The Fall of Troy

Name: The Fall of Troy
Author: Quintus, Smyrnaeus, active 4th century

Quintus, Smyrnaeus, active 4th century

Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War -- Poetry; Troy (Extinct city) -- Poetry

Then Tydeus' son amid the war-storm met
  Spearman Coroebus, lordly Mygdon's son,
  And 'neath the left ribs pierced him with the lance
  Where run the life-ways of man's meat and drink;
  So met him black death borne upon the spear:
  Down in dark blood he fell mid hosts of slain.
  Ah fool!  the bride he won not, Priam's child
  Cassandra, yea, his loveliest, for whose sake
  To Priam's burg but yesterday he came,
  And vaunted he would thrust the Argives back
  From Ilium.  Never did the Gods fulfil
  His hope: the Fates hurled doom upon his head.
  With him the slayer laid Eurydamas low,
  Antenor's gallant son-in-law, who most
  For prudence was pre-eminent in Troy.
  Then met he Ilioneus the elder of days,
  And flashed his terrible sword forth.  All the limbs
  Of that grey sire were palsied with his fear:
  He put forth trembling hands, with one he caught
  The swift avenging sword, with one he clasped
  The hero's knees.  Despite his fury of war,
  A moment paused his wrath, or haply a God
  Held back the sword a space, that that old man
  Might speak to his fierce foe one word of prayer.
  Piteously cried he, terror-overwhelmed:
  "I kneel before thee, whosoe'er thou be
  Of mighty Argives.  Oh compassionate
  My suppliant hands!  Abate thy wrath!  To slay
  The young and valiant is a glorious thing;
  But if thou smite an old man, small renown
  Waits on thy prowess.  Therefore turn from me
  Thine hands against young men, if thou dost hope
  Ever to come to grey hairs such as mine."

  So spake he; but replied strong Tydeus' son:
  "Old man, I look to attain to honoured age;
  But while my Strength yet waxeth, will not I
  Spare any foe, but hurl to Hades all.
  The brave man makes an end of every foe."

  Then through his throat that terrible warrior drave
  The deadly blade, and thrust it straight to where
  The paths of man's life lead by swiftest way
  Blood-paved to doom: death palsied his poor strength
  By Diomedes' hands.  Thence rushed he on
  Slaying the Trojans, storming in his might
  All through their fortress: pierced by his long spear
  Eurycoon fell, Perimnestor's son renowned.
  Amphimedon Aias slew: Agamemnon smote
  Damastor's son: Idomeneus struck down
  Mimas: by Meges Deiopites died.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Fall of TroyQuintus, Smyrnaeus, active 4th century

General

The Fall of Troy

Quintus, Smyrnaeus, active 4th century

Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War -- Poetry; Troy (Extinct city) -- Poetry

Then Tydeus' son amid the war-storm met
  Spearman Coroebus, lordly Mygdon's son,
  And 'neath the left ribs pierced him with the lance
  Where run the life-ways of man's meat and drink;
  So met him black death borne upon the spear:
  Down in dark blood he fell mid hosts of slain.
  Ah fool!  the bride he won not, Priam's child
  Cassandra, yea, his loveliest, for whose sake
  To Priam's burg but yesterday he came,
  And vaunted he would thrust the Argives back
  From Ilium.  Never did the Gods fulfil
  His hope: the Fates hurled doom upon his head.
  With him the slayer laid Eurydamas low,
  Antenor's gallant son-in-law, who most
  For prudence was pre-eminent in Troy.
  Then met he Ilioneus the elder of days,
  And flashed his terrible sword forth.  All the limbs
  Of that grey sire were palsied with his fear:
  He put forth trembling hands, with one he caught
  The swift avenging sword, with one he clasped
  The hero's knees.  Despite his fury of war,
  A moment paused his wrath, or haply a God
  Held back the sword a space, that that old man
  Might speak to his fierce foe one word of prayer.
  Piteously cried he, terror-overwhelmed:
  "I kneel before thee, whosoe'er thou be
  Of mighty Argives.  Oh compassionate
  My suppliant hands!  Abate thy wrath!  To slay
  The young and valiant is a glorious thing;
  But if thou smite an old man, small renown
  Waits on thy prowess.  Therefore turn from me
  Thine hands against young men, if thou dost hope
  Ever to come to grey hairs such as mine."

  So spake he; but replied strong Tydeus' son:
  "Old man, I look to attain to honoured age;
  But while my Strength yet waxeth, will not I
  Spare any foe, but hurl to Hades all.
  The brave man makes an end of every foe."

  Then through his throat that terrible warrior drave
  The deadly blade, and thrust it straight to where
  The paths of man's life lead by swiftest way
  Blood-paved to doom: death palsied his poor strength
  By Diomedes' hands.  Thence rushed he on
  Slaying the Trojans, storming in his might
  All through their fortress: pierced by his long spear
  Eurycoon fell, Perimnestor's son renowned.
  Amphimedon Aias slew: Agamemnon smote
  Damastor's son: Idomeneus struck down
  Mimas: by Meges Deiopites died.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Fall of Troy

The Fall of Troy

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