Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
“Be mindful now of a return to the hollow ships, O son of magnanimous
Tydeus, lest thou reach them, having been put to flight; or lest some
other god perchance arouse the Trojans.”
Footnote 358: (return) Understand κατὰ ῥυμοῦ.
Thus she spoke; and he understood the voice of the goddess speaking,
and he quickly ascended the chariot. And Ulysses lashed on [the horses]
with his bow, and they fled to the swift ships of the Greeks.
Nor did silver-bowed Apollo keep a vain watch. When he beheld Minerva
accompanying the son of Tydeus, enraged with her, he descended into the
vast army of the Trojans, and roused Hippocoön, a counsellor of the
Thracians, the gallant cousin of Rhesus. And he, leaping up from sleep,
when he beheld the place empty where the fleet horses had stood, and
the men panting amidst the dreadful slaughter, immediately then wept
aloud, and called upon his dear companion by name. A clamour and
immeasurable tumult of the Trojans running together arose, and they
looked with wonder at the marvellous deeds, which men having
perpetrated, had returned to the hollow ships.
But when now they came where they had slain the spy of Hector, there
Ulysses, dear to Jove, reined in his fleet steeds. But the son of
Tydeus, leaping to the ground, placed the bloody spoils in the hands of
Ulysses, and then ascended the chariot. And he lashed on the steeds,
and both, not unwilling, fled towards the hollow ships, for thither it
was agreeable to their minds [to go]. But Nestor first heard the sound,
and said:
“O friends, leaders and rulers over the Greeks, shall I speak falsely,
or say the truth? Still my mind impels me. The noise of swift-footed
steeds strikes upon my ears. O that now Ulysses and gallant Diomede
would immediately drive some solid-hoofed steeds from the Trojans! But
greatly do I fear in mind lest these bravest of the Greeks suffer aught
from the rude host of Trojans.”
Not yet was the whole speech uttered, when they themselves arrived.
Then indeed they descended to the ground, and [their friends]
rejoicing, saluted them with the right hand and kind expressions. But
[first] the Gerenian knight Nestor asked them:
“Come, tell me, most excellent Ulysses, great glory of the Greeks, how
took ye these horses? [Whether] penetrating the camp of the Trojans; or
did some god, meeting, supply you with them? They are very like unto
the rays of the sun. I indeed always mingle with the Trojans, nor can I
say that I remain at the ships, although being an old warrior: yet have
I never beheld nor remarked such horses, but I think that some god,
meeting you, hath given them. For cloud-compelling Jove loves you both,
and the daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, azure-eyed Minerva.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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