Humanitext Reader

Hesiod · Shield of Heracles §312-406

The Rim of Ocean and Clash with Cycnus

Passage 5 of 6 · Greek

Summary

The description of the wondrous shield crafted by Hephaestus concludes with the image of the Ocean stream framing its border. Following this, Heracles, encouraged by Athena, dismounts his chariot with Iolaus to confront Cycnus and Ares, clashing in a fierce battle illustrated by multiple grand similes of nature and beasts.

§312τοῖσιν δὲ προέκειτο μέγας τρίπος ἐντὸς ἀγῶνος, §313χρύσειος, κλυτὰ ἔργα περίφρονος Ἡφαίστοιο.
And before them was set a great tripod within the assembly, golden, the glorious work of wise Hephaestus.
§314ἀμφὶ δʼ ἴτυν ῥέεν Ὠκεανὸς πλήθοντι ἐοικώς, §315πᾶν δὲ συνεῖχε σάκος πολυδαίδαλον, οἳ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὸν
Around the rim flowed Ocean, looking like he was in full flood, and it held together the whole highly-wrought shield.
§316κύκνοι ἀερσιπόται μεγάλʼ ἤπυον, οἵ ῥά τε πολλοὶ §317νῆχον ἐπʼ ἄκρον ὕδωρ· παρὰ δʼ ἰχθύες ἐκλονέοντο.
And along it high-flying swans were crying loudly, many of whom were swimming on the surface of the water; and beside them fishes were being driven in confusion.
§318θαῦμα ἰδεῖν καὶ Ζηνὶ βαρυκτύπῳ, οὗ διὰ βουλὰς §319Ἥφαιστος ποίησε σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε, §320ἀρσάμενος παλάμῃσι.
A wonder to behold even for heavy-thundering Zeus, by whose counsels Hephaestus made the shield, both great and sturdy, having fitted it with his hands.
τὸ μὲν Διὸς ἄλκιμος υἱὸς §321πάλλεν ἐπικρατέως· ἐπὶ δʼ ἱππείου θόρε δίφρου, §322εἴκελος ἀστεροπῇ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο, §323κοῦφα βιβάς· τῷ δʼ ἡνίοχος κρατερὸς Ἰόλαος §324δίφρου ἐπεμβεβαὼς ἰθύνετο καμπύλον ἅρμα.
This the brave son of Zeus brandished powerfully; and he leapt onto his horse-drawn chariot, resembling the lightning of his father aegis-bearing Zeus, stepping lightly; and for him the strong charioteer Iolaus, having mounted the chariot, guided the curved car.
§325ἀγχίμολον δέ σφʼ ἦλθε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη, §326καί σφεας θαρσύνουσα ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· §327ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἐς δίφρον ἐβήσατο δῖα θεάων, §328νίκην ἀθανάτῃς χερσὶν καὶ κῦδος ἔχουσα, §340ἐσσυμένως.
And near to them came the flashing-eyed goddess Athena, and encouraging them she spoke winged words: Having spoken thus, the bright among goddesses mounted the chariot, holding victory and glory in her immortal hands, eagerly.
τότε δή ῥα διόγνητος Ἰόλαος §341σμερδαλέον ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο· τοὶ δʼ ὑπʼ ὀμοκλῆς §342ῥίμφʼ ἔφερον θοὸν ἅρμα κονίοντες πεδίοιο.
Then indeed Zeus-born Iolaus shouted terribly to his horses; and they, beneath his shout, swiftly bore the fleet chariot, raising dust over the plain.
§343ἐν γάρ σφιν μένος ἧκε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη §344αἰγίδʼ ἀνασσείσασα· περιστονάχησε δὲ γαῖα.
For into them the flashing-eyed goddess Athena cast strength, having shaken her aegis; and the earth groaned all around.
§345τοὶ δʼ ἄμυδις προγένοντʼ ἴκελοι πυρὶ ἠὲ θυέλλῃ, §346Κύκνος θʼ ἱππόδαμος καὶ Ἄρης ἀκόρητος ἀυτῆς.
And they advanced together like fire or a tempest, horse-taming Cycnus and Ares insatiable of battle.
§347τῶν ἵπποι μὲν ἔπειθʼ ὑπεναντίοι ἀλλήλοισιν §348ὀξεῖα χρέμισαν, περὶ δέ σφισιν ἄγνυτο ἠχώ.
Then the horses of them, facing one another, neighed shrilly, and the echo was shattered around them.
§349τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε βίη Ἡρακληείη· §365πρηνὴς δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι χαμαὶ πέσεν ἔγχεος ὁρμῇ. §366ἔνθα κε δὴ λωβητὸς ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἐτύχθη §367χερσὶν ὕφʼ ἡμετέρῃσι λιπὼν ἔναρα βροτόεντα.
To him the mighty Heracles spoke first: He fell prone in the dust on the ground by the thrust of the spear; there indeed he would have been dishonored among the immortals, leaving bloody spoils under our hands.
§368ὣς ἔφατʼ· οὐδʼ ἄρα Κύκνος ἐυμμελίης ἐμενοίνα §369τῷ ἐπιπειθόμενος ἐχέμεν ἐρυσάρματας ἵππους.
Thus he spoke; but Cycnus of the good ashen spear did not think of holding back his chariot-drawing horses in obedience to him.
§370δὴ τότʼ ἀπʼ εὐπλεκέων δίφρων θόρον αἶψʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν §371παῖς τε Διὸς μεγάλου καὶ Ἐνυαλίοιο ἄνακτος.
Then indeed from their well-woven chariots they leapt immediately to the ground, both the son of great Zeus and the son of lord Enyalius.
§372ἡνίοχοι δʼ ἔμπλην ἔλασαν καλλίτριχας ἵππους· §373τῶν δʼ ὕπο σευομένων κανάχιζε πόσʼ εὐρεῖα χθών.
And the charioteers drove the beautiful-maned horses close by; and beneath them as they sped, the wide earth rang with their hooves.
§374ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀφʼ ὑψηλῆς κορυφῆς ὄρεος μεγάλοιο §375πέτραι ἀποθρῴσκωσιν, ἐπʼ ἀλλήλῃς δὲ πέσωσι, §376πολλαὶ δὲ δρῦς ὑψίκομοι, πολλαὶ δὲ τε πεῦκαι §377αἴγειροί τε τανύρριζοι ῥήγνυνται ὑπʼ αὐτέων §378ῥίμφα κυλινδομένων, εἵως πεδίονδʼ ἀφίκωνται, §379ὣς οἳ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι πέσον μέγα κεκλήγοντες.
And as when from the high peak of a great mountain rocks leap off and fall upon one another, and many high-foliaged oaks, and many pines and deep-rooted poplars are broken by them as they roll swiftly, until they reach the plain, so they fell upon one another, shouting loudly.
§380πᾶσα δὲ Μυρμιδόνων τε πόλις κλειτή τʼ Ἰαωλκὸς §381Ἄρνη τʼ ἠδʼ Ἑλίκη Ἄνθειά τε ποιήεσσα §382φωνῇ ὕπʼ ἀμφοτέρων μεγάλʼ ἴαχον· οἳ δʼ ἀλαλητῷ §383θεσπεσίῳ σύνισαν· μέγα δʼ ἔκτυπε μητίετα Ζεύς.
And all the city of the Myrmidons, and famous Iolcus, and Arne, and Helice, and grassy Anthea rang loudly beneath the voice of them both; and they with a wondrous battle-cry came together; and counseling Zeus thundered loudly.
§384κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν ψιάδας βάλεν αἱματοέσσας, §385σῆμα τιθεὶς πολέμοιο ἑῷ μεγαθαρσέι παιδί.
And down from heaven he cast bloody drops, making a sign of battle for his great-hearted son.
§386οἷος δʼ ἐν βήσσῃς ὄρεος χαλεπὸς προϊδέσθαι §387κάπρος χαυλιόδων φρονέει θυμῷ μαχέσασθαι §388ἀνδράσι θηρευτῇς, θήγει δέ τε λευκὸν ὀδόντα §389δοχμωθείς, ἀφρὸς δὲ περὶ στόμα μαστιχόωντι §390λείβεται, ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἔικτον, §391ὀρθὰς δʼ ἐν λοφιῇ φρίσσει τρίχας ἀμφί τε δειρήν· §392τῷ ἴκελος Διὸς υἱὸς ἀφʼ ἱππείου θόρε δίφρου.
And like a wild boar, grim to look upon, in the mountain glens, a tusked boar, minds in his heart to fight with hunting men, and whets his white tusk, turning sideways, and foam flows around his mouth as he gnashes, and his eyes are like shining fire, and he bristles the hair upright on his crest and around his neck; like him the son of Zeus leapt from his horse-drawn chariot.
§393ἦμος δὲ χλοερῷ κυανόπτερος ἠχέτα τέττιξ §394ὄζῳ ἐφεζόμενος θέρος ἀνθρώποισιν ἀείδειν §395ἄρχεται, ᾧ τε πόσις καὶ βρῶσις θῆλυς ἐέρση, §396καί τε πανημέριός τε καὶ ἠώιος χέει αὐδὴν §397ἴδει ἐν αἰνοτάτῳ, ὅτε τε χρόα Σείριος ἄζει, §398τῆμος δὴ κέγχροισι πέρι γλῶχες τελέθουσι §399τούς τε θέρει σπείρουσιν, ὅτʼ ὄμφακες αἰόλλονται, §400οἷα Διώνυσος δῶκʼ ἀνδράσι χάρμα καὶ ἄχθος· §401τὴν ὥρην μάρναντο, πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.
And when the dark-winged, chirping cicada, sitting on a green branch, begins to sing of summer to men— whose drink and food is the fresh dew, and all day long and at dawn pours forth his voice in the most terrible heat, when Sirius parches the skin— at that time indeed the beards grow around the millet, which they sow in summer, when the green grapes turn color, which Dionysus gave to men as a joy and a burden; at that season they fought, and a great din arose.
§402ὡς δὲ λέοντε δύω ἀμφὶ κταμένης ἐλάφοιο §403ἀλλήλοις κοτέοντες ἐπὶ σφέας ὁρμήσωσι, §404δεινὴ δέ σφʼ ἰαχὴ ἄραβός θʼ ἅμα γίγνετʼ ὀδόντων· §405οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες, ἀγκυλοχεῖλαι,
And as two lions, over a slain deer, raging at each other, rush upon one another, and a terrible cry and a clashing of teeth arises between them; and as hook-taloned, crook-beaked vultures, fight on a high rock, screaming loudly...
§406πέτρῃ ἔφʼ ὑψηλῇ μεγάλα κλάζοντε μάχονται
upon a high rock, screaming loudly, the two of them do battle.

Notes

  1. 312τοῖσιν — Dative of interest/advantage ("for them", "before them"). It refers back to the contestants in the chariot race described in the preceding section, for whom the golden tripod was set as a prize within the assembly.
  2. 315συνεῖχε — The subject is Ocean (Ὠκεανὸς) from the preceding line. It means "held together" or "enclosed the whole shield," representing how the river running along the outermost rim physically and artistically bound the entire multi-figured composition of the shield.
  3. 365πέσεν — Aorist indicative third-person singular. This is part of Heracles' speech warning Cycnus, recalling a past exploit where Heracles defeated Ares at Pylos. The subject is Ares.
  4. 371Ἐνυαλίοιο ἄνακτος — Genitive case meaning "of the lord Enyalius (Ares)". The noun "son" (παῖς) is elided here, in parallel with the preceding "son of great Zeus" (παῖς... Διὸς μεγάλου). It refers to Cycnus, the son of Ares, rather than Ares himself dismounting.
  5. 393ἦμος — Relative adverb meaning "when". It correlates with "τῆμος" (then) in line 398, framing the entire description of midsummer (lines 393-397) as a subordinate temporal clause that leads to the main event in lines 398-401, forming an elaborate epic simile.

Cite this passage

Hesiod, Shield of Heracles §312-406. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0020.tlg003.humanitext-grc2:312-406

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