Thus kept the Trojans watch, but the Achaeans were holden of wondrous Panic, the handmaid of numbing fear and with grief intolerable were all the noblest stricken. Even as two winds stir up the teeming deep, the North Wind and the West Wind that blow from Thrace, coming suddenly, and forthwith the dark wave reareth itself in crests and casteth much tangle out along the sea; even so were the hearts of the Achaeans rent within their breasts. But the son of Atreus, stricken to the heart with sore grief, went this way and that, bidding the clear-voiced heralds summon every man by name to the place of gathering, but not to shout aloud; and himself he toiled amid the foremost. So they sat in the place of gathering, sore troubled, and Agamemnon stood up weeping even as a fountain of dark water that down over the face of a beetling cliff poureth its dusky stream; even so with deep groaning spake he amid the Argives, saying:My friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives, great Zeus, son of Cronos, hath ensnared me in grievous blindness of heart, cruel god! seeing that of old he promised me, and bowed his head thereto, that not until I had sacked well-walled Ilios should I get me home; but now hath he planned cruel deceit, and biddeth me return inglorious to Argos, when I have lost much people. So, I ween, must be the good pleasure of Zeus supreme in might, who hath laid low the heads of many cities, yea, and shall lay low; for his power is above all. Nay, come, even as I shall bid let us all obey: let us flee with our ships to our dear native land; for no more is there hope that we shall take broad-wayed Troy.So spake he, and they all became hushed in silence.
ὣς οἱ μὲν Τρῶες φυλακὰς ἔχον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺςθεσπεσίη ἔχε φύζα φόβου κρυόεντος ἑταίρη,πένθεϊ δʼ ἀτλήτῳ βεβολήατο πάντες ἄριστοι.ὡς δʼ ἄνεμοι δύο πόντον ὀρίνετον ἰχθυόενταΒορέης καὶ Ζέφυρος, τώ τε Θρῄκηθεν ἄητονἐλθόντʼ ἐξαπίνης· ἄμυδις δέ τε κῦμα κελαινὸνκορθύεται, πολλὸν δὲ παρὲξ ἅλα φῦκος ἔχευεν·ὣς ἐδαΐζετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἄχεϊ μεγάλῳ βεβολημένος ἦτορφοίτα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κελεύωνκλήδην εἰς ἀγορὴν κικλήσκειν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον,μὴ δὲ βοᾶν· αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ πρώτοισι πονεῖτο.ἷζον δʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ τετιηότες· ἂν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνωνἵστατο δάκρυ χέων ὥς τε κρήνη μελάνυδροςἥ τε κατʼ αἰγίλιπος πέτρης δνοφερὸν χέει ὕδωρ·ὣς ὃ βαρὺ στενάχων ἔπεʼ Ἀργείοισι μετηύδα·ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςΖεύς με μέγα Κρονίδης ἄτῃ ἐνέδησε βαρείῃσχέτλιος, ὃς τότε μέν μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσενἼλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι,νῦν δὲ κακὴν ἀπάτην βουλεύσατο, καί με κελεύειδυσκλέα Ἄργος ἱκέσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺν ὤλεσα λαόν.οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ὑπερμενέϊ φίλον εἶναι,ὃς δὴ πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηναἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ λύσει· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·φεύγωμεν σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τροίην αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
Long time were they silent in their grief, the sons of the Achaeans, but at length there spake among them Diomedes, good at the war-cry:Son of Atreus, with thee first will I contend in thy folly, where it is meet, O king, even in the place of gathering: and be not thou anywise wroth thereat. My valour didst thou revile at the first amid the Danaans, and saidst that I was no man of war but a weakling; and all this know the Achaeans both young and old. But as for thee, the son of crooked-counselling Cronos hath endowed thee in divided wise: with the sceptre hath he granted thee to be honoured above all, but valour he gave thee not, wherein is the greatest might.
δὴν δʼ ἄνεῳ ἦσαν τετιηότες υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·Ἀτρεΐδη σοὶ πρῶτα μαχήσομαι ἀφραδέοντι,ἣ θέμις ἐστὶν ἄναξ ἀγορῇ· σὺ δὲ μή τι χολωθῇς.ἀλκὴν μέν μοι πρῶτον ὀνείδισας ἐν Δαναοῖσιφὰς ἔμεν ἀπτόλεμον καὶ ἀνάλκιδα· ταῦτα δὲ πάνταἴσασʼ Ἀργείων ἠμὲν νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες.σοὶ δὲ διάνδιχα δῶκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·σκήπτρῳ μέν τοι δῶκε τετιμῆσθαι περὶ πάντων,ἀλκὴν δʼ οὔ τοι δῶκεν, ὅ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.
Strange king, dost thou indeed deem that the sons of the Achaeans are thus unwarlike and weaklings as thou sayest? Nay, if thine own heart is eager to return, get thee gone; before thee lies the way, and thy ships stand beside the sea, all the many ships that followed thee from Mycenae.
δαιμόνιʼ οὕτω που μάλα ἔλπεαι υἷας Ἀχαιῶνἀπτολέμους τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ ἀνάλκιδας ὡς ἀγορεύεις;εἰ δέ τοι αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐπέσσυται ὥς τε νέεσθαιἔρχεο· πάρ τοι ὁδός, νῆες δέ τοι ἄγχι θαλάσσηςἑστᾶσʼ, αἵ τοι ἕποντο Μυκήνηθεν μάλα πολλαί.
Howbeit the other long-haired Achaeans will abide here until we have laid waste Troy. Nay, let them also flee in their ships to their dear native land; yet will we twain, Sthenelus and I, fight on, until we win the goal of Ilios; for with the aid of heaven are we come.
ἀλλʼ ἄλλοι μενέουσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶεἰς ὅ κέ περ Τροίην διαπέρσομεν. εἰ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶφευγόντων σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·νῶϊ δʼ ἐγὼ Σθένελός τε μαχησόμεθʼ εἰς ὅ κε τέκμωρἸλίου εὕρωμεν· σὺν γὰρ θεῷ εἰλήλουθμεν.
