Iliad, Book 20: Gods Enter Battle

1ὣς οἳ μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσι θωρήσσοντο

ἀμφὶ σὲ Πηλέος υἱὲ μάχης ἀκόρητον Ἀχαιοί,

Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιο·

Ζεὺς δὲ Θέμιστα κέλευσε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσαι

5κρατὸς ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο πολυπτύχου· ἣ δʼ ἄρα πάντῃ

φοιτήσασα κέλευσε Διὸς πρὸς δῶμα νέεσθαι.

οὔτέ τις οὖν ποταμῶν ἀπέην νόσφʼ Ὠκεανοῖο,

οὔτʼ ἄρα νυμφάων αἵ τʼ ἄλσεα καλὰ νέμονται

καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα.

10ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δῶμα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο

ξεστῇς αἰθούσῃσιν ἐνίζανον, ἃς Διὶ πατρὶ

Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν.

1So by the curved ships they were arming themselves,

the Achaeans around you, son of Peleus, insatiable for battle,

while the Trojans armed on the far side, along the rise of the plain.

Zeus ordered Themis to call the gods to assembly

5from the summit of many-folded Olympus; ranging everywhere,

she commanded them to go to Zeus’s house.

No river was absent then except Ocean,

nor any nymph who dwells in the lovely groves,

the river springs, and the grassy meadows.

10When they reached the house of cloud-gathering Zeus,

they sat in polished porticoes which, for father Zeus,

Hephaestus had fashioned with knowing skill.

13ὣς οἳ μὲν Διὸς ἔνδον ἀγηγέρατʼ· οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων

νηκούστησε θεᾶς, ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε μετʼ αὐτούς,

15ἷζε δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν μέσσοισι, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·

τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ἀργικέραυνε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ κάλεσσας;

ἦ τι περὶ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν μερμηρίζεις;

τῶν γὰρ νῦν ἄγχιστα μάχη πόλεμός τε δέδηε.

13So they had gathered inside Zeus’s house; nor did the Earth-shaker

fail to heed the goddess, but he came from the sea among them.

15He sat in their midst and asked Zeus his plan:

“Why again, lord of bright lightning, have you called the gods to assembly?

Are you deliberating over the Trojans and Achaeans?

For now their battle and war are blazing very near.”

19τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

20ἔγνως ἐννοσίγαιε ἐμὴν ἐν στήθεσι βουλὴν

ὧν ἕνεκα ξυνάγειρα· μέλουσί μοι ὀλλύμενοί περ.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω πτυχὶ Οὐλύμποιο

ἥμενος, ἔνθʼ ὁρόων φρένα τέρψομαι· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι

ἔρχεσθʼ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκησθε μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,

25ἀμφοτέροισι δʼ ἀρήγεθʼ ὅπῃ νόος ἐστὶν ἑκάστου.

εἰ γὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς οἶος ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μαχεῖται

οὐδὲ μίνυνθʼ ἕξουσι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.

καὶ δέ τί μιν καὶ πρόσθεν ὑποτρομέεσκον ὁρῶντες·

νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ θυμὸν ἑταίρου χώεται αἰνῶς

30δείδω μὴ καὶ τεῖχος ὑπέρμορον ἐξαλαπάξῃ.

19Then cloud-gathering Zeus answered him:

20“You know, Earth-shaker, the plan within my breast

and why I gathered the gods: the dying armies matter to me.

Yet I will remain here on a ridge of Olympus,

seated, and take pleasure as I watch. But the rest of you,

go until you reach the Trojans and Achaeans;

25help either side, as each of you intends.

For if Achilles fights the Trojans by himself,

they will not hold off swift-footed Peleus’s son even briefly.

Even before now, at the sight of him, they used to tremble;

but now, when he rages so terribly in spirit for his companion,

30I fear he may sack the wall beyond its allotted time.”

31ὣς ἔφατο Κρονίδης, πόλεμον δʼ ἀλίαστον ἔγειρε.

βὰν δʼ ἴμεναι πόλεμον δὲ θεοὶ δίχα θυμὸν ἔχοντες·

Ἥρη μὲν μετʼ ἀγῶνα νεῶν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἠδʼ ἐριούνης

35Ἑρμείας, ὃς ἐπὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι κέκασται·

Ἥφαιστος δʼ ἅμα τοῖσι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων

χωλεύων, ὑπὸ δὲ κνῆμαι ῥώοντο ἀραιαί.

ἐς δὲ Τρῶας Ἄρης κορυθαίολος, αὐτὰρ ἅμʼ αὐτῷ

Φοῖβος ἀκερσεκόμης ἠδʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα

40Λητώ τε Ξάνθός τε φιλομειδής τʼ Ἀφροδίτη.

31So Cronus’s son spoke and roused unrelenting war.

The gods went off to battle, their hearts divided:

Hera toward the gathering at the ships, and Pallas Athena,

Poseidon, holder of the earth, and Hermes the helper,

35who excels in the shrewdness of his mind;

Hephaestus went with them, exulting in his strength,

limping, his thin legs moving swiftly beneath him.

On the Trojan side went Ares of the flashing helmet, and with him

unshorn-haired Phoebus and arrow-showering Artemis,

40Leto, Xanthus, and laughter-loving Aphrodite.

41εἷος μέν ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε θεοὶ θνητῶν ἔσαν ἀνδρῶν,

τεῖος Ἀχαιοὶ μὲν μέγα κύδανον, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς·

Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον

45δειδιότας, ὅθʼ ὁρῶντο ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα

τεύχεσι λαμπόμενον βροτολοιγῷ ἶσον Ἄρηϊ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ μεθʼ ὅμιλον Ὀλύμπιοι ἤλυθον ἀνδρῶν,

ὦρτο δʼ Ἔρις κρατερὴ λαοσσόος, αὖε δʼ Ἀθήνη

στᾶσʼ ὁτὲ μὲν παρὰ τάφρον ὀρυκτὴν τείχεος ἐκτός,

50ἄλλοτʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτάων ἐριδούπων μακρὸν ἀΰτει.

αὖε δʼ Ἄρης ἑτέρωθεν ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσος

ὀξὺ κατʼ ἀκροτάτης πόλιος Τρώεσσι κελεύων,

ἄλλοτε πὰρ Σιμόεντι θέων ἐπὶ Καλλικολώνῃ.

41As long as the gods stayed apart from mortal men,

the Achaeans exulted greatly because Achilles

had appeared after so long a pause from grievous battle.

A terrible tremor came over every Trojan’s limbs;

45they were afraid when they saw swift-footed Peleus’s son,

his armor flashing like man-destroying Ares.

But once the Olympians entered the throng of men,

strong Strife, rouser of the host, arose, and Athena shouted,

standing at times beside the dug trench outside the wall,

50at others on the echoing headlands, where her cry rang far.

Ares shouted on the other side, like a dark storm-wind,

sharply from the city’s highest point, urging on the Trojans;

at other times he ran beside Simois on Callicolone.

54ὣς τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους μάκαρες θεοὶ ὀτρύνοντες

55σύμβαλον, ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖς ἔριδα ῥήγνυντο βαρεῖαν·

δεινὸν δὲ βρόντησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε

ὑψόθεν· αὐτὰρ νέρθε Ποσειδάων ἐτίναξε

γαῖαν ἀπειρεσίην ὀρέων τʼ αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα.

πάντες δʼ ἐσσείοντο πόδες πολυπίδακος Ἴδης

60καὶ κορυφαί, Τρώων τε πόλις καὶ νῆες Ἀχαιῶν.

ἔδεισεν δʼ ὑπένερθεν ἄναξ ἐνέρων Ἀϊδωνεύς,

δείσας δʼ ἐκ θρόνου ἆλτο καὶ ἴαχε, μή οἱ ὕπερθε

γαῖαν ἀναρρήξειε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

οἰκία δὲ θνητοῖσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι φανείη

65σμερδαλέʼ εὐρώεντα, τά τε στυγέουσι θεοί περ·

τόσσος ἄρα κτύπος ὦρτο θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνιόντων.

