Iliad Book IV: The Truce is Broken

Lines 1–73

The Council of the Gods

Zeus proposes ending the war; Hera protests, and the gods agree that Minerva shall contrive the Trojans' first breach of the oaths.

1οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἠγορόωντο

2χρυσέῳ ἐν δαπέδῳ, μετὰ δέ σφισι πότνια ἭβηNow the gods were sitting with Jove in council upon the golden floor while Hebe went round pouring out nectar for them to drink,

3νέκταρ ἐοινοχόει· τοὶ δὲ χρυσέοις δεπάεσσι

4δειδέχατʼ ἀλλήλους, Τρώων πόλιν εἰσορόωντες· and as they pledged one another in their cups of gold they looked down upon the town of Troy.

5αὐτίκʼ ἐπειρᾶτο Κρονίδης ἐρεθιζέμεν Ἥρην

6κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσι παραβλήδην ἀγορεύων· The son of Saturn then began to tease Juno,

7δοιαὶ μὲν Μενελάῳ ἀρηγόνες εἰσὶ θεάων talking at her so as to provoke her. “Menelaus,”

8Ἥρη τʼ Ἀργείη καὶ Ἀλαλκομενηῒς Ἀθήνη. said he, “has two good friends among the goddesses,

9ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ταὶ νόσφι καθήμεναι εἰσορόωσαι Juno of Argos, and Minerva of Alalcomene,

10τέρπεσθον· τῷ δʼ αὖτε φιλομειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη but they only sit still and look on,

11αἰεὶ παρμέμβλωκε καὶ αὐτοῦ κῆρας ἀμύνει· while Venus keeps ever by Alexandrus’ side to defend him in any danger;

12καὶ νῦν ἐξεσάωσεν ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.

13ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νίκη μὲν ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου· indeed she has just rescued him when he made sure that it was all over with him—

14ἡμεῖς δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,for the victory really did lie with Menelaus.

15ἤ ῥʼ αὖτις πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν We must consider what we shall do about all this;

16ὄρσομεν, ἦ φιλότητα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι βάλωμεν. shall we set them fighting anew or make peace between them?

17εἰ δʼ αὖ πως τόδε πᾶσι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,

18ἤτοι μὲν οἰκέοιτο πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος, If you will agree to this last Menelaus can take back Helen and the city of Priam may remain still inhabited.

19αὖτις δʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην Μενέλαος ἄγοιτο.”

20ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ἐπέμυξαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη·

21πλησίαι αἵ γʼ ἥσθην, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μεδέσθην.Minerva and Juno muttered their discontent as they sat side by side hatching mischief for the Trojans.

22ἤτοι Ἀθηναίη ἀκέων ἦν οὐδέ τι εἶπε Minerva scowled at her father,

23σκυζομένη Διὶ πατρί, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει· for she was in a furious passion with him, and said nothing,

24Ἥρῃ δʼ οὐκ ἔχαδε στῆθος χόλον, ἀλλὰ προσηύδα· but Juno could not contain herself. “Dread son of Saturn,

25αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες·” said she, “what, pray, is the meaning of all this?

26πῶς ἐθέλεις ἅλιον θεῖναι πόνον ἠδʼ ἀτέλεστον, Is my trouble, then, to go for nothing,

27ἱδρῶ θʼ ὃν ἵδρωσα μόγῳ, καμέτην δέ μοι ἵπποι and the sweat that I have sweated, to say nothing of my horses,

28λαὸν ἀγειρούσῃ, Πριάμῳ κακὰ τοῖό τε παισίν. while getting the people together against Priam and his children?

29ἕρδʼ· ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι. Do as you will, but we other gods shall not all of us approve your counsel.”

30τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·Jove was angry and answered, “My dear,

31δαιμονίη τί νύ σε Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες

32τόσσα κακὰ ῥέζουσιν, ὅ τʼ ἀσπερχὲς μενεαίνεις what harm have Priam and his sons done you that you are so hotly bent on sacking the city of Ilius?

33Ἰλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον;

34εἰ δὲ σύ γʼ εἰσελθοῦσα πύλας καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ Will nothing do for you but you must go within their walls and eat Priam raw,

35ὠμὸν βεβρώθοις Πρίαμον Πριάμοιό τε παῖδας with his sons and all the other Trojans to boot?

36ἄλλους τε Τρῶας, τότε κεν χόλον ἐξακέσαιο. Have it your own way then;

37ἕρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· μὴ τοῦτό γε νεῖκος ὀπίσσω

38σοὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ μέγʼ ἔρισμα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται. for I would not have this matter become a bone of contention between us.

39ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν· I say further, and lay my saying to your heart,

40ὁππότε κεν καὶ ἐγὼ μεμαὼς πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι if ever I want to sack a city belonging to friends of yours,

41τὴν ἐθέλω ὅθι τοι φίλοι ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασι, you must not try to stop me;

42μή τι διατρίβειν τὸν ἐμὸν χόλον, ἀλλά μʼ ἐᾶσαι· you will have to let me do it,

43καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ σοὶ δῶκα ἑκὼν ἀέκοντί γε θυμῷ· for I am giving in to you sorely against my will.

44αἳ γὰρ ὑπʼ ἠελίῳ τε καὶ οὐρανῷ ἀστερόεντι Of all inhabited cities under the sun and stars of heaven,

45ναιετάουσι πόληες ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,

46τάων μοι περὶ κῆρι τιέσκετο Ἴλιος ἱρὴ there was none that I so much respected as Ilius with Priam and his whole people.

47καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο.

48οὐ γάρ μοί ποτε βωμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης Equitable feasts were never wanting about my altar,

49λοιβῆς τε κνίσης τε· τὸ γὰρ λάχομεν γέρας ἡμεῖς. nor the savour of burning fat,

50τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη· which is honour due to ourselves.”

51ἤτοι ἐμοὶ τρεῖς μὲν πολὺ φίλταταί εἰσι πόληες“My own three favourite cities,” answered Juno,

52Ἄργός τε Σπάρτη τε καὶ εὐρυάγυια Μυκήνη· “are Argos, Sparta, and Mycenae.

53τὰς διαπέρσαι ὅτʼ ἄν τοι ἀπέχθωνται περὶ κῆρι· Sack them whenever you may be displeased with them.

54τάων οὔ τοι ἐγὼ πρόσθʼ ἵσταμαι οὐδὲ μεγαίρω. I shall not defend them and I shall not care.

55εἴ περ γὰρ φθονέω τε καὶ οὐκ εἰῶ διαπέρσαι, Even if I did, and tried to stay you,

56οὐκ ἀνύω φθονέουσʼ ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐσσι. I should take nothing by it, for you are much stronger than I am,

57ἀλλὰ χρὴ καὶ ἐμὸν θέμεναι πόνον οὐκ ἀτέλεστον· but I will not have my own work wasted.

58καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, γένος δέ μοι ἔνθεν ὅθεν σοί, I too am a god and of the same race with yourself.

59καί με πρεσβυτάτην τέκετο Κρόνος ἀγκυλομήτης, I am Saturn’s eldest daughter,

60ἀμφότερον γενεῇ τε καὶ οὕνεκα σὴ παράκοιτις and am honourable not on this ground only, but also because I am your wife,

61κέκλημαι, σὺ δὲ πᾶσι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀνάσσεις. and you are king over the gods.

62ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦθʼ ὑποείξομεν ἀλλήλοισι, Let it be a case, then, of give-and-take between us,

63σοὶ μὲν ἐγώ, σὺ δʼ ἐμοί· ἐπὶ δʼ ἕψονται θεοὶ ἄλλοι and the rest of the gods will follow our lead.

64ἀθάνατοι· σὺ δὲ θᾶσσον Ἀθηναίῃ ἐπιτεῖλαι Tell Minerva to go and take part in the fight at once,

65ἐλθεῖν ἐς Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπιν αἰνήν,

66πειρᾶν δʼ ὥς κε Τρῶες ὑπερκύδαντας Ἀχαιοὺς and let her contrive that the Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the Achaeans.

67ἄρξωσι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσασθαι.”

68ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·The sire of gods and men heeded her words,

69αὐτίκʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· and said to Minerva,

70αἶψα μάλʼ ἐς στρατὸν ἐλθὲ μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς, “Go at once into the Trojan and Achaean hosts,

71πειρᾶν δʼ ὥς κε Τρῶες ὑπερκύδαντας Ἀχαιοὺς and contrive that the Trojans shall be the first to break their oaths and set upon the Achaeans.

72ἄρξωσι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσασθαι.”

73ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,This was what Minerva was already eager to do,

Lines 74–219

The Truce Is Broken

Minerva finds Pandarus and urges him to shoot Menelaus; Minerva turns the arrow aside, and Machaon is summoned to tend the wound.

74βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.

75οἷον δʼ ἀστέρα ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω so down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus.

76ἢ ναύτῃσι τέρας ἠὲ στρατῷ εὐρέϊ λαῶν

77λαμπρόν· τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἀπὸ σπινθῆρες ἵενται· She shot through the sky as some brilliant meteor which the son of scheming Saturn has sent as a sign to mariners or to some great army,

78τῷ ἐϊκυῖʼ ἤϊξεν ἐπὶ χθόνα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,

79κὰδ δʼ ἔθορʼ ἐς μέσσον· θάμβος δʼ ἔχεν εἰσορόωντας and a fiery train of light follows in its wake.

80Τρῶάς θʼ ἱπποδάμους καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς· The Trojans and Achaeans were struck with awe as they beheld,

81ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον· and one would turn to his neighbour,

82ἦ ῥʼ αὖτις πόλεμός τε κακὸς καὶ φύλοπις αἰνὴ saying,

83ἔσσεται, ἢ φιλότητα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησι “Either we shall again have war and din of combat,

84Ζεύς, ὅς τʼ ἀνθρώπων ταμίης πολέμοιο τέτυκται. or Jove the lord of battle will now make peace between us.”

85ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε.Thus did they converse.

86ἣ δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἰκέλη Τρώων κατεδύσεθʼ ὅμιλον Then Minerva took the form of Laodocus, son of Antenor,

87Λαοδόκῳ Ἀντηνορίδῃ κρατερῷ αἰχμητῇ, and went through the ranks of the Trojans to find Pandarus,

88Πάνδαρον ἀντίθεον διζημένη εἴ που ἐφεύροι. the redoubtable son of Lycaon.

89εὗρε Λυκάονος υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε

90ἑσταότʼ· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κρατεραὶ στίχες ἀσπιστάων She found him standing among the stalwart heroes who had followed him from the banks of the Aesopus,

91λαῶν, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο ἀπʼ Αἰσήποιο ῥοάων· so she went close up to him and said,

92ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· “Brave son of Lycaon,

93ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο Λυκάονος υἱὲ δαΐφρον. will you do as I tell you?

94τλαίης κεν Μενελάῳ ἐπιπροέμεν ταχὺν ἰόν, If you dare send an arrow at Menelaus you will win honour and thanks from all the Trojans,

95πᾶσι δέ κε Τρώεσσι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ἄροιο, and especially from prince Alexandrus—

96ἐκ πάντων δὲ μάλιστα Ἀλεξάνδρῳ βασιλῆϊ.

97τοῦ κεν δὴ πάμπρωτα παρʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα φέροιο,he would be the first to requite you very handsomely if he could see Menelaus mount his funeral pyre,

98αἴ κεν ἴδῃ Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱὸν

99σῷ βέλεϊ δμηθέντα πυρῆς ἐπιβάντʼ ἀλεγεινῆς. slain by an arrow from your hand. Take your home aim then,

100ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὀΐστευσον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο, and pray to Lycian Apollo, the famous archer;

101εὔχεο δʼ Ἀπόλλωνι Λυκηγενέϊ κλυτοτόξῳ

102ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην vow that when you get home to your strong city of Zelea you will offer a hecatomb of firstling lambs in his honour.

103οἴκαδε νοστήσας ἱερῆς εἰς ἄστυ Ζελείης.”

104ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, τῷ δὲ φρένας ἄφρονι πεῖθεν·His fool’s heart was persuaded, and he took his bow from its case.

105αὐτίκʼ ἐσύλα τόξον ἐΰξοον ἰξάλου αἰγὸς

106ἀγρίου, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τυχήσας This bow was made from the horns of a wild ibex which he had killed as it was bounding from a rock;

107πέτρης ἐκβαίνοντα δεδεγμένος ἐν προδοκῇσι he had stalked it,

108βεβλήκει πρὸς στῆθος· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἔμπεσε πέτρῃ. and it had fallen as the arrow struck it to the heart.

109τοῦ κέρα ἐκ κεφαλῆς ἑκκαιδεκάδωρα πεφύκει· Its horns were sixteen palms long, and a worker in horn had made them into a bow,

110καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀσκήσας κεραοξόος ἤραρε τέκτων, smoothing them well down,

111πᾶν δʼ εὖ λειήνας χρυσέην ἐπέθηκε κορώνην. and giving them tips of gold.

112καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε τανυσσάμενος ποτὶ γαίῃ When Pandarus had strung his bow he laid it carefully on the ground,

113ἀγκλίνας· πρόσθεν δὲ σάκεα σχέθον ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι and his brave followers held their shields before him lest the Achaeans should set upon him before he had shot Menelaus.

114μὴ πρὶν ἀναΐξειαν ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

115πρὶν βλῆσθαι Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱόν.

116αὐτὰρ ὁ σύλα πῶμα φαρέτρης, ἐκ δʼ ἕλετʼ ἰὸν Then he opened the lid of his quiver and took out a winged arrow that had not yet been shot,

117ἀβλῆτα πτερόεντα μελαινέων ἕρμʼ ὀδυνάων· fraught with the pangs of death.

118αἶψα δʼ ἐπὶ νευρῇ κατεκόσμει πικρὸν ὀϊστόν, He laid the arrow on the string and prayed to Lycian Apollo,

119εὔχετο δʼ Ἀπόλλωνι Λυκηγενέϊ κλυτοτόξῳ the famous archer,

120ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην

121οἴκαδε νοστήσας ἱερῆς εἰς ἄστυ Ζελείης. vowing that when he got home to his strong city of Zelea he would offer a hecatomb of firstling lambs in his honour.

122ἕλκε δʼ ὁμοῦ γλυφίδας τε λαβὼν καὶ νεῦρα βόεια·

123νευρὴν μὲν μαζῷ πέλασεν, τόξῳ δὲ σίδηρον. He laid the notch of the arrow on the ox-hide bowstring,

124αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ κυκλοτερὲς μέγα τόξον ἔτεινε, and drew both notch and string to his breast till the arrow-head was near the bow;

125λίγξε βιός, νευρὴ δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχεν, ἆλτο δʼ ὀϊστὸς

126ὀξυβελὴς καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐπιπτέσθαι μενεαίνων. then when the bow was arched into a half-circle he let fly, and the bow twanged,

127οὐδὲ σέθεν Μενέλαε θεοὶ μάκαρες λελάθοντο

128ἀθάνατοι, πρώτη δὲ Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείη, and the string sang as the arrow flew gladly on over the heads of the throng.

129ἥ τοι πρόσθε στᾶσα βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἄμυνεν.But the blessed gods did not forget thee, O Menelaus, and Jove’s daughter,

130ἣ δὲ τόσον μὲν ἔεργεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ὡς ὅτε μήτηρ driver of the spoil, was the first to stand before thee and ward off the piercing arrow.

131παιδὸς ἐέργῃ μυῖαν ὅθʼ ἡδέϊ λέξεται ὕπνῳ,

132αὐτὴ δʼ αὖτʼ ἴθυνεν ὅθι ζωστῆρος ὀχῆες She turned it from his skin as a mother whisks a fly from off her child when it is sleeping sweetly;

133χρύσειοι σύνεχον καὶ διπλόος ἤντετο θώρηξ.

134ἐν δʼ ἔπεσε ζωστῆρι ἀρηρότι πικρὸς ὀϊστός· she guided it to the part where the golden buckles of the belt that passed over his double cuirass were fastened,

135διὰ μὲν ἂρ ζωστῆρος ἐλήλατο δαιδαλέοιο, so the arrow struck the belt that went tightly round him.

136καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο It went right through this and through the cuirass of cunning workmanship;

137μίτρης θʼ, ἣν ἐφόρει ἔρυμα χροὸς ἕρκος ἀκόντων, it also pierced the belt beneath it,

138ἥ οἱ πλεῖστον ἔρυτο· διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο καὶ τῆς. which he wore next his skin to keep out darts or arrows; it was this that served him in the best stead,

139ἀκρότατον δʼ ἄρʼ ὀϊστὸς ἐπέγραψε χρόα φωτός· nevertheless the arrow went through it and grazed the top of the skin,

140αὐτίκα δʼ ἔρρεεν αἷμα κελαινεφὲς ἐξ ὠτειλῆς. so that blood began flowing from the wound.

141ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τʼ ἐλέφαντα γυνὴ φοίνικι μιήνῃ

142Μῃονὶς ἠὲ Κάειρα παρήϊον ἔμμεναι ἵππων·As when some woman of Meonia or Caria strains purple dye on to a piece of ivory that is to be the cheek-piece of a horse,

143κεῖται δʼ ἐν θαλάμῳ, πολέες τέ μιν ἠρήσαντο and is to be laid up in a treasure house—

144ἱππῆες φορέειν· βασιλῆϊ δὲ κεῖται ἄγαλμα,many a knight is fain to bear it,

145ἀμφότερον κόσμός θʼ ἵππῳ ἐλατῆρί τε κῦδος· but the king keeps it as an ornament of which both horse and driver may be proud—

146τοῖοί τοι Μενέλαε μιάνθην αἵματι μηροὶeven so, O Menelaus,

147εὐφυέες κνῆμαί τε ἰδὲ σφυρὰ κάλʼ ὑπένερθε. were your shapely thighs and your legs down to your fair ancles stained with blood.

148ῥίγησεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν ἈγαμέμνωνWhen King Agamemnon saw the blood flowing from the wound he was afraid,

149ὡς εἶδεν μέλαν αἷμα καταρρέον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς·

150ῥίγησεν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος. and so was brave Menelaus himself till he saw that the barbs of the arrow and the thread that bound the arrow-head to the shaft were still outside the wound.

151ὡς δὲ ἴδεν νεῦρόν τε καὶ ὄγκους ἐκτὸς ἐόντας Then he took heart,

152ἄψορρόν οἱ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀγέρθη. but Agamemnon heaved a deep sigh as he held Menelaus’s hand in his own,

153τοῖς δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων and his comrades made moan in concert.

154χειρὸς ἔχων Μενέλαον, ἐπεστενάχοντο δʼ ἑταῖροι· “Dear brother,” he cried,

155φίλε κασίγνητε θάνατόν νύ τοι ὅρκιʼ ἔταμνον “I have been the death of you in pledging this covenant and letting you come forward as our champion.

156οἶον προστήσας πρὸ Ἀχαιῶν Τρωσὶ μάχεσθαι,

157ὥς σʼ ἔβαλον Τρῶες, κατὰ δʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ πάτησαν. The Trojans have trampled on their oaths and have wounded you;

158οὐ μέν πως ἅλιον πέλει ὅρκιον αἷμά τε ἀρνῶν nevertheless the oath, the blood of lambs,

159σπονδαί τʼ ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαὶ ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν.

160εἴ περ γάρ τε καὶ αὐτίκʼ Ὀλύμπιος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν, the drink-offerings and the right hands of fellowship in which we have put our trust shall not be vain.

161ἔκ τε καὶ ὀψὲ τελεῖ, σύν τε μεγάλῳ ἀπέτισαν If he that rules Olympus fulfil it not here and now,

162σὺν σφῇσιν κεφαλῇσι γυναιξί τε καὶ τεκέεσσιν. he will yet fulfil it hereafter,

163εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν· and they shall pay dearly with their lives and with their wives and children.

164ἔσσεται ἦμαρ ὅτʼ ἄν ποτʼ ὀλώλῃ Ἴλιος ἱρὴ

165καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο, The day will surely come when mighty Ilius shall be laid low,

166Ζεὺς δέ σφι Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος αἰθέρι ναίων with Priam and Priam’s people,

167αὐτὸς ἐπισσείῃσιν ἐρεμνὴν αἰγίδα πᾶσι

168τῆσδʼ ἀπάτης κοτέων· τὰ μὲν ἔσσεται οὐκ ἀτέλεστα· when the son of Saturn from his high throne shall overshadow them with his awful aegis in punishment of their present treachery.

169ἀλλά μοι αἰνὸν ἄχος σέθεν ἔσσεται ὦ Μενέλαε

170αἴ κε θάνῃς καὶ πότμον ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο. This shall surely be; but how, Menelaus,

171καί κεν ἐλέγχιστος πολυδίψιον Ἄργος ἱκοίμην· shall I mourn you, if it be your lot now to die?

172αὐτίκα γὰρ μνήσονται Ἀχαιοὶ πατρίδος αἴης· I should return to Argos as a by-word,

173κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιμεν for the Achaeans will at once go home.

174Ἀργείην Ἑλένην· σέο δʼ ὀστέα πύσει ἄρουρα We shall leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen,

175κειμένου ἐν Τροίῃ ἀτελευτήτῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.

176καί κέ τις ὧδʼ ἐρέει Τρώων ὑπερηνορεόντων and the earth will rot your bones as you lie here at Troy with your purpose not fulfilled.

177τύμβῳ ἐπιθρῴσκων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο·

178αἴθʼ οὕτως ἐπὶ πᾶσι χόλον τελέσειʼ Ἀγαμέμνων, Then shall some braggart Trojan leap upon your tomb and say,

179ὡς καὶ νῦν ἅλιον στρατὸν ἤγαγεν ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιῶν, ‘Ever thus may Agamemnon wreak his vengeance;

180καὶ δὴ ἔβη οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν he brought his army in vain;

181σὺν κεινῇσιν νηυσὶ λιπὼν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον. he is gone home to his own land with empty ships,

182ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τότε μοι χάνοι εὐρεῖα χθών. and has left Menelaus behind him.’ Thus will one of them say,

183τὸν δʼ ἐπιθαρσύνων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος· and may the earth then swallow me.”

184θάρσει, μηδέ τί πω δειδίσσεο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·But Menelaus reassured him and said, “Take heart,

185οὐκ ἐν καιρίῳ ὀξὺ πάγη βέλος, ἀλλὰ πάροιθεν and do not alarm the people; the arrow has not struck me in a mortal part,

186εἰρύσατο ζωστήρ τε παναίολος ἠδʼ ὑπένερθε for my outer belt of burnished metal first stayed it,

187ζῶμά τε καὶ μίτρη, τὴν χαλκῆες κάμον ἄνδρες. and under this my cuirass and the belt of mail which the bronze-smiths made me.”

188τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·And Agamemnon answered, “I trust,

189αἲ γὰρ δὴ οὕτως εἴη φίλος ὦ Μενέλαε· dear Menelaus, that it may be even so,

190ἕλκος δʼ ἰητὴρ ἐπιμάσσεται ἠδʼ ἐπιθήσει

191φάρμαχʼ ἅ κεν παύσῃσι μελαινάων ὀδυνάων. but the surgeon shall examine your wound and lay herbs upon it to relieve your pain.

192ἦ καὶ Ταλθύβιον θεῖον κήρυκα προσηύδα·”

193Ταλθύβιʼ ὅττι τάχιστα Μαχάονα δεῦρο κάλεσσονHe then said to Talthybius, “Talthybius, tell Machaon,

194φῶτʼ Ἀσκληπιοῦ υἱὸν ἀμύμονος ἰητῆρος, son to the great physician, Aesculapius,

195ὄφρα ἴδῃ Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱόν, to come and see Menelaus immediately.

196ὅν τις ὀϊστεύσας ἔβαλεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς Some Trojan or Lycian archer has wounded him with an arrow to our dismay,

197Τρώων ἢ Λυκίων, τῷ μὲν κλέος, ἄμμι δὲ πένθος. and to his own great glory.”

198ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα οἱ κῆρυξ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας,Talthybius did as he was told,

199βῆ δʼ ἰέναι κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων and went about the host trying to find Machaon.

200παπταίνων ἥρωα Μαχάονα· τὸν δὲ νόησεν Presently he found standing amid the brave warriors who had followed him from Tricca;

201ἑσταότʼ· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κρατεραὶ στίχες ἀσπιστάων

202λαῶν, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο Τρίκης ἐξ ἱπποβότοιο. thereon he went up to him and said,

203ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· “Son of Aesculapius,

204ὄρσʼ Ἀσκληπιάδη, καλέει κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων, King Agamemnon says you are to come and see Menelaus immediately.

205ὄφρα ἴδῃς Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον ἀρχὸν Ἀχαιῶν,

206ὅν τις ὀϊστεύσας ἔβαλεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς Some Trojan or Lycian archer has wounded him with an arrow to our dismay and to his own great glory.

207Τρώων ἢ Λυκίων, τῷ μὲν κλέος, ἄμμι δὲ πένθος.”

208ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε·Thus did he speak, and Machaon was moved to go.

209βὰν δʼ ἰέναι καθʼ ὅμιλον ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν.

210ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι ξανθὸς Μενέλαος They passed through the spreading host of the Achaeans and went on till they came to the place where Menelaus had been wounded and was lying with the chieftains gathered in a circle round him.

211βλήμενος ἦν, περὶ δʼ αὐτὸν ἀγηγέραθʼ ὅσσοι ἄριστοι

212κυκλόσʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι παρίστατο ἰσόθεος φώς, Machaon passed into the middle of the ring and at once drew the arrow from the belt,

213αὐτίκα δʼ ἐκ ζωστῆρος ἀρηρότος ἕλκεν ὀϊστόν·

214τοῦ δʼ ἐξελκομένοιο πάλιν ἄγεν ὀξέες ὄγκοι. bending its barbs back through the force with which he pulled it out.

215λῦσε δέ οἱ ζωστῆρα παναίολον ἠδʼ ὑπένερθε He undid the burnished belt,

216ζῶμά τε καὶ μίτρην, τὴν χαλκῆες κάμον ἄνδρες. and beneath this the cuirass and the belt of mail which the bronze-smiths had made;

217αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ἕλκος ὅθʼ ἔμπεσε πικρὸς ὀϊστός, then, when he had seen the wound,

218αἷμʼ ἐκμυζήσας ἐπʼ ἄρʼ ἤπια φάρμακα εἰδὼς he wiped away the blood and applied some soothing drugs which Chiron had given to Aesculapius out of the good will he bore him.

219πάσσε, τά οἵ ποτε πατρὶ φίλα φρονέων πόρε Χείρων.

Lines 220–421

Agamemnon Reviews the Ranks

Agamemnon goes on foot among his captains, praising Idomeneus and the two Ajaxes, honouring Nestor, and rebuking Menestheus, Odysseus, and Diomed before the armies close.

220ὄφρα τοὶ ἀμφεπένοντο βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον,While they were thus busy about Menelaus,

221τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον ἀσπιστάων· the Trojans came forward against them,

222οἳ δʼ αὖτις κατὰ τεύχεʼ ἔδυν, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης. for they had put on their armour, and now renewed the fight.

223ἔνθʼ οὐκ ἂν βρίζοντα ἴδοις Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖονYou would not have then found Agamemnon asleep nor cowardly and unwilling to fight,

224οὐδὲ καταπτώσσοντʼ οὐδʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα μάχεσθαι,

225ἀλλὰ μάλα σπεύδοντα μάχην ἐς κυδιάνειραν. but eager rather for the fray.

226ἵππους μὲν γὰρ ἔασε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ· He left his chariot rich with bronze and his panting steeds in charge of Eurymedon,

227καὶ τοὺς μὲν θεράπων ἀπάνευθʼ ἔχε φυσιόωντας son of Ptolemaeus the son of Peiraeus,

228Εὐρυμέδων υἱὸς Πτολεμαίου Πειραΐδαο·

229τῷ μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε παρισχέμεν ὁππότε κέν μιν and bade him hold them in readiness against the time his limbs should weary of going about and giving orders to so many,

230γυῖα λάβῃ κάματος πολέας διὰ κοιρανέοντα·

231αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸς ἐὼν ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν· for he went among the ranks on foot.

232καί ῥʼ οὓς μὲν σπεύδοντας ἴδοι Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων, When he saw men hasting to the front he stood by them and cheered them on.

233τοὺς μάλα θαρσύνεσκε παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν· “Argives,”

234Ἀργεῖοι μή πώ τι μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς· said he, “slacken not one whit in your onset;

235οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ ψευδέσσι πατὴρ Ζεὺς ἔσσετʼ ἀρωγός, father Jove will be no helper of liars;

236ἀλλʼ οἵ περ πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσαντο the Trojans have been the first to break their oaths and to attack us;

237τῶν ἤτοι αὐτῶν τέρενα χρόα γῦπες ἔδονται, therefore they shall be devoured of vultures;

238ἡμεῖς αὖτʼ ἀλόχους τε φίλας καὶ νήπια τέκνα

239ἄξομεν ἐν νήεσσιν, ἐπὴν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν. we shall take their city and carry off their wives and children in our ships.”

240οὕς τινας αὖ μεθιέντας ἴδοι στυγεροῦ πολέμοιο,But he angrily rebuked those whom he saw shirking and disinclined to fight.

241τοὺς μάλα νεικείεσκε χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν· “Argives,” he cried,

242Ἀργεῖοι ἰόμωροι ἐλεγχέες οὔ νυ σέβεσθε; “cowardly miserable creatures,

243τίφθʼ οὕτως ἔστητε τεθηπότες ἠΰτε νεβροί, have you no shame to stand here like frightened fawns who,

244αἵ τʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἔκαμον πολέος πεδίοιο θέουσαι when they can no longer scud over the plain,

245ἑστᾶσʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα τίς σφι μετὰ φρεσὶ γίγνεται ἀλκή· huddle together, but show no fight? You are as dazed and spiritless as deer.

246ὣς ὑμεῖς ἔστητε τεθηπότες οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.

247ἦ μένετε Τρῶας σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν ἔνθά τε νῆες Would you wait till the Trojans reach the sterns of our ships as they lie on the shore,

248εἰρύατʼ εὔπρυμνοι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,

249ὄφρα ἴδητʼ αἴ κʼ ὔμμιν ὑπέρσχῃ χεῖρα Κρονίων; to see whether the son of Saturn will hold his hand over you to protect you?”

250ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν·Thus did he go about giving his orders among the ranks.

251ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ Κρήτεσσι κιὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν. Passing through the crowd, he came presently on the Cretans,

252οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἰδομενῆα δαΐφρονα θωρήσσοντο· arming round Idomeneus,

253Ἰδομενεὺς μὲν ἐνὶ προμάχοις συῒ εἴκελος ἀλκήν, who was at their head, fierce as a wild boar,

254Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυμάτας ὄτρυνε φάλαγγας. while Meriones was bringing up the battalions that were in the rear.

255τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν γήθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων, Agamemnon was glad when he saw him, and spoke him fairly.

256αὐτίκα δʼ Ἰδομενῆα προσηύδα μειλιχίοισιν· “Idomeneus,” said he,

257Ἰδομενεῦ περὶ μέν σε τίω Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων “I treat you with greater distinction than I do any others of the Achaeans,

258ἠμὲν ἐνὶ πτολέμῳ ἠδʼ ἀλλοίῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ whether in war or in other things,

259ἠδʼ ἐν δαίθʼ, ὅτε πέρ τε γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνον or at table. When the princes are mixing my choicest wines in the mixing-bowls,

260Ἀργείων οἳ ἄριστοι ἐνὶ κρητῆρι κέρωνται.

261εἴ περ γάρ τʼ ἄλλοι γε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ they have each of them a fixed allowance, but your cup is kept always full like my own,

262δαιτρὸν πίνωσιν, σὸν δὲ πλεῖον δέπας αἰεὶ that you may drink whenever you are minded.

263ἕστηχʼ, ὥς περ ἐμοί, πιέειν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι. Go, therefore, into battle,

264ἀλλʼ ὄρσευ πόλεμον δʼ οἷος πάρος εὔχεαι εἶναι. and show yourself the man you have been always proud to be.”

265τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·Idomeneus answered, “I will be a trusty comrade,

266Ἀτρεΐδη μάλα μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐρίηρος ἑταῖρος as I promised you from the first I would be.

267ἔσσομαι, ὡς τὸ πρῶτον ὑπέστην καὶ κατένευσα· Urge on the other Achaeans,

268ἀλλʼ ἄλλους ὄτρυνε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς that we may join battle at once,

269ὄφρα τάχιστα μαχώμεθʼ, ἐπεὶ σύν γʼ ὅρκιʼ ἔχευαν for the Trojans have trampled upon their covenants. Death and destruction shall be theirs,

270Τρῶες· τοῖσιν δʼ αὖ θάνατος καὶ κήδεʼ ὀπίσσω

271ἔσσετʼ ἐπεὶ πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσαντο. seeing they have been the first to break their oaths and to attack us.”

272ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ παρῴχετο γηθόσυνος κῆρ·The son of Atreus went on, glad at heart,

273ἦλθε δʼ ἐπʼ Αἰάντεσσι κιὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν· till he came upon the two Ajaxes arming themselves amid a host of foot soldiers.

274τὼ δὲ κορυσσέσθην, ἅμα δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν.

275ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδεν νέφος αἰπόλος ἀνὴρ As when a goat-herd from some high post watches a storm drive over the deep before the west wind—

276ἐρχόμενον κατὰ πόντον ὑπὸ Ζεφύροιο ἰωῆς·

277τῷ δέ τʼ ἄνευθεν ἐόντι μελάντερον ἠΰτε πίσσαblack as pitch is the offing and a mighty whirlwind draws towards him,

278φαίνετʼ ἰὸν κατὰ πόντον, ἄγει δέ τε λαίλαπα πολλήν,

279ῥίγησέν τε ἰδών, ὑπό τε σπέος ἤλασε μῆλα· so that he is afraid and drives his flock into a cave—

280τοῖαι ἅμʼ Αἰάντεσσι διοτρεφέων αἰζηῶν

281δήϊον ἐς πόλεμον πυκιναὶ κίνυντο φάλαγγεςeven thus did the ranks of stalwart youths move in a dark mass to battle under the Ajaxes,

282κυάνεαι, σάκεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι. horrid with shield and spear.

283καὶ τοὺς μὲν γήθησεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων, Glad was King Agamemnon when he saw them.

284καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· “No need,” he cried,

285Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε χαλκοχιτώνων, “to give orders to such leaders of the Argives as you are,

286σφῶϊ μέν· οὐ γὰρ ἔοικʼ ὀτρυνέμεν· οὔ τι κελεύω· for of your own selves you spur your men on to fight with might and main.

287αὐτὼ γὰρ μάλα λαὸν ἀνώγετον ἶφι μάχεσθαι. Would,

288αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον by father Jove, Minerva,

289τοῖος πᾶσιν θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γένοιτο· and Apollo that all were so minded as you are,

290τώ κε τάχʼ ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος for the city of Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands,

291χερσὶν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε. and we should sack it.”

292ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δὲ μετʼ ἄλλους·With this he left them and went onward to Nestor,

293ἔνθʼ ὅ γε Νέστορʼ ἔτετμε λιγὺν Πυλίων ἀγορητὴν the facile speaker of the Pylians, who was marshalling his men and urging them on,

294οὓς ἑτάρους στέλλοντα καὶ ὀτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι in company with Pelagon, Alastor,

295ἀμφὶ μέγαν Πελάγοντα Ἀλάστορά τε Χρομίον τε Chromius, Haemon, and Bias shepherd of his people.

296Αἵμονά τε κρείοντα Βίαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν· He placed his knights with their chariots and horses in the front rank,

297ἱππῆας μὲν πρῶτα σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφι, while the foot soldiers,

298πεζοὺς δʼ ἐξόπιθε στῆσεν πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς brave men and many, whom he could trust, were in the rear.

299ἕρκος ἔμεν πολέμοιο· κακοὺς δʼ ἐς μέσσον ἔλασσεν, The cowards he drove into the middle,

300ὄφρα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλων τις ἀναγκαίῃ πολεμίζοι. that they might fight whether they would or no.

301ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτʼ ἐπετέλλετο· τοὺς γὰρ ἀνώγει He gave his orders to the knights first, bidding them hold their horses well in hand,

302σφοὺς ἵππους ἐχέμεν μηδὲ κλονέεσθαι ὁμίλῳ· so as to avoid confusion. “Let no man,

303μηδέ τις ἱπποσύνῃ τε καὶ ἠνορέηφι πεποιθὼς” he said, “relying on his strength or horsemanship,

304οἶος πρόσθʼ ἄλλων μεμάτω Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι, get before the others and engage singly with the Trojans,

305μηδʼ ἀναχωρείτω· ἀλαπαδνότεροι γὰρ ἔσεσθε. nor yet let him lag behind or you will weaken your attack;

306ὃς δέ κʼ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὧν ὀχέων ἕτερʼ ἅρμαθʼ ἵκηται

307ἔγχει ὀρεξάσθω, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερον οὕτω. but let each when he meets an enemy’s chariot throw his spear from his own;

308ὧδε καὶ οἱ πρότεροι πόλεας καὶ τείχεʼ ἐπόρθεον this be much the best; this is how the men of old took towns and strongholds;

309τόνδε νόον καὶ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔχοντες. in this wise were they minded.”

310ὣς ὃ γέρων ὄτρυνε πάλαι πολέμων ἐῢ εἰδώς·Thus did the old man charge them,

311καὶ τὸν μὲν γήθησεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων, for he had been in many a fight, and King Agamemnon was glad.

312καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· “I wish,” he said to him,

313ὦ γέρον εἴθʼ ὡς θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν “that your limbs were as supple and your strength as sure as your judgment is;

314ὥς τοι γούναθʼ ἕποιτο, βίη δέ τοι ἔμπεδος εἴη· but age, the common enemy of mankind,

315ἀλλά σε γῆρας τείρει ὁμοίϊον· ὡς ὄφελέν τις has laid his hand upon you; would that it had fallen upon some other,

316ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχειν, σὺ δὲ κουροτέροισι μετεῖναι. and that you were still young.”

317τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·And Nestor, knight of Gerene, answered, “Son of Atreus,

318Ἀτρεΐδη μάλα μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐθέλοιμι καὶ αὐτὸς I too would gladly be the man I was when I slew mighty Ereuthalion;

319ὣς ἔμεν ὡς ὅτε δῖον Ἐρευθαλίωνα κατέκταν.

320ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα θεοὶ δόσαν ἀνθρώποισιν· but the gods will not give us everything at one and the same time.

321εἰ τότε κοῦρος ἔα νῦν αὖτέ με γῆρας ὀπάζει. I was then young, and now I am old;

322ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἱππεῦσι μετέσσομαι ἠδὲ κελεύσω

323βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ γερόντων. still I can go with my knights and give them that counsel which old men have a right to give.

324αἰχμὰς δʼ αἰχμάσσουσι νεώτεροι, οἵ περ ἐμεῖο The wielding of the spear I leave to those who are younger and stronger than myself.

325ὁπλότεροι γεγάασι πεποίθασίν τε βίηφιν.”

326ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ παρῴχετο γηθόσυνος κῆρ.Agamemnon went his way rejoicing,

327εὗρʼ υἱὸν Πετεῶο Μενεσθῆα πλήξιππον and presently found Menestheus, son of Peteos,

328ἑσταότʼ· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθηναῖοι μήστωρες ἀϋτῆς· tarrying in his place,

329αὐτὰρ ὃ πλησίον ἑστήκει πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς, and with him were the Athenians loud of tongue in battle.

330πὰρ δὲ Κεφαλλήνων ἀμφὶ στίχες οὐκ ἀλαπαδναὶ Near him also tarried cunning Ulysses, with his sturdy Cephallenians round him;

331ἕστασαν· οὐ γάρ πώ σφιν ἀκούετο λαὸς ἀϋτῆς, they had not yet heard the battle-cry,

332ἀλλὰ νέον συνορινόμεναι κίνυντο φάλαγγες

333Τρώων ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ μένοντες for the ranks of Trojans and Achaeans had only just begun to move,

334ἕστασαν ὁππότε πύργος Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἐπελθὼν so they were standing still,

335Τρώων ὁρμήσειε καὶ ἄρξειαν πολέμοιο. waiting for some other columns of the Achaeans to attack the Trojans and begin the fighting.

336τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν νείκεσσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

337καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· When he saw this Agamemnon rebuked them and said, “Son of Peteos,

338ὦ υἱὲ Πετεῶο διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος, and you other, steeped in cunning,

339καὶ σὺ κακοῖσι δόλοισι κεκασμένε κερδαλεόφρον heart of guile, why stand you here cowering and waiting on others?

340τίπτε καταπτώσσοντες ἀφέστατε, μίμνετε δʼ ἄλλους;

341σφῶϊν μέν τʼ ἐπέοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντας You two should be of all men foremost when there is hard fighting to be done,

342ἑστάμεν ἠδὲ μάχης καυστείρης ἀντιβολῆσαι·

343πρώτω γὰρ καὶ δαιτὸς ἀκουάζεσθον ἐμεῖο, for you are ever foremost to accept my invitation when we councillors of the Achaeans are holding feast.

344ὁππότε δαῖτα γέρουσιν ἐφοπλίζωμεν Ἀχαιοί.

345ἔνθα φίλʼ ὀπταλέα κρέα ἔδμεναι ἠδὲ κύπελλα You are glad enough then to take your fill of roast meats and to drink wine as long as you please,

346οἴνου πινέμεναι μελιηδέος ὄφρʼ ἐθέλητον·

347νῦν δὲ φίλως χʼ ὁρόῳτε καὶ εἰ δέκα πύργοι Ἀχαιῶν whereas now you would not care though you saw ten columns of Achaeans engage the enemy in front of you.

348ὑμείων προπάροιθε μαχοίατο νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.”

349τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·Ulysses glared at him and answered, “Son of Atreus,

350Ἀτρεΐδη ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων; what are you talking about?

351πῶς δὴ φῂς πολέμοιο μεθιέμεν ὁππότʼ Ἀχαιοὶ How can you say that we are slack?

352Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα; When the Achaeans are in full fight with the Trojans,

353ὄψεαι αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα καὶ αἴ κέν τοι τὰ μεμήλῃ you shall see, if you care to do so,

354Τηλεμάχοιο φίλον πατέρα προμάχοισι μιγέντα that the father of Telemachus will join battle with the foremost of them.

355Τρώων ἱπποδάμων· σὺ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζεις. You are talking idly.”

356τὸν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη κρείων ἈγαμέμνωνWhen Agamemnon saw that Ulysses was angry,

357ὡς γνῶ χωομένοιο· πάλιν δʼ ὅ γε λάζετο μῦθον· he smiled pleasantly at him and withdrew his words. “Ulysses,”

358διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ said he, “noble son of Laertes,

359οὔτέ σε νεικείω περιώσιον οὔτε κελεύω· excellent in all good counsel,

360οἶδα γὰρ ὥς τοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν I have neither fault to find nor orders to give you, for I know your heart is right,

361ἤπια δήνεα οἶδε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέεις ἅ τʼ ἐγώ περ. and that you and I are of a mind. Enough;

362ἀλλʼ ἴθι ταῦτα δʼ ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσόμεθʼ εἴ τι κακὸν νῦν I will make you amends for what I have said,

363εἴρηται, τὰ δὲ πάντα θεοὶ μεταμώνια θεῖεν. and if any ill has now been spoken may the gods bring it to nothing.”

364ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δὲ μετʼ ἄλλους.He then left them and went on to others.

365εὗρε δὲ Τυδέος υἱὸν ὑπέρθυμον Διομήδεα Presently he saw the son of Tydeus, noble Diomed,

366ἑσταότʼ ἔν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσι· standing by his chariot and horses,

367πὰρ δέ οἱ ἑστήκει Σθένελος Καπανήϊος υἱός. with Sthenelus the son of Capaneus beside him; whereon he began to upbraid him.

368καὶ τὸν μὲν νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων, “Son of Tydeus,” he said,

369καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα· “why stand you cowering here upon the brink of battle?

370ὤ μοι Τυδέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο Tydeus did not shrink thus,

371τί πτώσσεις, τί δʼ ὀπιπεύεις πολέμοιο γεφύρας; but was ever ahead of his men when leading them on against the foe—

372οὐ μὲν Τυδέϊ γʼ ὧδε φίλον πτωσκαζέμεν ἦεν,so, at least, say they that saw him in battle,

373ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὸ φίλων ἑτάρων δηΐοισι μάχεσθαι, for I never set eyes upon him myself.

374ὡς φάσαν οἵ μιν ἴδοντο πονεύμενον· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε They say that there was no man like him. He came once to Mycenae,

375ἤντησʼ οὐδὲ ἴδον· περὶ δʼ ἄλλων φασὶ γενέσθαι. not as an enemy but as a guest,

376ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ ἄτερ πολέμου εἰσῆλθε Μυκήνας in company with Polynices to recruit his forces,

377ξεῖνος ἅμʼ ἀντιθέῳ Πολυνείκεϊ λαὸν ἀγείρων· for they were levying war against the strong city of Thebes,

378οἳ δὲ τότʼ ἐστρατόωνθʼ ἱερὰ πρὸς τείχεα Θήβης, and prayed our people for a body of picked men to help them.

379καί ῥα μάλα λίσσοντο δόμεν κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρους· The men of Mycenae were willing to let them have one,

380οἳ δʼ ἔθελον δόμεναι καὶ ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευον·

381ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἔτρεψε παραίσια σήματα φαίνων. but Jove dissuaded them by showing them unfavourable omens. Tydeus, therefore,

382οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ᾤχοντο ἰδὲ πρὸ ὁδοῦ ἐγένοντο, and Polynices went their way.

383Ἀσωπὸν δʼ ἵκοντο βαθύσχοινον λεχεποίην, When they had got as far the deep-meadowed and rush-grown banks of the Aesopus,

384ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἀγγελίην ἐπὶ Τυδῆ στεῖλαν Ἀχαιοί. the Achaeans sent Tydeus as their envoy,

385αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ, πολέας δὲ κιχήσατο Καδμεΐωνας

386δαινυμένους κατὰ δῶμα βίης Ἐτεοκληείης. and he found the Cadmeans gathered in great numbers to a banquet in the house of Eteocles.

387ἔνθʼ οὐδὲ ξεῖνός περ ἐὼν ἱππηλάτα Τυδεὺς Stranger though he was,

388τάρβει, μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσιν μετὰ Καδμείοισιν, he knew no fear on finding himself single-handed among so many,

389ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἀεθλεύειν προκαλίζετο, πάντα δʼ ἐνίκα but challenged them to contests of all kinds,

390ῥηϊδίως· τοίη οἱ ἐπίρροθος ἦεν Ἀθήνη. and in each one of them was at once victorious,

391οἳ δὲ χολωσάμενοι Καδμεῖοι κέντορες ἵππων so mightily did Minerva help him.

392ἂψ ἄρʼ ἀνερχομένῳ πυκινὸν λόχον εἷσαν ἄγοντες The Cadmeans were incensed at his success,

393κούρους πεντήκοντα· δύω δʼ ἡγήτορες ἦσαν, and set a force of fifty youths with two captains—

394Μαίων Αἱμονίδης ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν,the godlike hero Maeon, son of Haemon,

395υἱός τʼ Αὐτοφόνοιο μενεπτόλεμος Πολυφόντης. and Polyphontes, son of Autophonus—at their head,

396Τυδεὺς μὲν καὶ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκε· to lie in wait for him on his return journey;

397πάντας ἔπεφνʼ, ἕνα δʼ οἶον ἵει οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι· but Tydeus slew every man of them, save only Maeon,

398Μαίονʼ ἄρα προέηκε θεῶν τεράεσσι πιθήσας. whom he let go in obedience to heaven’s omens.

399τοῖος ἔην Τυδεὺς Αἰτώλιος· ἀλλὰ τὸν υἱὸν Such was Tydeus of Aetolia. His son can talk more glibly,

400γείνατο εἷο χέρεια μάχῃ, ἀγορῇ δέ τʼ ἀμείνω. but he cannot fight as his father did.

401ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης” Diomed made no answer, for he was shamed by the rebuke of Agamemnon;

402αἰδεσθεὶς βασιλῆος ἐνιπὴν αἰδοίοιο· but the son of Capaneus took up his words and said,

403τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Καπανῆος ἀμείψατο κυδαλίμοιο· “Son of Atreus, tell no lies, for you can speak truth if you will.

404Ἀτρεΐδη μὴ ψεύδεʼ ἐπιστάμενος σάφα εἰπεῖν· We boast ourselves as even better men than our fathers;

405ἡμεῖς τοι πατέρων μέγʼ ἀμείνονες εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι· we took seven-gated Thebes,

406ἡμεῖς καὶ Θήβης ἕδος εἵλομεν ἑπταπύλοιο though the wall was stronger and our men were fewer in number,

407παυρότερον λαὸν ἀγαγόνθʼ ὑπὸ τεῖχος ἄρειον, for we trusted in the omens of the gods and in the help of Jove,

408πειθόμενοι τεράεσσι θεῶν καὶ Ζηνὸς ἀρωγῇ·

409κεῖνοι δὲ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο· whereas they perished through their own sheer folly; hold not,

410τὼ μή μοι πατέρας ποθʼ ὁμοίῃ ἔνθεο τιμῇ. then, our fathers in like honour with us.

411τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·” Diomed looked sternly at him and said,

412τέττα, σιωπῇ ἧσο, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ· “Hold your peace, my friend,

413οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ νεμεσῶ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν as I bid you.

414ὀτρύνοντι μάχεσθαι ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς· It is not amiss that Agamemnon should urge the Achaeans forward,

415τούτῳ μὲν γὰρ κῦδος ἅμʼ ἕψεται εἴ κεν Ἀχαιοὶ for the glory will be his if we take the city,

416Τρῶας δῃώσωσιν ἕλωσί τε Ἴλιον ἱρήν,

417τούτῳ δʼ αὖ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιῶν δῃωθέντων. and his the shame if we are vanquished.

418ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς. Therefore let us acquit ourselves with valour.”

419ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε·As he spoke he sprang from his chariot,

420δεινὸν δʼ ἔβραχε χαλκὸς ἐπὶ στήθεσσιν ἄνακτος and his armour rang so fiercely about his body that even a brave man might well have been scared to hear it.

421ὀρνυμένου· ὑπό κεν ταλασίφρονά περ δέος εἷλεν.

Lines 422–544

The Armies Clash

The armies meet in battle, and the first deaths fall on both sides as Apollo calls down from Pergamus to rally the faltering Trojans.

422ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐν αἰγιαλῷ πολυηχέϊ κῦμα θαλάσσηςAs when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the west wind has lashed it into fury—

423ὄρνυτʼ ἐπασσύτερον Ζεφύρου ὕπο κινήσαντος·

424πόντῳ μέν τε πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειταit has reared its head afar and now comes crashing down on the shore;

425χέρσῳ ῥηγνύμενον μεγάλα βρέμει, ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἄκρας it bows its arching crest high over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all directions—

426κυρτὸν ἐὸν κορυφοῦται, ἀποπτύει δʼ ἁλὸς ἄχνην·

427ὣς τότʼ ἐπασσύτεραι Δαναῶν κίνυντο φάλαγγεςeven so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans march steadfastly to battle.

428νωλεμέως πόλεμον δέ· κέλευε δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος The chiefs gave orders each to his own people, but the men said never a word;

429ἡγεμόνων· οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι ἀκὴν ἴσαν, οὐδέ κε φαίης no man would think it, for huge as the host was,

430τόσσον λαὸν ἕπεσθαι ἔχοντʼ ἐν στήθεσιν αὐδήν, it seemed as though there was not a tongue among them,

431σιγῇ δειδιότες σημάντορας· ἀμφὶ δὲ πᾶσι so silent were they in their obedience;

432τεύχεα ποικίλʼ ἔλαμπε, τὰ εἱμένοι ἐστιχόωντο. and as they marched the armour about their bodies glistened in the sun.

433Τρῶες δʼ, ὥς τʼ ὄϊες πολυπάμονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν αὐλῇ

434μυρίαι ἑστήκασιν ἀμελγόμεναι γάλα λευκὸν But the clamour of the Trojan ranks was as that of many thousand ewes that stand waiting to be milked in the yards of some rich flock-master,

435ἀζηχὲς μεμακυῖαι ἀκούουσαι ὄπα ἀρνῶν,

436ὣς Τρώων ἀλαλητὸς ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν ὀρώρει· and bleat incessantly in answer to the bleating of their lambs;

437οὐ γὰρ πάντων ἦεν ὁμὸς θρόος οὐδʼ ἴα γῆρυς, for they had not one speech nor language, but their tongues were diverse,

438ἀλλὰ γλῶσσα μέμικτο, πολύκλητοι δʼ ἔσαν ἄνδρες. and they came from many different places.

439ὄρσε δὲ τοὺς μὲν Ἄρης, τοὺς δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη These were inspired of Mars, but the others by Minerva—

440Δεῖμός τʼ ἠδὲ Φόβος καὶ Ἔρις ἄμοτον μεμαυῖα,and with them came Panic, Rout, and Strife whose fury never tires,

441Ἄρεος ἀνδροφόνοιο κασιγνήτη ἑτάρη τε, sister and friend of murderous Mars, who,

442ἥ τʼ ὀλίγη μὲν πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα from being at first but low in stature, grows till she uprears her head to heaven,

443οὐρανῷ ἐστήριξε κάρη καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ βαίνει· though her feet are still on earth.

444ἥ σφιν καὶ τότε νεῖκος ὁμοίϊον ἔμβαλε μέσσῳ She it was that went about among them and flung down discord to the waxing of sorrow with even hand between them.

445ἐρχομένη καθʼ ὅμιλον ὀφέλλουσα στόνον ἀνδρῶν.

446οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐς χῶρον ἕνα ξυνιόντες ἵκοντο,

447σύν ῥʼ ἔβαλον ῥινούς, σὺν δʼ ἔγχεα καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶνWhen they were got together in one place shield clashed with shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle.

448χαλκεοθωρήκων· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι The bossed shields beat one upon another,

449ἔπληντʼ ἀλλήλῃσι, πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει. and there was a tramp as of a great multitude—

450ἔνθα δʼ ἅμʼ οἰμωγή τε καὶ εὐχωλὴ πέλεν ἀνδρῶνdeath-cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers,

451ὀλλύντων τε καὶ ὀλλυμένων, ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα. and the earth ran red with blood.

452ὡς δʼ ὅτε χείμαρροι ποταμοὶ κατʼ ὄρεσφι ῥέοντες As torrents swollen with rain course madly down their deep channels till the angry floods meet in some gorge,

453ἐς μισγάγκειαν συμβάλλετον ὄβριμον ὕδωρ

454κρουνῶν ἐκ μεγάλων κοίλης ἔντοσθε χαράδρης, and the shepherd on the hillside hears their roaring from afar—

455τῶν δέ τε τηλόσε δοῦπον ἐν οὔρεσιν ἔκλυε ποιμήν·

456ὣς τῶν μισγομένων γένετο ἰαχή τε πόνος τε.even such was the toil and uproar of the hosts as they joined in battle.

457πρῶτος δʼ Ἀντίλοχος Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴνFirst Antilochus slew an armed warrior of the Trojans,

458ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι Θαλυσιάδην Ἐχέπωλον· Echepolus, son of Thalysius, fighting in the foremost ranks.

459τόν ῥʼ ἔβαλε πρῶτος κόρυθος φάλον ἱπποδασείης, He struck at the projecting part of his helmet and drove the spear into his brow;

460ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ πῆξε, πέρησε δʼ ἄρʼ ὀστέον εἴσω the point of bronze pierced the bone,

461αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν, and darkness veiled his eyes;

462ἤριπε δʼ ὡς ὅτε πύργος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ. headlong as a tower he fell amid the press of the fight,

463τὸν δὲ πεσόντα ποδῶν ἔλαβε κρείων Ἐλεφήνωρ and as he dropped King Elephenor,

464Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων, son of Chalcodon and captain of the proud Abantes began dragging him out of reach of the darts that were falling around him,

465ἕλκε δʼ ὑπʼ ἐκ βελέων, λελιημένος ὄφρα τάχιστα in haste to strip him of his armour.

466τεύχεα συλήσειε· μίνυνθα δέ οἱ γένεθʼ ὁρμή. But his purpose was not for long;

467νεκρὸν γὰρ ἐρύοντα ἰδὼν μεγάθυμος Ἀγήνωρ Agenor saw him haling the body away,

468πλευρά, τά οἱ κύψαντι παρʼ ἀσπίδος ἐξεφαάνθη, and smote him in the side with his bronze-shod spear—

469οὔτησε ξυστῷ χαλκήρεϊ, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.for as he stooped his side was left unprotected by his shield—

470ὣς τὸν μὲν λίπε θυμός, ἐπʼ αὐτῷ δʼ ἔργον ἐτύχθηand thus he perished. Then the fight between Trojans and Achaeans grew furious over his body,

471ἀργαλέον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ λύκοι ὣς and they flew upon each other like wolves,

472ἀλλήλοις ἐπόρουσαν, ἀνὴρ δʼ ἄνδρʼ ἐδνοπάλιζεν. man and man crushing one upon the other.

473ἔνθʼ ἔβαλʼ Ἀνθεμίωνος υἱὸν Τελαμώνιος ΑἴαςForthwith Ajax, son of Telamon, slew the fair youth Simoeisius,

474ἠΐθεον θαλερὸν Σιμοείσιον, ὅν ποτε μήτηρ son of Anthemion, whom his mother bore by the banks of the Simois,

475Ἴδηθεν κατιοῦσα παρʼ ὄχθῃσιν Σιμόεντος as she was coming down from Mt.

476γείνατʼ, ἐπεί ῥα τοκεῦσιν ἅμʼ ἕσπετο μῆλα ἰδέσθαι· Ida, where she had been with her parents to see their flocks.

477τοὔνεκά μιν κάλεον Σιμοείσιον· οὐδὲ τοκεῦσι Therefore he was named Simoeisius, but he did not live to pay his parents for his rearing,

478θρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼν for he was cut off untimely by the spear of mighty Ajax,

479ἔπλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.

480πρῶτον γάρ μιν ἰόντα βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζὸν who struck him in the breast by the right nipple as he was coming on among the foremost fighters;

481δεξιόν· ἀντικρὺ δὲ διʼ ὤμου χάλκεον ἔγχος the spear went right through his shoulder,

482ἦλθεν· ὁ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι χαμαὶ πέσεν αἴγειρος ὣς and he fell as a poplar that has grown straight and tall in a meadow by some mere,

483ἥ ῥά τʼ ἐν εἱαμενῇ ἕλεος μεγάλοιο πεφύκει and its top is thick with branches.

484λείη, ἀτάρ τέ οἱ ὄζοι ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτῃ πεφύασι·

485τὴν μέν θʼ ἁρματοπηγὸς ἀνὴρ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ Then the wheelwright lays his axe to its roots that he may fashion a felloe for the wheel of some goodly chariot,

486ἐξέταμʼ, ὄφρα ἴτυν κάμψῃ περικαλλέϊ δίφρῳ· and it lies seasoning by the waterside.

487ἣ μέν τʼ ἀζομένη κεῖται ποταμοῖο παρʼ ὄχθας. In such wise did Ajax fell to earth Simoeisius, son of Anthemion.

488τοῖον ἄρʼ Ἀνθεμίδην Σιμοείσιον ἐξενάριξεν Thereon Antiphus of the gleaming corslet, son of Priam,

489Αἴας διογενής· τοῦ δʼ Ἄντιφος αἰολοθώρηξ hurled a spear at Ajax from amid the crowd and missed him,

490Πριαμίδης καθʼ ὅμιλον ἀκόντισεν ὀξέϊ δουρί. but he hit Leucus, the brave comrade of Ulysses,

491τοῦ μὲν ἅμαρθʼ, ὃ δὲ Λεῦκον Ὀδυσσέος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον in the groin, as he was dragging the body of Simoeisius over to the other side;

492βεβλήκει βουβῶνα, νέκυν ἑτέρωσʼ ἐρύοντα· so he fell upon the body and loosed his hold upon it.

493ἤριπε δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ, νεκρὸς δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός. Ulysses was furious when he saw Leucus slain,

494τοῦ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μάλα θυμὸν ἀποκταμένοιο χολώθη, and strode in full armour through the front ranks till he was quite close;

495βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ, then he glared round about him and took aim,

496στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰὼν καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ and the Trojans fell back as he did so.

497ἀμφὶ ἓ παπτήνας· ὑπὸ δὲ Τρῶες κεκάδοντο His dart was not sped in vain, for it struck Democoon,

498ἀνδρὸς ἀκοντίσσαντος· ὃ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἧκεν, the bastard son of Priam, who had come to him from Abydos,

499ἀλλʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο νόθον βάλε Δημοκόωντα where he had charge of his father’s mares. Ulysses,

500ὅς οἱ Ἀβυδόθεν ἦλθε παρʼ ἵππων ὠκειάων. infuriated by the death of his comrade,

501τόν ῥʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἑτάροιο χολωσάμενος βάλε δουρὶ hit him with his spear on one temple,

502κόρσην· ἣ δʼ ἑτέροιο διὰ κροτάφοιο πέρησεν and the bronze point came through on the other side of his forehead.

503αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε, Thereon darkness veiled his eyes,

504δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ. and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Hector,

505χώρησαν δʼ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ· and they that were in front, then gave round while the Argives raised a shout and drew off the dead,

506Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκρούς, pressing further forward as they did so.

507ἴθυσαν δὲ πολὺ προτέρω· νεμέσησε δʼ Ἀπόλλων But Apollo looked down from Pergamus and called aloud to the Trojans,

508Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ κέκλετʼ ἀΰσας· for he was displeased.

509ὄρνυσθʼ ἱππόδαμοι Τρῶες μηδʼ εἴκετε χάρμης “Trojans,” he cried, “rush on the foe,

510Ἀργείοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι λίθος χρὼς οὐδὲ σίδηρος and do not let yourselves be thus beaten by the Argives.

511χαλκὸν ἀνασχέσθαι ταμεσίχροα βαλλομένοισιν· Their skins are not stone nor iron that when you hit them you do them no harm.

512οὐ μὰν οὐδʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Θέτιδος πάϊς ἠϋκόμοιο Moreover, Achilles, the son of lovely Thetis,

513μάρναται, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶ χόλον θυμαλγέα πέσσει. is not fighting, but is nursing his anger at the ships.”

514ὣς φάτʼ ἀπὸ πτόλιος δεινὸς θεός· αὐτὰρ ἈχαιοὺςThus spoke the mighty god, crying to them from the city, while Jove’s redoubtable daughter,

515ὦρσε Διὸς θυγάτηρ κυδίστη Τριτογένεια the Trito-born, went about among the host of the Achaeans,

516ἐρχομένη καθʼ ὅμιλον, ὅθι μεθιέντας ἴδοιτο. and urged them forward whenever she beheld them slackening.

517ἔνθʼ Ἀμαρυγκείδην Διώρεα μοῖρα πέδησε·Then fate fell upon Diores, son of Amarynceus,

518χερμαδίῳ γὰρ βλῆτο παρὰ σφυρὸν ὀκριόεντι for he was struck by a jagged stone near the ancle of his right leg.

519κνήμην δεξιτερήν· βάλε δὲ Θρῃκῶν ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν He that hurled it was Peirous, son of Imbrasus,

520Πείρως Ἰμβρασίδης ὃς ἄρʼ Αἰνόθεν εἰληλούθει. captain of the Thracians, who had come from Aenus;

521ἀμφοτέρω δὲ τένοντε καὶ ὀστέα λᾶας ἀναιδὴς the bones and both the tendons were crushed by the pitiless stone.

522ἄχρις ἀπηλοίησεν· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι He fell to the ground on his back,

523κάππεσεν ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας and in his death-throes stretched out his hands towards his comrades.

524θυμὸν ἀποπνείων· ὃ δʼ ἐπέδραμεν ὅς ῥʼ ἔβαλέν περ But Peirous, who had wounded him,

525Πείροος, οὖτα δὲ δουρὶ παρʼ ὀμφαλόν· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πᾶσαι sprang on him and thrust a spear into his belly, so that his bowels came gushing out upon the ground,

526χύντο χαμαὶ χολάδες, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε. and darkness veiled his eyes.

527τὸν δὲ Θόας Αἰτωλὸς ἀπεσσύμενον βάλε δουρὶ As he was leaving the body, Thoas of Aetolia struck him in the chest near the nipple,

528στέρνον ὑπὲρ μαζοῖο, πάγη δʼ ἐν πνεύμονι χαλκός· and the point fixed itself in his lungs.

529ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Θόας, ἐκ δʼ ὄβριμον ἔγχος Thoas came close up to him, pulled the spear out of his chest,

530ἐσπάσατο στέρνοιο, ἐρύσσατο δὲ ξίφος ὀξύ, and then drawing his sword,

531τῷ ὅ γε γαστέρα τύψε μέσην, ἐκ δʼ αἴνυτο θυμόν. smote him in the middle of the belly so that he died;

532τεύχεα δʼ οὐκ ἀπέδυσε· περίστησαν γὰρ ἑταῖροι but he did not strip him of his armour, for his Thracian comrades,

533Θρήϊκες ἀκρόκομοι δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἔχοντες, men who wear their hair in a tuft at the top of their heads,

534οἵ ἑ μέγαν περ ἐόντα καὶ ἴφθιμον καὶ ἀγαυὸν stood round the body and kept him off with their long spears for all his great stature and valour;

535ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὃ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη. so he was driven back.

536ὣς τώ γʼ ἐν κονίῃσι παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι τετάσθην, Thus the two corpses lay stretched on earth near to one another,

537ἤτοι ὃ μὲν Θρῃκῶν, ὃ δʼ Ἐπειῶν χαλκοχιτώνων the one captain of the Thracians and the other of the Epeans;

538ἡγεμόνες· πολλοὶ δὲ περὶ κτείνοντο καὶ ἄλλοι. and many another fell round them.

539ἔνθά κεν οὐκέτι ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὀνόσαιτο μετελθών,

540ὅς τις ἔτʼ ἄβλητος καὶ ἀνούτατος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷAnd now no man would have made light of the fighting if he could have gone about among it scatheless and unwounded,

541δινεύοι κατὰ μέσσον, ἄγοι δέ ἑ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη with Minerva leading him by the hand,

542χειρὸς ἑλοῦσʼ, αὐτὰρ βελέων ἀπερύκοι ἐρωήν· and protecting him from the storm of spears and arrows.

543πολλοὶ γὰρ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἤματι κείνῳ

544πρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσι παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι τέταντο. For many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay stretched side by side face downwards upon the earth.