Iliad, Book 7: Hector & Ajax

1ὣς εἰπὼν πυλέων ἐξέσσυτο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,

τῷ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κίʼ ἀδελφεός· ἐν δʼ ἄρα θυμῷ

ἀμφότεροι μέμασαν πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.

ὡς δὲ θεὸς ναύτῃσιν ἐελδομένοισιν ἔδωκεν

5οὖρον, ἐπεί κε κάμωσιν ἐϋξέστῃς ἐλάτῃσι

πόντον ἐλαύνοντες, καμάτῳ δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα λέλυνται,

ὣς ἄρα τὼ Τρώεσσιν ἐελδομένοισι φανήτην.

ἔνθʼ ἑλέτην ὃ μὲν υἱὸν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος

Ἄρνῃ ναιετάοντα Μενέσθιον, ὃν κορυνήτης

10γείνατʼ Ἀρηΐθοος καὶ Φυλομέδουσα βοῶπις·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ Ἠϊονῆα βάλʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι

αὐχένʼ ὑπὸ στεφάνης εὐχάλκου, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.

Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν

Ἰφίνοον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην

15Δεξιάδην ἵππων ἐπιάλμενον ὠκειάων

ὦμον· ὃ δʼ ἐξ ἵππων χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.

1So speaking, glorious Hector rushed out through the gates,

and his brother Alexander went beside him; in their hearts

both were eager to fight and do battle.

As when a god grants a following wind to sailors who long for it,

5after they have wearied at their smooth-polished oars,

driving across the sea, their limbs undone by toil—

so those two appeared to the Trojans, who longed for them.

There Alexander killed Menesthius, son of lord Areithous,

who lived at Arne, born to Areithous the Clubman

10and ox-eyed Phylomedusa.

Hector struck Eioneus with his sharp spear

in the neck below the rim of his bronze helmet; his limbs gave way.

Then Glaucus, Hippolochus' son, leader of the Lycian men,

struck Iphinous with his spear in the fierce battle—

15Dexias' son, as he sprang up behind his swift horses—

in the shoulder. He fell from the chariot; his limbs gave way.

17τοὺς δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

Ἀργείους ὀλέκοντας ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,

βῆ ῥα κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα

20Ἴλιον εἰς ἱερήν· τῇ δʼ ἀντίος ὄρνυτʼ Ἀπόλλων

Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην·

ἀλλήλοισι δὲ τώ γε συναντέσθην παρὰ φηγῷ.

τὴν πρότερος προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

τίπτε σὺ δʼ αὖ μεμαυῖα Διὸς θύγατερ μεγάλοιο

25ἦλθες ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο, μέγας δέ σε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν;

ἦ ἵνα δὴ Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην

δῷς; ἐπεὶ οὔ τι Τρῶας ἀπολλυμένους ἐλεαίρεις.

ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·

νῦν μὲν παύσωμεν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα

30σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχήσοντʼ εἰς ὅ κε τέκμωρ

Ἰλίου εὕρωσιν, ἐπεὶ ὣς φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ

ὑμῖν ἀθανάτῃσι, διαπραθέειν τόδε ἄστυ.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

ὧδʼ ἔστω ἑκάεργε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέουσα καὶ αὐτὴ

35ἦλθον ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε πῶς μέμονας πόλεμον καταπαυσέμεν ἀνδρῶν;

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

Ἕκτορος ὄρσωμεν κρατερὸν μένος ἱπποδάμοιο,

ἤν τινά που Δαναῶν προκαλέσσεται οἰόθεν οἶος

40ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,

οἳ δέ κʼ ἀγασσάμενοι χαλκοκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

οἶον ἐπόρσειαν πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

17When the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, saw them

destroying the Argives in the fierce battle,

she darted down from the peaks of Olympus

20toward sacred Ilium. Apollo rose to meet her,

looking down from Pergamus, for he wanted victory for the Trojans.

The two met each other beside the oak.

Lord Apollo, son of Zeus, addressed her first:

“Why have you come again so eager, daughter of mighty Zeus,

25down from Olympus? What mighty impulse has driven you?

Is it to grant the Danaans victory that turns the battle,

since you feel no pity for the Trojans as they perish?

But if you would heed me in one thing, it would be far better:

let us stop war and deadly combat now,

30for today. Later they shall fight again, until they find

Ilium's appointed end, since it pleased the hearts

of you immortal goddesses to sack this city utterly.”

Then the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, answered him:

“So be it, far-worker. I myself came from Olympus

35among the Trojans and Achaeans with this same thought.

But come—how do you intend to bring the men's war to a halt?”

Lord Apollo, son of Zeus, answered her again:

“Let us rouse the mighty force of horse-taming Hector,

in hope that he will single-handedly challenge one of the Danaans

40to fight him face-to-face in the grim work of war;

then the bronze-greaved Achaeans, provoked,

may rouse one man to fight godlike Hector.”

So he spoke, and the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, did not disobey.

44τῶν δʼ Ἕλενος Πριάμοιο φίλος παῖς σύνθετο θυμῷ

45βουλήν, ἥ ῥα θεοῖσιν ἐφήνδανε μητιόωσι·

στῆ δὲ παρʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντε

ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο, κασίγνητος δέ τοί εἰμι·

ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,

50αὐτὸς δὲ προκάλεσσαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος

ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι·

οὐ γάρ πώ τοι μοῖρα θανεῖν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·

ὣς γὰρ ἐγὼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσα θεῶν αἰειγενετάων.

44Helenus, Priam's dear son, grasped within his spirit

45the plan that had pleased the gods as they devised it.

He went and stood beside Hector, then addressed him:

“Hector, son of Priam, a match for Zeus in counsel,

would you heed me in one thing? I am your brother.

Make the other Trojans and all the Achaeans sit down,

50and you challenge whoever is best among the Achaeans

to fight you face-to-face in the grim work of war.

It is not yet your portion to die and meet your doom;

for so I heard the voice of the ever-living gods.”

54ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτε χάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,

55καί ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας,

μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· οἳ δʼ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.

κὰδ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων εἷσεν ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·

κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων

ἑζέσθην ὄρνισιν ἐοικότες αἰγυπιοῖσι

60φηγῷ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

ἀνδράσι τερπόμενοι· τῶν δὲ στίχες εἵατο πυκναὶ

ἀσπίσι καὶ κορύθεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι.

