, although ’twere but for this,
That I your pris’ner was. Captivity
At least for life a sanctuary is.
And when you unto Lemnos sent me had,
70You for me got a hundred oxen’s price;

And for my ransom now I should be glad
You would be pleas’d to take that value thrice.
’Tis but twelve days since I came back to Troy,
And all the way had been in grievous pain,
75And when I thought I should my friends enjoy,

I fallen am into your hands again.
O how have I so much incurr’d the hate
Of Jupiter to shorten thus my life!
Or from my mother cometh my hard fate,
80Laothoe, whom Priam made his wife?

Altheus got her, king of Pedasus,
And she of Priam’s many wives was one,
For many more beside had Priamus,
And by her had me and another son.
85And both of us must by you now be kill’d,

For Polydore you have already slain,
Whilst like a child he ran about the field.
And for myself, I fear, I pray in vain.
But what am I that must no quarter have?
90Though by my father I am Hector’s brother,

That sent the good Patroclus to his grave,
Yet I am nothing to him by the mother.
Thus pleaded he. Achilles then replied:
Tell me no more of ransom or of quarter.
95’Tis true, I did, before Patroclus died,

Suffer some Trojans for their lives to barter;
But now if any of the Trojans fall
Into my hands before the town of Troy,
And those of Priam’s race the least of all,
100Must hope from me to get alive away.

But wherefore, friend, should you think much to die?
Patroclus, a much better man, is gone.
You see how strong and tall a man am I,
And of a noble father am the son,
105And have a goddess for my mother. Yet

At morn, or noon, or night, with shaft or spear,
I’m sure by one or other to be hit
And lose my life. Why therefore should you fear?
This said, Lycaon’s heart and limbs both fail’d,
110And of the spear let’s go his hold, and wide

His hands he spread and his sad fate bewail’d.
Achilles then his sword drew from his side,
And gave him on the neck a mighty wound,
The sword’s whole breadth into his neck he took,
115And presently he fell dead to the ground.

Achilles threw him then into the brook,
And said insulting, Go now to the deep,
And feed the fishes that will lick your blood;
Your mother over you shall never weep,
120But to the sea you go shall with the flood,

Where to the curled water leaps a fish,
Upon Lycaon’s dainty fat to feed;
And until Troy be by us won, I wish
That th’ other Trojans may no better speed,
125But flying, by my spear be toss’d like hay.

Scamander shall afford them little aid,
Though to his stream they bulls and horses slay,
Till for Patroclus’ death they all have paid.
With these his haughty words, Scamander griev’d,
130Contrived how Achilles to repel,

And how the Trojans best might be reliev’d,
That to escape into his water fell.
Achilles then Asteropæus spied,
Pelegon’s son, the son of Axius,
135Of Axius the river deep and wide,

By th’ daughter of king Acessamenus.
And to him with a mind to kill him went,
As he was newly come out of the water.
But Xanthus gave him such encouragement,
140(Because Achilles fill’d his stream with slaughter),

That there Asteropæus for him staid,
And both in right and left hand had a spear,
And never sought the combat to avoid.
And when they were to one another near,
145Who are you, said Achilles, and whose son,

That in my anger dares approach me so?
For I in arms encounter’d am by none
But those whose parents destin’d are to woe.
Asteropæus to him then replied:
150Why ask you me whose son and who I am?

The forces of Pæonia I guide;
To whom elev’n days since I hither came.
Of my descent, the author Axius is,
The fairest stream that on the earth doth run
155His son was Pelegon, and I am his.

Thus who I am ’tis told you, and whose son.
And now, Achilles, it is time to fight.
This said, from his two hands his two spears fly,
For both Asteropæus’ hands were right,
160The one of them his mighty shield did try,

But pierc’d it not; the plate of gold withstood.
The other gave his arm a little wound
Near to his elbow, and fetch’d out some blood,
And so beyond him went and stuck i’ th’ ground.
165Achilles then his spear with all his strength

Incensed at Asteropæus threw,
Which missing, into th’ earth went half its length.
Then from his side his sword Achilles drew.
Asteropæus to Achilles’ spear
170Went back, and at it thrice he pluck’d in vain;

Then thought to break it; but Achilles there
Was with his sword, and with that he was slain.
For by the sword his belly was so ripp’d,
That all his bowels issued at the wound.
175There him Achilles of his armour stripp’d,

And o’er him crow’d as he lay on the ground.
Lie there, said he; shall rivers’ sons compare
With th’ offspring of the blessed Gods above?
The issue of a brook, you say, you are,
180But I the issue am of mighty Jove;

For Peleus my father was, and his
Was Æacus, whom Jupiter begot.
But greater he than any river is,
Then equal to his race, their race is not.
185A river great enough you had at hand,

But that you found had done you little good.
For nothing can the power of Jove withstand;
Not Achelous with his royal flood,
Nor th’ Ocean itself, of waters king,
190From whose abundance seas their water take,

And ev’ry river, stream, and well, and spring
That goeth on the earth, and ev’ry lake;
Who, when they but a clap of thunder hear,
From Jove some danger presently they dread.
195This said, from th’ earth he pulled out his spear,

And left o’ th’ sands Asteropæus dead,
Where Xanthus from the wound shall wash the blood,
And eels and other fish feed on his fat.
Achilles then pursued those that stood
200Upon Scamander bank amazed at

The fury of the giddy stream; and when
They saw their leader killed in their sight
By th’ hand of terrible Achilles, then
They ev’ry one betook themselves to flight.
205Then with his sword he slew Thersilochus,

And after him the stout Astypylus,
And Opholostes, Mydon, Ænius,
And after these, Mnesus and Thrasius,
And had shed yet much more Pæonian blood,
210But that Scamander at it took offence,

And like a man above his water stood,
And to Achilles spake his mind from thence.
Achilles, truly you excel in might,
And acts you do of great iniquity,
215And by the Gods assisted are in fight.

But though by Jove you should allowed be
To kill the Trojans, kill them on the plain.
My stream so choked is with carcasses,
I cannot drive my waters to the main.
220I wonder you should do such deeds as these;

Let those you kill be killed openly.
Go therefore from me. Thus Scamander said.
And then unto the River answer’d he:
Divine Scamander, you shall be obey’d.
225But to pursue the Trojans I mean still,

Till I have chas’d them up to Ilium.
And fight with Hector, if he stay, I will,
And see if his or my last day be come.
Scamander then unto Apollo spake:
230Phœbus, said he, you Jove’s commandment slight,

That bade you of the Trojans care to take,
And to defend them all you could till night.
Into the stream Achilles leaps again,
At which Scamander swelling lifts his waves,
235And out he throws the bodies of dead men,

And from Achilles’ hand the living saves.
Then throws a billow on Achilles’ head,
And heavy on his shield the current lay;
And on the ground by no means he could tread,
240So fast the River carried him away.

But o’er the water hung an elmen limb
Which he laid hold on. Then fell down the tree
Into the river. And that saved him,
And served as a bridge to set him free.
245And swiftly then Achilles from him ran,

But after him Scamander sent his water,
Resolv’d to quench the fury of the man,
And save the Trojans in his stream from slaughter.
And then as far as one can throw a spear
250Achilles from the flood obliquely flies

Swift as a hawk; but yet was ne’er the near;
For still he water has before his eyes.
As when a man makes passage with his spade
For water to his garden from a hill,
255The stream outruns him that the channel made;

So Xanthus was before Achilles still.
And ever as Achilles turn’d or stood
To see if any God would by him stand,
Above his shoulders rose the mighty flood,
260And while he starts from’s feet removes the sand.

Achilles then himself bewailing said,
O Jupiter, and look’d up to the sky,
Let some God ’gainst this River give me aid,
And any other death then let me die.
265But none I know on whom the fault to lay

But my dear mother, who to flatter me,
Said I should die before the walls of Troy,
And by Apollo only killed be.
O that I had by Hector’s hand been slain,
270The best of all the men that fight for Troy.

