The Iliad

by Homer

Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for the most part, to shut our ears against conviction; since, from the very gradual character of our education, we must continually forget, and emancipate ourselves from, knowledge previously acquired; we must set aside old notions and embrace fresh ones; and, as we learn, we must be daily unlearning something which it has cost us no small labour and anxiety to acquire.

When we have read Plato or Xenophon, we think we know something of Socrates; when we have fairly read and examined both, we feel convinced that we are something worse than ignorant.

Melesigenes carried on his adopted father's school with great success, exciting the admiration not only of the inhabitants of Smyrna, but also of the strangers whom the trade carried on there, especially in the exportation of corn, attracted to that city.

A nit picky comment, but Smyrna would not have exported corn becycorn was unknown in Europe until brought back from the Americas after Christopher Columbus.

"O Thestorides, of the many things hidden from the knowledge of man, nothing is more unintelligible than the human heart."

"It seems here of chief importance to expect no more than the nature of things makes possible.

Grammarians are not poets by profession, but may be so per accidens.

"They pour along like a fire that sweeps the whole earth before it."

Fable may be divided into the probable, the allegorical, and the marvellous.

As prudence may sometimes sink to suspicion, so may a great judgment decline to coldness; and as magnanimity may run up to profusion or extravagance, so may a great invention to redundancy or wildness.

Simplicity is the mean between ostentation and rusticity.

If thou hast strength, 'twas Heaven that strength bestow'd; For know, vain man! thy valour is from God.

Have we not known thee, slave! of all our host, The man who acts the least, upbraids the most?

Where now are all your high resolves at last? Your leagues concluded, your engagements past? Vow'd with libations and with victims then, Now vanish'd like their smoke: the faith of men!

Before that day, if any Greek invite His country's troops to base, inglorious flight, Stand forth that Greek! and hoist his sail to fly, And die the dastard first, who dreads to die.

His separate troops let every leader call, Each strengthen each, and all encourage all.

Thus prayed the chief: his unavailing prayer Great Jove refused, and toss'd in empty air: The God averse, while yet the fumes arose, Prepared new toils, and doubled woes on woes.

(We, wretched mortals! lost in doubts below, But guess by rumour, and but boast we know,)

To count them all, demands a thousand tongues, A throat of brass, and adamantine lungs. Daughters of Jove, assist! inspired by you The mighty labour dauntless I pursue;

Beauty and youth; in vain to these you trust, When youth and beauty shall be laid in dust:

His sons are faithless, headlong in debate, And youth itself an empty wavering state; Cool age advances, venerably wise, Turns on all hands its deep-discerning eyes; Sees what befell, and what may yet befall, Concludes from both, and best provides for all.

But heaven its gifts not all at once bestows, These years with wisdom crowns, with action those: The field of combat fits the young and bold, The solemn council best becomes the old: To you the glorious conflict I resign, Let sage advice, the palm of age, be mine."

Say, is it thus those honours you requite? The first in banquets, but the last in fight."

As o'er their prey rapacious wolves engage, Man dies on man, and all is blood and rage.

"Ill with Jove's daughter bloody fights agree, The field of combat is no scene for thee: Go, let thy own soft sex employ thy care, Go, lull the coward, or delude the fair.

Know thou, whoe'er with heavenly power contends, Short is his date, and soon his glory ends; From fields of death when late he shall retire, No infant on his knees shall call him sire.

Strong as thou art, some god may yet be found, To stretch thee pale and gasping on the ground;

Another race the following spring supplies; They fall successive, and successive rise: So generations in their course decay; So flourish these, when those are pass'd away.

Thy Hector, wrapt in everlasting sleep, Shall neither hear thee sigh, nor see thee weep."

'Not hate, but glory, made these chiefs contend; And each brave foe was in his soul a friend.'"

Thou, in thy time, more sound advice hast given; But wisdom has its date, assign'd by heaven.

For what remains; let funeral flames be fed With heroes' corps: I war not with the dead:

"Strong god of ocean! thou, whose rage can make The solid earth's eternal basis shake! What cause of fear from mortal works could move 187 The meanest subject of our realms above? Where'er the sun's refulgent rays are cast, Thy power is honour'd, and thy fame shall last.

But now the unfruitful glories charm no more. Fight or not fight, a like reward we claim, The wretch and hero find their prize the same. Alike regretted in the dust he lies, Who yields ignobly, or who bravely dies. Of all my dangers, all my glorious pains, A life of labours, lo! what fruit remains?

Deceived for once, I trust not kings again.

For once deceiv'd, was his; but twice were mine,

Here, if I stay, before the Trojan town, Short is my date, but deathless my renown: If I return, I quit immortal praise For years on years, and long-extended days. Convinced, though late, I find my fond mistake, And warn the Greeks the wiser choice to make; To quit these shores, their native seats enjoy, Nor hope the fall of heaven-defended Troy.

The gods (the only great, and only wise) Are moved by offerings, vows, and sacrifice; Offending man their high compassion wins, And daily prayers atone for daily sins.

Prayers are Jove's daughters, of celestial race, Lame are their feet, and wrinkled is their face; With humble mien, and with dejected eyes, Constant they follow, where injustice flies. Injustice swift, erect, and unconfined, Sweeps the wide earth, and tramples o'er mankind, While Prayers, to heal her wrongs, move slow behind. Who hears these daughters of almighty Jove, For him they mediate to the throne above When man rejects the humble suit they make, The sire revenges for the daughters' sake;

A generous friendship no cold medium knows, Burns with one love, with one resentment glows; One should our interests and our passions be; My friend must hate the man that injures me.

The gods that unrelenting breast have steel'd, And cursed thee with a mind that cannot yield.

To labour is the lot of man below; And when Jove gave us life, he gave us woe."

Then help'd by thee, and cover'd by thy shield, He fought with numbers, and made numbers yield.

A wise physician skill'd our wounds to heal, Is more than armies to the public weal."

Salubrious draughts the warriors' thirst allay, And pleasing conference beguiles the day.

Some beam of comfort yet on Greece may shine, If thou but lead the Myrmidonian line; Clad in Achilles' arms, if thou appear, Proud Troy may tremble, and desist from war;

Nestor kills him with this advice.

But, thou, Patroclus! act a friendly part, Lead to my ships, and draw this deadly dart; With lukewarm water wash the gore away; With healing balms the raging smart allay, Such as sage Chiron, sire of pharmacy, Once taught Achilles, and Achilles thee.

To speak his thoughts is every freeman's right, In peace, in war, in council, and in fight;

The generous impulse every Greek obeys; Threats urge the fearful; and the valiant, praise.

"'Tis yours, O warriors, all our hopes to raise: Oh recollect your ancient worth and praise! 'Tis yours to save us, if you cease to fear; Flight, more than shameful, is destructive here.

Then with his sceptre, that the deep controls, He touch'd the chiefs, and steel'd their manly souls: Strength, not their own, the touch divine imparts, [pg 233] Prompts their light limbs, and swells their daring hearts.