Now all the other gods and men, lords of chariots, slumbered the whole night through, but Zeus was not holden of sweet sleep, for he was pondering in his heart how he might do honour to Achilles and lay many low beside the ships of the Achaeans. And this plan seemed to his mind the best, to send to Agamemnon, son of Atreus, a baneful dream. So he spake, and addressed him with winged words:Up, go, thou baneful Dream, unto the swift ships of the Achaeans, and when thou art come to the hut of Agamemnon, son of Atreus, tell him all my word truly, even as I charge thee. Bid him arm the long-haired Achaeans with all speed, since now he may take the broad-wayed city of the Trojans. For the immortals, that have homes upon Olympus, are no longer divided in counsel, since Hera hath Vent the minds of all by her supplication, and over the Trojans hang woes.So spake he, and the Dream went his way, when he had heard this saying. Forthwith he came to the swift ships of the Achaeans, and went his way to Agamemnon, son of Atreus, and found him sleeping in his hut, and over him was shed ambrosial slumber.
ἄλλοι μέν ῥα θεοί τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἱπποκορυσταὶεὗδον παννύχιοι, Δία δʼ οὐκ ἔχε νήδυμος ὕπνος,ἀλλʼ ὅ γε μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα ὡς Ἀχιλῆατιμήσῃ, ὀλέσῃ δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.ἥδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή,πέμψαι ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι οὖλον ὄνειρον·καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·βάσκʼ ἴθι οὖλε ὄνειρε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν·ἐλθὼν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαοπάντα μάλʼ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορευέμεν ὡς ἐπιτέλλω·θωρῆξαί ἑ κέλευε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺςπανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοι πόλιν εὐρυάγυιανΤρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντεςἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπανταςἭρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπται.ὣς φάτο, βῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὄνειρος ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε·καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,βῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα· τὸν δὲ κίχανενεὕδοντʼ ἐν κλισίῃ, περὶ δʼ ἀμβρόσιος κέχυθʼ ὕπνος.
So he took his stand above his head, in the likeness of the son of Neleus, even Nestor, whom above all the elders Agamemnon held in honour; likening himself to him, the Dream from heaven spake, saying:Thou sleepest, son of wise-hearted Atreus, the tamer of horses. To sleep the whole night through beseemeth not a man that is a counsellor, to whom a host is entrusted, and upon whom rest so many cares. But now, hearken thou quickly unto me, for I am a messenger to thee from Zeus, who, far away though he be, hath exceeding care for thee and pity. He biddeth thee arm the long-haired Achaeans with all speed, since now thou mayest take the broad-wayed city of the Trojans. For the immortals that have homes upon Olympus are no longer divided in counsel, since Hera hath bent the minds of all by her supplication, and over the Trojans hang woes by the will of Zeus. But do thou keep this in thy heart, nor let forgetfulness lay hold of thee, whenso honey-hearted sleep shall let thee go.
στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς Νηληΐῳ υἷι ἐοικώςΝέστορι, τόν ῥα μάλιστα γερόντων τῖʼ Ἀγαμέμνων·τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσεφώνεε θεῖος ὄνειρος·εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδραᾧ λαοί τʼ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·νῦν δʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει.θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺςπανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιανΤρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντεςἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπανταςἭρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπταιἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσί, μηδέ σε λήθηαἱρείτω εὖτʼ ἄν σε μελίφρων ὕπνος ἀνήῃ.
So spoke the Dream, and departed, and left him there, pondering in his heart on things that were not to be brought to pass. For in sooth he deemed that he should take the city of Priam that very day, fool that he was! seeing he knew not what deeds Zeus was purposing, who was yet to bring woes and groanings on Trojans alike and Danaans throughout the course of stubborn fights. Then he awoke from sleep, and the divine voice was ringing in his ears. He sat upright and did on his soft tunic, fair and glistering, and about him cast his great cloak, and beneath his shining feet he bound his fair sandals, and about his shoulders flung his silver-studded sword; and he grasped the sceptre of his fathers, imperishable ever, and therewith took his way along the ships of the brazen-coated Achaeans. Now the goddess Dawn went up to high Olympus, to announce the light to Zeus and the other immortals, but Agamemnon bade the clear-voiced heralds summon to the place of gathering the long-haired Achaeans. And they made summons, and the men gathered full quickly. But the king first made the council of the great-souled elders to sit down beside the ship of Nestor, the king Pylos-born.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπʼ αὐτοῦτὰ φρονέοντʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ ῥʼ οὐ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον·φῆ γὰρ ὅ γʼ αἱρήσειν Πριάμου πόλιν ἤματι κείνῳνήπιος, οὐδὲ τὰ ᾔδη ἅ ῥα Ζεὺς μήδετο ἔργα·θήσειν γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμελλεν ἐπʼ ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τεΤρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι διὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.ἔγρετο δʼ ἐξ ὕπνου, θείη δέ μιν ἀμφέχυτʼ ὀμφή·ἕζετο δʼ ὀρθωθείς, μαλακὸν δʼ ἔνδυνε χιτῶνακαλὸν νηγάτεον, περὶ δὲ μέγα βάλλετο φᾶρος·ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον·εἵλετο δὲ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεὶσὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·ἠὼς μέν ῥα θεὰ προσεβήσετο μακρὸν ὌλυμπονΖηνὶ φόως ἐρέουσα καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν·αὐτὰρ ὃ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσεκηρύσσειν ἀγορὴν δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα·βουλὴν δὲ πρῶτον μεγαθύμων ἷζε γερόντωνΝεστορέῃ παρὰ νηῒ Πυλοιγενέος βασιλῆος·
And when he had called them together, he contrived a cunning plan, and said:Hearken, my friends, a Dream from heaven came to me in my sleep through the ambrosial night, and most like was it to goodly Nestor, in form and in stature and in build. It took its stand above my head, and spake to me, saying:
τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·κλῦτε φίλοι· θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειροςἀμβροσίην διὰ νύκτα· μάλιστα δὲ Νέστορι δίῳεἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τʼ ἄγχιστα ἐῴκει·στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
‘Thou sleepest, son of wise-hearted Atreus, the tamer of horses. To sleep the whole night through beseemeth not a man that is a counsellor, to whom a host is entrusted, and upon whom rest so many cares. But now, hearken thou quickly unto me, for I am a messenger to thee from Zeus, who, far away though he be, hath exceeding care for thee and pity.
εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα,ᾧ λαοί τʼ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·νῦν δʼ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρει·
He biddeth thee arm the long-haired Achaeans with all speed, since now thou mayest take the broad-wayed city of the Trojans. For the immortals that have homes upon Olympus are no longer divided in counsel, since Hera hath bent the minds of all by her supplication, and over the Trojans hang woes by the will of Zeus. But do thou keep this in thy heart.’ So spake he, and was flown away, and sweet sleep let me go. Nay, come now, if in any wise we may, let us arm the sons of the Achaeans; but first will I make trial of them in speech, as is right, and will bid them flee with their benched ships;
θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺςπανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιανΤρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντεςἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπανταςἭρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδεʼ ἐφῆπταιἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσίν· ὣς ὃ μὲν εἰπὼνᾤχετʼ ἀποπτάμενος, ἐμὲ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·πρῶτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἔπεσιν πειρήσομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,καὶ φεύγειν σὺν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι κελεύσω·
but do you from this side and from that bespeak them, and strive to hold them back.So saying, he sate him down, and among them uprose Nestor, that was king of sandy Pylos. He with good intent addressed their gathering and spake among them:My friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives, were it any other of the Achaeans that told us this dream we might deem it a false thing, and turn away therefrom the more; but now hath he seen it who declares himself to be far the mightiest of the Achaeans. Nay, come then, if in any wise we may arm the sons of the Achaeans.He spake, and led the way forth from the council, and the other sceptred kings rose up thereat and obeyed the shepherd of the host; and the people the while were hastening on. Even as the tribes of thronging bees go forth from some hollow rock, ever coming on afresh, and in clusters over the flowers of spring fly in throngs, some here, some there;
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος ἐρητύειν ἐπέεσσιν.ἤτοι ὅ γʼ ὣς εἰπὼν κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο, τοῖσι δʼ ἀνέστηΝέστωρ, ὅς ῥα Πύλοιο ἄναξ ἦν ἠμαθόεντος,ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςεἰ μέν τις τὸν ὄνειρον Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἔνισπεψεῦδός κεν φαῖμεν καὶ νοσφιζοίμεθα μᾶλλον·νῦν δʼ ἴδεν ὃς μέγʼ ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι·ἀλλʼ ἄγετʼ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας βουλῆς ἐξῆρχε νέεσθαι,οἳ δʼ ἐπανέστησαν πείθοντό τε ποιμένι λαῶνσκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες· ἐπεσσεύοντο δὲ λαοί.ἠΰτε ἔθνεα εἶσι μελισσάων ἁδινάωνπέτρης ἐκ γλαφυρῆς αἰεὶ νέον ἐρχομενάων,βοτρυδὸν δὲ πέτονται ἐπʼ ἄνθεσιν εἰαρινοῖσιν·
even so from the ships and huts before the low sea-beach marched forth in companies their many tribes to the place of gathering. And in their midst blazed forth Rumour, messenger of Zeus, urging them to go; and they were gathered.
αἳ μέν τʼ ἔνθα ἅλις πεποτήαται, αἳ δέ τε ἔνθα·ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάωνἠϊόνος προπάροιθε βαθείης ἐστιχόωντοἰλαδὸν εἰς ἀγορήν· μετὰ δέ σφισιν ὄσσα δεδήειὀτρύνουσʼ ἰέναι Διὸς ἄγγελος· οἳ δʼ ἀγέροντο.
And the place of gathering was in a turmoil, and the earth groaned beneath them, as the people sate them down, and a din arose. Nine heralds with shouting sought to restrain them, if so be they might refrain from uproar and give ear to the kings, nurtured of Zeus. Hardly at the last were the people made to sit, and were stayed in their places, ceasing from their clamour. Then among them lord Agamemnon uprose, bearing in his hands the sceptre which Hephaestus had wrought with toil. Hephaestus gave it to king Zeus, son of Cronos, and Zeus gave it to the messenger Argeïphontes; and Hermes, the lord, gave it to Pelops, driver of horses, and Pelops in turn gave it to Atreus, shepherd of the host; and Atreus at his death left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks, and Thyestes again left it to Agamemnon to bear, that so he might be lord of many isles and of all Argos. Thereon he leaned, and spake his word among the Argives:
τετρήχει δʼ ἀγορή, ὑπὸ δὲ στεναχίζετο γαῖαλαῶν ἱζόντων, ὅμαδος δʼ ἦν· ἐννέα δέ σφεαςκήρυκες βοόωντες ἐρήτυον, εἴ ποτʼ ἀϋτῆςσχοίατʼ, ἀκούσειαν δὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων.σπουδῇ δʼ ἕζετο λαός, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθʼ ἕδραςπαυσάμενοι κλαγγῆς· ἀνὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνωνἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων τὸ μὲν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.Ἥφαιστος μὲν δῶκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι,αὐτὰρ ἄρα Ζεὺς δῶκε διακτόρῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ·Ἑρμείας δὲ ἄναξ δῶκεν Πέλοπι πληξίππῳ,αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Πέλοψ δῶκʼ Ἀτρέϊ ποιμένι λαῶν,Ἀτρεὺς δὲ θνῄσκων ἔλιπεν πολύαρνι Θυέστῃ,αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Θυέστʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι λεῖπε φορῆναι,πολλῇσιν νήσοισι καὶ Ἄργεϊ παντὶ ἀνάσσειν.τῷ ὅ γʼ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπεʼ Ἀργείοισι μετηύδα·
My friends, Danaan warriors, squires of Ares, great Zeus, son of Cronos, hath ensnared me in grievous blindness of heart, cruel god! seeing that of old he promised me, and bowed his head thereto, that not until I had sacked well-walled Ilios should I get me home; but now hath he planned cruel deceit, and bids me return inglorious to Argos, when I have lost much people. So, I ween, must be the good pleasure of Zeus, supreme in might, who hath laid low the heads of many cities, yea, and shall yet lay low, for his power is above all. A shameful thing is this even for the hearing of men that are yet to be, how that thus vainly so goodly and so great a host of the Achaeans warred a bootless war, and fought with men fewer than they, and no end thereof hath as yet been seen. For should we be minded, both Achaeans and Trojans, to swear a solemn oath with sacrifice, and to number ourselves, and should the Trojans be gathered together, even all they that have dwellings in the city, and we Achaeans be marshalled by tens, and choose, each company of us, a man of the Trojans to pour our wine, then would many tens lack a cup-bearer; so far, I deem, do the sons of the Achaeans outnumber the Trojans that dwell in the city. But allies there be out of many cities, men that wield the spear, who hinder me mightily, and for all that I am fain, suffer me not to sack the well-peopled citadel of Ilios. Already have nine years of great Zeus gone by, and lo, our ships' timbers are rotted, and the tackling loosed; and our wives, I ween, and little children sit in our halls awaiting us; yet is our task wholly unaccomplished in furtherance whereof we came hither. Nay, come, even as I shall bid, let us all obey:
ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες ἌρηοςΖεύς με μέγα Κρονίδης ἄτῃ ἐνέδησε βαρείῃ,σχέτλιος, ὃς πρὶν μέν μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσενἼλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι,νῦν δὲ κακὴν ἀπάτην βουλεύσατο, καί με κελεύειδυσκλέα Ἄργος ἱκέσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺν ὤλεσα λαόν.οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ὑπερμενέϊ φίλον εἶναι,ὃς δὴ πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηναἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ λύσει· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τόδε γʼ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαιμὰψ οὕτω τοιόνδε τοσόνδε τε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶνἄπρηκτον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαιἀνδράσι παυροτέροισι, τέλος δʼ οὔ πώ τι πέφανται·εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλοιμεν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τεὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ἀριθμηθήμεναι ἄμφω,Τρῶας μὲν λέξασθαι ἐφέστιοι ὅσσοι ἔασιν,ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐς δεκάδας διακοσμηθεῖμεν Ἀχαιοί,Τρώων δʼ ἄνδρα ἕκαστοι ἑλοίμεθα οἰνοχοεύειν,πολλαί κεν δεκάδες δευοίατο οἰνοχόοιο.τόσσον ἐγώ φημι πλέας ἔμμεναι υἷας ἈχαιῶνΤρώων, οἳ ναίουσι κατὰ πτόλιν· ἀλλʼ ἐπίκουροιπολλέων ἐκ πολίων ἐγχέσπαλοι ἄνδρες ἔασιν,οἵ με μέγα πλάζουσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσʼ ἐθέλονταἸλίου ἐκπέρσαι εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.ἐννέα δὴ βεβάασι Διὸς μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοί,καὶ δὴ δοῦρα σέσηπε νεῶν καὶ σπάρτα λέλυνται·αἳ δέ που ἡμέτεραί τʼ ἄλοχοι καὶ νήπια τέκναεἵατʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ποτιδέγμεναι· ἄμμι δὲ ἔργοναὔτως ἀκράαντον οὗ εἵνεκα δεῦρʼ ἱκόμεσθα.ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·
let us flee with our ships to our dear native land; for no more is there hope that we shall take broad-wayed Troy.So spake he, and roused the hearts in the breasts of all throughout the multitude, as many as had not heard the council. And the gathering was stirred like the long sea-waves of the Icarian main, which the East Wind or the South Wind has raised, rushing upon them from the clouds of father Zeus. And even as when the West Wind at its coming stirreth a deep cornfield with its violent blast, and the ears bow thereunder, even so was all their gathering stirred, and they with loud shouting rushed towards the ships; and from beneath their feet the dust arose on high. And they called each one to his fellow to lay hold of the ships and draw them into the bright sea, and they set themselves to clear the launching-ways, and their shouting went up to heaven, so fain were they of their return home; and they began to take the props from beneath the ships.
φεύγωμεν σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τροίην αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινεπᾶσι μετὰ πληθὺν ὅσοι οὐ βουλῆς ἐπάκουσαν·κινήθη δʼ ἀγορὴ φὴ κύματα μακρὰ θαλάσσηςπόντου Ἰκαρίοιο, τὰ μέν τʼ Εὖρός τε Νότος τεὤρορʼ ἐπαΐξας πατρὸς Διὸς ἐκ νεφελάων.ὡς δʼ ὅτε κινήσῃ Ζέφυρος βαθὺ λήϊον ἐλθὼνλάβρος ἐπαιγίζων, ἐπί τʼ ἠμύει ἀσταχύεσσιν,ὣς τῶν πᾶσʼ ἀγορὴ κινήθη· τοὶ δʼ ἀλαλητῷνῆας ἔπʼ ἐσσεύοντο, ποδῶν δʼ ὑπένερθε κονίηἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη· τοὶ δʼ ἀλλήλοισι κέλευονἅπτεσθαι νηῶν ἠδʼ ἑλκέμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,οὐρούς τʼ ἐξεκάθαιρον· ἀϋτὴ δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκενοἴκαδε ἱεμένων· ὑπὸ δʼ ᾕρεον ἕρματα νηῶν.
Then would the Argives have accomplished their return even beyond what was ordained, had not Hera spoken a word to Athena, saying:Out upon it, child of Zeus that beareth the aegis, unwearied one! Is it thus indeed that the Argives are to flee to their dear native land over the broad back of the sea? Aye, and they would leave to Priam and the Trojans their boast, even Argive Helen, for whose sake many an Achaean hath perished in Troy, far from his dear native land. But go thou now throughout the host of the brazen-coated Achaeans; with thy gentle words seek thou to restrain every man, neither suffer them to draw into the sea their curved ships.So spake she, and the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene, failed not to hearken. Down from the peaks of Olympus she went darting, and speedily came to the swift ships of the Achaeans. There she found Odysseus, the peer of Zeus in counsel, as he stood. He laid no hand upon his benched, black ship, for that grief had come upon his heart and soul; and flashing-eyed Athene stood near him, and said:Son of Laërtes, sprung from Zeus, Odysseus of many wiles, is it thus indeed that ye will fling yourselves on your benched ships to flee to your dear native land? Aye, and ye would leave to Priam and the Trojans their boast, even Argive Helen, for whose sake many an Achaean hath perished in Troy, far from his dear native land. But go thou now throughout the host of the Achaeans, and hold thee back no more; and with thy gentle words seek thou to restrain every man, neither suffer them to draw into the sea their curved ships.So said she, and he knew the voice of the goddess as she spake, and set him to run, and cast from him his cloak, which his herald gathered up, even Eurybates of Ithaca, that waited on him.
ἔνθά κεν Ἀργείοισιν ὑπέρμορα νόστος ἐτύχθηεἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη,οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖανἈργεῖοι φεύξονται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιενἈργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶνἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης·ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·σοῖς ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δʼ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,βῆ δὲ κατʼ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα·καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.εὗρεν ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντονἑσταότʼ· οὐδʼ ὅ γε νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνηςἅπτετʼ, ἐπεί μιν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἵκανεν·ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ,οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖανφεύξεσθʼ ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πεσόντες,κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιτεἈργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶνἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης;ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν, μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐρώει,σοῖς δʼ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δʼ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.ὣς φάθʼ, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης,βῆ δὲ θέειν, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλε· τὴν δὲ κόμισσεκῆρυξ Εὐρυβάτης Ἰθακήσιος ὅς οἱ ὀπήδει·
But himself he went straight to Agamemnon, son of Atreus, and received at his hand the staff of his fathers, imperishable ever, and therewith went his way along the ships of the brazen-coated Achaeans. Whomsoever he met that was a chieftain or man of note, to his side would he come and with gentle words seek to restrain him, saying:
αὐτὸς δʼ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίος ἐλθὼνδέξατό οἱ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεί·σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.ὅν τινα μὲν βασιλῆα καὶ ἔξοχον ἄνδρα κιχείητὸν δʼ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρητύσασκε παραστάς·
Good Sir, it beseems not to seek to affright thee as if thou were a coward, but do thou thyself sit thee down, and make the rest of thy people to sit. For thou knowest not yet clearly what is the mind of the son of Atreus; now he does but make trial, whereas soon he will smite the sons of the Achaeans. Did we not all hear what he spake in the council?
δαιμόνιʼ οὔ σε ἔοικε κακὸν ὣς δειδίσσεσθαι,ἀλλʼ αὐτός τε κάθησο καὶ ἄλλους ἵδρυε λαούς·οὐ γάρ πω σάφα οἶσθʼ οἷος νόος Ἀτρεΐωνος·νῦν μὲν πειρᾶται, τάχα δʼ ἴψεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.ἐν βουλῇ δʼ οὐ πάντες ἀκούσαμεν οἷον ἔειπε.
Beware lest waxing wroth he work mischief to the sons of the Achaeans. Proud is the heart of kings, fostered of heaven; for their honour is from Zeus, and Zeus, god of counsel, loveth them.But whatsoever man of the people he saw, and found brawling, him would he smite with his staff; and chide with words, saying,Fellow, sit thou still, and hearken to the words of others that are better men than thou; whereas thou art unwarlike and a weakling, neither to be counted in war nor in counsel. In no wise shall we Achaeans all be kings here. No good thing is a multitude of lords; let there be one lord, one king, to whom the son of crooked-counselling Cronos hath vouchsafed the sceptre and judgments, that he may take counsel for his people.Thus masterfully did he range through the host, and they hasted back to the place of gathering from their ships and huts with noise, as when a wave of the loud-resounding sea thundereth on the long beach, and the deep roareth. Now the others sate them down and were stayed in their places, only there still kept chattering on Thersites of measureless speech, whose mind was full of great store of disorderly words, wherewith to utter revilings against the kings, idly, and in no orderly wise, but whatsoever he deemed would raise a laugh among the Argives. Evil-favoured was he beyond all men that came to Ilios: he was bandy-legged and lame in the one foot, and his two shoulders were rounded, stooping together over his chest, and above them his head was warped, and a scant stubble grew thereon.
μή τι χολωσάμενος ῥέξῃ κακὸν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·θυμὸς δὲ μέγας ἐστὶ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων,τιμὴ δʼ ἐκ Διός ἐστι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ μητίετα Ζεύς.ὃν δʼ αὖ δήμου τʼ ἄνδρα ἴδοι βοόωντά τʼ ἐφεύροι,τὸν σκήπτρῳ ἐλάσασκεν ὁμοκλήσασκέ τε μύθῳ·δαιμόνιʼ ἀτρέμας ἧσο καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἄκουε,οἳ σέο φέρτεροί εἰσι, σὺ δʼ ἀπτόλεμος καὶ ἄναλκιςοὔτέ ποτʼ ἐν πολέμῳ ἐναρίθμιος οὔτʼ ἐνὶ βουλῇ·οὐ μέν πως πάντες βασιλεύσομεν ἐνθάδʼ Ἀχαιοί·οὐκ ἀγαθὸν πολυκοιρανίη· εἷς κοίρανος ἔστω,εἷς βασιλεύς, ᾧ δῶκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεωσκῆπτρόν τʼ ἠδὲ θέμιστας, ἵνά σφισι βουλεύῃσι.ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων δίεπε στρατόν· οἳ δʼ ἀγορὴν δὲαὖτις ἐπεσσεύοντο νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάωνἠχῇ, ὡς ὅτε κῦμα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσηςαἰγιαλῷ μεγάλῳ βρέμεται, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε πόντος.ἄλλοι μέν ῥʼ ἕζοντο, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθʼ ἕδρας·Θερσίτης δʼ ἔτι μοῦνος ἀμετροεπὴς ἐκολῴα,ὃς ἔπεα φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἄκοσμά τε πολλά τε ᾔδημάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν,ἀλλʼ ὅ τι οἱ εἴσαιτο γελοίϊον Ἀργείοισινἔμμεναι· αἴσχιστος δὲ ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε·φολκὸς ἔην, χωλὸς δʼ ἕτερον πόδα· τὼ δέ οἱ ὤμωκυρτὼ ἐπὶ στῆθος συνοχωκότε· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεφοξὸς ἔην κεφαλήν, ψεδνὴ δʼ ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.
Hateful was he to Achilles above all, and to Odysseus, for it was they twain that he was wont to revile; but now again with shrill cries he uttered abuse against goodly Agamemnon. With him were the Achaeans exceeding wroth, and had indignation in their hearts. Howbeit with loud shoutings he spake and chid Agamemnon:
ἔχθιστος δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ μάλιστʼ ἦν ἠδʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ·τὼ γὰρ νεικείεσκε· τότʼ αὖτʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳὀξέα κεκλήγων λέγʼ ὀνείδεα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχαιοὶἐκπάγλως κοτέοντο νεμέσσηθέν τʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὰ βοῶν Ἀγαμέμνονα νείκεε μύθῳ·
Son of Atreus, with what art thou now again discontent, or what lack is thine? Filled are thy huts with bronze, and women full many are in thy huts, chosen spoils that we Achaeans give thee first of all, whensoe'er we take a citadel. Or dost thou still want gold also, which some man of the horse-taming Trojans shall bring thee out of Ilios as a ransom for his son, whom I haply have bound and led away or some other of the Achaeans? Or is it some young girl for thee to know in love, whom thou wilt keep apart for thyself? Nay, it beseemeth not one that is their captain to bring to ill the sons of the Achaeans.
