Iliad

Now when Zeus had thus brought Hektor and the Trojans to the ships, he left them to their never-ending toil [ ponos ], and turned his keen eyes away, looking elsewhere towards the horse-breeders of Thrace , the Mysians, fighters at close quarters, the noble Hippemolgoi, who live on milk, and the Abians, the most just [ dikaioi ] of humankind. He no longer turned so much as a glance towards Troy , for he did not think that any of the immortals would go and help either Trojans or Danaans.

Ζεὺς δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα νηυσὶ πέλασσε,

τοὺς μὲν ἔα παρὰ τῇσι πόνον τʼ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀϊζὺν

νωλεμέως, αὐτὸς δὲ πάλιν τρέπεν ὄσσε φαεινὼ

νόσφιν ἐφʼ ἱπποπόλων Θρῃκῶν καθορώμενος αἶαν

Μυσῶν τʼ ἀγχεμάχων καὶ ἀγαυῶν ἱππημολγῶν

γλακτοφάγων Ἀβίων τε δικαιοτάτων ἀνθρώπων.

ἐς Τροίην δʼ οὐ πάμπαν ἔτι τρέπεν ὄσσε φαεινώ·

οὐ γὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀθανάτων τινα ἔλπετο ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν

ἐλθόντʼ ἢ Τρώεσσιν ἀρηξέμεν ἢ Δαναοῖσιν.

But King Poseidon had kept no blind look-out; he had been looking admiringly on the battle from his seat on the topmost crests of wooded Samothrace , whence he could see all Ida, with the city of Priam and the ships of the Achaeans. He had come from under the sea and taken his place here, for he pitied the Achaeans who were being overcome by the Trojans; and he was furiously angry with Zeus.

οὐδʼ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε κρείων ἐνοσίχθων·

καὶ γὰρ ὃ θαυμάζων ἧστο πτόλεμόν τε μάχην τε

ὑψοῦ ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτης κορυφῆς Σάμου ὑληέσσης

Θρηϊκίης· ἔνθεν γὰρ ἐφαίνετο πᾶσα μὲν Ἴδη,

φαίνετο δὲ Πριάμοιο πόλις καὶ νῆες Ἀχαιῶν.

ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἕζετʼ ἰών, ἐλέαιρε δʼ Ἀχαιοὺς

Τρωσὶν δαμναμένους, Διὶ δὲ κρατερῶς ἐνεμέσσα.

Presently he came down from his post on the mountain top, and as he strode swiftly onwards the high hills and the forest quaked beneath the tread of his immortal feet. Three strides he took, and with the fourth he reached his goal - Aigai , where is his glittering golden palace, imperishable, in the depths of the sea. When he got there, he yoked his fleet brazen-footed steeds with their manes of gold all flying in the wind;

αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὄρεος κατεβήσετο παιπαλόεντος

κραιπνὰ ποσὶ προβιβάς· τρέμε δʼ οὔρεα μακρὰ καὶ ὕλη

ποσσὶν ὑπʼ ἀθανάτοισι Ποσειδάωνος ἰόντος.

τρὶς μὲν ὀρέξατʼ ἰών, τὸ δὲ τέτρατον ἵκετο τέκμωρ

Αἰγάς, ἔνθα δέ οἱ κλυτὰ δώματα βένθεσι λίμνης

χρύσεα μαρμαίροντα τετεύχαται ἄφθιτα αἰεί.

ἔνθʼ ἐλθὼν ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι τιτύσκετο χαλκόποδʼ ἵππω

ὠκυπέτα χρυσέῃσιν ἐθείρῃσιν κομόωντε,

he clothed himself in raiment of gold, grasped his gold whip, and took his stand upon his chariot. As he went his way over the waves the sea-monsters left their lairs, for they knew their lord, and came gamboling round him from every quarter of the deep, while the sea in her gladness opened a path before his chariot. So lightly did the horses fly that the bronze axle of the car was not even wet beneath it; and thus his bounding steeds took him to the ships of the Achaeans.

χρυσὸν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔδυνε περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δʼ ἱμάσθλην

χρυσείην εὔτυκτον, ἑοῦ δʼ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου,

βῆ δʼ ἐλάαν ἐπὶ κύματʼ· ἄταλλε δὲ κήτεʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ

πάντοθεν ἐκ κευθμῶν, οὐδʼ ἠγνοίησεν ἄνακτα·

γηθοσύνῃ δὲ θάλασσα διίστατο· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο

ῥίμφα μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ὑπένερθε διαίνετο χάλκεος ἄξων·

τὸν δʼ ἐς Ἀχαιῶν νῆας ἐΰσκαρθμοι φέρον ἵπποι.

Now there is a certain huge cavern in the depths of the sea midway between Tenedos and rocky Imbros; here Poseidon lord of the earthquake stayed his horses, unyoked them, and set before them their ambrosial forage. He hobbled their feet with hobbles of gold which none could either unloose or break, so that they might stay there in that place until their lord should return. This done he went his way to the host of the Achaeans.

ἔστι δέ τι σπέος εὐρὺ βαθείης βένθεσι λίμνης

μεσσηγὺς Τενέδοιο καὶ Ἴμβρου παιπαλοέσσης·

ἔνθʼ ἵππους ἔστησε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

λύσας ἐξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δʼ ἀμβρόσιον βάλεν εἶδαρ

ἔδμεναι· ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶ πέδας ἔβαλε χρυσείας

ἀρρήκτους ἀλύτους, ὄφρʼ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν

νοστήσαντα ἄνακτα· ὃ δʼ ἐς στρατὸν ᾤχετʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

Now the Trojans followed Hektor son of Priam in close array like a storm-cloud or flame of fire, fighting with might and main and raising the cry battle; for they deemed that they should take the ships of the Achaeans and kill all their chiefest heroes then and there. Meanwhile earth-encircling Poseidon lord of the earthquake cheered on the Argives, for he had come up out of the sea and had assumed the form and voice of Kalkhas.

Τρῶες δὲ φλογὶ ἶσοι ἀολλέες ἠὲ θυέλλῃ

Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ ἄμοτον μεμαῶτες ἕποντο

ἄβρομοι αὐΐαχοι· ἔλποντο δὲ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

αἱρήσειν, κτενέειν δὲ παρʼ αὐτόθι πάντας ἀρίστους.

ἀλλὰ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος

Ἀργείους ὄτρυνε βαθείης ἐξ ἁλὸς ἐλθὼν

εἰσάμενος Κάλχαντι δέμας καὶ ἀτειρέα φωνήν·

First he spoke to the two Ajaxes, who were doing their best already, and said, "Ajaxes, you two can be the saving of the Achaeans if you will put out all your strength and not let yourselves be daunted. I am not afraid that the Trojans, who have got over the wall in force, will be victorious in any other part, for the Achaeans can hold all of them in check, but I much fear that some evil will befall us here where furious Hektor, who boasts himself the son of great Zeus himself, is leading them on like a pillar of flame. May some god, then, put it into your hearts to make a firm stand here, and to incite others to do the like. In this case you will drive him from the ships even though he be inspired by Zeus himself."

Αἴαντε πρώτω προσέφη μεμαῶτε καὶ αὐτώ·

Αἴαντε σφὼ μέν τε σαώσετε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

ἀλκῆς μνησαμένω, μὴ δὲ κρυεροῖο φόβοιο.

ἄλλῃ μὲν γὰρ ἔγωγʼ οὐ δείδια χεῖρας ἀάπτους

Τρώων, οἳ μέγα τεῖχος ὑπερκατέβησαν ὁμίλῳ·

ἕξουσιν γὰρ πάντας ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί·

τῇ δὲ δὴ αἰνότατον περιδείδια μή τι πάθωμεν,

ᾗ ῥʼ ὅ γʼ ὁ λυσσώδης φλογὶ εἴκελος ἡγεμονεύει

Ἕκτωρ, ὃς Διὸς εὔχετʼ ἐρισθενέος πάϊς εἶναι.

σφῶϊν δʼ ὧδε θεῶν τις ἐνὶ φρεσὶ ποιήσειεν

αὐτώ θʼ ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους·

τώ κε καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἐρωήσαιτʼ ἀπὸ νηῶν

ὠκυπόρων, εἰ καί μιν Ὀλύμπιος αὐτὸς ἐγείρει.

As he spoke the earth-encircling lord of the earthquake struck both of them with his scepter and filled their hearts with daring. He made their legs light and active, as also their hands and their feet. Then, as the soaring falcon poises on the wing high above some sheer rock, and presently swoops down to chase some bird over the plain, even so did Poseidon lord of the earthquake wing his flight into the air and leave them. Of the two, swift Ajax son of Oileus was the first to know who it was that had been speaking with them, and said to Ajax son of Telamon, "Ajax, this is one of the gods that dwell on Olympus, who in the likeness of the seer is bidding us fight hard by our ships. It was not Kalkhas the seer and diviner of omens; I knew him at once by his feet and knees as he turned away, for the gods are soon recognized. Moreover I feel the lust of battle burn more fiercely within me, while my hands and my feet under me are more eager for the fray."

ἦ καὶ σκηπανίῳ γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος

ἀμφοτέρω κεκοπὼς πλῆσεν μένεος κρατεροῖο,

γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρὰ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.

αὐτὸς δʼ ὥς τʼ ἴρηξ ὠκύπτερος ὦρτο πέτεσθαι,

ὅς ῥά τʼ ἀπʼ αἰγίλιπος πέτρης περιμήκεος ἀρθεὶς

ὁρμήσῃ πεδίοιο διώκειν ὄρνεον ἄλλο,

ὣς ἀπὸ τῶν ἤϊξε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.

τοῖιν δʼ ἔγνω πρόσθεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,

αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Αἴαντα προσέφη Τελαμώνιον υἱόν·

Αἶαν ἐπεί τις νῶϊ θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσι

μάντεϊ εἰδόμενος κέλεται παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχεσθαι,

οὐδʼ ὅ γε Κάλχας ἐστὶ θεοπρόπος οἰωνιστής·

ἴχνια γὰρ μετόπισθε ποδῶν ἠδὲ κνημάων

ῥεῖʼ ἔγνων ἀπιόντος· ἀρίγνωτοι δὲ θεοί περ·

καὶ δʼ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι

μᾶλλον ἐφορμᾶται πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,

μαιμώωσι δʼ ἔνερθε πόδες καὶ χεῖρες ὕπερθε.

