Through the bright shield went the mighty spear, and through the corselet, richly dight, did it force its way, and all the flesh it tore from his side; but Pallas Athene suffered it not to pierce the bowels of the warrior. And Odysseus knew that the spear had in no wise lighted on a fatal spot, and he drew back and spake to Socus, saying:Ah wretch, of a surety is sheer destruction come upon thee. Verily hast thou made me to cease from warring against the Trojans; but upon thee I deem that here this day death and black fate shall come, and that vanquished beneath my spear thou shalt yield glory to me, and thy soul to Hades of the goodly steeds.He spake, and the other turned back and started to flee, but even as he turned Odysseus fixed the spear in his back between the shoulders, and drave it through his breast. And he fell with a thud, and goodly Odysseus exulted over him:
διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο,πάντα δʼ ἀπὸ πλευρῶν χρόα ἔργαθεν, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἔασεΠαλλὰς Ἀθηναίη μιχθήμεναι ἔγκασι φωτός.γνῶ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς ὅ οἱ οὔ τι τέλος κατακαίριον ἦλθεν,ἂψ δʼ ἀναχωρήσας Σῶκον πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·ἆ δείλʼ ἦ μάλα δή σε κιχάνεται αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.ἤτοι μέν ῥʼ ἔμʼ ἔπαυσας ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι·σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐνθάδε φημὶ φόνον καὶ κῆρα μέλαινανἤματι τῷδʼ ἔσσεσθαι, ἐμῷ δʼ ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμένταεὖχος ἐμοὶ δώσειν, ψυχὴν δʼ Ἄϊδι κλυτοπώλῳ.ἦ, καὶ ὃ μὲν φύγαδʼ αὖτις ὑποστρέψας ἐβεβήκει,τῷ δὲ μεταστρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξενὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσε,δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἐπεύξατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
Ah Socus, son of wise-hearted Hippasus, tamer of horses, the end of death has been too quick in coming upon thee; thou hast not escaped it. Ah poor wretch, thy father and queenly mother shall not close thine eyes in death, but the birds that eat raw flesh shall rend thee, beating their wings thick and fast about thee;
ὦ Σῶχʼ Ἱππάσου υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιοφθῆ σε τέλος θανάτοιο κιχήμενον, οὐδʼ ὑπάλυξας.ἆ δείλʼ οὐ μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρὄσσε καθαιρήσουσι θανόντι περ, ἀλλʼ οἰωνοὶὠμησταὶ ἐρύουσι, περὶ πτερὰ πυκνὰ βαλόντες.
whereas to me, if I die, the goodly Achaeans shall give burial.So saying he drew the mighty spear of wise-hearted Socus forth from his flesh and from his bossed shield, and when it was drawn out the blood gushed forth and distressed his spirit. But the great-souled Trojans, when they beheld the blood of Odysseus, called one to another through the throng and made at him all together. But he gave ground, and shouted to his comrades; thrice shouted he then loud as a man's head can shout, and thrice did Menelaus, dear to Ares, hear his call, and forthwith he spake to Aias that was nigh at hand:
αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ, εἴ κε θάνω, κτεριοῦσί γε δῖοι Ἀχαιοί.ὣς εἰπὼν Σώκοιο δαΐφρονος ὄβριμον ἔγχοςἔξω τε χροὸς ἕλκε καὶ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσης·αἷμα δέ οἱ σπασθέντος ἀνέσσυτο, κῆδε δὲ θυμόν.Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ὅπως ἴδον αἷμʼ Ὀδυσῆοςκεκλόμενοι καθʼ ὅμιλον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔβησαν.αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἐξοπίσω ἀνεχάζετο, αὖε δʼ ἑταίρους.τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἤϋσεν ὅσον κεφαλὴ χάδε φωτός,τρὶς δʼ ἄϊεν ἰάχοντος ἄρηι φίλος Μενέλαος.αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ Αἴαντα προσεφώνεεν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα·
Aias, sprung from Zeus, thou son of Telamon, captain of the host, in mine ears rang the cry of Odysseus, of the steadfast heart, like as though the Trojans had cut him off in the fierce conflict and were over-powering him alone as he is. Nay, come, let us make our way through the throng; to bear him aid is the better course.
Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶνἀμφί μʼ Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος ἵκετʼ ἀϋτὴτῷ ἰκέλη ὡς εἴ ἑ βιῴατο μοῦνον ἐόνταΤρῶες ἀποτμήξαντες ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ.ἀλλʼ ἴομεν καθʼ ὅμιλον· ἀλεξέμεναι γὰρ ἄμεινον.
I fear lest some evil befall him, alone mid the Trojans, valiant though he be, and great longing for him come upon the Danaans.So saying he led the way, and Aias followed, a godlike man. Then found they Odysseus, dear to Zeus and round about the Trojans beset him, as tawny jackals in the mountains about a horned stag that hath been wounded, that a man hath smitten with an arrow from the string; from him the stag hath escaped and fleeth swiftly so long as the blood flows warm and his knees are quick, but when at length the swift arrow overpowereth him, then ravening jackals rend him amid the mountains in a shadowy grove; but lo, God bringeth against them a murderous lion, and the jackals scatter in flight, and he rendeth the prey: even so then did the Trojans, many and valiant, beset Odysseus round about, the wise and crafty-minded; but the warrior darting forth with his spear warded off the pitiless day of doom.
δείδω μή τι πάθῃσιν ἐνὶ Τρώεσσι μονωθεὶςἐσθλὸς ἐών, μεγάλη δὲ ποθὴ Δαναοῖσι γένηται.ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ἦρχʼ, ὃ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς.εὗρον ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διῒ φίλον· ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸνΤρῶες ἕπονθʼ ὡς εἴ τε δαφοινοὶ θῶες ὄρεσφινἀμφʼ ἔλαφον κεραὸν βεβλημένον, ὅν τʼ ἔβαλʼ ἀνὴρἰῷ ἀπὸ νευρῆς· τὸν μέν τʼ ἤλυξε πόδεσσιφεύγων, ὄφρʼ αἷμα λιαρὸν καὶ γούνατʼ ὀρώρῃ·αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τόν γε δαμάσσεται ὠκὺς ὀϊστός,ὠμοφάγοι μιν θῶες ἐν οὔρεσι δαρδάπτουσινἐν νέμεϊ σκιερῷ· ἐπί τε λῖν ἤγαγε δαίμωνσίντην· θῶες μέν τε διέτρεσαν, αὐτὰρ ὃ δάπτει·ὥς ῥα τότʼ ἀμφʼ Ὀδυσῆα δαΐφρονα ποικιλομήτηνΤρῶες ἕπον πολλοί τε καὶ ἄλκιμοι, αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρωςἀΐσσων ᾧ ἔγχει ἀμύνετο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ.
Then Aias drew near, bearing his shield that was like a city wall, and stood forth beside him, and the Trojans scattered in flight, one here, one there. And warlike Menelaus led Odysseus forth from the throng, holding him by the hand, till his squire drave up the horses and car. Then Aias leapt upon the Trojans and slew Doryclus, bastard son of Priam, and after him smote Pandocus with a thrust, and likewise Lysander and Pyrasus and Pylartes. And as when a river in flood cometh down upon a plain, a winter torrent from the mountains, driven on by the rain of Zeus, and many a dry oak and many a pine it beareth in its course, and much drift it casteth into the sea; even so glorious Aias charged tumultuously over the plain on that day, slaying horses and men. Nor did Hector as yet know aught thereof, for he was fighting on the left of all the battle by the banks of the river Scamander, where chiefly the heads of warriors were falling, and a cry unquenchable arose, round about great Nestor and warlike Idomeneus. With these had Hector dalliance, and terrible deeds he wrought with the spear and in horsemanship, and he laid waste the battalions of the young men. Yet would the goodly Achaeans in no wise have given ground from their course, had not Alexander, the lord of fair-haired Helen, stayed Machaon, shepherd of the host, in the midst of his valorous deeds, and smitten him on the right shoulder with a three-barbed arrow. Then sorely did the Achaeans breathing might fear for him, lest haply men should slay him in the turning of the fight.
Αἴας δʼ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον,στῆ δὲ παρέξ· Τρῶες δὲ διέτρεσαν ἄλλυδις ἄλλος.ἤτοι τὸν Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἔξαγʼ ὁμίλουχειρὸς ἔχων, εἷος θεράπων σχεδὸν ἤλασεν ἵππους.Αἴας δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐπάλμενος εἷλε ΔόρυκλονΠριαμίδην νόθον υἱόν, ἔπειτα δὲ Πάνδοκον οὖτα,οὖτα δὲ Λύσανδρον καὶ Πύρασον ἠδὲ Πυλάρτην.ὡς δʼ ὁπότε πλήθων ποταμὸς πεδίον δὲ κάτεισιχειμάρρους κατʼ ὄρεσφιν ὀπαζόμενος Διὸς ὄμβρῳ,πολλὰς δὲ δρῦς ἀζαλέας, πολλὰς δέ τε πεύκαςἐσφέρεται, πολλὸν δέ τʼ ἀφυσγετὸν εἰς ἅλα βάλλει,ὣς ἔφεπε κλονέων πεδίον τότε φαίδιμος Αἴας,δαΐζων ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας· οὐδέ πω Ἕκτωρπεύθετʼ, ἐπεί ῥα μάχης ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ μάρνατο πάσηςὄχθας πὰρ ποταμοῖο Σκαμάνδρου, τῇ ῥα μάλισταἀνδρῶν πῖπτε κάρηνα, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρειΝέστορά τʼ ἀμφὶ μέγαν καὶ ἀρήϊον Ἰδομενῆα.Ἕκτωρ μὲν μετὰ τοῖσιν ὁμίλει μέρμερα ῥέζωνἔγχεΐ θʼ ἱπποσύνῃ τε, νέων δʼ ἀλάπαζε φάλαγγας·οὐδʼ ἄν πω χάζοντο κελεύθου δῖοι Ἀχαιοὶεἰ μὴ Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιοπαῦσεν ἀριστεύοντα Μαχάονα ποιμένα λαῶν,ἰῷ τριγλώχινι βαλὼν κατὰ δεξιὸν ὦμον.τῷ ῥα περίδεισαν μένεα πνείοντες Ἀχαιοὶμή πώς μιν πολέμοιο μετακλινθέντος ἕλοιεν.
And forthwith Idomeneus spake to goodly Nestor:Nestor, son of Neleus, great glory of the Achaeans, come, get thee upon thy chariot, and let Machaon mount beside thee, and swiftly do thou drive to the ships thy single-hooved horses. For a leech is of the worth of many other men for the cutting out of arrows and the spreading of soothing simples.So spake he, and the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, failed not to hearken. Forthwith he got him upon his chariot, and beside him mounted Machaon, the son of Asclepius the peerless leech; and he touched the horses with the lash, and nothing loath the pair sped on to the hollow ships, for there were they fain to be. But Cebriones beheld the Trojans being driven in rout, as he stood by Hector's side in his chariot, and he spake to him, saying:Hector, we twain have dalliance with the Danaans here, on the skirts of dolorous war, whereas the other Trojans are driven in rout confusedly, both horses and men. And it is Aias, son of Telamon, that driveth them; well do I know him, for wide is the shield he hath about his shoulders. Nay, let us too drive thither our horses and car, where most of all horsemen and footmen, vying in evil rivalry, are slaying one another, and the cry goes up unquenchable.So saying he smote the fair-maned horses with the shrill-sounding lash, and they, feeling the blow, fleetly bare the swift car amid the Trojans and Achaeans, trampling on the dead and on the shields, and with blood was all the axle sprinkled beneath, and the rims round about the car, with the drops that smote upon them from the horses' hooves and from the tires. And Hector was eager to enter the throng of men, to leap in and shatter it, and an evil din of war he sent among the Danaans, and scant rest did he give his spear.
αὐτίκα δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς προσεφώνεε Νέστορα δῖον·ὦ Νέστορ Νηληϊάδη μέγα κῦδος Ἀχαιῶνἄγρει σῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, πὰρ δὲ Μαχάωνβαινέτω, ἐς νῆας δὲ τάχιστʼ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους·ἰητρὸς γὰρ ἀνὴρ πολλῶν ἀντάξιος ἄλλωνἰούς τʼ ἐκτάμνειν ἐπί τʼ ἤπια φάρμακα πάσσειν.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ.αὐτίκα δʼ ὧν ὀχέων ἐπεβήσετο, πὰρ δὲ Μαχάωνβαῖνʼ Ἀσκληπιοῦ υἱὸς ἀμύμονος ἰητῆρος·μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθηννῆας ἔπι γλαφυράς· τῇ γὰρ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ.Κεβριόνης δὲ Τρῶας ὀρινομένους ἐνόησενἝκτορι παρβεβαώς, καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·Ἕκτορ νῶϊ μὲν ἐνθάδʼ ὁμιλέομεν Δαναοῖσινἐσχατιῇ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοιΤρῶες ὀρίνονται ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ αὐτοί.Αἴας δὲ κλονέει Τελαμώνιος· εὖ δέ μιν ἔγνων·εὐρὺ γὰρ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισιν ἔχει σάκος· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμεῖςκεῖσʼ ἵππους τε καὶ ἅρμʼ ἰθύνομεν, ἔνθα μάλισταἱππῆες πεζοί τε κακὴν ἔριδα προβαλόντεςἀλλήλους ὀλέκουσι, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὄρωρεν.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἵμασεν καλλίτριχας ἵππουςμάστιγι λιγυρῇ· τοὶ δὲ πληγῆς ἀΐοντεςῥίμφʼ ἔφερον θοὸν ἅρμα μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιοὺςστείβοντες νέκυάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας· αἵματι δʼ ἄξωννέρθεν ἅπας πεπάλακτο καὶ ἄντυγες αἳ περὶ δίφρον,ἃς ἄρʼ ἀφʼ ἱππείων ὁπλέων ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλοναἵ τʼ ἀπʼ ἐπισσώτρων. ὃ δὲ ἵετο δῦναι ὅμιλονἀνδρόμεον ῥῆξαί τε μετάλμενος· ἐν δὲ κυδοιμὸνἧκε κακὸν Δαναοῖσι, μίνυνθα δὲ χάζετο δουρός.
Nay, he ranged among the ranks of the other warriors with spear and sword and with great stones; only he avoided battle with Aias, son of Telamon. Now father Zeus, throned on high, roused Aias to flight, and he stood in a daze, and on his back he cast his sevenfold shield of bull's-hide, and with an anxious glance toward the throng he gave way, like a wild beast, ever turning him about and retreating slowly step by step. And even as a tawny lion is driven from the fold of the kine by dogs and country folk, that suffer him not to seize the fattest of the herd, watching the whole night through, but he in his lust for flesh goeth straight on, yet accomplisheth naught thereby, for thick the darts fly to meet him, hurled by bold hands, and blazing brands withal, before which he quaileth, how eager soever he be, and at dawn he departeth with sullen heart; so Aias then gave way before the Trojans sullen at heart, and sorely against his will, for exceedingly did he fear for the ships of the Achaeans. And as when an ass that passeth by a cornfield getteth the better of boys—a lazy ass about whose ribs many a cudgel is broken, and he goeth in and wasteth the deep grain, and the boys beat him with cudgels, though their might is but puny, and hardly do they drive him forth when he hath had his fill of fodder; even so then did the Trojans, high of heart, and their allies, gathered from many lands, smite great Aias, son of Telamon, with spears full upon his shield, and ever press upon him. And Aias would now be mindful of his furious valour, and wheeling upon them would hold back the battalions of the horse-taming Trojans, and now again he would turn him to flee. But he barred them all from making way to the swift ships, and himself stood between Trojans and Achaeans, battling furiously. And the spears hurled by bold hands were some of them lodged in his great shield, as they sped onward, and many, ere ever they reached his white body, stood fixed midway in the earth, fain to glut themselves with flesh.
αὐτὰρ ὃ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶνἔγχεΐ τʼ ἄορί τε μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν,Αἴαντος δʼ ἀλέεινε μάχην Τελαμωνιάδαο.Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Αἴανθʼ ὑψίζυγος ἐν φόβον ὦρσε·στῆ δὲ ταφών, ὄπιθεν δὲ σάκος βάλεν ἑπταβόειον,τρέσσε δὲ παπτήνας ἐφʼ ὁμίλου θηρὶ ἐοικὼςἐντροπαλιζόμενος ὀλίγον γόνυ γουνὸς ἀμείβων.ὡς δʼ αἴθωνα λέοντα βοῶν ἀπὸ μεσσαύλοιοἐσσεύαντο κύνες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἀγροιῶται,οἵ τέ μιν οὐκ εἰῶσι βοῶν ἐκ πῖαρ ἑλέσθαιπάννυχοι ἐγρήσσοντες· ὃ δὲ κρειῶν ἐρατίζωνἰθύει, ἀλλʼ οὔ τι πρήσσει· θαμέες γὰρ ἄκοντεςἀντίον ἀΐσσουσι θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶνκαιόμεναί τε δεταί, τάς τε τρεῖ ἐσσύμενός περ·ἠῶθεν δʼ ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἔβη τετιηότι θυμῷ·ὣς Αἴας τότʼ ἀπὸ Τρώων τετιημένος ἦτορἤϊε πόλλʼ ἀέκων· περὶ γὰρ δίε νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ὄνος παρʼ ἄρουραν ἰὼν ἐβιήσατο παῖδαςνωθής, ᾧ δὴ πολλὰ περὶ ῥόπαλʼ ἀμφὶς ἐάγῃ,κείρει τʼ εἰσελθὼν βαθὺ λήϊον· οἳ δέ τε παῖδεςτύπτουσιν ῥοπάλοισι· βίη δέ τε νηπίη αὐτῶν·σπουδῇ τʼ ἐξήλασσαν, ἐπεί τʼ ἐκορέσσατο φορβῆς·ὣς τότʼ ἔπειτʼ Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱὸνΤρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι πολυηγερέες τʼ ἐπίκουροινύσσοντες ξυστοῖσι μέσον σάκος αἰὲν ἕποντο.Αἴας δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν μνησάσκετο θούριδος ἀλκῆςαὖτις ὑποστρεφθείς, καὶ ἐρητύσασκε φάλαγγαςΤρώων ἱπποδάμων· ὁτὲ δὲ τρωπάσκετο φεύγειν.πάντας δὲ προέεργε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ὁδεύειν,αὐτὸς δὲ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν θῦνε μεσηγὺἱστάμενος· τὰ δὲ δοῦρα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶνἄλλα μὲν ἐν σάκεϊ μεγάλῳ πάγεν ὄρμενα πρόσσω,πολλὰ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγύ, πάρος χρόα λευκὸν ἐπαυρεῖν,ἐν γαίῃ ἵσταντο λιλαιόμενα χροὸς ἆσαι.
But when Euaemon's glorious son, Eurypylus, saw him oppressed by thick-flying missiles, he came and stood by his side and hurled with his shining spear, and smote Apisaon, son of Phausius, shepherd of the host, in the liver below the midriff, and straightway loosed his knees;
τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησʼ Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸςΕὐρύπυλος πυκινοῖσι βιαζόμενον βελέεσσι,στῆ ῥα παρʼ αὐτὸν ἰών, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ,καὶ βάλε Φαυσιάδην Ἀπισάονα ποιμένα λαῶνἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν·
and Eurypylus leapt upon him and set him to strip the harness from his shoulders. But when godlike Alexander marked him stripping the harness from Apisaon, forthwith he drew his bow against Eurypylus, and smote him with an arrow on the right thigh; and the reed of the arrow brake, yet was his thigh made heavy.
Εὐρύπυλος δʼ ἐπόρουσε καὶ αἴνυτο τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων.τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴςτεύχεʼ ἀπαινύμενον Ἀπισάονος, αὐτίκα τόξονἕλκετʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρυπύλῳ, καί μιν βάλε μηρὸν ὀϊστῷδεξιόν· ἐκλάσθη δὲ δόναξ, ἐβάρυνε δὲ μηρόν.
Then back he shrank into the throng of his comrades, avoiding fate, and he uttered a piercing shout, and called to the Danaans:My friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives, turn ye and stand, and ward off the pitiless day of doom from Aias who is oppressed with missiles; nor do I deem that he will escape from dolorous war. Nay verily, stand ye and face the foe about great Aias, son of Telamon.So spake the wounded Eurypylus, and they came and stood close beside him, leaning their shields against their shoulders and holding their spears on high; and toward them came Aias, and turned and stood when he had reached the throng of his comrades. So fought they like unto blazing fire; but the mares of Neleus, all bathed in sweat, bare Nestor forth from the battle, and bare also Machaon, shepherd of the host. And swift-footed goodly Achilles beheld and marked him, for Achilles was standing by the stern of his ship, huge of hull, gazing upon the utter toil of battle and the tearful rout. And forthwith he spake to his comrade Patroclus, calling to him from beside the ship; and he heard, and came forth from the hut like unto Ares; and this to him was the beginning of evil.
ἂψ δʼ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρʼ ἀλεείνων,ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςστῆτʼ ἐλελιχθέντες καὶ ἀμύνετε νηλεὲς ἦμαρΑἴανθʼ, ὃς βελέεσσι βιάζεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημιφεύξεσθʼ ἐκ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἄντηνἵστασθʼ ἀμφʼ Αἴαντα μέγαν Τελαμώνιον υἱόν.ὣς ἔφατʼ Εὐρύπυλος βεβλημένος· οἳ δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸνπλησίοι ἔστησαν σάκεʼ ὤμοισι κλίναντεςδούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· τῶν δʼ ἀντίος ἤλυθεν Αἴας.στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθείς, ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων.ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο·Νέστορα δʼ ἐκ πολέμοιο φέρον Νηλήϊαι ἵπποιἱδρῶσαι, ἦγον δὲ Μαχάονα ποιμένα λαῶν.τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·ἑστήκει γὰρ ἐπὶ πρυμνῇ μεγακήτεϊ νηῒεἰσορόων πόνον αἰπὺν ἰῶκά τε δακρυόεσσαν.αἶψα δʼ ἑταῖρον ἑὸν Πατροκλῆα προσέειπεφθεγξάμενος παρὰ νηός· ὃ δὲ κλισίηθεν ἀκούσαςἔκμολεν ἶσος Ἄρηϊ, κακοῦ δʼ ἄρα οἱ πέλεν ἀρχή.
Then the valiant son of Menoetius spake the first:Wherefore dost thou call me, Achilles? What need hast thou of me?And in answer to him spake Achilles, swift of foot:Goodly son of Menoetius, dear to this heart of mine, now methinks will the Achaeans be standing about my knees in prayer, for need has come upon them that may no longer be borne. Yet go now, Patroclus, dear to Zeus, and ask Nestor who it is that he bringeth wounded from out the war. Of a truth from behind he seemeth in all things like Machaon, son of Asclepius, but I saw not the eyes of the man, for the horses darted by me, speeding eagerly onward.So spake he, and Patroclus gave ear to his dear comrade, and went running along the huts and the ships of the Achaeans. But when those others were come to the hut of the son of Neleus, they stepped forth upon the bounteous earth, and Eurymedon the squire loosed old Nestor's horses from the car, and the twain dried the sweat from their tunics standing in the breeze by the shore of the sea; and thereafter they went into the hut and sate them down on chairs. And for them fair-tressed Hecamede mixed a potion, she that old Nestor had taken from out of Tenedos, when Achilles sacked it, the daughter of great-hearted Arsinous; for the Achaeans had chosen her out for him, for that in counsel he was ever best of all. She first drew before the twain a table, fair, with feet of cyanus, and well-polished, and set thereon a basket of bronze, and therewith an onion, a relish for their drink, and pale honey, and ground meal of sacred barley; and beside them a beauteous cup, that the old man had brought from home, studded with bosses of gold; four were the handles thereof, and about each twain doves were feeding, while below were two supports. Another man could scarce have availed to lift that cup from the table, when it was full, but old Nestor would raise it right easily. Therein the woman, like to the goddesses, mixed a potion for them with Pramnian wine, and on this she grated cheese of goat's milk with a brazen grater, and sprinkled thereover white barley meal; and she bade them drink, when she had made ready the potion. Then when the twain had drunk, and sent from them parching thirst, they took delight in tales, speaking each to the other; and lo, Patroclus stood at the doors, a godlike man.
τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός·τίπτέ με κικλήσκεις Ἀχιλεῦ; τί δέ σε χρεὼ ἐμεῖο;τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·δῖε Μενοιτιάδη τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷνῦν ὀΐω περὶ γούνατʼ ἐμὰ στήσεσθαι Ἀχαιοὺςλισσομένους· χρειὼ γὰρ ἱκάνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτός.ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Πάτροκλε Διῒ φίλε Νέστορʼ ἔρειοὅν τινα τοῦτον ἄγει βεβλημένον ἐκ πολέμοιο·ἤτοι μὲν τά γʼ ὄπισθε Μαχάονι πάντα ἔοικετῷ Ἀσκληπιάδῃ, ἀτὰρ οὐκ ἴδον ὄμματα φωτός·ἵπποι γάρ με παρήϊξαν πρόσσω μεμαυῖαι.ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθʼ ἑταίρῳ,βῆ δὲ θέειν παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Νηληϊάδεω ἀφίκοντο,αὐτοὶ μέν ῥʼ ἀπέβησαν ἐπὶ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν,ἵππους δʼ Εὐρυμέδων θεράπων λύε τοῖο γέροντοςἐξ ὀχέων· τοὶ δʼ ἱδρῶ ἀπεψύχοντο χιτώνωνστάντε ποτὶ πνοιὴν παρὰ θῖνʼ ἁλός· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταἐς κλισίην ἐλθόντες ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι κάθιζον.τοῖσι δὲ τεῦχε κυκειῶ ἐϋπλόκαμος Ἑκαμήδη,τὴν ἄρετʼ ἐκ Τενέδοιο γέρων, ὅτε πέρσεν Ἀχιλλεύς,θυγατέρʼ Ἀρσινόου μεγαλήτορος, ἥν οἱ Ἀχαιοὶἔξελον οὕνεκα βουλῇ ἀριστεύεσκεν ἁπάντων.ἥ σφωϊν πρῶτον μὲν ἐπιπροΐηλε τράπεζανκαλὴν κυανόπεζαν ἐΰξοον, αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῆςχάλκειον κάνεον, ἐπὶ δὲ κρόμυον ποτῷ ὄψον,ἠδὲ μέλι χλωρόν, παρὰ δʼ ἀλφίτου ἱεροῦ ἀκτήν,πὰρ δὲ δέπας περικαλλές, ὃ οἴκοθεν ἦγʼ ὁ γεραιός,χρυσείοις ἥλοισι πεπαρμένον· οὔατα δʼ αὐτοῦτέσσαρʼ ἔσαν, δοιαὶ δὲ πελειάδες ἀμφὶς ἕκαστονχρύσειαι νεμέθοντο, δύω δʼ ὑπὸ πυθμένες ἦσαν.ἄλλος μὲν μογέων ἀποκινήσασκε τραπέζηςπλεῖον ἐόν, Νέστωρ δʼ ὁ γέρων ἀμογητὶ ἄειρεν.ἐν τῷ ῥά σφι κύκησε γυνὴ ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσινοἴνῳ Πραμνείῳ, ἐπὶ δʼ αἴγειον κνῆ τυρὸνκνήστι χαλκείῃ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ πάλυνε,πινέμεναι δʼ ἐκέλευσεν, ἐπεί ῥʼ ὥπλισσε κυκειῶ.τὼ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν πίνοντʼ ἀφέτην πολυκαγκέα δίψανμύθοισιν τέρποντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐνέποντες,Πάτροκλος δὲ θύρῃσιν ἐφίστατο ἰσόθεος φώς.
At sight of him the old man sprang from his bright chair, and took him by the hand and led him in, and bade him be seated. But Patroclus from over against him refused, and spake, saying:I may not sit, old sir, fostered of Zeus, nor wilt thou persuade me. Revered and to be dreaded is he who sent me forth to learn who it is that thou bringest home wounded. But even of myself I know, and behold Machaon, shepherd of the host. And now will I go back again a messenger, to bear word to Achilles. Well knowest thou, old sir, fostered of Zeus, of what sort is he, dread man; lightly would he blame even one in whom was no blame.
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ὁ γεραιὸς ἀπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο φαεινοῦ,ἐς δʼ ἄγε χειρὸς ἑλών, κατὰ δʼ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγε.Πάτροκλος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀναίνετο εἶπέ τε μῦθον·οὐχ ἕδος ἐστὶ γεραιὲ διοτρεφές, οὐδέ με πείσεις.αἰδοῖος νεμεσητὸς ὅ με προέηκε πυθέσθαιὅν τινα τοῦτον ἄγεις βεβλημένον· ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸςγιγνώσκω, ὁρόω δὲ Μαχάονα ποιμένα λαῶν.νῦν δὲ ἔπος ἐρέων πάλιν ἄγγελος εἶμʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ.εὖ δὲ σὺ οἶσθα γεραιὲ διοτρεφές, οἷος ἐκεῖνοςδεινὸς ἀνήρ· τάχα κεν καὶ ἀναίτιον αἰτιόῳτο.
Then made answer the horseman Nestor of Gerenia:Wherefore now doth Achilles thus have pity for the sons of the Achaeans, as many as have been smitten with missiles? Nor knoweth he at all what grief hath arisen throughout the camp; for the best men lie among the ships smitten by darts or wounded with spear-thrusts.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·τίπτε τὰρ ὧδʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ὀλοφύρεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,ὅσσοι δὴ βέλεσιν βεβλήαται; οὐδέ τι οἶδεπένθεος, ὅσσον ὄρωρε κατὰ στρατόν· οἳ γὰρ ἄριστοιἐν νηυσὶν κέαται βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.
Smitten is the son of Tydeus, mighty Diomedes, wounded with spearthrust is Odysseus, famed for his spear, and Agamemnon, and smitten is Eurypylus too with an arrow in the thigh, and this man beside have I but now borne forth from the war smitten with an arrow from the string. Yet Achilles, valiant though he be, careth not for the Danaans, neither hath pity. Doth he wait until the swift ships hard by the sea, in despite of the Argives, shall blaze with consuming fire, and ourselves be slain man after man? For my strength is not such as of old it was in my supple limbs.
βέβληται μὲν ὃ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδης,οὔτασται δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἠδʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·βέβληται δὲ καὶ Εὐρύπυλος κατὰ μηρὸν ὀϊστῷ·τοῦτον δʼ ἄλλον ἐγὼ νέον ἤγαγον ἐκ πολέμοιοἰῷ ἀπὸ νευρῆς βεβλημένον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺςἐσθλὸς ἐὼν Δαναῶν οὐ κήδεται οὐδʼ ἐλεαίρει.ἦ μένει εἰς ὅ κε δὴ νῆες θοαὶ ἄγχι θαλάσσηςἈργείων ἀέκητι πυρὸς δηΐοιο θέρωνται,αὐτοί τε κτεινώμεθʼ ἐπισχερώ; οὐ γὰρ ἐμὴ ἲςἔσθʼ οἵη πάρος ἔσκεν ἐνὶ γναμπτοῖσι μέλεσσιν.
Would that I were young and my strength were as when strife was set afoot between the Eleans and our folk about the lifting of kine, what time I slew Itymoneus, the valiant son of Hypeirochus, a man that dwelt in Elis, when I was driving off what we had seized in reprisal; and he while fighting for the kine was smitten amid the foremost by a spear from my hand; and he fell, and the country folk about him fled in terror. And booty exceeding great did we drive together from out the plain, fifty herds of kine, as many flocks of sheep, as many droves of swine, as many roving herds of goats, and chestnut horses an hundred and fifty, all mares, and many of them had foals at the teat. These then we drave into Neleian Pylos by night into the citadel, and Neleus was glad at heart for that much spoil had fallen to me when going as a stripling into war.
εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴηὡς ὁπότʼ Ἠλείοισι καὶ ἡμῖν νεῖκος ἐτύχθηἀμφὶ βοηλασίῃ, ὅτʼ ἐγὼ κτάνον Ἰτυμονῆαἐσθλὸν Ὑπειροχίδην, ὃς ἐν Ἤλιδι ναιετάασκε,ῥύσιʼ ἐλαυνόμενος· ὃ δʼ ἀμύνων ᾗσι βόεσσινἔβλητʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ἐμῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἄκοντι,κὰδ δʼ ἔπεσεν, λαοὶ δὲ περίτρεσαν ἀγροιῶται.ληΐδα δʼ ἐκ πεδίου συνελάσσαμεν ἤλιθα πολλὴνπεντήκοντα βοῶν ἀγέλας, τόσα πώεα οἰῶν,τόσσα συῶν συβόσια, τόσʼ αἰπόλια πλατέʼ αἰγῶν,ἵππους δὲ ξανθὰς ἑκατὸν καὶ πεντήκονταπάσας θηλείας, πολλῇσι δὲ πῶλοι ὑπῆσαν.καὶ τὰ μὲν ἠλασάμεσθα Πύλον Νηλήϊον εἴσωἐννύχιοι προτὶ ἄστυ· γεγήθει δὲ φρένα Νηλεύς,οὕνεκά μοι τύχε πολλὰ νέῳ πόλεμον δὲ κιόντι.
And heralds made loud proclamation at break of dawn that all men should come to whomsoever a debt was owing in goodly Elis; and they that were leaders of the Pylians gathered together and made division, for to many did the Epeians owe a debt, seeing that we in Pylos were few and oppressed.
κήρυκες δʼ ἐλίγαινον ἅμʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφιτοὺς ἴμεν οἷσι χρεῖος ὀφείλετʼ ἐν Ἤλιδι δίῃ·οἳ δὲ συναγρόμενοι Πυλίων ἡγήτορες ἄνδρεςδαίτρευον· πολέσιν γὰρ Ἐπειοὶ χρεῖος ὄφειλον,ὡς ἡμεῖς παῦροι κεκακωμένοι ἐν Πύλῳ ἦμεν·
For mighty Heracles had come and oppressed us in the years that were before, and all that were our bravest had been slain. Twelve were we that were sons of peerless Neleus, and of these I alone was left, and all the rest had perished; wherefore the brazen-coated Epeans, proud of heart thereat, in wantonness devised mischief against us.And from out the spoil old Neleus chose him a herd of kine and a great flock of sheep, choosing three hundred and their herdsman with them. For to him a great debt was owing in goodly Elis, even our horses, winners of prizes, with their car, that had gone to the games, for they were to race for a tripod; but Augeias, king of men, kept them there, and sent back their driver, sorrowing for his horses. By reason of these things, both deeds and words, was the old man wroth and chose him recompense past telling; and the rest he gave to the people to divide, that so far as in him lay no man might go defrauded of an equal share. So we were disposing of all that there was, and round about the city were offering sacrifice to the gods; and on the third day the Epeians came all together, many men and single-hooved horses, with all speed, and among them the two Moliones did on their battle-gear, though they were as yet but stripligs unskilled in furious valour. Now there is a city Thryoessa, a steep hill, far off on the Alpheius, the nethermost of sandy Pylos; about this they set their camp, fain to raze it utterly. But when they had coursed over the whole plain to us came Athene, speeding down from Olympus by night with the message that we should array us for battle, and nowise loath were the folk she gathered in Pylos, but right eager for war. Now Neleus would not suffer me to arm myself, but hid away my horses, for he deemed that as yet I knew naught of deeds of war.
ἐλθὼν γάρ ῥʼ ἐκάκωσε βίη Ἡρακληείητῶν προτέρων ἐτέων, κατὰ δʼ ἔκταθεν ὅσσοι ἄριστοι·δώδεκα γὰρ Νηλῆος ἀμύμονος υἱέες ἦμεν·τῶν οἶος λιπόμην, οἳ δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ὄλοντο.ταῦθʼ ὑπερηφανέοντες Ἐπειοὶ χαλκοχίτωνεςἡμέας ὑβρίζοντες ἀτάσθαλα μηχανόωντο.ἐκ δʼ ὃ γέρων ἀγέλην τε βοῶν καὶ πῶϋ μέγʼ οἰῶνεἵλετο κρινάμενος τριηκόσιʼ ἠδὲ νομῆας.καὶ γὰρ τῷ χρεῖος μέγʼ ὀφείλετʼ ἐν Ἤλιδι δίῃτέσσαρες ἀθλοφόροι ἵπποι αὐτοῖσιν ὄχεσφινἐλθόντες μετʼ ἄεθλα· περὶ τρίποδος γὰρ ἔμελλονθεύσεσθαι· τοὺς δʼ αὖθι ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Αὐγείαςκάσχεθε, τὸν δʼ ἐλατῆρʼ ἀφίει ἀκαχήμενον ἵππων.τῶν ὃ γέρων ἐπέων κεχολωμένος ἠδὲ καὶ ἔργωνἐξέλετʼ ἄσπετα πολλά· τὰ δʼ ἄλλʼ ἐς δῆμον ἔδωκεδαιτρεύειν, μή τίς οἱ ἀτεμβόμενος κίοι ἴσης.ἡμεῖς μὲν τὰ ἕκαστα διείπομεν, ἀμφί τε ἄστυἕρδομεν ἱρὰ θεοῖς· οἳ δὲ τρίτῳ ἤματι πάντεςἦλθον ὁμῶς αὐτοί τε πολεῖς καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποιπανσυδίῃ· μετὰ δέ σφι Μολίονε θωρήσσοντοπαῖδʼ ἔτʼ ἐόντʼ, οὔ πω μάλα εἰδότε θούριδος ἀλκῆς.ἔστι δέ τις Θρυόεσσα πόλις αἰπεῖα κολώνητηλοῦ ἐπʼ Ἀλφειῷ, νεάτη Πύλου ἠμαθόεντος·τὴν ἀμφεστρατόωντο διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες.ἀλλʼ ὅτε πᾶν πεδίον μετεκίαθον, ἄμμι δʼ Ἀθήνηἄγγελος ἦλθε θέουσʼ ἀπʼ Ὀλύμπου θωρήσσεσθαιἔννυχος, οὐδʼ ἀέκοντα Πύλον κάτα λαὸν ἄγειρενἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐσσυμένους πολεμίζειν. οὐδέ με Νηλεὺςεἴα θωρήσσεσθαι, ἀπέκρυψεν δέ μοι ἵππους·οὐ γάρ πώ τί μʼ ἔφη ἴδμεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα.
Howbeit even so I was pre-eminent among our horsemen, on foot though I was, for so did Athene order the fight. There is a river Minyeïus that empties into the sea hard by Arene, where we waited for bright Dawn, we the horsemen of the Pylians, and the throngs of footmen flowed ever after.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἱππεῦσι μετέπρεπον ἡμετέροισικαὶ πεζός περ ἐών, ἐπεὶ ὧς ἄγε νεῖκος Ἀθήνη.ἔστι δέ τις ποταμὸς Μινυήϊος εἰς ἅλα βάλλωνἐγγύθεν Ἀρήνης, ὅθι μείναμεν Ἠῶ δῖανἱππῆες Πυλίων, τὰ δʼ ἐπέρρεον ἔθνεα πεζῶν.
Thence with all speed, arrayed in our armour, we came at midday to the sacred stream of Alpheius. There we sacrificed goodly victims to Zeus, supreme in might, and a bull to Alpheius, and a bull to Poseidon, but to flashing-eyed Athene a heifer of the herd; and thereafter we took supper throughout the host by companies, and laid us down to sleep, each man in his battlegear, about the streams of the river. But the great-souled Epeians were marshalled about the city, fain to raze it utterly; but ere that might be there appeared unto them a mighty deed of war;
ἔνθεν πανσυδίῃ σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντεςἔνδιοι ἱκόμεσθʼ ἱερὸν ῥόον Ἀλφειοῖο.ἔνθα Διὶ ῥέξαντες ὑπερμενεῖ ἱερὰ καλά,ταῦρον δʼ Ἀλφειῷ, ταῦρον δὲ Ποσειδάωνι,αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη γλαυκώπιδι βοῦν ἀγελαίην,δόρπον ἔπειθʼ ἑλόμεσθα κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσι,καὶ κατεκοιμήθημεν ἐν ἔντεσιν οἷσιν ἕκαστοςἀμφὶ ῥοὰς ποταμοῖο. ἀτὰρ μεγάθυμοι Ἐπειοὶἀμφέσταν δὴ ἄστυ διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες·ἀλλά σφι προπάροιθε φάνη μέγα ἔργον Ἄρηος·
for when the bright sun stood above the earth we made prayer to Zeus and Athene, and joined battle.But when the strife of the Pylians and Epeians began, I was first to slay my man, and to get me his single-hooved horses—even the spearman Mulius; son by marriage was he of Augeias, and had to wife his eldest daughter, fair-haired Agamede, who knew all simples that the wide earth nourisheth. Him as he came against me I smote with may bronze-tipped spear, and he fell in the dust; but I leapt upon his chariot and took my stand amid the foremost fighters. But the great-souled Epeians fled one here, one there, when they saw the man fallen, even him that was leader of the horsemen and preeminent in fight. But I sprang upon them like a black tempest and fifty chariots I took, and about each one two warriors bit the ground, quelled by my spear.
εὖτε γὰρ ἠέλιος φαέθων ὑπερέσχεθε γαίης,συμφερόμεσθα μάχῃ Διί τʼ εὐχόμενοι καὶ Ἀθήνῃ.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Πυλίων καὶ Ἐπειῶν ἔπλετο νεῖκος,πρῶτος ἐγὼν ἕλον ἄνδρα, κόμισσα δὲ μώνυχας ἵππους,Μούλιον αἰχμητήν· γαμβρὸς δʼ ἦν Αὐγείαο,πρεσβυτάτην δὲ θύγατρʼ εἶχε ξανθὴν Ἀγαμήδην,ἣ τόσα φάρμακα ᾔδη ὅσα τρέφει εὐρεῖα χθών.τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ προσιόντα βάλον χαλκήρεϊ δουρί,ἤριπε δʼ ἐν κονίῃσιν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς δίφρον ὀρούσαςστῆν ῥα μετὰ προμάχοισιν· ἀτὰρ μεγάθυμοι Ἐπειοὶἔτρεσαν ἄλλυδις ἄλλος, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ἄνδρα πεσόνταἡγεμόνʼ ἱππήων, ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι.αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπόρουσα κελαινῇ λαίλαπι ἶσος,πεντήκοντα δʼ ἕλον δίφρους, δύο δʼ ἀμφὶς ἕκαστονφῶτες ὀδὰξ ἕλον οὖδας ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ δαμέντες.
And now had I slain the two Moliones, of the blood of Actor, but that their father, the wide-ruling Shaker of Earth, saved them from war, and shrouded them in thick mist. Then Zeus vouchsafed great might to the men of Pylos, for so long did we follow through the wide plain, slaying the men and gathering their goodly battle-gear, even till we drave our horses to Buprasium, rich in wheat, and the rock of Olen and the place where is the hill called the hill of Alesium, whence Athene again turned back the host. Then I slew the last man, and left him; but the Achaeans drave back their swift horses from Buprasium to Pylos, and all gave glory among the gods to Zeus, and to Nestor among men. Of such sort was I among warriors, as sure as ever I was. But Achilles would alone have profit of his valour. Nay, verily, methinks he will bitterly lament hereafter, when the folk perisheth.
καί νύ κεν Ἀκτορίωνε Μολίονε παῖδʼ ἀλάπαξα,εἰ μή σφωε πατὴρ εὐρὺ κρείων ἐνοσίχθωνἐκ πολέμου ἐσάωσε καλύψας ἠέρι πολλῇ.ἔνθα Ζεὺς Πυλίοισι μέγα κράτος ἐγγυάλιξε·τόφρα γὰρ οὖν ἑπόμεσθα διὰ σπιδέος πεδίοιοκτείνοντές τʼ αὐτοὺς ἀνά τʼ ἔντεα καλὰ λέγοντες,ὄφρʼ ἐπὶ Βουπρασίου πολυπύρου βήσαμεν ἵππουςπέτρης τʼ Ὠλενίης, καὶ Ἀλησίου ἔνθα κολώνηκέκληται· ὅθεν αὖτις ἀπέτραπε λαὸν Ἀθήνη.ἔνθʼ ἄνδρα κτείνας πύματον λίπον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶἂψ ἀπὸ Βουπρασίοιο Πύλονδʼ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους,πάντες δʼ εὐχετόωντο θεῶν Διὶ Νέστορί τʼ ἀνδρῶν.ὣς ἔον, εἴ ποτʼ ἔον γε, μετʼ ἀνδράσιν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺςοἶος τῆς ἀρετῆς ἀπονήσεται· ἦ τέ μιν οἴωπολλὰ μετακλαύσεσθαι ἐπεί κʼ ἀπὸ λαὸς ὄληται.
Ah, friend, of a surety Menoetius thus laid charge upon thee on the day when he sent thee forth from Phthia to Agamemnon. And we twain were within, I and goodly Odysseus, and in the halls we heard all things, even as he gave thee charge. For we had come to the well-builded house of Peleus, gathering the host throughout the bounteous land of Achaia. There then we found in the house the warrior Menoetius and thee, and with you Achilles; and the old man Peleus, driver of chariots, was burning the fat thighs of a bull to Zeus that hurleth the thunderbolt, in the enclosure of the court, and he held in his hand a golden cup, pouring forth the flaming wine to accompany the burning offerings. Ye twain were busied about the flesh of the bull, and lo, we stood in the doorway; and Achilles, seized with wonder, sprang up, and took us by the hand and led us in, and bade us be seated, and he set before us abundant entertainment, all that is the due of strangers.
ὦ πέπον ἦ μὲν σοί γε Μενοίτιος ὧδʼ ἐπέτελλενἤματι τῷ ὅτε σʼ ἐκ Φθίης Ἀγαμέμνονι πέμπε,νῶϊ δέ τʼ ἔνδον ἐόντες ἐγὼ καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺςπάντα μάλʼ ἐν μεγάροις ἠκούομεν ὡς ἐπέτελλε.Πηλῆος δʼ ἱκόμεσθα δόμους εὖ ναιετάονταςλαὸν ἀγείροντες κατʼ Ἀχαιΐδα πουλυβότειραν.ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἥρωα Μενοίτιον εὕρομεν ἔνδονἠδὲ σέ, πὰρ δʼ Ἀχιλῆα· γέρων δʼ ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺςπίονα μηρία καῖε βοὸς Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳαὐλῆς ἐν χόρτῳ· ἔχε δὲ χρύσειον ἄλεισονσπένδων αἴθοπα οἶνον ἐπʼ αἰθομένοις ἱεροῖσι.σφῶϊ μὲν ἀμφὶ βοὸς ἕπετον κρέα, νῶϊ δʼ ἔπειταστῆμεν ἐνὶ προθύροισι· ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεύς,ἐς δʼ ἄγε χειρὸς ἑλών, κατὰ δʼ ἑδριάασθαι ἄνωγε,ξείνιά τʼ εὖ παρέθηκεν, ἅ τε ξείνοις θέμις ἐστίν.
But when we had had our fill of food and drink, I was first to speak, and bade you follow with us; and ye were both right eager, and those twain laid on you many commands. Old Peleus bade his son Achilles ever be bravest, and pre-eminent above all, but to thee did Menoetius, son of Actor, thus give command: ‘My child, in birth is Achilles nobler than thou, but thou art the elder though in might he is the better far. Yet do thou speak to him well a word of wisdom and give him counsel, and direct him; and he will obey thee to his profit.’
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπημεν ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος,ἦρχον ἐγὼ μύθοιο κελεύων ὔμμʼ ἅμʼ ἕπεσθαι·σφὼ δὲ μάλʼ ἠθέλετον, τὼ δʼ ἄμφω πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλον.Πηλεὺς μὲν ᾧ παιδὶ γέρων ἐπέτελλʼ Ἀχιλῆϊαἰὲν ἀριστεύειν καὶ ὑπείροχον ἔμμεναι ἄλλων·σοὶ δʼ αὖθʼ ὧδʼ ἐπέτελλε Μενοίτιος Ἄκτορος υἱός·τέκνον ἐμὸν γενεῇ μὲν ὑπέρτερός ἐστιν Ἀχιλλεύς,πρεσβύτερος δὲ σύ ἐσσι· βίῃ δʼ ὅ γε πολλὸν ἀμείνων.ἀλλʼ εὖ οἱ φάσθαι πυκινὸν ἔπος ἠδʼ ὑποθέσθαικαί οἱ σημαίνειν· ὃ δὲ πείσεται εἰς ἀγαθόν περ.
Thus did the old man charge thee, but thou forgettest. Yet even now at the last do thou speak thus to wise-hearted Achilles, if so be he may hearken. Who knows but that heaven helping thou mightest rouse his spirit with thy persuading? A good thing is the persuasion of a friend. But if in his heart he is shunning some oracle and his queenly mother hath declared to him aught from Zeus, yet let him send thee forth, and with thee let the rest of the host of the Myrmidons follow, if so be thou mayest prove a light of deliverance to the Danaans; and let him give thee his fair armour to bear into the war, in hope that the Trojans may take thee for him, and so hold aloof from battle, and the warlike sons of the Achaeans may take breath, wearied though they be; for scant is the breathing-space in battle. And lightly might ye that are unwearied drive men that are wearied with battle back toward the city from the ships and the huts.So spake he, and roused the heart in the breast of Patroclus, and he set out to run along the line of the ships to Achilles, son of Aeacus. But when in his running Patroclus was come to the ships of godlike Odysseus, where was their place of gathering and of the giving of dooms, whereby also were builded their altars of the gods, there Eurypylus met him, the Zeus-born son of Euaemon, smitten in the thigh with an arrow, limping from out the battle. And in streams down from his head and shoulders flowed the sweat, and from his grievous wound the black blood was gushing, yet was his spirit unshaken. At sight of him the valiant son of Menoetius had pity on him, and with wailing spake to him winged words:Ah ye wretched men, leaders and lords of the Danaans, thus then were ye destined, far from your friends and your native land, to glut with your white fat the swift dogs in Troy. But come, tell me this, Eurypylus, warrior fostered of Zeus, will the Achaeans haply still hold back mighty Hector, or will they now perish, slain beneath his spear?And to him again made answer the wounded Eurypylus:No longer, Zeus-born Patroclus, will there be any defence of the Achaeans, but they will fling themselves upon the black ships.
ὣς ἐπέτελλʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δὲ λήθεαι· ἀλλʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦνταῦτʼ εἴποις Ἀχιλῆϊ δαΐφρονι αἴ κε πίθηται.τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέν οἱ σὺν δαίμονι θυμὸν ὀρίναιςπαρειπών; ἀγαθὴ δὲ παραίφασίς ἐστιν ἑταίρου.εἰ δέ τινα φρεσὶν ᾗσι θεοπροπίην ἀλεείνεικαί τινά οἱ πὰρ Ζηνὸς ἐπέφραδε πότνια μήτηρ,ἀλλὰ σέ περ προέτω, ἅμα δʼ ἄλλος λαὸς ἑπέσθωΜυρμιδόνων, αἴ κέν τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένηαι·καί τοι τεύχεα καλὰ δότω πόλεμον δὲ φέρεσθαι,αἴ κέ σε τῷ εἴσκοντες ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιοΤρῶες, ἀναπνεύσωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶντειρόμενοι· ὀλίγη δέ τʼ ἀνάπνευσις πολέμοιο.ῥεῖα δέ κʼ ἀκμῆτες κεκμηότας ἄνδρας ἀϋτῇὤσαισθε προτὶ ἄστυ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων.ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε,βῆ δὲ θέειν παρὰ νῆας ἐπʼ Αἰακίδην Ἀχιλῆα.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κατὰ νῆας Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιοἷξε θέων Πάτροκλος, ἵνά σφʼ ἀγορή τε θέμις τεἤην, τῇ δὴ καί σφι θεῶν ἐτετεύχατο βωμοί,ἔνθά οἱ Εὐρύπυλος βεβλημένος ἀντεβόλησεδιογενὴς Εὐαιμονίδης κατὰ μηρὸν ὀϊστῷσκάζων ἐκ πολέμου· κατὰ δὲ νότιος ῥέεν ἱδρὼςὤμων καὶ κεφαλῆς, ἀπὸ δʼ ἕλκεος ἀργαλέοιοαἷμα μέλαν κελάρυζε· νόος γε μὲν ἔμπεδος ἦεν.τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός,καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ἆ δειλοὶ Δαναῶν ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςὣς ἄρʼ ἐμέλλετε τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴηςἄσειν ἐν Τροίῃ ταχέας κύνας ἀργέτι δημῷ.ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ διοτρεφὲς Εὐρύπυλʼ ἥρως,ἤ ῥʼ ἔτι που σχήσουσι πελώριον Ἕκτορʼ Ἀχαιοί,ἦ ἤδη φθίσονται ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ δουρὶ δαμέντες;τὸν δʼ αὖτʼ Εὐρύπυλος βεβλημένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·οὐκέτι διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἄλκαρ Ἀχαιῶνἔσσεται, ἀλλʼ ἐν νηυσὶ μελαίνῃσιν πεσέονται.
For verily all they that aforetime were bravest, lie among the ships smitten by darts or wounded with spear-thrusts at the hands of the Trojans, whose strength ever waxeth. But me do thou succour, and lead me to my black ship, and cut the arrow from my thigh, and wash the black blood from it with warm water, and sprinkle thereon kindly simples of healing power, whereof men say that thou hast learned from Achilles, whom Cheiron taught, the most righteous of the Centaurs. For the leeches, Podaleirius and Machaon, the one methinks lieth wounded amid the huts, having need himself of a goodly leech, and the other in the plain abideth the sharp battle of the Trojans.And to him again spake the valiant son of Menoetius:How may these things be? What shall we do, warrior Eurypylus? I am on my way to declare to wise-hearted Achilles a message wherewith Nestor of Gerenia, warder of the Achaeans, charged me. Nay, but even so will I not neglect thee that art in grievous plight.He spake and clasped the shepherd of the host beneath the breast, and led him to his hut, and his squire when he saw them strewed upon the ground hides of oxen. There Patroclus made him lie at length, and with a knife cut from his thigh the sharp-piercing arrow, and from the wound washed the black blood with warm water, and upon it cast a bitter root, when he had rubbed it between his hands, a root that slayeth pain, which stayed all his pangs; and the wound waxed dry, and the blood ceased.
οἳ μὲν γὰρ δὴ πάντες, ὅσοι πάρος ἦσαν ἄριστοι,ἐν νηυσὶν κέαται βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τεχερσὶν ὕπο Τρώων· τῶν δὲ σθένος ὄρνυται αἰέν.ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν σὺ σάωσον ἄγων ἐπὶ νῆα μέλαιναν,μηροῦ δʼ ἔκταμʼ ὀϊστόν, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸννίζʼ ὕδατι λιαρῷ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἤπια φάρμακα πάσσεἐσθλά, τά σε προτί φασιν Ἀχιλλῆος δεδιδάχθαι,ὃν Χείρων ἐδίδαξε δικαιότατος Κενταύρων.ἰητροὶ μὲν γὰρ Ποδαλείριος ἠδὲ Μαχάωντὸν μὲν ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ὀΐομαι ἕλκος ἔχονταχρηΐζοντα καὶ αὐτὸν ἀμύμονος ἰητῆροςκεῖσθαι· ὃ δʼ ἐν πεδίῳ Τρώων μένει ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱός·πῶς τὰρ ἔοι τάδε ἔργα; τί ῥέξομεν Εὐρύπυλʼ ἥρως;ἔρχομαι ὄφρʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαΐφρονι μῦθον ἐνίσπωὃν Νέστωρ ἐπέτελλε Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν·ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς περ σεῖο μεθήσω τειρομένοιο.ἦ, καὶ ὑπὸ στέρνοιο λαβὼν ἄγε ποιμένα λαῶνἐς κλισίην· θεράπων δὲ ἰδὼν ὑπέχευε βοείας.ἔνθά μιν ἐκτανύσας ἐκ μηροῦ τάμνε μαχαίρῃὀξὺ βέλος περιπευκές, ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ δʼ αἷμα κελαινὸννίζʼ ὕδατι λιαρῷ, ἐπὶ δὲ ῥίζαν βάλε πικρὴνχερσὶ διατρίψας ὀδυνήφατον, ἥ οἱ ἁπάσαςἔσχʼ ὀδύνας· τὸ μὲν ἕλκος ἐτέρσετο, παύσατο δʼ αἷμα.