So fought they like unto blazing fire, but Antilochus, swift of foot, came to bear tidings to Achilles. Him he found in front of his ships with upright horns, boding in his heart the thing that even now was brought to pass;
ὣς οἳ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο,Ἀντίλοχος δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ πόδας ταχὺς ἄγγελος ἦλθε.τὸν δʼ εὗρε προπάροιθε νεῶν ὀρθοκραιράωντὰ φρονέοντʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἃ δὴ τετελεσμένα ἦεν·
and sore troubled he spake unto his own great-hearted spirit:Ah, woe is me, how is it that again the long-haired Achaeans are being driven toward the ships in rout over the plain? Let it not be that the gods have brought to pass grievous woes for my soul, even as on a time my mother declared unto me, and said that while yet I lived the best man of the Myrmidons should leave the light of the sun beneath the hands of the Trojans! in good sooth the valiant son of Menoetius must now, be dead, foolhardy one. Surely I bade him come back again to the ships when he had thrust off the consuming fire, and not to fight amain with Hector.
ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·ὤ μοι ἐγώ, τί τʼ ἄρʼ αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶνηυσὶν ἔπι κλονέονται ἀτυζόμενοι πεδίοιο;μὴ δή μοι τελέσωσι θεοὶ κακὰ κήδεα θυμῷ,ὥς ποτέ μοι μήτηρ διεπέφραδε καί μοι ἔειπεΜυρμιδόνων τὸν ἄριστον ἔτι ζώοντος ἐμεῖοχερσὶν ὕπο Τρώων λείψειν φάος ἠελίοιο.ἦ μάλα δὴ τέθνηκε Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμος υἱὸςσχέτλιος· ἦ τʼ ἐκέλευον ἀπωσάμενον δήϊον πῦρἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἴμεν, μηδʼ Ἕκτορι ἶφι μάχεσθαι.
While he pondered thus in mind and heart, there drew nigh unto him the son of lordly Nestor, shedding hot tears, and spake the grievous tidings:Woe is me, thou son of wise-hearted Peleus, full grievous is the tidings thou must hear, such as I would had never been.
εἷος ὃ ταῦθʼ ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,τόφρά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν ἀγαυοῦ Νέστορος υἱὸςδάκρυα θερμὰ χέων, φάτο δʼ ἀγγελίην ἀλεγεινήν·ὤ μοι Πηλέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἦ μάλα λυγρῆςπεύσεαι ἀγγελίης, ἣ μὴ ὤφελλε γενέσθαι.
Low lies Patroclus, and around his corpse are they fighting—his naked corpse; but his armour is held by Hector of the flashing helm.So spake he, and a black cloud of grief enwrapped Achilles, and with both his hands he took the dark dust and strewed it over his head and defiled his fair face, and on his fragrant tunic the black ashes fell. And himself in the dust lay outstretched, mighty in his mightiness, and with his own hands he tore and marred his hair. And the handmaidens, that Achilles and Patroclus had got them as booty, shrieked aloud in anguish of heart, and ran forth around wise-hearted Achilles, and all beat their breasts with their hands, and the knees of each one were loosed be-neath her. And over against them Antilochus wailed and shed tears, holding the hands of Achilles, that in his noble heart was moaning mightily; for he feared lest he should cut his throat asunder with the knife.
κεῖται Πάτροκλος, νέκυος δὲ δὴ ἀμφιμάχονταιγυμνοῦ· ἀτὰρ τά γε τεύχεʼ ἔχει κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχεος νεφέλη ἐκάλυψε μέλαινα·ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσανχεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς, χαρίεν δʼ ᾔσχυνε πρόσωπον·νεκταρέῳ δὲ χιτῶνι μέλαινʼ ἀμφίζανε τέφρη.αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν κονίῃσι μέγας μεγαλωστὶ τανυσθεὶςκεῖτο, φίλῃσι δὲ χερσὶ κόμην ᾔσχυνε δαΐζων.δμῳαὶ δʼ ἃς Ἀχιλεὺς ληΐσσατο Πάτροκλός τεθυμὸν ἀκηχέμεναι μεγάλʼ ἴαχον, ἐκ δὲ θύραζεἔδραμον ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆα δαΐφρονα, χερσὶ δὲ πᾶσαιστήθεα πεπλήγοντο, λύθεν δʼ ὑπὸ γυῖα ἑκάστης.Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἑτέρωθεν ὀδύρετο δάκρυα λείβωνχεῖρας ἔχων Ἀχιλῆος· ὃ δʼ ἔστενε κυδάλιμον κῆρ·δείδιε γὰρ μὴ λαιμὸν ἀπαμήσειε σιδήρῳ.
Then terribly did Achilles groan aloud, and his queenly mother heard him as she sat in the depths of the sea beside the old man her father. Thereat she uttered a shrill cry, and the goddesses thronged about her, even all the daughters of Nereus that were in the deep of the sea. There were Glauce and Thaleia and Cymodoce, Nesaea and Speio and Thoë and ox-eyed Halië, and Cymothoë and Actaeä and Limnoreia, and Melite and Iaera and Amphithoe and Agave, Doto and Proto and Pherousa and Dynamene, and Dexamene and Amphinone and Callianeira, Doris and Pynope and glorious Galatea, Nemertes and Apseudes and Callianassa, and there were Clymene and Ianeira and Ianassa, Maera and Orithyia and fair-tressed Amatheia, and other Nereids that were in the deep of the sea.
σμερδαλέον δʼ ᾤμωξεν· ἄκουσε δὲ πότνια μήτηρἡμένη ἐν βένθεσσιν ἁλὸς παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι,κώκυσέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα· θεαὶ δέ μιν ἀμφαγέροντοπᾶσαι ὅσαι κατὰ βένθος ἁλὸς Νηρηΐδες ἦσαν.ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ἔην Γλαύκη τε Θάλειά τε Κυμοδόκη τεΝησαίη Σπειώ τε Θόη θʼ Ἁλίη τε βοῶπιςΚυμοθόη τε καὶ Ἀκταίη καὶ Λιμνώρειακαὶ Μελίτη καὶ Ἴαιρα καὶ Ἀμφιθόη καὶ ἈγαυὴΔωτώ τε Πρωτώ τε Φέρουσά τε Δυναμένη τεΔεξαμένη τε καὶ Ἀμφινόμη καὶ ΚαλλιάνειραΔωρὶς καὶ Πανόπη καὶ ἀγακλειτὴ ΓαλάτειαΝημερτής τε καὶ Ἀψευδὴς καὶ Καλλιάνασσα·ἔνθα δʼ ἔην Κλυμένη Ἰάνειρά τε καὶ ἸάνασσαΜαῖρα καὶ Ὠρείθυια ἐϋπλόκαμός τʼ Ἀμάθειαἄλλαι θʼ αἳ κατὰ βένθος ἁλὸς Νηρηΐδες ἦσαν.
With these the bright cave was filled, and they all alike beat their breasts, and Thetis was leader in their lamenting:Listen, sister Nereids, that one and all ye may hear and know all the sorrows that are in my heart. Ah, woe is me unhappy, woe is me that bare to my sorrow the best of men, for after I had borne a son peerless and stalwart, pre-eminent among warriors, and he shot up like a sapling; then when I had reared him as a tree in a rich orchard plot, I sent him forth in the beaked ships to Ilios to war with the Trojans; but never again shall I welcome him back to his home, to the house of Peleus. And while yet he liveth, and beholdeth the light of the sun, he hath sorrow, neither can I anywise help him, though I go to him. Howbeit go I will, that I may behold my dear child, and hear what grief has come upon him while yet he abideth aloof from the war.
τῶν δὲ καὶ ἀργύφεον πλῆτο σπέος· αἳ δʼ ἅμα πᾶσαιστήθεα πεπλήγοντο, Θέτις δʼ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο·κλῦτε κασίγνηται Νηρηΐδες, ὄφρʼ ἐῢ πᾶσαιεἴδετʼ ἀκούουσαι ὅσʼ ἐμῷ ἔνι κήδεα θυμῷ.ὤ μοι ἐγὼ δειλή, ὤ μοι δυσαριστοτόκεια,ἥ τʼ ἐπεὶ ἂρ τέκον υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τεἔξοχον ἡρώων· ὃ δʼ ἀνέδραμεν ἔρνεϊ ἶσος·τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ θρέψασα φυτὸν ὣς γουνῷ ἀλωῆςνηυσὶν ἐπιπροέηκα κορωνίσιν Ἴλιον εἴσωΤρωσὶ μαχησόμενον· τὸν δʼ οὐχ ὑποδέξομαι αὖτιςοἴκαδε νοστήσαντα δόμον Πηλήϊον εἴσω.ὄφρα δέ μοι ζώει καὶ ὁρᾷ φάος ἠελίοιοἄχνυται, οὐδέ τί οἱ δύναμαι χραισμῆσαι ἰοῦσα.ἀλλʼ εἶμʼ, ὄφρα ἴδωμι φίλον τέκος, ἠδʼ ἐπακούσωὅττί μιν ἵκετο πένθος ἀπὸ πτολέμοιο μένοντα.
So saying she left the cave, and the nymphs went with her weeping, and around them the waves of the sea were cloven asunder. And when they were come to the deep-soiled land of Troy they stepped forth upon the beach, one after the other, where the ships of the Myrmidons were drawn up in close lines round about swift Achilles.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα λίπε σπέος· αἳ δὲ σὺν αὐτῇδακρυόεσσαι ἴσαν, περὶ δέ σφισι κῦμα θαλάσσηςῥήγνυτο· ταὶ δʼ ὅτε δὴ Τροίην ἐρίβωλον ἵκοντοἀκτὴν εἰσανέβαινον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθα θαμειαὶΜυρμιδόνων εἴρυντο νέες ταχὺν ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆα.
Then to his side, as he groaned heavily, came his queenly mother, and with a shrill cry she clasped the head of her son, and with wailing spake unto him winged words:My child, why weepest thou? What sorrow hath come upon thy heart. Speak out; hide it not. Thy wish has verily been brought to pass for thee by Zeus, as aforetime thou didst pray, stretching forth thy hands, even that one and all the sons of the Achaeans should be huddled at the sterns of the ships in sore need of thee, and should suffer cruel things.Then groaning heavily swift-footed Achilles answered her:My mother, these prayers verily hath the Olympian brought to pass for me, but what pleasure have I therein, seeing my dear comrade is dead, even Patroclus, whom I honoured above all my comrades, even as mine own self? Him have I lost, and his armour Hector that slew him hath stripped from him, that fair armour, huge of size, a wonder to behold, that the gods gave as a glorious gift to Peleus on the day when they laid thee in the bed of a mortal man. Would thou hadst remained where thou wast amid the immortal maidens of the sea, and that Peleus had taken to his home a mortal bride. But now—it was thus that thou too mightest have measureless grief at heart for thy dead son, whom thou shalt never again welcome to his home; for neither doth my own heart bid me live on and abide among men, unless Hector first, smitten by my spear, shall lose his life, and pay back the price for that he made spoil of Patroclus, son of Menoetius.Then Thetis again spake unto him, shedding tears the while:
τῷ δὲ βαρὺ στενάχοντι παρίστατο πότνια μήτηρ,ὀξὺ δὲ κωκύσασα κάρη λάβε παιδὸς ἑοῖο,καί ῥʼ ὀλοφυρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·τέκνον τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος;ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε· τὰ μὲν δή τοι τετέλεσταιἐκ Διός, ὡς ἄρα δὴ πρίν γʼ εὔχεο χεῖρας ἀνασχὼνπάντας ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσιν ἀλήμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶνσεῦ ἐπιδευομένους, παθέειν τʼ ἀεκήλια ἔργα.τὴν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·μῆτερ ἐμή, τὰ μὲν ἄρ μοι Ὀλύμπιος ἐξετέλεσσεν·ἀλλὰ τί μοι τῶν ἦδος ἐπεὶ φίλος ὤλεθʼ ἑταῖροςΠάτροκλος, τὸν ἐγὼ περὶ πάντων τῖον ἑταίρωνἶσον ἐμῇ κεφαλῇ; τὸν ἀπώλεσα, τεύχεα δʼ Ἕκτωρδῃώσας ἀπέδυσε πελώρια θαῦμα ἰδέσθαικαλά· τὰ μὲν Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶραἤματι τῷ ὅτε σε βροτοῦ ἀνέρος ἔμβαλον εὐνῇ.αἴθʼ ὄφελες σὺ μὲν αὖθι μετʼ ἀθανάτῃς ἁλίῃσιναίειν, Πηλεὺς δὲ θνητὴν ἀγαγέσθαι ἄκοιτιν.νῦν δʼ ἵνα καὶ σοὶ πένθος ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μυρίον εἴηπαιδὸς ἀποφθιμένοιο, τὸν οὐχ ὑποδέξεαι αὖτιςοἴκαδε νοστήσαντʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἄνωγεζώειν οὐδʼ ἄνδρεσσι μετέμμεναι, αἴ κε μὴ Ἕκτωρπρῶτος ἐμῷ ὑπὸ δουρὶ τυπεὶς ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃ,Πατρόκλοιο δʼ ἕλωρα Μενοιτιάδεω ἀποτίσῃ.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·
Doomed then to a speedy death, my child, shalt thou be, that thou spakest thus; for straightway after Hector is thine own death ready at hand.Then, mightily moved, swift-footed Achilles spake to her:Straightway may I die, seeing I was not to bear aid to my comrade at his slaying. Far, far from his own land hath he fallen, and had need of me to be a warder off of ruin. Now therefore, seeing I return not to my dear native land, neither proved anywise a light of deliverance to Patroclus nor to my other comrades, those many that have been slain by goodly Hector, but abide here by the ships. Profitless burden upon the earth— I that in war am such as is none other of the brazen-coated Achaeans, albeit in council there be others better— so may strife perish from among gods and men, and anger that setteth a man on to grow wroth, how wise soever he be, and that sweeter far than trickling honey waxeth like smoke in the breasts of men; even as but now the king of men, Agamemnon, moved me to wrath. Howbeit these things will we let be as past and done, for all our pain, curbing the heart in our breasts, because we must. But now will I go forth that I may light on the slayer of the man I loved, even on Hector; for my fate, I will accept it whenso Zeus willeth to bring it to pass, and the other immortal gods. For not even the mighty Heracles escaped death, albeit he was most dear to Zeus, son of Cronos, the king, but fate overcame him, and the dread wrath of Hera.
ὠκύμορος δή μοι τέκος ἔσσεαι, οἷʼ ἀγορεύεις·αὐτίκα γάρ τοι ἔπειτα μεθʼ Ἕκτορα πότμος ἑτοῖμος.τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·αὐτίκα τεθναίην, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλον ἑταίρῳκτεινομένῳ ἐπαμῦναι· ὃ μὲν μάλα τηλόθι πάτρηςἔφθιτʼ, ἐμεῖο δὲ δῆσεν ἀρῆς ἀλκτῆρα γενέσθαι.νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,οὐδέ τι Πατρόκλῳ γενόμην φάος οὐδʼ ἑτάροισιτοῖς ἄλλοις, οἳ δὴ πολέες δάμεν Ἕκτορι δίῳ,ἀλλʼ ἧμαι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐτώσιον ἄχθος ἀρούρης,τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος οὔ τις Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνωνἐν πολέμῳ· ἀγορῇ δέ τʼ ἀμείνονές εἰσι καὶ ἄλλοι.ὡς ἔρις ἔκ τε θεῶν ἔκ τʼ ἀνθρώπων ἀπόλοιτοκαὶ χόλος, ὅς τʼ ἐφέηκε πολύφρονά περ χαλεπῆναι,ὅς τε πολὺ γλυκίων μέλιτος καταλειβομένοιοἀνδρῶν ἐν στήθεσσιν ἀέξεται ἠΰτε καπνός·ὡς ἐμὲ νῦν ἐχόλωσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ,θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον δαμάσαντες ἀνάγκῃ·νῦν δʼ εἶμʼ ὄφρα φίλης κεφαλῆς ὀλετῆρα κιχείωἝκτορα· κῆρα δʼ ἐγὼ τότε δέξομαι ὁππότε κεν δὴΖεὺς ἐθέλῃ τελέσαι ἠδʼ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι.οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδὲ βίη Ἡρακλῆος φύγε κῆρα,ὅς περ φίλτατος ἔσκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι·ἀλλά ἑ μοῖρα δάμασσε καὶ ἀργαλέος χόλος Ἥρης.
So also shall I, if a like fate hath been fashioned for me, lie low when I am dead. But now let me win glorious renown, and set many a one among the deep-bosomed Trojan or Dardanian dames to wipe with both hands the tears from her tender cheeks, and ceaseless moaning; and let them know that long in good sooth have I kept apart from the war. Seek not then to hold me back from battle, for all thou lovest me; thou shalt not persuade me.Then answered him the goddess, silver-footed Thetis:Aye, verily, as thou sayest, my child, it is in truth no ill thing to ward utter destruction from thy comrades, that are hard beset.
ὣς καὶ ἐγών, εἰ δή μοι ὁμοίη μοῖρα τέτυκται,κείσομʼ ἐπεί κε θάνω· νῦν δὲ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀροίμην,καί τινα Τρωϊάδων καὶ Δαρδανίδων βαθυκόλπωνἀμφοτέρῃσιν χερσὶ παρειάων ἁπαλάωνδάκρυʼ ὀμορξαμένην ἁδινὸν στοναχῆσαι ἐφείην,γνοῖεν δʼ ὡς δὴ δηρὸν ἐγὼ πολέμοιο πέπαυμαι·μὴ δέ μʼ ἔρυκε μάχης φιλέουσά περ· οὐδέ με πείσεις.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε τέκνον ἐτήτυμον οὐ κακόν ἐστιτειρομένοις ἑτάροισιν ἀμυνέμεν αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον.
But thy goodly armour is held among the Trojans, thine armour of bronze, all gleaming-bright. This doth Hector of the flashing helm wear on his own shoulders, and exulteth therein. Yet I deem that not for long shall he glory therein. seeing his own death is nigh at hand. But do thou not enter into the turmoil of Ares until thine eyes shall behold me again coming hither. For in the morning will I return at the rising of the sun, bearing fair armour from the lord Hephaestus.So saying she turned her to go back from her son, and being turned she spake among her sisters of the sea:
ἀλλά τοι ἔντεα καλὰ μετὰ Τρώεσσιν ἔχονταιχάλκεα μαρμαίροντα· τὰ μὲν κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωραὐτὸς ἔχων ὤμοισιν ἀγάλλεται· οὐδέ ἕ φημιδηρὸν ἐπαγλαϊεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ φόνος ἐγγύθεν αὐτῷ.ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν μή πω καταδύσεο μῶλον Ἄρηοςπρίν γʼ ἐμὲ δεῦρʼ ἐλθοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδηαι·ἠῶθεν γὰρ νεῦμαι ἅμʼ ἠελίῳ ἀνιόντιτεύχεα καλὰ φέρουσα παρʼ Ἡφαίστοιο ἄνακτος.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πάλιν τράπεθʼ υἷος ἑοῖο,καὶ στρεφθεῖσʼ ἁλίῃσι κασιγνήτῃσι μετηύδα·
Do ye now plunge beneath the broad bosom of the deep, to visit the old man of the sea, and the halls of our father, and tell him all. But I will get me to high Olympus to the house of Hephaestus, the famed craftsman, if so be he will give to my son glorious shining armour.
ὑμεῖς μὲν νῦν δῦτε θαλάσσης εὐρέα κόλπονὀψόμεναί τε γέρονθʼ ἅλιον καὶ δώματα πατρός,καί οἱ πάντʼ ἀγορεύσατʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπονεἶμι παρʼ Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσινυἱεῖ ἐμῷ δόμεναι κλυτὰ τεύχεα παμφανόωντα.
So spake she, and they forthwith plunged beneath the surge of the sea, while she, the goddess, silver-footed Thetis, went her way to Olympus, that she might bring glorious armour for her dear son. Her then were her feet bearing to Olympus, but the Achaeans fled with wondrous shouting from before man-slaying Hector, and came to the ships and the Hellespont. Howbeit Patroclus, the squire of Achilles, might the well-greaved Achaeans not draw forth from amid the darts; for now again there overtook him the host and the chariots of Troy, and Hector, son of Priam, in might as it were a flame.
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ὑπὸ κῦμα θαλάσσης αὐτίκʼ ἔδυσαν·ἣ δʼ αὖτʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζαἤϊεν ὄφρα φίλῳ παιδὶ κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἐνείκαι.τὴν μὲν ἄρʼ Οὔλυμπον δὲ πόδες φέρον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶθεσπεσίῳ ἀλαλητῷ ὑφʼ Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιοφεύγοντες νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο.οὐδέ κε Πάτροκλόν περ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶἐκ βελέων ἐρύσαντο νέκυν θεράποντʼ Ἀχιλῆος·αὖτις γὰρ δὴ τόν γε κίχον λαός τε καὶ ἵπποιἝκτωρ τε Πριάμοιο πάϊς φλογὶ εἴκελος ἀλκήν.
Thrice from behind did glorious Hector seize him by the feet, fain to drag him away, and called mightily upon the Trojans, and thrice did the two Aiantes, clothed in furious valour, hurl him back from the corpse. But he, ever trusting in his might, would now charge upon them in the fray, and would now stand and shout aloud; but backward would he give never a whit. And as shepherds of the steading avail not in any wise to drive from a carcase a tawny lion when he hungereth sore, even so the twain warrior Aiantes availed not to affright Hector, Priam's son, away from the corpse.
τρὶς μέν μιν μετόπισθε ποδῶν λάβε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρἑλκέμεναι μεμαώς, μέγα δὲ Τρώεσσιν ὁμόκλα·τρὶς δὲ δύʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκὴννεκροῦ ἀπεστυφέλιξαν· ὃ δʼ ἔμπεδον ἀλκὶ πεποιθὼςἄλλοτʼ ἐπαΐξασκε κατὰ μόθον, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτεστάσκε μέγα ἰάχων· ὀπίσω δʼ οὐ χάζετο πάμπαν.ὡς δʼ ἀπὸ σώματος οὔ τι λέοντʼ αἴθωνα δύνανταιποιμένες ἄγραυλοι μέγα πεινάοντα δίεσθαι,ὥς ῥα τὸν οὐκ ἐδύναντο δύω Αἴαντε κορυστὰἝκτορα Πριαμίδην ἀπὸ νεκροῦ δειδίξασθαι.
And now would he have dragged away the body, and have won glory unspeakable, had not wind-footed, swift Iris speeding from Olympus with a message that he array him for battle, come to the son of Peleus, all unknown of Zeus and the other gods, for Hera sent her forth. And she drew nigh, and spake to him winged words:
καί νύ κεν εἴρυσσέν τε καὶ ἄσπετον ἤρατο κῦδος,εἰ μὴ Πηλεΐωνι ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶριςἄγγελος ἦλθε θέουσʼ ἀπʼ Ὀλύμπου θωρήσσεσθαικρύβδα Διὸς ἄλλων τε θεῶν· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκέ μιν Ἥρη.ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
Rouse thee, son of Peleus, of all men most dread. Bear thou aid to Patroclus, for whose sake is a dread strife afoot before the ships. And men are slaying one another, these seeking to defend the corpse of the dead, while the Trojans charge on to drag him to windy Ilios; and above all glorious Hector is fain to drag him away; and his heart biddeth him shear the head from the tender neck, and fix it on the stakes of the wall. Nay, up then, lie here no more! Let awe come upon thy soul that Patroclus should become the sport of the dogs of Troy.
ὄρσεο Πηλεΐδη, πάντων ἐκπαγλότατʼ ἀνδρῶν·Πατρόκλῳ ἐπάμυνον, οὗ εἵνεκα φύλοπις αἰνὴἕστηκε πρὸ νεῶν· οἳ δʼ ἀλλήλους ὀλέκουσινοἳ μὲν ἀμυνόμενοι νέκυος πέρι τεθνηῶτος,οἳ δὲ ἐρύσσασθαι ποτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσανΤρῶες ἐπιθύουσι· μάλιστα δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρἑλκέμεναι μέμονεν· κεφαλὴν δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἄνωγεπῆξαι ἀνὰ σκολόπεσσι ταμόνθʼ ἁπαλῆς ἀπὸ δειρῆς.ἀλλʼ ἄνα μηδʼ ἔτι κεῖσο· σέβας δέ σε θυμὸν ἱκέσθωΠάτροκλον Τρῳῇσι κυσὶν μέλπηθρα γενέσθαι·
Thine were the shame, if anywise he come, a corpse despitefully entreated.Then swift-footed goodly Achilles answered her:Goddess Iris, who of the gods sent thee a messenger to me?And to him again spake wind-footed, swift Iris:Hera sent me forth, the glorious wife of Zeus;
σοὶ λώβη, αἴ κέν τι νέκυς ᾐσχυμμένος ἔλθῃ.τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·Ἶρι θεὰ τίς γάρ σε θεῶν ἐμοὶ ἄγγελον ἧκε;τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις·Ἥρη με προέηκε Διὸς κυδρὴ παράκοιτις·
and the son of Cronos, throned on high, knoweth naught hereof, neither any other of the immortals that dwell upon snowy Olympus.Then in answer to her spake Achilles, swift of foot:But how shall I enter the fray? They yonder hold my battle-gear; and my dear mother forbade that I array me for the fight until such time as mine eyes should behold her again coming hither; for she pledged her to bring goodly armour from Hephaestus. No other man know I whose glorious armour I might don, except it were the shield of Aias, son of Telamon. Howbeit himself, I ween, hath dalliance amid the foremost fighters, as he maketh havoc with his spear in defence of dead Patroclus.And to him again spake wind-footed, swift Iris:Well know we of ourselves that thy glorious armour is held of them; but even as thou art go thou to the trench, and show thyself to the men of Troy, if so be that, seized with fear of thee, the Trojans may desist from battle, and the warlike sons of the Achaeans may take breath, wearied as they are; for scant is the breathing-space in war.When she had thus spoken swift-footed Iris departed; but Achilles, dear to Zeus, roused him, and round about his mighty shoulders Athene flung her tasselled aegis, and around his head the fair goddess set thick a golden cloud, and forth from the man made blaze a gleaming fire. And as when a smoke goeth up from a city and reacheth to heaven from afar, from an island that foes beleaguer, and the men thereof contend the whole day through in hateful war from their city's walls, and then at set of sun flame forth the beacon-fires one after another and high aloft darteth the glare thereof for dwellers round about to behold, if so be they may come in their ships to be warders off of bane; even so from the head of Achilles went up the gleam toward heaven.
οὐδʼ οἶδε Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐδέ τις ἄλλοςἀθανάτων, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον ἀμφινέμονται.τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·πῶς τὰρ ἴω μετὰ μῶλον; ἔχουσι δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐκεῖνοι·μήτηρ δʼ οὔ με φίλη πρίν γʼ εἴα θωρήσσεσθαιπρίν γʼ αὐτὴν ἐλθοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωμαι·στεῦτο γὰρ Ἡφαίστοιο πάρʼ οἰσέμεν ἔντεα καλά.ἄλλου δʼ οὔ τευ οἶδα τεῦ ἂν κλυτὰ τεύχεα δύω,εἰ μὴ Αἴαντός γε σάκος Τελαμωνιάδαο.ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ γʼ ἔλπομʼ ἐνὶ πρώτοισιν ὁμιλεῖἔγχεϊ δηϊόων περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις·εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι κλυτὰ τεύχεʼ ἔχονται·ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἐπὶ τάφρον ἰὼν Τρώεσσι φάνηθι,αἴ κέ σʼ ὑποδείσαντες ἀπόσχωνται πολέμοιοΤρῶες, ἀναπνεύσωσι δʼ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶντειρόμενοι· ὀλίγη δέ τʼ ἀνάπνευσις πολέμοιο.ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις,αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς ὦρτο Διῒ φίλος· ἀμφὶ δʼ Ἀθήνηὤμοις ἰφθίμοισι βάλʼ αἰγίδα θυσσανόεσσαν,ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κεφαλῇ νέφος ἔστεφε δῖα θεάωνχρύσεον, ἐκ δʼ αὐτοῦ δαῖε φλόγα παμφανόωσαν.ὡς δʼ ὅτε καπνὸς ἰὼν ἐξ ἄστεος αἰθέρʼ ἵκηταιτηλόθεν ἐκ νήσου, τὴν δήϊοι ἀμφιμάχωνται,οἵ τε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρίνονται Ἄρηϊἄστεος ἐκ σφετέρου· ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντιπυρσοί τε φλεγέθουσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ὑψόσε δʼ αὐγὴγίγνεται ἀΐσσουσα περικτιόνεσσιν ἰδέσθαι,αἴ κέν πως σὺν νηυσὶν ἄρεω ἀλκτῆρες ἵκωνται·ὣς ἀπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος κεφαλῆς σέλας αἰθέρʼ ἵκανε·
Then strode he from the wall to the trench, and there took his stand, yet joined him not to the company of the Achaeans, for he had regard to his mother's wise behest. There stood he and shouted, and from afar Pallas Athene uttered her voice; but amid the Trojans he roused confusion unspeakable. Clear as the trumpet's voice when it soundeth aloud beneath the press of murderous foemen that beleaguer a city, so clear was then the voice of the son of Aeacus. And when they heard the brazen voice of the son of Aeacus the hearts of all were dismayed; and the fair-maned horses turned their cars backward, for their spirits boded bane. And the charioteers were stricken with terror when they beheld the unwearied fire blaze in fearsome wise above the head of the great-souled son of Peleus; for the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, made it blaze. Thrice over the trench shouted mightily the goodly Achilles, and thrice the Trojans and their famed allies were confounded.
στῆ δʼ ἐπὶ τάφρον ἰὼν ἀπὸ τείχεος, οὐδʼ ἐς Ἀχαιοὺςμίσγετο· μητρὸς γὰρ πυκινὴν ὠπίζετʼ ἐφετμήν.ἔνθα στὰς ἤϋσʼ, ἀπάτερθε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνηφθέγξατʼ· ἀτὰρ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἄσπετον ὦρσε κυδοιμόν.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀριζήλη φωνή, ὅτε τʼ ἴαχε σάλπιγξἄστυ περιπλομένων δηΐων ὕπο θυμοραϊστέων,ὣς τότʼ ἀριζήλη φωνὴ γένετʼ Αἰακίδαο.οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἄϊον ὄπα χάλκεον Αἰακίδαο,πᾶσιν ὀρίνθη θυμός· ἀτὰρ καλλίτριχες ἵπποιἂψ ὄχεα τρόπεον· ὄσσοντο γὰρ ἄλγεα θυμῷ.ἡνίοχοι δʼ ἔκπληγεν, ἐπεὶ ἴδον ἀκάματον πῦρδεινὸν ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνοςδαιόμενον· τὸ δὲ δαῖε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.τρὶς μὲν ὑπὲρ τάφρου μεγάλʼ ἴαχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,τρὶς δὲ κυκήθησαν Τρῶες κλειτοί τʼ ἐπίκουροι.
And there in that hour perished twelve men of their best amid their own chariots and their own spears. But the Achaeans with gladness drew Patroclus forth from out the darts and laid him on a bier, and his dear comrades thronged about him weeping; and amid them followed swift-footed Achilles, shedding hot tears, for that he beheld his trusty comrade lying on the bier, mangled by the sharp bronze. Him verily had he sent forth with horses and chariot into the war, but never again did he welcome his returning. Then was the unwearying sun sent by ox-eyed, queenly Hera to go his way, full loath, to the stream of Ocean. So the sun set and the goodly Achaeans stayed them from the fierce strife and the evil war. And on their side, the Trojans, when they were come back from the fierce conflict, loosed from beneath their cars their swift horses, and gathered themselves in assembly or ever they bethought them to sup. Upon their feet they stood while the gathering was held, neither had any man heart to sit; for they all were holden of fear, seeing Achilles was come forth, albeit he had long kept him aloof from grievous battle. Then among them wise Polydamas was first to speak, the son of Panthous; for he alone looked at once before and after. Comrade was he of Hector, and in the one night were they born: howbeit in speech was one far the best, the other with the spear. He with good intent addressed their gathering, and spake among them:On both sides, my friends, bethink you well. For my own part I bid you return even now to the city, neither on the plain beside the ships await bright Dawn, for afar from the wall are we. As long as this man continued in wrath against goodly Agamemnon, even so long were the Achaeans easier to fight against; aye, and I too was glad, when hard by the swift ships I spent the night, in hope that we should take the curved ships. But now do I wondrously fear the swift-footed son of Peleus; so masterful is his spirit, he will not be minded to abide in the plain, where in the midst both Trojans and Achaeans share in the fury of Ares; but it is for our city that he will fight, and for our wives. Nay, let us go to the city; hearken ye unto me, for on this wise shall it be. For this present hath immortal night stayed the swift-footed son of Peleus, but if on the morrow he shall come forth in harness and light on us yet abiding here, full well shall many a one come to know him; for with joy shall he that escapeth win to sacred Ilios, and many of the Trojans shall the dogs and vultures devour—far from my ear be the tale thereof. But and if we hearken to my words for all we be loath, this night shall we keep our forces in the place of gathering, and the city shall be guarded by the walls and high gates and by the tall well-polished doors that are set therein, bolted fast. But in the morning at the coming of Dawn arrayed in our armour will we make our stand upon the walls; and the worse will it be for him, if he be minded to come forth from the ships and fight with us to win the wall.
ἔνθα δὲ καὶ τότʼ ὄλοντο δυώδεκα φῶτες ἄριστοιἀμφὶ σφοῖς ὀχέεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶἀσπασίως Πάτροκλον ὑπʼ ἐκ βελέων ἐρύσαντεςκάτθεσαν ἐν λεχέεσσι· φίλοι δʼ ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροιμυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι ποδώκης εἵπετʼ Ἀχιλλεὺςδάκρυα θερμὰ χέων, ἐπεὶ εἴσιδε πιστὸν ἑταῖρονκείμενον ἐν φέρτρῳ δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,τόν ῥʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἔπεμπε σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφινἐς πόλεμον, οὐδʼ αὖτις ἐδέξατο νοστήσαντα.Ἠέλιον δʼ ἀκάμαντα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρηπέμψεν ἐπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοὰς ἀέκοντα νέεσθαι·ἠέλιος μὲν ἔδυ, παύσαντο δὲ δῖοι Ἀχαιοὶφυλόπιδος κρατερῆς καὶ ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιο.Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπὸ κρατερῆς ὑσμίνηςχωρήσαντες ἔλυσαν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους,ἐς δʼ ἀγορὴν ἀγέροντο πάρος δόρποιο μέδεσθαι.ὀρθῶν δʼ ἑσταότων ἀγορὴ γένετʼ, οὐδέ τις ἔτληἕζεσθαι· πάντας γὰρ ἔχε τρόμος, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺςἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.τοῖσι δὲ Πουλυδάμας πεπνυμένος ἦρχʼ ἀγορεύεινΠανθοΐδης· ὃ γὰρ οἶος ὅρα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω·Ἕκτορι δʼ ἦεν ἑταῖρος, ἰῇ δʼ ἐν νυκτὶ γένοντο,ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν ἂρ μύθοισιν, ὃ δʼ ἔγχεϊ πολλὸν ἐνίκα·ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·ἀμφὶ μάλα φράζεσθε φίλοι· κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγεἄστυδε νῦν ἰέναι, μὴ μίμνειν ἠῶ δῖανἐν πεδίῳ παρὰ νηυσίν· ἑκὰς δʼ ἀπὸ τείχεός εἰμεν.ὄφρα μὲν οὗτος ἀνὴρ Ἀγαμέμνονι μήνιε δίῳτόφρα δὲ ῥηΐτεροι πολεμίζειν ἦσαν Ἀχαιοί·χαίρεσκον γὰρ ἔγωγε θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰαύωνἐλπόμενος νῆας αἱρησέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.νῦν δʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα·οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὐκ ἐθελήσειμίμνειν ἐν πεδίῳ, ὅθι περ Τρῶες καὶ Ἀχαιοὶἐν μέσῳ ἀμφότεροι μένος Ἄρηος δατέονται,ἀλλὰ περὶ πτόλιός τε μαχήσεται ἠδὲ γυναικῶν.ἀλλʼ ἴομεν προτὶ ἄστυ, πίθεσθέ μοι· ὧδε γὰρ ἔσται·νῦν μὲν νὺξ ἀπέπαυσε ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωναἀμβροσίη· εἰ δʼ ἄμμε κιχήσεται ἐνθάδʼ ἐόνταςαὔριον ὁρμηθεὶς σὺν τεύχεσιν, εὖ νύ τις αὐτὸνγνώσεται· ἀσπασίως γὰρ ἀφίξεται Ἴλιον ἱρὴνὅς κε φύγῃ, πολλοὺς δὲ κύνες καὶ γῦπες ἔδονταιΤρώων· αἲ γὰρ δή μοι ἀπʼ οὔατος ὧδε γένοιτο.εἰ δʼ ἂν ἐμοῖς ἐπέεσσι πιθώμεθα κηδόμενοί περ,νύκτα μὲν εἰν ἀγορῇ σθένος ἕξομεν, ἄστυ δὲ πύργοιὑψηλαί τε πύλαι σανίδες τʼ ἐπὶ τῇς ἀραρυῖαιμακραὶ ἐΰξεστοι ἐζευγμέναι εἰρύσσονται·πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντεςστησόμεθʼ ἂμ πύργους· τῷ δʼ ἄλγιον, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσινἐλθὼν ἐκ νηῶν περὶ τείχεος ἄμμι μάχεσθαι.
Back again to his ships shall he hie him, when he hath given his horses, with high-arched necks, surfeit of coursing to and fro, as he driveth vainly beneath the city. But to force his way within will his heart not suffer him nor shall he lay it waste; ere that shall the swift dogs devour him.Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows spake to him Hector of the flashing helm:
ἂψ πάλιν εἶσʼ ἐπὶ νῆας, ἐπεί κʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππουςπαντοίου δρόμου ἄσῃ ὑπὸ πτόλιν ἠλασκάζων·εἴσω δʼ οὔ μιν θυμὸς ἐφορμηθῆναι ἐάσει,οὐδέ ποτʼ ἐκπέρσει· πρίν μιν κύνες ἀργοὶ ἔδονται.τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
Polydamas, this that thou sayest is no longer to my pleasure, seeing thou biddest us go back and be pent within the city. In good sooth have ye not yet had your fill of being pent within the walls? Of old all mortal men were wont to tell of Priam's city, for its wealth of gold, its wealth of bronze;
Πουλυδάμα σὺ μὲν οὐκέτʼ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτʼ ἀγορεύεις,ὃς κέλεαι κατὰ ἄστυ ἀλήμεναι αὖτις ἰόντας.ἦ οὔ πω κεκόρησθε ἐελμένοι ἔνδοθι πύργων;πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Πριάμοιο πόλιν μέροπες ἄνθρωποιπάντες μυθέσκοντο πολύχρυσον πολύχαλκον·
but now are its goodly treasures perished from its homes, and lo, possessions full many have been sold away to Phrygia and lovely Maeonia, since great Zeus waxed wroth. But now, when the son of crooked-counselling Cronos hath vouchsafed me to win glory at the ships, and to pen the Achaeans, beside the sea, no longer, thou fool, do thou show forth counsels such as these among the folk. For not a man of the Trojans will hearken to thee; I will not suffer it. Nay, come; even as I shall bid, let us all obey: for this present take ye your supper throughout the host by companies, and take heed to keep watch, and be wakeful every man.
νῦν δὲ δὴ ἐξαπόλωλε δόμων κειμήλια καλά,πολλὰ δὲ δὴ Φρυγίην καὶ Μῃονίην ἐρατεινὴνκτήματα περνάμενʼ ἵκει, ἐπεὶ μέγας ὠδύσατο Ζεύς.νῦν δʼ ὅτε πέρ μοι ἔδωκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεωκῦδος ἀρέσθʼ ἐπὶ νηυσί, θαλάσσῃ τʼ ἔλσαι Ἀχαιούς,νήπιε μηκέτι ταῦτα νοήματα φαῖνʼ ἐνὶ δήμῳ·οὐ γάρ τις Τρώων ἐπιπείσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἐάσω.ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πειθώμεθα πάντες.νῦν μὲν δόρπον ἕλεσθε κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσι,καὶ φυλακῆς μνήσασθε, καὶ ἐγρήγορθε ἕκαστος·
And of the Trojans whoso is distressed beyond measure for his goods, let him gather them together and give them to the folk for them to feast thereon in common; better were it that they have profit thereof than the Achaeans. But in the morning, at the coming of Dawn, arrayed in our armour, let us arouse sharp battle at the hollow ships. But if in deed and in truth goodly Achilles is arisen by the ships, the worse shall it be for him, if he so will it. I verily will not flee from him out of dolorous war, but face to face will I stand against him, whether he shall win great victory, or haply I. Alike to all is the god of war, and lo, he slayeth him that would slay.So Hector addressed their gathering, and thereat the Trojans shouted aloud, fools that they were! for from them Pallas Athene took away their wits. To Hector they all gave praise in his ill advising, but Polydamas no man praised, albeit he devised counsel that was good. So then they took supper throughout the host; but the Achaeans the whole night through made moan in lamentation for Patroclus. And among them the son of Peleus began the vehement lamentation, laying his man-slaying hands upon the breast of his comrade and uttering many a groan, even as a bearded lion whose whelps some hunter of stags hath snatched away from out the thick wood; and the lion coming back thereafter grieveth sore, and through many a glen he rangeth on the track of the footsteps of the man, if so be he may anywhere find him; for anger exceeding grim layeth hold of him. Even so with heavy groaning spake Achilles among the Myrmidons:Out upon it! Vain in sooth was the word I uttered on that day, when I sought to hearten the warrior Menoetius in our halls; and said that when I had sacked Ilios I would bring back to him unto Opoeis his glorious son with the share of the spoil that should fall to his lot. But lo, Zeus fulfilleth not for men all their purposes; for both of us twain are fated to redden the selfsame earth with our blood here in the land of Troy; since neither shall I come back to be welcomed of the old knight Peleus in his halls, nor of my mother Thetis, but even here shall the earth hold me fast. But now, Patroclus, seeing I shall after thee pass beneath the earth, I will not give thee burial till I have brought hither the armour and the head of Hector, the slayer of thee, the great-souled; and of twelve glorious sons of the Trojans will I cut the throats before thy pyre in my wrath at thy slaying. Until then beside the beaked ships shalt thou lie, even as thou art, and round about thee shall deep-bosomed Trojan and Dardanian women make lament night and day with shedding of tears, even they that we twain got us through toil by our might and our long spears, when we wasted rich cities of mortal men.So saying, goodly Achilles bade his comrades set upon the fire a great cauldron, that with speed they might wash from Patroclus the bloody gore. And they set upon the blazing fire the cauldron for filling the bath, and poured in water, and took billets of wood and kindled them beneath it. Then the fire played about the belly of the cauldron, and the water grew warm. But when the water boiled in the bright bronze,
Τρώων δʼ ὃς κτεάτεσσιν ὑπερφιάλως ἀνιάζει,συλλέξας λαοῖσι δότω καταδημοβορῆσαι·τῶν τινὰ βέλτερόν ἐστιν ἐπαυρέμεν ἤ περ Ἀχαιούς.πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντεςνηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.εἰ δʼ ἐτεὸν παρὰ ναῦφιν ἀνέστη δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,ἄλγιον αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι τῷ ἔσσεται· οὔ μιν ἔγωγεφεύξομαι ἐκ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἄντηνστήσομαι, ἤ κε φέρῃσι μέγα κράτος, ἦ κε φεροίμην.ξυνὸς Ἐνυάλιος, καί τε κτανέοντα κατέκτα.ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶες κελάδησαννήπιοι· ἐκ γάρ σφεων φρένας εἵλετο Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.Ἕκτορι μὲν γὰρ ἐπῄνησαν κακὰ μητιόωντι,Πουλυδάμαντι δʼ ἄρʼ οὔ τις ὃς ἐσθλὴν φράζετο βουλήν.δόρπον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο κατὰ στρατόν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶπαννύχιοι Πάτροκλον ἀνεστενάχοντο γοῶντες.τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεΐδης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιοχεῖρας ἐπʼ ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρουπυκνὰ μάλα στενάχων ὥς τε λὶς ἠϋγένειος,ᾧ ῥά θʼ ὑπὸ σκύμνους ἐλαφηβόλος ἁρπάσῃ ἀνὴρὕλης ἐκ πυκινῆς· ὃ δέ τʼ ἄχνυται ὕστερος ἐλθών,πολλὰ δέ τʼ ἄγκεʼ ἐπῆλθε μετʼ ἀνέρος ἴχνιʼ ἐρευνῶνεἴ ποθεν ἐξεύροι· μάλα γὰρ δριμὺς χόλος αἱρεῖ·ὣς ὃ βαρὺ στενάχων μετεφώνεε Μυρμιδόνεσσιν·ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥʼ ἅλιον ἔπος ἔκβαλον ἤματι κείνῳθαρσύνων ἥρωα Μενοίτιον ἐν μεγάροισι·φῆν δέ οἱ εἰς Ὀπόεντα περικλυτὸν υἱὸν ἀπάξεινἼλιον ἐκπέρσαντα, λαχόντα τε ληΐδος αἶσαν.ἀλλʼ οὐ Ζεὺς ἄνδρεσσι νοήματα πάντα τελευτᾷ·ἄμφω γὰρ πέπρωται ὁμοίην γαῖαν ἐρεῦσαιαὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐδʼ ἐμὲ νοστήσανταδέξεται ἐν μεγάροισι γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεὺςοὐδὲ Θέτις μήτηρ, ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ γαῖα καθέξει.νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν Πάτροκλε σεῦ ὕστερος εἶμʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν,οὔ σε πρὶν κτεριῶ πρίν γʼ Ἕκτορος ἐνθάδʼ ἐνεῖκαιτεύχεα καὶ κεφαλὴν μεγαθύμου σοῖο φονῆος·δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσωΤρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.τόφρα δέ μοι παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσι κείσεαι αὔτως,ἀμφὶ δὲ σὲ Τρῳαὶ καὶ Δαρδανίδες βαθύκολποικλαύσονται νύκτάς τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χέουσαι,τὰς αὐτοὶ καμόμεσθα βίηφί τε δουρί τε μακρῷπιείρας πέρθοντε πόλεις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων.ὣς εἰπὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐκέκλετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺςἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, ὄφρα τάχισταΠάτροκλον λούσειαν ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.οἳ δὲ λοετροχόον τρίποδʼ ἵστασαν ἐν πυρὶ κηλέῳ,ἐν δʼ ἄρʼ ὕδωρ ἔχεαν, ὑπὸ δὲ ξύλα δαῖον ἑλόντες.γάστρην μὲν τρίποδος πῦρ ἄμφεπε, θέρμετο δʼ ὕδωρ·αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ ζέσσεν ὕδωρ ἐνὶ ἤνοπι χαλκῷ,