So spake he, and all the sons of the Achaeans shouted aloud, applauding the word of Diomedes, tamer of horses. Then uprose and spake among them the horseman Nestor:Son of Tydeus, above all men art thou mighty in battle, and in council art the best amid all those of thine own age. Not one of all the Achaeans will make light of what thou sayest neither gainsay it; yet hast thou not reached a final end of words. Moreover, thou art in sooth but young, thou mightest e'en be my son, my youngest born; yet thou givest prudent counsel to the princes of the Argives, seeing thou speakest according to right.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπίαχον υἷες Ἀχαιῶνμῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο.τοῖσι δʼ ἀνιστάμενος μετεφώνεεν ἱππότα Νέστωρ·Τυδεΐδη περὶ μὲν πολέμῳ ἔνι καρτερός ἐσσι,καὶ βουλῇ μετὰ πάντας ὁμήλικας ἔπλευ ἄριστος.οὔ τίς τοι τὸν μῦθον ὀνόσσεται ὅσσοι Ἀχαιοί,οὐδὲ πάλιν ἐρέει· ἀτὰρ οὐ τέλος ἵκεο μύθων.ἦ μὲν καὶ νέος ἐσσί, ἐμὸς δέ κε καὶ πάϊς εἴηςὁπλότατος γενεῆφιν· ἀτὰρ πεπνυμένα βάζειςἈργείων βασιλῆας, ἐπεὶ κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες.
But come, I that avow me to be older than thou will speak forth and will declare the whole; neither shall any man scorn my words, no, not even lord Agamemnon. A clanless, lawless, hearthless man is he that loveth dread strife among his own folk.
ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐγών, ὃς σεῖο γεραίτερος εὔχομαι εἶναι,ἐξείπω καὶ πάντα διίξομαι· οὐδέ κέ τίς μοιμῦθον ἀτιμήσειʼ, οὐδὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.ἀφρήτωρ ἀθέμιστος ἀνέστιός ἐστιν ἐκεῖνοςὃς πολέμου ἔραται ἐπιδημίου ὀκρυόεντος.
Howbeit for this present let us yield to black night and make ready our supper; and let sentinels post themselves severally along the digged ditch without the wall. To the young men give I this charge; but thereafter do thou, son of Atreus, take the lead, for thou art most kingly.
ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃδόρπά τʼ ἐφοπλισόμεσθα· φυλακτῆρες δὲ ἕκαστοιλεξάσθων παρὰ τάφρον ὀρυκτὴν τείχεος ἐκτός.κούροισιν μὲν ταῦτʼ ἐπιτέλλομαι· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταἈτρεΐδη σὺ μὲν ἄρχε· σὺ γὰρ βασιλεύτατός ἐσσι.
Make thou a feast for the elders; this were but right and seemly for thee. Full are thy huts of wine that the ships of the Achaeans bring thee each day from Thrace, over the wide sea; all manner of entertainment hast thou at hand, seeing thou art king over many. And when many are gathered together thou shalt follow him whoso shall devise the wisest counsel. And sore need have all the Achaeans of counsel both good and prudent, seeing that foemen hard by the ships are kindling their many watchfires; what man could rejoice thereat? This night shall either bring to ruin or save our host.So spake he, and they readily hearkened to him and obeyed.
δαίνυ δαῖτα γέρουσιν· ἔοικέ τοι, οὔ τοι ἀεικές.πλεῖαί τοι οἴνου κλισίαι, τὸν νῆες Ἀχαιῶνἠμάτιαι Θρῄκηθεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα πόντον ἄγουσι·πᾶσά τοί ἐσθʼ ὑποδεξίη, πολέεσσι δʼ ἀνάσσεις.πολλῶν δʼ ἀγρομένων τῷ πείσεαι ὅς κεν ἀρίστηνβουλὴν βουλεύσῃ· μάλα δὲ χρεὼ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺςἐσθλῆς καὶ πυκινῆς, ὅτι δήϊοι ἐγγύθι νηῶνκαίουσιν πυρὰ πολλά· τίς ἂν τάδε γηθήσειε;νὺξ δʼ ἧδʼ ἠὲ διαρραίσει στρατὸν ἠὲ σαώσει.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο.
Forth hasted the sentinels in their harness around Nestor's son Thrasymedes, shepherd of the host, and Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares, and Meriones and Aphareus and Deïpyrus, and the son of Creon, goodly Lycomedes.
ἐκ δὲ φυλακτῆρες σὺν τεύχεσιν ἐσσεύοντοἀμφί τε Νεστορίδην Θρασυμήδεα ποιμένα λαῶν,ἠδʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀσκάλαφον καὶ Ἰάλμενον υἷας Ἄρηοςἀμφί τε Μηριόνην Ἀφαρῆά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε,ἠδʼ ἀμφὶ Κρείοντος υἱὸν Λυκομήδεα δῖον.
Seven were the captains of the sentinels, and with each fared an hundred youths bearing long spears in their hands; then they went and sate them down midway betwixt trench and wall; and there they kindled a fire and made ready each man his meal. But the son of Atreus led the counsellors of the Achaeans all together to his hut, and set before them a feast to satisfy the heart. So they put forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, first of all the old man began to weave the web of counsel for them, even Nestor, whose rede had of old ever seemed the best.
ἕπτʼ ἔσαν ἡγεμόνες φυλάκων, ἑκατὸν δὲ ἑκάστῳκοῦροι ἅμα στεῖχον δολίχʼ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἔχοντες·κὰδ δὲ μέσον τάφρου καὶ τείχεος ἷζον ἰόντες·ἔνθα δὲ πῦρ κήαντο, τίθεντο δὲ δόρπα ἕκαστος.Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ γέροντας ἀολλέας ἦγεν Ἀχαιῶνἐς κλισίην, παρὰ δέ σφι τίθει μενοεικέα δαῖτα.οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,τοῖς ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτος ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτινΝέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
He with good intent addressed their gathering and spake among them:Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, with thee will I begin and with thee make an end, for that thou art king over many hosts, and to thee Zeus hath vouchsafed the sceptre and judgements, that thou mayest take counsel for thy people.
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνονἐν σοὶ μὲν λήξω, σέο δʼ ἄρξομαι, οὕνεκα πολλῶνλαῶν ἐσσι ἄναξ καί τοι Ζεὺς ἐγγυάλιξεσκῆπτρόν τʼ ἠδὲ θέμιστας, ἵνά σφισι βουλεύῃσθα.
