Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
Thus the two mighty sons of Kronos, with contending will, were
contriving sorrow and anguish for the heroes. Zeus desired victory for
the Trojans and Hector, giving glory to swift-footed Achilles; yet he
did not wish the Achaian host to perish utterly before Ilios, but only
to give renown to Thetis and her strong-hearted son. But Poseidon went
among the Argives and stirred them to war, stealing secretly forth from
the grey salt sea: for he was sore vexed that they were overcome by the
Trojans, and was greatly in wrath against Zeus. Verily both were of the
same lineage and the same place of birth, but Zeus was the elder and
the wiser. Therefore also Poseidon avoided to give open aid, but
secretly ever he spurred them on, throughout the host, in the likeness
of a man. These twain had strained the ends of the cords of strong
strife and equal war, and had stretched them over both Trojans and
Achaians, a knot that none might break nor undo, for the loosening of
the knees of many.
Even then Idomeneus, though his hair was flecked with grey, called on
the Danaans, and leaping among the Trojans, roused their terror. For he
slew Othryoneus of Kabesos, a sojourner there, who but lately had
followed after the rumour of war, and asked in marriage the fairest of
the daughters of Priam, Kassandra, without gifts of wooing, but with
promise of mighty deed, namely that he would drive perforce out of
Troy-land the sons of the Achaians. To him the old man Priam promised
and appointed that he would give her, so he fought trusting in his
promises. And Idomeneus aimed at him with a bright spear, and cast and
smote him as he came proudly striding on, and the corslet of bronze
that he wore availed not, but the lance struck in the midst of his
belly. And he fell with a crash, and Idomeneus boasted over him, and
lifted up his voice, saying: “Othryoneus, verily I praise thee above
all mortal men, if indeed thou shalt accomplish all that thou hast
promised to Priam, son of Dardanos, that promised thee again his own
daughter. Yea, and we likewise would promise as much to thee, and
fulfil it, and would give thee the fairest daughter of the son of
Atreus, and bring her from Argos, and wed her to thee, if only thou
wilt aid us to take the fair-set citadel of Ilios. Nay, follow us that
we may make a covenant of marriage by the seafaring ships, for we are
no hard exacters of gifts of wooing.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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