Book XVI

Homeric Greek

1ὣς οἳ μὲν περὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μάχοντο:

Πάτροκλος δ' Ἀχιλῆϊ παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν

δάκρυα θερμὰ χέων ὥς τε κρήνη μελάνυδρος,

ἥ τε κατ' αἰγίλιπος πέτρης δνοφερὸν χέει ὕδωρ.

5τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτιρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

Transliteration

1hōs hoi men peri nēos eüsselmoio machonto:

Patroklos d' Achilēï paristato poimeni laōn

dakrua therma cheōn hōs te krēnē melanudros,

hē te kat' aigilipos petrēs dnopheron cheei hudōr.

5ton de idōn ōiktire podarkēs dios Achilleus,

English · Butler

Thus did they fight about the ship of Protesilaos. Then Patroklos drew near to Achilles with tears welling from his eyes, as from some spring whose crystal stream falls over the ledges of a high precipice. When Achilles saw him thus weeping he was sorry for him and said, "Why, Patroklos, do you stand there weeping

Homeric Greek

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

τίπτε δεδάκρυσαι Πατρόκλεες, ἠύ̈τε κούρη

νηπίη, ἥ θ' ἅμα μητρὶ θέουσ' ἀνελέσθαι ἀνώγει

εἱανοῦ ἁπτομένη, καί τ' ἐσσυμένην κατερύκει,

10δακρυόεσσα δέ μιν ποτιδέρκεται, ὄφρ' ἀνέληται:

Transliteration

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

tipte dedakrusai Patroklees, ēüte kourē

nēpiē, hē th' hama mētri theous' anelesthai anōgei

heianou haptomenē, kai t' essumenēn katerukei,

10dakruoessa de min potiderketai, ophr' anelētai:

English · Butler

like some silly child that comes running to her mother, and begs to be taken up and carried- she catches hold of her mother's dress to stay her though she is in a hurry, and looks tearfully up until her mother carries her - even such tears, Patroklos, are you now shedding. Have you anything to say to the Myrmidons or to myself?

Homeric Greek

τῇ ἴκελος Πάτροκλε τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβεις.

ἠέ τι Μυρμιδόνεσσι πιφαύσκεαι, ἢ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ,

ἦέ τιν' ἀγγελίην Φθίης ἐξέκλυες οἶος;

ζώειν μὰν ἔτι φασὶ Μενοίτιον Ἄκτορος υἱόν,

15ζώει δ' Αἰακίδης Πηλεὺς μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι;

Transliteration

tēi ikelos Patrokle teren kata dakruon eibeis.

ēe ti Murmidonessi piphauskeai, ē emoi autōi,

ēe tin' angeliēn Phthiēs exeklues oios;

zōein man eti phasi Menoition Aktoros huion,

15zōei d' Aiakidēs Pēleus meta Murmidonessi;

English · Butler

or have you had news from Phthia which you alone know? They tell me Menoitios son of Aktor is still alive, as also Peleus son of Aiakos, among the Myrmidons - men whose loss we two should bitterly deplore; or are you grieving about the Argives and the way in which they are being killed at the ships, through their own high-handed doings?

Homeric Greek

τῶν κε μάλ' ἀμφοτέρων ἀκαχοίμεθα τεθνηώτων.

ἦε σύ γ' Ἀργείων ὀλοφύρεαι, ὡς ὀλέκονται

νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ὑπερβασίης ἕνεκα σφῆς;

ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω.

20τὸν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφης Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ:

Transliteration

tōn ke mal' amphoterōn akachoimetha tethnēōtōn.

ēe su g' Argeiōn olophureai, hōs olekontai

nēusin epi glaphurēisin huperbasiēs heneka sphēs;

exauda, mē keuthe noōi, hina eidomen amphō.

20ton de baru stenachōn prosephēs Patroklees hippeu:

English · Butler

Do not hide in your mind anything from me but tell me that both of us may know about it." Then, O horseman Patroklos, with a deep sigh you answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but I feel grief for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives.

Homeric Greek

ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱὲ μέγα φέρτατ' Ἀχαιῶν

μὴ νεμέσα: τοῖον γὰρ ἄχος βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς.

οἳ μὲν γὰρ δὴ πάντες, ὅσοι πάρος ἦσαν ἄριστοι,

ἐν νηυσὶν κέαται βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.

25βέβληται μὲν ὃ Τυδεί̈δης κρατερὸς Διομήδης,

Transliteration

ō Achileu Pēlēos huie mega phertat' Achaiōn

mē nemesa: toion gar achos bebiēken Achaious.

hoi men gar dē pantes, hosoi paros ēsan aristoi,

en nēusin keatai beblēmenoi outamenoi te.

25beblētai men ho Tudeïdēs krateros Diomēdēs,

English · Butler

Then, O horseman Patroklos, with a deep sigh you answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, do not be angry, but I feel grief for the disaster that has now befallen the Argives. All those who have been their champions so far are lying at the ships, wounded by sword or spear. Brave Diomedes son of Tydeus has been hit with a spear, while famed Odysseus

Homeric Greek

οὔτασται δ' Ὀδυσεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἠδ' Ἀγαμέμνων,

βέβληται δὲ καὶ Εὐρύπυλος κατὰ μηρὸν ὀϊστῷ.

τοὺς μέν τ' ἰητροὶ πολυφάρμακοι ἀμφιπένονται

ἕλκε' ἀκειόμενοι: σὺ δ' ἀμήχανος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.

30μὴ ἐμέ γ' οὖν οὗτός γε λάβοι χόλος, ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις

Transliteration

outastai d' Oduseus douriklutos ēd' Agamemnōn,

beblētai de kai Eurupulos kata mēron oïstōi.

tous men t' iētroi polupharmakoi amphipenontai

helke' akeiomenoi: su d' amēchanos epleu Achilleu.

30mē eme g' oun houtos ge laboi cholos, hon su phulasseis

English · Butler

and Agamemnon have received sword-wounds; Eurypylos again has been struck with an arrow in the thigh; skilled apothecaries are attending to these heroes, and healing them of their wounds; are you still, O Achilles, so inexorable? May it never be my lot to nurse such a passion as you have done, to the baning of your own good name. Who in future story will speak well of you unless you now save the Argives from ruin?

Homeric Greek

αἰναρέτη: τί σευ ἄλλος ὀνήσεται ὀψίγονός περ

αἴ κε μὴ Ἀργείοισιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμύνῃς;

νηλεές, οὐκ ἄρα σοί γε πατὴρ ἦν ἱππότα Πηλεύς,

οὐδὲ Θέτις μήτηρ: γλαυκὴ δέ σε τίκτε θάλασσα

35πέτραι τ' ἠλίβατοι, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.

Transliteration

ainaretē: ti seu allos onēsetai opsigonos per

ai ke mē Argeioisin aeikea loigon amunēis;

nēlees, ouk ara soi ge patēr ēn hippota Pēleus,

oude Thetis mētēr: glaukē de se tikte thalassa

35petrai t' ēlibatoi, hoti toi noos estin apēnēs.

English · Butler

You know no pity; horseman Peleus was not your father nor Thetis your mother, but the gray sea bore you and the sheer cliffs begot you, so cruel and remorseless are you in your thinking. If however you are kept back through knowledge of

Homeric Greek

εἰ δέ τινα φρεσὶ σῇσι θεοπροπίην ἀλεείνεις

καί τινά τοι πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ,

ἀλλ' ἐμέ περ πρόες ὦχ', ἃμα δ' ἄλλον λαὸν ὄπασσον

Μυρμιδόνων, ἤν πού τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένωμαι.

40δὸς δέ μοι ὤμοιιν τὰ σὰ τεύχεα θωρηχθῆναι,

Transliteration

ei de tina phresi sēisi theopropiēn aleeineis

kai tina toi par Zēnos epephrade potnia mētēr,

all' eme per proes ōch', hama d' allon laon opasson

Murmidonōn, ēn pou ti phoōs Danaoisi genōmai.

40dos de moi ōmoiin ta sa teuchea thōrēchthēnai,

English · Butler

some oracle, or if your mother Thetis has told you something from the mouth of Zeus, at least send me and the Myrmidons with me, if I may bring deliverance to the Danaans. Let me moreover wear your armor; the Trojans may thus mistake me for you

Homeric Greek

αἴ κ' ἐμὲ σοὶ ἴσκοντες ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιο

Τρῶες, ἀναπνεύσωσι δ' Ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

τειρόμενοι: ὀλίγη δέ τ' ἀνάπνευσις πολέμοιο.

ῥεῖα δέ κ' ἀκμῆτες κεκμηότας ἄνδρας ἀϋτῇ

45ὤσαιμεν προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.

Transliteration

ai k' eme soi iskontes aposchōntai polemoio

Trōes, anapneusōsi d' Arēïoi huies Achaiōn

teiromenoi: oligē de t' anapneusis polemoio.

rheia de k' akmētes kekmēotas andras aütēi

45ōsaimen proti astu neōn apo kai klisiaōn.

English · Butler

and quit the field, so that the hard-pressed sons of the Achaeans may have breathing time- which while they are fighting may hardly be. We who are fresh might soon drive tired men back from our ships and tents to their own city."

Homeric Greek

ὣς φάτο λισσόμενος μέγα νήπιος: ἦ γὰρ ἔμελλεν

οἷ αὐτῷ θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα λιτέσθαι.

τὸν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς:

ὤ μοι διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες οἷον ἔειπες:

50οὔτε θεοπροπίης ἐμπάζομαι ἥν τινα οἶδα,

Transliteration

hōs phato lissomenos mega nēpios: ē gar emellen

hoi autōi thanaton te kakon kai kēra litesthai.

ton de meg' ochthēsas prosephē podas ōkus Achilleus:

ō moi diogenes Patroklees hoion eeipes:

50oute theopropiēs empazomai hēn tina oida,

English · Butler

He knew not what he was asking, nor that he was suing for his own destruction. Achilles was deeply moved and answered, "What, noble Patroklos, are you saying? I know no prophesyings which I am heeding, nor has my mother told me anything from the mouth of Zeus, but I am cut to

Homeric Greek

οὔτέ τί μοι πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ:

ἀλλὰ τόδ' αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει,

ὁππότε δὴ τὸν ὁμοῖον ἀνὴρ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀμέρσαι

καὶ γέρας ἂψ ἀφελέσθαι, ὅ τε κράτεϊ προβεβήκῃ:

55αἰνὸν ἄχος τό μοί ἐστιν, ἐπεὶ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ.

Transliteration

oute ti moi par Zēnos epephrade potnia mētēr:

alla tod' ainon achos kradiēn kai thumon hikanei,

hoppote dē ton homoion anēr ethelēisin amersai

kai geras aps aphelesthai, ho te krateï probebēkēi:

55ainon achos to moi estin, epei pathon algea thumōi.

English · Butler

the very heart with grief that one of my own rank should dare to rob me because he is more powerful than I am. This grief, after all that I have gone through, is more than I can endure. The girl whom the sons of the Achaeans chose for me, whom I won as

Homeric Greek

κούρην ἣν ἄρα μοι γέρας ἔξελον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,

δουρὶ δ' ἐμῷ κτεάτισσα πόλιν εὐτείχεα πέρσας,

τὴν ἂψ ἐκ χειρῶν ἕλετο κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

Ἀτρεί̈δης ὡς εἴ τιν' ἀτίμητον μετανάστην.

60ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν: οὐδ' ἄρα πως ἦν

Transliteration

kourēn hēn ara moi geras exelon huies Achaiōn,

douri d' emōi kteatissa polin euteichea persas,

tēn aps ek cheirōn heleto kreiōn Agamemnōn

Atreïdēs hōs ei tin' atimēton metanastēn.

60alla ta men protetuchthai easomen: oud' ara pōs ēn

English · Butler

the fruit of my spear on having sacked a city - her has King Agamemnon taken from me as though I were some common vagrant. Still, let bygones be bygones: no man may keep his anger for ever; I said I would not relent till battle and the cry of war had reached my own ships;

Homeric Greek

ἀσπερχὲς κεχολῶσθαι ἐνὶ φρεσίν: ἤτοι ἔφην γε

οὐ πρὶν μηνιθμὸν καταπαυσέμεν, ἀλλ' ὁπότ' ἂν δὴ

νῆας ἐμὰς ἀφίκηται ἀϋτή τε πτόλεμός τε.

τύνη δ' ὤμοιιν μὲν ἐμὰ κλυτὰ τεύχεα δῦθι,

65ἄρχε δὲ Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι μάχεσθαι,

Transliteration

asperches kecholōsthai eni phresin: ētoi ephēn ge

ou prin mēnithmon katapausemen, all' hopot' an dē

nēas emas aphikētai aütē te ptolemos te.

tunē d' ōmoiin men ema kluta teuchea duthi,

65arche de Murmidonessi philoptolemoisi machesthai,

English · Butler

nevertheless, now gird my armor about your shoulders, and lead the Myrmidons to battle, for the dark cloud of Trojans has

Homeric Greek

εἰ δὴ κυάνεον Τρώων νέφος ἀμφιβέβηκε

νηυσὶν ἐπικρατέως, οἳ δὲ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης

κεκλίαται, χώρης ὀλίγην ἔτι μοῖραν ἔχοντες

Ἀργεῖοι, Τρώων δὲ πόλις ἐπὶ πᾶσα βέβηκε

70θάρσυνος: οὐ γὰρ ἐμῆς κόρυθος λεύσσουσι μέτωπον

Transliteration

ei dē kuaneon Trōōn nephos amphibebēke

nēusin epikrateōs, hoi de rhēgmini thalassēs

kekliatai, chōrēs oligēn eti moiran echontes

Argeioi, Trōōn de polis epi pasa bebēke

70tharsunos: ou gar emēs koruthos leussousi metōpon

English · Butler

burst furiously over our fleet; the Argives are driven back on to the beach, cooped within a narrow space, and the whole people of Troy has taken heart to sally out against them, because they see not the visor of my helmet gleaming near them. Had they seen this, there would not have been a creek nor grip that had not been filled with their dead as they fled back again. And so it would have been, if only King Agamemnon had dealt fairly by me.

Homeric Greek

ἐγγύθι λαμπομένης: τάχα κεν φεύγοντες ἐναύλους

πλήσειαν νεκύων, εἴ μοι κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ἤπια εἰδείη: νῦν δὲ στρατὸν ἀμφιμάχονται.

οὐ γὰρ Τυδεί̈δεω Διομήδεος ἐν παλάμῃσι

75μαίνεται ἐγχείη Δαναῶν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι:

Transliteration

enguthi lampomenēs: tacha ken pheugontes enaulous

plēseian nekuōn, ei moi kreiōn Agamemnōn

ēpia eideiē: nun de straton amphimachontai.

ou gar Tudeïdeō Diomēdeos en palamēisi

75mainetai encheiē Danaōn apo loigon amunai:

English · Butler

As it is the Trojans have beset our host. Diomedes son of Tydeus no longer wields his spear to defend the Danaans, neither have I heard the voice of the son of Atreus coming from his hated head, whereas that of murderous Hektor rings in

Homeric Greek

οὐδέ πω Ἀτρεί̈δεω ὀπὸς ἔκλυον αὐδήσαντος

ἐχθρῆς ἐκ κεφαλῆς: ἀλλ' Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο

Τρωσὶ κελεύοντος περιάγνυται, οἳ δ' ἀλαλητῷ

πᾶν πεδίον κατέχουσι μάχῃ νικῶντες Ἀχαιούς.

80ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Πάτροκλε νεῶν ἄπο λοιγὸν ἀμύνων

Transliteration

oude pō Atreïdeō opos ekluon audēsantos

echthrēs ek kephalēs: all' Hektoros androphonoio

Trōsi keleuontos periagnutai, hoi d' alalētōi

pan pedion katechousi machēi nikōntes Achaious.

80alla kai hōs Patrokle neōn apo loigon amunōn

English · Butler

my cars as he gives orders to the Trojans, who triumph over the Achaeans and fill the whole plain with their cry of battle. But even so, Patroklos, fall upon them and save the fleet, lest the Trojans fire it and deprive us of our safe homecoming. Bring to fulfillment what I now order you to

Homeric Greek

ἔμπεσ' ἐπικρατέως, μὴ δὴ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο

νῆας ἐνιπρήσωσι, φίλον δ' ἀπὸ νόστον ἕλωνται.

πείθεο δ' ὥς τοι ἐγὼ μύθου τέλος ἐν φρεσὶ θείω,

ὡς ἄν μοι τιμὴν μεγάλην καὶ κῦδος ἄρηαι

85πρὸς πάντων Δαναῶν, ἀτὰρ οἳ περικαλλέα κούρην

Transliteration

empes' epikrateōs, mē dē puros aithomenoio

nēas eniprēsōsi, philon d' apo noston helōntai.

peitheo d' hōs toi egō muthou telos en phresi theiō,

hōs an moi timēn megalēn kai kudos arēai

85pros pantōn Danaōn, atar hoi perikallea kourēn

English · Butler

do, so that you may win me great honor from all the Danaans, and that they may restore the girl to me again and give me rich gifts into the bargain. When you have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back again. Though Hera's thundering husband should put triumph within

Homeric Greek

ἂψ ἀπονάσσωσιν, ποτὶ δ' ἀγλαὰ δῶρα πόρωσιν.

ἐκ νηῶν ἐλάσας ἰέναι πάλιν: εἰ δέ κεν αὖ τοι

δώῃ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης,

μὴ σύ γ' ἄνευθεν ἐμεῖο λιλαίεσθαι πολεμίζειν

90Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν: ἀτιμότερον δέ με θήσεις:

Transliteration

aps aponassōsin, poti d' aglaa dōra porōsin.

ek nēōn elasas ienai palin: ei de ken au toi

dōēi kudos aresthai erigdoupos posis Hērēs,

mē su g' aneuthen emeio lilaiesthai polemizein

90Trōsi philoptolemoisin: atimoteron de me thēseis:

English · Butler

your reach, do not fight the Trojans further in my absence, or you will rob me of glory that should be mine. And do not for lust of battle go on killing the Trojans nor lead the Achaeans on to Ilion, lest one of

Homeric Greek

μὴ δ' ἐπαγαλλόμενος πολέμῳ καὶ δηϊοτῆτι

Τρῶας ἐναιρόμενος προτὶ Ἴλιον ἡγεμονεύειν,

μή τις ἀπ' Οὐλύμποιο θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

ἐμβήῃ: μάλα τούς γε φιλεῖ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων:

95ἀλλὰ πάλιν τρωπᾶσθαι, ἐπὴν φάος ἐν νήεσσι

Transliteration

mē d' epagallomenos polemōi kai dēïotēti

Trōas enairomenos proti Ilion hēgemoneuein,

mē tis ap' Oulumpoio theōn aieigenetaōn

embēēi: mala tous ge philei hekaergos Apollōn:

95alla palin trōpasthai, epēn phaos en nēessi

English · Butler

the ever-living gods from Olympus attack you - for Phoebus Apollo loves them well: return when you have freed the ships from peril, and let others wage war upon the plain. Would, by father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that not a single man of all the Trojans might

Homeric Greek

θήῃς, τοὺς δ' ἔτ' ἐᾶν πεδίον κάτα δηριάασθαι.

αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον

μήτέ τις οὖν Τρώων θάνατον φύγοι ὅσσοι ἔασι,

μήτέ τις Ἀργείων, νῶϊν δ' ἐκδῦμεν ὄλεθρον,

100ὄφρ' οἶοι Τροίης ἱερὰ κρήδεμνα λύωμεν.

Transliteration

thēēis, tous d' et' ean pedion kata dēriaasthai.

ai gar Zeu te pater kai Athēnaiē kai Apollon

mēte tis oun Trōōn thanaton phugoi hossoi easi,

mēte tis Argeiōn, nōïn d' ekdumen olethron,

100ophr' oioi Troiēs hiera krēdemna luōmen.

English · Butler

be left alive, nor yet of the Argives, but that we two might be alone left to tear aside the mantle that veils the brow of Troy."

Homeric Greek

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

Αἴας δ' οὐκ ἔτ' ἔμιμνε: βιάζετο γὰρ βελέεσσι:

δάμνα μιν Ζηνός τε νόος καὶ Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ

βάλλοντες: δεινὴν δὲ περὶ κροτάφοισι φαεινὴ

105πήληξ βαλλομένη καναχὴν ἔχε, βάλλετο δ' αἰεὶ

Transliteration

hōs hoi men toiauta pros allēlous agoreuon,

Aias d' ouk et' emimne: biazeto gar beleessi:

damna min Zēnos te noos kai Trōes agauoi

ballontes: deinēn de peri krotaphoisi phaeinē

105pēlēx ballomenē kanachēn eche, balleto d' aiei

English · Butler

Thus did they converse. But Ajax could no longer hold his ground for the shower of darts that rained upon him; the will of Zeus and the javelins of the Trojans were too much for him; the helmet that gleamed about his temples rang with the continuous clatter of the missiles that kept pouring on to it and on to the cheek-pieces that protected his face.

Homeric Greek

κὰπ φάλαρ' εὐποίηθ': ὃ δ' ἀριστερὸν ὦμον ἔκαμνεν

ἔμπεδον αἰὲν ἔχων σάκος αἰόλον: οὐδὲ δύναντο

ἀμφ' αὐτῷ πελεμίξαι ἐρείδοντες βελέεσσιν.

αἰεὶ δ' ἀργαλέῳ ἔχετ' ἄσθματι, κὰδ δέ οἱ ἱδρὼς

110πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων πολὺς ἔρρεεν, οὐδέ πῃ εἶχεν

Transliteration

kap phalar' eupoiēth': ho d' aristeron ōmon ekamnen

empedon aien echōn sakos aiolon: oude dunanto

amph' autōi pelemixai ereidontes beleessin.

aiei d' argaleōi echet' asthmati, kad de hoi hidrōs

110pantothen ek meleōn polus erreen, oude pēi eichen

English · Butler

Moreover his left shoulder was tired with having held his shield so long, yet for all this, let fly at him as they would, they could not make him give ground. He could hardly draw his breath, the sweat rained from every pore of his body, he had not a moment's respite, and on all

Homeric Greek

ἀμπνεῦσαι: πάντῃ δὲ κακὸν κακῷ ἐστήρικτο.

ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχουσαι,

ὅππως δὴ πρῶτον πῦρ ἔμπεσε νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

Ἕκτωρ Αἴαντος δόρυ μείλινον ἄγχι παραστὰς

115πλῆξ' ἄορι μεγάλῳ αἰχμῆς παρὰ καυλὸν ὄπισθεν,

Transliteration

ampneusai: pantēi de kakon kakōi estērikto.

espete nun moi Mousai Olumpia dōmat' echousai,

hoppōs dē prōton pur empese nēusin Achaiōn.

Hektōr Aiantos doru meilinon anchi parastas

115plēx' aori megalōi aichmēs para kaulon opisthen,

English · Butler

sides he was beset by danger upon danger. And now, tell me, O Muses that hold your mansions on Olympus, how fire was thrown upon the ships of the Achaeans. Hektor came close up and let drive with his great sword at the ashen spear of Ajax. He cut it clean in two just behind where the point was fastened on to the shaft of the spear. Ajax, therefore, had now nothing but a headless

Homeric Greek

ἀντικρὺ δ' ἀπάραξε: τὸ μὲν Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

πῆλ' αὔτως ἐν χειρὶ κόλον δόρυ, τῆλε δ' ἀπ' αὐτοῦ

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη χαμάδις βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.

γνῶ δ' Αἴας κατὰ θυμὸν ἀμύμονα ῥίγησέν τε

120ἔργα θεῶν, ὅ ῥα πάγχυ μάχης ἐπὶ μήδεα κεῖρε

Transliteration

antikru d' aparaxe: to men Telamōnios Aias

pēl' autōs en cheiri kolon doru, tēle d' ap' autou

aichmē chalkeiē chamadis bombēse pesousa.

gnō d' Aias kata thumon amumona rhigēsen te

120erga theōn, ho rha panchu machēs epi mēdea keire

English · Butler

spear, while the bronze point flew some way off and came ringing down on to the ground. Ajax knew the hand of heaven in this, and was dismayed at seeing that Zeus had now left him utterly defenseless and was willing victory for the Trojans. Therefore he drew back, and

Homeric Greek

Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην:

χάζετο δ' ἐκ βελέων. τοὶ δ' ἔμβαλον ἀκάματον πῦρ

νηὶ̈ θοῇ: τῆς δ' αἶψα κατ' ἀσβέστη κέχυτο φλόξ.

ὣς τὴν μὲν πρυμνὴν πῦρ ἄμφεπεν: αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

125μηρὼ πληξάμενος Πατροκλῆα προσέειπεν:

Transliteration

Zeus hupsibremetēs, Trōessi de bouleto nikēn:

chazeto d' ek beleōn. toi d' embalon akamaton pur

nēï thoēi: tēs d' aipsa kat' asbestē kechuto phlox.

hōs tēn men prumnēn pur amphepen: autar Achilleus

125mērō plēxamenos Patroklēa proseeipen:

English · Butler

the Trojans flung fire upon the ship which was at once wrapped in flame. The fire was now flaring about the ship's stern, whereon Achilles smote his two thighs and said to Patroklos, "Up, noble horseman, for I see the glare of hostile fire at our fleet; up, lest they destroy our ships, and there be no way by which we may retreat. Gird on

Homeric Greek

ὄρσεο διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε:

λεύσσω δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶ πυρὸς δηί̈οιο ἰωήν:

μὴ δὴ νῆας ἕλωσι καὶ οὐκέτι φυκτὰ πέλωνται:

δύσεο τεύχεα θᾶσσον, ἐγὼ δέ κε λαὸν ἀγείρω.

130ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.

Transliteration

orseo diogenes Patroklees hippokeleuthe:

leussō dē para nēusi puros dēïoio iōēn:

mē dē nēas helōsi kai ouketi phukta pelōntai:

duseo teuchea thasson, egō de ke laon ageirō.

130hōs phato, Patroklos de korusseto nōropi chalkōi.

English · Butler

your armor at once while I call our people together."

Homeric Greek

κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε

καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας:

δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνε

ποικίλον ἀστερόεντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.

135ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

Transliteration

knēmidas men prōta peri knēmēisin ethēke

kalas, argureoisin episphuriois araruias:

deuteron au thōrēka peri stēthessin edune

poikilon asteroenta podōkeos Aiakidao.

135amphi d' ar' ōmoisin baleto xiphos arguroēlon

English · Butler

As he spoke Patroklos put on his armor. First he greaved his legs with greaves of good make, and fitted with ankle-clasps of silver; after this he donned the cuirass of the son of Aiakos, richly inlaid and studded. He hung his silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty shield. On his comely head he set his

Homeric Greek

χάλκεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε:

κρατὶ δ' ἐπ' ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν

ἵππουριν: δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν.

εἵλετο δ' ἄλκιμα δοῦρε, τά οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει.

140ἔγχος δ' οὐχ ἕλετ' οἶον ἀμύμονος Αἰακίδαο

Transliteration

chalkeon, autar epeita sakos mega te stibaron te:

krati d' ep' iphthimōi kuneēn eutukton ethēken

hippourin: deinon de lophos kathuperthen eneuen.

heileto d' alkima doure, ta hoi palamēphin arērei.

140enchos d' ouch helet' oion amumonos Aiakidao

English · Butler

helmet, well wrought, with a crest of horse-hair that nodded menacingly above it. He grasped two redoubtable spears that suited his hands, but he did not take the spear of noble Achilles, so stout and strong,

Homeric Greek

βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν: τὸ μὲν οὐ δύνατ' ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν

πάλλειν, ἀλλά μιν οἶος ἐπίστατο πῆλαι Ἀχιλλεὺς

Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων

Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς, φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν.

145ἵππους δ' Αὐτομέδοντα θοῶς ζευγνῦμεν ἄνωγε,

Transliteration

brithu mega stibaron: to men ou dunat' allos Achaiōn

pallein, alla min oios epistato pēlai Achilleus

Pēliada meliēn, tēn patri philōi pore Cheirōn

Pēliou ek koruphēs, phonon emmenai hērōessin.

145hippous d' Automedonta thoōs zeugnumen anōge,

English · Butler

for none other of the Achaeans could wield it, though Achilles could do so easily. This was the ashen spear from Mount Pelion, which Chiron had cut upon a mountain top and had given to Peleus, wherewith to deal out death among heroes. He bade Automedon yoke his horses with all speed, for he was the man whom he held in honor next after Achilles, and on whose support in battle he could rely most firmly.

Homeric Greek

τὸν μετ' Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα τῖε μάλιστα,

πιστότατος δέ οἱ ἔσκε μάχῃ ἔνι μεῖναι ὁμοκλήν.

τῷ δὲ καὶ Αὐτομέδων ὕπαγε ζυγὸν ὠκέας ἵππους

Ξάνθον καὶ Βαλίον, τὼ ἅμα πνοιῇσι πετέσθην,

150τοὺς ἔτεκε Ζεφύρῳ ἀνέμῳ Ἅρπυια Ποδάργη

Transliteration

ton met' Achillēa rhēxēnora tie malista,

pistotatos de hoi eske machēi eni meinai homoklēn.

tōi de kai Automedōn hupage zugon ōkeas hippous

Xanthon kai Balion, tō hama pnoiēisi petesthēn,

150tous eteke Zephurōi anemōi Harpuia Podargē

English · Butler

Automedon therefore yoked the fleet horses Xanthos and Balios, steeds that could fly like the wind: these were they whom the harpy Podarge bore to the west wind, as she was grazing in a meadow by the waters of the river Okeanos. In the side traces he set the noble horse Pedasos, whom Achilles had brought

Homeric Greek

βοσκομένη λειμῶνι παρὰ ῥόον Ὠκεανοῖο.

ἐν δὲ παρηορίῃσιν ἀμύμονα Πήδασον ἵει,

τόν ῥά ποτ' Ἠετίωνος ἑλὼν πόλιν ἤγαγ' Ἀχιλλεύς,

ὃς καὶ θνητὸς ἐὼν ἕπεθ' ἵπποις ἀθανάτοισι.

155Μυρμιδόνας δ' ἄρ' ἐποιχόμενος θώρηξεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

Transliteration

boskomenē leimōni para rhoon Ōkeanoio.

en de parēoriēisin amumona Pēdason hiei,

ton rha pot' Ēetiōnos helōn polin ēgag' Achilleus,

hos kai thnētos eōn hepeth' hippois athanatoisi.

155Murmidonas d' ar' epoichomenos thōrēxen Achilleus

English · Butler

away with him when he sacked the city of Eetion, and who, mortal steed though he was, could take his place along with those that were immortal. Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents, and bade his Myrmidons put on their armor.

Homeric Greek

πάντας ἀνὰ κλισίας σὺν τεύχεσιν: οἳ δὲ λύκοι ὣς

ὠμοφάγοι, τοῖσίν τε περὶ φρεσὶν ἄσπετος ἀλκή,

οἵ τ' ἔλαφον κεραὸν μέγαν οὔρεσι δῃώσαντες

δάπτουσιν: πᾶσιν δὲ παρήϊον αἵματι φοινόν:

160καί τ' ἀγεληδὸν ἴασιν ἀπὸ κρήνης μελανύδρου

Transliteration

pantas ana klisias sun teuchesin: hoi de lukoi hōs

ōmophagoi, toisin te peri phresin aspetos alkē,

hoi t' elaphon keraon megan ouresi dēiōsantes

daptousin: pasin de parēïon haimati phoinon:

160kai t' agelēdon iasin apo krēnēs melanudrou

English · Butler

Meanwhile Achilles went about everywhere among the tents, and bade his Myrmidons put on their armor. Even as fierce ravening wolves that are feasting upon a horned stag which they have killed upon the mountains, and their jaws are red with blood - they go in a pack to lap water from the clear spring with their long thin tongues; and they reek of blood and slaughter;

Homeric Greek

λάψοντες γλώσσῃσιν ἀραιῇσιν μέλαν ὕδωρ

ἄκρον ἐρευγόμενοι φόνον αἵματος: ἐν δέ τε θυμὸς

στήθεσιν ἄτρομός ἐστι, περιστένεται δέ τε γαστήρ:

τοῖοι Μυρμιδόνων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

165ἀμφ' ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

Transliteration

lapsontes glōssēisin araiēisin melan hudōr

akron ereugomenoi phonon haimatos: en de te thumos

stēthesin atromos esti, peristenetai de te gastēr:

toioi Murmidonōn hēgētores ēde medontes

165amph' agathon theraponta podōkeos Aiakidao

English · Butler

they know not what fear is, for it is hunger drives them - even so did the leaders and counselors of the Myrmidons gather round the good squire of the fleet descendant of

Homeric Greek

ῥώοντ': ἐν δ' ἄρα τοῖσιν ἀρήϊος ἵστατ' Ἀχιλλεύς,

ὀτρύνων ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας.

πεντήκοντ' ἦσαν νῆες θοαί, ᾗσιν Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐς Τροίην ἡγεῖτο Διὶ̈ φίλος: ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ

170πεντήκοντ' ἔσαν ἄνδρες ἐπὶ κληῖ̈σιν ἑταῖροι:

Transliteration

rhōont': en d' ara toisin arēïos histat' Achilleus,

otrunōn hippous te kai aneras aspidiōtas.

pentēkont' ēsan nēes thoai, hēisin Achilleus

es Troiēn hēgeito Diï philos: en de hekastēi

170pentēkont' esan andres epi klēïsin hetairoi:

English · Butler

Aiakos, and among them stood Achilles himself cheering on both men and horses. Fifty ships had noble Achilles brought to Troy, and in each there was a crew of fifty oarsmen. Over these he set five leaders whom he could trust, while he was himself commander over them all. Menesthios of the gleaming corselet, son to the river Spercheios that streams from heaven, was leader of the first company.

Homeric Greek

πέντε δ' ἄρ' ἡγεμόνας ποιήσατο τοῖς ἐπεποίθει

σημαίνειν: αὐτὸς δὲ μέγα κρατέων ἤνασσε.

τῆς μὲν ἰῆς στιχὸς ἦρχε Μενέσθιος αἰολοθώρηξ

υἱὸς Σπερχειοῖο διιπετέος ποταμοῖο:

175ὃν τέκε Πηλῆος θυγάτηρ καλὴ Πολυδώρη

Transliteration

pente d' ar' hēgemonas poiēsato tois epepoithei

sēmainein: autos de mega krateōn ēnasse.

tēs men iēs stichos ērche Menesthios aiolothōrēx

huios Spercheioio diipeteos potamoio:

175hon teke Pēlēos thugatēr kalē Poludōrē

English · Butler

Fair Polydora daughter of Peleus bore him to ever-flowing Spercheios - a woman mated with a god - but he was called son of Boros son of Perieres, with whom his mother was

Homeric Greek

Σπερχειῷ ἀκάμαντι γυνὴ θεῷ εὐνηθεῖσα,

αὐτὰρ ἐπίκλησιν Βώρῳ Περιήρεος υἷι,

ὅς ῥ' ἀναφανδὸν ὄπυιε πορὼν ἀπερείσια ἕδνα.

τῆς δ' ἑτέρης Εὔδωρος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε

180παρθένιος, τὸν ἔτικτε χορῷ καλὴ Πολυμήλη

Transliteration

Spercheiōi akamanti gunē theōi eunētheisa,

autar epiklēsin Bōrōi Periēreos huii,

hos rh' anaphandon opuie porōn apereisia hedna.

tēs d' heterēs Eudōros arēïos hēgemoneue

180parthenios, ton etikte chorōi kalē Polumēlē

English · Butler

living as his wedded wife, and who gave great wealth to gain her. The second company was led by noble Eudoros, son to an unwedded woman. Polymele, daughter of Phylas, graceful in dancing, bore him; the mighty slayer of Argos was enamored of her as

Homeric Greek

Φύλαντος θυγάτηρ: τῆς δὲ κρατὺς ἀργεϊφόντης

ἠράσατ', ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδὼν μετὰ μελπομένῃσιν

ἐν χορῷ Ἀρτέμιδος χρυσηλακάτου κελαδεινῆς.

αὐτίκα δ' εἰς ὑπερῷ' ἀναβὰς παρελέξατο λάθρῃ

185Ἑρμείας ἀκάκητα, πόρεν δέ οἱ ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν

Transliteration

Phulantos thugatēr: tēs de kratus argeïphontēs

ērasat', ophthalmoisin idōn meta melpomenēisin

en chorōi Artemidos chrusēlakatou keladeinēs.

autika d' eis huperōi' anabas parelexato lathrēi

185Hermeias akakēta, poren de hoi aglaon huion

English · Butler

he saw her among the singing women at a dance held in honor of Artemis the rushing huntress of the golden arrows; he therefore - Hermes, giver of all good - went with her into an upper chamber, and lay with her in secret, whereon she bore him a noble son Eudoros, singularly fleet of foot and in fight valiant. When Eileithuia goddess of the pains of child-birth

Homeric Greek

Εὔδωρον πέρι μὲν θείειν ταχὺν ἠδὲ μαχητήν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια

ἐξάγαγε πρὸ φόως δὲ καὶ ἠελίου ἴδεν αὐγάς,

τὴν μὲν Ἐχεκλῆος κρατερὸν μένος Ἀκτορίδαο

190ἠγάγετο πρὸς δώματ', ἐπεὶ πόρε μυρία ἕδνα,

Transliteration

Eudōron peri men theiein tachun ēde machētēn.

autar epei dē ton ge mogostokos Eileithuia

exagage pro phoōs de kai ēeliou iden augas,

tēn men Echeklēos krateron menos Aktoridao

190ēgageto pros dōmat', epei pore muria hedna,

English · Butler

brought him to the light of day, and he saw the face of the sun, mighty Echekles son of Aktor took the mother to wife, and gave great wealth to gain her, but her father Phylas brought the child up,

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' ὃ γέρων Φύλας εὖ ἔτρεφεν ἠδ' ἀτίταλλεν

ἀμφαγαπαζόμενος ὡς εἴ θ' ἑὸν υἱὸν ἐόντα.

τῆς δὲ τρίτης Πείσανδρος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε

Μαιμαλίδης, ὃς πᾶσι μετέπρεπε Μυρμιδόνεσσιν

195ἔγχεϊ μάρνασθαι μετὰ Πηλεί̈ωνος ἑταῖρον.

Transliteration

ton d' ho gerōn Phulas eu etrephen ēd' atitallen

amphagapazomenos hōs ei th' heon huion eonta.

tēs de tritēs Peisandros arēïos hēgemoneue

Maimalidēs, hos pasi meteprepe Murmidonessin

195encheï marnasthai meta Pēleïōnos hetairon.

English · Butler

and took care of him, doting as fondly upon him as though he were his own son. The third company was led by Peisandros son of Maimalos, the finest spearman among all the Myrmidons next to Achilles' own comrade Patroklos. The old horseman Phoenix was leader of the fourth company,

Homeric Greek

τῆς δὲ τετάρτης ἦρχε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξ,

πέμπτης δ' Ἀλκιμέδων Λαέρκεος υἱὸς ἀμύμων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντας ἅμ' ἡγεμόνεσσιν Ἀχιλλεὺς

στῆσεν ἐὺ̈ κρίνας, κρατερὸν δ' ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε:

200Μυρμιδόνες μή τίς μοι ἀπειλάων λελαθέσθω,

Transliteration

tēs de tetartēs ērche gerōn hippēlata Phoinix,

pemptēs d' Alkimedōn Laerkeos huios amumōn.

autar epei dē pantas ham' hēgemonessin Achilleus

stēsen eü krinas, krateron d' epi muthon etelle:

200Murmidones mē tis moi apeilaōn lelathesthō,

English · Butler

and Alkimedon, noble son of Laerceus of the fifth. When Achilles had chosen his men and had stationed them all with their leaders, he charged them straitly saying, "Myrmidons, remember your threats against the Trojans while you were at the ships in the time of my anger, and you were all complaining of me. ‘Cruel son of Peleus,’ you would say, ‘your mother must have suckled you on gall, so ruthless are you. You keep us here at the ships against our will;

Homeric Greek

ἃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἀπειλεῖτε Τρώεσσι

πάνθ' ὑπὸ μηνιθμόν, καί μ' ᾐτιάασθε ἕκαστος:

σχέτλιε Πηλέος υἱὲ χόλῳ ἄρα σ' ἔτρεφε μήτηρ,

νηλεές, ὃς παρὰ νηυσὶν ἔχεις ἀέκοντας ἑταίρους:

205οἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν

Transliteration

has epi nēusi thoēisin apeileite Trōessi

panth' hupo mēnithmon, kai m' ēitiaasthe hekastos:

schetlie Pēleos huie cholōi ara s' etrephe mētēr,

nēlees, hos para nēusin echeis aekontas hetairous:

205oikade per sun nēusi neōmetha pontoporoisin

English · Butler

if you are so relentless it were better we went home over the sea.’ Often have you gathered and thus chided with me. The hour is now come for those high feats of arms that you have so

Homeric Greek

αὖτις, ἐπεί ῥά τοι ὧδε κακὸς χόλος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.

ταῦτά μ' ἀγειρόμενοι θάμ' ἐβάζετε: νῦν δὲ πέφανται

φυλόπιδος μέγα ἔργον, ἕης τὸ πρίν γ' ἐράασθε.

ἔνθά τις ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχων Τρώεσσι μαχέσθω.

210ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

Transliteration

autis, epei rha toi hōde kakos cholos empese thumōi.

tauta m' ageiromenoi tham' ebazete: nun de pephantai

phulopidos mega ergon, heēs to prin g' eraasthe.

entha tis alkimon ētor echōn Trōessi machesthō.

210hōs eipōn otrune menos kai thumon hekastou.

English · Butler

long been pining for, therefore keep high hearts each one of you to do battle with the Trojans." With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they serried their companies yet more closely when they heard the of their king.

Homeric Greek

μᾶλλον δὲ στίχες ἄρθεν, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆος ἄκουσαν.

ὡς δ' ὅτε τοῖχον ἀνὴρ ἀράρῃ πυκινοῖσι λίθοισι

δώματος ὑψηλοῖο βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων,

ὣς ἄραρον κόρυθές τε καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι.

215ἀσπὶς ἄρ' ἀσπίδ' ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δ' ἀνήρ:

Transliteration

mallon de stiches arthen, epei basilēos akousan.

hōs d' hote toichon anēr ararēi pukinoisi lithoisi

dōmatos hupsēloio bias anemōn aleeinōn,

hōs araron koruthes te kai aspides omphaloessai.

215aspis ar' aspid' ereide, korus korun, anera d' anēr:

English · Butler

With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they serried their companies yet more closely when they heard the of their king. As the stones which a builder sets in the wall of some high house which is to give shelter from the winds - even so closely were the helmets and bossed shields set against one another. Shield pressed on shield, helm on helm, and man on man; so close were they that the horse-hair plumes

Homeric Greek

ψαῦον δ' ἱππόκομοι κόρυθες λαμπροῖσι φάλοισι

νευόντων, ὡς πυκνοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισι.

πάντων δὲ προπάροιθε δύ' ἀνέρε θωρήσσοντο

Πάτροκλός τε καὶ Αὐτομέδων ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες

220πρόσθεν Μυρμιδόνων πολεμιζέμεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

Transliteration

psauon d' hippokomoi koruthes lamproisi phaloisi

neuontōn, hōs puknoi ephestasan allēloisi.

pantōn de proparoithe du' anere thōrēssonto

Patroklos te kai Automedōn hena thumon echontes

220prosthen Murmidonōn polemizemen. autar Achilleus

English · Butler

on the gleaming ridges of their helmets touched each other as they bent their heads. In front of them all two men put on their armor - Patroklos and Automedon - two men, with but one mind to lead the Myrmidons. Then Achilles went inside his tent and opened the lid of the strong chest which silver-footed Thetis had given him

Homeric Greek

βῆ ῥ' ἴμεν ἐς κλισίην, χηλοῦ δ' ἀπὸ πῶμ' ἀνέῳγε

καλῆς δαιδαλέης, τήν οἱ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα

θῆκ' ἐπὶ νηὸς ἄγεσθαι ἐὺ̈ πλήσασα χιτώνων

χλαινάων τ' ἀνεμοσκεπέων οὔλων τε ταπήτων.

225ἔνθα δέ οἱ δέπας ἔσκε τετυγμένον, οὐδέ τις ἄλλος

Transliteration

bē rh' imen es klisiēn, chēlou d' apo pōm' aneōige

kalēs daidaleēs, tēn hoi Thetis arguropeza

thēk' epi nēos agesthai eü plēsasa chitōnōn

chlainaōn t' anemoskepeōn oulōn te tapētōn.

225entha de hoi depas eske tetugmenon, oude tis allos

English · Butler

to take on board ship, and which she had filled with shirts, cloaks to keep out the cold, and good thick rugs. In this chest he had a cup of rare workmanship, from which no man but himself might drink, nor would he make offering from it to any other god save only to father Zeus. He took the cup from the chest and cleansed it with sulfur;

Homeric Greek

οὔτ' ἀνδρῶν πίνεσκεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ αἴθοπα οἶνον,

οὔτέ τεῳ σπένδεσκε θεῶν, ὅτε μὴ Διὶ πατρί.

τό ῥα τότ' ἐκ χηλοῖο λαβὼν ἐκάθηρε θεείῳ

πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δ' ἔνιψ' ὕδατος καλῇσι ῥοῇσι,

230νίψατο δ' αὐτὸς χεῖρας, ἀφύσσατο δ' αἴθοπα οἶνον.

Transliteration

out' andrōn pinesken ap' autou aithopa oinon,

oute teōi spendeske theōn, hote mē Dii patri.

to rha tot' ek chēloio labōn ekathēre theeiōi

prōton, epeita d' enips' hudatos kalēisi rhoēisi,

230nipsato d' autos cheiras, aphussato d' aithopa oinon.

English · Butler

this done he rinsed it clean water, and after he had washed his hands he drew wine. Then he stood in the middle of the court and prayed, looking towards heaven, and making his drink-offering of wine; nor was he unseen of Zeus whose joy is in thunder. "King Zeus," he cried, "lord of Dodona, god of the Pelasgi, you who dwell afar, you who hold

Homeric Greek

εὔχετ' ἔπειτα στὰς μέσῳ ἕρκεϊ, λεῖβε δὲ οἶνον

οὐρανὸν εἰσανιδών: Δία δ' οὐ λάθε τερπικέραυνον:

Ζεῦ ἄνα Δωδωναῖε Πελασγικὲ τηλόθι ναίων

Δωδώνης μεδέων δυσχειμέρου, ἀμφὶ δὲ Σελλοὶ

235σοὶ ναίουσ' ὑποφῆται ἀνιπτόποδες χαμαιεῦναι,

Transliteration

euchet' epeita stas mesōi herkeï, leibe de oinon

ouranon eisanidōn: Dia d' ou lathe terpikeraunon:

Zeu ana Dōdōnaie Pelasgike tēlothi naiōn

Dōdōnēs medeōn duscheimerou, amphi de Selloi

235soi naious' hupophētai aniptopodes chamaieunai,

English · Butler

wintry Dodona in your sway, where your seers the Selloi dwell around you with their feet unwashed and their couches made upon the ground - if you heard me when I prayed to you aforetime, and did me honor while you sent disaster on the Achaeans, grant me now the fulfillment of yet this further prayer.

Homeric Greek

ἠμὲν δή ποτ' ἐμὸν ἔπος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο,

τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δ' ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν,

ἠδ' ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδ' ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ:

αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἐγὼ μενέω νηῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι,

240ἀλλ' ἕταρον πέμπω πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι

Transliteration

ēmen dē pot' emon epos eklues euxamenoio,

timēsas men eme, mega d' ipsao laon Achaiōn,

ēd' eti kai nun moi tod' epikrēēnon eeldōr:

autos men gar egō meneō nēōn en agōni,

240all' hetaron pempō polesin meta Murmidonessi

English · Butler

I shall stay here where my assembly of ships are lying, but I shall send my comrade into battle at the head of many Myrmidons. Grant, O all-seeing Zeus, that victory may go with him; put your courage into his heart that Hektor may learn whether my squire is

Homeric Greek

μάρνασθαι: τῷ κῦδος ἅμα πρόες εὐρύοπα Ζεῦ,

θάρσυνον δέ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ

εἴσεται ἤ ῥα καὶ οἶος ἐπίστηται πολεμίζειν

ἡμέτερος θεράπων, ἦ οἱ τότε χεῖρες ἄαπτοι

245μαίνονθ', ὁππότ' ἐγώ περ ἴω μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος.

Transliteration

marnasthai: tōi kudos hama proes euruopa Zeu,

tharsunon de hoi ētor eni phresin, ophra kai Hektōr

eisetai ē rha kai oios epistētai polemizein

hēmeteros therapōn, ē hoi tote cheires aaptoi

245mainonth', hoppot' egō per iō meta mōlon Arēos.

English · Butler

man enough to fight alone, or whether his might is only then so indomitable when I myself enter the turmoil of war. Afterwards when he has chased the fight and the cry of battle from the ships,

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κ' ἀπὸ ναῦφι μάχην ἐνοπήν τε δίηται,

ἀσκηθής μοι ἔπειτα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκοιτο

τεύχεσί τε ξὺν πᾶσι καὶ ἀγχεμάχοις ἑτάροισιν.

ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε μητίετα Ζεύς.

250τῷ δ' ἕτερον μὲν ἔδωκε πατήρ, ἕτερον δ' ἀνένευσε:

Transliteration

autar epei k' apo nauphi machēn enopēn te diētai,

askēthēs moi epeita thoas epi nēas hikoito

teuchesi te xun pasi kai anchemachois hetaroisin.

hōs ephat' euchomenos, tou d' eklue mētieta Zeus.

250tōi d' heteron men edōke patēr, heteron d' aneneuse:

English · Butler

grant that he may return unharmed, with his armor and his comrades, fighters in close combat." Thus did he pray, and all-counseling Zeus heard his prayer. Part of it he did indeed grant him - but not the whole.

Homeric Greek

νηῶν μέν οἱ ἀπώσασθαι πόλεμόν τε μάχην τε

δῶκε, σόον δ' ἀνένευσε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν σπείσας τε καὶ εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ

ἂψ κλισίην εἰσῆλθε, δέπας δ' ἀπέθηκ' ἐνὶ χηλῷ,

255στῆ δὲ πάροιθ' ἐλθὼν κλισίης, ἔτι δ' ἤθελε θυμῷ

Transliteration

nēōn men hoi apōsasthai polemon te machēn te

dōke, soon d' aneneuse machēs exaponeesthai.

ētoi ho men speisas te kai euxamenos Dii patri

aps klisiēn eisēlthe, depas d' apethēk' eni chēlōi,

255stē de paroith' elthōn klisiēs, eti d' ēthele thumōi

English · Butler

He granted that Patroklos should thrust back war and battle from the ships, but refused to let him come safely out of the fight. When he had made his drink-offering and had thus prayed, Achilles went inside his tent and put back the cup into his chest. Then he again came out, for he still loved to look

Homeric Greek

εἰσιδέειν Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπιν αἰνήν.

οἳ δ' ἅμα Πατρόκλῳ μεγαλήτορι θωρηχθέντες

ἔστιχον, ὄφρ' ἐν Τρωσὶ μέγα φρονέοντες ὄρουσαν.

αὐτίκα δὲ σφήκεσσιν ἐοικότες ἐξεχέοντο

260εἰνοδίοις, οὓς παῖδες ἐριδμαίνωσιν ἔθοντες

Transliteration

eisideein Trōōn kai Achaiōn phulopin ainēn.

hoi d' hama Patroklōi megalētori thōrēchthentes

estichon, ophr' en Trōsi mega phroneontes orousan.

autika de sphēkessin eoikotes execheonto

260einodiois, hous paides eridmainōsin ethontes

English · Butler

upon the fierce fight that raged between the Trojans and Achaeans. Meanwhile the armed band that was about Patroklos marched on till they sprang high in hope upon the Trojans. They came swarming out like wasps whose nests are by the roadside, and whom silly children love to tease, whereon any one who happens to be passing

Homeric Greek

αἰεὶ κερτομέοντες ὁδῷ ἔπι οἰκί' ἔχοντας

νηπίαχοι: ξυνὸν δὲ κακὸν πολέεσσι τιθεῖσι.

τοὺς δ' εἴ περ παρά τίς τε κιὼν ἄνθρωπος ὁδίτης

κινήσῃ ἀέκων, οἳ δ' ἄλκιμον ἦτορ ἔχοντες

265πρόσσω πᾶς πέτεται καὶ ἀμύνει οἷσι τέκεσσι.

Transliteration

aiei kertomeontes hodōi epi oiki' echontas

nēpiachoi: xunon de kakon poleessi titheisi.

tous d' ei per para tis te kiōn anthrōpos hoditēs

kinēsēi aekōn, hoi d' alkimon ētor echontes

265prossō pas petetai kai amunei hoisi tekessi.

English · Butler

may get stung - or again, if a wayfarer going along the road vexes them by accident, every wasp will come flying out in a fury to defend his little ones- even with such rage and courage did the Myrmidons swarm from their ships, and their cry of battle rose heavenwards.

Homeric Greek

τῶν τότε Μυρμιδόνες κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες

ἐκ νηῶν ἐχέοντο: βοὴ δ' ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.

Πάτροκλος δ' ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀύ̈σας:

Μυρμιδόνες ἕταροι Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

270ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,

Transliteration

tōn tote Murmidones kradiēn kai thumon echontes

ek nēōn echeonto: boē d' asbestos orōrei.

Patroklos d' hetaroisin ekekleto makron aüsas:

Murmidones hetaroi Pēlēïadeō Achilēos

270aneres este philoi, mnēsasthe de thouridos alkēs,

English · Butler

Patroklos called out to his men at the top of his voice, "Myrmidons, followers of Achilles son of Peleus, be men my friends, fight with might and with main, that we may win glory for the son of Peleus, who is far the foremost man

Homeric Greek

ὡς ἂν Πηλεί̈δην τιμήσομεν, ὃς μέγ' ἄριστος

Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες,

γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεί̈δης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ἣν ἄτην, ὅ τ' ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν.

275ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου,

Transliteration

hōs an Pēleïdēn timēsomen, hos meg' aristos

Argeiōn para nēusi kai anchemachoi therapontes,

gnōi de kai Atreïdēs euru kreiōn Agamemnōn

hēn atēn, ho t' ariston Achaiōn ouden etisen.

275hōs eipōn otrune menos kai thumon hekastou,

English · Butler

at the ships of the Argives - he, and his close fighting followers. The son of Atreus King Agamemnon will thus recognize his derangement in showing no respect to the bravest of the Achaeans." With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they fell in a body upon the Trojans.

Homeric Greek

ἐν δ' ἔπεσον Τρώεσσιν ἀολλέες: ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες

σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν.

Τρῶες δ' ὡς εἴδοντο Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν

αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι μαρμαίροντας,

280πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός, ἐκίνηθεν δὲ φάλαγγες

Transliteration

en d' epeson Trōessin aollees: amphi de nēes

smerdaleon konabēsan aüsantōn hup' Achaiōn.

Trōes d' hōs eidonto Menoitiou alkimon huion

auton kai theraponta sun entesi marmairontas,

280pasin orinthē thumos, ekinēthen de phalanges

English · Butler

With these words he put heart and soul into them all, and they fell in a body upon the Trojans. The ships rang again with the cry which the Achaeans raised, and when the Trojans saw the brave son of Menoitios and his squire all gleaming in their armor, they were daunted and their battalions were thrown into confusion, for they thought the fleet son of

Homeric Greek

ἐλπόμενοι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεί̈ωνα

μηνιθμὸν μὲν ἀπορρῖψαι, φιλότητα δ' ἑλέσθαι:

πάπτηνεν δὲ ἕκαστος ὅπῃ φύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.

Πάτροκλος δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

285ἀντικρὺ κατὰ μέσσον, ὅθι πλεῖστοι κλονέοντο,

Transliteration

elpomenoi para nauphi podōkea Pēleïōna

mēnithmon men aporripsai, philotēta d' helesthai:

paptēnen de hekastos hopēi phugoi aipun olethron.

Patroklos de prōtos akontise douri phaeinōi

285antikru kata messon, hothi pleistoi kloneonto,

English · Butler

Peleus must now have put aside his anger, and have been reconciled to Agamemnon; every one, therefore, looked round about to see whither he might flee for safety. Patroklos first aimed a spear into the middle of the press where men were packed most closely, by the stern of the ship of Protesilaos. He hit Pyraikhmes who had led his Paeonian horsemen from the Amydon and the broad waters of the river Axios;

Homeric Greek

νηὶ̈ πάρα πρυμνῇ μεγαθύμου Πρωτεσιλάου,

καὶ βάλε Πυραίχμην, ὃς Παίονας ἱπποκορυστὰς

ἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπ' Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος:

τὸν βάλε δεξιὸν ὦμον: ὃ δ' ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι

290κάππεσεν οἰμώξας, ἕταροι δέ μιν ἀμφεφόβηθεν

Transliteration

nēï para prumnēi megathumou Prōtesilaou,

kai bale Puraichmēn, hos Paionas hippokorustas

ēgagen ex Amudōnos ap' Axiou euru rheontos:

ton bale dexion ōmon: ho d' huptios en koniēisi

290kappesen oimōxas, hetaroi de min amphephobēthen

English · Butler

the spear struck him on the right shoulder, and with a groan he fell backwards in the dust; on this his men were thrown into confusion, for by killing their leader, who was the finest warrior among them, Patroklos struck panic into them all. He thus drove them from the ship and quenched the fire that was then blazing - leaving the half-burnt ship to lie where it was.

Homeric Greek

Παίονες: ἐν γὰρ Πάτροκλος φόβον ἧκεν ἅπασιν

ἡγεμόνα κτείνας, ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.

ἐκ νηῶν δ' ἔλασεν, κατὰ δ' ἔσβεσεν αἰθόμενον πῦρ.

ἡμιδαὴς δ' ἄρα νηῦς λίπετ' αὐτόθι: τοὶ δὲ φόβηθεν

295Τρῶες θεσπεσίῳ ὁμάδῳ: Δαναοὶ δ' ἐπέχυντο

Transliteration

Paiones: en gar Patroklos phobon hēken hapasin

hēgemona kteinas, hos aristeueske machesthai.

ek nēōn d' elasen, kata d' esbesen aithomenon pur.

hēmidaēs d' ara nēus lipet' autothi: toi de phobēthen

295Trōes thespesiōi homadōi: Danaoi d' epechunto

English · Butler

The Trojans were now driven back with a shout that rent the skies, while the Danaans poured after them from their ships, shouting also without ceasing. As when Zeus, gatherer of the thunder-cloud, spreads a dense canopy on the top of some lofty mountain, and all the

Homeric Greek

νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς: ὅμαδος δ' ἀλίαστος ἐτύχθη.

ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἀφ' ὑψηλῆς κορυφῆς ὄρεος μεγάλοιο

κινήσῃ πυκινὴν νεφέλην στεροπηγερέτα Ζεύς,

ἔκ τ' ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι

300καὶ νάπαι, οὐρανόθεν δ' ἄρ' ὑπερράγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ,

Transliteration

nēas ana glaphuras: homados d' aliastos etuchthē.

hōs d' hot' aph' hupsēlēs koruphēs oreos megaloio

kinēsēi pukinēn nephelēn steropēgereta Zeus,

ek t' ephanen pasai skopiai kai prōones akroi

300kai napai, ouranothen d' ar' huperragē aspetos aithēr,

English · Butler

peaks, the jutting headlands, and forest glades show out in the great light that flashes from the bursting heavens, even so when the Danaans had now driven back the fire from their ships, they took breath for a little while; but the fury of the fight

Homeric Greek

ὣς Δαναοὶ νηῶν μὲν ἀπωσάμενοι δήϊον πῦρ

τυτθὸν ἀνέπνευσαν, πολέμου δ' οὐ γίγνετ' ἐρωή:

οὐ γάρ πώ τι Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν

προτροπάδην φοβέοντο μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν,

305ἀλλ' ἔτ' ἄρ' ἀνθίσταντο, νεῶν δ' ὑπόεικον ἀνάγκῃ.

Transliteration

hōs Danaoi nēōn men apōsamenoi dēïon pur

tutthon anepneusan, polemou d' ou gignet' erōē:

ou gar pō ti Trōes arēïphilōn hup' Achaiōn

protropadēn phobeonto melainaōn apo nēōn,

305all' et' ar' anthistanto, neōn d' hupoeikon anankēi.

English · Butler

was not yet over, for the Trojans were not driven back in utter rout, but still gave battle, and were ousted from their ground only by sheer fighting.

Homeric Greek

ἔνθα δ' ἀνὴρ ἕλεν ἄνδρα κεδασθείσης ὑσμίνης

ἡγεμόνων. πρῶτος δὲ Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱὸς

αὐτίκ' ἄρα στρεφθέντος Ἀρηϊλύκου βάλε μηρὸν

ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε:

310ῥῆξεν δ' ὀστέον ἔγχος, ὃ δὲ πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃ

Transliteration

entha d' anēr helen andra kedastheisēs husminēs

hēgemonōn. prōtos de Menoitiou alkimos huios

autik' ara strephthentos Arēïlukou bale mēron

encheï oxuoenti, dia pro de chalkon elasse:

310rhēxen d' osteon enchos, ho de prēnēs epi gaiēi

English · Butler

The fight then became more scattered, and the chieftains killed one another when and how they could. The valiant son of Menoitios first drove his spear into the thigh of Areilykos just as he was turning round; the point went clean through, and broke the bone so that he fell forward. Meanwhile Menelaos struck Thoas in the chest, where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell dead. The son of Phyleus saw Amphiklos about to attack

Homeric Greek

κάππεσ': ἀτὰρ Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος οὖτα Θόαντα

στέρνον γυμνωθέντα παρ' ἀσπίδα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.

Φυλεί̈δης δ' Ἄμφικλον ἐφορμηθέντα δοκεύσας

ἔφθη ὀρεξάμενος πρυμνὸν σκέλος, ἔνθα πάχιστος

315μυὼν ἀνθρώπου πέλεται: περὶ δ' ἔγχεος αἰχμῇ

Transliteration

kappes': atar Menelaos arēïos outa Thoanta

sternon gumnōthenta par' aspida, luse de guia.

Phuleïdēs d' Amphiklon ephormēthenta dokeusas

ephthē orexamenos prumnon skelos, entha pachistos

315muōn anthrōpou peletai: peri d' encheos aichmēi

English · Butler

him, and ere he could do so took aim at the upper part of his thigh, where the muscles are thicker than in any other part; the spear tore through all the sinews of the leg, and his eyes were closed in darkness.

Homeric Greek

νεῦρα διεσχίσθη: τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

Νεστορίδαι δ' ὃ μὲν οὔτασ' Ἀτύμνιον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ

Ἀντίλοχος, λαπάρης δὲ διήλασε χάλκεον ἔγχος:

ἤριπε δὲ προπάροιθε. Μάρις δ' αὐτοσχεδὰ δουρὶ

320Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐπόρουσε κασιγνήτοιο χολωθεὶς

Transliteration

neura dieschisthē: ton de skotos osse kalupse.

Nestoridai d' ho men outas' Atumnion oxeï douri

Antilochos, laparēs de diēlase chalkeon enchos:

ēripe de proparoithe. Maris d' autoscheda douri

320Antilochōi eporouse kasignētoio cholōtheis

English · Butler

Of the sons of Nestor one, Antilokhos, speared Atymnios, driving the point of the spear through his throat, and down he fell. Maris then sprang on Antilokhos in hand-to-hand fight to avenge his brother, and bestrode the body spear in hand; but valiant Thrasymedes was too quick for him, and in a moment had struck him in the shoulder ere he could deal his blow; his aim was true, and the spear severed all

Homeric Greek

στὰς πρόσθεν νέκυος: τοῦ δ' ἀντίθεος Θρασυμήδης

ἔφθη ὀρεξάμενος πρὶν οὐτάσαι, οὐδ' ἀφάμαρτεν,

ὦμον ἄφαρ: πρυμνὸν δὲ βραχίονα δουρὸς ἀκωκὴ

δρύψ' ἀπὸ μυώνων, ἀπὸ δ' ὀστέον ἄχρις ἄραξε:

325δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, κατὰ δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.

Transliteration

stas prosthen nekuos: tou d' antitheos Thrasumēdēs

ephthē orexamenos prin outasai, oud' aphamarten,

ōmon aphar: prumnon de brachiona douros akōkē

drups' apo muōnōn, apo d' osteon achris araxe:

325doupēsen de pesōn, kata de skotos osse kalupsen.

English · Butler

the muscles at the root of his arm, and tore them right down to the bone, so he fell heavily to the ground and his eyes were closed in darkness. Thus did these two noble comrades of Sarpedon go down to Erebos slain by the two sons of Nestor; they were the warrior sons of Amisodoros, who had reared the invincible Chimaera, to the bane of many.

Homeric Greek

ὣς τὼ μὲν δοιοῖσι κασιγνήτοισι δαμέντε

βήτην εἰς Ἔρεβος Σαρπηδόνος ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι

υἷες ἀκοντισταὶ Ἀμισωδάρου, ὅς ῥα Χίμαιραν

θρέψεν ἀμαιμακέτην πολέσιν κακὸν ἀνθρώποισιν.

330Αἴας δὲ Κλεόβουλον Ὀϊλιάδης ἐπορούσας

Transliteration

hōs tō men doioisi kasignētoisi damente

bētēn eis Erebos Sarpēdonos esthloi hetairoi

huies akontistai Amisōdarou, hos rha Chimairan

threpsen amaimaketēn polesin kakon anthrōpoisin.

330Aias de Kleoboulon Oïliadēs eporousas

English · Butler

Ajax son of Oileus sprang on Kleoboulos and took him alive as he was entangled in the crush; but he killed him then and there by a sword-blow on the neck. The sword reeked with his blood, while dark death

Homeric Greek

ζωὸν ἕλε βλαφθέντα κατὰ κλόνον: ἀλλά οἱ αὖθι

λῦσε μένος πλήξας ξίφει αὐχένα κωπήεντι.

πᾶν δ' ὑπεθερμάνθη ξίφος αἵματι: τὸν δὲ κατ' ὄσσε

ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.

335Πηνέλεως δὲ Λύκων τε συνέδραμον: ἔγχεσι μὲν γὰρ

Transliteration

zōon hele blaphthenta kata klonon: alla hoi authi

luse menos plēxas xiphei auchena kōpēenti.

pan d' hupethermanthē xiphos haimati: ton de kat' osse

ellabe porphureos thanatos kai moira krataiē.

335Pēneleōs de Lukōn te sunedramon: enchesi men gar

English · Butler

and the strong hand of fate gripped him and closed his eyes. Peneleos and Lykon now met in close fight, for they had missed each other with their spears.

Homeric Greek

ἤμβροτον ἀλλήλων, μέλεον δ' ἠκόντισαν ἄμφω:

τὼ δ' αὖτις ξιφέεσσι συνέδραμον. ἔνθα Λύκων μὲν

ἱπποκόμου κόρυθος φάλον ἤλασεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ καυλὸν

φάσγανον ἐρραίσθη: ὃ δ' ὑπ' οὔατος αὐχένα θεῖνε

340Πηνέλεως, πᾶν δ' εἴσω ἔδυ ξίφος, ἔσχεθε δ' οἶον

Transliteration

ēmbroton allēlōn, meleon d' ēkontisan amphō:

tō d' autis xipheessi sunedramon. entha Lukōn men

hippokomou koruthos phalon ēlasen, amphi de kaulon

phasganon erraisthē: ho d' hup' ouatos auchena theine

340Pēneleōs, pan d' eisō edu xiphos, eschethe d' oion

English · Butler

Peneleos and Lykon now met in close fight, for they had missed each other with their spears. They had both thrown without effect, so now they drew their swords. Lykon struck the plumed crest of Peneleos' helmet but his sword broke at the hilt, while Peneleos smote Lykon on the neck under the ear. The blade sank so deep that the head was held on by nothing but the skin, and there was no more life left in him.

Homeric Greek

δέρμα, παρηέρθη δὲ κάρη, ὑπέλυντο δὲ γυῖα.

Μηριόνης δ' Ἀκάμαντα κιχεὶς ποσὶ καρπαλίμοισι

νύξ' ἵππων ἐπιβησόμενον κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον:

ἤριπε δ' ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δ' ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτ' ἀχλύς.

345Ἰδομενεὺς δ' Ἐρύμαντα κατὰ στόμα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

Transliteration

derma, parēerthē de karē, hupelunto de guia.

Mērionēs d' Akamanta kicheis posi karpalimoisi

nux' hippōn epibēsomenon kata dexion ōmon:

ēripe d' ex ocheōn, kata d' ophthalmōn kechut' achlus.

345Idomeneus d' Erumanta kata stoma nēleï chalkōi

English · Butler

Meriones gave chase to Akamas on foot and caught him up just as he was about to mount his chariot; he drove a spear through his right shoulder so that he fell headlong from the car, and his eyes were closed in darkness. Idomeneus speared Erymas in the mouth; the bronze point of the spear went clean through it

Homeric Greek

νύξε: τὸ δ' ἀντικρὺ δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξεπέρησε

νέρθεν ὑπ' ἐγκεφάλοιο, κέασσε δ' ἄρ' ὀστέα λευκά:

ἐκ δ' ἐτίναχθεν ὀδόντες, ἐνέπλησθεν δέ οἱ ἄμφω

αἵματος ὀφθαλμοί: τὸ δ' ἀνὰ στόμα καὶ κατὰ ῥῖνας

350πρῆσε χανών: θανάτου δὲ μέλαν νέφος ἀμφεκάλυψεν.

Transliteration

nuxe: to d' antikru doru chalkeon exeperēse

nerthen hup' enkephaloio, keasse d' ar' ostea leuka:

ek d' etinachthen odontes, eneplēsthen de hoi amphō

haimatos ophthalmoi: to d' ana stoma kai kata rhinas

350prēse chanōn: thanatou de melan nephos amphekalupsen.

English · Butler

beneath the brain, crashing in among the white bones and smashing them up. His teeth were all of them knocked out and the blood came gushing in a stream from both his eyes; it also came gurgling up from his mouth and nostrils, and the darkness of death enfolded him round about.

Homeric Greek

οὗτοι ἄρ' ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν ἕλον ἄνδρα ἕκαστος.

ὡς δὲ λύκοι ἄρνεσσιν ἐπέχραον ἢ ἐρίφοισι

σίνται ὑπ' ἐκ μήλων αἱρεύμενοι, αἵ τ' ἐν ὄρεσσι

ποιμένος ἀφραδίῃσι διέτμαγεν: οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

355αἶψα διαρπάζουσιν ἀνάλκιδα θυμὸν ἐχούσας:

Transliteration

houtoi ar' hēgemones Danaōn helon andra hekastos.

hōs de lukoi arnessin epechraon ē eriphoisi

sintai hup' ek mēlōn haireumenoi, hai t' en oressi

poimenos aphradiēisi dietmagen: hoi de idontes

355aipsa diarpazousin analkida thumon echousas:

English · Butler

Thus did these chieftains of the Danaans each of them kill his man. As ravening wolves seize on kids or lambs, fastening on them when they are alone on the hillsides and have strayed from the main flock through the carelessness of the shepherd - and when the wolves see this they pounce upon them at once because they cannot defend themselves- even

Homeric Greek

ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρώεσσιν ἐπέχραον: οἳ δὲ φόβοιο

δυσκελάδου μνήσαντο, λάθοντο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

Αἴας δ' ὃ μέγας αἰὲν ἐφ' Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ

ἵετ' ἀκοντίσσαι: ὃ δὲ ἰδρείῃ πολέμοιο

360ἀσπίδι ταυρείῃ κεκαλυμμένος εὐρέας ὤμους

Transliteration

hōs Danaoi Trōessin epechraon: hoi de phoboio

duskeladou mnēsanto, lathonto de thouridos alkēs.

Aias d' ho megas aien eph' Hektori chalkokorustēi

hiet' akontissai: ho de idreiēi polemoio

360aspidi taureiēi kekalummenos eureas ōmous

English · Butler

so did the Danaans now fall on the Trojans, who fled with ill-omened cries in their panic and had no more fight left in them. Meanwhile great Ajax kept on trying to drive a spear into Hektor, but Hektor was so skillful that he held his broad shoulders well under cover of his ox-hide shield, ever on the look-out for the whizzing of the arrows and the heavy thud of the spears. He well knew that the fortunes of the

Homeric Greek

σκέπτετ' ὀϊστῶν τε ῥοῖζον καὶ δοῦπον ἀκόντων.

ἦ μὲν δὴ γίγνωσκε μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην:

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἀνέμιμνε, σάω δ' ἐρίηρας ἑταίρους.

ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἀπ' Οὐλύμπου νέφος ἔρχεται οὐρανὸν εἴσω

365αἰθέρος ἐκ δίης, ὅτε τε Ζεὺς λαίλαπα τείνῃ,

Transliteration

skeptet' oïstōn te rhoizon kai doupon akontōn.

ē men dē gignōske machēs heteralkea nikēn:

alla kai hōs anemimne, saō d' eriēras hetairous.

hōs d' hot' ap' Oulumpou nephos erchetai ouranon eisō

365aitheros ek diēs, hote te Zeus lailapa teinēi,

English · Butler

day had changed, but still stood his ground and tried to protect his comrades. As when a cloud goes up into heaven from Olympus, rising out of a clear sky when Zeus is brewing a gale - even with such panic stricken rout did the Trojans now flee, and there was no order in their going. Hektor's fleet horses bore him and his armor out

Homeric Greek

ὣς τῶν ἐκ νηῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,

οὐδὲ κατὰ μοῖραν πέραον πάλιν. Ἕκτορα δ' ἵπποι

ἔκφερον ὠκύποδες σὺν τεύχεσι, λεῖπε δὲ λαὸν

Τρωϊκόν, οὓς ἀέκοντας ὀρυκτὴ τάφρος ἔρυκε.

370πολλοὶ δ' ἐν τάφρῳ ἐρυσάρματες ὠκέες ἵπποι

Transliteration

hōs tōn ek nēōn geneto iachē te phobos te,

oude kata moiran peraon palin. Hektora d' hippoi

ekpheron ōkupodes sun teuchesi, leipe de laon

Trōïkon, hous aekontas oruktē taphros eruke.

370polloi d' en taphrōi erusarmates ōkees hippoi

English · Butler

of the fight, and he left the Trojan host penned in by the deep trench against their will. Many a yoke of horses snapped the pole of their chariots in the trench and left their master's car behind them. Patroklos gave chase, calling impetuously on the Danaans and full of fury against the Trojans, who,

Homeric Greek

ἄξαντ' ἐν πρώτῳ ῥυμῷ λίπον ἅρματ' ἀνάκτων,

Πάτροκλος δ' ἕπετο σφεδανὸν Δαναοῖσι κελεύων

Τρωσὶ κακὰ φρονέων: οἳ δὲ ἰαχῇ τε φόβῳ τε

πάσας πλῆσαν ὁδούς, ἐπεὶ ἂρ τμάγεν: ὕψι δ' ἀέλλη

375σκίδναθ' ὑπὸ νεφέων, τανύοντο δὲ μώνυχες ἵπποι

Transliteration

axant' en prōtōi rhumōi lipon harmat' anaktōn,

Patroklos d' hepeto sphedanon Danaoisi keleuōn

Trōsi kaka phroneōn: hoi de iachēi te phobōi te

pasas plēsan hodous, epei ar tmagen: hupsi d' aellē

375skidnath' hupo nepheōn, tanuonto de mōnuches hippoi

English · Butler

being now no longer in a body, filled all the ways with their cries of panic and rout; the air was darkened with the clouds of dust they raised, and the horses strained every nerve in their flight from the tents

Homeric Greek

ἄψορρον προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.

Πάτροκλος δ' ᾗ πλεῖστον ὀρινόμενον ἴδε λαόν,

τῇ ῥ' ἔχ' ὁμοκλήσας: ὑπὸ δ' ἄξοσι φῶτες ἔπιπτον

πρηνέες ἐξ ὀχέων, δίφροι δ' ἀνακυμβαλίαζον.

380ἀντικρὺ δ' ἄρα τάφρον ὑπέρθορον ὠκέες ἵπποι

Transliteration

apsorron proti astu neōn apo kai klisiaōn.

Patroklos d' hēi pleiston orinomenon ide laon,

tēi rh' ech' homoklēsas: hupo d' axosi phōtes epipton

prēnees ex ocheōn, diphroi d' anakumbaliazon.

380antikru d' ara taphron huperthoron ōkees hippoi

English · Butler

and ships towards the city. Patroklos kept on heading his horses wherever he saw most men fleeing in confusion, cheering on his men the while. Chariots were being smashed in all directions, and many a man came tumbling down from his own car to fall beneath the wheels of that of Patroklos, whose immortal steeds,

Homeric Greek

ἄμβροτοι, οὓς Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα,

πρόσσω ἱέμενοι, ἐπὶ δ' Ἕκτορι κέκλετο θυμός:

ἵετο γὰρ βαλέειν: τὸν δ' ἔκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι.

ὡς δ' ὑπὸ λαίλαπι πᾶσα κελαινὴ βέβριθε χθὼν

385ἤματ' ὀπωρινῷ, ὅτε λαβρότατον χέει ὕδωρ

Transliteration

ambrotoi, hous Pēlēï theoi dosan aglaa dōra,

prossō hiemenoi, epi d' Hektori kekleto thumos:

hieto gar baleein: ton d' ekpheron ōkees hippoi.

hōs d' hupo lailapi pasa kelainē bebrithe chthōn

385ēmat' opōrinōi, hote labrotaton cheei hudōr

English · Butler

given by the gods to Peleus, sprang over the trench at a bound as they sped onward. He was intent on trying to get near Hektor, for he had set his heart on spearing him, but Hektor's horses were now hurrying him away. As the whole dark earth bows before some tempest on an autumn day when Zeus rains his hardest

Homeric Greek

Ζεύς, ὅτε δή ῥ' ἄνδρεσσι κοτεσσάμενος χαλεπήνῃ,

οἳ βίῃ εἰν ἀγορῇ σκολιὰς κρίνωσι θέμιστας,

ἐκ δὲ δίκην ἐλάσωσι θεῶν ὄπιν οὐκ ἀλέγοντες:

τῶν δέ τε πάντες μὲν ποταμοὶ πλήθουσι ῥέοντες,

390πολλὰς δὲ κλιτῦς τότ' ἀποτμήγουσι χαράδραι,

Transliteration

Zeus, hote dē rh' andressi kotessamenos chalepēnēi,

hoi biēi ein agorēi skolias krinōsi themistas,

ek de dikēn elasōsi theōn opin ouk alegontes:

tōn de te pantes men potamoi plēthousi rheontes,

390pollas de klitus tot' apotmēgousi charadrai,

English · Butler

to punish men for judging crookedly in their courts, and arriving justice there from without heed to the decrees of heaven - all the rivers run full and the torrents tear many a new channel as they roar headlong from the mountains to the

Homeric Greek

ἐς δ' ἅλα πορφυρέην μεγάλα στενάχουσι ῥέουσαι

ἐξ ὀρέων ἐπικάρ, μινύθει δέ τε ἔργ' ἀνθρώπων:

ὣς ἵπποι Τρῳαὶ μεγάλα στενάχοντο θέουσαι.

Πάτροκλος δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν πρώτας ἐπέκερσε φάλαγγας,

395ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἔεργε παλιμπετές, οὐδὲ πόληος

Transliteration

es d' hala porphureēn megala stenachousi rheousai

ex oreōn epikar, minuthei de te erg' anthrōpōn:

hōs hippoi Trōiai megala stenachonto theousai.

Patroklos d' epei oun prōtas epekerse phalangas,

395aps epi nēas eerge palimpetes, oude polēos

English · Butler

dark sea, and it fares ill with the works of men - even such was the stress and strain of the Trojan horses in their flight. Patroklos now cut off the battalions that were nearest to him and drove them back to the ships. They were doing their best to reach the city, but

Homeric Greek

εἴα ἱεμένους ἐπιβαινέμεν, ἀλλὰ μεσηγὺ

νηῶν καὶ ποταμοῦ καὶ τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο

κτεῖνε μεταί̈σσων, πολέων δ' ἀπετίνυτο ποινήν.

ἔνθ' ἤτοι Πρόνοον πρῶτον βάλε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

400στέρνον γυμνωθέντα παρ' ἀσπίδα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα:

Transliteration

eia hiemenous epibainemen, alla mesēgu

nēōn kai potamou kai teicheos hupsēloio

kteine metaïssōn, poleōn d' apetinuto poinēn.

enth' ētoi Pronoon prōton bale douri phaeinōi

400sternon gumnōthenta par' aspida, luse de guia:

English · Butler

he would not let them, and bore down on them between the river and the ships and wall. Many a fallen comrade did he then avenge. First he hit Pronoos with a spear on the chest where it was exposed near the rim of his shield, and he fell heavily to the ground. Next he sprang on Thestor son of Enops, who was

Homeric Greek

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών: ὃ δὲ Θέστορα Ἤνοπος υἱὸν

δεύτερον ὁρμηθείς: ὃ μὲν εὐξέστῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

ἧστο ἀλείς: ἐκ γὰρ πλήγη φρένας, ἐκ δ' ἄρα χειρῶν

ἡνία ἠί̈χθησαν: ὃ δ' ἔγχεϊ νύξε παραστὰς

405γναθμὸν δεξιτερόν, διὰ δ' αὐτοῦ πεῖρεν ὀδόντων,

Transliteration

doupēsen de pesōn: ho de Thestora Ēnopos huion

deuteron hormētheis: ho men euxestōi eni diphrōi

hēsto aleis: ek gar plēgē phrenas, ek d' ara cheirōn

hēnia ēïchthēsan: ho d' encheï nuxe parastas

405gnathmon dexiteron, dia d' autou peiren odontōn,

English · Butler

sitting all huddled up in his chariot, for he had lost his head and the reins had been torn out of his hands. Patroklos went up to him and drove a spear into his right jaw; he thus hooked him by the teeth and the spear pulled him over the rim of his car,

Homeric Greek

ἕλκε δὲ δουρὸς ἑλὼν ὑπὲρ ἄντυγος, ὡς ὅτε τις φὼς

πέτρῃ ἔπι προβλῆτι καθήμενος ἱερὸν ἰχθὺν

ἐκ πόντοιο θύραζε λίνῳ καὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ:

ὣς ἕλκ' ἐκ δίφροιο κεχηνότα δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

410κὰδ δ' ἄρ' ἐπὶ στόμ' ἔωσε: πεσόντα δέ μιν λίπε θυμός.

Transliteration

helke de douros helōn huper antugos, hōs hote tis phōs

petrēi epi problēti kathēmenos hieron ichthun

ek pontoio thuraze linōi kai ēnopi chalkōi:

hōs helk' ek diphroio kechēnota douri phaeinōi,

410kad d' ar' epi stom' eōse: pesonta de min lipe thumos.

English · Butler

as one who sits at the end of some jutting rock and draws a strong fish out of the sea with a hook and a line - even so with his spear did he pull Thestor all gaping from his chariot; he then threw him down on his face and he died while falling.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' Ἐρύλαον ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε πέτρῳ

μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν: ἣ δ' ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη

ἐν κόρυθι βριαρῇ: ὃ δ' ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃ

κάππεσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.

415αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' Ἐρύμαντα καὶ Ἀμφοτερὸν καὶ Ἐπάλτην

Transliteration

autar epeit' Erulaon epessumenon bale petrōi

messēn kak kephalēn: hē d' andicha pasa keasthē

en koruthi briarēi: ho d' ara prēnēs epi gaiēi

kappesen, amphi de min thanatos chuto thumoraïstēs.

415autar epeit' Erumanta kai Amphoteron kai Epaltēn

English · Butler

On this, as Erylaos was on to attack him, he struck him full on the head with a stone, and his brains were all battered inside his helmet, whereon he fell headlong to the ground and the pangs of death took hold upon him. Then he laid low, one after

Homeric Greek

Τληπόλεμόν τε Δαμαστορίδην Ἐχίον τε Πύριν τε

Ἰφέα τ' Εὔιππόν τε καὶ Ἀργεάδην Πολύμηλον

πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.

Σαρπηδὼν δ' ὡς οὖν ἴδ' ἀμιτροχίτωνας ἑταίρους

420χέρσ' ὕπο Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμέντας,

Transliteration

Tlēpolemon te Damastoridēn Echion te Purin te

Iphea t' Euippon te kai Argeadēn Polumēlon

pantas epassuterous pelase chthoni pouluboteirēi.

Sarpēdōn d' hōs oun id' amitrochitōnas hetairous

420chers' hupo Patrokloio Menoitiadao damentas,

English · Butler

the other, Erymas, Amphoteros, Epaltes, Tlepolemos, Echios son of Damastor, Pyris, Ipheus, Euippos and Polymelos son of Argeas. Now when Sarpedon saw his comrades, men who wore unbelted tunics, being overcome by Patroklos son of Menoitios, he rebuked the Lycians saying. "Shame on you, where are you fleeing to?

Homeric Greek

κέκλετ' ἄρ' ἀντιθέοισι καθαπτόμενος Λυκίοισιν:

αἰδὼς ὦ Λύκιοι: πόσε φεύγετε; νῦν θοοὶ ἔστε.

ἀντήσω γὰρ ἐγὼ τοῦδ' ἀνέρος, ὄφρα δαείω

ὅς τις ὅδε κρατέει καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε

425Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ πολλῶν τε καὶ ἐσθλῶν γούνατ' ἔλυσεν.

Transliteration

keklet' ar' antitheoisi kathaptomenos Lukioisin:

aidōs ō Lukioi: pose pheugete; nun thooi este.

antēsō gar egō toud' aneros, ophra daeiō

hos tis hode krateei kai dē kaka polla eorge

425Trōas, epei pollōn te kai esthlōn gounat' elusen.

English · Butler

Show your mettle; I will myself meet this man in fight and learn who it is that is so masterful; he has done us much hurt, and has stretched many a brave man upon the ground."

Homeric Greek

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.

Πάτροκλος δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ἔκθορε δίφρου.

οἳ δ' ὥς τ' αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ἀγκυλοχεῖλαι

πέτρῃ ἐφ' ὑψηλῇ μεγάλα κλάζοντε μάχωνται,

430ὣς οἳ κεκλήγοντες ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισιν ὄρουσαν.

Transliteration

ē rha, kai ex ocheōn sun teuchesin alto chamaze.

Patroklos d' heterōthen epei iden ekthore diphrou.

hoi d' hōs t' aigupioi gampsōnuches ankulocheilai

petrēi eph' hupsēlēi megala klazonte machōntai,

430hōs hoi keklēgontes ep' allēloisin orousan.

English · Butler

He sprang from his chariot as he spoke, and Patroklos, when he saw this, leaped on to the ground also. The two then rushed at one another with loud cries like eagle-beaked crook-taloned vultures that scream and tear at one another in some high mountain fastness.

Homeric Greek

τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω,

Ἥρην δὲ προσέειπε κασιγνήτην ἄλοχόν τε:

ὤ μοι ἐγών, ὅ τέ μοι Σαρπηδόνα φίλτατον ἀνδρῶν

μοῖρ' ὑπὸ Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμῆναι.

435διχθὰ δέ μοι κραδίη μέμονε φρεσὶν ὁρμαίνοντι,

Transliteration

tous de idōn eleēse Kronou païs ankulomēteō,

Hērēn de proseeipe kasignētēn alochon te:

ō moi egōn, ho te moi Sarpēdona philtaton andrōn

moir' hupo Patrokloio Menoitiadao damēnai.

435dichtha de moi kradiē memone phresin hormainonti,

English · Butler

The son of scheming Kronos looked down upon them in pity and said to Hera who was his wife and sister, "Alas, that it should be the lot of Sarpedon whom I love so dearly to perish by the hand of Patroklos. I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile

Homeric Greek

ἤ μιν ζωὸν ἐόντα μάχης ἄπο δακρυοέσσης

θείω ἀναρπάξας Λυκίης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ,

ἦ ἤδη ὑπὸ χερσὶ Μενοιτιάδαο δαμάσσω.

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη:

440αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.

Transliteration

ē min zōon eonta machēs apo dakruoessēs

theiō anarpaxas Lukiēs en pioni dēmōi,

ē ēdē hupo chersi Menoitiadao damassō.

ton d' ēmeibet' epeita boōpis potnia Hērē:

440ainotate Kronidē poion ton muthon eeipes.

English · Butler

district of Lycia, or to let him now fall by the hand of the son of Menoitios." And Hera answered, "Most dread son of Kronos, what is this that you are saying? Would you snatch a mortal man, whose doom has long been fated, out of the jaws of death?

Homeric Greek

ἄνδρα θνητὸν ἐόντα πάλαι πεπρωμένον αἴσῃ

ἂψ ἐθέλεις θανάτοιο δυσηχέος ἐξαναλῦσαι;

ἔρδ': ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν:

445αἴ κε ζὼν πέμψῃς Σαρπηδόνα ὃν δὲ δόμον δέ,

Transliteration

andra thnēton eonta palai peprōmenon aisēi

aps etheleis thanatoio dusēcheos exanalusai;

erd': atar ou toi pantes epaineomen theoi alloi.

allo de toi ereō, su d' eni phresi balleo sēisin:

445ai ke zōn pempsēis Sarpēdona hon de domon de,

English · Butler

Do as you will, but we shall not all of us be of your mind. I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, that if you send Sarpedon safely to his own home, some other of the gods will be also wanting to escort his

Homeric Greek

φράζεο μή τις ἔπειτα θεῶν ἐθέλῃσι καὶ ἄλλος

πέμπειν ὃν φίλον υἱὸν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης:

πολλοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο μάχονται

υἱέες ἀθανάτων, τοῖσιν κότον αἰνὸν ἐνήσεις.

450ἀλλ' εἴ τοι φίλος ἐστί, τεὸν δ' ὀλοφύρεται ἦτορ,

Transliteration

phrazeo mē tis epeita theōn ethelēisi kai allos

pempein hon philon huion apo kraterēs husminēs:

polloi gar peri astu mega Priamoio machontai

huiees athanatōn, toisin koton ainon enēseis.

450all' ei toi philos esti, teon d' olophuretai ētor,

English · Butler

son out of battle, for there are many sons of gods fighting round the city of Troy, and you will make every one jealous. If, however, you are fond of him and pity him, let him indeed fall by the hand of Patroklos, but as

Homeric Greek

ἤτοι μέν μιν ἔασον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ

χέρσ' ὕπο Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο δαμῆναι:

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δὴ τόν γε λίπῃ ψυχή τε καὶ αἰών,

πέμπειν μιν θάνατόν τε φέρειν καὶ νήδυμον ὕπνον

455εἰς ὅ κε δὴ Λυκίης εὐρείης δῆμον ἵκωνται,

Transliteration

ētoi men min eason eni kraterēi husminēi

chers' hupo Patrokloio Menoitiadao damēnai:

autar epēn dē ton ge lipēi psuchē te kai aiōn,

pempein min thanaton te pherein kai nēdumon hupnon

455eis ho ke dē Lukiēs eureiēs dēmon hikōntai,

English · Butler

soon as the life is gone out of him, send Death and sweet Sleep to bear him off the field and take him to the broad district of Lycia, where his brothers and his kinsmen

Homeric Greek

ἔνθά ἑ ταρχύσουσι κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε

τύμβῳ τε στήλῃ τε: τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε:

αἱματοέσσας δὲ ψιάδας κατέχευεν ἔραζε

460παῖδα φίλον τιμῶν, τόν οἱ Πάτροκλος ἔμελλε

Transliteration

entha he tarchusousi kasignētoi te etai te

tumbōi te stēlēi te: to gar geras esti thanontōn.

hōs ephat', oud' apithēse patēr andrōn te theōn te:

haimatoessas de psiadas katecheuen eraze

460paida philon timōn, ton hoi Patroklos emelle

English · Butler

will bury him with mound and pillar, in due honor to the dead." The sire of gods and men assented, but he shed a rain of blood upon the earth in honor of his son whom Patroklos was about to kill on

Homeric Greek

φθίσειν ἐν Τροίῃ ἐριβώλακι τηλόθι πάτρης.

οἳ δ' ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

ἔνθ' ἤτοι Πάτροκλος ἀγακλειτὸν Θρασύμηλον,

ὅς ῥ' ἠὺ̈ς θεράπων Σαρπηδόνος ἦεν ἄνακτος,

465τὸν βάλε νείαιραν κατὰ γαστέρα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.

Transliteration

phthisein en Troiēi eribōlaki tēlothi patrēs.

hoi d' hote dē schedon ēsan ep' allēloisin iontes,

enth' ētoi Patroklos agakleiton Thrasumēlon,

hos rh' ēüs therapōn Sarpēdonos ēen anaktos,

465ton bale neiairan kata gastera, luse de guia.

English · Butler

the fertile plain of Troy far from his home. When they were now come close to one another Patroklos struck Thrasydemos, the brave squire of Sarpedon, in the lower part of the belly, and killed him. Sarpedon then aimed a spear at Patroklos and missed him, but he struck the horse Pedasos in the right shoulder, and it screamed aloud

Homeric Greek

Σαρπηδὼν δ' αὐτοῦ μὲν ἀπήμβροτε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

δεύτερον ὁρμηθείς, ὃ δὲ Πήδασον οὔτασεν ἵππον

ἔγχεϊ δεξιὸν ὦμον: ὃ δ' ἔβραχε θυμὸν ἀί̈σθων,

κὰδ δ' ἔπεσ' ἐν κονίῃσι μακών, ἀπὸ δ' ἔπτατο θυμός.

470τὼ δὲ διαστήτην, κρίκε δὲ ζυγόν, ἡνία δέ σφι

Transliteration

Sarpēdōn d' autou men apēmbrote douri phaeinōi

deuteron hormētheis, ho de Pēdason outasen hippon

encheï dexion ōmon: ho d' ebrache thumon aïsthōn,

kad d' epes' en koniēisi makōn, apo d' eptato thumos.

470tō de diastētēn, krike de zugon, hēnia de sphi

English · Butler

as it lay, groaning in the dust until the life went out of it. The other two horses began to plunge; the pole of the chariot cracked and they got entangled in the reins through the fall of the horse that was yoked along with them; but Automedon knew what to do;

Homeric Greek

σύγχυτ', ἐπεὶ δὴ κεῖτο παρήορος ἐν κονίῃσι.

τοῖο μὲν Αὐτομέδων δουρικλυτὸς εὕρετο τέκμωρ:

σπασσάμενος τανύηκες ἄορ παχέος παρὰ μηροῦ

ἀί̈ξας ἀπέκοψε παρήορον οὐδ' ἐμάτησε:

475τὼ δ' ἰθυνθήτην, ἐν δὲ ῥυτῆρσι τάνυσθεν:

Transliteration

sunchut', epei dē keito parēoros en koniēisi.

toio men Automedōn douriklutos heureto tekmōr:

spassamenos tanuēkes aor pacheos para mērou

aïxas apekopse parēoron oud' ematēse:

475tō d' ithunthētēn, en de rhutērsi tanusthen:

English · Butler

without the loss of a moment he drew the keen blade that hung by his sturdy thigh and cut the third horse adrift; whereon the other two righted themselves, and pulling hard at the reins

Homeric Greek

τὼ δ' αὖτις συνίτην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο.

ἔνθ' αὖ Σαρπηδὼν μὲν ἀπήμβροτε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

Πατρόκλου δ' ὑπὲρ ὦμον ἀριστερὸν ἤλυθ' ἀκωκὴ

ἔγχεος, οὐδ' ἔβαλ' αὐτόν: ὃ δ' ὕστερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

480Πάτροκλος: τοῦ δ' οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,

Transliteration

tō d' autis sunitēn eridos peri thumoboroio.

enth' au Sarpēdōn men apēmbrote douri phaeinōi,

Patroklou d' huper ōmon aristeron ēluth' akōkē

encheos, oud' ebal' auton: ho d' husteros ornuto chalkōi

480Patroklos: tou d' ouch halion belos ekphuge cheiros,

English · Butler

again went together into battle. Sarpedon now took a second aim at Patroklos, and again missed him, the point of the spear passed over his left shoulder without hitting him. Patroklos then aimed in his turn, and the spear sped not from his hand in vain, for he hit Sarpedon just where the midriff surrounds the ever-beating heart. He fell like some oak or silver poplar

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἔβαλ' ἔνθ' ἄρα τε φρένες ἔρχαται ἀμφ' ἁδινὸν κῆρ.

ἤριπε δ' ὡς ὅτε τις δρῦς ἤριπεν ἢ ἀχερωὶ̈ς

ἠὲ πίτυς βλωθρή, τήν τ' οὔρεσι τέκτονες ἄνδρες

ἐξέταμον πελέκεσσι νεήκεσι νήϊον εἶναι:

485ὣς ὃ πρόσθ' ἵππων καὶ δίφρου κεῖτο τανυσθεὶς

Transliteration

all' ebal' enth' ara te phrenes erchatai amph' hadinon kēr.

ēripe d' hōs hote tis drus ēripen ē acherōïs

ēe pitus blōthrē, tēn t' ouresi tektones andres

exetamon pelekessi neēkesi nēïon einai:

485hōs ho prosth' hippōn kai diphrou keito tanustheis

English · Butler

or tall pine to which woodmen have laid their axes upon the mountains to make timber for ship-building - even so did he lie stretched at full length in front of his chariot and horses, moaning and clutching at the blood-stained dust. As when a lion springs with a bound

Homeric Greek

βεβρυχὼς κόνιος δεδραγμένος αἱματοέσσης.

ἠύ̈τε ταῦρον ἔπεφνε λέων ἀγέληφι μετελθὼν

αἴθωνα μεγάθυμον ἐν εἰλιπόδεσσι βόεσσι,

ὤλετό τε στενάχων ὑπὸ γαμφηλῇσι λέοντος,

490ὣς ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων

Transliteration

bebruchōs konios dedragmenos haimatoessēs.

ēüte tauron epephne leōn agelēphi metelthōn

aithōna megathumon en eilipodessi boessi,

ōleto te stenachōn hupo gamphēlēisi leontos,

490hōs hupo Patroklōi Lukiōn agos aspistaōn

English · Butler

upon a herd of cattle and fastens on a great black bull which dies bellowing in its clutches - even so did the leader of the Lycian warriors struggle in death as he fell by the hand of Patroklos. He called on his trusty comrade and

Homeric Greek

κτεινόμενος μενέαινε, φίλον δ' ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον:

Γλαῦκε πέπον πολεμιστὰ μετ' ἀνδράσι νῦν σε μάλα χρὴ

αἰχμητήν τ' ἔμεναι καὶ θαρσαλέον πολεμιστήν:

νῦν τοι ἐελδέσθω πόλεμος κακός, εἰ θοός ἐσσι.

495πρῶτα μὲν ὄτρυνον Λυκίων ἡγήτορας ἄνδρας

Transliteration

kteinomenos meneaine, philon d' onomēnen hetairon:

Glauke pepon polemista met' andrasi nun se mala chrē

aichmētēn t' emenai kai tharsaleon polemistēn:

nun toi eeldesthō polemos kakos, ei thoos essi.

495prōta men otrunon Lukiōn hēgētoras andras

English · Butler

said, "Glaukos, my brother, hero among heroes, put forth all your strength, fight with might and main, now if ever quit yourself like a valiant warrior. First go about among the Lycian leaders and bid them fight for Sarpedon; then yourself also do battle to save my armor from being taken. My name will haunt you

Homeric Greek

πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενος Σαρπηδόνος ἀμφιμάχεσθαι:

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα καὶ αὐτὸς ἐμεῦ πέρι μάρναο χαλκῷ.

σοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειτα κατηφείη καὶ ὄνειδος

ἔσσομαι ἤματα πάντα διαμπερές, εἴ κέ μ' Ἀχαιοὶ

500τεύχεα συλήσωσι νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι πεσόντα.

Transliteration

pantēi epoichomenos Sarpēdonos amphimachesthai:

autar epeita kai autos emeu peri marnao chalkōi.

soi gar egō kai epeita katēpheiē kai oneidos

essomai ēmata panta diamperes, ei ke m' Achaioi

500teuchea sulēsōsi neōn en agōni pesonta.

English · Butler

henceforth and for ever if the Achaeans rob me of my armor now that I have fallen near the assembly of their ships. Do your very utmost and

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἔχεο κρατερῶς, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅπαντα.

ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντα τέλος θανάτοιο κάλυψεν

ὀφθαλμοὺς ῥῖνάς θ': ὃ δὲ λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βαίνων

ἐκ χροὸς ἕλκε δόρυ, προτὶ δὲ φρένες αὐτῷ ἕποντο:

505τοῖο δ' ἅμα ψυχήν τε καὶ ἔγχεος ἐξέρυσ' αἰχμήν.

Transliteration

all' echeo kraterōs, otrune de laon hapanta.

hōs ara min eiponta telos thanatoio kalupsen

ophthalmous rhinas th': ho de lax en stēthesi bainōn

ek chroos helke doru, proti de phrenes autōi heponto:

505toio d' hama psuchēn te kai encheos exerus' aichmēn.

English · Butler

call all my people together." The outcome of death closed his eyes as he spoke. Patroklos planted his heel on his breast and drew the spear from his body, whereon his diaphragm came out along with it,

Homeric Greek

Μυρμιδόνες δ' αὐτοῦ σχέθον ἵππους φυσιόωντας

ἱεμένους φοβέεσθαι, ἐπεὶ λίπον ἅρματ' ἀνάκτων.

Γλαύκῳ δ' αἰνὸν ἄχος γένετο φθογγῆς ἀί̈οντι:

ὠρίνθη δέ οἱ ἦτορ ὅ τ' οὐ δύνατο προσαμῦναι.

510χειρὶ δ' ἑλὼν ἐπίεζε βραχίονα: τεῖρε γὰρ αὐτὸν

Transliteration

Murmidones d' autou schethon hippous phusioōntas

hiemenous phobeesthai, epei lipon harmat' anaktōn.

Glaukōi d' ainon achos geneto phthongēs aïonti:

ōrinthē de hoi ētor ho t' ou dunato prosamunai.

510cheiri d' helōn epieze brachiona: teire gar auton

English · Butler

and he drew out both spear-point and Sarpedon's life-breath at the same time. Hard by the Myrmidons held his snorting steeds, who were wild with panic at finding themselves deserted by their lords. Glaukos was overcome with grief when he heard what Sarpedon said, for he could not help him. He had to support his arm with his other hand, being in great pain through the wound which Teucer's arrow

Homeric Greek

ἕλκος, ὃ δή μιν Τεῦκρος ἐπεσσύμενον βάλεν ἰῷ

τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο, ἀρὴν ἑτάροισιν ἀμύνων.

εὐχόμενος δ' ἄρα εἶπεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι:

κλῦθι ἄναξ ὅς που Λυκίης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ

515εἲς ἢ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ: δύνασαι δὲ σὺ πάντοσ' ἀκούειν

Transliteration

helkos, ho dē min Teukros epessumenon balen iōi

teicheos hupsēloio, arēn hetaroisin amunōn.

euchomenos d' ara eipen hekēbolōi Apollōni:

kluthi anax hos pou Lukiēs en pioni dēmōi

515eis ē eni Troiēi: dunasai de su pantos' akouein

English · Butler

had given him when Teucer was defending the wall as he, Glaukos, was assailing it. Therefore he prayed to far-darting Apollo saying, "Hear me O king from your seat, may be in the fertile district of Lycia, or may be in Troy, for in all places you can hear the prayer of one who is in distress, as I now am.

Homeric Greek

ἀνέρι κηδομένῳ, ὡς νῦν ἐμὲ κῆδος ἱκάνει.

ἕλκος μὲν γὰρ ἔχω τόδε καρτερόν, ἀμφὶ δέ μοι χεὶρ

ὀξείῃς ὀδύνῃσιν ἐλήλαται, οὐδέ μοι αἷμα

τερσῆναι δύναται, βαρύθει δέ μοι ὦμος ὑπ' αὐτοῦ:

520ἔγχος δ' οὐ δύναμαι σχεῖν ἔμπεδον, οὐδὲ μάχεσθαι

Transliteration

aneri kēdomenōi, hōs nun eme kēdos hikanei.

helkos men gar echō tode karteron, amphi de moi cheir

oxeiēis odunēisin elēlatai, oude moi haima

tersēnai dunatai, baruthei de moi ōmos hup' autou:

520enchos d' ou dunamai schein empedon, oude machesthai

English · Butler

I have a grievous wound; my hand is aching with pain, there is no staunching the blood, and my whole arm drags by reason of my hurt, so that I cannot grasp my sword nor go among my foes and fight them, though our prince, Zeus' son Sarpedon, is slain.

Homeric Greek

ἐλθὼν δυσμενέεσσιν. ἀνὴρ δ' ὤριστος ὄλωλε

Σαρπηδὼν Διὸς υἱός: ὃ δ' οὐ οὗ παιδὸς ἀμύνει.

ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι ἄναξ τόδε καρτερὸν ἕλκος ἄκεσσαι,

κοίμησον δ' ὀδύνας, δὸς δὲ κράτος, ὄφρ' ἑτάροισι

525κεκλόμενος Λυκίοισιν ἐποτρύνω πολεμίζειν,

Transliteration

elthōn dusmeneessin. anēr d' ōristos olōle

Sarpēdōn Dios huios: ho d' ou hou paidos amunei.

alla su per moi anax tode karteron helkos akessai,

koimēson d' odunas, dos de kratos, ophr' hetaroisi

525keklomenos Lukioisin epotrunō polemizein,

English · Butler

Zeus defended not his son, do you, therefore, O king, heal me of my wound, ease my pain and grant me strength both to cheer on the Lycians and to fight along with them round

Homeric Greek

αὐτός τ' ἀμφὶ νέκυι κατατεθνηῶτι μάχωμαι.

ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.

αὐτίκα παῦσ' ὀδύνας ἀπὸ δ' ἕλκεος ἀργαλέοιο

αἷμα μέλαν τέρσηνε, μένος δέ οἱ ἔμβαλε θυμῷ.

530Γλαῦκος δ' ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ γήθησέν τε

Transliteration

autos t' amphi nekui katatethnēōti machōmai.

hōs ephat' euchomenos, tou d' eklue Phoibos Apollōn.

autika paus' odunas apo d' helkeos argaleoio

haima melan tersēne, menos de hoi embale thumōi.

530Glaukos d' egnō hēisin eni phresi gēthēsen te

English · Butler

the body of him who has fallen." Thus did he pray, and Apollo heard his prayer. He eased his pain, staunched the black blood from the wound, and gave him new strength. Glaukos perceived this, and was thankful that the mighty god had answered his prayer; forthwith, therefore, he went among the Lycian leaders, and bade them come to fight about the body of Sarpedon.

Homeric Greek

ὅττί οἱ ὦκ' ἤκουσε μέγας θεὸς εὐξαμένοιο.

πρῶτα μὲν ὄτρυνεν Λυκίων ἡγήτορας ἄνδρας

πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενος Σαρπηδόνος ἀμφιμάχεσθαι:

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα μετὰ Τρῶας κίε μακρὰ βιβάσθων

535Πουλυδάμαντ' ἔπι Πανθοί̈δην καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,

Transliteration

hotti hoi ōk' ēkouse megas theos euxamenoio.

prōta men otrunen Lukiōn hēgētoras andras

pantēi epoichomenos Sarpēdonos amphimachesthai:

autar epeita meta Trōas kie makra bibasthōn

535Pouludamant' epi Panthoïdēn kai Agēnora dion,

English · Butler

From these he strode on among the Trojans to Polydamas son of Panthoos and Agenor; he then went in search of Aeneas and Hektor, and when he had found them he said, "Hektor, you have

Homeric Greek

βῆ δὲ μετ' Αἰνείαν τε καὶ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστήν,

ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

Ἕκτορ νῦν δὴ πάγχυ λελασμένος εἰς ἐπικούρων,

οἳ σέθεν εἵνεκα τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης

540θυμὸν ἀποφθινύθουσι: σὺ δ' οὐκ ἐθέλεις ἐπαμύνειν.

Transliteration

bē de met' Aineian te kai Hektora chalkokorustēn,

anchou d' histamenos epea pteroenta prosēuda:

Hektor nun dē panchu lelasmenos eis epikourōn,

hoi sethen heineka tēle philōn kai patridos aiēs

540thumon apophthinuthousi: su d' ouk etheleis epamunein.

English · Butler

utterly forgotten your allies, who languish here for your sake far from friends and home while you do nothing to support them. Sarpedon leader of the Lycian warriors has fallen - he who was at once the right and might of Lycia; Ares has laid him low by the spear of Patroklos.

Homeric Greek

κεῖται Σαρπηδὼν Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων,

ὃς Λυκίην εἴρυτο δίκῃσί τε καὶ σθένεϊ ᾧ:

τὸν δ' ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ δάμασ' ἔγχεϊ χάλκεος Ἄρης.

ἀλλὰ φίλοι πάρστητε, νεμεσσήθητε δὲ θυμῷ,

545μὴ ἀπὸ τεύχε' ἕλωνται, ἀεικίσσωσι δὲ νεκρὸν

Transliteration

keitai Sarpēdōn Lukiōn agos aspistaōn,

hos Lukiēn eiruto dikēisi te kai stheneï hōi:

ton d' hupo Patroklōi damas' encheï chalkeos Arēs.

alla philoi parstēte, nemessēthēte de thumōi,

545mē apo teuche' helōntai, aeikissōsi de nekron

English · Butler

Sarpedon leader of the Lycian warriors has fallen - he who was at once the right and might of Lycia; Ares has laid him low by the spear of Patroklos. Stand by him, my friends, and suffer not the Myrmidons to strip him of his armor, nor to treat his body with contumely in revenge

Homeric Greek

Μυρμιδόνες, Δαναῶν κεχολωμένοι ὅσσοι ὄλοντο,

τοὺς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἐπέφνομεν ἐγχείῃσιν.

ὣς ἔφατο, Τρῶας δὲ κατὰ κρῆθεν λάβε πένθος

ἄσχετον, οὐκ ἐπιεικτόν, ἐπεί σφισιν ἕρμα πόληος

550ἔσκε καὶ ἀλλοδαπός περ ἐών: πολέες γὰρ ἅμ' αὐτῷ

Transliteration

Murmidones, Danaōn kecholōmenoi hossoi olonto,

tous epi nēusi thoēisin epephnomen encheiēisin.

hōs ephato, Trōas de kata krēthen labe penthos

ascheton, ouk epieikton, epei sphisin herma polēos

550eske kai allodapos per eōn: polees gar ham' autōi

English · Butler

for all the Danaans whom we have speared at the ships." As he spoke the Trojans were plunged in extreme and ungovernable grief ; for Sarpedon, alien though he was, had been one of the main stays of their city, both as having many people with him, and himself the foremost among them all. Led by Hektor, who was infuriated by the fall of Sarpedon, they made instantly for the

Homeric Greek

λαοὶ ἕποντ', ἐν δ' αὐτὸς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι:

βὰν δ' ἰθὺς Δαναῶν λελιημένοι: ἦρχε δ' ἄρά σφιν

Ἕκτωρ χωόμενος Σαρπηδόνος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς

ὦρσε Μενοιτιάδεω Πατροκλῆος λάσιον κῆρ:

555Αἴαντε πρώτω προσέφη μεμαῶτε καὶ αὐτώ:

Transliteration

laoi hepont', en d' autos aristeueske machesthai:

ban d' ithus Danaōn leliēmenoi: ērche d' ara sphin

Hektōr chōomenos Sarpēdonos. autar Achaious

ōrse Menoitiadeō Patroklēos lasion kēr:

555Aiante prōtō prosephē memaōte kai autō:

English · Butler

Danaans with all their might, while the undaunted spirit of Patroklos son of Menoitios cheered on the Achaeans. First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, men who needed no bidding. "Ajaxes," said he, "may it now please you to show yourselves the men you have always been, or even better- Sarpedon

Homeric Greek

Αἴαντε νῦν σφῶϊν ἀμύνεσθαι φίλον ἔστω,

οἷοί περ πάρος ἦτε μετ' ἀνδράσιν ἢ καὶ ἀρείους.

κεῖται ἀνὴρ ὃς πρῶτος ἐσήλατο τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν

Σαρπηδών: ἀλλ' εἴ μιν ἀεικισσαίμεθ' ἑλόντες,

560τεύχεά τ' ὤμοιιν ἀφελοίμεθα, καί τιν' ἑταίρων

Transliteration

Aiante nun sphōïn amunesthai philon estō,

hoioi per paros ēte met' andrasin ē kai areious.

keitai anēr hos prōtos esēlato teichos Achaiōn

Sarpēdōn: all' ei min aeikissaimeth' helontes,

560teuchea t' ōmoiin apheloimetha, kai tin' hetairōn

English · Butler

is fallen - he who was first to overleap the wall of the Achaeans; let us take the body and outrage it; let us strip the armor from his shoulders, and kill his comrades if they

Homeric Greek

αὐτοῦ ἀμυνομένων δαμασαίμεθα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀλέξασθαι μενέαινον.

οἳ δ' ἐπεὶ ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Μυρμιδόνες καὶ Ἀχαιοί,

565σύμβαλον ἀμφὶ νέκυι κατατεθνηῶτι μάχεσθαι

Transliteration

autou amunomenōn damasaimetha nēleï chalkōi.

hōs ephath', hoi de kai autoi alexasthai meneainon.

hoi d' epei amphoterōthen ekartunanto phalangas

Trōes kai Lukioi kai Murmidones kai Achaioi,

565sumbalon amphi nekui katatethnēōti machesthai

English · Butler

try to rescue his body." He spoke to men who of themselves were full eager; both sides, therefore, the Trojans and Lycians on the one hand, and the Myrmidons and Achaeans on the other, strengthened their battalions, and fought desperately about the body of Sarpedon, shouting fiercely the while. Mighty was the din of their armor as they came together, and Zeus shed a thick darkness

Homeric Greek

δεινὸν ἀύ̈σαντες: μέγα δ' ἔβραχε τεύχεα φωτῶν.

Ζεὺς δ' ἐπὶ νύκτ' ὀλοὴν τάνυσε κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,

ὄφρα φίλῳ περὶ παιδὶ μάχης ὀλοὸς πόνος εἴη.

ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς:

570βλῆτο γὰρ οὔ τι κάκιστος ἀνὴρ μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν

Transliteration

deinon aüsantes: mega d' ebrache teuchea phōtōn.

Zeus d' epi nukt' oloēn tanuse kraterēi husminēi,

ophra philōi peri paidi machēs oloos ponos eiē.

ōsan de proteroi Trōes helikōpas Achaious:

570blēto gar ou ti kakistos anēr meta Murmidonessin

English · Butler

over the fight, to increase the ordeal of the battle over the body of his son. At first the Trojans made some headway against the Achaeans, for one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed, Epeigeus, son of noble Agakles who had erewhile been king in the good city of Boudeion; but presently, having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he took refuge with Peleus and Thetis, who sent him to Ilion the land of noble steeds to fight the Trojans under Achilles. Hektor now

Homeric Greek

υἱὸς Ἀγακλῆος μεγαθύμου δῖος Ἐπειγεύς,

ὅς ῥ' ἐν Βουδείῳ εὖ ναιομένῳ ἤνασσε

τὸ πρίν: ἀτὰρ τότε γ' ἐσθλὸν ἀνεψιὸν ἐξεναρίξας

ἐς Πηλῆ' ἱκέτευσε καὶ ἐς Θέτιν ἀργυρόπεζαν:

575οἳ δ' ἅμ' Ἀχιλλῆϊ ῥηξήνορι πέμπον ἕπεσθαι

Transliteration

huios Agaklēos megathumou dios Epeigeus,

hos rh' en Boudeiōi eu naiomenōi ēnasse

to prin: atar tote g' esthlon anepsion exenarixas

es Pēlē' hiketeuse kai es Thetin arguropezan:

575hoi d' ham' Achillēï rhēxēnori pempon hepesthai

English · Butler

struck him on the head with a stone just as he had

Homeric Greek

Ἴλιον εἰς εὔπωλον, ἵνα Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.

τόν ῥα τόθ' ἁπτόμενον νέκυος βάλε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

χερμαδίῳ κεφαλήν: ἣ δ' ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη

ἐν κόρυθι βριαρῇ: ὃ δ' ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷ

580κάππεσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.

Transliteration

Ilion eis eupōlon, hina Trōessi machoito.

ton rha toth' haptomenon nekuos bale phaidimos Hektōr

chermadiōi kephalēn: hē d' andicha pasa keasthē

en koruthi briarēi: ho d' ara prēnēs epi nekrōi

580kappesen, amphi de min thanatos chuto thumoraïstēs.

English · Butler

caught hold of the body, and his brains inside his helmet were all battered in, so that he fell face foremost upon the body of Sarpedon, and there died. Patroklos was enraged with grief over by the death of his comrade, and sped through the front ranks

Homeric Greek

Πατρόκλῳ δ' ἄρ' ἄχος γένετο φθιμένου ἑτάροιο,

ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων ἴρηκι ἐοικὼς

ὠκέϊ, ὅς τ' ἐφόβησε κολοιούς τε ψῆράς τε:

ὣς ἰθὺς Λυκίων Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε

585ἔσσυο καὶ Τρώων, κεχόλωσο δὲ κῆρ ἑτάροιο.

Transliteration

Patroklōi d' ar' achos geneto phthimenou hetaroio,

ithusen de dia promachōn irēki eoikōs

ōkeï, hos t' ephobēse koloious te psēras te:

hōs ithus Lukiōn Patroklees hippokeleuthe

585essuo kai Trōōn, kecholōso de kēr hetaroio.

English · Butler

as swiftly as a hawk that swoops down on a flock of daws or starlings. Even so swiftly, O noble horseman Patroklos, did you make straight for the Lycians and Trojans to avenge your comrade. Forthwith he struck Sthenelaos the son of Ithaimenes on the neck with a stone, and broke the tendons that join it to the head and spine. On this Hektor and the front rank of his men gave ground.

Homeric Greek

καί ῥ' ἔβαλε Σθενέλαον Ἰθαιμένεος φίλον υἱὸν

αὐχένα χερμαδίῳ, ῥῆξεν δ' ἀπὸ τοῖο τένοντας.

χώρησαν δ' ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.

ὅσση δ' αἰγανέης ῥιπὴ ταναοῖο τέτυκται,

590ἥν ῥά τ' ἀνὴρ ἀφέῃ πειρώμενος ἢ ἐν ἀέθλῳ

Transliteration

kai rh' ebale Sthenelaon Ithaimeneos philon huion

auchena chermadiōi, rhēxen d' apo toio tenontas.

chōrēsan d' hupo te promachoi kai phaidimos Hektōr.

hossē d' aiganeēs rhipē tanaoio tetuktai,

590hēn rha t' anēr apheēi peirōmenos ē en aethlōi

English · Butler

As far as a man can throw a javelin in competition for some prize, or even in battle - so far did the Trojans now retreat before the Achaeans. Glaukos, leader of the Lycians, was the first to rally them, by killing Bathykles

Homeric Greek

ἠὲ καὶ ἐν πολέμῳ δηί̈ων ὕπο θυμοραϊστέων,

τόσσον ἐχώρησαν Τρῶες, ὤσαντο δ' Ἀχαιοί.

Γλαῦκος δὲ πρῶτος Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων

ἐτράπετ', ἔκτεινεν δὲ Βαθυκλῆα μεγάθυμον

595Χάλκωνος φίλον υἱόν, ὃς Ἑλλάδι οἰκία ναίων

Transliteration

ēe kai en polemōi dēïōn hupo thumoraïsteōn,

tosson echōrēsan Trōes, ōsanto d' Achaioi.

Glaukos de prōtos Lukiōn agos aspistaōn

etrapet', ekteinen de Bathuklēa megathumon

595Chalkōnos philon huion, hos Helladi oikia naiōn

English · Butler

son of Khalkon who lived in Hellas and was supreme in wealth among the Myrmidons. Glaukos turned round suddenly, just as Bathykles who was pursuing him was about to lay hold of him, and drove his spear right into the middle of his

Homeric Greek

ὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε μετέπρεπε Μυρμιδόνεσσι.

τὸν μὲν ἄρα Γλαῦκος στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶ

στρεφθεὶς ἐξαπίνης, ὅτε μιν κατέμαρπτε διώκων:

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών: πυκινὸν δ' ἄχος ἔλλαβ' Ἀχαιούς,

600ὡς ἔπεσ' ἐσθλὸς ἀνήρ: μέγα δὲ Τρῶες κεχάροντο,

Transliteration

olbōi te ploutōi te meteprepe Murmidonessi.

ton men ara Glaukos stēthos meson outase douri

strephtheis exapinēs, hote min katemarpte diōkōn:

doupēsen de pesōn: pukinon d' achos ellab' Achaious,

600hōs epes' esthlos anēr: mega de Trōes kecharonto,

English · Butler

chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and the fall of so good a man filled the Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans were exultant, and came up in a body round the corpse. Nevertheless the Achaeans, mindful

Homeric Greek

στὰν δ' ἀμφ' αὐτὸν ἰόντες ἀολλέες: οὐδ' ἄρ' Ἀχαιοὶ

ἀλκῆς ἐξελάθοντο, μένος δ' ἰθὺς φέρον αὐτῶν.

ἔνθ' αὖ Μηριόνης Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴν

Λαόγονον θρασὺν υἱὸν Ὀνήτορος, ὃς Διὸς ἱρεὺς

605Ἰδαίου ἐτέτυκτο, θεὸς δ' ὣς τίετο δήμῳ.

Transliteration

stan d' amph' auton iontes aollees: oud' ar' Achaioi

alkēs exelathonto, menos d' ithus pheron autōn.

enth' au Mērionēs Trōōn helen andra korustēn

Laogonon thrasun huion Onētoros, hos Dios hireus

605Idaiou etetukto, theos d' hōs tieto dēmōi.

English · Butler

of their prowess, bore straight down upon them. Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonos son of Onetor, who was priest of Zeus of Mount Ida, and was honored in the district as though he were a god. Meriones struck him under the jaw and ear, so that life went out of him and the darkness of death laid hold upon him.

Homeric Greek

τὸν βάλ' ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο καὶ οὔατος: ὦκα δὲ θυμὸς

ᾤχετ' ἀπὸ μελέων, στυγερὸς δ' ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλεν.

Αἰνείας δ' ἐπὶ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον ἧκεν:

ἔλπετο γὰρ τεύξεσθαι ὑπασπίδια προβιβῶντος.

610ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος:

Transliteration

ton bal' hupo gnathmoio kai ouatos: ōka de thumos

ōichet' apo meleōn, stugeros d' ara min skotos heilen.

Aineias d' epi Mērionēi doru chalkeon hēken:

elpeto gar teuxesthai hupaspidia probibōntos.

610all' ho men anta idōn ēleuato chalkeon enchos:

English · Butler

Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones, hoping to hit him under the shield as he was advancing, but Meriones saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, whereon the spear flew past him and the

Homeric Greek

πρόσσω γὰρ κατέκυψε, τὸ δ' ἐξόπιθεν δόρυ μακρὸν

οὔδει ἐνισκίμφθη, ἐπὶ δ' οὐρίαχος πελεμίχθη

ἔγχεος: ἔνθα δ' ἔπειτ' ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης.

αἰχμὴ δ' Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίης

615ᾤχετ', ἐπεί ῥ' ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.

Transliteration

prossō gar katekupse, to d' exopithen doru makron

oudei eniskimphthē, epi d' ouriachos pelemichthē

encheos: entha d' epeit' aphiei menos obrimos Arēs.

aichmē d' Aineiao kradainomenē kata gaiēs

615ōichet', epei rh' halion stibarēs apo cheiros orousen.

English · Butler

point stuck in the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Ares robbed it of its force. The spear, therefore, sped from Aeneas' hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground. Aeneas was angry and said, "Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if

Homeric Greek

Αἰνείας δ' ἄρα θυμὸν ἐχώσατο φώνησέν τε:

Μηριόνη τάχα κέν σε καὶ ὀρχηστήν περ ἐόντα

ἔγχος ἐμὸν κατέπαυσε διαμπερές, εἴ σ' ἔβαλόν περ.

τὸν δ' αὖ Μηριόνης δουρικλυτὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα:

620Αἰνεία χαλεπόν σε καὶ ἴφθιμόν περ ἐόντα

Transliteration

Aineias d' ara thumon echōsato phōnēsen te:

Mērionē tacha ken se kai orchēstēn per eonta

enchos emon katepause diamperes, ei s' ebalon per.

ton d' au Mērionēs douriklutos antion ēuda:

620Aineia chalepon se kai iphthimon per eonta

English · Butler

I had hit you my spear would soon have made an end of you." And Meriones answered, "Aeneas, for all your bravery, you will not be able to make an end of every one who comes against you. You are only a mortal like myself,

Homeric Greek

πάντων ἀνθρώπων σβέσσαι μένος, ὅς κέ σευ ἄντα

ἔλθῃ ἀμυνόμενος: θνητὸς δέ νυ καὶ σὺ τέτυξαι.

εἰ καὶ ἐγώ σε βάλοιμι τυχὼν μέσον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

αἶψά κε καὶ κρατερός περ ἐὼν καὶ χερσὶ πεποιθὼς

625εὖχος ἐμοὶ δοίης, ψυχὴν δ' Ἄϊδι κλυτοπώλῳ.

Transliteration

pantōn anthrōpōn sbessai menos, hos ke seu anta

elthēi amunomenos: thnētos de nu kai su tetuxai.

ei kai egō se baloimi tuchōn meson oxeï chalkōi,

aipsa ke kai krateros per eōn kai chersi pepoithōs

625euchos emoi doiēs, psuchēn d' Aïdi klutopōlōi.

English · Butler

and if I were to hit you in the middle of your shield with my spear, however strong and self-confident you may be, I should soon vanquish you, and you would yield your

Homeric Greek

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ' ἐνένιπε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός:

Μηριόνη τί σὺ ταῦτα καὶ ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ἀγορεύεις;

ὦ πέπον οὔ τοι Τρῶες ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσι

νεκροῦ χωρήσουσι: πάρος τινὰ γαῖα καθέξει.

630ἐν γὰρ χερσὶ τέλος πολέμου, ἐπέων δ' ἐνὶ βουλῇ:

Transliteration

hōs phato, ton d' enenipe Menoitiou alkimos huios:

Mērionē ti su tauta kai esthlos eōn agoreueis;

ō pepon ou toi Trōes oneideiois epeessi

nekrou chōrēsousi: paros tina gaia kathexei.

630en gar chersi telos polemou, epeōn d' eni boulēi:

English · Butler

life-breath to Hades of the noble steeds." On this the son of Menoitios rebuked him and said, "Meriones, hero though you be, you should not speak thus; taunting speeches, my good friend, will not make the Trojans draw away from the dead body; some of them must go under ground first; the outcome of battle is in the force of hands, while the outcome of deliberation is words;

Homeric Greek

τὼ οὔ τι χρὴ μῦθον ὀφέλλειν, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ἦρχ', ὃ δ' ἅμ' ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς.

τῶν δ' ὥς τε δρυτόμων ἀνδρῶν ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει

οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς, ἕκαθεν δέ τε γίγνετ' ἀκουή,

635ὣς τῶν ὄρνυτο δοῦπος ἀπὸ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείης

Transliteration

tō ou ti chrē muthon ophellein, alla machesthai.

hōs eipōn ho men ērch', ho d' ham' hespeto isotheos phōs.

tōn d' hōs te drutomōn andrōn orumagdos orōrei

oureos en bēssēis, hekathen de te gignet' akouē,

635hōs tōn ornuto doupos apo chthonos euruodeiēs

English · Butler

fight, therefore, and say nothing." He led the way as he spoke and the hero went forward with him. As the sound of woodcutters in some forest glade upon the mountains- and the thud of their axes is heard afar - even such a din now

Homeric Greek

χαλκοῦ τε ῥινοῦ τε βοῶν τ' εὐποιητάων,

νυσσομένων ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν.

οὐδ' ἂν ἔτι φράδμων περ ἀνὴρ Σαρπηδόνα δῖον

ἔγνω, ἐπεὶ βελέεσσι καὶ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν

640ἐκ κεφαλῆς εἴλυτο διαμπερὲς ἐς πόδας ἄκρους.

Transliteration

chalkou te rhinou te boōn t' eupoiētaōn,

nussomenōn xiphesin te kai enchesin amphiguoisin.

oud' an eti phradmōn per anēr Sarpēdona dion

egnō, epei beleessi kai haimati kai koniēisin

640ek kephalēs eiluto diamperes es podas akrous.

English · Butler

rose from earth-clash of bronze armor and of good ox-hide shields, as men smote each other with their swords and spears pointed at both ends. A man had need of good eyesight now to know Sarpedon, so covered was he from head to foot with spears and blood and dust. Men swarmed about the body, as flies that

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' αἰεὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ὁμίλεον, ὡς ὅτε μυῖαι

σταθμῷ ἔνι βρομέωσι περιγλαγέας κατὰ πέλλας

ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ, ὅτε τε γλάγος ἄγγεα δεύει:

ὣς ἄρα τοὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ὁμίλεον, οὐδέ ποτε Ζεὺς

645τρέψεν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνης ὄσσε φαεινώ,

Transliteration

hoi d' aiei peri nekron homileon, hōs hote muiai

stathmōi eni bromeōsi periglageas kata pellas

hōrēi en eiarinēi, hote te glagos angea deuei:

hōs ara toi peri nekron homileon, oude pote Zeus

645trepsen apo kraterēs husminēs osse phaeinō,

English · Butler

buzz round the full milk-pails in the season of spring when they are brimming with milk - even so did they gather round Sarpedon; nor did Zeus turn his keen eyes away for one moment from the fight, but kept looking at it all the time, for he

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ κατ' αὐτοὺς αἰὲν ὅρα καὶ φράζετο θυμῷ,

πολλὰ μάλ' ἀμφὶ φόνῳ Πατρόκλου μερμηρίζων,

ἢ ἤδη καὶ κεῖνον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ

αὐτοῦ ἐπ' ἀντιθέῳ Σαρπηδόνι φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

650χαλκῷ δῃώσῃ, ἀπό τ' ὤμων τεύχε' ἕληται,

Transliteration

alla kat' autous aien hora kai phrazeto thumōi,

polla mal' amphi phonōi Patroklou mermērizōn,

ē ēdē kai keinon eni kraterēi husminēi

autou ep' antitheōi Sarpēdoni phaidimos Hektōr

650chalkōi dēiōsēi, apo t' ōmōn teuche' helētai,

English · Butler

was settling how best to kill Patroklos, and considering whether Hektor should be allowed to end him now in the fight round the body of Sarpedon, and strip him of his armor, or whether he should let him give yet further trouble to the Trojans.

Homeric Greek

ἦ ἔτι καὶ πλεόνεσσιν ὀφέλλειεν πόνον αἰπύν.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι

ὄφρ' ἠὺ̈ς θεράπων Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

ἐξαῦτις Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστὴν

655ὤσαιτο προτὶ ἄστυ, πολέων δ' ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο.

Transliteration

ē eti kai pleonessin ophelleien ponon aipun.

hōde de hoi phroneonti doassato kerdion einai

ophr' ēüs therapōn Pēlēïadeō Achilēos

exautis Trōas te kai Hektora chalkokorustēn

655ōsaito proti astu, poleōn d' apo thumon heloito.

English · Butler

In the end, he deemed it best that the brave squire of Achilles son of Peleus should drive Hektor and the Trojans back towards the city and take the lives of many. First, therefore, he made Hektor turn fainthearted, whereon he mounted

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορι δὲ πρωτίστῳ ἀνάλκιδα θυμὸν ἐνῆκεν:

ἐς δίφρον δ' ἀναβὰς φύγαδ' ἔτραπε, κέκλετο δ' ἄλλους

Τρῶας φευγέμεναι: γνῶ γὰρ Διὸς ἱρὰ τάλαντα.

ἔνθ' οὐδ' ἴφθιμοι Λύκιοι μένον, ἀλλὰ φόβηθεν

660πάντες, ἐπεὶ βασιλῆα ἴδον βεβλαμμένον ἦτορ

Transliteration

Hektori de prōtistōi analkida thumon enēken:

es diphron d' anabas phugad' etrape, kekleto d' allous

Trōas pheugemenai: gnō gar Dios hira talanta.

enth' oud' iphthimoi Lukioi menon, alla phobēthen

660pantes, epei basilēa idon beblammenon ētor

English · Butler

his chariot and fled, bidding the other Trojans flee also, for he saw that the scales of Zeus had turned against him. Neither would the brave Lycians stand firm; they were dismayed when they saw their king lying struck to

Homeric Greek

κείμενον ἐν νεκύων ἀγύρει: πολέες γὰρ ἐπ' αὐτῷ

κάππεσον, εὖτ' ἔριδα κρατερὴν ἐτάνυσσε Κρονίων.

οἳ δ' ἄρ' ἀπ' ὤμοιιν Σαρπηδόνος ἔντε' ἕλοντο

χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, τὰ μὲν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας

665δῶκε φέρειν ἑτάροισι Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός.

Transliteration

keimenon en nekuōn agurei: polees gar ep' autōi

kappeson, eut' erida kraterēn etanusse Kroniōn.

hoi d' ar' ap' ōmoiin Sarpēdonos ente' helonto

chalkea marmaironta, ta men koilas epi nēas

665dōke pherein hetaroisi Menoitiou alkimos huios.

English · Butler

the heart amid a heap of corpses - for when the son of Kronos made the fight wax hot many had fallen above him. The Achaeans, therefore stripped the gleaming armor from his shoulders and the brave son of Menoitios gave it to his men to take to the ships. Then Zeus lord of the storm-cloud said to Apollo, "Dear

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότ' Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς:

εἰ δ' ἄγε νῦν φίλε Φοῖβε, κελαινεφὲς αἷμα κάθηρον

ἐλθὼν ἐκ βελέων Σαρπηδόνα, καί μιν ἔπειτα

πολλὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ φέρων λοῦσον ποταμοῖο ῥοῇσι

670χρῖσόν τ' ἀμβροσίῃ, περὶ δ' ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσον:

Transliteration

kai tot' Apollōna prosephē nephelēgereta Zeus:

ei d' age nun phile Phoibe, kelainephes haima kathēron

elthōn ek beleōn Sarpēdona, kai min epeita

pollon apo pro pherōn louson potamoio rhoēisi

670chrison t' ambrosiēi, peri d' ambrota heimata hesson:

English · Butler

Phoebus, go, I pray you, and take Sarpedon out of range of the weapons; cleanse the black blood from off him, and then bear him a long way off where you may wash him in the river, anoint him with ambrosia, and clothe him in immortal raiment; this done, commit him to the arms of the

Homeric Greek

πέμπε δέ μιν πομποῖσιν ἅμα κραιπνοῖσι φέρεσθαι

ὕπνῳ καὶ θανάτῳ διδυμάοσιν, οἵ ῥά μιν ὦκα

θήσουσ' ἐν Λυκίης εὐρείης πίονι δήμῳ,

ἔνθά ἑ ταρχύσουσι κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε

675τύμβῳ τε στήλῃ τε: τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

Transliteration

pempe de min pompoisin hama kraipnoisi pheresthai

hupnōi kai thanatōi didumaosin, hoi rha min ōka

thēsous' en Lukiēs eureiēs pioni dēmōi,

entha he tarchusousi kasignētoi te etai te

675tumbōi te stēlēi te: to gar geras esti thanontōn.

English · Butler

two fleet messengers, Death, and Sleep, who will carry him straightway to the fertile district of Lycia, where his brothers and kinsmen will give him a funeral, and will raise both mound and pillar to his memory, in due honor to the dead."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἄρα πατρὸς ἀνηκούστησεν Ἀπόλλων.

βῆ δὲ κατ' Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς φύλοπιν αἰνήν,

αὐτίκα δ' ἐκ βελέων Σαρπηδόνα δῖον ἀείρας

πολλὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ φέρων λοῦσεν ποταμοῖο ῥοῇσι

680χρῖσέν τ' ἀμβροσίῃ, περὶ δ' ἄμβροτα εἵματα ἕσσε:

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oud' ara patros anēkoustēsen Apollōn.

bē de kat' Idaiōn oreōn es phulopin ainēn,

autika d' ek beleōn Sarpēdona dion aeiras

pollon apo pro pherōn lousen potamoio rhoēisi

680chrisen t' ambrosiēi, peri d' ambrota heimata hesse:

English · Butler

Thus he spoke. Apollo obeyed his father's saying, and came down from the heights of Ida into the thick of the fight; forthwith he took Sarpedon out of range of the weapons, and then bore him a long way off, where he washed him in the river, anointed him with ambrosia and clothed him in immortal raiment;

Homeric Greek

πέμπε δέ μιν πομποῖσιν ἅμα κραιπνοῖσι φέρεσθαι,

ὕπνῳ καὶ θανάτῳ διδυμάοσιν, οἵ ῥά μιν ὦκα

κάτθεσαν ἐν Λυκίης εὐρείης πίονι δήμῳ.

Πάτροκλος δ' ἵπποισι καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι κελεύσας

685Τρῶας καὶ Λυκίους μετεκίαθε, καὶ μέγ' ἀάσθη

Transliteration

pempe de min pompoisin hama kraipnoisi pheresthai,

hupnōi kai thanatōi didumaosin, hoi rha min ōka

katthesan en Lukiēs eureiēs pioni dēmōi.

Patroklos d' hippoisi kai Automedonti keleusas

685Trōas kai Lukious metekiathe, kai meg' aasthē

English · Butler

this done, he committed him to the arms of the two fleet messengers, Death and Sleep, who presently set him down in the fertile district of Lycia. Meanwhile Patroklos, with many a shout to his horses and to Automedon, pursued the Trojans and Lycians in the pride and foolishness of his heart. Had he but obeyed the bidding of the son of Peleus, he would have, escaped death and have been scatheless;

Homeric Greek

νήπιος: εἰ δὲ ἔπος Πηληϊάδαο φύλαξεν

ἦ τ' ἂν ὑπέκφυγε κῆρα κακὴν μέλανος θανάτοιο.

ἀλλ' αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος ἠέ περ ἀνδρῶν:

ὅς τε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἄνδρα φοβεῖ καὶ ἀφείλετο νίκην

690ῥηϊδίως, ὅτε δ' αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνῃσι μάχεσθαι:

Transliteration

nēpios: ei de epos Pēlēïadao phulaxen

ē t' an hupekphuge kēra kakēn melanos thanatoio.

all' aiei te Dios kreissōn noos ēe per andrōn:

hos te kai alkimon andra phobei kai apheileto nikēn

690rhēïdiōs, hote d' autos epotrunēisi machesthai:

English · Butler

but the counsels of Zeus pass man's understanding; he will put even a brave man to flight and snatch victory from his grasp, or again he will set him on to fight, as he now did when he put a

Homeric Greek

ὅς οἱ καὶ τότε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνῆκεν.

ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον τίνα δ' ὕστατον ἐξενάριξας

Πατρόκλεις, ὅτε δή σε θεοὶ θάνατον δὲ κάλεσσαν;

Ἄδρηστον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Αὐτόνοον καὶ Ἔχεκλον

695καὶ Πέριμον Μεγάδην καὶ Ἐπίστορα καὶ Μελάνιππον,

Transliteration

hos hoi kai tote thumon eni stēthessin anēken.

entha tina prōton tina d' hustaton exenarixas

Patrokleis, hote dē se theoi thanaton de kalessan;

Adrēston men prōta kai Autonoon kai Echeklon

695kai Perimon Megadēn kai Epistora kai Melanippon,

English · Butler

high spirit into the heart of Patroklos. Who then first, and who last, was slain by you, O Patroklos, when the gods had now called you to meet your doom? First Adrastos, Autonoos, Echeklos, Perimos the son of Megas, Epistor and Melanippos; after these he killed Elasus, Moulios, and Pylartes. These he slew,

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' Ἔλασον καὶ Μούλιον ἠδὲ Πυλάρτην:

τοὺς ἕλεν: οἳ δ' ἄλλοι φύγαδε μνώοντο ἕκαστος.

ἔνθά κεν ὑψίπυλον Τροίην ἕλον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

Πατρόκλου ὑπὸ χερσί, περὶ πρὸ γὰρ ἔγχεϊ θῦεν,

700εἰ μὴ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ἐϋδμήτου ἐπὶ πύργου

Transliteration

autar epeit' Elason kai Moulion ēde Pulartēn:

tous helen: hoi d' alloi phugade mnōonto hekastos.

entha ken hupsipulon Troiēn helon huies Achaiōn

Patroklou hupo chersi, peri pro gar encheï thuen,

700ei mē Apollōn Phoibos eüdmētou epi purgou

English · Butler

but the rest saved themselves by flight. The sons of the Achaeans would now have taken Troy by the hands of Patroklos, for his spear flew in all directions, had not Phoebus Apollo taken his stand upon the wall to defeat his purpose and to aid the Trojans. Thrice did Patroklos charge at an angle of the high wall, and thrice did Apollo beat him back, striking his shield with his own immortal hands.

Homeric Greek

ἔστη τῷ ὀλοὰ φρονέων, Τρώεσσι δ' ἀρήγων.

τρὶς μὲν ἐπ' ἀγκῶνος βῆ τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο

Πάτροκλος, τρὶς δ' αὐτὸν ἀπεστυφέλιξεν Ἀπόλλων

χείρεσσ' ἀθανάτῃσι φαεινὴν ἀσπίδα νύσσων.

705ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,

Transliteration

estē tōi oloa phroneōn, Trōessi d' arēgōn.

tris men ep' ankōnos bē teicheos hupsēloio

Patroklos, tris d' auton apestuphelixen Apollōn

cheiress' athanatēisi phaeinēn aspida nussōn.

705all' hote dē to tetarton epessuto daimoni isos,

English · Butler

When Patroklos was coming on like a daimôn for yet a fourth time, Apollo shouted to him with an awful voice and said, "Draw back, noble Patroklos, it is not your lot

Homeric Greek

δεινὰ δ' ὁμοκλήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

χάζεο διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες: οὔ νύ τοι αἶσα

σῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ πόλιν πέρθαι Τρώων ἀγερώχων,

οὐδ' ὑπ' Ἀχιλλῆος, ὅς περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.

710ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δ' ἀνεχάζετο πολλὸν ὀπίσσω

Transliteration

deina d' homoklēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

chazeo diogenes Patroklees: ou nu toi aisa

sōi hupo douri polin perthai Trōōn agerōchōn,

oud' hup' Achillēos, hos per seo pollon ameinōn.

710hōs phato, Patroklos d' anechazeto pollon opissō

English · Butler

to sack the city of the Trojan chieftains, nor yet will it be that of Achilles who is a far better man than you are." On hearing this, Patroklos withdrew to some distance and avoided the

Homeric Greek

μῆνιν ἀλευάμενος ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος.

Ἕκτωρ δ' ἐν Σκαιῇσι πύλῃς ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους:

δίζε γὰρ ἠὲ μάχοιτο κατὰ κλόνον αὖτις ἐλάσσας,

ἦ λαοὺς ἐς τεῖχος ὁμοκλήσειεν ἀλῆναι.

715ταῦτ' ἄρα οἱ φρονέοντι παρίστατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

Transliteration

mēnin aleuamenos hekatēbolou Apollōnos.

Hektōr d' en Skaiēisi pulēis eche mōnuchas hippous:

dize gar ēe machoito kata klonon autis elassas,

ē laous es teichos homoklēseien alēnai.

715taut' ara hoi phroneonti paristato Phoibos Apollōn

English · Butler

anger of Apollo. Meanwhile Hektor was waiting with his horses inside the Scaean gates, in doubt whether to drive out again and go on fighting, or to call the army inside the gates. As he was thus doubting Phoebus Apollo drew near him in the likeness of a young and lusty warrior Asios, who was Hektor's uncle,

Homeric Greek

ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος αἰζηῷ τε κρατερῷ τε

Ἀσίῳ, ὃς μήτρως ἦν Ἕκτορος ἱπποδάμοιο

αὐτοκασίγνητος Ἑκάβης, υἱὸς δὲ Δύμαντος,

ὃς Φρυγίῃ ναίεσκε ῥοῇς ἔπι Σαγγαρίοιο:

720τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων:

Transliteration

aneri eisamenos aizēōi te kraterōi te

Asiōi, hos mētrōs ēn Hektoros hippodamoio

autokasignētos Hekabēs, huios de Dumantos,

hos Phrugiēi naieske rhoēis epi Sangarioio:

720tōi min eeisamenos prosephē Dios huios Apollōn:

English · Butler

being own brother to Hecuba, and son of Dymas who lived in Phrygia by the waters of the river Sangarios; in his likeness Zeus' son Apollo now spoke to Hektor saying, "Hektor, why have you left off fighting? It is ill done of you. If I were as much better a man than you, as I am worse, you should soon rue your slackness.

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορ τίπτε μάχης ἀποπαύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.

αἴθ' ὅσον ἥσσων εἰμί, τόσον σέο φέρτερος εἴην:

τώ κε τάχα στυγερῶς πολέμου ἀπερωήσειας.

ἀλλ' ἄγε Πατρόκλῳ ἔφεπε κρατερώνυχας ἵππους,

725αἴ κέν πώς μιν ἕλῃς, δώῃ δέ τοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων.

Transliteration

Hektor tipte machēs apopaueai; oude ti se chrē.

aith' hoson hēssōn eimi, toson seo pherteros eiēn:

tō ke tacha stugerōs polemou aperōēseias.

all' age Patroklōi ephepe kraterōnuchas hippous,

725ai ken pōs min helēis, dōēi de toi euchos Apollōn.

English · Butler

Drive straight towards Patroklos, if so be that Apollo may grant you a triumph over him, and you may kill him."

Homeric Greek

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν,

Κεβριόνῃ δ' ἐκέλευσε δαί̈φρονι φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

ἵππους ἐς πόλεμον πεπληγέμεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλων

δύσεθ' ὅμιλον ἰών, ἐν δὲ κλόνον Ἀργείοισιν

730ἧκε κακόν, Τρωσὶν δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὄπαζεν.

Transliteration

hōs eipōn ho men autis ebē theos am ponon andrōn,

Kebrionēi d' ekeleuse daïphroni phaidimos Hektōr

hippous es polemon peplēgemen. autar Apollōn

duseth' homilon iōn, en de klonon Argeioisin

730hēke kakon, Trōsin de kai Hektori kudos opazen.

English · Butler

With this the god went back into the struggle, and Hektor bade Kebriones drive again into the fight. Apollo passed in among them, and struck panic into the Argives, while he gave triumph to Hektor and the Trojans. Hektor let the other Danaans alone and killed no man, but drove straight at Patroklos. Patroklos then

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτωρ δ' ἄλλους μὲν Δαναοὺς ἔα οὐδ' ἐνάριζεν:

αὐτὰρ ὃ Πατρόκλῳ ἔφεπε κρατερώνυχας ἵππους.

Πάτροκλος δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἀφ' ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε

σκαιῇ ἔγχος ἔχων: ἑτέρηφι δὲ λάζετο πέτρον

735μάρμαρον ὀκριόεντα τόν οἱ περὶ χεὶρ ἐκάλυψεν,

Transliteration

Hektōr d' allous men Danaous ea oud' enarizen:

autar ho Patroklōi ephepe kraterōnuchas hippous.

Patroklos d' heterōthen aph' hippōn alto chamaze

skaiēi enchos echōn: heterēphi de lazeto petron

735marmaron okrioenta ton hoi peri cheir ekalupsen,

English · Butler

sprang from his chariot to the ground, with a spear in his left hand, and in his right a jagged stone as large as his hand could hold. He stood still and threw it, nor did it go far without hitting some one;

Homeric Greek

ἧκε δ' ἐρεισάμενος, οὐδὲ δὴν χάζετο φωτός,

οὐδ' ἁλίωσε βέλος, βάλε δ' Ἕκτορος ἡνιοχῆα

Κεβριόνην νόθον υἱὸν ἀγακλῆος Πριάμοιο

ἵππων ἡνί' ἔχοντα μετώπιον ὀξέϊ λᾶϊ.

740ἀμφοτέρας δ' ὀφρῦς σύνελεν λίθος, οὐδέ οἱ ἔσχεν

Transliteration

hēke d' ereisamenos, oude dēn chazeto phōtos,

oud' haliōse belos, bale d' Hektoros hēniochēa

Kebrionēn nothon huion agaklēos Priamoio

hippōn hēni' echonta metōpion oxeï laï.

740amphoteras d' ophrus sunelen lithos, oude hoi eschen

English · Butler

the cast was not in vain, for the stone struck Kebriones, Hektor's charioteer, a bastard son of Priam, as he held the reins in his hands. The stone hit him on the forehead and drove his brows into his head for the bone was smashed, and his eyes fell to the ground at his feet. He dropped dead from his chariot as though he were diving, and there was no more life left in him.

Homeric Greek

ὀστέον, ὀφθαλμοὶ δὲ χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν

αὐτοῦ πρόσθε ποδῶν: ὃ δ' ἄρ' ἀρνευτῆρι ἐοικὼς

κάππεσ' ἀπ' εὐεργέος δίφρου, λίπε δ' ὀστέα θυμός.

τὸν δ' ἐπικερτομέων προσέφης Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ:

745ὢ πόποι ἦ μάλ' ἐλαφρὸς ἀνήρ, ὡς ῥεῖα κυβιστᾷ.

Transliteration

osteon, ophthalmoi de chamai peson en koniēisin

autou prosthe podōn: ho d' ar' arneutēri eoikōs

kappes' ap' euergeos diphrou, lipe d' ostea thumos.

ton d' epikertomeōn prosephēs Patroklees hippeu:

745ō popoi ē mal' elaphros anēr, hōs rheia kubistāi.

English · Butler

Over him did you then vaunt, O horseman Patroklos, saying, "Bless my heart, how active he is, and how well he dives. If we had been at sea this man would have dived from the ship's side and brought up as many oysters

Homeric Greek

εἰ δή που καὶ πόντῳ ἐν ἰχθυόεντι γένοιτο,

πολλοὺς ἂν κορέσειεν ἀνὴρ ὅδε τήθεα διφῶν

νηὸς ἀποθρῴσκων, εἰ καὶ δυσπέμφελος εἴη,

ὡς νῦν ἐν πεδίῳ ἐξ ἵππων ῥεῖα κυβιστᾷ.

750ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐν Τρώεσσι κυβιστητῆρες ἔασιν.

Transliteration

ei dē pou kai pontōi en ichthuoenti genoito,

pollous an koreseien anēr hode tēthea diphōn

nēos apothrōiskōn, ei kai duspemphelos eiē,

hōs nun en pediōi ex hippōn rheia kubistāi.

750ē rha kai en Trōessi kubistētēres easin.

English · Butler

as the whole crew could stomach, even in rough water, for he has dived beautifully off his chariot on to the ground. It seems, then, that there are divers also among the Trojans."

Homeric Greek

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐπὶ Κεβριόνῃ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει

οἶμα λέοντος ἔχων, ὅς τε σταθμοὺς κεραί̈ζων

ἔβλητο πρὸς στῆθος, ἑή τέ μιν ὤλεσεν ἀλκή:

ὣς ἐπὶ Κεβριόνῃ Πατρόκλεες ἆλσο μεμαώς.

755Ἕκτωρ δ' αὖθ' ἑτέρωθεν ἀφ' ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.

Transliteration

hōs eipōn epi Kebrionēi hērōï bebēkei

oima leontos echōn, hos te stathmous keraïzōn

eblēto pros stēthos, heē te min ōlesen alkē:

hōs epi Kebrionēi Patroklees also memaōs.

755Hektōr d' auth' heterōthen aph' hippōn alto chamaze.

English · Butler

As he spoke he flung himself on Kebriones with the spring, as it were, of a lion that while attacking a stockyard is himself struck in the chest, and his courage is his own bane - even so furiously, O Patroklos, did you then spring upon Kebriones. Hektor sprang also from his chariot to the ground. The pair then fought over the body of Kebriones. As two lions fight fiercely on some high mountain over the body of a stag that

Homeric Greek

τὼ περὶ Κεβριόναο λέονθ' ὣς δηρινθήτην,

ὥ τ' ὄρεος κορυφῇσι περὶ κταμένης ἐλάφοιο

ἄμφω πεινάοντε μέγα φρονέοντε μάχεσθον:

ὣς περὶ Κεβριόναο δύω μήστωρες ἀϋτῆς

760Πάτροκλός τε Μενοιτιάδης καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

Transliteration

tō peri Kebrionao leonth' hōs dērinthētēn,

hō t' oreos koruphēisi peri ktamenēs elaphoio

amphō peinaonte mega phroneonte machesthon:

hōs peri Kebrionao duō mēstōres aütēs

760Patroklos te Menoitiadēs kai phaidimos Hektōr

English · Butler

they have killed, even so did these two mighty warriors, Patroklos son of Menoitios and brave Hektor, hack and hew at one another over the corpse of Kebriones. Hektor would not let him go when he had once got him by the head, while Patroklos kept fast hold of

Homeric Greek

ἵεντ' ἀλλήλων ταμέειν χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

Ἕκτωρ μὲν κεφαλῆφιν ἐπεὶ λάβεν οὐχὶ μεθίει:

Πάτροκλος δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἔχεν ποδός: οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι

Τρῶες καὶ Δαναοὶ σύναγον κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην.

765ὡς δ' Εὖρός τε Νότος τ' ἐριδαίνετον ἀλλήλοιιν

Transliteration

hient' allēlōn tameein chroa nēleï chalkōi.

Hektōr men kephalēphin epei laben ouchi methiei:

Patroklos d' heterōthen echen podos: hoi de dē alloi

Trōes kai Danaoi sunagon kraterēn husminēn.

765hōs d' Euros te Notos t' eridaineton allēloiin

English · Butler

his feet, and a fierce fight raged between the other Danaans and Trojans. As the east and south wind buffet one another when they beat upon some dense forest on the mountains - there is beech and ash and spreading cornel; the to of the

Homeric Greek

οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς βαθέην πελεμιζέμεν ὕλην

φηγόν τε μελίην τε τανύφλοιόν τε κράνειαν,

αἵ τε πρὸς ἀλλήλας ἔβαλον τανυήκεας ὄζους

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, πάταγος δέ τε ἀγνυμενάων,

770ὣς Τρῶες καὶ Ἀχαιοὶ ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισι θορόντες

Transliteration

oureos en bēssēis batheēn pelemizemen hulēn

phēgon te meliēn te tanuphloion te kraneian,

hai te pros allēlas ebalon tanuēkeas ozous

ēchēi thespesiēi, patagos de te agnumenaōn,

770hōs Trōes kai Achaioi ep' allēloisi thorontes

English · Butler

trees roar as they beat on one another, and one can hear the boughs cracking and breaking - even so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay about each other, and neither side would give way.

Homeric Greek

δῄουν, οὐδ' ἕτεροι μνώοντ' ὀλοοῖο φόβοιο.

πολλὰ δὲ Κεβριόνην ἀμφ' ὀξέα δοῦρα πεπήγει

ἰοί τε πτερόεντες ἀπὸ νευρῆφι θορόντες,

πολλὰ δὲ χερμάδια μεγάλ' ἀσπίδας ἐστυφέλιξαν

775μαρναμένων ἀμφ' αὐτόν: ὃ δ' ἐν στροφάλιγγι κονίης

Transliteration

dēioun, oud' heteroi mnōont' olooio phoboio.

polla de Kebrionēn amph' oxea doura pepēgei

ioi te pteroentes apo neurēphi thorontes,

polla de chermadia megal' aspidas estuphelixan

775marnamenōn amph' auton: ho d' en strophalingi koniēs

English · Butler

even so did the Trojans and Achaeans spring upon one another and lay about each other, and neither side would give way. Many a pointed spear fell to ground and many a winged arrow sped from its bow-string about the body of Kebriones; many a great stone, moreover, beat on many a shield as they fought around his body, but there he lay in the whirling clouds of dust, all huge

Homeric Greek

κεῖτο μέγας μεγαλωστί, λελασμένος ἱπποσυνάων.

ὄφρα μὲν Ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκει,

τόφρα μάλ' ἀμφοτέρων βέλε' ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός:

ἦμος δ' Ἠέλιος μετενίσετο βουλυτὸν δέ,

780καὶ τότε δή ῥ' ὑπὲρ αἶσαν Ἀχαιοὶ φέρτεροι ἦσαν.

Transliteration

keito megas megalōsti, lelasmenos hipposunaōn.

ophra men Ēelios meson ouranon amphibebēkei,

tophra mal' amphoterōn bele' hēpteto, pipte de laos:

ēmos d' Ēelios meteniseto bouluton de,

780kai tote dē rh' huper aisan Achaioi pherteroi ēsan.

English · Butler

and hugely, heedless of his driving now. So long as the sun was still high in mid-heaven the weapons of either side were alike deadly, and the people fell; but when he went down towards the time when men loose their oxen, the Achaeans proved to be beyond all forecast stronger, so that they drew Kebriones out of range of the darts and tumult of the Trojans, and stripped the armor from his shoulders. Then Patroklos sprang like Ares with fierce intent and a terrific shout upon the Trojans, and thrice did he kill nine men; but as he was coming on like a

Homeric Greek

ἐκ μὲν Κεβριόνην βελέων ἥρωα ἔρυσσαν

Τρώων ἐξ ἐνοπῆς, καὶ ἀπ' ὤμων τεύχε' ἕλοντο,

Πάτροκλος δὲ Τρωσὶ κακὰ φρονέων ἐνόρουσε.

τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτ' ἐπόρουσε θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

785σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, τρὶς δ' ἐννέα φῶτας ἔπεφνεν.

Transliteration

ek men Kebrionēn beleōn hērōa erussan

Trōōn ex enopēs, kai ap' ōmōn teuche' helonto,

Patroklos de Trōsi kaka phroneōn enorouse.

tris men epeit' eporouse thoōi atalantos Arēï

785smerdalea iachōn, tris d' ennea phōtas epephnen.

English · Butler

daimôn for a time, at that moment, O Patroklos, was your doom approaching, for Phoebus fought you in fell earnest. Patroklos did not see him as he moved about in the crush, for he was enshrouded in thick darkness, and the god struck him from behind on his

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,

ἔνθ' ἄρα τοι Πάτροκλε φάνη βιότοιο τελευτή:

ἤντετο γάρ τοι Φοῖβος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ

δεινός: ὃ μὲν τὸν ἰόντα κατὰ κλόνον οὐκ ἐνόησεν,

790ἠέρι γὰρ πολλῇ κεκαλυμμένος ἀντεβόλησε:

Transliteration

all' hote dē to tetarton epessuto daimoni isos,

enth' ara toi Patrokle phanē biotoio teleutē:

ēnteto gar toi Phoibos eni kraterēi husminēi

deinos: ho men ton ionta kata klonon ouk enoēsen,

790ēeri gar pollēi kekalummenos antebolēse:

English · Butler

back and his broad shoulders with the flat of his hand, so that his eyes turned dizzy. Phoebus Apollo beat the helmet from off his head, and it rolled rattling off under the horses' feet, where its horse-hair plumes were all begrimed with dust and blood. Before this, it would not have been right for this to happen.

Homeric Greek

στῆ δ' ὄπιθεν, πλῆξεν δὲ μετάφρενον εὐρέε τ' ὤμω

χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ, στρεφεδίνηθεν δέ οἱ ὄσσε.

τοῦ δ' ἀπὸ μὲν κρατὸς κυνέην βάλε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων:

ἣ δὲ κυλινδομένη καναχὴν ἔχε ποσσὶν ὑφ' ἵππων

795αὐλῶπις τρυφάλεια, μιάνθησαν δὲ ἔθειραι

Transliteration

stē d' opithen, plēxen de metaphrenon euree t' ōmō

cheiri kataprēnei, strephedinēthen de hoi osse.

tou d' apo men kratos kuneēn bale Phoibos Apollōn:

hē de kulindomenē kanachēn eche possin huph' hippōn

795aulōpis truphaleia, mianthēsan de etheirai

English · Butler

For before, this helmet had served to protect the head and comely forehead of the godlike hero Achilles. Now, however, Zeus delivered it over to be worn by Hektor. Nevertheless the end of Hektor also was near. The bronze-shod spear, so great and so strong,

Homeric Greek

αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσι: πάρος γε μὲν οὐ θέμις ἦεν

ἱππόκομον πήληκα μιαίνεσθαι κονίῃσιν,

ἀλλ' ἀνδρὸς θείοιο κάρη χαρίεν τε μέτωπον

ῥύετ' Ἀχιλλῆος: τότε δὲ Ζεὺς Ἕκτορι δῶκεν

800ᾗ κεφαλῇ φορέειν, σχεδόθεν δέ οἱ ἦεν ὄλεθρος.

Transliteration

haimati kai koniēisi: paros ge men ou themis ēen

hippokomon pēlēka miainesthai koniēisin,

all' andros theioio karē charien te metōpon

rhuet' Achillēos: tote de Zeus Hektori dōken

800hēi kephalēi phoreein, schedothen de hoi ēen olethros.

English · Butler

was broken in the hand of Patroklos, while his shield that covered him from head to foot fell to the

Homeric Greek

πᾶν δέ οἱ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἄγη δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρὸν κεκορυθμένον: αὐτὰρ ἀπ' ὤμων

ἀσπὶς σὺν τελαμῶνι χαμαὶ πέσε τερμιόεσσα.

λῦσε δέ οἱ θώρηκα ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων.

805τὸν δ' ἄτη φρένας εἷλε, λύθεν δ' ὑπὸ φαίδιμα γυῖα,

Transliteration

pan de hoi en cheiressin agē dolichoskion enchos

brithu mega stibaron kekoruthmenon: autar ap' ōmōn

aspis sun telamōni chamai pese termioessa.

luse de hoi thōrēka anax Dios huios Apollōn.

805ton d' atē phrenas heile, luthen d' hupo phaidima guia,

English · Butler

ground as did also the band that held it, and Apollo undid the fastenings of his corselet. At this his mind became clouded in derangement ; his limbs failed him, and he stood as one dazed; whereon Euphorbos son of Panthoos, a Dardanian, the best spearman of his time, as also the finest horseman and fleetest runner, came behind him and struck him in the back with a spear, midway between the shoulders.

Homeric Greek

στῆ δὲ ταφών: ὄπιθεν δὲ μετάφρενον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ

ὤμων μεσσηγὺς σχεδόθεν βάλε Δάρδανος ἀνὴρ

Πανθοί̈δης Εὔφορβος, ὃς ἡλικίην ἐκέκαστο

ἔγχεί̈ θ' ἱπποσύνῃ τε πόδεσσί τε καρπαλίμοισι:

810καὶ γὰρ δὴ τότε φῶτας ἐείκοσι βῆσεν ἀφ' ἵππων

Transliteration

stē de taphōn: opithen de metaphrenon oxeï douri

ōmōn messēgus schedothen bale Dardanos anēr

Panthoïdēs Euphorbos, hos hēlikiēn ekekasto

encheï th' hipposunēi te podessi te karpalimoisi:

810kai gar dē tote phōtas eeikosi bēsen aph' hippōn

English · Butler

At this his mind became clouded in derangement ; his limbs failed him, and he stood as one dazed; whereon Euphorbos son of Panthoos, a Dardanian, the best spearman of his time, as also the finest horseman and fleetest runner, came behind him and struck him in the back with a spear, midway between the shoulders. This man as soon as ever he had come up with his chariot had dismounted twenty men, so proficient was he in all the arts of war - he it was, O horseman Patroklos, that first drove a weapon into you, but he did not quite overpower you. Euphorbos then ran back into the crowd, after drawing his ashen spear out of the wound;

Homeric Greek

πρῶτ' ἐλθὼν σὺν ὄχεσφι διδασκόμενος πολέμοιο:

ὅς τοι πρῶτος ἐφῆκε βέλος Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ

οὐδὲ δάμασσ': ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἀνέδραμε, μίκτο δ' ὁμίλῳ,

ἐκ χροὸς ἁρπάξας δόρυ μείλινον, οὐδ' ὑπέμεινε

815Πάτροκλον γυμνόν περ ἐόντ' ἐν δηϊοτῆτι.

Transliteration

prōt' elthōn sun ochesphi didaskomenos polemoio:

hos toi prōtos ephēke belos Patroklees hippeu

oude damass': ho men autis anedrame, mikto d' homilōi,

ek chroos harpaxas doru meilinon, oud' hupemeine

815Patroklon gumnon per eont' en dēïotēti.

English · Butler

he would not stand firm and wait for Patroklos, unarmed though he now was, to attack him; but Patroklos unnerved, alike by the blow the god had given him and by the spear-wound, drew back under cover of his men in fear for his life. Hektor on this, seeing him to be wounded and giving ground, forced his way through the ranks, and

Homeric Greek

Πάτροκλος δὲ θεοῦ πληγῇ καὶ δουρὶ δαμασθεὶς

ἂψ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρ' ἀλεείνων.

Ἕκτωρ δ' ὡς εἶδεν Πατροκλῆα μεγάθυμον

ἂψ ἀναχαζόμενον βεβλημένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

820ἀγχίμολόν ῥά οἱ ἦλθε κατὰ στίχας, οὖτα δὲ δουρὶ

Transliteration

Patroklos de theou plēgēi kai douri damastheis

aps hetarōn eis ethnos echazeto kēr' aleeinōn.

Hektōr d' hōs eiden Patroklēa megathumon

aps anachazomenon beblēmenon oxeï chalkōi,

820anchimolon rha hoi ēlthe kata stichas, outa de douri

English · Butler

when close up with him struck him in the lower part of the belly with a spear, driving the bronze point right through it, so that he fell heavily to the ground to the great of the Achaeans. As when a lion has fought some fierce wild-boar and worsted him - the two fight furiously

Homeric Greek

νείατον ἐς κενεῶνα, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε:

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, μέγα δ' ἤκαχε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν:

ὡς δ' ὅτε σῦν ἀκάμαντα λέων ἐβιήσατο χάρμῃ,

ὥ τ' ὄρεος κορυφῇσι μέγα φρονέοντε μάχεσθον

825πίδακος ἀμφ' ὀλίγης: ἐθέλουσι δὲ πιέμεν ἄμφω:

Transliteration

neiaton es keneōna, dia pro de chalkon elasse:

doupēsen de pesōn, mega d' ēkache laon Achaiōn:

hōs d' hote sun akamanta leōn ebiēsato charmēi,

hō t' oreos koruphēisi mega phroneonte machesthon

825pidakos amph' oligēs: ethelousi de piemen amphō:

English · Butler

upon the mountains over some little fountain at which they would both drink, and the lion has beaten the boar till he can hardly breathe - even so did Hektor son of Priam take the life of the brave son of Menoitios

Homeric Greek

πολλὰ δέ τ' ἀσθμαίνοντα λέων ἐδάμασσε βίηφιν:

ὣς πολέας πεφνόντα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν

Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης σχεδὸν ἔγχεϊ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα,

καί οἱ ἐπευχόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

830Πάτροκλ' ἦ που ἔφησθα πόλιν κεραϊξέμεν ἁμήν,

Transliteration

polla de t' asthmainonta leōn edamasse biēphin:

hōs poleas pephnonta Menoitiou alkimon huion

Hektōr Priamidēs schedon encheï thumon apēura,

kai hoi epeuchomenos epea pteroenta prosēuda:

830Patrokl' ē pou ephēstha polin keraïxemen hamēn,

English · Butler

who had killed so many, striking him from close at hand, and vaunting over him the while. "Patroklos," said he, "you deemed that you should sack our city, rob our Trojan women of their freedom, and carry them off in your ships to your own country. Fool; Hektor and his fleet horses were ever straining their utmost to defend them.

Homeric Greek

Τρωϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας

ἄξειν ἐν νήεσσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

νήπιε: τάων δὲ πρόσθ' Ἕκτορος ὠκέες ἵπποι

ποσσὶν ὀρωρέχαται πολεμίζειν: ἔγχεϊ δ' αὐτὸς

835Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισι μεταπρέπω, ὅ σφιν ἀμύνω

Transliteration

Trōïadas de gunaikas eleutheron ēmar apouras

axein en nēessi philēn es patrida gaian

nēpie: taōn de prosth' Hektoros ōkees hippoi

possin orōrechatai polemizein: encheï d' autos

835Trōsi philoptolemoisi metaprepō, ho sphin amunō

English · Butler

I am foremost of all the Trojan warriors to stave the day of bondage from off them; as for you, vultures shall devour you here. Poor wretch, Achilles with all his bravery availed you nothing; and yet I ween when you left him he charged you straitly

Homeric Greek

ἦμαρ ἀναγκαῖον: σὲ δέ τ' ἐνθάδε γῦπες ἔδονται.

ἆ δείλ', οὐδέ τοι ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν χραίσμησεν Ἀχιλλεύς,

ὅς πού τοι μάλα πολλὰ μένων ἐπετέλλετ' ἰόντι:

μή μοι πρὶν ἰέναι Πατρόκλεες ἱπποκέλευθε

840νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς πρὶν Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο

Transliteration

ēmar anankaion: se de t' enthade gupes edontai.

a deil', oude toi esthlos eōn chraismēsen Achilleus,

hos pou toi mala polla menōn epetellet' ionti:

mē moi prin ienai Patroklees hippokeleuthe

840nēas epi glaphuras prin Hektoros androphonoio

English · Butler

saying, ‘Come not back to the ships, horseman Patroklos, till you have rent the bloodstained shirt of murderous Hektor about his body. Thus I ween did he charge you, and your

Homeric Greek

αἱματόεντα χιτῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι δαί̈ξαι.

ὥς πού σε προσέφη, σοὶ δὲ φρένας ἄφρονι πεῖθε.

τὸν δ' ὀλιγοδρανέων προσέφης Πατρόκλεες ἱππεῦ:

ἤδη νῦν Ἕκτορ μεγάλ' εὔχεο: σοὶ γὰρ ἔδωκε

845νίκην Ζεὺς Κρονίδης καὶ Ἀπόλλων, οἵ με δάμασσαν

Transliteration

haimatoenta chitōna peri stēthessi daïxai.

hōs pou se prosephē, soi de phrenas aphroni peithe.

ton d' oligodraneōn prosephēs Patroklees hippeu:

ēdē nun Hektor megal' eucheo: soi gar edōke

845nikēn Zeus Kronidēs kai Apollōn, hoi me damassan

English · Butler

fool's heart answered him ‘yea’ within you." Then, as the life ebbed out of you, you answered, O horseman Patroklos: "Hektor, vaunt as you will, for Zeus the son of Kronos and Apollo have granted you victory; it is they who have vanquished me so easily, and they who have stripped the armor from my shoulders; had twenty such men as you attacked me, all of them would have fallen before my spear. Fate and the son of Leto have overpowered me, and among mortal men Euphorbos; you are yourself third only in the killing of me.

Homeric Greek

ῥηιδίως: αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀπ' ὤμων τεύχε' ἕλοντο.

τοιοῦτοι δ' εἴ πέρ μοι ἐείκοσιν ἀντεβόλησαν,

πάντές κ' αὐτόθ' ὄλοντο ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμέντες.

ἀλλά με μοῖρ' ὀλοὴ καὶ Λητοῦς ἔκτανεν υἱός,

850ἀνδρῶν δ' Εὔφορβος: σὺ δέ με τρίτος ἐξεναρίζεις.

Transliteration

rhēidiōs: autoi gar ap' ōmōn teuche' helonto.

toioutoi d' ei per moi eeikosin antebolēsan,

pantes k' autoth' olonto emōi hupo douri damentes.

alla me moir' oloē kai Lētous ektanen huios,

850andrōn d' Euphorbos: su de me tritos exenarizeis.

English · Butler

I say further, and lay my saying to your heart, you too shall live but for a little season; death and the day of your doom are close upon you, and they will lay you low by the hand of Achilles son of Aiakos." When he had thus spoken his eyes were closed in the doom

Homeric Greek

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν:

οὔ θην οὐδ' αὐτὸς δηρὸν βέῃ, ἀλλά τοι ἤδη

ἄγχι παρέστηκεν θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιὴ

χερσὶ δαμέντ' Ἀχιλῆος ἀμύμονος Αἰακίδαο.

855ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντα τέλος θανάτοιο κάλυψε:

Transliteration

allo de toi ereō, su d' eni phresi balleo sēisin:

ou thēn oud' autos dēron beēi, alla toi ēdē

anchi parestēken thanatos kai moira krataiē

chersi dament' Achilēos amumonos Aiakidao.

855hōs ara min eiponta telos thanatoio kalupse:

English · Butler

of death, his life-breath left his body and flitted down to the house of Hades, mourning its sad fate and bidding farewell to the youth and vigor of its manhood. Dead though he was, Hektor still spoke to him saying, "Patroklos, why should you thus foretell my doom?

Homeric Greek

ψυχὴ δ' ἐκ ῥεθέων πταμένη Ἄϊδος δὲ βεβήκει

ὃν πότμον γοόωσα λιποῦσ' ἀνδροτῆτα καὶ ἥβην.

τὸν καὶ τεθνηῶτα προσηύδα φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ:

Πατρόκλεις τί νύ μοι μαντεύεαι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον;

860τίς δ' οἶδ' εἴ κ' Ἀχιλεὺς Θέτιδος πάϊς ἠϋκόμοιο

Transliteration

psuchē d' ek rhetheōn ptamenē Aïdos de bebēkei

hon potmon gooōsa lipous' androtēta kai hēbēn.

ton kai tethnēōta prosēuda phaidimos Hektōr:

Patrokleis ti nu moi manteueai aipun olethron;

860tis d' oid' ei k' Achileus Thetidos païs ēükomoio

English · Butler

Who knows but Achilles, son of lovely Thetis, may be smitten by my spear and

Homeric Greek

φθήῃ ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσαι;

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας δόρυ χάλκεον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς

εἴρυσε λὰξ προσβάς, τὸν δ' ὕπτιον ὦσ' ἀπὸ δουρός.

αὐτίκα δὲ ξὺν δουρὶ μετ' Αὐτομέδοντα βεβήκει

865ἀντίθεον θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο:

Transliteration

phthēēi emōi hupo douri tupeis apo thumon olessai;

hōs ara phōnēsas doru chalkeon ex ōteilēs

eiruse lax prosbas, ton d' huption ōs' apo douros.

autika de xun douri met' Automedonta bebēkei

865antitheon theraponta podōkeos Aiakidao:

English · Butler

die before me?" As he spoke he drew the bronze spear from the wound, planting his foot upon the body, which he thrust off and let lie on its back. He then went spear in hand after Automedon, squire of the fleet descendant of Aiakos, for he longed to lay him low, but the immortal steeds

Homeric Greek

ἵετο γὰρ βαλέειν: τὸν δ' ἔκφερον ὠκέες ἵπποι

ἄμβροτοι, οὓς Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

Transliteration

hieto gar baleein: ton d' ekpheron ōkees hippoi

ambrotoi, hous Pēlēï theoi dosan aglaa dōra.

English · Butler

which the gods had given as a rich gift to Peleus bore him swiftly from the field.