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Author: Homer
Translated by Edward, Earl of Derby
Edition: 10
Language: English
PREFACE.
But in the progress of this work, I have been more and more confirmed
in the opinion which I expressed at its commencement, that (whatever
may be the extent of my own individual failure) "if justice is ever to
be done to the easy flow and majestic simplicity of the grand old Poet,
it can only be in the Heroic blank verse." I have seen isolated
passages admirably rendered in other metres; and there are many
instances in which a translation line for line and couplet for couplet
naturally suggests itself, and in which it is sometimes difficult to
avoid an involuntary rhyme; but the blank verse appears to me the only
metre capable of adapting itself to all the gradations, if I may use
the term, of the Homeric style; from the finished poetry of the
numerous similes, in which every touch is nature, and nothing is
overcoloured or exaggerated, down to the simple, almost homely, style
of some portions of the narrative. Least of all can any other metre do
full justice to the spirit and freedom of the various speeches, in
which the old warriors give utterance, without disguise or restraint,
to all their strong and genuine emotions. To subject these to the
trammels of couplet and rhyme would be as destructive of their chief
characteristics, as the application of a similar process to the
Paradise Lost of Milton, or the tragedies of Shakespeare; the effect
indeed may be seen by comparing, with some of the noblest speeches of
the latter, the few couplets which he seems to have considered himself
bound by custom to tack on to their close, at the end of a scene or an
act.
I have adopted, not without hesitation, the Latin, rather than the
Greek, nomenclature for the Heathen Deities. I have been induced to do
so from the manifest incongruity of confounding the two; and from the
fact that though English readers may be familiar with the names of
Zeus, or Aphrodite, or even Poseidon, those of Hera, or Ares, or
Hephaestus, or Leto, would hardly convey to them a definite
signification.
D.
The favourable reception which has been given to the first Editions of
this work, far exceeding my most sanguine hopes, affords a gratifying
proof how far, in my preface, I had overrated the extent to which the
taste for, and appreciation of, Classical Literature had declined. It
will not, I hope, be thought extraordinary that some errors and
inaccuracies should have found their way into a translation executed, I
must admit, somewhat hastily, and with less of the "limae labor" than I
should have bestowed upon it, had I ventured to anticipate for it so
extensive a circulation. My thanks, therefore, are due to those
critics, who, either publicly or privately, have called my attention to
passages in which the sense of the Author has been either incorrectly
or imperfectly rendered. All of these I have examined, and have availed
myself of several of the suggestions offered for their correction; and
a careful revision of the whole work, and renewed comparison with the
original, have enabled me to discover other defects, the removal of
which will, I hope, render the present Edition, especially in the eyes
of Classical Scholars, somewhat more worthy of the favour which has
been accorded to its predecessors.
D.
ARGUMENT.
In the war of Troy, the Greeks having sacked some of the neighbouring
towns, and taken from thence two beautiful captives, Chryseis and
Briseis, allotted the first to Agamemnon, and the last to Achilles.
Chryses, the father of Chryseis, and priest of Apollo, comes to the
Grecian camp to ransom her; with which the action of the poem opens, in
the tenth year of the siege. The priest being refused, and insolently
dismissed by Agamemnon, entreats for vengeance from his god, who
inflicts a pestilence on the Greeks. Achilles calls a council, and
encourages Calchas to declare the cause of it, who attributes it to the
refusal of Chryseis. The King being obliged to send back his captive,
enters into a furious contest with Achilles, which Nestor pacifies;
however, as he had the absolute command of the army, he seizes on
Briseis in revenge. Achilles in discontent withdraws himself and his
forces from the test of the Greeks; and complaining to Thetis, she
supplicates Jupiter to render them sensible of the wrong done to her
son, by giving victory to the Trojans. Jupiter granting her suit,
incenses Juno, between whom the debate runs high, till they are
reconciled by the address of Vulcan.
ARGUMENT.
The time employed in this book consists not entirely of one day. The
scene lies in the Grecian camp and upon the sea-shore; toward the end
it removes to Troy.
BOOK II.
ARGUMENT.
BOOK III.
ARGUMENT.
The Gods deliberate in council concerning the Trojan war: they agree
upon the continuation of it, and Jupiter sends down Minerva to break
the truce. She persuades Pandarus to aim an arrow at Menelaus, who is
wounded, but cured by Machaon. In the mean time some of the Trojan
troops attack the Greeks. Agamemnon is distinguished in all the parts
of a good general; he reviews the troops, and exhorts the leaders, some
by praises, and others by reproofs. Nestor is particularly celebrated
for his military discipline. The battle joins, and great numbers are
slain on both sides.
The same day continues through this, as through the last book; as it
does also through the two following, and almost to the end of the
seventh book. The scene is wholly in the field before Troy.
BOOK IV.
On golden pavement, round the board of Jove,
The Gods were gather'd; Hebe in the midst
Pour'd the sweet nectar; they, in golden cups,
Each other pledg'd, as down they look'd on Troy.
Then Jove, with cutting words and taunting tone,
Began the wrath of Juno to provoke:
"Two Goddesses for Menelaus fight,
Thou, Juno, Queen of Argos, and with thee
Minerva, shield of warriors; but ye two
Sitting aloof, well-pleased it seems, look on;
While laughter-loving Venus, at the side
Of Paris standing, still averts his fate,
And rescues, when, as now, expecting death.
To warlike Menelaus we decree,
Of right, the vict'ry; but consult we now
What may the issue be; if we shall light
Again the name of war and discord fierce,
Or the two sides in peace and friendship join.
For me, if thus your gen'ral voice incline,
Let Priam's city stand, and Helen back
To warlike Menelaus be restor'd."
ARGUMENT.
The first battle continues through this book. The scene is the same as
in the former.
BOOK V.
ARGUMENT.
The gods having left the field, the Grecians prevail. Helenus, the
chief augur of Troy, commands Hector to return to the city, in order to
appoint a solemn procession of the Queen and the Trojan matrons to the
temple of Minerva, to entreat her to remove Diomed from the fight. The
battle relaxing during the absence of Hector, Glaucus and Diomed have
an interview between the two armies; where, coming to the knowledge of
the friendship and hospitality past between their ancestors, they make
exchange of their arms. Hector, having performed the orders of Helenus,
prevailed upon Paris to return to the battle, and taken a tender leave
of his wife Andromache, hastens again to the field.
The scene is first in the field of battle, between the rivers Simois
and Scamander, and then changes to Troy.
BOOK VI.
The Gods had left the field, and o'er the plain
Hither and thither surg'd the tide of war,
As couch'd th' opposing chiefs their brass-tipp'd spears,
Midway 'twixt Simois' and Scamander's streams.
ARGUMENT.
The three-and-twentieth day ends with the duel of Hector and Ajax; the
next day the truce is agreed: another is taken up in the funeral rites
of the slain; and one more in building the fortification before the
ships; so that somewhat above three days is employed in this book. The
scene lies wholly in the field.
BOOK VII.