The Iliad (Penguin Classics) Read online

  ‘Greeks, enough! Men, stop shooting! Hector of the flashing helmet looks as if he has something to say.’

  So he spoke, and the troops abandoned their attack and immediately fell silent. Hector then spoke to both sides:

  ‘Trojans and Greek men-at-arms, hear from me what Paris, who began this trouble between us, now proposes. He suggests the rest of the Trojans and all the Greeks ground their arms (90) while he and warlike Menelaus meet in the middle and fight it out over Helen and all the property Paris brought back with her. The one who wins and proves himself the better man can take all the property and the woman home, while we others can then swear solemn oaths of friendship.’

  So he spoke and was received in complete silence by them all. Then Menelaus, master of the battle-cry, spoke to them:

  Menelaus welcomes the duel

  ‘Listen now to me too. I am the chief sufferer here, but I intend the Greeks and Trojans to part in peace this day, having had quite enough to endure (100) as a result of this dispute between me and Paris – who began it all. May the man who is marked out by death and destiny meet his end, and then the rest of you will soon be reconciled.

  ‘You Trojans bring two sheep, a white ram and a black ewe, for the Earth and the Sun; and we will bring another ram for Zeus. And let mighty Priam be fetched so that he can take the oath himself, since he has arrogant and unscrupulous sons and we do not want to see an oath in the name of Zeus wrecked by treachery. Young men are never dependable, but when an old man takes a hand in such affairs, he considers the (110) future as well as the past, and the result is the best for both parties.’

  So he spoke, and the Greeks and Trojans were delighted at the prospect of a reprieve from the painful business of fighting. They drew up their chariots in ranks, got down and removed their equipment, which they laid on the ground at close intervals; there was little open space left around. Hector dispatched two heralds at full speed to the town to fetch the sheep and summon Priam; lord Agamemnon sent Talthybius off to the hollow ships (120) and told him to bring back a lamb. Talthybius complied with godlike Agamemnon.

  Meanwhile Iris the messenger-goddess brought the news to white-armed Helen, disguising herself as Helen’s sister-in-law, Laodice, the most beautiful of Priam’s daughters, who was married to lord Helicaon, Antenor’s son. She found Helen in the hall at work on a great web of purple cloth for folding double, into which she was weaving some of the many trials that the Trojans and Greeks had suffered for her sake at the hands of the War-god Ares. Swift-footed Iris went up to her and said:

  (IRIS summons Helen)

  (130) ‘My dear sister, come and see how strangely the Trojan and Greek warriors are behaving. A little while ago they were making war with all its tears against each other in the plain and looked as thought they meant to fight to the death. But now the battle is off and they are sitting there in silence, leaning on their shields, with their long spears stuck in the ground beside them, while Paris and warlike Menelaus are to fight a duel with their great spears – over you. The winner is to claim you as his wife.’

  With these words the goddess filled Helen’s heart with sweet (140) longing for her former husband, her parents and the town she had left. She immediately covered her head in a veil of white linen and, with the soft tears running down her cheeks, set out from her room, not alone, but attended by two waiting-women, Aethre daughter of Pittheus and ox-eyed Clymene. In a little while they reached the Scaean gate.

  At this gate, Priam was sitting in conference with the elders of the town Panthous and Thymoetes, Lampus and Clytius, Hicetaon, servant of the War-god Ares, and Ucalegon and (150) Antenor, both sensible men. Old age had brought their fighting days to an end but they were excellent speakers, these Trojan elders, sitting there on the tower like cicadas perched on a tree in the woods trilling lightly away. When they saw Helen coming to the tower, they whispered winged words to each other:

  Trojan elders admire Helen

  ‘No one could blame the Trojans and Greek men-at-arms for suffering so long for such a woman’s sake. She is fearfully like the immortal goddesses. All (160) the same, and lovely as she is, let her sail home and not stay here, a scourge to us and our children after us.’

  So they spoke, and Priam called out to Helen:

  ‘Dear child, come here and sit in front of me, so that you can see your former husband and your relatives and friends. I don’t hold you responsible for any of this, but the gods. It is they who brought on me this war against the Greeks, with all its tears.

