Iliad, Book 3: Helen & the Duel

1αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κόσμηθεν ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕκαστοι,

Τρῶες μὲν κλαγγῇ τʼ ἐνοπῇ τʼ ἴσαν ὄρνιθες ὣς

ἠΰτε περ κλαγγὴ γεράνων πέλει οὐρανόθι πρό·

αἵ τʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν χειμῶνα φύγον καὶ ἀθέσφατον ὄμβρον

5κλαγγῇ ταί γε πέτονται ἐπʼ ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων

ἀνδράσι Πυγμαίοισι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέρουσαι·

ἠέριαι δʼ ἄρα ταί γε κακὴν ἔριδα προφέρονται.

1Now when all had been marshaled, each contingent with its leaders,

the Trojans advanced with clamor and cries, like birds,

as the cry of cranes rises across the sky:

when they have fled the winter and its boundless rain,

5they fly shrieking over Ocean’s streams,

bearing slaughter and doom to Pygmy men,

and at dawn they carry deadly strife onward.

8οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἴσαν σιγῇ μένεα πνείοντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐν θυμῷ μεμαῶτες ἀλεξέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν.

10εὖτʼ ὄρεος κορυφῇσι Νότος κατέχευεν ὀμίχλην

ποιμέσιν οὔ τι φίλην, κλέπτῃ δέ τε νυκτὸς ἀμείνω,

τόσσόν τίς τʼ ἐπιλεύσσει ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ λᾶαν ἵησιν·

ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὑπὸ ποσσὶ κονίσαλος ὄρνυτʼ ἀελλὴς

ἐρχομένων· μάλα δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο.

8But the Achaeans advanced in silence, breathing battle-fury,

each eager in his spirit to defend the others.

10As when the South Wind pours mist over mountain peaks,

a mist no friend to shepherds, but better than night for a thief,

and a man can see only as far as he can cast a stone,

so under their feet a whirling cloud of dust arose

as they advanced; swiftly they crossed the plain.

15οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

Τρωσὶν μὲν προμάχιζεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς

παρδαλέην ὤμοισιν ἔχων καὶ καμπύλα τόξα

καὶ ξίφος· αὐτὰρ δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ

πάλλων Ἀργείων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους

20ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.

15When at last they drew near, advancing against each other,

godlike Alexander fought before the Trojan ranks,

with a leopard skin on his shoulders, a curved bow

and a sword; and brandishing two spears tipped with bronze,

he challenged all the best of the Argives

20to meet him face-to-face in the grim work of war.

21τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

ἐρχόμενον προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου μακρὰ βιβάντα,

ὥς τε λέων ἐχάρη μεγάλῳ ἐπὶ σώματι κύρσας

εὑρὼν ἢ ἔλαφον κεραὸν ἢ ἄγριον αἶγα

25πεινάων· μάλα γάρ τε κατεσθίει, εἴ περ ἂν αὐτὸν

σεύωνται ταχέες τε κύνες θαλεροί τʼ αἰζηοί·

ὣς ἐχάρη Μενέλαος Ἀλέξανδρον θεοειδέα

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών· φάτο γὰρ τίσεσθαι ἀλείτην·

αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.

21When war-loving Menelaus saw him

striding out before the throng with long steps,

he rejoiced as a lion rejoices when it comes upon a great carcass,

finding a horned deer or a wild goat

25when it is starving; it devours its prey eagerly, even if

swift dogs and vigorous young men rush upon it.

So Menelaus rejoiced when he saw godlike Alexander

with his own eyes, for he thought he would punish the offender.

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

30τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς

ἐν προμάχοισι φανέντα, κατεπλήγη φίλον ἦτορ,

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε δράκοντα ἰδὼν παλίνορσος ἀπέστη

οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς, ὑπό τε τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα,

35ἂψ δʼ ἀνεχώρησεν, ὦχρός τέ μιν εἷλε παρειάς,

ὣς αὖτις καθʼ ὅμιλον ἔδυ Τρώων ἀγερώχων

δείσας Ἀτρέος υἱὸν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής.

30But when godlike Alexander saw him

appear among the front fighters, terror struck his dear heart,

and he shrank back into the mass of his comrades, fleeing death.

As when a man sees a snake and recoils

in a mountain ravine, while trembling seizes his limbs,

35he retreats again, and pallor grips his cheeks,

so back into the mass of proud Trojans he sank,

godlike Alexander, fearing Atreus’ son.

38τὸν δʼ Ἕκτωρ νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσιν·

Δύσπαρι εἶδος ἄριστε γυναιμανὲς ἠπεροπευτὰ

40αἴθʼ ὄφελες ἄγονός τʼ ἔμεναι ἄγαμός τʼ ἀπολέσθαι·

καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν

ἢ οὕτω λώβην τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ὑπόψιον ἄλλων.

ἦ που καγχαλόωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

φάντες ἀριστῆα πρόμον ἔμμεναι, οὕνεκα καλὸν

45εἶδος ἔπʼ, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστι βίη φρεσὶν οὐδέ τις ἀλκή.

ἦ τοιόσδε ἐὼν ἐν ποντοπόροισι νέεσσι

πόντον ἐπιπλώσας, ἑτάρους ἐρίηρας ἀγείρας,

μιχθεὶς ἀλλοδαποῖσι γυναῖκʼ εὐειδέʼ ἀνῆγες

ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης νυὸν ἀνδρῶν αἰχμητάων

50πατρί τε σῷ μέγα πῆμα πόληΐ τε παντί τε δήμῳ,

δυσμενέσιν μὲν χάρμα, κατηφείην δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ;

οὐκ ἂν δὴ μείνειας ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον;

γνοίης χʼ οἵου φωτὸς ἔχεις θαλερὴν παράκοιτιν·

οὐκ ἄν τοι χραίσμῃ κίθαρις τά τε δῶρʼ Ἀφροδίτης

55ἥ τε κόμη τό τε εἶδος ὅτʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μιγείης.

ἀλλὰ μάλα Τρῶες δειδήμονες· ἦ τέ κεν ἤδη

λάϊνον ἕσσο χιτῶνα κακῶν ἕνεχʼ ὅσσα ἔοργας.

38When Hector saw him, he taunted him with words of scorn:

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

40If only you had never been born, or had died unwed.

That is what I would wish, and it would be far better

than to live as this disgrace, an object of others’ contempt.

Surely the long-haired Achaeans are laughing aloud,

thinking you a foremost champion because

45your looks are fine—but there is no force in your spirit, no courage.

Did a man like you really take seagoing ships,

sail across the sea, and gather loyal companions,

then mix with foreign men and carry off a lovely woman

from a far-off land, a daughter-in-law to spearmen—

50a vast calamity to your father, the city, and all the people,

a joy to our enemies, and a humiliation to yourself?

Will you not stand now against war-loving Menelaus?

You would learn what kind of man it is whose young wife you possess.

Your lyre would not save you, nor Aphrodite’s gifts,

55nor your hair and beauty, once you lay mingled in the dust.

But the Trojans are craven indeed; otherwise by now

you would be wearing a shirt of stone for all the harm you have done.”

58τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·

Ἕκτορ ἐπεί με κατʼ αἶσαν ἐνείκεσας οὐδʼ ὑπὲρ αἶσαν·

60αἰεί τοι κραδίη πέλεκυς ὥς ἐστιν ἀτειρὴς

ὅς τʼ εἶσιν διὰ δουρὸς ὑπʼ ἀνέρος ὅς ῥά τε τέχνῃ

νήϊον ἐκτάμνῃσιν, ὀφέλλει δʼ ἀνδρὸς ἐρωήν·

ὣς σοὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀτάρβητος νόος ἐστί·

μή μοι δῶρʼ ἐρατὰ πρόφερε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης·

65οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητʼ ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα

ὅσσά κεν αὐτοὶ δῶσιν, ἑκὼν δʼ οὐκ ἄν τις ἕλοιτο·

νῦν αὖτʼ εἴ μʼ ἐθέλεις πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,

ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,

αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

70συμβάλετʼ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι·

ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,

κτήμαθʼ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδʼ ἀγέσθω·

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες

ναίοιτε Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νεέσθων

75Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα.

58Then godlike Alexander answered him:

“Hector, since you rebuke me rightly, and not beyond what is right,

60your heart is always unyielding, like an axe

that drives through timber under the hand of a man who skillfully

hews out a ship’s beam, adding force to the man’s stroke.

So the mind within your breast knows no fear.

Do not reproach me for the lovely gifts of golden Aphrodite.

65The glorious gifts of gods are not to be cast away,

whatever they themselves may give; no man chooses them by his own will.

But now, if you want me to fight and do battle,

make the other Trojans and all the Achaeans sit down,

then bring me and war-loving Menelaus together in the middle

70to fight for Helen and all the possessions.

Whichever of us wins and proves the stronger,

let him take all the possessions in full and lead the woman home.

Once the rest have made peace and sworn faithful oaths,

may you live on in fertile Troy, while they return

75to horse-pasturing Argos and Achaea, land of beautiful women.”

76ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐχάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,

καί ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας

μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· τοὶ δʼ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.

τῷ δʼ ἐπετοξάζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

80ἰοῖσίν τε τιτυσκόμενοι λάεσσί τʼ ἔβαλλον·

αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὸν ἄϋσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

ἴσχεσθʼ Ἀργεῖοι, μὴ βάλλετε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν·

στεῦται γάρ τι ἔπος ἐρέειν κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

76So he spoke, and Hector rejoiced greatly when he heard the proposal.

He went into the middle and held back the Trojan phalanxes,

gripping his spear at the midpoint; and they all came to a halt.

The long-haired Achaeans kept shooting at him,

80taking aim with arrows and pelting him with stones.

But Agamemnon, lord of men, shouted in a far-carrying voice:

“Hold, Argives! Do not shoot, young Achaeans!

Hector of the flashing helmet declares he has something to say.”

84ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἔσχοντο μάχης ἄνεῴ τʼ ἐγένοντο

85ἐσσυμένως· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν.

ἄλλους μὲν κέλεται Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς

τεύχεα κάλʼ ἀποθέσθαι ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,

90αὐτὸν δʼ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

οἴους ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι.

ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται

κτήμαθʼ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδʼ ἀγέσθω·

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμωμεν.

84So he spoke; they held back from battle and fell silent

85all at once. Then Hector spoke between the two armies:

“Hear me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans,

hear the proposal of Alexander, for whose sake this quarrel arose.

He orders all the other Trojans and Achaeans

to lay their fine armor on the earth that nourishes many,

90while he and war-loving Menelaus in the middle

fight alone for Helen and all the possessions.

Whichever of them wins and proves the stronger,

let him take all the possessions in full and lead the woman home;

but let the rest of us make peace and swear faithful oaths.”

95ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

κέκλυτε νῦν καὶ ἐμεῖο· μάλιστα γὰρ ἄλγος ἱκάνει

θυμὸν ἐμόν, φρονέω δὲ διακρινθήμεναι ἤδη

Ἀργείους καὶ Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέπασθε

100εἵνεκʼ ἐμῆς ἔριδος καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου ἕνεκʼ ἀρχῆς·

ἡμέων δʼ ὁπποτέρῳ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα τέτυκται

τεθναίη· ἄλλοι δὲ διακρινθεῖτε τάχιστα.

οἴσετε ἄρνʼ, ἕτερον λευκόν, ἑτέρην δὲ μέλαιναν,

Γῇ τε καὶ Ἠελίῳ· Διὶ δʼ ἡμεῖς οἴσομεν ἄλλον·

105ἄξετε δὲ Πριάμοιο βίην, ὄφρʼ ὅρκια τάμνῃ

αὐτός, ἐπεί οἱ παῖδες ὑπερφίαλοι καὶ ἄπιστοι,

μή τις ὑπερβασίῃ Διὸς ὅρκια δηλήσηται.

αἰεὶ δʼ ὁπλοτέρων ἀνδρῶν φρένες ἠερέθονται·

οἷς δʼ ὁ γέρων μετέῃσιν ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω

110λεύσσει, ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται.

95So he spoke; they all held still in silence.

Then Menelaus, good at the war cry, addressed them:

“Now hear me as well, for this pain reaches most deeply

into my own spirit. I believe the Argives and Trojans should now

be parted from each other, for you have suffered many evils

100because of my quarrel, and because Alexander began it.

Whichever one of us has death and fate appointed to him,

let him die; but the rest of you, part at once.

Bring two lambs, one white ram and one black ewe,

for Earth and Sun; we ourselves will bring another for Zeus.

105Bring mighty Priam, so he may cut the oath-victims

himself, since his sons are overbearing and faithless,

lest one of them violate Zeus’ oath through insolence.

The minds of younger men are always fluttering;

but where an elder takes part, he looks both ahead and behind,

110so that the outcome may be best for both sides.”

111ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐχάρησαν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε

ἐλπόμενοι παύσασθαι ὀϊζυροῦ πολέμοιο.

καί ῥʼ ἵππους μὲν ἔρυξαν ἐπὶ στίχας, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί,

τεύχεά τʼ ἐξεδύοντο· τὰ μὲν κατέθεντʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ

115πλησίον ἀλλήλων, ὀλίγη δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶς ἄρουρα·

Ἕκτωρ δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ δύω κήρυκας ἔπεμπε

καρπαλίμως ἄρνάς τε φέρειν Πρίαμόν τε καλέσσαι·

αὐτὰρ ὃ Ταλθύβιον προΐει κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἰέναι, ἠδʼ ἄρνʼ ἐκέλευεν

120οἰσέμεναι· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ.

111So he spoke, and Achaeans and Trojans rejoiced,

hoping to be done with the grievous war.

They reined in their horses along the ranks and dismounted;

they stripped off their armor and laid it on the ground,

115close beside each other, with little open land between.

Hector sent two heralds toward the city

quickly to bring the lambs and summon Priam;

while lord Agamemnon sent Talthybius

to go to the hollow ships, and ordered him

120to bring a lamb; and he did not disobey godlike Agamemnon.

121Ἶρις δʼ αὖθʼ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν

εἰδομένη γαλόῳ Ἀντηνορίδαο δάμαρτι,

τὴν Ἀντηνορίδης εἶχε κρείων Ἑλικάων

Λαοδίκην Πριάμοιο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην.

125τὴν δʼ εὗρʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ· ἣ δὲ μέγαν ἱστὸν ὕφαινε

δίπλακα πορφυρέην, πολέας δʼ ἐνέπασσεν ἀέθλους

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

οὕς ἑθεν εἵνεκʼ ἔπασχον ὑπʼ Ἄρηος παλαμάων·

121Then Iris came as messenger to white-armed Helen,

in the form of her husband’s sister, married to a son of Antenor,

whom lord Helicaon, Antenor’s son, had as wife:

Laodice, the most beautiful of Priam’s daughters.

125She found Helen in the hall, weaving a great web,

a double-folded purple cloth, into which she worked the many struggles

of horse-taming Trojans and bronze-clad Achaeans,

which they were enduring because of her at the hands of Ares.

129ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·

130δεῦρʼ ἴθι νύμφα φίλη, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα ἴδηαι

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

οἳ πρὶν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι φέρον πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα

ἐν πεδίῳ ὀλοοῖο λιλαιόμενοι πολέμοιο·

οἳ δὴ νῦν ἕαται σιγῇ, πόλεμος δὲ πέπαυται,

135ἀσπίσι κεκλιμένοι, παρὰ δʼ ἔγχεα μακρὰ πέπηγεν.

αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσονται περὶ σεῖο·

τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι φίλη κεκλήσῃ ἄκοιτις.

129Swift-footed Iris stood near and addressed her:

130“Come here, dear bride, and see the astonishing deeds

of horse-taming Trojans and bronze-clad Achaeans.

Before now they brought tear-bringing Ares against one another

out on the plain, craving destructive war;

but now they sit in silence, and the fighting has stopped,

135leaning on their shields, long spears planted beside them.

Alexander and war-loving Menelaus

will fight for you with their long spears,

and whichever man wins, you will be called his beloved wife.”

139ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ γλυκὺν ἵμερον ἔμβαλε θυμῷ

140ἀνδρός τε προτέρου καὶ ἄστεος ἠδὲ τοκήων·

αὐτίκα δʼ ἀργεννῇσι καλυψαμένη ὀθόνῃσιν

ὁρμᾶτʼ ἐκ θαλάμοιο τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα

οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο,

Αἴθρη Πιτθῆος θυγάτηρ, Κλυμένη τε βοῶπις·

145αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκανον ὅθι Σκαιαὶ πύλαι ἦσαν.

139With these words the goddess cast sweet longing into her spirit

140for her former husband, her city, and her parents.

At once she covered herself with a bright linen veil

and hurried from the chamber, letting fall a tender tear,

not alone: two attendants came with her,

Aethra, Pittheus’ daughter, and ox-eyed Clymene.

145Soon they reached the place of the Scaean Gates.

146οἳ δʼ ἀμφὶ Πρίαμον καὶ Πάνθοον ἠδὲ Θυμοίτην

Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θʼ Ἱκετάονά τʼ ὄζον Ἄρηος

Οὐκαλέγων τε καὶ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένω ἄμφω

ἥατο δημογέροντες ἐπὶ Σκαιῇσι πύλῃσι,

150γήραϊ δὴ πολέμοιο πεπαυμένοι, ἀλλʼ ἀγορηταὶ

ἐσθλοί, τεττίγεσσιν ἐοικότες οἵ τε καθʼ ὕλην

δενδρέῳ ἐφεζόμενοι ὄπα λειριόεσσαν ἱεῖσι·

τοῖοι ἄρα Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἧντʼ ἐπὶ πύργῳ.

146Around Priam sat Panthous and Thymoetes,

Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, branch of Ares,

Ucalegon and Antenor, both men of wisdom.

They sat as elders of the people at the Scaean Gates,

150old age having brought them out of the war, though they remained

excellent speakers, like cicadas that in the forest,

perched upon a tree, send forth a delicate voice.

Such were the Trojan leaders seated on the tower.

154οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν εἴδονθʼ Ἑλένην ἐπὶ πύργον ἰοῦσαν,

155ἦκα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον·

οὐ νέμεσις Τρῶας καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς

τοιῇδʼ ἀμφὶ γυναικὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄλγεα πάσχειν·

αἰνῶς ἀθανάτῃσι θεῇς εἰς ὦπα ἔοικεν·

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς τοίη περ ἐοῦσʼ ἐν νηυσὶ νεέσθω,

160μηδʼ ἡμῖν τεκέεσσί τʼ ὀπίσσω πῆμα λίποιτο.

154As soon as they saw Helen coming up onto the tower,

155Softly they spoke winged words to one another:

“No blame attaches to Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans

for suffering so long over a woman like this.

In face she looks uncannily like the immortal goddesses.

Yet even so, for all her beauty, let her sail home in the ships,

160and not leave a bane behind for us and our children.”

161ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Πρίαμος δʼ Ἑλένην ἐκαλέσσατο φωνῇ·

δεῦρο πάροιθʼ ἐλθοῦσα φίλον τέκος ἵζευ ἐμεῖο,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ πρότερόν τε πόσιν πηούς τε φίλους τε·

οὔ τί μοι αἰτίη ἐσσί, θεοί νύ μοι αἴτιοί εἰσιν

165οἵ μοι ἐφώρμησαν πόλεμον πολύδακρυν Ἀχαιῶν·

ὥς μοι καὶ τόνδʼ ἄνδρα πελώριον ἐξονομήνῃς

ὅς τις ὅδʼ ἐστὶν Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε.

ἤτοι μὲν κεφαλῇ καὶ μείζονες ἄλλοι ἔασι,

καλὸν δʼ οὕτω ἐγὼν οὔ πω ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

170οὐδʼ οὕτω γεραρόν· βασιλῆϊ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικε.

161So they spoke, and Priam called out to Helen:

“Come here, dear child, and sit down before me,

so you may see your former husband, your kinsmen, and your friends.

You are not to blame in my eyes; the gods are to blame,

165who drove this tear-bringing war with the Achaeans upon me.

And tell me the name of this tremendous man as well—

who this noble, towering Achaean is.

There may indeed be others taller by a head,

but my eyes have never yet seen a man so handsome

170or so majestic; he has the look of a king.”

171τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη μύθοισιν ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν·

αἰδοῖός τέ μοί ἐσσι φίλε ἑκυρὲ δεινός τε·

ὡς ὄφελεν θάνατός μοι ἁδεῖν κακὸς ὁππότε δεῦρο

υἱέϊ σῷ ἑπόμην θάλαμον γνωτούς τε λιποῦσα

175παῖδά τε τηλυγέτην καὶ ὁμηλικίην ἐρατεινήν.

ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ἐγένοντο· τὸ καὶ κλαίουσα τέτηκα.

τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς·

οὗτός γʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

ἀμφότερον βασιλεύς τʼ ἀγαθὸς κρατερός τʼ αἰχμητής·

180δαὴρ αὖτʼ ἐμὸς ἔσκε κυνώπιδος, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε.

171Helen, divine among women, answered him with these words:

“Dear father-in-law, I revere you and fear you too.

If only cruel death had pleased me when I came here,

following your son, leaving behind my bridal chamber and my kin,

175my cherished child and the lovely companions of my own age.

But that did not happen; and so I have wasted away in tears.

I will tell you what you ask and question me about:

This man is Atreus’ son, wide-ruling Agamemnon,

both a good king and a strong spearman.

180He was once my brother-in-law—dog-faced as I am—if ever it truly was so.”

181ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ὁ γέρων ἠγάσσατο φώνησέν τε·

ὦ μάκαρ Ἀτρεΐδη μοιρηγενὲς ὀλβιόδαιμον,

ἦ ῥά νύ τοι πολλοὶ δεδμήατο κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν.

ἤδη καὶ Φρυγίην εἰσήλυθον ἀμπελόεσσαν,

185ἔνθα ἴδον πλείστους Φρύγας ἀνέρας αἰολοπώλους

λαοὺς Ὀτρῆος καὶ Μυγδόνος ἀντιθέοιο,

οἵ ῥα τότʼ ἐστρατόωντο παρʼ ὄχθας Σαγγαρίοιο·

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπίκουρος ἐὼν μετὰ τοῖσιν ἐλέχθην

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε τʼ ἦλθον Ἀμαζόνες ἀντιάνειραι·

190ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ οἳ τόσοι ἦσαν ὅσοι ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοί.

181So she spoke. The old man marveled at him and said:

“Blessed son of Atreus, favored by fate and blessed by fortune,

how many Achaean warriors have been brought beneath your rule!

Once I entered vine-rich Phrygia,

185where I saw vast numbers of Phrygian men with flashing horses,

the hosts of Otreus and godlike Mygdon,

who were encamped then beside the Sangarius’ banks.

For I too was numbered among them as an ally

on the day the Amazons came, a match for men;

190yet even they were not so many as the bright-eyed Achaeans.”

191δεύτερον αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἰδὼν ἐρέεινʼ ὁ γεραιός·

εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι καὶ τόνδε φίλον τέκος ὅς τις ὅδʼ ἐστί·

μείων μὲν κεφαλῇ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο,

εὐρύτερος δʼ ὤμοισιν ἰδὲ στέρνοισιν ἰδέσθαι.

195τεύχεα μέν οἱ κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,

αὐτὸς δὲ κτίλος ὣς ἐπιπωλεῖται στίχας ἀνδρῶν·

ἀρνειῷ μιν ἔγωγε ἐΐσκω πηγεσιμάλλῳ,

ὅς τʼ οἰῶν μέγα πῶϋ διέρχεται ἀργεννάων.

191Next, seeing Odysseus, the old man asked:

“Tell me, dear child, who is this man too?

He stands a head shorter than Agamemnon, Atreus’ son,

but looks broader through the shoulders and chest.

195His armor lies on the all-nourishing earth,

but he himself moves through the ranks of men like a master ram.

I would compare him to a thick-fleeced ram

that passes through a great flock of white sheep.”

199τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα·

200οὗτος δʼ αὖ Λαερτιάδης πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὃς τράφη ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης κραναῆς περ ἐούσης

εἰδὼς παντοίους τε δόλους καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.

199Then Helen, born of Zeus, answered him:

200“That is Laertes’ son, resourceful Odysseus,

who was raised in the land of Ithaca, rugged though it is,

skilled in every kind of stratagem and close-woven counsel.”

203τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ὦ γύναι ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος νημερτὲς ἔειπες·

205ἤδη γὰρ καὶ δεῦρό ποτʼ ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

σεῦ ἕνεκʼ ἀγγελίης σὺν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·

τοὺς δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξείνισσα καὶ ἐν μεγάροισι φίλησα,

ἀμφοτέρων δὲ φυὴν ἐδάην καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἀγρομένοισιν ἔμιχθεν

210στάντων μὲν Μενέλαος ὑπείρεχεν εὐρέας ὤμους,

ἄμφω δʼ ἑζομένω γεραρώτερος ἦεν Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μύθους καὶ μήδεα πᾶσιν ὕφαινον

ἤτοι μὲν Μενέλαος ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγόρευε,

παῦρα μὲν ἀλλὰ μάλα λιγέως, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολύμυθος

215οὐδʼ ἀφαμαρτοεπής· ἦ καὶ γένει ὕστερος ἦεν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πολύμητις ἀναΐξειεν Ὀδυσσεὺς

στάσκεν, ὑπαὶ δὲ ἴδεσκε κατὰ χθονὸς ὄμματα πήξας,

σκῆπτρον δʼ οὔτʼ ὀπίσω οὔτε προπρηνὲς ἐνώμα,

ἀλλʼ ἀστεμφὲς ἔχεσκεν ἀΐδρεϊ φωτὶ ἐοικώς·

220φαίης κε ζάκοτόν τέ τινʼ ἔμμεναι ἄφρονά τʼ αὔτως.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὄπα τε μεγάλην ἐκ στήθεος εἵη

καὶ ἔπεα νιφάδεσσιν ἐοικότα χειμερίῃσιν,

οὐκ ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆΐ γʼ ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος·

οὐ τότε γʼ ὧδʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀγασσάμεθʼ εἶδος ἰδόντες.

203Wise Antenor addressed her in reply:

“Lady, what you have said is entirely true.

205For once before, godlike Odysseus came here too,

on an embassy concerning you, together with war-loving Menelaus.

I received them as guests and welcomed them in my halls,

and learned the stature and close counsels of them both.

When they mingled among the Trojans in assembly,

210Menelaus, when they stood, overtopped him at the broad shoulders;

but when both were seated, Odysseus was more imposing.

When they wove speeches and counsels before everyone,

Menelaus would speak at a rapid pace,

few words, but very clearly, for he was not long-winded,

215nor did his speech miss the mark; he was also the younger man.

But whenever resourceful Odysseus sprang up,

he would stand and look downward, fixing his eyes on the ground.

He did not move the scepter backward or forward,

but held it rigid, like an inexperienced man.

220You would have thought him some surly fellow, or simply a fool.

But when he sent his great voice out from his chest,

and words like the snowflakes of winter,

no other mortal then could compete with Odysseus.

After that we no longer marveled so much at Odysseus’ appearance.”

225τὸ τρίτον αὖτʼ Αἴαντα ἰδὼν ἐρέεινʼ ὃ γεραιός·

τίς τὰρ ὅδʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε

ἔξοχος Ἀργείων κεφαλήν τε καὶ εὐρέας ὤμους;

225Third, seeing Ajax, the old man asked:

“Who is that other noble, towering Achaean,

standing above the Argives in head and broad shoulders?”

228τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν·

οὗτος δʼ Αἴας ἐστὶ πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν·

230Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς

ἕστηκʼ, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν Κρητῶν ἀγοὶ ἠγερέθονται.

πολλάκι μιν ξείνισσεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ ὁπότε Κρήτηθεν ἵκοιτο.

νῦν δʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ὁρῶ ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς,

235οὕς κεν ἐῢ γνοίην καί τʼ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην·

δοιὼ δʼ οὐ δύναμαι ἰδέειν κοσμήτορε λαῶν

Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα

αὐτοκασιγνήτω, τώ μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ.

ἢ οὐχ ἑσπέσθην Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς,

240ἢ δεύρω μὲν ἕποντο νέεσσʼ ἔνι ποντοπόροισι,

νῦν αὖτʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι μάχην καταδύμεναι ἀνδρῶν

αἴσχεα δειδιότες καὶ ὀνείδεα πόλλʼ ἅ μοί ἐστιν.

228Helen in her trailing robe, divine among women, answered him:

“That is massive Ajax, the Achaeans’ bulwark.

230On the other side Idomeneus stands like a god among the Cretans,

and the leaders of the Cretans are gathered around him.

War-loving Menelaus often received him as a guest

in our house whenever he came from Crete.

Now I see all the other bright-eyed Achaeans,

235whom I could recognize well and name;

but two commanders of the hosts I cannot see:

Castor, tamer of horses, and Polydeuces, skilled with his fists,

my own brothers, whom one mother bore together with me.

Either they did not come with the army from lovely Lacedaemon,

240or they did come here in the seafaring ships,

but now refuse to enter the battle of men,

fearing the shame and many taunts that are mine.”

243ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἤδη κάτεχεν φυσίζοος αἶα

ἐν Λακεδαίμονι αὖθι φίλῃ ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ.

243So she spoke, but the life-giving earth already held them

there in Lacedaemon, in their dear native land.

245κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν φέρον ὅρκια πιστὰ

ἄρνε δύω καὶ οἶνον ἐΰφρονα καρπὸν ἀρούρης

ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ· φέρε δὲ κρητῆρα φαεινὸν

κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος ἠδὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα·

245The heralds carried through the city the gods’ faithful oath-offerings:

two lambs and heart-cheering wine, fruit of the tilled field,

inside a goatskin; and a gleaming mixing bowl

the herald Idaeus carried, together with golden cups.

249ὄτρυνεν δὲ γέροντα παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν·

250ὄρσεο Λαομεδοντιάδη, καλέουσιν ἄριστοι

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

ἐς πεδίον καταβῆναι ἵνʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμητε·

αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσοντʼ ἀμφὶ γυναικί·

255τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι γυνὴ καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἕποιτο·

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες

ναίοιμεν Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νέονται

Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα.

249Standing beside the old man, he urged him on with words:

250“Rise, son of Laomedon. The leading men summon you,

of both horse-taming Trojans and bronze-clad Achaeans,

to go down to the plain and ratify the faithful oaths by sacrifice.

Alexander and war-loving Menelaus

will fight with long spears over the woman.

255The woman and the possessions will follow the winner.

The rest, after making peace and swearing faithful oaths,

will dwell in fertile Troy, while they return

to horse-pasturing Argos and Achaea of beautiful women.”

259ὣς φάτο ῥίγησεν δʼ ὃ γέρων, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους

260ἵππους ζευγνύμεναι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτραλέως ἐπίθοντο.

ἂν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔβη Πρίαμος, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω·

πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον·

τὼ δὲ διὰ Σκαιῶν πεδίον δʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους.

259So he spoke. The old man shuddered and ordered his companions

260to yoke the horses, and they quickly obeyed.

Priam mounted and pulled the reins back toward him;

beside him Antenor climbed into the beautiful chariot.

The pair drove the swift horses through the Scaean Gates toward the plain.

264ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,

265ἐξ ἵππων ἀποβάντες ἐπὶ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν

ἐς μέσσον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἐστιχόωντο.

ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις· ἀτὰρ κήρυκες ἀγαυοὶ

ὅρκια πιστὰ θεῶν σύναγον, κρητῆρι δὲ οἶνον

270μίσγον, ἀτὰρ βασιλεῦσιν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν.

Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος χείρεσσι μάχαιραν,

ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεόν αἰὲν ἄωρτο,

ἀρνῶν ἐκ κεφαλέων τάμνε τρίχας· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

κήρυκες Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν νεῖμαν ἀρίστοις.

264When they reached the Trojans and Achaeans,

265they stepped down from the chariot onto the all-nourishing earth

and walked into the midst of Trojans and Achaeans.

At once Agamemnon, lord of men, rose,

and resourceful Odysseus rose as well. The noble heralds

gathered the gods’ faithful oath-offerings and mixed the wine

270in the bowl, then poured water over the kings’ hands.

Atreus’ son drew the knife in his hands,

which always hung beside his sword’s great sheath,

and cut hairs from the lambs’ heads. Then

the heralds distributed the wool among the Trojan and Achaean leaders.

275τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀτρεΐδης μεγάλʼ εὔχετο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·

Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε,

Ἠέλιός θʼ, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷς καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούεις,

καὶ ποταμοὶ καὶ γαῖα, καὶ οἳ ὑπένερθε καμόντας

ἀνθρώπους τίνυσθον ὅτις κʼ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ,

280ὑμεῖς μάρτυροι ἔστε, φυλάσσετε δʼ ὅρκια πιστά·

εἰ μέν κεν Μενέλαον Ἀλέξανδρος καταπέφνῃ

αὐτὸς ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένην ἐχέτω καὶ κτήματα πάντα,

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐν νήεσσι νεώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν·

εἰ δέ κʼ Ἀλέξανδρον κτείνῃ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,

285Τρῶας ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένην καὶ κτήματα πάντʼ ἀποδοῦναι,

τιμὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ἀποτινέμεν ἥν τινʼ ἔοικεν,

ἥ τε καὶ ἐσσομένοισι μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέληται.

εἰ δʼ ἂν ἐμοὶ τιμὴν Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες

τίνειν οὐκ ἐθέλωσιν Ἀλεξάνδροιο πεσόντος,

290αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειτα μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα ποινῆς

αὖθι μένων, ἧός κε τέλος πολέμοιο κιχείω.

275Then Atreus’ son prayed aloud among them, raising his hands:

“Father Zeus, ruling from Ida, most glorious and greatest,

and Sun, who see everything and hear everything,

and rivers and earth, and you powers below who punish

mortal men after death whenever one has sworn falsely,

280be witnesses, and guard these faithful oaths.

If Alexander kills Menelaus,

then let him keep Helen himself and all the possessions,

and we will sail home in our seafaring ships.

But if fair-haired Menelaus kills Alexander,

285then let the Trojans give back Helen and all the possessions

and pay the Argives the compensation that is fitting,

one that will live on among generations still to come.

But if Priam and Priam’s sons refuse to pay me that compensation

once Alexander has fallen,

290then even afterward I will fight to exact the penalty,

staying right here until I reach the war’s end.”

292ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στομάχους ἀρνῶν τάμε νηλέϊ χαλκῷ·

καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἀσπαίροντας

θυμοῦ δευομένους· ἀπὸ γὰρ μένος εἵλετο χαλκός.

292He spoke, and with pitiless bronze cut through the lambs’ throats.

He laid them on the ground, gasping,

their life ebbing; the bronze had robbed them of their force.

295οἶνον δʼ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφυσσόμενοι δεπάεσσιν

ἔκχεον, ἠδʼ εὔχοντο θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·

Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι

ὁππότεροι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια πημήνειαν

300ὧδέ σφʼ ἐγκέφαλος χαμάδις ῥέοι ὡς ὅδε οἶνος

αὐτῶν καὶ τεκέων, ἄλοχοι δʼ ἄλλοισι δαμεῖεν.

ὣς ἔφαν, οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ σφιν ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων.

295They drew wine from the mixing bowl in cups

and poured it out, praying to the everlasting gods.

And this is what one among the Trojans and Achaeans would say:

“Most glorious and greatest Zeus, and all you immortal gods,

whichever side first does harm in defiance of the oaths,

300may their brains pour down upon the ground as this wine does—

theirs and their children’s—and may their wives be mastered by other men.”

So they spoke, but Cronion did not yet fulfill their prayer.

303τοῖσι δὲ Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί·

305ἤτοι ἐγὼν εἶμι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν

ἄψ, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω τλήσομʼ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι

μαρνάμενον φίλον υἱὸν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·

Ζεὺς μέν που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι

ὁπποτέρῳ θανάτοιο τέλος πεπρωμένον ἐστίν.

303Then Priam, Dardanus’ descendant, spoke among them:

“Hear me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans.

305I am going back to windy Ilium,

for I cannot bear to see with my own eyes

my dear son fighting war-loving Menelaus;

Zeus surely knows this, and the other immortal gods,

for which of the two death’s end is appointed.”

310ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐς δίφρον ἄρνας θέτο ἰσόθεος φώς,

ἂν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔβαινʼ αὐτός, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω·

πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον.

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄψορροι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονέοντο·

310So he spoke, and the godlike man placed the lambs in the chariot;

he climbed in himself and pulled the reins back toward him,

and beside him Antenor climbed into the beautiful chariot.

The two drove back again toward Ilium,

314Ἕκτωρ δὲ Πριάμοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

315χῶρον μὲν πρῶτον διεμέτρεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

κλήρους ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,

ὁππότερος δὴ πρόσθεν ἀφείη χάλκεον ἔγχος.

314while Hector, Priam’s son, and godlike Odysseus

315first measured out the ground, and then

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

to see which man would cast the bronze spear first.

318λαοὶ δʼ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον,

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·

320Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε

ὁππότερος τάδε ἔργα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκε,

τὸν δὸς ἀποφθίμενον δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,

ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ γενέσθαι.

318The armies prayed and raised their hands to the gods,

and one among the Achaeans and Trojans would say:

320“Father Zeus, ruling from Ida, most glorious and greatest,

whichever man brought these deeds upon both peoples,

grant that he die and enter the house of Hades,

and let peace and faithful oaths be ours again.”

324ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

325ἂψ ὁρόων· Πάριος δὲ θοῶς ἐκ κλῆρος ὄρουσεν.

324So they spoke. Great Hector of the flashing helmet shook the lots,

325looking away, and Paris’ lot sprang quickly out.

326οἳ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἵζοντο κατὰ στίχας, ἧχι ἑκάστῳ

ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες καὶ ποικίλα τεύχεʼ ἔκειτο·

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἐδύσετο τεύχεα καλὰ

δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο.

330κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε

καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·

δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν

οἷο κασιγνήτοιο Λυκάονος· ἥρμοσε δʼ αὐτῷ.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

335χάλκεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε·

κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν

ἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ὅ οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει.

ὣς δʼ αὔτως Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἔντεʼ ἔδυνεν.

326The men sat down in ranks where each had left

his high-stepping horses and his richly worked armor.

Then around his shoulders he put on his fine armor,

godlike Alexander, husband of lovely-haired Helen.

330First he set the handsome greaves around his shins,

fastened securely with silver ankle-clasps.

Next he put the breastplate around his chest,

his brother Lycaon’s; it fitted him.

Around his shoulders he slung a bronze sword

335studded with silver, then his great strong shield.

On his powerful head he set a well-made helmet

with a horsehair crest; the plume nodded terribly above.

He took a sturdy spear that fit his grip.

In the same way warlike Menelaus put on his armor.

340οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,

ἐς μέσσον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἐστιχόωντο

δεινὸν δερκόμενοι· θάμβος δʼ ἔχεν εἰσορόωντας

Τρῶάς θʼ ἱπποδάμους καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.

καί ῥʼ ἐγγὺς στήτην διαμετρητῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ

345σείοντʼ ἐγχείας ἀλλήλοισιν κοτέοντε.

340When the two had armed on opposite sides of the throng,

they strode into the middle between Trojans and Achaeans,

glaring terribly; amazement seized all who watched,

both horse-taming Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans.

They took their stand close together in the measured space,

345shaking their spears at one another in fury.

346πρόσθε δʼ Ἀλέξανδρος προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Ἀτρεΐδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσε ἴσην,

οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ

ἀσπίδʼ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ· ὃ δὲ δεύτερον ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

346Alexander cast first with his long-shadowed spear

and struck Atreus’ son on the shield, balanced on every side.

The bronze did not break through; its point bent back

against the strong shield. Then Menelaus, Atreus’ son,

350Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί·

Ζεῦ ἄνα δὸς τίσασθαι ὅ με πρότερος κάκʼ ἔοργε

δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον, καὶ ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δάμασσον,

ὄφρα τις ἐρρίγῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων

ξεινοδόκον κακὰ ῥέξαι, ὅ κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.

350raised his bronze spear in turn and prayed to Father Zeus:

“Lord Zeus, grant me vengeance on the man who first wronged me—

godlike Alexander—and subdue him beneath my hands,

so that even among generations yet to come a man may shudder

to do evil to a host who has offered him friendship.”

355ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσε ἴσην·

διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,

καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο·

ἀντικρὺ δὲ παραὶ λαπάρην διάμησε χιτῶνα

360ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἐκλίνθη καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.

355He spoke, poised his long-shadowed spear, and cast it,

striking Priam’s son on the shield, balanced on every side.

The heavy spear drove through the shining shield

and forced its way through the intricately worked breastplate;

straight on beside his flank the spear tore through his tunic.

360But he leaned away and escaped black death.

361Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

πλῆξεν ἀνασχόμενος κόρυθος φάλον· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῷ

τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διατρυφὲν ἔκπεσε χειρός.

Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ᾤμωξεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

365Ζεῦ πάτερ οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·

ἦ τʼ ἐφάμην τίσασθαι Ἀλέξανδρον κακότητος·

νῦν δέ μοι ἐν χείρεσσιν ἄγη ξίφος, ἐκ δέ μοι ἔγχος

ἠΐχθη παλάμηφιν ἐτώσιον, οὐδʼ ἔβαλόν μιν.

361Atreus’ son drew his silver-studded sword,

raised it and struck the ridge of his helmet;

the blade shattered there into three and four pieces and fell from his hand.

Atreus’ son groaned and looked into the broad sky:

365“Father Zeus, no other god is more destructive than you.

I thought I would punish Alexander for his outrage,

but now my sword has broken in my hands, and my spear

flew useless from my grip and failed to wound him.”

369ἦ καὶ ἐπαΐξας κόρυθος λάβεν ἱπποδασείης,

370ἕλκε δʼ ἐπιστρέψας μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·

ἄγχε δέ μιν πολύκεστος ἱμὰς ἁπαλὴν ὑπὸ δειρήν,

ὅς οἱ ὑπʼ ἀνθερεῶνος ὀχεὺς τέτατο τρυφαλείης.

καί νύ κεν εἴρυσσέν τε καὶ ἄσπετον ἤρατο κῦδος,

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη,

375ἥ οἱ ῥῆξεν ἱμάντα βοὸς ἶφι κταμένοιο·

κεινὴ δὲ τρυφάλεια ἅμʼ ἕσπετο χειρὶ παχείῃ.

369He spoke, sprang forward, and seized the horsehair-crested helmet,

370twisting the helmet, he dragged him toward the well-greaved Achaeans.

The embroidered strap beneath his tender throat was choking him,

stretched tight below his chin to fasten the helmet.

He would have dragged him off and won boundless glory

had Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, not quickly seen it.

375She snapped the strap, cut from the hide of a slaughtered ox,

and the empty helmet followed in his massive hand.

377τὴν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἥρως μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς

ῥῖψʼ ἐπιδινήσας, κόμισαν δʼ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·

αὐτὰρ ὃ ἂψ ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων

380ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ· τὸν δʼ ἐξήρπαξʼ Ἀφροδίτη

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

κὰδ δʼ εἷσʼ ἐν θαλάμῳ εὐώδεϊ κηώεντι.

377Then the hero whirled the helmet and hurled it

among the well-greaved Achaeans; his loyal companions took it up.

Again he charged, intent on killing him

380with his bronze spear, but Aphrodite snatched him away

with perfect ease, as a goddess can, and wrapped him in dense mist,

and set him down in his fragrant, perfumed chamber.

383αὐτὴ δʼ αὖ Ἑλένην καλέουσʼ ἴε· τὴν δὲ κίχανε

πύργῳ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῷ, περὶ δὲ Τρῳαὶ ἅλις ἦσαν·

385χειρὶ δὲ νεκταρέου ἑανοῦ ἐτίναξε λαβοῦσα,

γρηῒ δέ μιν ἐϊκυῖα παλαιγενέϊ προσέειπεν

εἰροκόμῳ, ἥ οἱ Λακεδαίμονι ναιετοώσῃ

ἤσκειν εἴρια καλά, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκε·

383Then she went to summon Helen, and found her

on the high tower, with Trojan women thronging around.

385She took hold of Helen’s nectar-fragrant robe and tugged it with her hand

and spoke in the likeness of an aged woman,

the wool-worker who, when Helen lived in Lacedaemon,

worked the fine wool for her and loved her dearly.

389τῇ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσεφώνεε δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη·

390δεῦρʼ ἴθʼ· Ἀλέξανδρός σε καλεῖ οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.

κεῖνος ὅ γʼ ἐν θαλάμῳ καὶ δινωτοῖσι λέχεσσι

κάλλεΐ τε στίλβων καὶ εἵμασιν· οὐδέ κε φαίης

ἀνδρὶ μαχεσσάμενον τόν γʼ ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλὰ χορὸν δὲ

ἔρχεσθʼ, ἠὲ χοροῖο νέον λήγοντα καθίζειν.

389In her likeness, radiant Aphrodite addressed her:

390“Come—Alexander calls you to return home.

He is there in the chamber, on the carved bed,

gleaming in beauty and in his clothes. You would never say

he had come there from fighting a man, but was going to a dance,

or had just left the dance and sat down.”

395ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε·

καί ῥʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεᾶς περικαλλέα δειρὴν

στήθεά θʼ ἱμερόεντα καὶ ὄμματα μαρμαίροντα,

θάμβησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

395So she spoke and stirred the heart in Helen’s breast.

But when Helen recognized the goddess’s beautiful neck,

her desirable breasts and her flashing eyes,

she was astonished and spoke, calling her by name:

399δαιμονίη, τί με ταῦτα λιλαίεαι ἠπεροπεύειν;

400ἦ πῄ με προτέρω πολίων εὖ ναιομενάων

ἄξεις, ἢ Φρυγίης ἢ Μῃονίης ἐρατεινῆς,

εἴ τίς τοι καὶ κεῖθι φίλος μερόπων ἀνθρώπων·

οὕνεκα δὴ νῦν δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Μενέλαος

νικήσας ἐθέλει στυγερὴν ἐμὲ οἴκαδʼ ἄγεσθαι,

405τοὔνεκα δὴ νῦν δεῦρο δολοφρονέουσα παρέστης;

ἧσο παρʼ αὐτὸν ἰοῦσα, θεῶν δʼ ἀπόεικε κελεύθου,

μηδʼ ἔτι σοῖσι πόδεσσιν ὑποστρέψειας Ὄλυμπον,

ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ περὶ κεῖνον ὀΐζυε καί ἑ φύλασσε,

εἰς ὅ κέ σʼ ἢ ἄλοχον ποιήσεται ἢ ὅ γε δούλην.

410κεῖσε δʼ ἐγὼν οὐκ εἶμι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη·

κείνου πορσανέουσα λέχος· Τρῳαὶ δέ μʼ ὀπίσσω

πᾶσαι μωμήσονται· ἔχω δʼ ἄχεʼ ἄκριτα θυμῷ.

399“Strange goddess, why are you so eager to deceive me?

400Will you carry me still farther, to one of the well-settled cities

of Phrygia or lovely Maeonia,

if there too some mortal man is dear to you?

Is it because Menelaus has defeated godlike Alexander

and wants to lead hateful me back home

405that you have come here now with treachery in your heart?

Go sit beside him yourself; abandon the path of the gods.

Never turn your feet back toward Olympus again,

but grieve over him forever and guard him

until he makes you his wife—or his slave.

410I will not go there. It would be shameful

to tend that man’s bed. All the Trojan women

would blame me afterward, and my heart already holds grief without end.”

413τὴν δὲ χολωσαμένη προσεφώνεε δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη·

μή μʼ ἔρεθε σχετλίη, μὴ χωσαμένη σε μεθείω,

415τὼς δέ σʼ ἀπεχθήρω ὡς νῦν ἔκπαγλʼ ἐφίλησα,

μέσσῳ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων μητίσομαι ἔχθεα λυγρὰ

Τρώων καὶ Δαναῶν, σὺ δέ κεν κακὸν οἶτον ὄληαι.

413Angered, radiant Aphrodite answered her:

“Do not provoke me, wretched woman, or in anger I may abandon you

415and hate you as fiercely as I have loved you until now.

I may devise bitter hatred between both peoples,

Trojans and Danaans, and you will perish by an evil fate.”

418ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,

βῆ δὲ κατασχομένη ἑανῷ ἀργῆτι φαεινῷ

420σιγῇ, πάσας δὲ Τρῳὰς λάθεν· ἦρχε δὲ δαίμων.

418So she spoke, and Helen, daughter of Zeus, was afraid.

She went, drawing her gleaming white robe around her,

420in silence, unseen by all the Trojan women; the goddess led the way.

421αἳ δʼ ὅτʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δόμον περικαλλέʼ ἵκοντο,

ἀμφίπολοι μὲν ἔπειτα θοῶς ἐπὶ ἔργα τράποντο,

ἣ δʼ εἰς ὑψόροφον θάλαμον κίε δῖα γυναικῶν.

τῇ δʼ ἄρα δίφρον ἑλοῦσα φιλομειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη

425ἀντίʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο θεὰ κατέθηκε φέρουσα·

ἔνθα κάθιζʼ Ἑλένη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

421When they reached Alexander’s splendid house,

the serving women quickly turned to their tasks,

while Helen, divine among women, went into the high-roofed chamber.

Aphrodite, lover of smiles, took up a chair

425and carried it to set opposite Alexander.

There Helen sat, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus.

427ὄσσε πάλιν κλίνασα, πόσιν δʼ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·

ἤλυθες ἐκ πολέμου· ὡς ὤφελες αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι

ἀνδρὶ δαμεὶς κρατερῷ, ὃς ἐμὸς πρότερος πόσις ἦεν.

430ἦ μὲν δὴ πρίν γʼ εὔχεʼ ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου

σῇ τε βίῃ καὶ χερσὶ καὶ ἔγχεϊ φέρτερος εἶναι·

ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν προκάλεσσαι ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

ἐξαῦτις μαχέσασθαι ἐναντίον· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγε

παύεσθαι κέλομαι, μηδὲ ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ

435ἀντίβιον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι

ἀφραδέως, μή πως τάχʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ δουρὶ δαμήῃς.

427Turning her eyes away, she rebuked her husband:

“You have come back from the war. If only you had died there,

brought down by the mighty man who was my husband before.

430You used to boast that you were better than war-loving Menelaus

in your strength, your hands, and your spear.

Go now and challenge war-loving Menelaus

to fight you face-to-face again. But I

tell you to stop: do not make war against fair-haired Menelaus

435or fight him force against force

in your folly, or his spear may soon bring you down.”

437τὴν δὲ Πάρις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·

μή με γύναι χαλεποῖσιν ὀνείδεσι θυμὸν ἔνιπτε·

νῦν μὲν γὰρ Μενέλαος ἐνίκησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ,

440κεῖνον δʼ αὖτις ἐγώ· πάρα γὰρ θεοί εἰσι καὶ ἡμῖν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ φιλότητι τραπείομεν εὐνηθέντε·

οὐ γάρ πώ ποτέ μʼ ὧδέ γʼ ἔρως φρένας ἀμφεκάλυψεν,

οὐδʼ ὅτε σε πρῶτον Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς

ἔπλεον ἁρπάξας ἐν ποντοπόροισι νέεσσι,

445νήσῳ δʼ ἐν Κραναῇ ἐμίγην φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ,

ὥς σεο νῦν ἔραμαι καί με γλυκὺς ἵμερος αἱρεῖ.

437Paris answered her with these words:

“Woman, do not wound my heart with bitter insults.

This time Menelaus defeated me with Athena’s help;

440another time I will defeat him, for gods stand with us as well.

Come now, let us turn to lovemaking and lie together.

Never before has desire so enveloped my mind,

not even when I first sailed away from lovely Lacedaemon

in seagoing ships, after seizing you,

445and on the island of Cranae joined you in love and bed,

as I desire you now, and sweet longing seizes me.”

447ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἄρχε λέχος δὲ κιών· ἅμα δʼ εἵπετʼ ἄκοιτις.

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν τρητοῖσι κατεύνασθεν λεχέεσσιν,

447He spoke and led the way toward the bed; his wife followed.

So the two lay down together on the carved bed.

449Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἐφοίτα θηρὶ ἐοικὼς

450εἴ που ἐσαθρήσειεν Ἀλέξανδρον θεοειδέα.

ἀλλʼ οὔ τις δύνατο Τρώων κλειτῶν τʼ ἐπικούρων

δεῖξαι Ἀλέξανδρον τότʼ ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·

οὐ μὲν γὰρ φιλότητί γʼ ἐκεύθανον εἴ τις ἴδοιτο·

ἶσον γάρ σφιν πᾶσιν ἀπήχθετο κηρὶ μελαίνῃ.

449But Atreus’ son ranged through the crowd like a wild beast,

450looking everywhere for godlike Alexander.

Yet not one of the Trojans or their renowned allies

could point Alexander out to war-loving Menelaus.

They would not have hidden him out of love, if anyone had seen him,

for they all hated him as they hated black death.

455τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·

νίκη μὲν δὴ φαίνετʼ ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου,

ὑμεῖς δʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἅμʼ αὐτῇ

ἔκδοτε, καὶ τιμὴν ἀποτινέμεν ἥν τινʼ ἔοικεν,

460ἥ τε καὶ ἐσσομένοισι μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέληται.

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀτρεΐδης, ἐπὶ δʼ ᾔνεον ἄλλοι Ἀχαιοί.

455Then Agamemnon, lord of men, spoke among them:

“Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies:

victory clearly belongs to war-loving Menelaus.

Give back Argive Helen and all the possessions with her,

and pay the compensation that is fitting,

460one that will live on among generations still to come.”

So Atreus’ son spoke, and the other Achaeans assented.