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 sy men nyn pine kathēmenos aithopa oinon

English

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;

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 eÿplokamos Hekamēdē

thermēnēi kai lousēi apo broton haimatoenta:

autar egōn elthōn tacha eisomai es periōpēn.

hōs eipōn sakos heile tetygmenon huios heoio

10keimenon en klisiēi Thrasymēdeos hippodamoio

English

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 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;

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 hyperthymous: ereripto de teichos Achaiōn.

English

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 upon the sea, but the waves are dumb -

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 porphyrēi pelagos mega kymati kōphōi

ossomenon ligeōn anemōn laipsēra keleutha

autōs, oud' ara te prokylindetai oudeterōse,

prin tina kekrimenon katabēmenai ek Dios ouron,

20hōs ho gerōn hormaine daïzomenos kata thymon

English

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 neither this way nor that, till some particular wind sweeps down from heaven to determine them - even so did the old man

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 tachypōlōn,

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

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

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

nyssomenōn xiphesin te kai enchesin amphigyoisi.

Nestori de xymblēnto diotrephees basilēes

par nēōn aniontes hosoi beblēato chalkōi

Tydeïdēs Odyseus te kai Atreïdēs Agamemnōn.

30pollon gar rh' apaneuthe machēs eiryato nēes

English

they thrust at one another 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

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

eirysan, autar teichos epi prymnēisin edeiman.

oude gar oud' eurys per eōn edynēsato pasas

aigialos nēas chadeein, steinonto de laoi:

35tō rha prokrossas erysan, kai plēsan hapasēs

English

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 cramped for

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 syneergathon akrai.

tō rh' hoi g' opseiontes aÿtēs kai polemoio

enchei ereidomenoi kion athrooi: achnyto de sphi

thymos eni stēthessin. ho de xymblēto geraios

40Nestōr, ptēxe de thymon eni stēthessin Achaiōn.

English

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 in great anxiety, and when old Nestor met them they were filled with dismay.

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 kydos Achaiōn

tipte lipōn polemon phthisēnora deur' aphikaneis;

deidō mē dē moi telesēi epos obrimos Hektōr,

45hōs pot' epēpeilēsen eni Trōess' agoreuōn

English

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, when he vaunted among the Trojans saying that

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 pyri nēas eniprēsai, kteinai de kai autous.

keinos tōs agoreue: ta dē nyn panta teleitai.

ō popoi ē rha kai alloi eÿknēmides Achaioi

50en thymōi ballontai emoi cholon hōs per Achilleus

English

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! others of the Achaeans, like Achilles, are in anger with me that they refuse

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 prymnēisi neessi.

ton d' ēmeibet' epeita Gerēnios hippota Nestōr:

ē dē tauta g' hetoima teteuchatai, oude ken allōs

Zeus hypsibremetēs autos paratektēnaito.

55teichos men gar dē katerēripen, hōi epepithmen

English

to fight by the sterns 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.

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, aÿtē d' ouranon hikei.

English

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; they are being killed in a confused mass and the battle-cry ascends to heaven;

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

dymenai: ou gar pōs beblēmenon esti machesthai.

ton d' aute proseeipen anax andrōn Agamemnōn:

65Nestor epei dē nēusin epi prymnēisi machontai,

English

let us think, if counsel can be of any use, what we had better do; but I do not advise our going into battle 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

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 tetygmenon, oude ti taphros,

hēi epi polla pathon Danaoi, elponto de thymōi

arrēkton nēōn te kai autōn eilar esesthai:

houtō pou Dii mellei hypermeneï philon einai

70nōnymnous apolesthai ap' Argeos enthad' Achaious.

English

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.

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 amynen,

oida de nyn hote tous men homōs makaressi theoisi

kydanei, hēmeteron de menos kai cheiras edēsen.

all' ageth' hōs an egōn eipō peithōmetha pantes.

75nēes hosai prōtai eiryatai anchi thalassēs

English

I knew when Zeus was willing to defend 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

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 eryssomen eis hala dian,

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

nyx abrotē, ēn kai tēi aposchōntai polemoio

Trōes: epeita de ken erysaimetha nēas hapasas.

80ou gar tis nemesis phygeein kakon, oud' ana nykta.

English

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

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 prophygēi kakon ēe halōēi.

ton d' ar' hypodra idōn prosephē polymētis Odysseus:

Atreïdē poion se epos phygen herkos odontōn:

oulomen' aith' ōphelles aeikeliou stratou allou

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

English

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

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 tolypeuein

argaleous polemous, ophra phthiomestha hekastos.

houtō dē memonas Trōōn polin euryaguian

kalleipsein, hēs heinek' oïzyomen kaka polla;

90siga, mē tis t' allos Achaiōn touton akousēi

English

life of hard fighting from youth to old age, till we every one of us perish. Is it thus that you would quit the city of Troy, to win which we have suffered so much hardship?

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

mython, 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 sy met' Argeioisin anasseis:

95nyn de seu ōnosamēn panchy phrenas, hoion eeipes:

English

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. I despise your judgment utterly for what you have been saying.

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 synestaotos kai aÿtēs

nēas eÿsselmous halad' helkemen, ophr' eti mallon

Trōsi men eukta genētai epikrateousi per empēs,

hēmin d' aipys olethros epirrepēi. ou gar Achaioi

100schēsousin polemon nēōn hala d' helkomenaōn,

English

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; 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;

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 Odyseu mala pōs me kathikeo thymon enipēi

105argaleēi: atar ou men egōn aekontas anōga

English

your counsel, therefore, 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.

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 eÿsselmous hala d' helkemen huias Achaiōn.

nyn d' eiē hos tēsde g' ameinona mētin enispoi

ē neos ēe palaios: emoi de ken asmenōi eiē.

toisi de kai meteeipe boēn agathos Diomēdēs:

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

English

Some one, it may be, old or young, can offer us better counsel which I shall rejoice to hear." Then said Diomedes, "Such an one is at hand;

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' hymin:

patros d' ex agathou kai egō genos euchomai einai

Tydeos, hon Thēbēisi chytē kata gaia kalyptei.

115porthei gar treis paides amymones exegenonto,

English

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. For Portheus had three noble sons, two of whom, Agrios and Melas, abode in Pleuron and rocky Calydon.

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 Kalydōni

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

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 abundance,

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 thygatrōn, naie de dōma

aphneion biotoio, halis de hoi ēsan arourai

pyrophoroi, polloi de phytōn esan orchatoi amphis,

polla de hoi probat' eske: kekasto de pantas Achaious

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

English

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;

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

mython atimēsaite pephasmenon hon k' eÿ 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

therefore when I say well despise 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 the spears lest we get fresh wounds in addition

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' otrynontes enēsomen, hoi to paros per

thymōi ēra pherontes aphestas' oude machontai.

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

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

135oud' alaoskopiēn eiche klytos ennosigaios,

English

to what we have already, but we can spur on others, who have been 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 nyn dē pou Achillēos oloon kēr

140gēthei eni stēthessi phonon kai phyzan Achaiōn

English

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 panchy theoi makares koteousin,

all' eti pou Trōōn hēgētores ēde medontes

145eury konisousin pedion, sy d' epopseai autos

English

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 asty neōn apo kai klisiaōn.

hōs eipōn meg' aÿsen epessymenos pedioio.

hosson t' enneachiloi epiachon ē dekachiloi

aneres en polemōi erida xynagontes Arēos,

150tossēn ek stēthesphin opa kreiōn enosichthōn

English

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

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 chrysothronos ophthalmoisi

stas' ex Oulympoio apo rhiou: autika d' egnō

155ton men poipnyonta machēn ana kydianeiran

English

fight, 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.

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 thymōi:

Zēna d' ep' akrotatēs koryphēs polypidakos Idēs

hēmenon eiseide, stygeros de hoi epleto thymōi.

mermērixe d' epeita boōpis potnia Hērē

160hoppōs exapaphoito Dios noon aigiochoio:

English

Then she turned her eyes to Zeus as he sat on the topmost crests of many-fountained Ida, and loathed him. She set herself to think how she might trick his thinking, and in the end she deemed that it would be best for her

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 thymon aristē phaineto boulē

elthein eis Idēn eu entynasan he autēn,

ei pōs himeiraito paradratheein philotēti

hēi chroiēi, tōi d' hypnon apēmona te liaron te

165cheuēi epi blepharoisin ide phresi peukalimēisi.

English

to go to Ida and array herself in rich attire, in 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, pykinas de thyras stathmoisin epērse

klēïdi kryptēi, tēn d' ou theos allos anōigen:

enth' hē g' eiselthousa thyras epethēke phaeinas.

170ambrosiēi men prōton apo chroos himeroentos

English

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.

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

lymata panta kathēren, aleipsato de lip' elaiōi

ambrosiōi hedanōi, to rha hoi tethyōmenon ēen:

tou kai kinymenoio Dios kata chalkobates dō

empēs es gaian te kai ouranon hiket' aÿtmē.

175tōi rh' hē ge chroa kalon aleipsamenē ide chaitas

English

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 - if it were so much as shaken in the bronze-floored house of Zeus, the scent pervaded the universe of heaven and earth.

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

exys' askēsasa, tithei d' eni daidala polla:

180chryseiēis d' enetēisi kata stēthos peronato.

English

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 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:

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 thysanois araruiēi,

en d' ara hermata hēken eÿtrētoisi loboisi

triglēna moroenta: charis d' apelampeto pollē.

krēdemnōi d' ephyperthe kalypsato dia theaōn

185kalōi nēgateōi: leukon d' ēn ēelios hōs:

English

then she fastened her earrings, three brilliant pendants with much charm radiating from them, through the pierced lobes of her ears, and threw a lovely new veil over her head.

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' hypo 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 mython eeipe:

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

English

She bound her sandals on to her feet, and when she had finished making herself up 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

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 thymōi,

hounek' egō Danaoisi, sy de Trōessin arēgeis;

tēn d' ēmeibet' epeita Dios thygatēr Aphroditē:

Hērē presba thea thygater megaloio Kronoio

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

English

will refuse me because you are angry 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 dynamai telesai ge kai ei tetelesmenon estin.

tēn de dolophroneousa prosēuda potnia Hērē:

dos nyn moi philotēta kai himeron, hōi te sy pantas

damnāi athanatous ēde thnētous anthrōpous.

200eimi gar opsomenē polyphorbou peirata gaiēs,

English

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.

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 Tēthyn,

hoi m' en sphoisi domoisin eÿ trephon ēd' atitallon

dexamenoi Rheias, hote te Kronon euryopa Zeus

gaiēs nerthe katheise kai atrygetoio thalassēs:

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

English

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 me over from Rhaea when Zeus imprisoned great Kronos in the depths that are under earth and sea.

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 thymōi.

ei keinō epeessi paraipepithousa philon kēr

eis eunēn anesaimi homōthēnai philotēti,

210aiei ke sphi philē te kai aidoiē kaleoimēn.

English

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 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 elysato keston himanta

215poikilon, entha de hoi thelktēria panta tetykto:

English

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

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' oaristys

parphasis, hē t' eklepse noon pyka per phroneontōn.

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

tē nyn touton himanta teōi enkattheo kolpōi

220poikilon, hōi eni panta teteuchatai: oude se phēmi

English

- love, desire, and that sweet flattery which steals the judgment even of the most prudent. She gave the girdle to Hera and said, "Take this girdle wherein all my charms reside and lay it in your bosom.

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 thygatēr Aphroditē,

225Hērē d' aïxasa lipen rhion Oulympoio,

English

If you will wear it I promise you that your errand, be it what it may, 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.

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 koryphas: oude chthona marpte podoiin:

ex Athoō d' epi ponton ebēseto kymainonta,

230Lēmnon d' eisaphikane polin theioio Thoantos.

English

She passed over Pieria and fair Emathia, and went on 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.

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' Hypnōi xymblēto kasignētōi Thanatoio,

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

Hypne anax pantōn te theōn pantōn t' anthrōpōn,

ēmen dē pot' emon epos eklyes, ēd' eti kai nyn

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

English

There she met Sleep, own brother to Death, and 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.

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 hyp' ophrysin osse phaeinō

autik' epei ken egō paralexomai en philotēti.

dōra de toi dōsō kalon thronon aphthiton aiei

chryseon: Hēphaistos de k' emos païs amphigyēeis

240teuxei' askēsas, hypo de thrēnyn posin hēsei,

English

Close Zeus' keen eyes for me in slumber while 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

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 nēdymos Hypnos:

Hērē presba thea thygater megaloio Kronoio

allon men ken egōge theōn aieigenetaōn

245rheia kateunēsaimi, kai an potamoio rheethra

English

rest your fair 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.

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 tetyktai:

Zēnos d' ouk an egōge Kronionos asson hikoimēn

oude kateunēsaim', hote mē autos ge keleuoi.

ēdē gar me kai allo teē epinyssen ephetmē

250ēmati tōi hote keinos hyperthymos Dios huios

English

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. At your bidding I suffused my sweet self over the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus, and laid him to rest;

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

nēdymos amphichytheis: sy de hoi kaka mēsao thymōi

orsas' argaleōn anemōn epi ponton aētas,

255kai min epeita Koōn d' eu naiomenēn apeneikas

English

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

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 Nyx dmēteira theōn esaōse kai andrōn:

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

English

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

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 Nykti thoēi apothymia herdoi.

nyn au touto m' anōgas amēchanon allo telessai.

ton d' aute proseeipe boōpis potnia Hērē:

Hypne ti ē de sy tauta meta phresi sēisi menoināis;

265ē phēis hōs Trōessin arēxemen euryopa Zēn

English

And now you are again asking me to do 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?

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' Hypnos, ameibomenos de prosēuda:

270agrei nyn moi omosson aaaton Stygos hydōr,

English

Come, I will marry you to one 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 poulyboteiran,

tēi d' heterēi hala marmareēn, hina nōïn hapantes

martyroi ōs' hoi enerthe theoi Kronon amphis eontes,

ē men emoi dōsein Charitōn mian hoploteraōn

275Pasitheēn, hēs t' autos eeldomai ēmata panta.

English

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

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,

omnye d' hōs ekeleue, theous d' onomēnen hapantas

tous hypotartarious hoi Titēnes kaleontai.

autar epei rh' omosen te teleutēsen te ton horkon,

280tō bētēn Lēmnou te kai Imbrou asty liponte

English

one 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.

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 polypidaka mētera thērōn

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

bētēn, akrotatē de podōn hypo seieto hylē.

285enth' Hypnos men emeine paros Dios osse idesthai

English

When she had completed her oath, the two enshrouded themselves in 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.

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 pephyuia di' ēeros aither' hikanen:

enth' hēst' ozoisin pepykasmenos eilatinoisin

ornithi ligyrēi enalinkios, hēn t' en oressi

290chalkida kiklēskousi theoi, andres de kymindin.

English

Here Sleep halted, and ere Zeus caught sight of him he 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.

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 hypsēlēs: ide de nephelēgereta Zeus.

hōs d' iden, hōs min erōs pykinas phrenas amphekalypsen,

hoion hote prōton per emisgesthēn philotēti

295eis eunēn phoitōnte, philous lēthonte tokēas.

English

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 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' Oulympou tod' hikaneis;

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

ton de dolophroneousa prosēuda potnia Hērē:

300erchomai opsomenē polyphorbou peirata gaiēs,

English

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 Tēthyn,

hoi me sphoisi domoisin eÿ trephon ēd' atitallon:

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

ēdē gar dēron chronon allēlōn apechontai

305eunēs kai philotētos, epei cholos empese thymōi.

English

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:

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 prymnōreiēi polypidakos Idēs

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

nyn de seu heineka deuro kat' Oulympou tod' hikanō,

mē pōs moi metepeita cholōseai, ai ke siōpēi

310oichōmai pros dōma bathyrroou Ōkeanoio.

English

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 lowermost spurs of many-fountained Ida, and I have come here from Olympus on purpose to consult you.

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 hysteron hormēthēnai,

nōï d' ag' en philotēti trapeiomen eunēthente.

ou gar pō pote m' hōde theas eros oude gynaikos

315thymon eni stēthessi periprochytheis edamassen,

English

I was afraid you might be angry with me later on, if I went to the house of 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.

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 kallisphyrou Akrisiōnēs,

hē teke Persēa pantōn arideiketon andrōn:

320oud' hote Phoinikos kourēs tēlekleitoio,

English

Never yet have I been so overpowered by passion neither for goddess nor mortal woman as I am at this moment for yourself - 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.

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 Rhadamanthyn:

oud' hote per Semelēs oud' Alkmēnēs eni Thēbēi,

hē rh' Hēraklēa kraterophrona geinato paida:

hē de Diōnyson Semelē teke charma brotoisin:

325oud' hote Dēmētros kalliplokamoio anassēs,

English

Then there was the daughter of Phoenix, who bore me Minos and Rhadamanthus: 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.

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 erikydeos, oude seu autēs,

hōs seo nyn eramai kai me glykys himeros hairei.

ton de dolophroneousa prosēuda potnia Hērē:

ainotate Kronidē poion ton mython eeipes.

330ei nyn en philotēti lilaieai eunēthēnai

English

There was queen Demeter again, and lovely Leto, and yourself - but with none 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 koryphēisi, 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

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;

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 thymōi,

estin toi thalamos, ton toi philos huios eteuxen

Hēphaistos, pykinas de thyras stathmoisin epērsen:

enth' iomen keiontes, epei ny toi euaden eunē.

340tēn d' apameibomenos prosephē nephelēgereta Zeus:

English

but if you are so minded, 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 amphikalypsō

chryseon: oud' an nōï diadrakoi Ēelios per,

hou te kai oxytaton peletai phaos eisoraasthai.

345ē rha kai ankas emarpte Kronou pais hēn parakoitin:

English

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' hypo chthōn dia phyen neothēlea poiēn,

lōton th' hersēenta ide krokon ēd' hyakinthon

pyknon kai malakon, hos apo chthonos hypsos' eerge.

tōi eni lexasthēn, epi de nephelēn hessanto

350kalēn chryseiēn: stilpnai d' apepipton eersai.

English

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.

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,

hypnōi kai philotēti dameis, eche d' ankas akoitin:

bē de theein epi nēas Achaiōn nēdymos Hypnos

angeliēn ereōn gaiēochōi ennosigaiōi:

355anchou d' histamenos epea pteroenta prosēuda:

English

Here they laid themselves down and overhead they were covered by a fair cloud of gold, from 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.

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 nyn Danaoisi Poseidaon epamyne,

kai sphin kydos opaze minyntha per, ophr' eti heudei

Zeus, epei autōi egō malakon peri kōm' ekalypsa:

Hērē d' en philotēti parēpaphen eunēthēnai.

360hōs eipōn ho men ōichet' epi klyta phyl' anthrōpōn,

English

When he had found him he said, "Now, Poseidon, you can help the Danaans with a 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 amynemenai Danaoisin.

autika d' en prōtoisi mega prothorōn ekeleusen:

Argeioi kai d' aute methiemen Hektori nikēn

Priamidēi, hina nēas helēi kai kydos arētai;

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

English

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?

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 glaphyrēisi menei kecholōmenos ētor:

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

hēmeis otrynōmeth' amynemen allēloisin.

all' ageth' hōs an egō eipō peithōmetha pantes:

370aspides hossai aristai eni stratōi ēde megistai

English

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. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say.

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 korythessi

krypsantes, 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

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 son of Priam, rage as he may, will not dare to hold out against us.

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 dytō.

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

tous d' autoi basilēes ekosmeon outamenoi per

Tydeïdēs Odyseus te kai Atreïdēs Agamemnōn:

380oichomenoi d' epi pantas arēïa teuche' ameibon:

English

If any good staunch warrior has only a small shield, let him hand it over to a 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 edyne, chereia de cheironi dosken.

autar epei rh' hessanto peri chroï nōropa chalkon

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

deinon aor tanyēkes echōn en cheiri pacheiēi

385eikelon asteropēi: tōi d' ou themis esti migēnai

English

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;

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 tanyssan

kyanochaita Poseidaōn kai phaidimos Hektōr,

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

English

it is not the right thing to do, to come across it in the day of battle; all men quake for fear and keep away from it. Hektor on the other side set the Trojans in array.

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

eklysthē de thalassa poti klisias te neas te

Argeiōn: hoi de xynisan megalōi alalētōi.

oute thalassēs kyma toson boaāi poti cherson

pontothen ornymenon pnoiēi Boreō alegeinēi:

395oute pyros tossos ge poti bromos aithomenoio

English

Thereon Poseidon and Hektor waged fierce war on one another - Hektor on the Trojan and Poseidon on the Argive side. 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

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 hylēn:

out' anemos tosson ge peri drysin hypsikomoisi

ēpyei, hos te malista mega bremetai chalepainōn,

hossē ara Trōōn kai Achaiōn epleto phōnē

400deinon aÿsantōn, hot' ep' allēloisin orousan.

English

when driven before the blast of Boreas, nor do the flames of a 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

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 ithy hoi, oud' aphamarte,

tēi rha dyō telamōne peri stēthessi tetasthēn,

ētoi ho men sakeos, ho de phasganou argyroēlou:

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

English

the Trojans 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.

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 ōky etōsion ekphyge 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 ekylindeto, tōn hen aeiras

English

Hektor was angry that his spear should have been hurled in vain, and withdrew under cover of his men. 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 hyper antygos anchothi deirēs,

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

hōs d' hoth' hypo plēgēs patros Dios exeripēi drys

prorrizos, deinē de theeiou gignetai odmē

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

English

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 -

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

engys eōn, chalepos de Dios megaloio keraunos,

hōs epes' Hektoros ōka chamai menos en koniēisi:

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

kai korys, amphi de hoi brache teuchea poikila chalkōi.

420hoi de mega iachontes epedramon huies Achaiōn

English

no man can help being dismayed if 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 eryesthai, akontizon de thameias

aichmas: all' ou tis edynēsato poimena laōn

outasai oude balein: prin gar peribēsan aristoi

Poulydamas te kai Aineias kai dios Agēnōr

425Sarpēdōn t' archos Lykiōn kai Glaukos amymōn.

English

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:

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 eukyklous 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

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

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 asty pheron barea stenachonta.

all' hote dē poron hixon eÿrreios potamoio

Xanthou dinēentos, hon athanatos teketo Zeus,

entha min ex hippōn pelasan chthoni, kad de hoi hydōr

435cheuan: ho d' ampnynthē kai anedraken ophthalmoisin,

English

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

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

nyx ekalypse melaina: belos d' eti thymon edamna.

Argeioi d' hōs oun idon Hektora nosphi kionta

440mallon epi Trōessi thoron, mnēsanto de charmēs.

English

Then kneeling on his knees he vomited blood, but soon fell back on to the ground, and his 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 poly prōtistos Oïlēos tachys Aias

Satnion outase douri metalmenos oxyoenti

Ēnopidēn, hon ara nymphē teke nēïs amymōn

Ēnopi boukoleonti par' ochthas Satnioentos.

445ton men Oïliadēs douri klytos engythen elthōn

English

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 synagon kraterēn hysminēn.

tōi d' epi Poulydamas enchespalos ēlthen amyntōr

Panthoïdēs, bale de Prothoēnora dexion ōmon

450huion Arēïlykoio, di' ōmou d' obrimon enchos

English

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;

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.

Poulydamas d' ekpaglon epeuxato makron aÿsas:

ou man aut' oïō megathymou Panthoïdao

cheiros apo stibarēs halion pēdēsai akonta,

455alla tis Argeiōn komise chroï, kai min oïō

English

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, "Again I take it that the spear has not sped in vain from the strong hand of the son of Panthoos;

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 thymon orine

tōi Telamōniadēi: tou gar pesen anchi malista.

460karpalimōs d' apiontos akontise douri phaeinōi.

English

an Argive has caught it in his body, and it will serve him for a 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;

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

Poulydamas 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 syneochmōi,

465neiaton astragalon, apo d' amphō kerse tenonte:

English

so he aimed at Polydamas as he was 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

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 poly proterē kephalē stoma te rhines te

oudeï plēnt' ē per knēmai kai gouna pesontos.

Aias d' aut' egegōnen amymoni Poulydamanti:

phrazeo Poulydama kai moi nēmertes enispes

470ē rh' ouch houtos anēr Prothoēnoros anti pephasthai

English

the spine, and severed both the tendons at the back of the head. His head, mouth, and nostrils reached 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:

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 thymon.

475enth' Akamas Promachon Boiōtion outase douri

English

he seems rich, and of 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' hyphelke podoiin.

tōi d' Akamas ekpaglon epeuxato makron aÿsas:

Argeioi iomōroi apeilaōn akorētoi

ou thēn oioisin ge ponos t' esetai kai oïzys

480hēmin, alla poth' hōde katakteneesthe kai ymmes.

English

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 hymin 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

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 thymon orinen:

hormēthē d' Akamantos: ho d' ouch hypemeinen erōēn

Pēneleōo anaktos: ho d' outasen Ilionēa

huion Phorbantos polymēlou, ton rha malista

490Hermeias Trōōn ephilei kai ktēsin opasse:

English

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.

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' hypo mētēr mounon teken Ilionēa.

ton toth' hyp' ophryos outa kat' ophthalmoio themethla,

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

kai dia iniou ēlthen, ho d' hezeto cheire petassas

495amphō: Pēneleōs de eryssamenos xiphos oxy

English

Ilioneus was his only son, and Peneleos now wounded 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.

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 syn 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

Peneleos then drew his sword and smote him on the neck, so that both head and helmet came 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.

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 ganyssetai, hoppote ken dē

ek Troiēs syn nēusi neōmetha kouroi Achaiōn.

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

English

"Trojans," he cried, "bid the father and mother of noble Ilioneus make moan for 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 phygoi aipyn olethron.

espete nyn moi Mousai Olympia dōmat' echousai

hos tis dē prōtos brotoent' andragri' Achaiōn

ērat', epei rh' ekline machēn klytos ennosigaios.

510Aias rha prōtos Telamōnios Hyrtion outa

English

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.

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

Gyrtiadēn Mysōn hēgētora karterothymōn:

Phalkēn d' Antilochos kai Mermeron exenarixe:

Mērionēs de Moryn te kai Hippotiōna katekta,

Teukros de Prothoōna t' enērato kai Periphētēn:

515Atreïdēs d' ar' epeith' Hyperēnora poimena laōn

English

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. 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;

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 aphysse

dēiōsas: psychē de kat' outamenēn ōteilēn

essyt' epeigomenē, ton de skotos osse kalypse.

pleistous d' Aias heilen Oïlēos tachys huios:

520ou gar hoi tis homoios epispesthai posin ēen

English

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

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρῶν τρεσσάντων, ὅτε τε Ζεὺς ἐν φόβον ὄρσῃ.

Transliteration

andrōn tressantōn, hote te Zeus en phobon orsēi.

English

fleeing foes when Zeus had spread panic among them.