Iliad, Book 23: Games for Patroclus

1ὣς οἳ μὲν στενάχοντο κατὰ πτόλιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐπεὶ δὴ νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο,

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,

Μυρμιδόνας δʼ οὐκ εἴα ἀποσκίδνασθαι Ἀχιλλεύς,

5ἀλλʼ ὅ γε οἷς ἑτάροισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·

Μυρμιδόνες ταχύπωλοι ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι

μὴ δή πω ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι λυώμεθα μώνυχας ἵππους,

ἀλλʼ αὐτοῖς ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν ἆσσον ἰόντες

Πάτροκλον κλαίωμεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.

10αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο,

ἵππους λυσάμενοι δορπήσομεν ἐνθάδε πάντες.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ᾤμωξαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀχιλλεύς.

1So they lamented throughout the city. But when the Achaeans

reached the ships and the Hellespont,

The men scattered, each to his own ship,

but Achilles would not let the Myrmidons disperse.

5Instead he addressed his comrades, lovers of battle:

“Myrmidons, swift horsemen, my faithful comrades,

do not yet loose the single-hoofed horses from beneath the chariots.

With horses and chariots let us first draw near

and mourn Patroclus, for this is the dead man's due.

10When we have taken our fill of grievous lament,

then we will unharness the horses and all take supper here.”

So he spoke. They wailed aloud together, and Achilles led the lament.

13οἳ δὲ τρὶς περὶ νεκρὸν ἐΰτριχας ἤλασαν ἵππους

μυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι Θέτις γόου ἵμερον ὦρσε.

15δεύοντο ψάμαθοι, δεύοντο δὲ τεύχεα φωτῶν

δάκρυσι· τοῖον γὰρ πόθεον μήστωρα φόβοιο.

τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεΐδης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο

χεῖρας ἐπʼ ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρου·

χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·

20πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην

Ἕκτορα δεῦρʼ ἐρύσας δώσειν κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,

δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσειν

Τρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.

13Three times they drove their fine-maned horses around the corpse,

weeping; and among them Thetis stirred a longing for lament.

15The sands were wet, the warriors' armor wet

with tears, so deeply they missed that master of rout.

The son of Peleus led them in their deep lament,

laying his man-killing hands on his comrade's chest:

“Hail, Patroclus, even in the house of Hades.

20I am now fulfilling all that I promised you before:

Having dragged Hector here, I will give him raw to the dogs to tear apart,

and cut the throats before the pyre of twelve splendid sons

of the Trojans, in anger at your death.”

24ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἀεικέα μήδετο ἔργα

25πρηνέα πὰρ λεχέεσσι Μενοιτιάδαο τανύσσας

ἐν κονίῃς· οἳ δʼ ἔντεʼ ἀφωπλίζοντο ἕκαστος

χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, λύον δʼ ὑψηχέας ἵππους,

κὰδ δʼ ἷζον παρὰ νηῒ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο

μυρίοι· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι τάφον μενοεικέα δαίνυ.

30πολλοὶ μὲν βόες ἀργοὶ ὀρέχθεον ἀμφὶ σιδήρῳ

σφαζόμενοι, πολλοὶ δʼ ὄϊες καὶ μηκάδες αἶγες·

πολλοὶ δʼ ἀργιόδοντες ὕες θαλέθοντες ἀλοιφῇ

εὑόμενοι τανύοντο διὰ φλογὸς Ἡφαίστοιο·

πάντῃ δʼ ἀμφὶ νέκυν κοτυλήρυτον ἔρρεεν αἷμα.

35αὐτὰρ τόν γε ἄνακτα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα

εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν

σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες ἑταίρου χωόμενον κῆρ.

24He spoke, and devised an outrage against godlike Hector:

25he stretched him face-down in the dust beside the bier of Menoetius' son.

The others each stripped off their armor,

gleaming bronze, and unhitched their loud-neighing horses.

They sat in countless numbers beside the ship of the swift-footed Aeacid,

and Achilles gave them a funeral feast to satisfy the heart.

30Many pale cattle groaned beneath the iron as they were slaughtered,

and many sheep and bleating goats.

Many white-tusked swine, rich with fat,

were singed and stretched across Hephaestus' flame,

and blood by the cupful flowed everywhere around the corpse.

35But the Achaean kings led the lord, the swift-footed son of Peleus,

to glorious Agamemnon,

persuading him with difficulty, for his heart was angry over his comrade.

38οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος ἷξον ἰόντες,

αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσαν

40ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, εἰ πεπίθοιεν

Πηλεΐδην λούσασθαι ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἠρνεῖτο στερεῶς, ἐπὶ δʼ ὅρκον ὄμοσσεν·

οὐ μὰ Ζῆνʼ, ὅς τίς τε θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,

οὐ θέμις ἐστὶ λοετρὰ καρήατος ἆσσον ἱκέσθαι

45πρίν γʼ ἐνὶ Πάτροκλον θέμεναι πυρὶ σῆμά τε χεῦαι

κείρασθαί τε κόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ μʼ ἔτι δεύτερον ὧδε

ἵξετʼ ἄχος κραδίην ὄφρα ζωοῖσι μετείω.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν στυγερῇ πειθώμεθα δαιτί·

ἠῶθεν δʼ ὄτρυνον ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον

50ὕλην τʼ ἀξέμεναι παρά τε σχεῖν ὅσσʼ ἐπιεικὲς

νεκρὸν ἔχοντα νέεσθαι ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα,

ὄφρʼ ἤτοι τοῦτον μὲν ἐπιφλέγῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ

θᾶσσον ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, λαοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα τράπωνται.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο.

38When they reached Agamemnon's shelter,

they at once ordered the clear-voiced heralds

40to set a great tripod over the fire, in case they could persuade

the son of Peleus to wash away the bloody gore.

But he firmly refused, and added an oath:

“No, by Zeus, highest and best of the gods,

it is not right for washing-water to come near my head

45until I have laid Patroclus in the fire and heaped his mound

and cut my hair. Never again, while I am among the living,

will grief like this reach my heart a second time.

Yet now let us submit to this hateful feast.

At dawn, lord of men Agamemnon, urge them

50to bring wood and supply all that is fitting

for a dead man to have when he goes beneath the misty dark,

so that tireless fire may consume him quickly

out of our sight, and the troops may turn again to their work.”

So he spoke, and they listened closely and obeyed.

55ἐσσυμένως δʼ ἄρα δόρπον ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἕκαστοι

δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν κλισίην δὲ ἕκαστος,

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης

60κεῖτο βαρὺ στενάχων πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν

ἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι κύματʼ ἐπʼ ἠϊόνος κλύζεσκον·

εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ

νήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς· μάλα γὰρ κάμε φαίδιμα γυῖα

Ἕκτορʼ ἐπαΐσσων προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·

55Each man swiftly prepared his supper;

they feasted, and no one’s spirit lacked an equal share.

When they had satisfied their desire for food and drink,

the others went each to his shelter to lie down,

but the son of Peleus lay on the shore of the resounding sea,

60groaning heavily among the many Myrmidons,

in a clear place where the waves washed over the beach.

When sleep seized him and eased the cares of his spirit,

sweet sleep pouring all around him—for his splendid limbs were utterly worn

from charging after Hector toward windswept Ilium—

65ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο

πάντʼ αὐτῷ μέγεθός τε καὶ ὄμματα κάλʼ ἐϊκυῖα

καὶ φωνήν, καὶ τοῖα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

εὕδεις, αὐτὰρ ἐμεῖο λελασμένος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.

70οὐ μέν μευ ζώοντος ἀκήδεις, ἀλλὰ θανόντος·

θάπτέ με ὅττι τάχιστα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσω.

τῆλέ με εἴργουσι ψυχαὶ εἴδωλα καμόντων,

οὐδέ μέ πω μίσγεσθαι ὑπὲρ ποταμοῖο ἐῶσιν,

ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀλάλημαι ἀνʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.

75καί μοι δὸς τὴν χεῖρʼ· ὀλοφύρομαι, οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὖτις

νίσομαι ἐξ Ἀΐδαο, ἐπήν με πυρὸς λελάχητε.

οὐ μὲν γὰρ ζωοί γε φίλων ἀπάνευθεν ἑταίρων

βουλὰς ἑζόμενοι βουλεύσομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν κὴρ

ἀμφέχανε στυγερή, ἥ περ λάχε γιγνόμενόν περ·

80καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ μοῖρα, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων εὐηφενέων ἀπολέσθαι.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐφήσομαι αἴ κε πίθηαι·

μὴ ἐμὰ σῶν ἀπάνευθε τιθήμεναι ὀστέʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,

ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ ὡς ἐτράφημεν ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν,

85εὖτέ με τυτθὸν ἐόντα Μενοίτιος ἐξ Ὀπόεντος

ἤγαγεν ὑμέτερόνδʼ ἀνδροκτασίης ὕπο λυγρῆς,

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε παῖδα κατέκτανον Ἀμφιδάμαντος

νήπιος οὐκ ἐθέλων ἀμφʼ ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς·

ἔνθά με δεξάμενος ἐν δώμασιν ἱππότα Πηλεὺς

90ἔτραφέ τʼ ἐνδυκέως καὶ σὸν θεράποντʼ ὀνόμηνεν·

ὣς δὲ καὶ ὀστέα νῶϊν ὁμὴ σορὸς ἀμφικαλύπτοι

χρύσεος ἀμφιφορεύς, τόν τοι πόρε πότνια μήτηρ.

65the psyche of poor Patroclus came to him,

like the man himself in every way—in stature and beautiful eyes,

in voice, and in the clothes he wore about his body.

It stood above Achilles' head and spoke to him:

“You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me.

70You did not neglect me while I lived, but you neglect me now that I am dead.

Bury me with all speed, so I may pass through Hades' gates.

The other psyches keep me far away, the images of those worn out by death,

and will not yet let me join them beyond the river.

I wander as I am through Hades' wide-gated house.

75Give me your hand, I beg you. Once you have allotted me the fire,

I will never come back from Hades again.

Never again in life, apart from our dear companions,

will we sit and take counsel together. Hateful doom

has swallowed me, the doom allotted to me when I was born.

80And your own fate, Achilles, peer of the gods, is to die

beneath the wall of the prosperous Trojans.

One thing more I will tell and charge you, if you will listen:

do not lay my bones apart from yours, Achilles,

but together, as we were raised together in your halls,

85from the time Menoetius brought me, still a little child, from Opus

to your house because of a grievous killing—

that day when I killed Amphidamas' son,

foolish, without meaning to, angered over the knucklebones.

Then horseman Peleus received me in his home,

90raised me with care, and named me your attendant.

So may one vessel enfold the bones of us both,

the golden amphora your lady mother gave you.”

93τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

τίπτέ μοι ἠθείη κεφαλὴ δεῦρʼ εἰλήλουθας

95καί μοι ταῦτα ἕκαστʼ ἐπιτέλλεαι; αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι

πάντα μάλʼ ἐκτελέω καὶ πείσομαι ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.

ἀλλά μοι ἆσσον στῆθι· μίνυνθά περ ἀμφιβαλόντε

ἀλλήλους ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ὠρέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν

100οὐδʼ ἔλαβε· ψυχὴ δὲ κατὰ χθονὸς ἠΰτε καπνὸς

ᾤχετο τετριγυῖα· ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

χερσί τε συμπλατάγησεν, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι

ψυχὴ καὶ εἴδωλον, ἀτὰρ φρένες οὐκ ἔνι πάμπαν·

105παννυχίη γάρ μοι Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο

ψυχὴ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε,

καί μοι ἕκαστʼ ἐπέτελλεν, ἔϊκτο δὲ θέσκελον αὐτῷ.

ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·

93Swift-footed Achilles answered him:

“Dear one, why have you come here

95and laid each of these commands on me? I will

fulfill them all and obey exactly as you ask.

But stand closer. Let us embrace, if only for a moment,

and together take our fill of grievous lament.”

So he spoke and reached out with loving hands,

100but could not grasp him. The psyche went beneath the earth like smoke,

shrilling as it vanished. Achilles sprang up in astonishment,

clapped his hands together, and spoke this sorrowful word:

“Ah, then even in the house of Hades there is

a psyche and an image, but no understanding within it at all.

105All night the psyche of poor Patroclus

stood over me, grieving and lamenting,

and gave me every command. It looked wondrously like the man himself.”

So he spoke, and stirred in all of them a longing for lament.

109μυρομένοισι δὲ τοῖσι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς

110ἀμφὶ νέκυν ἐλεεινόν. ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

οὐρῆάς τʼ ὄτρυνε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀξέμεν ὕλην

πάντοθεν ἐκ κλισιῶν· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνὴρ ἐσθλὸς ὀρώρει

Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.

οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ὑλοτόμους πελέκεας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες

115σειράς τʼ εὐπλέκτους· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐρῆες κίον αὐτῶν.

πολλὰ δʼ ἄναντα κάταντα πάραντά τε δόχμιά τʼ ἦλθον·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κνημοὺς προσέβαν πολυπίδακος Ἴδης,

αὐτίκʼ ἄρα δρῦς ὑψικόμους ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ

τάμνον ἐπειγόμενοι· ταὶ δὲ μεγάλα κτυπέουσαι

120πῖπτον· τὰς μὲν ἔπειτα διαπλήσσοντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἔκδεον ἡμιόνων· ταὶ δὲ χθόνα ποσσὶ δατεῦντο

ἐλδόμεναι πεδίοιο διὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά.

