Book XVII

Homeric Greek

1οὐδ' ἔλαθ' Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἀρηί̈φιλον Μενέλαον

Πάτροκλος Τρώεσσι δαμεὶς ἐν δηϊοτῆτι.

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ,

ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' αὐτῷ βαῖν' ὥς τις περὶ πόρτακι μήτηρ

5πρωτοτόκος κινυρὴ οὐ πρὶν εἰδυῖα τόκοιο:

Transliteration

1oud' elath' Atreos huion arēïphilon Menelaon

Patroklos Trōessi dameis en dēïotēti.

bē de dia promachōn kekorythmenos aithopi chalkōi,

amphi d' ar' autōi bain' hōs tis peri portaki mētēr

5prōtotokos kinyrē ou prin eiduia tokoio:

English

Brave Menelaos son of Atreus now came to know that Patroklos had fallen, and made his way through the front ranks clad in full armor to bestride him. As a cow stands lowing over her first calf, even so did yellow-haired Menelaos bestride Patroklos.

Homeric Greek

ὣς περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βαῖνε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

πρόσθε δέ οἱ δόρυ τ' ἔσχε καὶ ἀσπίδα πάντοσ' ἐί̈σην,

τὸν κτάμεναι μεμαὼς ὅς τις τοῦ γ' ἀντίος ἔλθοι.

οὐδ' ἄρα Πάνθου υἱὸς ἐϋμμελίης ἀμέλησε

10Πατρόκλοιο πεσόντος ἀμύμονος: ἄγχι δ' ἄρ' αὐτοῦ

Transliteration

hōs peri Patroklōi baine xanthos Menelaos.

prosthe de hoi dory t' esche kai aspida pantos' eïsēn,

ton ktamenai memaōs hos tis tou g' antios elthoi.

oud' ara Panthou huios eÿmmeliēs amelēse

10Patrokloio pesontos amymonos: anchi d' ar' autou

English

He held his round shield and his spear in front of him, resolute to kill any who should dare face him. But the son of Panthoos had also noted the body, and came up to Menelaos

Homeric Greek

ἔστη, καὶ προσέειπεν ἀρηί̈φιλον Μενέλαον:

Ἀτρεί̈δη Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄρχαμε λαῶν

χάζεο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρόν, ἔα δ' ἔναρα βροτόεντα:

οὐ γάρ τις πρότερος Τρώων κλειτῶν τ' ἐπικούρων

15Πάτροκλον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην:

Transliteration

estē, kai proseeipen arēïphilon Menelaon:

Atreïdē Menelae diotrephes orchame laōn

chazeo, leipe de nekron, ea d' enara brotoenta:

ou gar tis proteros Trōōn kleitōn t' epikourōn

15Patroklon bale douri kata kraterēn hysminēn:

English

saying, "Menelaos, son of Atreus, draw back, leave the body, and let the bloodstained spoils be. I was first of the Trojans and their brave allies to drive my spear into Patroklos, let me, therefore, have

Homeric Greek

τώ με ἔα κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρέσθαι,

μή σε βάλω, ἀπὸ δὲ μελιηδέα θυμὸν ἕλωμαι.

τὸν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ μὲν καλὸν ὑπέρβιον εὐχετάασθαι.

20οὔτ' οὖν παρδάλιος τόσσον μένος οὔτε λέοντος

Transliteration

tō me ea kleos esthlon eni Trōessin aresthai,

mē se balō, apo de meliēdea thymon helōmai.

ton de meg' ochthēsas prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

Zeu pater ou men kalon hyperbion euchetaasthai.

20out' oun pardalios tosson menos oute leontos

English

my full glory among the Trojans, or I will take aim and kill you." To this Menelaos answered in great anger "By father Zeus, boasting is an ill thing.

Homeric Greek

οὔτε συὸς κάπρου ὀλοόφρονος, οὗ τε μέγιστος

θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι περὶ σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,

ὅσσον Πάνθου υἷες ἐϋμμελίαι φρονέουσιν.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ βίη Ὑπερήνορος ἱπποδάμοιο

25ἧς ἥβης ἀπόνηθ', ὅτε μ' ὤνατο καί μ' ὑπέμεινε

Transliteration

oute syos kaprou oloophronos, hou te megistos

thymos eni stēthessi peri stheneï blemeainei,

hosson Panthou huies eÿmmeliai phroneousin.

oude men oude biē Hyperēnoros hippodamoio

25hēs hēbēs aponēth', hote m' ōnato kai m' hypemeine

English

The pard is not more bold, nor the lion nor savage wild-boar, which is fiercest and most dauntless of all creatures, than are the proud sons of Panthoos. Yet Hyperenor did not see out the days of his youth when he made

Homeric Greek

καί μ' ἔφατ' ἐν Δαναοῖσιν ἐλέγχιστον πολεμιστὴν

ἔμμεναι: οὐδέ ἕ φημι πόδεσσί γε οἷσι κιόντα

εὐφρῆναι ἄλοχόν τε φίλην κεδνούς τε τοκῆας.

ὥς θην καὶ σὸν ἐγὼ λύσω μένος εἴ κέ μευ ἄντα

30στήῃς: ἀλλά σ' ἔγωγ' ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω

Transliteration

kai m' ephat' en Danaoisin elenchiston polemistēn

emmenai: oude he phēmi podessi ge hoisi kionta

euphrēnai alochon te philēn kednous te tokēas.

hōs thēn kai son egō lysō menos ei ke meu anta

30stēēis: alla s' egōg' anachōrēsanta keleuō

English

light of me and withstood me, deeming me the meanest warrior among the Danaans. His own feet never bore him back to gladden his wife and parents. Even so shall I make an end of you too, if you withstand me;

Homeric Greek

ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδ' ἀντίος ἵστασ' ἐμεῖο

πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν: ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ' οὐ πεῖθεν: ἀμειβόμενος δὲ προσηύδα:

νῦν μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἦ μάλα τείσεις

35γνωτὸν ἐμὸν τὸν ἔπεφνες, ἐπευχόμενος δ' ἀγορεύεις,

Transliteration

es plēthyn ienai, mēd' antios histas' emeio

prin ti kakon patheein: rhechthen de te nēpios egnō.

hōs phato, ton d' ou peithen: ameibomenos de prosēuda:

nyn men dē Menelae diotrephes ē mala teiseis

35gnōton emon ton epephnes, epeuchomenos d' agoreueis,

English

get you back into the crowd and do not face me, or it shall be worse for you. Even a fool may be wise after the event." Euphorbos would not listen, and said, "Now indeed, Menelaos, shall you pay for the death of my brother over

Homeric Greek

χήρωσας δὲ γυναῖκα μυχῷ θαλάμοιο νέοιο,

ἀρητὸν δὲ τοκεῦσι γόον καὶ πένθος ἔθηκας.

ἦ κέ σφιν δειλοῖσι γόου κατάπαυμα γενοίμην

εἴ κεν ἐγὼ κεφαλήν τε τεὴν καὶ τεύχε' ἐνείκας

40Πάνθῳ ἐν χείρεσσι βάλω καὶ Φρόντιδι δίῃ.

Transliteration

chērōsas de gynaika mychōi thalamoio neoio,

arēton de tokeusi goon kai penthos ethēkas.

ē ke sphin deiloisi goou katapauma genoimēn

ei ken egō kephalēn te teēn kai teuche' eneikas

40Panthōi en cheiressi balō kai Phrontidi diēi.

English

whom you vaunted, and whose wife you widowed in her bridal chamber, while you brought grief unspeakable on his parents. I shall comfort these poor people if I bring your head and armor and place them in the hands of Panthoos and noble Phrontis.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' οὐ μὰν ἔτι δηρὸν ἀπείρητος πόνος ἔσται

οὐδ' ἔτ' ἀδήριτος ἤτ' ἀλκῆς ἤτε φόβοιο.

ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατ' ἀσπίδα πάντοσ' ἐί̈σην:

οὐδ' ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ

45ἀσπίδ' ἐνὶ κρατερῇ: ὃ δὲ δεύτερος ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

Transliteration

all' ou man eti dēron apeirētos ponos estai

oud' et' adēritos ēt' alkēs ēte phoboio.

hōs eipōn outēse kat' aspida pantos' eïsēn:

oud' errēxen chalkos, anegnamphthē de hoi aichmē

45aspid' eni kraterēi: ho de deuteros ornyto chalkōi

English

The time is come when this matter shall be fought out in a struggle and settled, for me or against me." As he spoke he struck Menelaos full on the shield, but the spear did not go through, for the shield turned its point.

Homeric Greek

Ἀτρεί̈δης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί:

ἂψ δ' ἀναχαζομένοιο κατὰ στομάχοιο θέμεθλα

νύξ', ἐπὶ δ' αὐτὸς ἔρεισε βαρείῃ χειρὶ πιθήσας:

ἀντικρὺ δ' ἁπαλοῖο δι' αὐχένος ἤλυθ' ἀκωκή,

50δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ.

Transliteration

Atreïdēs Menelaos epeuxamenos Dii patri:

aps d' anachazomenoio kata stomachoio themethla

nyx', epi d' autos ereise bareiēi cheiri pithēsas:

antikry d' hapaloio di' auchenos ēlyth' akōkē,

50doupēsen de pesōn, arabēse de teuche' ep' autōi.

English

Menelaos then took aim, praying to father Zeus as he did so; Euphorbos was drawing back, and Menelaos struck him about the roots of his throat, leaning his whole weight on the spear, so as to drive it home. The point went clean through his neck, and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.

Homeric Greek

αἵματί οἱ δεύοντο κόμαι Χαρίτεσσιν ὁμοῖαι

πλοχμοί θ', οἳ χρυσῷ τε καὶ ἀργύρῳ ἐσφήκωντο.

οἷον δὲ τρέφει ἔρνος ἀνὴρ ἐριθηλὲς ἐλαίης

χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, ὅθ' ἅλις ἀναβέβροχεν ὕδωρ,

55καλὸν τηλεθάον: τὸ δέ τε πνοιαὶ δονέουσι

Transliteration

haimati hoi deuonto komai Charitessin homoiai

plochmoi th', hoi chrysōi te kai argyrōi esphēkōnto.

hoion de trephei ernos anēr erithēles elaiēs

chōrōi en oiopolōi, hoth' halis anabebrochen hydōr,

55kalon tēlethaon: to de te pnoiai doneousi

English

His locks of hair, so deftly bound in bands of silver and gold, were all bedrabbled with flecks of blood, which looked like myrtle-blossoms. As one who has grown a fine young olive tree in a clear space where there is abundance of water - the plant is

Homeric Greek

παντοίων ἀνέμων, καί τε βρύει ἄνθεϊ λευκῷ:

ἐλθὼν δ' ἐξαπίνης ἄνεμος σὺν λαίλαπι πολλῇ

βόθρου τ' ἐξέστρεψε καὶ ἐξετάνυσσ' ἐπὶ γαίῃ:

τοῖον Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐϋμμελίην Εὔφορβον

60Ἀτρεί̈δης Μενέλαος ἐπεὶ κτάνε τεύχε' ἐσύλα.

Transliteration

pantoiōn anemōn, kai te bryei antheï leukōi:

elthōn d' exapinēs anemos syn lailapi pollēi

bothrou t' exestrepse kai exetanyss' epi gaiēi:

toion Panthou huion eÿmmeliēn Euphorbon

60Atreïdēs Menelaos epei ktane teuche' esyla.

English

full of promise, and though the winds beat upon it from every quarter it puts forth its white blossoms till the blasts of some fierce wind sweep down upon it and level it with the ground - even so did Menelaos strip the fair youth Euphorbos of his armor after he had slain him.

Homeric Greek

ὡς δ' ὅτε τίς τε λέων ὀρεσίτροφος ἀλκὶ πεποιθὼς

βοσκομένης ἀγέλης βοῦν ἁρπάσῃ ἥ τις ἀρίστη:

τῆς δ' ἐξ αὐχέν' ἔαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσι

πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δέ θ' αἷμα καὶ ἔγκατα πάντα λαφύσσει

65δῃῶν: ἀμφὶ δὲ τόν γε κύνες τ' ἄνδρές τε νομῆες

Transliteration

hōs d' hote tis te leōn oresitrophos alki pepoithōs

boskomenēs agelēs boun harpasēi hē tis aristē:

tēs d' ex auchen' eaxe labōn krateroisin odousi

prōton, epeita de th' haima kai enkata panta laphyssei

65dēiōn: amphi de ton ge kynes t' andres te nomēes

English

Or as some fierce lion upon the mountains in the pride of his strength fastens on the finest heifer in a herd as it is feeding - first he breaks her neck with his strong jaws, and then gorges on her blood and entrails;

Homeric Greek

πολλὰ μάλ' ἰύζουσιν ἀπόπροθεν οὐδ' ἐθέλουσιν

ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι: μάλα γὰρ χλωρὸν δέος αἱρεῖ:

ὣς τῶν οὔ τινι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐτόλμα

ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο.

70ἔνθά κε ῥεῖα φέροι κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πανθοί̈δαο

Transliteration

polla mal' iyzousin apoprothen oud' ethelousin

antion elthemenai: mala gar chlōron deos hairei:

hōs tōn ou tini thymos eni stēthessin etolma

antion elthemenai Menelaou kydalimoio.

70entha ke rheia pheroi klyta teuchea Panthoïdao

English

dogs and shepherds raise a hue and cry against him, but they stand aloof and will not come close to him, for they are pale with fear - even so no one had the courage to face valiant Menelaos.

Homeric Greek

Ἀτρεί̈δης, εἰ μή οἱ ἀγάσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ὅς ῥά οἱ Ἕκτορ' ἐπῶρσε θοῷ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊ

ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος Κικόνων ἡγήτορι Μέντῃ:

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

75Ἕκτορ νῦν σὺ μὲν ὧδε θέεις ἀκίχητα διώκων

Transliteration

Atreïdēs, ei mē hoi agassato Phoibos Apollōn,

hos rha hoi Hektor' epōrse thoōi atalanton Arēï

aneri eisamenos Kikonōn hēgētori Mentēi:

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

75Hektor nyn sy men hōde theeis akichēta diōkōn

English

The son of Atreus would have then carried off the armor of the son of Panthoos with ease, had not Phoebus Apollo been angry, and in the guise of Mentes chief of the Kikones incited Hektor to attack him. "Hektor," said he, "you are now going after the horses of the noble son of Aiakos, but you will not take them;

Homeric Greek

ἵππους Αἰακίδαο δαί̈φρονος: οἳ δ' ἀλεγεινοὶ

ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι ἠδ' ὀχέεσθαι

ἄλλῳ γ' ἢ Ἀχιλῆϊ, τὸν ἀθανάτη τέκε μήτηρ.

τόφρα δέ τοι Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος Ἀτρέος υἱὸς

80Πατρόκλῳ περιβὰς Τρώων τὸν ἄριστον ἔπεφνε

Transliteration

hippous Aiakidao daïphronos: hoi d' alegeinoi

andrasi ge thnētoisi damēmenai ēd' ocheesthai

allōi g' ē Achilēï, ton athanatē teke mētēr.

tophra de toi Menelaos arēïos Atreos huios

80Patroklōi peribas Trōōn ton ariston epephne

English

they cannot be kept in hand and driven by mortal man, save only by Achilles, who is son to an immortal mother. Meanwhile Menelaos son of Atreus has bestridden the body of Patroklos and killed the noblest of the Trojans, Euphorbos son

Homeric Greek

Πανθοί̈δην Εὔφορβον, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν,

Ἕκτορα δ' αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας:

πάπτηνεν δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα κατὰ στίχας, αὐτίκα δ' ἔγνω

85τὸν μὲν ἀπαινύμενον κλυτὰ τεύχεα, τὸν δ' ἐπὶ γαίῃ

Transliteration

Panthoïdēn Euphorbon, epause de thouridos alkēs.

hōs eipōn ho men autis ebē theos am ponon andrōn,

Hektora d' ainon achos pykase phrenas amphi melainas:

paptēnen d' ar' epeita kata stichas, autika d' egnō

85ton men apainymenon klyta teuchea, ton d' epi gaiēi

English

of Panthoos, so that he can fight no more." The god then went back into the toil and turmoil, but the soul of Hektor was darkened with a cloud of grief ; he looked along the ranks and saw Euphorbos lying on the ground with the blood still flowing from his wound, and Menelaos stripping him of his armor.

Homeric Greek

κείμενον: ἔρρει δ' αἷμα κατ' οὐταμένην ὠτειλήν.

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ

ὀξέα κεκλήγων φλογὶ εἴκελος Ἡφαίστοιο

ἀσβέστῳ: οὐδ' υἱὸν λάθεν Ἀτρέος ὀξὺ βοήσας:

90ὀχθήσας δ' ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν:

Transliteration

keimenon: errei d' haima kat' outamenēn ōteilēn.

bē de dia promachōn kekorythmenos aithopi chalkōi

oxea keklēgōn phlogi eikelos Hēphaistoio

asbestōi: oud' huion lathen Atreos oxy boēsas:

90ochthēsas d' ara eipe pros hon megalētora thymon:

English

On this he made his way to the front like a flame of fire, clad in his gleaming armor, and crying with a loud voice. When the son of Atreus heard him, he said to himself in his dismay, "Alas! what shall I do?

Homeric Greek

ὤ μοι ἐγὼν εἰ μέν κε λίπω κάτα τεύχεα καλὰ

Πάτροκλόν θ', ὃς κεῖται ἐμῆς ἕνεκ' ἐνθάδε τιμῆς,

μή τίς μοι Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται.

εἰ δέ κεν Ἕκτορι μοῦνος ἐὼν καὶ Τρωσὶ μάχωμαι

95αἰδεσθείς, μή πώς με περιστήωσ' ἕνα πολλοί:

Transliteration

ō moi egōn ei men ke lipō kata teuchea kala

Patroklon th', hos keitai emēs henek' enthade timēs,

mē tis moi Danaōn nemesēsetai hos ken idētai.

ei de ken Hektori mounos eōn kai Trōsi machōmai

95aidestheis, mē pōs me peristēōs' hena polloi:

English

I may not let the Trojans take the armor of Patroklos who has fallen fighting on my behalf, lest some Danaan who sees me should cry shame upon me. Still if for the sake of my honor I fight Hektor and the Trojans single-handed, they will prove too many for me, for Hektor is bringing them up in force.

Homeric Greek

Τρῶας δ' ἐνθάδε πάντας ἄγει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;

ὁππότ' ἀνὴρ ἐθέλῃ πρὸς δαίμονα φωτὶ μάχεσθαι

ὅν κε θεὸς τιμᾷ, τάχα οἱ μέγα πῆμα κυλίσθη.

100τώ μ' οὔ τις Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται

Transliteration

Trōas d' enthade pantas agei korythaiolos Hektōr.

alla ti ē moi tauta philos dielexato thymos;

hoppot' anēr ethelēi pros daimona phōti machesthai

hon ke theos timāi, tacha hoi mega pēma kylisthē.

100tō m' ou tis Danaōn nemesēsetai hos ken idētai

English

Why, however, should I thus hesitate? When a man, opposing the will of a daimôn, fights with one whom a god befriends, he will soon rue it. Let no Danaan think ill of me if I give place to Hektor, for the hand of heaven gives him honor.

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορι χωρήσαντ', ἐπεὶ ἐκ θεόφιν πολεμίζει.

εἰ δέ που Αἴαντός γε βοὴν ἀγαθοῖο πυθοίμην,

ἄμφω κ' αὖτις ἰόντες ἐπιμνησαίμεθα χάρμης

καὶ πρὸς δαίμονά περ, εἴ πως ἐρυσαίμεθα νεκρὸν

105Πηλεί̈δῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ: κακῶν δέ κε φέρτατον εἴη.

Transliteration

Hektori chōrēsant', epei ek theophin polemizei.

ei de pou Aiantos ge boēn agathoio pythoimēn,

amphō k' autis iontes epimnēsaimetha charmēs

kai pros daimona per, ei pōs erysaimetha nekron

105Pēleïdēi Achilēï: kakōn de ke phertaton eiē.

English

Yet, if I could find Ajax, the two of us would fight Hektor and any daimôn too, if we might only save the body of Patroklos for Achilles son of Peleus. This, of many evils, would be the least."

Homeric Greek

εἷος ὁ ταῦθ' ὅρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

τόφρα δ' ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον: ἦρχε δ' ἄρ' Ἕκτωρ.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἐξοπίσω ἀνεχάζετο, λεῖπε δὲ νεκρὸν

ἐντροπαλιζόμενος ὥς τε λὶς ἠϋγένειος,

110ὅν ῥα κύνες τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀπὸ σταθμοῖο δίωνται

Transliteration

heios ho tauth' hormaine kata phrena kai kata thymon

tophra d' epi Trōōn stiches ēlython: ērche d' ar' Hektōr.

autar ho g' exopisō anechazeto, leipe de nekron

entropalizomenos hōs te lis ēÿgeneios,

110hon rha kynes te kai andres apo stathmoio diōntai

English

While he was thus in two minds, the Trojans came up to him with Hektor at their head; he therefore drew back and left the body, turning about like some bearded lion who is being chased by dogs and men from a stockyard with spears and

Homeric Greek

ἔγχεσι καὶ φωνῇ: τοῦ δ' ἐν φρεσὶν ἄλκιμον ἦτορ

παχνοῦται, ἀέκων δέ τ' ἔβη ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο:

ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο κίε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθεὶς ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων

115παπταίνων Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱόν.

Transliteration

enchesi kai phōnēi: tou d' en phresin alkimon ētor

pachnoutai, aekōn de t' ebē apo messauloio:

hōs apo Patrokloio kie xanthos Menelaos.

stē de metastrephtheis epei hiketo ethnos hetairōn

115paptainōn Aianta megan Telamōnion huion.

English

hue and cry, whereon he is daunted and slinks sulkily off - even so did Menelaos son of Atreus turn and leave the body of Patroklos. When among the body of his men, he looked around for mighty Ajax son of Telamon, and presently saw him

Homeric Greek

τὸν δὲ μάλ' αἶψ' ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπ' ἀριστερὰ πάσης

θαρσύνονθ' ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι:

θεσπέσιον γάρ σφιν φόβον ἔμβαλε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων:

βῆ δὲ θέειν, εἶθαρ δὲ παριστάμενος ἔπος ηὔδα.

120Αἶαν δεῦρο πέπον, περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος

Transliteration

ton de mal' aips' enoēse machēs ep' aristera pasēs

tharsynonth' hetarous kai epotrynonta machesthai:

thespesion gar sphin phobon embale Phoibos Apollōn:

bē de theein, eithar de paristamenos epos ēuda.

120Aian deuro pepon, peri Patrokloio thanontos

English

on the extreme left of the fight, cheering on his men and exhorting them to keep on fighting, for Phoebus Apollo had spread a great panic among them. He ran up to him and said, "Ajax, my good friend, come with me at once to dead Patroklos, if so be that we may take the

Homeric Greek

σπεύσομεν, αἴ κε νέκυν περ Ἀχιλλῆϊ προφέρωμεν

γυμνόν: ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχε' ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ὣς ἔφατ', Αἴαντι δὲ δαί̈φρονι θυμὸν ὄρινε:

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων, ἅμα δὲ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

125Ἕκτωρ μὲν Πάτροκλον ἐπεὶ κλυτὰ τεύχε' ἀπηύρα,

Transliteration

speusomen, ai ke nekyn per Achillēï propherōmen

gymnon: atar ta ge teuche' echei korythaiolos Hektōr.

hōs ephat', Aianti de daïphroni thymon orine:

bē de dia promachōn, hama de xanthos Menelaos.

125Hektōr men Patroklon epei klyta teuche' apēura,

English

body to Achilles - as for his armor, Hektor already has it." These words stirred the heart of Ajax, and he made his way among the front ranks, Menelaos going with him. Hektor had stripped Patroklos of his armor, and was dragging him away to cut off his head and take the body to fling before the dogs of Troy.

Homeric Greek

ἕλχ' ἵν' ἀπ' ὤμοιιν κεφαλὴν τάμοι ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

τὸν δὲ νέκυν Τρῳῇσιν ἐρυσσάμενος κυσὶ δοίη.

Αἴας δ' ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠύ̈τε πύργον:

Ἕκτωρ δ' ἂψ ἐς ὅμιλον ἰὼν ἀνεχάζεθ' ἑταίρων,

130ἐς δίφρον δ' ἀνόρουσε: δίδου δ' ὅ γε τεύχεα καλὰ

Transliteration

helch' hin' ap' ōmoiin kephalēn tamoi oxeï chalkōi,

ton de nekyn Trōiēisin eryssamenos kysi doiē.

Aias d' engythen ēlthe pherōn sakos ēÿte pyrgon:

Hektōr d' aps es homilon iōn anechazeth' hetairōn,

130es diphron d' anorouse: didou d' ho ge teuchea kala

English

But Ajax came up with his shield like wall before him, on which Hektor withdrew under shelter of his men, and sprang on to his chariot, giving the armor over to the Trojans to take to the city, as a great glory for himself;

Homeric Greek

Τρωσὶ φέρειν προτὶ ἄστυ, μέγα κλέος ἔμμεναι αὐτῷ.

Αἴας δ' ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ σάκος εὐρὺ καλύψας

ἑστήκει ὥς τίς τε λέων περὶ οἷσι τέκεσσιν,

ᾧ ῥά τε νήπι' ἄγοντι συναντήσωνται ἐν ὕλῃ

135ἄνδρες ἐπακτῆρες: ὃ δέ τε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνει,

Transliteration

Trōsi pherein proti asty, mega kleos emmenai autōi.

Aias d' amphi Menoitiadēi sakos eury kalypsas

hestēkei hōs tis te leōn peri hoisi tekessin,

hōi rha te nēpi' agonti synantēsōntai en hylēi

135andres epaktēres: ho de te stheneï blemeainei,

English

Ajax, therefore, covered the body of Patroklos with his broad shield and bestrode him; as a lion stands over his whelps if hunters have come upon him in a forest when he is with his little ones - in the pride and fierceness of his strength

Homeric Greek

πᾶν δέ τ' ἐπισκύνιον κάτω ἕλκεται ὄσσε καλύπτων:

ὣς Αἴας περὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει.

Ἀτρεί̈δης δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἀρηί̈φιλος Μενέλαος

ἑστήκει, μέγα πένθος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀέξων.

140Γλαῦκος δ' Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν

Transliteration

pan de t' episkynion katō helketai osse kalyptōn:

hōs Aias peri Patroklōi hērōï bebēkei.

Atreïdēs d' heterōthen arēïphilos Menelaos

hestēkei, mega penthos eni stēthessin aexōn.

140Glaukos d' Hippolochoio païs Lykiōn agos andrōn

English

he draws his knit brows down till they cover his eyes - even so did Ajax bestride the body of Patroklos, and by his side stood Menelaos son of Atreus, nursing great sorrow in his heart. Then Glaukos son of Hippolokhos looked fiercely at Hektor and rebuked him sternly.

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ:

Ἕκτορ εἶδος ἄριστε μάχης ἄρα πολλὸν ἐδεύεο.

ἦ σ' αὔτως κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἔχει φύξηλιν ἐόντα.

φράζεο νῦν ὅππως κε πόλιν καὶ ἄστυ σαώσῃς

145οἶος σὺν λαοῖς τοὶ Ἰλίῳ ἐγγεγάασιν:

Transliteration

Hektor' hypodra idōn chalepōi ēnipape mythōi:

Hektor eidos ariste machēs ara pollon edeueo.

ē s' autōs kleos esthlon echei phyxēlin eonta.

phrazeo nyn hoppōs ke polin kai asty saōsēis

145oios syn laois toi Iliōi engegaasin:

English

"Hektor," said he, "you make a brave show, but in fight you are sadly wanting. A runaway like yourself has no claim to so great a glory. Think how you may now save your town and citadel by the hands of your own people born in Ilion;

Homeric Greek

οὐ γάρ τις Λυκίων γε μαχησόμενος Δαναοῖσιν

εἶσι περὶ πτόλιος, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρα τις χάρις ἦεν

μάρνασθαι δηί̈οισιν ἐπ' ἀνδράσι νωλεμὲς αἰεί.

πῶς κε σὺ χείρονα φῶτα σαώσειας μεθ' ὅμιλον

150σχέτλι', ἐπεὶ Σαρπηδόν' ἅμα ξεῖνον καὶ ἑταῖρον

Transliteration

ou gar tis Lykiōn ge machēsomenos Danaoisin

eisi peri ptolios, epei ouk ara tis charis ēen

marnasthai dēïoisin ep' andrasi nōlemes aiei.

pōs ke sy cheirona phōta saōseias meth' homilon

150schetli', epei Sarpēdon' hama xeinon kai hetairon

English

for you will get no Lycians to fight for you, seeing what thanks they have had for their incessant hardships. Are you likely, sir, to do anything to help a man of less note, after leaving Sarpedon, who was at once your guest and comrade in arms, to be the spoil and prey of the Danaans?

Homeric Greek

κάλλιπες Ἀργείοισιν ἕλωρ καὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι,

ὅς τοι πόλλ' ὄφελος γένετο πτόλεί̈ τε καὶ αὐτῷ

ζωὸς ἐών: νῦν δ' οὔ οἱ ἀλαλκέμεναι κύνας ἔτλης.

τὼ νῦν εἴ τις ἐμοὶ Λυκίων ἐπιπείσεται ἀνδρῶν

155οἴκαδ' ἴμεν, Τροίῃ δὲ πεφήσεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

Transliteration

kallipes Argeioisin helōr kai kyrma genesthai,

hos toi poll' ophelos geneto ptoleï te kai autōi

zōos eōn: nyn d' ou hoi alalkemenai kynas etlēs.

tō nyn ei tis emoi Lykiōn epipeisetai andrōn

155oikad' imen, Troiēi de pephēsetai aipys olethros.

English

So long as he lived he did good service both to your city and yourself; yet you had no stomach to save his body from the dogs. If the Lycians will listen to me, they will go home and leave Troy to its fate. If the Trojans had any of that daring fearless spirit which lays hold of men who are engaging

Homeric Greek

εἰ γὰρ νῦν Τρώεσσι μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνείη

ἄτρομον, οἷόν τ' ἄνδρας ἐσέρχεται οἳ περὶ πάτρης

ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πόνον καὶ δῆριν ἔθεντο,

αἶψά κε Πάτροκλον ἐρυσαίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω.

160εἰ δ' οὗτος προτὶ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

Transliteration

ei gar nyn Trōessi menos polytharses eneiē

atromon, hoion t' andras eserchetai hoi peri patrēs

andrasi dysmeneessi ponon kai dērin ethento,

aipsa ke Patroklon erysaimetha Ilion eisō.

160ei d' houtos proti asty mega Priamoio anaktos

English

in the struggle for their land and harassing those who would attack it, we should soon bear off Patroklos into Ilion. Could we get this dead man away and bring him into the city of Priam, the Argives would readily give up the armor of Sarpedon, and we should get his body to boot.

Homeric Greek

ἔλθοι τεθνηὼς καί μιν ἐρυσαίμεθα χάρμης,

αἶψά κεν Ἀργεῖοι Σαρπηδόνος ἔντεα καλὰ

λύσειαν, καί κ' αὐτὸν ἀγοίμεθα Ἴλιον εἴσω:

τοίου γὰρ θεράπων πέφατ' ἀνέρος, ὃς μέγ' ἄριστος

165Ἀργείων παρὰ νηυσὶ καὶ ἀγχέμαχοι θεράποντες.

Transliteration

elthoi tethnēōs kai min erysaimetha charmēs,

aipsa ken Argeioi Sarpēdonos entea kala

lyseian, kai k' auton agoimetha Ilion eisō:

toiou gar therapōn pephat' aneros, hos meg' aristos

165Argeiōn para nēusi kai anchemachoi therapontes.

English

For he whose squire has been now killed is the foremost man at the ships of the Achaeans - he and his close-fighting followers.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ σύ γ' Αἴαντος μεγαλήτορος οὐκ ἐτάλασσας

στήμεναι ἄντα κατ' ὄσσε ἰδὼν δηί̈ων ἐν ἀϋτῇ,

οὐδ' ἰθὺς μαχέσασθαι, ἐπεὶ σέο φέρτερός ἐστι.

τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:

170Γλαῦκε τί ἢ δὲ σὺ τοῖος ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπες;

Transliteration

alla sy g' Aiantos megalētoros ouk etalassas

stēmenai anta kat' osse idōn dēïōn en aÿtēi,

oud' ithys machesasthai, epei seo pherteros esti.

ton d' ar' hypodra idōn prosephē korythaiolos Hektōr:

170Glauke ti ē de sy toios eōn hyperoplon eeipes;

English

Nevertheless you dared not make a stand against Ajax, nor face him, eye to eye, with battle all round you, for he is a braver man than you are." Hektor scowled at him and answered, "Glaukos, you should know better.

Homeric Greek

ὢ πόποι ἦ τ' ἐφάμην σὲ περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλων

τῶν ὅσσοι Λυκίην ἐριβώλακα ναιετάουσι:

νῦν δέ σευ ὠνοσάμην πάγχυ φρένας οἷον ἔειπες,

ὅς τέ με φῂς Αἴαντα πελώριον οὐχ ὑπομεῖναι.

175οὔ τοι ἐγὼν ἔρριγα μάχην οὐδὲ κτύπον ἵππων:

Transliteration

ō popoi ē t' ephamēn se peri phrenas emmenai allōn

tōn hossoi Lykiēn eribōlaka naietaousi:

nyn de seu ōnosamēn panchy phrenas hoion eeipes,

hos te me phēis Aianta pelōrion ouch hypomeinai.

175ou toi egōn erriga machēn oude ktypon hippōn:

English

I have held you so far as a man of more understanding than any in all Lycia, but now I despise you for saying that I am afraid of Ajax. I fear neither battle nor the din of chariots, but Zeus' will is stronger than ours;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' αἰεί τε Διὸς κρείσσων νόος αἰγιόχοιο,

ὅς τε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἄνδρα φοβεῖ καὶ ἀφείλετο νίκην

ῥηϊδίως, ὁτὲ δ' αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι.

ἀλλ' ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρ' ἔμ' ἵστασο καὶ ἴδε ἔργον,

180ἠὲ πανημέριος κακὸς ἔσσομαι, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,

Transliteration

all' aiei te Dios kreissōn noos aigiochoio,

hos te kai alkimon andra phobei kai apheileto nikēn

rhēïdiōs, hote d' autos epotrynei machesasthai.

all' age deuro pepon, par' em' histaso kai ide ergon,

180ēe panēmerios kakos essomai, hōs agoreueis,

English

Zeus at one time makes even a strong man draw back and snatches victory from his grasp, while at another he will set him on to fight. Come hither then, my friend, stand by me and see indeed whether I shall play the coward the whole day through as you

Homeric Greek

ἦ τινα καὶ Δαναῶν ἀλκῆς μάλα περ μεμαῶτα

σχήσω ἀμυνέμεναι περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος.

ὣς εἰπὼν Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀύ̈σας:

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταί,

185ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,

Transliteration

ē tina kai Danaōn alkēs mala per memaōta

schēsō amynemenai peri Patrokloio thanontos.

hōs eipōn Trōessin ekekleto makron aÿsas:

Trōes kai Lykioi kai Dardanoi anchimachētai,

185aneres este philoi, mnēsasthe de thouridos alkēs,

English

say, or whether I shall not stay some even of the boldest Danaans from fighting round the body of Patroklos." As he spoke he called loudly on the Trojans saying, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, be men, my friends, and fight might and

Homeric Greek

ὄφρ' ἂν ἐγὼν Ἀχιλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔντεα δύω

καλά, τὰ Πατρόκλοιο βίην ἐνάριξα κατακτάς.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

δηί̈ου ἐκ πολέμοιο: θέων δ' ἐκίχανεν ἑταίρους

190ὦκα μάλ' οὔ πω τῆλε ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι μετασπών,

Transliteration

ophr' an egōn Achilēos amymonos entea dyō

kala, ta Patrokloio biēn enarixa kataktas.

hōs ara phōnēsas apebē korythaiolos Hektōr

dēïou ek polemoio: theōn d' ekichanen hetairous

190ōka mal' ou pō tēle posi kraipnoisi metaspōn,

English

main, while I put on the goodly armor of Achilles, which I took when I killed Patroklos." With this Hektor left the fight, and ran full speed after his men who were taking the armor of Achilles to Troy, but had not yet got far.

Homeric Greek

οἳ προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεί̈ωνος.

