him, far away though he be, do thou bring to honour. Moreover, I will declare to thee as it verily shall be brought to pass. If Zeus that beareth the aegis, and Athene shall vouchsafe me to lay waste the well-built citadel of Ilios, in thy hand first after mine own self will I place a meed of honour, either a tripod or two horses with their car, or a woman that shall go up into thy bed.Then in answer to him spake peerless Teucer:Most glorious son of Atreus, why urgest thou me on, that of myself am eager? Verily I forbear not so far as might is in me, but from the time when we drave them toward Ilios, even from that moment I lie in wait with my bow and slay the men. Eight long-barbed arrows have I now let fly, and all are lodged in the flesh of youths swift in battle; only this mad dog can I not smite.
τὸν καὶ τηλόθʼ ἐόντα ἐϋκλείης ἐπίβησον.σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξερέω ὡς καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·αἴ κέν μοι δώῃ Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ ἈθήνηἸλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,πρώτῳ τοι μετʼ ἐμὲ πρεσβήϊον ἐν χερὶ θήσω,ἢ τρίποδʼ ἠὲ δύω ἵππους αὐτοῖσιν ὄχεσφινἠὲ γυναῖχʼ, ἥ κέν τοι ὁμὸν λέχος εἰσαναβαίνοι.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε Τεῦκρος ἀμύμων·Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε τί με σπεύδοντα καὶ αὐτὸνὀτρύνεις; οὐ μέν τοι ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστιπαύομαι, ἀλλʼ ἐξ οὗ προτὶ Ἴλιον ὠσάμεθʼ αὐτοὺςἐκ τοῦ δὴ τόξοισι δεδεγμένος ἄνδρας ἐναίρω.ὀκτὼ δὴ προέηκα τανυγλώχινας ὀϊστούς,πάντες δʼ ἐν χροῒ πῆχθεν ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν·τοῦτον δʼ οὐ δύναμαι βαλέειν κύνα λυσσητῆρα.
He spake, and shot another arrow from the string straight against Hector; and his heart was fain to smite him. Howbeit him he missed, but peerless Gorgythion he smote in the breast with his arrow, Priam's valiant son, that a mother wedded from Aesyme had born, even fair Castianeira, in form like to the goddesses. And he bowed his head to one side like a poppy that in a garden is laden with its fruit and the rains of spring; so bowed he to one side his head, laden with his helmet. And Teucer shot another arrow from the string straight against Hector, and his heart was fain to smite him. Howbeit he missed him once again, for Apollo made his dart to swerve, but Archeptolemus, the bold charioteer of Hector, as he hasted into battle he smote on the breast beside the nipple. So he fell from out the car, and the swift-footed horses swerved aside thereat; and there his spirit and his strength were undone. Then was the soul of Hector clouded with dread sorrow for his charioteer. Yet left he him to lie there, though he sorrowed for his comrade, and bade Cebriones, his own brother, that was nigh at hand, take the reins of the horses; and he heard and failed not to hearken.
ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλενἝκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός·καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀμύμονα Γοργυθίωναυἱὸν ἐῢν Πριάμοιο κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷ,τόν ῥʼ ἐξ Αἰσύμηθεν ὀπυιομένη τέκε μήτηρκαλὴ Καστιάνειρα δέμας ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι.μήκων δʼ ὡς ἑτέρωσε κάρη βάλεν, ἥ τʼ ἐνὶ κήπῳκαρπῷ βριθομένη νοτίῃσί τε εἰαρινῇσιν,ὣς ἑτέρωσʼ ἤμυσε κάρη πήληκι βαρυνθέν.Τεῦκρος δʼ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλενἝκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός.ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτε· παρέσφηλεν γὰρ Ἀπόλλων·ἀλλʼ Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασὺν Ἕκτορος ἡνιοχῆαἱέμενον πόλεμον δὲ βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν·ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποιὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε.Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο·τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου,Κεβριόνην δʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀδελφεὸν ἐγγὺς ἐόνταἵππων ἡνίʼ ἑλεῖν· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας.
