Book XXIII

Homeric Greek

1ὣς οἳ μὲν στενάχοντο κατὰ πτόλιν: αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐπεὶ δὴ νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο,

οἳ μὲν ἄρ' ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,

Μυρμιδόνας δ' οὐκ εἴα ἀποσκίδνασθαι Ἀχιλλεύς,

5ἀλλ' ὅ γε οἷς ἑτάροισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα:

Transliteration

1hōs hoi men stenachonto kata ptolin: autar Achaioi

epei dē nēas te kai Hellēsponton hikonto,

hoi men ar' eskidnanto heēn epi nēa hekastos,

Myrmidonas d' ouk eia aposkidnasthai Achilleus,

5all' ho ge hois hetaroisi philoptolemoisi metēuda:

English

Thus did they make their moan throughout the city, while the Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont went back every man to his own ship. But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and spoke to his brave comrades saying, "Myrmidons, famed horsemen

Homeric Greek

Μυρμιδόνες ταχύπωλοι ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι

μὴ δή πω ὑπ' ὄχεσφι λυώμεθα μώνυχας ἵππους,

ἀλλ' αὐτοῖς ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν ἆσσον ἰόντες

Πάτροκλον κλαίωμεν: ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

10αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κ' ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο,

Transliteration

Myrmidones tachypōloi emoi eriēres hetairoi

mē dē pō hyp' ochesphi lyōmetha mōnychas hippous,

all' autois hippoisi kai harmasin asson iontes

Patroklon klaiōmen: ho gar geras esti thanontōn.

10autar epei k' olooio tetarpōmestha gooio,

English

and my own trusted friends, not yet, I say, let us unyoke, but with horse and chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroklos, in due honor to the dead.

Homeric Greek

ἵππους λυσάμενοι δορπήσομεν ἐνθάδε πάντες.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ᾤμωξαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δ' Ἀχιλλεύς.

οἳ δὲ τρὶς περὶ νεκρὸν ἐύ̈τριχας ἤλασαν ἵππους

μυρόμενοι: μετὰ δέ σφι Θέτις γόου ἵμερον ὦρσε.

15δεύοντο ψάμαθοι, δεύοντο δὲ τεύχεα φωτῶν

Transliteration

hippous lysamenoi dorpēsomen enthade pantes.

hōs ephath', hoi d' ōimōxan aollees, ērche d' Achilleus.

hoi de tris peri nekron eÿtrichas ēlasan hippous

myromenoi: meta de sphi Thetis goou himeron ōrse.

15deuonto psamathoi, deuonto de teuchea phōtōn

English

When we have had full comfort of lamentation we will unyoke our horses and take supper all of us here." On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in their lament. Thrice did they drive their chariots all sorrowing round the body, and Thetis stirred within them a still deeper yearning.

Homeric Greek

δάκρυσι: τοῖον γὰρ πόθεον μήστωρα φόβοιο.

τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεί̈δης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο

χεῖρας ἐπ' ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρου:

χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀί̈δαο δόμοισι:

20πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην

Transliteration

dakrysi: toion gar potheon mēstōra phoboio.

toisi de Pēleïdēs hadinou exērche gooio

cheiras ep' androphonous themenos stēthessin hetairou:

chaire moi ō Patrokle kai ein Aïdao domoisi:

20panta gar ēdē toi teleō ta paroithen hypestēn

English

The sands of the seashore and the men's armor were wet with their weeping, so great a minister of fear was he whom they had lost. Chief in all their mourning was the son of Peleus: he laid his bloodstained hand on the breast of his friend. "Fare well," he cried, "Patroklos, even in the house of Hades.

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορα δεῦρ' ἐρύσας δώσειν κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,

δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσειν

Τρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.

ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἀεικέα μήδετο ἔργα

25πρηνέα πὰρ λεχέεσσι Μενοιτιάδαο τανύσσας

Transliteration

Hektora deur' erysas dōsein kysin ōma dasasthai,

dōdeka de proparoithe pyrēs apodeirotomēsein

Trōōn aglaa tekna sethen ktamenoio cholōtheis.

ē rha kai Hektora dion aeikea mēdeto erga

25prēnea par lecheessi Menoitiadao tanyssas

English

I will now do all that I erewhile promised you; I will drag Hektor hither and let dogs devour him raw; twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before your pyre to avenge you." As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hektor with contumely, laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of Patroklos.

Homeric Greek

ἐν κονίῃς: οἳ δ' ἔντε' ἀφωπλίζοντο ἕκαστος

χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, λύον δ' ὑψηχέας ἵππους,

κὰδ δ' ἷζον παρὰ νηὶ̈ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

μυρίοι: αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι τάφον μενοεικέα δαίνυ.

30πολλοὶ μὲν βόες ἀργοὶ ὀρέχθεον ἀμφὶ σιδήρῳ

Transliteration

en koniēis: hoi d' ente' aphōplizonto hekastos

chalkea marmaironta, lyon d' hypsēcheas hippous,

kad d' hizon para nēï podōkeos Aiakidao

myrioi: autar ho toisi taphon menoeikea dainy.

30polloi men boes argoi orechtheon amphi sidērōi

English

The others then put off every man his armor, took the horses from their chariots, and seated themselves in great multitude by the ship of the fleet descendant of Aiakos, who thereon feasted them with an abundant funeral banquet. Many a goodly ox, with many a sheep and bleating goat did they butcher and cut up;

Homeric Greek

σφαζόμενοι, πολλοὶ δ' ὄϊες καὶ μηκάδες αἶγες:

πολλοὶ δ' ἀργιόδοντες ὕες θαλέθοντες ἀλοιφῇ

εὑόμενοι τανύοντο διὰ φλογὸς Ἡφαίστοιο:

πάντῃ δ' ἀμφὶ νέκυν κοτυλήρυτον ἔρρεεν αἷμα.

35αὐτὰρ τόν γε ἄνακτα ποδώκεα Πηλεί̈ωνα

Transliteration

sphazomenoi, polloi d' oïes kai mēkades aiges:

polloi d' argiodontes hyes thalethontes aloiphēi

heuomenoi tanyonto dia phlogos Hēphaistoio:

pantēi d' amphi nekyn kotylēryton erreen haima.

35autar ton ge anakta podōkea Pēleïōna

English

many a tusked boar moreover, fat and well-fed, did they singe and set to roast in the flames of Hephaistos; and rivulets of blood flowed all round the place where the body was lying. Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of

Homeric Greek

εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν

σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες ἑταίρου χωόμενον κῆρ.

οἳ δ' ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος ἷξον ἰόντες,

αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσαν

40ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, εἰ πεπίθοιεν

Transliteration

eis Agamemnona dion agon basilēes Achaiōn

spoudēi parpepithontes hetairou chōomenon kēr.

hoi d' hote dē klisiēn Agamemnonos hixon iontes,

autika kērykessi ligyphthongoisi keleusan

40amphi pyri stēsai tripoda megan, ei pepithoien

English

Peleus to Agamemnon, but hardly could they persuade him to come with them, so wroth was he for the death of his comrade. As soon as they reached Agamemnon's tent they told the serving-men to set a large tripod over the fire in case they might persuade the son of Peleus

Homeric Greek

Πηλεί̈δην λούσασθαι ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἠρνεῖτο στερεῶς, ἐπὶ δ' ὅρκον ὄμοσσεν:

οὐ μὰ Ζῆν', ὅς τίς τε θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,

οὐ θέμις ἐστὶ λοετρὰ καρήατος ἆσσον ἱκέσθαι

45πρίν γ' ἐνὶ Πάτροκλον θέμεναι πυρὶ σῆμά τε χεῦαι

Transliteration

Pēleïdēn lousasthai apo broton haimatoenta.

autar ho g' ērneito stereōs, epi d' horkon omossen:

ou ma Zēn', hos tis te theōn hypatos kai aristos,

ou themis esti loetra karēatos asson hikesthai

45prin g' eni Patroklon themenai pyri sēma te cheuai

English

‘to wash the clotted gore from this body, but he denied them sternly, and swore it with a solemn oath, saying, "Nay, by King Zeus, first and mightiest of all gods, it is not right that water should touch my body, till I have laid Patroklos on the flames, have built him

Homeric Greek

κείρασθαί τε κόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ μ' ἔτι δεύτερον ὧδε

ἵξετ' ἄχος κραδίην ὄφρα ζωοῖσι μετείω.

ἀλλ' ἤτοι νῦν μὲν στυγερῇ πειθώμεθα δαιτί:

ἠῶθεν δ' ὄτρυνον ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον

50ὕλην τ' ἀξέμεναι παρά τε σχεῖν ὅσσ' ἐπιεικὲς

Transliteration

keirasthai te komēn, epei ou m' eti deuteron hōde

hixet' achos kradiēn ophra zōoisi meteiō.

all' ētoi nyn men stygerēi peithōmetha daiti:

ēōthen d' otrynon anax andrōn Agamemnon

50hylēn t' axemenai para te schein hoss' epieikes

English

a tomb, and shaved my head - for so long as I live no such second sorrow shall ever draw nigh me. Now, therefore, let us do all that this sad festival demands, but at break of day, King Agamemnon, bid your men bring wood, and provide all else that the dead may duly take into the realm of darkness;

Homeric Greek

νεκρὸν ἔχοντα νέεσθαι ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα,

ὄφρ' ἤτοι τοῦτον μὲν ἐπιφλέγῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ

θᾶσσον ἀπ' ὀφθαλμῶν, λαοὶ δ' ἐπὶ ἔργα τράπωνται.

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

55ἐσσυμένως δ' ἄρα δόρπον ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἕκαστοι

Transliteration

nekron echonta neesthai hypo zophon ēeroenta,

ophr' ētoi touton men epiphlegēi akamaton pyr

thasson ap' ophthalmōn, laoi d' epi erga trapōntai.

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

55essymenōs d' ara dorpon ephoplissantes hekastoi

English

the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight the sooner, and the people shall turn again to their own labors." Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said.

Homeric Greek

δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐί̈σης.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν κλισίην δὲ ἕκαστος,

Πηλεί̈δης δ' ἐπὶ θινὶ πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης

60κεῖτο βαρὺ στενάχων πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν

Transliteration

dainynt', oude ti thymos edeueto daitos eïsēs.

autar epei posios kai edētyos ex eron hento,

hoi men kakkeiontes eban klisiēn de hekastos,

Pēleïdēs d' epi thini polyphloisboio thalassēs

60keito bary stenachōn polesin meta Myrmidonessin

English

They made haste to prepare the meal, they ate, and every man had his full share so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, the others went to their rest each in his own tent, but the son of Peleus lay grieving among his Myrmidons by

Homeric Greek

ἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι κύματ' ἐπ' ἠϊόνος κλύζεσκον:

εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ

νήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς: μάλα γὰρ κάμε φαίδιμα γυῖα

Ἕκτορ' ἐπαί̈σσων προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν:

65ἦλθε δ' ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο

Transliteration

en katharōi, hothi kymat' ep' ēïonos klyzeskon:

eute ton hypnos emarpte lyōn meledēmata thymou

nēdymos amphichytheis: mala gar kame phaidima guia

Hektor' epaïssōn proti Ilion ēnemoessan:

65ēlthe d' epi psychē Patroklēos deiloio

English

the shore of the sounding sea, in an open place where the waves came surging in one after another. Here a very deep slumber took hold upon him and eased the burden of his sorrows, for his limbs were weary with chasing Hektor round windy Ilion.

Homeric Greek

πάντ' αὐτῷ μέγεθός τε καὶ ὄμματα κάλ' ἐϊκυῖα

καὶ φωνήν, καὶ τοῖα περὶ χροὶ̈ εἵματα ἕστο:

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

εὕδεις, αὐτὰρ ἐμεῖο λελασμένος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.

70οὐ μέν μευ ζώοντος ἀκήδεις, ἀλλὰ θανόντος:

Transliteration

pant' autōi megethos te kai ommata kal' eïkuia

kai phōnēn, kai toia peri chroï heimata hesto:

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

heudeis, autar emeio lelasmenos epleu Achilleu.

70ou men meu zōontos akēdeis, alla thanontos:

English

Presently the sad spirit of Patroklos drew near him, like what he had been in stature, voice, and the light of his beaming eyes, clad, too, as he had been clad in life. The spirit hovered over his head and said- "You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; you loved me living, but now that I am dead you think for me no further.

Homeric Greek

θάπτέ με ὅττι τάχιστα πύλας Ἀί̈δαο περήσω.

τῆλέ με εἴργουσι ψυχαὶ εἴδωλα καμόντων,

οὐδέ μέ πω μίσγεσθαι ὑπὲρ ποταμοῖο ἐῶσιν,

ἀλλ' αὔτως ἀλάλημαι ἀν' εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.

75καί μοι δὸς τὴν χεῖρ': ὀλοφύρομαι, οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' αὖτις

Transliteration

thapte me hotti tachista pylas Aïdao perēsō.

tēle me eirgousi psychai eidōla kamontōn,

oude me pō misgesthai hyper potamoio eōsin,

all' autōs alalēmai an' eurypyles Aïdos dō.

75kai moi dos tēn cheir': olophyromai, ou gar et' autis

English

Bury me with all speed that I may pass the gates of Hades; the ghosts, vain shadows of men that can labor no more, drive me away from them; they will not yet suffer me to join those that are beyond the river, and I wander all desolate by the wide gates of the house of Hades.

Homeric Greek

νίσομαι ἐξ Ἀί̈δαο, ἐπήν με πυρὸς λελάχητε.

οὐ μὲν γὰρ ζωοί γε φίλων ἀπάνευθεν ἑταίρων

βουλὰς ἑζόμενοι βουλεύσομεν, ἀλλ' ἐμὲ μὲν κὴρ

ἀμφέχανε στυγερή, ἥ περ λάχε γιγνόμενόν περ:

80καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ μοῖρα, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελ' Ἀχιλλεῦ,

Transliteration

nisomai ex Aïdao, epēn me pyros lelachēte.

ou men gar zōoi ge philōn apaneuthen hetairōn

boulas hezomenoi bouleusomen, all' eme men kēr

amphechane stygerē, hē per lache gignomenon per:

80kai de soi autōi moira, theois epieikel' Achilleu,

English

Give me now your hand I pray you, for when you have once given me my dues of fire, never shall I again come forth out of the house of Hades. Nevermore shall we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the living; the cruel fate which was my birth-right has yawned its wide jaws around me - nay, you too Achilles, peer

Homeric Greek

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων εὐηφενέων ἀπολέσθαι.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐφήσομαι αἴ κε πίθηαι:

μὴ ἐμὰ σῶν ἀπάνευθε τιθήμεναι ὀστέ' Ἀχιλλεῦ,

ἀλλ' ὁμοῦ ὡς ἐτράφημεν ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν,

85εὖτέ με τυτθὸν ἐόντα Μενοίτιος ἐξ Ὀπόεντος

Transliteration

teichei hypo Trōōn euēpheneōn apolesthai.

allo de toi ereō kai ephēsomai ai ke pithēai:

mē ema sōn apaneuthe tithēmenai oste' Achilleu,

all' homou hōs etraphēmen en hymeteroisi domoisin,

85eute me tytthon eonta Menoitios ex Opoentos

English

of gods, are doomed to die beneath the wall of the noble Trojans. "One prayer more will I make you, if you will grant it; let not my bones be laid apart from yours, Achilles, but with them; even as we were brought up together in your own home, what time Menoitios brought

Homeric Greek

ἤγαγεν ὑμέτερόνδ' ἀνδροκτασίης ὕπο λυγρῆς,

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε παῖδα κατέκτανον Ἀμφιδάμαντος

νήπιος οὐκ ἐθέλων ἀμφ' ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς:

ἔνθά με δεξάμενος ἐν δώμασιν ἱππότα Πηλεὺς

90ἔτραφέ τ' ἐνδυκέως καὶ σὸν θεράποντ' ὀνόμηνεν:

Transliteration

ēgagen hymeterond' androktasiēs hypo lygrēs,

ēmati tōi hote paida katektanon Amphidamantos

nēpios ouk ethelōn amph' astragaloisi cholōtheis:

entha me dexamenos en dōmasin hippota Pēleus

90etraphe t' endykeōs kai son therapont' onomēnen:

English

me to you as a child from Opoeis because by a sad spite I had killed the son of Amphidamas - not of set purpose, but in childish quarrel over the dice. The horseman Peleus took me into his house, entreated me kindly, and named me to be your squire ;

Homeric Greek

ὣς δὲ καὶ ὀστέα νῶϊν ὁμὴ σορὸς ἀμφικαλύπτοι

χρύσεος ἀμφιφορεύς, τόν τοι πόρε πότνια μήτηρ.

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς:

τίπτέ μοι ἠθείη κεφαλὴ δεῦρ' εἰλήλουθας

95καί μοι ταῦτα ἕκαστ' ἐπιτέλλεαι; αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι

Transliteration

hōs de kai ostea nōïn homē soros amphikalyptoi

chryseos amphiphoreus, ton toi pore potnia mētēr.

ton d' apameibomenos prosephē podas ōkys Achilleus:

tipte moi ētheiē kephalē deur' eilēlouthas

95kai moi tauta hekast' epitelleai; autar egō toi

English

therefore let our bones lie in but a single urn, the two-handled golden vase given to you by your mother." And Achilles answered, "Why, true heart, are you come hither to lay these charges upon me? will of my own self do all as you have bidden me.

Homeric Greek

πάντα μάλ' ἐκτελέω καὶ πείσομαι ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.

ἀλλά μοι ἆσσον στῆθι: μίνυνθά περ ἀμφιβαλόντε

ἀλλήλους ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ὠρέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν

100οὐδ' ἔλαβε: ψυχὴ δὲ κατὰ χθονὸς ἠύ̈τε καπνὸς

Transliteration

panta mal' ekteleō kai peisomai hōs sy keleueis.

alla moi asson stēthi: minyntha per amphibalonte

allēlous olooio tetarpōmestha gooio.

hōs ara phōnēsas ōrexato chersi philēisin

100oud' elabe: psychē de kata chthonos ēÿte kapnos

English

Draw closer to me, let us once more throw our arms around one another, and find sad comfort in the sharing of our sorrows." He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have clasped him in them, but there was nothing, and the spirit vanished as a vapor, gibbering and whining into the earth.

Homeric Greek

ᾤχετο τετριγυῖα: ταφὼν δ' ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

χερσί τε συμπλατάγησεν, ἔπος δ' ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν:

ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι καὶ εἰν Ἀί̈δαο δόμοισι

ψυχὴ καὶ εἴδωλον, ἀτὰρ φρένες οὐκ ἔνι πάμπαν:

105παννυχίη γάρ μοι Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο

Transliteration

ōicheto tetriguia: taphōn d' anorousen Achilleus

chersi te symplatagēsen, epos d' olophydnon eeipen:

ō popoi ē rha tis esti kai ein Aïdao domoisi

psychē kai eidōlon, atar phrenes ouk eni pampan:

105pannychiē gar moi Patroklēos deiloio

English

Achilles sprang to his feet, smote his two hands, and made lamentation saying, "Of a truth even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and phantoms that have no life in them; all night long the sad spirit of Patroklos has hovered

Homeric Greek

ψυχὴ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε,

καί μοι ἕκαστ' ἐπέτελλεν, ἔϊκτο δὲ θέσκελον αὐτῷ.

ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφ' ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο:

μυρομένοισι δὲ τοῖσι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς

110ἀμφὶ νέκυν ἐλεεινόν. ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

Transliteration

psychē ephestēkei gooōsa te myromenē te,

kai moi hekast' epetellen, eïkto de theskelon autōi.

hōs phato, toisi de pasin hyph' himeron ōrse gooio:

myromenoisi de toisi phanē rhododaktylos Ēōs

110amphi nekyn eleeinon. atar kreiōn Agamemnōn

English

over head making piteous moan, telling me what I am to do for him, and looking wondrously like himself." Thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping and mourning about the poor dumb dead, till rosy-fingered morn appeared.

Homeric Greek

οὐρῆάς τ' ὄτρυνε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀξέμεν ὕλην

πάντοθεν ἐκ κλισιῶν: ἐπὶ δ' ἀνὴρ ἐσθλὸς ὀρώρει

Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.

οἳ δ' ἴσαν ὑλοτόμους πελέκεας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες

115σειράς τ' εὐπλέκτους: πρὸ δ' ἄρ' οὐρῆες κίον αὐτῶν.

Transliteration

ourēas t' otryne kai aneras axemen hylēn

pantothen ek klisiōn: epi d' anēr esthlos orōrei

Mērionēs therapōn agapēnoros Idomenēos.

hoi d' isan hylotomous pelekeas en chersin echontes

115seiras t' euplektous: pro d' ar' ourēes kion autōn.

English

Then King Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp, to bring wood, and Meriones, squire to Idomeneus, was in charge over them. They went out with woodmen's axes and strong ropes in their hands, and before them went the mules.

Homeric Greek

πολλὰ δ' ἄναντα κάταντα πάραντά τε δόχμιά τ' ἦλθον:

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ κνημοὺς προσέβαν πολυπίδακος Ἴδης,

αὐτίκ' ἄρα δρῦς ὑψικόμους ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ

τάμνον ἐπειγόμενοι: ταὶ δὲ μεγάλα κτυπέουσαι

120πῖπτον: τὰς μὲν ἔπειτα διαπλήσσοντες Ἀχαιοὶ

Transliteration

polla d' ananta katanta paranta te dochmia t' ēlthon:

all' hote dē knēmous proseban polypidakos Idēs,

autik' ara drys hypsikomous tanaēkeï chalkōi

tamnon epeigomenoi: tai de megala ktypeousai

120pipton: tas men epeita diaplēssontes Achaioi

English

Up hill and down dale did they go, by straight ways and crooked, and when they reached the heights of many-fountained Ida, they laid their axes to the roots of many a tall branching oak that came thundering down as they felled it.

Homeric Greek

ἔκδεον ἡμιόνων: ταὶ δὲ χθόνα ποσσὶ δατεῦντο

ἐλδόμεναι πεδίοιο διὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά.

πάντες δ' ὑλοτόμοι φιτροὺς φέρον: ὡς γὰρ ἀνώγει

Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.

125κὰδ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' ἀκτῆς βάλλον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθ' ἄρ' Ἀχιλλεὺς

Transliteration

ekdeon hēmionōn: tai de chthona possi dateunto

eldomenai pedioio dia rhōpēïa pykna.

pantes d' hylotomoi phitrous pheron: hōs gar anōgei

Mērionēs therapōn agapēnoros Idomenēos.

125kad d' ar' ep' aktēs ballon epischerō, enth' ar' Achilleus

English

They split the trees and bound them behind the mules, which then wended their way as they best could through the thick brushwood on to the plain. All who had been cutting wood bore logs, for so Meriones squire to Idomeneus had bidden them, and they threw them down in a line upon the seashore at the place

Homeric Greek

φράσσατο Πατρόκλῳ μέγα ἠρίον ἠδὲ οἷ αὐτῷ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάντῃ παρακάββαλον ἄσπετον ὕλην

ἥατ' ἄρ' αὖθι μένοντες ἀολλέες. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

αὐτίκα Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κέλευσε

130χαλκὸν ζώννυσθαι, ζεῦξαι δ' ὑπ' ὄχεσφιν ἕκαστον

Transliteration

phrassato Patroklōi mega ērion ēde hoi autōi.

autar epei pantēi parakabbalon aspeton hylēn

hēat' ar' authi menontes aollees. autar Achilleus

autika Myrmidonessi philoptolemoisi keleuse

130chalkon zōnnysthai, zeuxai d' hyp' ochesphin hekaston

English

where Achilles would make a mighty monument for Patroklos and for himself. When they had thrown down their great logs of wood over the whole ground, they stayed all of them where they were, but Achilles ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armor, and to yoke each man his horses;

Homeric Greek

ἵππους: οἳ δ' ὄρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσιν ἔδυνον,

ἂν δ' ἔβαν ἐν δίφροισι παραιβάται ἡνίοχοί τε,

πρόσθε μὲν ἱππῆες, μετὰ δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν

μυρίοι: ἐν δὲ μέσοισι φέρον Πάτροκλον ἑταῖροι.

135θριξὶ δὲ πάντα νέκυν καταείνυσαν, ἃς ἐπέβαλλον

Transliteration

hippous: hoi d' ornynto kai en teuchessin edynon,

an d' eban en diphroisi paraibatai hēniochoi te,

prosthe men hippēes, meta de nephos heipeto pezōn

myrioi: en de mesoisi pheron Patroklon hetairoi.

135thrixi de panta nekyn kataeinysan, has epeballon

English

they therefore rose, girded on their armor and mounted each his chariot - they and their charioteers with them. The chariots went before, and they that were on foot followed as a cloud in their tens of thousands after. In the midst of them his comrades bore Patroklos and covered him with the locks of their hair which they cut off and threw upon his body.

Homeric Greek

κειρόμενοι: ὄπιθεν δὲ κάρη ἔχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἀχνύμενος: ἕταρον γὰρ ἀμύμονα πέμπ' Ἄϊδος δέ.

οἳ δ' ὅτε χῶρον ἵκανον ὅθί σφισι πέφραδ' Ἀχιλλεὺς

κάτθεσαν, αἶψα δέ οἱ μενοεικέα νήεον ὕλην.

140ἔνθ' αὖτ' ἄλλ' ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς:

Transliteration

keiromenoi: opithen de karē eche dios Achilleus

achnymenos: hetaron gar amymona pemp' Aïdos de.

hoi d' hote chōron hikanon hothi sphisi pephrad' Achilleus

katthesan, aipsa de hoi menoeikea nēeon hylēn.

140enth' aut' all' enoēse podarkēs dios Achilleus:

English

Last came Achilles with his head bowed for sorrow, so noble a comrade was he taking to the house of Hades. When they came to the place of which Achilles had told them they laid the body down and built up the wood. Achilles then bethought him of another matter.

Homeric Greek

στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς ξανθὴν ἀπεκείρατο χαίτην,

τήν ῥα Σπερχειῷ ποταμῷ τρέφε τηλεθόωσαν:

ὀχθήσας δ' ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον:

Σπερχεί' ἄλλως σοί γε πατὴρ ἠρήσατο Πηλεὺς

145κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

Transliteration

stas apaneuthe pyrēs xanthēn apekeirato chaitēn,

tēn rha Spercheiōi potamōi trephe tēlethoōsan:

ochthēsas d' ara eipen idōn epi oinopa ponton:

Sperchei' allōs soi ge patēr ērēsato Pēleus

145keise me nostēsanta philēn es patrida gaian

English

He went a space away from the pyre, and cut off the yellow lock which he had let grow for the river Spercheios. He looked all sorrowfully out upon the dark sea, and said, "Spercheios, in vain did my father Peleus vow to you that when I returned home to my loved native land I should cut off this lock and offer you a holy hecatomb;

Homeric Greek

σοί τε κόμην κερέειν ῥέξειν θ' ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην,

πεντήκοντα δ' ἔνορχα παρ' αὐτόθι μῆλ' ἱερεύσειν

ἐς πηγάς, ὅθι τοι τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.

ὣς ἠρᾶθ' ὃ γέρων, σὺ δέ οἱ νόον οὐκ ἐτέλεσσας.

150νῦν δ' ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

Transliteration

soi te komēn kereein rhexein th' hierēn hekatombēn,

pentēkonta d' enorcha par' autothi mēl' hiereusein

es pēgas, hothi toi temenos bōmos te thyēeis.

hōs ērath' ho gerōn, sy de hoi noon ouk etelessas.

150nyn d' epei ou neomai ge philēn es patrida gaian

English

fifty she-goats was I to sacrifice to you there at your springs, where is your grove and your altar fragrant with burnt-offerings. Thus did my father vow, but you have not fulfilled the thinking of his prayer;

Homeric Greek

Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ κόμην ὀπάσαιμι φέρεσθαι.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ κόμην ἑτάροιο φίλοιο

θῆκεν, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφ' ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.

καί νύ κ' ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο

155εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αἶψ' Ἀγαμέμνονι εἶπε παραστάς:

Transliteration

Patroklōi hērōï komēn opasaimi pheresthai.

hōs eipōn en chersi komēn hetaroio philoio

thēken, toisi de pasin hyph' himeron ōrse gooio.

kai ny k' odyromenoisin edy phaos ēelioio

155ei mē Achilleus aips' Agamemnoni eipe parastas:

English

now, therefore, that I shall see my home no more, I give this lock as a keepsake to the hero Patroklos." As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dear comrade, and all who stood by were filled with yearning and lamentation. The sun would have gone down upon their mourning had not Achilles presently said to Agamemnon, "Son of Atreus, for it

Homeric Greek

Ἀτρεί̈δη, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν

πείσονται μύθοισι, γόοιο μὲν ἔστι καὶ ἆσαι,

νῦν δ' ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι

ὅπλεσθαι: τάδε δ' ἀμφὶ πονησόμεθ' οἷσι μάλιστα

160κήδεός ἐστι νέκυς: παρὰ δ' οἵ τ' ἀγοὶ ἄμμι μενόντων.

Transliteration

Atreïdē, soi gar te malista ge laos Achaiōn

peisontai mythoisi, gooio men esti kai asai,

nyn d' apo pyrkaïēs skedason kai deipnon anōchthi

hoplesthai: tade d' amphi ponēsometh' hoisi malista

160kēdeos esti nekys: para d' hoi t' agoi ammi menontōn.

English

is to you that the people will give ear, there is a time to mourn and a time to cease from mourning; bid the people now leave the pyre and set about getting their dinners: we, to whom the dead is dearest, will see to what is wanted here, and let the other princes also stay by me."

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γ' ἄκουσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

αὐτίκα λαὸν μὲν σκέδασεν κατὰ νῆας ἐί̈σας,

κηδεμόνες δὲ παρ' αὖθι μένον καὶ νήεον ὕλην,

ποίησαν δὲ πυρὴν ἑκατόμπεδον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

165ἐν δὲ πυρῇ ὑπάτῃ νεκρὸν θέσαν ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.

Transliteration

autar epei to g' akousen anax andrōn Agamemnōn,

autika laon men skedasen kata nēas eïsas,

kēdemones de par' authi menon kai nēeon hylēn,

poiēsan de pyrēn hekatompedon entha kai entha,

165en de pyrēi hypatēi nekron thesan achnymenoi kēr.

English

When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed the people to their ships, but those who were about the dead heaped up wood and built a pyre a hundred feet this way and that; then they laid the dead all sorrowfully upon the top of it.

Homeric Greek

πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς

πρόσθε πυρῆς ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον: ἐκ δ' ἄρα πάντων

δημὸν ἑλὼν ἐκάλυψε νέκυν μεγάθυμος Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, περὶ δὲ δρατὰ σώματα νήει.

170ἐν δ' ἐτίθει μέλιτος καὶ ἀλείφατος ἀμφιφορῆας

Transliteration

polla de iphia mēla kai eilipodas helikas bous

prosthe pyrēs ederon te kai amphepon: ek d' ara pantōn

dēmon helōn ekalypse nekyn megathymos Achilleus

es podas ek kephalēs, peri de drata sōmata nēei.

170en d' etithei melitos kai aleiphatos amphiphorēas

English

They flayed and dressed many fat sheep and oxen before the pyre, and Achilles took fat from all of them and wrapped the body therein from head to foot, heaping the flayed carcasses all round it. Against the bier he leaned two-handled jars of honey and unguents;

Homeric Greek

πρὸς λέχεα κλίνων: πίσυρας δ' ἐριαύχενας ἵππους

ἐσσυμένως ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ μεγάλα στεναχίζων.

ἐννέα τῷ γε ἄνακτι τραπεζῆες κύνες ἦσαν,

καὶ μὲν τῶν ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ δύο δειροτομήσας,

175δώδεκα δὲ Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς

Transliteration

pros lechea klinōn: pisyras d' eriauchenas hippous

essymenōs eneballe pyrēi megala stenachizōn.

ennea tōi ge anakti trapezēes kynes ēsan,

kai men tōn eneballe pyrēi dyo deirotomēsas,

175dōdeka de Trōōn megathymōn huieas esthlous

English

four proud horses did he then cast upon the pyre, groaning the while he did so. The dead hero had had house-dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre; he also put twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid them with

Homeric Greek

χαλκῷ δηϊόων: κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα:

ἐν δὲ πυρὸς μένος ἧκε σιδήρεον ὄφρα νέμοιτο.

ᾤμωξέν τ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα, φίλον δ' ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον:

χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀί̈δαο δόμοισι:

180πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην,

Transliteration

chalkōi dēïoōn: kaka de phresi mēdeto erga:

en de pyros menos hēke sidēreon ophra nemoito.

ōimōxen t' ar' epeita, philon d' onomēnen hetairon:

chaire moi ō Patrokle kai ein Aïdao domoisi:

180panta gar ēdē toi teleō ta paroithen hypestēn,

English

the rest, for he was full of bitterness and fury. Then he committed all to the resistless and devouring might of the fire; he groaned aloud and called on his dead comrade by name. "Fare well," he cried, "Patroklos, even in the house of Hades; I am now doing all that I have promised you.

Homeric Greek

δώδεκα μὲν Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς

τοὺς ἅμα σοὶ πάντας πῦρ ἐσθίει: Ἕκτορα δ' οὔ τι

δώσω Πριαμίδην πυρὶ δαπτέμεν, ἀλλὰ κύνεσσιν.

ὣς φάτ' ἀπειλήσας: τὸν δ' οὐ κύνες ἀμφεπένοντο,

185ἀλλὰ κύνας μὲν ἄλαλκε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη

Transliteration

dōdeka men Trōōn megathymōn huieas esthlous

tous hama soi pantas pyr esthiei: Hektora d' ou ti

dōsō Priamidēn pyri daptemen, alla kynessin.

hōs phat' apeilēsas: ton d' ou kynes amphepenonto,

185alla kynas men alalke Dios thygatēr Aphroditē

English

Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the flames consume along with yourself, but dogs, not fire, shall devour the flesh of Hektor son of Priam." Thus did he vaunt, but the dogs came not about the body of Hektor, for Zeus' daughter

Homeric Greek

ἤματα καὶ νύκτας, ῥοδόεντι δὲ χρῖεν ἐλαίῳ

ἀμβροσίῳ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.

τῷ δ' ἐπὶ κυάνεον νέφος ἤγαγε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

οὐρανόθεν πεδίον δέ, κάλυψε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα

190ὅσσον ἐπεῖχε νέκυς, μὴ πρὶν μένος ἠελίοιο

Transliteration

ēmata kai nyktas, rhodoenti de chrien elaiōi

ambrosiōi, hina mē min apodryphoi helkystazōn.

tōi d' epi kyaneon nephos ēgage Phoibos Apollōn

ouranothen pedion de, kalypse de chōron hapanta

190hosson epeiche nekys, mē prin menos ēelioio

English

Aphrodite kept them off him night and day, and anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be torn when Achilles was dragging him about. Phoebus Apollo moreover sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth, which gave shade to

Homeric Greek

σκήλει' ἀμφὶ περὶ χρόα ἴνεσιν ἠδὲ μέλεσσιν.

οὐδὲ πυρὴ Πατρόκλου ἐκαίετο τεθνηῶτος:

ἔνθ' αὖτ' ἀλλ' ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς:

στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς δοιοῖς ἠρᾶτ' ἀνέμοισι

195Βορέῃ καὶ Ζεφύρῳ, καὶ ὑπίσχετο ἱερὰ καλά:

Transliteration

skēlei' amphi peri chroa inesin ēde melessin.

oude pyrē Patroklou ekaieto tethnēōtos:

enth' aut' all' enoēse podarkēs dios Achilleus:

stas apaneuthe pyrēs doiois ērat' anemoisi

195Boreēi kai Zephyrōi, kai hypischeto hiera kala:

English

the whole place where Hektor lay, that the heat of the sun might not parch his body. Now the pyre about dead Patroklos would not kindle. Achilles therefore bethought him of another matter; he went apart and prayed to the two winds Boreas and Zephyros vowing them goodly offerings.

Homeric Greek

πολλὰ δὲ καὶ σπένδων χρυσέῳ δέπαϊ λιτάνευεν

ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα πυρὶ φλεγεθοίατο νεκροί,

ὕλη τε σεύαιτο καήμεναι. ὦκα δὲ Ἶρις

ἀράων ἀί̈ουσα μετάγγελος ἦλθ' ἀνέμοισιν.

200οἳ μὲν ἄρα Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος ἀθρόοι ἔνδον

Transliteration

polla de kai spendōn chryseōi depaï litaneuen

elthemen, ophra tachista pyri phlegethoiato nekroi,

hylē te seuaito kaēmenai. ōka de Iris

araōn aïousa metangelos ēlth' anemoisin.

200hoi men ara Zephyroio dysaeos athrooi endon

English

He made them many drink-offerings from the golden cup and besought them to come and help him that the wood might make haste to kindle and the dead bodies be consumed. Fleet Iris heard him praying and started off to fetch the winds.

Homeric Greek

εἰλαπίνην δαίνυντο: θέουσα δὲ Ἶρις ἐπέστη

βηλῷ ἔπι λιθέῳ: τοὶ δ' ὡς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι

πάντες ἀνήϊξαν, κάλεόν τέ μιν εἰς ἓ ἕκαστος:

ἣ δ' αὖθ' ἕζεσθαι μὲν ἀνήνατο, εἶπε δὲ μῦθον:

205οὐχ ἕδος: εἶμι γὰρ αὖτις ἐπ' Ὠκεανοῖο ῥέεθρα

Transliteration

eilapinēn dainynto: theousa de Iris epestē

bēlōi epi litheōi: toi d' hōs idon ophthalmoisi

pantes anēïxan, kaleon te min eis he hekastos:

hē d' auth' hezesthai men anēnato, eipe de mython:

205ouch hedos: eimi gar autis ep' Ōkeanoio rheethra

English

They were holding high feast in the house of boisterous Zephyros when Iris came running up to the stone threshold of the house and stood there, but as soon as they set eyes on her they all came towards her and each of them called her to him, but Iris would not sit down.

Homeric Greek

Αἰθιόπων ἐς γαῖαν, ὅθι ῥέζουσ' ἑκατόμβας

ἀθανάτοις, ἵνα δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ μεταδαίσομαι ἱρῶν.

ἀλλ' Ἀχιλεὺς Βορέην ἠδὲ Ζέφυρον κελαδεινὸν

ἐλθεῖν ἀρᾶται, καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἱερὰ καλά,

210ὄφρα πυρὴν ὄρσητε καήμεναι, ᾗ ἔνι κεῖται

Transliteration

Aithiopōn es gaian, hothi rhezous' hekatombas

athanatois, hina dē kai egō metadaisomai hirōn.

all' Achileus Boreēn ēde Zephyron keladeinon

elthein aratai, kai hypischetai hiera kala,

210ophra pyrēn orsēte kaēmenai, hēi eni keitai

English

"I cannot stay," she said, "I must go back to the streams of Okeanos and the land of the Ethiopians who are offering hecatombs to the immortals, and I would have my share; but Achilles prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyros will come to him, and he vows them goodly offerings;

Homeric Greek

Πάτροκλος, τὸν πάντες ἀναστενάχουσιν Ἀχαιοί.

ἣ μὲν ἄρ' ὣς εἰποῦσ' ἀπεβήσετο, τοὶ δ' ὀρέοντο

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ νέφεα κλονέοντε πάροιθεν.

αἶψα δὲ πόντον ἵκανον ἀήμεναι, ὦρτο δὲ κῦμα

215πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ: Τροίην δ' ἐρίβωλον ἱκέσθην,

Transliteration

Patroklos, ton pantes anastenachousin Achaioi.

hē men ar' hōs eipous' apebēseto, toi d' oreonto

ēchēi thespesiēi nephea kloneonte paroithen.

aipsa de ponton hikanon aēmenai, ōrto de kyma

215pnoiēi hypo ligyrēi: Troiēn d' eribōlon hikesthēn,

English

he would have you blow upon the pyre of Patroklos for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting." With this she left them, and the two winds rose with a cry that rent the air and swept the clouds before them. They blew on and on until they came to the sea, and the waves rose high beneath them, but when they

Homeric Greek

ἐν δὲ πυρῇ πεσέτην, μέγα δ' ἴαχε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.

παννύχιοι δ' ἄρα τοί γε πυρῆς ἄμυδις φλόγ' ἔβαλλον

φυσῶντες λιγέως: ὃ δὲ πάννυχος ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς

χρυσέου ἐκ κρητῆρος ἑλὼν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον

220οἶνον ἀφυσσόμενος χαμάδις χέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν

Transliteration

en de pyrēi pesetēn, mega d' iache thespidaes pyr.

pannychioi d' ara toi ge pyrēs amydis phlog' eballon

physōntes ligeōs: ho de pannychos ōkys Achilleus

chryseou ek krētēros helōn depas amphikypellon

220oinon aphyssomenos chamadis chee, deue de gaian

English

reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the mighty flames roared under the blast that they blew. All night long did they blow hard and beat upon the fire, and all night long did Achilles grasp his double cup, drawing wine from a mixing-bowl of gold, and calling upon the spirit of dead Patroklos as he poured it upon the ground until the earth was drenched.

Homeric Greek

ψυχὴν κικλήσκων Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο.

ὡς δὲ πατὴρ οὗ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται ὀστέα καίων

νυμφίου, ὅς τε θανὼν δειλοὺς ἀκάχησε τοκῆας,

ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάροιο ὀδύρετο ὀστέα καίων,

225ἑρπύζων παρὰ πυρκαϊὴν ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.

Transliteration

psychēn kiklēskōn Patroklēos deiloio.

hōs de patēr hou paidos odyretai ostea kaiōn

nymphiou, hos te thanōn deilous akachēse tokēas,

hōs Achileus hetaroio odyreto ostea kaiōn,

225herpyzōn para pyrkaïēn hadina stenachizōn.

English

As a father mourns when he is burning the bones of his bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of his parents, even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of his comrade, pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and lamentation.

