Iliad

Thus, then, did the Achaeans arm by their ships round you, O son of Peleus, who were hungering for battle; while the Trojans over against them armed upon the rise of the plain.

ὣς οἳ μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσι θωρήσσοντο

ἀμφὶ σὲ Πηλέος υἱὲ μάχης ἀκόρητον Ἀχαιοί,

Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιο·

Meanwhile Zeus from the top of many-delled Olympus , bade Themis gather the gods in council, whereon she went about and called them to the house of Zeus. There was not a river absent except Okeanos, nor a single one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves, or springs of rivers and meadows of green grass. When they reached the house of cloud-compelling Zeus, they took their seats in the arcades of polished marble which Hephaistos with his consummate skill had made for father Zeus.

Ζεὺς δὲ Θέμιστα κέλευσε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσαι

κρατὸς ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο πολυπτύχου· ἣ δʼ ἄρα πάντῃ

φοιτήσασα κέλευσε Διὸς πρὸς δῶμα νέεσθαι.

οὔτέ τις οὖν ποταμῶν ἀπέην νόσφʼ Ὠκεανοῖο,

οὔτʼ ἄρα νυμφάων αἵ τʼ ἄλσεα καλὰ νέμονται

καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα.

ἐλθόντες δʼ ἐς δῶμα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο

ξεστῇς αἰθούσῃσιν ἐνίζανον, ἃς Διὶ πατρὶ

Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν.

In such wise, therefore, did they gather in the house of Zeus. Poseidon also, lord of the earthquake, obeyed the call of the goddess, and came up out of the sea to join them. There, sitting in the midst of them, he asked what Zeus' purpose might be. "Why," said he, "wielder of the lightning, have you called the gods in council? Are you considering some matter that concerns the Trojans and Achaeans - for the blaze of battle is on the point of being kindled between them?"

ὣς οἳ μὲν Διὸς ἔνδον ἀγηγέρατʼ· οὐδʼ ἐνοσίχθων

νηκούστησε θεᾶς, ἀλλʼ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε μετʼ αὐτούς,

ἷζε δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν μέσσοισι, Διὸς δʼ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·

τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ἀργικέραυνε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ κάλεσσας;

ἦ τι περὶ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν μερμηρίζεις;

τῶν γὰρ νῦν ἄγχιστα μάχη πόλεμός τε δέδηε.

And Zeus answered, "You know my purpose, shaker of earth, and wherefore I have called you hither. I take thought for them even in their destruction. For my own part I shall stay here seated on Mount Olympus and look on in peace, but do you others go about among Trojans and Achaeans, and help either side as you may be severally disposed in your thinking [ noos ]. If Achilles fights the Trojans without hindrance they will make no stand against him; they have ever trembled at the sight of him, and now that he is roused to such fury about his comrade, he will override fate itself and storm their city."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

ἔγνως ἐννοσίγαιε ἐμὴν ἐν στήθεσι βουλὴν

ὧν ἕνεκα ξυνάγειρα· μέλουσί μοι ὀλλύμενοί περ.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω πτυχὶ Οὐλύμποιο

ἥμενος, ἔνθʼ ὁρόων φρένα τέρψομαι· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι

ἔρχεσθʼ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκησθε μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,

ἀμφοτέροισι δʼ ἀρήγεθʼ ὅπῃ νόος ἐστὶν ἑκάστου.

εἰ γὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς οἶος ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μαχεῖται

οὐδὲ μίνυνθʼ ἕξουσι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.

καὶ δέ τί μιν καὶ πρόσθεν ὑποτρομέεσκον ὁρῶντες·

νῦν δʼ ὅτε δὴ καὶ θυμὸν ἑταίρου χώεται αἰνῶς

δείδω μὴ καὶ τεῖχος ὑπέρμορον ἐξαλαπάξῃ.

Thus spoke Zeus and gave the word for war, whereon the gods took their several sides and went into battle. Hera, Pallas Athena, earth-encircling Poseidon, Hermes bringer of good luck and excellent in all cunning - all these joined the host that came from the assembly [ agôn ] of ships; with them also came Hephaistos in all his glory, limping, but yet with his thin legs plying lustily under him. Ares of gleaming helmet joined the Trojans, and with him Apollo of locks unshorn, and the archer goddess Artemis, Leto, Xanthos , and laughter-loving Aphrodite.

ὣς ἔφατο Κρονίδης, πόλεμον δʼ ἀλίαστον ἔγειρε.

βὰν δʼ ἴμεναι πόλεμον δὲ θεοὶ δίχα θυμὸν ἔχοντες·

Ἥρη μὲν μετʼ ἀγῶνα νεῶν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἠδʼ ἐριούνης

Ἑρμείας, ὃς ἐπὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι κέκασται·

Ἥφαιστος δʼ ἅμα τοῖσι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων

χωλεύων, ὑπὸ δὲ κνῆμαι ῥώοντο ἀραιαί.

ἐς δὲ Τρῶας Ἄρης κορυθαίολος, αὐτὰρ ἅμʼ αὐτῷ

Φοῖβος ἀκερσεκόμης ἠδʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα

Λητώ τε Ξάνθός τε φιλομειδής τʼ Ἀφροδίτη.

So long as the gods held themselves aloof from mortal warriors the Achaeans were triumphant, for Achilles who had long refused to fight was now with them. There was not a Trojan but his limbs failed him for fear as he beheld the fleet son of Peleus all glorious in his armor, and looking like Ares himself. When, however, the Olympians came to take their part among men, forthwith uprose strong Strife, rouser of hosts, and Athena raised her loud voice, now standing by the deep trench that ran outside the wall, and now shouting with all her might upon the shore of the sounding sea. Ares also bellowed out upon the other side, dark as some black thunder-cloud, and called on the Trojans at the top of his voice, now from the acropolis, and now speeding up the side of the river Simoeis till he came to the hill Kallikolone.

εἷος μέν ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε θεοὶ θνητῶν ἔσαν ἀνδρῶν,

τεῖος Ἀχαιοὶ μὲν μέγα κύδανον, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς·

Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον

δειδιότας, ὅθʼ ὁρῶντο ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα

τεύχεσι λαμπόμενον βροτολοιγῷ ἶσον Ἄρηϊ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ μεθʼ ὅμιλον Ὀλύμπιοι ἤλυθον ἀνδρῶν,

ὦρτο δʼ Ἔρις κρατερὴ λαοσσόος, αὖε δʼ Ἀθήνη

στᾶσʼ ὁτὲ μὲν παρὰ τάφρον ὀρυκτὴν τείχεος ἐκτός,

ἄλλοτʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτάων ἐριδούπων μακρὸν ἀΰτει.

αὖε δʼ Ἄρης ἑτέρωθεν ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσος

ὀξὺ κατʼ ἀκροτάτης πόλιος Τρώεσσι κελεύων,

ἄλλοτε πὰρ Σιμόεντι θέων ἐπὶ Καλλικολώνῃ.

Thus did the gods spur on both hosts to fight, and rouse fierce contention also among themselves. The sire of gods and men thundered from heaven above, while from beneath Poseidon shook the vast earth, and bade the high hills tremble. The spurs and crests of many-fountained Ida quaked, as also the city of the Trojans and the ships of the Achaeans. Hades, king of the realms below, was struck with fear; he sprang panic-stricken from his throne and cried aloud in terror lest Poseidon, lord of the earthquake, should crack the ground over his head, and lay bare his moldy mansions to the sight of mortals and immortals - mansions so ghastly grim that even the gods shudder to think of them. Such was the uproar as the gods came together in battle. Apollo with his arrows took his stand to face King Poseidon, while Athena took hers against the god of war; the archer-goddess Artemis with her golden arrows, sister of far-darting Apollo, stood to face Hera; Hermes the lusty bringer of good luck faced Leto, while the mighty eddying river whom men can Skamandros, but gods Xanthos , matched himself against Hephaistos.

ὣς τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους μάκαρες θεοὶ ὀτρύνοντες

σύμβαλον, ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖς ἔριδα ῥήγνυντο βαρεῖαν·

δεινὸν δὲ βρόντησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε

ὑψόθεν· αὐτὰρ νέρθε Ποσειδάων ἐτίναξε

γαῖαν ἀπειρεσίην ὀρέων τʼ αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα.

πάντες δʼ ἐσσείοντο πόδες πολυπίδακος Ἴδης

καὶ κορυφαί, Τρώων τε πόλις καὶ νῆες Ἀχαιῶν.

ἔδεισεν δʼ ὑπένερθεν ἄναξ ἐνέρων Ἀϊδωνεύς,

δείσας δʼ ἐκ θρόνου ἆλτο καὶ ἴαχε, μή οἱ ὕπερθε

γαῖαν ἀναρρήξειε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

οἰκία δὲ θνητοῖσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι φανείη

σμερδαλέʼ εὐρώεντα, τά τε στυγέουσι θεοί περ·

τόσσος ἄρα κτύπος ὦρτο θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνιόντων.

ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ ἔναντα Ποσειδάωνος ἄνακτος

ἵστατʼ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ἔχων ἰὰ πτερόεντα,

ἄντα δʼ Ἐνυαλίοιο θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

Ἥρῃ δʼ ἀντέστη χρυσηλάκατος κελαδεινὴ

Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα κασιγνήτη ἑκάτοιο·

Λητοῖ δʼ ἀντέστη σῶκος ἐριούνιος Ἑρμῆς,

ἄντα δʼ ἄρʼ Ἡφαίστοιο μέγας ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης,

ὃν Ξάνθον καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δὲ Σκάμανδρον.

The gods, then, were thus ranged against one another. But the heart of Achilles was set on meeting Hektor son of Priam, for it was with his blood that he longed above all things else to glut the stubborn lord of battle. Meanwhile Apollo set Aeneas on to attack the son of Peleus, and put courage into his heart, speaking with the voice of Lykaon son of Priam. In his likeness therefore, he said to Aeneas, "Aeneas, counselor of the Trojans, where are now the brave words with which you vaunted over your wine before the Trojan princes, saying that you would fight Achilles son of Peleus in single combat?"

ὣς οἳ μὲν θεοὶ ἄντα θεῶν ἴσαν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

Ἕκτορος ἄντα μάλιστα λιλαίετο δῦναι ὅμιλον

Πριαμίδεω· τοῦ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει

αἵματος ἆσαι Ἄρηα ταλαύρινον πολεμιστήν.

Αἰνείαν δʼ ἰθὺς λαοσσόος ὦρσεν Ἀπόλλων

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἐνῆκε δέ οἱ μένος ἠΰ·

υἱέϊ δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονι εἴσατο φωνήν·

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ

ἃς Τρώων βασιλεῦσιν ὑπίσχεο οἰνοποτάζων

Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξειν;

And Aeneas answered, "Why do you thus bid me fight the proud son of Peleus, when I am in no mind to do so? Were I to face him now, it would not be for the first time. His spear has already put me to Right from Ida, when he attacked our cattle and sacked Lyrnessos and Pedasos; Zeus indeed saved me in that he granted me strength to flee, else had the fallen by the hands of Achilles and Athena, who went before him to protect him and urged him to fall upon the Leleges and Trojans. No man may fight Achilles, for one of the gods is always with him as his guardian, and even were it not so, his weapon flies ever straight, and fails not to pierce the flesh of him who is against him; if heaven would let me fight him to the finish [ telos ] on even terms, he should not soon overcome me, though he boasts that he is made of bronze."

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·

Πριαμίδη τί με ταῦτα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα κελεύεις

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι;

οὐ μὲν γὰρ νῦν πρῶτα ποδώκεος ἄντʼ Ἀχιλῆος

στήσομαι, ἀλλʼ ἤδη με καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φόβησεν

ἐξ Ἴδης, ὅτε βουσὶν ἐπήλυθεν ἡμετέρῃσι,

πέρσε δὲ Λυρνησσὸν καὶ Πήδασον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς

εἰρύσαθʼ, ὅς μοι ἐπῶρσε μένος λαιψηρά τε γοῦνα.

ἦ κʼ ἐδάμην ὑπὸ χερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος καὶ Ἀθήνης,

ἥ οἱ πρόσθεν ἰοῦσα τίθει φάος ἠδʼ ἐκέλευεν

ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Λέλεγας καὶ Τρῶας ἐναίρειν.

τὼ οὐκ ἔστʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίον ἄνδρα μάχεσθαι·

αἰεὶ γὰρ πάρα εἷς γε θεῶν ὃς λοιγὸν ἀμύνει.

καὶ δʼ ἄλλως τοῦ γʼ ἰθὺ βέλος πέτετʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπολήγει

πρὶν χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο διελθέμεν. εἰ δὲ θεός περ

ἶσον τείνειεν πολέμου τέλος, οὔ κε μάλα ῥέα

νικήσειʼ, οὐδʼ εἰ παγχάλκεος εὔχεται εἶναι.

Then said King Apollo, son to Zeus, "Nay, hero, pray to the ever-living gods, for men say that you were born of Zeus' daughter Aphrodite, whereas Achilles is son to a goddess of inferior rank. Aphrodite is child to Zeus, while Thetis is but daughter to the old man of the sea. Bring, therefore, your spear to bear upon him, and let him not scare you with his taunts and menaces."

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

ἥρως ἀλλʼ ἄγε καὶ σὺ θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν

εὔχεο· καὶ δὲ σέ φασι Διὸς κούρης Ἀφροδίτης

ἐκγεγάμεν, κεῖνος δὲ χερείονος ἐκ θεοῦ ἐστίν·

ἣ μὲν γὰρ Διός ἐσθʼ, ἣ δʼ ἐξ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.

ἀλλʼ ἰθὺς φέρε χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα, μηδέ σε πάμπαν

λευγαλέοις ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρεπέτω καὶ ἀρειῇ.

As he spoke he put courage into the heart of the shepherd of his people, and he strode in full armor among the ranks of the foremost fighters. Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice of white-armed Hera, as he went forth into the throng to meet Achilles. She called the gods about her, and said, "Look to it, you two, Poseidon and Athena, and consider how this shall be; Phoebus Apollo has been sending Aeneas clad in full armor to fight Achilles. Shall we turn him back at once, or shall one of us stand by Achilles and endow him with strength so that his heart fail not, and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals are on his side, while the others who have all along been defending the Trojans are but vain helpers? Let us all come down from Olympus and join in the fight, that this day he may take no hurt at the hands of the Trojans. Hereafter let him suffer whatever fate may have spun out for him when he was begotten and his mother bore him. If Achilles be not thus assured by the voice of a god, he may come to fear presently when one of us meets him in battle, for the gods are terrible if they are seen face to face."

ὣς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα ποιμένι λαῶν,

βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

οὐδʼ ἔλαθʼ Ἀγχίσαο πάϊς λευκώλενον Ἥρην

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ἰὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν·

ἣ δʼ ἄμυδις στήσασα θεοὺς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·

φράζεσθον δὴ σφῶϊ Ποσείδαον καὶ Ἀθήνη

ἐν φρεσὶν ὑμετέρῃσιν, ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.

Αἰνείας ὅδʼ ἔβη κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἀνῆκε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ἀποτρωπῶμεν ὀπίσσω

αὐτόθεν· ἤ τις ἔπειτα καὶ ἡμείων Ἀχιλῆϊ

παρσταίη, δοίη δὲ κράτος μέγα, μηδέ τι θυμῷ

δευέσθω, ἵνα εἰδῇ ὅ μιν φιλέουσιν ἄριστοι

ἀθανάτων, οἳ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀνεμώλιοι οἳ τὸ πάρος περ

Τρωσὶν ἀμύνουσιν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα.

πάντες δʼ Οὐλύμποιο κατήλθομεν ἀντιόωντες

τῆσδε μάχης, ἵνα μή τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι πάθῃσι

σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε τὰ πείσεται ἅσσά οἱ αἶσα

γιγνομένῳ ἐπένησε λίνῳ ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.

εἰ δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς οὐ ταῦτα θεῶν ἐκ πεύσεται ὀμφῆς

δείσετʼ ἔπειθʼ, ὅτε κέν τις ἐναντίβιον θεὸς ἔλθῃ

ἐν πολέμῳ· χαλεποὶ δὲ θεοὶ φαίνεσθαι ἐναργεῖς.

Poseidon lord of the earthquake answered her saying, "Hera, restrain your fury, which has made you veer in your thinking [ noos ]; it is not well; I am not in favor of forcing the other gods to fight us, for the advantage is too greatly on our own side; let us take our places on some hill out of the beaten track, and let mortals fight it out among themselves. If Ares or Phoebus Apollo begin fighting, or keep Achilles in check so that he cannot fight, we too, will at once raise the cry of battle, and in that case they will soon leave the field and go back vanquished to Olympus among the other gods."

τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ἥρη μὴ χαλέπαινε παρʼ ἐκ νόον· οὐδέ τί σε χρή.

οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνελάσσαι

ἡμέας τοὺς ἄλλους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·

ἀλλʼ ἡμεῖς μὲν ἔπειτα καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες

ἐκ πάτου ἐς σκοπιήν, πόλεμος δʼ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει.

εἰ δέ κʼ Ἄρης ἄρχωσι μάχης ἢ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ἢ Ἀχιλῆʼ ἴσχωσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσι μάχεσθαι,

αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄμμι παρʼ αὐτόθι νεῖκος ὀρεῖται

φυλόπιδος· μάλα δʼ ὦκα διακρινθέντας ὀΐω

ἂψ ἴμεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεῶν μεθʼ ὁμήγυριν ἄλλων

ἡμετέρῃς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἀναγκαίηφι δαμέντας.

With these words the dark-haired god led the way to the high earth-barrow of Herakles, built round solid masonry, and made by the Trojans and Pallas Athena for him flee to when the sea-monster was chasing him from the shore on to the plain. Here Poseidon and those that were with him took their seats, wrapped in a thick cloud of darkness; but the other gods seated themselves on the brow of Kallikolone round you, O Phoebus, and Ares the waster of cities.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο κυανοχαίτης

τεῖχος ἐς ἀμφίχυτον Ἡρακλῆος θείοιο

ὑψηλόν, τό ῥά οἱ Τρῶες καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

ποίεον, ὄφρα τὸ κῆτος ὑπεκπροφυγὼν ἀλέαιτο,

ὁππότε μιν σεύαιτο ἀπʼ ἠϊόνος πεδίον δέ.

ἔνθα Ποσειδάων κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἄρρηκτον νεφέλην ὤμοισιν ἕσαντο·

οἳ δʼ ἑτέρωσε καθῖζον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι Καλλικολώνης

ἀμφὶ σὲ ἤϊε Φοῖβε καὶ Ἄρηα πτολίπορθον.

Thus did the gods sit apart and form their plans, but neither side was willing to begin battle with the other, and Zeus from his seat on high was in command over them all. Meanwhile the whole plain was alive with men and horses, and blazing with the gleam of armor. The earth rang again under the tramp of their feet as they rushed towards each other, and two champions, by far the foremost of them all, met between the hosts to fight - to wit, Aeneas son of Anchises, and noble Achilles.

ὣς οἳ μέν ῥʼ ἑκάτερθε καθήατο μητιόωντες

βουλάς· ἀρχέμεναι δὲ δυσηλεγέος πολέμοιο

ὄκνεον ἀμφότεροι, Ζεὺς δʼ ἥμενος ὕψι κέλευε.

τῶν δʼ ἅπαν ἐπλήσθη πεδίον καὶ λάμπετο χαλκῷ

ἀνδρῶν ἠδʼ ἵππων· κάρκαιρε δὲ γαῖα πόδεσσιν

ὀρνυμένων ἄμυδις. δύο δʼ ἀνέρες ἔξοχʼ ἄριστοι

ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρων συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι

Αἰνείας τʼ Ἀγχισιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

Aeneas was first to stride forward in attack, his doughty helmet tossing defiance as he came on. He held his strong shield before his breast, and brandished his bronze spear. The son of Peleus from the other side sprang forth to meet him, like some fierce lion that the whole population [ dêmos ] has met to hunt and kill - at first he bodes no ill, but when some daring youth has struck him with a spear, he crouches openmouthed, his jaws foam, he roars with fury, he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs and loins, and glares as he springs straight before him, to find out whether he is to slay, or be slain among the foremost of his foes - even with such fury did Achilles burn to spring upon Aeneas.

Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀπειλήσας ἐβεβήκει

νευστάζων κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδα θοῦριν

πρόσθεν ἔχε στέρνοιο, τίνασσε δὲ χάλκεον ἔγχος.

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐναντίον ὦρτο λέων ὣς

σίντης, ὅν τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀποκτάμεναι μεμάασιν

ἀγρόμενοι πᾶς δῆμος· ὃ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἀτίζων

ἔρχεται, ἀλλʼ ὅτε κέν τις ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν

δουρὶ βάλῃ ἐάλη τε χανών, περί τʼ ἀφρὸς ὀδόντας

γίγνεται, ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίῃ στένει ἄλκιμον ἦτορ,

οὐρῇ δὲ πλευράς τε καὶ ἰσχία ἀμφοτέρωθεν

μαστίεται, ἑὲ δʼ αὐτὸν ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι,

γλαυκιόων δʼ ἰθὺς φέρεται μένει, ἤν τινα πέφνῃ

ἀνδρῶν, ἢ αὐτὸς φθίεται πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ·

ὣς Ἀχιλῆʼ ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο.

When they were now close up with one another Achilles was first to speak. "Aeneas," said he, "why do you stand thus out before the host to fight me? Is it that you hope to reign over the Trojans, partaking of the honor [ timê ] of Priam? Nay, though you kill me Priam will not hand his kingdom over to you. He is a man of sound judgment, and he has sons of his own. Or have the Trojans been allotting you a demesne of passing richness, fair with orchard lawns and wheat lands, if you should slay me? This you shall hardly do. I have discomfited you once already. Have you forgotten how when you were alone I chased you from your herds helter-skelter down the slopes of Ida? You did not turn round to look behind you; you took refuge in Lyrnessos, but I attacked the city, and with the help of Athena and father Zeus I sacked it and carried its women into captivity, though Zeus and the other gods rescued you. You think they will protect you now, but they will not do so; therefore I say go back into the host, and do not face me, or you will rue it. Even a fool may be wise after the event."

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

Αἰνεία τί σὺ τόσσον ὁμίλου πολλὸν ἐπελθὼν

ἔστης; ἦ σέ γε θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει

ἐλπόμενον Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξειν ἱπποδάμοισι

τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου; ἀτὰρ εἴ κεν ἔμʼ ἐξεναρίξῃς,

οὔ τοι τοὔνεκά γε Πρίαμος γέρας ἐν χερὶ θήσει·

εἰσὶν γάρ οἱ παῖδες, ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδος οὐδʼ ἀεσίφρων.

ἦ νύ τί τοι Τρῶες τέμενος τάμον ἔξοχον ἄλλων

καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης, ὄφρα νέμηαι

αἴ κεν ἐμὲ κτείνῃς; χαλεπῶς δέ σʼ ἔολπα τὸ ῥέξειν.

ἤδη μὲν σέ γέ φημι καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φοβῆσαι.

ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε πέρ σε βοῶν ἄπο μοῦνον ἐόντα

σεῦα κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ταχέεσσι πόδεσσι

καρπαλίμως; τότε δʼ οὔ τι μετατροπαλίζεο φεύγων.

ἔνθεν δʼ ἐς Λυρνησσὸν ὑπέκφυγες· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὴν

πέρσα μεθορμηθεὶς σὺν Ἀθήνῃ καὶ Διὶ πατρί,

ληϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας

ἦγον· ἀτὰρ σὲ Ζεὺς ἐρρύσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.

ἀλλʼ οὐ νῦν ἐρύεσθαι ὀΐομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ

βάλλεαι· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγʼ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω

ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδʼ ἀντίος ἵστασʼ ἐμεῖο,

πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.

Then Aeneas answered, "Son of Peleus, think not that your words can scare me as though I were a child. I too, if I will, can brag and talk unseemly. We know one another's race and parentage as matters of common fame, though neither have you ever seen my parents nor I yours. Men say that you are son to noble Peleus, and that your mother is Thetis, fair-haired daughter of the sea. I have noble Anchises for my father, and Aphrodite for my mother; the parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son, for it will be more than silly talk that shall part us when the fight is over. Learn, then, my lineage if you will - and it is known to many.

τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Αἰνείας ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

Πηλεΐδη μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς

ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς

ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδʼ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.

ἴδμεν δʼ ἀλλήλων γενεήν, ἴδμεν δὲ τοκῆας

πρόκλυτʼ ἀκούοντες ἔπεα θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

ὄψει δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πω σὺ ἐμοὺς ἴδες οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ σούς.

φασὶ σὲ μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονον εἶναι,

μητρὸς δʼ ἐκ Θέτιδος καλλιπλοκάμου ἁλοσύδνης·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν υἱὸς μεγαλήτορος Ἀγχίσαο

εὔχομαι ἐκγεγάμεν, μήτηρ δέ μοί ἐστʼ Ἀφροδίτη·

τῶν δὴ νῦν ἕτεροί γε φίλον παῖδα κλαύσονται

σήμερον· οὐ γάρ φημʼ ἐπέεσσί γε νηπυτίοισιν

ὧδε διακρινθέντε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.

εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις καὶ ταῦτα δαήμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῇς

ἡμετέρην γενεήν, πολλοὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἴσασι·

"In the beginning Dardanos was the son of Zeus, and founded Dardania, for Ilion was not yet established on the plain for men to dwell in, and her people still abode on the spurs of many-fountained Ida. Dardanos had a son, king Erichthonios, who was wealthiest of all men living; he had three thousand mares that fed by the water-meadows, they and their foals with them. Boreas was enamored of them as they were feeding, and covered them in the semblance of a dark-maned stallion. Twelve filly foals did they conceive and bear him, and these, as they sped over the fertile plain, would go bounding on over the ripe ears of wheat and not break them; or again when they would disport themselves on the broad back of Ocean they could gallop on the crest of a breaker. Erichthonios begat Tros, king of the Trojans, and Tros had three noble sons, Ilos, Assarakos, and Ganymede who was comeliest of mortal men; wherefore the gods carried him off to be Zeus' cupbearer, for his beauty's sake, that he might dwell among the immortals. Ilos begat Laomedon, and Laomedon begat Tithonos, Priam, Lampos, Klytios, and Hiketaon of the stock of Ares. But Assarakos was father to Kapys, and Kapys to Anchises, who was my father, while Hektor is son to Priam.

Δάρδανον αὖ πρῶτον τέκετο νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,

κτίσσε δὲ Δαρδανίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω Ἴλιος ἱρὴ

ἐν πεδίῳ πεπόλιστο πόλις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων,

ἀλλʼ ἔθʼ ὑπωρείας ᾤκεον πολυπίδακος Ἴδης.

Δάρδανος αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν Ἐριχθόνιον βασιλῆα,

ὃς δὴ ἀφνειότατος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

τοῦ τρισχίλιαι ἵπποι ἕλος κάτα βουκολέοντο

θήλειαι, πώλοισιν ἀγαλλόμεναι ἀταλῇσι.

τάων καὶ Βορέης ἠράσσατο βοσκομενάων,

ἵππῳ δʼ εἰσάμενος παρελέξατο κυανοχαίτῃ·

αἳ δʼ ὑποκυσάμεναι ἔτεκον δυοκαίδεκα πώλους.

αἳ δʼ ὅτε μὲν σκιρτῷεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν,

ἄκρον ἐπʼ ἀνθερίκων καρπὸν θέον οὐδὲ κατέκλων·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σκιρτῷεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,

ἄκρον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνος ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θέεσκον.

Τρῶα δʼ Ἐριχθόνιος τέκετο Τρώεσσιν ἄνακτα·

Τρωὸς δʼ αὖ τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονες ἐξεγένοντο

Ἶλός τʼ Ἀσσάρακός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Γανυμήδης,

ὃς δὴ κάλλιστος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·

τὸν καὶ ἀνηρείψαντο θεοὶ Διὶ οἰνοχοεύειν

κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη.

Ἶλος δʼ αὖ τέκεθʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Λαομέδοντα·

Λαομέδων δʼ ἄρα Τιθωνὸν τέκετο Πρίαμόν τε

Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θʼ Ἱκετάονά τʼ ὄζον Ἄρηος·

Ἀσσάρακος δὲ Κάπυν, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀγχίσην τέκε παῖδα·

αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ Ἀγχίσης, Πρίαμος δʼ ἔτεχʼ Ἕκτορα δῖον.

"Such do I declare my blood and lineage, but as for valor [ aretê ], Zeus gives it or takes it as he will, for he is lord of all. And now let there be no more of this prating in mid-battle as though we were children. We could fling taunts without end at one another; a hundred-oared galley would not hold them. The tongue can run in every which direction and talk all wise; it can go here and there, and as a man says, so shall he be gainsaid. What is the use of our bandying hard like women who when they fall foul of one another go out and wrangle in the streets, one half true and the other lies, as rage inspires them? No words of yours shall turn me now that I am fain to fight- therefore let us make trial of one another with our spears."

ταύτης τοι γενεῆς τε καὶ αἵματος εὔχομαι εἶναι.

Ζεὺς δʼ ἀρετὴν ἄνδρεσσιν ὀφέλλει τε μινύθει τε

ὅππως κεν ἐθέλῃσιν· ὃ γὰρ κάρτιστος ἁπάντων.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὣς

ἑσταότʼ ἐν μέσσῃ ὑσμίνῃ δηϊοτῆτος.

ἔστι γὰρ ἀμφοτέροισιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι

πολλὰ μάλʼ, οὐδʼ ἂν νηῦς ἑκατόζυγος ἄχθος ἄροιτο.

στρεπτὴ δὲ γλῶσσʼ ἐστὶ βροτῶν, πολέες δʼ ἔνι μῦθοι

παντοῖοι, ἐπέων δὲ πολὺς νομὸς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.

ὁπποῖόν κʼ εἴπῃσθα ἔπος, τοῖόν κʼ ἐπακούσαις.

ἀλλὰ τί ἢ ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα νῶϊν ἀνάγκη

νεικεῖν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐναντίον ὥς τε γυναῖκας,

αἵ τε χολωσάμεναι ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο

νεικεῦσʼ ἀλλήλῃσι μέσην ἐς ἄγυιαν ἰοῦσαι

πόλλʼ ἐτεά τε καὶ οὐκί· χόλος δέ τε καὶ τὰ κελεύει.

ἀλκῆς δʼ οὔ μʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρέψεις μεμαῶτα

πρὶν χαλκῷ μαχέσασθαι ἐναντίον· ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον

γευσόμεθʼ ἀλλήλων χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.

As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield of Achilles, which rang out as the point struck it. The son of Peleus held the shield before him with his strong hand, and he was afraid, for he deemed that Aeneas' spear would go through it quite easily, not reflecting that the god's glorious gifts were little likely to yield before the blows of mortal men; and indeed Aeneas' spear did not pierce the shield, for the layer of gold, gift of the god, stayed the point. It went through two layers, but the god had made the shield in five, two of bronze, the two innermost ones of tin, and one of gold; it was in this that the spear was stayed.

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐν δεινῷ σάκει ἤλασεν ὄβριμον ἔγχος

σμερδαλέῳ· μέγα δʼ ἀμφὶ σάκος μύκε δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.

Πηλεΐδης δὲ σάκος μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο χειρὶ παχείῃ

ἔσχετο ταρβήσας· φάτο γὰρ δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο

νήπιος, οὐδʼ ἐνόησε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν

ὡς οὐ ῥηΐδιʼ ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα

ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι οὐδʼ ὑποείκειν.

οὐδὲ τότʼ Αἰνείαο δαΐφρονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος

ῥῆξε σάκος· χρυσὸς γὰρ ἐρύκακε, δῶρα θεοῖο·

ἀλλὰ δύω μὲν ἔλασσε διὰ πτύχας, αἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι τρεῖς

ἦσαν, ἐπεὶ πέντε πτύχας ἤλασε κυλλοποδίων,

τὰς δύο χαλκείας, δύο δʼ ἔνδοθι κασσιτέροιο,

τὴν δὲ μίαν χρυσῆν, τῇ ῥʼ ἔσχετο μείλινον ἔγχος.

Achilles in his turn threw, and struck the round shield of Aeneas at the very edge, where the bronze was thinnest; the spear of Pelian ash went clean through, and the shield rang under the blow; Aeneas was afraid, and crouched backwards, holding the shield away from him; the spear, however, flew over his back, and stuck quivering in the ground, after having gone through both circles of the sheltering shield. Aeneas though he had avoided the spear, stood still, blinded with fear and grief [ akhos ] because the weapon had gone so near him; then Achilles sprang furiously upon him, with a cry as of death and with his keen blade drawn, and Aeneas seized a great stone, so huge that two men, as men now are, would be unable to lift it, but Aeneas wielded it quite easily.

δεύτερος αὖτʼ Ἀχιλεὺς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Αἰνείαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην

ἄντυγʼ ὕπο πρώτην, ᾗ λεπτότατος θέε χαλκός,

λεπτοτάτη δʼ ἐπέην ῥινὸς βοός· ἣ δὲ διὰ πρὸ

Πηλιὰς ἤϊξεν μελίη, λάκε δʼ ἀσπὶς ὑπʼ αὐτῆς.

Αἰνείας δʼ ἐάλη καὶ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἀσπίδʼ ἀνέσχε

δείσας· ἐγχείη δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ νώτου ἐνὶ γαίῃ

ἔστη ἱεμένη, διὰ δʼ ἀμφοτέρους ἕλε κύκλους

ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης· ὃ δʼ ἀλευάμενος δόρυ μακρὸν

ἔστη, κὰδ δʼ ἄχος οἱ χύτο μυρίον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,

ταρβήσας ὅ οἱ ἄγχι πάγη βέλος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσεν ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺ

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρὶ

Αἰνείας, μέγα ἔργον, ὃ οὐ δύο γʼ ἄνδρε φέροιεν,

οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσʼ· ὃ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος.

Aeneas would then have struck Achilles as he was springing towards him, either on the helmet, or on the shield that covered him, and Achilles would have closed with him and dispatched him with his sword, had not Poseidon lord of the earthquake been quick to mark, and said forthwith to the immortals, "Alas, I feel grief [ akhos ] for great Aeneas, who will now go down to the house of Hades, vanquished by the son of Peleus. Fool that he was to give ear to the counsel of Apollo. Apollo will never save him from destruction. Why should this man suffer grief [ akhos ] when he is guiltless, to no purpose, and in another's quarrel? Has he not at all times offered acceptable sacrifice to the gods that dwell in heaven? Let us then snatch him from death's jaws, lest the son of Kronos be angry should Achilles slay him. It is fated, moreover, that he should escape, and that the race of Dardanos, whom Zeus loved above all the sons born to him of mortal women, shall not perish utterly without seed or sign. For now indeed has Zeus hated the blood of Priam, while Aeneas shall reign over the Trojans, he and his children's children that shall be born hereafter."

ἔνθά κεν Αἰνείας μὲν ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε πέτρῳ

ἢ κόρυθʼ ἠὲ σάκος, τό οἱ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,

τὸν δέ κε Πηλεΐδης σχεδὸν ἄορι θυμὸν ἀπηύρα,

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μοι ἄχος μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο,

ὃς τάχα Πηλεΐωνι δαμεὶς Ἄϊδος δὲ κάτεισι

πειθόμενος μύθοισιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο

νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ χραισμήσει λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.

ἀλλὰ τί ἢ νῦν οὗτος ἀναίτιος ἄλγεα πάσχει

μὰψ ἕνεκʼ ἀλλοτρίων ἀχέων, κεχαρισμένα δʼ αἰεὶ

δῶρα θεοῖσι δίδωσι τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν;

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ὑπὲκ θανάτου ἀγάγωμεν,

μή πως καὶ Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται, αἴ κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς

τόνδε κατακτείνῃ· μόριμον δέ οἵ ἐστʼ ἀλέασθαι,

ὄφρα μὴ ἄσπερμος γενεὴ καὶ ἄφαντος ὄληται

Δαρδάνου, ὃν Κρονίδης περὶ πάντων φίλατο παίδων

οἳ ἕθεν ἐξεγένοντο γυναικῶν τε θνητάων.

ἤδη γὰρ Πριάμου γενεὴν ἔχθηρε Κρονίων·

νῦν δὲ δὴ Αἰνείαο βίη Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξει

καὶ παίδων παῖδες, τοί κεν μετόπισθε γένωνται.

Then answered Hera, "Earth-shaker, look to this matter yourself, and consider concerning Aeneas, whether you will save him, or suffer him, brave though he be, to fall by the hand of Achilles son of Peleus. For of a truth we two, I and Pallas Athena, have sworn full many a time before all the immortals, that never would we shield Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in the flames that the Achaeans shall kindle."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·

ἐννοσίγαιʼ, αὐτὸς σὺ μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι νόησον

Αἰνείαν ἤ κέν μιν ἐρύσσεαι ἦ κεν ἐάσῃς

Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαμήμεναι, ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα.

ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ νῶϊ πολέας ὠμόσσαμεν ὅρκους

πᾶσι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐγὼ καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη

μή ποτʼ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀλεξήσειν κακὸν ἦμαρ,

μηδʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν Τροίη μαλερῷ πυρὶ πᾶσα δάηται

καιομένη, καίωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

When earth-encircling Poseidon heard this he went into the battle amid the clash of spears, and came to the place where Achilles and Aeneas were. Forthwith he shed a darkness before the eyes of the son of Peleus, drew the bronze-headed ashen spear from the shield of Aeneas, and laid it at the feet of Achilles. Then he lifted Aeneas on high from off the earth and hurried him away. Over the heads of many a band of warriors both horse and foot did he soar as the god's hand sped him, till he came to the very fringe of the battle where the Cauconians were arming themselves for fight. Poseidon, shaker of the earth, then came near to him and said, Aeneas, what god has egged you on to this folly in fighting the son of Peleus, who is both a mightier man of valor and more beloved of heaven than you are? Give way before him whensoever you meet him, lest you go down to the house of Hades even though fate would have it otherwise. When Achilles is dead you may then fight among the foremost undaunted, for none other of the Achaeans shall slay you."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

βῆ ῥʼ ἴμεν ἄν τε μάχην καὶ ἀνὰ κλόνον ἐγχειάων,

ἷξε δʼ ὅθʼ Αἰνείας ἠδʼ ὃ κλυτὸς ἦεν Ἀχιλλεύς.

αὐτίκα τῷ μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χέεν ἀχλὺν

Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· ὃ δὲ μελίην εὔχαλκον

ἀσπίδος ἐξέρυσεν μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο·

καὶ τὴν μὲν προπάροιθε ποδῶν Ἀχιλῆος ἔθηκεν,

Αἰνείαν δʼ ἔσσευεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσʼ ἀείρας.

πολλὰς δὲ στίχας ἡρώων, πολλὰς δὲ καὶ ἵππων

Αἰνείας ὑπερᾶλτο θεοῦ ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὀρούσας,

ἷξε δʼ ἐπʼ ἐσχατιὴν πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο,

ἔνθά τε Καύκωνες πόλεμον μέτα θωρήσσοντο.

τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Αἰνεία, τίς σʼ ὧδε θεῶν ἀτέοντα κελεύει

ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι,

ὃς σεῦ ἅμα κρείσσων καὶ φίλτερος ἀθανάτοισιν;

ἀλλʼ ἀναχωρῆσαι ὅτε κεν συμβλήσεαι αὐτῷ,

μὴ καὶ ὑπὲρ μοῖραν δόμον Ἄϊδος εἰσαφίκηαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ Ἀχιλεὺς θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ,

θαρσήσας δὴ ἔπειτα μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχεσθαι·

οὐ μὲν γάρ τίς σʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ἐξεναρίξει.

The god left him when he had given him these instructions, and at once removed the darkness from before the eyes of Achilles, who opened them wide indeed and said in great anger, "Alas! what marvel am I now beholding? Here is my spear upon the ground, but I see not him whom I meant to kill when I hurled it. Of a truth Aeneas also must be under heaven's protection, although I had thought his boasting was idle. Let him go hang; he will be in no mood to fight me further, seeing how narrowly he has missed being killed. I will now give my orders to the Danaans and attack some other of the Trojans."

ὣς εἰπὼν λίπεν αὐτόθʼ, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.

αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτʼ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν σκέδασʼ ἀχλὺν

θεσπεσίην· ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα μέγʼ ἔξιδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι·

ἔγχος μὲν τόδε κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονός, οὐδέ τι φῶτα

λεύσσω, τῷ ἐφέηκα κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων.

ἦ ῥα καὶ Αἰνείας φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν

ἦεν· ἀτάρ μιν ἔφην μὰψ αὔτως εὐχετάασθαι.

ἐρρέτω· οὔ οἱ θυμὸς ἐμεῦ ἔτι πειρηθῆναι

ἔσσεται, ὃς καὶ νῦν φύγεν ἄσμενος ἐκ θανάτοιο.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ Δαναοῖσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κελεύσας

τῶν ἄλλων Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίος ἐλθών.

He sprang forward along the line and cheered his men on as he did so. "Let not the Trojans," he cried, "keep you at arm's length, Achaeans, but go for them and fight them man for man. However valiant I may be, I cannot give chase to so many and fight all of them. Even Ares, who is an immortal, or Athena, would shrink from flinging himself into the jaws of such a fight and laying about him; nevertheless, so far as in me lies I will show no slackness of hand or foot nor want of endurance, not even for a moment; I will utterly break their ranks, and woe to the Trojan who shall venture within reach of my spear."

ἦ, καὶ ἐπὶ στίχας ἆλτο, κέλευε δὲ φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ·

μηκέτι νῦν Τρώων ἑκὰς ἕστατε δῖοι Ἀχαιοί,

ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἀνὴρ ἄντʼ ἀνδρὸς ἴτω, μεμάτω δὲ μάχεσθαι.

ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι καὶ ἰφθίμῳ περ ἐόντι

τοσσούσδʼ ἀνθρώπους ἐφέπειν καὶ πᾶσι μάχεσθαι·

οὐδέ κʼ Ἄρης, ὅς περ θεὸς ἄμβροτος, οὐδέ κʼ Ἀθήνη

τοσσῆσδʼ ὑσμίνης ἐφέποι στόμα καὶ πονέοιτο·

ἀλλʼ ὅσσον μὲν ἐγὼ δύναμαι χερσίν τε ποσίν τε

καὶ σθένει, οὔ μʼ ἔτι φημὶ μεθησέμεν οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν,

ἀλλὰ μάλα στιχὸς εἶμι διαμπερές, οὐδέ τινʼ οἴω

Τρώων χαιρήσειν, ὅς τις σχεδὸν ἔγχεος ἔλθῃ.

Thus did he exhort them. Meanwhile Hektor called upon the Trojans and declared that he would fight Achilles. "Be not afraid, proud Trojans," said he, "to face the son of Peleus; I could fight gods myself if the battle were one of words only, but they would be more than a match for me, if we had to use our spears. Even so the deed of Achilles will fall somewhat short of the outcome [ telos ] of his word; he will do in part, and the other part he will clip short. I will go up against him though his hands be as fire - though his hands be fire and his strength iron."

ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων· Τρώεσσι δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ

κέκλεθʼ ὁμοκλήσας, φάτο δʼ ἴμεναι ἄντʼ Ἀχιλῆος·

Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι μὴ δείδιτε Πηλεΐωνα.

καί κεν ἐγὼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μαχοίμην,

ἔγχεϊ δʼ ἀργαλέον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσιν.

οὐδʼ Ἀχιλεὺς πάντεσσι τέλος μύθοις ἐπιθήσει,

ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν τελέει, τὸ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγὺ κολούει.

τοῦ δʼ ἐγὼ ἀντίος εἶμι καὶ εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικεν,

εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικε, μένος δʼ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ.

ὣς φάτʼ ἐποτρύνων, οἳ δʼ ἀντίοι ἔγχεʼ ἄειραν

Thus urged the Trojans lifted up their spears against the Achaeans, and raised the cry of battle as they flung themselves into the midst of their ranks. But Phoebus Apollo came up to Hektor and said, "Hektor, on no account must you challenge Achilles to single combat; keep a lookout for him while you are under cover of the others and away from the thick of the fight, otherwise he will either hit you with a spear or cut you down at close quarters."

Τρῶες· τῶν δʼ ἄμυδις μίχθη μένος, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτή.

καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστὰς Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·

Ἕκτορ μηκέτι πάμπαν Ἀχιλλῆϊ προμάχιζε,

ἀλλὰ κατὰ πληθύν τε καὶ ἐκ φλοίσβοιο δέδεξο,

μή πώς σʼ ἠὲ βάλῃ ἠὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψῃ.

Thus he spoke, and Hektor drew back within the crowd, for he was afraid when he heard what the god had said to him. Achilles then sprang upon the Trojans with a terrible cry, clothed in valor as with a garment. First he killed Iphition son of Otrynteus, a leader of many people whom a naiad nymph had borne to Otrynteus waster of cities, in the district [ dêmos ] of Hyde under the snowy heights of Mount Tmolos. Achilles struck him full on the head as he was coming on towards him, and split it clean in two; whereon he fell heavily to the ground and Achilles vaunted over him saying, "You be low, son of Otrynteus, mighty hero; your death is here, but your lineage is on the Gygaean lake where your father's estate lies, by Hyllos, rich in fish, and the eddying waters of Hermos."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτις ἐδύσετο οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν

ταρβήσας, ὅτʼ ἄκουσε θεοῦ ὄπα φωνήσαντος.

ἐν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Τρώεσσι θόρε φρεσὶν εἱμένος ἀλκὴν

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, πρῶτον δʼ ἕλεν Ἰφιτίωνα

ἐσθλὸν Ὀτρυντεΐδην πολέων ἡγήτορα λαῶν,

ὃν νύμφη τέκε νηῒς Ὀτρυντῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ

Τμώλῳ ὕπο νιφόεντι Ὕδης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ·

τὸν δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτα βάλʼ ἔγχεϊ δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν· ἣ δʼ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη,

δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ὃ δʼ ἐπεύξατο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

κεῖσαι Ὀτρυντεΐδη πάντων ἐκπαγλότατʼ ἀνδρῶν·

ἐνθάδε τοι θάνατος, γενεὴ δέ τοί ἐστʼ ἐπὶ λίμνῃ

Γυγαίῃ, ὅθι τοι τέμενος πατρώϊόν ἐστιν

Ὕλλῳ ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντι καὶ Ἕρμῳ δινήεντι.

Thus did he vaunt, but darkness closed the eyes of the other. The chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their wheels passed over him in the front of the battle, and after him Achilles killed Demoleon, a valiant man of war and son to Antenor. He struck him on the temple through his bronze-cheeked helmet. The helmet did not stay the spear, but it went right on, crushing the bone so that the brain inside was shed in all directions, and his lust of fighting was ended. Then he struck Hippodamas in the midriff as he was springing down from his chariot in front of him, and trying to escape. He breathed his last, bellowing like a bull bellows when young men are dragging him to offer him in sacrifice to the King of Helike , and the heart of the earth-shaker is glad; even so did he bellow as he lay dying. Achilles then went in pursuit of Polydoros son of Priam, whom his father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest of his sons, the one he loved best, and the fastest runner. He, in his folly and showing off the excellence [ aretê ] of his speed, was rushing about among front ranks until he lost his life, for Achilles struck him in the middle of the back as he was darting past him: he struck him just at the golden fastenings of his belt and where the two pieces of the double breastplate overlapped. The point of the spear pierced him through and came out by the navel, whereon he fell groaning on to his knees and a cloud of darkness overshadowed him as he sank holding his entrails in his hands.

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.

τὸν μὲν Ἀχαιῶν ἵπποι ἐπισσώτροις δατέοντο

πρώτῃ ἐν ὑσμίνῃ· ὃ δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ Δημολέοντα

ἐσθλὸν ἀλεξητῆρα μάχης Ἀντήνορος υἱὸν

νύξε κατὰ κρόταφον, κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.

οὐδʼ ἄρα χαλκείη κόρυς ἔσχεθεν, ἀλλὰ διʼ αὐτῆς

αἰχμὴ ἱεμένη ῥῆξʼ ὀστέον, ἐγκέφαλος δὲ

ἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.

Ἱπποδάμαντα δʼ ἔπειτα καθʼ ἵππων ἀΐξαντα

πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα μετάφρενον οὔτασε δουρί.

αὐτὰρ ὃ θυμὸν ἄϊσθε καὶ ἤρυγεν, ὡς ὅτε ταῦρος

ἤρυγεν ἑλκόμενος Ἑλικώνιον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα

κούρων ἑλκόντων· γάνυται δέ τε τοῖς ἐνοσίχθων·

ὣς ἄρα τόν γʼ ἐρυγόντα λίπʼ ὀστέα θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ·

αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ σὺν δουρὶ μετʼ ἀντίθεον Πολύδωρον

Πριαμίδην. τὸν δʼ οὔ τι πατὴρ εἴασκε μάχεσθαι,

οὕνεκά οἱ μετὰ παισὶ νεώτατος ἔσκε γόνοιο,

καί οἱ φίλτατος ἔσκε, πόδεσσι δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα

δὴ τότε νηπιέῃσι ποδῶν ἀρετὴν ἀναφαίνων

θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, εἷος φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν.

τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

νῶτα παραΐσσοντος, ὅθι ζωστῆρος ὀχῆες

χρύσειοι σύνεχον καὶ διπλόος ἤντετο θώρηξ·

ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε παρʼ ὀμφαλὸν ἔγχεος αἰχμή,

γνὺξ δʼ ἔριπʼ οἰμώξας, νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε

κυανέη, προτὶ οἷ δʼ ἔλαβʼ ἔντερα χερσὶ λιασθείς.

When Hektor saw his brother Polydoros with his entrails in his hands and sinking down upon the ground, a mist came over his eyes, and he could not bear to keep longer at a distance; he therefore poised his spear and darted towards Achilles like a flame of fire. When Achilles saw him he bounded forward and vaunted saying, "This is he that has wounded my heart most deeply and has slain my beloved comrade. Not for long shall we two quail before one another on the highways of war."

Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησε κασίγνητον Πολύδωρον

ἔντερα χερσὶν ἔχοντα λιαζόμενον ποτὶ γαίη

κάρ ῥά οἱ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτʼ ἀχλύς· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ ἔτλη

δηρὸν ἑκὰς στρωφᾶσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἀντίος ἦλθʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ

ὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων φλογὶ εἴκελος· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ὡς εἶδʼ, ὣς ἀνεπᾶλτο, καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

ἐγγὺς ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐμόν γε μάλιστʼ ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν,

ὅς μοι ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνε τετιμένον· οὐδʼ ἂν ἔτι δὴν

ἀλλήλους πτώσσοιμεν ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας.

He looked fiercely on Hektor and said, "Draw near, that you may meet your doom the sooner." Hektor feared him not and answered, "Son of Peleus, think not that your words can scare me as though I were a child; I too if I will can brag and talk unseemly; I know that you are a mighty warrior, mightier by far than I, nevertheless the issue lies in the lap of heaven whether I, worse man though I be, may not slay you with my spear, for this too has been found keen ere now."

ἦ, καὶ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσεφώνεεν Ἕκτορα δῖον·

ἆσσον ἴθʼ ὥς κεν θᾶσσον ὀλέθρου πείραθʼ ἵκηαι.

τὸν δʼ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Πηλεΐδη μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς

ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς

ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδʼ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.

οἶδα δʼ ὅτι σὺ μὲν ἐσθλός, ἐγὼ δὲ σέθεν πολὺ χείρων.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,

αἴ κέ σε χειρότερός περ ἐὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλωμαι

δουρὶ βαλών, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὸν βέλος ὀξὺ πάροιθεν.

He hurled his spear as he spoke, but Athena breathed upon it, and though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from going towards Achilles, so that it returned to Hektor and lay at his feet in front of him. Achilles then sprang furiously on him with a loud cry, bent on killing him, but Apollo caught him up easily as a god can, and hid him in a thick darkness. Thrice did Achilles spring towards him spear in hand, and thrice did he waste his blow upon the air. When he rushed forward for the fourth time as though he were a daimôn he shouted aloud saying, "Hound, this time too you have escaped death - but of a truth it came exceedingly near you. Phoebus Apollo, to whom it seems you pray before you go into battle, has again saved you; but if I too have any friend among the gods I will surely make an end of you when I come across you at some other time. Now, however, I will pursue and overtake other Trojans."

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δόρυ, καὶ τό γʼ Ἀθήνη

πνοιῇ Ἀχιλλῆος πάλιν ἔτραπε κυδαλίμοιο

ἦκα μάλα ψύξασα· τὸ δʼ ἂψ ἵκεθʼ Ἕκτορα δῖον,

αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων,

σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· τὸν δʼ ἐξήρπαξεν Ἀπόλλων

ῥεῖα μάλʼ ὥς τε θεός, ἐκάλυψε δʼ ἄρʼ ἠέρι πολλῇ.

τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐπόρουσε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ, τρὶς δʼ ἠέρα τύψε βαθεῖαν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,

δεινὰ δʼ ὁμοκλήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ἐξ αὖ νῦν ἔφυγες θάνατον κύον· ἦ τέ τοι ἄγχι

ἦλθε κακόν· νῦν αὖτέ σʼ ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,

ᾧ μέλλεις εὔχεσθαι ἰὼν ἐς δοῦπον ἀκόντων.

ἦ θήν σʼ ἐξανύω γε καὶ ὕστερον ἀντιβολήσας,

εἴ πού τις καὶ ἔμοιγε θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθός ἐστι.

νῦν αὖ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιείσομαι, ὅν κε κιχείω.

On this he struck Dryops with his spear, about the middle of his neck, and he fell headlong at his feet. There he let him lie and stayed Demoukhos son of Philetor, a man both brave and of great stature, by hitting him on the knee with a spear; then he smote him with his sword and killed him. After this he sprang on Laogonos and Dardanos , sons of Bias, and threw them from their chariot, the one with a blow from a thrown spear, while the other he cut down in hand-to-hand fight. There was also Tros the son of Alastor - he came up to Achilles and clasped his knees in the hope that he would spare him and not kill him but let him go, because they were both of the same age. Fool, he might have known that he should not prevail with him, for the man was in no mood for pity or forbearance but was in grim earnest. Therefore when Tros laid hold of his knees and sought a hearing for his prayers, Achilles drove his sword into his liver, and the liver came rolling out, while his bosom was all covered with the black blood that welled from the wound. Thus did death close his eyes as he lay lifeless.

ὣς εἰπὼν Δρύοπʼ οὖτα κατʼ αὐχένα μέσσον ἄκοντι·

ἤριπε δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν· ὃ δὲ τὸν μὲν ἔασε,

Δημοῦχον δὲ Φιλητορίδην ἠΰν τε μέγαν τε

κὰγ γόνυ δουρὶ βαλὼν ἠρύκακε. τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα

οὐτάζων ξίφεϊ μεγάλῳ ἐξαίνυτο θυμόν·

αὐτὰρ ὃ Λαόγονον καὶ Δάρδανον υἷε Βίαντος

ἄμφω ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐξ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε,

τὸν μὲν δουρὶ βαλών, τὸν δὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψας.

Τρῶα δʼ Ἀλαστορίδην, ὃ μὲν ἀντίος ἤλυθε γούνων,

εἴ πώς εὑ πεφίδοιτο λαβὼν καὶ ζωὸν ἀφείη

μηδὲ κατακτείνειεν ὁμηλικίην ἐλεήσας,

νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·

οὐ γάρ τι γλυκύθυμος ἀνὴρ ἦν οὐδʼ ἀγανόφρων,

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐμμεμαώς· ὃ μὲν ἥπτετο χείρεσι γούνων

ἱέμενος λίσσεσθʼ, ὃ δὲ φασγάνῳ οὖτα καθʼ ἧπαρ·

ἐκ δέ οἱ ἧπαρ ὄλισθεν, ἀτὰρ μέλαν αἷμα κατʼ αὐτοῦ

κόλπον ἐνέπλησεν· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε

Achilles then went up to Moulios and struck him on the ear with a spear, and the bronze spear-head came right out at the other ear. He also struck Echeklos son of Agenor on the head with his sword, which became warm with the blood, while death and stern fate closed the eyes of Echeklos. Next in order the bronze point of his spear wounded Deukalion in the fore-arm where the sinews of the elbow are united, whereon he waited Achilles' onset with his arm hanging down and death staring him in the face. Achilles cut his head off with a blow from his sword and flung it helmet and all away from him, and the marrow came oozing out of his backbone as he lay. He then went in pursuit of Rhigmos, noble son of Peires, who had come from fertile Thrace , and struck him through the middle with a spear which fixed itself in his belly, so that he fell headlong from his chariot. He also speared Areithoos squire [ therapôn ] to Rhigmos in the back as he was turning his horses in flight, and thrust him from his chariot, while the horses were struck with panic.

θυμοῦ δευόμενον· ὃ δὲ Μούλιον οὖτα παραστὰς

δουρὶ κατʼ οὖς· εἶθαρ δὲ διʼ οὔατος ἦλθʼ ἑτέροιο

αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· ὃ δʼ Ἀγήνορος υἱὸν Ἔχεκλον

μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλὴν ξίφει ἤλασε κωπήεντι,

πᾶν δʼ ὑπεθερμάνθη ξίφος αἵματι· τὸν δὲ κατʼ ὄσσε

ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.

Δευκαλίωνα δʼ ἔπειθʼ, ἵνα τε ξυνέχουσι τένοντες

ἀγκῶνος, τῇ τόν γε φίλης διὰ χειρὸς ἔπειρεν

αἰχμῇ χαλκείῃ· ὃ δέ μιν μένε χεῖρα βαρυνθεὶς

πρόσθʼ ὁρόων θάνατον· ὃ δὲ φασγάνῳ αὐχένα θείνας

τῆλʼ αὐτῇ πήληκι κάρη βάλε· μυελὸς αὖτε

σφονδυλίων ἔκπαλθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐπὶ χθονὶ κεῖτο τανυσθείς.

αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετʼ ἀμύμονα Πείρεω υἱὸν

Ῥίγμον, ὃς ἐκ Θρῄκης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει·

τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι, πάγη δʼ ἐν νηδύϊ χαλκός,

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων· ὃ δʼ Ἀρηΐθοον θεράποντα

ἂψ ἵππους στρέψαντα μετάφρενον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ

νύξʼ, ἀπὸ δʼ ἅρματος ὦσε· κυκήθησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι.

As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought - and the dense forest is in a blaze, while the wind carries great tongues of fire in every direction - even so furiously did Achilles rage, wielding his spear as though he were a daimôn , and giving chase to those whom he would slay, till the dark earth ran with blood. Or as one who yokes broad-browed oxen that they may tread barley in a threshing-floor - and it is soon bruised small under the feet of the lowing cattle - even so did the horses of Achilles trample on the shields and bodies of the slain. The axle underneath and the railing that ran round the car were bespattered with clots of blood thrown up by the horses' hoofs, and from the tires of the wheels; but the son of Peleus pressed on to win still further glory, and his hands were bedrabbled with gore.

ὡς δʼ ἀναμαιμάει βαθέʼ ἄγκεα θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ

οὔρεος ἀζαλέοιο, βαθεῖα δὲ καίεται ὕλη,

πάντῃ τε κλονέων ἄνεμος φλόγα εἰλυφάζει,

ὣς ὅ γε πάντῃ θῦνε σὺν ἔγχεϊ δαίμονι ἶσος

κτεινομένους ἐφέπων· ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα μέλαινα.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις ζεύξῃ βόας ἄρσενας εὐρυμετώπους

τριβέμεναι κρῖ λευκὸν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,

ῥίμφά τε λέπτʼ ἐγένοντο βοῶν ὑπὸ πόσσʼ ἐριμύκων,

ὣς ὑπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος μεγαθύμου μώνυχες ἵπποι

στεῖβον ὁμοῦ νέκυάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας· αἵματι δʼ ἄξων

νέρθεν ἅπας πεπάλακτο καὶ ἄντυγες αἳ περὶ δίφρον,

ἃς ἄρʼ ἀφʼ ἱππείων ὁπλέων ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον

αἵ τʼ ἀπʼ ἐπισσώτρων· ὃ δὲ ἵετο κῦδος ἀρέσθαι

Πηλεΐδης, λύθρῳ δὲ παλάσσετο χεῖρας ἀάπτους.