πάντες δʼ ὑλοτόμοι φιτροὺς φέρον· ὡς γὰρ ἀνώγει

Μηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.

125κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς βάλλον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς

φράσσατο Πατρόκλῳ μέγα ἠρίον ἠδὲ οἷ αὐτῷ.

109As they wept around the pitiable corpse, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared.

110Then lord Agamemnon

urged mules and men from every shelter

to go bring timber. A worthy man rose to lead them,

Meriones, attendant of proud Idomeneus.

The woodcutters went, holding axes in their hands

115and well-plaited ropes, the mules walking before them.

They traveled far up slopes, down slopes, along their sides, and across them.

But when they reached the foothills of Ida rich in springs,

they hurried to cut high-crowned oaks with long-edged bronze.

The trees fell with a tremendous crash.

120Then the Achaeans split them and bound them behind the mules,

which tore the earth with their hooves, straining

toward the plain through dense brushwood.

All the woodcutters carried logs, as he had ordered—

Meriones, attendant of proud Idomeneus.

125They cast them down along the shore, row upon row, where Achilles

had planned a great mound for Patroclus and himself.

127αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάντῃ παρακάββαλον ἄσπετον ὕλην

ἥατʼ ἄρʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἀολλέες. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

αὐτίκα Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κέλευσε

130χαλκὸν ζώννυσθαι, ζεῦξαι δʼ ὑπʼ ὄχεσφιν ἕκαστον

ἵππους· οἳ δʼ ὄρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσιν ἔδυνον,

ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐν δίφροισι παραιβάται ἡνίοχοί τε,

πρόσθε μὲν ἱππῆες, μετὰ δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν

μυρίοι· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι φέρον Πάτροκλον ἑταῖροι.

135θριξὶ δὲ πάντα νέκυν καταείνυσαν, ἃς ἐπέβαλλον

κειρόμενοι· ὄπιθεν δὲ κάρη ἔχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἀχνύμενος· ἕταρον γὰρ ἀμύμονα πέμπʼ Ἄϊδος δέ.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε χῶρον ἵκανον ὅθί σφισι πέφραδʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς

κάτθεσαν, αἶψα δέ οἱ μενοεικέα νήεον ὕλην.

127When they had laid the boundless timber all around,

they sat there waiting in one body. Achilles at once

ordered the Myrmidons, lovers of battle,

130to gird themselves in bronze and each yoke his horses beneath the chariot.

They rose and put on their armor,

and fighters and charioteers mounted the cars.

The chariot fighters went first; behind them followed a cloud of infantry,

countless men, and in their midst his comrades carried Patroclus.

135They covered the whole corpse with locks of their hair, cut and cast upon him,

while behind them godlike Achilles supported Patroclus’ head,

grieving, for he was sending his blameless comrade to Hades.

When they reached the place Achilles had shown them,

they set the corpse down and swiftly heaped up abundant wood for him.

140ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς ξανθὴν ἀπεκείρατο χαίτην,

τήν ῥα Σπερχειῷ ποταμῷ τρέφε τηλεθόωσαν·

ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·

Σπερχείʼ ἄλλως σοί γε πατὴρ ἠρήσατο Πηλεὺς

145κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

σοί τε κόμην κερέειν ῥέξειν θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην,

πεντήκοντα δʼ ἔνορχα παρʼ αὐτόθι μῆλʼ ἱερεύσειν

ἐς πηγάς, ὅθι τοι τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.

ὣς ἠρᾶθʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δέ οἱ νόον οὐκ ἐτέλεσσας.

150νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ κόμην ὀπάσαιμι φέρεσθαι.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ κόμην ἑτάροιο φίλοιο

θῆκεν, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.

140Then swift-footed, godlike Achilles conceived another act.

Standing apart from the pyre, he cut off his golden hair,

the lock he had kept growing thick for the river Spercheius.

Looking out over the wine-dark sea, he said in anguish:

“Spercheius, in vain my father Peleus prayed to you

145that after I returned home to my dear native land

I would cut my hair for you and offer a sacred hecatomb,

and sacrifice there beside your springs fifty uncastrated rams,

where your precinct and smoking altar stand.

So the old man prayed, but you did not fulfill his intent.

150Now, since I will not return to my dear native land,

let me bestow this hair on the hero Patroclus to carry with him.”

So he spoke and placed the hair in the hands of his dear companion,

and stirred in all of them a longing for lament.

154καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο

155εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αἶψʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι εἶπε παραστάς·

Ἀτρεΐδη, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν

πείσονται μύθοισι, γόοιο μὲν ἔστι καὶ ἆσαι,

νῦν δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι

ὅπλεσθαι· τάδε δʼ ἀμφὶ πονησόμεθʼ οἷσι μάλιστα

160κήδεός ἐστι νέκυς· παρὰ δʼ οἵ τʼ ἀγοὶ ἄμμι μενόντων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

αὐτίκα λαὸν μὲν σκέδασεν κατὰ νῆας ἐΐσας,

κηδεμόνες δὲ παρʼ αὖθι μένον καὶ νήεον ὕλην,

ποίησαν δὲ πυρὴν ἑκατόμπεδον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

165ἐν δὲ πυρῇ ὑπάτῃ νεκρὸν θέσαν ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.

154The sun's light would have set while they still mourned,

155had Achilles not quickly stood beside Agamemnon and said:

“Son of Atreus, the Achaean host will obey your words

above all others. There can be a fullness even of lament.

Now scatter them from the pyre and order supper

to be prepared. Those of us to whom the corpse is dearest

160will labor over these tasks; let the leaders remain beside us.”

When Agamemnon, lord of men, heard this,

he at once dispersed the host among the balanced ships.

Those closest to the dead stayed and heaped the wood,

building a pyre a hundred feet each way.

165At the summit of the pyre they laid the corpse, hearts full of grief.

166πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς

πρόσθε πυρῆς ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πάντων

δημὸν ἑλὼν ἐκάλυψε νέκυν μεγάθυμος Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, περὶ δὲ δρατὰ σώματα νήει.

170ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει μέλιτος καὶ ἀλείφατος ἀμφιφορῆας

πρὸς λέχεα κλίνων· πίσυρας δʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους

ἐσσυμένως ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ μεγάλα στεναχίζων.

ἐννέα τῷ γε ἄνακτι τραπεζῆες κύνες ἦσαν,

καὶ μὲν τῶν ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ δύο δειροτομήσας,

175δώδεκα δὲ Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς

χαλκῷ δηϊόων· κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα·

ἐν δὲ πυρὸς μένος ἧκε σιδήρεον ὄφρα νέμοιτο.

ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα, φίλον δʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·

166They slaughtered many sturdy sheep and shambling, curved-horned cattle,

flayed them before the pyre, and dressed the carcasses. From all of them

great-hearted Achilles took the fat and covered the corpse

from head to foot, then heaped the flayed bodies around it.

170He set amphoras of honey and oil upon the pyre,

leaning them against the bier. Four proud-necked horses

he swiftly cast onto the pyre, groaning deeply.

The dead lord had nine dogs that fed beneath his table,

and Achilles slit the throats of two and cast them onto the pyre.

175Then twelve noble sons of great-hearted Trojans

he killed with bronze, devising evil acts within his heart.

He loosed the iron force of fire upon the pyre, to feed there.

Then he cried aloud and called his dear companion by name:

179χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·

180πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην,

δώδεκα μὲν Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς

τοὺς ἅμα σοὶ πάντας πῦρ ἐσθίει· Ἕκτορα δʼ οὔ τι

δώσω Πριαμίδην πυρὶ δαπτέμεν, ἀλλὰ κύνεσσιν.

ὣς φάτʼ ἀπειλήσας· τὸν δʼ οὐ κύνες ἀμφεπένοντο,

185ἀλλὰ κύνας μὲν ἄλαλκε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη

ἤματα καὶ νύκτας, ῥοδόεντι δὲ χρῖεν ἐλαίῳ

ἀμβροσίῳ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.

τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ κυάνεον νέφος ἤγαγε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

οὐρανόθεν πεδίον δέ, κάλυψε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα

190ὅσσον ἐπεῖχε νέκυς, μὴ πρὶν μένος ἠελίοιο

σκήλειʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ χρόα ἴνεσιν ἠδὲ μέλεσσιν.

179“Hail, Patroclus, even in the house of Hades.

180I am now fulfilling all that I promised you before.

The twelve noble sons of great-hearted Trojans—

fire consumes them all beside you. But Hector,

Priam's son, I will not give to fire to devour, but to the dogs.”

So he spoke his threat. Yet dogs did not feed upon Hector.

185Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, kept the dogs away

by day and night, and anointed him with rose-scented oil,

ambrosial, so that Achilles’ dragging would not tear his body.

And Phoebus Apollo drew a dark-blue cloud over him

from heaven to the plain and covered the whole place

190occupied by the corpse, so the sun’s fierce strength would not prematurely

shrivel the skin around his sinews and limbs.

192οὐδὲ πυρὴ Πατρόκλου ἐκαίετο τεθνηῶτος·

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἀλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς δοιοῖς ἠρᾶτʼ ἀνέμοισι

195Βορέῃ καὶ Ζεφύρῳ, καὶ ὑπίσχετο ἱερὰ καλά·

πολλὰ δὲ καὶ σπένδων χρυσέῳ δέπαϊ λιτάνευεν

ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα πυρὶ φλεγεθοίατο νεκροί,

ὕλη τε σεύαιτο καήμεναι. ὦκα δὲ Ἶρις

ἀράων ἀΐουσα μετάγγελος ἦλθʼ ἀνέμοισιν.

200οἳ μὲν ἄρα Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος ἀθρόοι ἔνδον

εἰλαπίνην δαίνυντο· θέουσα δὲ Ἶρις ἐπέστη

βηλῷ ἔπι λιθέῳ· τοὶ δʼ ὡς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι

πάντες ἀνήϊξαν, κάλεόν τέ μιν εἰς ἓ ἕκαστος·

ἣ δʼ αὖθʼ ἕζεσθαι μὲν ἀνήνατο, εἶπε δὲ μῦθον·

205οὐχ ἕδος· εἶμι γὰρ αὖτις ἐπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥέεθρα

Αἰθιόπων ἐς γαῖαν, ὅθι ῥέζουσʼ ἑκατόμβας

ἀθανάτοις, ἵνα δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ μεταδαίσομαι ἱρῶν.

ἀλλʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Βορέην ἠδὲ Ζέφυρον κελαδεινὸν

ἐλθεῖν ἀρᾶται, καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἱερὰ καλά,

210ὄφρα πυρὴν ὄρσητε καήμεναι, ᾗ ἔνι κεῖται

Πάτροκλος, τὸν πάντες ἀναστενάχουσιν Ἀχαιοί.

192But the pyre of dead Patroclus did not burn.

Then swift-footed, godlike Achilles conceived another act.

Standing apart from the pyre, he prayed to two winds,

195Boreas and Zephyr, and promised splendid offerings.

Pouring many libations from a golden cup, he begged them

to come, so that the dead would blaze quickly in the fire

and the wood rush to burn. Iris swiftly

heard his prayers and came as messenger to the winds.

200They were gathered in the house of blustering Zephyr,

feasting together, when Iris ran up and stood

upon the stone threshold. When they saw her with their eyes,

they all sprang up, and each one called her to sit beside him.

But she refused to sit and spoke this word:

205“I cannot stay. I am going back to Ocean's streams,

to the land of the Ethiopians, where they offer hecatombs

to the immortals, so that I too may share the sacred feast.

But Achilles is praying for Boreas and resounding Zephyr

to come, and he promises splendid offerings,

210so that you may rouse the pyre to burn, where

Patroclus lies, for whom all the Achaeans groan.”

212ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπεβήσετο, τοὶ δʼ ὀρέοντο

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ νέφεα κλονέοντε πάροιθεν.

αἶψα δὲ πόντον ἵκανον ἀήμεναι, ὦρτο δὲ κῦμα

215πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ· Τροίην δʼ ἐρίβωλον ἱκέσθην,

ἐν δὲ πυρῇ πεσέτην, μέγα δʼ ἴαχε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.

παννύχιοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε πυρῆς ἄμυδις φλόγʼ ἔβαλλον

φυσῶντες λιγέως· ὃ δὲ πάννυχος ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς

χρυσέου ἐκ κρητῆρος ἑλὼν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον

220οἶνον ἀφυσσόμενος χαμάδις χέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν

ψυχὴν κικλήσκων Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο.

ὡς δὲ πατὴρ οὗ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται ὀστέα καίων

νυμφίου, ὅς τε θανὼν δειλοὺς ἀκάχησε τοκῆας,

ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάροιο ὀδύρετο ὀστέα καίων,

225ἑρπύζων παρὰ πυρκαϊὴν ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.

212So she spoke and departed, and the winds rose

with a terrible roar, driving the clouds before them.

They quickly reached the sea, blowing hard, and the waves reared

215under their piercing blast. They came to fertile Troy

and fell upon the pyre; the wondrous-blazing fire roared mightily.

All night together they kept lashing the flame of the pyre,

blowing shrill. All night swift Achilles

took a double-handled cup from a golden mixing bowl,

220drew wine, and poured it on the ground, drenching the earth

as he called upon the psyche of poor Patroclus.

As a father mourns while burning the bones of his son,

a bridegroom whose death has plunged his wretched parents into grief,

so Achilles mourned while burning his companion's bones,

225creeping beside the pyre and groaning deeply.

226ἦμος δʼ ἑωσφόρος εἶσι φόως ἐρέων ἐπὶ γαῖαν,

ὅν τε μέτα κροκόπεπλος ὑπεὶρ ἅλα κίδναται ἠώς,

τῆμος πυρκαϊὴ ἐμαραίνετο, παύσατο δὲ φλόξ.

οἳ δʼ ἄνεμοι πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι

230Θρηΐκιον κατὰ πόντον· ὃ δʼ ἔστενεν οἴδματι θύων.

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς ἑτέρωσε λιασθεὶς

κλίνθη κεκμηώς, ἐπὶ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ὄρουσεν·

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀτρεΐωνα ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο·

τῶν μιν ἐπερχομένων ὅμαδος καὶ δοῦπος ἔγειρεν,

235ἕζετο δʼ ὀρθωθεὶς καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,

πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσατʼ αἴθοπι οἴνῳ

πᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

ὀστέα Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο λέγωμεν

240εὖ διαγιγνώσκοντες· ἀριφραδέα δὲ τέτυκται·

ἐν μέσσῃ γὰρ ἔκειτο πυρῇ, τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἄνευθεν

ἐσχατιῇ καίοντʼ ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν χρυσέῃ φιάλῃ καὶ δίπλακι δημῷ

θείομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι.

245τύμβον δʼ οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐγὼ πονέεσθαι ἄνωγα,

ἀλλʼ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀχαιοὶ

εὐρύν θʼ ὑψηλόν τε τιθήμεναι, οἵ κεν ἐμεῖο

δεύτεροι ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι λίπησθε.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐπίθοντο ποδώκεϊ Πηλεΐωνι.

226When the morning star comes to bring light over the earth,

and after it saffron-robed Dawn spreads across the sea,

then the pyre died down and the flame ceased.

The winds turned back again and went home

230over the Thracian sea, and the sea groaned beneath their driving swell.

The son of Peleus withdrew to one side of the pyre

and lay down exhausted; sweet sleep rushed upon him.

The men gathered in a body around the son of Atreus,

and the clamor and tread of their approach woke Achilles.

235He sat upright and spoke to them:

“Son of Atreus and other leaders of all the Achaeans,

first quench the whole pyre with gleaming wine,

every part the force of fire has covered. Then

let us gather the bones of Patroclus, Menoetius' son,

240distinguishing them with care; they are easy to recognize.

He lay in the middle of the pyre, while the others

burned apart at its outer edge, horses mixed with men.

Let us place his bones in a golden bowl, wrapped in a double layer of fat,

until I myself am hidden away in Hades.

245I ask you not to labor over a very great mound,

but one of fitting size. Later, you Achaeans

who are left behind me beside the many-benched ships

must make it broad and high.”

So he spoke, and they obeyed the swift-footed son of Peleus.

250πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσαν αἴθοπι οἴνῳ

ὅσσον ἐπὶ φλὸξ ἦλθε, βαθεῖα δὲ κάππεσε τέφρη·

κλαίοντες δʼ ἑτάροιο ἐνηέος ὀστέα λευκὰ

ἄλλεγον ἐς χρυσέην φιάλην καὶ δίπλακα δημόν,

ἐν κλισίῃσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν·

255τορνώσαντο δὲ σῆμα θεμείλιά τε προβάλοντο

ἀμφὶ πυρήν· εἶθαρ δὲ χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,

χεύαντες δὲ τὸ σῆμα πάλιν κίον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

250First they quenched the pyre with gleaming wine

as far as the flame had reached, and the deep ash settled down.

Weeping, they gathered the white bones of their gentle companion

into a golden bowl, wrapped in a double layer of fat.

They set it among the shelters and covered it with a light cloth.

255They traced the mound's circle and laid its foundations

around the pyre, then at once poured heaped earth over it.

When they had heaped the mound, they turned and went back. But Achilles

258αὐτοῦ λαὸν ἔρυκε καὶ ἵζανεν εὐρὺν ἀγῶνα,

νηῶν δʼ ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλα λέβητάς τε τρίποδάς τε

260ἵππους θʼ ἡμιόνους τε βοῶν τʼ ἴφθιμα κάρηνα,

ἠδὲ γυναῖκας ἐϋζώνους πολιόν τε σίδηρον.

ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτα ποδώκεσιν ἀγλάʼ ἄεθλα

θῆκε γυναῖκα ἄγεσθαι ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυῖαν

καὶ τρίποδʼ ὠτώεντα δυωκαιεικοσίμετρον

265τῷ πρώτῳ· ἀτὰρ αὖ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἵππον ἔθηκεν

ἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην βρέφος ἡμίονον κυέουσαν·

αὐτὰρ τῷ τριτάτῳ ἄπυρον κατέθηκε λέβητα

καλὸν τέσσαρα μέτρα κεχανδότα λευκὸν ἔτʼ αὔτως·

τῷ δὲ τετάρτῳ θῆκε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,

270πέμπτῳ δʼ ἀμφίθετον φιάλην ἀπύρωτον ἔθηκε.

στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

258held the army there and seated them in a broad arena,

and from the ships he brought out prizes—cauldrons and tripods,

260horses and mules, strong heads of cattle,

fair-girdled women, and grey iron.

First, for the swift chariot drivers, he set out splendid prizes:

for the winner to lead away, a blameless woman skilled in excellent work

and a handled tripod holding twenty-two measures;

265for the man in second place he set a mare,

six years old, unbroken, carrying a mule foal;

for the third he laid down a cauldron untouched by fire,

fine, holding four measures, still gleaming bright;

for the fourth he set two talents of gold,

270and for the fifth an unfired, two-handled bowl.

He stood upright and spoke among the Argives:

272Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἱππῆας τάδʼ ἄεθλα δεδεγμένα κεῖτʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.

εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν Ἀχαιοὶ

275ἦ τʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα λαβὼν κλισίην δὲ φεροίμην.

ἴστε γὰρ ὅσσον ἐμοὶ ἀρετῇ περιβάλλετον ἵπποι·

ἀθάνατοί τε γάρ εἰσι, Ποσειδάων δὲ πόρʼ αὐτοὺς

πατρὶ ἐμῷ Πηλῆϊ, ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμοὶ ἐγγυάλιξεν.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·

280τοίου γὰρ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσαν ἡνιόχοιο

ἠπίου, ὅς σφωϊν μάλα πολλάκις ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον

χαιτάων κατέχευε λοέσσας ὕδατι λευκῷ.

τὸν τώ γʼ ἑσταότες πενθείετον, οὔδεϊ δέ σφι

χαῖται ἐρηρέδαται, τὼ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.

285ἄλλοι δὲ στέλλεσθε κατὰ στρατόν, ὅς τις Ἀχαιῶν

ἵπποισίν τε πέποιθε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.

272“Son of Atreus, and you other well-greaved Achaeans,

these prizes for charioteers lie waiting here in the arena.

If we Achaeans were now competing at another man’s games,

275I would surely take the first prizes and carry them back to my hut.

You know how far my horses surpass the others in excellence:

they are immortal, and Poseidon gave them

to my father Peleus, who in turn entrusted them to me.

But I will stay out, and so will my solid-hooved horses.

280They have lost the noble fame of so gentle a charioteer,

who so often poured smooth oil over their manes

after washing them in clear water.

They stand mourning him; their manes trail on the ground,

and there they remain, grieving in their hearts.

285The rest of you, make ready throughout the camp—every Achaean

who trusts in his horses and his close-fitted chariot.”

287ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ταχέες δʼ ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν.

ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὔμηλος

Ἀδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο·

290τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,

ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτʼ ἀπηύρα

Αἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων.

τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος

διογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππους

295Αἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον·

τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκʼ Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλος

δῶρʼ, ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθʼ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,

ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων· μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκε

Ζεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι·

300τὴν ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν.

Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους,

Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο ἄνακτος

τοῦ Νηληϊάδαο· Πυλοιγενέες δέ οἱ ἵπποι

ὠκύποδες φέρον ἅρμα· πατὴρ δέ οἱ ἄγχι παραστὰς

305μυθεῖτʼ εἰς ἀγαθὰ φρονέων νοέοντι καὶ αὐτῷ·

287So Peleus’ son spoke, and the swift charioteers gathered.

First by far rose Eumelus, lord of men,

Admetus’ dear son, distinguished in horsemanship;

290after him rose strong Diomedes, Tydeus’ son;

he brought beneath the yoke the Trojan horses he had once taken

from Aeneas, though Apollo rescued their owner.

After him rose fair-haired Menelaus, Atreus’ son,

Zeus-born, and beneath the yoke he brought swift horses:

295Aethe, Agamemnon’s mare, and his own Podargus.

Anchises’ son Echepolus had given her to Agamemnon

as a gift, so Echepolus need not follow Agamemnon to windy Ilium

but might stay home and enjoy himself, for Zeus had given him

great wealth, and he lived in spacious Sicyon.

300Menelaus brought her under the yoke, deeply eager for the race.

Antilochus was fourth to harness his fine-maned horses,

the splendid son of high-hearted lord Nestor,

Neleus’ son; Pylian-born, swift-footed horses

drew his chariot. His father came near and stood beside him,

305giving good counsel to one who already understood:

306Ἀντίλοχʼ ἤτοι μέν σε νέον περ ἐόντʼ ἐφίλησαν

Ζεύς τε Ποσειδάων τε, καὶ ἱπποσύνας ἐδίδαξαν

παντοίας· τὼ καί σε διδασκέμεν οὔ τι μάλα χρεώ·

οἶσθα γὰρ εὖ περὶ τέρμαθʼ ἑλισσέμεν· ἀλλά τοι ἵπποι

310βάρδιστοι θείειν· τώ τʼ οἴω λοίγιʼ ἔσεσθαι.

τῶν δʼ ἵπποι μὲν ἔασιν ἀφάρτεροι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοὶ

πλείονα ἴσασιν σέθεν αὐτοῦ μητίσασθαι.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ σὺ φίλος μῆτιν ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷ

παντοίην, ἵνα μή σε παρεκπροφύγῃσιν ἄεθλα.

315μήτι τοι δρυτόμος μέγʼ ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι·

μήτι δʼ αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ

νῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι·

μήτι δʼ ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.

ἀλλʼ ὃς μέν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν οἷσι πεποιθὼς

320ἀφραδέως ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἑλίσσεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,

ἵπποι δὲ πλανόωνται ἀνὰ δρόμον, οὐδὲ κατίσχει·

ὃς δέ κε κέρδεα εἰδῇ ἐλαύνων ἥσσονας ἵππους,

αἰεὶ τέρμʼ ὁρόων στρέφει ἐγγύθεν, οὐδέ ἑ λήθει

ὅππως τὸ πρῶτον τανύσῃ βοέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν,

325ἀλλʼ ἔχει ἀσφαλέως καὶ τὸν προὔχοντα δοκεύει.

σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει.

ἕστηκε ξύλον αὖον ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιʼ ὑπὲρ αἴης

ἢ δρυὸς ἢ πεύκης· τὸ μὲν οὐ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ,

λᾶε δὲ τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἐρηρέδαται δύο λευκὼ

330ἐν ξυνοχῇσιν ὁδοῦ, λεῖος δʼ ἱππόδρομος ἀμφὶς

ἤ τευ σῆμα βροτοῖο πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,

ἢ τό γε νύσσα τέτυκτο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων,

καὶ νῦν τέρματʼ ἔθηκε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

τῷ σὺ μάλʼ ἐγχρίμψας ἐλάαν σχεδὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους,

335αὐτὸς δὲ κλινθῆναι ἐϋπλέκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

ἦκʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ τοῖιν· ἀτὰρ τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον

κένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.

ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω,

ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι

340κύκλου ποιητοῖο· λίθου δʼ ἀλέασθαι ἐπαυρεῖν,

μή πως ἵππους τε τρώσῃς κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξῃς·

χάρμα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισιν, ἐλεγχείη δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ

ἔσσεται· ἀλλὰ φίλος φρονέων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.

εἰ γάρ κʼ ἐν νύσσῃ γε παρεξελάσῃσθα διώκων,

345οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅς κέ σʼ ἕλῃσι μετάλμενος οὐδὲ παρέλθῃ,

οὐδʼ εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρίονα δῖον ἐλαύνοι

Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν,

ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος, οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ ἔτραφεν ἐσθλοί.

306“Antilochus, though you are young, Zeus and Poseidon

have loved you and taught you every kind

of horsemanship, so you have little need of instruction.

You know well how to wheel around the turning post—but your horses

310are the slowest in the race, and that, I think, will bring you trouble.

The others’ horses are faster, yet the men themselves

know no more than you do about devising advantage.

Come then, dear son, store every kind of cunning in your heart,

so the prizes do not slip away from you.

315By cunning, a woodcutter does far better than by force;

by cunning, too, a helmsman on the wine-dark sea

keeps a swift ship straight though winds batter it;

and by cunning one charioteer surpasses another.

A man who trusts in his horses and his chariot

320swings recklessly in a wide arc, now here, now there;

his horses wander over the course, and he cannot hold them in.

But a driver who knows the winning craft, though he drives the weaker team,

keeps his eyes on the post and wheels close; he never forgets

how from the outset to keep the team taut on the ox-hide reins,

325but holds them steady and watches the leader ahead.

I will tell you a marker easy to recognize; you will not miss it.

A dry post stands about a fathom above the ground,

either oak or pine, and it has not rotted in the rain.

Two white stones are fixed against it, one on either side,

330where the road narrows, and the racecourse around it is smooth.

It may be the marker of some mortal long dead,

or perhaps it was made a turning post by men of former times;

now swift-footed godlike Achilles has made it the turn.

Drive your horses and chariot very close beside it,

335and lean yourself within the well-woven chariot

gently toward their left; shout at the right-hand horse

and prick him with the goad, while your hands give him rein.

Let your left-hand horse graze close beside the post,

so that the hub of your well-made wheel will seem almost

340to graze the post—but take care not to strike the stone,

or you may wound the horses and smash the chariot.

That would delight the others and bring disgrace on you.

So be shrewd, dear son, and stay alert.

For if you pass them in pursuit at the turning post,

345there is no man who can catch you with a rush or overtake you,

not even if he drove divine Arion behind you,

Adrastus’ swift horse, whose line was born from the gods,

or Laomedon’s horses, the noble team bred here.”

349ὣς εἰπὼν Νέστωρ Νηλήϊος ἂψ ἐνὶ χώρῃ

350ἕζετʼ, ἐπεὶ ᾧ παιδὶ ἑκάστου πείρατʼ ἔειπε.

Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα πέμπτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους.

ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐς δίφρους, ἐν δὲ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο·

πάλλʼ Ἀχιλεύς, ἐκ δὲ κλῆρος θόρε Νεστορίδαο

Ἀντιλόχου· μετὰ τὸν δʼ ἔλαχε κρείων Εὔμηλος·

355τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρὶ κλειτὸς Μενέλαος,

τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Μηριόνης λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν· ὕστατος αὖτε

Τυδεΐδης ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐὼν λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν ἵππους.

στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί, σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς

τηλόθεν ἐν λείῳ πεδίῳ· παρὰ δὲ σκοπὸν εἷσεν

360ἀντίθεον Φοίνικα ὀπάονα πατρὸς ἑοῖο,

ὡς μεμνέῳτο δρόμους καὶ ἀληθείην ἀποείποι.

349So Nestor, Neleus’ son, spoke and sat back down in his place,

350after telling his son each point of the course.

Meriones was fifth to harness his fine-maned horses.

They mounted their chariots and cast in their lots.

Achilles shook them, and out sprang the lot of Nestor’s son,

Antilochus; after him lord Eumelus drew his place;

355after him came spear-famed Menelaus, Atreus’ son,

and next Meriones was allotted his place to drive. Last of all,

though far the best, Tydeus’ son drew the final place for his team.

They stood in line, and Achilles showed them the turning post

far off on the level plain. Beside it he stationed as observer

360godlike Phoenix, his father’s companion,

to remember how they raced and report the truth.

362οἳ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν μάστιγας ἄειραν,

πέπληγόν θʼ ἱμᾶσιν, ὁμόκλησάν τʼ ἐπέεσσιν

ἐσσυμένως· οἳ δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο

365νόσφι νεῶν ταχέως· ὑπὸ δὲ στέρνοισι κονίη

ἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη ὥς τε νέφος ἠὲ θύελλα,

χαῖται δʼ ἐρρώοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.

ἅρματα δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν χθονὶ πίλνατο πουλυβοτείρῃ,

ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀΐξασκε μετήορα· τοὶ δʼ ἐλατῆρες

370ἕστασαν ἐν δίφροισι, πάτασσε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστου

νίκης ἱεμένων· κέκλοντο δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος

ἵπποις, οἳ δʼ ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι

ἂψ ἐφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου

375φαίνετʼ, ἄφαρ δʼ ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα

αἳ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι.

τὰς δὲ μετʼ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι

Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθʼ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐγγύς·

αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐΐκτην,

380πνοιῇ δʼ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τʼ ὤμω

θέρμετʼ· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.

καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσʼ ἢ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν,

εἰ μὴ Τυδέος υἷϊ κοτέσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ὅς ῥά οἱ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔβαλεν μάστιγα φαεινήν.

385τοῖο δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χύτο δάκρυα χωομένοιο,

οὕνεκα τὰς μὲν ὅρα ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἰούσας,

οἳ δέ οἱ ἐβλάφθησαν ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες.

οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίην ἐλεφηράμενος λάθʼ Ἀπόλλων

Τυδεΐδην, μάλα δʼ ὦκα μετέσσυτο ποιμένα λαῶν,

390δῶκε δέ οἱ μάστιγα, μένος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐνῆκεν·

ἣ δὲ μετʼ Ἀδμήτου υἱὸν κοτέουσʼ ἐβεβήκει,

ἵππειον δέ οἱ ἦξε θεὰ ζυγόν· αἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι

ἀμφὶς ὁδοῦ δραμέτην, ῥυμὸς δʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐλύσθη.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη,

395ἀγκῶνάς τε περιδρύφθη στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε,

θρυλίχθη δὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.

Τυδεΐδης δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,

πολλὸν τῶν ἄλλων ἐξάλμενος· ἐν γὰρ Ἀθήνη

400ἵπποις ἧκε μένος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκε.

362All together they raised their whips above the horses,

struck with the lashes, and shouted words of command

eagerly. The teams quickly swept across the plain,

365away from the ships, and beneath their chests dust rose

and hung like a cloud or a driving storm;

their manes streamed in the gusts of wind.

The chariots now came down close to the grain-giving earth,

now sprang high into the air. The drivers

370stood in their cars, and every heart pounded

with longing for victory. Each man called to his own

horses, and they flew on, powdering the plain with dust.

But when the swift horses were completing the final stretch,

turning back toward the grey sea, then each team’s excellence

375came into view and the race opened out before them. At once

the swift mares of Pheres’ grandson carried him into the lead,

and after them came Diomedes’ stallions,

the Trojan pair, not far behind but exceedingly close.

They seemed always on the point of mounting Eumelus’ chariot,

380and with their breath they warmed his back and broad shoulders,

for they flew with their heads stretched out above him.

Now Diomedes would have passed him or made the race a dead heat,

had Phoebus Apollo not grown angry with Tydeus’ son

and knocked the shining whip out of his hands.

385Tears streamed from his eyes in anger,

because he saw Eumelus’ mares running still farther ahead

while his own team faltered, racing without the goad.

But Apollo did not escape Athena’s notice when he cheated

Tydeus’ son. She sped after the shepherd of the people,

390gave him the whip, and put force into his horses.

Then, angry, she went after Admetus’ son

and the goddess broke his horses’ yoke. The pair ran

to either side of the road, and the pole collapsed onto the ground.

Eumelus himself rolled out of the car beside the wheel;

395his elbows, mouth, and nose were scraped raw,

and his forehead was gashed above the brows. His eyes

filled with tears, and his strong voice was checked.

Tydeus’ son swung his solid-hooved horses past and held them on,

leaping far ahead of all the rest, for Athena

400put force into the horses and set triumph upon their driver.

401τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εἶχε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.

Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·

ἔμβητον καὶ σφῶϊ· τιταίνετον ὅττι τάχιστα.

ἤτοι μὲν κείνοισιν ἐριζέμεν οὔ τι κελεύω

405Τυδεΐδεω ἵπποισι δαΐφρονος, οἷσιν Ἀθήνη

νῦν ὤρεξε τάχος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκεν·

ἵππους δʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο κιχάνετε, μὴ δὲ λίπησθον,

καρπαλίμως, μὴ σφῶϊν ἐλεγχείην καταχεύῃ

Αἴθη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα· τί ἢ λείπεσθε φέριστοι;

410ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·

οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ παρὰ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν

ἔσσεται, αὐτίκα δʼ ὔμμε κατακτενεῖ ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

αἴ κʼ ἀποκηδήσαντε φερώμεθα χεῖρον ἄεθλον.

ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὅττι τάχιστα·

415ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς τεχνήσομαι ἠδὲ νοήσω

στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ παραδύμεναι, οὐδέ με λήσει.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν

μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην ὀλίγον χρόνον· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτα

στεῖνος ὁδοῦ κοίλης ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης.

420ῥωχμὸς ἔην γαίης, ᾗ χειμέριον ἀλὲν ὕδωρ

ἐξέρρηξεν ὁδοῖο, βάθυνε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα·

τῇ ῥʼ εἶχεν Μενέλαος ἁματροχιὰς ἀλεείνων.

Ἀντίλοχος δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους

ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, ὀλίγον δὲ παρακλίνας ἐδίωκεν.

425Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἔδεισε καὶ Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐγεγώνει·

Ἀντίλοχʼ ἀφραδέως ἱππάζεαι, ἀλλʼ ἄνεχʼ ἵππους·

στεινωπὸς γὰρ ὁδός, τάχα δʼ εὐρυτέρη παρελάσσαι·

μή πως ἀμφοτέρους δηλήσεαι ἅρματι κύρσας.

401Behind him came fair-haired Menelaus, Atreus’ son.

Antilochus called to his father’s horses:

“You two, drive on! Stretch out as fast as you can.

I do not command you to contend with the horses

405of battle-wise Tydeus’ son, to whom Athena

has now granted speed and set triumph upon their driver.

But catch the horses of Atreus’ son—do not fall behind,

quickly, or Aethe, though a mare, will pour disgrace over you.

Why are you falling back, my finest pair?

410For I will tell you this, and it will surely be fulfilled:

you will receive no care from Nestor, shepherd of the people;

he will kill you both at once with the sharp bronze

if through your neglect we carry away the poorer prize.

Press on behind them, and hurry as fast as you can.

415I myself will devise the means and find the way

to slip past him where the road is narrow. I will not miss it.”

So he spoke. Fearing their lord’s rebuke,

they ran harder for a little while. Soon afterward

steadfast Antilochus saw the hollow road draw narrow.

420There was a break in the earth, where winter water had gathered,

burst through the roadway, and hollowed the whole place deep.

Menelaus kept his team to that line, avoiding a side-by-side collision.

Antilochus swung his solid-hooved horses aside

off the road and pursued at a slight angle.

425Atreus’ son grew afraid and shouted to Antilochus:

“Antilochus, you are driving recklessly! Hold in your horses.

The road is narrow; it will soon be wider for passing.

Do not strike my chariot and wreck us both!”

429ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἔλαυνε

430κέντρῳ ἐπισπέρχων ὡς οὐκ ἀΐοντι ἐοικώς.

ὅσσα δὲ δίσκου οὖρα κατωμαδίοιο πέλονται,

ὅν τʼ αἰζηὸς ἀφῆκεν ἀνὴρ πειρώμενος ἥβης,

τόσσον ἐπιδραμέτην· αἳ δʼ ἠρώησαν ὀπίσσω

Ἀτρεΐδεω· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἑκὼν μεθέηκεν ἐλαύνειν

435μή πως συγκύρσειαν ὁδῷ ἔνι μώνυχες ἵπποι,

δίφρους τʼ ἀνστρέψειαν ἐϋπλεκέας, κατὰ δʼ αὐτοὶ

ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης.

τὸν καὶ νεικείων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

Ἀντίλοχʼ οὔ τις σεῖο βροτῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·

440ἔρρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ σʼ ἔτυμόν γε φάμεν πεπνῦσθαι Ἀχαιοί.

ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν οὐδʼ ὧς ἄτερ ὅρκου οἴσῃ ἄεθλον.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε·

μή μοι ἐρύκεσθον μὴ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.

φθήσονται τούτοισι πόδες καὶ γοῦνα καμόντα

445ἢ ὑμῖν· ἄμφω γὰρ ἀτέμβονται νεότητος.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν

μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην, τάχα δέ σφισιν ἄγχι γένοντο.

429So he spoke, but Antilochus drove still harder than before,

430hurrying them with the goad as though he had not heard.

As far as a discus flies when cast from the shoulder,

when a young man lets it go to test his strength,

so far Antilochus’ pair ran on. The horses of Atreus’ son

fell back, for Menelaus himself deliberately eased his driving,

435so the solid-hooved teams would not collide on the road,

overturn the well-woven chariots, and send the drivers

down into the dust in their urgent struggle for victory.

Fair-haired Menelaus rebuked him and said:

“Antilochus, no other mortal is more destructive than you.

440Damn you! We Achaeans were wrong to call you sensible.

Even so, you will not carry off the prize without an oath.”

So speaking, he called to his horses and cried:

“Do not hold back on me; do not stand there grieving in your hearts.

Their feet and knees will tire before yours,

445for both of them have lost the strength of youth.”

So he spoke. Fearing their lord’s rebuke,

they ran harder and soon came close behind the others.

448Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσορόωντο

ἵππους· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.

450πρῶτος δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἐφράσαθʼ ἵππους·

ἧστο γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρτατος ἐν περιωπῇ·

τοῖο δʼ ἄνευθεν ἐόντος ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσας

ἔγνω, φράσσατο δʼ ἵππον ἀριπρεπέα προὔχοντα,

ὃς τὸ μὲν ἄλλο τόσον φοῖνιξ ἦν, ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ

455λευκὸν σῆμα τέτυκτο περίτροχον ἠΰτε μήνη.

στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

οἶος ἐγὼν ἵππους αὐγάζομαι ἦε καὶ ὑμεῖς;

ἄλλοι μοι δοκέουσι παροίτεροι ἔμμεναι ἵπποι,

460ἄλλος δʼ ἡνίοχος ἰνδάλλεται· αἳ δέ που αὐτοῦ

ἔβλαβεν ἐν πεδίῳ, αἳ κεῖσέ γε φέρτεραι ἦσαν·

ἤτοι γὰρ τὰς πρῶτα ἴδον περὶ τέρμα βαλούσας,

νῦν δʼ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν· πάντῃ δέ μοι ὄσσε

Τρωϊκὸν ἂμ πεδίον παπταίνετον εἰσορόωντι·

465ἦε τὸν ἡνίοχον φύγον ἡνία, οὐδὲ δυνάσθη

εὖ σχεθέειν περὶ τέρμα καὶ οὐκ ἐτύχησεν ἑλίξας·

ἔνθά μιν ἐκπεσέειν ὀΐω σύν θʼ ἅρματα ἆξαι,

αἳ δʼ ἐξηρώησαν, ἐπεὶ μένος ἔλλαβε θυμόν.

ἀλλὰ ἴδεσθε καὶ ὔμμες ἀνασταδόν· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε

470εὖ διαγιγνώσκω· δοκέει δέ μοι ἔμμεναι ἀνὴρ

Αἰτωλὸς γενεήν, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάσσει

Τυδέος ἱπποδάμου υἱὸς κρατερὸς Διομήδης.

448The Argives sat in the arena watching

the horses, which flew on, powdering the plain with dust.

450Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, was first to notice the teams,

for he sat outside the arena, highest on a lookout.

Though the driver was still far off, Idomeneus heard his cry

and knew him; he also marked the conspicuous horse in front,

chestnut over all the rest of his body, but on his forehead

455there was a round white mark like the moon.

He stood upright and spoke among the Argives:

“Friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives,

am I the only one who sees the horses, or do you see them too?

It seems to me that a different team is now in front,

460and a different charioteer appears. The mares that led

must have come to grief somewhere on the plain, though they were the better pair on the outward run.

I saw them first as they wheeled around the turning post,

but now I cannot see them anywhere, though my eyes

range over every part of the Trojan plain.

465Perhaps the reins slipped from the driver, and he could not

hold them well around the post or make the turn successfully.

I think he fell out there and smashed his chariot,

and his mares bolted away when a surge of force seized their spirits.

But you too, stand up and look. I cannot

470make him out clearly, though the man appears to me

Aetolian by birth, a ruler among the Argives—

strong Diomedes, horse-taming Tydeus’ son.”

473τὸν δʼ αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας·

Ἰδομενεῦ τί πάρος λαβρεύεαι; αἳ δέ τʼ ἄνευθεν

475ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες πολέος πεδίοιο δίενται.

οὔτε νεώτατός ἐσσι μετʼ Ἀργείοισι τοσοῦτον,

οὔτέ τοι ὀξύτατον κεφαλῆς ἐκδέρκεται ὄσσε·

ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ μύθοις λαβρεύεαι· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

λαβραγόρην ἔμεναι· πάρα γὰρ καὶ ἀμείνονες ἄλλοι.

480ἵπποι δʼ αὐταὶ ἔασι παροίτεραι, αἳ τὸ πάρος περ,

Εὐμήλου, ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔχων εὔληρα βέβηκε.

τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Αἶαν νεῖκος ἄριστε κακοφραδὲς ἄλλά τε πάντα

δεύεαι Ἀργείων, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.

485δεῦρό νυν ἢ τρίποδος περιδώμεθον ἠὲ λέβητος,

ἴστορα δʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα θείομεν ἄμφω,

ὁππότεραι πρόσθʼ ἵπποι, ἵνα γνώῃς ἀποτίνων.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας

χωόμενος χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσι·

490καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτʼ ἔρις γένετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν,

εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον·

μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν

Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.

καὶ δʼ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.

495ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε

ἵππους· οἳ δὲ τάχʼ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης

ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσονται· τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος

ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἵ τε πάροιθεν.

473Swift Ajax, Oileus’ son, rebuked him shamefully:

“Idomeneus, why bluster before the time? The high-stepping horses

475are still racing far off across the breadth of the plain.

You are not so much the youngest among the Argives,

nor do the eyes beneath your brow look out the sharpest.

Yet you are always blustering in your speeches. You have no need

to be a loudmouth; there are other men here better than you.

480The same mares that led before are still in front,

Eumelus’ team, and he stands in the car holding the reins.”

Angered, the leader of the Cretans answered him directly:

“Ajax, best at abuse, wrong-headed in all else,

you fall short of the Argives because your mind is harsh.

485Come now, let us stake a tripod or a cauldron against each other,

and together appoint Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, as arbiter

of which mares are in front—then pay your stake and learn.”

So he spoke, and at once swift Ajax, Oileus’ son, sprang up,

angry and ready to answer him with bitter words.

490The strife between them would have gone still farther,

had Achilles himself not risen and spoken:

“Ajax and Idomeneus, stop answering each other

with bitter insults. It is not fitting.

You yourselves would be angry with another man who acted this way.

495Sit here in the arena and watch

the horses. Soon enough, driving hard for victory,

they will come here themselves, and then each of you will know

which Argive teams are second and which are in front.”

499ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,

500μάστι δʼ αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν· οἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι

ὑψόσʼ ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.

αἰεὶ δʼ ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,

ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε

ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον· οὐδέ τι πολλὴ

505γίγνετʼ ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν

ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ· τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.

στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι, πολὺς δʼ ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς

ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,

510κλῖνε δʼ ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν· οὐδὲ μάτησεν

ἴφθιμος Σθένελος, ἀλλʼ ἐσσυμένως λάβʼ ἄεθλον,

δῶκε δʼ ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα

καὶ τρίποδʼ ὠτώεντα φέρειν· ὃ δʼ ἔλυεν ὑφʼ ἵππους.

499So he spoke. Tydeus’ son came very close in his pursuit,

500bringing the whip down again and again; his horses

lifted high as they swiftly covered the course.

Flecks of dust kept striking the charioteer,

and the chariot plated in gold and tin

ran close behind the swift-footed team. Scarcely any

505wheel track from the tires appeared behind them

in the fine dust, so fast the pair flew onward.

He stopped in the middle of the arena, and sweat streamed

from the horses’ manes and chests to the ground.

Diomedes sprang down from his gleaming chariot

510and leaned the whip against the yoke. Strong Sthenelus

did not linger, but eagerly took the prizes.

He gave the woman to his high-hearted companions to lead away

and the handled tripod to carry, while Diomedes unharnessed the team.

514τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀντίλοχος Νηλήϊος ἤλασεν ἵππους

515κέρδεσιν, οὔ τι τάχει γε, παραφθάμενος Μενέλαον·

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Μενέλαος ἔχʼ ἐγγύθεν ὠκέας ἵππους.

ὅσσον δὲ τροχοῦ ἵππος ἀφίσταται, ὅς ῥα ἄνακτα

ἕλκῃσιν πεδίοιο τιταινόμενος σὺν ὄχεσφι·

τοῦ μέν τε ψαύουσιν ἐπισσώτρου τρίχες ἄκραι

520οὐραῖαι· ὃ δέ τʼ ἄγχι μάλα τρέχει, οὐδέ τι πολλὴ

χώρη μεσσηγὺς πολέος πεδίοιο θέοντος·

τόσσον δὴ Μενέλαος ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο

λείπετʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα καὶ ἐς δίσκουρα λέλειπτο,

ἀλλά μιν αἶψα κίχανεν· ὀφέλλετο γὰρ μένος ἠῢ

525ἵππου τῆς Ἀγαμεμνονέης καλλίτριχος Αἴθης·

εἰ δέ κʼ ἔτι προτέρω γένετο δρόμος ἀμφοτέροισι,

τώ κέν μιν παρέλασσʼ οὐδʼ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν.

αὐτὰρ Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος

λείπετʼ ἀγακλῆος Μενελάου δουρὸς ἐρωήν·

530βάρδιστοι μὲν γάρ οἱ ἔσαν καλλίτριχες ἵπποι,

ἤκιστος δʼ ἦν αὐτὸς ἐλαυνέμεν ἅρμʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.

υἱὸς δʼ Ἀδμήτοιο πανύστατος ἤλυθεν ἄλλων

ἕλκων ἅρματα καλὰ ἐλαύνων πρόσσοθεν ἵππους.

514After him Antilochus, Neleus’ grandson, drove in his horses,

515having passed Menelaus by cunning, not by speed.

Even so, Menelaus held his swift team close behind.

As far as a horse keeps ahead of the wheel when he draws his lord

over the plain, straining onward with the chariot—

the tips of his tail hairs brush against the tire,

520so close he runs, with very little space

between them as he courses over the broad plain—

so far Menelaus trailed blameless Antilochus.

At first he had fallen a discus cast behind,

but soon he caught him, for the noble force was rising

525in fair-maned Aethe, Agamemnon’s mare.

Had the race been longer for both men,

Menelaus would have passed him and left no dispute.

But Meriones, the worthy attendant of Idomeneus,

finished a spear cast behind glorious Menelaus.

530His fine-maned horses were the slowest,

and he himself the least skilled at driving a chariot in a race.

Admetus’ son came in last of all,

dragging his fine chariot and driving his horses ahead.

534τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

535στὰς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευε·

λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους·

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δή οἱ δῶμεν ἀέθλιον ὡς ἐπιεικὲς

δεύτερʼ· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα φερέσθω Τυδέος υἱός.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευε.

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

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς

Πηλεΐδην Ἀχιλῆα δίκῃ ἠμείψατʼ ἀναστάς·

ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ μάλα τοι κεχολώσομαι αἴ κε τελέσσῃς

τοῦτο ἔπος· μέλλεις γὰρ ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἄεθλον

545τὰ φρονέων ὅτι οἱ βλάβεν ἅρματα καὶ ταχέʼ ἵππω

αὐτός τʼ ἐσθλὸς ἐών· ἀλλʼ ὤφελεν ἀθανάτοισιν

εὔχεσθαι· τό κεν οὔ τι πανύστατος ἦλθε διώκων.

εἰ δέ μιν οἰκτίρεις καί τοι φίλος ἔπλετο θυμῷ

ἔστί τοι ἐν κλισίῃ χρυσὸς πολύς, ἔστι δὲ χαλκὸς

550καὶ πρόβατʼ, εἰσὶ δέ τοι δμῳαὶ καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·

τῶν οἱ ἔπειτʼ ἀνελὼν δόμεναι καὶ μεῖζον ἄεθλον

ἠὲ καὶ αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα σʼ αἰνήσωσιν Ἀχαιοί.

τὴν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐ δώσω· περὶ δʼ αὐτῆς πειρηθήτω

ἀνδρῶν ὅς κʼ ἐθέλῃσιν ἐμοὶ χείρεσσι μάχεσθαι.

555ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

χαίρων Ἀντιλόχῳ, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος·

καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἀντίλοχʼ, εἰ μὲν δή με κελεύεις οἴκοθεν ἄλλο

Εὐμήλῳ ἐπιδοῦναι, ἐγὼ δέ κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσω.

560δώσω οἱ θώρηκα, τὸν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων

χάλκεον, ᾧ πέρι χεῦμα φαεινοῦ κασσιτέροιο

ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιος ἔσται.

534Swift-footed godlike Achilles saw him and took pity.

535Standing among the Argives, he declared in winged words:

“The finest driver is bringing in his solid-hooved horses last.

Come, let us give him the second prize, as is fitting,

but let Tydeus’ son carry away the first.”

So he spoke, and they all applauded as he proposed.

540He would have given Eumelus the mare, for the Achaeans approved,

had Antilochus, son of high-hearted Nestor, not risen

and made his plea of justice to Achilles, Peleus’ son:

“Achilles, I will be bitterly angry with you if you carry out

this proposal. You intend to take away my prize

545because his chariot and swift pair came to grief,

though he himself is a good man. He should have prayed to the immortals;

then he would not have come in dead last.

If you pity him and he is dear to your heart,

your hut holds plenty of gold and bronze,

550flocks, serving women, and solid-hooved horses.

Take something from those and give him an even greater prize,

either now or later, so the Achaeans will praise you.

But I will not give up this mare. Let any man who wants her

come try his hands against me and fight.”

555So he spoke. Swift-footed godlike Achilles smiled,

delighted with Antilochus, for he was his dear companion,

and answering him, addressed him with winged words:

“Antilochus, if you ask me to add another gift

for Eumelus from my own stores, I will do that too.

560I will give him the corselet I stripped from Asteropaeus,

bronze, with a bright overlay of tin sweeping around it.

It will be worth a great deal to him.”

563ἦ ῥα, καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι φίλῳ ἐκέλευσεν ἑταίρῳ

οἰσέμεναι κλισίηθεν· ὃ δʼ ᾤχετο καί οἱ ἔνεικεν,

565Εὐμήλῳ δʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο θυμὸν ἀχεύων

Ἀντιλόχῳ ἄμοτον κεχολωμένος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα κῆρυξ

χειρὶ σκῆπτρον ἔθηκε, σιωπῆσαί τε κέλευσεν

Ἀργείους· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα μετηύδα ἰσόθεος φώς·

570Ἀντίλοχε πρόσθεν πεπνυμένε ποῖον ἔρεξας.

ᾔσχυνας μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετήν, βλάψας δέ μοι ἵππους

τοὺς σοὺς πρόσθε βαλών, οἵ τοι πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέροισι δικάσσατε, μὴ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀρωγῇ,

575μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·

Ἀντίλοχον ψεύδεσσι βιησάμενος Μενέλαος

οἴχεται ἵππον ἄγων, ὅτι οἱ πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν

ἵπποι, αὐτὸς δὲ κρείσσων ἀρετῇ τε βίῃ τε.

εἰ δʼ ἄγʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς δικάσω, καί μʼ οὔ τινά φημι

580ἄλλον ἐπιπλήξειν Δαναῶν· ἰθεῖα γὰρ ἔσται.

Ἀντίλοχʼ εἰ δʼ ἄγε δεῦρο διοτρεφές, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,

στὰς ἵππων προπάροιθε καὶ ἅρματος, αὐτὰρ ἱμάσθλην

χερσὶν ἔχε ῥαδινήν, ᾗ περ τὸ πρόσθεν ἔλαυνες,

ἵππων ἁψάμενος γαιήοχον ἐννοσίγαιον

585ὄμνυθι μὴ μὲν ἑκὼν τὸ ἐμὸν δόλῳ ἅρμα πεδῆσαι.

563He spoke and ordered Automedon, his dear companion,

to bring it from the hut. He went and brought it back,

565and placed it in Eumelus’ hands; Eumelus took it with joy.

Then Menelaus too rose among them, pain in his heart,

relentlessly angry with Antilochus. A herald

placed the scepter in his hand and ordered the Argives

to be silent. Then the godlike man spoke:

570“Antilochus, once so sensible—what have you done?

You have shamed my excellence and hampered my horses

by throwing your own ahead, though they were far worse.

Come, leaders and rulers of the Argives,

judge impartially between us; show neither man favor,

575so no bronze-armored Achaean may ever say:

‘Menelaus overpowered Antilochus with lies

and went off leading the mare because his horses were far worse,

though he himself was superior in excellence and force.’

Come then, I myself will judge, and I say that no other

580Danaan will reproach me, for the judgment will be straight.

Antilochus, Zeus-nurtured, come here, as is proper.

Stand before your horses and chariot, and hold in your hands

the slender whip with which you drove before.

Touch your horses and swear by the earth-holding Earth-shaker

585that you did not deliberately impede my chariot by guile.”

586τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντίλοχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ἄνσχεο νῦν· πολλὸν γὰρ ἔγωγε νεώτερός εἰμι

σεῖο ἄναξ Μενέλαε, σὺ δὲ πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.

οἶσθʼ οἷαι νέου ἀνδρὸς ὑπερβασίαι τελέθουσι·

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

τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη· ἵππον δέ τοι αὐτὸς

δώσω, τὴν ἀρόμην. εἰ καί νύ κεν οἴκοθεν ἄλλο

μεῖζον ἐπαιτήσειας, ἄφαρ κέ τοι αὐτίκα δοῦναι

βουλοίμην ἢ σοί γε διοτρεφὲς ἤματα πάντα

595ἐκ θυμοῦ πεσέειν καὶ δαίμοσιν εἶναι ἀλιτρός.

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἵππον ἄγων μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς

ἐν χείρεσσι τίθει Μενελάου· τοῖο δὲ θυμὸς

ἰάνθη ὡς εἴ τε περὶ σταχύεσσιν ἐέρση

ληΐου ἀλδήσκοντος, ὅτε φρίσσουσιν ἄρουραι·

600ὣς ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε μετὰ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἀντίλοχε νῦν μέν τοι ἐγὼν ὑποείξομαι αὐτὸς

χωόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι παρήορος οὐδʼ ἀεσίφρων

ἦσθα πάρος· νῦν αὖτε νόον νίκησε νεοίη.

605δεύτερον αὖτʼ ἀλέασθαι ἀμείνονας ἠπεροπεύειν.

οὐ γάρ κέν με τάχʼ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ παρέπεισεν Ἀχαιῶν.

ἀλλὰ σὺ γὰρ δὴ πολλὰ πάθες καὶ πολλὰ μόγησας

σός τε πατὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἀδελφεὸς εἵνεκʼ ἐμεῖο·

τώ τοι λισσομένῳ ἐπιπείσομαι, ἠδὲ καὶ ἵππον

610δώσω ἐμήν περ ἐοῦσαν, ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε

ὡς ἐμὸς οὔ ποτε θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.

586Wise Antilochus answered him directly:

“Hold back now, for I am much younger

than you, lord Menelaus; you are older and better.

You know what a young man’s transgressions are like:

590his mind is quicker, but his cunning is slight.

So let your heart endure. I myself will give you

the mare I won. Even if you asked me for some greater thing

from my own stores, I would rather give it to you at once

than fall from your heart for all my days, Zeus-nurtured,

595and stand as one who has sinned against the gods.”

He spoke, and high-hearted Nestor’s son led the mare forward

and placed her in Menelaus’ hands. Menelaus’ heart

was gladdened, as dew gathers around the ears

of a ripening crop, when the fields stand bristling.

600So, Menelaus, your heart was gladdened within you,

and you addressed him with winged words:

“Antilochus, now I myself will yield to you

despite my anger, since you were never wayward or reckless

before this; but this time youth overcame your judgment.

605Another time, take care not to deceive your betters.

No other Achaean would easily have persuaded me.

But you have endured much and labored much—

you, your noble father, and your brother—for my sake.

So I will grant your plea, and I will also give you the mare,

610though she is mine, so all these men may know

that my heart is never overbearing or harsh.”

612ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἀντιλόχοιο Νοήμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ

ἵππον ἄγειν· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωντα.

Μηριόνης δʼ ἀνάειρε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα

615τέτρατος, ὡς ἔλασεν. πέμπτον δʼ ὑπελείπετʼ ἄεθλον,

ἀμφίθετος φιάλη· τὴν Νέστορι δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

Ἀργείων ἀνʼ ἀγῶνα φέρων, καὶ ἔειπε παραστάς·

τῆ νῦν, καὶ σοὶ τοῦτο γέρον κειμήλιον ἔστω

Πατρόκλοιο τάφου μνῆμʼ ἔμμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὐτὸν

620ὄψῃ ἐν Ἀργείοισι· δίδωμι δέ τοι τόδʼ ἄεθλον

αὔτως· οὐ γὰρ πύξ γε μαχήσεαι, οὐδὲ παλαίσεις,

οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀκοντιστὺν ἐσδύσεαι, οὐδὲ πόδεσσι

θεύσεαι· ἤδη γὰρ χαλεπὸν κατὰ γῆρας ἐπείγει.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων,

625καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

612He spoke and gave the mare to Antilochus’ companion Noemon

to lead away; Menelaus then took the gleaming cauldron.

Meriones, who finished fourth, lifted the two talents of gold.

615The fifth prize still remained,

the two-handled bowl. Achilles gave it to Nestor,

carrying it through the Argive arena and standing beside him:

“Here, old man. Take this, and let it be a keepsake for you,

a memorial of Patroclus’ burial, for you will never again

620see him among the Argives. I give you this prize outright.

You will not box now, nor will you wrestle,

enter the javelin contest, or run on your feet,

for the hard press of old age is already upon you.”

So speaking, he placed it in Nestor’s hands, and Nestor took it gladly,

625and addressed him with winged words:

626ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα τέκος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·

οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα φίλος πόδες, οὐδέ τι χεῖρες

ὤμων ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐπαΐσσονται ἐλαφραί.

εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη

630ὡς ὁπότε κρείοντʼ Ἀμαρυγκέα θάπτον Ἐπειοὶ

Βουπρασίῳ, παῖδες δʼ ἔθεσαν βασιλῆος ἄεθλα·

ἔνθʼ οὔ τίς μοι ὁμοῖος ἀνὴρ γένετʼ, οὔτʼ ἄρʼ Ἐπειῶν

οὔτʼ αὐτῶν Πυλίων οὔτʼ Αἰτωλῶν μεγαθύμων.

πὺξ μὲν ἐνίκησα Κλυτομήδεα Ἤνοπος υἱόν,

635Ἀγκαῖον δὲ πάλῃ Πλευρώνιον, ὅς μοι ἀνέστη·

Ἴφικλον δὲ πόδεσσι παρέδραμον ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα,

δουρὶ δʼ ὑπειρέβαλον Φυλῆά τε καὶ Πολύδωρον.

οἴοισίν μʼ ἵπποισι παρήλασαν Ἀκτορίωνε

πλήθει πρόσθε βαλόντες ἀγασσάμενοι περὶ νίκης,

640οὕνεκα δὴ τὰ μέγιστα παρʼ αὐτόθι λείπετʼ ἄεθλα.

οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔσαν δίδυμοι· ὃ μὲν ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευεν,

ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρα μάστιγι κέλευεν.

ὥς ποτʼ ἔον· νῦν αὖτε νεώτεροι ἀντιοώντων

ἔργων τοιούτων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷ

645πείθεσθαι, τότε δʼ αὖτε μετέπρεπον ἡρώεσσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι καὶ σὸν ἑταῖρον ἀέθλοισι κτερέϊζε.

τοῦτο δʼ ἐγὼ πρόφρων δέχομαι, χαίρει δέ μοι ἦτορ,

ὥς μευ ἀεὶ μέμνησαι ἐνηέος, οὐδέ σε λήθω,

τιμῆς ἧς τέ μʼ ἔοικε τετιμῆσθαι μετʼ Ἀχαιοῖς.

650σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τῶνδʼ ἀντὶ χάριν μενοεικέα δοῖεν.

ὣς φάτο, Πηλεΐδης δὲ πολὺν καθʼ ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν

ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεὶ πάντʼ αἶνον ἐπέκλυε Νηλεΐδαο.

626“Yes, child, all that you have said is right and fitting.

My limbs are no longer firm, dear boy; my feet have failed,

and my arms no longer dart lightly from either shoulder.

If only I were young again, my strength still steady,

630as when the Epeians buried lord Amarynceus

at Buprasium and the king’s sons set out prizes.

There no man proved my equal—not one

of the Epeians, the Pylians themselves, or the high-hearted Aetolians.

In boxing I beat Clytomedes, Enops’ son;

635in wrestling, Ancaeus of Pleuron, who rose against me;

in the footrace I outran worthy Iphiclus,

and with the spear I outthrew Phyleus and Polydorus.

The Actoriones alone passed me with their team,

pulling ahead by weight of numbers, fiercely eager for victory,

640because the greatest prizes had been reserved for that event.

They were twins: one steadily held the reins—

steadily he drove—while the other urged them with the whip.

So I was then. Now let younger men take up

such contests; I must yield to grievous old age,

645though in those days I stood out among the heroes.

But go now and honor your companion with funeral prizes.

I accept this gladly, and my heart rejoices

that you always remember me with kindness and do not forget

the honor with which I should be honored among the Achaeans.

650May the gods give you in return a favor that delights your heart.”

So he spoke. Peleus’ son went on through the great throng

of Achaeans, after hearing all the praise of Neleus’ son.

653αὐτὰρ ὃ πυγμαχίης ἀλεγεινῆς θῆκεν ἄεθλα·

ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κατέδησʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι

655ἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην, ἥ τʼ ἀλγίστη δαμάσασθαι·

τῷ δʼ ἄρα νικηθέντι τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.

στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,

660πὺξ μάλʼ ἀνασχομένω πεπληγέμεν· ᾧ δέ κʼ Ἀπόλλων

δώῃ καμμονίην, γνώωσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,

ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κλισίην δὲ νεέσθω·

αὐτὰρ ὃ νικηθεὶς δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε

665εἰδὼς πυγμαχίης υἱὸς Πανοπῆος Ἐπειός,

ἅψατο δʼ ἡμιόνου ταλαεργοῦ φώνησέν τε·

ἆσσον ἴτω ὅς τις δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον·

ἡμίονον δʼ οὔ φημί τινʼ ἀξέμεν ἄλλον Ἀχαιῶν

πυγμῇ νικήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ εὔχομαι εἶναι ἄριστος.

670ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι μάχης ἐπιδεύομαι; οὐδʼ ἄρα πως ἦν

ἐν πάντεσσʼ ἔργοισι δαήμονα φῶτα γενέσθαι.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·

ἀντικρὺ χρόα τε ῥήξω σύν τʼ ὀστέʼ ἀράξω.

κηδεμόνες δέ οἱ ἐνθάδʼ ἀολλέες αὖθι μενόντων,

675οἵ κέ μιν ἐξοίσουσιν ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμέντα.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.

653Then he set out prizes for painful boxing:

he brought a hard-working mule and tethered her in the gathering,

655six years old, unbroken, and hardest of all to tame;

for the defeated man he set a double-handled cup.

He stood upright and spoke among the Argives:

“Son of Atreus, and you other well-greaved Achaeans,

Let us call for two men, the best among them, to contest these prizes,

660to raise their fists and strike. Whichever man Apollo

grants endurance—and all the Achaeans recognize it—

let him lead the hard-working mule away to his shelter;

the defeated man will carry off the double-handled cup.”

So he spoke, and at once a fine, powerful man rose,

665skilled in boxing: Epeius, son of Panopeus.

He laid a hand on the hard-working mule and called out:

“Come closer, whoever is going to carry off the double-handled cup.

I say no other Achaean will lead away the mule

by defeating me at boxing, since I claim to be the best.

670Is it not enough that I fall short in battle? No man

can become skilled in every kind of work.

For I will say this plainly, and it will be fulfilled:

I will split his skin straight through and crush his bones together.

Let his attendants stay here, gathered close by,

675so they can carry him out when my hands have beaten him.”

So he spoke; they all fell still in silence.

677Εὐρύαλος δέ οἱ οἶος ἀνίστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς

Μηκιστῆος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος,

ὅς ποτε Θήβας δʼ ἦλθε δεδουπότος Οἰδιπόδαο

680ἐς τάφον· ἔνθα δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα Καδμείωνας.

τὸν μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἀμφεπονεῖτο

θαρσύνων ἔπεσιν, μέγα δʼ αὐτῷ βούλετο νίκην.

ζῶμα δέ οἱ πρῶτον παρακάββαλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

δῶκεν ἱμάντας ἐϋτμήτους βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο.

685τὼ δὲ ζωσαμένω βήτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,

ἄντα δʼ ἀνασχομένω χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν ἅμʼ ἄμφω

σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον, σὺν δέ σφι βαρεῖαι χεῖρες ἔμιχθεν.

δεινὸς δὲ χρόμαδος γενύων γένετʼ, ἔρρεε δʼ ἱδρὼς

πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων· ἐπὶ δʼ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ἐπειός,

690κόψε δὲ παπτήναντα παρήϊον· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν

ἑστήκειν· αὐτοῦ γὰρ ὑπήριπε φαίδιμα γυῖα.

ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ φρικὸς Βορέω ἀναπάλλεται ἰχθὺς

θίνʼ ἐν φυκιόεντι, μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν,

ὣς πληγεὶς ἀνέπαλτʼ· αὐτὰρ μεγάθυμος Ἐπειὸς

695χερσὶ λαβὼν ὤρθωσε· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροι,

οἵ μιν ἄγον διʼ ἀγῶνος ἐφελκομένοισι πόδεσσιν

αἷμα παχὺ πτύοντα κάρη βάλλονθʼ ἑτέρωσε·

κὰδ δʼ ἀλλοφρονέοντα μετὰ σφίσιν εἷσαν ἄγοντες,

αὐτοὶ δʼ οἰχόμενοι κόμισαν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.

677Euryalus alone rose to face him, a man like a god,

son of lord Mecisteus, who was Talaus’ son.

Mecisteus once came to Thebes when Oedipus had fallen,

680for his funeral games, and there defeated all the Cadmeans.

Spear-famed Diomedes now attended Euryalus,

encouraging him with words and greatly desiring his victory.

First he fastened a waistband around him; then

he gave him well-cut straps from the hide of a ranging ox.

685The two men bound them on and entered the center of the gathering.

Facing each other, both raised their powerful hands

and fell upon one another; their heavy fists crossed and struck.

A terrible grinding rose from their jaws, and sweat ran

from every limb. Then godlike Epeius surged in

690and struck Euryalus on the cheek as he glanced aside. He could no longer

stand; his shining limbs gave way beneath him.

As a fish leaps under the shiver of Boreas

onto a weed-strewn shore, and a black wave covers it,

so, struck, he sprang up. Great-hearted Epeius

695took him in his hands and raised him. His companions crowded around

and led him through the gathering, his feet dragging,

spitting thick blood, his head lolling to one side.

They led him away dazed and sat him down among them;

then they went back and carried off the double-handled cup.

700Πηλεΐδης δʼ αἶψʼ ἄλλα κατὰ τρίτα θῆκεν ἄεθλα

δεικνύμενος Δαναοῖσι παλαισμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς,

τῷ μὲν νικήσαντι μέγαν τρίποδʼ ἐμπυριβήτην,

τὸν δὲ δυωδεκάβοιον ἐνὶ σφίσι τῖον Ἀχαιοί·

ἀνδρὶ δὲ νικηθέντι γυναῖκʼ ἐς μέσσον ἔθηκε,

705πολλὰ δʼ ἐπίστατο ἔργα, τίον δέ ἑ τεσσαράβοιον.

στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθον.

700The son of Peleus quickly set out a third set of prizes,

showing the Danaans the rewards for painful wrestling:

for the winner, a great tripod made to stand over fire,

which the Achaeans among themselves valued at twelve oxen;

for the defeated man, he placed a woman in the center,

705skilled in many tasks, and they valued her at four oxen.

He stood upright and spoke among the Argives:

“Rise, you two who will try this contest.”

708ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις ἀνίστατο κέρδεα εἰδώς.

710ζωσαμένω δʼ ἄρα τώ γε βάτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,

ἀγκὰς δʼ ἀλλήλων λαβέτην χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν

ὡς ὅτʼ ἀμείβοντες, τούς τε κλυτὸς ἤραρε τέκτων

δώματος ὑψηλοῖο βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων.

τετρίγει δʼ ἄρα νῶτα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν

715ἑλκόμενα στερεῶς· κατὰ δὲ νότιος ῥέεν ἱδρώς,

πυκναὶ δὲ σμώδιγγες ἀνὰ πλευράς τε καὶ ὤμους

αἵματι φοινικόεσσαι ἀνέδραμον· οἳ δὲ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

νίκης ἱέσθην τρίποδος πέρι ποιητοῖο·

οὔτʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δύνατο σφῆλαι οὔδει τε πελάσσαι,

720οὔτʼ Αἴας δύνατο, κρατερὴ δʼ ἔχεν ἲς Ὀδυσῆος.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἀνίαζον ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,

δὴ τότε μιν προσέειπε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ

ἤ μʼ ἀνάειρʼ, ἢ ἐγὼ σέ· τὰ δʼ αὖ Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.

708So he spoke, and then great Telamonian Ajax rose,

and resourceful Odysseus rose as well, versed in stratagems.

710The two belted themselves and entered the center of the gathering.

They locked one another in their powerful arms,

like roof beams that a skillful carpenter fits together

high in a house to withstand the force of winds.

Their backs creaked under the pressure of their strong hands

715as they pulled hard; sweat streamed down them.

Thick welts rose along their ribs and shoulders,

red with blood, while both men strained without cease

for victory and the well-made tripod.

Odysseus could not trip Ajax and bring him to the ground,

720nor could Ajax; Odysseus’ strong resistance held him.

But when at last they began to weary the well-greaved Achaeans,

great Telamonian Ajax addressed Odysseus:

“Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,

either lift me or I will lift you; Zeus will decide the rest.”

725ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνάειρε· δόλου δʼ οὐ λήθετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·

κόψʼ ὄπιθεν κώληπα τυχών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα,

κὰδ δʼ ἔβαλʼ ἐξοπίσω· ἐπὶ δὲ στήθεσσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς

κάππεσε· λαοὶ δʼ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.

δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

730κίνησεν δʼ ἄρα τυτθὸν ἀπὸ χθονός, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἄειρεν,

ἐν δὲ γόνυ γνάμψεν· ἐπὶ δὲ χθονὶ κάππεσον ἄμφω

πλησίοι ἀλλήλοισι, μιάνθησαν δὲ κονίῃ.

καί νύ κε τὸ τρίτον αὖτις ἀναΐξαντʼ ἐπάλαιον,

εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ κατέρυκε·

735μηκέτʼ ἐρείδεσθον, μὴ δὲ τρίβεσθε κακοῖσι·

νίκη δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν· ἀέθλια δʼ ἶσʼ ἀνελόντες

ἔρχεσθʼ, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλοι ἀεθλεύωσιν Ἀχαιοί.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο,

καί ῥʼ ἀπομορξαμένω κονίην δύσαντο χιτῶνας.

725So he spoke and lifted him, but Odysseus did not forget his craft:

he struck the hollow behind Ajax’s knee and loosened his limbs,

throwing him backward; Odysseus came down upon his chest.

He fell; the people looked on in wonder and amazement.

Then in turn long-enduring, godlike Odysseus tried to lift him.

730He moved Ajax a little from the ground but could not raise him;

then he hooked a knee, and both men fell to the earth

close beside each other and were stained with dust.

They would have sprung up and wrestled a third time

if Achilles himself had not risen and held them back:

735“No longer grapple, and do not wear yourselves down with pain.

Victory belongs to both of you. Take equal prizes

and go, so that other Achaeans too may compete.”

So he spoke, and they listened closely and obeyed.

They wiped away the dust and put their tunics on.

740Πηλεΐδης δʼ αἶψʼ ἄλλα τίθει ταχυτῆτος ἄεθλα

ἀργύρεον κρητῆρα τετυγμένον· ἓξ δʼ ἄρα μέτρα

χάνδανεν, αὐτὰρ κάλλει ἐνίκα πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν

πολλόν, ἐπεὶ Σιδόνες πολυδαίδαλοι εὖ ἤσκησαν,

Φοίνικες δʼ ἄγον ἄνδρες ἐπʼ ἠεροειδέα πόντον,

745στῆσαν δʼ ἐν λιμένεσσι, Θόαντι δὲ δῶρον ἔδωκαν·

υἷος δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονος ὦνον ἔδωκε

Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος.

καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλεὺς θῆκεν ἄεθλον οὗ ἑτάροιο,

ὅς τις ἐλαφρότατος ποσσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πέλοιτο·

750δευτέρῳ αὖ βοῦν θῆκε μέγαν καὶ πίονα δημῷ,

ἡμιτάλαντον δὲ χρυσοῦ λοισθήϊʼ ἔθηκε.

στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.

740The son of Peleus quickly set out prizes for speed:

a crafted silver mixing bowl, which held six measures

and surpassed every vessel on earth by far in beauty,

for the skilled Sidonians had fashioned it well.

Phoenician men carried it over the misty sea,

745brought it into harbor, and gave it as a gift to Thoas.

Then Euneus, Jason’s son, gave it to the hero Patroclus

as the price paid for Lycaon, Priam’s son.

Achilles now made it a prize in honor of his companion,

for whoever proved lightest on his swift feet.

750For second place he set a great ox, rich in fat;

for the last, he set half a talent of gold.

He stood upright and spoke among the Argives:

“Rise, those who will try this contest.”

754ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,

755ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις, ἔπειτα δὲ Νέστορος υἱὸς

Ἀντίλοχος· ὃ γὰρ αὖτε νέους ποσὶ πάντας ἐνίκα.

στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί· σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεύς.

τοῖσι δʼ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτα

ἔκφερʼ Ὀϊλιάδης· ἐπὶ δʼ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

760ἄγχι μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τίς τε γυναικὸς ἐϋζώνοιο

στήθεός ἐστι κανών, ὅν τʼ εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ

πηνίον ἐξέλκουσα παρὲκ μίτον, ἀγχόθι δʼ ἴσχει

στήθεος· ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς θέεν ἐγγύθεν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν

ἴχνια τύπτε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι·

765κὰδ δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆς χέʼ ἀϋτμένα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

αἰεὶ ῥίμφα θέων· ἴαχον δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ

νίκης ἱεμένῳ, μάλα δὲ σπεύδοντι κέλευον.

754So he spoke, and swift Ajax, Oileus’ son, rose at once,

755then resourceful Odysseus, and after him Nestor’s son

Antilochus, who outran all the young men.

They stood in line, and Achilles marked out the course.

The track stretched from the starting post. Oileus’ son

quickly shot ahead, and godlike Odysseus surged after him,

760very close—as a weaving rod stays near the breast

of a well-belted woman when she stretches it firmly in her hands,

drawing the bobbin past the warp thread and holding the rod

close to her breast—so Odysseus ran close behind Ajax.

His feet struck Ajax’s tracks before the dust could spread around them.

765Godlike Odysseus poured his breath down over Ajax’s head

as he ran lightly on. All the Achaeans shouted

for him as he strove for victory and urged him in his haste.

768ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον, αὐτίκʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς

εὔχετʼ Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·

770κλῦθι θεά, ἀγαθή μοι ἐπίρροθος ἐλθὲ ποδοῖιν.

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,

γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλον ἐπαΐξασθαι ἄεθλον,

ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὄλισθε θέων, βλάψεν γὰρ Ἀθήνη,

775τῇ ῥα βοῶν κέχυτʼ ὄνθος ἀποκταμένων ἐριμύκων,

οὓς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πέφνεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

ἐν δʼ ὄνθου βοέου πλῆτο στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε·

κρητῆρʼ αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὡς ἦλθε φθάμενος· ὃ δὲ βοῦν ἕλε φαίδιμος Αἴας.

780στῆ δὲ κέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο

ὄνθον ἀποπτύων, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μʼ ἔβλαψε θεὰ πόδας, ἣ τὸ πάρος περ

μήτηρ ὣς Ὀδυσῆϊ παρίσταται ἠδʼ ἐπαρήγει.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.

768But when they were completing the final stretch, Odysseus at once

prayed inwardly to bright-eyed Athena:

770“Hear me, goddess; come and kindly aid my feet.”

So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athena heard him.

She made all his limbs light, his feet and hands alike.

But when they were just about to spring for the prizes,

Ajax slipped as he ran, for Athena tripped him

775where dung from the loud-bellowing cattle had been spilled,

the cattle swift-footed Achilles killed for Patroclus.

Ajax’s mouth and nostrils filled with cattle dung.

Long-enduring, godlike Odysseus lifted the mixing bowl,

for he came in first; shining Ajax took the ox.

780He stood holding the horn of the ranging ox in his hands,

spitting out dung, and spoke among the Argives:

“Ah! The goddess tripped my feet—she who has always

stood beside Odysseus like a mother and given him aid.”

So he spoke, and they all laughed sweetly at him.

785Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἄρα δὴ λοισθήϊον ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλον

μειδιόων, καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

εἰδόσιν ὔμμʼ ἐρέω πᾶσιν φίλοι, ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν

ἀθάνατοι τιμῶσι παλαιοτέρους ἀνθρώπους.

Αἴας μὲν γὰρ ἐμεῖʼ ὀλίγον προγενέστερός ἐστιν,

790οὗτος δὲ προτέρης γενεῆς προτέρων τʼ ἀνθρώπων·

ὠμογέροντα δέ μίν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀργαλέον δὲ

ποσσὶν ἐριδήσασθαι Ἀχαιοῖς, εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεῖ.

ὣς φάτο, κύδηνεν δὲ ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.

τὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·

795Ἀντίλοχʼ οὐ μέν τοι μέλεος εἰρήσεται αἶνος,

ἀλλά τοι ἡμιτάλαντον ἐγὼ χρυσοῦ ἐπιθήσω.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.

785Antilochus carried off the last prize,

smiling, and spoke among the Argives:

“Friends, I will tell you what you all already know: even now

the immortals honor men who are older.

Ajax is only a little older than I am,

790but this man belongs to an earlier generation, to men of old.

They say he is still vigorous in age. It is hard

for Achaeans to contend with him in speed—except Achilles.”

So he spoke, honoring the swift-footed son of Peleus.

Achilles answered him:

795“Antilochus, your praise will not have been spoken in vain:

I will add half a talent of gold to your prize.”

So speaking, he placed it in his hands, and Antilochus received it gladly.

798αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων, κατὰ δʼ ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν

800τεύχεα Σαρπήδοντος, ἅ μιν Πάτροκλος ἀπηύρα.

στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,

τεύχεα ἑσσαμένω ταμεσίχροα χαλκὸν ἑλόντε

ἀλλήλων προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου πειρηθῆναι.

805ὁππότερός κε φθῇσιν ὀρεξάμενος χρόα καλόν,

ψαύσῃ δʼ ἐνδίνων διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,

τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ δώσω τόδε φάσγανον ἀργυρόηλον

καλὸν Θρηΐκιον, τὸ μὲν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων·

τεύχεα δʼ ἀμφότεροι ξυνήϊα ταῦτα φερέσθων·

810καί σφιν δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν παραθήσομεν ἐν κλισίῃσιν.

798Then the son of Peleus brought a long-shadowed spear

and laid it in the gathering, together with a shield and helmet—

800Sarpedon’s armor, which Patroclus had stripped from him.

He stood upright and spoke among the Argives:

“Let us call for two men, the best among them, to contest these prizes,

to put on armor, take flesh-cutting bronze,

and test each other before the assembled crowd.

805Whichever man is first to reach the other’s fair flesh

and touch the inward parts through the armor, drawing black blood,

I will give him this fine, silver-studded sword,

a Thracian blade I stripped from Asteropaeus.

Both men shall carry away this armor as shared property,

810and we will set a good feast before them in our shelters.”

811ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,

ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι

815δεινὸν δερκομένω· θάμβος δʼ ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν.

ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

νύξʼ, οὐδὲ χρόʼ ἵκανεν· ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ·

820Τυδεΐδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο

αἰὲν ἐπʼ αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.

καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Αἴαντι περιδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ

παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν ἀέθλια ἶσʼ ἀνελέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ Τυδεΐδῃ δῶκεν μέγα φάσγανον ἥρως

825σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι.

811So he spoke, and then great Telamonian Ajax rose,

and Tydeus’ son rose too, strong Diomedes.

When the two had armed on opposite sides of the throng,

they came together in the center, both eager to fight,

815glaring terribly; amazement held all the Achaeans.

When they had drawn close in their advance against each other,

three times they rushed, and three times they sprang together at close quarters.

Then Ajax thrust against the shield balanced on every side,

but did not reach the flesh, for the corselet beneath checked the spear.

820Tydeus’ son, over the rim of the great shield,

kept aiming at Ajax’s neck with the point of his shining spear.

Then the Achaeans, greatly fearing for Ajax,

called for them to stop and take equal prizes.

But Achilles gave Tydeus’ son the great sword,

825carrying it with its scabbard and well-cut shoulder strap.

826αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης θῆκεν σόλον αὐτοχόωνον

ὃν πρὶν μὲν ῥίπτασκε μέγα σθένος Ἠετίωνος·

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι τὸν ἔπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

τὸν δʼ ἄγετʼ ἐν νήεσσι σὺν ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσι.

830στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

ὄρνυσθʼ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.

εἴ οἱ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι πίονες ἀγροί,

ἕξει μιν καὶ πέντε περιπλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς

χρεώμενος· οὐ μὲν γάρ οἱ ἀτεμβόμενός γε σιδήρου

835ποιμὴν οὐδʼ ἀροτὴρ εἶσʼ ἐς πόλιν, ἀλλὰ παρέξει.

826Then the son of Peleus set out a massive, roughly cast lump of iron,

which the mighty Eetion once used to hurl.

But swift-footed, godlike Achilles had killed him

and brought it aboard the ships with the rest of Eetion’s goods.

830He stood upright and spoke among the Argives:

“Rise, those who will try this contest.

Even if his rich fields lie very far away,

this will serve him through five revolving years

for his needs. No shepherd or plowman of his, short of iron,

835will go into town, for this will supply him.”

836ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,

ἂν δὲ Λεοντῆος κρατερὸν μένος ἀντιθέοιο,

ἂν δʼ Αἴας Τελαμωνιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἐπειός.

ἑξείης δʼ ἵσταντο, σόλον δʼ ἕλε δῖος Ἐπειός,

840ἧκε δὲ δινήσας· γέλασαν δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.

δεύτερος αὖτʼ ἀφέηκε Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος·

τὸ τρίτον αὖτʼ ἔρριψε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

χειρὸς ἄπο στιβαρῆς, καὶ ὑπέρβαλε σήματα πάντων.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σόλον εἷλε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,

845ὅσσόν τίς τʼ ἔρριψε καλαύροπα βουκόλος ἀνήρ,

ἣ δέ θʼ ἑλισσομένη πέτεται διὰ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,

τόσσον παντὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρβαλε· τοὶ δὲ βόησαν.

ἀνστάντες δʼ ἕταροι Πολυποίταο κρατεροῖο

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἔφερον βασιλῆος ἄεθλον.

836So he spoke, and Polypoetes steadfast in battle rose,

then the strong might of godlike Leonteus rose,

then Telamonian Ajax and godlike Epeius rose.

They stood in order. Godlike Epeius took the mass,

840swung it, and threw; all the Achaeans laughed at him.

Leonteus, scion of Ares, cast it second;

great Telamonian Ajax threw it third

from his powerful hand and passed everyone’s marks.

But when Polypoetes steadfast in battle took the mass,

845as far as a herdsman hurls his cattle goad,

which flies spinning through a herd of cattle,

by that distance he outthrew the entire field; they shouted aloud.

The companions of powerful Polypoetes rose

and carried their king’s prize to the hollow ships.

850αὐτὰρ ὃ τοξευτῇσι τίθει ἰόεντα σίδηρον,

κὰδ δʼ ἐτίθει δέκα μὲν πελέκεας, δέκα δʼ ἡμιπέλεκκα,

ἱστὸν δʼ ἔστησεν νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

τηλοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ἐκ δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν

λεπτῇ μηρίνθῳ δῆσεν ποδός, ἧς ἄρʼ ἀνώγει

855τοξεύειν· ὃς μέν κε βάλῃ τρήρωνα πέλειαν,

πάντας ἀειράμενος πελέκεας οἶκον δὲ φερέσθω·

ὃς δέ κε μηρίνθοιο τύχῃ ὄρνιθος ἁμαρτών,

ἥσσων γὰρ δὴ κεῖνος, ὃ δʼ οἴσεται ἡμιπέλεκκα.

850Then Achilles set dark iron out for the archers:

ten axes he laid down, and ten half-axes.

He set up the mast of a dark-prowed ship

far off on the sands, and tied a timid dove

by the foot with a slender cord, which he told them

855to shoot at: whoever struck the timid dove

should lift all the axes and carry them home;

whoever hit the cord but missed the bird,

being the poorer shot, would take the half-axes.

859ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα βίη Τεύκροιο ἄνακτος,

860ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.

κλήρους δʼ ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,

Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος κλήρῳ λάχεν· αὐτίκα δʼ ἰὸν

ἧκεν ἐπικρατέως, οὐδʼ ἠπείλησεν ἄνακτι

ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.

865ὄρνιθος μὲν ἅμαρτε· μέγηρε γάρ οἱ τό γʼ Ἀπόλλων·

αὐτὰρ ὃ μήρινθον βάλε πὰρ πόδα, τῇ δέδετʼ ὄρνις·

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπὸ μήρινθον τάμε πικρὸς ὀϊστός.

ἣ μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἤϊξε πρὸς οὐρανόν, ἣ δὲ παρείθη

μήρινθος ποτὶ γαῖαν· ἀτὰρ κελάδησαν Ἀχαιοί.

859So he spoke, and the strength of lord Teucer rose,

860and Meriones rose, the good attendant of Idomeneus.

They took the lots and shook them in a bronze-clad helmet,

and the first lot fell to Teucer. At once he loosed an arrow

with full force, but he had made no vow to the lord

to sacrifice a glorious hecatomb of firstborn lambs.

865He missed the bird, for Apollo begrudged him that,

but he struck the cord beside the foot where the bird was tied;

the bitter arrow cut straight through the cord.

The bird darted toward the sky, while the cord

dropped toward the ground, and the Achaeans rang out.

870σπερχόμενος δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης ἐξείρυσε χειρὸς

τόξον· ἀτὰρ δὴ ὀϊστὸν ἔχεν πάλαι, ὡς ἴθυνεν.

αὐτίκα δʼ ἠπείλησεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι

ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.

ὕψι δʼ ὑπὸ νεφέων εἶδε τρήρωνα πέλειαν·

875τῇ ῥʼ ὅ γε δινεύουσαν ὑπὸ πτέρυγος βάλε μέσσην,

ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε βέλος· τὸ μὲν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαίῃ

πρόσθεν Μηριόναο πάγη ποδός· αὐτὰρ ἣ ὄρνις

ἱστῷ ἐφεζομένη νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο

αὐχένʼ ἀπεκρέμασεν, σὺν δὲ πτερὰ πυκνὰ λίασθεν.

880ὠκὺς δʼ ἐκ μελέων θυμὸς πτάτο, τῆλε δʼ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ

κάππεσε· λαοὶ δʼ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.

ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης πελέκεας δέκα πάντας ἄειρε,

Τεῦκρος δʼ ἡμιπέλεκκα φέρεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

870Meriones eagerly snatched the bow from his hand,

though he had long held an arrow ready to aim.

At once he vowed to far-shooting Apollo

to sacrifice a glorious hecatomb of firstborn lambs.

He saw the timid dove high beneath the clouds

875and struck her, as she wheeled, beneath the middle of the wing.

The shaft passed clean through and came back to earth,

sticking in the ground before Meriones’ foot. But the bird

settled on the mast of the dark-prowed ship,

let her neck hang, and her close-set wings went slack.

880The swift life flew from her limbs, and far from the mast

she fell; the people looked on in wonder and amazement.

Meriones lifted all ten axes,

while Teucer carried the half-axes to the hollow ships.

884αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

885κὰδ δὲ λέβητʼ ἄπυρον βοὸς ἄξιον ἀνθεμόεντα

θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων· καί ῥʼ ἥμονες ἄνδρες ἀνέσταν·

ἂν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

ἂν δʼ ἄρα Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

890Ἀτρεΐδη· ἴδμεν γὰρ ὅσον προβέβηκας ἁπάντων

ἠδʼ ὅσσον δυνάμει τε καὶ ἥμασιν ἔπλευ ἄριστος·

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν τόδʼ ἄεθλον ἔχων κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας

ἔρχευ, ἀτὰρ δόρυ Μηριόνῃ ἥρωϊ πόρωμεν,

εἰ σύ γε σῷ θυμῷ ἐθέλοις· κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγε.

895ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

δῶκε δὲ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως

Ταλθυβίῳ κήρυκι δίδου περικαλλὲς ἄεθλον.

884Then the son of Peleus brought a long-shadowed spear

885and a flowered cauldron untouched by fire, worth an ox

and set them in the gathering. The spearmen rose:

wide-ruling Agamemnon son of Atreus stood up,

and Meriones, the good attendant of Idomeneus.

Swift-footed, godlike Achilles addressed them:

890“Son of Atreus, we know how far you surpass us all,

and how greatly you excel in strength and spear-casting.

Take this prize and go to the hollow ships;

but let us give the spear to the hero Meriones,

if your own heart is willing. That is what I urge.”

895So he spoke, and Agamemnon lord of men did not disobey.

He gave the bronze spear to Meriones; then Agamemnon, the hero,

handed the splendid prize to Talthybius the herald.