Iliad

Now when they came to the ford of the full-flowing river Xanthos , begotten of immortal Zeus, Achilles cut their forces in two: one half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that the Achaeans had taken when fleeing panic-stricken on the preceding day with Hektor in full triumph; this way did they flee pell-mell, and Hera sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them. The other half were hemmed in by the deep silver-eddying stream, and fell into it with a great uproar. The waters resounded, and the banks rang again, as they swam hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling eddies. As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire- the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the water - even so was the eddying stream of Xanthos filled with the uproar of men and horses, all struggling in confusion before Achilles.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πόρον ἷξον ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖο

Ξάνθου δινήεντος, ὃν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς,

ἔνθα διατμήξας τοὺς μὲν πεδίον δὲ δίωκε

πρὸς πόλιν, ᾗ περ Ἀχαιοὶ ἀτυζόμενοι φοβέοντο

ἤματι τῷ προτέρῳ, ὅτε μαίνετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·

τῇ ῥʼ οἵ γε προχέοντο πεφυζότες, ἠέρα δʼ Ἥρη

πίτνα πρόσθε βαθεῖαν ἐρυκέμεν· ἡμίσεες δὲ

ἐς ποταμὸν εἰλεῦντο βαθύρροον ἀργυροδίνην,

ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον μεγάλῳ πατάγῳ, βράχε δʼ αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα,

ὄχθαι δʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ μεγάλʼ ἴαχον· οἳ δʼ ἀλαλητῷ

ἔννεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ἑλισσόμενοι περὶ δίνας.

ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς πυρὸς ἀκρίδες ἠερέθονται

φευγέμεναι ποταμὸν δέ· τὸ δὲ φλέγει ἀκάματον πῦρ

ὄρμενον ἐξαίφνης, ταὶ δὲ πτώσσουσι καθʼ ὕδωρ·

ὣς ὑπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος Ξάνθου βαθυδινήεντος

πλῆτο ῥόος κελάδων ἐπιμὶξ ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν.

Forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank, leaning it against a tamarisk bush, and plunged into the river like a daimôn , armed with his sword only. Fell was his purpose as he hewed the Trojans down on every side. Their dying groans rose hideous as the sword smote them, and the river ran red with blood. As when fish flee scared before a huge dolphin, and fill every nook and corner of some fair haven - for he is sure to eat all he can catch - even so did the Trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river, and when Achilles' arms grew weary with killing them,

αὐτὰρ ὃ διογενὴς δόρυ μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ὄχθῃ

κεκλιμένον μυρίκῃσιν, ὃ δʼ ἔσθορε δαίμονι ἶσος

φάσγανον οἶον ἔχων, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα,

τύπτε δʼ ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὄρνυτʼ ἀεικὴς

ἄορι θεινομένων, ἐρυθαίνετο δʼ αἵματι ὕδωρ.

ὡς δʼ ὑπὸ δελφῖνος μεγακήτεος ἰχθύες ἄλλοι

φεύγοντες πιμπλᾶσι μυχοὺς λιμένος εὐόρμου

δειδιότες· μάλα γάρ τε κατεσθίει ὅν κε λάβῃσιν·

ὣς Τρῶες ποταμοῖο κατὰ δεινοῖο ῥέεθρα

πτῶσσον ὑπὸ κρημνούς. ὃ δʼ ἐπεὶ κάμε χεῖρας ἐναίρων,

he drew twelve youths alive out of the water, to sacrifice in revenge for Patroklos son of Menoitios. He drew them out like dazed fawns, bound their hands behind them with the belts of their own shirts, and gave them over to his men to take back to the ships. Then he sprang into the river, thirsting for still further blood.

ζωοὺς ἐκ ποταμοῖο δυώδεκα λέξατο κούρους

ποινὴν Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος·

τοὺς ἐξῆγε θύραζε τεθηπότας ἠΰτε νεβρούς,

δῆσε δʼ ὀπίσσω χεῖρας ἐϋτμήτοισιν ἱμᾶσι,

τοὺς αὐτοὶ φορέεσκον ἐπὶ στρεπτοῖσι χιτῶσι,

δῶκε δʼ ἑταίροισιν κατάγειν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

αὐτὰρ ὃ ἂψ ἐπόρουσε δαϊζέμεναι μενεαίνων.

There he found Lykaon, son of Priam seed of Dardanos , as he was escaping out of the water; he it was whom he had once taken prisoner when he was in his father's vineyard, having set upon him by night, as he was cutting young shoots from a wild fig-tree to make the wicker sides of a chariot. Achilles then caught him to his sorrow unawares, and sent him by sea to Lemnos , where the son of Jason bought him. But a guest-friend, Eetion of Imbros, freed him with a great sum, and sent him to Arisbe, whence he had escaped and returned to his father's house. He had spent eleven days happily with his friends after he had come from Lemnos , but on the twelfth heaven again delivered him into the hands of Achilles, who was to send him to the house of Hades sorely against his will. He was unarmed when Achilles caught sight of him, and had neither helmet nor shield; nor yet had he any spear, for he had thrown all his armor from him on to the bank, and was sweating with his struggles to get out of the river, so that his strength was now failing him.

ἔνθʼ υἷι Πριάμοιο συνήντετο Δαρδανίδαο

ἐκ ποταμοῦ φεύγοντι Λυκάονι, τόν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸς

ἦγε λαβὼν ἐκ πατρὸς ἀλωῆς οὐκ ἐθέλοντα

ἐννύχιος προμολών· ὃ δʼ ἐρινεὸν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ

τάμνε νέους ὄρπηκας, ἵνʼ ἅρματος ἄντυγες εἶεν·

τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀνώϊστον κακὸν ἤλυθε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

καὶ τότε μέν μιν Λῆμνον ἐϋκτιμένην ἐπέρασσε

νηυσὶν ἄγων, ἀτὰρ υἱὸς Ἰήσονος ὦνον ἔδωκε·

κεῖθεν δὲ ξεῖνός μιν ἐλύσατο πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκεν

Ἴμβριος Ἠετίων, πέμψεν δʼ ἐς δῖαν Ἀρίσβην·

ἔνθεν ὑπεκπροφυγὼν πατρώϊον ἵκετο δῶμα.

ἕνδεκα δʼ ἤματα θυμὸν ἐτέρπετο οἷσι φίλοισιν

ἐλθὼν ἐκ Λήμνοιο· δυωδεκάτῃ δέ μιν αὖτις

χερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος θεὸς ἔμβαλεν, ὅς μιν ἔμελλε

πέμψειν εἰς Ἀΐδαο καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι.

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

γυμνὸν ἄτερ κόρυθός τε καὶ ἀσπίδος, οὐδʼ ἔχεν ἔγχος,

ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν ῥʼ ἀπὸ πάντα χαμαὶ βάλε· τεῖρε γὰρ ἱδρὼς

φεύγοντʼ ἐκ ποταμοῦ, κάματος δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἐδάμνα·

ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·

Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise, "What marvel do I see here? If this man can come back alive after having been sold over into Lemnos , I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain rising from the world below. Could not even the waters of the gray sea [pontos] imprison him, as they do many another whether he will or no? This time let him taste my spear, that I may know for certain whether mother earth who can keep even a strong man down, will be able to hold him, or whether thence too he will return."

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι·

ἦ μάλα δὴ Τρῶες μεγαλήτορες οὕς περ ἔπεφνον

αὖτις ἀναστήσονται ὑπὸ ζόφου ἠερόεντος,

οἷον δὴ καὶ ὅδʼ ἦλθε φυγὼν ὕπο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ

Λῆμνον ἐς ἠγαθέην πεπερημένος· οὐδέ μιν ἔσχε

πόντος ἁλὸς πολιῆς, ὃ πολέας ἀέκοντας ἐρύκει.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ δουρὸς ἀκωκῆς ἡμετέροιο

γεύσεται, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ δαείω

ἢ ἄρʼ ὁμῶς καὶ κεῖθεν ἐλεύσεται, ἦ μιν ἐρύξει

γῆ φυσίζοος, ἥ τε κατὰ κρατερόν περ ἐρύκει.

Thus did he pause and ponder. But Lykaon came up to him dazed and trying hard to embrace his knees, for he would fain live, not die. Achilles thrust at him with his spear, meaning to kill him, but Lykaon ran crouching up to him and caught his knees, whereby the spear passed over his back, and stuck in the ground, hungering though it was for blood. With one hand he caught Achilles' knees as he besought him, and with the other he clutched the spear and would not let it go. Then he said, "Achilles, have mercy upon me and spare me, for I am your suppliant. It was in your tents that I first broke bread on the day when you took me prisoner in the vineyard; after which you sold away to Lemnos far from my father and my friends, and I brought you the price of a hundred oxen. I have paid three times as much to gain my freedom; it is but twelve days that I have come to Ilion after much suffering, and now cruel fate has again thrown me into your hands. Surely father Zeus must hate me, that he has given me over to you a second time. Short of life indeed did my mother Laothoe bear me, daughter of aged Altes - of Altes who reigns over the warlike Leleges and holds steep Pedasos on the river Satnioeis. Priam married his daughter along with many other women and two sons were born of her, both of whom you will have slain. Your spear slew noble Polydoros as he was fighting in the front ranks, and now evil will here befall me, for I fear that I shall not escape you since a daimôn has delivered me over to you. Furthermore I say, and lay my saying to your heart, spare me, for I am not of the same womb as Hektor who slew your brave and noble comrade."

ὣς ὅρμαινε μένων· ὃ δέ οἱ σχεδὸν ἦλθε τεθηπὼς

γούνων ἅψασθαι μεμαώς, περὶ δʼ ἤθελε θυμῷ

ἐκφυγέειν θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν.

ἤτοι ὃ μὲν δόρυ μακρὸν ἀνέσχετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

οὐτάμεναι μεμαώς, ὃ δʼ ὑπέδραμε καὶ λάβε γούνων

κύψας· ἐγχείη δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ νώτου ἐνὶ γαίῃ

ἔστη ἱεμένη χροὸς ἄμεναι ἀνδρομέοιο.

αὐτὰρ ὃ τῇ ἑτέρῃ μὲν ἑλὼν ἐλλίσσετο γούνων,

τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ ἔχεν ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον οὐδὲ μεθίει·

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

γουνοῦμαι σʼ Ἀχιλεῦ· σὺ δέ μʼ αἴδεο καί μʼ ἐλέησον·

ἀντί τοί εἰμʼ ἱκέταο διοτρεφὲς αἰδοίοιο·

πὰρ γὰρ σοὶ πρώτῳ πασάμην Δημήτερος ἀκτὴν

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μʼ εἷλες ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,

καί μʼ ἐπέρασσας ἄνευθεν ἄγων πατρός τε φίλων τε

Λῆμνον ἐς ἠγαθέην, ἑκατόμβοιον δέ τοι ἦλφον.

νῦν δὲ λύμην τρὶς τόσσα πορών· ἠὼς δέ μοί ἐστιν

ἥδε δυωδεκάτη, ὅτʼ ἐς Ἴλιον εἰλήλουθα

πολλὰ παθών· νῦν αὖ με τεῇς ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκε

μοῖρʼ ὀλοή· μέλλω που ἀπεχθέσθαι Διὶ πατρί,

ὅς με σοὶ αὖτις δῶκε· μινυνθάδιον δέ με μήτηρ

γείνατο Λαοθόη θυγάτηρ Ἄλταο γέροντος

Ἄλτεω, ὃς Λελέγεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισιν ἀνάσσει

Πήδασον αἰπήεσσαν ἔχων ἐπὶ Σατνιόεντι.

τοῦ δʼ ἔχε θυγατέρα Πρίαμος, πολλὰς δὲ καὶ ἄλλας·

τῆς δὲ δύω γενόμεσθα, σὺ δʼ ἄμφω δειροτομήσεις,

ἤτοι τὸν πρώτοισι μετὰ πρυλέεσσι δάμασσας

ἀντίθεον Πολύδωρον, ἐπεὶ βάλες ὀξέϊ δουρί·

νῦν δὲ δὴ ἐνθάδʼ ἐμοὶ κακὸν ἔσσεται· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω

σὰς χεῖρας φεύξεσθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπέλασσέ γε δαίμων.

ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι·

μή με κτεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐχ ὁμογάστριος Ἕκτορός εἰμι,

ὅς τοι ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνεν ἐνηέα τε κρατερόν τε.

With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles; but Achilles answered him sternly. "Idiot," said he, "talk not to me of ransom. Until Patroklos fell I preferred to give the Trojans quarter, and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I had taken alive; but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven delivers into my hands before the city of Ilion -

ὣς ἄρα μιν Πριάμοιο προσηύδα φαίδιμος υἱὸς

λισσόμενος ἐπέεσσιν, ἀμείλικτον δʼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσε·

νήπιε μή μοι ἄποινα πιφαύσκεο μηδʼ ἀγόρευε·

πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Πάτροκλον ἐπισπεῖν αἴσιμον ἦμαρ

τόφρά τί μοι πεφιδέσθαι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φίλτερον ἦεν

Τρώων, καὶ πολλοὺς ζωοὺς ἕλον ἠδʼ ἐπέρασσα·

νῦν δʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅς τις θάνατον φύγῃ ὅν κε θεός γε

and of all Trojans it shall fare hardest with the sons of Priam. Therefore, my friend, you too shall die. Why should you whine in this way? Patroklos fell, and he was a better man than you are. I too - see you not how I am great and goodly? I am son to a noble father, and have a goddess for my mother, but the hands of doom and death overshadow me all as surely. The day will come, either at dawn or dark, or at the noontide, when one shall take my life also in battle, either with his spear, or with an arrow sped from his bow."

Ἰλίου προπάροιθεν ἐμῇς ἐν χερσὶ βάλῃσι

καὶ πάντων Τρώων, περὶ δʼ αὖ Πριάμοιό γε παίδων.

ἀλλὰ φίλος θάνε καὶ σύ· τί ἦ ὀλοφύρεαι οὕτως;

κάτθανε καὶ Πάτροκλος, ὅ περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.

οὐχ ὁράᾳς οἷος καὶ ἐγὼ καλός τε μέγας τε;

πατρὸς δʼ εἴμʼ ἀγαθοῖο, θεὰ δέ με γείνατο μήτηρ·

ἀλλʼ ἔπι τοι καὶ ἐμοὶ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή·

ἔσσεται ἢ ἠὼς ἢ δείλη ἢ μέσον ἦμαρ

ὁππότε τις καὶ ἐμεῖο Ἄρῃ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕληται

ἢ ὅ γε δουρὶ βαλὼν ἢ ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστῷ.

Thus did he speak, and Lykaon's heart sank within him. He loosed his hold of the spear, and held out both hands before him; but Achilles drew his keen blade, and struck him by the collar-bone on his neck; he plunged his two-edged sword into him to the very hilt, whereon he lay at full length on the ground, with the dark blood welling from him till the earth was soaked. Then Achilles caught him by the foot and flung him into the river to go down stream, vaunting over him the while, and saying, "Lie there among the fishes, who will lick the blood from your wound and gloat over it; your mother shall not lay you on any bier to mourn you, but the eddies of Skamandros shall bear you into the broad bosom of the sea. There shall the fishes feed on the fat of Lykaon as they dart under the dark ripple of the waters - so perish all of you till we reach the citadel of strong Ilion - you in flight, and I following after to destroy you. The river with its broad silver stream shall serve you in no stead, for all the bulls you offered him and all the horses that you flung living into his waters. None the less miserably shall you perish till there is not a man of you but has paid in full for the death of Patroklos and the havoc you wrought among the Achaeans whom you have slain while I held aloof from battle."

ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ·

ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἀφέηκεν, ὃ δʼ ἕζετο χεῖρε πετάσσας

ἀμφοτέρας· Ἀχιλεὺς δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺ

τύψε κατὰ κληῗδα παρʼ αὐχένα, πᾶν δέ οἱ εἴσω

δῦ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· ὃ δʼ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃ

κεῖτο ταθείς, ἐκ δʼ αἷμα μέλαν ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.

τὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ποταμὸν δὲ λαβὼν ποδὸς ἧκε φέρεσθαι,

καί οἱ ἐπευχόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευεν·

ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν κεῖσο μετʼ ἰχθύσιν, οἵ σʼ ὠτειλὴν

αἷμʼ ἀπολιχμήσονται ἀκηδέες· οὐδέ σε μήτηρ

ἐνθεμένη λεχέεσσι γοήσεται, ἀλλὰ Σκάμανδρος

οἴσει δινήεις εἴσω ἁλὸς εὐρέα κόλπον·

θρῴσκων τις κατὰ κῦμα μέλαιναν φρῖχʼ ὑπαΐξει

ἰχθύς, ὅς κε φάγῃσι Λυκάονος ἀργέτα δημόν.

φθείρεσθʼ εἰς ὅ κεν ἄστυ κιχείομεν Ἰλίου ἱρῆς

ὑμεῖς μὲν φεύγοντες, ἐγὼ δʼ ὄπιθεν κεραΐζων.

οὐδʼ ὑμῖν ποταμός περ ἐΰρροος ἀργυροδίνης

ἀρκέσει, ᾧ δὴ δηθὰ πολέας ἱερεύετε ταύρους,

ζωοὺς δʼ ἐν δίνῃσι καθίετε μώνυχας ἵππους.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ὀλέεσθε κακὸν μόρον, εἰς ὅ κε πάντες

τίσετε Πατρόκλοιο φόνον καὶ λοιγὸν Ἀχαιῶν,

οὓς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἐπέφνετε νόσφιν ἐμεῖο.

So spoke Achilles, but the river grew more and more angry, and pondered within himself how he should keep Achilles out of the struggle [ ponos ] and save the Trojans from disaster. Meanwhile the son of Peleus, spear in hand, sprang upon Asteropaios son of Pelegon to kill him. He was son to the broad river Axios and Periboia eldest daughter of Akessamenos; for the river had lain with her. Asteropaios stood up out of the water to face him with a spear in either hand, and Xanthos filled him with courage, being angry for the death of the youths whom Achilles was slaying ruthlessly within his waters. When they were close up with one another Achilles was first to speak. "Who and whence are you," said he, "who dare to face me? Woe to the parents whose son stands up against me." And the son of Pelegon answered, "Great son of Peleus, why should you ask my lineage. I am from the fertile land of far Paeonia, leader of the Paeonians, and it is now eleven days that I am at Ilion . I am of the blood of the river Axios - of Axios that is the fairest of all rivers that run. He begot the famed warrior Pelegon, whose son men call me. Let us now fight, Achilles."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, ποταμὸς δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,

ὅρμηνεν δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὅπως παύσειε πόνοιο

δῖον Ἀχιλλῆα, Τρώεσσι δὲ λοιγὸν ἀλάλκοι.

τόφρα δὲ Πηλέος υἱὸς ἔχων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

Ἀστεροπαίῳ ἐπᾶλτο κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων

υἱέϊ Πηλεγόνος· τὸν δʼ Ἀξιὸς εὐρυρέεθρος

γείνατο καὶ Περίβοια Ἀκεσσαμενοῖο θυγατρῶν

πρεσβυτάτη· τῇ γάρ ῥα μίγη ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης.

τῷ ῥʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἐπόρουσεν, ὃ δʼ ἀντίος ἐκ ποταμοῖο

ἔστη ἔχων δύο δοῦρε· μένος δέ οἱ ἐν φρεσὶ θῆκε

Ξάνθος, ἐπεὶ κεχόλωτο δαϊκταμένων αἰζηῶν,

τοὺς Ἀχιλεὺς ἐδάϊζε κατὰ ῥόον οὐδʼ ἐλέαιρεν.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·

τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν ὅ μευ ἔτλης ἀντίος ἐλθεῖν;

δυστήνων δέ τε παῖδες ἐμῷ μένει ἀντιόωσι.

τὸν δʼ αὖ Πηλεγόνος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·

Πηλεΐδη μεγάθυμε τί ἦ γενεὴν ἐρεείνεις;

εἴμʼ ἐκ Παιονίης ἐριβώλου τηλόθʼ ἐούσης

Παίονας ἄνδρας ἄγων δολιχεγχέας· ἥδε δέ μοι νῦν

ἠὼς ἑνδεκάτη ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰλήλουθα.

αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γενεὴ ἐξ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος

Ἀξιοῦ, ὃς κάλλιστον ὕδωρ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵησιν,

ὃς τέκε Πηλεγόνα κλυτὸν ἔγχεϊ· τὸν δʼ ἐμέ φασι

γείνασθαι· νῦν αὖτε μαχώμεθα φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ.

Thus did he defy him, and Achilles raised his spear of Pelian ash. Asteropaios failed with both his spears, for he could use both hands alike; with the one spear he struck Achilles' shield, but did not pierce it, for the layer of gold, gift of the god, stayed the point; with the other spear he grazed the elbow of Achilles! right arm drawing dark blood, but the spear itself went by him and fixed itself in the ground, foiled of its bloody banquet. Then Achilles, fain to kill him, hurled his spear at Asteropaios, but failed to hit him and struck the steep bank of the river, driving the spear half its length into the earth. The son of Peleus then drew his sword and sprang furiously upon him. Asteropaios vainly tried to draw Achilles' spear out of the bank by main force; thrice did he tug at it, trying with all his might to draw it out, and thrice he had to leave off trying; the fourth time he tried to bend and break it, but ere he could do so Achilles smote him with his sword and killed him. He struck him in the belly near the navel,

ὣς φάτʼ ἀπειλήσας, ὃ δʼ ἀνέσχετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

Πηλιάδα μελίην· ὃ δʼ ἁμαρτῇ δούρασιν ἀμφὶς

ἥρως Ἀστεροπαῖος, ἐπεὶ περιδέξιος ἦεν.

καί ῥʼ ἑτέρῳ μὲν δουρὶ σάκος βάλεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ

ῥῆξε σάκος· χρυσὸς γὰρ ἐρύκακε δῶρα θεοῖο·

τῷ δʼ ἑτέρῳ μιν πῆχυν ἐπιγράβδην βάλε χειρὸς

δεξιτερῆς, σύτο δʼ αἷμα κελαινεφές· ἣ δʼ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ

γαίῃ ἐνεστήρικτο λιλαιομένη χροὸς ἆσαι.

δεύτερος αὖτʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μελίην ἰθυπτίωνα

Ἀστεροπαίῳ ἐφῆκε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων.

καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ ὑψηλὴν βάλεν ὄχθην,

μεσσοπαγὲς δʼ ἄρʼ ἔθηκε κατʼ ὄχθης μείλινον ἔγχος.

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ

ἆλτʼ ἐπί οἱ μεμαώς· ὃ δʼ ἄρα μελίην Ἀχιλῆος

οὐ δύνατʼ ἐκ κρημνοῖο ἐρύσσαι χειρὶ παχείῃ.

τρὶς μέν μιν πελέμιξεν ἐρύσσασθαι μενεαίνων,

τρὶς δὲ μεθῆκε βίης· τὸ δὲ τέτρατον ἤθελε θυμῷ

ἆξαι ἐπιγνάμψας δόρυ μείλινον Αἰακίδαο,

ἀλλὰ πρὶν Ἀχιλεὺς σχεδὸν ἄορι θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.

so that all his bowels came gushing out on to the ground, and the darkness of death came over him as he lay gasping. Then Achilles set his foot on his chest and spoiled him of his armor, vaunting over him and saying, "Lie there - begotten of a river though you be, it is hard for you to strive with the offspring of Kronos' son. You declare yourself sprung from the blood of a broad river, but I am of the seed of mighty Zeus. My father is Peleus, son of Aiakos ruler over the many Myrmidons, and Aiakos was the son of Zeus. Therefore as Zeus is mightier than any river that flows into the sea, so are his children stronger than those of any river whatsoever. Moreover you have a great river hard by if he can be of any use to you, but there is no fighting against Zeus the son of Kronos, with whom not even King Akheloos can compare, nor the mighty stream of deep-flowing Okeanos, from whom all rivers and seas with all springs and deep wells proceed; even Okeanos fears the lightnings of great Zeus, and his thunder that comes crashing out of heaven."

γαστέρα γάρ μιν τύψε παρʼ ὀμφαλόν, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πᾶσαι

χύντο χαμαὶ χολάδες· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν

ἀσθμαίνοντʼ· Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὀρούσας

τεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·

κεῖσʼ οὕτως· χαλεπόν τοι ἐρισθενέος Κρονίωνος

παισὶν ἐριζέμεναι ποταμοῖό περ ἐκγεγαῶτι.

φῆσθα σὺ μὲν ποταμοῦ γένος ἔμμεναι εὐρὺ ῥέοντος,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ γενεὴν μεγάλου Διὸς εὔχομαι εἶναι.

τίκτέ μʼ ἀνὴρ πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσων Μυρμιδόνεσσι

Πηλεὺς Αἰακίδης· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Αἰακὸς ἐκ Διὸς ἦεν.

τὼ κρείσσων μὲν Ζεὺς ποταμῶν ἁλιμυρηέντων,

κρείσσων αὖτε Διὸς γενεὴ ποταμοῖο τέτυκται.

καὶ γὰρ σοὶ ποταμός γε πάρα μέγας, εἰ δύναταί τι

χραισμεῖν· ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστι Διὶ Κρονίωνι μάχεσθαι,

τῷ οὐδὲ κρείων Ἀχελώϊος ἰσοφαρίζει,

οὐδὲ βαθυρρείταο μέγα σθένος Ὠκεανοῖο,

ἐξ οὗ περ πάντες ποταμοὶ καὶ πᾶσα θάλασσα

καὶ πᾶσαι κρῆναι καὶ φρείατα μακρὰ νάουσιν·

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὃς δείδοικε Διὸς μεγάλοιο κεραυνὸν

δεινήν τε βροντήν, ὅτʼ ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν σμαραγήσῃ.

With this he drew his bronze spear out of the bank, and now that he had killed Asteropaios, he let him lie where he was on the sand, with the dark water flowing over him and the eels and fishes busy nibbling and gnawing the fat that was about his kidneys. Then he went in chase of the Paeonians, who were fleeing along the bank of the river in panic when they saw their leader slain by the hands of the son of Peleus. Therein he slew Thersilokhos, Mydon, Astypylos, Mnesos, Thrasios, Oeneus, and Ophelestes, and he would have slain yet others, had not the river in anger taken human form, and spoken to him from out the deep waters saying, "Achilles, if you excel all in strength, so do you also in wickedness, for the gods are ever with you to protect you: if, then, the son of Kronos has granted it to you to destroy all the Trojans, at any rate drive them out of my stream, and do your grim work on land. My fair waters are now filled with corpses, nor can I find any channel by which I may pour myself into the sea for I am choked with dead, and yet you go on mercilessly slaying. I am in despair, therefore, O leader of your host, trouble me no further."

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐκ κρημνοῖο ἐρύσσατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,

τὸν δὲ κατʼ αὐτόθι λεῖπεν, ἐπεὶ φίλον ἦτορ ἀπηύρα,

κείμενον ἐν ψαμάθοισι, δίαινε δέ μιν μέλαν ὕδωρ.

τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ἐγχέλυές τε καὶ ἰχθύες ἀμφεπένοντο

δημὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι ἐπινεφρίδιον κείροντες·

αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετὰ Παίονας ἱπποκορυστάς,

οἵ ῥʼ ἔτι πὰρ ποταμὸν πεφοβήατο δινήεντα,

ὡς εἶδον τὸν ἄριστον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ

χέρσʼ ὕπο Πηλεΐδαο καὶ ἄορι ἶφι δαμέντα.

ἔνθʼ ἕλε Θερσίλοχόν τε Μύδωνά τε Ἀστύπυλόν τε

Μνῆσόν τε Θρασίον τε καὶ Αἴνιον ἠδʼ Ὀφελέστην·

καί νύ κʼ ἔτι πλέονας κτάνε Παίονας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς,

εἰ μὴ χωσάμενος προσέφη ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης

ἀνέρι εἰσάμενος, βαθέης δʼ ἐκ φθέγξατο δίνης·

ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, περὶ μὲν κρατέεις, περὶ δʼ αἴσυλα ῥέζεις

ἀνδρῶν· αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἀμύνουσιν θεοὶ αὐτοί.

εἴ τοι Τρῶας ἔδωκε Κρόνου παῖς πάντας ὀλέσσαι,

ἐξ ἐμέθεν γʼ ἐλάσας πεδίον κάτα μέρμερα ῥέζε·

πλήθει γὰρ δή μοι νεκύων ἐρατεινὰ ῥέεθρα,

οὐδέ τί πῃ δύναμαι προχέειν ῥόον εἰς ἅλα δῖαν

στεινόμενος νεκύεσσι, σὺ δὲ κτείνεις ἀϊδήλως.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ ἔασον· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει ὄρχαμε λαῶν.

Achilles answered, "So be it, Skamandros, Zeus-descended; but I will never cease dealing out death among the Trojans, till I have pent them up in their city, and made trial of Hektor face to face, that I may learn whether he is to vanquish me, or I him."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·

ἔσται ταῦτα Σκάμανδρε διοτρεφές, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.

Τρῶας δʼ οὐ πρὶν λήξω ὑπερφιάλους ἐναρίζων,

πρὶν ἔλσαι κατὰ ἄστυ καὶ Ἕκτορι πειρηθῆναι

ἀντιβίην, ἤ κέν με δαμάσσεται, ἦ κεν ἐγὼ τόν.

As he spoke he set upon the Trojans with a fury like that of a daimôn. But the river said to Apollo, "Surely, son of Zeus, lord of the silver bow, you are not obeying the commands of Zeus who charged you straitly that you should stand by the Trojans and defend them, till twilight fades, and darkness is over an the earth."

ὣς εἰπὼν Τρώεσσιν ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος·

καὶ τότʼ Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης·

ὢ πόποι ἀργυρότοξε Διὸς τέκος οὐ σύ γε βουλὰς

εἰρύσαο Κρονίωνος, ὅ τοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε

Τρωσὶ παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθῃ

δείελος ὀψὲ δύων, σκιάσῃ δʼ ἐρίβωλον ἄρουραν.

Meanwhile Achilles sprang from the bank into mid-stream, whereon the river raised a high wave and attacked him. He swelled his stream into a torrent, and swept away the many dead whom Achilles had slain and left within his waters. These he cast out on to the land, bellowing like a bull the while, but the living he saved alive, hiding them in his mighty eddies. The great and terrible wave gathered about Achilles, falling upon him and beating on his shield, so that he could not keep his feet; he caught hold of a great elm-tree, but it came up by the roots, and tore away the bank, damming the stream with its thick branches and bridging it all across; whereby Achilles struggled out of the stream, and fled full speed over the plain, for he was afraid.

ἦ, καὶ Ἀχιλλεὺς μὲν δουρικλυτὸς ἔνθορε μέσσῳ

κρημνοῦ ἀπαΐξας· ὃ δʼ ἐπέσσυτο οἴδματι θύων,

πάντα δʼ ὄρινε ῥέεθρα κυκώμενος, ὦσε δὲ νεκροὺς

πολλούς, οἵ ῥα κατʼ αὐτὸν ἅλις ἔσαν, οὓς κτάνʼ Ἀχιλλεύς

τοὺς ἔκβαλλε θύραζε μεμυκὼς ἠΰτε ταῦρος

χέρσον δέ· ζωοὺς δὲ σάω κατὰ καλὰ ῥέεθρα,

κρύπτων ἐν δίνῃσι βαθείῃσιν μεγάλῃσι.

δεινὸν δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆα κυκώμενον ἵστατο κῦμα,

ὤθει δʼ ἐν σάκεϊ πίπτων ῥόος· οὐδὲ πόδεσσιν

εἶχε στηρίξασθαι· ὃ δὲ πτελέην ἕλε χερσὶν

εὐφυέα μεγάλην· ἣ δʼ ἐκ ῥιζῶν ἐριποῦσα

κρημνὸν ἅπαντα διῶσεν, ἐπέσχε δὲ καλὰ ῥέεθρα

ὄζοισιν πυκινοῖσι, γεφύρωσεν δέ μιν αὐτὸν

εἴσω πᾶσʼ ἐριποῦσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκ δίνης ἀνορούσας

ἤϊξεν πεδίοιο ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πέτεσθαι

δείσας· οὐδέ τʼ ἔληγε θεὸς μέγας, ὦρτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ

But the mighty god ceased not in his pursuit, and sprang upon him with a dark-crested wave, to keep him out of the struggle [ ponos ] and save the Trojans from destruction. The son of Peleus darted away a spear's throw from him; swift as the swoop of a black hunter-eagle which is the strongest and fleetest of all birds, even so did he spring forward, and the armor rang loudly about his breast. He fled on in front, but the river with a loud roar came tearing after. As one who would water his garden leads a stream from some fountain over his plants, and all his ground -

ἀκροκελαινιόων, ἵνα μιν παύσειε πόνοιο

δῖον Ἀχιλλῆα, Τρώεσσι δὲ λοιγὸν ἀλάλκοι.

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἀπόρουσεν ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ δουρὸς ἐρωή,

αἰετοῦ οἴματʼ ἔχων μέλανος τοῦ θηρητῆρος,

ὅς θʼ ἅμα κάρτιστός τε καὶ ὤκιστος πετεηνῶν·

τῷ ἐϊκὼς ἤϊξεν, ἐπὶ στήθεσσι δὲ χαλκὸς

σμερδαλέον κονάβιζεν· ὕπαιθα δὲ τοῖο λιασθεὶς

φεῦγʼ, ὃ δʼ ὄπισθε ῥέων ἕπετο μεγάλῳ ὀρυμαγδῷ.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ὀχετηγὸς ἀπὸ κρήνης μελανύδρου

spade in hand he clears away the dams to free the channels, and the little stones run rolling round and round with the water as it goes merrily down the bank faster than the man can follow- even so did the river keep catching up with Achilles albeit he was a fleet runner, for the gods are stronger than men. As often as he would strive to stand his ground, and see whether or no all the gods in heaven were in league against him, so often would the mighty wave come beating down upon his shoulders, and he would have to keep fleeing on and on in great dismay; for the angry flood was tiring him out as it flowed past him and ate the ground from under his feet.

ἂμ φυτὰ καὶ κήπους ὕδατι ῥόον ἡγεμονεύῃ

χερσὶ μάκελλαν ἔχων, ἀμάρης ἐξ ἔχματα βάλλων·

τοῦ μέν τε προρέοντος ὑπὸ ψηφῖδες ἅπασαι

ὀχλεῦνται· τὸ δέ τʼ ὦκα κατειβόμενον κελαρύζει

χώρῳ ἔνι προαλεῖ, φθάνει δέ τε καὶ τὸν ἄγοντα·

ὣς αἰεὶ Ἀχιλῆα κιχήσατο κῦμα ῥόοιο

καὶ λαιψηρὸν ἐόντα· θεοὶ δέ τε φέρτεροι ἀνδρῶν.

ὁσσάκι δʼ ὁρμήσειε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

στῆναι ἐναντίβιον καὶ γνώμεναι εἴ μιν ἅπαντες

ἀθάνατοι φοβέουσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,

τοσσάκι μιν μέγα κῦμα διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

πλάζʼ ὤμους καθύπερθεν· ὃ δʼ ὑψόσε ποσσὶν ἐπήδα

θυμῷ ἀνιάζων· ποταμὸς δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἐδάμνα

λάβρος ὕπαιθα ῥέων, κονίην δʼ ὑπέρεπτε ποδοῖιν.

Then the son of Peleus lifted up his voice to heaven saying, "Father Zeus, is there none of the gods who will take pity upon me, and save me from the river? I do not care what may happen to me afterwards. I blame [aitios] none of the other dwellers on Olympus so severely as I do my dear mother, who has beguiled and tricked me. She told me I was to fall under the walls of Troy by the flying arrows of Apollo; would that Hektor, the best man among the Trojans, might there slay me; then should I fall a hero by the hand of a hero; whereas now it seems that I shall come to a most pitiable end, trapped in this river as though I were some swineherd's boy, who gets carried down a torrent while trying to cross it during a storm."

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ᾤμωξεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ ὡς οὔ τίς με θεῶν ἐλεεινὸν ὑπέστη

ἐκ ποταμοῖο σαῶσαι· ἔπειτα δὲ καί τι πάθοιμι.

ἄλλος δʼ οὔ τις μοι τόσον αἴτιος Οὐρανιώνων,

ἀλλὰ φίλη μήτηρ, ἥ με ψεύδεσσιν ἔθελγεν·

ἥ μʼ ἔφατο Τρώων ὑπὸ τείχεϊ θωρηκτάων

λαιψηροῖς ὀλέεσθαι Ἀπόλλωνος βελέεσσιν.

ὥς μʼ ὄφελʼ Ἕκτωρ κτεῖναι ὃς ἐνθάδε γʼ ἔτραφʼ ἄριστος·

τώ κʼ ἀγαθὸς μὲν ἔπεφνʼ, ἀγαθὸν δέ κεν ἐξενάριξε·

νῦν δέ με λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναι

ἐρχθέντʼ ἐν μεγάλῳ ποταμῷ ὡς παῖδα συφορβόν,

ὅν ῥά τʼ ἔναυλος ἀποέρσῃ χειμῶνι περῶντα.

As soon as he had spoken thus, Poseidon and Athena came up to him in the likeness of two men, and took him by the hand to reassure him. Poseidon spoke first. "Son of Peleus," said he, "be not so exceeding fearful; we are two gods, come with Zeus' sanction to assist you, I, and Pallas Athena. It is not your fate to perish in this river; he will abate presently as you will see; moreover we strongly advise you, if you will be guided by us, not to stay your hand from fighting till you have pent the Trojan host within the famed walls of Ilion - as many of them as may escape. Then kill Hektor and go back to the ships, for we will grant you a triumph over him."

ὣς φάτο, τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀθήνη

στήτην ἐγγὺς ἰόντε, δέμας δʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἐΐκτην,

χειρὶ δὲ χεῖρα λαβόντες ἐπιστώσαντʼ ἐπέεσσι.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Πηλεΐδη μήτʼ ἄρ τι λίην τρέε μήτέ τι τάρβει·

τοίω γάρ τοι νῶϊ θεῶν ἐπιταρρόθω εἰμὲν

Ζηνὸς ἐπαινήσαντος ἐγὼ καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·

ὡς οὔ τοι ποταμῷ γε δαμήμεναι αἴσιμόν ἐστιν,

ἀλλʼ ὅδε μὲν τάχα λωφήσει, σὺ δὲ εἴσεαι αὐτός·

αὐτάρ τοι πυκινῶς ὑποθησόμεθʼ αἴ κε πίθηαι·

μὴ πρὶν παύειν χεῖρας ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο

πρὶν κατὰ Ἰλιόφι κλυτὰ τείχεα λαὸν ἐέλσαι

Τρωϊκόν, ὅς κε φύγῃσι· σὺ δʼ Ἕκτορι θυμὸν ἀπούρας

ἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἴμεν· δίδομεν δέ τοι εὖχος ἀρέσθαι.

When they had so said they went back to the other immortals, but Achilles strove onward over the plain, encouraged by the charge the gods had laid upon him. All was now covered with the flood of waters, and much goodly armor of the youths that had been slain was rifting about, as also many corpses, but he forced his way against the stream, speeding right onwards, nor could the broad waters stay him, for Athena had endowed him with great strength. Nevertheless Skamandros did not slacken in his pursuit, but was still more furious with the son of Peleus. He lifted his waters into a high crest and cried aloud to Simoeis saying, "Dear brother, let the two of us unite to save this man, or he will sack the mighty city of King Priam, and the Trojans will not hold out against him. Help me at once; fill your streams with water from their sources, rouse all your torrents to a fury; raise your wave on high, and let snags and stones come thundering down you that we may make an end of this savage creature who is now lording it as though he were a god. Nothing shall serve him longer, not strength nor comeliness, nor his fine armor, which indeed shall soon be lying low in the deep waters covered over with mud. I will wrap him in sand, and pour tons of shingle round him, so that the Achaeans shall not know how to gather his bones for the silt in which I shall have hidden him, and when they celebrate his funeral they need build no tomb [ sêma ]."

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰπόντε μετʼ ἀθανάτους ἀπεβήτην·

αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ, μέγα γάρ ῥα θεῶν ὄτρυνεν ἐφετμή,

ἐς πεδίον· τὸ δὲ πᾶν πλῆθʼ ὕδατος ἐκχυμένοιο,

πολλὰ δὲ τεύχεα καλὰ δαὶ κταμένων αἰζηῶν

πλῶον καὶ νέκυες· τοῦ δʼ ὑψόσε γούνατʼ ἐπήδα

πρὸς ῥόον ἀΐσσοντος ἀνʼ ἰθύν, οὐδέ μιν ἴσχεν

εὐρὺ ῥέων ποταμός· μέγα γὰρ σθένος ἔμβαλʼ Ἀθήνη.

οὐδὲ Σκάμανδρος ἔληγε τὸ ὃν μένος, ἀλλʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον

χώετο Πηλεΐωνι, κόρυσσε δὲ κῦμα ῥόοιο

ὑψόσʼ ἀειρόμενος, Σιμόεντι δὲ κέκλετʼ ἀΰσας·

φίλε κασίγνητε σθένος ἀνέρος ἀμφότεροί περ

σχῶμεν, ἐπεὶ τάχα ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

ἐκπέρσει, Τρῶες δὲ κατὰ μόθον οὐ μενέουσιν.

ἀλλʼ ἐπάμυνε τάχιστα, καὶ ἐμπίπληθι ῥέεθρα

ὕδατος ἐκ πηγέων, πάντας δʼ ὀρόθυνον ἐναύλους,

ἵστη δὲ μέγα κῦμα, πολὺν δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸν ὄρινε

φιτρῶν καὶ λάων, ἵνα παύσομεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα

ὃς δὴ νῦν κρατέει, μέμονεν δʼ ὅ γε ἶσα θεοῖσι.

φημὶ γὰρ οὔτε βίην χραισμησέμεν οὔτέ τι εἶδος

οὔτε τὰ τεύχεα καλά, τά που μάλα νειόθι λίμνης

κείσεθʼ ὑπʼ ἰλύος κεκαλυμμένα· κὰδ δέ μιν αὐτὸν

εἰλύσω ψαμάθοισιν ἅλις χέραδος περιχεύας

μυρίον, οὐδέ οἱ ὀστέʼ ἐπιστήσονται Ἀχαιοὶ

ἀλλέξαι· τόσσην οἱ ἄσιν καθύπερθε καλύψω.

αὐτοῦ οἱ καὶ σῆμα τετεύξεται, οὐδέ τί μιν χρεὼ

ἔσται τυμβοχόης, ὅτε μιν θάπτωσιν Ἀχαιοί.

On this he upraised his tumultuous flood high against Achilles, seething as it was with foam and blood and the bodies of the dead. The dark waters of the river stood upright and would have overwhelmed the son of Peleus, but Hera, trembling lest Achilles should be swept away in the mighty torrent, lifted her voice on high and called out to Hephaistos her son. "Crook-foot," she cried, "my child, be up and doing, for I deem it is with you that Xanthos is fain to fight; help us at once, kindle a fierce fire; I will then bring up the west and the white south wind in a mighty gale from the sea,

ἦ, καὶ ἐπῶρτʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ κυκώμενος ὑψόσε θύων

μορμύρων ἀφρῷ τε καὶ αἵματι καὶ νεκύεσσι.

πορφύρεον δʼ ἄρα κῦμα διιπετέος ποταμοῖο

ἵστατʼ ἀειρόμενον, κατὰ δʼ ᾕρεε Πηλεΐωνα·

Ἥρη δὲ μέγʼ ἄϋσε περιδείσασʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ

μή μιν ἀποέρσειε μέγας ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης,

αὐτίκα δʼ Ἥφαιστον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·

ὄρσεο κυλλοπόδιον ἐμὸν τέκος· ἄντα σέθεν γὰρ

Ξάνθον δινήεντα μάχῃ ἠΐσκομεν εἶναι·

ἀλλʼ ἐπάμυνε τάχιστα, πιφαύσκεο δὲ φλόγα πολλήν.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Ζεφύροιο καὶ ἀργεστᾶο Νότοιο

that shall bear the flames against the heads and armor of the Trojans and consume them, while you go along the banks of Xanthos burning his trees and wrapping him round with fire. Let him not turn you back neither by fair words nor foul, and slacken not till I shout and tell you. Then you may stay your flames."

εἴσομαι ἐξ ἁλόθεν χαλεπὴν ὄρσουσα θύελλαν,

ἥ κεν ἀπὸ Τρώων κεφαλὰς καὶ τεύχεα κήαι

φλέγμα κακὸν φορέουσα· σὺ δὲ Ξάνθοιο παρʼ ὄχθας

δένδρεα καῖʼ, ἐν δʼ αὐτὸν ἵει πυρί· μὴ δέ σε πάμπαν

μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρεπέτω καὶ ἀρειῇ·

μὴ δὲ πρὶν ἀπόπαυε τεὸν μένος, ἀλλʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν δὴ

φθέγξομʼ ἐγὼν ἰάχουσα, τότε σχεῖν ἀκάματον πῦρ.

On this Hephaistos kindled a fierce fire, which broke out first upon the plain and burned the many dead whom Achilles had killed and whose bodies were lying about in great numbers; by this means the plain was dried and the flood stayed. As the north wind, blowing on an orchard that has been sodden with autumn rain, soon dries it, and the heart of the owner is glad - even so the whole plan was dried and the dead bodies were consumed. Then he turned tongues of fire on to the river. He burned the elms the willows and the tamarisks, the lotus also, with the rushes and marshy herbage that grew abundantly by the banks of the river. The eels and fishes that go darting about everywhere in the water, these, too, were sorely harassed by the flames that cunning Hephaistos had kindled, and the river himself was scalded, so that he spoke saying, "Hephaistos, there is no god can hold his own against you. I cannot fight you when you flare out your flames in this way; strive with me no longer. Let Achilles drive the Trojans out of city immediately. What have I to do with quarreling and helping people?"

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἥφαιστος δὲ τιτύσκετο θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.

πρῶτα μὲν ἐν πεδίῳ πῦρ δαίετο, καῖε δὲ νεκροὺς

πολλούς, οἵ ῥα κατʼ αὐτὸν ἅλις ἔσαν, οὓς κτάνʼ Ἀχιλλεύς·

πᾶν δʼ ἐξηράνθη πεδίον, σχέτο δʼ ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ.

ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὀπωρινὸς Βορέης νεοαρδέʼ ἀλωὴν

αἶψʼ ἀγξηράνῃ· χαίρει δέ μιν ὅς τις ἐθείρῃ·

ὣς ἐξηράνθη πεδίον πᾶν, κὰδ δʼ ἄρα νεκροὺς

κῆεν· ὃ δʼ ἐς ποταμὸν τρέψε φλόγα παμφανόωσαν.

καίοντο πτελέαι τε καὶ ἰτέαι ἠδὲ μυρῖκαι,

καίετο δὲ λωτός τε ἰδὲ θρύον ἠδὲ κύπειρον,

τὰ περὶ καλὰ ῥέεθρα ἅλις ποταμοῖο πεφύκει·

τείροντʼ ἐγχέλυές τε καὶ ἰχθύες οἳ κατὰ δίνας,

οἳ κατὰ καλὰ ῥέεθρα κυβίστων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα

πνοιῇ τειρόμενοι πολυμήτιος Ἡφαίστοιο.

καίετο δʼ ἲς ποταμοῖο ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

Ἥφαιστʼ, οὔ τις σοί γε θεῶν δύνατʼ ἀντιφερίζειν,

οὐδʼ ἂν ἐγὼ σοί γʼ ὧδε πυρὶ φλεγέθοντι μαχοίμην.

λῆγʼ ἔριδος, Τρῶας δὲ καὶ αὐτίκα δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἄστεος ἐξελάσειε· τί μοι ἔριδος καὶ ἀρωγῆς;

He was boiling as he spoke, and all his waters were seething. As a cauldron upon ‘a large fire boils when it is melting the lard of some fatted hog, and the lard keeps bubbling up all over when the dry faggots blaze under it - even so were the goodly waters of Xanthos heated with the fire till they were boiling. He could flow no longer but stayed his stream, so afflicted was he by the blasts of fire which cunning Hephaistos had raised. Then he prayed to Hera and besought her saying, "Hera, why should your son vex my stream with such especial fury? I am not so much responsible [ aitios ] as all the others are who have been helping the Trojans.

φῆ πυρὶ καιόμενος, ἀνὰ δʼ ἔφλυε καλὰ ῥέεθρα.

ὡς δὲ λέβης ζεῖ ἔνδον ἐπειγόμενος πυρὶ πολλῷ

κνίσην μελδόμενος ἁπαλοτρεφέος σιάλοιο

πάντοθεν ἀμβολάδην, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα κάγκανα κεῖται,

ὣς τοῦ καλὰ ῥέεθρα πυρὶ φλέγετο, ζέε δʼ ὕδωρ·

οὐδʼ ἔθελε προρέειν, ἀλλʼ ἴσχετο· τεῖρε δʼ ἀϋτμὴ

Ἡφαίστοιο βίηφι πολύφρονος. αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ Ἥρην

πολλὰ λισσόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἥρη τίπτε σὸς υἱὸς ἐμὸν ῥόον ἔχραε κήδειν

ἐξ ἄλλων; οὐ μέν τοι ἐγὼ τόσον αἴτιός εἰμι

I will leave off, since you so desire it, and let son leave off also. Furthermore I swear never again will I do anything to save the Trojans from destruction, not even when all Troy is burning in the flames which the Achaeans will kindle."

ὅσσον οἱ ἄλλοι πάντες, ὅσοι Τρώεσσιν ἀρωγοί.

ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼν ἀποπαύσομαι εἰ σὺ κελεύεις,

παυέσθω δὲ καὶ οὗτος· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ καὶ τόδʼ ὀμοῦμαι,

μή ποτʼ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀλεξήσειν κακὸν ἦμαρ,

μὴ δʼ ὁπότʼ ἂν Τροίη μαλερῷ πυρὶ πᾶσα δάηται

καιομένη, καίωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

As soon as Hera heard this she said to her son Hephaistos, "Son Hephaistos, hold now your flames; we ought not to use such violence against a god for the sake of mortals."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,

αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ Ἥφαιστον προσεφώνεεν ὃν φίλον υἱόν·

Ἥφαιστε σχέο τέκνον ἀγακλεές· οὐ γὰρ ἔοικεν

ἀθάνατον θεὸν ὧδε βροτῶν ἕνεκα στυφελίζειν.

When she had thus spoken Hephaistos quenched his flames, and the river went back once more into his own fair bed.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἥφαιστος δὲ κατέσβεσε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ,

ἄψορρον δʼ ἄρα κῦμα κατέσσυτο καλὰ ῥέεθρα.

Xanthos was now beaten, so these two left off fighting, for Hera stayed them though she was still angry; but a furious quarrel broke out among the other gods, for they were of divided counsels. They fell on one another with a mighty uproar - earth groaned, and the spacious firmament rang out as with a blare of trumpets. Zeus heard as he was sitting on Olympus , and laughed for joy when he saw the gods coming to blows among themselves. They were not long about beginning, and Ares piercer of shields opened the battle. Sword in hand he sprang at once upon Athena and reviled her. "Why, vixen," said he, "have you again set the gods by the ears in the pride and haughtiness of your heart? Have you forgotten how you set Diomedes son of Tydeus on to wound me, and yourself took visible spear and drove it into me to the hurt of my fair body? You shall now suffer for what you then did to me."

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Ξάνθοιο δάμη μένος, οἳ μὲν ἔπειτα

παυσάσθην, Ἥρη γὰρ ἐρύκακε χωομένη περ·

ἐν δʼ ἄλλοισι θεοῖσιν ἔρις πέσε βεβριθυῖα

ἀργαλέη, δίχα δέ σφιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἄητο·

σὺν δʼ ἔπεσον μεγάλῳ πατάγῳ, βράχε δʼ εὐρεῖα χθών,

ἀμφὶ δὲ σάλπιγξεν μέγας οὐρανός. ἄϊε δὲ Ζεὺς

ἥμενος Οὐλύμπῳ· ἐγέλασσε δέ οἱ φίλον ἦτορ

γηθοσύνῃ, ὅθʼ ὁρᾶτο θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνιόντας.

ἔνθʼ οἵ γʼ οὐκέτι δηρὸν ἀφέστασαν· ἦρχε γὰρ Ἄρης

ῥινοτόρος, καὶ πρῶτος Ἀθηναίῃ ἐπόρουσε

χάλκεον ἔγχος ἔχων, καὶ ὀνείδειον φάτο μῦθον·

τίπτʼ αὖτʼ ὦ κυνάμυια θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνελαύνεις

θάρσος ἄητον ἔχουσα, μέγας δέ σε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν;

ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε Τυδεΐδην Διομήδεʼ ἀνῆκας

οὐτάμεναι, αὐτὴ δὲ πανόψιον ἔγχος ἑλοῦσα

ἰθὺς ἐμεῦ ὦσας, διὰ δὲ χρόα καλὸν ἔδαψας;

τώ σʼ αὖ νῦν ὀΐω ἀποτισέμεν ὅσσα ἔοργας.

As he spoke he struck her on the terrible tasseled aegis - so terrible that not even can Zeus' lightning pierce it. Here did murderous Ares strike her with his great spear. She drew back and with her strong hand seized a stone that was lying on the plain - great and rugged and black - which men of old had set for the boundary of a field. With this she struck Ares on the neck, and brought him down. Nine roods did he cover in his fall, and his hair was all soiled in the dust, while his armor rang rattling round him.

ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν

σμερδαλέην, ἣν οὐδὲ Διὸς δάμνησι κεραυνός·

τῇ μιν Ἄρης οὔτησε μιαιφόνος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ.

ἣ δʼ ἀναχασσαμένη λίθον εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ

κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ μέλανα τρηχύν τε μέγαν τε,

τόν ῥʼ ἄνδρες πρότεροι θέσαν ἔμμεναι οὖρον ἀρούρης·

τῷ βάλε θοῦρον Ἄρηα κατʼ αὐχένα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.

ἑπτὰ δʼ ἐπέσχε πέλεθρα πεσών, ἐκόνισε δὲ χαίτας,

But Athena laughed and vaunted over him saying, "Idiot, have you not learned how far stronger I am than you, but you must still match yourself against me? Thus do your mother's curses now roost upon you, for she is angry and would do you mischief because you have deserted the Achaeans and are helping the Trojans."

τεύχεά τʼ ἀμφαράβησε· γέλασσε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,

καί οἱ ἐπευχομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

νηπύτιʼ οὐδέ νύ πώ περ ἐπεφράσω ὅσσον ἀρείων

εὔχομʼ ἐγὼν ἔμεναι, ὅτι μοι μένος ἰσοφαρίζεις.

οὕτω κεν τῆς μητρὸς ἐρινύας ἐξαποτίνοις,

ἥ τοι χωομένη κακὰ μήδεται οὕνεκʼ Ἀχαιοὺς

κάλλιπες, αὐτὰρ Τρωσὶν ὑπερφιάλοισιν ἀμύνεις.

She then turned her two piercing eyes elsewhere, whereon Zeus' daughter Aphrodite took Ares by the hand and led him away groaning all the time, for it was only with great difficulty that he had come to himself again. When Queen Hera saw her, she said to Athena, "Look, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, unweariable, that vixen Aphrodite is again taking Ares through the crowd out of the battle; go after her at once."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πάλιν τρέπεν ὄσσε φαεινώ·

τὸν δʼ ἄγε χειρὸς ἑλοῦσα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη

πυκνὰ μάλα στενάχοντα· μόγις δʼ ἐσαγείρετο θυμόν.

τὴν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,

αὐτίκʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη

καὶ δʼ αὖθʼ ἡ κυνάμυια ἄγει βροτολοιγὸν Ἄρηα

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο κατὰ κλόνον· ἀλλὰ μέτελθε.

ὣς φάτʼ, Ἀθηναίη δὲ μετέσσυτο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῷ,

Thus she spoke. Athena sped after Aphrodite with a will, and made at her, striking her on the bosom with her strong hand so that she fell fainting to the ground, and there they both lay stretched at full length. Then Athena vaunted over her saying, "May all who help the Trojans against the Argives prove just as redoubtable and stalwart as Aphrodite did when she came across me while she was helping Ares. Had this been so, we should long since have ended the war by sacking the strong city of Ilion ."

καί ῥʼ ἐπιεισαμένη πρὸς στήθεα χειρὶ παχείῃ

ἤλασε· τῆς δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ.

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄμφω κεῖντο ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,

ἣ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπευχομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευε·

τοιοῦτοι νῦν πάντες ὅσοι Τρώεσσιν ἀρωγοὶ

εἶεν, ὅτʼ Ἀργείοισι μαχοίατο θωρηκτῇσιν,

ὧδέ τε θαρσαλέοι καὶ τλήμονες, ὡς Ἀφροδίτη

ἦλθεν Ἄρῃ ἐπίκουρος ἐμῷ μένει ἀντιόωσα·

τώ κεν δὴ πάλαι ἄμμες ἐπαυσάμεθα πτολέμοιο

Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσαντες ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον.

Hera smiled as she listened. Meanwhile King Poseidon turned to Apollo saying, "Phoebus, why should we keep each other at arm's length? it is not well, now that the others have begun fighting; it will be disgraceful to us if we return to Zeus' bronze-floored mansion on Olympus without having fought each other; therefore come on, you are the younger of the two, and I ought not to attack you, for I am older and have had more experience. Idiot, you have no sense, and forget how we two alone of all the gods fared hardly round about Ilion when we came from Zeus' house and worked for Laomedon a whole year at a stated wage and he gave us his orders. I built the Trojans the wall about their city, so wide and fair that it might be impregnable, while you, Phoebus, herded cattle for him in the dales of many valleyed Ida.

ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη.

αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη κρείων ἐνοσίχθων·

Φοῖβε τί ἢ δὴ νῶϊ διέσταμεν; οὐδὲ ἔοικεν

ἀρξάντων ἑτέρων· τὸ μὲν αἴσχιον αἴ κʼ ἀμαχητὶ

ἴομεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ.

ἄρχε· σὺ γὰρ γενεῆφι νεώτερος· οὐ γὰρ ἔμοιγε

καλόν, ἐπεὶ πρότερος γενόμην καὶ πλείονα οἶδα.

νηπύτιʼ ὡς ἄνοον κραδίην ἔχες· οὐδέ νυ τῶν περ

μέμνηαι ὅσα δὴ πάθομεν κακὰ Ἴλιον ἀμφὶ

μοῦνοι νῶϊ θεῶν, ὅτʼ ἀγήνορι Λαομέδοντι

πὰρ Διὸς ἐλθόντες θητεύσαμεν εἰς ἐνιαυτὸν

μισθῷ ἔπι ῥητῷ· ὃ δὲ σημαίνων ἐπέτελλεν.

ἤτοι ἐγὼ Τρώεσσι πόλιν πέρι τεῖχος ἔδειμα

εὐρύ τε καὶ μάλα καλόν, ἵνʼ ἄρρηκτος πόλις εἴη·

Φοῖβε σὺ δʼ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς βουκολέεσκες

When, however, the glad hours [ hôrai ] brought round the time-limit [ telos ] for payment, mighty Laomedon robbed us of all our hire and sent us off with nothing but abuse. He threatened to bind us hand and foot and sell us over into some distant island. He tried, moreover, to cut off the ears of both of us, so we went away in a rage, furious about the payment he had promised us, and yet withheld; in spite of all this, you are now showing favor [ kharis ] to his people, and will not join us in compassing the utter ruin of the proud Trojans with their wives and children."

Ἴδης ἐν κνημοῖσι πολυπτύχου ὑληέσσης.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μισθοῖο τέλος πολυγηθέες ὧραι

ἐξέφερον, τότε νῶϊ βιήσατο μισθὸν ἅπαντα

Λαομέδων ἔκπαγλος, ἀπειλήσας δʼ ἀπέπεμπε.

σὺν μὲν ὅ γʼ ἠπείλησε πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθε

δήσειν, καὶ περάαν νήσων ἔπι τηλεδαπάων·

στεῦτο δʼ ὅ γʼ ἀμφοτέρων ἀπολεψέμεν οὔατα χαλκῷ.

νῶϊ δὲ ἄψορροι κίομεν κεκοτηότι θυμῷ

μισθοῦ χωόμενοι, τὸν ὑποστὰς οὐκ ἐτέλεσσε.

τοῦ δὴ νῦν λαοῖσι φέρεις χάριν, οὐδὲ μεθʼ ἡμέων

πειρᾷ ὥς κε Τρῶες ὑπερφίαλοι ἀπόλωνται

πρόχνυ κακῶς σὺν παισὶ καὶ αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισι

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·

And King Apollo answered, "Lord of the earthquake, you would not think me moderate [ sôphrôn ] if I were to fight you about a pack of miserable mortals, who come out like leaves in summer and eat the fruit of the field, and presently fall lifeless to the ground. Let us stay this fighting at once and let them settle it among themselves."

ἐννοσίγαιʼ οὐκ ἄν με σαόφρονα μυθήσαιο

ἔμμεναι, εἰ δὴ σοί γε βροτῶν ἕνεκα πτολεμίξω

δειλῶν, οἳ φύλλοισιν ἐοικότες ἄλλοτε μέν τε

ζαφλεγέες τελέθουσιν ἀρούρης καρπὸν ἔδοντες,

ἄλλοτε δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἀκήριοι. ἀλλὰ τάχιστα

παυώμεσθα μάχης· οἳ δʼ αὐτοὶ δηριαάσθων.

He turned away as he spoke, for he would lay no hand on the brother of his own father. But his sister the huntress Artemis, patroness of wild beasts, was very angry with him and said, "So you would flee, Far-Darter, and hand victory over to Poseidon with a cheap vaunt to boot. Baby, why keep your bow thus idle? Never let me again hear you bragging in my father's house, as you have often done in the presence of the immortals, that you would stand up and fight with Poseidon."

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας πάλιν ἐτράπετʼ· αἴδετο γάρ ῥα

πατροκασιγνήτοιο μιγήμεναι ἐν παλάμῃσι.

τὸν δὲ κασιγνήτη μάλα νείκεσε πότνια θηρῶν

Ἄρτεμις ἀγροτέρη, καὶ ὀνείδειον φάτο μῦθον·

φεύγεις δὴ ἑκάεργε, Ποσειδάωνι δὲ νίκην

πᾶσαν ἐπέτρεψας, μέλεον δέ οἱ εὖχος ἔδωκας·

νηπύτιε τί νυ τόξον ἔχεις ἀνεμώλιον αὔτως;

μή σευ νῦν ἔτι πατρὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἀκούσω

εὐχομένου, ὡς τὸ πρὶν ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,

ἄντα Ποσειδάωνος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίζειν.

Apollo made her no answer, but Zeus' august queen was angry and upbraided her bitterly. "Bold vixen," she cried, "how dare you cross me thus? For all your bow you will find it hard to hold your own against me. Zeus made you as a lion among women, and lets you kill them whenever you choose. You will And it better to chase wild beasts and deer upon the mountains than to fight those who are stronger than you are. If you would try war, do so, and find out by pitting yourself against me, how far stronger I am than you are."

ὣς φάτο, τὴν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων,

ἀλλὰ χολωσαμένη Διὸς αἰδοίη παράκοιτις

νείκεσεν ἰοχέαιραν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσι·

πῶς δὲ σὺ νῦν μέμονας κύον ἀδεὲς ἀντίʼ ἐμεῖο

στήσεσθαι; χαλεπή τοι ἐγὼ μένος ἀντιφέρεσθαι

τοξοφόρῳ περ ἐούσῃ, ἐπεὶ σὲ λέοντα γυναιξὶ

Ζεὺς θῆκεν, καὶ ἔδωκε κατακτάμεν ἥν κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα.

ἤτοι βέλτερόν ἐστι κατʼ οὔρεα θῆρας ἐναίρειν

ἀγροτέρας τʼ ἐλάφους ἢ κρείσσοσιν ἶφι μάχεσθαι.

εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις πολέμοιο δαήμεναι, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ εἰδῇς

ὅσσον φερτέρη εἴμʼ, ὅτι μοι μένος ἀντιφερίζεις.

She caught both Artemis' wrists with her left hand as she spoke, and with her right she took the bow from her shoulders, and laughed as she beat her with it about the ears while Artemis wriggled and writhed under her blows. Her swift arrows were shed upon the ground, and she fled weeping from under Hera's hand as a dove that flies before a falcon to the cleft of some hollow rock, when it is her good fortune to escape. Even so did she flee weeping away, leaving her bow and arrows behind her.

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμφοτέρας ἐπὶ καρπῷ χεῖρας ἔμαρπτε

σκαιῇ, δεξιτερῇ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων αἴνυτο τόξα,

αὐτοῖσιν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔθεινε παρʼ οὔατα μειδιόωσα

ἐντροπαλιζομένην· ταχέες δʼ ἔκπιπτον ὀϊστοί.

δακρυόεσσα δʼ ὕπαιθα θεὰ φύγεν ὥς τε πέλεια,

ἥ ῥά θʼ ὑπʼ ἴρηκος κοίλην εἰσέπτατο πέτρην

χηραμόν· οὐδʼ ἄρα τῇ γε ἁλώμεναι αἴσιμον ἦεν·

ὣς ἣ δακρυόεσσα φύγεν, λίπε δʼ αὐτόθι τόξα.

Then the slayer of Argos , guide and guardian, said to Leto, "Leto, I shall not fight you; it is ill to come to blows with any of Zeus' wives. Therefore boast as you will among the immortals that you worsted me in fair fight."

Λητὼ δὲ προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·

Λητοῖ ἐγὼ δέ τοι οὔ τι μαχήσομαι· ἀργαλέον δὲ

πληκτίζεσθʼ ἀλόχοισι Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο·

ἀλλὰ μάλα πρόφρασσα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν

εὔχεσθαι ἐμὲ νικῆσαι κρατερῆφι βίηφιν.

Leto then gathered up Artemis' bow and arrows that had fallen about amid the whirling dust, and when she had got them she made all haste after her daughter. Artemis had now reached Zeus' bronze-floored mansion on Olympus , and sat herself down with many tears on the knees of her father, while her ambrosial raiment was quivering all about her. The son of Kronos drew her towards him, and laughing pleasantly the while began to question her saying, "Which of the heavenly beings, my dear child, has been treating you in this cruel manner, as though you had been misconducting yourself in the face of everybody?" and the fair-crowned goddess of the chase answered, "It was your wife Hera, father, who has been beating me; it is always her doing when there is any quarreling among the immortals."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, Λητὼ δὲ συναίνυτο καμπύλα τόξα

πεπτεῶτʼ ἄλλυδις ἄλλα μετὰ στροφάλιγγι κονίης.

ἣ μὲν τόξα λαβοῦσα πάλιν κίε θυγατέρος ἧς·

ἣ δʼ ἄρʼ Ὄλυμπον ἵκανε Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,

δακρυόεσσα δὲ πατρὸς ἐφέζετο γούνασι κούρη,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀμβρόσιος ἑανὸς τρέμε· τὴν δὲ προτὶ οἷ

εἷλε πατὴρ Κρονίδης, καὶ ἀνείρετο ἡδὺ γελάσσας·

τίς νύ σε τοιάδʼ ἔρεξε φίλον τέκος Οὐρανιώνων

μαψιδίως, ὡς εἴ τι κακὸν ῥέζουσαν ἐνωπῇ;

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἐϋστέφανος κελαδεινή·

σή μʼ ἄλοχος στυφέλιξε πάτερ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,

ἐξ ἧς ἀθανάτοισιν ἔρις καὶ νεῖκος ἐφῆπται.

Thus did they converse, and meanwhile Phoebus Apollo entered the strong city of Ilion , for he was uneasy lest the wall should not hold out and the Danaans should take the city then and there, before its hour had come; but the rest of the ever-living gods went back, some angry and some triumphant to Olympus , where they took their seats beside Zeus lord of the storm cloud, while Achilles still kept on dealing out death alike on the Trojans and on their As when the smoke from some burning city ascends to heaven when the anger [ mênis ] of the gods has kindled it - there is then toil [ ponos ] for all, and sorrow for not a few - even so did Achilles bring toil [ ponos ] and sorrow on the Trojans.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·

αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ἐδύσετο Ἴλιον ἱρήν·

μέμβλετο γάρ οἱ τεῖχος ἐϋδμήτοιο πόληος

μὴ Δαναοὶ πέρσειαν ὑπὲρ μόρον ἤματι κείνῳ.

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἴσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,

οἳ μὲν χωόμενοι, οἳ δὲ μέγα κυδιόωντες·

κὰδ δʼ ἷζον παρὰ πατρὶ κελαινεφεῖ· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

Τρῶας ὁμῶς αὐτούς τʼ ὄλεκεν καὶ μώνυχας ἵππους.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε καπνὸς ἰὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἵκηται

ἄστεος αἰθομένοιο, θεῶν δέ ἑ μῆνις ἀνῆκε,

πᾶσι δʼ ἔθηκε πόνον, πολλοῖσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆκεν,

ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς Τρώεσσι πόνον καὶ κήδεʼ ἔθηκεν.

Old King Priam stood on a high tower of the wall looking down on huge Achilles as the Trojans fled panic-stricken before him, and there was none to help them. Presently he came down from off the tower and with many a groan went along the wall to give orders to the brave warders of the gate. "Keep the gates," said he, "wide open till the people come fleeing into the city, for Achilles is hard by and is driving them in rout before him. I see we are in great peril. As soon as our people are inside and in safety, close the strong gates for I fear lest that terrible man should come bounding inside along with the others."

ἑστήκει δʼ ὃ γέρων Πρίαμος θείου ἐπὶ πύργου,

ἐς δʼ ἐνόησʼ Ἀχιλῆα πελώριον· αὐτὰρ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ

Τρῶες ἄφαρ κλονέοντο πεφυζότες, οὐδέ τις ἀλκὴ

γίγνεθʼ· ὃ δʼ οἰμώξας ἀπὸ πύργου βαῖνε χαμᾶζε

ὀτρύνων παρὰ τεῖχος ἀγακλειτοὺς πυλαωρούς·

πεπταμένας ἐν χερσὶ πύλας ἔχετʼ εἰς ὅ κε λαοὶ

ἔλθωσι προτὶ ἄστυ πεφυζότες· ἦ γὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐγγὺς ὅδε κλονέων· νῦν οἴω λοίγιʼ ἔσεσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ἐς τεῖχος ἀναπνεύσωσιν ἀλέντες,

αὖτις ἐπανθέμεναι σανίδας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίας·

δείδια γὰρ μὴ οὖλος ἀνὴρ ἐς τεῖχος ἅληται.

As he spoke they drew back the bolts and opened the gates, and when these were opened there was a haven of refuge for the Trojans. Apollo then came full speed out of the city to meet them and protect them. Right for the city and the high wall, parched with thirst and grimy with dust, still they hurried on, with Achilles wielding his spear furiously behind them. For he was as one possessed, and was thirsting after glory.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄνεσάν τε πύλας καὶ ἀπῶσαν ὀχῆας·

αἳ δὲ πετασθεῖσαι τεῦξαν φάος· αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλων

ἀντίος ἐξέθορε Τρώων ἵνα λοιγὸν ἀλάλκοι.

οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς πόλιος καὶ τείχεος ὑψηλοῖο

δίψῃ καρχαλέοι κεκονιμένοι ἐκ πεδίοιο

φεῦγον· ὃ δὲ σφεδανὸν ἔφεπʼ ἔγχεϊ, λύσσα δέ οἱ κῆρ

αἰὲν ἔχε κρατερή, μενέαινε δὲ κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.

Then had the sons of the Achaeans taken the lofty gates of Troy if Apollo had not spurred on Agenor, valiant and noble son to Antenor. He put courage into his heart, and stood by his side to guard him, leaning against a beech tree and shrouded in thick darkness. When Agenor saw Achilles he stood still and his heart was clouded with care. "Alas," said he to himself in his dismay, "if I flee before mighty Achilles, and go where all the others are being driven in rout, he will none the less catch me and kill me for a coward. How would it be were I to let Achilles drive the others before him, and then flee from the wall to the plain that is behind Ilion

ἔνθά κεν ὑψίπυλον Τροίην ἕλον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,

εἰ μὴ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος Ἀγήνορα δῖον ἀνῆκε

φῶτʼ Ἀντήνορος υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε.

ἐν μέν οἱ κραδίῃ θάρσος βάλε, πὰρ δέ οἱ αὐτὸς

ἔστη, ὅπως θανάτοιο βαρείας χεῖρας ἀλάλκοι

φηγῷ κεκλιμένος· κεκάλυπτο δʼ ἄρʼ ἠέρι πολλῇ.

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον

ἔστη, πολλὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη πόρφυρε μένοντι·

ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·

ὤ μοι ἐγών· εἰ μέν κεν ὑπὸ κρατεροῦ Ἀχιλῆος

φεύγω, τῇ περ οἱ ἄλλοι ἀτυζόμενοι κλονέονται,

αἱρήσει με καὶ ὧς, καὶ ἀνάλκιδα δειροτομήσει.

εἰ δʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τούτους μὲν ὑποκλονέεσθαι ἐάσω

Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ, ποσὶν δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεος ἄλλῃ

till I reach the spurs of Ida and can hide in the underwood that is thereon? I could then wash the sweat from off me in the river and in the evening return to Ilion . But why commune with myself in this way? Like enough he would see me as I am hurrying from the city over the plain, and would speed after me till he had caught me - I should stand no chance against him, for he is mightiest of all humankind. What, then, if I go out and meet him in front of the city? His flesh too, I take it, can be pierced by pointed bronze. Life [ psukhê ] is the same in one and all, and men say that he is but mortal despite the triumph that Zeus son of Kronos grants him."

φεύγω πρὸς πεδίον Ἰλήϊον, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκωμαι

Ἴδης τε κνημοὺς κατά τε ῥωπήϊα δύω·

ἑσπέριος δʼ ἂν ἔπειτα λοεσσάμενος ποταμοῖο

ἱδρῶ ἀποψυχθεὶς προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονεοίμην·

ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;

μή μʼ ἀπαειρόμενον πόλιος πεδίον δὲ νοήσῃ

καί με μεταΐξας μάρψῃ ταχέεσσι πόδεσσιν.

οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ ἔσται θάνατον καὶ κῆρας ἀλύξαι·

λίην γὰρ κρατερὸς περὶ πάντων ἔστʼ ἀνθρώπων.

εἰ δέ κέ οἱ προπάροιθε πόλεος κατεναντίον ἔλθω·

καὶ γάρ θην τούτῳ τρωτὸς χρὼς ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,

ἐν δὲ ἴα ψυχή, θνητὸν δέ ἕ φασʼ ἄνθρωποι

ἔμμεναι· αὐτάρ οἱ Κρονίδης Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει.

So saying he stood on his guard and awaited Achilles, for he was now fain to fight him. As a leopardess that bounds from out a thick covert to attack a hunter - she knows no fear and is not dismayed by the baying of the hounds; even though the man be too quick for her and wound her either with thrust or spear, still, though the spear has pierced her she will not give in till she has either caught him in her grip or been killed outright - even so did noble Agenor son of Antenor refuse to flee till he had made trial of Achilles, and took aim at him with his spear, holding his round shield before him and crying with a loud voice. "Of a truth," said he, "noble Achilles, you deem that you shall this day sack the city of the proud Trojans. Fool, there will be trouble enough yet before it, for there is many a brave man of us still inside who will stand in front of our dear parents with our wives and children, to defend Ilion . Here therefore, huge and mighty warrior though you be, here shall you cue.

ὣς εἰπὼν Ἀχιλῆα ἀλεὶς μένεν, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ

ἄλκιμον ὁρμᾶτο πτολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.

ἠΰτε πάρδαλις εἶσι βαθείης ἐκ ξυλόχοιο

ἀνδρὸς θηρητῆρος ἐναντίον, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ

ταρβεῖ οὐδὲ φοβεῖται, ἐπεί κεν ὑλαγμὸν ἀκούσῃ·

εἴ περ γὰρ φθάμενός μιν ἢ οὐτάσῃ ἠὲ βάλῃσιν,

ἀλλά τε καὶ περὶ δουρὶ πεπαρμένη οὐκ ἀπολήγει

ἀλκῆς, πρίν γʼ ἠὲ ξυμβλήμεναι ἠὲ δαμῆναι·

ὣς Ἀντήνορος υἱὸς ἀγαυοῦ δῖος Ἀγήνωρ

οὐκ ἔθελεν φεύγειν, πρὶν πειρήσαιτʼ Ἀχιλῆος.

ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἀσπίδα μὲν πρόσθʼ ἔσχετο πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην,

ἐγχείῃ δʼ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο, καὶ μέγʼ ἀΰτει·

ἦ δή που μάλʼ ἔολπας ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ

ἤματι τῷδε πόλιν πέρσειν Τρώων ἀγερώχων

νηπύτιʼ· ἦ τʼ ἔτι πολλὰ τετεύξεται ἄλγεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῇ.

ἐν γάρ οἱ πολέες τε καὶ ἄλκιμοι ἀνέρες εἰμέν,

οἳ καὶ πρόσθε φίλων τοκέων ἀλόχων τε καὶ υἱῶν

Ἴλιον εἰρυόμεσθα· σὺ δʼ ἐνθάδε πότμον ἐφέψεις

ὧδʼ ἔκπαγλος ἐὼν καὶ θαρσαλέος πολεμιστής.

As he spoke his strong hand hurled his javelin from him, and the spear struck Achilles on the leg beneath the knee; the greave of newly wrought tin rang loudly, but the spear recoiled from the body of him whom it had struck, and did not pierce it, for the gods gift stayed it. Achilles in his turn attacked noble Agenor, but Apollo would not grant him glory,

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ὀξὺν ἄκοντα βαρείης χειρὸς ἀφῆκε,

καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε κνήμην ὑπὸ γούνατος οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτεν.

ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κνημὶς νεοτεύκτου κασσιτέροιο

σμερδαλέον κονάβησε· πάλιν δʼ ἀπὸ χαλκὸς ὄρουσε

βλημένου, οὐδʼ ἐπέρησε, θεοῦ δʼ ἠρύκακε δῶρα.

Πηλεΐδης δʼ ὁρμήσατʼ Ἀγήνορος ἀντιθέοιο

for he snatched Agenor away and hid him in a thick mist, sending him out of the battle unmolested Then he craftily drew the son of Peleus away from going after the host, for he put on the semblance of Agenor and stood in front of Achilles, who ran towards him to give him chase and pursued him over the wheat lands of the plain, turning him towards the deep waters of the river Skamandros. Apollo ran but a little way before him and beguiled Achilles by making him think all the time that he was on the point of overtaking him. Meanwhile the rabble of routed Trojans was thankful to crowd within the city till their numbers thronged it; no longer did they dare wait for one another outside the city walls, to learn who had escaped and who were fallen in fight, but all whose feet and knees could still carry them poured pell-mell into the town.

δεύτερος· οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔασεν Ἀπόλλων κῦδος ἀρέσθαι,

ἀλλά μιν ἐξήρπαξε, κάλυψε δʼ ἄρʼ ἠέρι πολλῇ,

ἡσύχιον δʼ ἄρα μιν πολέμου ἔκπεμπε νέεσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ὃ Πηλεΐωνα δόλῳ ἀποέργαθε λαοῦ·

αὐτῷ γὰρ ἑκάεργος Ἀγήνορι πάντα ἐοικὼς

ἔστη πρόσθε ποδῶν, ὃ δʼ ἐπέσσυτο ποσσὶ διώκειν·

εἷος ὃ τὸν πεδίοιο διώκετο πυροφόροιο

τρέψας πὰρ ποταμὸν βαθυδινήεντα Σκάμανδρον

τυτθὸν ὑπεκπροθέοντα· δόλῳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔθελγεν Ἀπόλλων

ὡς αἰεὶ ἔλποιτο κιχήσεσθαι ποσὶν οἷσι·

τόφρʼ ἄλλοι Τρῶες πεφοβημένοι ἦλθον ὁμίλῳ

ἀσπάσιοι προτὶ ἄστυ, πόλις δʼ ἔμπλητο ἀλέντων.

οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἔτλαν πόλιος καὶ τείχεος ἐκτὸς

μεῖναι ἔτʼ ἀλλήλους, καὶ γνώμεναι ὅς τε πεφεύγοι

ὅς τʼ ἔθανʼ ἐν πολέμῳ· ἀλλʼ ἐσσυμένως ἐσέχυντο

ἐς πόλιν, ὅν τινα τῶν γε πόδες καὶ γοῦνα σαώσαι.