—nay, not though he gave gifts in number as sand and dust; not even so shall Agamemnon any more persuade my soul, until he hath paid the full price of all the despite that stings my heart. And the daughter of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, will I not wed, not though she vied in beauty with golden Aphrodite and in handiwork were the peer of flashing-eyed Athene: not even so will I wed her; let him choose another of the Achaeans that is of like station with himself and more kingly than I. For if the gods preserve me, and I reach my home, Peleus methinks will thereafter of himself seek me a wife.
οὐδʼ εἴ μοι τόσα δοίη ὅσα ψάμαθός τε κόνις τε,οὐδέ κεν ὧς ἔτι θυμὸν ἐμὸν πείσειʼ Ἀγαμέμνωνπρίν γʼ ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ἐμοὶ δόμεναι θυμαλγέα λώβην.κούρην δʼ οὐ γαμέω Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο,οὐδʼ εἰ χρυσείῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ κάλλος ἐρίζοι,ἔργα δʼ Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ἰσοφαρίζοι·οὐδέ μιν ὧς γαμέω· ὃ δʼ Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλον ἑλέσθω,ὅς τις οἷ τʼ ἐπέοικε καὶ ὃς βασιλεύτερός ἐστιν.ἢν γὰρ δή με σαῶσι θεοὶ καὶ οἴκαδʼ ἵκωμαι,Πηλεύς θήν μοι ἔπειτα γυναῖκά γε μάσσεται αὐτός.
Many Achaean maidens there be throughout Hellas and Phthia, daughters of chieftains that guard the cities; of these whomsoever I choose shall I make my dear wife. Full often was my proud spirit fain to take me there a wedded wife, a fitting helpmeet, and to have joy of the possessions that the old man Peleus won him. For in my eyes not of like worth with life is even all that wealth that men say Ilios possessed, the well-peopled citadel, of old in time of peace or ever the sons of the Achaeans came,—nay, nor all that the marble threshold of the Archer Phoebus Apollo encloseth in rocky Pytho. For by harrying may cattle be had and goodly sheep, and tripods by the winning and chestnut horses withal; but that the spirit of man should come again when once it hath passed the barrier of his teeth, neither harrying availeth nor winning.
πολλαὶ Ἀχαιΐδες εἰσὶν ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα τε Φθίην τεκοῦραι ἀριστήων, οἵ τε πτολίεθρα ῥύονται,τάων ἥν κʼ ἐθέλωμι φίλην ποιήσομʼ ἄκοιτιν.ἔνθα δέ μοι μάλα πολλὸν ἐπέσσυτο θυμὸς ἀγήνωργήμαντα μνηστὴν ἄλοχον ἐϊκυῖαν ἄκοιτινκτήμασι τέρπεσθαι τὰ γέρων ἐκτήσατο Πηλεύς·οὐ γὰρ ἐμοὶ ψυχῆς ἀντάξιον οὐδʼ ὅσα φασὶνἼλιον ἐκτῆσθαι εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθροντὸ πρὶν ἐπʼ εἰρήνης, πρὶν ἐλθεῖν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,οὐδʼ ὅσα λάϊνος οὐδὸς ἀφήτορος ἐντὸς ἐέργειΦοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος Πυθοῖ ἔνι πετρηέσσῃ.ληϊστοὶ μὲν γάρ τε βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,κτητοὶ δὲ τρίποδές τε καὶ ἵππων ξανθὰ κάρηνα,ἀνδρὸς δὲ ψυχὴ πάλιν ἐλθεῖν οὔτε λεϊστὴοὔθʼ ἑλετή, ἐπεὶ ἄρ κεν ἀμείψεται ἕρκος ὀδόντων.
For my mother the goddess, silver-footed Thetis, telleth me that twofold fates are bearing me toward the doom of death: if I abide here and war about the city of the Trojans, then lost is my home-return, but my renown shall be imperishable; but if I return home to my dear native land, lost then is my glorious renown, yet shall my life long endure, neither shall the doom of death come soon upon me.Aye, and I would counsel you others also to sail back to your homes; seeing there is no more hope that ye shall win the goal of steep Ilios; for mightily doth Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, hold forth his hand above her, and her people are filled with courage. But go ye your way and declare my message to the chieftains of the Achaeans—for that is the office of elders—to the end that they may devise some other plan in their minds better than this, even such as shall save their ships, and the host of the Achaeans beside the hollow ships; seeing this is not to be had for them, which now they have devised, by reason of the fierceness of my anger. Howbeit let Phoenix abide here with us, and lay him down to sleep, that he may follow with me on my ships to my dear native land on the morrow, if so he will; but perforce will I not take him.
μήτηρ γάρ τέ μέ φησι θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζαδιχθαδίας κῆρας φερέμεν θανάτοιο τέλος δέ.εἰ μέν κʼ αὖθι μένων Τρώων πόλιν ἀμφιμάχωμαι,ὤλετο μέν μοι νόστος, ἀτὰρ κλέος ἄφθιτον ἔσται·εἰ δέ κεν οἴκαδʼ ἵκωμι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,ὤλετό μοι κλέος ἐσθλόν, ἐπὶ δηρὸν δέ μοι αἰὼνἔσσεται, οὐδέ κέ μʼ ὦκα τέλος θανάτοιο κιχείη.καὶ δʼ ἂν τοῖς ἄλλοισιν ἐγὼ παραμυθησαίμηνοἴκαδʼ ἀποπλείειν, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι δήετε τέκμωρἸλίου αἰπεινῆς· μάλα γάρ ἑθεν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺςχεῖρα ἑὴν ὑπερέσχε, τεθαρσήκασι δὲ λαοί.ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς μὲν ἰόντες ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶνἀγγελίην ἀπόφασθε· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ γερόντων·ὄφρʼ ἄλλην φράζωνται ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μῆτιν ἀμείνω,ἥ κέ σφιν νῆάς τε σαῷ καὶ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶννηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇς, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφισιν ἥδέ γʼ ἑτοίμηἣν νῦν ἐφράσσαντο ἐμεῦ ἀπομηνίσαντος·Φοῖνιξ δʼ αὖθι παρʼ ἄμμι μένων κατακοιμηθήτω,ὄφρά μοι ἐν νήεσσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἕπηταιαὔριον ἢν ἐθέλῃσιν· ἀνάγκῃ δʼ οὔ τί μιν ἄξω.
So spake he, and they all became hushed in silence, marveling at his words; for with exceeding vehemence did he deny them. But at length there spake among them the old horseman Phoenix, bursting into tears, for that greatly did he fear for the ships of the Achaeans:If verily thou layest up in thy mind, glorious Achilles, the purpose of returning, neither art minded at all to ward from the swift ships consuming fire, for that wrath hath fallen upon thy heart; how can I then, dear child, be left here without thee, alone? It was to thee that the old horseman Peleus sent me on the day when he sent thee to Agamemnon, forth from Phthia, a mere child, knowing naught as yet of evil war, neither of gatherings wherein men wax preeminent. For this cause sent he me to instruct thee in all these things, to be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds. Wherefore, dear child, I am not minded hereafter to be left alone without thee, nay, not though a god himself should pledge him to strip from me my old age and render me strong in youth as in the day when first I left Hellas, the home of fair women, fleeing from strife with my father Amyntor, son of Ormenus; for he waxed grievously wroth against me by reason of his fair-haired concubine, whom himself he ever cherished, and scorned his wife, my mother. So she besought me by my knees continually, to have dalliance with that other first myself, that the old man might be hateful in her eyes.I hearkened to her and did the deed, but my father was ware thereof forthwith and cursed me mightily, and invoked the dire Erinyes that never should there sit upon his knees a dear child begotten of me; and the gods fulfilled his curse, even Zeus of the nether world and dread Persephone. Then I took counsel to slay him with the sharp sword, but some one of the immortals stayed mine anger, bringing to my mind the voice of the people and the many revilings of men, to the end that I should not be called a father-slayer amid the Achaeans. Then might the heart in my breast in no wise be any more stayed to linger in the halls of my angered father. My fellows verily and my kinsfolk beset me about with many prayers and sought to stay me there in the halls, and many goodly sheep did they slaughter, and sleek kine of shambling gait, and many swine, rich with fat, were stretched to singe over the flame of Hephaestus, and wine in plenty was drunk from the jars of that old man.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇμῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι· μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἀπέειπεν·ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξδάκρυʼ ἀναπρήσας· περὶ γὰρ δίε νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν·εἰ μὲν δὴ νόστόν γε μετὰ φρεσὶ φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦβάλλεαι, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν ἀμύνειν νηυσὶ θοῇσιπῦρ ἐθέλεις ἀΐδηλον, ἐπεὶ χόλος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ,πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ ἀπὸ σεῖο φίλον τέκος αὖθι λιποίμηνοἶος; σοὶ δέ μʼ ἔπεμπε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺςἤματι τῷ ὅτε σʼ ἐκ Φθίης Ἀγαμέμνονι πέμπενήπιον οὔ πω εἰδόθʼ ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιοοὐδʼ ἀγορέων, ἵνα τʼ ἄνδρες ἀριπρεπέες τελέθουσι.τοὔνεκά με προέηκε διδασκέμεναι τάδε πάντα,μύθων τε ῥητῆρʼ ἔμεναι πρηκτῆρά τε ἔργων.ὡς ἂν ἔπειτʼ ἀπὸ σεῖο φίλον τέκος οὐκ ἐθέλοιμιλείπεσθʼ, οὐδʼ εἴ κέν μοι ὑποσταίη θεὸς αὐτὸςγῆρας ἀποξύσας θήσειν νέον ἡβώοντα,οἷον ὅτε πρῶτον λίπον Ἑλλάδα καλλιγύναικαφεύγων νείκεα πατρὸς Ἀμύντορος Ὀρμενίδαο,ὅς μοι παλλακίδος περιχώσατο καλλικόμοιο,τὴν αὐτὸς φιλέεσκεν, ἀτιμάζεσκε δʼ ἄκοιτινμητέρʼ ἐμήν· ἣ δʼ αἰὲν ἐμὲ λισσέσκετο γούνωνπαλλακίδι προμιγῆναι, ἵνʼ ἐχθήρειε γέροντα.τῇ πιθόμην καὶ ἔρεξα· πατὴρ δʼ ἐμὸς αὐτίκʼ ὀϊσθεὶςπολλὰ κατηρᾶτο, στυγερὰς δʼ ἐπεκέκλετʼ Ἐρινῦς,μή ποτε γούνασιν οἷσιν ἐφέσσεσθαι φίλον υἱὸνἐξ ἐμέθεν γεγαῶτα· θεοὶ δʼ ἐτέλειον ἐπαρὰςΖεύς τε καταχθόνιος καὶ ἐπαινὴ Περσεφόνεια.ἔνθʼ ἐμοὶ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἐρητύετʼ ἐν φρεσὶ θυμὸςπατρὸς χωομένοιο κατὰ μέγαρα στρωφᾶσθαι.ἦ μὲν πολλὰ ἔται καὶ ἀνεψιοὶ ἀμφὶς ἐόντεςαὐτοῦ λισσόμενοι κατερήτυον ἐν μεγάροισι,πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦςἔσφαζον, πολλοὶ δὲ σύες θαλέθοντες ἀλοιφῇεὑόμενοι τανύοντο διὰ φλογὸς Ἡφαίστοιο,πολλὸν δʼ ἐκ κεράμων μέθυ πίνετο τοῖο γέροντος.
For nine nights' space about mine own body did they watch the night through; in turn kept they watch, neither were the fires quenched, one beneath the portico of the well-fenced court, and one in the porch before the door of my chamber. Howbeit when the tenth dark night was come upon me, then verily I burst the cunningly fitted doors of my chamber and leapt the fence of the court full easily, unseen of the watchmen and the slave women. Thereafter I fled afar through spacious Hellas, and came to deep-soiled Phthia, mother of flocks, unto king Peleus; and he received me with a ready heart, and cherished me as a father cherisheth his only son and well-beloved, that is heir to great possessions; and he made me rich and gave much people to me, and I dwelt on the furthermost border of Phthia, ruling over the Dolopians.
εἰνάνυχες δέ μοι ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ παρὰ νύκτας ἴαυον·οἳ μὲν ἀμειβόμενοι φυλακὰς ἔχον, οὐδέ ποτʼ ἔσβηπῦρ, ἕτερον μὲν ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ εὐερκέος αὐλῆς,ἄλλο δʼ ἐνὶ προδόμῳ, πρόσθεν θαλάμοιο θυράων.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δεκάτη μοι ἐπήλυθε νὺξ ἐρεβεννή,καὶ τότʼ ἐγὼ θαλάμοιο θύρας πυκινῶς ἀραρυίαςῥήξας ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ὑπέρθορον ἑρκίον αὐλῆςῥεῖα, λαθὼν φύλακάς τʼ ἄνδρας δμῳάς τε γυναῖκας.φεῦγον ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε διʼ Ἑλλάδος εὐρυχόροιο,Φθίην δʼ ἐξικόμην ἐριβώλακα μητέρα μήλωνἐς Πηλῆα ἄναχθʼ· ὃ δέ με πρόφρων ὑπέδεκτο,καί μʼ ἐφίλησʼ ὡς εἴ τε πατὴρ ὃν παῖδα φιλήσῃμοῦνον τηλύγετον πολλοῖσιν ἐπὶ κτεάτεσσι,καί μʼ ἀφνειὸν ἔθηκε, πολὺν δέ μοι ὤπασε λαόν·ναῖον δʼ ἐσχατιὴν Φθίης Δολόπεσσιν ἀνάσσων.
And I reared thee to be such as thou art, O godlike Achilles, loving thee from may heart; for with none other wouldest thou go to the feast neither take meat in the hall, till I had set thee on my knees and given thee thy fill of the savoury morsel cut first for thee, and had put the wine cup to thy lips.
καί σε τοσοῦτον ἔθηκα θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,ἐκ θυμοῦ φιλέων, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐθέλεσκες ἅμʼ ἄλλῳοὔτʼ ἐς δαῖτʼ ἰέναι οὔτʼ ἐν μεγάροισι πάσασθαι,πρίν γʼ ὅτε δή σʼ ἐπʼ ἐμοῖσιν ἐγὼ γούνεσσι καθίσσαςὄψου τʼ ἄσαιμι προταμὼν καὶ οἶνον ἐπισχών.
Full often hast thou wetted the tunic upon my breast, sputtering forth the wine in thy sorry helplessness.So have I suffered much for thee and toiled much, ever mindful of this that the gods would in no wise vouchsafe me a son born of mine own body. Nay. it was thou that I sought to make my son, O godlike Achilles, to the end that thou mayest hereafter save me from shameful ruin. Wherefore Achilles, do thou master thy proud spirit; it beseemeth thee not to have a pitiless heart. Nay, even the very gods can bend, and theirs withal is more excellent worth and honour and might. Their hearts by incense and reverent vows and libations and the savour of sacrifice do men turn from wrath with supplication, whenso any man transgresseth and doeth sin. For Prayers are the daughters of great Zeus, halting and wrinkled and of eyes askance, and they are ever mindful to follow in the steps of Sin.
πολλάκι μοι κατέδευσας ἐπὶ στήθεσσι χιτῶναοἴνου ἀποβλύζων ἐν νηπιέῃ ἀλεγεινῇ.ὣς ἐπὶ σοὶ μάλα πολλὰ πάθον καὶ πολλὰ μόγησα,τὰ φρονέων ὅ μοι οὔ τι θεοὶ γόνον ἐξετέλειονἐξ ἐμεῦ· ἀλλὰ σὲ παῖδα θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦποιεύμην, ἵνα μοί ποτʼ ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμύνῃς.ἀλλʼ Ἀχιλεῦ δάμασον θυμὸν μέγαν· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴνηλεὲς ἦτορ ἔχειν· στρεπτοὶ δέ τε καὶ θεοὶ αὐτοί,τῶν περ καὶ μείζων ἀρετὴ τιμή τε βίη τε.καὶ μὲν τοὺς θυέεσσι καὶ εὐχωλῇς ἀγανῇσιλοιβῇ τε κνίσῃ τε παρατρωπῶσʼ ἄνθρωποιλισσόμενοι, ὅτε κέν τις ὑπερβήῃ καὶ ἁμάρτῃ.καὶ γάρ τε λιταί εἰσι Διὸς κοῦραι μεγάλοιοχωλαί τε ῥυσαί τε παραβλῶπές τʼ ὀφθαλμώ,αἵ ῥά τε καὶ μετόπισθʼ ἄτης ἀλέγουσι κιοῦσαι.
Howbeit Sin is strong and fleet of foot, wherefore she far out-runneth them all, and goeth before them over the face of all the earth making men to fall, and Prayers follow after, seeking to heal the hurt. Now whoso revereth the daughters of Zeus when they draw nigh, him they greatly bless, and hear him, when he prayeth;
ἣ δʼ ἄτη σθεναρή τε καὶ ἀρτίπος, οὕνεκα πάσαςπολλὸν ὑπεκπροθέει, φθάνει δέ τε πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶανβλάπτουσʼ ἀνθρώπους· αἳ δʼ ἐξακέονται ὀπίσσω.ὃς μέν τʼ αἰδέσεται κούρας Διὸς ἆσσον ἰούσας,τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὤνησαν καί τʼ ἔκλυον εὐχομένοιο·
but if a man denieth them and stubbornly refuseth, then they go their way and make prayer to Zeus, son of Cronos, that Ate may follow after such a one to the end that he may fall and pay full atonement. Nay, Achilles, see thou too that reverence attend upon the daughters of Zeus, even such as bendeth the hearts of all men that are upright.
ὃς δέ κʼ ἀνήνηται καί τε στερεῶς ἀποείπῃ,λίσσονται δʼ ἄρα ταί γε Δία Κρονίωνα κιοῦσαιτῷ ἄτην ἅμʼ ἕπεσθαι, ἵνα βλαφθεὶς ἀποτίσῃ.ἀλλʼ Ἀχιλεῦ πόρε καὶ σὺ Διὸς κούρῃσιν ἕπεσθαιτιμήν, ἥ τʼ ἄλλων περ ἐπιγνάμπτει νόον ἐσθλῶν.
For if the son of Atreus were not offering thee gifts and telling of yet others hereafter, but were ever furiously wroth, I of a surety should not bid thee cast aside thine anger and bear aid to the Argives even in their sore need. But now he offereth thee many gifts forthwith, and promiseth thee more hereafter, and hath sent forth warriors to beseech thee, choosing them that are best throughout the host of the Achaeans, and that to thine own self are dearest of the Argives; have not thou scorn of their words, neither of their coming hither; though till then no man could blame thee that thou wast wroth. Even in this manner have we heard the fame of men of old that were warriors, whenso furious wrath came upon any; won might they be by gifts, and turned aside by pleadings. Myself I bear in mind this deed of old days and not of yesterday, how it was; and I will tell it among you that are all my friends. The Curetes on a time were fighting and the Aetolians staunch in battle around the city of Calydon, and were slaying one another, the Aetolians defending lovely Calydon and the Curetes fain to waste it utterly in war. For upon their folk had Artemis of the golden throne sent a plague in wrath that Oeneus offered not to her the first-fruits of the harvest in his rich orchard land; whereas the other gods feasted on hecatombs, and it was to the daughter of great Zeus alone that he offered not, whether haply he forgat, or marked it not; and he was greatly blinded in heart.Thereat the Archer-goddess, the child of Zeus, waxed wroth and sent against him a fierce wild boar, white of tusk, that wrought much evil, wasting the orchard land of Oeneus; many a tall tree did he uproot and cast upon the ground, aye, root and apple blossom therewith. But the boar did Meleager, son of Oeneus, slay, when he had gathered out of many cities huntsmen and hounds; for not of few men could the boar have been slain, so huge was he; and many a man set he upon the grievous pyre. But about his body the goddess brought to pass much clamour and shouting concerning his head and shaggy hide, between the Curetes and the great-souled Aetolians.
εἰ μὲν γὰρ μὴ δῶρα φέροι τὰ δʼ ὄπισθʼ ὀνομάζοιἈτρεΐδης, ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἐπιζαφελῶς χαλεπαίνοι,οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγέ σε μῆνιν ἀπορρίψαντα κελοίμηνἈργείοισιν ἀμυνέμεναι χατέουσί περ ἔμπης·νῦν δʼ ἅμα τʼ αὐτίκα πολλὰ διδοῖ τὰ δʼ ὄπισθεν ὑπέστη,ἄνδρας δὲ λίσσεσθαι ἐπιπροέηκεν ἀρίστουςκρινάμενος κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιϊκόν, οἵ τε σοὶ αὐτῷφίλτατοι Ἀργείων· τῶν μὴ σύ γε μῦθον ἐλέγξῃςμηδὲ πόδας· πρὶν δʼ οὔ τι νεμεσσητὸν κεχολῶσθαι.οὕτω καὶ τῶν πρόσθεν ἐπευθόμεθα κλέα ἀνδρῶνἡρώων, ὅτε κέν τινʼ ἐπιζάφελος χόλος ἵκοι·δωρητοί τε πέλοντο παράρρητοί τʼ ἐπέεσσι.μέμνημαι τόδε ἔργον ἐγὼ πάλαι οὔ τι νέον γεὡς ἦν· ἐν δʼ ὑμῖν ἐρέω πάντεσσι φίλοισι.Κουρῆτές τʼ ἐμάχοντο καὶ Αἰτωλοὶ μενεχάρμαιἀμφὶ πόλιν Καλυδῶνα καὶ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον,Αἰτωλοὶ μὲν ἀμυνόμενοι Καλυδῶνος ἐραννῆς,Κουρῆτες δὲ διαπραθέειν μεμαῶτες Ἄρηϊ.καὶ γὰρ τοῖσι κακὸν χρυσόθρονος Ἄρτεμις ὦρσεχωσαμένη ὅ οἱ οὔ τι θαλύσια γουνῷ ἀλωῆςΟἰνεὺς ῥέξʼ· ἄλλοι δὲ θεοὶ δαίνυνθʼ ἑκατόμβας,οἴῃ δʼ οὐκ ἔρρεξε Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο.ἢ λάθετʼ ἢ οὐκ ἐνόησεν· ἀάσατο δὲ μέγα θυμῷ.ἣ δὲ χολωσαμένη δῖον γένος ἰοχέαιραὦρσεν ἔπι χλούνην σῦν ἄγριον ἀργιόδοντα,ὃς κακὰ πόλλʼ ἕρδεσκεν ἔθων Οἰνῆος ἀλωήν·πολλὰ δʼ ὅ γε προθέλυμνα χαμαὶ βάλε δένδρεα μακρὰαὐτῇσιν ῥίζῃσι καὶ αὐτοῖς ἄνθεσι μήλων.τὸν δʼ υἱὸς Οἰνῆος ἀπέκτεινεν Μελέαγροςπολλέων ἐκ πολίων θηρήτορας ἄνδρας ἀγείραςκαὶ κύνας· οὐ μὲν γάρ κε δάμη παύροισι βροτοῖσι·τόσσος ἔην, πολλοὺς δὲ πυρῆς ἐπέβησʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.ἣ δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ θῆκε πολὺν κέλαδον καὶ ἀϋτὴνἀμφὶ συὸς κεφαλῇ καὶ δέρματι λαχνήεντι,Κουρήτων τε μεσηγὺ καὶ Αἰτωλῶν μεγαθύμων.
Now so long as Meleager, dear to Ares, warred, so long went it ill with the Curetes, nor might they abide without their wall, for all they were very many. But when wrath entered into Meleager, wrath that maketh the heart to swell in the breasts also of others, even though they be wise, he then, wroth at heart against his dear mother Althaea, abode beside his wedded wife, the fair Cleopatra, daughter of Marpessa of the fair ankles, child of Evenus, and of Idas that was mightiest of men that were then upon the face of earth; who also took his bow to face the king Phoebus Apollo for the sake of the fair-ankled maid. Her of old in their halls had her father and honoured mother called Halcyone by name, for that the mother herself in a plight even as that of the halcyon-bird of many sorrows, wept because Apollo that worketh afar had snatched her child away.
ὄφρα μὲν οὖν Μελέαγρος ἄρηι φίλος πολέμιζε,τόφρα δὲ Κουρήτεσσι κακῶς ἦν, οὐδὲ δύναντοτείχεος ἔκτοσθεν μίμνειν πολέες περ ἐόντες·ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Μελέαγρον ἔδυ χόλος, ὅς τε καὶ ἄλλωνοἰδάνει ἐν στήθεσσι νόον πύκα περ φρονεόντων,ἤτοι ὃ μητρὶ φίλῃ Ἀλθαίῃ χωόμενος κῆρκεῖτο παρὰ μνηστῇ ἀλόχῳ καλῇ Κλεοπάτρῃκούρῃ Μαρπήσσης καλλισφύρου ΕὐηνίνηςἼδεώ θʼ, ὃς κάρτιστος ἐπιχθονίων γένετʼ ἀνδρῶντῶν τότε· καί ῥα ἄνακτος ἐναντίον εἵλετο τόξονΦοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος καλλισφύρου εἵνεκα νύμφης,τὴν δὲ τότʼ ἐν μεγάροισι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρἈλκυόνην καλέεσκον ἐπώνυμον, οὕνεκʼ ἄρʼ αὐτῆςμήτηρ ἀλκυόνος πολυπενθέος οἶτον ἔχουσακλαῖεν ὅ μιν ἑκάεργος ἀνήρπασε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
By her side lay Meleager nursing his bitter anger, wroth because of his mother's curses; for she prayed instantly to the gods, being grieved for her brother's slaying; and furthermore instantly beat with her hands upon the all-nurturing earth, calling upon Hades and dread Persephone, the while she knelt and made the folds of her bosom wet with tears, that they should bring death upon her son; and the Erinys that walketh in darkness heard her from Erebus, even she of the ungentle heart. Now anon was the din of the foemen risen about their gates, and the noise of the battering of walls, and to Meleager the elders of the Aetolians made prayer, sending to him the best of the priests of the gods, that he should come forth and succour them, and they promised him a mighty gift; they bade him, where the plain of lovely Calydon was fattest, there choose a fair tract of fifty acres, the half of it vineland, and the half clear plough-land, to be cut from out the plain.And earnestly the old horseman Oeneus besought him, standing upon the threshold of his high-roofed chamber, and shaking the jointed doors, in prayer to his son, and earnestly too did his sisters and his honoured mother beseech him —but he denied them yet more—and earnestly his companions that were truest and dearest to him of all; yet not even so could they persuade the heart in his breast, until at the last his chamber was being hotly battered, and the Curetes were mounting upon the walls and firing the great city.
τῇ ὅ γε παρκατέλεκτο χόλον θυμαλγέα πέσσωνἐξ ἀρέων μητρὸς κεχολωμένος, ἥ ῥα θεοῖσιπόλλʼ ἀχέουσʼ ἠρᾶτο κασιγνήτοιο φόνοιο,πολλὰ δὲ καὶ γαῖαν πολυφόρβην χερσὶν ἀλοίακικλήσκουσʼ Ἀΐδην καὶ ἐπαινὴν Περσεφόνειανπρόχνυ καθεζομένη, δεύοντο δὲ δάκρυσι κόλποι,παιδὶ δόμεν θάνατον· τῆς δʼ ἠεροφοῖτις Ἐρινὺςἔκλυεν ἐξ Ἐρέβεσφιν ἀμείλιχον ἦτορ ἔχουσα.τῶν δὲ τάχʼ ἀμφὶ πύλας ὅμαδος καὶ δοῦπος ὀρώρειπύργων βαλλομένων· τὸν δὲ λίσσοντο γέροντεςΑἰτωλῶν, πέμπον δὲ θεῶν ἱερῆας ἀρίστους,ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἀμῦναι ὑποσχόμενοι μέγα δῶρον·ὁππόθι πιότατον πεδίον Καλυδῶνος ἐραννῆς,ἔνθά μιν ἤνωγον τέμενος περικαλλὲς ἑλέσθαιπεντηκοντόγυον, τὸ μὲν ἥμισυ οἰνοπέδοιο,ἥμισυ δὲ ψιλὴν ἄροσιν πεδίοιο ταμέσθαι.πολλὰ δέ μιν λιτάνευε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Οἰνεὺςοὐδοῦ ἐπεμβεβαὼς ὑψηρεφέος θαλάμοιοσείων κολλητὰς σανίδας γουνούμενος υἱόν·πολλὰ δὲ τόν γε κασίγνηται καὶ πότνια μήτηρἐλλίσσονθʼ· ὃ δὲ μᾶλλον ἀναίνετο· πολλὰ δʼ ἑταῖροι,οἵ οἱ κεδνότατοι καὶ φίλτατοι ἦσαν ἁπάντων·ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς τοῦ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθον,πρίν γʼ ὅτε δὴ θάλαμος πύκʼ ἐβάλλετο, τοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ πύργωνβαῖνον Κουρῆτες καὶ ἐνέπρηθον μέγα ἄστυ.
Then verily his fair-girdled wife besought Meleager with wailing, and told him all the woes that come on men whose city is taken; the men are slain and the city is wasted by fire, and their children and low-girdled women are led captive of strangers.
καὶ τότε δὴ Μελέαγρον ἐΰζωνος παράκοιτιςλίσσετʼ ὀδυρομένη, καί οἱ κατέλεξεν ἅπαντακήδεʼ, ὅσʼ ἀνθρώποισι πέλει τῶν ἄστυ ἁλώῃ·ἄνδρας μὲν κτείνουσι, πόλιν δέ τε πῦρ ἀμαθύνει,τέκνα δέ τʼ ἄλλοι ἄγουσι βαθυζώνους τε γυναῖκας.
Then was his spirit stirred, as he heard the evil tale, and he went his way and did on his body his gleaming armour. Thus did he ward from the Aetolians the day of evil, yielding to his own spirit; and to him thereafter they paid not the gifts, many and gracious; yet even so did he ward from them evil.
τοῦ δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμὸς ἀκούοντος κακὰ ἔργα,βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, χροῒ δʼ ἔντεʼ ἐδύσετο παμφανόωντα.ὣς ὃ μὲν Αἰτωλοῖσιν ἀπήμυνεν κακὸν ἦμαρεἴξας ᾧ θυμῷ· τῷ δʼ οὐκέτι δῶρα τέλεσσανπολλά τε καὶ χαρίεντα, κακὸν δʼ ἤμυνε καὶ αὔτως.
But, friend, let me not see thee thus minded in heart, neither let heaven turn thee into this path; it were a harder task to save the ships already burning. Nay, come while yet gifts may be had; the Achaeans shall honour thee even as a god. But if without gifts thou enter into the battle, the bane of men, thou shalt not then be in like honour, for all thou mayest ward off the battle.Then in answer to him spake Achilles, swift of foot:Phoenix, old sire, my father, nurtured of Zeus, in no wise have I need of this honour: honoured have I been, I deem, by the apportionment of Zeus, which shall be mine amid the beaked ships so long as the breath abideth in my breast and my knees are quick. And another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart; seek not to confound my spirit by weeping and sorrowing, to do the pleasure of the warrior, son of Atreus; it beseemeth thee not to cherish him, lest thou be hated of me that cherish thee.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μή μοι ταῦτα νόει φρεσί, μὴ δέ σε δαίμωνἐνταῦθα τρέψειε φίλος· κάκιον δέ κεν εἴηνηυσὶν καιομένῃσιν ἀμυνέμεν· ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ δώρωνἔρχεο· ἶσον γάρ σε θεῷ τίσουσιν Ἀχαιοί.εἰ δέ κʼ ἄτερ δώρων πόλεμον φθισήνορα δύῃςοὐκέθʼ ὁμῶς τιμῆς ἔσεαι πόλεμόν περ ἀλαλκών.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·Φοῖνιξ ἄττα γεραιὲ διοτρεφὲς οὔ τί με ταύτηςχρεὼ τιμῆς· φρονέω δὲ τετιμῆσθαι Διὸς αἴσῃ,ἥ μʼ ἕξει παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν εἰς ὅ κʼ ἀϋτμὴἐν στήθεσσι μένῃ καί μοι φίλα γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ.ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι·μή μοι σύγχει θυμὸν ὀδυρόμενος καὶ ἀχεύωνἈτρεΐδῃ ἥρωϊ φέρων χάριν· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴτὸν φιλέειν, ἵνα μή μοι ἀπέχθηαι φιλέοντι.
Well were it that with me thou shouldest vex him whosoever vexeth me. Be thou king even as I am, and share the half of my honour. Howbeit these shall bear my message, but abide thou here and lay thee down on a soft couch, and at break of day we will take counsel whether to return to our own or to tarry here.
καλόν τοι σὺν ἐμοὶ τὸν κήδειν ὅς κʼ ἐμὲ κήδῃ·ἶσον ἐμοὶ βασίλευε καὶ ἥμισυ μείρεο τιμῆς.οὗτοι δʼ ἀγγελέουσι, σὺ δʼ αὐτόθι λέξεο μίμνωνεὐνῇ ἔνι μαλακῇ· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιφρασσόμεθʼ ἤ κε νεώμεθʼ ἐφʼ ἡμέτερʼ ἦ κε μένωμεν.
He spake and to Patroclus nodded his brow in silence that he should spread for Phoenix a thick couch, that the others might forthwith bethink them to depart from the hut. But among them Aias, the godlike son of Telamon, spake, saying:Zeus—born son of Laërtes, Odysseus of many wiles, let us go our way, for the fulfillment of the charge laid on us will not methinks be brought to pass by our coming hither; and it behoveth us with speed to declare the message, though it be no wise good, to the Danaans, that, I ween, now sit waiting therefor. But Achilles hath wrought to fury the proud heart within him, cruel man! neither recketh he of the love of his comrades wherewith we ever honoured him amid the ships above all others—pitiless one! Lo, a man accepteth recompense from the slayer of his brother, or for his dead son; and the slayer abideth in his own land for the paying of a great price, and the kinsman's heart and proud spirit are restrained by the taking of recompense. But as for thee, the gods have put in thy breast a heart that is obdurate and evil by reason of one only girl; whereas we now offer thee seven, far the best that there be, and many other gffts besides; nay then, take to thee a heart of grace, and have respect unto thine hall; for under thy roof are we come from the host of the Danaans, and we would fain be nearest to thee and dearest beyond all other Achaeans as many as there be.Then in answer to him spake Achilles, swift of foot:Aias, sprung from Zeus, thou son of Telamon, captain of the host, all this thou seemest to speak almost after mine own mind; but my heart swelleth with wrath whenso I think of this, how the son of Atreus hath wrought indignity upon me amid the Argives, as though I were some alien that had no rights. Howbeit do ye go and declare my message, for I will not sooner bethink me of bloody war until wise-hearted Priam's son, even goodly Hector, be come to the huts and ships of the Myrmidons, as he slays the Argives, and have smirched the ships with fire. But about my hut and my black ship I deem that Hector will be stayed, eager though he be for battle.So spake he, but they took each man a two handled cup, and when they had made libation went their way along the lines of ships, and Odysseus led. But Patroclus bade his comrades and the handmaids spread forthwith a thick couch for Phoenix;
ἦ καὶ Πατρόκλῳ ὅ γʼ ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε σιωπῇΦοίνικι στορέσαι πυκινὸν λέχος, ὄφρα τάχισταἐκ κλισίης νόστοιο μεδοίατο· τοῖσι δʼ ἄρʼ Αἴαςἀντίθεος Τελαμωνιάδης μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦἴομεν· οὐ γάρ μοι δοκέει μύθοιο τελευτὴτῇδέ γʼ ὁδῷ κρανέεσθαι· ἀπαγγεῖλαι δὲ τάχισταχρὴ μῦθον Δαναοῖσι καὶ οὐκ ἀγαθόν περ ἐόνταοἵ που νῦν ἕαται ποτιδέγμενοι. αὐτάρ Ἀχιλλεὺςἄγριον ἐν στήθεσσι θέτο μεγαλήτορα θυμὸνσχέτλιος, οὐδὲ μετατρέπεται φιλότητος ἑταίρωντῆς ᾗ μιν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐτίομεν ἔξοχον ἄλλωννηλής· καὶ μέν τίς τε κασιγνήτοιο φονῆοςποινὴν ἢ οὗ παιδὸς ἐδέξατο τεθνηῶτος·καί ῥʼ ὃ μὲν ἐν δήμῳ μένει αὐτοῦ πόλλʼ ἀποτίσας,τοῦ δέ τʼ ἐρητύεται κραδίη καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρποινὴν δεξαμένῳ· σοὶ δʼ ἄληκτόν τε κακόν τεθυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι θεοὶ θέσαν εἵνεκα κούρηςοἴης· νῦν δέ τοι ἑπτὰ παρίσχομεν ἔξοχʼ ἀρίστας,ἄλλά τε πόλλʼ ἐπὶ τῇσι· σὺ δʼ ἵλαον ἔνθεο θυμόν,αἴδεσσαι δὲ μέλαθρον· ὑπωρόφιοι δέ τοί εἰμενπληθύος ἐκ Δαναῶν, μέμαμεν δέ τοι ἔξοχον ἄλλωνκήδιστοί τʼ ἔμεναι καὶ φίλτατοι ὅσσοι Ἀχαιοί.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶνπάντά τί μοι κατὰ θυμὸν ἐείσαο μυθήσασθαι·ἀλλά μοι οἰδάνεται κραδίη χόλῳ ὁππότε κείνωνμνήσομαι ὥς μʼ ἀσύφηλον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔρεξενἈτρεΐδης ὡς εἴ τινʼ ἀτίμητον μετανάστην.ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς ἔρχεσθε καὶ ἀγγελίην ἀπόφασθε·οὐ γὰρ πρὶν πολέμοιο μεδήσομαι αἱματόεντοςπρίν γʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο δαΐφρονος Ἕκτορα δῖονΜυρμιδόνων ἐπί τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἱκέσθαικτείνοντʼ Ἀργείους, κατά τε σμῦξαι πυρὶ νῆας.ἀμφὶ δέ τοι τῇ ἐμῇ κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃἝκτορα καὶ μεμαῶτα μάχης σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἕκαστος ἑλὼν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλονσπείσαντες παρὰ νῆας ἴσαν πάλιν· ἦρχε δʼ Ὀδυσσεύς.Πάτροκλος δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἰδὲ δμωῇσι κέλευσεΦοίνικι στορέσαι πυκινὸν λέχος ὅττι τάχιστα.
and they obeyed, and spread the couch, as he bade, fleeces and a rug and soft fabric of linen. There the old man laid him down and waited for bright Dawn. But Achilles slept in the innermost part of the well-builded hut, and by his side lay a woman that he had brought from Lesbos, even the daughter of Phorbas, fair-cheeked Diomede. And Patroclus laid him down on the opposite side, and by him in like manner lay fair-girdled Iphis, whom goodly Achilles had given him when he took steep Scyrus, the city of Enyeus. But when the others were now come to the huts of the son of Atreus, the sons of the Achaeans stood up on this side and that and pledged them in cups of gold, and questioned them, and the king of men, Agamemnon, was the first to ask:Come, tell me now, Odysseus, greatly to be praised, thou great glory of the Achaeans, is he minded to ward off consuming fire from the ships, or said he nay, and doth wrath still possess his proud spirit?Then much-enduring goodly Odysseus answered him:Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, he verily is not minded to quench his wrath but is filled yet more with fury, and will have none of thee, or of thy gifts.
αἳ δʼ ἐπιπειθόμεναι στόρεσαν λέχος ὡς ἐκέλευσεκώεά τε ῥῆγός τε λίνοιό τε λεπτὸν ἄωτον.ἔνθʼ ὃ γέρων κατέλεκτο καὶ ἠῶ δῖαν ἔμιμνεν.αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς εὗδε μυχῷ κλισίης εὐπήκτου·τῷ δʼ ἄρα παρκατέλεκτο γυνή, τὴν Λεσβόθεν ἦγε,Φόρβαντος θυγάτηρ Διομήδη καλλιπάρῃος.Πάτροκλος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐλέξατο· πὰρ δʼ ἄρα καὶ τῷἾφις ἐΰζωνος, τήν οἱ πόρε δῖος ἈχιλλεὺςΣκῦρον ἑλὼν αἰπεῖαν Ἐνυῆος πτολίεθρον.οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίῃσιν ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο γένοντο.τοὺς μὲν ἄρα χρυσέοισι κυπέλλοις υἷες Ἀχαιῶνδειδέχατʼ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος ἀνασταδόν, ἔκ τʼ ἐρέοντο·πρῶτος δʼ ἐξερέεινεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·εἴπʼ ἄγε μʼ ὦ πολύαινʼ Ὀδυσεῦ μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶνἤ ῥʼ ἐθέλει νήεσσιν ἀλεξέμεναι δήϊον πῦρ,ἦ ἀπέειπε, χόλος δʼ ἔτʼ ἔχει μεγαλήτορα θυμόν;τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνονκεῖνός γʼ οὐκ ἐθέλει σβέσσαι χόλον, ἀλλʼ ἔτι μᾶλλονπιμπλάνεται μένεος, σὲ δʼ ἀναίνεται ἠδὲ σὰ δῶρα.
For thine own self he biddeth thee to take counsel amid the Argives how thou mayest save the ships and the host of the Achaeans. But himself he threateneth that at break of day he will launch upon the sea his well-benched curved ships. Aye and he said that he would counsel others also to sail back to their homes, seeing there is no more hope that ye shall win the goal of steep Ilios; for mightily doth Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, hold forth his hand above her, and her people are filled with courage. So spake he, and these be here also to tell thee this, even they that followed with me, Aias and the heralds twain, men of prudence both.
αὐτόν σε φράζεσθαι ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἄνωγενὅππως κεν νῆάς τε σαῷς καὶ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·αὐτὸς δʼ ἠπείλησεν ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφινῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἅλαδʼ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.καὶ δʼ ἂν τοῖς ἄλλοισιν ἔφη παραμυθήσασθαιοἴκαδʼ ἀποπλείειν, ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι δήετε τέκμωρἸλίου αἰπεινῆς· μάλα γάρ ἑθεν εὐρύοπα Ζεὺςχεῖρα ἑὴν ὑπερέσχε, τεθαρσήκασι δὲ λαοί.ὣς ἔφατʼ· εἰσὶ καὶ οἵδε τάδʼ εἰπέμεν, οἵ μοι ἕποντο,Αἴας καὶ κήρυκε δύω πεπνυμένω ἄμφω.
But the old man Phoenix laid him down there to rest, for so Achilles bade, that he may follow with him on his ships to his dear native land on the morrow, if he will, but perforce will he not take him.So spake he, and they all became hushed in silence marvelling at his words; for full masterfully did he address their gathering.
Φοῖνιξ δʼ αὖθʼ ὃ γέρων κατελέξατο, ὡς γὰρ ἀνώγει,ὄφρά οἱ ἐν νήεσσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδʼ ἕπηταιαὔριον, ἢν ἐθέλῃσιν· ἀνάγκῃ δʼ οὔ τί μιν ἄξει.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇμῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι· μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἀγόρευσε.
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:Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, would thou hadst never besought the peerless son of Peleus, nor offered countless gifs; haughty is he even of himself, and now hast thou yet far more set him amid haughtinesses. But verily we will let him be; he may depart or he may tarry; hereafter will he fight when the heart in his breast shall bid him, and a god arouse him. But come, even as I shall bid, let us all obey.
δὴν δʼ ἄνεῳ ἦσαν τετιηότες υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνονμὴ ὄφελες λίσσεσθαι ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωναμυρία δῶρα διδούς· ὃ δʼ ἀγήνωρ ἐστὶ καὶ ἄλλως·νῦν αὖ μιν πολὺ μᾶλλον ἀγηνορίῃσιν ἐνῆκας.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι κεῖνον μὲν ἐάσομεν ἤ κεν ἴῃσινἦ κε μένῃ· τότε δʼ αὖτε μαχήσεται ὁππότε κέν μινθυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγῃ καὶ θεὸς ὄρσῃ.ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·
For this present go ye to your rest, when ye have satisfied your hearts with meat and wine, for therein is courage and strength; but so soon as fair, rosy-fingered Dawn appeareth, forthwith do thou array before the ships thy folk and thy chariots, and urge them on; and fight thou thyself amid the foremost.
νῦν μὲν κοιμήσασθε τεταρπόμενοι φίλον ἦτορσίτου καὶ οἴνοιο· τὸ γὰρ μένος ἐστὶ καὶ ἀλκή·αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κε φανῇ καλὴ ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,καρπαλίμως πρὸ νεῶν ἐχέμεν λαόν τε καὶ ἵππουςὀτρύνων, καὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐνὶ πρώτοισι μάχεσθαι.
So spake he, and all the kings assented thereto, marvelling at the words of Diomedes, tamer of horses. Then they made libation, and went every man to his hut, and there laid them down and took the gift of sleep.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνησαν βασιλῆεςμῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο.καὶ τότε δὴ σπείσαντες ἔβαν κλισίην δὲ ἕκαστος,ἔνθα δὲ κοιμήσαντο καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.