And himself Hector leapt to the ground from his gleaming car crying a terrible cry, and seizing a stone in his hand made right at Teucer, and his heart bade him smite him. Now Teucer had drawn forth from the quiver a bitter arrow, and laid it upon the string, but even as he was drawing it back Hector of the flashing helm smote him beside the shoulder where the collar-bone parts the neck and the breast, where is the deadliest spot; even there as he aimed eagerly against him he smote him with the jagged stone, and he brake the bow-string; but his hand grew numb at the wrist, and he sank upon his knees and thus abode, and the bow fell from his hand.
αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντοςσμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρί,βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς Τεύκρου, βαλέειν δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει.ἤτοι ὃ μὲν φαρέτρης ἐξείλετο πικρὸν ὀϊστόν,θῆκε δʼ ἐπὶ νευρῇ· τὸν δʼ αὖ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωραὐερύοντα παρʼ ὦμον, ὅθι κληῒς ἀποέργειαὐχένα τε στῆθός τε, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστι,τῇ ῥʼ ἐπὶ οἷ μεμαῶτα βάλεν λίθῳ ὀκριόεντι,ῥῆξε δέ οἱ νευρήν· νάρκησε δὲ χεὶρ ἐπὶ καρπῷ,στῆ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριπών, τόξον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
Howbeit Aias was not unmindful of his brother's fall, but ran and bestrode him and flung before him his shield as a cover. Then two trusty comrades stooped beneath him, even Mecisteus, son of Echius, and goodly Alastor, and bare him, groaning heavily, to the hollow ships.
Αἴας δʼ οὐκ ἀμέλησε κασιγνήτοιο πεσόντος,ἀλλὰ θέων περίβη καί οἱ σάκος ἀμφεκάλυψε.τὸν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ὑποδύντε δύω ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροιΜηκιστεὺς Ἐχίοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ἀλάστωρνῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς φερέτην βαρέα στενάχοντα.
Then once again the Olympian aroused might in the hearts of the Trojans; and they thrust the Achaeans straight toward the deep ditch; and amid the foremost went Hector exulting in his might. And even as a hound pursueth with swift feet after a wild boar or a lion, and snatcheth at him from behind either at flank or buttock, and watcheth for him as he wheeleth; even so Hector pressed upon the long-haired Achaeans, ever slaying the hindmost; and they were driven in rout. But when in their flight they had passed through stakes and trench, and many had been vanquished beneath the hands of the Trojans, then beside their ships they halted and abode, calling one upon the other, and lifting up their hands to all the gods they made fervent prayer each man of them. But Hector wheeled this way and that his fair-maned horses, and his eyes were as the eyes of the Gorgon or of Ares, bane of mortals.
ἂψ δʼ αὖτις Τρώεσσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἐν μένος ὦρσεν·οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς τάφροιο βαθείης ὦσαν Ἀχαιούς·Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων.ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε κύων συὸς ἀγρίου ἠὲ λέοντοςἅπτηται κατόπισθε ποσὶν ταχέεσσι διώκωνἰσχία τε γλουτούς τε, ἑλισσόμενόν τε δοκεύει,ὣς Ἕκτωρ ὤπαζε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς,αἰὲν ἀποκτείνων τὸν ὀπίστατον· οἳ δὲ φέβοντο.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ διά τε σκόλοπας καὶ τάφρον ἔβησανφεύγοντες, πολλοὶ δὲ δάμεν Τρώων ὑπὸ χερσίν,οἳ μὲν δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες,ἀλλήλοισί τε κεκλόμενοι καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσιχεῖρας ἀνίσχοντες μεγάλʼ εὐχετόωντο ἕκαστος·Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἀμφιπεριστρώφα καλλίτριχας ἵππουςΓοργοῦς ὄμματʼ ἔχων ἠδὲ βροτολοιγοῦ Ἄρηος.
