then they washed him and anointed him richly with oil, filling his wounds with ointment of nine years old; and they laid him upon his bed, and covered him with a soft linen cloth from head to foot, and thereover with a white robe. So the whole night through around Achilles, swift of foot, the Myrmidons made moan in lamentation for Patroclus; but Zeus spake unto Hera, his sister and his wife:Thou hast then had thy way, O ox-eyed, queenly Hera; thou hast aroused Achilles, swift of foot. In good sooth must the long-haired Achaeans be children of thine own womb.
καὶ τότε δὴ λοῦσάν τε καὶ ἤλειψαν λίπʼ ἐλαίῳ,ἐν δʼ ὠτειλὰς πλῆσαν ἀλείφατος ἐννεώροιο·ἐν λεχέεσσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψανἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, καθύπερθε δὲ φάρεϊ λευκῷ.παννύχιοι μὲν ἔπειτα πόδας ταχὺν ἀμφʼ ἈχιλῆαΜυρμιδόνες Πάτροκλον ἀνεστενάχοντο γοῶντες·Ζεὺς δʼ Ἥρην προσέειπε κασιγνήτην ἄλοχόν τε·ἔπρηξας καὶ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρηἀνστήσασʼ Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· ἦ ῥά νυ σεῖοἐξ αὐτῆς ἐγένοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί.
Then made answer to him the ox-eyed, queenly Hera:Most dread son of Cronos, what a word hast thou said. Lo, even a man, I ween, is like to accomplish what he can for another man, one that is but mortal, and knoweth not all the wisdom that is mine. How then was I, that avow me to be highest of goddesses in twofold wise, for that I am eldest and am called thy wife, and thou art king among all the immortals—how was I not in my wrath against the Trojans to devise against them evil?On this wise spake they one to the other; but silver-footed Thetis came unto the house of Hephaestus, imperishable, decked with stars, preeminent among the houses of immortals, wrought all of bronze, that the crook-foot god himself had built him. Him she found sweating with toil as he moved to and fro about his bellows in eager haste; for he was fashioning tripods, twenty in all, to stand around the wall of his well-builded hall, and golden wheels had he set beneath the base of each that of themselves they might enter the gathering of the gods at his wish and again return to his house, a wonder to behold. Thus much were they fully wrought, that not yet were the cunningly fashioned ears set thereon; these was he making ready, and was forging the rivets.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.καὶ μὲν δή πού τις μέλλει βροτὸς ἀνδρὶ τελέσσαι,ὅς περ θνητός τʼ ἐστὶ καὶ οὐ τόσα μήδεα οἶδε·πῶς δὴ ἔγωγʼ, ἥ φημι θεάων ἔμμεν ἀρίστη,ἀμφότερον γενεῇ τε καὶ οὕνεκα σὴ παράκοιτιςκέκλημαι, σὺ δὲ πᾶσι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀνάσσεις,οὐκ ὄφελον Τρώεσσι κοτεσσαμένη κακὰ ῥάψαι;ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον·Ἡφαίστου δʼ ἵκανε δόμον Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζαἄφθιτον ἀστερόεντα μεταπρεπέʼ ἀθανάτοισιχάλκεον, ὅν ῥʼ αὐτὸς ποιήσατο κυλλοποδίων.τὸν δʼ εὗρʼ ἱδρώοντα ἑλισσόμενον περὶ φύσαςσπεύδοντα· τρίποδας γὰρ ἐείκοσι πάντας ἔτευχενἑστάμεναι περὶ τοῖχον ἐϋσταθέος μεγάροιο,χρύσεα δέ σφʼ ὑπὸ κύκλα ἑκάστῳ πυθμένι θῆκεν,ὄφρά οἱ αὐτόματοι θεῖον δυσαίατʼ ἀγῶναἠδʼ αὖτις πρὸς δῶμα νεοίατο θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.οἳ δʼ ἤτοι τόσσον μὲν ἔχον τέλος, οὔατα δʼ οὔ πωδαιδάλεα προσέκειτο· τά ῥʼ ἤρτυε, κόπτε δὲ δεσμούς.
And while he laboured thereat with cunning skill, meanwhile there drew nigh to him the goddess, silver-footed Thetis. And Charis of the gleaming veil came forward and marked her—fair Charis, whom the famed god of the two strong arms had wedded. And she clasped her by the hand, and spake, and addressed her:
ὄφρʼ ὅ γε ταῦτʼ ἐπονεῖτο ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι,τόφρά οἱ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα.τὴν δὲ ἴδε προμολοῦσα Χάρις λιπαροκρήδεμνοςκαλή, τὴν ὤπυιε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·
Wherefore, long-robed Thetis, art thou come to our house, an honoured guest, and a welcome? Heretofore thou hast not been wont to come. But follow me further, that I may set before thee entertainment.So saying the bright goddess led her on. Then she made her to sit on a silver-studded chair, a beautiful chair, richly-wrought, and beneath was a footstool for the feet; and she called to Hephaestus, the famed craftsman, and spake to him, saying:Hephaestus, come forth hither; Thetis hath need of thee.And the famous god of the two strong arms answered her:Verily then a dread and honoured goddess is within my halls, even she that saved me when pain was come upon me after I had fallen afar through the will of my shameless mother, that was fain to hide me away by reason of my lameness. Then had I suffered woes in heart, had not Eurynome and Thetis received me into their bosom—Eurynome, daughter of backward-flowing Oceanus.
τίπτε Θέτι τανύπεπλε ἱκάνεις ἡμέτερον δῶαἰδοίη τε φίλη τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.ἀλλʼ ἕπεο προτέρω, ἵνα τοι πὰρ ξείνια θείω.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πρόσω ἄγε δῖα θεάων.τὴν μὲν ἔπειτα καθεῖσεν ἐπὶ θρόνου ἀργυροήλουκαλοῦ δαιδαλέου· ὑπὸ δὲ θρῆνυς ποσὶν ἦεν·κέκλετο δʼ Ἥφαιστον κλυτοτέχνην εἶπέ τε μῦθον·Ἥφαιστε πρόμολʼ ὧδε· Θέτις νύ τι σεῖο χατίζει.τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·ἦ ῥά νύ μοι δεινή τε καὶ αἰδοίη θεὸς ἔνδον,ἥ μʼ ἐσάωσʼ ὅτε μʼ ἄλγος ἀφίκετο τῆλε πεσόνταμητρὸς ἐμῆς ἰότητι κυνώπιδος, ἥ μʼ ἐθέλησεκρύψαι χωλὸν ἐόντα· τότʼ ἂν πάθον ἄλγεα θυμῷ,εἰ μή μʼ Εὐρυνόμη τε Θέτις θʼ ὑπεδέξατο κόλπῳΕὐρυνόμη θυγάτηρ ἀψορρόου Ὠκεανοῖο.
With them then for nine years' space I forged much cunning handiwork, brooches, and spiral arm-bands, and rosettes and necklaces, within their hollow cave; and round about me flowed, murmuring with foam, the stream of Oceanus, a flood unspeakable. Neither did any other know thereof, either of gods or of mortal men, but Thetis knew and Eurynome, even they that saved me. And now is Thetis come to my house; wherefore it verily behoveth me to pay unto fair-tressed Thetis the full price for the saving of my life. But do thou set before her fair entertainment, while I put aside my bellows and all my tools.
τῇσι παρʼ εἰνάετες χάλκευον δαίδαλα πολλά,πόρπας τε γναμπτάς θʼ ἕλικας κάλυκάς τε καὶ ὅρμουςἐν σπῆϊ γλαφυρῷ· περὶ δὲ ῥόος Ὠκεανοῖοἀφρῷ μορμύρων ῥέεν ἄσπετος· οὐδέ τις ἄλλοςᾔδεεν οὔτε θεῶν οὔτε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,ἀλλὰ Θέτις τε καὶ Εὐρυνόμη ἴσαν, αἵ μʼ ἐσάωσαν.ἣ νῦν ἡμέτερον δόμον ἵκει· τώ με μάλα χρεὼπάντα Θέτι καλλιπλοκάμῳ ζῳάγρια τίνειν.ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν οἱ παράθες ξεινήϊα καλά,ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ φύσας ἀποθείομαι ὅπλά τε πάντα.
He spake, and from the anvil rose, a huge, panting bulk, halting the while, but beneath him his slender legs moved nimbly. The bellows he set away from the fire, and gathered all the tools wherewith he wrought into a silver chest; and with a sponge wiped he his face and his two hands withal, and his mighty neck and shaggy breast, and put upon him a tunic, and grasped a stout staff, and went forth halting; but there moved swiftly to support their lord handmaidens wrought of gold in the semblance of living maids. In them is understanding in their hearts, and in them speech and strength, and they know cunning handiwork by gift of the immortal gods. These busily moved to support their lord, and he, limping nigh to where Thetis was, sat him down upon a shining chair; and he clasped her by the hand, and spake, and addressed her:Wherefore, long-robed Thetis, art thou come to our house, an honoured guest and a welcome? Heretofore thou hast not been wont to come. Speak what is in thy mind; my heart bids me fulfill it, if fulfill it I can, and it is a thing that hath fulfillment.And Thetis made answer to him, shedding tears the while:Hephaestus, is there now any goddess, of all those that are in Olympus, that hath endured so many grievous woes in her heart as are the sorrows that Zeus, son of Cronos, hath given me beyond all others? Of all the daughters of the sea he subdued me alone to a mortal, even to Peleus, son of Aeacus, and I endured the bed of a mortal albeit sore against my will. And lo, he lieth in his halls fordone with grievous old age, but now other griefs are mine. A son he gave me to bear and to rear, 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, nor can I any wise help him, though I go to him. The girl that the sons of the Achaeans chose out for him as a prize, her hath the lord Agamemnon taken back from out his arms. Verily in grief for her was he wasting his heart; but the Achaeans were the Trojans penning at the sterns of the ships, and would not suffer them to go forth. And to him the elders of the Argives made prayer, and named many glorious gifts.
ἦ, καὶ ἀπʼ ἀκμοθέτοιο πέλωρ αἴητον ἀνέστηχωλεύων· ὑπὸ δὲ κνῆμαι ῥώοντο ἀραιαί.φύσας μέν ῥʼ ἀπάνευθε τίθει πυρός, ὅπλά τε πάνταλάρνακʼ ἐς ἀργυρέην συλλέξατο, τοῖς ἐπονεῖτο·σπόγγῳ δʼ ἀμφὶ πρόσωπα καὶ ἄμφω χεῖρʼ ἀπομόργνυαὐχένα τε στιβαρὸν καὶ στήθεα λαχνήεντα,δῦ δὲ χιτῶνʼ, ἕλε δὲ σκῆπτρον παχύ, βῆ δὲ θύραζεχωλεύων· ὑπὸ δʼ ἀμφίπολοι ῥώοντο ἄνακτιχρύσειαι ζωῇσι νεήνισιν εἰοικυῖαι.τῇς ἐν μὲν νόος ἐστὶ μετὰ φρεσίν, ἐν δὲ καὶ αὐδὴκαὶ σθένος, ἀθανάτων δὲ θεῶν ἄπο ἔργα ἴσασιν.αἳ μὲν ὕπαιθα ἄνακτος ἐποίπνυον· αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔρρωνπλησίον, ἔνθα Θέτις περ, ἐπὶ θρόνου ἷζε φαεινοῦ,ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·τίπτε Θέτι τανύπεπλε ἱκάνεις ἡμέτερον δῶαἰδοίη τε φίλη τε; πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι θαμίζεις.αὔδα ὅ τι φρονέεις· τελέσαι δέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν,εἰ δύναμαι τελέσαι γε καὶ εἰ τετελεσμένον ἐστίν.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·Ἥφαιστʼ, ἦ ἄρα δή τις, ὅσαι θεαί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ,τοσσάδʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἀνέσχετο κήδεα λυγρὰὅσσʼ ἐμοὶ ἐκ πασέων Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγεʼ ἔδωκεν;ἐκ μέν μʼ ἀλλάων ἁλιάων ἀνδρὶ δάμασσενΑἰακίδῃ Πηλῆϊ, καὶ ἔτλην ἀνέρος εὐνὴνπολλὰ μάλʼ οὐκ ἐθέλουσα. ὃ μὲν δὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷκεῖται ἐνὶ μεγάροις ἀρημένος, ἄλλα δέ μοι νῦν·υἱὸν ἐπεί μοι δῶκε γενέσθαί τε τραφέμεν 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.κούρην ἣν ἄρα οἱ γέρας ἔξελον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,τὴν ἂψ ἐκ χειρῶν ἕλετο κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.ἤτοι ὃ τῆς ἀχέων φρένας ἔφθιεν· αὐτὰρ ἈχαιοὺςΤρῶες ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσιν ἐείλεον, οὐδὲ θύραζεεἴων ἐξιέναι· τὸν δὲ λίσσοντο γέροντεςἈργείων, καὶ πολλὰ περικλυτὰ δῶρʼ ὀνόμαζον.
Then albeit he refused himself to ward from them ruin, yet clad he Patroclus in his own armour and sent him into the war, and added therewithal much people. All day long they fought around the Scaean gates, and on that selfsame day had laid the city waste, but that, after the valiant son of Menoetius had wrought sore harm, Apollo slew him amid the foremost fighters and gave glory to Hector. Therefore am I now come to thy knees, if so be thou wilt be minded to give my son, that is doomed to a speedy death, shield and helmet, and goodly greaves fitted with ankle-pieces, and corselet. For the harness that was his aforetime his trusty comrade lost, when he was slain by the Trojans; and my son lieth on the ground in anguish of heart.Then the famous god of the two strong arms answered her:Be of good cheer, neither let these things distress thy heart. Would that I might so surely avail to hide him afar from dolorous death, when dread fate cometh upon him, as verily goodly armour shall be his, such that in aftertime many a one among the multitude of men shall marvel, whosoever shall behold it.So saying he left her there and went unto his bellows, and he turned these toward the fire and bade them work.
ἔνθʼ αὐτὸς μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἠναίνετο λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι,αὐτὰρ ὃ Πάτροκλον περὶ μὲν τὰ ἃ τεύχεα ἕσσε,πέμπε δέ μιν πόλεμον δέ, πολὺν δʼ ἅμα λαὸν ὄπασσε.πᾶν δʼ ἦμαρ μάρναντο περὶ Σκαιῇσι πύλῃσι·καί νύ κεν αὐτῆμαρ πόλιν ἔπραθον, εἰ μὴ Ἀπόλλωνπολλὰ κακὰ ῥέξαντα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸνἔκτανʼ ἐνὶ προμάχοισι καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ἔδωκε.τοὔνεκα νῦν τὰ σὰ γούναθʼ ἱκάνομαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθαυἱεῖ ἐμῷ ὠκυμόρῳ δόμεν ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειανκαὶ καλὰς κνημῖδας ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίαςκαὶ θώρηχʼ· ὃ γὰρ ἦν οἱ ἀπώλεσε πιστὸς ἑταῖροςΤρωσὶ δαμείς· ὃ δὲ κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονὶ θυμὸν ἀχεύων.τὴν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις·θάρσει· μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.αἲ γάρ μιν θανάτοιο δυσηχέος ὧδε δυναίμηννόσφιν ἀποκρύψαι, ὅτε μιν μόρος αἰνὸς ἱκάνοι,ὥς οἱ τεύχεα καλὰ παρέσσεται, οἷά τις αὖτεἀνθρώπων πολέων θαυμάσσεται, ὅς κεν ἴδηται.ὣς εἰπὼν τὴν μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δʼ ἐπὶ φύσας·τὰς δʼ ἐς πῦρ ἔτρεψε κέλευσέ τε ἐργάζεσθαι.
And the bellows, twenty in all, blew upon the melting-vats, sending forth a ready blast of every force, now to further him as he laboured hard, and again in whatsoever way Hephaestus might wish and his work go on. And on the fire he put stubborn bronze and tin and precious gold and silver; and thereafter he set on the anvil-block a great anvil, and took in one hand a massive hammer, and in the other took he the tongs. First fashioned he a shield, great and sturdy, adorning it cunningly in every part, and round about it set a bright rim, threefold and glittering, and therefrom made fast a silver baldric. Five were the layers of the shield itself; and on it he wrought many curious devices with cunning skill. Therein he wrought the earth, therein the heavens therein the sea, and the unwearied sun, and the moon at the full, and therein all the constellations wherewith heaven is crowned—the Pleiades, and the Hyades and the mighty Orion, and the Bear, that men call also the Wain, that circleth ever in her place, and watcheth Orion, and alone hath no part in the baths of Ocean.
φῦσαι δʼ ἐν χοάνοισιν ἐείκοσι πᾶσαι ἐφύσωνπαντοίην εὔπρηστον ἀϋτμὴν ἐξανιεῖσαι,ἄλλοτε μὲν σπεύδοντι παρέμμεναι, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτε,ὅππως Ἥφαιστός τʼ ἐθέλοι καὶ ἔργον ἄνοιτο.χαλκὸν δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλεν ἀτειρέα κασσίτερόν τεκαὶ χρυσὸν τιμῆντα καὶ ἄργυρον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταθῆκεν ἐν ἀκμοθέτῳ μέγαν ἄκμονα, γέντο δὲ χειρὶῥαιστῆρα κρατερήν, ἑτέρηφι δὲ γέντο πυράγρην.ποίει δὲ πρώτιστα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τεπάντοσε δαιδάλλων, περὶ δʼ ἄντυγα βάλλε φαεινὴντρίπλακα μαρμαρέην, ἐκ δʼ ἀργύρεον τελαμῶνα.πέντε δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ ἔσαν σάκεος πτύχες· αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷποίει δαίδαλα πολλὰ ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν.ἐν μὲν γαῖαν ἔτευξʼ, ἐν δʼ οὐρανόν, ἐν δὲ θάλασσαν,ἠέλιόν τʼ ἀκάμαντα σελήνην τε πλήθουσαν,ἐν δὲ τὰ τείρεα πάντα, τά τʼ οὐρανὸς ἐστεφάνωται,Πληϊάδας θʼ Ὑάδας τε τό τε σθένος ὨρίωνοςἌρκτόν θʼ, ἣν καὶ Ἄμαξαν ἐπίκλησιν καλέουσιν,ἥ τʼ αὐτοῦ στρέφεται καί τʼ Ὠρίωνα δοκεύει,οἴη δʼ ἄμμορός ἐστι λοετρῶν Ὠκεανοῖο.
Therein fashioned he also two cities of mortal men exceeding fair. In the one there were marriages and feastings, and by the light of the blazing torches they were leading the brides from their bowers through the city, and loud rose the bridal song. And young men were whirling in the dance, and in their midst flutes and lyres sounded continually; and there the women stood each before her door and marvelled. But the folk were gathered in the place of assembly; for there a strife had arisen, and two men were striving about the blood-price of a man slain; the one avowed that he had paid all, declaring his cause to the people, but the other refused to accept aught; and each was fain to win the issue on the word of a daysman. Moreover, the folk were cheering both, shewing favour to this side and to that. And heralds held back the folk, and the elders were sitting upon polished stones in the sacred circle, holding in their hands the staves of the loud-voiced heralds. Therewith then would they spring up and give judgment, each in turn. And in the midst lay two talents of gold, to be given to him whoso among them should utter the most righteous judgment. But around the other city lay in leaguer two hosts of warriors gleaming in armour. And twofold plans found favour with them, either to lay waste the town or to divide in portions twain all the substance that the lovely city contained within. Howbeit the besieged would nowise hearken thereto, but were arming to meet the foe in an ambush. The wall were their dear wives and little children guarding, as they stood thereon, and therewithal the men that were holden of old age; but the rest were faring forth, led of Ares and Pallas Athene, both fashioned in gold, and of gold was the raiment wherewith they were clad. Goodly were they and tall in their harness, as beseemeth gods, clear to view amid the rest, and the folk at their feet were smaller.
ἐν δὲ δύω ποίησε πόλεις μερόπων ἀνθρώπωνκαλάς. ἐν τῇ μέν ῥα γάμοι τʼ ἔσαν εἰλαπίναι τε,νύμφας δʼ ἐκ θαλάμων δαΐδων ὕπο λαμπομενάωνἠγίνεον ἀνὰ ἄστυ, πολὺς δʼ ὑμέναιος ὀρώρει·κοῦροι δʼ ὀρχηστῆρες ἐδίνεον, ἐν δʼ ἄρα τοῖσιναὐλοὶ φόρμιγγές τε βοὴν ἔχον· αἳ δὲ γυναῖκεςἱστάμεναι θαύμαζον ἐπὶ προθύροισιν ἑκάστη.λαοὶ δʼ εἰν ἀγορῇ ἔσαν ἀθρόοι· ἔνθα δὲ νεῖκοςὠρώρει, δύο δʼ ἄνδρες ἐνείκεον εἵνεκα ποινῆςἀνδρὸς ἀποφθιμένου· ὃ μὲν εὔχετο πάντʼ ἀποδοῦναιδήμῳ πιφαύσκων, ὃ δʼ ἀναίνετο μηδὲν ἑλέσθαι·ἄμφω δʼ ἱέσθην ἐπὶ ἴστορι πεῖραρ ἑλέσθαι.λαοὶ δʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἐπήπυον ἀμφὶς ἀρωγοί·κήρυκες δʼ ἄρα λαὸν ἐρήτυον· οἳ δὲ γέροντεςεἵατʼ ἐπὶ ξεστοῖσι λίθοις ἱερῷ ἐνὶ κύκλῳ,σκῆπτρα δὲ κηρύκων ἐν χέρσʼ ἔχον ἠεροφώνων·τοῖσιν ἔπειτʼ ἤϊσσον, ἀμοιβηδὶς δὲ δίκαζον.κεῖτο δʼ ἄρʼ ἐν μέσσοισι δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,τῷ δόμεν ὃς μετὰ τοῖσι δίκην ἰθύντατα εἴποι.τὴν δʼ ἑτέρην πόλιν ἀμφὶ δύω στρατοὶ ἥατο λαῶντεύχεσι λαμπόμενοι· δίχα δέ σφισιν ἥνδανε βουλή,ἠὲ διαπραθέειν ἢ ἄνδιχα πάντα δάσασθαικτῆσιν ὅσην πτολίεθρον ἐπήρατον ἐντὸς ἔεργεν·οἳ δʼ οὔ πω πείθοντο, λόχῳ δʼ ὑπεθωρήσσοντο.τεῖχος μέν ῥʼ ἄλοχοί τε φίλαι καὶ νήπια τέκναῥύατʼ ἐφεσταότες, μετὰ δʼ ἀνέρες οὓς ἔχε γῆρας·οἳ δʼ ἴσαν· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρά σφιν Ἄρης καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνηἄμφω χρυσείω, χρύσεια δὲ εἵματα ἕσθην,καλὼ καὶ μεγάλω σὺν τεύχεσιν, ὥς τε θεώ περἀμφὶς ἀριζήλω· λαοὶ δʼ ὑπολίζονες ἦσαν.
But when they were come to the place where it seemed good unto them to set their ambush, in a river-bed where was a watering-place for all herds alike, there they sate them down, clothed about with flaming bronze. Thereafter were two scouts set by them apart from the host, waiting till they should have sight of the sheep and sleek cattle.
οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἵκανον ὅθι σφίσιν εἶκε λοχῆσαιἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθι τʼ ἀρδμὸς ἔην πάντεσσι βοτοῖσιν,ἔνθʼ ἄρα τοί γʼ ἵζοντʼ εἰλυμένοι αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἀπάνευθε δύω σκοποὶ εἵατο λαῶνδέγμενοι ὁππότε μῆλα ἰδοίατο καὶ ἕλικας βοῦς.
And these came presently, and two herdsmen followed with them playing upon pipes; and of the guile wist they not at all. But the liers-in-wait, when they saw these coming on, rushed forth against them and speedily cut off the herds of cattle and fair flocks of white-fleeced sheep, and slew the herdsmen withal.
οἳ δὲ τάχα προγένοντο, δύω δʼ ἅμʼ ἕποντο νομῆεςτερπόμενοι σύριγξι· δόλον δʼ οὔ τι προνόησαν.οἳ μὲν τὰ προϊδόντες ἐπέδραμον, ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτατάμνοντʼ ἀμφὶ βοῶν ἀγέλας καὶ πώεα καλὰἀργεννέων οἰῶν, κτεῖνον δʼ ἐπὶ μηλοβοτῆρας.
But the besiegers, as they sat before the places of gathering and heard much tumult among the kine, mounted forthwith behind their high-stepping horses, and set out thitherward, and speedily came upon them. Then set they their battle in array and fought beside the river banks, and were ever smiting one another with bronze-tipped spears.
οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐπύθοντο πολὺν κέλαδον παρὰ βουσὶνεἰράων προπάροιθε καθήμενοι, αὐτίκʼ ἐφʼ ἵππωνβάντες ἀερσιπόδων μετεκίαθον, αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντο.στησάμενοι δʼ ἐμάχοντο μάχην ποταμοῖο παρʼ ὄχθας,βάλλον δʼ ἀλλήλους χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.
And amid them Strife and Tumult joined in the fray, and deadly Fate, grasping one man alive, fresh-wounded, another without a wound, and another she dragged dead through the mellay by the feet; and the raiment that she had about her shoulders was red with the blood of men. Even as living mortals joined they in the fray and fought; and they were haling away each the bodies of the others' slain. Therein he set also soft fallow-land, rich tilth and wide, that was three times ploughed; and ploughers full many therein were wheeling their yokes and driving them this way and that. And whensoever after turning they came to the headland of the field, then would a man come forth to each and give into his hands a cup of honey-sweet wine; and the ploughmen would turn them in the furrows, eager to reach the headland of the deep tilth. And the field grew black behind and seemed verily as it had been ploughed, for all that it was of gold; herein was the great marvel of the work.
ἐν δʼ Ἔρις ἐν δὲ Κυδοιμὸς ὁμίλεον, ἐν δʼ ὀλοὴ Κήρ,ἄλλον ζωὸν ἔχουσα νεούτατον, ἄλλον ἄουτον,ἄλλον τεθνηῶτα κατὰ μόθον ἕλκε ποδοῖιν·εἷμα δʼ ἔχʼ ἀμφʼ ὤμοισι δαφοινεὸν αἵματι φωτῶν.ὡμίλευν δʼ ὥς τε ζωοὶ βροτοὶ ἠδʼ ἐμάχοντο,νεκρούς τʼ ἀλλήλων ἔρυον κατατεθνηῶτας.ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει νειὸν μαλακὴν πίειραν ἄρουρανεὐρεῖαν τρίπολον· πολλοὶ δʼ ἀροτῆρες ἐν αὐτῇζεύγεα δινεύοντες ἐλάστρεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.οἳ δʼ ὁπότε στρέψαντες ἱκοίατο τέλσον ἀρούρης,τοῖσι δʼ ἔπειτʼ ἐν χερσὶ δέπας μελιηδέος οἴνουδόσκεν ἀνὴρ ἐπιών· τοὶ δὲ στρέψασκον ἀνʼ ὄγμους,ἱέμενοι νειοῖο βαθείης τέλσον ἱκέσθαι.ἣ δὲ μελαίνετʼ ὄπισθεν, ἀρηρομένῃ δὲ ἐῴκει,χρυσείη περ ἐοῦσα· τὸ δὴ περὶ θαῦμα τέτυκτο.
Therein he set also a king's demesne-land, wherein labourers were reaping, bearing sharp sickles in their hands. Some handfuls were falling in rows to the ground along the swathe, while others the binders of sheaves were binding with twisted ropes of straw. Three binders stood hard by them, while behind them boys would gather the handfuls, and bearing them in their arms would busily give them to the binders; and among them the king, staff in hand, was standing in silence at the swathe, joying in his heart. And heralds apart beneath an oak were making ready a feast, and were dressing a great ox they had slain for sacrifice; and the women sprinkled the flesh with white barley in abundance, for the workers' mid-day meal. Therein he set also a vineyard heavily laden with clusters, a vineyard fair and wrought of gold; black were the grapes, and the vines were set up throughout on silver poles. And around it he drave a trench of cyanus, and about that a fence of tin; and one single path led thereto, whereby the vintagers went and came, whensoever they gathered the vintage. And maidens and youths in childish glee were bearing the honey-sweet fruit in wicker baskets. And in their midst a boy made pleasant music with a clear-toned lyre, and thereto sang sweetly the Linos-song with his delicate voice; and his fellows beating the earth in unison therewith followed on with bounding feet mid dance and shoutings. And therein he wrought a herd of straight-horned kine: the kine were fashioned of gold and tin, and with lowing hasted they forth from byre to pasture beside the sounding river, beside the waving reed. And golden were the herdsmen that walked beside the kine, four in number, and nine dogs swift of foot followed after them. But two dread lions amid the foremost kine were holding a loud-lowing bull, and he, bellowing mightily, was haled of them, while after him pursued the dogs and young men. The lions twain had rent the hide of the great bull, and were devouring the inward parts and the black blood, while the herdsmen vainly sought to fright them, tarring on the swift hounds.
ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει τέμενος βασιλήϊον· ἔνθα δʼ ἔριθοιἤμων ὀξείας δρεπάνας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες.δράγματα δʼ ἄλλα μετʼ ὄγμον ἐπήτριμα πῖπτον ἔραζε,ἄλλα δʼ ἀμαλλοδετῆρες ἐν ἐλλεδανοῖσι δέοντο.τρεῖς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀμαλλοδετῆρες ἐφέστασαν· αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεπαῖδες δραγμεύοντες ἐν ἀγκαλίδεσσι φέροντεςἀσπερχὲς πάρεχον· βασιλεὺς δʼ ἐν τοῖσι σιωπῇσκῆπτρον ἔχων ἑστήκει ἐπʼ ὄγμου γηθόσυνος κῆρ.κήρυκες δʼ ἀπάνευθεν ὑπὸ δρυῒ δαῖτα πένοντο,βοῦν δʼ ἱερεύσαντες μέγαν ἄμφεπον· αἳ δὲ γυναῖκεςδεῖπνον ἐρίθοισιν λεύκʼ ἄλφιτα πολλὰ πάλυνον.ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει σταφυλῇσι μέγα βρίθουσαν ἀλωὴνκαλὴν χρυσείην· μέλανες δʼ ἀνὰ βότρυες ἦσαν,ἑστήκει δὲ κάμαξι διαμπερὲς ἀργυρέῃσιν.ἀμφὶ δὲ κυανέην κάπετον, περὶ δʼ ἕρκος ἔλασσεκασσιτέρου· μία δʼ οἴη ἀταρπιτὸς ἦεν ἐπʼ αὐτήν,τῇ νίσοντο φορῆες ὅτε τρυγόῳεν ἀλωήν.παρθενικαὶ δὲ καὶ ἠΐθεοι ἀταλὰ φρονέοντεςπλεκτοῖς ἐν ταλάροισι φέρον μελιηδέα καρπόν.τοῖσιν δʼ ἐν μέσσοισι πάϊς φόρμιγγι λιγείῃἱμερόεν κιθάριζε, λίνον δʼ ὑπὸ καλὸν ἄειδελεπταλέῃ φωνῇ· τοὶ δὲ ῥήσσοντες ἁμαρτῇμολπῇ τʼ ἰυγμῷ τε ποσὶ σκαίροντες ἕποντο.ἐν δʼ ἀγέλην ποίησε βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων·αἳ δὲ βόες χρυσοῖο τετεύχατο κασσιτέρου τε,μυκηθμῷ δʼ ἀπὸ κόπρου ἐπεσσεύοντο νομὸν δὲπὰρ ποταμὸν κελάδοντα, παρὰ ῥοδανὸν δονακῆα.χρύσειοι δὲ νομῆες ἅμʼ ἐστιχόωντο βόεσσιτέσσαρες, ἐννέα δέ σφι κύνες πόδας ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.σμερδαλέω δὲ λέοντε δύʼ ἐν πρώτῃσι βόεσσιταῦρον ἐρύγμηλον ἐχέτην· ὃ δὲ μακρὰ μεμυκὼςἕλκετο· τὸν δὲ κύνες μετεκίαθον ἠδʼ αἰζηοί.τὼ μὲν ἀναρρήξαντε βοὸς μεγάλοιο βοείηνἔγκατα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα λαφύσσετον· οἳ δὲ νομῆεςαὔτως ἐνδίεσαν ταχέας κύνας ὀτρύνοντες.