οἵη δὲ Ζεφύροιο ἐχεύατο πόντον ἔπι φρὶξ

ὀρνυμένοιο νέον, μελάνει δέ τε πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς,

65τοῖαι ἄρα στίχες εἵατʼ Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε

ἐν πεδίῳ· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·

54So he spoke, and Hector rejoiced greatly when he heard the proposal.

55He went into the middle and held back the Trojan phalanxes,

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

Agamemnon seated the well-greaved Achaeans,

and Athena and silver-bowed Apollo

sat in the likeness of vultures

60upon the high oak of their father, aegis-bearing Zeus,

taking pleasure in the men; the ranks sat thickly,

bristling with shields and helmets and spears.

As when Zephyr, newly rising, spreads a shiver

over the sea, and the water darkens beneath it,

65so the ranks of Achaeans and Trojans sat

on the plain. Hector spoke between the two armies:

67κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

ὅρκια μὲν Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν,

70ἀλλὰ κακὰ φρονέων τεκμαίρεται ἀμφοτέροισιν

εἰς ὅ κεν ἢ ὑμεῖς Τροίην εὔπυργον ἕλητε

ἢ αὐτοὶ παρὰ νηυσὶ δαμείετε ποντοπόροισιν.

ὑμῖν δʼ ἐν γὰρ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν·

τῶν νῦν ὅν τινα θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει

75δεῦρʼ ἴτω ἐκ πάντων πρόμος ἔμμεναι Ἕκτορι δίῳ.

ὧδε δὲ μυθέομαι, Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμμʼ ἐπιμάρτυρος ἔστω·

εἰ μέν κεν ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἕλῃ ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ,

τεύχεα συλήσας φερέτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,

σῶμα δὲ οἴκαδʼ ἐμὸν δόμεναι πάλιν, ὄφρα πυρός με

80Τρῶες καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι λελάχωσι θανόντα.

εἰ δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τὸν ἕλω, δώῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,

τεύχεα σύλησας οἴσω προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν,

καὶ κρεμόω προτὶ νηὸν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο,

τὸν δὲ νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀποδώσω,

85ὄφρά ἑ ταρχύσωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,

σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύωσιν ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ.

καί ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων

νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·

ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,

90ὅν ποτʼ ἀριστεύοντα κατέκτανε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.

ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται.

67“Hear me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans,

so I may say what the spirit in my breast commands.

The high-enthroned son of Cronus did not fulfill the oaths,

70but, intending evil, plans suffering for both sides,

until either you take well-towered Troy

or you yourselves are subdued beside the seafaring ships.

For among you are the best men of all the Achaeans.

Whichever man among them is now urged by his spirit to fight me,

75let him come here from among them all, to stand as champion against godlike Hector.

This is what I declare; let Zeus be witness between us.

If he kills me with long-edged bronze,

let him strip my armor and carry it to the hollow ships,

but let him give my body back home, so that after my death

80the Trojans and their wives may grant me my share of fire.

But if I kill him, and Apollo grants me triumph,

I will strip his armor and carry it to sacred Ilium,

and hang it before the temple of far-shooting Apollo;

but I will return the corpse to the well-benched ships,

85so the long-haired Achaeans may perform his funeral rites

and heap a burial mound for him beside the broad Hellespont.

Then one day someone among men born later may say,

sailing in a many-benched ship over the wine-dark sea:

‘This is the mound of a man who died long ago,

90whom glorious Hector killed while he fought as champion.’

So someone will say one day, and my fame will never perish.”

92ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·

αἴδεσθεν μὲν ἀνήνασθαι, δεῖσαν δʼ ὑποδέχθαι·

ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπε

95νείκει ὀνειδίζων, μέγα δὲ στεναχίζετο θυμῷ·

ὤ μοι ἀπειλητῆρες Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτʼ Ἀχαιοί·

ἦ μὲν δὴ λώβη τάδε γʼ ἔσσεται αἰνόθεν αἰνῶς

εἰ μή τις Δαναῶν νῦν Ἕκτορος ἀντίος εἶσιν.

ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὕδωρ καὶ γαῖα γένοισθε

100ἥμενοι αὖθι ἕκαστοι ἀκήριοι ἀκλεὲς αὔτως·

τῷδε δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς θωρήξομαι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε

νίκης πείρατʼ ἔχονται ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατεδύσετο τεύχεα καλά.

92So he spoke; they all held still in silence.

They were ashamed to refuse, but afraid to accept.

At last Menelaus rose and addressed them,

95rebuking them bitterly and groaning deep in his spirit:

“Ah, boasters—Achaean women, Achaeans no longer!

This will indeed be a disgrace, terrible beyond measure,

if no Danaan now goes to face Hector.

May you all become water and earth,

100each sitting where you are, without spirit and without fame.

I myself will arm against him. But above us

the issue of victory rests with the immortal gods.”

So speaking, he put on his fine armor.

104ἔνθά κέ τοι Μενέλαε φάνη βιότοιο τελευτὴ

105Ἕκτορος ἐν παλάμῃσιν, ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἦεν,

εἰ μὴ ἀναΐξαντες ἕλον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν,

αὐτός τʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

δεξιτερῆς ἕλε χειρὸς ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

ἀφραίνεις Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

110ταύτης ἀφροσύνης· ἀνὰ δὲ σχέο κηδόμενός περ,

μηδʼ ἔθελʼ ἐξ ἔριδος σεῦ ἀμείνονι φωτὶ μάχεσθαι

Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.

καὶ δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς τούτῳ γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ

ἔρριγʼ ἀντιβολῆσαι, ὅ περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.

115ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἵζευ ἰὼν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,

τούτῳ δὲ πρόμον ἄλλον ἀναστήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί.

εἴ περ ἀδειής τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εἰ μόθου ἔστʼ ἀκόρητος,

φημί μιν ἀσπασίως γόνυ κάμψειν, αἴ κε φύγῃσι

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.

120ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως

αἴσιμα παρειπών, ὃ δʼ ἐπείθετο· τοῦ μὲν ἔπειτα

γηθόσυνοι θεράποντες ἀπʼ ὤμων τεύχεʼ ἕλοντο·

104There, Menelaus, your life's end would have come

105at Hector's hands, since he was far stronger,

if the Achaean kings had not leaped up and caught hold of you,

and Atreus' son himself, wide-ruling Agamemnon,

took your right hand, spoke, and called you by name:

“You are acting foolishly, Zeus-nurtured Menelaus; you have no need

110for such folly. Restrain yourself, though you are distressed,

and do not, out of rivalry, seek to fight a man better than you—

Hector, Priam's son, whom other men also dread.

