Iliad, Book 4: The Broken Truce

1οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἠγορόωντο

χρυσέῳ ἐν δαπέδῳ, μετὰ δέ σφισι πότνια Ἥβη

νέκταρ ἐοινοχόει· τοὶ δὲ χρυσέοις δεπάεσσι

δειδέχατʼ ἀλλήλους, Τρώων πόλιν εἰσορόωντες·

1The gods sat beside Zeus in council

on the golden floor, and among them lady Hebe

served nectar; from golden cups

they drank to one another, gazing on the Trojans’ city.

5αὐτίκʼ ἐπειρᾶτο Κρονίδης ἐρεθιζέμεν Ἥρην

κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσι παραβλήδην ἀγορεύων·

δοιαὶ μὲν Μενελάῳ ἀρηγόνες εἰσὶ θεάων

Ἥρη τʼ Ἀργείη καὶ Ἀλαλκομενηῒς Ἀθήνη.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ταὶ νόσφι καθήμεναι εἰσορόωσαι

10τέρπεσθον· τῷ δʼ αὖτε φιλομειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη

αἰεὶ παρμέμβλωκε καὶ αὐτοῦ κῆρας ἀμύνει·

καὶ νῦν ἐξεσάωσεν ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νίκη μὲν ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου·

ἡμεῖς δὲ φραζώμεθʼ ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,

15ἤ ῥʼ αὖτις πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν

ὄρσομεν, ἦ φιλότητα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι βάλωμεν.

εἰ δʼ αὖ πως τόδε πᾶσι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,

ἤτοι μὲν οἰκέοιτο πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος,

αὖτις δʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην Μενέλαος ἄγοιτο.

5At once the son of Cronus tried to provoke Hera,

speaking taunting words with a mocking slant:

“Two goddesses stand as Menelaus’ helpers,

Argive Hera and Athena of Alalcomenae.

But there they sit apart, looking on

10and taking their pleasure, while Aphrodite, lover of smiles,

stays always close beside him and wards the spirits of death away;

even now she saved him when he thought he must die.

Yet victory belongs to war-loving Menelaus.

Let us consider, then, how these events shall go:

15whether to stir up evil war and dreadful battle din again,

or set peace between the two sides.

If somehow this should prove dear and pleasing to all,

then Priam’s city might remain inhabited,

and Menelaus might lead Argive Helen home again.”

20ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ἐπέμυξαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη·

πλησίαι αἵ γʼ ἥσθην, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μεδέσθην.

ἤτοι Ἀθηναίη ἀκέων ἦν οὐδέ τι εἶπε

σκυζομένη Διὶ πατρί, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·

Ἥρῃ δʼ οὐκ ἔχαδε στῆθος χόλον, ἀλλὰ προσηύδα·

20So he spoke. Athena and Hera muttered low;

they sat close together, plotting evil for the Trojans.

Athena stayed silent and said nothing,

enraged at Father Zeus as savage anger seized her.

But Hera’s breast could not contain her anger, and she answered:

25αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες·

πῶς ἐθέλεις ἅλιον θεῖναι πόνον ἠδʼ ἀτέλεστον,

ἱδρῶ θʼ ὃν ἵδρωσα μόγῳ, καμέτην δέ μοι ἵπποι

λαὸν ἀγειρούσῃ, Πριάμῳ κακὰ τοῖό τε παισίν.

ἕρδʼ· ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

25“Most dreadful son of Cronus, what is this you have said?

How can you wish to make my labor vain and leave it unfinished—

the sweat I poured out in toil, while my horses wore themselves out

as I gathered the host to bring ruin on Priam and his sons?

Do it, then—but not all the other gods approve.”

30τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

δαιμονίη τί νύ σε Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες

τόσσα κακὰ ῥέζουσιν, ὅ τʼ ἀσπερχὲς μενεαίνεις

Ἰλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον;

εἰ δὲ σύ γʼ εἰσελθοῦσα πύλας καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ

35ὠμὸν βεβρώθοις Πρίαμον Πριάμοιό τε παῖδας

ἄλλους τε Τρῶας, τότε κεν χόλον ἐξακέσαιο.

ἕρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· μὴ τοῦτό γε νεῖκος ὀπίσσω

σοὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ μέγʼ ἔρισμα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·

40ὁππότε κεν καὶ ἐγὼ μεμαὼς πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι

τὴν ἐθέλω ὅθι τοι φίλοι ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασι,

μή τι διατρίβειν τὸν ἐμὸν χόλον, ἀλλά μʼ ἐᾶσαι·

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ σοὶ δῶκα ἑκὼν ἀέκοντί γε θυμῷ·

30Cloud-gathering Zeus, deeply troubled, answered her:

“Strange one, how many wrongs have Priam and Priam’s sons

done to you, that you rage without respite

to sack the well-built stronghold of Ilium?

If you could enter the gates and long walls

35and devour Priam raw, along with Priam’s sons,

and all the other Trojans, then you might cure your anger.

Do as you wish. Let this quarrel not become

a great cause of strife hereafter between you and me.

One thing more I will tell you; lay it within your mind:

40whenever I too am eager to sack a city

of my choosing, where men dear to you were born,

do not thwart my anger in any way, but let me act.

For I yielded this to you willingly, though unwilling at heart.

44αἳ γὰρ ὑπʼ ἠελίῳ τε καὶ οὐρανῷ ἀστερόεντι

45ναιετάουσι πόληες ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,

τάων μοι περὶ κῆρι τιέσκετο Ἴλιος ἱρὴ

καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο.

οὐ γάρ μοί ποτε βωμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης

λοιβῆς τε κνίσης τε· τὸ γὰρ λάχομεν γέρας ἡμεῖς.

44Of all the cities beneath the sun and starry sky

45where earthbound mortals have their homes,

sacred Ilium was honored above all in my heart,

with Priam and the people of Priam, skilled with the spear.

My altar never lacked its equal feast,

libation and savor; that is the honor allotted to us gods.”

50τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·

ἤτοι ἐμοὶ τρεῖς μὲν πολὺ φίλταταί εἰσι πόληες

Ἄργός τε Σπάρτη τε καὶ εὐρυάγυια Μυκήνη·

τὰς διαπέρσαι ὅτʼ ἄν τοι ἀπέχθωνται περὶ κῆρι·

τάων οὔ τοι ἐγὼ πρόσθʼ ἵσταμαι οὐδὲ μεγαίρω.

55εἴ περ γὰρ φθονέω τε καὶ οὐκ εἰῶ διαπέρσαι,

οὐκ ἀνύω φθονέουσʼ ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐσσι.

ἀλλὰ χρὴ καὶ ἐμὸν θέμεναι πόνον οὐκ ἀτέλεστον·

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, γένος δέ μοι ἔνθεν ὅθεν σοί,

καί με πρεσβυτάτην τέκετο Κρόνος ἀγκυλομήτης,

60ἀμφότερον γενεῇ τε καὶ οὕνεκα σὴ παράκοιτις

κέκλημαι, σὺ δὲ πᾶσι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀνάσσεις.

50Then ox-eyed lady Hera answered him:

“Three cities are dearest to me by far:

Argos and Sparta and Mycenae of the broad streets.

Sack them whenever they grow hateful to your heart.

I will not stand before you or begrudge it.

55Even if I did begrudge it and would not let you sack them,

my opposition would achieve nothing, since you are far stronger.

But my labor too must not be left unfinished.

For I too am a god, and my stock is the same as yours;

crooked-counseling Cronus fathered me the eldest,

60both by birth and because I am called your wife,

while you rule among all the immortals.

62ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦθʼ ὑποείξομεν ἀλλήλοισι,

σοὶ μὲν ἐγώ, σὺ δʼ ἐμοί· ἐπὶ δʼ ἕψονται θεοὶ ἄλλοι

ἀθάνατοι· σὺ δὲ θᾶσσον Ἀθηναίῃ ἐπιτεῖλαι

65ἐλθεῖν ἐς Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπιν αἰνήν,

πειρᾶν δʼ ὥς κε Τρῶες ὑπερκύδαντας Ἀχαιοὺς

ἄρξωσι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσασθαι.

62Come, let us yield to one another in these things,

I to you and you to me; the other deathless gods will follow.

Quickly command Athena

65to enter the dreadful battle din of Trojans and Achaeans,

and try to make the Trojans be first to harm

the proud Achaeans in defiance of the oaths.”

68ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·

αὐτίκʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

70αἶψα μάλʼ ἐς στρατὸν ἐλθὲ μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,

πειρᾶν δʼ ὥς κε Τρῶες ὑπερκύδαντας Ἀχαιοὺς

ἄρξωσι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσασθαι.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.

68So she spoke, and the father of gods and men did not disobey.

At once he addressed Athena with winged words:

70“Go swiftly to the army, among Trojans and Achaeans,

and try to make the Trojans be first to harm

the proud Achaeans in defiance of the oaths.”

