The Odyssey of Homer, with the Hymns, Epigrams, and Battle of the Frogs and Mice/The Odyssey/Book 11

by Homer

BOOK XI.

 

ARGUMENT.

Ulysses describes bis voyage to the infernal regions, his interview with Tiresias respecting his own and his companions' safety; the heroes and heroines he saw in Hades, and amongst others his mother, and some of the chiefs who had died whilst fighting with him at Troy.

"But when we were come down to the ship and the sea, we first of all drew the ship into the divine sea; and we placed a mast and sails in the black ship. And taking the sheep we put them on board; and we ourselves also embarked grieving, shedding the warm tear. And fair-haired Circe, an awful goddess, possessing human speech,^[1] sent behind our dark-blue-prowed ship a moist wind that filled the sails, an excellent companion. And we sat down, making use of each of the instruments in the ship;^[2] and the wind and the pilot directed it. And the sails of it passing over the sea were stretched out the whole day; and the sun set, and all the ways were over-shadowed. And it reached the extreme boundaries of the deep-flowing ocean; where are the people and city of the Cimmerians, covered with shadow and vapour, nor does the shining sun behold them with his beams, neither when he goes towards the starry heaven, nor when he turns back again from heaven to earth; but pernicious night is spread over hapless mortals. Having come there, we drew up our ship; and we took out the sheep; and we ourselves went again to the stream of the ocean, until we came to the place which Circe mentioned. There Perimedes and Eurylochus made sacred offerings; but I, drawing my sharp sword from my thigh, dug a trench, the width of a cubit each way; and around it we poured libations to all the dead, first with mixed honey, then with sweet wine, again a third time with water; and I sprinkled white meal over it. And I much besought the unsubstantial heads of the dead, [promising, that] when I came to Ithaca, I would offer up in my palace a barren heifer, whichever is the best, and would fill a pyre with excellent things; and that I would sacrifice separately to Tiresias alone a sheep all black, which excels amongst our sheep.

"But when I had besought them, the nations of the dead, with vows and prayers, then taking the sheep, I cut off their heads into the trench, and the black blood flowed: and the souls of the perished dead were assembled forth from Erebus, [betrothed girls and youths, and much-enduring old men, and tender virgins, having a newly-grieved mind, and many Mars-renowned men wounded with brass-tipped spears, possessing gore-smeared arms, who, in great numbers, were wandering about the trench on different sides with a divine clamour: and pale fear seized upon me.] Then at length exhorting my companions, I commanded them, having skinned the sheep which lay there, slain with the cruel brass, to burn them, and to invoke the gods, both Pluto and dread Proserpine. But I, having drawn my sharp sword from my thigh, sat down, nor did I suffer the powerless heads of the dead to draw nigh the blood, before I inquired of Tiresias. And first the soul of my companion Elpenor came; for he was not yet buried beneath the wide-wayed earth; for we left his body in the palace of Circe unwept for and unburied,^[3] since another toil [then] urged us. Beholding him, I wept, and pitied him in my mind, and addressing him, spoke winged words: 'O Elpenor, how didst thou come under the dark west? Thou hast come sooner, being on foot, than I with a black ship.'

"Thus I spoke; but he groaning answered me in discourse, ['O Jove-born son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses,] the evil destiny of the deity and the abundant wine hurt me. Lying down in the palace of Circe, I did not think to go down backwards, having come to the long ladder, but I fell downwards from the roof; and my neck was broken from the vertebræ, and my soul descended to Hades. Now, I entreat thee by those who are [left] behind, and not present, by thy wife and father, who nurtured thee when little, and Telemachus, whom thou didst leave alone in thy palace; for I know, that going hence from the house of Pluto, thou wilt moor thy well-wrought ship at the island of Ææa: there then, O king, I exhort thee to be mindful of me, nor, when thou departest, leave me behind, unwept for, unburied, going at a distance, lest I should become some cause to thee of the wrath of the gods: but burn me with whatever arms are mine, and build on the shore of the hoary sea^[4] a monument for me, a wretched man, to be heard of even by posterity; perform these things for me, and fix upon the tomb the oar with which I rowed whilst alive, being with my companions.'

"Thus he spoke; but I answering addressed him: 'O wretched one, I will perform and do these things for thee.'