54So the blessed gods, urging both armies,

55brought them together and burst heavy strife among them.

The father of gods and men thundered terribly

high above, while below Poseidon shook

the boundless earth and the lofty mountain peaks.

All the footslopes of Ida of many springs were shaken,

60its summits, the Trojans’ city, and the Achaeans’ ships.

Hades, lord of those beneath, was frightened below;

in fear he sprang from his throne and cried out, lest above him

Poseidon the Earth-shaker tear the earth open,

and the homes appear to mortals and immortals—

65dreadful, mold-ridden dwellings that even gods abhor.

So great a din arose as gods met gods in strife.

67ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ ἔναντα Ποσειδάωνος ἄνακτος

ἵστατʼ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ἔχων ἰὰ πτερόεντα,

ἄντα δʼ Ἐνυαλίοιο θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

70Ἥρῃ δʼ ἀντέστη χρυσηλάκατος κελαδεινὴ

Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα κασιγνήτη ἑκάτοιο·

Λητοῖ δʼ ἀντέστη σῶκος ἐριούνιος Ἑρμῆς,

ἄντα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἡφαίστοιο μέγας ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης,

ὃν Ξάνθον καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δὲ Σκάμανδρον.

67Against lord Poseidon stood

Phoebus Apollo, holding his winged arrows;

against Enyalios stood bright-eyed Athena;

70against Hera stood golden-spindled, clamorous

arrow-showering Artemis, sister of the Far-shooter;

against Leto stood strong Hermes, the ready helper;

against Hephaestus stood the great deep-whirling river,

whom the gods call Xanthus, but mortals Scamander.

75ὣς οἳ μὲν θεοὶ ἄντα θεῶν ἴσαν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

Ἕκτορος ἄντα μάλιστα λιλαίετο δῦναι ὅμιλον

Πριαμίδεω· τοῦ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει

αἵματος ἆσαι Ἄρηα ταλαύρινον πολεμιστήν.

Αἰνείαν δʼ ἰθὺς λαοσσόος ὦρσεν Ἀπόλλων

80ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἐνῆκε δέ οἱ μένος ἠΰ·

υἱέϊ δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονι εἴσατο φωνήν·

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ

ἃς Τρώων βασιλεῦσιν ὑπίσχεο οἰνοποτάζων

85Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξειν;

75Thus gods advanced against gods. But Achilles

longed above all to plunge into the throng against Hector,

Priam’s son; for his spirit most of all urged him

to sate Ares, the shield-bearing warrior, with blood.

Apollo, rouser of the host, sent Aeneas straight

80against Peleus’s son and filled him with valiant force;

he took on the voice of Lycaon, Priam’s son.

In his shape, Apollo, son of Zeus, addressed Aeneas:

“Aeneas, counselor of the Trojans, where are those threats

you promised the Trojan kings while drinking wine,

85that you would face Peleus’s son Achilles in battle?”

86τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·

Πριαμίδη τί με ταῦτα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα κελεύεις

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι;

οὐ μὲν γὰρ νῦν πρῶτα ποδώκεος ἄντʼ Ἀχιλῆος

90στήσομαι, ἀλλʼ ἤδη με καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φόβησεν

ἐξ Ἴδης, ὅτε βουσὶν ἐπήλυθεν ἡμετέρῃσι,

πέρσε δὲ Λυρνησσὸν καὶ Πήδασον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς

εἰρύσαθʼ, ὅς μοι ἐπῶρσε μένος λαιψηρά τε γοῦνα.

ἦ κʼ ἐδάμην ὑπὸ χερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος καὶ Ἀθήνης,

95ἥ οἱ πρόσθεν ἰοῦσα τίθει φάος ἠδʼ ἐκέλευεν

ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Λέλεγας καὶ Τρῶας ἐναίρειν.

τὼ οὐκ ἔστʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίον ἄνδρα μάχεσθαι·

αἰεὶ γὰρ πάρα εἷς γε θεῶν ὃς λοιγὸν ἀμύνει.

καὶ δʼ ἄλλως τοῦ γʼ ἰθὺ βέλος πέτετʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπολήγει

100πρὶν χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο διελθέμεν. εἰ δὲ θεός περ

ἶσον τείνειεν πολέμου τέλος, οὔ κε μάλα ῥέα

νικήσειʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ παγχάλκεος εὔχεται εἶναι.

86Aeneas answered him in turn:

“Son of Priam, why urge me, unwilling as I am,

to fight high-spirited Peleus’s son face-to-face?

It will not be the first time I have stood against swift-footed Achilles;

90once before he routed me with his spear

down from Ida, when he came upon our cattle

and sacked Lyrnessus and Pedasus. But Zeus rescued me,

rousing my force and speeding my knees.

I would have been brought down by Achilles and Athena,

95who went before him, shedding light, and urged him

to slay Leleges and Trojans with his bronze spear.

That is why no man can fight Achilles face-to-face:

always one god is at his side to ward off ruin.

Even apart from that, his missile flies straight and does not stop

100before passing through human flesh. But if a god

put the issue of battle on equal terms, he would not easily

defeat me, even if he boasts of being all bronze.”

103τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

ἥρως ἀλλʼ ἄγε καὶ σὺ θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν

105εὔχεο· καὶ δὲ σέ φασι Διὸς κούρης Ἀφροδίτης

ἐκγεγάμεν, κεῖνος δὲ χερείονος ἐκ θεοῦ ἐστίν·

ἣ μὲν γὰρ Διός ἐσθʼ, ἣ δʼ ἐξ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.

ἀλλʼ ἰθὺς φέρε χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα, μηδέ σε πάμπαν

λευγαλέοις ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρεπέτω καὶ ἀρειῇ.

110ὣς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα ποιμένι λαῶν,

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

103Then lord Apollo, son of Zeus, answered him:

“Hero, come—you too pray to the everlasting gods;

105for they say you were born from Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus,

while he was born from a lesser goddess:

one is Zeus’s daughter, the other the daughter of the old man of the sea.

Drive your unyielding bronze straight at him; do not let him

turn you back with harsh words and threats.”

110So he spoke and breathed great force into the shepherd of the people.

Aeneas strode through the front ranks, armed in gleaming bronze.

112οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Ἀγχίσαο πάϊς λευκώλενον Ἥρην

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ἰὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν·

ἣ δʼ ἄμυδις στήσασα θεοὺς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·

115φράζεσθον δὴ σφῶϊ Ποσείδαον καὶ Ἀθήνη

ἐν φρεσὶν ὑμετέρῃσιν, ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.

Αἰνείας ὅδʼ ἔβη κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἀνῆκε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ἀποτρωπῶμεν ὀπίσσω

120αὐτόθεν· ἤ τις ἔπειτα καὶ ἡμείων Ἀχιλῆϊ

παρσταίη, δοίη δὲ κράτος μέγα, μηδέ τι θυμῷ

δευέσθω, ἵνα εἰδῇ ὅ μιν φιλέουσιν ἄριστοι

ἀθανάτων, οἳ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀνεμώλιοι οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

Τρωσὶν ἀμύνουσιν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα.

125πάντες δʼ Οὐλύμποιο κατήλθομεν ἀντιόωντες

τῆσδε μάχης, ἵνα μή τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι πάθῃσι

σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε τὰ πείσεται ἅσσά οἱ αἶσα

γιγνομένῳ ἐπένησε λίνῳ ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.

εἰ δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς οὐ ταῦτα θεῶν ἐκ πεύσεται ὀμφῆς

130δείσετʼ ἔπειθʼ, ὅτε κέν τις ἐναντίβιον θεὸς ἔλθῃ

ἐν πολέμῳ· χαλεποὶ δὲ θεοὶ φαίνεσθαι ἐναργεῖς.

112Anchises’ son did not escape white-armed Hera’s notice

as he went against Peleus’s son through the mass of men.

She gathered the gods together and spoke among them:

115“Now you two, Poseidon and Athena, consider

in your own minds how these events are to go.

Here Aeneas advances, armed in gleaming bronze,

against Peleus’s son, and Phoebus Apollo has sent him.

Come, let us drive him back from there,

120or else let one of us stand beside Achilles

and give him great power, so he lacks nothing in spirit,

so he knows that the best of the immortals love him,

while the others prove empty as wind—the gods who until now

have defended the Trojans in war and fighting.

125We have all come down from Olympus to meet

this battle so he suffers nothing among the Trojans

today. Later he will suffer whatever fate

spun into his thread when his mother bore him.

But if Achilles does not learn this from a god’s voice,

130he will be afraid when some god comes against him

in battle; the gods are dangerous when they appear openly.”

132τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ἥρη μὴ χαλέπαινε παρʼ ἐκ νόον· οὐδέ τί σε χρή.

οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνελάσσαι

135ἡμέας τοὺς ἄλλους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·

ἀλλʼ ἡμεῖς μὲν ἔπειτα καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες

ἐκ πάτου ἐς σκοπιήν, πόλεμος δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει.

εἰ δέ κʼ Ἄρης ἄρχωσι μάχης ἢ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ἢ Ἀχιλῆʼ ἴσχωσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσι μάχεσθαι,

140αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄμμι παρʼ αὐτόθι νεῖκος ὀρεῖται

φυλόπιδος· μάλα δʼ ὦκα διακρινθέντας ὀΐω

ἂψ ἴμεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεῶν μεθʼ ὁμήγυριν ἄλλων

ἡμετέρῃς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἀναγκαίηφι δαμέντας.

132Then Poseidon the Earth-shaker answered her:

“Hera, do not be angry beyond reason; you have no need.

I would not want to drive the rest of us gods

135together in strife, since we are far stronger.

Instead, let us go and take our seats

off the path at a lookout; war will be men’s concern.

But if Ares or Phoebus Apollo begins the battle,

or they restrain Achilles and refuse to let him fight,

140then at once the conflict of battle will rise among us there.

I think they will break away very quickly,

going back to Olympus and the gathering of the other gods,

overpowered under compulsion by our hands.”

144ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο κυανοχαίτης

145τεῖχος ἐς ἀμφίχυτον Ἡρακλῆος θείοιο

ὑψηλόν, τό ῥά οἱ Τρῶες καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

ποίεον, ὄφρα τὸ κῆτος ὑπεκπροφυγὼν ἀλέαιτο,

ὁππότε μιν σεύαιτο ἀπʼ ἠϊόνος πεδίον δέ.

ἔνθα Ποσειδάων κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι,

150ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄρρηκτον νεφέλην ὤμοισιν ἕσαντο·

οἳ δʼ ἑτέρωσε καθῖζον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι Καλλικολώνης

ἀμφὶ σὲ ἤϊε Φοῖβε καὶ Ἄρηα πτολίπορθον.

ὣς οἳ μέν ῥʼ ἑκάτερθε καθήατο μητιόωντες

βουλάς· ἀρχέμεναι δὲ δυσηλεγέος πολέμοιο

155ὄκνεον ἀμφότεροι, Ζεὺς δʼ ἥμενος ὕψι κέλευε.

144So the dark-haired god spoke and led the way

145to the high wall built around divine Heracles,

which the Trojans and Pallas Athena

had made for him so that he could escape the monster

whenever it drove him from the shore across the plain.

There Poseidon sat down, and the other gods with him;

150around their shoulders they drew an unbreakable cloud.

The gods on the other side sat on the brow of Callicolone,

around you, far-shooting Phoebus, and city-sacking Ares.

Thus the two sides sat apart, devising

plans; both hesitated to begin the grievous war,

155while Zeus, seated on high, urged them on.

156τῶν δʼ ἅπαν ἐπλήσθη πεδίον καὶ λάμπετο χαλκῷ

ἀνδρῶν ἠδʼ ἵππων· κάρκαιρε δὲ γαῖα πόδεσσιν

ὀρνυμένων ἄμυδις. δύο δʼ ἀνέρες ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι

ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρων συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι

160Αἰνείας τʼ Ἀγχισιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀπειλήσας ἐβεβήκει

νευστάζων κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδα θοῦριν

πρόσθεν ἔχε στέρνοιο, τίνασσε δὲ χάλκεον ἔγχος.

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐναντίον ὦρτο λέων ὣς

165σίντης, ὅν τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀποκτάμεναι μεμάασιν

ἀγρόμενοι πᾶς δῆμος· ὃ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἀτίζων

ἔρχεται, ἀλλʼ ὅτε κέν τις ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν

δουρὶ βάλῃ ἐάλη τε χανών, περί τʼ ἀφρὸς ὀδόντας

γίγνεται, ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίῃ στένει ἄλκιμον ἦτορ,

170οὐρῇ δὲ πλευράς τε καὶ ἰσχία ἀμφοτέρωθεν

μαστίεται, ἑὲ δʼ αὐτὸν ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι,

γλαυκιόων δʼ ἰθὺς φέρεται μένει, ἤν τινα πέφνῃ

ἀνδρῶν, ἢ αὐτὸς φθίεται πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ·

ὣς Ἀχιλῆʼ ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

175ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο.

156The whole plain filled with them and flashed with bronze,

with men and horses; the earth rattled beneath their feet

as they surged together. Two men, far the best,

came together between the armies, eager to fight:

160Aeneas, Anchises’s son, and godlike Achilles.

Aeneas advanced first, uttering threats,

his massive helmet nodding; he held his battle-shield

before his chest and brandished his bronze spear.

Peleus’s son charged from the other side like a lion,

165a ravager whom men are eager to kill,

the whole community gathering against him. At first he pays them no heed

and goes on, but when one warlike young man

strikes him with a spear, he crouches, jaws gaping; foam gathers around his teeth,

and his valiant spirit groans within his heart.

170With his tail he lashes his ribs and hips on either side

and urges himself to fight;

glaring, he rushes straight on in battle-fury, whether he kills

one of the men or himself perishes in the foremost throng.

So Achilles’s force and proud spirit urged him

175to go and meet great-hearted Aeneas.

176οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

Αἰνεία τί σὺ τόσσον ὁμίλου πολλὸν ἐπελθὼν

ἔστης; ἦ σέ γε θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει

180ἐλπόμενον Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξειν ἱπποδάμοισι

τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου; ἀτὰρ εἴ κεν ἔμʼ ἐξεναρίξῃς,

οὔ τοι τοὔνεκά γε Πρίαμος γέρας ἐν χερὶ θήσει·

εἰσὶν γάρ οἱ παῖδες, ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδος οὐδʼ ἀεσίφρων.

ἦ νύ τί τοι Τρῶες τέμενος τάμον ἔξοχον ἄλλων

185καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης, ὄφρα νέμηαι

αἴ κεν ἐμὲ κτείνῃς; χαλεπῶς δέ σʼ ἔολπα τὸ ῥέξειν.

ἤδη μὲν σέ γέ φημι καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φοβῆσαι.

ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε πέρ σε βοῶν ἄπο μοῦνον ἐόντα

σεῦα κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ταχέεσσι πόδεσσι

190καρπαλίμως; τότε δʼ οὔ τι μετατροπαλίζεο φεύγων.

ἔνθεν δʼ ἐς Λυρνησσὸν ὑπέκφυγες· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὴν

πέρσα μεθορμηθεὶς σὺν Ἀθήνῃ καὶ Διὶ πατρί,

ληϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας

ἦγον· ἀτὰρ σὲ Ζεὺς ἐρρύσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

195ἀλλʼ οὐ νῦν ἐρύεσθαι ὀΐομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ

βάλλεαι· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγʼ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω

ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδʼ ἀντίος ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο,

πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.

