Book II

Homeric Greek

1ἄλλοι μέν ῥα θεοί τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἱπποκορυσταὶ

εὗδον παννύχιοι, Δία δ' οὐκ ἔχε νήδυμος ὕπνος,

ἀλλ' ὅ γε μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα ὡς Ἀχιλῆα

τιμήσῃ, ὀλέσῃ δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

5ἥδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή,

Transliteration

1alloi men rha theoi te kai aneres hippokorystai

heudon pannychioi, Dia d' ouk eche nēdymos hypnos,

all' ho ge mermērize kata phrena hōs Achilēa

timēsēi, olesēi de poleas epi nēusin Achaiōn.

5hēde de hoi kata thymon aristē phaineto boulē,

English

Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept soundly, but Zeus was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do honor to Achilles, and destroy many people at the ships of the Achaeans. In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying dream to King Agamemnon;

Homeric Greek

πέμψαι ἐπ' Ἀτρεί̈δῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι οὖλον ὄνειρον:

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

βάσκ' ἴθι οὖλε ὄνειρε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν:

ἐλθὼν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεί̈δαο

10πάντα μάλ' ἀτρεκέως ἀγορευέμεν ὡς ἐπιτέλλω:

Transliteration

pempsai ep' Atreïdēi Agamemnoni oulon oneiron:

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

bask' ithi oule oneire thoas epi nēas Achaiōn:

elthōn es klisiēn Agamemnonos Atreïdao

10panta mal' atrekeōs agoreuemen hōs epitellō:

English

so he called one to him and said to it, "Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, into the tent of Agamemnon, and say to him word to word as I now bid you.

Homeric Greek

θωρῆξαί ἑ κέλευε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

πανσυδίῃ: νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοι πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν

Τρώων: οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχοντες

ἀθάνατοι φράζονται: ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας

15Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδε' ἐφῆπται.

Transliteration

thōrēxai he keleue karē komoōntas Achaious

pansydiēi: nyn gar ken heloi polin euryaguian

Trōōn: ou gar et' amphis Olympia dōmat' echontes

athanatoi phrazontai: epegnampsen gar hapantas

15Hērē lissomenē, Trōessi de kēde' ephēptai.

English

Tell him to get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for he shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Hera has brought them to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans."

Homeric Greek

ὣς φάτο, βῆ δ' ἄρ' ὄνειρος ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε:

καρπαλίμως δ' ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

βῆ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' Ἀτρεί̈δην Ἀγαμέμνονα: τὸν δὲ κίχανεν

εὕδοντ' ἐν κλισίῃ, περὶ δ' ἀμβρόσιος κέχυθ' ὕπνος.

20στῆ δ' ἄρ' ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς Νηληί̈ῳ υἷι ἐοικώς

Transliteration

hōs phato, bē d' ar' oneiros epei ton mython akouse:

karpalimōs d' hikane thoas epi nēas Achaiōn,

bē d' ar' ep' Atreïdēn Agamemnona: ton de kichanen

heudont' en klisiēi, peri d' ambrosios kechyth' hypnos.

20stē d' ar' hyper kephalēs Nēlēïōi huii eoikōs

English

The dream went when it had heard its message, and soon reached the ships of the Achaeans. It sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and found him in his tent, wrapped in a profound slumber. It hovered over his head in

Homeric Greek

Νέστορι, τόν ῥα μάλιστα γερόντων τῖ' Ἀγαμέμνων:

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσεφώνεε θεῖος ὄνειρος:

εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαί̈φρονος ἱπποδάμοιο:

οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα

25ᾧ λαοί τ' ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε:

Transliteration

Nestori, ton rha malista gerontōn ti' Agamemnōn:

tōi min eeisamenos prosephōnee theios oneiros:

heudeis Atreos huie daïphronos hippodamoio:

ou chrē pannychion heudein boulēphoron andra

25hōi laoi t' epitetraphatai kai tossa memēle:

English

the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honored above all his councilors, and said: - "You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep.

Homeric Greek

νῦν δ' ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα: Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,

ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδ' ἐλεαίρει.

θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

πανσυδίῃ: νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν

30Τρώων: οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχοντες

Transliteration

nyn d' emethen xynes ōka: Dios de toi angelos eimi,

hos seu aneuthen eōn mega kēdetai ēd' eleairei.

thōrēxai se keleuse karē komoōntas Achaious

pansydiēi: nyn gar ken helois polin euryaguian

30Trōōn: ou gar et' amphis Olympia dōmat' echontes

English

Hear me at once, for I come as a messenger from Zeus, who, though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy. There are no longer divided counsels among the gods;

Homeric Greek

ἀθάνατοι φράζονται: ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας

Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδε' ἐφῆπται

ἐκ Διός: ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσί, μηδέ σε λήθη

αἱρείτω εὖτ' ἄν σε μελίφρων ὕπνος ἀνήῃ.

35ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπ' αὐτοῦ

Transliteration

athanatoi phrazontai: epegnampsen gar hapantas

Hērē lissomenē, Trōessi de kēde' ephēptai

ek Dios: alla sy sēisin eche phresi, mēde se lēthē

haireitō eut' an se meliphrōn hypnos anēēi.

35hōs ara phōnēsas apebēseto, ton de lip' autou

English

Hera has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Zeus. Remember this, and when you wake see that it does not escape you." The dream then left him, and he thought of things that were, surely not to be accomplished.

Homeric Greek

τὰ φρονέοντ' ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ ῥ' οὐ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον:

φῆ γὰρ ὅ γ' αἱρήσειν Πριάμου πόλιν ἤματι κείνῳ

νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὰ ᾔδη ἅ ῥα Ζεὺς μήδετο ἔργα:

θήσειν γὰρ ἔτ' ἔμελλεν ἐπ' ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε

40Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι διὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.

Transliteration

ta phroneont' ana thymon ha rh' ou teleesthai emellon:

phē gar ho g' hairēsein Priamou polin ēmati keinōi

nēpios, oude ta ēidē ha rha Zeus mēdeto erga:

thēsein gar et' emellen ep' algea te stonachas te

40Trōsi te kai Danaoisi dia krateras hysminas.

English

He thought that on that same day he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in the mind of Zeus, who had many another hard-fought fight in store alike for Danaans and Trojans.

Homeric Greek

ἔγρετο δ' ἐξ ὕπνου, θείη δέ μιν ἀμφέχυτ' ὀμφή:

ἕζετο δ' ὀρθωθείς, μαλακὸν δ' ἔνδυνε χιτῶνα

καλὸν νηγάτεον, περὶ δὲ μέγα βάλλετο φᾶρος:

ποσσὶ δ' ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

45ἀμφὶ δ' ἄρ' ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον:

Transliteration

egreto d' ex hypnou, theiē de min amphechyt' omphē:

hezeto d' orthōtheis, malakon d' endyne chitōna

kalon nēgateon, peri de mega balleto pharos:

possi d' hypo liparoisin edēsato kala pedila,

45amphi d' ar' ōmoisin baleto xiphos argyroēlon:

English

Then presently he woke, with the divine message still ringing in his ears; so he sat upright, and put on his soft shirt so fair and new, and over this his heavy cloak. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet, and slung his silver-studded sword about his shoulders;

Homeric Greek

εἵλετο δὲ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεὶ

σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων:

ἠὼς μέν ῥα θεὰ προσεβήσετο μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον

Ζηνὶ φόως ἐρέουσα καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν:

50αὐτὰρ ὃ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε

Transliteration

heileto de skēptron patrōïon aphthiton aiei

syn tōi ebē kata nēas Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn:

ēōs men rha thea prosebēseto makron Olympon

Zēni phoōs ereousa kai allois athanatoisin:

50autar ho kērykessi ligyphthongoisi keleuse

English

then he took the imperishable staff of his father, and sallied forth to the ships of the Achaeans. The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she might herald day to Zeus and to the other immortals, and Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly;

Homeric Greek

κηρύσσειν ἀγορὴν δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς:

οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δ' ἠγείροντο μάλ' ὦκα:

βουλὴν δὲ πρῶτον μεγαθύμων ἷζε γερόντων

Νεστορέῃ παρὰ νηὶ̈ Πυλοιγενέος βασιλῆος:

55τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν:

Transliteration

kēryssein agorēn de karē komoōntas Achaious:

hoi men ekērysson, toi d' ēgeironto mal' ōka:

boulēn de prōton megathymōn hize gerontōn

Nestoreēi para nēï Pyloigeneos basilēos:

55tous ho ge synkalesas pykinēn artyneto boulēn:

English

so they called them and the people gathered thereon. But first he summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor king of Pylos, and when they were assembled he laid a cunning counsel before them.

Homeric Greek

κλῦτε φίλοι: θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος

ἀμβροσίην διὰ νύκτα: μάλιστα δὲ Νέστορι δίῳ

εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τ' ἄγχιστα ἐῴκει:

στῆ δ' ἄρ' ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

60εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαί̈φρονος ἱπποδάμοιο:

Transliteration

klyte philoi: theios moi enypnion ēlthen oneiros

ambrosiēn dia nykta: malista de Nestori diōi

eidos te megethos te phyēn t' anchista eōikei:

stē d' ar' hyper kephalēs kai me pros mython eeipen:

60heudeis Atreos huie daïphronos hippodamoio:

English

"My friends," said he, "I have had a dream from heaven in the dead of night, and its face and figure resembled none but Nestor's. It hovered over my head and said, ‘You are sleeping, son of Atreus;

Homeric Greek

οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα,

ᾧ λαοί τ' ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε:

νῦν δ' ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα: Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,

ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδ' ἐλεαίρει:

65θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

Transliteration

ou chrē pannychion heudein boulēphoron andra,

hōi laoi t' epitetraphatai kai tossa memēle:

nyn d' emethen xynes ōka: Dios de toi angelos eimi,

hos seu aneuthen eōn mega kēdetai ēd' eleairei:

65thōrēxai se keleuse karē komoōntas Achaious

English

one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at once, for I am a messenger from Zeus, who, though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy.

Homeric Greek

πανσυδίῃ: νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν

Τρώων: οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχοντες

ἀθάνατοι φράζονται: ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας

Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδε' ἐφῆπται

70ἐκ Διός: ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσίν: ὣς ὃ μὲν εἰπὼν

Transliteration

pansydiēi: nyn gar ken helois polin euryaguian

Trōōn: ou gar et' amphis Olympia dōmat' echontes

athanatoi phrazontai: epegnampsen gar hapantas

Hērē lissomenē, Trōessi de kēde' ephēptai

70ek Dios: alla sy sēisin eche phresin: hōs ho men eipōn

English

There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Hera has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Zeus. Remember this.’ The dream then vanished and I awoke.

Homeric Greek

ᾤχετ' ἀποπτάμενος, ἐμὲ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.

ἀλλ' ἄγετ' αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν:

πρῶτα δ' ἐγὼν ἔπεσιν πειρήσομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,

καὶ φεύγειν σὺν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι κελεύσω:

75ὑμεῖς δ' ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος ἐρητύειν ἐπέεσσιν.

Transliteration

ōichet' apoptamenos, eme de glykys hypnos anēken.

all' aget' ai ken pōs thōrēxomen huias Achaiōn:

prōta d' egōn epesin peirēsomai, hē themis esti,

kai pheugein syn nēusi polyklēïsi keleusō:

75hymeis d' allothen allos erētyein epeessin.

English

Let us now, therefore, arm the sons of the Achaeans. But it will be the right thing that I should first sound them, and to this end I will tell them to flee with their ships; but do you others go about among the host and prevent their doing so."

Homeric Greek

ἤτοι ὅ γ' ὣς εἰπὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο, τοῖσι δ' ἀνέστη

Νέστωρ, ὅς ῥα Πύλοιο ἄναξ ἦν ἠμαθόεντος,

ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν:

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

80εἰ μέν τις τὸν ὄνειρον Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἔνισπε

Transliteration

ētoi ho g' hōs eipōn kat' ar' hezeto, toisi d' anestē

Nestōr, hos rha Pyloio anax ēn ēmathoentos,

ho sphin eu phroneōn agorēsato kai meteeipen:

ō philoi Argeiōn hēgētores ēde medontes

80ei men tis ton oneiron Achaiōn allos enispe

English

He then sat down, and Nestor the king of Pylos with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "My friends," said he, "princes and councilors of the Argives, if any other man of the Achaeans had told us of this

Homeric Greek

ψεῦδός κεν φαῖμεν καὶ νοσφιζοίμεθα μᾶλλον:

νῦν δ' ἴδεν ὃς μέγ' ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι:

ἀλλ' ἄγετ' αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας βουλῆς ἐξῆρχε νέεσθαι,

85οἳ δ' ἐπανέστησαν πείθοντό τε ποιμένι λαῶν

Transliteration

pseudos ken phaimen kai nosphizoimetha mallon:

nyn d' iden hos meg' aristos Achaiōn euchetai einai:

all' aget' ai ken pōs thōrēxomen huias Achaiōn.

hōs ara phōnēsas boulēs exērche neesthai,

85hoi d' epanestēsan peithonto te poimeni laōn

English

dream we should have declared it false, and would have had nothing to do with it. But he who has seen it is the foremost man among us; we must therefore set about getting the people under arms." With this he led the way from the assembly, and the other sceptered kings rose with him in obedience to the word of Agamemnon;

Homeric Greek

σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες: ἐπεσσεύοντο δὲ λαοί.

ἠύ̈τε ἔθνεα εἶσι μελισσάων ἁδινάων

πέτρης ἐκ γλαφυρῆς αἰεὶ νέον ἐρχομενάων,

βοτρυδὸν δὲ πέτονται ἐπ' ἄνθεσιν εἰαρινοῖσιν:

90αἳ μέν τ' ἔνθα ἅλις πεποτήαται, αἳ δέ τε ἔνθα:

Transliteration

skēptouchoi basilēes: epesseuonto de laoi.

ēÿte ethnea eisi melissaōn hadinaōn

petrēs ek glaphyrēs aiei neon erchomenaōn,

botrydon de petontai ep' anthesin eiarinoisin:

90hai men t' entha halis pepotēatai, hai de te entha:

English

but the people pressed forward to hear. They swarmed like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless throng among the spring flowers, bunched in knots and clusters;

Homeric Greek

ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων

ἠϊόνος προπάροιθε βαθείης ἐστιχόωντο

ἰλαδὸν εἰς ἀγορήν: μετὰ δέ σφισιν ὄσσα δεδήει

ὀτρύνουσ' ἰέναι Διὸς ἄγγελος: οἳ δ' ἀγέροντο.

95τετρήχει δ' ἀγορή, ὑπὸ δὲ στεναχίζετο γαῖα

Transliteration

hōs tōn ethnea polla neōn apo kai klisiaōn

ēïonos proparoithe batheiēs estichoōnto

iladon eis agorēn: meta de sphisin ossa dedēei

otrynous' ienai Dios angelos: hoi d' ageronto.

95tetrēchei d' agorē, hypo de stenachizeto gaia

English

even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the assembly, and range themselves upon the wide-watered shore, while among them ran Wildfire Rumor, messenger of Zeus, urging them ever to the fore. Thus they gathered in a pell-mell of mad confusion, and the

Homeric Greek

λαῶν ἱζόντων, ὅμαδος δ' ἦν: ἐννέα δέ σφεας

κήρυκες βοόωντες ἐρήτυον, εἴ ποτ' ἀϋτῆς

σχοίατ', ἀκούσειαν δὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων.

σπουδῇ δ' ἕζετο λαός, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθ' ἕδρας

100παυσάμενοι κλαγγῆς: ἀνὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

Transliteration

laōn hizontōn, homados d' ēn: ennea de spheas

kērykes booōntes erētyon, ei pot' aÿtēs

schoiat', akouseian de diotrepheōn basilēōn.

spoudēi d' hezeto laos, erētythen de kath' hedras

100pausamenoi klangēs: ana de kreiōn Agamemnōn

English

earth groaned under the tramp of men as the people sought their places. Nine heralds went crying about among them to stay their tumult and bid them listen to the kings, till at last they were got into their several places and ceased their clamor. Then King Agamemnon rose, holding his scepter.

Homeric Greek

ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων τὸ μὲν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.

Ἥφαιστος μὲν δῶκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι,

αὐτὰρ ἄρα Ζεὺς δῶκε διακτόρῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ:

Ἑρμείας δὲ ἄναξ δῶκεν Πέλοπι πληξίππῳ,

105αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Πέλοψ δῶκ' Ἀτρέϊ ποιμένι λαῶν,

Transliteration

estē skēptron echōn to men Hēphaistos kame teuchōn.

Hēphaistos men dōke Dii Kroniōni anakti,

autar ara Zeus dōke diaktorōi argeïphontēi:

Hermeias de anax dōken Pelopi plēxippōi,

105autar ho aute Pelops dōk' Atreï poimeni laōn,

English

This was the work of Hephaistos, who gave it to Zeus the son of Kronos. Zeus gave it to Hermes, slayer of Argos, guide and guardian. King Hermes gave it to Pelops, the mighty charioteer, and Pelops to Atreus, shepherd of his people.

Homeric Greek

Ἀτρεὺς δὲ θνῄσκων ἔλιπεν πολύαρνι Θυέστῃ,

αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Θυέστ' Ἀγαμέμνονι λεῖπε φορῆναι,

πολλῇσιν νήσοισι καὶ Ἄργεϊ παντὶ ἀνάσσειν.

τῷ ὅ γ' ἐρεισάμενος ἔπε' Ἀργείοισι μετηύδα:

110ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος

Transliteration

Atreus de thnēiskōn elipen polyarni Thyestēi,

autar ho aute Thyest' Agamemnoni leipe phorēnai,

pollēisin nēsoisi kai Argeï panti anassein.

tōi ho g' ereisamenos epe' Argeioisi metēuda:

110ō philoi hērōes Danaoi therapontes Arēos

English

Atreus, when he died, left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks, and Thyestes in his turn left it to be borne by Agamemnon, that he might be lord of all Argos and of the isles. Leaning, then, on his scepter, he addressed the Argives. "My friends," he said, "heroes, squires of Ares, Zeus the son of Kronos has tied me down with atê.

Homeric Greek

Ζεύς με μέγα Κρονίδης ἄτῃ ἐνέδησε βαρείῃ,

σχέτλιος, ὃς πρὶν μέν μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν

Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντ' εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι,

νῦν δὲ κακὴν ἀπάτην βουλεύσατο, καί με κελεύει

115δυσκλέα Ἄργος ἱκέσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺν ὤλεσα λαόν.

Transliteration

Zeus me mega Kronidēs atēi enedēse bareiēi,

schetlios, hos prin men moi hypescheto kai kateneusen

Ilion ekpersant' euteicheon aponeesthai,

nyn de kakēn apatēn bouleusato, kai me keleuei

115dysklea Argos hikesthai, epei polyn ōlesa laon.

English

Cruel, he gave me his solemn promise that I should sack the city of Priam before returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of many people.

Homeric Greek

οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ὑπερμενέϊ φίλον εἶναι,

ὃς δὴ πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα

ἠδ' ἔτι καὶ λύσει: τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.

αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τόδε γ' ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι

120μὰψ οὕτω τοιόνδε τοσόνδε τε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

Transliteration

houtō pou Dii mellei hypermeneï philon einai,

hos dē pollaōn poliōn katelyse karēna

ēd' eti kai lysei: tou gar kratos esti megiston.

aischron gar tode g' esti kai essomenoisi pythesthai

120maps houtō toionde tosonde te laon Achaiōn

English

Such is the will of Zeus, who has laid many a proud city in the dust, as he will yet lay others, for his power is above all. It will be a sorry tale hereafter that an Achaean host, at once so great and valiant, battled in vain against men fewer in number than themselves;

Homeric Greek

ἄπρηκτον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι

ἀνδράσι παυροτέροισι, τέλος δ' οὔ πώ τι πέφανται:

εἴ περ γάρ κ' ἐθέλοιμεν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε

ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ἀριθμηθήμεναι ἄμφω,

125Τρῶας μὲν λέξασθαι ἐφέστιοι ὅσσοι ἔασιν,

Transliteration

aprēkton polemon polemizein ēde machesthai

andrasi pauroteroisi, telos d' ou pō ti pephantai:

ei per gar k' etheloimen Achaioi te Trōes te

horkia pista tamontes arithmēthēmenai amphō,

125Trōas men lexasthai ephestioi hossoi easin,

English

but as yet the end is not in sight. Think that the Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant, and that they have each been numbered - the Trojans by the roll of their householders, and we by companies of ten;

Homeric Greek

ἡμεῖς δ' ἐς δεκάδας διακοσμηθεῖμεν Ἀχαιοί,

Τρώων δ' ἄνδρα ἕκαστοι ἑλοίμεθα οἰνοχοεύειν,

πολλαί κεν δεκάδες δευοίατο οἰνοχόοιο.

τόσσον ἐγώ φημι πλέας ἔμμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν

130Τρώων, οἳ ναίουσι κατὰ πτόλιν: ἀλλ' ἐπίκουροι

Transliteration

hēmeis d' es dekadas diakosmētheimen Achaioi,

Trōōn d' andra hekastoi heloimetha oinochoeuein,

pollai ken dekades deuoiato oinochooio.

tosson egō phēmi pleas emmenai huias Achaiōn

130Trōōn, hoi naiousi kata ptolin: all' epikouroi

English

think further that each of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a company would have to go without its cup-bearer. But they have in the town allies

Homeric Greek

πολλέων ἐκ πολίων ἐγχέσπαλοι ἄνδρες ἔασιν,

οἵ με μέγα πλάζουσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσ' ἐθέλοντα

Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσαι εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.

ἐννέα δὴ βεβάασι Διὸς μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοί,

135καὶ δὴ δοῦρα σέσηπε νεῶν καὶ σπάρτα λέλυνται:

Transliteration

polleōn ek poliōn enchespaloi andres easin,

hoi me mega plazousi kai ouk eiōs' ethelonta

Iliou ekpersai eu naiomenon ptoliethron.

ennea dē bebaasi Dios megalou eniautoi,

135kai dē doura sesēpe neōn kai sparta lelyntai:

English

from other places, and it is these that hinder me from being able to sack the rich city of Ilion. Nine of Zeus years are gone; the timbers of our ships have rotted;

Homeric Greek

αἳ δέ που ἡμέτεραί τ' ἄλοχοι καὶ νήπια τέκνα

εἵατ' ἐνὶ μεγάροις ποτιδέγμεναι: ἄμμι δὲ ἔργον

αὔτως ἀκράαντον οὗ εἵνεκα δεῦρ' ἱκόμεσθα.

ἀλλ' ἄγεθ' ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες:

140φεύγωμεν σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν:

Transliteration

hai de pou hēmeterai t' alochoi kai nēpia tekna

heiat' eni megarois potidegmenai: ammi de ergon

autōs akraanton hou heineka deur' hikomestha.

all' ageth' hōs an egō eipō peithōmetha pantes:

140pheugōmen syn nēusi philēn es patrida gaian:

English

their tackling is sound no longer. Our wives and little ones at home look anxiously for our coming, but the work that we came hither to do has not been done. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say: let us sail back to our own land, for we shall not take Troy."

Homeric Greek

οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τροίην αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.

ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε

πᾶσι μετὰ πληθὺν ὅσοι οὐ βουλῆς ἐπάκουσαν:

κινήθη δ' ἀγορὴ φὴ κύματα μακρὰ θαλάσσης

145πόντου Ἰκαρίοιο, τὰ μέν τ' Εὖρός τε Νότος τε

Transliteration

ou gar eti Troiēn hairēsomen euryaguian.

hōs phato, toisi de thymon eni stēthessin orine

pasi meta plēthyn hosoi ou boulēs epakousan:

kinēthē d' agorē phē kymata makra thalassēs

145pontou Ikarioio, ta men t' Euros te Notos te

English

With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude, so many of them as knew not the cunning counsel of Agamemnon. They surged to and fro like the waves of the Ikarian Sea, when the east and south winds break from heaven's clouds to lash them;

Homeric Greek

ὤρορ' ἐπαί̈ξας πατρὸς Διὸς ἐκ νεφελάων.

ὡς δ' ὅτε κινήσῃ Ζέφυρος βαθὺ λήϊον ἐλθὼν

λάβρος ἐπαιγίζων, ἐπί τ' ἠμύει ἀσταχύεσσιν,

ὣς τῶν πᾶσ' ἀγορὴ κινήθη: τοὶ δ' ἀλαλητῷ

150νῆας ἔπ' ἐσσεύοντο, ποδῶν δ' ὑπένερθε κονίη

Transliteration

ōror' epaïxas patros Dios ek nephelaōn.

hōs d' hote kinēsēi Zephyros bathy lēïon elthōn

labros epaigizōn, epi t' ēmyei astachyessin,

hōs tōn pas' agorē kinēthē: toi d' alalētōi

150nēas ep' esseuonto, podōn d' hypenerthe koniē

English

or as when the west wind sweeps over a field of grain and the ears bow beneath the blast, even so were they swayed as they flew with loud cries towards the ships, and the dust from under their feet rose heavenward.

Homeric Greek

ἵστατ' ἀειρομένη: τοὶ δ' ἀλλήλοισι κέλευον

ἅπτεσθαι νηῶν ἠδ' ἑλκέμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,

οὐρούς τ' ἐξεκάθαιρον: ἀϋτὴ δ' οὐρανὸν ἷκεν

οἴκαδε ἱεμένων: ὑπὸ δ' ᾕρεον ἕρματα νηῶν.

155ἔνθά κεν Ἀργείοισιν ὑπέρμορα νόστος ἐτύχθη

Transliteration

histat' aeiromenē: toi d' allēloisi keleuon

haptesthai nēōn ēd' helkemen eis hala dian,

ourous t' exekathairon: aÿtē d' ouranon hiken

oikade hiemenōn: hypo d' hēireon hermata nēōn.

155entha ken Argeioisin hypermora nostos etychthē

English

They cheered each other on to draw the ships into the sea; they cleared the channels in front of them; they began taking away the stays from underneath them, and the welkin rang with their glad cries, so eager were they to return. Then surely the Argives would have had a return after a fashion that was not fated.

Homeric Greek

εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη,

οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

Ἀργεῖοι φεύξονται ἐπ' εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,

160κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιεν

Transliteration

ei mē Athēnaiēn Hērē pros mython eeipen:

ō popoi aigiochoio Dios tekos Atrytōnē,

houtō dē oikon de philēn es patrida gaian

Argeioi pheuxontai ep' eurea nōta thalassēs,

160kad de ken euchōlēn Priamōi kai Trōsi lipoien

English

But Hera said to Athena, "Alas, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, unweariable, shall the Argives flee home to their own land over the broad sea, and leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of

Homeric Greek

Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν

ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης:

ἀλλ' ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων:

σοῖς ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,

165μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δ' ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.

Transliteration

Argeiēn Helenēn, hēs heineka polloi Achaiōn

en Troiēi apolonto philēs apo patridos aiēs:

all' ithi nyn kata laon Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn:

sois aganois epeessin erētye phōta hekaston,

165mēde ea nēas hala d' helkemen amphielissas.

English

still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

βῆ δὲ κατ' Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀί̈ξασα:

καρπαλίμως δ' ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

εὗρεν ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον

170ἑσταότ': οὐδ' ὅ γε νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oud' apithēse thea glaukōpis Athēnē,

bē de kat' Oulympoio karēnōn aïxasa:

karpalimōs d' hikane thoas epi nēas Achaiōn.

heuren epeit' Odysēa Dii mētin atalanton

170hestaot': oud' ho ge nēos eÿsselmoio melainēs

English

Athena was not slack to do her bidding. Down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus, and in a moment she was at the ships of the Achaeans. There she found Odysseus, peer of Zeus in counsel, standing alone.

Homeric Greek

ἅπτετ', ἐπεί μιν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἵκανεν:

ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη:

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ,

οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

175φεύξεσθ' ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πεσόντες,

Transliteration

haptet', epei min achos kradiēn kai thymon hikanen:

anchou d' histamenē prosephē glaukōpis Athēnē:

diogenes Laertiadē polymēchan' Odysseu,

houtō dē oikon de philēn es patrida gaian

175pheuxesth' en nēessi polyklēïsi pesontes,

English

He had not as yet laid a hand upon his ship, for he felt grief and was sorry; so she went close up to him and said, "Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, are you going to fling yourselves into your ships and be off home to your own land in this way?

Homeric Greek

κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιτε

Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν

ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης;

ἀλλ' ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν, μηδ' ἔτ' ἐρώει,

180σοῖς δ' ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,

Transliteration

kad de ken euchōlēn Priamōi kai Trōsi lipoite

Argeiēn Helenēn, hēs heineka polloi Achaiōn

en Troiēi apolonto philēs apo patridos aiēs;

all' ithi nyn kata laon Achaiōn, mēd' et' erōei,

180sois d' aganois epeessin erētye phōta hekaston,

English

Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy, far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea."

Homeric Greek

μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δ' ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.

ὣς φάθ', ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης,

βῆ δὲ θέειν, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλε: τὴν δὲ κόμισσε

κῆρυξ Εὐρυβάτης Ἰθακήσιος ὅς οἱ ὀπήδει:

185αὐτὸς δ' Ἀτρεί̈δεω Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίος ἐλθὼν

Transliteration

mēde ea nēas hala d' helkemen amphielissas.

hōs phath', ho de xyneēke theas opa phōnēsasēs,

bē de theein, apo de chlainan bale: tēn de komisse

kēryx Eurybatēs Ithakēsios hos hoi opēdei:

185autos d' Atreïdeō Agamemnonos antios elthōn

English

Odysseus knew the voice as that of the goddess: he flung his cloak from him and set off to run. His squire Eurybates, a man of Ithaca, who waited on him, took charge of the cloak, whereon Odysseus went straight up to Agamemnon and received from him his ancestral, imperishable staff.

Homeric Greek

δέξατό οἱ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεί:

σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.

ὅν τινα μὲν βασιλῆα καὶ ἔξοχον ἄνδρα κιχείη

τὸν δ' ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρητύσασκε παραστάς:

190δαιμόνι' οὔ σε ἔοικε κακὸν ὣς δειδίσσεσθαι,

Transliteration

dexato hoi skēptron patrōïon aphthiton aiei:

syn tōi ebē kata nēas Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn.

hon tina men basilēa kai exochon andra kicheiē

ton d' aganois epeessin erētysaske parastas:

190daimoni' ou se eoike kakon hōs deidissesthai,

English

With this he went about among the ships of the Achaeans. Whenever he met a king or chieftain, he stood by him and spoke him fairly. "Sir," said he, "this flight is cowardly and unworthy.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' αὐτός τε κάθησο καὶ ἄλλους ἵδρυε λαούς:

οὐ γάρ πω σάφα οἶσθ' οἷος νόος Ἀτρεί̈ωνος:

νῦν μὲν πειρᾶται, τάχα δ' ἴψεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

ἐν βουλῇ δ' οὐ πάντες ἀκούσαμεν οἷον ἔειπε.

195μή τι χολωσάμενος ῥέξῃ κακὸν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν:

Transliteration

all' autos te kathēso kai allous hidrye laous:

ou gar pō sapha oisth' hoios noos Atreïōnos:

nyn men peiratai, tacha d' ipsetai huias Achaiōn.

en boulēi d' ou pantes akousamen hoion eeipe.

195mē ti cholōsamenos rhexēi kakon huias Achaiōn:

English

Stand to your post, and bid your people also keep their places. You do not yet know the full mind of Agamemnon; he was sounding us, and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his displeasure. We were not all of us at the council to hear what he then said; see to it lest he be angry and do us a mischief;

Homeric Greek

θυμὸς δὲ μέγας ἐστὶ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων,

τιμὴ δ' ἐκ Διός ἐστι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ μητίετα Ζεύς.

ὃν δ' αὖ δήμου τ' ἄνδρα ἴδοι βοόωντά τ' ἐφεύροι,

τὸν σκήπτρῳ ἐλάσασκεν ὁμοκλήσασκέ τε μύθῳ:

200δαιμόνι' ἀτρέμας ἧσο καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἄκουε,

Transliteration

thymos de megas esti diotrepheōn basilēōn,

timē d' ek Dios esti, philei de he mētieta Zeus.

hon d' au dēmou t' andra idoi booōnta t' epheuroi,

ton skēptrōi elasasken homoklēsaske te mythōi:

200daimoni' atremas hēso kai allōn mython akoue,

English

for the timê of kings is great, and the hand of Zeus is with them." But when he came across some man from some locale who was making a noise, he struck him with his staff and rebuked him, saying, "What kind of daimôn has possessed you?

Homeric Greek

οἳ σέο φέρτεροί εἰσι, σὺ δ' ἀπτόλεμος καὶ ἄναλκις

οὔτέ ποτ' ἐν πολέμῳ ἐναρίθμιος οὔτ' ἐνὶ βουλῇ:

οὐ μέν πως πάντες βασιλεύσομεν ἐνθάδ' Ἀχαιοί:

οὐκ ἀγαθὸν πολυκοιρανίη: εἷς κοίρανος ἔστω,

205εἷς βασιλεύς, ᾧ δῶκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω

Transliteration

hoi seo pherteroi eisi, sy d' aptolemos kai analkis

oute pot' en polemōi enarithmios out' eni boulēi:

ou men pōs pantes basileusomen enthad' Achaioi:

ouk agathon polykoiraniē: heis koiranos estō,

205heis basileus, hōi dōke Kronou païs ankylomēteō

English

Hold your peace, and listen to better men than yourself. You are a coward and no warrior; you are nobody either in fight or council; we cannot all be kings; it is not well that there should be many masters; one man must be supreme - one king to whom the son of scheming Kronos has given the scepter and divine laws to rule over you all."

Homeric Greek

σκῆπτρόν τ' ἠδὲ θέμιστας, ἵνά σφισι βουλεύῃσι.

ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων δίεπε στρατόν: οἳ δ' ἀγορὴν δὲ

αὖτις ἐπεσσεύοντο νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων

ἠχῇ, ὡς ὅτε κῦμα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης

210αἰγιαλῷ μεγάλῳ βρέμεται, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε πόντος.

Transliteration

skēptron t' ēde themistas, hina sphisi bouleuēisi.

hōs ho ge koiraneōn diepe straton: hoi d' agorēn de

autis epesseuonto neōn apo kai klisiaōn

ēchēi, hōs hote kyma polyphloisboio thalassēs

210aigialōi megalōi bremetai, smaragei de te pontos.

English

Thus masterfully did he go about among the host, and the people hurried back to the council from their tents and ships with a sound as the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the shore, and all the sea is in an uproar.

Homeric Greek

ἄλλοι μέν ῥ' ἕζοντο, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθ' ἕδρας:

Θερσίτης δ' ἔτι μοῦνος ἀμετροεπὴς ἐκολῴα,

ὃς ἔπεα φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἄκοσμά τε πολλά τε ᾔδη

μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν,

215ἀλλ' ὅ τι οἱ εἴσαιτο γελοίϊον Ἀργείοισιν

Transliteration

alloi men rh' hezonto, erētythen de kath' hedras:

Thersitēs d' eti mounos ametroepēs ekolōia,

hos epea phresin hēisin akosma te polla te ēidē

maps, atar ou kata kosmon, erizemenai basileusin,

215all' ho ti hoi eisaito geloiïon Argeioisin

English

The rest now took their seats and kept to their own several places, but Thersites still went on wagging his unbridled tongue - a man of many words, and those unseemly; a monger of sedition, a railer against all who were in authority, who cared not what he said, so that he might set the Achaeans in a laugh.

Homeric Greek

ἔμμεναι: αἴσχιστος δὲ ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε:

φολκὸς ἔην, χωλὸς δ' ἕτερον πόδα: τὼ δέ οἱ ὤμω

κυρτὼ ἐπὶ στῆθος συνοχωκότε: αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε

φοξὸς ἔην κεφαλήν, ψεδνὴ δ' ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.

220ἔχθιστος δ' Ἀχιλῆϊ μάλιστ' ἦν ἠδ' Ὀδυσῆϊ:

Transliteration

emmenai: aischistos de anēr hypo Ilion ēlthe:

pholkos eēn, chōlos d' heteron poda: tō de hoi ōmō

kyrtō epi stēthos synochōkote: autar hyperthe

phoxos eēn kephalēn, psednē d' epenēnothe lachnē.

220echthistos d' Achilēï malist' ēn ēd' Odysēï:

English

He was the ugliest man of all those that came before Troy - bandy-legged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders rounded and hunched over his chest. His head ran up to a point, but there was little hair on the top of it. Achilles and Odysseus hated him worst of all, for it was with them that he was most wont to wrangle;

Homeric Greek

τὼ γὰρ νεικείεσκε: τότ' αὖτ' Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ

ὀξέα κεκλήγων λέγ' ὀνείδεα: τῷ δ' ἄρ' Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐκπάγλως κοτέοντο νεμέσσηθέν τ' ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὰ βοῶν Ἀγαμέμνονα νείκεε μύθῳ:

225Ἀτρεί̈δη τέο δ' αὖτ' ἐπιμέμφεαι ἠδὲ χατίζεις;

Transliteration

tō gar neikeieske: tot' aut' Agamemnoni diōi

oxea keklēgōn leg' oneidea: tōi d' ar' Achaioi

ekpaglōs koteonto nemessēthen t' eni thymōi.

autar ho makra boōn Agamemnona neikee mythōi:

225Atreïdē teo d' aut' epimempheai ēde chatizeis;

English

now, however, with a shrill squeaky voice he began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon. The Achaeans were angry and disgusted, yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at the son of Atreus. "Agamemnon," he cried, "what ails you now, and what more do you want?

Homeric Greek

πλεῖαί τοι χαλκοῦ κλισίαι, πολλαὶ δὲ γυναῖκες

εἰσὶν ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἐξαίρετοι, ἅς τοι Ἀχαιοὶ

πρωτίστῳ δίδομεν εὖτ' ἂν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.

ἦ ἔτι καὶ χρυσοῦ ἐπιδεύεαι, ὅν κέ τις οἴσει

230Τρώων ἱπποδάμων ἐξ Ἰλίου υἷος ἄποινα,

Transliteration

pleiai toi chalkou klisiai, pollai de gynaikes

eisin eni klisiēis exairetoi, has toi Achaioi

prōtistōi didomen eut' an ptoliethron helōmen.

ē eti kai chrysou epideueai, hon ke tis oisei

230Trōōn hippodamōn ex Iliou huios apoina,

English

Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. Would you have yet more gold, which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom for his son, when I or another Achaean has taken him prisoner?

Homeric Greek

ὅν κεν ἐγὼ δήσας ἀγάγω ἢ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,

ἠὲ γυναῖκα νέην, ἵνα μίσγεαι ἐν φιλότητι,

ἥν τ' αὐτὸς ἀπονόσφι κατίσχεαι; οὐ μὲν ἔοικεν

ἀρχὸν ἐόντα κακῶν ἐπιβασκέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

235ὦ πέπονες κάκ' ἐλέγχε' Ἀχαιί̈δες οὐκέτ' Ἀχαιοὶ

Transliteration

hon ken egō dēsas agagō ē allos Achaiōn,

ēe gynaika neēn, hina misgeai en philotēti,

hēn t' autos aponosphi katischeai; ou men eoiken

archon eonta kakōn epibaskemen huias Achaiōn.

235ō pepones kak' elenche' Achaiïdes ouket' Achaioi

English

or is it some young girl to hide and lie with? It is not well that you, the ruler of the Achaeans, should bring them into such misery. Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail home, and

Homeric Greek

οἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα, τόνδε δ' ἐῶμεν

αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ γέρα πεσσέμεν, ὄφρα ἴδηται

ἤ ῥά τί οἱ χἠμεῖς προσαμύνομεν ἦε καὶ οὐκί:

ὃς καὶ νῦν Ἀχιλῆα ἕο μέγ' ἀμείνονα φῶτα

240ἠτίμησεν: ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.

Transliteration

oikade per syn nēusi neōmetha, tonde d' eōmen

autou eni Troiēi gera pessemen, ophra idētai

ē rha ti hoi chēmeis prosamynomen ēe kai ouki:

hos kai nyn Achilēa heo meg' ameinona phōta

240ētimēsen: helōn gar echei geras autos apouras.

English

leave this man here at Troy to stew in his own prizes of honor, and discover whether we were of any service to him or no. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has treated him - robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ μάλ' οὐκ Ἀχιλῆϊ χόλος φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ μεθήμων:

ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεί̈δη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο:

ὣς φάτο νεικείων Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν,

Θερσίτης: τῷ δ' ὦκα παρίστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

245καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ:

Transliteration

alla mal' ouk Achilēï cholos phresin, alla methēmōn:

ē gar an Atreïdē nyn hystata lōbēsaio:

hōs phato neikeiōn Agamemnona poimena laōn,

Thersitēs: tōi d' ōka paristato dios Odysseus,

245kai min hypodra idōn chalepōi ēnipape mythōi:

English

Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never again insult him." Thus railed Thersites, but Odysseus at once went up to him and rebuked him sternly.

Homeric Greek

Θερσῖτ' ἀκριτόμυθε, λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής,

ἴσχεο, μηδ' ἔθελ' οἶος ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν:

οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ σέο φημὶ χερειότερον βροτὸν ἄλλον

ἔμμεναι, ὅσσοι ἅμ' Ἀτρεί̈δῃς ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον.

250τὼ οὐκ ἂν βασιλῆας ἀνὰ στόμ' ἔχων ἀγορεύοις,

Transliteration

Thersit' akritomythe, ligys per eōn agorētēs,

ischeo, mēd' ethel' oios erizemenai basileusin:

ou gar egō seo phēmi chereioteron broton allon

emmenai, hossoi ham' Atreïdēis hypo Ilion ēlthon.

250tō ouk an basilēas ana stom' echōn agoreuois,

English

"Check your glib tongue, Thersites," said be, "and babble not a word further. Chide not with princes when you have none to back you. There is no viler creature come before Troy with the sons of Atreus. Drop this chatter about kings, and neither revile them nor keep harping about homecoming.

Homeric Greek

καί σφιν ὀνείδεά τε προφέροις, νόστόν τε φυλάσσοις.

οὐδέ τί πω σάφα ἴδμεν ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,

ἢ εὖ ἦε κακῶς νοστήσομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

τὼ νῦν Ἀτρεί̈δῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν

255ἧσαι ὀνειδίζων, ὅτι οἱ μάλα πολλὰ διδοῦσιν

Transliteration

kai sphin oneidea te propherois, noston te phylassois.

oude ti pō sapha idmen hopōs estai tade erga,

ē eu ēe kakōs nostēsomen huies Achaiōn.

tō nyn Atreïdēi Agamemnoni poimeni laōn

255hēsai oneidizōn, hoti hoi mala polla didousin

English

We do not yet know how things are going to be, nor whether the Achaeans are to return with good success or evil. How dare you gibe at Agamemnon because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes?

Homeric Greek

ἥρωες Δαναοί: σὺ δὲ κερτομέων ἀγορεύεις.

ἀλλ' ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται:

εἴ κ' ἔτι σ' ἀφραίνοντα κιχήσομαι ὥς νύ περ ὧδε,

μηκέτ' ἔπειτ' Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη,

260μηδ' ἔτι Τηλεμάχοιο πατὴρ κεκλημένος εἴην,

Transliteration

hērōes Danaoi: sy de kertomeōn agoreueis.

all' ek toi ereō, to de kai tetelesmenon estai:

ei k' eti s' aphrainonta kichēsomai hōs ny per hōde,

mēket' epeit' Odysēï karē ōmoisin epeiē,

260mēd' eti Tēlemachoio patēr keklēmenos eiēn,

English

I tell you, therefore - and it shall surely be - that if I again catch you talking such nonsense, I will either forfeit my own head and be no more called father of

Homeric Greek

εἰ μὴ ἐγώ σε λαβὼν ἀπὸ μὲν φίλα εἵματα δύσω,

χλαῖνάν τ' ἠδὲ χιτῶνα, τά τ' αἰδῶ ἀμφικαλύπτει,

αὐτὸν δὲ κλαίοντα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἀφήσω

πεπλήγων ἀγορῆθεν ἀεικέσσι πληγῇσιν.

265ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη, σκήπτρῳ δὲ μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμω

Transliteration

ei mē egō se labōn apo men phila heimata dysō,

chlainan t' ēde chitōna, ta t' aidō amphikalyptei,

auton de klaionta thoas epi nēas aphēsō

peplēgōn agorēthen aeikessi plēgēisin.

265hōs ar' ephē, skēptrōi de metaphrenon ēde kai ōmō

English

Telemakhos, or I will take you, strip away from you all respect, and whip you out of the assembly till you go blubbering back to the ships." On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders till he dropped and fell a-weeping.

Homeric Greek

πλῆξεν: ὃ δ' ἰδνώθη, θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ:

σμῶδιξ δ' αἱματόεσσα μεταφρένου ἐξυπανέστη

σκήπτρου ὕπο χρυσέου: ὃ δ' ἄρ' ἕζετο τάρβησέν τε,

ἀλγήσας δ' ἀχρεῖον ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ.

270οἳ δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἐπ' αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν:

Transliteration

plēxen: ho d' idnōthē, thaleron de hoi ekpese dakry:

smōdix d' haimatoessa metaphrenou exypanestē

skēptrou hypo chryseou: ho d' ar' hezeto tarbēsen te,

algēsas d' achreion idōn apomorxato dakry.

270hoi de kai achnymenoi per ep' autōi hēdy gelassan:

English

The golden scepter raised a bloody weal on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain, looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes. The people were sorry for him, yet they

Homeric Greek

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον:

ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ μυρί' Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐσθλὰ ἔοργε

βουλάς τ' ἐξάρχων ἀγαθὰς πόλεμόν τε κορύσσων:

νῦν δὲ τόδε μέγ' ἄριστον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔρεξεν,

275ὃς τὸν λωβητῆρα ἐπεσβόλον ἔσχ' ἀγοράων.

Transliteration

hōde de tis eipesken idōn es plēsion allon:

ō popoi ē dē myri' Odysseus esthla eorge

boulas t' exarchōn agathas polemon te koryssōn:

nyn de tode meg' ariston en Argeioisin erexen,

275hos ton lōbētēra epesbolon esch' agoraōn.

English

laughed heartily, and one would turn to his neighbor saying, "Odysseus has done many a good thing ere now in fight and council, but he never did the Argives a better turn than when he stopped this man's mouth from prating further.

Homeric Greek

οὔ θήν μιν πάλιν αὖτις ἀνήσει θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

νεικείειν βασιλῆας ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν.

ὣς φάσαν ἣ πληθύς: ἀνὰ δ' ὃ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων: παρὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

280εἰδομένη κήρυκι σιωπᾶν λαὸν ἀνώγει,

Transliteration

ou thēn min palin autis anēsei thymos agēnōr

neikeiein basilēas oneideiois epeessin.

hōs phasan hē plēthys: ana d' ho ptoliporthos Odysseus

estē skēptron echōn: para de glaukōpis Athēnē

280eidomenē kēryki siōpan laon anōgei,

English

He will give the kings no more of his insolence." Thus said the people. Then Odysseus rose, scepter in hand, and Athena in the likeness of a herald bade the

Homeric Greek

ὡς ἅμα θ' οἳ πρῶτοί τε καὶ ὕστατοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

μῦθον ἀκούσειαν καὶ ἐπιφρασσαίατο βουλήν:

ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν:

Ἀτρεί̈δη νῦν δή σε ἄναξ ἐθέλουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

285πᾶσιν ἐλέγχιστον θέμεναι μερόπεσσι βροτοῖσιν,

Transliteration

hōs hama th' hoi prōtoi te kai hystatoi huies Achaiōn

mython akouseian kai epiphrassaiato boulēn:

ho sphin eu phroneōn agorēsato kai meteeipen:

Atreïdē nyn dē se anax ethelousin Achaioi

285pasin elenchiston themenai meropessi brotoisin,

English

people be still, that those who were far off might hear him and consider his council. He therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: - "King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are for making you a by-word among all humankind.

Homeric Greek

οὐδέ τοι ἐκτελέουσιν ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέσταν

ἐνθάδ' ἔτι στείχοντες ἀπ' Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο

Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντ' εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι.

ὥς τε γὰρ ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκες

290ἀλλήλοισιν ὀδύρονται οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.

Transliteration

oude toi ekteleousin hyposchesin hēn per hypestan

enthad' eti steichontes ap' Argeos hippobotoio

Ilion ekpersant' euteicheon aponeesthai.

hōs te gar ē paides nearoi chērai te gynaikes

290allēloisin odyrontai oikon de neesthai.

English

They forget the promise they made you when they set out from Argos, that you should not return till you had sacked the town of Troy, and, like children or widowed women, they murmur and would set off homeward.

Homeric Greek

ἦ μὴν καὶ πόνος ἐστὶν ἀνιηθέντα νέεσθαι:

καὶ γάρ τίς θ' ἕνα μῆνα μένων ἀπὸ ἧς ἀλόχοιο

ἀσχαλάᾳ σὺν νηὶ̈ πολυζύγῳ, ὅν περ ἄελλαι

χειμέριαι εἰλέωσιν ὀρινομένη τε θάλασσα:

295ἡμῖν δ' εἴνατός ἐστι περιτροπέων ἐνιαυτὸς

Transliteration

ē mēn kai ponos estin aniēthenta neesthai:

kai gar tis th' hena mēna menōn apo hēs alochoio

aschalaāi syn nēï polyzygōi, hon per aellai

cheimeriai eileōsin orinomenē te thalassa:

295hēmin d' einatos esti peritropeōn eniautos

English

True it is that they have had toil enough to be disheartened. A man chafes at having to stay away from his wife even for a single month, when he is on shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea, but it is now nine long years that we have been kept here;

Homeric Greek

ἐνθάδε μιμνόντεσσι: τὼ οὐ νεμεσίζομ' Ἀχαιοὺς

ἀσχαλάαν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν: ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης

αἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μένειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι.

τλῆτε φίλοι, καὶ μείνατ' ἐπὶ χρόνον ὄφρα δαῶμεν

300ἢ ἐτεὸν Κάλχας μαντεύεται ἦε καὶ οὐκί.

Transliteration

enthade mimnontessi: tō ou nemesizom' Achaious

aschalaan para nēusi korōnisin: alla kai empēs

aischron toi dēron te menein keneon te neesthai.

tlēte philoi, kai meinat' epi chronon ophra daōmen

300ē eteon Kalchas manteuetai ēe kai ouki.

English

I cannot, therefore, blame the Achaeans if they turn restive; still we shall be shamed if we go home empty after so long a stay - therefore, my friends, be patient yet a little longer that we may learn whether the prophesyings of Kalkhas were false or true.

Homeric Greek

εὖ γὰρ δὴ τόδε ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἐστὲ δὲ πάντες

μάρτυροι, οὓς μὴ κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι:

χθιζά τε καὶ πρωί̈ζ' ὅτ' ἐς Αὐλίδα νῆες Ἀχαιῶν

ἠγερέθοντο κακὰ Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ φέρουσαι,

305ἡμεῖς δ' ἀμφὶ περὶ κρήνην ἱεροὺς κατὰ βωμοὺς

Transliteration

eu gar dē tode idmen eni phresin, este de pantes

martyroi, hous mē kēres eban thanatoio pherousai:

chthiza te kai prōïz' hot' es Aulida nēes Achaiōn

ēgerethonto kaka Priamōi kai Trōsi pherousai,

305hēmeis d' amphi peri krēnēn hierous kata bōmous

English

"All who have not since perished must remember as though it were yesterday or the day before, how the ships of the Achaeans were detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on Priam and the Trojans. We were ranged round about a fountain offering hecatombs to the

Homeric Greek

ἕρδομεν ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας

καλῇ ὑπὸ πλατανίστῳ ὅθεν ῥέεν ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ:

ἔνθ' ἐφάνη μέγα σῆμα: δράκων ἐπὶ νῶτα δαφοινὸς

σμερδαλέος, τόν ῥ' αὐτὸς Ὀλύμπιος ἧκε φόως δέ,

310βωμοῦ ὑπαί̈ξας πρός ῥα πλατάνιστον ὄρουσεν.

Transliteration

herdomen athanatoisi telēessas hekatombas

kalēi hypo platanistōi hothen rheen aglaon hydōr:

enth' ephanē mega sēma: drakōn epi nōta daphoinos

smerdaleos, ton rh' autos Olympios hēke phoōs de,

310bōmou hypaïxas pros rha plataniston orousen.

English

gods upon their holy altars, and there was a fine plane-tree from beneath which there welled a stream of pure water. Then we saw a sign ; for Zeus sent a fearful serpent out of the ground, with blood-red stains upon its back, and it darted from under the altar on to the plane-tree.

Homeric Greek

ἔνθα δ' ἔσαν στρουθοῖο νεοσσοί, νήπια τέκνα,

ὄζῳ ἐπ' ἀκροτάτῳ πετάλοις ὑποπεπτηῶτες

ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα:

ἔνθ' ὅ γε τοὺς ἐλεεινὰ κατήσθιε τετριγῶτας:

315μήτηρ δ' ἀμφεποτᾶτο ὀδυρομένη φίλα τέκνα:

Transliteration

entha d' esan strouthoio neossoi, nēpia tekna,

ozōi ep' akrotatōi petalois hypopeptēōtes

oktō, atar mētēr enatē ēn hē teke tekna:

enth' ho ge tous eleeina katēsthie tetrigōtas:

315mētēr d' amphepotato odyromenē phila tekna:

English

Now there was a brood of young sparrows, quite small, upon the topmost bough, peeping out from under the leaves, eight in all, and their mother that hatched them made nine. The serpent ate the poor cheeping things, while the old bird flew about lamenting her little ones;

Homeric Greek

τὴν δ' ἐλελιξάμενος πτέρυγος λάβεν ἀμφιαχυῖαν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτήν,

τὸν μὲν ἀρίζηλον θῆκεν θεὸς ὅς περ ἔφηνε:

λᾶαν γάρ μιν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω:

320ἡμεῖς δ' ἑσταότες θαυμάζομεν οἷον ἐτύχθη.

Transliteration

tēn d' elelixamenos pterygos laben amphiachuian.

autar epei kata tekna phage strouthoio kai autēn,

ton men arizēlon thēken theos hos per ephēne:

laan gar min ethēke Kronou païs ankylomēteō:

320hēmeis d' hestaotes thaumazomen hoion etychthē.

English

but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught her by the wing as she was screaming. Then, when he had eaten both the sparrow and her young, the god who had sent him made him become a sign; for the son of scheming Kronos turned him into stone, and we stood there wondering at that which had come to pass.

Homeric Greek

ὡς οὖν δεινὰ πέλωρα θεῶν εἰσῆλθ' ἑκατόμβας,

Κάλχας δ' αὐτίκ' ἔπειτα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευε:

τίπτ' ἄνεῳ ἐγένεσθε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί;

ἡμῖν μὲν τόδ' ἔφηνε τέρας μέγα μητίετα Ζεὺς

325ὄψιμον ὀψιτέλεστον, ὅου κλέος οὔ ποτ' ὀλεῖται.

Transliteration

hōs oun deina pelōra theōn eisēlth' hekatombas,

Kalchas d' autik' epeita theopropeōn agoreue:

tipt' aneōi egenesthe karē komoōntes Achaioi;

hēmin men tod' ephēne teras mega mētieta Zeus

325opsimon opsiteleston, hoou kleos ou pot' oleitai.

English

Seeing, then, that such a fearful portent had broken in upon our hecatombs, Kalkhas forthwith declared to us the oracles of heaven. ‘Why, Achaeans,’ said he, ‘are you thus speechless? Zeus has sent us this sign, long in coming, and long ere it be fulfilled, though its fame shall last for ever.

Homeric Greek

ὡς οὗτος κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτὴν

ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα,

ὣς ἡμεῖς τοσσαῦτ' ἔτεα πτολεμίξομεν αὖθι,

τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.

330κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε: τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.

Transliteration

hōs houtos kata tekna phage strouthoio kai autēn

oktō, atar mētēr enatē ēn hē teke tekna,

hōs hēmeis tossaut' etea ptolemixomen authi,

tōi dekatōi de polin hairēsomen euryaguian.

330keinos tōs agoreue: ta dē nyn panta teleitai.

English

As the serpent ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that hatched them, which makes nine, so shall we fight nine years at Troy, but in the tenth shall take the town.’ This was what he said, and now it is all coming true.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἄγε μίμνετε πάντες ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

αὐτοῦ εἰς ὅ κεν ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἕλωμεν.

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγ' ἴαχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες

σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν,

335μῦθον ἐπαινήσαντες Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο:

Transliteration

all' age mimnete pantes eÿknēmides Achaioi

autou eis ho ken asty mega Priamoio helōmen.

hōs ephat', Argeioi de meg' iachon, amphi de nēes

smerdaleon konabēsan aÿsantōn hyp' Achaiōn,

335mython epainēsantes Odyssēos theioio:

English

Stay here, therefore, all of you, till we take the city of Priam." On this the Argives raised a shout, till the ships rang again with the uproar. Nestor, horseman of Gerene, then addressed them.

Homeric Greek

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ:

ὦ πόποι ἦ δὴ παισὶν ἐοικότες ἀγοράασθε

νηπιάχοις οἷς οὔ τι μέλει πολεμήϊα ἔργα.

πῇ δὴ συνθεσίαι τε καὶ ὅρκια βήσεται ἥμιν;

340ἐν πυρὶ δὴ βουλαί τε γενοίατο μήδεά τ' ἀνδρῶν

Transliteration

toisi de kai meteeipe Gerēnios hippota Nestōr:

ō popoi ē dē paisin eoikotes agoraasthe

nēpiachois hois ou ti melei polemēïa erga.

pēi dē synthesiai te kai horkia bēsetai hēmin;

340en pyri dē boulai te genoiato mēdea t' andrōn

English

"Shame on you," he cried, "to stay talking here like children, when you should fight like men. Where are our covenants now, and where the oaths that we have taken? Shall our counsels be flung into the fire, with our

Homeric Greek

σπονδαί τ' ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαί, ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν:

αὔτως γὰρ ἐπέεσσ' ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι μῆχος

εὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδ' ἐόντες.

Ἀτρεί̈δη σὺ δ' ἔθ' ὡς πρὶν ἔχων ἀστεμφέα βουλὴν

345ἄρχευ' Ἀργείοισι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας,

Transliteration

spondai t' akrētoi kai dexiai, hēis epepithmen:

autōs gar epeess' eridainomen, oude ti mēchos

heuremenai dynamestha, polyn chronon enthad' eontes.

Atreïdē sy d' eth' hōs prin echōn astemphea boulēn

345archeu' Argeioisi kata krateras hysminas,

English

drink-offerings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste our time in words, and for all our talking here shall be no further forward. Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by your own steadfast purpose; lead the Argives on to battle, and

Homeric Greek

τούσδε δ' ἔα φθινύθειν ἕνα καὶ δύο, τοί κεν Ἀχαιῶν

νόσφιν βουλεύωσ': ἄνυσις δ' οὐκ ἔσσεται αὐτῶν:

πρὶν Ἄργος δ' ἰέναι πρὶν καὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

γνώμεναι εἴ τε ψεῦδος ὑπόσχεσις εἴ τε καὶ οὐκί.

350φημὶ γὰρ οὖν κατανεῦσαι ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωνα

Transliteration

tousde d' ea phthinythein hena kai dyo, toi ken Achaiōn

nosphin bouleuōs': anysis d' ouk essetai autōn:

prin Argos d' ienai prin kai Dios aigiochoio

gnōmenai ei te pseudos hyposchesis ei te kai ouki.

350phēmi gar oun kataneusai hypermenea Kroniōna

English

leave this handful of men to rot, who scheme, and scheme in vain, to get back to Argos ere they have learned whether Zeus be true or a liar. For the mighty son of Kronos surely promised that

Homeric Greek

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε νηυσὶν ἐν ὠκυπόροισιν ἔβαινον

Ἀργεῖοι Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες

ἀστράπτων ἐπιδέξι' ἐναίσιμα σήματα φαίνων.

τὼ μή τις πρὶν ἐπειγέσθω οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι

355πρίν τινα πὰρ Τρώων ἀλόχῳ κατακοιμηθῆναι,

Transliteration

ēmati tōi hote nēusin en ōkyporoisin ebainon

Argeioi Trōessi phonon kai kēra pherontes

astraptōn epidexi' enaisima sēmata phainōn.

tō mē tis prin epeigesthō oikon de neesthai

355prin tina par Trōōn alochōi katakoimēthēnai,

English

we should succeed, when we Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans. He showed us favorable signs by flashing his lightning on our right hands; therefore let none make haste to go till he has first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and

Homeric Greek

τίσασθαι δ' Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.

εἰ δέ τις ἐκπάγλως ἐθέλει οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι

ἁπτέσθω ἧς νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης,

ὄφρα πρόσθ' ἄλλων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.

360ἀλλὰ ἄναξ αὐτός τ' εὖ μήδεο πείθεό τ' ἄλλῳ:

Transliteration

tisasthai d' Helenēs hormēmata te stonachas te.

ei de tis ekpaglōs ethelei oikon de neesthai

haptesthō hēs nēos eÿsselmoio melainēs,

ophra prosth' allōn thanaton kai potmon epispēi.

360alla anax autos t' eu mēdeo peitheo t' allōi:

English

avenged the toil and sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless, if any man is in such haste to be at home again, let him lay his hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all. But, O king, consider and give ear to my counsel, for the word that I say may not be neglected lightly.

Homeric Greek

οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητον ἔπος ἔσσεται ὅττί κεν εἴπω:

κρῖν' ἄνδρας κατὰ φῦλα κατὰ φρήτρας Ἀγάμεμνον,

ὡς φρήτρη φρήτρηφιν ἀρήγῃ, φῦλα δὲ φύλοις.

εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί,

365γνώσῃ ἔπειθ' ὅς θ' ἡγεμόνων κακὸς ὅς τέ νυ λαῶν

Transliteration

ou toi apoblēton epos essetai hotti ken eipō:

krin' andras kata phyla kata phrētras Agamemnon,

hōs phrētrē phrētrēphin arēgēi, phyla de phylois.

ei de ken hōs herxēis kai toi peithōntai Achaioi,

365gnōsēi epeith' hos th' hēgemonōn kakos hos te ny laōn

English

Divide your men, Agamemnon, into their several tribes and clans, that clans and tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and if the Achaeans obey you, you will find out who, both chiefs and peoples, are brave, and who are cowards;

Homeric Greek

ἠδ' ὅς κ' ἐσθλὸς ἔῃσι: κατὰ σφέας γὰρ μαχέονται.

γνώσεαι δ' εἰ καὶ θεσπεσίῃ πόλιν οὐκ ἀλαπάξεις,

ἦ ἀνδρῶν κακότητι καὶ ἀφραδίῃ πολέμοιο.

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων:

370ἦ μὰν αὖτ' ἀγορῇ νικᾷς γέρον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

Transliteration

ēd' hos k' esthlos eēisi: kata spheas gar macheontai.

gnōseai d' ei kai thespesiēi polin ouk alapaxeis,

ē andrōn kakotēti kai aphradiēi polemoio.

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē kreiōn Agamemnōn:

370ē man aut' agorēi nikāis geron huias Achaiōn.

English

for they will vie against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall fail to take the town." And Agamemnon answered, "Nestor, you have again outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel.

Homeric Greek

αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον

τοιοῦτοι δέκα μοι συμφράδμονες εἶεν Ἀχαιῶν:

τώ κε τάχ' ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

χερσὶν ὑφ' ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.

375ἀλλά μοι αἰγίοχος Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγε' ἔδωκεν,

Transliteration

ai gar Zeu te pater kai Athēnaiē kai Apollon

toioutoi deka moi symphradmones eien Achaiōn:

tō ke tach' ēmyseie polis Priamoio anaktos

chersin hyph' hēmeterēisin halousa te perthomenē te.

375alla moi aigiochos Kronidēs Zeus alge' edōken,

English

Would, by Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councilors, for the city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it. But the son of Kronos afflicts me with bootless wranglings and strife.

Homeric Greek

ὅς με μετ' ἀπρήκτους ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα βάλλει.

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν Ἀχιλεύς τε μαχεσσάμεθ' εἵνεκα κούρης

ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἐγὼ δ' ἦρχον χαλεπαίνων:

εἰ δέ ποτ' ἔς γε μίαν βουλεύσομεν, οὐκέτ' ἔπειτα

380Τρωσὶν ἀνάβλησις κακοῦ ἔσσεται οὐδ' ἠβαιόν.

Transliteration

hos me met' aprēktous eridas kai neikea ballei.

kai gar egōn Achileus te machessameth' heineka kourēs

antibiois epeessin, egō d' ērchon chalepainōn:

ei de pot' es ge mian bouleusomen, ouket' epeita

380Trōsin anablēsis kakou essetai oud' ēbaion.

English

Achilles and I are quarreling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day.

Homeric Greek

νῦν δ' ἔρχεσθ' ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.

εὖ μέν τις δόρυ θηξάσθω, εὖ δ' ἀσπίδα θέσθω,

εὖ δέ τις ἵπποισιν δεῖπνον δότω ὠκυπόδεσσιν,

εὖ δέ τις ἅρματος ἀμφὶς ἰδὼν πολέμοιο μεδέσθω,

385ὥς κε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρινώμεθ' Ἄρηϊ.

Transliteration

nyn d' erchesth' epi deipnon hina xynagōmen Arēa.

eu men tis dory thēxasthō, eu d' aspida thesthō,

eu de tis hippoisin deipnon dotō ōkypodessin,

eu de tis harmatos amphis idōn polemoio medesthō,

385hōs ke panēmerioi stygerōi krinōmeth' Arēï.

English

Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong day;

Homeric Greek

οὐ γὰρ παυσωλή γε μετέσσεται οὐδ' ἠβαιὸν

εἰ μὴ νὺξ ἐλθοῦσα διακρινέει μένος ἀνδρῶν.

ἱδρώσει μέν τευ τελαμὼν ἀμφὶ στήθεσφιν

ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης, περὶ δ' ἔγχεϊ χεῖρα καμεῖται:

390ἱδρώσει δέ τευ ἵππος ἐύ̈ξοον ἅρμα τιταίνων.

Transliteration

ou gar pausōlē ge metessetai oud' ēbaion

ei mē nyx elthousa diakrineei menos andrōn.

hidrōsei men teu telamōn amphi stēthesphin

aspidos amphibrotēs, peri d' encheï cheira kameitai:

390hidrōsei de teu hippos eÿxoon harma titainōn.

English

for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears, your horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I

Homeric Greek

ὃν δέ κ' ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε μάχης ἐθέλοντα νοήσω

μιμνάζειν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὔ οἱ ἔπειτα

ἄρκιον ἐσσεῖται φυγέειν κύνας ἠδ' οἰωνούς.

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγ' ἴαχον ὡς ὅτε κῦμα

395ἀκτῇ ἐφ' ὑψηλῇ, ὅτε κινήσῃ Νότος ἐλθών,

Transliteration

hon de k' egōn apaneuthe machēs ethelonta noēsō

mimnazein para nēusi korōnisin, ou hoi epeita

arkion esseitai phygeein kynas ēd' oiōnous.

hōs ephat', Argeioi de meg' iachon hōs hote kyma

395aktēi eph' hypsēlēi, hote kinēsēi Notos elthōn,

English

see any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures." Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared approval. As when the waves run high before the blast of the south wind and break on some

Homeric Greek

προβλῆτι σκοπέλῳ: τὸν δ' οὔ ποτε κύματα λείπει

παντοίων ἀνέμων, ὅτ' ἂν ἔνθ' ἢ ἔνθα γένωνται.

ἀνστάντες δ' ὀρέοντο κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας,

κάπνισσάν τε κατὰ κλισίας, καὶ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο.

400ἄλλος δ' ἄλλῳ ἔρεζε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

Transliteration

problēti skopelōi: ton d' ou pote kymata leipei

pantoiōn anemōn, hot' an enth' ē entha genōntai.

anstantes d' oreonto kedasthentes kata nēas,

kapnissan te kata klisias, kai deipnon helonto.

400allos d' allōi ereze theōn aieigenetaōn

English

lofty headland, dashing against it and buffeting it without ceasing, as the storms from every quarter drive them, even so did the Achaeans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships. There they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner, offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the

Homeric Greek

εὐχόμενος θάνατόν τε φυγεῖν καὶ μῶλον Ἄρηος.

αὐτὰρ ὃ βοῦν ἱέρευσε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

πίονα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι,

κίκλησκεν δὲ γέροντας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν,

405Νέστορα μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα,

Transliteration

euchomenos thanaton te phygein kai mōlon Arēos.

autar ho boun hiereuse anax andrōn Agamemnōn

piona pentaetēron hypermeneï Kroniōni,

kiklēsken de gerontas aristēas Panachaiōn,

405Nestora men prōtista kai Idomenēa anakta,

English

gods, and praying each one of them that he might live to come out of the fight. Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat five-year-old bull to the mighty son of Kronos, and invited the princes and elders of his host. First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus, then

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' Αἴαντε δύω καὶ Τυδέος υἱόν,

ἕκτον δ' αὖτ' Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον.

αὐτόματος δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος:

ᾔδεε γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀδελφεὸν ὡς ἐπονεῖτο.

410βοῦν δὲ περιστήσαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο:

Transliteration

autar epeit' Aiante dyō kai Tydeos huion,

hekton d' aut' Odysēa Dii mētin atalanton.

automatos de hoi ēlthe boēn agathos Menelaos:

ēidee gar kata thymon adelpheon hōs eponeito.

410boun de peristēsanto kai oulochytas anelonto:

English

the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixthly Odysseus, peer of gods in counsel; but Menelaos came of his own accord, for he knew how busy his brother then was. They stood round the bull with the barley-meal in their

Homeric Greek

τοῖσιν δ' εὐχόμενος μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων:

Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε κελαινεφὲς αἰθέρι ναίων

μὴ πρὶν ἐπ' ἠέλιον δῦναι καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἐλθεῖν

πρίν με κατὰ πρηνὲς βαλέειν Πριάμοιο μέλαθρον

415αἰθαλόεν, πρῆσαι δὲ πυρὸς δηί̈οιο θύρετρα,

Transliteration

toisin d' euchomenos metephē kreiōn Agamemnōn:

Zeu kydiste megiste kelainephes aitheri naiōn

mē prin ep' ēelion dynai kai epi knephas elthein

prin me kata prēnes baleein Priamoio melathron

415aithaloen, prēsai de pyros dēïoio thyretra,

English

hands, and Agamemnon prayed, saying, "Zeus, most glorious, supreme, you who dwell in heaven, and ride upon the storm-cloud, grant that the sun may not go down, nor the night fall, till the palace of Priam is laid low, and its gates are consumed with fire.

Homeric Greek

Ἑκτόρεον δὲ χιτῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι δαί̈ξαι

χαλκῷ ῥωγαλέον: πολέες δ' ἀμφ' αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι

πρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσιν ὀδὰξ λαζοίατο γαῖαν.

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἄρα πώ οἱ ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων,

420ἀλλ' ὅ γε δέκτο μὲν ἱρά, πόνον δ' ἀμέγαρτον ὄφελλεν.

Transliteration

Hektoreon de chitōna peri stēthessi daïxai

chalkōi rhōgaleon: polees d' amph' auton hetairoi

prēnees en koniēisin odax lazoiato gaian.

hōs ephat', oud' ara pō hoi epekraiaine Kroniōn,

420all' ho ge dekto men hira, ponon d' amegarton ophellen.

English

Grant that my sword may pierce the shirt of Hektor about his heart, and that full many of his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him." Thus he prayed, but the son of Kronos would not fulfill his prayer. He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less increased their toil continually.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,

αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,

μηρούς τ' ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν

δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπ' αὐτῶν δ' ὠμοθέτησαν.

425καὶ τὰ μὲν ἂρ σχίζῃσιν ἀφύλλοισιν κατέκαιον,

Transliteration

autar epei rh' euxanto kai oulochytas probalonto,

auerysan men prōta kai esphaxan kai edeiran,

mērous t' exetamon kata te knisēi ekalypsan

diptycha poiēsantes, ep' autōn d' ōmothetēsan.

425kai ta men ar schizēisin aphylloisin katekaion,

English

When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal upon the victim, they drew back its head, killed it, and then flayed it. They cut out the thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, and set pieces of raw meat on the top of them. These they burned upon the split logs of firewood, but they spitted the inward meats, and held them in the flames to cook.

Homeric Greek

σπλάγχνα δ' ἄρ' ἀμπείραντες ὑπείρεχον Ἡφαίστοιο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρε κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,

μίστυλλόν τ' ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφ' ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,

ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.

430αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα

Transliteration

splanchna d' ar' ampeirantes hypeirechon Hēphaistoio.

autar epei kata mēre kaē kai splanchna pasanto,

mistyllon t' ara talla kai amph' obeloisin epeiran,

ōptēsan te periphradeōs, erysanto te panta.

430autar epei pausanto ponou tetykonto te daita

English

When the thigh-bones were burned, and they had tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off; then, when they had finished their work and the feast

Homeric Greek

δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐί̈σης.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ:

Ἀτρεί̈δη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,

435μηκέτι νῦν δήθ' αὖθι λεγώμεθα, μηδ' ἔτι δηρὸν

Transliteration

dainynt', oude ti thymos edeueto daitos eïsēs.

autar epei posios kai edētyos ex eron hento,

tois ara mythōn ērche Gerēnios hippota Nestōr:

Atreïdē kydiste anax andrōn Agamemnon,

435mēketi nyn dēth' authi legōmetha, mēd' eti dēron

English

was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Nestor, horseman of Gerene, began to speak. "King Agamemnon," said he, "let us not stay talking here, nor be slack in the work that heaven has put into our hands.

Homeric Greek

ἀμβαλλώμεθα ἔργον ὃ δὴ θεὸς ἐγγυαλίζει.

ἀλλ' ἄγε κήρυκες μὲν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

λαὸν κηρύσσοντες ἀγειρόντων κατὰ νῆας,

ἡμεῖς δ' ἀθρόοι ὧδε κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν

440ἴομεν ὄφρα κε θᾶσσον ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.

Transliteration

amballōmetha ergon ho dē theos engyalizei.

all' age kērykes men Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn

laon kēryssontes ageirontōn kata nēas,

hēmeis d' athrooi hōde kata straton euryn Achaiōn

440iomen ophra ke thasson egeiromen oxyn Arēa.

English

Let the heralds summon the people to gather at their several ships; we will then go about among the host, that we may begin fighting at once."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.

αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε

κηρύσσειν πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς:

οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δ' ἠγείροντο μάλ' ὦκα.

445οἳ δ' ἀμφ' Ἀτρεί̈ωνα διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες

Transliteration

hōs ephat', oud' apithēsen anax andrōn Agamemnōn.

autika kērykessi ligyphthongoisi keleuse

kēryssein polemon de karē komoōntas Achaious:

hoi men ekērysson, toi d' ēgeironto mal' ōka.

445hoi d' amph' Atreïōna diotrephees basilēes

English

Thus did he speak, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He at once sent the criers round to call the people in assembly. So they called them, and the people gathered thereon. The chiefs about the son of Atreus chose their men

Homeric Greek

θῦνον κρίνοντες, μετὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

αἰγίδ' ἔχουσ' ἐρίτιμον ἀγήρων ἀθανάτην τε,

τῆς ἑκατὸν θύσανοι παγχρύσεοι ἠερέθονται,

πάντες ἐϋπλεκέες, ἑκατόμβοιος δὲ ἕκαστος:

450σὺν τῇ παιφάσσουσα διέσσυτο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

Transliteration

thynon krinontes, meta de glaukōpis Athēnē

aigid' echous' eritimon agērōn athanatēn te,

tēs hekaton thysanoi panchryseoi ēerethontai,

pantes eÿplekees, hekatomboios de hekastos:

450syn tēi paiphassousa diessyto laon Achaiōn

English

and marshaled them, while Athena went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows neither age nor death. From it there waved a hundred tassels of pure gold, all deftly woven, and each one of them worth a hundred oxen. With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts

Homeric Greek

ὀτρύνουσ' ἰέναι: ἐν δὲ σθένος ὦρσεν ἑκάστῳ

καρδίῃ ἄλληκτον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.

τοῖσι δ' ἄφαρ πόλεμος γλυκίων γένετ' ἠὲ νέεσθαι

ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

455ἠύ̈τε πῦρ ἀί̈δηλον ἐπιφλέγει ἄσπετον ὕλην

Transliteration

otrynous' ienai: en de sthenos ōrsen hekastōi

kardiēi allēkton polemizein ēde machesthai.

toisi d' aphar polemos glykiōn genet' ēe neesthai

en nēusi glaphyrēisi philēn es patrida gaian.

455ēÿte pyr aïdēlon epiphlegei aspeton hylēn

English

of the Achaeans, urging them forward, and putting courage into the heart of each, so that he might fight and do battle without ceasing. Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than returning home in their ships. As when some great forest fire is raging

Homeric Greek

οὔρεος ἐν κορυφῇς, ἕκαθεν δέ τε φαίνεται αὐγή,

ὣς τῶν ἐρχομένων ἀπὸ χαλκοῦ θεσπεσίοιο

αἴγλη παμφανόωσα δι' αἰθέρος οὐρανὸν ἷκε.

τῶν δ' ὥς τ' ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ

460χηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων

Transliteration

oureos en koryphēis, hekathen de te phainetai augē,

hōs tōn erchomenōn apo chalkou thespesioio

aiglē pamphanoōsa di' aitheros ouranon hike.

tōn d' hōs t' ornithōn peteēnōn ethnea polla

460chēnōn ē geranōn ē kyknōn doulichodeirōn

English

upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar, even so as they marched the gleam of their armor flashed up into the firmament of heaven. They were like great flocks of geese, or cranes, or swans on the plain about

Homeric Greek

Ἀσίω ἐν λειμῶνι Καϋστρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα

ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ποτῶνται ἀγαλλόμενα πτερύγεσσι

κλαγγηδὸν προκαθιζόντων, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε λειμών,

ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων

465ἐς πεδίον προχέοντο Σκαμάνδριον: αὐτὰρ ὑπὸ χθὼν

Transliteration

Asiō en leimōni Kaÿstriou amphi rheethra

entha kai entha potōntai agallomena pterygessi

klangēdon prokathizontōn, smaragei de te leimōn,

hōs tōn ethnea polla neōn apo kai klisiaōn

465es pedion procheonto Skamandrion: autar hypo chthōn

English

the waters of Cayster, that wing their way hither and thither, glorying in the pride of flight, and crying as they settle till the fen is alive with their screaming. Even thus did their tribes pour from ships and tents on to the plain of the Skamandros, and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and horses.

Homeric Greek

σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε ποδῶν αὐτῶν τε καὶ ἵππων.

ἔσταν δ' ἐν λειμῶνι Σκαμανδρίῳ ἀνθεμόεντι

μυρίοι, ὅσσά τε φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ.

ἠύ̈τε μυιάων ἁδινάων ἔθνεα πολλὰ

470αἵ τε κατὰ σταθμὸν ποιμνήϊον ἠλάσκουσιν

Transliteration

smerdaleon konabize podōn autōn te kai hippōn.

estan d' en leimōni Skamandriōi anthemoenti

myrioi, hossa te phylla kai anthea gignetai hōrēi.

ēÿte muiaōn hadinaōn ethnea polla

470hai te kata stathmon poimnēïon ēlaskousin

English

They stood as thick upon the flower-bespangled field as leaves that bloom in season. As countless swarms of flies buzz around a herdsman's homestead in the season of spring

Homeric Greek

ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ ὅτε τε γλάγος ἄγγεα δεύει,

τόσσοι ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐν πεδίῳ ἵσταντο διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες.

τοὺς δ' ὥς τ' αἰπόλια πλατέ' αἰγῶν αἰπόλοι ἄνδρες

475ῥεῖα διακρίνωσιν ἐπεί κε νομῷ μιγέωσιν,

Transliteration

hōrēi en eiarinēi hote te glagos angea deuei,

tossoi epi Trōessi karē komoōntes Achaioi

en pediōi histanto diarraisai memaōtes.

tous d' hōs t' aipolia plate' aigōn aipoloi andres

475rheia diakrinōsin epei ke nomōi migeōsin,

English

when the pails are drenched with milk, even so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans and destroy them. The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight began, drafting them out as easily as goatherds draft their flocks when they have got mixed while feeding;

Homeric Greek

ὣς τοὺς ἡγεμόνες διεκόσμεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα

ὑσμίνην δ' ἰέναι, μετὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ὄμματα καὶ κεφαλὴν ἴκελος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ,

Ἄρεϊ δὲ ζώνην, στέρνον δὲ Ποσειδάωνι.

480ἠύ̈τε βοῦς ἀγέληφι μέγ' ἔξοχος ἔπλετο πάντων

Transliteration

hōs tous hēgemones diekosmeon entha kai entha

hysminēn d' ienai, meta de kreiōn Agamemnōn

ommata kai kephalēn ikelos Dii terpikeraunōi,

Areï de zōnēn, sternon de Poseidaōni.

480ēÿte bous agelēphi meg' exochos epleto pantōn

English

and among them went King Agamemnon, with a head and face like Zeus the lord of thunder, a waist like Ares, and a chest like that of Poseidon. As some great bull that lords it over

Homeric Greek

ταῦρος: ὃ γάρ τε βόεσσι μεταπρέπει ἀγρομένῃσι:

τοῖον ἄρ' Ἀτρεί̈δην θῆκε Ζεὺς ἤματι κείνῳ

ἐκπρεπέ' ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἔξοχον ἡρώεσσιν.

ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχουσαι:

485ὑμεῖς γὰρ θεαί ἐστε πάρεστέ τε ἴστέ τε πάντα,

Transliteration

tauros: ho gar te boessi metaprepei agromenēisi:

toion ar' Atreïdēn thēke Zeus ēmati keinōi

ekprepe' en polloisi kai exochon hērōessin.

espete nyn moi Mousai Olympia dōmat' echousai:

485hymeis gar theai este pareste te iste te panta,

English

the herds upon the plain, even so did Zeus make the son of Atreus stand peerless among the multitude of heroes. And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus, tell me - for you are goddesses and are in all places so that

Homeric Greek

ἡμεῖς δὲ κλέος οἶον ἀκούομεν οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν:

οἵ τινες ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν καὶ κοίρανοι ἦσαν:

πληθὺν δ' οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδ' ὀνομήνω,

οὐδ' εἴ μοι δέκα μὲν γλῶσσαι, δέκα δὲ στόματ' εἶεν,

490φωνὴ δ' ἄρρηκτος, χάλκεον δέ μοι ἦτορ ἐνείη,

Transliteration

hēmeis de kleos oion akouomen oude ti idmen:

hoi tines hēgemones Danaōn kai koiranoi ēsan:

plēthyn d' ouk an egō mythēsomai oud' onomēnō,

oud' ei moi deka men glōssai, deka de stomat' eien,

490phōnē d' arrēktos, chalkeon de moi ētor eneiē,

English

you see all things, while we know nothing but by report - who were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans? As for the common warriors, they were so that I could not name every single one of them though I had ten tongues, and though my voice failed not and my heart

Homeric Greek

εἰ μὴ Ὀλυμπιάδες Μοῦσαι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

θυγατέρες μνησαίαθ' ὅσοι ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον:

ἀρχοὺς αὖ νηῶν ἐρέω νῆάς τε προπάσας.

Βοιωτῶν μὲν Πηνέλεως καὶ Λήϊτος ἦρχον

495Ἀρκεσίλαός τε Προθοήνωρ τε Κλονίος τε,

Transliteration

ei mē Olympiades Mousai Dios aigiochoio

thygateres mnēsaiath' hosoi hypo Ilion ēlthon:

archous au nēōn ereō nēas te propasas.

Boiōtōn men Pēneleōs kai Lēïtos ērchon

495Arkesilaos te Prothoēnōr te Klonios te,

English

were of bronze within me, unless you, O Olympian Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, were to recount them to me. Nevertheless, I will tell the leaders of the ships and all the fleet together. Peneleos, Leitos, Arkesilaos, Prothoenor, and Klonios were leaders of the Boeotians.

Homeric Greek

οἵ θ' Ὑρίην ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐλίδα πετρήεσσαν

Σχοῖνόν τε Σκῶλόν τε πολύκνημόν τ' Ἐτεωνόν,

Θέσπειαν Γραῖάν τε καὶ εὐρύχορον Μυκαλησσόν,

οἵ τ' ἀμφ' Ἅρμ' ἐνέμοντο καὶ Εἰλέσιον καὶ Ἐρυθράς,

500οἵ τ' Ἐλεῶν' εἶχον ἠδ' Ὕλην καὶ Πετεῶνα,

Transliteration

hoi th' Hyriēn enemonto kai Aulida petrēessan

Schoinon te Skōlon te polyknēmon t' Eteōnon,

Thespeian Graian te kai eurychoron Mykalēsson,

hoi t' amph' Harm' enemonto kai Eilesion kai Erythras,

500hoi t' Eleōn' eichon ēd' Hylēn kai Peteōna,

English

These were they that dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis, and who held Schoinos, Skolos, and the highlands of Eteonos, with Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of Mykalessos. They also held Harma, Eilesium, and Erythrae; and they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon;

Homeric Greek

Ὠκαλέην Μεδεῶνά τ' ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

Κώπας Εὔτρησίν τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Θίσβην,

οἵ τε Κορώνειαν καὶ ποιήενθ' Ἁλίαρτον,

οἵ τε Πλάταιαν ἔχον ἠδ' οἳ Γλισᾶντ' ἐνέμοντο,

505οἵ θ' Ὑποθήβας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

Transliteration

Ōkaleēn Medeōna t' eÿktimenon ptoliethron,

Kōpas Eutrēsin te polytrērōna te Thisbēn,

hoi te Korōneian kai poiēenth' Haliarton,

hoi te Plataian echon ēd' hoi Glisant' enemonto,

505hoi th' Hypothēbas eichon eÿktimenon ptoliethron,

English

Ocalea and the strong fortress of Medeon; Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe the haunt of doves; Coronea, and the pastures of Haliartus; Plataea and Glisas; the fortress of Thebes the less;

Homeric Greek

Ὀγχηστόν θ' ἱερὸν Ποσιδήϊον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος,

οἵ τε πολυστάφυλον Ἄρνην ἔχον, οἵ τε Μίδειαν

Νῖσάν τε ζαθέην Ἀνθηδόνα τ' ἐσχατόωσαν:

τῶν μὲν πεντήκοντα νέες κίον, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ

510κοῦροι Βοιωτῶν ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι βαῖνον.

Transliteration

Onchēston th' hieron Posidēïon aglaon alsos,

hoi te polystaphylon Arnēn echon, hoi te Mideian

Nisan te zatheēn Anthēdona t' eschatoōsan:

tōn men pentēkonta nees kion, en de hekastēi

510kouroi Boiōtōn hekaton kai eikosi bainon.

English

holy Onchestos with its famous grove of Poseidon; Arne rich in vineyards; Midea, sacred Nisa, and Anthedon upon the sea. From these there came fifty ships, and in each there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' Ἀσπληδόνα ναῖον ἰδ' Ὀρχομενὸν Μινύειον,

τῶν ἦρχ' Ἀσκάλαφος καὶ Ἰάλμενος υἷες Ἄρηος

οὓς τέκεν Ἀστυόχη δόμῳ Ἄκτορος Ἀζεί̈δαο,

παρθένος αἰδοίη ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα

515Ἄρηϊ κρατερῷ: ὃ δέ οἱ παρελέξατο λάθρῃ:

Transliteration

hoi d' Asplēdona naion id' Orchomenon Minyeion,

tōn ērch' Askalaphos kai Ialmenos huies Arēos

hous teken Astyochē domōi Aktoros Azeïdao,

parthenos aidoiē hyperōïon eisanabasa

515Arēï kraterōi: ho de hoi parelexato lathrēi:

English

Askalaphos and Ialmenos, sons of Ares, led the people that dwelt in Aspledon and Orkhomenos the realm of Minyas. Astyoche a noble maiden bore them in the house of Aktor son of Azeus; for she had gone with Ares secretly into an upper chamber, and he had lain with her.

Homeric Greek

τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.

αὐτὰρ Φωκήων Σχεδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον

υἷες Ἰφίτου μεγαθύμου Ναυβολίδαο,

οἳ Κυπάρισσον ἔχον Πυθῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν

520Κρῖσάν τε ζαθέην καὶ Δαυλίδα καὶ Πανοπῆα,

Transliteration

tois de triēkonta glaphyrai nees estichoōnto.

autar Phōkēōn Schedios kai Epistrophos ērchon

huies Iphitou megathymou Naubolidao,

hoi Kyparisson echon Pythōna te petrēessan

520Krisan te zatheēn kai Daulida kai Panopēa,

English

With these there came thirty ships. The Phocaeans were led by Schedios and Epistrophos, sons of mighty Iphitos the son of Naubolos. These were they that held Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus;

Homeric Greek

οἵ τ' Ἀνεμώρειαν καὶ Ὑάμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο,

οἵ τ' ἄρα πὰρ ποταμὸν Κηφισὸν δῖον ἔναιον,

οἵ τε Λίλαιαν ἔχον πηγῇς ἔπι Κηφισοῖο:

τοῖς δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

525οἳ μὲν Φωκήων στίχας ἵστασαν ἀμφιέποντες,

Transliteration

hoi t' Anemōreian kai Hyampolin amphenemonto,

hoi t' ara par potamon Kēphison dion enaion,

hoi te Lilaian echon pēgēis epi Kēphisoio:

tois d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

525hoi men Phōkēōn stichas histasan amphiepontes,

English

they also that dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis, and about the waters of the river Kephissos, and Lilaea by the springs of the Kephissos; with their chieftains came forty ships, and they marshaled the forces of the Phocaeans, which were stationed next to the Boeotians, on their left.

Homeric Greek

Βοιωτῶν δ' ἔμπλην ἐπ' ἀριστερὰ θωρήσσοντο.

Λοκρῶν δ' ἡγεμόνευεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας

μείων, οὔ τι τόσος γε ὅσος Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

ἀλλὰ πολὺ μείων: ὀλίγος μὲν ἔην λινοθώρηξ,

530ἐγχείῃ δ' ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς:

Transliteration

Boiōtōn d' emplēn ep' aristera thōrēssonto.

Lokrōn d' hēgemoneuen Oïlēos tachys Aias

meiōn, ou ti tosos ge hosos Telamōnios Aias

alla poly meiōn: oligos men eēn linothōrēx,

530encheiēi d' ekekasto Panellēnas kai Achaious:

English

Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the son of Telamon. He was a little man, and his breastplate was made of linen, but in use of the spear he excelled all the Hellenes and the Achaeans.

Homeric Greek

οἳ Κῦνόν τ' ἐνέμοντ' Ὀπόεντά τε Καλλίαρόν τε

Βῆσσάν τε Σκάρφην τε καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινὰς

Τάρφην τε Θρόνιον τε Βοαγρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα:

τῷ δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο

535Λοκρῶν, οἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἱερῆς Εὐβοίης.

Transliteration

hoi Kynon t' enemont' Opoenta te Kalliaron te

Bēssan te Skarphēn te kai Augeias erateinas

Tarphēn te Thronion te Boagriou amphi rheethra:

tōi d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto

535Lokrōn, hoi naiousi perēn hierēs Euboiēs.

English

These dwelt in Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair Augeae, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrios. With him there came forty ships of the Locrians who dwell beyond Euboea.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' Εὔβοιαν ἔχον μένεα πνείοντες Ἄβαντες

Χαλκίδα τ' Εἰρέτριάν τε πολυστάφυλόν θ' Ἱστίαιαν

Κήρινθόν τ' ἔφαλον Δίου τ' αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,

οἵ τε Κάρυστον ἔχον ἠδ' οἳ Στύρα ναιετάασκον,

540τῶν αὖθ' ἡγεμόνευ' Ἐλεφήνωρ ὄζος Ἄρηος

Transliteration

hoi d' Euboian echon menea pneiontes Abantes

Chalkida t' Eiretrian te polystaphylon th' Histiaian

Kērinthon t' ephalon Diou t' aipy ptoliethron,

hoi te Karyston echon ēd' hoi Styra naietaaskon,

540tōn auth' hēgemoneu' Elephēnōr ozos Arēos

English

The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Khalkis, Eretria, Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea, and the rock-perched town of Dion; with them were also the men of Karystos and Styra; Elephenor of the race of Ares was in command of these;

Homeric Greek

Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων.

τῷ δ' ἅμ' Ἄβαντες ἕποντο θοοὶ ὄπιθεν κομόωντες

αἰχμηταὶ μεμαῶτες ὀρεκτῇσιν μελίῃσι

θώρηκας ῥήξειν δηί̈ων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι:

545τῷ δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

Transliteration

Chalkōdontiadēs megathymōn archos Abantōn.

tōi d' ham' Abantes heponto thooi opithen komoōntes

aichmētai memaōtes orektēisin meliēisi

thōrēkas rhēxein dēïōn amphi stēthessi:

545tōi d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

English

he was son of Khalkodon, and chief over all the Abantes. With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear open the corselets of their foes with their long ashen spears. Of these there came fifty ships.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' ἄρ' Ἀθήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον

δῆμον Ἐρεχθῆος μεγαλήτορος, ὅν ποτ' Ἀθήνη

θρέψε Διὸς θυγάτηρ, τέκε δὲ ζείδωρος ἄρουρα,

κὰδ δ' ἐν Ἀθήνῃς εἷσεν ἑῷ ἐν πίονι νηῷ:

550ἔνθα δέ μιν ταύροισι καὶ ἀρνειοῖς ἱλάονται

Transliteration

hoi d' ar' Athēnas eichon eÿktimenon ptoliethron

dēmon Erechthēos megalētoros, hon pot' Athēnē

threpse Dios thygatēr, teke de zeidōros aroura,

kad d' en Athēnēis heisen heōi en pioni nēōi:

550entha de min tauroisi kai arneiois hilaontai

English

And they that held the strong city of Athens, the dêmos of great Erechtheus, who was born of the soil itself, but Zeus' daughter, Athena, fostered him, and established him at Athens in her own rich sanctuary. There, year by year, the Athenian youths worship him with sacrifices of bulls and rams.

Homeric Greek

κοῦροι Ἀθηναίων περιτελλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν:

τῶν αὖθ' ἡγεμόνευ' υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς.

τῷ δ' οὔ πώ τις ὁμοῖος ἐπιχθόνιος γένετ' ἀνὴρ

κοσμῆσαι ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας:

555Νέστωρ οἶος ἔριζεν: ὃ γὰρ προγενέστερος ἦεν:

Transliteration

kouroi Athēnaiōn peritellomenōn eniautōn:

tōn auth' hēgemoneu' huios Peteōo Menestheus.

tōi d' ou pō tis homoios epichthonios genet' anēr

kosmēsai hippous te kai aneras aspidiōtas:

555Nestōr oios erizen: ho gar progenesteros ēen:

English

These were commanded by Menestheus, son of Peteos. No man living could equal him in the marshaling of chariots and foot soldiers. Nestor could alone rival him, for he was older.

Homeric Greek

τῷ δ' ἅμα πεντήκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

Αἴας δ' ἐκ Σαλαμῖνος ἄγεν δυοκαίδεκα νῆας,

στῆσε δ' ἄγων ἵν' Ἀθηναίων ἵσταντο φάλαγγες.

οἳ δ' Ἄργός τ' εἶχον Τίρυνθά τε τειχιόεσσαν

560Ἑρμιόνην Ἀσίνην τε, βαθὺν κατὰ κόλπον ἐχούσας,

Transliteration

tōi d' hama pentēkonta melainai nēes heponto.

Aias d' ek Salaminos agen dyokaideka nēas,

stēse d' agōn hin' Athēnaiōn histanto phalanges.

hoi d' Argos t' eichon Tiryntha te teichioessan

560Hermionēn Asinēn te, bathyn kata kolpon echousas,

English

With him there came fifty ships. Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis, and stationed them alongside those of the Athenians. The men of Argos, again, and those who held the walls of Tiryns, with Hermione, and Asine upon the gulf;

Homeric Greek

Τροιζῆν' Ἠϊόνας τε καὶ ἀμπελόεντ' Ἐπίδαυρον,

οἵ τ' ἔχον Αἴγιναν Μάσητά τε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,

τῶν αὖθ' ἡγεμόνευε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης

καὶ Σθένελος, Καπανῆος ἀγακλειτοῦ φίλος υἱός:

565τοῖσι δ' ἅμ' Εὐρύαλος τρίτατος κίεν ἰσόθεος φὼς

Transliteration

Troizēn' Ēïonas te kai ampeloent' Epidauron,

hoi t' echon Aiginan Masēta te kouroi Achaiōn,

tōn auth' hēgemoneue boēn agathos Diomēdēs

kai Sthenelos, Kapanēos agakleitou philos huios:

565toisi d' ham' Euryalos tritatos kien isotheos phōs

English

Trozen, Eionae, and the vineyard lands of Epidaurus; the Achaean youths, moreover, who came from Aegina and Mases; these were led by Diomedes of the loud battle-cry, and Sthenelos son of famed Kapaneus. With them in command was Euryalos, son of king Mekisteus, son of Talaos;

Homeric Greek

Μηκιστέος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος:

συμπάντων δ' ἡγεῖτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης:

τοῖσι δ' ἅμ' ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

οἳ δὲ Μυκήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον

570ἀφνειόν τε Κόρινθον ἐϋκτιμένας τε Κλεωνάς,

Transliteration

Mēkisteos huios Talaïonidao anaktos:

sympantōn d' hēgeito boēn agathos Diomēdēs:

toisi d' ham' ogdōkonta melainai nēes heponto.

hoi de Mykēnas eichon eÿktimenon ptoliethron

570aphneion te Korinthon eÿktimenas te Kleōnas,

English

but Diomedes was chief over them all. With these there came eighty ships. Those who held the strong city of Mycenae, rich Corinth and Cleonae;

Homeric Greek

Ὀρνειάς τ' ἐνέμοντο Ἀραιθυρέην τ' ἐρατεινὴν

καὶ Σικυῶν', ὅθ' ἄρ' Ἄδρηστος πρῶτ' ἐμβασίλευεν,

οἵ θ' Ὑπερησίην τε καὶ αἰπεινὴν Γονόεσσαν

Πελλήνην τ' εἶχον ἠδ' Αἴγιον ἀμφενέμοντο

575Αἰγιαλόν τ' ἀνὰ πάντα καὶ ἀμφ' Ἑλίκην εὐρεῖαν,

Transliteration

Orneias t' enemonto Araithyreēn t' erateinēn

kai Sikyōn', hoth' ar' Adrēstos prōt' embasileuen,

hoi th' Hyperēsiēn te kai aipeinēn Gonoessan

Pellēnēn t' eichon ēd' Aigion amphenemonto

575Aigialon t' ana panta kai amph' Helikēn eureian,

English

Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon, where Adrastos reigned of old; Hyperesia, high Gonoessa, and Pellene; Aegium and all the coast-land round about Helike;

Homeric Greek

τῶν ἑκατὸν νηῶν ἦρχε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

Ἀτρεί̈δης: ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι

λαοὶ ἕποντ': ἐν δ' αὐτὸς ἐδύσετο νώροπα χαλκὸν

κυδιόων, πᾶσιν δὲ μετέπρεπεν ἡρώεσσιν

580οὕνεκ' ἄριστος ἔην πολὺ δὲ πλείστους ἄγε λαούς.

Transliteration

tōn hekaton nēōn ērche kreiōn Agamemnōn

Atreïdēs: hama tōi ge poly pleistoi kai aristoi

laoi hepont': en d' autos edyseto nōropa chalkon

kydioōn, pasin de meteprepen hērōessin

580hounek' aristos eēn poly de pleistous age laous.

English

these sent a hundred ships under the command of King Agamemnon, son of Atreus. His force was far both finest and most numerous, and in their midst was the king himself, all glorious in his armor of gleaming bronze - foremost among the heroes, for he was the greatest king, and had most men under him.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' εἶχον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,

Φᾶρίν τε Σπάρτην τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Μέσσην,

Βρυσειάς τ' ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινάς,

οἵ τ' ἄρ' Ἀμύκλας εἶχον Ἕλος τ' ἔφαλον πτολίεθρον,

585οἵ τε Λάαν εἶχον ἠδ' Οἴτυλον ἀμφενέμοντο,

Transliteration

hoi d' eichon koilēn Lakedaimona kētōessan,

Pharin te Spartēn te polytrērōna te Messēn,

Bryseias t' enemonto kai Augeias erateinas,

hoi t' ar' Amyklas eichon Helos t' ephalon ptoliethron,

585hoi te Laan eichon ēd' Oitylon amphenemonto,

English

And those that dwelt in Lacedaemon, lying low among the hills, Pharis, Sparta, with Messe the haunt of doves; Bryseae, Augeae, Amyclae, and Helos upon the sea; Laas, moreover, and Oetylus;

Homeric Greek

τῶν οἱ ἀδελφεὸς ἦρχε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

ἑξήκοντα νεῶν: ἀπάτερθε δὲ θωρήσσοντο:

ἐν δ' αὐτὸς κίεν ᾗσι προθυμίῃσι πεποιθὼς

ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δέ: μάλιστα δὲ ἵετο θυμῷ

590τίσασθαι Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.

Transliteration

tōn hoi adelpheos ērche boēn agathos Menelaos

hexēkonta neōn: apaterthe de thōrēssonto:

en d' autos kien hēisi prothymiēisi pepoithōs

otrynōn polemon de: malista de hieto thymōi

590tisasthai Helenēs hormēmata te stonachas te.

English

these were led by Menelaos of the loud battle-cry, brother to Agamemnon, and of them there were sixty ships, drawn up apart from the others. Among them went Menelaos himself, strong in zeal, urging his men to fight; for he longed to avenge the toil and sorrow that he had suffered for the sake of Helen.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δὲ Πύλον τ' ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ἀρήνην ἐρατεινὴν

καὶ Θρύον Ἀλφειοῖο πόρον καὶ ἐύ̈κτιτον Αἰπὺ

καὶ Κυπαρισσήεντα καὶ Ἀμφιγένειαν ἔναιον

καὶ Πτελεὸν καὶ Ἕλος καὶ Δώριον, ἔνθά τε Μοῦσαι

595ἀντόμεναι Θάμυριν τὸν Θρήϊκα παῦσαν ἀοιδῆς

Transliteration

hoi de Pylon t' enemonto kai Arēnēn erateinēn

kai Thryon Alpheioio poron kai eÿktiton Aipy

kai Kyparissēenta kai Amphigeneian enaion

kai Pteleon kai Helos kai Dōrion, entha te Mousai

595antomenai Thamyrin ton Thrēïka pausan aoidēs

English

The men of Pylos and Arene, and Thryum where is the ford of the river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis, and Amphigenea; Pteleum, Helos, and Dorium, where the Muses met Thamyris, and stilled his minstrelsy for ever.

Homeric Greek

Οἰχαλίηθεν ἰόντα παρ' Εὐρύτου Οἰχαλιῆος:

στεῦτο γὰρ εὐχόμενος νικησέμεν εἴ περ ἂν αὐταὶ

Μοῦσαι ἀείδοιεν κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο:

αἳ δὲ χολωσάμεναι πηρὸν θέσαν, αὐτὰρ ἀοιδὴν

600θεσπεσίην ἀφέλοντο καὶ ἐκλέλαθον κιθαριστύν:

Transliteration

Oichaliēthen ionta par' Eurytou Oichaliēos:

steuto gar euchomenos nikēsemen ei per an autai

Mousai aeidoien kourai Dios aigiochoio:

hai de cholōsamenai pēron thesan, autar aoidēn

600thespesiēn aphelonto kai eklelathon kitharistyn:

English

He was returning from Oechalia, where Eurytos lived and reigned, and boasted that he would surpass even the Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, if they should sing against him; whereon they were angry, and maimed him. They robbed him of his divine power of song, and thenceforth he could strike the lyre no more.

Homeric Greek

τῶν αὖθ' ἡγεμόνευε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ:

τῷ δ' ἐνενήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.

οἳ δ' ἔχον Ἀρκαδίην ὑπὸ Κυλλήνης ὄρος αἰπὺ

Αἰπύτιον παρὰ τύμβον ἵν' ἀνέρες ἀγχιμαχηταί,

605οἳ Φενεόν τ' ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ὀρχομενὸν πολύμηλον

Transliteration

tōn auth' hēgemoneue Gerēnios hippota Nestōr:

tōi d' enenēkonta glaphyrai nees estichoōnto.

hoi d' echon Arkadiēn hypo Kyllēnēs oros aipy

Aipytion para tymbon hin' aneres anchimachētai,

605hoi Pheneon t' enemonto kai Orchomenon polymēlon

English

These were commanded by Nestor, horseman of Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships. And those that held Arcadia, under the high mountain of Cyllene, near the tomb of Aipytos, where the people fight hand to hand; the men of Pheneus also, and Orkhomenos rich in flocks;

Homeric Greek

Ῥίπην τε Στρατίην τε καὶ ἠνεμόεσσαν Ἐνίσπην

καὶ Τεγέην εἶχον καὶ Μαντινέην ἐρατεινὴν

Στύμφηλόν τ' εἶχον καὶ Παρρασίην ἐνέμοντο,

τῶν ἦρχ' Ἀγκαίοιο πάϊς κρείων Ἀγαπήνωρ

610ἑξήκοντα νεῶν: πολέες δ' ἐν νηὶ̈ ἑκάστῃ

Transliteration

Rhipēn te Stratiēn te kai ēnemoessan Enispēn

kai Tegeēn eichon kai Mantineēn erateinēn

Stymphēlon t' eichon kai Parrasiēn enemonto,

tōn ērch' Ankaioio païs kreiōn Agapēnōr

610hexēkonta neōn: polees d' en nēï hekastēi

English

of Rhipae, Stratie, and bleak Enispe; of Tegea and fair Mantinea; of Stymphelus and Parrhasia; of these King Agapenor son of Ankaios was commander, and they had sixty ships.

Homeric Greek

Ἀρκάδες ἄνδρες ἔβαινον ἐπιστάμενοι πολεμίζειν.

αὐτὸς γάρ σφιν δῶκεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους περάαν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον

Ἀτρεί̈δης, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι θαλάσσια ἔργα μεμήλει.

615οἳ δ' ἄρα Βουπράσιόν τε καὶ Ἤλιδα δῖαν ἔναιον

Transliteration

Arkades andres ebainon epistamenoi polemizein.

autos gar sphin dōken anax andrōn Agamemnōn

nēas eÿsselmous peraan epi oinopa ponton

Atreïdēs, epei ou sphi thalassia erga memēlei.

615hoi d' ara Bouprasion te kai Ēlida dian enaion

English

Many Arcadians, good warriors, came in each one of them, but Agamemnon found them the ships in which to cross the sea, for they were not a people that occupied their business upon the waters. The men, moreover, of Bouprasion and of Elis,

Homeric Greek

ὅσσον ἐφ' Ὑρμίνη καὶ Μύρσινος ἐσχατόωσα

πέτρη τ' Ὠλενίη καὶ Ἀλήσιον ἐντὸς ἐέργει,

τῶν αὖ τέσσαρες ἀρχοὶ ἔσαν, δέκα δ' ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ

νῆες ἕποντο θοαί, πολέες δ' ἔμβαινον Ἐπειοί.

620τῶν μὲν ἄρ' Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Θάλπιος ἡγησάσθην

Transliteration

hosson eph' Hyrminē kai Myrsinos eschatoōsa

petrē t' Ōleniē kai Alēsion entos eergei,

tōn au tessares archoi esan, deka d' andri hekastōi

nēes heponto thoai, polees d' embainon Epeioi.

620tōn men ar' Amphimachos kai Thalpios hēgēsasthēn

English

so much of it as is enclosed between Hyrmine, Myrsinus upon the sea-shore, the rock Olene and Alesium. These had four leaders, and each of them had ten ships, with many Epeans on board. Their leaders were Amphimakhos and Thalpios - the

Homeric Greek

υἷες ὃ μὲν Κτεάτου, ὃ δ' ἄρ' Εὐρύτου, Ἀκτορίωνε:

τῶν δ' Ἀμαρυγκεί̈δης ἦρχε κρατερὸς Διώρης:

τῶν δὲ τετάρτων ἦρχε Πολύξεινος θεοειδὴς

υἱὸς Ἀγασθένεος Αὐγηϊάδαο ἄνακτος.

625οἳ δ' ἐκ Δουλιχίοιο Ἐχινάων θ' ἱεράων

Transliteration

huies ho men Kteatou, ho d' ar' Eurytou, Aktoriōne:

tōn d' Amarynkeïdēs ērche krateros Diōrēs:

tōn de tetartōn ērche Polyxeinos theoeidēs

huios Agastheneos Augēïadao anaktos.

625hoi d' ek Doulichioio Echinaōn th' hieraōn

English

one, son of Kteatos, and the other, of Eurytos - both of the race of Aktor. The two others were Diores, son of Amarynkes, and Polyxenos, son of King Agasthenes, son of Augeas. And those of Dulichium with the sacred Echinean islands, who dwelt beyond the sea off Elis;

Homeric Greek

νήσων, αἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἁλὸς Ἤλιδος ἄντα,

τῶν αὖθ' ἡγεμόνευε Μέγης ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

Φυλεί̈δης, ὃν τίκτε Διὶ̈ φίλος ἱππότα Φυλεύς,

ὅς ποτε Δουλίχιον δ' ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς:

630τῷ δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

Transliteration

nēsōn, hai naiousi perēn halos Ēlidos anta,

tōn auth' hēgemoneue Megēs atalantos Arēï

Phyleïdēs, hon tikte Diï philos hippota Phyleus,

hos pote Doulichion d' apenassato patri cholōtheis:

630tōi d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

English

these were led by Meges, peer of Ares, and the son of valiant Phyleus, dear to Zeus, who quarreled with his father, and went to settle in Dulichium. With him there came forty ships.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἦγε Κεφαλλῆνας μεγαθύμους,

οἵ ῥ' Ἰθάκην εἶχον καὶ Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον

καὶ Κροκύλει' ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αἰγίλιπα τρηχεῖαν,

οἵ τε Ζάκυνθον ἔχον ἠδ' οἳ Σάμον ἀμφενέμοντο,

635οἵ τ' ἤπειρον ἔχον ἠδ' ἀντιπέραι' ἐνέμοντο:

Transliteration

autar Odysseus ēge Kephallēnas megathymous,

hoi rh' Ithakēn eichon kai Nēriton einosiphyllon

kai Krokylei' enemonto kai Aigilipa trēcheian,

hoi te Zakynthon echon ēd' hoi Samon amphenemonto,

635hoi t' ēpeiron echon ēd' antiperai' enemonto:

English

Odysseus led the brave Cephallenians, who held Ithaca, Neritum with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, Samos and Zacynthus, with the mainland also that was over against the islands.

Homeric Greek

τῶν μὲν Ὀδυσσεὺς ἦρχε Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντος:

τῷ δ' ἅμα νῆες ἕποντο δυώδεκα μιλτοπάρῃοι.

Αἰτωλῶν δ' ἡγεῖτο Θόας Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,

οἳ Πλευρῶν' ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ὤλενον ἠδὲ Πυλήνην

640Χαλκίδα τ' ἀγχίαλον Καλυδῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν:

Transliteration

tōn men Odysseus ērche Dii mētin atalantos:

tōi d' hama nēes heponto dyōdeka miltoparēioi.

Aitōlōn d' hēgeito Thoas Andraimonos huios,

hoi Pleurōn' enemonto kai Ōlenon ēde Pylēnēn

640Chalkida t' anchialon Kalydōna te petrēessan:

English

These were led by Odysseus, peer of Zeus in counsel, and with him there came twelve ships. Thoas, son of Andraimon, commanded the Aetolians, who dwelt in Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Khalkis by the sea, and rocky Calydon, for the

Homeric Greek

οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' Οἰνῆος μεγαλήτορος υἱέες ἦσαν,

οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτ' αὐτὸς ἔην, θάνε δὲ ξανθὸς Μελέαγρος:

τῷ δ' ἐπὶ πάντ' ἐτέταλτο ἀνασσέμεν Αἰτωλοῖσι:

τῷ δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

645Κρητῶν δ' Ἰδομενεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευεν,

Transliteration

ou gar et' Oinēos megalētoros huiees ēsan,

oud' ar' et' autos eēn, thane de xanthos Meleagros:

tōi d' epi pant' etetalto anassemen Aitōloisi:

tōi d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

645Krētōn d' Idomeneus douri klytos hēgemoneuen,

English

great king Oeneus had now no sons living, and was himself dead, as was also golden-haired Meleager, who had been set over the Aetolians to be their king. And with Thoas there came forty ships. The famous spearsman Idomeneus led the Cretans, who held Knossos, and the well-walled city of Gortys;

Homeric Greek

οἳ Κνωσόν τ' εἶχον Γόρτυνά τε τειχιόεσσαν,

Λύκτον Μίλητόν τε καὶ ἀργινόεντα Λύκαστον

Φαιστόν τε Ῥύτιόν τε, πόλεις εὖ ναιετοώσας,

ἄλλοι θ' οἳ Κρήτην ἑκατόμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο.

650τῶν μὲν ἄρ' Ἰδομενεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευε

Transliteration

hoi Knōson t' eichon Gortyna te teichioessan,

Lykton Milēton te kai arginoenta Lykaston

Phaiston te Rhytion te, poleis eu naietoōsas,

alloi th' hoi Krētēn hekatompolin amphenemonto.

650tōn men ar' Idomeneus douri klytos hēgemoneue

English

Lyktos also, Miletus and Lykastos that lies upon the chalk; the populous towns of Phaistos and Rhytium, with the other peoples that dwelt in the hundred cities of Crete. All these were led by Idomeneus, and by Meriones, peer of murderous Ares.

Homeric Greek

Μηριόνης τ' ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ:

τοῖσι δ' ἅμ' ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

Τληπόλεμος δ' Ἡρακλεί̈δης ἠύ̈ς τε μέγας τε

ἐκ Ῥόδου ἐννέα νῆας ἄγεν Ῥοδίων ἀγερώχων,

655οἳ Ῥόδον ἀμφενέμοντο διὰ τρίχα κοσμηθέντες

Transliteration

Mērionēs t' atalantos Enyaliōi andreiphontēi:

toisi d' ham' ogdōkonta melainai nēes heponto.

Tlēpolemos d' Hērakleïdēs ēÿs te megas te

ek Rhodou ennea nēas agen Rhodiōn agerōchōn,

655hoi Rhodon amphenemonto dia tricha kosmēthentes

English

And with these there came eighty ships. Tlepolemos, son of Herakles, a man both brave and large of stature, brought nine ships of lordly warriors from Rhodes. These dwelt in Rhodes which is divided among the three cities of Lindos, Ialysos, and Kameiros, that lies upon the chalk.

Homeric Greek

Λίνδον Ἰηλυσόν τε καὶ ἀργινόεντα Κάμειρον.

τῶν μὲν Τληπόλεμος δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευεν,

ὃν τέκεν Ἀστυόχεια βίῃ Ἡρακληείῃ,

τὴν ἄγετ' ἐξ Ἐφύρης ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος

660πέρσας ἄστεα πολλὰ διοτρεφέων αἰζηῶν.

Transliteration

Lindon Iēlyson te kai arginoenta Kameiron.

tōn men Tlēpolemos douri klytos hēgemoneuen,

hon teken Astyocheia biēi Hēraklēeiēi,

tēn aget' ex Ephyrēs potamou apo Sellēentos

660persas astea polla diotrepheōn aizēōn.

English

These were commanded by Tlepolemos, son of mighty Herakles and born of Astyochea, whom he had carried off from Ephyra, on the river Selleis, after sacking many cities of valiant warriors.

Homeric Greek

Τληπόλεμος δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν τράφ' ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ εὐπήκτῳ,

αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἑοῖο φίλον μήτρωα κατέκτα

ἤδη γηράσκοντα Λικύμνιον ὄζον Ἄρηος:

αἶψα δὲ νῆας ἔπηξε, πολὺν δ' ὅ γε λαὸν ἀγείρας

665βῆ φεύγων ἐπὶ πόντον: ἀπείλησαν γάρ οἱ ἄλλοι

Transliteration

Tlēpolemos d' epei oun traph' eni megarōi eupēktōi,

autika patros heoio philon mētrōa katekta

ēdē gēraskonta Likymnion ozon Arēos:

aipsa de nēas epēxe, polyn d' ho ge laon ageiras

665bē pheugōn epi ponton: apeilēsan gar hoi alloi

English

When Tlepolemos grew up, he killed his father's uncle Likymnios, who had been a famous warrior in his time, but was then grown old. On this he built himself a fleet, gathered a great following, and fled beyond the sea, for he was menaced by the other sons and grandsons of Herakles.

Homeric Greek

υἱέες υἱωνοί τε βίης Ἡρακληείης.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἐς Ῥόδον ἷξεν ἀλώμενος ἄλγεα πάσχων:

τριχθὰ δὲ ᾤκηθεν καταφυλαδόν, ἠδὲ φίληθεν

ἐκ Διός, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀνάσσει,

670καί σφιν θεσπέσιον πλοῦτον κατέχευε Κρονίων.

Transliteration

huiees huiōnoi te biēs Hēraklēeiēs.

autar ho g' es Rhodon hixen alōmenos algea paschōn:

trichtha de ōikēthen kataphyladon, ēde philēthen

ek Dios, hos te theoisi kai anthrōpoisin anassei,

670kai sphin thespesion plouton katecheue Kroniōn.

English

After a voyage. during which he suffered great hardship, he came to Rhodes, where the people divided into three communities, according to their tribes, and were dearly loved by Zeus, the lord, of gods and men; wherefore the son of Kronos showered down great riches upon them.

Homeric Greek

Νιρεὺς αὖ Σύμηθεν ἄγε τρεῖς νῆας ἐί̈σας

Νιρεὺς Ἀγλαί̈ης υἱὸς Χαρόποιό τ' ἄνακτος

Νιρεύς, ὃς κάλλιστος ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε

τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετ' ἀμύμονα Πηλεί̈ωνα:

675ἀλλ' ἀλαπαδνὸς ἔην, παῦρος δέ οἱ εἵπετο λαός.

Transliteration

Nireus au Symēthen age treis nēas eïsas

Nireus Aglaïēs huios Charopoio t' anaktos

Nireus, hos kallistos anēr hypo Ilion ēlthe

tōn allōn Danaōn met' amymona Pēleïōna:

675all' alapadnos eēn, pauros de hoi heipeto laos.

English

And Nireus brought three ships from Syme - Nireus, who was the handsomest man that came up under Ilion of all the Danaans after the son of Peleus - but he was a man of no substance, and had but a small following.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' ἄρα Νίσυρόν τ' εἶχον Κράπαθόν τε Κάσον τε

καὶ Κῶν Εὐρυπύλοιο πόλιν νήσους τε Καλύδνας,

τῶν αὖ Φείδιππός τε καὶ Ἄντιφος ἡγησάσθην

Θεσσαλοῦ υἷε δύω Ἡρακλεί̈δαο ἄνακτος:

680τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.

Transliteration

hoi d' ara Nisyron t' eichon Krapathon te Kason te

kai Kōn Eurypyloio polin nēsous te Kalydnas,

tōn au Pheidippos te kai Antiphos hēgēsasthēn

Thessalou huie dyō Hērakleïdao anaktos:

680tois de triēkonta glaphyrai nees estichoōnto.

English

And those that held Nisyrus, Carpathus, and Casus, with Cos, the city of Eurypylos, and the Calydnian islands, these were commanded by Pheidippos and Antiphos, two sons of King Thessalos the son of Herakles. And with them there came thirty ships.

Homeric Greek

νῦν αὖ τοὺς ὅσσοι τὸ Πελασγικὸν Ἄργος ἔναιον,

οἵ τ' Ἄλον οἵ τ' Ἀλόπην οἵ τε Τρηχῖνα νέμοντο,

οἵ τ' εἶχον Φθίην ἠδ' Ἑλλάδα καλλιγύναικα,

Μυρμιδόνες δὲ καλεῦντο καὶ Ἕλληνες καὶ Ἀχαιοί,

685τῶν αὖ πεντήκοντα νεῶν ἦν ἀρχὸς Ἀχιλλεύς.

Transliteration

nyn au tous hossoi to Pelasgikon Argos enaion,

hoi t' Alon hoi t' Alopēn hoi te Trēchina nemonto,

hoi t' eichon Phthiēn ēd' Hellada kalligynaika,

Myrmidones de kaleunto kai Hellēnes kai Achaioi,

685tōn au pentēkonta neōn ēn archos Achilleus.

English

Those again who held Pelasgian Argos, Alos, Alope, and Trachis; and those of Phthia and Hellas the land of fair women, who were called Myrmidons, Hellenes, and Achaeans; these had fifty ships, over which Achilles was in command.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' οἵ γ' οὐ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος ἐμνώοντο:

οὐ γὰρ ἔην ὅς τίς σφιν ἐπὶ στίχας ἡγήσαιτο:

κεῖτο γὰρ ἐν νήεσσι ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

κούρης χωόμενος Βρισηί̈δος ἠϋκόμοιο,

690τὴν ἐκ Λυρνησσοῦ ἐξείλετο πολλὰ μογήσας

Transliteration

all' hoi g' ou polemoio dysēcheos emnōonto:

ou gar eēn hos tis sphin epi stichas hēgēsaito:

keito gar en nēessi podarkēs dios Achilleus

kourēs chōomenos Brisēïdos ēÿkomoio,

690tēn ek Lyrnēssou exeileto polla mogēsas

English

But they now took no part in the war, inasmuch as there was no one to marshal them; for Achilles stayed by his ships, furious about the loss of the girl Briseis, whom he had taken from Lyrnessos at his own great peril, when he had sacked Lyrnessos and Thebe,

Homeric Greek

Λυρνησσὸν διαπορθήσας καὶ τείχεα Θήβης,

κὰδ δὲ Μύνητ' ἔβαλεν καὶ Ἐπίστροφον ἐγχεσιμώρους,

υἱέας Εὐηνοῖο Σεληπιάδαο ἄνακτος:

τῆς ὅ γε κεῖτ' ἀχέων, τάχα δ' ἀνστήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν.

695οἳ δ' εἶχον Φυλάκην καὶ Πύρασον ἀνθεμόεντα

Transliteration

Lyrnēsson diaporthēsas kai teichea Thēbēs,

kad de Mynēt' ebalen kai Epistrophon enchesimōrous,

huieas Euēnoio Selēpiadao anaktos:

tēs ho ge keit' acheōn, tacha d' anstēsesthai emellen.

695hoi d' eichon Phylakēn kai Pyrason anthemoenta

English

and had overthrown Mynes and Epistrophos, sons of king Euenor, son of Selepus. For her sake Achilles was still in grief, but ere long he was again to join them. And those that held Phylake and the flowery meadows of Pyrasus, sanctuary of Demeter ;

Homeric Greek

Δήμητρος τέμενος, Ἴτωνά τε μητέρα μήλων,

ἀγχίαλόν τ' Ἀντρῶνα ἰδὲ Πτελεὸν λεχεποίην,

τῶν αὖ Πρωτεσίλαος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε

ζωὸς ἐών: τότε δ' ἤδη ἔχεν κάτα γαῖα μέλαινα.

700τοῦ δὲ καὶ ἀμφιδρυφὴς ἄλοχος Φυλάκῃ ἐλέλειπτο

Transliteration

Dēmētros temenos, Itōna te mētera mēlōn,

anchialon t' Antrōna ide Pteleon lechepoiēn,

tōn au Prōtesilaos arēïos hēgemoneue

zōos eōn: tote d' ēdē echen kata gaia melaina.

700tou de kai amphidryphēs alochos Phylakēi eleleipto

English

Iton, the mother of sheep; Antrum upon the sea, and Pteleum that lies upon the grass lands. Of these brave Protesilaos had been leader while he was yet alive, but he was now lying under the earth. He had left a wife behind him in Phylake to tear her cheeks

Homeric Greek

καὶ δόμος ἡμιτελής: τὸν δ' ἔκτανε Δάρδανος ἀνὴρ

νηὸς ἀποθρῴσκοντα πολὺ πρώτιστον Ἀχαιῶν.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ' οἳ ἄναρχοι ἔσαν, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἀρχόν:

ἀλλά σφεας κόσμησε Ποδάρκης ὄζος Ἄρηος

705Ἰφίκλου υἱὸς πολυμήλου Φυλακίδαο

Transliteration

kai domos hēmitelēs: ton d' ektane Dardanos anēr

nēos apothrōiskonta poly prōtiston Achaiōn.

oude men oud' hoi anarchoi esan, potheon ge men archon:

alla spheas kosmēse Podarkēs ozos Arēos

705Iphiklou huios polymēlou Phylakidao

English

in sorrow, and his house was only half finished, for he was slain by a Dardanian warrior while leaping foremost of the Achaeans upon the soil of Troy. Still, though his people mourned their chieftain, they were not without a leader, for Podarkes, of the race of Ares, marshaled them; he was son of Iphiklos, rich in sheep, who was

Homeric Greek

αὐτοκασίγνητος μεγαθύμου Πρωτεσιλάου

ὁπλότερος γενεῇ: ὁ δ' ἅμα πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων

ἥρως Πρωτεσίλαος ἀρήϊος: οὐδέ τι λαοὶ

δεύονθ' ἡγεμόνος, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα:

710τῷ δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

Transliteration

autokasignētos megathymou Prōtesilaou

hoploteros geneēi: ho d' hama proteros kai areiōn

hērōs Prōtesilaos arēïos: oude ti laoi

deuonth' hēgemonos, potheon ge men esthlon eonta:

710tōi d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

English

the son of Phylakos, and he was own brother to Protesilaos, only younger, Protesilaos being at once the elder and the more valiant. So the people were not without a leader, though they mourned him whom they had lost. With him there came forty ships.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δὲ Φερὰς ἐνέμοντο παραὶ Βοιβηί̈δα λίμνην

Βοίβην καὶ Γλαφύρας καὶ ἐϋκτιμένην Ἰαωλκόν,

τῶν ἦρχ' Ἀδμήτοιο φίλος πάϊς ἕνδεκα νηῶν

Εὔμηλος, τὸν ὑπ' Ἀδμήτῳ τέκε δῖα γυναικῶν

715Ἄλκηστις Πελίαο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη.

Transliteration

hoi de Pheras enemonto parai Boibēïda limnēn

Boibēn kai Glaphyras kai eÿktimenēn Iaōlkon,

tōn ērch' Admētoio philos païs hendeka nēōn

Eumēlos, ton hyp' Admētōi teke dia gynaikōn

715Alkēstis Peliao thygatrōn eidos aristē.

English

And those that held Pherai by the Boebean lake, with Boebe, Glaphyrae, and the populous city of Iolkos, these with their eleven ships were led by Eumelos, son of Admetos, whom Alcestis bore to him, loveliest of the daughters of Pelias.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' ἄρα Μηθώνην καὶ Θαυμακίην ἐνέμοντο

καὶ Μελίβοιαν ἔχον καὶ Ὀλιζῶνα τρηχεῖαν,

τῶν δὲ Φιλοκτήτης ἦρχεν τόξων ἐὺ̈ εἰδὼς

ἑπτὰ νεῶν: ἐρέται δ' ἐν ἑκάστῃ πεντήκοντα

720ἐμβέβασαν τόξων εὖ εἰδότες ἶφι μάχεσθαι.

Transliteration

hoi d' ara Mēthōnēn kai Thaumakiēn enemonto

kai Meliboian echon kai Olizōna trēcheian,

tōn de Philoktētēs ērchen toxōn eÿ eidōs

hepta neōn: eretai d' en hekastēi pentēkonta

720embebasan toxōn eu eidotes iphi machesthai.

English

And those that held Methone and Thaumacia, with Meliboia and rugged Olizon, these were led by the skillful archer Philoctetes, and they had seven ships, each with fifty oarsmen all of them good archers;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖτο κρατέρ' ἄλγεα πάσχων

Λήμνῳ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ, ὅθι μιν λίπον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

ἕλκεϊ μοχθίζοντα κακῷ ὀλοόφρονος ὕδρου:

ἔνθ' ὅ γε κεῖτ' ἀχέων: τάχα δὲ μνήσεσθαι ἔμελλον

725Ἀργεῖοι παρὰ νηυσὶ Φιλοκτήταο ἄνακτος.

Transliteration

all' ho men en nēsōi keito krater' algea paschōn

Lēmnōi en ēgatheēi, hothi min lipon huies Achaiōn

helkeï mochthizonta kakōi oloophronos hydrou:

enth' ho ge keit' acheōn: tacha de mnēsesthai emellon

725Argeioi para nēusi Philoktētao anaktos.

English

but Philoctetes was lying in great pain in the Island of Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaeans left him, for he had been bitten by a poisonous water snake. There he lay sick and in grief, and full soon did the Argives come to miss him.

Homeric Greek

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ' οἳ ἄναρχοι ἔσαν, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἀρχόν:

ἀλλὰ Μέδων κόσμησεν Ὀϊλῆος νόθος υἱός,

τόν ῥ' ἔτεκεν Ῥήνη ὑπ' Ὀϊλῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ.

οἳ δ' εἶχον Τρίκκην καὶ Ἰθώμην κλωμακόεσσαν,

730οἵ τ' ἔχον Οἰχαλίην πόλιν Εὐρύτου Οἰχαλιῆος,

Transliteration

oude men oud' hoi anarchoi esan, potheon ge men archon:

alla Medōn kosmēsen Oïlēos nothos huios,

ton rh' eteken Rhēnē hyp' Oïlēï ptoliporthōi.

hoi d' eichon Trikkēn kai Ithōmēn klōmakoessan,

730hoi t' echon Oichaliēn polin Eurytou Oichaliēos,

English

But his people, though they felt his loss were not leaderless, for Medon, the bastard son of Oileus by Rhene, set them in array. Those, again, of Tricca and the stony region of Ithome, and they that held Oechalia, the city of Oechalian

Homeric Greek

τῶν αὖθ' ἡγείσθην Ἀσκληπιοῦ δύο παῖδε

ἰητῆρ' ἀγαθὼ Ποδαλείριος ἠδὲ Μαχάων:

τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.

οἳ δ' ἔχον Ὀρμένιον, οἵ τε κρήνην Ὑπέρειαν,

735οἵ τ' ἔχον Ἀστέριον Τιτάνοιό τε λευκὰ κάρηνα,

Transliteration

tōn auth' hēgeisthēn Asklēpiou dyo paide

iētēr' agathō Podaleirios ēde Machaōn:

tois de triēkonta glaphyrai nees estichoōnto.

hoi d' echon Ormenion, hoi te krēnēn Hypereian,

735hoi t' echon Asterion Titanoio te leuka karēna,

English

Eurytos, these were commanded by the two sons of Asklepios, skilled in the art of healing, Podaleirios and Machaon. And with them there came thirty ships. The men, moreover, of Ormenios, and by the fountain of Hypereia, with those that held Asterios, and the white

Homeric Greek

τῶν ἦρχ' Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός:

τῷ δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

οἳ δ' Ἄργισσαν ἔχον καὶ Γυρτώνην ἐνέμοντο,

Ὄρθην Ἠλώνην τε πόλιν τ' Ὀλοοσσόνα λευκήν,

740τῶν αὖθ' ἡγεμόνευε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης

Transliteration

tōn ērch' Eurypylos Euaimonos aglaos huios:

tōi d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

hoi d' Argissan echon kai Gyrtōnēn enemonto,

Orthēn Ēlōnēn te polin t' Oloossona leukēn,

740tōn auth' hēgemoneue meneptolemos Polypoitēs

English

crests of Titanus, these were led by Eurypylos, the son of Euaemon, and with them there came forty ships. Those that held Argissa and Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone, and the white city of Oloosson, of these brave Polypoites was leader.

Homeric Greek

υἱὸς Πειριθόοιο τὸν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς:

τόν ῥ' ὑπὸ Πειριθόῳ τέκετο κλυτὸς Ἱπποδάμεια

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε Φῆρας ἐτίσατο λαχνήεντας,

τοὺς δ' ἐκ Πηλίου ὦσε καὶ Αἰθίκεσσι πέλασσεν:

745οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος

Transliteration

huios Peirithooio ton athanatos teketo Zeus:

ton rh' hypo Peirithoōi teketo klytos Hippodameia

ēmati tōi hote Phēras etisato lachnēentas,

tous d' ek Pēliou ōse kai Aithikessi pelassen:

745ouk oios, hama tōi ge Leonteus ozos Arēos

English

He was son of Peirithoos, who was son of Zeus himself, for Hippodameia bore him to Peirithoos on the day when he took his revenge on the shaggy mountain savages and drove them from Mount Pelion to the Aithikes. But Polypoites was not sole in command, for with him

Homeric Greek

υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο Κορώνου Καινεί̈δαο:

τοῖς δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

Γουνεὺς δ' ἐκ Κύφου ἦγε δύω καὶ εἴκοσι νῆας:

τῷ δ' Ἐνιῆνες ἕποντο μενεπτόλεμοί τε Περαιβοὶ

750οἳ περὶ Δωδώνην δυσχείμερον οἰκί' ἔθεντο,

Transliteration

huios hyperthymoio Korōnou Kaineïdao:

tois d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

Gouneus d' ek Kyphou ēge dyō kai eikosi nēas:

tōi d' Eniēnes heponto meneptolemoi te Peraiboi

750hoi peri Dōdōnēn dyscheimeron oiki' ethento,

English

was Leonteus, of the race of Ares, who was son of Koronos, the son of Kaineus. And with these there came forty ships. Guneus brought two and twenty ships from Cyphus, and he was followed by the Enienes and the valiant Peraebi, who dwelt about wintry Dodona, and held the

Homeric Greek

οἵ τ' ἀμφ' ἱμερτὸν Τιταρησσὸν ἔργα νέμοντο

ὅς ῥ' ἐς Πηνειὸν προί̈ει καλλίρροον ὕδωρ,

οὐδ' ὅ γε Πηνειῷ συμμίσγεται ἀργυροδίνῃ,

ἀλλά τέ μιν καθύπερθεν ἐπιρρέει ἠύ̈τ' ἔλαιον:

755ὅρκου γὰρ δεινοῦ Στυγὸς ὕδατός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ.

Transliteration

hoi t' amph' himerton Titarēsson erga nemonto

hos rh' es Pēneion proïei kallirroon hydōr,

oud' ho ge Pēneiōi symmisgetai argyrodinēi,

alla te min kathyperthen epirreei ēÿt' elaion:

755horkou gar deinou Stygos hydatos estin aporrōx.

English

lands round the lovely river Titaresios, which sends its waters into the Peneus. They do not mingle with the silver eddies of the Peneus, but flow on the top of them like oil; for the Titaresios is a branch of dread Orcus and of the river Styx.

Homeric Greek

Μαγνήτων δ' ἦρχε Πρόθοος Τενθρηδόνος υἱός,

οἳ περὶ Πηνειὸν καὶ Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον

ναίεσκον: τῶν μὲν Πρόθοος θοὸς ἡγεμόνευε,

τῷ δ' ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

760οὗτοι ἄρ' ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν καὶ κοίρανοι ἦσαν:

Transliteration

Magnētōn d' ērche Prothoos Tenthrēdonos huios,

hoi peri Pēneion kai Pēlion einosiphyllon

naieskon: tōn men Prothoos thoos hēgemoneue,

tōi d' hama tessarakonta melainai nēes heponto.

760houtoi ar' hēgemones Danaōn kai koiranoi ēsan:

English

Of the Magnetes, Prothoos son of Tenthredon was commander. They were they that dwelt about the river Peneus and Mount Pelion. Prothoos, fleet of foot, was their leader, and with him there came forty ships. Such were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans.

Homeric Greek

τίς τὰρ τῶν ὄχ' ἄριστος ἔην σύ μοι ἔννεπε Μοῦσα

αὐτῶν ἠδ' ἵππων, οἳ ἅμ' Ἀτρεί̈δῃσιν ἕποντο.

ἵπποι μὲν μέγ' ἄρισται ἔσαν Φηρητιάδαο,

τὰς Εὔμηλος ἔλαυνε ποδώκεας ὄρνιθας ὣς

765ὄτριχας οἰέτεας σταφύλῇ ἐπὶ νῶτον ἐί̈σας:

Transliteration

tis tar tōn och' aristos eēn sy moi ennepe Mousa

autōn ēd' hippōn, hoi ham' Atreïdēisin heponto.

hippoi men meg' aristai esan Phērētiadao,

tas Eumēlos elaune podōkeas ornithas hōs

765otrichas oieteas staphylēi epi nōton eïsas:

English

Who, then, O Muse, was the foremost, whether man or horse, among those that followed after the sons of Atreus? Of the horses, those of the son of Pheres were by far the finest. They were driven by Eumelos, and were as fleet as birds. They were of the same age and color, and perfectly matched in height.

Homeric Greek

τὰς ἐν Πηρείῃ θρέψ' ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων

ἄμφω θηλείας, φόβον Ἄρηος φορεούσας.

ἀνδρῶν αὖ μέγ' ἄριστος ἔην Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

ὄφρ' Ἀχιλεὺς μήνιεν: ὃ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατος ἦεν,

770ἵπποι θ' οἳ φορέεσκον ἀμύμονα Πηλεί̈ωνα.

Transliteration

tas en Pēreiēi threps' argyrotoxos Apollōn

amphō thēleias, phobon Arēos phoreousas.

andrōn au meg' aristos eēn Telamōnios Aias

ophr' Achileus mēnien: ho gar poly phertatos ēen,

770hippoi th' hoi phoreeskon amymona Pēleïōna.

English

Apollo, of the silver bow, had bred them in Perea - both of them mares, and terrible as Ares in battle. Of the men, Ajax, son of Telamon, was much the foremost so long as Achilles' anger lasted, for Achilles excelled him greatly and he had also better horses;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι

κεῖτ' ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν

Ἀτρεί̈δῃ: λαοὶ δὲ παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης

δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες

775τόξοισίν θ': ἵπποι δὲ παρ' ἅρμασιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος

Transliteration

all' ho men en nēessi korōnisi pontoporoisi

keit' apomēnisas Agamemnoni poimeni laōn

Atreïdēi: laoi de para rhēgmini thalassēs

diskoisin terponto kai aiganeēisin hientes

775toxoisin th': hippoi de par' harmasin hoisin hekastos

English

but Achilles was now holding aloof at his ships by reason of his quarrel with Agamemnon, and his people passed their time upon the sea shore, throwing discs or aiming with spears at a mark, and in archery.

Homeric Greek

λωτὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι ἐλεόθρεπτόν τε σέλινον

ἕστασαν: ἅρματα δ' εὖ πεπυκασμένα κεῖτο ἀνάκτων

ἐν κλισίῃς: οἳ δ' ἀρχὸν ἀρηί̈φιλον ποθέοντες

φοίτων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κατὰ στρατὸν οὐδὲ μάχοντο.

780οἳ δ' ἄρ' ἴσαν ὡς εἴ τε πυρὶ χθὼν πᾶσα νέμοιτο:

Transliteration

lōton ereptomenoi eleothrepton te selinon

hestasan: harmata d' eu pepykasmena keito anaktōn

en klisiēis: hoi d' archon arēïphilon potheontes

phoitōn entha kai entha kata straton oude machonto.

780hoi d' ar' isan hōs ei te pyri chthōn pasa nemoito:

English

Their horses stood each by his own chariot, champing lotus and wild celery. The chariots were housed under cover, but their owners, for lack of leadership, wandered hither and thither about the host and went not forth to fight. Thus marched the host like a consuming fire, and

Homeric Greek

γαῖα δ' ὑπεστενάχιζε Διὶ ὣς τερπικεραύνῳ

χωομένῳ ὅτε τ' ἀμφὶ Τυφωέϊ γαῖαν ἱμάσσῃ

εἰν Ἀρίμοις, ὅθι φασὶ Τυφωέος ἔμμεναι εὐνάς:

ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὑπὸ ποσσὶ μέγα στεναχίζετο γαῖα

785ἐρχομένων: μάλα δ' ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο.

Transliteration

gaia d' hypestenachize Dii hōs terpikeraunōi

chōomenōi hote t' amphi Typhōeï gaian himassēi

ein Arimois, hothi phasi Typhōeos emmenai eunas:

hōs ara tōn hypo possi mega stenachizeto gaia

785erchomenōn: mala d' ōka dieprēsson pedioio.

English

the earth groaned beneath them when the lord of thunder is angry and lashes the land about Typhoeus among the Arimi, where they say Typhoeus lies. Even so did the earth groan beneath them as they sped over the plain.

Homeric Greek

Τρωσὶν δ' ἄγγελος ἦλθε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις

πὰρ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο σὺν ἀγγελίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ:

οἳ δ' ἀγορὰς ἀγόρευον ἐπὶ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι

πάντες ὁμηγερέες ἠμὲν νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες:

790ἀγχοῦ δ' ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις:

Transliteration

Trōsin d' angelos ēlthe podēnemos ōkea Iris

par Dios aigiochoio syn angeliēi alegeinēi:

hoi d' agoras agoreuon epi Priamoio thyrēisi

pantes homēgerees ēmen neoi ēde gerontes:

790anchou d' histamenē prosephē podas ōkea Iris:

English

And now Iris, fleet as the wind, was sent by Zeus to tell the bad news among the Trojans. They were gathered in assembly, old and young, at Priam's gates, and Iris came close up to Priam, speaking

Homeric Greek

εἴσατο δὲ φθογγὴν υἷϊ Πριάμοιο Πολίτῃ,

ὃς Τρώων σκοπὸς ἷζε ποδωκείῃσι πεποιθὼς

τύμβῳ ἐπ' ἀκροτάτῳ Αἰσυήταο γέροντος,

δέγμενος ὁππότε ναῦφιν ἀφορμηθεῖεν Ἀχαιοί:

795τῷ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις:

Transliteration

eisato de phthongēn huiï Priamoio Politēi,

hos Trōōn skopos hize podōkeiēisi pepoithōs

tymbōi ep' akrotatōi Aisyētao gerontos,

degmenos hoppote nauphin aphormētheien Achaioi:

795tōi min eeisamenē prosephē podas ōkea Iris:

English

with the voice of Priam's son Polites, who, being fleet of foot, was stationed as watchman for the Trojans on the tomb of old Aisyetes, to look out for any sally of the Achaeans. In his likeness Iris spoke, saying, "Old man, you talk idly, as in time of peace, while war is at hand.

Homeric Greek

ὦ γέρον αἰεί τοι μῦθοι φίλοι ἄκριτοί εἰσιν,

ὥς ποτ' ἐπ' εἰρήνης: πόλεμος δ' ἀλίαστος ὄρωρεν.

ἤδη μὲν μάλα πολλὰ μάχας εἰσήλυθον ἀνδρῶν,

ἀλλ' οὔ πω τοιόνδε τοσόνδέ τε λαὸν ὄπωπα:

800λίην γὰρ φύλλοισιν ἐοικότες ἢ ψαμάθοισιν

Transliteration

ō geron aiei toi mythoi philoi akritoi eisin,

hōs pot' ep' eirēnēs: polemos d' aliastos orōren.

ēdē men mala polla machas eisēlython andrōn,

all' ou pō toionde tosonde te laon opōpa:

800liēn gar phylloisin eoikotes ē psamathoisin

English

I have been in many a battle, but never yet saw such a host as is now advancing. They are crossing the plain to attack the city as thick as leaves or as the sands of the sea.

Homeric Greek

ἔρχονται πεδίοιο μαχησόμενοι προτὶ ἄστυ.

Ἕκτορ σοὶ δὲ μάλιστ' ἐπιτέλλομαι, ὧδε δὲ ῥέξαι:

πολλοὶ γὰρ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμου ἐπίκουροι,

ἄλλη δ' ἄλλων γλῶσσα πολυσπερέων ἀνθρώπων:

805τοῖσιν ἕκαστος ἀνὴρ σημαινέτω οἷσί περ ἄρχει,

Transliteration

erchontai pedioio machēsomenoi proti asty.

Hektor soi de malist' epitellomai, hōde de rhexai:

polloi gar kata asty mega Priamou epikouroi,

allē d' allōn glōssa polyspereōn anthrōpōn:

805toisin hekastos anēr sēmainetō hoisi per archei,

English

Hektor, I charge you above all others, do as I say. There are many allies dispersed about the city of Priam from distant places and speaking divers tongues. Therefore, let each chief give orders to his own people, setting them severally in array and leading them forth to battle."

Homeric Greek

τῶν δ' ἐξηγείσθω κοσμησάμενος πολιήτας.

ὣς ἔφαθ', Ἕκτωρ δ' οὔ τι θεᾶς ἔπος ἠγνοίησεν,

αἶψα δ' ἔλυσ' ἀγορήν: ἐπὶ τεύχεα δ' ἐσσεύοντο:

πᾶσαι δ' ὠί̈γνυντο πύλαι, ἐκ δ' ἔσσυτο λαὸς

810πεζοί θ' ἱππῆές τε: πολὺς δ' ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.

Transliteration

tōn d' exēgeisthō kosmēsamenos poliētas.

hōs ephath', Hektōr d' ou ti theas epos ēgnoiēsen,

aipsa d' elys' agorēn: epi teuchea d' esseuonto:

pasai d' ōïgnynto pylai, ek d' essyto laos

810pezoi th' hippēes te: polys d' orymagdos orōrei.

English

Thus she spoke, but Hektor knew that it was the goddess, and at once broke up the assembly. The men flew to arms; all the gates were opened, and the people thronged through them, horse and foot, with the tramp as of a great multitude.

Homeric Greek

ἔστι δέ τις προπάροιθε πόλιος αἰπεῖα κολώνη

ἐν πεδίῳ ἀπάνευθε περίδρομος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

τὴν ἤτοι ἄνδρες Βατίειαν κικλήσκουσιν,

ἀθάνατοι δέ τε σῆμα πολυσκάρθμοιο Μυρίνης:

815ἔνθα τότε Τρῶές τε διέκριθεν ἠδ' ἐπίκουροι.

Transliteration

esti de tis proparoithe polios aipeia kolōnē

en pediōi apaneuthe peridromos entha kai entha,

tēn ētoi andres Batieian kiklēskousin,

athanatoi de te sēma polyskarthmoio Myrinēs:

815entha tote Trōes te diekrithen ēd' epikouroi.

English

Now there is a high mound before the city, rising by itself upon the plain. Men call it Batieia, but the gods know that it is the tomb of lithe Myrrhine. Here the Trojans and their allies divided their forces.

Homeric Greek

Τρωσὶ μὲν ἡγεμόνευε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

Πριαμίδης: ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι

λαοὶ θωρήσσοντο μεμαότες ἐγχείῃσι.

Δαρδανίων αὖτ' ἦρχεν ἐὺ̈ς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο

820Αἰνείας, τὸν ὑπ' Ἀγχίσῃ τέκε δῖ' Ἀφροδίτη

Transliteration

Trōsi men hēgemoneue megas korythaiolos Hektōr

Priamidēs: hama tōi ge poly pleistoi kai aristoi

laoi thōrēssonto memaotes encheiēisi.

Dardaniōn aut' ērchen eÿs païs Anchisao

820Aineias, ton hyp' Anchisēi teke di' Aphroditē

English

Priam's son, great Hektor of the gleaming helmet, commanded the Trojans, and with him were arrayed by far the greater number and most valiant of those who were longing for the fray. The Dardanians were led by brave Aeneas, whom Aphrodite bore to Anchises, when she, goddess though she was, had lain with him upon the mountain slopes of Ida.

Homeric Greek

Ἴδης ἐν κνημοῖσι θεὰ βροτῷ εὐνηθεῖσα,

οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω Ἀντήνορος υἷε

Ἀρχέλοχός τ' Ἀκάμας τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.

οἳ δὲ Ζέλειαν ἔναιον ὑπαὶ πόδα νείατον Ἴδης

825ἀφνειοὶ πίνοντες ὕδωρ μέλαν Αἰσήποιο

Transliteration

Idēs en knēmoisi thea brotōi eunētheisa,

ouk oios, hama tōi ge dyō Antēnoros huie

Archelochos t' Akamas te machēs eu eidote pasēs.

hoi de Zeleian enaion hypai poda neiaton Idēs

825aphneioi pinontes hydōr melan Aisēpoio

English

He was not alone, for with him were the two sons of Antenor, Archilokhos and Akamas, both skilled in all the arts of war. They that dwelt in Telea under the lowest spurs of Mount Ida, men of substance, who drink the limpid waters of the

Homeric Greek

Τρῶες, τῶν αὖτ' ἦρχε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς

Πάνδαρος, ᾧ καὶ τόξον Ἀπόλλων αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν.

οἳ δ' Ἀδρήστειάν τ' εἶχον καὶ δῆμον Ἀπαισοῦ

καὶ Πιτύειαν ἔχον καὶ Τηρείης ὄρος αἰπύ,

830τῶν ἦρχ' Ἄδρηστός τε καὶ Ἄμφιος λινοθώρηξ

Transliteration

Trōes, tōn aut' ērche Lykaonos aglaos huios

Pandaros, hōi kai toxon Apollōn autos edōken.

hoi d' Adrēsteian t' eichon kai dēmon Apaisou

kai Pityeian echon kai Tēreiēs oros aipy,

830tōn ērch' Adrēstos te kai Amphios linothōrēx

English

Aesepos, and are of Trojan blood - these were led by Pandaros son of Lykaon, whom Apollo had taught to use the bow. They that held Adrasteia and the district of Apaesus, with Pityeia, and the high mountain of Tereia - these were led by Adrastos and Amphios, whose breastplate was of linen.

Homeric Greek

υἷε δύω Μέροπος Περκωσίου, ὃς περὶ πάντων

ᾔδεε μαντοσύνας, οὐδὲ οὓς παῖδας ἔασκε

στείχειν ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα: τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τι

πειθέσθην: κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο.

835οἳ δ' ἄρα Περκώτην καὶ Πράκτιον ἀμφενέμοντο

Transliteration

huie dyō Meropos Perkōsiou, hos peri pantōn

ēidee mantosynas, oude hous paidas easke

steichein es polemon phthisēnora: tō de hoi ou ti

peithesthēn: kēres gar agon melanos thanatoio.

835hoi d' ara Perkōtēn kai Praktion amphenemonto

English

These were the sons of Merops of Perkote, who excelled in all kinds of divination. He told them not to take part in the war, but they gave him no heed, for fate lured them to destruction. They that dwelt about Perkote and Praktios, with Sestos, Abydos,

Homeric Greek

καὶ Σηστὸν καὶ Ἄβυδον ἔχον καὶ δῖαν Ἀρίσβην,

τῶν αὖθ' Ὑρτακίδης ἦρχ' Ἄσιος ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,

Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης ὃν Ἀρίσβηθεν φέρον ἵπποι

αἴθωνες μεγάλοι ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.

840Ἱππόθοος δ' ἄγε φῦλα Πελασγῶν ἐγχεσιμώρων

Transliteration

kai Sēston kai Abydon echon kai dian Arisbēn,

tōn auth' Hyrtakidēs ērch' Asios orchamos andrōn,

Asios Hyrtakidēs hon Arisbēthen pheron hippoi

aithōnes megaloi potamou apo Sellēentos.

840Hippothoos d' age phyla Pelasgōn enchesimōrōn

English

and Arisbe - these were led by Asios, son of Hyrtakos, a brave commander - Asios, the son of Hyrtakos, whom his powerful dark bay steeds, of the breed that comes from the river Selleis, had brought from Arisbe. Hippothoos led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen, who

Homeric Greek

τῶν οἳ Λάρισαν ἐριβώλακα ναιετάασκον:

τῶν ἦρχ' Ἱππόθοός τε Πύλαιός τ' ὄζος Ἄρηος,

υἷε δύω Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ Τευταμίδαο.

αὐτὰρ Θρήϊκας ἦγ' Ἀκάμας καὶ Πείροος ἥρως

845ὅσσους Ἑλλήσποντος ἀγάρροος ἐντὸς ἐέργει.

Transliteration

tōn hoi Larisan eribōlaka naietaaskon:

tōn ērch' Hippothoos te Pylaios t' ozos Arēos,

huie dyō Lēthoio Pelasgou Teutamidao.

autar Thrēïkas ēg' Akamas kai Peiroos hērōs

845hossous Hellēspontos agarroos entos eergei.

English

dwelt in fertile Larissa - Hippothoos, and Pylaios of the race of Ares, two sons of the Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus. Akamas and the warrior Peirous commanded the Thracians and those that came from beyond the mighty stream of the Hellespont.

Homeric Greek

Εὔφημος δ' ἀρχὸς Κικόνων ἦν αἰχμητάων

υἱὸς Τροιζήνοιο διοτρεφέος Κεάδαο.

αὐτὰρ Πυραίχμης ἄγε Παίονας ἀγκυλοτόξους

τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπ' Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος,

850Ἀξιοῦ οὗ κάλλιστον ὕδωρ ἐπικίδναται αἶαν.

Transliteration

Euphēmos d' archos Kikonōn ēn aichmētaōn

huios Troizēnoio diotrepheos Keadao.

autar Pyraichmēs age Paionas ankylotoxous

tēlothen ex Amydōnos ap' Axiou eury rheontos,

850Axiou hou kalliston hydōr epikidnatai aian.

English

Euphemos, son of Troizenos, the son of Ceos, was leader of the Ciconian spearsmen. Pyraikhmes led the Paeonian archers from distant Amydon, by the broad waters of the river Axios, the fairest that flow upon the earth.

Homeric Greek

Παφλαγόνων δ' ἡγεῖτο Πυλαιμένεος λάσιον κῆρ

ἐξ Ἐνετῶν, ὅθεν ἡμιόνων γένος ἀγροτεράων,

οἵ ῥα Κύτωρον ἔχον καὶ Σήσαμον ἀμφενέμοντο

ἀμφί τε Παρθένιον ποταμὸν κλυτὰ δώματ' ἔναιον

855Κρῶμνάν τ' Αἰγιαλόν τε καὶ ὑψηλοὺς Ἐρυθίνους.

Transliteration

Paphlagonōn d' hēgeito Pylaimeneos lasion kēr

ex Enetōn, hothen hēmionōn genos agroteraōn,

hoi rha Kytōron echon kai Sēsamon amphenemonto

amphi te Parthenion potamon klyta dōmat' enaion

855Krōmnan t' Aigialon te kai hypsēlous Erythinous.

English

The Paphlagonians were commanded by stout-hearted Pylaimenes from Enetae, where the mules run wild in herds. These were they that held Cytorus and the country round Sesamus, with the cities by the river Parthenios, Cromna, Aigialos, and lofty Erithinoi.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ Ἁλιζώνων Ὀδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον

τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀλύβης, ὅθεν ἀργύρου ἐστὶ γενέθλη.

Μυσῶν δὲ Χρόμις ἦρχε καὶ Ἔννομος οἰωνιστής:

ἀλλ' οὐκ οἰωνοῖσιν ἐρύσατο κῆρα μέλαιναν,

860ἀλλ' ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

Transliteration

autar Halizōnōn Odios kai Epistrophos ērchon

tēlothen ex Alybēs, hothen argyrou esti genethlē.

Mysōn de Chromis ērche kai Ennomos oiōnistēs:

all' ouk oiōnoisin erysato kēra melainan,

860all' edamē hypo chersi podōkeos Aiakidao

English

Odios and Epistrophos were leaders over the Halizoni from distant Alybe, where there are mines of silver. Chromis, and Ennomos the augur, led the Mysians, but his skill in augury availed not to save him from destruction, for he fell by the hand of the fleet descendant

Homeric Greek

ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθι περ Τρῶας κεράϊζε καὶ ἄλλους.

Φόρκυς αὖ Φρύγας ἦγε καὶ Ἀσκάνιος θεοειδὴς

τῆλ' ἐξ Ἀσκανίης: μέμασαν δ' ὑσμῖνι μάχεσθαι.

Μῄοσιν αὖ Μέσθλης τε καὶ Ἄντιφος ἡγησάσθην

865υἷε Ταλαιμένεος τὼ Γυγαίη τέκε λίμνη,

Transliteration

en potamōi, hothi per Trōas keraïze kai allous.

Phorkys au Phrygas ēge kai Askanios theoeidēs

tēl' ex Askaniēs: memasan d' hysmini machesthai.

Mēiosin au Mesthlēs te kai Antiphos hēgēsasthēn

865huie Talaimeneos tō Gygaiē teke limnē,

English

of Aiakos in the river, where he slew others also of the Trojans. Phorkys, again, and noble Askanios led the Phrygians from the far country of Askania, and both were eager for the fray. Mesthles and Antiphos commanded the Meonians, sons of Talaimenes, born to him of the Gygaean lake.

Homeric Greek

οἳ καὶ Μῄονας ἦγον ὑπὸ Τμώλῳ γεγαῶτας.

Νάστης αὖ Καρῶν ἡγήσατο βαρβαροφώνων,

οἳ Μίλητον ἔχον Φθιρῶν τ' ὄρος ἀκριτόφυλλον

Μαιάνδρου τε ῥοὰς Μυκάλης τ' αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα:

870τῶν μὲν ἄρ' Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Νάστης ἡγησάσθην,

Transliteration

hoi kai Mēionas ēgon hypo Tmōlōi gegaōtas.

Nastēs au Karōn hēgēsato barbarophōnōn,

hoi Milēton echon Phthirōn t' oros akritophyllon

Maiandrou te rhoas Mykalēs t' aipeina karēna:

870tōn men ar' Amphimachos kai Nastēs hēgēsasthēn,

English

These led the Meonians, who dwelt under Mount Tmolos. Nastes led the Carians, men of a strange speech. These held Miletus and the wooded mountain of Phthires, with the water of the river Maeander and the lofty crests of Mount Mycale. These were commanded by Nastes and Amphimakhos, the brave sons of Nomion.

Homeric Greek

Νάστης Ἀμφίμαχός τε Νομίονος ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,

ὃς καὶ χρυσὸν ἔχων πόλεμον δ' ἴεν ἠύ̈τε κούρη

νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ τό γ' ἐπήρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,

ἀλλ' ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

875ἐν ποταμῷ, χρυσὸν δ' Ἀχιλεὺς ἐκόμισσε δαί̈φρων.

Transliteration

Nastēs Amphimachos te Nomionos aglaa tekna,

hos kai chryson echōn polemon d' ien ēÿte kourē

nēpios, oude ti hoi to g' epērkese lygron olethron,

all' edamē hypo chersi podōkeos Aiakidao

875en potamōi, chryson d' Achileus ekomisse daïphrōn.

English

He came into the fight with gold about him, like a girl; fool that he was, his gold was of no avail to save him, for he fell in the river by the hand of the fleet descendant of Aiakos, and Achilles bore away his gold.

Homeric Greek

Σαρπηδὼν δ' ἦρχεν Λυκίων καὶ Γλαῦκος ἀμύμων

τηλόθεν ἐκ Λυκίης, Ξάνθου ἄπο δινήεντος.

Transliteration

Sarpēdōn d' ērchen Lykiōn kai Glaukos amymōn

tēlothen ek Lykiēs, Xanthou apo dinēentos.

English

Sarpedon and Glaukos led the Lycians from their distant land, by the eddying waters of the Xanthos.