And Ajax son of Telamon answered, "I too feel my hands grasp my spear more firmly; my strength is greater, and my feet more nimble; I long, moreover, to meet furious Hektor son of Priam, even in single combat."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

οὕτω νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ περὶ δούρατι χεῖρες ἄαπτοι

μαιμῶσιν, καί μοι μένος ὤρορε, νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν

ἔσσυμαι ἀμφοτέροισι· μενοινώω δὲ καὶ οἶος

Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ ἄμοτον μεμαῶτι μάχεσθαι.

Thus did they converse, exulting in the hunger after battle with which the god had filled them. Meanwhile the earth-encircler roused the Achaeans, who were resting in the rear by the ships overcome at once by hard fighting and by grief [ akhos ] at seeing that the Trojans had got over the wall in force. Tears began falling from their eyes as they beheld them, for they made sure that they should not escape destruction; but the lord of the earthquake passed lightly about among them and urged their battalions to the front.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον

χάρμῃ γηθόσυνοι, τήν σφιν θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ·

τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ὄπιθεν γαιήοχος ὦρσεν Ἀχαιούς,

οἳ παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἀνέψυχον φίλον ἦτορ.

τῶν ῥʼ ἅμα τʼ ἀργαλέῳ καμάτῳ φίλα γυῖα λέλυντο,

καί σφιν ἄχος κατὰ θυμὸν ἐγίγνετο δερκομένοισι

Τρῶας, τοὶ μέγα τεῖχος ὑπερκατέβησαν ὁμίλῳ.

τοὺς οἵ γʼ εἰσορόωντες ὑπʼ ὀφρύσι δάκρυα λεῖβον·

οὐ γὰρ ἔφαν φεύξεσθαι ὑπʼ ἐκ κακοῦ· ἀλλʼ ἐνοσίχθων

ῥεῖα μετεισάμενος κρατερὰς ὄτρυνε φάλαγγας.

First he went up to Teucer and Leitos, the hero Peneleos, and Thoas and Deipyros; Meriones also and Antilokhos, valiant warriors; all did he exhort. "Shame [ aidôs ] on you young Argives," he cried, "it was on your prowess I relied for the saving of our ships;

Τεῦκρον ἔπι πρῶτον καὶ Λήϊτον ἦλθε κελεύων

Πηνέλεών θʼ ἥρωα Θόαντά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε

Μηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·

τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι, κοῦροι νέοι· ὔμμιν ἔγωγε

μαρναμένοισι πέποιθα σαωσέμεναι νέας ἁμάς·

if you fight not with might and main, this very day will see us overcome by the Trojans. Of a truth my eyes behold a great and terrible portent which I had never thought to see - the Trojans at our ships - they, who were heretofore like panic-stricken hinds, the prey of jackals and wolves in a forest, with no strength but in flight for they cannot defend themselves. Hitherto the Trojans dared not for one moment face the attack of the Achaeans, but now they have sallied far from their city and are fighting at our very ships through the cowardice of our leader and the disaffection of the people themselves, who in their discontent care not to fight in defense of the ships but are being slaughtered near them. True, King Agamemnon son of Atreus is responsible [ aitios ] for our disaster by having insulted the son of Peleus, still this is no reason why we should leave off fighting. Let us be quick to heal, for the hearts of the brave heal quickly. You do ill to be thus remiss, you, who are the finest warriors in our whole army. I blame no man for keeping out of battle if he is a weakling, but I am indignant with such men as you are. My good friends, matters will soon become even worse through this slackness; think, each one of you, of his own respect [ aidôs ] and sense of nemesis , for the hazard of the fight is extreme. Great Hektor is now fighting at our ships; he has broken through the gates and the strong bolt that held them."

εἰ δʼ ὑμεῖς πολέμοιο μεθήσετε λευγαλέοιο,

νῦν δὴ εἴδεται ἦμαρ ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι.

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι

δεινόν, ὃ οὔ ποτʼ ἔγωγε τελευτήσεσθαι ἔφασκον,

Τρῶας ἐφʼ ἡμετέρας ἰέναι νέας, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

φυζακινῇς ἐλάφοισιν ἐοίκεσαν, αἵ τε καθʼ ὕλην

θώων παρδαλίων τε λύκων τʼ ἤϊα πέλονται

αὔτως ἠλάσκουσαι ἀνάλκιδες, οὐδʼ ἔπι χάρμη·

ὣς Τρῶες τὸ πρίν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας Ἀχαιῶν

μίμνειν οὐκ ἐθέλεσκον ἐναντίον, οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν·

νῦν δὲ ἑκὰς πόλιος κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ μάχονται

ἡγεμόνος κακότητι μεθημοσύνῃσί τε λαῶν,

οἳ κείνῳ ἐρίσαντες ἀμυνέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλουσι

νηῶν ὠκυπόρων, ἀλλὰ κτείνονται ἀνʼ αὐτάς.

ἀλλʼ εἰ δὴ καὶ πάμπαν ἐτήτυμον αἴτιός ἐστιν

ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

οὕνεκʼ ἀπητίμησε ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα,

ἡμέας γʼ οὔ πως ἔστι μεθιέμεναι πολέμοιο.

ἀλλʼ ἀκεώμεθα θᾶσσον· ἀκεσταί τοι φρένες ἐσθλῶν.

ὑμεῖς δʼ οὐκ ἔτι καλὰ μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς

πάντες ἄριστοι ἐόντες ἀνὰ στρατόν. οὐδʼ ἂν ἔγωγε

ἀνδρὶ μαχεσσαίμην ὅς τις πολέμοιο μεθείη

λυγρὸς ἐών· ὑμῖν δὲ νεμεσσῶμαι περὶ κῆρι.

ὦ πέπονες τάχα δή τι κακὸν ποιήσετε μεῖζον

τῇδε μεθημοσύνῃ· ἀλλʼ ἐν φρεσὶ θέσθε ἕκαστος

αἰδῶ καὶ νέμεσιν· δὴ γὰρ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν.

Ἕκτωρ δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς πολεμίζει

καρτερός, ἔρρηξεν δὲ πύλας καὶ μακρὸν ὀχῆα.

Thus did the earth-encircler address the Achaeans and urge them on. Thereon round the two Ajaxes there gathered strong bands of men, of whom not even Ares nor Athena, marshaler of hosts could make light if they went among them, for they were the picked [ krinô ] men of all those who were now awaiting the onset of Hektor and the Trojans. They made a living fence, spear to spear, shield to shield, buckler to buckler, helmet to helmet, and man to man. The horse-hair crests on their gleaming helmets touched one another as they nodded forward, so closely locked in battle were they; the spears they brandished in their strong hands were interlaced, and their hearts were set on battle.

ὥς ῥα κελευτιόων γαιήοχος ὦρσεν Ἀχαιούς.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ Αἴαντας δοιοὺς ἵσταντο φάλαγγες

καρτεραί, ἃς οὔτʼ ἄν κεν Ἄρης ὀνόσαιτο μετελθὼν

οὔτε κʼ Ἀθηναίη λαοσσόος· οἳ γὰρ ἄριστοι

κρινθέντες Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔμιμνον,

φράξαντες δόρυ δουρί, σάκος σάκεϊ προθελύμνῳ·

ἀσπὶς ἄρʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δʼ ἀνήρ·

ψαῦον δʼ ἱππόκομοι κόρυθες λαμπροῖσι φάλοισι

νευόντων, ὡς πυκνοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν·

ἔγχεα δʼ ἐπτύσσοντο θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν

σειόμενʼ· οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς φρόνεον, μέμασαν δὲ μάχεσθαι.

The Trojans advanced in a dense body, with Hektor at their head pressing right on as a rock that comes thundering down the side of some mountain from whose brow the winter torrents have torn it; the foundations of the dull thing have been loosened by floods of rain, and as it bounds headlong on its way it sets the whole forest in an uproar; it swerves neither to right nor left till it reaches level ground, but then for all its fury it can go no further - even so easily did Hektor for a while seem as though he would career through the tents and ships of the Achaeans till he had reached the sea in his murderous course; but the closely serried battalions stayed him when he reached them, for the sons of the Achaeans thrust at him with swords and spears pointed at both ends, and drove him from them so that he staggered and gave ground; thereon he shouted to the Trojans, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians, fighters in close combat, stand firm: the Achaeans have set themselves as a wall against me, but they will not check me for long; they will give ground before me if the mightiest of the gods, the thundering spouse of Hera, has indeed inspired my onset."

Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ

ἀντικρὺ μεμαώς, ὀλοοίτροχος ὣς ἀπὸ πέτρης,

ὅν τε κατὰ στεφάνης ποταμὸς χειμάρροος ὤσῃ

ῥήξας ἀσπέτῳ ὄμβρῳ ἀναιδέος ἔχματα πέτρης·

ὕψι δʼ ἀναθρῴσκων πέτεται, κτυπέει δέ θʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ

ὕλη· ὃ δʼ ἀσφαλέως θέει ἔμπεδον, εἷος ἵκηται

ἰσόπεδον, τότε δʼ οὔ τι κυλίνδεται ἐσσύμενός περ·

ὣς Ἕκτωρ εἷος μὲν ἀπείλει μέχρι θαλάσσης

ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

κτείνων· ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πυκινῇς ἐνέκυρσε φάλαγξι

στῆ ῥα μάλʼ ἐγχριμφθείς· οἳ δʼ ἀντίοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν

ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὃ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.

ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Τρώεσσι γεγωνώς·

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ

παρμένετʼ· οὔ τοι δηρὸν ἐμὲ σχήσουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

καὶ μάλα πυργηδὸν σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες,

ἀλλʼ ὀΐω χάσσονται ὑπʼ ἔγχεος, εἰ ἐτεόν με

ὦρσε θεῶν ὤριστος, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.