But now I perish like a silly swain
Passing a torrent in a rainy day.
These words Achilles had no sooner said,
But Neptune and Athena with him were;
275And on Achilles’ hand their hands they laid.

Then Neptune said, Achilles, do not fear.
Encouraged by two such Gods as we,
Pallas and I, and that by Jove’s command,
Retiring soon you shall the river see.
280For fear of him you need not hold your hand.

But drive the Trojans all to Ilium
Save those that fly. And having Hector slain
(As we assure you you shall do) then come
Triumphantly unto the ships again.
285This said, unto the Gods again they came.

Achilles boldly waded in the field,
Where many bodies dead and bucklers swam.
With so much courage Pallas had him fill’d,
And in the water stoutly lifts his knees.
290For Pallas now his strength augmented had.

And Xanthus, vex’d before, when he saw this,
Foamed and roar’d as one that had been mad;
And cried out for help to Simois.
Brother, said he, assist me here, to stay
295This raging man that t’ Ilium going is.

I am afraid he’ll take the town of Troy.
Make haste to help me; and your channel fill
With water both from torrent and from spring,
And stones and trees bring with you from the hill,
300That on this furious man we may them fling;

So that his strength shall do him little good,
Nor armour, which upon the field shall lie
Concealed from the eyes of men in mud
And sand enough. Thus bury him will I,
305And make his tomb. The Argives will not find

Where lie his bones. I’ll earth upon him throw.
They shall not need, if they should be so kind,
More monument upon him to bestow.
This said, he foam’d, and full of bodies dead
310He at Achilles a great billow bowl’d,

Which coming to him cover’d had his head,
But Juno chanc’d to see it as it roll’d,
And unto Vulcan shriek’d in great affright,
Rise quickly, dear child, Cyllipodion,
315Xanthus against you coming is to fight,

And to defend yourself your flames put on.
And I will Zephyrus and Notus call
From sea, that for you so shall blow the flame;
That the armour, and the heads o’ th’ Trojans all
320Shall not be able to endure the same.

Go to his bank, and burn up ev’ry tree,
And then throw fire on him, and never fear,
Nor by his threats or pray’rs persuaded be
To cease, until again you from me hear.
325And Vulcan then made ready a huge flame.

And first the dead he burn’d upon the plain;
Then to the water with his fire he came
To send it to the channel back again.
As when a field new moist’ned is with rain
330In summer-time, ’tis quickly dried again

By Boreas; so soon dried was the plain,
And burn’d the bodies were of the dead men.
And to the river then his flame he turn’d,
Where th’ elms and willows, tamarisks, and lote,
335Sedges, and many other plants he burn’d,

That in or by the river grew about.
And eels and fishes in the water hot
Tumbled and turn’d their bellies up with heat;
Into such pain by Vulcan they were put;
340And Xanthus fainting cover’d was with sweat,

And then to Vulcan spake. Vulcan, said he,
No God is able to resist your might.
What are the Trojans or the Greeks to me?
Give over. I’ll no longer with you fight.
345Thus spake Scamander, boiling all the while.

As when upon a fire of well-dried wood
The grease of a fat swine is made to boil;
So boiled he, and went not on, but stood,
Making to Juno his complaint, and said,
350Why does your son on me more fiercely fly,

Than on the rest that do the Trojans aid,
And to be blamed more deserve than I?
Let him give over, and I’ll do so too;
And swear besides, if you my oath require,
355That I will nothing for the Trojans do,

Although the Greeks should set the town on fire.
This Xanthus said; and Juno hearing it,
To Vulcan with a loud voice spake again:
Vulcan, now hold your hand. It is not fit
360T’ offend a God too much, to pleasure men.

And Vulcan hearing her his fire puts out;
And Xanthus back into his channel went.
Thus were they parted, and no longer fought,
And Juno, though in choler, was content.
365And then the Gods amongst themselves fell out,

And one against another stood in duel,
And heav’n and earth resounded as they fought,
Giving each other many wounds and cruel.
And up unto Olympus rose the cry,
370Where Jove sat on his throne in majesty,

And casting on the fields of Troy his eye,
Laughed to see them fight that could not die.
Mars first began, and to Athena said,
You, impudent, that to engage in fight
375The Gods amongst themselves are not afraid,

To satisfy your pride and endless spite,
Remember how you on me set Tydide
To throw his spear at me, and openly
Unto my body you the same did guide
380With your own wicked hand, and wounded me,

I’ll pay you now. Which was no sooner spoken,
But Mars his spear was at Athena’s shield,
Which not Jove’s thunderbolt could e’er have broken.
Then took she up a stone that lay i’ th’ field,
385Great, knobby, black, that had been heretofore

Set there, of some man’s land to show the bound,
And with the same she struck Mars o’er and o’er.
There lay he, and seven acres hid of ground.
And over him insulting, then said she,
390Lie there, and know I can you overcome;

And that your mother glad of this will be
For fighting ’gainst the Greeks for Ilium.
This said, she from him turn’d. Then to him went
Venus, and led him groaning from the place.
395Pallas, said Juno, see that impudent

That leads him out, and do her some disgrace.
Then Pallas to her went, and with her hand
Hit her o’ th’ breast; then both fell on the plain,
For Mars without her could no longer stand.
400Then Pallas over them insults again:

So may, said she, lie all that stand for Troy
As these do here. Had it not been for them,
The war had ended been; we come away,
And Troy destroyed, with all Priam’s stem.
405This Pallas said, and Juno smil’d; and to

Apollo Neptune straightway nearer came.
Why fight we not, said he, since others do?
If we stand still, we cannot without shame
Return to Jove, where scorned we shall be.
410Have you forgot how to Laomedon,

To work for him, Jove once sent you and me,
And how our wages was agreed upon,
How I built houses for the Trojans all,
As he direction gave me standing by,
415Besides, how hard I labour’d at the wall,

How fair I made it, and how strong and high,
And how he sent you, Phœbus, to attend
His herds of kine upon mount Ida side,
And when our work and th’ year was at an end,
420How proudly he our wages us denied,

And threat’ned you to bind you hand and foot,
And sell you in some island for a slave,
And cut off both your and my ears to boot,
And forc’d we were by flight ourselves to save?
425Yet for his people you have ever fought,

Though by you they deserve to be destroy’d,
And will not join with us to root them out.
To Neptune Phœbus then replied, and said,
O Neptune, you would think me mad, if I
430Should fight with you for such a thing as man.

They are but leaves, now fresh, to-morrow die;
And when he this had said, away he ran,
For with his uncle loath he was to fight.
His sister then, Diana, to him came,
435That angry was to see him put to flight;

Apollo, said she, is it not a shame
Thus easily to give the victory
To Neptune? Wherefore carry you a bow
And arrows, and to nothing them apply?
440D’ye carry them, like children, for a show?

Let me not hear you boasting any more
That you to fight with Neptune did not fear,
As in my father’s house you did before.
Thus she; but Phœbus did not answer her.
445Then Juno, angry, to Diana came;

Bold face, said she, how dare you with me fight,
That stronger than you are a great deal am?
D’ye think that in your bow there is such might?
I know to women you a lion are,
450And Jove permits you which you will to kill;

But me to overcome ’tis harder far
Than t’ hunt a stag or boar upon a hill;
But since you have a mind to understand
What I can do, I’ll let you see it now.
455Then both her wrists she seiz’d with her left hand,

With th’ other from her shoulders took her bow,
And beats her with the same about the ears,
And laugh’d to see her wriggling strive to fly.
At last she freed herself, and shedding tears
460She fled (leaving her bow and shafts to lie

Upon the ground, dispersed here and there)
Then forth came Hermes and Latona bright,
And when they were to one another near,
Leto, said he, I will not with you fight,
465That are Jove’s mistress. Boast amongst the Gods

That you have got the victory in fight,
And by no other means but the great odds
You have in strength; and I will not deny’t.
This said, Latona gather’d up the bow
470And arrows of her daughter Artemis.

To Jove went Artemis, to let him know
How ill she had been us’d: and at his knees
She weeping sate. And Jove then made her rise,
And to her said, Dear child, what God was that,
475That was so rash as t’ use you in this wise,

As one that openly had done a fault?
’Twas Juno, then said Artemis, your wife;
And she it was that was of all the first
To set the Gods amongst themselves at strife.
480Thus Jove and she between themselves discours’d.

Then Phœbus went into the town of Troy;
For still he had a care to guard the wall,
For fear the Greeks the city should destroy.
But to Olympus th’ other Gods went all,
485One part triumphing, th’ other discontent,

And sate down by their father Jupiter.
Meanwhile Achilles fiercely forward went,
Killing of men and horses with his spear.
As in a town on fire the people all
490Are busy, and the most of them undone,

So did it with the Trojans then befal;
Some slain were by Achilles, and some run.
Now Priam standing was upon a tower,
And saw the Trojans by Achilles chas’d,
495And that to turn again they had no power,

And down unto the gates he came in haste,
And to the porters order gave, and said,
Open the gates and let the people in,
That from Achilles hither fly dismay’d,
500And shut them when you see they are within;

For if that cruel man should with them get
Within the wall, ’twould be a dismal day.
The porters then the gates wide open set.
Then to the gates the Trojans took their way,
505Pursued by Achilles as they fled,

And sure he taken had the town of Troy,
But that Apollo then encouraged
Agenor to oppose him by the way;
And lest he should be by Achilles slain,
510He at the beech tree near him took his stand,

When need should be to bring him off again
Unwounded from Achilles’ heavy hand.
But when Agenor saw Achilles nigh,
He troubled was, and to himself thus spake:
515What shall I do? If from him I should fly

To Ilium, the way that others take,
He’ll overtake me, and cut off my head,
For swifter much he is of foot than I.
What if I let him on the Trojans tread,
520And I some other way to Ida fly,

And hide myself i’ th’ bushes there till night?
But why do I discourse thus foolishly?
I cannot pass the plain but in his sight,
And then I lost am without remedy.
525But if I stay and fight with him, what then?

His body is not made of steel nor brass,
But mortal is, they say, like other men,
And like to other men but one life has;
His glorious acts are Jupiter’s not his.
530This said, he for Achilles’ coming staid,

As when i’ th’ woods a panther roused is;
At hearing of the hounds he’s not afraid,
But to the hunter goes for all his spear,
And though pierc’d through therewith, will to him fly
535Upon the spear itself; that being near

He either may revenged be or die;
So resolutely then Antenor’s son
Agenor, for Achilles waiting, staid,
And at him aim’d his spear as he came on,
540And lifting up his voice, unto him said:

Achilles, Oh, you think this day to win
The town of Troy. There’s yet much work to do,
For many mighty men there are therein,
And many dangers to be waded through.
545They of their wives and parents will take care,

And little babes; but you shall perish here,
As terrible and mighty as you are.
And as he spake, he at him threw his spear,
Which on his leg below the knee did light,
550And with the stroke resounded then the tin;

But the celestial arms were of such might,
That it rebounded back, and went not in.
And when Achilles was to throw at him,
Away Apollo snatch’d him from his sight,
555Concealed in a mist obscure and dim,

And carried him in safety from the fight.
And that the flying Trojans might escape
Achilles’ hand, and save themselves in Troy,
He took upon himself Agenor’s shape,
560And put himself into Achilles’ way.

Achilles then pursues, and Phœbus flies
Along Scamander’s bank upon the plain,
And kept before him still, but in such wise,
As t’ overtake him he might hope in vain.
565Achilles thus by Phœbus was deceived,

Till from the town he far was led away.
Meanwhile the flying Trojans were received,
And thronging got within the gates of Troy:
For none of them without the gate durst stay,
570To ask who had escaped, and who not;

So glad they were of getting into Troy,
That how all others sped they never thought.

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

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LIB. XXI.