Now at sight of them the goddess, white-armed Hera, had pity; and forthwith spake winged words to Athene:Out upon it, thou child of Zeus that beareth the aegis, shall not we twain any more take thought of the Danaans that are perishing, even for this last time? Now will they fill up the measure of evil doom and perish before the onset of one single man, even of Hector, Priam's son, who now rageth past all bearing, and lo, hath wrought evils manifold.Then spake unto her the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene:Yea, verily, fain were I that this fellow lose strength and life, slain beneath the hands of the Argives in his own native land;
τοὺς δὲ ἰδοῦσʼ ἐλέησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,αἶψα δʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος οὐκέτι νῶϊὀλλυμένων Δαναῶν κεκαδησόμεθʼ ὑστάτιόν περ;οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνταιἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς ῥιπῇ, ὃ δὲ μαίνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτῶςἝκτωρ Πριαμίδης, καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε.τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·καὶ λίην οὗτός γε μένος θυμόν τʼ ὀλέσειεχερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων φθίμενος ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ·
howbeit mine own father rageth with evil mind, cruel that he is, ever froward, a thwarter of my purposes; neither hath he any memory of this, that full often I saved his son when he was fordone by reason of Eurystheus' tasks. For verily he would make lament toward heaven and from heaven would Zeus send me forth to succour him. Had I but known all this in wisdom of my heart when Eurystheus sent him forth to the house of Hades the Warder, to bring from out of Erebus the hound of loathed Hades, then had he not escaped the sheer-falling waters of Styx.
ἀλλὰ πατὴρ οὑμὸς φρεσὶ μαίνεται οὐκ ἀγαθῇσισχέτλιος, αἰὲν ἀλιτρός, ἐμῶν μενέων ἀπερωεύς·οὐδέ τι τῶν μέμνηται, ὅ οἱ μάλα πολλάκις υἱὸντειρόμενον σώεσκον ὑπʼ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων.ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κλαίεσκε πρὸς οὐρανόν, αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺςτῷ ἐπαλεξήσουσαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προΐαλλεν.εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ τάδε ᾔδεʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσινεὖτέ μιν εἰς Ἀΐδαο πυλάρταο προὔπεμψενἐξ Ἐρέβευς ἄξοντα κύνα στυγεροῦ Ἀΐδαο,οὐκ ἂν ὑπεξέφυγε Στυγὸς ὕδατος αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα.
Howbeit now Zeus hateth me, and hath brought to fulfillment the counsels of Thetis, that kissed his knees and with her hand clasped his chin, beseeching him to show honour to Achilles, sacker of cities. Verily the day shall come when he shall again call me his flashing-eyed darling. But now make thou ready for us twain our single-hooved horses, the while I enter into the palace of Zeus, that beareth the aegis, and array me in armour for battle, to the end that I may see whether Priam's son, Hector of the flashing helm, will rejoice when we twain appear to view along the dykes of battle. Nay of a surety many a one of the Trojans shall glut the dogs and birds with his fat and flesh, when he is fallen at the ships of the Achaeans.So spake she, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, failed not to hearken. She then went to and fro harnessing the horses of golden frontlets, even Hera, the queenly goddess, daughter of great Cronos; but Athene, daughter of Zeus that beareth the aegis, let fall upon her father's floor her soft robe, richly broidered, that herself had wrought and her hands had fashioned, and put on her the tunic of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, and arrayed her in armour for tearful war. Then she stepped upon the flaming car and grasped her spear, heavy and huge and strong, wherewith she vanquisheth the ranks of men, of warriors with whom she is wroth, she the daughter of the mighty sire. And Hera swiftly touched the horses with the lash, and self-bidden groaned upon their hinges the gates of heaven, which the Hours had in their keeping, to whom are entrusted great heaven and Olympus, whether to throw open the thick cloud or shut it to. There through the gate they drave their horses patient of the goad. But when father Zeus saw them from Ida he waxed wondrous wroth, and sent forth golden-winged Iris to bear a message:Up, go, swift Iris; turn them back and suffer them not to come face to face with me, seeing it will be in no happy wise that we shall join in combat. For thus will I speak and verily this thing shall be brought to pass. I will maim their swift horses beneath the chariot, and themselves will I hurl from out the car, and will break in pieces the chariot; nor in the space of ten circling years shall they heal them of the wounds wherewith the thunderbolt shall smite them; that she of the flashing eyes may know what it is to strive against her own father. But against Hera have I not so great indignation nor wrath, seeing she is ever wont to thwart me in whatsoe'er I have decreed.So spake he, and storm-footed Iris hasted to bear his message, and went forth from the mountains of Ida to high Olympus. And even at the entering-in of the gate of many-folded Olympus she met them and stayed them, and declared to them the saying of Zeus:Whither are ye twain hastening? Why is it that the hearts are mad within your breasts? The son of Cronos suffereth not that ye give succour to the Argives.