With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Deiphobos son of Priam went about among them intent on deeds of daring with his round shield before him, under cover of which he strode quickly forward. Meriones took aim at him with a spear, nor did he fail to hit the broad orb of ox-hide; but he was far from piercing it for the spear broke in two pieces long ere he could do so; moreover Deiphobos had seen it coming and had held his shield well away from him. Meriones drew back under cover of his comrades, angry alike at having failed to vanquish Deiphobos, and having broken his spear. He turned therefore towards the ships and tents to fetch a spear which he had left behind in his tent.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

Δηΐφοβος δʼ ἐν τοῖσι μέγα φρονέων ἐβεβήκει

Πριαμίδης, πρόσθεν δʼ ἔχεν ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

κοῦφα ποσὶ προβιβὰς καὶ ὑπασπίδια προποδίζων.

Μηριόνης δʼ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο δουρὶ φαεινῷ

καὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτε, κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

ταυρείην· τῆς δʼ οὔ τι διήλασεν, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν

ἐν καυλῷ ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ· Δηΐφοβος δὲ

ἀσπίδα ταυρείην σχέθʼ ἀπὸ ἕο, δεῖσε δὲ θυμῷ

ἔγχος Μηριόναο δαΐφρονος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως

ἂψ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο, χώσατο δʼ αἰνῶς

ἀμφότερον, νίκης τε καὶ ἔγχεος ὃ ξυνέαξε.

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

οἰσόμενος δόρυ μακρόν, ὅ οἱ κλισίηφι λέλειπτο.

The others continued fighting, and the cry of battle rose up into the heavens. Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man, to wit, the warrior Imbrios son of Mentor rich in horses. Until the Achaeans came he had lived in Pedaeum, and had married Medesikaste a bastard daughter of Priam; but on the arrival of the Danaan fleet he had gone back to Ilion , and was a great man among the Trojans, dwelling near Priam himself, who gave him like honor with his own sons. The son of Telamon now struck him under the ear with a spear which he then drew back again, and Imbrios fell headlong as an ash-tree when it is felled on the crest of some high mountain beacon, and its delicate green foliage comes toppling down to the ground. Thus did he fall with his bronze-equipped armor ringing harshly round him, and Teucer sprang forward with intent to strip him of his armor; but as he was doing so, Hektor took aim at him with a spear. Teucer saw the spear coming and swerved aside, whereon it hit Amphimakhos, son of Kteatos son of Aktor, in the chest as he was coming into battle, and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Hektor sprang forward to take Amphimakhos' helmet from off his temples, and in a moment Ajax threw a spear at him, but did not wound him, for he was encased all over in his terrible armor; nevertheless the spear struck the boss of his shield with such force as to drive him back from the two corpses, which the Achaeans then drew off. Stichios and Menestheus, leaders of the Athenians, bore away Amphimakhos to the host of the Achaeans, while the two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did the like by Imbrios. As two lions snatch a goat from the hounds that have it in their fangs, and bear it through thick brushwood high above the ground in their jaws, thus did the Ajaxes bear aloft the body of Imbrios, and strip it of its armor. Then the son of Oileus severed the head from the neck in revenge for the death of Amphimakhos, and sent it whirling over the crowd as though it had been a ball, till fell in the dust at Hektor's feet.

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.

Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα

Ἴμβριον αἰχμητὴν πολυΐππου Μέντορος υἱόν·

ναῖε δὲ Πήδαιον πρὶν ἐλθεῖν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,

κούρην δὲ Πριάμοιο νόθην ἔχε, Μηδεσικάστην·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Δαναῶν νέες ἤλυθον ἀμφιέλισσαι,

ἂψ ἐς Ἴλιον ἦλθε, μετέπρεπε δὲ Τρώεσσι,

ναῖε δὲ πὰρ Πριάμῳ· ὃ δέ μιν τίεν ἶσα τέκεσσι.

τόν ῥʼ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ὑπʼ οὔατος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ

νύξʼ, ἐκ δʼ ἔσπασεν ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἔπεσεν μελίη ὣς

ἥ τʼ ὄρεος κορυφῇ ἕκαθεν περιφαινομένοιο

χαλκῷ ταμνομένη τέρενα χθονὶ φύλλα πελάσσῃ·

ὣς πέσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ.

Τεῦκρος δʼ ὁρμήθη μεμαὼς ἀπὸ τεύχεα δῦσαι·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὁρμηθέντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος

τυτθόν· ὃ δʼ Ἀμφίμαχον Κτεάτου υἷʼ Ἀκτορίωνος

νισόμενον πόλεμον δὲ κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί·

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὁρμήθη κόρυθα κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν

κρατὸς ἀφαρπάξαι μεγαλήτορος Ἀμφιμάχοιο·

Αἴας δʼ ὁρμηθέντος ὀρέξατο δουρὶ φαεινῷ

Ἕκτορος· ἀλλʼ οὔ πῃ χροὸς εἴσατο, πᾶς δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷ

σμερδαλέῳ κεκάλυφθʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλὸν οὖτα,

ὦσε δέ μιν σθένεϊ μεγάλῳ· ὃ δὲ χάσσατʼ ὀπίσσω

νεκρῶν ἀμφοτέρων, τοὺς δʼ ἐξείρυσσαν Ἀχαιοί.

Ἀμφίμαχον μὲν ἄρα Στιχίος δῖός τε Μενεσθεὺς

ἀρχοὶ Ἀθηναίων κόμισαν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·

Ἴμβριον αὖτʼ Αἴαντε μεμαότε θούριδος ἀλκῆς

ὥς τε δύʼ αἶγα λέοντε κυνῶν ὕπο καρχαροδόντων

ἁρπάξαντε φέρητον ἀνὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνὰ

ὑψοῦ ὑπὲρ γαίης μετὰ γαμφηλῇσιν ἔχοντε,

ὥς ῥα τὸν ὑψοῦ ἔχοντε δύω Αἴαντε κορυστὰ

τεύχεα συλήτην· κεφαλὴν δʼ ἁπαλῆς ἀπὸ δειρῆς

κόψεν Ὀϊλιάδης κεχολωμένος Ἀμφιμάχοιο,

ἧκε δέ μιν σφαιρηδὸν ἑλιξάμενος διʼ ὁμίλου·

Ἕκτορι δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν ἐν κονίῃσι.

Poseidon was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimakhos should have fallen; he therefore went to the tents and ships of the Achaeans to urge the Danaans still further, and to devise evil for the Trojans. Idomeneus met him, as he was taking leave of a comrade, who had just come to him from the fight, wounded in the knee. His fellow-warriors bore him off the field, and Idomeneus having given orders to the physicians went on to his tent, for he was still thirsting for battle. Poseidon spoke in the likeness and with the voice of Thoas son of Andraimon who ruled the Aetolians of all Pleuron and high Calydon, and was honored in his district [ dêmos ] as though he were a god. "Idomeneus," said he, "lawgiver to the Cretans, what has now become of the threats with which the sons of the Achaeans used to threaten the Trojans?"

καὶ τότε δὴ περὶ κῆρι Ποσειδάων ἐχολώθη

υἱωνοῖο πεσόντος ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν

ὀτρυνέων Δαναούς, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεα τεῦχεν.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα οἱ δουρικλυτὸς ἀντεβόλησεν

ἐρχόμενος παρʼ ἑταίρου, ὅ οἱ νέον ἐκ πολέμοιο

ἦλθε κατʼ ἰγνύην βεβλημένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.

τὸν μὲν ἑταῖροι ἔνεικαν, ὃ δʼ ἰητροῖς ἐπιτείλας

ἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην· ἔτι γὰρ πολέμοιο μενοίνα

ἀντιάαν· τὸν δὲ προσέφη κρείων ἐνοσίχθων

εἰσάμενος φθογγὴν Ἀνδραίμονος υἷϊ Θόαντι

ὃς πάσῃ Πλευρῶνι καὶ αἰπεινῇ Καλυδῶνι

Αἰτωλοῖσιν ἄνασσε, θεὸς δʼ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ·

Ἰδομενεῦ Κρητῶν βουληφόρε ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ

οἴχονται, τὰς Τρωσὶν ἀπείλεον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν;

And Idomeneus chief among the Cretans answered, "Thoas, no one, so far as I know, is responsible [ aitios ], for we can all fight. None are held back neither by fear nor slackness, but it seems to be the of almighty Zeus that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here far from Argos : you, Thoas, have been always staunch, and you keep others in heart if you see any fail in duty; be not then remiss now, but exhort all to do their utmost."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ὦ Θόαν οὔ τις ἀνὴρ νῦν γʼ αἴτιος, ὅσσον ἔγωγε

γιγνώσκω· πάντες γὰρ ἐπιστάμεθα πτολεμίζειν.

οὔτέ τινα δέος ἴσχει ἀκήριον οὔτέ τις ὄκνῳ

εἴκων ἀνδύεται πόλεμον κακόν· ἀλλά που οὕτω

μέλλει δὴ φίλον εἶναι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι

νωνύμνους ἀπολέσθαι ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλὰ Θόαν, καὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος μενεδήϊος ἦσθα,

ὀτρύνεις δὲ καὶ ἄλλον ὅθι μεθιέντα ἴδηαι·

τὼ νῦν μήτʼ ἀπόληγε κέλευέ τε φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ.

To this Poseidon lord of the earthquake made answer, "Idomeneus, may he never return from Troy , but remain here for dogs to batten upon, who is this day willfully slack in fighting. Get your armor and go, we must make all haste together if we may be of any use, though we are only two. Even cowards gain a sense of striving [ aretê ] from companionship, and we two can hold our own with the bravest."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ἰδομενεῦ μὴ κεῖνος ἀνὴρ ἔτι νοστήσειεν

ἐκ Τροίης, ἀλλʼ αὖθι κυνῶν μέλπηθρα γένοιτο,

ὅς τις ἐπʼ ἤματι τῷδε ἑκὼν μεθίῃσι μάχεσθαι.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε τεύχεα δεῦρο λαβὼν ἴθι· ταῦτα δʼ ἅμα χρὴ

σπεύδειν, αἴ κʼ ὄφελός τι γενώμεθα καὶ δύʼ ἐόντε.

συμφερτὴ δʼ ἀρετὴ πέλει ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλα λυγρῶν,

νῶϊ δὲ καί κʼ ἀγαθοῖσιν ἐπισταίμεσθα μάχεσθαι.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν·

Therewith the god went back into the thick of the fight [ ponos ], and Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned his armor, grasped his two spears, and sallied forth. As the lightning which the son of Kronos brandishes from bright Olympus when he would show a sign [ sêma ] to mortals, and its gleam flashes far and wide -

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἵκανε

δύσετο τεύχεα καλὰ περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δὲ δοῦρε,

βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἀστεροπῇ ἐναλίγκιος, ἥν τε Κρονίων

χειρὶ λαβὼν ἐτίναξεν ἀπʼ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου

δεικνὺς σῆμα βροτοῖσιν· ἀρίζηλοι δέ οἱ αὐγαί·

even so did his armor gleam about him as he ran. Meriones his sturdy squire [ therapôn ] met him while he was still near his tent (for he was going to fetch his spear) and Idomeneus said

ὣς τοῦ χαλκὸς ἔλαμπε περὶ στήθεσσι θέοντος.

Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα οἱ θεράπων ἐῢς ἀντεβόλησεν

ἐγγὺς ἔτι κλισίης· μετὰ γὰρ δόρυ χάλκεον ᾔει

οἰσόμενος· τὸν δὲ προσέφη σθένος Ἰδομενῆος·

"Meriones, fleet son of Molos, best of comrades, why have you left the field? Are you wounded, and is the point of the weapon hurting you? or have you been sent to fetch me? I want no fetching; I had far rather fight than stay in my tent."

Μηριόνη Μόλου υἱὲ πόδας ταχὺ φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων

τίπτʼ ἦλθες πόλεμόν τε λιπὼν καὶ δηϊοτῆτα;

ἠέ τι βέβληαι, βέλεος δέ σε τείρει ἀκωκή,

ἦέ τευ ἀγγελίης μετʼ ἔμʼ ἤλυθες; οὐδέ τοι αὐτὸς

ἧσθαι ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λιλαίομαι, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.

"Idomeneus," answered Meriones, "I come for a spear, if I can find one in my tent; I have broken the one I had, in throwing it at the shield of Deiphobos."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Μηριόνης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Ἰδομενεῦ, Κρητῶν βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων,

ἔρχομαι εἴ τί τοι ἔγχος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λέλειπται

οἰσόμενος· τό νυ γὰρ κατεάξαμεν ὃ πρὶν ἔχεσκον

ἀσπίδα Δηϊφόβοιο βαλὼν ὑπερηνορέοντος.

And Idomeneus leader of the Cretans answered, "You will find one spear, or twenty if you so please, standing up against the end wall of my tent. I have taken them from Trojans whom I have killed, for I am not one to keep my enemy at arm's length; therefore I have spears, bossed shields, helmets, and burnished corselets."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

δούρατα δʼ αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα καὶ ἓν καὶ εἴκοσι δήεις

ἑσταότʼ ἐν κλισίῃ πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα

Τρώϊα, τὰ κταμένων ἀποαίνυμαι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω

ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων ἑκὰς ἱστάμενος πολεμίζειν.

τώ μοι δούρατά τʼ ἔστι καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι

καὶ κόρυθες καὶ θώρηκες λαμπρὸν γανόωντες.

Then Meriones said, "I too in my tent and at my ship have spoils taken from the Trojans, but they are not at hand. I have been at all times valorous, and wherever there has been hard fighting have held my own among the foremost. There may be those among the Achaeans who do not know how I fight, but you know it well enough yourself."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Μηριόνης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

καί τοι ἐμοὶ παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ

πόλλʼ ἔναρα Τρώων· ἀλλʼ οὐ σχεδόν ἐστιν ἑλέσθαι.

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐμέ φημι λελασμένον ἔμμεναι ἀλκῆς,

ἀλλὰ μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχην ἀνὰ κυδιάνειραν

ἵσταμαι, ὁππότε νεῖκος ὀρώρηται πολέμοιο.

ἄλλόν πού τινα μᾶλλον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

λήθω μαρνάμενος, σὲ δὲ ἴδμεναι αὐτὸν ὀΐω.

Idomeneus answered, "I know you for a man of excellence [ aretê ]: you need not tell me. If the best men at the ships were being chosen to go on an ambush- and there is nothing like this for showing what a man is made of; it comes out then who is cowardly and who has a sense of striving [ aretê ]; the coward will change color at every touch and turn; he is full of fears, and keeps shifting his weight first on one knee and then on the other; his heart beats fast as he thinks of death, and one can hear the chattering of his teeth; whereas the brave man will not change color nor be on finding himself in ambush, but is all the time longing to go into action -

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

οἶδʼ ἀρετὴν οἷός ἐσσι· τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα λέγεσθαι;

εἰ γὰρ νῦν παρὰ νηυσὶ λεγοίμεθα πάντες ἄριστοι

ἐς λόχον, ἔνθα μάλιστʼ ἀρετὴ διαείδεται ἀνδρῶν,

ἔνθʼ ὅ τε δειλὸς ἀνὴρ ὅς τʼ ἄλκιμος ἐξεφαάνθη·

τοῦ μὲν γάρ τε κακοῦ τρέπεται χρὼς ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ,

οὐδέ οἱ ἀτρέμας ἧσθαι ἐρητύετʼ ἐν φρεσὶ θυμός,

ἀλλὰ μετοκλάζει καὶ ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέρους πόδας ἵζει,

ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίη μεγάλα στέρνοισι πατάσσει

κῆρας ὀϊομένῳ, πάταγος δέ τε γίγνετʼ ὀδόντων·

τοῦ δʼ ἀγαθοῦ οὔτʼ ἂρ τρέπεται χρὼς οὔτέ τι λίην

ταρβεῖ, ἐπειδὰν πρῶτον ἐσίζηται λόχον ἀνδρῶν,

if the best men were being chosen for such a service, no one could make light of your courage nor feats of arms. If you were struck by a dart or smitten in close combat, it would not be from behind, in your neck nor back, but the weapon would hit you in the chest or belly as you were pressing forward to a place in the front ranks. But let us no longer stay here talking like children, lest we be ill spoken of; go, fetch your spear from the tent at once."

ἀρᾶται δὲ τάχιστα μιγήμεναι ἐν δαῒ λυγρῇ·

οὐδέ κεν ἔνθα τεόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας ὄνοιτο.

εἴ περ γάρ κε βλεῖο πονεύμενος ἠὲ τυπείης

οὐκ ἂν ἐν αὐχένʼ ὄπισθε πέσοι βέλος οὐδʼ ἐνὶ νώτῳ,

ἀλλά κεν ἢ στέρνων ἢ νηδύος ἀντιάσειε

πρόσσω ἱεμένοιο μετὰ προμάχων ὀαριστύν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὣς

ἑσταότες, μή πού τις ὑπερφιάλως νεμεσήσῃ·

ἀλλὰ σύ γε κλισίην δὲ κιὼν ἕλευ ὄβριμον ἔγχος.

On this Meriones, peer of Ares, went to the tent and got himself a spear of bronze. He then followed after Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valor. As when baneful Ares sallies forth to battle, and his son Panic so strong and dauntless goes with him, to strike terror even into the heart of a hero - the pair have gone from Thrace to arm themselves among the Ephyroi or the brave Phlegyans, but they will not listen to both the contending hosts, and will give victory to one side or to the other - even so did Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of men, go out to battle clad in their bronze armor. Meriones was first to speak. "Son of Deukalion," said he, "where would you have us begin fighting? On the right wing of the host, in the center, or on the left wing, where I take it the Achaeans will be weakest?"

ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

καρπαλίμως κλισίηθεν ἀνείλετο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

βῆ δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.

οἷος δὲ βροτολοιγὸς Ἄρης πόλεμον δὲ μέτεισι,

τῷ δὲ Φόβος φίλος υἱὸς ἅμα κρατερὸς καὶ ἀταρβὴς

ἕσπετο, ὅς τʼ ἐφόβησε ταλάφρονά περ πολεμιστήν·

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐκ Θρῄκης Ἐφύρους μέτα θωρήσσεσθον,

ἠὲ μετὰ Φλεγύας μεγαλήτορας· οὐδʼ ἄρα τώ γε

ἔκλυον ἀμφοτέρων, ἑτέροισι δὲ κῦδος ἔδωκαν·

τοῖοι Μηριόνης τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀγοὶ ἀνδρῶν

ἤϊσαν ἐς πόλεμον κεκορυθμένοι αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

τὸν καὶ Μηριόνης πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

Δευκαλίδη πῇ τὰρ μέμονας καταδῦναι ὅμιλον;

ἢ ἐπὶ δεξιόφιν παντὸς στρατοῦ, ἦ ἀνὰ μέσσους,

ἦ ἐπʼ ἀριστερόφιν; ἐπεὶ οὔ ποθι ἔλπομαι οὕτω

δεύεσθαι πολέμοιο κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.

Idomeneus answered, "There are others to defend the center - the two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the finest archer of all the Achaeans, and is good also in a hand-to-hand fight. These will give Hektor son of Priam enough to do; fight as he may, he will find it hard to vanquish their indomitable fury, and fire the ships, unless the son of Kronos fling a firebrand upon them with his own hand. Great Ajax son of Telamon will yield to no man who is in mortal mold and eats the grain of Demeter , if bronze and great stones can overthrow him. He would not yield even to Achilles in hand-to-hand fight, and in fleetness of foot there is none to beat him; let us turn therefore towards the left wing, that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory to some other, or he to us."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

νηυσὶ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃσιν ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι

Αἴαντές τε δύω Τεῦκρός θʼ, ὃς ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν

τοξοσύνῃ, ἀγαθὸς δὲ καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ·

οἵ μιν ἅδην ἐλόωσι καὶ ἐσσύμενον πολέμοιο

Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐστιν.

αἰπύ οἱ ἐσσεῖται μάλα περ μεμαῶτι μάχεσθαι

κείνων νικήσαντι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους

νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι, ὅτε μὴ αὐτός γε Κρονίων

ἐμβάλοι αἰθόμενον δαλὸν νήεσσι θοῇσιν.