Therefore it beseemeth thee above all others both to speak and to hearken, and to fulfilll also for another whatsoever his heart may bid him speak for our profit; for on thee will depend whatsoever any man may begin. So will I speak what seemeth to me to be best. No man beside shall devise a better thought than this I have in mind from old even until now, even since the day when thou, O king sprung from Zeus, didst take from the hut of the angry Achilles the damsel Briseïs and go thy way—in no wise according to our will. Nay, for I, mine own self, urgently sought to dissuade thee; but thou didst yield to thy lordly spirit, and upon a man most mighty, whom the very immortals honoured, didst thou put dishonour; for thou tookest away and keepest his prize. Howbeit let us still even now take thought how we may make amends, and persuade him with kindly gifts and with gentle words.To him then spake in answer the king of men, Agamemnon:
τώ σε χρὴ περὶ μὲν φάσθαι ἔπος ἠδʼ ἐπακοῦσαι,κρηῆναι δὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ, ὅτʼ ἄν τινα θυμὸς ἀνώγῃεἰπεῖν εἰς ἀγαθόν· σέο δʼ ἕξεται ὅττί κεν ἄρχῃ.αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα.οὐ γάρ τις νόον ἄλλος ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοήσειοἷον ἐγὼ νοέω ἠμὲν πάλαι ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦνἐξ ἔτι τοῦ ὅτε διογενὲς Βρισηΐδα κούρηνχωομένου Ἀχιλῆος ἔβης κλισίηθεν ἀπούραςοὔ τι καθʼ ἡμέτερόν γε νόον· μάλα γάρ τοι ἔγωγεπόλλʼ ἀπεμυθεόμην· σὺ δὲ σῷ μεγαλήτορι θυμῷεἴξας ἄνδρα φέριστον, ὃν ἀθάνατοί περ ἔτισαν,ἠτίμησας, ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχεις γέρας· ἀλλʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦνφραζώμεσθʼ ὥς κέν μιν ἀρεσσάμενοι πεπίθωμενδώροισίν τʼ ἀγανοῖσιν ἔπεσσί τε μειλιχίοισι.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
Old sir, in no false wise hast thou recounted the tale of my blind folly. Blind I was, myself I deny it not. Of the worth of many hosts is the man whom Zeus loveth in his heart, even as now he honoureth this man and destroyeth the host of the Achaeans. Yet seeing I was blind, and yielded to my miserable passion, I am minded to make amends and to give requital past counting. In the midst of you all let me name the glorious gifts; seven tripods that the fire hath not touched, and ten talents of gold and twenty gleaming cauldrons, and twelve strong horses, winners in the race, that have won prizes by their fleetness.
ὦ γέρον οὔ τι ψεῦδος ἐμὰς ἄτας κατέλεξας·ἀασάμην, οὐδʼ αὐτὸς ἀναίνομαι. ἀντί νυ πολλῶνλαῶν ἐστὶν ἀνὴρ ὅν τε Ζεὺς κῆρι φιλήσῃ,ὡς νῦν τοῦτον ἔτισε, δάμασσε δὲ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν.ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην φρεσὶ λευγαλέῃσι πιθήσας,ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι δόμεναί τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα.ὑμῖν δʼ ἐν πάντεσσι περικλυτὰ δῶρʼ ὀνομήνωἕπτʼ ἀπύρους τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δʼ ἵππουςπηγοὺς ἀθλοφόρους, οἳ ἀέθλια ποσσὶν ἄροντο.
Not without booty were a man, nor unpossessed of precious gold, whoso had wealth as great as the prizes my single-hooved steeds have won me. And I will give seven women skilled in goodly handiwork, women of Lesbos, whom on the day when himself took well-built Lesbos I chose me from out the spoil, and that in beauty surpass all women folk. These will I give him, and amid them shall be she that then I took away, the daughter of Briseus; and I will furthermore swear a great oath that never went I up into her bed neither had dalliance with her as is the appointed way of mankind, even of men and women.
οὔ κεν ἀλήϊος εἴη ἀνὴρ ᾧ τόσσα γένοιτο,οὐδέ κεν ἀκτήμων ἐριτίμοιο χρυσοῖο,ὅσσά μοι ἠνείκαντο ἀέθλια μώνυχες ἵπποι.δώσω δʼ ἑπτὰ γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίαςΛεσβίδας, ἃς ὅτε Λέσβον ἐϋκτιμένην ἕλεν αὐτὸςἐξελόμην, αἳ κάλλει ἐνίκων φῦλα γυναικῶν.τὰς μέν οἱ δώσω, μετὰ δʼ ἔσσεται ἣν τότʼ ἀπηύρωνκούρη Βρισῆος· ἐπὶ δὲ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαιμή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναι,ἣ θέμις ἀνθρώπων πέλει ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν.
All these things shall be ready to his hand forthwith; and if hereafter it so be the gods grant us to lay waste the great city of Priam, let him then enter in, what time we Achaeans be dividing the spoil, and heap up his ship with store of gold and bronze, and himself choose twenty Trojan women that be fairest after Argive Helen. And if we return to Achaean Argos, the richest of lands, he shall be my son, and I will honour him even as Orestes that is reared in all abundance, my son well-beloved. Three daughters have I in my well-builded hall, Chrysothemis, and Laodice, and Iphianassa; of these let him lead to the house of Peleus which one he will, without gifts of wooing, and I will furthermore give a dower full rich, such as no man ever yet gave with his daughter. And seven well-peopled cities will I give him, Cardamyle Enope, and grassy Hire, and sacred Pherae and Antheia with deep meadows, and fair Aepeia and vine-clad Pedasus. All are nigh to the sea, on the uttermost border of sandy Pylos, and in them dwell men rich in flocks and rich in kine, men that shall honour him with gifts as though he were a god, and beneath his sceptre shall bring his ordinances to prosperous fulfillment. All this will I bring to pass for him, if he but cease from his wrath. Let him yield—Hades, I ween, is not to be soothed, neither overcome, wherefore he is most hated by mortals of all gods.
ταῦτα μὲν αὐτίκα πάντα παρέσσεται· εἰ δέ κεν αὖτεἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο θεοὶ δώωσʼ ἀλαπάξαι,νῆα ἅλις χρυσοῦ καὶ χαλκοῦ νηησάσθωεἰσελθών, ὅτε κεν δατεώμεθα ληΐδʼ Ἀχαιοί,Τρωϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐείκοσιν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθω,αἴ κε μετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην κάλλισται ἔωσιν.εἰ δέ κεν Ἄργος ἱκοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιϊκὸν οὖθαρ ἀρούρηςγαμβρός κέν μοι ἔοι· τίσω δέ μιν ἶσον Ὀρέστῃ,ὅς μοι τηλύγετος τρέφεται θαλίῃ ἔνι πολλῇ.τρεῖς δέ μοί εἰσι θύγατρες ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ εὐπήκτῳΧρυσόθεμις καὶ Λαοδίκη καὶ Ἰφιάνασσα,τάων ἥν κʼ ἐθέλῃσι φίλην ἀνάεδνον ἀγέσθωπρὸς οἶκον Πηλῆος· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπὶ μείλια δώσωπολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσʼ οὔ πώ τις ἑῇ ἐπέδωκε θυγατρί·ἑπτὰ δέ οἱ δώσω εὖ ναιόμενα πτολίεθραΚαρδαμύλην Ἐνόπην τε καὶ Ἱρὴν ποιήεσσανΦηράς τε ζαθέας ἠδʼ Ἄνθειαν βαθύλειμονκαλήν τʼ Αἴπειαν καὶ Πήδασον ἀμπελόεσσαν.πᾶσαι δʼ ἐγγὺς ἁλός, νέαται Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος·ἐν δʼ ἄνδρες ναίουσι πολύρρηνες πολυβοῦται,οἵ κέ ἑ δωτίνῃσι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσουσικαί οἱ ὑπὸ σκήπτρῳ λιπαρὰς τελέουσι θέμιστας.ταῦτά κέ οἱ τελέσαιμι μεταλήξαντι χόλοιο.δμηθήτω· Ἀΐδης τοι ἀμείλιχος ἠδʼ ἀδάμαστος,τοὔνεκα καί τε βροτοῖσι θεῶν ἔχθιστος ἁπάντων·
And let him submit himself unto me, seeing I am more kingly, and avow me his elder in years.Then made answer the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia:Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, the gifts that thou offerest the prince Achilles may no man any more condemn.