So he spoke and urged Athena, already eager;

she sped down from the peaks of Olympus.

75οἷον δʼ ἀστέρα ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω

ἢ ναύτῃσι τέρας ἠὲ στρατῷ εὐρέϊ λαῶν

λαμπρόν· τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἀπὸ σπινθῆρες ἵενται·

τῷ ἐϊκυῖʼ ἤϊξεν ἐπὶ χθόνα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,

κὰδ δʼ ἔθορʼ ἐς μέσσον· θάμβος δʼ ἔχεν εἰσορόωντας

80Τρῶάς θʼ ἱπποδάμους καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

ἦ ῥʼ αὖτις πόλεμός τε κακὸς καὶ φύλοπις αἰνὴ

ἔσσεται, ἢ φιλότητα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησι

Ζεύς, ὅς τʼ ἀνθρώπων ταμίης πολέμοιο τέτυκται.

85ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε.

75As when the son of crooked-counseling Cronus sends a star

as a sign to sailors or a broad army,

bright, and showers of sparks stream from it,

so Pallas Athena sped down to the earth.

She leapt into their midst; wonder seized those watching,

80horse-taming Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans.

Then one would look at his neighbor and say:

“Either evil war and dreadful battle din will come again,

or Zeus is setting peace between both sides—

Zeus, who dispenses war among mortals.”

85So men among Achaeans and Trojans spoke.

86ἣ δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἰκέλη Τρώων κατεδύσεθʼ ὅμιλον

Λαοδόκῳ Ἀντηνορίδῃ κρατερῷ αἰχμητῇ,

Πάνδαρον ἀντίθεον διζημένη εἴ που ἐφεύροι.

εὗρε Λυκάονος υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε

90ἑσταότʼ· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κρατεραὶ στίχες ἀσπιστάων

λαῶν, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο ἀπʼ Αἰσήποιο ῥοάων·

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

86In a Trojan man’s likeness Athena entered the throng,

that of Laodocus, Antenor’s son, a strong spearman,

searching for godlike Pandarus, if she could find him.

She found Lycaon’s son, blameless and strong,

90standing there. Around him stood strong ranks of shield-bearing

troops who had followed him from the streams of Aesepus.

Standing close, she addressed him with winged words:

93ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο Λυκάονος υἱὲ δαΐφρον.

τλαίης κεν Μενελάῳ ἐπιπροέμεν ταχὺν ἰόν,

95πᾶσι δέ κε Τρώεσσι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ἄροιο,

ἐκ πάντων δὲ μάλιστα Ἀλεξάνδρῳ βασιλῆϊ.

τοῦ κεν δὴ πάμπρωτα παρʼ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα φέροιο,

αἴ κεν ἴδῃ Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱὸν

σῷ βέλεϊ δμηθέντα πυρῆς ἐπιβάντʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.

100ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ὀΐστευσον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,

εὔχεο δʼ Ἀπόλλωνι Λυκηγενέϊ κλυτοτόξῳ

ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην

οἴκαδε νοστήσας ἱερῆς εἰς ἄστυ Ζελείης.

93“Would you heed me in one thing, war-wise son of Lycaon?

Would you dare let fly a swift arrow at Menelaus?

95You would win favor and glory from all the Trojans,

and most of all from king Alexander.

From him you would be the first to receive splendid gifts,

if he should see warlike Menelaus, Atreus’ son,

brought down by your shaft and laid upon the grievous pyre.

100Come, shoot at glorious Menelaus,

and vow to Apollo, Lycia-born and famed for the bow,

that you will offer a splendid hecatomb of firstborn lambs

when you return home to the sacred city of Zeleia.”

104ὣς φάτʼ Ἀθηναίη, τῷ δὲ φρένας ἄφρονι πεῖθεν·

105αὐτίκʼ ἐσύλα τόξον ἐΰξοον ἰξάλου αἰγὸς

ἀγρίου, ὅν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τυχήσας

πέτρης ἐκβαίνοντα δεδεγμένος ἐν προδοκῇσι

βεβλήκει πρὸς στῆθος· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἔμπεσε πέτρῃ.

τοῦ κέρα ἐκ κεφαλῆς ἑκκαιδεκάδωρα πεφύκει·

110καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀσκήσας κεραοξόος ἤραρε τέκτων,

πᾶν δʼ εὖ λειήνας χρυσέην ἐπέθηκε κορώνην.

104So Athena spoke and won over the foolish man’s mind.

105At once he took down his polished bow, made from the horns of a wild goat

that he himself had once struck beneath the breast,

waiting in ambush as it stepped out from a rock;

he shot it square in the chest, and it fell backward on the rock.

Its horns extended sixteen palms from the head.

110A craftsman who worked in horn had dressed and joined them,

smoothed the whole bow well, and set a golden tip upon it.

112καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε τανυσσάμενος ποτὶ γαίῃ

ἀγκλίνας· πρόσθεν δὲ σάκεα σχέθον ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι

μὴ πρὶν ἀναΐξειαν ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

115πρὶν βλῆσθαι Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱόν.

αὐτὰρ ὁ σύλα πῶμα φαρέτρης, ἐκ δʼ ἕλετʼ ἰὸν

ἀβλῆτα πτερόεντα μελαινέων ἕρμʼ ὀδυνάων·

αἶψα δʼ ἐπὶ νευρῇ κατεκόσμει πικρὸν ὀϊστόν,

εὔχετο δʼ Ἀπόλλωνι Λυκηγενέϊ κλυτοτόξῳ

120ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην

οἴκαδε νοστήσας ἱερῆς εἰς ἄστυ Ζελείης.

112Pandarus strung it well, then laid it at an angle against the ground;

before him his good companions held their shields,

so the warlike sons of the Achaeans would not spring upon him

115before warlike Menelaus, Atreus’ son, was struck.

Then he pulled the lid from his quiver and chose an arrow

never yet shot, winged, freighted with dark pains.

Swiftly he fitted the bitter arrow to the string,

and prayed to Apollo, Lycia-born and famed for the bow,

120that he would offer a splendid hecatomb of firstborn lambs

when he returned home to the sacred city of Zeleia.

122ἕλκε δʼ ὁμοῦ γλυφίδας τε λαβὼν καὶ νεῦρα βόεια·

νευρὴν μὲν μαζῷ πέλασεν, τόξῳ δὲ σίδηρον.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ κυκλοτερὲς μέγα τόξον ἔτεινε,

125λίγξε βιός, νευρὴ δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχεν, ἆλτο δʼ ὀϊστὸς

ὀξυβελὴς καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐπιπτέσθαι μενεαίνων.

122He drew, gripping the arrow’s notched end and the ox-sinew string together;

bringing the string to his breast, the iron head to the bow.

When he had drawn the great, round bow,

125the bow twanged, the string rang loud, and the arrow leapt,

keen-pointed, eager to fly into the crowd.

127οὐδὲ σέθεν Μενέλαε θεοὶ μάκαρες λελάθοντο

ἀθάνατοι, πρώτη δὲ Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείη,

ἥ τοι πρόσθε στᾶσα βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἄμυνεν.

130ἣ δὲ τόσον μὲν ἔεργεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ὡς ὅτε μήτηρ

παιδὸς ἐέργῃ μυῖαν ὅθʼ ἡδέϊ λέξεται ὕπνῳ,

αὐτὴ δʼ αὖτʼ ἴθυνεν ὅθι ζωστῆρος ὀχῆες

χρύσειοι σύνεχον καὶ διπλόος ἤντετο θώρηξ.

127But the blessed deathless gods did not forget you, Menelaus—

and first among them Zeus’s daughter, gatherer of spoil,

who stood before you and warded off the piercing shaft.

130She kept it as far from your skin as when a mother

keeps a fly from her child while he lies in sweet sleep.

Then she herself guided it to where the golden clasps of his belt

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

134ἐν δʼ ἔπεσε ζωστῆρι ἀρηρότι πικρὸς ὀϊστός·

135διὰ μὲν ἂρ ζωστῆρος ἐλήλατο δαιδαλέοιο,

καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο

μίτρης θʼ, ἣν ἐφόρει ἔρυμα χροὸς ἕρκος ἀκόντων,

ἥ οἱ πλεῖστον ἔρυτο· διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο καὶ τῆς.

ἀκρότατον δʼ ἄρʼ ὀϊστὸς ἐπέγραψε χρόα φωτός·

140αὐτίκα δʼ ἔρρεεν αἷμα κελαινεφὲς ἐξ ὠτειλῆς.

134The bitter arrow struck the close-fitted belt;

135it drove clean through the richly worked belt

and pressed on through the elaborately fashioned corselet

and the waist-guard he wore, defense for his flesh, a barrier against weapons—

the guard that saved him most; but it passed even through that.

The arrow only grazed the very surface of the man’s skin;

140and at once dark blood flowed from the wound.

141ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τʼ ἐλέφαντα γυνὴ φοίνικι μιήνῃ

Μῃονὶς ἠὲ Κάειρα παρήϊον ἔμμεναι ἵππων·

κεῖται δʼ ἐν θαλάμῳ, πολέες τέ μιν ἠρήσαντο

ἱππῆες φορέειν· βασιλῆϊ δὲ κεῖται ἄγαλμα,

145ἀμφότερον κόσμός θʼ ἵππῳ ἐλατῆρί τε κῦδος·

τοῖοί τοι Μενέλαε μιάνθην αἵματι μηροὶ

εὐφυέες κνῆμαί τε ἰδὲ σφυρὰ κάλʼ ὑπένερθε.

141As when a woman stains ivory with crimson,

a Maeonian or Carian, to make a horse’s cheekpiece;

It lies in her chamber, though many horsemen long

to have it for their horses—a treasure reserved for a king,

145both an ornament for the horse and glory for its driver—

so, Menelaus, your thighs were stained with blood,

your shapely shins and your fine ankles underneath.

148ῥίγησεν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

ὡς εἶδεν μέλαν αἷμα καταρρέον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς·

150ῥίγησεν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος.

ὡς δὲ ἴδεν νεῦρόν τε καὶ ὄγκους ἐκτὸς ἐόντας

ἄψορρόν οἱ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀγέρθη.

τοῖς δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

χειρὸς ἔχων Μενέλαον, ἐπεστενάχοντο δʼ ἑταῖροι·

148Then Agamemnon, lord of men, shuddered

when he saw the black blood running from the wound.

150War-loving Menelaus himself shuddered too;

but when he saw the sinew binding and barbs still outside,

his spirit gathered again within his breast.

Wide-ruling Agamemnon spoke with a heavy groan,

holding Menelaus by the hand; his comrades groaned with him:

155φίλε κασίγνητε θάνατόν νύ τοι ὅρκιʼ ἔταμνον

οἶον προστήσας πρὸ Ἀχαιῶν Τρωσὶ μάχεσθαι,

ὥς σʼ ἔβαλον Τρῶες, κατὰ δʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ πάτησαν.

οὐ μέν πως ἅλιον πέλει ὅρκιον αἷμά τε ἀρνῶν

σπονδαί τʼ ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαὶ ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν.

160εἴ περ γάρ τε καὶ αὐτίκʼ Ὀλύμπιος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν,

ἔκ τε καὶ ὀψὲ τελεῖ, σύν τε μεγάλῳ ἀπέτισαν

σὺν σφῇσιν κεφαλῇσι γυναιξί τε καὶ τεκέεσσιν.

155“Dear brother, it seems I ratified these oaths for your death,

setting you alone before the Achaeans to fight the Trojans,

since the Trojans shot you and trampled the faithful oaths.

Yet the oath cannot come to nothing, nor the blood of lambs,

the unmixed libations and the right hands in which we trusted.

160Though the Olympian has not fulfilled it at once,

he will fulfill it at last, though late, and they will pay dearly

with their own heads, their wives, and their children.

163εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·

ἔσσεται ἦμαρ ὅτʼ ἄν ποτʼ ὀλώλῃ Ἴλιος ἱρὴ

165καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο,

Ζεὺς δέ σφι Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος αἰθέρι ναίων

αὐτὸς ἐπισσείῃσιν ἐρεμνὴν αἰγίδα πᾶσι

τῆσδʼ ἀπάτης κοτέων· τὰ μὲν ἔσσεται οὐκ ἀτέλεστα·

ἀλλά μοι αἰνὸν ἄχος σέθεν ἔσσεται ὦ Μενέλαε

170αἴ κε θάνῃς καὶ πότμον ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο.

163For I know this well, in mind and spirit:

the day will come when sacred Ilium falls,

165with Priam and the people of Priam, skilled with the spear.

Zeus, son of Cronus, enthroned on high and dwelling in the clear sky,

will himself shake his dark aegis over all of them,

in anger at this deceit. These things will not go unfulfilled.

But grief for you will be terrible to me, Menelaus,

170if you die and meet the destined end of life.

171καί κεν ἐλέγχιστος πολυδίψιον Ἄργος ἱκοίμην·

αὐτίκα γὰρ μνήσονται Ἀχαιοὶ πατρίδος αἴης·

κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιμεν

Ἀργείην Ἑλένην· σέο δʼ ὀστέα πύσει ἄρουρα

175κειμένου ἐν Τροίῃ ἀτελευτήτῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.

καί κέ τις ὧδʼ ἐρέει Τρώων ὑπερηνορεόντων

τύμβῳ ἐπιθρῴσκων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο·

αἴθʼ οὕτως ἐπὶ πᾶσι χόλον τελέσειʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,

ὡς καὶ νῦν ἅλιον στρατὸν ἤγαγεν ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιῶν,

180καὶ δὴ ἔβη οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

σὺν κεινῇσιν νηυσὶ λιπὼν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον.

ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τότε μοι χάνοι εὐρεῖα χθών.

171Then I would return in deepest disgrace to thirsty Argos,

for the Achaeans would remember their native land at once;

we would leave Priam and the Trojans a boast—

Argive Helen—while the earth rotted your bones

175as you lay in Troy with our work unfinished.

Then one of the overbearing Trojans would say,

leaping upon the tomb of glorious Menelaus:

‘May Agamemnon always bring his anger to such an end,

as now he brought the Achaean army here in vain,

180and now has gone home to his dear native land

with empty ships, leaving brave Menelaus behind.’

So someone will say. Then may the broad earth open beneath me.”

183τὸν δʼ ἐπιθαρσύνων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·

θάρσει, μηδέ τί πω δειδίσσεο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·

185οὐκ ἐν καιρίῳ ὀξὺ πάγη βέλος, ἀλλὰ πάροιθεν

εἰρύσατο ζωστήρ τε παναίολος ἠδʼ ὑπένερθε

ζῶμά τε καὶ μίτρη, τὴν χαλκῆες κάμον ἄνδρες.

183Then fair-haired Menelaus spoke to hearten him:

“Take heart, and do not yet alarm the Achaean host.

185The sharp arrow did not lodge in a vital place; in front,

my gleaming belt stopped it, and beneath the belt

the apron and waist-guard the bronze-workers fashioned.”

188τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·

αἲ γὰρ δὴ οὕτως εἴη φίλος ὦ Μενέλαε·

190ἕλκος δʼ ἰητὴρ ἐπιμάσσεται ἠδʼ ἐπιθήσει

φάρμαχʼ ἅ κεν παύσῃσι μελαινάων ὀδυνάων.

ἦ καὶ Ταλθύβιον θεῖον κήρυκα προσηύδα·

Ταλθύβιʼ ὅττι τάχιστα Μαχάονα δεῦρο κάλεσσον

φῶτʼ Ἀσκληπιοῦ υἱὸν ἀμύμονος ἰητῆρος,

195ὄφρα ἴδῃ Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱόν,

ὅν τις ὀϊστεύσας ἔβαλεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς

Τρώων ἢ Λυκίων, τῷ μὲν κλέος, ἄμμι δὲ πένθος.

188Wide-ruling Agamemnon answered him:

“If only it proves so, dear Menelaus.

190A healer will examine the wound and apply

remedies that may put an end to your dark pains.”

So he spoke, then addressed Talthybius, the divine herald:

“Talthybius, quickly summon Machaon here,

the man, son of Asclepius, the blameless physician,

195so he may see warlike Menelaus, Atreus’ son,

whom some skilled archer has struck with an arrow—

Trojan or Lycian—glory for him, grief for us.”

198ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα οἱ κῆρυξ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας,

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

200παπταίνων ἥρωα Μαχάονα· τὸν δὲ νόησεν

ἑσταότʼ· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κρατεραὶ στίχες ἀσπιστάων

λαῶν, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο Τρίκης ἐξ ἱπποβότοιο.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὄρσʼ Ἀσκληπιάδη, καλέει κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

205ὄφρα ἴδῃς Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον ἀρχὸν Ἀχαιῶν,

ὅν τις ὀϊστεύσας ἔβαλεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς

Τρώων ἢ Λυκίων, τῷ μὲν κλέος, ἄμμι δὲ πένθος.

198So he spoke, and the herald heard him and did not disobey.

He went through the ranks of bronze-clad Achaeans,

200looking everywhere for the hero Machaon. He saw him

standing, with solid ranks of shield-bearing

warriors around him, those who followed from horse-grazing Tricca.

He stood nearby and addressed him with winged words:

“Rise, son of Asclepius. Wide-ruling Agamemnon calls you

205to see Menelaus, warlike leader of the Achaeans,

whom some skilled archer has struck with an arrow—

Trojan or Lycian—glory for him, grief for us.”

208ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε·

βὰν δʼ ἰέναι καθʼ ὅμιλον ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν.

210ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι ξανθὸς Μενέλαος

βλήμενος ἦν, περὶ δʼ αὐτὸν ἀγηγέραθʼ ὅσσοι ἄριστοι

κυκλόσʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι παρίστατο ἰσόθεος φώς,

αὐτίκα δʼ ἐκ ζωστῆρος ἀρηρότος ἕλκεν ὀϊστόν·

τοῦ δʼ ἐξελκομένοιο πάλιν ἄγεν ὀξέες ὄγκοι.

215λῦσε δέ οἱ ζωστῆρα παναίολον ἠδʼ ὑπένερθε

ζῶμά τε καὶ μίτρην, τὴν χαλκῆες κάμον ἄνδρες.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ἕλκος ὅθʼ ἔμπεσε πικρὸς ὀϊστός,

αἷμʼ ἐκμυζήσας ἐπʼ ἄρʼ ἤπια φάρμακα εἰδὼς

πάσσε, τά οἵ ποτε πατρὶ φίλα φρονέων πόρε Χείρων.

208So he spoke, and stirred Machaon’s spirit in his breast.

Together they made their way through the throng, across the Achaeans’ broad host.

210When they came to where fair-haired Menelaus

was wounded, with all the best men gathered around him

in a circle, the godlike man stepped into their midst.

At once he pulled the arrow from the closely fitted belt;

as it was drawn out, the sharp barbs snapped backward.

215He loosened the gleaming belt and beneath it

the apron and waist-guard the bronze-workers fashioned.

Then, when he saw the wound where the bitter arrow had struck,

he sucked away the blood; then, skilled in soothing medicines,

he sprinkled them on—those Chiron once gave his father in friendship.

220ὄφρα τοὶ ἀμφεπένοντο βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον,

τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον ἀσπιστάων·

οἳ δʼ αὖτις κατὰ τεύχεʼ ἔδυν, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.

ἔνθʼ οὐκ ἂν βρίζοντα ἴδοις Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον

οὐδὲ καταπτώσσοντʼ οὐδʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα μάχεσθαι,

225ἀλλὰ μάλα σπεύδοντα μάχην ἐς κυδιάνειραν.

220While they tended Menelaus, good at the war cry,

the ranks of shield-bearing Trojans advanced;

the Achaeans put their armor on again and turned their minds to battle.

Then you would not have seen godlike Agamemnon dozing,

cowering, or unwilling to fight,

225but driving hard toward the battle where men win glory.

226ἵππους μὲν γὰρ ἔασε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ·

καὶ τοὺς μὲν θεράπων ἀπάνευθʼ ἔχε φυσιόωντας

Εὐρυμέδων υἱὸς Πτολεμαίου Πειραΐδαο·

τῷ μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε παρισχέμεν ὁππότε κέν μιν

230γυῖα λάβῃ κάματος πολέας διὰ κοιρανέοντα·

αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸς ἐὼν ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν·

καί ῥʼ οὓς μὲν σπεύδοντας ἴδοι Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων,

τοὺς μάλα θαρσύνεσκε παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν·

226He left his horses and bronze-adorned chariot,

and his attendant held them at a distance, snorting—

Eurymedon, son of Ptolemaeus, Peiraeus’ son.

Agamemnon had charged him earnestly to bring them close whenever

230weariness seized his limbs as he commanded so many men.

He himself went on foot, ranging through the ranks.

Whenever he saw swift-horsed Danaans pressing eagerly forward,

he would stand beside them and strongly encourage them:

234Ἀργεῖοι μή πώ τι μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς·

235οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ ψευδέσσι πατὴρ Ζεὺς ἔσσετʼ ἀρωγός,

ἀλλʼ οἵ περ πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσαντο

τῶν ἤτοι αὐτῶν τέρενα χρόα γῦπες ἔδονται,

ἡμεῖς αὖτʼ ἀλόχους τε φίλας καὶ νήπια τέκνα

ἄξομεν ἐν νήεσσιν, ἐπὴν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.

234“Argives, do not relax your furious courage.

235Father Zeus will never help those who deal in falsehood;

those who first did harm in defiance of the oaths

will have the vultures devour their own tender flesh,

while we will carry off their dear wives and little children

in our ships, once we capture the citadel.”

240οὕς τινας αὖ μεθιέντας ἴδοι στυγεροῦ πολέμοιο,

τοὺς μάλα νεικείεσκε χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν·

Ἀργεῖοι ἰόμωροι ἐλεγχέες οὔ νυ σέβεσθε;

τίφθʼ οὕτως ἔστητε τεθηπότες ἠΰτε νεβροί,

αἵ τʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἔκαμον πολέος πεδίοιο θέουσαι

245ἑστᾶσʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα τίς σφι μετὰ φρεσὶ γίγνεται ἀλκή·

ὣς ὑμεῖς ἔστητε τεθηπότες οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.

ἦ μένετε Τρῶας σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν ἔνθά τε νῆες

εἰρύατʼ εὔπρυμνοι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,

ὄφρα ἴδητʼ αἴ κʼ ὔμμιν ὑπέρσχῃ χεῖρα Κρονίων;

240But any he saw hanging back from hateful war

he rebuked bitterly with words of anger:

“Argives, bowmen, disgraces—have you no shame?

Why do you stand stunned like fawns

that, after tiring themselves running across a great plain,

245stand still, and no fighting spirit rises in their hearts?

So you stand stunned and do not fight.

Are you waiting for the Trojans to come close, to where your ships

lie drawn up, fair-sterned, on the gray sea’s shore,

so you can see whether the son of Cronus will stretch a protecting hand over you?”

250ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν·

ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ Κρήτεσσι κιὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν.

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἰδομενῆα δαΐφρονα θωρήσσοντο·

Ἰδομενεὺς μὲν ἐνὶ προμάχοις συῒ εἴκελος ἀλκήν,

Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυμάτας ὄτρυνε φάλαγγας.

255τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν γήθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

αὐτίκα δʼ Ἰδομενῆα προσηύδα μειλιχίοισιν·

250Thus he ranged through the ranks, commanding the men.

Moving through the mass of troops, he came to the Cretans.

They were arming themselves around war-wise Idomeneus:

Idomeneus in the front ranks, like a boar in strength,

and Meriones urging on the rearmost battalions.

255Seeing them, Agamemnon, lord of men, rejoiced,

and at once addressed Idomeneus with gentle words:

257Ἰδομενεῦ περὶ μέν σε τίω Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων

ἠμὲν ἐνὶ πτολέμῳ ἠδʼ ἀλλοίῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ

ἠδʼ ἐν δαίθʼ, ὅτε πέρ τε γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνον

260Ἀργείων οἳ ἄριστοι ἐνὶ κρητῆρι κέρωνται.

εἴ περ γάρ τʼ ἄλλοι γε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

δαιτρὸν πίνωσιν, σὸν δὲ πλεῖον δέπας αἰεὶ

ἕστηχʼ, ὥς περ ἐμοί, πιέειν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι.

ἀλλʼ ὄρσευ πόλεμον δʼ οἷος πάρος εὔχεαι εἶναι.

257“Idomeneus, I honor you above all the swift-horsed Danaans,

in war, in every other undertaking,

and at the feast, whenever the best men of the Argives

260mix the elders’ glowing wine in the mixing bowl.

Although the other long-haired Achaeans drink

their allotted measure, your cup always stands full,

like mine, for you to drink whenever your spirit urges.

Now rise for battle and prove the man you have long claimed to be.”

265τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Ἀτρεΐδη μάλα μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐρίηρος ἑταῖρος

ἔσσομαι, ὡς τὸ πρῶτον ὑπέστην καὶ κατένευσα·

ἀλλʼ ἄλλους ὄτρυνε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

ὄφρα τάχιστα μαχώμεθʼ, ἐπεὶ σύν γʼ ὅρκιʼ ἔχευαν

270Τρῶες· τοῖσιν δʼ αὖ θάνατος καὶ κήδεʼ ὀπίσσω

ἔσσετʼ ἐπεὶ πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσαντο.

265Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him face to face:

“Atreus’ son, I will be your faithful companion,

as I pledged from the start and bowed assent.

But urge on the other long-haired Achaeans,

so we may fight at once, since the Trojans have broken the oaths.

270Death and grief will await them afterward,

since they were first to do harm in defiance of the oaths.”

272ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ παρῴχετο γηθόσυνος κῆρ·

ἦλθε δʼ ἐπʼ Αἰάντεσσι κιὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν·

τὼ δὲ κορυσσέσθην, ἅμα δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν.

275ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδεν νέφος αἰπόλος ἀνὴρ

ἐρχόμενον κατὰ πόντον ὑπὸ Ζεφύροιο ἰωῆς·

τῷ δέ τʼ ἄνευθεν ἐόντι μελάντερον ἠΰτε πίσσα

φαίνετʼ ἰὸν κατὰ πόντον, ἄγει δέ τε λαίλαπα πολλήν,

ῥίγησέν τε ἰδών, ὑπό τε σπέος ἤλασε μῆλα·

280τοῖαι ἅμʼ Αἰάντεσσι διοτρεφέων αἰζηῶν

δήϊον ἐς πόλεμον πυκιναὶ κίνυντο φάλαγγες

κυάνεαι, σάκεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι.

272So he spoke, and Atreus’ son passed on, glad at heart.

Moving through the mass of men, he came to the Ajaxes.

The two were under arms, and a cloud of infantry followed them.

275As when a goatherd from a lookout sees a storm cloud

bearing down across the sea beneath the West Wind’s blast;

from far away it appears to him blacker than pitch

as it moves across the sea, driving a mighty squall.

He shudders at the sight and drives his flock into a cave.

280So too beside the Ajaxes, battalions of Zeus-nurtured young warriors

moved dense-packed toward deadly battle,

dark, bristling with shields and spears.

283καὶ τοὺς μὲν γήθησεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

285Αἴαντʼ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε χαλκοχιτώνων,

σφῶϊ μέν· οὐ γὰρ ἔοικʼ ὀτρυνέμεν· οὔ τι κελεύω·

αὐτὼ γὰρ μάλα λαὸν ἀνώγετον ἶφι μάχεσθαι.

αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον

τοῖος πᾶσιν θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γένοιτο·

290τώ κε τάχʼ ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

χερσὶν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.

283Wide-ruling Agamemnon rejoiced at seeing them,

and addressed them with winged words:

285“Ajaxes, leaders of the bronze-clad Argives,

You two I will not urge—it would not be fitting; I give no command.

You yourselves are strongly urging the troops to fight.

Father Zeus, Athena, Apollo—if only

every man’s spirit in his breast were like this!

290Then king Priam’s city would quickly bow low,

captured and sacked beneath our hands.”

292ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δὲ μετʼ ἄλλους·

ἔνθʼ ὅ γε Νέστορʼ ἔτετμε λιγὺν Πυλίων ἀγορητὴν

οὓς ἑτάρους στέλλοντα καὶ ὀτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι

295ἀμφὶ μέγαν Πελάγοντα Ἀλάστορά τε Χρομίον τε

Αἵμονά τε κρείοντα Βίαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν·

ἱππῆας μὲν πρῶτα σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφι,

πεζοὺς δʼ ἐξόπιθε στῆσεν πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺς

ἕρκος ἔμεν πολέμοιο· κακοὺς δʼ ἐς μέσσον ἔλασσεν,

300ὄφρα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλων τις ἀναγκαίῃ πολεμίζοι.

292So he spoke, left them there, and went among others.

There he found Nestor, clear-voiced speaker of the Pylians,

marshalling his comrades and urging them to fight,

295around great Pelagon, Alastor, and Chromius,

lord Haemon, and Bias, shepherd of the people.

He placed the chariot-fighters first, with their horses and chariots,

and the many valiant infantry behind them

to form a bulwark in war; the cowards he drove into the middle,

300so even an unwilling man would fight under compulsion.

301ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτʼ ἐπετέλλετο· τοὺς γὰρ ἀνώγει

σφοὺς ἵππους ἐχέμεν μηδὲ κλονέεσθαι ὁμίλῳ·

μηδέ τις ἱπποσύνῃ τε καὶ ἠνορέηφι πεποιθὼς

οἶος πρόσθʼ ἄλλων μεμάτω Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι,

305μηδʼ ἀναχωρείτω· ἀλαπαδνότεροι γὰρ ἔσεσθε.

ὃς δέ κʼ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὧν ὀχέων ἕτερʼ ἅρμαθʼ ἵκηται

ἔγχει ὀρεξάσθω, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερον οὕτω.

ὧδε καὶ οἱ πρότεροι πόλεας καὶ τείχεʼ ἐπόρθεον

τόνδε νόον καὶ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔχοντες.

310ὣς ὃ γέρων ὄτρυνε πάλαι πολέμων ἐῢ εἰδώς·

301First he commanded the chariot-fighters, telling them

to hold their horses in and not be swept into disorder in the press:

“No man, trusting in horsemanship and manly strength,

should be eager to fight the Trojans alone ahead of the rest,

305nor should he fall back; that would leave you weaker.

When a man, from his own chariot, comes within reach of an enemy chariot,

he must thrust with his spear—that is far better.

This was how the men before us sacked cities and their walls,

keeping this plan and spirit in their breasts.”

310So the old man urged them, long skilled in war.

311καὶ τὸν μὲν γήθησεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὦ γέρον εἴθʼ ὡς θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν

ὥς τοι γούναθʼ ἕποιτο, βίη δέ τοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·

315ἀλλά σε γῆρας τείρει ὁμοίϊον· ὡς ὄφελέν τις

ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχειν, σὺ δὲ κουροτέροισι μετεῖναι.

311Wide-ruling Agamemnon rejoiced to see him

and addressed him with winged words:

“Old sir, if only your knees matched the spirit in your dear breast,

and your strength remained firm.

315But age, which comes alike to all, wears you down. If only

some other man bore it, while you stood among the younger.”

317τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

Ἀτρεΐδη μάλα μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐθέλοιμι καὶ αὐτὸς

ὣς ἔμεν ὡς ὅτε δῖον Ἐρευθαλίωνα κατέκταν.

320ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα θεοὶ δόσαν ἀνθρώποισιν·

εἰ τότε κοῦρος ἔα νῦν αὖτέ με γῆρας ὀπάζει.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἱππεῦσι μετέσσομαι ἠδὲ κελεύσω

βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ γερόντων.

αἰχμὰς δʼ αἰχμάσσουσι νεώτεροι, οἵ περ ἐμεῖο

325ὁπλότεροι γεγάασι πεποίθασίν τε βίηφιν.

317Then Gerenian Nestor, horseman, answered:

“Atreus’ son, I too would gladly be

as I was when I killed godlike Ereuthalion.

320But the gods do not give mortals everything at once.

If I was young then, now age attends me.

Yet even so I will stand among the chariot-fighters and command

with counsel and authoritative words—that is the honor allotted to elders.

The younger men will wield their spears, those born

325after me and confident in their strength.”

326ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ παρῴχετο γηθόσυνος κῆρ.

εὗρʼ υἱὸν Πετεῶο Μενεσθῆα πλήξιππον

ἑσταότʼ· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθηναῖοι μήστωρες ἀϋτῆς·

αὐτὰρ ὃ πλησίον ἑστήκει πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,

330πὰρ δὲ Κεφαλλήνων ἀμφὶ στίχες οὐκ ἀλαπαδναὶ

ἕστασαν· οὐ γάρ πώ σφιν ἀκούετο λαὸς ἀϋτῆς,

ἀλλὰ νέον συνορινόμεναι κίνυντο φάλαγγες

Τρώων ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ μένοντες

ἕστασαν ὁππότε πύργος Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἐπελθὼν

335Τρώων ὁρμήσειε καὶ ἄρξειαν πολέμοιο.

326So he spoke, and Atreus’ son passed on, glad at heart.

He found horse-driving Menestheus, son of Peteos,

standing there, with Athenians, masters of the battle cry, around him.

Nearby stood resourceful Odysseus,

330and around him strong ranks of Cephallenians

stood still; the army’s battle shout had not yet reached them.

Only now were the battalions of horse-taming Trojans

and Achaeans beginning to move together; these men waited,

standing until another Achaean battle-column advanced

335against the Trojans and began the fighting.

336τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν νείκεσσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὦ υἱὲ Πετεῶο διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος,

καὶ σὺ κακοῖσι δόλοισι κεκασμένε κερδαλεόφρον

340τίπτε καταπτώσσοντες ἀφέστατε, μίμνετε δʼ ἄλλους;

σφῶϊν μέν τʼ ἐπέοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντας

ἑστάμεν ἠδὲ μάχης καυστείρης ἀντιβολῆσαι·

πρώτω γὰρ καὶ δαιτὸς ἀκουάζεσθον ἐμεῖο,

ὁππότε δαῖτα γέρουσιν ἐφοπλίζωμεν Ἀχαιοί.

345ἔνθα φίλʼ ὀπταλέα κρέα ἔδμεναι ἠδὲ κύπελλα

οἴνου πινέμεναι μελιηδέος ὄφρʼ ἐθέλητον·

νῦν δὲ φίλως χʼ ὁρόῳτε καὶ εἰ δέκα πύργοι Ἀχαιῶν

ὑμείων προπάροιθε μαχοίατο νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

336Seeing them, Agamemnon, lord of men, rebuked them

and addressed them with winged words:

“Son of Peteos, the Zeus-nurtured king,

and you, master of evil tricks, crafty-minded,

340why do you cower apart, waiting for others?

It would be fitting for you two to stand among the foremost

and face the burning battle.

For you two are first to hear my invitation to the feast

whenever we Achaeans prepare a banquet for the elders.

345There you gladly eat roasted meat and drink cups

of honey-sweet wine as long as you wish.

Yet now you would gladly watch even if ten Achaean columns

fought ahead of you with pitiless bronze.”

349τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

350Ἀτρεΐδη ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων;

πῶς δὴ φῂς πολέμοιο μεθιέμεν ὁππότʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα;

ὄψεαι αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα καὶ αἴ κέν τοι τὰ μεμήλῃ

Τηλεμάχοιο φίλον πατέρα προμάχοισι μιγέντα

355Τρώων ἱπποδάμων· σὺ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἀνεμώλια βάζεις.

349Resourceful Odysseus looked at him from under his brows and said:

350“Atreus’ son, what word has escaped the barrier of your teeth?

How can you say we hang back from war, when the Achaeans

rouse sharp Ares against the horse-taming Trojans?

You will see, if you wish and if such things concern you,

Telemachus’ dear father engaging the foremost warriors

355of the horse-taming Trojans. You speak empty wind.”

356τὸν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ὡς γνῶ χωομένοιο· πάλιν δʼ ὅ γε λάζετο μῦθον·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ

οὔτέ σε νεικείω περιώσιον οὔτε κελεύω·

360οἶδα γὰρ ὥς τοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν

ἤπια δήνεα οἶδε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέεις ἅ τʼ ἐγώ περ.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι ταῦτα δʼ ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσόμεθʼ εἴ τι κακὸν νῦν

εἴρηται, τὰ δὲ πάντα θεοὶ μεταμώνια θεῖεν.

ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δὲ μετʼ ἄλλους.

356Wide-ruling Agamemnon smiled and said to him,

for he recognized Odysseus’ anger and took his words back:

“Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,

I neither rebuke you beyond measure nor give you orders.

360For I know that the spirit within your dear breast

holds kindly counsels; your thoughts are the same as mine.

Come now; afterward we will make amends if anything wrong

has been said; may the gods make all of it come to nothing.”

So he left them there and went on among the others.

365εὗρε δὲ Τυδέος υἱὸν ὑπέρθυμον Διομήδεα

ἑσταότʼ ἔν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσι·

πὰρ δέ οἱ ἑστήκει Σθένελος Καπανήϊος υἱός.

καὶ τὸν μὲν νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

370ὤ μοι Τυδέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο

τί πτώσσεις, τί δʼ ὀπιπεύεις πολέμοιο γεφύρας;

οὐ μὲν Τυδέϊ γʼ ὧδε φίλον πτωσκαζέμεν ἦεν,

ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὸ φίλων ἑτάρων δηΐοισι μάχεσθαι,

ὡς φάσαν οἵ μιν ἴδοντο πονεύμενον· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε

375ἤντησʼ οὐδὲ ἴδον· περὶ δʼ ἄλλων φασὶ γενέσθαι.

365He found high-spirited Diomedes, Tydeus’ son,

standing beside his horses and well-built chariot;

beside him stood Sthenelus, Capaneus’ son.

When wide-ruling Agamemnon saw him, he rebuked him,

and addressed him with winged words:

370“Ah, son of Tydeus, the war-wise horse-tamer,

why do you cower? Why peer across the battle lines?

Tydeus was never one to cower like this,

but fought the enemy far ahead of his dear companions,

so those who saw him laboring have said; for I myself

375never met or saw him, but they say he surpassed all others.

376ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ ἄτερ πολέμου εἰσῆλθε Μυκήνας

ξεῖνος ἅμʼ ἀντιθέῳ Πολυνείκεϊ λαὸν ἀγείρων·

οἳ δὲ τότʼ ἐστρατόωνθʼ ἱερὰ πρὸς τείχεα Θήβης,

καί ῥα μάλα λίσσοντο δόμεν κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρους·

380οἳ δʼ ἔθελον δόμεναι καὶ ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευον·

ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἔτρεψε παραίσια σήματα φαίνων.

376For once he entered Mycenae in peacetime,

a guest with godlike Polyneices, gathering an army.

They were then campaigning against the sacred walls of Thebes

and earnestly begged us to give them renowned allies.

380Our people were willing to give them aid and assented to their plea,

but Zeus turned them aside, showing unfavorable signs.

382οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ᾤχοντο ἰδὲ πρὸ ὁδοῦ ἐγένοντο,

Ἀσωπὸν δʼ ἵκοντο βαθύσχοινον λεχεποίην,

ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἀγγελίην ἐπὶ Τυδῆ στεῖλαν Ἀχαιοί.

385αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ, πολέας δὲ κιχήσατο Καδμεΐωνας

δαινυμένους κατὰ δῶμα βίης Ἐτεοκληείης.

ἔνθʼ οὐδὲ ξεῖνός περ ἐὼν ἱππηλάτα Τυδεὺς

τάρβει, μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσιν μετὰ Καδμείοισιν,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἀεθλεύειν προκαλίζετο, πάντα δʼ ἐνίκα

390ῥηϊδίως· τοίη οἱ ἐπίρροθος ἦεν Ἀθήνη.

382After they had gone and were well along the road,

they reached the Asopus, deep in reeds and grassy-bedded;

there the Achaeans sent Tydeus on an embassy.

385He went and found many Cadmeans

feasting in the house of mighty Eteocles.

There, though he was a stranger, horseman Tydeus

was not afraid, alone among the many Cadmeans,

but challenged them to contests and won every one

390with ease; so powerful a helper Athena was to him.

391οἳ δὲ χολωσάμενοι Καδμεῖοι κέντορες ἵππων

ἂψ ἄρʼ ἀνερχομένῳ πυκινὸν λόχον εἷσαν ἄγοντες

κούρους πεντήκοντα· δύω δʼ ἡγήτορες ἦσαν,

Μαίων Αἱμονίδης ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν,

395υἱός τʼ Αὐτοφόνοιο μενεπτόλεμος Πολυφόντης.

Τυδεὺς μὲν καὶ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκε·

πάντας ἔπεφνʼ, ἕνα δʼ οἶον ἵει οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι·

Μαίονʼ ἄρα προέηκε θεῶν τεράεσσι πιθήσας.

τοῖος ἔην Τυδεὺς Αἰτώλιος· ἀλλὰ τὸν υἱὸν

400γείνατο εἷο χέρεια μάχῃ, ἀγορῇ δέ τʼ ἀμείνω.

391Angered, the horse-driving Cadmeans

set a strong ambush for him as he returned,

leading fifty young men. Two were their captains:

Maeon son of Haemon, like the immortals,

395and Polyphontes, steadfast in battle, son of Autophonus.

Tydeus imposed a shameful doom on them as well:

he killed them all and sent only one home;

he let Maeon go, obeying signs from the gods.

Such was Aetolian Tydeus—but the son he begot

400was worse than himself in battle, though better in assembly.”

401ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης

αἰδεσθεὶς βασιλῆος ἐνιπὴν αἰδοίοιο·

τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Καπανῆος ἀμείψατο κυδαλίμοιο·

Ἀτρεΐδη μὴ ψεύδεʼ ἐπιστάμενος σάφα εἰπεῖν·

405ἡμεῖς τοι πατέρων μέγʼ ἀμείνονες εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι·

ἡμεῖς καὶ Θήβης ἕδος εἵλομεν ἑπταπύλοιο

παυρότερον λαὸν ἀγαγόνθʼ ὑπὸ τεῖχος ἄρειον,

πειθόμενοι τεράεσσι θεῶν καὶ Ζηνὸς ἀρωγῇ·

κεῖνοι δὲ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο·

410τὼ μή μοι πατέρας ποθʼ ὁμοίῃ ἔνθεο τιμῇ.

401So he spoke, but strong Diomedes gave no answer,

in awe of the revered king’s rebuke.

But the son of renowned Capaneus answered him:

“Atreus’ son, do not lie when you know how to speak the truth.

405We claim to be much better than our fathers.

We captured the seat of seven-gated Thebes

though we led fewer men beneath the wall of Ares,

trusting in signs from the gods and Zeus’s aid;

while they died through their own recklessness.

410So do not rank our fathers equal in honor with us.”

411τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·

τέττα, σιωπῇ ἧσο, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ·

οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ νεμεσῶ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν

ὀτρύνοντι μάχεσθαι ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·

415τούτῳ μὲν γὰρ κῦδος ἅμʼ ἕψεται εἴ κεν Ἀχαιοὶ

Τρῶας δῃώσωσιν ἕλωσί τε Ἴλιον ἱρήν,

τούτῳ δʼ αὖ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιῶν δῃωθέντων.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

411Strong Diomedes looked at him from under his brows and said:

“Friend, sit silent and obey my command.

I do not blame Agamemnon, shepherd of the people,

for urging the well-greaved Achaeans to fight.

415Glory will follow him if the Achaeans

destroy the Trojans and capture sacred Ilium,

but his grief will be great if the Achaeans are destroyed.

Come then—let us too turn our minds to furious courage.”

419ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε·

420δεινὸν δʼ ἔβραχε χαλκὸς ἐπὶ στήθεσσιν ἄνακτος

ὀρνυμένου· ὑπό κεν ταλασίφρονά περ δέος εἷλεν.

419With that he leapt from his chariot to the ground in his armor.

420The bronze rang terribly over the lord’s chest

as he sprang forward; fear might have seized even a steadfast man.

422ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐν αἰγιαλῷ πολυηχέϊ κῦμα θαλάσσης

ὄρνυτʼ ἐπασσύτερον Ζεφύρου ὕπο κινήσαντος·

πόντῳ μέν τε πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

425χέρσῳ ῥηγνύμενον μεγάλα βρέμει, ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἄκρας

κυρτὸν ἐὸν κορυφοῦται, ἀποπτύει δʼ ἁλὸς ἄχνην·

ὣς τότʼ ἐπασσύτεραι Δαναῶν κίνυντο φάλαγγες

νωλεμέως πόλεμον δέ· κέλευε δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος

ἡγεμόνων· οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι ἀκὴν ἴσαν, οὐδέ κε φαίης

430τόσσον λαὸν ἕπεσθαι ἔχοντʼ ἐν στήθεσιν αὐδήν,

σιγῇ δειδιότες σημάντορας· ἀμφὶ δὲ πᾶσι

τεύχεα ποικίλʼ ἔλαμπε, τὰ εἱμένοι ἐστιχόωντο.

422As when on a thundering shore a wave of the sea

rises close behind another under the stirring West Wind:

first it rears its crest at sea, and then

425breaks on shore with a mighty roar; around the headlands

it arches high, crests, and spits the salt sea’s foam;

so then the ranks of Danaans moved wave upon wave

relentlessly toward battle. Each leader gave orders to his own men,

while the rest went silently—you would not think

430so great an army followed with voices in their chests—

quiet in fear of their commanders; around them all

their richly worked armor flashed around them as they marched.

433Τρῶες δʼ, ὥς τʼ ὄϊες πολυπάμονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν αὐλῇ

μυρίαι ἑστήκασιν ἀμελγόμεναι γάλα λευκὸν

435ἀζηχὲς μεμακυῖαι ἀκούουσαι ὄπα ἀρνῶν,

ὣς Τρώων ἀλαλητὸς ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν ὀρώρει·

οὐ γὰρ πάντων ἦεν ὁμὸς θρόος οὐδʼ ἴα γῆρυς,

ἀλλὰ γλῶσσα μέμικτο, πολύκλητοι δʼ ἔσαν ἄνδρες.

433But the Trojans, like countless sheep in the fold of a wealthy man,

standing while their white milk is drawn,

435bleating without pause when they hear their lambs’ voices,

so the Trojan war cry rose throughout the broad army;

for they did not all share one cry or one speech,

but their speech was mixed, and the men were called from many places.

439ὄρσε δὲ τοὺς μὲν Ἄρης, τοὺς δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

440Δεῖμός τʼ ἠδὲ Φόβος καὶ Ἔρις ἄμοτον μεμαυῖα,

Ἄρεος ἀνδροφόνοιο κασιγνήτη ἑτάρη τε,

ἥ τʼ ὀλίγη μὲν πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

οὐρανῷ ἐστήριξε κάρη καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ βαίνει·

ἥ σφιν καὶ τότε νεῖκος ὁμοίϊον ἔμβαλε μέσσῳ

445ἐρχομένη καθʼ ὅμιλον ὀφέλλουσα στόνον ἀνδρῶν.

439Ares roused the Trojans, bright-eyed Athena the Achaeans;

440Terror and Rout were there, and Strife raging insatiably,

sister and companion of man-killing Ares.

At first she rises small, but afterward

plants her head against heaven while she walks upon the earth.

Then too she cast conflict shared by both into their midst,

445moving through the throng and swelling the groans of men.

446οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐς χῶρον ἕνα ξυνιόντες ἵκοντο,

σύν ῥʼ ἔβαλον ῥινούς, σὺν δʼ ἔγχεα καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶν

χαλκεοθωρήκων· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι

ἔπληντʼ ἀλλήλῃσι, πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.

450ἔνθα δʼ ἅμʼ οἰμωγή τε καὶ εὐχωλὴ πέλεν ἀνδρῶν

ὀλλύντων τε καὶ ὀλλυμένων, ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα.

446When they came together in one place,

hide shields met, and spears, and the fury of men

armored in bronze; bossed shields

struck one another, and a great uproar rose.

450Then together rose the wailing and triumph-shouts of men,

of those killing and those being killed; the earth ran with blood.

452ὡς δʼ ὅτε χείμαρροι ποταμοὶ κατʼ ὄρεσφι ῥέοντες

ἐς μισγάγκειαν συμβάλλετον ὄβριμον ὕδωρ

κρουνῶν ἐκ μεγάλων κοίλης ἔντοσθε χαράδρης,

455τῶν δέ τε τηλόσε δοῦπον ἐν οὔρεσιν ἔκλυε ποιμήν·

ὣς τῶν μισγομένων γένετο ἰαχή τε πόνος τε.

452As winter torrents running down the mountains

join their mighty waters in a ravine

from great springs deep within a hollow gorge,

455and a shepherd far off in the mountains hears their crash,

so from the armies meeting came shouting and toil.

457πρῶτος δʼ Ἀντίλοχος Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴν

ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι Θαλυσιάδην Ἐχέπωλον·

τόν ῥʼ ἔβαλε πρῶτος κόρυθος φάλον ἱπποδασείης,

460ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ πῆξε, πέρησε δʼ ἄρʼ ὀστέον εἴσω

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν,

ἤριπε δʼ ὡς ὅτε πύργος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ.

457Antilochus was first to kill a helmeted Trojan warrior,

a good man among the front fighters, Echepolus son of Thalysius.

He struck first at the ridge of his horsehair-crested helmet

460and drove the bronze point into his forehead; it pierced

the bone within, and darkness covered his eyes.

He fell like a tower in the fierce battle.

463τὸν δὲ πεσόντα ποδῶν ἔλαβε κρείων Ἐλεφήνωρ

Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων,

465ἕλκε δʼ ὑπʼ ἐκ βελέων, λελιημένος ὄφρα τάχιστα

τεύχεα συλήσειε· μίνυνθα δέ οἱ γένεθʼ ὁρμή.

463Lord Elephenor seized the fallen man by the feet,

son of Chalcodon, leader of the great-hearted Abantes,

465and dragged him out from under the missiles, eager

to strip his armor quickly—but his attempt was short-lived.

467νεκρὸν γὰρ ἐρύοντα ἰδὼν μεγάθυμος Ἀγήνωρ

πλευρά, τά οἱ κύψαντι παρʼ ἀσπίδος ἐξεφαάνθη,

οὔτησε ξυστῷ χαλκήρεϊ, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.

470ὣς τὸν μὲν λίπε θυμός, ἐπʼ αὐτῷ δʼ ἔργον ἐτύχθη

ἀργαλέον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ λύκοι ὣς

ἀλλήλοις ἐπόρουσαν, ἀνὴρ δʼ ἄνδρʼ ἐδνοπάλιζεν.

467For great-hearted Agenor saw him dragging the corpse

and stabbed the flank exposed beside his shield as he bent down

with his bronze-shod spear, and loosed his limbs.

470So his spirit left him, and over his body

grim work arose for Trojans and Achaeans. Like wolves

they leapt at one another, man battering man about.

473ἔνθʼ ἔβαλʼ Ἀνθεμίωνος υἱὸν Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

ἠΐθεον θαλερὸν Σιμοείσιον, ὅν ποτε μήτηρ

475Ἴδηθεν κατιοῦσα παρʼ ὄχθῃσιν Σιμόεντος

γείνατʼ, ἐπεί ῥα τοκεῦσιν ἅμʼ ἕσπετο μῆλα ἰδέσθαι·

τοὔνεκά μιν κάλεον Σιμοείσιον· οὐδὲ τοκεῦσι

θρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼν

ἔπλεθʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.

473Then Telamonian Ajax struck Anthemion’s son,

the flourishing youth Simoeisius, whom his mother once

475bore on the banks of the Simoeis as she came down from Ida,

for she had followed her parents to see the flocks;

so they called him Simoeisius. But he never

repaid his dear parents for raising him; brief was his life,

for he was killed by the spear of great-hearted Ajax.

480πρῶτον γάρ μιν ἰόντα βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζὸν

δεξιόν· ἀντικρὺ δὲ διʼ ὤμου χάλκεον ἔγχος

ἦλθεν· ὁ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι χαμαὶ πέσεν αἴγειρος ὣς

ἥ ῥά τʼ ἐν εἱαμενῇ ἕλεος μεγάλοιο πεφύκει

λείη, ἀτάρ τέ οἱ ὄζοι ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτῃ πεφύασι·

485τὴν μέν θʼ ἁρματοπηγὸς ἀνὴρ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ

ἐξέταμʼ, ὄφρα ἴτυν κάμψῃ περικαλλέϊ δίφρῳ·

ἣ μέν τʼ ἀζομένη κεῖται ποταμοῖο παρʼ ὄχθας.

τοῖον ἄρʼ Ἀνθεμίδην Σιμοείσιον ἐξενάριξεν

480Ajax struck him as he advanced, in the chest beside the right nipple;

the bronze spear passed straight through his shoulder;

he fell to the ground in the dust like a poplar

that had grown in the low ground of a broad marsh,

smooth, while its branches grew at the very top.

485A chariot-maker cuts it down with gleaming iron

to bend a wheel-rim for a splendid chariot;

and drying, it lies beside the riverbanks.

So Zeus-born Ajax killed Simoeisius son of Anthemion.

489Αἴας διογενής· τοῦ δʼ Ἄντιφος αἰολοθώρηξ

490Πριαμίδης καθʼ ὅμιλον ἀκόντισεν ὀξέϊ δουρί.

τοῦ μὲν ἅμαρθʼ, ὃ δὲ Λεῦκον Ὀδυσσέος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον

βεβλήκει βουβῶνα, νέκυν ἑτέρωσʼ ἐρύοντα·

ἤριπε δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ, νεκρὸς δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.

489At him Antiphus, Priam’s son in flashing armor,

490cast his sharp spear through the throng.

He missed Ajax, but struck Leucus, Odysseus’s good companion,

in the groin as he dragged a corpse away;

he fell across the body, and the corpse slipped from his hand.

494τοῦ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μάλα θυμὸν ἀποκταμένοιο χολώθη,

495βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ,

στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰὼν καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

ἀμφὶ ἓ παπτήνας· ὑπὸ δὲ Τρῶες κεκάδοντο

ἀνδρὸς ἀκοντίσσαντος· ὃ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἧκεν,

ἀλλʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο νόθον βάλε Δημοκόωντα

500ὅς οἱ Ἀβυδόθεν ἦλθε παρʼ ἵππων ὠκειάων.

τόν ῥʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ἑτάροιο χολωσάμενος βάλε δουρὶ

κόρσην· ἣ δʼ ἑτέροιο διὰ κροτάφοιο πέρησεν

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε,

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

494Odysseus’ heart flared with anger at his companion’s death,

495and strode through the front ranks, armed in gleaming bronze.

He came and took his stand close by, then cast his shining spear,

looking all around him; the Trojans shrank back

from the man’s cast. He did not launch his weapon in vain,

but struck Priam’s bastard son Democoon,

500who had come to Priam from tending the swift horses at Abydus.

In anger for his companion Odysseus struck him with the spear

in the temple; through the other temple passed

the bronze point, and darkness covered his eyes.

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

505χώρησαν δʼ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·

Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκρούς,

ἴθυσαν δὲ πολὺ προτέρω· νεμέσησε δʼ Ἀπόλλων

Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ κέκλετʼ ἀΰσας·

ὄρνυσθʼ ἱππόδαμοι Τρῶες μηδʼ εἴκετε χάρμης

510Ἀργείοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι λίθος χρὼς οὐδὲ σίδηρος

χαλκὸν ἀνασχέσθαι ταμεσίχροα βαλλομένοισιν·

οὐ μὰν οὐδʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Θέτιδος πάϊς ἠϋκόμοιο

μάρναται, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶ χόλον θυμαλγέα πέσσει.

505The front fighters and glorious Hector gave ground before him;

the Argives shouted loud, dragged away the corpses,

and surged far forward. Apollo was indignant

as he looked down from Pergamus, and called to the Trojans with a shout:

“Rise, horse-taming Trojans, and do not yield in battle

510to the Argives, for their flesh is not stone or iron

to withstand flesh-cutting bronze when they are struck.

Nor indeed is Achilles, son of lovely-haired Thetis,

fighting; he broods by the ships over anger that pains his heart.”

514ὣς φάτʼ ἀπὸ πτόλιος δεινὸς θεός· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς

515ὦρσε Διὸς θυγάτηρ κυδίστη Τριτογένεια

ἐρχομένη καθʼ ὅμιλον, ὅθι μεθιέντας ἴδοιτο.

514So spoke the dread god from the city. But the Achaeans

515were roused by Zeus’s daughter, most glorious Tritogeneia,

moving through the throng wherever she saw them slackening.

517ἔνθʼ Ἀμαρυγκείδην Διώρεα μοῖρα πέδησε·

χερμαδίῳ γὰρ βλῆτο παρὰ σφυρὸν ὀκριόεντι

κνήμην δεξιτερήν· βάλε δὲ Θρῃκῶν ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν

520Πείρως Ἰμβρασίδης ὃς ἄρʼ Αἰνόθεν εἰληλούθει.

ἀμφοτέρω δὲ τένοντε καὶ ὀστέα λᾶας ἀναιδὴς

ἄχρις ἀπηλοίησεν· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι

κάππεσεν ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας

θυμὸν ἀποπνείων· ὃ δʼ ἐπέδραμεν ὅς ῥʼ ἔβαλέν περ

525Πείροος, οὖτα δὲ δουρὶ παρʼ ὀμφαλόν· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πᾶσαι

χύντο χαμαὶ χολάδες, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

517There fate bound Diores son of Amarynceus.

A jagged stone struck him beside the ankle

on his right shin; the leader of the Thracian men threw it,

520Peirous son of Imbrasus, who had come from Aenus.

The shameless stone crushed both tendons and the bones

completely; he fell backward in the dust,

stretching both hands to his dear companions

as he breathed out his life. The man who had struck him ran up,

525Peirous, and stabbed him with a spear beside the navel; all his entrails

spilled onto the ground, and darkness covered his eyes.

527τὸν δὲ Θόας Αἰτωλὸς ἀπεσσύμενον βάλε δουρὶ

στέρνον ὑπὲρ μαζοῖο, πάγη δʼ ἐν πνεύμονι χαλκός·

ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Θόας, ἐκ δʼ ὄβριμον ἔγχος

530ἐσπάσατο στέρνοιο, ἐρύσσατο δὲ ξίφος ὀξύ,

τῷ ὅ γε γαστέρα τύψε μέσην, ἐκ δʼ αἴνυτο θυμόν.

τεύχεα δʼ οὐκ ἀπέδυσε· περίστησαν γὰρ ἑταῖροι

Θρήϊκες ἀκρόκομοι δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἔχοντες,

οἵ ἑ μέγαν περ ἐόντα καὶ ἴφθιμον καὶ ἀγαυὸν

535ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὃ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.

527As Peirous rushed away, Thoas the Aetolian struck him with a spear

in the chest above the nipple, and the bronze lodged in his lung.

Thoas came close, pulled the massive spear

530from his chest, then drew his sharp sword

and struck him in the middle of the belly, taking his life.

But he did not strip the armor; his companions stood around him,

top-knotted Thracians holding long spears in their hands,

and though he was tall and mighty and illustrious,

535they drove him away from them; he recoiled and staggered.

536ὣς τώ γʼ ἐν κονίῃσι παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι τετάσθην,

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν Θρῃκῶν, ὃ δʼ Ἐπειῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

ἡγεμόνες· πολλοὶ δὲ περὶ κτείνοντο καὶ ἄλλοι.

ἔνθά κεν οὐκέτι ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὀνόσαιτο μετελθών,

540ὅς τις ἔτʼ ἄβλητος καὶ ἀνούτατος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ

δινεύοι κατὰ μέσσον, ἄγοι δέ ἑ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

χειρὸς ἑλοῦσʼ, αὐτὰρ βελέων ἀπερύκοι ἐρωήν·

πολλοὶ γὰρ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἤματι κείνῳ

πρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσι παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι τέταντο.

536So the two lay stretched in the dust beside one another,

one leader of Thracians, the other of bronze-armored Epeians;

and many others were killed around them.

Then no man who entered could any longer call the fighting slight,

540if he remained unstruck and unwounded by sharp bronze

as he ranged through the midst, with Pallas Athena leading him

by the hand and holding back the rush of missiles;

for many Trojans and Achaeans on that day

lay face-down in the dust beside one another.