Iliad - Public domain English translationAjax, son of Telamon, breaks a Trojan phalanx. Diomedes, and several other Greeks (NB: Homer refers to them mostly as Achaeans, and sometimes Argives or Danaans; Greek is our term) kill Trojans. Menelaus is willing to spare the life of Adrestus, but Agamemnon kills him, saying that not a single Trojan should be left alive after the way they have treated the Greeks. Nestor tells the Greeks to leave the despoiling of the Trojan dead until later, but to kill as many as possible quickly.
Priam's son Helenus persuades Hector and Aeneas to rally the Trojans and pray to Athena to keep Diomedes away since he is the wildest of the Greeks. Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, goes to meet Diomedes in single combat. Diomedes, alerted by the bravery of Glaucus, a man he has never before seen, first wants to make sure he isn't a god because mortals don't fare well when they fight with gods. Glaucus tells his family history and Diomedes says Glaucus is a friend of his father's house. Instead of fighting, Diomedes suggests they exchange armor. They agree on friendship.
Meanwhile, Hector goes to the Scaean gate and instructs his mother as to how to make a sacrifice to Athena; then Hector fetches his brother Paris. Paris asks him to wait while he puts on his armor. Helen spends this time talking with Hector. She says she wishes she had never been born, and complains about how dishonorable Paris is.
Hector goes to his own house and then to the walls of Troy to talk with his wife who is there with their infant son, Scamandrius (or Astyanax), who is scared by the horsehair crest of the helmet worn by Hector. Hector removes the helmet to kiss the boy. Andromache says Hector will be killed if he fights, so she asks him to stay with her. Hector says he can't, but what makes him especially sad is knowing she will be taken as a slave by the Greeks.(This scene is frequently mentioned in connection with family relations since it is so touching and a contrast from what transpires between Helen and Paris or Menelaus.)
Andromache goes home, as Hector had asked. There she and her servants mourn the presumed imminent death of Hector. As Hector approaches the battle, his brother Paris joins him.
Next: Major Characters in Iliad Book VI
For information on people and places mentioned in Book I of the Iliad, see Iliad Book I - Who? What? Where?Read a public domain translation of Homer's Iliad Book VI.