  Priam invites Helen to identify Greeks

  ‘And now you can tell me the name of that awe-inspiring man over there, that fine, tall Greek. There are certainly others who are taller but I have never set eyes on a man so handsome and imposing. He (170) looks every inch a leader.’

  Helen, goddess among women, replied:

  ‘I respect and admire you, my dear father-in-law. I wish I had chosen to die in misery before I came here with your son, deserting my bridal bed, my relatives, my darling daughter and the dear friends with whom I had grown up. But things did not fall out like that, and so I spend my life in tears.

  Agamemnon

  ‘Now I will tell what you wished to know. The man you pointed out is Agamemnon, son of Atreus, (180) a good ruler and a mighty spearman too. He was my brother-in-law once, slut that I am – unless all that was a dream.’

  So she spoke, and the old man gazed at Agamemnon in admiration and said:

  ‘Happy son of Atreus, child of fortune, blessed by the gods – how many thousands of Greeks serve under you! I went to Phrygia once, land of vines, and there I saw numerous Phrygians with their galloping horses, and the armies of Otreus and godlike Mygdon all encamped by the banks of the River Sangarius. I was their ally and took my place among them that time the Amazons, women who were a match for men, came up to the (190) attack. But even they were not as numerous as these dark-eyed Greeks.’

  The old man noticed Odysseus next and asked:

  ‘Tell me now, dear child, who that man is. He is shorter than Agamemnon but broader in the shoulders and chest. He has left his armour lying on the bountiful earth, and there he goes, like the leader of a flock, inspecting the ranks. He reminds me of a fleecy ram moving among a great flock of white sheep.’

  Then Helen, child of Zeus, replied:

  Odysseus and Menelaus

  (200) ‘That is quick-thinking Odysseus, son of Laertes. He was brought up on Ithaca, a rugged island, and is master of all kinds of manoeuvres and strategies.’

  Then sensible Antenor spoke in reply:

  ‘Madam, you are quite right. I know, because godlike Odysseus once came here on a mission on your behalf with warlike Menelaus, and I was their host. I entertained them in my own palace and got to know not only what they looked like (210) but how intelligently they thought. In assembly with the Trojans, when all were standing, Menelaus with his broad shoulders was the taller, but Odysseus was the more imposing of the two when they were both seated.

  ‘When their turn came to express their views in public, Menelaus spoke fluently, not at great length but very clearly, being a man of few words who kept to the point, though he was the younger of the two. By contrast, whenever quick-thinking Odysseus sprang up to speak, he stood there and looked up from under eyes firmly fixed on the ground; he did not swing the speaker’s staff either backwards or forwards but held it stiffly, as though he had never handled one before. (220) You would have taken him for some surly or simply stupid fellow. But when he liberated that great voice from his chest and poured out words like the snows of winter, there was no man alive who could compete with him. When we looked at him then, we were no longer surprised at the thought of his appearance.’

  Ajax was the third man Priam noticed and asked:

  ‘Who is that other fine, tall Greek, head and shoulders above the rest?’

  Helen of the long robes, goddess among women, replied:

  ‘That is awe-inspiring Ajax, a tower of strength to the (23
0) Greeks. And there next to him is Idomeneus, standing among the Cretans like a god, with his Cretan captains gathered round him. Warlike Menelaus often used to entertain him in our house when he paid us a visit from Crete.

  Ajax and Idomeneus

  ‘Now I have picked out all the dark-eyed Greeks I can recognize and name, except two commanders I cannot find – horse-taming Castor and the great boxer Pollux, my brothers, borne by the same mother as myself. (240) Either they did not join the army from lovely Lacedaemon, or they did arrive in their seafaring ships but are unwilling to take part in the fighting on account of the disgrace attached to my name and the many insults they might hear.’

  So she spoke, but the life-giving earth already held them fast over there in Lacedaemon, in the dear land of their fathers.

  Heralds, meanwhile, were bringing through the town the oath-offerings for the gods, two sheep and a goatskin full of gladdening wine, the fruit of the soil. The herald Idaeus, who carried a gleaming mixing-bowl and golden cups, came up to Priam and roused him to action:

  (250) ’Up, son of Laomedon. The commanders of the Trojans and Greek forces are calling for you to come down to the plain and swear a solemn oath. Paris and warlike Menelaus are going to fight it out with their spears for the woman. The winner will take the woman, property and all. We others can then swear oaths of friendship with the enemy and remain in fertile Troy, while the Greeks return to horse-grazing Thessaly and Achaea with its lovely women.’

  Sacrifice

  So he spoke, and the old man shuddered; but he told his men to yoke the horses to his chariot, and (260) they promptly complied. Priam mounted and held the horses steady on the reins, Antenor got into the superb chariot beside him and they drove their fast horses through the Scaean gate towards the plain.

  When they reached the assembled armies, they stepped down from the chariot on to the bountiful earth and walked to a spot between the Greeks and Trojans. Agamemnon lord of men and quick-thinking Odysseus rose at once; and noble heralds herded together the oath-offerings for the gods, mixed wine in the (270) bowl and poured some water on their leaders’ hands. Then Agamemnon drew the knife that he always carried beside the great scabbard of his sword and cut some wool from the lambs’ heads. The wool was distributed among the Trojan and Greek leaders by the heralds. Agamemnon then raised his hands and prayed aloud:

  Oaths

  ‘Father Zeus, you that rule from Mount Ida, greatest and most glorious; and you the Sun who see and hear everything; you Rivers and you Earth; and you Powers of the world below that make the dead pay if they have sworn a (280) false oath – I call on you to witness our solemn oaths and see they are kept.

  ‘If Paris kills Menelaus, he is to keep Helen and all her property, and we shall sail away in our seafaring ships. But if auburn-haired Menelaus kills Paris, the Trojans must surrender Helen and all her property and make the Greeks compensation on a scale that future generations shall remember. And if, in the event of Paris’ death, Priam and his sons refuse to meet this (290) demand, I shall stay here and fight for satisfaction until the war is finished.’

  He spoke, slit the lambs’ throats with the relentless bronze and dropped them gasping on the ground, where life ebbed from them: the knife had removed their spirit. Then they drew wine from the mixing-bowl into cups and, as they poured it on the ground, they prayed to the immortal gods. Greeks and Trojans said as one man:

  ‘Zeus, greatest and most glorious, and you other immortal (300) gods! May the brains of whichever party breaks this treaty be poured out on the ground as that wine is poured, and not only theirs but their children’s too; and other men possess their wives.’

  So they spoke, but Zeus son of Cronus did not yet grant their prayers. Now Priam son of Dardanus addressed them:

  ‘Hear me, Trojans and Greek men-at-arms. I am now going back to windswept Ilium, since I cannot bear to look on while my own dear son fights warlike Menelaus. Zeus and the other immortal gods must know already which of the two is going to his doom.’

  (310) Godlike Priam spoke, put the lambs into the chariot, mounted himself and held the horses steady on the reins; Antenor got into the superb chariot beside him and the two drove off on their way back to Ilium.

  Priam leaves, lots are drawn; they arm

  Hector son of Priam and godlike Odysseus proceeded to measure out the ground and then to place lots in a bronze helmet and shake them to see which of the two should throw his bronze spear first. The watching armies prayed with their hands raised to the gods. Greeks and Trojans said as one man:

  (320) ’Father Zeus, you that rule from Mount Ida, greatest and most glorious! Let the man who brought these troubles on both peoples die and go down to the house of Hades; and let firm oaths of friendship be made.’

  So they spoke, and now great Hector of the flashing helmet shook the helmet, averting his eyes. Paris’ lot immediately leapt out. The troops then sat down in rows, each man by his high-stepping horses where his ornate armour lay.

  Then godlike Paris, husband of lovely-haired Helen, put on (330) his magnificent armour. First he placed fine leg-guards on his shins, fitted with silver ankle-clips. Then he put on body-armour. It belonged to his brother Lycaon and fitted him too. Over his shoulder he slung a bronze silver-riveted sword, then a great heavy shield. On his mighty head he placed a well-made helmet with a horsehair crest, the plume nodding frighteningly from the top. Then he took up a powerful spear that fitted his grip.