στὰς δ' ἀπάνευθε μάχης πολυδακρύου ἔντε' ἄμειβεν:

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν τὰ ἃ δῶκε φέρειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρὴν

Τρωσὶ φιλοπτολέμοισιν, ὃ δ' ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δῦνε

195Πηλεί̈δεω Ἀχιλῆος ἅ οἱ θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες

Transliteration

hoi proti asty pheron klyta teuchea Pēleïōnos.

stas d' apaneuthe machēs polydakryou ente' ameiben:

ētoi ho men ta ha dōke pherein proti Ilion hirēn

Trōsi philoptolemoisin, ho d' ambrota teuchea dyne

195Pēleïdeō Achilēos ha hoi theoi Ouraniōnes

English

Standing for a while apart from the woeful fight, he changed his armor. His own he sent to the strong city of Ilion and to the Trojans, while he put on the immortal armor of the son of Peleus, which the gods had given to Peleus, who in his age gave it to his son;

Homeric Greek

πατρὶ φίλῳ ἔπορον: ὃ δ' ἄρα ᾧ παιδὶ ὄπασσε

γηράς: ἀλλ' οὐχ υἱὸς ἐν ἔντεσι πατρὸς ἐγήρα.

τὸν δ' ὡς οὖν ἀπάνευθεν ἴδεν νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺς

τεύχεσι Πηλεί̈δαο κορυσσόμενον θείοιο,

200κινήσας ῥα κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν:

Transliteration

patri philōi eporon: ho d' ara hōi paidi opasse

gēras: all' ouch huios en entesi patros egēra.

ton d' hōs oun apaneuthen iden nephelēgereta Zeus

teuchesi Pēleïdao koryssomenon theioio,

200kinēsas rha karē proti hon mythēsato thymon:

English

but the son did not grow old in his father's armor. When Zeus, lord of the storm-cloud, saw Hektor standing aloof and arming himself in the armor of the son of Peleus, he wagged his head and muttered to himself saying, "A!

Homeric Greek

ἆ δείλ' οὐδέ τί τοι θάνατος καταθύμιός ἐστιν

ὃς δή τοι σχεδὸν εἶσι: σὺ δ' ἄμβροτα τεύχεα δύνεις

ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος, τόν τε τρομέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι:

τοῦ δὴ ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνες ἐνηέα τε κρατερόν τε,

205τεύχεα δ' οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἀπὸ κρατός τε καὶ ὤμων

Transliteration

a deil' oude ti toi thanatos katathymios estin

hos dē toi schedon eisi: sy d' ambrota teuchea dyneis

andros aristēos, ton te tromeousi kai alloi:

tou dē hetairon epephnes enēea te krateron te,

205teuchea d' ou kata kosmon apo kratos te kai ōmōn

English

poor wretch, you arm in the armor of a hero, before whom many another trembles, and you reck nothing of the doom that is already close upon you. You have killed his comrade so brave and strong, but it was not according to the order of things that you should strip the armor from his head and shoulders.

Homeric Greek

εἵλευ: ἀτάρ τοι νῦν γε μέγα κράτος ἐγγυαλίξω,

τῶν ποινὴν ὅ τοι οὔ τι μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντι

δέξεται Ἀνδρομάχη κλυτὰ τεύχεα Πηλεί̈ωνος.

ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων.

210Ἕκτορι δ' ἥρμοσε τεύχε' ἐπὶ χροί̈, δῦ δέ μιν Ἄρης

Transliteration

heileu: atar toi nyn ge mega kratos engyalixō,

tōn poinēn ho toi ou ti machēs eknostēsanti

dexetai Andromachē klyta teuchea Pēleïōnos.

ē kai kyaneēisin ep' ophrysi neuse Kroniōn.

210Hektori d' hērmose teuche' epi chroï, dy de min Arēs

English

I do indeed endow you with great might now, but as against this you shall not return from battle to lay the armor of the son of Peleus before Andromache." The son of Kronos bowed his portentous brows, and Hektor fitted the armor to his body, while terrible Ares entered into him, and filled his whole body with might and valor.

Homeric Greek

δεινὸς ἐνυάλιος, πλῆσθεν δ' ἄρα οἱ μέλε' ἐντὸς

ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος: μετὰ δὲ κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρους

βῆ ῥα μέγα ἰάχων: ἰνδάλλετο δέ σφισι πᾶσι

τεύχεσι λαμπόμενος μεγαθύμου Πηλεί̈ωνος.

215ὄτρυνεν δὲ ἕκαστον ἐποιχόμενος ἐπέεσσι

Transliteration

deinos enyalios, plēsthen d' ara hoi mele' entos

alkēs kai stheneos: meta de kleitous epikourous

bē rha mega iachōn: indalleto de sphisi pasi

teuchesi lampomenos megathymou Pēleïōnos.

215otrynen de hekaston epoichomenos epeessi

English

With a shout he strode in among the allies, and his armor flashed about him so that he seemed to all of them like the great son of Peleus himself. He went about among them and cheered them on - Mesthles, Glaukos, Medon, Thersilokhos, Asteropaios, Deisenor and Hippothoos, Phorkys, Chromios, and Ennomos the augur.

Homeric Greek

Μέσθλην τε Γλαῦκόν τε Μέδοντά τε Θερσίλοχόν τε

Ἀστεροπαῖόν τε Δεισήνορά θ' Ἱππόθοόν τε

Φόρκυν τε Χρομίον τε καὶ Ἔννομον οἰωνιστήν:

τοὺς ὅ γ' ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

220κέκλυτε μυρία φῦλα περικτιόνων ἐπικούρων:

Transliteration

Mesthlēn te Glaukon te Medonta te Thersilochon te

Asteropaion te Deisēnora th' Hippothoon te

Phorkyn te Chromion te kai Ennomon oiōnistēn:

tous ho g' epotrynōn epea pteroenta prosēuda:

220keklyte myria phyla periktionōn epikourōn:

English

All these did he exhort saying, "Hear me, allies from other cities who are here in your thousands, it was not in order to have a crowd about me that I called you hither each from his several city, but that

Homeric Greek

οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ πληθὺν διζήμενος οὐδὲ χατίζων

ἐνθάδ' ἀφ' ὑμετέρων πολίων ἤγειρα ἕκαστον,

ἀλλ' ἵνα μοι Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα

προφρονέως ῥύοισθε φιλοπτολέμων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν.

225τὰ φρονέων δώροισι κατατρύχω καὶ ἐδωδῇ

Transliteration

ou gar egō plēthyn dizēmenos oude chatizōn

enthad' aph' hymeterōn poliōn ēgeira hekaston,

all' hina moi Trōōn alochous kai nēpia tekna

prophroneōs rhyoisthe philoptolemōn hyp' Achaiōn.

225ta phroneōn dōroisi katatrychō kai edōdēi

English

with heart and soul you might defend the wives and little ones of the Trojans from the fierce Achaeans. For this do I oppress my people with your food and the presents that make you rich.

Homeric Greek

λαούς, ὑμέτερον δὲ ἑκάστου θυμὸν ἀέξω.

τώ τις νῦν ἰθὺς τετραμμένος ἢ ἀπολέσθω

ἠὲ σαωθήτω: ἣ γὰρ πολέμου ὀαριστύς.

ὃς δέ κε Πάτροκλον καὶ τεθνηῶτά περ ἔμπης

230Τρῶας ἐς ἱπποδάμους ἐρύσῃ, εἴξῃ δέ οἱ Αἴας,

Transliteration

laous, hymeteron de hekastou thymon aexō.

tō tis nyn ithys tetrammenos ē apolesthō

ēe saōthētō: hē gar polemou oaristys.

hos de ke Patroklon kai tethnēōta per empēs

230Trōas es hippodamous erysēi, eixēi de hoi Aias,

English

Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the game of war; whoever shall bring Patroklos, dead though he be, into the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep the other.

Homeric Greek

ἥμισυ τῷ ἐνάρων ἀποδάσσομαι, ἥμισυ δ' αὐτὸς

ἕξω ἐγώ: τὸ δέ οἱ κλέος ἔσσεται ὅσσον ἐμοί περ.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἰθὺς Δαναῶν βρίσαντες ἔβησαν

δούρατ' ἀνασχόμενοι: μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

235νεκρὸν ὑπ' Αἴαντος ἐρύειν Τελαμωνιάδαο

Transliteration

hēmisy tōi enarōn apodassomai, hēmisy d' autos

hexō egō: to de hoi kleos essetai hosson emoi per.

hōs ephath', hoi d' ithys Danaōn brisantes ebēsan

dourat' anaschomenoi: mala de sphisin elpeto thymos

235nekron hyp' Aiantos eryein Telamōniadao

English

He will thus share like honor with myself." When he had thus spoken they charged full weight upon the Danaans with their spears held out before them, and the hopes of each ran high that he should force Ajax son of Telamon to yield

Homeric Greek

νήπιοι: ἦ τε πολέσσιν ἐπ' αὐτῷ θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.

καὶ τότ' ἄρ' Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον:

ὦ πέπον ὦ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς οὐκέτι νῶϊ

ἔλπομαι αὐτώ περ νοστησέμεν ἐκ πολέμοιο.

240οὔ τι τόσον νέκυος περιδείδια Πατρόκλοιο,

Transliteration

nēpioi: ē te polessin ep' autōi thymon apēura.

kai tot' ar' Aias eipe boēn agathon Menelaon:

ō pepon ō Menelae diotrephes ouketi nōï

elpomai autō per nostēsemen ek polemoio.

240ou ti toson nekyos perideidia Patrokloio,

English

up the body - fools that they were, for he was about to take the lives of many. Then Ajax said to Menelaos, "My good friend Menelaos, you and I shall hardly come out of this fight alive. I am less concerned for the body of Patroklos, who will shortly become meat for the dogs and vultures of Troy, than for the safety of my own head and yours.

Homeric Greek

ὅς κε τάχα Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδ' οἰωνούς,

ὅσσον ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ περιδείδια μή τι πάθῃσι,

καὶ σῇ, ἐπεὶ πολέμοιο νέφος περὶ πάντα καλύπτει

Ἕκτωρ, ἡμῖν δ' αὖτ' ἀναφαίνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

245ἀλλ' ἄγ' ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν κάλει, ἤν τις ἀκούσῃ.

Transliteration

hos ke tacha Trōōn koreei kynas ēd' oiōnous,

hosson emēi kephalēi perideidia mē ti pathēisi,

kai sēi, epei polemoio nephos peri panta kalyptei

Hektōr, hēmin d' aut' anaphainetai aipys olethros.

245all' ag' aristēas Danaōn kalei, ēn tis akousēi.

English

Hektor has wrapped us round in a storm of battle from every quarter, and our destruction seems now certain. Call then upon the princes of the Danaans if there is any who can hear us."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς:

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

οἵ τε παρ' Ἀτρεί̈δῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ

250δήμια πίνουσιν καὶ σημαίνουσιν ἕκαστος

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oud' apithēse boēn agathos Menelaos,

ēÿsen de diaprysion Danaoisi gegōnōs:

ō philoi Argeiōn hēgētores ēde medontes

hoi te par' Atreïdēis Agamemnoni kai Menelaōi

250dēmia pinousin kai sēmainousin hekastos

English

Menelaos did as he said, and shouted to the Danaans for help at the top of his voice. "My friends," he cried, "princes and counselors of the Argives, all you who with Agamemnon and Menelaos drink at the public cost, and give orders each

Homeric Greek

λαοῖς: ἐκ δὲ Διὸς τιμὴ καὶ κῦδος ὀπηδεῖ.

ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκαστον

ἡγεμόνων: τόσση γὰρ ἔρις πολέμοιο δέδηεν:

ἀλλά τις αὐτὸς ἴτω, νεμεσιζέσθω δ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ

255Πάτροκλον Τρῳῇσι κυσὶν μέλπηθρα γενέσθαι.

Transliteration

laois: ek de Dios timē kai kydos opēdei.

argaleon de moi esti diaskopiasthai hekaston

hēgemonōn: tossē gar eris polemoio dedēen:

alla tis autos itō, nemesizesthō d' eni thymōi

255Patroklon Trōiēisi kysin melpēthra genesthai.

English

to his own people as Zeus grants him power and honor, the fight is so thick about me that I cannot distinguish you severally; come on, therefore, every man unbidden, and think it shame that Patroklos should become meat and morsel for Trojan hounds."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', ὀξὺ δ' ἄκουσεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας:

πρῶτος δ' ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων ἀνὰ δηϊοτῆτα,

τὸν δὲ μετ' Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος

Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ.

260τῶν δ' ἄλλων τίς κεν ᾗσι φρεσὶν οὐνόματ' εἴποι,

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oxy d' akousen Oïlēos tachys Aias:

prōtos d' antios ēlthe theōn ana dēïotēta,

ton de met' Idomeneus kai opaōn Idomenēos

Mērionēs atalantos Enyaliōi andreiphontēi.

260tōn d' allōn tis ken hēisi phresin ounomat' eipoi,

English

Fleet Ajax son of Oileus heard him and was first to force his way through the fight and run to help him. Next came Idomeneus and Meriones his esquire, peer of murderous Ares.

Homeric Greek

ὅσσοι δὴ μετόπισθε μάχην ἤγειραν Ἀχαιῶν;

Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες: ἦρχε δ' ἄρ' Ἕκτωρ.

ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἐπὶ προχοῇσι διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

βέβρυχεν μέγα κῦμα ποτὶ ῥόον, ἀμφὶ δέ τ' ἄκραι

265ἠϊόνες βοόωσιν ἐρευγομένης ἁλὸς ἔξω,

Transliteration

hossoi dē metopisthe machēn ēgeiran Achaiōn;

Trōes de proutypsan aollees: ērche d' ar' Hektōr.

hōs d' hot' epi prochoēisi diipeteos potamoio

bebrychen mega kyma poti rhoon, amphi de t' akrai

265ēïones booōsin ereugomenēs halos exō,

English

As for the others that came into the fight after these, who of his own self could name them? The Trojans with Hektor at their head charged in a body. As a great wave that comes thundering in at the mouth of some heaven-born river, and the rocks that jut into the sea ring with the roar of the breakers that beat and buffet them - even with such a roar did the Trojans come on;

Homeric Greek

τόσσῃ ἄρα Τρῶες ἰαχῇ ἴσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντες

φραχθέντες σάκεσιν χαλκήρεσιν: ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρά σφι

λαμπρῇσιν κορύθεσσι Κρονίων ἠέρα πολλὴν

270χεῦ', ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ Μενοιτιάδην ἔχθαιρε πάρος γε,

Transliteration

tossēi ara Trōes iachēi isan. autar Achaioi

hestasan amphi Menoitiadēi hena thymon echontes

phrachthentes sakesin chalkēresin: amphi d' ara sphi

lamprēisin korythessi Kroniōn ēera pollēn

270cheu', epei oude Menoitiadēn echthaire paros ge,

English

but the Achaeans in singleness of heart stood firm about the son of Menoitios, and fenced him with their bronze shields. Zeus, moreover, hid the brightness of their helmets in a thick cloud, for he had borne no grudge against the son of Menoitios while he was still alive and squire to the descendant of Aiakos;

Homeric Greek

ὄφρα ζωὸς ἐὼν θεράπων ἦν Αἰακίδαο:

μίσησεν δ' ἄρα μιν δηί̈ων κυσὶ κύρμα γενέσθαι

Τρῳῇσιν: τὼ καί οἱ ἀμυνέμεν ὦρσεν ἑταίρους.

ὦσαν δὲ πρότεροι Τρῶες ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς:

275νεκρὸν δὲ προλιπόντες ὑπέτρεσαν, οὐδέ τιν' αὐτῶν

Transliteration

ophra zōos eōn therapōn ēn Aiakidao:

misēsen d' ara min dēïōn kysi kyrma genesthai

Trōiēisin: tō kai hoi amynemen ōrsen hetairous.

ōsan de proteroi Trōes helikōpas Achaious:

275nekron de prolipontes hypetresan, oude tin' autōn

English

therefore he was loath to let him fall a prey to the dogs of his foes the Trojans, and urged his comrades on to defend him. At first the Trojans drove the Achaeans back, and they withdrew from the dead man daunted.

Homeric Greek

Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι ἕλον ἔγχεσιν ἱέμενοί περ,

ἀλλὰ νέκυν ἐρύοντο: μίνυνθα δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἀχαιοὶ

μέλλον ἀπέσσεσθαι: μάλα γάρ σφεας ὦκ' ἐλέλιξεν

Αἴας, ὃς περὶ μὲν εἶδος, περὶ δ' ἔργα τέτυκτο

280τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετ' ἀμύμονα Πηλεί̈ωνα.

Transliteration

Trōes hyperthymoi helon enchesin hiemenoi per,

alla nekyn eryonto: minyntha de kai tou Achaioi

mellon apessesthai: mala gar spheas ōk' elelixen

Aias, hos peri men eidos, peri d' erga tetykto

280tōn allōn Danaōn met' amymona Pēleïōna.

English

The Trojans did not succeed in killing any one, nevertheless they drew the body away. But the Achaeans did not lose it long, for Ajax, foremost of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus alike in stature and prowess, quickly rallied them and made towards the front like a

Homeric Greek

ἴθυσεν δὲ διὰ προμάχων συὶ̈ εἴκελος ἀλκὴν

καπρίῳ, ὅς τ' ἐν ὄρεσσι κύνας θαλερούς τ' αἰζηοὺς

ῥηϊδίως ἐκέδασσεν, ἑλιξάμενος διὰ βήσσας:

ὣς υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἀγαυοῦ φαίδιμος Αἴας

285ῥεῖα μετεισάμενος Τρώων ἐκέδασσε φάλαγγας

Transliteration

ithysen de dia promachōn syï eikelos alkēn

kapriōi, hos t' en oressi kynas thalerous t' aizēous

rhēïdiōs ekedassen, helixamenos dia bēssas:

hōs huios Telamōnos agauou phaidimos Aias

285rheia meteisamenos Trōōn ekedasse phalangas

English

wild boar upon the mountains when he stands at bay in the forest glades and routs the hounds and lusty youths that have attacked him - even so did Ajax son of Telamon passing easily in among the phalanxes of the Trojans, disperse those who had bestridden Patroklos and were most bent on winning glory by dragging him off to their city.

Homeric Greek

οἳ περὶ Πατρόκλῳ βέβασαν, φρόνεον δὲ μάλιστα

ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύειν καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

ἤτοι τὸν Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ φαίδιμος υἱὸς

Ἱππόθοος ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην

290δησάμενος τελαμῶνι παρὰ σφυρὸν ἀμφὶ τένοντας

Transliteration

hoi peri Patroklōi bebasan, phroneon de malista

asty poti spheteron eryein kai kydos aresthai.

ētoi ton Lēthoio Pelasgou phaidimos huios

Hippothoos podos helke kata kraterēn hysminēn

290dēsamenos telamōni para sphyron amphi tenontas

English

At this moment Hippothoos brave son of the Pelasgian Lethus, in his zeal for Hektor and the Trojans, was dragging the body off by the foot through the press of the fight, having bound a strap round the sinews near the ankle;

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος: τάχα δ' αὐτῷ

ἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.

τὸν δ' υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ἐπαί̈ξας δι' ὁμίλου

πλῆξ' αὐτοσχεδίην κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου:

295ἤρικε δ' ἱπποδάσεια κόρυς περὶ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ

Transliteration

Hektori kai Trōessi charizomenos: tacha d' autōi

ēlthe kakon, to hoi ou tis erykaken hiemenōn per.

ton d' huios Telamōnos epaïxas di' homilou

plēx' autoschediēn kyneēs dia chalkoparēiou:

295ērike d' hippodaseia korys peri douros akōkēi

English

but a mischief soon befell him from which none of those could save him who would have gladly done so, for the son of Telamon sprang forward and smote him on his bronze-cheeked helmet. The plumed headpiece broke about the point of the weapon, struck at once by the spear and by

Homeric Greek

πληγεῖσ' ἔγχεί̈ τε μεγάλῳ καὶ χειρὶ παχείῃ,

ἐγκέφαλος δὲ παρ' αὐλὸν ἀνέδραμεν ἐξ ὠτειλῆς

αἱματόεις: τοῦ δ' αὖθι λύθη μένος, ἐκ δ' ἄρα χειρῶν

Πατρόκλοιο πόδα μεγαλήτορος ἧκε χαμᾶζε

300κεῖσθαι: ὃ δ' ἄγχ' αὐτοῖο πέσε πρηνὴς ἐπὶ νεκρῷ

Transliteration

plēgeis' encheï te megalōi kai cheiri pacheiēi,

enkephalos de par' aulon anedramen ex ōteilēs

haimatoeis: tou d' authi lythē menos, ek d' ara cheirōn

Patrokloio poda megalētoros hēke chamaze

300keisthai: ho d' anch' autoio pese prēnēs epi nekrōi

English

the strong hand of Ajax, so that the bloody brain came oozing out through the crest-socket. His strength then failed him and he let Patroklos' foot drop from his hand, as he fell full length dead upon the body; thus he died far from the fertile land of Larissa, and never repaid

Homeric Greek

τῆλ' ἀπὸ Λαρίσης ἐριβώλακος, οὐδὲ τοκεῦσι

θρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼν

ἔπλεθ' ὑπ' Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.

Ἕκτωρ δ' αὖτ' Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ:

305ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος

Transliteration

tēl' apo Larisēs eribōlakos, oude tokeusi

threptra philois apedōke, minynthadios de hoi aiōn

epleth' hyp' Aiantos megathymou douri damenti.

Hektōr d' aut' Aiantos akontise douri phaeinōi:

305all' ho men anta idōn ēleuato chalkeon enchos

English

his parents the cost of bringing him up, for his life was cut short early by the spear of mighty Ajax. Hektor then took aim at Ajax with a spear, but he saw it coming and just managed to avoid it;

Homeric Greek

τυτθόν: ὃ δὲ Σχεδίον μεγαθύμου Ἰφίτου υἱὸν

Φωκήων ὄχ' ἄριστον, ὃς ἐν κλειτῷ Πανοπῆϊ

οἰκία ναιετάασκε πολέσσ' ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων,

τὸν βάλ' ὑπὸ κληῖ̈δα μέσην: διὰ δ' ἀμπερὲς ἄκρη

310αἰχμὴ χαλκείη παρὰ νείατον ὦμον ἀνέσχε:

Transliteration

tytthon: ho de Schedion megathymou Iphitou huion

Phōkēōn och' ariston, hos en kleitōi Panopēï

oikia naietaaske poless' andressin anassōn,

ton bal' hypo klēïda mesēn: dia d' amperes akrē

310aichmē chalkeiē para neiaton ōmon anesche:

English

the spear passed on and struck Schedios son of noble Iphitos, leader of the Phoceans, who dwelt in famed Panopeus and reigned over many people; it struck him under the middle of the collar-bone the bronze point went right through him, coming out at the bottom of his shoulder-blade, and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground.

Homeric Greek

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε' ἐπ' αὐτῷ.

Αἴας δ' αὖ Φόρκυνα δαί̈φρονα Φαίνοπος υἱὸν

Ἱπποθόῳ περιβάντα μέσην κατὰ γαστέρα τύψε:

ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δ' ἔντερα χαλκὸς

315ἤφυσ': ὃ δ' ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

Transliteration

doupēsen de pesōn, arabēse de teuche' ep' autōi.

Aias d' au Phorkyna daïphrona Phainopos huion

Hippothoōi peribanta mesēn kata gastera typse:

rhēxe de thōrēkos gyalon, dia d' entera chalkos

315ēphys': ho d' en koniēisi pesōn hele gaian agostōi.

English

Ajax in his turn struck noble Phorkys son of Phainops in the middle of the belly as he was bestriding Hippothoos, and broke the plate of his cuirass; whereon the spear tore out his entrails and he clutched the ground in his palm as he fell to earth.

Homeric Greek

χώρησαν δ' ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ:

Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκροὺς

Φόρκυν θ' Ἱππόθοόν τε, λύοντο δὲ τεύχε' ἀπ' ὤμων.

ἔνθά κεν αὖτε Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν

320Ἴλιον εἰσανέβησαν ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντες,

Transliteration

chōrēsan d' hypo te promachoi kai phaidimos Hektōr:

Argeioi de mega iachon, erysanto de nekrous

Phorkyn th' Hippothoon te, lyonto de teuche' ap' ōmōn.

entha ken aute Trōes arēïphilōn hyp' Achaiōn

320Ilion eisanebēsan analkeiēisi damentes,

English

Hektor and those who were in the front rank then gave ground, while the Argives raised a loud cry of triumph, and drew off the bodies of Phorkys and Hippothoos which they stripped presently of their armor. The Trojans would now have been worsted by the brave Achaeans and driven back to Ilion through their own

Homeric Greek

Ἀργεῖοι δέ κε κῦδος ἕλον καὶ ὑπὲρ Διὸς αἶσαν

κάρτεϊ καὶ σθένεϊ σφετέρῳ: ἀλλ' αὐτὸς Ἀπόλλων

Αἰνείαν ὄτρυνε δέμας Περίφαντι ἐοικὼς

κήρυκι Ἠπυτίδῃ, ὅς οἱ παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι

325κηρύσσων γήρασκε φίλα φρεσὶ μήδεα εἰδώς:

Transliteration

Argeioi de ke kydos helon kai hyper Dios aisan

karteï kai stheneï spheterōi: all' autos Apollōn

Aineian otryne demas Periphanti eoikōs

kēryki Ēpytidēi, hos hoi para patri geronti

325kēryssōn gēraske phila phresi mēdea eidōs:

English

cowardice, while the Argives, so great was their courage and endurance, would have achieved a triumph even against the will of Zeus, if Apollo had not roused Aeneas, in the likeness of Periphas son of Epytos, an attendant who had grown old in the service of Aeneas' aged father, and was at all times devoted to him.

Homeric Greek

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων:

Αἰνεία πῶς ἂν καὶ ὑπὲρ θεὸν εἰρύσσαισθε

Ἴλιον αἰπεινήν; ὡς δὴ ἴδον ἀνέρας ἄλλους

κάρτεί̈ τε σθένεί̈ τε πεποιθότας ἠνορέῃ τε

330πλήθεί̈ τε σφετέρῳ καὶ ὑπερδέα δῆμον ἔχοντας:

Transliteration

tōi min eeisamenos prosephē Dios huios Apollōn:

Aineia pōs an kai hyper theon eiryssaisthe

Ilion aipeinēn; hōs dē idon aneras allous

karteï te stheneï te pepoithotas ēnoreēi te

330plētheï te spheterōi kai hyperdea dēmon echontas:

English

In his likeness, then, Apollo said, "Aeneas, can you not manage, even though heaven be against us, to save high Ilion? I have known men, whose numbers, courage, and self-reliance have saved their population in spite of Zeus, whereas in this

Homeric Greek

ἡμῖν δὲ Ζεὺς μὲν πολὺ βούλεται ἢ Δαναοῖσι

νίκην: ἀλλ' αὐτοὶ τρεῖτ' ἄσπετον οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.

ὣς ἔφατ', Αἰνείας δ' ἑκατηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα

ἔγνω ἐς ἄντα ἰδών, μέγα δ' Ἕκτορα εἶπε βοήσας:

335Ἕκτόρ τ' ἠδ' ἄλλοι Τρώων ἀγοὶ ἠδ' ἐπικούρων

Transliteration

hēmin de Zeus men poly bouletai ē Danaoisi

nikēn: all' autoi treit' aspeton oude machesthe.

hōs ephat', Aineias d' hekatēbolon Apollōna

egnō es anta idōn, mega d' Hektora eipe boēsas:

335Hektor t' ēd' alloi Trōōn agoi ēd' epikourōn

English

case he would much rather give victory to us than to the Danaans, if you would only fight instead of being so terribly afraid." Aeneas knew Apollo when he looked straight at him, and shouted to Hektor saying, "Hektor and all other Trojans and allies,

Homeric Greek

αἰδὼς μὲν νῦν ἥδε γ' ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν

Ἴλιον εἰσαναβῆναι ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντας.

ἀλλ' ἔτι γάρ τίς φησι θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγχι παραστὰς

Ζῆν' ὕπατον μήστωρα μάχης ἐπιτάρροθον εἶναι:

340τώ ῥ' ἰθὺς Δαναῶν ἴομεν, μηδ' οἵ γε ἕκηλοι

Transliteration

aidōs men nyn hēde g' arēïphilōn hyp' Achaiōn

Ilion eisanabēnai analkeiēisi damentas.

all' eti gar tis phēsi theōn emoi anchi parastas

Zēn' hypaton mēstōra machēs epitarrothon einai:

340tō rh' ithys Danaōn iomen, mēd' hoi ge hekēloi

English

shame on us if we are beaten by the Achaeans and driven back to Ilion through our own cowardice. A god has just come up to me and told me that Zeus the supreme disposer will be with us. Therefore let us make for the Danaans, that it may go hard with

Homeric Greek

Πάτροκλον νηυσὶν πελασαίατο τεθνηῶτα.

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥα πολὺ προμάχων ἐξάλμενος ἔστη:

οἳ δ' ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν.

ἔνθ' αὖτ' Αἰνείας Λειώκριτον οὔτασε δουρὶ

345υἱὸν Ἀρίσβαντος Λυκομήδεος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον.

Transliteration

Patroklon nēusin pelasaiato tethnēōta.

hōs phato, kai rha poly promachōn exalmenos estē:

hoi d' elelichthēsan kai enantioi estan Achaiōn.

enth' aut' Aineias Leiōkriton outase douri

345huion Arisbantos Lykomēdeos esthlon hetairon.

English

them ere they bear away dead Patroklos to the ships." As he spoke he sprang out far in front of the others, who then rallied and again faced the Achaeans.

Homeric Greek

τὸν δὲ πεσόντ' ἐλέησεν ἀρηί̈φιλος Λυκομήδης,

στῆ δὲ μάλ' ἐγγὺς ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

καὶ βάλεν Ἱππασίδην Ἀπισάονα ποιμένα λαῶν

ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δ' ὑπὸ γούνατ' ἔλυσεν,

350ὅς ῥ' ἐκ Παιονίης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει,

Transliteration

ton de pesont' eleēsen arēïphilos Lykomēdēs,

stē de mal' engys iōn, kai akontise douri phaeinōi,

kai balen Hippasidēn Apisaona poimena laōn

hēpar hypo prapidōn, eithar d' hypo gounat' elysen,

350hos rh' ek Paioniēs eribōlakos eilēlouthei,

English

Aeneas speared Leiokritos son of Arisbas, a valiant follower of Lykomedes, and Lykomedes was moved with pity as he saw him fall; he therefore went close up, and speared Apisaon son of Hippasus shepherd of his people in the liver under the midriff, so that he died;

Homeric Greek

καὶ δὲ μετ' Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.

τὸν δὲ πεσόντ' ἐλέησεν ἀρήϊος Ἀστεροπαῖος,

ἴθυσεν δὲ καὶ ὃ πρόφρων Δαναοῖσι μάχεσθαι:

ἀλλ' οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχε: σάκεσσι γὰρ ἔρχατο πάντῃ

355ἑσταότες περὶ Πατρόκλῳ, πρὸ δὲ δούρατ' ἔχοντο.

Transliteration

kai de met' Asteropaion aristeueske machesthai.

ton de pesont' eleēsen arēïos Asteropaios,

ithysen de kai ho prophrōn Danaoisi machesthai:

all' ou pōs eti eiche: sakessi gar erchato pantēi

355hestaotes peri Patroklōi, pro de dourat' echonto.

English

he had come from fertile Paeonia and was the best man of them all after Asteropaios. Asteropaios flew forward to avenge him and attack the Danaans, but this might no longer be, inasmuch as those about Patroklos were well covered by their shields,

Homeric Greek

Αἴας γὰρ μάλα πάντας ἐπῴχετο πολλὰ κελεύων:

οὔτέ τιν' ἐξοπίσω νεκροῦ χάζεσθαι ἀνώγει

οὔτέ τινα προμάχεσθαι Ἀχαιῶν ἔξοχον ἄλλων,

ἀλλὰ μάλ' ἀμφ' αὐτῷ βεβάμεν, σχεδόθεν δὲ μάχεσθαι.

360ὣς Αἴας ἐπέτελλε πελώριος, αἵματι δὲ χθὼν

Transliteration

Aias gar mala pantas epōicheto polla keleuōn:

oute tin' exopisō nekrou chazesthai anōgei

oute tina promachesthai Achaiōn exochon allōn,

alla mal' amph' autōi bebamen, schedothen de machesthai.

360hōs Aias epetelle pelōrios, haimati de chthōn

English

and held their spears in front of them, for Ajax had given them strict orders that no man was either to give ground, or to stand out before the others, but all were to hold well together about the body and fight hand to hand.

Homeric Greek

δεύετο πορφυρέῳ, τοὶ δ' ἀγχιστῖνοι ἔπιπτον

νεκροὶ ὁμοῦ Τρώων καὶ ὑπερμενέων ἐπικούρων

καὶ Δαναῶν: οὐδ' οἳ γὰρ ἀναιμωτί γε μάχοντο,

παυρότεροι δὲ πολὺ φθίνυθον: μέμνηντο γὰρ αἰεὶ

365ἀλλήλοις ἀν' ὅμιλον ἀλεξέμεναι φόνον αἰπύν.

Transliteration

deueto porphyreōi, toi d' anchistinoi epipton

nekroi homou Trōōn kai hypermeneōn epikourōn

kai Danaōn: oud' hoi gar anaimōti ge machonto,

pauroteroi de poly phthinython: memnēnto gar aiei

365allēlois an' homilon alexemenai phonon aipyn.

English

Thus did huge Ajax bid them, and the earth ran red with blood as the corpses fell thick on one another alike on the side of the Trojans and allies, and on that of the Danaans; for these last, too, fought no bloodless fight though many fewer of them perished, through the care they took to defend and stand by one another.

Homeric Greek

ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρός, οὐδέ κε φαίης

οὔτέ ποτ' ἠέλιον σῶν ἔμμεναι οὔτε σελήνην:

ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχοντο μάχης ἐπί θ' ὅσσον ἄριστοι

ἕστασαν ἀμφὶ Μενοιτιάδῃ κατατεθνηῶτι.

370οἳ δ' ἄλλοι Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

Transliteration

hōs hoi men marnanto demas pyros, oude ke phaiēs

oute pot' ēelion sōn emmenai oute selēnēn:

ēeri gar katechonto machēs epi th' hosson aristoi

hestasan amphi Menoitiadēi katatethnēōti.

370hoi d' alloi Trōes kai eÿknēmides Achaioi

English

Thus did they fight as it were a flaming fire; it seemed as though it had gone hard even with the sun and moon, for they were hidden over all that part where the bravest heroes were fighting about the dead son of Menoitios, whereas the other Danaans and Achaeans fought at their ease

Homeric Greek

εὔκηλοι πολέμιζον ὑπ' αἰθέρι, πέπτατο δ' αὐγὴ

ἠελίου ὀξεῖα, νέφος δ' οὐ φαίνετο πάσης

γαίης οὐδ' ὀρέων: μεταπαυόμενοι δὲ μάχοντο

ἀλλήλων ἀλεείνοντες βέλεα στονόεντα

375πολλὸν ἀφεσταότες. τοὶ δ' ἐν μέσῳ ἄλγε' ἔπασχον

Transliteration

eukēloi polemizon hyp' aitheri, peptato d' augē

ēeliou oxeia, nephos d' ou phaineto pasēs

gaiēs oud' oreōn: metapauomenoi de machonto

allēlōn aleeinontes belea stonoenta

375pollon aphestaotes. toi d' en mesōi alge' epaschon

English

in full daylight with brilliant sunshine all round them, and there was not a cloud to be seen neither on plain nor mountain. These last moreover would rest for a while and leave off fighting, for they were some distance apart and beyond the range of one another's weapons, whereas those who were in the thick of the fray suffered both from battle and darkness.

Homeric Greek

ἠέρι καὶ πολέμῳ, τείροντο δὲ νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

ὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἔσαν: δύο δ' οὔ πω φῶτε πεπύσθην

ἀνέρε κυδαλίμω Θρασυμήδης Ἀντίλοχός τε

Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος ἀμύμονος, ἀλλ' ἔτ' ἔφαντο

380ζωὸν ἐνὶ πρώτῳ ὁμάδῳ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι.

Transliteration

ēeri kai polemōi, teironto de nēleï chalkōi

hossoi aristoi esan: dyo d' ou pō phōte pepysthēn

anere kydalimō Thrasymēdēs Antilochos te

Patrokloio thanontos amymonos, all' et' ephanto

380zōon eni prōtōi homadōi Trōessi machesthai.

English

All the best of them were being worn out by the great weight of their armor, but the two valiant heroes, Thrasymedes and Antilokhos, had not yet heard of the death of Patroklos, and believed him to be still alive and leading the van against the Trojans;

Homeric Greek

τὼ δ' ἐπιοσσομένω θάνατον καὶ φύζαν ἑταίρων

νόσφιν ἐμαρνάσθην, ἐπεὶ ὣς ἐπετέλλετο Νέστωρ

ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δὲ μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶν.

τοῖς δὲ πανημερίοις ἔριδος μέγα νεῖκος ὀρώρει

385ἀργαλέης: καμάτῳ δὲ καὶ ἱδρῷ νωλεμὲς αἰεὶ

Transliteration

tō d' epiossomenō thanaton kai phyzan hetairōn

nosphin emarnasthēn, epei hōs epetelleto Nestōr

otrynōn polemon de melainaōn apo nēōn.

tois de panēmeriois eridos mega neikos orōrei

385argaleēs: kamatōi de kai hidrōi nōlemes aiei

English

they were keeping themselves in reserve against the death or rout of their own comrades, for so Nestor had ordered when he sent them from the ships into battle. Thus through the livelong day did they wage fierce war, and the sweat of their toil rained ever on their legs

Homeric Greek

γούνατά τε κνῆμαί τε πόδες θ' ὑπένερθεν ἑκάστου

χεῖρές τ' ὀφθαλμοί τε παλάσσετο μαρναμένοιιν

ἀμφ' ἀγαθὸν θεράποντα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο.

ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἀνὴρ ταύροιο βοὸς μεγάλοιο βοείην

390λαοῖσιν δώῃ τανύειν μεθύουσαν ἀλοιφῇ:

Transliteration

gounata te knēmai te podes th' hypenerthen hekastou

cheires t' ophthalmoi te palasseto marnamenoiin

amph' agathon theraponta podōkeos Aiakidao.

hōs d' hot' anēr tauroio boos megaloio boeiēn

390laoisin dōēi tanyein methyousan aloiphēi:

English

under them, and on their hands and eyes, as they fought over the squire of the fleet son of Peleus. It was as when a man gives a great ox-hide all drenched in fat to his men, and bids them stretch it;

Homeric Greek

δεξάμενοι δ' ἄρα τοί γε διαστάντες τανύουσι

κυκλόσ', ἄφαρ δέ τε ἰκμὰς ἔβη, δύνει δέ τ' ἀλοιφὴ

πολλῶν ἑλκόντων, τάνυται δέ τε πᾶσα διὰ πρό:

ὣς οἵ γ' ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα νέκυν ὀλίγῃ ἐνὶ χώρῃ

395εἵλκεον ἀμφότεροι: μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

Transliteration

dexamenoi d' ara toi ge diastantes tanyousi

kyklos', aphar de te ikmas ebē, dynei de t' aloiphē

pollōn helkontōn, tanytai de te pasa dia pro:

hōs hoi g' entha kai entha nekyn oligēi eni chōrēi

395heilkeon amphoteroi: mala de sphisin elpeto thymos

English

whereon they stand round it in a ring and tug till the moisture leaves it, and the fat soaks in for the many that pull at it, and it is well stretched - even so did the two sides tug the dead body hither and thither within the compass of but a little space - the Trojans steadfastly set on dragging it into Ilion,

Homeric Greek

Τρωσὶν μὲν ἐρύειν προτὶ Ἴλιον, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖς

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς: περὶ δ' αὐτοῦ μῶλος ὀρώρει

ἄγριος: οὐδέ κ' Ἄρης λαοσσόος οὐδέ κ' Ἀθήνη

τόν γε ἰδοῦσ' ὀνόσαιτ', οὐδ' εἰ μάλα μιν χόλος ἵκοι:

400τοῖον Ζεὺς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ ἵππων

Transliteration

Trōsin men eryein proti Ilion, autar Achaiois

nēas epi glaphyras: peri d' autou mōlos orōrei

agrios: oude k' Arēs laossoos oude k' Athēnē

ton ge idous' onosait', oud' ei mala min cholos hikoi:

400toion Zeus epi Patroklōi andrōn te kai hippōn

English

while the Achaeans were no less so on taking it to their ships; and fierce was the fight between them. Not Ares himself the lord of hosts, nor yet Athena, even in their fullest fury could make light of such a battle. Such fearful turmoil of men and horses did Zeus on that day ordain round the body of Patroklos.

Homeric Greek

ἤματι τῷ ἐτάνυσσε κακὸν πόνον: οὐδ' ἄρα πώ τι

ᾔδεε Πάτροκλον τεθνηότα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς:

πολλὸν γὰρ ῥ' ἀπάνευθε νεῶν μάρναντο θοάων

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων: τό μιν οὔ ποτε ἔλπετο θυμῷ

405τεθνάμεν, ἀλλὰ ζωὸν ἐνιχριμφθέντα πύλῃσιν

Transliteration

ēmati tōi etanysse kakon ponon: oud' ara pō ti

ēidee Patroklon tethnēota dios Achilleus:

pollon gar rh' apaneuthe neōn marnanto thoaōn

teichei hypo Trōōn: to min ou pote elpeto thymōi

405tethnamen, alla zōon enichrimphthenta pylēisin

English

Meanwhile Achilles did not know that he had fallen, for the fight was under the wall of Troy a long way off the ships. He had no idea, therefore, that Patroklos was dead, and deemed that he would return alive as soon as he had gone close up to the gates.

Homeric Greek

ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ τὸ ἔλπετο πάμπαν

ἐκπέρσειν πτολίεθρον ἄνευ ἕθεν, οὐδὲ σὺν αὐτῷ:

πολλάκι γὰρ τό γε μητρὸς ἐπεύθετο νόσφιν ἀκούων,

ἥ οἱ ἀπαγγέλλεσκε Διὸς μεγάλοιο νόημα.

410δὴ τότε γ' οὔ οἱ ἔειπε κακὸν τόσον ὅσσον ἐτύχθη

Transliteration

aps aponostēsein, epei oude to elpeto pampan

ekpersein ptoliethron aneu hethen, oude syn autōi:

pollaki gar to ge mētros epeutheto nosphin akouōn,

hē hoi apangelleske Dios megaloio noēma.

410dē tote g' ou hoi eeipe kakon toson hosson etychthē

English

He knew that he was not to sack the city neither with nor without himself, for his mother had often told him this when he had sat alone with her, and she had informed him of the counsels of great Zeus. Now, however, she had not told him how great a disaster had befallen him in the death of

Homeric Greek

μήτηρ, ὅττί ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθ' ἑταῖρος.

οἳ δ' αἰεὶ περὶ νεκρὸν ἀκαχμένα δούρατ' ἔχοντες

νωλεμὲς ἐγχρίμπτοντο καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον:

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων:

415ὦ φίλοι οὐ μὰν ἧμιν ἐϋκλεὲς ἀπονέεσθαι

Transliteration

mētēr, hotti rha hoi poly philtatos ōleth' hetairos.

hoi d' aiei peri nekron akachmena dourat' echontes

nōlemes enchrimptonto kai allēlous enarizon:

hōde de tis eipesken Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn:

415ō philoi ou man hēmin eÿklees aponeesthai

English

the one who was far dearest to him of all his comrades. The others still kept on charging one another round the body with their pointed spears and killing each other. Then would one say, "My friends, we can never again show our faces at the

Homeric Greek

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς, ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ γαῖα μέλαινα

πᾶσι χάνοι: τό κεν ἧμιν ἄφαρ πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη

εἰ τοῦτον Τρώεσσι μεθήσομεν ἱπποδάμοισιν

ἄστυ πότι σφέτερον ἐρύσαι καὶ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

420ὣς δέ τις αὖ Τρώων μεγαθύμων αὐδήσασκεν:

Transliteration

nēas epi glaphyras, all' autou gaia melaina

pasi chanoi: to ken hēmin aphar poly kerdion eiē

ei touton Trōessi methēsomen hippodamoisin

asty poti spheteron erysai kai kydos aresthai.

420hōs de tis au Trōōn megathymōn audēsasken:

English

ships - better, and greatly better, that earth should open and swallow us here in this place, than that we should let the Trojans have the triumph of bearing off Patroklos to their city." The Trojans also on their part spoke to one another

Homeric Greek

ὦ φίλοι, εἰ καὶ μοῖρα παρ' ἀνέρι τῷδε δαμῆναι

πάντας ὁμῶς, μή πώ τις ἐρωείτω πολέμοιο.

ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, μένος δ' ὄρσασκεν ἑκάστου.

ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο, σιδήρειος δ' ὀρυμαγδὸς

425χάλκεον οὐρανὸν ἷκε δι' αἰθέρος ἀτρυγέτοιο:

Transliteration

ō philoi, ei kai moira par' aneri tōide damēnai

pantas homōs, mē pō tis erōeitō polemoio.

hōs ara tis eipeske, menos d' orsasken hekastou.

hōs hoi men marnanto, sidēreios d' orymagdos

425chalkeon ouranon hike di' aitheros atrygetoio:

English

saying, "Friends, though we fall to a man beside this body, let none shrink from fighting." With such words did they exhort each other. They fought and fought, and an iron clank rose through the void air to the brazen vault of heaven.

Homeric Greek

ἵπποι δ' Αἰακίδαο μάχης ἀπάνευθεν ἐόντες

κλαῖον, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα πυθέσθην ἡνιόχοιο

ἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντος ὑφ' Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο.

ἦ μὰν Αὐτομέδων Διώρεος ἄλκιμος υἱὸς

430πολλὰ μὲν ἂρ μάστιγι θοῇ ἐπεμαίετο θείνων,

Transliteration

hippoi d' Aiakidao machēs apaneuthen eontes

klaion, epei dē prōta pythesthēn hēniochoio

en koniēisi pesontos hyph' Hektoros androphonoio.

ē man Automedōn Diōreos alkimos huios

430polla men ar mastigi thoēi epemaieto theinōn,

English

The horses of the descendant of Aiakos stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of murderous Hektor. Automedon, valiant son of Diores, lashed them again and again; many a time did he speak kindly to them, and many a time did he

Homeric Greek

πολλὰ δὲ μειλιχίοισι προσηύδα, πολλὰ δ' ἀρειῇ:

τὼ δ' οὔτ' ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἐπὶ πλατὺν Ἑλλήσποντον

ἠθελέτην ἰέναι οὔτ' ἐς πόλεμον μετ' Ἀχαιούς,

ἀλλ' ὥς τε στήλη μένει ἔμπεδον, ἥ τ' ἐπὶ τύμβῳ

435ἀνέρος ἑστήκῃ τεθνηότος ἠὲ γυναικός,

Transliteration

polla de meilichioisi prosēuda, polla d' areiēi:

tō d' out' aps epi nēas epi platyn Hellēsponton

ētheletēn ienai out' es polemon met' Achaious,

all' hōs te stēlē menei empedon, hē t' epi tymbōi

435aneros hestēkēi tethnēotos ēe gynaikos,

English

upbraid them, but they would neither go back to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellespont, nor yet into battle among the Achaeans; they stood with their chariot stock still, as a pillar set over the tomb of some dead man or woman, and bowed their heads to the ground.

Homeric Greek

ὣς μένον ἀσφαλέως περικαλλέα δίφρον ἔχοντες

οὔδει ἐνισκίμψαντε καρήατα: δάκρυα δέ σφι

θερμὰ κατὰ βλεφάρων χαμάδις ῥέε μυρομένοισιν

ἡνιόχοιο πόθῳ: θαλερὴ δ' ἐμιαίνετο χαίτη

440ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν ἀμφοτέρωθεν.

Transliteration

hōs menon asphaleōs perikallea diphron echontes

oudei eniskimpsante karēata: dakrya de sphi

therma kata blepharōn chamadis rhee myromenoisin

hēniochoio pothōi: thalerē d' emiaineto chaitē

440zeuglēs exeripousa para zygon amphoterōthen.

English

Hot tears fell from their eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer, and their noble manes drooped all wet from under the yokestraps on either side the yoke.

Homeric Greek

μυρομένω δ' ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,

κινήσας δὲ κάρη προτὶ ὃν μυθήσατο θυμόν:

ἆ δειλώ, τί σφῶϊ δόμεν Πηλῆϊ ἄνακτι

θνητῷ, ὑμεῖς δ' ἐστὸν ἀγήρω τ' ἀθανάτω τε;

445ἦ ἵνα δυστήνοισι μετ' ἀνδράσιν ἄλγε' ἔχητον;

Transliteration

myromenō d' ara tō ge idōn eleēse Kroniōn,

kinēsas de karē proti hon mythēsato thymon:

a deilō, ti sphōï domen Pēlēï anakti

thnētōi, hymeis d' eston agērō t' athanatō te;

445ē hina dystēnoisi met' andrasin alge' echēton;

English

The son of Kronos saw them and took pity upon their sorrow. He wagged his head, and muttered to himself, saying, "Poor things, why did we give you to King Peleus who is a mortal, while you are yourselves ageless and immortal? Was it that you might share the sorrows that befall humankind?

Homeric Greek

οὐ μὲν γάρ τί πού ἐστιν ὀϊζυρώτερον ἀνδρὸς

πάντων, ὅσσά τε γαῖαν ἔπι πνείει τε καὶ ἕρπει.

ἀλλ' οὐ μὰν ὑμῖν γε καὶ ἅρμασι δαιδαλέοισιν

Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης ἐποχήσεται: οὐ γὰρ ἐάσω.

450ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὡς καὶ τεύχε' ἔχει καὶ ἐπεύχεται αὔτως;

Transliteration

ou men gar ti pou estin oïzyrōteron andros

pantōn, hossa te gaian epi pneiei te kai herpei.

all' ou man hymin ge kai harmasi daidaleoisin

Hektōr Priamidēs epochēsetai: ou gar easō.

450ē ouch halis hōs kai teuche' echei kai epeuchetai autōs;

English

for of all creatures that live and move upon the earth there is none so pitiable as he is - still, Hektor son of Priam shall drive neither you nor your chariot. I will not have it. It is enough that he should have the armor over which he vaunts so vainly.

Homeric Greek

σφῶϊν δ' ἐν γούνεσσι βαλῶ μένος ἠδ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

ὄφρα καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα σαώσετον ἐκ πολέμοιο

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς: ἔτι γάρ σφισι κῦδος ὀρέξω

κτείνειν, εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκωνται

455δύῃ τ' ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ:

Transliteration

sphōïn d' en gounessi balō menos ēd' eni thymōi,

ophra kai Automedonta saōseton ek polemoio

nēas epi glaphyras: eti gar sphisi kydos orexō

kteinein, eis ho ke nēas eÿsselmous aphikōntai

455dyēi t' ēelios kai epi knephas hieron elthēi:

English

Furthermore I will give you strength of heart and limb to bear Automedon safely to the ships from battle, for I shall let the Trojans triumph still further, and go on killing till they reach the ships; whereon night shall fall and darkness overshadow the land."

Homeric Greek

ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐνέπνευσεν μένος ἠύ̈.

τὼ δ' ἀπὸ χαιτάων κονίην οὖδας δὲ βαλόντε

ῥίμφα φέρον θοὸν ἅρμα μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.

τοῖσι δ' ἐπ' Αὐτομέδων μάχετ' ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου

460ἵπποις ἀί̈σσων ὥς τ' αἰγυπιὸς μετὰ χῆνας:

Transliteration

hōs eipōn hippoisin enepneusen menos ēÿ.

tō d' apo chaitaōn koniēn oudas de balonte

rhimpha pheron thoon harma meta Trōas kai Achaious.

toisi d' ep' Automedōn machet' achnymenos per hetairou

460hippois aïssōn hōs t' aigypios meta chēnas:

English

As he spoke he breathed heart and strength into the horses so that they shook the dust from out of their manes, and bore their chariot swiftly into the fight that raged between Trojans and Achaeans. Behind them fought Automedon full of sorrow for his comrade, as a vulture amid a flock of geese.

Homeric Greek

ῥέα μὲν γὰρ φεύγεσκεν ὑπ' ἐκ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ,

ῥεῖα δ' ἐπαί̈ξασκε πολὺν καθ' ὅμιλον ὀπάζων.

ἀλλ' οὐχ ᾕρει φῶτας ὅτε σεύαιτο διώκειν:

οὐ γάρ πως ἦν οἶον ἐόνθ' ἱερῷ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

465ἔγχει ἐφορμᾶσθαι καὶ ἐπίσχειν ὠκέας ἵππους.

Transliteration

rhea men gar pheugesken hyp' ek Trōōn orymagdou,

rheia d' epaïxaske polyn kath' homilon opazōn.

all' ouch hēirei phōtas hote seuaito diōkein:

ou gar pōs ēn oion eonth' hierōi eni diphrōi

465enchei ephormasthai kai epischein ōkeas hippous.

English

In and out, and here and there, full speed he dashed amid the throng of the Trojans, but for all the fury of his pursuit he killed no man, for he could not wield his spear and keep his horses in hand when alone in the chariot;

Homeric Greek

ὀψὲ δὲ δή μιν ἑταῖρος ἀνὴρ ἴδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

Ἀλκιμέδων υἱὸς Λαέρκεος Αἱμονίδαο:

στῆ δ' ὄπιθεν δίφροιο καὶ Αὐτομέδοντα προσηύδα:

Αὐτόμεδον, τίς τοί νυ θεῶν νηκερδέα βουλὴν

470ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθηκε, καὶ ἐξέλετο φρένας ἐσθλάς;

Transliteration

opse de dē min hetairos anēr iden ophthalmoisin

Alkimedōn huios Laerkeos Haimonidao:

stē d' opithen diphroio kai Automedonta prosēuda:

Automedon, tis toi ny theōn nēkerdea boulēn

470en stēthessin ethēke, kai exeleto phrenas esthlas;

English

at last, however, a comrade, Alkimedon, son of Laerkes son of Haimon caught sight of him and came up behind his chariot. "Automedon," said he, "what god has put this folly into your heart and robbed you of your right mind, that you fight the Trojans in the front rank single-handed?

Homeric Greek

οἷον πρὸς Τρῶας μάχεαι πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ

μοῦνος: ἀτάρ τοι ἑταῖρος ἀπέκτατο, τεύχεα δ' Ἕκτωρ

αὐτὸς ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἀγάλλεται Αἰακίδαο.

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Αὐτομέδων προσέφη Διώρεος υἱός:

475Ἀλκίμεδον τίς γάρ τοι Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ὁμοῖος

Transliteration

hoion pros Trōas macheai prōtōi en homilōi

mounos: atar toi hetairos apektato, teuchea d' Hektōr

autos echōn ōmoisin agalletai Aiakidao.

ton d' aut' Automedōn prosephē Diōreos huios:

475Alkimedon tis gar toi Achaiōn allos homoios

English

He who was your comrade is slain, and Hektor plumes himself on being armed in the armor of the descendant of Aiakos." Automedon son of Diores answered, "Alkimedon, there is no one else who can control and

Homeric Greek

ἵππων ἀθανάτων ἐχέμεν δμῆσίν τε μένος τε,

εἰ μὴ Πάτροκλος θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος

ζωὸς ἐών; νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα

480δέξαι, ἐγὼ δ' ἵππων ἀποβήσομαι, ὄφρα μάχωμαι.

Transliteration

hippōn athanatōn echemen dmēsin te menos te,

ei mē Patroklos theophin mēstōr atalantos

zōos eōn; nyn au thanatos kai moira kichanei.

alla sy men mastiga kai hēnia sigaloenta

480dexai, egō d' hippōn apobēsomai, ophra machōmai.

English

guide the immortal steeds so well as you can, save only Patroklos - while he was alive - peer of gods in counsel. Take then the whip and reins, while I go down from the car and fight.

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀλκιμέδων δὲ βοηθόον ἅρμ' ἐπορούσας

καρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν,

Αὐτομέδων δ' ἀπόρουσε: νόησε δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,

αὐτίκα δ' Αἰνείαν προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα:

485Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων

Transliteration

hōs ephat', Alkimedōn de boēthoon harm' eporousas

karpalimōs mastiga kai hēnia lazeto chersin,

Automedōn d' aporouse: noēse de phaidimos Hektōr,

autika d' Aineian prosephōneen engys eonta:

485Aineia Trōōn boulēphore chalkochitōnōn

English

Alkimedon sprang on to the chariot, and caught up the whip and reins, while Automedon leaped from off the car. When Hektor saw him he said to Aeneas who was near him, "Aeneas, counselor of the mail-clad Trojans, I see the steeds of the

Homeric Greek

ἵππω τώδ' ἐνόησα ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

ἐς πόλεμον προφανέντε σὺν ἡνιόχοισι κακοῖσι:

τώ κεν ἐελποίμην αἱρησέμεν, εἰ σύ γε θυμῷ

σῷ ἐθέλεις, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν ἐφορμηθέντε γε νῶϊ

490τλαῖεν ἐναντίβιον στάντες μαχέσασθαι Ἄρηϊ.

Transliteration

hippō tōd' enoēsa podōkeos Aiakidao

es polemon prophanente syn hēniochoisi kakoisi:

tō ken eelpoimēn hairēsemen, ei sy ge thymōi

sōi etheleis, epei ouk an ephormēthente ge nōï

490tlaien enantibion stantes machesasthai Arēï.

English

fleet son of Aiakos come into battle with weak hands to drive them. I am sure, if you think well, that we might take them; they will not dare face us if we both attack them."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησεν ἐὺ̈ς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο.

τὼ δ' ἰθὺς βήτην βοέῃς εἰλυμένω ὤμους

αὔῃσι στερεῇσι: πολὺς δ' ἐπελήλατο χαλκός.

τοῖσι δ' ἅμα Χρομίος τε καὶ Ἄρητος θεοειδὴς

495ἤϊσαν ἀμφότεροι: μάλα δέ σφισιν ἔλπετο θυμὸς

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oud' apithēsen eÿs païs Anchisao.

tō d' ithys bētēn boeēis eilymenō ōmous

auēisi stereēisi: polys d' epelēlato chalkos.

toisi d' hama Chromios te kai Arētos theoeidēs

495ēïsan amphoteroi: mala de sphisin elpeto thymos

English

The valiant son of Anchises was of the same mind, and the pair went right on, with their shoulders covered under shields of tough dry ox-hide, overlaid with much bronze. Chromios and Aretos went also with them, and their hearts beat high with hope that they might

Homeric Greek

αὐτώ τε κτενέειν ἐλάαν τ' ἐριαύχενας ἵππους

νήπιοι, οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔμελλον ἀναιμωτί γε νέεσθαι

αὖτις ἀπ' Αὐτομέδοντος. ὃ δ' εὐξάμενος Διὶ πατρὶ

ἀλκῆς καὶ σθένεος πλῆτο φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας:

500αὐτίκα δ' Ἀλκιμέδοντα προσηύδα πιστὸν ἑταῖρον:

Transliteration

autō te kteneein elaan t' eriauchenas hippous

nēpioi, oud' ar' emellon anaimōti ge neesthai

autis ap' Automedontos. ho d' euxamenos Dii patri

alkēs kai stheneos plēto phrenas amphi melainas:

500autika d' Alkimedonta prosēuda piston hetairon:

English

kill the men and capture the horses - fools that they were, for they were not to return scatheless from their meeting with Automedon, who prayed to father Zeus and was forthwith filled with courage and strength abounding.

Homeric Greek

Ἀλκίμεδον μὴ δή μοι ἀπόπροθεν ἰσχέμεν ἵππους,

ἀλλὰ μάλ' ἐμπνείοντε μεταφρένῳ: οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε

Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην μένεος σχήσεσθαι ὀί̈ω,

πρίν γ' ἐπ' Ἀχιλλῆος καλλίτριχε βήμεναι ἵππω

505νῶϊ κατακτείναντα, φοβῆσαί τε στίχας ἀνδρῶν

Transliteration

Alkimedon mē dē moi apoprothen ischemen hippous,

alla mal' empneionte metaphrenōi: ou gar egōge

Hektora Priamidēn meneos schēsesthai oïō,

prin g' ep' Achillēos kallitriche bēmenai hippō

505nōï katakteinanta, phobēsai te stichas andrōn

English

He turned to his trusty comrade Alkimedon and said, "Alkimedon, keep your horses so close up that I may feel their breath upon my back; I doubt that we shall not stay Hektor son of Priam till he has killed us and mounted behind the horses;

Homeric Greek

Ἀργείων, ἤ κ' αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισιν ἁλοίη.

ὣς εἰπὼν Αἴαντε καλέσσατο καὶ Μενέλαον:

Αἴαντ' Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε καὶ Μενέλαε

ἤτοι μὲν τὸν νεκρὸν ἐπιτράπεθ' οἵ περ ἄριστοι

510ἀμφ' αὐτῷ βεβάμεν καὶ ἀμύνεσθαι στίχας ἀνδρῶν,

Transliteration

Argeiōn, ē k' autos eni prōtoisin haloiē.

hōs eipōn Aiante kalessato kai Menelaon:

Aiant' Argeiōn hēgētore kai Menelae

ētoi men ton nekron epitrapeth' hoi per aristoi

510amph' autōi bebamen kai amynesthai stichas andrōn,

English

he will then either spread panic among the ranks of the Achaeans, or himself be killed among the foremost." On this he cried out to the two Ajaxes and Menelaos, "Ajaxes leaders of the Argives, and Menelaos, give the dead body over to them that are best able to defend it, and come to the rescue of us living;

Homeric Greek

νῶϊν δὲ ζωοῖσιν ἀμύνετε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ:

τῇδε γὰρ ἔβρισαν πόλεμον κάτα δακρυόεντα

Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας θ', οἳ Τρώων εἰσὶν ἄριστοι.

ἀλλ' ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται:

515ἥσω γὰρ καὶ ἐγώ, τὰ δέ κεν Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.

Transliteration

nōïn de zōoisin amynete nēlees ēmar:

tēide gar ebrisan polemon kata dakryoenta

Hektōr Aineias th', hoi Trōōn eisin aristoi.

all' ētoi men tauta theōn en gounasi keitai:

515hēsō gar kai egō, ta de ken Dii panta melēsei.

English

for Hektor and Aeneas who are the two best men among the Trojans, are pressing us hard in the full tide of war. Nevertheless the issue lies on the lap of heaven, I will therefore hurl my spear and leave the rest to Zeus." He poised and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the round shield of Aretos, and went right

Homeric Greek

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προί̈ει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Ἀρήτοιο κατ' ἀσπίδα πάντοσ' ἐί̈σην:

ἣ δ' οὐκ ἔγχος ἔρυτο, διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο χαλκός,

νειαίρῃ δ' ἐν γαστρὶ διὰ ζωστῆρος ἔλασσεν.

520ὡς δ' ὅτ' ἂν ὀξὺν ἔχων πέλεκυν αἰζήϊος ἀνὴρ

Transliteration

ē rha, kai ampepalōn proïei dolichoskion enchos,

kai balen Arētoio kat' aspida pantos' eïsēn:

hē d' ouk enchos eryto, dia pro de eisato chalkos,

neiairēi d' en gastri dia zōstēros elassen.

520hōs d' hot' an oxyn echōn pelekyn aizēïos anēr

English

through it for the shield stayed it not, so that it was driven through his belt into the lower part of his belly. As when some sturdy youth, axe in hand, deals his blow behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons at the back

Homeric Greek

κόψας ἐξόπιθεν κεράων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο

ἶνα τάμῃ διὰ πᾶσαν, ὃ δὲ προθορὼν ἐρίπῃσιν,

ὣς ἄρ' ὅ γε προθορὼν πέσεν ὕπτιος: ἐν δέ οἱ ἔγχος

νηδυίοισι μάλ' ὀξὺ κραδαινόμενον λύε γυῖα.

525Ἕκτωρ δ' Αὐτομέδοντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ:

Transliteration

kopsas exopithen keraōn boos agrauloio

ina tamēi dia pasan, ho de prothorōn eripēisin,

hōs ar' ho ge prothorōn pesen hyptios: en de hoi enchos

nēduioisi mal' oxy kradainomenon lye guia.

525Hektōr d' Automedontos akontise douri phaeinōi:

English

of its neck so that it springs forward and then drops, even so did Aretos give one bound and then fall on his back the spear quivering in his body till it made an end of him.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος:

πρόσσω γὰρ κατέκυψε, τὸ δ' ἐξόπιθεν δόρυ μακρὸν

οὔδει ἐνισκίμφθη, ἐπὶ δ' οὐρίαχος πελεμίχθη

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

530καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσ' αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμηθήτην

Transliteration

all' ho men anta idōn ēleuato chalkeon enchos:

prossō gar katekypse, to d' exopithen dory makron

oudei eniskimphthē, epi d' ouriachos pelemichthē

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

530kai ny ke dē xipheess' autoschedon hormēthētēn

English

Hektor then aimed a spear at Automedon but he saw it coming and stooped forward to avoid it, so that it flew past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the butt-end went on quivering till Ares robbed it of its force.

Homeric Greek

εἰ μή σφω' Αἴαντε διέκριναν μεμαῶτε,

οἵ ῥ' ἦλθον καθ' ὅμιλον ἑταίρου κικλήσκοντος:

τοὺς ὑποταρβήσαντες ἐχώρησαν πάλιν αὖτις

Ἕκτωρ Αἰνείας τ' ἠδὲ Χρομίος θεοειδής,

535Ἄρητον δὲ κατ' αὖθι λίπον δεδαϊγμένον ἦτορ

Transliteration

ei mē sphō' Aiante diekrinan memaōte,

hoi rh' ēlthon kath' homilon hetairou kiklēskontos:

tous hypotarbēsantes echōrēsan palin autis

Hektōr Aineias t' ēde Chromios theoeidēs,

535Arēton de kat' authi lipon dedaïgmenon ētor

English

They would then have fought hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes forced their way through the crowd when they heard their comrade calling, and parted them for all their fury - for Hektor, Aeneas, and Chromios were afraid and drew back, leaving Aretos to lie there struck to the heart.

Homeric Greek

κείμενον: Αὐτομέδων δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

τεύχεά τ' ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα:

ἦ δὴ μὰν ὀλίγον γε Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος

κῆρ ἄχεος μεθέηκα χερείονά περ καταπέφνων.

540ὣς εἰπὼν ἐς δίφρον ἑλὼν ἔναρα βροτόεντα

Transliteration

keimenon: Automedōn de thoōi atalantos Arēï

teuchea t' exenarixe kai euchomenos epos ēuda:

ē dē man oligon ge Menoitiadao thanontos

kēr acheos metheēka chereiona per katapephnōn.

540hōs eipōn es diphron helōn enara brotoenta

English

Automedon, peer of fleet Ares, then stripped him of his armor and vaunted over him saying, "I have done little to assuage my sorrow for the son of Menoitios, for the man I have killed is not so good as he was." As he spoke he took the blood-stained spoils and laid them upon his chariot;

Homeric Greek

θῆκ', ἂν δ' αὐτὸς ἔβαινε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν

αἱματόεις ὥς τίς τε λέων κατὰ ταῦρον ἐδηδώς.

ἂψ δ' ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ τέτατο κρατερὴ ὑσμίνη

ἀργαλέη πολύδακρυς, ἔγειρε δὲ νεῖκος Ἀθήνη

545οὐρανόθεν καταβᾶσα: προῆκε γὰρ εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

Transliteration

thēk', an d' autos ebaine podas kai cheiras hyperthen

haimatoeis hōs tis te leōn kata tauron edēdōs.

aps d' epi Patroklōi tetato kraterē hysminē

argaleē polydakrys, egeire de neikos Athēnē

545ouranothen katabasa: proēke gar euryopa Zeus

English

then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all steeped in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull. And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroklos, for Athena came down from heaven and roused its fury by the command of far-seeing Zeus, who had changed his mind and sent her to encourage the Danaans.

Homeric Greek

ὀρνύμεναι Δαναούς: δὴ γὰρ νόος ἐτράπετ' αὐτοῦ.

ἠύ̈τε πορφυρέην ἶριν θνητοῖσι τανύσσῃ

Ζεὺς ἐξ οὐρανόθεν τέρας ἔμμεναι ἢ πολέμοιο

ἢ καὶ χειμῶνος δυσθαλπέος, ὅς ῥά τε ἔργων

550ἀνθρώπους ἀνέπαυσεν ἐπὶ χθονί, μῆλα δὲ κήδει,

Transliteration

ornymenai Danaous: dē gar noos etrapet' autou.

ēÿte porphyreēn irin thnētoisi tanyssēi

Zeus ex ouranothen teras emmenai ē polemoio

ē kai cheimōnos dysthalpeos, hos rha te ergōn

550anthrōpous anepausen epi chthoni, mēla de kēdei,

English

As when Zeus bends his bright bow in heaven in token to humankind either of war or of the chill storms that stay men from their labor and plague the flocks - even so, wrapped in such radiant raiment, did Athena go in among the host and speak man by man to each.

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἣ πορφυρέῃ νεφέλῃ πυκάσασα ἓ αὐτὴν

δύσετ' Ἀχαιῶν ἔθνος, ἔγειρε δὲ φῶτα ἕκαστον.

πρῶτον δ' Ἀτρέος υἱὸν ἐποτρύνουσα προσηύδα

ἴφθιμον Μενέλαον: ὃ γάρ ῥά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦεν:

555εἰσαμένη Φοίνικι δέμας καὶ ἀτειρέα φωνήν:

Transliteration

hōs hē porphyreēi nephelēi pykasasa he autēn

dyset' Achaiōn ethnos, egeire de phōta hekaston.

prōton d' Atreos huion epotrynousa prosēuda

iphthimon Menelaon: ho gar rha hoi engythen ēen:

555eisamenē Phoiniki demas kai ateirea phōnēn:

English

First she took the form and voice of Phoenix and spoke to Menelaos son of Atreus, who was standing near her.

Homeric Greek

σοὶ μὲν δὴ Μενέλαε κατηφείη καὶ ὄνειδος

ἔσσεται εἴ κ' Ἀχιλῆος ἀγαυοῦ πιστὸν ἑταῖρον

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων ταχέες κύνες ἑλκήσουσιν.

ἀλλ' ἔχεο κρατερῶς, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅπαντα.

560τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος:

Transliteration

soi men dē Menelae katēpheiē kai oneidos

essetai ei k' Achilēos agauou piston hetairon

teichei hypo Trōōn tachees kynes helkēsousin.

all' echeo kraterōs, otryne de laon hapanta.

560tēn d' aute proseeipe boēn agathos Menelaos:

English

"Menelaos," said she, "it will be shame and dishonor to you, if dogs tear the noble comrade of Achilles under the walls of Troy. Therefore be staunch, and urge your men to be so also."

Homeric Greek

Φοῖνιξ ἄττα γεραιὲ παλαιγενές, εἰ γὰρ Ἀθήνη

δοίη κάρτος ἐμοί, βελέων δ' ἀπερύκοι ἐρωήν:

τώ κεν ἔγωγ' ἐθέλοιμι παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν

Πατρόκλῳ: μάλα γάρ με θανὼν ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν.

565ἀλλ' Ἕκτωρ πυρὸς αἰνὸν ἔχει μένος, οὐδ' ἀπολήγει

Transliteration

Phoinix atta geraie palaigenes, ei gar Athēnē

doiē kartos emoi, beleōn d' aperykoi erōēn:

tō ken egōg' etheloimi parestamenai kai amynein

Patroklōi: mala gar me thanōn esemassato thymon.

565all' Hektōr pyros ainon echei menos, oud' apolēgei

English

Menelaos answered, "Phoenix, my good old friend, may Athena grant me strength and keep the darts from off me, for so shall I stand by Patroklos and defend him; his death has gone to my heart, but Hektor is as a raging fire and deals his blows without ceasing,

Homeric Greek

χαλκῷ δηϊόων: τῷ γὰρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

ὅττί ῥά οἱ πάμπρωτα θεῶν ἠρήσατο πάντων.

ἐν δὲ βίην ὤμοισι καὶ ἐν γούνεσσιν ἔθηκε,

570καί οἱ μυίης θάρσος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐνῆκεν,

Transliteration

chalkōi dēïoōn: tōi gar Zeus kydos opazei.

hōs phato, gēthēsen de thea glaukōpis Athēnē,

hotti rha hoi pamprōta theōn ērēsato pantōn.

en de biēn ōmoisi kai en gounessin ethēke,

570kai hoi muiēs tharsos eni stēthessin enēken,

English

for Zeus is now granting him a time of triumph." Athena was pleased at his having named herself before any of the other gods. Therefore she put strength into his knees and shoulders, and made him as bold as a fly, which, though driven off will yet come again and bite

Homeric Greek

ἥ τε καὶ ἐργομένη μάλα περ χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο

ἰσχανάᾳ δακέειν, λαρόν τέ οἱ αἷμ' ἀνθρώπου:

τοίου μιν θάρσευς πλῆσε φρένας ἀμφὶ μελαίνας,

βῆ δ' ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

575ἔσκε δ' ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι Ποδῆς υἱὸς Ἠετίωνος

Transliteration

hē te kai ergomenē mala per chroos andromeoio

ischanaāi dakeein, laron te hoi haim' anthrōpou:

toiou min tharseus plēse phrenas amphi melainas,

bē d' epi Patroklōi, kai akontise douri phaeinōi.

575eske d' eni Trōessi Podēs huios Ēetiōnos

English

if it can, so dearly does it love man's blood- even so bold as this did she make him as he stood over Patroklos and threw his spear. Now there was among the Trojans a man named Podes, son of Eetion, who was both rich and valiant.

Homeric Greek

ἀφνειός τ' ἀγαθός τε: μάλιστα δέ μιν τίεν Ἕκτωρ

δήμου, ἐπεί οἱ ἑταῖρος ἔην φίλος εἰλαπιναστής:

τόν ῥα κατὰ ζωστῆρα βάλε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος

ἀί̈ξαντα φόβον δέ, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσε:

580δούπησεν δὲ πεσών: ἀτὰρ Ἀτρεί̈δης Μενέλαος

Transliteration

aphneios t' agathos te: malista de min tien Hektōr

dēmou, epei hoi hetairos eēn philos eilapinastēs:

ton rha kata zōstēra bale xanthos Menelaos

aïxanta phobon de, dia pro de chalkon elasse:

580doupēsen de pesōn: atar Atreïdēs Menelaos

English

Hektor held him in the highest honor in the district, for he was his comrade and boon companion; the spear of Menelaos struck this man in the belt just as he had turned in flight, and went right through him. Whereon he fell heavily forward, and Menelaos son of Atreus drew off his

Homeric Greek

νεκρὸν ὑπ' ἐκ Τρώων ἔρυσεν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων.

Ἕκτορα δ' ἐγγύθεν ἱστάμενος ὄτρυνεν Ἀπόλλων

Φαίνοπι Ἀσιάδῃ ἐναλίγκιος, ὅς οἱ ἁπάντων

ξείνων φίλτατος ἔσκεν Ἀβυδόθι οἰκία ναίων:

585τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων:

Transliteration

nekron hyp' ek Trōōn erysen meta ethnos hetairōn.

Hektora d' engythen histamenos otrynen Apollōn

Phainopi Asiadēi enalinkios, hos hoi hapantōn

xeinōn philtatos esken Abydothi oikia naiōn:

585tōi min eeisamenos prosephē hekaergos Apollōn:

English

body from the Trojans into the ranks of his own people. Apollo then went up to Hektor and spurred him on to fight, in the likeness of Phainops son of Asios who lived in Abydos and was the most favored of all Hektor's guests.

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορ τίς κέ σ' ἔτ' ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ταρβήσειεν;

οἷον δὴ Μενέλαον ὑπέτρεσας, ὃς τὸ πάρος γε

μαλθακὸς αἰχμητής: νῦν δ' οἴχεται οἶος ἀείρας

νεκρὸν ὑπ' ἐκ Τρώων, σὸν δ' ἔκτανε πιστὸν ἑταῖρον

590ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι Ποδῆν υἱὸν Ἠετίωνος.

Transliteration

Hektor tis ke s' et' allos Achaiōn tarbēseien;

hoion dē Menelaon hypetresas, hos to paros ge

malthakos aichmētēs: nyn d' oichetai oios aeiras

nekron hyp' ek Trōōn, son d' ektane piston hetairon

590esthlon eni promachoisi Podēn huion Ēetiōnos.

English

In his likeness Apollo said, "Hektor, who of the Achaeans will fear you henceforward now that you have quailed before Menelaos who has ever been rated poorly as a warrior? Yet he has now got a corpse away from the Trojans single-handed, and has slain your own true comrade, a man brave among the foremost, Podes son of Eetion.

Homeric Greek

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ' ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα,

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

καὶ τότ' ἄρα Κρονίδης ἕλετ' αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν

μαρμαρέην, Ἴδην δὲ κατὰ νεφέεσσι κάλυψεν,

595ἀστράψας δὲ μάλα μεγάλ' ἔκτυπε, τὴν δὲ τίναξε,

Transliteration

hōs phato, ton d' acheos nephelē ekalypse melaina,

bē de dia promachōn kekorythmenos aithopi chalkōi.

kai tot' ara Kronidēs helet' aigida thyssanoessan

marmareēn, Idēn de kata nepheessi kalypsen,

595astrapsas de mala megal' ektype, tēn de tinaxe,

English

A dark cloud of grief fell upon Hektor as he heard, and he made his way to the front clad in full armor. Thereon the son of Kronos seized his bright tasseled aegis, and veiled Ida in cloud: he sent forth his lightnings and his thunders, and as he shook his aegis

Homeric Greek

νίκην δὲ Τρώεσσι δίδου, ἐφόβησε δ' Ἀχαιούς.

πρῶτος Πηνέλεως Βοιώτιος ἦρχε φόβοιο.

βλῆτο γὰρ ὦμον δουρὶ πρόσω τετραμμένος αἰεὶ

ἄκρον ἐπιλίγδην: γράψεν δέ οἱ ὀστέον ἄχρις

600αἰχμὴ Πουλυδάμαντος: ὃ γάρ ῥ' ἔβαλε σχεδὸν ἐλθών.

Transliteration

nikēn de Trōessi didou, ephobēse d' Achaious.

prōtos Pēneleōs Boiōtios ērche phoboio.

blēto gar ōmon douri prosō tetrammenos aiei

akron epiligdēn: grapsen de hoi osteon achris

600aichmē Poulydamantos: ho gar rh' ebale schedon elthōn.

English

he gave victory to the Trojans and routed the Achaeans. The panic was begun by Peneleos the Boeotian, for while keeping his face turned ever towards the foe he had been hit with a spear on the upper part of the shoulder;

Homeric Greek

Λήϊτον αὖθ' Ἕκτωρ σχεδὸν οὔτασε χεῖρ' ἐπὶ καρπῷ

υἱὸν Ἀλεκτρυόνος μεγαθύμου, παῦσε δὲ χάρμης:

τρέσσε δὲ παπτήνας, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι ἔλπετο θυμῷ

ἔγχος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μαχήσεσθαι Τρώεσσιν.

605Ἕκτορα δ' Ἰδομενεὺς μετὰ Λήϊτον ὁρμηθέντα

Transliteration

Lēïton auth' Hektōr schedon outase cheir' epi karpōi

huion Alektryonos megathymou, pause de charmēs:

tresse de paptēnas, epei ouketi elpeto thymōi

enchos echōn en cheiri machēsesthai Trōessin.

605Hektora d' Idomeneus meta Lēïton hormēthenta

English

a spear thrown by Polydamas had grazed the top of the bone, for Polydamas had come up to him and struck him from close at hand. Then Hektor in close combat struck Leitos son of noble Alektryon in the hand by the wrist, and disabled him from fighting further.

Homeric Greek

βεβλήκει θώρηκα κατὰ στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν:

ἐν καυλῷ δ' ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ, τοὶ δὲ βόησαν

Τρῶες: ὃ δ' Ἰδομενῆος ἀκόντισε Δευκαλίδαο

δίφρῳ ἐφεσταότος: τοῦ μέν ῥ' ἀπὸ τυτθὸν ἅμαρτεν:

610αὐτὰρ ὃ Μηριόναο ὀπάονά θ' ἡνίοχόν τε

Transliteration

beblēkei thōrēka kata stēthos para mazon:

en kaulōi d' eagē dolichon dory, toi de boēsan

Trōes: ho d' Idomenēos akontise Deukalidao

diphrōi ephestaotos: tou men rh' apo tytthon hamarten:

610autar ho Mērionao opaona th' hēniochon te

English

He looked about him in dismay, knowing that never again should he wield spear in battle with the Trojans. While Hektor was in pursuit of Leitos, Idomeneus struck him on the breastplate over his chest near the nipple; but the spear broke in the shaft, and the Trojans cheered aloud.

Homeric Greek

Κοίρανον, ὅς ῥ' ἐκ Λύκτου ἐϋκτιμένης ἕπετ' αὐτῷ:

πεζὸς γὰρ τὰ πρῶτα λιπὼν νέας ἀμφιελίσσας

ἤλυθε, καί κε Τρωσὶ μέγα κράτος ἐγγυάλιξεν,

εἰ μὴ Κοίρανος ὦκα ποδώκεας ἤλασεν ἵππους:

615καὶ τῷ μὲν φάος ἦλθεν, ἄμυνε δὲ νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,

Transliteration

Koiranon, hos rh' ek Lyktou eÿktimenēs hepet' autōi:

pezos gar ta prōta lipōn neas amphielissas

ēlythe, kai ke Trōsi mega kratos engyalixen,

ei mē Koiranos ōka podōkeas ēlasen hippous:

615kai tōi men phaos ēlthen, amyne de nēlees ēmar,

English

Hektor then aimed at Idomeneus son of Deukalion as he was standing on his chariot, and very narrowly missed him, but the spear hit Koiranos, a follower and charioteer of Meriones who had come with him from Lyktos. Idomeneus had left the ships on foot and would have afforded a great triumph to the Trojans if Koiranos had not driven quickly up

Homeric Greek

αὐτὸς δ' ὤλεσε θυμὸν ὑφ' Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο:

τὸν βάλ' ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο καὶ οὔατος, ἐκ δ' ἄρ' ὀδόντας

ὦσε δόρυ πρυμνόν, διὰ δὲ γλῶσσαν τάμε μέσσην.

ἤριπε δ' ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δ' ἡνία χεῦεν ἔραζε.

620καὶ τά γε Μηριόνης ἔλαβεν χείρεσσι φίλῃσι

Transliteration

autos d' ōlese thymon hyph' Hektoros androphonoio:

ton bal' hypo gnathmoio kai ouatos, ek d' ar' odontas

ōse dory prymnon, dia de glōssan tame messēn.

ēripe d' ex ocheōn, kata d' hēnia cheuen eraze.

620kai ta ge Mērionēs elaben cheiressi philēisi

English

to him, he therefore brought life and rescue to Idomeneus, but himself fell by the hand of murderous Hektor. For Hektor hit him on the jaw under the ear; the end of the spear drove out his teeth and cut his tongue in two pieces, so that he fell from his chariot and let the reins fall to the ground.

Homeric Greek

κύψας ἐκ πεδίοιο, καὶ Ἰδομενῆα προσηύδα:

μάστιε νῦν εἷός κε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκηαι:

γιγνώσκεις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ τ' οὐκέτι κάρτος Ἀχαιῶν.

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἰδομενεὺς δ' ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππους

625νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς: δὴ γὰρ δέος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ.

Transliteration

kypsas ek pedioio, kai Idomenēa prosēuda:

mastie nyn heios ke thoas epi nēas hikēai:

gignōskeis de kai autos ho t' ouketi kartos Achaiōn.

hōs ephat', Idomeneus d' himasen kallitrichas hippous

625nēas epi glaphyras: dē gar deos empese thymōi.

English

Meriones gathered them up from the ground and took them into his own hands, then he said to Idomeneus, "Lay on, till you get back to the ships, for you must see that the day is no longer ours." On this Idomeneus lashed the horses to the ships, for fear had taken hold upon him.

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ἔλαθ' Αἴαντα μεγαλήτορα καὶ Μενέλαον

Ζεύς, ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσι δίδου ἑτεραλκέα νίκην.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας:

ὢ πόποι ἤδη μέν κε καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστι

630γνοίη ὅτι Τρώεσσι πατὴρ Ζεὺς αὐτὸς ἀρήγει.

Transliteration

oud' elath' Aianta megalētora kai Menelaon

Zeus, hote dē Trōessi didou heteralkea nikēn.

toisi de mythōn ērche megas Telamōnios Aias:

ō popoi ēdē men ke kai hos mala nēpios esti

630gnoiē hoti Trōessi patēr Zeus autos arēgei.

English

Ajax and Menelaos noted how Zeus had turned the scale in favor of the Trojans, and Ajax was first to speak. "Alas," said he, "even a fool may see that father Zeus is helping the Trojans. All their weapons strike home;

Homeric Greek

τῶν μὲν γὰρ πάντων βέλε' ἅπτεται ὅς τις ἀφήῃ

ἢ κακὸς ἢ ἀγαθός: Ζεὺς δ' ἔμπης πάντ' ἰθύνει:

ἡμῖν δ' αὔτως πᾶσιν ἐτώσια πίπτει ἔραζε.

ἀλλ' ἄγετ' αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην,

635ἠμὲν ὅπως τὸν νεκρὸν ἐρύσσομεν, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

Transliteration

tōn men gar pantōn bele' haptetai hos tis aphēēi

ē kakos ē agathos: Zeus d' empēs pant' ithynei:

hēmin d' autōs pasin etōsia piptei eraze.

all' aget' autoi per phrazōmetha mētin aristēn,

635ēmen hopōs ton nekron eryssomen, ēde kai autoi

English

no matter whether it be a brave man or a coward that hurls them, Zeus speeds all alike, whereas ours fall each one of them without effect. What, then, will be best both as regards rescuing the body, and our return to the joy of our friends who will be grieving as they look hitherwards;

Homeric Greek

χάρμα φίλοις ἑτάροισι γενώμεθα νοστήσαντες,

οἵ που δεῦρ' ὁρόωντες ἀκηχέδατ', οὐδ' ἔτι φασὶν

Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους

σχήσεσθ', ἀλλ' ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.

640εἴη δ' ὅς τις ἑταῖρος ἀπαγγείλειε τάχιστα

Transliteration

charma philois hetaroisi genōmetha nostēsantes,

hoi pou deur' horoōntes akēchedat', oud' eti phasin

Hektoros androphonoio menos kai cheiras aaptous

schēsesth', all' en nēusi melainēisin peseesthai.

640eiē d' hos tis hetairos apangeileie tachista

English

for they will make sure that nothing can now check the terrible hands of Hektor, and that he will fling himself upon our ships. I wish that some one would go and tell the son of Peleus at once, for I do not think he can have yet heard the sad news that the dearest of his friends has fallen.

Homeric Greek

Πηλεί̈δῃ, ἐπεὶ οὔ μιν ὀί̈ομαι οὐδὲ πεπύσθαι

λυγρῆς ἀγγελίης, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ὤλεθ' ἑταῖρος.

ἀλλ' οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν τοιοῦτον Ἀχαιῶν:

ἠέρι γὰρ κατέχονται ὁμῶς αὐτοί τε καὶ ἵπποι.

645Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀλλὰ σὺ ῥῦσαι ὑπ' ἠέρος υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,

Transliteration

Pēleïdēi, epei ou min oïomai oude pepysthai

lygrēs angeliēs, hoti hoi philos ōleth' hetairos.

all' ou pēi dynamai ideein toiouton Achaiōn:

ēeri gar katechontai homōs autoi te kai hippoi.

645Zeu pater alla sy rhysai hyp' ēeros huias Achaiōn,

English

But I can see not a man among the Achaeans to send, for they and their chariots are alike hidden in darkness. O father Zeus, lift this cloud from over the sons of the Achaeans; make heaven serene, and let us see;

Homeric Greek

ποίησον δ' αἴθρην, δὸς δ' ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι:

ἐν δὲ φάει καὶ ὄλεσσον, ἐπεί νύ τοι εὔαδεν οὕτως.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ πατὴρ ὀλοφύρατο δάκρυ χέοντα:

αὐτίκα δ' ἠέρα μὲν σκέδασεν καὶ ἀπῶσεν ὀμίχλην,

650ἠέλιος δ' ἐπέλαμψε, μάχη δ' ἐπὶ πᾶσα φαάνθη:

Transliteration

poiēson d' aithrēn, dos d' ophthalmoisin idesthai:

en de phaei kai olesson, epei ny toi euaden houtōs.

hōs phato, ton de patēr olophyrato dakry cheonta:

autika d' ēera men skedasen kai apōsen omichlēn,

650ēelios d' epelampse, machē d' epi pasa phaanthē:

English

if you will that we perish, let us fall at any rate by daylight." Father Zeus heard him and had compassion upon his tears. Forthwith he chased away the cloud of darkness, so that the sun shone out and all the fighting was revealed.

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότ' ἄρ' Αἴας εἶπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον:

σκέπτεο νῦν Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς αἴ κεν ἴδηαι

ζωὸν ἔτ' Ἀντίλοχον μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱόν,

ὄτρυνον δ' Ἀχιλῆϊ δαί̈φρονι θᾶσσον ἰόντα

655εἰπεῖν ὅττι ῥά οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος ὤλεθ' ἑταῖρος.

Transliteration

kai tot' ar' Aias eipe boēn agathon Menelaon:

skepteo nyn Menelae diotrephes ai ken idēai

zōon et' Antilochon megathymou Nestoros huion,

otrynon d' Achilēï daïphroni thasson ionta

655eipein hotti rha hoi poly philtatos ōleth' hetairos.

English

Ajax then said to Menelaos, "Look, Menelaos, and if Antilokhos son of Nestor be still living, send him at once to tell Achilles that by far the dearest to him of all his comrades has fallen."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,

βῆ δ' ἰέναι ὥς τίς τε λέων ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιο,

ὅς τ' ἐπεὶ ἄρ κε κάμῃσι κύνας τ' ἄνδρας τ' ἐρεθίζων,

οἵ τέ μιν οὐκ εἰῶσι βοῶν ἐκ πῖαρ ἑλέσθαι

660πάννυχοι ἐγρήσσοντες: ὃ δὲ κρειῶν ἐρατίζων

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oud' apithēse boēn agathos Menelaos,

bē d' ienai hōs tis te leōn apo messauloio,

hos t' epei ar ke kamēisi kynas t' andras t' erethizōn,

hoi te min ouk eiōsi boōn ek piar helesthai

660pannychoi egrēssontes: ho de kreiōn eratizōn

English

Menelaos heeded his words and went his way as a lion from a stockyard - the lion is tired of attacking the men and hounds, who keep watch the whole night through and will not let him feast on the fat of their herd.

Homeric Greek

ἰθύει, ἀλλ' οὔ τι πρήσσει: θαμέες γὰρ ἄκοντες

ἀντίον ἀί̈σσουσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν,

καιόμεναί τε δεταί, τάς τε τρεῖ ἐσσύμενός περ:

ἠῶθεν δ' ἀπονόσφιν ἔβη τετιηότι θυμῷ:

665ὣς ἀπὸ Πατρόκλοιο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

Transliteration

ithyei, all' ou ti prēssei: thamees gar akontes

antion aïssousi thraseiaōn apo cheirōn,

kaiomenai te detai, tas te trei essymenos per:

ēōthen d' aponosphin ebē tetiēoti thymōi:

665hōs apo Patrokloio boēn agathos Menelaos

English

In his lust of meat he makes straight at them but in vain, for darts from strong hands assail him, and burning brands which daunt him for all his hunger, so in the morning he slinks sulkily away - even so did Menelaos sorely against

Homeric Greek

ἤϊε πόλλ' ἀέκων: περὶ γὰρ δίε μή μιν Ἀχαιοὶ

ἀργαλέου πρὸ φόβοιο ἕλωρ δηί̈οισι λίποιεν.

πολλὰ δὲ Μηριόνῃ τε καὶ Αἰάντεσσ' ἐπέτελλεν:

Αἴαντ' Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε Μηριόνη τε

670νῦν τις ἐνηείης Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο

Transliteration

ēïe poll' aekōn: peri gar die mē min Achaioi

argaleou pro phoboio helōr dēïoisi lipoien.

polla de Mērionēi te kai Aiantess' epetellen:

Aiant' Argeiōn hēgētore Mērionē te

670nyn tis enēeiēs Patroklēos deiloio

English

his will leave Patroklos, in great fear lest the Achaeans should be driven back in rout and let him fall into the hands of the foe. He charged Meriones and the two Ajaxes straitly saying, "Ajaxes and Meriones, leaders of the Argives, now indeed remember how good Patroklos was;

Homeric Greek

μνησάσθω: πᾶσιν γὰρ ἐπίστατο μείλιχος εἶναι

ζωὸς ἐών: νῦν αὖ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κιχάνει.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,

πάντοσε παπταίνων ὥς τ' αἰετός, ὅν ῥά τέ φασιν

675ὀξύτατον δέρκεσθαι ὑπουρανίων πετεηνῶν,

Transliteration

mnēsasthō: pasin gar epistato meilichos einai

zōos eōn: nyn au thanatos kai moira kichanei.

hōs ara phōnēsas apebē xanthos Menelaos,

pantose paptainōn hōs t' aietos, hon rha te phasin

675oxytaton derkesthai hypouraniōn peteēnōn,

English

he was ever courteous while alive, bear it in mind now that he is dead." With this Menelaos left them, looking round him as keenly as an eagle, whose sight they say is keener than that of any other bird - however

Homeric Greek

ὅν τε καὶ ὑψόθ' ἐόντα πόδας ταχὺς οὐκ ἔλαθε πτὼξ

θάμνῳ ὑπ' ἀμφικόμῳ κατακείμενος, ἀλλά τ' ἐπ' αὐτῷ

ἔσσυτο, καί τέ μιν ὦκα λαβὼν ἐξείλετο θυμόν.

ὣς τότε σοὶ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ὄσσε φαεινὼ

680πάντοσε δινείσθην πολέων κατὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,

Transliteration

hon te kai hypsoth' eonta podas tachys ouk elathe ptōx

thamnōi hyp' amphikomōi katakeimenos, alla t' ep' autōi

essyto, kai te min ōka labōn exeileto thymon.

hōs tote soi Menelae diotrephes osse phaeinō

680pantose dineisthēn poleōn kata ethnos hetairōn,

English

high he may be in the heavens, not a hare that runs can escape him by crouching under bush or thicket, for he will swoop down upon it and make an end of it - even so, O Menelaos, did your keen eyes range round the

Homeric Greek

εἴ που Νέστορος υἱὸν ἔτι ζώοντα ἴδοιτο.

τὸν δὲ μάλ' αἶψ' ἐνόησε μάχης ἐπ' ἀριστερὰ πάσης

θαρσύνονθ' ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,

ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱστάμενος προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

685Ἀντίλοχ' εἰ δ' ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφὲς ὄφρα πύθηαι

Transliteration

ei pou Nestoros huion eti zōonta idoito.

ton de mal' aips' enoēse machēs ep' aristera pasēs

tharsynonth' hetarous kai epotrynonta machesthai,

anchou d' histamenos prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

685Antiloch' ei d' age deuro diotrephes ophra pythēai

English

mighty host of your followers to see if you could find the son of Nestor still alive. Presently Menelaos saw him on the extreme left of the battle cheering on his men and exhorting them to fight boldly.

Homeric Greek

λυγρῆς ἀγγελίης, ἣ μὴ ὤφελλε γενέσθαι.

ἤδη μὲν σὲ καὶ αὐτὸν ὀί̈ομαι εἰσορόωντα

γιγνώσκειν ὅτι πῆμα θεὸς Δαναοῖσι κυλίνδει,

νίκη δὲ Τρώων: πέφαται δ' ὤριστος Ἀχαιῶν

690Πάτροκλος, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Δαναοῖσι τέτυκται.

Transliteration

lygrēs angeliēs, hē mē ōphelle genesthai.

ēdē men se kai auton oïomai eisoroōnta

gignōskein hoti pēma theos Danaoisi kylindei,

nikē de Trōōn: pephatai d' ōristos Achaiōn

690Patroklos, megalē de pothē Danaoisi tetyktai.

English

Menelaos went up to him and said, "Antilokhos, come here and listen to sad news, which I would indeed were untrue. You must see with your own eyes that heaven is heaping calamity upon the Danaans, and giving victory to the Trojans.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ σύ γ' αἶψ' Ἀχιλῆϊ θέων ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

εἰπεῖν, αἴ κε τάχιστα νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆα σαώσῃ

γυμνόν: ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχε' ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀντίλοχος δὲ κατέστυγε μῦθον ἀκούσας:

695δὴν δέ μιν ἀμφασίη ἐπέων λάβε, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

Transliteration

alla sy g' aips' Achilēï theōn epi nēas Achaiōn

eipein, ai ke tachista nekyn epi nēa saōsēi

gymnon: atar ta ge teuche' echei korythaiolos Hektōr.

hōs ephat', Antilochos de katestyge mython akousas:

695dēn de min amphasiē epeōn labe, tō de hoi osse

English

Patroklos has fallen, who was the bravest of the Achaeans, and sorely will the Danaans miss him. Run instantly to the ships and tell Achilles, that he may come to rescue the body and bear it to the ships. As for the armor, Hektor already has it." Antilokhos was struck with horror. For a long time he was speechless;

Homeric Greek

δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.

ἀλλ' οὐδ' ὧς Μενελάου ἐφημοσύνης ἀμέλησε,

βῆ δὲ θέειν, τὰ δὲ τεύχε' ἀμύμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ

Λαοδόκῳ, ὅς οἱ σχεδὸν ἔστρεφε μώνυχας ἵππους.

700τὸν μὲν δάκρυ χέοντα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο

Transliteration

dakryophi plēsthen, thalerē de hoi escheto phōnē.

all' oud' hōs Menelaou ephēmosynēs amelēse,

bē de theein, ta de teuche' amymoni dōken hetairōi

Laodokōi, hos hoi schedon estrephe mōnychas hippous.

700ton men dakry cheonta podes pheron ek polemoio

English

his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance, but he did as Menelaos had said, and set off running as soon as he had given his armor to a comrade, Laodokos, who was wheeling his horses round, close beside him. Thus, then, did he run weeping from the field, to carry the bad news to Achilles son of Peleus.

Homeric Greek

Πηλεί̈δῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ κακὸν ἔπος ἀγγελέοντα.

οὐδ' ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε διοτρεφὲς ἤθελε θυμὸς

τειρομένοις ἑτάροισιν ἀμυνέμεν, ἔνθεν ἀπῆλθεν

Ἀντίλοχος, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Πυλίοισιν ἐτύχθη:

705ἀλλ' ὅ γε τοῖσιν μὲν Θρασυμήδεα δῖον ἀνῆκεν,

Transliteration

Pēleïdēi Achilēï kakon epos angeleonta.

oud' ara soi Menelae diotrephes ēthele thymos

teiromenois hetaroisin amynemen, enthen apēlthen

Antilochos, megalē de pothē Pylioisin etychthē:

705all' ho ge toisin men Thrasymēdea dion anēken,

English

Nor were you, O Menelaos, minded to succor his harassed comrades, when Antilokhos had left the Pylians - and greatly did they miss him - but he sent them noble Thrasymedes, and himself went back to Patroklos.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὸς δ' αὖτ' ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ βεβήκει,

στῆ δὲ παρ' Αἰάντεσσι θέων, εἶθαρ δὲ προσηύδα:

κεῖνον μὲν δὴ νηυσὶν ἐπιπροέηκα θοῇσιν

ἐλθεῖν εἰς Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν: οὐδέ μιν οἴω

710νῦν ἰέναι μάλα περ κεχολωμένον Ἕκτορι δίῳ:

Transliteration

autos d' aut' epi Patroklōi hērōï bebēkei,

stē de par' Aiantessi theōn, eithar de prosēuda:

keinon men dē nēusin epiproeēka thoēisin

elthein eis Achilēa podas tachyn: oude min oiō

710nyn ienai mala per kecholōmenon Hektori diōi:

English

He came running up to the two Ajaxes and said, "I have sent Antilokhos to the ships to tell Achilles, but rage against Hektor as he may, he cannot come, for he cannot fight without armor.

Homeric Greek

οὐ γάρ πως ἂν γυμνὸς ἐὼν Τρώεσσι μάχοιτο.

ἡμεῖς δ' αὐτοί περ φραζώμεθα μῆτιν ἀρίστην,

ἠμὲν ὅπως τὸν νεκρὸν ἐρύσσομεν, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ

Τρώων ἐξ ἐνοπῆς θάνατον καὶ κῆρα φύγωμεν.

715τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας:

Transliteration

ou gar pōs an gymnos eōn Trōessi machoito.

hēmeis d' autoi per phrazōmetha mētin aristēn,

ēmen hopōs ton nekron eryssomen, ēde kai autoi

Trōōn ex enopēs thanaton kai kēra phygōmen.

715ton d' ēmeibet' epeita megas Telamōnios Aias:

English

What then will be our best plan both as regards rescuing the dead, and our own escape from death amid the battle-cries of the Trojans?" Ajax answered, "Menelaos, you have said well:

Homeric Greek

πάντα κατ' αἶσαν ἔειπες ἀγακλεὲς ὦ Μενέλαε:

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν καὶ Μηριόνης ὑποδύντε μάλ' ὦκα

νεκρὸν ἀείραντες φέρετ' ἐκ πόνου: αὐτὰρ ὄπισθε

νῶϊ μαχησόμεθα Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι δίῳ

720ἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντες ὁμώνυμοι, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

Transliteration

panta kat' aisan eeipes agaklees ō Menelae:

alla sy men kai Mērionēs hypodynte mal' ōka

nekron aeirantes pheret' ek ponou: autar opisthe

nōï machēsometha Trōsin te kai Hektori diōi

720ison thymon echontes homōnymoi, hoi to paros per

English

do you, then, and Meriones stoop down, raise the body, and bear it out of the fray, while we two behind you keep off Hektor and the Trojans, one in heart as in name, and long used to

Homeric Greek

μίμνομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα παρ' ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἄρα νεκρὸν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ἀγκάζοντο

ὕψι μάλα μεγάλως: ἐπὶ δ' ἴαχε λαὸς ὄπισθε

Τρωϊκός, ὡς εἴδοντο νέκυν αἴροντας Ἀχαιούς.

725ἴθυσαν δὲ κύνεσσιν ἐοικότες, οἵ τ' ἐπὶ κάπρῳ

Transliteration

mimnomen oxyn Arēa par' allēloisi menontes.

hōs ephath', hoi d' ara nekron apo chthonos ankazonto

hypsi mala megalōs: epi d' iache laos opisthe

Trōïkos, hōs eidonto nekyn airontas Achaious.

725ithysan de kynessin eoikotes, hoi t' epi kaprōi

English

fighting side by side with one another." On this Menelaos and Meriones took the dead man in their arms and lifted him high aloft with a great effort. The Trojan host raised a hue and cry behind them when they saw the Achaeans bearing the body away, and flew after them

Homeric Greek

βλημένῳ ἀί̈ξωσι πρὸ κούρων θηρητήρων:

ἕως μὲν γάρ τε θέουσι διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες,

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἐν τοῖσιν ἑλίξεται ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,

ἄψ τ' ἀνεχώρησαν διά τ' ἔτρεσαν ἄλλυδις ἄλλος.

730ὣς Τρῶες εἷος μὲν ὁμιλαδὸν αἰὲν ἕποντο

Transliteration

blēmenōi aïxōsi pro kourōn thērētērōn:

heōs men gar te theousi diarraisai memaōtes,

all' hote dē rh' en toisin helixetai alki pepoithōs,

aps t' anechōrēsan dia t' etresan allydis allos.

730hōs Trōes heios men homiladon aien heponto

English

like hounds attacking a wounded boar at the loo of a band of young huntsmen. For a while the hounds fly at him as though they would tear him in pieces, but now and again he turns on them in a fury, scaring and scattering them in all directions - even so did the Trojans for

Homeric Greek

νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν:

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' Αἴαντε μεταστρεφθέντε κατ' αὐτοὺς

σταίησαν, τῶν δὲ τράπετο χρώς, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη

πρόσσω ἀί̈ξας περὶ νεκροῦ δηριάασθαι.

735ὣς οἵ γ' ἐμμεμαῶτε νέκυν φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο

Transliteration

nyssontes xiphesin te kai enchesin amphigyoisin:

all' hote dē rh' Aiante metastrephthente kat' autous

staiēsan, tōn de trapeto chrōs, oude tis etlē

prossō aïxas peri nekrou dēriaasthai.

735hōs hoi g' emmemaōte nekyn pheron ek polemoio

English

a while charge in a body, striking with sword and with spears pointed at both the ends, but when the two Ajaxes faced them and stood at bay, they would turn pale and no man dared press on to fight further about the dead. In this wise did the two heroes strain every nerve to bear the body to the ships out of the fight.

Homeric Greek

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς: ἐπὶ δὲ πτόλεμος τέτατό σφιν

ἄγριος ἠύ̈τε πῦρ, τό τ' ἐπεσσύμενον πόλιν ἀνδρῶν

ὄρμενον ἐξαίφνης φλεγέθει, μινύθουσι δὲ οἶκοι

ἐν σέλαϊ μεγάλῳ: τὸ δ' ἐπιβρέμει ἲς ἀνέμοιο.

740ὣς μὲν τοῖς ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν αἰχμητάων

Transliteration

nēas epi glaphyras: epi de ptolemos tetato sphin

agrios ēÿte pyr, to t' epessymenon polin andrōn

ormenon exaiphnēs phlegethei, minythousi de oikoi

en selaï megalōi: to d' epibremei is anemoio.

740hōs men tois hippōn te kai andrōn aichmētaōn

English

The battle raged round them like fierce flames that when once kindled spread like wildfire over a city, and the houses fall in the glare of its burning - even such was the roar and tramp of men and horses that pursued them as they bore Patroklos from the field.

Homeric Greek

ἀζηχὴς ὀρυμαγδὸς ἐπήϊεν ἐρχομένοισιν:

οἳ δ' ὥς θ' ἡμίονοι κρατερὸν μένος ἀμφιβαλόντες

ἕλκωσ' ἐξ ὄρεος κατὰ παιπαλόεσσαν ἀταρπὸν

ἢ δοκὸν ἠὲ δόρυ μέγα νήϊον: ἐν δέ τε θυμὸς

745τείρεθ' ὁμοῦ καμάτῳ τε καὶ ἱδρῷ σπευδόντεσσιν:

Transliteration

azēchēs orymagdos epēïen erchomenoisin:

hoi d' hōs th' hēmionoi krateron menos amphibalontes

helkōs' ex oreos kata paipaloessan atarpon

ē dokon ēe dory mega nēïon: en de te thymos

745teireth' homou kamatōi te kai hidrōi speudontessin:

English

Or as mules that put forth all their strength to draw some beam or great piece of ship's timber down a rough mountain-track, and they pant and sweat as they, go even so did Menelaos and pant and sweat as they bore the body of Patroklos.

Homeric Greek

ὣς οἵ γ' ἐμμεμαῶτε νέκυν φέρον. αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν

Αἴαντ' ἰσχανέτην, ὥς τε πρὼν ἰσχάνει ὕδωρ

ὑλήεις πεδίοιο διαπρύσιον τετυχηκώς,

ὅς τε καὶ ἰφθίμων ποταμῶν ἀλεγεινὰ ῥέεθρα

750ἴσχει, ἄφαρ δέ τε πᾶσι ῥόον πεδίον δὲ τίθησι

Transliteration

hōs hoi g' emmemaōte nekyn pheron. autar opisthen

Aiant' ischanetēn, hōs te prōn ischanei hydōr

hylēeis pedioio diaprysion tetychēkōs,

hos te kai iphthimōn potamōn alegeina rheethra

750ischei, aphar de te pasi rhoon pedion de tithēsi

English

Behind them the two Ajaxes held stoutly out. As some wooded mountain-spur that stretches across a plain will turn water and check the flow even of a great river,

Homeric Greek

πλάζων: οὐδέ τί μιν σθένεϊ ῥηγνῦσι ῥέοντες:

ὣς αἰεὶ Αἴαντε μάχην ἀνέεργον ὀπίσσω

Τρώων: οἳ δ' ἅμ' ἕποντο, δύω δ' ἐν τοῖσι μάλιστα

Αἰνείας τ' Ἀγχισιάδης καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.

755τῶν δ' ὥς τε ψαρῶν νέφος ἔρχεται ἠὲ κολοιῶν

Transliteration

plazōn: oude ti min stheneï rhēgnysi rheontes:

hōs aiei Aiante machēn aneergon opissō

Trōōn: hoi d' ham' heponto, dyō d' en toisi malista

Aineias t' Anchisiadēs kai phaidimos Hektōr.

755tōn d' hōs te psarōn nephos erchetai ēe koloiōn

English

nor is there any stream strong enough to break through it - even so did the two Ajaxes face the Trojans and stern the tide of their fighting though they kept pouring on towards them and foremost among them all was Aeneas son of Anchises with valiant Hektor.

Homeric Greek

οὖλον κεκλήγοντες, ὅτε προί̈δωσιν ἰόντα

κίρκον, ὅ τε σμικρῇσι φόνον φέρει ὀρνίθεσσιν,

ὣς ἄρ' ὑπ' Αἰνείᾳ τε καὶ Ἕκτορι κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν

οὖλον κεκλήγοντες ἴσαν, λήθοντο δὲ χάρμης.

760πολλὰ δὲ τεύχεα καλὰ πέσον περί τ' ἀμφί τε τάφρον

Transliteration

oulon keklēgontes, hote proïdōsin ionta

kirkon, ho te smikrēisi phonon pherei ornithessin,

hōs ar' hyp' Aineiāi te kai Hektori kouroi Achaiōn

oulon keklēgontes isan, lēthonto de charmēs.

760polla de teuchea kala peson peri t' amphi te taphron

English

As a flock of daws or starlings fall to screaming and chattering when they see a falcon, foe to small birds, come soaring near them, even so did the Achaean youth raise a babel of cries as they fled before Aeneas and Hektor, unmindful of their former prowess.

Homeric Greek

φευγόντων Δαναῶν: πολέμου δ' οὐ γίγνετ' ἐρωή.

Transliteration

pheugontōn Danaōn: polemou d' ou gignet' erōē.

English

In the rout of the Danaans much goodly armor fell round about the trench, and of fighting there was no end.