ἀνδρὶ δέ κʼ οὐκ εἴξειε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,

ὃς θνητός τʼ εἴη καὶ ἔδοι Δημήτερος ἀκτὴν

χαλκῷ τε ῥηκτὸς μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν.

οὐδʼ ἂν Ἀχιλλῆϊ ῥηξήνορι χωρήσειεν

ἔν γʼ αὐτοσταδίῃ· ποσὶ δʼ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐρίζειν.

νῶϊν δʼ ὧδʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστέρʼ ἔχε στρατοῦ, ὄφρα τάχιστα

εἴδομεν ἠέ τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν, ἦέ τις ἡμῖν.

Meriones, peer of fleet Ares, then led the way till they came to the part of the host which Idomeneus had named.

ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

ἦρχʼ ἴμεν, ὄφρʼ ἀφίκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ᾗ μιν ἀνώγει,

Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming on like a flame of fire, him and his squire [ therapôn ] clad in their richly wrought armor, they shouted and made towards him all in a body, and a furious hand-to-hand fight raged under the ships' sterns. Fierce as the shrill winds that whistle upon a day when dust lies deep on the roads, and the gusts raise it into a thick cloud - even such was the fury of the combat, and might and main did they hack at each other with spear and sword throughout the host. The field bristled with the long and deadly spears which they bore. Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets, their fresh-burnished breastplates, and glittering shields as they joined battle with one another. Iron indeed must be his courage who could take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil [ ponos ], and look on it without being dismayed.

οἳ δʼ ὡς Ἰδομενῆα ἴδον φλογὶ εἴκελον ἀλκὴν

αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισι,

κεκλόμενοι καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔβησαν·

τῶν δʼ ὁμὸν ἵστατο νεῖκος ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν.

ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ λιγέων ἀνέμων σπέρχωσιν ἄελλαι

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε τε πλείστη κόνις ἀμφὶ κελεύθους,

οἵ τʼ ἄμυδις κονίης μεγάλην ἱστᾶσιν ὀμίχλην,

ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὁμόσʼ ἦλθε μάχη, μέμασαν δʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ

ἀλλήλους καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐναιρέμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.

ἔφριξεν δὲ μάχη φθισίμβροτος ἐγχείῃσι

μακρῇς, ἃς εἶχον ταμεσίχροας· ὄσσε δʼ ἄμερδεν

αὐγὴ χαλκείη κορύθων ἄπο λαμπομενάων

θωρήκων τε νεοσμήκτων σακέων τε φαεινῶν

ἐρχομένων ἄμυδις· μάλα κεν θρασυκάρδιος εἴη

ὃς τότε γηθήσειεν ἰδὼν πόνον οὐδʼ ἀκάχοιτο.

Thus did the two mighty sons of Kronos devise evil for mortal heroes. Zeus was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to Hektor, so as to do honor to fleet Achilles, nevertheless he did not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilion , and only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son. Poseidon on the other hand went about among the Argives to incite them, having come up from the gray sea in secret, for he was grieved at seeing them vanquished by the Trojans, and was furiously angry with Zeus. Both were of the same race and country, but Zeus was elder born and knew more, therefore Poseidon feared to defend the Argives openly, but in the likeness of man, he kept on encouraging them throughout their host. Thus, then, did these two devise a knot of war and battle, that none could unloose or break, and set both sides tugging at it, to the failing of men's knees beneath them.

τὼ δʼ ἀμφὶς φρονέοντε δύω Κρόνου υἷε κραταιὼ

ἀνδράσιν ἡρώεσσιν ἐτεύχετον ἄλγεα λυγρά.

Ζεὺς μέν ῥα Τρώεσσι καὶ Ἕκτορι βούλετο νίκην

κυδαίνων Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· οὐδέ τι πάμπαν

ἤθελε λαὸν ὀλέσθαι Ἀχαιϊκὸν Ἰλιόθι πρό,

ἀλλὰ Θέτιν κύδαινε καὶ υἱέα καρτερόθυμον.

Ἀργείους δὲ Ποσειδάων ὀρόθυνε μετελθὼν

λάθρῃ ὑπεξαναδὺς πολιῆς ἁλός· ἤχθετο γάρ ῥα

Τρωσὶν δαμναμένους, Διὶ δὲ κρατερῶς ἐνεμέσσα.

ἦ μὰν ἀμφοτέροισιν ὁμὸν γένος ἠδʼ ἴα πάτρη,

ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς πρότερος γεγόνει καὶ πλείονα ᾔδη.

τώ ῥα καὶ ἀμφαδίην μὲν ἀλεξέμεναι ἀλέεινε,

λάθρῃ δʼ αἰὲν ἔγειρε κατὰ στρατὸν ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς.

τοὶ δʼ ἔριδος κρατερῆς καὶ ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο

πεῖραρ ἐπαλλάξαντες ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέροισι τάνυσσαν

ἄρρηκτόν τʼ ἄλυτόν τε, τὸ πολλῶν γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν.

And now Idomeneus, though his hair was already flecked with gray, called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as he leaped in among them. He slew Othryoneus from Cabesus, a sojourner, who had but lately come to take part in the kleos of the war. He sought Cassandra the fairest of Priam's daughters in marriage, but offered no gifts of wooing, for he promised a great thing, to wit, that he would drive the sons of the Achaeans, like it or not, from Troy ; old King Priam had given his consent and promised her to him, whereon he fought on the strength of the promises thus made to him. Idomeneus aimed a spear, and hit him as he came striding on. His cuirass of bronze did not protect him, and the spear stuck in his belly, so that he fell heavily to the ground. Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying, "Othryoneus, there is no one in the world whom I shall admire more than I do you, if you indeed perform what you have promised Priam son of Dardanos in return for his daughter. We too will make you an offer; we will give you the loveliest daughter of the son of Atreus, and will bring her from Argos for you to marry, if you will sack the goodly city of Ilion in company with ourselves; so come along with me, that we may make a covenant at the ships about the marriage, and we will not be hard upon you about gifts of wooing."

ἔνθα μεσαιπόλιός περ ἐὼν Δαναοῖσι κελεύσας

Ἰδομενεὺς Τρώεσσι μετάλμενος ἐν φόβον ὦρσε.

πέφνε γὰρ Ὀθρυονῆα Καβησόθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα,

ὅς ῥα νέον πολέμοιο μετὰ κλέος εἰληλούθει,

ᾔτεε δὲ Πριάμοιο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην

Κασσάνδρην ἀνάεδνον, ὑπέσχετο δὲ μέγα ἔργον,

ἐκ Τροίης ἀέκοντας ἀπωσέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

τῷ δʼ ὁ γέρων Πρίαμος ὑπό τʼ ἔσχετο καὶ κατένευσε

δωσέμεναι· ὃ δὲ μάρναθʼ ὑποσχεσίῃσι πιθήσας.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο δουρὶ φαεινῷ,

καὶ βάλεν ὕψι βιβάντα τυχών· οὐδʼ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ

χάλκεος, ὃν φορέεσκε, μέσῃ δʼ ἐν γαστέρι πῆξε.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἐπεύξατο φώνησέν τε·

Ὀθρυονεῦ περὶ δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομʼ ἁπάντων

εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ πάντα τελευτήσεις ὅσʼ ὑπέστης

Δαρδανίδῃ Πριάμῳ· ὃ δʼ ὑπέσχετο θυγατέρα ἥν.

καί κέ τοι ἡμεῖς ταῦτά γʼ ὑποσχόμενοι τελέσαιμεν,

δοῖμεν δʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην

Ἄργεος ἐξαγαγόντες ὀπυιέμεν, εἴ κε σὺν ἄμμιν

Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσῃς εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.

ἀλλʼ ἕπεʼ, ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶ συνώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν

ἀμφὶ γάμῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἐεδνωταὶ κακοί εἰμεν.

With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the thick of the fight, but Asios came up to protect the body, on foot, in front of his horses which his esquire [ therapôn ] drove so close behind him that he could feel their ‘breath upon his shoulder. He was longing to strike down Idomeneus, but ere he could do so Idomeneus smote him with his spear in the throat under the chin, and the bronze point went clean through it. He fell as an oak, or poplar, or pine which shipwrights have felled for ship's timber upon the mountains with whetted axes- even thus did he lie full length in front of his chariot and horses, grinding his teeth and clutching at the bloodstained just. His charioteer was struck with panic and did not dare turn his horses round and escape: thereupon Antilokhos hit him in the middle of his body with a spear; his cuirass of bronze did not protect him, and the spear stuck in his belly. He fell gasping from his chariot and Antilokhos great Nestor's son, drove his horses from the Trojans to the Achaeans.

ὣς εἰπὼν ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην

ἥρως Ἰδομενεύς· τῷ δʼ Ἄσιος ἦλθʼ ἐπαμύντωρ

πεζὸς πρόσθʼ ἵππων· τὼ δὲ πνείοντε κατʼ ὤμων

αἰὲν ἔχʼ ἡνίοχος θεράπων· ὃ δὲ ἵετο θυμῷ

Ἰδομενῆα βαλεῖν· ὃ δέ μιν φθάμενος βάλε δουρὶ

λαιμὸν ὑπʼ ἀνθερεῶνα, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν.

ἤριπε δʼ ὡς ὅτε τις δρῦς ἤριπεν ἢ ἀχερωῒς

ἠὲ πίτυς βλωθρή, τήν τʼ οὔρεσι τέκτονες ἄνδρες

ἐξέταμον πελέκεσσι νεήκεσι νήϊον εἶναι·

ὣς ὃ πρόσθʼ ἵππων καὶ δίφρου κεῖτο τανυσθεὶς

βεβρυχὼς κόνιος δεδραγμένος αἱματοέσσης.

ἐκ δέ οἱ ἡνίοχος πλήγη φρένας ἃς πάρος εἶχεν,

οὐδʼ ὅ γʼ ἐτόλμησεν δηΐων ὑπὸ χεῖρας ἀλύξας

ἂψ ἵππους στρέψαι, τὸν δʼ Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης

δουρὶ μέσον περόνησε τυχών· οὐδʼ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ

χάλκεος ὃν φορέεσκε, μέσῃ δʼ ἐν γαστέρι πῆξεν.

αὐτὰρ ὃ ἀσθμαίνων εὐεργέος ἔκπεσε δίφρου,

ἵππους δʼ Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς

ἐξέλασε Τρώων μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.

Deiphobos then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asios, and took aim at him with a spear, but Idomeneus was on the look-out and avoided it, for he was covered by the round shield he always bore - a shield of oxhide and bronze with two arm-rods on the inside. He crouched under cover of this, and the spear flew over him, but the shield rang out as the spear grazed it, and the weapon sped not in vain from the strong hand of Deiphobos, for it struck Hypsenor son of Hippasus, shepherd of his people, in the liver under the midriff, and his limbs failed beneath him. Deiphobos vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying, "Of a truth Asios has not fallen unavenged; he will be glad even while passing into the house of Hades, strong warden of the gate, that I have sent some one to escort him."

Δηΐφοβος δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθεν Ἰδομενῆος

Ἀσίου ἀχνύμενος, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος

Ἰδομενεύς· κρύφθη γὰρ ὑπʼ ἀσπίδι πάντοσʼ ἐΐσῃ,

τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γε ῥινοῖσι βοῶν καὶ νώροπι χαλκῷ

δινωτὴν φορέεσκε, δύω κανόνεσσʼ ἀραρυῖαν·

τῇ ὕπο πᾶς ἐάλη, τὸ δʼ ὑπέρπτατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

καρφαλέον δέ οἱ ἀσπὶς ἐπιθρέξαντος ἄϋσεν

ἔγχεος· οὐδʼ ἅλιόν ῥα βαρείης χειρὸς ἀφῆκεν,

ἀλλʼ ἔβαλʼ Ἱππασίδην Ὑψήνορα ποιμένα λαῶν

ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσε.

Δηΐφοβος δʼ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

οὐ μὰν αὖτʼ ἄτιτος κεῖτʼ Ἄσιος, ἀλλά ἕ φημι

εἰς Ἄϊδός περ ἰόντα πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο

γηθήσειν κατὰ θυμόν, ἐπεί ῥά οἱ ὤπασα πομπόν.

Thus did he vaunt, and the Argives were stung with grief [ akhos ] over what he said. Noble Antilokhos was more angry than any one, but grief did not make him forget his friend and comrade. He ran up to him, bestrode him, and covered him with his shield; then two of his staunch comrades, Mekisteus son of Echios, and Alastor stooped down, and bore him away groaning heavily to the ships. But Idomeneus ceased not his fury. He kept on striving continually either to enshroud some Trojan in the darkness of death, or himself to fall while warding off the evil day from the Achaeans. Then fell Alkathoos son of noble Aisyetes: he was son-in-law to Anchises, having married his eldest daughter Hippodameia who was the darling of her father and mother, and excelled all her generation in beauty, accomplishments, and understanding, wherefore the bravest man in all Troy had taken her to wife - him did Poseidon lay low by the hand of Idomeneus, blinding his bright eyes and binding his strong limbs in fetters so that he could neither go back nor to one side, but stood stock still like pillar or lofty tree when Idomeneus struck him with a spear in the middle of his chest.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργείοισι δʼ ἄχος γένετʼ εὐξαμένοιο,

Ἀντιλόχῳ δὲ μάλιστα δαΐφρονι θυμὸν ὄρινεν·

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑοῦ ἀμέλησεν ἑταίρου,

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.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ οὐ λῆγε μένος μέγα, ἵετο δʼ αἰεὶ

ἠέ τινα Τρώων ἐρεβεννῇ νυκτὶ καλύψαι

ἢ αὐτὸς δουπῆσαι ἀμύνων λοιγὸν Ἀχαιοῖς.

ἔνθʼ Αἰσυήταο διοτρεφέος φίλον υἱὸν

ἥρωʼ Ἀλκάθοον, γαμβρὸς δʼ ἦν Ἀγχίσαο,

πρεσβυτάτην δʼ ὤπυιε θυγατρῶν Ἱπποδάμειαν

τὴν περὶ κῆρι φίλησε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

ἐν μεγάρῳ· πᾶσαν γὰρ ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστο

κάλλεϊ καὶ ἔργοισιν ἰδὲ φρεσί· τοὔνεκα καί μιν

γῆμεν ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ·

τὸν τόθʼ ὑπʼ Ἰδομενῆϊ Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσε

θέλξας ὄσσε φαεινά, πέδησε δὲ φαίδιμα γυῖα·

οὔτε γὰρ ἐξοπίσω φυγέειν δύνατʼ οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι,

ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στήλην ἢ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον

ἀτρέμας ἑσταότα στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶ

The coat of mail that had hitherto protected his body was now broken, and rang harshly as the spear tore through it. He fell heavily to the ground, and the spear stuck in his heart, which still beat, and made the butt-end of the spear quiver till dread Ares put an end to his life. Idomeneus vaunted over him and cried with a loud voice saying, "Deiphobos, since you are in a mood to vaunt, shall we cry quits now that we have killed three men to your one? Nay, sir, stand in fight with me yourself, that you may learn what manner of Zeus-begotten man am I that have come hither. Zeus first begot Minos chief ruler in Crete , and Minos in his turn begot a son, noble Deukalion; Deukalion begot me to be a ruler over many men in Crete , and my ships have now brought me hither, to be the bane of yourself, your father, and the Trojans."

ἥρως Ἰδομενεύς, ῥῆξεν δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ χιτῶνα

χάλκεον, ὅς οἱ πρόσθεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκει ὄλεθρον·

δὴ τότε γʼ αὖον ἄϋσεν ἐρεικόμενος περὶ δουρί.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δόρυ δʼ ἐν κραδίῃ ἐπεπήγει,

ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀσπαίρουσα καὶ οὐρίαχον πελέμιζεν

ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης·

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀΰσας

Δηΐφοβʼ ἦ ἄρα δή τι ἐΐσκομεν ἄξιον εἶναι

τρεῖς ἑνὸς ἀντὶ πεφάσθαι; ἐπεὶ σύ περ εὔχεαι οὕτω.

δαιμόνιʼ ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐναντίον ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ οἷος Ζηνὸς γόνος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνω,

ὃς πρῶτον Μίνωα τέκε Κρήτῃ ἐπίουρον·

Μίνως δʼ αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Δευκαλίωνα,

Δευκαλίων δʼ ἐμὲ τίκτε πολέσσʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἄνακτα

Κρήτῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ· νῦν δʼ ἐνθάδε νῆες ἔνεικαν

σοί τε κακὸν καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοισι Τρώεσσιν.

Thus did he speak, and Deiphobos was in two minds, whether to go back and fetch some other Trojan to help him, or to take up the challenge single-handed. In the end, he deemed it best to go and fetch Aeneas, whom he found standing in the rear, for he had long been aggrieved with Priam because in spite his brave deeds he did not give him his due share of honor. Deiphobos went up to him and said, "Aeneas, prince among the Trojans, if you know any ties of kinship, help me now to defend the body of your sister's husband; come with me to the rescue of Alkathoos, who being husband to your sister brought you up when you were a child in his house, and now Idomeneus has slain him."

ὣς φάτο, Δηΐφοβος δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν

ἤ τινά που Τρώων ἑταρίσσαιτο μεγαθύμων

ἂψ ἀναχωρήσας, ἦ πειρήσαιτο καὶ οἶος.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι

βῆναι ἐπʼ Αἰνείαν· τὸν δʼ ὕστατον εὗρεν ὁμίλου

ἑσταότʼ· αἰεὶ γὰρ Πριάμῳ ἐπεμήνιε δίῳ

οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα μετʼ ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι τίεσκεν.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε νῦν σε μάλα χρὴ

γαμβρῷ ἀμυνέμεναι, εἴ πέρ τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει.

ἀλλʼ ἕπευ Ἀλκαθόῳ ἐπαμύνομεν, ὅς σε πάρος γε

γαμβρὸς ἐὼν ἔθρεψε δόμοις ἔνι τυτθὸν ἐόντα·

τὸν δέ τοι Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐξενάριξεν.

With these words he moved the heart of Aeneas, and he went in pursuit of Idomeneus, big with great deeds of valor; but Idomeneus was not to be thus daunted as though he were a mere child; he held his ground as a wild boar at bay upon the mountains, who abides the coming of a great crowd of men in some lonely place - the bristles stand upright on his back, his eyes flash fire, and he whets his tusks in his eagerness to defend himself against hounds and men -

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε,

βῆ δὲ μετʼ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.

ἀλλʼ οὐκ Ἰδομενῆα φόβος λάβε τηλύγετον ὥς,

ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ὡς ὅτε τις σῦς οὔρεσιν ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,

ὅς τε μένει κολοσυρτὸν ἐπερχόμενον πολὺν ἀνδρῶν

χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, φρίσσει δέ τε νῶτον ὕπερθεν·

ὀφθαλμὼ δʼ ἄρα οἱ πυρὶ λάμπετον· αὐτὰρ ὀδόντας

θήγει, ἀλέξασθαι μεμαὼς κύνας ἠδὲ καὶ ἄνδρας·

even so did famed Idomeneus hold his ground and budge not at the coming of Aeneas. He cried aloud to his comrades looking towards Askalaphos, Aphareus, Deipyros, Meriones, and Antilokhos, all of them brave warriors- "Hither my friends," he cried, "and leave me not single-handed - I go in great fear by fleet Aeneas, who is coming against me, and is a redoubtable dispenser of death battle. Moreover he is in the flower of youth when a man's strength is greatest; if I was of the same age as he is and in my present mind, either he or I should soon bear away the prize of victory

ὣς μένεν Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτός, οὐδʼ ὑπεχώρει,

Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα βοηθόον· αὖε δʼ ἑταίρους

Ἀσκάλαφόν τʼ ἐσορῶν Ἀφαρῆά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε

Μηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·

τοὺς ὅ γʼ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

δεῦτε φίλοι, καί μʼ οἴῳ ἀμύνετε· δείδια δʼ αἰνῶς

Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα πόδας ταχύν, ὅς μοι ἔπεισιν,

ὃς μάλα καρτερός ἐστι μάχῃ ἔνι φῶτας ἐναίρειν·

καὶ δʼ ἔχει ἥβης ἄνθος, ὅ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.

