Iliad, Book 8: Zeus Turns the Battle

1Ἠὼς μὲν κροκόπεπλος ἐκίδνατο πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν,

Ζεὺς δὲ θεῶν ἀγορὴν ποιήσατο τερπικέραυνος

ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο·

αὐτὸς δέ σφʼ ἀγόρευε, θεοὶ δʼ ὑπὸ πάντες ἄκουον·

5κέκλυτέ μευ πάντές τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

μήτέ τις οὖν θήλεια θεὸς τό γε μήτέ τις ἄρσην

πειράτω διακέρσαι ἐμὸν ἔπος, ἀλλʼ ἅμα πάντες

αἰνεῖτʼ, ὄφρα τάχιστα τελευτήσω τάδε ἔργα.

10ὃν δʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλοντα νοήσω

ἐλθόντʼ ἢ Τρώεσσιν ἀρηγέμεν ἢ Δαναοῖσι

πληγεὶς οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἐλεύσεται Οὔλυμπον δέ·

ἤ μιν ἑλὼν ῥίψω ἐς Τάρταρον ἠερόεντα

τῆλε μάλʼ, ἧχι βάθιστον ὑπὸ χθονός ἐστι βέρεθρον,

15ἔνθα σιδήρειαί τε πύλαι καὶ χάλκεος οὐδός,

τόσσον ἔνερθʼ Ἀΐδεω ὅσον οὐρανός ἐστʼ ἀπὸ γαίης·

γνώσετʼ ἔπειθʼ ὅσον εἰμὶ θεῶν κάρτιστος ἁπάντων.

1Saffron-robed Dawn spread over all the earth,

and Zeus, who delights in thunder, called an assembly of the gods

on the highest peak of many-ridged Olympus.

He addressed them himself, and all the gods listened:

5“Hear me, all gods and all goddesses,

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

Let no god, whether female or male,

attempt to cut across my word; all of you together

approve it, so I may accomplish these deeds with all speed.

10Whichever one I see going apart from the gods of their own will

to aid either the Trojans or the Danaans,

will be struck and return to Olympus in disgrace;

or I will seize them and hurl them into shadowy Tartarus,

far away, where the deepest pit lies beneath the earth,

15where the gates are iron and the threshold bronze,

as far beneath Hades as heaven is above the earth.

Then they will learn how much stronger I am than all the gods.

18εἰ δʼ ἄγε πειρήσασθε θεοὶ ἵνα εἴδετε πάντες·

σειρὴν χρυσείην ἐξ οὐρανόθεν κρεμάσαντες

20πάντές τʼ ἐξάπτεσθε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι·

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐρύσαιτʼ ἐξ οὐρανόθεν πεδίον δὲ

Ζῆνʼ ὕπατον μήστωρʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ μάλα πολλὰ κάμοιτε.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ πρόφρων ἐθέλοιμι ἐρύσσαι,

αὐτῇ κεν γαίῃ ἐρύσαιμʼ αὐτῇ τε θαλάσσῃ·

25σειρὴν μέν κεν ἔπειτα περὶ ῥίον Οὐλύμποιο

δησαίμην, τὰ δέ κʼ αὖτε μετήορα πάντα γένοιτο.

τόσσον ἐγὼ περί τʼ εἰμὶ θεῶν περί τʼ εἴμʼ ἀνθρώπων.

18Come, put me to the test, gods, so that all of you may know:

hang a golden chain down from heaven

20and fasten yourselves to it, all gods and all goddesses.

Even so, you could not drag down from heaven to the plain

Zeus, highest counselor, however long you labored.

But if I ever chose wholeheartedly to pull,

I would haul all of you up with earth itself and sea itself.

25Then I would bind the chain around a peak of Olympus,

and all those things would hang suspended in the air.

So far am I above both gods and men.”

28ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ

μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι· μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἀγόρευσεν.

30ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη ὕπατε κρειόντων

εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι σθένος οὐκ ἐπιεικτόν·

ἀλλʼ ἔμπης Δαναῶν ὀλοφυρόμεθʼ αἰχμητάων,

οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται.

35ἀλλʼ ἤτοι πολέμου μὲν ἀφεξόμεθʼ ὡς σὺ κελεύεις·

βουλὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ὑποθησόμεθʼ ἥ τις ὀνήσει,

ὡς μὴ πάντες ὄλωνται ὀδυσσαμένοιο τεοῖο.

τὴν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

θάρσει Τριτογένεια φίλον τέκος· οὔ νύ τι θυμῷ

40πρόφρονι μυθέομαι, ἐθέλω δέ τοι ἤπιος εἶναι.

28So he spoke; they all held still in silence,

marveling at his declaration, for he had spoken with immense force.

30At last the goddess, bright-eyed Athena, spoke among them:

“Our father, son of Cronus, highest of rulers,

we too know well that your strength cannot be resisted.

Still, we grieve for the Danaan spearmen,

who will perish once they have filled out their evil fate.

35We will indeed keep away from war, as you command,

but we will offer the Argives counsel that may help,

so they do not all perish under your anger.”

Cloud-gathering Zeus smiled at her and answered:

“Take heart, Tritogeneia, dear child. I am not speaking

40from an earnest heart; I mean to be gentle toward you.”

41ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι τιτύσκετο χαλκόποδʼ ἵππω

ὠκυπέτα χρυσέῃσιν ἐθείρῃσιν κομόωντε,

χρυσὸν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔδυνε περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δʼ ἱμάσθλην

χρυσείην εὔτυκτον, ἑοῦ δʼ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου,

45μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν· τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην

μεσσηγὺς γαίης τε καὶ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος.

Ἴδην δʼ ἵκανεν πολυπίδακα μητέρα θηρῶν

Γάργαρον, ἔνθά τέ οἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.

ἔνθʼ ἵππους ἔστησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε

50λύσας ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δʼ ἠέρα πουλὺν ἔχευεν.

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν κορυφῇσι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων

εἰσορόων Τρώων τε πόλιν καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

41So speaking, he harnessed beneath the chariot his bronze-footed horses,

swift-flying, their golden manes streaming.

He clothed his body in gold and took up a golden

well-made whip, then mounted his own chariot.

45He cracked the whip to drive, and both horses flew willingly,

midway between the earth and starry heaven.

He came to Ida, many-springed mother of wild beasts,

to Gargarus, where he had a sanctuary and fragrant altar.

There the father of gods and men halted his horses,

50unharnessed them from the chariot, and poured thick mist around them.

He himself sat on the heights, exulting in his glory,

looking out over the city of Troy and the ships of the Achaeans.

53οἳ δʼ ἄρα δεῖπνον ἕλοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ῥίμφα κατὰ κλισίας, ἀπὸ δʼ αὐτοῦ θωρήσσοντο.

55Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀνὰ πτόλιν ὁπλίζοντο

παυρότεροι· μέμασαν δὲ καὶ ὧς ὑσμῖνι μάχεσθαι

χρειοῖ ἀναγκαίῃ, πρό τε παίδων καὶ πρὸ γυναικῶν.

πᾶσαι δʼ ὠΐγνυντο πύλαι, ἐκ δʼ ἔσσυτο λαός,

πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.

53The long-haired Achaeans quickly took their meal

throughout the huts, and armed themselves straight afterward.

55The Trojans in turn armed throughout the city,

fewer in number, yet even so eager to fight in the battle,

under hard necessity, for their children and their wives.

All the gates were opened, and the host streamed out,

men on foot and chariot-fighters; a great uproar rose.

60οἳ 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.

ἔνθα δʼ ἅμʼ οἰμωγή τε καὶ εὐχωλὴ πέλεν ἀνδρῶν

65ὀλλύντων τε καὶ ὀλλυμένων, ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα.

ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,

τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός.

ἦμος δʼ Ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκει,

καὶ τότε δὴ χρύσεια πατὴρ ἐτίταινε τάλαντα·

70ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει δύο κῆρε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

ἕλκε δὲ μέσσα λαβών· ῥέπε δʼ αἴσιμον ἦμαρ Ἀχαιῶν.

αἳ μὲν Ἀχαιῶν κῆρες ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ

ἑζέσθην, Τρώων δὲ πρὸς οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἄερθεν·

75αὐτὸς δʼ ἐξ Ἴδης μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε, δαιόμενον δὲ

ἧκε σέλας μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

θάμβησαν, καὶ πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν.

60When 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.

