To whom the clear-voiced Huntress crescent-crown’d.
My Father! Juno, thy own consort fair600
My sorrow caused, from whom dispute and strife
Perpetual, threaten the immortal Powers.
Thus they in heaven mutual conferr’d. Meantime
Apollo into sacred Troy return’d
Mindful to guard her bulwarks, lest the Greeks605
Too soon for Fate should desolate the town.
The other Gods, some angry, some elate
With victory, the Olympian heights regain’d,
And sat beside the Thunderer. But the son
Of Peleus—He both Trojans slew and steeds.610
As when in volumes slow smoke climbs the skies
From some great city which the Gods have fired
Vindictive, sorrow thence to many ensues
With mischief, and to all labor severe,
So caused Achilles labor on that day,615
Severe, and mischief to the men of Troy.
But ancient Priam from a sacred tower
Stood looking forth, whence soon he noticed vast
Achilles, before whom the Trojans fled
All courage lost. Descending from the tower620
With mournful cries and hasting to the wall
He thus enjoin’d the keepers of the gates.
Hold wide the portals till the flying host
Re-enter, for himself is nigh, himself
Achilles drives them home. Now, wo to Troy!625
But soon as safe within the walls received
They breathe again, shut fast the ponderous gates
At once, lest that destroyer also pass.
He said; they, shooting back the bars, threw wide
The gates and saved the people, whom to aid630
Apollo also sprang into the field,
They, parch’d with drought and whiten’d all with dust,
Flew right toward the town, while, spear in hand,
Achilles press’d them, vengeance in his heart
And all on fire for glory. Then, full sure,635
Ilium, the city of lofty gates, had fallen
Won by the Grecians, had not Phœbus roused
Antenor’s valiant son, the noble Chief
Agenor; him with dauntless might he fill’d,
And shielding him against the stroke of fate640
Beside him stood himself, by the broad beech
Cover’d and wrapt in clouds. Agenor then,
Seeing the city-waster hero nigh
Achilles, stood, but standing, felt his mind
Troubled with doubts; he groan’d, and thus he mused.645
[10]Alas! if following the tumultuous flight
Of these, I shun Achilles, swifter far
He soon will lop my ignominious head.
But if, these leaving to be thus dispersed
Before him, from the city-wall I fly650
Across the plain of Troy into the groves
Of Ida, and in Ida’s thickets lurk,
I may, at evening, to the town return
Bathed and refresh’d. But whither tend my thoughts?
Should he my flight into the plain observe655
And swift pursuing seize me, then, farewell
All hope to scape a miserable death,
For he hath strength passing the strength of man.
How then—shall I withstand him here before
The city? He hath also flesh to steel660
Pervious, within it but a single life,
And men report him mortal, howsoe’er
Saturnian Jove lift him to glory now.
So saying, he turn’d and stood, his dauntless heart
Beating for battle. As the pard springs forth665
To meet the hunter from her gloomy lair,
Nor, hearing loud the hounds, fears or retires,
But whether from afar or nigh at hand
He pierce her first, although transfixt, the fight
Still tries, and combats desperate till she fall,670
So, brave Antenor’s son fled not, or shrank,
Till he had proved Achilles, but his breast
O’ershadowing with his buckler and his spear
Aiming well-poised against him, loud exclaim’d.
Renown’d Achilles! Thou art high in hope675
Doubtless, that thou shalt this day overthrow
The city of the glorious sons of Troy.
Fool! ye must labor yet ere she be won,
For numerous are her citizens and bold,
And we will guard her for our parents’ sake680
Our wives and little ones. But here thou diest
Terrible Chief and dauntless as thou art.
He said, and with full force hurling his lance
Smote, and err’d not, his greave beneath his knee
The glittering tin, forged newly, at the stroke685
Tremendous rang, but quick recoil’d and vain
The weapon, weak against that guard divine.
Then sprang Achilles in his turn to assail
Godlike Agenor, but Apollo took
That glory from him, snatching wrapt in clouds690
Agenor thence, whom calm he sent away.
Then Phœbus from pursuit of Ilium’s host
By art averted Peleus’ son; the form
Assuming of Agenor, swift he fled
Before him, and Achilles swift pursued.695
While him Apollo thus lured to the chase
Wide o’er the fruitful plain, inclining still
Toward Scamander’s dizzy stream his course
Nor flying far before, but with false hope
Always beguiling him, the scatter’d host700
Meantime, in joyful throngs, regain’d the town.
They fill’d and shut it fast, nor dared to wait
Each other in the field, or to inquire
Who lived and who had fallen, but all, whom flight
Had rescued, like a flood pour’d into Troy.705