Homeric Greek

ἦμος δ' ἑωσφόρος εἶσι φόως ἐρέων ἐπὶ γαῖαν,

ὅν τε μέτα κροκόπεπλος ὑπεὶρ ἅλα κίδναται ἠώς,

τῆμος πυρκαϊὴ ἐμαραίνετο, παύσατο δὲ φλόξ.

οἳ δ' ἄνεμοι πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι

230Θρηί̈κιον κατὰ πόντον: ὃ δ' ἔστενεν οἴδματι θύων.

Transliteration

ēmos d' heōsphoros eisi phoōs ereōn epi gaian,

hon te meta krokopeplos hypeir hala kidnatai ēōs,

tēmos pyrkaïē emaraineto, pausato de phlox.

hoi d' anemoi palin autis eban oikon de neesthai

230Thrēïkion kata ponton: ho d' estenen oidmati thyōn.

English

At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light which saffron-mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea, the flames fell and the fire began to die. The winds then went home beyond the Thracian sea, which roared and boiled as they swept over it.

Homeric Greek

Πηλεί̈δης δ' ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς ἑτέρωσε λιασθεὶς

κλίνθη κεκμηώς, ἐπὶ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ὄρουσεν:

οἳ δ' ἀμφ' Ἀτρεί̈ωνα ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο:

τῶν μιν ἐπερχομένων ὅμαδος καὶ δοῦπος ἔγειρεν,

235ἕζετο δ' ὀρθωθεὶς καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

Transliteration

Pēleïdēs d' apo pyrkaïēs heterōse liastheis

klinthē kekmēōs, epi de glykys hypnos orousen:

hoi d' amph' Atreïōna aollees ēgerethonto:

tōn min eperchomenōn homados kai doupos egeiren,

235hezeto d' orthōtheis kai spheas pros mython eeipen:

English

The son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay down, overcome with toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber. Presently they who were about the son of Atreus drew near in a body, and roused him with the noise and tramp of their coming.

Homeric Greek

Ἀτρεί̈δη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,

πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσατ' αἴθοπι οἴνῳ

πᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος: αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

ὀστέα Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο λέγωμεν

240εὖ διαγιγνώσκοντες: ἀριφραδέα δὲ τέτυκται:

Transliteration

Atreïdē te kai alloi aristēes Panachaiōn,

prōton men kata pyrkaïēn sbesat' aithopi oinōi

pasan, hoposson epesche pyros menos: autar epeita

ostea Patrokloio Menoitiadao legōmen

240eu diagignōskontes: ariphradea de tetyktai:

English

He sat upright and said, "Son of Atreus, and all other princes of the Achaeans, first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us then gather the bones of Patroklos son of Menoitios, singling them out with care;

Homeric Greek

ἐν μέσσῃ γὰρ ἔκειτο πυρῇ, τοὶ δ' ἄλλοι ἄνευθεν

ἐσχατιῇ καίοντ' ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν χρυσέῃ φιάλῃ καὶ δίπλακι δημῷ

θείομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι.

245τύμβον δ' οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐγὼ πονέεσθαι ἄνωγα,

Transliteration

en messēi gar ekeito pyrēi, toi d' alloi aneuthen

eschatiēi kaiont' epimix hippoi te kai andres.

kai ta men en chryseēi phialēi kai diplaki dēmōi

theiomen, eis ho ken autos egōn Aïdi keuthōmai.

245tymbon d' ou mala pollon egō poneesthai anōga,

English

they are easily found, for they lie in the middle of the pyre, while all else, both men and horses, has been thrown in a heap and burned at the outer edge. We will lay the bones in a golden urn, in two layers of fat, against the time when I shall myself go down into the house of Hades.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἐπιεικέα τοῖον: ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀχαιοὶ

εὐρύν θ' ὑψηλόν τε τιθήμεναι, οἵ κεν ἐμεῖο

δεύτεροι ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι λίπησθε.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἐπίθοντο ποδώκεϊ Πηλεί̈ωνι.

250πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσαν αἴθοπι οἴνῳ

Transliteration

all' epieikea toion: epeita de kai ton Achaioi

euryn th' hypsēlon te tithēmenai, hoi ken emeio

deuteroi en nēessi polyklēïsi lipēsthe.

hōs ephath', hoi d' epithonto podōkeï Pēleïōni.

250prōton men kata pyrkaïēn sbesan aithopi oinōi

English

As for the barrow, labor not to raise a great one now, but such as is reasonable. Afterwards, let those Achaeans who may be left at the ships when I am gone, build it both broad and high." Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus. First they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and quenched the fire.

Homeric Greek

ὅσσον ἐπὶ φλὸξ ἦλθε, βαθεῖα δὲ κάππεσε τέφρη:

κλαίοντες δ' ἑτάροιο ἐνηέος ὀστέα λευκὰ

ἄλλεγον ἐς χρυσέην φιάλην καὶ δίπλακα δημόν,

ἐν κλισίῃσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν:

255τορνώσαντο δὲ σῆμα θεμείλιά τε προβάλοντο

Transliteration

hosson epi phlox ēlthe, batheia de kappese tephrē:

klaiontes d' hetaroio enēeos ostea leuka

allegon es chryseēn phialēn kai diplaka dēmon,

en klisiēisi de thentes heanōi liti kalypsan:

255tornōsanto de sēma themeilia te probalonto

English

With many tears they singled out the whitened bones of their loved comrade and laid them within a golden urn in two layers of fat: they then covered the urn with a linen cloth and took it inside the tent.

Homeric Greek

ἀμφὶ πυρήν: εἶθαρ δὲ χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,

χεύαντες δὲ τὸ σῆμα πάλιν κίον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

αὐτοῦ λαὸν ἔρυκε καὶ ἵζανεν εὐρὺν ἀγῶνα,

νηῶν δ' ἔκφερ' ἄεθλα λέβητάς τε τρίποδάς τε

260ἵππους θ' ἡμιόνους τε βοῶν τ' ἴφθιμα κάρηνα,

Transliteration

amphi pyrēn: eithar de chytēn epi gaian echeuan,

cheuantes de to sēma palin kion. autar Achilleus

autou laon eryke kai hizanen euryn agōna,

nēōn d' ekpher' aethla lebētas te tripodas te

260hippous th' hēmionous te boōn t' iphthima karēna,

English

They marked off the circle where the tomb should be, made a foundation for it about the pyre, and forthwith heaped up the earth. When they had thus raised a mound they were going away, but Achilles stayed the people and made them sit in assembly.

Homeric Greek

ἠδὲ γυναῖκας ἐϋζώνους πολιόν τε σίδηρον.

ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτα ποδώκεσιν ἀγλά' ἄεθλα

θῆκε γυναῖκα ἄγεσθαι ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυῖαν

καὶ τρίποδ' ὠτώεντα δυωκαιεικοσίμετρον

265τῷ πρώτῳ: ἀτὰρ αὖ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἵππον ἔθηκεν

Transliteration

ēde gynaikas eÿzōnous polion te sidēron.

hippeusin men prōta podōkesin agla' aethla

thēke gynaika agesthai amymona erga iduian

kai tripod' ōtōenta dyōkaieikosimetron

265tōi prōtōi: atar au tōi deuterōi hippon ethēken

English

He brought prizes from the ships - cauldrons, tripods, horses and mules, noble oxen, women with fair girdles, and swart iron. The first prize he offered was for the chariot races - a woman skilled in all useful arts, and a three-legged cauldron that had ears for handles, and would hold twenty-two measures. This was for the man who came in first.

Homeric Greek

ἑξέτε' ἀδμήτην βρέφος ἡμίονον κυέουσαν:

αὐτὰρ τῷ τριτάτῳ ἄπυρον κατέθηκε λέβητα

καλὸν τέσσαρα μέτρα κεχανδότα λευκὸν ἔτ' αὔτως:

τῷ δὲ τετάρτῳ θῆκε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,

270πέμπτῳ δ' ἀμφίθετον φιάλην ἀπύρωτον ἔθηκε.

Transliteration

hexete' admētēn brephos hēmionon kyeousan:

autar tōi tritatōi apyron katethēke lebēta

kalon tessara metra kechandota leukon et' autōs:

tōi de tetartōi thēke dyō chrysoio talanta,

270pemptōi d' amphitheton phialēn apyrōton ethēke.

English

For the second there was a six-year old mare, unbroken, and in foal to a he-ass; the third was to have a goodly cauldron that had never yet been on the fire; it was still bright as when it left the maker, and would hold four measures. The fourth prize was two talents of gold, and the fifth a two-handled urn as yet unsoiled by smoke.

Homeric Greek

στῆ δ' ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

Ἀτρεί̈δη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἱππῆας τάδ' ἄεθλα δεδεγμένα κεῖτ' ἐν ἀγῶνι.

εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν Ἀχαιοὶ

275ἦ τ' ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα λαβὼν κλισίην δὲ φεροίμην.

Transliteration

stē d' orthos kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

Atreïdē te kai alloi eÿknēmides Achaioi

hippēas tad' aethla dedegmena keit' en agōni.

ei men nyn epi allōi aethleuoimen Achaioi

275ē t' an egō ta prōta labōn klisiēn de pheroimēn.

English

Then he stood up and spoke among the Argives saying- "Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, these are the prizes that lie waiting the winners in the contest of the chariot races. At any other time I should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent;

Homeric Greek

ἴστε γὰρ ὅσσον ἐμοὶ ἀρετῇ περιβάλλετον ἵπποι:

ἀθάνατοί τε γάρ εἰσι, Ποσειδάων δὲ πόρ' αὐτοὺς

πατρὶ ἐμῷ Πηλῆϊ, ὃ δ' αὖτ' ἐμοὶ ἐγγυάλιξεν.

ἀλλ' ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι:

280τοίου γὰρ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσαν ἡνιόχοιο

Transliteration

iste gar hosson emoi aretēi periballeton hippoi:

athanatoi te gar eisi, Poseidaōn de por' autous

patri emōi Pēlēï, ho d' aut' emoi engyalixen.

all' ētoi men egō meneō kai mōnyches hippoi:

280toiou gar kleos esthlon apōlesan hēniochoio

English

you know how much my steeds are better in excellence than all others - for they are immortal; Poseidon gave them to my father Peleus, who in his turn gave them to myself; but I shall hold aloof, I and my steeds that have lost the glory of their brave and

Homeric Greek

ἠπίου, ὅς σφωϊν μάλα πολλάκις ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον

χαιτάων κατέχευε λοέσσας ὕδατι λευκῷ.

τὸν τώ γ' ἑσταότες πενθείετον, οὔδεϊ δέ σφι

χαῖται ἐρηρέδαται, τὼ δ' ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.

285ἄλλοι δὲ στέλλεσθε κατὰ στρατόν, ὅς τις Ἀχαιῶν

Transliteration

ēpiou, hos sphōïn mala pollakis hygron elaion

chaitaōn katecheue loessas hydati leukōi.

ton tō g' hestaotes pentheieton, oudeï de sphi

chaitai erēredatai, tō d' hestaton achnymenō kēr.

285alloi de stellesthe kata straton, hos tis Achaiōn

English

kind driver, who many a time has washed them in clear water and anointed their manes with oil. See how they stand weeping here, with their manes trailing on the ground in the extremity of their sorrow. But do you others set yourselves in order throughout the host, whosoever has confidence

Homeric Greek

ἵπποισίν τε πέποιθε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.

ὣς φάτο Πηλεί̈δης, ταχέες δ' ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν.

ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὔμηλος

Ἀδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο:

290τῷ δ' ἐπὶ Τυδεί̈δης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,

Transliteration

hippoisin te pepoithe kai harmasi kollētoisin.

hōs phato Pēleïdēs, tachees d' hippēes agerthen.

ōrto poly prōtos men anax andrōn Eumēlos

Admētou philos huios, hos hipposynēi ekekasto:

290tōi d' epi Tydeïdēs ōrto krateros Diomēdēs,

English

in his horses and in the strength of his chariot." Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots bestirred themselves. First among them all uprose Eumelos, king of men, son of Admetos, a man excellent in horsemanship. Next to him rose mighty Diomedes son of Tydeus;

Homeric Greek

ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτ' ἀπηύρα

Αἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων.

τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' Ἀτρεί̈δης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος

διογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππους

295Αἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον:

Transliteration

hippous de Trōious hypage zygon, hous pot' apēura

Aineian, atar auton hypexesaōsen Apollōn.

tōi d' ar' ep' Atreïdēs ōrto xanthos Menelaos

diogenēs, hypo de zygon ēgagen ōkeas hippous

295Aithēn tēn Agamemnoneēn ton heon te Podargon:

English

he yoked the Trojan horses which he had taken from Aeneas, when Apollo bore him out of the fight. Next to him, yellow-haired Menelaos son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet horses, Agamemnon's mare Aithe, and his own horse Podagros.

Homeric Greek

τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκ' Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλος

δῶρ', ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθ' ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,

ἀλλ' αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων: μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκε

Ζεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δ' ὅ γ' ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι:

300τὴν ὅ γ' ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν.

Transliteration

tēn Agamemnoni dōk' Anchisiadēs Echepōlos

dōr', hina mē hoi hepoith' hypo Ilion ēnemoessan,

all' autou terpoito menōn: mega gar hoi edōke

Zeus aphenos, naien d' ho g' en eurychorōi Sikyōni:

300tēn ho g' hypo zygon ēge mega dromou ischanoōsan.

English

The mare had been given to Agamemnon by Echepolos son of Anchises, that he might not have to follow him to Ilion, but might stay at home and take his ease; for Zeus had endowed him with great wealth and he lived in spacious Sicyon. This mare, all eager for the race, did Menelaos put under the yoke.

Homeric Greek

Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐύ̈τριχας ὁπλίσαθ' ἵππους,

Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο ἄνακτος

τοῦ Νηληϊάδαο: Πυλοιγενέες δέ οἱ ἵπποι

ὠκύποδες φέρον ἅρμα: πατὴρ δέ οἱ ἄγχι παραστὰς

305μυθεῖτ' εἰς ἀγαθὰ φρονέων νοέοντι καὶ αὐτῷ:

Transliteration

Antilochos de tetartos eÿtrichas hoplisath' hippous,

Nestoros aglaos huios hyperthymoio anaktos

tou Nēlēïadao: Pyloigenees de hoi hippoi

ōkypodes pheron harma: patēr de hoi anchi parastas

305mytheit' eis agatha phroneōn noeonti kai autōi:

English

Fourth in order Antilokhos, son to noble Nestor son of Neleus, made ready his horses. These were bred in Pylos, and his father came up to him to give him good advice of which, however, he stood in but little need.

Homeric Greek

Ἀντίλοχ' ἤτοι μέν σε νέον περ ἐόντ' ἐφίλησαν

Ζεύς τε Ποσειδάων τε, καὶ ἱπποσύνας ἐδίδαξαν

παντοίας: τὼ καί σε διδασκέμεν οὔ τι μάλα χρεώ:

οἶσθα γὰρ εὖ περὶ τέρμαθ' ἑλισσέμεν: ἀλλά τοι ἵπποι

310βάρδιστοι θείειν: τώ τ' οἴω λοίγι' ἔσεσθαι.

Transliteration

Antiloch' ētoi men se neon per eont' ephilēsan

Zeus te Poseidaōn te, kai hipposynas edidaxan

pantoias: tō kai se didaskemen ou ti mala chreō:

oistha gar eu peri termath' helissemen: alla toi hippoi

310bardistoi theiein: tō t' oiō loigi' esesthai.

English

"Antilokhos," said Nestor, "you are young, but Zeus and Poseidon have loved you well, and have made you an excellent horseman. I need not therefore say much by way of instruction. You are skillful at wheeling your horses round the post, but the horses themselves

Homeric Greek

τῶν δ' ἵπποι μὲν ἔασιν ἀφάρτεροι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοὶ

πλείονα ἴσασιν σέθεν αὐτοῦ μητίσασθαι.

ἀλλ' ἄγε δὴ σὺ φίλος μῆτιν ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷ

παντοίην, ἵνα μή σε παρεκπροφύγῃσιν ἄεθλα.

315μήτι τοι δρυτόμος μέγ' ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι:

Transliteration

tōn d' hippoi men easin apharteroi, oude men autoi

pleiona isasin sethen autou mētisasthai.

all' age dē sy philos mētin emballeo thymōi

pantoiēn, hina mē se parekprophygēisin aethla.

315mēti toi drytomos meg' ameinōn ēe biēphi:

English

are very slow, and it is this that will, I fear, mar your chances. The other drivers know less than you do, but their horses are fleeter; therefore, my dear son, see if you cannot hit upon some artifice whereby you may insure that the prize shall not slip through your fingers.

Homeric Greek

μήτι δ' αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ

νῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι:

μήτι δ' ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.

ἀλλ' ὃς μέν θ' ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν οἷσι πεποιθὼς

320ἀφραδέως ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἑλίσσεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

Transliteration

mēti d' aute kybernētēs eni oinopi pontōi

nēa thoēn ithynei erechthomenēn anemoisi:

mēti d' hēniochos perigignetai hēniochoio.

all' hos men th' hippoisi kai harmasin hoisi pepoithōs

320aphradeōs epi pollon helissetai entha kai entha,

English

The woodsman does more by skill than by brute force ; by skill the pilot guides his storm-tossed ship over the sea, and so by skill one driver can beat another.

Homeric Greek

ἵπποι δὲ πλανόωνται ἀνὰ δρόμον, οὐδὲ κατίσχει:

ὃς δέ κε κέρδεα εἰδῇ ἐλαύνων ἥσσονας ἵππους,

αἰεὶ τέρμ' ὁρόων στρέφει ἐγγύθεν, οὐδέ ἑ λήθει

ὅππως τὸ πρῶτον τανύσῃ βοέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν,

325ἀλλ' ἔχει ἀσφαλέως καὶ τὸν προὔχοντα δοκεύει.

Transliteration

hippoi de planoōntai ana dromon, oude katischei:

hos de ke kerdea eidēi elaunōn hēssonas hippous,

aiei term' horoōn strephei engythen, oude he lēthei

hoppōs to prōton tanysēi boeoisin himasin,

325all' echei asphaleōs kai ton prouchonta dokeuei.

English

If a man go wide in rounding this way and that, whereas a man of craft may have worse horses, but he will keep them well in hand when he sees the turning-post ; he knows the precise moment at which to pull the rein, and keeps his eye well on the man in front of him.

Homeric Greek

σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλ' ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει.

ἕστηκε ξύλον αὖον ὅσον τ' ὄργυι' ὑπὲρ αἴης

ἢ δρυὸς ἢ πεύκης: τὸ μὲν οὐ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ,

λᾶε δὲ τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἐρηρέδαται δύο λευκὼ

330ἐν ξυνοχῇσιν ὁδοῦ, λεῖος δ' ἱππόδρομος ἀμφὶς

Transliteration

sēma de toi ereō mal' ariphrades, oude se lēsei.

hestēke xylon auon hoson t' orgui' hyper aiēs

ē dryos ē peukēs: to men ou katapythetai ombrōi,

lae de tou hekaterthen erēredatai dyo leukō

330en xynochēisin hodou, leios d' hippodromos amphis

English

I will give you this certain sign which cannot escape your notice. There is a stump of a dead tree-oak or pine as it may be - some six feet above the ground, and not yet rotted away by rain; it stands at the fork of the road;

Homeric Greek

ἤ τευ σῆμα βροτοῖο πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,

ἢ τό γε νύσσα τέτυκτο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων,

καὶ νῦν τέρματ' ἔθηκε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

τῷ σὺ μάλ' ἐγχρίμψας ἐλάαν σχεδὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους,

335αὐτὸς δὲ κλινθῆναι ἐϋπλέκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

Transliteration

ē teu sēma brotoio palai katatethnēōtos,

ē to ge nyssa tetykto epi proterōn anthrōpōn,

kai nyn termat' ethēke podarkēs dios Achilleus.

tōi sy mal' enchrimpsas elaan schedon harma kai hippous,

335autos de klinthēnai eÿplektōi eni diphrōi

English

it has two white stones set one on each side, and there is a clear course all round it. It may have been a tomb of someone who died long ago, or it may have been used as a turning-post in days gone by; now, however, it has been fixed on by Achilles as the mark round which the chariots shall turn;

Homeric Greek

ἦκ' ἐπ' ἀριστερὰ τοῖιν: ἀτὰρ τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον

κένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.

ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω,

ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι

340κύκλου ποιητοῖο: λίθου δ' ἀλέασθαι ἐπαυρεῖν,

Transliteration

ēk' ep' aristera toiin: atar ton dexion hippon

kensai homoklēsas, eixai te hoi hēnia chersin.

en nyssēi de toi hippos aristeros enchrimphthētō,

hōs an toi plēmnē ge doassetai akron hikesthai

340kyklou poiētoio: lithou d' aleasthai epaurein,

English

hug it as close as you can, but as you stand in your chariot lean over a little to the left; urge on your right-hand horse with voice and lash, and give him a loose rein, but let the left-hand horse keep so close in, that the nave of your wheel shall almost graze the post;

Homeric Greek

μή πως ἵππους τε τρώσῃς κατά θ' ἅρματα ἄξῃς:

χάρμα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισιν, ἐλεγχείη δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ

ἔσσεται: ἀλλὰ φίλος φρονέων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.

εἰ γάρ κ' ἐν νύσσῃ γε παρεξελάσῃσθα διώκων,

345οὐκ ἔσθ' ὅς κέ σ' ἕλῃσι μετάλμενος οὐδὲ παρέλθῃ,

Transliteration

mē pōs hippous te trōsēis kata th' harmata axēis:

charma de tois alloisin, elencheiē de soi autōi

essetai: alla philos phroneōn pephylagmenos einai.

ei gar k' en nyssēi ge parexelasēistha diōkōn,

345ouk esth' hos ke s' helēisi metalmenos oude parelthēi,

English

but mind the stone, or you will wound your horses and break your chariot in pieces, which would be sport for others but confusion for yourself. Therefore, my dear son, mind well what you are about, for if you can be first to round the post there is no chance of any one giving

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρίονα δῖον ἐλαύνοι

Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν,

ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος, οἳ ἐνθάδε γ' ἔτραφεν ἐσθλοί.

ὣς εἰπὼν Νέστωρ Νηλήϊος ἂψ ἐνὶ χώρῃ

350ἕζετ', ἐπεὶ ᾧ παιδὶ ἑκάστου πείρατ' ἔειπε.

Transliteration

oud' ei ken metopisthen Ariona dion elaunoi

Adrēstou tachyn hippon, hos ek theophin genos ēen,

ē tous Laomedontos, hoi enthade g' etraphen esthloi.

hōs eipōn Nestōr Nēlēïos aps eni chōrēi

350hezet', epei hōi paidi hekastou peirat' eeipe.

English

you the go-by later, not even though you had Adrastos' horse Arion behind you horse which is of divine race - or those of Laomedon, which are the noblest in this country." When Nestor had made an end of counseling his son he sat down in his place, and fifth in order Meriones got ready his horses.

Homeric Greek

Μηριόνης δ' ἄρα πέμπτος ἐύ̈τριχας ὁπλίσαθ' ἵππους.

ἂν δ' ἔβαν ἐς δίφρους, ἐν δὲ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο:

πάλλ' Ἀχιλεύς, ἐκ δὲ κλῆρος θόρε Νεστορίδαο

Ἀντιλόχου: μετὰ τὸν δ' ἔλαχε κρείων Εὔμηλος:

355τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' Ἀτρεί̈δης δουρὶ κλειτὸς Μενέλαος,

Transliteration

Mērionēs d' ara pemptos eÿtrichas hoplisath' hippous.

an d' eban es diphrous, en de klērous ebalonto:

pall' Achileus, ek de klēros thore Nestoridao

Antilochou: meta ton d' elache kreiōn Eumēlos:

355tōi d' ar' ep' Atreïdēs douri kleitos Menelaos,

English

They then all mounted their chariots and cast lots. - Achilles shook the helmet, and the lot of Antilokhos son of Nestor fell out first; next came that of King Eumelos, and after his, those of Menelaos son of Atreus and of Meriones.

Homeric Greek

τῷ δ' ἐπὶ Μηριόνης λάχ' ἐλαυνέμεν: ὕστατος αὖτε

Τυδεί̈δης ὄχ' ἄριστος ἐὼν λάχ' ἐλαυνέμεν ἵππους.

στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί, σήμηνε δὲ τέρματ' Ἀχιλλεὺς

τηλόθεν ἐν λείῳ πεδίῳ: παρὰ δὲ σκοπὸν εἷσεν

360ἀντίθεον Φοίνικα ὀπάονα πατρὸς ἑοῖο,

Transliteration

tōi d' epi Mērionēs lach' elaunemen: hystatos aute

Tydeïdēs och' aristos eōn lach' elaunemen hippous.

stan de metastoichi, sēmēne de termat' Achilleus

tēlothen en leiōi pediōi: para de skopon heisen

360antitheon Phoinika opaona patros heoio,

English

The last place fell to the lot of Diomedes son of Tydeus, who was the best man of them all. They took their places in line; Achilles showed them the turning-post round which they were to turn, some way off upon the plain; here he stationed his father's follower Phoenix as umpire, to note the running, and report truly.

Homeric Greek

ὡς μεμνέῳτο δρόμους καὶ ἀληθείην ἀποείποι.

οἳ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἐφ' ἵπποιιν μάστιγας ἄειραν,

πέπληγόν θ' ἱμᾶσιν, ὁμόκλησάν τ' ἐπέεσσιν

ἐσσυμένως: οἳ δ' ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο

365νόσφι νεῶν ταχέως: ὑπὸ δὲ στέρνοισι κονίη

Transliteration

hōs memneōito dromous kai alētheiēn apoeipoi.

hoi d' hama pantes eph' hippoiin mastigas aeiran,

peplēgon th' himasin, homoklēsan t' epeessin

essymenōs: hoi d' ōka dieprēsson pedioio

365nosphi neōn tacheōs: hypo de sternoisi koniē

English

At the same instant they all of them lashed their horses, struck them with the reins, and shouted at them with all their might. They flew full speed over the plain away from the ships, the dust rose from under them as it were a cloud or whirlwind, and their manes were all flying in the wind.

Homeric Greek

ἵστατ' ἀειρομένη ὥς τε νέφος ἠὲ θύελλα,

χαῖται δ' ἐρρώοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.

ἅρματα δ' ἄλλοτε μὲν χθονὶ πίλνατο πουλυβοτείρῃ,

ἄλλοτε δ' ἀί̈ξασκε μετήορα: τοὶ δ' ἐλατῆρες

370ἕστασαν ἐν δίφροισι, πάτασσε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστου

Transliteration

histat' aeiromenē hōs te nephos ēe thyella,

chaitai d' errōonto meta pnoiēis anemoio.

harmata d' allote men chthoni pilnato poulyboteirēi,

allote d' aïxaske metēora: toi d' elatēres

370hestasan en diphroisi, patasse de thymos hekastou

English

At one moment the chariots seemed to touch the ground, and then again they bounded into the air; the drivers stood erect, and their hearts beat fast and furious in their lust of victory.

Homeric Greek

νίκης ἱεμένων: κέκλοντο δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος

ἵπποις, οἳ δ' ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι

ἂψ ἐφ' ἁλὸς πολιῆς, τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου

375φαίνετ', ἄφαρ δ' ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος: ὦκα δ' ἔπειτα

Transliteration

nikēs hiemenōn: keklonto de hoisin hekastos

hippois, hoi d' epetonto koniontes pedioio.

all' hote dē pymaton teleon dromon ōkees hippoi

aps eph' halos poliēs, tote dē aretē ge hekastou

375phainet', aphar d' hippoisi tathē dromos: ōka d' epeita

English

Each kept calling on his horses, and the horses scoured the plain amid the clouds of dust that they raised. It was when they were doing the last part of the course on their way back towards the sea that their pace was strained to the utmost and it was seen what each could do in striving toward the prize.

Homeric Greek

αἳ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι.

τὰς δὲ μετ' ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι

Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθ' ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλ' ἐγγύς:

αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐί̈κτην,

380πνοιῇ δ' Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τ' ὤμω

Transliteration

hai Phērētiadao podōkees ekpheron hippoi.

tas de met' exepheron Diomēdeos arsenes hippoi

Trōïoi, oude ti pollon aneuth' esan, alla mal' engys:

aiei gar diphrou epibēsomenoisin eïktēn,

380pnoiēi d' Eumēloio metaphrenon euree t' ōmō

English

The horses of the descendant of Pheres now took the lead, and close behind them came the Trojan stallions of Diomedes. They seemed as if about to mount Eumelos' chariot, and he could feel their warm breath on his back and on his broad shoulders, for their heads were close to him as they flew over the course.

Homeric Greek

θέρμετ': ἐπ' αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.

καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσ' ἢ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν,

εἰ μὴ Τυδέος υἷϊ κοτέσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ὅς ῥά οἱ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔβαλεν μάστιγα φαεινήν.

385τοῖο δ' ἀπ' ὀφθαλμῶν χύτο δάκρυα χωομένοιο,

Transliteration

thermet': ep' autōi gar kephalas katathente petesthēn.

kai ny ken ē parelass' ē amphēriston ethēken,

ei mē Tydeos huiï kotessato Phoibos Apollōn,

hos rha hoi ek cheirōn ebalen mastiga phaeinēn.

385toio d' ap' ophthalmōn chyto dakrya chōomenoio,

English

Diomedes would have now passed him, or there would have been a dead heat, but Phoebus Apollo to spite him made him drop his whip. Tears of anger fell from his eyes as he saw the mares going on faster than ever, while his own horses lost ground through his having no whip.

Homeric Greek

οὕνεκα τὰς μὲν ὅρα ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἰούσας,

οἳ δέ οἱ ἐβλάφθησαν ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες.

οὐδ' ἄρ' Ἀθηναίην ἐλεφηράμενος λάθ' Ἀπόλλων

Τυδεί̈δην, μάλα δ' ὦκα μετέσσυτο ποιμένα λαῶν,

390δῶκε δέ οἱ μάστιγα, μένος δ' ἵπποισιν ἐνῆκεν:

Transliteration

houneka tas men hora eti kai poly mallon iousas,

hoi de hoi eblaphthēsan aneu kentroio theontes.

oud' ar' Athēnaiēn elephēramenos lath' Apollōn

Tydeïdēn, mala d' ōka metessyto poimena laōn,

390dōke de hoi mastiga, menos d' hippoisin enēken:

English

Athena saw the trick which Apollo had played the son of Tydeus, so she brought him his whip and put spirit into his horses; moreover she went after the son of Admetos in a rage and broke his yoke for him;

Homeric Greek

ἣ δὲ μετ' Ἀδμήτου υἱὸν κοτέουσ' ἐβεβήκει,

ἵππειον δέ οἱ ἦξε θεὰ ζυγόν: αἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι

ἀμφὶς ὁδοῦ δραμέτην, ῥυμὸς δ' ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐλύσθη.

αὐτὸς δ' ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη,

395ἀγκῶνάς τε περιδρύφθη στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε,

Transliteration

hē de met' Admētou huion koteous' ebebēkei,

hippeion de hoi ēxe thea zygon: hai de hoi hippoi

amphis hodou drametēn, rhymos d' epi gaian elysthē.

autos d' ek diphroio para trochon exekylisthē,

395ankōnas te peridryphthē stoma te rhinas te,

English

the mares went one to one side the course, and the other to the other, and the pole was broken against the ground. Eumelos was thrown from his chariot close to the wheel; his elbows, mouth, and nostrils were all torn, and his forehead was bruised above his eyebrows;

Homeric Greek

θρυλίχθη δὲ μέτωπον ἐπ' ὀφρύσι: τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.

Τυδεί̈δης δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,

πολλὸν τῶν ἄλλων ἐξάλμενος: ἐν γὰρ Ἀθήνη

400ἵπποις ἧκε μένος καὶ ἐπ' αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκε.

Transliteration

thrylichthē de metōpon ep' ophrysi: tō de hoi osse

dakryophi plēsthen, thalerē de hoi escheto phōnē.

Tydeïdēs de paratrepsas eche mōnychas hippous,

pollon tōn allōn exalmenos: en gar Athēnē

400hippois hēke menos kai ep' autōi kydos ethēke.

English

his eyes filled with tears and he could find no utterance. But the son of Tydeus turned his horses aside and shot far ahead, for Athena put fresh strength into them and covered Diomedes himself with glory.

Homeric Greek

τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' Ἀτρεί̈δης εἶχε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

Ἀντίλοχος δ' ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο:

ἔμβητον καὶ σφῶϊ: τιταίνετον ὅττι τάχιστα.

ἤτοι μὲν κείνοισιν ἐριζέμεν οὔ τι κελεύω

405Τυδεί̈δεω ἵπποισι δαί̈φρονος, οἷσιν Ἀθήνη

Transliteration

tōi d' ar' ep' Atreïdēs eiche xanthos Menelaos.

Antilochos d' hippoisin ekekleto patros heoio:

embēton kai sphōï: titaineton hotti tachista.

ētoi men keinoisin erizemen ou ti keleuō

405Tydeïdeō hippoisi daïphronos, hoisin Athēnē

English

Menelaos son of Atreus came next behind him, but Antilokhos called to his father's horses. "On with you both," he cried, "and do your very utmost. I do not bid you try to beat the steeds of the son of Tydeus, for Athena has put running into them, and has covered Diomedes with glory;

Homeric Greek

νῦν ὤρεξε τάχος καὶ ἐπ' αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκεν:

ἵππους δ' Ἀτρεί̈δαο κιχάνετε, μὴ δὲ λίπησθον,

καρπαλίμως, μὴ σφῶϊν ἐλεγχείην καταχεύῃ

Αἴθη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα: τί ἢ λείπεσθε φέριστοι;

410ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται:

Transliteration

nyn ōrexe tachos kai ep' autōi kydos ethēken:

hippous d' Atreïdao kichanete, mē de lipēsthon,

karpalimōs, mē sphōïn elencheiēn katacheuēi

Aithē thēlys eousa: ti ē leipesthe pheristoi;

410hōde gar exereō, kai mēn tetelesmenon estai:

English

but you must overtake the horses of the son of Atreus and not be left behind, or Aethe who is so fleet will taunt you. Why, my good men, are you lagging?

Homeric Greek

οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ παρὰ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν

ἔσσεται, αὐτίκα δ' ὔμμε κατακτενεῖ ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

αἴ κ' ἀποκηδήσαντε φερώμεθα χεῖρον ἄεθλον.

ἀλλ' ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὅττι τάχιστα:

415ταῦτα δ' ἐγὼν αὐτὸς τεχνήσομαι ἠδὲ νοήσω

Transliteration

ou sphōïn komidē para Nestori poimeni laōn

essetai, autika d' ymme kataktenei oxeï chalkōi,

ai k' apokēdēsante pherōmetha cheiron aethlon.

all' ephomarteiton kai speudeton hotti tachista:

415tauta d' egōn autos technēsomai ēde noēsō

English

I tell you, and it shall surely be - Nestor will keep neither of you, but will put both of you to the sword, if we win any the worse a prize through your carelessness, fly after them at your utmost speed;

Homeric Greek

στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ παραδύμεναι, οὐδέ με λήσει.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν

μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην ὀλίγον χρόνον: αἶψα δ' ἔπειτα

στεῖνος ὁδοῦ κοίλης ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης.

420ῥωχμὸς ἔην γαίης, ᾗ χειμέριον ἀλὲν ὕδωρ

Transliteration

steinōpōi en hodōi paradymenai, oude me lēsei.

hōs ephath', hoi de anaktos hypodeisantes homoklēn

mallon epidrametēn oligon chronon: aipsa d' epeita

steinos hodou koilēs iden Antilochos menecharmēs.

420rhōchmos eēn gaiēs, hēi cheimerion alen hydōr

English

I will hit on a plan for passing them in a narrow part of the way, and it shall not fail me." They feared the rebuke of their master, and for a short space went quicker. Presently Antilokhos saw a narrow place where the road had sunk. The ground was broken, for the winter's rain had gathered and had worn the road so that the whole place was deepened.

Homeric Greek

ἐξέρρηξεν ὁδοῖο, βάθυνε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα:

τῇ ῥ' εἶχεν Μενέλαος ἁματροχιὰς ἀλεείνων.

Ἀντίλοχος δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους

ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, ὀλίγον δὲ παρακλίνας ἐδίωκεν.

425Ἀτρεί̈δης δ' ἔδεισε καὶ Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐγεγώνει:

Transliteration

exerrēxen hodoio, bathyne de chōron hapanta:

tēi rh' eichen Menelaos hamatrochias aleeinōn.

Antilochos de paratrepsas eche mōnychas hippous

ektos hodou, oligon de paraklinas ediōken.

425Atreïdēs d' edeise kai Antilochōi egegōnei:

English

Menelaos was making towards it so as to get there first, for fear of a foul, but Antilokhos turned his horses out of the way, and followed him a little on one side. The son of Atreus was afraid and shouted out, "Antilokhos, you are driving recklessly; rein in your horses;

Homeric Greek

Ἀντίλοχ' ἀφραδέως ἱππάζεαι, ἀλλ' ἄνεχ' ἵππους:

στεινωπὸς γὰρ ὁδός, τάχα δ' εὐρυτέρη παρελάσσαι:

μή πως ἀμφοτέρους δηλήσεαι ἅρματι κύρσας.

ὣς ἔφατ', Ἀντίλοχος δ' ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἔλαυνε

430κέντρῳ ἐπισπέρχων ὡς οὐκ ἀί̈οντι ἐοικώς.

Transliteration

Antiloch' aphradeōs hippazeai, all' anech' hippous:

steinōpos gar hodos, tacha d' euryterē parelassai:

mē pōs amphoterous dēlēseai harmati kyrsas.

hōs ephat', Antilochos d' eti kai poly mallon elaune

430kentrōi episperchōn hōs ouk aïonti eoikōs.

English

the road is too narrow here, it will be wider soon, and you can pass me then; if you foul my chariot you may bring both of us to a mischief." But Antilokhos plied his whip, and drove faster, as though he had not heard him.

Homeric Greek

ὅσσα δὲ δίσκου οὖρα κατωμαδίοιο πέλονται,

ὅν τ' αἰζηὸς ἀφῆκεν ἀνὴρ πειρώμενος ἥβης,

τόσσον ἐπιδραμέτην: αἳ δ' ἠρώησαν ὀπίσσω

Ἀτρεί̈δεω: αὐτὸς γὰρ ἑκὼν μεθέηκεν ἐλαύνειν

435μή πως συγκύρσειαν ὁδῷ ἔνι μώνυχες ἵπποι,

Transliteration

hossa de diskou oura katōmadioio pelontai,

hon t' aizēos aphēken anēr peirōmenos hēbēs,

tosson epidrametēn: hai d' ērōēsan opissō

Atreïdeō: autos gar hekōn metheēken elaunein

435mē pōs synkyrseian hodōi eni mōnyches hippoi,

English

They went side by side for about as far as a young man can hurl a disc from his shoulder when he is trying his strength, and then Menelaos' mares drew behind, for he left off driving for fear the horses should foul one another and upset the chariots;

Homeric Greek

δίφρους τ' ἀνστρέψειαν ἐϋπλεκέας, κατὰ δ' αὐτοὶ

ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης.

τὸν καὶ νεικείων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος:

Ἀντίλοχ' οὔ τις σεῖο βροτῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος:

440ἔρρ', ἐπεὶ οὔ σ' ἔτυμόν γε φάμεν πεπνῦσθαι Ἀχαιοί.

Transliteration

diphrous t' anstrepseian eÿplekeas, kata d' autoi

en koniēisi pesoien epeigomenoi peri nikēs.

ton kai neikeiōn prosephē xanthos Menelaos:

Antiloch' ou tis seio brotōn oloōteros allos:

440err', epei ou s' etymon ge phamen pepnysthai Achaioi.

English

thus, while pressing on in quest of victory, they might both come headlong to the ground. Menelaos then upbraided Antilokhos and said, "There is no greater trickster living than you are; go, and bad luck go with you; the Achaeans say not well that you have understanding, and come what may you shall

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' οὐ μὰν οὐδ' ὧς ἄτερ ὅρκου οἴσῃ ἄεθλον.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε:

μή μοι ἐρύκεσθον μὴ δ' ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.

φθήσονται τούτοισι πόδες καὶ γοῦνα καμόντα

445ἢ ὑμῖν: ἄμφω γὰρ ἀτέμβονται νεότητος.

Transliteration

all' ou man oud' hōs ater horkou oisēi aethlon.

hōs eipōn hippoisin ekekleto phōnēsen te:

mē moi erykesthon mē d' hestaton achnymenō kēr.

phthēsontai toutoisi podes kai gouna kamonta

445ē hymin: amphō gar atembontai neotētos.

English

not bear away the prize without sworn protest on my part." Then he called on his horses and said to them, "Keep your pace, and slacken not; the limbs of the other horses will weary sooner than yours, for they are neither of them young."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν

μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην, τάχα δέ σφισιν ἄγχι γένοντο.

Ἀργεῖοι δ' ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσορόωντο

ἵππους: τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.

450πρῶτος δ' Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἐφράσαθ' ἵππους:

Transliteration

hōs ephath', hoi de anaktos hypodeisantes homoklēn

mallon epidrametēn, tacha de sphisin anchi genonto.

Argeioi d' en agōni kathēmenoi eisoroōnto

hippous: toi de petonto koniontes pedioio.

450prōtos d' Idomeneus Krētōn agos ephrasath' hippous:

English

The horses feared the rebuke of their master, and went faster, so that they were soon nearly up with the others. Meanwhile the Achaeans from their seats were watching how the horses went, as they scoured the plain amid clouds of their own dust.

Homeric Greek

ἧστο γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρτατος ἐν περιωπῇ:

τοῖο δ' ἄνευθεν ἐόντος ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσας

ἔγνω, φράσσατο δ' ἵππον ἀριπρεπέα προὔχοντα,

ὃς τὸ μὲν ἄλλο τόσον φοῖνιξ ἦν, ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ

455λευκὸν σῆμα τέτυκτο περίτροχον ἠύ̈τε μήνη.

Transliteration

hēsto gar ektos agōnos hypertatos en periōpēi:

toio d' aneuthen eontos homoklētēros akousas

egnō, phrassato d' hippon ariprepea prouchonta,

hos to men allo toson phoinix ēn, en de metōpōi

455leukon sēma tetykto peritrochon ēÿte mēnē.

English

Idomeneus leader of the Cretans was first to make out the running, for he was not in the thick of the crowd, but stood on the most commanding part of the ground. The driver was a long way off from the assembly, but Idomeneus could hear him shouting, and could see the

Homeric Greek

στῆ δ' ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

οἶος ἐγὼν ἵππους αὐγάζομαι ἦε καὶ ὑμεῖς;

ἄλλοι μοι δοκέουσι παροίτεροι ἔμμεναι ἵπποι,

460ἄλλος δ' ἡνίοχος ἰνδάλλεται: αἳ δέ που αὐτοῦ

Transliteration

stē d' orthos kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

ō philoi Argeiōn hēgētores ēde medontes

oios egōn hippous augazomai ēe kai hymeis;

alloi moi dokeousi paroiteroi emmenai hippoi,

460allos d' hēniochos indalletai: hai de pou autou

English

foremost horse quite plainly - a chestnut with a round white mark, like the moon, on its forehead. He stood up and said among the Argives, "My friends, princes and counselors of the Argives, can you see the running as well as I can? There seems to be another pair in front now, and another driver;

Homeric Greek

ἔβλαβεν ἐν πεδίῳ, αἳ κεῖσέ γε φέρτεραι ἦσαν:

ἤτοι γὰρ τὰς πρῶτα ἴδον περὶ τέρμα βαλούσας,

νῦν δ' οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν: πάντῃ δέ μοι ὄσσε

Τρωϊκὸν ἂμ πεδίον παπταίνετον εἰσορόωντι:

465ἦε τὸν ἡνίοχον φύγον ἡνία, οὐδὲ δυνάσθη

Transliteration

eblaben en pediōi, hai keise ge pherterai ēsan:

ētoi gar tas prōta idon peri terma balousas,

nyn d' ou pēi dynamai ideein: pantēi de moi osse

Trōïkon am pedion paptaineton eisoroōnti:

465ēe ton hēniochon phygon hēnia, oude dynasthē

English

those that led off at the start must have been disabled out on the plain. I saw them at first making their way round the turning-post, but now, though I search the plain of Troy, I cannot find them.

Homeric Greek

εὖ σχεθέειν περὶ τέρμα καὶ οὐκ ἐτύχησεν ἑλίξας:

ἔνθά μιν ἐκπεσέειν ὀί̈ω σύν θ' ἅρματα ἆξαι,

αἳ δ' ἐξηρώησαν, ἐπεὶ μένος ἔλλαβε θυμόν.

ἀλλὰ ἴδεσθε καὶ ὔμμες ἀνασταδόν: οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε

470εὖ διαγιγνώσκω: δοκέει δέ μοι ἔμμεναι ἀνὴρ

Transliteration

eu schetheein peri terma kai ouk etychēsen helixas:

entha min ekpeseein oïō syn th' harmata axai,

hai d' exērōēsan, epei menos ellabe thymon.

alla idesthe kai ymmes anastadon: ou gar egōge

470eu diagignōskō: dokeei de moi emmenai anēr

English

Perhaps the reins fell from the driver's hand so that he lost command of his horses at the turning-post, and could not turn it. I suppose he must have been thrown out there, and broken his chariot, while his mares have left the course and gone off wildly in a panic.

Homeric Greek

Αἰτωλὸς γενεήν, μετὰ δ' Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάσσει

Τυδέος ἱπποδάμου υἱὸς κρατερὸς Διομήδης.

τὸν δ' αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας:

Ἰδομενεῦ τί πάρος λαβρεύεαι; αἳ δέ τ' ἄνευθεν

475ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες πολέος πεδίοιο δίενται.

Transliteration

Aitōlos geneēn, meta d' Argeioisin anassei

Tydeos hippodamou huios krateros Diomēdēs.

ton d' aischrōs enenipen Oïlēos tachys Aias:

Idomeneu ti paros labreueai; hai de t' aneuthen

475hippoi aersipodes poleos pedioio dientai.

English

Come up and see for yourselves, I cannot make out for certain, but the driver seems an Aetolian by descent, ruler over the Argives, brave Diomedes the son of Tydeus." Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said, "Idomeneus, why should you be in such a hurry to tell us all about it, when the mares are still so far out upon the plain?

Homeric Greek

οὔτε νεώτατός ἐσσι μετ' Ἀργείοισι τοσοῦτον,

οὔτέ τοι ὀξύτατον κεφαλῆς ἐκδέρκεται ὄσσε:

ἀλλ' αἰεὶ μύθοις λαβρεύεαι: οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

λαβραγόρην ἔμεναι: πάρα γὰρ καὶ ἀμείνονες ἄλλοι.

480ἵπποι δ' αὐταὶ ἔασι παροίτεραι, αἳ τὸ πάρος περ,

Transliteration

oute neōtatos essi met' Argeioisi tosouton,

oute toi oxytaton kephalēs ekderketai osse:

all' aiei mythois labreueai: oude ti se chrē

labragorēn emenai: para gar kai ameinones alloi.

480hippoi d' autai easi paroiterai, hai to paros per,

English

You are none of the youngest, nor your eyes none of the sharpest, but you are always laying down the law. You have no right to do so, for there are better men here than you are.

Homeric Greek

Εὐμήλου, ἐν δ' αὐτὸς ἔχων εὔληρα βέβηκε.

τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα:

Αἶαν νεῖκος ἄριστε κακοφραδὲς ἄλλά τε πάντα

δεύεαι Ἀργείων, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.

485δεῦρό νυν ἢ τρίποδος περιδώμεθον ἠὲ λέβητος,

Transliteration

Eumēlou, en d' autos echōn eulēra bebēke.

ton de cholōsamenos Krētōn agos antion ēuda:

Aian neikos ariste kakophrades alla te panta

deueai Argeiōn, hoti toi noos estin apēnēs.

485deuro nyn ē tripodos peridōmethon ēe lebētos,

English

Eumelos' horses are in front now, as they always have been, and he is on the chariot holding the reins." The leader of the Cretans was angry, and answered, "Ajax, you are an excellent railer, but you have no judgment, and are wanting in much else as well, for you have a vile temper.

Homeric Greek

ἴστορα δ' Ἀτρεί̈δην Ἀγαμέμνονα θείομεν ἄμφω,

ὁππότεραι πρόσθ' ἵπποι, ἵνα γνώῃς ἀποτίνων.

ὣς ἔφατ', ὄρνυτο δ' αὐτίκ' Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας

χωόμενος χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσι:

490καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτ' ἔρις γένετ' ἀμφοτέροισιν,

Transliteration

istora d' Atreïdēn Agamemnona theiomen amphō,

hoppoterai prosth' hippoi, hina gnōēis apotinōn.

hōs ephat', ornyto d' autik' Oïlēos tachys Aias

chōomenos chalepoisin ameipsasthai epeessi:

490kai ny ke dē proterō et' eris genet' amphoteroisin,

English

I will wager you a tripod or cauldron, and Agamemnon son of Atreus shall decide whose horses are first. You will then know to your cost." Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer, and there would have been yet further brawling between them, had

Homeric Greek

εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον:

μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν

Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.

καὶ δ' ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.

495ἀλλ' ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε

Transliteration

ei mē Achilleus autos anistato kai phato mython:

mēketi nyn chalepoisin ameibesthon epeessin

Aian Idomeneu te kakois, epei oude eoike.

kai d' allōi nemesaton hotis toiauta ge rhezoi.

495all' hymeis en agōni kathēmenoi eisoraasthe

English

not Achilles risen in his place and said, "Cease your railing Ajax and Idomeneus; it is not you would be scandalized if you saw any one else do the like: sit down in the assembly and keep your eyes on the horses;

Homeric Greek

ἵππους: οἳ δὲ τάχ' αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης

ἐνθάδ' ἐλεύσονται: τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος

ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἵ τε πάροιθεν.

ὣς φάτο, Τυδεί̈δης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,

500μάστι δ' αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν: οἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι

Transliteration

hippous: hoi de tach' autoi epeigomenoi peri nikēs

enthad' eleusontai: tote de gnōsesthe hekastos

hippous Argeiōn, hoi deuteroi hoi te paroithen.

hōs phato, Tydeïdēs de mala schedon ēlthe diōkōn,

500masti d' aien elaune katōmadon: hoi de hoi hippoi

English

they are speeding towards the winning-post and will be here directly. You will then both of you know whose horses are first, and whose come after." As he was speaking, the son of Tydeus came driving

Homeric Greek

ὑψόσ' ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.

αἰεὶ δ' ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,

ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε

ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον: οὐδέ τι πολλὴ

505γίγνετ' ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν

Transliteration

hypsos' aeiresthēn rhimpha prēssonte keleuthon.

aiei d' hēniochon koniēs rhathaminges eballon,

harmata de chrysōi pepykasmena kassiterōi te

hippois ōkypodessin epetrechon: oude ti pollē

505gignet' epissōtrōn harmatrochiē katopisthen

English

in, plying his whip lustily from his shoulder, and his horses stepping high as they flew over the course. The sand and grit rained thick on the driver, and the chariot inlaid with gold and tin ran close behind his fleet horses.

Homeric Greek

ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ: τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.

στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι, πολὺς δ' ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς

ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.

αὐτὸς δ' ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,

510κλῖνε δ' ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν: οὐδὲ μάτησεν

Transliteration

en leptēi koniēi: tō de speudonte petesthēn.

stē de mesōi en agōni, polys d' anekēkien hidrōs

hippōn ek te lophōn kai apo sternoio chamaze.

autos d' ek diphroio chamai thore pamphanoōntos,

510kline d' ara mastiga poti zygon: oude matēsen

English

There was little trace of wheel-marks in the fine dust, and the horses came flying in at their utmost speed. Diomedes stayed them in the middle of the assembly, and the sweat from their manes and chests fell in streams on to the ground. Forthwith he sprang from his goodly chariot, and leaned his whip against his horses' yoke;

Homeric Greek

ἴφθιμος Σθένελος, ἀλλ' ἐσσυμένως λάβ' ἄεθλον,

δῶκε δ' ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα

καὶ τρίποδ' ὠτώεντα φέρειν: ὃ δ' ἔλυεν ὑφ' ἵππους.

τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἐπ' Ἀντίλοχος Νηλήϊος ἤλασεν ἵππους

515κέρδεσιν, οὔ τι τάχει γε, παραφθάμενος Μενέλαον:

Transliteration

iphthimos Sthenelos, all' essymenōs lab' aethlon,

dōke d' agein hetaroisin hyperthymoisi gynaika

kai tripod' ōtōenta pherein: ho d' elyen hyph' hippous.

tōi d' ar' ep' Antilochos Nēlēïos ēlasen hippous

515kerdesin, ou ti tachei ge, paraphthamenos Menelaon:

English

brave Sthenelos now lost no time, but at once brought on the prize, and gave the woman and the ear-handled cauldron to his comrades to take away. Then he unyoked the horses. Next after him came in Antilokhos of the race of Neleus, who had passed Menelaos by craft and not by the fleetness of his horses;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Μενέλαος ἔχ' ἐγγύθεν ὠκέας ἵππους.

ὅσσον δὲ τροχοῦ ἵππος ἀφίσταται, ὅς ῥα ἄνακτα

ἕλκῃσιν πεδίοιο τιταινόμενος σὺν ὄχεσφι:

τοῦ μέν τε ψαύουσιν ἐπισσώτρου τρίχες ἄκραι

520οὐραῖαι: ὃ δέ τ' ἄγχι μάλα τρέχει, οὐδέ τι πολλὴ

Transliteration

alla kai hōs Menelaos ech' engythen ōkeas hippous.

hosson de trochou hippos aphistatai, hos rha anakta

helkēisin pedioio titainomenos syn ochesphi:

tou men te psauousin epissōtrou triches akrai

520ouraiai: ho de t' anchi mala trechei, oude ti pollē

English

but even so Menelaos came in as close behind him as the wheel is to the horse that draws both the chariot and its master. The end hairs of a horse's tail touch the tire of the wheel, and there is never much space between wheel and horse when the chariot is going;

Homeric Greek

χώρη μεσσηγὺς πολέος πεδίοιο θέοντος:

τόσσον δὴ Μενέλαος ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο

λείπετ': ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα καὶ ἐς δίσκουρα λέλειπτο,

ἀλλά μιν αἶψα κίχανεν: ὀφέλλετο γὰρ μένος ἠὺ̈

525ἵππου τῆς Ἀγαμεμνονέης καλλίτριχος Αἴθης:

Transliteration

chōrē messēgys poleos pedioio theontos:

tosson dē Menelaos amymonos Antilochoio

leipet': atar ta prōta kai es diskoura leleipto,

alla min aipsa kichanen: ophelleto gar menos ēÿ

525hippou tēs Agamemnoneēs kallitrichos Aithēs:

English

Menelaos was no further than this behind Antilokhos, though at first he had been a full disc's throw behind him. He had soon caught him up again, for Agamemnon's mare Aethe kept pulling stronger and stronger, so that if the course had

Homeric Greek

εἰ δέ κ' ἔτι προτέρω γένετο δρόμος ἀμφοτέροισι,

τώ κέν μιν παρέλασσ' οὐδ' ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν.

αὐτὰρ Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐὺ̈ς Ἰδομενῆος

λείπετ' ἀγακλῆος Μενελάου δουρὸς ἐρωήν:

530βάρδιστοι μὲν γάρ οἱ ἔσαν καλλίτριχες ἵπποι,

Transliteration

ei de k' eti proterō geneto dromos amphoteroisi,

tō ken min parelass' oud' amphēriston ethēken.

autar Mērionēs therapōn eÿs Idomenēos

leipet' agaklēos Menelaou douros erōēn:

530bardistoi men gar hoi esan kallitriches hippoi,

English

been longer he would have passed him, and there would not even have been a dead heat. Idomeneus' brave squire Meriones was about a spear's cast behind Menelaos. His horses were slowest of all in the contest, and he was the worst driver.

Homeric Greek

ἤκιστος δ' ἦν αὐτὸς ἐλαυνέμεν ἅρμ' ἐν ἀγῶνι.

υἱὸς δ' Ἀδμήτοιο πανύστατος ἤλυθεν ἄλλων

ἕλκων ἅρματα καλὰ ἐλαύνων πρόσσοθεν ἵππους.

τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

535στὰς δ' ἄρ' ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντ' ἀγόρευε:

Transliteration

ēkistos d' ēn autos elaunemen harm' en agōni.

huios d' Admētoio panystatos ēlythen allōn

helkōn harmata kala elaunōn prossothen hippous.

ton de idōn ōikteire podarkēs dios Achilleus,

535stas d' ar' en Argeiois epea pteroent' agoreue:

English

Last of them all came the son of Admetos, dragging his chariot and driving his horses on in front. When Achilles saw him he was sorry, and stood up among the Argives saying, "The best man is coming in last.

Homeric Greek

λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους:

ἀλλ' ἄγε δή οἱ δῶμεν ἀέθλιον ὡς ἐπιεικὲς

δεύτερ': ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα φερέσθω Τυδέος υἱός.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευε.

540καί νύ κέ οἱ πόρεν ἵππον, ἐπῄνησαν γὰρ Ἀχαιοί,

Transliteration

loisthos anēr ōristos elaunei mōnychas hippous:

all' age dē hoi dōmen aethlion hōs epieikes

deuter': atar ta prōta pheresthō Tydeos huios.

hōs ephath', hoi d' ara pantes epēineon hōs ekeleue.

540kai ny ke hoi poren hippon, epēinēsan gar Achaioi,

English

Let us give him a prize for it is reasonable. He shall have the second, but the first must go to the son of Tydeus." Thus did he speak and the others all of them applauded his saying, and were for doing as he had said,

Homeric Greek

εἰ μὴ ἄρ' Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς

Πηλεί̈δην Ἀχιλῆα δίκῃ ἠμείψατ' ἀναστάς:

ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ μάλα τοι κεχολώσομαι αἴ κε τελέσσῃς

τοῦτο ἔπος: μέλλεις γὰρ ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἄεθλον

545τὰ φρονέων ὅτι οἱ βλάβεν ἅρματα καὶ ταχέ' ἵππω

Transliteration

ei mē ar' Antilochos megathymou Nestoros huios

Pēleïdēn Achilēa dikēi ēmeipsat' anastas:

ō Achileu mala toi kecholōsomai ai ke telessēis

touto epos: melleis gar aphairēsesthai aethlon

545ta phroneōn hoti hoi blaben harmata kai tache' hippō

English

but Nestor's son Antilokhos stood up and claimed his rights from the son of Peleus. "Achilles," said he, "I shall take it much amiss if you do this thing; you would rob me of my prize, because you think Eumelos' chariot and horses were thrown out, and himself too, good man that he is.

Homeric Greek

αὐτός τ' ἐσθλὸς ἐών: ἀλλ' ὤφελεν ἀθανάτοισιν

εὔχεσθαι: τό κεν οὔ τι πανύστατος ἦλθε διώκων.

εἰ δέ μιν οἰκτίρεις καί τοι φίλος ἔπλετο θυμῷ

ἔστί τοι ἐν κλισίῃ χρυσὸς πολύς, ἔστι δὲ χαλκὸς

550καὶ πρόβατ', εἰσὶ δέ τοι δμῳαὶ καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι:

Transliteration

autos t' esthlos eōn: all' ōphelen athanatoisin

euchesthai: to ken ou ti panystatos ēlthe diōkōn.

ei de min oiktireis kai toi philos epleto thymōi

esti toi en klisiēi chrysos polys, esti de chalkos

550kai probat', eisi de toi dmōiai kai mōnyches hippoi:

English

He should have prayed duly to the immortals; he would not have come in fast if he had done so. If you are sorry for him and so choose, you have much gold in your tents, with bronze, sheep, cattle, and horses.

Homeric Greek

τῶν οἱ ἔπειτ' ἀνελὼν δόμεναι καὶ μεῖζον ἄεθλον

ἠὲ καὶ αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα σ' αἰνήσωσιν Ἀχαιοί.

τὴν δ' ἐγὼ οὐ δώσω: περὶ δ' αὐτῆς πειρηθήτω

ἀνδρῶν ὅς κ' ἐθέλῃσιν ἐμοὶ χείρεσσι μάχεσθαι.

555ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

Transliteration

tōn hoi epeit' anelōn domenai kai meizon aethlon

ēe kai autika nyn, hina s' ainēsōsin Achaioi.

tēn d' egō ou dōsō: peri d' autēs peirēthētō

andrōn hos k' ethelēisin emoi cheiressi machesthai.

555hōs phato, meidēsen de podarkēs dios Achilleus

English

Take something from this store if you would have the Achaeans speak well of you, and give him a better prize even than that which you have now offered; but I will not give up the mare, and he that will fight me for her, let him come on." Achilles smiled as he heard this, and was pleased with Antilokhos, who was one of his dearest comrades.

Homeric Greek

χαίρων Ἀντιλόχῳ, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος:

καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

Ἀντίλοχ', εἰ μὲν δή με κελεύεις οἴκοθεν ἄλλο

Εὐμήλῳ ἐπιδοῦναι, ἐγὼ δέ κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσω.

560δώσω οἱ θώρηκα, τὸν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων

Transliteration

chairōn Antilochōi, hoti hoi philos ēen hetairos:

kai min ameibomenos epea pteroenta prosēuda:

Antiloch', ei men dē me keleueis oikothen allo

Eumēlōi epidounai, egō de ke kai to telessō.

560dōsō hoi thōrēka, ton Asteropaion apēurōn

English

So he said - "Antilokhos, if you would have me find Eumelos another prize, I will give him the bronze breastplate with a rim of tin running all round it which I took from Asteropaios.

Homeric Greek

χάλκεον, ᾧ πέρι χεῦμα φαεινοῦ κασσιτέροιο

ἀμφιδεδίνηται: πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιος ἔσται.

ἦ ῥα, καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι φίλῳ ἐκέλευσεν ἑταίρῳ

οἰσέμεναι κλισίηθεν: ὃ δ' ᾤχετο καί οἱ ἔνεικεν,

565Εὐμήλῳ δ' ἐν χερσὶ τίθει: ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων.

Transliteration

chalkeon, hōi peri cheuma phaeinou kassiteroio

amphidedinētai: poleos de hoi axios estai.

ē rha, kai Automedonti philōi ekeleusen hetairōi

oisemenai klisiēthen: ho d' ōicheto kai hoi eneiken,

565Eumēlōi d' en chersi tithei: ho de dexato chairōn.

English

It will be worth much money to him." He bade his comrade Automedon bring the breastplate from his tent, and he did so. Achilles then gave it over to Eumelos, who received it gladly.

Homeric Greek

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο θυμὸν ἀχεύων

Ἀντιλόχῳ ἄμοτον κεχολωμένος: ἐν δ' ἄρα κῆρυξ

χειρὶ σκῆπτρον ἔθηκε, σιωπῆσαί τε κέλευσεν

Ἀργείους: ὃ δ' ἔπειτα μετηύδα ἰσόθεος φώς:

570Ἀντίλοχε πρόσθεν πεπνυμένε ποῖον ἔρεξας.

Transliteration

toisi de kai Menelaos anistato thymon acheuōn

Antilochōi amoton kecholōmenos: en d' ara kēryx

cheiri skēptron ethēke, siōpēsai te keleusen

Argeious: ho d' epeita metēuda isotheos phōs:

570Antiloche prosthen pepnymene poion erexas.

English

But Menelaos got up in a rage, furiously angry with Antilokhos. An attendant placed his staff in his hands and bade the Argives keep silence: the hero then addressed them. "Antilokhos," said he, "what is this from you who have been so far blameless?

Homeric Greek

ᾔσχυνας μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετήν, βλάψας δέ μοι ἵππους

τοὺς σοὺς πρόσθε βαλών, οἵ τοι πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν.

ἀλλ' ἄγετ' Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέροισι δικάσσατε, μὴ δ' ἐπ' ἀρωγῇ,

575μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων:

Transliteration

ēischynas men emēn aretēn, blapsas de moi hippous

tous sous prosthe balōn, hoi toi poly cheirones ēsan.

all' aget' Argeiōn hēgētores ēde medontes

es meson amphoteroisi dikassate, mē d' ep' arōgēi,

575mē pote tis eipēisin Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn:

English

You have shamed my excellence and baulked my horses by flinging your own in front of them, though yours are much worse than mine are; therefore, O princes and counselors of the Argives, judge between us and show no favor, lest one of the Achaeans say, ‘Menelaos has got the mare through lying and corruption;

Homeric Greek

Ἀντίλοχον ψεύδεσσι βιησάμενος Μενέλαος

οἴχεται ἵππον ἄγων, ὅτι οἱ πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν

ἵπποι, αὐτὸς δὲ κρείσσων ἀρετῇ τε βίῃ τε.

εἰ δ' ἄγ' ἐγὼν αὐτὸς δικάσω, καί μ' οὔ τινά φημι

580ἄλλον ἐπιπλήξειν Δαναῶν: ἰθεῖα γὰρ ἔσται.

Transliteration

Antilochon pseudessi biēsamenos Menelaos

oichetai hippon agōn, hoti hoi poly cheirones ēsan

hippoi, autos de kreissōn aretēi te biēi te.

ei d' ag' egōn autos dikasō, kai m' ou tina phēmi

580allon epiplēxein Danaōn: itheia gar estai.

English

his horses were far inferior to Antilokhos', but he is superior in excellence and force.’ Nay, I will determine the matter myself, and no man will blame me, for I shall do what is just.

Homeric Greek

Ἀντίλοχ' εἰ δ' ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφές, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,

στὰς ἵππων προπάροιθε καὶ ἅρματος, αὐτὰρ ἱμάσθλην

χερσὶν ἔχε ῥαδινήν, ᾗ περ τὸ πρόσθεν ἔλαυνες,

ἵππων ἁψάμενος γαιήοχον ἐννοσίγαιον

585ὄμνυθι μὴ μὲν ἑκὼν τὸ ἐμὸν δόλῳ ἅρμα πεδῆσαι.

Transliteration

Antiloch' ei d' age deuro diotrephes, hē themis esti,

stas hippōn proparoithe kai harmatos, autar himasthlēn

chersin eche rhadinēn, hēi per to prosthen elaunes,

hippōn hapsamenos gaiēochon ennosigaion

585omnythi mē men hekōn to emon dolōi harma pedēsai.

English

Come here, Antilokhos, and stand, as our custom is, whip in hand before your chariot and horses; lay your hand on your steeds, and swear by earth-encircling Poseidon that you did not purposely and guilefully get in the way of my horses."

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' αὖτ' Ἀντίλοχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα:

ἄνσχεο νῦν: πολλὸν γὰρ ἔγωγε νεώτερός εἰμι

σεῖο ἄναξ Μενέλαε, σὺ δὲ πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.

οἶσθ' οἷαι νέου ἀνδρὸς ὑπερβασίαι τελέθουσι:

590κραιπνότερος μὲν γάρ τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.

Transliteration

ton d' aut' Antilochos pepnymenos antion ēuda:

anscheo nyn: pollon gar egōge neōteros eimi

seio anax Menelae, sy de proteros kai areiōn.

oisth' hoiai neou andros hyperbasiai telethousi:

590kraipnoteros men gar te noos, leptē de te mētis.

English

And Antilokhos answered, "Forgive me; I am much younger, King Menelaos, than you are; you stand higher than I do and are the better man of the two; you know how easily young men are betrayed into indiscretion; their tempers are more hasty and they have less judgment ;

Homeric Greek

τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη: ἵππον δέ τοι αὐτὸς

δώσω, τὴν ἀρόμην. εἰ καί νύ κεν οἴκοθεν ἄλλο

μεῖζον ἐπαιτήσειας, ἄφαρ κέ τοι αὐτίκα δοῦναι

βουλοίμην ἢ σοί γε διοτρεφὲς ἤματα πάντα

595ἐκ θυμοῦ πεσέειν καὶ δαίμοσιν εἶναι ἀλιτρός.

Transliteration

tō toi epitlētō kradiē: hippon de toi autos

dōsō, tēn aromēn. ei kai ny ken oikothen allo

meizon epaitēseias, aphar ke toi autika dounai

bouloimēn ē soi ge diotrephes ēmata panta

595ek thymou peseein kai daimosin einai alitros.

English

make due allowances therefore, and bear with me; I will of my own accord give up the mare that I have won, and if you claim any further chattel from my own possessions, I would rather yield it to you, at once, than fall from your good graces henceforth, and do wrong in the eyes of daimones."

Homeric Greek

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἵππον ἄγων μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς

ἐν χείρεσσι τίθει Μενελάου: τοῖο δὲ θυμὸς

ἰάνθη ὡς εἴ τε περὶ σταχύεσσιν ἐέρση

ληί̈ου ἀλδήσκοντος, ὅτε φρίσσουσιν ἄρουραι:

600ὣς ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε μετὰ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.

Transliteration

ē rha kai hippon agōn megathymou Nestoros huios

en cheiressi tithei Menelaou: toio de thymos

ianthē hōs ei te peri stachyessin eersē

lēïou aldēskontos, hote phrissousin arourai:

600hōs ara soi Menelae meta phresi thymos ianthē.

English

The son of Nestor then took the mare and gave her over to Menelaos, whose anger was thus appeased; as when dew falls upon a field of ripening wheat, and the lands are bristling with the harvest - even so, O Menelaos, was your heart made glad within you.

Homeric Greek

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

Ἀντίλοχε νῦν μέν τοι ἐγὼν ὑποείξομαι αὐτὸς

χωόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι παρήορος οὐδ' ἀεσίφρων

ἦσθα πάρος: νῦν αὖτε νόον νίκησε νεοίη.

605δεύτερον αὖτ' ἀλέασθαι ἀμείνονας ἠπεροπεύειν.

Transliteration

kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

Antiloche nyn men toi egōn hypoeixomai autos

chōomenos, epei ou ti parēoros oud' aesiphrōn

ēstha paros: nyn aute noon nikēse neoiē.

605deuteron aut' aleasthai ameinonas ēperopeuein.

English

He turned to Antilokhos and said, "Now, Antilokhos, angry though I have been, I can give way to you of my own free will; you have never been headstrong nor ill-disposed hitherto, but this time your youth has got the better of your judgment ; be careful how you outwit your betters in future;

Homeric Greek

οὐ γάρ κέν με τάχ' ἄλλος ἀνὴρ παρέπεισεν Ἀχαιῶν.

ἀλλὰ σὺ γὰρ δὴ πολλὰ πάθες καὶ πολλὰ μόγησας

σός τε πατὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἀδελφεὸς εἵνεκ' ἐμεῖο:

τώ τοι λισσομένῳ ἐπιπείσομαι, ἠδὲ καὶ ἵππον

610δώσω ἐμήν περ ἐοῦσαν, ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε

Transliteration

ou gar ken me tach' allos anēr parepeisen Achaiōn.

alla sy gar dē polla pathes kai polla mogēsas

sos te patēr agathos kai adelpheos heinek' emeio:

tō toi lissomenōi epipeisomai, ēde kai hippon

610dōsō emēn per eousan, hina gnōōsi kai hoide

English

no one else could have brought me round so easily, but your good father, your brother, and yourself have all of you had infinite trouble on my behalf; I therefore yield to your entreaty, and will give up the mare to you, mine though it indeed be;

Homeric Greek

ὡς ἐμὸς οὔ ποτε θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.

ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἀντιλόχοιο Νοήμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ

ἵππον ἄγειν: ὃ δ' ἔπειτα λέβηθ' ἕλε παμφανόωντα.

Μηριόνης δ' ἀνάειρε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα

615τέτρατος, ὡς ἔλασεν. πέμπτον δ' ὑπελείπετ' ἄεθλον,

Transliteration

hōs emos ou pote thymos hyperphialos kai apēnēs.

ē rha, kai Antilochoio Noēmoni dōken hetairōi

hippon agein: ho d' epeita lebēth' hele pamphanoōnta.

Mērionēs d' anaeire dyō chrysoio talanta

615tetratos, hōs elasen. pempton d' hypeleipet' aethlon,

English

the people will thus see that I am neither harsh nor vindictive." With this he gave the mare over to Antilokhos' comrade Noemon, and then took the cauldron. Meriones, who had come in fourth, carried off the two talents of gold, and the fifth prize, the two-handled urn, being unawarded, Achilles

Homeric Greek

ἀμφίθετος φιάλη: τὴν Νέστορι δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

Ἀργείων ἀν' ἀγῶνα φέρων, καὶ ἔειπε παραστάς:

τῆ νῦν, καὶ σοὶ τοῦτο γέρον κειμήλιον ἔστω

Πατρόκλοιο τάφου μνῆμ' ἔμμεναι: οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' αὐτὸν

620ὄψῃ ἐν Ἀργείοισι: δίδωμι δέ τοι τόδ' ἄεθλον

Transliteration

amphithetos phialē: tēn Nestori dōken Achilleus

Argeiōn an' agōna pherōn, kai eeipe parastas:

tē nyn, kai soi touto geron keimēlion estō

Patrokloio taphou mnēm' emmenai: ou gar et' auton

620opsēi en Argeioisi: didōmi de toi tod' aethlon

English

gave it to Nestor, going up to him in the assembly of Argives and saying, "Take this, my good old friend, as an heirloom and memorial of the funeral of Patroklos - for you shall see him no more among the Argives. I give you this prize though you cannot win one;

Homeric Greek

αὔτως: οὐ γὰρ πύξ γε μαχήσεαι, οὐδὲ παλαίσεις,

οὐδ' ἔτ' ἀκοντιστὺν ἐσδύσεαι, οὐδὲ πόδεσσι

θεύσεαι: ἤδη γὰρ χαλεπὸν κατὰ γῆρας ἐπείγει.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει: ὃ δ' ἐδέξατο χαίρων,

625καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:

Transliteration

autōs: ou gar pyx ge machēseai, oude palaiseis,

oud' et' akontistyn esdyseai, oude podessi

theuseai: ēdē gar chalepon kata gēras epeigei.

hōs eipōn en chersi tithei: ho d' edexato chairōn,

625kai min phōnēsas epea pteroenta prosēuda:

English

you can now neither wrestle nor fight, and cannot enter for the javelin-match nor foot-races, for the hand of age has been laid heavily upon you." So saying he gave the urn over to Nestor, who received it gladly and answered, "My son, all that you have said is true;

Homeric Greek

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα τέκος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες:

οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἔμπεδα γυῖα φίλος πόδες, οὐδέ τι χεῖρες

ὤμων ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐπαί̈σσονται ἐλαφραί.

εἴθ' ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη

630ὡς ὁπότε κρείοντ' Ἀμαρυγκέα θάπτον Ἐπειοὶ

Transliteration

nai dē tauta ge panta tekos kata moiran eeipes:

ou gar et' empeda guia philos podes, oude ti cheires

ōmōn amphoterōthen epaïssontai elaphrai.

eith' hōs hēbōoimi biē te moi empedos eiē

630hōs hopote kreiont' Amarynkea thapton Epeioi

English

there is no strength now in my legs and feet, nor can I hit out with my hands from either shoulder. Would that I were still young and strong as when the Epeans were burying King Amarynkeus in Bouprasion, and his sons offered prizes in his honor.

Homeric Greek

Βουπρασίῳ, παῖδες δ' ἔθεσαν βασιλῆος ἄεθλα:

ἔνθ' οὔ τίς μοι ὁμοῖος ἀνὴρ γένετ', οὔτ' ἄρ' Ἐπειῶν

οὔτ' αὐτῶν Πυλίων οὔτ' Αἰτωλῶν μεγαθύμων.

πὺξ μὲν ἐνίκησα Κλυτομήδεα Ἤνοπος υἱόν,

635Ἀγκαῖον δὲ πάλῃ Πλευρώνιον, ὅς μοι ἀνέστη:

Transliteration

Bouprasiōi, paides d' ethesan basilēos aethla:

enth' ou tis moi homoios anēr genet', out' ar' Epeiōn

out' autōn Pyliōn out' Aitōlōn megathymōn.

pyx men enikēsa Klytomēdea Ēnopos huion,

635Ankaion de palēi Pleurōnion, hos moi anestē:

English

There was then none that could vie with me neither of the Epeans nor the Pylians themselves nor the Aetolians. In boxing I overcame Klytomedes son of Enops, and in wrestling, Ankaios of Pleuron who had come forward against me. Iphiklos was a good runner,

Homeric Greek

Ἴφικλον δὲ πόδεσσι παρέδραμον ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα,

δουρὶ δ' ὑπειρέβαλον Φυλῆά τε καὶ Πολύδωρον.

οἴοισίν μ' ἵπποισι παρήλασαν Ἀκτορίωνε

πλήθει πρόσθε βαλόντες ἀγασσάμενοι περὶ νίκης,

640οὕνεκα δὴ τὰ μέγιστα παρ' αὐτόθι λείπετ' ἄεθλα.

Transliteration

Iphiklon de podessi paredramon esthlon eonta,

douri d' hypeirebalon Phylēa te kai Polydōron.

oioisin m' hippoisi parēlasan Aktoriōne

plēthei prosthe balontes agassamenoi peri nikēs,

640houneka dē ta megista par' autothi leipet' aethla.

English

but I beat him, and threw farther with my spear than either Phyleus or Polydoros. In chariot-racing alone did the two sons of Aktor surpass me by crowding their horses in front of me, for they were angry at the way victory had gone, and at the greater part of the prizes remaining in the place in which they had been offered.

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' ἄρ' ἔσαν δίδυμοι: ὃ μὲν ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευεν,

ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευ', ὃ δ' ἄρα μάστιγι κέλευεν.

ὥς ποτ' ἔον: νῦν αὖτε νεώτεροι ἀντιοώντων

ἔργων τοιούτων: ἐμὲ δὲ χρὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷ

645πείθεσθαι, τότε δ' αὖτε μετέπρεπον ἡρώεσσιν.

Transliteration

hoi d' ar' esan didymoi: ho men empedon hēniocheuen,

empedon hēniocheu', ho d' ara mastigi keleuen.

hōs pot' eon: nyn aute neōteroi antioōntōn

ergōn toioutōn: eme de chrē gēraï lygrōi

645peithesthai, tote d' aute meteprepon hērōessin.

English

They were twins, and the one kept on holding the reins, and holding the reins, while the other plied the whip. Such was I then, but now I must leave these matters to younger men; I must bow before the weight of years, but in those days I was eminent among heroes.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἴθι καὶ σὸν ἑταῖρον ἀέθλοισι κτερέϊζε.

τοῦτο δ' ἐγὼ πρόφρων δέχομαι, χαίρει δέ μοι ἦτορ,

ὥς μευ ἀεὶ μέμνησαι ἐνηέος, οὐδέ σε λήθω,

τιμῆς ἧς τέ μ' ἔοικε τετιμῆσθαι μετ' Ἀχαιοῖς.

650σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τῶνδ' ἀντὶ χάριν μενοεικέα δοῖεν.

Transliteration

all' ithi kai son hetairon aethloisi ktereïze.

touto d' egō prophrōn dechomai, chairei de moi ētor,

hōs meu aei memnēsai enēeos, oude se lēthō,

timēs hēs te m' eoike tetimēsthai met' Achaiois.

650soi de theoi tōnd' anti charin menoeikea doien.

English

And now, sir, go on with the funeral contests in honor of your comrade: gladly do I accept this urn, and my heart rejoices that you do not forget me but are ever mindful of my goodwill towards you, and of the respect due to me from the Achaeans. For all which may the grace of heaven be granted you in great abundance."

Homeric Greek

ὣς φάτο, Πηλεί̈δης δὲ πολὺν καθ' ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν

ᾤχετ', ἐπεὶ πάντ' αἶνον ἐπέκλυε Νηλεί̈δαο.

αὐτὰρ ὃ πυγμαχίης ἀλεγεινῆς θῆκεν ἄεθλα:

ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κατέδησ' ἐν ἀγῶνι

655ἑξέτε' ἀδμήτην, ἥ τ' ἀλγίστη δαμάσασθαι:

Transliteration

hōs phato, Pēleïdēs de polyn kath' homilon Achaiōn

ōichet', epei pant' ainon epeklye Nēleïdao.

autar ho pygmachiēs alegeinēs thēken aethla:

hēmionon talaergon agōn katedēs' en agōni

655hexete' admētēn, hē t' algistē damasasthai:

English

Thereon the son of Peleus, when he had listened to all the praise of Nestor, went about among the concourse of the Achaeans, and presently offered prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing. He brought out a strong mule, and made it fast in the middle of the crowd - a she-mule never yet broken, but six years old - when it is hardest of all to break them:

Homeric Greek

τῷ δ' ἄρα νικηθέντι τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.

στῆ δ' ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

Ἀτρεί̈δη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,

660πὺξ μάλ' ἀνασχομένω πεπληγέμεν: ᾧ δέ κ' Ἀπόλλων

Transliteration

tōi d' ara nikēthenti tithei depas amphikypellon.

stē d' orthos kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

Atreïdē te kai alloi eÿknēmides Achaioi

andre dyō peri tōnde keleuomen, hō per aristō,

660pyx mal' anaschomenō peplēgemen: hōi de k' Apollōn

English

this was for the victor, and for the vanquished he offered a double cup. Then he stood up and said among the Argives, "Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, I invite our two champion boxers to lay about them lustily and compete for these prizes.

Homeric Greek

δώῃ καμμονίην, γνώωσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,

ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κλισίην δὲ νεέσθω:

αὐτὰρ ὃ νικηθεὶς δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον.

ὣς ἔφατ', ὄρνυτο δ' αὐτίκ' ἀνὴρ ἠύ̈ς τε μέγας τε

665εἰδὼς πυγμαχίης υἱὸς Πανοπῆος Ἐπειός,

Transliteration

dōēi kammoniēn, gnōōsi de pantes Achaioi,

hēmionon talaergon agōn klisiēn de neesthō:

autar ho nikētheis depas oisetai amphikypellon.

hōs ephat', ornyto d' autik' anēr ēÿs te megas te

665eidōs pygmachiēs huios Panopēos Epeios,

English

He to whom Apollo grants the greater endurance, and whom the Achaeans acknowledge as victor, shall take the mule back with him to his own tent, while he that is vanquished shall have the double cup." As he spoke there stood up a champion both brave and great stature, a skillful boxer, Epeios, son of Panopeus.

Homeric Greek

ἅψατο δ' ἡμιόνου ταλαεργοῦ φώνησέν τε:

ἆσσον ἴτω ὅς τις δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον:

ἡμίονον δ' οὔ φημί τιν' ἀξέμεν ἄλλον Ἀχαιῶν

πυγμῇ νικήσαντ', ἐπεὶ εὔχομαι εἶναι ἄριστος.

670ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι μάχης ἐπιδεύομαι; οὐδ' ἄρα πως ἦν

Transliteration

hapsato d' hēmionou talaergou phōnēsen te:

asson itō hos tis depas oisetai amphikypellon:

hēmionon d' ou phēmi tin' axemen allon Achaiōn

pygmēi nikēsant', epei euchomai einai aristos.

670ē ouch halis hotti machēs epideuomai; oud' ara pōs ēn

English

He laid his hand on the mule and said, "Let the man who is to have the cup come hither, for none but myself will take the mule. I am the best boxer of all here present, and none can beat me. Is it not enough that I should fall short of you in actual fighting?

Homeric Greek

ἐν πάντεσσ' ἔργοισι δαήμονα φῶτα γενέσθαι.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται:

ἀντικρὺ χρόα τε ῥήξω σύν τ' ὀστέ' ἀράξω.

κηδεμόνες δέ οἱ ἐνθάδ' ἀολλέες αὖθι μενόντων,

675οἵ κέ μιν ἐξοίσουσιν ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμέντα.

Transliteration

en pantess' ergoisi daēmona phōta genesthai.

hōde gar exereō, to de kai tetelesmenon estai:

antikry chroa te rhēxō syn t' oste' araxō.

kēdemones de hoi enthad' aollees authi menontōn,

675hoi ke min exoisousin emēis hypo chersi damenta.

English

Still, no man can be good at everything. I tell you plainly, and it shall come true; if any man will box with me I will bruise his body and break his bones; therefore let his friends stay here in a body and be at hand to take him away when I have done with him."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

Εὐρύαλος δέ οἱ οἶος ἀνίστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς

Μηκιστῆος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος,

ὅς ποτε Θήβας δ' ἦλθε δεδουπότος Οἰδιπόδαο

680ἐς τάφον: ἔνθα δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα Καδμείωνας.

Transliteration

hōs ephath', hoi d' ara pantes akēn egenonto siōpēi.

Euryalos de hoi oios anistato isotheos phōs

Mēkistēos huios Talaïonidao anaktos,

hos pote Thēbas d' ēlthe dedoupotos Oidipodao

680es taphon: entha de pantas enika Kadmeiōnas.

English

They all held their peace, and no man rose save Euryalos son of Mekisteus, who was son of Talaos. Mekisteus went once to Thebes after the fall of Oedipus, to attend his funeral, and he beat all the people of Cadmus. The son of Tydeus was Euryalos' second, cheering him on and hoping heartily that he would win.

Homeric Greek

τὸν μὲν Τυδεί̈δης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἀμφεπονεῖτο

θαρσύνων ἔπεσιν, μέγα δ' αὐτῷ βούλετο νίκην.

ζῶμα δέ οἱ πρῶτον παρακάββαλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

δῶκεν ἱμάντας ἐϋτμήτους βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο.

685τὼ δὲ ζωσαμένω βήτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,

Transliteration

ton men Tydeïdēs douri klytos ampheponeito

tharsynōn epesin, mega d' autōi bouleto nikēn.

zōma de hoi prōton parakabbalen, autar epeita

dōken himantas eÿtmētous boos agrauloio.

685tō de zōsamenō bētēn es messon agōna,

English

First he put a waistband round him and then he gave him some well-cut thongs of ox-hide; the two men being now girt went into the middle of the ring, and immediately fell to; heavily indeed did they punish one another and lay about them with their brawny fists.

Homeric Greek

ἄντα δ' ἀνασχομένω χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν ἅμ' ἄμφω

σύν ῥ' ἔπεσον, σὺν δέ σφι βαρεῖαι χεῖρες ἔμιχθεν.

δεινὸς δὲ χρόμαδος γενύων γένετ', ἔρρεε δ' ἱδρὼς

πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων: ἐπὶ δ' ὄρνυτο δῖος Ἐπειός,

690κόψε δὲ παπτήναντα παρήϊον: οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτι δὴν

Transliteration

anta d' anaschomenō chersi stibarēisin ham' amphō

syn rh' epeson, syn de sphi bareiai cheires emichthen.

deinos de chromados genyōn genet', erree d' hidrōs

pantothen ek meleōn: epi d' ornyto dios Epeios,

690kopse de paptēnanta parēïon: oud' ar' eti dēn

English

One could hear the horrid crashing of their jaws, and they sweated from every pore of their skin. Presently Epeios came on and gave Euryalos a blow on the jaw as he was looking round; Euryalos could not keep his legs;

Homeric Greek

ἑστήκειν: αὐτοῦ γὰρ ὑπήριπε φαίδιμα γυῖα.

ὡς δ' ὅθ' ὑπὸ φρικὸς Βορέω ἀναπάλλεται ἰχθὺς

θίν' ἐν φυκιόεντι, μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν,

ὣς πληγεὶς ἀνέπαλτ': αὐτὰρ μεγάθυμος Ἐπειὸς

695χερσὶ λαβὼν ὤρθωσε: φίλοι δ' ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροι,

Transliteration

hestēkein: autou gar hypēripe phaidima guia.

hōs d' hoth' hypo phrikos Boreō anapalletai ichthys

thin' en phykioenti, melan de he kyma kalypsen,

hōs plēgeis anepalt': autar megathymos Epeios

695chersi labōn ōrthōse: philoi d' amphestan hetairoi,

English

they gave way under him in a moment and he sprang up with a bound, as a fish leaps into the air near some shore that is all bestrewn with sea-wrack, when Boreas furs the top of the waves, and then falls back into deep water. But noble Epeios caught hold of him and raised him up;

Homeric Greek

οἵ μιν ἄγον δι' ἀγῶνος ἐφελκομένοισι πόδεσσιν

αἷμα παχὺ πτύοντα κάρη βάλλονθ' ἑτέρωσε:

κὰδ δ' ἀλλοφρονέοντα μετὰ σφίσιν εἷσαν ἄγοντες,

αὐτοὶ δ' οἰχόμενοι κόμισαν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.

700Πηλεί̈δης δ' αἶψ' ἄλλα κατὰ τρίτα θῆκεν ἄεθλα

Transliteration

hoi min agon di' agōnos ephelkomenoisi podessin

haima pachy ptyonta karē ballonth' heterōse:

kad d' allophroneonta meta sphisin heisan agontes,

autoi d' oichomenoi komisan depas amphikypellon.

700Pēleïdēs d' aips' alla kata trita thēken aethla

English

his comrades also came round him and led him from the ring, unsteady in his gait, his head hanging on one side, and spitting great clots of gore. They set him down in a swoon and then went to fetch the double cup. The son of Peleus now brought out the prizes for the third contest and showed them to the Argives.

Homeric Greek

δεικνύμενος Δαναοῖσι παλαισμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς,

τῷ μὲν νικήσαντι μέγαν τρίποδ' ἐμπυριβήτην,

τὸν δὲ δυωδεκάβοιον ἐνὶ σφίσι τῖον Ἀχαιοί:

ἀνδρὶ δὲ νικηθέντι γυναῖκ' ἐς μέσσον ἔθηκε,

705πολλὰ δ' ἐπίστατο ἔργα, τίον δέ ἑ τεσσαράβοιον.

Transliteration

deiknymenos Danaoisi palaismosynēs alegeinēs,

tōi men nikēsanti megan tripod' empyribētēn,

ton de dyōdekaboion eni sphisi tion Achaioi:

andri de nikēthenti gynaik' es messon ethēke,

705polla d' epistato erga, tion de he tessaraboion.

English

These were for the painful art of wrestling. For the winner there was a great tripod ready for setting upon the fire, and the Achaeans valued it among themselves at twelve oxen. For the loser he brought out a woman skilled in all manner of arts, and they valued her at four oxen.

Homeric Greek

στῆ δ' ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

ὄρνυσθ' οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθον.

ὣς ἔφατ', ὦρτο δ' ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

ἂν δ' Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις ἀνίστατο κέρδεα εἰδώς.

710ζωσαμένω δ' ἄρα τώ γε βάτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,

Transliteration

stē d' orthos kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

ornysth' hoi kai toutou aethlou peirēsesthon.

hōs ephat', ōrto d' epeita megas Telamōnios Aias,

an d' Odyseus polymētis anistato kerdea eidōs.

710zōsamenō d' ara tō ge batēn es messon agōna,

English

He rose and said among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who will essay this contest." Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, and crafty Odysseus, full of craft rose also. The two girded themselves and went into the middle of the ring.

Homeric Greek

ἀγκὰς δ' ἀλλήλων λαβέτην χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν

ὡς ὅτ' ἀμείβοντες, τούς τε κλυτὸς ἤραρε τέκτων

δώματος ὑψηλοῖο βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων.

τετρίγει δ' ἄρα νῶτα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν

715ἑλκόμενα στερεῶς: κατὰ δὲ νότιος ῥέεν ἱδρώς,

Transliteration

ankas d' allēlōn labetēn chersi stibarēisin

hōs hot' ameibontes, tous te klytos ērare tektōn

dōmatos hypsēloio bias anemōn aleeinōn.

tetrigei d' ara nōta thraseiaōn apo cheirōn

715helkomena stereōs: kata de notios rheen hidrōs,

English

They gripped each other in their strong hands like the rafters which some master-builder frames for the roof of a high house to keep the wind out. Their backbones cracked as they tugged at one another with their mighty arms - and sweat rained from them in torrents.

Homeric Greek

πυκναὶ δὲ σμώδιγγες ἀνὰ πλευράς τε καὶ ὤμους

αἵματι φοινικόεσσαι ἀνέδραμον: οἳ δὲ μάλ' αἰεὶ

νίκης ἱέσθην τρίποδος πέρι ποιητοῖο:

οὔτ' Ὀδυσεὺς δύνατο σφῆλαι οὔδει τε πελάσσαι,

720οὔτ' Αἴας δύνατο, κρατερὴ δ' ἔχεν ἲς Ὀδυσῆος.

Transliteration

pyknai de smōdinges ana pleuras te kai ōmous

haimati phoinikoessai anedramon: hoi de mal' aiei

nikēs hiesthēn tripodos peri poiētoio:

out' Odyseus dynato sphēlai oudei te pelassai,

720out' Aias dynato, kraterē d' echen is Odysēos.

English

Many a bloody weal sprang up on their sides and shoulders, but they kept on striving with might and main for victory and to win the tripod. Odysseus could not throw Ajax, nor Ajax him; Odysseus was too strong for him;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἀνίαζον ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,

δὴ τότε μιν προσέειπε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας:

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχαν' Ὀδυσσεῦ

ἤ μ' ἀνάειρ', ἢ ἐγὼ σέ: τὰ δ' αὖ Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.

725ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνάειρε: δόλου δ' οὐ λήθετ' Ὀδυσσεύς:

Transliteration

all' hote dē rh' aniazon eÿknēmidas Achaious,

dē tote min proseeipe megas Telamōnios Aias:

diogenes Laertiadē polymēchan' Odysseu

ē m' anaeir', ē egō se: ta d' au Dii panta melēsei.

725hōs eipōn anaeire: dolou d' ou lēthet' Odysseus:

English

but when the Achaeans began to tire of watching them, Ajax said to Odysseus, "Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, you shall either lift me, or I you, and let Zeus settle it between us." He lifted him from the ground as he spoke, but Odysseus did not forget his cunning.

Homeric Greek

κόψ' ὄπιθεν κώληπα τυχών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα,

κὰδ δ' ἔβαλ' ἐξοπίσω: ἐπὶ δὲ στήθεσσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς

κάππεσε: λαοὶ δ' αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.

δεύτερος αὖτ' ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

730κίνησεν δ' ἄρα τυτθὸν ἀπὸ χθονός, οὐδ' ἔτ' ἄειρεν,

Transliteration

kops' opithen kōlēpa tychōn, hypelyse de guia,

kad d' ebal' exopisō: epi de stēthessin Odysseus

kappese: laoi d' au thēeunto te thambēsan te.

deuteros aut' anaeire polytlas dios Odysseus,

730kinēsen d' ara tytthon apo chthonos, oud' et' aeiren,

English

He hit Ajax in the hollow at back of his knee, so that he could not keep his feet, but fell on his back with Odysseus lying upon his chest, and all who saw it marveled. Then Odysseus in turn lifted Ajax and stirred him a little from the ground but could not lift

Homeric Greek

ἐν δὲ γόνυ γνάμψεν: ἐπὶ δὲ χθονὶ κάππεσον ἄμφω

πλησίοι ἀλλήλοισι, μιάνθησαν δὲ κονίῃ.

καί νύ κε τὸ τρίτον αὖτις ἀναί̈ξαντ' ἐπάλαιον,

εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ κατέρυκε:

735μηκέτ' ἐρείδεσθον, μὴ δὲ τρίβεσθε κακοῖσι:

Transliteration

en de gony gnampsen: epi de chthoni kappeson amphō

plēsioi allēloisi, mianthēsan de koniēi.

kai ny ke to triton autis anaïxant' epalaion,

ei mē Achilleus autos anistato kai kateryke:

735mēket' ereidesthon, mē de tribesthe kakoisi:

English

him right off it, his knee sank under him, and the two fell side by side on the ground and were all begrimed with dust. They now sprang towards one another and were for wrestling yet a third time, but Achilles rose and stayed them. "Put not each other further," said he, "to such cruel suffering;

Homeric Greek

νίκη δ' ἀμφοτέροισιν: ἀέθλια δ' ἶσ' ἀνελόντες

ἔρχεσθ', ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλοι ἀεθλεύωσιν Ἀχαιοί.

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

καί ῥ' ἀπομορξαμένω κονίην δύσαντο χιτῶνας.

740Πηλεί̈δης δ' αἶψ' ἄλλα τίθει ταχυτῆτος ἄεθλα

Transliteration

nikē d' amphoteroisin: aethlia d' is' anelontes

erchesth', ophra kai alloi aethleuōsin Achaioi.

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

kai rh' apomorxamenō koniēn dysanto chitōnas.

740Pēleïdēs d' aips' alla tithei tachytētos aethla

English

the victory is with both alike, take each of you an equal prize, and let the other Achaeans now compete." Thus did he speak and they did even as he had said, and put on their shirts again after wiping the dust from off their bodies. The son of Peleus then offered prizes for speed in running - a mixing-bowl beautifully wrought, of pure silver.

Homeric Greek

ἀργύρεον κρητῆρα τετυγμένον: ἓξ δ' ἄρα μέτρα

χάνδανεν, αὐτὰρ κάλλει ἐνίκα πᾶσαν ἐπ' αἶαν

πολλόν, ἐπεὶ Σιδόνες πολυδαίδαλοι εὖ ἤσκησαν,

Φοίνικες δ' ἄγον ἄνδρες ἐπ' ἠεροειδέα πόντον,

745στῆσαν δ' ἐν λιμένεσσι, Θόαντι δὲ δῶρον ἔδωκαν:

Transliteration

argyreon krētēra tetygmenon: hex d' ara metra

chandanen, autar kallei enika pasan ep' aian

pollon, epei Sidones polydaidaloi eu ēskēsan,

Phoinikes d' agon andres ep' ēeroeidea ponton,

745stēsan d' en limenessi, Thoanti de dōron edōkan:

English

It would hold six measures, and far exceeded all others in the whole world for beauty; it was the work of cunning artificers in Sidon, and had been brought into port by Phoenicians from beyond the sea, who had made a present of it to Thoas.

Homeric Greek

υἷος δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονος ὦνον ἔδωκε

Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος.

καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλεὺς θῆκεν ἄεθλον οὗ ἑτάροιο,

ὅς τις ἐλαφρότατος ποσσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πέλοιτο:

750δευτέρῳ αὖ βοῦν θῆκε μέγαν καὶ πίονα δημῷ,

Transliteration

huios de Priamoio Lykaonos ōnon edōke

Patroklōi hērōï Iēsonidēs Eunēos.

kai ton Achilleus thēken aethlon hou hetaroio,

hos tis elaphrotatos possi kraipnoisi peloito:

750deuterōi au boun thēke megan kai piona dēmōi,

English

Eueneus son of Jason had given it to Patroklos in ransom of Priam's son Lykaon, and Achilles now offered it as a prize in honor of his comrade to him who should be the swiftest runner.

Homeric Greek

ἡμιτάλαντον δὲ χρυσοῦ λοισθήϊ' ἔθηκε.

στῆ δ' ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

ὄρνυσθ' οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.

ὣς ἔφατ', ὄρνυτο δ' αὐτίκ' Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,

755ἂν δ' Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις, ἔπειτα δὲ Νέστορος υἱὸς

Transliteration

hēmitalanton de chrysou loisthēï' ethēke.

stē d' orthos kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

ornysth' hoi kai toutou aethlou peirēsesthe.

hōs ephat', ornyto d' autik' Oïlēos tachys Aias,

755an d' Odyseus polymētis, epeita de Nestoros huios

English

For the second prize he offered a large ox, well fattened, while for the last there was to be half a talent of gold. He then rose and said among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who will essay this contest." Forthwith uprose fleet Ajax son of Oileus, with cunning Odysseus, and Nestor's son Antilokhos, the fastest runner among all the youth of his time.

Homeric Greek

Ἀντίλοχος: ὃ γὰρ αὖτε νέους ποσὶ πάντας ἐνίκα.

στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί: σήμηνε δὲ τέρματ' Ἀχιλλεύς.

τοῖσι δ' ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος: ὦκα δ' ἔπειτα

ἔκφερ' Ὀϊλιάδης: ἐπὶ δ' ὄρνυτο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

760ἄγχι μάλ', ὡς ὅτε τίς τε γυναικὸς ἐϋζώνοιο

Transliteration

Antilochos: ho gar aute neous posi pantas enika.

stan de metastoichi: sēmēne de termat' Achilleus.

toisi d' apo nyssēs tetato dromos: ōka d' epeita

ekpher' Oïliadēs: epi d' ornyto dios Odysseus

760anchi mal', hōs hote tis te gynaikos eÿzōnoio

English

They stood side by side and Achilles showed them the goal. The course was set out for them from the starting-post, and the son of Oileus took the lead at once, with Odysseus as close behind him as the shuttle is to a woman's bosom when she

Homeric Greek

στήθεός ἐστι κανών, ὅν τ' εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ

πηνίον ἐξέλκουσα παρὲκ μίτον, ἀγχόθι δ' ἴσχει

στήθεος: ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς θέεν ἐγγύθεν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν

ἴχνια τύπτε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι:

765κὰδ δ' ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆς χέ' ἀϋτμένα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

Transliteration

stētheos esti kanōn, hon t' eu mala chersi tanyssēi

pēnion exelkousa parek miton, anchothi d' ischei

stētheos: hōs Odyseus theen engythen, autar opisthen

ichnia typte podessi paros konin amphichythēnai:

765kad d' ara hoi kephalēs che' aÿtmena dios Odysseus

English

throws the woof across the warp and holds it close up to her; even so close behind him was Odysseus - treading in his footprints before the dust could settle there, and Ajax could feel his breath on the back of his head as he ran swiftly on.

Homeric Greek

αἰεὶ ῥίμφα θέων: ἴαχον δ' ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ

νίκης ἱεμένῳ, μάλα δὲ σπεύδοντι κέλευον.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον, αὐτίκ' Ὀδυσσεὺς

εὔχετ' Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ὃν κατὰ θυμόν:

770κλῦθι θεά, ἀγαθή μοι ἐπίρροθος ἐλθὲ ποδοῖιν.

Transliteration

aiei rhimpha theōn: iachon d' epi pantes Achaioi

nikēs hiemenōi, mala de speudonti keleuon.

all' hote dē pymaton teleon dromon, autik' Odysseus

euchet' Athēnaiēi glaukōpidi hon kata thymon:

770klythi thea, agathē moi epirrothos elthe podoiin.

English

The Achaeans all shouted approval as they saw him straining his utmost, and cheered him as he shot past them; but when they were now nearing the end of the course Odysseus prayed inwardly to Athena. "Hear me," he cried, "and help my feet, O goddess."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος: τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,

γυῖα δ' ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ τάχ' ἔμελλον ἐπαί̈ξασθαι ἄεθλον,

ἔνθ' Αἴας μὲν ὄλισθε θέων, βλάψεν γὰρ Ἀθήνη,

775τῇ ῥα βοῶν κέχυτ' ὄνθος ἀποκταμένων ἐριμύκων,

Transliteration

hōs ephat' euchomenos: tou d' eklye Pallas Athēnē,

guia d' ethēken elaphra, podas kai cheiras hyperthen.

all' hote dē tach' emellon epaïxasthai aethlon,

enth' Aias men olisthe theōn, blapsen gar Athēnē,

775tēi rha boōn kechyt' onthos apoktamenōn erimykōn,

English

Thus did he pray, and Pallas Athena heard his prayer; she made his hands and his feet feel light, and when the runners were at the point of pouncing upon the prize, Ajax, through Athena's spite slipped upon some offal that was lying there from the cattle

Homeric Greek

οὓς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πέφνεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς:

ἐν δ' ὄνθου βοέου πλῆτο στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε:

κρητῆρ' αὖτ' ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὡς ἦλθε φθάμενος: ὃ δὲ βοῦν ἕλε φαίδιμος Αἴας.

780στῆ δὲ κέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο

Transliteration

hous epi Patroklōi pephnen podas ōkys Achilleus:

en d' onthou boeou plēto stoma te rhinas te:

krētēr' aut' anaeire polytlas dios Odysseus,

hōs ēlthe phthamenos: ho de boun hele phaidimos Aias.

780stē de keras meta chersin echōn boos agrauloio

English

which Achilles had slaughtered in honor of Patroklos, and his mouth and nostrils were all filled with cow dung. Odysseus therefore carried off the mixing-bowl, for he got before Ajax and came in first. But Ajax took the ox and stood with his hand on one of its horns, spitting the dung out of his mouth.

Homeric Greek

ὄνθον ἀποπτύων, μετὰ δ' Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

ὢ πόποι ἦ μ' ἔβλαψε θεὰ πόδας, ἣ τὸ πάρος περ

μήτηρ ὣς Ὀδυσῆϊ παρίσταται ἠδ' ἐπαρήγει.

ὣς ἔφαθ', οἳ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἐπ' αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.

785Ἀντίλοχος δ' ἄρα δὴ λοισθήϊον ἔκφερ' ἄεθλον

Transliteration

onthon apoptyōn, meta d' Argeioisin eeipen:

ō popoi ē m' eblapse thea podas, hē to paros per

mētēr hōs Odysēï paristatai ēd' eparēgei.

hōs ephath', hoi d' ara pantes ep' autōi hēdy gelassan.

785Antilochos d' ara dē loisthēïon ekpher' aethlon

English

Then he said to the Argives, "Alas, the goddess has spoiled my running; she watches over Odysseus and stands by him as though she were his own mother." Thus did he speak and they all of them laughed heartily. Antilokhos carried off the last prize and smiled as

Homeric Greek

μειδιόων, καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

εἰδόσιν ὔμμ' ἐρέω πᾶσιν φίλοι, ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν

ἀθάνατοι τιμῶσι παλαιοτέρους ἀνθρώπους.

Αἴας μὲν γὰρ ἐμεῖ' ὀλίγον προγενέστερός ἐστιν,

790οὗτος δὲ προτέρης γενεῆς προτέρων τ' ἀνθρώπων:

Transliteration

meidioōn, kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

eidosin ymm' ereō pasin philoi, hōs eti kai nyn

athanatoi timōsi palaioterous anthrōpous.

Aias men gar emei' oligon progenesteros estin,

790houtos de proterēs geneēs proterōn t' anthrōpōn:

English

he said to the bystanders, "You all see, my friends, that now too the gods have shown their respect for seniority. Ajax is somewhat older than I am, and as for Odysseus, he belongs to an earlier generation, but he is hale in

Homeric Greek

ὠμογέροντα δέ μίν φασ' ἔμμεναι: ἀργαλέον δὲ

ποσσὶν ἐριδήσασθαι Ἀχαιοῖς, εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεῖ.

ὣς φάτο, κύδηνεν δὲ ποδώκεα Πηλεί̈ωνα.

τὸν δ' Ἀχιλεὺς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν:

795Ἀντίλοχ' οὐ μέν τοι μέλεος εἰρήσεται αἶνος,

Transliteration

ōmogeronta de min phas' emmenai: argaleon de

possin eridēsasthai Achaiois, ei mē Achillei.

hōs phato, kydēnen de podōkea Pēleïōna.

ton d' Achileus mythoisin ameibomenos proseeipen:

795Antiloch' ou men toi meleos eirēsetai ainos,

English

spite of his years, and no man of the Achaeans can run against him save only Achilles." He said this to pay a compliment to the son of Peleus, and Achilles answered, "Antilokhos, you shall not have given me praise to no purpose;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλά τοι ἡμιτάλαντον ἐγὼ χρυσοῦ ἐπιθήσω.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δ' ἐδέξατο χαίρων.

αὐτὰρ Πηλεί̈δης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

θῆκ' ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων, κατὰ δ' ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν

800τεύχεα Σαρπήδοντος, ἅ μιν Πάτροκλος ἀπηύρα.

Transliteration

alla toi hēmitalanton egō chrysou epithēsō.

hōs eipōn en chersi tithei, ho d' edexato chairōn.

autar Pēleïdēs kata men dolichoskion enchos

thēk' es agōna pherōn, kata d' aspida kai tryphaleian

800teuchea Sarpēdontos, ha min Patroklos apēura.

English

I shall give you an additional half talent of gold." He then gave the half talent to Antilokhos, who received it gladly. Then the son of Peleus brought out to the assembly the spear, helmet, and shield that had been borne by Sarpedon, and were taken from him by Patroklos.

Homeric Greek

στῆ δ' ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,

τεύχεα ἑσσαμένω ταμεσίχροα χαλκὸν ἑλόντε

ἀλλήλων προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου πειρηθῆναι.

805ὁππότερός κε φθῇσιν ὀρεξάμενος χρόα καλόν,

Transliteration

stē d' orthos kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

andre dyō peri tōnde keleuomen, hō per aristō,

teuchea hessamenō tamesichroa chalkon helonte

allēlōn proparoithen homilou peirēthēnai.

805hoppoteros ke phthēisin orexamenos chroa kalon,

English

He stood up and said among the Argives, "We bid two champions put on their armor, take their keen blades, and make trial of one another in the presence of the multitude;

Homeric Greek

ψαύσῃ δ' ἐνδίνων διά τ' ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,

τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ δώσω τόδε φάσγανον ἀργυρόηλον

καλὸν Θρηί̈κιον, τὸ μὲν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων:

τεύχεα δ' ἀμφότεροι ξυνήϊα ταῦτα φερέσθων:

810καί σφιν δαῖτ' ἀγαθὴν παραθήσομεν ἐν κλισίῃσιν.

Transliteration

psausēi d' endinōn dia t' entea kai melan haima,

tōi men egō dōsō tode phasganon argyroēlon

kalon Thrēïkion, to men Asteropaion apēurōn:

teuchea d' amphoteroi xynēïa tauta pheresthōn:

810kai sphin dait' agathēn parathēsomen en klisiēisin.

English

whichever of them can first wound the flesh of the other, cut through his armor, and draw blood, to him will I give this goodly Thracian sword inlaid with silver, which I took from Asteropaios, but the armor let both hold in partnership, and I will give each of them a hearty meal in my own tent."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', ὦρτο δ' ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

ἂν δ' ἄρα Τυδεί̈δης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.

οἳ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,

ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι

815δεινὸν δερκομένω: θάμβος δ' ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.

Transliteration

hōs ephat', ōrto d' epeita megas Telamōnios Aias,

an d' ara Tydeïdēs ōrto, krateros Diomēdēs.

hoi d' epei oun hekaterthen homilou thōrēchthēsan,

es meson amphoterō synitēn memaōte machesthai

815deinon derkomenō: thambos d' eche pantas Achaious.

English

Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, as also mighty Diomedes son of Tydeus. When they had put on their armor each on his own side of the ring, they both went into the middle eager to engage, and with fire flashing from their eyes.

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ' ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν.

ἔνθ' Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατ' ἀσπίδα πάντοσ' ἐί̈σην

νύξ', οὐδὲ χρό' ἵκανεν: ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ:

820Τυδεί̈δης δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο

Transliteration

all' hote dē schedon ēsan ep' allēloisin iontes,

tris men epēïxan, tris de schedon hormēthēsan.

enth' Aias men epeita kat' aspida pantos' eïsēn

nyx', oude chro' hikanen: eryto gar endothi thōrēx:

820Tydeïdēs d' ar' epeita hyper sakeos megaloio

English

The Achaeans marveled as they beheld them, and when the two were now close up with one another, thrice did they spring forward and thrice try to strike each other in close combat. Ajax pierced Diomedes' round shield, but did not draw blood, for the cuirass beneath the shield protected him;

Homeric Greek

αἰὲν ἐπ' αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.

καὶ τότε δή ῥ' Αἴαντι περιδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ

παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν ἀέθλια ἶσ' ἀνελέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ Τυδεί̈δῃ δῶκεν μέγα φάσγανον ἥρως

825σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι.

Transliteration

aien ep' aucheni kyre phaeinou douros akōkēi.

kai tote dē rh' Aianti perideisantes Achaioi

pausamenous ekeleusan aethlia is' anelesthai.

autar Tydeïdēi dōken mega phasganon hērōs

825syn koleōi te pherōn kai eÿtmētōi telamōni.

English

thereon the son of Tydeus from over his huge shield kept aiming continually at Ajax's neck with the point of his spear, and the Achaeans alarmed for his safety bade them leave off fighting and divide the prize between them. Achilles then gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus, with its scabbard, and the leathern belt with which to hang it.

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ Πηλεί̈δης θῆκεν σόλον αὐτοχόωνον

ὃν πρὶν μὲν ῥίπτασκε μέγα σθένος Ἠετίωνος:

ἀλλ' ἤτοι τὸν ἔπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

τὸν δ' ἄγετ' ἐν νήεσσι σὺν ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσι.

830στῆ δ' ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν:

Transliteration

autar Pēleïdēs thēken solon autochoōnon

hon prin men rhiptaske mega sthenos Ēetiōnos:

all' ētoi ton epephne podarkēs dios Achilleus,

ton d' aget' en nēessi syn alloisi kteatessi.

830stē d' orthos kai mython en Argeioisin eeipen:

English

Achilles next offered the massive iron quoit which mighty Eetion had erewhile been used to hurl, until Achilles had slain him and carried it off in his ships along with other spoils. He stood up and said among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who would essay this contest.

Homeric Greek

ὄρνυσθ' οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.

εἴ οἱ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι πίονες ἀγροί,

ἕξει μιν καὶ πέντε περιπλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς

χρεώμενος: οὐ μὲν γάρ οἱ ἀτεμβόμενός γε σιδήρου

835ποιμὴν οὐδ' ἀροτὴρ εἶσ' ἐς πόλιν, ἀλλὰ παρέξει.

Transliteration

ornysth' hoi kai toutou aethlou peirēsesthe.

ei hoi kai mala pollon apoprothi piones agroi,

hexei min kai pente periplomenous eniautous

chreōmenos: ou men gar hoi atembomenos ge sidērou

835poimēn oud' arotēr eis' es polin, alla parexei.

English

He who wins it will have a store of iron that will last him five years as they go rolling round, and if his fair fields lie far from a town his shepherd or ploughman will not have to make a journey to buy iron, for he will have a stock of it on his own premises."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ', ὦρτο δ' ἔπειτα μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,

ἂν δὲ Λεοντῆος κρατερὸν μένος ἀντιθέοιο,

ἂν δ' Αἴας Τελαμωνιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἐπειός.

ἑξείης δ' ἵσταντο, σόλον δ' ἕλε δῖος Ἐπειός,

840ἧκε δὲ δινήσας: γέλασαν δ' ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.

Transliteration

hōs ephat', ōrto d' epeita meneptolemos Polypoitēs,

an de Leontēos krateron menos antitheoio,

an d' Aias Telamōniadēs kai dios Epeios.

hexeiēs d' histanto, solon d' hele dios Epeios,

840hēke de dinēsas: gelasan d' epi pantes Achaioi.

English

Then uprose the two mighty men Polypoites and Leonteus, with Ajax son of Telamon and noble Epeios. They stood up one after the other and Epeios took the quoit, whirled it, and flung it from him, which set all the Achaeans laughing. After him threw Leonteus of the race of Ares.

Homeric Greek

δεύτερος αὖτ' ἀφέηκε Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος:

τὸ τρίτον αὖτ' ἔρριψε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

χειρὸς ἄπο στιβαρῆς, καὶ ὑπέρβαλε σήματα πάντων.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ σόλον εἷλε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,

845ὅσσόν τίς τ' ἔρριψε καλαύροπα βουκόλος ἀνήρ,

Transliteration

deuteros aut' apheēke Leonteus ozos Arēos:

to triton aut' erripse megas Telamōnios Aias

cheiros apo stibarēs, kai hyperbale sēmata pantōn.

all' hote dē solon heile meneptolemos Polypoitēs,

845hosson tis t' erripse kalauropa boukolos anēr,

English

Ajax son of Telamon threw third, and sent the quoit beyond any mark that had been made yet, but when mighty Polypoites took the quoit he hurled it as though it had been a stockman's stick which he sends flying about among his cattle when he

Homeric Greek

ἣ δέ θ' ἑλισσομένη πέτεται διὰ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,

τόσσον παντὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρβαλε: τοὶ δὲ βόησαν.

ἀνστάντες δ' ἕταροι Πολυποίταο κρατεροῖο

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἔφερον βασιλῆος ἄεθλον.

850αὐτὰρ ὃ τοξευτῇσι τίθει ἰόεντα σίδηρον,

Transliteration

hē de th' helissomenē petetai dia bous agelaias,

tosson pantos agōnos hyperbale: toi de boēsan.

anstantes d' hetaroi Polypoitao krateroio

nēas epi glaphyras epheron basilēos aethlon.

850autar ho toxeutēisi tithei ioenta sidēron,

English

is driving them, so far did his throw out-distance those of the others in the contest. All who saw it roared approval, and his comrades carried the prize for him and set it on board his ship. Achilles next offered a prize of iron for archery - ten double-edged axes and ten with single eddies: he set up a ship's mast, some way off upon the sands, and with a fine string tied a pigeon to it by the foot; this was what they were to aim at. "Whoever," he said, "can

Homeric Greek

κὰδ δ' ἐτίθει δέκα μὲν πελέκεας, δέκα δ' ἡμιπέλεκκα,

ἱστὸν δ' ἔστησεν νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

τηλοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ἐκ δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν

λεπτῇ μηρίνθῳ δῆσεν ποδός, ἧς ἄρ' ἀνώγει

855τοξεύειν: ὃς μέν κε βάλῃ τρήρωνα πέλειαν,

Transliteration

kad d' etithei deka men pelekeas, deka d' hēmipelekka,

histon d' estēsen nēos kyanoprōiroio

tēlou epi psamathois, ek de trērōna peleian

leptēi mērinthōi dēsen podos, hēs ar' anōgei

855toxeuein: hos men ke balēi trērōna peleian,

English

hit the pigeon shall have all the axes and take them away with him;

Homeric Greek

πάντας ἀειράμενος πελέκεας οἶκον δὲ φερέσθω:

ὃς δέ κε μηρίνθοιο τύχῃ ὄρνιθος ἁμαρτών,

ἥσσων γὰρ δὴ κεῖνος, ὃ δ' οἴσεται ἡμιπέλεκκα.

ὣς ἔφατ', ὦρτο δ' ἔπειτα βίη Τεύκροιο ἄνακτος,

860ἂν δ' ἄρα Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐὺ̈ς Ἰδομενῆος.

Transliteration

pantas aeiramenos pelekeas oikon de pheresthō:

hos de ke mērinthoio tychēi ornithos hamartōn,

hēssōn gar dē keinos, ho d' oisetai hēmipelekka.

hōs ephat', ōrto d' epeita biē Teukroio anaktos,

860an d' ara Mērionēs therapōn eÿs Idomenēos.

English

he who hits the string without hitting the bird will have taken a worse aim and shall have the single-edged axes." Then uprose King Teucer, and Meriones the stalwart squire of Idomeneus rose also, They cast lots in a bronze helmet and the lot of Teucer fell first.

Homeric Greek

κλήρους δ' ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,

Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος κλήρῳ λάχεν: αὐτίκα δ' ἰὸν

ἧκεν ἐπικρατέως, οὐδ' ἠπείλησεν ἄνακτι

ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.

865ὄρνιθος μὲν ἅμαρτε: μέγηρε γάρ οἱ τό γ' Ἀπόλλων:

Transliteration

klērous d' en kyneēi chalkēreï pallon helontes,

Teukros de prōtos klērōi lachen: autika d' ion

hēken epikrateōs, oud' ēpeilēsen anakti

arnōn prōtogonōn rhexein kleitēn hekatombēn.

865ornithos men hamarte: megēre gar hoi to g' Apollōn:

English

He let fly with his arrow forthwith, but he did not promise hecatombs of firstling lambs to King Apollo, and missed his bird, for Apollo foiled his aim; but he hit the string with which the bird was tied, near its foot;

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ὃ μήρινθον βάλε πὰρ πόδα, τῇ δέδετ' ὄρνις:

ἀντικρὺ δ' ἀπὸ μήρινθον τάμε πικρὸς ὀϊστός.

ἣ μὲν ἔπειτ' ἤϊξε πρὸς οὐρανόν, ἣ δὲ παρείθη

μήρινθος ποτὶ γαῖαν: ἀτὰρ κελάδησαν Ἀχαιοί.

870σπερχόμενος δ' ἄρα Μηριόνης ἐξείρυσε χειρὸς

Transliteration

autar ho mērinthon bale par poda, tēi dedet' ornis:

antikry d' apo mērinthon tame pikros oïstos.

hē men epeit' ēïxe pros ouranon, hē de pareithē

mērinthos poti gaian: atar keladēsan Achaioi.

870sperchomenos d' ara Mērionēs exeiryse cheiros

English

the arrow cut the string clean through so that it hung down towards the ground, while the bird flew up into the sky, and the Achaeans shouted approval. Meriones, who had his arrow ready while Teucer was aiming, snatched the bow out

Homeric Greek

τόξον: ἀτὰρ δὴ ὀϊστὸν ἔχεν πάλαι, ὡς ἴθυνεν.

αὐτίκα δ' ἠπείλησεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι

ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.

ὕψι δ' ὑπὸ νεφέων εἶδε τρήρωνα πέλειαν:

875τῇ ῥ' ὅ γε δινεύουσαν ὑπὸ πτέρυγος βάλε μέσσην,

Transliteration

toxon: atar dē oïston echen palai, hōs ithynen.

autika d' ēpeilēsen hekēbolōi Apollōni

arnōn prōtogonōn rhexein kleitēn hekatombēn.

hypsi d' hypo nepheōn eide trērōna peleian:

875tēi rh' ho ge dineuousan hypo pterygos bale messēn,

English

of his hand, and at once promised that he would sacrifice a hecatomb of firstling lambs to Apollo lord of the bow; then espying the pigeon high up under the clouds, he hit her in the middle of the wing as she was circling upwards;

Homeric Greek

ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε βέλος: τὸ μὲν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαίῃ

πρόσθεν Μηριόναο πάγη ποδός: αὐτὰρ ἣ ὄρνις

ἱστῷ ἐφεζομένη νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

αὐχέν' ἀπεκρέμασεν, σὺν δὲ πτερὰ πυκνὰ λίασθεν.

880ὠκὺς δ' ἐκ μελέων θυμὸς πτάτο, τῆλε δ' ἀπ' αὐτοῦ

Transliteration

antikry de diēlthe belos: to men aps epi gaiēi

prosthen Mērionao pagē podos: autar hē ornis

histōi ephezomenē nēos kyanoprōiroio

auchen' apekremasen, syn de ptera pykna liasthen.

880ōkys d' ek meleōn thymos ptato, tēle d' ap' autou

English

the arrow went clean through the wing and fixed itself in the ground at Meriones' feet, but the bird perched on the ship's mast hanging her head and with all her feathers drooping;

Homeric Greek

κάππεσε: λαοὶ δ' αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.

ἂν δ' ἄρα Μηριόνης πελέκεας δέκα πάντας ἄειρε,

Τεῦκρος δ' ἡμιπέλεκκα φέρεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

αὐτὰρ Πηλεί̈δης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

885κὰδ δὲ λέβητ' ἄπυρον βοὸς ἄξιον ἀνθεμόεντα

Transliteration

kappese: laoi d' au thēeunto te thambēsan te.

an d' ara Mērionēs pelekeas deka pantas aeire,

Teukros d' hēmipelekka pheren koilas epi nēas.

autar Pēleïdēs kata men dolichoskion enchos,

885kad de lebēt' apyron boos axion anthemoenta

English

the life went out of her, and she fell heavily from the mast. Meriones, therefore, took all ten double-edged axes, while Teucer bore off the single-edged ones to his ships. Then the son of Peleus brought in to the contest a spear and a cauldron that had never been on the fire;

Homeric Greek

θῆκ' ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων: καί ῥ' ἥμονες ἄνδρες ἀνέσταν:

ἂν μὲν ἄρ' Ἀτρεί̈δης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

ἂν δ' ἄρα Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἐὺ̈ς Ἰδομενῆος.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς:

890Ἀτρεί̈δη: ἴδμεν γὰρ ὅσον προβέβηκας ἁπάντων

Transliteration

thēk' es agōna pherōn: kai rh' hēmones andres anestan:

an men ar' Atreïdēs eury kreiōn Agamemnōn,

an d' ara Mērionēs, therapōn eÿs Idomenēos.

toisi de kai meteeipe podarkēs dios Achilleus:

890Atreïdē: idmen gar hoson probebēkas hapantōn

English

it was worth an ox, and was chased with a pattern of flowers; and those that throw the javelin stood up - to wit the son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, and Meriones, stalwart squire of Idomeneus. But Achilles spoke saying, "Son of Atreus, we know how far you excel all others both in power and in throwing the javelin;

Homeric Greek

ἠδ' ὅσσον δυνάμει τε καὶ ἥμασιν ἔπλευ ἄριστος:

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν τόδ' ἄεθλον ἔχων κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας

ἔρχευ, ἀτὰρ δόρυ Μηριόνῃ ἥρωϊ πόρωμεν,

εἰ σύ γε σῷ θυμῷ ἐθέλοις: κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγε.

895ὣς ἔφατ', οὐδ' ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων:

Transliteration

ēd' hosson dynamei te kai hēmasin epleu aristos:

alla sy men tod' aethlon echōn koilas epi nēas

ercheu, atar dory Mērionēi hērōï porōmen,

ei sy ge sōi thymōi ethelois: kelomai gar egōge.

895hōs ephat', oud' apithēsen anax andrōn Agamemnōn:

English

take the cauldron as prize back with you to your ships, but if it so please you, let us give the spear to Meriones; this at least is what I should myself wish." King Agamemnon assented.

Homeric Greek

δῶκε δὲ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον: αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ἥρως

Ταλθυβίῳ κήρυκι δίδου περικαλλὲς ἄεθλον.

Transliteration

dōke de Mērionēi dory chalkeon: autar ho g' hērōs

Talthybiōi kēryki didou perikalles aethlon.

English

So he gave the bronze spear to Meriones, and handed the goodly cauldron as prize to Talthybios his esquire.