καί μοι ὑποστήτω ὅσσον βασιλεύτερός εἰμιἠδʼ ὅσσον γενεῇ προγενέστερος εὔχομαι εἶναι.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνονδῶρα μὲν οὐκέτʼ ὀνοστὰ διδοῖς Ἀχιλῆϊ ἄνακτι·
Come, therefore, let us send forth chosen men to go forthwith to the hut of Peleus' son, Achilles. Nay, rather, whomsoever I shall choose, let them consent. First of all let Phoenix, dear to Zeus, lead the way, and after him great Aias and goodly Odysseus;
ἀλλʼ ἄγετε κλητοὺς ὀτρύνομεν, οἵ κε τάχισταἔλθωσʼ ἐς κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος.εἰ δʼ ἄγε τοὺς ἂν ἐγὼ ἐπιόψομαι οἳ δὲ πιθέσθων.Φοῖνιξ μὲν πρώτιστα Διῒ φίλος ἡγησάσθω,αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ Αἴας τε μέγας καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
and of the heralds let Odius and Eurybates attend them. And now bring ye water for our hands, and bid keep holy silence, that we may make prayer unto Zeus, son of Cronos, if so be he will have compassion upon us.So said he and the words that he spake were pleasing unto all. Then heralds poured water over their hands, and youths filled the bowls brim full of drink, and served out to all, pouring first drops for libation into the cups. But when they had made libation and had drunk to their hearts' content, they went forth from the hut of Agamemnon, son of Atreus. And the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, laid straight command upon them with many a glance at each, and chiefly upon Odysseus, that they should make essay to persuade the peerless son of Peleus. So the twain went their way along the shore of the loud-resounding sea, with many an instant prayer to the god that holdeth the earth and shaketh it, that they might easily persuade the great heart of the son of Aeacus.
κηρύκων δʼ Ὀδίος τε καὶ Εὐρυβάτης ἅμʼ ἑπέσθων.φέρτε δὲ χερσὶν ὕδωρ, εὐφημῆσαί τε κέλεσθε,ὄφρα Διὶ Κρονίδῃ ἀρησόμεθʼ, αἴ κʼ ἐλεήσῃ.ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ἑαδότα μῦθον ἔειπεν.αὐτίκα κήρυκες μὲν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν,κοῦροι δὲ κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,νώμησαν δʼ ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ σπεῖσάν τʼ ἔπιόν θʼ ὅσον ἤθελε θυμός,ὁρμῶντʼ ἐκ κλισίης Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.τοῖσι δὲ πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρδενδίλλων ἐς ἕκαστον, Ὀδυσσῆϊ δὲ μάλιστα,πειρᾶν ὡς πεπίθοιεν ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.τὼ δὲ βάτην παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσηςπολλὰ μάλʼ εὐχομένω γαιηόχῳ ἐννοσιγαίῳῥηϊδίως πεπιθεῖν μεγάλας φρένας Αἰακίδαο.
And they came to the huts and the ships of the Myrmidons, and found him delighting his soul with a clear-toned lyre, fair and richly wrought, whereon was a bridge of silver; this had he taken from the spoil when he laid waste the city of Eëtion. Therewith was he delighting his soul, and he sang of the glorious deeds of warriors;
Μυρμιδόνων δʼ ἐπί τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην,τὸν δʼ εὗρον φρένα τερπόμενον φόρμιγγι λιγείῃκαλῇ δαιδαλέῃ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἀργύρεον ζυγὸν ἦεν,τὴν ἄρετʼ ἐξ ἐνάρων πόλιν Ἠετίωνος ὀλέσσας·τῇ ὅ γε θυμὸν ἔτερπεν, ἄειδε δʼ ἄρα κλέα ἀνδρῶν.
and Patroclus alone sat over against him in silence, waiting until Aeacus' son should cease from singing. But the twain came forward and goodly Odysseus led the way, and they took their stand before his face; and Achilles leapt up in amazement with the lyre in his hand, and left the seat whereon he sat;
Πάτροκλος δέ οἱ οἶος ἐναντίος ἧστο σιωπῇ,δέγμενος Αἰακίδην ὁπότε λήξειεν ἀείδων,τὼ δὲ βάτην προτέρω, ἡγεῖτο δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,στὰν δὲ πρόσθʼ αὐτοῖο· ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεὺςαὐτῇ σὺν φόρμιγγι λιπὼν ἕδος ἔνθα θάασσεν.
and in like manner Patroclus when he beheld the men uprose. Then swift-footed Achilles greeted the two and spake, saying:Welcome, verily ye be friends that are come—sore must the need be — ye that even in mine anger are to me the dearest of the Achaeans.So saying, goodly Achilles led them in and made them sit on couches and rugs of purple; and forthwith he spake to Patroclus, that was near:Set forth a larger bowl, thou son of Menoetius; mingle stronger drink, and prepare each man a cup, for these be men most dear, that are beneath my roof.So he spake, and Patroclus gave ear to his dear comrade. He cast down a great fleshing-block in the light of the fire and laid thereon a sheep's back and a fat goat's, and the chine of a great hog withal, rich with fat. And Automedon held them for him, while goodly Achilles carved.
