Book VI

Homeric Greek

1Τρώων δ' οἰώθη καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπις αἰνή:

πολλὰ δ' ἄρ' ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθ' ἴθυσε μάχη πεδίοιο

ἀλλήλων ἰθυνομένων χαλκήρεα δοῦρα

μεσσηγὺς Σιμόεντος ἰδὲ Ξάνθοιο ῥοάων.

5Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν

Transliteration

1Trōōn d' oiōthē kai Achaiōn phulopis ainē:

polla d' ar' entha kai enth' ithuse machē pedioio

allēlōn ithunomenōn chalkērea doura

messēgus Simoentos ide Xanthoio rhoaōn.

5Aias de prōtos Telamōnios herkos Achaiōn

English · Butler

The fight between Trojans and Achaeans was now left to rage as it would, and the tide of war surged hither and thither over the plain as they aimed their bronze-shod spears at one another between the streams of Simoeis and Xanthos. First, Ajax son of Telamon, tower of strength to the Achaeans, broke a phalanx of the Trojans, and came to the assistance of his comrades by killing Akamas son of Eussoros, the best man among the Thracians, being both brave and of great stature.

Homeric Greek

Τρώων ῥῆξε φάλαγγα, φόως δ' ἑτάροισιν ἔθηκεν,

ἄνδρα βαλὼν ὃς ἄριστος ἐνὶ Θρῄκεσσι τέτυκτο

υἱὸν Ἐϋσσώρου Ἀκάμαντ' ἠύ̈ν τε μέγαν τε.

τόν ῥ' ἔβαλε πρῶτος κόρυθος φάλον ἱπποδασείης,

10ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ πῆξε, πέρησε δ' ἄρ' ὀστέον εἴσω

Transliteration

Trōōn rhēxe phalanga, phoōs d' hetaroisin ethēken,

andra balōn hos aristos eni Thrēikessi tetukto

huion Eüssōrou Akamant' ēün te megan te.

ton rh' ebale prōtos koruthos phalon hippodaseiēs,

10en de metōpōi pēxe, perēse d' ar' osteon eisō

English · Butler

First, Ajax son of Telamon, tower of strength to the Achaeans, broke a phalanx of the Trojans, and came to the assistance of his comrades by killing Akamas son of Eussoros, the best man among the Thracians, being both brave and of great stature. The spear struck the projecting peak of his helmet: its bronze point then went through his forehead into the brain, and darkness veiled his eyes.

Homeric Greek

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη: τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.

Ἄξυλον δ' ἄρ' ἔπεφνε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης

Τευθρανίδην, ὃς ἔναιεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν Ἀρίσβῃ

?φνειὸς βιότοιο, φίλος δ' ἦν ἀνθρώποισι.

15πάντας γὰρ φιλέεσκεν ὁδῷ ἔπι οἰκία ναίων.

Transliteration

aichmē chalkeiē: ton de skotos osse kalupsen.

Axulon d' ar' epephne boēn agathos Diomēdēs

Teuthranidēn, hos enaien eüktimenēi en Arisbēi

?phneios biotoio, philos d' ēn anthrōpoisi.

15pantas gar phileesken hodōi epi oikia naiōn.

English · Butler

Then Diomedes killed Axylos son of Teuthranos, a rich man who lived in the strong city of Arisbe, and was beloved by all men; for he had a house by the roadside, and entertained every one who passed; howbeit not one of his guests stood before him to save his

Homeric Greek

ἀλλά οἱ οὔ τις τῶν γε τότ' ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον

πρόσθεν ὑπαντιάσας, ἀλλ' ἄμφω θυμὸν ἀπηύρα

αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα Καλήσιον, ὅς ῥα τόθ' ἵππων

ἔσκεν ὑφηνίοχος: τὼ δ' ἄμφω γαῖαν ἐδύτην.

20Δρῆσον δ' Εὐρύαλος καὶ Ὀφέλτιον ἐξενάριξε:

Transliteration

alla hoi ou tis tōn ge tot' ērkese lugron olethron

prosthen hupantiasas, all' amphō thumon apēura

auton kai theraponta Kalēsion, hos rha toth' hippōn

esken huphēniochos: tō d' amphō gaian edutēn.

20Drēson d' Eurualos kai Opheltion exenarixe:

English · Butler

life, and Diomedes killed both him and his squire Kalesios, who was then his charioteer - so the pair passed beneath the earth. Euryalos killed Dresus and Opheltios, and then went in pursuit of Aesepos and Pedasos, whom the naiad nymph Abarbarea had borne to noble Bucolion.

Homeric Greek

βῆ δὲ μετ' Αἴσηπον καὶ Πήδασον, οὕς ποτε νύμφη

νηὶ̈ς Ἀβαρβαρέη τέκ' ἀμύμονι Βουκολίωνι.

Βουκολίων δ' ἦν υἱὸς ἀγαυοῦ Λαομέδοντος

πρεσβύτατος γενεῇ, σκότιον δέ ἑ γείνατο μήτηρ:

25ποιμαίνων δ' ἐπ' ὄεσσι μίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ,

Transliteration

bē de met' Aisēpon kai Pēdason, hous pote numphē

nēïs Abarbareē tek' amumoni Boukoliōni.

Boukoliōn d' ēn huios agauou Laomedontos

presbutatos geneēi, skotion de he geinato mētēr:

25poimainōn d' ep' oessi migē philotēti kai eunēi,

English · Butler

Euryalos killed Dresus and Opheltios, and then went in pursuit of Aesepos and Pedasos, whom the naiad nymph Abarbarea had borne to noble Bucolion. Bucolion was eldest son to Laomedon, but he was a bastard. While tending his sheep he had converse with the nymph, and she conceived twin sons; these the son of Mekisteus now slew, and he stripped the armor from their shoulders. Polypoites then killed Astyalos, Odysseus Pidytes of Perkote, and Teucer Aretaon. Ablerus fell by the spear of Nestor's

Homeric Greek

ἣ δ' ὑποκυσαμένη διδυμάονε γείνατο παῖδε.

καὶ μὲν τῶν ὑπέλυσε μένος καὶ φαίδιμα γυῖα

Μηκιστηϊάδης καὶ ἀπ' ὤμων τεύχε' ἐσύλα.

Ἀστύαλον δ' ἄρ' ἔπεφνε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης:

30Πιδύτην δ' Ὀδυσεὺς Περκώσιον ἐξενάριξεν

Transliteration

hē d' hupokusamenē didumaone geinato paide.

kai men tōn hupeluse menos kai phaidima guia

Mēkistēïadēs kai ap' ōmōn teuche' esula.

Astualon d' ar' epephne meneptolemos Polupoitēs:

30Pidutēn d' Oduseus Perkōsion exenarixen

English · Butler

son Antilokhos, and Agamemnon, king of men, killed Elatus who dwelt in Pedasos by the banks of the river Satnioeis. Leitos killed Phylakos as he was fleeing, and Eurypylos slew Melanthos. Then Menelaos of the loud war-cry took Adrastos alive, for his horses ran

Homeric Greek

ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ, Τεῦκρος δ' Ἀρετάονα δῖον.

Ἀντίλοχος δ' Ἄβληρον ἐνήρατο δουρὶ φαεινῷ

Νεστορίδης, Ἔλατον δὲ ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων:

ναῖε δὲ Σατνιόεντος ἐϋρρείταο παρ' ὄχθας

35Πήδασον αἰπεινήν. Φύλακον δ' ἕλε Λήϊτος ἥρως

Transliteration

encheï chalkeiōi, Teukros d' Aretaona dion.

Antilochos d' Ablēron enērato douri phaeinōi

Nestoridēs, Elaton de anax andrōn Agamemnōn:

naie de Satnioentos eürreitao par' ochthas

35Pēdason aipeinēn. Phulakon d' hele Lēïtos hērōs

English · Butler

into a tamarisk bush, as they were flying wildly over the plain, and broke the pole from the car; they went on towards the city along with the others in full flight, but Adrastos rolled out, and

Homeric Greek

φεύγοντ': Εὐρύπυλος δὲ Μελάνθιον ἐξενάριξεν.

Ἄδρηστον δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

ζωὸν ἕλ': ἵππω γάρ οἱ ἀτυζομένω πεδίοιο

ὄζῳ ἔνι βλαφθέντε μυρικίνῳ ἀγκύλον ἅρμα

40ἄξαντ' ἐν πρώτῳ ῥυμῷ αὐτὼ μὲν ἐβήτην

Transliteration

pheugont': Eurupulos de Melanthion exenarixen.

Adrēston d' ar' epeita boēn agathos Menelaos

zōon hel': hippō gar hoi atuzomenō pedioio

ozōi eni blaphthente murikinōi ankulon harma

40axant' en prōtōi rhumōi autō men ebētēn

English · Butler

fell in the dust flat on his face by the wheel of his chariot; Menelaos came up to him spear in hand, but Adrastos caught him by the knees begging for his life. "Take me alive," he cried, "son of Atreus, and you shall have a full ransom for me: my father is rich

Homeric Greek

πρὸς πόλιν, ᾗ περ οἱ ἄλλοι ἀτυζόμενοι φοβέοντο,

αὐτὸς δ' ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη

πρηνὴς ἐν κονίῃσιν ἐπὶ στόμα: πὰρ δέ οἱ ἔστη

Ἀτρεί̈δης Μενέλαος ἔχων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.

45Ἄδρηστος δ' ἄρ' ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἐλίσσετο γούνων:

Transliteration

pros polin, hēi per hoi alloi atuzomenoi phobeonto,

autos d' ek diphroio para trochon exekulisthē

prēnēs en koniēisin epi stoma: par de hoi estē

Atreïdēs Menelaos echōn dolichoskion enchos.

45Adrēstos d' ar' epeita labōn elisseto gounōn:

English · Butler

and has much treasure of gold, bronze, and wrought iron laid by in his house. From this store he will give you a large ransom should

Homeric Greek

ζώγρει Ἀτρέος υἱέ, σὺ δ' ἄξια δέξαι ἄποινα:

πολλὰ δ' ἐν ἀφνειοῦ πατρὸς κειμήλια κεῖται

χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος,

τῶν κέν τοι χαρίσαιτο πατὴρ ἀπερείσι' ἄποινα

50εἴ κεν ἐμὲ ζωὸν πεπύθοιτ' ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

Transliteration

zōgrei Atreos huie, su d' axia dexai apoina:

polla d' en aphneiou patros keimēlia keitai

chalkos te chrusos te polukmētos te sidēros,

tōn ken toi charisaito patēr apereisi' apoina

50ei ken eme zōon peputhoit' epi nēusin Achaiōn.

English · Butler

he hear of my being alive and at the ships of the Achaeans."

Homeric Greek

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δ' ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθε:

καὶ δή μιν τάχ' ἔμελλε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

δώσειν ᾧ θεράποντι καταξέμεν: ἀλλ' Ἀγαμέμνων

ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων, καὶ ὁμοκλήσας ἔπος ηὔδα:

55ὦ πέπον ὦ Μενέλαε, τί ἢ δὲ σὺ κήδεαι οὕτως

Transliteration

hōs phato, tōi d' ara thumon eni stēthessin epeithe:

kai dē min tach' emelle thoas epi nēas Achaiōn

dōsein hōi theraponti kataxemen: all' Agamemnōn

antios ēlthe theōn, kai homoklēsas epos ēuda:

55ō pepon ō Menelae, ti ē de su kēdeai houtōs

English · Butler

Thus did he plead, and Menelaos was for yielding and giving him to a squire to take to the ships of the Achaeans, but Agamemnon came running up to him and rebuked him. "My good Menelaos," said he, "this is no time for giving quarter. Has, then, your house fared so well at the hands of the Trojans? Let us not spare a single one of them - not even the child unborn and in its mother's womb;

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρῶν; ἦ σοὶ ἄριστα πεποίηται κατὰ οἶκον

πρὸς Τρώων; τῶν μή τις ὑπεκφύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον

χεῖράς θ' ἡμετέρας, μηδ' ὅν τινα γαστέρι μήτηρ

κοῦρον ἐόντα φέροι, μηδ' ὃς φύγοι, ἀλλ' ἅμα πάντες

60Ἰλίου ἐξαπολοίατ' ἀκήδεστοι καὶ ἄφαντοι.

Transliteration

andrōn; ē soi arista pepoiētai kata oikon

pros Trōōn; tōn mē tis hupekphugoi aipun olethron

cheiras th' hēmeteras, mēd' hon tina gasteri mētēr

kouron eonta pheroi, mēd' hos phugoi, all' hama pantes

60Iliou exapoloiat' akēdestoi kai aphantoi.

English · Butler

let not a man of them be left alive, but let all in Ilion perish, unheeded and forgotten."

Homeric Greek

ὣς εἰπὼν ἔτρεψεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως

αἴσιμα παρειπών: ὃ δ' ἀπὸ ἕθεν ὤσατο χειρὶ

ἥρω' Ἄδρηστον: τὸν δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

οὖτα κατὰ λαπάρην: ὃ δ' ἀνετράπετ', Ἀτρεί̈δης δὲ

65λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βὰς ἐξέσπασε μείλινον ἔγχος.

Transliteration

hōs eipōn etrepsen adelpheiou phrenas hērōs

aisima pareipōn: ho d' apo hethen ōsato cheiri

hērō' Adrēston: ton de kreiōn Agamemnōn

outa kata laparēn: ho d' anetrapet', Atreïdēs de

65lax en stēthesi bas exespase meilinon enchos.

English · Butler

Thus did he speak, and his brother was persuaded by him, for his words were just. Menelaos, therefore, thrust Adrastos from him, whereon King Agamemnon struck him in the flank, and he fell: then the son of Atreus planted his foot upon his breast to draw his spear from the body.

Homeric Greek

Νέστωρ δ' Ἀργείοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀύ̈σας:

ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος

μή τις νῦν ἐνάρων ἐπιβαλλόμενος μετόπισθε

μιμνέτω ὥς κε πλεῖστα φέρων ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκηται,

70ἀλλ' ἄνδρας κτείνωμεν: ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὰ ἕκηλοι

Transliteration

Nestōr d' Argeioisin ekekleto makron aüsas:

ō philoi hērōes Danaoi therapontes Arēos

mē tis nun enarōn epiballomenos metopisthe

mimnetō hōs ke pleista pherōn epi nēas hikētai,

70all' andras kteinōmen: epeita de kai ta hekēloi

English · Butler

Meanwhile Nestor shouted to the Argives, saying, "My friends, Danaan warriors, squires of Ares, let no man lag that he may spoil the dead, and bring back much booty to the ships. Let us kill as many as we can; the bodies will lie upon the plain, and you can despoil them

Homeric Greek

νεκροὺς ἂμ πεδίον συλήσετε τεθνηῶτας.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

ἔνθά κεν αὖτε Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν

Ἴλιον εἰσανέβησαν ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντες,

75εἰ μὴ ἄρ' Αἰνείᾳ τε καὶ Ἕκτορι εἶπε παραστὰς

Transliteration

nekrous am pedion sulēsete tethnēōtas.

hōs eipōn otrune menos kai thumon hekastou.

entha ken aute Trōes arēïphilōn hup' Achaiōn

Ilion eisanebēsan analkeiēisi damentes,

75ei mē ar' Aineiāi te kai Hektori eipe parastas

English · Butler

later at your leisure." With these words he put heart and soul into them all. And now the Trojans would have been routed and driven back into Ilion, had not Priam's son Helenos, wisest of augurs, said to Hektor and Aeneas, "Hektor and Aeneas, the

Homeric Greek

Πριαμίδης Ἕλενος οἰωνοπόλων ὄχ' ἄριστος:

Αἰνεία τε καὶ Ἕκτορ, ἐπεὶ πόνος ὔμμι μάλιστα

Τρώων καὶ Λυκίων ἐγκέκλιται, οὕνεκ' ἄριστοι

πᾶσαν ἐπ' ἰθύν ἐστε μάχεσθαί τε φρονέειν τε,

80στῆτ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ λαὸν ἐρυκάκετε πρὸ πυλάων

Transliteration

Priamidēs Helenos oiōnopolōn och' aristos:

Aineia te kai Hektor, epei ponos ummi malista

Trōōn kai Lukiōn enkeklitai, hounek' aristoi

pasan ep' ithun este machesthai te phroneein te,

80stēt' autou, kai laon erukakete pro pulaōn

English · Butler

labors of you two make you the mainstays of the Trojans and Lycians, for you are foremost at all times, alike in fight and counsel; hold your ground here, and go about among the host to rally them in front of the gates, or they will fling themselves into the arms of their wives, to the great joy of our foes.

Homeric Greek

πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενοι πρὶν αὖτ' ἐν χερσὶ γυναικῶν

φεύγοντας πεσέειν, δηί̈οισι δὲ χάρμα γενέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κε φάλαγγας ἐποτρύνητον ἁπάσας,

ἡμεῖς μὲν Δαναοῖσι μαχησόμεθ' αὖθι μένοντες,

85καὶ μάλα τειρόμενοί περ: ἀναγκαίη γὰρ ἐπείγει:

Transliteration

pantēi epoichomenoi prin aut' en chersi gunaikōn

pheugontas peseein, dēïoisi de charma genesthai.

autar epei ke phalangas epotrunēton hapasas,

hēmeis men Danaoisi machēsometh' authi menontes,

85kai mala teiromenoi per: anankaiē gar epeigei:

English · Butler

Then, when you have put heart into all our companies, we will stand firm here and fight the Danaans however hard they press us, for there is nothing else to be done. Meanwhile do you, Hektor, go to the city and tell our mother what is happening. Tell her to bid the matrons gather at the temple of Athena in the acropolis; let her then take her key and open the doors of the sacred building;

Homeric Greek

Ἕκτορ ἀτὰρ σὺ πόλιν δὲ μετέρχεο, εἰπὲ δ' ἔπειτα

μητέρι σῇ καὶ ἐμῇ: ἣ δὲ ξυνάγουσα γεραιὰς

νηὸν Ἀθηναίης γλαυκώπιδος ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ

οἴξασα κληῖ̈δι θύρας ἱεροῖο δόμοιο

90πέπλον, ὅς οἱ δοκέει χαριέστατος ἠδὲ μέγιστος

Transliteration

Hektor atar su polin de metercheo, eipe d' epeita

mēteri sēi kai emēi: hē de xunagousa geraias

nēon Athēnaiēs glaukōpidos en polei akrēi

oixasa klēïdi thuras hieroio domoio

90peplon, hos hoi dokeei chariestatos ēde megistos

English · Butler

there, upon the knees of Athena, let her lay the largest, fairest robe she has in her house - the one she sets most store by; let her, moreover, promise to sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad, in the temple of the goddess, if she

Homeric Greek

εἶναι ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ καί οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος αὐτῇ,

θεῖναι Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν ἠϋκόμοιο,

καί οἱ ὑποσχέσθαι δυοκαίδεκα βοῦς ἐνὶ νηῷ

ἤνις ἠκέστας ἱερευσέμεν, αἴ κ' ἐλεήσῃ

95ἄστύ τε καὶ Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα,

Transliteration

einai eni megarōi kai hoi polu philtatos autēi,

theinai Athēnaiēs epi gounasin ēükomoio,

kai hoi huposchesthai duokaideka bous eni nēōi

ēnis ēkestas hiereusemen, ai k' eleēsēi

95astu te kai Trōōn alochous kai nēpia tekna,

English · Butler

will take pity on the town, with the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the son of Tydeus from falling on the goodly city of Ilion; for he fights with fury and fills men's souls with panic. I hold him mightiest of them all;

Homeric Greek

ὥς κεν Τυδέος υἱὸν ἀπόσχῃ Ἰλίου ἱρῆς

ἄγριον αἰχμητὴν κρατερὸν μήστωρα φόβοιο,

ὃν δὴ ἐγὼ κάρτιστον Ἀχαιῶν φημι γενέσθαι.

οὐδ' Ἀχιλῆά ποθ' ὧδέ γ' ἐδείδιμεν ὄρχαμον ἀνδρῶν,

100ὅν πέρ φασι θεᾶς ἐξέμμεναι: ἀλλ' ὅδε λίην

Transliteration

hōs ken Tudeos huion aposchēi Iliou hirēs

agrion aichmētēn krateron mēstōra phoboio,

hon dē egō kartiston Achaiōn phēmi genesthai.

oud' Achilēa poth' hōde g' edeidimen orchamon andrōn,

100hon per phasi theas exemmenai: all' hode liēn

English · Butler

we did not fear even their great champion Achilles, son of a goddess though he be, as we do this man: his rage is beyond all bounds, and there is none can vie

Homeric Greek

μαίνεται, οὐδέ τίς οἱ δύναται μένος ἰσοφαρίζειν.

ὣς ἔφαθ', Ἕκτωρ δ' οὔ τι κασιγνήτῳ ἀπίθησεν.

αὐτίκα δ' ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,

πάλλων δ' ὀξέα δοῦρα κατὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο πάντῃ

105ὀτρύνων μαχέσασθαι, ἔγειρε δὲ φύλοπιν αἰνήν.

Transliteration

mainetai, oude tis hoi dunatai menos isopharizein.

hōs ephath', Hektōr d' ou ti kasignētōi apithēsen.

autika d' ex ocheōn sun teuchesin alto chamaze,

pallōn d' oxea doura kata straton ōicheto pantēi

105otrunōn machesasthai, egeire de phulopin ainēn.

English · Butler

with him in prowess" Hektor did as his brother bade him. He sprang from his chariot, and went about everywhere among the host, brandishing his spears, urging the men on to fight, and raising the dread cry of battle. Thereon they rallied and again faced the Achaeans,

Homeric Greek

οἳ δ' ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν:

Ἀργεῖοι δ' ὑπεχώρησαν, λῆξαν δὲ φόνοιο,

φὰν δέ τιν' ἀθανάτων ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος

Τρωσὶν ἀλεξήσοντα κατελθέμεν, ὡς ἐλέλιχθεν.

110Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀύ̈σας:

Transliteration

hoi d' elelichthēsan kai enantioi estan Achaiōn:

Argeioi d' hupechōrēsan, lēxan de phonoio,

phan de tin' athanatōn ex ouranou asteroentos

Trōsin alexēsonta katelthemen, hōs elelichthen.

110Hektōr de Trōessin ekekleto makron aüsas:

English · Butler

who gave ground and ceased their murderous onset, for they deemed that some one of the immortals had come down from starry heaven to help the Trojans, so strangely had they rallied. And Hektor shouted to the Trojans, "Trojans and allies, be men, my friends,

Homeric Greek

Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι τηλεκλειτοί τ' ἐπίκουροι

ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,

ὄφρ' ἂν ἐγὼ βείω προτὶ Ἴλιον, ἠδὲ γέρουσιν

εἴπω βουλευτῇσι καὶ ἡμετέρῃς ἀλόχοισι

115δαίμοσιν ἀρήσασθαι, ὑποσχέσθαι δ' ἑκατόμβας.

Transliteration

Trōes huperthumoi tēlekleitoi t' epikouroi

aneres este philoi, mnēsasthe de thouridos alkēs,

ophr' an egō beiō proti Ilion, ēde gerousin

eipō bouleutēisi kai hēmeterēis alochoisi

115daimosin arēsasthai, huposchesthai d' hekatombas.

English · Butler

and fight with might and main, while I go to Ilion and tell the old men of our council and our wives to pray to the gods and vow hecatombs in their honor."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:

ἀμφὶ δέ μιν σφυρὰ τύπτε καὶ αὐχένα δέρμα κελαινὸν

ἄντυξ ἣ πυμάτη θέεν ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσης.

Γλαῦκος δ' Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς καὶ Τυδέος υἱὸς

120ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρων συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι.

Transliteration

hōs ara phōnēsas apebē koruthaiolos Hektōr:

amphi de min sphura tupte kai auchena derma kelainon

antux hē pumatē theen aspidos omphaloessēs.

Glaukos d' Hippolochoio païs kai Tudeos huios

120es meson amphoterōn sunitēn memaōte machesthai.

English · Butler

With this he went his way, and the black rim of hide that went round his shield beat against his neck and his ankles. Then Glaukos son of Hippolokhos, and the son of Tydeus went into the open space between the hosts to fight in single combat. When they were close up to one another Diomedes of the loud war-cry was the first to speak.

Homeric Greek

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

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης:

τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι φέριστε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων;

οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτ' ὄπωπα μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ

125τὸ πρίν: ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε πολὺ προβέβηκας ἁπάντων

Transliteration

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

ton proteros proseeipe boēn agathos Diomēdēs:

tis de su essi pheriste katathnētōn anthrōpōn;

ou men gar pot' opōpa machēi eni kudianeirēi

125to prin: atar men nun ge polu probebēkas hapantōn

English · Butler

"Who, my good sir," said he, "who are you among men? I have never seen you in battle until now, but you are daring beyond all others if you abide my onset. Woe to those fathers whose sons face my might. If, however, you are one of the immortals and have come down from heaven, I will not fight you; for even valiant Lycurgus, son of Dryas, did not live long when he took to fighting with the gods.

Homeric Greek

σῷ θάρσει, ὅ τ' ἐμὸν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος ἔμεινας:

δυστήνων δέ τε παῖδες ἐμῷ μένει ἀντιόωσιν.

εἰ δέ τις ἀθανάτων γε κατ' οὐρανοῦ εἰλήλουθας,

οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε θεοῖσιν ἐπουρανίοισι μαχοίμην.

130οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδὲ Δρύαντος υἱὸς κρατερὸς Λυκόοργος

Transliteration

sōi tharsei, ho t' emon dolichoskion enchos emeinas:

dustēnōn de te paides emōi menei antioōsin.

ei de tis athanatōn ge kat' ouranou eilēlouthas,

ouk an egōge theoisin epouranioisi machoimēn.

130oude gar oude Druantos huios krateros Lukoorgos

English · Butler

He it was that drove the nursing women who were in charge of frenzied Bacchus through the land of Nysa, and they flung their thyrsi on the ground as murderous Lycurgus beat them with his oxgoad. Bacchus himself plunged terror-stricken into the

Homeric Greek

δὴν ἦν, ὅς ῥα θεοῖσιν ἐπουρανίοισιν ἔριζεν:

ὅς ποτε μαινομένοιο Διωνύσοιο τιθήνας

σεῦε κατ' ἠγάθεον Νυσήϊον: αἳ δ' ἅμα πᾶσαι

θύσθλα χαμαὶ κατέχευαν ὑπ' ἀνδροφόνοιο Λυκούργου

135θεινόμεναι βουπλῆγι: Διώνυσος δὲ φοβηθεὶς

Transliteration

dēn ēn, hos rha theoisin epouranioisin erizen:

hos pote mainomenoio Diōnusoio tithēnas

seue kat' ēgatheon Nusēïon: hai d' hama pasai

thusthla chamai katecheuan hup' androphonoio Lukourgou

135theinomenai bouplēgi: Diōnusos de phobētheis

English · Butler

sea, and Thetis took him to her bosom to comfort him, for he was scared by the fury with which the man reviled him. Thereon the gods who live at ease were angry with Lycurgus and the son of Kronos struck

Homeric Greek

δύσεθ' ἁλὸς κατὰ κῦμα, Θέτις δ' ὑπεδέξατο κόλπῳ

δειδιότα: κρατερὸς γὰρ ἔχε τρόμος ἀνδρὸς ὁμοκλῇ.

τῷ μὲν ἔπειτ' ὀδύσαντο θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες,

καί μιν τυφλὸν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς: οὐδ' ἄρ' ἔτι δὴν

140ἦν, ἐπεὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπήχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιν:

Transliteration

duseth' halos kata kuma, Thetis d' hupedexato kolpōi

deidiota: krateros gar eche tromos andros homoklēi.

tōi men epeit' odusanto theoi rheia zōontes,

kai min tuphlon ethēke Kronou païs: oud' ar' eti dēn

140ēn, epei athanatoisin apēchtheto pasi theoisin:

English · Butler

him blind, nor did he live much longer after he had become hateful to the immortals. Therefore I will not fight with the blessed gods; but if you are of them that eat the

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' ἂν ἐγὼ μακάρεσσι θεοῖς ἐθέλοιμι μάχεσθαι.

εἰ δέ τίς ἐσσι βροτῶν οἳ ἀρούρης καρπὸν ἔδουσιν,

ἆσσον ἴθ' ὥς κεν θᾶσσον ὀλέθρου πείραθ' ἵκηαι.

τὸν δ' αὖθ' Ἱππολόχοιο προσηύδα φαίδιμος υἱός:

145Τυδεί̈δη μεγάθυμε τί ἢ γενεὴν ἐρεείνεις;

Transliteration

oud' an egō makaressi theois etheloimi machesthai.

ei de tis essi brotōn hoi arourēs karpon edousin,

asson ith' hōs ken thasson olethrou peirath' hikēai.

ton d' auth' Hippolochoio prosēuda phaidimos huios:

145Tudeïdē megathume ti ē geneēn ereeineis;

English · Butler

fruit of the ground, draw near and meet your doom." And the son of Hippolokhos answered, son of Tydeus, why ask me of my lineage? Men come and go as leaves year by year upon the trees.

Homeric Greek

οἵη περ φύλλων γενεὴ τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν.

φύλλα τὰ μέν τ' ἄνεμος χαμάδις χέει, ἄλλα δέ θ' ὕλη

τηλεθόωσα φύει, ἔαρος δ' ἐπιγίγνεται ὥρη:

ὣς ἀνδρῶν γενεὴ ἣ μὲν φύει ἣ δ' ἀπολήγει.

150εἰ δ' ἐθέλεις καὶ ταῦτα δαήμεναι ὄφρ' ἐὺ̈ εἰδῇς

Transliteration

hoiē per phullōn geneē toiē de kai andrōn.

phulla ta men t' anemos chamadis cheei, alla de th' hulē

tēlethoōsa phuei, earos d' epigignetai hōrē:

hōs andrōn geneē hē men phuei hē d' apolēgei.

150ei d' etheleis kai tauta daēmenai ophr' eü eidēis

English · Butler

Those of autumn the wind sheds upon the ground, but when the season of spring returns the forest buds forth with fresh vines. Even so is it with the generations of humankind, the new spring up as the old are passing away. If, then, you would learn my descent, it is one that is well known to many.

Homeric Greek

ἡμετέρην γενεήν, πολλοὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἴσασιν:

ἔστι πόλις Ἐφύρη μυχῷ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο,

ἔνθα δὲ Σίσυφος ἔσκεν, ὃ κέρδιστος γένετ' ἀνδρῶν,

Σίσυφος Αἰολίδης: ὃ δ' ἄρα Γλαῦκον τέκεθ' υἱόν,

155αὐτὰρ Γλαῦκος τίκτεν ἀμύμονα Βελλεροφόντην:

Transliteration

hēmeterēn geneēn, polloi de min andres isasin:

esti polis Ephurē muchōi Argeos hippobotoio,

entha de Sisuphos esken, ho kerdistos genet' andrōn,

Sisuphos Aiolidēs: ho d' ara Glaukon teketh' huion,

155autar Glaukos tikten amumona Bellerophontēn:

English · Butler

There is a city in the heart of Argos, pasture land of horses, called Ephyra, where Sisyphus lived, who was the craftiest of all humankind. He was the son of Aeolus, and had a son named Glaukos, who was father to Bellerophon, whom heaven endowed with the most surpassing comeliness and beauty. But Proetus devised his ruin, and being stronger

Homeric Greek

τῷ δὲ θεοὶ κάλλός τε καὶ ἠνορέην ἐρατεινὴν

ὤπασαν: αὐτάρ οἱ Προῖτος κακὰ μήσατο θυμῷ,

ὅς ῥ' ἐκ δήμου ἔλασσεν, ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἦεν,

Ἀργείων: Ζεὺς γάρ οἱ ὑπὸ σκήπτρῳ ἐδάμασσε.

160τῷ δὲ γυνὴ Προίτου ἐπεμήνατο δῖ' Ἄντεια

Transliteration

tōi de theoi kallos te kai ēnoreēn erateinēn

ōpasan: autar hoi Proitos kaka mēsato thumōi,

hos rh' ek dēmou elassen, epei polu pherteros ēen,

Argeiōn: Zeus gar hoi hupo skēptrōi edamasse.

160tōi de gunē Proitou epemēnato di' Anteia

English · Butler

than he, drove him from the district of the Argives, over which Zeus had made him ruler. For Antaea, wife of Proetus, lusted after him, and would have had him lie with her in secret; but Bellerophon was an honorable man and would not, so she told lies about him to Proetus. ‘Proetus,’ said she, ‘kill Bellerophon or die, for he would have had

Homeric Greek

κρυπταδίῃ φιλότητι μιγήμεναι: ἀλλὰ τὸν οὔ τι

πεῖθ' ἀγαθὰ φρονέοντα δαί̈φρονα Βελλεροφόντην.

ἣ δὲ ψευσαμένη Προῖτον βασιλῆα προσηύδα:

τεθναίης ὦ Προῖτ', ἢ κάκτανε Βελλεροφόντην,

165ὅς μ' ἔθελεν φιλότητι μιγήμεναι οὐκ ἐθελούσῃ.

Transliteration

kruptadiēi philotēti migēmenai: alla ton ou ti

peith' agatha phroneonta daïphrona Bellerophontēn.

hē de pseusamenē Proiton basilēa prosēuda:

tethnaiēs ō Proit', ē kaktane Bellerophontēn,

165hos m' ethelen philotēti migēmenai ouk ethelousēi.

English · Butler

converse with me against my will.’ The king was angered, but shrank from killing Bellerophon, so he sent him to Lycia bearing baneful signs, written inside a folded tablet and containing much ill against the bearer. He bade Bellerophon show

Homeric Greek

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ ἄνακτα χόλος λάβεν οἷον ἄκουσε:

κτεῖναι μέν ῥ' ἀλέεινε, σεβάσσατο γὰρ τό γε θυμῷ,

πέμπε δέ μιν Λυκίην δέ, πόρεν δ' ὅ γε σήματα λυγρὰ

γράψας ἐν πίνακι πτυκτῷ θυμοφθόρα πολλά,

170δεῖξαι δ' ἠνώγειν ᾧ πενθερῷ ὄφρ' ἀπόλοιτο.

Transliteration

hōs phato, ton de anakta cholos laben hoion akouse:

kteinai men rh' aleeine, sebassato gar to ge thumōi,

pempe de min Lukiēn de, poren d' ho ge sēmata lugra

grapsas en pinaki ptuktōi thumophthora polla,

170deixai d' ēnōgein hōi pentherōi ophr' apoloito.

English · Butler

these written signs to his father-in-law, to the end that he might thus perish; Bellerophon therefore went to Lycia, and the gods

Homeric Greek

αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ Λυκίην δὲ θεῶν ὑπ' ἀμύμονι πομπῇ.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ Λυκίην ἷξε Ξάνθόν τε ῥέοντα,

προφρονέως μιν τῖεν ἄναξ Λυκίης εὐρείης:

ἐννῆμαρ ξείνισσε καὶ ἐννέα βοῦς ἱέρευσεν.

175ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ δεκάτη ἐφάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς

Transliteration

autar ho bē Lukiēn de theōn hup' amumoni pompēi.

all' hote dē Lukiēn hixe Xanthon te rheonta,

prophroneōs min tien anax Lukiēs eureiēs:

ennēmar xeinisse kai ennea bous hiereusen.

175all' hote dē dekatē ephanē rhododaktulos Ēōs

English · Butler

convoyed him safely. "When he reached the river Xanthos, which is in Lycia, the king received him with all goodwill, feasted him nine days, and killed nine heifers in his honor, but when rosy-fingered morning appeared upon the tenth day, he questioned him and desired to see the written signs from his son-in-law Proetus. When he had received the wicked written signs he first commanded Bellerophon to kill that savage monster, the Chimaera, who was

Homeric Greek

καὶ τότε μιν ἐρέεινε καὶ ᾔτεε σῆμα ἰδέσθαι

ὅττί ῥά οἱ γαμβροῖο πάρα Προίτοιο φέροιτο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σῆμα κακὸν παρεδέξατο γαμβροῦ,

πρῶτον μέν ῥα Χίμαιραν ἀμαιμακέτην ἐκέλευσε

180πεφνέμεν: ἣ δ' ἄρ' ἔην θεῖον γένος οὐδ' ἀνθρώπων,

Transliteration

kai tote min ereeine kai ēitee sēma idesthai

hotti rha hoi gambroio para Proitoio pheroito.

autar epei dē sēma kakon paredexato gambrou,

prōton men rha Chimairan amaimaketēn ekeleuse

180pephnemen: hē d' ar' eēn theion genos oud' anthrōpōn,

English · Butler

not a human being, but a goddess, for she had the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent, while her body was that of a goat, and she breathed forth flames of fire; but Bellerophon slew her, for he was guided by signs from heaven.

Homeric Greek

πρόσθε λέων, ὄπιθεν δὲ δράκων, μέσση δὲ χίμαιρα,

δεινὸν ἀποπνείουσα πυρὸς μένος αἰθομένοιο,

καὶ τὴν μὲν κατέπεφνε θεῶν τεράεσσι πιθήσας.

δεύτερον αὖ Σολύμοισι μαχέσσατο κυδαλίμοισι:

185καρτίστην δὴ τήν γε μάχην φάτο δύμεναι ἀνδρῶν.

Transliteration

prosthe leōn, opithen de drakōn, messē de chimaira,

deinon apopneiousa puros menos aithomenoio,

kai tēn men katepephne theōn teraessi pithēsas.

deuteron au Solumoisi machessato kudalimoisi:

185kartistēn dē tēn ge machēn phato dumenai andrōn.

English · Butler

He next fought the far-famed Solymoi, and this, he said, was the hardest of all his battles.

Homeric Greek

τὸ τρίτον αὖ κατέπεφνεν Ἀμαζόνας ἀντιανείρας.

τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἀνερχομένῳ πυκινὸν δόλον ἄλλον ὕφαινε:

κρίνας ἐκ Λυκίης εὐρείης φῶτας ἀρίστους

εἷσε λόχον: τοὶ δ' οὔ τι πάλιν οἶκον δὲ νέοντο:

190πάντας γὰρ κατέπεφνεν ἀμύμων Βελλεροφόντης.

Transliteration

to triton au katepephnen Amazonas antianeiras.

tōi d' ar' anerchomenōi pukinon dolon allon huphaine:

krinas ek Lukiēs eureiēs phōtas aristous

heise lochon: toi d' ou ti palin oikon de neonto:

190pantas gar katepephnen amumōn Bellerophontēs.

English · Butler

Thirdly, he killed the Amazons, women who were the peers of men, and as he was returning thence the king devised yet another plan for his destruction; he picked the bravest warriors in all Lycia, and placed them in ambuscade, but not a man ever came back, for Bellerophon killed every one of them. Then the king knew that he must be the valiant offspring of a god, so he kept him in Lycia, gave him his daughter in marriage, and made him of equal honor in the kingdom with himself;

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ γίγνωσκε θεοῦ γόνον ἠὺ̈ν ἐόντα

αὐτοῦ μιν κατέρυκε, δίδου δ' ὅ γε θυγατέρα ἥν,

δῶκε δέ οἱ τιμῆς βασιληί̈δος ἥμισυ πάσης:

καὶ μέν οἱ Λύκιοι τέμενος τάμον ἔξοχον ἄλλων

195καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης, ὄφρα νέμοιτο.

Transliteration

all' hote dē gignōske theou gonon ēün eonta

autou min kateruke, didou d' ho ge thugatera hēn,

dōke de hoi timēs basilēïdos hēmisu pasēs:

kai men hoi Lukioi temenos tamon exochon allōn

195kalon phutaliēs kai arourēs, ophra nemoito.

English · Butler

and the Lycians gave him a piece of land, the best in all the country, fair with vineyards and tilled fields, to have and to hold.

Homeric Greek

ἣ δ' ἔτεκε τρία τέκνα δαί̈φρονι Βελλεροφόντῃ

Ἴσανδρόν τε καὶ Ἱππόλοχον καὶ Λαοδάμειαν.

Λαοδαμείῃ μὲν παρελέξατο μητίετα Ζεύς,

ἣ δ' ἔτεκ' ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα χαλκοκορυστήν.

200ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖνος ἀπήχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιν,

Transliteration

hē d' eteke tria tekna daïphroni Bellerophontēi

Isandron te kai Hippolochon kai Laodameian.

Laodameiēi men parelexato mētieta Zeus,

hē d' etek' antitheon Sarpēdona chalkokorustēn.

200all' hote dē kai keinos apēchtheto pasi theoisin,

English · Butler

"The king's daughter bore Bellerophon three children, Isandros, Hippolokhos, and Laodameia. Zeus, the lord of counsel, lay with Laodameia, and she bore him noble Sarpedon; but when Bellerophon came to be hated by all the gods, he wandered all desolate and dismayed upon the Alean plain, gnawing at his own heart, and shunning the path of man.

Homeric Greek

ἤτοι ὃ κὰπ πεδίον τὸ Ἀλήϊον οἶος ἀλᾶτο

ὃν θυμὸν κατέδων, πάτον ἀνθρώπων ἀλεείνων:

Ἴσανδρον δέ οἱ υἱὸν Ἄρης ἆτος πολέμοιο

μαρνάμενον Σολύμοισι κατέκτανε κυδαλίμοισι:

205τὴν δὲ χολωσαμένη χρυσήνιος Ἄρτεμις ἔκτα.

Transliteration

ētoi ho kap pedion to Alēïon oios alato

hon thumon katedōn, paton anthrōpōn aleeinōn:

Isandron de hoi huion Arēs atos polemoio

marnamenon Solumoisi katektane kudalimoisi:

205tēn de cholōsamenē chrusēnios Artemis ekta.

English · Butler

Ares, insatiate of battle, killed his son Isandros while he was fighting the Solymi; his daughter was killed by Artemis of the golden reins, for she was angered with her; but Hippolokhos was father to myself, and when he sent me to Troy he urged me again and

Homeric Greek

Ἱππόλοχος δέ μ' ἔτικτε, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ φημι γενέσθαι:

πέμπε δέ μ' ἐς Τροίην, καί μοι μάλα πόλλ' ἐπέτελλεν

αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν καὶ ὑπείροχον ἔμμεναι ἄλλων,

μηδὲ γένος πατέρων αἰσχυνέμεν, οἳ μέγ' ἄριστοι

210ἔν τ' Ἐφύρῃ ἐγένοντο καὶ ἐν Λυκίῃ εὐρείῃ.

Transliteration

Hippolochos de m' etikte, kai ek tou phēmi genesthai:

pempe de m' es Troiēn, kai moi mala poll' epetellen

aien aristeuein kai hupeirochon emmenai allōn,

mēde genos paterōn aischunemen, hoi meg' aristoi

210en t' Ephurēi egenonto kai en Lukiēi eureiēi.

English · Butler

again to fight ever among the foremost and outvie my peers, so as not to shame the blood of my fathers who were the noblest in Ephyra and in all Lycia. This, then, is the

Homeric Greek

ταύτης τοι γενεῆς τε καὶ αἵματος εὔχομαι εἶναι.

ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης:

ἔγχος μὲν κατέπηξεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,

αὐτὰρ ὃ μειλιχίοισι προσηύδα ποιμένα λαῶν:

215ἦ ῥά νύ μοι ξεῖνος πατρώϊός ἐσσι παλαιός:

Transliteration

tautēs toi geneēs te kai haimatos euchomai einai.

hōs phato, gēthēsen de boēn agathos Diomēdēs:

enchos men katepēxen epi chthoni pouluboteirēi,

autar ho meilichioisi prosēuda poimena laōn:

215ē rha nu moi xeinos patrōïos essi palaios:

English · Butler

descent I claim." Thus did he speak, and the heart of Diomedes was glad. He planted his spear in the ground, and spoke to him with friendly words. "Then," he said, you are an old friend of my father's house. Great Oeneus once entertained Bellerophon for twenty days, and the two exchanged presents.

Homeric Greek

Οἰνεὺς γάρ ποτε δῖος ἀμύμονα Βελλεροφόντην

ξείνισ' ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐείκοσιν ἤματ' ἐρύξας:

οἳ δὲ καὶ ἀλλήλοισι πόρον ξεινήϊα καλά:

Οἰνεὺς μὲν ζωστῆρα δίδου φοίνικι φαεινόν,

220Βελλεροφόντης δὲ χρύσεον δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον

Transliteration

Oineus gar pote dios amumona Bellerophontēn

xeinis' eni megaroisin eeikosin ēmat' eruxas:

hoi de kai allēloisi poron xeinēïa kala:

Oineus men zōstēra didou phoiniki phaeinon,

220Bellerophontēs de chruseon depas amphikupellon

English · Butler

Oeneus gave a belt rich with purple, and Bellerophon a double cup, which I left at home when I set out for Troy. I do not remember Tydeus, for he was taken from us while I was yet

Homeric Greek

καί μιν ἐγὼ κατέλειπον ἰὼν ἐν δώμασ' ἐμοῖσι.

Τυδέα δ' οὐ μέμνημαι, ἐπεί μ' ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐόντα

κάλλιφ', ὅτ' ἐν Θήβῃσιν ἀπώλετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν.

τὼ νῦν σοὶ μὲν ἐγὼ ξεῖνος φίλος Ἄργεϊ μέσσῳ

225εἰμί, σὺ δ' ἐν Λυκίῃ ὅτε κεν τῶν δῆμον ἵκωμαι.

Transliteration

kai min egō kateleipon iōn en dōmas' emoisi.

Tudea d' ou memnēmai, epei m' eti tutthon eonta

kalliph', hot' en Thēbēisin apōleto laos Achaiōn.

tō nun soi men egō xeinos philos Argeï messōi

225eimi, su d' en Lukiēi hote ken tōn dēmon hikōmai.

English · Butler

a child, when the army of the Achaeans was cut to pieces before Thebes. Henceforth, however, I must be your host in middle Argos, and you mine in Lycia, if I should ever go to that district ; let us avoid one another's spears even during a general engagement;

Homeric Greek

ἔγχεα δ' ἀλλήλων ἀλεώμεθα καὶ δι' ὁμίλου:

πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἐμοὶ Τρῶες κλειτοί τ' ἐπίκουροι

κτείνειν ὅν κε θεός γε πόρῃ καὶ ποσσὶ κιχείω,

πολλοὶ δ' αὖ σοὶ Ἀχαιοὶ ἐναιρέμεν ὅν κε δύνηαι.

230τεύχεα δ' ἀλλήλοις ἐπαμείψομεν, ὄφρα καὶ οἵδε

Transliteration

enchea d' allēlōn aleōmetha kai di' homilou:

polloi men gar emoi Trōes kleitoi t' epikouroi

kteinein hon ke theos ge porēi kai possi kicheiō,

polloi d' au soi Achaioi enairemen hon ke dunēai.

230teuchea d' allēlois epameipsomen, ophra kai hoide

English · Butler

there are many noble Trojans and allies whom I can kill, if I overtake them and heaven delivers them into my hand; so again with yourself, there are many Achaeans whose lives you may take if you can; we two, then, will exchange armor, that all present may know of the old

Homeric Greek

γνῶσιν ὅτι ξεῖνοι πατρώϊοι εὐχόμεθ' εἶναι.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε καθ' ἵππων ἀί̈ξαντε

χεῖράς τ' ἀλλήλων λαβέτην καὶ πιστώσαντο:

ἔνθ' αὖτε Γλαύκῳ Κρονίδης φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,

235ὃς πρὸς Τυδεί̈δην Διομήδεα τεύχε' ἄμειβε

Transliteration

gnōsin hoti xeinoi patrōïoi euchometh' einai.

hōs ara phōnēsante kath' hippōn aïxante

cheiras t' allēlōn labetēn kai pistōsanto:

enth' aute Glaukōi Kronidēs phrenas exeleto Zeus,

235hos pros Tudeïdēn Diomēdea teuche' ameibe

English · Butler

ties that subsist between us." With these words they sprang from their chariots, grasped one another's hands, and plighted friendship. But the son of Kronos made Glaukos take leave of his wits, for he exchanged golden armor for bronze, the worth of a hundred

Homeric Greek

χρύσεα χαλκείων, ἑκατόμβοι' ἐννεαβοίων.

Ἕκτωρ δ' ὡς Σκαιάς τε πύλας καὶ φηγὸν ἵκανεν,

ἀμφ' ἄρα μιν Τρώων ἄλοχοι θέον ἠδὲ θύγατρες

εἰρόμεναι παῖδάς τε κασιγνήτους τε ἔτας τε

240καὶ πόσιας: ὃ δ' ἔπειτα θεοῖς εὔχεσθαι ἀνώγει

Transliteration

chrusea chalkeiōn, hekatomboi' enneaboiōn.

Hektōr d' hōs Skaias te pulas kai phēgon hikanen,

amph' ara min Trōōn alochoi theon ēde thugatres

eiromenai paidas te kasignētous te etas te

240kai posias: ho d' epeita theois euchesthai anōgei

English · Butler

head of cattle for the worth of nine. Now when Hektor reached the Scaean gates and the oak tree, the wives and daughters of the Trojans came running towards him to ask after their sons, brothers, kinsmen, and husbands: he told them to set about praying to the gods, and many

Homeric Greek

πάσας ἑξείης: πολλῇσι δὲ κήδε' ἐφῆπτο.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ Πριάμοιο δόμον περικαλλέ' ἵκανε

ξεστῇς αἰθούσῃσι τετυγμένον: αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ

πεντήκοντ' ἔνεσαν θάλαμοι ξεστοῖο λίθοιο

245πλησίον ἀλλήλων δεδμημένοι, ἔνθα δὲ παῖδες

Transliteration

pasas hexeiēs: pollēisi de kēde' ephēpto.

all' hote dē Priamoio domon perikalle' hikane

xestēis aithousēisi tetugmenon: autar en autōi

pentēkont' enesan thalamoi xestoio lithoio

245plēsion allēlōn dedmēmenoi, entha de paides

English · Butler

were made sorrowful as they heard him. Presently he reached the splendid palace of King Priam, adorned with colonnades of hewn stone. In it there were fifty bedchambers - all of hewn stone - built near one another, where the sons of Priam slept, each with his wedded wife. Opposite these, on the other side the courtyard,

Homeric Greek

κοιμῶντο Πριάμοιο παρὰ μνηστῇς ἀλόχοισι,

κουράων δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἐναντίοι ἔνδοθεν αὐλῆς

δώδεκ' ἔσαν τέγεοι θάλαμοι ξεστοῖο λίθοιο

πλησίον ἀλλήλων δεδμημένοι, ἔνθα δὲ γαμβροὶ

250κοιμῶντο Πριάμοιο παρ' αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισιν:

Transliteration

koimōnto Priamoio para mnēstēis alochoisi,

kouraōn d' heterōthen enantioi endothen aulēs

dōdek' esan tegeoi thalamoi xestoio lithoio

plēsion allēlōn dedmēmenoi, entha de gambroi

250koimōnto Priamoio par' aidoiēis alochoisin:

English · Butler

there were twelve upper rooms also of hewn stone for Priam's daughters, built near one another, where his sons-in-law slept with their wives. When Hektor got there, his fond mother came up to him with Laodike the fairest of her daughters. She took his hand within her own and said, "My son, why have you left the battle to come hither?

Homeric Greek

ἔνθά οἱ ἠπιόδωρος ἐναντίη ἤλυθε μήτηρ

Λαοδίκην ἐσάγουσα θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην:

ἔν τ' ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε:

τέκνον τίπτε λιπὼν πόλεμον θρασὺν εἰλήλουθας;

255ἦ μάλα δὴ τείρουσι δυσώνυμοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

Transliteration

entha hoi ēpiodōros enantiē ēluthe mētēr

Laodikēn esagousa thugatrōn eidos aristēn:

en t' ara hoi phu cheiri epos t' ephat' ek t' onomaze:

teknon tipte lipōn polemon thrasun eilēlouthas;

255ē mala dē teirousi dusōnumoi huies Achaiōn

English · Butler

Are the Achaeans, woe betide them, pressing you hard about the city that you have thought fit to come and uplift your hands to Zeus from the citadel? Wait till I can bring you wine that you may

Homeric Greek

μαρνάμενοι περὶ ἄστυ: σὲ δ' ἐνθάδε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν

ἐλθόντ' ἐξ ἄκρης πόλιος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχεῖν.

ἀλλὰ μέν' ὄφρά κέ τοι μελιηδέα οἶνον ἐνείκω,

ὡς σπείσῃς Διὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισι

260πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δὲ καὐτὸς ὀνήσεαι αἴ κε πίῃσθα.

Transliteration

marnamenoi peri astu: se d' enthade thumos anēken

elthont' ex akrēs polios Dii cheiras anaschein.

alla men' ophra ke toi meliēdea oinon eneikō,

hōs speisēis Dii patri kai allois athanatoisi

260prōton, epeita de kautos onēseai ai ke piēistha.

English · Butler

make offering to Zeus and to the other immortals, and may then drink and be refreshed. Wine gives a man fresh strength when he is wearied, as you now are

Homeric Greek

ἀνδρὶ δὲ κεκμηῶτι μένος μέγα οἶνος ἀέξει,

ὡς τύνη κέκμηκας ἀμύνων σοῖσιν ἔτῃσι.

τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:

μή μοι οἶνον ἄειρε μελίφρονα πότνια μῆτερ,

265μή μ' ἀπογυιώσῃς μένεος, ἀλκῆς τε λάθωμαι:

Transliteration

andri de kekmēōti menos mega oinos aexei,

hōs tunē kekmēkas amunōn soisin etēisi.

tēn d' ēmeibet' epeita megas koruthaiolos Hektōr:

mē moi oinon aeire meliphrona potnia mēter,

265mē m' apoguiōsēis meneos, alkēs te lathōmai:

English · Butler

with fighting on behalf of your kinsmen." And Hektor answered, "Honored mother, bring no wine, lest you unman me and I forget my strength. I dare not make a drink-offering to Zeus with unwashed hands; one who is bespattered with blood and filth may not pray to the son of Kronos.

Homeric Greek

χερσὶ δ' ἀνίπτοισιν Διὶ λείβειν αἴθοπα οἶνον

ἅζομαι: οὐδέ πῃ ἔστι κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι

αἵματι καὶ λύθρῳ πεπαλαγμένον εὐχετάασθαι.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν πρὸς νηὸν Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης

270ἔρχεο σὺν θυέεσσιν ἀολλίσσασα γεραιάς:

Transliteration

chersi d' aniptoisin Dii leibein aithopa oinon

hazomai: oude pēi esti kelainepheï Kroniōni

haimati kai luthrōi pepalagmenon euchetaasthai.

alla su men pros nēon Athēnaiēs ageleiēs

270ercheo sun thueessin aollissasa geraias:

English · Butler

Get the matrons together, and go with offerings to the temple of Athena driver of the spoil; there, upon the knees of Athena, lay the largest and fairest robe you have in your house - the one you set most store by; promise, moreover, to sacrifice twelve yearling heifers that have never yet felt the goad, in

Homeric Greek

πέπλον δ', ὅς τίς τοι χαριέστατος ἠδὲ μέγιστος

ἔστιν ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ καί τοι πολὺ φίλτατος αὐτῇ,

τὸν θὲς Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν ἠϋκόμοιο,

καί οἱ ὑποσχέσθαι δυοκαίδεκα βοῦς ἐνὶ νηῷ

275ἤνις ἠκέστας ἱερευσέμεν, αἴ κ' ἐλεήσῃ

Transliteration

peplon d', hos tis toi chariestatos ēde megistos

estin eni megarōi kai toi polu philtatos autēi,

ton thes Athēnaiēs epi gounasin ēükomoio,

kai hoi huposchesthai duokaideka bous eni nēōi

275ēnis ēkestas hiereusemen, ai k' eleēsēi

English · Butler

the temple of the goddess if she will take pity on the town, with the wives and little ones of the Trojans, and keep the son of Tydeus from off the goodly city of Ilion, for he fights with fury, and fills men's souls with panic.

Homeric Greek

ἄστύ τε καὶ Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα,

αἴ κεν Τυδέος υἱὸν ἀπόσχῃ Ἰλίου ἱρῆς

ἄγριον αἰχμητὴν κρατερὸν μήστωρα φόβοιο.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν πρὸς νηὸν Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης

280ἔρχευ, ἐγὼ δὲ Πάριν μετελεύσομαι ὄφρα καλέσσω

Transliteration

astu te kai Trōōn alochous kai nēpia tekna,

ai ken Tudeos huion aposchēi Iliou hirēs

agrion aichmētēn krateron mēstōra phoboio.

alla su men pros nēon Athēnaiēs ageleiēs

280ercheu, egō de Parin meteleusomai ophra kalessō

English · Butler

Go, then, to the temple of Athena, while I seek Paris and exhort him, if he will hear my words. Would that the earth might open her jaws and swallow him, for Zeus bred him to be the bane of the Trojans, and of Priam and Priam's sons.

Homeric Greek

αἴ κ' ἐθέλῃσ' εἰπόντος ἀκουέμεν: ὥς κέ οἱ αὖθι

γαῖα χάνοι: μέγα γάρ μιν Ὀλύμπιος ἔτρεφε πῆμα

Τρωσί τε καὶ Πριάμῳ μεγαλήτορι τοῖό τε παισίν.

εἰ κεῖνόν γε ἴδοιμι κατελθόντ' Ἄϊδος εἴσω

285φαίην κε φρέν' ἀτέρπου ὀϊζύος ἐκλελαθέσθαι.

Transliteration

ai k' ethelēis' eipontos akouemen: hōs ke hoi authi

gaia chanoi: mega gar min Olumpios etrephe pēma

Trōsi te kai Priamōi megalētori toio te paisin.

ei keinon ge idoimi katelthont' Aïdos eisō

285phaiēn ke phren' aterpou oïzuos eklelathesthai.

English · Butler

Could I but see him go down into the house of Hades, my heart would forget its heaviness."

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφαθ', ἣ δὲ μολοῦσα ποτὶ μέγαρ' ἀμφιπόλοισι

κέκλετο: ταὶ δ' ἄρ' ἀόλλισσαν κατὰ ἄστυ γεραιάς.

αὐτὴ δ' ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,

ἔνθ' ἔσάν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλα ἔργα γυναικῶν

290Σιδονίων, τὰς αὐτὸς Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς

Transliteration

hōs ephath', hē de molousa poti megar' amphipoloisi

kekleto: tai d' ar' aollissan kata astu geraias.

autē d' es thalamon katebēseto kēōenta,

enth' esan hoi peploi pampoikila erga gunaikōn

290Sidoniōn, tas autos Alexandros theoeidēs

English · Butler

His mother went into the house and called her waiting-women who gathered the matrons throughout the city. She then went down into her fragrant store-room, where her embroidered robes were kept, the work of Sidonian women, whom Alexander had brought over from Sidon when he sailed the seas upon that voyage during which he carried off Helen.

Homeric Greek

ἤγαγε Σιδονίηθεν ἐπιπλὼς εὐρέα πόντον,

τὴν ὁδὸν ἣν Ἑλένην περ ἀνήγαγεν εὐπατέρειαν:

τῶν ἕν' ἀειραμένη Ἑκάβη φέρε δῶρον Ἀθήνῃ,

ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,

295ἀστὴρ δ' ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν: ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.

Transliteration

ēgage Sidoniēthen epiplōs eurea ponton,

tēn hodon hēn Helenēn per anēgagen eupatereian:

tōn hen' aeiramenē Hekabē phere dōron Athēnēi,

hos kallistos eēn poikilmasin ēde megistos,

295astēr d' hōs apelampen: ekeito de neiatos allōn.

English · Butler

Hecuba took out the largest robe, and the one that was most beautifully enriched with embroidery, as an offering to Athena: it glittered like a star, and lay at the very bottom of the chest. With this she went on her way and

Homeric Greek

βῆ δ' ἰέναι, πολλαὶ δὲ μετεσσεύοντο γεραιαί.

αἳ δ' ὅτε νηὸν ἵκανον Ἀθήνης ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ,

τῇσι θύρας ὤϊξε Θεανὼ καλλιπάρῃος

Κισσηὶ̈ς ἄλοχος Ἀντήνορος ἱπποδάμοιο:

300τὴν γὰρ Τρῶες ἔθηκαν Ἀθηναίης ἱέρειαν.

Transliteration

bē d' ienai, pollai de metesseuonto geraiai.

hai d' hote nēon hikanon Athēnēs en polei akrēi,

tēisi thuras ōïxe Theanō kalliparēios

Kissēïs alochos Antēnoros hippodamoio:

300tēn gar Trōes ethēkan Athēnaiēs hiereian.

English · Butler

many matrons with her. When they reached the temple of Athena, lovely Theano, daughter of Kisseus and wife of Antenor, opened the doors, for the Trojans had made her priestess of Athena. The women lifted up their hands to the goddess with a loud cry, and Theano

Homeric Greek

αἳ δ' ὀλολυγῇ πᾶσαι Ἀθήνῃ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον:

ἣ δ' ἄρα πέπλον ἑλοῦσα Θεανὼ καλλιπάρῃος

θῆκεν Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν ἠϋκόμοιο,

εὐχομένη δ' ἠρᾶτο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο:

305πότνι' Ἀθηναίη ἐρυσίπτολι δῖα θεάων

Transliteration

hai d' ololugēi pasai Athēnēi cheiras aneschon:

hē d' ara peplon helousa Theanō kalliparēios

thēken Athēnaiēs epi gounasin ēükomoio,

euchomenē d' ērato Dios kourēi megaloio:

305potni' Athēnaiē erusiptoli dia theaōn

English · Butler

took the robe to lay it upon the knees of Athena, praying the while to the daughter of great Zeus. "Holy Athena," she cried, "protectress of our city, mighty goddess, break the spear of Diomedes and lay him low before the Scaean gates.

Homeric Greek

ἆξον δὴ ἔγχος Διομήδεος, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτὸν

πρηνέα δὸς πεσέειν Σκαιῶν προπάροιθε πυλάων,

ὄφρά τοι αὐτίκα νῦν δυοκαίδεκα βοῦς ἐνὶ νηῷ

ἤνις ἠκέστας ἱερεύσομεν, αἴ κ' ἐλεήσῃς

310ἄστύ τε καὶ Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα.

Transliteration

axon dē enchos Diomēdeos, ēde kai auton

prēnea dos peseein Skaiōn proparoithe pulaōn,

ophra toi autika nun duokaideka bous eni nēōi

ēnis ēkestas hiereusomen, ai k' eleēsēis

310astu te kai Trōōn alochous kai nēpia tekna.

English · Butler

"Holy Athena," she cried, "protectress of our city, mighty goddess, break the spear of Diomedes and lay him low before the Scaean gates. Do this, and we will sacrifice twelve heifers that have never yet known the goad, in your temple, if you will have pity upon the town, with the wives and little ones If the Trojans." Thus she prayed, but Pallas Athena granted

Homeric Greek

ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχομένη, ἀνένευε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.

ὣς αἳ μέν ῥ' εὔχοντο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,

Ἕκτωρ δὲ πρὸς δώματ' Ἀλεξάνδροιο βεβήκει

καλά, τά ῥ' αὐτὸς ἔτευξε σὺν ἀνδράσιν οἳ τότ' ἄριστοι

315ἦσαν ἐνὶ Τροίῃ ἐριβώλακι τέκτονες ἄνδρες,

Transliteration

hōs ephat' euchomenē, aneneue de Pallas Athēnē.

hōs hai men rh' euchonto Dios kourēi megaloio,

Hektōr de pros dōmat' Alexandroio bebēkei

kala, ta rh' autos eteuxe sun andrasin hoi tot' aristoi

315ēsan eni Troiēi eribōlaki tektones andres,

English · Butler

not her prayer. While they were thus praying to the daughter of great Zeus, Hektor went to the fair house of Alexander, which he had built for him by the foremost builders in the land. They had built him his house, storehouse, and courtyard near those of Priam and Hektor on the acropolis. Here Hektor entered, with a spear eleven cubits long in his hand; the bronze point gleamed in front

Homeric Greek

οἵ οἱ ἐποίησαν θάλαμον καὶ δῶμα καὶ αὐλὴν

ἐγγύθι τε Πριάμοιο καὶ Ἕκτορος ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ.

ἔνθ' Ἕκτωρ εἰσῆλθε Διὶ̈ φίλος, ἐν δ' ἄρα χειρὶ

ἔγχος ἔχ' ἑνδεκάπηχυ: πάροιθε δὲ λάμπετο δουρὸς

320αἰχμὴ χαλκείη, περὶ δὲ χρύσεος θέε πόρκης.

Transliteration

hoi hoi epoiēsan thalamon kai dōma kai aulēn

enguthi te Priamoio kai Hektoros en polei akrēi.

enth' Hektōr eisēlthe Diï philos, en d' ara cheiri

enchos ech' hendekapēchu: paroithe de lampeto douros

320aichmē chalkeiē, peri de chruseos thee porkēs.

English · Butler

of him, and was fastened to the shaft of the spear by a ring of gold. He found Alexander within the house, busied about his armor, his shield and cuirass, and handling his curved bow; there, too, sat Argive Helen with her women, setting them their several tasks; and as Hektor saw him he rebuked him with words of scorn.

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' εὗρ' ἐν θαλάμῳ περικαλλέα τεύχε' ἕποντα

ἀσπίδα καὶ θώρηκα, καὶ ἀγκύλα τόξ' ἁφόωντα:

Ἀργείη δ' Ἑλένη μετ' ἄρα δμῳῇσι γυναιξὶν

ἧστο καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι περικλυτὰ ἔργα κέλευε.

325τὸν δ' Ἕκτωρ νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσι:

Transliteration

ton d' heur' en thalamōi perikallea teuche' heponta

aspida kai thōrēka, kai ankula tox' haphoōnta:

Argeiē d' Helenē met' ara dmōiēisi gunaixin

hēsto kai amphipoloisi perikluta erga keleue.

325ton d' Hektōr neikessen idōn aischrois epeessi:

English · Butler

"Sir," said he, "you do ill to nurse this rancor; the people perish fighting round this our town; you would yourself chide one whom you saw shirking his part in the combat. Up then, or

Homeric Greek

δαιμόνι' οὐ μὲν καλὰ χόλον τόνδ' ἔνθεο θυμῷ,

λαοὶ μὲν φθινύθουσι περὶ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχος

μαρνάμενοι: σέο δ' εἵνεκ' ἀϋτή τε πτόλεμός τε

ἄστυ τόδ' ἀμφιδέδηε: σὺ δ' ἂν μαχέσαιο καὶ ἄλλῳ,

330ὅν τινά που μεθιέντα ἴδοις στυγεροῦ πολέμοιο.

Transliteration

daimoni' ou men kala cholon tond' entheo thumōi,

laoi men phthinuthousi peri ptolin aipu te teichos

marnamenoi: seo d' heinek' aütē te ptolemos te

astu tod' amphidedēe: su d' an machesaio kai allōi,

330hon tina pou methienta idois stugerou polemoio.

English · Butler

ere long the city will be in a

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἄνα μὴ τάχα ἄστυ πυρὸς δηί̈οιο θέρηται.

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής:

Ἕκτορ ἐπεί με κατ' αἶσαν ἐνείκεσας οὐδ' ὑπὲρ αἶσαν,

τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω: σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον:

335οὔ τοι ἐγὼ Τρώων τόσσον χόλῳ οὐδὲ νεμέσσι

Transliteration

all' ana mē tacha astu puros dēïoio therētai.

ton d' aute proseeipen Alexandros theoeidēs:

Hektor epei me kat' aisan eneikesas oud' huper aisan,

touneka toi ereō: su de suntheo kai meu akouson:

335ou toi egō Trōōn tosson cholōi oude nemessi

English · Butler

blaze." And Alexander answered, "Hektor, your rebuke is just; listen therefore, and believe me when I tell you that I am not here so much through rancor or ill-will towards the Trojans, as from a desire to indulge my grief. My wife was even now gently urging me to battle, and I hold it better that I should go, for victory is ever fickle.

Homeric Greek

ἥμην ἐν θαλάμῳ, ἔθελον δ' ἄχεϊ προτραπέσθαι.

νῦν δέ με παρειποῦσ' ἄλοχος μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσιν

ὅρμησ' ἐς πόλεμον: δοκέει δέ μοι ὧδε καὶ αὐτῷ

λώϊον ἔσσεσθαι: νίκη δ' ἐπαμείβεται ἄνδρας.

340ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον, Ἀρήϊα τεύχεα δύω:

Transliteration

hēmēn en thalamōi, ethelon d' acheï protrapesthai.

nun de me pareipous' alochos malakois epeessin

hormēs' es polemon: dokeei de moi hōde kai autōi

lōïon essesthai: nikē d' epameibetai andras.

340all' age nun epimeinon, Arēïa teuchea duō:

English · Butler

Wait, then, while I put on my armor, or go first and I will follow. I shall be sure to overtake

Homeric Greek

ἢ ἴθ', ἐγὼ δὲ μέτειμι: κιχήσεσθαι δέ σ' ὀί̈ω.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ' οὔ τι προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:

τὸν δ' Ἑλένη μύθοισι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι:

δᾶερ ἐμεῖο κυνὸς κακομηχάνου ὀκρυοέσσης,

345ὥς μ' ὄφελ' ἤματι τῷ ὅτε με πρῶτον τέκε μήτηρ

Transliteration

ē ith', egō de meteimi: kichēsesthai de s' oïō.

hōs phato, ton d' ou ti prosephē koruthaiolos Hektōr:

ton d' Helenē muthoisi prosēuda meilichioisi:

daer emeio kunos kakomēchanou okruoessēs,

345hōs m' ophel' ēmati tōi hote me prōton teke mētēr

English · Butler

you." Hektor made no answer, but Helen tried to soothe him. "Brother," said she, "to my abhorred and sinful self, would that a whirlwind had caught me up on the day

Homeric Greek

οἴχεσθαι προφέρουσα κακὴ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα

εἰς ὄρος ἢ εἰς κῦμα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,

ἔνθά με κῦμ' ἀπόερσε πάρος τάδε ἔργα γενέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάδε γ' ὧδε θεοὶ κακὰ τεκμήραντο,

350ἀνδρὸς ἔπειτ' ὤφελλον ἀμείνονος εἶναι ἄκοιτις,

Transliteration

oichesthai propherousa kakē anemoio thuella

eis oros ē eis kuma poluphloisboio thalassēs,

entha me kum' apoerse paros tade erga genesthai.

autar epei tade g' hōde theoi kaka tekmēranto,

350andros epeit' ōphellon ameinonos einai akoitis,

English · Butler

my mother brought me forth, and had borne me to some mountain or to the waves of the roaring sea that should have swept me away ere this mischief had come about. But, since the gods have devised these evils, would, at any rate, that I had been wife to a better man - to one who could smart under dishonor and men's evil speeches.

Homeric Greek

ὃς ᾔδη νέμεσίν τε καὶ αἴσχεα πόλλ' ἀνθρώπων.

τούτῳ δ' οὔτ' ἂρ νῦν φρένες ἔμπεδοι οὔτ' ἄρ' ὀπίσσω

ἔσσονται: τὼ καί μιν ἐπαυρήσεσθαι ὀί̈ω.

ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν εἴσελθε καὶ ἕζεο τῷδ' ἐπὶ δίφρῳ

355δᾶερ, ἐπεί σε μάλιστα πόνος φρένας ἀμφιβέβηκεν

Transliteration

hos ēidē nemesin te kai aischea poll' anthrōpōn.

toutōi d' out' ar nun phrenes empedoi out' ar' opissō

essontai: tō kai min epaurēsesthai oïō.

all' age nun eiselthe kai hezeo tōid' epi diphrōi

355daer, epei se malista ponos phrenas amphibebēken

English · Butler

This man was never yet to be depended upon, nor never will be, and he will surely reap what he has sown. Still, brother, come in and rest upon this seat, for it is you who bear the brunt of that toil that has been caused by my hateful self and by the veering

Homeric Greek

εἵνεκ' ἐμεῖο κυνὸς καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου ἕνεκ' ἄτης,

οἷσιν ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε κακὸν μόρον, ὡς καὶ ὀπίσσω

ἀνθρώποισι πελώμεθ' ἀοίδιμοι ἐσσομένοισι.

τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

360μή με κάθιζ' Ἑλένη φιλέουσά περ: οὐδέ με πείσεις:

Transliteration

heinek' emeio kunos kai Alexandrou henek' atēs,

hoisin epi Zeus thēke kakon moron, hōs kai opissō

anthrōpoisi pelōmeth' aoidimoi essomenoisi.

tēn d' ēmeibet' epeita megas koruthaiolos Hektōr

360mē me kathiz' Helenē phileousa per: oude me peiseis:

English · Butler

of Alexander - both of whom Zeus has doomed to be a theme of song among those that shall be born hereafter." And Hektor answered, "Bid me not be seated, Helen, for all the goodwill you bear me. I cannot stay.

Homeric Greek

ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐπέσσυται ὄφρ' ἐπαμύνω

Τρώεσσ', οἳ μέγ' ἐμεῖο ποθὴν ἀπεόντος ἔχουσιν.

ἀλλὰ σύ γ' ὄρνυθι τοῦτον, ἐπειγέσθω δὲ καὶ αὐτός,

ὥς κεν ἔμ' ἔντοσθεν πόλιος καταμάρψῃ ἐόντα.

365καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν οἶκον δὲ ἐλεύσομαι ὄφρα ἴδωμαι

Transliteration

ēdē gar moi thumos epessutai ophr' epamunō

Trōess', hoi meg' emeio pothēn apeontos echousin.

alla su g' ornuthi touton, epeigesthō de kai autos,

hōs ken em' entosthen polios katamarpsēi eonta.

365kai gar egōn oikon de eleusomai ophra idōmai

English · Butler

I am in haste to help the Trojans, who miss me greatly when I am not among them; but urge your husband, and of his own self also let him make haste to overtake me before I am out of the city. I must go home to see my household, my wife and my little son, for I

Homeric Greek

οἰκῆας ἄλοχόν τε φίλην καὶ νήπιον υἱόν.

οὐ γὰρ οἶδ' εἰ ἔτι σφιν ὑπότροπος ἵξομαι αὖτις,

ἦ ἤδη μ' ὑπὸ χερσὶ θεοὶ δαμόωσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:

370αἶψα δ' ἔπειθ' ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,

Transliteration

oikēas alochon te philēn kai nēpion huion.

ou gar oid' ei eti sphin hupotropos hixomai autis,

ē ēdē m' hupo chersi theoi damoōsin Achaiōn.

hōs ara phōnēsas apebē koruthaiolos Hektōr:

370aipsa d' epeith' hikane domous eu naietaontas,

English · Butler

know not whether I shall ever again return to them, or whether the gods will cause me to fill by the hands of the Achaeans." Then Hektor left her, and forthwith was at his own house. He did not find Andromache, for she

Homeric Greek

οὐδ' εὗρ' Ἀνδρομάχην λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν,

ἀλλ' ἥ γε ξὺν παιδὶ καὶ ἀμφιπόλῳ ἐϋπέπλῳ

πύργῳ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε.

Ἕκτωρ δ' ὡς οὐκ ἔνδον ἀμύμονα τέτμεν ἄκοιτιν

375ἔστη ἐπ' οὐδὸν ἰών, μετὰ δὲ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν:

Transliteration

oud' heur' Andromachēn leukōlenon en megaroisin,

all' hē ge xun paidi kai amphipolōi eüpeplōi

purgōi ephestēkei gooōsa te muromenē te.

Hektōr d' hōs ouk endon amumona tetmen akoitin

375estē ep' oudon iōn, meta de dmōiēisin eeipen:

English · Butler

was on the wall with her child and one of her maids, weeping bitterly. Seeing, then, that she was not within, he stood on the threshold of the women's rooms and said, "Women, tell me, and tell me true, where did Andromache go when she left the house?

Homeric Greek

εἰ δ' ἄγε μοι δμῳαὶ νημερτέα μυθήσασθε:

πῇ ἔβη Ἀνδρομάχη λευκώλενος ἐκ μεγάροιο;

ἠέ πῃ ἐς γαλόων ἢ εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων

ἢ ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι

380Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται;

Transliteration

ei d' age moi dmōiai nēmertea muthēsasthe:

pēi ebē Andromachē leukōlenos ek megaroio;

ēe pēi es galoōn ē einaterōn eüpeplōn

ē es Athēnaiēs exoichetai, entha per allai

380Trōiai eüplokamoi deinēn theon hilaskontai;

English · Butler

Was it to my sisters, or to my brothers' wives? or is she at the temple of Athena where the other women are propitiating the awful goddess?"

Homeric Greek

τὸν δ' αὖτ' ὀτρηρὴ ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν:

Ἕκτορ ἐπεὶ μάλ' ἄνωγας ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι,

οὔτέ πῃ ἐς γαλόων οὔτ' εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων

οὔτ' ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι

385Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται,

Transliteration

ton d' aut' otrērē tamiē pros muthon eeipen:

Hektor epei mal' anōgas alēthea muthēsasthai,

oute pēi es galoōn out' einaterōn eüpeplōn

out' es Athēnaiēs exoichetai, entha per allai

385Trōiai eüplokamoi deinēn theon hilaskontai,

English · Butler

His good housekeeper answered, "Hektor, since you bid me tell you truly, she did not go to your sisters nor to your brothers' wives, nor yet to the temple of Athena, where the other women are propitiating the awful goddess, but she is on the high

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἐπὶ πύργον ἔβη μέγαν Ἰλίου, οὕνεκ' ἄκουσε

τείρεσθαι Τρῶας, μέγα δὲ κράτος εἶναι Ἀχαιῶν.

ἣ μὲν δὴ πρὸς τεῖχος ἐπειγομένη ἀφικάνει

μαινομένῃ ἐϊκυῖα: φέρει δ' ἅμα παῖδα τιθήνη.

390ἦ ῥα γυνὴ ταμίη, ὃ δ' ἀπέσσυτο δώματος Ἕκτωρ

Transliteration

all' epi purgon ebē megan Iliou, hounek' akouse

teiresthai Trōas, mega de kratos einai Achaiōn.

hē men dē pros teichos epeigomenē aphikanei

mainomenēi eïkuia: pherei d' hama paida tithēnē.

390ē rha gunē tamiē, ho d' apessuto dōmatos Hektōr

English · Butler

wall of Ilion, for she had heard the Trojans were being hard pressed, and that the Achaeans were in great force: she went to the wall in frenzied haste, and the nurse went with her carrying the child." Hektor hurried from the house when she had done speaking, and went down the streets by the same way that he had come.

Homeric Greek

τὴν αὐτὴν ὁδὸν αὖτις ἐϋκτιμένας κατ' ἀγυιάς.

εὖτε πύλας ἵκανε διερχόμενος μέγα ἄστυ

Σκαιάς, τῇ ἄρ' ἔμελλε διεξίμεναι πεδίον δέ,

ἔνθ' ἄλοχος πολύδωρος ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα

395Ἀνδρομάχη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἠετίωνος

Transliteration

tēn autēn hodon autis eüktimenas kat' aguias.

eute pulas hikane dierchomenos mega astu

Skaias, tēi ar' emelle dieximenai pedion de,

enth' alochos poludōros enantiē ēlthe theousa

395Andromachē thugatēr megalētoros Ēetiōnos

English · Butler

Hektor hurried from the house when she had done speaking, and went down the streets by the same way that he had come. When he had gone through the city and had reached the Scaean gates through which he would go out on to the plain, his wife came running towards him, Andromache, daughter of great Eetion who ruled in Thebe under the wooded slopes of Mount Plakos, and was king of the Cilicians. His daughter had married Hektor, and now came to

Homeric Greek

Ἠετίων ὃς ἔναιεν ὑπὸ Πλάκῳ ὑληέσσῃ

Θήβῃ Ὑποπλακίῃ Κιλίκεσσ' ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων:

τοῦ περ δὴ θυγάτηρ ἔχεθ' Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ.

ἥ οἱ ἔπειτ' ἤντησ', ἅμα δ' ἀμφίπολος κίεν αὐτῇ

400παῖδ' ἐπὶ κόλπῳ ἔχουσ' ἀταλάφρονα νήπιον αὔτως

Transliteration

Ēetiōn hos enaien hupo Plakōi hulēessēi

Thēbēi Hupoplakiēi Kilikess' andressin anassōn:

tou per dē thugatēr echeth' Hektori chalkokorustēi.

hē hoi epeit' ēntēs', hama d' amphipolos kien autēi

400paid' epi kolpōi echous' atalaphrona nēpion autōs

English · Butler

meet him with a nurse who carried his little child in her bosom - a mere babe. Hektor's darling son, and lovely as a star. Hektor had named him Skamandrios, but the people called him Astyanax, for his father stood alone as chief guardian of Ilion. Hektor smiled as he looked upon the boy, but he did not speak, and Andromache stood by him weeping and taking his hand in her own.

Homeric Greek

Ἑκτορίδην ἀγαπητὸν ἀλίγκιον ἀστέρι καλῷ,

τόν ῥ' Ἕκτωρ καλέεσκε Σκαμάνδριον, αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι

Ἀστυάνακτ': οἶος γὰρ ἐρύετο Ἴλιον Ἕκτωρ.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν μείδησεν ἰδὼν ἐς παῖδα σιωπῇ:

405Ἀνδρομάχη δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρίστατο δάκρυ χέουσα,

Transliteration

Hektoridēn agapēton alinkion asteri kalōi,

ton rh' Hektōr kaleeske Skamandrion, autar hoi alloi

Astuanakt': oios gar erueto Ilion Hektōr.

ētoi ho men meidēsen idōn es paida siōpēi:

405Andromachē de hoi anchi paristato dakru cheousa,

English · Butler

"Dear husband," said she, "your valor will bring you to destruction; think on your infant son, and on my hapless self who ere long shall be your widow - for the Achaeans will set upon you in a body and kill you. It would be better for me, should I

Homeric Greek

ἔν τ' ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε:

δαιμόνιε φθίσει σε τὸ σὸν μένος, οὐδ' ἐλεαίρεις

παῖδά τε νηπίαχον καὶ ἔμ' ἄμμορον, ἣ τάχα χήρη

σεῦ ἔσομαι: τάχα γάρ σε κατακτανέουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

410πάντες ἐφορμηθέντες: ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη

Transliteration

en t' ara hoi phu cheiri epos t' ephat' ek t' onomaze:

daimonie phthisei se to son menos, oud' eleaireis

paida te nēpiachon kai em' ammoron, hē tacha chērē

seu esomai: tacha gar se kataktaneousin Achaioi

410pantes ephormēthentes: emoi de ke kerdion eiē

English · Butler

lose you, to lie dead and buried, for I shall have nothing left to comfort me when you are gone, save only sorrow. I have neither father nor mother now. Achilles slew my father when he sacked Thebe the goodly city of the Cilicians. He slew him, but did not for very shame despoil him;

Homeric Greek

σεῦ ἀφαμαρτούσῃ χθόνα δύμεναι: οὐ γὰρ ἔτ' ἄλλη

ἔσται θαλπωρὴ ἐπεὶ ἂν σύ γε πότμον ἐπίσπῃς

ἀλλ' ἄχε': οὐδέ μοι ἔστι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.

ἤτοι γὰρ πατέρ' ἁμὸν ἀπέκτανε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

415ἐκ δὲ πόλιν πέρσεν Κιλίκων εὖ ναιετάουσαν

Transliteration

seu aphamartousēi chthona dumenai: ou gar et' allē

estai thalpōrē epei an su ge potmon epispēis

all' ache': oude moi esti patēr kai potnia mētēr.

ētoi gar pater' hamon apektane dios Achilleus,

415ek de polin persen Kilikōn eu naietaousan

English · Butler

when he had burned him in his wondrous armor, he raised a barrow over his ashes and the mountain nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, planted a grove of elms about his tomb. I had seven brothers in my father's house, but on the same day they all went within the house of Hades.

Homeric Greek

Θήβην ὑψίπυλον: κατὰ δ' ἔκτανεν Ἠετίωνα,

οὐδέ μιν ἐξενάριξε, σεβάσσατο γὰρ τό γε θυμῷ,

ἀλλ' ἄρα μιν κατέκηε σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισιν

ἠδ' ἐπὶ σῆμ' ἔχεεν: περὶ δὲ πτελέας ἐφύτευσαν

420νύμφαι ὀρεστιάδες κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.

Transliteration

Thēbēn hupsipulon: kata d' ektanen Ēetiōna,

oude min exenarixe, sebassato gar to ge thumōi,

all' ara min katekēe sun entesi daidaleoisin

ēd' epi sēm' echeen: peri de pteleas ephuteusan

420numphai orestiades kourai Dios aigiochoio.

English · Butler

Achilles killed them as they were with their sheep and cattle. My mother - her who had been queen of all the land under Mount Plakos - he brought hither with

Homeric Greek

οἳ δέ μοι ἑπτὰ κασίγνητοι ἔσαν ἐν μεγάροισιν

οἳ μὲν πάντες ἰῷ κίον ἤματι Ἄϊδος εἴσω:

πάντας γὰρ κατέπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

βουσὶν ἐπ' εἰλιπόδεσσι καὶ ἀργεννῇς ὀί̈εσσι.

425μητέρα δ', ἣ βασίλευεν ὑπὸ Πλάκῳ ὑληέσσῃ,

Transliteration

hoi de moi hepta kasignētoi esan en megaroisin

hoi men pantes iōi kion ēmati Aïdos eisō:

pantas gar katepephne podarkēs dios Achilleus

bousin ep' eilipodessi kai argennēis oïessi.

425mētera d', hē basileuen hupo Plakōi hulēessēi,

English · Butler

the spoil, and freed her for a great sum, but the archer - queen Artemis took her in the house of your father. Nay - Hektor - you who to me

Homeric Greek

τὴν ἐπεὶ ἂρ δεῦρ' ἤγαγ' ἅμ' ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσιν,

ἂψ ὅ γε τὴν ἀπέλυσε λαβὼν ἀπερείσι' ἄποινα,

πατρὸς δ' ἐν μεγάροισι βάλ' Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα.

Ἕκτορ ἀτὰρ σύ μοί ἐσσι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

430ἠδὲ κασίγνητος, σὺ δέ μοι θαλερὸς παρακοίτης:

Transliteration

tēn epei ar deur' ēgag' ham' alloisi kteatessin,

aps ho ge tēn apeluse labōn apereisi' apoina,

patros d' en megaroisi bal' Artemis iocheaira.

Hektor atar su moi essi patēr kai potnia mētēr

430ēde kasignētos, su de moi thaleros parakoitēs:

English · Butler

are father, mother, brother, and dear husband - have mercy upon me; stay here upon this wall; make not your child fatherless, and your wife a widow; as for the host, place them near the fig-tree, where the city can be best scaled, and the wall is weakest. Thrice have the bravest

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ἐλέαιρε καὶ αὐτοῦ μίμν' ἐπὶ πύργῳ,

μὴ παῖδ' ὀρφανικὸν θήῃς χήρην τε γυναῖκα:

λαὸν δὲ στῆσον παρ' ἐρινεόν, ἔνθα μάλιστα

ἀμβατός ἐστι πόλις καὶ ἐπίδρομον ἔπλετο τεῖχος.

435τρὶς γὰρ τῇ γ' ἐλθόντες ἐπειρήσανθ' οἱ ἄριστοι

Transliteration

all' age nun eleaire kai autou mimn' epi purgōi,

mē paid' orphanikon thēēis chērēn te gunaika:

laon de stēson par' erineon, entha malista

ambatos esti polis kai epidromon epleto teichos.

435tris gar tēi g' elthontes epeirēsanth' hoi aristoi

English · Butler

of them come thither and assailed it, under the two Ajaxes, Idomeneus, the sons of Atreus, and the brave son

Homeric Greek

ἀμφ' Αἴαντε δύω καὶ ἀγακλυτὸν Ἰδομενῆα

ἠδ' ἀμφ' Ἀτρεί̈δας καὶ Τυδέος ἄλκιμον υἱόν:

ἤ πού τίς σφιν ἔνισπε θεοπροπίων ἐὺ̈ εἰδώς,

ἤ νυ καὶ αὐτῶν θυμὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει.

440τὴν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:

Transliteration

amph' Aiante duō kai agakluton Idomenēa

ēd' amph' Atreïdas kai Tudeos alkimon huion:

ē pou tis sphin enispe theopropiōn eü eidōs,

ē nu kai autōn thumos epotrunei kai anōgei.

440tēn d' aute proseeipe megas koruthaiolos Hektōr:

English · Butler

of Tydeus, either of their own bidding, or because some soothsayer had told them." And Hektor answered, "Wife, I too have thought upon all this, but with what face should I look upon the Trojans, men or women, if I shirked battle like a coward?

Homeric Greek

ἦ καὶ ἐμοὶ τάδε πάντα μέλει γύναι: ἀλλὰ μάλ' αἰνῶς

αἰδέομαι Τρῶας καὶ Τρῳάδας ἑλκεσιπέπλους,

αἴ κε κακὸς ὣς νόσφιν ἀλυσκάζω πολέμοιο:

οὐδέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν, ἐπεὶ μάθον ἔμμεναι ἐσθλὸς

445αἰεὶ καὶ πρώτοισι μετὰ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι

Transliteration

ē kai emoi tade panta melei gunai: alla mal' ainōs

aideomai Trōas kai Trōiadas helkesipeplous,

ai ke kakos hōs nosphin aluskazō polemoio:

oude me thumos anōgen, epei mathon emmenai esthlos

445aiei kai prōtoisi meta Trōessi machesthai

English · Butler

And Hektor answered, "Wife, I too have thought upon all this, but with what face should I look upon the Trojans, men or women, if I shirked battle like a coward? I cannot do so: I know nothing save to fight bravely in the forefront of the Trojan host and win renown alike for my father and myself. Well do I know that the day will surely come when mighty Ilion shall be destroyed with Priam

Homeric Greek

ἀρνύμενος πατρός τε μέγα κλέος ἠδ' ἐμὸν αὐτοῦ.

εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν:

ἔσσεται ἦμαρ ὅτ' ἄν ποτ' ὀλώλῃ Ἴλιος ἱρὴ

καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο.

450ἀλλ' οὔ μοι Τρώων τόσσον μέλει ἄλγος ὀπίσσω,

Transliteration

arnumenos patros te mega kleos ēd' emon autou.

eu gar egō tode oida kata phrena kai kata thumon:

essetai ēmar hot' an pot' olōlēi Ilios hirē

kai Priamos kai laos eümmeliō Priamoio.

450all' ou moi Trōōn tosson melei algos opissō,

English · Butler

and Priam's people, but I grieve for none of these - not even for Hecuba, nor King Priam, nor for my brothers many and brave who may fall in the dust before their foes - for none of these do I grieve as for yourself

Homeric Greek

οὔτ' αὐτῆς Ἑκάβης οὔτε Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

οὔτε κασιγνήτων, οἵ κεν πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ

ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ὑπ' ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν,

ὅσσον σεῦ, ὅτε κέν τις Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

455δακρυόεσσαν ἄγηται ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας:

Transliteration

out' autēs Hekabēs oute Priamoio anaktos

oute kasignētōn, hoi ken polees te kai esthloi

en koniēisi pesoien hup' andrasi dusmeneessin,

hosson seu, hote ken tis Achaiōn chalkochitōnōn

455dakruoessan agētai eleutheron ēmar apouras:

English · Butler

when the day shall come on which some one of the Achaeans shall rob you for ever of your freedom, and bear you weeping away. It may be that you will have to ply the loom in Argos at the bidding of a mistress, or to fetch water from the springs Messeis or Hypereia, treated brutally by some cruel task-master;

Homeric Greek

καί κεν ἐν Ἄργει ἐοῦσα πρὸς ἄλλης ἱστὸν ὑφαίνοις,

καί κεν ὕδωρ φορέοις Μεσσηί̈δος ἢ Ὑπερείης

πόλλ' ἀεκαζομένη, κρατερὴ δ' ἐπικείσετ' ἀνάγκη:

καί ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν ἰδὼν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσαν:

460Ἕκτορος ἥδε γυνὴ ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι

Transliteration

kai ken en Argei eousa pros allēs histon huphainois,

kai ken hudōr phoreois Messēïdos ē Hupereiēs

poll' aekazomenē, kraterē d' epikeiset' anankē:

kai pote tis eipēisin idōn kata dakru cheousan:

460Hektoros hēde gunē hos aristeueske machesthai

English · Butler

then will one say who sees you weeping, ‘She was wife to Hektor, the bravest warrior among the Trojans during the war before Ilion.’ On this your tears will break forth anew for him who would have put away the day of captivity from you.

Homeric Greek

Τρώων ἱπποδάμων ὅτε Ἴλιον ἀμφεμάχοντο.

ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει: σοὶ δ' αὖ νέον ἔσσεται ἄλγος

χήτεϊ τοιοῦδ' ἀνδρὸς ἀμύνειν δούλιον ἦμαρ.

ἀλλά με τεθνηῶτα χυτὴ κατὰ γαῖα καλύπτοι

465πρίν γέ τι σῆς τε βοῆς σοῦ θ' ἑλκηθμοῖο πυθέσθαι.

Transliteration

Trōōn hippodamōn hote Ilion amphemachonto.

hōs pote tis ereei: soi d' au neon essetai algos

chēteï toioud' andros amunein doulion ēmar.

alla me tethnēōta chutē kata gaia kaluptoi

465prin ge ti sēs te boēs sou th' helkēthmoio puthesthai.

English · Butler

May I lie dead under the barrow that is heaped over my body ere I hear your cry as they carry you into bondage."

Homeric Greek

ὣς εἰπὼν οὗ παιδὸς ὀρέξατο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ:

ἂψ δ' ὃ πάϊς πρὸς κόλπον ἐϋζώνοιο τιθήνης

ἐκλίνθη ἰάχων πατρὸς φίλου ὄψιν ἀτυχθεὶς

ταρβήσας χαλκόν τε ἰδὲ λόφον ἱππιοχαίτην,

470δεινὸν ἀπ' ἀκροτάτης κόρυθος νεύοντα νοήσας.

Transliteration

hōs eipōn hou paidos orexato phaidimos Hektōr:

aps d' ho païs pros kolpon eüzōnoio tithēnēs

eklinthē iachōn patros philou opsin atuchtheis

tarbēsas chalkon te ide lophon hippiochaitēn,

470deinon ap' akrotatēs koruthos neuonta noēsas.

English · Butler

He stretched his arms towards his child, but the boy cried and nestled in his nurse's bosom, scared at the sight of his father's armor, and at the horse-hair plume that nodded fiercely from his helmet. His father and mother laughed to see him, but Hektor took the helmet from his head and laid it all gleaming upon the ground. Then he

Homeric Greek

ἐκ δ' ἐγέλασσε πατήρ τε φίλος καὶ πότνια μήτηρ:

αὐτίκ' ἀπὸ κρατὸς κόρυθ' εἵλετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,

καὶ τὴν μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ παμφανόωσαν:

αὐτὰρ ὅ γ' ὃν φίλον υἱὸν ἐπεὶ κύσε πῆλέ τε χερσὶν

475εἶπε δ' ἐπευξάμενος Διί τ' ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσι:

Transliteration

ek d' egelasse patēr te philos kai potnia mētēr:

autik' apo kratos koruth' heileto phaidimos Hektōr,

kai tēn men katethēken epi chthoni pamphanoōsan:

autar ho g' hon philon huion epei kuse pēle te chersin

475eipe d' epeuxamenos Dii t' alloisin te theoisi:

English · Butler

took his darling child, kissed him, and dandled him in his arms, praying over him the while to Zeus and to all the gods. "Zeus," he cried, "grant that this my child may be even as myself, chief among the Trojans;

Homeric Greek

Ζεῦ ἄλλοι τε θεοὶ δότε δὴ καὶ τόνδε γενέσθαι

παῖδ' ἐμὸν ὡς καὶ ἐγώ περ ἀριπρεπέα Τρώεσσιν,

ὧδε βίην τ' ἀγαθόν, καὶ Ἰλίου ἶφι ἀνάσσειν:

καί ποτέ τις εἴποι πατρός γ' ὅδε πολλὸν ἀμείνων

480ἐκ πολέμου ἀνιόντα: φέροι δ' ἔναρα βροτόεντα

Transliteration

Zeu alloi te theoi dote dē kai tonde genesthai

paid' emon hōs kai egō per ariprepea Trōessin,

hōde biēn t' agathon, kai Iliou iphi anassein:

kai pote tis eipoi patros g' hode pollon ameinōn

480ek polemou anionta: pheroi d' enara brotoenta

English · Butler

let him be not less excellent in strength, and let him rule Ilion with his might. Then may one say of him as he comes from battle, ‘The son is far better than the father.’ May he bring back the blood-stained spoils of him whom he has laid

Homeric Greek

κτείνας δήϊον ἄνδρα, χαρείη δὲ φρένα μήτηρ.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἀλόχοιο φίλης ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκε

παῖδ' ἑόν: ἣ δ' ἄρα μιν κηώδεϊ δέξατο κόλπῳ

δακρυόεν γελάσασα: πόσις δ' ἐλέησε νοήσας,

485χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε:

Transliteration

kteinas dēïon andra, chareiē de phrena mētēr.

hōs eipōn alochoio philēs en chersin ethēke

paid' heon: hē d' ara min kēōdeï dexato kolpōi

dakruoen gelasasa: posis d' eleēse noēsas,

485cheiri te min katerexen epos t' ephat' ek t' onomaze:

English · Butler

low, and let his mother's heart be glad.’" With this he laid the child again in the arms of his wife, who took him to her own soft bosom, smiling through her tears. As her husband watched her his heart yearned towards her and he caressed her fondly, saying, "My own wife, do not take these things too bitterly to heart. No one can hurry me down to Hades before

Homeric Greek

δαιμονίη μή μοί τι λίην ἀκαχίζεο θυμῷ:

οὐ γάρ τίς μ' ὑπὲρ αἶσαν ἀνὴρ Ἄϊδι προϊάψει:

μοῖραν δ' οὔ τινά φημι πεφυγμένον ἔμμεναι ἀνδρῶν,

οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ἐπὴν τὰ πρῶτα γένηται.

490ἀλλ' εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σ' αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε

Transliteration

daimoniē mē moi ti liēn akachizeo thumōi:

ou gar tis m' huper aisan anēr Aïdi proïapsei:

moiran d' ou tina phēmi pephugmenon emmenai andrōn,

ou kakon oude men esthlon, epēn ta prōta genētai.

490all' eis oikon iousa ta s' autēs erga komize

English · Butler

my time, but if a man's hour is come, be he brave or be he coward, there is no escape for him when he has once been born. Go, then, within the house, and busy yourself with your daily duties, your loom, your distaff, and the ordering of your servants; for war is man's

Homeric Greek

ἱστόν τ' ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε

ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι: πόλεμος δ' ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει

πᾶσι, μάλιστα δ' ἐμοί, τοὶ Ἰλίῳ ἐγγεγάασιν.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κόρυθ' εἵλετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

495ἵππουριν: ἄλοχος δὲ φίλη οἶκον δὲ βεβήκει

Transliteration

histon t' ēlakatēn te, kai amphipoloisi keleue

ergon epoichesthai: polemos d' andressi melēsei

pasi, malista d' emoi, toi Iliōi engegaasin.

hōs ara phōnēsas koruth' heileto phaidimos Hektōr

495hippourin: alochos de philē oikon de bebēkei

English · Butler

matter, and mine above all others of them that have been born in Ilion." He took his plumed helmet from the ground, and his wife went back again to her house, weeping bitterly and often looking back towards him. When she reached her home she found her maidens within, and bade them all join in her lament;

Homeric Greek

ἐντροπαλιζομένη, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα.

αἶψα δ' ἔπειθ' ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας

Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο, κιχήσατο δ' ἔνδοθι πολλὰς

ἀμφιπόλους, τῇσιν δὲ γόον πάσῃσιν ἐνῶρσεν.

500αἳ μὲν ἔτι ζωὸν γόον Ἕκτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ:

Transliteration

entropalizomenē, thaleron kata dakru cheousa.

aipsa d' epeith' hikane domous eu naietaontas

Hektoros androphonoio, kichēsato d' endothi pollas

amphipolous, tēisin de goon pasēisin enōrsen.

500hai men eti zōon goon Hektora hōi eni oikōi:

English · Butler

so they mourned Hektor in his own house though he was yet alive, for they deemed that they should never see him return safe from

Homeric Greek

οὐ γάρ μιν ἔτ' ἔφαντο ὑπότροπον ἐκ πολέμοιο

ἵξεσθαι προφυγόντα μένος καὶ χεῖρας Ἀχαιῶν.

οὐδὲ Πάρις δήθυνεν ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι δόμοισιν,

ἀλλ' ὅ γ', ἐπεὶ κατέδυ κλυτὰ τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,

505σεύατ' ἔπειτ' ἀνὰ ἄστυ ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πεποιθώς.

Transliteration

ou gar min et' ephanto hupotropon ek polemoio

hixesthai prophugonta menos kai cheiras Achaiōn.

oude Paris dēthunen en hupsēloisi domoisin,

all' ho g', epei katedu kluta teuchea poikila chalkōi,

505seuat' epeit' ana astu posi kraipnoisi pepoithōs.

English · Butler

battle, and from the furious hands of the Achaeans. Paris did not remain long in his house. He donned his goodly armor overlaid with bronze, and hastened through the city as fast as his feet could take him. As a horse, stabled and fed, breaks loose and

Homeric Greek

ὡς δ' ὅτε τις στατὸς ἵππος ἀκοστήσας ἐπὶ φάτνῃ

δεσμὸν ἀπορρήξας θείῃ πεδίοιο κροαίνων

εἰωθὼς λούεσθαι ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖο

κυδιόων: ὑψοῦ δὲ κάρη ἔχει, ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖται

510ὤμοις ἀί̈σσονται: ὃ δ' ἀγλαί̈ηφι πεποιθὼς

Transliteration

hōs d' hote tis statos hippos akostēsas epi phatnēi

desmon aporrēxas theiēi pedioio kroainōn

eiōthōs louesthai eürreios potamoio

kudioōn: hupsou de karē echei, amphi de chaitai

510ōmois aïssontai: ho d' aglaïēphi pepoithōs

English · Butler

gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont to bathe in the fair-flowing river - he holds his head high, and his mane streams upon his shoulders as he exults in his strength and flies like the wind to

Homeric Greek

ῥίμφά ἑ γοῦνα φέρει μετά τ' ἤθεα καὶ νομὸν ἵππων:

ὣς υἱὸς Πριάμοιο Πάρις κατὰ Περγάμου ἄκρης

τεύχεσι παμφαίνων ὥς τ' ἠλέκτωρ ἐβεβήκει

καγχαλόων, ταχέες δὲ πόδες φέρον: αἶψα δ' ἔπειτα

515Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔτετμεν ἀδελφεὸν εὖτ' ἄρ' ἔμελλε

Transliteration

rhimpha he gouna pherei meta t' ēthea kai nomon hippōn:

hōs huios Priamoio Paris kata Pergamou akrēs

teuchesi pamphainōn hōs t' ēlektōr ebebēkei

kanchaloōn, tachees de podes pheron: aipsa d' epeita

515Hektora dion etetmen adelpheon eut' ar' emelle

English · Butler

the haunts and feeding ground of the mares - even so went forth Paris from high Pergamos, gleaming like sunlight in his armor, and he laughed aloud as he sped swiftly on his way. Forthwith he came upon his brother Hektor, who was then turning away from the place where he had held converse with his wife, and he was himself the first to speak.

Homeric Greek

στρέψεσθ' ἐκ χώρης ὅθι ᾗ ὀάριζε γυναικί.

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής:

ἠθεῖ' ἦ μάλα δή σε καὶ ἐσσύμενον κατερύκω

δηθύνων, οὐδ' ἦλθον ἐναίσιμον ὡς ἐκέλευες;

520τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ:

Transliteration

strepsesth' ek chōrēs hothi hēi oarize gunaiki.

ton proteros proseeipen Alexandros theoeidēs:

ēthei' ē mala dē se kai essumenon katerukō

dēthunōn, oud' ēlthon enaisimon hōs ekeleues;

520ton d' apameibomenos prosephē koruthaiolos Hektōr:

English · Butler

"Sir," said he, "I fear that I have kept you waiting when you are in haste, and have not come as quickly as you bade me." "My good brother," answered Hektor, you fight bravely, and no man with any justice can make light of your doings in battle.

Homeric Greek

δαιμόνι' οὐκ ἄν τίς τοι ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐναίσιμος εἴη

ἔργον ἀτιμήσειε μάχης, ἐπεὶ ἄλκιμός ἐσσι:

ἀλλὰ ἑκὼν μεθιεῖς τε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλεις: τὸ δ' ἐμὸν κῆρ

ἄχνυται ἐν θυμῷ, ὅθ' ὑπὲρ σέθεν αἴσχε' ἀκούω

525πρὸς Τρώων, οἳ ἔχουσι πολὺν πόνον εἵνεκα σεῖο.

Transliteration

daimoni' ouk an tis toi anēr hos enaisimos eiē

ergon atimēseie machēs, epei alkimos essi:

alla hekōn methieis te kai ouk etheleis: to d' emon kēr

achnutai en thumōi, hoth' huper sethen aische' akouō

525pros Trōōn, hoi echousi polun ponon heineka seio.

English · Butler

"My good brother," answered Hektor, you fight bravely, and no man with any justice can make light of your doings in battle. But you are careless and willfully remiss. It grieves me to the heart to hear the ill that the Trojans speak about you, for they have suffered much toil on your account. Let us be going, and we will make things right hereafter, should Zeus

Homeric Greek

ἀλλ' ἴομεν: τὰ δ' ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσόμεθ', αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς

δώῃ ἐπουρανίοισι θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσι

κρητῆρα στήσασθαι ἐλεύθερον ἐν μεγάροισιν

ἐκ Τροίης ἐλάσαντας ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.

Transliteration

all' iomen: ta d' opisthen aressometh', ai ke pothi Zeus

dōēi epouranioisi theois aieigenetēisi

krētēra stēsasthai eleutheron en megaroisin

ek Troiēs elasantas eüknēmidas Achaious.

English · Butler

grant us to set the cup of our deliverance before ever-living gods of heaven in our own homes, when we have chased the Achaeans from Troy."