176When at last they drew near, advancing against each other,

swift-footed, godlike Achilles spoke first:

“Aeneas, why have you come so far out from the throng

and taken your stand? Does your spirit urge you to fight me,

180hoping to rule the horse-taming Trojans

in Priam’s place of honor? But even if you kill me,

Priam will not put the prize in your hands for that;

he has sons, and he is steadfast, not rash.

Or have the Trojans marked out for you an estate surpassing all others,

185beautiful with orchard and plowland, for you to possess,

if you kill me? But I think you will find that hard to do.

I say I drove you to flight once before with my spear.

Do you not remember when, finding you alone away from the cattle,

I chased you down the slopes of Ida with swift feet,

190headlong? Then you did not once turn back as you fled.

From there you escaped into Lyrnessus; but I

rushed after and sacked it with Athena and father Zeus,

robbed the captive women of their day of freedom

and led them off; but Zeus and the other gods rescued you.

195But now I do not think they will rescue you, as you imagine

in your heart. I urge you instead to withdraw

into the mass and not stand against me,

before you suffer harm. A fool learns only after the deed.”

199τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

200Πηλεΐδη μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς

ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς

ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδʼ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.

ἴδμεν δʼ ἀλλήλων γενεήν, ἴδμεν δὲ τοκῆας

πρόκλυτʼ ἀκούοντες ἔπεα θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

205ὄψει δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πω σὺ ἐμοὺς ἴδες οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ σούς.

φασὶ σὲ μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονον εἶναι,

μητρὸς δʼ ἐκ Θέτιδος καλλιπλοκάμου ἁλοσύδνης·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν υἱὸς μεγαλήτορος Ἀγχίσαο

εὔχομαι ἐκγεγάμεν, μήτηρ δέ μοί ἐστʼ Ἀφροδίτη·

210τῶν δὴ νῦν ἕτεροί γε φίλον παῖδα κλαύσονται

σήμερον· οὐ γάρ φημʼ ἐπέεσσί γε νηπυτίοισιν

ὧδε διακρινθέντε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.

199Aeneas answered him and said:

200“Peleus’ son, do not expect to frighten me with words

as though I were a child; for I too know well

how to speak both taunts and reckless words.

We know each other’s lineages, we know each other’s parents

from hearing the well-known reports in mortal men’s words;

205but you have never yet seen mine, nor I yours.

They say you are the offspring of blameless Peleus,

and your mother is Thetis, lovely-haired goddess of the sea;

but I declare that I was born the son of great-hearted Anchises,

and Aphrodite is my mother.

210Of these parents, one pair or the other will mourn a dear son

today. For I do not think that with childish words alone

the two of us will part and leave this battle.

213εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις καὶ ταῦτα δαήμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῇς

ἡμετέρην γενεήν, πολλοὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἴσασι·

215Δάρδανον αὖ πρῶτον τέκετο νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,

κτίσσε δὲ Δαρδανίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω Ἴλιος ἱρὴ

ἐν πεδίῳ πεπόλιστο πόλις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων,

ἀλλʼ ἔθʼ ὑπωρείας ᾤκεον πολυπίδακος Ἴδης.

Δάρδανος αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν Ἐριχθόνιον βασιλῆα,

220ὃς δὴ ἀφνειότατος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

τοῦ τρισχίλιαι ἵπποι ἕλος κάτα βουκολέοντο

θήλειαι, πώλοισιν ἀγαλλόμεναι ἀταλῇσι.

τάων καὶ Βορέης ἠράσσατο βοσκομενάων,

ἵππῳ δʼ εἰσάμενος παρελέξατο κυανοχαίτῃ·

225αἳ δʼ ὑποκυσάμεναι ἔτεκον δυοκαίδεκα πώλους.

αἳ δʼ ὅτε μὲν σκιρτῷεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν,

ἄκρον ἐπʼ ἀνθερίκων καρπὸν θέον οὐδὲ κατέκλων·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σκιρτῷεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,

ἄκρον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνος ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θέεσκον.

230Τρῶα δʼ Ἐριχθόνιος τέκετο Τρώεσσιν ἄνακτα·

Τρωὸς δʼ αὖ τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονες ἐξεγένοντο

Ἶλός τʼ Ἀσσάρακός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Γανυμήδης,

ὃς δὴ κάλλιστος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

τὸν καὶ ἀνηρείψαντο θεοὶ Διὶ οἰνοχοεύειν

235κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη.

Ἶλος δʼ αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Λαομέδοντα·

Λαομέδων δʼ ἄρα Τιθωνὸν τέκετο Πρίαμόν τε

Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θʼ Ἱκετάονά τʼ ὄζον Ἄρηος·

Ἀσσάρακος δὲ Κάπυν, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀγχίσην τέκε παῖδα·

240αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ Ἀγχίσης, Πρίαμος δʼ ἔτεχʼ Ἕκτορα δῖον.

ταύτης τοι γενεῆς τε καὶ αἵματος εὔχομαι εἶναι.

213Yet if you wish to learn even this, so you may know fully

our lineage—many men know it—

215first cloud-gathering Zeus fathered Dardanus,

and Dardanus founded Dardania, since sacred Ilium had not yet

been built as a city on the plain for mortal men;

they still lived on the lower slopes of Ida of many springs.

Dardanus fathered a son, king Erichthonius,

220who became the richest of mortal men.

Three thousand horses of his grazed in the marsh,

mares, glorying in their tender foals.

Boreas fell in love with them as they grazed

and in the likeness of a dark-maned stallion lay with them.

225They conceived and bore twelve foals.

Whenever they bounded over the life-giving farmland,

they raced along the topmost ears of grain without breaking them;

but whenever they bounded over the broad back of the sea,

they would race along the crest of the gray sea’s breaking wave.

230Erichthonius fathered Tros, lord of the Trojans.

From Tros in turn were born three blameless sons:

Ilus, Assaracus, and godlike Ganymede,

who became the most beautiful of mortal men.

The gods snatched him up to pour wine for Zeus

235because of his beauty, so that he might live among the immortals.

Ilus fathered a blameless son, Laomedon.

Laomedon fathered Tithonus and Priam,

Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, branch of Ares,

while Assaracus fathered Capys, and he fathered Anchises;

240Anchises fathered me, and Priam fathered godlike Hector.

That is the lineage and blood I declare as mine.

242Ζεὺς δʼ ἀρετὴν ἄνδρεσσιν ὀφέλλει τε μινύθει τε

ὅππως κεν ἐθέλῃσιν· ὃ γὰρ κάρτιστος ἁπάντων.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὣς

245ἑσταότʼ ἐν μέσσῃ ὑσμίνῃ δηϊοτῆτος.

ἔστι γὰρ ἀμφοτέροισιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι

πολλὰ μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ἂν νηῦς ἑκατόζυγος ἄχθος ἄροιτο.

στρεπτὴ δὲ γλῶσσʼ ἐστὶ βροτῶν, πολέες δʼ ἔνι μῦθοι

παντοῖοι, ἐπέων δὲ πολὺς νομὸς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.

250ὁπποῖόν κʼ εἴπῃσθα ἔπος, τοῖόν κʼ ἐπακούσαις.

ἀλλὰ τί ἢ ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα νῶϊν ἀνάγκη

νεικεῖν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐναντίον ὥς τε γυναῖκας,

αἵ τε χολωσάμεναι ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο

νεικεῦσʼ ἀλλήλῃσι μέσην ἐς ἄγυιαν ἰοῦσαι

255πόλλʼ ἐτεά τε καὶ οὐκί· χόλος δέ τε καὶ τὰ κελεύει.

ἀλκῆς δʼ οὔ μʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρέψεις μεμαῶτα

πρὶν χαλκῷ μαχέσασθαι ἐναντίον· ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον

γευσόμεθʼ ἀλλήλων χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.

242Zeus increases or diminishes excellence in men

as he chooses, for he is strongest of all.

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

245in the midst of deadly combat.

Both of us can utter insults,

so many that a hundred-benched ship could not bear the load.

A mortal’s tongue can turn, and in it are many words

of every kind; the range of words is wide on either side.

250Whatever word you speak, the like you may hear in reply.

