hold back by the ships； but I never yet saw or heard of such horses as
these are。 Surely some god must have met you and given them to you；
for you are both of dear to Jove； and to Jove's daughter Minerva。〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃Nestor son of Neleus； honour to the Achaean
name； heaven； if it so will； can give us even better horses than
these； for the gods are far mightier than we are。 These horses；
however； about which you ask me； are freshly come from Thrace。
Diomed killed their king with the twelve bravest of his companions。
Hard by the ships we took a thirteenth man… a scout whom Hector and
the other Trojans had sent as a spy upon our ships。〃
He laughed as he spoke and drove the horses over the ditch； while
the other Achaeans followed him gladly。 When they reached the strongly
built quarters of the son of Tydeus； they tied the horses with
thongs of leather to the manger； where the steeds of Diomed stood
eating their sweet corn； but Ulysses hung the blood…stained spoils
of Dolon at the stern of his ship； that they might prepare a sacred
offering to Minerva。 As for themselves； they went into the sea and
washed the sweat from their bodies； and from their necks and thighs。
When the sea…water had taken all the sweat from off them； and had
refreshed them； they went into the baths and washed themselves。
After they had so done and had anointed themselves with oil； they
sat down to table； and drawing from a full mixing…bowl； made a
drink…offering of wine to Minerva。
BOOK XI
AND now as Dawn rose from her couch beside Tithonus； harbinger of
light alike to mortals and immortals； Jove sent fierce Discord with
the ensign of war in her hands to the ships of the Achaeans。 She
took her stand by the huge black hull of Ulysses' ship which was
middlemost of all； so that her voice might carry farthest on either
side； on the one hand towards the tents of Ajax son of Telamon； and on
the other towards those of Achilles… for these two heroes；
well…assured of their own strength； had valorously drawn up their
ships at the two ends of the line。 There she took her stand； and
raised a cry both loud and shrill that filled the Achaeans with
courage； giving them heart to fight resolutely and with all their
might； so that they had rather stay there and do battle than go home
in their ships。
The son of Atreus shouted aloud and bade the Argives gird themselves
for battle while he put on his armour。 First he girded his goodly
greaves about his legs； making them fast with ankle clasps of
silver； and about his chest he set the breastplate which Cinyras had
once given him as a guest…gift。 It had been noised abroad as far as
Cyprus that the Achaeans were about to sail for Troy； and therefore he
gave it to the king。 It had ten courses of dark cyanus； twelve of
gold； and ten of tin。 There were serpents of cyanus that reared
themselves up towards the neck； three upon either side； like the
rainbows which the son of Saturn has set in heaven as a sign to mortal
men。 About his shoulders he threw his sword； studded with bosses of
gold； and the scabbard was of silver with a chain of gold wherewith to
hang it。 He took moreover the richly…dight shield that covered his
body when he was in battle… fair to see； with ten circles of bronze
running all round see； wit it。 On the body of the shield there were
twenty bosses of white tin； with another of dark cyanus in the middle：
this last was made to show a Gorgon's head； fierce and grim； with Rout
and Panic on either side。 The band for the arm to go through was of
silver； on which there was a writhing snake of cyanus with three heads
that sprang from a single neck； and went in and out among one another。
On his head Agamemnon set a helmet； with a peak before and behind； and
four plumes of horse…hair that nodded menacingly above it； then he
grasped two redoubtable bronze…shod spears； and the gleam of his
armour shot from him as a flame into the firmament； while Juno and
Minerva thundered in honour of the king of rich Mycene。
Every man now left his horses in charge of his charioteer to hold
them in readiness by the trench； while he went into battle on foot
clad in full armour； and a mighty uproar rose on high into the
dawning。 The chiefs were armed and at the trench before the horses got
there； but these came up presently。 The son of Saturn sent a portent
of evil sound about their host； and the dew fell red with blood； for
he was about to send many a brave man hurrying down to Hades。
The Trojans； on the other side upon the rising slope of the plain；
were gathered round great Hector； noble Polydamas； Aeneas who was
honoured by the Trojans like an immortal； and the three sons of
Antenor； Polybus； Agenor； and young Acamas beauteous as a god。
Hector's round shield showed in the front rank； and as some baneful
star that shines for a moment through a rent in the clouds and is
again hidden beneath them； even so was Hector now seen in the front
ranks and now again in the hindermost； and his bronze armour gleamed
like the lightning of aegis…bearing Jove。
And now as a band of reapers mow swathes of wheat or barley upon a
rich man's land； and the sheaves fall thick before them； even so did
the Trojans and Achaeans fall upon one another； they were in no mood
for yielding but fought like wolves； and neither side got the better
of the other。 Discord was glad as she beheld them； for she was the
only god that went among them； the others were not there； but stayed
quietly each in his own home among the dells and valleys of Olympus。
All of them blamed the son of Saturn for wanting to Live victory to
the Trojans； but father Jove heeded them not： he held aloof from
all； and sat apart in his all…glorious majesty； looking down upon
the city of the Trojans； the ships of the Achaeans； the gleam of
bronze； and alike upon the slayers and on the slain。
Now so long as the day waxed and it was still morning； their darts
rained thick on one another and the people perished； but as the hour
drew nigh when a woodman working in some mountain forest will get
his midday meal… for he has felled till his hands are weary； he is
tired out； and must now have food… then the Danaans with a cry that
rang through all their ranks； broke the battalions of the enemy。
Agamemnon led them on； and slew first Bienor； a leader of his
people； and afterwards his comrade and charioteer Oileus； who sprang
from his chariot and was coming full towards him； but Agamemnon struck
him on the forehead with his spear； his bronze visor was of no avail
against the weapon； which pierced both bronze and bone； so that his
brains were battered in and he was killed in full fight。
Agamemnon stripped their shirts from off them and left them with
their breasts all bare to lie where they had fallen。 He then went on
to kill Isus and Antiphus two sons of Priam； the one a bastard； the
other born in wedlock； they were in the same chariot… the bastard
driving； while noble Antiphus fought beside him。 Achilles had once
taken both of them prisoners in the glades of Ida； and had bound
them with fresh withes as they were shepherding； but he had taken a
ransom for them； now； however； Agamemnon son of Atreus smote Isus in
the chest above the nipple with his spear； while he struck Antiphus
hard by the ear and threw him from his chariot。 Forthwith he
stripped their goodly armour from off them and recognized them； for he
had already seen them at ships when Achilles brought them in from Ida。
As a lion fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great
jaws； robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back to
his lair… the hind can do nothing for them even though she be close
by； for she is in an agony of fear； and flies through the thick
forest； sweating； and at her utmost speed before the mighty monster…
so； no man of the Trojans could help Isus and Antiphus； for they
were themselves flying panic before the Argives。
Then King Agamemnon took the two sons of Antimachus； Pisander and
brave Hippolochus。 It was Antimachus who had been foremost in
preventing Helen's being restored to Menelaus； for he was largely
bribed by Alexandrus； and now Agamemnon took his two sons； both in the
same chariot； trying to bring their horses to a stand… for they had
lost hold of the reins and the horses were mad with fear。 The son of
Atreus sprang upon them like a lion； and the pair besought him from
their chariot。 〃Take us alive；〃 they cried； 〃son of Atreus； and you
shall receive a great ransom for us。 Our father Antimachus has great
store of gold； bronze； and wrought iron； and from this he will satisfy
you with a very large ransom should he hear of our being alive at
the ships of the Achaeans。〃
With such piteous words and tears did they beseech the king； but
they heard no pitiful answer in return。 〃If；〃 said Agamemnon； 〃you are
sons of Antimachus； who once at a council of Trojans proposed that
Menelaus and Ulysses； who had come to you as envoys； should be
killed and not suffered to return； you shall now pay for the foul
iniquity of your father。〃
As he spoke he felled Pisander from his chariot to the earth；
smiting him on the chest with his spear；