"Thus we sat answering one another with bitter words; I indeed holding my sword off over the blood, but the image of my companion on the other side spoke many things. And afterwards there came on the soul of my deceased mother, Anticlea, daughter of magnanimous Autolycus, whom I left alive, on going to sacred Ilium. I indeed wept beholding her, and pitied her in my mind; but not even thus, although grieving very much, did I suffer her to go forward near to the blood, before I inquired of Tiresias. But at length the soul of Theban Tiresias came on, holding a golden sceptre, but me he knew and addressed:

"'[O Jove-born son of Laertes,] why, O wretched one, leaving the fight of the sun, hast thou come, that thou mayest see the dead and this joyless region? but go back from the trench, and hold off thy sharp sword, that I may drink the blood and tell thee what is unerring.'

"Thus he spoke; but I retiring back, fixed my silver-hilted sword in the sheath; but when he had drunk the black blood, then at length the blameless prophet addressed me with words:

"'Thou seekest a pleasant return, O illustrious Ulysses; but the deity will render it difficult for thee; for I do not think that thou wilt escape the notice of Neptune, who has set wrath in his mind against thee, enraged because thou hast blinded his dear son. But still, even so, although suffering ills, thou mayest come, if thou art willing to restrain thy longing, and that of thy companions, when thou shalt first drive thy well-wrought ship to the Trinacrian island, escaping from the azure main, and find the beeves pasturing, and the fat cattle of the sun, who beholds all things, and hears all things; if indeed thou shalt leave these unharmed, and art careful of thy return, even then thou mayest come to Ithaca, although suffering ills: but if thou harmest them, then I foretell to thee destruction for thy ship and thy companions; but even if thou shouldst thyself escape, thou wilt return late, in calamity, having lost all thy companions, in a foreign ship; and thou wilt find troubles in thine house, overbearing men, who consume thy livelihood, wooing thy goddess-like wife, and offering thyself for her dowry gifts. But certainly when thou comest thou wilt revenge their violence; but when thou slayest the suitors in thy palace, either by deceit, or openly with sharp brass, then go, taking a well-fitted oar, until thou comest to those men, who are not acquainted with the sea, nor eat food mixed with salt, nor indeed are acquainted with crimson-cheeked^[5] ships, nor well-fitted oars, which also are wings to ships. But I will tell thee a very manifest sign, nor will it escape thee: when another traveller, now meeting thee, shall say that thou hast a winnowing fan^[6] on thine illustrious shoulder, then at length having fixed thy well-fitted oar in the earth, and having offered beautiful sacrifices to King Neptune, a ram, and bull, and boar, the mate of swine, return home, and offer up sacred hecatombs to the immortal gods, who possess the wide heaven, to all in order: but death will come upon thee away from the sea, gentle, very much such a one, as will kill thee, taken with gentle old age; and the people around thee will be happy: these things I tell thee true.'

"Thus he spoke: but I answering addressed him: 'O Tiresias, the gods themselves have surely decreed these things. But come, tell me this, and relate it truly. I behold this the soul of my deceased mother, she sits near the blood in silence, nor does she dare to look openly at her son, nor to speak to him. Tell me, O king, how she can know me, being such a one.'

"Thus I spake; but he immediately answering addressed me: 'I will tell thee an easy word, and will place it in thy mind; whomever of the deceased dead thou sufferest to come near the blood, he will tell thee the truth; but whomsoever thou grudgest it, he will go back again.'

"Thus having spoke, the soul of king Tiresias went within the house of Pluto, when he had spoken the oracles: but I remained there firmly, until my mother came and drank of the blood; but she immediately knew me, and lamenting addressed to me winged words:

"'My son, how didst thou come under the shadowy darkness, being alive? but it is difficult for the living to behold these things; [for in the midst there are mighty rivers and terrible streams, first indeed the ocean, which it is not possible to pass, being on foot, except any one have a well-built ship.] Dost thou now come here wandering from Troy, with thy ship and companions, after a long time? nor hast thou yet reached Ithaca? nor hast thou seen thy wife in thy palace?'

"Thus she spoke; but I answering addressed her, 'O my mother, necessity led me to Hades, to consult the soul of Theban Tiresias. For I have not yet come near Achaia, nor have I ever stept upon my own land, but I still wander about, having grief, since first I followed divine Agamemnon to steed-excelling Ilium, that I might fight with the Trojans. But come, tell me this, and relate it truly, what fate of long-sleeping death subdued thee? Whether a long disease? or did shaft-rejoicing Diana, coming upon thee with her mild weapons, slay thee? And tell me of my father and my son, whom I left, whether my property is still with them, or does some other of men now possess it, and do they think that I shall not any more return? And tell me the counsel and mind of my wooed wife, whether does she remain with her son, and guard all things safe? or now has one of the Grecians, whoever is the best, wedded her?'