εἰ γὰρ ὁμηλικίη γε γενοίμεθα τῷδʼ ἐπὶ θυμῷ

αἶψά κεν ἠὲ φέροιτο μέγα κράτος, ἠὲ φεροίμην.

On this, all of them as one man stood near him, shield on shoulder. Aeneas on the other side called to his comrades, looking towards Deiphobos, Paris , and Agenor, who were leaders of the Trojans along with himself, and the people followed them as sheep follow the ram when they go down to drink after they have been feeding, and the heart of the shepherd is glad - even so was the heart of Aeneas gladdened when he saw his people follow him.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἕνα φρεσὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες

πλησίοι ἔστησαν, σάκεʼ ὤμοισι κλίναντες.

Αἰνείας δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισι

Δηΐφοβόν τε Πάριν τʼ ἐσορῶν καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,

οἵ οἱ ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνες Τρώων ἔσαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

λαοὶ ἕπονθʼ, ὡς εἴ τε μετὰ κτίλον ἕσπετο μῆλα

πιόμενʼ ἐκ βοτάνης· γάνυται δʼ ἄρα τε φρένα ποιμήν·

ὣς Αἰνείᾳ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γεγήθει

ὡς ἴδε λαῶν ἔθνος ἐπισπόμενον ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.

Then they fought furiously in close combat about the body of Alkathoos, wielding their long spears; and the bronze armor about their bodies rang fearfully as they took aim at one another in the press of the fight, while the two heroes Aeneas and Idomeneus, peers of Ares, outdid every one in their desire to hack at each other with sword and spear. Aeneas took aim first, but Idomeneus was on the lookout and avoided the spear, so that it sped from Aeneas' strong hand in vain, and fell quivering in the ground. Idomeneus meanwhile smote Oinomaos in the middle of his belly, and broke the plate of his corselet, whereon his bowels came gushing out and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust. Idomeneus drew his spear out of the body, but could not strip him of the rest of his armor for the rain of darts that were showered upon him: moreover his strength was now beginning to fail him so that he could no longer charge,

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀλκαθόῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν

μακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι· περὶ στήθεσσι δὲ χαλκὸς

σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε τιτυσκομένων καθʼ ὅμιλον

ἀλλήλων· δύο δʼ ἄνδρες ἀρήϊοι ἔξοχον ἄλλων

Αἰνείας τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀτάλαντοι Ἄρηϊ

ἵεντʼ ἀλλήλων ταμέειν χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισεν Ἰδομενῆος·

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

αἰχμὴ δʼ Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίης

ᾤχετʼ, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἄρα Οἰνόμαον βάλε γαστέρα μέσσην,

ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δʼ ἔντερα χαλκὸς

ἤφυσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἐκ μὲν νέκυος δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

ἐσπάσατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἄλλα δυνήσατο τεύχεα καλὰ

ὤμοιιν ἀφελέσθαι· ἐπείγετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν.

οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα ποδῶν ἦν ὁρμηθέντι,

and could neither spring forward to recover his own weapon nor swerve aside to avoid one that was aimed at him; therefore, though he still defended himself in hand-to-hand fight, his heavy feet could not bear him swiftly out of the battle. Deiphobos aimed a spear at him as he was retreating slowly from the field, for his bitterness against him was as fierce as ever, but again he missed him, and hit Askalaphos, the son of Ares; the spear went through his shoulder, and he clutched the earth in the palms of his hands as he fell sprawling in the dust.

οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐπαΐξαι μεθʼ ἑὸν· βέλος οὔτʼ ἀλέασθαι.

τώ ῥα καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ μὲν ἀμύνετο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,

τρέσσαι δʼ οὐκ ἔτι ῥίμφα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο.

τοῦ δὲ βάδην ἀπιόντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

Δηΐφοβος· δὴ γάρ οἱ ἔχεν κότον ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ Ἀσκάλαφον βάλε δουρὶ

υἱὸν Ἐνυαλίοιο· διʼ ὤμου δʼ ὄβριμον ἔγχος

ἔσχεν· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.

Grim Ares of awful voice did not yet know that his son had fallen, for he was sitting on the summits of Olympus under the golden clouds, by command of Zeus, where the other gods were also sitting, forbidden to take part in the battle. Meanwhile men fought furiously about the body. Deiphobos tore the helmet from off his head, but Meriones sprang upon him, and struck him on the arm with a spear so that the visored helmet fell from his hand and came ringing down upon the ground. Thereon Meriones sprang upon him like a vulture, drew the spear from his shoulder, and fell back under cover of his men. Then Polites, brother of Deiphobos, passed his arms around his waist, and bore him away from the battle till he got to his horses that were standing in the rear of the fight with the chariot and their driver. These took him towards the city groaning and in great pain, with the blood flowing from his arm.

οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ τι πέπυστο βριήπυος ὄβριμος Ἄρης

υἷος ἑοῖο πεσόντος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἄκρῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑπὸ χρυσέοισι νέφεσσιν

ἧστο Διὸς βουλῇσιν ἐελμένος, ἔνθά περ ἄλλοι

ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἦσαν ἐεργόμενοι πολέμοιο.

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀσκαλάφῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν·

Δηΐφοβος μὲν ἀπʼ Ἀσκαλάφου πήληκα φαεινὴν

ἥρπασε, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

δουρὶ βραχίονα τύψεν ἐπάλμενος, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς

αὐλῶπις τρυφάλεια χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.

Μηριόνης δʼ ἐξ αὖτις ἐπάλμενος αἰγυπιὸς ὣς

ἐξέρυσε πρυμνοῖο βραχίονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος,

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο. τὸν δὲ Πολίτης

αὐτοκασίγνητος περὶ μέσσῳ χεῖρε τιτήνας

ἐξῆγεν πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, ὄφρʼ ἵκεθʼ ἵππους

ὠκέας, οἵ οἱ ὄπισθε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο

ἕστασαν ἡνίοχόν τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔχοντες·

οἳ τόν γε προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον βαρέα στενάχοντα

τειρόμενον· κατὰ δʼ αἷμα νεουτάτου ἔρρεε χειρός.

The others still fought on, and the battle-cry rose to heaven without ceasing. Aeneas sprang on Aphareus son of Kaletor, and struck him with a spear in his throat which was turned towards him; his head fell on one side, his helmet and shield came down along with him, and death, life's foe, was shed around him. Antilokhos spied his chance, flew forward towards Thoon, and wounded him as he was turning round. He laid open the vein that runs all the way up the back to the neck; he cut this vein clean away throughout its whole course, and Thoon fell in the dust face upwards, stretching out his hands imploringly towards his comrades.

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.

ἔνθʼ Αἰνέας Ἀφαρῆα Καλητορίδην ἐπορούσας

λαιμὸν τύψʼ ἐπὶ οἷ τετραμμένον ὀξέϊ δουρί·

ἐκλίνθη δʼ ἑτέρωσε κάρη, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀσπὶς ἑάφθη

καὶ κόρυς, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.

Ἀντίλοχος δὲ Θόωνα μεταστρεφθέντα δοκεύσας

οὔτασʼ ἐπαΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ φλέβα πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν,

ἥ τʼ ἀνὰ νῶτα θέουσα διαμπερὲς αὐχένʼ ἱκάνει·

τὴν ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι

κάππεσεν, ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας.

Antilokhos sprang upon him and stripped the armor from his shoulders, glaring round him fearfully as he did so. The Trojans came about him on every side and struck his broad and gleaming shield, but could not wound his body, for Poseidon stood guard over the son of Nestor, though the darts fell thickly round him. He was never clear of the foe, but was always in the thick of the fight; his spear was never idle; he poised and aimed it in every direction, so eager was he to hit some one from a distance or to fight him hand to hand.

Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἐπόρουσε, καὶ αἴνυτο τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων

παπταίνων· Τρῶες δὲ περισταδὸν ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος

οὔταζον σάκος εὐρὺ παναίολον, οὐδὲ δύναντο

εἴσω ἐπιγράψαι τέρενα χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ

Ἀντιλόχου· πέρι γάρ ῥα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

Νέστορος υἱὸν ἔρυτο καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσι βέλεσσιν.

οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτʼ ἄνευ δηΐων ἦν, ἀλλὰ κατʼ αὐτοὺς

στρωφᾶτʼ· οὐδέ οἱ ἔγχος ἔχʼ ἀτρέμας, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰεὶ

σειόμενον ἐλέλικτο· τιτύσκετο δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν

ἤ τευ ἀκοντίσσαι, ἠὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμηθῆναι.

As he was thus aiming among the crowd, he was seen by Adamas son of Asios, who rushed towards him and struck him with a spear in the middle of his shield, but Poseidon made its point without effect, for he grudged him the life of Antilokhos. One half, therefore, of the spear stuck fast like a charred stake in Antilokhos' shield, while the other lay on the ground. Adamas then sought shelter under cover of his men, but Meriones followed after and hit him with a spear midway between the private parts and the navel, where a wound is particularly painful to wretched mortals. There did Meriones transfix him, and he writhed convulsively about the spear as some bull whom mountain herdsmen have bound with ropes of withies and are taking away perforce. Even so did he move convulsively for a while, but not for very long, till Meriones came up and drew the spear out of his body, and his eyes were veiled in darkness.

ἀλλʼ οὐ λῆθʼ Ἀδάμαντα τιτυσκόμενος καθʼ ὅμιλον

Ἀσιάδην, ὅ οἱ οὖτα μέσον σάκος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ

ἐγγύθεν ὁρμηθείς· ἀμενήνωσεν δέ οἱ αἰχμὴν

κυανοχαῖτα Ποσειδάων βιότοιο μεγήρας.

καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτοῦ μεῖνʼ ὥς τε σκῶλος πυρίκαυστος

ἐν σάκει Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸ δʼ ἥμισυ κεῖτʼ ἐπὶ γαίης·

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων·

Μηριόνης δʼ ἀπιόντα μετασπόμενος βάλε δουρὶ

αἰδοίων τε μεσηγὺ καὶ ὀμφαλοῦ, ἔνθα μάλιστα

γίγνετʼ Ἄρης ἀλεγεινὸς ὀϊζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν.