Howbeit these shrank from fastening on the lions, but stood hard by and barked and sprang aside. Therein also the famed god of the two strong arms wrought a pasture in a fair dell, a great pasture of white-fleeced sheep, and folds, and roofed huts, and pens.
οἳ δʼ ἤτοι δακέειν μὲν ἀπετρωπῶντο λεόντων,ἱστάμενοι δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ὑλάκτεον ἔκ τʼ ἀλέοντο.ἐν δὲ νομὸν ποίησε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήειςἐν καλῇ βήσσῃ μέγαν οἰῶν ἀργεννάων,σταθμούς τε κλισίας τε κατηρεφέας ἰδὲ σηκούς.
Therein furthermore the famed god of the two strong arms cunningly wrought a dancing-floor like unto that which in wide Cnosus Daedalus fashioned of old for fair-tressed Ariadne. There were youths dancing and maidens of the price of many cattle, holding their hands upon the wrists one of the other.
ἐν δὲ χορὸν ποίκιλλε περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,τῷ ἴκελον οἷόν ποτʼ ἐνὶ Κνωσῷ εὐρείῃΔαίδαλος ἤσκησεν καλλιπλοκάμῳ Ἀριάδνῃ.ἔνθα μὲν ἠΐθεοι καὶ παρθένοι ἀλφεσίβοιαιὀρχεῦντʼ ἀλλήλων ἐπὶ καρπῷ χεῖρας ἔχοντες.
Of these the maidens were clad in fine linen, while the youths wore well-woven tunics faintly glistening with oil; and the maidens had fair chaplets, and the youths had daggers of gold hanging from silver baldrics. Now would they run round with cunning feet exceeding lightly, as when a potter sitteth by his wheel that is fitted between his hands and maketh trial of it whether it will run; and now again would they run in rows toward each other. And a great company stood around the lovely dance, taking joy therein; and two tumblers whirled up and down through the midst of them as leaders in the dance. Therein he set also the great might of the river Oceanus, around the uttermost rim of the strongly-wrought shield. But when he had wrought the shield, great and sturdy, then wrought he for him a corselet brighter than the blaze of fire, and he wrought for him a heavy helmet, fitted to his temples, a fair helm, richly-dight, and set thereon a crest of gold; and he wrought him greaves of pliant tin. But when the glorious god of the two strong arms had fashioned all the armour, he took and laid it before the mother of Achilles. And like a falcon she sprang down from snowy Olympus, bearing the flashing armour from Hephaestus.
τῶν δʼ αἳ μὲν λεπτὰς ὀθόνας ἔχον, οἳ δὲ χιτῶναςεἵατʼ ἐϋννήτους, ἦκα στίλβοντας ἐλαίῳ·καί ῥʼ αἳ μὲν καλὰς στεφάνας ἔχον, οἳ δὲ μαχαίραςεἶχον χρυσείας ἐξ ἀργυρέων τελαμώνων.οἳ δʼ ὁτὲ μὲν θρέξασκον ἐπισταμένοισι πόδεσσιῥεῖα μάλʼ, ὡς ὅτε τις τροχὸν ἄρμενον ἐν παλάμῃσινἑζόμενος κεραμεὺς πειρήσεται, αἴ κε θέῃσιν·ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖ θρέξασκον ἐπὶ στίχας ἀλλήλοισι.πολλὸς δʼ ἱμερόεντα χορὸν περιίσταθʼ ὅμιλοςτερπόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφιν ἐμέλπετο θεῖος ἀοιδὸςφορμίζων· δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατʼ αὐτοὺςμολπῆς ἐξάρχοντες ἐδίνευον κατὰ μέσσους.ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει ποταμοῖο μέγα σθένος Ὠκεανοῖοἄντυγα πὰρ πυμάτην σάκεος πύκα ποιητοῖο.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ τεῦξε σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε,τεῦξʼ ἄρα οἱ θώρηκα φαεινότερον πυρὸς αὐγῆς,τεῦξε δέ οἱ κόρυθα βριαρὴν κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖανκαλὴν δαιδαλέην, ἐπὶ δὲ χρύσεον λόφον ἧκε,τεῦξε δέ οἱ κνημῖδας ἑανοῦ κασσιτέροιο.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάνθʼ ὅπλα κάμε κλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις,μητρὸς Ἀχιλλῆος θῆκε προπάροιθεν ἀείρας.ἣ δʼ ἴρηξ ὣς ἆλτο κατʼ Οὐλύμπου νιφόεντοςτεύχεα μαρμαίροντα παρʼ Ἡφαίστοιο φέρουσα.