Iliad

Now when Dawn in robe of saffron was hastening from the streams of Okeanos, to bring light to mortals and immortals, Thetis reached the ships with the armor that the god had given her. She found her son fallen about the body of Patroklos and weeping bitterly. Many also of his followers were weeping round him, but when the goddess came among them she clasped his hand in her own, saying, "My son, grieve as we may we must let this man lie, for it is by heaven's will that he has fallen; now, therefore, accept from Hephaistos this rich and goodly armor, which no man has ever yet borne upon his shoulders."

Ἠὼς μὲν κροκόπεπλος ἀπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων

ὄρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·

ἣ δʼ ἐς νῆας ἵκανε θεοῦ πάρα δῶρα φέρουσα.

εὗρε δὲ Πατρόκλῳ περικείμενον ὃν φίλον υἱὸν

κλαίοντα λιγέως· πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι

μύρονθʼ· ἣ δʼ ἐν τοῖσι παρίστατο δῖα θεάων,

ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

τέκνον ἐμὸν τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ

κεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα θεῶν ἰότητι δαμάσθη·

τύνη δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο πάρα κλυτὰ τεύχεα δέξο

καλὰ μάλʼ, οἷʼ οὔ πώ τις ἀνὴρ ὤμοισι φόρησεν.

As she spoke she set the armor before Achilles, and it rang out bravely as she did so. The Myrmidons were struck with awe, and none dared look full at it, for they were afraid; but Achilles was roused to still greater fury, and his eyes gleamed with a fierce light, for he was glad when he handled the splendid present which the god had made him. Then, as soon as he had satisfied himself with looking at it, he said to his mother, "Mother, the god has given me armor, meet handiwork for an immortal and such as no living could have fashioned; I will now arm, but I much fear that flies will settle upon the son of Menoitios and breed worms about his wounds, so that his body, now he is dead, will be disfigured and the flesh will rot."

ὡς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κατὰ τεύχεʼ ἔθηκε

πρόσθεν Ἀχιλλῆος· τὰ δʼ ἀνέβραχε δαίδαλα πάντα.

Μυρμιδόνας δʼ ἄρα πάντας ἕλε τρόμος, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη

ἄντην εἰσιδέειν, ἀλλʼ ἔτρεσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ὡς εἶδʼ, ὥς μιν μᾶλλον ἔδυ χόλος, ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε

δεινὸν ὑπὸ βλεφάρων ὡς εἰ σέλας ἐξεφάανθεν·

τέρπετο δʼ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων θεοῦ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσι τετάρπετο δαίδαλα λεύσσων

αὐτίκα μητέρα ἣν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

μῆτερ ἐμὴ τὰ μὲν ὅπλα θεὸς πόρεν οἷʼ ἐπιεικὲς

ἔργʼ ἔμεν ἀθανάτων, μὴ δὲ βροτὸν ἄνδρα τελέσσαι.

νῦν δʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ θωρήξομαι· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰνῶς

δείδω μή μοι τόφρα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν

μυῖαι καδδῦσαι κατὰ χαλκοτύπους ὠτειλὰς

εὐλὰς ἐγγείνωνται, ἀεικίσσωσι δὲ νεκρόν,

ἐκ δʼ αἰὼν πέφαται, κατὰ δὲ χρόα πάντα σαπήῃ.

Silver-footed Thetis answered, "My son, be not disquieted about this matter. I will find means to protect him from the swarms of noisome flies that prey on the bodies of men who have been killed in battle. He may lie for a whole year, and his flesh shall still be as sound as ever, or even sounder. Call, therefore, the Achaean heroes in assembly; unsay your anger [ mênis ] against Agamemnon; arm at once, and fight with might and main." As she spoke she put strength and courage into his heart, and she then dropped ambrosia and red nectar into the wounds of Patroklos, that his body might suffer no change.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·

τέκνον μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.

τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ πειρήσω ἀλαλκεῖν ἄγρια φῦλα

μυίας, αἵ ῥά τε φῶτας ἀρηϊφάτους κατέδουσιν·

ἤν περ γὰρ κεῖταί γε τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,

αἰεὶ τῷ γʼ ἔσται χρὼς ἔμπεδος, ἢ καὶ ἀρείων.

ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσας ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς

μῆνιν ἀποειπὼν Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν

αἶψα μάλʼ ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσεο, δύσεο δʼ ἀλκήν.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνῆκε,

Πατρόκλῳ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμβροσίην καὶ νέκταρ ἐρυθρὸν

στάξε κατὰ ῥινῶν, ἵνα οἱ χρὼς ἔμπεδος εἴη.

Then Achilles went out upon the seashore, and with a loud cry called on the Achaean heroes. On this even those who as yet had stayed always at the assembly of [ agôn ] of ships, the pilots and helmsmen, and even the stewards who were about the ships and served out rations, all came to the place of assembly because Achilles had shown himself after having held aloof so long from fighting. Two squires [ therapontes ] of Ares, Odysseus and the son of Tydeus, came limping, for their wounds still pained them; nevertheless they came, and took their seats in the front row of the assembly. Last of all came Agamemnon, king of men, he too wounded, for Koön son of Antenor had struck him with a spear in battle.

αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, ὦρσεν δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.

καί ῥʼ οἵ περ τὸ πάρος γε νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι μένεσκον

οἵ τε κυβερνῆται καὶ ἔχον οἰήϊα νηῶν

καὶ ταμίαι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἔσαν σίτοιο δοτῆρες,

καὶ μὴν οἳ τότε γʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν ἴσαν, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.

τὼ δὲ δύω σκάζοντε βάτην Ἄρεος θεράποντε

Τυδεΐδης τε μενεπτόλεμος καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἔγχει ἐρειδομένω· ἔτι γὰρ ἔχον ἕλκεα λυγρά·

κὰδ δὲ μετὰ πρώτῃ ἀγορῇ ἵζοντο κιόντες.

αὐτὰρ ὃ δεύτατος ἦλθεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

ἕλκος ἔχων· καὶ γὰρ τὸν ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ

οὖτα Κόων Ἀντηνορίδης χαλκήρεϊ δουρί.

When the Achaeans were got together Achilles rose and said, "Son of Atreus, surely it would have been better alike for both you and me, when we two were in such high anger about Briseis, surely it would have been better, had Artemis' arrow slain her at the ships on the day when I took her after having sacked Lyrnessos. For so, many an Achaean the less would have bitten dust before the foe in the days of my anger. It has been well for Hektor and the Trojans, but the Achaeans will long indeed remember our quarrel. Now, however, let it be, for it is over. If we have been angry, necessity has schooled our anger. I put it from me: I dare not nurse it for ever; therefore, bid the Achaeans arm forthwith that I may go out against the Trojans, and learn whether they will be in a mind to sleep by the ships or no. Glad, I ween, will he be to rest his knees who may flee my spear when I wield it."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἀολλίσθησαν Ἀχαιοί,

τοῖσι δʼ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

Ἀτρεΐδη ἦ ἄρ τι τόδʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἄρειον

ἔπλετο σοὶ καὶ ἐμοί, ὅ τε νῶΐ περ ἀχνυμένω κῆρ

θυμοβόρῳ ἔριδι μενεήναμεν εἵνεκα κούρης;

τὴν ὄφελʼ ἐν νήεσσι κατακτάμεν Ἄρτεμις ἰῷ

ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἐγὼν ἑλόμην Λυρνησσὸν ὀλέσσας·

τώ κʼ οὐ τόσσοι Ἀχαιοὶ ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας

δυσμενέων ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπομηνίσαντος.

Ἕκτορι μὲν καὶ Τρωσὶ τὸ κέρδιον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς

δηρὸν ἐμῆς καὶ σῆς ἔριδος μνήσεσθαι ὀΐω.

ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ

θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον δαμάσαντες ἀνάγκῃ·

νῦν δʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ παύω χόλον, οὐδέ τί με χρὴ

ἀσκελέως αἰεὶ μενεαινέμεν· ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον

ὄτρυνον πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς,

ὄφρʼ ἔτι καὶ Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίον ἐλθὼν

αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰαύειν· ἀλλά τινʼ οἴω

ἀσπασίως αὐτῶν γόνυ κάμψειν, ὅς κε φύγῃσι

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο ὑπʼ ἔγχεος ἡμετέροιο.

Thus did he speak, and the Achaeans rejoiced in that he had put away his anger [ mênis ]. Then Agamemnon spoke, rising in his place, and not going into the middle of the assembly. "Danaan heroes," said he, "squires [ therapontes ] of Ares, it is well to listen when a man stands up to speak, and it is not seemly to interrupt him, or it will go hard even with a practiced speaker. Who can either hear or speak in an uproar? Even the finest orator will be disconcerted by it. I will expound to the son of Peleus, and do you other Achaeans heed me and mark me well. Often have the Achaeans spoken to me of this matter and upbraided me, but it was not I who was responsible [ aitios ]: Zeus, and Fate [ Moira ], and Erinys that walks in darkness struck me with derangement [ atê ] when we were assembled on the day that I took from Achilles the prize that had been awarded to him. What could I do? All things are in the hand of heaven, and Atê , eldest of Zeus' daughters, shuts men's eyes to their destruction. She walks delicately, not on the solid earth, but hovers over the heads of men to make them stumble or to ensnare them.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐχάρησαν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

μῆνιν ἀπειπόντος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἕδρης, οὐδʼ ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀναστάς·

ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος

ἑσταότος μὲν καλὸν ἀκούειν, οὐδὲ ἔοικεν

ὑββάλλειν· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐπισταμένῳ περ ἐόντι.

ἀνδρῶν δʼ ἐν πολλῷ ὁμάδῳ πῶς κέν τις ἀκούσαι

ἢ εἴποι; βλάβεται δὲ λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής.

Πηλεΐδῃ μὲν ἐγὼν ἐνδείξομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι

σύνθεσθʼ Ἀργεῖοι, μῦθόν τʼ εὖ γνῶτε ἕκαστος.

πολλάκι δή μοι τοῦτον Ἀχαιοὶ μῦθον ἔειπον

καί τέ με νεικείεσκον· ἐγὼ δʼ οὐκ αἴτιός εἰμι,

ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς καὶ Μοῖρα καὶ ἠεροφοῖτις Ἐρινύς,

οἵ τέ μοι εἰν ἀγορῇ φρεσὶν ἔμβαλον ἄγριον ἄτην,

ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ Ἀχιλλῆος γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπηύρων.

ἀλλὰ τί κεν ῥέξαιμι; θεὸς διὰ πάντα τελευτᾷ.

πρέσβα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἄτη, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται,

οὐλομένη· τῇ μέν θʼ ἁπαλοὶ πόδες· οὐ γὰρ ἐπʼ οὔδει

πίλναται, ἀλλʼ ἄρα ἥ γε κατʼ ἀνδρῶν κράατα βαίνει

βλάπτουσʼ ἀνθρώπους· κατὰ δʼ οὖν ἕτερόν γε πέδησε.

"Time was when she fooled Zeus himself, who they say is greatest whether of gods or men; for Hera, woman though she was, beguiled him on the day when Alkmene was to bring forth mighty Herakles in the fair city of Thebes . He told it out among the gods saying, ‘Hear me all gods and goddesses, that I may speak even as I am minded; this day shall an Eileithuia, helper of women who are in labor, bring a man child into the world who shall be lord over all that dwell about him who are of my blood and lineage.’ Then said Hera all crafty and full of guile, ‘You will play false, and will not hold to the finality [ telos ] of your word. Swear me, O Olympian, swear me a great oath, that he who shall this day fall between the feet of a woman, shall be lord over all that dwell about him who are of your blood and lineage.’

καὶ γὰρ δή νύ ποτε Ζεὺς ἄσατο, τόν περ ἄριστον

ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλʼ ἄρα καὶ τὸν

Ἥρη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα δολοφροσύνῃς ἀπάτησεν,

ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἔμελλε βίην Ἡρακληείην

Ἀλκμήνη τέξεσθαι ἐϋστεφάνῳ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ.

ἤτοι ὅ γʼ εὐχόμενος μετέφη πάντεσσι θεοῖσι·

κέκλυτέ μευ πάντές τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγει.

σήμερον ἄνδρα φόως δὲ μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια

ἐκφανεῖ, ὃς πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξει,

τῶν ἀνδρῶν γενεῆς οἵ θʼ αἵματος ἐξ ἐμεῦ εἰσί.

τὸν δὲ δολοφρονέουσα προσηύδα πότνια Ἥρη·

ψευστήσεις, οὐδʼ αὖτε τέλος μύθῳ ἐπιθήσεις.

εἰ δʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι ὄμοσσον Ὀλύμπιε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,

ἦ μὲν τὸν πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξειν

ὅς κεν ἐπʼ ἤματι τῷδε πέσῃ μετὰ ποσσὶ γυναικὸς

τῶν ἀνδρῶν οἳ σῆς ἐξ αἵματός εἰσι γενέθλης.

"Thus she spoke, and Zeus suspected her not, but swore the great oath, to his much ruing thereafter. For Hera darted down from the high summit of Olympus , and went in haste to Achaean Argos where she knew that the noble wife of Sthenelos son of Perseus then was. She being with child and in her seventh month, Hera brought the child to birth though there was a month still wanting, but she stayed the offspring of Alkmene, and kept back the Eileithuiai. Then she went to tell Zeus the son of Kronos, and said, ‘Father Zeus, lord of the lightning - I have a word for your ear. There is a fine child born this day, Eurystheus, son to Sthenelos the son of Perseus; he is of your lineage; it is well, therefore, that he should reign over the Argives.’

ὣς ἔφατο· Ζεὺς δʼ οὔ τι δολοφροσύνην ἐνόησεν,

ἀλλʼ ὄμοσεν μέγαν ὅρκον, ἔπειτα δὲ πολλὸν ἀάσθη.

Ἥρη δʼ ἀΐξασα λίπεν ῥίον Οὐλύμποιο,

καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκετʼ Ἄργος Ἀχαιικόν, ἔνθʼ ἄρα ᾔδη

ἰφθίμην ἄλοχον Σθενέλου Περσηϊάδαο.

ἣ δʼ ἐκύει φίλον υἱόν, ὃ δʼ ἕβδομος ἑστήκει μείς·

ἐκ δʼ ἄγαγε πρὸ φόως δὲ καὶ ἠλιτόμηνον ἐόντα,

Ἀλκμήνης δʼ ἀπέπαυσε τόκον, σχέθε δʼ Εἰλειθυίας.

αὐτὴ δʼ ἀγγελέουσα Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀργικέραυνε ἔπος τί τοι ἐν φρεσὶ θήσω·

ἤδη ἀνὴρ γέγονʼ ἐσθλὸς ὃς Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάξει

Εὐρυσθεὺς Σθενέλοιο πάϊς Περσηϊάδαο

σὸν γένος· οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀνασσέμεν Ἀργείοισιν.

"On this Zeus was stung to the very quick with grief [ akhos ], and in his rage he caught Atê by the hair, and swore a great oath that never should she again invade starry heaven and Olympus , for she was the bane of all. Then he whirled her round with a twist of his hand, and flung her down from heaven so that she fell on to the fields of mortal men; and he was ever angry with her when he saw his son groaning under the cruel labors [ athloi ] that Eurystheus laid upon him. Even so did I grieve when mighty Hektor was killing the Argives at their ships, and all the time I kept thinking of Atê who had so baned me. I was blind, and Zeus robbed me of my reason; I will now make atonement, and will add much treasure by way of amends. Go, therefore, into battle, you and your people with you. I will give you all that Odysseus offered you yesterday in your tents: or if it so please you, wait, though you would fain fight at once, and my squires [ therapontes ] shall bring the gifts from my ship, that you may see whether what I give you is enough."

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχος ὀξὺ κατὰ φρένα τύψε βαθεῖαν·

αὐτίκα δʼ εἷλʼ Ἄτην κεφαλῆς λιπαροπλοκάμοιο

χωόμενος φρεσὶν ᾗσι, καὶ ὤμοσε καρτερὸν ὅρκον

μή ποτʼ ἐς Οὔλυμπόν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα

αὖτις ἐλεύσεσθαι Ἄτην, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται.

ὣς εἰπὼν ἔρριψεν ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος

χειρὶ περιστρέψας· τάχα δʼ ἵκετο ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων.

τὴν αἰεὶ στενάχεσχʼ ὅθʼ ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ὁρῷτο

ἔργον ἀεικὲς ἔχοντα ὑπʼ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων.

ὣς καὶ ἐγών, ὅτε δʼ αὖτε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

Ἀργείους ὀλέκεσκεν ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν,

οὐ δυνάμην λελαθέσθʼ Ἄτης ᾗ πρῶτον ἀάσθην.

ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην καί μευ φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,

ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι, δόμεναί τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα·

ἀλλʼ ὄρσευ πόλεμον δὲ καὶ ἄλλους ὄρνυθι λαούς.

δῶρα δʼ ἐγὼν ὅδε πάντα παρασχέμεν ὅσσά τοι ἐλθὼν

χθιζὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ὑπέσχετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.

εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος,

δῶρα δέ τοι θεράποντες ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἑλόντες

οἴσουσʼ, ὄφρα ἴδηαι ὅ τοι μενοεικέα δώσω.

And Achilles answered, "Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, you can give such gifts as you think proper, or you can withhold them: it is in your own hands. Let us now set battle in array;

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον

δῶρα μὲν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα παρασχέμεν, ὡς ἐπιεικές,

ἤ τʼ ἐχέμεν παρὰ σοί· νῦν δὲ μνησώμεθα χάρμης

it is not well to tarry talking about trifles, for there is a deed which is as yet to do. Achilles shall again be seen fighting among the foremost, and laying low the ranks of the Trojans: bear this in mind each one of you when he is fighting."

αἶψα μάλʼ· οὐ γὰρ χρὴ κλοτοπεύειν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντας

οὐδὲ διατρίβειν· ἔτι γὰρ μέγα ἔργον ἄρεκτον·

ὥς κέ τις αὖτʼ Ἀχιλῆα μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἴδηται

ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Τρώων ὀλέκοντα φάλαγγας.

ὧδέ τις ὑμείων μεμνημένος ἀνδρὶ μαχέσθω.

Then Odysseus said, "Achilles, godlike and brave, send not the Achaeans thus against Ilion to fight the Trojans fasting, for the battle will be no brief one, when it is once begun, and heaven has filled both sides with fury; bid them first take food both bread and wine by the ships, for in this there is strength and stay. No man can do battle the livelong day to the going down of the sun if he is without food; however much he may want to fight his strength will fail him before he knows it; hunger and thirst will find him out, and his limbs will grow weary under him. But a man can fight all day if he is full fed with meat and wine; his heart beats high, and his strength will stay till he has routed all his foes; therefore, send the people away and bid them prepare their meal; King Agamemnon will bring out the gifts in presence of the assembly, that all may see them and you may be satisfied. Moreover let him swear an oath before the Argives that he has never gone up into the couch of Briseis, nor has lain down with her, even though it is right [ themis ] for humans, both men and women, to do this; and do you, too, show yourself of a gracious mind; let Agamemnon entertain you in his tents with a feast of reconciliation, that so you may have had your dues in full. As for you, son of Atreus, treat people more righteously in future; it is no disgrace even to a king that he should make amends if he was wrong in the first instance."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

μὴ δʼ οὕτως, ἀγαθός περ ἐών, θεοείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ

νήστιας ὄτρυνε προτὶ Ἴλιον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν

Τρωσὶ μαχησομένους, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ὀλίγον χρόνον ἔσται

φύλοπις, εὖτʼ ἂν πρῶτον ὁμιλήσωσι φάλαγγες

ἀνδρῶν, ἐν δὲ θεὸς πνεύσῃ μένος ἀμφοτέροισιν.

ἀλλὰ πάσασθαι ἄνωχθι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιοὺς

σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο· τὸ γὰρ μένος ἐστὶ καὶ ἀλκή.

οὐ γὰρ ἀνὴρ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα

ἄκμηνος σίτοιο δυνήσεται ἄντα μάχεσθαι·

εἴ περ γὰρ θυμῷ γε μενοινάᾳ πολεμίζειν,

ἀλλά τε λάθρῃ γυῖα βαρύνεται, ἠδὲ κιχάνει

δίψά τε καὶ λιμός, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι.

ὃς δέ κʼ ἀνὴρ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος καὶ ἐδωδῆς

ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πανημέριος πολεμίζῃ,

θαρσαλέον νύ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, οὐδέ τι γυῖα

πρὶν κάμνει πρὶν πάντας ἐρωῆσαι πολέμοιο.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε λαὸν μὲν σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι

ὅπλεσθαι· τὰ δὲ δῶρα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

οἰσέτω ἐς μέσσην ἀγορήν, ἵνα πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωσι, σὺ δὲ φρεσὶ σῇσιν ἰανθῇς.

ὀμνυέτω δέ τοι ὅρκον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἀναστὰς

μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναι·

ἣ θέμις ἐστὶν ἄναξ ἤ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ἤ τε γυναικῶν·

καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἵλαος ἔστω.

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτά σε δαιτὶ ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἀρεσάσθω

πιείρῃ, ἵνα μή τι δίκης ἐπιδευὲς ἔχῃσθα.

Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα δικαιότερος καὶ ἐπʼ ἄλλῳ

ἔσσεαι. οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νεμεσσητὸν βασιλῆα

ἄνδρʼ ἀπαρέσσασθαι ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.

And King Agamemnon answered, "Son of Laertes , your words please me well, for throughout you have spoken wisely. I will swear as you would have me do; I do so of my own free will, neither shall I take the name of a daimôn in vain. Let, then, Achilles wait, though he would fain fight at once, and do you others wait also, till the gifts come from my tent and we ratify the oath with sacrifice. Thus, then, do I charge you: choose [ krinô ] some noble young Achaeans to go with you, and bring from my tents the gifts that I promised yesterday to Achilles, and bring the women also; furthermore let Talthybios find me a boar from those that are with the host, and make it ready for sacrifice to Zeus and to the sun."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

χαίρω σεῦ Λαερτιάδη τὸν μῦθον ἀκούσας·

ἐν μοίρῃ γὰρ πάντα διίκεο καὶ κατέλεξας.

ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἐθέλω ὀμόσαι, κέλεται δέ με θυμός,

οὐδʼ ἐπιορκήσω πρὸς δαίμονος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

μιμνέτω αὐτόθι τεῖος ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος·

μίμνετε δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ἀολλέες, ὄφρά κε δῶρα

ἐκ κλισίης ἔλθῃσι καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμωμεν.

σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ τόδʼ ἐγὼν ἐπιτέλλομαι ἠδὲ κελεύω·

κρινάμενος κούρητας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν

δῶρα ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἐνεικέμεν, ὅσσʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ

χθιζὸν ὑπέστημεν δώσειν, ἀγέμεν τε γυναῖκας.

Ταλθύβιος δέ μοι ὦκα κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν

κάπρον ἑτοιμασάτω ταμέειν Διί τʼ Ἠελίῳ τε.

Then said Achilles, "Son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, see to these matters at some other season, when there is breathing time and when I am calmer. Would you have men eat while the bodies of those whom Hektor son of Priam slew are still lying mangled upon the plain? Let the sons of the Achaeans, say I, fight fasting and without food, till we have avenged them; afterwards at the going down of the sun let them eat their fill. As for me, Patroklos is lying dead in my tent, all hacked and hewn, with his feet to the door, and his comrades are mourning round him. Therefore I can take thought of nothing save only slaughter and blood and the rattle in the throat of the dying."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον

ἄλλοτέ περ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλετε ταῦτα πένεσθαι,

ὁππότε τις μεταπαυσωλὴ πολέμοιο γένηται

καὶ μένος οὐ τόσον ᾖσιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσι.

νῦν δʼ οἳ μὲν κέαται δεδαϊγμένοι, οὓς ἐδάμασσεν

Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν,

ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐς βρωτὺν ὀτρύνετον· ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔγωγε

νῦν μὲν ἀνώγοιμι πτολεμίζειν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν

νήστιας ἀκμήνους, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι

τεύξεσθαι μέγα δόρπον, ἐπὴν τεισαίμεθα λώβην.

πρὶν δʼ οὔ πως ἂν ἔμοιγε φίλον κατὰ λαιμὸν ἰείη

οὐ πόσις οὐδὲ βρῶσις ἑταίρου τεθνηῶτος

ὅς μοι ἐνὶ κλισίῃ δεδαϊγμένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ

κεῖται ἀνὰ πρόθυρον τετραμμένος, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι

μύρονται· τό μοι οὔ τι μετὰ φρεσὶ ταῦτα μέμηλεν,

ἀλλὰ φόνος τε καὶ αἷμα καὶ ἀργαλέος στόνος ἀνδρῶν.

Odysseus answered, "Achilles, son of Peleus, mightiest of all the Achaeans, in battle you are better than I, and that more than a little, but in counsel I am much before you, for I am older and of greater knowledge. Therefore be patient under my words. Fighting is a thing of which men soon surfeit, and when Zeus, who is wars steward, weighs the upshot, it may well prove that the straw which our sickles have reaped is far heavier than the grain. It may not be that the Achaeans should mourn the dead with their bellies; day by day men fall thick and threefold continually; when should we have respite from our sorrow [ ponos ]? Let us mourn our dead for a day and bury them out of sight and mind, but let those of us who are left eat and drink that we may arm and fight our foes more fiercely. In that hour let no man hold back, waiting for a second summons; such summons shall bode ill for him who is found lagging behind at our ships; let us rather sally as one man and loose the fury of war upon the Trojans."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·

ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱὲ μέγα φέρτατʼ Ἀχαιῶν,

κρείσσων εἰς ἐμέθεν καὶ φέρτερος οὐκ ὀλίγον περ

ἔγχει, ἐγὼ δέ κε σεῖο νοήματί γε προβαλοίμην

πολλόν, ἐπεὶ πρότερος γενόμην καὶ πλείονα οἶδα.

τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη μύθοισιν ἐμοῖσιν.

αἶψά τε φυλόπιδος πέλεται κόρος ἀνθρώποισιν,

ἧς τε πλείστην μὲν καλάμην χθονὶ χαλκὸς ἔχευεν,

ἄμητος δʼ ὀλίγιστος, ἐπὴν κλίνῃσι τάλαντα

Ζεύς, ὅς τʼ ἀνθρώπων ταμίης πολέμοιο τέτυκται.

γαστέρι δʼ οὔ πως ἔστι νέκυν πενθῆσαι Ἀχαιούς·

λίην γὰρ πολλοὶ καὶ ἐπήτριμοι ἤματα πάντα

πίπτουσιν· πότε κέν τις ἀναπνεύσειε πόνοιο;

ἀλλὰ χρὴ τὸν μὲν καταθάπτειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι

νηλέα θυμὸν ἔχοντας ἐπʼ ἤματι δακρύσαντας·

ὅσσοι δʼ ἂν πολέμοιο περὶ στυγεροῖο λίπωνται

μεμνῆσθαι πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον

ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι μαχώμεθα νωλεμὲς αἰεὶ

ἑσσάμενοι χροῒ χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα. μηδέ τις ἄλλην

λαῶν ὀτρυντὺν ποτιδέγμενος ἰσχαναάσθω·

ἥδε γὰρ ὀτρυντὺς κακὸν ἔσσεται ὅς κε λίπηται

νηυσὶν ἐπʼ Ἀργείων· ἀλλʼ ἀθρόοι ὁρμηθέντες

Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.

When he had thus spoken he took with him the sons of Nestor, with Meges son of Phyleus, Thoas, Meriones, Lykomedes son of Kreontes, and Melanippos, and went to the tent of Agamemnon son of Atreus. The word was not sooner said than the deed was done: they brought out the seven tripods which Agamemnon had promised, with the twenty metal cauldrons and the twelve horses; they also brought the women skilled in useful arts, seven in number, with Briseis, which made eight. Odysseus weighed out the ten talents of gold and then led the way back, while the young Achaeans brought the rest of the gifts, and laid them in the middle of the assembly.

ἦ, καὶ Νέστορος υἷας ὀπάσσατο κυδαλίμοιο

Φυλεΐδην τε Μέγητα Θόαντά τε Μηριόνην τε

καὶ Κρειοντιάδην Λυκομήδεα καὶ Μελάνιππον·

βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.

αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ἅμα μῦθος ἔην, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον·

ἑπτὰ μὲν ἐκ κλισίης τρίποδας φέρον, οὕς οἱ ὑπέστη,

αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δʼ ἵππους·

ἐκ δʼ ἄγον αἶψα γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας

ἕπτʼ, ἀτὰρ ὀγδοάτην Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον.

χρυσοῦ δὲ στήσας Ὀδυσεὺς δέκα πάντα τάλαντα

ἦρχʼ, ἅμα δʼ ἄλλοι δῶρα φέρον κούρητες Ἀχαιῶν.

Agamemnon then rose, and Talthybios whose voice was like that of a god came to him with the boar. The son of Atreus drew the knife which he wore by the scabbard of his mighty sword, and began by cutting off some bristles from the boar, lifting up his hands in prayer as he did so. The other Achaeans sat where they were all silent and orderly to hear the king, and Agamemnon looked into the vault of heaven and prayed saying, "I call Zeus the first and mightiest of all gods to witness, I call also Earth and Sun and the Erinyes who dwell below and take vengeance on him who shall swear falsely, that I have laid no hand upon the girl Briseis, neither to take her to my bed nor otherwise, but that she has remained in my tents inviolate. If I swear falsely may heaven visit me with all the penalties which it metes out to those who perjure themselves."

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃ ἀγορῇ θέσαν, ἂν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων

ἵστατο· Ταλθύβιος δὲ θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος αὐδὴν

κάπρον ἔχων ἐν χερσὶ παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν.

Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος χείρεσσι μάχαιραν,

ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο,

κάπρου ἀπὸ τρίχας ἀρξάμενος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχὼν

εὔχετο· τοὶ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτόφιν εἵατο σιγῇ

Ἀργεῖοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἀκούοντες βασιλῆος.

εὐξάμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος

Γῆ τε καὶ Ἠέλιος καὶ Ἐρινύες, αἵ θʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν

ἀνθρώπους τίνυνται, ὅτις κʼ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ,

μὴ μὲν ἐγὼ κούρῃ Βρισηΐδι χεῖρʼ ἐπένεικα,

οὔτʼ εὐνῆς πρόφασιν κεχρημένος οὔτέ τευ ἄλλου.

ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ἀπροτίμαστος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἐμῇσιν.

εἰ δέ τι τῶνδʼ ἐπίορκον ἐμοὶ θεοὶ ἄλγεα δοῖεν

πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα διδοῦσιν ὅτίς σφʼ ἀλίτηται ὀμόσσας.

He cut the boar's throat as he spoke, whereon Talthybios whirled it round his head, and flung it into the wide sea to feed the fishes. Then Achilles also rose and said to the Argives, "Father Zeus, truly you give atê to men and bane them. The son of Atreus had not else stirred me to so fierce an anger, nor so stubbornly taken Briseis from me against my will. Surely Zeus must have counseled the destruction of many an Argive . Go, now, and take your food that we may begin fighting."

ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στόμαχον κάπρου τάμε νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.

τὸν μὲν Ταλθύβιος πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐς μέγα λαῖτμα

ῥῖψʼ ἐπιδινήσας βόσιν ἰχθύσιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἀνστὰς Ἀργείοισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ μεγάλας ἄτας ἄνδρεσσι διδοῖσθα·

οὐκ ἂν δή ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν

Ἀτρεΐδης ὤρινε διαμπερές, οὐδέ κε κούρην

ἦγεν ἐμεῦ ἀέκοντος ἀμήχανος· ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς

ἤθελʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν θάνατον πολέεσσι γενέσθαι.

νῦν δʼ ἔρχεσθʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.

On this he broke up the assembly, and every man went back to his own ship. The Myrmidons attended to the presents and took them away to the ship of Achilles. They placed them in his tents, while the stable-men [therapontes] drove the horses in among the others.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, λῦσεν δʼ ἀγορὴν αἰψηρήν.

οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,

δῶρα δὲ Μυρμιδόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,

βὰν δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα φέροντες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν κλισίῃσι θέσαν, κάθισαν δὲ γυναῖκας,

ἵππους δʼ εἰς ἀγέλην ἔλασαν θεράποντες ἀγαυοί.

Briseis, fair as Aphrodite, when she saw the mangled body of Patroklos, flung herself upon it and cried aloud, tearing her breast, her neck, and her lovely face with both her hands. Beautiful as a goddess she wept and said, "Patroklos, dearest friend, when I went hence I left you living; I return, O prince, to find you dead; thus do fresh sorrows multiply upon me one after the other. I saw him to whom my father and mother married me, cut down before our city, and my three own dear brothers perished with him on the self-same day; but you, Patroklos, even when Achilles slew my husband and sacked the city of noble Mynes, told me that I was not to weep, for you said you would make Achilles marry me, and take me back with him to Phthia , we should have a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. You were always kind to me and I shall never cease to grieve for you."

Βρισηῒς δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰκέλη χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ

ὡς ἴδε Πάτροκλον δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγʼ ἐκώκυε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄμυσσε

στήθεά τʼ ἠδʼ ἁπαλὴν δειρὴν ἰδὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα.

εἶπε δʼ ἄρα κλαίουσα γυνὴ ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι·

Πάτροκλέ μοι δειλῇ πλεῖστον κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ

ζωὸν μέν σε ἔλειπον ἐγὼ κλισίηθεν ἰοῦσα,

νῦν δέ σε τεθνηῶτα κιχάνομαι ὄρχαμε λαῶν

ἂψ ἀνιοῦσʼ· ὥς μοι δέχεται κακὸν ἐκ κακοῦ αἰεί.

ἄνδρα μὲν ᾧ ἔδοσάν με πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ

εἶδον πρὸ πτόλιος δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

τρεῖς τε κασιγνήτους, τούς μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ,

κηδείους, οἳ πάντες ὀλέθριον ἦμαρ ἐπέσπον.

οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδέ μʼ ἔασκες, ὅτʼ ἄνδρʼ ἐμὸν ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἔκτεινεν, πέρσεν δὲ πόλιν θείοιο Μύνητος,

κλαίειν, ἀλλά μʼ ἔφασκες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο

κουριδίην ἄλοχον θήσειν, ἄξειν τʼ ἐνὶ νηυσὶν

ἐς Φθίην, δαίσειν δὲ γάμον μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι.

τώ σʼ ἄμοτον κλαίω τεθνηότα μείλιχον αἰεί.

She wept as she spoke, and the women joined in her lament-making as though their tears were for Patroklos, but in truth each was weeping for her own sorrows. The elders of the Achaeans gathered round Achilles and prayed him to take food, but he groaned and would not do so. "I pray you," said he, "if any comrade will hear me, bid me neither eat nor drink, for I am in great heaviness, and will stay fasting even to the going down of the sun."

ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γυναῖκες

Πάτροκλον πρόφασιν, σφῶν δʼ αὐτῶν κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.

αὐτὸν δʼ ἀμφὶ γέροντες Ἀχαιῶν ἠγερέθοντο

λισσόμενοι δειπνῆσαι· ὃ δʼ ἠρνεῖτο στεναχίζων·

λίσσομαι, εἴ τις ἔμοιγε φίλων ἐπιπείθεθʼ ἑταίρων,

μή με πρὶν σίτοιο κελεύετε μηδὲ ποτῆτος

ἄσασθαι φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεί μʼ ἄχος αἰνὸν ἱκάνει·

δύντα δʼ ἐς ἠέλιον μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἔμπης.

On this he sent the other princes away, save only the two sons of Atreus and Odysseus, Nestor, Idomeneus, and the horseman Phoenix, who stayed behind and tried to comfort him in the bitterness of his sorrow [ akhos ]: but he would not be comforted till he should have flung himself into the jaws of battle, and he fetched sigh on sigh, thinking ever of Patroklos. Then he said-

ὣς εἰπὼν ἄλλους μὲν ἀπεσκέδασεν βασιλῆας,

δοιὼ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδα μενέτην καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

Νέστωρ Ἰδομενεύς τε γέρων θʼ ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξ

τέρποντες πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενον· οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

τέρπετο, πρὶν πολέμου στόμα δύμεναι αἱματόεντος.

μνησάμενος δʼ ἁδινῶς ἀνενείκατο φώνησέν τε·

"Hapless and dearest comrade, you it was who would get a good dinner ready for me at once and without delay when the Achaeans were hastening to fight the Trojans; now, therefore, though I have meat and drink in my tents, yet will I fast for sorrow. Grief greater than this I could not know, not even though I were to hear of the death of my father, who is now in Phthia weeping for the loss of me his son, who am here fighting the Trojans in a strange land [ dêmos ] for the accursed sake of Helen, nor yet though I should hear that my son is no more - he who is being brought up in Skyros - if indeed Neoptolemos is still living. Till now I made sure that I alone was to fall here at Troy away from Argos , while you were to return to Phthia , bring back my son with you in your own ship, and show him all my property, my bondsmen, and the greatness of my house - for Peleus must surely be either dead, or what little life remains to him is oppressed alike with the infirmities of age and ever present fear lest he should hear the sad tidings of my death."

ἦ ῥά νύ μοί ποτε καὶ σὺ δυσάμμορε φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων

αὐτὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃ λαρὸν παρὰ δεῖπνον ἔθηκας

αἶψα καὶ ὀτραλέως, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα.

νῦν δὲ σὺ μὲν κεῖσαι δεδαϊγμένος, αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ

ἄκμηνον πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ἔνδον ἐόντων,

σῇ ποθῇ· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακώτερον ἄλλο πάθοιμι,

οὐδʼ εἴ κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἀποφθιμένοιο πυθοίμην,

ὅς που νῦν Φθίηφι τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβει

χήτεϊ τοιοῦδʼ υἷος· ὃ δʼ ἀλλοδαπῷ ἐνὶ δήμῳ

εἵνεκα ῥιγεδανῆς Ἑλένης Τρωσὶν πολεμίζω·

ἠὲ τὸν ὃς Σκύρῳ μοι ἔνι τρέφεται φίλος υἱός,

εἴ που ἔτι ζώει γε Νεοπτόλεμος θεοειδής.

πρὶν μὲν γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει

οἶον ἐμὲ φθίσεσθαι ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο

αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, σὲ δέ τε Φθίην δὲ νέεσθαι,

ὡς ἄν μοι τὸν παῖδα θοῇ ἐνὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ

Σκυρόθεν ἐξαγάγοις καί οἱ δείξειας ἕκαστα

κτῆσιν ἐμὴν δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.

ἤδη γὰρ Πηλῆά γʼ ὀΐομαι ἢ κατὰ πάμπαν

τεθνάμεν, ἤ που τυτθὸν ἔτι ζώοντʼ ἀκάχησθαι

γήραΐ τε στυγερῷ καὶ ἐμὴν ποτιδέγμενον αἰεὶ

He wept as he spoke, and the elders sighed in concert as each thought on what he had left at home behind him. The son of Kronos looked down with pity upon them, and said presently to Athena, "My child, you have quite deserted your hero; is he then gone so clean out of your recollection? There he sits by the ships all desolate for the loss of his dear comrade, and though the others are gone to their dinner he will neither eat nor drink. Go then and drop nectar and ambrosia into his breast, that he may know no hunger."

λυγρὴν ἀγγελίην, ὅτʼ ἀποφθιμένοιο πύθηται.

ὣς ἔφατο κλαίων, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γέροντες,

μνησάμενοι τὰ ἕκαστος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπον·

μυρομένους δʼ ἄρα τούς γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,

αἶψα δʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

τέκνον ἐμόν, δὴ πάμπαν ἀποίχεαι ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος.

ἦ νύ τοι οὐκέτι πάγχυ μετὰ φρεσὶ μέμβλετʼ Ἀχιλλεύς;

κεῖνος ὅ γε προπάροιθε νεῶν ὀρθοκραιράων

ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος ἕταρον φίλον· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι

οἴχονται μετὰ δεῖπνον, ὃ δʼ ἄκμηνος καὶ ἄπαστος.

ἀλλʼ ἴθι οἱ νέκτάρ τε καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν

στάξον ἐνὶ στήθεσσʼ, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἵκηται.

With these words he urged Athena, who was already of the same mind. She darted down from heaven into the air like some falcon sailing on his broad wings and screaming. Meanwhile the Achaeans were arming throughout the host, and when Athena had dropped nectar and ambrosia into Achilles so that no cruel hunger should cause his limbs to fail him, she went back to the house of her mighty father. Thick as the chill snow-flakes shed from the hand of Zeus and borne on the keen blasts of the north wind, even so thick did the gleaming helmets, the bossed shields, the strongly plated breastplates, and the ashen spears stream from the ships. The sheen pierced the sky, the whole land was radiant with their flashing armor, and the sound of the tramp of their treading rose from under their feet. In the midst of them all Achilles put on his armor; he gnashed his teeth, his eyes gleamed like fire, for his grief [ akhos ] was greater than he could bear. Thus, then, full of fury against the Trojans, did he don the gift of the god, the armor that Hephaistos had made him.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην·

ἣ δʼ ἅρπῃ ἐϊκυῖα τανυπτέρυγι λιγυφώνῳ

οὐρανοῦ ἐκκατεπᾶλτο διʼ αἰθέρος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ

αὐτίκα θωρήσσοντο κατὰ στρατόν· ἣ δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ

νέκταρ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν

στάξʼ, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἀτερπὴς γούναθʼ ἵκοιτο·

αὐτὴ δὲ πρὸς πατρὸς ἐρισθενέος πυκινὸν δῶ

ᾤχετο, τοὶ δʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν ἐχέοντο θοάων.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε ταρφειαὶ νιφάδες Διὸς ἐκποτέονται

ψυχραὶ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς αἰθρηγενέος Βορέαο,

ὣς τότε ταρφειαὶ κόρυθες λαμπρὸν γανόωσαι

νηῶν ἐκφορέοντο καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι

θώρηκές τε κραταιγύαλοι καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα.

αἴγλη δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκε, γέλασσε δὲ πᾶσα περὶ χθὼν

χαλκοῦ ὑπὸ στεροπῆς· ὑπὸ δὲ κτύπος ὄρνυτο ποσσὶν

ἀνδρῶν· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι κορύσσετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

τοῦ καὶ ὀδόντων μὲν καναχὴ πέλε, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε

λαμπέσθην ὡς εἴ τε πυρὸς σέλας, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ

δῦνʼ ἄχος ἄτλητον· ὃ δʼ ἄρα Τρωσὶν μενεαίνων

δύσετο δῶρα θεοῦ, τά οἱ Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.

First he put on the goodly greaves fitted with ankle-clasps, and next he did on the breastplate about his chest. He slung the silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then took up the shield so great and strong that shone afar with a splendor as of the moon. As the light seen by sailors from out at sea [ pontos ], when men have lit a fire in their homestead high up among the mountains, but the sailors are carried out to sea [ pontos ] by wind and storm far from the haven where they would be - even so did the gleam of Achilles' wondrous shield strike up into the heavens. He lifted the redoubtable helmet, and set it upon his head, from whence it shone like a star, and the golden plumes which Hephaistos had set thick about the ridge of the helmet, waved all around it. Then Achilles made trial of himself in his armor to see whether it fitted him, so that his limbs could play freely under it, and it seemed to buoy him up as though it had been wings.

κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε

καλὰς ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·

δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε

εἵλετο, τοῦ δʼ ἀπάνευθε σέλας γένετʼ ἠΰτε μήνης.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἐκ πόντοιο σέλας ναύτῃσι φανήῃ

καιομένοιο πυρός, τό τε καίεται ὑψόθʼ ὄρεσφι

σταθμῷ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ· τοὺς δʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντας ἄελλαι

πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φίλων ἀπάνευθε φέρουσιν·

ὣς ἀπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος σάκεος σέλας αἰθέρʼ ἵκανε

καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· περὶ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἀείρας

κρατὶ θέτο βριαρήν· ἣ δʼ ἀστὴρ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν

ἵππουρις τρυφάλεια, περισσείοντο δʼ ἔθειραι

χρύσεαι, ἃς Ἥφαιστος ἵει λόφον ἀμφὶ θαμειάς.

πειρήθη δʼ ἕο αὐτοῦ ἐν ἔντεσι δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

εἰ οἷ ἐφαρμόσσειε καὶ ἐντρέχοι ἀγλαὰ γυῖα·

τῷ δʼ εὖτε πτερὰ γίγνετʼ, ἄειρε δὲ ποιμένα λαῶν.

He also drew his father's spear out of the spear-stand, a spear so great and heavy and strong that none of the Achaeans save only Achilles had strength to wield it; this was the spear of Pelian ash from the topmost ridges of Mount Pelion, which Chiron had once given to Peleus, fraught with the death of heroes. Automedon and Alkimos busied themselves with the harnessing of his horses; they made the bands fast about them, and put the bit in their mouths, drawing the reins back towards the chariot. Automedon, whip in hand, sprang up behind the horses, and after him Achilles mounted in full armor, resplendent as the sun-god Hyperion. Then with a loud voice he chided with his father's horses saying, " Xanthos and Balios, famed offspring of Podarge - this time when we have done fighting be sure and bring your driver safely back to the host of the Achaeans, and do not leave him dead on the plain as you did Patroklos."

ἐκ δʼ ἄρα σύριγγος πατρώϊον ἐσπάσατʼ ἔγχος

βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν· τὸ μὲν οὐ δύνατʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν

πάλλειν, ἀλλά μιν οἶος ἐπίστατο πῆλαι Ἀχιλλεύς,

Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων

Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν·

ἵππους δʼ Αὐτομέδων τε καὶ Ἄλκιμος ἀμφιέποντες

ζεύγνυον· ἀμφὶ δὲ καλὰ λέπαδνʼ ἕσαν, ἐν δὲ χαλινοὺς

γαμφηλῇς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖναν ὀπίσσω

κολλητὸν ποτὶ δίφρον. ὃ δὲ μάστιγα φαεινὴν

χειρὶ λαβὼν ἀραρυῖαν ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν ἀνόρουσεν

Αὐτομέδων· ὄπιθεν δὲ κορυσσάμενος βῆ Ἀχιλλεὺς

τεύχεσι παμφαίνων ὥς τʼ ἠλέκτωρ Ὑπερίων,

σμερδαλέον δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·

Ξάνθέ τε καὶ Βαλίε τηλεκλυτὰ τέκνα Ποδάργης

ἄλλως δὴ φράζεσθε σαωσέμεν ἡνιοχῆα

ἂψ Δαναῶν ἐς ὅμιλον ἐπεί χʼ ἕωμεν πολέμοιο,

μηδʼ ὡς Πάτροκλον λίπετʼ αὐτόθι τεθνηῶτα.

Then fleet Xanthos answered under the yoke - for white-armed Hera had endowed him with human speech - and he bowed his head till his mane touched the ground as it hung down from under the yoke-band. "Dread Achilles," said he, "we will indeed save you now, but the day of your death is near, and we will not be responsible [ aitioi ], for it will be heaven and stern fate that will destroy you. Neither was it through any sloth or slackness on our part that the Trojans stripped Patroklos of his armor; it was the mighty god whom lovely Leto bore that slew him as he fought among the foremost, and granted a triumph to Hektor. We two can fly as swiftly as Zephyros who they say is fleetest of all winds; nevertheless it is your doom to fall by the hand of a man and of a god."

τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὸ ζυγόφι προσέφη πόδας αἰόλος ἵππος

Ξάνθος, ἄφαρ δʼ ἤμυσε καρήατι· πᾶσα δὲ χαίτη

ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν οὖδας ἵκανεν·

αὐδήεντα δʼ ἔθηκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·

καὶ λίην σʼ ἔτι νῦν γε σαώσομεν ὄβριμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ·

ἀλλά τοι ἐγγύθεν ἦμαρ ὀλέθριον· οὐδέ τοι ἡμεῖς

αἴτιοι, ἀλλὰ θεός τε μέγας καὶ Μοῖρα κραταιή.

οὐδὲ γὰρ ἡμετέρῃ βραδυτῆτί τε νωχελίῃ τε

Τρῶες ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν Πατρόκλου τεύχεʼ ἕλοντο·

ἀλλὰ θεῶν ὤριστος, ὃν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ,

ἔκτανʼ ἐνὶ προμάχοισι καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ἔδωκε.

νῶϊ δὲ καί κεν ἅμα πνοιῇ Ζεφύροιο θέοιμεν,

ἥν περ ἐλαφροτάτην φάσʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ

μόρσιμόν ἐστι θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι.

When he had thus spoken, the Erinyes stayed his speech, and Achilles answered him in great sadness, saying, "Why, O Xanthos , do you thus foretell my death? You need not do so, for I well know that I am to fall here, far from my dear father and mother; none the more, however, shall I stay my hand till I have given the Trojans their fill of fighting."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντος Ἐρινύες ἔσχεθον αὐδήν.

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

Ξάνθε τί μοι θάνατον μαντεύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.

εὖ νυ τὸ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ μοι μόρος ἐνθάδʼ ὀλέσθαι

νόσφι φίλου πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης

οὐ λήξω πρὶν Τρῶας ἅδην ἐλάσαι πολέμοιο.

So saying, with a loud cry he drove his horses to the front.

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐν πρώτοις ἰάχων ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.