Iliad Book I: The Quarrel

Lines 1–53

Invocation, Chryses, and the Plague

The poem invokes Achilles’ anger, Chryses is dishonored, and Apollo afflicts the Achaeans.

1μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω ἈχιλῆοςSing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus,

2οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρίʼ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγεʼ ἔθηκε, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.

3πολλὰς δʼ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades,

4ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures,

5οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δʼ ἐτελείετο βουλή, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus,

6ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε king of men,

7Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς. and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.

8τίς τʼ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι;And which of the gods was it that set them on to quarrel?

9Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός· ὃ γὰρ βασιλῆϊ χολωθεὶς It was the son of Jove and Leto;

10νοῦσον ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὄρσε κακήν, ὀλέκοντο δὲ λαοί, for he was angry with the king and sent a pestilence upon the host to plague the people,

11οὕνεκα τὸν Χρύσην ἠτίμασεν ἀρητῆρα because the son of Atreus had dishonoured Chryses his priest.

12Ἀτρεΐδης· ὃ γὰρ ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν Now Chryses had come to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter,

13λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα, and had brought with him a great ransom:

14στέμματʼ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo wreathed with a suppliant’s wreath,

15χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς, and he besought the Achaeans,

16Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω, κοσμήτορε λαῶν· but most of all the two sons of Atreus, who were their chiefs.

17Ἀτρεΐδαι τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί, “Sons of Atreus,” he cried,

18ὑμῖν μὲν θεοὶ δοῖεν Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες “and all other Achaeans,

19ἐκπέρσαι Πριάμοιο πόλιν, εὖ δʼ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι· may the gods who dwell in Olympus grant you to sack the city of Priam,

20παῖδα δʼ ἐμοὶ λύσαιτε φίλην, τὰ δʼ ἄποινα δέχεσθαι, and to reach your homes in safety; but free my daughter,

21ἁζόμενοι Διὸς υἱὸν ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα. and accept a ransom for her, in reverence to Apollo,

22ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ son of Jove.”

23αἰδεῖσθαί θʼ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα·On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered;

24ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,

25ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε· but not so Agamemnon,

26μή σε γέρον κοίλῃσιν ἐγὼ παρὰ νηυσὶ κιχείω who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. “Old man,” said he,

27ἢ νῦν δηθύνοντʼ ἢ ὕστερον αὖτις ἰόντα, “let me not find you tarrying about our ships,

28μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμῃ σκῆπτρον καὶ στέμμα θεοῖο· nor yet coming hereafter.

29τὴν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐ λύσω· πρίν μιν καὶ γῆρας ἔπεισιν Your sceptre of the god and your wreath shall profit you nothing.

30ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ ἐν Ἄργεϊ τηλόθι πάτρης I will not free her.

31ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην καὶ ἐμὸν λέχος ἀντιόωσαν· She shall grow old in my house at Argos far from her own home,

32ἀλλʼ ἴθι μή μʼ ἐρέθιζε σαώτερος ὥς κε νέηαι. busying herself with her loom and visiting my couch; so go,

33ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ ὃ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ· and do not provoke me or it shall be the worse for you.”

34βῆ δʼ ἀκέων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης·The old man feared him and obeyed. Not a word he spoke,

35πολλὰ δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἠρᾶθʼ ὁ γεραιὸς but went by the shore of the sounding sea and prayed apart to King Apollo whom lovely Leto had borne.

36Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι, τὸν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ· “Hear me,

37κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξʼ, ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας” he cried, “O god of the silver bow,

38Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla and rulest Tenedos with thy might,

39Σμινθεῦ εἴ ποτέ τοι χαρίεντʼ ἐπὶ νηὸν ἔρεψα, hear me oh thou of Sminthe. If I have ever decked your temple with garlands,

40ἢ εἰ δή ποτέ τοι κατὰ πίονα μηρίʼ ἔκηα

41ταύρων ἠδʼ αἰγῶν, τὸ δέ μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ· or burned your thigh-bones in fat of bulls or goats, grant my prayer,

42τίσειαν Δαναοὶ ἐμὰ δάκρυα σοῖσι βέλεσσιν. and let your arrows avenge these my tears upon the Danaans.

43ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,” Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer.

44βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων χωόμενος κῆρ, He came down furious from the summits of Olympus,

45τόξʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχων ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην· with his bow and his quiver upon his shoulder,

46ἔκλαγξαν δʼ ἄρʼ ὀϊστοὶ ἐπʼ ὤμων χωομένοιο, and the arrows rattled on his back with the rage that trembled within him.

47αὐτοῦ κινηθέντος· ὃ δʼ ἤϊε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.

48ἕζετʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν, μετὰ δʼ ἰὸν ἕηκε· He sat himself down away from the ships with a face as dark as night,

49δεινὴ δὲ κλαγγὴ γένετʼ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο· and his silver bow rang death as he shot his arrow in the midst of them.

50οὐρῆας μὲν πρῶτον ἐπῴχετο καὶ κύνας ἀργούς, First he smote their mules and their hounds,

51αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ αὐτοῖσι βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἐφιεὶς but presently he aimed his shafts at the people themselves,

52βάλλʼ· αἰεὶ δὲ πυραὶ νεκύων καίοντο θαμειαί.

53ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο κῆλα θεοῖο, and all day long the pyres of the dead were burning.

Lines 54–305

The Assembly and the Quarrel

Calchas reveals the plague’s cause; Achilles and Agamemnon quarrel, and Nestor attempts to reconcile them.

54τῇ δεκάτῃ δʼ ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσατο λαὸν Ἀχιλλεύς·For nine whole days he shot his arrows among the people,

55τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη· but upon the tenth day Achilles called them in assembly—

56κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν, ὅτι ῥα θνήσκοντας ὁρᾶτο.moved thereto by Juno,

57οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τε γένοντο, who saw the Achaeans in their death-throes and had compassion upon them.

58τοῖσι δʼ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς· Then, when they were got together,

59Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ἄμμε παλιμπλαγχθέντας ὀΐω he rose and spoke among them. “Son of Atreus,”

60ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἴ κεν θάνατόν γε φύγοιμεν, said he, “I deem that we should now turn roving home if we would escape destruction,

61εἰ δὴ ὁμοῦ πόλεμός τε δαμᾷ καὶ λοιμὸς Ἀχαιούς·

62ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή τινα μάντιν ἐρείομεν ἢ ἱερῆα for we are being cut down by war and pestilence at once.

63ἢ καὶ ὀνειροπόλον, καὶ γάρ τʼ ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν, Let us ask some priest or prophet, or some reader of dreams (for dreams,

64ὅς κʼ εἴποι ὅ τι τόσσον ἐχώσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων, too, are of Jove) who can tell us why Phoebus Apollo is so angry,

65εἴτʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται ἠδʼ ἑκατόμβης, and say whether it is for some vow that we have broken,

66αἴ κέν πως ἀρνῶν κνίσης αἰγῶν τε τελείων or hecatomb that we have not offered,

67βούλεται ἀντιάσας ἡμῖν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι. and whether he will accept the savour of lambs and goats without blemish,

68ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη so as to take away the plague from us.

69Κάλχας Θεστορίδης οἰωνοπόλων ὄχʼ ἄριστος,” With these words he sat down,

70ὃς ᾔδη τά τʼ ἐόντα τά τʼ ἐσσόμενα πρό τʼ ἐόντα, and Calchas son of Thestor, wisest of augurs, who knew things past present and to come,

71καὶ νήεσσʼ ἡγήσατʼ Ἀχαιῶν Ἴλιον εἴσω rose to speak.

72ἣν διὰ μαντοσύνην, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων· He it was who had guided the Achaeans with their fleet to Ilius,

73ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν· through the prophesyings with which Phoebus Apollo had inspired him.

74ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ κέλεαί με Διῒ φίλε μυθήσασθαι With all sincerity and goodwill he addressed them thus:

75μῆνιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκατηβελέταο ἄνακτος·— “Achilles, loved of heaven,

76τοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω· σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μοι ὄμοσσον you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo, I will therefore do so;

77ἦ μέν μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν· but consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed,

78ἦ γὰρ ὀΐομαι ἄνδρα χολωσέμεν, ὃς μέγα πάντων

79Ἀργείων κρατέει καί οἱ πείθονται Ἀχαιοί· for I know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might,

80κρείσσων γὰρ βασιλεὺς ὅτε χώσεται ἀνδρὶ χέρηϊ· to whom all the Achaeans are in subjection.

81εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον γε καὶ αὐτῆμαρ καταπέψῃ, A plain man cannot stand against the anger of a king,

82ἀλλά τε καὶ μετόπισθεν ἔχει κότον, ὄφρα τελέσσῃ, who if he swallow his displeasure now,

83ἐν στήθεσσιν ἑοῖσι· σὺ δὲ φράσαι εἴ με σαώσεις. will yet nurse revenge till he has wreaked it.

84τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς· Consider, therefore, whether or no you will protect me.

85θαρσήσας μάλα εἰπὲ θεοπρόπιον ὅ τι οἶσθα·” And Achilles answered, “Fear not,

86οὐ μὰ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα Διῒ φίλον, ᾧ τε σὺ Κάλχαν but speak as it is borne in upon you from heaven,

87εὐχόμενος Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπίας ἀναφαίνεις, for by Apollo, Calchas, to whom you pray,

88οὔ τις ἐμεῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο and whose oracles you reveal to us,

89σοὶ κοίλῃς παρὰ νηυσί βαρείας χεῖρας ἐποίσει not a Danaan at our ships shall lay his hand upon you,

90συμπάντων Δαναῶν, οὐδʼ ἢν Ἀγαμέμνονα εἴπῃς, while I yet live to look upon the face of the earth—

91ὃς νῦν πολλὸν ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι.no, not though you name Agamemnon himself,

92καὶ τότε δὴ θάρσησε καὶ ηὔδα μάντις ἀμύμων· who is by far the foremost of the Achaeans.”

93οὔ τʼ ἄρ ὅ γʼ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται οὐδʼ ἑκατόμβης,Thereon the seer spoke boldly. “The god,” he said,

94ἀλλʼ ἕνεκʼ ἀρητῆρος ὃν ἠτίμησʼ Ἀγαμέμνων, “is angry neither about vow nor hecatomb,

95οὐδʼ ἀπέλυσε θύγατρα καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατʼ ἄποινα, but for his priest’s sake, whom Agamemnon has dishonoured,

96τοὔνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν ἑκηβόλος ἠδʼ ἔτι δώσει· in that he would not free his daughter nor take a ransom for her;

97οὐδʼ ὅ γε πρὶν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀπώσει therefore has he sent these evils upon us,

98πρίν γʼ ἀπὸ πατρὶ φίλῳ δόμεναι ἑλικώπιδα κούρην and will yet send others.

99ἀπριάτην ἀνάποινον, ἄγειν θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην He will not deliver the Danaans from this pestilence till Agamemnon has restored the girl without fee or ransom to her father,

100ἐς Χρύσην· τότε κέν μιν ἱλασσάμενοι πεπίθοιμεν.

101ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη and has sent a holy hecatomb to Chryse.

102ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων Thus we may perhaps appease him.

103ἀχνύμενος· μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι” With these words he sat down,

104πίμπλαντʼ, ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐΐκτην· and Agamemnon rose in anger.

105Κάλχαντα πρώτιστα κάκʼ ὀσσόμενος προσέειπε· His heart was black with rage,

106μάντι κακῶν οὐ πώ ποτέ μοι τὸ κρήγυον εἶπας· and his eyes flashed fire as he scowled on Calchas and said, “Seer of evil,

107αἰεί τοι τὰ κάκʼ ἐστὶ φίλα φρεσὶ μαντεύεσθαι, you never yet prophesied smooth things concerning me,

108ἐσθλὸν δʼ οὔτέ τί πω εἶπας ἔπος οὔτʼ ἐτέλεσσας· but have ever loved to foretell that which was evil.

109καὶ νῦν ἐν Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπέων ἀγορεύεις You have brought me neither comfort nor performance;

110ὡς δὴ τοῦδʼ ἕνεκά σφιν ἑκηβόλος ἄλγεα τεύχει, and now you come seeing among Danaans,

111οὕνεκʼ ἐγὼ κούρης Χρυσηΐδος ἀγλάʼ ἄποινα

112οὐκ ἔθελον δέξασθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺ βούλομαι αὐτὴν and saying that Apollo has plagued us because I would not take a ransom for this girl,

113οἴκοι ἔχειν· καὶ γάρ ῥα Κλυταιμνήστρης προβέβουλα the daughter of Chryses. I have set my heart on keeping her in my own house,

114κουριδίης ἀλόχου, ἐπεὶ οὔ ἑθέν ἐστι χερείων,

115οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, οὔτʼ ἂρ φρένας οὔτέ τι ἔργα. for I love her better even than my own wife Clytemnestra,

116ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἐθέλω δόμεναι πάλιν εἰ τό γʼ ἄμεινον· whose peer she is alike in form and feature, in understanding and accomplishments.

117βούλομʼ ἐγὼ λαὸν σῶν ἔμμεναι ἢ ἀπολέσθαι· Still I will give her up if I must,

118αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γέρας αὐτίχʼ ἑτοιμάσατʼ ὄφρα μὴ οἶος for I would have the people live, not die;

119Ἀργείων ἀγέραστος ἔω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε· but you must find me a prize instead,

120λεύσσετε γὰρ τό γε πάντες ὅ μοι γέρας ἔρχεται ἄλλῃ. or I alone among the Argives shall be without one. This is not well; for you behold,

121τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς· all of you, that my prize is to go elsewhither.

122Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε φιλοκτεανώτατε πάντων,” And Achilles answered,

123πῶς γάρ τοι δώσουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί; “Most noble son of Atreus, covetous beyond all mankind,

124οὐδέ τί που ἴδμεν ξυνήϊα κείμενα πολλά· how shall the Achaeans find you another prize?

125ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν πολίων ἐξεπράθομεν, τὰ δέδασται, We have no common store from which to take one.

126λαοὺς δʼ οὐκ ἐπέοικε παλίλλογα ταῦτʼ ἐπαγείρειν. Those we took from the cities have been awarded;

127ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν τήνδε θεῷ πρόες· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ we cannot disallow the awards that have been made already.

128τριπλῇ τετραπλῇ τʼ ἀποτείσομεν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς Give this girl, therefore, to the god,

129δῷσι πόλιν Τροίην εὐτείχεον ἐξαλαπάξαι. and if ever Jove grants us to sack the city of Troy we will requite you three and fourfold.

130τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·” Then Agamemnon said,

131μὴ δʼ οὕτως ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν θεοείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ “Achilles, valiant though you be,

132κλέπτε νόῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐ παρελεύσεαι οὐδέ με πείσεις. you shall not thus outwit me. You shall not overreach and you shall not persuade me.

133ἦ ἐθέλεις ὄφρʼ αὐτὸς ἔχῃς γέρας, αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ αὔτως Are you to keep your own prize,

134ἧσθαι δευόμενον, κέλεαι δέ με τήνδʼ ἀποδοῦναι; while I sit tamely under my loss and give up the girl at your bidding?

135ἀλλʼ εἰ μὲν δώσουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοὶ

136ἄρσαντες κατὰ θυμὸν ὅπως ἀντάξιον ἔσται· Let the Achaeans find me a prize in fair exchange to my liking,

137εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώωσιν ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι or I will come and take your own,

138ἢ τεὸν ἢ Αἴαντος ἰὼν γέρας, ἢ Ὀδυσῆος or that of Ajax or of Ulysses;

139ἄξω ἑλών· ὃ δέ κεν κεχολώσεται ὅν κεν ἵκωμαι. and he to whomsoever I may come shall rue my coming.

140ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεσθα καὶ αὖτις, But of this we will take thought hereafter;

141νῦν δʼ ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν, for the present, let us draw a ship into the sea,

142ἐν δʼ ἐρέτας ἐπιτηδὲς ἀγείρομεν, ἐς δʼ ἑκατόμβην and find a crew for her expressly;

143θείομεν, ἂν δʼ αὐτὴν Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον let us put a hecatomb on board,

144βήσομεν· εἷς δέ τις ἀρχὸς ἀνὴρ βουληφόρος ἔστω, and let us send Chryseis also; further, let some chief man among us be in command,

145ἢ Αἴας ἢ Ἰδομενεὺς ἢ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς either Ajax,

146ἠὲ σὺ Πηλεΐδη πάντων ἐκπαγλότατʼ ἀνδρῶν, or Idomeneus, or yourself, son of Peleus,

147ὄφρʼ ἥμιν ἑκάεργον ἱλάσσεαι ἱερὰ ῥέξας. mighty warrior that you are,

148τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς· that we may offer sacrifice and appease the anger of the god.” Achilles scowled at him and answered,

149ὤ μοι ἀναιδείην ἐπιειμένε κερδαλεόφρον “You are steeped in insolence and lust of gain.

150πῶς τίς τοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν πείθηται Ἀχαιῶν With what heart can any of the Achaeans do your bidding,

151ἢ ὁδὸν ἐλθέμεναι ἢ ἀνδράσιν ἶφι μάχεσθαι; either on foray or in open fighting?

152οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώων ἕνεκʼ ἤλυθον αἰχμητάων I came not warring here for any ill the Trojans had done me.

153δεῦρο μαχησόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τί μοι αἴτιοί εἰσιν· I have no quarrel with them.

154οὐ γὰρ πώποτʼ ἐμὰς βοῦς ἤλασαν οὐδὲ μὲν ἵππους, They have not raided my cattle nor my horses,

155οὐδέ ποτʼ ἐν Φθίῃ ἐριβώλακι βωτιανείρῃ nor cut down my harvests on the rich plains of Phthia; for between me and them there is a great space,

156καρπὸν ἐδηλήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ μεταξὺ both mountain and sounding sea.

157οὔρεά τε σκιόεντα θάλασσά τε ἠχήεσσα· We have followed you, Sir Insolence! for your pleasure, not ours—

158ἀλλὰ σοὶ ὦ μέγʼ ἀναιδὲς ἅμʼ ἑσπόμεθʼ ὄφρα σὺ χαίρῃς,to gain satisfaction from the Trojans for your shameless self and for Menelaus.

159τιμὴν ἀρνύμενοι Μενελάῳ σοί τε κυνῶπα You forget this, and threaten to rob me of the prize for which I have toiled,

160πρὸς Τρώων· τῶν οὔ τι μετατρέπῃ οὐδʼ ἀλεγίζεις·

161καὶ δή μοι γέρας αὐτὸς ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἀπειλεῖς, and which the sons of the Achaeans have given me.

162ᾧ ἔπι πολλὰ μόγησα, δόσαν δέ μοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν. Never when the Achaeans sack any rich city of the Trojans do I receive so good a prize as you do,

163οὐ μὲν σοί ποτε ἶσον ἔχω γέρας ὁππότʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

164Τρώων ἐκπέρσωσʼ εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον· though it is my hands that do the better part of the fighting.

165ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν πλεῖον πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο When the sharing comes,

166χεῖρες ἐμαὶ διέπουσʼ· ἀτὰρ ἤν ποτε δασμὸς ἵκηται, your share is far the largest, and I, forsooth, must go back to my ships,

167σοὶ τὸ γέρας πολὺ μεῖζον, ἐγὼ δʼ ὀλίγον τε φίλον τε take what I can get and be thankful, when my labour of fighting is done.

168ἔρχομʼ ἔχων ἐπὶ νῆας, ἐπεί κε κάμω πολεμίζων. Now, therefore, I shall go back to Phthia;

169νῦν δʼ εἶμι Φθίην δʼ, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστιν it will be much better for me to return home with my ships,

170οἴκαδʼ ἴμεν σὺν νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὐδέ σʼ ὀΐω

171ἐνθάδʼ ἄτιμος ἐὼν ἄφενος καὶ πλοῦτον ἀφύξειν. for I will not stay here dishonoured to gather gold and substance for you.”

172τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων· And Agamemnon answered, “Fly if you will,

173φεῦγε μάλʼ εἴ τοι θυμὸς ἐπέσσυται, οὐδέ σʼ ἔγωγε I shall make you no prayers to stay you.

174λίσσομαι εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο μένειν· πάρʼ ἔμοιγε καὶ ἄλλοι I have others here who will do me honour,

175οἵ κέ με τιμήσουσι, μάλιστα δὲ μητίετα Ζεύς. and above all Jove, the lord of counsel.

176ἔχθιστος δέ μοί ἐσσι διοτρεφέων βασιλήων· There is no king here so hateful to me as you are,

177αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἔρις τε φίλη πόλεμοί τε μάχαι τε· for you are ever quarrelsome and ill-affected. What though you be brave?

178εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐσσι, θεός που σοὶ τό γʼ ἔδωκεν· Was it not heaven that made you so? Go home, then,

179οἴκαδʼ ἰὼν σὺν νηυσί τε σῇς καὶ σοῖς ἑτάροισι with your ships and comrades to lord it over the Myrmidons.

180Μυρμιδόνεσσιν ἄνασσε, σέθεν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζω, I care neither for you nor for your anger;

181οὐδʼ ὄθομαι κοτέοντος· ἀπειλήσω δέ τοι ὧδε· and thus will I do:

182ὡς ἔμʼ ἀφαιρεῖται Χρυσηΐδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων, since Phoebus Apollo is taking Chryseis from me,

183τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σὺν νηΐ τʼ ἐμῇ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι I shall send her with my ship and my followers,

184πέμψω, ἐγὼ δέ κʼ ἄγω Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον but I shall come to your tent and take your own prize Briseis,

185αὐτὸς ἰὼν κλισίην δὲ τὸ σὸν γέρας ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῇς that you may learn how much stronger I am than you are,

186ὅσσον φέρτερός εἰμι σέθεν, στυγέῃ δὲ καὶ ἄλλος and that another may fear to set himself up as equal or comparable with me.

187ἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι καὶ ὁμοιωθήμεναι ἄντην.”

188ὣς φάτο· Πηλεΐωνι δʼ ἄχος γένετʼ, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορThe son of Peleus was furious,

189στήθεσσιν λασίοισι διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν, and his heart within his shaggy breast was divided whether to draw his sword,

190ἢ ὅ γε φάσγανον ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ push the others aside, and kill the son of Atreus,

191τοὺς μὲν ἀναστήσειεν, ὃ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδην ἐναρίζοι, or to restrain himself and check his anger.

192ἦε χόλον παύσειεν ἐρητύσειέ τε θυμόν. While he was thus in two minds,

193ἧος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν, and was drawing his mighty sword from its scabbard,

194ἕλκετο δʼ ἐκ κολεοῖο μέγα ξίφος, ἦλθε δʼ Ἀθήνη Minerva came down from heaven (for Juno had sent her in the love she bore to them both),

195οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη and seized the son of Peleus by his yellow hair,

196ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε· visible to him alone,

197στῆ δʼ ὄπιθεν, ξανθῆς δὲ κόμης ἕλε Πηλεΐωνα for of the others no man could see her. Achilles turned in amaze,

198οἴῳ φαινομένη· τῶν δʼ ἄλλων οὔ τις ὁρᾶτο· and by the fire that flashed from her eyes at once knew that she was Minerva.

199θάμβησεν δʼ Ἀχιλεύς, μετὰ δʼ ἐτράπετʼ, αὐτίκα δʼ ἔγνω “Why are you here,” said he,

200Παλλάδʼ Ἀθηναίην· δεινὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε φάανθεν· “daughter of aegis-bearing Jove?

201καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· To see the pride of Agamemnon, son of Atreus?

202τίπτʼ αὖτʼ αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος εἰλήλουθας; Let me tell you—and it shall surely be—

203ἦ ἵνα ὕβριν ἴδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο;he shall pay for this insolence with his life.

204ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·” And Minerva said,

205ᾗς ὑπεροπλίῃσι τάχʼ ἄν ποτε θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃ. “I come from heaven,

206τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη· if you will hear me, to bid you stay your anger.

207ἦλθον ἐγὼ παύσουσα τὸ σὸν μένος, αἴ κε πίθηαι, Juno has sent me, who cares for both of you alike.

208οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ δέ μʼ ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη Cease, then, this brawling,

209ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε· and do not draw your sword;

210ἀλλʼ ἄγε λῆγʼ ἔριδος, μηδὲ ξίφος ἕλκεο χειρί· rail at him if you will, and your railing will not be vain,

211ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ἔπεσιν μὲν ὀνείδισον ὡς ἔσεταί περ· for I tell you—and it shall surely be—

212ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·that you shall hereafter receive gifts three times as splendid by reason of this present insult.

213καί ποτέ τοι τρὶς τόσσα παρέσσεται ἀγλαὰ δῶρα Hold, therefore,

214ὕβριος εἵνεκα τῆσδε· σὺ δʼ ἴσχεο, πείθεο δʼ ἡμῖν. and obey.” “Goddess,” answered Achilles, “however angry a man may be,

215τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς· he must do as you two command him.

216χρὴ μὲν σφωΐτερόν γε θεὰ ἔπος εἰρύσσασθαι This will be best,

217καὶ μάλα περ θυμῷ κεχολωμένον· ὧς γὰρ ἄμεινον· for the gods ever hear the prayers of him who has obeyed them.”

218ὅς κε θεοῖς ἐπιπείθηται μάλα τʼ ἔκλυον αὐτοῦ.He stayed his hand on the silver hilt of his sword,

219ἦ καὶ ἐπʼ ἀργυρέῃ κώπῃ σχέθε χεῖρα βαρεῖαν, and thrust it back into the scabbard as Minerva bade him.

220ἂψ δʼ ἐς κουλεὸν ὦσε μέγα ξίφος, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε Then she went back to Olympus among the other gods,

221μύθῳ Ἀθηναίης· ἣ δʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ βεβήκει and to the house of aegis-bearing Jove.

222δώματʼ ἐς αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς μετὰ δαίμονας ἄλλους. But the son of Peleus again began railing at the son of Atreus,

223Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀταρτηροῖς ἐπέεσσιν for he was still in a rage.

224Ἀτρεΐδην προσέειπε, καὶ οὔ πω λῆγε χόλοιο· “Wine-bibber,” he cried,

225οἰνοβαρές, κυνὸς ὄμματʼ ἔχων, κραδίην δʼ ἐλάφοιο, “with the face of a dog and the heart of a hind,

226οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐς πόλεμον ἅμα λαῷ θωρηχθῆναι you never dare to go out with the host in fight,

227οὔτε λόχον δʼ ἰέναι σὺν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν nor yet with our chosen men in ambuscade.

228τέτληκας θυμῷ· τὸ δέ τοι κὴρ εἴδεται εἶναι. You shun this as you do death itself.

229ἦ πολὺ λώϊόν ἐστι κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν You had rather go round and rob his prizes from any man who contradicts you.

230δῶρʼ ἀποαιρεῖσθαι ὅς τις σέθεν ἀντίον εἴπῃ· You devour your people,

231δημοβόρος βασιλεὺς ἐπεὶ οὐτιδανοῖσιν ἀνάσσεις· for you are king over a feeble folk; otherwise, son of Atreus,

232ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο. henceforward you would insult no man. Therefore I say,

233ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι· and swear it with a great oath—nay,

234ναὶ μὰ τόδε σκῆπτρον, τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτε φύλλα καὶ ὄζους by this my sceptre which shalt sprout neither leaf nor shoot,

235φύσει, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα τομὴν ἐν ὄρεσσι λέλοιπεν, nor bud anew from the day on which it left its parent stem upon the mountains—

236οὐδʼ ἀναθηλήσει· περὶ γάρ ῥά ἑ χαλκὸς ἔλεψεfor the axe stripped it of leaf and bark,

237φύλλά τε καὶ φλοιόν· νῦν αὖτέ μιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν and now the sons of the Achaeans bear it as judges and guardians of the decrees of heaven—

238ἐν παλάμῃς φορέουσι δικασπόλοι, οἵ τε θέμιστας

239πρὸς Διὸς εἰρύαται· ὃ δέ τοι μέγας ἔσσεται ὅρκος·so surely and solemnly do I swear that hereafter they shall look fondly for Achilles and shall not find him.

240ἦ ποτʼ Ἀχιλλῆος ποθὴ ἵξεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν In the day of your distress,

241σύμπαντας· τότε δʼ οὔ τι δυνήσεαι ἀχνύμενός περ when your men fall dying by the murderous hand of Hector, you shall not know how to help them,

242χραισμεῖν, εὖτʼ ἂν πολλοὶ ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο and shall rend your heart with rage for the hour when you offered insult to the bravest of the Achaeans.

243θνήσκοντες πίπτωσι· σὺ δʼ ἔνδοθι θυμὸν ἀμύξεις”

244χωόμενος ὅ τʼ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισας.With this the son of Peleus dashed his gold-bestudded sceptre on the ground and took his seat,

245ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ποτὶ δὲ σκῆπτρον βάλε γαίῃ

246χρυσείοις ἥλοισι πεπαρμένον, ἕζετο δʼ αὐτός· while the son of Atreus was beginning fiercely from his place upon the other side.

247Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐμήνιε· τοῖσι δὲ Νέστωρ Then uprose smooth-tongued Nestor, the facile speaker of the Pylians,

248ἡδυεπὴς ἀνόρουσε λιγὺς Πυλίων ἀγορητής, and the words fell from his lips sweeter than honey.

249τοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδή· Two generations of men born and bred in Pylos had passed away under his rule,

250τῷ δʼ ἤδη δύο μὲν γενεαὶ μερόπων ἀνθρώπων and he was now reigning over the third.

251ἐφθίαθʼ, οἵ οἱ πρόσθεν ἅμα τράφεν ἠδʼ ἐγένοντο With all sincerity and goodwill, therefore,

252ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ, μετὰ δὲ τριτάτοισιν ἄνασσεν· he addressed them thus:— “Of a truth,” he said,

253ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν· “a great sorrow has befallen the Achaean land. Surely Priam with his sons would rejoice,

254ὦ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει·

255ἦ κεν γηθήσαι Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες and the Trojans be glad at heart if they could hear this quarrel between you two,

256ἄλλοι τε Τρῶες μέγα κεν κεχαροίατο θυμῷ who are so excellent in fight and counsel.

257εἰ σφῶϊν τάδε πάντα πυθοίατο μαρναμένοιϊν, I am older than either of you;

258οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δʼ ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι. therefore be guided by me.

259ἀλλὰ πίθεσθʼ· ἄμφω δὲ νεωτέρω ἐστὸν ἐμεῖο· Moreover I have been the familiar friend of men even greater than you are,

260ἤδη γάρ ποτʼ ἐγὼ καὶ ἀρείοσιν ἠέ περ ὑμῖν and they did not disregard my counsels.

261ἀνδράσιν ὡμίλησα, καὶ οὔ ποτέ μʼ οἵ γʼ ἀθέριζον. Never again can I behold such men as Pirithous and Dryas shepherd of his people,

262οὐ γάρ πω τοίους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὐδὲ ἴδωμαι, or as Caeneus, Exadius,

263οἷον Πειρίθοόν τε Δρύαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν godlike Polyphemus, and Theseus son of Aegeus,

264Καινέα τʼ Ἐξάδιόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον peer of the immortals.

265Θησέα τʼ Αἰγεΐδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν· These were the mightiest men ever born upon this earth: mightiest were they,

266κάρτιστοι δὴ κεῖνοι ἐπιχθονίων τράφεν ἀνδρῶν· and when they fought the fiercest tribes of mountain savages they utterly overthrew them.

267κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο I came from distant Pylos,

268φηρσὶν ὀρεσκῴοισι καὶ ἐκπάγλως ἀπόλεσσαν. and went about among them,

269καὶ μὲν τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μεθομίλεον ἐκ Πύλου ἐλθὼν for they would have me come, and I fought as it was in me to do.

270τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· καλέσαντο γὰρ αὐτοί· Not a man now living could withstand them,

271καὶ μαχόμην κατʼ ἔμʼ αὐτὸν ἐγώ· κείνοισι δʼ ἂν οὔ τις but they heard my words, and were persuaded by them.

272τῶν οἳ νῦν βροτοί εἰσιν ἐπιχθόνιοι μαχέοιτο· So be it also with yourselves,

273καὶ μέν μευ βουλέων ξύνιεν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ· for this is the more excellent way. Therefore, Agamemnon,

274ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε καὶ ὔμμες, ἐπεὶ πείθεσθαι ἄμεινον· though you be strong, take not this girl away,

275μήτε σὺ τόνδʼ ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν ἀποαίρεο κούρην, for the sons of the Achaeans have already given her to Achilles;

276ἀλλʼ ἔα ὥς οἱ πρῶτα δόσαν γέρας υἷες Ἀχαιῶν· and you, Achilles, strive not further with the king,

277μήτε σὺ Πηλείδη ἔθελʼ ἐριζέμεναι βασιλῆϊ for no man who by the grace of Jove wields a sceptre has like honour with Agamemnon.

278ἀντιβίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποθʼ ὁμοίης ἔμμορε τιμῆς You are strong,

279σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, ᾧ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν. and have a goddess for your mother; but Agamemnon is stronger than you,

280εἰ δὲ σὺ καρτερός ἐσσι θεὰ δέ σε γείνατο μήτηρ, for he has more people under him. Son of Atreus,

281ἀλλʼ ὅ γε φέρτερός ἐστιν ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσιν ἀνάσσει. check your anger, I implore you; end this quarrel with Achilles,

282Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δὲ παῦε τεὸν μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε who in the day of battle is a tower of strength to the Achaeans.

283λίσσομʼ Ἀχιλλῆϊ μεθέμεν χόλον, ὃς μέγα πᾶσιν” And Agamemnon answered, “Sir,

284ἕρκος Ἀχαιοῖσιν πέλεται πολέμοιο κακοῖο. all that you have said is true,

285τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων· but this fellow must needs become our lord and master:

286ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα γέρον κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες· he must be lord of all, king of all,

287ἀλλʼ ὅδʼ ἀνὴρ ἐθέλει περὶ πάντων ἔμμεναι ἄλλων, and captain of all, and this shall hardly be.

288πάντων μὲν κρατέειν ἐθέλει, πάντεσσι δʼ ἀνάσσειν, Granted that the gods have made him a great warrior,

289πᾶσι δὲ σημαίνειν, ἅ τινʼ οὐ πείσεσθαι ὀΐω·

290εἰ δέ μιν αἰχμητὴν ἔθεσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες have they also given him the right to speak with railing?”

291τοὔνεκά οἱ προθέουσιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι;Achilles interrupted him. “I should be a mean coward,

292τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑποβλήδην ἠμείβετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·” he cried, “were I to give in to you in all things.

293ἦ γάρ κεν δειλός τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καλεοίμην Order other people about, not me,

294εἰ δὴ σοὶ πᾶν ἔργον ὑπείξομαι ὅττί κεν εἴπῃς· for I shall obey no longer. Furthermore I say—

295ἄλλοισιν δὴ ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλεο, μὴ γὰρ ἔμοιγεand lay my saying to your heart—

296σήμαινʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγʼ ἔτι σοὶ πείσεσθαι ὀΐω.I shall fight neither you nor any man about this girl,

297ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι· for those that take were those also that gave.

298χερσὶ μὲν οὔ τοι ἔγωγε μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα κούρης But of all else that is at my ship you shall carry away nothing by force.

299οὔτε σοὶ οὔτέ τῳ ἄλλῳ, ἐπεί μʼ ἀφέλεσθέ γε δόντες· Try, that others may see;

300τῶν δʼ ἄλλων ἅ μοί ἐστι θοῇ παρὰ νηῒ μελαίνῃ if you do,

301τῶν οὐκ ἄν τι φέροις ἀνελὼν ἀέκοντος ἐμεῖο· my spear shall be reddened with your blood.”

302εἰ δʼ ἄγε μὴν πείρησαι ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε·When they had quarrelled thus angrily, they rose,

303αἶψά τοι αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρί. and broke up the assembly at the ships of the Achaeans.

304ὣς τώ γʼ ἀντιβίοισι μαχεσσαμένω ἐπέεσσιν

305ἀνστήτην, λῦσαν δʼ ἀγορὴν παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν· The son of Peleus went back to his tents and ships with the son of Menoetius and his company,

Lines 306–429

Briseis Taken and Achilles’ Appeal

The heralds take Briseis, and Achilles asks Thetis to obtain honor from Zeus.

306Πηλεΐδης μὲν ἐπὶ κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἐΐσας

307ἤϊε σύν τε Μενοιτιάδῃ καὶ οἷς ἑτάροισιν· while Agamemnon drew a vessel into the water and chose a crew of twenty oarsmen.

308Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἄρα νῆα θοὴν ἅλα δὲ προέρυσσεν,

309ἐν δʼ ἐρέτας ἔκρινεν ἐείκοσιν, ἐς δʼ ἑκατόμβην He escorted Chryseis on board and sent moreover a hecatomb for the god.

310βῆσε θεῷ, ἀνὰ δὲ Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον And Ulysses went as captain. These, then,

311εἷσεν ἄγων· ἐν δʼ ἀρχὸς ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς. went on board and sailed their ways over the sea.

312οἳ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα, But the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves;

313λαοὺς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ἀπολυμαίνεσθαι ἄνωγεν· so they purified themselves and cast their filth into the sea.

314οἳ δʼ ἀπελυμαίνοντο καὶ εἰς ἅλα λύματα βάλλον, Then they offered hecatombs of bulls and goats without blemish on the sea-shore,

315ἕρδον δʼ Ἀπόλλωνι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας and the smoke with the savour of their sacrifice rose curling up towards heaven.

316ταύρων ἠδʼ αἰγῶν παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο· Thus did they busy themselves throughout the host.

317κνίση δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκεν ἑλισσομένη περὶ καπνῷ. But Agamemnon did not forget the threat that he had made Achilles,

318ὣς οἳ μὲν τὰ πένοντο κατὰ στρατόν· οὐδʼ Ἀγαμέμνων and called his trusty messengers and squires Talthybius and Eurybates.

319λῆγʼ ἔριδος τὴν πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ, “Go,” said he,

320ἀλλʼ ὅ γε Ταλθύβιόν τε καὶ Εὐρυβάτην προσέειπε, “to the tent of Achilles, son of Peleus;

321τώ οἱ ἔσαν κήρυκε καὶ ὀτρηρὼ θεράποντε· take Briseis by the hand and bring her hither;

322ἔρχεσθον κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος· if he will not give her I shall come with others and take her—

323χειρὸς ἑλόντʼ ἀγέμεν Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον·which will press him harder.”

324εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώῃσιν ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαιHe charged them straightly further and dismissed them,

325ἐλθὼν σὺν πλεόνεσσι· τό οἱ καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται. whereon they went their way sorrowfully by the seaside,

326ὣς εἰπὼν προΐει, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε· till they came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons.

327τὼ δʼ ἀέκοντε βάτην παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο, They found Achilles sitting by his tent and his ships,

328Μυρμιδόνων δʼ ἐπί τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην, and ill-pleased he was when he beheld them.

329τὸν δʼ εὗρον παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ They stood fearfully and reverently before him,

330ἥμενον· οὐδʼ ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν γήθησεν Ἀχιλλεύς. and never a word did they speak, but he knew them and said,

331τὼ μὲν ταρβήσαντε καὶ αἰδομένω βασιλῆα “Welcome, heralds,

332στήτην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδʼ ἐρέοντο· messengers of gods and men; draw near;

333αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε· my quarrel is not with you but with Agamemnon who has sent you for the girl Briseis.

334χαίρετε κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν, Therefore,

335ἆσσον ἴτʼ· οὔ τί μοι ὔμμες ἐπαίτιοι ἀλλʼ Ἀγαμέμνων, Patroclus, bring her and give her to them,

336ὃ σφῶϊ προΐει Βρισηΐδος εἵνεκα κούρης. but let them be witnesses by the blessed gods,

337ἀλλʼ ἄγε διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἔξαγε κούρην by mortal men, and by the fierceness of Agamemnon’s anger,

338καί σφωϊν δὸς ἄγειν· τὼ δʼ αὐτὼ μάρτυροι ἔστων

339πρός τε θεῶν μακάρων πρός τε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων that if ever again there be need of me to save the people from ruin,

340καὶ πρὸς τοῦ βασιλῆος ἀπηνέος εἴ ποτε δʼ αὖτε they shall seek and they shall not find.

341χρειὼ ἐμεῖο γένηται ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι Agamemnon is mad with rage and knows not how to look before and after that the Achaeans may fight by their ships in safety.

342τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἦ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ὀλοιῇσι φρεσὶ θύει,

343οὐδέ τι οἶδε νοῆσαι ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω,” Patroclus did as his dear comrade had bidden him.

344ὅππως οἱ παρὰ νηυσὶ σόοι μαχέοιντο Ἀχαιοί. He brought Briseis from the tent and gave her over to the heralds,

345ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ,

346ἐκ δʼ ἄγαγε κλισίης Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον, who took her with them to the ships of the Achaeans—and the woman was loth to go.

347δῶκε δʼ ἄγειν· τὼ δʼ αὖτις ἴτην παρὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν· Then Achilles went all alone by the side of the hoar sea,

348ἣ δʼ ἀέκουσʼ ἅμα τοῖσι γυνὴ κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

349δακρύσας ἑτάρων ἄφαρ ἕζετο νόσφι λιασθείς, weeping and looking out upon the boundless waste of waters.

350θῖνʼ ἔφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, ὁρόων ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα πόντον· He raised his hands in prayer to his immortal mother, “Mother,” he cried,

351πολλὰ δὲ μητρὶ φίλῃ ἠρήσατο χεῖρας ὀρεγνύς· “you bore me doomed to live but for a little season;

352μῆτερ ἐπεί μʼ ἔτεκές γε μινυνθάδιόν περ ἐόντα, surely Jove, who thunders from Olympus, might have made that little glorious.

353τιμήν πέρ μοι ὄφελλεν Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξαι It is not so. Agamemnon, son of Atreus,

354Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης· νῦν δʼ οὐδέ με τυτθὸν ἔτισεν· has done me dishonour, and has robbed me of my prize by force.”

355ἦ γάρ μʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων ἈγαμέμνωνAs he spoke he wept aloud,

356ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας. and his mother heard him where she was sitting in the depths of the sea hard by the old man her father.

357ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε πότνια μήτηρ Forthwith she rose as it were a grey mist out of the waves,

358ἡμένη ἐν βένθεσσιν ἁλὸς παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι· sat down before him as he stood weeping,

359καρπαλίμως δʼ ἀνέδυ πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἠΰτʼ ὀμίχλη, caressed him with her hand, and said, “My son, why are you weeping?

360καί ῥα πάροιθʼ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο δάκρυ χέοντος, What is it that grieves you? Keep it not from me,

361χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε· but tell me, that we may know it together.” Achilles drew a deep sigh and said,

362τέκνον τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος; “You know it; why tell you what you know well already?

363ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω. We went to Thebe the strong city of Eetion,

364τὴν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς· sacked it, and brought hither the spoil.

365οἶσθα· τί ἤ τοι ταῦτα ἰδυίῃ πάντʼ ἀγορεύω; The sons of the Achaeans shared it duly among themselves,

366ᾠχόμεθʼ ἐς Θήβην ἱερὴν πόλιν Ἠετίωνος, and chose lovely Chryseis as the meed of Agamemnon;

367τὴν δὲ διεπράθομέν τε καὶ ἤγομεν ἐνθάδε πάντα· but Chryses, priest of Apollo,

368καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ δάσσαντο μετὰ σφίσιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν, came to the ships of the Achaeans to free his daughter,

369ἐκ δʼ ἕλον Ἀτρεΐδῃ Χρυσηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον. and brought with him a great ransom:

370Χρύσης δʼ αὖθʼ ἱερεὺς ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος moreover he bore in his hand the sceptre of Apollo,

371ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων wreathed with a suppliant’s wreath,

372λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα, and he besought the Achaeans, but most of all the two sons of Atreus who were their chiefs.

373στέμματʼ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος

374χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,“On this the rest of the Achaeans with one voice were for respecting the priest and taking the ransom that he offered;

375Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω κοσμήτορε λαῶν.

376ἔνθʼ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ but not so Agamemnon,

377αἰδεῖσθαί θʼ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα· who spoke fiercely to him and sent him roughly away. So he went back in anger,

378ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ, and Apollo, who loved him dearly,

379ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δʼ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε· heard his prayer. Then the god sent a deadly dart upon the Argives,

380χωόμενος δʼ ὁ γέρων πάλιν ᾤχετο· τοῖο δʼ Ἀπόλλων and the people died thick on one another,

381εὐξαμένου ἤκουσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα οἱ φίλος ἦεν, for the arrows went everywhither among the wide host of the Achaeans.

382ἧκε δʼ ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισι κακὸν βέλος· οἳ δέ νυ λαοὶ

383θνῇσκον ἐπασσύτεροι, τὰ δʼ ἐπῴχετο κῆλα θεοῖο At last a seer in the fulness of his knowledge declared to us the oracles of Apollo,

384πάντῃ ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν· ἄμμι δὲ μάντις and I was myself first to say that we should appease him.

385εὖ εἰδὼς ἀγόρευε θεοπροπίας ἑκάτοιο. Whereon the son of Atreus rose in anger,

386αὐτίκʼ ἐγὼ πρῶτος κελόμην θεὸν ἱλάσκεσθαι· and threatened that which he has since done.

387Ἀτρεΐωνα δʼ ἔπειτα χόλος λάβεν, αἶψα δʼ ἀναστὰς The Achaeans are now taking the girl in a ship to Chryse,

388ἠπείλησεν μῦθον ὃ δὴ τετελεσμένος ἐστί· and sending gifts of sacrifice to the god;

389τὴν μὲν γὰρ σὺν νηῒ θοῇ ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοὶ but the heralds have just taken from my tent the daughter of Briseus,

390ἐς Χρύσην πέμπουσιν, ἄγουσι δὲ δῶρα ἄνακτι· whom the Achaeans had awarded to myself.

391τὴν δὲ νέον κλισίηθεν ἔβαν κήρυκες ἄγοντες “Help your brave son, therefore,

392κούρην Βρισῆος τήν μοι δόσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν. if you are able. Go to Olympus,

393ἀλλὰ σὺ εἰ δύνασαί γε περίσχεο παιδὸς ἑῆος· and if you have ever done him service in word or deed, implore the aid of Jove.

394ἐλθοῦσʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ Δία λίσαι, εἴ ποτε δή τι

395ἢ ἔπει ὤνησας κραδίην Διὸς ἠὲ καὶ ἔργῳ. Ofttimes in my father’s house have I heard you glory in that you alone of the immortals saved the son of Saturn from ruin,

396πολλάκι γάρ σεο πατρὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄκουσα

397εὐχομένης ὅτʼ ἔφησθα κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι when the others, with Juno, Neptune,

398οἴη ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι, and Pallas Minerva would have put him in bonds. It was you,

399ὁππότε μιν ξυνδῆσαι Ὀλύμπιοι ἤθελον ἄλλοι goddess,

400Ἥρη τʼ ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη· who delivered him by calling to Olympus the hundred-handed monster whom gods call Briareus,

401ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γʼ ἐλθοῦσα θεὰ ὑπελύσαο δεσμῶν, but men Aegaeon,

402ὦχʼ ἑκατόγχειρον καλέσασʼ ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον, for he is stronger even than his father;

403ὃν Βριάρεων καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δέ τε πάντες when therefore he took his seat all-glorious beside the son of Saturn,

404Αἰγαίωνʼ, ὃ γὰρ αὖτε βίην οὗ πατρὸς ἀμείνων· the other gods were afraid, and did not bind him.

405ὅς ῥα παρὰ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων· Go, then, to him, remind him of all this, clasp his knees,

406τὸν καὶ ὑπέδεισαν μάκαρες θεοὶ οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔδησαν. and bid him give succour to the Trojans.

407τῶν νῦν μιν μνήσασα παρέζεο καὶ λαβὲ γούνων Let the Achaeans be hemmed in at the sterns of their ships, and perish on the sea-shore,

408αἴ κέν πως ἐθέλῃσιν ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρῆξαι, that they may reap what joy they may of their king,

409τοὺς δὲ κατὰ πρύμνας τε καὶ ἀμφʼ ἅλα ἔλσαι Ἀχαιοὺς and that Agamemnon may rue his blindness in offering insult to the foremost of the Achaeans.

410κτεινομένους, ἵνα πάντες ἐπαύρωνται βασιλῆος,”

411γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων ἈγαμέμνωνThetis wept and answered, “My son,

412ἣν ἄτην ὅ τʼ ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν. woe is me that I should have borne or suckled you.

413τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα· Would indeed that you had lived your span free from all sorrow at your ships,

414ὤ μοι τέκνον ἐμόν, τί νύ σʼ ἔτρεφον αἰνὰ τεκοῦσα; for it is all too brief;

415αἴθʼ ὄφελες παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀδάκρυτος καὶ ἀπήμων alas,

416ἧσθαι, ἐπεί νύ τοι αἶσα μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν· that you should be at once short of life and long of sorrow above your peers: woe, therefore,

417νῦν δʼ ἅμα τʼ ὠκύμορος καὶ ὀϊζυρὸς περὶ πάντων was the hour in which I bore you;

418ἔπλεο· τώ σε κακῇ αἴσῃ τέκον ἐν μεγάροισι. nevertheless I will go to the snowy heights of Olympus,

419τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέουσα ἔπος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ and tell this tale to Jove, if he will hear our prayer:

420εἶμʼ αὐτὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον αἴ κε πίθηται. meanwhile stay where you are with your ships,

421ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισι nurse your anger against the Achaeans, and hold aloof from fight.

422μήνιʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν, πολέμου δʼ ἀποπαύεο πάμπαν· For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus, to a feast among the Ethiopians,

423Ζεὺς γὰρ ἐς Ὠκεανὸν μετʼ ἀμύμονας Αἰθιοπῆας and the other gods went with him. He will return to Olympus twelve days hence;

424χθιζὸς ἔβη κατὰ δαῖτα, θεοὶ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἕποντο· I will then go to his mansion paved with bronze and will beseech him;

425δωδεκάτῃ δέ τοι αὖτις ἐλεύσεται Οὔλυμπον δέ, nor do I doubt that I shall be able to persuade him.

426καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτά τοι εἶμι Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,” On this she left him,

427καί μιν γουνάσομαι καί μιν πείσεσθαι ὀΐω. still furious at the loss of her that had been taken from him.

428ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ

429χωόμενον κατὰ θυμὸν ἐϋζώνοιο γυναικὸς Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the hecatomb.

Lines 430–492

Chryseis Restored; Achilles Waits

Odysseus restores Chryseis and appeases Apollo while Achilles remains withdrawn.

430τήν ῥα βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρων· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς When they had come inside the harbour they furled the sails and laid them in the ship’s hold;

431ἐς Χρύσην ἵκανεν ἄγων ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην.

432οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο they slackened the forestays, lowered the mast into its place,

433ἱστία μὲν στείλαντο, θέσαν δʼ ἐν νηῒ μελαίνῃ, and rowed the ship to the place where they would have her lie;

434ἱστὸν δʼ ἱστοδόκῃ πέλασαν προτόνοισιν ὑφέντες

435καρπαλίμως, τὴν δʼ εἰς ὅρμον προέρεσσαν ἐρετμοῖς. there they cast out their mooring-stones and made fast the hawsers.

436ἐκ δʼ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσιʼ ἔδησαν· They then got out upon the sea-shore and landed the hecatomb for Apollo;

437ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης, Chryseis also left the ship,

438ἐκ δʼ ἑκατόμβην βῆσαν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι· and Ulysses led her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her father.

439ἐκ δὲ Χρυσηῒς νηὸς βῆ ποντοπόροιο. “Chryses,” said he,

440τὴν μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐπὶ βωμὸν ἄγων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς “King Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your child,

441πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει καί μιν προσέειπεν· and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans,

442ὦ Χρύση, πρό μʼ ἔπεμψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων that we may propitiate the god,

443παῖδά τε σοὶ ἀγέμεν, Φοίβῳ θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην who has now brought sorrow upon the Argives.”

444ῥέξαι ὑπὲρ Δαναῶν ὄφρʼ ἱλασόμεσθα ἄνακτα,So saying he gave the girl over to her father,

445ὃς νῦν Ἀργείοισι πολύστονα κήδεʼ ἐφῆκεν. who received her gladly,

446ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the altar of the god.

447παῖδα φίλην· τοὶ δʼ ὦκα θεῷ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην They washed their hands and took up the barley-meal to sprinkle over the victims,

448ἑξείης ἔστησαν ἐΰδμητον περὶ βωμόν,

449χερνίψαντο δʼ ἔπειτα καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο. while Chryses lifted up his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf. “Hear me,”

450τοῖσιν δὲ Χρύσης μεγάλʼ εὔχετο χεῖρας ἀνασχών· he cried, “O god of the silver bow, that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla,

451κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξʼ, ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας and rulest Tenedos with thy might.

452Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις· Even as thou didst hear me aforetime when I prayed,

453ἦ μὲν δή ποτʼ ἐμεῦ πάρος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο, and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans, so hear me yet again,

454τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δʼ ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν· and stay this fearful pestilence from the Danaans.” Thus did he pray,

455ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδʼ ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ· and Apollo heard his prayer.

456ἤδη νῦν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἄμυνον. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal,

457ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων. they drew back the heads of the victims and killed and flayed them.

458αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο, They cut out the thigh-bones,

459αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν, wrapped them round in two layers of fat,

460μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν set some pieces of raw meat on the top of them,

461δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν· and then Chryses laid them on the wood fire and poured wine over them,

462καῖε δʼ ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δʼ αἴθοπα οἶνον while the young men stood near him with five-pronged spits in their hands.

463λεῖβε· νέοι δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν. When the thigh-bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats,

464αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρε κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο, they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon the spits,

465μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off: then,

466ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα. when they had finished their work and the feast was ready, they ate it,

467αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied.

468δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink,

469αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο, pages filled the mixing-bowl with wine and water and handed it round,

470κοῦροι μὲν κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο, after giving every man his drink-offering.

471νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν· Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song,

472οἳ δὲ πανημέριοι μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντο hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean,

473καλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν and the god took pleasure in their voices;

474μέλποντες ἑκάεργον· ὃ δὲ φρένα τέρπετʼ ἀκούων. but when the sun went down, and it came on dark,

475ἦμος δʼ ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε, they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of the ship,

476δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός· and when the child of morning,

477ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared they again set sail for the host of the Achaeans.

478καὶ τότʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀνάγοντο μετὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν· Apollo sent them a fair wind,

479τοῖσιν δʼ ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων· so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft.

480οἳ δʼ ἱστὸν στήσαντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν, As the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deep blue water,

481ἐν δʼ ἄνεμος πρῆσεν μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα

482στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλʼ ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης· and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward.

483ἣ δʼ ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον. When they reached the wide-stretching host of the Achaeans,

484αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν, they drew the vessel ashore, high and dry upon the sands,

485νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπʼ ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν set her strong props beneath her,

486ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δʼ ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν· and went their ways to their own tents and ships.

487αὐτοὶ δʼ ἐσκίδναντο κατὰ κλισίας τε νέας τε. But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger.

488αὐτὰρ ὃ μήνιε νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισι

489διογενὴς Πηλῆος υἱὸς πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς· He went not to the honourable assembly,

490οὔτέ ποτʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν πωλέσκετο κυδιάνειραν and sallied not forth to fight, but gnawed at his own heart,

491οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐς πόλεμον, ἀλλὰ φθινύθεσκε φίλον κῆρ pining for battle and the war-cry.

492αὖθι μένων, ποθέεσκε δʼ ἀϋτήν τε πτόλεμόν τε.Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to Olympus,

Lines 493–530

Thetis Supplicates Zeus

Thetis approaches Zeus on Olympus and secures his promise to honor Achilles.

493ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐκ τοῖο δυωδεκάτη γένετʼ ἠώς, and Jove led the way.

494καὶ τότε δὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἴσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες Thetis was not unmindful of the charge her son had laid upon her,

495πάντες ἅμα, Ζεὺς δʼ ἦρχε· Θέτις δʼ οὐ λήθετʼ ἐφετμέων

496παιδὸς ἑοῦ, ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἀνεδύσετο κῦμα θαλάσσης. so she rose from under the sea and went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus,

497ἠερίη δʼ ἀνέβη μέγαν οὐρανὸν Οὔλυμπόν τε. where she found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon its topmost ridges.

498εὗρεν δʼ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἄτερ ἥμενον ἄλλων She sat herself down before him,

499ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο· and with her left hand seized his knees,

500καί ῥα πάροιθʼ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο, καὶ λάβε γούνων while with her right she caught him under the chin,

501σκαιῇ, δεξιτερῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ ἀνθερεῶνος ἑλοῦσα and besought him, saying:— “Father Jove,

502λισσομένη προσέειπε Δία Κρονίωνα ἄνακτα· if I ever did you service in word or deed among the immortals,

503Ζεῦ πάτερ εἴ ποτε δή σε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ὄνησα hear my prayer, and do honour to my son,

504ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ, τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ· whose life is to be cut short so early.

505τίμησόν μοι υἱὸν ὃς ὠκυμορώτατος ἄλλων

506ἔπλετʼ· ἀτάρ μιν νῦν γε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by taking his prize and keeping her.

507ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας. Honour him then yourself, Olympian lord of counsel,

508ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μιν τῖσον Ὀλύμπιε μητίετα Ζεῦ· and grant victory to the Trojans,

509τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι τίθει κράτος ὄφρʼ ἂν Ἀχαιοὶ till the Achaeans give my son his due and load him with riches in requital.

510υἱὸν ἐμὸν τίσωσιν ὀφέλλωσίν τέ ἑ τιμῇ.” Jove sat for a while silent,

511ὣς φάτο· τὴν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς, and without a word, but Thetis still kept firm hold of his knees,

512ἀλλʼ ἀκέων δὴν ἧστο· Θέτις δʼ ὡς ἥψατο γούνων and besought him a second time.

513ὣς ἔχετʼ ἐμπεφυυῖα, καὶ εἴρετο δεύτερον αὖτις· “Incline your head,” said she, “and promise me surely,

514νημερτὲς μὲν δή μοι ὑπόσχεο καὶ κατάνευσον or else deny me—for you have nothing to fear—

515ἢ ἀπόειπʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔπι δέος, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδέωthat I may learn how greatly you disdain me.”

516ὅσσον ἐγὼ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀτιμοτάτη θεός εἰμι.At this Jove was much troubled and answered,

517τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς· “I shall have trouble if you set me quarrelling with Juno,

518ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργʼ ὅ τέ μʼ ἐχθοδοπῆσαι ἐφήσεις for she will provoke me with her taunting speeches;

519Ἥρῃ ὅτʼ ἄν μʼ ἐρέθῃσιν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν· even now she is always railing at me before the other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans.

520ἣ δὲ καὶ αὔτως μʼ αἰεὶ ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι

521νεικεῖ, καί τέ μέ φησι μάχῃ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγειν. Go back now, lest she should find out.

522ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν αὖτις ἀπόστιχε μή τι νοήσῃ I will consider the matter,

523Ἥρη· ἐμοὶ δέ κε ταῦτα μελήσεται ὄφρα τελέσσω· and will bring it about as you wish. See,

524εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοι κεφαλῇ κατανεύσομαι ὄφρα πεποίθῃς· I incline my head that you may believe me.

525τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξ ἐμέθεν γε μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι μέγιστον This is the most solemn promise that I can give to any god.

526τέκμωρ· οὐ γὰρ ἐμὸν παλινάγρετον οὐδʼ ἀπατηλὸν I never recall my word, or deceive, or fail to do what I say,

527οὐδʼ ἀτελεύτητον ὅ τί κεν κεφαλῇ κατανεύσω. when I have nodded my head.”

528ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων·As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows,

529ἀμβρόσιαι δʼ ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος and the ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head,

530κρατὸς ἀπʼ ἀθανάτοιο· μέγαν δʼ ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον. till vast Olympus reeled. When the pair had thus laid their plans,

Lines 531–611

Quarrel and Feast on Olympus

Hera confronts Zeus, and Hephaestus restores calm and conviviality among the gods.

531τώ γʼ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν· ἣ μὲν ἔπειτα they parted—Jove to his house,

532εἰς ἅλα ἆλτο βαθεῖαν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου, while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus, and plunged into the depths of the sea.

533Ζεὺς δὲ ἑὸν πρὸς δῶμα· θεοὶ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἀνέσταν The gods rose from their seats, before the coming of their sire.

534ἐξ ἑδέων σφοῦ πατρὸς ἐναντίον· οὐδέ τις ἔτλη Not one of them dared to remain sitting,

535μεῖναι ἐπερχόμενον, ἀλλʼ ἀντίοι ἔσταν ἅπαντες. but all stood up as he came among them. There, then,

536ὣς ὃ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετʼ ἐπὶ θρόνου· οὐδέ μιν Ἥρη he took his seat. But Juno, when she saw him,

537ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσʼ ὅτι οἱ συμφράσσατο βουλὰς knew that he and the old merman’s daughter, silver-footed Thetis,

538ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος. had been hatching mischief,

539αὐτίκα κερτομίοισι Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα· so she at once began to upbraid him. “Trickster,” she cried,

540τίς δʼ αὖ τοι δολομῆτα θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς; “which of the gods have you been taking into your counsels now?

541αἰεί τοι φίλον ἐστὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἐόντα

542κρυπτάδια φρονέοντα δικαζέμεν· οὐδέ τί πώ μοι You are always settling matters in secret behind my back,

543πρόφρων τέτληκας εἰπεῖν ἔπος ὅττι νοήσῃς. and have never yet told me, if you could help it,

544τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε· one word of your intentions.” “Juno,”

545Ἥρη μὴ δὴ πάντας ἐμοὺς ἐπιέλπεο μύθους replied the sire of gods and men, “you must not expect to be informed of all my counsels.

546εἰδήσειν· χαλεποί τοι ἔσοντʼ ἀλόχῳ περ ἐούσῃ· You are my wife,

547ἀλλʼ ὃν μέν κʼ ἐπιεικὲς ἀκουέμεν οὔ τις ἔπειτα but you would find it hard to understand them. When it is proper for you to hear,

548οὔτε θεῶν πρότερος τὸν εἴσεται οὔτʼ ἀνθρώπων· there is no one, god or man, who will be told sooner,

549ὃν δέ κʼ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλωμι νοῆσαι but when I mean to keep a matter to myself,

550μή τι σὺ ταῦτα ἕκαστα διείρεο μηδὲ μετάλλα. you must not pry nor ask questions.” “Dread son of Saturn,

551τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·” answered Juno,

552αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες; “what are you talking about? I? Pry and ask questions?

553καὶ λίην σε πάρος γʼ οὔτʼ εἴρομαι οὔτε μεταλλῶ, Never. I let you have your own way in everything.

554ἀλλὰ μάλʼ εὔκηλος τὰ φράζεαι ἅσσʼ ἐθέλῃσθα. Still,

555νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μή σε παρείπῃ I have a strong misgiving that the old merman’s daughter Thetis has been talking you over,

556ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος· for she was with you and had hold of your knees this self-same morning.

557ἠερίη γὰρ σοί γε παρέζετο καὶ λάβε γούνων· I believe, therefore,

558τῇ σʼ ὀΐω κατανεῦσαι ἐτήτυμον ὡς Ἀχιλῆα that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles,

559τιμήσῃς, ὀλέσῃς δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν. and to kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans.” “Wife,” said Jove,

560τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς· “I can do nothing but you suspect me and find it out.

561δαιμονίη αἰεὶ μὲν ὀΐεαι οὐδέ σε λήθω· You will take nothing by it,

562πρῆξαι δʼ ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεαι, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ θυμοῦ for I shall only dislike you the more, and it will go harder with you.

563μᾶλλον ἐμοὶ ἔσεαι· τὸ δέ τοι καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται. Granted that it is as you say;

564εἰ δʼ οὕτω τοῦτʼ ἐστὶν ἐμοὶ μέλλει φίλον εἶναι· I mean to have it so;

565ἀλλʼ ἀκέουσα κάθησο, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ, sit down and hold your tongue as I bid you for if I once begin to lay my hands about you,

566μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμωσιν ὅσοι θεοί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ though all heaven were on your side it would profit you nothing.

567ἆσσον ἰόνθʼ, ὅτε κέν τοι ἀάπτους χεῖρας ἐφείω.” On this Juno was frightened,

568ὣς ἔφατʼ ἔδεισεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη, so she curbed her stubborn will and sat down in silence.

569καί ῥʼ ἀκέουσα καθῆστο ἐπιγνάμψασα φίλον κῆρ·

570ὄχθησαν δʼ ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες· But the heavenly beings were disquieted throughout the house of Jove,

571τοῖσιν δʼ Ἥφαιστος κλυτοτέχνης ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν till the cunning workman Vulcan began to try and pacify his mother Juno.

572μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐπίηρα φέρων λευκωλένῳ Ἥρῃ· “It will be intolerable,

573ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργα τάδʼ ἔσσεται οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀνεκτά,” said he,

574εἰ δὴ σφὼ ἕνεκα θνητῶν ἐριδαίνετον ὧδε, “if you two fall to wrangling and setting heaven in an uproar about a pack of mortals.

575ἐν δὲ θεοῖσι κολῳὸν ἐλαύνετον· οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς If such ill counsels are to prevail,

576ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ. we shall have no pleasure at our banquet. Let me then advise my mother—

577μητρὶ δʼ ἐγὼ παράφημι καὶ αὐτῇ περ νοεούσῃand she must herself know that it will be better—

578πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐπίηρα φέρειν Διί, ὄφρα μὴ αὖτεto make friends with my dear father Jove,

579νεικείῃσι πατήρ, σὺν δʼ ἡμῖν δαῖτα ταράξῃ. lest he again scold her and disturb our feast. If the Olympian Thunderer wants to hurl us all from our seats,

580εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητὴς he can do so,

581ἐξ ἑδέων στυφελίξαι· ὃ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατός ἐστιν. for he is far the strongest, so give him fair words,

582ἀλλὰ σὺ τὸν ἐπέεσσι καθάπτεσθαι μαλακοῖσιν· and he will then soon be in a good humour with us.

583αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵλαος Ὀλύμπιος ἔσσεται ἡμῖν.” As he spoke, he took a double cup of nectar,

584ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη καὶ ἀναΐξας δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον and placed it in his mother’s hand.

585μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει καί μιν προσέειπε· “Cheer up, my dear mother,” said he,

586τέτλαθι μῆτερ ἐμή, καὶ ἀνάσχεο κηδομένη περ, “and make the best of it. I love you dearly,

587μή σε φίλην περ ἐοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωμαι and should be very sorry to see you get a thrashing;

588θεινομένην, τότε δʼ οὔ τι δυνήσομαι ἀχνύμενός περ however grieved I might be, I could not help,

589χραισμεῖν· ἀργαλέος γὰρ Ὀλύμπιος ἀντιφέρεσθαι· for there is no standing against Jove. Once before when I was trying to help you,

590ἤδη γάρ με καὶ ἄλλοτʼ ἀλεξέμεναι μεμαῶτα he caught me by the foot and flung me from the heavenly threshold.

591ῥῖψε ποδὸς τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ θεσπεσίοιο, All day long from morn till eve,

592πᾶν δʼ ἦμαρ φερόμην, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι was I falling, till at sunset I came to ground in the island of Lemnos,

593κάππεσον ἐν Λήμνῳ, ὀλίγος δʼ ἔτι θυμὸς ἐνῆεν· and there I lay, with very little life left in me,

594ἔνθά με Σίντιες ἄνδρες ἄφαρ κομίσαντο πεσόντα. till the Sintians came and tended me.” Juno smiled at this,

595ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη, and as she smiled she took the cup from her son’s hands.

596μειδήσασα δὲ παιδὸς ἐδέξατο χειρὶ κύπελλον· Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl,

597αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖς ἄλλοισι θεοῖς ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν and served it round among the gods,

598οἰνοχόει γλυκὺ νέκταρ ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσων· going from left to right;

599ἄσβεστος δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν and the blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw him bustling about the heavenly mansion.

600ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα.

601ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύνταThus through the livelong day to the going down of the sun they feasted,

602δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης, and every one had his full share, so that all were satisfied.

603οὐ μὲν φόρμιγγος περικαλλέος ἣν ἔχʼ Ἀπόλλων, Apollo struck his lyre, and the Muses lifted up their sweet voices,

604Μουσάων θʼ αἳ ἄειδον ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ. calling and answering one another.

605αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέδυ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο, But when the sun’s glorious light had faded,

606οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ ἕκαστος, they went home to bed, each in his own abode,

607ἧχι ἑκάστῳ δῶμα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις which lame Vulcan with his consummate skill had fashioned for them.

608Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι· So Jove,

609Ζεὺς δὲ πρὸς ὃν λέχος ἤϊʼ Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητής, the Olympian Lord of Thunder, hied him to the bed in which he always slept;

610ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθʼ ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι· and when he had got on to it he went to sleep,

611ἔνθα καθεῦδʼ ἀναβάς, παρὰ δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἥρη. with Juno of the golden throne by his side.