Even Achilles, in battle where men win glory,

shudders to meet him, though he is far better than you.

115Go now and sit among the company of your companions;

the Achaeans will raise another champion against him.

Fearless though Hector is, and insatiable for close battle,

I say he will gladly bend his knees, if he escapes

from deadly war and grim combat.”

120So the hero spoke and persuaded his brother's mind

by speaking what was fitting; Menelaus obeyed. Then

his attendants, rejoicing, took the armor from his shoulders.

123Νέστωρ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει.

125ἦ κε μέγʼ οἰμώξειε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺς

ἐσθλὸς Μυρμιδόνων βουληφόρος ἠδʼ ἀγορητής,

ὅς ποτέ μʼ εἰρόμενος μέγʼ ἐγήθεεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

πάντων Ἀργείων ἐρέων γενεήν τε τόκον τε.

τοὺς νῦν εἰ πτώσσοντας ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι πάντας ἀκούσαι,

130πολλά κεν ἀθανάτοισι φίλας ἀνὰ χεῖρας ἀείραι

θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.

123Then Nestor rose among the Argives and addressed them:

“Ah me, what great grief is coming upon the land of Achaea!

125How bitterly the old horseman Peleus would groan,

that noble counselor and speaker of the Myrmidons,

who once questioned me and rejoiced greatly in his house

as I recounted the lineage and parentage of all the Argives.

If he now heard that all of them were cowering before Hector,

130often would he lift his dear hands to the immortals,

praying that his spirit leave his limbs and enter the house of Hades.

132αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον

ἡβῷμʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἐπʼ ὠκυρόῳ Κελάδοντι μάχοντο

ἀγρόμενοι Πύλιοί τε καὶ Ἀρκάδες ἐγχεσίμωροι

135Φειᾶς πὰρ τείχεσσιν Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.

τοῖσι δʼ Ἐρευθαλίων πρόμος ἵστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς

τεύχεʼ ἔχων ὤμοισιν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος

δίου Ἀρηϊθόου, τὸν ἐπίκλησιν κορυνήτην

ἄνδρες κίκλησκον καλλίζωνοί τε γυναῖκες

140οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐ τόξοισι μαχέσκετο δουρί τε μακρῷ,

ἀλλὰ σιδηρείῃ κορύνῃ ῥήγνυσκε φάλαγγας.

τὸν Λυκόοργος ἔπεφνε δόλῳ, οὔ τι κράτεΐ γε,

στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ ὅθʼ ἄρʼ οὐ κορύνη οἱ ὄλεθρον

χραῖσμε σιδηρείη· πρὶν γὰρ Λυκόοργος ὑποφθὰς

145δουρὶ μέσον περόνησεν, ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη·

τεύχεα δʼ ἐξενάριξε, τά οἱ πόρε χάλκεος Ἄρης.

καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔπειτα φόρει μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Λυκόοργος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐγήρα,

δῶκε δʼ Ἐρευθαλίωνι φίλῳ θεράποντι φορῆναι·

150τοῦ ὅ γε τεύχεʼ ἔχων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους.

οἳ δὲ μάλʼ ἐτρόμεον καὶ ἐδείδισαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη·

ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἀνῆκε πολυτλήμων πολεμίζειν

θάρσεϊ ᾧ· γενεῇ δὲ νεώτατος ἔσκον ἁπάντων·

καὶ μαχόμην οἱ ἐγώ, δῶκεν δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.

155τὸν δὴ μήκιστον καὶ κάρτιστον κτάνον ἄνδρα·

πολλὸς γάρ τις ἔκειτο παρήορος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.

εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι, βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·

τώ κε τάχʼ ἀντήσειε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ὑμέων δʼ οἵ περ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν

160οὐδʼ οἳ προφρονέως μέμαθʼ Ἕκτορος ἀντίον ἐλθεῖν.

132If only, Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo,

I were young as when, beside the swift-flowing Celadon,

the gathered Pylians fought the spear-fighting Arcadians

135by the walls of Pheia, around the streams of Iardanus.

Before them stood Ereuthalion as champion, a godlike man,

wearing on his shoulders the armor of lord Areithous,

godlike Areithous, whom by the name Clubman

men and fair-girdled women used to call,

140because he fought neither with bow nor with long spear,

but broke the battle lines with an iron club.

Lycurgus killed him by cunning, not at all by strength,

in a narrow road where his iron club could not

ward off destruction; Lycurgus forestalled him

145and pierced him through the middle with his spear; he fell backward on the ground.

Then he stripped away the armor bronze Ares had given him.

Afterward Lycurgus himself wore it in the battle of Ares,

but when he grew old within his halls,

he gave it to his dear attendant Ereuthalion to wear.

150Wearing that armor, Ereuthalion challenged all our champions.

They trembled greatly and were afraid; no one dared.

But my much-enduring spirit urged me to fight him,

in its own courage, though I was the youngest of them all.

I fought him, and Athena granted me the triumph.

155I killed that man, the tallest and strongest;

his vast body lay sprawled this way and that.

If only I were young again, my strength still firm!

Then Hector of the flashing helmet would soon meet me in battle.

But those among you who are champions of all the Achaeans

160do not even long wholeheartedly to face Hector.”

161ὣς νείκεσσʼ ὃ γέρων, οἳ δʼ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν.

ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν,

165τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος

Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,

ἂν δὲ Θόας Ἀνδραιμονίδης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

πάντες ἄρʼ οἵ γʼ ἔθελον πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.

161So the old man rebuked them, and all nine rose.

First by far rose Agamemnon, lord of men;

after him rose strong Diomedes, Tydeus’ son;

after them, the two Ajaxes, clothed in furious courage;

165after them, Idomeneus and Idomeneus’ companion,

Meriones, a match for man-slaying Enyalius;

after them, Eurypylus, Euaemon’s splendid son;

then Thoas, Andraemon’s son, and godlike Odysseus rose.

All of them were willing to fight godlike Hector.

170τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

κλήρῳ νῦν πεπάλασθε διαμπερὲς ὅς κε λάχῃσιν·

οὗτος γὰρ δὴ ὀνήσει ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,

καὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ὃν θυμὸν ὀνήσεται αἴ κε φύγῃσι

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.

175ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ κλῆρον ἐσημήναντο ἕκαστος,

ἐν δʼ ἔβαλον κυνέῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.

λαοὶ δʼ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἢ Αἴαντα λαχεῖν, ἢ Τυδέος υἱόν,

180ἢ αὐτὸν βασιλῆα πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης.