  (340) Warlike Menelaus also armed in the same way; and when both had got themselves ready, each behind his front line, they strode out between the two forces, looking daggers. The Trojans and Greeks watched spellbound. The two men took up their positions not far from each other within the measured piece of ground and brandished their weapons in mutual fury.

  First Paris hurled his long-shadowed spear, and it hit Menelaus’ round shield. But it did not break through and the tip was bent back by the stout shield. Then Menelaus attacked with his (350) spear, with a prayer to Father Zeus:

  ‘Grant me revenge, Lord Zeus, on godlike Paris, the man who wronged me in the beginning. Use my hand to bring him down so that our children’s children will still shudder at the thought of wronging a host who has offered them friendship.’

  He spoke, balanced his long-shadowed spear and hurled it. It hit Paris’ round shield. The heavy weapon pierced the glittering shield, forced its way through the ornate body-armour and (360) ripped right on through the side of Paris’ tunic. But Paris had swerved and so avoided dark death. Menelaus then drew his silver-riveted sword, swung it back and brought it down full on the ridge of his enemy’s helmet. But the sword shattered on the helmet and fell in pieces from his hands. Menelaus gave a groan and looked up to the broad sky:

  ‘Father Zeus, there is no god more spiteful than you. I thought I had paid Paris back for his wickedness, and now my sword breaks in my hands when I have already thrown my spear for nothing and never touched the man!’

  APHRODITE rescues Paris; takes him to Helen

  He spoke and, hurling himself at Paris, seized him by the (370) horsehair crest and, turning him round, began to drag him back into the Greek lines. Paris was choked by the pressure on his tender throat of the embroidered helmet-strap which he had tied tightly under his chin; and Menelaus would have hauled him off and won unutterable glory, but for the quickness of Aphrodite daughter of Zeus, who saw what was happening and broke the strap made of leather from a slaughtered ox. So the helmet came away empty in Menelaus’ clenched fist. The warrior swung it round and tossed it into the Greek lines, where it was picked up by his loyal troops, and launched himself at Paris (380) again in the hope of killing him with his bronze spear. But Aphrodite hid Paris in a dense mist and whisked him away – an easy feat for an immortal – and put him down in his own perfumed, fragrant bedroom. Then she went herself to summon Helen.

  Aphrodite found Helen on the high tower, surrounded by Trojan women. The goddess put out her hand, tugged at her sweet-smelling robe a
nd spoke to her in the disguise of an old woman she was very fond of, a wool-worker who used to comb the wool for Helen when she lived in Lacedaemon. Mimicking this woman, celestial Aphrodite spoke to her:

  (390) ’Come here! Paris wants you to go home to him. There he is in his bedroom, on the inlaid bed, dazzling in looks and dress. You would never believe he had just come in from a duel. You would think he was going to a dance or had just stepped off the floor and sat down to rest.’

  So she spoke, and her words went straight to Helen’s heart. But when she noticed the superb neck, desirable breasts and sparkling eyes of the goddess, she was shocked and spoke to her:

  ‘Mysterious goddess, why are you trying to lead me on like (400) this? You are plotting, I suppose, to carry me off to some still more distant town, in Phrygia or lovely Maeonia, to gratify some other favourite of yours who may be living in those parts. Or is it that Menelaus has beaten Paris and wants to take me back home, me, his loathsome wife – so now you have come here to try to lure me back to Paris?

  ‘No, go and sit with him yourself. Forget you are a goddess. Never set foot on Olympus again but go and agonize over Paris, go and pamper him, and one day he may make you his wife – (410) or his concubine. I refuse to go and share that man’s bed again – it would be quite wrong. There is not a woman in Troy who would not blame me if I did. I have enough trouble to put up with already.’

  APHRODITE orders Helen to make love to Paris

  Enraged, celestial Aphrodite spoke to her: ‘Obstinate wretch! Don’t get the wrong side of me, or I may desert you in my anger and detest you as vehemently as I have loved you up till now, and provoke Greeks and Trojans alike to such hatred of you that you would come to a dreadful end.’