Ἀτρεΐδη τέο δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπιμέμφεαι ἠδὲ χατίζεις;πλεῖαί τοι χαλκοῦ κλισίαι, πολλαὶ δὲ γυναῖκεςεἰσὶν ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἐξαίρετοι, ἅς τοι Ἀχαιοὶπρωτίστῳ δίδομεν εὖτʼ ἂν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.ἦ ἔτι καὶ χρυσοῦ ἐπιδεύεαι, ὅν κέ τις οἴσειΤρώων ἱπποδάμων ἐξ Ἰλίου υἷος ἄποινα,ὅν κεν ἐγὼ δήσας ἀγάγω ἢ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,ἠὲ γυναῖκα νέην, ἵνα μίσγεαι ἐν φιλότητι,ἥν τʼ αὐτὸς ἀπονόσφι κατίσχεαι; οὐ μὲν ἔοικενἀρχὸν ἐόντα κακῶν ἐπιβασκέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
Soft fools! base things of shame, ye women of Achaea, men no more, homeward let us go with our ships, and leave this fellow here in the land of Troy to digest his prizes, that so he may learn whether in us too there is aught of aid for him or no—for him that hath now done dishonour to Achilles, a man better far than he; for he hath taken away, and keepeth his prize by his own arrogant act. Of a surety there is naught of wrath in the heart of Achilles; nay, he heedeth not at all; else, son of Atreus, wouldest thou now work insolence for the last time.So spake Thersites, railing at Agamemnon, shepherd of the host. But quickly to his side came goodly Odysseus, and with an angry glance from beneath his brows, chid him with harsh words, saying:Thersites of reckless speech, clear-voiced talker though thou art, refrain thee, and be not minded to strive singly against kings. For I deem that there is no viler mortal than thou amongst all those that with the sons of Atreus came beneath Ilios.
ὦ πέπονες κάκʼ ἐλέγχεʼ Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτʼ Ἀχαιοὶοἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα, τόνδε δʼ ἐῶμεναὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ γέρα πεσσέμεν, ὄφρα ἴδηταιἤ ῥά τί οἱ χἠμεῖς προσαμύνομεν ἦε καὶ οὐκί·ὃς καὶ νῦν Ἀχιλῆα ἕο μέγʼ ἀμείνονα φῶταἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.ἀλλὰ μάλʼ οὐκ Ἀχιλῆϊ χόλος φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ μεθήμων·ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο·ὣς φάτο νεικείων Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν,Θερσίτης· τῷ δʼ ὦκα παρίστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·Θερσῖτʼ ἀκριτόμυθε, λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής,ἴσχεο, μηδʼ ἔθελʼ οἶος ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν·οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ σέο φημὶ χερειότερον βροτὸν ἄλλονἔμμεναι, ὅσσοι ἅμʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον.
Wherefore 'twere well thou shouldst not take the name of kings in thy mouth as thou protest, to cast reproaches upon them, and to watch for home-going. In no wise do we know clearly as yet how these things are to be, whether it be for good or ill that we sons of the Achaeans shall return. Therefore dost thou now continually utter revilings against Atreus' son, Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, for that the Danaan warriors give him gifts full many; whereas thou pratest on with railings. But I will speak out to thee, and this word shall verily be brought to pass: if I find thee again playing the fool, even as now thou dost, then may the head of Odysseus abide no more upon his shoulders, nor may I any more be called the father of Telemachus, if I take thee not, and strip off thy raiment, thy cloak, and thy tunic that cover thy nakedness, and for thyself send thee wailing to the swift ships, beaten forth from the place of gathering with shameful blows.
τὼ οὐκ ἂν βασιλῆας ἀνὰ στόμʼ ἔχων ἀγορεύοις,καί σφιν ὀνείδεά τε προφέροις, νόστόν τε φυλάσσοις.οὐδέ τί πω σάφα ἴδμεν ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,ἢ εὖ ἦε κακῶς νοστήσομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.τὼ νῦν Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶνἧσαι ὀνειδίζων, ὅτι οἱ μάλα πολλὰ διδοῦσινἥρωες Δαναοί· σὺ δὲ κερτομέων ἀγορεύεις.ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·εἴ κʼ ἔτι σʼ ἀφραίνοντα κιχήσομαι ὥς νύ περ ὧδε,μηκέτʼ ἔπειτʼ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη,μηδʼ ἔτι Τηλεμάχοιο πατὴρ κεκλημένος εἴην,εἰ μὴ ἐγώ σε λαβὼν ἀπὸ μὲν φίλα εἵματα δύσω,χλαῖνάν τʼ ἠδὲ χιτῶνα, τά τʼ αἰδῶ ἀμφικαλύπτει,αὐτὸν δὲ κλαίοντα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἀφήσωπεπλήγων ἀγορῆθεν ἀεικέσσι πληγῇσιν.
So spake Odysseus, and with his staff smote his back and shoulders; and Thersites cowered down, and a big tear fell from him, and a bloody weal rose up on his back beneath the staff of gold. Then he sate him down, and fear came upon him, and stung by pain with helpless looks he wiped away the tear.
ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, σκήπτρῳ δὲ μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμωπλῆξεν· ὃ δʼ ἰδνώθη, θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ·σμῶδιξ δʼ αἱματόεσσα μεταφρένου ἐξυπανέστησκήπτρου ὕπο χρυσέου· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἕζετο τάρβησέν τε,ἀλγήσας δʼ ἀχρεῖον ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ.
But the Achaeans, sore vexed at heart though they were, broke into a merry laugh at him, and thus would one speak with a glance at his neighbour:Out upon it! verily hath Odysseus ere now wrought good deeds without number as leader in good counsel and setting battle in army, but now is this deed far the best that he hath wrought among the Argives, seeing he hath made this scurrilous babbler to cease from his prating. Never again, I ween, will his proud spirit henceforth set him on to rail at kings with words of reviling.So spake the multitude; but up rose Odysseus, sacker of cities, the sceptre in his hand, and by his side flashing-eyed Athene, in the likeness of a herald, bade the host keep silence, that the sons of the Achaeans, both the nearest and the farthest, might hear his words, and lay to heart his counsel. He with good intent addressed their gathering and spake among them:Son of Atreus, now verily are the Achaeans minded to make thee, O king, the most despised among all mortal men, nor will they fulfill the promise that they made to thee, while faring hitherward from Argos, the pasture-land of horses, that not until thou hadst sacked well-walled Ilios shouldest thou get thee home. For like little children or widow women do they wail each to the other in longing to return home. Verily there is toil enough to make a man return disheartened. For he that abideth but one single month far from his wife in his benched ship hath vexation of heart, even he whom winter blasts and surging seas keep afar;
οἳ δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν·ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ μυρίʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐσθλὰ ἔοργεβουλάς τʼ ἐξάρχων ἀγαθὰς πόλεμόν τε κορύσσων·νῦν δὲ τόδε μέγʼ ἄριστον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔρεξεν,ὃς τὸν λωβητῆρα ἐπεσβόλον ἔσχʼ ἀγοράων.οὔ θήν μιν πάλιν αὖτις ἀνήσει θυμὸς ἀγήνωρνεικείειν βασιλῆας ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν.ὣς φάσαν ἣ πληθύς· ἀνὰ δʼ ὃ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺςἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων· παρὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνηεἰδομένη κήρυκι σιωπᾶν λαὸν ἀνώγει,ὡς ἅμα θʼ οἳ πρῶτοί τε καὶ ὕστατοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶνμῦθον ἀκούσειαν καὶ ἐπιφρασσαίατο βουλήν·ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν δή σε ἄναξ ἐθέλουσιν Ἀχαιοὶπᾶσιν ἐλέγχιστον θέμεναι μερόπεσσι βροτοῖσιν,οὐδέ τοι ἐκτελέουσιν ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέστανἐνθάδʼ ἔτι στείχοντες ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιοἼλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι.ὥς τε γὰρ ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκεςἀλλήλοισιν ὀδύρονται οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.ἦ μὴν καὶ πόνος ἐστὶν ἀνιηθέντα νέεσθαι·καὶ γάρ τίς θʼ ἕνα μῆνα μένων ἀπὸ ἧς ἀλόχοιοἀσχαλάᾳ σὺν νηῒ πολυζύγῳ, ὅν περ ἄελλαιχειμέριαι εἰλέωσιν ὀρινομένη τε θάλασσα·
but for us is the ninth year at its turn, while we abide here; wherefore I count it not shame that the Achaeans have vexation of heart beside their beaked ships; yet even so it is a shameful thing to tarry long, and return empty. Endure, my friends, and abide for a time, that we may know whether the prophecies of Calchas be true, or no.For this in truth do we know well in our hearts, and ye are all witnesses thereto, even as many as the fates of death have not borne away. It was but as yesterday or the day before, when the ships of the Achaeans were gathering in Aulis, laden with woes for Priam and the Trojans; and we round about a spring were offering to the immortals upon the holy altars hecatombs that bring fulfillment, beneath a fair plane-tree from whence flowed the bright water; then appeared a great portent: a serpent, blood-red on the back, terrible, whom the Olympian himself had sent forth to the light, glided from beneath the altar and darted to the plane-tree. Now upon this were the younglings of a sparrow, tender little ones, on the topmost bough, cowering beneath the leaves, eight in all, and the mother that bare them was the ninth, Then the serpent devoured them as they twittered piteously, and the mother fluttered around them, wailing for her dear little ones; howbeit he coiled himself and caught her by the wing as she screamed about him. But when he had devoured the sparrow's little ones and the mother with them, the god, who had brought him to the light, made him to be unseen; for the son of crooked-counselling Cronos turned him to stone;
ἡμῖν δʼ εἴνατός ἐστι περιτροπέων ἐνιαυτὸςἐνθάδε μιμνόντεσσι· τὼ οὐ νεμεσίζομʼ Ἀχαιοὺςἀσχαλάαν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπηςαἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μένειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι.τλῆτε φίλοι, καὶ μείνατʼ ἐπὶ χρόνον ὄφρα δαῶμενἢ ἐτεὸν Κάλχας μαντεύεται ἦε καὶ οὐκί.εὖ γὰρ δὴ τόδε ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἐστὲ δὲ πάντεςμάρτυροι, οὓς μὴ κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι·χθιζά τε καὶ πρωΐζʼ ὅτʼ ἐς Αὐλίδα νῆες Ἀχαιῶνἠγερέθοντο κακὰ Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ φέρουσαι,ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ κρήνην ἱεροὺς κατὰ βωμοὺςἕρδομεν ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβαςκαλῇ ὑπὸ πλατανίστῳ ὅθεν ῥέεν ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ·ἔνθʼ ἐφάνη μέγα σῆμα· δράκων ἐπὶ νῶτα δαφοινὸςσμερδαλέος, τόν ῥʼ αὐτὸς Ὀλύμπιος ἧκε φόως δέ,βωμοῦ ὑπαΐξας πρός ῥα πλατάνιστον ὄρουσεν.ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν στρουθοῖο νεοσσοί, νήπια τέκνα,ὄζῳ ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτῳ πετάλοις ὑποπεπτηῶτεςὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα·ἔνθʼ ὅ γε τοὺς ἐλεεινὰ κατήσθιε τετριγῶτας·μήτηρ δʼ ἀμφεποτᾶτο ὀδυρομένη φίλα τέκνα·τὴν δʼ ἐλελιξάμενος πτέρυγος λάβεν ἀμφιαχυῖαν.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτήν,τὸν μὲν ἀρίζηλον θῆκεν θεὸς ὅς περ ἔφηνε·λᾶαν γάρ μιν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·
and we stood there and marveled at what was wrought. So, when the dread portent brake in upon the hecatombs of the gods, then straightway did Calchas prophesy, and address our gathering, saying: 'Why are ye thus silent, ye long-haired Achaeans? To us hath Zeus the counsellor shewed this great sign, late in coming, late in fulfillment, the fame whereof shall never perish. Even as this serpent devoured the sparrow's little ones and the mother with them—the eight, and the mother that bare them was the ninth—so shall we war there for so many years, but in the tenth shall we take the broad-wayed city.' On this wise spake Calchas, and now all this is verily being brought to pass. Nay, come, abide ye all, ye well-greaved Achaeans, even where ye are, until we take the great city of Priam.So spake he, and the Argives shouted aloud, and all round about them the ships echoed wondrously beneath the shouting of the Achaeans, as they praised the words of godlike Odysseus. And there spake among them the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia:Now look you; in very truth are ye holding assembly after the manner of silly boys that care no whit for deeds of war. What then is to be the end of our compacts and our oaths?
ἡμεῖς δʼ ἑσταότες θαυμάζομεν οἷον ἐτύχθη.ὡς οὖν δεινὰ πέλωρα θεῶν εἰσῆλθʼ ἑκατόμβας,Κάλχας δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευε·τίπτʼ ἄνεῳ ἐγένεσθε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί;ἡμῖν μὲν τόδʼ ἔφηνε τέρας μέγα μητίετα Ζεὺςὄψιμον ὀψιτέλεστον, ὅου κλέος οὔ ποτʼ ὀλεῖται.ὡς οὗτος κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτὴνὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα,ὣς ἡμεῖς τοσσαῦτʼ ἔτεα πτολεμίξομεν αὖθι,τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε· τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.ἀλλʼ ἄγε μίμνετε πάντες ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶαὐτοῦ εἰς ὅ κεν ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἕλωμεν.ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆεςσμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπʼ Ἀχαιῶν,μῦθον ἐπαινήσαντες Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·ὦ πόποι ἦ δὴ παισὶν ἐοικότες ἀγοράασθενηπιάχοις οἷς οὔ τι μέλει πολεμήϊα ἔργα.πῇ δὴ συνθεσίαι τε καὶ ὅρκια βήσεται ἥμιν;
Nay, into the fire let us cast all counsels and plans of warriors, the drink-offerings of unmixed wine, and the hand-clasps wherein we put our trust. For vainly do we wrangle with words, nor can we find any device at all, for all our long-tarrying here. Son of Atreus, do thou as of old keep unbending purpose, and be leader of the Argives throughout stubborn fights; and for these, let them perish, the one or two of the Achaeans, that take secret counsel apart—yet no accomplishment shall come therefrom—to depart first to Argos or ever we have learned whether the promise of Zeus that beareth the aegis be a lie or no.
ἐν πυρὶ δὴ βουλαί τε γενοίατο μήδεά τʼ ἀνδρῶνσπονδαί τʼ ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαί, ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν·αὔτως γὰρ ἐπέεσσʼ ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι μῆχοςεὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντες.Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δʼ ἔθʼ ὡς πρὶν ἔχων ἀστεμφέα βουλὴνἄρχευʼ Ἀργείοισι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας,τούσδε δʼ ἔα φθινύθειν ἕνα καὶ δύο, τοί κεν Ἀχαιῶννόσφιν βουλεύωσʼ· ἄνυσις δʼ οὐκ ἔσσεται αὐτῶν·πρὶν Ἄργος δʼ ἰέναι πρὶν καὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιογνώμεναι εἴ τε ψεῦδος ὑπόσχεσις εἴ τε καὶ οὐκί.
For I declare that Cronos' son, supreme in might, gave promise with his nod on that day when the Argives went on board their swift-faring ships, bearing unto the Trojans death and fate; for he lightened on our right and shewed forth signs of good. Wherefore let no man make haste to depart homewards until each have lain with the wife of some Trojan, and have got him requital for his strivings and groanings for Helen's sake. Howbeit, if any man is exceeding fain to depart homewards, let him lay his hand upon his black, well-benched ship, that before the face of all he may meet death and fate.
φημὶ γὰρ οὖν κατανεῦσαι ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωναἤματι τῷ ὅτε νηυσὶν ἐν ὠκυπόροισιν ἔβαινονἈργεῖοι Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντεςἀστράπτων ἐπιδέξιʼ ἐναίσιμα σήματα φαίνων.τὼ μή τις πρὶν ἐπειγέσθω οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαιπρίν τινα πὰρ Τρώων ἀλόχῳ κατακοιμηθῆναι,τίσασθαι δʼ Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.εἰ δέ τις ἐκπάγλως ἐθέλει οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαιἁπτέσθω ἧς νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης,ὄφρα πρόσθʼ ἄλλων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.
But do thou, O King, thyself take good counsel, and hearken to another; the word whatsoever I speak, shalt thou not lightly cast aside. Separate thy men by tribes, by clans, Agamemnon, that clan may bear aid to clan and tribe to tribe. If thou do thus, and the Achaeans obey thee, thou wilt know then who among thy captains is a coward, and who among thy men, and who too is brave; for they will fight each clan for itself. So shalt thou know whether it is even by the will of heaven that thou shalt not take the city, or by the cowardice of thy folk and their witlessness in war.Then in answer to him spake the king, Agamemnon:
ἀλλὰ ἄναξ αὐτός τʼ εὖ μήδεο πείθεό τʼ ἄλλῳ·οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητον ἔπος ἔσσεται ὅττί κεν εἴπω·κρῖνʼ ἄνδρας κατὰ φῦλα κατὰ φρήτρας Ἀγάμεμνον,ὡς φρήτρη φρήτρηφιν ἀρήγῃ, φῦλα δὲ φύλοις.εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί,γνώσῃ ἔπειθʼ ὅς θʼ ἡγεμόνων κακὸς ὅς τέ νυ λαῶνἠδʼ ὅς κʼ ἐσθλὸς ἔῃσι· κατὰ σφέας γὰρ μαχέονται.γνώσεαι δʼ εἰ καὶ θεσπεσίῃ πόλιν οὐκ ἀλαπάξεις,ἦ ἀνδρῶν κακότητι καὶ ἀφραδίῃ πολέμοιο.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
Aye verily once more, old sir, art thou pre-eminent in speech above the sons of the Achaeans. I would, O father Zeus and Athene and Apollo, that I had ten such counsellors; then would the city of king Priam forthwith bow her head, taken and laid waste beneath our hands.
ἦ μὰν αὖτʼ ἀγορῇ νικᾷς γέρον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλοντοιοῦτοι δέκα μοι συμφράδμονες εἶεν Ἀχαιῶν·τώ κε τάχʼ ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτοςχερσὶν ὑφʼ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.
But the son of Cronos, even Zeus that beareth the aegis, hath brought sorrows upon me, in that he casteth me into the midst of fruitless strifes and wranglings. For verily I and Achilles fought about a girl with violent words, and it was I that waxed wroth the first; but if e'er we shall be at one in counsel, then shall there no more be any putting off of evil for the Trojans, no not for an instant. But for this present go ye to your meal, that we may join battle. Let every man whet well his spear and bestow well his shield, and let him well give to his swift-footed horses their food, and look well to his chariot on every side, and bethink him of fighting; that the whole day through we may contend in hateful war. For of respite shall there intervene, no, not a whit, until night at its coming shall part the fury of warriors. Wet with sweat about the breast of many a man shall be the baldric of his sheltering shield, and about the spear shall his hand grow weary, and wet with sweat shall a man's horse be, as he tugs at the polished car. But whomsoever I shall see minded to tarry apart from the fight beside the beaked ships, for him shall there be no hope thereafter to escape the dogs and birds.So spake he, and the Argives shouted aloud as a wave against a high headland, when the South Wind cometh and maketh it to swell—even against a jutting crag that is never left by the waves of all the winds that come from this side or from that. And they arose and hasted to scatter among the ships, and made fires in the huts, and took their meal.
ἀλλά μοι αἰγίοχος Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν,ὅς με μετʼ ἀπρήκτους ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα βάλλει.καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν Ἀχιλεύς τε μαχεσσάμεθʼ εἵνεκα κούρηςἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἐγὼ δʼ ἦρχον χαλεπαίνων·εἰ δέ ποτʼ ἔς γε μίαν βουλεύσομεν, οὐκέτʼ ἔπειταΤρωσὶν ἀνάβλησις κακοῦ ἔσσεται οὐδʼ ἠβαιόν.νῦν δʼ ἔρχεσθʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.εὖ μέν τις δόρυ θηξάσθω, εὖ δʼ ἀσπίδα θέσθω,εὖ δέ τις ἵπποισιν δεῖπνον δότω ὠκυπόδεσσιν,εὖ δέ τις ἅρματος ἀμφὶς ἰδὼν πολέμοιο μεδέσθω,ὥς κε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρινώμεθʼ Ἄρηϊ.οὐ γὰρ παυσωλή γε μετέσσεται οὐδʼ ἠβαιὸνεἰ μὴ νὺξ ἐλθοῦσα διακρινέει μένος ἀνδρῶν.ἱδρώσει μέν τευ τελαμὼν ἀμφὶ στήθεσφινἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης, περὶ δʼ ἔγχεϊ χεῖρα καμεῖται·ἱδρώσει δέ τευ ἵππος ἐΰξοον ἅρμα τιταίνων.ὃν δέ κʼ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε μάχης ἐθέλοντα νοήσωμιμνάζειν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὔ οἱ ἔπειταἄρκιον ἐσσεῖται φυγέειν κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνούς.ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγʼ ἴαχον ὡς ὅτε κῦμαἀκτῇ ἐφʼ ὑψηλῇ, ὅτε κινήσῃ Νότος ἐλθών,προβλῆτι σκοπέλῳ· τὸν δʼ οὔ ποτε κύματα λείπειπαντοίων ἀνέμων, ὅτʼ ἂν ἔνθʼ ἢ ἔνθα γένωνται.ἀνστάντες δʼ ὀρέοντο κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας,κάπνισσάν τε κατὰ κλισίας, καὶ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο.
And they made sacrifice one to one of the gods that are for ever, and one to another, with the prayer that they might escape from death and the toil of war. But Agamemnon, king of men, slew a fat bull of five years to the son of Cronos, supreme in might, and let call the elders, the chieftains of the Achaean host, Nestor, first of all, and king Idomeneus, and thereafter the twain Aiantes and the son of Tydeus, and as the sixth Odysseus, the peer of Zeus in counsel. And unbidden came to him Menelaus, good at the war-cry, for he knew in his heart wherewith his brother was busied.
ἄλλος δʼ ἄλλῳ ἔρεζε θεῶν αἰειγενετάωνεὐχόμενος θάνατόν τε φυγεῖν καὶ μῶλον Ἄρηος.αὐτὰρ ὃ βοῦν ἱέρευσε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνωνπίονα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι,κίκλησκεν δὲ γέροντας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν,Νέστορα μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα,αὐτὰρ ἔπειτʼ Αἴαντε δύω καὶ Τυδέος υἱόν,ἕκτον δʼ αὖτʼ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον.αὐτόματος δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·ᾔδεε γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀδελφεὸν ὡς ἐπονεῖτο.
About the bull they stood and took up the barley grains, and in prayer lord Agamemnon spake among them, saying.Zeus, most glorious, most great, lord of the dark clouds, that dwellest in the heaven, grant that the sun set not, neither darkness come upon us, until I have cast down in headlong ruin the hall of Priam, blackened with smoke, and have burned with consuming fire the portals thereof, and cloven about the breast of Hector his tunic, rent with the bronze; and in throngs may his comrades round about him fall headlong in the dust, and bite the earth.So spake he; but not as yet would the son of Cronos grant him fulfillment; nay, he accepted the sacrifice, but toil he made to wax unceasingly. Then, when they had prayed and had sprinkled the barley grains, they first drew back the victims' heads and cut their throats, and flayed them; and they cut out the thigh-pieces and covered them with a double layer of fat, and laid raw flesh thereon.
βοῦν δὲ περιστήσαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο·τοῖσιν δʼ εὐχόμενος μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε κελαινεφὲς αἰθέρι ναίωνμὴ πρὶν ἐπʼ ἠέλιον δῦναι καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἐλθεῖνπρίν με κατὰ πρηνὲς βαλέειν Πριάμοιο μέλαθροναἰθαλόεν, πρῆσαι δὲ πυρὸς δηΐοιο θύρετρα,Ἑκτόρεον δὲ χιτῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι δαΐξαιχαλκῷ ῥωγαλέον· πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροιπρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσιν ὀδὰξ λαζοίατο γαῖαν.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἄρα πώ οἱ ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων,ἀλλʼ ὅ γε δέκτο μὲν ἱρά, πόνον δʼ ἀμέγαρτον ὄφελλεν.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,μηρούς τʼ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψανδίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπʼ αὐτῶν δʼ ὠμοθέτησαν.
These they burned on billets of wood stripped of leaves, and the inner parts they pierced with spits, and held them over the flame of Hephaestus. But when the thigh-pieces were wholly burned and they had tasted of the inner parts, they cut up the rest and spitted it, and roasted it carefully, and drew all off the spits.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἂρ σχίζῃσιν ἀφύλλοισιν κατέκαιον,σπλάγχνα δʼ ἄρʼ ἀμπείραντες ὑπείρεχον Ἡφαίστοιο.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρε κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφʼ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
Then, when they had ceased from their labour and had made ready the meal, they feasted, nor did their hearts lack aught of the equal feast. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, among them the horseman, Nestor of Gerenia, was first to speak, saying:Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men, let us now not any more remain gathered here, nor any more put off the work which verily the god vouchsafeth us. Nay, come, let the heralds of the brazen-coated Achaeans make proclamation, and gather together the host throughout the ships, and let us go thus in a body through the broad camp of the Achaeans, that we may with the more speed stir up sharp battle.So spake he, and the king of men, Agamemnon, failed not to hearken. Straightway he bade the clear-voiced heralds summon to battle the long-haired Achaeans. And they made summons, and the host gathered full quickly.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖταδαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,μηκέτι νῦν δήθʼ αὖθι λεγώμεθα, μηδʼ ἔτι δηρὸνἀμβαλλώμεθα ἔργον ὃ δὴ θεὸς ἐγγυαλίζει.ἀλλʼ ἄγε κήρυκες μὲν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνωνλαὸν κηρύσσοντες ἀγειρόντων κατὰ νῆας,ἡμεῖς δʼ ἀθρόοι ὧδε κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶνἴομεν ὄφρα κε θᾶσσον ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσεκηρύσσειν πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δʼ ἠγείροντο μάλʼ ὦκα.