Iliad

When the companies were thus arrayed, each under its own leader, the Trojans advanced as a flight of wild fowl or cranes that scream overhead when rain and winter drive them over the flowing waters of Okeanos to bring death and destruction on the Pygmies, and they wrangle in the air as they fly; but the Achaeans marched silently, in high heart, and minded to stand by one another.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κόσμηθεν ἅμʼ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕκαστοι,

Τρῶες μὲν κλαγγῇ τʼ ἐνοπῇ τʼ ἴσαν ὄρνιθες ὣς

ἠΰτε περ κλαγγὴ γεράνων πέλει οὐρανόθι πρό·

αἵ τʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν χειμῶνα φύγον καὶ ἀθέσφατον ὄμβρον

κλαγγῇ ταί γε πέτονται ἐπʼ ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων

ἀνδράσι Πυγμαίοισι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέρουσαι·

ἠέριαι δʼ ἄρα ταί γε κακὴν ἔριδα προφέρονται.

οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ ἴσαν σιγῇ μένεα πνείοντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἐν θυμῷ μεμαῶτες ἀλεξέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν.

As when the south wind spreads a curtain of mist upon the mountain tops, bad for shepherds but better than night for thieves, and a man can see no further than he can throw a stone, even so rose the dust from under their feet as they made all speed over the plain.

εὖτʼ ὄρεος κορυφῇσι Νότος κατέχευεν ὀμίχλην

ποιμέσιν οὔ τι φίλην, κλέπτῃ δέ τε νυκτὸς ἀμείνω,

τόσσόν τίς τʼ ἐπιλεύσσει ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ λᾶαν ἵησιν·

ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὑπὸ ποσσὶ κονίσαλος ὄρνυτʼ ἀελλὴς

ἐρχομένων· μάλα δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο.

When they were close up with one another, Alexander came forward as champion on the Trojan side. On his shoulders he bore the skin of a panther, his bow, and his sword, and he brandished two spears shod with bronze as a challenge to the bravest of the Achaeans to meet him in single fight. Menelaos saw him thus stride out before the ranks, and was glad as a hungry lion that lights on the carcass of some goat or horned stag, and devours it there and then, though dogs and youths set upon him. Even thus was Menelaos glad when his eyes caught sight of Alexander, for he deemed that now he should be revenged.

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,

Τρωσὶν μὲν προμάχιζεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς

παρδαλέην ὤμοισιν ἔχων καὶ καμπύλα τόξα

καὶ ξίφος· αὐτὰρ δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ

πάλλων Ἀργείων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους

ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

ἐρχόμενον προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου μακρὰ βιβάντα,

ὥς τε λέων ἐχάρη μεγάλῳ ἐπὶ σώματι κύρσας

εὑρὼν ἢ ἔλαφον κεραὸν ἢ ἄγριον αἶγα

πεινάων· μάλα γάρ τε κατεσθίει, εἴ περ ἂν αὐτὸν

σεύωνται ταχέες τε κύνες θαλεροί τʼ αἰζηοί·

He sprang, therefore, from his chariot, clad in his suit of armor.

ὣς ἐχάρη Μενέλαος Ἀλέξανδρον θεοειδέα

ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών· φάτο γὰρ τίσεσθαι ἀλείτην·

αὐτίκα δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.

Alexander quailed as he saw Menelaos come forward, and shrank in fear of his life under cover of his men. As one who starts back affrighted, trembling and pale, when he comes suddenly upon a serpent in some mountain glade, even so did Alexander plunge into the throng of Trojan warriors, terror-stricken at the sight of the son Atreus.

τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς

ἐν προμάχοισι φανέντα, κατεπλήγη φίλον ἦτορ,

ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων.

ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε δράκοντα ἰδὼν παλίνορσος ἀπέστη

οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς, ὑπό τε τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα,

ἂψ δʼ ἀνεχώρησεν, ὦχρός τέ μιν εἷλε παρειάς,

ὣς αὖτις καθʼ ὅμιλον ἔδυ Τρώων ἀγερώχων

δείσας Ἀτρέος υἱὸν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής.

τὸν δʼ Ἕκτωρ νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσιν·

Then Hektor upbraided him. " Paris ," said he, "evil-hearted Paris , fair to see, but woman-mad, and false of tongue, would that you had never been born, or that you had died unwed. Better so, than live to be disgraced and looked askance at. Will not the Achaeans mock at us and say that we have sent one to champion us who is fair to see but who has neither wit nor force [ biê ]? Did you not, such as you are, get your following together and sail beyond the seas [ pontos ]? Did you not from your a far country carry off a lovely woman wedded among a people of warriors - to bring sorrow upon your father, your city, and your whole district [ dêmos ], but joy to your enemies, and hang-dog shamefacedness to yourself? And now can you not dare face Menelaos and learn what manner of man he is whose wife you have stolen? Where indeed would be your lyre and your love-tricks, your comely locks and your fair favor, when you were lying in the dust before him? The Trojans are a weak-kneed people, or ere this you would have had a shirt of stones for the wrongs you have done them."

Δύσπαρι εἶδος ἄριστε γυναιμανὲς ἠπεροπευτὰ

αἴθʼ ὄφελες ἄγονός τʼ ἔμεναι ἄγαμός τʼ ἀπολέσθαι·

καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν

ἢ οὕτω λώβην τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ὑπόψιον ἄλλων.

ἦ που καγχαλόωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

φάντες ἀριστῆα πρόμον ἔμμεναι, οὕνεκα καλὸν

εἶδος ἔπʼ, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστι βίη φρεσὶν οὐδέ τις ἀλκή.

ἦ τοιόσδε ἐὼν ἐν ποντοπόροισι νέεσσι

πόντον ἐπιπλώσας, ἑτάρους ἐρίηρας ἀγείρας,

μιχθεὶς ἀλλοδαποῖσι γυναῖκʼ εὐειδέʼ ἀνῆγες

ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης νυὸν ἀνδρῶν αἰχμητάων

πατρί τε σῷ μέγα πῆμα πόληΐ τε παντί τε δήμῳ,

δυσμενέσιν μὲν χάρμα, κατηφείην δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ;

οὐκ ἂν δὴ μείνειας ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον;

γνοίης χʼ οἵου φωτὸς ἔχεις θαλερὴν παράκοιτιν·

οὐκ ἄν τοι χραίσμῃ κίθαρις τά τε δῶρʼ Ἀφροδίτης

ἥ τε κόμη τό τε εἶδος ὅτʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μιγείης.

ἀλλὰ μάλα Τρῶες δειδήμονες· ἦ τέ κεν ἤδη

λάϊνον ἕσσο χιτῶνα κακῶν ἕνεχʼ ὅσσα ἔοργας.

And Alexander answered, "Hektor, your rebuke is just. You are hard as the axe which a shipwright wields at his work, and cleaves the timber to his liking. As the axe in his hand, so keen is the edge of your mind [ noos ]. Still, taunt me not with the gifts that golden Aphrodite has given me; they are precious; let not a man disdain them, for the gods give them where they are minded, and none can have them for the asking. If you would have me do battle with Menelaos, bid the Trojans and Achaeans take their seats, while he and I fight in their midst for Helen and all her wealth.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·

Ἕκτορ ἐπεί με κατʼ αἶσαν ἐνείκεσας οὐδʼ ὑπὲρ αἶσαν·

αἰεί τοι κραδίη πέλεκυς ὥς ἐστιν ἀτειρὴς

ὅς τʼ εἶσιν διὰ δουρὸς ὑπʼ ἀνέρος ὅς ῥά τε τέχνῃ

νήϊον ἐκτάμνῃσιν, ὀφέλλει δʼ ἀνδρὸς ἐρωήν·

ὣς σοὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀτάρβητος νόος ἐστί·

μή μοι δῶρʼ ἐρατὰ πρόφερε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης·

οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητʼ ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα

ὅσσά κεν αὐτοὶ δῶσιν, ἑκὼν δʼ οὐκ ἄν τις ἕλοιτο·

νῦν αὖτʼ εἴ μʼ ἐθέλεις πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,

ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,

αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

συμβάλετʼ ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι·

Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the woman and all she has, to bear them to his home, but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby you Trojans shall stay here in Troy , while the others go home to Argos and the land of the Achaeans."

ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,

κτήμαθʼ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδʼ ἀγέσθω·

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες

ναίοιτε Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νεέσθων

Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα.

When Hektor heard this he was glad, and went about among the Trojan ranks holding his spear by the middle to keep them back, and they all sat down at his bidding: but the Achaeans still aimed at him with stones and arrows, till Agamemnon shouted to them saying, "Hold, Argives, shoot not, sons of the Achaeans; Hektor desires to speak."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐχάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,

καί ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας

μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· τοὶ δʼ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.

τῷ δʼ ἐπετοξάζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

ἰοῖσίν τε τιτυσκόμενοι λάεσσί τʼ ἔβαλλον·

αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὸν ἄϋσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

ἴσχεσθʼ Ἀργεῖοι, μὴ βάλλετε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν·

στεῦται γάρ τι ἔπος ἐρέειν κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἔσχοντο μάχης ἄνεῴ τʼ ἐγένοντο

They ceased taking aim and were still, whereon Hektor spoke. "Hear from my mouth," said he, "Trojans and Achaeans, the saying of Alexander, through whom this quarrel has come about. He bids the Trojans and Achaeans lay their armor upon the ground, while he and Menelaos fight in the midst of you for Helen and all her wealth. Let him who shall be victorious and prove to be the better man take the woman and all she has, to bear them to his own home, but let the rest swear to a solemn covenant of peace."

ἐσσυμένως· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν.

ἄλλους μὲν κέλεται Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς

τεύχεα κάλʼ ἀποθέσθαι ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,

αὐτὸν δʼ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

οἴους ἀμφʼ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι.

ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται

κτήμαθʼ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδʼ ἀγέσθω·

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμωμεν.

Thus he spoke, and they all held their peace, till Menelaos of the loud battle-cry addressed them. "And now," he said, "hear me too, for it is I who am the most aggrieved. I deem that the parting of Achaeans and Trojans is at hand, as well it may be, seeing how much have suffered for my quarrel with Alexander and the wrong he did me. Let him who shall die, die, and let the others fight no more. Bring, then, two lambs, a white ram and a black ewe, for Earth and Sun, and we will bring a third for Zeus. Moreover, you shall bid mighty Priam come, that he may swear to the covenant himself; for his sons are high-handed and ill to trust, and the oaths of Zeus must not be transgressed or taken in vain. Young men's minds are light as air, but when an old man comes he looks before and after, deeming that which shall be fairest upon both sides."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·

κέκλυτε νῦν καὶ ἐμεῖο· μάλιστα γὰρ ἄλγος ἱκάνει

θυμὸν ἐμόν, φρονέω δὲ διακρινθήμεναι ἤδη

Ἀργείους καὶ Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέπασθε

εἵνεκʼ ἐμῆς ἔριδος καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου ἕνεκʼ ἀρχῆς·

ἡμέων δʼ ὁπποτέρῳ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα τέτυκται

τεθναίη· ἄλλοι δὲ διακρινθεῖτε τάχιστα.

οἴσετε ἄρνʼ, ἕτερον λευκόν, ἑτέρην δὲ μέλαιναν,

Γῇ τε καὶ Ἠελίῳ· Διὶ δʼ ἡμεῖς οἴσομεν ἄλλον·

ἄξετε δὲ Πριάμοιο βίην, ὄφρʼ ὅρκια τάμνῃ

αὐτός, ἐπεί οἱ παῖδες ὑπερφίαλοι καὶ ἄπιστοι,

μή τις ὑπερβασίῃ Διὸς ὅρκια δηλήσηται.

αἰεὶ δʼ ὁπλοτέρων ἀνδρῶν φρένες ἠερέθονται·

οἷς δʼ ὁ γέρων μετέῃσιν ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω

λεύσσει, ὅπως ὄχʼ ἄριστα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται.

The Trojans and Achaeans were glad when they heard this, for they thought that they should now have rest. They backed their chariots toward the ranks, got out of them, and put off their armor, laying it down upon the ground; and the hosts were near to one another with a little space between them. Hektor sent two messengers to the city to bring the lambs and to bid Priam come, while Agamemnon told Talthybios to fetch the other lamb from the ships, and he did as Agamemnon had said.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐχάρησαν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε

ἐλπόμενοι παύσασθαι ὀϊζυροῦ πολέμοιο.

καί ῥʼ ἵππους μὲν ἔρυξαν ἐπὶ στίχας, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαν αὐτοί,

τεύχεά τʼ ἐξεδύοντο· τὰ μὲν κατέθεντʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃ

πλησίον ἀλλήλων, ὀλίγη δʼ ἦν ἀμφὶς ἄρουρα·

Ἕκτωρ δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ δύω κήρυκας ἔπεμπε

καρπαλίμως ἄρνάς τε φέρειν Πρίαμόν τε καλέσσαι·

αὐτὰρ ὃ Ταλθύβιον προΐει κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἰέναι, ἠδʼ ἄρνʼ ἐκέλευεν

οἰσέμεναι· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ.

Meanwhile Iris went to Helen in the form of her sister-in-law, wife of the son of Antenor, for Helikaon, son of Antenor, had married Laodike, the fairest of Priam's daughters. She found her in her own room, working at a great web of purple linen, on which she was embroidering the struggles [ athloi ] between Trojans and Achaeans, that Ares had made them fight for her sake. Iris then came close up to her and said, "Come hither, child, and see the strange doings of the Trojans and Achaeans till now they have been warring upon the plain, mad with lust of battle, but now they have left off fighting, and are leaning upon their shields, sitting still with their spears planted beside them. Alexander and Menelaos are going to fight about yourself, and you are to the wife of him who is the victor."

Ἶρις δʼ αὖθʼ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν

εἰδομένη γαλόῳ Ἀντηνορίδαο δάμαρτι,

τὴν Ἀντηνορίδης εἶχε κρείων Ἑλικάων

Λαοδίκην Πριάμοιο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην.

τὴν δʼ εὗρʼ ἐν μεγάρῳ· ἣ δὲ μέγαν ἱστὸν ὕφαινε

δίπλακα πορφυρέην, πολέας δʼ ἐνέπασσεν ἀέθλους

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

οὕς ἑθεν εἵνεκʼ ἔπασχον ὑπʼ Ἄρηος παλαμάων·

ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·

δεῦρʼ ἴθι νύμφα φίλη, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα ἴδηαι

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

οἳ πρὶν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι φέρον πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα

ἐν πεδίῳ ὀλοοῖο λιλαιόμενοι πολέμοιο·

οἳ δὴ νῦν ἕαται σιγῇ, πόλεμος δὲ πέπαυται,

ἀσπίσι κεκλιμένοι, παρὰ δʼ ἔγχεα μακρὰ πέπηγεν.

αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσονται περὶ σεῖο·

τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι φίλη κεκλήσῃ ἄκοιτις.

Thus spoke the goddess, and Helen's heart yearned after her former husband, her city, and her parents. She threw a white mantle over her head, and hurried from her room, weeping as she went, not alone, but attended by two of her handmaids, Aithra, daughter of Pittheus, and Klymene. And straightway they were at the Scaean gates.

ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ γλυκὺν ἵμερον ἔμβαλε θυμῷ

ἀνδρός τε προτέρου καὶ ἄστεος ἠδὲ τοκήων·

αὐτίκα δʼ ἀργεννῇσι καλυψαμένη ὀθόνῃσιν

ὁρμᾶτʼ ἐκ θαλάμοιο τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα

οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύʼ ἕποντο,

Αἴθρη Πιτθῆος θυγάτηρ, Κλυμένη τε βοῶπις·

αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκανον ὅθι Σκαιαὶ πύλαι ἦσαν.

The two sages, Ucalegon and Antenor, elders of the people, were seated by the Scaean gates, with Priam, Panthoos, Thymoetes, Lampos, Klytios, and Hiketaon of the race of Ares. These were too old to fight, but they were fluent orators, and sat on the tower like cicadas that chirrup delicately from the boughs of some high tree in a wood. When they saw Helen coming towards the tower,

οἳ δʼ ἀμφὶ Πρίαμον καὶ Πάνθοον ἠδὲ Θυμοίτην

Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θʼ Ἱκετάονά τʼ ὄζον Ἄρηος

Οὐκαλέγων τε καὶ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένω ἄμφω

ἥατο δημογέροντες ἐπὶ Σκαιῇσι πύλῃσι,

γήραϊ δὴ πολέμοιο πεπαυμένοι, ἀλλʼ ἀγορηταὶ

ἐσθλοί, τεττίγεσσιν ἐοικότες οἵ τε καθʼ ὕλην

δενδρέῳ ἐφεζόμενοι ὄπα λειριόεσσαν ἱεῖσι·

τοῖοι ἄρα Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἧντʼ ἐπὶ πύργῳ.

οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν εἴδονθʼ Ἑλένην ἐπὶ πύργον ἰοῦσαν,

ἦκα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευον·

they said softly to one another, "No wonder the Trojans and Achaeans endure so much and so long, for the sake of a woman so marvelously and divinely lovely. There is no sense of nemesis here. Still, fair though she be, let them take her and go, or she will breed sorrow for us and for our children after us."

οὐ νέμεσις Τρῶας καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς

τοιῇδʼ ἀμφὶ γυναικὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄλγεα πάσχειν·

αἰνῶς ἀθανάτῃσι θεῇς εἰς ὦπα ἔοικεν·

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς τοίη περ ἐοῦσʼ ἐν νηυσὶ νεέσθω,

μηδʼ ἡμῖν τεκέεσσί τʼ ὀπίσσω πῆμα λίποιτο.

But Priam bade her draw nigh. "My child," said he, "take your seat in front of me that you may see your former husband, your kinsmen and your friends. I lay no responsibility [ aitia ] upon you, it is the gods, not you who are responsible [ aitioi ]. It is they that have brought about this terrible war with the Achaeans. Tell me, then, who is yonder huge hero so great and goodly? I have seen men taller by a head, but none so comely and so royal. Surely he must be a king."

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Πρίαμος δʼ Ἑλένην ἐκαλέσσατο φωνῇ·

δεῦρο πάροιθʼ ἐλθοῦσα φίλον τέκος ἵζευ ἐμεῖο,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ πρότερόν τε πόσιν πηούς τε φίλους τε·

οὔ τί μοι αἰτίη ἐσσί, θεοί νύ μοι αἴτιοί εἰσιν

οἵ μοι ἐφώρμησαν πόλεμον πολύδακρυν Ἀχαιῶν·

ὥς μοι καὶ τόνδʼ ἄνδρα πελώριον ἐξονομήνῃς

ὅς τις ὅδʼ ἐστὶν Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε.

ἤτοι μὲν κεφαλῇ καὶ μείζονες ἄλλοι ἔασι,

καλὸν δʼ οὕτω ἐγὼν οὔ πω ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,

οὐδʼ οὕτω γεραρόν· βασιλῆϊ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικε.

"Sir," answered Helen, "father of my husband, dear and reverend in my eyes, would that I had chosen death rather than to have come here with your son, far from my bridal chamber, my friends, my darling daughter, and all the companions of my girlhood. But it was not to be, and my lot is one of tears and sorrow. As for your question, the hero of whom you ask is Agamemnon, son of Atreus, a good king and a brave warrior, brother-in-law as surely as that he lives, to my abhorred and miserable self."

τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη μύθοισιν ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν·

αἰδοῖός τέ μοί ἐσσι φίλε ἑκυρὲ δεινός τε·

ὡς ὄφελεν θάνατός μοι ἁδεῖν κακὸς ὁππότε δεῦρο

υἱέϊ σῷ ἑπόμην θάλαμον γνωτούς τε λιποῦσα

παῖδά τε τηλυγέτην καὶ ὁμηλικίην ἐρατεινήν.

ἀλλὰ τά γʼ οὐκ ἐγένοντο· τὸ καὶ κλαίουσα τέτηκα.

τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μʼ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς·

οὗτός γʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

ἀμφότερον βασιλεύς τʼ ἀγαθὸς κρατερός τʼ αἰχμητής·

δαὴρ αὖτʼ ἐμὸς ἔσκε κυνώπιδος, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε.

The old man marveled at him and said, "Happy son of Atreus, child of good fortune. I see that the Achaeans are subject to you in great multitudes. When I was in Phrygia I saw much horsemen, the people of Otreus and of Mygdon, who were camping upon the banks of the river Sangarios; I was their ally, and with them when the Amazons, peers of men, came up against them, but even they were not so many as the Achaeans."

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ὁ γέρων ἠγάσσατο φώνησέν τε·

ὦ μάκαρ Ἀτρεΐδη μοιρηγενὲς ὀλβιόδαιμον,

ἦ ῥά νύ τοι πολλοὶ δεδμήατο κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν.

ἤδη καὶ Φρυγίην εἰσήλυθον ἀμπελόεσσαν,

ἔνθα ἴδον πλείστους Φρύγας ἀνέρας αἰολοπώλους

λαοὺς Ὀτρῆος καὶ Μυγδόνος ἀντιθέοιο,

οἵ ῥα τότʼ ἐστρατόωντο παρʼ ὄχθας Σαγγαρίοιο·

καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπίκουρος ἐὼν μετὰ τοῖσιν ἐλέχθην

ἤματι τῷ ὅτε τʼ ἦλθον Ἀμαζόνες ἀντιάνειραι·

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ οἳ τόσοι ἦσαν ὅσοι ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοί.

The old man next looked upon Odysseus; "Tell me," he said, "who is that other, shorter by a head than Agamemnon, but broader across the chest and shoulders? His armor is laid upon the ground, and he stalks in front of the ranks as it were some great woolly ram ordering his ewes."

δεύτερον αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα ἰδὼν ἐρέεινʼ ὁ γεραιός·

εἴπʼ ἄγε μοι καὶ τόνδε φίλον τέκος ὅς τις ὅδʼ ἐστί·

μείων μὲν κεφαλῇ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο,

εὐρύτερος δʼ ὤμοισιν ἰδὲ στέρνοισιν ἰδέσθαι.

τεύχεα μέν οἱ κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,

αὐτὸς δὲ κτίλος ὣς ἐπιπωλεῖται στίχας ἀνδρῶν·

ἀρνειῷ μιν ἔγωγε ἐΐσκω πηγεσιμάλλῳ,

ὅς τʼ οἰῶν μέγα πῶϋ διέρχεται ἀργεννάων.

And Helen answered, "He is Odysseus, a man of great craft, son of Laertes . He was born in the district [ dêmos ] of rugged Ithaca , and excels in all manner of stratagems and subtle cunning."

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα·

οὗτος δʼ αὖ Λαερτιάδης πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὃς τράφη ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης κραναῆς περ ἐούσης

εἰδὼς παντοίους τε δόλους καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.

On this Antenor said, "my lady, you have spoken truly. Odysseus once came here as envoy about yourself, and Menelaos with him. I received them in my own house, and therefore know both of them by sight and conversation. When they stood up in presence of the assembled Trojans, Menelaos was the broader shouldered, but when both were seated Odysseus had the more royal presence. After a time they delivered their message, and the speech of Menelaos ran trippingly on the tongue; he did not say much, for he was a man of few words, but he spoke very clearly and to the point, though he was the younger man of the two; Odysseus, on the other hand, when he rose to speak, was at first silent and kept his eyes fixed upon the ground. There was no play nor graceful movement of his scepter; he kept it straight and stiff like a man unpracticed in oratory - one might have taken him for a mere churl or simpleton; but when he raised his voice, and the words came driving from his deep chest like winter snow before the wind, then there was none to touch him, and no man thought further of what he looked like."

τὴν δʼ αὖτʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

ὦ γύναι ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος νημερτὲς ἔειπες·

ἤδη γὰρ καὶ δεῦρό ποτʼ ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

σεῦ ἕνεκʼ ἀγγελίης σὺν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·

τοὺς δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξείνισσα καὶ ἐν μεγάροισι φίλησα,

ἀμφοτέρων δὲ φυὴν ἐδάην καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἀγρομένοισιν ἔμιχθεν

στάντων μὲν Μενέλαος ὑπείρεχεν εὐρέας ὤμους,

ἄμφω δʼ ἑζομένω γεραρώτερος ἦεν Ὀδυσσεύς·

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μύθους καὶ μήδεα πᾶσιν ὕφαινον

ἤτοι μὲν Μενέλαος ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγόρευε,

παῦρα μὲν ἀλλὰ μάλα λιγέως, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολύμυθος

οὐδʼ ἀφαμαρτοεπής· ἦ καὶ γένει ὕστερος ἦεν.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πολύμητις ἀναΐξειεν Ὀδυσσεὺς

στάσκεν, ὑπαὶ δὲ ἴδεσκε κατὰ χθονὸς ὄμματα πήξας,

σκῆπτρον δʼ οὔτʼ ὀπίσω οὔτε προπρηνὲς ἐνώμα,

ἀλλʼ ἀστεμφὲς ἔχεσκεν ἀΐδρεϊ φωτὶ ἐοικώς·

φαίης κε ζάκοτόν τέ τινʼ ἔμμεναι ἄφρονά τʼ αὔτως.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ ὄπα τε μεγάλην ἐκ στήθεος εἵη

καὶ ἔπεα νιφάδεσσιν ἐοικότα χειμερίῃσιν,

οὐκ ἂν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆΐ γʼ ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος·

οὐ τότε γʼ ὧδʼ Ὀδυσῆος ἀγασσάμεθʼ εἶδος ἰδόντες.

Priam then caught sight of Ajax and asked, "Who is that great and goodly warrior whose head and broad shoulders tower above the rest of the Argives?"

τὸ τρίτον αὖτʼ Αἴαντα ἰδὼν ἐρέεινʼ ὃ γεραιός·

τίς τὰρ ὅδʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε

ἔξοχος Ἀργείων κεφαλήν τε καὶ εὐρέας ὤμους;

"That," answered Helen, "is huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, and on the other side of him, among the Cretans, stands Idomeneus looking like a god, and with the leaders of the Cretans round him. Often did Menelaos receive him as a guest in our house when he came visiting us from Crete . I see, moreover, many other Achaeans whose names I could tell you, but there are two whom I can nowhere find, Castor, breaker of horses, and Pollux the mighty boxer; they are children of my mother, and own brothers to myself. Either they have not left Lacedaemon , or else, though they have brought their ships, they will not show themselves in battle for the shame and disgrace that I have brought upon them."

τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν·

οὗτος δʼ Αἴας ἐστὶ πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν·

Ἰδομενεὺς δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς

ἕστηκʼ, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν Κρητῶν ἀγοὶ ἠγερέθονται.

πολλάκι μιν ξείνισσεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ ὁπότε Κρήτηθεν ἵκοιτο.

νῦν δʼ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ὁρῶ ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς,

οὕς κεν ἐῢ γνοίην καί τʼ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην·

δοιὼ δʼ οὐ δύναμαι ἰδέειν κοσμήτορε λαῶν

Κάστορά θʼ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα

αὐτοκασιγνήτω, τώ μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ.

ἢ οὐχ ἑσπέσθην Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς,

ἢ δεύρω μὲν ἕποντο νέεσσʼ ἔνι ποντοπόροισι,

νῦν αὖτʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι μάχην καταδύμεναι ἀνδρῶν

αἴσχεα δειδιότες καὶ ὀνείδεα πόλλʼ ἅ μοί ἐστιν.

She knew not that both these heroes were already lying under the earth in their own land of Lacedaemon .

ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δʼ ἤδη κάτεχεν φυσίζοος αἶα

ἐν Λακεδαίμονι αὖθι φίλῃ ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ.

Meanwhile the heralds were bringing the holy oath-offerings through the city - two lambs and a goatskin of wine, the gift of earth; and Idaios brought the mixing bowl and the cups of gold. He went up to Priam and said, "Son of Laomedon, the princes of the Trojans and Achaeans bid you come down on to the plain and swear to a solemn covenant. Alexander and Menelaos are to fight for Helen in single combat, that she and all her wealth may go with him who is the victor. We are to swear to a solemn covenant of peace whereby we others shall dwell here in Troy , while the Achaeans return to Argos and the land of the Achaeans."

κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν φέρον ὅρκια πιστὰ

ἄρνε δύω καὶ οἶνον ἐΰφρονα καρπὸν ἀρούρης

ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ· φέρε δὲ κρητῆρα φαεινὸν

κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος ἠδὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα·

ὄτρυνεν δὲ γέροντα παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν·

ὄρσεο Λαομεδοντιάδη, καλέουσιν ἄριστοι

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων

ἐς πεδίον καταβῆναι ἵνʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμητε·

αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσοντʼ ἀμφὶ γυναικί·

τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι γυνὴ καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἕποιτο·

οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες

ναίοιμεν Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νέονται

Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα.

The old man trembled as he heard, but bade his followers yoke the horses, and they made all haste to do so. He mounted the chariot, gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor took his seat beside him; they then drove through the Scaean gates on to the plain. When they reached the ranks of the Trojans and Achaeans they left the chariot, and with measured pace advanced into the space between the hosts.

ὣς φάτο ῥίγησεν δʼ ὃ γέρων, ἐκέλευσε δʼ ἑταίρους

ἵππους ζευγνύμεναι· τοὶ δʼ ὀτραλέως ἐπίθοντο.

ἂν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔβη Πρίαμος, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω·

πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον·

τὼ δὲ διὰ Σκαιῶν πεδίον δʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκοντο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,

ἐξ ἵππων ἀποβάντες ἐπὶ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν

ἐς μέσσον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἐστιχόωντο.

Agamemnon and Odysseus both rose to meet them. The attendants brought on the oath-offerings and mixed the wine in the mixing-bowls; they poured water over the hands of the chieftains, and the son of Atreus drew the dagger that hung by his sword, and cut wool from the lambs' heads; this the men-servants gave about among the Trojan and Achaean princes, and the son of Atreus lifted up his hands in prayer. "Father Zeus," he cried, "you who rule in Ida, most glorious in power, and you O Sun, who see and give ear to all things, Earth and Rivers, and you who in the realms below chastise those mortals who have broken their oath, witness these rites and guard them, that they be not vain. If Alexander kills Menelaos, let him keep Helen and all her wealth, while we sail home with our ships; but if Menelaos kills Alexander, let the Trojans give back Helen and all that she has; let them moreover pay such fine [ timê ] to the Achaeans as shall be agreed upon, in testimony among those that shall be born hereafter.

ὄρνυτο δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

ἂν δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις· ἀτὰρ κήρυκες ἀγαυοὶ

ὅρκια πιστὰ θεῶν σύναγον, κρητῆρι δὲ οἶνον

μίσγον, ἀτὰρ βασιλεῦσιν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν.

Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος χείρεσσι μάχαιραν,

ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεόν αἰὲν ἄωρτο,

ἀρνῶν ἐκ κεφαλέων τάμνε τρίχας· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

κήρυκες Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν νεῖμαν ἀρίστοις.

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀτρεΐδης μεγάλʼ εὔχετο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·

Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε,

Ἠέλιός θʼ, ὃς πάντʼ ἐφορᾷς καὶ πάντʼ ἐπακούεις,

καὶ ποταμοὶ καὶ γαῖα, καὶ οἳ ὑπένερθε καμόντας

ἀνθρώπους τίνυσθον ὅτις κʼ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ,

ὑμεῖς μάρτυροι ἔστε, φυλάσσετε δʼ ὅρκια πιστά·

εἰ μέν κεν Μενέλαον Ἀλέξανδρος καταπέφνῃ

αὐτὸς ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένην ἐχέτω καὶ κτήματα πάντα,

ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐν νήεσσι νεώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν·

εἰ δέ κʼ Ἀλέξανδρον κτείνῃ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,

Τρῶας ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένην καὶ κτήματα πάντʼ ἀποδοῦναι,

τιμὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ἀποτινέμεν ἥν τινʼ ἔοικεν,

And if Priam and his sons refuse such fine [ timê ] when Alexander has fallen, then will I stay here and fight on till the war reaches its completion [ telos ]. "

ἥ τε καὶ ἐσσομένοισι μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέληται.

εἰ δʼ ἂν ἐμοὶ τιμὴν Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες

τίνειν οὐκ ἐθέλωσιν Ἀλεξάνδροιο πεσόντος,

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειτα μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα ποινῆς

αὖθι μένων, ἧός κε τέλος πολέμοιο κιχείω.

As he spoke he drew his knife across the throats of the victims, and laid them down gasping and dying upon the ground, for the knife had reft them of their strength. Then they poured wine from the mixing-bowl into the cups, and prayed to the everlasting gods, saying, Trojans and Achaeans among one another, "Zeus, most great and glorious, and you other everlasting gods, grant that the brains of them who shall first violate their oaths - of them and their children - may be shed upon the ground even as this wine, and let their wives become the slaves of strangers."

ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στομάχους ἀρνῶν τάμε νηλέϊ χαλκῷ·

καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἀσπαίροντας

θυμοῦ δευομένους· ἀπὸ γὰρ μένος εἵλετο χαλκός.

οἶνον δʼ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφυσσόμενοι δεπάεσσιν

ἔκχεον, ἠδʼ εὔχοντο θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν.

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·

Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι

ὁππότεροι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια πημήνειαν

ὧδέ σφʼ ἐγκέφαλος χαμάδις ῥέοι ὡς ὅδε οἶνος

αὐτῶν καὶ τεκέων, ἄλοχοι δʼ ἄλλοισι δαμεῖεν.

Thus they prayed, but not as yet would Zeus grant them their prayer. Then Priam, descendant of Dardanos , spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, I will now go back to the wind-beaten city of Ilion : I dare not with my own eyes witness this fight between my son and Menelaos, for Zeus and the other immortals alone know which of the two is doomed to undergo the outcome of death."

ὣς ἔφαν, οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ σφιν ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων.

τοῖσι δὲ Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί·

ἤτοι ἐγὼν εἶμι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν

ἄψ, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω τλήσομʼ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι

μαρνάμενον φίλον υἱὸν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·

Ζεὺς μέν που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι

ὁπποτέρῳ θανάτοιο τέλος πεπρωμένον ἐστίν.

On this he laid the two lambs on his chariot and took his seat. He gathered the reins in his hand, and Antenor sat beside him; the two then went back to Ilion . Hektor and Odysseus measured the ground, and cast lots from a helmet of bronze to see which should take aim first. Meanwhile the two hosts lifted up their hands and prayed saying, "Father Zeus, you who rule from Ida, most glorious in power, grant that he who first brought about this war between us may die, and enter the house of Hades, while we others remain at peace and abide by our oaths."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐς δίφρον ἄρνας θέτο ἰσόθεος φώς,

ἂν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔβαινʼ αὐτός, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω·

πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον.

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἄψορροι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονέοντο·

Ἕκτωρ δὲ Πριάμοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς

χῶρον μὲν πρῶτον διεμέτρεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα

κλήρους ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,

ὁππότερος δὴ πρόσθεν ἀφείη χάλκεον ἔγχος.

λαοὶ δʼ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον,

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·

Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε

ὁππότερος τάδε ἔργα μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκε,

τὸν δὸς ἀποφθίμενον δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,

ἡμῖν δʼ αὖ φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ γενέσθαι.

Great Hektor now turned his head aside while he shook the helmet, and the lot of Paris flew out first. The others took their several stations, each by his horses and the place where his arms were lying, while Alexander, husband of lovely Helen, put on his goodly armor.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

ἂψ ὁρόων· Πάριος δὲ θοῶς ἐκ κλῆρος ὄρουσεν.

οἳ μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἵζοντο κατὰ στίχας, ἧχι ἑκάστῳ

ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες καὶ ποικίλα τεύχεʼ ἔκειτο·

αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἐδύσετο τεύχεα καλὰ

δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο.

First he greaved his legs with greaves of good make and fitted with ankle-clasps of silver; after this he donned the cuirass of his brother Lykaon, and fitted it to his own body; he hung his silver-studded sword of bronze about his shoulders, and then his mighty shield. On his comely head he set his helmet, well-wrought, with a crest of horse-hair that nodded menacingly above it, and he grasped a redoubtable spear that suited his hands. In like fashion Menelaos also put on his armor.

κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε

καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·

δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν

οἷο κασιγνήτοιο Λυκάονος· ἥρμοσε δʼ αὐτῷ.

ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

χάλκεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε·

κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν

ἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·

εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ὅ οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει.

ὣς δʼ αὔτως Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἔντεʼ ἔδυνεν.

When they had thus armed, each amid his own people, they strode fierce of aspect into the open space, and both Trojans and Achaeans were struck with awe as they beheld them. They stood near one another on the measured ground, brandishing their spears, and each furious against the other. Alexander aimed first, and struck the round shield of the son of Atreus, but the spear did not pierce it, for the shield turned its point. Menelaos next took aim, praying to Father Zeus as he did so. "King Zeus," he said, "grant me revenge on Alexander who has wronged me; subdue him under my hand that in ages yet to come a man may shrink from doing ill deeds in the house of his host."

οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,

ἐς μέσσον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἐστιχόωντο

δεινὸν δερκόμενοι· θάμβος δʼ ἔχεν εἰσορόωντας

Τρῶάς θʼ ἱπποδάμους καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.

καί ῥʼ ἐγγὺς στήτην διαμετρητῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ

σείοντʼ ἐγχείας ἀλλήλοισιν κοτέοντε.

πρόσθε δʼ Ἀλέξανδρος προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Ἀτρεΐδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσε ἴσην,

οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ

ἀσπίδʼ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ· ὃ δὲ δεύτερον ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ

Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί·

Ζεῦ ἄνα δὸς τίσασθαι ὅ με πρότερος κάκʼ ἔοργε

δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον, καὶ ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δάμασσον,

ὄφρα τις ἐρρίγῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων

ξεινοδόκον κακὰ ῥέξαι, ὅ κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.

He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it at the shield of Alexander. Through shield and cuirass it went, and tore the shirt by his flank, but Alexander swerved aside, and thus saved his life. Then the son of Atreus drew his sword, and drove at the projecting part of his helmet, but the sword fell shivered in three or four pieces from his hand, and he cried, looking towards Heaven, "Father Zeus, of all gods you are the most spiteful; I made sure of my revenge, but the sword has broken in my hand, my spear has been hurled in vain, and I have not killed him."

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσε ἴσην·

διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,

καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο·

ἀντικρὺ δὲ παραὶ λαπάρην διάμησε χιτῶνα

ἔγχος· ὃ δʼ ἐκλίνθη καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.

Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

πλῆξεν ἀνασχόμενος κόρυθος φάλον· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῷ

τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διατρυφὲν ἔκπεσε χειρός.

Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ᾤμωξεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·

ἦ τʼ ἐφάμην τίσασθαι Ἀλέξανδρον κακότητος·

νῦν δέ μοι ἐν χείρεσσιν ἄγη ξίφος, ἐκ δέ μοι ἔγχος

ἠΐχθη παλάμηφιν ἐτώσιον, οὐδʼ ἔβαλόν μιν.

With this he flew at Alexander, caught him by the horsehair plume of his helmet, and began dragging him towards the Achaeans. The strap of the helmet that went under his chin was choking him, and Menelaos would have dragged him off to his own great glory had not Zeus' daughter Aphrodite been quick to mark and to break the strap of oxhide, so that the empty helmet came away in his hand. This he flung to his comrades among the Achaeans, and was again springing upon Alexander to run him through with a spear, but Aphrodite snatched him up in a moment (as a god can do), hid him under a cloud of darkness, and conveyed him to his own bedchamber.

ἦ καὶ ἐπαΐξας κόρυθος λάβεν ἱπποδασείης,

ἕλκε δʼ ἐπιστρέψας μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·

ἄγχε δέ μιν πολύκεστος ἱμὰς ἁπαλὴν ὑπὸ δειρήν,

ὅς οἱ ὑπʼ ἀνθερεῶνος ὀχεὺς τέτατο τρυφαλείης.

καί νύ κεν εἴρυσσέν τε καὶ ἄσπετον ἤρατο κῦδος,

εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη,

ἥ οἱ ῥῆξεν ἱμάντα βοὸς ἶφι κταμένοιο·

κεινὴ δὲ τρυφάλεια ἅμʼ ἕσπετο χειρὶ παχείῃ.

τὴν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἥρως μετʼ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς

ῥῖψʼ ἐπιδινήσας, κόμισαν δʼ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·

αὐτὰρ ὃ ἂψ ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων

ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ· τὸν δʼ ἐξήρπαξʼ Ἀφροδίτη

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

κὰδ δʼ εἷσʼ ἐν θαλάμῳ εὐώδεϊ κηώεντι.

Then she went to call Helen, and found her on a high tower with the Trojan women crowding round her. She took the form of an old woman who used to dress wool for her when she was still in Lacedaemon , and of whom she was very fond. Thus disguised she plucked her by perfumed robe and said, "Come hither; Alexander says you are to go to the house; he is on his bed in his own room, radiant with beauty and dressed in gorgeous apparel. No one would think he had just come from fighting, but rather that he was going to a dance [ khoros ], or had done dancing [ khoros ] and was sitting down."

αὐτὴ δʼ αὖ Ἑλένην καλέουσʼ ἴε· τὴν δὲ κίχανε

πύργῳ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῷ, περὶ δὲ Τρῳαὶ ἅλις ἦσαν·

χειρὶ δὲ νεκταρέου ἑανοῦ ἐτίναξε λαβοῦσα,

γρηῒ δέ μιν ἐϊκυῖα παλαιγενέϊ προσέειπεν

εἰροκόμῳ, ἥ οἱ Λακεδαίμονι ναιετοώσῃ

ἤσκειν εἴρια καλά, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκε·

τῇ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσεφώνεε δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη·

δεῦρʼ ἴθʼ· Ἀλέξανδρός σε καλεῖ οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.

κεῖνος ὅ γʼ ἐν θαλάμῳ καὶ δινωτοῖσι λέχεσσι

κάλλεΐ τε στίλβων καὶ εἵμασιν· οὐδέ κε φαίης

ἀνδρὶ μαχεσσάμενον τόν γʼ ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλὰ χορὸν δὲ

ἔρχεσθʼ, ἠὲ χοροῖο νέον λήγοντα καθίζειν.

With these words she moved the heart of Helen to anger. When she marked the beautiful neck of the goddess, her lovely bosom, and sparkling eyes, she marveled at her and said, "Goddess, why do you thus beguile me? Are you going to send me afield still further to some man whom you have taken up in Phrygia or fair Meonia? Menelaos has just vanquished Alexander, and is to take my hateful self back with him. You are come here to betray me. Go sit with Alexander yourself; henceforth be goddess no longer; never let your feet carry you back to Olympus ; worry about him and look after him till he make you his wife, or, for the matter of that, his slave - but me? I shall not go; I can garnish his bed no longer; I should be a by-word among all the women of Troy . Besides, I have trouble [ akhos ] on my mind."

ὣς φάτο, τῇ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε·

καί ῥʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεᾶς περικαλλέα δειρὴν

στήθεά θʼ ἱμερόεντα καὶ ὄμματα μαρμαίροντα,

θάμβησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·

δαιμονίη, τί με ταῦτα λιλαίεαι ἠπεροπεύειν;

ἦ πῄ με προτέρω πολίων εὖ ναιομενάων

ἄξεις, ἢ Φρυγίης ἢ Μῃονίης ἐρατεινῆς,

εἴ τίς τοι καὶ κεῖθι φίλος μερόπων ἀνθρώπων·

οὕνεκα δὴ νῦν δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Μενέλαος

νικήσας ἐθέλει στυγερὴν ἐμὲ οἴκαδʼ ἄγεσθαι,

τοὔνεκα δὴ νῦν δεῦρο δολοφρονέουσα παρέστης;

ἧσο παρʼ αὐτὸν ἰοῦσα, θεῶν δʼ ἀπόεικε κελεύθου,

μηδʼ ἔτι σοῖσι πόδεσσιν ὑποστρέψειας Ὄλυμπον,

ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ περὶ κεῖνον ὀΐζυε καί ἑ φύλασσε,

εἰς ὅ κέ σʼ ἢ ἄλοχον ποιήσεται ἢ ὅ γε δούλην.

κεῖσε δʼ ἐγὼν οὐκ εἶμι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη·

κείνου πορσανέουσα λέχος· Τρῳαὶ δέ μʼ ὀπίσσω

πᾶσαι μωμήσονται· ἔχω δʼ ἄχεʼ ἄκριτα θυμῷ.

τὴν δὲ χολωσαμένη προσεφώνεε δῖʼ Ἀφροδίτη·

Aphrodite was very angry, and said, "Bold hussy, do not provoke me; if you do, I shall leave you to your fate and hate you as much as I have loved you. I will stir up fierce hatred between Trojans and Achaeans, and you shall come to a bad end."

μή μʼ ἔρεθε σχετλίη, μὴ χωσαμένη σε μεθείω,

τὼς δέ σʼ ἀπεχθήρω ὡς νῦν ἔκπαγλʼ ἐφίλησα,

μέσσῳ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων μητίσομαι ἔχθεα λυγρὰ

Τρώων καὶ Δαναῶν, σὺ δέ κεν κακὸν οἶτον ὄληαι.

At this Helen was frightened. She wrapped her mantle about her and went in silence, following the divinity [ daimôn ] and unnoticed by the Trojan women.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,

βῆ δὲ κατασχομένη ἑανῷ ἀργῆτι φαεινῷ

σιγῇ, πάσας δὲ Τρῳὰς λάθεν· ἦρχε δὲ δαίμων.

When they came to the house of Alexander the maid-servants set about their work, but Helen went into her own room, and the laughter-loving goddess took a seat and set it for her facing Alexander. On this Helen, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, sat down, and with eyes askance began to upbraid her husband.

αἳ δʼ ὅτʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δόμον περικαλλέʼ ἵκοντο,

ἀμφίπολοι μὲν ἔπειτα θοῶς ἐπὶ ἔργα τράποντο,

ἣ δʼ εἰς ὑψόροφον θάλαμον κίε δῖα γυναικῶν.

τῇ δʼ ἄρα δίφρον ἑλοῦσα φιλομειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη

ἀντίʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο θεὰ κατέθηκε φέρουσα·

ἔνθα κάθιζʼ Ἑλένη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

ὄσσε πάλιν κλίνασα, πόσιν δʼ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·

"So you are come from the fight," said she; "would that you had fallen rather by the hand of that brave man who was my husband. You used to brag that you were a better man with might [ biê ] of hands and spear than Menelaos. Go, then, and challenge him again - but I would advise you not to do so, for if you are foolish enough to meet him in single combat, you will soon fall by his spear."

ἤλυθες ἐκ πολέμου· ὡς ὤφελες αὐτόθʼ ὀλέσθαι

ἀνδρὶ δαμεὶς κρατερῷ, ὃς ἐμὸς πρότερος πόσις ἦεν.

ἦ μὲν δὴ πρίν γʼ εὔχεʼ ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου

σῇ τε βίῃ καὶ χερσὶ καὶ ἔγχεϊ φέρτερος εἶναι·

ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν προκάλεσσαι ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον

ἐξαῦτις μαχέσασθαι ἐναντίον· ἀλλά σʼ ἔγωγε

παύεσθαι κέλομαι, μηδὲ ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ

ἀντίβιον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι

And Paris answered, "Woman, do not vex me with your reproaches. This time, with the help of Athena, Menelaos has vanquished me; another time I may myself be victor, for I too have gods that will stand by me. Come, let us lie down together and make friends. Never yet was I so passionately enamored of you as at this moment - not even when I first carried you off from Lacedaemon and sailed away with you - not even when I had converse with you upon the couch of love in the island of Cranae was I so enthralled by desire of you as now." On this he led her towards the bed, and his wife went with him.

ἀφραδέως, μή πως τάχʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ δουρὶ δαμήῃς.

τὴν δὲ Πάρις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·

μή με γύναι χαλεποῖσιν ὀνείδεσι θυμὸν ἔνιπτε·

νῦν μὲν γὰρ Μενέλαος ἐνίκησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ,

κεῖνον δʼ αὖτις ἐγώ· πάρα γὰρ θεοί εἰσι καὶ ἡμῖν.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ φιλότητι τραπείομεν εὐνηθέντε·

οὐ γάρ πώ ποτέ μʼ ὧδέ γʼ ἔρως φρένας ἀμφεκάλυψεν,

οὐδʼ ὅτε σε πρῶτον Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς

ἔπλεον ἁρπάξας ἐν ποντοπόροισι νέεσσι,

νήσῳ δʼ ἐν Κραναῇ ἐμίγην φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ,

ὥς σεο νῦν ἔραμαι καί με γλυκὺς ἵμερος αἱρεῖ.

Thus they laid themselves on the bed together; but the son of Atreus strode among the throng, looking everywhere for Alexander, and no man, neither of the Trojans nor of the allies, could find him. If they had seen him they were in no mind to hide him, for they all of them hated him as they did death itself. Then Agamemnon, king of men,

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἄρχε λέχος δὲ κιών· ἅμα δʼ εἵπετʼ ἄκοιτις.

τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν τρητοῖσι κατεύνασθεν λεχέεσσιν,

Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἐφοίτα θηρὶ ἐοικὼς

εἴ που ἐσαθρήσειεν Ἀλέξανδρον θεοειδέα.

ἀλλʼ οὔ τις δύνατο Τρώων κλειτῶν τʼ ἐπικούρων

δεῖξαι Ἀλέξανδρον τότʼ ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·

οὐ μὲν γὰρ φιλότητί γʼ ἐκεύθανον εἴ τις ἴδοιτο·

ἶσον γάρ σφιν πᾶσιν ἀπήχθετο κηρὶ μελαίνῃ.

τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·

spoke, saying, "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies. The victory has been with Menelaos; therefore give back Helen with all her wealth, and pay such fine [ timê ] as shall be agreed upon, in testimony among them that shall be born hereafter."

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·

νίκη μὲν δὴ φαίνετʼ ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου,

ὑμεῖς δʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἅμʼ αὐτῇ

ἔκδοτε, καὶ τιμὴν ἀποτινέμεν ἥν τινʼ ἔοικεν,

ἥ τε καὶ ἐσσομένοισι μετʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέληται.

Thus spoke the son of Atreus, and the Achaeans shouted in approval.

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀτρεΐδης, ἐπὶ δʼ ᾔνεον ἄλλοι Ἀχαιοί.