But when the Trojans in their flight had passed over the palisade and the trench, and many had been vanquished beneath the hands of the Danaans, then beside their chariots they stayed, and were halted, pale with fear, terror-stricken; and Zeus awoke on the peaks of Ida beside Hera of the golden throne. Then he sprang up, and stood, and saw Trojans alike and Achaeans, these in rout, and the Argives driving them on from the rear, and amid them the lord Poseidon. And Hector he saw lying on the plain, while about him sat his comrades, and he was gasping with painful breath, distraught in mind, and vomiting blood; for not the weakest of the Achaeans was it that had smitten him. At sight of him the father of men and gods had pity, and with a dread glance from beneath his brows he spake to Hera, saying:Hera, that art hard to deal with, it is the craft of thine evil wiles that hath stayed goodly Hector from the fight, and hath driven the host in rout. Verily I know not but thou shalt yet be the first to reap the fruits of thy wretched ill-contriving, and I shall scourge thee with stripes. Dost thou not remember when thou wast hung from on high, and from thy feet I suspended two anvils, and about thy wrists cast a band of gold that might not be broken? And in the air amid the clouds thou didst hang, and the gods had indignation throughout high Olympus; howbeit they availed not to draw nigh and loose thee. Nay, whomsoever I caught, I would seize and hurl from the threshold until he reached the earth, his strength all spent. Yet not even so was my heart eased of its ceaseless pain for godlike Heracles, whom thou when thou hadst leagued thee with the North Wind and suborned his blasts, didst send over the unresting sea, by thine evil devising, and thereafter didst bear him away unto well-peopled Cos. Him did I save from thence, and brought again to horse-pasturing Argos, albeit after he had laboured sore. Of these things will I mind thee yet again, that thou mayest cease from thy beguilings, to the end that thou mayest see whether they anywise avail thee, the dalliance and the couch, wherein thou didst lie with me when thou hadst come forth from among the gods, and didst beguile me.So spake he, and the ox-eyed, queenly Hera shuddered; and she spake and addressed him with winged words:Hereto now be Earth my witness and the broad Heaven above, and the down-flowing water of Styx, which is the greatest and most dread oath for the blessed gods, and thine own sacred head, and the couch of us twain, couch of our wedded love, whereby I verily would never forswear myself —not by my will doth Poseidon, the Shaker of Earth, work harm to the Trojans and Hector, and give succour to their foes. Nay, I ween, it is his own soul that urgeth and biddeth him on, and he hath seen the Achaeans sore-bested by their ships and taken pity upon them.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ διά τε σκόλοπας καὶ τάφρον ἔβησανφεύγοντες, πολλοὶ δὲ δάμεν Δαναῶν ὑπὸ χερσίν,οἳ μὲν δὴ παρʼ ὄχεσφιν ἐρητύοντο μένοντεςχλωροὶ ὑπαὶ δείους πεφοβημένοι· ἔγρετο δὲ ΖεὺςἼδης ἐν κορυφῇσι παρὰ χρυσοθρόνου Ἥρης,στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀναΐξας, ἴδε δὲ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιοὺςτοὺς μὲν ὀρινομένους, τοὺς δὲ κλονέοντας ὄπισθενἈργείους, μετὰ δέ σφι Ποσειδάωνα ἄνακτα·Ἕκτορα δʼ ἐν πεδίῳ ἴδε κείμενον, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροιεἵαθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀργαλέῳ ἔχετʼ ἄσθματι κῆρ ἀπινύσσωναἷμʼ ἐμέων, ἐπεὶ οὔ μιν ἀφαυρότατος βάλʼ Ἀχαιῶν.τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ἐλέησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,δεινὰ δʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν Ἥρην πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·ἦ μάλα δὴ κακότεχνος ἀμήχανε σὸς δόλος ἭρηἝκτορα δῖον ἔπαυσε μάχης, ἐφόβησε δὲ λαούς.οὐ μὰν οἶδʼ εἰ αὖτε κακορραφίης ἀλεγεινῆςπρώτη ἐπαύρηαι καί σε πληγῇσιν ἱμάσσω.ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε τʼ ἐκρέμω ὑψόθεν, ἐκ δὲ ποδοῖινἄκμονας ἧκα δύω, περὶ χερσὶ δὲ δεσμὸν ἴηλαχρύσεον ἄρρηκτον; σὺ δʼ ἐν αἰθέρι καὶ νεφέλῃσινἐκρέμω· ἠλάστεον δὲ θεοὶ κατὰ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,λῦσαι δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο παρασταδόν· ὃν δὲ λάβοιμιῥίπτασκον τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ ὄφρʼ ἂν ἵκηταιγῆν ὀλιγηπελέων· ἐμὲ δʼ οὐδʼ ὧς θυμὸν ἀνίειἀζηχὴς ὀδύνη Ἡρακλῆος θείοιο,τὸν σὺ ξὺν Βορέῃ ἀνέμῳ πεπιθοῦσα θυέλλαςπέμψας ἐπʼ ἀτρύγετον πόντον κακὰ μητιόωσα,καί μιν ἔπειτα Κόων δʼ εὖ ναιομένην ἀπένεικας.τὸν μὲν ἐγὼν ἔνθεν ῥυσάμην καὶ ἀνήγαγον αὖτιςἌργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ πολλά περ ἀθλήσαντα.τῶν σʼ αὖτις μνήσω ἵνʼ ἀπολλήξῃς ἀπατάων,ὄφρα ἴδῃ ἤν τοι χραίσμῃ φιλότης τε καὶ εὐνή,ἣν ἐμίγης ἐλθοῦσα θεῶν ἄπο καί μʼ ἀπάτησας.ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ἴστω νῦν τόδε Γαῖα καὶ Οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθεκαὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅς τε μέγιστοςὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσι,σή θʼ ἱερὴ κεφαλὴ καὶ νωΐτερον λέχος αὐτῶνκουρίδιον, τὸ μὲν οὐκ ἂν ἐγώ ποτε μὰψ ὀμόσαιμι·μὴ διʼ ἐμὴν ἰότητα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθωνπημαίνει Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα, τοῖσι δʼ ἀρήγει,ἀλλά που αὐτὸν θυμὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει,τειρομένους δʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰδὼν ἐλέησεν Ἀχαιούς.
But I tell thee, I would counsel even him to walk in that way, wherein thou, O lord of the dark cloud, mayest lead him.So spake she, and the father of men and gods smiled, and made answer, and spake to her with winged words:If in good sooth, O ox-eyed, queenly Hera, thy thought hereafter were to be one with my thought as thou sittest among the immortals, then would Poseidon, how contrary soever his wish might be, forthwith bend his mind to follow thy heart and mine. But if verily thou speakest in frankness and in truth, go thou now among the tribes of gods and call Iris to come hither, and Apollo, famed for his bow, that she may go amid the host of the brazen-coated Achaeans, and bid the lord Poseidon that he cease from war, and get him to his own house; but let Phoebus Apollo rouse Hector to the fight, and breathe strength into him again, and make him forget the pains that now distress his heart; and let him drive the Achaeans back once more, when he has roused in them craven panic; so shall they flee and fall among the many-benched ships of Achilles, son of Peleus, and he shall send forth his comrade Patroclus, howbeit him shall glorious Hector slay with the spear before the face of Ilios, after himself hath slain many other youths, and among them withal my son, goodly Sarpedon. And in wrath for Patroclus shall goodly Achilles slay Hector. Then from that time forth shall I cause a driving back of the Trojans from the ships evermore continually, until the Achaeans shall take steep Ilios through the counsels of Athene. But until that hour neither do I refrain my wrath, nor will I suffer any other of the immortals to bear aid to the Danaans here, until the desire of the son of Peleus be fulfilled, even as I promised at the first and bowed my head thereto, on the day when the goddess Thetis clasped my knees, beseeching me to do honour to Achilles, sacker of cities.So spake he, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, failed not to hearken, but went her way from the mountains of Ida unto high Olympus.
αὐτάρ τοι καὶ κείνῳ ἐγὼ παραμυθησαίμηντῇ ἴμεν ᾗ κεν δὴ σὺ κελαινεφὲς ἡγεμονεύῃς.ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε,καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·εἰ μὲν δὴ σύ γʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρηἶσον ἐμοὶ φρονέουσα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι καθίζοις,τώ κε Ποσειδάων γε, καὶ εἰ μάλα βούλεται ἄλλῃ,αἶψα μεταστρέψειε νόον μετὰ σὸν καὶ ἐμὸν κῆρ.ἀλλʼ εἰ δή ῥʼ ἐτεόν γε καὶ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορεύεις,ἔρχεο νῦν μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν, καὶ δεῦρο κάλεσσονἾρίν τʼ ἐλθέμεναι καὶ Ἀπόλλωνα κλυτότοξον,ὄφρʼ ἣ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνωνἔλθῃ, καὶ εἴπῃσι Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτιπαυσάμενον πολέμοιο τὰ ἃ πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἱκέσθαι,Ἕκτορα δʼ ὀτρύνῃσι μάχην ἐς Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,αὖτις δʼ ἐμπνεύσῃσι μένος, λελάθῃ δʼ ὀδυνάωναἳ νῦν μιν τείρουσι κατὰ φρένας, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺςαὖτις ἀποστρέψῃσιν ἀνάλκιδα φύζαν ἐνόρσας,φεύγοντες δʼ ἐν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι πέσωσιΠηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος· ὃ δʼ ἀνστήσει ὃν ἑταῖρονΠάτροκλον· τὸν δὲ κτενεῖ ἔγχεϊ φαίδιμος ἝκτωρἸλίου προπάροιθε πολέας ὀλέσαντʼ αἰζηοὺςτοὺς ἄλλους, μετὰ δʼ υἱὸν ἐμὸν Σαρπηδόνα δῖον.τοῦ δὲ χολωσάμενος κτενεῖ Ἕκτορα δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.ἐκ τοῦ δʼ ἄν τοι ἔπειτα παλίωξιν παρὰ νηῶναἰὲν ἐγὼ τεύχοιμι διαμπερὲς εἰς ὅ κʼ ἈχαιοὶἼλιον αἰπὺ ἕλοιεν Ἀθηναίης διὰ βουλάς.τὸ πρὶν δʼ οὔτʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ παύω χόλον οὔτέ τινʼ ἄλλονἀθανάτων Δαναοῖσιν ἀμυνέμεν ἐνθάδʼ ἐάσωπρίν γε τὸ Πηλεΐδαο τελευτηθῆναι ἐέλδωρ,ὥς οἱ ὑπέστην πρῶτον, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπένευσα κάρητι,ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἐμεῖο θεὰ Θέτις ἥψατο γούνων,λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον.
And even as swiftly darteth the mind of a man who hath travelled over far lands and thinketh in the wisdom of his heart,Would I were here, or there,and many are the wishes he conceiveth: even so swiftly sped on in her eagerness the queenly Hera; and she came to steep Olympus, and found the immortal gods gathered together in the house of Zeus, and at sight of her they all sprang up, and greeted her with cups of welcome. She on her part let be the others, but took the cup from Themis, of the fair cheeks, for she ran first to meet her, and spake, and addressed her with winged words:
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἀΐξῃ νόος ἀνέρος, ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ πολλὴνγαῖαν ἐληλουθὼς φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι νοήσῃἔνθʼ εἴην ἢ ἔνθα, μενοινήῃσί τε πολλά,ὣς κραιπνῶς μεμαυῖα διέπτατο πότνια Ἥρη·ἵκετο δʼ αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον, ὁμηγερέεσσι δʼ ἐπῆλθενἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι Διὸς δόμῳ· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντεςπάντες ἀνήϊξαν καὶ δεικανόωντο δέπασσιν.ἣ δʼ ἄλλους μὲν ἔασε, Θέμιστι δὲ καλλιπαρῄῳδέκτο δέπας· πρώτη γὰρ ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα,καί μιν φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Hera, wherefore art thou come? Thou art as one distraught. In good sooth the son of Cronos hath affrighted thee, he thine own husband.Then made answer to her, the goddess, white-armed Hera:Ask me not at large concerning this, O goddess Themis; of thyself thou knowest what manner of mood is his, how over-haughty and unbending.
Ἥρη τίπτε βέβηκας; ἀτυζομένῃ δὲ ἔοικας·ἦ μάλα δή σʼ ἐφόβησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ὅς τοι ἀκοίτης.τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·μή με θεὰ Θέμι ταῦτα διείρεο· οἶσθα καὶ αὐτὴοἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.
Nay, do thou begin for the gods the equal feast in the halls, and this shalt thou hear amid all the immortals, even what manner of evil deeds Zeus declareth. In no wise, methinks, will it delight in like manner the hearts of all, whether mortals or gods, if so be any even now still feasteth with a joyful mind.
ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἄρχε θεοῖσι δόμοις ἔνι δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·ταῦτα δὲ καὶ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀκούσεαι ἀθανάτοισινοἷα Ζεὺς κακὰ ἔργα πιφαύσκεται· οὐδέ τί φημιπᾶσιν ὁμῶς θυμὸν κεχαρησέμεν, οὔτε βροτοῖσινοὔτε θεοῖς, εἴ πέρ τις ἔτι νῦν δαίνυται εὔφρων.
When she had thus spoken, queenly Hera sate her down, and wroth waxed the gods throughout the hall of Zeus. And she laughed with her lips, but her forehead above her dark brows relaxed not, and, moved with indignation, she spake among them all:Fools, that in our witlessness are wroth against Zeus!
ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα καθέζετο πότνια Ἥρη,ὄχθησαν δʼ ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοί· ἣ δʼ ἐγέλασσεχείλεσιν, οὐδὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι κυανέῃσινἰάνθη· πᾶσιν δὲ νεμεσσηθεῖσα μετηύδα·νήπιοι οἳ Ζηνὶ μενεαίνομεν ἀφρονέοντες·
In sooth we are even yet fain to draw nigh unto him and thwart him of his will by word or by constraint, but he sitteth apart and recketh not, neither giveth heed thereto; for he deemeth that among the immortal gods he is manifestly supreme in might and strength. Wherefore content ye yourselves with whatsoever evil thing he sendeth upon each.
ἦ ἔτι μιν μέμαμεν καταπαυσέμεν ἆσσον ἰόντεςἢ ἔπει ἠὲ βίῃ· ὃ δʼ ἀφήμενος οὐκ ἀλεγίζειοὐδʼ ὄθεται· φησὶν γὰρ ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσικάρτεΐ τε σθένεΐ τε διακριδὸν εἶναι ἄριστος.τὼ ἔχεθʼ ὅττί κεν ὔμμι κακὸν πέμπῃσιν ἑκάστῳ.
Even now I deem that sorrow hath been wrought for Ares, seeing that his son, dearest of men to him, hath perished in battle, even Ascalaphus, whom mighty Ares declareth to be his own.So spake she, but Ares smote his sturdy thighs with the flat of his hands, and with wailing spake, and said:
ἤδη γὰρ νῦν ἔλπομʼ Ἄρηΐ γε πῆμα τετύχθαι·υἱὸς γάρ οἱ ὄλωλε μάχῃ ἔνι φίλτατος ἀνδρῶνἈσκάλαφος, τόν φησιν ὃν ἔμμεναι ὄβριμος Ἄρης.ὣς ἔφατʼ, αὐτὰρ Ἄρης θαλερὼ πεπλήγετο μηρὼχερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·
Count it not blame for me now, O ye that have dwellings on Olympus, if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge the slaying of my son, even though it be my fate to be smitten with the bolt of Zeus, and to lie low in blood and dust amid the dead.So spake he and bade Terror and Rout yoke his horses, and himself did on his gleaming armour. Then would yet greater and more grievous wrath and anger have been stirred between Zeus and the immortals, had not Athene, seized with fear for all the gods, sped forth through the doorway, and left the throne whereon she sat, and taken the helm from the head of Ares and the shield from his shoulders; and she took from his strong hand the spear of bronze, and set it down, and with words rebuked furious Ares:Thou madman, distraught of wit, thou art beside thyself! Verily it is for naught that thou hast ears for hearing, and thine understanding and sense of right are gone from thee.
μὴ νῦν μοι νεμεσήσετʼ Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντεςτίσασθαι φόνον υἷος ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,εἴ πέρ μοι καὶ μοῖρα Διὸς πληγέντι κεραυνῷκεῖσθαι ὁμοῦ νεκύεσσι μεθʼ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν.ὣς φάτο, καί ῥʼ ἵππους κέλετο Δεῖμόν τε Φόβον τεζευγνύμεν, αὐτὸς δʼ ἔντεʼ ἐδύσετο παμφανόωντα.ἔνθά κʼ ἔτι μείζων τε καὶ ἀργαλεώτερος ἄλλοςπὰρ Διὸς ἀθανάτοισι χόλος καὶ μῆνις ἐτύχθη,εἰ μὴ Ἀθήνη πᾶσι περιδείσασα θεοῖσινὦρτο διὲκ προθύρου, λίπε δὲ θρόνον ἔνθα θάασσε,τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ μὲν κεφαλῆς κόρυθʼ εἵλετο καὶ σάκος ὤμων,ἔγχος δʼ ἔστησε στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ἑλοῦσαχάλκεον· ἣ δʼ ἐπέεσσι καθάπτετο θοῦρον Ἄρηα·μαινόμενε φρένας ἠλὲ διέφθορας· ἦ νύ τοι αὔτωςοὔατʼ ἀκουέμεν ἐστί, νόος δʼ ἀπόλωλε καὶ αἰδώς.
Hearest thou not what the goddess, white-armed Hera, saith, she that is but now come from Olympian Zeus? Wouldest thou thyself fulfill the measure of manifold woes, and so return to Olympus despite thy grief, perforce, and for all the rest sow the seeds of grievous woe?
οὐκ ἀΐεις ἅ τέ φησι θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρηἣ δὴ νῦν πὰρ Ζηνὸς Ὀλυμπίου εἰλήλουθεν;ἦ ἐθέλεις αὐτὸς μὲν ἀναπλήσας κακὰ πολλὰἂψ ἴμεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἀνάγκῃ,αὐτὰρ τοῖς ἄλλοισι κακὸν μέγα πᾶσι φυτεῦσαι;
For he will forthwith leave the Trojans, high of heart, and the Achaeans, and will hie him to Olympus to set us all in tumult, and will lay hands upon each in turn, the guilty alike and him in whom is no guilt. Wherefore now I bid thee put away thy wrath for thine own son. For ere now many a one more excellent than he in might and strength of hand hath been slain, or will yet be slain; and a hard thing it is to preserve the lineage and offspring of men.She spake she, and made furious Ares to sit down upon his throne. But Hera called Apollo forth from out the hall, and Iris, that is the messenger of the immortal gods; and she spake and addressed them with winged words:Zeus biddeth you twain go to Ida with all the speed ye may; and when ye have come, and looked upon the face of Zeus, then do ye whatsoever he may order and command.When she had thus spoken queenly Hera returned again and sate her down upon her throne; and the twain sprang up and sped forth upon their way. To many-fountained Ida they came, mother of wild beasts, and found Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, seated on topmost Gargarus; and about him a fragrant cloud was wreathed. The twain then came before the face of Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, and at sight of them his heart waxed nowise wroth, for that they had speedily obeyed the words of his dear wife. And to Iris first he spake winged words:Up, go, swift Iris; unto the lord Poseidon bear thou all these tidings, and see thou tell him true.
αὐτίκα γὰρ Τρῶας μὲν ὑπερθύμους καὶ Ἀχαιοὺςλείψει, ὃ δʼ ἡμέας εἶσι κυδοιμήσων ἐς Ὄλυμπον,μάρψει δʼ ἑξείης ὅς τʼ αἴτιος ὅς τε καὶ οὐκί.τώ σʼ αὖ νῦν κέλομαι μεθέμεν χόλον υἷος ἑῆος·ἤδη γάρ τις τοῦ γε βίην καὶ χεῖρας ἀμείνωνἢ πέφατʼ, ἢ καὶ ἔπειτα πεφήσεται· ἀργαλέον δὲπάντων ἀνθρώπων ῥῦσθαι γενεήν τε τόκον τε.ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἵδρυσε θρόνῳ ἔνι θοῦρον Ἄρηα.Ἥρη δʼ Ἀπόλλωνα καλέσσατο δώματος ἐκτὸςἾρίν θʼ, ἥ τε θεοῖσι μετάγγελος ἀθανάτοισι,καί σφεας φωνήσασʼ ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·Ζεὺς σφὼ εἰς Ἴδην κέλετʼ ἐλθέμεν ὅττι τάχιστα·αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἔλθητε, Διός τʼ εἰς ὦπα ἴδησθε,ἕρδειν ὅττί κε κεῖνος ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἀνώγῃ.ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα πάλιν κίε πότνια Ἥρη,ἕζετο δʼ εἰνὶ θρόνῳ· τὼ δʼ ἀΐξαντε πετέσθην.Ἴδην δʼ ἵκανον πολυπίδακα μητέρα θηρῶν,εὗρον δʼ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἀνὰ Γαργάρῳ ἄκρῳἥμενον· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν θυόεν νέφος ἐστεφάνωτο.τὼ δὲ πάροιθʼ ἐλθόντε Διὸς νεφεληγερέταοστήτην· οὐδέ σφωϊν ἰδὼν ἐχολώσατο θυμῷ,ὅττί οἱ ὦκʼ ἐπέεσσι φίλης ἀλόχοιο πιθέσθην.Ἶριν δὲ προτέρην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, Ποσειδάωνι ἄνακτιπάντα τάδʼ ἀγγεῖλαι, μὴ δὲ ψευδάγγελος εἶναι.
Bid him cease from war and battle, and go to join the tribes of gods, or into the bright sea. And if so be he will not obey my words, but shall set them at naught, let him bethink him then in mind and heart, lest, how strong soever he be, he have no hardihood to abide my on-coming; for I avow me to be better far than he in might, and the elder born. Yet his heart counteth it but a little thing to declare himself the peer of me of whom even the other gods are adread.So spake he, and wind-footed, swift Iris failed not to hearken, but went down from the hills of Ida to sacred Ilios.
παυσάμενόν μιν ἄνωχθι μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιοἔρχεσθαι μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν ἢ εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.εἰ δέ μοι οὐκ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐπιπείσεται, ἀλλʼ ἀλογήσει,φραζέσθω δὴ ἔπειτα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸνμή μʼ οὐδὲ κρατερός περ ἐὼν ἐπιόντα ταλάσσῃμεῖναι, ἐπεί εὑ φημὶ βίῃ πολὺ φέρτερος εἶναικαὶ γενεῇ πρότερος· τοῦ δʼ οὐκ ὄθεται φίλον ἦτορἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις,βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
And as when from the clouds there flieth snow or chill hail, driven by the blast of the North Wind that is born in the bright heaven, even so fleetly sped in her eagerness swift Iris; and she drew nigh, and spake to the glorious Shaker of Earth, saying:A message for thee, O Earth-Enfolder, thou dark-haired god, have I come hither to bring from Zeus, that beareth the aegis. He biddeth thee cease from war and battle, and go to join the tribes of gods, or into the bright sea. And if so be thou wilt not obey his words, but shalt set them at naught, he threateneth that he will himself come hither to set his might against thine in battle; and he biddeth thee avoid thee out of his hands; for he avoweth him to be better far than thou in might, and the elder born. Yet thy heart counteth it but a little thing to declare thyself the peer of him, of whom even the other gods are adread.Then, stirred to hot anger, the glorious Shaker of Earth spake unto her:
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἐκ νεφέων πτῆται νιφὰς ἠὲ χάλαζαψυχρὴ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς αἰθρηγενέος Βορέαο,ὣς κραιπνῶς μεμαυῖα διέπτατο ὠκέα Ἶρις,ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη κλυτὸν ἐννοσίγαιον·ἀγγελίην τινά τοι γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖταἦλθον δεῦρο φέρουσα παραὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.παυσάμενόν σʼ ἐκέλευσε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιοἔρχεσθαι μετὰ φῦλα θεῶν ἢ εἰς ἅλα δῖαν.εἰ δέ οἱ οὐκ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐπιπείσεαι, ἀλλʼ ἀλογήσεις,ἠπείλει καὶ κεῖνος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξωνἐνθάδʼ ἐλεύσεσθαι· σὲ δʼ ὑπεξαλέασθαι ἄνωγεχεῖρας, ἐπεὶ σέο φησὶ βίῃ πολὺ φέρτερος εἶναικαὶ γενεῇ πρότερος· σὸν δʼ οὐκ ὄθεται φίλον ἦτορἶσόν οἱ φάσθαι, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος·
Out upon it, verily strong though he be he hath spoken overweeningly, if in sooth by force and in mine own despite he will restrain me that am of like honour with himself. For three brethren are we, begotten of Cronos, and born of Rhea,—Zeus, and myself, and the third is Hades, that is lord of the dead below. And in three-fold wise are all things divided, and unto each hath been apportioned his own domain.
ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥʼ ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν ὑπέροπλον ἔειπενεἴ μʼ ὁμότιμον ἐόντα βίῃ ἀέκοντα καθέξει.τρεῖς γάρ τʼ ἐκ Κρόνου εἰμὲν ἀδελφεοὶ οὓς τέκετο ῬέαΖεὺς καὶ ἐγώ, τρίτατος δʼ Ἀΐδης ἐνέροισιν ἀνάσσων.τριχθὰ δὲ πάντα δέδασται, ἕκαστος δʼ ἔμμορε τιμῆς·
I verily, when the lots were shaken, won for my portion the grey sea to be my habitation for ever, and Hades won the murky darkness, while Zeus won the broad heaven amid the air and the clouds; but the earth and high Olympus remain yet common to us all. Wherefore will I not in any wise walk after the will of Zeus; nay in quiet let him abide in his third portion, how strong soever he be. And with might of hand let him not seek to affright me, as though I were some coward. His daughters and his sons were it better for him to threaten with blustering words, even them that himself begat, who perforce will hearken to whatsoever he may bid.
ἤτοι ἐγὼν ἔλαχον πολιὴν ἅλα ναιέμεν αἰεὶπαλλομένων, Ἀΐδης δʼ ἔλαχε ζόφον ἠερόεντα,Ζεὺς δʼ ἔλαχʼ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἐν αἰθέρι καὶ νεφέλῃσι·γαῖα δʼ ἔτι ξυνὴ πάντων καὶ μακρὸς Ὄλυμπος.τώ ῥα καὶ οὔ τι Διὸς βέομαι φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ ἕκηλοςκαὶ κρατερός περ ἐὼν μενέτω τριτάτῃ ἐνὶ μοίρῃ.χερσὶ δὲ μή τί με πάγχυ κακὸν ὣς δειδισσέσθω·θυγατέρεσσιν γάρ τε καὶ υἱάσι βέλτερον εἴηἐκπάγλοις ἐπέεσσιν ἐνισσέμεν οὓς τέκεν αὐτός,οἵ ἑθεν ὀτρύνοντος ἀκούσονται καὶ ἀνάγκῃ.
Then wind-footed swift Iris answered him:Is it thus in good sooth, O Earth-Enfolder, thou dark-haired god, that I am to bear to Zeus this message, unyielding and harsh, or wilt thou anywise turn thee; for the hearts of the good may be turned? Thou knowest how the Erinyes ever follow to aid the elder-born.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις·οὕτω γὰρ δή τοι γαιήοχε κυανοχαῖτατόνδε φέρω Διὶ μῦθον ἀπηνέα τε κρατερόν τε,ἦ τι μεταστρέψεις; στρεπταὶ μέν τε φρένες ἐσθλῶν.οἶσθʼ ὡς πρεσβυτέροισιν Ἐρινύες αἰὲν ἕπονται.
Then answered her again Poseidon, the Shaker of Earth:Goddess Iris, this word of thine is right fitly spoken; and a good thing verily is this, when a messenger hath an understanding heart. But herein dread grief cometh upon my heart and soul, whenso any is minded to upbraid with angry words one of like portion with himself, to whom fate hath decreed an equal share. Howbeit for this present will I yield, despite mine indignation; yet another thing will I tell thee, and make this threat in my wrath: if in despite of me, and of Athene, driver of the spoil, and of Hera, and Hermes, and lord Hephaestus, he shall spare steep Ilios, and shall be minded not to lay it waste, neither to give great might to the Argives, let him know this, that between us twain shall be wrath that naught can appease.So saying, the Shaker of Earth left the host of the Achaeans, and fared to the sea and plunged therein; and the Achaean warriors missed him sore.
τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·Ἶρι θεὰ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·ἐσθλὸν καὶ τὸ τέτυκται ὅτʼ ἄγγελος αἴσιμα εἰδῇ.ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνειὁππότʼ ἂν ἰσόμορον καὶ ὁμῇ πεπρωμένον αἴσῃνεικείειν ἐθέλῃσι χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μέν κε νεμεσσηθεὶς ὑποείξω·ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, καὶ ἀπειλήσω τό γε θυμῷ·αἴ κεν ἄνευ ἐμέθεν καὶ Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείηςἭρης Ἑρμείω τε καὶ Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτοςἸλίου αἰπεινῆς πεφιδήσεται, οὐδʼ ἐθελήσειἐκπέρσαι, δοῦναι δὲ μέγα κράτος Ἀργείοισιν,ἴστω τοῦθʼ ὅτι νῶϊν ἀνήκεστος χόλος ἔσται.ὣς εἰπὼν λίπε λαὸν Ἀχαιϊκὸν ἐννοσίγαιος,δῦνε δὲ πόντον ἰών, πόθεσαν δʼ ἥρωες Ἀχαιοί.
Then unto Apollo spake Zeus, the cloud-gatherer:Go now, dear Phoebus, unto Hector, harnessed in bronze, for now is the Enfolder and Shaker of Earth gone into the bright sea, avoiding our utter wrath; else verily had others too heard of our strife, even the gods that are in the world below with Cronos. But this was better for both, for me and for his own self, that ere then he yielded to my hands despite his wrath, for not without sweat would the issue have been wrought. But do thou take in thine hands the tasselled aegis, and shake it fiercely over the Achaean warriors to affright them withal. And for thine own self, thou god that smitest afar, let glorious Hector be thy care, and for this time's space rouse in him great might, even until the Achaeans shall come in flight unto their ships and the Hellespont. From that moment will I myself contrive word and deed, to the end that yet again the Achaeans may have respite from their toil.So spake he, nor was Apollo disobedient to his father s bidding, but went down from the hills of Ida, like a fleet falcon, the slayer of doves, that is the swiftest of winged things. He found the son of wise-hearted Priam, even goodly Hector, sitting up, for he lay no longer, and he was but newly gathering back his spirit, and knew his comrades round about him, and his gasping and his sweat had ceased, for the will of Zeus, that beareth the aegis, revived him. And Apollo, that worketh afar, drew nigh unto him, and said:Hector, son of Priam, why is it that thou apart from the rest abidest here fainting? Is it haply that some trouble is come upon thee?Then, his strength all spent, spake to him Hector of the flashing helm:Who of the gods art thou, mightiest one, that dost make question of me face to face? Knowest thou not that at the sterns of the Achaeans' ships as I made havoc of his comrades, Aias, good at the war-cry, smote me on the breast with a stone, and made me cease from my furious might? Aye, and I deemed that on this day I should behold the dead and the house of Hades, when I had gasped forth my life.Then spake to him again the lord Apollo, that worketh afar:Be now of good cheer, so mighty a helper hath the son of Cronos sent forth from Ida to stand by thy side and succour thee, even me, Phoebus Apollo of the golden sword, that of old ever protect thee, thyself and the steep citadel withal. But come now, bid thy many charioteers drive against the hollow ships their swift horses, and I will go before and make smooth all the way for the chariots, and will turn in flight the Achaean warriors.So saying, he breathed great might into the shepherd of the host. And even as when a stalled horse that has fed his fill at the manger, breaketh his halter, and runneth stamping over the plain— being wont to bathe him in the fair-flowing river—and exulteth; on high doth he hold his head and about his shoulders his mane floateth streaming, and as he glorieth in his splendour his knees nimbly bear him to the haunts and pastures of mares; even so swiftly plied Hector his feet and knees,
καὶ τότʼ Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·ἔρχεο νῦν φίλε Φοῖβε μεθʼ Ἕκτορα χαλκοκορυστήν·ἤδη μὲν γάρ τοι γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιοςοἴχεται εἰς ἅλα δῖαν ἀλευάμενος χόλον αἰπὺνἡμέτερον· μάλα γάρ κε μάχης ἐπύθοντο καὶ ἄλλοι,οἵ περ ἐνέρτεροί εἰσι θεοὶ Κρόνον ἀμφὶς ἐόντες.ἀλλὰ τόδʼ ἠμὲν ἐμοὶ πολὺ κέρδιον ἠδέ οἱ αὐτῷἔπλετο, ὅττι πάροιθε νεμεσσηθεὶς ὑπόειξεχεῖρας ἐμάς, ἐπεὶ οὔ κεν ἀνιδρωτί γʼ ἐτελέσθη.ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ ἐν χείρεσσι λάβʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν,τῇ μάλʼ ἐπισσείων φοβέειν ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς·σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ μελέτω ἑκατηβόλε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·τόφρα γὰρ οὖν οἱ ἔγειρε μένος μέγα, ὄφρʼ ἂν Ἀχαιοὶφεύγοντες νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκωνται.κεῖθεν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ φράσομαι ἔργον τε ἔπος τε,ὥς κε καὶ αὖτις Ἀχαιοὶ ἀναπνεύσωσι πόνοιο.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ἀνηκούστησεν Ἀπόλλων,βῆ δὲ κατʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἴρηκι ἐοικὼςὠκέϊ φασσοφόνῳ, ὅς τʼ ὤκιστος πετεηνῶν.εὗρʼ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο δαΐφρονος Ἕκτορα δῖονἥμενον, οὐδʼ ἔτι κεῖτο, νέον δʼ ἐσαγείρετο θυμόν,ἀμφὶ ἓ γιγνώσκων ἑτάρους· ἀτὰρ ἆσθμα καὶ ἱδρὼςπαύετʼ, ἐπεί μιν ἔγειρε Διὸς νόος αἰγιόχοιο.ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο, τί ἢ δὲ σὺ νόσφιν ἀπʼ ἄλλωνἧσʼ ὀλιγηπελέων; ἦ πού τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει;τὸν δʼ ὀλιγοδρανέων προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι φέριστε θεῶν ὅς μʼ εἴρεαι ἄντην;οὐκ ἀΐεις ὅ με νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσιν Ἀχαιῶνοὓς ἑτάρους ὀλέκοντα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς βάλεν Αἴαςχερμαδίῳ πρὸς στῆθος, ἔπαυσε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς;καὶ δὴ ἔγωγʼ ἐφάμην νέκυας καὶ δῶμʼ Ἀΐδαοἤματι τῷδʼ ἵξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ φίλον ἄϊον ἦτορ.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·θάρσει νῦν· τοῖόν τοι ἀοσσητῆρα Κρονίωνἐξ Ἴδης προέηκε παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνεινΦοῖβον Ἀπόλλωνα χρυσάορον, ὅς σε πάρος περῥύομʼ, ὁμῶς αὐτόν τε καὶ αἰπεινὸν πτολίεθρον.ἀλλʼ ἄγε νῦν ἱππεῦσιν ἐπότρυνον πολέεσσινηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐλαυνέμεν ὠκέας ἵππους·αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ προπάροιθε κιὼν ἵπποισι κέλευθονπᾶσαν λειανέω, τρέψω δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.ὣς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα ποιμένι λαῶν.ὡς δʼ ὅτε τις στατὸς ἵππος ἀκοστήσας ἐπὶ φάτνῃδεσμὸν ἀπορρήξας θείῃ πεδίοιο κροαίνωνεἰωθὼς λούεσθαι ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖοκυδιόων· ὑψοῦ δὲ κάρη ἔχει, ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖταιὤμοις ἀΐσσονται· ὃ δʼ ἀγλαΐηφι πεποιθὼςῥίμφά ἑ γοῦνα φέρει μετά τʼ ἤθεα καὶ νομὸν ἵππων·ὣς Ἕκτωρ λαιψηρὰ πόδας καὶ γούνατʼ ἐνώμα
urging on his charioteers, when he had heard the voice of the god. But as when dogs and country-folk pursue a horned stag or a wild goat, but a sheer rock or a shadowy thicket saveth him from them, nor is it their lot to find him;
ὀτρύνων ἱππῆας, ἐπεὶ θεοῦ ἔκλυεν αὐδήν.οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ ἢ ἔλαφον κεραὸν ἢ ἄγριον αἶγαἐσσεύαντο κύνες τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἀγροιῶται·τὸν μέν τʼ ἠλίβατος πέτρη καὶ δάσκιος ὕληεἰρύσατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα τέ σφι κιχήμεναι αἴσιμον ἦεν·
and then at their clamour a bearded lion showeth himself in the way, and forthwith turneth them all back despite their eagerness: even so the Danaans for a time ever followed on in throngs, thrusting with swords and two-edged spears, but when they saw Hector going up and down the ranks of men, then were they seized with fear, and the spirits of all men sank down to their feet. Then among them spake Thoas, son of Andraemon, far the best of the Aetolians, well-skilled in throwing the javelin, but a good man too in close fight, and in the place of assembly could but few of the Achaeans surpass him, when the young men were striving in debate.
τῶν δέ θʼ ὑπὸ ἰαχῆς ἐφάνη λὶς ἠϋγένειοςεἰς ὁδόν, αἶψα δὲ πάντας ἀπέτραπε καὶ μεμαῶτας·ὣς Δαναοὶ εἷος μὲν ὁμιλαδὸν αἰὲν ἕποντονύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν·αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ἴδον Ἕκτορʼ ἐποιχόμενον στίχας ἀνδρῶντάρβησαν, πᾶσιν δὲ παραὶ ποσὶ κάππεσε θυμός.τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀγόρευε Θόας Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,Αἰτωλῶν ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐπιστάμενος μὲν ἄκοντιἐσθλὸς δʼ ἐν σταδίῃ· ἀγορῇ δέ ἑ παῦροι Ἀχαιῶννίκων, ὁππότε κοῦροι ἐρίσσειαν περὶ μύθων·
He with good intent addressed their gathering, and spake among them:Now look you, verily a great marvel is this that mine eyes behold, how that now he is risen again and hath avoided the fates, even Hector. In sooth the heart of each man of us hoped that he had died beneath the hands of Aias, son of Telamon.
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι,οἷον δʼ αὖτʼ ἐξαῦτις ἀνέστη κῆρας ἀλύξαςἝκτωρ· ἦ θήν μιν μάλα ἔλπετο θυμὸς ἑκάστουχερσὶν ὑπʼ Αἴαντος θανέειν Τελαμωνιάδαο.
But lo, some one of the gods hath again delivered and saved Hector, who verily hath loosed the knees of many Danaans, as, I deem, will befall even now, since not without the will of loud-thundering Zeus doth he stand forth thus eagerly as a champion. Nay come, even as I shall bid, let us all obey.
ἀλλά τις αὖτε θεῶν ἐρρύσατο καὶ ἐσάωσενἝκτορʼ, ὃ δὴ πολλῶν Δαναῶν ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν,ὡς καὶ νῦν ἔσσεσθαι ὀΐομαι· οὐ γὰρ ἄτερ γεΖηνὸς ἐριγδούπου πρόμος ἵσταται ὧδε μενοινῶν.ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼν εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες.
The multitude let us bid return to the ships, but ourselves, all we that declare us to be the the best in the host, let us take our stand, if so be we first may face him, and thrust him back with our outstretched spears; methinks, for all his eagerness he will fear at heart to enter into the throng of the Danaans.
πληθὺν μὲν ποτὶ νῆας ἀνώξομεν ἀπονέεσθαι·αὐτοὶ δʼ, ὅσσοι ἄριστοι ἐνὶ στρατῷ εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι,στήομεν, εἴ κεν πρῶτον ἐρύξομεν ἀντιάσαντεςδούρατʼ ἀνασχόμενοι· τὸν δʼ οἴω καὶ μεμαῶταθυμῷ δείσεσθαι Δαναῶν καταδῦναι ὅμιλον.
So spake he, and they readily hearkened and obeyed. They that were in the company of Aias and prince Idomeneus, and Teucer, and Meriones, and Meges, the peer of Ares, called to the chieftains, and marshalled the fight, fronting Hector and the Trojans, but behind them the multitude fared back to the ships of the Achaeans. Then the Trojans drave forward in close throng, and Hector led them, advancing with long strides, while before him went Phoebus Apollo, his shoulders wrapped in cloud, bearing the fell aegis, girt with shaggy fringe, awful, gleaming bright, that the smith Hephaestus gave to Zeus to bear for the putting to rout of warriors; this Apollo bare in his hands as he led on the host. And the Argives in close throng abode their coming, and the war-cry rose shrill from either side, and the arrows leapt from the bow-string, and many spears, hurled by bold hands, were some of them lodged in the flesh of youths swift in battle, and many of them, or ever they reached the white flesh, stood fixed midway in the earth, fain to glut themselves with flesh. Now so long as Phoebus Apollo held the aegis moveless in his hands, even so long the missiles of either side reached their mark and the folk kept falling;
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο·οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἀμφʼ Αἴαντα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακταΤεῦκρον Μηριόνην τε Μέγην τʼ ἀτάλαντον Ἄρηϊὑσμίνην ἤρτυνον ἀριστῆας καλέσαντεςἝκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσιν ἐναντίον· αὐτὰρ ὀπίσσωἣ πληθὺς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν ἀπονέοντο.Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ ἄρʼ Ἕκτωρμακρὰ βιβάς· πρόσθεν δὲ κίʼ αὐτοῦ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωνεἱμένος ὤμοιιν νεφέλην, ἔχε δʼ αἰγίδα θοῦρινδεινὴν ἀμφιδάσειαν ἀριπρεπέʼ, ἣν ἄρα χαλκεὺςἭφαιστος Διὶ δῶκε φορήμεναι ἐς φόβον ἀνδρῶν·τὴν ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων ἡγήσατο λαῶν.Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ὑπέμειναν ἀολλέες, ὦρτο δʼ ἀϋτὴὀξεῖʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν, ἀπὸ νευρῆφι δʼ ὀϊστοὶθρῷσκον· πολλὰ δὲ δοῦρα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶνἄλλα μὲν ἐν χροῒ πήγνυτʼ ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν,πολλὰ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγὺ πάρος χρόα λευκὸν ἐπαυρεῖνἐν γαίῃ ἵσταντο λιλαιόμενα χροὸς ἆσαι.ὄφρα μὲν αἰγίδα χερσὶν ἔχʼ ἀτρέμα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός.
but when he looked full in the faces of the Danaans of swift horses, and shook the aegis, and himself shouted mightily withal, then made he their hearts to faint within their breasts, and they forgat their furious might. And as when two wild beasts drive in confusion a herd of kine or a great flock of sheep in the darkness of black night, when they have come upon them suddenly, and a herdsman is not by, even so were the Achaeans driven in rout with no might in them; for upon them Apollo had sent panic, and unto the Trojans and Hector was he giving glory. Then man slew man as the fight was scattered. Hector laid low Stichius and Arcesilaus, the one a leader of the brazen-coated Boeotians, and the other a trusty comrade of great-souled Menestheus; and Aeneas slew Medon and Iasus. The one verily, Medon, was a bastard son of godlike Oïleus, and brother of Aias, but he dwelt in Phylace far from his native land, for that he had slain a man of the kin of his stepmother, Eriopis that Oïleus had to wife; and Iasus was a captain of the Athenians, and was called the son of Sphelus, son of Bucolus. And Mecisteus did Polydamas slay, and Polites slew Echius in the forefront of the fight, and Clonius was slain of goodly Agenor. And Deïochus did Paris smite from behind, as he fled amid the foremost fighters, upon the base of the shoulder, and drave the bronze clean through. While they were stripping the armour from these, meanwhile the Achaeans were flinging themselves into the digged trench and against the palisade, fleeing this way and that, and were getting them within their wall perforce. And Hector shouted aloud, and called to the Trojans:Speed ye against the ships, and let be the blood-stained spoils. Whomsoever I shall mark holding aloof from the ships on the further side, on the very spot shall I devise his death, nor shall his kinsmen and kinswomen give him his due meed of fire in death, but the dogs shall rend him in front of our city.So saying, with a downward sweep of his arm he smote his horses with the lash, and called aloud to the Trojans along the ranks; and they all raised a shout, and even with him drave the steeds that drew their chariots, with a wondrous din; and before them Phoebus Apollo lightly dashed down with his feet the banks of the deep trench, and cast them into the midst thereof, bridging for the men a pathway long and broad, even as far as a spear-cast, when a man hurleth, making trial of his strength.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατʼ ἐνῶπα ἰδὼν Δαναῶν ταχυπώλωνσεῖσʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ αὐτὸς ἄϋσε μάλα μέγα, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸνἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθελξε, λάθοντο δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.οἳ δʼ ὥς τʼ ἠὲ βοῶν ἀγέλην ἢ πῶϋ μέγʼ οἰῶνθῆρε δύω κλονέωσι μελαίνης νυκτὸς ἀμολγῷἐλθόντʼ ἐξαπίνης σημάντορος οὐ παρεόντος,ὣς ἐφόβηθεν Ἀχαιοὶ ἀνάλκιδες· ἐν γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνἧκε φόβον, Τρωσὶν δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὄπαζεν.ἔνθα δʼ ἀνὴρ ἕλεν ἄνδρα κεδασθείσης ὑσμίνης.Ἕκτωρ μὲν Στιχίον τε καὶ Ἀρκεσίλαον ἔπεφνε,τὸν μὲν Βοιωτῶν ἡγήτορα χαλκοχιτώνων,τὸν δὲ Μενεσθῆος μεγαθύμου πιστὸν ἑταῖρον·Αἰνείας δὲ Μέδοντα καὶ Ἴασον ἐξενάριξεν.ἤτοι ὃ μὲν νόθος υἱὸς Ὀϊλῆος θείοιοἔσκε Μέδων Αἴαντος ἀδελφεός· αὐτὰρ ἔναιενἐν Φυλάκῃ γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος ἄνδρα κατακτὰςγνωτὸν μητρυιῆς Ἐριώπιδος, ἣν ἔχʼ Ὀϊλεύς·Ἴασος αὖτʼ ἀρχὸς μὲν Ἀθηναίων ἐτέτυκτο,υἱὸς δὲ Σφήλοιο καλέσκετο Βουκολίδαο.Μηκιστῆ δʼ ἕλε Πουλυδάμας, Ἐχίον δὲ Πολίτηςπρώτῃ ἐν ὑσμίνῃ, Κλονίον δʼ ἕλε δῖος Ἀγήνωρ.Δηΐοχον δὲ Πάρις βάλε νείατον ὦμον ὄπισθεφεύγοντʼ ἐν προμάχοισι, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν.ὄφρʼ οἳ τοὺς ἐνάριζον ἀπʼ ἔντεα, τόφρα δʼ Ἀχαιοὶτάφρῳ καὶ σκολόπεσσιν ἐνιπλήξαντες ὀρυκτῇἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα φέβοντο, δύοντο δὲ τεῖχος ἀνάγκῃ.Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσαςνηυσὶν ἐπισσεύεσθαι, ἐᾶν δʼ ἔναρα βροτόεντα·ὃν δʼ ἂν ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε νεῶν ἑτέρωθι νοήσω,αὐτοῦ οἱ θάνατον μητίσομαι, οὐδέ νυ τόν γεγνωτοί τε γνωταί τε πυρὸς λελάχωσι θανόντα,ἀλλὰ κύνες ἐρύουσι πρὸ ἄστεος ἡμετέροιο.ὣς εἰπὼν μάστιγι κατωμαδὸν ἤλασεν ἵππουςκεκλόμενος Τρώεσσι κατὰ στίχας· οἳ δὲ σὺν αὐτῷπάντες ὁμοκλήσαντες ἔχον ἐρυσάρματας ἵππουςἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ· προπάροιθε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωνῥεῖʼ ὄχθας καπέτοιο βαθείης ποσσὶν ἐρείπωνἐς μέσσον κατέβαλλε, γεφύρωσεν δὲ κέλευθονμακρὴν ἠδʼ εὐρεῖαν, ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ δουρὸς ἐρωὴγίγνεται, ὁππότʼ ἀνὴρ σθένεος πειρώμενος ᾗσι.
Therethrough they poured forward rank on rank, and before them went Apollo, bearing the priceless aegis. And full easily did he cast down the wall of the Achaeans, even as when a boy scattereth the sand by the sea, one that makes of it a plaything in his childishness, and then again confounds it with hands and feet as he maketh sport:
τῇ ῥʼ οἵ γε προχέοντο φαλαγγηδόν, πρὸ δʼ Ἀπόλλωναἰγίδʼ ἔχων ἐρίτιμον· ἔρειπε δὲ τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶνῥεῖα μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τις ψάμαθον πάϊς ἄγχι θαλάσσης,ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ποιήσῃ ἀθύρματα νηπιέῃσινἂψ αὖτις συνέχευε ποσὶν καὶ χερσὶν ἀθύρων.
so lightly didst thou, O archer Phoebus, confound the long toil and labour of the Achaeans, and on themselves send rout. So then beside their ships the Danaans halted, and were stayed, calling one upon the other, and lifting up their hands to all the gods they made fervent prayer, each man of them;
ὥς ῥα σὺ ἤϊε Φοῖβε πολὺν κάματον καὶ ὀϊζὺνσύγχεας Ἀργείων, αὐτοῖσι δὲ φύζαν ἐνῶρσας.ὣς οἳ μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες,ἀλλήλοισί τε κεκλόμενοι καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσιχεῖρας ἀνίσχοντες μεγάλʼ εὐχετόωντο ἕκαστος·
and most of all prayed Nestor of Gerenia, the warder of the Achaeans, stretching forth his two hands to the starry heaven:O father Zeus, if ever any man of us in wheat-bearing Argos burned to thee fat thigh-pieces of bull or of ram with the prayer that he might return, and thou didst promise and nod thy head thereto, be thou now mindful of these things, and ward from us, O Olympian god, the pitiless day of doom, nor suffer the Achaeans thus to be vanquished by the Trojans.So he spake in prayer, and Zeus the counsellor thundered aloud, hearing the prayer of the aged son of Neleus. But the Trojans, when they heard the thunder of Zeus that beareth the aegis, leapt yet the more upon the Argives and bethought them of battle. And as when a great billow of the broad-wayed sea sweepeth down over the bulwarks of a ship, whenso it is driven on by the might of the wind, which above all maketh the waves to swell; even so did the Trojans with a great cry rush down over the wall, — they in their cars, but the Achaeans high up on the decks of their black ships to which they had climbed, fought therefrom with long pikes that lay at hand for them upon the ships for sea-fighting,— jointed pikes, shod at the tip with bronze.
Νέστωρ αὖτε μάλιστα Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶνεὔχετο χεῖρʼ ὀρέγων εἰς οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα·Ζεῦ πάτερ εἴ ποτέ τίς τοι ἐν Ἄργεΐ περ πολυπύρῳἢ βοὸς ἢ οἰὸς κατὰ πίονα μηρία καίωνεὔχετο νοστῆσαι, σὺ δʼ ὑπέσχεο καὶ κατένευσας,τῶν μνῆσαι καὶ ἄμυνον Ὀλύμπιε νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,μηδʼ οὕτω Τρώεσσιν ἔα δάμνασθαι Ἀχαιούς.ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, μέγα δʼ ἔκτυπε μητίετα Ζεύς,ἀράων ἀΐων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος.Τρῶες δʼ ὡς ἐπύθοντο Διὸς κτύπον αἰγιόχοιο,μᾶλλον ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισι θόρον, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.οἳ δʼ ὥς τε μέγα κῦμα θαλάσσης εὐρυπόροιονηὸς ὑπὲρ τοίχων καταβήσεται, ὁππότʼ ἐπείγῃἲς ἀνέμου· ἣ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε κύματʼ ὀφέλλει·ὣς Τρῶες μεγάλῃ ἰαχῇ κατὰ τεῖχος ἔβαινον,ἵππους δʼ εἰσελάσαντες ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσι μάχοντοἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοις αὐτοσχεδόν, οἳ μὲν ἀφʼ ἵππων,οἳ δʼ ἀπὸ νηῶν ὕψι μελαινάων ἐπιβάντεςμακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι, τά ῥά σφʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἔκειτοναύμαχα κολλήεντα, κατὰ στόμα εἱμένα χαλκῷ.