Chapter 16, The Trojan War
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♠ AT scholia at Homer, Iliad 22.351 – Scholia Graeca in Homeri Iliadem 2, p. 242, ed. W. Dindorf and E. Maass. Oxford 1875.
Not even if] Aischylos in his Phryges actually made the weight of gold equivalent to Hektor’s body. (Transl. E. Bianchelli) Greek Text
♠ Sophokles, Aias 1026-33
Now do you see how in time Hector, though dead, was to destroy you?
By the gods, note the fortune of this mortal pair. [1030] First Hector with the very warrior’s belt given to him by Ajax was lashed to the chariot-rail and shredded without end, until his life fled with his breath. Now Ajax here had this gift from Hector, and by this he has perished in his deadly fall. Greek Text
♠ Apollodoros, Bibliotheke (Library) 3.13.8
He was accompanied by Phoenix, son of Amyntor. This Phoenix had been blinded by his father on the strength of a false accusation of seduction preferred against him by his father’s concubine Phthia. But Peleus brought him to Chiron, who restored his sight, and thereupon Peleus made him king of the Dolopians. Greek text
♠ Palatine Anthology (Greek Anthology) 3.3
♠ Lykophron, Alexandra 421-23
even him who of all men was most hated by his father, who pierced the lamps of his eyes and made him blind, when he entered the dove’s bastard bed. Greek Text
♠ Scholia at Lykophron, Alexandra 421 – Lykophronis Alexandra, vol. 2, p. 155, ed. E. Scheer. Berlin 1908.
♠ A scholia at Homer, Iliad 9.448 – Scholia Graeca in Homeri Iliadem I, pp. 323-24, ed. W. Dindorf and E. Maass. Oxford 1875.
♠ Euripides, Rhesos
Enter the Chorus of Trojan guards.
Chorus
Go to Hector’s couch. Which of you squires that tend the prince, or you armor-clad men, is awake? He ought to receive fresh tidings [5] from the warriors who were set to guard the assembled army during the fourth watch of the night. Calls to Hector in the tent. Lift up your head! Prop your arm beneath it! Unseal that fierce eye from its repose; quit your lowly couch of scattered leaves, [10] Hector! It is time to hearken.
Hector
Who is this? Is it a friend who calls? Who are you? Your password? Speak! Who are these who come near my couch in the night? You must tell me.
Chorus
[15] Sentinels of the army.
Hector
Why this tumultuous haste?
Chorus
Be of good courage.
Hector
I am. Is there some midnight ambush?
[Chorus
No
Hector.]
Why do you desert your post and rouse the army, unless you have some tidings of the night? [20] Are you not aware how near the Argive army we take our night’s repose clad in all our armor? Continue Reading Greek Text
♠ Homer, Iliad 10.299-579
Nay, nor did Hector suffer the lordly Trojans [300] to sleep, but he called together all the noblest, as many as were leaders and rulers of the Trojans; and when he had called them together he contrived a cunning plan, and said: “Who is there now that would promise me this deed and bring it to pass for a great gift? Verily his reward shall be sure. [305] For I will give him a chariot and two horses with high arched necks, even those that be the best at the swift ships of the Achaeans, to the man whosoever will dare—and for himself win glory withal— to go close to the swift-faring ships, and spy out whether the swift ships be guarded as of old, [310] or whether by now our foes, subdued beneath our hands, are planning flight among themselves and have no mind to watch the night through, being fordone with dread weariness.” So spake he and they all became hushed in silence. Now there was among the Trojans one Dolon, the son of Eumedes [315] the godlike herald, a man rich in gold, rich in bronze, that was ill-favoured to look upon, but withal swift of foot; and he was the only brother among five sisters. He then spake a word to the Trojans and to Hector: “Hector, my heart and proud spirit urge me [320] to go close to the swift-faring ships and spy out all. But come, I pray thee, lift up thy staff and swear to me that verily thou wilt give me the horses and the chariot, richly dight with bronze, even them that bear the peerless son of Peleus. And to thee shall I prove no vain scout, neither one to deceive thy hopes. [325] For I will go straight on to the camp, even until I come to the ship of Agamemnon, where, I ween, the chieftains will be holding council, whether to flee or to fight.” So spake he, and Hector took the staff in his hands, and sware to him, saying: “Now be my witness Zeus himself, the loud-thundering lord of Hera, [330] that on those horses no other man of the Trojans shall mount, but it is thou, I declare, that shalt have glory in them continually.” Continue Reading Greek Text
Edited by Elena Bianchelli, Retired Senior Lecturer of Classical Languages and Culture, Univ. of Georgia, January 2023
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