"Thus I spoke; but my venerable mother immediately answered me: 'She by all means remains with an enduring mind in thy palace: and her miserable nights and days are continually spent in tears. But no one as yet possesses thy noble property: but Telemachus manages thy estates in quiet, and feasts upon equal feasts, which it is fit for a man who is a prince to prepare; for all invite him: but thy father remains there in the country, nor does he come to the city; nor has he beds, and couches, and clothes, and variegated rugs. But he sleeps indeed, during the winter, where the servants [sleep], in the house, in the dust, near the fire, and he puts sad garments about his body: but when summer arrives, and flourishing autumn, his bed is strewn on the ground, of the leaves that fall on every side of his wine-producing vineyard. Here he lies sorrowing, and he cherishes great grief in his mind, lamenting thy fate; and severe old age comes upon him: for so I also perished, and drew on my fate. Nor did the well-aiming, shaft-delighting [goddess], coming upon me with her mild weapons, slay me in the palace. Nor did any disease come upon me, which especially takes away the mind from the limbs with hateful consumption. But regret for thee, and cares for thee, O illustrious Ulysses, and kindness for thee, deprived me of my sweet life.'

"Thus she spoke; but I, meditating in my mind, wished to lay hold of the soul of my departed mother. Thrice indeed I essayed it, and my mind urged me to lay hold of it, but thrice it flew from my hands, like unto a shadow, or even to a dream: but sharp grief arose in my heart still more; and addressing her, I spoke winged words:

"'Mother mine, why dost thou not remain for me, desirous to take hold of thee, that even in Hades, throwing around our dear hands, we may both be satiated with sad grief? Has illustrious Proserpine sent forth this an image for me, that I may lament still more, mourning?'

"Thus I spoke; my venerable mother immediately answered me: 'Alas! my son, unhappy above all mortals, Proserpine, the daughter of Jove, by no means deceives thee, but this is the condition of mortals, when they are dead. For their nerves no longer have flesh and bones, but the strong force of burning fire subdues them, when first the mind leaves the white bones, but the soul, like as a dream, flittering, flies away. But hasten as quick as possible to the light; and know all these things, that even hereafter thou mayest tell them to thy wife.'

"Thus we twain answered each other with words; but the women came—for illustrious Proserpine excited them—as many as were the wives and daughters of chiefs. And they were assembled together around the black blood. And I took counsel how I might inquire of each; and this plan in my mind appeared to me to be the best, having drawn my long sword from my stout thigh, I did not suffer them all to drink the black blood at the same time. But they came one after another,^[7] and each related her race; but I inquired of all. There then I saw Tyro first, born of a noble father, who said that she was the offspring of blameless Salmoneus. And she said that she was the wife of Cretheus, son of Æolus. She loved the divine river Enipeus, which flows far the fairest of rivers upon the earth; and she was constantly walking near the beautiful streams of the Enipeus. Earth-shaking Neptune, therefore, likened unto him, lay with her at the mouth^[8] of the eddying river: and the purple wave surrounded them, like unto a mountain, arched, and concealed the god, and the mortal woman; [and he loosed her virgin zone, and shed sleep over her.] But when the god had accomplished the deeds of love, he laid hold of her hand, and spoke and addressed her:

"'Rejoice, O woman, on account of our love; for when a year has rolled round, thou shalt bring forth illustrious children; since the beds of the immortals are not in vain; but do thou take care of them, and bring them up, but now go to thine house, and restrain thyself, nor mention it; but I am Earth-shaking Neptune.'

"Thus having spoke, he dived beneath the billowy sea; but she having conceived, brought forth Pelias and Neleus, who both became noble servants of Jove. Pelias, indeed, abounding in cattle, dwelt in spacious Iolcus; but the other in sandy Pylos. And the queen of women brought forth the others to Cretheus, Æson, and Pheres, and steed-rejoicing Amithaon.

"After her I beheld Antiope, the daughter of Asopus, who also boasted to have slept in the arms of Jove; and she brought forth two sons, Amphion and Zethus, who first laid the foundations of seven-gated Thebes, and surrounded it with turrets; since they were not able, although they were strong, to dwell in spacious Thebes without turrets.

"After her I beheld Alcmene, the wife of Amphitryon, who, mingled in the arms of great Jove, brought forth bold, lion-hearted Hercules. And Megara, daughter of high-minded Creon, whom the son of Amphitryon, ever unwasted in strength, wedded.

"And I beheld the mother of Œdipus, beautiful Epicaste,^[9] who committed a dreadful^[10] deed in the ignorance of her mind, having married her own son; and he, having slain his father, married her: but the gods immediately made it public amongst men. Then he, suffering grief in delightful Thebes, ruled over the Cadmeians, through the pernicious counsels of the gods; but she went to the [dwellings] of strong-gated Hades, suspending the cord on high^[11] from the lofty house, held fast by her own sorrow; but she left behind for him very many griefs, as many as the Furies of a mother accomplish.

"And I saw the very beautiful Chloris, whom Neleus once married, on account of her beauty, when he had given her countless dowries, the youngest daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus: who once ruled strongly in Minyean Orchomenus; and he reigned over Pylos; and she bore to him noble children, Nestor, and Chromius, and proud Periclymenus; and besides these she brought forth strong Pero, a marvel to mortals, whom all the neighbouring inhabitants wooed; nor did Neleus at all offer [her] to any one, who could not drive away from Phylace the crumple-horned oxen of mighty Iphicles, with wide foreheads, [and] troublesome;^[12] a blameless seer alone promised that he would drive these away; but the severe Fate of the gods hindered him, and difficult fetters, and rustic herdsmen. But when the months and days were now completed, a year having again gone round, and the hours came on, then at length the mighty Iphicles loosed him, having told all the oracles; and the counsel of Jove was fulfilled.

"And I beheld Leda, the wife of Tyndareus, who brought forth two noble-minded sons from Tyndareus, steed-subduing Castor, and Pollux who excelled in pugilism; both of these the fruitful earth detains alive; who, even beneath the earth, having honour from Jove, sometimes live on alternate days, and sometimes again are dead, and they have obtained by lot honour equally with the gods.

"After her I beheld Iphimedia, wife of Aloëus, who said that she had been united to Neptune: and bore two sons, but they were short-lived, godlike Otus, and far-famed Ephialtes; whom the fruitful earth nourished, the tallest, and far the most beautiful, at least after illustrious Orion. For at nine years old they were also nine cubits in width, but in height they were nine fathoms. Who even threatened the immortals that they would set up a strife of impetuous^[13] war in Olympus: they attempted to place Ossa upon Olympus, and upon Ossa leafy Pelion, that heaven might be accessible. And they would have accomplished it, if they had reached the measure of youth: but the son of Jove, whom fair-haired Latona bore, destroyed them both; before the down flowered under their temples, and thickened upon their cheek with a flowering beard.

"And I beheld Phædra and Procris, and fair Ariadne, the daughter of wise Minos, whom Theseus once led from Crete to the soil of sacred Athens, but he did not enjoy her; for Diana first slew her in the island Dia, on account of the testimony of Bacchus.

"And I beheld Mæra and Clymene, and hateful Eriphyle, who received precious gold for her dear husband. But I cannot relate nor name all, how many wives and daughters of heroes I beheld; for even the immortal night would first waste away. But it is time for me to sleep, either going to the swift ship to my companions, or here; but my conduct will be a care to the gods and to you."

Thus he spoke; but they all had been hushed in silence, and fast held by the soothing [of his words] through the shadowy palace. But white-armed Arete began speaking to them:

"O Phæacians, how does this man appear to you to be, in form, and size, and in equal mind within? He indeed is my guest: but each of you shares the honour: do not therefore dismiss him in haste, nor be sparing in presents to one thus in want, for many possessions lie in your houses through the kindness of the gods."

The aged hero Echenëus, [who was the oldest of the Phæacians,] also addressed them: "O my friends, the prudent queen does not speak to you away from the mark, nor from propriety; but do ye obey [her]; but both the deed and word of this depends upon Alcinous."

But him Alcinous answered in turn, and said: "This word shall indeed be so, if I reign alive over the oar-loving Phæacians. But let the stranger endure, although very much craving a return, to remain at all events till to-morrow, until I shall complete the whole gift; for his conduct shall be all men's care, but mine especially; for mine^[14] is the power amongst the people."

But him much-counselling Ulysses answering addressed: "O King Alcinous, most glorious of all the people, if thou shouldst command me to remain here even for a year, and shouldst prepare my conduct, and give me noble gifts, I should wish it indeed, and it would be much better, that I should come to my dear country with a fuller hand; and I should be more honoured, and beloved by all men, as many as should behold me returning to Ithaca."

But him Alcinous answered in turn, and said: "O Ulysses, looking upon thee, we do not suspect that at all, that you are an impostor and thief, many such as far-scattered men the black earth feeds, contriving falsehoods, from whence no one would perceive it; but thou hast both a fashion of words and good understanding; and thou hast related thy story skilfully, as a bard, the sad cares of all the Greeks and of thyself. But come, tell me this, and relate it truly, if thou hast seen any of thy godlike companions, who followed together with thyself to Ilium, and drew on their fate there. This night is very long, immense;^[15] nor is there any time to sleep in the palace; but do thou relate to me wondrous deeds: and I could bear it even until divine morning, when thou wouldst endure to recount to me in my palace thine own sorrows."

And him much-planning Ulysses answering addressed: "O King Alcinous, most illustrious of all the people, there is a season for many words, and a season also for sleep. But if thou still desirest to listen, I would not grudge to relate to thee other even more grievous sorrows of my companions, who perished afterwards; who escaped indeed from the sad war of the Trojans, but perished on their return, by the design of an evil woman. When chaste Proserpine had dispersed the souls of women in different places, the soul of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, came up, sorrowing: and the rest were assembled around him, as many as died, and drew on their fate in the house of Ægisthus together with him; and he immediately knew me, when he had drunk the black blood; and he wept shrilly, shedding the warm tear, holding out his hands to me, desiring to lay hold of me. But he had no longer firm strength, nor power at all, such as was before in his bending limbs. I wept indeed, beholding him, and pitied him in my mind, and addressing him I spoke winged words:

"'O most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, what fate of long-sleeping death subdued thee? Did Neptune subdue thee in thy ships, raising an immense^[16] blast of cruel winds? Or did unjust men injure thee on land, while thou wert cutting off their oxen, and beautiful flocks of sheep, or contending for a city, or for women?'

"Thus I spoke; but he immediately addressed me, answering: 'O Jove-born son of Laertes, much-planning Ulysses, neither did Neptune subdue me in my ships, raising an immense blast of cruel winds, nor did unjust men injure me on land; but Ægisthus, having contrived death and Fate for me, slew me, [conspiring] with my pernicious wife, having invited me to his house, entertaining me at a feast, as any one has slain an ox at the stall. Thus I died by a most piteous death; and my other companions were cruelly slain around me, as swine with white tusks, which [are slain] either at the marriage, or collation, ^[17] or splendid banquet of a wealthy, very powerful man. Thou hast already been present at the slaughter of many men, slain separately, and in hard battle; but if thou hadst seen those things, thou wouldst have especially lamented in thy mind, how we lay in the palace about the cups and full tables; and the whole ground reeked with blood. And I heard the most piteous voice of the daughter of Priam, Cassandra, whom deceitful Clytemnestra slew near me; but I, raising my hands from the earth, dying, laid them on my sword; but she, impudent one, went away, nor did she endure to close my eyes with her hands, and shut my mouth, although I was going to Hades. So there is nothing else more terrible and impudent than a woman, who indeed casts about such deeds in her mind: what an unseemly deed has she indeed contrived, having prepared murder for her husband, whom she lawfully married!^[18] I thought indeed that I should return home welcome to my children and my servants; but she, above all acquainted with wicked things, has shed disgrace over herself, and female women^[19] about to be hereafter, even [upon one] who is a worker of good.'

"Thus he spoke; but I addressed him answering: 'O gods! of a truth wide-thundering Jove most terribly hates the race of Atreus, on account of women's plans, from the beginning: many of us indeed perished for the sake of Helen; and Clytemnestra has contrived a stratagem for thee when thou wast at a distance."

"Thus I spoke; but he immediately addressed me in answer; 'Now therefore do not thou ever be mild to thy wife, nor inform her of every thing with which thou art well acquainted: but tell one thing, and let another be concealed. But for thee indeed there will not be murder at the hands of thy wife, O Ulysses: for prudent Penelope, the daughter of Icarus, is very wise, and is well acquainted with counsels in her mind. We left indeed her, when we came to the war, a young bride; and she had an infant boy at her breast, who now probably sits amongst the number of men, happy one; for his dear father will surely behold him, when returning, and he will embrace his sire, as is right; but she my wife did not suffer me to be satiated in mine eyes with my son, for she first slew even me myself. But I will tell thee something else, and do thou lay it up in thy mind; hold thy ship towards thy dear paternal land secretly, not openly; since confidence is no longer to be placed upon women. But come, tell me this and relate it truly; if thou hearest of my son any where yet alive, either some where in Orchomenus, or in sandy Pylos, or some where near Menelaus in wide Sparta? for divine Orestes has not yet died upon the earth.'

"Thus he spoke; but I addressed him in answer: 'O son of Atreus, why dost thou inquire these things of me? I do not know at all, whether he is alive or dead; and it is wrong to utter vain words.'

"We twain stood thus mourning, answering one another with sad words, shedding the warm tear. And the soul of Achilles, son of Peleus, came on, and of Patroclus, and spotless Antilochus, and Ajax, who was the most excellent as to his form and person of all the Danaans after the blameless son of Peleus. And the soul of the swift-footed descendant of Æacus knew me, and lamenting addressed me [in] winged words:

"'O Jove-born son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, wretched one, why dost thou meditate a still greater work in thy mind? how didst thou dare to descend to Orcus, where dwell the witless dead, the images of deceased mortals?'

"Thus he spoke; but I addressed him in answer: 'Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the most excellent of the Grecians, I came for the advice of Tiresias, if he could tell me how by any plan I may come to craggy Ithaca. For I have not yet come any where near Greece, nor have I ever gone on my land any where, but I still have troubles: but there was no man before more blessed than thou, O Achilles, nor will there be hereafter. For formerly we Argives honoured thee when alive equally with the gods, and now again, when thou art here, thou hast great power amongst the deceased; do not therefore when dead be sad, O Achilles.'

"Thus I spoke; but he immediately addressed me in answer: 'Do not, O illustrious Ulysses, speak to me of death; I would wish, being on earth, to serve for hire with another man of no estate, who had not much livelihood, rather than rule over all the departed dead. But come, tell me an account of my noble son; did he follow to the war so as to be a chief or not? and, tell me if thou hast heard any thing of blameless Peleus; whether has he still honour amongst the many Myrmidonians? or do they dishonour him in Greece and Pthia, because old age possesses his hands and feet? for I am not assistant to him under the beams of the sun, being such a one, as when I slew the best of the people in wide Troy, fighting for the Grecians. If I should come as such a one even for a short time to the house of my father, so I would make my strength and unconquerable hands terrible to any, who treat him with violence, and keep him from honour.'

"Thus he spoke; but I answering addressed him: 'I have not indeed heard any thing of blameless Peleus. But I will tell thee the whole truth, as thou biddest me, about thy dear son Neoptolemus; for I myself led him in an equal hollow ship from Scyros to the well-greaved Grecians. Of a truth when we were taking counsels concerning the city Troy, he always spoke first, and did not err in his words: and godlike Nestor and myself alone contended with him. But when we were fighting about the city of the Trojans, he never remained in the number of men, nor in the crowd, but ran on much before, yielding to no one in his might; and many men he slew in the terrible contest: but I could not tell nor name all, how great a people he slew, defending the Greeks. But [I will relate] how be slew the hero Eurypylus, son of Telephus, with the brass,^[20] and many Cetean^[21] companions were slain around him, on account of gifts to a woman:^[22] him certainly I beheld as the most beautiful, after divine Memnon. But when we, the chieftains of the Grecians, ascended into the horse, which Epeus made, and all things were committed to me, [both to open the thick ambush and to shut it,] there the other leaders and rulers of the Greeks both wiped away their tears, and the limbs of each trembled under them; but him I never saw at all with my eyes, either turning pale as to his beauteous complexion, or wiping away the tears from his cheeks; but he implored me very much to go out of the horse; and grasped the hilt of his sword, and his brass-heavy spear, and he meditated evils against the Trojans. But when we had sacked the lofty city of Priam, having his share and excellent reward, he embarked unhurt on a ship, neither stricken with the sharp brass, nor wounded [in fighting] hand to hand, as oftentimes happens in war; for Mars confusedly raves.'

"Thus I spoke; but the soul of the swift-footed son of Æacus went away, taking mighty steps through the meadow of asphodel, in joyfulness, because I had said that his son was very illustrious. But the other souls of the deceased dead stood sorrowing, and each related their griefs. But the soul of Ajax, son of Telamon, stood afar off, angry on account of the victory, in which I conquered him, contending in trial at the ships concerning the arms of Achilles; for his venerable mother^[23] proposed^[24] them: [but the sons of the Trojans^[25] and Pallas Minerva adjudged them.] How I wish that I had not conquered in such a contest; for the earth contained such a person on account of them, Ajax, who excelled in form and in deeds, the other Greeks, after the blameless son of Peleus; him indeed I addressed with mild words:

"'O Ajax, son of blameless Telamon, art thou not about, even when dead, to forget thine anger towards me, on account of the destructive arms? for the gods made them a harm unto the Grecians. For thou, who wast such a fortress to them, didst perish; for thee, when dead, we Greeks altogether mourned, equally as for the person of Achilles, the son of Peleus; nor was any one else the cause; but Jupiter vehemently hated the army of the warrior Greeks; and he laid fate upon you. But come hither, O king, that thou mayest hear our word and speech; and subdue thy strength and haughty mind.'

"Thus I spoke; but he answered me not at all, but went to Erebus amongst the other souls of the deceased dead. There however, [although] angry, he would have spoken to me, or I to him, but my mind in my breast wished to behold the souls of the other dead.

"There then I beheld Minos, the illustrious son of Jove, having a golden sceptre, giving laws to the dead, sitting down; but the others around him, the king, pleaded their causes, sitting and standing through the wide-gated house of Pluto.

"After him I beheld vast Orion, hunting beasts at the same time, in the meadow of asphodel,^[26] which he had himself killed in the desert mountains, having an all-brazen club in his hands, for ever unbroken.

"And I beheld Tityus, the son of the very renowned earth, lying on the ground; and he lay stretched over nine acres; and two vultures sitting on each side of him were tearing his liver, diving into the caul:^[27] but he did not ward them off with his hands; for he had dragged Latona, the celebrated wife of Jove, as she was going to Pythos, through the delightful Panopeus.

"And I beheld Tantalus suffering severe griefs, standing in a lake; and it approached his chin. But he stood thirsting, and he could not get any thing to drink; for as often as the old man stooped, desiring to drink, so often the water being sucked up, was lost to him; and the black earth appeared around his feet, and the deity dried it up. And lofty trees shed down fruit from the top, pear trees, and apples, and pomegranates producing glorious fruit, and sweet figs, and flourishing olives: of which, when the old man raised himself up to pluck some with his hands, the wind kept casting them away to the dark clouds.

"And I beheld Sisyphus, having violent griefs, bearing an enormous stone with both [his hands]: he indeed leaning with his hands and feet kept thrusting the stone up to the top: but when it was about to pass over the summit, then strong force began to drive it back again, then the impudent^[28] stone rolled to the plain; but he, striving, kept thrusting it back, and the sweat flowed down from his limbs, and a dirt arose from his head.

"After him I perceived the might of Hercules, an image; for he himself amongst the immortal gods is delighted with banquets, and has the fair-legged Hebe, [daughter of mighty Jove and golden-sandaled Juno]. And around him there was a clang of the dead, as of birds, frighted on all sides; but he, like unto dark night, having a naked bow, and an arrow at the string, looking about terribly, was always like unto one about to let fly a shaft. And there was a fearful belt around his breast, the thong was golden: on which wondrous forms were wrought, bears, and wild boars, and terrible lions, and contests, and battles, and slaughters, and slayings of men; he who devised that thong with his art, never having wrought such a one before, could he work any other such. But he immediately knew me, when he saw me with his eyes, and pitying me, addressed winged words:

"'O Jove-born son of Laertes, much-contriving Ulysses, ah wretched one, thou too art certainly pursuing some evil fate, which I also endured under the beams of the sun. I was indeed the son of Jove, the son of Saturn, but I had infinite labour; for I was subjected to a much inferior man, who enjoined upon me difficult contests: and once he sent me hither to bring the dog, for he did not think that there was any contest more difficult than this. I indeed brought it up and led it from Pluto's, but Mercury and blue-eyed Minerva escorted me.'

"Thus having spoken, he went again within the house of Pluto. But I remained there firmly, if by chance any one of the heroes, who perished in former times, would still come; and I should now still have seen former men, whom I wished, [Theseus, and Pirithoüs, glorious children of the gods;] but first myriads of nations of the dead were assembled around me with a divine clamour; and pale fear seized me, lest to me illustrious Proserpine should send a Gorgon head of a terrific monster^[29] from Orcus. Going then immediately to my ship, I ordered my companions to go on board themselves, and to loose the halsers. But they quickly embarked, and sat down on the benches. And the wave of the stream carried it through the ocean river, first the rowing and afterwards a fair wind.

 

---

1. See on v. 334.
2. Duport, Gnom. Hom. p. 204, compares the proverb, "comes pro vehiculo."
3. It is a well-known superstition, that the ghosts of the dead were supposed to wander as long as they remained unburied, and were not suffered to mingle with the other dead. Cf. Virg. Æn. vi. 325, sqq. Lucan. i. 11. Eur. Hec. 30. Phocylid. Γνώμ. 96. Heliodor. Æth. ii. p. 67.
4. See my note on Eur. Alcest. t. i. p. 240, ed. Bohn, and on Od. ii. 222.
5. i. e. crimson-prowed.
6. Mistaking the oar for a corn-fan. A sure indication of his ignorance of maritime concerns. Cowper. πλάτη γὰρ θαλασσία, τὸ ἐρετμόν, καὶ πλάτη χερσαία, τὸ πτύον. Eustathius.
7. Προμνηστῖναι, ἐπὶ μίαν ἑξῆς, ἤ ἐπάλληλοι, ἤ ἐπὶ στίχον, καὶ ἔστι κατὰ τὸ ἔτυμον προμενέστιναι (so Buttm.). Schol.
8. i. e. at its junction with the sea. Schol. on Apoll. Rh. i. 11. τῶν ποταμῶν οἱ συμβάλλοντες τόποι τῇ θαλάσσῃ, προχοαὶ λέγονται. Cf. Alberti on Hesych. t. ii. p. 1063.
9. In the Tragedians, Jocasta. But see Schol. on Eur. Phœn. 13. Nicolaus Damascenus, from a MS. in the Escurial, agrees with Homer.
10. μέγα is used by an euphemisus to denote her illicit intercourse. See Schol.
11. See my note on Æsch. Ag. p. 121, n. 1, ed. Bohn.
12. Cf. vs. 293, δεσμοὶ ἀργαλέοι, and the glosses of Hesych. ἀργαλέους, χαλεποὺς, δεινούς. Ἀργαλεώτατοι, δεινότατοι.
13. Hesych. πολυάϊκος, πολλὰς ὁρμὰς καὶ κινήσεις ἔχοντος τῶν μαχομένων.
14. τοῦδ' ἄνδρος is often put for ἔμου.
15. Milton, Par. Lost, vii. 98:
    "And the great light of day yet wants to run
    Much of his race, though steep; suspense in Heaven,
    Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears,
    And longer will delay to hear thee tell
    His generation," &c.
    
    
16. ἀμέγαρτον, ἀφθόνητον, ἀζήλωτον, ἢ πολὺν, ἢ μέγαν. Hesych. Cf. Blomf. on Æsch. Prom. 401. Dind.
17. ἔρανος was a feast to which all the guests invited sent or contributed something.
18. This seems, on the whole, the most probable interpretation of κουρίδιος in this passage. But the question is a very uncertain one, and is left undecided by Buttmann, Lexil. p. 392, sqq.
19. Observe the pleonasm.
20. i. e. with the sword.
21. Some render this large, as a metaphor taken from whales; but the Scholiast informs us that the Ceteans were a people of Mysia, of whom Telephus was king. Cf. Serv. on Virg. Ecl. vi. 72. Hygin. Fab. 112.
22. Priam, had either promised Eurypylus one of his daughters in marriage; or Priam had given presents to his wife, in order that she might persuade him to come to the war: in this case it would be, he was slain on account of the presents which had been given his wife, which appears to me the best way of translating it. Old Transl. from the Scholiast. Hesychius, who has not always met with due attention from the editors of Homer, interprets this, διὰ γυναικῶν δωροδοκίαν. So also Apollon. Lex. Hom. διὰ δωροδοκίαν, clearly confirming the latter interpretation, which I have accordingly followed.
23. Thetis.
24. Observe that τίθημι is properly used of laying down a prize to be contested for.
25. In order that the arms might be adjudged fairly, the captive Trojans were summoned before the Grecian chiefs, and asked which of the two, Ajax or Ulysses, had done most harm to the Trojans: they said Ulysses, upon which the arms were given to him, as having been of most use to the Greeks. Old Transl.
26. Asphodel was planted on the graves and around the tombs of the deceased, and hence the supposition, that the Stygian plain was clothed with asphodel. Cowper.
27. Or, dipping in the beak. See Loewe.
28. I have been unwilling to qualify this bold and picturesque epithet by destroying the metaphor, especially after the remarks of Aristotle, Rhet. iii. 11.
29. Hence Milton, Par. Lost, ii. 610:
    "But fate withstands, and to oppose th' attempt
    Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards
    The ford."