ὣς δʼ αὔτως Πάτροκλος, ἐπεὶ ἴδε φῶτας, ἀνέστη.τὼ καὶ δεικνύμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·χαίρετον· ἦ φίλοι ἄνδρες ἱκάνετον ἦ τι μάλα χρεώ,οἵ μοι σκυζομένῳ περ Ἀχαιῶν φίλτατοί ἐστον.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας προτέρω ἄγε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,εἷσεν δʼ ἐν κλισμοῖσι τάπησί τε πορφυρέοισιν.αἶψα δὲ Πάτροκλον προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·μείζονα δὴ κρητῆρα Μενοιτίου υἱὲ καθίστα,ζωρότερον δὲ κέραιε, δέπας δʼ ἔντυνον ἑκάστῳ·οἳ γὰρ φίλτατοι ἄνδρες ἐμῷ ὑπέασι μελάθρῳ.ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ.αὐτὰρ ὅ γε κρεῖον μέγα κάββαλεν ἐν πυρὸς αὐγῇ,ἐν δʼ ἄρα νῶτον ἔθηκʼ ὄϊος καὶ πίονος αἰγός,ἐν δὲ συὸς σιάλοιο ῥάχιν τεθαλυῖαν ἀλοιφῇ.τῷ δʼ ἔχεν Αὐτομέδων, τάμνεν δʼ ἄρα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
Then he sliced the meat with care and spitted it upon spits, and the son of Menoetius, a godlike man, made the fire blaze high. But when the fire had burned down and the flame was abated, he scattered the embers and laid thereover the spits, and sprinkled the morsels with holy salt when he had set them upon the fire-dogs. But when he had roasted the meat and laid it on platters, Patroclus took bread and dealt it forth on the table in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt the meat. Himself he sate him down over against godlike Odysseus, by the other wall, and bade Patroclus, his comrade, offer sacrifice to the gods; and Patroclus cast burnt-offering into the fire. So they put forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, Aias nodded to Phoenix; and goodly Odysseus was ware thereof, and filling a cup with wine he pledged Achilles:
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ μίστυλλε καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειρε,πῦρ δὲ Μενοιτιάδης δαῖεν μέγα ἰσόθεος φώς.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ πῦρ ἐκάη καὶ φλὸξ ἐμαράνθη,ἀνθρακιὴν στορέσας ὀβελοὺς ἐφύπερθε τάνυσσε,πάσσε δʼ ἁλὸς θείοιο κρατευτάων ἐπαείρας.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὤπτησε καὶ εἰν ἐλεοῖσιν ἔχευε,Πάτροκλος μὲν σῖτον ἑλὼν ἐπένειμε τραπέζῃκαλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν, ἀτὰρ κρέα νεῖμεν Ἀχιλλεύς.αὐτὸς δʼ ἀντίον ἷζεν Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιοτοίχου τοῦ ἑτέροιο, θεοῖσι δὲ θῦσαι ἀνώγειΠάτροκλον ὃν ἑταῖρον· ὃ δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε θυηλάς.οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,νεῦσʼ Αἴας Φοίνικι· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,πλησάμενος δʼ οἴνοιο δέπας δείδεκτʼ Ἀχιλῆα·
Hail, O Achilles, of the equal feast have we no stinting, either in the hut of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, or now in thine; for here is abundance that satisfies the heart to feast withal. Yet matters of the delicious feast are not in our thoughts, nay, Zeus-nurtured one, it is utter ruin that we behold, and are afraid; for it is in doubt whether we save the benched ships or they perish, except thou clothe thee in thy might. Hard by the ships and the wall have the Trojans, high of heart, and their far-famed allies set their bivouac, and kindled many fires throughout the host, and they deem that they shall no more be stayed, but will fall upon our black ships. And Zeus, son of Cronos, shows them signs upon the right with his lightnings, and Hector exulting greatly in his might rageth furiously, trusting in Zeus, and recketh not of men nor gods, for mighty madness hath possessed him.
χαῖρʼ Ἀχιλεῦ· δαιτὸς μὲν ἐΐσης οὐκ ἐπιδευεῖςἠμὲν ἐνὶ κλισίῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαοἠδὲ καὶ ἐνθάδε νῦν, πάρα γὰρ μενοεικέα πολλὰδαίνυσθʼ· ἀλλʼ οὐ δαιτὸς ἐπηράτου ἔργα μέμηλεν,ἀλλὰ λίην μέγα πῆμα διοτρεφὲς εἰσορόωντεςδείδιμεν· ἐν δοιῇ δὲ σαωσέμεν ἢ ἀπολέσθαινῆας ἐϋσσέλμους, εἰ μὴ σύ γε δύσεαι ἀλκήν.ἐγγὺς γὰρ νηῶν καὶ τείχεος αὖλιν ἔθεντοΤρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι τηλεκλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροικηάμενοι πυρὰ πολλὰ κατὰ στρατόν, οὐδʼ ἔτι φασὶσχήσεσθʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέεσθαι.Ζεὺς δέ σφι Κρονίδης ἐνδέξια σήματα φαίνωνἀστράπτει· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μέγα σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνωνμαίνεται ἐκπάγλως πίσυνος Διί, οὐδέ τι τίειἀνέρας οὐδὲ θεούς· κρατερὴ δέ ἑ λύσσα δέδυκεν.
His prayer is that with all speed sacred Dawn may appear, for he declareth that he will hew from the ships' sterns the topmost ensigns, and burn the very hulls with consuming fire, and amidst them make havoc of the Achaeans, distraught by reason of the smoke.This then is the great fear of my heart, lest the gods fulfill for him his boastings, and it be our fate to perish here in Troy, far from horse-pasturing Argos. Nay, up then, if thou art minded even at the last to save from the war-din of the Trojans the sons of the Achaeans, that are sore bested. To thine own self shall sorrow be hereafter, nor can healing be found for ill once wrought—nay, rather, ere it be too late bethink thee how thou mayest ward from the Danaans the day of evil. Good friend, surely it was to thee that thy father Peleus gave command on the day when he sent thee to Agamemnon forth from Phthia: ‘My son, strength shall Athene and Hera give thee if they be so minded, but do thou curb thy proud spirit in thy breast, for gentle-mindedness is the better part; and withdraw thee from strife, contriver of mischief, that so the Argives both young and old may honour thee the more.’ On this wise did that old man charge thee, but thou forgettest. Yet do thou lease even now, and put from thee thy bitter wrath. To thee Agamemnon offereth worthy gifts, so thou wilt cease from thine anger. Nay come, hearken thou to me, and I will tell the tale of all the gifts that in his hut Agamemnon promised thee: seven tripods, that the fire hath not touched, and ten talents of gold and twenty gleaming cauldrons, and twelve strong horses, winners in the race that have won prizes by their fleetness. Not without booty were a man nor unpossessed of precious gold, whoso had wealth as great as the prizes Agamemnon's horses have won by their speed.
