Now Dawn rose from her couch from beside lordly Tithonus, to bring light to immortals and to mortal men; and Zeus sent forth Strife unto the swift ships of the Achaeans, dread Strife, bearing in her hands a portent of war.
Ἠὼς δʼ ἐκ λεχέων παρʼ ἀγαυοῦ Τιθωνοῖοὄρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσι·Ζεὺς δʼ Ἔριδα προΐαλλε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶνἀργαλέην, πολέμοιο τέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαν.
And she took her hand by Odysseus' black ship, huge of hull, that was in the midst so that a shout could reach to either end, both to the huts of Aias, son of Telamon, and to those of Achilles; for these had drawn up their shapely ships at the furthermost ends, trusting in their valour and the strength of their hands. There stood the goddess and uttered a great and terrible shout, a shrill cry of war, and in the heart of each man of the Achaeans she put great strength to war and to fight unceasingly. And to them forthwith war became sweeter than to return in their hollow ships to their dear native land.
στῆ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγακήτεϊ νηῒ μελαίνῃ,ἥ ῥʼ ἐν μεσσάτῳ ἔσκε γεγωνέμεν ἀμφοτέρωσε,ἠμὲν ἐπʼ Αἴαντος κλισίας Τελαμωνιάδαοἠδʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος, τοί ῥʼ ἔσχατα νῆας ἐΐσαςεἴρυσαν ἠνορέῃ πίσυνοι καὶ κάρτεϊ χειρῶνἔνθα στᾶσʼ ἤϋσε θεὰ μέγα τε δεινόν τεὄρθιʼ, Ἀχαιοῖσιν δὲ μέγα σθένος ἔμβαλʼ ἑκάστῳκαρδίῃ ἄληκτον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.τοῖσι δʼ ἄφαρ πόλεμος γλυκίων γένετʼ ἠὲ νέεσθαιἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
But the son of Atreus shouted aloud, and bade the Argives array them for battle, and himself amid them did on the gleaming bronze. The greaves first he set about his legs; beautiful they were, and fitted with silver ankle-pieces; next he did on about his chest the corselet that on a time Cinyras had given him for a guest-gift. For he heard afar in Cyprus the great rumour that the Achaeans were about to sail forth to Troy in their ships, wherefore he gave him the breastplate to do pleasure to the king. Thereon verily were ten bands of dark cyanus, and twelve of gold, and twenty of tin; and serpents of cyanus writhed up toward the neck, three on either side, like rainbows that the son of Cronos hath set in the clouds, a portent for mortal men. And about his shoulders he flung his sword, whereon gleamed studs of gold, while the scabbard about it was of silver, fitted with golden chains. And he took up his richly dight, valorous shield, that sheltered a man on both sides, a fair shield, and round about it were ten circles of bronze, and upon it twenty bosses of tin, gleaming white, and in the midst of them was one of dark cyanus. And thereon was set as a crown the Gorgon, grim of aspect, glaring terribly, and about her were Terror and Rout. From the shield was hung a baldric of silver, and thereon writhed a serpent of cyanus, that had three heads turned this way and that, growing forth from one neck. And upon his head he set his helmet with two horns and with bosses four, with horsehair crest, and terribly did the plume nod from above. And he took two mighty spears, tipped with bronze; keen they were, and far from him into heaven shone the bronze; and thereat Athene and Hera thundered, doing honour to the king of Mycenae, rich in gold. Then on his own charioteer each man laid command to hold in his horses well and orderly there at the trench, but themselves on foot, arrayed in their armour, ranged swiftly forward, and a cry unquenchable rose up before the face of Dawn. Long in advance of the charioteers were they arrayed at the trench, but after them a little space followed the charioteers. And among them the son of Cronos roused an evil din, and down from on high from out of heaven he sent dew-drops dank with blood, for that he was about to send forth to Hades many a valiant head. And the Trojans over against them on the rising ground of the plain mustered about great Hector and peerless Polydamas and Aeneas that was honoured of the folk of the Trojans even as a god, and the three sons of Antenor, Polybus and goodly Agenor and young Acamas, like to the immortals. And Hector amid the foremost bare his shield that was well balanced upon every side. Even as from amid the clouds there gleameth a baneful star, all glittering, and again it sinketh behind the shadowy clouds, even so Hector would now appear amid the foremost and now amid the hindmost giving them commands; and all in bronze he flashed like the lightning of father Zeus that beareth the aegis. And as reapers over against each other drive their swathes in a rich man's field of wheat or barley, and the handfuls fall thick and fast;
Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἐβόησεν ἰδὲ ζώννυσθαι ἄνωγενἈργείους· ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐδύσετο νώροπα χαλκόν.κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκεκαλὰς ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνε,τόν ποτέ οἱ Κινύρης δῶκε ξεινήϊον εἶναι.πεύθετο γὰρ Κύπρον δὲ μέγα κλέος οὕνεκʼ Ἀχαιοὶἐς Τροίην νήεσσιν ἀναπλεύσεσθαι ἔμελλον·τοὔνεκά οἱ τὸν δῶκε χαριζόμενος βασιλῆϊ.τοῦ δʼ ἤτοι δέκα οἶμοι ἔσαν μέλανος κυάνοιο,δώδεκα δὲ χρυσοῖο καὶ εἴκοσι κασσιτέροιο·κυάνεοι δὲ δράκοντες ὀρωρέχατο προτὶ δειρὴντρεῖς ἑκάτερθʼ ἴρισσιν ἐοικότες, ἅς τε Κρονίωνἐν νέφεϊ στήριξε, τέρας μερόπων ἀνθρώπων.ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος· ἐν δέ οἱ ἧλοιχρύσειοι πάμφαινον, ἀτὰρ περὶ κουλεὸν ἦενἀργύρεον χρυσέοισιν ἀορτήρεσσιν ἀρηρός.ἂν δʼ ἕλετʼ ἀμφιβρότην πολυδαίδαλον ἀσπίδα θοῦρινκαλήν, ἣν πέρι μὲν κύκλοι δέκα χάλκεοι ἦσαν,ἐν δέ οἱ ὀμφαλοὶ ἦσαν ἐείκοσι κασσιτέροιολευκοί, ἐν δὲ μέσοισιν ἔην μέλανος κυάνοιο.τῇ δʼ ἐπὶ μὲν Γοργὼ βλοσυρῶπις ἐστεφάνωτοδεινὸν δερκομένη, περὶ δὲ Δεῖμός τε Φόβος τε.τῆς δʼ ἐξ ἀργύρεος τελαμὼν ἦν· αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτοῦκυάνεος ἐλέλικτο δράκων, κεφαλαὶ δέ οἱ ἦσαντρεῖς ἀμφιστρεφέες ἑνὸς αὐχένος ἐκπεφυυῖαι.κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀμφίφαλον κυνέην θέτο τετραφάληρονἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν.εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμα δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷὀξέα· τῆλε δὲ χαλκὸς ἀπʼ αὐτόφιν οὐρανὸν εἴσωλάμπʼ· ἐπὶ δʼ ἐγδούπησαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρητιμῶσαι βασιλῆα πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης.ἡνιόχῳ μὲν ἔπειτα ἑῷ ἐπέτελλεν ἕκαστοςἵππους εὖ κατὰ κόσμον ἐρυκέμεν αὖθʼ ἐπὶ τάφρῳ,αὐτοὶ δὲ πρυλέες σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντεςῥώοντʼ· ἄσβεστος δὲ βοὴ γένετʼ ἠῶθι πρό.φθὰν δὲ μέγʼ ἱππήων ἐπὶ τάφρῳ κοσμηθέντες,ἱππῆες δʼ ὀλίγον μετεκίαθον· ἐν δὲ κυδοιμὸνὦρσε κακὸν Κρονίδης, κατὰ δʼ ὑψόθεν ἧκεν ἐέρσαςαἵματι μυδαλέας ἐξ αἰθέρος, οὕνεκʼ ἔμελλεπολλὰς ἰφθίμους κεφαλὰς Ἄϊδι προϊάψειν.Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιοἝκτορά τʼ ἀμφὶ μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα ΠουλυδάμανταΑἰνείαν θʼ, ὃς Τρωσὶ θεὸς ὣς τίετο δήμῳ,τρεῖς τʼ Ἀντηνορίδας Πόλυβον καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖονἠΐθεόν τʼ Ἀκάμαντʼ ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι φέρʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην,οἷος δʼ ἐκ νεφέων ἀναφαίνεται οὔλιος ἀστὴρπαμφαίνων, τοτὲ δʼ αὖτις ἔδυ νέφεα σκιόεντα,ὣς Ἕκτωρ ὁτὲ μέν τε μετὰ πρώτοισι φάνεσκεν,ἄλλοτε δʼ ἐν πυμάτοισι κελεύων· πᾶς δʼ ἄρα χαλκῷλάμφʼ ὥς τε στεροπὴ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.οἳ δʼ, ὥς τʼ ἀμητῆρες ἐναντίοι ἀλλήλοισινὄγμον ἐλαύνωσιν ἀνδρὸς μάκαρος κατʼ ἄρουρανπυρῶν ἢ κριθῶν· τὰ δὲ δράγματα ταρφέα πίπτει·
even so the Trojans and Achaeans leapt upon one another and made havoc, nor would either side take thought of ruinous flight; and equal heads had the battle, and they raged like wolves. And Strife, that is fraught with many groanings, was glad as she looked thereon; for alone of the gods she was with them in their fighting; whereas the other gods were not among them, but abode in peace in their own halls, where for each one a fair palace was builded amid the folds of Olympus. And all were blaming the son of Cronos, lord of the dark clouds, for that he willed to give glory to the Trojans.
ὣς Τρῶες καὶ Ἀχαιοὶ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι θορόντεςδῄουν, οὐδʼ ἕτεροι μνώοντʼ ὀλοοῖο φόβοιο.ἴσας δʼ ὑσμίνη κεφαλὰς ἔχεν, οἳ δὲ λύκοι ὣςθῦνον· Ἔρις δʼ ἄρʼ ἔχαιρε πολύστονος εἰσορόωσα·οἴη γάρ ῥα θεῶν παρετύγχανε μαρναμένοισιν,οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι οὔ σφιν πάρεσαν θεοί, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοισφοῖσιν ἐνὶ μεγάροισι καθήατο, ἧχι ἑκάστῳδώματα καλὰ τέτυκτο κατὰ πτύχας Οὐλύμποιο.πάντες δʼ ᾐτιόωντο κελαινεφέα Κρονίωναοὕνεκʼ ἄρα Τρώεσσιν ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαι.
Howbeit of them the father recked not; but aloof from the others he sat apart exulting in his glory, looking upon the city of the Trojans, and the ships of the Achaeans, on the flashing of the bronze, and on the slayers and the slain. Now as long as it was morn and the sacred day was waxing, so long the missiles of either side struck home, and the folk kept falling; but at the hour when a woodman maketh ready his meal in the glades of a mountain, when his arms are grown tired with felling tall trees, and weariness cometh upon his soul, and desire of sweet food seizeth his heart, even then the Danaans by their valour brake the battalions, calling to their fellows through the lines. And among them Agamemnon rushed forth the first and slew a warrior, Bienor, shepherd of the host,—himself and after him his comrade, Oïleus, driver of horses. Oïleus verily leapt down from his chariot and stood and faced him, but even as he rushed straight upon him the king smote him on the forehead with his sharp spear, nor was the spear stayed by his helm, heavy with bronze, but passed through it and through the bone, and all his brain was spattered about within; so stayed he him in his fury. These then did Agamemnon, king of men, leave there, gleaming with their naked breasts, when he had stripped off their tunics, and went on to slay Isus and Antiphus, two sons of Priam, one a bastard and one born in wedlock, the twain being in one car: the bastard the reins, but glorious Antiphus stood by his side to fight. These twain had Achilles on a time bound with fresh withes amid the spurs of Ida, taking them as they were herding their sheep, and had set them free for a ransom. But now the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, struck Isus on the breast above the nipple with a cast of his spear, and Antiphus he smote hard by the ear with his sword, and cast him from the chariot.
τῶν μὲν ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀλέγιζε πατήρ· ὃ δὲ νόσφι λιασθεὶςτῶν ἄλλων ἀπάνευθε καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίωνεἰσορόων Τρώων τε πόλιν καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶνχαλκοῦ τε στεροπήν, ὀλλύντάς τʼ ὀλλυμένους τε.ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ,τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός·ἦμος δὲ δρυτόμος περ ἀνὴρ ὁπλίσσατο δεῖπνονοὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃσιν, ἐπεί τʼ ἐκορέσσατο χεῖραςτάμνων δένδρεα μακρά, ἅδος τέ μιν ἵκετο θυμόν,σίτου τε γλυκεροῖο περὶ φρένας ἵμερος αἱρεῖ,τῆμος σφῇ ἀρετῇ Δαναοὶ ῥήξαντο φάλαγγαςκεκλόμενοι ἑτάροισι κατὰ στίχας· ἐν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνωνπρῶτος ὄρουσʼ, ἕλε δʼ ἄνδρα Βιάνορα ποιμένα λαῶναὐτόν, ἔπειτα δʼ ἑταῖρον Ὀϊλῆα πλήξιππον.ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ἐξ ἵππων κατεπάλμενος ἀντίος ἔστη·τὸν δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτα μετώπιον ὀξέϊ δουρὶνύξʼ, οὐδὲ στεφάνη δόρυ οἱ σχέθε χαλκοβάρεια,ἀλλὰ διʼ αὐτῆς ἦλθε καὶ ὀστέου, ἐγκέφαλος δὲἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.καὶ τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὖθι ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνωνστήθεσι παμφαίνοντας, ἐπεὶ περίδυσε χιτῶνας·αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ Ἶσόν τε καὶ Ἄντιφον ἐξεναρίξωνυἷε δύω Πριάμοιο νόθον καὶ γνήσιον ἄμφωεἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντας· ὃ μὲν νόθος ἡνιόχευεν,Ἄντιφος αὖ παρέβασκε περικλυτός· ὥ ποτʼ ἈχιλλεὺςἼδης ἐν κνημοῖσι δίδη μόσχοισι λύγοισι,ποιμαίνοντʼ ἐπʼ ὄεσσι λαβών, καὶ ἔλυσεν ἀποίνων.δὴ τότε γʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνωντὸν μὲν ὑπὲρ μαζοῖο κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί,Ἄντιφον αὖ παρὰ οὖς ἔλασε ξίφει, ἐκ δʼ ἔβαλʼ ἵππων.
Then he made haste to strip from the twain their goodly battle-gear, knowing them full well, for he had seen them before by the swift ships, when Achilles, fleet of foot brought them from Ida. And as a lion easily crusheth the little ones of a swift hind, when he hath seized them with his strong teeth, and hath come to their lair, and taketh from them their tender life,—and the mother, though she chance to be very near, cannot succour them, for on herself too cometh dread trembling, and swiftly she darteth through the thick brush and the woodland, hasting and sweating before the onset of the mighty beast;
σπερχόμενος δʼ ἀπὸ τοῖιν ἐσύλα τεύχεα καλὰγιγνώσκων· καὶ γάρ σφε πάρος παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσινεἶδεν, ὅτʼ ἐξ Ἴδης ἄγαγεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς.ὡς δὲ λέων ἐλάφοιο ταχείης νήπια τέκναῥηϊδίως συνέαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσινἐλθὼν εἰς εὐνήν, ἁπαλόν τέ σφʼ ἦτορ ἀπηύρα·ἣ δʼ εἴ πέρ τε τύχῃσι μάλα σχεδόν, οὐ δύναταί σφιχραισμεῖν· αὐτὴν γάρ μιν ὑπὸ τρόμος αἰνὸς ἱκάνει·καρπαλίμως δʼ ἤϊξε διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕληνσπεύδουσʼ ἱδρώουσα κραταιοῦ θηρὸς ὑφʼ ὁρμῆς·
even so was no one of the Trojans able to ward off destruction from these twain, but themselves were driven in flight before the Argives. Then took he Peisander and Hippolochus, staunch in fight. Sons were they of wise-hearted Antimachus, who above all others in hope to receive gold from Alexander, goodly gifts, would not suffer that Helen be given back to fair-haired Menelaus. His two sons lord Agamemnon took, the twain being in one car, and together were they seeking to drive the swift horses, for the shining reins had slipped from their hands, and the two horses were running wild; but he rushed against them like a lion, the son of Atreus, and the twain made entreaty to him from the car:Take us alive, thou son of Atreus, and accept a worthy ransom; treasures full many he stored in the palace of Antimachus, bronze and gold and iron, wrought with toil; thereof would our father grant thee ransom past counting, should he hear that we are alive at the ships of the Achaeans.So with weeping the twain spake unto the king with gentle words, but all ungentle was the voice they heard:If ye are verily the sons of wise-hearted Antimachus, who on a time in the gathering of the Trojans, when Menelaus had come on an embassage with godlike Odysseus, bade slay him then and there, neither suffer him to return to the Achaeans, now of a surety shall ye pay the price of your father's foul outrage.He spake, and thrust Peisander from his chariot to the ground, smiting him with his spear upon the breast, and backward was he hurled upon the earth.
ὣς ἄρα τοῖς οὔ τις δύνατο χραισμῆσαι ὄλεθρονΤρώων, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑπʼ Ἀργείοισι φέβοντο.αὐτὰρ ὃ Πείσανδρόν τε καὶ Ἱππόλοχον μενεχάρμηνυἱέας Ἀντιμάχοιο δαΐφρονος, ὅς ῥα μάλισταχρυσὸν Ἀλεξάνδροιο δεδεγμένος ἀγλαὰ δῶραοὐκ εἴασχʼ Ἑλένην δόμεναι ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ,τοῦ περ δὴ δύο παῖδε λάβε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνωνεἰν ἑνὶ δίφρῳ ἐόντας, ὁμοῦ δʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους·ἐκ γάρ σφεας χειρῶν φύγον ἡνία σιγαλόεντα,τὼ δὲ κυκηθήτην· ὃ δʼ ἐναντίον ὦρτο λέων ὣςἈτρεΐδης· τὼ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐκ δίφρου γουναζέσθην·ζώγρει Ἀτρέος υἱέ, σὺ δʼ ἄξια δέξαι ἄποινα·πολλὰ δʼ ἐν Ἀντιμάχοιο δόμοις κειμήλια κεῖταιχαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος,τῶν κέν τοι χαρίσαιτο πατὴρ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα,εἰ νῶϊ ζωοὺς πεπύθοιτʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.ὣς τώ γε κλαίοντε προσαυδήτην βασιλῆαμειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν· ἀμείλικτον δʼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσαν·εἰ μὲν δὴ Ἀντιμάχοιο δαΐφρονος υἱέες ἐστόν,ὅς ποτʼ ἐνὶ Τρώων ἀγορῇ Μενέλαον ἄνωγενἀγγελίην ἐλθόντα σὺν ἀντιθέῳ Ὀδυσῆϊαὖθι κατακτεῖναι μηδʼ ἐξέμεν ἂψ ἐς Ἀχαιούς,νῦν μὲν δὴ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀεικέα τίσετε λώβην.ἦ, καὶ Πείσανδρον μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζεδουρὶ βαλὼν πρὸς στῆθος· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη.
But Hippolochus leapt down, and him he slew upon the ground, and shearing off his arms with the sword, and striking off his head, sent him rolling, like a round stone, amid the throng. These then he let be, but where chiefly the battalions were being driven in rout, there leapt he in, and with him other well-greaved Achaeans.
Ἱππόλοχος δʼ ἀπόρουσε, τὸν αὖ χαμαὶ ἐξενάριξεχεῖρας ἀπὸ ξίφεϊ τμήξας ἀπό τʼ αὐχένα κόψας,ὅλμον δʼ ὣς ἔσσευε κυλίνδεσθαι διʼ ὁμίλου.τοὺς μὲν ἔασʼ· ὃ δʼ ὅθι πλεῖσται κλονέοντο φάλαγγες,τῇ ῥʼ ἐνόρουσʼ, ἅμα δʼ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί.
Footmen were ever slaying footmen as they fled perforce, and horsemen horse-men — and from beneath them uprose from the plain the dust which the thundering hooves of horses stirred up — and they wrought havoc with the bronze. And lord Agamemnon, ever slaying, followed after, calling to the Argives.
πεζοὶ μὲν πεζοὺς ὄλεκον φεύγοντας ἀνάγκῃ,ἱππεῖς δʼ ἱππῆας· ὑπὸ δέ σφισιν ὦρτο κονίηἐκ πεδίου, τὴν ὦρσαν ἐρίγδουποι πόδες ἵππωνχαλκῷ δηϊόωντες· ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνωναἰὲν ἀποκτείνων ἕπετʼ Ἀργείοισι κελεύων.
And as when consuming fire falls upon thick woodland, and the whirling wind beareth it everywhither, and the thickets fall utterly as they are assailed by the onrush of the fire; even so beneath Agamemon, son of Atreus, fell the heads of the Trojans as they fled, and many horses with high-arched necks rattled empty cars along the dykes of battle, lacking their peerless charioteers, who were lying upon the ground dearer far to the vultures than to their wives. But Hector did Zeus draw forth from the missiles and the dust, from the man-slaying and the blood and the din;
ὡς δʼ ὅτε πῦρ ἀΐδηλον ἐν ἀξύλῳ ἐμπέσῃ ὕλῃ,πάντῃ τʼ εἰλυφόων ἄνεμος φέρει, οἳ δέ τε θάμνοιπρόρριζοι πίπτουσιν ἐπειγόμενοι πυρὸς ὁρμῇ·ὣς ἄρʼ ὑπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι πῖπτε κάρηναΤρώων φευγόντων, πολλοὶ δʼ ἐριαύχενες ἵπποικείνʼ ὄχεα κροτάλιζον ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύραςἡνιόχους ποθέοντες ἀμύμονας· οἳ δʼ ἐπὶ γαίῃκείατο, γύπεσσιν πολὺ φίλτεροι ἢ ἀλόχοισιν.Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐκ βελέων ὕπαγε Ζεὺς ἔκ τε κονίηςἔκ τʼ ἀνδροκτασίης ἔκ θʼ αἵματος ἔκ τε κυδοιμοῦ·
but the son of Atreus followed after, calling fiercely to the Danaans. And past the tomb of ancient Ilos, son of Dardanus, over the midst of the plain, past the wild fig-tree they sped, striving to win to the city, and ever did the son of Atreus follow shouting, and with gore were his invincible hands bespattered.
Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἕπετο σφεδανὸν Δαναοῖσι κελεύων.οἳ δὲ παρʼ Ἴλου σῆμα παλαιοῦ Δαρδανίδαομέσσον κὰπ πεδίον παρʼ ἐρινεὸν ἐσσεύοντοἱέμενοι πόλιος· ὃ δὲ κεκλήγων ἕπετʼ αἰεὶἈτρεΐδης, λύθρῳ δὲ παλάσσετο χεῖρας ἀάπτους.
But when they were come to the Scaean gates and the oak-tree, there then the two hosts halted and awaited each the other. Howbeit some were still being driven in rout over the midst of the plain like kine that a lion hath scattered, coming upon them in the dead of night; all hath he scattered, but to one appeareth sheer destruction;
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Σκαιάς τε πύλας καὶ φηγὸν ἵκοντο,ἔνθʼ ἄρα δὴ ἵσταντο καὶ ἀλλήλους ἀνέμιμνον.οἳ δʼ ἔτι κὰμ μέσσον πεδίον φοβέοντο βόες ὥς,ἅς τε λέων ἐφόβησε μολὼν ἐν νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷπάσας· τῇ δέ τʼ ἰῇ ἀναφαίνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος·
her neck he seizeth first in his strong teeth and breaketh it and thereafter devoureth the blood and all the inward parts: even in like manner did lord Agamemnon, son of Atreus, follow hard upon the Trojans, ever slaying the hindmost, and they were driven in rout. And many fell from their chariots upon their faces or upon their backs beneath the hands of Atreus' son, for around and before him he raged with his spear. But when he was now about to come beneath the city and the steep wall, then, verily, the father of men and gods came down from heaven, and sate him down on the peaks of many-fountained Ida; and in his hands he held the thunder-bolt.
τῆς δʼ ἐξ αὐχένʼ ἔαξε λαβὼν κρατεροῖσιν ὀδοῦσιπρῶτον, ἔπειτα δέ θʼ αἷμα καὶ ἔγκατα πάντα λαφύσσει·ὣς τοὺς Ἀτρεΐδης ἔφεπε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνωναἰὲν ἀποκτείνων τὸν ὀπίστατον· οἳ δʼ ἐφέβοντο.πολλοὶ δὲ πρηνεῖς τε καὶ ὕπτιοι ἔκπεσον ἵππωνἈτρεΐδεω ὑπὸ χερσί· περὶ πρὸ γὰρ ἔγχεϊ θῦεν.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλεν ὑπὸ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχοςἵξεσθαι, τότε δή ῥα πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τεἼδης ἐν κορυφῇσι καθέζετο πιδηέσσηςοὐρανόθεν καταβάς· ἔχε δʼ ἀστεροπὴν μετὰ χερσίν.
And he sent forth golden-winged Iris to bear his message:Up go, swift Iris, and declare this word unto Hector: So long as he shall see Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, raging amid the fore-most fighters, laying waste the ranks of men, so long let him hold back, and bid the rest of the host fight with the foe in the fierce conflict. But when, either wounded by a spear-thrust or smitten by an arrow, Agamemnon shall leap upon his chariot, then will I vouchsafe strength to Hector to slay and slay until he come to the well-benched ships, and the sun sets and sacred darkness cometh on.
Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε χρυσόπτερον ἀγγελέουσαν·βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, τὸν Ἕκτορι μῦθον ἐνίσπες·ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν ὁρᾷ Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶνθύνοντʼ ἐν προμάχοισιν ἐναίροντα στίχας ἀνδρῶν,τόφρʼ ἀναχωρείτω, τὸν δʼ ἄλλον λαὸν ἀνώχθωμάρνασθαι δηΐοισι κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ἢ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἢ βλήμενος ἰῷεἰς ἵππους ἅλεται, τότε οἱ κράτος ἐγγυαλίξωκτείνειν εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκηταιδύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ.
So spake he, and wind-footed swift Iris failed not to hearken, but went down from the hills of Ida to sacred Ilios. She found the son of wise-hearted Priam, goodly Hector, standing in his jointed car; and swift-footed Iris drew nigh him and spake unto him, saying:
ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις,βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.εὗρʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο δαΐφρονος Ἕκτορα δῖονἑσταότʼ ἔν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν·ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·
Hector, son of Priam, peer of Zeus in counsel, Zeus the father hath sent me forth to declare to thee this message. So long as thou shalt see Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, raging amid the foremost fighters, laying waste the ranks of men, so long do thou give place from battle, but bid the rest of the host fight with the foe in the fierce conflict. But when either wounded by a spear-thrust or smitten with an arrow Agamemnon shall leap upon his chariot, then will Zeus vouchsafe strength to thee to slay and slay until thou come to the well-benched ships, and the sun sets and sacred darkness cometh on.
Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντεΖεύς με πατὴρ προέηκε τεῒν τάδε μυθήσασθαι.ὄφρʼ ἂν μέν κεν ὁρᾷς Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶνθύνοντʼ ἐν προμάχοισιν, ἐναίροντα στίχας ἀνδρῶν,τόφρʼ ὑπόεικε μάχης, τὸν δʼ ἄλλον λαὸν ἄνωχθιμάρνασθαι δηΐοισι κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ἢ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἢ βλήμενος ἰῷεἰς ἵππους ἅλεται, τότε τοι κράτος ἐγγυαλίξεικτείνειν, εἰς ὅ κε νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀφίκηαιδύῃ τʼ ἠέλιος καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἱερὸν ἔλθῃ.
When she had thus spoken swift-footed Iris departed; and Hector leapt in his armour from his chariot to the ground, and brandishing his two sharp spears went everywhere throughout the host, urging them to fight, and roused the dread din of battle. So they rallied, and took their stand with their faces toward the Achaeans, and the Argives over against them made strong their battalions. And the battle was set in array, and they stood over against each other, and among them Agamemnon rushed forth the first, and was minded to fight far in advance of all. Tell me now, ye Muses, that have dwellings on Olympus, who it was that first came to face Agamemnon, either of the Trojans themselves or of their famed allies. It was Iphidamas, son of Antenor, a valiant man and tall, that was nurtured in deep-soiled Thrace, mother of flocks, and Cisseus reared him in his house while he was yet but a little child, even his mother's father, that begat fair-cheeked Theano.
ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,πάλλων δʼ ὀξέα δοῦρα κατὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο πάντῃὀτρύνων μαχέσασθαι, ἔγειρε δὲ φύλοπιν αἰνήν.οἳ δʼ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν,Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας.ἀρτύνθη δὲ μάχη, στὰν δʼ ἀντίοι· ἐν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνωνπρῶτος ὄρουσʼ, ἔθελεν δὲ πολὺ προμάχεσθαι ἁπάντων.ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχουσαιὅς τις δὴ πρῶτος Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίον ἦλθενἢ αὐτῶν Τρώων ἠὲ κλειτῶν ἐπικούρων.Ἰφιδάμας Ἀντηνορίδης ἠΰς τε μέγας τεὃς τράφη ἐν Θρῄκῃ ἐριβώλακι μητέρι μήλων·Κισσῆς τόν γʼ ἔθρεψε δόμοις ἔνι τυτθὸν ἐόνταμητροπάτωρ, ὃς τίκτε Θεανὼ καλλιπάρῃον·
But when he came to the measure of glorious youth he sought to keep him there, and offered him his own daughter; howbeit, a bridegroom newly wed, forth from his bridal chamber he went after the rumour of the coming of the Achaeans, with twelve beaked ships that followed him. Now these he had left at Percote, the shapely ships, but himself had come by land to Ilios; he it was that now came to face Agamemnon, son of Atreus. And when they were come near as they advanced one against the other, the son of Atreus missed, and his spear was turned aside, but Iphidamas stabbed him on the girdle beneath the corselet, and put his weight into the thrust, trusting in his heavy hand; howbeit he pierced not the flashing girdle, for long ere that the spear-point struck the silver, and was bent like lead. Then wide-ruling Agamamnon seized the spear in his hand and drew it toward him furiously like a lion, and pulled it from the hand of Iphidamas, and smote him on the neck with his sword and loosed his limbs. So there he fell, and slept a sleep of bronze, unhappy youth, far from his wedded wife, bearing aid to his townsfolk—far from the bride of whom he had known no joy, yet much had he given for her; first he gave an hundred kine, and thereafter promised a thousand, goats and sheep together, which were herded for him in flocks past counting. Then did Agamemnon, son of Atreus, strip him and went through the throng of the Achaeans bearing his goodly armour. But when Coön, pre-eminent among warriors, eldest son of Antenor, marked him, strong grief enfolded his eyes for his brother's fall, and he took his stand on one side with his spear, unseen of goodly Agamemnon, and stabbed him full upon the arm below the elbow, and clean through went the point of the shining spear. Thereat shuddered Agamemnon king of men, yet even so he ceased not from battle and war, but, wind-nurtured spear in hand, leapt upon Coön. Now he was eagerly drawing by the foot Iphidamas, his own brother, begotten of the one father, and was calling upon all the bravest, but even as he dragged him through the throng Agamemnon smote him with a thrust of his bronze-shod spear beneath his bossed shield, and loosed his limbs; and he drew near and struck off his head over Iphidamas. There then the sons of Antenor beneath the hands of the king, the son of Atreus, fulfilled the measure of their fate, and went down to the house of Hades. But Agamemnon ranged along the ranks of the other warriors with spear and sword and great stones, so long as the blood welled yet warm from his wound. But when the wound waxed dry, and the blood ceased to flow, then sharp pains came upon the mighty son of Atreus. And even as when the sharp dart striketh a woman in travail, the piercing dart that the Eilithyiae, the goddesses of childbirth, send—even the daughters of Hera that have in their keeping bitter pangs; even so sharp pains came upon the mighty son of Atreus. Then he leapt upon his chariot and bade his charioteer drive to the hollow ships, for he was sore pained at heart.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἥβης ἐρικυδέος ἵκετο μέτρον,αὐτοῦ μιν κατέρυκε, δίδου δʼ ὅ γε θυγατέρα ἥν·γήμας δʼ ἐκ θαλάμοιο μετὰ κλέος ἵκετʼ Ἀχαιῶνσὺν δυοκαίδεκα νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, αἵ οἱ ἕποντο.τὰς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἐν Περκώτῃ λίπε νῆας ἐΐσας,αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸς ἐὼν ἐς Ἴλιον εἰληλούθει·ὅς ῥα τότʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίον ἦλθεν.οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἅμαρτε, παραὶ δέ οἱ ἐτράπετʼ ἔγχος,Ἰφιδάμας δὲ κατὰ ζώνην θώρηκος ἔνερθενύξʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἔρεισε βαρείῃ χειρὶ πιθήσας·οὐδʼ ἔτορε ζωστῆρα παναίολον, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶνἀργύρῳ ἀντομένη μόλιβος ὣς ἐτράπετʼ αἰχμή.καὶ τό γε χειρὶ λαβὼν εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνωνἕλκʼ ἐπὶ οἷ μεμαὼς ὥς τε λίς, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα χειρὸςσπάσσατο· τὸν δʼ ἄορι πλῆξʼ αὐχένα, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.ὣς ὃ μὲν αὖθι πεσὼν κοιμήσατο χάλκεον ὕπνονοἰκτρὸς ἀπὸ μνηστῆς ἀλόχου, ἀστοῖσιν ἀρήγων,κουριδίης, ἧς οὔ τι χάριν ἴδε, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκε·πρῶθʼ ἑκατὸν βοῦς δῶκεν, ἔπειτα δὲ χίλιʼ ὑπέστηαἶγας ὁμοῦ καὶ ὄϊς, τά οἱ ἄσπετα ποιμαίνοντο.δὴ τότε γʼ Ἀτρεΐδης Ἀγαμέμνων ἐξενάριξε,βῆ δὲ φέρων ἀνʼ ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν τεύχεα καλά.τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε Κόων ἀριδείκετος ἀνδρῶνπρεσβυγενὴς Ἀντηνορίδης, κρατερόν ῥά ἑ πένθοςὀφθαλμοὺς ἐκάλυψε κασιγνήτοιο πεσόντος.στῆ δʼ εὐρὰξ σὺν δουρὶ λαθὼν Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον,νύξε δέ μιν κατὰ χεῖρα μέσην ἀγκῶνος ἔνερθε,ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκή.ῥίγησέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς ἀπέληγε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο,ἀλλʼ ἐπόρουσε Κόωνι ἔχων ἀνεμοτρεφὲς ἔγχος.ἤτοι ὃ Ἰφιδάμαντα κασίγνητον καὶ ὄπατρονἕλκε ποδὸς μεμαώς, καὶ ἀΰτει πάντας ἀρίστους·τὸν δʼ ἕλκοντʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσηςοὔτησε ξυστῷ χαλκήρεϊ, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα·τοῖο δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰφιδάμαντι κάρη ἀπέκοψε παραστάς.ἔνθʼ Ἀντήνορος υἷες ὑπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ βασιλῆϊπότμον ἀναπλήσαντες ἔδυν δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.αὐτὰρ ὃ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶνἔγχεΐ τʼ ἄορί τε μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν,ὄφρά οἱ αἷμʼ ἔτι θερμὸν ἀνήνοθεν ἐξ ὠτειλῆς.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τὸ μὲν ἕλκος ἐτέρσετο, παύσατο δʼ αἷμα,ὀξεῖαι δʼ ὀδύναι δῦνον μένος Ἀτρεΐδαο.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ὠδίνουσαν ἔχῃ βέλος ὀξὺ γυναῖκαδριμύ, τό τε προϊεῖσι μογοστόκοι ΕἰλείθυιαιἭρης θυγατέρες πικρὰς ὠδῖνας ἔχουσαι,ὣς ὀξεῖʼ ὀδύναι δῦνον μένος Ἀτρεΐδαο.ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε, καὶ ἡνιόχῳ ἐπέτελλενηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν· ἤχθετο γὰρ κῆρ.
