Iliad

Now the other gods and the armed warriors on the plain slept soundly, but Zeus was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do honor to Achilles, and destroy many people at the ships of the Achaeans.

ἄλλοι μέν ῥα θεοί τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἱπποκορυσταὶ

εὗδον παννύχιοι, Δία δʼ οὐκ ἔχε νήδυμος ὕπνος,

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα ὡς Ἀχιλῆα

τιμήσῃ, ὀλέσῃ δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying dream to King Agamemnon; so he called one to him and said to it, "Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans,

ἥδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή,

πέμψαι ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι οὖλον ὄνειρον·

καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

βάσκʼ ἴθι οὖλε ὄνειρε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν·

ἐλθὼν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο

into the tent of Agamemnon, and say to him word to word as I now bid you. Tell him to get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for he shall take Troy . There are no longer divided counsels among the gods;

πάντα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορευέμεν ὡς ἐπιτέλλω·

θωρῆξαί ἑ κέλευε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοι πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν

Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες

ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας

Hera has brought them to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans." The dream went when it had heard its message, and soon reached the ships of the Achaeans. It sought Agamemnon son of Atreus and found him in his tent, wrapped in a profound slumber.

Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπται.

ὣς φάτο, βῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὄνειρος ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε·

καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

βῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα· τὸν δὲ κίχανεν

εὕδοντʼ ἐν κλισίῃ, περὶ δʼ ἀμβρόσιος κέχυθʼ ὕπνος.

It hovered over his head in the likeness of Nestor, son of Neleus, whom Agamemnon honored above all his councilors, and said: - "You are sleeping, son of Atreus;

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς Νηληΐῳ υἷι ἐοικώς

Νέστορι, τόν ῥα μάλιστα γερόντων τῖʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσεφώνεε θεῖος ὄνειρος·

εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·

οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα

one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at once, for I come as a messenger from Zeus, who, though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you. He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take

ᾧ λαοί τʼ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·

νῦν δʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,

ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει.

θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν

Troy . There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Hera has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans at the hands of Zeus. Remember this, and when you wake see that it does not escape you."

Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες

ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας

Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπται

ἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσί, μηδέ σε λήθη

αἱρείτω εὖτʼ ἄν σε μελίφρων ὕπνος ἀνήῃ.

The dream then left him, and he thought of things that were, surely not to be accomplished. He thought that on that same day he was to take the city of Priam, but he little knew what was in the mind of Zeus, who had many another

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ

τὰ φρονέοντʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ ῥʼ οὐ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον·

φῆ γὰρ ὅ γʼ αἱρήσειν Πριάμου πόλιν ἤματι κείνῳ

νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὰ ᾔδη ἅ ῥα Ζεὺς μήδετο ἔργα·

θήσειν γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμελλεν ἐπʼ ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε

hard-fought fight in store alike for Danaans and Trojans. Then presently he woke, with the divine message still ringing in his ears; so he sat upright, and put on his soft shirt so fair and new, and over this his heavy cloak. He bound his sandals on to his comely feet,

Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι διὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.

ἔγρετο δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου, θείη δέ μιν ἀμφέχυτʼ ὀμφή·

ἕζετο δʼ ὀρθωθείς, μαλακὸν δʼ ἔνδυνε χιτῶνα

καλὸν νηγάτεον, περὶ δὲ μέγα βάλλετο φᾶρος·

ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,

and slung his silver-studded sword about his shoulders; then he took the imperishable staff of his father, and sallied forth to the ships of the Achaeans. The goddess Dawn now wended her way to vast Olympus that she might herald day to Zeus and to the other immortals,

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον·

εἵλετο δὲ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεὶ

σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·

ἠὼς μέν ῥα θεὰ προσεβήσετο μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον

Ζηνὶ φόως ἐρέουσα καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν·

and Agamemnon sent the criers round to call the people in assembly; so they called them and the people gathered thereon. But first he summoned a meeting of the elders at the ship of Nestor king of Pylos ,

αὐτὰρ ὃ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε

κηρύσσειν ἀγορὴν δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·

οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα·

βουλὴν δὲ πρῶτον μεγαθύμων ἷζε γερόντων

Νεστορέῃ παρὰ νηῒ Πυλοιγενέος βασιλῆος·

and when they were assembled he laid a cunning counsel before them. "My friends," said he, "I have had a dream from heaven in the dead of night, and its face and figure resembled none but Nestor's. It hovered over my head and said,

τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·

κλῦτε φίλοι· θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος

ἀμβροσίην διὰ νύκτα· μάλιστα δὲ Νέστορι δίῳ

εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τʼ ἄγχιστα ἐῴκει·

στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

‘You are sleeping, son of Atreus; one who has the welfare of his host and so much other care upon his shoulders should dock his sleep. Hear me at once, for I am a messenger from Zeus, who, though he be not near, yet takes thought for you and pities you.

εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·

οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα,

ᾧ λαοί τʼ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·

νῦν δʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,

ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει·

He bids you get the Achaeans instantly under arms, for you shall take Troy . There are no longer divided counsels among the gods; Hera has brought them over to her own mind, and woe betides the Trojans

θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς

πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν

Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες

ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας

Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπται

at the hands of Zeus. Remember this.’ The dream then vanished and I awoke. Let us now, therefore, arm the sons of the Achaeans. But it will be the right thing [ themis ] that I should first sound them, and to this end I will tell them to flee with their ships;

ἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσίν· ὣς ὃ μὲν εἰπὼν

ᾤχετʼ ἀποπτάμενος, ἐμὲ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·

πρῶτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἔπεσιν πειρήσομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,

καὶ φεύγειν σὺν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι κελεύσω·

but do you others go about among the host and prevent their doing so." He then sat down, and Nestor the king of Pylos with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "My friends," said he, "princes and councilors of the Argives,

ὑμεῖς δʼ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος ἐρητύειν ἐπέεσσιν.

ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστη

Νέστωρ, ὅς ῥα Πύλοιο ἄναξ ἦν ἠμαθόεντος,

ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες

if any other man of the Achaeans had told us of this dream we should have declared it false, and would have had nothing to do with it. But he who has seen it is the foremost man among us; we must therefore set about getting the people under arms." With this he led the way from the assembly,

εἰ μέν τις τὸν ὄνειρον Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἔνισπε

ψεῦδός κεν φαῖμεν καὶ νοσφιζοίμεθα μᾶλλον·

νῦν δʼ ἴδεν ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι·

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας βουλῆς ἐξῆρχε νέεσθαι,

and the other sceptered kings rose with him in obedience to the word of Agamemnon; but the people pressed forward to hear. They swarmed like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless throng among the spring flowers,

οἳ δʼ ἐπανέστησαν πείθοντό τε ποιμένι λαῶν

σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες· ἐπεσσεύοντο δὲ λαοί.

ἠΰτε ἔθνεα εἶσι μελισσάων ἁδινάων

πέτρης ἐκ γλαφυρῆς αἰεὶ νέον ἐρχομενάων,

βοτρυδὸν δὲ πέτονται ἐπʼ ἄνθεσιν εἰαρινοῖσιν·

bunched in knots and clusters; even so did the mighty multitude pour from ships and tents to the assembly, and range themselves upon the wide-watered shore, while among them ran Wildfire Rumor, messenger of Zeus, urging them ever to the fore.

αἳ μέν τʼ ἔνθα ἅλις πεποτήαται, αἳ δέ τε ἔνθα·

ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων

ἠϊόνος προπάροιθε βαθείης ἐστιχόωντο

ἰλαδὸν εἰς ἀγορήν· μετὰ δέ σφισιν ὄσσα δεδήει

ὀτρύνουσʼ ἰέναι Διὸς ἄγγελος· οἳ δʼ ἀγέροντο.

Thus they gathered in a pell-mell of mad confusion, and the earth groaned under the tramp of men as the people sought their places. Nine heralds went crying about among them to stay their tumult and bid them listen to the kings, till at last they were got into their several places and ceased their clamor.

τετρήχει δʼ ἀγορή, ὑπὸ δὲ στεναχίζετο γαῖα

λαῶν ἱζόντων, ὅμαδος δʼ ἦν· ἐννέα δέ σφεας

κήρυκες βοόωντες ἐρήτυον, εἴ ποτʼ ἀϋτῆς

σχοίατʼ, ἀκούσειαν δὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων.

σπουδῇ δʼ ἕζετο λαός, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθʼ ἕδρας

Then King Agamemnon rose, holding his scepter. This was the work of Hephaistos, who gave it to Zeus the son of Kronos. Zeus gave it to Hermes, slayer of Argos , guide and guardian. King Hermes gave it to Pelops, the mighty charioteer, and

παυσάμενοι κλαγγῆς· ἀνὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων τὸ μὲν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.

Ἥφαιστος μὲν δῶκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι,

αὐτὰρ ἄρα Ζεὺς δῶκε διακτόρῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ·

Ἑρμείας δὲ ἄναξ δῶκεν Πέλοπι πληξίππῳ,

Pelops to Atreus, shepherd of his people. Atreus, when he died, left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks, and Thyestes in his turn left it to be borne by Agamemnon, that he might be lord of all Argos and of the isles. Leaning, then, on his scepter, he addressed the Argives.

αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Πέλοψ δῶκʼ Ἀτρέϊ ποιμένι λαῶν,

Ἀτρεὺς δὲ θνῄσκων ἔλιπεν πολύαρνι Θυέστῃ,

αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Θυέστʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι λεῖπε φορῆναι,

πολλῇσιν νήσοισι καὶ Ἄργεϊ παντὶ ἀνάσσειν.

τῷ ὅ γʼ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπεʼ Ἀργείοισι μετηύδα·

"My friends," he said, "heroes, squires [ therapontes ] of Ares, Zeus the son of Kronos has tied me down with atê . Cruel, he gave me his solemn promise that I should sack the city of Priam before returning, but he has played me false, and is now bidding me

ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος

Ζεύς με μέγα Κρονίδης ἄτῃ ἐνέδησε βαρείῃ,

σχέτλιος, ὃς πρὶν μέν μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν

Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι,

νῦν δὲ κακὴν ἀπάτην βουλεύσατο, καί με κελεύει

go ingloriously back to Argos with the loss of many people. Such is the will of Zeus, who has laid many a proud city in the dust, as he will yet lay others, for his power is above all. It will be a sorry tale hereafter that an

δυσκλέα Ἄργος ἱκέσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺν ὤλεσα λαόν.

οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ὑπερμενέϊ φίλον εἶναι,

ὃς δὴ πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα

ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ λύσει· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.

αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τόδε γʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι

Achaean host, at once so great and valiant, battled in vain against men fewer in number than themselves; but as yet the end is not in sight. Think that the Achaeans and Trojans have sworn to a solemn covenant, and that they have each been numbered -

μὰψ οὕτω τοιόνδε τοσόνδε τε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

ἄπρηκτον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι

ἀνδράσι παυροτέροισι, τέλος δʼ οὔ πώ τι πέφανται·

εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλοιμεν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε

ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ἀριθμηθήμεναι ἄμφω,

the Trojans by the roll of their householders, and we by companies of ten; think further that each of our companies desired to have a Trojan householder to pour out their wine; we are so greatly more in number that full many a company would have to go without its cup-bearer.

Τρῶας μὲν λέξασθαι ἐφέστιοι ὅσσοι ἔασιν,

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐς δεκάδας διακοσμηθεῖμεν Ἀχαιοί,

Τρώων δʼ ἄνδρα ἕκαστοι ἑλοίμεθα οἰνοχοεύειν,

πολλαί κεν δεκάδες δευοίατο οἰνοχόοιο.

τόσσον ἐγώ φημι πλέας ἔμμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν

But they have in the town allies from other places, and it is these that hinder me from being able to sack the rich city of Ilion . Nine of Zeus years are gone;

Τρώων, οἳ ναίουσι κατὰ πτόλιν· ἀλλʼ ἐπίκουροι

πολλέων ἐκ πολίων ἐγχέσπαλοι ἄνδρες ἔασιν,

οἵ με μέγα πλάζουσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσʼ ἐθέλοντα

Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσαι εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.

ἐννέα δὴ βεβάασι Διὸς μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοί,

the timbers of our ships have rotted; their tackling is sound no longer. Our wives and little ones at home look anxiously for our coming, but the work that we came hither to do has not been done. Now, therefore, let us all do as I say:

καὶ δὴ δοῦρα σέσηπε νεῶν καὶ σπάρτα λέλυνται·

αἳ δέ που ἡμέτεραί τʼ ἄλοχοι καὶ νήπια τέκνα

εἵατʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ποτιδέγμεναι· ἄμμι δὲ ἔργον

αὔτως ἀκράαντον οὗ εἵνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα.

ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·

let us sail back to our own land, for we shall not take Troy ." With these words he moved the hearts of the multitude, so many of them as knew not the cunning counsel of Agamemnon. They surged to and fro like the waves

φεύγωμεν σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·

οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τροίην αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.

ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε

πᾶσι μετὰ πληθὺν ὅσοι οὐ βουλῆς ἐπάκουσαν·

κινήθη δʼ ἀγορὴ φὴ κύματα μακρὰ θαλάσσης

of the Ikarian Sea [ pontos ], when the east and south winds break from heaven's clouds to lash them; or as when the west wind sweeps over a field of grain and the ears bow beneath the blast, even so were they swayed as they flew with loud cries

πόντου Ἰκαρίοιο, τὰ μέν τʼ Εὖρός τε Νότος τε

ὤρορʼ ἐπαΐξας πατρὸς Διὸς ἐκ νεφελάων.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε κινήσῃ Ζέφυρος βαθὺ λήϊον ἐλθὼν

λάβρος ἐπαιγίζων, ἐπί τʼ ἠμύει ἀσταχύεσσιν,

ὣς τῶν πᾶσʼ ἀγορὴ κινήθη· τοὶ δʼ ἀλαλητῷ

towards the ships, and the dust from under their feet rose heavenward. They cheered each other on to draw the ships into the sea; they cleared the channels in front of them; they began taking away the stays from underneath them, and the welkin rang with their glad cries, so eager were they to return.

νῆας ἔπʼ ἐσσεύοντο, ποδῶν δʼ ὑπένερθε κονίη

ἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλοισι κέλευον

ἅπτεσθαι νηῶν ἠδʼ ἑλκέμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,

οὐρούς τʼ ἐξεκάθαιρον· ἀϋτὴ δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκεν

οἴκαδε ἱεμένων· ὑπὸ δʼ ᾕρεον ἕρματα νηῶν.

Then surely the Argives would have had a return [ nostos ] after a fashion that was not fated. But Hera said to Athena, "Alas, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, unweariable, shall the Argives flee home to their own land over the broad sea,

ἔνθά κεν Ἀργείοισιν ὑπέρμορα νόστος ἐτύχθη

εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη,

οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

Ἀργεῖοι φεύξονται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,

and leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy , far from their homes? Go about at once among the host, and speak fairly to them, man by man,

κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιεν

Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν

ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης·

ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·

σοῖς ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,

that they draw not their ships into the sea." Athena was not slack to do her bidding. Down she darted from the topmost summits of Olympus , and in a moment she was at the ships of the Achaeans. There she found Odysseus, peer of Zeus in counsel,

μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δʼ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,

βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα·

καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.

εὗρεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον

standing alone. He had not as yet laid a hand upon his ship, for he felt grief [ akhos ] and was sorry; so she went close up to him and said, "Odysseus, noble son of Laertes ,

ἑσταότʼ· οὐδʼ ὅ γε νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης

ἅπτετʼ, ἐπεί μιν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἵκανεν·

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,

οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

are you going to fling yourselves into your ships and be off home to your own land in this way? Will you leave Priam and the Trojans the glory of still keeping Helen, for whose sake so many of the Achaeans have died at Troy , far from their homes? Go about at once among the host,

φεύξεσθʼ ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πεσόντες,

κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιτε

Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν

ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης;

ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν, μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐρώει,

and speak fairly to them, man by man, that they draw not their ships into the sea." Odysseus knew the voice as that of the goddess: he flung his cloak from him and set off to run. His squire Eurybates, a man of Ithaca, who waited on him, took charge of the cloak,

σοῖς δʼ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,

μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δʼ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.

ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης,

βῆ δὲ θέειν, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλε· τὴν δὲ κόμισσε

κῆρυξ Εὐρυβάτης Ἰθακήσιος ὅς οἱ ὀπήδει·

whereon Odysseus went straight up to Agamemnon and received from him his ancestral, imperishable staff. With this he went about among the ships of the Achaeans. Whenever he met a king or chieftain, he stood by him and spoke him fairly.

αὐτὸς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίος ἐλθὼν

δέξατό οἱ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεί·

σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.

ὅν τινα μὲν βασιλῆα καὶ ἔξοχον ἄνδρα κιχείη

τὸν δʼ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρητύσασκε παραστάς·

"Sir," said he, "this flight is cowardly and unworthy. Stand to your post, and bid your people also keep their places. You do not yet know the full mind [ noos ] of Agamemnon; he was sounding us, and ere long will visit the Achaeans with his displeasure. We were not all of us at the council to hear what he then said;

δαιμόνιʼ οὔ σε ἔοικε κακὸν ὣς δειδίσσεσθαι,

ἀλλʼ αὐτός τε κάθησο καὶ ἄλλους ἵδρυε λαούς·

οὐ γάρ πω σάφα οἶσθʼ οἷος νόος Ἀτρεΐωνος·

νῦν μὲν πειρᾶται, τάχα δʼ ἴψεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

ἐν βουλῇ δʼ οὐ πάντες ἀκούσαμεν οἷον ἔειπε.

see to it lest he be angry and do us a mischief; for the timê of kings is great, and the hand of Zeus is with them." But when he came across some man from some locale [ dêmos ] who was making a noise, he struck him with his staff and rebuked him, saying,

μή τι χολωσάμενος ῥέξῃ κακὸν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·

θυμὸς δὲ μέγας ἐστὶ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων,

τιμὴ δʼ ἐκ Διός ἐστι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ μητίετα Ζεύς.

ὃν δʼ αὖ δήμου τʼ ἄνδρα ἴδοι βοόωντά τʼ ἐφεύροι,

τὸν σκήπτρῳ ἐλάσασκεν ὁμοκλήσασκέ τε μύθῳ·

"What kind of daimôn has possessed you? Hold your peace, and listen to better men than yourself. You are a coward and no warrior; you are nobody either in fight or council; we cannot all be kings; it is not well that there should be many masters; one man must be supreme -

δαιμόνιʼ ἀτρέμας ἧσο καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἄκουε,

οἳ σέο φέρτεροί εἰσι, σὺ δʼ ἀπτόλεμος καὶ ἄναλκις

οὔτέ ποτʼ ἐν πολέμῳ ἐναρίθμιος οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ·

οὐ μέν πως πάντες βασιλεύσομεν ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιοί·

οὐκ ἀγαθὸν πολυκοιρανίη· εἷς κοίρανος ἔστω,

one king to whom the son of scheming Kronos has given the scepter and divine laws to rule over you all." Thus masterfully did he go about among the host, and the people hurried back to the council from their tents and ships with a sound as the thunder of surf when it comes crashing down upon the shore,

εἷς βασιλεύς, ᾧ δῶκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω

σκῆπτρόν τʼ ἠδὲ θέμιστας, ἵνά σφισι βουλεύῃσι.

ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων δίεπε στρατόν· οἳ δʼ ἀγορὴν δὲ

αὖτις ἐπεσσεύοντο νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων

ἠχῇ, ὡς ὅτε κῦμα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης

and all the sea [ pontos ] is in an uproar. The rest now took their seats and kept to their own several places, but Thersites still went on wagging his unbridled tongue - a man of many words, and those unseemly; a monger of sedition, a railer against all who were in authority [ kosmos ], who cared not what he said,

αἰγιαλῷ μεγάλῳ βρέμεται, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε πόντος.

ἄλλοι μέν ῥʼ ἕζοντο, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθʼ ἕδρας·

Θερσίτης δʼ ἔτι μοῦνος ἀμετροεπὴς ἐκολῴα,

ὃς ἔπεα φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἄκοσμά τε πολλά τε ᾔδη

μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν,

so that he might set the Achaeans in a laugh. He was the ugliest man of all those that came before Troy - bandy-legged, lame of one foot, with his two shoulders rounded and hunched over his chest. His head ran up to a point, but there was little hair on the top of it.

ἀλλʼ ὅ τι οἱ εἴσαιτο γελοίϊον Ἀργείοισιν

ἔμμεναι· αἴσχιστος δὲ ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε·

φολκὸς ἔην, χωλὸς δʼ ἕτερον πόδα· τὼ δέ οἱ ὤμω

κυρτὼ ἐπὶ στῆθος συνοχωκότε· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε

φοξὸς ἔην κεφαλήν, ψεδνὴ δʼ ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.

Achilles and Odysseus hated him worst of all, for it was with them that he was most wont to wrangle; now, however, with a shrill squeaky voice he began heaping his abuse on Agamemnon. The Achaeans were angry and disgusted, yet none the less he kept on brawling and bawling at the son of Atreus.

ἔχθιστος δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ μάλιστʼ ἦν ἠδʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ·

τὼ γὰρ νεικείεσκε· τότʼ αὖτʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ

ὀξέα κεκλήγων λέγʼ ὀνείδεα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐκπάγλως κοτέοντο νεμέσσηθέν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.

αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὰ βοῶν Ἀγαμέμνονα νείκεε μύθῳ·

"Agamemnon," he cried, "what ails you now, and what more do you want? Your tents are filled with bronze and with fair women, for whenever we take a town we give you the pick of them. Would you have yet more gold,

Ἀτρεΐδη τέο δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπιμέμφεαι ἠδὲ χατίζεις;

πλεῖαί τοι χαλκοῦ κλισίαι, πολλαὶ δὲ γυναῖκες

εἰσὶν ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἐξαίρετοι, ἅς τοι Ἀχαιοὶ

πρωτίστῳ δίδομεν εὖτʼ ἂν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.

ἦ ἔτι καὶ χρυσοῦ ἐπιδεύεαι, ὅν κέ τις οἴσει

which some Trojan is to give you as a ransom for his son, when I or another Achaean has taken him prisoner? or is it some young girl to hide and lie with? It is not well that you, the ruler of the Achaeans, should bring them into such misery.

Τρώων ἱπποδάμων ἐξ Ἰλίου υἷος ἄποινα,

ὅν κεν ἐγὼ δήσας ἀγάγω ἢ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,

ἠὲ γυναῖκα νέην, ἵνα μίσγεαι ἐν φιλότητι,

ἥν τʼ αὐτὸς ἀπονόσφι κατίσχεαι; οὐ μὲν ἔοικεν

ἀρχὸν ἐόντα κακῶν ἐπιβασκέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

Weakling cowards, women rather than men, let us sail home, and leave this man here at Troy to stew in his own prizes of honor, and discover whether we were of any service to him or no. Achilles is a much better man than he is, and see how he has treated him -

ὦ πέπονες κάκʼ ἐλέγχεʼ Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτʼ Ἀχαιοὶ

οἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα, τόνδε δʼ ἐῶμεν

αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ γέρα πεσσέμεν, ὄφρα ἴδηται

ἤ ῥά τί οἱ χἠμεῖς προσαμύνομεν ἦε καὶ οὐκί·

ὃς καὶ νῦν Ἀχιλῆα ἕο μέγʼ ἀμείνονα φῶτα

robbing him of his prize and keeping it himself. Achilles takes it meekly and shows no fight; if he did, son of Atreus, you would never again insult him." Thus railed Thersites, but Odysseus at once went up to him

ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.

ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὐκ Ἀχιλῆϊ χόλος φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ μεθήμων·

ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο·

ὣς φάτο νεικείων Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν,

Θερσίτης· τῷ δʼ ὦκα παρίστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

and rebuked him sternly. "Check your glib tongue, Thersites," said be, "and babble not a word further. Chide not with princes when you have none to back you. There is no viler creature come before Troy with the sons of Atreus.

καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·

Θερσῖτʼ ἀκριτόμυθε, λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής,

ἴσχεο, μηδʼ ἔθελʼ οἶος ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν·

οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ σέο φημὶ χερειότερον βροτὸν ἄλλον

ἔμμεναι, ὅσσοι ἅμʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον.

Drop this chatter about kings, and neither revile them nor keep harping about homecoming [ nostos ]. We do not yet know how things are going to be, nor whether the Achaeans are to return with good success or evil. How dare you gibe at Agamemnon

τὼ οὐκ ἂν βασιλῆας ἀνὰ στόμʼ ἔχων ἀγορεύοις,

καί σφιν ὀνείδεά τε προφέροις, νόστόν τε φυλάσσοις.

οὐδέ τί πω σάφα ἴδμεν ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,

ἢ εὖ ἦε κακῶς νοστήσομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

τὼ νῦν Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν

because the Danaans have awarded him so many prizes? I tell you, therefore - and it shall surely be - that if I again catch you talking such nonsense, I will either forfeit my own head

ἧσαι ὀνειδίζων, ὅτι οἱ μάλα πολλὰ διδοῦσιν

ἥρωες Δαναοί· σὺ δὲ κερτομέων ἀγορεύεις.

ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·

εἴ κʼ ἔτι σʼ ἀφραίνοντα κιχήσομαι ὥς νύ περ ὧδε,

μηκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη,

and be no more called father of Telemakhos, or I will take you, strip away from you all respect [ aidôs ], and whip you out of the assembly till you go blubbering back to the ships."

μηδʼ ἔτι Τηλεμάχοιο πατὴρ κεκλημένος εἴην,

εἰ μὴ ἐγώ σε λαβὼν ἀπὸ μὲν φίλα εἵματα δύσω,

χλαῖνάν τʼ ἠδὲ χιτῶνα, τά τʼ αἰδῶ ἀμφικαλύπτει,

αὐτὸν δὲ κλαίοντα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἀφήσω

πεπλήγων ἀγορῆθεν ἀεικέσσι πληγῇσιν.

On this he beat him with his staff about the back and shoulders till he dropped and fell a-weeping. The golden scepter raised a bloody weal on his back, so he sat down frightened and in pain, looking foolish as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, σκήπτρῳ δὲ μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμω

πλῆξεν· ὃ δʼ ἰδνώθη, θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ·

σμῶδιξ δʼ αἱματόεσσα μεταφρένου ἐξυπανέστη

σκήπτρου ὕπο χρυσέου· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο τάρβησέν τε,

ἀλγήσας δʼ ἀχρεῖον ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ.

The people were sorry for him, yet they laughed heartily, and one would turn to his neighbor saying, "Odysseus has done many a good thing ere now in fight and council, but he never did the Argives a better turn

οἳ δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·

ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ μυρίʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐσθλὰ ἔοργε

βουλάς τʼ ἐξάρχων ἀγαθὰς πόλεμόν τε κορύσσων·

νῦν δὲ τόδε μέγʼ ἄριστον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔρεξεν,

than when he stopped this man's mouth from prating further. He will give the kings no more of his insolence." Thus said the people. Then Odysseus rose, scepter in hand, and Athena

ὃς τὸν λωβητῆρα ἐπεσβόλον ἔσχʼ ἀγοράων.

οὔ θήν μιν πάλιν αὖτις ἀνήσει θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ

νεικείειν βασιλῆας ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν.

ὣς φάσαν ἣ πληθύς· ἀνὰ δʼ ὃ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς

ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων· παρὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

in the likeness of a herald bade the people be still, that those who were far off might hear him and consider his council. He therefore with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: - "King Agamemnon, the Achaeans are for

εἰδομένη κήρυκι σιωπᾶν λαὸν ἀνώγει,

ὡς ἅμα θʼ οἳ πρῶτοί τε καὶ ὕστατοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

μῦθον ἀκούσειαν καὶ ἐπιφρασσαίατο βουλήν·

ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν δή σε ἄναξ ἐθέλουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

making you a by-word among all humankind. They forget the promise they made you when they set out from Argos , that you should not return till you had sacked the town of Troy , and, like children or widowed women,

πᾶσιν ἐλέγχιστον θέμεναι μερόπεσσι βροτοῖσιν,

οὐδέ τοι ἐκτελέουσιν ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέσταν

ἐνθάδʼ ἔτι στείχοντες ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο

Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι.

ὥς τε γὰρ ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκες

they murmur and would set off homeward. True it is that they have had toil [ponos] enough to be disheartened. A man chafes at having to stay away from his wife even for a single month, when he is on shipboard, at the mercy of wind and sea,

ἀλλήλοισιν ὀδύρονται οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.

ἦ μὴν καὶ πόνος ἐστὶν ἀνιηθέντα νέεσθαι·

καὶ γάρ τίς θʼ ἕνα μῆνα μένων ἀπὸ ἧς ἀλόχοιο

ἀσχαλάᾳ σὺν νηῒ πολυζύγῳ, ὅν περ ἄελλαι

χειμέριαι εἰλέωσιν ὀρινομένη τε θάλασσα·

but it is now nine long years that we have been kept here; I cannot, therefore, blame the Achaeans if they turn restive; still we shall be shamed if we go home empty after so long a stay - therefore, my friends, be patient yet a little longer that we may learn

ἡμῖν δʼ εἴνατός ἐστι περιτροπέων ἐνιαυτὸς

ἐνθάδε μιμνόντεσσι· τὼ οὐ νεμεσίζομʼ Ἀχαιοὺς

ἀσχαλάαν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης

αἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μένειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι.

τλῆτε φίλοι, καὶ μείνατʼ ἐπὶ χρόνον ὄφρα δαῶμεν

whether the prophesyings of Kalkhas were false or true. "All who have not since perished must remember as though it were yesterday or the day before, how the ships of the Achaeans were detained in Aulis when we were on our way hither to make war on Priam and the Trojans.

ἢ ἐτεὸν Κάλχας μαντεύεται ἦε καὶ οὐκί.

εὖ γὰρ δὴ τόδε ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἐστὲ δὲ πάντες

μάρτυροι, οὓς μὴ κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι·

χθιζά τε καὶ πρωΐζʼ ὅτʼ ἐς Αὐλίδα νῆες Ἀχαιῶν

ἠγερέθοντο κακὰ Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ φέρουσαι,

We were ranged round about a fountain offering hecatombs to the gods upon their holy altars, and there was a fine plane-tree from beneath which there welled a stream of pure water. Then we saw a sign [ sêma ]; for Zeus sent a fearful serpent out of the ground, with blood-red stains upon its back,

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ κρήνην ἱεροὺς κατὰ βωμοὺς

ἕρδομεν ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας

καλῇ ὑπὸ πλατανίστῳ ὅθεν ῥέεν ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ·

ἔνθʼ ἐφάνη μέγα σῆμα· δράκων ἐπὶ νῶτα δαφοινὸς

σμερδαλέος, τόν ῥʼ αὐτὸς Ὀλύμπιος ἧκε φόως δέ,

and it darted from under the altar on to the plane-tree. Now there was a brood of young sparrows, quite small, upon the topmost bough, peeping out from under the leaves, eight in all, and their mother that hatched them made nine. The serpent ate the poor cheeping things,

βωμοῦ ὑπαΐξας πρός ῥα πλατάνιστον ὄρουσεν.

ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν στρουθοῖο νεοσσοί, νήπια τέκνα,

ὄζῳ ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτῳ πετάλοις ὑποπεπτηῶτες

ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα·

ἔνθʼ ὅ γε τοὺς ἐλεεινὰ κατήσθιε τετριγῶτας·

while the old bird flew about lamenting her little ones; but the serpent threw his coils about her and caught her by the wing as she was screaming. Then, when he had eaten both the sparrow and her young, the god who had sent him made him become a sign; for the son of scheming Kronos turned him into stone,

μήτηρ δʼ ἀμφεποτᾶτο ὀδυρομένη φίλα τέκνα·

τὴν δʼ ἐλελιξάμενος πτέρυγος λάβεν ἀμφιαχυῖαν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτήν,

τὸν μὲν ἀρίζηλον θῆκεν θεὸς ὅς περ ἔφηνε·

λᾶαν γάρ μιν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·

and we stood there wondering at that which had come to pass. Seeing, then, that such a fearful portent had broken in upon our hecatombs, Kalkhas forthwith declared to us the oracles of heaven. ‘Why, Achaeans,’ said he, ‘are you thus speechless? Zeus has sent us this sign,

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἑσταότες θαυμάζομεν οἷον ἐτύχθη.

ὡς οὖν δεινὰ πέλωρα θεῶν εἰσῆλθʼ ἑκατόμβας,

Κάλχας δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευε·

τίπτʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένεσθε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί;

ἡμῖν μὲν τόδʼ ἔφηνε τέρας μέγα μητίετα Ζεὺς

long in coming, and long ere it be fulfilled, though its fame [ kleos ] shall last for ever. As the serpent ate the eight fledglings and the sparrow that hatched them, which makes nine, so shall we fight nine years at Troy , but in the tenth shall take the town.’

ὄψιμον ὀψιτέλεστον, ὅου κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται.

ὡς οὗτος κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτὴν

ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα,

ὣς ἡμεῖς τοσσαῦτʼ ἔτεα πτολεμίξομεν αὖθι,

τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.

This was what he said, and now it is all coming true. Stay here, therefore, all of you, till we take the city of Priam." On this the Argives raised a shout, till the ships rang again with the uproar.

κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε· τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε μίμνετε πάντες ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

αὐτοῦ εἰς ὅ κεν ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἕλωμεν.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες

σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν,

Nestor, horseman of Gerene, then addressed them. "Shame on you," he cried, "to stay talking here like children, when you should fight like men. Where are our covenants now, and where the oaths that we have taken?

μῦθον ἐπαινήσαντες Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

ὦ πόποι ἦ δὴ παισὶν ἐοικότες ἀγοράασθε

νηπιάχοις οἷς οὔ τι μέλει πολεμήϊα ἔργα.

πῇ δὴ συνθεσίαι τε καὶ ὅρκια βήσεται ἥμιν;

Shall our counsels be flung into the fire, with our drink-offerings and the right hands of fellowship wherein we have put our trust? We waste our time in words, and for all our talking here shall be no further forward. Stand, therefore, son of Atreus, by your own steadfast purpose;

ἐν πυρὶ δὴ βουλαί τε γενοίατο μήδεά τʼ ἀνδρῶν

σπονδαί τʼ ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαί, ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν·

αὔτως γὰρ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι μῆχος

εὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες.

Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δʼ ἔθʼ ὡς πρὶν ἔχων ἀστεμφέα βουλὴν

lead the Argives on to battle, and leave this handful of men to rot, who scheme, and scheme in vain, to get back to Argos ere they have learned whether Zeus be true or a liar.

ἄρχευʼ Ἀργείοισι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας,

τούσδε δʼ ἔα φθινύθειν ἕνα καὶ δύο, τοί κεν Ἀχαιῶν

νόσφιν βουλεύωσʼ· ἄνυσις δʼ οὐκ ἔσσεται αὐτῶν·

πρὶν Ἄργος δʼ ἰέναι πρὶν καὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

γνώμεναι εἴ τε ψεῦδος ὑπόσχεσις εἴ τε καὶ οὐκί.

For the mighty son of Kronos surely promised that we should succeed, when we Argives set sail to bring death and destruction upon the Trojans. He showed us favorable signs [ sêmata ] by flashing his lightning on our right hands; therefore let none make haste to go

φημὶ γὰρ οὖν κατανεῦσαι ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωνα

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε νηυσὶν ἐν ὠκυπόροισιν ἔβαινον

Ἀργεῖοι Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες

ἀστράπτων ἐπιδέξιʼ ἐναίσιμα σήματα φαίνων.

τὼ μή τις πρὶν ἐπειγέσθω οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι

till he has first lain with the wife of some Trojan, and avenged the toil and sorrow that he has suffered for the sake of Helen. Nevertheless, if any man is in such haste to be at home again, let him lay his hand to his ship that he may meet his doom in the sight of all.

πρίν τινα πὰρ Τρώων ἀλόχῳ κατακοιμηθῆναι,

τίσασθαι δʼ Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.

εἰ δέ τις ἐκπάγλως ἐθέλει οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι

ἁπτέσθω ἧς νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης,

ὄφρα πρόσθʼ ἄλλων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.

But, O king, consider and give ear to my counsel, for the word that I say may not be neglected lightly. Divide [ krinô ] your men, Agamemnon, into their several tribes and clans, that clans and tribes may stand by and help one another. If you do this, and if the Achaeans obey you,

ἀλλὰ ἄναξ αὐτός τʼ εὖ μήδεο πείθεό τʼ ἄλλῳ·

οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητον ἔπος ἔσσεται ὅττί κεν εἴπω·

κρῖνʼ ἄνδρας κατὰ φῦλα κατὰ φρήτρας Ἀγάμεμνον,

ὡς φρήτρη φρήτρηφιν ἀρήγῃ, φῦλα δὲ φύλοις.

εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί,

you will find out who, both chiefs and peoples, are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie against the other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall fail to take the town." And Agamemnon answered,

γνώσῃ ἔπειθʼ ὅς θʼ ἡγεμόνων κακὸς ὅς τέ νυ λαῶν

ἠδʼ ὅς κʼ ἐσθλὸς ἔῃσι· κατὰ σφέας γὰρ μαχέονται.

γνώσεαι δʼ εἰ καὶ θεσπεσίῃ πόλιν οὐκ ἀλαπάξεις,

ἦ ἀνδρῶν κακότητι καὶ ἀφραδίῃ πολέμοιο.

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·

"Nestor, you have again outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that I had among them ten more such councilors, for the city of King Priam would then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it.

ἦ μὰν αὖτʼ ἀγορῇ νικᾷς γέρον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.

αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον

τοιοῦτοι δέκα μοι συμφράδμονες εἶεν Ἀχαιῶν·

τώ κε τάχʼ ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

χερσὶν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.

But the son of Kronos afflicts me with bootless wranglings and strife. Achilles and I are quarreling about this girl, in which matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind again,

ἀλλά μοι αἰγίοχος Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν,

ὅς με μετʼ ἀπρήκτους ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα βάλλει.

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν Ἀχιλεύς τε μαχεσσάμεθʼ εἵνεκα κούρης

ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἦρχον χαλεπαίνων·

εἰ δέ ποτʼ ἔς γε μίαν βουλεύσομεν, οὐκέτʼ ἔπειτα

the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day. Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of your shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your chariots carefully over,

Τρωσὶν ἀνάβλησις κακοῦ ἔσσεται οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν.

νῦν δʼ ἔρχεσθʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.

εὖ μέν τις δόρυ θηξάσθω, εὖ δʼ ἀσπίδα θέσθω,

εὖ δέ τις ἵπποισιν δεῖπνον δότω ὠκυπόδεσσιν,

εὖ δέ τις ἅρματος ἀμφὶς ἰδὼν πολέμοιο μεδέσθω,

that we may do battle the livelong day; for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night falls to part us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary upon your spears,

ὥς κε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρινώμεθʼ Ἄρηϊ.

οὐ γὰρ παυσωλή γε μετέσσεται οὐδʼ ἠβαιὸν

εἰ μὴ νὺξ ἐλθοῦσα διακρινέει μένος ἀνδρῶν.

ἱδρώσει μέν τευ τελαμὼν ἀμφὶ στήθεσφιν

ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης, περὶ δʼ ἔγχεϊ χεῖρα καμεῖται·

your horses shall steam in front of your chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him, but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures." Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared approval. As when the waves run high

ἱδρώσει δέ τευ ἵππος ἐΰξοον ἅρμα τιταίνων.

ὃν δέ κʼ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε μάχης ἐθέλοντα νοήσω

μιμνάζειν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὔ οἱ ἔπειτα

ἄρκιον ἐσσεῖται φυγέειν κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνούς.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχον ὡς ὅτε κῦμα

before the blast of the south wind and break on some lofty headland, dashing against it and buffeting it without ceasing, as the storms from every quarter drive them, even so did the Achaeans rise and hurry in all directions to their ships. There they lighted their fires at their tents and got dinner,

ἀκτῇ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ, ὅτε κινήσῃ Νότος ἐλθών,

προβλῆτι σκοπέλῳ· τὸν δʼ οὔ ποτε κύματα λείπει

παντοίων ἀνέμων, ὅτʼ ἂν ἔνθʼ ἢ ἔνθα γένωνται.

ἀνστάντες δʼ ὀρέοντο κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας,

κάπνισσάν τε κατὰ κλισίας, καὶ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο.

offering sacrifice every man to one or other of the gods, and praying each one of them that he might live to come out of the fight. Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat five-year-old bull to the mighty son of Kronos, and invited the princes and elders of his host.

ἄλλος δʼ ἄλλῳ ἔρεζε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων

εὐχόμενος θάνατόν τε φυγεῖν καὶ μῶλον Ἄρηος.

αὐτὰρ ὃ βοῦν ἱέρευσε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

πίονα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι,

κίκλησκεν δὲ γέροντας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν,

First he asked Nestor and King Idomeneus, then the two Ajaxes and the son of Tydeus, and sixthly Odysseus, peer of gods in counsel; but Menelaos came of his own accord, for he knew how busy his brother then was.

Νέστορα μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα,

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ Αἴαντε δύω καὶ Τυδέος υἱόν,

ἕκτον δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον.

αὐτόματος δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

ᾔδεε γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀδελφεὸν ὡς ἐπονεῖτο.

They stood round the bull with the barley-meal in their hands, and Agamemnon prayed, saying, "Zeus, most glorious, supreme, you who dwell in heaven, and ride upon the storm-cloud, grant that the sun may not go down, nor the night fall, till the palace of Priam is laid low,

βοῦν δὲ περιστήσαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο·

τοῖσιν δʼ εὐχόμενος μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·

Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε κελαινεφὲς αἰθέρι ναίων

μὴ πρὶν ἐπʼ ἠέλιον δῦναι καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἐλθεῖν

πρίν με κατὰ πρηνὲς βαλέειν Πριάμοιο μέλαθρον

and its gates are consumed with fire. Grant that my sword may pierce the shirt of Hektor about his heart, and that full many of his comrades may bite the dust as they fall dying round him." Thus he prayed, but the son of Kronos would not fulfill his prayer.

αἰθαλόεν, πρῆσαι δὲ πυρὸς δηΐοιο θύρετρα,

Ἑκτόρεον δὲ χιτῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι δαΐξαι

χαλκῷ ῥωγαλέον· πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι

πρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσιν ὀδὰξ λαζοίατο γαῖαν.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ οἱ ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων,

He accepted the sacrifice, yet none the less increased their toil [ ponos ] continually. When they had done praying and sprinkling the barley-meal upon the victim, they drew back its head, killed it, and then flayed it. They cut out the thigh-bones, wrapped them round in two layers of fat, and set pieces of raw meat on the top of them.

ἀλλʼ ὅ γε δέκτο μὲν ἱρά, πόνον δʼ ἀμέγαρτον ὄφελλεν.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,

αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,

μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν

δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.

These they burned upon the split logs of firewood, but they spitted the inward meats, and held them in the flames to cook. When the thigh-bones were burned, and they had tasted the inward meats, they cut the rest up small, put the pieces upon spits, roasted them till they were done, and drew them off;

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἂρ σχίζῃσιν ἀφύλλοισιν κατέκαιον,

σπλάγχνα δʼ ἄρʼ ἀμπείραντες ὑπείρεχον Ἡφαίστοιο.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρε κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,

μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,

ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.

then, when they had finished their work [ ponos ] and the feast was ready, they ate it, and every man had his full share, so that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Nestor, horseman of Gerene, began to speak. "King Agamemnon," said he,

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα

δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,

"let us not stay talking here, nor be slack in the work that heaven has put into our hands. Let the heralds summon the people to gather at their several ships; we will then go about among the host,

μηκέτι νῦν δήθʼ αὖθι λεγώμεθα, μηδʼ ἔτι δηρὸν

ἀμβαλλώμεθα ἔργον ὃ δὴ θεὸς ἐγγυαλίζει.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε κήρυκες μὲν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

λαὸν κηρύσσοντες ἀγειρόντων κατὰ νῆας,

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀθρόοι ὧδε κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν

that we may begin fighting at once." Thus did he speak, and Agamemnon heeded his words. He at once sent the criers round to call the people in assembly. So they called them, and the people gathered thereon.

ἴομεν ὄφρα κε θᾶσσον ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.

αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε

κηρύσσειν πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·

οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα.

The chiefs about the son of Atreus chose their men and marshaled [ krinô ] them, while Athena went among them holding her priceless aegis that knows neither age nor death. From it there waved a hundred tassels of pure gold, all deftly woven, and each one of them worth a hundred oxen.

οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀτρεΐωνα διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες

θῦνον κρίνοντες, μετὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

αἰγίδʼ ἔχουσʼ ἐρίτιμον ἀγήρων ἀθανάτην τε,

τῆς ἑκατὸν θύσανοι παγχρύσεοι ἠερέθονται,

πάντες ἐϋπλεκέες, ἑκατόμβοιος δὲ ἕκαστος·

With this she darted furiously everywhere among the hosts of the Achaeans, urging them forward, and putting courage into the heart of each, so that he might fight and do battle without ceasing. Thus war became sweeter in their eyes even than returning home in their ships.

σὺν τῇ παιφάσσουσα διέσσυτο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

ὀτρύνουσʼ ἰέναι· ἐν δὲ σθένος ὦρσεν ἑκάστῳ

καρδίῃ ἄλληκτον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.

τοῖσι δʼ ἄφαρ πόλεμος γλυκίων γένετʼ ἠὲ νέεσθαι

ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.

As when some great forest fire is raging upon a mountain top and its light is seen afar, even so as they marched the gleam of their armor flashed up into the firmament of heaven. They were like great flocks

ἠΰτε πῦρ ἀΐδηλον ἐπιφλέγει ἄσπετον ὕλην

οὔρεος ἐν κορυφῇς, ἕκαθεν δέ τε φαίνεται αὐγή,

ὣς τῶν ἐρχομένων ἀπὸ χαλκοῦ θεσπεσίοιο

αἴγλη παμφανόωσα διʼ αἰθέρος οὐρανὸν ἷκε.

τῶν δʼ ὥς τʼ ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ

of geese, or cranes, or swans on the plain about the waters of Cayster, that wing their way hither and thither, glorying in the pride of flight, and crying as they settle till the fen is alive with their screaming. Even thus did their tribes pour from ships and tents

χηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων

Ἀσίω ἐν λειμῶνι Καϋστρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα

ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ποτῶνται ἀγαλλόμενα πτερύγεσσι

κλαγγηδὸν προκαθιζόντων, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε λειμών,

ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων

on to the plain of the Skamandros, and the ground rang as brass under the feet of men and horses. They stood as thick upon the flower-bespangled field as leaves that bloom in season [ hôra ]. As countless swarms of flies

ἐς πεδίον προχέοντο Σκαμάνδριον· αὐτὰρ ὑπὸ χθὼν

σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε ποδῶν αὐτῶν τε καὶ ἵππων.

ἔσταν δʼ ἐν λειμῶνι Σκαμανδρίῳ ἀνθεμόεντι

μυρίοι, ὅσσά τε φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ.

ἠΰτε μυιάων ἁδινάων ἔθνεα πολλὰ

buzz around a herdsman's homestead in the season [ hôra ] of spring when the pails are drenched with milk, even so did the Achaeans swarm on to the plain to charge the Trojans and destroy them. The chiefs disposed their men this way and that before the fight began, drafting them out

αἵ τε κατὰ σταθμὸν ποιμνήϊον ἠλάσκουσιν

ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ ὅτε τε γλάγος ἄγγεα δεύει,

τόσσοι ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐν πεδίῳ ἵσταντο διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες.

τοὺς δʼ ὥς τʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν αἰπόλοι ἄνδρες

as easily as goatherds draft their flocks when they have got mixed while feeding; and among them went King Agamemnon, with a head and face like Zeus the lord of thunder, a waist like Ares, and a chest like that of Poseidon.

ῥεῖα διακρίνωσιν ἐπεί κε νομῷ μιγέωσιν,

ὣς τοὺς ἡγεμόνες διεκόσμεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα

ὑσμίνην δʼ ἰέναι, μετὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

ὄμματα καὶ κεφαλὴν ἴκελος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ,

Ἄρεϊ δὲ ζώνην, στέρνον δὲ Ποσειδάωνι.

As some great bull that lords it over the herds upon the plain, even so did Zeus make the son of Atreus stand peerless among the multitude of heroes. And now, O Muses, dwellers in the mansions of Olympus , tell me -

ἠΰτε βοῦς ἀγέληφι μέγʼ ἔξοχος ἔπλετο πάντων

ταῦρος· ὃ γάρ τε βόεσσι μεταπρέπει ἀγρομένῃσι·

τοῖον ἄρʼ Ἀτρεΐδην θῆκε Ζεὺς ἤματι κείνῳ

ἐκπρεπέʼ ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἔξοχον ἡρώεσσιν.

ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχουσαι·

for you are goddesses and are in all places so that you see all things, while we know nothing but by report [ kleos ] - who were the chiefs and princes of the Danaans? As for the common warriors, they were so that I could not name every single one of them though I had ten tongues,

ὑμεῖς γὰρ θεαί ἐστε πάρεστέ τε ἴστέ τε πάντα,

ἡμεῖς δὲ κλέος οἶον ἀκούομεν οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν·

οἵ τινες ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν καὶ κοίρανοι ἦσαν·

πληθὺν δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδʼ ὀνομήνω,

οὐδʼ εἴ μοι δέκα μὲν γλῶσσαι, δέκα δὲ στόματʼ εἶεν,

and though my voice failed not and my heart were of bronze within me, unless you, O Olympian Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, were to recount them to me. Nevertheless, I will tell the leaders of the ships and all the fleet together. Peneleos, Leitos,

φωνὴ δʼ ἄρρηκτος, χάλκεον δέ μοι ἦτορ ἐνείη,

εἰ μὴ Ὀλυμπιάδες Μοῦσαι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

θυγατέρες μνησαίαθʼ ὅσοι ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον·

ἀρχοὺς αὖ νηῶν ἐρέω νῆάς τε προπάσας.

Βοιωτῶν μὲν Πηνέλεως καὶ Λήϊτος ἦρχον

Arkesilaos, Prothoenor, and Klonios were leaders of the Boeotians. These were they that dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis , and who held Schoinos, Skolos, and the highlands of Eteonos, with Thespeia, Graia, and the fair city of Mykalessos . They also held Harma , Eilesium, and Erythrae;

Ἀρκεσίλαός τε Προθοήνωρ τε Κλονίος τε,

οἵ θʼ Ὑρίην ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐλίδα πετρήεσσαν

Σχοῖνόν τε Σκῶλόν τε πολύκνημόν τʼ Ἐτεωνόν,

Θέσπειαν Γραῖάν τε καὶ εὐρύχορον Μυκαλησσόν,

οἵ τʼ ἀμφʼ Ἅρμʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Εἰλέσιον καὶ Ἐρυθράς,

and they had Eleon, Hyle, and Peteon; Ocalea and the strong fortress of Medeon ; Copae, Eutresis , and Thisbe the haunt of doves; Coronea , and the pastures of Haliartus; Plataea and Glisas ;

οἵ τʼ Ἐλεῶνʼ εἶχον ἠδʼ Ὕλην καὶ Πετεῶνα,

Ὠκαλέην Μεδεῶνά τʼ ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

Κώπας Εὔτρησίν τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Θίσβην,

οἵ τε Κορώνειαν καὶ ποιήενθʼ Ἁλίαρτον,

οἵ τε Πλάταιαν ἔχον ἠδʼ οἳ Γλισᾶντʼ ἐνέμοντο,

the fortress of Thebes the less; holy Onchestos with its famous grove of Poseidon; Arne rich in vineyards; Midea , sacred Nisa , and Anthedon upon the sea. From these there came fifty ships, and in each

οἵ θʼ Ὑποθήβας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,

Ὀγχηστόν θʼ ἱερὸν Ποσιδήϊον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος,

οἵ τε πολυστάφυλον Ἄρνην ἔχον, οἵ τε Μίδειαν

Νῖσάν τε ζαθέην Ἀνθηδόνα τʼ ἐσχατόωσαν·

τῶν μὲν πεντήκοντα νέες κίον, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ

there were a hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians. Askalaphos and Ialmenos, sons of Ares, led the people that dwelt in Aspledon and Orkhomenos the realm of Minyas. Astyoche a noble maiden bore them in the house of Aktor son of Azeus; for she had gone with Ares secretly into an upper chamber,

κοῦροι Βοιωτῶν ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι βαῖνον.

οἳ δʼ Ἀσπληδόνα ναῖον ἰδʼ Ὀρχομενὸν Μινύειον,

τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἀσκάλαφος καὶ Ἰάλμενος υἷες Ἄρηος

οὓς τέκεν Ἀστυόχη δόμῳ Ἄκτορος Ἀζεΐδαο,

παρθένος αἰδοίη ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα

and he had lain with her. With these there came thirty ships. The Phocaeans were led by Schedios and Epistrophos, sons of mighty Iphitos the son of Naubolos. These were they that held Cyparissus, rocky Pytho ,

Ἄρηϊ κρατερῷ· ὃ δέ οἱ παρελέξατο λάθρῃ·

τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.

αὐτὰρ Φωκήων Σχεδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον

υἷες Ἰφίτου μεγαθύμου Ναυβολίδαο,

οἳ Κυπάρισσον ἔχον Πυθῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν

holy Crisa , Daulis , and Panopeus; they also that dwelt in Anemorea and Hyampolis , and about the waters of the river Kephissos, and Lilaea by the springs of the Kephissos; with their chieftains came forty ships,

Κρῖσάν τε ζαθέην καὶ Δαυλίδα καὶ Πανοπῆα,

οἵ τʼ Ἀνεμώρειαν καὶ Ὑάμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο,

οἵ τʼ ἄρα πὰρ ποταμὸν Κηφισὸν δῖον ἔναιον,

οἵ τε Λίλαιαν ἔχον πηγῇς ἔπι Κηφισοῖο·

τοῖς δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

and they marshaled the forces of the Phocaeans, which were stationed next to the Boeotians, on their left. Ajax, the fleet son of Oileus, commanded the Locrians. He was not so great, nor nearly so great, as Ajax the son of Telamon. He was a little man, and his breastplate was made of linen,

οἳ μὲν Φωκήων στίχας ἵστασαν ἀμφιέποντες,

Βοιωτῶν δʼ ἔμπλην ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ θωρήσσοντο.

Λοκρῶν δʼ ἡγεμόνευεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας

μείων, οὔ τι τόσος γε ὅσος Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

ἀλλὰ πολὺ μείων· ὀλίγος μὲν ἔην λινοθώρηξ,

but in use of the spear he excelled all the Hellenes and the Achaeans. These dwelt in Cynus , Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, fair Augeae, Tarphe, and Thronium about the river Boagrios. With him there came forty ships

ἐγχείῃ δʼ ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς·

οἳ Κῦνόν τʼ ἐνέμοντʼ Ὀπόεντά τε Καλλίαρόν τε

Βῆσσάν τε Σκάρφην τε καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινὰς

Τάρφην τε Θρόνιον τε Βοαγρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα·

τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο

of the Locrians who dwell beyond Euboea . The fierce Abantes held Euboea with its cities, Khalkis , Eretria , Histiaea rich in vines, Cerinthus upon the sea, and the rock-perched town of Dion ; with them were also the men of Karystos and Styra ;

Λοκρῶν, οἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἱερῆς Εὐβοίης.

οἳ δʼ Εὔβοιαν ἔχον μένεα πνείοντες Ἄβαντες

Χαλκίδα τʼ Εἰρέτριάν τε πολυστάφυλόν θʼ Ἱστίαιαν

Κήρινθόν τʼ ἔφαλον Δίου τʼ αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,

οἵ τε Κάρυστον ἔχον ἠδʼ οἳ Στύρα ναιετάασκον,

Elephenor of the race of Ares was in command of these; he was son of Khalkodon, and chief over all the Abantes. With him they came, fleet of foot and wearing their hair long behind, brave warriors, who would ever strive to tear open the corselets of their foes with their long ashen spears.

τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ Ἐλεφήνωρ ὄζος Ἄρηος

Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων.

τῷ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἄβαντες ἕποντο θοοὶ ὄπιθεν κομόωντες

αἰχμηταὶ μεμαῶτες ὀρεκτῇσιν μελίῃσι

θώρηκας ῥήξειν δηΐων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι·

Of these there came fifty ships. And they that held the strong city of Athens , the dêmos of great Erechtheus, who was born of the soil itself, but Zeus' daughter, Athena, fostered him, and established him at Athens in her own rich sanctuary. There, year by year, the Athenian youths worship him

τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον

δῆμον Ἐρεχθῆος μεγαλήτορος, ὅν ποτʼ Ἀθήνη

θρέψε Διὸς θυγάτηρ, τέκε δὲ ζείδωρος ἄρουρα,

κὰδ δʼ ἐν Ἀθήνῃς εἷσεν ἑῷ ἐν πίονι νηῷ·

with sacrifices of bulls and rams. These were commanded by Menestheus, son of Peteos. No man living could equal him in the marshaling of chariots and foot soldiers.

ἔνθα δέ μιν ταύροισι καὶ ἀρνειοῖς ἱλάονται

κοῦροι Ἀθηναίων περιτελλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν·

τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς.

τῷ δʼ οὔ πώ τις ὁμοῖος ἐπιχθόνιος γένετʼ ἀνὴρ

κοσμῆσαι ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας·

Nestor could alone rival him, for he was older. With him there came fifty ships. Ajax brought twelve ships from Salamis , and stationed them alongside those of the Athenians. The men of Argos , again, and those who held the walls of Tiryns ,

Νέστωρ οἶος ἔριζεν· ὃ γὰρ προγενέστερος ἦεν·

τῷ δʼ ἅμα πεντήκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

Αἴας δʼ ἐκ Σαλαμῖνος ἄγεν δυοκαίδεκα νῆας,

στῆσε δʼ ἄγων ἵνʼ Ἀθηναίων ἵσταντο φάλαγγες.

οἳ δʼ Ἄργός τʼ εἶχον Τίρυνθά τε τειχιόεσσαν

with Hermione , and Asine upon the gulf; Trozen, Eionae, and the vineyard lands of Epidaurus ; the Achaean youths, moreover, who came from Aegina and Mases ; these were led by Diomedes of the loud battle-cry, and Sthenelos son of famed Kapaneus.

Ἑρμιόνην Ἀσίνην τε, βαθὺν κατὰ κόλπον ἐχούσας,

Τροιζῆνʼ Ἠϊόνας τε καὶ ἀμπελόεντʼ Ἐπίδαυρον,

οἵ τʼ ἔχον Αἴγιναν Μάσητά τε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,

τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης

καὶ Σθένελος, Καπανῆος ἀγακλειτοῦ φίλος υἱός·

With them in command was Euryalos, son of king Mekisteus, son of Talaos; but Diomedes was chief over them all. With these there came eighty ships. Those who held the strong city of Mycenae ,

τοῖσι δʼ ἅμʼ Εὐρύαλος τρίτατος κίεν ἰσόθεος φὼς

Μηκιστέος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος·

συμπάντων δʼ ἡγεῖτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

τοῖσι δʼ ἅμʼ ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.

οἳ δὲ Μυκήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον

rich Corinth and Cleonae; Orneae, Araethyrea, and Licyon, where Adrastos reigned of old; Hyperesia , high Gonoessa, and Pellene ; Aegium

ἀφνειόν τε Κόρινθον ἐϋκτιμένας τε Κλεωνάς,

Ὀρνειάς τʼ ἐνέμοντο Ἀραιθυρέην τʼ ἐρατεινὴν

καὶ Σικυῶνʼ, ὅθʼ ἄρʼ Ἄδρηστος πρῶτʼ ἐμβασίλευεν,

οἵ θʼ Ὑπερησίην τε καὶ αἰπεινὴν Γονόεσσαν

Πελλήνην τʼ εἶχον ἠδʼ Αἴγιον ἀμφενέμοντο

and all the coast-land round about Helike ; these sent a hundred ships under the command of King Agamemnon, son of Atreus. His force was far both finest and most numerous, and in their midst was the king himself, all glorious in his armor of gleaming bronze - foremost among the heroes,

Αἰγιαλόν τʼ ἀνὰ πάντα καὶ ἀμφʼ Ἑλίκην εὐρεῖαν,

τῶν ἑκατὸν νηῶν ἦρχε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

Ἀτρεΐδης· ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι

λαοὶ ἕποντʼ· ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐδύσετο νώροπα χαλκὸν

κυδιόων, πᾶσιν δὲ μετέπρεπεν ἡρώεσσιν

for he was the greatest king, and had most men under him. And those that dwelt in Lacedaemon , lying low among the hills, Pharis, Sparta , with Messe the haunt of doves; Bryseae , Augeae, Amyclae, and Helos upon the sea;

οὕνεκʼ ἄριστος ἔην πολὺ δὲ πλείστους ἄγε λαούς.

οἳ δʼ εἶχον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,

Φᾶρίν τε Σπάρτην τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Μέσσην,

Βρυσειάς τʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινάς,

οἵ τʼ ἄρʼ Ἀμύκλας εἶχον Ἕλος τʼ ἔφαλον πτολίεθρον,

Laas , moreover, and Oetylus; these were led by Menelaos of the loud battle-cry, brother to Agamemnon, and of them there were sixty ships, drawn up apart from the others. Among them went Menelaos himself, strong in zeal, urging his men to fight; for he longed to

οἵ τε Λάαν εἶχον ἠδʼ Οἴτυλον ἀμφενέμοντο,

τῶν οἱ ἀδελφεὸς ἦρχε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος

ἑξήκοντα νεῶν· ἀπάτερθε δὲ θωρήσσοντο·

ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς κίεν ᾗσι προθυμίῃσι πεποιθὼς

ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δέ· μάλιστα δὲ ἵετο θυμῷ

avenge the toil and sorrow that he had suffered for the sake of Helen. The men of Pylos and Arene , and Thryum where is the ford of the river Alpheus; strong Aipy, Cyparisseis, and Amphigenea; Pteleum, Helos , and Dorium, where the Muses

τίσασθαι Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.

οἳ δὲ Πύλον τʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ἀρήνην ἐρατεινὴν

καὶ Θρύον Ἀλφειοῖο πόρον καὶ ἐΰκτιτον Αἰπὺ

καὶ Κυπαρισσήεντα καὶ Ἀμφιγένειαν ἔναιον

καὶ Πτελεὸν καὶ Ἕλος καὶ Δώριον, ἔνθά τε Μοῦσαι

met Thamyris, and stilled his minstrelsy for ever. He was returning from Oechalia , where Eurytos lived and reigned, and boasted that he would surpass even the Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, if they should sing against him; whereon they were angry, and maimed him.

ἀντόμεναι Θάμυριν τὸν Θρήϊκα παῦσαν ἀοιδῆς

Οἰχαλίηθεν ἰόντα παρʼ Εὐρύτου Οἰχαλιῆος·

στεῦτο γὰρ εὐχόμενος νικησέμεν εἴ περ ἂν αὐταὶ

Μοῦσαι ἀείδοιεν κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·

αἳ δὲ χολωσάμεναι πηρὸν θέσαν, αὐτὰρ ἀοιδὴν

They robbed him of his divine power of song, and thenceforth he could strike the lyre no more. These were commanded by Nestor, horseman of Gerene, and with him there came ninety ships. And those that held Arcadia , under the high mountain of Cyllene, near the tomb of Aipytos, where the people fight hand to hand;

θεσπεσίην ἀφέλοντο καὶ ἐκλέλαθον κιθαριστύν·

τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

τῷ δʼ ἐνενήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.

οἳ δʼ ἔχον Ἀρκαδίην ὑπὸ Κυλλήνης ὄρος αἰπὺ

Αἰπύτιον παρὰ τύμβον ἵνʼ ἀνέρες ἀγχιμαχηταί,

the men of Pheneus also, and Orkhomenos rich in flocks; of Rhipae, Stratie, and bleak Enispe ; of Tegea and fair Mantinea ; of Stymphelus and Parrhasia ; of these King Agapenor son of Ankaios was commander,

οἳ Φενεόν τʼ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ὀρχομενὸν πολύμηλον

Ῥίπην τε Στρατίην τε καὶ ἠνεμόεσσαν Ἐνίσπην

καὶ Τεγέην εἶχον καὶ Μαντινέην ἐρατεινὴν

Στύμφηλόν τʼ εἶχον καὶ Παρρασίην ἐνέμοντο,

τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἀγκαίοιο πάϊς κρείων Ἀγαπήνωρ

and they had sixty ships. Many Arcadians, good warriors, came in each one of them, but Agamemnon found them the ships in which to cross the sea [ pontos ], for they were not a people that occupied their business upon the waters.

ἑξήκοντα νεῶν· πολέες δʼ ἐν νηῒ ἑκάστῃ

Ἀρκάδες ἄνδρες ἔβαινον ἐπιστάμενοι πολεμίζειν.

αὐτὸς γάρ σφιν δῶκεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους περάαν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον

Ἀτρεΐδης, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι θαλάσσια ἔργα μεμήλει.

The men, moreover, of Bouprasion and of Elis , so much of it as is enclosed between Hyrmine, Myrsinus upon the sea-shore, the rock Olene and Alesium. These had four leaders, and each of them had ten ships, with many Epeans on board.

οἳ δʼ ἄρα Βουπράσιόν τε καὶ Ἤλιδα δῖαν ἔναιον

ὅσσον ἐφʼ Ὑρμίνη καὶ Μύρσινος ἐσχατόωσα

πέτρη τʼ Ὠλενίη καὶ Ἀλήσιον ἐντὸς ἐέργει,

τῶν αὖ τέσσαρες ἀρχοὶ ἔσαν, δέκα δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ

νῆες ἕποντο θοαί, πολέες δʼ ἔμβαινον Ἐπειοί.

Their leaders were Amphimakhos and Thalpios - the one, son of Kteatos, and the other, of Eurytos - both of the race of Aktor. The two others were Diores, son of Amarynkes, and Polyxenos, son of King Agasthenes, son of Augeas.

τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Θάλπιος ἡγησάσθην

υἷες ὃ μὲν Κτεάτου, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Εὐρύτου, Ἀκτορίωνε·

τῶν δʼ Ἀμαρυγκεΐδης ἦρχε κρατερὸς Διώρης·

τῶν δὲ τετάρτων ἦρχε Πολύξεινος θεοειδὴς

υἱὸς Ἀγασθένεος Αὐγηϊάδαο ἄνακτος.

And those of Dulichium with the sacred Echinean islands, who dwelt beyond the sea off Elis ; these were led by Meges, peer of Ares, and the son of valiant Phyleus, dear to Zeus, who quarreled with his father, and went to settle in Dulichium.

οἳ δʼ ἐκ Δουλιχίοιο Ἐχινάων θʼ ἱεράων

νήσων, αἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἁλὸς Ἤλιδος ἄντα,

τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε Μέγης ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ

Φυλεΐδης, ὃν τίκτε Διῒ φίλος ἱππότα Φυλεύς,

ὅς ποτε Δουλίχιον δʼ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς·

With him there came forty ships. Odysseus led the brave Cephallenians, who held Ithaca , Neritum with its forests, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, Samos and Zacynthus ,