0:41

Hi, Hello, welcome. This is

0:43

let's talk about miss Baby and

0:45

once again, as always, I am

0:48

your host live because it really wouldn't

0:50

be anyone else, and

0:52

I am back with another

0:54

reading of the Fall of Troy.

0:57

We are continuing on from

0:59

last week's which was book four

1:02

and then part of book five and

1:04

featured the funeral Games for

1:06

Achilles. It ended with

1:09

the introduction that we're

1:11

doing the final portion of

1:13

the funeral games basically, and

1:15

that would be the fight over

1:18

Achilles's armor, which

1:20

of course was

1:22

like ten to fifteen minutes of me

1:24

reading just the description of his armor, because

1:26

it is incredible. It is meant to be the

1:29

most wondrous, divine,

1:32

godly made thing that these

1:35

mortal heroes could ever

1:38

imagine, and that is

1:40

why Ajax the Great

1:43

and Odysseus are about

1:45

to fight for it. Just

1:47

another reminder that this translation

1:49

is incredibly old and sometimes

1:53

uses language I try to adjust in

1:55

the moment, things like hath

1:57

this, you know, I'm just going to fix that for you

1:59

if I can. But it does mean

2:02

that also there's not a lot of clarity, and they

2:04

use a lot of the ancient Greek forms

2:06

of the names, which honestly, an USh

2:08

can be a little confusing if you don't know

2:10

what they are. So Polides

2:13

is Achilles, it's just referring to him

2:15

as the son of Pelias. The

2:17

son of Tydeus is Diomedes,

2:20

and is just frequently called the son of Titius.

2:22

I don't think I even had the word

2:24

Diomedes in last weeks. There

2:27

are two Ajaxes, the great

2:29

and the lesser. The one who's fighting today

2:31

is the great, and the other is the

2:33

son of Oilius. That's usually

2:35

how he's referred. This

3:04

is Quintus Smyrnius's

3:06

The Fall of Troy book

3:09

five and six, or

3:11

part of them, translated by

3:13

a s way. But

3:17

to Idominius and Atreus's

3:19

son spoke Nestor a part and

3:22

willingly they heard, friends, a

3:24

great woe and unendurable

3:26

this day the careless gods have

3:28

laid on us in that into this

3:31

lamentable strife Ajax the

3:33

Mighty has been thrust by them against

3:36

Odysseus, passing wise. For

3:38

he to whichsoever God gives

3:40

the victor's glory, oh yes, he

3:43

shall rejoice. But he that loses

3:46

all for the grief in all the

3:48

Danaian's hearts for him and ours

3:50

shall be the deepest grief of all, for

3:53

that man will not, in the war stand

3:55

by us as old. A

3:57

sorrowful day. It shall be for us whichsoever

4:00

of these shall break into fierce anger,

4:03

seeing they are of our hero's chiefest,

4:05

this in war and that in council.

4:09

Hearken then to me, seeing that I

4:11

am the oldest of you all,

4:13

not by a few years only, which

4:16

with mine age is prudence joined,

4:18

for I have suffered and wrought much, and

4:20

in counsel ever the old man

4:23

who knows much and excels

4:25

younger men. Therefore, let us ordain

4:27

to judge this cause between godlike

4:30

Ajax and war fane Odysseus,

4:32

our Trojan captives. They shall

4:34

say, whom most are foes dread,

4:37

and who saved Polides's corpse

4:39

from that most deadly fight. Lo

4:42

in our midst be many spear won

4:44

Trojans thralls of fate.

4:47

And these will pass true judgment

4:49

on these two, to neither showing

4:51

favor, since they hate alike all

4:54

authors of their misery. He

4:57

spoke and replied, Agamemnon,

4:59

lord of spears, ancient,

5:02

there is none other in our midst wiser

5:04

than you of Danian's young or

5:06

old in that you say that unforgiving

5:09

wrath will burn in him to whom

5:11

the gods herein deny the victory.

5:14

For these which strive are both our chiefest.

5:17

Therefore my heart to is set on

5:19

this, that to the thralls of war, this judgment

5:22

we commit. The loser, then shall

5:24

against Troy devise his deadly

5:26

work of vengeance, and shall not be

5:28

wroth with us. He spoke,

5:30

And these three, being of one in mind,

5:33

in hearing of all men refused

5:35

to judge judgment, so thankless

5:37

they would none of it. Therefore

5:39

they set the high born sons of Troy

5:42

there in their midst spear thralls,

5:44

although they were to give just judgment

5:47

in the warrior's strife. Then

5:49

in hot anger, Ajax rose, and

5:51

he spoke Odysseus, frantic

5:53

soul, why has a god deluded

5:56

you to make you hold yourself my

5:58

peer in might invincible? Do

6:01

you dare say that you, when slain

6:03

Achilles lay in the dust, when round him

6:06

swarmed the Trojans, did bear back that

6:08

feary throng, when I amidst

6:10

them hurled death, and you cowered

6:12

away your damn bore

6:15

the craven and weakling wretch frail

6:17

in comparison of me, as is a curb

6:19

beside a lion. Thunder voiced, no

6:21

battle biding heart is in your breast, But

6:23

wiles and treachery be all your care.

6:26

Have you forgotten how you did shrink back

6:28

from faring with a Kaia's gathered

6:30

host to William's holy burge, till

6:33

Atreus's sons forced you the

6:35

cowering craven. How lothsoever

6:37

to follow them would God thou

6:40

hadst never come, for

6:42

by my counsel left we in

6:44

Lemnos's aisle, groaning in agony,

6:46

Proeus's son, renowned,

6:48

and not for him alone, was ruined,

6:51

devised of you for battle

6:53

and counsel better than you. And

6:55

now you dare to rise up against

6:57

me, neither remembering my kindness,

6:59

nor having respect unto the mightier

7:02

man who rescued you. Erewhile

7:04

when you did quoff and

7:06

fight before the onset of your foes, when

7:09

you forsaken of all Greeks beside

7:11

amid tumult of the fray, was fleeing

7:14

too. Oh that in that great

7:16

fight Zeus his self had stayed my

7:18

dauntless might with thunder from his heaven,

7:21

then with two edged swords. The trojan

7:23

men had hewn you limb from limb,

7:25

and to their dogs, had cast your

7:28

carry on. Then

7:30

you had not presumed to meet me, trusting

7:33

in your trickeries wretched.

7:35

Wherefore, if you vaunt

7:37

your might in beyond all others,

7:40

have you set your ships in the line center,

7:42

screened from foes, not dared as

7:45

I on the far wing to draw them up

7:47

because you were afraid? Not

7:50

you? It was who saved from

7:52

devouring fire the ships. But I, with

7:54

heart uncoiling, there stood

7:56

fast, facing the fire, and hector

7:59

even he gave back before me everywhere

8:02

in fight you did

8:04

fear him, Yes, with deadly fear.

8:07

Oh, had this our content but

8:09

set amidst that very battle, when

8:11

the roar of conflict arose around Achilles

8:13

slain? Then had your

8:15

own eyes seen me bearing forth out

8:18

from the battle's heart and fury of foes,

8:20

that goodly armour and its hero lord

8:22

unto the tents. But here

8:24

you can but trust in cunning speech and

8:26

covet a place among the mighty. You

8:29

you have not strength to wear Achilles's

8:31

arms invincible, nor sway his massy

8:34

spear in your weak hands. But

8:36

I they are verily molded to my frame.

8:39

Yes, seemly it is I wear these glorious

8:41

arms, who shall not shame a God's gift

8:44

passing fair? But wherefore for

8:46

Achilles's glorious arms with words

8:48

discourteous wrangling stand we

8:50

here come? Let us try and strife

8:53

with brazen spears. Who of us two

8:55

is best in murderous right? For

8:57

silver footed thetis set in the midst

9:00

this prize for prowess, not for

9:02

pestilent words in folkmote,

9:04

May men have some use for words

9:06

in pride of prowess. I know me above

9:09

you, far and great.

9:11

Achilles's lineage is my own.

9:15

He spoke with scornful glance

9:17

and bitter speech. Odysseus the resourceful

9:19

showed with him ajax

9:21

unbridled tongue. Why these

9:24

vain words to me? You have called

9:26

me pestilent, knittering, and weakling. Yet

9:28

I boast me far better than you

9:30

in wit and speech, which things

9:32

increase the strength of men. Lo how

9:35

the craggy rock adamantine, though it

9:37

seems the hewers of stone amid the

9:39

hills, by wisdom undermine full

9:42

lightly, and by wisdom shipmen

9:44

cross the thunderous plunging sea

9:47

when mountain high it surges. And

9:49

by craft do hunters quell strong

9:51

lions, panthers bores. Yes, all

9:53

the brood of wild things, furious

9:56

hearted bulls are tamed to bear the yoke bands

9:58

by device of men. Yes,

10:01

all things are by wit accomplished.

10:03

Still, it is the man who knows that excels

10:06

the witless man alike in toils

10:08

and counsels. For my keen

10:10

wit. Did Emius's valiant son

10:13

choose me of all men with him to

10:15

draw nigh to Hector's watchmen. Yes,

10:18

and mighty deeds we two accomplished.

10:21

I it was who brought to Atreus's

10:24

sons polities far renowned

10:27

their battle helper. Whensoever

10:29

the host needs some other champion,

10:32

not for the sake of your hands will

10:34

he come, Nor by the read of

10:36

other archives of Achaeyan's

10:38

eye alone will draw him, with

10:41

soft, suasive words to

10:43

where strong men are warring.

10:46

Mighty power the tongue has

10:48

over men when courtesy inspires

10:50

it. Valor is a deedless

10:53

thing, and bulk and big assemblage of

10:55

a man comes to nought by wisdom

10:58

unattended, but unto me. The

11:00

mortals gave both strength and

11:02

wisdom, and unto the argives

11:04

host made me a blessing.

11:07

Nor, as you have said, have you in

11:10

time past save me? When

11:12

in flight from foes? I never

11:14

fled, but steadfastly withstood

11:16

the charge of all the Trojan host. Furious

11:19

the enemy came on like a flood,

11:22

but I, by might of hands, cut short

11:24

the thread of many lives herein

11:27

you say not true of me? In the fray?

11:29

Did you not shield nor save?

11:32

But for your own life roughest

11:35

lest a spear should pierce your back

11:37

if you should turn to flee from war. My

11:40

ships, I drew them up mid line,

11:43

not dreading the battle fury of any foe,

11:45

but to bring healing unto Atreus's

11:48

sons of war's calamities.

11:51

And you did set far from their

11:53

help your ships. Nay more,

11:55

I seemed with cruel stripes my

11:58

body, and entered so the Trojan's

12:00

burge, that I might learn of

12:03

them, of all their devising for this troublous

12:05

war. Nor have I dreaded Hector's

12:08

spear. Myself rose mid the

12:10

foremost, eager for the fight.

12:12

When Prowess confident he defied

12:15

us all yes, in the fight

12:17

around Achilles, I slew foes

12:20

far more than you. It was I who

12:23

saved the dead king with this armor,

12:26

not a whit. I dread your spear now, But my

12:28

grievous, hurt with pain, still vexes

12:30

me. The wound I got in fighting

12:33

for these arms and their slain lord

12:35

in me, as in Achilles is

12:38

Zeus's blood. He

12:40

spoke strong. Ajax answered

12:42

him again. Most cunning

12:45

and most pestilent of men,

12:47

Nor I nor any other argive saw

12:50

you toiling in that fray, when Trojans

12:52

strove fiercely to hale away Achilles

12:55

slain my might. It was that,

12:57

with the spear unstrung, the knees

12:59

of some in fight, and others thrilled

13:02

with panic as they pressed on ceaselessly,

13:05

then fled they in dire straits,

13:07

as geese or crane flee from an

13:09

eagle swooping as they feed along

13:12

a grassy meadow. So in

13:14

dread, the Trojans, shrinking backward

13:16

from my spear and lightning

13:18

sword, fled into Ilium to escape

13:21

destruction. If your might

13:23

came there ever at all, not anywhere

13:25

near me. With foes you fought

13:28

somewhere far afoot mid

13:30

other ranks. You toiled nowhere

13:33

near Achilles, where the one great

13:36

battle raged, he

13:38

spoke and replied, Odysseus, the

13:40

shrewd heart, Ay, Jax,

13:42

I hold myself no worse than

13:45

you in wit or might, how goodly

13:47

an outward show you be so ever,

13:50

nay, I am keener far of wit than

13:52

you in all the argives eyes, in

13:54

battle prowess do I equal you happily

13:57

surpass. And this the Trojans know

14:00

who tremble when they see me from

14:02

afar Ugh, you two know, and

14:05

others know my strength by that hard struggle

14:07

in the wrestling, when Peleus's

14:09

son set glorious prizes forth

14:12

beside the barrow of Patroclus

14:14

slain, so

14:16

spoke Laertes's son, the world

14:19

renowned. Then on that strife

14:21

disastrous of the strong, the sons

14:24

of Troy gave judgment victory,

14:27

and those immortal arms awarded

14:30

they with one consent to

14:32

Odysseus, mighty in war greatly

14:35

his soul rejoiced. But one deep

14:38

groan broke from the Greeks.

14:41

Then Ajax's noble might stood

14:44

frozen, stiff, and suddenly

14:46

fell on him dark bewilderment.

14:49

All blood within his frame boiled,

14:52

and his gull sewelled, bursting

14:54

forth in flood against his

14:57

liver, heaved his bowels, his

14:59

heart with anguished pangs, was thrilled.

15:02

Fierce stabbing throes shot

15:04

through the filmy veil between bone

15:07

and brain, and darkness

15:09

in confusion wrapped his head with

15:12

fixed eyes, staring on the ground,

15:14

he stood still as a statue. Then

15:17

his sorrowing friends closed around

15:19

him, led him to the shapely ship's

15:21

eye, murmuring consolations. But

15:24

his feet trod for the last time

15:26

with reluctant steps that path,

15:29

and hard behind him, followed doom.

15:33

When to the ships beside the boundless

15:35

sea, the argives fate for supper

15:37

and for sleep had passed into

15:40

the great deep, Thetis plunged, and

15:42

all the narreids with her round

15:44

them swam sea monsters, many

15:47

children of the brine against

15:49

the wise Prometheus. Bitter wroth.

15:52

The sea maids were remembering how

15:54

that Zeus, moved by his prophecies

15:57

unto Pelias, gave Thedus

15:59

to wife, a most unwilling

16:01

bride. Then cried in

16:03

wrath to these Kimothoi, Oh,

16:06

that pestilent prophet had endured

16:08

all pangs he merited. When

16:10

deep burrowing the eagle tore his

16:12

liver eye renewed, so

16:15

to the dark haired sea maids cried the

16:17

nymph, then sank the sun. The

16:20

onrush of the night shadowed the

16:22

fields. The heavens were star bestrewn,

16:25

and by the long proud ships. The

16:27

Argives slept by ambrosial

16:29

sleep overmastered and by

16:32

wine the witch from proud

16:34

Idominius's realm of crete. The

16:36

shipman bore over foaming leagues

16:39

of sea. But Ajax,

16:41

wroth against the argive men,

16:43

would none of meat or drink, nor

16:46

clasped him round the arms of sleep.

16:48

In fury, he donned his mail,

16:51

he clutched his sword, thinking

16:53

unspeakable thoughts. For

16:56

now he thought to set the ships aflame

16:58

and slaughter all the Argives. Now

17:01

to hew with sudden onslaught of

17:03

his terrible sword, guileless

17:05

Odysseus limb from limb. Such

17:08

things he proposed, nay,

17:10

had soon accomplished all, had Pallas

17:12

not with madness smitten

17:15

him for over Odysseus,

17:17

strong to endure, her heart

17:19

yearned as she called to mind the

17:22

sacrifices offered to her of him. Continually,

17:25

Therefore she turned aside from argive

17:28

men the might of Ajax as

17:30

a terrible storm, whose wings

17:33

are laden with dread hurricane

17:35

blasts, comes with portents

17:38

of heart numbing fear

17:40

to shipmen. When the Pleiades, fleeing

17:42

a dread from glorious Orion, plunge

17:45

beneath the stream of tireless ocean,

17:47

when the air is turmoil and the sea

17:50

is mad with storm, So

17:52

rushed he whithersoever

17:54

his feet might bear, this

17:56

way and that he ran, like some fierce

17:59

beast which darts down a rock wald

18:01

glens, ravines with foaming

18:03

jaws and murderous intent against

18:06

the hounds and huntsmen who have torn

18:08

out the cave her cubs

18:11

and slain. She runs

18:13

this way and that, and roars. If mid

18:16

the breaks happily, she yet may see

18:18

the dear ones lost, whom

18:20

if a man meet in that maddened brood

18:22

straightway, his darkest of all days

18:24

has dawned, so ruthless,

18:27

raving rushed, he blackly

18:30

boiled his heart as cauldron on

18:32

the fire God's hearth maddens

18:35

with ceaseless hissing over the

18:37

flames from blazing billets

18:39

coiling round its sides. At

18:41

bidding of the toiler, eager souled

18:44

to singe the bristles of a huge

18:46

fed boar. So was his

18:48

great heart, boiling in his breast

18:51

like a wild sea. He raved

18:53

like tempest, blast, like the winged

18:56

might of tireless flame amidst

18:58

the mountains, maddened by a mighty

19:00

wind. When the wide blazing

19:02

forest crumbles down in fervent

19:05

heat, So Ajax his

19:07

fierce heart with agony,

19:10

stabbed in maddened misery,

19:12

raved foam frothed

19:14

about his lips. A beast like roar

19:17

howled from his throat, about

19:19

his shoulders, clashed his armor. They

19:22

which saw him trembled, all

19:24

cowed by the fearful shout

19:26

of that one man from

19:30

ocean. Then uprose dawn, golden

19:32

rained like a soft wind. Upfloated

19:34

Sleep to heaven, and there met hera

19:37

even then returned to Olympus, back

19:39

from tethhys unto whom but yester

19:42

morning she went. She clasped

19:44

him round and kissed him, who had been her marriage

19:47

kin since at her prayer on Ida's

19:49

earest he had lulled asleep Cronion

19:52

when his anger burned against the archives.

19:55

Straightway, Harah passed to Zeus's

19:57

mansion, and Sleep swiftly flew to

20:00

Pasithea's couch from slumber

20:02

woke all nations of the earth. But

20:05

Ajax, like Orion, the invincible

20:08

prow dawn, still bearing murderous

20:10

madness in his heart, he rushed

20:12

upon the sheep, like lion fierce,

20:14

whose savage heart is stung with hunger

20:17

pangs. Here there he smote

20:19

them, laid them dead in dust thick

20:21

as the leaves which the strong north

20:24

winds might strews when the

20:26

waning year is to winter, turned so

20:28

on the sheep. In fury. Ajax

20:31

fell deeming he dealt to

20:33

Danagan's this evil doom.

20:36

Then to his brother Menelaus

20:39

came and spoke, but not

20:41

in hearing of the rest. This day

20:43

shall surely be a ruinous day for all.

20:46

Since Ajax thus is sense distraught.

20:48

It may be he who will set fire to the

20:50

ships of flame and slay us

20:52

all amidst our tents in wrath for

20:55

those lost arms. Would

20:57

God that Thedus never had set them for

20:59

the prize of rivalry, Would God Laertes'

21:01

son had not presumed, in folly of soul

21:03

to strive with a better man. Fools

21:06

were we all, and some malignant God

21:09

beguiled us for the one great

21:11

war defense left to us Cinciacus's

21:14

son fell in battle. Was

21:17

Ajax's mighty strength, And

21:19

now the gods will to our loss destroy

21:22

him, bringing bane on you and

21:24

me, that all we may fill

21:26

up the cup of doom and

21:29

pass to nothingness. He

21:32

spoke and replied, Agamemnon, lord

21:34

of spears, Now nay Menelaus,

21:37

though your heart is wrung, be

21:39

you not wrath with the resourceful

21:41

king of Keflanian folk, but with

21:43

the gods who plot our ruin. Blame

21:46

not him who often has been our blessing

21:48

and our enemy's curse. So

21:51

heavy hearted, spoke the Danian kings.

21:53

But by the streams of xanthus far

21:56

away beneath the tamarisks, shepherds

21:58

coward to hide from death, as

22:01

when from a swift eagle cower

22:03

hairs beneath tangled copses,

22:06

when with sharp fears scream

22:08

this way and that, with wings wide

22:10

shadowing, he wheels very

22:13

nigh. So they here

22:15

there quailed from the presence of that

22:17

furious man. At last,

22:20

above a slaughtered ram he stood,

22:22

and with a deadly laugh he cried, to

22:25

it lie there in the dust, be meet

22:27

for dogs and kites. Achilles' glorious

22:29

arms have saved, not you, for which

22:32

your folly strove with a better

22:34

man. Lie there you cur. No

22:36

wife shall fall on you and clasp

22:39

and wail thee and her fatherless

22:41

child. Nor shall you greet

22:43

your parents longing eyes the

22:45

staff of their old age. Far

22:47

from your land, your carry on dogs

22:50

and vultures shall devour. So

22:53

cried he, thinking that amidst the slain

22:56

Odysseus lay in blood, bolted

22:58

at his feet. But in

23:00

that moment, from his mind and eyes

23:03

Athena tore away, the nightmare,

23:05

fiend of madness, Havoc, breathing

23:08

and its then swiftly to the

23:10

rock walled river Styx, where

23:12

dwelled the winged runaways, they

23:15

which still visit with torments overweening

23:17

men. Then

23:20

Ajack saw those sheep upon

23:22

the earth, gasping in death and

23:25

sore. Amazed, he stood, for he

23:28

divined that the blessed ones his senses

23:30

had been cheated. All his limbs

23:33

failed under him, His soul was

23:35

anguish, thrilled. He could not, in his

23:37

horror, take one step forward nor

23:40

backward, like some towering

23:42

rock, fast rooted amid the mountains.

23:45

There he stood, But when

23:47

the wild rout of his thoughts had rallied.

23:50

He groaned in misery and in anguish

23:52

wailed, ah me, Why

23:55

do the gods abhor me? So they have wrecked

23:57

my mind? Have with fell madness

24:00

filled making me slaughter all these innocent

24:02

sheep? Would God that on

24:04

Odyssease's pestilent heart my hands

24:06

had so avenged me, he

24:09

brought on me a fell curse. Oh,

24:11

may his soul suffer all torments

24:13

that the avenging fiends devise for villains

24:16

on all other Greeks. May they bring murderous

24:19

battle, woeful griefs, And chiefly on Agamemnon,

24:22

Atreus's son not scatheless

24:24

to the home. May he return so long desired?

24:28

But why should I consort a brave man

24:30

with the abominable? Perish the

24:33

argive host, perish? My life now

24:35

unendurable, No

24:38

more has his due garden. But

24:40

the baser sort are honored most

24:42

and loved as this Odysseus

24:44

has worshiped mid the Greeks. But utterly

24:47

have they forgotten me and all my deeds,

24:50

all that I wrought and suffered in this

24:52

cause? So

24:55

spoke the brave son of strong

24:57

Teleman. Then thrust

25:00

the sword of Hector. Through his

25:02

throat forth rushed

25:05

the blood in torrent in the

25:07

dust outstre wretched, he lay

25:10

like Typhon when the bolts of Zeus

25:12

had blasted him around

25:14

him groaned the dark earth as he

25:16

fell upon her breast.

25:29

Then thronging came the Danians

25:32

when they saw lay low in

25:35

the dust this hero but

25:37

ere. Then none had dared draw

25:39

near him, But in deadly fear they

25:41

watched him from afar. Now

25:44

hasted they and flung themselves upon

25:46

the dead, outstretched upon

25:48

their faces, on their heads, they cast

25:51

dust, and their wailing went up to

25:53

the sky, as when men

25:55

drive away the tender lambs out

25:57

of the fleecy flock to feast thereon,

26:00

and round the desolate pens, the mothers

26:03

leap ceaselessly, bleeding. So

26:06

over Ajax rang that day

26:08

a very great and bitter

26:10

cry. Wild echoes

26:13

peeled from ida forest,

26:15

pulled and from the plane the

26:17

ships the boundless sea. Then

26:21

Tuker, clasping him, was minded

26:23

too to rush on bitter doom.

26:26

Howbeit the rest held from

26:28

the sword his hand anguished.

26:31

He fell upon the dead out,

26:33

pouring many a tear, more

26:35

comfortlessly than the orphaned babe

26:37

that wails beside the hearth, with

26:40

ashes strewn on head and shoulders.

26:43

Whales Bereavement's day that brings

26:45

death to the mother who has nursed the

26:47

fatherless child. So wailed

26:49

he ever wailed his great death

26:52

stricken brother, creeping slow

26:55

around the corpse and uttering

26:57

his lament. Oh

26:59

Ajax mighty, souled, why

27:01

was your heart distraught that you should

27:04

deal unto yourself murder

27:06

and bail? All? Was it?

27:08

The but the sons of Troy might win a breathing

27:10

space from woes, might come and slay

27:12

the Greeks. Now you are not from

27:15

these? Shall all the old and courage

27:17

fail? When fast they fall in

27:20

fight? Their shield from harm is

27:22

broken. Now for me, I have no will

27:24

to see my home again now you are

27:26

dead. No, but I long

27:28

here also now to die, so that the earth

27:31

may shroud me me and

27:33

you. Not for my parents so much do I

27:35

care? If haply yet they live? If

27:38

haply yet they spared from the grave in

27:40

salamis they dwell as for you, Oh,

27:43

my glory and my crown, So

27:47

cried he, groaning sore

27:50

with answering moan queenly tech

27:52

Meso wailed the princess bride

27:54

of noble Ajax, captive of

27:56

his spear, yet taken

27:59

by him to wife and household

28:01

queen over all his substance,

28:04

even all that wives won with a bride

28:06

price rule for wedded lord. Clasped

28:09

in his mighty arms, she bore to him

28:12

a son Eurusakis in

28:14

all things like unto his father,

28:16

far as Babe might yet be cradled

28:18

in his tent. With bitter moan

28:21

fell she on that dear corpse,

28:23

all her fair form close shrouded

28:26

in her veil and dust defiled, and

28:28

from her anguished heart cried

28:30

piteously, alas for me,

28:33

for me, now you are dead, not by the hands

28:35

of foes in fight struck down, but by

28:37

your own on me is come a

28:40

grief ever abiding. Never had

28:42

I looked to see your woeful death

28:44

day here by troy a

28:47

visions shattered by the rude hands

28:49

of fate. Oh that the earth

28:51

had yawned wide for my grave

28:54

before I beheld your bitter doom

28:57

on me. No sharper more heart

28:59

piercing pang has come. No,

29:01

not when the first from fatherland, afar

29:04

and parents you did bear me wailing

29:06

sore mid other captives, when

29:08

the day of bondage had come on me a

29:10

princess before, not

29:13

for that dear lost home so much

29:15

I grieve, nor for my parents dead,

29:17

as now for you. For all

29:20

your heart was kindness unto me the

29:22

hapless, and you made me your wife,

29:24

one soul with you. Yes, and you

29:27

promised to throne me queen

29:29

of fair towered Salamus. When

29:31

home we went from Troy. The

29:34

gods denied accomplishment thereof,

29:36

And you have passed unto the unseen

29:38

land. You have forgot me and your

29:40

child, who never shall make glad his

29:43

father's heart, shall never mount your

29:45

throne, but him shall strangers

29:47

make a wretched thrall. For when the father

29:50

is no more, the babe is ward of meaner

29:52

men, a weary life. The orphan

29:54

knows, and suffering comes in from

29:56

every side upon him like a flood.

29:59

To me too, Thraldom's day shall

30:02

doubtless come. Now you've died.

30:04

Who was my god on earth? Then,

30:37

in all kindness, Agamemnon spoke,

30:40

Princess. No man on earth shall

30:42

make you thrall while chuker

30:44

lives. Yet while yet I live,

30:47

you shall have worship of us evermore,

30:49

and honor as a goddess with your

30:52

son, as though yet living

30:54

were that godlike man Ajax,

30:57

who was the Achayan's chiefest strength,

31:00

ah, that he had not laid this

31:02

load of grief on us all in

31:04

dying by his own right hand, for

31:07

all the countless armies of his foes

31:09

never availed to slay him in fair

31:12

fight. So spoke

31:14

he grieved to the inmost

31:16

heart. The folk woefully

31:19

wafted all around over

31:21

the hellespaonn echoes of mourning

31:23

rolled, the sighing air darkened

31:26

around a widespread sorrow.

31:28

Paul, Yes, grief

31:31

laid hold on wise Odysseus his

31:33

self for the great dead, and

31:35

with remorseful soul to anguish

31:37

stricken argives. Thus he spoke,

31:41

Oh, friends, there is no greater curse

31:43

to men than wrath, which grows

31:46

till its bitter fruit is strife.

31:50

Now wrath has goaded Ajax

31:52

on to this dire issue of the rage

31:54

that filled his soul against me. Would

31:57

to God that never those Trojans

32:00

in the strife or Achilles' arms had crowned

32:02

me with that victory for which strong

32:05

Telemon's brave son in agony

32:07

of soul, thus by

32:09

his own right hand, yet

32:11

blame me, not, I pray you for his wrath

32:14

blame the dark, dolorous fate

32:16

that struck him down. For had

32:18

my heart foreboded any of this,

32:21

this desperation of a soul distraught,

32:23

Never for victory had I striven with him,

32:26

Nor would I have suffered any dannian

32:28

else, Though never so eager to

32:30

contend with him. No,

32:33

I had taken up those arms divine

32:35

with my own hands, and gladly I

32:37

would have given them to him, I though

32:39

himself desired it. Not but

32:42

for such mighty grief and wrath

32:44

in him I had not looked since,

32:47

not for a woman's sake, nor for a city,

32:49

nor possessions wide. I then contended

32:51

but for honors meade, which always

32:54

is for all right hearted men, the

32:56

happy goal of all their rivalry.

32:59

But that great hearted man was led astray by

33:01

fate, the hateful fiend. For surely

33:03

it is unworthy a man to be made

33:06

passions fool. The wise

33:08

man's part is steadfast, sold

33:11

to endure all ills, and not to rage

33:13

against his lot. So

33:16

spoke Laertes's son, the far renowned.

33:19

But when they all were weary of grief

33:21

and grown, then to these sorrowing

33:24

ones, spoke Nellius's son,

33:27

Oh friends, the pitiless, hearted

33:29

fates have laid stroke after

33:31

stroke of sorrow upon us, sorrow

33:34

for Ajax dead, for mighty

33:36

Achilles, for many in Argive,

33:38

and for my own son Antilochus.

33:41

Yet all on meet it is day after

33:43

day with passion of grief to wail

33:46

men slain in battle. No,

33:48

we must forget laments and turn

33:51

us to the better task of rendering

33:53

jews beseeming to the dead, the

33:55

jews of Pyre, of tomb of bones

33:58

inurned. No lamentations

34:01

will awake the dead. No note thereof

34:03

he takes when the fates, the ruthless

34:06

ones, have swallowed him. In night,

34:20

so spoke he words of cheer.

34:22

The godlike kings gathered with heavy

34:25

hearts around the dead, and many hands

34:27

upheaved the giant corpse and swiftly

34:29

bore him to the ships, and there

34:32

washed they away the blood that clotted

34:34

lay dust flecked on mighty limbs

34:37

and armor. Then in linen

34:39

swathed him round from Ida's

34:41

heights. Wood without measure did the young

34:43

men bring, and piled it around the corpse,

34:46

billets and logs. Yet more in a

34:48

wide circle. Heaped they round, and sheep

34:51

they laid thereon fair woven

34:53

vests and goodly kine and speed,

34:55

triumphant steeds, and gleaming gold

34:58

and armor without stint from

35:00

slain foes, by that glorious

35:02

hero stripped and loosened

35:04

amber drops they laid thereon tears,

35:07

say they, which the daughters of the Sun,

35:09

the Lord of Omens, shed for feith

35:12

on slain, when by Eridanus's

35:14

flood they mourned for him. These

35:17

for undying honor to his son, the God

35:20

made amber precious in man's

35:22

eyes. Even this the argives

35:24

on that broad based pyre, cast

35:26

freely honoring the mighty dead,

35:29

and round him, groaning heavily, they

35:32

laid silver, most fair and precious

35:34

ivory, and jars of oil, and whatsoever

35:37

beside they have, who heap up goodly

35:39

and glorious wealth. Then

35:41

thrust they in the strength of ravening

35:44

flame, and from the sea there breathed

35:46

a wind sent forth by Fadus

35:49

to consume the giant frame of

35:51

Ajax. All the night

35:53

and all the mourning burned beneath the

35:55

urgent stress of that great

35:58

wind beside the ship's that giant

36:01

form, as when in Kellidus

36:03

by Zeus's Levin was consumed

36:05

beneath Thrnakia, when from all

36:08

the isle, the smoke of his burning rose,

36:11

Or like as when Hercules, trapped

36:13

by Nessus's deadly guile, gave

36:16

to devouring fire his living

36:18

limbs. What time he dared that

36:20

awful deed, when groaned all

36:22

ata as he burned alive

36:24

and passed his soul into the air,

36:27

leaving the man far famous to

36:29

be numbered with the gods. When earth

36:31

closed over his toil tried mortal

36:34

part so huge

36:37

amid the flames, all armor clad

36:39

lay ajax all the joy

36:41

of fight for good, while a great

36:44

multitude watching thronged the sands.

36:47

Glad were the Trojans, but the

36:49

Achaeans grieved. But

36:52

when that goodly frame by ravening

36:55

fire, was all consumed, they

36:57

quenched the pyre with wine. They gathered

36:59

up the bones, and reverently laid

37:01

on a golden casket hard

37:04

beside Rhetium's headland heaped

37:06

they up a mound measureless

37:08

hi then scattered they amidst

37:10

the long ships, heavy hearted

37:13

for the man whom they had honored, even

37:15

as Achilles. Then

37:17

black knight, bearing unto all

37:19

men's sleep upfloated. So

37:22

they broke bread and laid down, waiting

37:24

the child of the mist short was

37:26

sleep broken by fitful staring

37:29

through the dark, haunted by dread

37:32

lest in the night. The foe should fall on

37:34

them. Now that Telemon's son was

37:36

dead. That

38:08

was five. Now Book

38:10

six rose

38:14

dawn from ocean and Typhonus's

38:16

bed, and climbed the steeps of

38:18

heaven, scattering round flushed

38:21

flakes of splendor, laughed all

38:23

earth and air ben

38:26

turned unto their labors, each to each

38:28

mortals, frail creatures dying

38:31

daily. Then streamed

38:33

to a folkmote all the Achaean men

38:35

at Menelaus's summons. When

38:38

the hosts were gathered all, then in

38:40

their midst he spoke, listen

38:42

to my words, you, God descended

38:45

kings. My heart within my

38:47

breast is bird and sore for men

38:49

who perish, Men that for

38:52

my sake came to the bitter war,

38:54

whose home return parents

38:56

and homes shall welcome nevermore,

38:59

For fate has cut off thousands

39:01

in their prime. Oh that

39:03

the heavy hand of death had fallen on

39:05

me before this I

39:08

gathered you. But

39:10

now has God laid on me cureless

39:13

pain in seeing all these ills?

39:16

Who could rejoice beholding strivings

39:18

struggles of despair? Come?

39:21

Let us which yet be alive, in haste

39:23

flee to the ships, each to his several

39:26

land. Since Ajax and Achilles

39:28

both are dead, I look not

39:31

now they are slain, that we the rest

39:33

shall escape destruction. No, but we

39:35

shall fall before those terrible

39:37

Trojans for my sake and

39:40

shameless helens. Think

39:42

the nought that I care for her, For you,

39:44

I care when I behold good

39:46

men in battle slain away

39:49

with her, her and her paltry paramour.

39:52

The gods stole all discretion out

39:55

of her false heart when she forsook

39:57

my home and marriage bed. Let

40:00

Priam and the Trojans cherish her,

40:02

but let us straight return. It

40:05

were better to far to flee from

40:08

dollah us war than all perish,

40:12

so spoke he, But to try the

40:14

argive men far.

40:16

Other thoughts than these made his heart

40:19

burn with passionate desire to slay

40:21

his foes, to break the long walls

40:23

of their city down from their foundations,

40:25

and to glut with blood aries when

40:28

Paris mid the slain should fall.

40:31

Fiercer is not than passionate desire.

40:33

Thus, as he pondered, sitting in his

40:35

place, uprose Tididies, shaker

40:38

of the shield, and chowed in fiery

40:41

speech with Menelaus, oh coward,

40:43

Atreus's son, What craven

40:46

fear has gripped you that you speak

40:48

so to us as might a weakling

40:50

child or woman speak? Not

40:53

unto you, Akaeia's noblest

40:55

sons won't listen to you before

40:57

Troy's coronal of towers

40:59

be wholly dashed to the dust.

41:02

For unto men, valor is high renown,

41:05

and flight is shame. If

41:07

any man shall listen to the words

41:09

of this your counsel, I will

41:11

smite him from his head with sharp

41:14

blue steel and hurl it down for

41:16

soaring kites to feast on. Up

41:19

all you who care to enkindle

41:21

men to battle, Rouse our warriors all

41:24

throughout the fleet, to wet the spear,

41:26

to burnish corselet helman shield,

41:28

and cause both men and horse, all

41:31

which be keen in fight, to break their

41:33

fast. Then on those plains,

41:36

who is the stronger aries

41:39

shall decide. So

41:41

speaking in his place, he sat him down.

41:44

Then rose up Festor's son, and

41:46

in the midst where meat it is to speak,

41:49

he stood forth and cried, hear me,

41:51

you sons of battle, bide and Greeks. You

41:53

know I have the spirit of prophecy erewhile

41:56

I said that you, in the tenth year

41:59

should lay waste toward Ilium.

42:02

This the gods are even now

42:04

fulfilling. Victory lies at

42:06

the Argive's very feet. Come,

42:09

let us send Diomedes and Odysseus

42:11

battle staunch with speed, to scurous

42:15

overseas by prayers

42:17

here to bring Achilles's

42:20

hero son a light of victory

42:22

shall be he to us, So

42:26

spoke wise Thestius's son,

42:28

and all the folks shouted for joy,

42:31

for all their hearts and hopes

42:33

yearned to see Calcus's prophecy

42:35

fulfilled. Then to

42:37

the Argive spoke Laertes's son.

42:40

Friends. It befits not to

42:43

say many words this day to you, in

42:45

sorrow's weariness. I know

42:47

that wearied men can find no joy in

42:49

speech or song, though the pirades

42:52

the immortal muses love it.

42:55

At such time few words de men desire.

42:58

But now this thing that pleases

43:00

all the Achaean host, will I accomplish.

43:03

So Taidides fair with me, for

43:06

if we two go, we shall surely bring

43:08

won by our words war fane

43:11

Achilles' son. Yes, though

43:13

his mother, weeping sore, should strive

43:15

within her halls to keep him for my

43:18

heart trusts that he is

43:20

a hero's valorous son.

43:24

Then outspoke Menelaus earnestly,

43:27

Odysseus the strong argives

43:29

help at need. If mighty souled

43:32

Achilles's valiant son from Sciros,

43:34

by your persuasion comes to

43:36

aid us who yearn for him,

43:39

and some heavenly one grants

43:41

victory to our prayers, and I win

43:43

home to hellas I will give to him

43:46

wife, my noble child,

43:49

Hermione, with gifts many

43:51

and goodly for her marriage dour with a

43:53

glad heart, I say

43:55

he shall not scorn either his

43:58

bride or high born sire in

44:00

law. With a great

44:03

shout, the Danians hailed his words.

44:06

Then was the throng dispersed, and

44:08

to the ships they scattered, hungering for

44:11

the morning meat which strengthens

44:13

man's heart. So when

44:15

they ceased from their eating and desire

44:18

was satisfied, then with the wise

44:20

Odysseus, Tydeus's son

44:22

drew down a swift ship to

44:24

the boundless sea, and victual

44:27

and all tackling cast therein,

44:30

then stepped they aboard, and with them

44:32

twenty men men skilled to row

44:34

when winds were contrary, or when

44:36

the unrippled sea slept beneath

44:38

the calm. They smote

44:41

the brine and flashed the boiling foam

44:43

on left the ship. A watery way

44:46

was cleft about the oars, that sweating

44:49

rowers tugged as

44:51

when hard toiling oxen beneath

44:53

the yoke straining drag

44:56

on a massy timbered wane, while

44:58

creaks the circling axle beneath

45:00

its load, and from their wearing

45:03

axe and shoulders streamed down to

45:05

the ground. The sweat abundantly

45:08

so at the stiff oars toiled

45:10

those stalwart men, and

45:13

fast they laid behind them. Leagues

45:15

of sea gazed after

45:17

them. The Achaeans as they went, then

45:20

turned to wet their deadly darts and

45:22

spears, the weapons of their warfare.

45:25

In their town, the aweless Trojans

45:28

armed themselves the while war, eager,

45:31

praying to the gods to grant respite

45:33

from slaughter, breathing space

45:35

from toil to

45:38

these while sorely. Thus they

45:40

yearned the gods brought present help

45:42

in trouble. Even the seed of mighty

45:45

Hercules Eurypulus, a

45:47

great host followed him in battle,

45:50

skilled all that by long Caicus

45:52

outflow dwelt full of triumphant

45:55

trust in their strong spears

45:58

round them rejoicing thronged

46:00

the sons of Troy As when

46:03

tame geese within a pen gaze

46:05

up on him who cast them corn, and

46:07

round his feet throng, hissing uncouth

46:10

love, and his heart warms as he

46:12

looks down on them. So

46:14

thronged the sons of troy As

46:17

on fierce heart Eurypolis. They gazed

46:20

and gladdened was his aweless soul

46:22

to see these throngs From

46:24

porchways. Women looked wide

46:26

eyed with wonder on the godlike man

46:29

above all men. He towered as

46:31

he strode, as looks a lion.

46:34

When amid the hills he comes on jackals

46:37

Paris welcomed him as hector,

46:39

honoring him his cousin, he being

46:42

of one blood with him, who was

46:44

born Asteachi, King Priam's

46:46

sister Fair, whom Telephus embraced

46:49

in his strong arms, Telephus,

46:51

whom to all this Hercules Augie,

46:53

the bright haired bear, in secret love,

46:58

that babe, a suckling craving for

47:00

the breast, a swift hind fostered,

47:03

giving him the teat as to her own

47:05

fawn. In all love for Zeus

47:07

so willed it, in whose eyes it was not

47:09

meet that Hercules' child should perish

47:12

wretchedly his glorious

47:14

son. With glad heart, Paris led

47:16

unto his palace through the wide wage

47:19

bird, beside Assaracus's tomb

47:21

and stately halls of Hector and Tritonus's

47:24

holy Fane, hard

47:26

By his mansion stood, and there

47:28

beside the stainless altar of home

47:30

Warder, Zeus rose. As

47:32

they went. He lovingly questioned

47:35

him of brethren parents, and of

47:37

marriage, kin, and all he craved

47:39

to know. Eurypolus told, so

47:42

communed they on, pacing side

47:44

by side. Then came they

47:46

to a palace great and rich. There,

47:49

goddess like sat Helen, clothed

47:52

upon with beauty of the graces,

47:55

maidens four about her plied

47:57

their tasks. Others apart within

47:59

that goodly bower wrought the works

48:02

beseeming handmaids. Helen

48:04

marveling gazed upon Eurypolus

48:07

on Helen. He then

48:10

these in converse, each with each other, spoke

48:12

in all that odorous bower.

48:15

The handmaids brought and set beside

48:18

their lady high seats too, and

48:20

Paris sat him down and at his side

48:22

Eurypolis, that hero's

48:24

host encamped without the city, where the

48:26

Trojan guards kept watch. Their

48:29

armor lay they on the earth, their

48:31

steeds yet breathing battle stood

48:33

thereby, and cribs were heaped

48:36

with horses. Provender upfloated

48:40

night and darkened earth and air.

48:43

Then feasted they before that

48:45

cliff like wall catchean

48:47

men and Trojans. Babble

48:49

of talk rose from the feasters.

48:52

All around, the glow of blazing

48:55

campfires lighted up the tents

48:57

peeled out the pipe's sweet voice, and

49:00

hot boys rang out their clear,

49:02

shrilling reeds. The witching

49:05

strain of liars was rippling

49:07

round far away.

49:09

The argives gazed and marveled,

49:12

seeing the plane a glare with many

49:14

fires, and hearing notes of flutes

49:16

and liars, neighing of Chariot's

49:19

deeds and pipes the shepherds

49:21

and the banquet's joy. Therefore

49:24

they bade their fellows, each in turn,

49:26

keep watch and ward about the

49:28

tents till dawn, lest these proud

49:31

Trojans, feasting by their walls,

49:33

should fall on them and set the ships

49:35

aflame within

49:48

the halls of Paris. All this while

49:51

with kings and princes Teleface's

49:53

hero son feasted, and Priam

49:56

and the sons of Troy, each after each

49:58

prayed him to play the man against

50:01

the archives, and in bitter doom,

50:03

to lay them low and

50:05

blithe he promised all so,

50:09

when they had supp'd each hide him to

50:11

his home. But there Euryppolus

50:13

laid him down to rest full nigh

50:15

the feast hall, in the stately bower,

50:18

where Paris theretofore himself

50:20

had slept with Helen World renowned

50:23

a bower. It was most wondrous,

50:25

fair, the goodliest of them all.

50:28

There lay he down, but other

50:30

where their rest took they

50:33

till Rose, the bright throned Queen

50:35

of Mourning up, sprang

50:38

with Dawn, the son of Telephus, and

50:40

passed to the host. With all those other

50:43

kings in Troy. Abiding straightway

50:46

did the folk all battle, eager don

50:49

their warrior gear, burning

50:51

to strike in forefront of the fight.

50:54

And now Euryppolus, clad his mighty

50:56

limbs and armor that like levin

50:59

flashes gleamed upon

51:01

his shield. By cunning hands were

51:03

wrought all the great labors

51:05

of strong hercules. Thereon

51:09

were seen two serpents, flickering

51:11

black tongues with grimly jaws,

51:14

they seemed in act to dart. But

51:16

Hercules's hands to right and left,

51:18

I'll be it a baby's hands now

51:21

were throttling them. For awe.

51:23

This was his spirit, as

51:26

Zeus's strength from the beginning was his

51:28

strength. The seed of heaven

51:31

abiders. Never deedless, is nor

51:33

helpless, but has boundless

51:35

prowess. Yes, even when in

51:38

the womb unborn, it lies

51:41

Nemea's mighty lion. There

51:43

was seen strangled in the strong

51:45

arms of Hercules, his grim

51:48

jaws dashed about with bloody

51:50

foam. He seemed in verity,

51:53

gasping out his life.

51:55

Thereby was wrought the hydra, many

51:58

necked, flickering its dread

52:00

tongues. Of its fearful

52:02

heads, some severed lay on the

52:04

earth, but many more were budding

52:07

from its necks. While Hercules

52:09

and Iolius, two dauntless

52:11

hearted, toiled hard. The

52:14

one with lightning sickle sweeps,

52:16

lopped the fierce heads. His fellow

52:19

seared each neck with glowing iron.

52:22

The monster was so slain. Thereby

52:25

was wrought the mighty, tameless boar, with

52:28

foaming jaws reel seemed

52:30

the pictured thing, as by Elides's

52:33

giant strength, the brute was

52:35

to Eurystheus's living

52:37

born on high. There

52:41

fashioned was the fleet foot stag,

52:43

which laid the vineyard's waist of

52:46

hapless husbandsmen. The hero's

52:48

hands held fast its golden horns,

52:50

the while its snorted breath

52:52

of ravening fire. Thereon

52:55

were seen the fierce stymphalian

52:58

birds, some arrow smitten,

53:00

dying in the dust, some through

53:02

the gray air, darting in swift

53:04

flight. At this, at that one

53:07

hot in haste, he seemed, Hercules

53:09

sped the arrows of his wrath. Augius's

53:13

monstrous stable there was wrought

53:15

with cunning craft on that invincible

53:18

targe, and Hercules was turning

53:21

through the same the deep flow

53:23

of Alpheus's stream divine,

53:25

while wondering nymphs looked down

53:28

on every hand upon that mighty

53:30

work. Elsewhere,

53:32

portrayed was the fire breathing

53:34

bull. The hero's grip on his

53:37

strong horns wrenched round

53:39

the massive neck. The straining

53:41

muscles on his arm stood out. The

53:43

huge beast seemed to bellow. Next,

53:46

thereto wrought on the shield was one in

53:49

beauty, arrayed as of a goddess. Even

53:51

Hippolyta, the hero, by the

53:53

hair, was dragging her from

53:56

her swift steed, with fierce

53:58

resolve to rest with his strong

54:01

hands the girdle marvelous

54:03

from the Amazon queen, while

54:06

quailing shrank away the maid's

54:08

of war. There

54:10

in the Thracian land were Diomedes's

54:13

grim man eating steeds.

54:16

These at their gruesome mangers.

54:18

Had he slain and dead, they lay

54:20

with their fiend hearted lord. There

54:24

lay the bulk of giant geryon

54:26

dead amid his kind. His gory

54:29

heads were cast in dust, dashed

54:32

down by that resistless club.

54:34

Before him slain lay that most

54:37

murderous hound, Orthros, in

54:40

furious might, like Carboros,

54:42

his brother hound, a herdman,

54:45

lay thereby eurytition, all

54:47

bedabbled with his blood. There

54:50

were the golden apples wrought that

54:52

gleamed in the Hesperites's garden,

54:54

undefiled all round

54:57

the fearful serpent's dead coils

54:59

lay and shrank the maid's aghast

55:02

from Zeus's bold son. And

55:05

there a dread sight even for

55:07

the gods to see, was Kerberos,

55:10

whom the loathly worm had borne

55:12

to Typho. In a craggy

55:14

cavern's gloom, close on

55:16

the borders of eternal night, a

55:19

hideous monster, warder of the gate

55:21

of Hades, home of wailing

55:23

jailer, hound of dead folk, in

55:26

the shadowy gulf of doom.

55:28

But lightly Zeus's son, with his

55:30

crashing blows, tamed him and

55:33

hailed him from the cataract flood of Styx

55:35

with heavy drooping head, and dragged

55:38

the dog Soarloth to

55:40

the strange upper air, all

55:42

dauntlessly. And there

55:44

at the world's end were Caucus's

55:47

long glens, where Hercules, rending

55:50

Prometheus's chains and hurling

55:52

them this way and that with fragments

55:55

of the rock, whereinto they were riveted,

55:57

set free the mighty titan arrow

56:00

smitten lay the eagle of the torment.

56:03

There Beside there

56:05

stormed the wild rout of the Centaurs

56:08

round the of Pholus, goaded

56:10

on by strife and wine. With

56:12

Hercules, the monsters fought

56:15

amidst the pine trunks. Stricken

56:17

to death, they lay still grasping

56:20

those strange weapons in dead

56:22

hands, while some with stems

56:25

long shafted, still fought

56:27

on in fury and refrained

56:29

not from the strife. And all

56:31

their heads, gashed in the pitiless

56:34

flight, were drenched with gore.

56:36

The whole scene seemed to live

56:39

with blood. The wine was mingled,

56:41

meats and bowls and tables

56:43

in one ruined, shattered lay

56:46

thereby Evanus's torrent. In

56:49

fierce wrath for his sweet bride,

56:51

he laid with the arrow low Nessus

56:54

in mid flight. There withal

56:56

was wrought Antius's brawny strength,

56:59

who challenged him to wrestling strife.

57:02

He and those sinewy arms raised

57:04

high above the earth and was crushed

57:06

to death. There

57:08

Where swift Hellespont meets the outer

57:11

sea. Lay the sea monster, slain

57:13

by his ruthless shafts, while

57:16

from Hesione he rent her chains

57:20

of bold alchides many

57:22

a deed. Beside Shan on

57:24

the broad shield of Eurypolis,

57:27

he seemed the war god, as

57:30

from rank to rank he sped rejoiced

57:33

the Trojans following him, seeing

57:35

his arms and him clothed with the might

57:37

of gods, and Paris hailed

57:39

him to the fray. Glad am

57:41

I for your coming. From my heart

57:44

trusts that the Argives all shall

57:46

wretchedly be with their ships destroyed.

57:48

For such a man amid Greeks or Trojans,

57:51

never have I seen now

57:53

by the strength and fury of Hercules,

57:56

to whom in stature, might and goodly

57:58

head, most like you are. I

58:00

pray you have in mind him

58:03

and resolved to match his deeds with

58:05

yours. Be the strong shield

58:08

of Trojans, hard bestead

58:10

win us a breathing space. You

58:13

only, I think, from

58:15

perishing Troy can thrust

58:17

the dark doom back.

58:21

With kindling words, he spoke, That

58:23

hero cried, great hearted

58:26

Paris, like the blessed ones in

58:28

goodly head. This lies

58:30

foreordained on the God's knees,

58:33

who in the fight shall fall and who

58:35

outlive it. I, as

58:37

honor bids, and as my strength

58:40

suffices, will not flinch

58:42

from Troy's defense. I swear

58:45

to turn from fight, never except

58:48

in victory or death. Gallantly

58:52

spoke he, with exceeding joy,

58:55

rejoiced the Trojans champions.

58:57

Then he chose Alexander

58:59

and Aeneas, fiery souled Polydamus,

59:02

Pamon and Diphobus and Ethicus

59:05

of Paphlagonian men, the staunchest

59:08

man to stem the tide of war. These

59:11

chose, he cunning all in battle,

59:14

toil to meet the foe in forefront

59:16

of the fight. Swiftly

59:19

they strode before that warrior throng.

59:21

Then from the city cheering

59:24

charged. The host followed

59:26

them in their thousands, As

59:28

when bees follow by bands

59:31

their leaders from the hives with

59:33

loud hum on a spring day, pouring

59:36

forth, so the fight.

59:39

The warriors followed these, and

59:42

as they charged, the thunder tramp

59:44

of men and steeds and

59:46

clang of armor rang to heaven,

59:50

as when a rushing mighty wind stirs

59:53

up the barren sea plane from its

59:55

nethermost floor and darkling

59:58

to the strand roll roaring

1:00:00

waves, belching sea

1:00:02

tangle from the bursting surf,

1:00:05

and wild sounds rise from

1:00:07

beeches heard nervistless. So

1:00:10

as they charged, the wide

1:00:13

earth rang again. Well,

1:00:32

nerds, I think that's as good a place as any

1:00:34

to leave it for today. I

1:00:37

absolutely love that. You know, the Trojans

1:00:39

are getting this hero

1:00:41

to join them Eurypolis, and he's the son

1:00:44

of Heracles, and so once again we

1:00:46

get this stunning description

1:00:48

of armor. It's so

1:00:50

reminiscent of Homer, but also

1:00:52

just such a clear desire

1:00:55

by this author to like weave in all

1:00:57

of the myth. You know that Hercules,

1:01:00

that Heracles came before before

1:01:03

the Trojan war is so iconically tied

1:01:05

to so many different things. You know, the sea

1:01:07

monster men, the Hesione

1:01:10

woman he saved that was from

1:01:12

Troy long before. It's just so

1:01:15

fascinating. I love the way they weave in all of this

1:01:17

stuff, and it gave me an easy

1:01:19

place to stop, because that's where I'd

1:01:21

stopped the last one.

1:01:24

Also, Ajax's death, it

1:01:26

really hurts, and it

1:01:29

is the origin of the term falling

1:01:32

on your sword that is from

1:01:34

this moment with Ajax, not necessarily

1:01:37

in this version, but that Ajax

1:01:39

the great, you know, this incredible, great hero who

1:01:42

no one else was able to kill, you know, unlike

1:01:44

hector On, like Achilles, like they both

1:01:46

died, but not Ajax. And

1:01:48

so the fact that he died by his own hand,

1:01:51

falling on his own sword is just like and

1:01:54

it means a lot. But it's also just so famous.

1:01:57

And it was a reminder to me to

1:02:00

remind you. I've

1:02:02

said this before, but just a reminder

1:02:04

that this work,

1:02:07

and more famous the Iliad

1:02:10

that came before it, these

1:02:12

are not for all that the modern

1:02:14

men of the world want to often see

1:02:16

them this way. These are not stories

1:02:19

of the glory of war. They

1:02:21

are explicitly anti

1:02:24

war. These works are

1:02:26

almost protests of

1:02:29

war, of the indiscriminate

1:02:31

slaughter of innocence. They

1:02:34

intentionally tell these stories

1:02:37

of war not to glorify

1:02:40

the acts of these so called heroes,

1:02:42

but to remind the humans

1:02:45

listening of the horrors that we

1:02:47

inflict upon each other, and how either

1:02:49

side always thinks that they are right.

1:02:52

How it's why both

1:02:54

the Greeks and the Trojans are the

1:02:57

good guys. We don't ever think

1:02:59

in the Iliad that the Trojans are worse

1:03:01

than the Greeks, or that the Greeks are better

1:03:03

than the Trojans. If anything, the Trojans

1:03:06

seem more more

1:03:09

correct, even though they are the

1:03:12

you know, they're the one that

1:03:14

the Greeks are against, that the story is seemingly

1:03:17

against, and yet we never think that

1:03:19

they deserve it. This

1:03:21

is a reminder. These works are a reminder

1:03:24

that when wars are waged,

1:03:27

the people that are hurt are the innocent,

1:03:30

and that they don't deserve

1:03:32

it, That they never deserve the

1:03:34

death that comes from something like war.

1:03:37

And I'm saying this obviously

1:03:39

obviously because of the modern world, but even

1:03:41

that I won't call a war, it's not

1:03:43

a war. In order for it to be a

1:03:46

war, there has to be an opposing

1:03:49

side that is actually

1:03:51

a government or actually a

1:03:53

country and is not ruled by oppression.

1:03:56

In order for it to be war, the other side

1:03:59

must have rights, they must

1:04:01

be able to defend themselves. They

1:04:03

must have an army. If

1:04:06

the other side doesn't have an army,

1:04:08

if the other side is just innocence

1:04:11

that we are supposed to believe are

1:04:13

hiding these criminals, what

1:04:16

that's not a war. And what we're

1:04:18

watching right now is not a war. It's an

1:04:21

extermination. I'm

1:04:23

recording this bit which frankly,

1:04:26

I had to re record this whole

1:04:28

episode because I somehow lost most

1:04:30

of it. And I noticed that

1:04:33

as I was reading this one part, this

1:04:35

same thing occurred to me again that I had to

1:04:38

I had to point out that this is not a

1:04:40

piece of literature that glorifies

1:04:43

war. And it's the part

1:04:45

where where Ajax's

1:04:48

wife finds him and speaks

1:04:51

about his death. And I

1:04:54

mean, it's obviously problematic. She's enslaved

1:04:56

and she married him, but she very clearly

1:04:59

cares for him in a way that I think is

1:05:01

valid, and she

1:05:04

really personifies the truth of

1:05:06

this and what these were

1:05:09

from the ancient world we're trying to say, and just how

1:05:11

true it still is today. Because she

1:05:13

speaks of being a captive

1:05:15

of war, of being the victim of war. She

1:05:18

more than anyone else, at least up

1:05:20

to this point, is a victim

1:05:23

of this battle, of this war.

1:05:26

She is just an innocent person who

1:05:29

first her home

1:05:31

ripped out from under her, her family ripped

1:05:33

out from under her, and then you know,

1:05:35

managed to find some kind of happiness in

1:05:37

her new life, and then had that ripped away

1:05:39

from her. And if that is not reminiscent

1:05:43

of what the poor people of Gaza

1:05:45

are going through, I don't know what is.

1:05:47

Imagine having your life ripped away

1:05:49

from you, your family ripped away from you, and

1:05:52

then you find

1:05:54

some semblance of a life in

1:05:56

some refugee camp,

1:05:58

and then they bomb your refugee

1:06:01

camp and you have to move to another.

1:06:03

And that just keeps happening

1:06:05

because the people, they say are

1:06:07

the other side of this quote unquote war just

1:06:10

keep bombing refugee camps. And they're bombing

1:06:12

hospitals, so that's not safe either. They're

1:06:14

killing doctors in the streets. And

1:06:17

every time you think you've found

1:06:19

some semblance of safety, of

1:06:21

comfort, every time you think that maybe

1:06:23

just today you and your

1:06:25

family have find

1:06:28

something to eat, might find some shelter,

1:06:30

might find just a bit of clean drinking

1:06:33

water that is the only highlight

1:06:35

of your life, and even that now

1:06:38

is nearing impossible to find. Before

1:06:40

I started recording this, they I saw an announcement

1:06:43

from Associated Press that the UN,

1:06:45

the UN has had to stop feeding

1:06:48

people in Guzza because they

1:06:50

ran out of food, because the

1:06:53

border is blocked, because

1:06:55

the settlers attack trucks

1:06:57

with AID because they

1:07:00

It's just I don't know what, I don't

1:07:02

know what else to say. I mean, I hope at this point,

1:07:04

if you are listening to me, you know what

1:07:07

is going on, and you don't think that settlers

1:07:10

attacking an AID truck are

1:07:12

somehow in the right. But

1:07:15

even still, I want to raise I want to

1:07:17

raise awareness of this because our governments

1:07:19

don't want us to know. The media doesn't

1:07:22

say it. Al

1:07:25

Jazeera has been kicked out like

1:07:28

even the AP today had

1:07:31

were cut off. Israel cut off

1:07:33

the AP's live stream of Guza. And

1:07:35

I if you are the good guys, if you're

1:07:38

not doing bad stuff, why

1:07:40

do you want to stop so many

1:07:43

journalists, Why do you kill so many

1:07:45

journalists? Why do you stop the

1:07:47

journalists from broadcasting what you're

1:07:49

doing? If you're on

1:07:51

the right side of history, then

1:07:53

you're not worried about journalists. That's

1:07:56

simply a fact. So

1:07:58

anyway, don't forget.

1:08:01

Don't let our governments gaslight

1:08:03

us into thinking that this

1:08:06

is right or okay, just

1:08:09

don't let them, and in the meantime,

1:08:13

donate to I

1:08:15

mean, no one can get in or out now, but we hope

1:08:17

that eventually they will, and hopefully, if

1:08:19

they've got enough money, when the border reopens,

1:08:22

these innocent people can

1:08:24

flee the horror, the horror that the

1:08:26

West is inflicting on them

1:08:29

for simply

1:08:31

existing as Palestinians.

1:08:33

Because at this point, I mean, I've

1:08:36

been thinking this for ages, but I think I'm ready to

1:08:38

say it into a microphone, because at this point

1:08:40

it's very clear that the entire

1:08:42

intention is to just have us

1:08:45

all forget that Palestinians

1:08:47

ever existed, and

1:08:50

with a country whose name is

1:08:52

as old as Herodotus, I

1:08:55

just don't. We can't let that happen.

1:08:58

We can't let them convince

1:09:00

us that they that their country,

1:09:03

that them as people never existed.

1:09:08

Next week, one more

1:09:10

reading of the Fall

1:09:12

of Troy. Before we turn to some conversations,

1:09:16

Let's talk about myths. Baby is written and

1:09:18

produced by Me Live. Albert MICHAELA.

1:09:20

Smith is the Hermes to my Olympians. The assistant

1:09:23

producer, Laura Smith is the

1:09:25

audio engineer and production assistant.

1:09:27

Select music in this episode was by Luke

1:09:29

Chaos. The podcast is part

1:09:31

of the iHeart Podcast Network. Listen on

1:09:34

Spotify or Apple or wherever you get your

1:09:36

podcasts and help me continue

1:09:38

on the podcast. Keep the Free One

1:09:40

going by helping me and supporting

1:09:42

on Patreon, Patreon dot com, slash

1:09:45

myths Baby, I Am

1:09:48

Live, and I

1:09:50

Love this shit.