Iliad, Book 13: Poseidon Intervenes

1Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα νηυσὶ πέλασσε,

τοὺς μὲν ἔα παρὰ τῇσι πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀϊζὺν

νωλεμέως, αὐτὸς δὲ πάλιν τρέπεν ὄσσε φαεινὼ

νόσφιν ἐφʼ ἱπποπόλων Θρῃκῶν καθορώμενος αἶαν

5Μυσῶν τʼ ἀγχεμάχων καὶ ἀγαυῶν ἱππημολγῶν

γλακτοφάγων Ἀβίων τε δικαιοτάτων ἀνθρώπων.

ἐς Τροίην δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἔτι τρέπεν ὄσσε φαεινώ·

οὐ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀθανάτων τινα ἔλπετο ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν

ἐλθόντʼ ἢ Τρώεσσιν ἀρηξέμεν ἢ Δαναοῖσιν.

1Once Zeus had brought the Trojans and Hector close to the ships,

he left them there to endure toil and misery

without respite, while he turned his shining eyes away again,

gazing far off over the land of the horse-rearing Thracians,

5the close-fighting Mysians and the famed mare-milkers,

the milk-fed people, and the Abii, most just of men.

He no longer turned his shining eyes toward Troy at all,

for in his heart he never expected any immortal

to come and help either the Trojans or the Danaans.

10οὐδʼ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε κρείων ἐνοσίχθων·

καὶ γὰρ ὃ θαυμάζων ἧστο πτόλεμόν τε μάχην τε

ὑψοῦ ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτης κορυφῆς Σάμου ὑληέσσης

Θρηϊκίης· ἔνθεν γὰρ ἐφαίνετο πᾶσα μὲν Ἴδη,

φαίνετο δὲ Πριάμοιο πόλις καὶ νῆες Ἀχαιῶν.

15ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἕζετʼ ἰών, ἐλέαιρε δʼ Ἀχαιοὺς

Τρωσὶν δαμναμένους, Διὶ δὲ κρατερῶς ἐνεμέσσα.

10But the lordly Earth-shaker was not blind to what was happening.

He too sat marveling at the war and battle

high on the topmost peak of wooded Samos

in Thrace, for from there all Ida could be seen,

and Priam’s city and the Achaeans’ ships were visible.

15There he sat after rising from the sea, and pitied the Achaeans,

beaten down by the Trojans, and fiercely resented Zeus.

17αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὄρεος κατεβήσετο παιπαλόεντος

κραιπνὰ ποσὶ προβιβάς· τρέμε δʼ οὔρεα μακρὰ καὶ ὕλη

ποσσὶν ὑπʼ ἀθανάτοισι Ποσειδάωνος ἰόντος.

20τρὶς μὲν ὀρέξατʼ ἰών, τὸ δὲ τέτρατον ἵκετο τέκμωρ

Αἰγάς, ἔνθα δέ οἱ κλυτὰ δώματα βένθεσι λίμνης

χρύσεα μαρμαίροντα τετεύχαται ἄφθιτα αἰεί.

ἔνθʼ ἐλθὼν ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι τιτύσκετο χαλκόποδʼ ἵππω

ὠκυπέτα χρυσέῃσιν ἐθείρῃσιν κομόωντε,

25χρυσὸν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔδυνε περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δʼ ἱμάσθλην

χρυσείην εὔτυκτον, ἑοῦ δʼ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου,

βῆ δʼ ἐλάαν ἐπὶ κύματʼ· ἄταλλε δὲ κήτεʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ

πάντοθεν ἐκ κευθμῶν, οὐδʼ ἠγνοίησεν ἄνακτα·

γηθοσύνῃ δὲ θάλασσα διίστατο· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο

30ῥίμφα μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ὑπένερθε διαίνετο χάλκεος ἄξων·

τὸν δʼ ἐς Ἀχαιῶν νῆας ἐΰσκαρθμοι φέρον ἵπποι.

17At once he descended from the rugged mountain,

striding swiftly on; the long mountains and forests trembled

beneath the immortal feet of Poseidon as he went.

20Three strides he took, and with the fourth he reached his goal,

Aegae, where his glorious halls in the depths of the sea,

golden and gleaming, stand forever imperishable.

Arriving there, he harnessed beneath his chariot two bronze-footed horses,

swift-flying, their golden manes streaming.

25He clothed his body in gold and took up a golden

well-made whip, then mounted his own chariot.

He drove out over the waves. Sea creatures frolicked beneath him,

leaping from their lairs on every side, and none failed to know its lord.

The sea parted joyfully, and the horses flew

30very swiftly; the bronze axle beneath them was not even wet.

The high-stepping horses bore him to the Achaeans’ ships.

32ἔστι δέ τι σπέος εὐρὺ βαθείης βένθεσι λίμνης

μεσσηγὺς Τενέδοιο καὶ Ἴμβρου παιπαλοέσσης·

ἔνθʼ ἵππους ἔστησε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

35λύσας ἐξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δʼ ἀμβρόσιον βάλεν εἶδαρ

ἔδμεναι· ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶ πέδας ἔβαλε χρυσείας

ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν

νοστήσαντα ἄνακτα· ὃ δʼ ἐς στρατὸν ᾤχετʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

32There is a broad cave in the depths of the deep sea,

midway between Tenedos and rugged Imbros.

There Poseidon the Earth-shaker halted his horses,

35unyoked them from the chariot, and set ambrosial fodder beside them

to eat. Around their feet he cast golden fetters,

unbreakable and unloosable, so they would remain securely there

and await their lord’s return. Then he went to the Achaean camp.

39Τρῶες δὲ φλογὶ ἶσοι ἀολλέες ἠὲ θυέλλῃ

40Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ ἄμοτον μεμαῶτες ἕποντο

ἄβρομοι αὐΐαχοι· ἔλποντο δὲ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

αἱρήσειν, κτενέειν δὲ παρʼ αὐτόθι πάντας ἀρίστους.

ἀλλὰ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος

Ἀργείους ὄτρυνε βαθείης ἐξ ἁλὸς ἐλθὼν

45εἰσάμενος Κάλχαντι δέμας καὶ ἀτειρέα φωνήν·

39The Trojans, massed like flame or storm wind,

40followed Priam’s son Hector with relentless eagerness,

thundering with piercing cries. They expected to seize

the Achaeans’ ships and kill all their best men beside them.

But Poseidon, holder of the earth and shaker of the ground,

came from the deep sea and roused the Argives,

45assuming Calchas’ form and his tireless voice.

46Αἴαντε πρώτω προσέφη μεμαῶτε καὶ αὐτώ·

Αἴαντε σφὼ μέν τε σαώσετε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

ἀλκῆς μνησαμένω, μὴ δὲ κρυεροῖο φόβοιο.

ἄλλῃ μὲν γὰρ ἔγωγʼ οὐ δείδια χεῖρας ἀάπτους

50Τρώων, οἳ μέγα τεῖχος ὑπερκατέβησαν ὁμίλῳ·

ἕξουσιν γὰρ πάντας ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί·

τῇ δὲ δὴ αἰνότατον περιδείδια μή τι πάθωμεν,

ᾗ ῥʼ ὅ γʼ ὁ λυσσώδης φλογὶ εἴκελος ἡγεμονεύει

Ἕκτωρ, ὃς Διὸς εὔχετʼ ἐρισθενέος πάϊς εἶναι.

55σφῶϊν δʼ ὧδε θεῶν τις ἐνὶ φρεσὶ ποιήσειεν

αὐτώ θʼ ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους·

τώ κε καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἐρωήσαιτʼ ἀπὸ νηῶν

ὠκυπόρων, εἰ καί μιν Ὀλύμπιος αὐτὸς ἐγείρει.

ἦ καὶ σκηπανίῳ γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος

60ἀμφοτέρω κεκοπὼς <!-- keko/pwn in 1920 reprint --> πλῆσεν μένεος κρατεροῖο,

γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρὰ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.

αὐτὸς δʼ ὥς τʼ ἴρηξ ὠκύπτερος ὦρτο πέτεσθαι,

ὅς ῥά τʼ ἀπʼ αἰγίλιπος πέτρης περιμήκεος ἀρθεὶς

ὁρμήσῃ πεδίοιο διώκειν ὄρνεον ἄλλο,

65ὣς ἀπὸ τῶν ἤϊξε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.

46He spoke first to the two Ajaxes, both already eager:

“You two, Ajaxes, will save the Achaean host

if you remember your battle-strength, not chilling rout.

Elsewhere I do not fear the irresistible hands

50of the Trojans who have crossed the great wall in a mass;

the well-greaved Achaeans will hold them all.

But here I am terribly afraid some disaster may befall us,

where that frenzied man, like flame, leads them—

Hector, who boasts he is the son of mighty Zeus.

55If only some god would put it in your two minds

to stand firm yourselves and urge the others on,

then you could drive him from the swift-running ships, for all his fury,

even if the Olympian himself is rousing him.”

So spoke Poseidon, holder of the earth and shaker of the ground,

60and struck both men with his staff, filling them with fierce force.

He made their limbs light—their feet below, their hands above.

Then he himself shot away like a swift-winged hawk

that rises from a steep and towering cliff

and darts across the plain to chase another bird;

65so Poseidon the Earth-shaker darted from them.

66τοῖιν δʼ ἔγνω πρόσθεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Αἴαντα προσέφη Τελαμώνιον υἱόν·

Αἶαν ἐπεί τις νῶϊ θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσι

μάντεϊ εἰδόμενος κέλεται παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχεσθαι,

70οὐδʼ ὅ γε Κάλχας ἐστὶ θεοπρόπος οἰωνιστής·

ἴχνια γὰρ μετόπισθε ποδῶν ἠδὲ κνημάων

ῥεῖʼ ἔγνων ἀπιόντος· ἀρίγνωτοι δὲ θεοί περ·

καὶ δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι

μᾶλλον ἐφορμᾶται πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,

75μαιμώωσι δʼ ἔνερθε πόδες καὶ χεῖρες ὕπερθε.

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

οὕτω νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ περὶ δούρατι χεῖρες ἄαπτοι

μαιμῶσιν, καί μοι μένος ὤρορε, νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν

ἔσσυμαι ἀμφοτέροισι· μενοινώω δὲ καὶ οἶος

80Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ ἄμοτον μεμαῶτι μάχεσθαι.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον

χάρμῃ γηθόσυνοι, τήν σφιν θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ·

66Swift Ajax son of Oileus recognized him first

and at once spoke to Ajax, Telamon’s son:

“Ajax, one of the gods who hold Olympus

has taken a seer’s form and is commanding us to fight beside the ships.

70He is not Calchas, the prophet and reader of birds;

From behind I easily recognized him by his feet and lower legs

as he went away; gods are unmistakable.

And now the spirit in my own dear breast

surges more fiercely to wage war and fight;

75my feet below and hands above are yearning for it.”

Telamonian Ajax answered him:

“So now my invincible hands are yearning around my spear,

my force has risen, and both feet beneath me

are surging forward. Even alone I long

80to fight Priam’s son Hector in all his fury.”

So they spoke these words to one another,

rejoicing in the battle spirit the god had cast into their hearts.

83τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ὄπιθεν γαιήοχος ὦρσεν Ἀχαιούς,

οἳ παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἀνέψυχον φίλον ἦτορ.

85τῶν ῥʼ ἅμα τʼ ἀργαλέῳ καμάτῳ φίλα γυῖα λέλυντο,

καί σφιν ἄχος κατὰ θυμὸν ἐγίγνετο δερκομένοισι

Τρῶας, τοὶ μέγα τεῖχος ὑπερκατέβησαν ὁμίλῳ.

τοὺς οἵ γʼ εἰσορόωντες ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυα λεῖβον·

οὐ γὰρ ἔφαν φεύξεσθαι ὑπʼ ἐκ κακοῦ· ἀλλʼ ἐνοσίχθων

90ῥεῖα μετεισάμενος κρατερὰς ὄτρυνε φάλαγγας.

Τεῦκρον ἔπι πρῶτον καὶ Λήϊτον ἦλθε κελεύων

Πηνέλεών θʼ ἥρωα Θόαντά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε

Μηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·

τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

83Meanwhile, behind them, the holder of the earth roused the Achaeans

who were catching their breath beside the swift ships.

85Their dear limbs were slack with exhausting labor,

and grief came over their spirits as they watched

the Trojans who had crossed the great wall in a mass.

Looking upon them, they shed tears beneath their brows,

for they did not think they would escape from under the disaster. But the Earth-shaker

90easily changed his form and roused the strong ranks.

He came first to Teucer and Leitus, urging them on,

and the hero Peneleos, Thoas and Deipyrus,

Meriones and Antilochus, masters of the war cry.

Urging them on, he addressed them with winged words:

95αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι, κοῦροι νέοι· ὔμμιν ἔγωγε

μαρναμένοισι πέποιθα σαωσέμεναι νέας ἁμάς·

εἰ δʼ ὑμεῖς πολέμοιο μεθήσετε λευγαλέοιο,

νῦν δὴ εἴδεται ἦμαρ ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι.

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι

100δεινόν, ὃ οὔ ποτʼ ἔγωγε τελευτήσεσθαι ἔφασκον,

Τρῶας ἐφʼ ἡμετέρας ἰέναι νέας, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

φυζακινῇς ἐλάφοισιν ἐοίκεσαν, αἵ τε καθʼ ὕλην

θώων παρδαλίων τε λύκων τʼ ἤϊα πέλονται

αὔτως ἠλάσκουσαι ἀνάλκιδες, οὐδʼ ἔπι χάρμη·

105ὣς Τρῶες τὸ πρίν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας Ἀχαιῶν

μίμνειν οὐκ ἐθέλεσκον ἐναντίον, οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν·

νῦν δὲ ἑκὰς πόλιος κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ μάχονται

ἡγεμόνος κακότητι μεθημοσύνῃσί τε λαῶν,

οἳ κείνῳ ἐρίσαντες ἀμυνέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλουσι

110νηῶν ὠκυπόρων, ἀλλὰ κτείνονται ἀνʼ αὐτάς.

ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ καὶ πάμπαν ἐτήτυμον αἴτιός ἐστιν

ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

οὕνεκʼ ἀπητίμησε ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα,

ἡμέας γʼ οὔ πως ἔστι μεθιέμεναι πολέμοιο.

115ἀλλʼ ἀκεώμεθα θᾶσσον· ἀκεσταί τοι φρένες ἐσθλῶν.

ὑμεῖς δʼ οὐκ ἔτι καλὰ μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς

πάντες ἄριστοι ἐόντες ἀνὰ στρατόν. οὐδʼ ἂν ἔγωγε

ἀνδρὶ μαχεσσαίμην ὅς τις πολέμοιο μεθείη

λυγρὸς ἐών· ὑμῖν δὲ νεμεσσῶμαι περὶ κῆρι.

120ὦ πέπονες τάχα δή τι κακὸν ποιήσετε μεῖζον

τῇδε μεθημοσύνῃ· ἀλλʼ ἐν φρεσὶ θέσθε ἕκαστος

αἰδῶ καὶ νέμεσιν· δὴ γὰρ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν.

Ἕκτωρ δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς πολεμίζει

καρτερός, ἔρρηξεν δὲ πύλας καὶ μακρὸν ὀχῆα.

125ὥς ῥα κελευτιόων γαιήοχος ὦρσεν Ἀχαιούς.

95“Shame, Argives—young men! It is in you,

if you fight, that I trust to save our ships.

But if you abandon this grievous war,

now is the day, it seems, for us to be crushed beneath the Trojans.

What a sight! I see with my own eyes a great

100and dreadful wonder I never thought would come to pass:

the Trojans advancing on our ships—men who before

were like panic-stricken deer, which in the forest

become prey for jackals, leopards and wolves,

wandering aimlessly, without strength and with no fight in them.

105So before now the Trojans never wished to stand

against the force and hands of the Achaeans, not even for a moment.

But now they fight far from the city beside the hollow ships

because of their leader’s wrongdoing and the troops’ own slackness.

Quarreling with him, they refuse to defend

110the swift-running ships, but are being killed among them.

Yet even if the man truly and wholly at fault is

the hero, Atreus’ son, wide-ruling Agamemnon,

because he dishonored the swift-footed son of Peleus,

there is no way for us to abandon the battle.

115Come, let us mend things quickly; brave men’s hearts can be mended.

It is no longer honorable for you to abandon furious battle-strength,

when you are all the best men in the army. I would not

quarrel with some wretched man who gave up the fighting,

but with you I am indignant from the heart.

120My friends, by this slackness you will soon bring about

some still greater disaster. Let each man place within his mind

shame and indignation, for a mighty conflict has arisen.

Hector, good at the war cry, is fighting powerfully beside the ships;

he has broken the gates and the long crossbar.”

125So the holder of the earth urged and roused the Achaeans.

126ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Αἴαντας δοιοὺς ἵσταντο φάλαγγες

καρτεραί, ἃς οὔτʼ ἄν κεν Ἄρης ὀνόσαιτο μετελθὼν

οὔτε κʼ Ἀθηναίη λαοσσόος· οἳ γὰρ ἄριστοι

κρινθέντες Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔμιμνον,

130φράξαντες δόρυ δουρί, σάκος σάκεϊ προθελύμνῳ·

ἀσπὶς ἄρʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δʼ ἀνήρ·

ψαῦον δʼ ἱππόκομοι κόρυθες λαμπροῖσι φάλοισι

νευόντων, ὡς πυκνοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν·

ἔγχεα δʼ ἐπτύσσοντο θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν

135σειόμενʼ· οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς φρόνεον, μέμασαν δὲ μάχεσθαι.

126Around the two Ajaxes stood strong battle lines,

such as neither Ares could fault if he passed among them

nor Athena, rouser of the host; for the very best

had been selected to await the Trojans and godlike Hector.

130They fenced spear with spear, shield with shield from its very base;

shield leaned on shield, helmet on helmet, man on man.

Horsehair-crested helmets touched along their shining ridges

as the men nodded, so closely did they stand beside one another.

Spears overlapped, shaken in their daring hands;

135their purpose was straight ahead, and they were eager to fight.

136Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ

ἀντικρὺ μεμαώς, ὀλοοίτροχος ὣς ἀπὸ πέτρης,

ὅν τε κατὰ στεφάνης ποταμὸς χειμάρροος ὤσῃ

ῥήξας ἀσπέτῳ ὄμβρῳ ἀναιδέος ἔχματα πέτρης·

140ὕψι δʼ ἀναθρῴσκων πέτεται, κτυπέει δέ θʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ

ὕλη· ὃ δʼ ἀσφαλέως θέει ἔμπεδον, εἷος ἵκηται

ἰσόπεδον, τότε δʼ οὔ τι κυλίνδεται ἐσσύμενός περ·

ὣς Ἕκτωρ εἷος μὲν ἀπείλει μέχρι θαλάσσης

ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

145κτείνων· ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πυκινῇς ἐνέκυρσε φάλαγξι

στῆ ῥα μάλʼ ἐγχριμφθείς· οἳ δʼ ἀντίοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν

ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὃ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.

ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Τρώεσσι γεγωνώς·

150Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ

παρμένετʼ· οὔ τοι δηρὸν ἐμὲ σχήσουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

καὶ μάλα πυργηδὸν σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες,

ἀλλʼ ὀΐω χάσσονται ὑπʼ ἔγχεος, εἰ ἐτεόν με

ὦρσε θεῶν ὤριστος, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.

155ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

136The Trojans struck them in a mass, with Hector leading,

rushing straight on like a ruinous boulder from a cliff,

which a winter torrent drives down from the brow

after breaking the unyielding rock’s supports with immeasurable rain.

140It bounds high and flies; the forest crashes beneath it,

and it runs steadily on, unstoppable, until it reaches

level ground. Then, for all its momentum, it rolls no farther.

So Hector until then had threatened to pass easily

through the Achaeans’ huts and ships as far as the sea,

145killing as he went. But when he struck the dense battle lines,

he halted, jammed hard against them. The sons of the Achaeans faced him,

stabbing with swords and double-edged spears,

they drove him away from them; he recoiled and staggered.

He shouted in a piercing voice, calling to the Trojans:

150“Trojans and Lycians and Dardanians, close fighters,

hold your ground! The Achaeans will not restrain me long,

even if they have arrayed themselves in tower-like formation.

I think they will retreat beneath my spear, if truly

the best of the gods, loud-thundering Hera’s lord, has roused me.”

155So he spoke and stirred each man's force and spirit.

156Δηΐφοβος δʼ ἐν τοῖσι μέγα φρονέων ἐβεβήκει

Πριαμίδης, πρόσθεν δʼ ἔχεν ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

κοῦφα ποσὶ προβιβὰς καὶ ὑπασπίδια προποδίζων.

Μηριόνης δʼ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο δουρὶ φαεινῷ

160καὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτε, κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

ταυρείην· τῆς δʼ οὔ τι διήλασεν, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν

ἐν καυλῷ ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ· Δηΐφοβος δὲ

ἀσπίδα ταυρείην σχέθʼ ἀπὸ ἕο, δεῖσε δὲ θυμῷ

ἔγχος Μηριόναο δαΐφρονος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως

165ἂψ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο, χώσατο δʼ αἰνῶς

ἀμφότερον, νίκης τε καὶ ἔγχεος ὃ ξυνέαξε.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

οἰσόμενος δόρυ μακρόν, ὅ οἱ κλισίηφι λέλειπτο.

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.

156Among them Deiphobus, Priam’s son, strode in great pride,

holding before him his shield, balanced on every side,

advancing lightly on his feet beneath its cover.

Meriones took aim at him with his shining spear

160and struck without missing the shield balanced on every side,

the bullhide shield. His spear did not pass through; before it could,

the long spear broke in the shaft. Deiphobus

held the bullhide shield out from himself, afraid in his heart

of war-wise Meriones’ spear. But the hero

165withdrew again into the company of his comrades, bitterly angry

both at losing the triumph and at the spear he had shattered.

He went along the Achaeans' huts and ships,

to fetch the long spear he had left behind in his hut.

The others fought on, and an unquenchable battle cry arose.

170Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα

Ἴμβριον αἰχμητὴν πολυΐππου Μέντορος υἱόν·

ναῖε δὲ Πήδαιον πρὶν ἐλθεῖν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,

κούρην δὲ Πριάμοιο νόθην ἔχε, Μηδεσικάστην·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Δαναῶν νέες ἤλυθον ἀμφιέλισσαι,

175ἂψ ἐς Ἴλιον ἦλθε, μετέπρεπε δὲ Τρώεσσι,

ναῖε δὲ πὰρ Πριάμῳ· ὃ δέ μιν τίεν ἶσα τέκεσσι.

τόν ῥʼ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ὑπʼ οὔατος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ

νύξʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἔσπασεν ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἔπεσεν μελίη ὣς

ἥ τʼ ὄρεος κορυφῇ ἕκαθεν περιφαινομένοιο

180χαλκῷ ταμνομένη τέρενα χθονὶ φύλλα πελάσσῃ·

ὣς πέσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ.

170Teucer son of Telamon was first to kill a man:

Imbrius the spearman, son of Mentor rich in horses.

Before the sons of the Achaeans came, he lived in Pedaeum

and had as his wife Medesicaste, a daughter of Priam born outside marriage.

But when the Danaans’ curved ships arrived,

175he came back to Ilium and stood out among the Trojans.

He lived with Priam, who honored him like his own children.

Telamon’s son stabbed him beneath the ear with his long spear

and pulled it free. Imbrius fell like an ash tree

on a mountain peak visible from far around,

180cut by bronze, bringing its tender leaves to the ground.

So he fell, and his bronze-adorned armor clattered around him.

182Τεῦκρος δʼ ὁρμήθη μεμαὼς ἀπὸ τεύχεα δῦσαι·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὁρμηθέντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος

185τυτθόν· ὃ δʼ Ἀμφίμαχον Κτεάτου υἷʼ Ἀκτορίωνος

νισόμενον πόλεμον δὲ κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὁρμήθη κόρυθα κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν

κρατὸς ἀφαρπάξαι μεγαλήτορος Ἀμφιμάχοιο·

190Αἴας δʼ ὁρμηθέντος ὀρέξατο δουρὶ φαεινῷ

Ἕκτορος· ἀλλʼ οὔ πῃ χροὸς εἴσατο, πᾶς δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ

σμερδαλέῳ κεκάλυφθʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλὸν οὖτα,

ὦσε δέ μιν σθένεϊ μεγάλῳ· ὃ δὲ χάσσατʼ ὀπίσσω

νεκρῶν ἀμφοτέρων, τοὺς δʼ ἐξείρυσσαν Ἀχαιοί.

195Ἀμφίμαχον μὲν ἄρα Στιχίος δῖός τε Μενεσθεὺς

ἀρχοὶ Ἀθηναίων κόμισαν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·

Ἴμβριον αὖτʼ Αἴαντε μεμαότε θούριδος ἀλκῆς

ὥς τε δύʼ αἶγα λέοντε κυνῶν ὕπο καρχαροδόντων

ἁρπάξαντε φέρητον ἀνὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνὰ

200ὑψοῦ ὑπὲρ γαίης μετὰ γαμφηλῇσιν ἔχοντε,

ὥς ῥα τὸν ὑψοῦ ἔχοντε δύω Αἴαντε κορυστὰ

τεύχεα συλήτην· κεφαλὴν δʼ ἁπαλῆς ἀπὸ δειρῆς

κόψεν Ὀϊλιάδης κεχολωμένος Ἀμφιμάχοιο,

ἧκε δέ μιν σφαιρηδὸν ἑλιξάμενος διʼ ὁμίλου·

205Ἕκτορι δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν ἐν κονίῃσι.

182Teucer rushed in, eager to strip away his armor,

but as Teucer rushed forward, Hector hurled his shining spear.

But he saw the bronze spear head-on and avoided it

185by a little; it struck Amphimachus, son of Cteatus of Actor’s line,

as he moved into battle, hitting him in the chest.

He fell with a crash, and his armor clattered over him.

Hector rushed to snatch the helmet fitted at the temples

from the head of great-hearted Amphimachus.

190As Hector rushed, Ajax thrust his shining spear at him,

but it could not touch his flesh anywhere: he was wholly covered

in terrible bronze. Ajax struck the shield’s boss

and drove him back with enormous force. Hector withdrew

from both bodies, and the Achaeans dragged the dead away.

195Stichius and godlike Menestheus,

leaders of the Athenians, bore Amphimachus among the Achaean host.

The two Ajaxes, eager for furious battle-strength, took Imbrius—

as two lions seize a goat from sharp-fanged dogs

and carry it through dense brush,

200holding it high above the ground in their jaws,

so the two helmeted Ajaxes held Imbrius high

and stripped his armor. Then the son of Oileus cut his head

from its tender neck, furious over Amphimachus,

and sent it spinning like a ball through the throng.

205It fell in the dust before Hector’s feet.

206καὶ τότε δὴ περὶ κῆρι Ποσειδάων ἐχολώθη

υἱωνοῖο πεσόντος ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

ὀτρυνέων Δαναούς, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεα τεῦχεν.

210Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα οἱ δουρικλυτὸς ἀντεβόλησεν

ἐρχόμενος παρʼ ἑταίρου, ὅ οἱ νέον ἐκ πολέμοιο

ἦλθε κατʼ ἰγνύην βεβλημένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.

τὸν μὲν ἑταῖροι ἔνεικαν, ὃ δʼ ἰητροῖς ἐπιτείλας

ἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην· ἔτι γὰρ πολέμοιο μενοίνα

215ἀντιάαν· τὸν δὲ προσέφη κρείων ἐνοσίχθων

εἰσάμενος φθογγὴν Ἀνδραίμονος υἷϊ Θόαντι

ὃς πάσῃ Πλευρῶνι καὶ αἰπεινῇ Καλυδῶνι

Αἰτωλοῖσιν ἄνασσε, θεὸς δʼ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ·

206Then Poseidon was angered to the heart

when his grandson fell in the dreadful fighting.

He went along the Achaeans' huts and ships,

rousing the Danaans and bringing grief upon the Trojans.

210Spear-famed Idomeneus met him

as he came away from a comrade, who had just returned

from battle, struck behind the knee by sharp bronze.

His comrades had carried him in; Idomeneus gave orders to the physicians

and was going to his hut, for he was still eager

215to meet the battle. Then the lordly Earth-shaker addressed him,

making his voice like that of Thoas, Andraemon’s son,

who throughout Pleuron and steep Calydon

ruled the Aetolians, and was honored like a god by his people:

219Ἰδομενεῦ Κρητῶν βουληφόρε ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ

220οἴχονται, τὰς Τρωσὶν ἀπείλεον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν;

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ὦ Θόαν οὔ τις ἀνὴρ νῦν γʼ αἴτιος, ὅσσον ἔγωγε

γιγνώσκω· πάντες γὰρ ἐπιστάμεθα πτολεμίζειν.

οὔτέ τινα δέος ἴσχει ἀκήριον οὔτέ τις ὄκνῳ

225εἴκων ἀνδύεται πόλεμον κακόν· ἀλλά που οὕτω

μέλλει δὴ φίλον εἶναι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι

νωνύμνους ἀπολέσθαι ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλὰ Θόαν, καὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος μενεδήϊος ἦσθα,

ὀτρύνεις δὲ καὶ ἄλλον ὅθι μεθιέντα ἴδηαι·

230τὼ νῦν μήτʼ ἀπόληγε κέλευέ τε φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ἰδομενεῦ μὴ κεῖνος ἀνὴρ ἔτι νοστήσειεν

ἐκ Τροίης, ἀλλʼ αὖθι κυνῶν μέλπηθρα γένοιτο,

ὅς τις ἐπʼ ἤματι τῷδε ἑκὼν μεθίῃσι μάχεσθαι.

235ἀλλʼ ἄγε τεύχεα δεῦρο λαβὼν ἴθι· ταῦτα δʼ ἅμα χρὴ

σπεύδειν, αἴ κʼ ὄφελός τι γενώμεθα καὶ δύʼ ἐόντε.

συμφερτὴ δʼ ἀρετὴ πέλει ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλα λυγρῶν,

νῶϊ δὲ καί κʼ ἀγαθοῖσιν ἐπισταίμεσθα μάχεσθαι.

219“Idomeneus, counselor of the Cretans, where have the threats gone

220that the sons of the Achaeans made against the Trojans?”

Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him face to face:

“Thoas, no man is at fault now, as far as I

can see. We all know how to fight.

No spiritless fear holds anyone, nor does anyone yield to hesitation

225and withdraw from the evil war. But perhaps this is simply

what overmighty Cronion now finds dear:

for the Achaeans to perish here without a name, far from Argos.

But Thoas, you have always been steadfast in battle,

and you urge on any other man you see giving way.

230So do not stop now; keep urging every man.”

Then Poseidon the Earth-shaker answered him:

“Idomeneus, may that man never return

from Troy, but become a plaything for dogs here,

whoever willingly gives up the fighting on this day.

235Come, take your armor and go. We must hurry

together, in case we can help, even though we are only two.

Even weak men’s prowess has force when it is joined,

and we two know how to fight even against brave men.”

239ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν·

240Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἵκανε

δύσετο τεύχεα καλὰ περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δὲ δοῦρε,

βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀστεροπῇ ἐναλίγκιος, ἥν τε Κρονίων

χειρὶ λαβὼν ἐτίναξεν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου

δεικνὺς σῆμα βροτοῖσιν· ἀρίζηλοι δέ οἱ αὐγαί·

245ὣς τοῦ χαλκὸς ἔλαμπε περὶ στήθεσσι θέοντος.

239So he spoke, and the god went back into the toil of men.

240When Idomeneus reached his well-built hut,

he put his fine armor around his body and took up two spears.

He set out like lightning, which Cronion

takes in his hand and brandishes from shining Olympus,

showing a sign to mortals, its rays blazing conspicuously;

245so the bronze shone around Idomeneus’ chest as he ran.

246Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα οἱ θεράπων ἐῢς ἀντεβόλησεν

ἐγγὺς ἔτι κλισίης· μετὰ γὰρ δόρυ χάλκεον ᾔει

οἰσόμενος· τὸν δὲ προσέφη σθένος Ἰδομενῆος·

Μηριόνη Μόλου υἱὲ πόδας ταχὺ φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων

250τίπτʼ ἦλθες πόλεμόν τε λιπὼν καὶ δηϊοτῆτα;

ἠέ τι βέβληαι, βέλεος δέ σε τείρει ἀκωκή,

ἦέ τευ ἀγγελίης μετʼ ἔμʼ ἤλυθες; οὐδέ τοι αὐτὸς

ἧσθαι ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λιλαίομαι, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.

τὸν δʼ αὖ Μηριόνης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

255Ἰδομενεῦ, Κρητῶν βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων,

ἔρχομαι εἴ τί τοι ἔγχος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λέλειπται

οἰσόμενος· τό νυ γὰρ κατεάξαμεν ὃ πρὶν ἔχεσκον

ἀσπίδα Δηϊφόβοιο βαλὼν ὑπερηνορέοντος.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

260δούρατα δʼ αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα καὶ ἓν καὶ εἴκοσι δήεις

ἑσταότʼ ἐν κλισίῃ πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα

Τρώϊα, τὰ κταμένων ἀποαίνυμαι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων ἑκὰς ἱστάμενος πολεμίζειν.

τώ μοι δούρατά τʼ ἔστι καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι

265καὶ κόρυθες καὶ θώρηκες λαμπρὸν γανόωντες.

τὸν δʼ αὖ Μηριόνης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

καί τοι ἐμοὶ παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ

πόλλʼ ἔναρα Τρώων· ἀλλʼ οὐ σχεδόν ἐστιν ἑλέσθαι.

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐμέ φημι λελασμένον ἔμμεναι ἀλκῆς,

270ἀλλὰ μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχην ἀνὰ κυδιάνειραν

ἵσταμαι, ὁππότε νεῖκος ὀρώρηται πολέμοιο.

ἄλλόν πού τινα μᾶλλον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

λήθω μαρνάμενος, σὲ δὲ ἴδμεναι αὐτὸν ὀΐω.

246Then Meriones, his excellent attendant, met him

still near the hut; he was on his way to fetch

a bronze spear. The strength of Idomeneus addressed him:

“Meriones, son of Molus, swift-footed, dearest of companions,

250why have you come, leaving the war and the clash of battle?

Have you been struck, and does a weapon’s point torment you,

or have you come to me with someone’s message? I myself

have no wish to sit among the huts, but to fight.”

Meriones, clear-minded, answered him face to face:

255“Idomeneus, counselor of the bronze-armored Cretans,

I have come to fetch a spear, if you have one left in the huts;

for the spear I carried before—we shattered it

when I struck the shield of overbearing Deiphobus.”

Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him face to face:

260“If you want spears, you will find twenty-one

standing inside the hut against the front wall, all gleaming,

Trojan spears I take as spoil from men I kill. I do not think

of fighting enemy warriors while standing far away.

That is why I have spears and bossed shields,

265helmets too, and breastplates shining with a brilliant glow.”

Meriones, clear-minded, answered him face to face:

“I too have many Trojan spoils beside my hut

and black ship, but they are not close at hand to take.

I do not claim that I myself have forgotten courage either;

270I stand among the foremost in man-glorifying battle

whenever the strife of war rises.

Some other bronze-armored Achaean may fail to notice me

as I fight, but you yourself, I think, know well.”

274τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

275οἶδʼ ἀρετὴν οἷός ἐσσι· τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα λέγεσθαι;

εἰ γὰρ νῦν παρὰ νηυσὶ λεγοίμεθα πάντες ἄριστοι

ἐς λόχον, ἔνθα μάλιστʼ ἀρετὴ διαείδεται ἀνδρῶν,

ἔνθʼ ὅ τε δειλὸς ἀνὴρ ὅς τʼ ἄλκιμος ἐξεφαάνθη·

τοῦ μὲν γάρ τε κακοῦ τρέπεται χρὼς ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ,

280οὐδέ οἱ ἀτρέμας ἧσθαι ἐρητύετʼ ἐν φρεσὶ θυμός,

ἀλλὰ μετοκλάζει καὶ ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέρους πόδας ἵζει,

ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίη μεγάλα στέρνοισι πατάσσει

κῆρας ὀϊομένῳ, πάταγος δέ τε γίγνετʼ ὀδόντων·

τοῦ δʼ ἀγαθοῦ οὔτʼ ἂρ τρέπεται χρὼς οὔτέ τι λίην

285ταρβεῖ, ἐπειδὰν πρῶτον ἐσίζηται λόχον ἀνδρῶν,

ἀρᾶται δὲ τάχιστα μιγήμεναι ἐν δαῒ λυγρῇ·

οὐδέ κεν ἔνθα τεόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας ὄνοιτο.

εἴ περ γάρ κε βλεῖο πονεύμενος ἠὲ τυπείης

οὐκ ἂν ἐν αὐχένʼ ὄπισθε πέσοι βέλος οὐδʼ ἐνὶ νώτῳ,

290ἀλλά κεν ἢ στέρνων ἢ νηδύος ἀντιάσειε

πρόσσω ἱεμένοιο μετὰ προμάχων ὀαριστύν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὣς

ἑσταότες, μή πού τις ὑπερφιάλως νεμεσήσῃ·

ἀλλὰ σύ γε κλισίην δὲ κιὼν ἕλευ ὄβριμον ἔγχος.

295ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

καρπαλίμως κλισίηθεν ἀνείλετο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

βῆ δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.

οἷος δὲ βροτολοιγὸς Ἄρης πόλεμον δὲ μέτεισι,

τῷ δὲ Φόβος φίλος υἱὸς ἅμα κρατερὸς καὶ ἀταρβὴς

300ἕσπετο, ὅς τʼ ἐφόβησε ταλάφρονά περ πολεμιστήν·

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐκ Θρῄκης Ἐφύρους μέτα θωρήσσεσθον,

ἠὲ μετὰ Φλεγύας μεγαλήτορας· οὐδʼ ἄρα τώ γε

ἔκλυον ἀμφοτέρων, ἑτέροισι δὲ κῦδος ἔδωκαν·

τοῖοι Μηριόνης τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀγοὶ ἀνδρῶν

305ἤϊσαν ἐς πόλεμον κεκορυθμένοι αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

274Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him face to face:

275“I know the courage you possess. Why must you tell me this?

If all of us who are best beside the ships were being chosen now

for an ambush, where men’s courage shows most clearly,

where both the coward and the valiant man are brought to light—

the coward’s skin changes color one way, then another;

280the heart within his breast will not let him sit still,

but he keeps shifting his crouch, settling his weight on both feet;

the heart inside him pounds hard against his chest

as he imagines the death-spirits, and his teeth chatter.

But the brave man’s skin does not change, nor does he fear too much

285once he first takes his place in the warriors’ ambush;

he prays to enter grim battle as quickly as possible—

there no one could fault your force or your hands.

Even if you were hit by a missile while fighting, or stabbed,

the missile would not strike the back of your neck or your back,

290but would meet your chest or belly

as you drove forward into the forefighters’ close combat.

Come, let us stand here talking no longer like children,

lest someone be fiercely indignant with us.

Go to the hut now, and take a sturdy spear.”

295So he spoke, and Meriones, a match for swift Ares,

quickly lifted a bronze spear from the hut.

Then he went after Idomeneus, deeply intent on battle.

As man-destroying Ares strides into war,

and Rout, his dear son, strong and fearless, follows him,

300who can rout even a steadfast warrior;

the two come armed from Thrace to join the Ephyrians,

or the great-hearted Phlegyans; yet the two do not heed

both peoples, but grant triumph to one side;

just so Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of men,

305went into battle, armed in flashing bronze.

306τὸν καὶ Μηριόνης πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

Δευκαλίδη πῇ τὰρ μέμονας καταδῦναι ὅμιλον;

ἢ ἐπὶ δεξιόφιν παντὸς στρατοῦ, ἦ ἀνὰ μέσσους,

ἦ ἐπʼ ἀριστερόφιν; ἐπεὶ οὔ ποθι ἔλπομαι οὕτω

310δεύεσθαι πολέμοιο κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

νηυσὶ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃσιν ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι

Αἴαντές τε δύω Τεῦκρός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν

τοξοσύνῃ, ἀγαθὸς δὲ καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ·

315οἵ μιν ἅδην ἐλόωσι καὶ ἐσσύμενον πολέμοιο

Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐστιν.

αἰπύ οἱ ἐσσεῖται μάλα περ μεμαῶτι μάχεσθαι

κείνων νικήσαντι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους

νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι, ὅτε μὴ αὐτός γε Κρονίων

320ἐμβάλοι αἰθόμενον δαλὸν νήεσσι θοῇσιν.

ἀνδρὶ δέ κʼ οὐκ εἴξειε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

ὃς θνητός τʼ εἴη καὶ ἔδοι Δημήτερος ἀκτὴν

χαλκῷ τε ῥηκτὸς μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν.

οὐδʼ ἂν Ἀχιλλῆϊ ῥηξήνορι χωρήσειεν

325ἔν γʼ αὐτοσταδίῃ· ποσὶ δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐρίζειν.

νῶϊν δʼ ὧδʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστέρʼ ἔχε στρατοῦ, ὄφρα τάχιστα

εἴδομεν ἠέ τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν, ἦέ τις ἡμῖν.

ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

ἦρχʼ ἴμεν, ὄφρʼ ἀφίκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ᾗ μιν ἀνώγει,

330οἳ δʼ ὡς Ἰδομενῆα ἴδον φλογὶ εἴκελον ἀλκὴν

αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισι,

κεκλόμενοι καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔβησαν·

τῶν δʼ ὁμὸν ἵστατο νεῖκος ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν.

306Meriones spoke to him first:

“Son of Deucalion, where are you set on plunging into the throng?

On the whole army’s right, through the center,

or on the left? For nowhere else, I think,

310do the long-haired Achaeans fall so short in battle.”

Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him face to face:

“There are others to defend the ships in the center:

the two Ajaxes and Teucer, the best of the Achaeans

with the bow, and a strong man too in standing battle.

315They will check Hector, Priam’s son, until he has had his fill,

however fiercely he rushes into battle, however strong he is.

Hard will it be for him, though he is utterly intent on fighting,

to overcome their force and their unapproachable hands

and set the ships ablaze—unless Cronus’ son himself

320flings a burning firebrand onto the swift ships.

Great Telamonian Ajax would yield to no man,

provided he were mortal and ate Demeter’s grain

and could be broken by bronze or by great stones.

He would not give ground even to Achilles, breaker of ranks,

325in close combat; but in speed there is no contending with him.

Keep our course this way, toward the army’s left, so we may quickly

learn whether we grant triumph to someone else, or someone to us.”

So he spoke, and Meriones, a match for swift Ares,

led the way until they reached the host where Idomeneus had directed him.

330When the Trojans saw Idomeneus, his fighting force like flame,

and his attendant with him in their intricate armor,

they called through the throng and all advanced against him;

the battle of them all was joined beside the ships’ sterns.

334ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ λιγέων ἀνέμων σπέρχωσιν ἄελλαι

335ἤματι τῷ ὅτε τε πλείστη κόνις ἀμφὶ κελεύθους,

οἵ τʼ ἄμυδις κονίης μεγάλην ἱστᾶσιν ὀμίχλην,

ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὁμόσʼ ἦλθε μάχη, μέμασαν δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

ἀλλήλους καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐναιρέμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.

ἔφριξεν δὲ μάχη φθισίμβροτος ἐγχείῃσι

340μακρῇς, ἃς εἶχον ταμεσίχροας· ὄσσε δʼ ἄμερδεν

αὐγὴ χαλκείη κορύθων ἄπο λαμπομενάων

θωρήκων τε νεοσμήκτων σακέων τε φαεινῶν

ἐρχομένων ἄμυδις· μάλα κεν θρασυκάρδιος εἴη

ὃς τότε γηθήσειεν ἰδὼν πόνον οὐδʼ ἀκάχοιτο.

345τὼ δʼ ἀμφὶς φρονέοντε δύω Κρόνου υἷε κραταιὼ

ἀνδράσιν ἡρώεσσιν ἐτεύχετον ἄλγεα λυγρά.

Ζεὺς μέν ῥα Τρώεσσι καὶ Ἕκτορι βούλετο νίκην

κυδαίνων Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· οὐδέ τι πάμπαν

ἤθελε λαὸν ὀλέσθαι Ἀχαιϊκὸν Ἰλιόθι πρό,

350ἀλλὰ Θέτιν κύδαινε καὶ υἱέα καρτερόθυμον.

Ἀργείους δὲ Ποσειδάων ὀρόθυνε μετελθὼν

λάθρῃ ὑπεξαναδὺς πολιῆς ἁλός· ἤχθετο γάρ ῥα

Τρωσὶν δαμναμένους, Διὶ δὲ κρατερῶς ἐνεμέσσα.

ἦ μὰν ἀμφοτέροισιν ὁμὸν γένος ἠδʼ ἴα πάτρη,

355ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς πρότερος γεγόνει καὶ πλείονα ᾔδη.

τώ ῥα καὶ ἀμφαδίην μὲν ἀλεξέμεναι ἀλέεινε,

λάθρῃ δʼ αἰὲν ἔγειρε κατὰ στρατὸν ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς.

τοὶ δʼ ἔριδος κρατερῆς καὶ ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο

πεῖραρ ἐπαλλάξαντες ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέροισι τάνυσσαν

360ἄρρηκτόν τʼ ἄλυτόν τε, τὸ πολλῶν γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν.

334As squalls driven by shrill winds rush

335on a day when dust lies thickest over the roads,

and all at once raise a massive cloud of dust,

so their battle came together, and in their hearts they yearned

to kill one another through the press with sharp bronze.

Man-destroying battle bristled with the long spears

340they held, flesh-cutting; the blaze of bronze blinded their eyes,

streaming from gleaming helmets,

newly polished breastplates, and shining shields

as the ranks closed together. A man would need a daring heart

to rejoice at that labor when he saw it, and not grieve.

345The two powerful sons of Cronus, divided in purpose,

fashioned grievous suffering for the hero-warriors.

Zeus desired victory for the Trojans and Hector,

to honor swift-footed Achilles; yet he did not wholly

wish the Achaean army to perish before Ilium,

350only to honor Thetis and her strong-hearted son.

Poseidon, moving among the Argives, roused them,

having risen secretly from the gray sea; for he grieved to see them

beaten down by the Trojans, and fiercely resented Zeus.

True, the two had one lineage and the same fatherland,

355but Zeus was elder-born and knew more.

So Poseidon shrank from giving open aid,

but always secretly roused the army in the likeness of a man.

The two gods interlaced the cable of stubborn strife

and leveling war, then stretched it over both sides,

360unbreakable, not to be loosed—the cable that loosened many knees.

361ἔνθα μεσαιπόλιός περ ἐὼν Δαναοῖσι κελεύσας

Ἰδομενεὺς Τρώεσσι μετάλμενος ἐν φόβον ὦρσε.

πέφνε γὰρ Ὀθρυονῆα Καβησόθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα,

ὅς ῥα νέον πολέμοιο μετὰ κλέος εἰληλούθει,

365ᾔτεε δὲ Πριάμοιο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην

Κασσάνδρην ἀνάεδνον, ὑπέσχετο δὲ μέγα ἔργον,

ἐκ Τροίης ἀέκοντας ἀπωσέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

τῷ δʼ ὁ γέρων Πρίαμος ὑπό τʼ ἔσχετο καὶ κατένευσε

δωσέμεναι· ὃ δὲ μάρναθʼ ὑποσχεσίῃσι πιθήσας.

370Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

καὶ βάλεν ὕψι βιβάντα τυχών· οὐδʼ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ

χάλκεος, ὃν φορέεσκε, μέσῃ δʼ ἐν γαστέρι πῆξε.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἐπεύξατο φώνησέν τε·

Ὀθρυονεῦ περὶ δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομʼ ἁπάντων

375εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ πάντα τελευτήσεις ὅσʼ ὑπέστης

Δαρδανίδῃ Πριάμῳ· ὃ δʼ ὑπέσχετο θυγατέρα ἥν.

καί κέ τοι ἡμεῖς ταῦτά γʼ ὑποσχόμενοι τελέσαιμεν,

δοῖμεν δʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην

Ἄργεος ἐξαγαγόντες ὀπυιέμεν, εἴ κε σὺν ἄμμιν

380Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσῃς εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.

ἀλλʼ ἕπεʼ, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶ συνώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν

ἀμφὶ γάμῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἐεδνωταὶ κακοί εἰμεν.

361Then Idomeneus, gray though he was, urged on the Danaans

and sprang among the Trojans and drove them into rout.

For he killed Othryoneus, who had come from Cabesus and was staying there,

newly arrived in pursuit of glory in war.

365He had asked for the most beautiful of Priam’s daughters,

Cassandra, without bride-price, and promised a mighty deed:

to drive the Achaeans’ sons from Troy against their will.

Old Priam promised him and nodded his assent

to give her; trusting that promise, Othryoneus fought.

370Idomeneus took aim at him with his shining spear

and struck him as he strode high. The bronze breastplate did not save him—

the one he wore; he planted the spear in the middle of his belly.

He crashed down, and Idomeneus boasted aloud:

“Othryoneus, beyond all mortals I acclaim you,

375if you truly accomplish everything you promised

to Priam, Dardanus’ son, who promised you his daughter.

We too would promise you the same and see it through:

we would give you the loveliest daughter of Atreus’ son,

bringing her from Argos for you to wed, if with us

380you sack the well-inhabited citadel of Ilium.

Come then, so by our seagoing ships we can settle

the marriage; we are no poor hands at settling bride-gifts.”

383ὣς εἰπὼν ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην

ἥρως Ἰδομενεύς· τῷ δʼ Ἄσιος ἦλθʼ ἐπαμύντωρ

385πεζὸς πρόσθʼ ἵππων· τὼ δὲ πνείοντε κατʼ ὤμων

αἰὲν ἔχʼ ἡνίοχος θεράπων· ὃ δὲ ἵετο θυμῷ

Ἰδομενῆα βαλεῖν· ὃ δέ μιν φθάμενος βάλε δουρὶ

λαιμὸν ὑπʼ ἀνθερεῶνα, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν.

ἤριπε δʼ ὡς ὅτε τις δρῦς ἤριπεν ἢ ἀχερωῒς

390ἠὲ πίτυς βλωθρή, τήν τʼ οὔρεσι τέκτονες ἄνδρες

ἐξέταμον πελέκεσσι νεήκεσι νήϊον εἶναι·

ὣς ὃ πρόσθʼ ἵππων καὶ δίφρου κεῖτο τανυσθεὶς

βεβρυχὼς κόνιος δεδραγμένος αἱματοέσσης.

ἐκ δέ οἱ ἡνίοχος πλήγη φρένας ἃς πάρος εἶχεν,

395οὐδʼ ὅ γʼ ἐτόλμησεν δηΐων ὑπὸ χεῖρας ἀλύξας

ἂψ ἵππους στρέψαι, τὸν δʼ Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης

δουρὶ μέσον περόνησε τυχών· οὐδʼ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ

χάλκεος ὃν φορέεσκε, μέσῃ δʼ ἐν γαστέρι πῆξεν.

αὐτὰρ ὃ ἀσθμαίνων εὐεργέος ἔκπεσε δίφρου,

400ἵππους δʼ Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς

ἐξέλασε Τρώων μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.

Δηΐφοβος δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθεν Ἰδομενῆος

Ἀσίου ἀχνύμενος, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος

405Ἰδομενεύς· κρύφθη γὰρ ὑπʼ ἀσπίδι πάντοσʼ ἐΐσῃ,

τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γε ῥινοῖσι βοῶν καὶ νώροπι χαλκῷ

δινωτὴν φορέεσκε, δύω κανόνεσσʼ ἀραρυῖαν·

τῇ ὕπο πᾶς ἐάλη, τὸ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

καρφαλέον δέ οἱ ἀσπὶς ἐπιθρέξαντος ἄϋσεν

410ἔγχεος· οὐδʼ ἅλιόν ῥα βαρείης χειρὸς ἀφῆκεν,

ἀλλʼ ἔβαλʼ Ἱππασίδην Ὑψήνορα ποιμένα λαῶν

ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε.

Δηΐφοβος δʼ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

οὐ μὰν αὖτʼ ἄτιτος κεῖτʼ Ἄσιος, ἀλλά ἕ φημι

415εἰς Ἄϊδός περ ἰόντα πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο

γηθήσειν κατὰ θυμόν, ἐπεί ῥά οἱ ὤπασα πομπόν.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργείοισι δʼ ἄχος γένετʼ εὐξαμένοιο,

Ἀντιλόχῳ δὲ μάλιστα δαΐφρονι θυμὸν ὄρινεν·

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑοῦ ἀμέλησεν ἑταίρου,

420ἀλλὰ θέων περίβη καί οἱ σάκος ἀμφεκάλυψε.

τὸν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ὑποδύντε δύω ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι

Μηκιστεὺς Ἐχίοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ἀλάστωρ,

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς φερέτην βαρέα στενάχοντα.

383So the hero Idomeneus caught him by the foot and dragged him

through the hard battle. Then Asius came to defend him,

385on foot ahead of his horses; the pair, breathing over his shoulders,

his attendant charioteer kept close behind. Asius’ heart drove him

to strike Idomeneus, but Idomeneus struck first with his spear

beneath the chin, through the throat, and drove the bronze clean through.

He fell as an oak falls, or a poplar,

390or a towering pine that carpenters in the mountains

cut with newly sharpened axes to be a ship’s timber.

So he lay stretched before the horses and chariot,

groaning and clutching the bloodied dust.

His charioteer was struck out of the wits he once possessed;

395he did not dare to wheel the horses back and escape

from under enemy hands. Antilochus, steadfast fighter,

caught him and pierced his middle with the spear. The bronze breastplate did not save him—

the one he wore; he planted the spear in the middle of his belly.

Gasping, he fell from the well-built chariot,

400and Antilochus, great-hearted Nestor’s son, took the horses

and drove them from the Trojans among the well-greaved Achaeans.

Deiphobus came very close to Idomeneus,

grieving for Asius, and cast his shining spear.

But he saw the bronze spear head-on and avoided it,

405Idomeneus, for he had crouched beneath his balanced shield,

the rounded shield he carried, built of bull-hide and flashing bronze,

fitted firm with two crossbars.

Beneath it he gathered his whole body; the bronze spear flew over,

and his shield rang dryly as the spear glanced across it.

410Yet Deiphobus’ heavy hand had not sent it in vain:

he struck Hypsenor, Hippasus’ son, shepherd of the people,

in the liver beneath the midriff, and at once unstrung his knees.

Deiphobus boasted terribly, shouting at full pitch:

“Asius does not lie unavenged after all. I think

415that even as he goes to Hades, the mighty gatekeeper,

his heart will rejoice, since I have given him an escort.”

So he spoke; his boast brought pain to the Argives,

and stirred the spirit of battle-wise Antilochus above all.

Yet even in his grief he did not neglect his companion,

420but ran to stand over him and covered him with his shield.

Then two loyal companions stooped beneath him,

Mecisteus, son of Echios, and godlike Alastor,

and carried him to the hollow ships as he groaned heavily.

424Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ οὐ λῆγε μένος μέγα, ἵετο δʼ αἰεὶ

425ἠέ τινα Τρώων ἐρεβεννῇ νυκτὶ καλύψαι

ἢ αὐτὸς δουπῆσαι ἀμύνων λοιγὸν Ἀχαιοῖς.

ἔνθʼ Αἰσυήταο διοτρεφέος φίλον υἱὸν

ἥρωʼ Ἀλκάθοον, γαμβρὸς δʼ ἦν Ἀγχίσαο,

πρεσβυτάτην δʼ ὤπυιε θυγατρῶν Ἱπποδάμειαν

430τὴν περὶ κῆρι φίλησε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

ἐν μεγάρῳ· πᾶσαν γὰρ ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστο

κάλλεϊ καὶ ἔργοισιν ἰδὲ φρεσί· τοὔνεκα καί μιν

γῆμεν ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ·

τὸν τόθʼ ὑπʼ Ἰδομενῆϊ Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσε

435θέλξας ὄσσε φαεινά, πέδησε δὲ φαίδιμα γυῖα·

οὔτε γὰρ ἐξοπίσω φυγέειν δύνατʼ οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλην ἢ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον

ἀτρέμας ἑσταότα στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶ

ἥρως Ἰδομενεύς, ῥῆξεν δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ χιτῶνα

440χάλκεον, ὅς οἱ πρόσθεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκει ὄλεθρον·

δὴ τότε γʼ αὖον ἄϋσεν ἐρεικόμενος περὶ δουρί.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δόρυ δʼ ἐν κραδίῃ ἐπεπήγει,

ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀσπαίρουσα καὶ οὐρίαχον πελέμιζεν

ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης·

445Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀΰσας

Δηΐφοβʼ ἦ ἄρα δή τι ἐΐσκομεν ἄξιον εἶναι

τρεῖς ἑνὸς ἀντὶ πεφάσθαι; ἐπεὶ σύ περ εὔχεαι οὕτω.

δαιμόνιʼ ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐναντίον ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ οἷος Ζηνὸς γόνος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω,

450ὃς πρῶτον Μίνωα τέκε Κρήτῃ ἐπίουρον·

Μίνως δʼ αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Δευκαλίωνα,

Δευκαλίων δʼ ἐμὲ τίκτε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἄνακτα

Κρήτῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ· νῦν δʼ ἐνθάδε νῆες ἔνεικαν

σοί τε κακὸν καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοισι Τρώεσσιν.

424But Idomeneus did not slacken his great strength; always he was eager

425either to shroud some Trojan in black night

or crash down himself as he warded destruction from the Achaeans.

There was the dear son of Zeus-nurtured Aesyetes,

hero Alcathous, Anchises’ son-in-law.

He had married Hippodameia, eldest of Anchises’ daughters;

430her father and lady mother loved her beyond all in their hearts

within the house, for she surpassed every woman of her age

in beauty, handiwork, and mind; therefore

the finest man in broad Troy had married her.

Then Poseidon brought him down beneath Idomeneus,

435bewitching his bright eyes and binding his shining limbs.

He could neither flee backward nor evade,

but stood motionless like a pillar or high-leafed tree,

and hero Idomeneus stabbed him in the middle of the chest.

He split the bronze breastplate that sheathed his tunic,

440which till then had kept death away from his skin;

now the bronze rang dryly as the spear tore through it.

He thudded down, the spear planted in his heart,

and his heart, still convulsing, made the spear’s butt-end shake;

there at last mighty Ares drained away his strength.

445Idomeneus boasted terribly, shouting at full pitch:

“Deiphobus, do we now reckon it an even trade

that three have fallen for one, since you boast so loudly?

Madman, come stand against me yourself,

so you may see what scion of Zeus I have come here as—

450Zeus, who first fathered Minos, guardian of Crete;

Minos in turn fathered irreproachable Deucalion,

and Deucalion begot me, lord over many men

in broad Crete. Now my ships have carried me here

to bring ruin to you, your father, and the other Trojans.”

455ὣς φάτο, Δηΐφοβος δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν

ἤ τινά που Τρώων ἑταρίσσαιτο μεγαθύμων

ἂψ ἀναχωρήσας, ἦ πειρήσαιτο καὶ οἶος.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι

βῆναι ἐπʼ Αἰνείαν· τὸν δʼ ὕστατον εὗρεν ὁμίλου

460ἑσταότʼ· αἰεὶ γὰρ Πριάμῳ ἐπεμήνιε δίῳ

οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα μετʼ ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι τίεσκεν.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε νῦν σε μάλα χρὴ

γαμβρῷ ἀμυνέμεναι, εἴ πέρ τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει.

465ἀλλʼ ἕπευ Ἀλκαθόῳ ἐπαμύνομεν, ὅς σε πάρος γε

γαμβρὸς ἐὼν ἔθρεψε δόμοις ἔνι τυτθὸν ἐόντα·

τὸν δέ τοι Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐξενάριξεν.

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε,

βῆ δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.

455So he spoke, and Deiphobus pondered two courses:

whether to withdraw and enlist one of the great-hearted Trojans

as companion, or make trial alone.

As he considered, this seemed the better course:

to go to Aeneas. He found him at the rear of the throng,

460standing there, for he was always angry with noble Priam

because, for all his worth, Priam never honored him among the warriors.

He stood nearby and addressed him with winged words:

“Aeneas, counselor of the Trojans, now you must

defend your brother-in-law, if any care for him touches you.

465Come, let us aid Alcathous, who in former days,

as your brother-in-law, raised you in his house when you were little;

Idomeneus, famed for the spear, has slain him.”

So he spoke, and stirred the spirit within Aeneas’ breast.

Then he went after Idomeneus, deeply intent on battle.

470ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἰδομενῆα φόβος λάβε τηλύγετον ὥς,

ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ὡς ὅτε τις σῦς οὔρεσιν ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,

ὅς τε μένει κολοσυρτὸν ἐπερχόμενον πολὺν ἀνδρῶν

χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, φρίσσει δέ τε νῶτον ὕπερθεν·

ὀφθαλμὼ δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυρὶ λάμπετον· αὐτὰρ ὀδόντας

475θήγει, ἀλέξασθαι μεμαὼς κύνας ἠδὲ καὶ ἄνδρας·

ὣς μένεν Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτός, οὐδʼ ὑπεχώρει,

Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα βοηθόον· αὖε δʼ ἑταίρους

Ἀσκάλαφόν τʼ ἐσορῶν Ἀφαρῆά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε

Μηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·

480τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

δεῦτε φίλοι, καί μʼ οἴῳ ἀμύνετε· δείδια δʼ αἰνῶς

Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα πόδας ταχύν, ὅς μοι ἔπεισιν,

ὃς μάλα καρτερός ἐστι μάχῃ ἔνι φῶτας ἐναίρειν·

καὶ δʼ ἔχει ἥβης ἄνθος, ὅ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.

485εἰ γὰρ ὁμηλικίη γε γενοίμεθα τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ

αἶψά κεν ἠὲ φέροιτο μέγα κράτος, ἠὲ φεροίμην.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἕνα φρεσὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες

πλησίοι ἔστησαν, σάκεʼ ὤμοισι κλίναντες.

Αἰνείας δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισι

490Δηΐφοβόν τε Πάριν τʼ ἐσορῶν καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,

οἵ οἱ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνες Τρώων ἔσαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

λαοὶ ἕπονθʼ, ὡς εἴ τε μετὰ κτίλον ἕσπετο μῆλα

πιόμενʼ ἐκ βοτάνης· γάνυται δʼ ἄρα τε φρένα ποιμήν·

ὣς Αἰνείᾳ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γεγήθει

495ὡς ἴδε λαῶν ἔθνος ἐπισπόμενον ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀλκαθόῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν

μακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι· περὶ στήθεσσι δὲ χαλκὸς

σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε τιτυσκομένων καθʼ ὅμιλον

ἀλλήλων· δύο δʼ ἄνδρες ἀρήϊοι ἔξοχον ἄλλων

500Αἰνείας τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀτάλαντοι Ἄρηϊ

ἵεντʼ ἀλλήλων ταμέειν χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισεν Ἰδομενῆος·

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

αἰχμὴ δʼ Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίης

505ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.

470But fear did not seize Idomeneus as if he were a tender child;

he stood like a boar in the mountains, trusting in its strength,

that waits for a great rush of men advancing

in a lonely place, while the hair bristles along its back;

its two eyes blaze with fire, and it whets

475its tusks, eager to ward off dogs and men.

So Idomeneus, famed for the spear, stood and did not give ground

as Aeneas came to the rescue, but called to his companions,

looking toward Ascalaphus, Aphareus, and Deipyrus,

Meriones and Antilochus, masters of the war cry.

480Urging them on, he addressed them with winged words:

“Come, friends, help me here alone. I am terribly afraid

of swift-footed Aeneas coming on, who is advancing against me,

a man very strong at killing warriors in battle;

and he has the bloom of youth, the greatest source of strength.

485If we two were equal in age, with the spirit we have now,

at once either he would carry off the upper hand, or I would.”

So he spoke, and all of them, with one purpose in their minds,

stood close by, leaning their shields against their shoulders.

Aeneas on the other side called to his own companions,

490looking toward Deiphobus, Paris, and noble Agenor,

who were Trojan leaders beside him; then the troops

followed, as sheep follow the bellwether, well-fed

from the pasture, and the shepherd’s heart rejoices.

So the spirit in Aeneas’ breast rejoiced

495when he saw a mass of troops following him.

They charged to fight at close quarters around Alcathous

with long-shafted spears; the bronze around their chests

clanged terribly as they aimed at one another through the throng.

Two warriors, standing out above all the rest,

500Aeneas and Idomeneus, each a match for Ares,

were eager to cleave each other’s flesh with pitiless bronze.

Aeneas was first to cast at Idomeneus;

but he saw the bronze spear head-on and avoided it,

while Aeneas’ spearhead, quivering, went down into the earth

505after leaping in vain from his strong hand.

506Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα Οἰνόμαον βάλε γαστέρα μέσσην,

ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸς

ἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἐκ μὲν νέκυος δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

510ἐσπάσατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλα δυνήσατο τεύχεα καλὰ

ὤμοιιν ἀφελέσθαι· ἐπείγετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν.

οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα ποδῶν ἦν ὁρμηθέντι,

οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξαι μεθʼ ἑὸν· βέλος οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι.

τώ ῥα καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ μὲν ἀμύνετο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,

515τρέσσαι δʼ οὐκ ἔτι ῥίμφα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο.

τοῦ δὲ βάδην ἀπιόντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

Δηΐφοβος· δὴ γάρ οἱ ἔχεν κότον ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ Ἀσκάλαφον βάλε δουρὶ

υἱὸν Ἐνυαλίοιο· διʼ ὤμου δʼ ὄβριμον ἔγχος

520ἔσχεν· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ τι πέπυστο βριήπυος ὄβριμος Ἄρης

υἷος ἑοῖο πεσόντος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἄκρῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑπὸ χρυσέοισι νέφεσσιν

ἧστο Διὸς βουλῇσιν ἐελμένος, ἔνθά περ ἄλλοι

525ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἦσαν ἐεργόμενοι πολέμοιο.

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀσκαλάφῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν·

Δηΐφοβος μὲν ἀπʼ Ἀσκαλάφου πήληκα φαεινὴν

ἥρπασε, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

δουρὶ βραχίονα τύψεν ἐπάλμενος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς

530αὐλῶπις τρυφάλεια χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.

Μηριόνης δʼ ἐξ αὖτις ἐπάλμενος αἰγυπιὸς ὣς

ἐξέρυσε πρυμνοῖο βραχίονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος,

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο. τὸν δὲ Πολίτης

αὐτοκασίγνητος περὶ μέσσῳ χεῖρε τιτήνας

535ἐξῆγεν πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, ὄφρʼ ἵκεθʼ ἵππους

ὠκέας, οἵ οἱ ὄπισθε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο

ἕστασαν ἡνίοχόν τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔχοντες·

οἳ τόν γε προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον βαρέα στενάχοντα

τειρόμενον· κατὰ δʼ αἷμα νεουτάτου ἔρρεε χειρός.

540οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.