And he uttered a piercing shout, and called to the Danaans:My friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives, do ye now ward from the seafaring ships the grievous din of battle, for Zeus the counsellor suffereth me not to war the whole day through against the Trojans.
ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν νηυσὶν ἀμύνετε ποντοπόροισιφύλοπιν ἀργαλέην, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐμὲ μητίετα Ζεὺςεἴασε Τρώεσσι πανημέριον πολεμίζειν.
So spake he, and the charioteer lashed the fair-maned horses towards the hollow ships, and nothing loath the pair sped onward. With foam were their breasts flecked, and with dust their bellies stained beneath them as they bore the wounded king forth from the battle. But when Hector saw Agamemnon departing, to Trojans and Lycians he called with a loud shout:Ye Trojans and Lycians and Dardanians that fight in close combat, be men, my friends, and bethink you of furious valour. Gone is the best of the men, and to me hath Zeus, son of Cronos granted great glory. Nay, drive your single-hooved horses straight towards the valiant Danaans, that ye may win the glory of victory.So saving he aroused the strength and spirit of every man. And even as when a huntsman sets his white-toothed hounds upon a wild boar or a lion, so upon the Achaeans did Hector, son of Priam, peer of Ares, the bane of mortals, set the great-souled Trojans. Himself with high heart he strode among the foremost, and fell upon the conflict like a blustering tempest, that leapeth down and lasheth to fury the violet-hued deep. Who then was first to be slain, and who last by Hector, Priam's son, when Zeus vouchsafed him glory? Asaeus first, and Autonous, and Opites and Dolops, son of Clytius, and Opheltius, and Agelaus, and Aesymnus, and Orus, and Hipponous, staunch in fight. These leaders of the Danaans he slew and thereafter fell upon the multitude, and even as when the West Wind driveth the clouds of the white South Wind, smiting them with a violent squall, and many a swollen wave rolleth onward, and on high the spray is scattered beneath the blast of the wandering wind; even so many heads of the host were laid low by Hector.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, ἡνίοχος δʼ ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππουςνῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην·ἄφρεον δὲ στήθεα, ῥαίνοντο δὲ νέρθε κονίῃτειρόμενον βασιλῆα μάχης ἀπάνευθε φέροντες.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησʼ Ἀγαμέμνονα νόσφι κιόνταΤρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.οἴχετʼ ἀνὴρ ὤριστος, ἐμοὶ δὲ μέγʼ εὖχος ἔδωκεΖεὺς Κρονίδης· ἀλλʼ ἰθὺς ἐλαύνετε μώνυχας ἵππουςἰφθίμων Δαναῶν, ἵνʼ ὑπέρτερον εὖχος ἄρησθε.ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.ὡς δʼ ὅτε πού τις θηρητὴρ κύνας ἀργιόδονταςσεύῃ ἐπʼ ἀγροτέρῳ συῒ καπρίῳ ἠὲ λέοντι,ὣς ἐπʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν σεῦε Τρῶας μεγαθύμουςἝκτωρ Πριαμίδης βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ.αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι μέγα φρονέων ἐβεβήκει,ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ ὑσμίνῃ ὑπεραέϊ ἶσος ἀέλλῃ,ἥ τε καθαλλομένη ἰοειδέα πόντον ὀρίνει.ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον, τίνα δʼ ὕστατον ἐξενάριξενἝκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν;Ἀσαῖον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Αὐτόνοον καὶ Ὀπίτηνκαὶ Δόλοπα Κλυτίδην καὶ Ὀφέλτιον ἠδʼ ἈγέλαονΑἴσυμνόν τʼ Ὦρόν τε καὶ Ἱππόνοον μενεχάρμην.τοὺς ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἡγεμόνας Δαναῶν ἕλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειταπληθύν, ὡς ὁπότε νέφεα Ζέφυρος στυφελίξῃἀργεστᾶο Νότοιο βαθείῃ λαίλαπι τύπτων·πολλὸν δὲ τρόφι κῦμα κυλίνδεται, ὑψόσε δʼ ἄχνησκίδναται ἐξ ἀνέμοιο πολυπλάγκτοιο ἰωῆς·ὣς ἄρα πυκνὰ καρήαθʼ ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι δάμνατο λαῶν.
Then had ruin come, and deeds beyond remedy been wrought, and now would the Achaeans in flight have flung themselves upon their ships, had not Odysseus called to Diomedes, son of Tydeus:Tydeus' son, what has come over us that we have forgotten our furious valour? Nay, come thou hither, good friend, and take thy stand by my side, for verily shame will it be if Hector of the flashing helm shall take the ships.Then in answer to him spake mighty Diomedes:Of a surety will I abide and endure, howbeit but for scant space shall be our profit, for Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, plainly willeth to give victory to the Trojans rather than to us.
ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην καὶ ἀμήχανα ἔργα γένοντο,καί νύ κεν ἐν νήεσσι πέσον φεύγοντες Ἀχαιοί,εἰ μὴ Τυδεΐδῃ Διομήδεϊ κέκλετʼ Ὀδυσσεύς·Τυδεΐδη τί παθόντε λελάσμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς;ἀλλʼ ἄγε δεῦρο πέπον, παρʼ ἔμʼ ἵσταο· δὴ γὰρ ἔλεγχοςἔσσεται εἴ κεν νῆας ἕλῃ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·ἤτοι ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι· ἀλλὰ μίνυνθαἡμέων ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ νεφεληγερέτα ΖεὺςΤρωσὶν δὴ βόλεται δοῦναι κράτος ἠέ περ ἡμῖν.
He spake, and thrust Thymbraeus from his chariot to the ground, smiting him with his spear on the left breast, and Odysseus smote Molion, the godlike squire of that prince. These then they let be, when they had made them cease from war; but the twain ranged throughout the throng, making havoc of it, as when two boars with high hearts fall upon hunting hounds; even so they turned again upon the Trojans and slew them, and the Achaeans gladly had respite in their flight before goodly Hector. Then took they a chariot and two men, the best of their people, sons twain of Merops of Percote, that was above all men skilled in prophesying, and would not suffer his sons to go into war, the bane of men; but the twain would in no wise hearken to him, for the fates of black death were leading them on. These did the son of Tydeus, Diomedes, famed for his spear, rob of spirit and of life, and took from them their goodly battle-gear.
ἦ καὶ Θυμβραῖον μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζεδουρὶ βαλὼν κατὰ μαζὸν ἀριστερόν· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺςἀντίθεον θεράποντα Μολίονα τοῖο ἄνακτος.τοὺς μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασαν, ἐπεὶ πολέμου ἀπέπαυσαν·τὼ δʼ ἀνʼ ὅμιλον ἰόντε κυδοίμεον, ὡς ὅτε κάπρωἐν κυσὶ θηρευτῇσι μέγα φρονέοντε πέσητον·ὣς ὄλεκον Τρῶας πάλιν ὀρμένω· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶἀσπασίως φεύγοντες ἀνέπνεον Ἕκτορα δῖον.ἔνθʼ ἑλέτην δίφρόν τε καὶ ἀνέρε δήμου ἀρίστωυἷε δύω Μέροπος Περκωσίου, ὃς περὶ πάντωνᾔδεε μαντοσύνας, οὐδὲ οὓς παῖδας ἔασκεστείχειν ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα· τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τιπειθέσθην· κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο.τοὺς μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρικλειτὸς Διομήδηςθυμοῦ καὶ ψυχῆς κεκαδὼν κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἀπηύρα·
And Odysseus slew Hippodamus and Hypeirochus. Then the son of Cronos stretched evenly for them the line of battle, as he looked down from Ida, and they kept slaying one another. Tydeus' son wounded the warrior Agastrophus, son of Paeon, on the hip with a thrust of his spear; nor were his horses near at hand for him to flee, but he was greatly blinded at heart;, for his squire held the horses withdrawn apart, and he on foot was raging amid the foremost fighters until he lost his life. But Hector was quick to mark them across the ranks, and rushed upon them, shouting, and with him followed the battalions of the Trojans.
Ἱππόδαμον δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς καὶ Ὑπείροχον ἐξενάριξεν.ἔνθά σφιν κατὰ ἶσα μάχην ἐτάνυσσε Κρονίωνἐξ Ἴδης καθορῶν· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλους ἐνάριζον.ἤτοι Τυδέος υἱὸς Ἀγάστροφον οὔτασε δουρὶΠαιονίδην ἥρωα κατʼ ἰσχίον· οὐ δέ οἱ ἵπποιἐγγὺς ἔσαν προφυγεῖν, ἀάσατο δὲ μέγα θυμῷ.τοὺς μὲν γὰρ θεράπων ἀπάνευθʼ ἔχεν, αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸςθῦνε διὰ προμάχων, εἷος φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὀξὺ νόησε κατὰ στίχας, ὦρτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺςκεκλήγων· ἅμα δὲ Τρώων εἵποντο φάλαγγες.
At sight of him Diomedes, good at the war-cry, shuddered, and forthwith spake to Odysseus that was near:On us twain is this ruin rolling, even mighty Hector; but come, let us stand, and ward off his onset abiding where we are.He spake and poised his far-shadowing spear, and hurled it, nor missed he the mark at which he aimed, but smote him on the head, on the top of the helmet, but the bronze was turned aside by bronze, and reached not his fair flesh, for it was stayed by the threefold crested helm, which Phoebus Apollo had bestowed upon him. But Hector sprang back a wondrous way, and mingled with the throng, and he fell upon his knees and thus abode, and with his stout hand leaned upon the earth, and dark night enfolded his eyes. But while the son of Tydeus was following after the cast of his spear far through the foremost fighters, where he had seen it fix itself in the earth, meanwhile Hector revived again, and leaping back into his chariot drave forth into the throng, and escaped black fate. And rushing after him with his spear mighty Diomedes spake to him:Now again, thou dog, art thou escaped from death, though verily thy bane came nigh thee; but once more hath Phoebus Apollo saved thee, to whom of a surety thou must make prayer whenso thou goest amid the hurtling of spears.
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ῥίγησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης,αἶψα δʼ Ὀδυσσῆα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·νῶϊν δὴ τόδε πῆμα κυλίνδεται ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ·ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ στέωμεν καὶ ἀλεξώμεσθα μένοντες.ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχοςκαὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἀφάμαρτε τιτυσκόμενος κεφαλῆφιν,ἄκρην κὰκ κόρυθα· πλάγχθη δʼ ἀπὸ χαλκόφι χαλκός,οὐδʼ ἵκετο χρόα καλόν· ἐρύκακε γὰρ τρυφάλειατρίπτυχος αὐλῶπις, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὦκʼ ἀπέλεθρον ἀνέδραμε, μίκτο δʼ ὁμίλῳ,στῆ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριπὼν καὶ ἐρείσατο χειρὶ παχείῃγαίης· ἀμφὶ δὲ ὄσσε κελαινὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.ὄφρα δὲ Τυδεΐδης μετὰ δούρατος ᾤχετʼ ἐρωὴντῆλε διὰ προμάχων, ὅθι οἱ καταείσατο γαίηςτόφρʼ Ἕκτωρ ἔμπνυτο, καὶ ἂψ ἐς δίφρον ὀρούσαςἐξέλασʼ ἐς πληθύν, καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.δουρὶ δʼ ἐπαΐσσων προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·ἐξ αὖ νῦν ἔφυγες θάνατον κύον· ἦ τέ τοι ἄγχιἦλθε κακόν· νῦν αὖτέ σʼ ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωνᾧ μέλλεις εὔχεσθαι ἰὼν ἐς δοῦπον ἀκόντων.
Verily I will yet make an end of thee when I meet thee hereafter, if so be any god is helper to me likewise. But now will I make after the rest, whomsoever I may light upon.So spake he, and went on to strip of his armour the son of Paeon, famed for his spear. But Alexander, lord of fair-haired Helen, aimed an arrow at Tydeus' son, shepherd of the host, leaning the while against a pillar on the barrow that men's hands reared for Ilus, son of Dardanus, an elder of the people in days of old. Now Diomedes was stripping the gleaming corselet of valiant Agastrophus from about his breast, and the shield from off his shoulder, and his heavy helm, when Paris drew the centre-piece of the bow and smote him—for not in vain did the shaft speed from his hand—upon the flat of the right foot, and the arrow passed clean through and fixed itself in the ground; and with a right merry laugh Paris leapt up from his lair and spake vauntingly:
ἦ θήν σʼ ἐξανύω γε καὶ ὕστερον ἀντιβολήσας,εἴ πού τις καὶ ἔμοιγε θεῶν ἐπιτάρροθός ἐστι.νῦν αὖ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιείσομαι, ὅν κε κιχείω.ἦ, καὶ Παιονίδην δουρὶ κλυτὸν ἐξενάριζεν.αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιοΤυδεΐδῃ ἔπι τόξα τιταίνετο ποιμένι λαῶν,στήλῃ κεκλιμένος ἀνδροκμήτῳ ἐπὶ τύμβῳἼλου Δαρδανίδαο, παλαιοῦ δημογέροντος.ἤτοι ὃ μὲν θώρηκα Ἀγαστρόφου ἰφθίμοιοαἴνυτʼ ἀπὸ στήθεσφι παναίολον ἀσπίδα τʼ ὤμωνκαὶ κόρυθα βριαρήν· ὃ δὲ τόξου πῆχυν ἄνελκεκαὶ βάλεν, οὐδʼ ἄρα μιν ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγε χειρός,ταρσὸν δεξιτεροῖο ποδός· διὰ δʼ ἀμπερὲς ἰὸςἐν γαίῃ κατέπηκτο· ὃ δὲ μάλα ἡδὺ γελάσσαςἐκ λόχου ἀμπήδησε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
Thou art smitten, not in vain hath my shaft sped; would that I had smitten thee in the nethermost belly, and taken away thy life. So would the Trojans have had respite from their woe, who now tremble before thee as bleating goats before a lion.But with no touch of fear mighty Diomedes spake to him:
βέβληαι οὐδʼ ἅλιον βέλος ἔκφυγεν· ὡς ὄφελόν τοινείατον ἐς κενεῶνα βαλὼν ἐκ θυμὸν ἑλέσθαι.οὕτω κεν καὶ Τρῶες ἀνέπνευσαν κακότητος,οἵ τέ σε πεφρίκασι λέονθʼ ὡς μηκάδες αἶγες.τὸν δʼ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·
Bowman, reviler, proud of thy curling locks, thou ogler of girls! O that thou wouldst make trial of me man to man in armour, then would thy bow and thy swift-falling arrows help thee not; whereas now having but grazed the flat of my foot thou boastest vainly. I reck not thereof, any more than if a woman had struck me or a witless child, for blunt is the dart of one that is a weakling and a man of naught. Verily in other wise when sped by my hand, even though it do but touch, does the spear prove its edge, and forthwith layeth low its man; torn then with wailing are the two cheeks of his wife, and his children fatherless, while he, reddening the earth with his blood, rotteth away, more birds than women around him.So spake he, and to him did Odysseus, famed for his spear, draw nigh, and take his stand before him, and Diomedes sat down behind him, and drew forth the sharp arrow from his foot, and a sore pang shot through his flesh. Then leapt he upon his chariot and bade his charioteer drive to the hollow ships, for he was sore pained at heart. Now Odysseus famed for his spear, was left alone, nor did anyone of the Argives abide by him, for that fear had laid hold of them all. Then mightily moved he spake unto his own great-hearted spirit:Woe is me; what is to befall me? Great evil were it if I flee, seized with fear of the throng;, yet this were a worse thing, if I be taken all alone, for the rest of the Danaans hath the son of Cronos scattered in flight. But why doth my heart thus hold converse with me? For I know that they are cowards that depart from battle, whereas whoso is pre-eminent in fight, him verily it behoveth to hold his ground boldly, whether he be smitten, or smite another.While he pondered thus in mind and heart, meanwhile the ranks of the shield-bearing Trojans came on and hemmed him in the midst, setting among them their own bane. And even as hounds and lusty youths press upon a boar on this side and on that, and he cometh forth from the deep thicket, whetting his white tusks in his curving jaws, and they charge upon him on either side, and thereat ariseth the sound of the gnashing of tusks; but forthwith they abide his onset, how dread soever he be; even so then around Odysseus, dear to Zeus, did the Trojans press. But first he smote peerless Deïopites from above in the shoulder, leaping upon him with sharp spear; and thereafter he slew Thoön and Eunomus, and then Chersidamas as he leapt down from his car he stabbed with his spear upon the navel beneath his bossed shield; and he fell in the dust and clutched the ground with his palm. These then he let be, but smote Charops, son of Hippasus, with a thrust of his spear, even the own brother of wealthy Socus. And to bear him aid came Socus, a godlike man; close to Odysseus he came, and took his stand, and he spake, saying:Odysseus, greatly to be praised, insatiate in wiles and in toil, this day shalt thou either boast over both the sons of Hippasus, for that thou hast slain two such warriors and stripped them of their armour, or else smitten by my spear shalt thou lose thy life.So saying, he smote upon his shield that was well balanced upon every side.
τοξότα λωβητὴρ κέρᾳ ἀγλαὲ παρθενοπῖπαεἰ μὲν δὴ ἀντίβιον σὺν τεύχεσι πειρηθείης,οὐκ ἄν τοι χραίσμῃσι βιὸς καὶ ταρφέες ἰοί·νῦν δέ μʼ ἐπιγράψας ταρσὸν ποδὸς εὔχεαι αὔτως.οὐκ ἀλέγω, ὡς εἴ με γυνὴ βάλοι ἢ πάϊς ἄφρων·κωφὸν γὰρ βέλος ἀνδρὸς ἀνάλκιδος οὐτιδανοῖο.ἦ τʼ ἄλλως ὑπʼ ἐμεῖο, καὶ εἴ κʼ ὀλίγον περ ἐπαύρῃ,ὀξὺ βέλος πέλεται, καὶ ἀκήριον αἶψα τίθησι.τοῦ δὲ γυναικὸς μέν τʼ ἀμφίδρυφοί εἰσι παρειαί,παῖδες δʼ ὀρφανικοί· ὃ δέ θʼ αἵματι γαῖαν ἐρεύθωνπύθεται, οἰωνοὶ δὲ περὶ πλέες ἠὲ γυναῖκες.ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼνἔστη πρόσθʼ· ὃ δʼ ὄπισθε καθεζόμενος βέλος ὠκὺἐκ ποδὸς ἕλκʼ, ὀδύνη δὲ διὰ χροὸς ἦλθʼ ἀλεγεινή.ἐς δίφρον δʼ ἀνόρουσε, καὶ ἡνιόχῳ ἐπέτελλενηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν· ἤχθετο γὰρ κῆρ.οἰώθη δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρὶ κλυτός, οὐδέ τις αὐτῷἈργείων παρέμεινεν, ἐπεὶ φόβος ἔλλαβε πάντας·ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·ὤ μοι ἐγὼ τί πάθω; μέγα μὲν κακὸν αἴ κε φέβωμαιπληθὺν ταρβήσας· τὸ δὲ ῥίγιον αἴ κεν ἁλώωμοῦνος· τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους Δαναοὺς ἐφόβησε Κρονίων.ἀλλὰ τί ἤ μοι ταῦτα φίλος διελέξατο θυμός;οἶδα γὰρ ὅττι κακοὶ μὲν ἀποίχονται πολέμοιο,ὃς δέ κʼ ἀριστεύῃσι μάχῃ ἔνι τὸν δὲ μάλα χρεὼἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς, ἤ τʼ ἔβλητʼ ἤ τʼ ἔβαλʼ ἄλλον.εἷος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,τόφρα δʼ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον ἀσπιστάων,ἔλσαν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι, μετὰ σφίσι πῆμα τιθέντες.ὡς δʼ ὅτε κάπριον ἀμφὶ κύνες θαλεροί τʼ αἰζηοὶσεύωνται, ὃ δέ τʼ εἶσι βαθείης ἐκ ξυλόχοιοθήγων λευκὸν ὀδόντα μετὰ γναμπτῇσι γένυσσιν,ἀμφὶ δέ τʼ ἀΐσσονται, ὑπαὶ δέ τε κόμπος ὀδόντωνγίγνεται, οἳ δὲ μένουσιν ἄφαρ δεινόν περ ἐόντα,ὥς ῥα τότʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διῒ φίλον ἐσσεύοντοΤρῶες· ὃ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἀμύμονα Δηϊοπίτηνοὔτασεν ὦμον ὕπερθεν ἐπάλμενος ὀξέϊ δουρί,αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα Θόωνα καὶ Ἔννομον ἐξενάριξε.Χερσιδάμαντα δʼ ἔπειτα καθʼ ἵππων ἀΐξανταδουρὶ κατὰ πρότμησιν ὑπʼ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσηςνύξεν· ὃ δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.τοὺς μὲν ἔασʼ, ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἱππασίδην Χάροπʼ οὔτασε δουρὶαὐτοκασίγνητον εὐηφενέος Σώκοιο.τῷ δʼ ἐπαλεξήσων Σῶκος κίεν ἰσόθεος φώς,στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπενὦ Ὀδυσεῦ πολύαινε δόλων ἆτʼ ἠδὲ πόνοιοσήμερον ἢ δοιοῖσιν ἐπεύξεαι Ἱππασίδῃσιτοιώδʼ ἄνδρε κατακτείνας καὶ τεύχεʼ ἀπούρας,ἤ κεν ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃς.ὣς εἰπὼν οὔτησε κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην.