Speaker 1: Hi, hello, and welcome. This is Let's Talk about Myths, Baby,
Speaker 1: and today I am beginning a new series of reading episodes.
Speaker 1: So thank you to everyone who listens on Spotify and
Speaker 1: voted in that poll. It was really helpful and fun.
Speaker 1: So you all picked The Fall of Troy, which like
Speaker 1: I kind of expected and was looking forward to, So
Speaker 1: thanks for just confirming all of my guesses about you all.
Speaker 1: It's an all translation, very stuffy like the past ones
Speaker 1: we've been working with, but I'm doing my best and
Speaker 1: I've already recorded it by the time I'm recording this,
Speaker 1: and I can tell you right now it is so
Speaker 1: much fun. It's so much fun. It's really great, really
Speaker 1: fun to read, and I'm really excited to dive straight
Speaker 1: into the series. This Roman adaptation of what we presume
Speaker 1: to be the lost Greek myth of the end of
Speaker 1: the Trojan War and the only source we really have
Speaker 1: in terms of literature when it comes to the Trojan
Speaker 1: horse wild. But it's also very long, so let's just
Speaker 1: get right in. This is Quintus Smyrnaias's The Fall of Troy,
Speaker 1: translated by a s Way when God like Hector by
Speaker 1: Achilles Slain past and the pyre had ravened up his flesh,
Speaker 1: and earth had veiled his bones. The Trojans then tarried
Speaker 1: in Priam's city, sore afraid before the might of stout
Speaker 1: hearted Eachus's son. As kind they were, that amidst corpses,
Speaker 1: shrink from faring forth to meet a lion grim. But
Speaker 1: in dense thickets, terror huddled cower so in their fortress
Speaker 1: shivered these to see that mighty man. Of those already dead,
Speaker 1: they thought, of all whose lives he reft away as
Speaker 1: bis Commander's outfall on he rushed, and all that in
Speaker 1: mid flight to that high wall he slew, How he
Speaker 1: quelled Hector, how he hailed his corpse around Troy, Yes,
Speaker 1: and of all beside laid low by him since that
Speaker 1: first day, where on over restless seas he brought the
Speaker 1: Trojan's doom. Ah. All these they remembered while they stayed
Speaker 1: thus in their town, and over them, anguished grief hovered,
Speaker 1: dark winged, as though that very day all Troy, with shrieks,
Speaker 1: were crumbling down in fire. Then from Thermodon, from broad
Speaker 1: sweeping streams came clothed upon with beauty of goddesses, Penthesilia
Speaker 1: came athirst, indeed for grown resounding battle, but yet more
Speaker 1: fleeing abhorred reproach and evil fame, lest they of her
Speaker 1: own folk should raise on her because of her own
Speaker 1: sister's death, for whomver her sorrows waxed, Hippoloda, whom she
Speaker 1: had struck dead with her mighty spear, not of her will.
Speaker 1: It was at a stag she hurled. So came she
Speaker 1: to the far famed land of Troy. Yes, and her
Speaker 1: warrior spirit pricked her on of murder's dread pollution, thus
Speaker 1: to cleanse her soul, and with such sacrifice, to appease
Speaker 1: the awful ones, the irenaways, who, in wrath for her
Speaker 1: slain sister, straightway haunted her, unseen forever round the sinner's
Speaker 1: steps they hover. None may escape those goddesses, And with
Speaker 1: her followed twelve beside, each one a princess haught for
Speaker 1: war and battle, grim far famous, each yet handmaids, unto
Speaker 1: her Penthesileia far outshone them all. As when in the
Speaker 1: broad sky, amidst the stars, the moon rises overall pre eminent,
Speaker 1: when through the thunderclouds the cleaving heavens open, when sleep
Speaker 1: the fury breathing winds. So peerless was she amid that
Speaker 1: charging host Cloney was there Polemusa, Derinoi, Evandry and Antandri,
Speaker 1: and Bremusa, Hippothoe, dark eyed Harmothoe, al Kibbi, Derrimchea, and Tibrote,
Speaker 1: and Thermodusa, glorying with her spear, all these to battle
Speaker 1: fared with warrior souled Penthesaalia, even as when descends dawn
Speaker 1: from Olympus's crest of adamant dawn heart, exultant in her
Speaker 1: radiance deeds amidst the bright haired hours, and over them all,
Speaker 1: how flawless, fair soever these may be, her splendor of
Speaker 1: beauty grows pre eminent, so peerless amid all the Amazons
Speaker 1: unto troy Town pan Theesaliah came to right to left
Speaker 1: from all sides, hurrying thronged the Trojans greatly, marveling when
Speaker 1: they saw the tireless war god's child, the mailed maid,
Speaker 1: like to the blessed gods, for in her face glowed beauty,
Speaker 1: glorious and terrible. Her smile was ravishing. Beneath her brows,
Speaker 1: her love and kindling eyes shone like to the stars,
Speaker 1: and with the crimson rows of shamefastness, bright were her cheeks,
Speaker 1: and mantled over them unearthly grace with battle prowess clad
Speaker 1: then joyed Troy's folk despite past agonies. As when far
Speaker 1: gazing from a height, the hinds behold a rainbow spanning
Speaker 1: the wide sea, when they be yearning for the heavens
Speaker 1: and shower, when the parched fields be craving for the rain.
Speaker 1: Then the great sky at last is overgloomed, and men
Speaker 1: see that fair sign of coming wind and imminent rain,
Speaker 1: and seeing, they are glad, who for their corn fields
Speaker 1: polight sore sighed before, even so the suns of Troy,
Speaker 1: when they beheld there in their land Penthesalia, dread of
Speaker 1: fire for battle, were exceedingly glad. For when the heart
Speaker 1: is thrilled with hope of good, all smart of evils
Speaker 1: past is wiped away. So after all his sighing and
Speaker 1: his pain gladden a little while was Priam's soul. As
Speaker 1: when a man who hath suffered many a pang from
Speaker 1: blinded eyes, sore, longing to behold the light, and if
Speaker 1: he may not fain, would die, then at last by
Speaker 1: a cunning leeches skill, or by a God's grace sees
Speaker 1: the dawn rose flush sees the mist rolled back before
Speaker 1: his eyes. Yes, though clear vision comes not as old.
Speaker 1: Yet after all his anguished joys to have some small relief,
Speaker 1: albeit the stings of pain prick sharply yet beneath his eyelids.
Speaker 1: So joyed the old king to see that terrible queen,
Speaker 1: the shadowy joy one in anguish, whelmed for slain sons,
Speaker 1: into his halls. He led the maid, and with glad welcome,
Speaker 1: honored her as one who greets a daughter to her home.
Speaker 1: Returned from a far country in the twentieth year, and
Speaker 1: set a feast before her, sumptuous as battle glorious kings
Speaker 1: who have brought low nations of foes, array and splendor
Speaker 1: of pomp. With hearts in pride of victory, triumphing and gifts.
Speaker 1: He gave her costly and fair to see, and pledged
Speaker 1: him to give many more, so she would save the
Speaker 1: Trojans from the imminent doom, and from she Such deeds
Speaker 1: she promised, as no man had hoped for, even to
Speaker 1: lay Achilles low, to smite the wide host of the
Speaker 1: argive men, and cast the brands red flaming on the
Speaker 1: ships ah fool, But little knew she him, the lord
Speaker 1: of Ashen spears, how far Achilles might in warrior wasting
Speaker 1: strife overpast her own. But when Andromache, the stately child
Speaker 1: of King Ethion, heard the wild queen's vaunt low to
Speaker 1: her own soul, bitterly murmured, she h hapless, Why with
Speaker 1: arrogant heart do you speak such great swelling words. No
Speaker 1: strength is yours to grapple and fight with Pelias as
Speaker 1: all this son, No doom and swift death shall he
Speaker 1: deal to you. Alas for you, what madness thrills your soul?
Speaker 1: Fate and the end of death stand hard by you.
Speaker 1: Hector was mightier far to wield the spear than you,
Speaker 1: yet was for all his prowess slain, slain for the
Speaker 1: bitter grief of Troy, whose folk the city through looked
Speaker 1: on him as a god. My glory and his noble
Speaker 1: parents glory was he while yet he lived? Oh that
Speaker 1: the earth over my dead face has been mounded high,
Speaker 1: or ever through his throat the breath of life followed
Speaker 1: the cleaving spear. But now have I looked, woe is
Speaker 1: me on grief unutterable? When round the city those fleet
Speaker 1: footed steeds hailed him, steeds of Achilles, who had made
Speaker 1: me widowed of mine hero husband, made my portion bitterness
Speaker 1: through all my days. So spoke Echean's lovely ankled child,
Speaker 1: low to her own soul, thinking on her lord. So
Speaker 1: evermore the faithful hearted wife nursed for her lost love,
Speaker 1: undying grief. Then, in swift revolution, sweeping round into the
Speaker 1: ocean's deep stream, sank the sun and daylight died. So
Speaker 1: when the banqueters ceased from the wine cup and the
Speaker 1: goodly feast, then did the handmaids spread in Priam's halls.
Speaker 1: For Penthesaliah, dauntiless sould the couch heart cheering, and she
Speaker 1: laid her down to rest and slumber. Mist like overveiled
Speaker 1: her eyes. Depths with sweet dew dropping round from Heaven's
Speaker 1: blue slid down the might of a deceitful dream at
Speaker 1: palace's hest, that so the warrior maid might see it
Speaker 1: and become a curse to Troy and to herself, strained
Speaker 1: her soul to meet the whirlwind of the battle. In
Speaker 1: this wise, the trito born, the subtle, souled, contrived, stood
Speaker 1: over the maiden's head with that baleful dream and likeness
Speaker 1: of her father, kindling her fearlessly front to front to
Speaker 1: meet in fight fleetfoot Achilles. And she heard the voice,
Speaker 1: and all her heart exulted, for she weened that she should,
Speaker 1: on that dawning day, achieve a mighty deed in battle's
Speaker 1: deadly toil, A fool who trusted for her sorrow. A
Speaker 1: dream out of the sunless land such as beguiles full oft,
Speaker 1: the labor burdened tribes of men, whispering mocking lies in
Speaker 1: sleeping ears, and to the battle's labor lured her then.
Speaker 1: But when the dawn, the rosy ankled leaped up from
Speaker 1: her bed, then, clad in mighty strength of spirit, Suddenly
Speaker 1: from her couch up rose pantheresalia. Then did she array
Speaker 1: hers shoulders in those wondrous fashioned arms given her of
Speaker 1: the war God. First she laid beneath her silver gleaming knees,
Speaker 1: the greaves fashioned of gold, close clipping the strong limbs,
Speaker 1: Her rainbow radiant corselets clasped. She then about her and
Speaker 1: around her shoulders, slung with glory in her heart, the
Speaker 1: massy brand, whose shining length was in a scabbard sheathed
Speaker 1: of ivory and silver. Next her shield, unearthly splendid caught
Speaker 1: she up, whose rims swelled like the young moon's arching
Speaker 1: chariot rail. When high over oceans fathomless flowing stream, she
Speaker 1: rises with the space half filled with light between her
Speaker 1: bowing horns, so did it shine unutterably fair. Then on
Speaker 1: her head she settled the bright helmet overstreamed with a
Speaker 1: wild mane of gold and glistening hairs. So stood she
Speaker 1: lapping about with flaming male in semblance, like the lightning
Speaker 1: which the might that never wearied might of Zeus to
Speaker 1: Earth hurls. What time he shows forth to men fury
Speaker 1: of thunderous roaring rain, Or swoop resistless of his shouting
Speaker 1: host of winds. Then, in hot haste, forth of her
Speaker 1: bower to pass. Caught she two javelins in the hand
Speaker 1: that grasped her shield band. But her strong right hand
Speaker 1: laid hold on a huge halberd, sharp of either blade,
Speaker 1: which terrible Heiress gave to Ares's child to be her
Speaker 1: titan weapon in the strife that ravages souls of men,
Speaker 1: laughing for glee, thereover, swiftly flashed she forth the ring
Speaker 1: of towers. Her coming kindled all the sons of Troy
Speaker 1: to rush into the battle forth which grounds men with glory.
Speaker 1: Swiftly all hearkened her gather and thronging came champions. Yes,
Speaker 1: even such as theretofore shrank back from standing in the
Speaker 1: ranks of war against Achilles, the all ravager. But she,
Speaker 1: in pride of triumph on she rode thronged on a
Speaker 1: goodly steed, and feleet the gift of Orithea, the wild
Speaker 1: north Wind's bride given to her guest, the Warrior Maid.
Speaker 1: What time she came to thrace a steed whose flying
Speaker 1: feet could match the harpies wings. Riding thereon Penthesaia in
Speaker 1: her goodly head left the tall palaces of Troy behind,
Speaker 1: And ever were the ghastly visaged fates thrusting her on
Speaker 1: into the battle. Doomed to be her first against the Greeks,
Speaker 1: and last to right to left with unreturning feet, the
Speaker 1: Trojan thousands followed to the fray, the pitiless fray that
Speaker 1: death doomed. Warrior Maid followed in throngs, as follow sheep,
Speaker 1: the ram that by the Shepherd's art strides before all.
Speaker 1: So followed they, with battle fury filled, strong Trojans and
Speaker 1: wild hearted Amazons and like Tritonis, seemed she as she
Speaker 1: went to meet the giants, or as flashes far through
Speaker 1: war hosts, Heiress waker of on Set shouts so mighty
Speaker 1: in the Trojans midst she seemed Penthesileia of the flying feet. Then,
Speaker 1: unto Cronos's son, Laomadon's child up raised his hands, his
Speaker 1: sorrow burdened hands, turning him towards the sky, encountering fane
Speaker 1: of Zeus of Ida, who with sleepless eyes looks ever
Speaker 1: down on Ilium. And he prayed, Father, give or vouchsafe
Speaker 1: that on this day a Kaia's host may fall before
Speaker 1: the hands this our warrior queen, the war God's child.
Speaker 1: And do you bring her back unscathed again? Unto my
Speaker 1: halls we prayed you by the love you bear two
Speaker 1: ares of the fiery heart. Your son, yes to her. Also?
Speaker 1: Is she not most wondrous like the heavenly goddesses? And
Speaker 1: is she not the child of your own seed? Pity
Speaker 1: my stricken heart with all you know, all agonies I
Speaker 1: have suffered in the deaths of dear sons, whom the
Speaker 1: fates have torn from me by argive hands in the
Speaker 1: devouring fight. Compassionate us, while a remnant yet remains of
Speaker 1: Noble Dardanis's blood, While yet this city stands unwated. Let
Speaker 1: us know from ghastly slaughter and strife one breathing space,
Speaker 1: in passionate prayer, he spoke low, with shrill scream, swiftly
Speaker 1: to left, an eagle darted by, and in his talons
Speaker 1: bear a gasping dove. Then round the heart of Priam
Speaker 1: all the blood was chilled. With fear. Low to his soul,
Speaker 1: he said, never shall I see return alive from war
Speaker 1: Penthesalia on that self same day, the fates prepared his
Speaker 1: boding to fulfill, and his heart broke with anguish of despair.
Speaker 1: Marveled the argives far across the plains, seeing the hosts
Speaker 1: of Troy, charged down on them, and amidst them penthesaia
Speaker 1: Aries's child. These seemed like ravening beasts that mid the hills,
Speaker 1: bring grimly slaughter to the fleecy flocks, and she as
Speaker 1: a rushing blast of flame. She seemed that Maddens threw
Speaker 1: the copses summer scorched when the wind drives it on,
Speaker 1: And in this way spoke one to the other in
Speaker 1: their mustering host who shall this be who thus can
Speaker 1: rouse to war the Trojans, now that Hector has been slain,
Speaker 1: These who we said would never more find heart to
Speaker 1: stand against us. Oh, now suddenly forth are they rushing
Speaker 1: madly afire for fight. Sure in their midst some great
Speaker 1: one kindles them to battle's toil. You verily would say
Speaker 1: this were a god of such great deeds, he dreams,
Speaker 1: go to with awe this courage. Let us arm our
Speaker 1: own breast, Let us summon up our might in battle fury.
Speaker 1: We shall lack not help of gods this day to
Speaker 1: close in fight with Troy, So cried they, and their
Speaker 1: flashing battle gear cast they about them. Forth the ships
Speaker 1: they poured, clad in the rage of fight, as with
Speaker 1: a cloak. Then front to front their battles, clothes like
Speaker 1: beasts of ravin, locked in tangle of gory strife, clanged
Speaker 1: their bright mail together, clash the spears, the corselets, and
Speaker 1: the stubborn wielded shields and adamant helms, each stabbed at others.
Speaker 1: Flesh with the fierce brass was neither ruth nor rest,
Speaker 1: and all the Trojan soil was crimson red. Then first
Speaker 1: penthesilias smote and slew Molion. Now persinous falls, and now
Speaker 1: Elyssus reeled Antitheus beneath her spear, the pride of Larness quelled.
Speaker 1: She down, She bore Hippalmus beneath her horse's hoofs Himan's
Speaker 1: son died, withered, stalwart Elasippus's strength and dirnowe laid low
Speaker 1: Laauganus and clony Manipus him who sailed long since from Pilaki,
Speaker 1: led by his lord Protisileus, to the war with then
Speaker 1: was Podarki's son of ifficless heart, wrung with ruth and
Speaker 1: wrath to see him lie dead of all the battle comrades,
Speaker 1: best beloved swiftly at Cloney, he hurled the maid fair
Speaker 1: as a goddess, plunged the unswerving lance between hip and hip,
Speaker 1: and rushed the dark blood forth after the spear and
Speaker 1: all her bowels gushed out. Then roth was panthesa leah.
Speaker 1: Through the brawn of his right arm, she drove the
Speaker 1: long spear's point she shore between the great blood brimming veins,
Speaker 1: and through the wide gash of the wound. The gore
Speaker 1: spurted and crimson fountain with a groan backward. He sprung
Speaker 1: his courage wholly quelled by bitter pain and sorrow and dismay,
Speaker 1: thrilled as he fled his men of Philaki. A short
Speaker 1: way from the fight, he reeled side and in his
Speaker 1: friend's arms, died in little space. Then with his lance
Speaker 1: e Dominius thrust out and by the right breast stabbed
Speaker 1: Bremusa stilled forever was the beating of her heart. She
Speaker 1: fell as falls a graceful shafted pine, hewn mid the
Speaker 1: hills by woodmen, heavily sighing through all its boughs, it
Speaker 1: crashes down. So with a wailing shriek she fell, and
Speaker 1: death unstrung her every limb, her breathing soul mingled with
Speaker 1: the multitudinous sighing winds. Then as a vander threw the
Speaker 1: murderous fray with Thermodusa rushed, stood Morinoy's a lion in
Speaker 1: the path, and slew his spear right to the heart
Speaker 1: of one He drove, and one stabbed. With a lightning
Speaker 1: sword thrust between the hips. He leaped through the wounds
Speaker 1: the life and fled away. Oilius Is fiery son smote
Speaker 1: Derhynoi in the throat and shoulder with his ruthless spear,
Speaker 1: and on Alkibi, Tideus's terrible son swooped, and on Derri Machia,
Speaker 1: head with neck clean from the shoulders of these two
Speaker 1: he shore with ruin reeking brand. Together down fell they
Speaker 1: as young calves by the massy axe of brawny Flesher
Speaker 1: felled that shearing through the sinews of the neck loop's
Speaker 1: life away. So by the hands of Tydeus's son, laid
Speaker 1: low upon the Trojan plane, far far away from their
Speaker 1: own highland home, they fell. Nor these alone died, for
Speaker 1: the might of sthenelusts down on them, hurled Kabiras's corpse,
Speaker 1: who came from Sestos keen to fight the argive foe,
Speaker 1: but never saw his fatherland again. Then was the heart
Speaker 1: of Paris filled with wrath for a friend slain full
Speaker 1: upon Sthenelus aimed he a shaft death winged, yet touched
Speaker 1: him not despite his thirst for vengeance. Otherwise the arrow
Speaker 1: glanced aside and carried death whither The stern fates guided
Speaker 1: its fierce winghing and slew evenor brazen Tasseled, who from
Speaker 1: Deliquium came to war with Troy for his death. Fury
Speaker 1: kindled was the son of haughty Phyleus. As a lion
Speaker 1: leaps upon the flock, so swiftly rushed, he all shrank,
Speaker 1: huddling back before that terrible man, e Tumonius, he slew,
Speaker 1: and he passes his son Agilius, from my Leetus brought.
Speaker 1: They war against the Danian men by nasties lead the
Speaker 1: godlike and Amphemicus mighty souled on my Cali. They dwelt
Speaker 1: beside their home rose latmuses, snowy crests stretched, the long
Speaker 1: glands of branches, and Panormus's water meads meanders flood deeped,
Speaker 1: rolling swept thereby which from the Phrygian uplands pastured over
Speaker 1: by myriad flocks around one thousand four lands, Curled swirls
Speaker 1: and drives his hurrying ripples on down to the vine
Speaker 1: clad land of carrion men. These mid the storm of
Speaker 1: battle meggies slew nor these alone, but whomsoever his lance,
Speaker 1: black shafted touched, were dead men for his breast. The
Speaker 1: glorious Trito borne with courage, thrilled to bring to all
Speaker 1: his foes the day of doom, and Polypetes dear to
Speaker 1: ares slew Draysaeus whom the Nymphnieria bear to passing wise
Speaker 1: Theodamus for these God spread was the bed of love,
Speaker 1: beside the foot of Syphilis, the mountain where the gods
Speaker 1: made Niobe, a stone rock, where from tea ever stream
Speaker 1: high up the rugged crag bows as one weeping. Weeping
Speaker 1: waterfalls cry from far, echoing hermes wailing moan of sympathy.
Speaker 1: This guy encountering crests of Sypolis, where away floats a
Speaker 1: mistated of shepherds echo back the cry. Weird marvel seems
Speaker 1: that rock of Niobe. To men that pass with feet
Speaker 1: fear goaded, there they see the likeness of a woman
Speaker 1: bowed in depths of anguish, sobbing, and her tears drop
Speaker 1: as she mourns grief, stricken endlessly. Yes, you would say
Speaker 1: that verily so it was viewing it from afar. But
Speaker 1: when hard by you stand, all the illusion vanishes. A low,
Speaker 1: a steep, browed rock, a fragment rent from Sypolis. Yet
Speaker 1: Niobe is there, the dead of wrath, devire, a broken
Speaker 1: heart in guise of shattered stone. All through the tangle
Speaker 1: of that desperate fray, stalked slaughter and doom, the incarnate
Speaker 1: on set shout, raved through the rolling battle at her
Speaker 1: side paced death, the ruthless and the fearful fates beside
Speaker 1: them strode and in red hands, bare murder, and the
Speaker 1: groans of dying men. That day, the beating of full
Speaker 1: many a heart trojan and argive was forever still, while
Speaker 1: roaring the battle round them, while the fury of Penthesilea
Speaker 1: fainted not nor failed. But as amid long ridges of
Speaker 1: lone hills, a lioness, stealing down a deep ravine, springs
Speaker 1: on the kind with lightning leap, a thirst for blood,
Speaker 1: wherein her fierce heart revels. So on the Danian's leapt
Speaker 1: that warrior made, and they their souls were cowed backward,
Speaker 1: they shrank and fast. She followed, as a towering surge
Speaker 1: chases across the thunder booming sea, a flying bark, whose
Speaker 1: white sails strained beneath the wind's wild buffering, and all
Speaker 1: the air maddens with roaring, as the rollers crashed on
Speaker 1: a black foreland, looming on the lee where long reefs
Speaker 1: fringe the surf tormented shores. So chased she and so
Speaker 1: dashed the ranks asunder triump been sold and hurled fierce
Speaker 1: threats before you dogs this day for evil outrage done
Speaker 1: to Priam, shall you pay? No man of you shall
Speaker 1: from my hands deliver his own life and win back
Speaker 1: home to gladden parents' eyes, or comfort wife or children.
Speaker 1: You shall lie dead, ravened on by vultures and by wolves,
Speaker 1: and none shall heap the earth mound over your clay
Speaker 1: where skulks now the strength of Titeus's son, and where
Speaker 1: the might of Iakus's scion, where is Ajax's bulk. You
Speaker 1: vaunt them, mightiest of men, of all your rabble. Ha
Speaker 1: They will not dare with me to close in battle,
Speaker 1: lest I drag forth from their fainting frames, their craven souls.
Speaker 1: Then the heart uplifted, lapt she on the foe, resistless
Speaker 1: as a Tigris, crashing through ranks upon ranks of argives,
Speaker 1: smiting now with that a huge halberd massy headed, now
Speaker 1: hurling the keen dart, while her battle horse flashed through
Speaker 1: the fight, and on his shoulder bore quiver and bow,
Speaker 1: death speeding close to her hand. If mid that revel
Speaker 1: of blood she willed to speed the bitter, biting shaft
Speaker 1: behind her swept the charging lines of men fleet footed,
Speaker 1: friends and brethren of the man who never flinched from
Speaker 1: close death, grapple hector, panting all the hot breath of
Speaker 1: the war God from their breasts, all slaying Danians with
Speaker 1: the ashen spear, who fell as frost touched leaves in
Speaker 1: autumn fall one after another, or as drops of rain,
Speaker 1: and I went up amoaning from Earth's breast, all blood
Speaker 1: bedrenched and heaped with corpse on corpse horses pierced through
Speaker 1: with arrows or impaled on spears, were snorting forth their
Speaker 1: last of strength with screaming nangs, men with gnashing teeth,
Speaker 1: biting the dust light, gasping, while the steeds of Trojan
Speaker 1: charioteers stormed in pursuit, trampling the dying, mingled with the
Speaker 1: dead as oxen trample corn in threshing floors. Then one
Speaker 1: exalting boasted mid the host of Troy beholding penthesa lea
Speaker 1: rush on through the foe's array, like the black storm
Speaker 1: that maddens over the sea. What time the Sun allies
Speaker 1: his might with Winter's goat horn star, and thus puffed
Speaker 1: up with vain hope, shouted he O friends in manifest
Speaker 1: presence down from heaven. One of the deathless gods. This
Speaker 1: day has come to fight. The argives all of love
Speaker 1: for us. Yes, and with sanction of Almighty Zeus, he
Speaker 1: whose compassion now remembers happily strong hearted priam, who may
Speaker 1: boast for his a lineage of immortal blood. For this
Speaker 1: I trow. No mortal woman seems, who is so awest daring,
Speaker 1: who is clad in splendor flashing arms. No, surely she
Speaker 1: shall be Athena, or the mighty souled en Yo happly heiress,
Speaker 1: or the child of Lido world renowned. Oh, yes, I
Speaker 1: look to see her hurl amid yon our g ive
Speaker 1: men mad shrieking slaughter. See her set a flame. Those
Speaker 1: ships wherein they came long years agone, bringing us many sorrows, Yes,
Speaker 1: they came, bringing us woes of war, intolerable ha to
Speaker 1: the homeland hell Us. Never shall these with joy return,
Speaker 1: Since gods on our side fight into overweening exultation, so
Speaker 1: vaunted a trojan fool, he had no vision of ruin onward,
Speaker 1: rushing upon himself and Troy and penthesso Leah's self withal
Speaker 1: for naught. As yet had any tidings come of that
Speaker 1: wild fray to Ajax's stormy souled nor to Achilles waster
Speaker 1: of tower and town. But on the grave mound of
Speaker 1: Monocius's son, they too were lying with sad memories of
Speaker 1: a dear comrade, crushed and echoing, each one the other's
Speaker 1: groaning one. It was of the blessed gods who still
Speaker 1: was holding back these from the battle tumult far away,
Speaker 1: till many Greeks should fill the measure up of woeful
Speaker 1: Havoc slain by Trojan foes and glorious Penthesileia, who pursued
Speaker 1: with murderous intent their rifled ranks. While ever waxed her
Speaker 1: valor more and more, and waxed her might within her
Speaker 1: never in vain, she aimed the unswerving spear thrust ah.
Speaker 1: She pierced the backs of them that fled the breast
Speaker 1: of such as charge to meet her. All the long
Speaker 1: shaft dripped with streaming blood. Swift were her feet as
Speaker 1: wind as down she swooped. Her alleless spirit failed for weariness,
Speaker 1: nor fainted, but her might was adamantine the impending doom
Speaker 1: which roused unto the terrible strife. Not yet Achilles clothed
Speaker 1: her still with glory, still aloof the dread power stood
Speaker 1: and still would shed splendor of triumph over the death ordain.
Speaker 1: But for a little space here it should quell that
Speaker 1: maiden beneath the hands of the Acus's sun, in darkness,
Speaker 1: ambushed with invisible hand. Ever it thrust her on and
Speaker 1: drew her feet to destruction ward and lit her path
Speaker 1: to death with the glory. While she slew foe after foe,
Speaker 1: And when within a dewy garden close, longing for its
Speaker 1: green spring tide, freshness deeps a heifer, and there rings
Speaker 1: to and fro when none is by to stay her,
Speaker 1: treading down all its green herbs and its wreath of bloom,
Speaker 1: devouring greedily thus and marring that with trampling feet, so
Speaker 1: ranged she Aries's child through reeling squadrons of Achaia's sons,
Speaker 1: slew these and hunted those in panic route from troy Afar,
Speaker 1: the women marveling gazed at the maid's battle prowess. Suddenly,
Speaker 1: a fiery passion for the fray has seized, and Timichus's daughter,
Speaker 1: Meneptolemus's wife to Syphony, her heart waxed strong and filled
Speaker 1: with lust of fight. She cried to her fellows all
Speaker 1: with desperate, daring words to spur them on to woeful war.
Speaker 1: By recklessness made strong friends, Let a heart of valor
Speaker 1: in our breasts awake. Let us be like our lords,
Speaker 1: who fight with foes for fatherland, for pabes, for us,
Speaker 1: and never pause her breath in that stern strife. Let
Speaker 1: us too thrown war's spirit in our hearts. Let us
Speaker 1: too face the fight which favors none. For we, we women,
Speaker 1: be not creatures cast in diverse mold. From men to
Speaker 1: us is given such energy of life as stirs in
Speaker 1: them eyes. Have we like to theirs and limbs throughout
Speaker 1: fashioned We are alike, one common light we look on,
Speaker 1: and one common air we breathe with. Like food, we
Speaker 1: are nourished. No wherein have we been dowered of God
Speaker 1: more than men. Then let us shrink not from the fray.
Speaker 1: See you not yonder a woman far excelling men in
Speaker 1: the grapple of fight. Yet is her blood no wise
Speaker 1: akin to ours? Nor fights she for her own city
Speaker 1: for an alien king. She wars of her own hearts,
Speaker 1: prompting fears the face of no man. For her soul
Speaker 1: is thrilled with valor and with spirit invincible. But we
Speaker 1: to right to left lie woes on woes about our feet.
Speaker 1: This mourn's beloved sons, and that a husband who for
Speaker 1: hearth and home is died. Some wail for fathers now
Speaker 1: no more. Some grieve for brethren and for kinsmen lost,
Speaker 1: not one, but has some share in sorrow's cup. Behind
Speaker 1: all this, a fearful shadow looms the day of bondage. Therefore,
Speaker 1: flinch not you from war, oh sorrow laden. Better far
Speaker 1: to die in battle now than afterwards. Hence to be
Speaker 1: hailed into captivity to alien folk, We and our little
Speaker 1: ones in the stern grip of fate, leaving behind a
Speaker 1: burning city and our husband's graves. So cried she, And
Speaker 1: with passion for stern war thrilled all those women, And
Speaker 1: with eager speed they hasted to go forth without the wall,
Speaker 1: male clad a fire, to battle for their town and people.
Speaker 1: All their spirit was aflame, as when within a hive,
Speaker 1: when winter tide is over and gone, loud hum the
Speaker 1: swarming bees. What time they make them ready forth to
Speaker 1: fare to bright flower pastures, and no more endure to
Speaker 1: linger there within? But each to other cries the challenge
Speaker 1: cry to sally forth. Even so bestirred themselves the women
Speaker 1: of Troy, and kindled each her sister to the fray,
Speaker 1: the weaving woll, the distaff. Far they flung, and to
Speaker 1: grim weapons stretched their eager hands. And now without the city,
Speaker 1: these had died in that wild battle, as their husbands died,
Speaker 1: and the strong Amazons died, and had not one voice
Speaker 1: of wisdom cried to stay their maddened feet, when with
Speaker 1: dissuay words Theano spoke, wherefore a wherefore for the toil
Speaker 1: and strain of battle's fearful tumult to you yearn infatuate ones.
Speaker 1: Never your limbs have toiled in conflict, yet in utter ignorance,
Speaker 1: panting for labor unendurable, you rush on all unthinking, For
Speaker 1: your strength can never be as that of Danian men
Speaker 1: men trained in daily battle. Amazons have joyed and ruthless
Speaker 1: fight in charging steeds from the beginning. All the toil
Speaker 1: of men do they endure, And therefore evermore the spirit
Speaker 1: of the war God thrills through them. They fall not
Speaker 1: short of men in anything. Their labor, hardened frames make
Speaker 1: great their hearts for all achievement never faint their knees,
Speaker 1: nor tremble. Rumor speaks their queen to be a daughter
Speaker 1: of the mighty Lord of war. Therefore no woman may
Speaker 1: compare with her in preser, if she be a woman,
Speaker 1: not a god. Come down in answer to our prayers. Yes,
Speaker 1: of one blood be all the race of men. Yet
Speaker 1: unto diverse labors, still they turn, and that for each
Speaker 1: is evermore the best whereto he brings skill of use
Speaker 1: and want. Therefore, do you from tumult of the fray,
Speaker 1: hold you aloof, and in your women's bowers before the loom,
Speaker 1: still pace you to and fro. And war shall be
Speaker 1: the business of our lords. Lo of fair issue is
Speaker 1: their hope. We see the Accayans falling fast. We see
Speaker 1: the might of our men waxing. Ever, fear is none
Speaker 1: of evil issue now the pitiless foe beleaguer, not the town.
Speaker 1: No desperate need there is that women should go forth
Speaker 1: to war, So cried she, and they hearkened to the
Speaker 1: words of her, who had garnered wisdom from the years.
Speaker 1: So from afar they watched the fight. But still Penthesa
Speaker 1: Leah broke the ranks, and still before her quailed the Achaeans.
Speaker 1: Still they found nor screen, nor hiding place from imminent death.
Speaker 1: As bleeding goats are by the blood stained jaws of
Speaker 1: a grim panther, torn, So slain were they in each
Speaker 1: man's heart, all lust of battle died, and fear alone
Speaker 1: lived this way that way fled the panic stricken, some
Speaker 1: to earth, had flung the armor from their shoulders, some
Speaker 1: in dust, groveled in terror beneath their shields. The steeds
Speaker 1: fled through the route, unraigned of charioteers, in rapture of triumph,
Speaker 1: charged the Amazons with groan and scream of agony, dyed
Speaker 1: the Greeks withered. Their manhood was in that sore strait.
Speaker 1: Brief was the span of all whom that fierce made mid.
Speaker 1: The grim jaws of battle overtook, And when with mighty
Speaker 1: uproaring bursts down a storm upon the forest tree, and
Speaker 1: some uprend by the roots and on the earth dashes
Speaker 1: them down the tail sterns blossom crowned, and snaps some
Speaker 1: that thwart the trunk, and high whirls them through the air,
Speaker 1: till all confuse. They lie a ruin of splintered stems
Speaker 1: and shattered sprays. So the great Danian host lay dashed
Speaker 1: to dust by doom of fate, by Penthesileia's spear. But
Speaker 1: when the very ships were now at point to be
Speaker 1: by the hands of Trojans set of flame. Then battle
Speaker 1: bider Ajax heard afar the panic cries and spoke to
Speaker 1: Iachus's son Achilles. All the air about mine ears is
Speaker 1: full of multitudinous cries, is full of thunder of battle
Speaker 1: rolling nearer. Yes, let us go forth. Then ere the
Speaker 1: Trojans win unto the ships and make great slaughter there
Speaker 1: of argive men, and set the ships of flame. Foulst
Speaker 1: reproached such thing on thee and me should bring. But
Speaker 1: it beseems not that the seed of mighty Zeus should
Speaker 1: shame the sacred blood of hero fathers, who themselves of old.
Speaker 1: With Hercules, the battle eager, sailed to Troy and smote
Speaker 1: her even at her height of glory, when L'aomadon was king. Yes,
Speaker 1: an I ween that our hands even now shall do
Speaker 1: the like. We too are mighty men. He spoke the
Speaker 1: awe at strength of Iachus's son, hearkened thereto for also
Speaker 1: to his ears. By this the roar of bitter battle came.
Speaker 1: Then hastened both and donned their warrior gear all splendor gleaming.
Speaker 1: Now in these arrayed, facing that stormy tossing route, they
Speaker 1: stand loud clash their glorious armor in their souls a
Speaker 1: battle fury like the war god's wrath, maddened such might
Speaker 1: was breathing into these two by a tritony shaker of
Speaker 1: the shield. As on they passed with joy, the Argives
Speaker 1: saw the coming of that mighty two. They seemed in
Speaker 1: semblance like Elias's sons, who in the old time made
Speaker 1: that haughty vaunt of piling on Olympus's brow. The height
Speaker 1: of ossa steeply towered, and the crest of sky, encountering Pelion,
Speaker 1: so to rear a mountain, stare for their rebellious rage
Speaker 1: to scale the highest heaven huge as these the sons
Speaker 1: of Yakis seemed. As forth they strode to stem the
Speaker 1: tide of war, a gladsome sight to friends who have
Speaker 1: fainted for their coming. Now onward they pressed to crush
Speaker 1: triumphant foes. Many they slew amid the corpses, feeding far
Speaker 1: from help of shepherds, and in heaps on heaps, slay
Speaker 1: them till they have drunk into the full of blood
Speaker 1: and filled their maws insation with flesh. So those destroyers
Speaker 1: too slew on, spreading wide havoc through the hosts of Troy.
Speaker 1: There Diochus and gallant Hylas fell by Ajax, slain and
Speaker 1: fell uranimous, lover of war and goodly Enius died. But
Speaker 1: Pelias's son burst on the Amazons, smiting on Tondry and
Speaker 1: Polymusa then and Timbroti fierce soul Hippothoy, hurling Harmotho, we
Speaker 1: down on sisters, slain, then hard on all their reeling ranks.
Speaker 1: He pressed with Telemon's mighty hearted son. And now before
Speaker 1: their hands battalions dense and strong crumbled, as weakly and
Speaker 1: as suddenly as when in mountain folds the forest breaks
Speaker 1: shrivel before a tempest driven fire. When battle eager Penthesileia
Speaker 1: saw these two as through the scourging storm of war,
Speaker 1: like ravening beasts, they rushed to meet them. There she sped,
Speaker 1: as when a leopard grim whose mood is deadly, leaps
Speaker 1: from forest coverts forth, lashing her tail on hunters closing round.
Speaker 1: While these in armor clad and putting trust in their
Speaker 1: long spears, await her lightning leap. So did those warriors too,
Speaker 1: with spears upswung weight, Penthesalyah clanged the brazen plates about
Speaker 1: their shoulders as they moved, and first leapt the long
Speaker 1: shafted lance sped from the hand of goodly Penthesaalia straight.
Speaker 1: It flew to the shield of Iyakus's son, but glancing
Speaker 1: thence this way and that she the shivered fragment sprang
Speaker 1: as from a rock face of such temper were the
Speaker 1: cunning hearted fire God's gifts divine. Then in her hand
Speaker 1: the warrior maid swung up a second javelin fury, winged
Speaker 1: against Ajax, and with fierce words defied the two ha
Speaker 1: From my hand in vain one lance has leapt. But
Speaker 1: with this second look I suddenly to quell the strength
Speaker 1: and courage of two foes. Yes, though you want, you,
Speaker 1: mighty man of war a Midiordanians, die, you shall, and
Speaker 1: so lighter shall be the load of war's affliction that
Speaker 1: lies upon the Trojan chariot lords drawn ie come through
Speaker 1: the press to grips with me. So shall you learn
Speaker 1: what might wells up in breasts of amazons with my
Speaker 1: bloods mingled war. No mortal man begot me, but the
Speaker 1: lord of war Insatia of the battle cry therefore my
Speaker 1: might is more than any man's. With scornful laughter, spoke she.
Speaker 1: Then she hurled her second lance, But they, in utter
Speaker 1: scorn laughed now as swiftly flew the shaft and smote
Speaker 1: the silver grieve of Ajax, and was foiled thereby, and
Speaker 1: all its fury could not scar the flesh within, For
Speaker 1: Fate had ordered not that any blade of foes should
Speaker 1: taste the blood of Ajax in the bitter war. But
Speaker 1: he wrecked of the Amazon knot but turned him thence
Speaker 1: to rush upon the Trojan host, and left Penthesilea unto
Speaker 1: Pelias's son alone, For well he knew his heart within
Speaker 1: that she, for all her prowess, nonetheless would cost Achilles
Speaker 1: battle toil as light as effortless as does the dove
Speaker 1: the hawk. Then grown, she in angry groan that she
Speaker 1: had sped her shafts in vain, and now, with scoffing
Speaker 1: speech to her. In turn, the son of Pelias spoke woman,
Speaker 1: with what vain vaunting's triumphing has view, come forth against us,
Speaker 1: all athirst to battle with us, who be mightier far
Speaker 1: than earthborn heroes. We from Cronus's son, the thunder roller,
Speaker 1: boast our high descent. Yes, even Hector quailed the battle
Speaker 1: swift before us, though far away he saw our on
Speaker 1: rush to grim battle. Yes, my spear slew him for
Speaker 1: all his might. But you, your heart is utterly mad that
Speaker 1: you have greatly dared to threaten us with death. This
Speaker 1: day on you, your latest hour shall swiftly come. Is come you,
Speaker 1: Not your sire, the war god now shall pluck out
Speaker 1: of my hand. But you the debt shall pay the
Speaker 1: dark doom, as when mid mountain folds a pricket meets
Speaker 1: a lion waster of herds. What woman, have you heard
Speaker 1: not of the heaps of slain that intoxanthis is rushing stream,
Speaker 1: or thrust by these my hands? Or have you heard
Speaker 1: in vain? Because the blessed ones have stolen wit and
Speaker 1: discretion from you, to the end, the Doom's relentless gulf
Speaker 1: might gape for you. He spoke. He swung up in
Speaker 1: his mighty hand, and sped the long spear. Warriors sla
Speaker 1: wrought by chiron and above the right breast pierced the battle.
Speaker 1: Eager maid. Then red blood leapt forth as a fountain wells,
Speaker 1: and all at once fainted. The strength of Penthesilia's limbs,
Speaker 1: dropping the great battle axe from her nerveless hand. A
Speaker 1: mist of darkness overveiled her eyes, and anguish thrilled her soul.
Speaker 1: Yet even so still drew she difficult breath, still dimly
Speaker 1: saw the hero even now in act to drag her
Speaker 1: from the swift steeds back. Confusedly, she thought, or shall
Speaker 1: I draw my mighty sword and bite Achilles fiery on rush,
Speaker 1: or hastily cast me from my fleet horse down to
Speaker 1: earth and kneel unto this godlike man, and with wild
Speaker 1: breath promise for ransoming great heaps of brass and gold,
Speaker 1: which pacify the hearts of victors, never so a thirst
Speaker 1: for blood. If haply so the murderous might of Iyachus's
Speaker 1: sun may hearken and may spare, or peradventure, may compassionate
Speaker 1: my youth, and so vouchsafe me to behold my home again,
Speaker 1: For oh I long to live. So surged the wild
Speaker 1: thoughts in her, But the gods ordained it otherwise. Even
Speaker 1: now rushed on in terrible anger, Pelias's son he thrust
Speaker 1: with sudden spear, and on its shaft impaled the body
Speaker 1: of her tempest footed steed. Even as a man in
Speaker 1: haste to sup might pierce flesh with the spit above
Speaker 1: the glowing hearth to roast it, or as in a
Speaker 1: mountain glade, a hunter sends the shaft of death clear
Speaker 1: through the body of a stag with such winged speed
Speaker 1: that the fierce dart leaps forth beyond to plunge into
Speaker 1: the tall stem of an oak or pine, So that death,
Speaker 1: ravening spear of Pelias's sun clear through the goodly steed,
Speaker 1: rushed on and pierced Penthesaiah straightway. She fell down to
Speaker 1: the dust of the earth. The arms of death, in
Speaker 1: grace and comeliness fell for naught of shame, dishonored her
Speaker 1: fair form. Face down, she lay on the long spear, out,
Speaker 1: gasping her last breath, stretched upon that fleet horse, as
Speaker 1: on a couch, like some tall pine snapped by the
Speaker 1: icy main of boreas Earth's forest fosterling reared by a
Speaker 1: spring to stately height amidst long mountain glens, a glory
Speaker 1: of Mother Earth. So from the once fleet steed, low fallen,
Speaker 1: lay Penthesaia, all her shattered strength brought down to this
Speaker 1: and all her loveliness. Now when the Trojans saw the
Speaker 1: warrior queen, struck down in battle, ran through all their lines,
Speaker 1: a shiver of panic straightway to their walls, turned pay
Speaker 1: in flight, heart agonized with grief, as when on the
Speaker 1: wide sea, beneath buffetings of storm blasts, castaways whose ship
Speaker 1: is wrecked escape a remnant of a crew forspent with
Speaker 1: desperate conflict with the cruel sea. Late, and at last
Speaker 1: appears the land. Hard by appears the city, faint and
Speaker 1: weary limbs, with that grim struggle through the surf. They
Speaker 1: strained a land sore, grieving for the good ship lost,
Speaker 1: and shipmates whom the terrible surge dragged down to nether
Speaker 1: gloom so troyward as they fled from the battle, all
Speaker 1: those Trojans wept for her, the child of the resistless
Speaker 1: war god, wept for friends who died in grown resounding fight.
Speaker 1: Then over her, with scornful laugh, the son of Pelias
Speaker 1: vaunted in the dust. Lie there a prey to teeth
Speaker 1: of dogs, to raven's beaks, You wretched thing, who cozened
Speaker 1: you to come forth against me, and who thought you
Speaker 1: to fare home from the war alive, to bear with
Speaker 1: your right royal gifts from Priam the old king your garden,
Speaker 1: for slain, Argives. It was not the immortals who inspired
Speaker 1: you with this thought. Who know that I of Hero's
Speaker 1: mightiest damn the Danian's light of safety, but a woe
Speaker 1: to troe Gins and to you, o evil starred. No,
Speaker 1: but it was the darkness shrouded fates and your own
Speaker 1: folly of soul that pricked you on to leave the
Speaker 1: works of women and to fare to war, from which
Speaker 1: strong men shrink shuddering back, So spoke he and his
Speaker 1: ashen spear. The sun of Pelias drew from that swift horse,
Speaker 1: and from Penthesileia in death sagony. Then Steed and Rider
Speaker 1: gasped their lives away, slain by one spear. Now from
Speaker 1: her head he plucked the helmet's splendor, flashing like the
Speaker 1: beams of the greatest sun, or Zeus's own glory light. Then,
Speaker 1: as there had fallen in dust and blood, she lay,
Speaker 1: rose like the breaking of the dawn, to view beneath
Speaker 1: dainty penciled brows, a lovely face, lovely in death. The
Speaker 1: Argives thronged around, and all they saw and marveled, for
Speaker 1: she seemed like an immortal in her armor. There Upon
Speaker 1: the earth, she lay and seemed the child of Zeus,
Speaker 1: the tireless huntress Artemis sleeping what time her feet, for
Speaker 1: wearied are with the following lions, with her flying shafts
Speaker 1: over the hills far stretching. She was made a wonder
Speaker 1: of beauty even in her death by Aphrodite Glorious, crowned
Speaker 1: the bride of the strong war god, to the end
Speaker 1: that he, the noble son of Pelias, might be pierced
Speaker 1: with the sharp arrow of repentant love. The warriors gazed,
Speaker 1: and in their hearts they prayed that, fair and sweet
Speaker 1: like her, their wives might seem laid on the bed
Speaker 1: of love when home they won yes, And Achilles's very
Speaker 1: heart was wrung with love's remorse to have slain a
Speaker 1: thing so sweet, who might have borne her home his
Speaker 1: queenly bride to Chariot Glorious Phythia, For she was flawless,
Speaker 1: the very daughter of the gods, divinely tall, and most
Speaker 1: divinely fair. Then Aris's heart was thrilled with grief and
Speaker 1: rage for his child slain. Straight from Olympus down, he darted,
Speaker 1: swift and bright as thunderbolts, terribly flashing from the mighty
Speaker 1: hand of Zeus far leaping over the trackless sea, or
Speaker 1: flaming over the land, while shudders all wide Olympus as
Speaker 1: it passes so through the quivering air, with heart aflame
Speaker 1: swooped Aries armor clad. Soon as he heard the dread
Speaker 1: doom of his daughter, for the gales the north Wind's
Speaker 1: fleet footed daughters bear to him, as through the wide
Speaker 1: halls of the sky, he strode the tidings of the
Speaker 1: maiden's woeful end. Soon as he heard it, like a tempest,
Speaker 1: blast down to the ridges of Idah leapt he quaked
Speaker 1: under his feet, the long glens and ravines deep scored
Speaker 1: all Ida's torrent beds, and all far stretching foothills. Now
Speaker 1: had Aris broad a day of mourning on the myrmidons.
Speaker 1: But Zeus himself, from far Olympus sent mid shattering thunders,
Speaker 1: terror of leaven bolts, which thick and fast leaped through
Speaker 1: the welkin down before his feet, blazing with fearful flames.
Speaker 1: And Aries saw and knew the stormy thread of the
Speaker 1: mighty thundering father. And he stayed his eager feet now
Speaker 1: on the very brink of battles turmoil, as when some
Speaker 1: huge crag, thrust from a beetling cliff, brow by the
Speaker 1: winds and torrent rains or lightning, lance of Zeus leaps
Speaker 1: like a wild beast, and in the mountain glens fling
Speaker 1: back their crashing echoes as it rolls in mad speed
Speaker 1: on as with resistless swoop of bound on bound, it
Speaker 1: rushes down until it comes to the levels of the plain,
Speaker 1: and there perforce its stormy flight is stayed. So Ari's battle,
Speaker 1: eager son of Zeus, was stayed. How loathsoever, for all
Speaker 1: the gods to the ruler of the blested needs must yield,
Speaker 1: Seeing he sits high, throned above them, all clothed in
Speaker 1: his might unspeakable. Yet still many a wild thoughts surged
Speaker 1: through Ares's soul, urging him now to dread the terrible
Speaker 1: threat of Cronus's wrathful son, and to return heavenward, and
Speaker 1: now to wreck not of his sire, but with Achilles's blood,
Speaker 1: to stain those hands the battle tireless. At the last,
Speaker 1: his heart remembered how that many and many a son
Speaker 1: of Zeus himself, in many a war, had died, nor
Speaker 1: in their fall had Zeus availed them. At Therefore he
Speaker 1: turned from the archives helst down, smitten by the blasting thunderbolt,
Speaker 1: with titans in the nether gloom, he had lain who
Speaker 1: dared defy the eternal will of Zeus. Then did the
Speaker 1: warrior sons of Argos strip with eager haste from corpses,
Speaker 1: drown all round the blood stained spoils. But ever Pellias's
Speaker 1: son gazed wild with all regret still gazed on her.
Speaker 1: The strong, the beautiful laid in the dust, and all
Speaker 1: his heart was wrung, was broken down with sorrowful love, deep, strong,
Speaker 1: as he had known when that beloved friend Patroclus died, loud,
Speaker 1: jeering thirsities mocking to his face. You, sorry, souled Achilles,
Speaker 1: are not shamed to let some evil power beguile your
Speaker 1: heart to pity of a pitiful Amazon whose furious spirit
Speaker 1: proposed not but ill to us and ours. Woman matter,
Speaker 1: you and your soul lusts for this thing as she
Speaker 1: were some lady wise in household ways, with gifts and
Speaker 1: pure intent for honored wedlock wood. Good had it been,
Speaker 1: had her spear reached your heart, the heart that sighs
Speaker 1: for woman creature, Still you care not unmanly, sould not
Speaker 1: you for Valor's glorious path. When once your eyes lights
Speaker 1: on a woman, sorry wretch, Where now is all your
Speaker 1: goodly prowess? Where your wit? And where the might that
Speaker 1: should beseem a king all stainless? Do you not know
Speaker 1: what misery this self, same woman madness wrought for Troy.
Speaker 1: Nothing there is to men more ruinous than lust for
Speaker 1: women's beauty. It makes fools of wise men. But the
Speaker 1: toil of war attains renown to him that is a hero. Indeed,
Speaker 1: glory of victory and the war God's works are sweet.
Speaker 1: It's but a battle blencher craves the beauty and the
Speaker 1: bed of such as she so railed. He long and loud,
Speaker 1: the mighty heart of Pelias's son leapt into flame of wrath.
Speaker 1: A sudden buffet of his resistless hand smote beneath the
Speaker 1: railer's ear, and all his teeth were dashed to the earth.
Speaker 1: He fell upon his face, forth of his lips, the
Speaker 1: blood in torrent gushed swift from his body. Fled the
Speaker 1: dastard soul of that vile man. Akaea's sons rejoiced, For yes,
Speaker 1: he want to rail on each and all with venomous jibes,
Speaker 1: himself a scandal and the shame of all the host.
Speaker 1: Then Mid, the warrior argives, cried a voice. Not good
Speaker 1: is it for baser men to rail on kings, or
Speaker 1: secretly or openly, For wrathful retribution swiftly comes. The lady
Speaker 1: of justice sits on high, and she who heeps woe
Speaker 1: on woe on humankind, even ate punishes the shameless tongue.
Speaker 1: So Mid the Danians cried a voice, nor yet within
Speaker 1: the mighty soul of Pelias's son lulled with the storm
Speaker 1: of wrath. But fiercely he spoke, live, are and dust
Speaker 1: your follies all for God. It's not for knaves to
Speaker 1: beard their betters. One you did provoke Odysseus steadfast soul,
Speaker 1: babbling with venomous tongue one thousand jibes, and did escape
Speaker 1: of life. But you have fought the sons of Pelias.
Speaker 1: Not so patient, souled, who with one only buffet from
Speaker 1: his hands unkennels you the dog of your soul. A
Speaker 1: bitter doom has swallowed you, but your own rascalry your
Speaker 1: life is sped. Hence from achay and men, and mouth
Speaker 1: out your revilings amid the dead. So spoke the valiant
Speaker 1: hearted all the son of Iacus. But Titeus's son alone
Speaker 1: of all the Argives, was with anger, stirred against Achilles
Speaker 1: fourth Thirstities slain. Seeing these two were the self same blood,
Speaker 1: the one proud Tydeus's battle eager son, the other seed
Speaker 1: of godlike Agrius, brother of noble Eneus. Agrius was and
Speaker 1: Eneus in the Danian land, beget Titeus, the battle eager son,
Speaker 1: to whom was stalwart Diomedes. Therefore wroth was he, for
Speaker 1: slain Thirstities yes had raised against the son of Pellia's
Speaker 1: vengeful hands, except the noblest of Achaea's sons had thronged
Speaker 1: around him and besought him sore, and held him back
Speaker 1: therefrom with Pelias's son also they pleaded. Else, those mighty two,
Speaker 1: the mightiest of all Argives, were at point to close
Speaker 1: with clash of swords, so stung were they with bitter wrath.
Speaker 1: Yet hearkened they last to prayers of comrades, and were reconciled.
Speaker 1: Then of their pity did the Atridee kings for these
Speaker 1: two at the imperial loveliness of Penthesalea marveled render up
Speaker 1: her body to the men of Troy, to bear unto
Speaker 1: the burge of Illis fair, renowned with all her armor.
Speaker 1: For a herald came asking this boon for priam. For
Speaker 1: the king longed, with deep yearning of the heart, to
Speaker 1: lay that battle eager maiden with her arms and with
Speaker 1: her war ho in the great earth mound of Old Lamadon.
Speaker 1: And so he heaped a high, broad pyre without the
Speaker 1: city wall, upon the height. Thereof that warrior queen they laid,
Speaker 1: And costly treasures did they heap around her. All that
Speaker 1: well beseems to burn around a mighty queen in battle slain.
Speaker 1: And so the fire God's swift, up leaping might, the
Speaker 1: ravening flame consumed her all around. The people stood on
Speaker 1: every hand and quenched the pyre with odorous wine. Then
Speaker 1: gathered they the bones, and poured sweet ointment over them,
Speaker 1: and laid them in a casket. All over shed they
Speaker 1: the rich fat of a heifer chief among the herds
Speaker 1: that grazed on Ida's slope. And as for a beloved daughter,
Speaker 1: rang all round the trojan men's heart stricken wail as
Speaker 1: by the stately wall. They buried her on an outstanding
Speaker 1: tower beside the bones of Old Lamadon, a queen beside
Speaker 1: a king, this honor. For the war God's sake they rendered,
Speaker 1: and for Penthesileia's own, and in the plain beside her
Speaker 1: they buried the Amazons, even all that followed her to battle,
Speaker 1: and by argives spears were slain. For Atreus's sons begrudged.
Speaker 1: Not these the boon of tear besprinkled graves. But let
Speaker 1: their friends, the warrior Trojans, draw their corpses forth, yes,
Speaker 1: and their own slain also from amidst the wrath swathe
Speaker 1: of darts over that grim harvest field. Wrath strikes not
Speaker 1: at the dead pitied our foes, when life has fled
Speaker 1: and left them foes no more far off across the plain,
Speaker 1: the while uprose smoke from the pyres, whereon the archives
Speaker 1: laid the many heroes overthrown and slain by Trojan hands.
Speaker 1: What time the sword devoured and multitudinous lamentation wailed over
Speaker 1: the perished, But above the rest mourned they over brave Pudarchis,
Speaker 1: who in fight was no less mighty than his hero
Speaker 1: brother Potissileus, he who long ago fell slain of Hector.
Speaker 1: So Pudarchis now struck down by Penthesileia's spear has cast
Speaker 1: over all argive hearts, the pall of grief. Wherefore, apart
Speaker 1: from him they laid in clay the common throng of slain.
Speaker 1: But over him, toiling they heaped an earth mound far
Speaker 1: descried in memory of a warrior, aweless sould, and in
Speaker 1: a several pit withal they thrust the knittering, thirstities wretched corpse.
Speaker 1: Then to the ships, acclaiming Iachus's son, returned they all.
Speaker 1: But when the radiant day had plunged beneath the ocean
Speaker 1: stream and night the holy overspread the face of earth.
Speaker 1: Then in the rich king Agamemnon's tent feasted the might
Speaker 1: of Peleus's son, And there sat at the feast those
Speaker 1: other mighty ones, all through the dark till rose the
Speaker 1: dawn Divine. Thank you all so much for listening. Wasn't
Speaker 1: that fun? I was right, It's so much fun. I'm
Speaker 1: really excited to keep going with this. So in a
Speaker 1: couple of weeks we will have book two. There will
Speaker 1: be a gap for a little bit because I've got
Speaker 1: some big plans and schemes for upcoming series of episodes,
Speaker 1: including an entire month series on the Bronze Age. It's
Speaker 1: gonna be fun. But otherwise we're gonna keep going with
Speaker 1: this reading series because it was incredible and penthesili is
Speaker 1: a fucking badass. And actually this whole first book was
Speaker 1: like really awesome to women, you know, comparatively, like there
Speaker 1: was mad respect for all the Amazon's there. I mean,
Speaker 1: not from Achilles, but he's a piece of shit, but
Speaker 1: from the Trojans and mad respect, but to those Trojan
Speaker 1: women who are like, now we're gonna go out and up,
Speaker 1: and then the one who's like, you know what, we
Speaker 1: can fuck sit up in our own way, but maybe
Speaker 1: we haven't trained for this and we will die, which,
Speaker 1: you know, not wrong, not wrong. You know, men are
Speaker 1: not inherently better, but in this case, the men have trained,
Speaker 1: and Theano got that. It was a good warning. Anyway,
Speaker 1: I really love this opening book, and so I'm really excited.
Speaker 1: This is probably one of the only ones that I've
Speaker 1: actually read before because I've done a whole you know,
Speaker 1: episode on Achilles and Penthesileia, and then there's more coming
Speaker 1: up from Memnon that I know I've read, but otherwise
Speaker 1: I've not read this whole work. So I'm so excited.
Speaker 1: To read it along with you. Guys. All Right, that
Speaker 1: was great. Let's talk about this Baby is written and
Speaker 1: produced by Me Live Albert. MICHAELA. Smith is the Hermes
Speaker 1: to My olympians A, better known as the assistant producer.
Speaker 1: Laura Smith is now the production assistant and audio engineer.
Speaker 1: The podcast is part of the iHeart Podcast Network. Listen
Speaker 1: on Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1: Help me continue bringing you the world of Greek pathology
Speaker 1: and the ancient Mediterranean by becoming a patron, where you
Speaker 1: will get bonus episodes and more. Visit patreon dot com
Speaker 1: slash MIT's Baby or click the link in this episode description.
Speaker 1: I am live and I love this jet.