νῦν δʼ ἐμὲ μὲν στυγέει, Θέτιδος δʼ ἐξήνυσε βουλάς,ἥ οἱ γούνατʼ ἔκυσσε καὶ ἔλλαβε χειρὶ γενείου,λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον.ἔσται μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε φίλην γλαυκώπιδα εἴπῃ.ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπέντυε μώνυχας ἵππους,ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ καταδῦσα Διὸς δόμον αἰγιόχοιοτεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήξομαι, ὄφρα ἴδωμαιἢ νῶϊ Πριάμοιο πάϊς κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωργηθήσει προφανέντε ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας,ἦ τις καὶ Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνοὺςδημῷ καὶ σάρκεσσι, πεσὼν ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη.ἣ μὲν ἐποιχομένη χρυσάμπυκας ἔντυεν ἵππουςἭρη πρέσβα θεὰ θυγάτηρ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο·αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιοπέπλον μὲν κατέχευεν ἑανὸν πατρὸς ἐπʼ οὔδειποικίλον, ὅν ῥʼ αὐτὴ ποιήσατο καὶ κάμε χερσίν,ἣ δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνδῦσα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταοτεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσετο δακρυόεντα.ἐς δʼ ὄχεα φλόγεα ποσὶ βήσετο, λάζετο δʼ ἔγχοςβριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶνἡρώων, τοῖσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη.Ἥρη δὲ μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετʼ ἄρʼ ἵππους·αὐτόμαται δὲ πύλαι μύκον οὐρανοῦ ἃς ἔχον Ὧραι,τῇς ἐπιτέτραπται μέγας οὐρανὸς Οὔλυμπός τεἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν νέφος ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.τῇ ῥα διʼ αὐτάων κεντρηνεκέας ἔχον ἵππους.Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐπεὶ ἴδε χώσατʼ ἄρʼ αἰνῶς,Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε χρυσόπτερον ἀγγελέουσαν·βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, πάλιν τρέπε μηδʼ ἔα ἄντηνἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γὰρ καλὰ συνοισόμεθα πτόλεμον δέ.ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·γυιώσω μέν σφωϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέω κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξω·οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺςἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός·ὄφρα ἰδῇ γλαυκῶπις ὅτʼ ἂν ᾧ πατρὶ μάχηται.Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζομαι οὐδὲ χολοῦμαι·αἰεὶ γάρ μοι ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττί κεν εἴπω.ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα,βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον.πρώτῃσιν δὲ πύλῃσι πολυπτύχου Οὐλύμποιοἀντομένη κατέρυκε, Διὸς δέ σφʼ ἔννεπε μῦθον·πῇ μέματον; τί σφῶϊν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μαίνεται ἦτορ;οὐκ ἐάᾳ Κρονίδης ἐπαμυνέμεν Ἀργείοισιν.
For on this wise he threateneth, even as he will bring it to pass: he will maim your swift horses beneath your chariot, and yourselves will he hurl from out the car, and will break in pieces the chariot; nor in the space of ten circling years shall ye heal you of the wounds wherewith the thunderbolt shall smite you;
ὧδε γὰρ ἠπείλησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ᾗ τελέει περ,γυιώσειν μὲν σφῶϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέειν κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξειν·οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺςἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός·
that thou mayest know, thou of the flashing eyes, what it is to strive against thine own father. But against Hera hath he not so great indignation nor wrath, seeing she is ever wont to thwart him in whatsoe'er he hath decreed. But most dread art thou, thou bold and shameless thing, if in good sooth thou wilt dare to raise thy mighty spear against Zeus.
ὄφρα ἰδῇς γλαυκῶπι ὅτʼ ἂν σῷ πατρὶ μάχηαι.Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζεται οὐδὲ χολοῦται·αἰεὶ γάρ οἱ ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττι κεν εἴπῃ·ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ αἰνοτάτη κύον ἀδεὲς εἰ ἐτεόν γετολμήσεις Διὸς ἄντα πελώριον ἔγχος ἀεῖραι.
When she had thus spoken swift-footed Iris departed; but Hera spake to Athene, saying:Out upon it, thou child of Zeus that beareth the aegis! I verily will no more suffer that we twain seek to wage war against Zeus for mortals' sake. Of them let one perish and another live, even as it may befall; and for him, let him take his own counsel in his heart and judge between Trojans and Danaans, as is meet.So spake she, and turned back her single-hooved horses. Then the Hours unyoked for them their fair-maned horses, and tethered them at their ambrosial mangers, and leaned the chariot against the bright entrance wall; and the goddesses sate them down upon golden thrones amid the other gods, with sore grief at heart. But father Zeus drave from Ida his well-wheeled chariot and his horses unto Olympus, and came to the session of the gods.
ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, οὐκέτʼ ἔγωγενῶϊ ἐῶ Διὸς ἄντα βροτῶν ἕνεκα πτολεμίζειν·τῶν ἄλλος μὲν ἀποφθίσθω, ἄλλος δὲ βιώτω,ὅς κε τύχῃ· κεῖνος δὲ τὰ ἃ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷΤρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι δικαζέτω, ὡς ἐπιεικές.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πάλιν τρέπε μώνυχας ἵππους·τῇσιν δʼ Ὧραι μὲν λῦσαν καλλίτριχας ἵππους,καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐπʼ ἀμβροσίῃσι κάπῃσιν,ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα·αὐταὶ δὲ χρυσέοισιν ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι κάθιζονμίγδʼ ἄλλοισι θεοῖσι, φίλον τετιημέναι ἦτορ.Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐΰτροχον ἅρμα καὶ ἵππουςΟὔλυμπον δὲ δίωκε, θεῶν δʼ ἐξίκετο θώκους.
And for him the famed Shaker of Earth both unyoked his horses and set the car upon a stand, and spread thereover a cloth; and Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, himself sat upon his throne of gold, and beneath his feet great Olympus quaked. Only Athene and Hera sat apart from Zeus, and spake no word to him nor made question. But he knew in his heart and spake, saying:Why are ye thus grieved, Athene and Hera? Surely ye twain be not grown weary with making havoc of the Trojans in battle, wherein men win glory, seeing ye cherish against them wondrous hate!
τῷ δὲ καὶ ἵππους μὲν λῦσε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος,ἅρματα δʼ ἂμ βωμοῖσι τίθει κατὰ λῖτα πετάσσας·αὐτὸς δὲ χρύσειον ἐπὶ θρόνον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺςἕζετο, τῷ δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ μέγας πελεμίζετʼ Ὄλυμπος.αἳ δʼ οἶαι Διὸς ἀμφὶς Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρηἥσθην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδʼ ἐρέοντο·αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε·τίφθʼ οὕτω τετίησθον Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη;οὐ μέν θην κάμετόν γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃὀλλῦσαι Τρῶας, τοῖσιν κότον αἰνὸν ἔθεσθε.
Come what will, seeing I have such might and hands irresistible, all the gods that are in Olympus could not turn me; and for you twain, trembling gat hold of your glorious limbs or ever ye had sight of war and the grim deeds of war. For thus will I speak, and verily this thing had been brought to pass:
πάντως, οἷον ἐμόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρες ἄαπτοι,οὐκ ἄν με τρέψειαν ὅσοι θεοί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ.σφῶϊν δὲ πρίν περ τρόμος ἔλλαβε φαίδιμα γυῖαπρὶν πόλεμόν τε ἰδεῖν πολέμοιό τε μέρμερα ἔργα.ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δέ κεν τετελεσμένον ἦεν·
not upon your car, once ye were smitten by the thunderbolt, would ye have fared back to Olympus, where is the abode of the immortals.So spake he, and thereat murmured Athene and Hera, that sat by his side and were devising ills for the Trojans. Athene verily held her peace and said naught, wroth though she was with father Zeus, and fierce anger gat hold of her; howbeit Hera's breast contained not her anger, but she spake to him, saying:Most dread son of Cronos, what a word hast thou said! Well know we of ourselves that thine is no weakling strength; yet even so have we pity for the Danaan spearmen who now shall perish and fulfill an evil fate. Yet verily will we refrain us from battle, if so thou biddest; howbeit counsel will we offer to the Argives which shall be for their profit, that they perish not all by reason of thy wrath.Then in answer spake to her Zeus the cloud-gatherer:
οὐκ ἂν ἐφʼ ὑμετέρων ὀχέων πληγέντε κεραυνῷἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἵκεσθον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτων ἕδος ἐστίν.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ἐπέμυξαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη·πλησίαι αἵ γʼ ἥσθην, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μεδέσθην.ἤτοι Ἀθηναίη ἀκέων ἦν οὐδέ τι εἶπεσκυζομένη Διὶ πατρί, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·Ἥρῃ δʼ οὐκ ἔχαδε στῆθος χόλον, ἀλλὰ προσηύδα·αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν·ἀλλʼ ἔμπης Δαναῶν ὀλοφυρόμεθʼ αἰχμητάων,οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι πολέμου μὲν ἀφεξόμεθʼ, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις·βουλὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ὑποθησόμεθʼ ἥ τις ὀνήσει,ὡς μὴ πάντες ὄλωνται ὀδυσσαμένοιο τεοῖο.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
At dawn shalt thou behold, if so be thou wilt, O ox-eyed, queenly Hera, the most mighty son of Cronos making yet more grievous havoc of the great host of Argive spearmen; for dread Hector shall not refrain him from battle until the swift-footed son of Peleus be uprisen beside his ships on the day when at the sterns of the ships they shall be fighting in grimmest stress about Patroclus fallen; for thus it is ordained of heaven. But of thee I reck not in thine anger, no, not though thou shouldst go to the nethermost bounds of earth and sea, where abide Iapetus and Cronos, and have joy neither in the rays of Helios Hyperion nor in any breeze, but deep Tartarus is round about them. Though thou shouldst fare even thither in thy wanderings, yet reck I not of thy wrath, seeing there is naught more shameless than thou.So said he; howbeit white-armed Hera spake no word in answer.
ἠοῦς δὴ καὶ μᾶλλον ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωναὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρηὀλλύντʼ Ἀργείων πουλὺν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων·οὐ γὰρ πρὶν πολέμου ἀποπαύσεται ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρπρὶν ὄρθαι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα,ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἂν οἳ μὲν ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσι μάχωνταιστείνει ἐν αἰνοτάτῳ περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος·ὣς γὰρ θέσφατόν ἐστι· σέθεν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζωχωομένης, οὐδʼ εἴ κε τὰ νείατα πείραθʼ ἵκηαιγαίης καὶ πόντοιο, ἵνʼ Ἰάπετός τε Κρόνος τεἥμενοι οὔτʼ αὐγῇς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιοτέρποντʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμοισι, βαθὺς δέ τε Τάρταρος ἀμφίς·οὐδʼ ἢν ἔνθʼ ἀφίκηαι ἀλωμένη, οὔ σευ ἔγωγεσκυζομένης ἀλέγω, ἐπεὶ οὐ σέο κύντερον ἄλλο.ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη λευκώλενος Ἥρη.
Then into Oceanus fell the bright light of the sun drawing black night over the face of the earth, the giver of grain. Sorely against the will of the Trojans sank the daylight, but over the Achaeans welcome, aye, thrice-prayed-for, came the darkness of night. Then did glorious Hector make a gathering of the Trojans, leading them apart from the ships beside the eddying river in an open space, where the ground shewed clear of dead. Forth from their chariots they stepped upon the ground, to hearken to the word that Hector dear to Zeus spake among them. In his hand he held a spear of eleven cubits, and before him blazed the spear-point of bronze, around which ran a ring of gold. Thereon he leaned, and spake his word among the Trojans:Hearken to me, ye Trojans and Dardanians and allies: I deemed but now to make havoc of the ships and all the Achaeans, and so return back again to windy Ilios; but darkness came on ere that might be, the which above all else hath now saved the Argives and their ships upon the beach of the sea. So then for this present let us yield to black night and make ready our supper; loose ye from the cars your fair-maned horses, and cast fodder before them;
ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ Ὠκεανῷ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιοἕλκον νύκτα μέλαιναν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.Τρωσὶν μέν ῥʼ ἀέκουσιν ἔδυ φάος, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖςἀσπασίη τρίλλιστος ἐπήλυθε νὺξ ἐρεβεννή.Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴν ποιήσατο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρνόσφι νεῶν ἀγαγὼν ποταμῷ ἔπι δινήεντι,ἐν καθαρῷ ὅθι δὴ νεκύων διεφαίνετο χῶρος.ἐξ ἵππων δʼ ἀποβάντες ἐπὶ χθόνα μῦθον ἄκουοντόν ῥʼ Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευε Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα χειρὶἔγχος ἔχʼ ἑνδεκάπηχυ· πάροιθε δὲ λάμπετο δουρὸςαἰχμὴ χαλκείη, περὶ δὲ χρύσεος θέε πόρκης,τῷ ὅ γʼ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπεα Τρώεσσι μετηύδα·κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι·νῦν ἐφάμην νῆάς τʼ ὀλέσας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺςἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·ἀλλὰ πρὶν κνέφας ἦλθε, τὸ νῦν ἐσάωσε μάλισταἈργείους καὶ νῆας ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃδόρπά τʼ ἐφοπλισόμεσθα· ἀτὰρ καλλίτριχας ἵππουςλύσαθʼ ὑπὲξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δέ σφισι βάλλετʼ ἐδωδήν·
and from the city bring ye oxen and goodly sheep with speed, and get you honey-hearted wine and bread from your houses, and furthermore gather abundant wood, that all night long until early dawn we may burn fires full many and the gleam thereof may reach to heaven, lest haply even by night the long-haired Achaeans make haste to take flight over the broad back of the sea.Nay, verily, not without a struggle let them board their ships neither at their ease; but see ye that many a one of them has a missile to brood over even at home, being smitten either with an arrow or sharp-pointed spear as he leapt upon his ship; that so others may dread to bring tearful war against the horse-taming Trojans. And let heralds, dear to Zeus, make proclamation throughout the city that stripling boys and old men of hoary temples gather them round the city upon the battlement builded of the gods;
ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξεσθε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλακαρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζεσθεσῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγεσθε,ὥς κεν παννύχιοι μέσφʼ ἠοῦς ἠριγενείηςκαίωμεν πυρὰ πολλά, σέλας δʼ εἰς οὐρανὸν ἵκῃ,μή πως καὶ διὰ νύκτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶφεύγειν ὁρμήσωνται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης.μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε νεῶν ἐπιβαῖεν ἕκηλοι,ἀλλʼ ὥς τις τούτων γε βέλος καὶ οἴκοθι πέσσῃβλήμενος ἢ ἰῷ ἢ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντινηὸς ἐπιθρῴσκων, ἵνα τις στυγέῃσι καὶ ἄλλοςΤρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα.κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ Διῒ φίλοι ἀγγελλόντωνπαῖδας πρωθήβας πολιοκροτάφους τε γέρονταςλέξασθαι περὶ ἄστυ θεοδμήτων ἐπὶ πύργων·
and for the women folk, let them build each one a great fire in her halls; and let a diligent watch be kept, lest an ambush enter the city while the host is afield. Thus be it, great-hearted Trojans, even as I proclaim; of counsel, good and sound for this present, be this enough; but more will I proclaim at dawn amid the horse-taming Trojans. I pray in high hope to Zeus and the other gods to drive out from hence these dogs borne by the fates, whom the fates bare on their black ships. Howbeit for the night will we guard our own selves, but in the morning at the coming of dawn arrayed in our armour let us arouse sharp battle at the hollow ships. I shall know whether the son of Tydeus, mighty Diomedes, will thrust me back from the ships to the wall, or whether I shall slay him with the bronze and bear off his bloody spoils.
θηλύτεραι δὲ γυναῖκες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑκάστηπῦρ μέγα καιόντων· φυλακὴ δέ τις ἔμπεδος ἔστωμὴ λόχος εἰσέλθῃσι πόλιν λαῶν ἀπεόντων.ὧδʼ ἔστω Τρῶες μεγαλήτορες ὡς ἀγορεύω·μῦθος δʼ ὃς μὲν νῦν ὑγιὴς εἰρημένος ἔστω,τὸν δʼ ἠοῦς Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω.ἔλπομαι εὐχόμενος Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσινἐξελάαν ἐνθένδε κύνας κηρεσσιφορήτους,οὓς κῆρες φορέουσι μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ἐπὶ νυκτὶ φυλάξομεν ἡμέας αὐτούς,πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντεςνηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.εἴσομαι εἴ κέ μʼ ὁ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδηςπὰρ νηῶν πρὸς τεῖχος ἀπώσεται, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τὸνχαλκῷ δῃώσας ἔναρα βροτόεντα φέρωμαι.
Tomorrow shall he come to know his valour, whether he can abide the on-coming of my spear. Nay, amid the foremost, methinks, shall he lie smitten with a spear-thrust, and full many of his comrades round about him at the rising of to-morrow's sun. I would that mine own self I might be immortal and ageless all my days, and that I might be honoured even as Athene and Apollo, so surely as now this day bringeth evil upon the Argives.So Hector addressed their gathering, and thereat the Trojans shouted aloud. Their sweating horses they loosed from beneath the yoke, and tethered them with thongs, each man beside his own chariot;
αὔριον ἣν ἀρετὴν διαείσεται, εἴ κʼ ἐμὸν ἔγχοςμείνῃ ἐπερχόμενον· ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀΐωκείσεται οὐτηθείς, πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροιἠελίου ἀνιόντος ἐς αὔριον· εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣςεἴην ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα,τιοίμην δʼ ὡς τίετʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἀπόλλων,ὡς νῦν ἡμέρη ἥδε κακὸν φέρει Ἀργείοισιν.ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶες κελάδησαν.οἳ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας,δῆσαν δʼ ἱμάντεσσι παρʼ ἅρμασιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος·
and from the city they brought oxen and goodly sheep with speed, and got them honey-hearted wine and bread from their houses, and furthermore gathered abundant wood; and to the immortals they offered hecatombs that bring fulfillment. And from the plain the winds bore the savour up into heaven—a sweet savour, but thereof the blessed gods partook not, neither were minded thereto; for utterly hated of them was sacred Ilios, and Priam, and the people of Priam with goodly spear of ash. These then with high hearts abode the whole night through along the dykes of war, and their fires burned in multitudes.
ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξοντο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλακαρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζοντο,σῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγοντο.[ἔρδον δ’ ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας]κνίσην δʼ ἐκ πεδίου ἄνεμοι φέρον οὐρανὸν εἴσω.[ἡδεῖαν· τῆς δ’ οὔ τι θεοὶ μάκαρες δατέοντο,][οὐδ’ ἔθελον· μάλα γάρ σφιν ἀπήχθετο Ἴλιος ἱρή,][καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο]οἳ δὲ μέγα φρονέοντες ἐπὶ πτολέμοιο γεφύραςεἴατο παννύχιοι, πυρὰ δέ σφισι καίετο πολλά.
Even as in heaven about the gleaming moon the stars shine clear, when the air is windless, and forth to view appear all mountain peaks and high headlands and glades, and from heaven breaketh open the infinite air, and all stars are seen, and the shepherd joyeth in his heart;
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἄστρα φαεινὴν ἀμφὶ σελήνηνφαίνετʼ ἀριπρεπέα, ὅτε τʼ ἔπλετο νήνεμος αἰθήρ·ἔκ τʼ ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροικαὶ νάπαι· οὐρανόθεν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπερράγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ,πάντα δὲ εἴδεται ἄστρα, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα ποιμήν·
even in such multitudes between the ships and the streams of Xanthus shone the fires that the Trojans kindled before the face of Ilios. A thousand fires were burning in the plain and by each sat fifty men in the glow of the blazing fire. And their horses, eating of white barley and spelt, stood beside the cars and waited for fair-throned Dawn.
τόσσα μεσηγὺ νεῶν ἠδὲ Ξάνθοιο ῥοάωνΤρώων καιόντων πυρὰ φαίνετο Ἰλιόθι πρό.χίλιʼ ἄρʼ ἐν πεδίῳ πυρὰ καίετο, πὰρ δὲ ἑκάστῳεἴατο πεντήκοντα σέλᾳ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο.ἵπποι δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι καὶ ὀλύραςἑσταότες παρʼ ὄχεσφιν ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ μίμνον.