Book X: The Night-Adventure of Diomed and Ulysses

Homer (about 750 BC), translated by Alexander Pope · 1720

iambic pentameter · heroic couplets · 680 lines · from The Iliad

All night the chiefs before their vessels lay,And lost in sleep the labours of the day:All but the king: with various thoughts oppress’d,His country’s cares lay rolling in his breast.As when by lightnings Jove’s ethereal powerForetels the rattling hail, or weighty shower,Or sends soft snows to whiten all the shore,Or bids the brazen throat of war to roar;By fits one flash succeeds as one expires,And heaven flames thick with momentary fires:So bursting frequent from Atrides’ breast,Sighs following sighs his inward fears confess’d.Now o’er the fields, dejected, he surveysFrom thousand Trojan fires the mounting blaze;Hears in the passing wind their music blow,And marks distinct the voices of the foe.Now looking backwards to the fleet and coast,Anxious he sorrows for the endangered host.He rends his hair, in sacrifice to Jove,And sues to him that ever lives above:Inly he groans; while glory and despairDivide his heart, and wage a double war.

A thousand cares his labouring breast revolves;To seek sage Nestor now the chief resolves,With him, in wholesome counsels, to debateWhat yet remains to save the afflicted state.He rose, and first he cast his mantle round,Next on his feet the shining sandals bound;A lion’s yellow spoils his back conceal’d;His warlike hand a pointed javelin held.Meanwhile his brother, press’d with equal woes,Alike denied the gifts of soft repose,Laments for Greece, that in his cause beforeSo much had suffer’d and must suffer more.A leopard’s spotted hide his shoulders spread:A brazen helmet glitter’d on his head:Thus (with a javelin in his hand) he wentTo wake Atrides in the royal tent.Already waked, Atrides he descried,His armour buckling at his vessel’s side.Joyful they met; the Spartan thus begun:“Why puts my brother his bright armour on?Sends he some spy, amidst these silent hours,To try yon camp, and watch the Trojan powers?But say, what hero shall sustain that task?Such bold exploits uncommon courage ask;Guideless, alone, through night’s dark shade to go,And midst a hostile camp explore the foe.”

To whom the king: “In such distress we stand,No vulgar counsel our affairs demand;Greece to preserve, is now no easy part,But asks high wisdom, deep design, and art.For Jove, averse, our humble prayer denies,And bows his head to Hector’s sacrifice.What eye has witness’d, or what ear believed,In one great day, by one great arm achieved,Such wondrous deeds as Hector’s hand has done,And we beheld, the last revolving sun?What honours the beloved of Jove adorn!Sprung from no god, and of no goddess born;Yet such his acts, as Greeks unborn shall tell,And curse the battle where their fathers fell.

“Now speed thy hasty course along the fleet,There call great Ajax, and the prince of Crete;Ourself to hoary Nestor will repair;To keep the guards on duty be his care,(For Nestor’s influence best that quarter guides,Whose son with Merion, o’er the watch presides.”)To whom the Spartan: “These thy orders borne,Say, shall I stay, or with despatch return?”“There shall thou stay, (the king of men replied,)Else may we miss to meet, without a guide,The paths so many, and the camp so wide.Still, with your voice the slothful soldiers raise,Urge by their fathers’ fame their future praise.Forget we now our state and lofty birth;Not titles here, but works, must prove our worth.To labour is the lot of man below;And when Jove gave us life, he gave us woe.”

This said, each parted to his several cares:The king to Nestor’s sable ship repairs;The sage protector of the Greeks he foundStretch’d in his bed with all his arms around;The various-colour’d scarf, the shield he rears,The shining helmet, and the pointed spears;The dreadful weapons of the warrior’s rage,That, old in arms, disdain’d the peace of age.Then, leaning on his hand his watchful head,The hoary monarch raised his eyes and said:

“What art thou, speak, that on designs unknown,While others sleep, thus range the camp alone;Seek’st thou some friend or nightly sentinel?Stand off, approach not, but thy purpose tell.”

“O son of Neleus, (thus the king rejoin’d,)Pride of the Greeks, and glory of thy kind!Lo, here the wretched Agamemnon stands,The unhappy general of the Grecian bands,Whom Jove decrees with daily cares to bend,And woes, that only with his life shall end!Scarce can my knees these trembling limbs sustain,And scarce my heart support its load of pain.No taste of sleep these heavy eyes have known,Confused, and sad, I wander thus alone,With fears distracted, with no fix’d design;And all my people’s miseries are mine.If aught of use thy waking thoughts suggest,(Since cares, like mine, deprive thy soul of rest,)Impart thy counsel, and assist thy friend;Now let us jointly to the trench descend,At every gate the fainting guard excite,Tired with the toils of day and watch of night;Else may the sudden foe our works invade,So near, and favour’d by the gloomy shade.”

To him thus Nestor: “Trust the powers above,Nor think proud Hector’s hopes confirm’d by Jove:How ill agree the views of vain mankind,And the wise counsels of the eternal mind!Audacious Hector, if the gods ordainThat great Achilles rise and rage again,What toils attend thee, and what woes remain!Lo, faithful Nestor thy command obeys;The care is next our other chiefs to raise:Ulysses, Diomed, we chiefly need;Meges for strength, Oïleus famed for speed.Some other be despatch’d of nimbler feet,To those tall ships, remotest of the fleet,Where lie great Ajax and the king of Crete.To rouse the Spartan I myself decree;Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee,Yet must I tax his sloth, that claims no shareWith his great brother in his martial care:Him it behoved to every chief to sue,Preventing every part perform’d by you;For strong necessity our toils demands,Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands.”

To whom the king: “With reverence we allowThy just rebukes, yet learn to spare them now:My generous brother is of gentle kind,He seems remiss, but bears a valiant mind;Through too much deference to our sovereign sway,Content to follow when we lead the way:But now, our ills industrious to prevent,Long ere the rest he rose, and sought my tent.The chiefs you named, already at his call,Prepare to meet us near the navy-wall;Assembling there, between the trench and gates,Near the night-guards, our chosen council waits.”

“Then none (said Nestor) shall his rule withstand,For great examples justify command.”With that, the venerable warrior rose;The shining greaves his manly legs enclose;His purple mantle golden buckles join’d,Warm with the softest wool, and doubly lined.Then rushing from his tent, he snatch’d in hasteHis steely lance, that lighten’d as he pass’d.The camp he traversed through the sleeping crowd,Stopp’d at Ulysses’ tent, and call’d aloud.Ulysses, sudden as the voice was sent,Awakes, starts up, and issues from his tent.“What new distress, what sudden cause of fright,Thus leads you wandering in the silent night?”“O prudent chief! (the Pylian sage replied)Wise as thou art, be now thy wisdom tried:Whatever means of safety can be sought,Whatever counsels can inspire our thought,Whatever methods, or to fly or fight;All, all depend on this important night!”He heard, return’d, and took his painted shield;Then join’d the chiefs, and follow’d through the field.Without his tent, bold Diomed they found,All sheathed in arms, his brave companions round:Each sunk in sleep, extended on the field,His head reclining on his bossy shield.A wood of spears stood by, that, fix’d upright,Shot from their flashing points a quivering light.A bull’s black hide composed the hero’s bed;A splendid carpet roll’d beneath his head.Then, with his foot, old Nestor gently shakesThe slumbering chief, and in these words awakes:

“Rise, son of Tydeus! to the brave and strongRest seems inglorious, and the night too long.But sleep’st thou now, when from yon hill the foeHangs o’er the fleet, and shades our walls below?”

At this, soft slumber from his eyelids fled;The warrior saw the hoary chief, and said:“Wondrous old man! whose soul no respite knows,Though years and honours bid thee seek repose,Let younger Greeks our sleeping warriors wake;Ill fits thy age these toils to undertake.”“My friend, (he answered,) generous is thy care;These toils, my subjects and my sons might bear;Their loyal thoughts and pious love conspireTo ease a sovereign and relieve a sire:But now the last despair surrounds our host;No hour must pass, no moment must be lost;Each single Greek, in this conclusive strife,Stands on the sharpest edge of death or life:Yet, if my years thy kind regard engage,Employ thy youth as I employ my age;Succeed to these my cares, and rouse the rest;He serves me most, who serves his country best.”

This said, the hero o’er his shoulders flungA lion’s spoils, that to his ankles hung;Then seized his ponderous lance, and strode along.Meges the bold, with Ajax famed for speed,The warrior roused, and to the entrenchments lead.

And now the chiefs approach the nightly guard;A wakeful squadron, each in arms prepared:The unwearied watch their listening leaders keep,And, couching close, repel invading sleep.So faithful dogs their fleecy charge maintain,With toil protected from the prowling train;When the gaunt lioness, with hunger bold,Springs from the mountains toward the guarded fold:Through breaking woods her rustling course they hear;Loud, and more loud, the clamours strike their earOf hounds and men: they start, they gaze around,Watch every side, and turn to every sound.Thus watch’d the Grecians, cautious of surprise,Each voice, each motion, drew their ears and eyes:Each step of passing feet increased the affright;And hostile Troy was ever full in sight.Nestor with joy the wakeful band survey’d,And thus accosted through the gloomy shade.“’Tis well, my sons! your nightly cares employ;Else must our host become the scorn of Troy.Watch thus, and Greece shall live.” The hero said;Then o’er the trench the following chieftains led.His son, and godlike Merion, march’d behind(For these the princes to their council join’d).The trenches pass’d, the assembled kings aroundIn silent state the consistory crown’d.A place there was, yet undefiled with gore,The spot where Hector stopp’d his rage before;When night descending, from his vengeful handReprieved the relics of the Grecian band:(The plain beside with mangled corps was spread,And all his progress mark’d by heaps of dead:)There sat the mournful kings: when Neleus’ son,The council opening, in these words begun:

“Is there (said he) a chief so greatly brave,His life to hazard, and his country save?Lives there a man, who singly dares to goTo yonder camp, or seize some straggling foe?Or favour’d by the night approach so near,Their speech, their counsels, and designs to hear?If to besiege our navies they prepare,Or Troy once more must be the seat of war?This could he learn, and to our peers recite,And pass unharm’d the dangers of the night;What fame were his through all succeeding days,While Phœbus shines, or men have tongues to praise!What gifts his grateful country would bestow!What must not Greece to her deliverer owe?A sable ewe each leader should provide,With each a sable lambkin by her side;At every rite his share should be increased,And his the foremost honours of the feast.”

Fear held them mute: alone, untaught to fear,Tydides spoke—“The man you seek is here.Through yon black camps to bend my dangerous way,Some god within commands, and I obey.But let some other chosen warrior join,To raise my hopes, and second my design.By mutual confidence and mutual aid,Great deeds are done, and great discoveries made;The wise new prudence from the wise acquire,And one brave hero fans another’s fire.”

Contending leaders at the word arose;Each generous breast with emulation glows;So brave a task each Ajax strove to share,Bold Merion strove, and Nestor’s valiant heir;The Spartan wish’d the second place to gain,And great Ulysses wish’d, nor wish’d in vain.Then thus the king of men the contest ends:“Thou first of warriors, and thou best of friends,Undaunted Diomed! what chief to joinIn this great enterprise, is only thine.Just be thy choice, without affection made;To birth, or office, no respect be paid;Let worth determine here.” The monarch spake,And inly trembled for his brother’s sake.

“Then thus (the godlike Diomed rejoin’d)My choice declares the impulse of my mind.How can I doubt, while great Ulysses standsTo lend his counsels and assist our hands?A chief, whose safety is Minerva’s care;So famed, so dreadful, in the works of war:Bless’d in his conduct, I no aid require;Wisdom like his might pass through flames of fire.”

“It fits thee not, before these chiefs of fame,(Replied the sage,) to praise me, or to blame:Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe,Are lost on hearers that our merits know.But let us haste—Night rolls the hours away,The reddening orient shows the coming day,The stars shine fainter on the ethereal plains,And of night’s empire but a third remains.”

Thus having spoke, with generous ardour press’d,In arms terrific their huge limbs they dress’d.A two-edged falchion Thrasymed the brave,And ample buckler, to Tydides gave:Then in a leathern helm he cased his head,Short of its crest, and with no plume o’erspread:(Such as by youths unused to arms are worn:)No spoils enrich it, and no studs adorn.Next him Ulysses took a shining sword,A bow and quiver, with bright arrows stored:A well-proved casque, with leather braces bound,(Thy gift, Meriones,) his temples crown’d;Soft wool within; without, in order spread,A boar’s white teeth grinn’d horrid o’er his head.This from Amyntor, rich Ormenus’ son,Autolycus by fraudful rapine won,And gave Amphidamas; from him the prizeMolus received, the pledge of social ties;The helmet next by Merion was possess’d,And now Ulysses’ thoughtful temples press’d.Thus sheathed in arms, the council they forsake,And dark through paths oblique their progress take.Just then, in sign she favour’d their intent,A long-wing’d heron great Minerva sent:This, though surrounding shades obscured their view,By the shrill clang and whistling wings they knew.As from the right she soar’d, Ulysses pray’d,Hail’d the glad omen, and address’d the maid:

“O daughter of that god whose arm can wieldThe avenging bolt, and shake the saber shield!O thou! for ever present in my way,Who all my motions, all my toils survey!Safe may we pass beneath the gloomy shade,Safe by thy succour to our ships convey’d,And let some deed this signal night adorn,To claim the tears of Trojans yet unborn.”

Then godlike Diomed preferr’d his prayer:“Daughter of Jove, unconquer’d Pallas! hear.Great queen of arms, whose favour Tydeus won,As thou defend’st the sire, defend the son.When on Æsopus’ banks the banded powersOf Greece he left, and sought the Theban towers,Peace was his charge; received with peaceful show,He went a legate, but return’d a foe:Then help’d by thee, and cover’d by thy shield,He fought with numbers, and made numbers yield.So now be present, O celestial maid!So still continue to the race thine aid!A youthful steer shall fall beneath the stroke,Untamed, unconscious of the galling yoke,With ample forehead, and with spreading horns,Whose taper tops refulgent gold adorns.”The heroes pray’d, and Pallas from the skiesAccords their vow, succeeds their enterprise.Now, like two lions panting for the prey,With dreadful thoughts they trace the dreary way,Through the black horrors of the ensanguined plain,Through dust, through blood, o’er arms, and hills of slain.

Nor less bold Hector, and the sons of Troy,On high designs the wakeful hours employ;The assembled peers their lofty chief enclosed;Who thus the counsels of his breast proposed:

“What glorious man, for high attempts prepared,Dares greatly venture for a rich reward?Of yonder fleet a bold discovery make,What watch they keep, and what resolves they take?If now subdued they meditate their flight,And, spent with toil, neglect the watch of night?His be the chariot that shall please him most,Of all the plunder of the vanquish’d host;His the fair steeds that all the rest excel,And his the glory to have served so well.”

A youth there was among the tribes of Troy,Dolon his name, Eumedes’ only boy,(Five girls beside the reverend herald told.)Rich was the son in brass, and rich in gold;Not bless’d by nature with the charms of face,But swift of foot, and matchless in the race.“Hector! (he said) my courage bids me meetThis high achievement, and explore the fleet:But first exalt thy sceptre to the skies,And swear to grant me the demanded prize;The immortal coursers, and the glittering car,That bear Pelides through the ranks of war.Encouraged thus, no idle scout I go,Fulfil thy wish, their whole intention know,Even to the royal tent pursue my way,And all their counsels, all their aims betray.”

The chief then heaved the golden sceptre high,Attesting thus the monarch of the sky:“Be witness thou! immortal lord of all!Whose thunder shakes the dark aerial hall:By none but Dolon shall this prize be borne,And him alone the immortal steeds adorn.”

Thus Hector swore: the gods were call’d in vain,But the rash youth prepares to scour the plain:Across his back the bended bow he flung,A wolf’s grey hide around his shoulders hung,A ferret’s downy fur his helmet lined,And in his hand a pointed javelin shined.Then (never to return) he sought the shore,And trod the path his feet must tread no more.Scarce had he pass’d the steeds and Trojan throng,(Still bending forward as he coursed along,)When, on the hollow way, the approaching treadUlysses mark’d, and thus to Diomed;

“O friend! I hear some step of hostile feet,Moving this way, or hastening to the fleet;Some spy, perhaps, to lurk beside the main;Or nightly pillager that strips the slain.Yet let him pass, and win a little space;Then rush behind him, and prevent his pace.But if too swift of foot he flies before,Confine his course along the fleet and shore,Betwixt the camp and him our spears employ,And intercept his hoped return to Troy.”

With that they stepp’d aside, and stoop’d their head,(As Dolon pass’d,) behind a heap of dead:Along the path the spy unwary flew;Soft, at just distance, both the chiefs pursue.So distant they, and such the space between,As when two teams of mules divide the green,(To whom the hind like shares of land allows,)When now new furrows part the approaching ploughs.Now Dolon, listening, heard them as they pass’d;Hector (he thought) had sent, and check’d his haste,Till scarce at distance of a javelin’s throw,No voice succeeding, he perceived the foe.As when two skilful hounds the leveret wind;Or chase through woods obscure the trembling hind;Now lost, now seen, they intercept his way,And from the herd still turn the flying prey:So fast, and with such fears, the Trojan flew;So close, so constant, the bold Greeks pursue.Now almost on the fleet the dastard falls,And mingles with the guards that watch the walls;When brave Tydides stopp’d; a gen’rous thought(Inspired by Pallas) in his bosom wrought,Lest on the foe some forward Greek advance,And snatch the glory from his lifted lance.Then thus aloud: “Whoe’er thou art, remain;This javelin else shall fix thee to the plain.”He said, and high in air the weapon cast,Which wilful err’d, and o’er his shoulder pass’d;Then fix’d in earth. Against the trembling woodThe wretch stood propp’d, and quiver’d as he stood;A sudden palsy seized his turning head;His loose teeth chatter’d, and his colour fled;The panting warriors seize him as he stands,And with unmanly tears his life demands.

“O spare my youth, and for the breath I owe,Large gifts of price my father shall bestow:Vast heaps of brass shall in your ships be told,And steel well-temper’d and refulgent gold.”

To whom Ulysses made this wise reply:“Whoe’er thou art, be bold, nor fear to die.What moves thee, say, when sleep has closed the sight,To roam the silent fields in dead of night?Cam’st thou the secrets of our camp to find,By Hector prompted, or thy daring mind?Or art some wretch by hopes of plunder led,Through heaps of carnage, to despoil the dead?”

Then thus pale Dolon, with a fearful look:(Still, as he spoke, his limbs with horror shook:)“Hither I came, by Hector’s words deceived;Much did he promise, rashly I believed:No less a bribe than great Achilles’ car,And those swift steeds that sweep the ranks of war,Urged me, unwilling, this attempt to make;To learn what counsels, what resolves you take:If now subdued, you fix your hopes on flight,And, tired with toils, neglect the watch of night.”

“Bold was thy aim, and glorious was the prize,(Ulysses, with a scornful smile, replies,)Far other rulers those proud steeds demand,And scorn the guidance of a vulgar hand;Even great Achilles scarce their rage can tame,Achilles sprung from an immortal dame.But say, be faithful, and the truth recite!Where lies encamp’d the Trojan chief to-night?Where stand his coursers? in what quarter sleepTheir other princes? tell what watch they keep:Say, since this conquest, what their counsels are;Or here to combat, from their city far,Or back to Ilion’s walls transfer the war?”

Ulysses thus, and thus Eumedes’ son:“What Dolon knows, his faithful tongue shall own.Hector, the peers assembling in his tent,A council holds at Ilus’ monument.No certain guards the nightly watch partake;Where’er yon fires ascend, the Trojans wake:Anxious for Troy, the guard the natives keep;Safe in their cares, the auxiliar forces sleep,Whose wives and infants, from the danger far,Discharge their souls of half the fears of war.”

“Then sleep those aids among the Trojan train,(Inquired the chief,) or scattered o’er the plain?”To whom the spy: “Their powers they thus disposeThe Paeons, dreadful with their bended bows,The Carians, Caucons, the Pelasgian host,And Leleges, encamp along the coast.Not distant far, lie higher on the landThe Lycian, Mysian, and Mæonian band,And Phrygia’s horse, by Thymbras’ ancient wall;The Thracians utmost, and apart from all.These Troy but lately to her succour won,Led on by Rhesus, great Eioneus’ son:I saw his coursers in proud triumph go,Swift as the wind, and white as winter-snow;Rich silver plates his shining car infold;His solid arms, refulgent, flame with gold;No mortal shoulders suit the glorious load,Celestial panoply, to grace a god!Let me, unhappy, to your fleet be borne,Or leave me here, a captive’s fate to mourn,In cruel chains, till your return revealThe truth or falsehood of the news I tell.”

To this Tydides, with a gloomy frown:“Think not to live, though all the truth be shown:Shall we dismiss thee, in some future strifeTo risk more bravely thy now forfeit life?Or that again our camps thou may’st explore?No—once a traitor, thou betray’st no more.”

Sternly he spoke, and as the wretch preparedWith humble blandishment to stroke his beard,Like lightning swift the wrathful falchion flew,Divides the neck, and cuts the nerves in two;One instant snatch’d his trembling soul to hell,The head, yet speaking, mutter’d as it fell.The furry helmet from his brow they tear,The wolf’s grey hide, the unbended bow and spear;These great Ulysses lifting to the skies,To favouring Pallas dedicates the prize:

“Great queen of arms, receive this hostile spoil,And let the Thracian steeds reward our toil;Thee, first of all the heavenly host, we praise;O speed our labours, and direct our ways!”This said, the spoils, with dropping gore defaced,High on a spreading tamarisk he placed;Then heap’d with reeds and gathered boughs the plain,To guide their footsteps to the place again.

Through the still night they cross the devious fields,Slippery with blood, o’er arms and heaps of shields,Arriving where the Thracian squadrons lay,And eased in sleep the labours of the day.Ranged in three lines they view the prostrate band:The horses yoked beside each warrior stand.Their arms in order on the ground reclined,Through the brown shade the fulgid weapons shined:Amidst lay Rhesus, stretch’d in sleep profound,And the white steeds behind his chariot bound.The welcome sight Ulysses first descries,And points to Diomed the tempting prize.“The man, the coursers, and the car behold!Described by Dolon, with the arms of gold.Now, brave Tydides! now thy courage try,Approach the chariot, and the steeds untie;Or if thy soul aspire to fiercer deeds,Urge thou the slaughter, while I seize the steeds.”

Pallas (this said) her hero’s bosom warms,Breathed in his heart, and strung his nervous arms;Where’er he pass’d, a purple stream pursuedHis thirsty falchion, fat with hostile blood,Bathed all his footsteps, dyed the fields with gore,And a low groan remurmur’d through the shore.So the grim lion, from his nightly den,O’erleaps the fences, and invades the pen,On sheep or goats, resistless in his way,He falls, and foaming rends the guardless prey;Nor stopp’d the fury of his vengeful hand,Till twelve lay breathless of the Thracian band.Ulysses following, as his partner slew,Back by the foot each slaughter’d warrior drew;The milk-white coursers studious to conveySafe to the ships, he wisely cleared the way:Lest the fierce steeds, not yet to battles bred,Should start, and tremble at the heaps of dead.Now twelve despatch’d, the monarch last they found;Tydides’ falchion fix’d him to the ground.Just then a deathful dream Minerva sent,A warlike form appear’d before his tent,Whose visionary steel his bosom tore:So dream’d the monarch, and awaked no more.

Ulysses now the snowy steeds detains,And leads them, fasten’d by the silver reins;These, with his bow unbent, he lash’d along;(The scourge forgot, on Rhesus’ chariot hung;)Then gave his friend the signal to retire;But him, new dangers, new achievements fire;Doubtful he stood, or with his reeking bladeTo send more heroes to the infernal shade,Drag off the car where Rhesus’ armour lay,Or heave with manly force, and lift away.While unresolved the son of Tydeus stands,Pallas appears, and thus her chief commands:

“Enough, my son; from further slaughter cease,Regard thy safety, and depart in peace;Haste to the ships, the gotten spoils enjoy,Nor tempt too far the hostile gods of Troy.”

The voice divine confess’d the martial maid;In haste he mounted, and her word obey’d;The coursers fly before Ulysses’ bow,Swift as the wind, and white as winter-snow.

Not unobserved they pass’d: the god of lightHad watch’d his Troy, and mark’d Minerva’s flight,Saw Tydeus’ son with heavenly succour bless’d,And vengeful anger fill’d his sacred breast.Swift to the Trojan camp descends the power,And wakes Hippocoon in the morning-hour;(On Rhesus’ side accustom’d to attend,A faithful kinsman, and instructive friend;)He rose, and saw the field deform’d with blood,An empty space where late the coursers stood,The yet-warm Thracians panting on the coast;For each he wept, but for his Rhesus most:Now while on Rhesus’ name he calls in vain,The gathering tumult spreads o’er all the plain;On heaps the Trojans rush, with wild affright,And wondering view the slaughters of the night.

Meanwhile the chiefs, arriving at the shadeWhere late the spoils of Hector’s spy were laid,Ulysses stopp’d; to him Tydides boreThe trophy, dropping yet with Dolon’s gore:Then mounts again; again their nimbler feetThe coursers ply, and thunder towards the fleet.

Old Nestor first perceived the approaching sound,Bespeaking thus the Grecian peers around:“Methinks the noise of trampling steeds I hear,Thickening this way, and gathering on my ear;Perhaps some horses of the Trojan breed(So may, ye gods! my pious hopes succeed)The great Tydides and Ulysses bear,Return’d triumphant with this prize of war.Yet much I fear (ah, may that fear be vain!)The chiefs outnumber’d by the Trojan train;Perhaps, even now pursued, they seek the shore;Or, oh! perhaps those heroes are no more.”

Scarce had he spoke, when, lo! the chiefs appear,And spring to earth; the Greeks dismiss their fear:With words of friendship and extended handsThey greet the kings; and Nestor first demands:

“Say thou, whose praises all our host proclaim,Thou living glory of the Grecian name!Say whence these coursers? by what chance bestow’d,The spoil of foes, or present of a god?Not those fair steeds, so radiant and so gay,That draw the burning chariot of the day.Old as I am, to age I scorn to yield,And daily mingle in the martial field;But sure till now no coursers struck my sightLike these, conspicuous through the ranks of fight.Some god, I deem, conferred the glorious prize,Bless’d as ye are, and favourites of the skies;The care of him who bids the thunder roar,And her, whose fury bathes the world with gore.”

“Father! not so, (sage Ithacus rejoin’d,)The gifts of heaven are of a nobler kind.Of Thracian lineage are the steeds ye view,Whose hostile king the brave Tydides slew;Sleeping he died, with all his guards around,And twelve beside lay gasping on the ground.These other spoils from conquer’d Dolon came,A wretch, whose swiftness was his only fame;By Hector sent our forces to explore,He now lies headless on the sandy shore.”

Then o’er the trench the bounding coursers flew;The joyful Greeks with loud acclaim pursue.Straight to Tydides’ high pavilion borne,The matchless steeds his ample stalls adorn:The neighing coursers their new fellows greet,And the full racks are heap’d with generous wheat.But Dolon’s armour, to his ships convey’d,High on the painted stern Ulysses laid,A trophy destin’d to the blue-eyed maid.

Now from nocturnal sweat and sanguine stainThey cleanse their bodies in the neighb’ring main:Then in the polished bath, refresh’d from toil,Their joints they supple with dissolving oil,In due repast indulge the genial hour,And first to Pallas the libations pour:They sit, rejoicing in her aid divine,And the crown’d goblet foams with floods of wine.

Words in this poem 112

jove n.: The chief divinity of the ancient Romans; Jupiter. [L. Jupiter, gen. Jovis, OL. Jovis, nom. & gen. for Djovis; akin to E. Tuesday. See Tuesday, and cf. Jupiter.]
inly a.: Internal; interior; secret. [OE. inlich, AS. inlic. See In.]
wage v. i.: To bind one's self; to engage.
labouring a.: That labors; performing labor; esp., performing coarse, heavy work, not requiring skill also, set apart for labor; as, laboring days.
nestor n.: A genus of parrots with gray heads. of New Zeland and papua, allied to the cockatoos. See Kaka.
meanwhile n.: The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time).
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
armour n.: Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
buckling a.: Wavy; curling, as hair. Latham.
amidst prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
guideless a.: Without a guide.
explore v. t.: To seek for or after; to strive to attain by search; to look wisely and carefully for. [L. explorare to explore; ex out+plorare to cry out aloud,prob. orig., to cause to flow; perh. akin to E. flow: cf. F. explorer.]
averse a.: Turned away or backward. [L. aversus, p. p. of avertere. See Avert.]
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
unborn a.: Not born; no yet brought into life; being still to appear; future.
hoary a.: White or whitish."The hoary willows."
sable n.: A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela zibellina) native of the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and America, -- noted for its fine, soft, and valuable fur. [OF. sable, F. zibeline sable (in sense 4), LL. sabellum; cf. D. sabel, Dan. sabel, zobel, Sw. sabel, sobel, G. zobel; all fr. Russ. sóbole.]
dreadful a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
nightly a.: Of or pertaining to the night, or to every night; happening or done by night, or every night; as, nightly shades; he kept nightly vigils.
scarce a.: Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
aught n.: Property; possession. [AS. , fr. agan to own, p. p. ahte.]
favour n.: Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
generous a.: Of honorable birth or origin; highborn. [F. généreux, fr. L. generous of noble birth, noble, excellent, magnanimous, fr. genus birth, race: cf. It. generoso. See 2d Gender.]
remiss n.: The act of being remiss; inefficiency; failure.
valiant a.: Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant, valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L. valere to be strong. See Wield, and cf. Avail, Convalesce, ]
industrious a.: Given to industry; characterized by diligence; constantly, regularly, or habitually occupied; busy; assiduous; not slothful or idle; -- commonly implying devotion to lawful and useful labor. [L. industrius, industriosus: cf. F. industrieux. See Industry.]
greaves n.: The sediment of melted tallow. It is made into cakes for dogs' food. In Scotland it is called cracklings. [Cf. dial. Sw. grevar greaves, LG. greven, G. griebe, also AS. greofa pot. Cf. Gravy.]
enclose v. t.: To inclose. See Inclose. [F. enclos, p. p. of enclore to enclose; pref. en- (L. in) + clore to close. See Close, and cf. Inclose, Include.]
steely a.: Made of steel; consisting of steel.
aloud adv.: With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly. [Pref. a- + loud.]
bossy a.: Ornamented with bosses; studded.
inglorious a.: Not glorious; not bringing honor or glory; not accompanied with fame, honor, or celebrity; obscure; humble; as, an inglorious life of ease. [L. inglorious; pref. in- not + gloria glory, fame: cf. F. inglorieux. See Glory.]
relieve v. t.: To lift up; to raise again, as one who has fallen; to cause to rise. Piers Plowman. [OE. releven, F. relever to raise again, discharge, relieve, fr. L. relevare to lift up, raise, make light, relieve; pref. re- re- + levare to raise, fr. levis l]
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
wakeful a.: Not sleeping; indisposed to sleep; watchful; vigilant.
squadron n.: Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, or It. squadrone. See Squad.]
unwearied a.: Not wearied; not fatigued or tired; hence, persistent; not tiring or wearying; indefatigable.
couching n.: The operation of putting down or displacing the opaque lens in cataract.
fleecy a.: Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece.
prowling a.: Accustomed to prowl, or engaged in roving stealthily, as for prey.
gaunt a.: Attenuated, as with fasting or suffering; lean; meager; pinched and grim. [Cf. Norw. gand a thin pointed stick, a tall and thin man, and W. gwan weak.]
accosted a.: Supported on both sides by other charges; also, side by side.
consistory n.: Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council. [L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See Consist.]
vengeful a.: Vindictive; retributive; revengeful.
corps n.: The human body, whether living or dead. See Corpse, 1. [F., fr. L. corpus body. See Corpse.]
yonder adv.: At a distance, but within view. [OE. yonder, ýonder; cf. OD. ginder, Goth. jaindr there. Yond, adv.]
straggling a.: from Straggle, v.
deliverer n.: One who delivers or rescues; a preserver.
spoke n.: The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
undaunted a.: Not daunted; not subdued or depressed by fear.
minerva n.: The goddess of wisdom, of war, of the arts and sciences, of poetry, and of spinning and weaving; -- identified with the Grecian Pallas Athene. [L.]
ardour n.: Heat, in a literal sense; as, the ardor of the sun's rays. [L. ardor, fr. ardere to burn: cf. OF. ardor, ardur, F. ardeur.]
falchion n.: A broad-bladed sword, slightly curved, shorter and lighter than the ordinary sword; -- used in the Middle Ages. [OE. fauchon, OF. fauchon, LL. fälcio, fr. L. falx, falcis, a sickle, cf. Gr. falcon; cf. It. falcione. Cf. Defalcation.]
leathern a.: Made of leather; consisting of. leather; as, a leathern purse.
casque n.: A piece of defensive or ornamental armor (with or without a vizor) for the head and neck; a helmet. [F. casque, fr. Sp. casco See Cask.]
horrid a.: Rough; rugged; bristling. [L. horridus. See Horror, and cf. Ordure.]
fraudful a.: Full of fraud, deceit, or treachery; trickish; treacherous; fraudulent; -- applied to persons or things. I. Taylor.
clang v. t.: To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound. [L. clangere; akin to Gr. clank.]
wield v. t.: To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
succour v. t.: tiono run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; to relieve; as, to succor a besieged city. [OE. socouren, OF. sucurre, soucourre, secorre, F. secourir, L. succurrere, succursum, to run under, run to the aid of, help, succor; sub under + currere to run.]
pallas n.: Pallas Athene, the Grecian goddess of wisdom, called also Athene, and identified, at a later period, with the Roman Minerva.
theban a.: Of or pertaining to Thebes. Theban year (Anc. Chron.), the Egyptian year of 365 days and 6 hours. J. Bryant. [L. Thebanus.]
galling a.: Fitted to gall or chafe; vexing; harassing; irritating.
refulgent a.: Casting a bright light; radiant; brilliant; resplendent; shining; splendid; as, refulgent beams. [L. refulgens, p. pr. of refulgere to flash back, to shine bright; pref. re- re- + fulgere to shine. See Fulgent.]
dreary a.: Sorrowful; distressful. [OE. dreori, dreri, AS. dreórig, sad; akin to G. traurig, and prob. to AS. dreósan to fall, Goth. driusan. Cf. Dross, Drear, Drizzle, Drowse.]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
reverend a.: Worthy of reverence; entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection; venerable. [F. révérend, L. reverendus, fr. revereri. See Revere.]
sceptre n.: A staff or baton borne by a sovereign, as a ceremonial badge or emblem of authority; a royal mace. [F. sceptre, L. sceptrum, from Gr. shaft. See Shaft, and cf. Scape a stem, shaft.]
coursed a.: Hunted; as, a coursed hare.
pillager n.: One who pillages.
betwixt prep.: In the space which separates; between. [OE. betwix, bitwix, rarely bitwixt, AS. betweox, betweohs, betweoh, betwih; pref. be- by + a form fr. AS. twa two. See Between.]
unwary a.: Not vigilant against danger; not wary or cautious; unguarded; precipitate; heedless; careless. [Cf. Unware.]
leveret n.: A hare in the first year of its age. [F. levraut, dim. of lièvre hare, L. lepus. Cf. Leporine.]
dastard n.: One who meanly shrinks from danger; an arrant coward; a poltroon. [Prob. from Icel. dæstr exhausted. breathless, p. p. of dæsa to groan, lose one's breath; cf. dasask to become exhausted, and E. daze.]
carnage n.: Flesh of slain animals or men. [F. carnage, LL. carnaticum tribute of animals, flesh of animals, fr. L. caro, carnis, flesh. See Carnal.]
despoil v. t.: To strip, as of clothing; to divest or unclothe. [OF. despoiller, F. dépouiller, L. despoliare, despoliatum; de- + spoliare to strip, rob, spolium spoil, booty. Cf. Spoil, Despoliation.]
shook v. t.: To pack, as staves, in a shook.
bribe n.: A gift begged; a present. [F. bribe a lump of bread, scraps, leavings of meals (that are generally given to a beggar), LL. briba scrap of bread; cf. OF. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonousl]
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
pelasgian a.: Of or pertaining to the Pelasgians, an ancient people of Greece, of roving habits.
rhesus n.: A monkey; the bhunder.
panoply n.: Defensive armor in general; a full suit of defensive armor.
bravely adv.: In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly; nobly.
sternly adv.: In a stern manner.
blandishment n.: The act of blandishing; a word or act expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart; soft words and artful caresses; cajolery; allurement. [Cf. OF. blandissement.]
wrathful a.: Full of wrath; very angry; greatly incensed; ireful; passionate; as, a wrathful man.
furry a.: Covered with fur; dressed in fur. [From Fur.]
thracian a.: Of or pertaining to Thrace, or its people.
devious a.: Out of a straight line; winding; varying from directness; as, a devious path or way. [L. devius; de + via way. See Viaduct.]
reclined a.: Falling or turned downward; reclinate.
fulgid a.: Shining; glittering; dazzling. [L. fulgidus. See Fulgent.]
aspire v. t.: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
remurmur v. t.: To murmur again; to utter back, or reply, in murmurs. [Pref. re- + murmur: cf. F. remurmurare.]
resistless a.: Having no power to resist; making no opposition.
guardless a.: Without a guard or defense; unguarded. Chapman.
breathless a.: Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath.
deathful a.: Full of death or slaughter; murderous; destructive; bloody.
tore n.: The dead grass that remains on mowing land in winter and spring. Mortimer. [Probably from the root of tear; cf. W. tór a break, cut, tóri to break, cut.]
snowy a.: White like snow.
scourge n.: A lash; a strap or cord; especially, a lash used to inflict pain or punishment; an instrument of punishment or discipline; a whip. [F. escourgée, fr. L. excoriata (sc. scutica) a stripped off (lash or whip), fr. excoriate to strip, to skin. See Excoriate.]
depart v. i.: To part; to divide; to separate. [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide, distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L. de) + partir to part, depart,]
kinsman n.: A man of the same race or family; one related by blood.
deform a.: Deformed; misshapen; shapeless; horrid. [L. deformis; de- + forma form: cf. OF. deforme, F. difforme. Cf. Difform.]
trophy n.: A sign or memorial of a victory raised on the field of battle, or, in case of a naval victory, on the nearest land. Sometimes trophies were erected in the chief city of the conquered people. [F. trophée (cf. It. & Sp. trofeo), L. tropaeum, trophaeum, Gr. Trope.]
methinks v.: It seems to me; I think. See Me. [AS. þyncan to seem, me þynceedh, me þuhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.]
deem v. t.: To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d, OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme, Goth. d. See Doom, n., an]
headless a.: Having no head; beheaded; as, a headless body, neck, or carcass. [AS. heáfodleás.]
acclaim v. i.: To shout applause.
pavilion n.: A temporary movable habitation; a large tent; a marquee; esp., a tent raised on posts. [F. pavillon, fr. L. pavilio a butterfly, also, a tent, because spread out like a butterfly's wings.]
genial a.: Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive. [L. genialis: cf. OF. genial. See Genius.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Book X: The Night-Adventure of Diomed and Ulysses is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Iliad, Project Gutenberg ebook #6130, the Alexander Pope translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Homer, Book X: The Night-Adventure of Diomed and Ulysses, in The Iliad (1720), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #6130, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/homer-iliad/book-x-the-night-adventure-of-diomed-and-ulysses.html, id L14022.

Form and metre

Book X: The Night-Adventure of Diomed and Ulysses is 680 lines in 51 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 95% of the lines: heroic couplets. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 91%). 96% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 18 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 7% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in heroic couplets, other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 AABBCCDDEEBBFFGGHH---D lay^A · day^A · oppress'd^B · breast^B · power^C · shower^C · shore^D · roar^D · expires^E · fires^E · breast^B · confess'd^B · surveys^F · blaze^F · blow^G · foe^G · coast^H · host^H · jove · above · despair · war^D
2 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMM revolves^A · resolves^A · debate^B · state^B · round^C · bound^C · conceal'd^D · held^D · woes^E · repose^E · before^F · more^F · spread^G · head^G · went^H · tent^H · descried^I · side^I · begun^J · on^J · hours^K · powers^K · task^L · ask^L · go^M · foe^M
3 AABBCCDDEEFFGG stand^A · demand^A · part^B · art^B · denies^C · sacrifice^C · believed^D · achieved^D · done^E · sun^E · adorn^F · born^F · tell^G · fell^G
4 AABBCC--DDDEEFFGG fleet^A · crete^A · repair^B · care^B · guides^C · presides^C · borne · return · replied^D · guide^D · wide^D · raise^E · praise^E · birth^F · worth^F · below^G · woe^G
5 AABBCCDDEE cares^A · repairs^A · found^B · around^B · rears^C · spears^C · rage^D · age^D · head^E · said^E
6 AABB unknown^A · alone^A · sentinel^B · tell^B
7 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ rejoin'd^A · kind^A · stands^B · bands^B · bend^C · end^C · sustain^D · pain^D · known^E · alone^E · design^F · mine^F · suggest^G · rest^G · friend^H · descend^H · excite^I · night^I · invade^J · shade^J
8 --AABBBCCDDEEEFFGGHHII above · jove · mankind^A · mind^A · ordain^B · again^B · remain^B · obeys^C · raise^C · need^D · speed^D · feet^E · fleet^E · crete^E · decree^F · thee^F · share^G · care^G · sue^H · you^H · demands^I · hands^I
9 AABBCCDDEEFF allow^A · now^A · kind^B · mind^B · sway^C · way^C · prevent^D · tent^D · call^E · wall^E · gates^F · waits^F
10 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMMNNOOPP withstand^A · command^A · rose^B · enclose^B · join'd^C · lined^C · haste^D · pass'd^D · crowd^E · aloud^E · sent^F · tent^F · fright^G · night^G · replied^H · tried^H · sought^I · thought^I · fight^J · night^J · shield^K · field^K · found^L · round^L · field^M · shield^M · upright^N · light^N · bed^O · head^O · shakes^P · awakes^P
11 AABB strong^A · long^A · foe^B · below^B
12 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHII fled^A · said^A · knows^B · repose^B · wake^C · undertake^C · care^D · bear^D · conspire^E · sire^E · host^F · lost^F · strife^G · life^G · engage^H · age^H · rest^I · best^I
13 AA-BB flung^A · hung^A · along · speed^B · lead^B
14 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMMNNOOPPQQ guard^A · prepared^A · keep^B · sleep^B · maintain^C · train^C · bold^D · fold^D · hear^E · ear^E · around^F · sound^F · surprise^G · eyes^G · affright^H · sight^H · survey'd^I · shade^I · employ^J · troy^J · said^K · led^K · behind^L · join'd^L · around^M · crown'd^M · gore^N · before^N · hand^O · band^O · spread^P · dead^P · son^Q · begun^Q
15 AABBCCC-DDEEBBFFGG brave^A · save^A · go^B · foe^B · near^C · hear^C · prepare^C · war · recite^D · night^D · days^E · praise^E · bestow^B · owe^B · provide^F · side^F · increased^G · feast^G
16 AABBCCDDEE fear^A · here^A · way^B · obey^B · join^C · design^C · aid^D · made^D · acquire^E · fire^E
17 AABBCCDDEEFFGG arose^A · glows^A · share^B · heir^B · gain^C · vain^C · ends^D · friends^D · join^E · thine^E · made^F · paid^F · spake^G · sake^G
18 AABBCCDD rejoin'd^A · mind^A · stands^B · hands^B · care^C · war^C · require^D · fire^D
19 AABBCCDD fame^A · blame^A · foe^B · know^B · away^C · day^C · plains^D · remains^D
20 AABBCCDDEEFFCCGGHHAAIIJJKKLL press'd^A · dress'd^A · brave^B · gave^B · head^C · o'erspread^C · worn^D · adorn^D · sword^E · stored^E · bound^F · crown'd^F · spread^C · head^C · son^G · won^G · prize^H · ties^H · possess'd^A · press'd^A · forsake^I · take^I · intent^J · sent^J · view^K · knew^K · pray'd^L · maid^L
21 AABBCCDD wield^A · shield^A · way^B · survey^B · shade^C · convey'd^C · adorn^D · unborn^D
22 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK prayer^A · hear^A · won^B · son^B · powers^C · towers^C · show^D · foe^D · shield^E · yield^E · maid^F · aid^F · stroke^G · yoke^G · horns^H · adorns^H · skies^I · enterprise^I · prey^J · way^J · plain^K · slain^K
23 AABB troy^A · employ^A · enclosed^B · proposed^B
24 AABBCCDDEE prepared^A · reward^A · make^B · take^B · flight^C · night^C · most^D · host^D · excel^E · well^E
25 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHH troy^A · boy^A · told^B · gold^B · face^C · race^C · meet^D · fleet^D · skies^E · prize^E · car^F · war^F · go^G · know^G · way^H · betray^H
26 AABBCC high^A · sky^A · all^B · hall^B · borne^C · adorn^C
27 AABBCCDDEEFF vain^A · plain^A · flung^B · hung^B · lined^C · shined^C · shore^D · more^D · throng^E · along^E · tread^F · diomed^F
28 AABBCCDDEE feet^A · fleet^A · main^B · slain^B · space^C · pace^C · before^D · shore^D · employ^E · troy^E
29 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMMNNOOPPQQ head^A · dead^A · flew^B · pursue^B · between^C · green^C · allows^D · ploughs^D · pass'd^E · haste^E · throw^F · foe^F · wind^G · hind^G · way^H · prey^H · flew^I · pursue^I · falls^J · walls^J · thought^K · wrought^K · advance^L · lance^L · remain^M · plain^M · cast^N · pass'd^N · wood^O · stood^O · head^P · fled^P · stands^Q · demands^Q
30 AABB owe^A · bestow^A · told^B · gold^B
31 AABBCCDD reply^A · die^A · sight^B · night^B · find^C · mind^C · led^D · dead^D
32 AABBCCDDEE look^A · shook^A · deceived^B · believed^B · car^C · war^C · make^D · take^D · flight^E · night^E
33 AABBCCDDEEFF- prize^A · replies^A · demand^B · hand^B · tame^C · dame^C · recite^D · night^D · sleep^E · keep^E · are^F · far^F · war
34 --AABBCC-- son · own · tent^A · monument^A · partake^B · wake^B · keep^C · sleep^C · far · war
35 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK train^A · plain^A · dispose^B · bows^B · host^C · coast^C · land^D · band^D · wall^E · all^E · won^F · son^F · go^G · snow^G · infold^H · gold^H · load^I · god^I · borne^J · mourn^J · reveal^K · tell^K
36 AABBCC frown^A · shown^A · strife^B · life^B · explore^C · more^C
37 AABBCCDDEE prepared^A · beard^A · flew^B · two^B · hell^C · fell^C · tear^D · spear^D · skies^E · prize^E
38 AABBCCDD spoil^A · toil^A · praise^B · ways^B · defaced^C · placed^C · plain^D · again^D
39 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHII fields^A · shields^A · lay^B · day^B · band^C · stand^C · reclined^D · shined^D · profound^E · bound^E · descries^F · prize^F · behold^G · gold^G · try^H · untie^H · deeds^I · steeds^I
40 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLL warms^A · arms^A · pursued^B · blood^B · gore^C · shore^C · den^D · pen^D · way^E · prey^E · hand^F · band^F · slew^G · drew^G · convey^H · way^H · bred^I · dead^I · found^J · ground^J · sent^K · tent^K · tore^L · more^L
41 AABBCCDDEEFF detains^A · reins^A · along^B · hung^B · retire^C · fire^C · blade^D · shade^D · lay^E · away^E · stands^F · commands^F
42 AABB cease^A · peace^A · enjoy^B · troy^B
43 AABB maid^A · obey'd^A · bow^B · snow^B
44 AABBCCDDEEFFGGAA light^A · flight^A · bless'd^B · breast^B · power^C · hour^C · attend^D · friend^D · blood^E · stood^E · coast^F · most^F · vain^G · plain^G · affright^A · night^A
45 AABBCC shade^A · laid^A · bore^B · gore^B · feet^C · fleet^C
46 AABBCCBDEEDD sound^A · around^A · hear^B · ear^B · breed^C · succeed^C · bear^B · war^D · vain^E · train^E · shore^D · more^D
47 AABB appear^A · fear^A · hands^B · demands^B
48 AABBCCDDEEFFGG proclaim^A · name^A · bestow'd^B · god^B · gay^C · day^C · yield^D · field^D · sight^E · fight^E · prize^F · skies^F · roar^G · gore^G
49 AABBCCDDEE rejoin'd^A · kind^A · view^B · slew^B · around^C · ground^C · came^D · fame^D · explore^E · shore^E
50 AABBCCDDD flew^A · pursue^A · borne^B · adorn^B · greet^C · wheat^C · convey'd^D · laid^D · maid^D
51 AABB--CC stain^A · main^A · toil^B · oil^B · hour · pour · divine^C · wine^C

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
All night the chiefs before their vessels lay,	10	·······/˘·
And lost in sleep the labours of the day:	10	·····/˘···
All but the king: with various thoughts oppress’d,	10	·····/˘·˘/
His country’s cares lay rolling in his breast.	10	·/˘··/˘···
As when by lightnings Jove’s ethereal power	10	···/˘·˘/˘/
Foretels the rattling hail, or weighty shower,	11	····/˘··/˘/
Or sends soft snows to whiten all the shore,	10	·····/˘···
Or bids the brazen throat of war to roar;	10	···/˘·····
By fits one flash succeeds as one expires,	11	····˘/··˘/˘
And heaven flames thick with momentary fires:	11	·/···/˘·˘/˘
So bursting frequent from Atrides’ breast,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Sighs following sighs his inward fears confess’d.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Now o’er the fields, dejected, he surveys	10	····˘/˘·˘/
From thousand Trojan fires the mounting blaze;	10	·/˘/˘/·/˘·
Hears in the passing wind their music blow,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And marks distinct the voices of the foe.	10	··˘/·/˘···
Now looking backwards to the fleet and coast,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Anxious he sorrows for the endangered host.	11	/˘·/˘··˘/˘·
He rends his hair, in sacrifice to Jove,	10	·····/˘···
And sues to him that ever lives above:	10	·····/˘···
Inly he groans; while glory and despair	10	/˘···/˘·˘/
Divide his heart, and wage a double war.	10	˘/·····/˘·
A thousand cares his labouring breast revolves;	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
To seek sage Nestor now the chief resolves,	10	···/˘···˘/
With him, in wholesome counsels, to debate	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
What yet remains to save the afflicted state.	11	··˘/···˘/˘·
He rose, and first he cast his mantle round,	10	·······/˘·
Next on his feet the shining sandals bound;	10	·····/˘/˘·
A lion’s yellow spoils his back conceal’d;	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
His warlike hand a pointed javelin held.	10	·/···/˘/˘·
Meanwhile his brother, press’d with equal woes,	10	/··/˘··/˘·
Alike denied the gifts of soft repose,	10	˘/˘/····˘/
Laments for Greece, that in his cause before	10	˘/········
So much had suffer’d and must suffer more.	10	···/˘··/˘·
A leopard’s spotted hide his shoulders spread:	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
A brazen helmet glitter’d on his head:	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
Thus (with a javelin in his hand) he went	10	···/˘·····
To wake Atrides in the royal tent.	10	·······/˘·
Already waked, Atrides he descried,	10	˘/˘·˘·····
His armour buckling at his vessel’s side.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Joyful they met; the Spartan thus begun:	10	/˘···/˘·˘/
“Why puts my brother his bright armour on?	10	···/˘··/˘·
Sends he some spy, amidst these silent hours,	11	····˘/·/˘/˘
To try yon camp, and watch the Trojan powers?	11	·······/˘/˘
But say, what hero shall sustain that task?	10	···/˘·˘/··
Such bold exploits uncommon courage ask;	10	··/·˘/˘/˘·
Guideless, alone, through night’s dark shade to go,	10	/˘˘/······
And midst a hostile camp explore the foe.”	10	···/˘·˘/··
To whom the king: “In such distress we stand,	10	······˘/··
No vulgar counsel our affairs demand;	10	·/˘/˘/˘/˘/
Greece to preserve, is now no easy part,	10	··˘/···/˘·
But asks high wisdom, deep design, and art.	10	···/˘·˘/··
For Jove, averse, our humble prayer denies,	10	··˘///˘·˘/
And bows his head to Hector’s sacrifice.	10	·····/˘/˘·
What eye has witness’d, or what ear believed,	10	···/˘···˘/
In one great day, by one great arm achieved,	10	········˘/
Such wondrous deeds as Hector’s hand has done,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And we beheld, the last revolving sun?	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
What honours the beloved of Jove adorn!	10	·/˘·˘/··˘/
Sprung from no god, and of no goddess born;	10	·······/˘·
Yet such his acts, as Greeks unborn shall tell,	10	······//··
And curse the battle where their fathers fell.	10	···/˘··/˘·
“Now speed thy hasty course along the fleet,	10	···/˘·˘/··
There call great Ajax, and the prince of Crete;	10	···/······
Ourself to hoary Nestor will repair;	10	˘/·/˘/˘·˘/
To keep the guards on duty be his care,	10	·····/˘···
(For Nestor’s influence best that quarter guides,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Whose son with Merion, o’er the watch presides.”)	10	···/˘···˘/
To whom the Spartan: “These thy orders borne,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Say, shall I stay, or with despatch return?”	10	······˘/˘/
“There shall thou stay, (the king of men replied,)	10	········˘/
Else may we miss to meet, without a guide,	10	··········
The paths so many, and the camp so wide.	10	···/˘·····
Still, with your voice the slothful soldiers raise,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Urge by their fathers’ fame their future praise.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Forget we now our state and lofty birth;	10	˘/··/··/˘·
Not titles here, but works, must prove our worth.	10	·/˘·····/·
To labour is the lot of man below;	10	·/········
And when Jove gave us life, he gave us woe.”	10	··········
This said, each parted to his several cares:	10	···/˘··/˘·
The king to Nestor’s sable ship repairs;	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
The sage protector of the Greeks he found	10	··˘/˘·····
Stretch’d in his bed with all his arms around;	10	··········
The various-colour’d scarf, the shield he rears,	10	·/˘/˘·····
The shining helmet, and the pointed spears;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
The dreadful weapons of the warrior’s rage,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
That, old in arms, disdain’d the peace of age.	10	····˘/····
Then, leaning on his hand his watchful head,	10	·/˘····/˘·
The hoary monarch raised his eyes and said:	10	·/˘/······
“What art thou, speak, that on designs unknown,	10	······˘/˘/
While others sleep, thus range the camp alone;	10	·/˘·····˘/
Seek’st thou some friend or nightly sentinel?	10	·····/˘/˘˘
Stand off, approach not, but thy purpose tell.”	10	··˘/···/˘·
“O son of Neleus, (thus the king rejoin’d,)	10	········˘/
Pride of the Greeks, and glory of thy kind!	10	·····/˘···
Lo, here the wretched Agamemnon stands,	10	···/˘·˘/··
The unhappy general of the Grecian bands,	11	·˘/˘/˘··/˘·
Whom Jove decrees with daily cares to bend,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And woes, that only with his life shall end!	10	···/˘·····
Scarce can my knees these trembling limbs sustain,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And scarce my heart support its load of pain.	10	····˘/····
No taste of sleep these heavy eyes have known,	10	·····/˘···
Confused, and sad, I wander thus alone,	10	˘/···/˘·˘/
With fears distracted, with no fix’d design;	10	··˘/˘···˘/
And all my people’s miseries are mine.	10	···/˘/˘˘··
If aught of use thy waking thoughts suggest,	10	·····/˘·˘/
(Since cares, like mine, deprive thy soul of rest,)	10	····˘/····
Impart thy counsel, and assist thy friend;	10	˘/·/˘·˘/··
Now let us jointly to the trench descend,	10	···/˘···˘/
At every gate the fainting guard excite,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
Tired with the toils of day and watch of night;	10	/·········
Else may the sudden foe our works invade,	10	···/˘·/·˘/
So near, and favour’d by the gloomy shade.”	10	·······/˘·
To him thus Nestor: “Trust the powers above,	10	···/˘··/··
Nor think proud Hector’s hopes confirm’d by Jove:	10	···/˘·˘/··
How ill agree the views of vain mankind,	10	··˘/····//
And the wise counsels of the eternal mind!	11	···/˘··˘/˘·
Audacious Hector, if the gods ordain	10	˘/˘/˘···˘/
That great Achilles rise and rage again,	10	··˘/˘···˘/
What toils attend thee, and what woes remain!	10	··˘/····˘/
Lo, faithful Nestor thy command obeys;	10	·/˘/˘·˘/˘/
The care is next our other chiefs to raise:	10	····//˘···
Ulysses, Diomed, we chiefly need;	10	˘/˘····/˘·
Meges for strength, Oïleus famed for speed.	10	··········
Some other be despatch’d of nimbler feet,	10	·/˘·······
To those tall ships, remotest of the fleet,	10	····˘/˘···
Where lie great Ajax and the king of Crete.	10	···/······
To rouse the Spartan I myself decree;	10	···/˘··/˘/
Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee,	10	··········
Yet must I tax his sloth, that claims no share	10	··········
With his great brother in his martial care:	10	···/˘··/˘·
Him it behoved to every chief to sue,	10	·····/˘···
Preventing every part perform’d by you;	10	˘/˘/˘·˘/··
For strong necessity our toils demands,	10	··˘/˘˘/·˘/
Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands.”	10	··/··/˘·/·
To whom the king: “With reverence we allow	10	·····/˘·˘/
Thy just rebukes, yet learn to spare them now:	10	··˘/······
My generous brother is of gentle kind,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
He seems remiss, but bears a valiant mind;	10	··˘/···/˘·
Through too much deference to our sovereign sway,	10	···/˘·//˘·
Content to follow when we lead the way:	10	˘/·/˘·····
But now, our ills industrious to prevent,	10	··/·˘/˘·˘/
Long ere the rest he rose, and sought my tent.	10	··········
The chiefs you named, already at his call,	10	····˘/˘···
Prepare to meet us near the navy-wall;	10	˘/·····/˘·
Assembling there, between the trench and gates,	10	˘/˘·······
Near the night-guards, our chosen council waits.”	10	····//˘/˘·
“Then none (said Nestor) shall his rule withstand,	10	···/˘···˘/
For great examples justify command.”	10	··˘/˘/˘·˘/
With that, the venerable warrior rose;	10	···/˘˘/˘˘·
The shining greaves his manly legs enclose;	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
His purple mantle golden buckles join’d,	10	·/˘/˘/˘/˘·
Warm with the softest wool, and doubly lined.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Then rushing from his tent, he snatch’d in haste	10	·/˘·······
His steely lance, that lighten’d as he pass’d.	10	·/˘··/˘···
The camp he traversed through the sleeping crowd,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Stopp’d at Ulysses’ tent, and call’d aloud.	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Ulysses, sudden as the voice was sent,	10	˘/˘/˘·····
Awakes, starts up, and issues from his tent.	10	˘/···/˘···
“What new distress, what sudden cause of fright,	10	··˘/·/˘···
Thus leads you wandering in the silent night?”	10	···/˘··/˘·
“O prudent chief! (the Pylian sage replied)	10	·/˘·····˘/
Wise as thou art, be now thy wisdom tried:	10	·······/˘·
Whatever means of safety can be sought,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Whatever counsels can inspire our thought,	10	·/˘/˘·˘//·
Whatever methods, or to fly or fight;	10	·/˘/˘·····
All, all depend on this important night!”	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
He heard, return’d, and took his painted shield;	10	··˘/···/˘·
Then join’d the chiefs, and follow’d through the field.	10	·····/˘···
Without his tent, bold Diomed they found,	10	··········
All sheathed in arms, his brave companions round:	10	······˘/˘·
Each sunk in sleep, extended on the field,	10	····˘/˘···
His head reclining on his bossy shield.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
A wood of spears stood by, that, fix’d upright,	10	········˘/
Shot from their flashing points a quivering light.	10	···/˘··/˘·
A bull’s black hide composed the hero’s bed;	10	····˘/·/˘·
A splendid carpet roll’d beneath his head.	10	·/˘/˘·····
Then, with his foot, old Nestor gently shakes	10	·····/˘/˘·
The slumbering chief, and in these words awakes:	10	·/˘·····˘/
“Rise, son of Tydeus! to the brave and strong	10	··········
Rest seems inglorious, and the night too long.	10	··˘/˘·····
But sleep’st thou now, when from yon hill the foe	10	··········
Hangs o’er the fleet, and shades our walls below?”	10	······/···
At this, soft slumber from his eyelids fled;	10	···/˘··/··
The warrior saw the hoary chief, and said:	10	·/˘··/˘···
“Wondrous old man! whose soul no respite knows,	10	/˘·····/˘·
Though years and honours bid thee seek repose,	10	···/˘···˘/
Let younger Greeks our sleeping warriors wake;	10	·/˘·//˘/˘·
Ill fits thy age these toils to undertake.”	10	·······/˘·
“My friend, (he answered,) generous is thy care;	10	···/˘/˘···
These toils, my subjects and my sons might bear;	10	···/˘·····
Their loyal thoughts and pious love conspire	11	·/˘··/˘·˘/˘
To ease a sovereign and relieve a sire:	11	···/˘·˘/·/˘
But now the last despair surrounds our host;	10	····˘/˘//·
No hour must pass, no moment must be lost;	10	·/···/˘···
Each single Greek, in this conclusive strife,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Stands on the sharpest edge of death or life:	10	···/˘·····
Yet, if my years thy kind regard engage,	10	······˘/˘/
Employ thy youth as I employ my age;	10	˘/····˘/··
Succeed to these my cares, and rouse the rest;	10	˘/········
He serves me most, who serves his country best.”	10	·······/˘·
This said, the hero o’er his shoulders flung	10	···/˘··/˘·
A lion’s spoils, that to his ankles hung;	10	·/˘····/˘·
Then seized his ponderous lance, and strode along.	10	···/˘···˘/
Meges the bold, with Ajax famed for speed,	10	·····/····
The warrior roused, and to the entrenchments lead.	11	·/˘····˘/˘·
And now the chiefs approach the nightly guard;	10	····˘/·/˘·
A wakeful squadron, each in arms prepared:	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
The unwearied watch their listening leaders keep,	11	·˘/˘··/˘/˘·
And, couching close, repel invading sleep.	10	·/˘·˘/˘/˘·
So faithful dogs their fleecy charge maintain,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
With toil protected from the prowling train;	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
When the gaunt lioness, with hunger bold,	10	···/˘˘·/˘·
Springs from the mountains toward the guarded fold:	11	···/˘···/˘·
Through breaking woods her rustling course they hear;	10	·/˘··/˘···
Loud, and more loud, the clamours strike their ear	10	·····/˘···
Of hounds and men: they start, they gaze around,	10	··········
Watch every side, and turn to every sound.	10	·/˘····/˘·
Thus watch’d the Grecians, cautious of surprise,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Each voice, each motion, drew their ears and eyes:	10	···/˘·····
Each step of passing feet increased the affright;	11	···/˘·˘/·˘/
And hostile Troy was ever full in sight.	10	·/˘··/˘···
Nestor with joy the wakeful band survey’d,	10	/˘···/˘·˘/
And thus accosted through the gloomy shade.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
“’Tis well, my sons! your nightly cares employ;	10	·····/˘·˘/
Else must our host become the scorn of Troy.	10	··/·˘/····
Watch thus, and Greece shall live.” The hero said;	10	·······/˘·
Then o’er the trench the following chieftains led.	10	·····/˘/˘·
His son, and godlike Merion, march’d behind	10	···/˘/˘···
(For these the princes to their council join’d).	10	···/˘··/˘·
The trenches pass’d, the assembled kings around	11	·/˘··˘/˘···
In silent state the consistory crown’d.	10	·/˘··˘/˘˘·
A place there was, yet undefiled with gore,	10	··········
The spot where Hector stopp’d his rage before;	10	···/˘·····
When night descending, from his vengeful hand	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Reprieved the relics of the Grecian band:	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
(The plain beside with mangled corps was spread,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And all his progress mark’d by heaps of dead:)	10	···/······
There sat the mournful kings: when Neleus’ son,	10	···/˘·····
The council opening, in these words begun:	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
“Is there (said he) a chief so greatly brave,	10	·······/˘·
His life to hazard, and his country save?	10	···/˘··/˘·
Lives there a man, who singly dares to go	10	·····/˘···
To yonder camp, or seize some straggling foe?	10	·/˘····/˘·
Or favour’d by the night approach so near,	10	······˘/··
Their speech, their counsels, and designs to hear?	10	···/˘·˘/··
If to besiege our navies they prepare,	10	··˘///˘·˘/
Or Troy once more must be the seat of war?	10	··········
This could he learn, and to our peers recite,	10	······/·˘/
And pass unharm’d the dangers of the night;	10	··˘/·/˘···
What fame were his through all succeeding days,	10	······˘/˘·
While Phœbus shines, or men have tongues to praise!	10	··········
What gifts his grateful country would bestow!	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
What must not Greece to her deliverer owe?	10	······˘/˘·
A sable ewe each leader should provide,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
With each a sable lambkin by her side;	10	···/˘/˘···
At every rite his share should be increased,	10	·/˘·····˘/
And his the foremost honours of the feast.”	10	···/·/˘···
Fear held them mute: alone, untaught to fear,	10	····˘/····
Tydides spoke—“The man you seek is here.	10	··········
Through yon black camps to bend my dangerous way,	10	·······/˘·
Some god within commands, and I obey.	10	····˘/··˘/
But let some other chosen warrior join,	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
To raise my hopes, and second my design.	10	·····/˘·˘/
By mutual confidence and mutual aid,	10	·/˘/˘·/˘˘·
Great deeds are done, and great discoveries made;	10	······˘/˘·
The wise new prudence from the wise acquire,	11	···/˘···˘/˘
And one brave hero fans another’s fire.”	11	···/˘·˘/˘/˘
Contending leaders at the word arose;	10	˘/˘/˘···˘/
Each generous breast with emulation glows;	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
So brave a task each Ajax strove to share,	10	·····/····
Bold Merion strove, and Nestor’s valiant heir;	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
The Spartan wish’d the second place to gain,	10	·/˘··/˘···
And great Ulysses wish’d, nor wish’d in vain.	10	··˘/˘·····
Then thus the king of men the contest ends:	10	·······/˘·
“Thou first of warriors, and thou best of friends,	10	···/˘·····
Undaunted Diomed! what chief to join	10	˘/˘·······
In this great enterprise, is only thine.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Just be thy choice, without affection made;	10	······˘/˘·
To birth, or office, no respect be paid;	10	···/˘·˘/··
Let worth determine here.” The monarch spake,	10	··˘/˘··/··
And inly trembled for his brother’s sake.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
“Then thus (the godlike Diomed rejoin’d)	10	···/˘···˘/
My choice declares the impulse of my mind.	10	··˘/·/˘···
How can I doubt, while great Ulysses stands	10	······˘/˘·
To lend his counsels and assist our hands?	10	···/˘·˘//·
A chief, whose safety is Minerva’s care;	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
So famed, so dreadful, in the works of war:	10	···/˘·····
Bless’d in his conduct, I no aid require;	11	···/˘····/˘
Wisdom like his might pass through flames of fire.”	11	/˘·······/˘
“It fits thee not, before these chiefs of fame,	10	··········
(Replied the sage,) to praise me, or to blame:	10	˘/········
Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe,	10	·····/˘···
Are lost on hearers that our merits know.	10	···/˘·//˘·
But let us haste—Night rolls the hours away,	10	·······/˘/
The reddening orient shows the coming day,	11	·/˘/˘···/˘·
The stars shine fainter on the ethereal plains,	11	···/˘··˘/˘·
And of night’s empire but a third remains.”	10	···/˘···˘/
Thus having spoke, with generous ardour press’d,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
In arms terrific their huge limbs they dress’d.	10	··˘/˘·····
A two-edged falchion Thrasymed the brave,	10	···˘/˘····
And ample buckler, to Tydides gave:	10	·/˘/˘·····
Then in a leathern helm he cased his head,	10	···/˘·····
Short of its crest, and with no plume o’erspread:	10	··········
(Such as by youths unused to arms are worn:)	10	····˘/····
No spoils enrich it, and no studs adorn.	10	··˘/····˘/
Next him Ulysses took a shining sword,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
A bow and quiver, with bright arrows stored:	10	···/˘··/˘·
A well-proved casque, with leather braces bound,	10	·····/˘/˘·
(Thy gift, Meriones,) his temples crown’d;	9	··/˘˘·/˘·
Soft wool within; without, in order spread,	10	·······/˘·
A boar’s white teeth grinn’d horrid o’er his head.	10	·····/˘···
This from Amyntor, rich Ormenus’ son,	10	··········
Autolycus by fraudful rapine won,	10	·····/˘/˘·
And gave Amphidamas; from him the prize	10	··········
Molus received, the pledge of social ties;	10	··˘/···/˘·
The helmet next by Merion was possess’d,	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
And now Ulysses’ thoughtful temples press’d.	10	··˘/˘/˘/˘·
Thus sheathed in arms, the council they forsake,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And dark through paths oblique their progress take.	10	····˘/·/··
Just then, in sign she favour’d their intent,	10	········˘/
A long-wing’d heron great Minerva sent:	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
This, though surrounding shades obscured their view,	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
By the shrill clang and whistling wings they knew.	10	·····/˘···
As from the right she soar’d, Ulysses pray’d,	10	······˘/˘·
Hail’d the glad omen, and address’d the maid:	10	···/˘·˘/··
“O daughter of that god whose arm can wield	10	·/˘·······
The avenging bolt, and shake the saber shield!	11	·˘/˘····/˘·
O thou! for ever present in my way,	10	···/˘/˘···
Who all my motions, all my toils survey!	10	···/˘···˘/
Safe may we pass beneath the gloomy shade,	10	·······/˘·
Safe by thy succour to our ships convey’d,	10	···/˘·/·˘/
And let some deed this signal night adorn,	10	·····/˘·˘/
To claim the tears of Trojans yet unborn.”	10	·····/˘·//
Then godlike Diomed preferr’d his prayer:	10	·/˘···˘/··
“Daughter of Jove, unconquer’d Pallas! hear.	10	/˘········
Great queen of arms, whose favour Tydeus won,	10	·····/˘···
As thou defend’st the sire, defend the son.	10	·····/˘/··
When on Æsopus’ banks the banded powers	10	······/˘/˘
Of Greece he left, and sought the Theban towers,	11	·······/˘/˘
Peace was his charge; received with peaceful show,	10	····˘/·/˘·
He went a legate, but return’d a foe:	10	···/˘·˘/··
Then help’d by thee, and cover’d by thy shield,	10	·····/˘···
He fought with numbers, and made numbers yield.	10	···/˘··/˘·
So now be present, O celestial maid!	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
So still continue to the race thine aid!	10	··˘/˘·····
A youthful steer shall fall beneath the stroke,	10	·/˘·······
Untamed, unconscious of the galling yoke,	10	···/˘··/˘·
With ample forehead, and with spreading horns,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Whose taper tops refulgent gold adorns.”	10	·/˘·˘/˘·˘/
The heroes pray’d, and Pallas from the skies	10	·/˘·······
Accords their vow, succeeds their enterprise.	10	˘/··˘/·/˘·
Now, like two lions panting for the prey,	10	···/˘/˘···
With dreadful thoughts they trace the dreary way,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Through the black horrors of the ensanguined plain,	11	···/˘······
Through dust, through blood, o’er arms, and hills of slain.	10	··········
Nor less bold Hector, and the sons of Troy,	10	···/˘·····
On high designs the wakeful hours employ;	10	··˘/·/˘/˘/
The assembled peers their lofty chief enclosed;	11	·˘/˘··/˘·˘/
Who thus the counsels of his breast proposed:	10	···/˘···˘/
“What glorious man, for high attempts prepared,	10	·/˘···˘/˘/
Dares greatly venture for a rich reward?	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
Of yonder fleet a bold discovery make,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
What watch they keep, and what resolves they take?	10	······˘/··
If now subdued they meditate their flight,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And, spent with toil, neglect the watch of night?	10	····˘/····
His be the chariot that shall please him most,	10	···/˘·····
Of all the plunder of the vanquish’d host;	10	···/˘··/˘·
His the fair steeds that all the rest excel,	10	········˘/
And his the glory to have served so well.”	10	···/˘·····
A youth there was among the tribes of Troy,	10	··········
Dolon his name, Eumedes’ only boy,	9	······/˘·
(Five girls beside the reverend herald told.)	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
Rich was the son in brass, and rich in gold;	10	··········
Not bless’d by nature with the charms of face,	10	···/˘·····
But swift of foot, and matchless in the race.	10	·····/˘···
“Hector! (he said) my courage bids me meet	10	/˘···/˘···
This high achievement, and explore the fleet:	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
But first exalt thy sceptre to the skies,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And swear to grant me the demanded prize;	10	······˘/˘·
The immortal coursers, and the glittering car,	11	·˘/˘/˘··/˘·
That bear Pelides through the ranks of war.	10	··········
Encouraged thus, no idle scout I go,	10	˘/˘··/˘···
Fulfil thy wish, their whole intention know,	10	······˘/˘·
Even to the royal tent pursue my way,	10	/··/˘·˘/··
And all their counsels, all their aims betray.”	10	···/˘···˘/
The chief then heaved the golden sceptre high,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Attesting thus the monarch of the sky:	10	˘/˘··/····
“Be witness thou! immortal lord of all!	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
Whose thunder shakes the dark aerial hall:	10	·/˘···/˘˘·
By none but Dolon shall this prize be borne,	10	··········
And him alone the immortal steeds adorn.”	11	··˘/·˘/˘·˘/
Thus Hector swore: the gods were call’d in vain,	10	·/˘·······
But the rash youth prepares to scour the plain:	10	····˘/·/··
Across his back the bended bow he flung,	10	˘/···/˘···
A wolf’s grey hide around his shoulders hung,	10	·······/˘·
A ferret’s downy fur his helmet lined,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
And in his hand a pointed javelin shined.	10	·····/˘/˘·
Then (never to return) he sought the shore,	10	·/˘·˘/····
And trod the path his feet must tread no more.	10	··········

The first 400 of 680 lines; the reader marks them all.

Notes from the edition 5

Notes by Theodore Alois Buckley to Pope's Iliad (1899 edition, Project Gutenberg #6130).

Stanza 1, line 3 “All else of nature’s common gift partake: Unhappy Dido was alone awake.” —Dryden’s Virgil, iv. 767.
Stanza 8, line 14 The king of Crete: Idomeneus.
Stanza 20, line 13 Soft wool within, i e. a kind of woollen stuffing, pressed in between the straps, to protect the head, and make the helmet fit close.
Stanza 39, line 24 “All the circumstances of this action—the night, Rhesus buried in a profound sleep, and Diomede with the sword in his hand hanging over the head of that prince—furnished Homer with the idea of this fiction, which represents Rhesus lying fast asleep, and, as it were, beholding his enemy in a dream, plunging the sword into his bosom. This image is very natural; for a man in his condition awakes no farther than to see confusedly what environs him, and to think it not a reality but a dream.”—Pope. “There’s one did laugh in his sleep, and one cry’d murder; They wak’d each other.” —Macbeth.
Stanza 40, line 24 “All the circumstances of this action—the night, Rhesus buried in a profound sleep, and Diomede with the sword in his hand hanging over the head of that prince—furnished Homer with the idea of this fiction, which represents Rhesus lying fast asleep, and, as it were, beholding his enemy in a dream, plunging the sword into his bosom. This image is very natural; for a man in his condition awakes no farther than to see confusedly what environs him, and to think it not a reality but a dream.”—Pope. “There’s one did laugh in his sleep, and one cry’d murder; They wak’d each other.” —Macbeth.

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