Iliad

But when their flight had taken them past the trench and the set stakes, and many had fallen by the hands of the Danaans, the Trojans made a halt on reaching their chariots, routed and pale with fear. Zeus now woke on the crests of Ida, where he was lying with golden-throned Hera by his side, and starting to his feet he saw the Trojans and Achaeans, the one thrown into confusion, and the others driving them pell-mell before them with King Poseidon in their midst. He saw Hektor lying on the ground with his comrades gathered round him, gasping for breath, wandering in mind and vomiting blood, for it was not the feeblest of the Achaeans who struck him.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ διά τε σκόλοπας καὶ τάφρον ἔβησαν

φεύγοντες, πολλοὶ δὲ δάμεν Δαναῶν ὑπὸ χερσίν,

οἳ μὲν δὴ παρʼ ὄχεσφιν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες

χλωροὶ ὑπαὶ δείους πεφοβημένοι· ἔγρετο δὲ Ζεὺς

Ἴδης ἐν κορυφῇσι παρὰ χρυσοθρόνου Ἥρης,

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας, ἴδε δὲ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς

τοὺς μὲν ὀρινομένους, τοὺς δὲ κλονέοντας ὄπισθεν

Ἀργείους, μετὰ δέ σφι Ποσειδάωνα ἄνακτα·

Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐν πεδίῳ ἴδε κείμενον, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι

εἵαθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀργαλέῳ ἔχετʼ ἄσθματι κῆρ ἀπινύσσων

αἷμʼ ἐμέων, ἐπεὶ οὔ μιν ἀφαυρότατος βάλʼ Ἀχαιῶν.

The sire of gods and men had pity on him, and looked fiercely on Hera. "I see, Hera," said he, "you mischief-making trickster, that your cunning has stayed Hektor from fighting and has caused the rout of his host. I am in half a mind to thrash you, in which case you will be the first to reap the fruits of your scurvy knavery. Do you not remember how once upon a time I had you hanged? I fastened two anvils on to your feet, and bound your hands in a chain of gold which none might break, and you hung in mid-air among the clouds. All the gods in Olympus were in a fury, but they could not reach you to set you free; when I caught any one of them I gripped him and hurled him from the heavenly threshold till he came fainting down to earth; yet even this did not relieve my mind from the incessant anxiety

τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ἐλέησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,

δεινὰ δʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν Ἥρην πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ἦ μάλα δὴ κακότεχνος ἀμήχανε σὸς δόλος Ἥρη

Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔπαυσε μάχης, ἐφόβησε δὲ λαούς.

οὐ μὰν οἶδʼ εἰ αὖτε κακορραφίης ἀλεγεινῆς

πρώτη ἐπαύρηαι καί σε πληγῇσιν ἱμάσσω.

ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε τʼ ἐκρέμω ὑψόθεν, ἐκ δὲ ποδοῖιν

ἄκμονας ἧκα δύω, περὶ χερσὶ δὲ δεσμὸν ἴηλα

χρύσεον ἄρρηκτον; σὺ δʼ ἐν αἰθέρι καὶ νεφέλῃσιν

ἐκρέμω· ἠλάστεον δὲ θεοὶ κατὰ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,

λῦσαι δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο παρασταδόν· ὃν δὲ λάβοιμι

ῥίπτασκον τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηται

γῆν ὀλιγηπελέων· ἐμὲ δʼ οὐδʼ ὧς θυμὸν ἀνίει

which I felt about noble Herakles whom you and Boreas had spitefully conveyed beyond the seas [ pontos ] to Cos, after suborning the tempests; but I rescued him, and notwithstanding all his mighty labors I brought him back again to Argos . I would remind you of this that you may learn to leave off being so deceitful, and discover how much you are likely to gain by the embraces out of which you have come here to trick me."

ἀζηχὴς ὀδύνη Ἡρακλῆος θείοιο,

τὸν σὺ ξὺν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ πεπιθοῦσα θυέλλας

πέμψας ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον πόντον κακὰ μητιόωσα,

καί μιν ἔπειτα Κόων δʼ εὖ ναιομένην ἀπένεικας.

τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἔνθεν ῥυσάμην καὶ ἀνήγαγον αὖτις

Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ πολλά περ ἀθλήσαντα.

τῶν σʼ αὖτις μνήσω ἵνʼ ἀπολλήξῃς ἀπατάων,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ ἤν τοι χραίσμῃ φιλότης τε καὶ εὐνή,

ἣν ἐμίγης ἐλθοῦσα θεῶν ἄπο καί μʼ ἀπάτησας.

Hera trembled as he spoke, and said, "May heaven above and earth below be my witnesses, with the waters of the river Styx - and this is the most solemn oath that a blessed god can take - nay, I swear also by your own almighty head and by our bridal bed - things over which I could never possibly perjure myself - that Poseidon is not punishing Hektor and the Trojans and helping the Achaeans through any doing of mine; it is all of his own mere motion because he was sorry to see the Achaeans hard pressed at their ships: if I were advising him, I should tell him to do as you bid him."

ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἴστω νῦν τόδε Γαῖα καὶ Οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθε

καὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστος

ὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,

σή θʼ ἱερὴ κεφαλὴ καὶ νωΐτερον λέχος αὐτῶν

κουρίδιον, τὸ μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ ποτε μὰψ ὀμόσαιμι·

μὴ διʼ ἐμὴν ἰότητα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

πημαίνει Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα, τοῖσι δʼ ἀρήγει,

ἀλλά που αὐτὸν θυμὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει,

τειρομένους δʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰδὼν ἐλέησεν Ἀχαιούς.

αὐτάρ τοι καὶ κείνῳ ἐγὼ παραμυθησαίμην

τῇ ἴμεν ᾗ κεν δὴ σὺ κελαινεφὲς ἡγεμονεύῃς.

The sire of gods and men smiled and answered, "If you, Hera, were always to support me when we sit in council of the gods, Poseidon, like it or no, would soon come round to your and my way of thinking [noon]. If, then, you are speaking the truth and mean what you say, go among the rank and file of the gods, and tell Iris and Apollo lord of the bow, that I want them - Iris, that she may go to the Achaean host and tell Poseidon to leave off fighting and go home, and Apollo, that he may send Hektor again into battle and give him fresh strength; he will thus forget his present sufferings, and drive the Achaeans back in confusion till they fall among the ships of Achilles son of Peleus. Achilles will then send his comrade Patroklos into battle, and Hektor will kill him in front of Ilion after he has slain many warriors, and among them my own noble son Sarpedon. Achilles will kill Hektor to avenge Patroklos, and from that time I will bring it about that the Achaeans shall persistently drive the Trojans back till they fulfill the counsels of Athena and take Ilion . But I will not stay my anger, nor permit any god to help the Danaans till I have accomplished the desire of the son of Peleus, according to the promise I made by bowing my head on the day when Thetis touched my knees and besought me to give him honor."

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,

καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

εἰ μὲν δὴ σύ γʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη

ἶσον ἐμοὶ φρονέουσα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι καθίζοις,

τώ κε Ποσειδάων γε, καὶ εἰ μάλα βούλεται ἄλλῃ,

αἶψα μεταστρέψειε νόον μετὰ σὸν καὶ ἐμὸν κῆρ.

ἀλλʼ εἰ δή ῥʼ ἐτεόν γε καὶ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύεις,

ἔρχεο νῦν μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν, καὶ δεῦρο κάλεσσον

Ἶρίν τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ Ἀπόλλωνα κλυτότοξον,

ὄφρʼ ἣ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

ἔλθῃ, καὶ εἴπῃσι Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι

παυσάμενον πολέμοιο τὰ ἃ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἱκέσθαι,

Ἕκτορα δʼ ὀτρύνῃσι μάχην ἐς Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

αὖτις δʼ ἐμπνεύσῃσι μένος, λελάθῃ δʼ ὀδυνάων

αἳ νῦν μιν τείρουσι κατὰ φρένας, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς

αὖτις ἀποστρέψῃσιν ἀνάλκιδα φύζαν ἐνόρσας,

φεύγοντες δʼ ἐν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι πέσωσι

Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος· ὃ δʼ ἀνστήσει ὃν ἑταῖρον

Πάτροκλον· τὸν δὲ κτενεῖ ἔγχεϊ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

Ἰλίου προπάροιθε πολέας ὀλέσαντʼ αἰζηοὺς

τοὺς ἄλλους, μετὰ δʼ υἱὸν ἐμὸν Σαρπηδόνα δῖον.

τοῦ δὲ χολωσάμενος κτενεῖ Ἕκτορα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἄν τοι ἔπειτα παλίωξιν παρὰ νηῶν

αἰὲν ἐγὼ τεύχοιμι διαμπερὲς εἰς ὅ κʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

Ἴλιον αἰπὺ ἕλοιεν Ἀθηναίης διὰ βουλάς.

τὸ πρὶν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ παύω χόλον οὔτέ τινʼ ἄλλον

ἀθανάτων Δαναοῖσιν ἀμυνέμεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐάσω

πρίν γε τὸ Πηλεΐδαο τελευτηθῆναι ἐέλδωρ,

ὥς οἱ ὑπέστην πρῶτον, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπένευσα κάρητι,

ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἐμεῖο θεὰ Θέτις ἥψατο γούνων,

λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον.

Hera heeded his words and went from the heights of Ida to great Olympus . Swift as the thought [ noos ] of one whose fancy carries him over vast continents, and he says to himself, "Now I will be here, or there," and he would have all manner of things - even so swiftly did Hera wing her way till she came to high Olympus and went in among the gods who were gathered in the house of Zeus. When they saw her they all of them came up to her, and held out their cups to her by way of greeting. She let the others be, but took the cup offered her by lovely Themis, who was first to come running up to her. "Hera," said she, "why are you here? And you seem troubled - has your husband the son of Kronos been frightening you?"

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,

βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀΐξῃ νόος ἀνέρος, ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ πολλὴν

γαῖαν ἐληλουθὼς φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι νοήσῃ

ἔνθʼ εἴην ἢ ἔνθα, μενοινήῃσί τε πολλά,

ὣς κραιπνῶς μεμαυῖα διέπτατο πότνια Ἥρη·

ἵκετο δʼ αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον, ὁμηγερέεσσι δʼ ἐπῆλθεν

ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι Διὸς δόμῳ· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες

πάντες ἀνήϊξαν καὶ δεικανόωντο δέπασσιν.

ἣ δʼ ἄλλους μὲν ἔασε, Θέμιστι δὲ καλλιπαρῄῳ

δέκτο δέπας· πρώτη γὰρ ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα,

καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἥρη τίπτε βέβηκας; ἀτυζομένῃ δὲ ἔοικας·

ἦ μάλα δή σʼ ἐφόβησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ὅς τοι ἀκοίτης.

τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·

And Hera answered, "Themis, do not ask me about it. You know what a proud and cruel disposition my husband has. Lead the gods to table, where you and all the immortals can hear the wicked designs which he has avowed. Many a one, mortal and immortal, will be angered by them, however peaceably he may be feasting now."

μή με θεὰ Θέμι ταῦτα διείρεο· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτὴ

οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἄρχε θεοῖσι δόμοις ἔνι δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·

ταῦτα δὲ καὶ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀκούσεαι ἀθανάτοισιν

οἷα Ζεὺς κακὰ ἔργα πιφαύσκεται· οὐδέ τί φημι

πᾶσιν ὁμῶς θυμὸν κεχαρησέμεν, οὔτε βροτοῖσιν

οὔτε θεοῖς, εἴ πέρ τις ἔτι νῦν δαίνυται εὔφρων.

On this Hera sat down, and the gods were troubled throughout the house of Zeus. Laughter sat on her lips but her brow was furrowed with care, and she spoke up in a rage. "Fools that we are," she cried, "to be thus madly angry with Zeus; we keep on wanting to go up to him and stay him by force or by persuasion, but he sits aloof and cares for nobody, for he knows that he is much stronger than any other of the immortals. Make the best, therefore, of whatever ills he may choose to send each one of you; Ares, I take it, has had a taste of them already, for his son Askalaphos has fallen in battle - the man whom of all others he loved most dearly and whose father he owns himself to be."

ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα καθέζετο πότνια Ἥρη,

ὄχθησαν δʼ ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοί· ἣ δʼ ἐγέλασσε

χείλεσιν, οὐδὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι κυανέῃσιν

ἰάνθη· πᾶσιν δὲ νεμεσσηθεῖσα μετηύδα·

νήπιοι οἳ Ζηνὶ μενεαίνομεν ἀφρονέοντες·

ἦ ἔτι μιν μέμαμεν καταπαυσέμεν ἆσσον ἰόντες

ἢ ἔπει ἠὲ βίῃ· ὃ δʼ ἀφήμενος οὐκ ἀλεγίζει

οὐδʼ ὄθεται· φησὶν γὰρ ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι

κάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε διακριδὸν εἶναι ἄριστος.

τὼ ἔχεθʼ ὅττί κεν ὔμμι κακὸν πέμπῃσιν ἑκάστῳ.

ἤδη γὰρ νῦν ἔλπομʼ Ἄρηΐ γε πῆμα τετύχθαι·

υἱὸς γάρ οἱ ὄλωλε μάχῃ ἔνι φίλτατος ἀνδρῶν

Ἀσκάλαφος, τόν φησιν ὃν ἔμμεναι ὄβριμος Ἄρης.

When he heard this Ares smote his two sturdy thighs with the flat of his hands, and said in anger, "Do not blame me, you gods that dwell in heaven, if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge the death of my son, even though it end in my being struck by Zeus' lightning and lying in blood and dust among the corpses."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ Ἄρης θαλερὼ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ

χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·

μὴ νῦν μοι νεμεσήσετʼ Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες

τίσασθαι φόνον υἷος ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

εἴ πέρ μοι καὶ μοῖρα Διὸς πληγέντι κεραυνῷ

κεῖσθαι ὁμοῦ νεκύεσσι μεθʼ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν.

As he spoke he gave orders to yoke his horses Panic and Rout, while he put on his armor. On this, Zeus would have been roused to still more fierce and implacable anger [ mênis ] against the other immortals, had not Athena, alarmed for the safety of the gods, sprung from her seat and hurried outside. She tore the helmet from his head and the shield from his shoulders, and she took the bronze spear from his strong hand and set it on one side; then she said to Ares, "Mad one, you are undone; you have ears that hear not, or you have lost all sense of respect [ aidôs ] and understanding [ noos ]; have you not heard what Hera has said on coming straight from the presence of Olympian Zeus? Do you wish to go through all kinds of suffering before you are brought back sick and sorry to Olympus , after having caused infinite mischief to all us others? Zeus would instantly leave the Trojans and Achaeans to themselves; he would come to Olympus to punish us, and would grip us up one after another, guilty [ aitios ] or not guilty. Therefore lay aside your anger for the death of your son; better men than he have either been killed already or will fall hereafter, and one cannot protect every one's whole family."

ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἵππους κέλετο Δεῖμόν τε Φόβον τε

ζευγνύμεν, αὐτὸς δʼ ἔντεʼ ἐδύσετο παμφανόωντα.

ἔνθά κʼ ἔτι μείζων τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερος ἄλλος

πὰρ Διὸς ἀθανάτοισι χόλος καὶ μῆνις ἐτύχθη,

εἰ μὴ Ἀθήνη πᾶσι περιδείσασα θεοῖσιν

ὦρτο διὲκ προθύρου, λίπε δὲ θρόνον ἔνθα θάασσε,

τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν κεφαλῆς κόρυθʼ εἵλετο καὶ σάκος ὤμων,

ἔγχος δʼ ἔστησε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα

χάλκεον· ἣ δʼ ἐπέεσσι καθάπτετο θοῦρον Ἄρηα·

μαινόμενε φρένας ἠλὲ διέφθορας· ἦ νύ τοι αὔτως

οὔατʼ ἀκουέμεν ἐστί, νόος δʼ ἀπόλωλε καὶ αἰδώς.

οὐκ ἀΐεις ἅ τέ φησι θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη

ἣ δὴ νῦν πὰρ Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου εἰλήλουθεν;

ἦ ἐθέλεις αὐτὸς μὲν ἀναπλήσας κακὰ πολλὰ

ἂψ ἴμεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀνάγκῃ,

αὐτὰρ τοῖς ἄλλοισι κακὸν μέγα πᾶσι φυτεῦσαι;

αὐτίκα γὰρ Τρῶας μὲν ὑπερθύμους καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς

λείψει, ὃ δʼ ἡμέας εἶσι κυδοιμήσων ἐς Ὄλυμπον,

μάρψει δʼ ἑξείης ὅς τʼ αἴτιος ὅς τε καὶ οὐκί.

τώ σʼ αὖ νῦν κέλομαι μεθέμεν χόλον υἷος ἑῆος·

ἤδη γάρ τις τοῦ γε βίην καὶ χεῖρας ἀμείνων

ἢ πέφατʼ, ἢ καὶ ἔπειτα πεφήσεται· ἀργαλέον δὲ

πάντων ἀνθρώπων ῥῦσθαι γενεήν τε τόκον τε.

With these words she took Ares back to his seat. Meanwhile Hera called Apollo outside, with Iris the messenger of the gods. "Zeus," she said to them, "desires you to go to him at once on Mount Ida ; when you have seen him you are to do as he may then bid you."

ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἵδρυσε θρόνῳ ἔνι θοῦρον Ἄρηα.

Ἥρη δʼ Ἀπόλλωνα καλέσσατο δώματος ἐκτὸς

Ἶρίν θʼ, ἥ τε θεοῖσι μετάγγελος ἀθανάτοισι,

καί σφεας φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ζεὺς σφὼ εἰς Ἴδην κέλετʼ ἐλθέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα·

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθητε, Διός τʼ εἰς ὦπα ἴδησθε,

ἕρδειν ὅττί κε κεῖνος ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἀνώγῃ.

Thereon Hera left them and resumed her seat inside, while Iris and Apollo made all haste on their way. When they reached many-fountained Ida, mother of wild beasts, they found Zeus seated on topmost Gargaros with a fragrant cloud encircling his head as with a diadem. They stood before his presence, and he was pleased with them for having been so quick in obeying the orders his wife had given them.

ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα πάλιν κίε πότνια Ἥρη,

ἕζετο δʼ εἰνὶ θρόνῳ· τὼ δʼ ἀΐξαντε πετέσθην.

Ἴδην δʼ ἵκανον πολυπίδακα μητέρα θηρῶν,

εὗρον δʼ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἀνὰ Γαργάρῳ ἄκρῳ

ἥμενον· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θυόεν νέφος ἐστεφάνωτο.

τὼ δὲ πάροιθʼ ἐλθόντε Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο

στήτην· οὐδέ σφωϊν ἰδὼν ἐχολώσατο θυμῷ,

ὅττί οἱ ὦκʼ ἐπέεσσι φίλης ἀλόχοιο πιθέσθην.

He spoke to Iris first. "Go," said he, "fleet Iris, tell King Poseidon what I now bid you - and tell him true. Bid him leave off fighting, and either join the company of the gods, or go down into the sea. If he takes no heed and disobeys me, let him consider well whether he is strong enough to hold his own against me if I attack him. I am older and much stronger than he is; yet he is not afraid to set himself up as on a level with myself, of whom all the other gods stand in awe."

Ἶριν δὲ προτέρην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτι

πάντα τάδʼ ἀγγεῖλαι, μὴ δὲ ψευδάγγελος εἶναι.

παυσάμενόν μιν ἄνωχθι μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο

ἔρχεσθαι μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν ἢ εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.

εἰ δέ μοι οὐκ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐπιπείσεται, ἀλλʼ ἀλογήσει,

φραζέσθω δὴ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

μή μʼ οὐδὲ κρατερός περ ἐὼν ἐπιόντα ταλάσσῃ

μεῖναι, ἐπεί εὑ φημὶ βίῃ πολὺ φέρτερος εἶναι

καὶ γενεῇ πρότερος· τοῦ δʼ οὐκ ὄθεται φίλον ἦτορ

ἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.

Iris, fleet as the wind, obeyed him, and as the cold hail or snowflakes that fly from out the clouds before the blast of Boreas, even so did she wing her way till she came close up to the great shaker of the earth. Then she said, "I have come, O dark-haired king that holds the world in his embrace, to bring you a message from Zeus. He bids you leave off fighting, and either join the company of the gods or go down into the sea; if, however, you take no heed and disobey him, he says he will come down here and fight you. He would have you keep out of his reach, for he is older and much stronger than you are, and yet you are not afraid to set yourself up as on a level with himself, of whom all the other gods stand in awe."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἐκ νεφέων πτῆται νιφὰς ἠὲ χάλαζα

ψυχρὴ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς αἰθρηγενέος Βορέαο,

ὣς κραιπνῶς μεμαυῖα διέπτατο ὠκέα Ἶρις,

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη κλυτὸν ἐννοσίγαιον·

ἀγγελίην τινά τοι γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτα

ἦλθον δεῦρο φέρουσα παραὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.

παυσάμενόν σʼ ἐκέλευσε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο

ἔρχεσθαι μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν ἢ εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.

εἰ δέ οἱ οὐκ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐπιπείσεαι, ἀλλʼ ἀλογήσεις,

ἠπείλει καὶ κεῖνος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξων

ἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· σὲ δʼ ὑπεξαλέασθαι ἄνωγε

χεῖρας, ἐπεὶ σέο φησὶ βίῃ πολὺ φέρτερος εἶναι

καὶ γενεῇ πρότερος· σὸν δʼ οὐκ ὄθεται φίλον ἦτορ

ἶσόν οἱ φάσθαι, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.

Poseidon was very angry and said, "Great heavens! strong as Zeus may be, he has said more than he can do if he has threatened violence against me, who am of like honor with himself. We were three brothers whom Rhea bore to Kronos - Zeus, myself, and Hades who rules the world below. Heaven and earth were divided into three parts, and each of us was to have an equal share. When we cast lots, it fell to me to have my dwelling in the sea for evermore; Hades took the darkness of the realms under the earth, while air and sky and clouds were the portion that fell to Zeus; but earth and great Olympus are the common property of all.

τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος·

ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥʼ ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπεν

εἴ μʼ ὁμότιμον ἐόντα βίῃ ἀέκοντα καθέξει.

τρεῖς γάρ τʼ ἐκ Κρόνου εἰμὲν ἀδελφεοὶ οὓς τέκετο Ῥέα

Ζεὺς καὶ ἐγώ, τρίτατος δʼ Ἀΐδης ἐνέροισιν ἀνάσσων.

τριχθὰ δὲ πάντα δέδασται, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·

ἤτοι ἐγὼν ἔλαχον πολιὴν ἅλα ναιέμεν αἰεὶ

παλλομένων, Ἀΐδης δʼ ἔλαχε ζόφον ἠερόεντα,

Ζεὺς δʼ ἔλαχʼ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἐν αἰθέρι καὶ νεφέλῃσι·

Therefore I will not walk as Zeus would have me. For all his strength, let him keep to his own third share and be contented without threatening to lay hands upon me as though I were nobody. Let him keep his bragging talk for his own sons and daughters, who must perforce obey him.

γαῖα δʼ ἔτι ξυνὴ πάντων καὶ μακρὸς Ὄλυμπος.

τώ ῥα καὶ οὔ τι Διὸς βέομαι φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλος

καὶ κρατερός περ ἐὼν μενέτω τριτάτῃ ἐνὶ μοίρῃ.

χερσὶ δὲ μή τί με πάγχυ κακὸν ὣς δειδισσέσθω·

θυγατέρεσσιν γάρ τε καὶ υἱάσι βέλτερον εἴη

ἐκπάγλοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐνισσέμεν οὓς τέκεν αὐτός,

οἵ ἑθεν ὀτρύνοντος ἀκούσονται καὶ ἀνάγκῃ.

Iris fleet as the wind then answered, "Am I really, Poseidon, to take this daring and unyielding message to Zeus, or will you reconsider your answer? Sensible people are open to argument, and you know that the Erinyes always range themselves on the side of the older person."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις·

οὕτω γὰρ δή τοι γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτα

τόνδε φέρω Διὶ μῦθον ἀπηνέα τε κρατερόν τε,

ἦ τι μεταστρέψεις; στρεπταὶ μέν τε φρένες ἐσθλῶν.

οἶσθʼ ὡς πρεσβυτέροισιν Ἐρινύες αἰὲν ἕπονται.

Poseidon answered, "Goddess Iris, your words have been spoken in season. It is well when a messenger shows so much discretion. Nevertheless it cuts me to the very heart with grief [ akhos ] that any one should rebuke so angrily another who is his own peer, and of like empire with himself. Now, however, I will give way in spite of my displeasure; furthermore let me tell you, and I mean what I say - if contrary to the desire of myself, Athena driver of the spoil, Hera, Hermes, and King Hephaistos, Zeus spares steep Ilion , and will not let the Achaeans have the great triumph of sacking it, let him understand that he will incur our implacable resentment."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ἶρι θεὰ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·

ἐσθλὸν καὶ τὸ τέτυκται ὅτʼ ἄγγελος αἴσιμα εἰδῇ.

ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει

ὁππότʼ ἂν ἰσόμορον καὶ ὁμῇ πεπρωμένον αἴσῃ

νεικείειν ἐθέλῃσι χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μέν κε νεμεσσηθεὶς ὑποείξω·

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, καὶ ἀπειλήσω τό γε θυμῷ·

αἴ κεν ἄνευ ἐμέθεν καὶ Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης

Ἥρης Ἑρμείω τε καὶ Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος

Ἰλίου αἰπεινῆς πεφιδήσεται, οὐδʼ ἐθελήσει

ἐκπέρσαι, δοῦναι δὲ μέγα κράτος Ἀργείοισιν,

ἴστω τοῦθʼ ὅτι νῶϊν ἀνήκεστος χόλος ἔσται.

Poseidon now left the field to go down under the sea [ pontos ], and sorely did the Achaeans miss him. Then Zeus said to Apollo, "Go, dear Phoebus, to Hektor, for Poseidon who holds the earth in his embrace has now gone down under the sea to avoid the severity of my displeasure. Had he not done so those gods who are below with Kronos would have come to hear of the fight between us. It is better for both of us that he should have curbed his anger and kept out of my reach, for I should have had much trouble with him. Take, then, your tasseled aegis, and shake it furiously, so as to set the Achaean heroes in a panic; take, moreover, brave Hektor, O Far-Darter, into your own care, and rouse him to deeds of daring, till the Achaeans are sent fleeing back to their ships and to the Hellespont . From that point I will think it well over, how the Achaeans may have a respite from their troubles [ ponos ]."

ὣς εἰπὼν λίπε λαὸν Ἀχαιϊκὸν ἐννοσίγαιος,

δῦνε δὲ πόντον ἰών, πόθεσαν δʼ ἥρωες Ἀχαιοί.

καὶ τότʼ Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

ἔρχεο νῦν φίλε Φοῖβε μεθʼ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστήν·

ἤδη μὲν γάρ τοι γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος

οἴχεται εἰς ἅλα δῖαν ἀλευάμενος χόλον αἰπὺν

ἡμέτερον· μάλα γάρ κε μάχης ἐπύθοντο καὶ ἄλλοι,

οἵ περ ἐνέρτεροί εἰσι θεοὶ Κρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντες.

ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ἠμὲν ἐμοὶ πολὺ κέρδιον ἠδέ οἱ αὐτῷ

ἔπλετο, ὅττι πάροιθε νεμεσσηθεὶς ὑπόειξε

χεῖρας ἐμάς, ἐπεὶ οὔ κεν ἀνιδρωτί γʼ ἐτελέσθη.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐν χείρεσσι λάβʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν,

τῇ μάλʼ ἐπισσείων φοβέειν ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς·

σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ μελέτω ἑκατηβόλε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·

τόφρα γὰρ οὖν οἱ ἔγειρε μένος μέγα, ὄφρʼ ἂν Ἀχαιοὶ

φεύγοντες νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκωνται.

κεῖθεν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι ἔργον τε ἔπος τε,

ὥς κε καὶ αὖτις Ἀχαιοὶ ἀναπνεύσωσι πόνοιο.

Apollo obeyed his father's saying, and left the crests of Ida, flying like a falcon, bane of doves and swiftest of all birds. He found Hektor no longer lying upon the ground, but sitting up, for he had just come to himself again. He knew those who were about him, and the sweat and hard breathing had left him from the moment when the will [ noos ] of aegis-bearing Zeus had revived him. Apollo stood beside him and said, "Hektor, son of Priam, why are you so faint, and why are you here away from the others? Has any mishap befallen you?"

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ἀνηκούστησεν Ἀπόλλων,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἴρηκι ἐοικὼς

ὠκέϊ φασσοφόνῳ, ὅς τʼ ὤκιστος πετεηνῶν.

εὗρʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο δαΐφρονος Ἕκτορα δῖον

ἥμενον, οὐδʼ ἔτι κεῖτο, νέον δʼ ἐσαγείρετο θυμόν,

ἀμφὶ ἓ γιγνώσκων ἑτάρους· ἀτὰρ ἆσθμα καὶ ἱδρὼς

παύετʼ, ἐπεί μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νόος αἰγιόχοιο.

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·

Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο, τί ἢ δὲ σὺ νόσφιν ἀπʼ ἄλλων

ἧσʼ ὀλιγηπελέων; ἦ πού τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει;

Hektor in a weak voice answered, "And which, kind sir, of the gods are you, who now ask me thus? Do you not know that Ajax struck me on the chest with a stone as I was killing his comrades at the ships of the Achaeans, and compelled me to leave off fighting? I made sure that this very day I should breathe my last and go down into the house of Hades."

τὸν δʼ ὀλιγοδρανέων προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι φέριστε θεῶν ὅς μʼ εἴρεαι ἄντην;

οὐκ ἀΐεις ὅ με νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσιν Ἀχαιῶν

οὓς ἑτάρους ὀλέκοντα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς βάλεν Αἴας

χερμαδίῳ πρὸς στῆθος, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς;

καὶ δὴ ἔγωγʼ ἐφάμην νέκυας καὶ δῶμʼ Ἀΐδαο

ἤματι τῷδʼ ἵξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ φίλον ἄϊον ἦτορ.

Then King Apollo said to him, "Take heart; the son of Kronos has sent you a mighty helper from Ida to stand by you and defend you, even me, Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, who have been guardian hitherto not only of yourself but of your city. Now, therefore, order your horsemen to drive their chariots to the ships in great multitudes. I will go before your horses to smooth the way for them, and will turn the Achaeans in flight."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·

θάρσει νῦν· τοῖόν τοι ἀοσσητῆρα Κρονίων

ἐξ Ἴδης προέηκε παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν

Φοῖβον Ἀπόλλωνα χρυσάορον, ὅς σε πάρος περ

ῥύομʼ, ὁμῶς αὐτόν τε καὶ αἰπεινὸν πτολίεθρον.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἱππεῦσιν ἐπότρυνον πολέεσσι

νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν ὠκέας ἵππους·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ προπάροιθε κιὼν ἵπποισι κέλευθον

πᾶσαν λειανέω, τρέψω δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.

As he spoke he infused great strength into the shepherd of his people. And as a horse, stabled and full-fed, breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the plain to the place where he is wont to take his bath in the river - he tosses his head, and his mane streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he flies full speed to the pastures where the mares are feeding - even so Hektor, when he heard what the god said, urged his horsemen on, and sped forward as fast as his limbs could take him.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα ποιμένι λαῶν.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις στατὸς ἵππος ἀκοστήσας ἐπὶ φάτνῃ

δεσμὸν ἀπορρήξας θείῃ πεδίοιο κροαίνων

εἰωθὼς λούεσθαι ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖο

κυδιόων· ὑψοῦ δὲ κάρη ἔχει, ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖται

ὤμοις ἀΐσσονται· ὃ δʼ ἀγλαΐηφι πεποιθὼς

ῥίμφά ἑ γοῦνα φέρει μετά τʼ ἤθεα καὶ νομὸν ἵππων·

ὣς Ἕκτωρ λαιψηρὰ πόδας καὶ γούνατʼ ἐνώμα

As country peasants set their hounds on to a horned stag or wild goat - he has taken shelter under rock or thicket, and they cannot find him, but, lo, a bearded lion whom their shouts have roused stands in their path, and they are in no further humor for the chase - even so the Achaeans were still charging on in a body, using their swords and spears pointed at both ends, but when they saw Hektor going about among his men they were afraid, and their hearts fell down into their feet.

ὀτρύνων ἱππῆας, ἐπεὶ θεοῦ ἔκλυεν αὐδήν.

οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ ἢ ἔλαφον κεραὸν ἢ ἄγριον αἶγα

ἐσσεύαντο κύνες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἀγροιῶται·

τὸν μέν τʼ ἠλίβατος πέτρη καὶ δάσκιος ὕλη

εἰρύσατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα τέ σφι κιχήμεναι αἴσιμον ἦεν·

τῶν δέ θʼ ὑπὸ ἰαχῆς ἐφάνη λὶς ἠϋγένειος

εἰς ὁδόν, αἶψα δὲ πάντας ἀπέτραπε καὶ μεμαῶτας·

ὣς Δαναοὶ εἷος μὲν ὁμιλαδὸν αἰὲν ἕποντο

νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ἴδον Ἕκτορʼ ἐποιχόμενον στίχας ἀνδρῶν

τάρβησαν, πᾶσιν δὲ παραὶ ποσὶ κάππεσε θυμός.

Then spoke Thoas son of Andraimon, leader of the Aetolians, a man who could throw a good throw, and who was staunch also in close fight, while few could surpass him in debate when opinions were divided. He then with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "What, in heaven's name, do I now see? Is it not Hektor come to life again? Every one made sure he had been killed by Ajax son of Telamon, but it seems that one of the gods has again rescued him. He has killed many of us Danaans already, and I take it will yet do so, for the hand of Zeus must be with him or he would never dare show himself so masterful in the forefront of the battle. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say; let us order the main body of our forces to fall back upon the ships, but let those of us who profess to be the flower of the army stand firm, and see whether we cannot hold Hektor back at the point of our spears as soon as he comes near us; I conceive that he will then think better of it before he tries to charge into the press of the Danaans."

τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀγόρευε Θόας Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,

Αἰτωλῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐπιστάμενος μὲν ἄκοντι

ἐσθλὸς δʼ ἐν σταδίῃ· ἀγορῇ δέ ἑ παῦροι Ἀχαιῶν

νίκων, ὁππότε κοῦροι ἐρίσσειαν περὶ μύθων·

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι,

οἷον δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀνέστη κῆρας ἀλύξας

Ἕκτωρ· ἦ θήν μιν μάλα ἔλπετο θυμὸς ἑκάστου

χερσὶν ὑπʼ Αἴαντος θανέειν Τελαμωνιάδαο.

ἀλλά τις αὖτε θεῶν ἐρρύσατο καὶ ἐσάωσεν

Ἕκτορʼ, ὃ δὴ πολλῶν Δαναῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν,

ὡς καὶ νῦν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐομαι· οὐ γὰρ ἄτερ γε

Ζηνὸς ἐριγδούπου πρόμος ἵσταται ὧδε μενοινῶν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼν εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες.

πληθὺν μὲν ποτὶ νῆας ἀνώξομεν ἀπονέεσθαι·

αὐτοὶ δʼ, ὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἐνὶ στρατῷ εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι,

στήομεν, εἴ κεν πρῶτον ἐρύξομεν ἀντιάσαντες

δούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· τὸν δʼ οἴω καὶ μεμαῶτα

θυμῷ δείσεσθαι Δαναῶν καταδῦναι ὅμιλον.

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. Those who were about Ajax and King Idomeneus, the followers moreover of Teucer, Meriones, and Meges peer of Ares called all their best men about them and sustained the fight against Hektor and the Trojans, but the main body fell back upon the ships of the Achaeans.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο·

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀμφʼ Αἴαντα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα

Τεῦκρον Μηριόνην τε Μέγην τʼ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊ

ὑσμίνην ἤρτυνον ἀριστῆας καλέσαντες

Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσιν ἐναντίον· αὐτὰρ ὀπίσσω

ἣ πληθὺς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν ἀπονέοντο.

The Trojans pressed forward in a dense body, with Hektor striding on at their head. Before him went Phoebus Apollo shrouded in cloud about his shoulders. He bore aloft the terrible aegis with its shaggy fringe, which Hephaistos the smith had given Zeus to strike terror into the hearts of men. With this in his hand he led on the Trojans.

Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρ

μακρὰ βιβάς· πρόσθεν δὲ κίʼ αὐτοῦ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

εἱμένος ὤμοιιν νεφέλην, ἔχε δʼ αἰγίδα θοῦριν

δεινὴν ἀμφιδάσειαν ἀριπρεπέʼ, ἣν ἄρα χαλκεὺς

Ἥφαιστος Διὶ δῶκε φορήμεναι ἐς φόβον ἀνδρῶν·

τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων ἡγήσατο λαῶν.

The Argives held together and stood their ground. The cry of battle rose high from either side, and the arrows flew from the bowstrings. Many a spear sped from strong hands and fastened in the bodies of many a valiant warrior, while others fell to earth midway, before they could taste of man's fair flesh and glut themselves with blood. So long as Phoebus Apollo held his aegis quietly and without shaking it, the weapons on either side took effect and the people fell, but when he shook it straight in the face of the Danaans and raised his mighty battle-cry their hearts fainted within them and they forgot their former prowess. As when two wild beasts spring in the dead of night on a herd of cattle or a large flock of sheep when the herdsman is not there - even so were the Danaans struck helpless, for Apollo filled them with panic and gave victory to Hektor and the Trojans.

Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ὑπέμειναν ἀολλέες, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτὴ

ὀξεῖʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν, ἀπὸ νευρῆφι δʼ ὀϊστοὶ

θρῷσκον· πολλὰ δὲ δοῦρα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν

ἄλλα μὲν ἐν χροῒ πήγνυτʼ ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν,

πολλὰ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγὺ πάρος χρόα λευκὸν ἐπαυρεῖν

ἐν γαίῃ ἵσταντο λιλαιόμενα χροὸς ἆσαι.

ὄφρα μὲν αἰγίδα χερσὶν ἔχʼ ἀτρέμα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατʼ ἐνῶπα ἰδὼν Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων

σεῖσʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἄϋσε μάλα μέγα, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸν

ἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθελξε, λάθοντο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.

οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ ἠὲ βοῶν ἀγέλην ἢ πῶϋ μέγʼ οἰῶν

θῆρε δύω κλονέωσι μελαίνης νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷ

ἐλθόντʼ ἐξαπίνης σημάντορος οὐ παρεόντος,

ὣς ἐφόβηθεν Ἀχαιοὶ ἀνάλκιδες· ἐν γὰρ Ἀπόλλων

ἧκε φόβον, Τρωσὶν δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὄπαζεν.

The fight then became more scattered and they killed one another where they best could. Hektor killed Stichios and Arkesilaos, the one, leader of the Boeotians, and the other, friend and comrade of Menestheus. Aeneas killed Medon and Iasos . The first was bastard son to Oileus, and brother to Ajax, but he lived in Phylake away from his own country, for he had killed a man, a kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis whom Oileus had married. Iasos had become a leader of the Athenians, and was son of Sphelus the son of Boukolos. Polydamas killed Mekisteus, and Polites Echios, in the front of the battle, while Agenor slew Klonios. Paris struck Deiochus from behind in the lower part of the shoulder, as he was fleeing among the foremost, and the point of the spear went clean through him.

ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὴρ ἕλεν ἄνδρα κεδασθείσης ὑσμίνης.

Ἕκτωρ μὲν Στιχίον τε καὶ Ἀρκεσίλαον ἔπεφνε,

τὸν μὲν Βοιωτῶν ἡγήτορα χαλκοχιτώνων,

τὸν δὲ Μενεσθῆος μεγαθύμου πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·

Αἰνείας δὲ Μέδοντα καὶ Ἴασον ἐξενάριξεν.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν νόθος υἱὸς Ὀϊλῆος θείοιο

ἔσκε Μέδων Αἴαντος ἀδελφεός· αὐτὰρ ἔναιεν

ἐν Φυλάκῃ γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος ἄνδρα κατακτὰς

γνωτὸν μητρυιῆς Ἐριώπιδος, ἣν ἔχʼ Ὀϊλεύς·

Ἴασος αὖτʼ ἀρχὸς μὲν Ἀθηναίων ἐτέτυκτο,

υἱὸς δὲ Σφήλοιο καλέσκετο Βουκολίδαο.

Μηκιστῆ δʼ ἕλε Πουλυδάμας, Ἐχίον δὲ Πολίτης

πρώτῃ ἐν ὑσμίνῃ, Κλονίον δʼ ἕλε δῖος Ἀγήνωρ.

Δηΐοχον δὲ Πάρις βάλε νείατον ὦμον ὄπισθε

φεύγοντʼ ἐν προμάχοισι, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν.

While they were spoiling these heroes of their armor, the Achaeans were fleeing pellmell to the trench and the set stakes, and were forced back within their wall. Hektor then cried out to the Trojans, "Forward to the ships, and let the spoils be. If I see any man keeping back on the other side the wall away from the ships I will have him killed: his kinsmen and kinswomen shall not give him his dues of fire, but dogs shall tear him in pieces in front of our city."

ὄφρʼ οἳ τοὺς ἐνάριζον ἀπʼ ἔντεα, τόφρα δʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

τάφρῳ καὶ σκολόπεσσιν ἐνιπλήξαντες ὀρυκτῇ

ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα φέβοντο, δύοντο δὲ τεῖχος ἀνάγκῃ.

Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας

νηυσὶν ἐπισσεύεσθαι, ἐᾶν δʼ ἔναρα βροτόεντα·

ὃν δʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε νεῶν ἑτέρωθι νοήσω,

αὐτοῦ οἱ θάνατον μητίσομαι, οὐδέ νυ τόν γε

γνωτοί τε γνωταί τε πυρὸς λελάχωσι θανόντα,

ἀλλὰ κύνες ἐρύουσι πρὸ ἄστεος ἡμετέροιο.

As he spoke he laid his whip about his horses' shoulders and called to the Trojans throughout their ranks; the Trojans shouted with a cry that rent the air, and kept their horses neck and neck with his own. Phoebus Apollo went before, and kicked down the banks of the deep trench into its middle so as to make a great broad bridge, as broad as the throw of a spear when a man is trying his strength. The Trojan battalions poured over the bridge, and Apollo with his redoubtable aegis led the way. He kicked down the wall of the Achaeans as easily as a child who playing on the sea-shore has built a house of sand and then kicks it down again and destroys it - even so did you, O Apollo, shed toil and trouble upon the Argives, filling them with panic and confusion.

ὣς εἰπὼν μάστιγι κατωμαδὸν ἤλασεν ἵππους

κεκλόμενος Τρώεσσι κατὰ στίχας· οἳ δὲ σὺν αὐτῷ

πάντες ὁμοκλήσαντες ἔχον ἐρυσάρματας ἵππους

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· προπάροιθε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

ῥεῖʼ ὄχθας καπέτοιο βαθείης ποσσὶν ἐρείπων

ἐς μέσσον κατέβαλλε, γεφύρωσεν δὲ κέλευθον

μακρὴν ἠδʼ εὐρεῖαν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ δουρὸς ἐρωὴ

γίγνεται, ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ σθένεος πειρώμενος ᾗσι.

τῇ ῥʼ οἵ γε προχέοντο φαλαγγηδόν, πρὸ δʼ Ἀπόλλων

αἰγίδʼ ἔχων ἐρίτιμον· ἔρειπε δὲ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν

ῥεῖα μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τις ψάμαθον πάϊς ἄγχι θαλάσσης,

ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ποιήσῃ ἀθύρματα νηπιέῃσιν

ἂψ αὖτις συνέχευε ποσὶν καὶ χερσὶν ἀθύρων.

ὥς ῥα σὺ ἤϊε Φοῖβε πολὺν κάματον καὶ ὀϊζὺν

σύγχεας Ἀργείων, αὐτοῖσι δὲ φύζαν ἐνῶρσας.

Thus then were the Achaeans hemmed in at their ships, calling out to one another and raising their hands with loud cries every man to heaven. Nestor of Gerene, tower of strength to the Achaeans, lifted up his hands to the starry firmament of heaven, and prayed more fervently than any of them. "Father Zeus," said he, "if ever any one in wheat-growing Argos burned you fat thigh-bones of sheep or heifer and prayed that he might return safely home, whereon you bowed your head to him in assent, bear it in mind now, and suffer not the Trojans to triumph thus over the Achaeans."

ὣς οἳ μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες,

ἀλλήλοισί τε κεκλόμενοι καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσι

χεῖρας ἀνίσχοντες μεγάλʼ εὐχετόωντο ἕκαστος·

Νέστωρ αὖτε μάλιστα Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν

εὔχετο χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα·

Ζεῦ πάτερ εἴ ποτέ τίς τοι ἐν Ἄργεΐ περ πολυπύρῳ

ἢ βοὸς ἢ οἰὸς κατὰ πίονα μηρία καίων

εὔχετο νοστῆσαι, σὺ δʼ ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας,

τῶν μνῆσαι καὶ ἄμυνον Ὀλύμπιε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,

μηδʼ οὕτω Τρώεσσιν ἔα δάμνασθαι Ἀχαιούς.

All counseling Zeus thundered loudly in answer to die prayer of the aged son of Neleus. When the heard Zeus thunder they flung themselves yet more fiercely on the Achaeans. As a wave breaking over the bulwarks of a ship when the sea runs high before a gale- for it is the force of the wind that makes the waves so great - even so did the Trojans spring over the wall with a shout, and drive their chariots onwards. The two sides fought with their double-pointed spears in hand-to-hand encounter-the Trojans from their chariots, and the Achaeans climbing up into their ships and wielding the long pikes that were lying on the decks ready for use in a sea-fight, jointed and shod with bronze.

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, μέγα δʼ ἔκτυπε μητίετα Ζεύς,

ἀράων ἀΐων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος.

Τρῶες δʼ ὡς ἐπύθοντο Διὸς κτύπον αἰγιόχοιο,

μᾶλλον ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισι θόρον, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.

οἳ δʼ ὥς τε μέγα κῦμα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιο

νηὸς ὑπὲρ τοίχων καταβήσεται, ὁππότʼ ἐπείγῃ

ἲς ἀνέμου· ἣ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε κύματʼ ὀφέλλει·

ὣς Τρῶες μεγάλῃ ἰαχῇ κατὰ τεῖχος ἔβαινον,

ἵππους δʼ εἰσελάσαντες ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσι μάχοντο

ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοις αὐτοσχεδόν, οἳ μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων,

οἳ δʼ ἀπὸ νηῶν ὕψι μελαινάων ἐπιβάντες

μακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι, τά ῥά σφʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἔκειτο

ναύμαχα κολλήεντα, κατὰ στόμα εἱμένα χαλκῷ.

Now Patroklos, so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting about the wall, but were not yet within it and at the ships, remained sitting in the tent of good Eurypylos, entertaining him with his conversation and spreading herbs over his wound to ease his pain. When, however, he saw the Trojans swarming through the breach in the wall, while the Achaeans were clamoring and struck with panic, he cried aloud, and smote his two thighs with the flat of his hands. "Eurypylos," said he in his dismay, "I know you want me badly, but I cannot stay with you any longer, for there is hard fighting going on; a squire [ therapôn ] shall take care of you now, for I must make all speed to Achilles, and induce him to fight if I can; who knows but with the help of a daimôn I may persuade him. A man does well to listen to the advice of a friend."

Πάτροκλος δʼ εἷος μὲν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε

τείχεος ἀμφεμάχοντο θοάων ἔκτοθι νηῶν,

τόφρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐνὶ κλισίῃ ἀγαπήνορος Εὐρυπύλοιο

ἧστό τε καὶ τὸν ἔτερπε λόγοις, ἐπὶ δʼ ἕλκεϊ λυγρῷ

φάρμακʼ ἀκέσματʼ ἔπασσε μελαινάων ὀδυνάων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῖχος ἐπεσσυμένους ἐνόησε

Τρῶας, ἀτὰρ Δαναῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,

ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼ

χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·

Εὐρύπυλʼ οὐκ ἔτι τοι δύναμαι χατέοντί περʼ ἔμπης

ἐνθάδε παρμενέμεν· δὴ γὰρ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν·

ἀλλὰ σὲ μὲν θεράπων ποτιτερπέτω, αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε

σπεύσομαι εἰς Ἀχιλῆα, ἵνʼ ὀτρύνω πολεμίζειν.

τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέν οἱ σὺν δαίμονι θυμὸν ὀρίνω

παρειπών; ἀγαθὴ δὲ παραίφασίς ἐστιν ἑταίρου.

When he had thus spoken he went his way. The Achaeans stood firm and resisted the attack of the Trojans, yet though these were fewer in number, they could not drive them back from the ships, neither could the Trojans break the Achaean ranks and make their way in among the tents and ships. As a carpenter's line gives a true edge to a piece of ship's timber, in the hand of some skilled workman whom Athena has instructed in all kinds of useful arts - even so level was the issue of the fight between the two sides, as they fought some round one and some round another.

τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰπόντα πόδες φέρον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

Τρῶας ἐπερχομένους μένον ἔμπεδον, οὐδʼ ἐδύναντο

παυροτέρους περ ἐόντας ἀπώσασθαι παρὰ νηῶν·

οὐδέ ποτε Τρῶες Δαναῶν ἐδύναντο φάλαγγας

ῥηξάμενοι κλισίῃσι μιγήμεναι ἠδὲ νέεσσιν.

ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στάθμη δόρυ νήϊον ἐξιθύνει

τέκτονος ἐν παλάμῃσι δαήμονος, ὅς ῥά τε πάσης

εὖ εἰδῇ σοφίης ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,

ὣς μὲν τῶν ἐπὶ ἶσα μάχη τέτατο πτόλεμός τε·

ἄλλοι δʼ ἀμφʼ ἄλλῃσι μάχην ἐμάχοντο νέεσσιν,

Hektor made straight for Ajax, and the put up fierce struggle [ ponos ] over the same ship. Hektor could not force Ajax back and fire the ship, nor yet could Ajax drive Hektor from the spot to which a daimôn had brought him.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἄντʼ Αἴαντος ἐείσατο κυδαλίμοιο.

τὼ δὲ μιῆς περὶ νηὸς ἔχον πόνον, οὐδὲ δύναντο

οὔθʼ ὃ τὸν ἐξελάσαι καὶ ἐνιπρῆσαι πυρὶ νῆα

οὔθʼ ὃ τὸν ἂψ ὤσασθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπέλασσέ γε δαίμων.

Then Ajax struck Kaletor son of Klytios in the chest with a spear as he was bringing fire towards the ship. He fell heavily to the ground and the torch dropped from his hand. When Hektor saw his cousin fallen in front of the ship he shouted to the Trojans and Lycians saying, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight, bate not a jot, but rescue the son of Klytios lest the Achaeans strip him of his armor now that he has fallen in the struggle [ agôn ]."

ἔνθʼ υἷα Κλυτίοιο Καλήτορα φαίδιμος Αἴας

πῦρ ἐς νῆα φέροντα κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δαλὸς δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἀνεψιὸν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

ἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντα νεὸς προπάροιθε μελαίνης,

Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ

μὴ δή πω χάζεσθε μάχης ἐν στείνεϊ τῷδε,

ἀλλʼ υἷα Κλυτίοιο σαώσατε, μή μιν Ἀχαιοὶ

τεύχεα συλήσωσι νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι πεσόντα.

ὣς εἰπὼν Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.

He then aimed a spear at Ajax, and missed him, but he hit Lykophron a follower [ therapôn ] of Ajax, who came from Cythera , but was living with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the Cythereans. Hektor's spear struck him on the head below the ear, and he fell headlong from the ship's prow on to the ground with no life left in him. Ajax shook with rage and said to his brother, "Teucer, my good man, our trusty comrade the son of Mastor has fallen, he came to live with us from Cythera and whom we honored as much as our own parents. Hektor has just killed him; fetch your deadly arrows at once and the bow which Phoebus Apollo gave you."

τοῦ μὲν ἅμαρθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα Λυκόφρονα Μάστορος υἱὸν

Αἴαντος θεράποντα Κυθήριον, ὅς ῥα παρʼ αὐτῷ

ναῖʼ, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα κατέκτα Κυθήροισι ζαθέοισι,

τόν ῥʼ ἔβαλεν κεφαλὴν ὑπὲρ οὔατος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ

ἑσταότʼ ἄγχʼ Αἴαντος· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι

νηὸς ἄπο πρυμνῆς χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.

Αἴας δʼ ἐρρίγησε, κασίγνητον δὲ προσηύδα·

Τεῦκρε πέπον δὴ νῶϊν ἀπέκτατο πιστὸς ἑταῖρος

Μαστορίδης, ὃν νῶϊ Κυθηρόθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα

ἶσα φίλοισι τοκεῦσιν ἐτίομεν ἐν μεγάροισι·

τὸν δʼ Ἕκτωρ μεγάθυμος ἀπέκτανε. ποῦ νύ τοι ἰοὶ

ὠκύμοροι καὶ τόξον ὅ τοι πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων;

Teucer heard him and hastened towards him with his bow and quiver in his hands. Forthwith he showered his arrows on the Trojans, and hit Kleitos the son of Pisenor, comrade of Polydamas the noble son of Panthoos, with the reins in his hands as he was attending to his horses; he was in the middle of the very thickest part of the fight, doing good service to Hektor and the Trojans, but evil had now come upon him, and not one of those who were fain to do so could avert it, for the arrow struck him on the back of the neck. He fell from his chariot and his horses shook the empty car as they swerved aside. King Polydamas saw what had happened, and was the first to come up to the horses; he gave them in charge to Astynoos son of Protiaon, and ordered him to look on, and to keep the horses near at hand. He then went back and took his place in the front ranks.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε, θέων δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρέστη,

τόξον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρην

ἰοδόκον· μάλα δʼ ὦκα βέλεα Τρώεσσιν ἐφίει.

καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε Κλεῖτον Πεισήνορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν

Πουλυδάμαντος ἑταῖρον ἀγαυοῦ Πανθοΐδαο

ἡνία χερσὶν ἔχοντα· ὃ μὲν πεπόνητο καθʼ ἵππους·

τῇ γὰρ ἔχʼ ᾗ ῥα πολὺ πλεῖσται κλονέοντο φάλαγγες

Ἕκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος· τάχα δʼ αὐτῷ

ἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.

αὐχένι γάρ οἱ ὄπισθε πολύστονος ἔμπεσεν ἰός·

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι

κείνʼ ὄχεα κροτέοντες. ἄναξ δʼ ἐνόησε τάχιστα

Πουλυδάμας, καὶ πρῶτος ἐναντίος ἤλυθεν ἵππων.

τοὺς μὲν ὅ γʼ Ἀστυνόῳ Προτιάονος υἱέϊ δῶκε,

πολλὰ δʼ ἐπότρυνε σχεδὸν ἴσχειν εἰσορόωντα

ἵππους· αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη.

Teucer then aimed another arrow at Hektor, and there would have been no more fighting at the ships if he had hit him and killed him then and there: but Teucer did not escape the notice [ noos ] of Zeus, who kept watch over Hektor and deprived him of his triumph, by breaking his bowstring for him just as he was drawing it and about to take his aim; on this the arrow went astray and the bow fell from his hands. Teucer shook with anger and said to his brother, "Alas, see how a daimôn thwarts us in all we do; he has broken my bowstring and snatched the bow from my hand, though I strung it this selfsame morning that it might serve me for many an arrow."

Τεῦκρος δʼ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἐφʼ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ

αἴνυτο, καί κεν ἔπαυσε μάχης ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν,

εἴ μιν ἀριστεύοντα βαλὼν ἐξείλετο θυμόν.

ἀλλʼ οὐ λῆθε Διὸς πυκινὸν νόον, ὅς ῥʼ ἐφύλασσεν

Ἕκτορʼ, ἀτὰρ Τεῦκρον Τελαμώνιον εὖχος ἀπηύρα,

ὅς οἱ ἐϋστρεφέα νευρὴν ἐν ἀμύμονι τόξῳ

ῥῆξʼ ἐπὶ τῷ ἐρύοντι· παρεπλάγχθη δέ οἱ ἄλλῃ

ἰὸς χαλκοβαρής, τόξον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.

Τεῦκρος δʼ ἐρρίγησε, κασίγνητον δὲ προσηύδα·

ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ πάγχυ μάχης ἐπὶ μήδεα κείρει

δαίμων ἡμετέρης, ὅ τέ μοι βιὸν ἔκβαλε χειρός,

νευρὴν δʼ ἐξέρρηξε νεόστροφον, ἣν ἐνέδησα

πρώϊον, ὄφρʼ ἀνέχοιτο θαμὰ θρῴσκοντας ὀϊστούς.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

Ajax son of Telamon answered, "My good man, let your bow and your arrows be, for Zeus has made them useless in order to spite the Danaans. Take your spear, lay your shield upon your shoulder, and both fight the Trojans yourself and urge others to do so. They may be successful for the moment but if we fight as we ought they will find it a hard matter to take the ships." Teucer then took his bow and put it by in his tent. He hung a shield four hides thick about his shoulders, and on his comely head he set his helmet well wrought with a crest of horse-hair that nodded menacingly above it; he grasped his redoubtable bronze-shod spear, and forthwith he was by the side of Ajax.

ὦ πέπον ἀλλὰ βιὸν μὲν ἔα καὶ ταρφέας ἰοὺς

κεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ συνέχευε θεὸς Δαναοῖσι μεγήρας·

αὐτὰρ χερσὶν ἑλὼν δολιχὸν δόρυ καὶ σάκος ὤμῳ

μάρναό τε Τρώεσσι καὶ ἄλλους ὄρνυθι λαούς.

μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε δαμασσάμενοί περ ἕλοιεν

νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους, ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα χάρμης.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ τόξον μὲν ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἔθηκεν,

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο τετραθέλυμνον,

κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν

ἵππουριν, δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, μάλα δʼ ὦκα θέων Αἴαντι παρέστη.

When Hektor saw that Teucer's bow was of no more use to him, he shouted out to the Trojans and Lycians, "Trojans, Lycians, and Dardanians good in close fight, be men, my friends, and show your mettle here at the ships, for I see the weapon of one of their chieftains made useless by the hand of Zeus. It is easy to see when Zeus is helping people and means to help them still further, or again when he is bringing them down and will do nothing for them; he is now on our side, and is going against the Argives. Therefore swarm round the ships and fight. If any of you is struck by spear or sword and loses his life, let him die; he dies with honor who dies fighting for his country; and he will leave his wife and children safe behind him, with his house and allotment unplundered if only the Achaeans can be driven back to their own land, they and their ships."

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς εἶδεν Τεύκρου βλαφθέντα βέλεμνα,

Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ

ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς

νῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς· δὴ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

ἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος Διόθεν βλαφθέντα βέλεμνα.

ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτος Διὸς ἀνδράσι γίγνεται ἀλκή,

ἠμὲν ὁτέοισιν κῦδος ὑπέρτερον ἐγγυαλίξῃ,

ἠδʼ ὅτινας μινύθῃ τε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀμύνειν,

ὡς νῦν Ἀργείων μινύθει μένος, ἄμμι δʼ ἀρήγει.

ἀλλὰ μάχεσθʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἀολλέες· ὃς δέ κεν ὑμέων

βλήμενος ἠὲ τυπεὶς θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ

τεθνάτω· οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀμυνομένῳ περὶ πάτρης

τεθνάμεν· ἀλλʼ ἄλοχός τε σόη καὶ παῖδες ὀπίσσω,

καὶ οἶκος καὶ κλῆρος ἀκήρατος, εἴ κεν Ἀχαιοὶ

οἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

With these words he put heart and soul into them all. Ajax on the other side exhorted his comrades saying, "Shame [ aidôs ] on you Argives, we are now utterly undone, unless we can save ourselves by driving the enemy from our ships. Do you think, if Hektor takes them, that you will be able to get home by land? Can you not hear him cheering on his whole host to fire our fleet, and bidding them remember that they are not at a dance [ khoros ] but in battle? Our only thought [ noos ] and plan [ mêtis ] is to fight them with might and main; we had better chance it, life or death, once for all, than fight long and without issue hemmed in at our ships by worse men than ourselves."

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

Αἴας δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισιν·

αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι· νῦν ἄρκιον ἢ ἀπολέσθαι

ἠὲ σαωθῆναι καὶ ἀπώσασθαι κακὰ νηῶν.

ἦ ἔλπεσθʼ ἢν νῆας ἕλῃ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

ἐμβαδὸν ἵξεσθαι ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἕκαστος;

ἦ οὐκ ὀτρύνοντος ἀκούετε λαὸν ἅπαντα

Ἕκτορος, ὃς δὴ νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι μενεαίνει;

οὐ μὰν ἔς γε χορὸν κέλετʼ ἐλθέμεν, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.

ἡμῖν δʼ οὔ τις τοῦδε νόος καὶ μῆτις ἀμείνων

ἢ αὐτοσχεδίῃ μῖξαι χεῖράς τε μένος τε.

βέλτερον ἢ ἀπολέσθαι ἕνα χρόνον ἠὲ βιῶναι

ἢ δηθὰ στρεύγεσθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι

ὧδʼ αὔτως παρὰ νηυσὶν ὑπʼ ἀνδράσι χειροτέροισιν.

With these words he put life [ menos ] and spirit [ thumos ] into them all. Hektor then killed Schedios son of Perimedes, leader of the Phoceans, and Ajax killed Laodamas leader of foot soldiers and son to Antenor. Polydamas killed Otos of Cyllene a comrade of the son of Phyleus and chief of the proud Epeans. When Meges saw this he sprang upon him, but Polydamas crouched down, and he missed him, for Apollo would not suffer the son of Panthoos to fall in battle; but the spear hit Croesmus in the middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and Meges stripped him of his armor. At that moment the valiant warrior Dolops son of Lampos sprang upon Lampos was son of Laomedon and for his valor, while his son Dolops was versed in all the ways of war. He then struck the middle of the son of Phyleus' shield with his spear, setting on him at close quarters, but his good corselet made with plates of metal saved him; Phyleus had brought it from Ephyra and the river Selleis, where his host, King Euphetes, had given it him to wear in battle and protect him. It now served to save the life of his son. Then Meges struck the topmost crest of Dolops' bronze helmet with his spear

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.

ἔνθʼ Ἕκτωρ μὲν ἕλε Σχεδίον Περιμήδεος υἱὸν

ἀρχὸν Φωκήων, Αἴας δʼ ἕλε Λαοδάμαντα

ἡγεμόνα πρυλέων Ἀντήνορος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν·

Πουλυδάμας δʼ Ὦτον Κυλλήνιον ἐξενάριξε

Φυλεΐδεω ἕταρον, μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸν Ἐπειῶν.

τῷ δὲ Μέγης ἐπόρουσεν ἰδών· ὃ δʼ ὕπαιθα λιάσθη

Πουλυδάμας· καὶ τοῦ μὲν ἀπήμβροτεν· οὐ γὰρ Ἀπόλλων

εἴα Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι δαμῆναι·

αὐτὰρ ὅ γε Κροίσμου στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρί.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα.

τόφρα δὲ τῷ ἐπόρουσε Δόλοψ αἰχμῆς ἐῢ εἰδὼς

Λαμπετίδης, ὃν Λάμπος ἐγείνατο φέρτατον υἱὸν

Λαομεδοντιάδης εὖ εἰδότα θούριδος ἀλκῆς,

ὃς τότε Φυλεΐδαο μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρὶ

ἐγγύθεν ὁρμηθείς· πυκινὸς δέ οἱ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ,

τόν ῥʼ ἐφόρει γυάλοισιν ἀρηρότα· τόν ποτε Φυλεὺς

ἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἐφύρης, ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.

ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔδωκεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὐφήτης

ἐς πόλεμον φορέειν δηΐων ἀνδρῶν ἀλεωρήν·

ὅς οἱ καὶ τότε παιδὸς ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκεσʼ ὄλεθρον.

τοῦ δὲ Μέγης κόρυθος χαλκήρεος ἱπποδασείης

and tore away its plume of horse-hair, so that all newly dyed with scarlet as it was it tumbled down into the dust. While he was still fighting and confident of victory, Menelaos came up to help Meges, and got by the side of Dolops unperceived; he then speared him in the shoulder, from behind, and the point, driven so furiously, went through into his chest, whereon he fell headlong. The two then made towards him to strip him of his armor, but Hektor called on all his brothers for help, and he especially upbraided brave Melanippos son of Hiketaon, who erewhile used to pasture his herds of cattle in Perkote before the war broke out; but when the ships of the Danaans came, he went back to Ilion , where he was eminent among the Trojans, and lived near Priam who treated him as one of his own sons. Hektor now rebuked him and said, "Why, Melanippos, are we thus remiss? do you take no note of the death of your kinsman, and do you not see how they are trying to take Dolops' armor? Follow me; there must be no fighting the Argives from a distance now, but we must do so in close combat till either we kill them or they take the high wall of Ilion and slay her people."

κύμβαχον ἀκρότατον νύξʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι,

ῥῆξε δʼ ἀφʼ ἵππειον λόφον αὐτοῦ· πᾶς δὲ χαμᾶζε

κάππεσεν ἐν κονίῃσι νέον φοίνικι φαεινός.

εἷος ὃ τῷ πολέμιζε μένων, ἔτι δʼ ἔλπετο νίκην,

τόφρα δέ οἱ Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἦλθεν ἀμύντωρ,

στῆ δʼ εὐρὰξ σὺν δουρὶ λαθών, βάλε δʼ ὦμον ὄπισθεν·

αἰχμὴ δὲ στέρνοιο διέσσυτο μαιμώωσα

πρόσσω ἱεμένη· ὃ δʼ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐλιάσθη.

τὼ μὲν ἐεισάσθην χαλκήρεα τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων

συλήσειν· Ἕκτωρ δὲ κασιγνήτοισι κέλευσε

πᾶσι μάλα, πρῶτον δʼ Ἱκεταονίδην ἐνένιπεν

ἴφθιμον Μελάνιππον. ὃ δʼ ὄφρα μὲν εἰλίποδας βοῦς

βόσκʼ ἐν Περκώτῃ δηΐων ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἐόντων·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Δαναῶν νέες ἤλυθον ἀμφιέλισσαι,

ἂψ εἰς Ἴλιον ἦλθε, μετέπρεπε δὲ Τρώεσσι,

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

τόν ῥʼ Ἕκτωρ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

οὕτω δὴ Μελάνιππε μεθήσομεν; οὐδέ νυ σοί περ

ἐντρέπεται φίλον ἦτορ ἀνεψιοῦ κταμένοιο;

οὐχ ὁράᾳς οἷον Δόλοπος περὶ τεύχεʼ ἕπουσιν;

ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔστιν ἀποσταδὸν Ἀργείοισι

μάρνασθαι, πρίν γʼ ἠὲ κατακτάμεν ἠὲ κατʼ ἄκρης

Ἴλιον αἰπεινὴν ἑλέειν κτάσθαι τε πολίτας.

He led on as he spoke, and the hero Melanippos followed after. Meanwhile Ajax son of Telamon was cheering on the Argives. "My friends," he cried, "be men, and fear the loss of respect [ aidôs ]; quit yourselves in battle so as to win respect from one another. Men who respect each other's good opinion are less likely to be killed than those who do not, but in flight there is neither gain nor glory [ kleos ]."

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ἦρχʼ, ὃ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς·

Ἀργείους δʼ ὄτρυνε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε, καὶ αἰδῶ θέσθʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,

ἀλλήλους τʼ αἰδεῖσθε κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.

αἰδομένων δʼ ἀνδρῶν πλέονες σόοι ἠὲ πέφανται·

φευγόντων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ κλέος ὄρνυται οὔτέ τις ἀλκή.

Thus did he exhort men who were already bent upon driving back the Trojans. They laid his words to heart and hedged the ships as with a wall of bronze, while Zeus urged on the Trojans. Menelaos of the loud battle-cry urged Antilokhos on. "Antilokhos," said he, "you are young and there is none of the Achaeans more fleet of foot or more valiant than you are. See if you cannot spring upon some Trojan and kill him."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀλέξασθαι μενέαινον,

ἐν θυμῷ δʼ ἐβάλοντο ἔπος, φράξαντο δὲ νῆας

ἕρκεϊ χαλκείῳ· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς Τρῶας ἔγειρεν.

Ἀντίλοχον δʼ ὄτρυνε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

Ἀντίλοχʼ οὔ τις σεῖο νεώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,

οὔτε ποσὶν θάσσων οὔτʼ ἄλκιμος ὡς σὺ μάχεσθαι·

εἴ τινά που Τρώων ἐξάλμενος ἄνδρα βάλοισθα.

He hurried away when he had thus spurred Antilokhos, who at once darted out from the front ranks and aimed a spear, after looking carefully round him. The Trojans fell back as he threw, and the dart did not speed from his hand without effect, for it struck Melanippos the proud son of Hiketaon in the breast by the nipple as he was coming forward, and his armor rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the ground. Antilokhos sprang upon him as a dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking away from its covert, and killed it. Even so, O Melanippos, did stalwart Antilokhos spring upon you to strip you of your armor; but noble Hektor marked him, and came running up to him through the thick of the battle. Antilokhos, brave warrior though he was, would not stay to face him, but fled like some savage creature which knows it has done wrong, and flies, when it has killed a dog or a man who is herding his cattle, before a body of men can be gathered to attack it. Even so did the son of Nestor flee, and the Trojans and Hektor with a cry that rent the air showered their weapons after him; nor did he turn round and stay his flight till he had reached his comrades.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἀπέσσυτο, τὸν δʼ ὀρόθυνεν·

ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε προμάχων, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ

ἀμφὶ ἓ παπτήνας· ὑπὸ δὲ Τρῶες κεκάδοντο

ἀνδρὸς ἀκοντίσσαντος· ὃ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἧκεν,

ἀλλʼ Ἱκετάονος υἱὸν ὑπέρθυμον Μελάνιππον

νισόμενον πόλεμον δὲ βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν.

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.

Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἐπόρουσε κύων ὥς, ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ νεβρῷ

βλημένῳ ἀΐξῃ, τόν τʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι θορόντα

θηρητὴρ ἐτύχησε βαλών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα·

ὣς ἐπὶ σοὶ Μελάνιππε θόρʼ Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης

τεύχεα συλήσων· ἀλλʼ οὐ λάθεν Ἕκτορα δῖον,

ὅς ῥά οἱ ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων ἀνὰ δηϊοτῆτα.

Ἀντίλοχος δʼ οὐ μεῖνε θοός περ ἐὼν πολεμιστής,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἔτρεσε θηρὶ κακὸν ῥέξαντι ἐοικώς,

ὅς τε κύνα κτείνας ἢ βουκόλον ἀμφὶ βόεσσι

φεύγει πρίν περ ὅμιλον ἀολλισθήμεναι ἀνδρῶν·

ὣς τρέσε Νεστορίδης, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶές τε καὶ Ἕκτωρ

ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα χέοντο·

στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθείς, ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων.

The Trojans, fierce as lions, were still rushing on towards the ships in fulfillment of the behests of Zeus who kept spurring them on to new deeds of daring, while he deadened the courage of the Argives and defeated them by encouraging the Trojans. For he meant giving glory to Hektor son of Priam, and letting him throw fire upon the ships, till he had fulfilled the unrighteous prayer that Thetis had made him; Zeus, therefore, bided his time till he should see the glare of a blazing ship. From that hour he was about so to order that the Trojans should be driven back from the ships and to grant glory to the Achaeans. With this purpose he inspired Hektor son of Priam, who was eager enough already, to assail the ships. His fury was as that of Ares, or as when a fire is raging in the glades of some dense forest upon the mountains; he foamed at the mouth, his eyes glared under his terrible eye-brows, and his helmet quivered on his temples by reason of the fury with which he fought.

Τρῶες δὲ λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισι

νηυσὶν ἐπεσσεύοντο, Διὸς δʼ ἐτέλειον ἐφετμάς,

ὅ σφισιν αἰὲν ἔγειρε μένος μέγα, θέλγε δὲ θυμὸν

Ἀργείων καὶ κῦδος ἀπαίνυτο, τοὺς δʼ ὀρόθυνεν.

Ἕκτορι γάρ οἱ θυμὸς ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι

Πριαμίδῃ, ἵνα νηυσὶ κορωνίσι θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ

ἐμβάλοι ἀκάματον, Θέτιδος δʼ ἐξαίσιον ἀρὴν

πᾶσαν ἐπικρήνειε· τὸ γὰρ μένε μητίετα Ζεὺς

νηὸς καιομένης σέλας ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι.

ἐκ γὰρ δὴ τοῦ μέλλε παλίωξιν παρὰ νηῶν

θησέμεναι Τρώων, Δαναοῖσι δὲ κῦδος ὀρέξειν.

τὰ φρονέων νήεσσιν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἔγειρεν

Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην μάλα περ μεμαῶτα καὶ αὐτόν.

μαίνετο δʼ ὡς ὅτʼ Ἄρης ἐγχέσπαλος ἢ ὀλοὸν πῦρ

οὔρεσι μαίνηται βαθέης ἐν τάρφεσιν ὕλης·

ἀφλοισμὸς δὲ περὶ στόμα γίγνετο, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

λαμπέσθην βλοσυρῇσιν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσιν, ἀμφὶ δὲ πήληξ

σμερδαλέον κροτάφοισι τινάσσετο μαρναμένοιο

Zeus from heaven was with him, and though he was but one against many, granted him victory and glory; for he was doomed to an early death, and already Pallas Athena was hurrying on the hour of his destruction at the hands of the son of Peleus. Now, however, he kept trying to break the ranks of the enemy wherever he could see them thickest, and in the goodliest armor; but do what he might he could not break through them, for they stood as a tower foursquare, or as some high cliff rising from the gray sea that braves the anger of the gale, and of the waves that thunder up against it. He fell upon them like flames of fire from every quarter. As when a wave, raised mountain high by wind and storm, breaks over a ship and covers it deep in foam, the fierce winds roar against the mast, the hearts of the sailors fail them for fear, and they are saved but by a very little from destruction - even so were the hearts of the Achaeans fainting within them. Or as a savage lion attacking a herd of cows while they are feeding by thousands in the low-lying meadows by some wide-watered shore - the herdsman is at his wit's end how to protect his herd and keeps going about now in the van and now in the rear of his cattle, while the lion springs into the thick of them and fastens on a cow so that they all tremble for fear - even so were the Achaeans utterly panic-stricken by Hektor and father Zeus. Nevertheless Hektor only killed Periphetes of Mycenae ; he was son of Kopreus who was wont to take the orders of King Eurystheus to mighty Herakles, but the son was far better in excellence [ aretê ] than the father in every way; he was fleet of foot, a valiant warrior, and in understanding [ noos ] ranked among the foremost men of Mycenae . He it was who then afforded Hektor a triumph, for as he was turning back he stumbled against the rim of his shield which reached his feet, and served to keep the javelins off him. He tripped against this and fell face upward, his helmet ringing loudly about his head as he did so. Hektor saw him fall and ran up to him; he then thrust a spear into his chest, and killed him close to his own comrades. These, for all their sorrow, could not help him for they were themselves terribly afraid of Hektor.

Ἕκτορος· αὐτὸς γάρ οἱ ἀπʼ αἰθέρος ἦεν ἀμύντωρ

Ζεύς, ὅς μιν πλεόνεσσι μετʼ ἀνδράσι μοῦνον ἐόντα

τίμα καὶ κύδαινε. μινυνθάδιος γὰρ ἔμελλεν

ἔσσεσθʼ· ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐπόρνυε μόρσιμον ἦμαρ

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη ὑπὸ Πηλεΐδαο βίηφιν.

καί ῥʼ ἔθελεν ῥῆξαι στίχας ἀνδρῶν πειρητίζων,

ᾗ δὴ πλεῖστον ὅμιλον ὅρα καὶ τεύχεʼ ἄριστα·

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς δύνατο ῥῆξαι μάλα περ μενεαίνων·

ἴσχον γὰρ πυργηδὸν ἀρηρότες, ἠΰτε πέτρη

ἠλίβατος μεγάλη πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐγγὺς ἐοῦσα,

ἥ τε μένει λιγέων ἀνέμων λαιψηρὰ κέλευθα

κύματά τε τροφόεντα, τά τε προσερεύγεται αὐτήν·

ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρῶας μένον ἔμπεδον οὐδὲ φέβοντο.

αὐτὰρ ὃ λαμπόμενος πυρὶ πάντοθεν ἔνθορʼ ὁμίλῳ,

ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ ὡς ὅτε κῦμα θοῇ ἐν νηῒ πέσῃσι

λάβρον ὑπαὶ νεφέων ἀνεμοτρεφές· ἣ δέ τε πᾶσα

ἄχνῃ ὑπεκρύφθη, ἀνέμοιο δὲ δεινὸς ἀήτη

ἱστίῳ ἐμβρέμεται, τρομέουσι δέ τε φρένα ναῦται

δειδιότες· τυτθὸν γὰρ ὑπʼ ἐκ θανάτοιο φέρονται·

ὣς ἐδαΐζετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὥς τε λέων ὀλοόφρων βουσὶν ἐπελθών,

αἵ ῥά τʼ ἐν εἱαμενῇ ἕλεος μεγάλοιο νέμονται

μυρίαι, ἐν δέ τε τῇσι νομεὺς οὔ πω σάφα εἰδὼς

θηρὶ μαχέσσασθαι ἕλικος βοὸς ἀμφὶ φονῇσιν·

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν πρώτῃσι καὶ ὑστατίῃσι βόεσσιν

αἰὲν ὁμοστιχάει, ὃ δέ τʼ ἐν μέσσῃσιν ὀρούσας

βοῦν ἔδει, αἳ δέ τε πᾶσαι ὑπέτρεσαν· ὣς τότʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

θεσπεσίως ἐφόβηθεν ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι καὶ Διὶ πατρὶ

πάντες, ὃ δʼ οἶον ἔπεφνε Μυκηναῖον Περιφήτην,

Κοπρῆος φίλον υἱόν, ὃς Εὐρυσθῆος ἄνακτος

ἀγγελίης οἴχνεσκε βίῃ Ἡρακληείῃ.

τοῦ γένετʼ ἐκ πατρὸς πολὺ χείρονος υἱὸς ἀμείνων

παντοίας ἀρετάς, ἠμὲν πόδας ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,

καὶ νόον ἐν πρώτοισι Μυκηναίων ἐτέτυκτο·

ὅς ῥα τόθʼ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὑπέρτερον ἐγγυάλιξε.

στρεφθεὶς γὰρ μετόπισθεν ἐν ἀσπίδος ἄντυγι πάλτο,

τὴν αὐτὸς φορέεσκε ποδηνεκέʼ ἕρκος ἀκόντων·

τῇ ὅ γʼ ἐνὶ βλαφθεὶς πέσεν ὕπτιος, ἀμφὶ δὲ πήληξ

σμερδαλέον κονάβησε περὶ κροτάφοισι πεσόντος.

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὀξὺ νόησε, θέων δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρέστη,