Iliad

With these words Hektor passed through the gates, and his brother Alexander with him, both eager for the fray. As when heaven sends a breeze to sailors who have long looked for one in vain, and have labored at their oars at sea [ pontos ] till they are faint with toil, even so welcome was the sight of these two heroes to the Trojans.

ὣς εἰπὼν πυλέων ἐξέσσυτο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,

τῷ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κίʼ ἀδελφεός· ἐν δʼ ἄρα θυμῷ

ἀμφότεροι μέμασαν πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.

ὡς δὲ θεὸς ναύτῃσιν ἐελδομένοισιν ἔδωκεν

οὖρον, ἐπεί κε κάμωσιν ἐϋξέστῃς ἐλάτῃσι

πόντον ἐλαύνοντες, καμάτῳ δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα λέλυνται,

ὣς ἄρα τὼ Τρώεσσιν ἐελδομένοισι φανήτην.

Thereon Alexander killed Menesthios the son of Areithoos; he lived in Ame, and was son of Areithoos the Mace-man, and of Phylomedousa. Hektor threw a spear at Eioneus and struck him dead with a wound in the neck under the bronze rim of his helmet. Glaukos, moreover, son of Hippolokhos, leader of the Lycians, in hard hand-to-hand fight smote Iphinoos son of Dexios on the shoulder, as he was springing on to his chariot behind his fleet mares; so he fell to earth from the car, and there was no life left in him.

ἔνθʼ ἑλέτην ὃ μὲν υἱὸν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος

Ἄρνῃ ναιετάοντα Μενέσθιον, ὃν κορυνήτης

γείνατʼ Ἀρηΐθοος καὶ Φυλομέδουσα βοῶπις·

Ἕκτωρ δʼ Ἠϊονῆα βάλʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι

αὐχένʼ ὑπὸ στεφάνης εὐχάλκου, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.

Γλαῦκος δʼ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν

Ἰφίνοον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην

Δεξιάδην ἵππων ἐπιάλμενον ὠκειάων

ὦμον· ὃ δʼ ἐξ ἵππων χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.

When, therefore, Athena saw these men making havoc of the Argives, she darted down to Ilion from the summits of Olympus , and Apollo, who was looking on from Pergamos , went out to meet her; for he wanted the Trojans to be victorious. The pair met by the oak tree, and King Apollo son of Zeus was first to speak. "What would you have said he, "daughter of great Zeus, that your proud spirit has sent you hither from Olympus ? Have you no pity upon the Trojans, and would you incline the scales of victory in favor of the Danaans? Let me persuade you - for it will be better thus - stay the combat for to-day, but let them renew the fight hereafter till they compass the doom of Ilion , since you goddesses have made up your minds to destroy the city."

τοὺς δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

Ἀργείους ὀλέκοντας ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,

βῆ ῥα κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα

Ἴλιον εἰς ἱερήν· τῇ δʼ ἀντίος ὄρνυτʼ Ἀπόλλων

Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην·

ἀλλήλοισι δὲ τώ γε συναντέσθην παρὰ φηγῷ.

τὴν πρότερος προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

τίπτε σὺ δʼ αὖ μεμαυῖα Διὸς θύγατερ μεγάλοιο

ἦλθες ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο, μέγας δέ σε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν;

ἦ ἵνα δὴ Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην

δῷς; ἐπεὶ οὔ τι Τρῶας ἀπολλυμένους ἐλεαίρεις.

ἀλλʼ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·

νῦν μὲν παύσωμεν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα

σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχήσοντʼ εἰς ὅ κε τέκμωρ

Ἰλίου εὕρωσιν, ἐπεὶ ὣς φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ

ὑμῖν ἀθανάτῃσι, διαπραθέειν τόδε ἄστυ.

And Athena answered, "So be it, Far-Darter; it was in this mind that I came down from Olympus to the Trojans and Achaeans. Tell me, then, how do you propose to end this present fighting?"

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

ὧδʼ ἔστω ἑκάεργε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέουσα καὶ αὐτὴ

ἦλθον ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.

ἀλλʼ ἄγε πῶς μέμονας πόλεμον καταπαυσέμεν ἀνδρῶν;

Apollo, son of Zeus, replied, "Let us incite great Hektor to challenge some one of the Danaans in single combat; on this the Achaeans will be shamed into finding a man who will fight him."

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·

Ἕκτορος ὄρσωμεν κρατερὸν μένος ἱπποδάμοιο,

ἤν τινά που Δαναῶν προκαλέσσεται οἰόθεν οἶος

ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,

οἳ δέ κʼ ἀγασσάμενοι χαλκοκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

οἶον ἐπόρσειαν πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.

Athena assented, and Helenos son of Priam divined the counsel of the gods; he therefore went up to Hektor and said, "Hektor son of Priam, peer of gods in counsel, I am your brother, let me then persuade you. Bid the other Trojans and Achaeans all of them take their seats, and challenge the best man among the Achaeans to meet you in single combat. I have heard the voice of the ever-living gods, and the hour of your doom is not yet come."

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.

τῶν δʼ Ἕλενος Πριάμοιο φίλος παῖς σύνθετο θυμῷ

βουλήν, ἥ ῥα θεοῖσιν ἐφήνδανε μητιόωσι·

στῆ δὲ παρʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντε

ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο, κασίγνητος δέ τοί εἰμι·

ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,

αὐτὸς δὲ προκάλεσσαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος

ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι·

οὐ γάρ πώ τοι μοῖρα θανεῖν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·

ὣς γὰρ ἐγὼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσα θεῶν αἰειγενετάων.

Hektor was glad when he heard this saying, and went in among the Trojans, grasping his spear by the middle to hold them back, and they all sat down. Agamemnon also bade the Achaeans be seated. But Athena and Apollo, in the likeness of vultures, perched on father Zeus' high oak tree, proud of their men; and the ranks sat close ranged together, bristling with shield and helmet and spear. As when the rising west wind furs the face of the sea [ pontos ] and the waters grow dark beneath it, so sat the companies of Trojans and Achaeans upon the plain. And Hektor spoke thus:-

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, Ἕκτωρ δʼ αὖτε χάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,

καί ῥʼ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας,

μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· οἳ δʼ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.

κὰδ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων εἷσεν ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·

κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων

ἑζέσθην ὄρνισιν ἐοικότες αἰγυπιοῖσι

φηγῷ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο

ἀνδράσι τερπόμενοι· τῶν δὲ στίχες εἵατο πυκναὶ

ἀσπίσι καὶ κορύθεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι.

οἵη δὲ Ζεφύροιο ἐχεύατο πόντον ἔπι φρὶξ

ὀρνυμένοιο νέον, μελάνει δέ τε πόντος ὑπʼ αὐτῆς,

τοῖαι ἄρα στίχες εἵατʼ Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε

ἐν πεδίῳ· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·

"Hear me, Trojans and Achaeans, that I may speak even as I am minded; Zeus on his high throne has brought our oaths and covenants to nothing, and foreshadows ill for both of us, till you either take the towers of Troy , or are yourselves vanquished at your ships. The princes of the Achaeans are here present in the midst of you;

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

ὅρκια μὲν Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν,

ἀλλὰ κακὰ φρονέων τεκμαίρεται ἀμφοτέροισιν

εἰς ὅ κεν ἢ ὑμεῖς Τροίην εὔπυργον ἕλητε

ἢ αὐτοὶ παρὰ νηυσὶ δαμείετε ποντοπόροισιν.

let him, then, that will fight me stand forward as your champion against Hektor. Thus I say, and may Zeus be witness between us. If your champion slay me, let him strip me of my armor and take it to your ships, but let him send my body home that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I am dead. In like manner, if Apollo grant me glory and I slay your champion, I will strip him of his armor and take it to the city of Ilion , where I will hang it in the temple of Apollo, but I will give up his body, that the Achaeans may bury him at their ships, and the build him a tomb [ sêma ] by the wide waters of the Hellespont . Then will one say hereafter as he sails his ship over the sea [ pontos ], ‘This is the marker [ sêma ] of one who died long since a champion who was slain by mighty Hektor.’ Thus will one say, and my fame [ kleos ] shall not be lost."

ὑμῖν δʼ ἐν γὰρ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν·

τῶν νῦν ὅν τινα θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει

δεῦρʼ ἴτω ἐκ πάντων πρόμος ἔμμεναι Ἕκτορι δίῳ.

ὧδε δὲ μυθέομαι, Ζεὺς δʼ ἄμμʼ ἐπιμάρτυρος ἔστω·

εἰ μέν κεν ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἕλῃ ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ,

τεύχεα συλήσας φερέτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,

σῶμα δὲ οἴκαδʼ ἐμὸν δόμεναι πάλιν, ὄφρα πυρός με

Τρῶες καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι λελάχωσι θανόντα.

εἰ δέ κʼ ἐγὼ τὸν ἕλω, δώῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,

τεύχεα σύλησας οἴσω προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν,

καὶ κρεμόω προτὶ νηὸν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο,

τὸν δὲ νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀποδώσω,

ὄφρά ἑ ταρχύσωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,

σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύωσιν ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ.

καί ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων

νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·

ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,

ὅν ποτʼ ἀριστεύοντα κατέκτανε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.

ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τὸ δʼ ἐμὸν κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται.

Thus did he speak, but they all held their peace, ashamed to decline the challenge, yet fearing to accept it, till at last Menelaos rose and rebuked them, for he was angry. "Alas," he cried, "vain braggarts, women indeed not men, double-dyed indeed will be the stain upon us if no man of the Danaans will now face Hektor. May you be turned every man of you into earth and water as you sit spiritless and inglorious in your places. I will myself go out against this man, but the upshot of the fight will be from on high in the hands of the immortal gods."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·

αἴδεσθεν μὲν ἀνήνασθαι, δεῖσαν δʼ ὑποδέχθαι·

ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπε

νείκει ὀνειδίζων, μέγα δὲ στεναχίζετο θυμῷ·

ὤ μοι ἀπειλητῆρες Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτʼ Ἀχαιοί·

ἦ μὲν δὴ λώβη τάδε γʼ ἔσσεται αἰνόθεν αἰνῶς

εἰ μή τις Δαναῶν νῦν Ἕκτορος ἀντίος εἶσιν.

ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὕδωρ καὶ γαῖα γένοισθε

ἥμενοι αὖθι ἕκαστοι ἀκήριοι ἀκλεὲς αὔτως·

τῷδε δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς θωρήξομαι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε

νίκης πείρατʼ ἔχονται ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.

With these words he put on his armor; and then, O Menelaos, your life would have come to an end at the hands of hands of Hektor, for he was far better the man, had not the princes of the Achaeans sprung upon you and checked you. King Agamemnon caught him by the right hand and said, "Menelaos, you are mad; a truce to this folly. Be patient in spite of passion, do not think of fighting a man so much stronger than yourself as Hektor son of Priam, who is feared by many another as well as you.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατεδύσετο τεύχεα καλά.

ἔνθά κέ τοι Μενέλαε φάνη βιότοιο τελευτὴ

Ἕκτορος ἐν παλάμῃσιν, ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἦεν,

εἰ μὴ ἀναΐξαντες ἕλον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν,

αὐτός τʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων

δεξιτερῆς ἕλε χειρὸς ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·

ἀφραίνεις Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ

ταύτης ἀφροσύνης· ἀνὰ δὲ σχέο κηδόμενός περ,

μηδʼ ἔθελʼ ἐξ ἔριδος σεῦ ἀμείνονι φωτὶ μάχεσθαι

Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.

καὶ δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς τούτῳ γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ

Even Achilles, who is far more doughty than you are, shrank from meeting him in battle. Sit down your own people, and the Achaeans will send some other champion to fight Hektor; fearless and fond of battle though he be, I ween his knees will bend gladly under him if he comes out alive from the struggle of this fight."

ἔρριγʼ ἀντιβολῆσαι, ὅ περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.

ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἵζευ ἰὼν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,

τούτῳ δὲ πρόμον ἄλλον ἀναστήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί.

εἴ περ ἀδειής τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ εἰ μόθου ἔστʼ ἀκόρητος,

φημί μιν ἀσπασίως γόνυ κάμψειν, αἴ κε φύγῃσι

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.

With these words of reasonable counsel he persuaded his brother, whereon his squires [therapontes] gladly stripped the armor from off his shoulders. Then Nestor rose and spoke, "For sure," said he, "grief [ penthos ] has befallen the Achaean land. The old horseman Peleus, counselor and orator among the Myrmidons, loved when I was in his house to question me concerning the race and lineage of all the Argives. How would it not grieve him could he hear of them as now quailing before Hektor? Many a time would he lift his hands in prayer that his soul might leave his body and go down within the house of Hades. Would, by father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo, that I were still young and strong as when the Pylians and Arcadians were gathered in fight by the rapid river Keladon under the walls of Pheia , and round about the waters of the river Iardanos. The godlike hero Ereuthalion stood forward as their champion, with the armor of King Areithoos upon his shoulders - Areithoos whom men and women had surnamed ‘the Mace-man,’ because he fought neither with bow nor spear, but broke the battalions of the foe with his iron mace. Lycurgus killed him, not in fair fight, but by entrapping him in a narrow way where his mace served him in no stead; for Lycurgus was too quick for him and speared him through the middle, so he fell to earth on his back. Lycurgus then spoiled him of the armor which Ares had given him, and bore it in battle thenceforward; but when he grew old and stayed at home, he gave it to his faithful squire [ therapôn ] Ereuthalion, who in this same armor challenged the foremost men among us. The others quaked and quailed, but my high spirit bade me fight him though none other would venture; I was the youngest man of them all;

ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως

αἴσιμα παρειπών, ὃ δʼ ἐπείθετο· τοῦ μὲν ἔπειτα

γηθόσυνοι θεράποντες ἀπʼ ὤμων τεύχεʼ ἕλοντο·

Νέστωρ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει.

ἦ κε μέγʼ οἰμώξειε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺς

ἐσθλὸς Μυρμιδόνων βουληφόρος ἠδʼ ἀγορητής,

ὅς ποτέ μʼ εἰρόμενος μέγʼ ἐγήθεεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

πάντων Ἀργείων ἐρέων γενεήν τε τόκον τε.

τοὺς νῦν εἰ πτώσσοντας ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι πάντας ἀκούσαι,

πολλά κεν ἀθανάτοισι φίλας ἀνὰ χεῖρας ἀείραι

θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.

αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον

ἡβῷμʼ ὡς ὅτʼ ἐπʼ ὠκυρόῳ Κελάδοντι μάχοντο

ἀγρόμενοι Πύλιοί τε καὶ Ἀρκάδες ἐγχεσίμωροι

Φειᾶς πὰρ τείχεσσιν Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.

τοῖσι δʼ Ἐρευθαλίων πρόμος ἵστατο ἰσόθεος φὼς

τεύχεʼ ἔχων ὤμοισιν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος

δίου Ἀρηϊθόου, τὸν ἐπίκλησιν κορυνήτην

ἄνδρες κίκλησκον καλλίζωνοί τε γυναῖκες

οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ οὐ τόξοισι μαχέσκετο δουρί τε μακρῷ,

ἀλλὰ σιδηρείῃ κορύνῃ ῥήγνυσκε φάλαγγας.

τὸν Λυκόοργος ἔπεφνε δόλῳ, οὔ τι κράτεΐ γε,

στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ ὅθʼ ἄρʼ οὐ κορύνη οἱ ὄλεθρον

χραῖσμε σιδηρείη· πρὶν γὰρ Λυκόοργος ὑποφθὰς

δουρὶ μέσον περόνησεν, ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη·

τεύχεα δʼ ἐξενάριξε, τά οἱ πόρε χάλκεος Ἄρης.

καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔπειτα φόρει μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος·

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Λυκόοργος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐγήρα,

δῶκε δʼ Ἐρευθαλίωνι φίλῳ θεράποντι φορῆναι·

τοῦ ὅ γε τεύχεʼ ἔχων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους.

οἳ δὲ μάλʼ ἐτρόμεον καὶ ἐδείδισαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη·

ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἀνῆκε πολυτλήμων πολεμίζειν

θάρσεϊ ᾧ· γενεῇ δὲ νεώτατος ἔσκον ἁπάντων·

but when I fought him Athena granted me victory. He was the biggest and strongest man that ever I killed, and covered much ground as he lay sprawling upon the earth. Would that I were still young and strong as I then was, for the son of Priam would then soon find one who would face him. But you, foremost among the whole host though you be, have none of you any stomach for fighting Hektor."

καὶ μαχόμην οἱ ἐγώ, δῶκεν δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.

τὸν δὴ μήκιστον καὶ κάρτιστον κτάνον ἄνδρα·

πολλὸς γάρ τις ἔκειτο παρήορος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.

εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι, βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·

τώ κε τάχʼ ἀντήσειε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.

ὑμέων δʼ οἵ περ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν

οὐδʼ οἳ προφρονέως μέμαθʼ Ἕκτορος ἀντίον ἐλθεῖν.

Thus did the old man rebuke them, and forthwith nine men started to their feet. Foremost of all stood up King Agamemnon, and after him brave Diomedes the son of Tydeus. Next were the two Ajaxes, men clothed in valor as with a garment, and then Idomeneus, and Meriones his brother in arms. After these Eurypylos son of Euaemon, Thoas the son of Andraimon, and Odysseus also rose. Then Nestor horseman of Gerene again spoke, saying: "Cast lots among you to see who shall be chosen. If he come alive out of this fight he will have done good service alike to his own soul and to the Achaeans."

ὣς νείκεσσʼ ὃ γέρων, οἳ δʼ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν.

ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,

τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος

Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ,

τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,

ἂν δὲ Θόας Ἀνδραιμονίδης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·

πάντες ἄρʼ οἵ γʼ ἔθελον πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.

τοῖς δʼ αὖτις μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

κλήρῳ νῦν πεπάλασθε διαμπερὲς ὅς κε λάχῃσιν·

οὗτος γὰρ δὴ ὀνήσει ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,

καὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ὃν θυμὸν ὀνήσεται αἴ κε φύγῃσι

δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.

Thus he spoke, and when each of them had marked his lot, and had thrown it into the helmet of Agamemnon son of Atreus, the people lifted their hands in prayer, and thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven, "Father Zeus, grant that the lot fall on Ajax, or on the son of Tydeus, or upon the king of rich Mycenae himself."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ κλῆρον ἐσημήναντο ἕκαστος,

ἐν δʼ ἔβαλον κυνέῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.

λαοὶ δʼ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ ἢ Αἴαντα λαχεῖν, ἢ Τυδέος υἱόν,

ἢ αὐτὸν βασιλῆα πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης.

As they were speaking, Nestor horseman of Gerene shook the helmet, and from it there fell the very lot which they wanted - the lot of Ajax. The herald bore it about and showed it to all the chieftains of the Achaeans, going from left to right; but they none of them owned it. When, however, in due course he reached the man who had written upon it and had put it into the helmet, brave Ajax held out his hand, and the herald gave him the lot. When Ajax saw his mark [ sêma ] he knew it and was glad; he threw it to the ground and said, "My friends, the lot is mine, and I rejoice, for I shall vanquish Hektor. I will put on my armor;

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,

ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε κλῆρος κυνέης ὃν ἄρʼ ἤθελον αὐτοὶ

Αἴαντος· κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ

δεῖξʼ ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.

οἳ δʼ οὐ γιγνώσκοντες ἀπηνήναντο ἕκαστος.

ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τὸν ἵκανε φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ

ὅς μιν ἐπιγράψας κυνέῃ βάλε φαίδιμος Αἴας,

ἤτοι ὑπέσχεθε χεῖρʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔμβαλεν ἄγχι παραστάς,

γνῶ δὲ κλήρου σῆμα ἰδών, γήθησε δὲ θυμῷ.

τὸν μὲν πὰρ πόδʼ ἑὸν χαμάδις βάλε φώνησέν τε·

ὦ φίλοι ἤτοι κλῆρος ἐμός, χαίρω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς

θυμῷ, ἐπεὶ δοκέω νικησέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον.

ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ πολεμήϊα τεύχεα δύω,

meanwhile, pray to King Zeus in silence among yourselves that the Trojans may not hear you - or aloud if you will, for we fear no man. None shall overcome me, neither by force nor cunning, for I was born and bred in Salamis , and can hold my own in all things."

τόφρʼ ὑμεῖς εὔχεσθε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι

σιγῇ ἐφʼ ὑμείων ἵνα μὴ Τρῶές γε πύθωνται,

ἠὲ καὶ ἀμφαδίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης·

οὐ γάρ τίς με βίῃ γε ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα δίηται

οὐδέ τι ἰδρείῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ νήϊδά γʼ οὕτως

ἔλπομαι ἐν Σαλαμῖνι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.

With this they fell praying to King Zeus the son of Kronos, and thus would one of them say as he looked into the vault of heaven, "Father Zeus, you who rule from Ida, most glorious in power, grant victory to Ajax, and let him win great glory: but if you wish well to Hektor also and would protect him, grant to each of them equal fame and prowess. Thus they prayed, and Ajax armed himself in his suit of gleaming bronze. When he was in full array he sprang forward as monstrous Ares when he takes part among men whom Zeus has set fighting with one another - even so did huge Ajax, bulwark of the Achaeans, spring forward with a grim smile on his face as he brandished his long spear and strode onward. The Argives were elated as they beheld him, but the Trojans trembled in every limb, and the heart even of Hektor beat quickly, but he could not now retreat and withdraw into the ranks behind him, for he had been the challenger. Ajax came up bearing his shield in front of him like a wall - a shield of bronze with seven folds of oxhide - the work of Tychios, who lived in Hyle and was by far the best worker in leather. He had made it with the hides of seven full-fed bulls, and over these he had set an eighth layer of bronze. Holding this shield before him, Ajax son of Telamon came close up to Hektor, and menaced him saying, "Hektor, you shall now learn, man to man, what kind of champions the Danaans have among them even besides lion-hearted Achilles cleaver of the ranks of men. He now abides at the ships in anger with Agamemnon shepherd of his people, but there are many of us who are well able to face you; therefore begin the fight."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ εὔχοντο Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι·

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·

Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε

δὸς νίκην Αἴαντι καὶ ἀγλαὸν εὖχος ἀρέσθαι·

εἰ δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορά περ φιλέεις καὶ κήδεαι αὐτοῦ,

ἴσην ἀμφοτέροισι βίην καὶ κῦδος ὄπασσον.

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφαν, Αἴας δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα περὶ χροῒ ἕσσατο τεύχεα,

σεύατʼ ἔπειθʼ οἷός τε πελώριος ἔρχεται Ἄρης,

ὅς τʼ εἶσιν πόλεμον δὲ μετʼ ἀνέρας οὕς τε Κρονίων

θυμοβόρου ἔριδος μένεϊ ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι.

τοῖος ἄρʼ Αἴας ὦρτο πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν

μειδιόων βλοσυροῖσι προσώπασι· νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν

ἤϊε μακρὰ βιβάς, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.

τὸν δὲ καὶ Ἀργεῖοι μὲν ἐγήθεον εἰσορόωντες,

Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον,

Ἕκτορί τʼ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι πάτασσεν·

ἀλλʼ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχεν ὑποτρέσαι οὐδʼ ἀναδῦναι

ἂψ λαῶν ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ προκαλέσσατο χάρμῃ.

Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον

χάλκεον ἑπταβόειον, ὅ οἱ Τυχίος κάμε τεύχων

σκυτοτόμων ὄχʼ ἄριστος Ὕλῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων,

ὅς οἱ ἐποίησεν σάκος αἰόλον ἑπταβόειον

ταύρων ζατρεφέων, ἐπὶ δʼ ὄγδοον ἤλασε χαλκόν.

τὸ πρόσθε στέρνοιο φέρων Τελαμώνιος Αἴας

στῆ ῥα μάλʼ Ἕκτορος ἐγγύς, ἀπειλήσας δὲ προσηύδα·

Ἕκτορ νῦν μὲν δὴ σάφα εἴσεαι οἰόθεν οἶος

οἷοι καὶ Δαναοῖσιν ἀριστῆες μετέασι

καὶ μετʼ Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα θυμολέοντα.

ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι

κεῖτʼ ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν·

ἡμεῖς δʼ εἰμὲν τοῖοι οἳ ἂν σέθεν ἀντιάσαιμεν

καὶ πολέες· ἀλλʼ ἄρχε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο.

And Hektor answered, "Noble Ajax, son of Telamon, leader of the host, treat me not as though I were some puny boy or woman that cannot fight.

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν

μή τί μευ ἠΰτε παιδὸς ἀφαυροῦ πειρήτιζε

I have been long used to the blood and butcheries of battle. I am quick to turn my leathern shield either to right or left, for this I deem the main thing in battle. I can charge among the chariots and horsemen, and in hand to hand fighting can delight the heart of Ares; howbeit I would not take such a man as you are off his guard - but I will smite you openly if I can."

ἠὲ γυναικός, ἣ οὐκ οἶδεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδα μάχας τʼ ἀνδροκτασίας τε·

οἶδʼ ἐπὶ δεξιά, οἶδʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν

ἀζαλέην, τό μοι ἔστι ταλαύρινον πολεμίζειν·

οἶδα δʼ ἐπαΐξαι μόθον ἵππων ὠκειάων·

οἶδα δʼ ἐνὶ σταδίῃ δηΐῳ μέλπεσθαι Ἄρηϊ.

ἀλλʼ οὐ γάρ σʼ ἐθέλω βαλέειν τοιοῦτον ἐόντα

λάθρῃ ὀπιπεύσας, ἀλλʼ ἀμφαδόν, αἴ κε τύχωμι.

He poised his spear as he spoke, and hurled it from him. It struck the sevenfold shield in its outermost layer - the eighth, which was of bronze - and went through six of the layers but in the seventh hide it stayed. Then Ajax threw in his turn, and struck the round shield of the son of Priam. The terrible spear went through his gleaming shield, and pressed onward through his cuirass of cunning workmanship; it pierced the shirt against his side, but he swerved and thus saved his life. They then each of them drew out the spear from his shield, and fell on one another like savage lions or wild boars of great strength and endurance: the son of Priam struck the middle of Ajax's shield, but the bronze did not break, and the point of his dart was turned. Ajax then sprang forward and pierced the shield of Hektor; the spear went through it and staggered him as he was springing forward to attack; it gashed his neck and the blood came pouring from the wound, but even so Hektor did not cease fighting; he gave ground, and with his brawny hand seized a stone, rugged and huge, that was lying upon the plain; with this he struck the shield of Ajax on the boss that was in its middle, so that the bronze rang again. But Ajax in turn caught up a far larger stone, swung it aloft, and hurled it with prodigious force. This millstone of a rock broke Hektor's shield inwards and threw him down on his back with the shield crushing him under it,

ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον

ἀκρότατον κατὰ χαλκόν, ὃς ὄγδοος ἦεν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.

ἓξ δὲ διὰ πτύχας ἦλθε δαΐζων χαλκὸς ἀτειρής,

ἐν τῇ δʼ ἑβδομάτῃ ῥινῷ σχέτο· δεύτερος αὖτε

Αἴας διογενὴς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,

καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην.

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.

τὼ δʼ ἐκσπασσαμένω δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἅμʼ ἄμφω

σύν ῥʼ ἔπεσον λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισιν

ἢ συσὶ κάπροισιν, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν.

Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρί,

οὐδʼ ἔρρηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμή.

Αἴας δʼ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ

ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα,

τμήδην δʼ αὐχένʼ ἐπῆλθε, μέλαν δʼ ἀνεκήκιεν αἷμα,

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἀπέληγε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ,

ἀλλʼ ἀναχασσάμενος λίθον εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ

κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ μέλανα τρηχύν τε μέγαν τε·

τῷ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον

μέσσον ἐπομφάλιον· περιήχησεν δʼ ἄρα χαλκός.

δεύτερος αὖτʼ Αἴας πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας

ἧκʼ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον,

εἴσω δʼ ἀσπίδʼ ἔαξε βαλὼν μυλοειδέϊ πέτρῳ,

βλάψε δέ οἱ φίλα γούναθʼ· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐξετανύσθη

but Apollo raised him at once. Thereon they would have hacked at one another in close combat with their swords, had not heralds, messengers of gods and men, come forward, one from the Trojans and the other from the Achaeans - Talthybios and Idaios both of them honorable men; these parted them with their staves, and the good herald Idaios said, "My sons, fight no longer, you are both of you valiant, and both are dear to Zeus; we know this; but night is now falling, and the behests of night may not be well gainsaid."

ἀσπίδι ἐγχριμφθείς· τὸν δʼ αἶψʼ ὤρθωσεν Ἀπόλλων.

καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσʼ αὐτοσχεδὸν οὐτάζοντο,

εἰ μὴ κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν

ἦλθον, ὃ μὲν Τρώων, ὃ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,

Ταλθύβιός τε καὶ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένω ἄμφω·

μέσσῳ δʼ ἀμφοτέρων σκῆπτρα σχέθον, εἶπέ τε μῦθον

κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς·

μηκέτι παῖδε φίλω πολεμίζετε μηδὲ μάχεσθον·

ἀμφοτέρω γὰρ σφῶϊ φιλεῖ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,

ἄμφω δʼ αἰχμητά· τό γε δὴ καὶ ἴδμεν ἅπαντες.

νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι.

Ajax son of Telamon answered, "Idaios, bid Hektor say so, for it was he that challenged our princes. Let him speak first and I will accept his saying."

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

Ἰδαῖʼ Ἕκτορα ταῦτα κελεύετε μυθήσασθαι·

αὐτὸς γὰρ χάρμῃ προκαλέσσατο πάντας ἀρίστους.

ἀρχέτω· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μάλα πείσομαι ᾗ περ ἂν οὗτος.

Then Hektor said, "Ajax, heaven has granted you stature and strength, and judgment; and in wielding the spear you excel all others of the Achaeans. Let us for this day cease fighting; hereafter we will fight anew till a daimôn decides between us, and give victory to one or to the other; night is now falling, and the behests of night may not be well gainsaid. Gladden, then, the hearts of the Achaeans at your ships, and more especially those of your own followers and clansmen, while I, in the great city of King Priam, bring comfort to the Trojans and their women, who vie with one another in their prayers directed at me. Let us, moreover, exchange presents that it may be said among the Achaeans and Trojans, ‘They fought with might and main, but were reconciled and parted in friendship.’

τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

Αἶαν ἐπεί τοι δῶκε θεὸς μέγεθός τε βίην τε

καὶ πινυτήν, περὶ δʼ ἔγχει Ἀχαιῶν φέρτατός ἐσσι,

νῦν μὲν παυσώμεσθα μάχης καὶ δηϊοτῆτος

σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων

ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.

νὺξ δʼ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι,

ὡς σύ τʼ ἐϋφρήνῃς πάντας παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιούς,

σούς τε μάλιστα ἔτας καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ τοι ἔασιν·

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος

Τρῶας ἐϋφρανέω καὶ Τρῳάδας ἑλκεσιπέπλους,

αἵ τέ μοι εὐχόμεναι θεῖον δύσονται ἀγῶνα.

δῶρα δʼ ἄγʼ ἀλλήλοισι περικλυτὰ δώομεν ἄμφω,

ὄφρά τις ὧδʼ εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·

ἠμὲν ἐμαρνάσθην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο,

ἠδʼ αὖτʼ ἐν φιλότητι διέτμαγεν ἀρθμήσαντε.

On this he gave Ajax a silver-studded sword with its sheath and leathern Balearic, and in return Ajax gave him a belt dyed with purple. Thus they parted, the one going to the host of the Achaeans, and the other to that of the Trojans, who rejoiced when they saw their hero come to them safe and unharmed from the strong hands of mighty Ajax. They led him, therefore, to the city as one that had been saved beyond their hopes. On the other side the Achaeans brought Ajax elated with victory to Agamemnon.

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας δῶκε ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον

σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι·

Αἴας δὲ ζωστῆρα δίδου φοίνικι φαεινόν.

τὼ δὲ διακρινθέντε ὃ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

ἤϊʼ, ὃ δʼ ἐς Τρώων ὅμαδον κίε· τοὶ δὲ χάρησαν,

ὡς εἶδον ζωόν τε καὶ ἀρτεμέα προσιόντα,

Αἴαντος προφυγόντα μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους·

καί ῥʼ ἦγον προτὶ ἄστυ ἀελπτέοντες σόον εἶναι.

Αἴαντʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον κεχαρηότα νίκῃ.

When they reached the quarters of the son of Atreus, Agamemnon sacrificed for them a five-year-old bull in honor of Zeus the son of Kronos. They flayed the carcass, made it ready, and divided it into joints; these they cut carefully up into smaller pieces, putting them on the spits, roasting them sufficiently, and then drawing them off. When they had done all this and had prepared the feast, they ate it, and every man had his full and equal share, so that all were satisfied, and King Agamemnon gave Ajax some slices cut lengthwise down the loin, as a mark of special honor. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, old Nestor whose counsel was ever truest began to speak; with all sincerity and goodwill, therefore, he addressed them thus:

οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίῃσιν ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο γένοντο,

τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων

ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.

τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θʼ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,

μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,

ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,

δαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·

νώτοισιν δʼ Αἴαντα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν

ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.

αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,

τοῖς ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτος ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν

Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·

"Son of Atreus, and other chieftains, inasmuch as many of the Achaeans are now dead, whose blood Ares has shed by the banks of the Skamandros, and their psukhai have gone down to the house of Hades, it will be well when morning comes that we should cease fighting; we will then wheel our dead together with oxen and mules and burn them not far from the ships, that when we sail hence we may take the bones of our comrades home to their children. Hard by the funeral pyre we will build a barrow that shall be raised from the plain for all in common; near this let us set about building a high wall, to shelter ourselves and our ships, and let it have well-made gates that there may be a way through them for our chariots. Close outside we will dig a deep trench all round it to keep off both horse and foot, that the Trojan chieftains may not bear hard upon us."

Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,

πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,

τῶν νῦν αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐΰρροον ἀμφὶ Σκάμανδρον

ἐσκέδασʼ ὀξὺς Ἄρης, ψυχαὶ δʼ Ἄϊδος δὲ κατῆλθον·

τώ σε χρὴ πόλεμον μὲν ἅμʼ ἠοῖ παῦσαι Ἀχαιῶν,

αὐτοὶ δʼ ἀγρόμενοι κυκλήσομεν ἐνθάδε νεκροὺς

βουσὶ καὶ ἡμιόνοισιν· ἀτὰρ κατακήομεν αὐτοὺς

τυτθὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ νεῶν, ὥς κʼ ὀστέα παισὶν ἕκαστος

οἴκαδʼ ἄγῃ ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε νεώμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν.

τύμβον δʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν ἕνα χεύομεν ἐξαγαγόντες

ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου· ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν δείμομεν ὦκα

πύργους ὑψηλοὺς εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.

ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ποιήσομεν εὖ ἀραρυίας,

ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·

ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ὀρύξομεν ἐγγύθι τάφρον,

ἥ χʼ ἵππον καὶ λαὸν ἐρυκάκοι ἀμφὶς ἐοῦσα,

μή ποτʼ ἐπιβρίσῃ πόλεμος Τρώων ἀγερώχων.

Thus he spoke, and the princes shouted in approval. Meanwhile the Trojans held a council, angry and full of discord, on the acropolis by the gates of King Priam's palace; and wise Antenor spoke. "Hear me he said, "Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded. Let us give up Argive Helen and her wealth to the sons of Atreus, for we are now fighting in violation of our solemn covenants, and shall not prosper till we have done as I say."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνησαν βασιλῆες.

Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴ γένετʼ Ἰλίου ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ

δεινὴ τετρηχυῖα, παρὰ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι·

τοῖσιν δʼ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύειν·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

δεῦτʼ ἄγετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθʼ ἅμʼ αὐτῇ

δώομεν Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἄγειν· νῦν δʼ ὅρκια πιστὰ

ψευσάμενοι μαχόμεσθα· τὼ οὔ νύ τι κέρδιον ἡμῖν

ἔλπομαι ἐκτελέεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ ῥέξομεν ὧδε.

He then sat down and Alexander husband of lovely Helen rose to speak. "Antenor," said he, "your words are not to my liking; you can find a better saying than this if you will; if, however, you have spoken in good earnest, then indeed has heaven robbed you of your reason. I will speak plainly, and hereby notify to the Trojans that I will not give up the woman; but the wealth that I brought home with her from Argos I will restore, and will add yet further of my own."

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

δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο,

ὅς μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Ἀντῆνορ σὺ μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις·

οἶσθα καὶ ἄλλον μῦθον ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοῆσαι.

εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν δὴ τοῦτον ἀπὸ σπουδῆς ἀγορεύεις,

ἐξ ἄρα δή τοι ἔπειτα θεοὶ φρένας ὤλεσαν αὐτοί.

αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω·

ἀντικρὺ δʼ ἀπόφημι γυναῖκα μὲν οὐκ ἀποδώσω·

κτήματα δʼ ὅσσʼ ἀγόμην ἐξ Ἄργεος ἡμέτερον δῶ

πάντʼ ἐθέλω δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.

On this, when Paris had spoken and taken his seat, Priam of the race of Dardanos , peer of gods in council, rose and with all sincerity and goodwill addressed them thus: "Hear me, Trojans, Dardanians, and allies, that I may speak even as I am minded. Get your suppers now as hitherto throughout the city, but keep your watches and be wakeful. At daybreak let Idaios go to the ships, and tell Agamemnon and Menelaos sons of Atreus the saying of Alexander through whom this quarrel has come about; and let him also be instant with them that they now cease fighting till we burn our dead; hereafter we will fight anew, till a daimôn decides between us and give victory to one or to the other."

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

Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι,

ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.

νῦν μὲν δόρπον ἕλεσθε κατὰ πτόλιν ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,

καὶ φυλακῆς μνήσασθε καὶ ἐγρήγορθε ἕκαστος·

ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἴτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας

εἰπέμεν Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ

μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·

καὶ δὲ τόδʼ εἰπέμεναι πυκινὸν ἔπος, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσι

παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς

κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων

ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They took supper in their companies and at daybreak Idaios went his way to the ships. He found the Danaans, squires [ therapontes ] of Ares, in council at the stern of Agamemnon's ship, and took his place in the midst of them. "Son of Atreus," he said, "and princes of the Achaean host, Priam and the other noble Trojans have sent me to tell you the saying of Alexander through whom this quarrel has come about, if so be that you may find it acceptable. All the treasure he took with him in his ships to Troy - would that he had sooner perished - he will restore, and will add yet further of his own, but he will not give up the wedded wife of Menelaos, though the Trojans would have him do so. Priam bade me inquire further if you will cease fighting till we burn our dead;

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο·

δόρπον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσιν·

ἠῶθεν δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας·

τοὺς δʼ εὗρʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Δαναοὺς θεράποντας Ἄρηος

νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι

στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν μετεφώνεεν ἠπύτα κῆρυξ·

Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν

ἠνώγει Πρίαμός τε καὶ ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ

εἰπεῖν, αἴ κέ περ ὔμμι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,

μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·

κτήματα μὲν ὅσʼ Ἀλέξανδρος κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσὶν

ἠγάγετο Τροίηνδʼ· ὡς πρὶν ὤφελλʼ ἀπολέσθαι·

πάντʼ ἐθέλει δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλʼ ἐπιθεῖναι·

κουριδίην δʼ ἄλοχον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο

οὔ φησιν δώσειν· ἦ μὴν Τρῶές γε κέλονται.

καὶ δὲ τόδʼ ἠνώγεον εἰπεῖν ἔπος αἴ κʼ ἐθέλητε

παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς

hereafter we will fight anew, till a daimôn decides between us and gives victory to one or to the other."

κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων

ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δʼ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.

They all held their peace, but presently Diomedes of the loud war-cry spoke, saying, "Let there be no taking, neither treasure, nor yet Helen, for even a child may see that the doom of the Trojans is at hand."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·

ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

μήτʼ ἄρ τις νῦν κτήματʼ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δεχέσθω

μήθʼ Ἑλένην· γνωτὸν δὲ καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστιν

ὡς ἤδη Τρώεσσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατʼ ἐφῆπται.

The sons of the Achaeans shouted approval at the words that Diomedes had spoken, and thereon King Agamemnon said to Idaios, "Idaios, you have heard the answer the Achaeans make you-and I with them. But as concerning the dead, I give you leave to burn them, for when men are once dead there should be no grudging them the rites of fire. Let Zeus the mighty husband of Hera be witness to this covenant."

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπίαχον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν

μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο·

καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ Ἰδαῖον προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·

Ἰδαῖʼ ἤτοι μῦθον Ἀχαιῶν αὐτὸς ἀκούεις

ὥς τοι ὑποκρίνονται· ἐμοὶ δʼ ἐπιανδάνει οὕτως

ἀμφὶ δὲ νεκροῖσιν κατακαιέμεν οὔ τι μεγαίρω·

οὐ γάρ τις φειδὼ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων

γίγνετʼ ἐπεί κε θάνωσι πυρὸς μειλισσέμεν ὦκα.

ὅρκια δὲ Ζεὺς ἴστω ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.

As he spoke he upheld his scepter in the sight of all the gods, and Idaios went back to the strong city of Ilion . The Trojans and Dardanians were gathered in council waiting his return; when he came, he stood in their midst and delivered his message. As soon as they heard it they set about their twofold labor, some to gather the corpses, and others to bring in wood. The Argives on their part also hastened from their ships, some to gather the corpses, and others to bring in wood.

ὣς εἰπὼν τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνέσχεθε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν,

ἄψορρον δʼ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.

οἳ δʼ ἕατʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες

πάντες ὁμηγερέες, ποτιδέγμενοι ὁππότʼ ἄρʼ ἔλθοι

Ἰδαῖος· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἦλθε καὶ ἀγγελίην ἀπέειπε

στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν· τοὶ δʼ ὁπλίζοντο μάλʼ ὦκα,

ἀμφότερον νέκυάς τʼ ἀγέμεν ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην·

Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋσσέλμων ἀπὸ νηῶν

ὀτρύνοντο νέκυς τʼ ἀγέμεν, ἕτεροι δὲ μεθʼ ὕλην.

The sun was beginning to beat upon the fields, fresh risen into the vault of heaven from the slow still currents of deep Okeanos, when the two armies met. They could hardly recognize their dead, but they washed the clotted gore from off them, shed tears over them, and lifted them upon their wagons. Priam had forbidden the Trojans to wail aloud, so they heaped their dead sadly and silently upon the pyre, and having burned them went back to the city of Ilion . The Achaeans in like manner heaped their dead sadly and silently on the pyre, and having burned them went back to their ships.

Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας

ἐξ ἀκαλαρρείταο βαθυρρόου Ὠκεανοῖο

οὐρανὸν εἰσανιών· οἳ δʼ ἤντεον ἀλλήλοισιν.

ἔνθα διαγνῶναι χαλεπῶς ἦν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·

ἀλλʼ ὕδατι νίζοντες ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα

δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντες ἀμαξάων ἐπάειραν.

οὐδʼ εἴα κλαίειν Πρίαμος μέγας· οἳ δὲ σιωπῇ

νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,

ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.

ὣς δʼ αὔτως ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ

νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,

ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.

Now in the twilight when it was not yet dawn, chosen bands of the Achaeans were gathered round the pyre and built one barrow that was raised in common for all, and hard by this they built a high wall to shelter themselves and their ships; they gave it strong gates that there might be a way through them for their chariots, and close outside it they dug a trench deep and wide, and they planted it within with stakes.

ἦμος δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρ πω ἠώς, ἔτι δʼ ἀμφιλύκη νύξ,

τῆμος ἄρʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν κριτὸς ἔγρετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν,

τύμβον δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὴν ἕνα ποίεον ἐξαγαγόντες

ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου, ποτὶ δʼ αὐτὸν τεῖχος ἔδειμαν

πύργους θʼ ὑψηλούς, εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.

ἐν δʼ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ἐνεποίεον εὖ ἀραρυίας,

ὄφρα διʼ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·

ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ τάφρον ὄρυξαν

εὐρεῖαν μεγάλην, ἐν δὲ σκόλοπας κατέπηξαν.

ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί·

οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἀστεροπητῇ

Thus did the Achaeans toil, and the gods, seated by the side of Zeus the lord of lightning, marveled at their great work; but Poseidon, lord of the earthquake, spoke, saying, "Father Zeus, what mortal in the whole world will again take the gods into his counsel [ noos ]? See you not how the Achaeans have built a wall about their ships and driven a trench all round it, without offering hecatombs to the gods? The fame [ kleos ] of this wall will reach as far as dawn itself, and men will no longer think anything of the one which Phoebus Apollo and myself built with so much labor for Laomedon."

θηεῦντο μέγα ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.

τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·

Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι βροτῶν ἐπʼ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν

ὅς τις ἔτʼ ἀθανάτοισι νόον καὶ μῆτιν ἐνίψει;

οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅτι δʼ αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

τεῖχος ἐτειχίσσαντο νεῶν ὕπερ, ἀμφὶ δὲ τάφρον

ἤλασαν, οὐδὲ θεοῖσι δόσαν κλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας;

τοῦ δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς·

τοῦ δʼ ἐπιλήσονται τὸ ἐγὼ καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων

ἥρῳ Λαομέδοντι πολίσσαμεν ἀθλήσαντε.

τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

Zeus was displeased and answered, "What, O shaker of the earth, are you talking about? A god less powerful than yourself might be alarmed at what they are doing, but your fame [ kleos ] reaches as far as dawn itself. Surely when the Achaeans have gone home with their ships, you can shatter their wall and Ring it into the sea; you can cover the beach with sand again, and the great wall of the Achaeans will then be utterly effaced."

ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες.

ἄλλός κέν τις τοῦτο θεῶν δείσειε νόημα,

ὃς σέο πολλὸν ἀφαυρότερος χεῖράς τε μένος τε·

σὸν δʼ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τʼ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς.

ἄγρει μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

οἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν

τεῖχος ἀναρρήξας τὸ μὲν εἰς ἅλα πᾶν καταχεῦαι,

αὖτις δʼ ἠϊόνα μεγάλην ψαμάθοισι καλύψαι,

ὥς κέν τοι μέγα τεῖχος ἀμαλδύνηται Ἀχαιῶν.

Thus did they converse, and by sunset the work of the Achaeans was completed; they then slaughtered oxen at their tents and got their supper. Many ships had come with wine from Lemnos , sent by Euneus the son of Jason, born to him by Hypsipyle. The son of Jason freighted them with ten thousand measures of wine, which he sent specially to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaos. From this supply the Achaeans bought their wine, some with bronze, some with iron, some with hides, some with whole heifers, and some again with captives. They spread a goodly banquet and feasted the whole night through, as also did the Trojans and their allies in the city.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,

δύσετο δʼ ἠέλιος, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν,

βουφόνεον δὲ κατὰ κλισίας καὶ δόρπον ἕλοντο.

νῆες δʼ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέσταν οἶνον ἄγουσαι

πολλαί, τὰς προέηκεν Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος,

τόν ῥʼ ἔτεχʼ Ὑψιπύλη ὑπʼ Ἰήσονι ποιμένι λαῶν.

χωρὶς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ

δῶκεν Ἰησονίδης ἀγέμεν μέθυ χίλια μέτρα.

ἔνθεν οἰνίζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,

ἄλλοι μὲν χαλκῷ, ἄλλοι δʼ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ,

ἄλλοι δὲ ῥινοῖς, ἄλλοι δʼ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,

ἄλλοι δʼ ἀνδραπόδεσσι· τίθεντο δὲ δαῖτα θάλειαν.

παννύχιοι μὲν ἔπειτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ

But all the time Zeus boded them ill and roared with his portentous thunder. Pale fear got hold upon them, and they spilled the wine from their cups on to the ground, nor did any dare drink till he had made offerings to the most mighty son of Kronos. Then they laid themselves down to rest and enjoyed the boon of sleep.

δαίνυντο, Τρῶες δὲ κατὰ πτόλιν ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·

παννύχιος δέ σφιν κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεὺς

σμερδαλέα κτυπέων· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει·

οἶνον δʼ ἐκ δεπάων χαμάδις χέον, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη

πρὶν πιέειν πρὶν λεῖψαι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.

κοιμήσαντʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.