Book XIV

Homeric Greek

1Νέστορα δ' οὐκ ἔλαθεν ἰαχὴ πίνοντά περ ἔμπης,

ἀλλ' Ἀσκληπιάδην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

φράζεο δῖε Μαχᾶον ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα:

μείζων δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶ βοὴ θαλερῶν αἰζηῶν.

5ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν πῖνε καθήμενος αἴθοπα οἶνον

Transliteration

1Nestora d' ouk elathen iachē pinonta per empēs,

all' Asklēpiadēn epea pteroenta prosēuda:

phrazeo die Machaon hopōs estai tade erga:

meizōn dē para nēusi boē thalerōn aizēōn.

5alla su men nun pine kathēmenos aithopa oinon

English · Butler

Nestor was sitting over his wine, but the cry of battle did not escape him, and he said to the son of Asklepios, "What, noble Machaon, is the meaning of all this? The shouts of men fighting by our ships grow stronger and stronger; stay here, therefore, and sit over your wine, while fair Hekamede heats you a bath and washes the clotted blood from off you. I will go at

Homeric Greek

εἰς ὅ κε θερμὰ λοετρὰ ἐϋπλόκαμος Ἑκαμήδη

θερμήνῃ καὶ λούσῃ ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα:

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐλθὼν τάχα εἴσομαι ἐς περιωπήν.

ὣς εἰπὼν σάκος εἷλε τετυγμένον υἷος ἑοῖο

10κείμενον ἐν κλισίῃ Θρασυμήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο

Transliteration

eis ho ke therma loetra eüplokamos Hekamēdē

thermēnēi kai lousēi apo broton haimatoenta:

autar egōn elthōn tacha eisomai es periōpēn.

hōs eipōn sakos heile tetugmenon huios heoio

10keimenon en klisiēi Thrasumēdeos hippodamoio

English · Butler

once to the look-out station and see what it is all about." As he spoke he took up the shield of his son Thrasymedes that was lying in his tent, all gleaming with bronze, for Thrasymedes had taken his father's shield; he grasped his redoubtable bronze-shod spear, and as soon as he was outside saw the disastrous rout of the Achaeans who, now that their wall was overthrown, were fleeing pell-mell before the Trojans. As when there is a heavy swell

Homeric Greek

χαλκῷ παμφαῖνον: ὃ δ' ἔχ' ἀσπίδα πατρὸς ἑοῖο.

εἵλετο δ' ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

στῆ δ' ἐκτὸς κλισίης, τάχα δ' εἴσιδεν ἔργον ἀεικὲς

τοὺς μὲν ὀρινομένους, τοὺς δὲ κλονέοντας ὄπισθε

15Τρῶας ὑπερθύμους: ἐρέριπτο δὲ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν.

Transliteration

chalkōi pamphainon: ho d' ech' aspida patros heoio.

heileto d' alkimon enchos akachmenon oxeï chalkōi,

stē d' ektos klisiēs, tacha d' eisiden ergon aeikes

tous men orinomenous, tous de kloneontas opisthe

15Trōas huperthumous: ereripto de teichos Achaiōn.

English · Butler

upon the sea, but the waves are dumb - they keep their eyes on the watch for the quarter whence the fierce winds may spring upon them, but they stay where they are and set

Homeric Greek

ὡς δ' ὅτε πορφύρῃ πέλαγος μέγα κύματι κωφῷ

ὀσσόμενον λιγέων ἀνέμων λαιψηρὰ κέλευθα

αὔτως, οὐδ' ἄρα τε προκυλίνδεται οὐδετέρωσε,

πρίν τινα κεκριμένον καταβήμεναι ἐκ Διὸς οὖρον,

20ὣς ὃ γέρων ὅρμαινε δαϊζόμενος κατὰ θυμὸν

Transliteration

hōs d' hote porphurēi pelagos mega kumati kōphōi

ossomenon ligeōn anemōn laipsēra keleutha

autōs, oud' ara te prokulindetai oudeterōse,

prin tina kekrimenon katabēmenai ek Dios ouron,

20hōs ho gerōn hormaine daïzomenos kata thumon

English · Butler

neither this way nor that, till some particular wind sweeps down from heaven to determine them - even so did the old man ponder whether to make for the crowd of Danaans, or go in search of Agamemnon. In the end he deemed it best to go to the son of Atreus;

Homeric Greek

διχθάδι', ἢ μεθ' ὅμιλον ἴοι Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων,

ἦε μετ' Ἀτρεί̈δην Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι

βῆναι ἐπ' Ἀτρεί̈δην. οἳ δ' ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον

25μαρνάμενοι: λάκε δέ σφι περὶ χροὶ̈ χαλκὸς ἀτειρὴς

Transliteration

dichthadi', ē meth' homilon ioi Danaōn tachupōlōn,

ēe met' Atreïdēn Agamemnona poimena laōn.

hōde de hoi phroneonti doassato kerdion einai

bēnai ep' Atreïdēn. hoi d' allēlous enarizon

25marnamenoi: lake de sphi peri chroï chalkos ateirēs

English · Butler

but meanwhile the hosts were fighting and killing one another, and the hard bronze rattled on their bodies, as they thrust at one another

Homeric Greek

νυσσομένων ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.

Νέστορι δὲ ξύμβληντο διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες

πὰρ νηῶν ἀνιόντες ὅσοι βεβλήατο χαλκῷ

Τυδεί̈δης Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ Ἀτρεί̈δης Ἀγαμέμνων.

30πολλὸν γάρ ῥ' ἀπάνευθε μάχης εἰρύατο νῆες

Transliteration

nussomenōn xiphesin te kai enchesin amphiguoisi.

Nestori de xumblēnto diotrephees basilēes

par nēōn aniontes hosoi beblēato chalkōi

Tudeïdēs Oduseus te kai Atreïdēs Agamemnōn.

30pollon gar rh' apaneuthe machēs eiruato nēes

English · Butler

with their swords and spears. The wounded kings, the son of Tydeus, Odysseus, and Agamemnon son of Atreus, fell in Nestor as they were coming up from their ships - for theirs were drawn up some way from where the fighting was going on, being on the shore itself inasmuch as they had been beached first, while the wall had been built behind the hindermost. The stretch of the shore, wide though it was, did not afford room for all the ships, and the host was

Homeric Greek

θῖν' ἔφ' ἁλὸς πολιῆς: τὰς γὰρ πρώτας πεδίον δὲ

εἴρυσαν, αὐτὰρ τεῖχος ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσιν ἔδειμαν.

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδ' εὐρύς περ ἐὼν ἐδυνήσατο πάσας

αἰγιαλὸς νῆας χαδέειν, στείνοντο δὲ λαοί:

35τώ ῥα προκρόσσας ἔρυσαν, καὶ πλῆσαν ἁπάσης

Transliteration

thin' eph' halos poliēs: tas gar prōtas pedion de

eirusan, autar teichos epi prumnēisin edeiman.

oude gar oud' eurus per eōn edunēsato pasas

aigialos nēas chadeein, steinonto de laoi:

35tō rha prokrossas erusan, kai plēsan hapasēs

English · Butler

cramped for space, therefore they had placed the ships in rows one behind the other, and had filled the whole opening of the bay between the two points that formed it. The kings, leaning on their spears, were coming out to survey the fight, being

Homeric Greek

ἠϊόνος στόμα μακρόν, ὅσον συνεέργαθον ἄκραι.

τώ ῥ' οἵ γ' ὀψείοντες ἀϋτῆς καὶ πολέμοιο

ἔγχει ἐρειδόμενοι κίον ἀθρόοι: ἄχνυτο δέ σφι

θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν. ὃ δὲ ξύμβλητο γεραιὸς

40Νέστωρ, πτῆξε δὲ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

Transliteration

ēïonos stoma makron, hoson suneergathon akrai.

tō rh' hoi g' opseiontes aütēs kai polemoio

enchei ereidomenoi kion athrooi: achnuto de sphi

thumos eni stēthessin. ho de xumblēto geraios

40Nestōr, ptēxe de thumon eni stēthessin Achaiōn.

English · Butler

in great anxiety, and when old Nestor met them they were filled with dismay. Then King Agamemnon said to him, "Nestor son of Neleus, honor to the Achaean name, why have you left the battle to come hither? I fear that what dread Hektor said will come true,

Homeric Greek

τὸν καὶ φωνήσας προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων:

ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν

τίπτε λιπὼν πόλεμον φθισήνορα δεῦρ' ἀφικάνεις;

δείδω μὴ δή μοι τελέσῃ ἔπος ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ,

45ὥς ποτ' ἐπηπείλησεν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσ' ἀγορεύων

Transliteration

ton kai phōnēsas prosephē kreiōn Agamemnōn:

ō Nestor Nēlēïadē mega kudos Achaiōn

tipte lipōn polemon phthisēnora deur' aphikaneis;

deidō mē dē moi telesēi epos obrimos Hektōr,

45hōs pot' epēpeilēsen eni Trōess' agoreuōn

English · Butler

when he vaunted among the Trojans saying that he would not return to Ilion till he had fired our ships and killed us; this is what he said, and now it is all coming true. Alas!

Homeric Greek

μὴ πρὶν πὰρ νηῶν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονέεσθαι

πρὶν πυρὶ νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι, κτεῖναι δὲ καὶ αὐτούς.

κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε: τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.

ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

50ἐν θυμῷ βάλλονται ἐμοὶ χόλον ὥς περ Ἀχιλλεὺς

Transliteration

mē prin par nēōn proti Ilion aponeesthai

prin puri nēas eniprēsai, kteinai de kai autous.

keinos tōs agoreue: ta dē nun panta teleitai.

ō popoi ē rha kai alloi eüknēmides Achaioi

50en thumōi ballontai emoi cholon hōs per Achilleus

English · Butler

others of the Achaeans, like Achilles, are in anger with me that they refuse to fight by the sterns

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ἐθέλουσι μάχεσθαι ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσι.

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ:

ἦ δὴ ταῦτά γ' ἑτοῖμα τετεύχαται, οὐδέ κεν ἄλλως

Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης αὐτὸς παρατεκτήναιτο.

55τεῖχος μὲν γὰρ δὴ κατερήριπεν, ᾧ ἐπέπιθμεν

Transliteration

oud' ethelousi machesthai epi prumnēisi neessi.

ton d' ēmeibet' epeita Gerēnios hippota Nestōr:

ē dē tauta g' hetoima teteuchatai, oude ken allōs

Zeus hupsibremetēs autos paratektēnaito.

55teichos men gar dē katerēripen, hōi epepithmen

English · Butler

of our ships." Then Nestor horseman of Gerene answered, "It is indeed as you say; it is all coming true at this moment, and even Zeus who thunders from on high cannot prevent it. Fallen is the wall on which we relied as an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet. The Trojans are fighting stubbornly and without ceasing at the ships; look where you may you cannot see from what quarter the rout of the Achaeans is coming;

Homeric Greek

ἄρρηκτον νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν εἶλαρ ἔσεσθαι:

οἳ δ' ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσι μάχην ἀλίαστον ἔχουσι

νωλεμές: οὐδ' ἂν ἔτι γνοίης μάλα περ σκοπιάζων

ὁπποτέρωθεν Ἀχαιοὶ ὀρινόμενοι κλονέονται,

60ὡς ἐπιμὶξ κτείνονται, ἀϋτὴ δ' οὐρανὸν ἵκει.

Transliteration

arrēkton nēōn te kai autōn eilar esesthai:

hoi d' epi nēusi thoēisi machēn aliaston echousi

nōlemes: oud' an eti gnoiēs mala per skopiazōn

hoppoterōthen Achaioi orinomenoi kloneontai,

60hōs epimix kteinontai, aütē d' ouranon hikei.

English · Butler

they are being killed in a confused mass and the battle-cry ascends to heaven; let us think, if counsel can be of any use, what we had better do; but I do not advise our going into battle

Homeric Greek

ἡμεῖς δὲ φραζώμεθ' ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα

εἴ τι νόος ῥέξει: πόλεμον δ' οὐκ ἄμμε κελεύω

δύμεναι: οὐ γάρ πως βεβλημένον ἐστὶ μάχεσθαι.

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων:

65Νέστορ ἐπεὶ δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσι μάχονται,

Transliteration

hēmeis de phrazōmeth' hopōs estai tade erga

ei ti noos rhexei: polemon d' ouk amme keleuō

dumenai: ou gar pōs beblēmenon esti machesthai.

ton d' aute proseeipen anax andrōn Agamemnōn:

65Nestor epei dē nēusin epi prumnēisi machontai,

English · Butler

ourselves, for a man cannot fight when he is wounded." And King Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, if the Trojans are indeed fighting at the rear of our ships, and neither the wall nor the trench has served us - over which the Danaans toiled so hard, and which they deemed would be an impregnable bulwark both for us and our fleet - I see it must be the will of Zeus that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here, far from Argos. I knew when Zeus was willing to defend

Homeric Greek

τεῖχος δ' οὐκ ἔχραισμε τετυγμένον, οὐδέ τι τάφρος,

ᾗ ἔπι πολλὰ πάθον Δαναοί, ἔλποντο δὲ θυμῷ

ἄρρηκτον νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν εἶλαρ ἔσεσθαι:

οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ὑπερμενέϊ φίλον εἶναι

70νωνύμνους ἀπολέσθαι ἀπ' Ἄργεος ἐνθάδ' Ἀχαιούς.

Transliteration

teichos d' ouk echraisme tetugmenon, oude ti taphros,

hēi epi polla pathon Danaoi, elponto de thumōi

arrēkton nēōn te kai autōn eilar esesthai:

houtō pou Dii mellei hupermeneï philon einai

70nōnumnous apolesthai ap' Argeos enthad' Achaious.

English · Butler

us, and I know now that he is raising the Trojans to like honor with the gods, while us, on the other hand, he bas bound hand and foot. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us bring down the ships that are on the beach and draw them into the water;

Homeric Greek

ᾔδεα μὲν γὰρ ὅτε πρόφρων Δαναοῖσιν ἄμυνεν,

οἶδα δὲ νῦν ὅτε τοὺς μὲν ὁμῶς μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι

κυδάνει, ἡμέτερον δὲ μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἔδησεν.

ἀλλ' ἄγεθ' ὡς ἂν ἐγὼν εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες.

75νῆες ὅσαι πρῶται εἰρύαται ἄγχι θαλάσσης

Transliteration

ēidea men gar hote prophrōn Danaoisin amunen,

oida de nun hote tous men homōs makaressi theoisi

kudanei, hēmeteron de menos kai cheiras edēsen.

all' ageth' hōs an egōn eipō peithōmetha pantes.

75nēes hosai prōtai eiruatai anchi thalassēs

English · Butler

let us make them fast to their mooring-stones a little way out, against the fall of night - if even by night the Trojans will desist from fighting; we may then draw down the rest of the fleet. There is no sense of nemesis in fleeing ruin even by night.

Homeric Greek

ἕλκωμεν, πάσας δὲ ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,

ὕψι δ' ἐπ' εὐνάων ὁρμίσσομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθῃ

νὺξ ἀβρότη, ἢν καὶ τῇ ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιο

Τρῶες: ἔπειτα δέ κεν ἐρυσαίμεθα νῆας ἁπάσας.

80οὐ γάρ τις νέμεσις φυγέειν κακόν, οὐδ' ἀνὰ νύκτα.

Transliteration

helkōmen, pasas de erussomen eis hala dian,

hupsi d' ep' eunaōn hormissomen, eis ho ken elthēi

nux abrotē, ēn kai tēi aposchōntai polemoio

Trōes: epeita de ken erusaimetha nēas hapasas.

80ou gar tis nemesis phugeein kakon, oud' ana nukta.

English · Butler

It is better for a man that he should flee and be saved than be

Homeric Greek

βέλτερον ὃς φεύγων προφύγῃ κακὸν ἠὲ ἁλώῃ.

τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς:

Ἀτρεί̈δη ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων:

οὐλόμεν' αἴθ' ὤφελλες ἀεικελίου στρατοῦ ἄλλου

85σημαίνειν, μὴ δ' ἄμμιν ἀνασσέμεν, οἷσιν ἄρα Ζεὺς

Transliteration

belteron hos pheugōn prophugēi kakon ēe halōēi.

ton d' ar' hupodra idōn prosephē polumētis Odusseus:

Atreïdē poion se epos phugen herkos odontōn:

oulomen' aith' ōphelles aeikeliou stratou allou

85sēmainein, mē d' ammin anassemen, hoisin ara Zeus

English · Butler

caught and killed." Odysseus looked fiercely at him and said, "Son of Atreus, what are you talking about? Wretch, you should have commanded some other and baser army, and not been ruler over us to whom Zeus has allotted a life of hard fighting from youth to old age, till we every one of us perish.

Homeric Greek

ἐκ νεότητος ἔδωκε καὶ ἐς γῆρας τολυπεύειν

ἀργαλέους πολέμους, ὄφρα φθιόμεσθα ἕκαστος.

οὕτω δὴ μέμονας Τρώων πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν

καλλείψειν, ἧς εἵνεκ' ὀϊζύομεν κακὰ πολλά;

90σίγα, μή τίς τ' ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν τοῦτον ἀκούσῃ

Transliteration

ek neotētos edōke kai es gēras tolupeuein

argaleous polemous, ophra phthiomestha hekastos.

houtō dē memonas Trōōn polin euruaguian

kalleipsein, hēs heinek' oïzuomen kaka polla;

90siga, mē tis t' allos Achaiōn touton akousēi

English · Butler

Is it thus that you would quit the city of Troy, to win which we have suffered so much hardship? Hold your peace, lest some other of the Achaeans hear you say what no man who knows how to give good counsel, no king over so great a host as that of the Argives should ever have let fall from his lips.

Homeric Greek

μῦθον, ὃν οὔ κεν ἀνήρ γε διὰ στόμα πάμπαν ἄγοιτο

ὅς τις ἐπίσταιτο ᾗσι φρεσὶν ἄρτια βάζειν

σκηπτοῦχός τ' εἴη, καί οἱ πειθοίατο λαοὶ

τοσσοίδ' ὅσσοισιν σὺ μετ' Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάσσεις:

95νῦν δέ σευ ὠνοσάμην πάγχυ φρένας, οἷον ἔειπες:

Transliteration

muthon, hon ou ken anēr ge dia stoma pampan agoito

hos tis epistaito hēisi phresin artia bazein

skēptouchos t' eiē, kai hoi peithoiato laoi

tossoid' hossoisin su met' Argeioisin anasseis:

95nun de seu ōnosamēn panchu phrenas, hoion eeipes:

English · Butler

I despise your judgment utterly for what you have been saying. Would you, then, have us draw down our ships into the water while the battle is raging, and thus play further into the hands of the conquering Trojans? It would be ruin;

Homeric Greek

ὃς κέλεαι πολέμοιο συνεσταότος καὶ ἀϋτῆς

νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἅλαδ' ἑλκέμεν, ὄφρ' ἔτι μᾶλλον

Τρωσὶ μὲν εὐκτὰ γένηται ἐπικρατέουσί περ ἔμπης,

ἡμῖν δ' αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος ἐπιρρέπῃ. οὐ γὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

100σχήσουσιν πόλεμον νηῶν ἅλα δ' ἑλκομενάων,

Transliteration

hos keleai polemoio sunestaotos kai aütēs

nēas eüsselmous halad' helkemen, ophr' eti mallon

Trōsi men eukta genētai epikrateousi per empēs,

hēmin d' aipus olethros epirrepēi. ou gar Achaioi

100schēsousin polemon nēōn hala d' helkomenaōn,

English · Butler

the Achaeans will not go on fighting when they see the ships being drawn into the water, but will cease attacking and keep turning their eyes towards them; your counsel, therefore,

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἀποπαπτανέουσιν, ἐρωήσουσι δὲ χάρμης.

ἔνθά κε σὴ βουλὴ δηλήσεται ὄρχαμε λαῶν.

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων:

ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ μάλα πώς με καθίκεο θυμὸν ἐνιπῇ

105ἀργαλέῃ: ἀτὰρ οὐ μὲν ἐγὼν ἀέκοντας ἄνωγα

Transliteration

all' apopaptaneousin, erōēsousi de charmēs.

entha ke sē boulē dēlēsetai orchame laōn.

ton d' ēmeibet' epeita anax andrōn Agamemnōn:

ō Oduseu mala pōs me kathikeo thumon enipēi

105argaleēi: atar ou men egōn aekontas anōga

English · Butler

Sir leader, would be our destruction." Agamemnon answered, "Odysseus, your rebuke has stung me to the heart. I am not, however, ordering the Achaeans to draw their ships into the sea whether they will or no. Some one, it may be,

Homeric Greek

νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἅλα δ' ἑλκέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

νῦν δ' εἴη ὃς τῆσδέ γ' ἀμείνονα μῆτιν ἐνίσποι

ἢ νέος ἠὲ παλαιός: ἐμοὶ δέ κεν ἀσμένῳ εἴη.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης:

110ἐγγὺς ἀνήρ: οὐ δηθὰ ματεύσομεν: αἴ κ' ἐθέλητε

Transliteration

nēas eüsselmous hala d' helkemen huias Achaiōn.

nun d' eiē hos tēsde g' ameinona mētin enispoi

ē neos ēe palaios: emoi de ken asmenōi eiē.

toisi de kai meteeipe boēn agathos Diomēdēs:

110engus anēr: ou dētha mateusomen: ai k' ethelēte

English · Butler

old or young, can offer us better counsel which I shall rejoice to hear." Then said Diomedes, "Such an one is at hand; he is not far to seek, if you will listen to me and not resent my speaking though I am younger than any of you. I am by lineage son to a noble sire, Tydeus, who lies buried at Thebes.

Homeric Greek

πείθεσθαι, καὶ μή τι κότῳ ἀγάσησθε ἕκαστος

οὕνεκα δὴ γενεῆφι νεώτατός εἰμι μεθ' ὑμῖν:

πατρὸς δ' ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ καὶ ἐγὼ γένος εὔχομαι εἶναι

Τυδέος, ὃν Θήβῃσι χυτὴ κατὰ γαῖα καλύπτει.

115πορθεῖ γὰρ τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονες ἐξεγένοντο,

Transliteration

peithesthai, kai mē ti kotōi agasēsthe hekastos

houneka dē geneēphi neōtatos eimi meth' humin:

patros d' ex agathou kai egō genos euchomai einai

Tudeos, hon Thēbēisi chutē kata gaia kaluptei.

115porthei gar treis paides amumones exegenonto,

English · Butler

For Portheus had three noble sons, two of whom, Agrios and Melas, abode in Pleuron and rocky Calydon. The third was the horseman Oeneus, my father's father, and he was the most valor of them all. Oeneus remained in his own country, but my father (as Zeus and the other gods ordained it) migrated to Argos. He married into the family of Adrastos, and his house was one of great

Homeric Greek

οἴκεον δ' ἐν Πλευρῶνι καὶ αἰπεινῇ Καλυδῶνι

Ἄγριος ἠδὲ Μέλας, τρίτατος δ' ἦν ἱππότα Οἰνεὺς

πατρὸς ἐμοῖο πατήρ: ἀρετῇ δ' ἦν ἔξοχος αὐτῶν.

ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν αὐτόθι μεῖνε, πατὴρ δ' ἐμὸς Ἄργεϊ νάσθη

120πλαγχθείς: ὡς γάρ που Ζεὺς ἤθελε καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

Transliteration

oikeon d' en Pleurōni kai aipeinēi Kaludōni

Agrios ēde Melas, tritatos d' ēn hippota Oineus

patros emoio patēr: aretēi d' ēn exochos autōn.

all' ho men autothi meine, patēr d' emos Argeï nasthē

120planchtheis: hōs gar pou Zeus ēthele kai theoi alloi.

English · Butler

abundance, for he had large estates of fertile grain-growing land, with much orchard ground as well, and he had many sheep; moreover he excelled all the Argives in the use of the spear. You must yourselves have heard whether these things are true or no; therefore when I say well despise

Homeric Greek

Ἀδρήστοιο δ' ἔγημε θυγατρῶν, ναῖε δὲ δῶμα

ἀφνειὸν βιότοιο, ἅλις δέ οἱ ἦσαν ἄρουραι

πυροφόροι, πολλοὶ δὲ φυτῶν ἔσαν ὄρχατοι ἀμφίς,

πολλὰ δέ οἱ πρόβατ' ἔσκε: κέκαστο δὲ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς

125ἐγχείῃ: τὰ δὲ μέλλετ' ἀκουέμεν, εἰ ἐτεόν περ.

Transliteration

Adrēstoio d' egēme thugatrōn, naie de dōma

aphneion biotoio, halis de hoi ēsan arourai

purophoroi, polloi de phutōn esan orchatoi amphis,

polla de hoi probat' eske: kekasto de pantas Achaious

125encheiēi: ta de mellet' akouemen, ei eteon per.

English · Butler

not my words as though I were a coward or of ignoble birth. I say, then, let us go to the fight as we needs must, wounded though we be. When there, we may keep out of the battle and beyond the range of

Homeric Greek

τὼ οὐκ ἄν με γένος γε κακὸν καὶ ἀνάλκιδα φάντες

μῦθον ἀτιμήσαιτε πεφασμένον ὅν κ' ἐὺ̈ εἴπω.

δεῦτ' ἴομεν πόλεμον δὲ καὶ οὐτάμενοί περ ἀνάγκῃ.

ἔνθα δ' ἔπειτ' αὐτοὶ μὲν ἐχώμεθα δηϊοτῆτος

130ἐκ βελέων, μή πού τις ἐφ' ἕλκεϊ ἕλκος ἄρηται:

Transliteration

tō ouk an me genos ge kakon kai analkida phantes

muthon atimēsaite pephasmenon hon k' eü eipō.

deut' iomen polemon de kai outamenoi per anankēi.

entha d' epeit' autoi men echōmetha dēïotētos

130ek beleōn, mē pou tis eph' helkeï helkos arētai:

English · Butler

the spears lest we get fresh wounds in addition to what we have already, but we can spur on others, who have been

Homeric Greek

ἄλλους δ' ὀτρύνοντες ἐνήσομεν, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

θυμῷ ἦρα φέροντες ἀφεστᾶσ' οὐδὲ μάχονται.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο:

βὰν δ' ἴμεν, ἦρχε δ' ἄρά σφιν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.

135οὐδ' ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος,

Transliteration

allous d' otrunontes enēsomen, hoi to paros per

thumōi ēra pherontes aphestas' oude machontai.

hōs ephath', hoi d' ara tou mala men kluon ēde pithonto:

ban d' imen, ērche d' ara sphin anax andrōn Agamemnōn.

135oud' alaoskopiēn eiche klutos ennosigaios,

English · Butler

indulging their spleen and holding aloof from battle hitherto." Thus did he speak; whereon they did even as he had said and set out, King Agamemnon leading the way. Meanwhile Poseidon had kept no blind look-out, and came up to them in the semblance of an old man.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ μετ' αὐτοὺς ἦλθε παλαιῷ φωτὶ ἐοικώς,

δεξιτερὴν δ' ἕλε χεῖρ' Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεί̈δαο,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

Ἀτρεί̈δη νῦν δή που Ἀχιλλῆος ὀλοὸν κῆρ

140γηθεῖ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φόνον καὶ φύζαν Ἀχαιῶν

Transliteration

alla met' autous ēlthe palaiōi phōti eoikōs,

dexiterēn d' hele cheir' Agamemnonos Atreïdao,

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

Atreïdē nun dē pou Achillēos oloon kēr

140gēthei eni stēthessi phonon kai phuzan Achaiōn

English · Butler

Meanwhile Poseidon had kept no blind look-out, and came up to them in the semblance of an old man. He took Agamemnon's right hand in his own and said, "Son of Atreus, I take it Achilles is glad now that he sees the Achaeans routed and slain, for he is utterly without remorse - may he come to a bad end and heaven confound him.

Homeric Greek

δερκομένῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ οἱ ἔνι φρένες οὐδ' ἠβαιαί.

ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν ὣς ἀπόλοιτο, θεὸς δέ ἑ σιφλώσειε:

σοὶ δ' οὔ πω μάλα πάγχυ θεοὶ μάκαρες κοτέουσιν,

ἀλλ' ἔτι που Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

145εὐρὺ κονίσουσιν πεδίον, σὺ δ' ἐπόψεαι αὐτὸς

Transliteration

derkomenōi, epei ou hoi eni phrenes oud' ēbaiai.

all' ho men hōs apoloito, theos de he siphlōseie:

soi d' ou pō mala panchu theoi makares koteousin,

all' eti pou Trōōn hēgētores ēde medontes

145euru konisousin pedion, su d' epopseai autos

English · Butler

As for yourself, the blessed gods are not yet so bitterly angry with you but that the princes and counselors of the Trojans shall again raise the dust upon the plain, and you shall see them fleeing from

Homeric Greek

φεύγοντας προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.

ὣς εἰπὼν μέγ' ἄϋσεν ἐπεσσύμενος πεδίοιο.

ὅσσόν τ' ἐννεάχιλοι ἐπίαχον ἢ δεκάχιλοι

ἀνέρες ἐν πολέμῳ ἔριδα ξυνάγοντες Ἄρηος,

150τόσσην ἐκ στήθεσφιν ὄπα κρείων ἐνοσίχθων

Transliteration

pheugontas proti astu neōn apo kai klisiaōn.

hōs eipōn meg' aüsen epessumenos pedioio.

hosson t' enneachiloi epiachon ē dekachiloi

aneres en polemōi erida xunagontes Arēos,

150tossēn ek stēthesphin opa kreiōn enosichthōn

English · Butler

the ships and tents towards their city." With this he raised a mighty cry of battle, and sped forward to the plain. The voice that came from his deep chest was as that of nine or ten thousand men when they are shouting in the thick of a fight,

Homeric Greek

ἧκεν: Ἀχαιοῖσιν δὲ μέγα σθένος ἔμβαλ' ἑκάστῳ

καρδίῃ, ἄληκτον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.

Ἥρη δ' εἰσεῖδε χρυσόθρονος ὀφθαλμοῖσι

στᾶσ' ἐξ Οὐλύμποιο ἀπὸ ῥίου: αὐτίκα δ' ἔγνω

155τὸν μὲν ποιπνύοντα μάχην ἀνὰ κυδιάνειραν

Transliteration

hēken: Achaioisin de mega sthenos embal' hekastōi

kardiēi, alēkton polemizein ēde machesthai.

Hērē d' eiseide chrusothronos ophthalmoisi

stas' ex Oulumpoio apo rhiou: autika d' egnō

155ton men poipnuonta machēn ana kudianeiran

English · Butler

and it put fresh courage into the hearts of the Achaeans to wage war and do battle without ceasing. Hera of the golden throne looked down as she stood upon a peak of Olympus and her heart was gladdened at the sight of him who was at once her brother and her brother-in-law, hurrying hither and thither amid the fighting. Then she turned her eyes to Zeus as he sat on the topmost crests of many-fountained Ida, and loathed him.

Homeric Greek

αὐτοκασίγνητον καὶ δαέρα, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ:

Ζῆνα δ' ἐπ' ἀκροτάτης κορυφῆς πολυπίδακος Ἴδης

ἥμενον εἰσεῖδε, στυγερὸς δέ οἱ ἔπλετο θυμῷ.

μερμήριξε δ' ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη

160ὅππως ἐξαπάφοιτο Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο:

Transliteration

autokasignēton kai daera, chaire de thumōi:

Zēna d' ep' akrotatēs koruphēs polupidakos Idēs

hēmenon eiseide, stugeros de hoi epleto thumōi.

mermērixe d' epeita boōpis potnia Hērē

160hoppōs exapaphoito Dios noon aigiochoio:

English · Butler

She set herself to think how she might trick his thinking, and in the end she deemed that it would be best for her to go to Ida and array herself in rich attire, in

Homeric Greek

ἥδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλὴ

ἐλθεῖν εἰς Ἴδην εὖ ἐντύνασαν ἓ αὐτήν,

εἴ πως ἱμείραιτο παραδραθέειν φιλότητι

ᾗ χροιῇ, τῷ δ' ὕπνον ἀπήμονά τε λιαρόν τε

165χεύῃ ἐπὶ βλεφάροισιν ἰδὲ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι.

Transliteration

hēde de hoi kata thumon aristē phaineto boulē

elthein eis Idēn eu entunasan he autēn,

ei pōs himeiraito paradratheein philotēti

hēi chroiēi, tōi d' hupnon apēmona te liaron te

165cheuēi epi blepharoisin ide phresi peukalimēisi.

English · Butler

the hope that Zeus might become enamored of her, and wish to embrace her. While he was thus engaged a sweet and careless sleep might be made to steal over his eyes and senses.

Homeric Greek

βῆ δ' ἴμεν ἐς θάλαμον, τόν οἱ φίλος υἱὸς ἔτευξεν

Ἥφαιστος, πυκινὰς δὲ θύρας σταθμοῖσιν ἐπῆρσε

κληῖ̈δι κρυπτῇ, τὴν δ' οὐ θεὸς ἄλλος ἀνῷγεν:

ἔνθ' ἥ γ' εἰσελθοῦσα θύρας ἐπέθηκε φαεινάς.

170ἀμβροσίῃ μὲν πρῶτον ἀπὸ χροὸς ἱμερόεντος

Transliteration

bē d' imen es thalamon, ton hoi philos huios eteuxen

Hēphaistos, pukinas de thuras stathmoisin epērse

klēïdi kruptēi, tēn d' ou theos allos anōigen:

enth' hē g' eiselthousa thuras epethēke phaeinas.

170ambrosiēi men prōton apo chroos himeroentos

English · Butler

She went, therefore, to the room which her son Hephaistos had made her, and the doors of which he had cunningly fastened by means of a secret key so that no other god could open them. Here she entered and closed the doors behind her. She cleansed all the dirt from her fair body with ambrosia, then she anointed herself with olive oil, ambrosial, very soft, and scented specially for herself -

Homeric Greek

λύματα πάντα κάθηρεν, ἀλείψατο δὲ λίπ' ἐλαίῳ

ἀμβροσίῳ ἑδανῷ, τό ῥά οἱ τεθυωμένον ἦεν:

τοῦ καὶ κινυμένοιο Διὸς κατὰ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ

ἔμπης ἐς γαῖάν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἵκετ' ἀϋτμή.

175τῷ ῥ' ἥ γε χρόα καλὸν ἀλειψαμένη ἰδὲ χαίτας

Transliteration

lumata panta kathēren, aleipsato de lip' elaiōi

ambrosiōi hedanōi, to rha hoi tethuōmenon ēen:

tou kai kinumenoio Dios kata chalkobates dō

empēs es gaian te kai ouranon hiket' aütmē.

175tōi rh' hē ge chroa kalon aleipsamenē ide chaitas

English · Butler

if it were so much as shaken in the bronze-floored house of Zeus, the scent pervaded the universe of heaven and earth. With this she anointed her delicate skin, and then she plaited the fair ambrosial locks that flowed in a stream of golden tresses from her immortal head. She put on the wondrous robe which

Homeric Greek

πεξαμένη χερσὶ πλοκάμους ἔπλεξε φαεινοὺς

καλοὺς ἀμβροσίους ἐκ κράατος ἀθανάτοιο.

ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' ἀμβρόσιον ἑανὸν ἕσαθ', ὅν οἱ Ἀθήνη

ἔξυσ' ἀσκήσασα, τίθει δ' ἐνὶ δαίδαλα πολλά:

180χρυσείῃς δ' ἐνετῇσι κατὰ στῆθος περονᾶτο.

Transliteration

pexamenē chersi plokamous eplexe phaeinous

kalous ambrosious ek kraatos athanatoio.

amphi d' ar' ambrosion heanon hesath', hon hoi Athēnē

exus' askēsasa, tithei d' eni daidala polla:

180chruseiēis d' enetēisi kata stēthos peronato.

English · Butler

Athena had worked for her with consummate art, and had embroidered with manifold devices; she fastened it about her bosom with golden clasps, and she girded herself with a girdle that had a hundred tassels: then she fastened her earrings, three brilliant

Homeric Greek

ζώσατο δὲ ζώνῃ ἑκατὸν θυσάνοις ἀραρυίῃ,

ἐν δ' ἄρα ἕρματα ἧκεν ἐϋτρήτοισι λοβοῖσι

τρίγληνα μορόεντα: χάρις δ' ἀπελάμπετο πολλή.

κρηδέμνῳ δ' ἐφύπερθε καλύψατο δῖα θεάων

185καλῷ νηγατέῳ: λευκὸν δ' ἦν ἠέλιος ὥς:

Transliteration

zōsato de zōnēi hekaton thusanois araruiēi,

en d' ara hermata hēken eütrētoisi loboisi

triglēna moroenta: charis d' apelampeto pollē.

krēdemnōi d' ephuperthe kalupsato dia theaōn

185kalōi nēgateōi: leukon d' ēn ēelios hōs:

English · Butler

pendants with much charm radiating from them, through the pierced lobes of her ears, and threw a lovely new veil over her head. She bound her sandals on to her feet, and when she had finished making herself up

Homeric Greek

ποσσὶ δ' ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα περὶ χροὶ̈ θήκατο κόσμον

βῆ ῥ' ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο, καλεσσαμένη δ' Ἀφροδίτην

τῶν ἄλλων ἀπάνευθε θεῶν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε:

190ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο φίλον τέκος ὅττί κεν εἴπω,

Transliteration

possi d' hupo liparoisin edēsato kala pedila.

autar epei dē panta peri chroï thēkato kosmon

bē rh' imen ek thalamoio, kalessamenē d' Aphroditēn

tōn allōn apaneuthe theōn pros muthon eeipe:

190ē rha nu moi ti pithoio philon tekos hotti ken eipō,

English · Butler

in perfect order, she left her room and called Aphrodite to come aside and speak to her. "My dear child," said she, "will you do what I am going to ask of you, or will refuse me because you are angry

Homeric Greek

ἦέ κεν ἀρνήσαιο κοτεσσαμένη τό γε θυμῷ,

οὕνεκ' ἐγὼ Δαναοῖσι, σὺ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγεις;

τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη:

Ἥρη πρέσβα θεὰ θύγατερ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο

195αὔδα ὅ τι φρονέεις: τελέσαι δέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν,

Transliteration

ēe ken arnēsaio kotessamenē to ge thumōi,

hounek' egō Danaoisi, su de Trōessin arēgeis;

tēn d' ēmeibet' epeita Dios thugatēr Aphroditē:

Hērē presba thea thugater megaloio Kronoio

195auda ho ti phroneeis: telesai de me thumos anōgen,

English · Butler

at my being on the Danaan side, while you are on the Trojan?" Zeus' daughter Aphrodite answered, "Hera, august queen of goddesses, daughter of mighty Kronos, say what you want, and I will do it for at once, if I

Homeric Greek

εἰ δύναμαι τελέσαι γε καὶ εἰ τετελεσμένον ἐστίν.

τὴν δὲ δολοφρονέουσα προσηύδα πότνια Ἥρη:

δὸς νῦν μοι φιλότητα καὶ ἵμερον, ᾧ τε σὺ πάντας

δαμνᾷ ἀθανάτους ἠδὲ θνητοὺς ἀνθρώπους.

200εἶμι γὰρ ὀψομένη πολυφόρβου πείρατα γαίης,

Transliteration

ei dunamai telesai ge kai ei tetelesmenon estin.

tēn de dolophroneousa prosēuda potnia Hērē:

dos nun moi philotēta kai himeron, hōi te su pantas

damnāi athanatous ēde thnētous anthrōpous.

200eimi gar opsomenē poluphorbou peirata gaiēs,

English · Butler

can, and if it can be done at all." Then Hera told her a lying tale and said, "I want you to endow me with some of those fascinating charms, the spells of which bring all things mortal and immortal to your feet. I am going to the world's end to visit Okeanos (from whom all we gods proceed) and mother Tethys: they received me in their house, took care of me, and brought me up, having taken

Homeric Greek

Ὠκεανόν τε θεῶν γένεσιν καὶ μητέρα Τηθύν,

οἵ μ' ἐν σφοῖσι δόμοισιν ἐὺ̈ τρέφον ἠδ' ἀτίταλλον

δεξάμενοι Ῥείας, ὅτε τε Κρόνον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

γαίης νέρθε καθεῖσε καὶ ἀτρυγέτοιο θαλάσσης:

205τοὺς εἶμ' ὀψομένη, καί σφ' ἄκριτα νείκεα λύσω:

Transliteration

Ōkeanon te theōn genesin kai mētera Tēthun,

hoi m' en sphoisi domoisin eü trephon ēd' atitallon

dexamenoi Rheias, hote te Kronon euruopa Zeus

gaiēs nerthe katheise kai atrugetoio thalassēs:

205tous eim' opsomenē, kai sph' akrita neikea lusō:

English · Butler

me over from Rhaea when Zeus imprisoned great Kronos in the depths that are under earth and sea. I must go and see them that I may make peace between them; they have been quarreling, and are so angry that they have not slept with one another this long while; if I can bring

Homeric Greek

ἤδη γὰρ δηρὸν χρόνον ἀλλήλων ἀπέχονται

εὐνῆς καὶ φιλότητος, ἐπεὶ χόλος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.

εἰ κείνω ἐπέεσσι παραιπεπιθοῦσα φίλον κῆρ

εἰς εὐνὴν ἀνέσαιμι ὁμωθῆναι φιλότητι,

210αἰεί κέ σφι φίλη τε καὶ αἰδοίη καλεοίμην.

Transliteration

ēdē gar dēron chronon allēlōn apechontai

eunēs kai philotētos, epei cholos empese thumōi.

ei keinō epeessi paraipepithousa philon kēr

eis eunēn anesaimi homōthēnai philotēti,

210aiei ke sphi philē te kai aidoiē kaleoimēn.

English · Butler

them round and restore them to one another's embraces, they will be grateful to me and love me for ever afterwards."

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε φιλομειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη:

οὐκ ἔστ' οὐδὲ ἔοικε τεὸν ἔπος ἀρνήσασθαι:

Ζηνὸς γὰρ τοῦ ἀρίστου ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἰαύεις.

ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στήθεσφιν ἐλύσατο κεστὸν ἱμάντα

215ποικίλον, ἔνθα δέ οἱ θελκτήρια πάντα τέτυκτο:

Transliteration

tēn d' aute proseeipe philomeidēs Aphroditē:

ouk est' oude eoike teon epos arnēsasthai:

Zēnos gar tou aristou en ankoinēisin iaueis.

ē, kai apo stēthesphin elusato keston himanta

215poikilon, entha de hoi thelktēria panta tetukto:

English · Butler

Thereon laughter-loving Aphrodite said, "I cannot and must not refuse you, for you sleep in the arms of Zeus who is our king." As she spoke she loosed from her bosom the curiously embroidered girdle into which all her charms had been wrought - love, desire, and that sweet flattery which steals the judgment even of the most prudent. She gave the girdle to Hera

Homeric Greek

ἔνθ' ἔνι μὲν φιλότης, ἐν δ' ἵμερος, ἐν δ' ὀαριστὺς

πάρφασις, ἥ τ' ἔκλεψε νόον πύκα περ φρονεόντων.

τόν ῥά οἱ ἔμβαλε χερσὶν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε:

τῆ νῦν τοῦτον ἱμάντα τεῷ ἐγκάτθεο κόλπῳ

220ποικίλον, ᾧ ἔνι πάντα τετεύχαται: οὐδέ σέ φημι

Transliteration

enth' eni men philotēs, en d' himeros, en d' oaristus

parphasis, hē t' eklepse noon puka per phroneontōn.

ton rha hoi embale chersin epos t' ephat' ek t' onomaze:

tē nun touton himanta teōi enkattheo kolpōi

220poikilon, hōi eni panta teteuchatai: oude se phēmi

English · Butler

and said, "Take this girdle wherein all my charms reside and lay it in your bosom. If you will wear it I promise you that your errand, be it what it may,

Homeric Greek

ἄπρηκτόν γε νέεσθαι, ὅ τι φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς.

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,

μειδήσασα δ' ἔπειτα ἑῷ ἐγκάτθετο κόλπῳ.

ἣ μὲν ἔβη πρὸς δῶμα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη,

225Ἥρη δ' ἀί̈ξασα λίπεν ῥίον Οὐλύμποιο,

Transliteration

aprēkton ge neesthai, ho ti phresi sēisi menoināis.

hōs phato, meidēsen de boōpis potnia Hērē,

meidēsasa d' epeita heōi enkattheto kolpōi.

hē men ebē pros dōma Dios thugatēr Aphroditē,

225Hērē d' aïxasa lipen rhion Oulumpoio,

English · Butler

will not be bootless." When she heard this Hera smiled, and still smiling she laid the girdle in her bosom. Aphrodite now went back into the house of Zeus, while Hera darted down from the summits of Olympus. She passed over Pieria and fair Emathia, and went on

Homeric Greek

Πιερίην δ' ἐπιβᾶσα καὶ Ἠμαθίην ἐρατεινὴν

σεύατ' ἐφ' ἱπποπόλων Θρῃκῶν ὄρεα νιφόεντα

ἀκροτάτας κορυφάς: οὐδὲ χθόνα μάρπτε ποδοῖιν:

ἐξ Ἀθόω δ' ἐπὶ πόντον ἐβήσετο κυμαίνοντα,

230Λῆμνον δ' εἰσαφίκανε πόλιν θείοιο Θόαντος.

Transliteration

Pieriēn d' epibasa kai Ēmathiēn erateinēn

seuat' eph' hippopolōn Thrēikōn orea niphoenta

akrotatas koruphas: oude chthona marpte podoiin:

ex Athoō d' epi ponton ebēseto kumainonta,

230Lēmnon d' eisaphikane polin theioio Thoantos.

English · Butler

and on till she came to the snowy ranges of the Thracian horsemen, over whose topmost crests she sped without ever setting foot to ground. When she came to Athos she went on over the, waves of the sea till she reached Lemnos, the city of noble Thoas. There she met Sleep, own brother to Death, and

Homeric Greek

ἔνθ' Ὕπνῳ ξύμβλητο κασιγνήτῳ Θανάτοιο,

ἔν τ' ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν:

Ὕπνε ἄναξ πάντων τε θεῶν πάντων τ' ἀνθρώπων,

ἠμὲν δή ποτ' ἐμὸν ἔπος ἔκλυες, ἠδ' ἔτι καὶ νῦν

235πείθευ: ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι ἰδέω χάριν ἤματα πάντα.

Transliteration

enth' Hupnōi xumblēto kasignētōi Thanatoio,

en t' ara hoi phu cheiri epos t' ephat' ek t' onomazen:

Hupne anax pantōn te theōn pantōn t' anthrōpōn,

ēmen dē pot' emon epos eklues, ēd' eti kai nun

235peitheu: egō de ke toi ideō charin ēmata panta.

English · Butler

caught him by the hand, saying, "Sleep, you who lord it alike over mortals and immortals, if you ever did me a service in times past, do one for me now, and I shall show gratitude to you ever after. Close Zeus' keen eyes for me in slumber while

Homeric Greek

κοίμησόν μοι Ζηνὸς ὑπ' ὀφρύσιν ὄσσε φαεινὼ

αὐτίκ' ἐπεί κεν ἐγὼ παραλέξομαι ἐν φιλότητι.

δῶρα δέ τοι δώσω καλὸν θρόνον ἄφθιτον αἰεὶ

χρύσεον: Ἥφαιστος δέ κ' ἐμὸς πάϊς ἀμφιγυήεις

240τεύξει' ἀσκήσας, ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυν ποσὶν ἥσει,

Transliteration

koimēson moi Zēnos hup' ophrusin osse phaeinō

autik' epei ken egō paralexomai en philotēti.

dōra de toi dōsō kalon thronon aphthiton aiei

chruseon: Hēphaistos de k' emos païs amphiguēeis

240teuxei' askēsas, hupo de thrēnun posin hēsei,

English · Butler

I hold him clasped in my embrace, and I will give you a beautiful golden seat, that can never fall to pieces; my clubfooted son Hephaistos shall make it for you, and he shall give it a footstool for you to rest your fair

Homeric Greek

τῷ κεν ἐπισχοίης λιπαροὺς πόδας εἰλαπινάζων.

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε νήδυμος Ὕπνος:

Ἥρη πρέσβα θεὰ θύγατερ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο

ἄλλον μέν κεν ἔγωγε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

245ῥεῖα κατευνήσαιμι, καὶ ἂν ποταμοῖο ῥέεθρα

Transliteration

tōi ken epischoiēs liparous podas eilapinazōn.

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephōnee nēdumos Hupnos:

Hērē presba thea thugater megaloio Kronoio

allon men ken egōge theōn aieigenetaōn

245rheia kateunēsaimi, kai an potamoio rheethra

English · Butler

feet upon when you are at table." Then Sleep answered, "Hera, great queen of goddesses, daughter of mighty Kronos, I would lull any other of the gods to sleep without compunction, not even excepting the waters of Okeanos from whom all of them proceed, but I dare not go near Zeus, nor send him to sleep unless he bids me. I have had one lesson already through doing what you asked me, on the day when Zeus' mighty son Herakles set sail from Ilion after having sacked the city of the Trojans.

Homeric Greek

Ὠκεανοῦ, ὅς περ γένεσις πάντεσσι τέτυκται:

Ζηνὸς δ' οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε Κρονίονος ἆσσον ἱκοίμην

οὐδὲ κατευνήσαιμ', ὅτε μὴ αὐτός γε κελεύοι.

ἤδη γάρ με καὶ ἄλλο τεὴ ἐπίνυσσεν ἐφετμὴ

250ἤματι τῷ ὅτε κεῖνος ὑπέρθυμος Διὸς υἱὸς

Transliteration

Ōkeanou, hos per genesis pantessi tetuktai:

Zēnos d' ouk an egōge Kronionos asson hikoimēn

oude kateunēsaim', hote mē autos ge keleuoi.

ēdē gar me kai allo teē epinussen ephetmē

250ēmati tōi hote keinos huperthumos Dios huios

English · Butler

At your bidding I suffused my sweet self over the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus, and laid him to rest; meanwhile you hatched a plot against Herakles, and set the blasts of the angry winds beating upon the sea, till you took him to the goodly city of Cos away from all his friends. Zeus was furious when he awoke, and began hurling the gods about all over the house;

Homeric Greek

ἔπλεεν Ἰλιόθεν Τρώων πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξας.

ἤτοι ἐγὼ μὲν ἔλεξα Διὸς νόον αἰγιόχοιο

νήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς: σὺ δέ οἱ κακὰ μήσαο θυμῷ

ὄρσασ' ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἐπὶ πόντον ἀήτας,

255καί μιν ἔπειτα Κόων δ' εὖ ναιομένην ἀπένεικας

Transliteration

epleen Iliothen Trōōn polin exalapaxas.

ētoi egō men elexa Dios noon aigiochoio

nēdumos amphichutheis: su de hoi kaka mēsao thumōi

orsas' argaleōn anemōn epi ponton aētas,

255kai min epeita Koōn d' eu naiomenēn apeneikas

English · Butler

he was looking more particularly for myself, and would have flung me down through space into the sea where I should never have been heard of any more, had not Night who cows both men and gods protected me. I fled to her and

Homeric Greek

νόσφι φίλων πάντων. ὃ δ' ἐπεγρόμενος χαλέπαινε

ῥιπτάζων κατὰ δῶμα θεούς, ἐμὲ δ' ἔξοχα πάντων

ζήτει: καί κέ μ' ἄϊστον ἀπ' αἰθέρος ἔμβαλε πόντῳ,

εἰ μὴ Νὺξ δμήτειρα θεῶν ἐσάωσε καὶ ἀνδρῶν:

260τὴν ἱκόμην φεύγων, ὃ δ' ἐπαύσατο χωόμενός περ.

Transliteration

nosphi philōn pantōn. ho d' epegromenos chalepaine

rhiptazōn kata dōma theous, eme d' exocha pantōn

zētei: kai ke m' aïston ap' aitheros embale pontōi,

ei mē Nux dmēteira theōn esaōse kai andrōn:

260tēn hikomēn pheugōn, ho d' epausato chōomenos per.

English · Butler

Zeus left off looking for me in spite of his being so angry, for he did not dare do anything to displease Night. And now you are again asking me to do

Homeric Greek

ἅζετο γὰρ μὴ Νυκτὶ θοῇ ἀποθύμια ἕρδοι.

νῦν αὖ τοῦτό μ' ἄνωγας ἀμήχανον ἄλλο τελέσσαι.

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη:

Ὕπνε τί ἢ δὲ σὺ ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς;

265ἦ φῂς ὣς Τρώεσσιν ἀρηξέμεν εὐρύοπα Ζῆν

Transliteration

hazeto gar mē Nukti thoēi apothumia herdoi.

nun au touto m' anōgas amēchanon allo telessai.

ton d' aute proseeipe boōpis potnia Hērē:

Hupne ti ē de su tauta meta phresi sēisi menoināis;

265ē phēis hōs Trōessin arēxemen euruopa Zēn

English · Butler

something on which I cannot venture." And Hera said, "Sleep, why do you take such notions as those into your head? Do you think Zeus will be as anxious to help the Trojans, as he was about his own son? Come, I will marry you to one

Homeric Greek

ὡς Ἡρακλῆος περιχώσατο παῖδος ἑοῖο;

ἀλλ' ἴθ', ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι Χαρίτων μίαν ὁπλοτεράων

δώσω ὀπυιέμεναι καὶ σὴν κεκλῆσθαι ἄκοιτιν.

ὣς φάτο, χήρατο δ' Ὕπνος, ἀμειβόμενος δὲ προσηύδα:

270ἄγρει νῦν μοι ὄμοσσον ἀάατον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ,

Transliteration

hōs Hēraklēos perichōsato paidos heoio;

all' ith', egō de ke toi Charitōn mian hoploteraōn

dōsō opuiemenai kai sēn keklēsthai akoitin.

hōs phato, chērato d' Hupnos, ameibomenos de prosēuda:

270agrei nun moi omosson aaaton Stugos hudōr,

English · Butler

of the youngest of the Graces, and she shall be your own - Pasithea, whom you have always wanted to marry." Sleep was pleased when he heard this, and answered, "Then swear it to me by the dread waters of the river Styx;

Homeric Greek

χειρὶ δὲ τῇ ἑτέρῃ μὲν ἕλε χθόνα πουλυβότειραν,

τῇ δ' ἑτέρῃ ἅλα μαρμαρέην, ἵνα νῶϊν ἅπαντες

μάρτυροι ὦσ' οἳ ἔνερθε θεοὶ Κρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντες,

ἦ μὲν ἐμοὶ δώσειν Χαρίτων μίαν ὁπλοτεράων

275Πασιθέην, ἧς τ' αὐτὸς ἐέλδομαι ἤματα πάντα.

Transliteration

cheiri de tēi heterēi men hele chthona pouluboteiran,

tēi d' heterēi hala marmareēn, hina nōïn hapantes

marturoi ōs' hoi enerthe theoi Kronon amphis eontes,

ē men emoi dōsein Charitōn mian hoploteraōn

275Pasitheēn, hēs t' autos eeldomai ēmata panta.

English · Butler

lay one hand on the bounteous earth, and the other on the sheen of the sea, so that all the gods who dwell down below with Kronos may be our witnesses, and see that you really do give me one

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,

ὄμνυε δ' ὡς ἐκέλευε, θεοὺς δ' ὀνόμηνεν ἅπαντας

τοὺς ὑποταρταρίους οἳ Τιτῆνες καλέονται.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,

280τὼ βήτην Λήμνου τε καὶ Ἴμβρου ἄστυ λιπόντε

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oud' apithēse thea leukōlenos Hērē,

omnue d' hōs ekeleue, theous d' onomēnen hapantas

tous hupotartarious hoi Titēnes kaleontai.

autar epei rh' omosen te teleutēsen te ton horkon,

280tō bētēn Lēmnou te kai Imbrou astu liponte

English · Butler

of the youngest of the Graces - Pasithea, whom I have always wanted to marry." Hera did as he had said. She swore, and invoked all the gods of the nether world, who are called Titans, to witness. When she had completed her oath, the two enshrouded themselves in

Homeric Greek

ἠέρα ἑσσαμένω ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.

Ἴδην δ' ἱκέσθην πολυπίδακα μητέρα θηρῶν

Λεκτόν, ὅθι πρῶτον λιπέτην ἅλα: τὼ δ' ἐπὶ χέρσου

βήτην, ἀκροτάτη δὲ ποδῶν ὕπο σείετο ὕλη.

285ἔνθ' Ὕπνος μὲν ἔμεινε πάρος Διὸς ὄσσε ἰδέσθαι

Transliteration

ēera hessamenō rhimpha prēssonte keleuthon.

Idēn d' hikesthēn polupidaka mētera thērōn

Lekton, hothi prōton lipetēn hala: tō d' epi chersou

bētēn, akrotatē de podōn hupo seieto hulē.

285enth' Hupnos men emeine paros Dios osse idesthai

English · Butler

a thick mist and sped lightly forward, leaving Lemnos and Imbros behind them. Presently they reached many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, and Lectum where they left the sea to go on by land, and the tops of the trees of the forest soughed under the going of their feet. Here Sleep halted, and ere Zeus caught sight of him he

Homeric Greek

εἰς ἐλάτην ἀναβὰς περιμήκετον, ἣ τότ' ἐν Ἴδῃ

μακροτάτη πεφυυῖα δι' ἠέρος αἰθέρ' ἵκανεν:

ἔνθ' ἧστ' ὄζοισιν πεπυκασμένος εἰλατίνοισιν

ὄρνιθι λιγυρῇ ἐναλίγκιος, ἥν τ' ἐν ὄρεσσι

290χαλκίδα κικλήσκουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δὲ κύμινδιν.

Transliteration

eis elatēn anabas perimēketon, hē tot' en Idēi

makrotatē pephuuia di' ēeros aither' hikanen:

enth' hēst' ozoisin pepukasmenos eilatinoisin

ornithi ligurēi enalinkios, hēn t' en oressi

290chalkida kiklēskousi theoi, andres de kumindin.

English · Butler

climbed a lofty pine-tree - the tallest that reared its head towards heaven on all Ida. He hid himself behind the branches and sat there in the semblance of the sweet-singing bird that haunts the mountains and is called Khalkis by the gods, but men call it Kymindis. Hera then went to Gargaros, the topmost peak of Ida, and Zeus, driver of the clouds, set eyes upon her. As soon as he did so he

Homeric Greek

Ἥρη δὲ κραιπνῶς προσεβήσετο Γάργαρον ἄκρον

Ἴδης ὑψηλῆς: ἴδε δὲ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς.

ὡς δ' ἴδεν, ὥς μιν ἔρως πυκινὰς φρένας ἀμφεκάλυψεν,

οἷον ὅτε πρῶτόν περ ἐμισγέσθην φιλότητι

295εἰς εὐνὴν φοιτῶντε, φίλους λήθοντε τοκῆας.

Transliteration

Hērē de kraipnōs prosebēseto Gargaron akron

Idēs hupsēlēs: ide de nephelēgereta Zeus.

hōs d' iden, hōs min erōs pukinas phrenas amphekalupsen,

hoion hote prōton per emisgesthēn philotēti

295eis eunēn phoitōnte, philous lēthonte tokēas.

English · Butler

became inflamed with the same passionate desire for her that he had felt when they had first enjoyed each other's embraces, and slept with one another without their dear parents knowing anything about it.

Homeric Greek

στῆ δ' αὐτῆς προπάροιθεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν:

Ἥρη πῇ μεμαυῖα κατ' Οὐλύμπου τόδ' ἱκάνεις;

ἵπποι δ' οὐ παρέασι καὶ ἅρματα τῶν κ' ἐπιβαίης.

τὸν δὲ δολοφρονέουσα προσηύδα πότνια Ἥρη:

300ἔρχομαι ὀψομένη πολυφόρβου πείρατα γαίης,

Transliteration

stē d' autēs proparoithen epos t' ephat' ek t' onomazen:

Hērē pēi memauia kat' Oulumpou tod' hikaneis;

hippoi d' ou pareasi kai harmata tōn k' epibaiēs.

ton de dolophroneousa prosēuda potnia Hērē:

300erchomai opsomenē poluphorbou peirata gaiēs,

English · Butler

He went up to her and said, "What do you want that you have come hither from Olympus - and that too with neither chariot nor horses to convey you?"

Homeric Greek

Ὠκεανόν τε θεῶν γένεσιν καὶ μητέρα Τηθύν,

οἵ με σφοῖσι δόμοισιν ἐὺ̈ τρέφον ἠδ' ἀτίταλλον:

τοὺς εἶμ' ὀψομένη, καί σφ' ἄκριτα νείκεα λύσω:

ἤδη γὰρ δηρὸν χρόνον ἀλλήλων ἀπέχονται

305εὐνῆς καὶ φιλότητος, ἐπεὶ χόλος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.

Transliteration

Ōkeanon te theōn genesin kai mētera Tēthun,

hoi me sphoisi domoisin eü trephon ēd' atitallon:

tous eim' opsomenē, kai sph' akrita neikea lusō:

ēdē gar dēron chronon allēlōn apechontai

305eunēs kai philotētos, epei cholos empese thumōi.

English · Butler

Then Hera told him a lying tale and said, "I am going to the world's end, to visit Okeanos, from whom all we gods proceed, and mother Tethys; they received me into their house, took care of me, and brought me up. I must go and see them that I may make peace between them: they have been quarreling, and are so angry that they have not slept with one another this long time. The horses that will take me over land and sea are stationed on the

Homeric Greek

ἵπποι δ' ἐν πρυμνωρείῃ πολυπίδακος Ἴδης

ἑστᾶσ', οἵ μ' οἴσουσιν ἐπὶ τραφερήν τε καὶ ὑγρήν.

νῦν δὲ σεῦ εἵνεκα δεῦρο κατ' Οὐλύμπου τόδ' ἱκάνω,

μή πώς μοι μετέπειτα χολώσεαι, αἴ κε σιωπῇ

310οἴχωμαι πρὸς δῶμα βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.

Transliteration

hippoi d' en prumnōreiēi polupidakos Idēs

hestas', hoi m' oisousin epi trapherēn te kai hugrēn.

nun de seu heineka deuro kat' Oulumpou tod' hikanō,

mē pōs moi metepeita cholōseai, ai ke siōpēi

310oichōmai pros dōma bathurroou Ōkeanoio.

English · Butler

lowermost spurs of many-fountained Ida, and I have come here from Olympus on purpose to consult you. I was afraid you might be angry with me later on, if I went to the house of

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς:

Ἥρη κεῖσε μὲν ἔστι καὶ ὕστερον ὁρμηθῆναι,

νῶϊ δ' ἄγ' ἐν φιλότητι τραπείομεν εὐνηθέντε.

οὐ γάρ πώ ποτέ μ' ὧδε θεᾶς ἔρος οὐδὲ γυναικὸς

315θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι περιπροχυθεὶς ἐδάμασσεν,

Transliteration

tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē nephelēgereta Zeus:

Hērē keise men esti kai husteron hormēthēnai,

nōï d' ag' en philotēti trapeiomen eunēthente.

ou gar pō pote m' hōde theas eros oude gunaikos

315thumon eni stēthessi periprochutheis edamassen,

English · Butler

Okeanos without letting you know." And Zeus said, "Hera, you can choose some other time for paying your visit to Okeanos - for the present let us devote ourselves to love and to the enjoyment of one another. Never yet have I been so overpowered by passion neither for goddess nor mortal woman as I am at this moment for yourself -

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ὁπότ' ἠρασάμην Ἰξιονίης ἀλόχοιο,

ἣ τέκε Πειρίθοον θεόφιν μήστωρ' ἀτάλαντον:

οὐδ' ὅτε περ Δανάης καλλισφύρου Ἀκρισιώνης,

ἣ τέκε Περσῆα πάντων ἀριδείκετον ἀνδρῶν:

320οὐδ' ὅτε Φοίνικος κούρης τηλεκλειτοῖο,

Transliteration

oud' hopot' ērasamēn Ixioniēs alochoio,

hē teke Peirithoon theophin mēstōr' atalanton:

oud' hote per Danaēs kallisphurou Akrisiōnēs,

hē teke Persēa pantōn arideiketon andrōn:

320oud' hote Phoinikos kourēs tēlekleitoio,

English · Butler

not even when I was in love with the wife of Ixion who bore me Peirithoos, peer of gods in counsel, nor yet with Danae the daintily-ankled daughter of Acrisius, who bore me the famed hero Perseus. Then there was the daughter of Phoenix, who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus:

Homeric Greek

ἣ τέκε μοι Μίνων τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Ῥαδάμανθυν:

οὐδ' ὅτε περ Σεμέλης οὐδ' Ἀλκμήνης ἐνὶ Θήβῃ,

ἥ ῥ' Ἡρακλῆα κρατερόφρονα γείνατο παῖδα:

ἣ δὲ Διώνυσον Σεμέλη τέκε χάρμα βροτοῖσιν:

325οὐδ' ὅτε Δήμητρος καλλιπλοκάμοιο ἀνάσσης,

Transliteration

hē teke moi Minōn te kai antitheon Rhadamanthun:

oud' hote per Semelēs oud' Alkmēnēs eni Thēbēi,

hē rh' Hēraklēa kraterophrona geinato paida:

hē de Diōnuson Semelē teke charma brotoisin:

325oud' hote Dēmētros kalliplokamoio anassēs,

English · Butler

there was Semele, and Alkmene in Thebes by whom I begot my lion-hearted son Herakles, while Semele became mother to Bacchus the comforter of humankind. There was queen Demeter again, and lovely Leto, and yourself - but with none

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ὁπότε Λητοῦς ἐρικυδέος, οὐδὲ σεῦ αὐτῆς,

ὡς σέο νῦν ἔραμαι καί με γλυκὺς ἵμερος αἱρεῖ.

τὸν δὲ δολοφρονέουσα προσηύδα πότνια Ἥρη:

αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.

330εἰ νῦν ἐν φιλότητι λιλαίεαι εὐνηθῆναι

Transliteration

oud' hopote Lētous erikudeos, oude seu autēs,

hōs seo nun eramai kai me glukus himeros hairei.

ton de dolophroneousa prosēuda potnia Hērē:

ainotate Kronidē poion ton muthon eeipes.

330ei nun en philotēti lilaieai eunēthēnai

English · Butler

of these was I ever so much enamored as I now am with you." Hera again answered him with a lying tale. "Most dread son of Kronos," she exclaimed, "what are you talking about?

Homeric Greek

Ἴδης ἐν κορυφῇσι, τὰ δὲ προπέφανται ἅπαντα:

πῶς κ' ἔοι εἴ τις νῶϊ θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

εὕδοντ' ἀθρήσειε, θεοῖσι δὲ πᾶσι μετελθὼν

πεφράδοι; οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε τεὸν πρὸς δῶμα νεοίμην

335ἐξ εὐνῆς ἀνστᾶσα, νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη.

Transliteration

Idēs en koruphēisi, ta de propephantai hapanta:

pōs k' eoi ei tis nōï theōn aieigenetaōn

heudont' athrēseie, theoisi de pasi metelthōn

pephradoi; ouk an egōge teon pros dōma neoimēn

335ex eunēs anstasa, nemessēton de ken eiē.

English · Butler

Would you have us enjoy one another here on the top of Mount Ida, where everything can be seen? What if one of the ever-living gods should see us sleeping together, and tell the others? It would be such a scandal that when I had risen from your embraces I could never show myself inside your house again; but if you are so minded,

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' εἰ δή ῥ' ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ,

ἔστιν τοι θάλαμος, τόν τοι φίλος υἱὸς ἔτευξεν

Ἥφαιστος, πυκινὰς δὲ θύρας σταθμοῖσιν ἐπῆρσεν:

ἔνθ' ἴομεν κείοντες, ἐπεί νύ τοι εὔαδεν εὐνή.

340τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς:

Transliteration

all' ei dē rh' etheleis kai toi philon epleto thumōi,

estin toi thalamos, ton toi philos huios eteuxen

Hēphaistos, pukinas de thuras stathmoisin epērsen:

enth' iomen keiontes, epei nu toi euaden eunē.

340tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē nephelēgereta Zeus:

English · Butler

there is a room which your son Hephaistos has made me, and he has given it good strong doors; if you would so have it, let us go thither and lie down."

Homeric Greek

Ἥρη μήτε θεῶν τό γε δείδιθι μήτέ τιν' ἀνδρῶν

ὄψεσθαι: τοῖόν τοι ἐγὼ νέφος ἀμφικαλύψω

χρύσεον: οὐδ' ἂν νῶϊ διαδράκοι Ἠέλιός περ,

οὗ τε καὶ ὀξύτατον πέλεται φάος εἰσοράασθαι.

345ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀγκὰς ἔμαρπτε Κρόνου παῖς ἣν παράκοιτιν:

Transliteration

Hērē mēte theōn to ge deidithi mēte tin' andrōn

opsesthai: toion toi egō nephos amphikalupsō

chruseon: oud' an nōï diadrakoi Ēelios per,

hou te kai oxutaton peletai phaos eisoraasthai.

345ē rha kai ankas emarpte Kronou pais hēn parakoitin:

English · Butler

And Zeus answered, "Hera, you need not be afraid that either god or man will see you, for I will enshroud both of us in such a dense golden cloud, that the very sun for all his bright piercing beams shall not see through it."

Homeric Greek

τοῖσι δ' ὑπὸ χθὼν δῖα φύεν νεοθηλέα ποίην,

λωτόν θ' ἑρσήεντα ἰδὲ κρόκον ἠδ' ὑάκινθον

πυκνὸν καὶ μαλακόν, ὃς ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσ' ἔεργε.

τῷ ἔνι λεξάσθην, ἐπὶ δὲ νεφέλην ἕσσαντο

350καλὴν χρυσείην: στιλπναὶ δ' ἀπέπιπτον ἔερσαι.

Transliteration

toisi d' hupo chthōn dia phuen neothēlea poiēn,

lōton th' hersēenta ide krokon ēd' huakinthon

puknon kai malakon, hos apo chthonos hupsos' eerge.

tōi eni lexasthēn, epi de nephelēn hessanto

350kalēn chruseiēn: stilpnai d' apepipton eersai.

English · Butler

With this the son of Kronos caught his wife in his embrace; whereon the earth sprouted them a cushion of young grass, with dew-bespangled lotus, crocus, and hyacinth, so soft and thick that it raised them well above the ground. Here they laid themselves down and overhead they were covered by a fair cloud of gold, from

Homeric Greek

ὣς ὃ μὲν ἀτρέμας εὗδε πατὴρ ἀνὰ Γαργάρῳ ἄκρῳ,

ὕπνῳ καὶ φιλότητι δαμείς, ἔχε δ' ἀγκὰς ἄκοιτιν:

βῆ δὲ θέειν ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν νήδυμος Ὕπνος

ἀγγελίην ἐρέων γαιηόχῳ ἐννοσιγαίῳ:

355ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

Transliteration

hōs ho men atremas heude patēr ana Gargarōi akrōi,

hupnōi kai philotēti dameis, eche d' ankas akoitin:

bē de theein epi nēas Achaiōn nēdumos Hupnos

angeliēn ereōn gaiēochōi ennosigaiōi:

355anchou d' histamenos epea pteroenta prosēuda:

English · Butler

which there fell glittering dew-drops. Thus, then, did the sire of all things repose peacefully on the crest of Ida, overcome at once by sleep and love, and he held his spouse in his arms. Meanwhile Sleep made off to the ships of the Achaeans, to tell earth-encircling Poseidon, lord of the earthquake. When he had found him he said, "Now, Poseidon, you can help the Danaans with a

Homeric Greek

πρόφρων νῦν Δαναοῖσι Ποσείδαον ἐπάμυνε,

καί σφιν κῦδος ὄπαζε μίνυνθά περ, ὄφρ' ἔτι εὕδει

Ζεύς, ἐπεὶ αὐτῷ ἐγὼ μαλακὸν περὶ κῶμ' ἐκάλυψα:

Ἥρη δ' ἐν φιλότητι παρήπαφεν εὐνηθῆναι.

360ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ᾤχετ' ἐπὶ κλυτὰ φῦλ' ἀνθρώπων,

Transliteration

prophrōn nun Danaoisi Poseidaon epamune,

kai sphin kudos opaze minuntha per, ophr' eti heudei

Zeus, epei autōi egō malakon peri kōm' ekalupsa:

Hērē d' en philotēti parēpaphen eunēthēnai.

360hōs eipōn ho men ōichet' epi kluta phul' anthrōpōn,

English · Butler

will, and give them victory though it be only for a short time while Zeus is still sleeping. I have sent him into a sweet slumber, and Hera has beguiled him into going to bed with her."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ἔτι μᾶλλον ἀνῆκεν ἀμυνέμεναι Δαναοῖσιν.

αὐτίκα δ' ἐν πρώτοισι μέγα προθορὼν ἐκέλευσεν:

Ἀργεῖοι καὶ δ' αὖτε μεθίεμεν Ἕκτορι νίκην

Πριαμίδῃ, ἵνα νῆας ἕλῃ καὶ κῦδος ἄρηται;

365ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν οὕτω φησὶ καὶ εὔχεται οὕνεκ' Ἀχιλλεὺς

Transliteration

ton d' eti mallon anēken amunemenai Danaoisin.

autika d' en prōtoisi mega prothorōn ekeleusen:

Argeioi kai d' aute methiemen Hektori nikēn

Priamidēi, hina nēas helēi kai kudos arētai;

365all' ho men houtō phēsi kai euchetai hounek' Achilleus

English · Butler

Sleep now departed and went his ways to and fro among humankind, leaving Poseidon more eager than ever to help the Danaans. He darted forward among the first ranks and shouted saying, "Argives, shall we let Hektor son of Priam have the triumph of taking our ships and covering himself with glory? This is what he says that he shall now do, seeing that Achilles is still in dudgeon at his ship; We shall get on very well without him if we keep each other in heart and stand by one another.

Homeric Greek

νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσι μένει κεχολωμένος ἦτορ:

κείνου δ' οὔ τι λίην ποθὴ ἔσσεται, εἴ κεν οἳ ἄλλοι

ἡμεῖς ὀτρυνώμεθ' ἀμυνέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν.

ἀλλ' ἄγεθ' ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες:

370ἀσπίδες ὅσσαι ἄρισται ἐνὶ στρατῷ ἠδὲ μέγισται

Transliteration

nēusin epi glaphurēisi menei kecholōmenos ētor:

keinou d' ou ti liēn pothē essetai, ei ken hoi alloi

hēmeis otrunōmeth' amunemen allēloisin.

all' ageth' hōs an egō eipō peithōmetha pantes:

370aspides hossai aristai eni stratōi ēde megistai

English · Butler

Now, therefore, let us all do as I say. Let us each take the best and largest shield we can lay hold of, put on our helmets, and sally forth with our longest spears in our hands; will lead you on, and Hektor

Homeric Greek

ἑσσάμενοι, κεφαλὰς δὲ παναίθῃσιν κορύθεσσι

κρύψαντες, χερσίν τε τὰ μακρότατ' ἔγχε' ἑλόντες

ἴομεν: αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἡγήσομαι, οὐδ' ἔτι φημὶ

Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην μενέειν μάλα περ μεμαῶτα.

375ὃς δέ κ' ἀνὴρ μενέχαρμος, ἔχει δ' ὀλίγον σάκος ὤμῳ,

Transliteration

hessamenoi, kephalas de panaithēisin koruthessi

krupsantes, chersin te ta makrotat' enche' helontes

iomen: autar egōn hēgēsomai, oud' eti phēmi

Hektora Priamidēn meneein mala per memaōta.

375hos de k' anēr menecharmos, echei d' oligon sakos ōmōi,

English · Butler

son of Priam, rage as he may, will not dare to hold out against us. If any good staunch warrior has only a small shield, let him hand it over to a

Homeric Greek

χείρονι φωτὶ δότω, ὃ δ' ἐν ἀσπίδι μείζονι δύτω.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο:

τοὺς δ' αὐτοὶ βασιλῆες ἐκόσμεον οὐτάμενοί περ

Τυδεί̈δης Ὀδυσεύς τε καὶ Ἀτρεί̈δης Ἀγαμέμνων:

380οἰχόμενοι δ' ἐπὶ πάντας ἀρήϊα τεύχε' ἄμειβον:

Transliteration

cheironi phōti dotō, ho d' en aspidi meizoni dutō.

hōs ephath', hoi d' ara tou mala men kluon ēde pithonto:

tous d' autoi basilēes ekosmeon outamenoi per

Tudeïdēs Oduseus te kai Atreïdēs Agamemnōn:

380oichomenoi d' epi pantas arēïa teuche' ameibon:

English · Butler

worse man, and take a larger one for himself." Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. The son of Tydeus, Odysseus, and Agamemnon, wounded though they were, set the others in array, and went about everywhere effecting the exchanges of armor;

Homeric Greek

ἐσθλὰ μὲν ἐσθλὸς ἔδυνε, χέρεια δὲ χείρονι δόσκεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἕσσαντο περὶ χροὶ̈ νώροπα χαλκὸν

βάν ῥ' ἴμεν: ἦρχε δ' ἄρά σφι Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

δεινὸν ἄορ τανύηκες ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παχείῃ

385εἴκελον ἀστεροπῇ: τῷ δ' οὐ θέμις ἐστὶ μιγῆναι

Transliteration

esthla men esthlos edune, chereia de cheironi dosken.

autar epei rh' hessanto peri chroï nōropa chalkon

ban rh' imen: ērche d' ara sphi Poseidaōn enosichthōn

deinon aor tanuēkes echōn en cheiri pacheiēi

385eikelon asteropēi: tōi d' ou themis esti migēnai

English · Butler

the most valiant took the best armor, and gave the worse to the worse man. When they had donned their bronze armor they marched on with Poseidon at their head. In his strong hand he grasped his terrible sword, keen of edge and flashing like lightning; it is not the right thing to do, to come across it in the day of battle; all men

Homeric Greek

ἐν δαὶ̈ λευγαλέῃ, ἀλλὰ δέος ἰσχάνει ἄνδρας.

Τρῶας δ' αὖθ' ἑτέρωθεν ἐκόσμει φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.

δή ῥα τότ' αἰνοτάτην ἔριδα πτολέμοιο τάνυσσαν

κυανοχαῖτα Ποσειδάων καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,

390ἤτοι ὃ μὲν Τρώεσσιν, ὃ δ' Ἀργείοισιν ἀρήγων.

Transliteration

en daï leugaleēi, alla deos ischanei andras.

Trōas d' auth' heterōthen ekosmei phaidimos Hektōr.

dē rha tot' ainotatēn erida ptolemoio tanussan

kuanochaita Poseidaōn kai phaidimos Hektōr,

390ētoi ho men Trōessin, ho d' Argeioisin arēgōn.

English · Butler

quake for fear and keep away from it. Hektor on the other side set the Trojans in array. Thereon Poseidon and Hektor waged fierce war on one another - Hektor on the Trojan and Poseidon on the Argive side.

Homeric Greek

ἐκλύσθη δὲ θάλασσα ποτὶ κλισίας τε νέας τε

Ἀργείων: οἳ δὲ ξύνισαν μεγάλῳ ἀλαλητῷ.

οὔτε θαλάσσης κῦμα τόσον βοάᾳ ποτὶ χέρσον

ποντόθεν ὀρνύμενον πνοιῇ Βορέω ἀλεγεινῇ:

395οὔτε πυρὸς τόσσός γε ποτὶ βρόμος αἰθομένοιο

Transliteration

eklusthē de thalassa poti klisias te neas te

Argeiōn: hoi de xunisan megalōi alalētōi.

oute thalassēs kuma toson boaāi poti cherson

pontothen ornumenon pnoiēi Boreō alegeinēi:

395oute puros tossos ge poti bromos aithomenoio

English · Butler

Mighty was the uproar as the two forces met; the sea came rolling in towards the ships and tents of the Achaeans, but waves do not thunder on the shore more loudly when driven before the blast of Boreas, nor do the flames of a

Homeric Greek

οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς, ὅτε τ' ὤρετο καιέμεν ὕλην:

οὔτ' ἄνεμος τόσσόν γε περὶ δρυσὶν ὑψικόμοισι

ἠπύει, ὅς τε μάλιστα μέγα βρέμεται χαλεπαίνων,

ὅσση ἄρα Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἔπλετο φωνὴ

400δεινὸν ἀϋσάντων, ὅτ' ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισιν ὄρουσαν.

Transliteration

oureos en bēssēis, hote t' ōreto kaiemen hulēn:

out' anemos tosson ge peri drusin hupsikomoisi

ēpuei, hos te malista mega bremetai chalepainōn,

hossē ara Trōōn kai Achaiōn epleto phōnē

400deinon aüsantōn, hot' ep' allēloisin orousan.

English · Butler

forest fire roar more fiercely when it is well alight upon the mountains, nor does the wind bellow with ruder music as it tears on through the tops of when it is blowing its hardest, than the terrible shout which the Trojans

Homeric Greek

Αἴαντος δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

ἔγχει, ἐπεὶ τέτραπτο πρὸς ἰθύ οἱ, οὐδ' ἀφάμαρτε,

τῇ ῥα δύω τελαμῶνε περὶ στήθεσσι τετάσθην,

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν σάκεος, ὃ δὲ φασγάνου ἀργυροήλου:

405τώ οἱ ῥυσάσθην τέρενα χρόα. χώσατο δ' Ἕκτωρ,

Transliteration

Aiantos de prōtos akontise phaidimos Hektōr

enchei, epei tetrapto pros ithu hoi, oud' aphamarte,

tēi rha duō telamōne peri stēthessi tetasthēn,

ētoi ho men sakeos, ho de phasganou arguroēlou:

405tō hoi rhusasthēn terena chroa. chōsato d' Hektōr,

English · Butler

and Achaeans raised as they sprang upon one another. Hektor first aimed his spear at Ajax, who was turned full towards him, nor did he miss his aim. The spear struck him where two bands passed over his chest - the band of his shield and that of his silver-studded sword - and these protected his body. Hektor was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain, and withdrew under cover of his men.

Homeric Greek

ὅττί ῥά οἱ βέλος ὠκὺ ἐτώσιον ἔκφυγε χειρός,

ἂψ δ' ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρ' ἀλεείνων.

τὸν μὲν ἔπειτ' ἀπιόντα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

χερμαδίῳ, τά ῥα πολλὰ θοάων ἔχματα νηῶν

410πὰρ ποσὶ μαρναμένων ἐκυλίνδετο, τῶν ἓν ἀείρας

Transliteration

hotti rha hoi belos ōku etōsion ekphuge cheiros,

aps d' hetarōn eis ethnos echazeto kēr' aleeinōn.

ton men epeit' apionta megas Telamōnios Aias

chermadiōi, ta rha polla thoaōn echmata nēōn

410par posi marnamenōn ekulindeto, tōn hen aeiras

English · Butler

As he was thus retreating, Ajax son of Telamon struck him with a stone, of which there were many lying about under the men's feet as they fought - brought there to give support to the ships' sides as they lay on the shore.

Homeric Greek

στῆθος βεβλήκει ὑπὲρ ἄντυγος ἀγχόθι δειρῆς,

στρόμβον δ' ὣς ἔσσευε βαλών, περὶ δ' ἔδραμε πάντῃ.

ὡς δ' ὅθ' ὑπὸ πληγῆς πατρὸς Διὸς ἐξερίπῃ δρῦς

πρόρριζος, δεινὴ δὲ θεείου γίγνεται ὀδμὴ

415ἐξ αὐτῆς, τὸν δ' οὔ περ ἔχει θράσος ὅς κεν ἴδηται

Transliteration

stēthos beblēkei huper antugos anchothi deirēs,

strombon d' hōs esseue balōn, peri d' edrame pantēi.

hōs d' hoth' hupo plēgēs patros Dios exeripēi drus

prorrizos, deinē de theeiou gignetai odmē

415ex autēs, ton d' ou per echei thrasos hos ken idētai

English · Butler

under the men's feet as they fought - brought there to give support to the ships' sides as they lay on the shore. Ajax caught up one of them and struck Hektor above the rim of his shield close to his neck; the blow made him spin round like a top and reel in all directions. As an oak falls headlong when uprooted by the lightning flash of father Zeus, and there is a terrible smell of brimstone - no man can help being dismayed if

Homeric Greek

ἐγγὺς ἐών, χαλεπὸς δὲ Διὸς μεγάλοιο κεραυνός,

ὣς ἔπεσ' Ἕκτορος ὦκα χαμαὶ μένος ἐν κονίῃσι:

χειρὸς δ' ἔκβαλεν ἔγχος, ἐπ' αὐτῷ δ' ἀσπὶς ἑάφθη

καὶ κόρυς, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ.

420οἳ δὲ μέγα ἰάχοντες ἐπέδραμον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

Transliteration

engus eōn, chalepos de Dios megaloio keraunos,

hōs epes' Hektoros ōka chamai menos en koniēisi:

cheiros d' ekbalen enchos, ep' autōi d' aspis heaphthē

kai korus, amphi de hoi brache teuchea poikila chalkōi.

420hoi de mega iachontes epedramon huies Achaiōn

English · Butler

he is standing near it, for a thunderbolt is a very awful thing - even so did Hektor fall to earth and bite the dust. His spear fell from his hand, but his shield and helmet were made fast about his body, and his bronze armor rang about him.

Homeric Greek

ἐλπόμενοι ἐρύεσθαι, ἀκόντιζον δὲ θαμειὰς

αἰχμάς: ἀλλ' οὔ τις ἐδυνήσατο ποιμένα λαῶν

οὐτάσαι οὐδὲ βαλεῖν: πρὶν γὰρ περίβησαν ἄριστοι

Πουλυδάμας τε καὶ Αἰνείας καὶ δῖος Ἀγήνωρ

425Σαρπηδών τ' ἀρχὸς Λυκίων καὶ Γλαῦκος ἀμύμων.

Transliteration

elpomenoi eruesthai, akontizon de thameias

aichmas: all' ou tis edunēsato poimena laōn

outasai oude balein: prin gar peribēsan aristoi

Pouludamas te kai Aineias kai dios Agēnōr

425Sarpēdōn t' archos Lukiōn kai Glaukos amumōn.

English · Butler

The sons of the Achaeans came running with a loud cry towards him, hoping to drag him away, and they showered their darts on the Trojans, but none of them could wound him before he was surrounded and covered by the princes Polydamas, Aeneas, Agenor, Sarpedon leader of the Lycians, and noble Glaukos: of the others, too, there was not one who was unmindful of him, and they held their round shields over him to cover him. His comrades then lifted him off the ground and bore him away from the battle to the place where his horses stood waiting for him at the rear of the fight with their driver and the chariot;

Homeric Greek

τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὔ τίς εὑ ἀκήδεσεν, ἀλλὰ πάροιθεν

ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους σχέθον αὐτοῦ. τὸν δ' ἄρ' ἑταῖροι

χερσὶν ἀείραντες φέρον ἐκ πόνου, ὄφρ' ἵκεθ' ἵππους

ὠκέας, οἵ οἱ ὄπισθε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο

430ἕστασαν ἡνίοχόν τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλ' ἔχοντες:

Transliteration

tōn d' allōn ou tis heu akēdesen, alla paroithen

aspidas eukuklous schethon autou. ton d' ar' hetairoi

chersin aeirantes pheron ek ponou, ophr' hiketh' hippous

ōkeas, hoi hoi opisthe machēs ēde ptolemoio

430hestasan hēniochon te kai harmata poikil' echontes:

English · Butler

these then took him towards the city groaning and in great pain. When they reached the ford of the air stream of Xanthos, begotten of Immortal Zeus, they took him from off his chariot and laid him down on the ground; they poured water over him, and as they did so he breathed again and opened his eyes.

Homeric Greek

οἳ τόν γε προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον βαρέα στενάχοντα.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ πόρον ἷξον ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖο

Ξάνθου δινήεντος, ὃν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς,

ἔνθά μιν ἐξ ἵππων πέλασαν χθονί, κὰδ δέ οἱ ὕδωρ

435χεῦαν: ὃ δ' ἀμπνύνθη καὶ ἀνέδρακεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

Transliteration

hoi ton ge proti astu pheron barea stenachonta.

all' hote dē poron hixon eürreios potamoio

Xanthou dinēentos, hon athanatos teketo Zeus,

entha min ex hippōn pelasan chthoni, kad de hoi hudōr

435cheuan: ho d' ampnunthē kai anedraken ophthalmoisin,

English · Butler

Then kneeling on his knees he vomited blood, but soon fell back on to the ground, and his

Homeric Greek

ἑζόμενος δ' ἐπὶ γοῦνα κελαινεφὲς αἷμ' ἀπέμεσσεν:

αὖτις δ' ἐξοπίσω πλῆτο χθονί, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

νὺξ ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα: βέλος δ' ἔτι θυμὸν ἐδάμνα.

Ἀργεῖοι δ' ὡς οὖν ἴδον Ἕκτορα νόσφι κιόντα

440μᾶλλον ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι θόρον, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.

Transliteration

hezomenos d' epi gouna kelainephes haim' apemessen:

autis d' exopisō plēto chthoni, tō de hoi osse

nux ekalupse melaina: belos d' eti thumon edamna.

Argeioi d' hōs oun idon Hektora nosphi kionta

440mallon epi Trōessi thoron, mnēsanto de charmēs.

English · Butler

eyes were again closed in darkness for he was still stunned by the blow. When the Argives saw Hektor leaving the field, they took heart and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously.

Homeric Greek

ἔνθα πολὺ πρώτιστος Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας

Σάτνιον οὔτασε δουρὶ μετάλμενος ὀξυόεντι

Ἠνοπίδην, ὃν ἄρα νύμφη τέκε νηὶ̈ς ἀμύμων

Ἤνοπι βουκολέοντι παρ' ὄχθας Σατνιόεντος.

445τὸν μὲν Ὀϊλιάδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

Transliteration

entha polu prōtistos Oïlēos tachus Aias

Satnion outase douri metalmenos oxuoenti

Ēnopidēn, hon ara numphē teke nēïs amumōn

Ēnopi boukoleonti par' ochthas Satnioentos.

445ton men Oïliadēs douri klutos enguthen elthōn

English · Butler

When the Argives saw Hektor leaving the field, they took heart and set upon the Trojans yet more furiously. Ajax fleet son of Oileus began by springing on Satnios son of Enops and wounding him with his spear: a fair naiad nymph had borne him to Enops as he was herding cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis.

Homeric Greek

οὖτα κατὰ λαπάρην: ὃ δ' ἀνετράπετ', ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' αὐτῷ

Τρῶες καὶ Δαναοὶ σύναγον κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην.

τῷ δ' ἐπὶ Πουλυδάμας ἐγχέσπαλος ἦλθεν ἀμύντωρ

Πανθοί̈δης, βάλε δὲ Προθοήνορα δεξιὸν ὦμον

450υἱὸν Ἀρηϊλύκοιο, δι' ὤμου δ' ὄβριμον ἔγχος

Transliteration

outa kata laparēn: ho d' anetrapet', amphi d' ar' autōi

Trōes kai Danaoi sunagon kraterēn husminēn.

tōi d' epi Pouludamas enchespalos ēlthen amuntōr

Panthoïdēs, bale de Prothoēnora dexion ōmon

450huion Arēïlukoio, di' ōmou d' obrimon enchos

English · Butler

as he was herding cattle by the banks of the river Satnioeis. The son of Oileus came up to him and struck him in the flank so that he fell, and a fierce fight between Trojans and Danaans raged round his body. Polydamas son of Panthoos drew near to avenge him, and wounded Prothoenor son of Areilykos on the right shoulder; the terrible spear went right through his shoulder, and he clutched the earth as he fell in the dust. Polydamas vaunted loudly over him saying,

Homeric Greek

ἔσχεν, ὃ δ' ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

Πουλυδάμας δ' ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀύ̈σας:

οὐ μὰν αὖτ' ὀί̈ω μεγαθύμου Πανθοί̈δαο

χειρὸς ἄπο στιβαρῆς ἅλιον πηδῆσαι ἄκοντα,

455ἀλλά τις Ἀργείων κόμισε χροί̈, καί μιν ὀί̈ω

Transliteration

eschen, ho d' en koniēisi pesōn hele gaian agostōi.

Pouludamas d' ekpaglon epeuxato makron aüsas:

ou man aut' oïō megathumou Panthoïdao

cheiros apo stibarēs halion pēdēsai akonta,

455alla tis Argeiōn komise chroï, kai min oïō

English · Butler

"Again I take it that the spear has not sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthoos; an Argive has caught it in his body, and it will serve him for a

Homeric Greek

αὐτῷ σκηπτόμενον κατίμεν δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀργείοισι δ' ἄχος γένετ' εὐξαμένοιο:

Αἴαντι δὲ μάλιστα δαί̈φρονι θυμὸν ὄρινε

τῷ Τελαμωνιάδῃ: τοῦ γὰρ πέσεν ἄγχι μάλιστα.

460καρπαλίμως δ' ἀπιόντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

Transliteration

autōi skēptomenon katimen domon Aïdos eisō.

hōs ephat', Argeioisi d' achos genet' euxamenoio:

Aianti de malista daïphroni thumon orine

tōi Telamōniadēi: tou gar pesen anchi malista.

460karpalimōs d' apiontos akontise douri phaeinōi.

English · Butler

staff as he goes down into the house of Hades." The Argives were stung by grief on account of this boasting. Ajax son of Telamon was more angry than any, for the man had fallen close be, him; so he aimed at Polydamas as he was

Homeric Greek

Πουλυδάμας δ' αὐτὸς μὲν ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν

λικριφὶς ἀί̈ξας, κόμισεν δ' Ἀντήνορος υἱὸς

Ἀρχέλοχος: τῷ γάρ ῥα θεοὶ βούλευσαν ὄλεθρον.

τόν ῥ' ἔβαλεν κεφαλῆς τε καὶ αὐχένος ἐν συνεοχμῷ,

465νείατον ἀστράγαλον, ἀπὸ δ' ἄμφω κέρσε τένοντε:

Transliteration

Pouludamas d' autos men aleuato kēra melainan

likriphis aïxas, komisen d' Antēnoros huios

Archelochos: tōi gar rha theoi bouleusan olethron.

ton rh' ebalen kephalēs te kai auchenos en suneochmōi,

465neiaton astragalon, apo d' amphō kerse tenonte:

English · Butler

retreating, but Polydamas saved himself by swerving aside and the spear struck Arkhelokhos son of Antenor, for heaven counseled his destruction; it struck him where the head springs from the neck at the top joint of the spine, and severed both the tendons at the back of the head. His head, mouth, and nostrils reached

Homeric Greek

τοῦ δὲ πολὺ προτέρη κεφαλὴ στόμα τε ῥῖνές τε

οὔδεϊ πλῆντ' ἤ περ κνῆμαι καὶ γοῦνα πεσόντος.

Αἴας δ' αὖτ' ἐγέγωνεν ἀμύμονι Πουλυδάμαντι:

φράζεο Πουλυδάμα καί μοι νημερτὲς ἐνίσπες

470ἦ ῥ' οὐχ οὗτος ἀνὴρ Προθοήνορος ἀντὶ πεφάσθαι

Transliteration

tou de polu proterē kephalē stoma te rhines te

oudeï plēnt' ē per knēmai kai gouna pesontos.

Aias d' aut' egegōnen amumoni Pouludamanti:

phrazeo Pouludama kai moi nēmertes enispes

470ē rh' ouch houtos anēr Prothoēnoros anti pephasthai

English · Butler

the ground long before his legs and knees could do so, and Ajax shouted to Polydamas saying, "Think, Polydamas, and tell me truly whether this man is not as well worth killing as Prothoenor was: he seems rich, and of

Homeric Greek

ἄξιος; οὐ μέν μοι κακὸς εἴδεται οὐδὲ κακῶν ἔξ,

ἀλλὰ κασίγνητος Ἀντήνορος ἱπποδάμοιο

ἢ πάϊς: αὐτῷ γὰρ γενεὴν ἄγχιστα ἐῴκει.

ἦ ῥ' εὖ γιγνώσκων, Τρῶας δ' ἄχος ἔλλαβε θυμόν.

475ἔνθ' Ἀκάμας Πρόμαχον Βοιώτιον οὔτασε δουρὶ

Transliteration

axios; ou men moi kakos eidetai oude kakōn ex,

alla kasignētos Antēnoros hippodamoio

ē païs: autōi gar geneēn anchista eōikei.

ē rh' eu gignōskōn, Trōas d' achos ellabe thumon.

475enth' Akamas Promachon Boiōtion outase douri

English · Butler

rich family, a brother, it may be, or son of the horseman Antenor, for he is very like him." But he knew well who it was, and the Trojans were greatly vexed with grief.

Homeric Greek

ἀμφὶ κασιγνήτῳ βεβαώς: ὃ δ' ὕφελκε ποδοῖιν.

τῷ δ' Ἀκάμας ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀύ̈σας:

Ἀργεῖοι ἰόμωροι ἀπειλάων ἀκόρητοι

οὔ θην οἴοισίν γε πόνος τ' ἔσεται καὶ ὀϊζὺς

480ἡμῖν, ἀλλά ποθ' ὧδε κατακτενέεσθε καὶ ὔμμες.

Transliteration

amphi kasignētōi bebaōs: ho d' huphelke podoiin.

tōi d' Akamas ekpaglon epeuxato makron aüsas:

Argeioi iomōroi apeilaōn akorētoi

ou thēn oioisin ge ponos t' esetai kai oïzus

480hēmin, alla poth' hōde katakteneesthe kai ummes.

English · Butler

But he knew well who it was, and the Trojans were greatly vexed with grief. Akamas then bestrode his brother's body and wounded Promakhos the Boeotian with his spear, for he was trying to drag his brother's body away. Akamas vaunted loudly over him saying, "Argive archers, braggarts that you are, toil and suffering shall not be for us only, but some of you too shall fall here as well as ourselves.

Homeric Greek

φράζεσθ' ὡς ὑμῖν Πρόμαχος δεδμημένος εὕδει

ἔγχει ἐμῷ, ἵνα μή τι κασιγνήτοιό γε ποινὴ

δηρὸν ἄτιτος ἔῃ: τὼ καί κέ τις εὔχεται ἀνὴρ

γνωτὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἀρῆς ἀλκτῆρα λιπέσθαι.

485ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀργείοισι δ' ἄχος γένετ' εὐξαμένοιο:

Transliteration

phrazesth' hōs humin Promachos dedmēmenos heudei

enchei emōi, hina mē ti kasignētoio ge poinē

dēron atitos eēi: tō kai ke tis euchetai anēr

gnōton eni megaroisin arēs alktēra lipesthai.

485hōs ephat', Argeioisi d' achos genet' euxamenoio:

English · Butler

See how Promakhos now sleeps, vanquished by my spear; payment for my brother's blood has not long delayed; a man, therefore, may well be thankful if he leaves a kinsman in his house behind him to avenge his fall."

Homeric Greek

Πηνέλεῳ δὲ μάλιστα δαί̈φρονι θυμὸν ὄρινεν:

ὁρμήθη δ' Ἀκάμαντος: ὃ δ' οὐχ ὑπέμεινεν ἐρωὴν

Πηνελέωο ἄνακτος: ὃ δ' οὔτασεν Ἰλιονῆα

υἱὸν Φόρβαντος πολυμήλου, τόν ῥα μάλιστα

490Ἑρμείας Τρώων ἐφίλει καὶ κτῆσιν ὄπασσε:

Transliteration

Pēneleōi de malista daïphroni thumon orinen:

hormēthē d' Akamantos: ho d' ouch hupemeinen erōēn

Pēneleōo anaktos: ho d' outasen Ilionēa

huion Phorbantos polumēlou, ton rha malista

490Hermeias Trōōn ephilei kai ktēsin opasse:

English · Butler

His taunts gave grief to the Argives, and Peneleos was more enraged than any of them. He sprang towards Akamas, but Akamas did not stand his ground, and he killed Ilioneus son of the rich flock-master Phorbas, whom Hermes had favored and endowed with greater wealth than any other of the Trojans. Ilioneus was his only son, and Peneleos now wounded

Homeric Greek

τῷ δ' ἄρ' ὑπὸ μήτηρ μοῦνον τέκεν Ἰλιονῆα.

τὸν τόθ' ὑπ' ὀφρύος οὖτα κατ' ὀφθαλμοῖο θέμεθλα,

ἐκ δ' ὦσε γλήνην: δόρυ δ' ὀφθαλμοῖο διὰ πρὸ

καὶ διὰ ἰνίου ἦλθεν, ὃ δ' ἕζετο χεῖρε πετάσσας

495ἄμφω: Πηνέλεως δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺ

Transliteration

tōi d' ar' hupo mētēr mounon teken Ilionēa.

ton toth' hup' ophruos outa kat' ophthalmoio themethla,

ek d' ōse glēnēn: doru d' ophthalmoio dia pro

kai dia iniou ēlthen, ho d' hezeto cheire petassas

495amphō: Pēneleōs de erussamenos xiphos oxu

English · Butler

him in the eye under his eyebrows, tearing the eye-ball from its socket: the spear went right through the eye into the nape of the neck, and he fell, stretching out both hands before him. Peneleos then drew his sword and smote him on the neck, so that both head and helmet came

Homeric Greek

αὐχένα μέσσον ἔλασσεν, ἀπήραξεν δὲ χαμᾶζε

αὐτῇ σὺν πήληκι κάρη: ἔτι δ' ὄβριμον ἔγχος

ἦεν ἐν ὀφθαλμῷ: ὃ δὲ φὴ κώδειαν ἀνασχὼν

πέφραδέ τε Τρώεσσι καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα:

500εἰπέμεναί μοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοῦ Ἰλιονῆος

Transliteration

auchena messon elassen, apēraxen de chamaze

autēi sun pēlēki karē: eti d' obrimon enchos

ēen en ophthalmōi: ho de phē kōdeian anaschōn

pephrade te Trōessi kai euchomenos epos ēuda:

500eipemenai moi Trōes agauou Ilionēos

English · Butler

tumbling down to the ground with the spear still sticking in the eye; he then held up the head, as though it had been a poppy-head, and showed it to the Trojans, vaunting over them as he did so. "Trojans," he cried, "bid the father and mother of noble Ilioneus make moan for

Homeric Greek

πατρὶ φίλῳ καὶ μητρὶ γοήμεναι ἐν μεγάροισιν:

οὐδὲ γὰρ ἣ Προμάχοιο δάμαρ Ἀλεγηνορίδαο

ἀνδρὶ φίλῳ ἐλθόντι γανύσσεται, ὁππότε κεν δὴ

ἐκ Τροίης σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν.

505ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δ' ἄρα πάντας ὑπὸ τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα,

Transliteration

patri philōi kai mētri goēmenai en megaroisin:

oude gar hē Promachoio damar Alegēnoridao

andri philōi elthonti ganussetai, hoppote ken dē

ek Troiēs sun nēusi neōmetha kouroi Achaiōn.

505hōs phato, tous d' ara pantas hupo tromos ellabe guia,

English · Butler

him in their house, for the wife also of Promakhos son of Alegenor will never be gladdened by the coming of her dear husband - when we Argives return with our ships from Troy."

Homeric Greek

πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπῃ φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχουσαι

ὅς τις δὴ πρῶτος βροτόεντ' ἀνδράγρι' Ἀχαιῶν

ἤρατ', ἐπεί ῥ' ἔκλινε μάχην κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος.

510Αἴας ῥα πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος Ὕρτιον οὖτα

Transliteration

paptēnen de hekastos hopēi phugoi aipun olethron.

espete nun moi Mousai Olumpia dōmat' echousai

hos tis dē prōtos brotoent' andragri' Achaiōn

ērat', epei rh' ekline machēn klutos ennosigaios.

510Aias rha prōtos Telamōnios Hurtion outa

English · Butler

As he spoke fear fell upon them, and every man looked round about to see whither he might flee for safety. Tell me now, O Muses that dwell on Olympus, who was the first of the Argives to bear away blood-stained spoils after Poseidon lord of the earthquake had turned the fortune of war. Ajax son of Telamon was first to wound Hyrtios son of Gyrtios, leader of the staunch Mysians. Antilokhos killed Phalces and Mermerus, while Meriones slew Morys and Hippotion, Teucer also killed Prothoon and Periphetes.

Homeric Greek

Γυρτιάδην Μυσῶν ἡγήτορα καρτεροθύμων:

Φάλκην δ' Ἀντίλοχος καὶ Μέρμερον ἐξενάριξε:

Μηριόνης δὲ Μόρυν τε καὶ Ἱπποτίωνα κατέκτα,

Τεῦκρος δὲ Προθόωνά τ' ἐνήρατο καὶ Περιφήτην:

515Ἀτρεί̈δης δ' ἄρ' ἔπειθ' Ὑπερήνορα ποιμένα λαῶν

Transliteration

Gurtiadēn Musōn hēgētora karterothumōn:

Phalkēn d' Antilochos kai Mermeron exenarixe:

Mērionēs de Morun te kai Hippotiōna katekta,

Teukros de Prothoōna t' enērato kai Periphētēn:

515Atreïdēs d' ar' epeith' Huperēnora poimena laōn

English · Butler

The son of Atreus then wounded Hyperenor shepherd of his people, in the flank, and the bronze point made his entrails gush out as it tore in among them; on this his life-breath came hurrying out of him at the place where he had been wounded, and his eyes were closed in darkness.

Homeric Greek

οὖτα κατὰ λαπάρην, διὰ δ' ἔντερα χαλκὸς ἄφυσσε

δῃώσας: ψυχὴ δὲ κατ' οὐταμένην ὠτειλὴν

ἔσσυτ' ἐπειγομένη, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

πλείστους δ' Αἴας εἷλεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς υἱός:

520οὐ γάρ οἵ τις ὁμοῖος ἐπισπέσθαι ποσὶν ἦεν

Transliteration

outa kata laparēn, dia d' entera chalkos aphusse

dēiōsas: psuchē de kat' outamenēn ōteilēn

essut' epeigomenē, ton de skotos osse kalupse.

pleistous d' Aias heilen Oïlēos tachus huios:

520ou gar hoi tis homoios epispesthai posin ēen

English · Butler

Ajax son of Oileus killed more than any other, for there was no man so fleet as he to pursue fleeing foes when Zeus

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρῶν τρεσσάντων, ὅτε τε Ζεὺς ἐν φόβον ὄρσῃ.

Transliteration

andrōn tressantōn, hote te Zeus en phobon orsēi.

English · Butler

had spread panic among them.