170Gerenian Nestor, horseman, addressed them again:

“Now shake the lots thoroughly, and let one be chosen.

The man chosen will surely benefit the well-greaved Achaeans

and he himself will rejoice in his heart, if he escapes

from deadly war and grim combat.”

175So he spoke. Each man marked his lot,

and they threw them into the helmet of Agamemnon, Atreus’ son.

The troops prayed and raised their hands to the gods,

and one man would look toward the broad heaven and say:

“Father Zeus, let Ajax be chosen, or Tydeus’ son,

180or the king himself of gold-rich Mycenae.”

181ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,

ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος κυνέης ὃν ἄρʼ ἤθελον αὐτοὶ

Αἴαντος· κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ

δεῖξʼ ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

185οἳ δʼ οὐ γιγνώσκοντες ἀπηνήναντο ἕκαστος.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν ἵκανε φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ

ὅς μιν ἐπιγράψας κυνέῃ βάλε φαίδιμος Αἴας,

ἤτοι ὑπέσχεθε χεῖρʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμβαλεν ἄγχι παραστάς,

γνῶ δὲ κλήρου σῆμα ἰδών, γήθησε δὲ θυμῷ.

190τὸν μὲν πὰρ πόδʼ ἑὸν χαμάδις βάλε φώνησέν τε·

181So they spoke, and Gerenian Nestor, horseman, shook the helmet;

a lot leapt out—the one they themselves wanted,

the lot of Ajax. The herald carried it throughout the gathering

and showed it from left to right to all the Achaean champions.

185Not recognizing it, each man denied it was his.

But when the herald carried it throughout the gathering and reached

the man who had marked it and thrown it in—glorious Ajax—

Ajax held out his hand; the herald stood near and placed the lot in it.

He saw and knew the mark on the lot, and rejoiced in his heart.

190He threw it down beside his own foot and said:

191ὦ φίλοι ἤτοι κλῆρος ἐμός, χαίρω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς

θυμῷ, ἐπεὶ δοκέω νικησέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ πολεμήϊα τεύχεα δύω,

τόφρʼ ὑμεῖς εὔχεσθε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι

195σιγῇ ἐφʼ ὑμείων ἵνα μὴ Τρῶές γε πύθωνται,

ἠὲ καὶ ἀμφαδίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης·

οὐ γάρ τίς με βίῃ γε ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα δίηται

οὐδέ τι ἰδρείῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ νήϊδά γʼ οὕτως

ἔλπομαι ἐν Σαλαμῖνι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.

200ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ εὔχοντο Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε

δὸς νίκην Αἴαντι καὶ ἀγλαὸν εὖχος ἀρέσθαι·

εἰ δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορά περ φιλέεις καὶ κήδεαι αὐτοῦ,

205ἴσην ἀμφοτέροισι βίην καὶ κῦδος ὄπασσον.

191“Friends, the lot is mine, and I myself rejoice

in my heart, because I believe I will defeat godlike Hector.

Come, while I put on my armor for war,

pray to lord Zeus, Cronus’ son,

195quietly among yourselves, so the Trojans do not hear,

or openly, since in any case we fear no one.

No one will drive me by force against my will,

nor overcome me by skill, since I do not think I was born

and raised in Salamis so unskilled.”

200So he spoke, and they prayed to lord Zeus, Cronus’ son.

One man would look toward the broad heaven and say:

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

grant Ajax victory and let him carry off splendid triumph;

but if you love Hector too and care for him,

205grant equal strength and glory to them both.”

206ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Αἴας δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα περὶ χροῒ ἕσσατο τεύχεα,

σεύατʼ ἔπειθʼ οἷός τε πελώριος ἔρχεται Ἄρης,

ὅς τʼ εἶσιν πόλεμον δὲ μετʼ ἀνέρας οὕς τε Κρονίων

210θυμοβόρου ἔριδος μένεϊ ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι.

τοῖος ἄρʼ Αἴας ὦρτο πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν

μειδιόων βλοσυροῖσι προσώπασι· νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν

ἤϊε μακρὰ βιβάς, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.

τὸν δὲ καὶ Ἀργεῖοι μὲν ἐγήθεον εἰσορόωντες,

215Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον,

Ἕκτορί τʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι πάτασσεν·

ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχεν ὑποτρέσαι οὐδʼ ἀναδῦναι

ἂψ λαῶν ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ προκαλέσσατο χάρμῃ.

Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον

220χάλκεον ἑπταβόειον, ὅ οἱ Τυχίος κάμε τεύχων

σκυτοτόμων ὄχʼ ἄριστος Ὕλῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων,

ὅς οἱ ἐποίησεν σάκος αἰόλον ἑπταβόειον

ταύρων ζατρεφέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ὄγδοον ἤλασε χαλκόν.

τὸ πρόσθε στέρνοιο φέρων Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

225στῆ ῥα μάλʼ Ἕκτορος ἐγγύς, ἀπειλήσας δὲ προσηύδα·

206So they prayed, while Ajax armed himself in gleaming bronze.

When he had put all his armor about his body,

he rushed out like massive Ares when the god goes

into war among men whom Cronus’ son has brought together

210to fight in the fury of heart-consuming strife.

Such was massive Ajax as he rose, the Achaeans’ bulwark,

smiling, grim of face; beneath him his feet

strode in long steps as he shook his long-shadowed spear.

The Argives rejoiced when they saw him,

215but terrible trembling seized the limbs of every Trojan,

and Hector’s own heart pounded within his breast.

Yet he could no longer retreat or withdraw

back into the mass of troops, since he himself had issued the challenge to combat.

Ajax came near, carrying a shield like a tower,

220bronze-faced and made from seven ox-hides, which Tychios had labored to fashion,

the best by far of leatherworkers, who lived at Hyle.

He had made for Ajax the shimmering seven-hide shield

from the hides of well-fed bulls, and hammered bronze on as the eighth layer.

Telamonian Ajax held it before his chest

225and stood very near Hector, threatening him as he spoke:

226Ἕκτορ νῦν μὲν δὴ σάφα εἴσεαι οἰόθεν οἶος

οἷοι καὶ Δαναοῖσιν ἀριστῆες μετέασι

καὶ μετʼ Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα θυμολέοντα.

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι

230κεῖτʼ ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν·

ἡμεῖς δʼ εἰμὲν τοῖοι οἳ ἂν σέθεν ἀντιάσαιμεν

καὶ πολέες· ἀλλʼ ἄρχε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν

235μή τί μευ ἠΰτε παιδὸς ἀφαυροῦ πειρήτιζε

ἠὲ γυναικός, ἣ οὐκ οἶδεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδα μάχας τʼ ἀνδροκτασίας τε·

οἶδʼ ἐπὶ δεξιά, οἶδʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν

ἀζαλέην, τό μοι ἔστι ταλαύρινον πολεμίζειν·

240οἶδα δʼ ἐπαΐξαι μόθον ἵππων ὠκειάων·

οἶδα δʼ ἐνὶ σταδίῃ δηΐῳ μέλπεσθαι Ἄρηϊ.

ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ σʼ ἐθέλω βαλέειν τοιοῦτον ἐόντα

λάθρῃ ὀπιπεύσας, ἀλλʼ ἀμφαδόν, αἴ κε τύχωμι.

226“Hector, now you will clearly know, man against man,

what kind of champions are found among the Danaans

even apart from Achilles, breaker of men, lion-hearted.

But he lies among his curved, seafaring ships,

230withdrawn in wrath against Agamemnon, shepherd of the people.

Yet we are men able to face you,

and many of us. But begin the battle and the war.”

Then great Hector of the flashing helmet answered him:

“Ajax, Zeus-born son of Telamon, leader of the host,

235do not test me as though I were a feeble child

or a woman who knows nothing of the works of war.

I know battles well, and the killing of men.

I know how to wield the seasoned ox-hide to right and left;

that is how I stand firm in battle.

240I know how to charge into the turmoil of swift horses;

I know how to dance for Ares in close combat.

But I do not wish to strike a man like you

after watching you from concealment, but openly—if I can hit you.”

244ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

245καὶ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον

ἀκρότατον κατὰ χαλκόν, ὃς ὄγδοος ἦεν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

ἓξ δὲ διὰ πτύχας ἦλθε δαΐζων χαλκὸς ἀτειρής,

ἐν τῇ δʼ ἑβδομάτῃ ῥινῷ σχέτο· δεύτερος αὖτε

Αἴας διογενὴς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

250καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην.

διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,

καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο·

ἀντικρὺ δὲ παραὶ λαπάρην διάμησε χιτῶνα

ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἐκλίνθη καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.

244He spoke, poised his long-shadowed spear, and cast it,

245striking Ajax’s terrible seven-hide shield

on the outermost bronze, the eighth layer upon it.

The unyielding bronze point tore through six folds

but stopped in the seventh hide. Then in turn

Zeus-born Ajax cast his long-shadowed spear

250and struck 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.

But he leaned away and escaped black death.

255τὼ δʼ ἐκσπασσαμένω δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἅμʼ ἄμφω

σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισιν

ἢ συσὶ κάπροισιν, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν.

Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρί,

οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμή.

260Αἴας δʼ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ

ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα,

τμήδην δʼ αὐχένʼ ἐπῆλθε, μέλαν δʼ ἀνεκήκιεν αἷμα,

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἀπέληγε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ,

ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος λίθον εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ

265κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ μέλανα τρηχύν τε μέγαν τε·

τῷ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον

μέσσον ἐπομφάλιον· περιήχησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκός.

δεύτερος αὖτʼ Αἴας πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας

ἧκʼ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον,

270εἴσω δʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔαξε βαλὼν μυλοειδέϊ πέτρῳ,

βλάψε δέ οἱ φίλα γούναθʼ· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐξετανύσθη

ἀσπίδι ἐγχριμφθείς· τὸν δʼ αἶψʼ ὤρθωσεν Ἀπόλλων.

255Both men pulled their long spears free with their hands,

then fell upon each other like flesh-eating lions

or wild boars whose strength is not feeble.

Priam’s son struck the middle of Ajax’s shield with his spear,

but the bronze did not break through; its point bent back.

260Ajax sprang forward and stabbed Hector’s shield; the spear passed

right through and staggered him in his onrush,

cut across his neck, and dark blood welled up.

Yet even then Hector of the flashing helmet did not cease from battle.

He stepped back and took in his thick hand a stone

265lying on the plain, black, jagged, and large.

With it he struck Ajax’s terrible seven-hide shield

at the center of the boss, and the bronze rang around it.

Ajax in turn lifted a much larger stone

and sent it spinning, driving it with immeasurable force.

270He struck with the millstone-like rock and smashed the shield inward,

and buckled Hector’s dear knees; he stretched out on his back,

with his shield pressed against him—but Apollo quickly raised him.

273καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσʼ αὐτοσχεδὸν οὐτάζοντο,

εἰ μὴ κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν

275ἦλθον, ὃ μὲν Τρώων, ὃ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

Ταλθύβιός τε καὶ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένω ἄμφω·

μέσσῳ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων σκῆπτρα σχέθον, εἶπέ τε μῦθον

κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς·

μηκέτι παῖδε φίλω πολεμίζετε μηδὲ μάχεσθον·

280ἀμφοτέρω γὰρ σφῶϊ φιλεῖ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,

ἄμφω δʼ αἰχμητά· τό γε δὴ καὶ ἴδμεν ἅπαντες.

νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι.

273Then they would have wounded each other at close quarters with swords

if the heralds, messengers of Zeus and of men,

275had not come, one from the Trojans, one from the bronze-clad Achaeans:

Talthybius and Idaeus, both men of wisdom.

They held their scepters between the two, and Idaeus spoke,

the wise herald who knew prudent counsels:

“Fight no longer, dear sons; do not battle on.

280Cloud-gathering Zeus loves you both,

and both of you are spearmen; all of us know that.

Night is already here, and it is good to obey the night.”

283τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

Ἰδαῖʼ Ἕκτορα ταῦτα κελεύετε μυθήσασθαι·

285αὐτὸς γὰρ χάρμῃ προκαλέσσατο πάντας ἀρίστους.

ἀρχέτω· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μάλα πείσομαι ᾗ περ ἂν οὗτος.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Αἶαν ἐπεί τοι δῶκε θεὸς μέγεθός τε βίην τε

καὶ πινυτήν, περὶ δʼ ἔγχει Ἀχαιῶν φέρτατός ἐσσι,

290νῦν μὲν παυσώμεσθα μάχης καὶ δηϊοτῆτος

σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων

ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.

νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι,

ὡς σύ τʼ ἐϋφρήνῃς πάντας παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιούς,

295σούς τε μάλιστα ἔτας καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ τοι ἔασιν·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

Τρῶας ἐϋφρανέω καὶ Τρῳάδας ἑλκεσιπέπλους,

αἵ τέ μοι εὐχόμεναι θεῖον δύσονται ἀγῶνα.

δῶρα δʼ ἄγʼ ἀλλήλοισι περικλυτὰ δώομεν ἄμφω,

300ὄφρά τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·

ἠμὲν ἐμαρνάσθην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο,

ἠδʼ αὖτʼ ἐν φιλότητι διέτμαγεν ἀρθμήσαντε.

283Telamonian Ajax answered him:

“Idaeus, tell Hector to say these things himself,

285since he was the one who challenged all our champions.

Let him begin; I will gladly follow whatever course he takes.”

Then great Hector of the flashing helmet answered him:

“Ajax, since a god gave you size and strength

and wisdom; with the spear you are best by far among the Achaeans,

290let us now cease from battle and deadly combat

for today. Later we will fight again until a god

parts us and grants victory to one side.

Night is already here, and it is good to obey the night,

so that you may gladden all the Achaeans beside their ships,

295especially your own kinsmen and companions.

And I, throughout the great city of lord Priam,

will gladden the Trojans and Trojan women in trailing robes,

who will enter the sacred gathering to pray for me.

Come, let us both give each other glorious gifts,

300so that someone among Achaeans and Trojans may say:

‘They fought each other in heart-consuming strife,

yet parted again in peace, having reached accord.’”

303ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας δῶκε ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι·

305Αἴας δὲ ζωστῆρα δίδου φοίνικι φαεινόν.

τὼ δὲ διακρινθέντε ὃ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

ἤϊʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐς Τρώων ὅμαδον κίε· τοὶ δὲ χάρησαν,

ὡς εἶδον ζωόν τε καὶ ἀρτεμέα προσιόντα,

Αἴαντος προφυγόντα μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους·

310καί ῥʼ ἦγον προτὶ ἄστυ ἀελπτέοντες σόον εἶναι.

Αἴαντʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον κεχαρηότα νίκῃ.

303So Hector spoke and gave him a silver-studded sword,

bringing it with its scabbard and well-cut baldric;

305and Ajax gave him a belt shining with crimson.

The two parted: Ajax went among the Achaean host,

and Hector toward the Trojan throng. They rejoiced

when they saw him approaching alive and unharmed,

having escaped Ajax’s force and irresistible hands.

310They led Hector toward the city, though they had not expected him to survive.

From the other side, the well-greaved Achaeans led Ajax

to godlike Agamemnon, rejoicing in victory.

313οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίῃσιν ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο γένοντο,

τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

315ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.

τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,

μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,

ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,

320δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·

νώτοισιν δʼ Αἴαντα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν

ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.

313When they had reached the huts of Atreus' son,

Agamemnon, lord of men, sacrificed a bull for them,

315a five-year-old bull for the mighty son of Cronus.

They flayed the bull, dressed it, and divided it all;

they skillfully carved it and pierced the pieces on spits,

roasted everything carefully, and drew it all from the fire.

When they had finished their work and prepared the feast,

320they feasted, and no one's spirit lacked an equal share.

Agamemnon honored Ajax with the full unbroken chine,

the hero Atreus' son, wide-ruling Agamemnon.

323αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

τοῖς ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτος ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν

325Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,

πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,

τῶν νῦν αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐΰρροον ἀμφὶ Σκάμανδρον

330ἐσκέδασʼ ὀξὺς Ἄρης, ψυχαὶ δʼ Ἄϊδος δὲ κατῆλθον·

τώ σε χρὴ πόλεμον μὲν ἅμʼ ἠοῖ παῦσαι Ἀχαιῶν,

αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀγρόμενοι κυκλήσομεν ἐνθάδε νεκροὺς

βουσὶ καὶ ἡμιόνοισιν· ἀτὰρ κατακήομεν αὐτοὺς

τυτθὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ νεῶν, ὥς κʼ ὀστέα παισὶν ἕκαστος

335οἴκαδʼ ἄγῃ ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε νεώμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν.

τύμβον δʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν ἕνα χεύομεν ἐξαγαγόντες

ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου· ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν δείμομεν ὦκα

πύργους ὑψηλοὺς εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.

ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ποιήσομεν εὖ ἀραρυίας,

340ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·

ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ὀρύξομεν ἐγγύθι τάφρον,

ἥ χʼ ἵππον καὶ λαὸν ἐρυκάκοι ἀμφὶς ἐοῦσα,

μή ποτʼ ἐπιβρίσῃ πόλεμος Τρώων ἀγερώχων.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνησαν βασιλῆες.

323When they had satisfied their desire for food and drink,

the old man first of all began to weave a plan for them—

325Nestor, whose counsel before this too had proved the best.

With good intent he spoke among them in assembly:

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

many long-haired Achaeans now lie dead.

Fierce Ares has scattered their dark blood around

330fair-flowing Scamander, while their spirits went down to Hades.

At dawn, then, you must halt the Achaeans' fighting;

we ourselves will gather and bring the corpses here

with oxen and mules. Then we will burn them

a little way out before the ships, so each man may carry the bones

335home to his children when we return again to our native land.

Around the pyre let us heap one common mound, once we have brought them

from the plain without sorting them; beside it let us quickly build

high towers as a defense for our ships and ourselves.

Within them we shall make well-fitted gates,

340so there may be a road for chariot-driving through them.

Outside, close by, we shall dig a deep ditch,

encircling us, that may hold back horses and troops,

lest the battle of the proud Trojans ever press hard upon us.”

So he spoke, and all the kings approved.

345Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴ γένετʼ Ἰλίου ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ

δεινὴ τετρηχυῖα, παρὰ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι·

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

350δεῦτʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἅμʼ αὐτῇ

δώομεν Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἄγειν· νῦν δʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ

ψευσάμενοι μαχόμεσθα· τὼ οὔ νύ τι κέρδιον ἡμῖν

ἔλπομαι ἐκτελέεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ ῥέξομεν ὧδε.

345Meanwhile the Trojan assembly gathered on Ilium’s citadel,

fierce and turbulent, beside Priam's doors.

Wise Antenor began to speak among them:

“Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies,

so I may say what the spirit in my breast commands.

350Come, let us give Argive Helen and the possessions with her

to the sons of Atreus to take away. As it is, we fight

after breaking the faithful oaths. So I do not expect

any advantage for us unless we act this way.”

354ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη

355δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο,

ὅς μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἀντῆνορ σὺ μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις·

οἶσθα καὶ ἄλλον μῦθον ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοῆσαι.

εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ τοῦτον ἀπὸ σπουδῆς ἀγορεύεις,

360ἐξ ἄρα δή τοι ἔπειτα θεοὶ φρένας ὤλεσαν αὐτοί.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω·

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπόφημι γυναῖκα μὲν οὐκ ἀποδώσω·

κτήματα δʼ ὅσσʼ ἀγόμην ἐξ Ἄργεος ἡμέτερον δῶ

πάντʼ ἐθέλω δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.

354So he spoke and sat down; then among them rose

355godlike Alexander, husband of lovely-haired Helen.

Answering Antenor, he addressed him with winged words:

“Antenor, what you say is no longer pleasing to me.

You know how to devise a better proposal than this.

But if you truly speak this in earnest,

360then indeed the gods themselves have destroyed your wits.

But I will speak out among the horse-taming Trojans:

I tell you outright: I will not give the woman back.

But all the possessions I brought from Argos to our home

I am willing to give, and add more from my own house.”

365ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη

Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

370νῦν μὲν δόρπον ἕλεσθε κατὰ πτόλιν ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,

καὶ φυλακῆς μνήσασθε καὶ ἐγρήγορθε ἕκαστος·

ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἴτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας

εἰπέμεν Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ

μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·

375καὶ δὲ τόδʼ εἰπέμεναι πυκινὸν ἔπος, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσι

παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς

κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων

ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο·

380δόρπον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσιν·

365So he spoke and sat down; then among them rose

Priam, Dardanus’ descendant, a counselor equal to the gods.

With good intent he spoke among them in assembly:

“Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies,

so I may say what the spirit in my breast commands.

370For now, take supper throughout the city, as before,

remember the watch, and let each man stay awake.

At dawn let Idaeus go to the hollow ships

and tell the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus,

Alexander's proposal, because of whom the quarrel arose.

375Deliver this considered proposal too, in case they are willing

to cease from the grim-sounding war until we burn the dead.

Afterward we will fight again until a god

parts us and grants victory to one side.”

So he spoke; they listened closely and obeyed him.

380Then they took supper throughout the army in their companies.

381ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας·

τοὺς δʼ εὗρʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Δαναοὺς θεράποντας Ἄρηος

νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι

στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν μετεφώνεεν ἠπύτα κῆρυξ·

385Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν

ἠνώγει Πρίαμός τε καὶ ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ

εἰπεῖν, αἴ κέ περ ὔμμι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,

μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·

κτήματα μὲν ὅσʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσὶν

390ἠγάγετο Τροίηνδʼ· ὡς πρὶν ὤφελλʼ ἀπολέσθαι·

πάντʼ ἐθέλει δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι·

κουριδίην δʼ ἄλοχον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

οὔ φησιν δώσειν· ἦ μὴν Τρῶές γε κέλονται.

καὶ δὲ τόδʼ ἠνώγεον εἰπεῖν ἔπος αἴ κʼ ἐθέλητε

395παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς

κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων

ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.

381At dawn Idaeus went to the hollow ships.

He found the Danaans, attendants of Ares, in assembly

beside the stern of Agamemnon's ship. The loud-voiced herald

stood in their midst and spoke:

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

Priam and the other glorious Trojans instructed me

to report, if it should prove welcome and pleasant to you,

Alexander's proposal, because of whom the quarrel arose.

All the possessions Alexander brought in the hollow ships

390to Troy—would that he had died before then!—

he is willing to give, and add more from his own house.

But the wedded wife of glorious Menelaus

he says he will not give, though the Trojans command him to.

They also ordered me to speak this word, if you are willing:

395cease from the grim-sounding war until we burn the dead.

Afterward we will fight again until a god

parts us and grants victory to one side.”

398ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·

ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

400μήτʼ ἄρ τις νῦν κτήματʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δεχέσθω

μήθʼ Ἑλένην· γνωτὸν δὲ καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστιν

ὡς ἤδη Τρώεσσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπίαχον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο·

405καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἰδαῖον προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·

Ἰδαῖʼ ἤτοι μῦθον Ἀχαιῶν αὐτὸς ἀκούεις

ὥς τοι ὑποκρίνονται· ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπιανδάνει οὕτως

ἀμφὶ δὲ νεκροῖσιν κατακαιέμεν οὔ τι μεγαίρω·

οὐ γάρ τις φειδὼ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων

410γίγνετʼ ἐπεί κε θάνωσι πυρὸς μειλισσέμεν ὦκα.

ὅρκια δὲ Ζεὺς ἴστω ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.

ὣς εἰπὼν τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνέσχεθε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν,

ἄψορρον δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.

398So he spoke; they all held still in silence.

At last Diomedes, good at the war cry, spoke among them:

400“Let no one now accept Alexander's possessions,

nor Helen. It is clear even to the greatest fool

that the bonds of destruction are already fastened on the Trojans.”

So he spoke, and all the sons of the Achaeans shouted approval,

admiring the declaration of horse-taming Diomedes.

405Then wide-ruling Agamemnon said to Idaeus:

“Idaeus, you hear the Achaeans' declaration yourself

and how they answer you. Their answer pleases me as well.

As for burning the dead, I do not begrudge it.

For once men are dead, no one withholds from them

410swift appeasement by fire.

Let loud-thundering Zeus, Hera's husband, witness these pledges.”

So saying, he held the scepter up before all the gods,

and Idaeus went back toward holy Ilium.

414οἳ δʼ ἕατʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες

415πάντες ὁμηγερέες, ποτιδέγμενοι ὁππότʼ ἄρʼ ἔλθοι

Ἰδαῖος· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθε καὶ ἀγγελίην ἀπέειπε

στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν· τοὶ δʼ ὁπλίζοντο μάλʼ ὦκα,

ἀμφότερον νέκυάς τʼ ἀγέμεν ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην·

Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋσσέλμων ἀπὸ νηῶν

420ὀτρύνοντο νέκυς τʼ ἀγέμεν, ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην.

Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας

ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο

οὐρανὸν εἰσανιών· οἳ δʼ ἤντεον ἀλλήλοισιν.

ἔνθα διαγνῶναι χαλεπῶς ἦν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·

425ἀλλʼ ὕδατι νίζοντες ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα

δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντες ἀμαξάων ἐπάειραν.

οὐδʼ εἴα κλαίειν Πρίαμος μέγας· οἳ δὲ σιωπῇ

νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,

ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.

430ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,

ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

414The Trojans and Dardanians sat in assembly,

415all gathered together, waiting for Idaeus to come.

He arrived and delivered the message,

standing in their midst. They made ready very quickly,

some to carry the corpses, others to fetch wood.

From the other side, the Argives at the well-benched ships

420were urged on, some to carry corpses, others to fetch wood.

The Sun had only just struck the fields

as he rose from softly flowing, deep-streaming Ocean

and climbed into heaven, when the two sides met each other.

There it was hard to distinguish each man.

425But washing the bloody gore away with water,

shedding hot tears, they lifted the dead onto wagons.

Great Priam would not let them wail. In silence

they heaped the corpses upon the pyre, grieving at heart;

they burned them in the fire and went toward holy Ilium.

430In just the same way, on the other side, the well-greaved Achaeans

heaped the corpses upon the pyre, grieving at heart;

they burned them in the fire and went to the hollow ships.

433ἦμος δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πω ἠώς, ἔτι δʼ ἀμφιλύκη νύξ,

τῆμος ἄρʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν κριτὸς ἔγρετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν,

435τύμβον δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὴν ἕνα ποίεον ἐξαγαγόντες

ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου, ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν τεῖχος ἔδειμαν

πύργους θʼ ὑψηλούς, εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.

ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ἐνεποίεον εὖ ἀραρυίας,

ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·

440ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ τάφρον ὄρυξαν

εὐρεῖαν μεγάλην, ἐν δὲ σκόλοπας κατέπηξαν.

ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί·

433When dawn had not yet come and night was still twilight-grey,

a picked body of Achaeans rose around the pyre.

435They made one mound around it, after bringing the dead

from the plain without sorting them; beside it they built a wall

and high towers, a defense for their ships and themselves.

Within it they made well-fitted gates,

so there might be a road for chariot-driving through them.

440Outside, along the wall, they dug a deep ditch,

broad and great, and planted stakes within it.

So the long-haired Achaeans labored.

443οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἀστεροπητῇ

θηεῦντο μέγα ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.

445τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν

ὅς τις ἔτʼ ἀθανάτοισι νόον καὶ μῆτιν ἐνίψει;

οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅτι δʼ αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

τεῖχος ἐτειχίσσαντο νεῶν ὕπερ, ἀμφὶ δὲ τάφρον

450ἤλασαν, οὐδὲ θεοῖσι δόσαν κλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας;

τοῦ δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς·

τοῦ δʼ ἐπιλήσονται τὸ ἐγὼ καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

ἥρῳ Λαομέδοντι πολίσσαμεν ἀθλήσαντε.

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

455ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες.

ἄλλός κέν τις τοῦτο θεῶν δείσειε νόημα,

ὃς σέο πολλὸν ἀφαυρότερος χεῖράς τε μένος τε·

σὸν δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς.

ἄγρει μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

460οἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

τεῖχος ἀναρρήξας τὸ μὲν εἰς ἅλα πᾶν καταχεῦαι,

αὖτις δʼ ἠϊόνα μεγάλην ψαμάθοισι καλύψαι,

ὥς κέν τοι μέγα τεῖχος ἀμαλδύνηται Ἀχαιῶν.

443The gods, seated beside Zeus the lightning-hurler,

watched the great work of the bronze-clad Achaeans.

445Earth-shaking Poseidon began speaking among them:

“Father Zeus, is there any mortal on the boundless earth

who will still tell the immortals his mind and plan?

Do you not see that once again the long-haired Achaeans

have built a wall before their ships and dug a ditch around it,

450yet gave the gods no splendid hecatombs?

This wall's fame will reach as far as dawn spreads,

and men will forget the wall that I and Phoebus Apollo

built for the hero Laomedon, laboring in his service.”

Cloud-gathering Zeus, deeply troubled, answered him:

455“Oh, earth-shaker of wide strength, what a thing you have said!

Some other god might be frightened by such a thought,

one far weaker than you in hands and force.

But your fame will reach as far as dawn spreads.

Come now: when the long-haired Achaeans once again

460depart with their ships for their dear native land,

break the wall apart and pour all of it into the sea;

then cover the broad shore again with sand,

so the Achaeans' great wall may be obliterated for you.”

464ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

465δύσετο δʼ ἠέλιος, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν,

βουφόνεον δὲ κατὰ κλισίας καὶ δόρπον ἕλοντο.

νῆες δʼ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέσταν οἶνον ἄγουσαι

πολλαί, τὰς προέηκεν Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος,

τόν ῥʼ ἔτεχʼ Ὑψιπύλη ὑπʼ Ἰήσονι ποιμένι λαῶν.

470χωρὶς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ

δῶκεν Ἰησονίδης ἀγέμεν μέθυ χίλια μέτρα.

ἔνθεν οἰνίζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,

ἄλλοι μὲν χαλκῷ, ἄλλοι δʼ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ,

ἄλλοι δὲ ῥινοῖς, ἄλλοι δʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,

475ἄλλοι δʼ ἀνδραπόδεσσι· τίθεντο δὲ δαῖτα θάλειαν.

464So they spoke these words to one another.

465The sun set, and the Achaeans' work was completed.

Throughout the huts they slaughtered oxen and took supper.

Many ships had drawn alongside from Lemnos, bringing wine,

sent by Euneus, Jason's son,

whom Hypsipyle bore to Jason, shepherd of the people.

470Separately, for the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus,

Jason's son gave a thousand measures of wine to carry away.

From those ships the long-haired Achaeans obtained wine by trade,

some for bronze, others for gleaming iron,

others for hides, others for whole cattle,

475others for enslaved people; and they laid an abundant feast.

476παννύχιοι μὲν ἔπειτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

δαίνυντο, Τρῶες δὲ κατὰ πτόλιν ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·

παννύχιος δέ σφιν κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεὺς

σμερδαλέα κτυπέων· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει·

480οἶνον δʼ ἐκ δεπάων χαμάδις χέον, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη

πρὶν πιέειν πρὶν λεῖψαι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.

κοιμήσαντʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.

476Then all night long the long-haired Achaeans feasted,

as did the Trojans throughout the city with their allies.

All night Zeus, lord of counsel, devised evils for them,

thundering terribly; pale fear seized them.

480They poured the wine from their cups onto the ground, and no one dared

to drink before pouring a libation to the mighty son of Cronus.

Then they lay down and took the gift of sleep.