Myths, Gods, and Men
Fall 2006 Readings - Week 5
Achilles et Cygnus – Greek Invasion of Troy
Ovid's Metamorphoses 12.64 - 12.145
Read October 3, 2006 by Ben Ams
| Fecerat haec notum Graias cum milite forti adventare rates, neque inexspectatus in armis [65] hostis adest: prohibent aditus litusque tuentur Troes, et Hectorea primus fataliter hasta, Protesilae, cadis, commissaque proelia magno stant Danais, fortisque animae nece cognitus Hector. Nec Phryges exiguo, quid Achaica dextera possit [70] sanguine senserunt. Et iam Sigea rubebant litora, iam leto proles Neptunia Cygnus mille viros dederat, iam curru instabat Achilles totaque Peliacae sternebat cuspidis ictu agmina, perque acies aut Cygnum aut Hectora quaerens [75] congreditur Cygno (decimum dilatus in annum Hector erat): tum colla iugo canentia pressos exhortatus equos currum direxit in hostem concutiensque suis vibrantia tela lacertis "quisquis es, o iuvenis" dixit "solamen habeto [80] mortis, ab Haemonio quod sis iugulatus Achille." |
Fame now had spread the tidings, a great fleet of Greek ships was at that time on its way, an army of brave men. The Trojans stood, all ready to prevent the hostile Greeks from landing on their shores. By the decree of Fate, the first man killed of the invaders' force was strong Protesilaus, by the spear of valiant Hector, whose unthought-of power at that time was discovered by the Greeks to their great cost. The Phyrgians also learned, at no small cost of blood, what warlike strength came from the Grecian land. The Sigean shores grew red with death-blood: Cygnus, Neptune's son, there slew a thousand men: for which, in wrath, Achilles pressed his rapid chariot straight through the Trojan army; making a lane with his great spear, shaped from a Pelion tree. And as he sought through the fierce battle's press, either for Cygnus or for Hector, he met Cygnus and engaged at once with him (Fate had preserved great Hector from such foe till ten years from that day). Cheering his steeds, their white necks pressed upon the straining yoke, he steered the chariot towards his foe, and, brandishing the spear with his strong arm, he cried, "Whoever you may be, you have the consolation of a glorious death you die by me, Haemonian Achilles!" |
| Hactenus Aeacides; vocem gravis hasta secuta est. Sed quamquam certa nullus fuit error in hasta, nil tamen emissi profecit acumine ferri utque hebeti pectus tantummodo contudit ictu. [85] "Nate dea, nam te fama praenovimus," inquit ille "quid a nobis vulnus miraris abesse?" (mirabatur enim) "non haec, quam cernis, equinis fulva iubis cassis neque onus cava parma sinistrae auxilio mihi sunt: decor est quaesitus ab istis. [90] Mars quoque ob hoc capere arma solet! Removebitur omne tegminis officium, tamen indestrictus abibo. Est aliquid non esse satum Nereide, sed qui Nereaque et natas et totum temperat aequor." |
His heavy spear flew after the fierce words. Although the spear was whirled direct and true, yet nothing it availed with sharpened point. It only bruised, as with a blunted stroke, the breast of Cygnus! "By report we knew of you before this battle, goddess born." The other answered him, "But why are you surprised that I escape the threatened wound?" (Achilles was surprised). "This helmet crowned, great with its tawny horse-hair, and this shield, broad-hollowed, on my left arm, are not held for help in war: they are but ornament, as Mars wears armor. All of them shall be put off, and I will fight with you unhurt. It is a privilege that I was born not as you, of a Nereid but of him whose powerful rule is over Nereus, his daughters and their ocean." So, he spoke. |
| Haesurum clipei curvamine telum misit in Aeaciden, quod et aes et proxima rupit terga novena boum, decimo tamen orbe moratum est. Excutit hoc heros rursusque trementia forti tela manu torsit: rursus sine vulnere corpus sincerumque fuit! Nec tertia cuspis apertum [100] et se praebentem valuit destringere Cygnum. Haud secus exarsit, quam circo taurus aperto, cum sua terribili petit inritamina cornu, poeniceas vestes, elusaque vulnera sentit. Num tamen exciderit ferrum, considerat hastae: [105] haerebat ligno. "Manus est mea debilis ergo, quasque" ait "ante habuit vires, effudit in uno? Nam certe valuit, vel cum Lyrnesia primus moenia deieci, vel cum Tenedonque suoque Eetioneas inplevi sanguine Thebas, [110] vel cum purpureus populari caede Caicus fluxit opusque meae bis sensit Telephus hastae. Hic quoque tot caesis, quorum per litus acervos et feci et video, valuit mea dextra valetque." |
Immediately he threw his spear against Achilles, destined to pierce the curving shield through brass, and through nine folds of tough bull's hide. It stopped there, for it could not pierce the tenth. The hero wrenched it out, and hurled again a quivering spear at Cygnus, with great strength. The Trojan stood unwounded and unharmed. Nor did a third spear injure Cygnus, though he stood there with his body all exposed. Achilles raged at this, as a wild bull in open circus, when with dreadful horns he butts against the hanging purple robes which stir his wrath and there observes how they evade him, quite unharmed by his attack. Achilles then examined his good spear, to see if by some chance the iron point was broken from it, but the point was firm, fixed on the wooden shaft. "My hand is weak," he said, "but is it possible its strength forsook me though it never has before? For surely I had my accustomed strength, when first I overthrew Lyrnessus' walls, or when I won the isle of Tenedos or Thebes (then under King Eetion) and I drenched both with their own peoples' blood, or when the river Caycus ran red with slaughter of its people, or, when twice Telephus felt the virtue of my spear. On this field also, where such heaps lie slain, my right hand surely has proved its true might; and it is mighty." |
| Dixit et, ante actis veluti male crederet, hastam misit in adversum Lycia de plebe Menoeten loricamque simul subiectaque pectora rupit. Quo plangente gravem moribundo pectore terram extrahit illud idem calido de vulnere telum atque ait: "Haec manus est, haec, qua modo vicimus, hasta: [120] utar in hoc isdem; sit in hoc, precor, exitus idem!" |
So he spoke of strength, remembered. But as if in proof against his own distrust, he hurled a spear against Menoetes, a soldier in the Lycian ranks. The sharp spear tore the victim's coat of mail and pierced his breast beneath. Achilles, when he saw his dying head strike on the earth wrenched the same spear from out the reeking wound, and said, "This is the hand, and this the spear I conquered with; and I will use the same against him who in luck escaped their power; and the result should favor as I pray the helpful gods." |
| Sic fatus Cygnum repetit, nec fraxinus errat inque umero sonuit non evitata sinistro, inde velut muro solidaque a caute repulsa est; qua tamen ictus erat, signatum sanguine Cygnum [125] viderat et frustra fuerat gavisus Achilles: vulnus erat nullum, sanguis fuit ille Menoetae! Tum vero praeceps curru fremebundus ab alto desilit et nitido securum comminus hostem ense petens parmam gladio galeamque cavari [130] cernit et in duro laedi quoque corpore ferrum! |
And, as he said such words, in haste he hurled his ashen spear, again at Cygnus. It went straight and struck unshunned. Resounding on the shoulder of that foe, it bounced back as if it hit a wall or solid cliff. Yet when Achilles saw just where the spear struck, Cygnus there was stained with blood. He instantly rejoiced; but vainly, for it was Menoetes' blood! Then in a sudden rage, Achilles leaped down headlong from his lofty chariot; and, seeking his god-favored foe, he struck in conflict fiercely, with his gleaming sword. Although he saw that he had pierced both shield and helmet through, he did not harm the foe-- his sword was even blunted on the flesh. |
| Haud tulit ulterius, clipeoque adversa reducto ter quater ora viri, capulo cava tempora pulsat cedentique sequens instat turbatque ruitque attonitoque negat requiem: pavor occupat illum, [135] ante oculosque natant tenebrae, retroque ferenti aversos passus medio lapis obstitit arvo. Quem super inpulsum resupino corpore Cygnum vi multa vertit terraeque adflixit Achilles. Tum clipeo genibusque premens praecordia duris [140] vincla trahit galeae: quae presso subdita mento elidunt fauces et respiramen utrumque eripiunt animae. Victum spoliare parabat: arma relicta videt; corpus deus aequoris albam contulit in volucrem, cuius modo nomen habebat. [145] |
Achilles could not hold himself for rage, but furious, with his sword-hilt and his shield he battered wildly the uncovered face and hollow-temples of his Trojan foe. Cygnus gave way; Achilles rushed on him, buffeting fiercely, so that he could not recover from the shock. Fear seized upon Cygnus, and darkness swam before his eyes. Then, as he moved back with retreating steps, a large stone hindered him and blocked his way. His back pushed against this, Achilles seized and dashed him violently to the ground. Then pressing with buckler and hard knees the breast of Cygnus, he unlaced the helmet thongs, wound them about the foeman's neck and drew them tightly under his chin, till Cygnus' throat could take no breath of life. Achilles rose eager to strip his conquered foe but found his empty armor, for the god of ocean had changed the victim into that white bird whose name he lately bore. |
Source Information
Latin: Ovid. Metamorphoses. Hugo Magnus. Gotha (Germany). Friedr. Andr. Perthes. 1892.
[Via Perseus]
English: Ovid. Metamorphoses. Brookes More. Boston. Cornhill Publishing Co. 1922.
[Via Perseus]