ἀρᾶται δὲ τάχιστα φανήμεναι Ἠῶ δῖαν·στεῦται γὰρ νηῶν ἀποκόψειν ἄκρα κόρυμβααὐτάς τʼ ἐμπρήσειν μαλεροῦ πυρός, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺςδῃώσειν παρὰ τῇσιν ὀρινομένους ὑπὸ καπνοῦ.ταῦτʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα, μή οἱ ἀπειλὰςἐκτελέσωσι θεοί, ἡμῖν δὲ δὴ αἴσιμον εἴηφθίσθαι ἐνὶ Τροίῃ ἑκὰς Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο.ἀλλʼ ἄνα εἰ μέμονάς γε καὶ ὀψέ περ υἷας Ἀχαιῶντειρομένους ἐρύεσθαι ὑπὸ Τρώων ὀρυμαγδοῦ.αὐτῷ τοι μετόπισθʼ ἄχος ἔσσεται, οὐδέ τι μῆχοςῥεχθέντος κακοῦ ἔστʼ ἄκος εὑρεῖν· ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶνφράζευ ὅπως Δαναοῖσιν ἀλεξήσεις κακὸν ἦμαρ.ὦ πέπον ἦ μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ ἐπετέλλετο Πηλεὺςἤματι τῷ ὅτε σʼ ἐκ Φθίης Ἀγαμέμνονι πέμπε·τέκνον ἐμὸν κάρτος μὲν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρηδώσουσʼ αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσι, σὺ δὲ μεγαλήτορα θυμὸνἴσχειν ἐν στήθεσσι· φιλοφροσύνη γὰρ ἀμείνων·ληγέμεναι δʼ ἔριδος κακομηχάνου, ὄφρά σε μᾶλλοντίωσʼ Ἀργείων ἠμὲν νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες.ὣς ἐπέτελλʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δὲ λήθεαι· ἀλλʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦνπαύεʼ, ἔα δὲ χόλον θυμαλγέα· σοὶ δʼ Ἀγαμέμνωνἄξια δῶρα δίδωσι μεταλήξαντι χόλοιο.εἰ δὲ σὺ μέν μευ ἄκουσον, ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι καταλέξωὅσσά τοι ἐν κλισίῃσιν ὑπέσχετο δῶρʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·ἕπτʼ ἀπύρους τρίποδας, δέκα δὲ χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δʼ ἵππουςπηγοὺς ἀθλοφόρους, οἳ ἀέθλια ποσσὶν ἄροντο.οὔ κεν ἀλήϊος εἴη ἀνὴρ ᾧ τόσσα γένοιτοοὐδέ κεν ἀκτήμων ἐριτίμοιο χρυσοῖο,ὅσσʼ Ἀγαμέμνονος ἵπποι ἀέθλια ποσσὶν ἄροντο.
And he will give seven women skilled in goodly handiwork, women of Lesbos, whom on the day when thou thyself tookest well-built Lesbos he chose him from the spoil, and that in beauty surpassed all women folk. These will he give thee, and amid them shall be she whom he then took away, the daughter of Briseus; and he will furthermore swear a great oath, that never went he up into her bed, neither had dalliance with her, as is the appointed way, O king, of men and women. All these things shall be ready to thy hand forthwith; and if hereafter it so be the gods grant us to lay waste the great city of Priam, do thou then enter in, what time we Achaeans be dividing the spoil, and heap up thy ship with store of gold and bronze, and thyself choose twenty Trojan women that be fairest after Argive Helen. And if we return to Achaean Argos, richest of lands, thou shalt be his son, and he will honour thee even as Orestes, that is reared in all abundance, his son well-beloved.Three daughters has he in his well-builded hall, Chrysothemis, and Laodice, and Ophianassa; of these mayest thou lead to the house of Peleus which one thou wilt, without gifts of wooing; and he will furthermore give a dower full rich, such as no man ever yet gave with his daughter. And seven well-peopled cities will he give thee, Cardamyle, Enope, and grassy Hire, and sacred Pherae, and Antheia, with deep meadows, and fair Aipeia, and vine-clad Pedasus.
δώσει δʼ ἑπτὰ γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίαςΛεσβίδας, ἃς ὅτε Λέσβον ἐϋκτιμένην ἕλες αὐτὸςἐξέλεθʼ, αἳ τότε κάλλει ἐνίκων φῦλα γυναικῶν.τὰς μέν τοι δώσει, μετὰ δʼ ἔσσεται ἣν τότʼ ἀπηύρακούρη Βρισῆος· ἐπὶ δὲ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμεῖταιμή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναιἣ θέμις ἐστὶν ἄναξ ἤτʼ ἀνδρῶν ἤτε γυναικῶν.ταῦτα μὲν αὐτίκα πάντα παρέσσεται· εἰ δέ κεν αὖτεἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο θεοὶ δώωσʼ ἀλαπάξαι,νῆα ἅλις χρυσοῦ καὶ χαλκοῦ νηήσασθαιεἰσελθών, ὅτε κεν δατεώμεθα ληΐδʼ Ἀχαιοί,Τρωϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐείκοσιν αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι,αἵ κε μετʼ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην κάλλισται ἔωσιν.εἰ δέ κεν Ἄργος ἱκοίμεθʼ Ἀχαιϊκὸν οὖθαρ ἀρούρηςγαμβρός κέν οἱ ἔοις· τίσει δέ σε ἶσον Ὀρέστῃ,ὅς οἱ τηλύγετος τρέφεται θαλίῃ ἔνι πολλῇ.τρεῖς δέ οἵ εἰσι θύγατρες ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ εὐπήκτῳΧρυσόθεμις καὶ Λαοδίκη καὶ Ἰφιάνασσα,τάων ἥν κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα φίλην ἀνάεδνον ἄγεσθαιπρὸς οἶκον Πηλῆος· ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπὶ μείλια δώσειπολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσʼ οὔ πώ τις ἑῇ ἐπέδωκε θυγατρί·ἑπτὰ δέ τοι δώσει εὖ ναιόμενα πτολίεθραΚαρδαμύλην Ἐνόπην τε καὶ Ἱρὴν ποιήεσσανΦηράς τε ζαθέας ἠδʼ Ἄνθειαν βαθύλειμονκαλήν τʼ Αἴπειαν καὶ Πήδασον ἀμπελόεσσαν.
All are nigh the sea, on the uttermost borders of sandy Pylos, and in them dwell men rich in flocks and rich in kine, men that shall honour thee with gifts as though thou wert a god, and beneath thy sceptre shall bring thy ordinances to prosperous fulfillment. All this will he bring to pass for thee, if thou but cease from thy wrath.
πᾶσαι δʼ ἐγγὺς ἁλός, νέαται Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος·ἐν δʼ ἄνδρες ναίουσι πολύρρηνες πολυβοῦται,οἵ κέ σε δωτίνῃσι θεὸν ὣς τιμήσουσικαί τοι ὑπὸ σκήπτρῳ λιπαρὰς τελέουσι θέμιστας.ταῦτά κέ τοι τελέσειε μεταλήξαντι χόλοιο.
But if the son of Atreus be too utterly hated by thee at heart, himself and his gifts, yet have thou pity at least on the rest of the Achaeans, that are sore bested throughout the host; these shall honour thee as though thou wert a god, for verily shalt thou win great glory in their eyes. Now mightest thou slay Hector, seeing he would come very nigh thee in his baneful rage, for he deemeth there is no man like unto him among the Danaans that the ships brought hither.Then in answer to him spake swift-footed Achilles:Zeus-born son of Laërtes, Odysseus of many wiles, needs must I verily speak my word outright, even as I am minded, and as it shall be brought to pass, that ye sit not by me here on this side and on that and prate endlessly. For hateful in my eyes, even as the gates of Hades, is that man that hideth one thing in his mind and sayeth another. Nay, I will speak what seemeth to me to be best.
εἰ δέ τοι Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἀπήχθετο κηρόθι μᾶλλοναὐτὸς καὶ τοῦ δῶρα, σὺ δʼ ἄλλους περ Παναχαιοὺςτειρομένους ἐλέαιρε κατὰ στρατόν, οἵ σε θεὸν ὣςτίσουσʼ· ἦ γάρ κέ σφι μάλα μέγα κῦδος ἄροιο·νῦν γάρ χʼ Ἕκτορʼ ἕλοις, ἐπεὶ ἂν μάλα τοι σχεδὸν ἔλθοιλύσσαν ἔχων ὀλοήν, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινά φησιν ὁμοῖονοἷ ἔμεναι Δαναῶν οὓς ἐνθάδε νῆες ἔνεικαν.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦχρὴ μὲν δὴ τὸν μῦθον ἀπηλεγέως ἀποειπεῖν,ᾗ περ δὴ φρονέω τε καὶ ὡς τετελεσμένον ἔσται,ὡς μή μοι τρύζητε παρήμενοι ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος.ἐχθρὸς γάρ μοι κεῖνος ὁμῶς Ἀΐδαο πύλῃσινὅς χʼ ἕτερον μὲν κεύθῃ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἄλλο δὲ εἴπῃ.αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα·
Not me, I ween, shall Atreus' son, Agamemnon, persuade, nor yet shall the other Danaans, seeing there were to be no thanks, it seemeth, for warring against the foeman ever without respite. Like portion hath he that abideth at home, and if one warreth his best, and in one honour are held both the coward and the brave;
οὔτʼ ἔμεγʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα πεισέμεν οἴωοὔτʼ ἄλλους Δαναούς, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρα τις χάρις ἦενμάρνασθαι δηΐοισιν ἐπʼ ἀνδράσι νωλεμὲς αἰεί.ἴση μοῖρα μένοντι καὶ εἰ μάλα τις πολεμίζοι·ἐν δὲ ἰῇ τιμῇ ἠμὲν κακὸς ἠδὲ καὶ ἐσθλός·
death cometh alike to the idle man and to him that worketh much. Neither have I aught of profit herein, that I suffered woes at heart, ever staking my life in fight. Even as a bird bringeth in her bill to her unfledged chicks whatever she may find, but with her own self it goeth ill, even so was I wont to watch through many a sleepless night, and bloody days did I pass in battle, fighting with warriors for their women's sake.Twelve cities of men have I laid waste with my ships and by land eleven, I avow, throughout the fertile land of Troy;
κάτθανʼ ὁμῶς ὅ τʼ ἀεργὸς ἀνὴρ ὅ τε πολλὰ ἐοργώς.οὐδέ τί μοι περίκειται, ἐπεὶ πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷαἰεὶ ἐμὴν ψυχὴν παραβαλλόμενος πολεμίζειν.ὡς δʼ ὄρνις ἀπτῆσι νεοσσοῖσι προφέρῃσιμάστακʼ ἐπεί κε λάβῃσι, κακῶς δʼ ἄρα οἱ πέλει αὐτῇ,ὣς καὶ ἐγὼ πολλὰς μὲν ἀΰπνους νύκτας ἴαυον,ἤματα δʼ αἱματόεντα διέπρησσον πολεμίζωνἀνδράσι μαρνάμενος ὀάρων ἕνεκα σφετεράων.δώδεκα δὴ σὺν νηυσὶ πόλεις ἀλάπαξʼ ἀνθρώπων,πεζὸς δʼ ἕνδεκά φημι κατὰ Τροίην ἐρίβωλον·
from out all these I took much spoil and goodly, and all would I ever bring and give to Agamemnon, this son of Atreus; but he staying behind, even beside his swiftships, would take and apportion some small part, but keep the most. Some he gave as prizes to chieftains and kings, and for them they abide untouched; but from me alone of the Achaeans hath he taken and keepeth my wife, the darling of my heart. Let him lie by her side and take his joy. But why must the Argives wage war against the Trojans? Why hath he gathered and led hither his host, this son of Atreus? Was it not for fair-haired Helen's sake?
τάων ἐκ πασέων κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰἐξελόμην, καὶ πάντα φέρων Ἀγαμέμνονι δόσκονἈτρεΐδῃ· ὃ δʼ ὄπισθε μένων παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσιδεξάμενος διὰ παῦρα δασάσκετο, πολλὰ δʼ ἔχεσκεν.ἄλλα δʼ ἀριστήεσσι δίδου γέρα καὶ βασιλεῦσι·τοῖσι μὲν ἔμπεδα κεῖται, ἐμεῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μούνου Ἀχαιῶνεἵλετʼ, ἔχει δʼ ἄλοχον θυμαρέα· τῇ παριαύωντερπέσθω. τί δὲ δεῖ πολεμιζέμεναι ΤρώεσσινἈργείους; τί δὲ λαὸν ἀνήγαγεν ἐνθάδʼ ἀγείραςἈτρεΐδης; ἦ οὐχ Ἑλένης ἕνεκʼ ἠϋκόμοιο;
Do they then alone of mortal men love their wives, these sons of Atreus? Nay, for whoso is a true man and sound of mind, loveth his own and cherisheth her, even as I too loved her with all my heart, though she was but the captive of my spear. But now, seeing he hath taken from my arms my prize, and hath deceived me, let him not tempt me that know him well; he shall not persuade me. Nay, Odysseus, together with thee and the other princes let him take thought to ward from the ships consuming fire. Verily full much hath he wrought without mine aid; lo, he hath builded a wall and digged a ditch hard by, wide and great, and therein hath he planted stakes; yet even so availeth he not to stay the might of man-slaying Hector. But so long as I was warring amid the Achaeans Hector had no mind to rouse battle far from the wall, but would come only so far as the Scaean gates and the oak-tree;
ἦ μοῦνοι φιλέουσʼ ἀλόχους μερόπων ἀνθρώπωνἈτρεΐδαι; ἐπεὶ ὅς τις ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἐχέφρωντὴν αὐτοῦ φιλέει καὶ κήδεται, ὡς καὶ ἐγὼ τὴνἐκ θυμοῦ φίλεον δουρικτητήν περ ἐοῦσαν.νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ χειρῶν γέρας εἵλετο καί μʼ ἀπάτησεμή μευ πειράτω εὖ εἰδότος· οὐδέ με πείσει.ἀλλʼ Ὀδυσεῦ σὺν σοί τε καὶ ἄλλοισιν βασιλεῦσιφραζέσθω νήεσσιν ἀλεξέμεναι δήϊον πῦρ.ἦ μὲν δὴ μάλα πολλὰ πονήσατο νόσφιν ἐμεῖο,καὶ δὴ τεῖχος ἔδειμε, καὶ ἤλασε τάφρον ἐπʼ αὐτῷεὐρεῖαν μεγάλην, ἐν δὲ σκόλοπας κατέπηξεν·ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς δύναται σθένος Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιοἴσχειν· ὄφρα δʼ ἐγὼ μετʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν πολέμιζονοὐκ ἐθέλεσκε μάχην ἀπὸ τείχεος ὀρνύμεν Ἕκτωρ,ἀλλʼ ὅσον ἐς Σκαιάς τε πύλας καὶ φηγὸν ἵκανεν·
there once he awaited me in single combat and hardly did he escape my onset. But now, seeing I am not minded to battle with goodly Hector, tomorrow will I do sacrifice to Zeus and all the gods, and heap well my ships, when I have launched them on the sea; then shalt thou see, if so be thou wilt, and carest aught therefor, my ships at early dawn sailing over the teeming Hellespont, and on board men right eager to ply the oar; and if so be the great Shaker of the Earth grants me fair voyaging, on the third day shall I reach deep-soiled Phthia. Possessions full many have I that I left on my ill-starred way hither, and yet more shall I bring from hence, gold and ruddy bronze, and fair-girdled women and grey iron—all that fell to me by lot; howbeit my prize hath he that gave it me taken back in his arrogant pride, even lord Agamemnon, son of Atreus. To him do ye declare all, even as I bid, openly, to the end that other Achaeans also may be wroth, if haply he hopeth to deceive yet some other of the Danaans, seeing he is ever clothed in shamelessness. Yet not in my face would he dare to look, though he have the front of a dog.Neither counsel will I devise with him nor any work, for utterly hath he deceived me and sinned against me. Never again shall he beguile me with words; the past is enough for him. Nay, let him go to his ruin in comfort, seeing that Zeus the counsellor hath utterly robbed him of his wits. Hateful in my eyes are his gifts, I count them at a hair's worth. Not though he gave me ten times, aye twenty times all that now he hath, and if yet other should be added thereto I care not whence, not though it were all the wealth that goeth in to Orchomenus, or to Thebes of Egypt, where treasures in greatest store are laid up in men's houses,—Thebes which is a city of an hundred gates wherefrom sally forth through each two hundred warriors with horses and cars;
ἔνθά ποτʼ οἶον ἔμιμνε, μόγις δέ μευ ἔκφυγεν ὁρμήν.νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐθέλω πολεμιζέμεν Ἕκτορι δίῳαὔριον ἱρὰ Διὶ ῥέξας καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσινηήσας εὖ νῆας, ἐπὴν ἅλα δὲ προερύσσω,ὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα καὶ αἴ κέν τοι τὰ μεμήλῃ,ἦρι μάλʼ Ἑλλήσποντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα πλεούσαςνῆας ἐμάς, ἐν δʼ ἄνδρας ἐρεσσέμεναι μεμαῶτας·εἰ δέ κεν εὐπλοίην δώῃ κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιοςἤματί κε τριτάτῳ Φθίην ἐρίβωλον ἱκοίμην.ἔστι δέ μοι μάλα πολλά, τὰ κάλλιπον ἐνθάδε ἔρρων·ἄλλον δʼ ἐνθένδε χρυσὸν καὶ χαλκὸν ἐρυθρὸνἠδὲ γυναῖκας ἐϋζώνους πολιόν τε σίδηρονἄξομαι, ἅσσʼ ἔλαχόν γε· γέρας δέ μοι, ὅς περ ἔδωκεν,αὖτις ἐφυβρίζων ἕλετο κρείων ἈγαμέμνωνἈτρεΐδης· τῷ πάντʼ ἀγορευέμεν ὡς ἐπιτέλλωἀμφαδόν, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλοι ἐπισκύζωνται Ἀχαιοὶεἴ τινά που Δαναῶν ἔτι ἔλπεται ἐξαπατήσειναἰὲν ἀναιδείην ἐπιειμένος· οὐδʼ ἂν ἔμοιγετετλαίη κύνεός περ ἐὼν εἰς ὦπα ἰδέσθαι·οὐδέ τί οἱ βουλὰς συμφράσσομαι, οὐδὲ μὲν ἔργον·ἐκ γὰρ δή μʼ ἀπάτησε καὶ ἤλιτεν· οὐδʼ ἂν ἔτʼ αὖτιςἐξαπάφοιτʼ ἐπέεσσιν· ἅλις δέ οἱ· ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοςἐρρέτω· ἐκ γάρ εὑ φρένας εἵλετο μητίετα Ζεύς.ἐχθρὰ δέ μοι τοῦ δῶρα, τίω δέ μιν ἐν καρὸς αἴσῃ.οὐδʼ εἴ μοι δεκάκις τε καὶ εἰκοσάκις τόσα δοίηὅσσά τέ οἱ νῦν ἔστι, καὶ εἴ ποθεν ἄλλα γένοιτο,οὐδʼ ὅσʼ ἐς Ὀρχομενὸν ποτινίσεται, οὐδʼ ὅσα ΘήβαςΑἰγυπτίας, ὅθι πλεῖστα δόμοις ἐν κτήματα κεῖται,αἵ θʼ ἑκατόμπυλοί εἰσι, διηκόσιοι δʼ ἀνʼ ἑκάσταςἀνέρες ἐξοιχνεῦσι σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφιν·