Iliad 18.42

Iliad · translated by Alexander Pope

Another part (a prospect differing far)[255] Glow’d with refulgent arms, and horrid war. Two mighty hosts a leaguer’d town embrace, And one would pillage, one would burn the place. Meantime the townsmen, arm’d with silent care, A secret ambush on the foe prepare: Their wives, their children, and the watchful band Of trembling parents, on the turrets stand. They march; by Pallas and by Mars made bold: Gold were the gods, their radiant garments gold, And gold their armour: these the squadron led, August, divine, superior by the head! A place for ambush fit they found, and stood, Cover’d with shields, beside a silver flood. Two spies at distance lurk, and watchful seem If sheep or oxen seek the winding stream. Soon the white flocks proceeded o’er the plains, And steers slow-moving, and two shepherd swains; Behind them piping on their reeds they go, Nor fear an ambush, nor suspect a foe. In arms the glittering squadron rising round Rush sudden; hills of slaughter heap the ground; Whole flocks and herds lie bleeding on the plains, And, all amidst them, dead, the shepherd swains! The bellowing oxen the besiegers hear; They rise, take horse, approach, and meet the war, They fight, they fall, beside the silver flood; The waving silver seem’d to blush with blood. There Tumult, there Contention stood confess’d; One rear’d a dagger at a captive’s breast; One held a living foe, that freshly bled With new-made wounds; another dragg’d a dead; Now here, now there, the carcases they tore: Fate stalk’d amidst them, grim with human gore. And the whole war came out, and met the eye; And each bold figure seem’d to live or die.

Iliad 18.42 · Iliad · 18

Themes in this passage

Wealth War Courage Children Death The Divine Family Fear

Wealth in other traditions

The same theme, as Hinduism and Christianity address it.

And as a faggot of wood is consumed by the fire that is fed by itself, even so doth a person of impure soul find destruction from the covetousness born of his heart. And as creatures endued with life have ever a dread of death, so men of wealth are in constant apprehension of the king and the thief, of water and fire and even of their relatives. And as a morsel of meat, if in air, may be devoured by birds; if on ground by beasts of prey; and if in water by the fishes; even so is the man of wealth exposed to dangers wherever he may be. To many the wealth they own is their bane, and he that beholding happiness in wealth becometh wedded to it, knoweth not true happiness. And hence accession of wealth is viewed as that which increaseth covetousness and folly. Wealth alone is the root of niggardliness and boastfulness, pride and fear and anxiety! These are the miseries of men that the wise see in riches! Men undergo infinite miseries in the acquisition and retention of wealth. Its expenditure also is fraught with grief. Nay, sometimes, life itself is lost for the sake of wealth! The abandonment of wealth produces misery, and even they that are cherished by one’s wealth become enemies for the sake of that wealth! When, therefore, the possession of wealth is fraught with such misery, one should not mind its loss. It is the ignorant alone who are discontented. The wise, however, are always content. The thirst of wealth can never be assuaged. Contentment is the highest happiness; therefore, it is, that the wise regard contentment as the highest object of pursuit. The wise knowing the instability of youth and beauty, of life and treasure-hoards, of prosperity and the company of the loved ones, never covet them. Therefore, one should refrain from the acquisition of wealth, bearing the pain incident to it. None that is rich free from trouble, and it is for this that the virtuous applaud them that are free from the desire of wealth.

Mbh 3.2.6c · Mahabharata · VANA PARVA

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Genesis 13:2 · Bible · Genesis

2 At Ayu's ancient call he by his wisdom gave all this progeny of men their being, 3 Praise him, ye Aryan folk, as chief performer of sacrifice adored and ever toiling, 4 That Matarisvan rich in wealth and treasure, light−winner, finds a pathway for his offispring. 5 Night and Dawn, changing each the other's colour, meeting together suckle one same Infant: 6 Root of wealth, gathering−place of treasures, banner of sacrifice, who grants the suppliant's wishes: 7 Now and of old the home of wealth, the mansion of what is born and what was born aforetime, 8 May the Wealth−Giver grant us conquering riches; may the Wealth−Giver grant us wealth with heroes. 9 Fed with our fuel, purifying Agni, so blaze to us auspiciously for glory.

RV 96 · Rig Veda · null

Conceal not from us that form of thine What time thou dost change thy shape in battle [5]. u O Agni, give to the giver Wealth of heroes in abundance; Quicken us to richness in sons. v Give to us, O Agni, a hundred, give a thousandfold; Like doors disclose for us booty for renown; Make with the prayer sky and earth propitious; Like bright heaven the dawns have shone forth. w Agni give wealth that decketh the hero; Agni the Rsi who winneth thousands; Agni hath placed the oblation in the sky; In many a place are the abodes of Agni. x Destroy [6] us not. y Bring to us. z Thy body is faultless, Like ghee purified, like pure gold That of thine shineth like an ornament, O thou powerful one. aa O bright one, in thy mouth thou cookest Both ladles (full) of butter; Do thou make us full For our hymns, O lord of strength; Do thou bear food to the praisers. bb O Vayu, a hundred of bay (steeds) Worthy of nourishment do thou yoke; Or let the chariot of thee that hast a thousand (steeds) Come with might. cc The teams [7] wherewith thou comest to the giver, O Vayu, for seeking in the house, Grant us wealth rich in enjoyment, And a treasure of heroes, of horses, of cows. dd Rich banquets be ours with Indra, With mighty strength, Wherewith fed we may rejoice. ee Rich should he be, the praiser Of a generous and wealthy one like thee; (Famed) be (the praiser) of thee that art famed, O thou with the bays.

YV 2.2s · Yajur Veda

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