ILIAD XXI.

μάχη παραποτάμιος

THE REQUITAL OF ACHILLES FOR THE LOSS OF HIS
DEAR FRIEND PATROCLUS.

BUT when they now came to the ford of eddying Xanthus, river of fair flood, which deathless Zeus begat, there did he cut in twain the host, and some he chased plain wards to the city, by the way which the Achaeans fled yesterday bewildered, when noble Hector was frenzied: by the same way in wild alarm did they pour forth, and Here spread in front a deep mist to hinder them. Half into the river deep-flowing with silver eddies were close driven, and fell therein with a mighty plash, while the sheer streams roared, and banks around rang mightily: they with loud cry wereswimming to all sides, whirled round amid the eddies Like as when under a rush of fire-flame locusts in air dangle to fly river-wards; and the unwearied fire on a sudden starting forth doth blaze, and they flee into the wave cowering: so by Achilles was deep-whirling Xanthus’ noisy stream cumbered with warriors in confusion and with steeds.
   But the one born from Zeus left there his spear upon the bank laid by the tamarisks, and like to a god plunged in, having nought but his sword, and planned mischief in his soul, and this way and that turning upon them he smote: so did a shameful groaning rise from them smitten with the sword, and the water crimsoned with their blood. And as fishes by a big-bellied dolphin driv’n to flight fill in fear the recesses of a sheltering harbour: for greedily doth he devour whom he may catch: so did the Trojans flee cowering under the crags adown the streams of the dread river. But he, when now he was wearied in his hands with slaying, chose from the river alive twelve youths, quit-money for the slain Patroclus, son of Menœtius. These he dragged to the shore dumb-stricken as fawns, and bound behind their hands with well-cut thongs, which themselves were wearing around mailed tunics, and gave them to his comrades to bring down to the hollow ships. Then back again he rushed, lusting to slay.
    There did he meet a son of Dardanian Priam, Lycaon, fleeing from the river, whom erst, having gone forth by night, he took and led from his father’s orchard all unwilling : with sharp bronze was he cutting a wild fig-tree’s tender shoots, to be a chariot’s rails; and upon him goodly Achilles came an ill unlooked-for. At that time had he taken him for sale on ship board to well-stablished Lemnos, and the son of Jason gave a price: thence a guest-friend redeemed him, and gave much ransom—Eetion of Imbros— and sent him to divine Arisbe; escaping thence by stealth had he come to his father’s house. Eleven days with his friends did he cheer his heart, arrived from Lemnos: the twelfth, the god again laid him in Achilles’ hands, he who should send him to the house of Hades all unwilling. So when the goodly Achilles fleet of foot perceived him without helm andshield— unarmed— neither did he bear a lance, but to the ground had hethrown all off; for sweat distressed him fleeing from the river, and weariness overcame his knees—then heavy in wrath did he commune with his mighty soul:
“Lo now, a wondrous marvel do I see here with, mine eyes! In very surety the great-hearted Trojans—those whom I slew, shall rise again from beneath the dusky gloom; e’en as this man has fled the pitiless day and come, sent once for sale over to most holy Lemnos: and not the ocean of hoary brine, which holds many fast despite their will, could keep this one away. But come now, my spear’s point likewise shall he taste, that I may see and know within my soul whether in such manner he shall thence return, or if the quickeningearth, which holdeth e’en the strong man fast, shall also hold him fast.”
   Thus did he ponder, waiting: but Lycaon came near to him dumb-stricken, eager to grasp his knees, while in his soul he sore wished to shun evil death and black destiny. Goodly Achilles then held high his long lance, intent to wound him ; but he ran in underneath, and stooping clung to his knees: the spear stood fixed in earth over his back, longing to glut itself with human flesh. So with one hand had he clasped his knees and was entreating, with the other he held the pointed lance, nor would he let it go : and giving utterance he spake winged words to him:
“Achilles, I implore thee ; do thou reverence and pity me. I am to thee, Zeus-cherished one, a suppliant meet for respect: with thee first did I taste Demeter’s grain, on that day when thou didst take me in the well-stablished orchard, and leading me away from father and from friends didst carry me for sale to Lemnos most divine, and I fetched for thee the price of an hundred beeves. But then was I redeemed, having brought thrice the sum : and this is my twelfth morn since I came to Ilios after much woe. Now hath destructive fate again placed me in thy hands:surely must I have become hateful to father Zeus, who gave me again to thee: short-lived did my mother bear me, Laothoe, daughter of aged Altes—Altes, who is lord over the warfare-loving Leleges, and holdeth Pedasus girt with cliffs by the stream of Satniois. His daughter did Priam wed, and many other maidens: from her we two were born, and thou wilt cut off our twain heads. Him didst thou vanquish, godlike Polydorus, among the foremost fighting-men, struck
with the sharp javelin: and to me now shall there be evil here : for I think not to escape thy hands, since the deity hath brought me to them. This further will I say to thee, and do thou treasure it in thy mind: slay me not, for I am not from the same womb with Hector—he who thy comrade slew, gentle alike and brave.”
   Thus then did Priam’s noble son address him, pleading with his speech, and a relentless voice he heard: “Fool, talk not to me of ransom, nor do thou mention it. Before Patroclus met his day of doom, so long was it a half-pleasure in my soul to spare the Trojans, and many I took alive and sent for sale: but now no man evadeth death of all the Trojans, least of all of Priam’s sons, whom before Ilios the god into my hands commits. But die thou too, dear friend. Why wailest thou so ? Patroclus died, he who was braver far than thou art. Canst thou not see what mannerof man am I, noble and great? I too am sprung from a brave sire, a goddess likewise was my mother: but death and mighty destiny hang also over me. A morn shall come or eventide or noon when in battle some man shall rob me also of my spirit, who smites me with a javelin or with an arrow from the bowstring.”
   Thus spake he, but his knees and dear soul were straightway loosened. The spear he let go, and sat with twain hands outspread. Achilles, drawing his sharp sword, smote him upon the collar-bone at the neck, and the whole two-edged blade sank within: prone on the ground he lay extended, and the black blood gushed out, and dewed the earth.

Review Comment

Hailstone published translations of a number of individual books of the Iliad (the sample is from an edition of Book XXI which came out in 1880). His prose is a good example of the tendency to turn the Iliad into a historical romance largely through the deliberate use of a manufactured antique diction.

It is not clear whether or not Hailstone translated the entire poem.

Readers who would like to read more of Hailstone’s translation may access his version of Book XXI using the following link: Hailstone Iliad.

[List of Published English Translation of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey]