But when they were now come to the ford of the fair-flowing river, even eddying Xanthus that immortal Zeus begat, there Achilles cleft them asunder, and the one part he drave to the plain toward the city, even where the Achaeans were fleeing in rout the day before, what time glorious Hector was raging—thitherward poured forth some in rout, and Hera spread before them a thick mist to hinder them; but the half of them were pent into the deep-flowing river with its silver eddies. Therein they flung themselves with a great din, and the sheer-falling streams resounded, and the banks round about rang loudly; and with noise of shouting swam they this way and that, whirled about in the eddies. And as when beneath the onrush of fire locusts take wing to flee unto a river, and the unwearied fire burneth them with its sudden oncoming, and they shrink down into the water;
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πόρον ἷξον ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖοΞάνθου δινήεντος, ὃν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς,ἔνθα διατμήξας τοὺς μὲν πεδίον δὲ δίωκεπρὸς πόλιν, ᾗ περ Ἀχαιοὶ ἀτυζόμενοι φοβέοντοἤματι τῷ προτέρῳ, ὅτε μαίνετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·τῇ ῥʼ οἵ γε προχέοντο πεφυζότες, ἠέρα δʼ Ἥρηπίτνα πρόσθε βαθεῖαν ἐρυκέμεν· ἡμίσεες δὲἐς ποταμὸν εἰλεῦντο βαθύρροον ἀργυροδίνην,ἐν δʼ ἔπεσον μεγάλῳ πατάγῳ, βράχε δʼ αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα,ὄχθαι δʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ μεγάλʼ ἴαχον· οἳ δʼ ἀλαλητῷἔννεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ἑλισσόμενοι περὶ δίνας.ὡς δʼ ὅθʼ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς πυρὸς ἀκρίδες ἠερέθονταιφευγέμεναι ποταμὸν δέ· τὸ δὲ φλέγει ἀκάματον πῦρὄρμενον ἐξαίφνης, ταὶ δὲ πτώσσουσι καθʼ ὕδωρ·
even so before Achilles was the sounding stream of deep-eddying Xanthus filled confusedly with chariots and with men. But the Zeus-begotten left there his spear upon the bank, leaning against the tamarisk bushes, and himself leapt in like a god with naught but his sword; and grim was the work he purposed in his heart, and turning him this way and that he smote and smote; and from them uprose hideous groaning as they were smitten with the sword, and the water grew red with blood. And as before a dolphin, huge of maw, other fishes flee and fill the nooks of some harbour of fair anchorage in their terror, for greedily doth he devour whatsoever one he catcheth;
ὣς ὑπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος Ξάνθου βαθυδινήεντοςπλῆτο ῥόος κελάδων ἐπιμὶξ ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν.αὐτὰρ ὃ διογενὴς δόρυ μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ὄχθῃκεκλιμένον μυρίκῃσιν, ὃ δʼ ἔσθορε δαίμονι ἶσοςφάσγανον οἶον ἔχων, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα,τύπτε δʼ ἐπιστροφάδην· τῶν δὲ στόνος ὄρνυτʼ ἀεικὴςἄορι θεινομένων, ἐρυθαίνετο δʼ αἵματι ὕδωρ.ὡς δʼ ὑπὸ δελφῖνος μεγακήτεος ἰχθύες ἄλλοιφεύγοντες πιμπλᾶσι μυχοὺς λιμένος εὐόρμουδειδιότες· μάλα γάρ τε κατεσθίει ὅν κε λάβῃσιν·
even so cowered the Trojans in the streams of the dread river beneath the steep banks. And he, when his hands grew weary of slaying, chose twelve youths alive from out the river as blood-price for dead Patroclus, son of Menoetius. These led he forth dazed like fawns, and bound their hands behind them with shapely thongs, which they themselves wore about their pliant tunics, and gave them to his comrades to lead to the hollow ships. Then himself he sprang back again, full eager to slay. There met he a son of Dardanian Priam fleeing forth from the river, even Lycaon, whom on a time he had himself taken and brought sore against his will, from his father's orchard being come forth in the night; he was cutting with the sharp bronze the young shoots of a wild fig-tree, to be the rims of a chariot; but upon him, an unlooked-for bane, came goodly Achilles.
ὣς Τρῶες ποταμοῖο κατὰ δεινοῖο ῥέεθραπτῶσσον ὑπὸ κρημνούς. ὃ δʼ ἐπεὶ κάμε χεῖρας ἐναίρων,ζωοὺς ἐκ ποταμοῖο δυώδεκα λέξατο κούρουςποινὴν Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο θανόντος·τοὺς ἐξῆγε θύραζε τεθηπότας ἠΰτε νεβρούς,δῆσε δʼ ὀπίσσω χεῖρας ἐϋτμήτοισιν ἱμᾶσι,τοὺς αὐτοὶ φορέεσκον ἐπὶ στρεπτοῖσι χιτῶσι,δῶκε δʼ ἑταίροισιν κατάγειν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.αὐτὰρ ὃ ἂψ ἐπόρουσε δαϊζέμεναι μενεαίνων.ἔνθʼ υἷι Πριάμοιο συνήντετο Δαρδανίδαοἐκ ποταμοῦ φεύγοντι Λυκάονι, τόν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὸςἦγε λαβὼν ἐκ πατρὸς ἀλωῆς οὐκ ἐθέλονταἐννύχιος προμολών· ὃ δʼ ἐρινεὸν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷτάμνε νέους ὄρπηκας, ἵνʼ ἅρματος ἄντυγες εἶεν·τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀνώϊστον κακὸν ἤλυθε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
For that time had he sold him into well-built Lemnos, bearing him thither on his ships, and the son of Jason had given a price for him; but from thence a guest-friend had ransomed him— and a great price he gave—even Eetion of Imbros, and had sent him unto goodly Arisbe; whence he had fled forth secretly and come to the house of his fathers.
καὶ τότε μέν μιν Λῆμνον ἐϋκτιμένην ἐπέρασσενηυσὶν ἄγων, ἀτὰρ υἱὸς Ἰήσονος ὦνον ἔδωκε·κεῖθεν δὲ ξεῖνός μιν ἐλύσατο πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκενἼμβριος Ἠετίων, πέμψεν δʼ ἐς δῖαν Ἀρίσβην·ἔνθεν ὑπεκπροφυγὼν πατρώϊον ἵκετο δῶμα.
For eleven days' space had he joy amid his friends, being come forth from Lemnos; but on the twelfth a god cast him once more into the hands of Achilles, who was to send him to the house of Hades, loath though he was to go. When the swift-footed, goodly Achilles was ware of him, all unarmed, without helm or shield, nor had he a spear, but had thrown all these from him to the ground; for the sweat vexed him as he sought to flee from out the river, and weariness overmastered his knees beneath him; then, mightily moved, Achilles spake unto his own great-hearted spirit:Now look you, verily a great marvel is this that mine eyes behold!
ἕνδεκα δʼ ἤματα θυμὸν ἐτέρπετο οἷσι φίλοισινἐλθὼν ἐκ Λήμνοιο· δυωδεκάτῃ δέ μιν αὖτιςχερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος θεὸς ἔμβαλεν, ὅς μιν ἔμελλεπέμψειν εἰς Ἀΐδαο καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα νέεσθαι.τὸν δʼ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺςγυμνὸν ἄτερ κόρυθός τε καὶ ἀσπίδος, οὐδʼ ἔχεν ἔγχος,ἀλλὰ τὰ μέν ῥʼ ἀπὸ πάντα χαμαὶ βάλε· τεῖρε γὰρ ἱδρὼςφεύγοντʼ ἐκ ποταμοῦ, κάματος δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἐδάμνα·ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι·
In good sooth the great-hearted Trojans that I have slain will rise up again from beneath the murky darkness, seeing this man is thus come back and hath escaped the pitiless day of doom, albeit he was sold into sacred Lemnos; neither hath the deep of the grey sea stayed him, that holdeth back full many against their will.
ἦ μάλα δὴ Τρῶες μεγαλήτορες οὕς περ ἔπεφνοναὖτις ἀναστήσονται ὑπὸ ζόφου ἠερόεντος,οἷον δὴ καὶ ὅδʼ ἦλθε φυγὼν ὕπο νηλεὲς ἦμαρΛῆμνον ἐς ἠγαθέην πεπερημένος· οὐδέ μιν ἔσχεπόντος ἁλὸς πολιῆς, ὃ πολέας ἀέκοντας ἐρύκει.
Nay, but come, of the point of our spear also shall he taste, that I may see and know in heart whether in like manner he will come back even from beneath, or whether the life-giving earth will hold him fast, she that holdeth even him that is strong.So pondered he, and abode; but the other drew nigh him, dazed, eager to touch his knees, and exceeding fain of heart was he to escape from evil death and black fate. Then goodly Achilles lifted on high his long spear, eager to smite him, but Lycaon stooped and ran thereunder, and clasped his knees; and the spear passed over his back and was stayed in the ground, albeit fain to glut itself with the flesh of man. Then Lycaon besought him, with the one hand clasping his knees while with the other he held the sharp spear, and would not let it go; and he spake and addressed him with winged words:I beseech thee by thy knees, Achilles, and do thou respect me and have pity; in thine eyes, O thou nurtured of Zeus, am I even as a sacred suppliant, for at thy table first did I eat of the grain of Demeter on the day when thou didst take me captive in the well-ordered orchard, and didst lead me afar from father and from friends, and sell me into sacred Lemnos; and I fetched thee the price of an hundred oxen.
ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ δουρὸς ἀκωκῆς ἡμετέροιογεύσεται, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἠδὲ δαείωἢ ἄρʼ ὁμῶς καὶ κεῖθεν ἐλεύσεται, ἦ μιν ἐρύξειγῆ φυσίζοος, ἥ τε κατὰ κρατερόν περ ἐρύκει.ὣς ὅρμαινε μένων· ὃ δέ οἱ σχεδὸν ἦλθε τεθηπὼςγούνων ἅψασθαι μεμαώς, περὶ δʼ ἤθελε θυμῷἐκφυγέειν θάνατόν τε κακὸν καὶ κῆρα μέλαιναν.ἤτοι ὃ μὲν δόρυ μακρὸν ἀνέσχετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺςοὐτάμεναι μεμαώς, ὃ δʼ ὑπέδραμε καὶ λάβε γούνωνκύψας· ἐγχείη δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ νώτου ἐνὶ γαίῃἔστη ἱεμένη χροὸς ἄμεναι ἀνδρομέοιο.αὐτὰρ ὃ τῇ ἑτέρῃ μὲν ἑλὼν ἐλλίσσετο γούνων,τῇ δʼ ἑτέρῃ ἔχεν ἔγχος ἀκαχμένον οὐδὲ μεθίει·καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·γουνοῦμαι σʼ Ἀχιλεῦ· σὺ δέ μʼ αἴδεο καί μʼ ἐλέησον·ἀντί τοί εἰμʼ ἱκέταο διοτρεφὲς αἰδοίοιο·πὰρ γὰρ σοὶ πρώτῳ πασάμην Δημήτερος ἀκτὴνἤματι τῷ ὅτε μʼ εἷλες ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,καί μʼ ἐπέρασσας ἄνευθεν ἄγων πατρός τε φίλων τεΛῆμνον ἐς ἠγαθέην, ἑκατόμβοιον δέ τοι ἦλφον.
Lo, now have I bought my freedom by paying thrice as much, and this is my twelfth morn since I came to Ilios, after many sufferings; and now again has deadly fate put me in thy hands; surely it must be that I am hated of father Zeus, seeing he hath given me unto thee again; and to a brief span of life did my mother bear me, even Laothoe, daughter of the old man Altes,—Altes that is lord over the war-loving Leleges, holding steep Pedasus on the Satnioeis. His daughter Priam had to wife, and therewithal many another, and of her we twain were born, and thou wilt butcher us both. Him thou didst lay low amid the foremost foot-men, even godlike Polydorus, when thou hadst smitten him with a cast of thy sharp spear, and now even here shall evil come upon me; for I deem not that I shall escape thy hands, seeing a god hath brought me nigh thee. Yet another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart:
νῦν δὲ λύμην τρὶς τόσσα πορών· ἠὼς δέ μοί ἐστινἥδε δυωδεκάτη, ὅτʼ ἐς Ἴλιον εἰλήλουθαπολλὰ παθών· νῦν αὖ με τεῇς ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκεμοῖρʼ ὀλοή· μέλλω που ἀπεχθέσθαι Διὶ πατρί,ὅς με σοὶ αὖτις δῶκε· μινυνθάδιον δέ με μήτηργείνατο Λαοθόη θυγάτηρ Ἄλταο γέροντοςἌλτεω, ὃς Λελέγεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισιν ἀνάσσειΠήδασον αἰπήεσσαν ἔχων ἐπὶ Σατνιόεντι.τοῦ δʼ ἔχε θυγατέρα Πρίαμος, πολλὰς δὲ καὶ ἄλλας·τῆς δὲ δύω γενόμεσθα, σὺ δʼ ἄμφω δειροτομήσεις,ἤτοι τὸν πρώτοισι μετὰ πρυλέεσσι δάμασσαςἀντίθεον Πολύδωρον, ἐπεὶ βάλες ὀξέϊ δουρί·νῦν δὲ δὴ ἐνθάδʼ ἐμοὶ κακὸν ἔσσεται· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐωσὰς χεῖρας φεύξεσθαι, ἐπεί ῥʼ ἐπέλασσέ γε δαίμων.ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι·
slay me not; since I am not sprung from the same womb as Hector, who slew thy comrade the kindly and valiant.So spake to him the glorious son of Priam with words of entreaty, but all ungentle was the voice he heard:Fool, tender not ransom to me, neither make harangue.
μή με κτεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐχ ὁμογάστριος Ἕκτορός εἰμι,ὅς τοι ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνεν ἐνηέα τε κρατερόν τε.ὣς ἄρα μιν Πριάμοιο προσηύδα φαίδιμος υἱὸςλισσόμενος ἐπέεσσιν, ἀμείλικτον δʼ ὄπʼ ἄκουσε·νήπιε μή μοι ἄποινα πιφαύσκεο μηδʼ ἀγόρευε·
Until Patroclus met his day of fate, even till then was it more pleasing to me to spare the Trojans, and full many I took alive and sold oversea; but now is there not one that shall escape death, whomsoever before the walls of Ilios God shall deliver into my hands— aye, not one among all the Trojans, and least of all among the sons of Priam. Nay, friend, do thou too die; why lamentest thou thus? Patroclus also died, who was better far than thou. And seest thou not what manner of man am I, how comely and how tall? A good man was my father, and a goddess the mother that bare me; yet over me too hang death and mighty fate.
πρὶν μὲν γὰρ Πάτροκλον ἐπισπεῖν αἴσιμον ἦμαρτόφρά τί μοι πεφιδέσθαι ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φίλτερον ἦενΤρώων, καὶ πολλοὺς ζωοὺς ἕλον ἠδʼ ἐπέρασσα·νῦν δʼ οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅς τις θάνατον φύγῃ ὅν κε θεός γεἸλίου προπάροιθεν ἐμῇς ἐν χερσὶ βάλῃσικαὶ πάντων Τρώων, περὶ δʼ αὖ Πριάμοιό γε παίδων.ἀλλὰ φίλος θάνε καὶ σύ· τί ἦ ὀλοφύρεαι οὕτως;κάτθανε καὶ Πάτροκλος, ὅ περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.οὐχ ὁράᾳς οἷος καὶ ἐγὼ καλός τε μέγας τε;πατρὸς δʼ εἴμʼ ἀγαθοῖο, θεὰ δέ με γείνατο μήτηρ·
There shall come a dawn or eve or mid-day, when my life too shall some man take in battle, whether he smite me with cast of the spear, or with an arrow from the string.So spake he, and the other's knees were loosened where he was and his heart was melted.
ἀλλʼ ἔπι τοι καὶ ἐμοὶ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή·ἔσσεται ἢ ἠὼς ἢ δείλη ἢ μέσον ἦμαρὁππότε τις καὶ ἐμεῖο Ἄρῃ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕληταιἢ ὅ γε δουρὶ βαλὼν ἢ ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστῷ.ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δʼ αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα καὶ φίλον ἦτορ·
The spear he let go, but crouched with both hands outstretched. But Achilles drew his sharp sword and smote him upon the collar-bone beside the neck, and all the two-edged sword sank in; and prone upon the earth he lay outstretched, and the dark blood flowed forth and wetted the ground.
ἔγχος μέν ῥʼ ἀφέηκεν, ὃ δʼ ἕζετο χεῖρε πετάσσαςἀμφοτέρας· Ἀχιλεὺς δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξὺτύψε κατὰ κληῗδα παρʼ αὐχένα, πᾶν δέ οἱ εἴσωδῦ ξίφος ἄμφηκες· ὃ δʼ ἄρα πρηνὴς ἐπὶ γαίῃκεῖτο ταθείς, ἐκ δʼ αἷμα μέλαν ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.
Him then Achilles seized by the foot and flung into the river to go his way, and vaunting over him he spake winged words:Lie there now among the fishes that shall lick the blood from thy wound, nor reck aught of thee, neither shall thy mother lay thee on a bier and make lament; nay, eddying Scamander shall bear thee into the broad gulf of the sea. Many a fish as he leapeth amid the waves, shall dart up beneath the black ripple to eat the white fat of Lycaon. So perish ye, till we be come to the city of sacred Ilios, ye in flight, and I making havoc in your rear.
τὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ποταμὸν δὲ λαβὼν ποδὸς ἧκε φέρεσθαι,καί οἱ ἐπευχόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντʼ ἀγόρευεν·ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν κεῖσο μετʼ ἰχθύσιν, οἵ σʼ ὠτειλὴναἷμʼ ἀπολιχμήσονται ἀκηδέες· οὐδέ σε μήτηρἐνθεμένη λεχέεσσι γοήσεται, ἀλλὰ Σκάμανδροςοἴσει δινήεις εἴσω ἁλὸς εὐρέα κόλπον·θρῴσκων τις κατὰ κῦμα μέλαιναν φρῖχʼ ὑπαΐξειἰχθύς, ὅς κε φάγῃσι Λυκάονος ἀργέτα δημόν.φθείρεσθʼ εἰς ὅ κεν ἄστυ κιχείομεν Ἰλίου ἱρῆςὑμεῖς μὲν φεύγοντες, ἐγὼ δʼ ὄπιθεν κεραΐζων.
Not even the fair-flowing river with his silver eddies shall aught avail you, albeit to him, I ween, ye have long time been wont to sacrifice bulls full many, and to cast single-hooved horses while yet they lived. into his eddies. Howbeit even so shall ye perish by an evil fate till ye have all paid the price for the slaying of Patroclus and for the woe of the Achaeans, whom by the swift ships ye slew while I tarried afar.So spake he, and the river waxed the more wroth at heart, and pondered in mind how he should stay goodly Achilles from his labour and ward off ruin from the Trojans. Meanwhile the son of Peleus bearing his far-shadowing spear leapt, eager to slay him, upon Asteropaeus, son of Pelegon, that was begotten of wide-flowing Axius and Periboea, eldest of the daughters of Acessamenus; for with her lay the deep-eddying River. Upon him rushed Achilles, and Asteropaeus stood forth from the river to face him, holding two spears; and courage was set in his heart by Xanthus, being wroth because of the youths slain in battle, of whom Achilles was making havoc along the stream and had no pity. But when they were come near, as they advanced one against the other, then finst unto Asteropaeus spake swift-footed, goodly Achilles:
οὐδʼ ὑμῖν ποταμός περ ἐΰρροος ἀργυροδίνηςἀρκέσει, ᾧ δὴ δηθὰ πολέας ἱερεύετε ταύρους,ζωοὺς δʼ ἐν δίνῃσι καθίετε μώνυχας ἵππους.ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ὀλέεσθε κακὸν μόρον, εἰς ὅ κε πάντεςτίσετε Πατρόκλοιο φόνον καὶ λοιγὸν Ἀχαιῶν,οὓς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἐπέφνετε νόσφιν ἐμεῖο.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, ποταμὸς δὲ χολώσατο κηρόθι μᾶλλον,ὅρμηνεν δʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὅπως παύσειε πόνοιοδῖον Ἀχιλλῆα, Τρώεσσι δὲ λοιγὸν ἀλάλκοι.τόφρα δὲ Πηλέος υἱὸς ἔχων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχοςἈστεροπαίῳ ἐπᾶλτο κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνωνυἱέϊ Πηλεγόνος· τὸν δʼ Ἀξιὸς εὐρυρέεθροςγείνατο καὶ Περίβοια Ἀκεσσαμενοῖο θυγατρῶνπρεσβυτάτη· τῇ γάρ ῥα μίγη ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης.τῷ ῥʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἐπόρουσεν, ὃ δʼ ἀντίος ἐκ ποταμοῖοἔστη ἔχων δύο δοῦρε· μένος δέ οἱ ἐν φρεσὶ θῆκεΞάνθος, ἐπεὶ κεχόλωτο δαϊκταμένων αἰζηῶν,τοὺς Ἀχιλεὺς ἐδάϊζε κατὰ ῥόον οὐδʼ ἐλέαιρεν.οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
Who among men art thou, and from whence, that thou darest come forth against me? Unhappy are they whose children face my might.Then spake unto him the glorious son of Pelegon:Great-souled son of Peleus, wherefore enquirest thou of my lineage? I come from deep-soiled Paeonia, a land afar, leading the Paeonians with their long spears, and this is now my eleventh morn, since I came to Ilios. But my lineage is from wide-flowing Axius—Axius, the water whereof flows the fairest over the face of the earth—who begat Pelegon famed for his spear, and he, men say, was my father. Now let us do battle, glorious Achilles.So spake he threatening, but goodly Achilles raised on high the spear of Pelian ash; howbeit the warrior Asteropaeus hurled with both spears at once, for he was one that could use both hands alike. With the one spear he smote the shield, but it brake not through, for the gold stayed it, the gift of the god and with the other he smote the right forearm of Achilles a grazing blow, and the black blood gushed forth; but the spear-point passed above him and fixed itself in the earth, fain to glut itself with flesh. Then Achilles in his turn hurled at Asteropaeus his straight-flying spear of ash, eager to slay him but missed the man and struck the high bank and up to half its length he fixed in the bank the spear of ash. But the son of Peleus, drawing his sharp sword from beside his thigh, leapt upon him furiously, and the other availed not to draw in his stout hand the ashen spear of Achilles forth from out the bank. Thrice he made it quiver in his eagerness to draw it, and thrice he gave up his effort; but the fourth time his heart was fain to bend and break the ashen spear of the son of Aeacus; howbeit ere that might be Achilles drew nigh and robbed him of life with his sword.
τίς πόθεν εἰς ἀνδρῶν ὅ μευ ἔτλης ἀντίος ἐλθεῖν;δυστήνων δέ τε παῖδες ἐμῷ μένει ἀντιόωσι.τὸν δʼ αὖ Πηλεγόνος προσεφώνεε φαίδιμος υἱός·Πηλεΐδη μεγάθυμε τί ἦ γενεὴν ἐρεείνεις;εἴμʼ ἐκ Παιονίης ἐριβώλου τηλόθʼ ἐούσηςΠαίονας ἄνδρας ἄγων δολιχεγχέας· ἥδε δέ μοι νῦνἠὼς ἑνδεκάτη ὅτε Ἴλιον εἰλήλουθα.αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γενεὴ ἐξ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντοςἈξιοῦ, ὃς κάλλιστον ὕδωρ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵησιν,ὃς τέκε Πηλεγόνα κλυτὸν ἔγχεϊ· τὸν δʼ ἐμέ φασιγείνασθαι· νῦν αὖτε μαχώμεθα φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ.ὣς φάτʼ ἀπειλήσας, ὃ δʼ ἀνέσχετο δῖος ἈχιλλεὺςΠηλιάδα μελίην· ὃ δʼ ἁμαρτῇ δούρασιν ἀμφὶςἥρως Ἀστεροπαῖος, ἐπεὶ περιδέξιος ἦεν.καί ῥʼ ἑτέρῳ μὲν δουρὶ σάκος βάλεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸῥῆξε σάκος· χρυσὸς γὰρ ἐρύκακε δῶρα θεοῖο·τῷ δʼ ἑτέρῳ μιν πῆχυν ἐπιγράβδην βάλε χειρὸςδεξιτερῆς, σύτο δʼ αἷμα κελαινεφές· ἣ δʼ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦγαίῃ ἐνεστήρικτο λιλαιομένη χροὸς ἆσαι.δεύτερος αὖτʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μελίην ἰθυπτίωναἈστεροπαίῳ ἐφῆκε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων.καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ ὑψηλὴν βάλεν ὄχθην,μεσσοπαγὲς δʼ ἄρʼ ἔθηκε κατʼ ὄχθης μείλινον ἔγχος.Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἄορ ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦἆλτʼ ἐπί οἱ μεμαώς· ὃ δʼ ἄρα μελίην Ἀχιλῆοςοὐ δύνατʼ ἐκ κρημνοῖο ἐρύσσαι χειρὶ παχείῃ.τρὶς μέν μιν πελέμιξεν ἐρύσσασθαι μενεαίνων,τρὶς δὲ μεθῆκε βίης· τὸ δὲ τέτρατον ἤθελε θυμῷἆξαι ἐπιγνάμψας δόρυ μείλινον Αἰακίδαο,ἀλλὰ πρὶν Ἀχιλεὺς σχεδὸν ἄορι θυμὸν ἀπηύρα.
In the belly he smote him beside the navel, and forth upon the ground gushed all his bowels, and darkness enfolded his eyes as he lay gasping. And Achilles leapt upon his breast and despoiled him of his arms, and exulted saying:Lie as thou art! Hard is it to strive with the children of the mighty son of Cronos, albeit for one begotten of a River. Thou verily declarest that thy birth is from the wide-flowing River, whereas I avow me to be of the lineage of great Zeus. The father that begat me is one that is lord among the many Myrmidons, even Peleus, son of Aeacus; and Aeacus was begotten of Zeus.
γαστέρα γάρ μιν τύψε παρʼ ὀμφαλόν, ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πᾶσαιχύντο χαμαὶ χολάδες· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψενἀσθμαίνοντʼ· Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὀρούσαςτεύχεά τʼ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·κεῖσʼ οὕτως· χαλεπόν τοι ἐρισθενέος Κρονίωνοςπαισὶν ἐριζέμεναι ποταμοῖό περ ἐκγεγαῶτι.φῆσθα σὺ μὲν ποταμοῦ γένος ἔμμεναι εὐρὺ ῥέοντος,αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ γενεὴν μεγάλου Διὸς εὔχομαι εἶναι.τίκτέ μʼ ἀνὴρ πολλοῖσιν ἀνάσσων ΜυρμιδόνεσσιΠηλεὺς Αἰακίδης· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ Αἰακὸς ἐκ Διὸς ἦεν.
Wherefore as Zeus is mightier than rivers that murmur seaward, so mightier too is the seed of Zeus than the seed of a river. For lo, hard beside thee is a great River, if so be he can avail thee aught; but it may not be that one should fight with Zeus the son of Cronos. With him doth not even king Achelous vie, nor the great might of deep-flowing Ocean, from whom all rivers flow and every sea, and all the springs and deep wells; howbeit even he hath fear of the lightning of great Zeus, and his dread thunder, whenso it crasheth from heaven.
τὼ κρείσσων μὲν Ζεὺς ποταμῶν ἁλιμυρηέντων,κρείσσων αὖτε Διὸς γενεὴ ποταμοῖο τέτυκται.καὶ γὰρ σοὶ ποταμός γε πάρα μέγας, εἰ δύναταί τιχραισμεῖν· ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστι Διὶ Κρονίωνι μάχεσθαι,τῷ οὐδὲ κρείων Ἀχελώϊος ἰσοφαρίζει,οὐδὲ βαθυρρείταο μέγα σθένος Ὠκεανοῖο,ἐξ οὗ περ πάντες ποταμοὶ καὶ πᾶσα θάλασσακαὶ πᾶσαι κρῆναι καὶ φρείατα μακρὰ νάουσιν·ἀλλὰ καὶ ὃς δείδοικε Διὸς μεγάλοιο κεραυνὸνδεινήν τε βροντήν, ὅτʼ ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν σμαραγήσῃ.
He spake, and drew forth from the bank his spear of bronze, and left Asteropaeus where he was, when he had robbed him of his life, lying in the sands; and the dark water wetted him. With him then the eels and fishes dealt, plucking and tearing the fat about his kidneys;
ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐκ κρημνοῖο ἐρύσσατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,τὸν δὲ κατʼ αὐτόθι λεῖπεν, ἐπεὶ φίλον ἦτορ ἀπηύρα,κείμενον ἐν ψαμάθοισι, δίαινε δέ μιν μέλαν ὕδωρ.τὸν μὲν ἄρʼ ἐγχέλυές τε καὶ ἰχθύες ἀμφεπένοντοδημὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι ἐπινεφρίδιον κείροντες·
but Achilles went his way after the Paeonians, lords of chariots, who were still huddled in rout along the eddying river, when they saw their best man mightily vanquished in the fierce conflict beneath the hands and sword of the son of Peleus. There slew he Thersilochus and Mydon and Astypylus and Mnesus and Thrasius and Aenius and Ophelestes; and yet more of the Paeonians would swift Achilles have slain, had not the deep-eddying River waxed wroth and called to him in the semblance of a man, sending forth a voice from out the deep eddy:O Achilles, beyond men art thou in might, and beyond men doest deeds of evil; for ever do the very gods give thee aid. If so be the son of Cronos hath granted thee to slay all the men of Troy, forth out of my stream at least do thou drive them, and work thy direful work on the plain. Lo, full are my lovely streams with dead men, nor can I anywise avail to pour my waters forth into the bright sea, being choked with dead, while thou ever slayest ruthlessly. Nay, come, let be; amazement holds me, thou leader of hosts.Then swift-footed Achilles answered him, saying:Thus shall it be, Scamander, nurtured of Zeus, even as thou biddest. Howbeit the proud Trojan will I not cease to slay until I have pent them in their city, and have made trial of Hector, man to man, whether he shall slay me or I him.So saying he leapt upon the Trojans like a god. Then unto Apollo spake the deep-eddying River:Out upon it, thou lord of the silver bow, child of Zeus, thou verily hast not kept the commandment of the son of Cronos, who straitly charged thee to stand by the side of the Trojans and to succour them, until the late-setting star of even shall have come forth and darkened the deep-soiled earth.He spake, and Achilles, famed for his spear, sprang from the bank and leapt into his midst; but the River rushed upon him with surging flood, and roused all his streams tumultuously, and swept along the many dead that lay thick within his bed, slain by Achilles; these lie cast forth to the land, bellowing the while like a bull, and the living he saved under his fair streams, hiding them in eddies deep and wide.
αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ ῥʼ ἰέναι μετὰ Παίονας ἱπποκορυστάς,οἵ ῥʼ ἔτι πὰρ ποταμὸν πεφοβήατο δινήεντα,ὡς εἶδον τὸν ἄριστον ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃχέρσʼ ὕπο Πηλεΐδαο καὶ ἄορι ἶφι δαμέντα.ἔνθʼ ἕλε Θερσίλοχόν τε Μύδωνά τε Ἀστύπυλόν τεΜνῆσόν τε Θρασίον τε καὶ Αἴνιον ἠδʼ Ὀφελέστην·καί νύ κʼ ἔτι πλέονας κτάνε Παίονας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς,εἰ μὴ χωσάμενος προσέφη ποταμὸς βαθυδίνηςἀνέρι εἰσάμενος, βαθέης δʼ ἐκ φθέγξατο δίνης·ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, περὶ μὲν κρατέεις, περὶ δʼ αἴσυλα ῥέζειςἀνδρῶν· αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἀμύνουσιν θεοὶ αὐτοί.εἴ τοι Τρῶας ἔδωκε Κρόνου παῖς πάντας ὀλέσσαι,ἐξ ἐμέθεν γʼ ἐλάσας πεδίον κάτα μέρμερα ῥέζε·πλήθει γὰρ δή μοι νεκύων ἐρατεινὰ ῥέεθρα,οὐδέ τί πῃ δύναμαι προχέειν ῥόον εἰς ἅλα δῖανστεινόμενος νεκύεσσι, σὺ δὲ κτείνεις ἀϊδήλως.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ ἔασον· ἄγη μʼ ἔχει ὄρχαμε λαῶν.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·ἔσται ταῦτα Σκάμανδρε διοτρεφές, ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.Τρῶας δʼ οὐ πρὶν λήξω ὑπερφιάλους ἐναρίζων,πρὶν ἔλσαι κατὰ ἄστυ καὶ Ἕκτορι πειρηθῆναιἀντιβίην, ἤ κέν με δαμάσσεται, ἦ κεν ἐγὼ τόν.ὣς εἰπὼν Τρώεσσιν ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος·καὶ τότʼ Ἀπόλλωνα προσέφη ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης·ὢ πόποι ἀργυρότοξε Διὸς τέκος οὐ σύ γε βουλὰςεἰρύσαο Κρονίωνος, ὅ τοι μάλα πόλλʼ ἐπέτελλεΤρωσὶ παρεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν, εἰς ὅ κεν ἔλθῃδείελος ὀψὲ δύων, σκιάσῃ δʼ ἐρίβωλον ἄρουραν.ἦ, καὶ Ἀχιλλεὺς μὲν δουρικλυτὸς ἔνθορε μέσσῳκρημνοῦ ἀπαΐξας· ὃ δʼ ἐπέσσυτο οἴδματι θύων,πάντα δʼ ὄρινε ῥέεθρα κυκώμενος, ὦσε δὲ νεκροὺςπολλούς, οἵ ῥα κατʼ αὐτὸν ἅλις ἔσαν, οὓς κτάνʼ Ἀχιλλεύςτοὺς ἔκβαλλε θύραζε μεμυκὼς ἠΰτε ταῦροςχέρσον δέ· ζωοὺς δὲ σάω κατὰ καλὰ ῥέεθρα,κρύπτων ἐν δίνῃσι βαθείῃσιν μεγάλῃσι.
In terrible wise about Achilles towered the tumultuous wave, and the stream as it beat upon his shield thrust him backward, nor might he avail to stand firm upon his feet. Then grasped he an elm, shapely and tall, but it fell uprooted and tore away all the bank, and stretched over the fair streams with its thick branches, and dammed the River himself, falling all within him; but Achilles, springing forth from the eddy hasted to fly with swift feet over the plain, for he was seized with fear. Howbeit the great god ceased not, but rushed upon him with dark-crested wave, that he might stay goodly Achilles from his labour, and ward off ruin from the Trojans. But the son of Peleus rushed back as far as a spear-cast with the swoop of a black eagle, the mighty hunter, that is alike the strongest and swiftest of winged things; like him he darted, and upon his breast the bronze rang terribly, while he swerved from beneath the flood and fled ever onward, and the River followed after, flowing with a mighty roar. As when a man that guideth its flow leadeth from a dusky spring a stream of water amid his plants and garden-lots a mattock in his hands and cleareth away the dams from the channel— and as it floweth all the pebbles beneath are swept along therewith, and it glideth swiftly onward with murmuring sound down a sloping place and outstrippeth even him that guideth it;—even thus did the flood of the River ever overtake Achilles for all he was fleet of foot; for the gods are mightier than men. And oft as swift-footed, goodly Achilles strove to make stand against him and to learn if all the immortals that hold broad heaven were driving him in rout, so often would the great flood of the heaven-fed River beat upon his shoulders from above; and he would spring on high with his feet in vexation of spirit, and the River was ever tiring his knees with its violent flow beneath, and was snatching away the ground from under his feet. Then the son of Peleus uttered a bitter cry, with a look at the broad heaven:Father Zeus, how is it that no one of the gods taketh it upon him in my pitiless plight to save me from out the River! thereafter let come upon me what may.
δεινὸν δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀχιλῆα κυκώμενον ἵστατο κῦμα,ὤθει δʼ ἐν σάκεϊ πίπτων ῥόος· οὐδὲ πόδεσσινεἶχε στηρίξασθαι· ὃ δὲ πτελέην ἕλε χερσὶνεὐφυέα μεγάλην· ἣ δʼ ἐκ ῥιζῶν ἐριποῦσακρημνὸν ἅπαντα διῶσεν, ἐπέσχε δὲ καλὰ ῥέεθραὄζοισιν πυκινοῖσι, γεφύρωσεν δέ μιν αὐτὸνεἴσω πᾶσʼ ἐριποῦσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐκ δίνης ἀνορούσαςἤϊξεν πεδίοιο ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πέτεσθαιδείσας· οὐδέ τʼ ἔληγε θεὸς μέγας, ὦρτο δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷἀκροκελαινιόων, ἵνα μιν παύσειε πόνοιοδῖον Ἀχιλλῆα, Τρώεσσι δὲ λοιγὸν ἀλάλκοι.Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἀπόρουσεν ὅσον τʼ ἐπὶ δουρὸς ἐρωή,αἰετοῦ οἴματʼ ἔχων μέλανος τοῦ θηρητῆρος,ὅς θʼ ἅμα κάρτιστός τε καὶ ὤκιστος πετεηνῶν·τῷ ἐϊκὼς ἤϊξεν, ἐπὶ στήθεσσι δὲ χαλκὸςσμερδαλέον κονάβιζεν· ὕπαιθα δὲ τοῖο λιασθεὶςφεῦγʼ, ὃ δʼ ὄπισθε ῥέων ἕπετο μεγάλῳ ὀρυμαγδῷ.ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἀνὴρ ὀχετηγὸς ἀπὸ κρήνης μελανύδρουἂμ φυτὰ καὶ κήπους ὕδατι ῥόον ἡγεμονεύῃχερσὶ μάκελλαν ἔχων, ἀμάρης ἐξ ἔχματα βάλλων·τοῦ μέν τε προρέοντος ὑπὸ ψηφῖδες ἅπασαιὀχλεῦνται· τὸ δέ τʼ ὦκα κατειβόμενον κελαρύζειχώρῳ ἔνι προαλεῖ, φθάνει δέ τε καὶ τὸν ἄγοντα·ὣς αἰεὶ Ἀχιλῆα κιχήσατο κῦμα ῥόοιοκαὶ λαιψηρὸν ἐόντα· θεοὶ δέ τε φέρτεροι ἀνδρῶν.ὁσσάκι δʼ ὁρμήσειε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺςστῆναι ἐναντίβιον καὶ γνώμεναι εἴ μιν ἅπαντεςἀθάνατοι φοβέουσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι,τοσσάκι μιν μέγα κῦμα διιπετέος ποταμοῖοπλάζʼ ὤμους καθύπερθεν· ὃ δʼ ὑψόσε ποσσὶν ἐπήδαθυμῷ ἀνιάζων· ποταμὸς δʼ ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἐδάμναλάβρος ὕπαιθα ῥέων, κονίην δʼ ὑπέρεπτε ποδοῖιν.Πηλεΐδης δʼ ᾤμωξεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·Ζεῦ πάτερ ὡς οὔ τίς με θεῶν ἐλεεινὸν ὑπέστηἐκ ποταμοῖο σαῶσαι· ἔπειτα δὲ καί τι πάθοιμι.
None other of the heavenly gods do I blame so much, but only my dear mother, that beguiled me with false words, saying that beneath the wall of the mail-clad Trojans I should perish by the swift missiles of Apollo. Would that Hector had slain me, the best of the men bred here;
ἄλλος δʼ οὔ τις μοι τόσον αἴτιος Οὐρανιώνων,ἀλλὰ φίλη μήτηρ, ἥ με ψεύδεσσιν ἔθελγεν·ἥ μʼ ἔφατο Τρώων ὑπὸ τείχεϊ θωρηκτάωνλαιψηροῖς ὀλέεσθαι Ἀπόλλωνος βελέεσσιν.ὥς μʼ ὄφελʼ Ἕκτωρ κτεῖναι ὃς ἐνθάδε γʼ ἔτραφʼ ἄριστος·
then had a brave man been the slayer, and a brave man had he slain. But now by a miserable death was it appointed me to be cut off, pent in the great river, like a swine-herd boy whom a torrent sweepeth away as he maketh essay to cross it in winter.So spake he, and forthwith Poseidon and Pallas Athene drew nigh and stood by his side, being likened in form to mortal men, and they clasped his hand in theirs and pledged him in words. And among them Poseidon, the Shaker of Earth, was first to speak:Son of Peleus, tremble not thou overmuch, neither be anywise afraid, such helpers twain are we from the gods— and Zeus approveth thereof —even I and Pallas Athene. Therefore is it not thy doom to be vanquished by a river; nay, he shall soon give respite, and thou of thyself shalt know it. But we will give thee wise counsel, if so be thou wilt hearken. Make not thine hands to cease from evil battle until within the famed walls of Ilios thou hast pent the Trojan host, whosoever escapeth. But for thyself, when thou hast bereft Hector of life, come thou back to the ships; lo, we grant thee to win glory.When the twain had thus spoken, they departed to the immortals, but he went on toward the plain, or mightily did the bidding of the gods arouse him; and the whole plain was filled with a flood of water, and many goodly arms and corpses of youths slain in battle were floating there. But on high leapt his knees, as he rushed straight on against the flood, nor might the wide-flowing River stay him; for Athene put in him great strength.
τώ κʼ ἀγαθὸς μὲν ἔπεφνʼ, ἀγαθὸν δέ κεν ἐξενάριξε·νῦν δέ με λευγαλέῳ θανάτῳ εἵμαρτο ἁλῶναιἐρχθέντʼ ἐν μεγάλῳ ποταμῷ ὡς παῖδα συφορβόν,ὅν ῥά τʼ ἔναυλος ἀποέρσῃ χειμῶνι περῶντα.ὣς φάτο, τῷ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα Ποσειδάων καὶ Ἀθήνηστήτην ἐγγὺς ἰόντε, δέμας δʼ ἄνδρεσσιν ἐΐκτην,χειρὶ δὲ χεῖρα λαβόντες ἐπιστώσαντʼ ἐπέεσσι.τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·Πηλεΐδη μήτʼ ἄρ τι λίην τρέε μήτέ τι τάρβει·τοίω γάρ τοι νῶϊ θεῶν ἐπιταρρόθω εἰμὲνΖηνὸς ἐπαινήσαντος ἐγὼ καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·ὡς οὔ τοι ποταμῷ γε δαμήμεναι αἴσιμόν ἐστιν,ἀλλʼ ὅδε μὲν τάχα λωφήσει, σὺ δὲ εἴσεαι αὐτός·αὐτάρ τοι πυκινῶς ὑποθησόμεθʼ αἴ κε πίθηαι·μὴ πρὶν παύειν χεῖρας ὁμοιΐου πολέμοιοπρὶν κατὰ Ἰλιόφι κλυτὰ τείχεα λαὸν ἐέλσαιΤρωϊκόν, ὅς κε φύγῃσι· σὺ δʼ Ἕκτορι θυμὸν ἀπούραςἂψ ἐπὶ νῆας ἴμεν· δίδομεν δέ τοι εὖχος ἀρέσθαι.τὼ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰπόντε μετʼ ἀθανάτους ἀπεβήτην·αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ, μέγα γάρ ῥα θεῶν ὄτρυνεν ἐφετμή,ἐς πεδίον· τὸ δὲ πᾶν πλῆθʼ ὕδατος ἐκχυμένοιο,πολλὰ δὲ τεύχεα καλὰ δαὶ κταμένων αἰζηῶνπλῶον καὶ νέκυες· τοῦ δʼ ὑψόσε γούνατʼ ἐπήδαπρὸς ῥόον ἀΐσσοντος ἀνʼ ἰθύν, οὐδέ μιν ἴσχενεὐρὺ ῥέων ποταμός· μέγα γὰρ σθένος ἔμβαλʼ Ἀθήνη.