506Then Idomeneus struck Oenomaus in the middle of the belly,

split the breastplate’s plate, and the bronze spilled his entrails out;

he fell in the dust and clutched the earth in his fist.

Idomeneus wrenched his long-shadowed spear from the corpse

510but could no longer strip the rest of the fine armor

from the dead man’s shoulders, for the missiles pressed him hard.

His legs were no longer firm beneath him once he had charged,

either to spring after his own cast or evade another.

So in close combat he warded off the pitiless day,

515but in retreat his feet no longer carried him swiftly from the war.

As he walked away, Deiphobus cast his shining spear at him,

for he always nursed an unrelenting grudge against him.

Yet again he missed; instead he struck Ascalaphus with the spear,

son of Enyalius, and the massive spear drove through his shoulder.

520He fell in the dust and clutched the earth in his fist.

But loud-voiced, mighty Ares had not yet learned

that his own son had fallen in the hard battle;

high on the peak of Olympus, under golden clouds,

he sat constrained by Zeus’ designs, where the other

525immortal gods too were being held back from battle.

They charged to fight at close quarters around Ascalaphus.

Deiphobus snatched the shining helmet from Ascalaphus,

but Meriones, a match for swift Ares,

sprang and stabbed him in the arm; from Deiphobus’ hand

530the tube-socketed helmet fell and boomed upon the ground.

Meriones sprang again like a vulture

and pulled the massive spear from the base of his upper arm,

then shrank back into the band of his companions. But Polites,

Deiphobus’ own brother, stretched both arms around his waist

535and led him out of the harsh-sounding war until he reached

his swift horses, which stood behind the battle and the fighting

with their charioteer and ornate chariot.

They carried him toward the city as he groaned heavily

in pain, and blood flowed down from his newly wounded arm.

540The others fought on, and an unquenchable battle cry arose.

541ἔνθʼ Αἰνέας Ἀφαρῆα Καλητορίδην ἐπορούσας

λαιμὸν τύψʼ ἐπὶ οἷ τετραμμένον ὀξέϊ δουρί·

ἐκλίνθη δʼ ἑτέρωσε κάρη, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀσπὶς ἑάφθη

καὶ κόρυς, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.

545Ἀντίλοχος δὲ Θόωνα μεταστρεφθέντα δοκεύσας

οὔτασʼ ἐπαΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ φλέβα πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν,

ἥ τʼ ἀνὰ νῶτα θέουσα διαμπερὲς αὐχένʼ ἱκάνει·

τὴν ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι

κάππεσεν, ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας.

550Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἐπόρουσε, καὶ αἴνυτο τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων

παπταίνων· Τρῶες δὲ περισταδὸν ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος

οὔταζον σάκος εὐρὺ παναίολον, οὐδὲ δύναντο

εἴσω ἐπιγράψαι τέρενα χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

Ἀντιλόχου· πέρι γάρ ῥα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

555Νέστορος υἱὸν ἔρυτο καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσι βέλεσσιν.

οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτʼ ἄνευ δηΐων ἦν, ἀλλὰ κατʼ αὐτοὺς

στρωφᾶτʼ· οὐδέ οἱ ἔγχος ἔχʼ ἀτρέμας, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

σειόμενον ἐλέλικτο· τιτύσκετο δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν

ἤ τευ ἀκοντίσσαι, ἠὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμηθῆναι.

541Then Aeneas sprang on Aphareus, son of Caletor,

and struck his throat with the sharp spear as he turned toward him.

His head sagged to one side, and shield and helmet

collapsed upon him; spirit-breaking death poured round him.

545Antilochus watched Thoon as he turned away,

leapt on him, stabbed, and severed the whole vein

that runs unbroken up the back to reach the neck;

he cut it clean through. Thoon fell backward in the dust,

spreading both hands toward his dear companions.

550Antilochus leapt on him and began stripping the armor from his shoulders,

keeping watch. The Trojans ringed him, and from every side

stabbed his broad, flashing shield, but they could not

score through it and touch Antilochus’ tender flesh with pitiless bronze;

for Poseidon the earthshaker guarded

555Nestor’s son even in the midst of many missiles.

He was never without foes, but moved among them;

his spear never held still, but always

quivered and swept in circles, while in his mind he took aim

either to cast at someone or charge him at close range.

560ἀλλʼ οὐ λῆθʼ Ἀδάμαντα τιτυσκόμενος καθʼ ὅμιλον

Ἀσιάδην, ὅ οἱ οὖτα μέσον σάκος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ

ἐγγύθεν ὁρμηθείς· ἀμενήνωσεν δέ οἱ αἰχμὴν

κυανοχαῖτα Ποσειδάων βιότοιο μεγήρας.

καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτοῦ μεῖνʼ ὥς τε σκῶλος πυρίκαυστος

565ἐν σάκει Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸ δʼ ἥμισυ κεῖτʼ ἐπὶ γαίης·

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων·

Μηριόνης δʼ ἀπιόντα μετασπόμενος βάλε δουρὶ

αἰδοίων τε μεσηγὺ καὶ ὀμφαλοῦ, ἔνθα μάλιστα

γίγνετʼ Ἄρης ἀλεγεινὸς ὀϊζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν.

570ἔνθά οἱ ἔγχος ἔπηξεν· ὃ δʼ ἑσπόμενος περὶ δουρὶ

ἤσπαιρʼ ὡς ὅτε βοῦς τόν τʼ οὔρεσι βουκόλοι ἄνδρες

ἰλλάσιν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα βίῃ δήσαντες ἄγουσιν·

ὣς ὃ τυπεὶς ἤσπαιρε μίνυνθά περ, οὔ τι μάλα δήν,

ὄφρά οἱ ἐκ χροὸς ἔγχος ἀνεσπάσατʼ ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

575ἥρως Μηριόνης· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

560But Adamas, Asius’ son, did not fail to notice him aiming through the press,

then rushed close and stabbed the center of Antilochus’ shield

with sharp bronze. Yet dark-haired Poseidon weakened

the spearpoint, begrudging Adamas his life.

One half stayed there like a fire-charred stake

565in Antilochus’ shield, while the other half lay on the ground.

He withdrew into the mass of his companions, avoiding doom,

but Meriones pursued him as he went and struck him with his spear

between the genitals and navel, where above all

Ares becomes cruel to wretched mortals.

570There he planted the spear; Adamas followed the shaft’s motion

and struggled like an ox that herdsmen in the mountains

bind by force in twisted ropes and lead away unwilling.

So he writhed when struck, but only briefly, not for long,

until the hero Meriones came close and pulled the spear

575from his flesh; darkness covered Adamas’ eyes.

576Δηΐπυρον δʼ Ἕλενος ξίφεϊ σχεδὸν ἤλασε κόρσην

Θρηϊκίῳ μεγάλῳ, ἀπὸ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἄραξεν.

ἣ μὲν ἀποπλαγχθεῖσα χαμαὶ πέσε, καί τις Ἀχαιῶν

μαρναμένων μετὰ ποσσὶ κυλινδομένην ἐκόμισσε·

580τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν ἐρεβεννὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.

Ἀτρεΐδην δʼ ἄχος εἷλε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·

βῆ δʼ ἐπαπειλήσας Ἑλένῳ ἥρωϊ ἄνακτι

ὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων· ὃ δὲ τόξου πῆχυν ἄνελκε.

τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ὁμαρτήδην ὃ μὲν ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι

585ἵετʼ ἀκοντίσσαι, ὃ δʼ ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστῷ.

Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷ

θώρηκος γύαλον, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀπὸ πλατέος πτυόφιν μεγάλην κατʼ ἀλωὴν

θρῴσκωσιν κύαμοι μελανόχροες ἢ ἐρέβινθοι

590πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ καὶ λικμητῆρος ἐρωῇ,

ὣς ἀπὸ θώρηκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

πολλὸν ἀποπλαγχθεὶς ἑκὰς ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.

Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἄρα χεῖρα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

τὴν βάλεν ᾗ ῥʼ ἔχε τόξον ἐΰξοον· ἐν δʼ ἄρα τόξῳ

595ἀντικρὺ διὰ χειρὸς ἐλήλατο χάλκεον ἔγχος.

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων

χεῖρα παρακρεμάσας· τὸ δʼ ἐφέλκετο μείλινον ἔγχος.

καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐκ χειρὸς ἔρυσεν μεγάθυμος Ἀγήνωρ,

αὐτὴν δὲ ξυνέδησεν ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἰὸς ἀώτῳ

600σφενδόνῃ, ἣν ἄρα οἱ θεράπων ἔχε ποιμένι λαῶν.

576Helenus struck Deipyrus at close quarters in the temple

with his great Thracian sword and knocked away his helmet.

It spun off and fell to the ground, and one of the Achaeans

picked it up as it rolled among the fighters’ feet.

580Dark night covered Deipyrus’ eyes.

Grief seized Menelaus, Atreus’ son, good at the war cry.

Threatening the lordly hero Helenus, he advanced,

brandishing his sharp spear, while Helenus drew back his bow.

The two attacked at the same moment: one was eager to cast

585his sharp-pointed spear, the other to loose an arrow from the string.

Priam’s son struck Menelaus across the chest with an arrow,

on the cuirass plate, but the bitter shaft flew off.

As from a broad shovel across a great threshing floor

dark beans or chickpeas leap,

590driven by the whistling wind and the winnower’s force,

so from the breastplate of glorious Menelaus

the bitter arrow glanced off and flew far away.

Menelaus, Atreus’ son, good at the war cry, struck the hand

with which Helenus held the polished bow; the bronze spear

595had been driven straight through his hand into the bow.

He withdrew into the mass of his companions, avoiding doom,

his hand hanging at his side, the ash spear trailing from it.

Great-hearted Agenor pulled the spear from his hand

and bound the hand itself with a sling of well-twisted

600sheep’s wool, which his attendant carried for the shepherd of the host.

601Πείσανδρος δʼ ἰθὺς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

ἤϊε· τὸν δʼ ἄγε μοῖρα κακὴ θανάτοιο τέλος δὲ

σοὶ Μενέλαε δαμῆναι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες

605Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἅμαρτε, παραὶ δέ οἱ ἐτράπετʼ ἔγχος,

Πείσανδρος δὲ σάκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

οὔτασεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαι·

ἔσχεθε γὰρ σάκος εὐρύ, κατεκλάσθη δʼ ἐνὶ καυλῷ

ἔγχος· ὃ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσι χάρη καὶ ἐέλπετο νίκην.

610Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

ἆλτʼ ἐπὶ Πεισάνδρῳ· ὃ δʼ ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος εἵλετο καλὴν

ἀξίνην εὔχαλκον ἐλαΐνῳ ἀμφὶ πελέκκῳ

μακρῷ ἐϋξέστῳ· ἅμα δʼ ἀλλήλων ἐφίκοντο.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κόρυθος φάλον ἤλασεν ἱπποδασείης

615ἄκρον ὑπὸ λόφον αὐτόν, ὃ δὲ προσιόντα μέτωπον

ῥινὸς ὕπερ πυμάτης· λάκε δʼ ὀστέα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

πὰρ ποσὶν αἱματόεντα χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν,

ἰδνώθη δὲ πεσών· ὃ δὲ λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βαίνων

τεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

601Pisander went straight at glorious Menelaus,

but an evil fate was leading him to the final stroke of death—

to be killed by you, Menelaus, in the dreadful fighting.

When at last they drew near, advancing against each other,

605Atreus’ son missed, and his spear turned aside from Pisander,

while Pisander struck the shield of glorious Menelaus

but could not drive the bronze all the way through.

The broad shield stopped it, and the spear broke at the shaft;

Pisander rejoiced in his heart and hoped for victory.

610Atreus’ son drew his silver-studded sword,

and leapt at Pisander. From beneath his shield Pisander took

a fine bronze axe on a long, smooth olive-wood haft,

and they struck one another at the same time.

Pisander struck the crest of the horsehair-plumed helmet,

615at its top just beneath the plume; but Menelaus struck his forehead

as he came on, above the root of the nose. The bones cracked, and both eyes

fell bloody in the dust at Menelaus’ feet.

Pisander doubled over as he fell; Menelaus planted a heel on his chest,

stripped off his armor, and spoke this boast:

620λείψετέ θην οὕτω γε νέας Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων

Τρῶες ὑπερφίαλοι δεινῆς ἀκόρητοι ἀϋτῆς,

ἄλλης μὲν λώβης τε καὶ αἴσχεος οὐκ ἐπιδευεῖς

ἣν ἐμὲ λωβήσασθε κακαὶ κύνες, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

Ζηνὸς ἐριβρεμέτεω χαλεπὴν ἐδείσατε μῆνιν

625ξεινίου, ὅς τέ ποτʼ ὔμμι διαφθέρσει πόλιν αἰπήν·

οἵ μευ κουριδίην ἄλοχον καὶ κτήματα πολλὰ

μὰψ οἴχεσθʼ ἀνάγοντες, ἐπεὶ φιλέεσθε παρʼ αὐτῇ·

νῦν αὖτʼ ἐν νηυσὶν μενεαίνετε ποντοπόροισι

πῦρ ὀλοὸν βαλέειν, κτεῖναι δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.

630ἀλλά ποθι σχήσεσθε καὶ ἐσσύμενοί περ Ἄρηος.

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ τέ σέ φασι περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλων

ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν· σέο δʼ ἐκ τάδε πάντα πέλονται·

οἷον δὴ ἄνδρεσσι χαρίζεαι ὑβριστῇσι

Τρωσίν, τῶν μένος αἰὲν ἀτάσθαλον, οὐδὲ δύνανται

635φυλόπιδος κορέσασθαι ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο.

πάντων μὲν κόρος ἐστὶ καὶ ὕπνου καὶ φιλότητος

μολπῆς τε γλυκερῆς καὶ ἀμύμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο,

τῶν πέρ τις καὶ μᾶλλον ἐέλδεται ἐξ ἔρον εἷναι

ἢ πολέμου· Τρῶες δὲ μάχης ἀκόρητοι ἔασιν.

640ὣς εἰπὼν τὰ μὲν ἔντεʼ ἀπὸ χροὸς αἱματόεντα

συλήσας ἑτάροισι δίδου Μενέλαος ἀμύμων,

αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξ αὖτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη.

620“So now you will surely leave the swift-horsed Danaans’ ships,

overweening Trojans, insatiable in the dreadful battle cry!

You have lacked no other outrage or disgrace

with which to dishonor me, you shameless dogs; nor in your hearts

did you fear the terrible wrath of loud-thundering Zeus,

625guardian of guests, who one day will destroy your steep city.

You went off wantonly with my wedded wife and many possessions,

though you had been welcomed as guests beside her.

Now in turn you rage to cast destructive fire on our seagoing ships

and to kill the Achaean heroes.

630Yet somewhere you will be stopped, however eagerly you rush into battle.

Father Zeus, they say you surpass all others in wisdom,

men and gods alike; yet from you all these things have come:

how you favor these insolent men,

the Trojans, whose force is forever reckless, and who cannot

635have their fill of the battle din of leveling war.

There is satiety in all things—in sleep and lovemaking,

in sweet song and faultless dancing—

things a man longs far more to take his fill of

than war; but the Trojans are insatiable for battle.”

640So he spoke, and faultless Menelaus stripped the bloodied armor

from the body and gave it to his companions;

then he went back again and joined the foremost fighters.

643ἔνθά οἱ υἱὸς ἐπᾶλτο Πυλαιμένεος βασιλῆος

Ἁρπαλίων, ὅ ῥα πατρὶ φίλῳ ἕπετο πτολεμίξων

645ἐς τροίην, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἀφίκετο πατρίδα γαῖαν·

ὅς ῥα τότʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρὶ

ἐγγύθεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαι

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων

πάντοσε παπταίνων μή τις χρόα χαλκῷ ἐπαύρῃ.

650Μηριόνης δʼ ἀπιόντος ἵει χαλκήρεʼ ὀϊστόν,

καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε γλουτὸν κάτα δεξιόν· αὐτὰρ ὀϊστὸς

ἀντικρὺ κατὰ κύστιν ὑπʼ ὀστέον ἐξεπέρησεν.

ἑζόμενος δὲ κατʼ αὖθι φίλων ἐν χερσὶν ἑταίρων

θυμὸν ἀποπνείων, ὥς τε σκώληξ ἐπὶ γαίῃ

655κεῖτο ταθείς· ἐκ δʼ αἷμα μέλαν ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.

τὸν μὲν Παφλαγόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,

ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνέσαντες ἄγον προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρὴν

ἀχνύμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι πατὴρ κίε δάκρυα λείβων,

ποινὴ δʼ οὔ τις παιδὸς ἐγίγνετο τεθνηῶτος.

643There Harpalion, son of King Pylaemenes, sprang at him,

a man who had followed his dear father to fight

645at Troy and never reached his native land again.

He stabbed the center of Atreus’ son’s shield at close range

but could not drive the bronze all the way through.

He withdrew into the mass of his companions, avoiding doom,

glancing everywhere so no one might touch his flesh with bronze.

650But as he withdrew, Meriones loosed a bronze-tipped arrow

and struck him in the right buttock; the arrow

passed straight through, beneath the bone, and pierced the bladder.

Sinking down there in the arms of his dear companions,

breathing out his life, he lay stretched on the ground

655like a worm; black blood flowed out and soaked the earth.

The great-hearted Paphlagonians tended him,

lifted him into a chariot, and carried him toward sacred Ilium

in grief. His father followed them, shedding tears,

and no recompense came for his dead son.

660τοῦ δὲ Πάρις μάλα θυμὸν ἀποκταμένοιο χολώθη·

ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην πολέσιν μετὰ Παφλαγόνεσσι·

τοῦ ὅ γε χωόμενος προΐει χαλκήρεʼ ὀϊστόν.

ἦν δέ τις Εὐχήνωρ Πολυΐδου μάντιος υἱὸς

ἀφνειός τʼ ἀγαθός τε Κορινθόθι οἰκία ναίων,

665ὅς ῥʼ εὖ εἰδὼς κῆρʼ ὀλοὴν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινε·

πολλάκι γάρ οἱ ἔειπε γέρων ἀγαθὸς Πολύϊδος

νούσῳ ὑπʼ ἀργαλέῃ φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν,

ἢ μετʼ Ἀχαιῶν νηυσὶν ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι·

τώ ῥʼ ἅμα τʼ ἀργαλέην θωὴν ἀλέεινεν Ἀχαιῶν

670νοῦσόν τε στυγερήν, ἵνα μὴ πάθοι ἄλγεα θυμῷ.

τὸν βάλʼ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο. καὶ οὔατος· ὦκα δὲ θυμὸς

ᾤχετʼ ἀπὸ μελέων, στυγερὸς δʼ ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλεν.

660Paris was deeply angered at Harpalion’s death,

for he had been his guest-friend among the many Paphlagonians.

In anger over him, Paris shot a bronze-tipped arrow.

There was a man Euchenor, son of the seer Polyidus,

rich and brave, whose home was in Corinth.

665Well aware of his deadly fate, he had boarded his ship,

for the good old man Polyidus had often told him

that he would either waste away beneath a cruel disease in his halls

or be killed by the Trojans among the Achaean ships.

So he escaped both the Achaeans’ heavy fine

670and the hateful disease, lest he suffer pain in his spirit.

Paris struck him beneath the jaw and ear; swiftly his spirit

left his limbs, and hateful darkness seized him.

673ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ οὐκ ἐπέπυστο Διῒ φίλος, οὐδέ τι ᾔδη

675ὅττί ῥά οἱ νηῶν ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ δηϊόωντο

λαοὶ ὑπʼ Ἀργείων. τάχα δʼ ἂν καὶ κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν

ἔπλετο· τοῖος γὰρ γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος

ὄτρυνʼ Ἀργείους, πρὸς δὲ σθένει αὐτὸς ἄμυνεν·

ἀλλʼ ἔχεν ᾗ τὰ πρῶτα πύλας καὶ τεῖχος ἐσᾶλτο

680ῥηξάμενος Δαναῶν πυκινὰς στίχας ἀσπιστάων,

ἔνθʼ ἔσαν Αἴαντός τε νέες καὶ Πρωτεσιλάου

θῖνʼ ἔφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς εἰρυμέναι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε

τεῖχος ἐδέδμητο χθαμαλώτατον, ἔνθα μάλιστα

ζαχρηεῖς γίγνοντο μάχῃ αὐτοί τε καὶ ἵπποι.

673So they fought on, like blazing fire.

But Hector, dear to Zeus, had not heard and did not know

675that to the left of the ships his troops were being destroyed

by the Argives. The Achaeans might soon have won ascendancy,

so powerfully did the Earth-holder, Earth-shaker,

rouse the Argives and defend them with his own strength.

But Hector held the ground where he had first leapt through the gates and wall,

680after breaking the close ranks of the Danaan shieldmen.

There the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus

were drawn up along the shore of the gray sea, while above them

the wall had been built at its lowest point; there the fighting

was most furious, among both warriors and horses.

685ἔνθα δὲ Βοιωτοὶ καὶ Ἰάονες ἑλκεχίτωνες

Λοκροὶ καὶ Φθῖοι καὶ φαιδιμόεντες Ἐπειοὶ

σπουδῇ ἐπαΐσσοντα νεῶν ἔχον, οὐδὲ δύναντο

ὦσαι ἀπὸ σφείων φλογὶ εἴκελον Ἕκτορα δῖον

οἳ μὲν Ἀθηναίων προλελεγμένοι· ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσιν

690ἦρχʼ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς, οἳ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

Φείδας τε Στιχίος τε Βίας τʼ ἐΰς· αὐτὰρ Ἐπειῶν

Φυλεΐδης τε Μέγης Ἀμφίων τε Δρακίος τε,

πρὸ Φθίων δὲ Μέδων τε μενεπτόλεμός τε Ποδάρκης.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν νόθος υἱὸς Ὀϊλῆος θείοιο

695ἔσκε Μέδων Αἴαντος ἀδελφεός· αὐτὰρ ἔναιεν

ἐν Φυλάκῃ γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος ἄνδρα κατακτὰς

γνωτὸν μητρυιῆς Ἐριώπιδος, ἣν ἔχʼ Ὀϊλεύς·

αὐτὰρ ὃ Ἰφίκλοιο πάϊς τοῦ Φυλακίδαο.

οἳ μὲν πρὸ Φθίων μεγαθύμων θωρηχθέντες

700ναῦφιν ἀμυνόμενοι μετὰ Βοιωτῶν ἐμάχοντο·

685There the Boeotians and long-robed Ionians,

the Locrians, Phthians, and glorious Epeians

strenuously held Hector back as he rushed toward the ships, but could not

drive godlike Hector, blazing like fire, away from them.

The chosen Athenians were there; among them

690Menestheus, son of Peteos, held command, and with him came

Pheidas, Stichius, and noble Bias. The Epeians were led by

Meges son of Phyleus, Amphion, and Dracius;

before the Phthians stood Medon and steadfast Podarces.

Medon was the bastard son of godlike Oileus

695and brother to Ajax. He lived in Phylace,

far from his native land, after killing a man—

a kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis, the wife of Oileus.

Podarces was the son of Iphiclus, son of Phylacus.

Armored before the great-hearted Phthians, these men

700fought beside the Boeotians in defense of the ships.

701Αἴας δʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς υἱὸς

ἵστατʼ ἀπʼ Αἴαντος Τελαμωνίου οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ἐν νειῷ βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον

ἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντε τιταίνετον· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρά σφι

705πρυμνοῖσιν κεράεσσι πολὺς ἀνακηκίει ἱδρώς·

τὼ μέν τε ζυγὸν οἶον ἐΰξοον ἀμφὶς ἐέργει

ἱεμένω κατὰ ὦλκα· τέμει δέ τε τέλσον ἀρούρης·

ὣς τὼ παρβεβαῶτε μάλʼ ἕστασαν ἀλλήλοιιν.

701Swift Ajax, son of Oileus, no longer stood

apart from Telamonian Ajax—not even a little.

As two wine-dark oxen in fallow ground strain at a jointed plow

with equal spirit, and abundant sweat wells up

705around the roots of their horns,

while only the polished yoke keeps them apart

as they press down the furrow and the plow cuts to the field’s edge,

so the two Ajaxes stood close beside one another.

709ἀλλʼ ἤτοι Τελαμωνιάδῃ πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ

710λαοὶ ἕπονθʼ ἕταροι, οἵ οἱ σάκος ἐξεδέχοντο

ὁππότε μιν κάματός τε καὶ ἱδρὼς γούναθʼ ἵκοιτο.

οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ὀϊλιάδῃ μεγαλήτορι Λοκροὶ ἕποντο·

οὐ γάρ σφι σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ μίμνε φίλον κῆρ·

οὐ γὰρ ἔχον κόρυθας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας,

715οὐδʼ ἔχον ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα,

ἀλλʼ ἄρα τόξοισιν καὶ ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἶος ἀώτῳ

Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμʼ ἕποντο πεποιθότες, οἷσιν ἔπειτα

ταρφέα βάλλοντες Τρώων ῥήγνυντο φάλαγγας·

δή ῥα τόθʼ οἳ μὲν πρόσθε σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισι

720μάρναντο Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ,

οἳ δʼ ὄπιθεν βάλλοντες ἐλάνθανον· οὐδέ τι χάρμης

Τρῶες μιμνήσκοντο· συνεκλόνεον γὰρ ὀϊστοί.

709Many brave companions followed Telamon’s son,

710men who took his shield from him in turn

whenever weariness and sweat reached his knees.

But the great-hearted Locrians did not follow Oileus’ son,

for their hearts did not endure the close-standing fight.

They had no bronze helmets crested with horsehair,

715no round shields and no ash spears,

but in their bows and slings of well-twisted sheep’s wool

they had trusted when they followed to Ilium; with these

they shot thickly and broke the Trojan ranks.

At that time the men in front, with their intricate armor,

720fought the Trojans and bronze-helmeted Hector,

while those behind shot unseen. The Trojans had no thought

for battle, for the arrows drove them into confusion.

723ἔνθά κε λευγαλέως νηῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων

Τρῶες ἐχώρησαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,

725εἰ μὴ Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστάς·

Ἕκτορ ἀμήχανός ἐσσι παραρρητοῖσι πιθέσθαι.

οὕνεκά τοι περὶ δῶκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα

τοὔνεκα καὶ βουλῇ ἐθέλεις περιίδμεναι ἄλλων·

ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα δυνήσεαι αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.

730ἄλλῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα,

ἄλλῳ δʼ ὀρχηστύν, ἑτέρῳ κίθαριν καὶ ἀοιδήν,

ἄλλῳ δʼ ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖ νόον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

ἐσθλόν, τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἐπαυρίσκοντʼ ἄνθρωποι,

καί τε πολέας ἐσάωσε, μάλιστα δὲ καὐτὸς ἀνέγνω.

735αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα·

πάντῃ γάρ σε περὶ στέφανος πολέμοιο δέδηε·

Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ἐπεὶ κατὰ τεῖχος ἔβησαν

οἳ μὲν ἀφεστᾶσιν σὺν τεύχεσιν, οἳ δὲ μάχονται

παυρότεροι πλεόνεσσι κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας.

740ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος κάλει ἐνθάδε πάντας ἀρίστους·

ἔνθεν δʼ ἂν μάλα πᾶσαν ἐπιφρασσαίμεθα βουλὴν

ἤ κεν ἐνὶ νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πέσωμεν

αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι θεὸς δόμεναι κράτος, ἦ κεν ἔπειτα

πὰρ νηῶν ἔλθωμεν ἀπήμονες. ἦ γὰρ ἔγωγε

745δείδω μὴ τὸ χθιζὸν ἀποστήσωνται Ἀχαιοὶ

χρεῖος, ἐπεὶ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀνὴρ ἆτος πολέμοιο

μίμνει, ὃν οὐκέτι πάγχυ μάχης σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω.

723Then the Trojans would have withdrawn miserably from the ships and huts

toward windy Ilium,

725if Polydamas had not stood beside bold Hector and said:

“Hector, you are impossible to persuade by counselors.

Because a god has granted you preeminence in deeds of war,

you also want to surpass all others in counsel;

but you cannot seize every gift for yourself at once.

730A god gives one man deeds of war,

another dancing, another the lyre and song,

and in another man’s breast far-seeing Zeus places

a noble mind; many people profit from such a man,

and he saves many—he himself understands its value best.

735But I will say what seems best to me:

for a ring of war blazes around you everywhere.

Since the great-hearted Trojans crossed the wall,

some stand apart with their armor, while others fight,

fewer men scattered among greater numbers beside the ships.

740Draw back and call all the best men here.

From here we can fully consider every plan:

whether we should fall upon the many-benched ships,

if a god intends to grant us power, or whether instead

we can make our way unharmed from the ships. For truly I

745fear the Achaeans may repay yesterday’s debt,

since beside the ships there waits a man insatiable for war,

one I think will no longer hold himself entirely back from battle.”

748ὣς φάτο Πουλυδάμας, ἅδε δʼ Ἕκτορι μῦθος ἀπήμων,

αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε

750καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Πουλυδάμα σὺ μὲν αὐτοῦ ἐρύκακε πάντας ἀρίστους,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κεῖσʼ εἶμι καὶ ἀντιόω πολέμοιο·

αἶψα δʼ ἐλεύσομαι αὖτις ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπιτείλω.

748So Polydamas spoke, and Hector welcomed the sound advice.

At once he leapt from the chariot to the ground in his armor.

750He called to Polydamas and addressed him with winged words:

“Polydamas, keep all our best men here,

I will go there and meet the battle,

then quickly return once I have given them their orders.”

754ἦ ῥα, καὶ ὁρμήθη ὄρεϊ νιφόεντι ἐοικὼς

755κεκλήγων, διὰ δὲ Τρώων πέτετʼ ἠδʼ ἐπικούρων.

οἳ δʼ ἐς Πανθοΐδην ἀγαπήνορα Πουλυδάμαντα

πάντες ἐπεσσεύοντʼ, ἐπεὶ Ἕκτορος ἔκλυον αὐδήν.

αὐτὰρ ὃ Δηΐφοβόν τε βίην θʼ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτος

Ἀσιάδην τʼ Ἀδάμαντα καὶ Ἄσιον Ὑρτάκου υἱὸν

760φοίτα ἀνὰ προμάχους διζήμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροι.

τοὺς δʼ εὗρʼ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἀπήμονας οὐδʼ ἀνολέθρους·

ἀλλʼ οἳ μὲν δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσιν Ἀχαιῶν

χερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων κέατο ψυχὰς ὀλέσαντες,

οἳ δʼ ἐν τείχει ἔσαν βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.

754He spoke and rushed out, like a snow-covered mountain,

755shouting as he flew through the Trojans and their allies.

They all hastened toward proud Polydamas, Panthous’ son,

when they heard Hector’s voice.

Meanwhile Hector searched for Deiphobus and the might of lord Helenus,

Adamas son of Asius and Asius son of Hyrtacus,

760ranging among the foremost fighters in case he might find them.

He found them neither all unharmed nor all alive:

some lay beside the sterns of the Achaean ships,

their lives lost beneath the Argives’ hands,

while others were inside the wall, struck by missiles or stabbed.

765τὸν δὲ τάχʼ εὗρε μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ δακρυοέσσης

δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Ἑλένης πόσιν ἠϋκόμοιο

θαρσύνονθʼ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος προσέφη αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσι·

Δύσπαρι εἶδος ἄριστε γυναιμανὲς ἠπεροπευτὰ

770ποῦ τοι Δηΐφοβός τε βίη θʼ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτος

Ἀσιάδης τʼ Ἀδάμας ἠδʼ Ἄσιος Ὑρτάκου υἱός;

ποῦ δέ τοι Ὀθρυονεύς; νῦν ὤλετο πᾶσα κατʼ ἄκρης

Ἴλιος αἰπεινή· νῦν τοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.

765Soon, on the left of the tear-filled battle, he found

godlike Alexander, husband of lovely-haired Helen,

encouraging his companions and urging them to fight.

He stood nearby and addressed him with words of abuse:

“Paris, curse that you are—best in looks, woman-mad deceiver!

770Where are Deiphobus and the might of lord Helenus,

Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus?

Where is Othryoneus? Now all lofty Ilium is utterly lost,

and now sheer destruction is certain for you.”

774τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·

775Ἕκτορ ἐπεί τοι θυμὸς ἀναίτιον αἰτιάασθαι,

ἄλλοτε δή ποτε μᾶλλον ἐρωῆσαι πολέμοιο

μέλλω, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ πάμπαν ἀνάλκιδα γείνατο μήτηρ·

ἐξ οὗ γὰρ παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχην ἤγειρας ἑταίρων,

ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες ὁμιλέομεν Δαναοῖσι

780νωλεμέως· ἕταροι δὲ κατέκταθεν οὓς σὺ μεταλλᾷς.

οἴω Δηΐφοβός τε βίη θʼ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτος

οἴχεσθον, μακρῇσι τετυμμένω ἐγχείῃσιν

ἀμφοτέρω κατὰ χεῖρα· φόνον δʼ ἤμυνε Κρονίων.

νῦν δʼ ἄρχʼ ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει·

785ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐμμεμαῶτες ἅμʼ ἑψόμεθʼ, οὐδέ τί φημι

ἀλκῆς δευήσεσθαι, ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστι.

πὰρ δύναμιν δʼ οὐκ ἔστι καὶ ἐσσύμενον πολεμίζειν.

ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως·

774Then godlike Alexander answered him:

775“Hector, since your heart is set on blaming a blameless man,

at other times I might be more likely to hold back from battle,

though my mother did not bear me wholly without courage.

Ever since you stirred our companions to battle beside the ships,

we have stayed here and fought the Danaans

780without cease; the companions you ask about have been killed.

Only Deiphobus and the might of lord Helenus

have gone away, wounded by long spears,

both in the arm; Cronus’ son warded death away from them.

Now lead wherever your heart and spirit command.

785We will follow eagerly with you, and I do not think

we will fall short of courage, so far as our strength allows.

No man, however eager, can fight beyond his strength.”

So the hero spoke and persuaded his brother's mind.

789βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἔνθα μάλιστα μάχη καὶ φύλοπις ἦεν

790ἀμφί τε Κεβριόνην καὶ ἀμύμονα Πουλυδάμαντα

Φάλκην Ὀρθαῖόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Πολυφήτην

Πάλμύν τʼ Ἀσκάνιόν τε Μόρυν θʼ υἷʼ Ἱπποτίωνος,

οἵ ῥʼ ἐξ Ἀσκανίης ἐριβώλακος ἦλθον ἀμοιβοὶ

ἠοῖ τῇ προτέρῃ· τότε δὲ Ζεὺς ὦρσε μάχεσθαι.

795οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀτάλαντοι ἀέλλῃ,

ἥ ῥά θʼ ὑπὸ βροντῆς πατρὸς Διὸς εἶσι πέδον δέ,

θεσπεσίῳ δʼ ὁμάδῳ ἁλὶ μίσγεται, ἐν δέ τε πολλὰ

κύματα παφλάζοντα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης

κυρτὰ φαληριόωντα, πρὸ μέν τʼ ἄλλʼ, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ ἄλλα·

800ὣς Τρῶες πρὸ μὲν ἄλλοι ἀρηρότες, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ ἄλλοι,

χαλκῷ μαρμαίροντες ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποντο.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἡγεῖτο βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ

Πριαμίδης· πρόσθεν δʼ ἔχεν ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

ῥινοῖσιν πυκινήν, πολλὸς δʼ ἐπελήλατο χαλκός·

805ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κροτάφοισι φαεινὴ σείετο πήληξ.

πάντῃ δʼ ἀμφὶ φάλαγγας ἐπειρᾶτο προποδίζων,

εἴ πώς οἱ εἴξειαν ὑπασπίδια προβιβῶντι·

ἀλλʼ οὐ σύγχει θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

789They advanced to where battle and combat raged most fiercely,

790around Cebriones and faultless Polydamas,

Phalces, Orthaeus, and godlike Polyphetes,

Palmys, Ascanius, and Morys, Hippotion’s son.

They had come from rich-soiled Ascania as relief troops

at the preceding dawn; now Zeus drove them on to fight.

795They advanced like a storm of punishing winds

that moves down to the plain beneath Father Zeus’s thunder

and meets the sea with a tremendous roar, where countless

waves of the loud-roaring sea seethe,

arching and white-capped, one before another.

800So the Trojans came on, ranks fitted one before another,

gleaming in bronze as they followed their leaders.

Hector, Priam’s son, led them, a match for man-destroying Ares.

He held before him his shield, balanced on every side,

thick with hides and overlaid with abundant bronze;

805the shining helmet shook about his temples.

He advanced around the battalions, testing them on every side

to see if they would yield as he strode forward behind his shield,

but he could not confound the spirit in the Achaeans’ breasts.

809Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος προκαλέσσατο μακρὰ βιβάσθων·

810δαιμόνιε σχεδὸν ἐλθέ· τί ἢ δειδίσσεαι αὔτως

Ἀργείους; οὔ τοί τι μάχης ἀδαήμονές εἰμεν,

ἀλλὰ Διὸς μάστιγι κακῇ ἐδάμημεν Ἀχαιοί.

ἦ θήν πού τοι θυμὸς ἐέλπεται ἐξαλαπάξειν

νῆας· ἄφαρ δέ τε χεῖρες ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἡμῖν.

815ἦ κε πολὺ φθαίη εὖ ναιομένη πόλις ὑμὴ

χερσὶν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.

σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ φημὶ σχεδὸν ἔμμεναι ὁππότε φεύγων

ἀρήσῃ Διὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισι

θάσσονας ἰρήκων ἔμεναι καλλίτριχας ἵππους,

820οἵ σε πόλιν δʼ οἴσουσι κονίοντες πεδίοιο.

ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις

αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης· ἐπὶ δʼ ἴαχε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν

θάρσυνος οἰωνῷ· ὃ δʼ ἀμείβετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·

809Ajax was first to challenge him, striding out before the others:

810“Strange man, come closer! Why try to frighten

the Argives for nothing? We are not unskilled in battle;

but we Achaeans have been beaten down by Zeus’s cruel lash.

Your heart surely hopes to ravage our ships,

but we too have hands ready to defend them.

815Long before that, your well-inhabited city would be

taken and sacked beneath our hands.

And for you yourself, I say the hour is near when, fleeing,

you will pray to Father Zeus and the other immortals

that your fair-maned horses be swifter than hawks,

820to carry you cityward, raising dust across the plain.”

As he spoke, a bird flew past him on the right,

a high-flying eagle; the Achaean host cried out,

emboldened by the omen. Glorious Hector answered:

824Αἶαν ἁμαρτοεπὲς βουγάϊε ποῖον ἔειπες·

825εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν οὕτω γε Διὸς πάϊς αἰγιόχοιο

εἴην ἤματα πάντα, τέκοι δέ με πότνια Ἥρη,

τιοίμην δʼ ὡς τίετʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἀπόλλων,

ὡς νῦν ἡμέρη ἥδε κακὸν φέρει Ἀργείοισι

πᾶσι μάλʼ, ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσι πεφήσεαι, αἴ κε ταλάσσῃς

830μεῖναι ἐμὸν δόρυ μακρόν, ὅ τοι χρόα λειριόεντα

δάψει· ἀτὰρ Τρώων κορέεις κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνοὺς

δημῷ καὶ σάρκεσσι πεσὼν ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

824“Ajax, blundering braggart, what words are these?

825If only I were truly a son of aegis-bearing Zeus

for all my days, and lady Hera had borne me,

and honored as Athena and Apollo are honored,

as surely as this day brings evil to the Argives—

all of them—and among them you will die, if you dare

830stand against my long spear, which will bite into your lily-soft

flesh. You will glut the Trojans’ dogs and birds

with your fat and flesh, fallen beside the Achaean ships.”

833ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο· τοὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἴαχε λαὸς ὄπισθεν.

835Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπίαχον, οὐδὲ λάθοντο

ἀλκῆς, ἀλλʼ ἔμενον Τρώων ἐπιόντας ἀρίστους.

ἠχὴ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων ἵκετʼ αἰθέρα καὶ Διὸς αὐγάς.

833So he spoke and led the way; they followed after him

with a superhuman roar, and the host behind him shouted.

835From the other side the Argives cried out in answer; they did not forget

their courage, but stood their ground against the foremost Trojans.

The noise of both sides reached the upper air and the rays of Zeus.