ἔνθά οἱ ἔγχος ἔπηξεν· ὃ δʼ ἑσπόμενος περὶ δουρὶ

ἤσπαιρʼ ὡς ὅτε βοῦς τόν τʼ οὔρεσι βουκόλοι ἄνδρες

ἰλλάσιν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα βίῃ δήσαντες ἄγουσιν·

ὣς ὃ τυπεὶς ἤσπαιρε μίνυνθά περ, οὔ τι μάλα δήν,

ὄφρά οἱ ἐκ χροὸς ἔγχος ἀνεσπάσατʼ ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

ἥρως Μηριόνης· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

Helenos then struck Deipyros with a great Thracian sword, hitting him on the temple in close combat and tearing the helmet from his head; the helmet fell to the ground, and one of those who were fighting on the Achaean side took charge of it as it rolled at his feet, but the eyes of Deipyros were closed in the darkness of death.

Δηΐπυρον δʼ Ἕλενος ξίφεϊ σχεδὸν ἤλασε κόρσην

Θρηϊκίῳ μεγάλῳ, ἀπὸ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἄραξεν.

ἣ μὲν ἀποπλαγχθεῖσα χαμαὶ πέσε, καί τις Ἀχαιῶν

μαρναμένων μετὰ ποσσὶ κυλινδομένην ἐκόμισσε·

τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν ἐρεβεννὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.

On this Menelaos was stung by grief [ akhos ], and made menacingly towards Helenos, brandishing his spear; but Helenos drew his bow, and the two attacked one another at one and the same moment, the one with his spear, and the other with his bow and arrow.

Ἀτρεΐδην δʼ ἄχος εἷλε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·

βῆ δʼ ἐπαπειλήσας Ἑλένῳ ἥρωϊ ἄνακτι

ὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων· ὃ δὲ τόξου πῆχυν ἄνελκε.

τὼ δʼ ἄρʼ ὁμαρτήδην ὃ μὲν ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι

ἵετʼ ἀκοντίσσαι, ὃ δʼ ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστῷ.

The son of Priam hit the breastplate of Menelaos' corselet, but the arrow glanced from off it. As black beans or pulse come pattering down on to a threshing-floor from the broad winnowing-shovel, blown by shrill winds and shaken by the shovel - even so did the arrow glance off and recoil from the shield of Menelaos, who in his turn wounded the hand with which Helenos carried his bow; the spear went right through his hand and stuck in the bow itself, so that to his life he retreated under cover of his men, with his hand dragging by his side - for the spear weighed it down till Agenor drew it out and bound the hand carefully up in a woolen sling which his esquire [ therapôn ] had with him.

Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷ

θώρηκος γύαλον, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀπὸ πλατέος πτυόφιν μεγάλην κατʼ ἀλωὴν

θρῴσκωσιν κύαμοι μελανόχροες ἢ ἐρέβινθοι

πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ καὶ λικμητῆρος ἐρωῇ,

ὣς ἀπὸ θώρηκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

πολλὸν ἀποπλαγχθεὶς ἑκὰς ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.

Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἄρα χεῖρα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

τὴν βάλεν ᾗ ῥʼ ἔχε τόξον ἐΰξοον· ἐν δʼ ἄρα τόξῳ

ἀντικρὺ διὰ χειρὸς ἐλήλατο χάλκεον ἔγχος.

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων

χεῖρα παρακρεμάσας· τὸ δʼ ἐφέλκετο μείλινον ἔγχος.

καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐκ χειρὸς ἔρυσεν μεγάθυμος Ἀγήνωρ,

αὐτὴν δὲ ξυνέδησεν ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἰὸς ἀώτῳ

σφενδόνῃ, ἣν ἄρα οἱ θεράπων ἔχε ποιμένι λαῶν.

Peisandros then made straight at Menelaos - his evil destiny luring him on to his doom [ telos ], for he was to fall in fight with you, O Menelaos. When the two were hard by one another the spear of the son of Atreus turned aside and he missed his aim; Peisandros then struck the shield of brave Menelaos but could not pierce it, for the shield stayed the spear and broke the shaft; nevertheless he was glad and made sure of victory; forthwith, however, the son of Atreus drew his sword and sprang upon him. Peisandros then seized the bronze battle-axe, with its long and polished handle of olive wood that hung by his side under his shield, and the two made at one another. Peisandros struck the peak of Menelaos' crested helmet just under the crest itself, and Menelaos hit Peisandros as he was coming towards him, on the forehead, just at the rise of his nose; the bones cracked and his two gore-bedrabbled eyes fell by his feet in the dust. He fell backwards to the ground, and Menelaos set his heel upon him, stripped him of his armor, and vaunted over him saying, "Even thus shall you Trojans leave the ships of the Achaeans, proud and insatiate of battle though you be: nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame which you have heaped upon myself. Cowardly she-wolves that you are, you feared not the anger [ mênis ] of dread Zeus, avenger of violated hospitality,

Πείσανδρος δʼ ἰθὺς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

ἤϊε· τὸν δʼ ἄγε μοῖρα κακὴ θανάτοιο τέλος δὲ

σοὶ Μενέλαε δαμῆναι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες

Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἅμαρτε, παραὶ δέ οἱ ἐτράπετʼ ἔγχος,

Πείσανδρος δὲ σάκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

οὔτασεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαι·

ἔσχεθε γὰρ σάκος εὐρύ, κατεκλάσθη δʼ ἐνὶ καυλῷ

ἔγχος· ὃ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσι χάρη καὶ ἐέλπετο νίκην.

Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

ἆλτʼ ἐπὶ Πεισάνδρῳ· ὃ δʼ ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος εἵλετο καλὴν

ἀξίνην εὔχαλκον ἐλαΐνῳ ἀμφὶ πελέκκῳ

μακρῷ ἐϋξέστῳ· ἅμα δʼ ἀλλήλων ἐφίκοντο.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κόρυθος φάλον ἤλασεν ἱπποδασείης

ἄκρον ὑπὸ λόφον αὐτόν, ὃ δὲ προσιόντα μέτωπον

ῥινὸς ὕπερ πυμάτης· λάκε δʼ ὀστέα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

πὰρ ποσὶν αἱματόεντα χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν,

ἰδνώθη δὲ πεσών· ὃ δὲ λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βαίνων

τεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

λείψετέ θην οὕτω γε νέας Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων

Τρῶες ὑπερφίαλοι δεινῆς ἀκόρητοι ἀϋτῆς,

ἄλλης μὲν λώβης τε καὶ αἴσχεος οὐκ ἐπιδευεῖς

ἣν ἐμὲ λωβήσασθε κακαὶ κύνες, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

Ζηνὸς ἐριβρεμέτεω χαλεπὴν ἐδείσατε μῆνιν

who will one day destroy your city; you stole my wedded wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were her guest, and now you would fling fire upon our ships, and kill our heroes. A day will come when, rage as you may, you shall be stayed. O father Zeus, you, who they say art above all both gods and men in wisdom, and from whom all things that befall us do proceed, how can you thus favor the Trojans - men so proud and overweening, that they are never tired of fighting? All things pall after a while - sleep, love, sweet song, and stately dance - still these are things of which a man would surely have his fill rather than of battle, whereas it is of battle that the Trojans are insatiate."

ξεινίου, ὅς τέ ποτʼ ὔμμι διαφθέρσει πόλιν αἰπήν·

οἵ μευ κουριδίην ἄλοχον καὶ κτήματα πολλὰ

μὰψ οἴχεσθʼ ἀνάγοντες, ἐπεὶ φιλέεσθε παρʼ αὐτῇ·

νῦν αὖτʼ ἐν νηυσὶν μενεαίνετε ποντοπόροισι

πῦρ ὀλοὸν βαλέειν, κτεῖναι δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλά ποθι σχήσεσθε καὶ ἐσσύμενοί περ Ἄρηος.

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ τέ σέ φασι περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλων

ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν· σέο δʼ ἐκ τάδε πάντα πέλονται·

οἷον δὴ ἄνδρεσσι χαρίζεαι ὑβριστῇσι

Τρωσίν, τῶν μένος αἰὲν ἀτάσθαλον, οὐδὲ δύνανται

φυλόπιδος κορέσασθαι ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο.

πάντων μὲν κόρος ἐστὶ καὶ ὕπνου καὶ φιλότητος

μολπῆς τε γλυκερῆς καὶ ἀμύμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο,

τῶν πέρ τις καὶ μᾶλλον ἐέλδεται ἐξ ἔρον εἷναι

ἢ πολέμου· Τρῶες δὲ μάχης ἀκόρητοι ἔασιν.

So saying Menelaos stripped the blood-stained armor from the body of Peisandros, and handed it over to his men; then he again ranged himself among those who were in the front of the fight.

ὣς εἰπὼν τὰ μὲν ἔντεʼ ἀπὸ χροὸς αἱματόεντα

συλήσας ἑτάροισι δίδου Μενέλαος ἀμύμων,

αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξ αὖτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη.

Harpalion son of King Pylaimenes then sprang upon him; he had come to fight at Troy along with his father, but he did not go home again. He struck the middle of Menelaos' shield with his spear but could not pierce it, and to save his life drew back under cover of his men, looking round him on every side lest he should be wounded. But Meriones aimed a bronze-tipped arrow at him as he was leaving the field, and hit him on the right buttock; the arrow pierced the bone through and through, and penetrated the bladder, so he sat down where he was and breathed his last in the arms of his comrades, stretched like a worm upon the ground and watering the earth with the blood that flowed from his wound. The brave Paphlagonians tended him with all due care; they raised him into his chariot, and bore him sadly off to the city of Troy ; his father went also with him weeping bitterly, but there was no ransom that could bring his dead son to life again.

ἔνθά οἱ υἱὸς ἐπᾶλτο Πυλαιμένεος βασιλῆος

Ἁρπαλίων, ὅ ῥα πατρὶ φίλῳ ἕπετο πτολεμίξων

ἐς τροίην, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἀφίκετο πατρίδα γαῖαν·

ὅς ῥα τότʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρὶ

ἐγγύθεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαι

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων