Thus they made lamentation throughout the city; but the Achaeans, when they were come to the ships and the Hellespont, scattered each man to his own ship; howbeit the Myrmidons would Achilles nowise suffer to be scattered, but spake among his war-loving comrades, saying:Ye Myrmidons of fleet steeds, my trusty comrades, let us not yet loose our single-hooved horses from their cars, but with horses and chariots let us draw nigh and mourn Patroclus; for that is the due of the dead.
ὣς οἳ μὲν στενάχοντο κατὰ πτόλιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶἐπεὶ δὴ νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο,οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,Μυρμιδόνας δʼ οὐκ εἴα ἀποσκίδνασθαι Ἀχιλλεύς,ἀλλʼ ὅ γε οἷς ἑτάροισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·Μυρμιδόνες ταχύπωλοι ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροιμὴ δή πω ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι λυώμεθα μώνυχας ἵππους,ἀλλʼ αὐτοῖς ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν ἆσσον ἰόντεςΠάτροκλον κλαίωμεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
Then when we have taken our fill of dire lamenting, we will unyoke our horses and sup here all together.So spake he, and they raised the voice of wailing all with one accord, and Achilles was leader thereof. Then thrice about the corpse they drave their fair-maned steeds, mourning the while; and among them Thetis roused desire of wailing.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κʼ ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο,ἵππους λυσάμενοι δορπήσομεν ἐνθάδε πάντες.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ᾤμωξαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δʼ Ἀχιλλεύς.οἳ δὲ τρὶς περὶ νεκρὸν ἐΰτριχας ἤλασαν ἵππουςμυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι Θέτις γόου ἵμερον ὦρσε.
Wetted were the sands and wetted the armour of the warriors with their tears; so mighty a deviser of rout was he for whom they mourned. And among them the son of Peleus was leader in the vehement lamentation; laying his man-slaying hands upon the breast of his comrade:Hail, I bid thee, O Patroclus, even in the house of Hades, for even now I am bringing to fulfillment all that aforetime I promised thee: that I would drag Hector hither and give him raw unto dogs to devour, and of twelve glorious sons of the Trojans would I cut the throats before thy pyre, in my wrath at thy slaying.He spake, and devised foul entreatment for goodly Hector, stretching him on his face in the dust before the bier of the son of Menoetius. And they put off, each man of them, their shining harnesses of bronze, and loosed their loud-neighing horses, and themselves sat down beside the ship of the swift-footed son of Aeacus, a countless host; and he made them a funeral feast to satisfy their hearts.
δεύοντο ψάμαθοι, δεύοντο δὲ τεύχεα φωτῶνδάκρυσι· τοῖον γὰρ πόθεον μήστωρα φόβοιο.τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεΐδης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιοχεῖρας ἐπʼ ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρου·χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστηνἝκτορα δεῦρʼ ἐρύσας δώσειν κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσεινΤρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.ἦ ῥα καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἀεικέα μήδετο ἔργαπρηνέα πὰρ λεχέεσσι Μενοιτιάδαο τανύσσαςἐν κονίῃς· οἳ δʼ ἔντεʼ ἀφωπλίζοντο ἕκαστοςχάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, λύον δʼ ὑψηχέας ἵππους,κὰδ δʼ ἷζον παρὰ νηῒ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαομυρίοι· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι τάφον μενοεικέα δαίνυ.
Many sleek bulls bellowed about the knife, as they were slaughtered, many sheep and bleating goats, and many white-tusked swine, rich with fat, were stretched to singe over the flame of Hephaestus; and everywhere about the corpse the blood ran so that one might dip cups therein.
πολλοὶ μὲν βόες ἀργοὶ ὀρέχθεον ἀμφὶ σιδήρῳσφαζόμενοι, πολλοὶ δʼ ὄϊες καὶ μηκάδες αἶγες·πολλοὶ δʼ ἀργιόδοντες ὕες θαλέθοντες ἀλοιφῇεὑόμενοι τανύοντο διὰ φλογὸς Ἡφαίστοιο·πάντῃ δʼ ἀμφὶ νέκυν κοτυλήρυτον ἔρρεεν αἷμα.
But the prince, the swiftfooted son of Peleus, was led unto goodly Agamemnon by the chiefs of the Achaeans, that had much ado to persuade him thereto, so wroth at heart was he for his comrade. But when, as they went, they were come to the hut of Agamemnon, forthwith they bade clear-voiced heralds set upon the fire a great cauldron, if so be they might persuade the son of Peleus to wash from him the bloody gore. But he steadfastly denied them, and swore an oath thereto:Nay, verily by Zeus, that is highest and best of gods, it may not be that water should come nigh my head, until such time as I have laid Patroclus on the fire, and have heaped him a barrow, and shorn my hair withal, since never more shall a second grief thus reach my heart, while yet I abide among the living. Howbeit for this present let us yield us to the banquet we needs must loathe; but in the morning rouse thou the folk, king of men Agamemnon, to bring wood, and to make ready all that it beseemeth a dead man to have, whenso he goeth beneath the murky darkness, to the end that unwearied fire may burn him quickly from sight, and the host betake it to its tasks.So spake he, and they readily hearkened to him and obeyed, and speedily making ready each man his meal they supped, nor did thelr hearts lack aught of the equal feast. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, they went each man to his hut to take his rest; but the son of Peleus upon the shore of the loud-resounding sea lay groaning heavily amid the host of the Myrmidons, in an open space where the waves splashed upon the shore. And when sleep seized him, loosenlng the cares of his heart, being shed in sweetness round about him — for sore weary were his glorious limbs with speeding after Hector unto windy Ilios— then there came to him the spirit of hapless Patroclus, in all things like his very self, in stature and fair eyes and in voice, and in like raiment was he clad withal; and he stood above Achilles' head and spake to him, saying:Thou sleepest, and hast forgotten me, Achilles.
αὐτὰρ τόν γε ἄνακτα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωναεἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶνσπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες ἑταίρου χωόμενον κῆρ.οἳ δʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος ἷξον ἰόντες,αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσανἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, εἰ πεπίθοιενΠηλεΐδην λούσασθαι ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἠρνεῖτο στερεῶς, ἐπὶ δʼ ὅρκον ὄμοσσεν·οὐ μὰ Ζῆνʼ, ὅς τίς τε θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,οὐ θέμις ἐστὶ λοετρὰ καρήατος ἆσσον ἱκέσθαιπρίν γʼ ἐνὶ Πάτροκλον θέμεναι πυρὶ σῆμά τε χεῦαικείρασθαί τε κόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ μʼ ἔτι δεύτερον ὧδεἵξετʼ ἄχος κραδίην ὄφρα ζωοῖσι μετείω.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν στυγερῇ πειθώμεθα δαιτί·ἠῶθεν δʼ ὄτρυνον ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνονὕλην τʼ ἀξέμεναι παρά τε σχεῖν ὅσσʼ ἐπιεικὲςνεκρὸν ἔχοντα νέεσθαι ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα,ὄφρʼ ἤτοι τοῦτον μὲν ἐπιφλέγῃ ἀκάματον πῦρθᾶσσον ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν, λαοὶ δʼ ἐπὶ ἔργα τράπωνται.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο.ἐσσυμένως δʼ ἄρα δόρπον ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἕκαστοιδαίνυντʼ, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν κλισίην δὲ ἕκαστος,Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἐπὶ θινὶ πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσηςκεῖτο βαρὺ στενάχων πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσινἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι κύματʼ ἐπʼ ἠϊόνος κλύζεσκον·εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦνήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς· μάλα γὰρ κάμε φαίδιμα γυῖαἝκτορʼ ἐπαΐσσων προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν·ἦλθε δʼ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖοπάντʼ αὐτῷ μέγεθός τε καὶ ὄμματα κάλʼ ἐϊκυῖακαὶ φωνήν, καὶ τοῖα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·εὕδεις, αὐτὰρ ἐμεῖο λελασμένος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.
Not in my life wast thou unmindful of me, but now in my death! Bury me with all speed, that I pass within the gates of Hades. Afar do the spirits keep me aloof, the phantoms of men that have done with toils, neither suffer they me to join myself to them beyond the River, but vainly I wander through the wide-gated house of Hades.
οὐ μέν μευ ζώοντος ἀκήδεις, ἀλλὰ θανόντος·θάπτέ με ὅττι τάχιστα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσω.τῆλέ με εἴργουσι ψυχαὶ εἴδωλα καμόντων,οὐδέ μέ πω μίσγεσθαι ὑπὲρ ποταμοῖο ἐῶσιν,ἀλλʼ αὔτως ἀλάλημαι ἀνʼ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.
And give me thy hand, I pitifully entreat thee, for never more again shall I come back from out of Hades, when once ye have given me my due of fire. Never more in life shall we sit apart from our dear comrades and take counsel together, but for me hath loathly fate opened its maw, the fate that was appointed me even from my birth. Aye, and thou thyself also, Achilles like to the gods, art doomed to be brought low beneath the wall of the wealthy Trojans. And another thing will I speak, and charge thee, if so be thou wilt hearken. Lay not my bones apart from thine, Achilles, but let them lie together, even as we were reared in your house, when Menoetius brought me, being yet a little lad, from Opoeis to your country, by reason of grievous man-slaying, on the day when I slew Amphidamus' son in my folly, though I willed it not, in wrath over the dice. Then the knight Peleus received me into his house and reared me with kindly care and named me thy squire; even so let one coffer enfold our bones, a golden coffer with handles twain, the which thy queenly mother gave thee.Then in answer spake to him Achilles, swift of foot:Wherefore, O head beloved, art thou come hither, and thus givest me charge about each thing? Nay, verily I will fulfill thee all, and will hearken even as thou biddest. But, I pray thee, draw thou nigher; though it be but for a little space let us clasp our arms one about the other, and take our fill of dire lamenting.So saying he reached forth with his hands, yet clasped him not; but the spirit like a vapour was gone beneath the earth, gibbering faintly. And seized with amazement Achilles sprang up, and smote his hands together, and spake a word of wailing:Look you now, even in the house of Hades is the spirit and phantom somewhat, albeit the mind be not anywise therein;
καί μοι δὸς τὴν χεῖρʼ· ὀλοφύρομαι, οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ αὖτιςνίσομαι ἐξ Ἀΐδαο, ἐπήν με πυρὸς λελάχητε.οὐ μὲν γὰρ ζωοί γε φίλων ἀπάνευθεν ἑταίρωνβουλὰς ἑζόμενοι βουλεύσομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ μὲν κὴρἀμφέχανε στυγερή, ἥ περ λάχε γιγνόμενόν περ·καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ μοῖρα, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,τείχει ὕπο Τρώων εὐηφενέων ἀπολέσθαι.ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐφήσομαι αἴ κε πίθηαι·μὴ ἐμὰ σῶν ἀπάνευθε τιθήμεναι ὀστέʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ ὡς ἐτράφημεν ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν,εὖτέ με τυτθὸν ἐόντα Μενοίτιος ἐξ Ὀπόεντοςἤγαγεν ὑμέτερόνδʼ ἀνδροκτασίης ὕπο λυγρῆς,ἤματι τῷ ὅτε παῖδα κατέκτανον Ἀμφιδάμαντοςνήπιος οὐκ ἐθέλων ἀμφʼ ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς·ἔνθά με δεξάμενος ἐν δώμασιν ἱππότα Πηλεὺςἔτραφέ τʼ ἐνδυκέως καὶ σὸν θεράποντʼ ὀνόμηνεν·ὣς δὲ καὶ ὀστέα νῶϊν ὁμὴ σορὸς ἀμφικαλύπτοιχρύσεος ἀμφιφορεύς, τόν τοι πόρε πότνια μήτηρ.τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·τίπτέ μοι ἠθείη κεφαλὴ δεῦρʼ εἰλήλουθαςκαί μοι ταῦτα ἕκαστʼ ἐπιτέλλεαι; αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοιπάντα μάλʼ ἐκτελέω καὶ πείσομαι ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.ἀλλά μοι ἆσσον στῆθι· μίνυνθά περ ἀμφιβαλόντεἀλλήλους ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ὠρέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσινοὐδʼ ἔλαβε· ψυχὴ δὲ κατὰ χθονὸς ἠΰτε καπνὸςᾤχετο τετριγυῖα· ταφὼν δʼ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεὺςχερσί τε συμπλατάγησεν, ἔπος δʼ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·ὢ πόποι ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισιψυχὴ καὶ εἴδωλον, ἀτὰρ φρένες οὐκ ἔνι πάμπαν·
for the whole night long hath the spirit of hapless Patroclus stood over me, weeping and wailing, and gave me charge concerning each thing, and was wondrously like his very self.So spake he, and in them all aroused the desire of lament, and rosy-fingered Dawn shone forth upon them while yet they wailed around the piteous corpse. But the lord Agamemnon sent forth mules and men from all sides from out the huts to fetch wood and a man of valour watched thereover, even Meriones, squire of kindly Idomeneus. And they went forth bearing in their hands axes for the cutting of wood and well-woven ropes, and before them went the mules: and ever upward, downward, sideward, and aslant they fared. But when they were come to the spurs of many-fountained Ida, forthwith they set them to fill high-crested oaks with the long-edged bronze in busy haste and with a mighty crash the trees kept falling. Then the Achaeans split the trunks asunder and bound them behind the mules, and these tore up the earth with their feet as they hasted toward the plain through the thick underbrush. And all the woodcutters bare logs; for so were they bidden of Meriones, squire of kindly Idomeneus.
παννυχίη γάρ μοι Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖοψυχὴ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε,καί μοι ἕκαστʼ ἐπέτελλεν, ἔϊκτο δὲ θέσκελον αὐτῷ.ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·μυρομένοισι δὲ τοῖσι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼςἀμφὶ νέκυν ἐλεεινόν. ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνωνοὐρῆάς τʼ ὄτρυνε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀξέμεν ὕληνπάντοθεν ἐκ κλισιῶν· ἐπὶ δʼ ἀνὴρ ἐσθλὸς ὀρώρειΜηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.οἳ δʼ ἴσαν ὑλοτόμους πελέκεας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντεςσειράς τʼ εὐπλέκτους· πρὸ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐρῆες κίον αὐτῶν.πολλὰ δʼ ἄναντα κάταντα πάραντά τε δόχμιά τʼ ἦλθον·ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κνημοὺς προσέβαν πολυπίδακος Ἴδης,αὐτίκʼ ἄρα δρῦς ὑψικόμους ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷτάμνον ἐπειγόμενοι· ταὶ δὲ μεγάλα κτυπέουσαιπῖπτον· τὰς μὲν ἔπειτα διαπλήσσοντες Ἀχαιοὶἔκδεον ἡμιόνων· ταὶ δὲ χθόνα ποσσὶ δατεῦντοἐλδόμεναι πεδίοιο διὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά.πάντες δʼ ὑλοτόμοι φιτροὺς φέρον· ὡς γὰρ ἀνώγειΜηριόνης θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.
Then down upon the shore they cast these, man after man, where Achilles planned a great barrow for Patroclus and for himself. But when on all sides they had cast down the measureless wood, they sate them down there and abode, all in one throng. And Achilles straightway bade the war-loving Myrmidons gird them about with bronze, and yoke each man his horses to his car. And they arose and did on their armour and mounted their chariots, warriors and charioteers alike. In front fared the men in chariots, and thereafter followed a cloud of footmen, a host past counting and in the midst his comrades bare Patroclus.
κὰδ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ ἀκτῆς βάλλον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ Ἀχιλλεὺςφράσσατο Πατρόκλῳ μέγα ἠρίον ἠδὲ οἷ αὐτῷ.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάντῃ παρακάββαλον ἄσπετον ὕληνἥατʼ ἄρʼ αὖθι μένοντες ἀολλέες. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺςαὐτίκα Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κέλευσεχαλκὸν ζώννυσθαι, ζεῦξαι δʼ ὑπʼ ὄχεσφιν ἕκαστονἵππους· οἳ δʼ ὄρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσιν ἔδυνον,ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐν δίφροισι παραιβάται ἡνίοχοί τε,πρόσθε μὲν ἱππῆες, μετὰ δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶνμυρίοι· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι φέρον Πάτροκλον ἑταῖροι.
And as with a garment they wholly covered the corpse with their hair that they shore off and cast thereon; and behind them goodly Achilles clasped the head, sorrowing the while; for peerless was the comrade whom he was speeding to the house of Hades. But when they were come to the place that Achilles had appointed unto them, they set down the dead, and swiftly heaped up for him abundant store of wood.
θριξὶ δὲ πάντα νέκυν καταείνυσαν, ἃς ἐπέβαλλονκειρόμενοι· ὄπιθεν δὲ κάρη ἔχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺςἀχνύμενος· ἕταρον γὰρ ἀμύμονα πέμπʼ Ἄϊδος δέ.οἳ δʼ ὅτε χῶρον ἵκανον ὅθί σφισι πέφραδʼ Ἀχιλλεὺςκάτθεσαν, αἶψα δέ οἱ μενοεικέα νήεον ὕλην.
Then again swift-footed goodly Achilles took other counsel; he took his stand apart from the fire and shore off a golden lock, the rich growth whereof he had nursed for the river Spercheüs, and his heart mightily moved, he spake, with a look over the wine-dark sea:Spercheüs, to no purpose did my father Peleus vow to thee that when I had come home thither to my dear native land, I would shear my hair to thee and offer a holy hecatomb, and on the selfsame spot would sacrifice fifty rams, males without blemish, into thy waters, where is thy demesne and thy fragrant altar. So vowed that old man, but thou didst not fulfill for him his desire.
ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἄλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς ξανθὴν ἀπεκείρατο χαίτην,τήν ῥα Σπερχειῷ ποταμῷ τρέφε τηλεθόωσαν·ὀχθήσας δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·Σπερχείʼ ἄλλως σοί γε πατὴρ ἠρήσατο Πηλεὺςκεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖανσοί τε κόμην κερέειν ῥέξειν θʼ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην,πεντήκοντα δʼ ἔνορχα παρʼ αὐτόθι μῆλʼ ἱερεύσεινἐς πηγάς, ὅθι τοι τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.ὣς ἠρᾶθʼ ὃ γέρων, σὺ δέ οἱ νόον οὐκ ἐτέλεσσας.
Now, therefore, seeing I go not home to my dear native land, I would fain give unto the warrior Patroclus this lock to fare with him.He spake and set the lock in the hands of his dear comrade, and in them all aroused the desire of lament. And now would the light of the sun have gone down upon their weeping, had not Achilles drawn nigh to Agamemnon's side and said:Son of Atreus—for to thy words as to those of none other will the host of the Achaeans give heed— of lamenting they may verily take their fill, but for this present disperse them from the pyre, and bid them make ready their meal; for all things here we to whom the dead is nearest and dearest will take due care; and with us let the chieftains also abide.Then when the king of men Agamemnon heard this word, he forthwith dispersed the folk amid the shapely ships, but they that were neareat and dearest to the dead abode there, and heaped up the wood, and made a pyre of an hundred feet this way and that, and on the topmost part thereof they set the dead man, their hearts sorrow-laden. And many goodly sheep and many sleek kine of shambling gait they flayed and dressed before the pyre; and from them all great-souled Achilles gathered the fat, and enfolded the dead therein from head to foot, and about him heaped the flayed bodies.
νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖανΠατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ κόμην ὀπάσαιμι φέρεσθαι.ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ κόμην ἑτάροιο φίλοιοθῆκεν, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.καί νύ κʼ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιοεἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αἶψʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι εἶπε παραστάς·Ἀτρεΐδη, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶνπείσονται μύθοισι, γόοιο μὲν ἔστι καὶ ἆσαι,νῦν δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθιὅπλεσθαι· τάδε δʼ ἀμφὶ πονησόμεθʼ οἷσι μάλιστακήδεός ἐστι νέκυς· παρὰ δʼ οἵ τʼ ἀγοὶ ἄμμι μενόντων.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,αὐτίκα λαὸν μὲν σκέδασεν κατὰ νῆας ἐΐσας,κηδεμόνες δὲ παρʼ αὖθι μένον καὶ νήεον ὕλην,ποίησαν δὲ πυρὴν ἑκατόμπεδον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,ἐν δὲ πυρῇ ὑπάτῃ νεκρὸν θέσαν ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦςπρόσθε πυρῆς ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον· ἐκ δʼ ἄρα πάντωνδημὸν ἑλὼν ἐκάλυψε νέκυν μεγάθυμος Ἀχιλλεὺςἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, περὶ δὲ δρατὰ σώματα νήει.
And thereon he set two-handled jars of honey and oil, leaning them against the bier; and four horses with high arched neeks he cast swiftly upon the pyre, groaning aloud the while. Nine dogs had the prince, that fed beneath his table, and of these did Achilles cut the throats of twain, and cast them upon the pyre. And twelve valiant sons of the great-souled Trojans slew he with the bronze—and grim was the work he purposed in his heart and thereto he set the iron might of fire, to range at large. Then he uttered a groan, and called on his dear comrade by name:Hail, I bid thee, O Patroclus, even in the house of Hades, for now am I bringing all to pass, which afore-time I promised thee. Twelve valiant sons of the great-souled Trojans, lo all these together with thee the flame devoureth; but Hector, son of Priam, will I nowise give to the fire to feed upon, but to dogs.So spake he threatening, but with Hector might no dogs deal; nay, the daughter of Zeus, Aphrodite, kept dogs from him by day alike and by night, and with oil anointed she him, rose-sweet, ambrosial, to the end that Achilles might not tear him as he dragged him. And over him Phoebus Apollo drew a dark cloud from heaven to the plain, and covered all the place whereon the dead man lay, lest ere the time the might of the sun should shrivel his flesh round about on his sinews and limbs. Howbeit the pyre of dead Patroclus kindled not. Then again did swift footed goodlyAchilles take other counsel; he took his stand apart from the pyre, and made prayer to the two winds, to the North Wind and the West Wind, and promised fair offerings, and full earnestly, as he poured libations from a cup of gold, he besought them to come, to the end that the corpses might speedily blaze with fire, and the wood make haste to be kindled. Then forthwith Iris heard his prayer, and hied her with the message to the winds.
ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει μέλιτος καὶ ἀλείφατος ἀμφιφορῆαςπρὸς λέχεα κλίνων· πίσυρας δʼ ἐριαύχενας ἵππουςἐσσυμένως ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ μεγάλα στεναχίζων.ἐννέα τῷ γε ἄνακτι τραπεζῆες κύνες ἦσαν,καὶ μὲν τῶν ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ δύο δειροτομήσας,δώδεκα δὲ Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺςχαλκῷ δηϊόων· κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα·ἐν δὲ πυρὸς μένος ἧκε σιδήρεον ὄφρα νέμοιτο.ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα, φίλον δʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·χαῖρέ μοι ὦ Πάτροκλε καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην,δώδεκα μὲν Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺςτοὺς ἅμα σοὶ πάντας πῦρ ἐσθίει· Ἕκτορα δʼ οὔ τιδώσω Πριαμίδην πυρὶ δαπτέμεν, ἀλλὰ κύνεσσιν.ὣς φάτʼ ἀπειλήσας· τὸν δʼ οὐ κύνες ἀμφεπένοντο,ἀλλὰ κύνας μὲν ἄλαλκε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτηἤματα καὶ νύκτας, ῥοδόεντι δὲ χρῖεν ἐλαίῳἀμβροσίῳ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ κυάνεον νέφος ἤγαγε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωνοὐρανόθεν πεδίον δέ, κάλυψε δὲ χῶρον ἅπανταὅσσον ἐπεῖχε νέκυς, μὴ πρὶν μένος ἠελίοιοσκήλειʼ ἀμφὶ περὶ χρόα ἴνεσιν ἠδὲ μέλεσσιν.οὐδὲ πυρὴ Πατρόκλου ἐκαίετο τεθνηῶτος·ἔνθʼ αὖτʼ ἀλλʼ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς δοιοῖς ἠρᾶτʼ ἀνέμοισιΒορέῃ καὶ Ζεφύρῳ, καὶ ὑπίσχετο ἱερὰ καλά·πολλὰ δὲ καὶ σπένδων χρυσέῳ δέπαϊ λιτάνευενἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα πυρὶ φλεγεθοίατο νεκροί,ὕλη τε σεύαιτο καήμεναι. ὦκα δὲ Ἶριςἀράων ἀΐουσα μετάγγελος ἦλθʼ ἀνέμοισιν.
They in the house of the fierce-blowing West Wind were feasting all together at the banquet and Iris halted from her running on the threshold of stone. Soon as their eyes beheld her, they all sprang up and called her each one to himself. But she refused to sit, and spake saying:
οἳ μὲν ἄρα Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος ἀθρόοι ἔνδονεἰλαπίνην δαίνυντο· θέουσα δὲ Ἶρις ἐπέστηβηλῷ ἔπι λιθέῳ· τοὶ δʼ ὡς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιπάντες ἀνήϊξαν, κάλεόν τέ μιν εἰς ἓ ἕκαστος·ἣ δʼ αὖθʼ ἕζεσθαι μὲν ἀνήνατο, εἶπε δὲ μῦθον·
I may not sit, for I must go back unto the streams of Oceanus, unto the land of the Ethiopians, where they are sacrificing hecatombs to the immortals, that I too may share in the sacred feast. But Achilles prayeth the North Wind and the noisy West Wind to come, and promiseth them fair offerings, that so ye may rouse the pyre to burn whereon lieth Patroclus, for whom all the Achaeans groan aloud.When she had thus departed, and they arose with a wondrous din, driving the clouds tumultuously before them. And swiftly they came to the sea to blow thereon, and the wave swelled beneath the shrill blast; and they came to deep-soiled Troyland, and fell upon the pyre, and mightily roared the wordrous blazing fire. So the whole night long as with one blast they beat upon the flame of the pyre, blowing shrill; and the whole night long swift Achilles, taking a two-handled cup in hand, drew wine from a golden howl and poured it upon the earth, and wetted the ground, calling ever upon the spirit of hapless Patroclus. As a father waileth for his son, as he burneth his bones, a son newly wed whose death has brought woe to his hapless parents, even so wailed Achilles for his comrade as he burned his bones, going heavily about the pyre with ceaseless groaning. But at the hour when the star of morning goeth forth to herald light over the face of the earth—the star after which followeth saffron-robed Dawn and spreadeth over the sea—even then grew the burning faint, and the flame thereof died down. And the winds went back again to return to their home over the Thracian sea, and it roared with surging flood. Then the son of Peleus withdrew apart from the burning pyre, and laid him down sore-wearied; and sweet sleep leapt upon him. But they that were with the son of Atreus gathered in a throng, and the noise and din of their oncoming aroused him; and he sat upright and spake to them saying:Son of Atreus, and ye other princes of the hosts of Achaea, first quench ye with flaming wine the burning pyre, even all whereon the might of the fire hath come, and thereafter let us gather the bones of Patroclus, Menoetius' son, singling them out well from the rest; and easy they are to discern, for he lay in the midst of the pyre, while the others burned apart on the edges thereof, horses and men mingled together. Then let us place the bones in a golden urn wrapped in a double layer of fat until such time as I myself be hidden in Hades.
οὐχ ἕδος· εἶμι γὰρ αὖτις ἐπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥέεθραΑἰθιόπων ἐς γαῖαν, ὅθι ῥέζουσʼ ἑκατόμβαςἀθανάτοις, ἵνα δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ μεταδαίσομαι ἱρῶν.ἀλλʼ Ἀχιλεὺς Βορέην ἠδὲ Ζέφυρον κελαδεινὸνἐλθεῖν ἀρᾶται, καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἱερὰ καλά,ὄφρα πυρὴν ὄρσητε καήμεναι, ᾗ ἔνι κεῖταιΠάτροκλος, τὸν πάντες ἀναστενάχουσιν Ἀχαιοί.ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπεβήσετο, τοὶ δʼ ὀρέοντοἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ νέφεα κλονέοντε πάροιθεν.αἶψα δὲ πόντον ἵκανον ἀήμεναι, ὦρτο δὲ κῦμαπνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ· Τροίην δʼ ἐρίβωλον ἱκέσθην,ἐν δὲ πυρῇ πεσέτην, μέγα δʼ ἴαχε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.παννύχιοι δʼ ἄρα τοί γε πυρῆς ἄμυδις φλόγʼ ἔβαλλονφυσῶντες λιγέως· ὃ δὲ πάννυχος ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺςχρυσέου ἐκ κρητῆρος ἑλὼν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλονοἶνον ἀφυσσόμενος χαμάδις χέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖανψυχὴν κικλήσκων Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο.ὡς δὲ πατὴρ οὗ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται ὀστέα καίωννυμφίου, ὅς τε θανὼν δειλοὺς ἀκάχησε τοκῆας,ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάροιο ὀδύρετο ὀστέα καίων,ἑρπύζων παρὰ πυρκαϊὴν ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.ἦμος δʼ ἑωσφόρος εἶσι φόως ἐρέων ἐπὶ γαῖαν,ὅν τε μέτα κροκόπεπλος ὑπεὶρ ἅλα κίδναται ἠώς,τῆμος πυρκαϊὴ ἐμαραίνετο, παύσατο δὲ φλόξ.οἳ δʼ ἄνεμοι πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαιΘρηΐκιον κατὰ πόντον· ὃ δʼ ἔστενεν οἴδματι θύων.Πηλεΐδης δʼ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς ἑτέρωσε λιασθεὶςκλίνθη κεκμηώς, ἐπὶ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ὄρουσεν·οἳ δʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀτρεΐωνα ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο·τῶν μιν ἐπερχομένων ὅμαδος καὶ δοῦπος ἔγειρεν,ἕζετο δʼ ὀρθωθεὶς καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσατʼ αἴθοπι οἴνῳπᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταὀστέα Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο λέγωμενεὖ διαγιγνώσκοντες· ἀριφραδέα δὲ τέτυκται·ἐν μέσσῃ γὰρ ἔκειτο πυρῇ, τοὶ δʼ ἄλλοι ἄνευθενἐσχατιῇ καίοντʼ ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες.καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν χρυσέῃ φιάλῃ καὶ δίπλακι δημῷθείομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι.
Howbeit no huge barrow do I bid you rear with toil for him, but such a one only as beseemeth; but in aftertime do ye Achaeans build it broad and high, ye that shall be left amid the benched ships when I am gone.So spake he, and they hearkened to the swift-footed son of Peleus.
τύμβον δʼ οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐγὼ πονέεσθαι ἄνωγα,ἀλλʼ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀχαιοὶεὐρύν θʼ ὑψηλόν τε τιθήμεναι, οἵ κεν ἐμεῖοδεύτεροι ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι λίπησθε.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐπίθοντο ποδώκεϊ Πηλεΐωνι.
First they quenched with flaming wine the pyre, so far as the flame had come upon it, and the ash had settled deep; and with weeping they gathered up the white bones of their gentle comrade into a golden urn, and wrapped them in a double layer of fat, and placing the urn in the hut they covered it with a soft linen cloth.
πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσαν αἴθοπι οἴνῳὅσσον ἐπὶ φλὸξ ἦλθε, βαθεῖα δὲ κάππεσε τέφρη·κλαίοντες δʼ ἑτάροιο ἐνηέος ὀστέα λευκὰἄλλεγον ἐς χρυσέην φιάλην καὶ δίπλακα δημόν,ἐν κλισίῃσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν·
Then they traced the compass of the barrow and set forth the foundations thereof round about the pyre, and forthwith they piled the up-piled earth. And when they had piled the barrow, they set them to go back again. But Achilles stayed the folk even where they were, and made them to sit in a wide gathering; and from his ships brought forth prizes; cauldrons and tripods and horses and mules and strong oxen and fair-girdled women and grey iron. For swift charioteers first he set forth goodly prizes, a woman to lead away, one skilled in goodly handiwork, and an eared tripod of two and twenty measures for him that should be first; and for the second he appointed a mare of six years, unbroken, with a mule foal in her womb; and for the third he set forth a cauldron untouched of fire, a fair cauldron that held four measures, white even as the first; and for the fourth he appointed two talents of gold; and for the fifth a two-handled urn, yet untouched of fire. Then he stood up, and spake among the Argives, saying:Son of Atreus, and ye other well-greaved Achaeans, for the charioteers these prizes lie waiting in the lists. If for some other's honour we Achaeans were now holding contests, surely it were I that should win the first prize, and bear it to my hut; for ye know how far my horses twain surpass in excellence, seeing they are immortal, and it was Poseidon that gave them to my father Peleus, and he gave them to me. Howbeit I verily will abide, I and my single-hooved horses, so valiant and glorious a charioteer have they lost, and one so kind, who full often would pour upon their manes soft soil when he had washed them in bright water. For him they stand and mourn, and on the ground their manes are trailing, and the twain stand there, grieving at heart.
τορνώσαντο δὲ σῆμα θεμείλιά τε προβάλοντοἀμφὶ πυρήν· εἶθαρ δὲ χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,χεύαντες δὲ τὸ σῆμα πάλιν κίον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺςαὐτοῦ λαὸν ἔρυκε καὶ ἵζανεν εὐρὺν ἀγῶνα,νηῶν δʼ ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλα λέβητάς τε τρίποδάς τεἵππους θʼ ἡμιόνους τε βοῶν τʼ ἴφθιμα κάρηνα,ἠδὲ γυναῖκας ἐϋζώνους πολιόν τε σίδηρον.ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτα ποδώκεσιν ἀγλάʼ ἄεθλαθῆκε γυναῖκα ἄγεσθαι ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυῖανκαὶ τρίποδʼ ὠτώεντα δυωκαιεικοσίμετροντῷ πρώτῳ· ἀτὰρ αὖ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἵππον ἔθηκενἑξέτεʼ ἀδμήτην βρέφος ἡμίονον κυέουσαν·αὐτὰρ τῷ τριτάτῳ ἄπυρον κατέθηκε λέβητακαλὸν τέσσαρα μέτρα κεχανδότα λευκὸν ἔτʼ αὔτως·τῷ δὲ τετάρτῳ θῆκε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,πέμπτῳ δʼ ἀμφίθετον φιάλην ἀπύρωτον ἔθηκε.στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶἱππῆας τάδʼ ἄεθλα δεδεγμένα κεῖτʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι.εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν Ἀχαιοὶἦ τʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα λαβὼν κλισίην δὲ φεροίμην.ἴστε γὰρ ὅσσον ἐμοὶ ἀρετῇ περιβάλλετον ἵπποι·ἀθάνατοί τε γάρ εἰσι, Ποσειδάων δὲ πόρʼ αὐτοὺςπατρὶ ἐμῷ Πηλῆϊ, ὃ δʼ αὖτʼ ἐμοὶ ἐγγυάλιξεν.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·τοίου γὰρ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσαν ἡνιόχοιοἠπίου, ὅς σφωϊν μάλα πολλάκις ὑγρὸν ἔλαιονχαιτάων κατέχευε λοέσσας ὕδατι λευκῷ.τὸν τώ γʼ ἑσταότες πενθείετον, οὔδεϊ δέ σφιχαῖται ἐρηρέδαται, τὼ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.
But do ye others make yourselves ready throughout the host, whosoever of the Achaeans hath trust in his horses and his jointed car.So spake the son of Peleus, and the swift charioteers bestirred them. Upsprang, for the first, Eumelus, king of men, Admetus' dear son, a man well-skilled in horsemanship and after him upsprang Tydeus' son, mighty Diomedes, and led beneath the yoke the horses of Tros, even them that on a time he had taken from Aeneas, albeit Apollo snatched away Aeneas' self; and after him uprose Atreus' son, fair-haired Menelaus, sprung from Zeus, and led beneath the yoke swift steeds, Aethe, Agamemnon's mare, and his own horse Podargus. The mare had Anchises' son Echepolus given to Agamemnon without price, to the end that he might not follow him to windy Ilios, but might abide at home and take his joy; for great wealth had Zeus given him, and he dwelt in spaclous Sicyon:
ἄλλοι δὲ στέλλεσθε κατὰ στρατόν, ὅς τις Ἀχαιῶνἵπποισίν τε πέποιθε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ταχέες δʼ ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν.ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν ΕὔμηλοςἈδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο·τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτʼ ἀπηύραΑἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων.τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαοςδιογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππουςΑἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον·τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκʼ Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλοςδῶρʼ, ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθʼ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,ἀλλʼ αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων· μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκεΖεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι·
her Menelaus led beneath the yoke, and exceeding fain was she of the race. And fourth Antilochus made ready his fair-maned horses, he the peerless son of Nestor, the king high of heart, the son of Neleus; and bred at Pylos were the swift-footed horses that drew his car. And his father drew nigh and gave counsel to him for his profit — a wise man to one that himself had knowledge.Antilochus, for all thou art young, yet have Zeus and Poseidon loved thee and taught thee all manner of horsemanship; wherefore to teach thee is no great need, for thou knowest well how to wheel about the turning-post; yet are thy horses slowest in the race: therefore I deem there will be sorry work for thee. The horses of the others are swifter, but the men know not how to devise more cunning counsel than thine own self. Wherefore come, dear son, lay thou up in thy mind cunning of every sort, to the end that the prizes escape thee not.
τὴν ὅ γʼ ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν.Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους,Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο ἄνακτοςτοῦ Νηληϊάδαο· Πυλοιγενέες δέ οἱ ἵπποιὠκύποδες φέρον ἅρμα· πατὴρ δέ οἱ ἄγχι παραστὰςμυθεῖτʼ εἰς ἀγαθὰ φρονέων νοέοντι καὶ αὐτῷ·Ἀντίλοχʼ ἤτοι μέν σε νέον περ ἐόντʼ ἐφίλησανΖεύς τε Ποσειδάων τε, καὶ ἱπποσύνας ἐδίδαξανπαντοίας· τὼ καί σε διδασκέμεν οὔ τι μάλα χρεώ·οἶσθα γὰρ εὖ περὶ τέρμαθʼ ἑλισσέμεν· ἀλλά τοι ἵπποιβάρδιστοι θείειν· τώ τʼ οἴω λοίγιʼ ἔσεσθαι.τῶν δʼ ἵπποι μὲν ἔασιν ἀφάρτεροι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοὶπλείονα ἴσασιν σέθεν αὐτοῦ μητίσασθαι.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ σὺ φίλος μῆτιν ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷπαντοίην, ἵνα μή σε παρεκπροφύγῃσιν ἄεθλα.
By cunning, thou knowest, is a woodman far better than by might; by cunning too doth a helmsman on the wine-dark deep guide aright a swift ship that is buffeted by winds; and by cunning doth charioteer prove better than charioteer.Another man, trusting in his horses and car, heedlessly wheeleth wide to this side and that, and his horses roam over the course, neither keepeth he them in hand; whereas he that hath crafty mind, albeit he drive worse horses, keepeth his eye ever on the turning-post and wheeleth close thereby, neither is unmindful how at the first to force his horses with the oxhide reins, but keepeth them ever in hand, and watcheth the man that leadeth him in the race. Now will I tell thee a manifest sign that will not escape thee. There standeth, as it were a fathom's height above the ground, a dry stump, whether of oak or of pine, which rotteth not in the rain, and two white stones on either side thereof are firmly set against it at the joinings of the course, and about it is smooth ground for driving. Haply it is a monnment of some man long ago dead, or haply was made the turning-post of a race in days of men of old; and now hath switft-footed goodly Achilles appointed it his turningpost. Pressing hard thereon do thou drive close thy chariot and horses, and thyself lean in thy well-plaited car a little to the left of the pair, and to the off horse do thou give the goad, calling to him with a shout, and give him rein from thy hand. But to the post let the near horse draw close, that the nave of the well-wrought wheel seem to graze the surface thereof— but be thou ware of touching the stone, lest haply thou wound thy horses and wreck thy car; so should there be joy for the rest, but reproach it for thyself. Nay, dear son, be thou wise and on thy guard; for if at the turning-post thou shalt drive past the rest in thy course, there is no man that shall catch thee by a burst of speed, neither pass thee by, nay, not though in pursuit he were driving goodly Arion, the swift horse of Adrastus, that was of heavenly stock, or those of Laomedon, the goodly breed of this land.So saying Nestor, son of Neleus, sate him down again in his place, when he had told his son the sum of every matter. And fifth Meriones made ready his fair-maned horses. Then they mounted their cars, and cast in the lots; and Achilles shook them, and forth leapt the lot of Nestor's son, Antilochus; after him had the lord Eumelus a place, and next to him Atreus' son, Menelaus, famed for his spear, and next to him Meriones drew his place; and last of all the son of Tydeus, albeit far the best, drew a place for his chariot. Then took they their places in a row, and Achilles shewed them the turning-post afar off in the smooth plain; and thereby he set as an umpire godlike Phoenix, his father's follower, that he might mark the running and tell the truth thereof. Then they all at one moment lifted the lash each above his yoke of horses, and smote them with the reins, and called to them with words, full eagerly and forthwith they sped swiftly over the plain
μήτι τοι δρυτόμος μέγʼ ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι·μήτι δʼ αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳνῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι·μήτι δʼ ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.ἀλλʼ ὃς μέν θʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν οἷσι πεποιθὼςἀφραδέως ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἑλίσσεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,ἵπποι δὲ πλανόωνται ἀνὰ δρόμον, οὐδὲ κατίσχει·ὃς δέ κε κέρδεα εἰδῇ ἐλαύνων ἥσσονας ἵππους,αἰεὶ τέρμʼ ὁρόων στρέφει ἐγγύθεν, οὐδέ ἑ λήθειὅππως τὸ πρῶτον τανύσῃ βοέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν,ἀλλʼ ἔχει ἀσφαλέως καὶ τὸν προὔχοντα δοκεύει.σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλʼ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει.ἕστηκε ξύλον αὖον ὅσον τʼ ὄργυιʼ ὑπὲρ αἴηςἢ δρυὸς ἢ πεύκης· τὸ μὲν οὐ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ,λᾶε δὲ τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἐρηρέδαται δύο λευκὼἐν ξυνοχῇσιν ὁδοῦ, λεῖος δʼ ἱππόδρομος ἀμφὶςἤ τευ σῆμα βροτοῖο πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,ἢ τό γε νύσσα τέτυκτο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων,καὶ νῦν τέρματʼ ἔθηκε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.τῷ σὺ μάλʼ ἐγχρίμψας ἐλάαν σχεδὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους,αὐτὸς δὲ κλινθῆναι ἐϋπλέκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳἦκʼ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ τοῖιν· ἀτὰρ τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππονκένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω,ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται ἄκρον ἱκέσθαικύκλου ποιητοῖο· λίθου δʼ ἀλέασθαι ἐπαυρεῖν,μή πως ἵππους τε τρώσῃς κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξῃς·χάρμα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισιν, ἐλεγχείη δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷἔσσεται· ἀλλὰ φίλος φρονέων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.εἰ γάρ κʼ ἐν νύσσῃ γε παρεξελάσῃσθα διώκων,οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅς κέ σʼ ἕλῃσι μετάλμενος οὐδὲ παρέλθῃ,οὐδʼ εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρίονα δῖον ἐλαύνοιἈδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν,ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος, οἳ ἐνθάδε γʼ ἔτραφεν ἐσθλοί.ὣς εἰπὼν Νέστωρ Νηλήϊος ἂψ ἐνὶ χώρῃἕζετʼ, ἐπεὶ ᾧ παιδὶ ἑκάστου πείρατʼ ἔειπε.Μηριόνης δʼ ἄρα πέμπτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθʼ ἵππους.ἂν δʼ ἔβαν ἐς δίφρους, ἐν δὲ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο·πάλλʼ Ἀχιλεύς, ἐκ δὲ κλῆρος θόρε ΝεστορίδαοἈντιλόχου· μετὰ τὸν δʼ ἔλαχε κρείων Εὔμηλος·τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης δουρὶ κλειτὸς Μενέλαος,τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ Μηριόνης λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν· ὕστατος αὖτεΤυδεΐδης ὄχʼ ἄριστος ἐὼν λάχʼ ἐλαυνέμεν ἵππους.στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί, σήμηνε δὲ τέρματʼ Ἀχιλλεὺςτηλόθεν ἐν λείῳ πεδίῳ· παρὰ δὲ σκοπὸν εἷσενἀντίθεον Φοίνικα ὀπάονα πατρὸς ἑοῖο,ὡς μεμνέῳτο δρόμους καὶ ἀληθείην ἀποείποι.οἳ δʼ ἅμα πάντες ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν μάστιγας ἄειραν,πέπληγόν θʼ ἱμᾶσιν, ὁμόκλησάν τʼ ἐπέεσσινἐσσυμένως· οἳ δʼ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο
away from the ships and beneath their breasts the dust arose and stood, as it were a cloud or a whirlwind, and their manes streamed on the blasts of the wind. And the chariots would now course over the bounteous earth, and now again would bound on high; and they that drave stood in the cars, and each man's heart was athrob as they strove for victory; and they called every man to his horses, that flew in the dust over the plain. But when now the swift horses were fulfilling the last stretch of the course, back toward the grey sea, then verily was made manifest the worth of each, and the pace of their horses was forced to the uttermost. And forthwith the swift-footed mares of the son of Pheres shot to the front, and after them Diomedes' stallions of the breed of Tros; not far behind were they, but close behind, for they seemed ever like to mount upon Eumelus' car, and with their breath his back waxed warm and his broad shoulders, for right over him did they lean their heads as they flew along. And now would Tydeus' son have passed him by or left the issue in doubt, had not Phoebus Apollo waxed wroth with him and smitten from his hand the shining lash.
νόσφι νεῶν ταχέως· ὑπὸ δὲ στέρνοισι κονίηἵστατʼ ἀειρομένη ὥς τε νέφος ἠὲ θύελλα,χαῖται δʼ ἐρρώοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.ἅρματα δʼ ἄλλοτε μὲν χθονὶ πίλνατο πουλυβοτείρῃ,ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀΐξασκε μετήορα· τοὶ δʼ ἐλατῆρεςἕστασαν ἐν δίφροισι, πάτασσε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστουνίκης ἱεμένων· κέκλοντο δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστοςἵπποις, οἳ δʼ ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποιἂψ ἐφʼ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστουφαίνετʼ, ἄφαρ δʼ ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δʼ ἔπειτααἳ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι.τὰς δὲ μετʼ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποιΤρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθʼ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλʼ ἐγγύς·αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐΐκτην,πνοιῇ δʼ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τʼ ὤμωθέρμετʼ· ἐπʼ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσʼ ἢ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν,εἰ μὴ Τυδέος υἷϊ κοτέσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,ὅς ῥά οἱ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔβαλεν μάστιγα φαεινήν.
Then from his eyes ran tears in his wrath for that he saw the mares coursing even far swiftlier still than before, while his own horses were hampered, as running without goad. But Athene was not unaware of Apollo's cheating of the son of Tydeus, and right swiftly sped she after the shepherd of the host, and gave him back the lash and put strength into his horses. Then in wrath was she gone after the son of Admetus, and the goddess brake the yoke of his steeds, and to his cost the mares swerved to this side and that of the course, and the pole was swung to the earth; and Eumelus himself was hurled from out the car beside the wheel, and from his elbows and his mouth and nose the skin was stripped, and his forehead above his brows was bruised; and both his eyes were filled with tears and the flow of his voice was checked. Then Tydeus' son turned his single-hooved horses aside and drave on, darting out far in advance of the rest; for Athene put strength in his horses and gave glory to himself. And after him drave the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus. But Antilochus called to the horses of his father:Go in now, ye twain as well; strain to your utmost speed. With yon steeds verily I nowise bid you strive, with the horses of wise-hearted Tydeus to the which Athene hath now given speed and vouchsafed glory to him that driveth them. But the horses of the son of Atreus do ye overtake with speed, and be not outstripped of them, lest shame be shed on you by Aethe that is but a mare. Why are ye outstripped, good steeds?
τοῖο δʼ ἀπʼ ὀφθαλμῶν χύτο δάκρυα χωομένοιο,οὕνεκα τὰς μὲν ὅρα ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἰούσας,οἳ δέ οἱ ἐβλάφθησαν ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες.οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθηναίην ἐλεφηράμενος λάθʼ ἈπόλλωνΤυδεΐδην, μάλα δʼ ὦκα μετέσσυτο ποιμένα λαῶν,δῶκε δέ οἱ μάστιγα, μένος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐνῆκεν·ἣ δὲ μετʼ Ἀδμήτου υἱὸν κοτέουσʼ ἐβεβήκει,ἵππειον δέ οἱ ἦξε θεὰ ζυγόν· αἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποιἀμφὶς ὁδοῦ δραμέτην, ῥυμὸς δʼ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐλύσθη.αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη,ἀγκῶνάς τε περιδρύφθη στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε,θρυλίχθη δὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσεδακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.Τυδεΐδης δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,πολλὸν τῶν ἄλλων ἐξάλμενος· ἐν γὰρ Ἀθήνηἵπποις ἧκε μένος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκε.τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπʼ Ἀτρεΐδης εἶχε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·ἔμβητον καὶ σφῶϊ· τιταίνετον ὅττι τάχιστα.ἤτοι μὲν κείνοισιν ἐριζέμεν οὔ τι κελεύωΤυδεΐδεω ἵπποισι δαΐφρονος, οἷσιν Ἀθήνηνῦν ὤρεξε τάχος καὶ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκεν·ἵππους δʼ Ἀτρεΐδαο κιχάνετε, μὴ δὲ λίπησθον,καρπαλίμως, μὴ σφῶϊν ἐλεγχείην καταχεύῃΑἴθη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα· τί ἢ λείπεσθε φέριστοι;
For thus will I speak out to you, and verily it shall be brought to pass: no tendance shall there be for you twain with Nestor, the shepherd of the host, but forthwith will he slay you with the sharp bronze, if through your heedlessness we win but a worse prize. Nay, have after them with all speed ye may, and this will I myself contrive and plan, that we slip past them in the narrow way; it shall not escape me.So spake he, and they, seized with fear at the rebuke of their master, ran swiftlier on for a little time, and then quickly did Antilochus, staunch in fight, espy a narrow place in the hollow road.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ παρὰ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶνἔσσεται, αὐτίκα δʼ ὔμμε κατακτενεῖ ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,αἴ κʼ ἀποκηδήσαντε φερώμεθα χεῖρον ἄεθλον.ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὅττι τάχιστα·ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς τεχνήσομαι ἠδὲ νοήσωστεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ παραδύμεναι, οὐδέ με λήσει.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴνμᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην ὀλίγον χρόνον· αἶψα δʼ ἔπειταστεῖνος ὁδοῦ κοίλης ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης.
A rift there was in the ground, where the water, swollen by winter rains, had broken away a part of the road and had hollowed all the place. There drave Menelaus in hope that none other might drive abreast of him. But Antilochus turned aside his single-hooved horses, and drave on outside the track, and followed after him, a little at one side.
ῥωχμὸς ἔην γαίης, ᾗ χειμέριον ἀλὲν ὕδωρἐξέρρηξεν ὁδοῖο, βάθυνε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα·τῇ ῥʼ εἶχεν Μενέλαος ἁματροχιὰς ἀλεείνων.Ἀντίλοχος δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππουςἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, ὀλίγον δὲ παρακλίνας ἐδίωκεν.
And the son of Atreus was seized with fear, and shouted to Antilochus:Antilochus, thou art driving recklessly; nay, rein in thy horses! Here is the way straitened, but presently it will be wider for passing; lest haply thou work harm to us both by fouling my car.So spake he, but Antilochus drave on even the more hotly, and plied the goad, as he were one that heard not. And far is the range of a discus swung from the shoulder, which a young man hurleth, making trial of his strength, even so far ran they on; but the mares of the son of Atreus gave back, for of his own will he forbare to urge them, lest haply the single-hooved horses should clash together in the track, and overturn the well-plaited cars, and themselves be hurled in the dust in their eager haste for victory. Then fair-haired Menelaus chid Antilochus, and said:Antilochus, than thou is none other of mortals more malicious.
Ἀτρεΐδης δʼ ἔδεισε καὶ Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐγεγώνει·Ἀντίλοχʼ ἀφραδέως ἱππάζεαι, ἀλλʼ ἄνεχʼ ἵππους·στεινωπὸς γὰρ ὁδός, τάχα δʼ εὐρυτέρη παρελάσσαι·μή πως ἀμφοτέρους δηλήσεαι ἅρματι κύρσας.ὣς ἔφατʼ, Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἔλαυνεκέντρῳ ἐπισπέρχων ὡς οὐκ ἀΐοντι ἐοικώς.ὅσσα δὲ δίσκου οὖρα κατωμαδίοιο πέλονται,ὅν τʼ αἰζηὸς ἀφῆκεν ἀνὴρ πειρώμενος ἥβης,τόσσον ἐπιδραμέτην· αἳ δʼ ἠρώησαν ὀπίσσωἈτρεΐδεω· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἑκὼν μεθέηκεν ἐλαύνεινμή πως συγκύρσειαν ὁδῷ ἔνι μώνυχες ἵπποι,δίφρους τʼ ἀνστρέψειαν ἐϋπλεκέας, κατὰ δʼ αὐτοὶἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης.τὸν καὶ νεικείων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·Ἀντίλοχʼ οὔ τις σεῖο βροτῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·
Go, and perdition take thee, since falsely did we Achaeans deem thee wise. Howbeit even so shalt thou not bear off the prize without an oath.So said he, and called to his horses, saying:Hold not back, I bid you, neither stand ye still with grief at heart. Their feet and knees will grow weary before yours, for they both are lacking in youth.So spake be, and they, seized with fear at the rebuke of their master, ran swiftlier on, and quickly came close anigh the others. But the Argives sitting in the place of gathering were gazing at the horses, that flew amid the dust over the plain.
ἔρρʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ σʼ ἔτυμόν γε φάμεν πεπνῦσθαι Ἀχαιοί.ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν οὐδʼ ὧς ἄτερ ὅρκου οἴσῃ ἄεθλον.ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε·μή μοι ἐρύκεσθον μὴ δʼ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.φθήσονται τούτοισι πόδες καὶ γοῦνα καμόνταἢ ὑμῖν· ἄμφω γὰρ ἀτέμβονται νεότητος.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴνμᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην, τάχα δέ σφισιν ἄγχι γένοντο.Ἀργεῖοι δʼ ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσορόωντοἵππους· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.
And the first to mark them was Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, for he sat without the gathering, the highest of all, in a place of outlook, and when he heard the voice of him that shouted, albeit afar off, he knew it; and he was ware of a horse, shewing clear to view in front, one that was a bay all the rest of him, but on his forehead was a white spot round like the moon. And he stood up, and spake among the Argives saying:My friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives, is it I alone that discern the horses, or do ye as well? Other are they, meseemeth, that be now in front, and other is the charioteer that appeareth; and the mares will have come to harm out yonder on the plain, they that were in front on the outward course. For in truth I marked them sweeping first about the turning-post, but now can I nowhere spy them, though mine eyes glance everywhither over the Trojan plain, as I gaze.
πρῶτος δʼ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἐφράσαθʼ ἵππους·ἧστο γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρτατος ἐν περιωπῇ·τοῖο δʼ ἄνευθεν ἐόντος ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσαςἔγνω, φράσσατο δʼ ἵππον ἀριπρεπέα προὔχοντα,ὃς τὸ μὲν ἄλλο τόσον φοῖνιξ ἦν, ἐν δὲ μετώπῳλευκὸν σῆμα τέτυκτο περίτροχον ἠΰτε μήνη.στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντεςοἶος ἐγὼν ἵππους αὐγάζομαι ἦε καὶ ὑμεῖς;ἄλλοι μοι δοκέουσι παροίτεροι ἔμμεναι ἵπποι,ἄλλος δʼ ἡνίοχος ἰνδάλλεται· αἳ δέ που αὐτοῦἔβλαβεν ἐν πεδίῳ, αἳ κεῖσέ γε φέρτεραι ἦσαν·ἤτοι γὰρ τὰς πρῶτα ἴδον περὶ τέρμα βαλούσας,νῦν δʼ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν· πάντῃ δέ μοι ὄσσεΤρωϊκὸν ἂμ πεδίον παπταίνετον εἰσορόωντι·