Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
“Argives, ye arrow-fighters, 180 subjects for disgrace, are ye not
ashamed? Why stand ye here astounded, like fawns, which, when they are
wearied, running through the extensive plain, stand, and have no
strength in their hearts? Thus do ye stand amazed, nor fight. Do ye
await the Trojans until they come near, where your fair-prowed galleys
are moored on the shore of the hoary sea, that ye may know whether the
son of Saturn will stretch forth his hand over you.”
Footnote 180: (return) If it be remembered that archery, in comparison
with fighting close-handed, handed, was much despised (cf. Soph. Aj.
1120, sqq.; Eur. Herc. Fur. 160), the term ἰόμωροι (οἱ περὶ τοὺς ἰοὺς
μεμορημένοι, Apoll. Lex. and Hesych.) need not be forced into any of
the out-of-the-way meanings which Anthon and others have assigned to
it.
Thus he, acting as commander, kept going through the ranks of heroes,
and he came to the Cretans, going through the throng of men. But they
were armed around warlike Idomeneus. Idomeneus, on his part,
[commanded] in the van, like a boar in strength; but Meriones urged on
the hindmost phalanxes for him. Seeing these, Agamemnon, the king of
men, rejoiced, and instantly accosted Idomeneus, in bland words:
“O Idomeneus, I honour thee, indeed, above the swift-horsed Greeks, as
well in war, as in any other work, and at the banquet, when the nobles
of the Argives mix in their cups the dark-red honourable 181 wine: for
though the other crested Greeks drink by certain measures, thy cup
always stands full, as [mine] to me, that thou mayest drink when thy
mind desires it. But hasten into war, such as formerly thou didst boast
to be.”
Footnote 181: (return) See my note on Od.
But him Idomeneus, the leader of the Cretans, in turn answered: “Son of
Atreus, a very congenial ally will I be to thee, as first I promised
and assented. But exhort the other crested Greeks that we may fight
with all haste, since the Trojans have confounded the league: death and
griefs shall be theirs hereafter, since they first offered injury,
contrary to the league.”
Thus he spoke: and the son of Atreus passed on, joyous at heart, and he
came to the Ajaces, going through the troops of the heroes. But they
were armed, and with them followed a cloud of infantry. As when a
goat-herd from a hill-top perceives a cloud traversing the deep,
beneath the north-western blast; and to him, standing at a distance, it
appears while coming over the ocean, darker than pitch, and brings with
it a mighty whirlwind; 182 he both shudders on seeing it, and drives
his flock into a cave. Such, with the Ajaces, moved into hostile battle
the dense dark phalanxes of Jove-nurtured youths, bristling with
shields and spears. And king Agamemnon seeing them, rejoiced, and
accosting them, spoke winged words:
Footnote 182: (return) The _waterspout_, which is often followed by
hurricanes, is meant. See Arnold.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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