And Patroclus, so long as the Achaeans and Trojans were fighting about the wall aloof from the swift ships, even so long sat in the hut of kindly Eurypylus, and was making him glad with talk, and on his grievous wound was spreading simples to assuage his dark pangs.
Πάτροκλος δʼ εἷος μὲν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τετείχεος ἀμφεμάχοντο θοάων ἔκτοθι νηῶν,τόφρʼ ὅ γʼ ἐνὶ κλισίῃ ἀγαπήνορος Εὐρυπύλοιοἧστό τε καὶ τὸν ἔτερπε λόγοις, ἐπὶ δʼ ἕλκεϊ λυγρῷφάρμακʼ ἀκέσματʼ ἔπασσε μελαινάων ὀδυνάων.
But when he saw the Trojans rushing upon the wall, while the Danaans with loud cries turned in flight, then he uttered a groan, and smote his two thighs with the flat of his hands, and with wailing spake, saying:Eurypylus, in no wise may I abide longer with thee here, albeit thy need is sore; for lo, a mighty struggle hath arisen. Nay, as for thee, let thy squire bring thee comfort, but I will hasten to Achilles, that I may urge him on to do battle. Who knows but that, heaven helping, I may rouse his spirit with my persuading? A good thing is the persuasion of a comrade.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῖχος ἐπεσσυμένους ἐνόησεΤρῶας, ἀτὰρ Δαναῶν γένετο ἰαχή τε φόβος τε,ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα καὶ ὣ πεπλήγετο μηρὼχερσὶ καταπρηνέσσʼ, ὀλοφυρόμενος δʼ ἔπος ηὔδα·Εὐρύπυλʼ οὐκ ἔτι τοι δύναμαι χατέοντί περʼ ἔμπηςἐνθάδε παρμενέμεν· δὴ γὰρ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν·ἀλλὰ σὲ μὲν θεράπων ποτιτερπέτω, αὐτὰρ ἔγωγεσπεύσομαι εἰς Ἀχιλῆα, ἵνʼ ὀτρύνω πολεμίζειν.τίς δʼ οἶδʼ εἴ κέν οἱ σὺν δαίμονι θυμὸν ὀρίνωπαρειπών; ἀγαθὴ δὲ παραίφασίς ἐστιν ἑταίρου.
When he had thus spoken his feet bare him on; but the Achaeans firmly abode the oncoming of the Trojans, yet availed not to thrust them back from the ships, albeit they were fewer, nor ever could the Trojans break the battalions of the Danaans and make way into the midst of the huts and the ships.
τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰπόντα πόδες φέρον· αὐτὰρ ἈχαιοὶΤρῶας ἐπερχομένους μένον ἔμπεδον, οὐδʼ ἐδύναντοπαυροτέρους περ ἐόντας ἀπώσασθαι παρὰ νηῶν·οὐδέ ποτε Τρῶες Δαναῶν ἐδύναντο φάλαγγαςῥηξάμενοι κλισίῃσι μιγήμεναι ἠδὲ νέεσσιν.
But as the carpenter's line maketh straight a ship's timber in the hands of a cunning workman, that is well skilled in all manner of craft by the promptings of Athene, so evenly was strained their war and battle. So fought they on, divers of them about divers ships, but Hector made straight for glorious Aias. They twain were labouring in the toil of war about the same ship, nor might the one drive back the other and burn the ship with fire, nor the other thrust him in back, now that a god had brought him nigh. Then did glorious Aias cast his spear and smite upon the breast Caletor, son of Clytius, as he was bearing fire against the ship; and he fell with a thud, and the torch dropped from out his hand. But Hector, when his eyes beheld his cousin fallen in the dust in front of the black ship, called to the Trojans and Lycians with a loud shout:
ἀλλʼ ὥς τε στάθμη δόρυ νήϊον ἐξιθύνειτέκτονος ἐν παλάμῃσι δαήμονος, ὅς ῥά τε πάσηςεὖ εἰδῇ σοφίης ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,ὣς μὲν τῶν ἐπὶ ἶσα μάχη τέτατο πτόλεμός τε·ἄλλοι δʼ ἀμφʼ ἄλλῃσι μάχην ἐμάχοντο νέεσσιν,Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἄντʼ Αἴαντος ἐείσατο κυδαλίμοιο.τὼ δὲ μιῆς περὶ νηὸς ἔχον πόνον, οὐδὲ δύναντοοὔθʼ ὃ τὸν ἐξελάσαι καὶ ἐνιπρῆσαι πυρὶ νῆαοὔθʼ ὃ τὸν ἂψ ὤσασθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπέλασσέ γε δαίμων.ἔνθʼ υἷα Κλυτίοιο Καλήτορα φαίδιμος Αἴαςπῦρ ἐς νῆα φέροντα κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί.δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δαλὸς δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς ἐνόησεν ἀνεψιὸν ὀφθαλμοῖσινἐν κονίῃσι πεσόντα νεὸς προπάροιθε μελαίνης,Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
Ye Trojans and Lycians and Dardanians that fight in close combat, in no wise give ye ground from battle in this strait: nay, save ye the son of Clytius, lest so be the Achaeans strip him of his armour, now that he is fallen amid the gathering of the ships.So saying, he hurled at Aias with his bright spear;
Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶμὴ δή πω χάζεσθε μάχης ἐν στείνεϊ τῷδε,ἀλλʼ υἷα Κλυτίοιο σαώσατε, μή μιν Ἀχαιοὶτεύχεα συλήσωσι νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι πεσόντα.ὣς εἰπὼν Αἴαντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.
him he missed, but Lycophron, Mastor's son, a squire of Aias from Cythera, who dwelt with him, for that he had slain a man in sacred Cythera—him Hector smote upon the head above the ear with the sharp bronze, even as he stood near Aias, and backward in the dust he fell to the ground from off the stern of the ship and his limbs were loosed. And Aias shuddered, and spake unto his brother:Good Teucer, verily a true comrade of us twain hath been laid low, even the son of Mastor, whom while he abode with us, being come from Cythera, we honoured in our halls even as our own parents.
τοῦ μὲν ἅμαρθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἔπειτα Λυκόφρονα Μάστορος υἱὸνΑἴαντος θεράποντα Κυθήριον, ὅς ῥα παρʼ αὐτῷναῖʼ, ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα κατέκτα Κυθήροισι ζαθέοισι,τόν ῥʼ ἔβαλεν κεφαλὴν ὑπὲρ οὔατος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷἑσταότʼ ἄγχʼ Αἴαντος· ὃ δʼ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσινηὸς ἄπο πρυμνῆς χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.Αἴας δʼ ἐρρίγησε, κασίγνητον δὲ προσηύδα·Τεῦκρε πέπον δὴ νῶϊν ἀπέκτατο πιστὸς ἑταῖροςΜαστορίδης, ὃν νῶϊ Κυθηρόθεν ἔνδον ἐόνταἶσα φίλοισι τοκεῦσιν ἐτίομεν ἐν μεγάροισι·
Him hath great-souled Hector slain. Where now are thy arrows that bring swift death, and the bow that Phoebus Apollos gave thee?So spake he, and the other hearkened, and ran, and took his stand close beside him, bearing in his hand his bent-back bow and the quiver that held his arrows; and full swiftly did he let fly his shafts upon the Trojans.
τὸν δʼ Ἕκτωρ μεγάθυμος ἀπέκτανε. ποῦ νύ τοι ἰοὶὠκύμοροι καὶ τόξον ὅ τοι πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων;ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε, θέων δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρέστη,τόξον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παλίντονον ἠδὲ φαρέτρηνἰοδόκον· μάλα δʼ ὦκα βέλεα Τρώεσσιν ἐφίει.
And he smote Cleitus, the glorious son of Peisenor, comrade of Polydamas, the lordly son of Panthous, even as he was holding the reins in his hand, and was busied with his horses; for thither was he driving them, where the most battalions were being driven in rout, thus doing pleasure unto Hector and the Trojans. But full swiftly upon himself came evil that not one of them could ward off, how fain soever they were. For upon the back of his neck lighted the arrow fraught with groanings, and he fell from the chariot, and thereat the horses swerved aside, rattling the empty car. And the prince Polydamas swiftly marked it, and was first to stride toward the horses.
καί ῥʼ ἔβαλε Κλεῖτον Πεισήνορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸνΠουλυδάμαντος ἑταῖρον ἀγαυοῦ Πανθοΐδαοἡνία χερσὶν ἔχοντα· ὃ μὲν πεπόνητο καθʼ ἵππους·τῇ γὰρ ἔχʼ ᾗ ῥα πολὺ πλεῖσται κλονέοντο φάλαγγεςἝκτορι καὶ Τρώεσσι χαριζόμενος· τάχα δʼ αὐτῷἦλθε κακόν, τό οἱ οὔ τις ἐρύκακεν ἱεμένων περ.αὐχένι γάρ οἱ ὄπισθε πολύστονος ἔμπεσεν ἰός·ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποικείνʼ ὄχεα κροτέοντες. ἄναξ δʼ ἐνόησε τάχισταΠουλυδάμας, καὶ πρῶτος ἐναντίος ἤλυθεν ἵππων.
These he gave to Astynous, son of Protiaon, and straitly enjoined him to hold them near at hand, watching him the while; and he himself went back and mingled with the foremost fighters. Then Teucer drew forth another arrow for Hector, harnessed in bronze, and would have made him cease from battle by the ships of the Achaeans, had he but smitten him while he was showing his prowess and taken away his life. But he was not unmarked of the wise mind of Zeus, who guarded Hector, and took the glory from Teucer, son of Telamon. For Zeus brake the well-twisted string upon the goodly bow, even as he was drawing it against Hector, and his arrow heavy with bronze was turned aside, and the bow fell from his hand. Then Teucer shuddered, and spake to his brother:Now look you, in good sooth a god is utterly bringing to naught the counsels of our battle, in that he hath cast the bow from my hand, and hath broken the newly-twisted string that I bound fast this morning that it might avail to bear the arrows that should leap thick and fast therefrom.Then great Telamonian Aias answered him:Aye, friend, but leave thou thy bow and thy many arrows to lie where they are, seeing that a god has confounded them, in malice toward the Danaans; but take thou in thy hand a long spear and a shield upon thy shoulder, and do battle with the Trojans, and urge on the rest of the folk. Verily not without a struggle, for all they have overpowered us, shall they take our well-benched ships; nay, let us bethink us of battle.So spake he, and Teucer laid the bow again within the hut, but about his shoulders put a fourfold shield, and upon his mighty head set a well-wrought helmet with horse-hair crest; and terribly did the plume nod from above; and he took a valorous spear, tipped with sharp bronze, and went his way, and swiftly ran and took his stand by the side of Aias. But when Hector saw that Teucer's shafts had been brought to naught, 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 amid the hollow ships; for verily mine eyes have seen how Zeus hath brought to naught the shafts of a man that is a chieftain.
τοὺς μὲν ὅ γʼ Ἀστυνόῳ Προτιάονος υἱέϊ δῶκε,πολλὰ δʼ ἐπότρυνε σχεδὸν ἴσχειν εἰσορόωνταἵππους· αὐτὸς δʼ αὖτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη.Τεῦκρος δʼ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἐφʼ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇαἴνυτο, καί κεν ἔπαυσε μάχης ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν,εἴ μιν ἀριστεύοντα βαλὼν ἐξείλετο θυμόν.ἀλλʼ οὐ λῆθε Διὸς πυκινὸν νόον, ὅς ῥʼ ἐφύλασσενἝκτορʼ, ἀτὰρ Τεῦκρον Τελαμώνιον εὖχος ἀπηύρα,ὅς οἱ ἐϋστρεφέα νευρὴν ἐν ἀμύμονι τόξῳῥῆξʼ ἐπὶ τῷ ἐρύοντι· παρεπλάγχθη δέ οἱ ἄλλῃἰὸς χαλκοβαρής, τόξον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.Τεῦκρος δʼ ἐρρίγησε, κασίγνητον δὲ προσηύδα·ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ πάγχυ μάχης ἐπὶ μήδεα κείρειδαίμων ἡμετέρης, ὅ τέ μοι βιὸν ἔκβαλε χειρός,νευρὴν δʼ ἐξέρρηξε νεόστροφον, ἣν ἐνέδησαπρώϊον, ὄφρʼ ἀνέχοιτο θαμὰ θρῴσκοντας ὀϊστούς.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·ὦ πέπον ἀλλὰ βιὸν μὲν ἔα καὶ ταρφέας ἰοὺςκεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ συνέχευε θεὸς Δαναοῖσι μεγήρας·αὐτὰρ χερσὶν ἑλὼν δολιχὸν δόρυ καὶ σάκος ὤμῳμάρναό τε Τρώεσσι καὶ ἄλλους ὄρνυθι λαούς.μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε δαμασσάμενοί περ ἕλοιεννῆας ἐϋσσέλμους, ἀλλὰ μνησώμεθα χάρμης.ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ τόξον μὲν ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἔθηκεν,αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι σάκος θέτο τετραθέλυμνον,κρατὶ δʼ ἐπʼ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκενἵππουριν, δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·εἵλετο δʼ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,βῆ δʼ ἰέναι, μάλα δʼ ὦκα θέων Αἴαντι παρέστη.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὡς εἶδεν Τεύκρου βλαφθέντα βέλεμνα,Τρωσί τε καὶ Λυκίοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆςνῆας ἀνὰ γλαφυράς· δὴ γὰρ ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσινἀνδρὸς ἀριστῆος Διόθεν βλαφθέντα βέλεμνα.
Full easy to discern is the aid Zeus giveth to men, both to whomso he vouchsafeth the glory of victory, and whomso again he minisheth, and hath no mind to aid, even as now he minisheth the might of the Argives, and beareth aid to us. Nay, fight ye at the ships in close throngs, and if so be any of you, smitten by dart or thrust, shall meet death and fate, let him lie in death. No unseemly thing is it for him to die while fighting for his country. Nay, but his wife is safe and his children after him, and his house and his portion of land are unharmed, if but the Achaeans be gone with their ships to their dear native land.
ῥεῖα δʼ ἀρίγνωτος Διὸς ἀνδράσι γίγνεται ἀλκή,ἠμὲν ὁτέοισιν κῦδος ὑπέρτερον ἐγγυαλίξῃ,ἠδʼ ὅτινας μινύθῃ τε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλῃσιν ἀμύνειν,ὡς νῦν Ἀργείων μινύθει μένος, ἄμμι δʼ ἀρήγει.ἀλλὰ μάχεσθʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἀολλέες· ὃς δέ κεν ὑμέωνβλήμενος ἠὲ τυπεὶς θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃτεθνάτω· οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀμυνομένῳ περὶ πάτρηςτεθνάμεν· ἀλλʼ ἄλοχός τε σόη καὶ παῖδες ὀπίσσω,καὶ οἶκος καὶ κλῆρος ἀκήρατος, εἴ κεν Ἀχαιοὶοἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
So saying, he aroused the strength and spirit of every man. And Aias again, over against him called to his comrades:Shame on you, Argives, now is it sure that we must either perish utterly or find deliverance by thrusting back the peril from the ships. Think ye haply that if Hector of the flashing helm take the ships, ye shall come afoot each man of you to his own native land? Hear ye not Hector urging on all his host in his fury to burn the ships? Verily it is not to the dance that he biddeth them come, but to battle. And for us there is no counsel or device better than this, that in close combat we bring our hands and our might against theirs. Better is it once for all either to die or live, than long to be straitened in dread conflict thus bootlessly beside the ships at the hands of men that be meaner.So saying, he aroused the strength and spirit of every man.
ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.Αἴας δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισιν·αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι· νῦν ἄρκιον ἢ ἀπολέσθαιἠὲ σαωθῆναι καὶ ἀπώσασθαι κακὰ νηῶν.ἦ ἔλπεσθʼ ἢν νῆας ἕλῃ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρἐμβαδὸν ἵξεσθαι ἣν πατρίδα γαῖαν ἕκαστος;ἦ οὐκ ὀτρύνοντος ἀκούετε λαὸν ἅπανταἝκτορος, ὃς δὴ νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι μενεαίνει;οὐ μὰν ἔς γε χορὸν κέλετʼ ἐλθέμεν, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.ἡμῖν δʼ οὔ τις τοῦδε νόος καὶ μῆτις ἀμείνωνἢ αὐτοσχεδίῃ μῖξαι χεῖράς τε μένος τε.βέλτερον ἢ ἀπολέσθαι ἕνα χρόνον ἠὲ βιῶναιἢ δηθὰ στρεύγεσθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτιὧδʼ αὔτως παρὰ νηυσὶν ὑπʼ ἀνδράσι χειροτέροισιν.ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
Then Hector slew Schedius, son of Perimedes, a leader of the Phocians, and Aias slew Laodamas, the leader of the footmen, the glorious son of Antenor; and Polydamas laid low Otus of Cyllene, comrade of Phyleus' son, captain of the great-souled Epeians.
ἔνθʼ Ἕκτωρ μὲν ἕλε Σχεδίον Περιμήδεος υἱὸνἀρχὸν Φωκήων, Αἴας δʼ ἕλε Λαοδάμανταἡγεμόνα πρυλέων Ἀντήνορος ἀγλαὸν υἱόν·Πουλυδάμας δʼ Ὦτον Κυλλήνιον ἐξενάριξεΦυλεΐδεω ἕταρον, μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸν Ἐπειῶν.
And Meges saw, and leapt upon him, but Polydamas swerved from beneath him and him Meges missed; for Apollo would not suffer the son of Panthous to be vanquished amid the foremost fighters; but with a spear-thrust he smote Croesmus full upon the breast. And he fell with a thud, and the other set him to strip the armour from his shoulders.
τῷ δὲ Μέγης ἐπόρουσεν ἰδών· ὃ δʼ ὕπαιθα λιάσθηΠουλυδάμας· καὶ τοῦ μὲν ἀπήμβροτεν· οὐ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνεἴα Πάνθου υἱὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι δαμῆναι·αὐτὰρ ὅ γε Κροίσμου στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρί.δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὃ δʼ ἀπʼ ὤμων τεύχεʼ ἐσύλα.
Meanwhile upon him leapt Dolops, well skilled with the spear, the son of Lampus, whom Lampus, son of Laomedon, begat, even his bravest son, well skilled in furious might; he it was that then thrust with his spear full upon the shield of Phyleus' son, setting upon him from nigh at hand. But his cunningly-wrought corselet saved him, the corselet that he was wont to wear, fitted with plates of mail. This Phyleus had brought from out of Ephyre, from the river Seleïs. For a guest-friend of his, the king of men Euphetes, had given it him that he might wear it in war, a defence against foe-men; and this now warded death from the body of his son.
τόφρα δὲ τῷ ἐπόρουσε Δόλοψ αἰχμῆς ἐῢ εἰδὼςΛαμπετίδης, ὃν Λάμπος ἐγείνατο φέρτατον υἱὸνΛαομεδοντιάδης εὖ εἰδότα θούριδος ἀλκῆς,ὃς τότε Φυλεΐδαο μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρὶἐγγύθεν ὁρμηθείς· πυκινὸς δέ οἱ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ,τόν ῥʼ ἐφόρει γυάλοισιν ἀρηρότα· τόν ποτε Φυλεὺςἤγαγεν ἐξ Ἐφύρης, ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔδωκεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὐφήτηςἐς πόλεμον φορέειν δηΐων ἀνδρῶν ἀλεωρήν·ὅς οἱ καὶ τότε παιδὸς ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκεσʼ ὄλεθρον.
Then Meges thrust with his sharp spear upon the topmost socket of the helm of bronze with horse-hair plume which Dolops wore, and shore therefrom the plume of horse-hair, and all the plume, bright with its new scarlet dye, fell in the dust. Now while Meges abode and fought with Dolops, and yet hoped for victory, meanwhile warlike Menelaus came to bear him aid, and he took his stand on one side with his spear, unmarked of Dolops, and cast and smote him on the shoulder from behind; and the spear in its fury sped through his breast, darting eagerly onward, and he fell upon his face; and the twain made for him to strip from his shoulders his armour wrought of bronze. But Hector called to his kinsmen, one and all, and first did he chide Hicetaon's son, strong Melanippus. He until this time had been wont to feed his kine of shambling gait in Percote, while the foemen were yet afar, but when the curved ships of the Danaans came, he returned back to Ilios, and was pre-eminent among the Trojans; and he dwelt in the house of Priam, who held him in like honour with his own children. Him did Hector chide, and spake and addressed him, saying:In good sooth, Melanippus, are we to be thus slack? Hath thine own heart no regard for thy kinsman that is slain?
τοῦ δὲ Μέγης κόρυθος χαλκήρεος ἱπποδασείηςκύμβαχον ἀκρότατον νύξʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι,ῥῆξε δʼ ἀφʼ ἵππειον λόφον αὐτοῦ· πᾶς δὲ χαμᾶζεκάππεσεν ἐν κονίῃσι νέον φοίνικι φαεινός.εἷος ὃ τῷ πολέμιζε μένων, ἔτι δʼ ἔλπετο νίκην,τόφρα δέ οἱ Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἦλθεν ἀμύντωρ,στῆ δʼ εὐρὰξ σὺν δουρὶ λαθών, βάλε δʼ ὦμον ὄπισθεν·αἰχμὴ δὲ στέρνοιο διέσσυτο μαιμώωσαπρόσσω ἱεμένη· ὃ δʼ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐλιάσθη.τὼ μὲν ἐεισάσθην χαλκήρεα τεύχεʼ ἀπʼ ὤμωνσυλήσειν· Ἕκτωρ δὲ κασιγνήτοισι κέλευσεπᾶσι μάλα, πρῶτον δʼ Ἱκεταονίδην ἐνένιπενἴφθιμον Μελάνιππον. ὃ δʼ ὄφρα μὲν εἰλίποδας βοῦςβόσκʼ ἐν Περκώτῃ δηΐων ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἐόντων·αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Δαναῶν νέες ἤλυθον ἀμφιέλισσαι,ἂψ εἰς Ἴλιον ἦλθε, μετέπρεπε δὲ Τρώεσσι,ναῖε δὲ πὰρ Πριάμῳ, ὃ δέ μιν τίεν ἶσα τέκεσσι·τόν ῥʼ Ἕκτωρ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζεν·οὕτω δὴ Μελάνιππε μεθήσομεν; οὐδέ νυ σοί περἐντρέπεται φίλον ἦτορ ἀνεψιοῦ κταμένοιο;
Seest thou not in what wise they are busied about the armour of Dolops? Nay, come thou on; for no longer may we fight with the Argives from afar, till either we slay them, or they utterly take steep Ilios, and slay her people.So saying, he led the way, and the other followed with him, a godlike man.
οὐχ ὁράᾳς οἷον Δόλοπος περὶ τεύχεʼ ἕπουσιν;ἀλλʼ ἕπευ· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔστιν ἀποσταδὸν Ἀργείοισιμάρνασθαι, πρίν γʼ ἠὲ κατακτάμεν ἠὲ κατʼ ἄκρηςἼλιον αἰπεινὴν ἑλέειν κτάσθαι τε πολίτας.ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν ἦρχʼ, ὃ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕσπετο ἰσόθεος φώς·
And the Argives did great Telamonian Aias urge on, saying:My friends, be men, and take ye shame in your hearts, and have shame each of the other in the fierce conflict. Of men that have shame more are saved than are slain; but from them that flee springeth neither glory nor any avail.
Ἀργείους δʼ ὄτρυνε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε, καὶ αἰδῶ θέσθʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ,ἀλλήλους τʼ αἰδεῖσθε κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.αἰδομένων δʼ ἀνδρῶν πλέονες σόοι ἠὲ πέφανται·φευγόντων δʼ οὔτʼ ἂρ κλέος ὄρνυται οὔτέ τις ἀλκή.
So spake he, and they even of themselves were eager to ward off the foe, but they laid up his word in their hearts, and fenced in the ships with a hedge of bronze; and against them Zeus urged on the Trojans. Then Menelaus, good at the war-cry, exhorted Antilochus:Antilochus, none other of the Achaeans is younger than thou, nor swifter of foot, nor valiant as thou art in fight; I would thou mightest leap forth, and smite some man of the Trojans.He spake, and hasted back again himself, but aroused the other, and Antilochus leapt forth from amid the foremost fighters and, glancing warily about him, hurled with his bright spear, and back did the Trojans shrink from the warrior as he cast. Not in vain did he let fly his spear, but smote Hicetaon's son, Melanippus, high of heart, as he was coming to the battle, upon the breast beside the nipple; and he fell with a thud, and darkness enfolded his eyes. And Antilochus sprang upon him, as a hound that darteth upon a wounded fawn, that a hunter with sure aim hath smitten as it leapt from its lair, and hath loosed its limbs; even in such wise upon thee, O Melanippus, leapt Antilochus staunch in fight, to strip from thee thine armour. Howbeit he was not unseen of goodly Hector, who came running to meet him amid the battle;
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀλέξασθαι μενέαινον,ἐν θυμῷ δʼ ἐβάλοντο ἔπος, φράξαντο δὲ νῆαςἕρκεϊ χαλκείῳ· ἐπὶ δὲ Ζεὺς Τρῶας ἔγειρεν.Ἀντίλοχον δʼ ὄτρυνε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·Ἀντίλοχʼ οὔ τις σεῖο νεώτερος ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,οὔτε ποσὶν θάσσων οὔτʼ ἄλκιμος ὡς σὺ μάχεσθαι·εἴ τινά που Τρώων ἐξάλμενος ἄνδρα βάλοισθα.ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἀπέσσυτο, τὸν δʼ ὀρόθυνεν·ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε προμάχων, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷἀμφὶ ἓ παπτήνας· ὑπὸ δὲ Τρῶες κεκάδοντοἀνδρὸς ἀκοντίσσαντος· ὃ δʼ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἧκεν,ἀλλʼ Ἱκετάονος υἱὸν ὑπέρθυμον Μελάνιπποννισόμενον πόλεμον δὲ βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν.δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἐπόρουσε κύων ὥς, ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ νεβρῷβλημένῳ ἀΐξῃ, τόν τʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφι θορόνταθηρητὴρ ἐτύχησε βαλών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα·ὣς ἐπὶ σοὶ Μελάνιππε θόρʼ Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμηςτεύχεα συλήσων· ἀλλʼ οὐ λάθεν Ἕκτορα δῖον,ὅς ῥά οἱ ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων ἀνὰ δηϊοτῆτα.
and Antilochus abode not, swift warrior though he was, but fled like a wild beast that hath wrought some mischief—one that hath slain a hound or a herdsman beside his kine, and fleeth before the throng of men be gathered together; even so fled the son of Nestor; and the Trojans and Hector with wondrous shouting poured forth upon him their darts fraught with groanings; but he turned and stood, when he had reached the host of his comrades. But the Trojans, like ravening lions, rushed upon the ships and were fulfilling the behests of Zeus, who ever roused great might in them, but made the hearts of the Argives to melt, and took away their glory, while he spurred on the others. For his heart was set on giving glory to Hector, son of Priam, to the end that he might cast upon the beaked ships unwearied, wondrous-blazing fire, and so fulfill to the uttermost the presumptuous prayer of Thetis. Even for this was Zeus the counsellor waiting, that his eyes might behold the glare of a burning ship; for from that time forth was he to ordain a driving-back of the Trojans from the ships, and to grant glory to the Danaans. With this intent he was rousing against the hollow ships Hector son of Priam, that was himself full eager.
Ἀντίλοχος δʼ οὐ μεῖνε θοός περ ἐὼν πολεμιστής,ἀλλʼ ὅ γʼ ἄρʼ ἔτρεσε θηρὶ κακὸν ῥέξαντι ἐοικώς,ὅς τε κύνα κτείνας ἢ βουκόλον ἀμφὶ βόεσσιφεύγει πρίν περ ὅμιλον ἀολλισθήμεναι ἀνδρῶν·ὣς τρέσε Νεστορίδης, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶές τε καὶ Ἕκτωρἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα χέοντο·στῆ δὲ μεταστρεφθείς, ἐπεὶ ἵκετο ἔθνος ἑταίρων.Τρῶες δὲ λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισινηυσὶν ἐπεσσεύοντο, Διὸς δʼ ἐτέλειον ἐφετμάς,ὅ σφισιν αἰὲν ἔγειρε μένος μέγα, θέλγε δὲ θυμὸνἈργείων καὶ κῦδος ἀπαίνυτο, τοὺς δʼ ὀρόθυνεν.Ἕκτορι γάρ οἱ θυμὸς ἐβούλετο κῦδος ὀρέξαιΠριαμίδῃ, ἵνα νηυσὶ κορωνίσι θεσπιδαὲς πῦρἐμβάλοι ἀκάματον, Θέτιδος δʼ ἐξαίσιον ἀρὴνπᾶσαν ἐπικρήνειε· τὸ γὰρ μένε μητίετα Ζεὺςνηὸς καιομένης σέλας ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι.ἐκ γὰρ δὴ τοῦ μέλλε παλίωξιν παρὰ νηῶνθησέμεναι Τρώων, Δαναοῖσι δὲ κῦδος ὀρέξειν.τὰ φρονέων νήεσσιν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἔγειρενἝκτορα Πριαμίδην μάλα περ μεμαῶτα καὶ αὐτόν.
And he was raging like Ares, wielder of the spear, or as when consuming fire rageth among the mountains in the thickets of a deep wood; and foam came forth about his mouth, and his two eyes blazed beneath his dreadful brows, and round about his temples terribly shook the helm of Hector as he fought; for Zeus out of heaven was himself his defender, and vouchsafed him honour and glory, alone as he was amid so many warriors. For brief was his span of life to be, since even now Pallas Athene was hastening on the day of his doom beneath the might of the son of Peleus.
μαίνετο δʼ ὡς ὅτʼ Ἄρης ἐγχέσπαλος ἢ ὀλοὸν πῦροὔρεσι μαίνηται βαθέης ἐν τάρφεσιν ὕλης·ἀφλοισμὸς δὲ περὶ στόμα γίγνετο, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσελαμπέσθην βλοσυρῇσιν ὑπʼ ὀφρύσιν, ἀμφὶ δὲ πήληξσμερδαλέον κροτάφοισι τινάσσετο μαρναμένοιοἝκτορος· αὐτὸς γάρ οἱ ἀπʼ αἰθέρος ἦεν ἀμύντωρΖεύς, ὅς μιν πλεόνεσσι μετʼ ἀνδράσι μοῦνον ἐόντατίμα καὶ κύδαινε. μινυνθάδιος γὰρ ἔμελλενἔσσεσθʼ· ἤδη γάρ οἱ ἐπόρνυε μόρσιμον ἦμαρΠαλλὰς Ἀθηναίη ὑπὸ Πηλεΐδαο βίηφιν.
But fain was he to break the ranks of men, making trial of them wheresoever he saw the greatest throng and the goodliest arms. Yet not even so did he avail to break them, for all he was so eager; for they abode firm-fixed as it were a wall, like a crag, sheer and great, hard by the grey sea, that abideth the swift paths of the shrill winds, and the swelling waves that belch forth against it; even so the Danaans withstood the Trojans steadfastly, and fled not. But Hector shining all about as with fire leapt among the throng, and fell upon them; even as when beneath the clouds a fierce-rushing wave, swollen by the winds, falleth upon a swift ship, and she is all hidden by the foam thereof, and the dread blast of the wind roareth against the sail, and the hearts of the sailors shudder in their fear, for that by little are they borne forth from death; even so were the hearts of the Achaeans rent within their breasts.
καί ῥʼ ἔθελεν ῥῆξαι στίχας ἀνδρῶν πειρητίζων,ᾗ δὴ πλεῖστον ὅμιλον ὅρα καὶ τεύχεʼ ἄριστα·ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὧς δύνατο ῥῆξαι μάλα περ μενεαίνων·ἴσχον γὰρ πυργηδὸν ἀρηρότες, ἠΰτε πέτρηἠλίβατος μεγάλη πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐγγὺς ἐοῦσα,ἥ τε μένει λιγέων ἀνέμων λαιψηρὰ κέλευθακύματά τε τροφόεντα, τά τε προσερεύγεται αὐτήν·ὣς Δαναοὶ Τρῶας μένον ἔμπεδον οὐδὲ φέβοντο.αὐτὰρ ὃ λαμπόμενος πυρὶ πάντοθεν ἔνθορʼ ὁμίλῳ,ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ ὡς ὅτε κῦμα θοῇ ἐν νηῒ πέσῃσιλάβρον ὑπαὶ νεφέων ἀνεμοτρεφές· ἣ δέ τε πᾶσαἄχνῃ ὑπεκρύφθη, ἀνέμοιο δὲ δεινὸς ἀήτηἱστίῳ ἐμβρέμεται, τρομέουσι δέ τε φρένα ναῦταιδειδιότες· τυτθὸν γὰρ ὑπʼ ἐκ θανάτοιο φέρονται·ὣς ἐδαΐζετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
But he fell upon them like a lion of baneful mind coming against kine, that are grazing in the bottom-land of a great marsh, and there is no counting them, and among them is a herdsman that is as yet unskilled to fight with a wild beast over the carcase of a sleek heifer that hath been slain: he verily walketh ever by their side, now abreast of the foremost of the kine, and now of the hindmost, but the lion leapeth upon the midmost, and devoureth a heifer, and thereat they all flee in terror; even so in wondrous wise were the Achaeans one and all then driven in wondrous rout by Hector and father Zeus, albeit Hector slew one only man, Periphetes of Mycenae, the dear son of Copreus, that had been wont to go on messages from king Eurystheus to the mighty Heracles. Of him, a father baser by far, was begotten a son goodlier in all manner of excellence, both in fleetness of foot and in fight, and in mind he was among the first of the men of Mycenae; he it was who then yielded to Hector the glory of victory.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ὥς τε λέων ὀλοόφρων βουσὶν ἐπελθών,αἵ ῥά τʼ ἐν εἱαμενῇ ἕλεος μεγάλοιο νέμονταιμυρίαι, ἐν δέ τε τῇσι νομεὺς οὔ πω σάφα εἰδὼςθηρὶ μαχέσσασθαι ἕλικος βοὸς ἀμφὶ φονῇσιν·ἤτοι ὃ μὲν πρώτῃσι καὶ ὑστατίῃσι βόεσσιναἰὲν ὁμοστιχάει, ὃ δέ τʼ ἐν μέσσῃσιν ὀρούσαςβοῦν ἔδει, αἳ δέ τε πᾶσαι ὑπέτρεσαν· ὣς τότʼ Ἀχαιοὶθεσπεσίως ἐφόβηθεν ὑφʼ Ἕκτορι καὶ Διὶ πατρὶπάντες, ὃ δʼ οἶον ἔπεφνε Μυκηναῖον Περιφήτην,Κοπρῆος φίλον υἱόν, ὃς Εὐρυσθῆος ἄνακτοςἀγγελίης οἴχνεσκε βίῃ Ἡρακληείῃ.τοῦ γένετʼ ἐκ πατρὸς πολὺ χείρονος υἱὸς ἀμείνωνπαντοίας ἀρετάς, ἠμὲν πόδας ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,καὶ νόον ἐν πρώτοισι Μυκηναίων ἐτέτυκτο·ὅς ῥα τόθʼ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ὑπέρτερον ἐγγυάλιξε.
For, as he turned back, he tripped upon the rim of the shield that himself bare, a shield that reached to the feet, a defence against javelins: thereon he stumbled and fell backward, and about his temples his helm rang wondrously as he fell. And Hector was quick to mark it, and ran, and stood close beside him, and fixed his spear in his breast, and slew him hard by his dear comrades; and they availed not to aid him, albeit they sorrowed for their comrade; for themselves were sore adread of goodly Hector. Now were they got among the ships, and the outermost ships encircled them, even they that had been drawn up in the first line; but their foes rushed on.
στρεφθεὶς γὰρ μετόπισθεν ἐν ἀσπίδος ἄντυγι πάλτο,τὴν αὐτὸς φορέεσκε ποδηνεκέʼ ἕρκος ἀκόντων·τῇ ὅ γʼ ἐνὶ βλαφθεὶς πέσεν ὕπτιος, ἀμφὶ δὲ πήληξσμερδαλέον κονάβησε περὶ κροτάφοισι πεσόντος.Ἕκτωρ δʼ ὀξὺ νόησε, θέων δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρέστη,στήθεϊ δʼ ἐν δόρυ πῆξε, φίλων δέ μιν ἐγγὺς ἑταίρωνκτεῖνʼ· οἳ δʼ οὐκ ἐδύναντο καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἑταίρουχραισμεῖν· αὐτοὶ γὰρ μάλα δείδισαν Ἕκτορα δῖον.εἰσωποὶ δʼ ἐγένοντο νεῶν, περὶ δʼ ἔσχεθον ἄκραινῆες ὅσαι πρῶται εἰρύατο· τοὶ δʼ ἐπέχυντο.
And the Argives gave way perforce from the outermost ships, but abode there beside their huts, all in one body, and scattered not throughout the camp; for shame withheld them and fear; and unceasingly they called aloud one to the other. And above all others Nestor of Gerenia, the warder of the Achaeans, besought each man, adjuring him by them that begat him, saying:My friends, play the man, and take in your hearts shame of other men, and be ye mindful, each man of you, of children and wife, of possessions and of his parents, whether in the case of any they be living or be dead.
Ἀργεῖοι δὲ νεῶν μὲν ἐχώρησαν καὶ ἀνάγκῃτῶν πρωτέων, αὐτοῦ δὲ παρὰ κλισίῃσιν ἔμεινανἁθρόοι, οὐδὲ κέδασθεν ἀνὰ στρατόν· ἴσχε γὰρ αἰδὼςκαὶ δέος· ἀζηχὲς γὰρ ὁμόκλεον ἀλλήλοισι.Νέστωρ αὖτε μάλιστα Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶνλίσσεθʼ ὑπὲρ τοκέων γουνούμενος ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·ὦ φίλοι ἀνέρες ἔστε καὶ αἰδῶ θέσθʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷἄλλων ἀνθρώπων, ἐπὶ δὲ μνήσασθε ἕκαστοςπαίδων ἠδʼ ἀλόχων καὶ κτήσιος ἠδὲ τοκήων,ἠμὲν ὅτεῳ ζώουσι καὶ ᾧ κατατεθνήκασι·
For the sake of them that are not here with us do I now beseech you to stand firm, and turn not back in flight.So saying, he aroused the strength and spirit of every man, and from their eyes Athene thrust away the wondrous cloud of mist, and mightily did light come to them from either hand, both from the side of the ships and from that of evil war. And all beheld Hector, good at the war-cry, and his comrades, alike they that stood in the rear and fought not, and all they that did battle by the swift ships. Now was it no more pleasing to the soul of great-hearted Aias to stand in the place where the rest of the sons of the Achaeans stood aloof, but he kept faring with long strides up and down the decks of the ships, and he wielded in his hands a long pike for sea-fighting, a pike jointed with rings, of a length two and twenty cubits. And as a man well-skilled in horsemanship harnesseth together four horses chosen out of many, and driveth them in swift course from the plain toward a great city along a highway, while many marvel at him, both men-folk and women, and ever with sure step he leapeth, and passeth from horse to horse, while they speed on;
τῶν ὕπερ ἐνθάδʼ ἐγὼ γουνάζομαι οὐ παρεόντωνἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς, μὴ δὲ τρωπᾶσθε φόβον δέ.ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.τοῖσι δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν νέφος ἀχλύος ὦσεν Ἀθήνηθεσπέσιον· μάλα δέ σφι φόως γένετʼ ἀμφοτέρωθενἠμὲν πρὸς νηῶν καὶ ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.Ἕκτορα δὲ φράσσαντο βοὴν ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἑταίρους,ἠμὲν ὅσοι μετόπισθεν ἀφέστασαν οὐδὲ μάχοντο,ἠδʼ ὅσσοι παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχην ἐμάχοντο θοῇσιν.οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτʼ Αἴαντι μεγαλήτορι ἥνδανε θυμῷἑστάμεν ἔνθά περ ἄλλοι ἀφέστασαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·ἀλλʼ ὅ γε νηῶν ἴκριʼ ἐπῴχετο μακρὰ βιβάσθων,νώμα δὲ ξυστὸν μέγα ναύμαχον ἐν παλάμῃσικολλητὸν βλήτροισι δυωκαιεικοσίπηχυ.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ἵπποισι κελητίζειν ἐῢ εἰδώς,ὅς τʼ ἐπεὶ ἐκ πολέων πίσυρας συναείρεται ἵππους,σεύας ἐκ πεδίοιο μέγα προτὶ ἄστυ δίηταιλαοφόρον καθʼ ὁδόν· πολέες τέ ἑ θηήσαντοἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδον ἀσφαλὲς αἰεὶθρῴσκων ἄλλοτʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον ἀμείβεται, οἳ δὲ πέτονται·
even so Aias kept ranging with long strides over the many decks of the swift ships, and his voice went up to heaven, as ever with terrible cries he called to the Danaans to defend their ships and huts. Nor did Hector abide amid the throng of the mail-clad Trojans, but as a tawny eagle darteth upon a flock of winged fowl that are feeding by a river's bank—a flock of wild geese, or cranes, or long-necked swans, even so Hector made for a dark-prowed ship, rushing straight thereon; and from behind Zeus thrust him on with exceeding mighty hand, and aroused the host together with him. Then again keen battle was set afoot beside the ships. Thou wouldst have deemed that all unwearied and unworn they faced one another in war, so furiously did they fight. And in their fighting they were minded thus: The Achaeans verily deemed that they should never escape from out the peril, but should perish, while for the Trojans, the heart in each man's breast hoped that they should fire the ships and slay the Achaean warriors. Such were their thoughts as they stood, each host against the other. But Hector laid hold of the stern of a seafaring ship, a fair ship, swift upon the brine, that had borne Protesilaus to Troy, but brought him not back again to his native land. About his ship Achaeans and Trojans were slaying one another in close combat, nor did they longer hold aloof and thus endure the flight of arrows and darts, but standing man against man in oneness of heart, they fought with sharp battle-axes and hatchets, and with great swords and two-edged spears. And many goodly blades, bound with dark thongs at the hilt, fell to the ground, some from the hands and some from the shoulders of the warriors as they fought; and the black earth flowed with blood. But Hector, when he had grasped the ship by the stern, would not loose his hold, but kept the ensign in his hands, and called to the Trojans:Bring fire, and therewithal raise ye the war-cry all with one voice; now hath Zeus vouchsafed us a day that is recompense for all— to take the ships that came hither in despite of the gods, and brought us many woes, by reason of the cowardice of the elders, who, when I was eager to fight at the sterns of the ships, kept me back, and withheld the host. But if Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, then dulled our wits, now of himself he urgeth and giveth command.So spake he, and they leapt the more upon the Argives. But Aias no longer abode, for he was sore beset with darts, but, ever foreboding death, gave ground a little along the bridge of seven feet in height, and left the deck of the shapely ship.
ὣς Αἴας ἐπὶ πολλὰ θοάων ἴκρια νηῶνφοίτα μακρὰ βιβάς, φωνὴ δέ οἱ αἰθέρʼ ἵκανεν,αἰεὶ δὲ σμερδνὸν βοόων Δαναοῖσι κέλευενηυσί τε καὶ κλισίῃσιν ἀμυνέμεν. οὐδὲ μὲν Ἕκτωρμίμνεν ἐνὶ Τρώων ὁμάδῳ πύκα θωρηκτάων·ἀλλʼ ὥς τʼ ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν αἰετὸς αἴθωνἔθνος ἐφορμᾶται ποταμὸν πάρα βοσκομενάωνχηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων,ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἴθυσε νεὸς κυανοπρῴροιοἀντίος ἀΐξας· τὸν δὲ Ζεὺς ὦσεν ὄπισθεχειρὶ μάλα μεγάλῃ, ὄτρυνε δὲ λαὸν ἅμʼ αὐτῷ.αὖτις δὲ δριμεῖα μάχη παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐτύχθη·φαίης κʼ ἀκμῆτας καὶ ἀτειρέας ἀλλήλοισινἄντεσθʼ ἐν πολέμῳ, ὡς ἐσσυμένως ἐμάχοντο.τοῖσι δὲ μαρναμένοισιν ὅδʼ ἦν νόος· ἤτοι Ἀχαιοὶοὐκ ἔφασαν φεύξεσθαι ὑπʼ ἐκ κακοῦ, ἀλλʼ ὀλέεσθαι,Τρωσὶν δʼ ἔλπετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἑκάστουνῆας ἐνιπρήσειν κτενέειν θʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.οἳ μὲν τὰ φρονέοντες ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν·Ἕκτωρ δὲ πρυμνῆς νεὸς ἥψατο ποντοπόροιοκαλῆς ὠκυάλου, ἣ Πρωτεσίλαον ἔνεικενἐς Τροίην, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἀπήγαγε πατρίδα γαῖαν.τοῦ περ δὴ περὶ νηὸς Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τεδῄουν ἀλλήλους αὐτοσχεδόν· οὐδʼ ἄρα τοί γετόξων ἀϊκὰς ἀμφὶς μένον οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἀκόντων,ἀλλʼ οἵ γʼ ἐγγύθεν ἱστάμενοι ἕνα θυμὸν ἔχοντεςὀξέσι δὴ πελέκεσσι καὶ ἀξίνῃσι μάχοντοκαὶ ξίφεσιν μεγάλοισι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισι.πολλὰ δὲ φάσγανα καλὰ μελάνδετα κωπήενταἄλλα μὲν ἐκ χειρῶν χαμάδις πέσον, ἄλλα δʼ ἀπʼ ὤμωνἀνδρῶν μαρναμένων· ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα μέλαινα.Ἕκτωρ δὲ πρύμνηθεν ἐπεὶ λάβεν οὐχὶ μεθίειἄφλαστον μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων, Τρωσὶν δὲ κέλευεν·οἴσετε πῦρ, ἅμα δʼ αὐτοὶ ἀολλέες ὄρνυτʼ ἀϋτήν·νῦν ἡμῖν πάντων Ζεὺς ἄξιον ἦμαρ ἔδωκενῆας ἑλεῖν, αἳ δεῦρο θεῶν ἀέκητι μολοῦσαιἡμῖν πήματα πολλὰ θέσαν, κακότητι γερόντων,οἵ μʼ ἐθέλοντα μάχεσθαι ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιναὐτόν τʼ ἰσχανάασκον ἐρητύοντό τε λαόν·ἀλλʼ εἰ δή ῥα τότε βλάπτε φρένας εὐρύοπα Ζεὺςἡμετέρας, νῦν αὐτὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα μᾶλλον ἐπʼ Ἀργείοισιν ὄρουσαν.Αἴας δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἔμιμνε· βιάζετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν·ἀλλʼ ἀνεχάζετο τυτθόν, ὀϊόμενος θανέεσθαιθρῆνυν ἐφʼ ἑπταπόδην, λίπε δʼ ἴκρια νηὸς ἐΐσης.
There stood he on the watch, and with his spear he ever warded from the ship whosoever of the Trojans sought to bring unwearied fire; and ever with terrible cries he called to the Danaans:Friends, Danaan warriors, squires of Ares, be men, my friends, and bethink you of furious might.
ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γʼ ἑστήκει δεδοκημένος, ἔγχεϊ δʼ αἰεὶΤρῶας ἄμυνε νεῶν, ὅς τις φέροι ἀκάματον πῦρ·αἰεὶ δὲ σμερδνὸν βοόων Δαναοῖσι κέλευε·ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηοςἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς.
Do we haply deem that there are other helpers at our backs, or some stronger wall to ward off ruin from men? In no wise is there hard at hand a city fenced with walls, whereby we might defend ourselves, having a host to turn the tide of battle; nay, it is in the plain of the mail-clad Trojans that we are set, with naught to support us but the sea, and far from our native land. Therefore in the might of our hands is the light of deliverance, and not in slackness in fight.He spake, and kept driving furiously at the foe with his sharp spear. And whoso of the Trojans would rush upon the hollow ships with blazing fire, doing pleasure to Hector at his bidding, for him would Aias wait, and wound him with a thrust of his long spear; and twelve men did he wound in close fight in front of the ships.
ἠέ τινάς φαμεν εἶναι ἀοσσητῆρας ὀπίσσω,ἦέ τι τεῖχος ἄρειον, ὅ κʼ ἀνδράσι λοιγὸν ἀμύναι;οὐ μέν τι σχεδόν ἐστι πόλις πύργοις ἀραρυῖα,ᾗ κʼ ἀπαμυναίμεσθʼ ἑτεραλκέα δῆμον ἔχοντες·ἀλλʼ ἐν γὰρ Τρώων πεδίῳ πύκα θωρηκτάωνπόντῳ κεκλιμένοι ἑκὰς ἥμεθα πατρίδος αἴης·τὼ ἐν χερσὶ φόως, οὐ μειλιχίῃ πολέμοιο.ἦ, καὶ μαιμώων ἔφεπʼ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι.ὅς τις δὲ Τρώων κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ φέροιτοσὺν πυρὶ κηλείῳ, χάριν Ἕκτορος ὀτρύναντος,τὸν δʼ Αἴας οὔτασκε δεδεγμένος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ·δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε νεῶν αὐτοσχεδὸν οὖτα.