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

65of those killing and those being killed; the earth ran with blood.

As long as dawn remained and the sacred day grew stronger,

missiles from both sides struck home, and men fell.

But when the Sun had climbed to the middle of heaven,

then Father Zeus held out his golden scales.

70In them he set two fates of death that lays men low,

of horse-taming Trojans and bronze-clad Achaeans,

then lifted the balance by its middle; the Achaeans' appointed day sank.

The Achaeans' fates settled onto the all-nourishing earth,

while the Trojans' rose toward broad heaven.

75Then Zeus thundered mightily from Ida and sent a burning

flash into the host of the Achaeans. When they saw it,

they were stunned, and pale fear seized them all.

78ἔνθʼ οὔτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς τλῆ μίμνειν οὔτʼ Ἀγαμέμνων,

οὔτε δύʼ Αἴαντες μενέτην θεράποντες Ἄρηος·

80Νέστωρ οἶος ἔμιμνε Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν

οὔ τι ἑκών, ἀλλʼ ἵππος ἐτείρετο, τὸν βάλεν ἰῷ

δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο

ἄκρην κὰκ κορυφήν, ὅθι τε πρῶται τρίχες ἵππων

κρανίῳ ἐμπεφύασι, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστιν.

85ἀλγήσας δʼ ἀνέπαλτο, βέλος δʼ εἰς ἐγκέφαλον δῦ,

σὺν δʼ ἵππους ἐτάραξε κυλινδόμενος περὶ χαλκῷ.

ὄφρʼ ὁ γέρων ἵπποιο παρηορίας ἀπέταμνε

φασγάνῳ ἀΐσσων, τόφρʼ Ἕκτορος ὠκέες ἵπποι

ἦλθον ἀνʼ ἰωχμὸν θρασὺν ἡνίοχον φορέοντες

90Ἕκτορα· καί νύ κεν ἔνθʼ ὁ γέρων ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὄλεσσεν

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

78Then neither Idomeneus nor Agamemnon dared remain,

nor did the two Ajaxes, attendants of Ares, hold their ground.

80Nestor alone remained, the Gerenian bulwark of the Achaeans,

not willingly: one horse was in agony, struck by an arrow

from godlike Alexander, husband of lovely-haired Helen,

at the very crown of its head, where a horse's first hairs

grow from the skull, a place most fatal.

85It reared in pain; the weapon sank into its brain

and threw the team into confusion as it writhed around the bronze point.

While the old man rushed to cut the wounded horse's side-traces

with his sword, Hector's swift horses

came through the rout, carrying their bold charioteer,

90Hector; and there the old man would have lost his life

if Diomedes, good at the war cry, had not swiftly seen the danger.

92σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησεν ἐποτρύνων Ὀδυσῆα·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ

πῇ φεύγεις μετὰ νῶτα βαλὼν κακὸς ὣς ἐν ὁμίλῳ;

95μή τίς τοι φεύγοντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πήξῃ·

ἀλλὰ μένʼ ὄφρα γέροντος ἀπώσομεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἐσάκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ἀλλὰ παρήϊξεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

Τυδεΐδης δʼ αὐτός περ ἐὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη,

100στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

92He shouted terribly, urging Odysseus on:

“Zeus-born son of Laertes, resourceful Odysseus,

where are you fleeing through the crowd, your back turned like a coward?

95Take care no one plants a spear in your back as you flee.

Stay, so we can drive this savage man away from the old one.”

So he spoke, but much-enduring godlike Odysseus did not hear him

and rushed past toward the hollow ships of the Achaeans.

Tydeus' son, though alone, entered among the foremost fighters,

100and stood before the horses of Neleus' aged son,

and addressed him with winged words:

102ὦ γέρον ἦ μάλα δή σε νέοι τείρουσι μαχηταί,

σὴ δὲ βίη λέλυται, χαλεπὸν δέ σε γῆρας ὀπάζει,

ἠπεδανὸς δέ νύ τοι θεράπων, βραδέες δέ τοι ἵπποι.

105ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, ὄφρα ἴδηαι

οἷοι Τρώϊοι ἵπποι ἐπιστάμενοι πεδίοιο

κραιπνὰ μάλʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διωκέμεν ἠδὲ φέβεσθαι,

οὕς ποτʼ ἀπʼ Αἰνείαν ἑλόμην μήστωρε φόβοιο.

τούτω μὲν θεράποντε κομείτων, τώδε δὲ νῶϊ

110Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἰθύνομεν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ

εἴσεται εἰ καὶ ἐμὸν δόρυ μαίνεται ἐν παλάμῃσιν.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ.

102“Old man, younger fighters are wearing you down badly.

Your strength is gone, and oppressive age attends you;

your attendant is feeble now, and your horses slow.

105Come, mount my chariot, so that you may see

what Trojan horses can do, how well they know the plain,

swift in every direction, whether pursuing or fleeing—

the two I once took from Aeneas, masters of rout.

Let our attendants tend your pair; we two

110will drive mine at the horse-taming Trojans, so Hector too

may learn whether my spear rages in my hands.”

So he spoke, and Gerenian Nestor, horseman, did not disobey.

113Νεστορέας μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἵππους θεράποντε κομείτην

ἴφθιμοι Σθένελός τε καὶ Εὐρυμέδων ἀγαπήνωρ.

115τὼ δʼ εἰς ἀμφοτέρω Διομήδεος ἅρματα βήτην·

Νέστωρ δʼ ἐν χείρεσσι λάβʼ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,

μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους· τάχα δʼ Ἕκτορος ἄγχι γένοντο.

τοῦ δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτος ἀκόντισε Τυδέος υἱός·

καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον θεράποντα

120υἱὸν ὑπερθύμου Θηβαίου Ἠνιοπῆα

ἵππων ἡνίʼ ἔχοντα βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν.

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι

ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε.

Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο·

125τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου

κεῖσθαι, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον μέθεπε θρασύν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν

ἵππω δευέσθην σημάντορος· αἶψα γὰρ εὗρεν

Ἰφιτίδην Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασύν, ὅν ῥα τόθʼ ἵππων

ὠκυπόδων ἐπέβησε, δίδου δέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.

113Then two strong attendants tended Nestor's horses,

Sthenelus and Eurymedon, lover of warriors.

115Nestor and Diomedes together mounted Diomedes' chariot.

Nestor took the shining reins in his hands,

whipped the horses, and soon they came close to Hector.

Tydeus' son hurled his spear straight at Hector as Hector charged.

He missed Hector, but struck his attendant charioteer,

120Eniopeus, son of high-spirited Thebaeus,

who held the horses' reins, in the chest beside the nipple.

He fell from the chariot, and his swift-footed horses shied;

there his life and battle-force were released.

Terrible grief for his charioteer shrouded Hector's mind.

125Yet grieving though he was for his companion, he left him

lying there and sought a bold charioteer; nor did his horses

long lack a driver, for he quickly found

bold Archeptolemus, Iphitus' son, whom then

he mounted behind the swift-footed horses and put the reins in his hands.

130ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην καὶ ἀμήχανα ἔργα γένοντο,

καί νύ κε σήκασθεν κατὰ Ἴλιον ἠΰτε ἄρνες,

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·

βροντήσας δʼ ἄρα δεινὸν ἀφῆκʼ ἀργῆτα κεραυνόν,

κὰδ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Διομήδεος ἧκε χαμᾶζε·

135δεινὴ δὲ φλὸξ ὦρτο θεείου καιομένοιο,

τὼ δʼ ἵππω δείσαντε καταπτήτην ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι·

Νέστορα δʼ ἐκ χειρῶν φύγον ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,

δεῖσε δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν θυμῷ, Διομήδεα δὲ προσέειπε·

Τυδεΐδη ἄγε δʼ αὖτε φόβον δʼ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.

140ἦ οὐ γιγνώσκεις ὅ τοι ἐκ Διὸς οὐχ ἕπετʼ ἀλκή;

νῦν μὲν γὰρ τούτῳ Κρονίδης Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει

σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε καὶ ἡμῖν, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι,

δώσει· ἀνὴρ δέ κεν οὔ τι Διὸς νόον εἰρύσσαιτο

οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἴφθιμος, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐστι.

130Then there would have been ruin and deeds beyond remedy,

and the Trojans would have been penned inside Ilium like lambs,

if the father of gods and men had not swiftly seen it.

He thundered terribly and let fly a bright thunderbolt,

hurling it to the ground before Diomedes' horses.

135A terrible flame rose from the burning sulfur,

and the two horses, terrified, crouched beneath the chariot.

The shining reins slipped from Nestor's hands.

He was afraid in his spirit and said to Diomedes:

“Tydeus' son, come, turn the single-hoofed horses to flight.

140Do you not recognize that battle-strength from Zeus no longer follows you?

For now Zeus, son of Cronus, grants ascendancy to this man

today; later he will grant it to us as well, if he wishes.

No man can hold back the purpose of Zeus,

however strong, since Zeus is far more powerful.”

145τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα γέρον κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·

ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει·

Ἕκτωρ γάρ ποτε φήσει ἐνὶ Τρώεσσʼ ἀγορεύων·

Τυδεΐδης ὑπʼ ἐμεῖο φοβεύμενος ἵκετο νῆας.

150ὥς ποτʼ ἀπειλήσει· τότε μοι χάνοι εὐρεῖα χθών.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

ὤ μοι Τυδέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος, οἷον ἔειπες.

εἴ περ γάρ σʼ Ἕκτωρ γε κακὸν καὶ ἀνάλκιδα φήσει,

ἀλλʼ οὐ πείσονται Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες

155καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι μεγαθύμων ἀσπιστάων,

τάων ἐν κονίῃσι βάλες θαλεροὺς παρακοίτας.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας φύγαδε τράπε μώνυχας ἵππους

αὖτις ἀνʼ ἰωχμόν· ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶές τε καὶ Ἕκτωρ

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα χέοντο.

145Diomedes, good at the war cry, answered him:

“Yes, old man, all this you have said is right and fitting.

But this dreadful grief reaches my heart and spirit:

Hector will one day say, speaking among the Trojans,

‘Tydeus' son fled from me and reached the ships.’

150So he will boast one day; then may the broad earth gape for me.”

Then Gerenian Nestor, horseman, answered:

“Ah me, son of war-wise Tydeus, what a thing you have said!

Even if Hector calls you base and without battle-strength,

the Trojans and Dardanians will not believe him,

155nor the wives of the great-hearted Trojan shield-bearers,

whose husbands in their prime you cast down in the dust.”

So speaking, he turned the single-hoofed horses into flight,

back through the rout. The Trojans and Hector pressed after them

with a prodigious cry, pouring down groan-bringing missiles.

160τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Τυδεΐδη περὶ μέν σε τίον Δαναοὶ ταχύπωλοι

ἕδρῃ τε κρέασίν τε ἰδὲ πλείοις δεπάεσσι·

νῦν δέ σʼ ἀτιμήσουσι· γυναικὸς ἄρʼ ἀντὶ τέτυξο.

ἔρρε κακὴ γλήνη, ἐπεὶ οὐκ εἴξαντος ἐμεῖο

165πύργων ἡμετέρων ἐπιβήσεαι, οὐδὲ γυναῖκας

ἄξεις ἐν νήεσσι· πάρος τοι δαίμονα δώσω.

ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν

ἵππους τε στρέψαι καὶ ἐναντίβιον μαχέσασθαι.

τρὶς μὲν μερμήριξε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,

170τρὶς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων κτύπε μητίετα Ζεὺς

σῆμα τιθεὶς Τρώεσσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην.

160Great Hector of the flashing helmet called after Diomedes in a far-carrying voice:

“Tydeus' son, the swift-horsed Danaans honored you above all

with the seat of honor, meat, and brimming cups.

Now they will dishonor you—you have turned out no better than a woman.

Begone, you sorry puppet! While I refuse to yield,

165you will not mount our towers or carry our women

away in your ships; before that I will give you your doom.”

So he spoke, and Tydeus' son was divided in thought—

whether to turn the horses and fight him face-to-face.

Three times he pondered in mind and spirit;

170three times Zeus, lord of counsel, thundered from the mountains of Ida,

giving the Trojans a sign of victory that turns the battle.

172Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ

ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

175γιγνώσκω δʼ ὅτι μοι πρόφρων κατένευσε Κρονίων

νίκην καὶ μέγα κῦδος, ἀτὰρ Δαναοῖσί γε πῆμα·

νήπιοι οἳ ἄρα δὴ τάδε τείχεα μηχανόωντο

ἀβλήχρʼ οὐδενόσωρα· τὰ δʼ οὐ μένος ἁμὸν ἐρύξει·

ἵπποι δὲ ῥέα τάφρον ὑπερθορέονται ὀρυκτήν.

180ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσι γένωμαι,

μνημοσύνη τις ἔπειτα πυρὸς δηΐοιο γενέσθω,

ὡς πυρὶ νῆας ἐνιπρήσω, κτείνω δὲ καὶ αὐτοὺς

Ἀργείους παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀτυζομένους ὑπὸ καπνοῦ.

172Hector called to the Trojans in a far-carrying shout:

“Trojans and Lycians and Dardanians, close fighters,

be men, my friends, and remember your furious courage.

175I know the son of Cronus willingly nodded assent to me,

granting victory and great ascendancy, but disaster to the Danaans.

Fools—they contrived these walls,

feeble and worthless; they will not hold back our force.

Our horses will easily leap across the dug-out ditch.

180But when I reach the hollow ships,

then let consuming fire come to mind,

so I may burn the ships with fire and kill the Argives themselves

beside them, bewildered by the smoke.”

184ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε·

185Ξάνθέ τε καὶ σὺ Πόδαργε καὶ Αἴθων Λάμπέ τε δῖε

νῦν μοι τὴν κομιδὴν ἀποτίνετον, ἣν μάλα πολλὴν

Ἀνδρομάχη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἠετίωνος

ὑμῖν πὰρ προτέροισι μελίφρονα πυρὸν ἔθηκεν

οἶνόν τʼ ἐγκεράσασα πιεῖν, ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι,

190ἢ ἐμοί, ὅς πέρ οἱ θαλερὸς πόσις εὔχομαι εἶναι.

ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὄφρα λάβωμεν

ἀσπίδα Νεστορέην, τῆς νῦν κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει

πᾶσαν χρυσείην ἔμεναι, κανόνας τε καὶ αὐτήν,

αὐτὰρ ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο

195δαιδάλεον θώρηκα, τὸν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.

εἰ τούτω κε λάβοιμεν, ἐελποίμην κεν Ἀχαιοὺς

αὐτονυχὶ νηῶν ἐπιβησέμεν ὠκειάων.

184So speaking, he called to his horses and cried:

185“Xanthus—and you, Podargus, Aethon, and godlike Lampus—

now repay me for the abundant care

Andromache, daughter of great-hearted Eetion,

gave you, setting honey-sweet wheat before your forefeet

and mixing wine for you to drink whenever your spirit urged,

190rather than for me, though I boast that I am her vigorous husband.

Press after them and make haste, so we may take

Nestor's shield, whose fame now reaches heaven—

that it is all gold, its frame-bars and the shield itself—

and from the shoulders of horse-taming Diomedes

195the intricate breastplate Hephaestus labored to fashion.

If we could take those two, I would expect the Achaeans

to board their swift ships this very night.”

198ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, νεμέσησε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη,

σείσατο δʼ εἰνὶ θρόνῳ, ἐλέλιξε δὲ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,

200καί ῥα Ποσειδάωνα μέγαν θεὸν ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οὐδέ νυ σοί περ

ὀλλυμένων Δαναῶν ὀλοφύρεται ἐν φρεσὶ θυμός.

οἳ δέ τοι εἰς Ἑλίκην τε καὶ Αἰγὰς δῶρʼ ἀνάγουσι

πολλά τε καὶ χαρίεντα· σὺ δέ σφισι βούλεο νίκην.

205εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλοιμεν, ὅσοι Δαναοῖσιν ἀρωγοί,

Τρῶας ἀπώσασθαι καὶ ἐρυκέμεν εὐρύοπα Ζῆν,

αὐτοῦ κʼ ἔνθʼ ἀκάχοιτο καθήμενος οἶος ἐν Ἴδῃ.

τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη κρείων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ἥρη ἀπτοεπὲς ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.

210οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι Διὶ Κρονίωνι μάχεσθαι

ἡμέας τοὺς ἄλλους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐστιν.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·

198So he spoke in triumph, and lady Hera was indignant;

she shook upon her throne and made high Olympus tremble.

200She addressed the great god Poseidon face-to-face:

“Ah, earth-shaker of wide strength, does not even your

spirit within you pity the Danaans as they perish?

They bring you many pleasing gifts at Helice

and Aegae; intend victory for them.

205If only we were willing—all of us who aid the Danaans—

to drive the Trojans back and hold far-seeing Zeus in check,

he would sit alone on Ida and grieve.”

The lord who shakes the earth, deeply troubled, answered her:

“Hera, reckless in speech, what a word you have spoken!

210I would not want us other gods to fight

against Zeus, son of Cronus; he is far stronger.”

So they spoke these words to one another.

213τῶν δʼ ὅσον ἐκ νηῶν ἀπὸ πύργου τάφρος ἔεργε

πλῆθεν ὁμῶς ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν ἀσπιστάων

215εἰλομένων· εἴλει δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκε.

καί νύ κʼ ἐνέπρησεν πυρὶ κηλέῳ νῆας ἐΐσας,

εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι πότνια Ἥρη

αὐτῷ ποιπνύσαντι θοῶς ὀτρῦναι Ἀχαιούς.

213All the ground the ditch enclosed before the ships and wall

was filled alike with horses and shield-bearing men,

215packed together; Hector, peer of swift Ares, hemmed them in

when Zeus granted ascendancy to Priam's son.

Now he would have burned the well-balanced ships with consuming fire

if lady Hera had not put it in Agamemnon's mind

while he himself bustled about, to rouse the Achaeans quickly.

220βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

πορφύρεον μέγα φᾶρος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παχείῃ,

στῆ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγακήτεϊ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,

ἥ ῥʼ ἐν μεσσάτῳ ἔσκε γεγωνέμεν ἀμφοτέρωσε,

ἠμὲν ἐπʼ Αἴαντος κλισίας Τελαμωνιάδαο

225ἠδʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος, τοί ῥʼ ἔσχατα νῆας ἐΐσας

εἴρυσαν, ἠνορέῃ πίσυνοι καὶ κάρτεϊ χειρῶν·

ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·

αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι, κάκʼ ἐλέγχεα, εἶδος ἀγητοί·

πῇ ἔβαν εὐχωλαί, ὅτε δὴ φάμεν εἶναι ἄριστοι,

230ἃς ὁπότʼ ἐν Λήμνῳ κενεαυχέες ἠγοράασθε,

ἔσθοντες κρέα πολλὰ βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων

πίνοντες κρητῆρας ἐπιστεφέας οἴνοιο,

Τρώων ἄνθʼ ἑκατόν τε διηκοσίων τε ἕκαστος

στήσεσθʼ ἐν πολέμῳ· νῦν δʼ οὐδʼ ἑνὸς ἄξιοί εἰμεν

235Ἕκτορος, ὃς τάχα νῆας ἐνιπρήσει πυρὶ κηλέῳ.

Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τινʼ ἤδη ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων

τῇδʼ ἄτῃ ἄασας καί μιν μέγα κῦδος ἀπηύρας;

οὐ μὲν δή ποτέ φημι τεὸν περικαλλέα βωμὸν

νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι παρελθέμεν ἐνθάδε ἔρρων,

240ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσι βοῶν δημὸν καὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηα

ἱέμενος Τροίην εὐτείχεον ἐξαλαπάξαι.

ἀλλὰ Ζεῦ τόδε πέρ μοι ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·

αὐτοὺς δή περ ἔασον ὑπεκφυγέειν καὶ ἀλύξαι,

μηδʼ οὕτω Τρώεσσιν ἔα δάμνασθαι Ἀχαιούς.

220He went along the Achaeans' huts and ships,

holding a great purple cloak in his thick hand,

and stood on Odysseus' huge-hulled black ship,

which lay at the center, so his shout could carry both ways,

toward the huts of Telamonian Ajax

225and toward Achilles', for they had drawn up their well-balanced ships

at the far ends, trusting in courage and the strength of their hands.

He cried out in a piercing voice, calling to the Danaans:

“Shame, Argives—foul disgraces, splendid only to look at!

Where have all the boasts gone, when we claimed to be the best,

230those empty boasts you made in assembly on Lemnos,

as you ate abundant meat from straight-horned cattle

and drank mixing bowls filled to the brim with wine,

each man saying he could stand in battle against a hundred

or even two hundred Trojans? Now we are not worth one

235Hector, who will soon burn our ships with consuming fire.

Father Zeus, have you ever before blinded one of the mighty kings

with delusion like this and robbed him of great ascendancy?

I say I never passed one of your beautiful altars

as I traveled here in my many-benched ship,

240but at every one I burned the fat and thigh pieces of cattle,

longing to sack well-walled Troy.

But Zeus, fulfill this wish for me at least:

let the men themselves escape and get away;

do not let the Achaeans be subdued by the Trojans like this.”

245ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ πατὴρ ὀλοφύρατο δάκρυ χέοντα,

νεῦσε δέ οἱ λαὸν σόον ἔμμεναι οὐδʼ ἀπολέσθαι.

αὐτίκα δʼ αἰετὸν ἧκε τελειότατον πετεηνῶν,

νεβρὸν ἔχοντʼ ὀνύχεσσι τέκος ἐλάφοιο ταχείης·

πὰρ δὲ Διὸς βωμῷ περικαλλέϊ κάββαλε νεβρόν,

250ἔνθα πανομφαίῳ Ζηνὶ ῥέζεσκον Ἀχαιοί.

οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν εἴδονθʼ ὅ τʼ ἄρʼ ἐκ Διὸς ἤλυθεν ὄρνις,

μᾶλλον ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι θόρον, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.

245So he spoke. The father pitied him as he shed tears

and nodded that his people would survive and not be destroyed.

At once he sent an eagle, surest of birds,

holding in its talons a fawn, the young of a swift deer.

It dropped the fawn beside Zeus's beautiful altar,

250where the Achaeans sacrificed to Zeus, lord of every omen.

As soon as they saw that the bird had come from Zeus,

they leapt more fiercely upon the Trojans and remembered battle.

253ἔνθʼ οὔ τις πρότερος Δαναῶν πολλῶν περ ἐόντων

εὔξατο Τυδεΐδαο πάρος σχέμεν ὠκέας ἵππους

255τάφρου τʼ ἐξελάσαι καὶ ἐναντίβιον μαχέσασθαι,

ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτος Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴν

Φραδμονίδην Ἀγέλαον· ὃ μὲν φύγαδʼ ἔτραπεν ἵππους·

τῷ δὲ μεταστρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν

ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν·

260ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

253Then no one among the Danaans, many as they were, could boast

that he had kept his swift horses ahead of Tydeus' son,

255brought them out beyond the ditch, and fought face-to-face;

instead he was first by far to kill an armed Trojan,

Agelaus, Phradmon's son. He turned his horses to flee,

but as he wheeled away Diomedes fixed the spear in his back,

between the shoulders, and drove it through his chest.

260He fell from the chariot, and the armor on him clashed.

261τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδαι Ἀγαμέμνων καὶ Μενέλαος,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος

Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ,

265τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·

Τεῦκρος δʼ εἴνατος ἦλθε παλίντονα τόξα τιταίνων,

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος σάκεϊ Τελαμωνιάδαο.

ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὑπεξέφερεν σάκος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως

παπτήνας, ἐπεὶ ἄρ τινʼ ὀϊστεύσας ἐν ὁμίλῳ

270βεβλήκοι, ὃ μὲν αὖθι πεσὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὄλεσσεν,

αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτις ἰὼν πάϊς ὣς ὑπὸ μητέρα δύσκεν

εἰς Αἴανθʼ· ὃ δέ μιν σάκεϊ κρύπτασκε φαεινῷ.

261After him came Atreus' sons, Agamemnon and Menelaus;

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

after them, Idomeneus and Idomeneus’ companion,

Meriones, a match for man-slaying Enyalius;

265after them, Eurypylus, Euaemon’s splendid son;

Teucer came ninth, drawing his recurved bow,

and took his stand beneath the shield of Telamonian Ajax.

There Ajax would lift the shield aside, and Teucer

would peer out; whenever he shot a man in the throng

270and struck him, the man fell there and lost his life.

Then Teucer would return like a child slipping beneath his mother,

back to Ajax, who hid him under his shining shield.

273ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον Τρώων ἕλε Τεῦκρος ἀμύμων;

Ὀρσίλοχον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Ὄρμενον ἠδʼ Ὀφελέστην

275Δαίτορά τε Χρομίον τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Λυκοφόντην

καὶ Πολυαιμονίδην Ἀμοπάονα καὶ Μελάνιππον,

πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ.

273Who was the first Trojan blameless Teucer killed?

Orsilochus first, then Ormenus and Ophelestes,

275Daetor and Chromius and godlike Lycophontes,

Amopaon, son of Polyemon, and Melanippus—

all one after another he laid on the rich-pasturing earth.

278τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν γήθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

τόξου ἄπο κρατεροῦ Τρώων ὀλέκοντα φάλαγγας·

280στῆ δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

Τεῦκρε φίλη κεφαλή, Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν

βάλλʼ οὕτως, αἴ κέν τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένηαι

πατρί τε σῷ Τελαμῶνι, ὅ σʼ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα,

καί σε νόθον περ ἐόντα κομίσσατο ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ·

285τὸν καὶ τηλόθʼ ἐόντα ἐϋκλείης ἐπίβησον.

σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξερέω ὡς καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·

αἴ κέν μοι δώῃ Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀθήνη

Ἰλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

πρώτῳ τοι μετʼ ἐμὲ πρεσβήϊον ἐν χερὶ θήσω,

290ἢ τρίποδʼ ἠὲ δύω ἵππους αὐτοῖσιν ὄχεσφιν

ἠὲ γυναῖχʼ, ἥ κέν τοι ὁμὸν λέχος εἰσαναβαίνοι.

278Seeing him, Agamemnon, lord of men, rejoiced,

as Teucer destroyed Trojan ranks with his powerful bow.

280He went and stood beside him, then addressed him:

“Teucer, dear one, son of Telamon, leader of the host,

keep shooting like this, so you may become a light to the Danaans

and to your father Telamon, who raised you from infancy

and though you were born outside marriage, cared for you in his own house.

285Bring him good fame, though he is far away.

I will tell you this, and it will be fulfilled:

if Zeus who bears the aegis and Athena grant me

to sack the well-built stronghold of Ilium,

I will put a prize of honor in your hands, first after my own:

290either a tripod, or two horses with their chariot,

or a woman who will share the same bed with you.”

292τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε Τεῦκρος ἀμύμων·

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε τί με σπεύδοντα καὶ αὐτὸν

ὀτρύνεις; οὐ μέν τοι ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστι

295παύομαι, ἀλλʼ ἐξ οὗ προτὶ Ἴλιον ὠσάμεθʼ αὐτοὺς

ἐκ τοῦ δὴ τόξοισι δεδεγμένος ἄνδρας ἐναίρω.

ὀκτὼ δὴ προέηκα τανυγλώχινας ὀϊστούς,

πάντες δʼ ἐν χροῒ πῆχθεν ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν·

τοῦτον δʼ οὐ δύναμαι βαλέειν κύνα λυσσητῆρα.

292Blameless Teucer answered him:

“Most glorious son of Atreus, why urge me when I am eager myself?

As long as strength remains in me, I do not stop.

295Ever since we drove them toward Ilium,

I have kept watch with my bow and killed men.

I have now shot eight long-barbed arrows;

all were fixed in the flesh of warlike young men,

but I cannot hit this raging dog.”

300ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλεν

Ἕκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός·

καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀμύμονα Γοργυθίωνα

υἱὸν ἐῢν Πριάμοιο κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷ,

τόν ῥʼ ἐξ Αἰσύμηθεν ὀπυιομένη τέκε μήτηρ

305καλὴ Καστιάνειρα δέμας ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι.

μήκων δʼ ὡς ἑτέρωσε κάρη βάλεν, ἥ τʼ ἐνὶ κήπῳ

καρπῷ βριθομένη νοτίῃσί τε εἰαρινῇσιν,

ὣς ἑτέρωσʼ ἤμυσε κάρη πήληκι βαρυνθέν.

Τεῦκρος δʼ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλεν

310Ἕκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός.

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτε· παρέσφηλεν γὰρ Ἀπόλλων·

ἀλλʼ Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασὺν Ἕκτορος ἡνιοχῆα

ἱέμενον πόλεμον δὲ βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν·

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι

315ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε.

Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο·

τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου,

Κεβριόνην δʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀδελφεὸν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα

ἵππων ἡνίʼ ἑλεῖν· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.

300He spoke and sent another arrow from the string,

straight at Hector; his spirit yearned to hit him.

He missed him, but struck blameless Gorgythion,

a worthy son of Priam, in the chest with the arrow.

His mother bore him after coming as a bride from Aesyme,

305beautiful Castianeira, with a body like the goddesses.

As a poppy in a garden bows its head to one side,

weighted with fruit and spring rain,

so his head drooped to one side, burdened by the helmet.

Teucer sent another arrow from the string

310straight at Hector; his spirit yearned to hit him.

But he missed again, for Apollo turned it aside;

instead he struck bold Archeptolemus, Hector's charioteer,

as he rushed into battle, in the chest beside the nipple.

He fell from the chariot, and his swift-footed horses shied;

315there his life and battle-force were released.

Terrible grief for his charioteer shrouded Hector's mind.

He left him there, though grieving for his companion,

and ordered his brother Cebriones, who was near,

to take the horses' reins; he heard and did not disobey.

320αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρί,

βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς Τεύκρου, βαλέειν δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν φαρέτρης ἐξείλετο πικρὸν ὀϊστόν,

θῆκε δʼ ἐπὶ νευρῇ· τὸν δʼ αὖ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

325αὐερύοντα παρʼ ὦμον, ὅθι κληῒς ἀποέργει

αὐχένα τε στῆθός τε, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστι,

τῇ ῥʼ ἐπὶ οἷ μεμαῶτα βάλεν λίθῳ ὀκριόεντι,

ῥῆξε δέ οἱ νευρήν· νάρκησε δὲ χεὶρ ἐπὶ καρπῷ,

στῆ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριπών, τόξον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.

330Αἴας δʼ οὐκ ἀμέλησε κασιγνήτοιο πεσόντος,

ἀλλὰ θέων περίβη καί οἱ σάκος ἀμφεκάλυψε.

τὸν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ὑποδύντε δύω ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι

Μηκιστεὺς Ἐχίοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ἀλάστωρ

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς φερέτην βαρέα στενάχοντα.

320Hector himself leapt to the ground from the gleaming chariot,

shouting terribly. He seized in one hand a stone,

and went straight at Teucer; his spirit urged him to strike.

Teucer had drawn a bitter arrow from his quiver

and set it to the string, but Hector of the flashing helmet,

325as Teucer drew, beside the shoulder, where the collarbone divides

the neck from the chest—the most deadly spot—

struck him there with a jagged stone as Teucer strained to shoot him.

He snapped the bowstring; Teucer's hand went numb at the wrist.

Teucer dropped to one knee, and the bow fell from his hand.

330Ajax did not neglect his fallen brother,

but ran to stand over him and covered him with his shield.

Then two loyal companions stooped beneath him,

Mecisteus, son of Echios, and godlike Alastor,

and carried him to the hollow ships as he groaned heavily.

335ἂψ δʼ αὖτις Τρώεσσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἐν μένος ὦρσεν·

οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς τάφροιο βαθείης ὦσαν Ἀχαιούς·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε κύων συὸς ἀγρίου ἠὲ λέοντος

ἅπτηται κατόπισθε ποσὶν ταχέεσσι διώκων

340ἰσχία τε γλουτούς τε, ἑλισσόμενόν τε δοκεύει,

ὣς Ἕκτωρ ὤπαζε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς,

αἰὲν ἀποκτείνων τὸν ὀπίστατον· οἳ δὲ φέβοντο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ διά τε σκόλοπας καὶ τάφρον ἔβησαν

φεύγοντες, πολλοὶ δὲ δάμεν Τρώων ὑπὸ χερσίν,

345οἳ μὲν δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες,

ἀλλήλοισί τε κεκλόμενοι καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσι

χεῖρας ἀνίσχοντες μεγάλʼ εὐχετόωντο ἕκαστος·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἀμφιπεριστρώφα καλλίτριχας ἵππους

Γοργοῦς ὄμματʼ ἔχων ἠδὲ βροτολοιγοῦ Ἄρηος.

335Once more Olympian Zeus roused force in the Trojans,

and they drove the Achaeans straight toward the deep ditch.

Hector strode among the foremost, exulting in his strength.

As when a dog in pursuit of a wild boar or lion

runs close behind on swift feet,

340snapping at its haunches and buttocks and watching it wheel,

so Hector hounded the long-haired Achaeans,

always killing the hindmost; and they fled.

But when they crossed the stakes and the ditch

in flight, and many were killed beneath Trojan hands,

345then they halted beside the ships and stood their ground,

calling to one another and to all the gods,

each raising his hands and praying loudly.

Hector wheeled his beautiful-maned horses around and around,

with the eyes of the Gorgon and of Ares, destroyer of men.

350τοὺς δὲ ἰδοῦσʼ ἐλέησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,

αἶψα δʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος οὐκέτι νῶϊ

ὀλλυμένων Δαναῶν κεκαδησόμεθʼ ὑστάτιόν περ;

οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται

355ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς ῥιπῇ, ὃ δὲ μαίνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτῶς

Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε.

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

καὶ λίην οὗτός γε μένος θυμόν τʼ ὀλέσειε

χερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων φθίμενος ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ·

360ἀλλὰ πατὴρ οὑμὸς φρεσὶ μαίνεται οὐκ ἀγαθῇσι

σχέτλιος, αἰὲν ἀλιτρός, ἐμῶν μενέων ἀπερωεύς·

οὐδέ τι τῶν μέμνηται, ὅ οἱ μάλα πολλάκις υἱὸν

τειρόμενον σώεσκον ὑπʼ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κλαίεσκε πρὸς οὐρανόν, αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς

365τῷ ἐπαλεξήσουσαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προΐαλλεν.

εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ τάδε ᾔδεʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσιν

εὖτέ μιν εἰς Ἀΐδαο πυλάρταο προὔπεμψεν

ἐξ Ἐρέβευς ἄξοντα κύνα στυγεροῦ Ἀΐδαο,

οὐκ ἂν ὑπεξέφυγε Στυγὸς ὕδατος αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα.

370νῦν δʼ ἐμὲ μὲν στυγέει, Θέτιδος δʼ ἐξήνυσε βουλάς,

ἥ οἱ γούνατʼ ἔκυσσε καὶ ἔλλαβε χειρὶ γενείου,

λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον.

ἔσται μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε φίλην γλαυκώπιδα εἴπῃ.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπέντυε μώνυχας ἵππους,

375ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ καταδῦσα Διὸς δόμον αἰγιόχοιο

τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήξομαι, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι

ἢ νῶϊ Πριάμοιο πάϊς κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

γηθήσει προφανέντε ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας,

ἦ τις καὶ Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνοὺς

380δημῷ καὶ σάρκεσσι, πεσὼν ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

350White-armed goddess Hera saw them and took pity,

and at once addressed Athena with winged words:

“Ah, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, will we no longer

care for the Danaans as they perish, even at the end?

They will perish once they have filled out their evil fate

355under one man's onslaught; he rages beyond endurance—

Hector, Priam's son—and already he has done great harm.”

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

“Yes, this man would surely lose his force and life,

killed by Argive hands in his native land.

360But my father rages, his mind bent on no good—

cruel, always lawless, always thwarting my purpose.

He remembers nothing of how many times I saved his son

when Eurystheus' labors wore him down.

He would weep toward heaven, and Zeus would send me

365from heaven to defend him.

If I had known this in my shrewd mind

when Eurystheus sent him to Hades the gatekeeper,

to bring the hound of hateful Hades from Erebus,

he would not have escaped the steep streams of Styx.

370But now he hates me and has fulfilled Thetis' plans,

who kissed his knees and took his chin in her hand,

begging him to honor Achilles, sacker of cities.

The day will come when he calls me his dear bright-eyed one again.

Now harness the single-hoofed horses for us,

375while I enter the house of aegis-bearing Zeus

and arm myself for battle, so I may see

whether Hector, Priam's son, of the flashing helmet,

will rejoice when we appear across the bridges of war,

or whether some Trojan too will glut the dogs and birds

380with his fat and flesh, fallen beside the Achaean ships.”

381ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη.

ἣ μὲν ἐποιχομένη χρυσάμπυκας ἔντυεν ἵππους

Ἥρη πρέσβα θεὰ θυγάτηρ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο·

αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

385πέπλον μὲν κατέχευεν ἑανὸν πατρὸς ἐπʼ οὔδει

ποικίλον, ὅν ῥʼ αὐτὴ ποιήσατο καὶ κάμε χερσίν,

ἣ δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνδῦσα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο

τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσετο δακρυόεντα.

ἐς δʼ ὄχεα φλόγεα ποσὶ βήσετο, λάζετο δʼ ἔγχος

390βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν

ἡρώων, τοῖσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη.

Ἥρη δὲ μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετʼ ἄρʼ ἵππους·

αὐτόμαται δὲ πύλαι μύκον οὐρανοῦ ἃς ἔχον Ὧραι,

τῇς ἐπιτέτραπται μέγας οὐρανὸς Οὔλυμπός τε

395ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν νέφος ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.

τῇ ῥα διʼ αὐτάων κεντρηνεκέας ἔχον ἵππους.

381So she spoke, and the white-armed goddess Hera did not disobey.

Hera went about harnessing the gold-frontleted horses,

the elder goddess, daughter of great Cronus.

Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus,

385let her soft robe fall upon her father’s floor,

the intricate robe she herself had made with her hands.

She put on the tunic of cloud-gathering Zeus

and armed herself for tear-bringing war.

She stepped into the flaming chariot and took up her spear,

390heavy, huge, and strong, with which she subdues the ranks

of heroic men against whom the mighty Father’s daughter is angry.

Hera swiftly laid the whip upon the horses.

The gates of heaven groaned open of themselves, the gates the Hours keep,

for to them great heaven and Olympus are entrusted,

395both to open the dense cloud and close it again.

Through those gates they drove the horses on beneath the goad.

397Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐπεὶ ἴδε χώσατʼ ἄρʼ αἰνῶς,

Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε χρυσόπτερον ἀγγελέουσαν·

βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, πάλιν τρέπε μηδʼ ἔα ἄντην

400ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γὰρ καλὰ συνοισόμεθα πτόλεμον δέ.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·

γυιώσω μέν σφωϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,

αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέω κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξω·

οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς

405ἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός·

ὄφρα ἰδῇ γλαυκῶπις ὅτʼ ἂν ᾧ πατρὶ μάχηται.

Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζομαι οὐδὲ χολοῦμαι·

αἰεὶ γάρ μοι ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττί κεν εἴπω.

397Father Zeus saw them from Ida and grew terribly angry.

He urged gold-winged Iris to carry his message:

“Go, swift Iris, turn them back; do not let them come against me—

400our meeting in battle will bring them no good.

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

I will cripple their swift horses beneath the chariot,

hurl the goddesses themselves from the car, and smash the chariot.

Not even within ten circling years

405would you two recover from the wounds my thunderbolt inflicts.

Then the bright-eyed one will learn what it is to fight her father.

I do not resent Hera nearly so much, nor am I so angry with her;

she has always made it her habit to oppose whatever I say.”

409ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα,

410βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον.

πρώτῃσιν δὲ πύλῃσι πολυπτύχου Οὐλύμποιο

ἀντομένη κατέρυκε, Διὸς δέ σφʼ ἔννεπε μῦθον·

πῇ μέματον; τί σφῶϊν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μαίνεται ἦτορ;

οὐκ ἐάᾳ Κρονίδης ἐπαμυνέμεν Ἀργείοισιν.

415ὧδε γὰρ ἠπείλησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ᾗ τελέει περ,

γυιώσειν μὲν σφῶϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,

αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέειν κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξειν·

οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς

ἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός·

420ὄφρα ἰδῇς γλαυκῶπι ὅτʼ ἂν σῷ πατρὶ μάχηαι.

Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζεται οὐδὲ χολοῦται·

αἰεὶ γάρ οἱ ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττι κεν εἴπῃ·

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ αἰνοτάτη κύον ἀδεὲς εἰ ἐτεόν γε

τολμήσεις Διὸς ἄντα πελώριον ἔγχος ἀεῖραι.

409So he spoke, and storm-footed Iris sprang up to carry the message.

410She went from the mountains of Ida to high Olympus.

At the first gates of many-folded Olympus

she met and stopped them, and told them Zeus’s word:

“Where are you two rushing? Why do your hearts rage within you?

The son of Cronus forbids you to defend the Argives.

415This is the threat Cronus’s son has made—and he will bring it to pass:

he will cripple your swift horses beneath the chariot,

hurl you yourselves from the car, and smash the chariot.

Not even within ten circling years

would you two recover from the wounds his thunderbolt inflicts.

420Then you will learn, bright-eyed one, what it is to fight your father.

He does not resent Hera nearly so much, nor is he so angry with her;

she has always made it her habit to oppose whatever he says.

But you, most dreadful one, shameless dog—if you truly

dare lift your massive spear against Zeus.”

425ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,

αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, οὐκέτʼ ἔγωγε

νῶϊ ἐῶ Διὸς ἄντα βροτῶν ἕνεκα πτολεμίζειν·

τῶν ἄλλος μὲν ἀποφθίσθω, ἄλλος δὲ βιώτω,

430ὅς κε τύχῃ· κεῖνος δὲ τὰ ἃ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷ

Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι δικαζέτω, ὡς ἐπιεικές.

425With that, swift-footed Iris departed.

Then Hera spoke these words to Athena:

“Ah, child of aegis-bearing Zeus, no longer will I

allow us to fight against Zeus for the sake of mortals.

Let one of them die and another live,

430as chance may fall. Let Zeus, pondering his own designs at heart,

judge between Trojans and Danaans as is fitting.”

432ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πάλιν τρέπε μώνυχας ἵππους·

τῇσιν δʼ Ὧραι μὲν λῦσαν καλλίτριχας ἵππους,

καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐπʼ ἀμβροσίῃσι κάπῃσιν,

435ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα·

αὐταὶ δὲ χρυσέοισιν ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι κάθιζον

μίγδʼ ἄλλοισι θεοῖσι, φίλον τετιημέναι ἦτορ.

Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐΰτροχον ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους

Οὔλυμπον δὲ δίωκε, θεῶν δʼ ἐξίκετο θώκους.

440τῷ δὲ καὶ ἵππους μὲν λῦσε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος,

ἅρματα δʼ ἂμ βωμοῖσι τίθει κατὰ λῖτα πετάσσας·

αὐτὸς δὲ χρύσειον ἐπὶ θρόνον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς

ἕζετο, τῷ δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ μέγας πελεμίζετʼ Ὄλυμπος.

αἳ δʼ οἶαι Διὸς ἀμφὶς Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη

445ἥσθην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδʼ ἐρέοντο·

432So she spoke and turned the single-hoofed horses back.

The Hours loosed the goddesses’ beautiful-maned horses,

tethered them at their ambrosial mangers,

435and leaned the chariot against the all-shining front wall.

Hera and Athena themselves took their seats upon golden chairs

among the other gods, their hearts distressed.

Father Zeus drove the smooth-running chariot and horses from Ida

toward Olympus, and reached the seats of the gods.

440The renowned Earth-shaker unharnessed the horses for him

and set the chariot on its stand, spreading a linen cover over it.

Far-seeing Zeus himself sat upon his golden throne,

and great Olympus trembled beneath his feet.

Athena and Hera alone sat apart from Zeus;

445they neither addressed him nor asked him anything.

446αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε·

τίφθʼ οὕτω τετίησθον Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη;

οὐ μέν θην κάμετόν γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ

ὀλλῦσαι Τρῶας, τοῖσιν κότον αἰνὸν ἔθεσθε.

450πάντως, οἷον ἐμόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρες ἄαπτοι,

οὐκ ἄν με τρέψειαν ὅσοι θεοί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ.

σφῶϊν δὲ πρίν περ τρόμος ἔλλαβε φαίδιμα γυῖα

πρὶν πόλεμόν τε ἰδεῖν πολέμοιό τε μέρμερα ἔργα.

ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δέ κεν τετελεσμένον ἦεν·

455οὐκ ἂν ἐφʼ ὑμετέρων ὀχέων πληγέντε κεραυνῷ

ἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἵκεσθον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτων ἕδος ἐστίν.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ἐπέμυξαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη·

πλησίαι αἵ γʼ ἥσθην, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μεδέσθην.

ἤτοι Ἀθηναίη ἀκέων ἦν οὐδέ τι εἶπε

460σκυζομένη Διὶ πατρί, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·

Ἥρῃ δʼ οὐκ ἔχαδε στῆθος χόλον, ἀλλὰ προσηύδα·

αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.

εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν·

ἀλλʼ ἔμπης Δαναῶν ὀλοφυρόμεθʼ αἰχμητάων,

465οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι πολέμου μὲν ἀφεξόμεθʼ, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις·

βουλὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ὑποθησόμεθʼ ἥ τις ὀνήσει,

ὡς μὴ πάντες ὄλωνται ὀδυσσαμένοιο τεοῖο.

446But he understood within his mind and spoke:

“Why are you two so distressed, Athena and Hera?

Surely you have not grown weary in battle that brings men glory,

destroying the Trojans, against whom you have fixed your dreadful grudge.

450In any case, such is my force, and my hands are irresistible:

not all the gods on Olympus could turn me back.

Yet trembling had already seized your splendid limbs

before you saw battle and the terrible work of war.

For I will say this plainly, and it would have been fulfilled:

455once struck by my thunderbolt upon your chariot, you two would never

have returned to Olympus, where the immortals have their seat.”

So he spoke. Athena and Hera muttered low;

they sat close together, plotting evil for the Trojans.

Athena stayed silent and said nothing,

460enraged at Father Zeus as savage anger seized her.

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

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

We too know well that your strength is not feeble.

Still, we grieve for the Danaan spearmen,

465who will perish once they have filled out their evil fate.

We will hold ourselves back from war, if you command it;

but we will offer the Argives counsel that may help,

so they do not all perish under your anger.”

469τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

470ἠοῦς δὴ καὶ μᾶλλον ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωνα

ὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη

ὀλλύντʼ Ἀργείων πουλὺν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων·

οὐ γὰρ πρὶν πολέμου ἀποπαύσεται ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ

πρὶν ὄρθαι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα,

475ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἂν οἳ μὲν ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσι μάχωνται

στείνει ἐν αἰνοτάτῳ περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος·

ὣς γὰρ θέσφατόν ἐστι· σέθεν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζω

χωομένης, οὐδʼ εἴ κε τὰ νείατα πείραθʼ ἵκηαι

γαίης καὶ πόντοιο, ἵνʼ Ἰάπετός τε Κρόνος τε

480ἥμενοι οὔτʼ αὐγῇς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο

τέρποντʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμοισι, βαθὺς δέ τε Τάρταρος ἀμφίς·

οὐδʼ ἢν ἔνθʼ ἀφίκηαι ἀλωμένη, οὔ σευ ἔγωγε

σκυζομένης ἀλέγω, ἐπεὶ οὐ σέο κύντερον ἄλλο.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη λευκώλενος Ἥρη.

469Cloud-gathering Zeus answered her:

470“At dawn you will see the overmastering son of Cronus

still more at work, if you wish, ox-eyed lady Hera,

destroying the great host of Argive spearmen.

Mighty Hector will not cease from battle

until he rouses swift-footed Peleus’s son beside the ships,

475on the day when the armies clash beside the sterns

in the most dreadful press over Patroclus fallen.

So it is divinely ordained. I care nothing for your anger,

not even if in your rage you reach the lowest bounds

of earth and sea, where Iapetus and Cronus sit,

480taking no pleasure in the rays of Hyperion’s Sun

or in the winds, with deep Tartarus all around them.

Even if you reach that place in your wandering, I will not care

how angry you are, for nothing is more dog-like than you.”

So he spoke, but white-armed Hera gave him no answer.

485ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ Ὠκεανῷ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο

ἕλκον νύκτα μέλαιναν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.

Τρωσὶν μέν ῥʼ ἀέκουσιν ἔδυ φάος, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖς

ἀσπασίη τρίλλιστος ἐπήλυθε νὺξ ἐρεβεννή.

485The bright light of the sun fell into Ocean,

drawing black night over the grain-giving earth.

The light sank against the Trojans’ will, but for the Achaeans

welcome, thrice-prayed-for shadowy night came on.

489Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴν ποιήσατο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

490νόσφι νεῶν ἀγαγὼν ποταμῷ ἔπι δινήεντι,

ἐν καθαρῷ ὅθι δὴ νεκύων διεφαίνετο χῶρος.

ἐξ ἵππων δʼ ἀποβάντες ἐπὶ χθόνα μῦθον ἄκουον

τόν ῥʼ Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευε Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα χειρὶ

ἔγχος ἔχʼ ἑνδεκάπηχυ· πάροιθε δὲ λάμπετο δουρὸς

495αἰχμὴ χαλκείη, περὶ δὲ χρύσεος θέε πόρκης,

τῷ ὅ γʼ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπεα Τρώεσσι μετηύδα·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·

489Then glorious Hector called another assembly of the Trojans,

490leading them away from the ships beside the eddying river,

onto clear ground where the earth showed through among the dead.

They stepped down from their chariots to the ground and listened

to the speech Hector, dear to Zeus, delivered. In his hand

he held an eleven-cubit spear; before him the bronze

495point gleamed, and a golden ring ran around the shaft.

Leaning upon it, he addressed the Trojans:

“Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies:

498νῦν ἐφάμην νῆάς τʼ ὀλέσας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς

ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·

500ἀλλὰ πρὶν κνέφας ἦλθε, τὸ νῦν ἐσάωσε μάλιστα

Ἀργείους καὶ νῆας ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ

δόρπά τʼ ἐφοπλισόμεσθα· ἀτὰρ καλλίτριχας ἵππους

λύσαθʼ ὑπὲξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δέ σφισι βάλλετʼ ἐδωδήν·

505ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξεσθε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα

καρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζεσθε

σῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγεσθε,

ὥς κεν παννύχιοι μέσφʼ ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης

καίωμεν πυρὰ πολλά, σέλας δʼ εἰς οὐρανὸν ἵκῃ,

510μή πως καὶ διὰ νύκτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

φεύγειν ὁρμήσωνται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.

μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε νεῶν ἐπιβαῖεν ἕκηλοι,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τις τούτων γε βέλος καὶ οἴκοθι πέσσῃ

βλήμενος ἢ ἰῷ ἢ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι

515νηὸς ἐπιθρῴσκων, ἵνα τις στυγέῃσι καὶ ἄλλος

Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα.

κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ Διῒ φίλοι ἀγγελλόντων

παῖδας πρωθήβας πολιοκροτάφους τε γέροντας

λέξασθαι περὶ ἄστυ θεοδμήτων ἐπὶ πύργων·

520θηλύτεραι δὲ γυναῖκες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑκάστη

πῦρ μέγα καιόντων· φυλακὴ δέ τις ἔμπεδος ἔστω

μὴ λόχος εἰσέλθῃσι πόλιν λαῶν ἀπεόντων.

ὧδʼ ἔστω Τρῶες μεγαλήτορες ὡς ἀγορεύω·

μῦθος δʼ ὃς μὲν νῦν ὑγιὴς εἰρημένος ἔστω,

525τὸν δʼ ἠοῦς Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω.

498I thought just now that, once I had destroyed the ships and all the Achaeans,

I would return again to windy Ilium.

500But darkness came first, and it above all has now saved

the Argives and their ships along the sea’s breaking shore.

For now, then, let us obey black night

and make supper ready. As for your beautiful-maned horses,

loose them from beneath the chariots and throw down fodder beside them.

505Bring cattle and strong sheep from the city,

quickly; procure honey-sweet wine

and grain from your halls, and gather plenty of wood,

so that all night until early-born Dawn

we may burn many fires and their blaze may reach the sky,

510lest the long-haired Achaeans attempt by night

to flee over the broad back of the sea.

They must not mount their ships without a fight and at their ease;

let some man among them nurse a missile even at home,

struck by an arrow or a sharp-pointed spear

515as he leaps aboard his ship, so that another man too may dread

bringing tear-bringing Ares against the horse-taming Trojans.

Let heralds dear to Zeus announce throughout the city

that youths just come to manhood and gray-templed old men

take their posts around the city on its god-built towers.

520Let every woman within her hall

kindle a great fire, and let a steadfast watch be kept,

lest an ambush enter the city while its fighting men are away.

So shall it be, great-hearted Trojans, just as I declare.

Let this sound word stand as spoken for now;

525at dawn I will give the horse-taming Trojans my next command.

526ἔλπομαι εὐχόμενος Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσιν

ἐξελάαν ἐνθένδε κύνας κηρεσσιφορήτους,

οὓς κῆρες φορέουσι μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ἐπὶ νυκτὶ φυλάξομεν ἡμέας αὐτούς,

530πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες

νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.

εἴσομαι εἴ κέ μʼ ὁ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδης

πὰρ νηῶν πρὸς τεῖχος ἀπώσεται, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τὸν

χαλκῷ δῃώσας ἔναρα βροτόεντα φέρωμαι.

535αὔριον ἣν ἀρετὴν διαείσεται, εἴ κʼ ἐμὸν ἔγχος

μείνῃ ἐπερχόμενον· ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀΐω

κείσεται οὐτηθείς, πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι

ἠελίου ἀνιόντος ἐς αὔριον· εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς

εἴην ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα,

540τιοίμην δʼ ὡς τίετʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἀπόλλων,

ὡς νῦν ἡμέρη ἥδε κακὸν φέρει Ἀργείοισιν.

ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶες κελάδησαν.

526I hope—and pray to Zeus and all the other gods—

to drive from here these doom-borne dogs,

whom the death-spirits carry here on black ships.

Through the night we will keep guard over ourselves,

530and early at dawn arm ourselves in our war gear

and waken sharp Ares beside the hollow ships.

I will learn whether mighty Diomedes, Tydeus’s son,

will drive me from the ships back to the wall, or whether I

will cut him down with bronze and carry off his bloodied spoils.

535Tomorrow he will learn the measure of his valor, if he stands

against my oncoming spear. But among the foremost, I think,

he will lie struck down, with many companions around him,

when the sun rises tomorrow. If only I

were immortal and ageless through all my days,

540and honored as Athena and Apollo are honored,

as surely as this day now brings disaster to the Argives.”

So Hector spoke, and the Trojans shouted their acclaim.

543οἳ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,

δῆσαν δʼ ἱμάντεσσι παρʼ ἅρμασιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος·

545ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξοντο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα

καρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζοντο,

σῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγοντο.

ἔρδον δ’ ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας

κνίσην δʼ ἐκ πεδίου ἄνεμοι φέρον οὐρανὸν εἴσω.

550ἡδεῖαν· τῆς δ’ οὔ τι θεοὶ μάκαρες δατέοντο,

οὐδ’ ἔθελον· μάλα γάρ σφιν ἀπήχθετο Ἴλιος ἱρή,

καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο

οἳ δὲ μέγα φρονέοντες ἐπὶ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας

εἴατο παννύχιοι, πυρὰ δέ σφισι καίετο πολλά.

543They loosed the sweating horses from beneath the yoke,

and each man tethered his pair with straps beside his chariot.

545They brought cattle and strong sheep from the city,

quickly, procured honey-sweet wine,

brought grain from their halls, and gathered plenty of wood.

They offered the immortals full hecatombs.

The winds carried the savor from the plain into heaven—

550sweet savor; but the blessed gods took no share of it,

nor wished to. Sacred Ilium was utterly hateful to them,

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

High in their pride, they sat along the causeways of war

through the whole night, and many fires burned among them.

555ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἄστρα φαεινὴν ἀμφὶ σελήνην

φαίνετʼ ἀριπρεπέα, ὅτε τʼ ἔπλετο νήνεμος αἰθήρ·

ἔκ τʼ ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι

καὶ νάπαι· οὐρανόθεν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπερράγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ,

πάντα δὲ εἴδεται ἄστρα, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα ποιμήν·

560τόσσα μεσηγὺ νεῶν ἠδὲ Ξάνθοιο ῥοάων

Τρώων καιόντων πυρὰ φαίνετο Ἰλιόθι πρό.

χίλιʼ ἄρʼ ἐν πεδίῳ πυρὰ καίετο, πὰρ δὲ ἑκάστῳ

εἴατο πεντήκοντα σέλᾳ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο.

ἵπποι δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι καὶ ὀλύρας

565ἑσταότες παρʼ ὄχεσφιν ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ μίμνον.

555As when in heaven the stars around the shining moon

appear in all their brilliance when the upper air is windless,

and every lookout height and high headland stands clear,

and every valley; from heaven the boundless upper air breaks open,

and all the stars are seen, and the shepherd’s heart rejoices—

560just so many fires, between the ships and Xanthus’s streams,

shone before Ilium as the Trojans kept them burning.

A thousand fires burned across the plain, and beside each one

fifty men sat in the glare of blazing fire.

The horses munched white barley and spelt

565as they stood beside the chariots and waited for fair-throned Dawn.