But why must the two of us wrangle in strife and quarrel,

abusing each other face-to-face like women

who, angered over heart-consuming strife,

go out into the middle of the street and heap abuse on each other,

255saying much that is true and much false, as anger commands.

But words will not turn me from combat, eager as I am,

before we fight face-to-face with bronze. Come, quickly,

let us taste each other with bronze-headed spears.”

259ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐν δεινῷ σάκει ἤλασεν ὄβριμον ἔγχος

260σμερδαλέῳ· μέγα δʼ ἀμφὶ σάκος μύκε δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.

Πηλεΐδης δὲ σάκος μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο χειρὶ παχείῃ

ἔσχετο ταρβήσας· φάτο γὰρ δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο

νήπιος, οὐδʼ ἐνόησε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

265ὡς οὐ ῥηΐδιʼ ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα

ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι οὐδʼ ὑποείκειν.

οὐδὲ τότʼ Αἰνείαο δαΐφρονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος

ῥῆξε σάκος· χρυσὸς γὰρ ἐρύκακε, δῶρα θεοῖο·

ἀλλὰ δύω μὲν ἔλασσε διὰ πτύχας, αἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι τρεῖς

270ἦσαν, ἐπεὶ πέντε πτύχας ἤλασε κυλλοποδίων,

τὰς δύο χαλκείας, δύο δʼ ἔνδοθι κασσιτέροιο,

τὴν δὲ μίαν χρυσῆν, τῇ ῥʼ ἔσχετο μείλινον ἔγχος.

259He spoke and drove his massive spear at the terrible shield;

260the fearsome shield boomed loudly around the spearpoint.

Peleus’ son held the shield away from himself with his strong hand,

in fear, for he thought the long-shadowed spear

of great-hearted Aeneas would easily pierce it,

fool, nor did he understand in mind and spirit

265that the glorious gifts of the gods are not easily

overcome by mortal men or made to yield.

Even then battle-wise Aeneas’ massive spear

did not break the shield; the gold held it back, a god’s gift.

It drove through two layers, but three still remained,

270for the god with crooked feet had hammered five layers:

two of bronze, two of tin within,

and one of gold, which stopped the ash spear.

273δεύτερος αὖτʼ Ἀχιλεὺς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Αἰνείαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

275ἄντυγʼ ὕπο πρώτην, ᾗ λεπτότατος θέε χαλκός,

λεπτοτάτη δʼ ἐπέην ῥινὸς βοός· ἣ δὲ διὰ πρὸ

Πηλιὰς ἤϊξεν μελίη, λάκε δʼ ἀσπὶς ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.

Αἰνείας δʼ ἐάλη καὶ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἀσπίδʼ ἀνέσχε

δείσας· ἐγχείη δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ νώτου ἐνὶ γαίῃ

280ἔστη ἱεμένη, διὰ δʼ ἀμφοτέρους ἕλε κύκλους

ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης· ὃ δʼ ἀλευάμενος δόρυ μακρὸν

ἔστη, κὰδ δʼ ἄχος οἱ χύτο μυρίον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,

ταρβήσας ὅ οἱ ἄγχι πάγη βέλος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσεν ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺ

285σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρὶ

Αἰνείας, μέγα ἔργον, ὃ οὐ δύο γʼ ἄνδρε φέροιεν,

οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος.

ἔνθά κεν Αἰνείας μὲν ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε πέτρῳ

ἢ κόρυθʼ ἠὲ σάκος, τό οἱ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,

290τὸν δέ κε Πηλεΐδης σχεδὸν ἄορι θυμὸν ἀπηύρα,

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

273Achilles cast his long-shadowed spear second,

and struck Aeneas’ shield, balanced on every side,

275under the outer rim, where the bronze ran thinnest,

and the oxhide beneath was thinnest; straight through it

the Pelian ash spear darted, and the shield rang beneath it.

Aeneas crouched and held the shield up and away from himself

in fear. The spear flew over his back and fixed in the ground,

280after passing through both circles

of the body-covering shield. He escaped the long spear

and stood; measureless anguish veiled his eyes,

terrified that the weapon had planted itself so close. But Achilles

sprang at him eagerly, drawing his sharp sword,

285shouting terribly. But Aeneas seized in one hand a stone,

a mighty thing that two men could not carry,

such as mortals are now; yet he alone swung it easily.

There Aeneas would have struck the charging Achilles with the stone,

on helmet or shield, which would have warded grim destruction from him,

290and Peleus’ son would have taken Aeneas’ life at close range with his sword,

had not Poseidon the Earth-shaker quickly seen it.

292αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μοι ἄχος μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο,

ὃς τάχα Πηλεΐωνι δαμεὶς Ἄϊδος δὲ κάτεισι

295πειθόμενος μύθοισιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο

νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ χραισμήσει λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.

ἀλλὰ τί ἢ νῦν οὗτος ἀναίτιος ἄλγεα πάσχει

μὰψ ἕνεκʼ ἀλλοτρίων ἀχέων, κεχαρισμένα δʼ αἰεὶ

δῶρα θεοῖσι δίδωσι τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν;

300ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ὑπὲκ θανάτου ἀγάγωμεν,

μή πως καὶ Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται, αἴ κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

τόνδε κατακτείνῃ· μόριμον δέ οἵ ἐστʼ ἀλέασθαι,

ὄφρα μὴ ἄσπερμος γενεὴ καὶ ἄφαντος ὄληται

Δαρδάνου, ὃν Κρονίδης περὶ πάντων φίλατο παίδων

305οἳ ἕθεν ἐξεγένοντο γυναικῶν τε θνητάων.

ἤδη γὰρ Πριάμου γενεὴν ἔχθηρε Κρονίων·

νῦν δὲ δὴ Αἰνείαο βίη Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξει

καὶ παίδων παῖδες, τοί κεν μετόπισθε γένωνται.

292At once he spoke among the immortal gods:

“Ah, how I grieve for great-hearted Aeneas,

who will soon be overcome by Peleus’ son and go down to Hades,

295obeying the words of far-shooting Apollo,

fool; Apollo will do nothing to help him against grim destruction.

Why should this blameless man now suffer pain

needlessly for troubles that are not his, though always

he gives gifts pleasing to the gods who hold broad heaven?

300Come, let us lead him out from under death,

lest the son of Cronus grow angry if Achilles

kills him. It is allotted to him to escape,

so that the line of Dardanus may not perish

without seed and vanish—the son whom Cronus’ son loved most

305of all those born to him by mortal women.

For now the son of Cronus has come to hate Priam’s line;

now mighty Aeneas will rule the Trojans,

and his children’s children, those born in time to come.”

309τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·

310ἐννοσίγαιʼ, αὐτὸς σὺ μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι νόησον

Αἰνείαν ἤ κέν μιν ἐρύσσεαι ἦ κεν ἐάσῃς

Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαμήμεναι, ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα.

ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ νῶϊ πολέας ὠμόσσαμεν ὅρκους

πᾶσι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐγὼ καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

315μή ποτʼ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀλεξήσειν κακὸν ἦμαρ,

μηδʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν Τροίη μαλερῷ πυρὶ πᾶσα δάηται

καιομένη, καίωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

309Then ox-eyed lady Hera answered him:

310“Earth-shaker, decide within your own heart

whether you will rescue Aeneas or let him,

worthy though he is, be killed by Achilles, Peleus’ son.

For we two have sworn many oaths,

Pallas Athena and I, among all the immortals,

315never to ward the evil day from the Trojans,

not even when all Troy burns in devouring fire,

and the warlike sons of the Achaeans set it ablaze.”

318αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἄν τε μάχην καὶ ἀνὰ κλόνον ἐγχειάων,

320ἷξε δʼ ὅθʼ Αἰνείας ἠδʼ ὃ κλυτὸς ἦεν Ἀχιλλεύς.

αὐτίκα τῷ μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χέεν ἀχλὺν

Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· ὃ δὲ μελίην εὔχαλκον

ἀσπίδος ἐξέρυσεν μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο·

καὶ τὴν μὲν προπάροιθε ποδῶν Ἀχιλῆος ἔθηκεν,

325Αἰνείαν δʼ ἔσσευεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας.

πολλὰς δὲ στίχας ἡρώων, πολλὰς δὲ καὶ ἵππων

Αἰνείας ὑπερᾶλτο θεοῦ ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὀρούσας,

ἷξε δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιὴν πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο,

ἔνθά τε Καύκωνες πόλεμον μέτα θωρήσσοντο.

318When Poseidon the Earth-shaker heard this,

he went through the battle and turmoil of spears,

320and reached the place where Aeneas and glorious Achilles were.

At once he poured mist over the eyes

of Achilles, Peleus’ son; then he drew the bronze-tipped ash spear

from the shield of great-hearted Aeneas

and set it down before Achilles’ feet.

325Then he swept Aeneas up, lifting him high from the ground.

Over many ranks of heroes and many ranks of horses

Aeneas leapt, borne by the god’s hand,

and reached the far edge of the many-surging battle,

where the Cauconians were arming for war.

330τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Αἰνεία, τίς σʼ ὧδε θεῶν ἀτέοντα κελεύει

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι,

ὃς σεῦ ἅμα κρείσσων καὶ φίλτερος ἀθανάτοισιν;

335ἀλλʼ ἀναχωρῆσαι ὅτε κεν συμβλήσεαι αὐτῷ,

μὴ καὶ ὑπὲρ μοῖραν δόμον Ἄϊδος εἰσαφίκηαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ Ἀχιλεὺς θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ,

θαρσήσας δὴ ἔπειτα μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχεσθαι·

οὐ μὲν γάρ τίς σʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ἐξεναρίξει.

340ὣς εἰπὼν λίπεν αὐτόθʼ, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.

330Poseidon the Earth-shaker came very near him

and addressed him with winged words:

“Aeneas, which god commands you in such delusion

to fight against the high-spirited son of Peleus,

who is at once stronger than you and dearer to the immortals?

335Withdraw whenever you meet him,

lest you enter the house of Hades beyond your allotted fate.

But when Achilles has met his death and doom,

then take courage and fight among the front ranks,

for no other Achaean will kill you.”

340So he spoke and left him there, after explaining everything clearly.

341αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν σκέδασʼ ἀχλὺν

θεσπεσίην· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα μέγʼ ἔξιδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι·

345ἔγχος μὲν τόδε κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονός, οὐδέ τι φῶτα

λεύσσω, τῷ ἐφέηκα κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων.

ἦ ῥα καὶ Αἰνείας φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν

ἦεν· ἀτάρ μιν ἔφην μὰψ αὔτως εὐχετάασθαι.

ἐρρέτω· οὔ οἱ θυμὸς ἐμεῦ ἔτι πειρηθῆναι

350ἔσσεται, ὃς καὶ νῦν φύγεν ἄσμενος ἐκ θανάτοιο.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ Δαναοῖσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κελεύσας

τῶν ἄλλων Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίος ἐλθών.

341At once he scattered the wondrous mist from Achilles’ eyes;

then Achilles could see clearly with his own eyes.

Troubled, he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit:

“Ah, what a great wonder I see with my eyes!

345Here lies my spear on the ground, but I see no man

at whom I threw it, intent on killing him.

So Aeneas too was dear to the immortal gods

after all; but I thought he boasted to no purpose.

Let him go. He will have no heart to test me

350again, since just now he was glad to escape death.

Come then—once I have ordered the war-loving Danaans,

I will go against the other Trojans and test them.”

353ἦ, καὶ ἐπὶ στίχας ἆλτο, κέλευε δὲ φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ·

μηκέτι νῦν Τρώων ἑκὰς ἕστατε δῖοι Ἀχαιοί,

355ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἀνὴρ ἄντʼ ἀνδρὸς ἴτω, μεμάτω δὲ μάχεσθαι.

ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι καὶ ἰφθίμῳ περ ἐόντι

τοσσούσδʼ ἀνθρώπους ἐφέπειν καὶ πᾶσι μάχεσθαι·

οὐδέ κʼ Ἄρης, ὅς περ θεὸς ἄμβροτος, οὐδέ κʼ Ἀθήνη

τοσσῆσδʼ ὑσμίνης ἐφέποι στόμα καὶ πονέοιτο·

360ἀλλʼ ὅσσον μὲν ἐγὼ δύναμαι χερσίν τε ποσίν τε

καὶ σθένει, οὔ μʼ ἔτι φημὶ μεθησέμεν οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν,

ἀλλὰ μάλα στιχὸς εἶμι διαμπερές, οὐδέ τινʼ οἴω

Τρώων χαιρήσειν, ὅς τις σχεδὸν ἔγχεος ἔλθῃ.

353He spoke, leapt among the ranks, and urged each man:

“Godlike Achaeans, no longer stand far off from the Trojans.

355Come, let man go against man and be eager to fight.

It is difficult for me, even though I am strong,

to pursue so many men and fight them all.

Not even Ares, though he is an immortal god, nor Athena

could press along the mouth of so vast a battle and labor through it.

360But as far as I can with hands and feet

and strength, I say I will no longer let up, not even a little,

but will go straight through the ranks without a break. I think no

Trojan will rejoice who comes within reach of my spear.”

364ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων· Τρώεσσι δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

365κέκλεθʼ ὁμοκλήσας, φάτο δʼ ἴμεναι ἄντʼ Ἀχιλῆος·

Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι μὴ δείδιτε Πηλεΐωνα.

καί κεν ἐγὼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μαχοίμην,

ἔγχεϊ δʼ ἀργαλέον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσιν.

οὐδʼ Ἀχιλεὺς πάντεσσι τέλος μύθοις ἐπιθήσει,

370ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν τελέει, τὸ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγὺ κολούει.

τοῦ δʼ ἐγὼ ἀντίος εἶμι καὶ εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικεν,

εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικε, μένος δʼ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ.

ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων, οἳ δʼ ἀντίοι ἔγχεʼ ἄειραν

Τρῶες· τῶν δʼ ἄμυδις μίχθη μένος, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτή.

375καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστὰς Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·

Ἕκτορ μηκέτι πάμπαν Ἀχιλλῆϊ προμάχιζε,

ἀλλὰ κατὰ πληθύν τε καὶ ἐκ φλοίσβοιο δέδεξο,

μή πώς σʼ ἠὲ βάλῃ ἠὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψῃ.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτις ἐδύσετο οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν

380ταρβήσας, ὅτʼ ἄκουσε θεοῦ ὄπα φωνήσαντος.

364So he spoke, urging them on. Glorious Hector called

365to the Trojans with a shout and said he would go against Achilles:

“High-hearted Trojans, do not fear the son of Peleus.

I could fight even immortals with words,

but with a spear it is hard, since they are far stronger indeed.

Achilles will not bring all his words to fulfillment either:

370one he completes, another he leaves cut short midway.

I will face him, even if his hands are like fire,

even if his hands are like fire and his fury like blazing iron.”

So he spoke, urging them on, and the Trojans facing them raised their spears.

Their battle-force mingled as one, and a battle cry arose.

375Then Phoebus Apollo stood beside Hector and said:

“Hector, do not fight out in front against Achilles any longer.

Wait to receive him within the mass, away from the battle din,

lest he strike you from afar or stab you at close quarters with his sword.”

So he spoke, and Hector went back into the close ranks of men,

380afraid when he heard the god speak.

381ἐν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Τρώεσσι θόρε φρεσὶν εἱμένος ἀλκὴν

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, πρῶτον δʼ ἕλεν Ἰφιτίωνα

ἐσθλὸν Ὀτρυντεΐδην πολέων ἡγήτορα λαῶν,

ὃν νύμφη τέκε νηῒς Ὀτρυντῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ

385Τμώλῳ ὕπο νιφόεντι Ὕδης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ·

τὸν δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτα βάλʼ ἔγχεϊ δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν· ἣ δʼ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη,

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ὃ δʼ ἐπεύξατο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

κεῖσαι Ὀτρυντεΐδη πάντων ἐκπαγλότατʼ ἀνδρῶν·

390ἐνθάδε τοι θάνατος, γενεὴ δέ τοί ἐστʼ ἐπὶ λίμνῃ

Γυγαίῃ, ὅθι τοι τέμενος πατρώϊόν ἐστιν

Ὕλλῳ ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντι καὶ Ἕρμῳ δινήεντι.

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

381Achilles leapt among the Trojans with battle-strength clothed about his heart,

shouting terribly. First he killed Iphition,

the brave son of Otrynteus, leader of many peoples,

whom a Naiad nymph bore to Otrynteus, sacker of cities,

385beneath snowy Tmolus in Hyde’s fertile land.

As he charged straight on, godlike Achilles struck him with his spear

down the middle of the head, and it split completely in two.

He fell with a thud, and godlike Achilles spoke in triumph:

“There you lie, son of Otrynteus, most terrible of all men.

390Here is your death, but your birth was beside

Gygaean Lake, where your ancestral domain lies,

by the fish-filled Hyllus and the whirling Hermus.”

So he spoke in triumph, and darkness covered his eyes.

394τὸν μὲν Ἀχαιῶν ἵπποι ἐπισσώτροις δατέοντο

395πρώτῃ ἐν ὑσμίνῃ· ὃ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ Δημολέοντα

ἐσθλὸν ἀλεξητῆρα μάχης Ἀντήνορος υἱὸν

νύξε κατὰ κρόταφον, κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.

οὐδʼ ἄρα χαλκείη κόρυς ἔσχεθεν, ἀλλὰ διʼ αὐτῆς

αἰχμὴ ἱεμένη ῥῆξʼ ὀστέον, ἐγκέφαλος δὲ

400ἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.

394The Achaeans’ horses tore him apart with their wheel rims

395in the foremost fight. After him Achilles stabbed Demoleon,

a brave defender in battle, Antenor’s son,

through the bronze-cheeked helmet at the temple.

The bronze helmet did not hold: the spearhead drove straight through it,

shattered the bone, and the brain

400was spattered inside, and he subdued him as he charged.

401Ἱπποδάμαντα δʼ ἔπειτα καθʼ ἵππων ἀΐξαντα

πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μετάφρενον οὔτασε δουρί.

αὐτὰρ ὃ θυμὸν ἄϊσθε καὶ ἤρυγεν, ὡς ὅτε ταῦρος

ἤρυγεν ἑλκόμενος Ἑλικώνιον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα

405κούρων ἑλκόντων· γάνυται δέ τε τοῖς ἐνοσίχθων·

ὣς ἄρα τόν γʼ ἐρυγόντα λίπʼ ὀστέα θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ·

401Then Hippodamas sprang from his chariot

and fled before him, but Achilles stabbed him in the back with his spear.

He breathed out his life and bellowed like a bull

bellowing as young men drag it around the lord of Helicon;

405the Earth-shaker delights in them.

So as he bellowed, his proud spirit left his bones.

407αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ σὺν δουρὶ μετʼ ἀντίθεον Πολύδωρον

Πριαμίδην. τὸν δʼ οὔ τι πατὴρ εἴασκε μάχεσθαι,

οὕνεκά οἱ μετὰ παισὶ νεώτατος ἔσκε γόνοιο,

410καί οἱ φίλτατος ἔσκε, πόδεσσι δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα

δὴ τότε νηπιέῃσι ποδῶν ἀρετὴν ἀναφαίνων

θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, εἷος φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν.

τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

νῶτα παραΐσσοντος, ὅθι ζωστῆρος ὀχῆες

415χρύσειοι σύνεχον καὶ διπλόος ἤντετο θώρηξ·

ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε παρʼ ὀμφαλὸν ἔγχεος αἰχμή,

γνὺξ δʼ ἔριπʼ οἰμώξας, νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε

κυανέη, προτὶ οἷ δʼ ἔλαβʼ ἔντερα χερσὶ λιασθείς.

407Then Achilles went with his spear after godlike Polydorus,

Priam’s son. His father would not let him fight,

because among his children he was the youngest by birth

410and dearest to him, and he surpassed them all in speed of foot.

That day, in childish folly, he displayed the excellence of his feet and

charged through the front ranks until he lost his life.

Swift-footed godlike Achilles struck him squarely with a spear

as he darted past, in the back where the golden fastenings of his belt

415held it together and the double-layered corselet met the belt.

The spearpoint passed straight through beside his navel.

He sank to his knees with a groan, and a dark cloud covered him;

as he slumped, he clutched his entrails to himself with both hands.

419Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησε κασίγνητον Πολύδωρον

420ἔντερα χερσὶν ἔχοντα λιαζόμενον ποτὶ γαίη

κάρ ῥά οἱ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτʼ ἀχλύς· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἔτλη

δηρὸν ἑκὰς στρωφᾶσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀντίος ἦλθʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ

ὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων φλογὶ εἴκελος· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ὡς εἶδʼ, ὣς ἀνεπᾶλτο, καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

425ἐγγὺς ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐμόν γε μάλιστʼ ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν,

ὅς μοι ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνε τετιμένον· οὐδʼ ἂν ἔτι δὴν

ἀλλήλους πτώσσοιμεν ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας.

ἦ, καὶ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσεφώνεεν Ἕκτορα δῖον·

ἆσσον ἴθʼ ὥς κεν θᾶσσον ὀλέθρου πείραθʼ ἵκηαι.

430τὸν δʼ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Πηλεΐδη μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς

ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς

ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδʼ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.

οἶδα δʼ ὅτι σὺ μὲν ἐσθλός, ἐγὼ δὲ σέθεν πολὺ χείρων.

435ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,

αἴ κέ σε χειρότερός περ ἐὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλωμαι

δουρὶ βαλών, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὸν βέλος ὀξὺ πάροιθεν.

419When Hector saw his brother Polydorus

420holding his entrails in his hands and sinking toward the ground,

a mist poured over his eyes. He could no longer bear

to keep wheeling at a distance, but came straight against Achilles,

brandishing his sharp spear, like a flame. But Achilles,

when he saw him, sprang up and spoke in triumph:

425“The man is near who stirred my heart most of all,

the man who killed my honored companion. No longer now

shall we cower from each other across the bridges of war.”

He spoke, looked from beneath his brows, and addressed glorious Hector:

“Come closer, so you may sooner reach the bounds of death.”

430Unfrightened, Hector of the flashing helmet answered him:

“Peleus’ son, do not expect to frighten me with words

as though I were a child; for I too know well

how to speak both taunts and reckless words.

I know that you are brave and that I am far weaker than you.

435But these things lie on the gods’ knees:

though I am weaker, I may take your life

with a cast of my spear, for my weapon too has proved sharp before.”

438ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δόρυ, καὶ τό γʼ Ἀθήνη

πνοιῇ Ἀχιλλῆος πάλιν ἔτραπε κυδαλίμοιο

440ἦκα μάλα ψύξασα· τὸ δʼ ἂψ ἵκεθʼ Ἕκτορα δῖον,

αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων,

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· τὸν δʼ ἐξήρπαξεν Ἀπόλλων

ῥεῖα μάλʼ ὥς τε θεός, ἐκάλυψε δʼ ἄρʼ ἠέρι πολλῇ.

445τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐπόρουσε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ, τρὶς δʼ ἠέρα τύψε βαθεῖαν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,

δεινὰ δʼ ὁμοκλήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἐξ αὖ νῦν ἔφυγες θάνατον κύον· ἦ τέ τοι ἄγχι

450ἦλθε κακόν· νῦν αὖτέ σʼ ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ᾧ μέλλεις εὔχεσθαι ἰὼν ἐς δοῦπον ἀκόντων.

ἦ θήν σʼ ἐξανύω γε καὶ ὕστερον ἀντιβολήσας,

εἴ πού τις καὶ ἔμοιγε θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθός ἐστι.

νῦν αὖ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιείσομαι, ὅν κε κιχείω.

438He spoke, balanced his spear, and hurled it; but Athena

turned it back from glorious Achilles with a breath,

440blowing very softly. It returned to glorious Hector

and fell there before his feet. But Achilles

sprang at him eagerly, intent on killing him,

shouting terribly; but Apollo snatched Hector away

very easily, as a god can, and covered him in thick mist.

445Three times swift-footed godlike Achilles charged

with his bronze spear, and three times he struck the deep mist.

But when for the fourth time he charged, like a god,

Achilles shouted terribly and addressed Hector with winged words:

“Again now you have escaped death, dog. The evil came

450very near you, but Phoebus Apollo has saved you again,

the god you must pray to whenever you enter the clash of spears.

I will surely finish you later, if I meet you again

and if some god is also ready to help me.

For now I will go after the others, whoever I can catch.”

455ὣς εἰπὼν Δρύοπʼ οὖτα κατʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἄκοντι·

ἤριπε δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν· ὃ δὲ τὸν μὲν ἔασε,

Δημοῦχον δὲ Φιλητορίδην ἠΰν τε μέγαν τε

κὰγ γόνυ δουρὶ βαλὼν ἠρύκακε. τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα

οὐτάζων ξίφεϊ μεγάλῳ ἐξαίνυτο θυμόν·

460αὐτὰρ ὃ Λαόγονον καὶ Δάρδανον υἷε Βίαντος

ἄμφω ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐξ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε,

τὸν μὲν δουρὶ βαλών, τὸν δὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψας.

455So saying, he struck Dryops in the middle of the neck with his spear.

Dryops fell before his feet. Achilles left him there,

then struck Demuchus, Philetor’s son, a fine and massive man,

on the knee with his spear and stopped him. Then

stabbing him with his great sword, Achilles took his life.

460Then he rushed upon Laogonus and Dardanus, the two sons of Bias,

and drove both from their chariot to the ground,

striking one with his spear, the other at close quarters with his sword.

463Τρῶα δʼ Ἀλαστορίδην, ὃ μὲν ἀντίος ἤλυθε γούνων,

εἴ πώς εὑ πεφίδοιτο λαβὼν καὶ ζωὸν ἀφείη

465μηδὲ κατακτείνειεν ὁμηλικίην ἐλεήσας,

νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·

οὐ γάρ τι γλυκύθυμος ἀνὴρ ἦν οὐδʼ ἀγανόφρων,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμμεμαώς· ὃ μὲν ἥπτετο χείρεσι γούνων

ἱέμενος λίσσεσθʼ, ὃ δὲ φασγάνῳ οὖτα καθʼ ἧπαρ·

470ἐκ δέ οἱ ἧπαρ ὄλισθεν, ἀτὰρ μέλαν αἷμα κατʼ αὐτοῦ

κόλπον ἐνέπλησεν· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε

463Tros, son of Alastor, came straight toward Achilles’ knees,

hoping Achilles might take him, spare him, and let him go alive,

465and not kill him, pitying a man of his own age.

Fool—he did not know that Achilles would not be persuaded.

For Achilles was not gentle-hearted or mild-minded,

but utterly intent. Tros clutched his knees with both hands,

eager to supplicate, but Achilles stabbed him in the liver with his sword.

470His liver slid out, and black blood

filled his lap; darkness covered his eyes

472θυμοῦ δευόμενον· ὃ δὲ Μούλιον οὖτα παραστὰς

δουρὶ κατʼ οὖς· εἶθαρ δὲ διʼ οὔατος ἦλθʼ ἑτέροιο

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· ὃ δʼ Ἀγήνορος υἱὸν Ἔχεκλον

475μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλὴν ξίφει ἤλασε κωπήεντι,

πᾶν δʼ ὑπεθερμάνθη ξίφος αἵματι· τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὄσσε

ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.

Δευκαλίωνα δʼ ἔπειθʼ, ἵνα τε ξυνέχουσι τένοντες

ἀγκῶνος, τῇ τόν γε φίλης διὰ χειρὸς ἔπειρεν

480αἰχμῇ χαλκείῃ· ὃ δέ μιν μένε χεῖρα βαρυνθεὶς

πρόσθʼ ὁρόων θάνατον· ὃ δὲ φασγάνῳ αὐχένα θείνας

τῆλʼ αὐτῇ πήληκι κάρη βάλε· μυελὸς αὖτε

σφονδυλίων ἔκπαλθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ κεῖτο τανυσθείς.

472as life failed him. Achilles stood beside Mulius and struck

with his spear through one ear; the bronze point at once passed through the other.

Then with his hilted sword he struck Echeclus, Agenor’s son,

475down the middle of the head.

The whole blade grew hot with blood; over his eyes

came purple death and overpowering fate.

Next he struck Deucalion where the tendons join

at the elbow; there Achilles pierced him through the arm

480with the bronze spearpoint. His arm weighed down, Deucalion stood facing him,

seeing death before him. Achilles struck his neck with his sword

and sent his head flying far away, helmet and all. The marrow

sprang from the vertebrae, and the body lay stretched on the ground.

484αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πείρεω υἱὸν

485Ῥίγμον, ὃς ἐκ Θρῄκης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει·

τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι, πάγη δʼ ἐν νηδύϊ χαλκός,

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων· ὃ δʼ Ἀρηΐθοον θεράποντα

ἂψ ἵππους στρέψαντα μετάφρενον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ

νύξʼ, ἀπὸ δʼ ἅρματος ὦσε· κυκήθησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι.

484Then Achilles went after the blameless son of Peires,

485Rhigmus, who had come from rich-soiled Thrace.

He struck him in the middle with his spear, and the bronze stuck in his belly;

he fell from the chariot. Achilles stabbed his attendant Areithous

in the back with his sharp spear as he turned the horses,

and knocked him from the chariot; his horses were thrown into confusion.

490ὡς δʼ ἀναμαιμάει βαθέʼ ἄγκεα θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ

οὔρεος ἀζαλέοιο, βαθεῖα δὲ καίεται ὕλη,

πάντῃ τε κλονέων ἄνεμος φλόγα εἰλυφάζει,

ὣς ὅ γε πάντῃ θῦνε σὺν ἔγχεϊ δαίμονι ἶσος

κτεινομένους ἐφέπων· ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα μέλαινα.

495ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις ζεύξῃ βόας ἄρσενας εὐρυμετώπους

τριβέμεναι κρῖ λευκὸν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,

ῥίμφά τε λέπτʼ ἐγένοντο βοῶν ὑπὸ πόσσʼ ἐριμύκων,

ὣς ὑπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος μεγαθύμου μώνυχες ἵπποι

στεῖβον ὁμοῦ νέκυάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας· αἵματι δʼ ἄξων

500νέρθεν ἅπας πεπάλακτο καὶ ἄντυγες αἳ περὶ δίφρον,

ἃς ἄρʼ ἀφʼ ἱππείων ὁπλέων ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον

αἵ τʼ ἀπʼ ἐπισσώτρων· ὃ δὲ ἵετο κῦδος ἀρέσθαι

Πηλεΐδης, λύθρῳ δὲ παλάσσετο χεῖρας ἀάπτους.

490As a divinely blazing fire rages through the deep valleys

of a parched mountain, and the deep forest burns,

while the wind drives and whirls the flame on every side,

so Achilles charged everywhere with his spear, like a god,

pursuing men as he killed them; black earth ran with blood.

495As when a man yokes broad-browed male cattle

to tread white barley on a well-built threshing floor,

and quickly the barley is crushed fine beneath the bellowing cattle’s feet,

so under great-hearted Achilles the single-hoofed horses

trampled corpses and shields together. The axle below

500and the rails around the chariot were wholly spattered with blood,

by drops flung from the horses’ hooves

and from the wheel rims. He drove on, eager to win glory,

Peleus’ son, his invincible hands spattered with gore.