And the old man, godlike Priam, answered him:If thou art indeed a squire of Peleus' son Achilles, come now, tell me all the truth, whether my son is even yet by the ships or whether by now Achilles hath hewn him limb from limb and cast him before his dogs.
τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·εἰ μὲν δὴ θεράπων Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆοςεἴς, ἄγε δή μοι πᾶσαν ἀληθείην κατάλεξον,ἢ ἔτι πὰρ νήεσσιν ἐμὸς πάϊς, ἦέ μιν ἤδηᾗσι κυσὶν μελεϊστὶ ταμὼν προύθηκεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
Then again the messenger Argeiphontes spake to him:Old sire, not yet have dogs and birds devoured him, but still he lieth there beside the ship of Achilles amid the huts as he was at the first; and this is now the twelfth day that he lieth there, yet his flesh decayeth not at all, neither do worms consume it, such as devour men that be slain in fight. Truly Achilles draggeth him ruthlessly about the barrow of his dear comrade, so oft as sacred Dawn appeareth, howbeit he marreth him not; thou wouldst thyself marvel, wert thou to come and see how dewy-fresh he lieth, and is washen clean of blood, neither hath anywhere pollution; and all the wounds are closed wherewith he was stricken, for many there were that drave the bronze into his flesh. In such wise do the blessed gods care for thy son, a corpse though he be, seeing he was dear unto their hearts.So spake he, and the old man waxed glad, and answered, saying:
τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·ὦ γέρον οὔ πω τόν γε κύνες φάγον οὐδʼ οἰωνοί,ἀλλʼ ἔτι κεῖνος κεῖται Ἀχιλλῆος παρὰ νηῒαὔτως ἐν κλισίῃσι· δυωδεκάτη δέ οἱ ἠὼςκειμένῳ, οὐδέ τί οἱ χρὼς σήπεται, οὐδέ μιν εὐλαὶἔσθουσʼ, αἵ ῥά τε φῶτας ἀρηϊφάτους κατέδουσιν.ἦ μέν μιν περὶ σῆμα ἑοῦ ἑτάροιο φίλοιοἕλκει ἀκηδέστως ἠὼς ὅτε δῖα φανήῃ,οὐδέ μιν αἰσχύνει· θηοῖό κεν αὐτὸς ἐπελθὼνοἷον ἐερσήεις κεῖται, περὶ δʼ αἷμα νένιπται,οὐδέ ποθι μιαρός· σὺν δʼ ἕλκεα πάντα μέμυκενὅσσʼ ἐτύπη· πολέες γὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ χαλκὸν ἔλασσαν.ὥς τοι κήδονται μάκαρες θεοὶ υἷος ἑῆοςκαὶ νέκυός περ ἐόντος, ἐπεί σφι φίλος περὶ κῆρι.ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δʼ ὃ γέρων, καὶ ἀμείβετο μύθῳ·
My child, a good thing is it in sooth e'en to give to the immortals such gifts as be due; for never did my son—as sure as ever such a one there was—forget in our halls the gods that hold Olympus; wherefore they have remembered this for him, even though he be in the doom of death. But come, take thou from me this fair goblet, and guard me myself, and guide me with the speeding of the gods, until I be come unto the hut of the son of Peleus.And again the messenger, Argeiphontes, spake to him:Thou dost make trial of me, old sire, that am younger than thou; but thou shalt not prevail upon me, seeing thou biddest me take gifts from thee while Achilles knoweth naught thereof.
ὦ τέκος, ἦ ῥʼ ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἐναίσιμα δῶρα διδοῦναιἀθανάτοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποτʼ ἐμὸς πάϊς, εἴ ποτʼ ἔην γε,λήθετʼ ἐνὶ μεγάροισι θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσι·τώ οἱ ἀπεμνήσαντο καὶ ἐν θανάτοιό περ αἴσῃ.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ τόδε δέξαι ἐμεῦ πάρα καλὸν ἄλεισον,αὐτόν τε ῥῦσαι, πέμψον δέ με σύν γε θεοῖσιν,ὄφρά κεν ἐς κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω ἀφίκωμαι.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντης·πειρᾷ ἐμεῖο γεραιὲ νεωτέρου, οὐδέ με πείσεις,ὅς με κέλῃ σέο δῶρα παρὲξ Ἀχιλῆα δέχεσθαι.
Of him have I fear and awe at heart, that I should defraud him, lest haply some evil befall me hereafter. Howbeit as thy guide would I go even unto glorious Argos, attending thee with kindly care in a swift ship or on foot; nor would any man make light of thy guide and set upon thee.
τὸν μὲν ἐγὼ δείδοικα καὶ αἰδέομαι περὶ κῆρισυλεύειν, μή μοί τι κακὸν μετόπισθε γένηται.σοὶ δʼ ἂν ἐγὼ πομπὸς καί κε κλυτὸν Ἄργος ἱκοίμην,ἐνδυκέως ἐν νηῒ θοῇ ἢ πεζὸς ὁμαρτέων·οὐκ ἄν τίς τοι πομπὸν ὀνοσσάμενος μαχέσαιτο.
So spake the Helper, and leaping upon the chariot behind the horses quickly grasped in his hands the lash and reins, and breathed great might into the horses and mules. But when they were come to the walls and the trench that guarded the ships, even as the watchers were but now busying them about their supper, upon all of these the messenger Argeiphontes shed sleep, and forthwith opened the gates, and thrust back the bars, and brought within Priam, and the splendid gifts upon the wain. But when they were come to the hut of Peleus' son, the lofty hut which the Myrmidons had builded for their king, hewing therefor beams of fir —and they had roofed it over with downy thatch, gathered from the meadows; and round it they reared for him, their king, a great court with thick-set pales; and the door thereof was held by one single bar of fir that three Achaeans were wont to drive home, and three to draw back the great bolt of the door (three of the rest, but Achilles would drive it home even of himself)—then verily the helper Hermes opened the door for the old man, and brought in the glorious gifts for the swift-footed son of Peleus; and from the chariot he stepped down to the ground and spake, saying:
ἦ καὶ ἀναΐξας ἐριούνιος ἅρμα καὶ ἵππουςκαρπαλίμως μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία λάζετο χερσίν,ἐν δʼ ἔπνευσʼ ἵπποισι καὶ ἡμιόνοις μένος ἠΰ.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύργους τε νεῶν καὶ τάφρον ἵκοντο,οἳ δὲ νέον περὶ δόρπα φυλακτῆρες πονέοντο,τοῖσι δʼ ἐφʼ ὕπνον ἔχευε διάκτορος ἀργεϊφόντηςπᾶσιν, ἄφαρ δʼ ὤϊξε πύλας καὶ ἀπῶσεν ὀχῆας,ἐς δʼ ἄγαγε Πρίαμόν τε καὶ ἀγλαὰ δῶρʼ ἐπʼ ἀπήνης.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Πηληϊάδεω ἀφίκοντοὑψηλήν, τὴν Μυρμιδόνες ποίησαν ἄνακτιδοῦρʼ ἐλάτης κέρσαντες· ἀτὰρ καθύπερθεν ἔρεψανλαχνήεντʼ ὄροφον λειμωνόθεν ἀμήσαντες·ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ μεγάλην αὐλὴν ποίησαν ἄνακτισταυροῖσιν πυκινοῖσι· θύρην δʼ ἔχε μοῦνος ἐπιβλὴςεἰλάτινος, τὸν τρεῖς μὲν ἐπιρρήσσεσκον Ἀχαιοί,τρεῖς δʼ ἀναοίγεσκον μεγάλην κληῗδα θυράωντῶν ἄλλων· Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἄρʼ ἐπιρρήσσεσκε καὶ οἶος·δή ῥα τόθʼ Ἑρμείας ἐριούνιος ᾦξε γέροντι,ἐς δʼ ἄγαγε κλυτὰ δῶρα ποδώκεϊ Πηλεΐωνι,ἐξ ἵππων δʼ ἀπέβαινεν ἐπὶ χθόνα φώνησέν τε·
Old sire, I that am come to thee am immortal god, even Hermes; for the Father sent me to guide thee on thy way. But now verily will I go back, neither come within Achilles' sight; good cause for wrath would it be that an immortal god should thus openly be entertained of mortals.
ὦ γέρον ἤτοι ἐγὼ θεὸς ἄμβροτος εἰλήλουθαἙρμείας· σοὶ γάρ με πατὴρ ἅμα πομπὸν ὄπασσεν.ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ πάλιν εἴσομαι, οὐδʼ Ἀχιλῆοςὀφθαλμοὺς εἴσειμι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴηἀθάνατον θεὸν ὧδε βροτοὺς ἀγαπαζέμεν ἄντην·
But go thou in, and clasp the knees of the son of Peleus and entreat him by his father and his fair-haired mother and his child, that thou mayest stir his soul.So spake Hermes, and departed unto high Olympus; and Priam leapt from his chariot to the ground, and left there Idaeus, who abode holding the horses and mules; but the old man went straight toward the house where Achilles, dear to Zeus, was wont to sit. Therein he found Achilles, but his comrades sat apart: two only, the warrior Automedon and Alcimus, scion of Ares, waited busily upon him; and he was newly ceased from meat, even from eating and drinking, and the table yet stood by his side. Unseen of these great Priam entered in, and coming close to Achilles, clasped in his hands his knees, and kissed his hands, the terrible, man-slaying hands that had slain his many sons.
τύνη δʼ εἰσελθὼν λαβὲ γούνατα Πηλεΐωνος,καί μιν ὑπὲρ πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος ἠϋκόμοιολίσσεο καὶ τέκεος, ἵνα οἱ σὺν θυμὸν ὀρίνῃς.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν ὌλυμπονἙρμείας· Πρίαμος δʼ ἐξ ἵππων ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,Ἰδαῖον δὲ κατʼ αὖθι λίπεν· ὃ δὲ μίμνεν ἐρύκωνἵππους ἡμιόνους τε· γέρων δʼ ἰθὺς κίεν οἴκου,τῇ ῥʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἵζεσκε Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δέ μιν αὐτὸνεὗρʼ, ἕταροι δʼ ἀπάνευθε καθήατο· τὼ δὲ δύʼ οἴωἥρως Αὐτομέδων τε καὶ Ἄλκιμος ὄζος Ἄρηοςποίπνυον παρεόντε· νέον δʼ ἀπέληγεν ἐδωδῆςἔσθων καὶ πίνων· ἔτι καὶ παρέκειτο τράπεζα.τοὺς δʼ ἔλαθʼ εἰσελθὼν Πρίαμος μέγας, ἄγχι δʼ ἄρα στὰςχερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος λάβε γούνατα καὶ κύσε χεῖραςδεινὰς ἀνδροφόνους, αἵ οἱ πολέας κτάνον υἷας.
And as when sore blindness of heart cometh upon a man, that in his own country slayeth another and escapeth to a land of strangers, to the house of some man of substance, and wonder holdeth them that look upon him; even so was Achilles seized with wonder at sight of godlike Priam, and seized with wonder were the others likewise, and they glanced one at the other.
ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἄνδρʼ ἄτη πυκινὴ λάβῃ, ὅς τʼ ἐνὶ πάτρῃφῶτα κατακτείνας ἄλλων ἐξίκετο δῆμονἀνδρὸς ἐς ἀφνειοῦ, θάμβος δʼ ἔχει εἰσορόωντας,ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς θάμβησεν ἰδὼν Πρίαμον θεοειδέα·θάμβησαν δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι, ἐς ἀλλήλους δὲ ἴδοντο.
But Priam made entreaty, and spake to him, saying:Remember thy father, O Achilles like to the gods, whose years are even as mine, on the grievous threshold of old age. Him full likely the dwellers that be round about are entreating evilly, neither is there any to ward from him ruin and bane.
τὸν καὶ λισσόμενος Πρίαμος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·μνῆσαι πατρὸς σοῖο θεοῖς ἐπιείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ,τηλίκου ὥς περ ἐγών, ὀλοῷ ἐπὶ γήραος οὐδῷ·καὶ μέν που κεῖνον περιναιέται ἀμφὶς ἐόντεςτείρουσʼ, οὐδέ τίς ἐστιν ἀρὴν καὶ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι.
Howbeit, while he heareth of thee as yet alive he hath joy at heart, and therewithal hopeth day by day that he shall see his dear son returning from Troy-land. But I—I am utterly unblest, seeing I begat sons the best in the broad land of Troy, yet of them I avow that not one is left.
ἀλλʼ ἤτοι κεῖνός γε σέθεν ζώοντος ἀκούωνχαίρει τʼ ἐν θυμῷ, ἐπί τʼ ἔλπεται ἤματα πάνταὄψεσθαι φίλον υἱὸν ἀπὸ Τροίηθεν ἰόντα·αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ πανάποτμος, ἐπεὶ τέκον υἷας ἀρίστουςΤροίῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ, τῶν δʼ οὔ τινά φημι λελεῖφθαι.
Fifty I had, when the sons of the Achaeans came; nineteen were born to me of the self-same womb, and the others women of the palace bare. Of these, many as they were, furious Ares hath loosed the knees, and he that alone was left me, that by himself guarded the city and the men, him thou slewest but now as he fought for his country, even Hector. For his sake am I now come to the ships of the Achaeans to win him back from thee, and I bear with me ransom past counting. Nay, have thou awe of the gods, Achilles, and take pity on me, remembering thine own father. Lo, I am more piteous far than he, and have endured what no other mortal on the face of earth hath yet endured, to reach forth my hand to the face of him that hath slain my sons.So spake he, and in Achilles he roused desire to weep for his father; and he took the old man by the hand, and gently put him from him. So the twain bethought them of their dead, and wept; the one for man-slaying Hector wept sore, the while he grovelled at Achilles' feet, but Achilles wept for his own father, and now again for Patroclus; and the sound of their moaning went up through the house. But when goodly Achilles had had his fill of lamenting, and the longing therefor had departed from his heart and limbs, forthwith then he sprang from his seat, and raised the old man by his hand, pitying his hoary head and hoary beard; and he spake and addressed him with winged words:Ah, unhappy man, full many in good sooth are the evils thou hast endured in thy soul. How hadst thou the heart to come alone to the ships of the Achaeans, to meet the eyes of me that have slain thy sons many and valiant? Of iron verily is thy heart. But come, sit thou upon a seat, and our sorrows will we suffer to lie quiet in our hearts, despite our pain; for no profit cometh of chill lament.
πεντήκοντά μοι ἦσαν ὅτʼ ἤλυθον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·ἐννεακαίδεκα μέν μοι ἰῆς ἐκ νηδύος ἦσαν,τοὺς δʼ ἄλλους μοι ἔτικτον ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γυναῖκες.τῶν μὲν πολλῶν θοῦρος Ἄρης ὑπὸ γούνατʼ ἔλυσεν·ὃς δέ μοι οἶος ἔην, εἴρυτο δὲ ἄστυ καὶ αὐτούς,τὸν σὺ πρῴην κτεῖνας ἀμυνόμενον περὶ πάτρηςἝκτορα· τοῦ νῦν εἵνεχʼ ἱκάνω νῆας Ἀχαιῶνλυσόμενος παρὰ σεῖο, φέρω δʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα.ἀλλʼ αἰδεῖο θεοὺς Ἀχιλεῦ, αὐτόν τʼ ἐλέησονμνησάμενος σοῦ πατρός· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐλεεινότερός περ,ἔτλην δʼ οἷʼ οὔ πώ τις ἐπιχθόνιος βροτὸς ἄλλος,ἀνδρὸς παιδοφόνοιο ποτὶ στόμα χεῖρʼ ὀρέγεσθαι.ὣς φάτο, τῷ δʼ ἄρα πατρὸς ὑφʼ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·ἁψάμενος δʼ ἄρα χειρὸς ἀπώσατο ἦκα γέροντα.τὼ δὲ μνησαμένω ὃ μὲν Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιοκλαῖʼ ἁδινὰ προπάροιθε ποδῶν Ἀχιλῆος ἐλυσθείς,αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς κλαῖεν ἑὸν πατέρʼ, ἄλλοτε δʼ αὖτεΠάτροκλον· τῶν δὲ στοναχὴ κατὰ δώματʼ ὀρώρει.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥα γόοιο τετάρπετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,καί οἱ ἀπὸ πραπίδων ἦλθʼ ἵμερος ἠδʼ ἀπὸ γυίων,αὐτίκʼ ἀπὸ θρόνου ὦρτο, γέροντα δὲ χειρὸς ἀνίστηοἰκτίρων πολιόν τε κάρη πολιόν τε γένειον,καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ἆ δείλʼ, ἦ δὴ πολλὰ κάκʼ ἄνσχεο σὸν κατὰ θυμόν.πῶς ἔτλης ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν ἐλθέμεν οἶοςἀνδρὸς ἐς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὅς τοι πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλοὺςυἱέας ἐξενάριξα; σιδήρειόν νύ τοι ἦτορ.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ κατʼ ἄρʼ ἕζευ ἐπὶ θρόνου, ἄλγεα δʼ ἔμπηςἐν θυμῷ κατακεῖσθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ·οὐ γάρ τις πρῆξις πέλεται κρυεροῖο γόοιο·
For on this wise have the gods spun the thread for wretched mortals, that they should live in pain; and themselves are sorrowless. For two urns are set upon the floor of Zeus of gifts that he giveth, the one of ills, the other of blessings. To whomsoever Zeus, that hurleth the thunderbolt, giveth a mingled lot, that man meeteth now with evil, now with good; but to whomsoever he giveth but of the baneful, him he maketh to be reviled of man, and direful madness driveth him over the face of the sacred earth, and he wandereth honoured neither of gods nor mortals. Even so unto Peleus did the gods give glorious gifts from his birth; for he excelled all men in good estate and in wealth, and was king over the Myrmidons, and to him that was but a mortal the gods gave a goddess to be his wife. Howbeit even upon him the gods brought evil, in that there nowise sprang up in his halls offspring of princely sons, but he begat one only son, doomed to an untimely fate. Neither may I tend him as he groweth old, seeing that far, far from mine own country I abide in the land of Troy, vexing thee and thy children. And of thee, old sire, we hear that of old thou wast blest; how of all that toward the sea Lesbos, the seat of Macar, encloseth, and Phrygia in the upland, and the boundless Hellespont, over all these folk, men say, thou, old sire, wast preeminent by reason of thy wealth and thy sons. Howbeit from the time when the heavenly gods brought upon thee this bane, ever around thy city are battles and slayings of men. Bear thou up, neither wail ever ceaselessly in thy heart; for naught wilt thou avail by grieving for thy son, neither wilt thou bring him back to life; ere that shalt thou suffer some other ill.And the old man, godlike Priam, answered him:Seat me not anywise upon a chair, O thou fostered of Zeus, so long as Hector lieth uncared-for amid the huts; nay, give him back with speed, that mine eyes may behold him; and do thou accept the ransom, the great ransom, that we bring. So mayest thou have joy thereof, and come to thy native land, seeing that from the first thou hast spared me.Then with an angry glance from beneath his brows spake to him Achilles swift of foot:
ὡς γὰρ ἐπεκλώσαντο θεοὶ δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιζώειν ἀχνυμένοις· αὐτοὶ δέ τʼ ἀκηδέες εἰσί.δοιοὶ γάρ τε πίθοι κατακείαται ἐν Διὸς οὔδειδώρων οἷα δίδωσι κακῶν, ἕτερος δὲ ἑάων·ᾧ μέν κʼ ἀμμίξας δώῃ Ζεὺς τερπικέραυνος,ἄλλοτε μέν τε κακῷ ὅ γε κύρεται, ἄλλοτε δʼ ἐσθλῷ·ᾧ δέ κε τῶν λυγρῶν δώῃ, λωβητὸν ἔθηκε,καί ἑ κακὴ βούβρωστις ἐπὶ χθόνα δῖαν ἐλαύνει,φοιτᾷ δʼ οὔτε θεοῖσι τετιμένος οὔτε βροτοῖσιν.ὣς μὲν καὶ Πηλῆϊ θεοὶ δόσαν ἀγλαὰ δῶραἐκ γενετῆς· πάντας γὰρ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους ἐκέκαστοὄλβῳ τε πλούτῳ τε, ἄνασσε δὲ Μυρμιδόνεσσι,καί οἱ θνητῷ ἐόντι θεὰν ποίησαν ἄκοιτιν.ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ καὶ τῷ θῆκε θεὸς κακόν, ὅττί οἱ οὔ τιπαίδων ἐν μεγάροισι γονὴ γένετο κρειόντων,ἀλλʼ ἕνα παῖδα τέκεν παναώριον· οὐδέ νυ τόν γεγηράσκοντα κομίζω, ἐπεὶ μάλα τηλόθι πάτρηςἧμαι ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, σέ τε κήδων ἠδὲ σὰ τέκνα.καὶ σὲ γέρον τὸ πρὶν μὲν ἀκούομεν ὄλβιον εἶναι·ὅσσον Λέσβος ἄνω Μάκαρος ἕδος ἐντὸς ἐέργεικαὶ Φρυγίη καθύπερθε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντος ἀπείρων,τῶν σε γέρον πλούτῳ τε καὶ υἱάσι φασὶ κεκάσθαι.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί τοι πῆμα τόδʼ ἤγαγον Οὐρανίωνεςαἰεί τοι περὶ ἄστυ μάχαι τʼ ἀνδροκτασίαι τε.ἄνσχεο, μὴ δʼ ἀλίαστον ὀδύρεο σὸν κατὰ θυμόν·οὐ γάρ τι πρήξεις ἀκαχήμενος υἷος ἑῆος,οὐδέ μιν ἀνστήσεις, πρὶν καὶ κακὸν ἄλλο πάθῃσθα.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·μή πω μʼ ἐς θρόνον ἵζε διοτρεφὲς ὄφρά κεν Ἕκτωρκεῖται ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἀκηδής, ἀλλὰ τάχισταλῦσον ἵνʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδω· σὺ δὲ δέξαι ἄποιναπολλά, τά τοι φέρομεν· σὺ δὲ τῶνδʼ ἀπόναιο, καὶ ἔλθοιςσὴν ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν, ἐπεί με πρῶτον ἔασαςαὐτόν τε ζώειν καὶ ὁρᾶν φάος ἠελίοιο.τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
Provoke me no more, old sir; I am minded even of myself to give Hector back to thee; for from Zeus there came to me a messenger, even the mother that bare me, daughter of the old man of the sea. And of thee, Priam, do I know in my heart—it nowise escapeth me—that some god led thee to the swift ships of the Achaeans.
μηκέτι νῦν μʼ ἐρέθιζε γέρον· νοέω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸςἝκτορά τοι λῦσαι, Διόθεν δέ μοι ἄγγελος ἦλθεμήτηρ, ἥ μʼ ἔτεκεν, θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.καὶ δέ σε γιγνώσκω Πρίαμε φρεσίν, οὐδέ με λήθεις,ὅττι θεῶν τίς σʼ ἦγε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.
For no mortal man, were he never so young and strong, would dare to come amid the host; neither could he then escape the watch, nor easily thrust back the bar of our doors. Wherefore now stir my heart no more amid my sorrows, lest, old sire, I spare not even thee within the huts, my suppliant though thou art, and so sin against the behest of Zeus.So spake he, and the old man was seized with fear, and hearkened to his word. But like a lion the son of Peleus sprang forth from the houses—not alone, for with him went two squires as well, even the warrior Automedon and Alcimus, they that Achilles honoured above all his comrades, after the dead Patroclus. These then loosed from beneath the yoke the horses and mules, and led within the herald, the crier of the old king, and set him on a chair; and from the wain of goodly felloes they took the countless ransom for Hector's head.
οὐ γάρ κε τλαίη βροτὸς ἐλθέμεν, οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἡβῶν,ἐς στρατόν· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν φυλάκους λάθοι, οὐδέ κʼ ὀχῆαῥεῖα μετοχλίσσειε θυράων ἡμετεράων.τὼ νῦν μή μοι μᾶλλον ἐν ἄλγεσι θυμὸν ὀρίνῃς,μή σε γέρον οὐδʼ αὐτὸν ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἐάσωκαὶ ἱκέτην περ ἐόντα, Διὸς δʼ ἀλίτωμαι ἐφετμάς.ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ ὃ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ.Πηλεΐδης δʼ οἴκοιο λέων ὣς ἆλτο θύραζεοὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω θεράποντες ἕποντοἥρως Αὐτομέδων ἠδʼ Ἄλκιμος, οὕς ῥα μάλιστατῖʼ Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάρων μετὰ Πάτροκλόν γε θανόντα,οἳ τόθʼ ὑπὸ ζυγόφιν λύον ἵππους ἡμιόνους τε,ἐς δʼ ἄγαγον κήρυκα καλήτορα τοῖο γέροντος,κὰδ δʼ ἐπὶ δίφρου εἷσαν· ἐϋξέστου δʼ ἀπʼ ἀπήνηςᾕρεον Ἑκτορέης κεφαλῆς ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα.
But they left there two robes and a fair-woven tunic, to the end that Achilles might enwrap the dead therein and so give him to be borne to his home. Then Achilles called forth the hand-maids and bade them wash and anoint him, bearing him to a place apart that Priam might not have sight of his son, lest in grief of heart he should not restrain his wrath, whenso he had sight of his son, and Achilles' own spirit be stirred to anger, and he slay him, and so sin against the behest of Zeus. So when the handmaids had washed the body and anointed it with oil, and had cast about it a fair cloak and a tunic, then Achilles himself lifted it and set it upon a bier, and his comrades with him lifted it upon the polished waggon. Then he uttered a groan, and called by name upon his dear comrade:Be not thou wroth with me, Patroclus, if thou hearest even in the house of Hades that I have given back goodly Hector to his dear father, seeing that not unseemly is the ransom he hath given me.
κὰδ δʼ ἔλιπον δύο φάρεʼ ἐΰννητόν τε χιτῶνα,ὄφρα νέκυν πυκάσας δοίη οἶκον δὲ φέρεσθαι.δμῳὰς δʼ ἐκκαλέσας λοῦσαι κέλετʼ ἀμφί τʼ ἀλεῖψαινόσφιν ἀειράσας, ὡς μὴ Πρίαμος ἴδοι υἱόν,μὴ ὃ μὲν ἀχνυμένῃ κραδίῃ χόλον οὐκ ἐρύσαιτοπαῖδα ἰδών, Ἀχιλῆϊ δʼ ὀρινθείη φίλον ἦτορ,καί ἑ κατακτείνειε, Διὸς δʼ ἀλίτηται ἐφετμάς.τὸν δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνα,αὐτὸς τόν γʼ Ἀχιλεὺς λεχέων ἐπέθηκεν ἀείρας,σὺν δʼ ἕταροι ἤειραν ἐϋξέστην ἐπʼ ἀπήνην.ᾤμωξέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα, φίλον δʼ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·μή μοι Πάτροκλε σκυδμαινέμεν, αἴ κε πύθηαιεἰν Ἄϊδός περ ἐὼν ὅτι Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔλυσαπατρὶ φίλῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ μοι ἀεικέα δῶκεν ἄποινα.
And unto thee shall I render even of this all that is thy due.So spake goodly Achilles, and went back within the hut and on the richly-wrought chair wherefrom he had risen sate him down by the opposite wall, and he spake unto Priam, saying:Thy son, old sire, is given back according to thy wish, and lieth upon a bier; and at break of day thou shalt thyself behold him, as thou bearest him hence; but for this present let us bethink us of supper. For even the fair-haired Niobe bethought her of meat, albeit twelve children perished in her halls, six daughters and six lusty sons.
σοὶ δʼ αὖ ἐγὼ καὶ τῶνδʼ ἀποδάσσομαι ὅσσʼ ἐπέοικεν.ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐς κλισίην πάλιν ἤϊε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,ἕζετο δʼ ἐν κλισμῷ πολυδαιδάλῳ ἔνθεν ἀνέστητοίχου τοῦ ἑτέρου, ποτὶ δὲ Πρίαμον φάτο μῦθον·υἱὸς μὲν δή τοι λέλυται γέρον ὡς ἐκέλευες,κεῖται δʼ ἐν λεχέεσσʼ· ἅμα δʼ ἠοῖ φαινομένηφινὄψεαι αὐτὸς ἄγων· νῦν δὲ μνησώμεθα δόρπου.καὶ γάρ τʼ ἠΰκομος Νιόβη ἐμνήσατο σίτου,τῇ περ δώδεκα παῖδες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλοντοἓξ μὲν θυγατέρες, ἓξ δʼ υἱέες ἡβώοντες.
The sons Apollo slew with shafts from his silver bow, being wroth against Niobe, and the daughters the archer Artemis, for that Niobe had matched her with fair-cheeked Leto, saying that the goddess had borne but twain, while herself was mother to many; wherefore they, for all they were but twain, destroyed them all.
τοὺς μὲν Ἀπόλλων πέφνεν ἀπʼ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖοχωόμενος Νιόβῃ, τὰς δʼ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα,οὕνεκʼ ἄρα Λητοῖ ἰσάσκετο καλλιπαρῄῳ·φῆ δοιὼ τεκέειν, ἣ δʼ αὐτὴ γείνατο πολλούς·τὼ δʼ ἄρα καὶ δοιώ περ ἐόντʼ ἀπὸ πάντας ὄλεσσαν.
For nine days' space they lay in their blood, nor was there any to bury them, for the son of Cronos turned the folk to stones; howbeit on the tenth day the gods of heaven buried them; and Niobe bethought her of meat, for she was wearied with the shedding of tears. And now somewhere amid the rocks, on the lonely mountains, on Sipylus, where, men say, are the couching-places of goddesses, even of the nymphs that range swiftly in the dance about Achelous, there, albeit a stone, she broodeth over her woes sent by the gods. But come, let us twain likewise, noble old sire, bethink us of meat; and thereafter shalt thou make lament over thy dear son, when thou hast borne him into Ilios; mourned shall he be of thee many tears.Therewith swift Achilles sprang up, and slew a white-fleeced sheep, and his comrades flayed it and made it ready well and duly, and sliced it cunningly and spitted the morsels, and roasted them carefully and drew all off the spits.
οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐννῆμαρ κέατʼ ἐν φόνῳ, οὐδέ τις ἦενκατθάψαι, λαοὺς δὲ λίθους ποίησε Κρονίων·τοὺς δʼ ἄρα τῇ δεκάτῃ θάψαν θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες.ἣ δʼ ἄρα σίτου μνήσατʼ, ἐπεὶ κάμε δάκρυ χέουσα.νῦν δέ που ἐν πέτρῃσιν ἐν οὔρεσιν οἰοπόλοισινἐν Σιπύλῳ, ὅθι φασὶ θεάων ἔμμεναι εὐνὰςνυμφάων, αἵ τʼ ἀμφʼ Ἀχελώϊον ἐρρώσαντο,ἔνθα λίθος περ ἐοῦσα θεῶν ἐκ κήδεα πέσσει.ἀλλʼ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα δῖε γεραιὲσίτου· ἔπειτά κεν αὖτε φίλον παῖδα κλαίοισθαἼλιον εἰσαγαγών· πολυδάκρυτος δέ τοι ἔσται.ἦ καὶ ἀναΐξας ὄϊν ἄργυφον ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺςσφάξʼ· ἕταροι δʼ ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον εὖ κατὰ κόσμον,μίστυλλόν τʼ ἄρʼ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τʼ ὀβελοῖσιν,ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
And Automedon took bread and dealt it forth on the table in fair baskets, while Achilles dealt the meat. So they put forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, then verily Priam, son of Dardanus, marvelled at Achilles, how tall he was and how comely; for he was like the gods to look upon. And a son of Dardanus, did Achilles marvel, beholding his goodly aspect and hearkening to his words. But when they had had their fill of gazing one upon the other, then the old man, godlike Priam, was first to speak, saying:
Αὐτομέδων δʼ ἄρα σῖτον ἑλὼν ἐπένειμε τραπέζῃκαλοῖς ἐν κανέοισιν· ἀτὰρ κρέα νεῖμεν Ἀχιλλεύς.οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,ἤτοι Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος θαύμαζʼ Ἀχιλῆαὅσσος ἔην οἷός τε· θεοῖσι γὰρ ἄντα ἐῴκει·αὐτὰρ ὃ Δαρδανίδην Πρίαμον θαύμαζεν Ἀχιλλεὺςεἰσορόων ὄψίν τʼ ἀγαθὴν καὶ μῦθον ἀκούων.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάρπησαν ἐς ἀλλήλους ὁρόωντες,τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·
Show me now my bed with speed, O thou nurtured of Zeus, that lulled at length by sweet sleep we may rest and take our joy; for never yet have mine eyes closed beneath mine eyelids since at thy hands my son lost his life, but ever do I wail and brood over my countless sorrows, grovelling in the filth in the closed spaces of the court. But now have I tasted of meat, and have let flaming wine pass down my throat; whereas till now had I tasted naught.He spake, and Achilles bade his comrades and the handmaids set bedsteads beneath the portico, and to lay on them fair purple blankets, and to spread thereover coverlets, and on these to put fleecy cloaks for clothing. So the maids went forth from the hall with torches in their hands, and straightway spread two beds in busy haste. Then mockingly spake unto Priam Achilles, swift of foot:
λέξον νῦν με τάχιστα διοτρεφές, ὄφρα καὶ ἤδηὕπνῳ ὕπο γλυκερῷ ταρπώμεθα κοιμηθέντες·οὐ γάρ πω μύσαν ὄσσε ὑπὸ βλεφάροισιν ἐμοῖσινἐξ οὗ σῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμὸς πάϊς ὤλεσε θυμόν,ἀλλʼ αἰεὶ στενάχω καὶ κήδεα μυρία πέσσωαὐλῆς ἐν χόρτοισι κυλινδόμενος κατὰ κόπρον.νῦν δὴ καὶ σίτου πασάμην καὶ αἴθοπα οἶνονλαυκανίης καθέηκα· πάρος γε μὲν οὔ τι πεπάσμην.ἦ ῥʼ, Ἀχιλεὺς δʼ ἑτάροισιν ἰδὲ δμῳῇσι κέλευσεδέμνιʼ ὑπʼ αἰθούσῃ θέμεναι καὶ ῥήγεα καλὰπορφύρεʼ ἐμβαλέειν, στορέσαι τʼ ἐφύπερθε τάπητας,χλαίνας τʼ ἐνθέμεναι οὔλας καθύπερθεν ἕσασθαι.αἳ δʼ ἴσαν ἐκ μεγάροιο δάος μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσαι,αἶψα δʼ ἄρα στόρεσαν δοιὼ λέχεʼ ἐγκονέουσαι.τὸν δʼ ἐπικερτομέων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
Without do thou lay thee down, dear old sire, lest there come hither one of the counsellors of the Achaeans, that ever sit by my side and take counsel, as is meet. If one of these were to have sight of thee through the swift black night, forthwith might he haply tell it to Agamemnon, shepherd of the host, and so should there arise delay in the giving back of the body. But come, tell me this, and declare it truly: for how many days' space thou art minded to make funeral for goodly Hector, to the end that for so long I may myself abide, and may keep back the host.And the old man, godlike Priam, answered him: saying:
ἐκτὸς μὲν δὴ λέξο γέρον φίλε, μή τις Ἀχαιῶνἐνθάδʼ ἐπέλθῃσιν βουληφόρος, οἵ τέ μοι αἰεὶβουλὰς βουλεύουσι παρήμενοι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί·τῶν εἴ τίς σε ἴδοιτο θοὴν διὰ νύκτα μέλαιναν,αὐτίκʼ ἂν ἐξείποι Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν,καί κεν ἀνάβλησις λύσιος νεκροῖο γένηται.ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον,ποσσῆμαρ μέμονας κτερεϊζέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον,ὄφρα τέως αὐτός τε μένω καὶ λαὸν ἐρύκω.τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα γέρων Πρίαμος θεοειδής·
If thou indeed art willing that I accomplish for goodly Hector his burial, then in doing on this wise, O Achilles, wilt thou do according to my wish. Thou knowest how we are pent within the city, and far is it to fetch wood from the mountain, and the Trojans are sore afraid. For nine days' space will we wail for him in our halls, and on the tenth will we make his funeral, and the folk shall feast, and on the eleventh will we heap a barrow over him, and on the twelfth will we do battle, if so be we must.Then spake to him in answer swift-footed, goodly Achilles:Thus shall this also be aged Priam, even as thou wouldest have it;
εἰ μὲν δή μʼ ἐθέλεις τελέσαι τάφον Ἕκτορι δίῳ,ὧδέ κέ μοι ῥέζων Ἀχιλεῦ κεχαρισμένα θείης.οἶσθα γὰρ ὡς κατὰ ἄστυ ἐέλμεθα, τηλόθι δʼ ὕληἀξέμεν ἐξ ὄρεος, μάλα δὲ Τρῶες δεδίασιν.ἐννῆμαρ μέν κʼ αὐτὸν ἐνὶ μεγάροις γοάοιμεν,τῇ δεκάτῃ δέ κε θάπτοιμεν δαινῦτό τε λαός,ἑνδεκάτῃ δέ κε τύμβον ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ποιήσαιμεν,τῇ δὲ δυωδεκάτῃ πολεμίξομεν εἴ περ ἀνάγκη.τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·ἔσται τοι καὶ ταῦτα γέρον Πρίαμʼ ὡς σὺ κελεύεις·
for I will hold back the battle for such time as thou dost bid.When he had thus spoken he clasped the old man's right hand by the wrist, lest his heart should any wise wax fearful. So they laid them to sleep there in the fore-hall of the house, the herald and Priam, with hearts of wisdom in their breasts; but Achilles slept in the innermost part of the well-builded hut, and by his side lay fair-cheeked Briseis. Now all the other gods and men, lords of chariots, slumbered the whole night through, overcome of soft sleep; but not upon the helper Hermes might sleep lay hold, as he pondered in mind how he should guide king Priam forth from the ships unmarked of the strong keepers of the gate. He took his stand above his head and spake to him, saying:Old sire, no thought then hast thou of any evil, that thou still sleepest thus amid foemen, for that Achilles has spared thee.
σχήσω γὰρ πόλεμον τόσσον χρόνον ὅσσον ἄνωγας.ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἐπὶ καρπῷ χεῖρα γέροντοςἔλλαβε δεξιτερήν, μή πως δείσειʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐν προδόμῳ δόμου αὐτόθι κοιμήσαντοκῆρυξ καὶ Πρίαμος πυκινὰ φρεσὶ μήδεʼ ἔχοντες,αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς εὗδε μυχῷ κλισίης ἐϋπήκτου·τῷ δὲ Βρισηῒς παρελέξατο καλλιπάρῃος.ἄλλοι μέν ῥα θεοί τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἱπποκορυσταὶεὗδον παννύχιοι μαλακῷ δεδμημένοι ὕπνῳ·ἀλλʼ οὐχ Ἑρμείαν ἐριούνιον ὕπνος ἔμαρπτενὁρμαίνοντʼ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὅπως Πρίαμον βασιλῆανηῶν ἐκπέμψειε λαθὼν ἱεροὺς πυλαωρούς.στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·ὦ γέρον οὔ νύ τι σοί γε μέλει κακόν, οἷον ἔθʼ εὕδειςἀνδράσιν ἐν δηΐοισιν, ἐπεί σʼ εἴασεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
Now verily hast thou ransomed thy son, and a great price thou gavest. But for thine own life must the sons thou hast, they that be left behind, give ransom thrice so great, if so be Agamemnon, Atreus' son, have knowledge of thee, or the host of the Achaeans have knowledge.So spake he, and the old man was seized with fear, and made the herald to arise.
καὶ νῦν μὲν φίλον υἱὸν ἐλύσαο, πολλὰ δʼ ἔδωκας·σεῖο δέ κε ζωοῦ καὶ τρὶς τόσα δοῖεν ἄποιναπαῖδες τοὶ μετόπισθε λελειμμένοι, αἴ κʼ Ἀγαμέμνωνγνώῃ σʼ Ἀτρεΐδης, γνώωσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.ὣς ἔφατʼ, ἔδεισεν δʼ ὃ γέρων, κήρυκα δʼ ἀνίστη.
And Hermes yoked for them the horses and mules, and himself lightly drave them through the camp, neither had any man knowledge thereof. But when they were now come to the ford of the fair-flowing river, even eddying Xanthus, that immortal Zeus begat, then Hermes departed to high Olympus, and Dawn, the saffron-robed, was spreading over the face of all the earth. So they with moaning and wailing drave the horses to the city, and the mules bare the dead. Neither was any other ware of them, whether man or fair-girdled woman; but in truth Cassandra, peer of golden Aphrodite, having gone up upon Pergamus, marked her dear father as he stood in the car, and the herald, the city's crier; and she had sight of that other lying on the bier in the waggon drawn of the mules. Thereat she uttered a shrill cry, and called throughout all the town:Come ye, men and women of Troy, and behold Hector, if ever while yet he lived ye had joy of his coming back from battle; since great joy was he to the city and to all the folk.So spake she, nor was any man left there within the city, neither any woman, for upon all had come grief that might not be borne; and hard by the gates they met Priam, as he bare home the dead.
τοῖσιν δʼ Ἑρμείας ζεῦξʼ ἵππους ἡμιόνους τε,ῥίμφα δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτὸς ἔλαυνε κατὰ στρατόν, οὐδέ τις ἔγνω.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πόρον ἷξον ἐϋρρεῖος ποταμοῖοΞάνθου δινήεντος, ὃν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς,Ἑρμείας μὲν ἔπειτʼ ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,Ἠὼς δὲ κροκόπεπλος ἐκίδνατο πᾶσαν ἐπʼ αἶαν,οἳ δʼ εἰς ἄστυ ἔλων οἰμωγῇ τε στοναχῇ τεἵππους, ἡμίονοι δὲ νέκυν φέρον. οὐδέ τις ἄλλοςἔγνω πρόσθʼ ἀνδρῶν καλλιζώνων τε γυναικῶν,ἀλλʼ ἄρα Κασσάνδρη ἰκέλη χρυσῇ ἈφροδίτῃΠέργαμον εἰσαναβᾶσα φίλον πατέρʼ εἰσενόησενἑσταότʼ ἐν δίφρῳ, κήρυκά τε ἀστυβοώτην·τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐφʼ ἡμιόνων ἴδε κείμενον ἐν λεχέεσσι·κώκυσέν τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα γέγωνέ τε πᾶν κατὰ ἄστυ·ὄψεσθε Τρῶες καὶ Τρῳάδες Ἕκτορʼ ἰόντες,εἴ ποτε καὶ ζώοντι μάχης ἐκνοστήσαντιχαίρετʼ, ἐπεὶ μέγα χάρμα πόλει τʼ ἦν παντί τε δήμῳ.ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδέ τις αὐτόθʼ ἐνὶ πτόλεϊ λίπετʼ ἀνὴροὐδὲ γυνή· πάντας γὰρ ἀάσχετον ἵκετο πένθος·ἀγχοῦ δὲ ξύμβληντο πυλάων νεκρὸν ἄγοντι.
First Hector's dear wife and queenly mother flung themselves upon the light-running waggon, and clasping his head the while, wailed and tore their hair; and the folk thronged about and wept. And now the whole day long until set of sun had they made lament for Hector with shedding of tears there without the gates, had not the old man spoken amid the folk from out the car:Make me way for the mules to pass through; thereafter shall ye take your fill of wailing, when I have brought him to the house.So spake he, and they stood apart and made way for the waggon. But the others, when they had brought him to the glorious house, laid him on a corded bedstead, and by his side set singers, leaders of the dirge, who led the song of lamentation—they chanted the dirge, and thereat the women made lament. And amid these white-armed Andromache led the wailing, holding in her arms the while the head of man-slaying Hector:
πρῶται τόν γʼ ἄλοχός τε φίλη καὶ πότνια μήτηρτιλλέσθην ἐπʼ ἄμαξαν ἐΰτροχον ἀΐξασαιἁπτόμεναι κεφαλῆς· κλαίων δʼ ἀμφίσταθʼ ὅμιλος.καί νύ κε δὴ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύνταἝκτορα δάκρυ χέοντες ὀδύροντο πρὸ πυλάων,εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ἐκ δίφροιο γέρων λαοῖσι μετηύδα·εἴξατέ μοι οὐρεῦσι διελθέμεν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταἄσεσθε κλαυθμοῖο, ἐπὴν ἀγάγωμι δόμον δέ.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δὲ διέστησαν καὶ εἶξαν ἀπήνῃ.οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ εἰσάγαγον κλυτὰ δώματα, τὸν μὲν ἔπειτατρητοῖς ἐν λεχέεσσι θέσαν, παρὰ δʼ εἷσαν ἀοιδοὺςθρήνων ἐξάρχους, οἵ τε στονόεσσαν ἀοιδὴνοἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐθρήνεον, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γυναῖκες.τῇσιν δʼ Ἀνδρομάχη λευκώλενος ἦρχε γόοιοἝκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο κάρη μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχουσα·
Husband, perished from out of life art thou, yet in thy youth, and leavest me a widow in thy halls; and thy son is still but a babe, the son born of thee and me in our haplessness; neither do I deem that he will come to manhood, for ere that shall this city be wasted utterly. For thou hast perished that didst watch thereover, thou that didst guard it, and keep safe its noble wives and little children. These, I ween, shall soon be riding upon the hollow ships, and I among them; and thou, my child, shalt follow with me to a place where thou shalt labour at unseemly tasks, toiling before the face of some ungentle master, or else some Achaean shall seize thee by the arm and hurl thee from the wall, a woeful death, being wroth for that Hector slew his brother haply, or his father, or his son, seeing that full many Achaeans at the hands of Hector have bitten the vast earth with their teeth; for nowise gentle was thy father in woeful war.
ἆνερ ἀπʼ αἰῶνος νέος ὤλεο, κὰδ δέ με χήρηνλείπεις ἐν μεγάροισι· πάϊς δʼ ἔτι νήπιος αὔτωςὃν τέκομεν σύ τʼ ἐγώ τε δυσάμμοροι, οὐδέ μιν οἴωἥβην ἵξεσθαι· πρὶν γὰρ πόλις ἥδε κατʼ ἄκρηςπέρσεται· ἦ γὰρ ὄλωλας ἐπίσκοπος, ὅς τέ μιν αὐτὴνῥύσκευ, ἔχες δʼ ἀλόχους κεδνὰς καὶ νήπια τέκνα,αἳ δή τοι τάχα νηυσὶν ὀχήσονται γλαφυρῇσι,καὶ μὲν ἐγὼ μετὰ τῇσι· σὺ δʼ αὖ τέκος ἢ ἐμοὶ αὐτῇἕψεαι, ἔνθά κεν ἔργα ἀεικέα ἐργάζοιοἀθλεύων πρὸ ἄνακτος ἀμειλίχου, ἤ τις Ἀχαιῶνῥίψει χειρὸς ἑλὼν ἀπὸ πύργου λυγρὸν ὄλεθρονχωόμενος, ᾧ δή που ἀδελφεὸν ἔκτανεν Ἕκτωρἢ πατέρʼ ἠὲ καὶ υἱόν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλοὶ ἈχαιῶνἝκτορος ἐν παλάμῃσιν ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας.οὐ γὰρ μείλιχος ἔσκε πατὴρ τεὸς ἐν δαῒ λυγρῇ·
Therefore the folk wail for him throughout the city, and grief unspeakable and sorrow hast thou brought upon thy parents, Hector; and for me beyond all others shall grievous woes be left. For at thy death thou didst neither stretch out thy hands to me from thy bed, nor speak to me any word of wisdom whereon I might have pondered night and day with shedding of tears.So spake she wailing, and thereat the women made lament. And among them Hecabe in turns led the vehement wailing:Hector, far dearest to my heart of all my children, lo, when thou livedst thou wast dear to the gods, and therefore have they had care of thee for all thou art in the doom of death. For of other sons of mine whomsoever he took would swift-footed Achilles sell beyond the unresting sea, unto Samos and Imbros and Lemnos, shrouded in smoke, but, when from thee he had taken away thy life with the long-edged bronze oft would he drag thee about the barrow of his comrade, Patroclus, whom thou didst slay; howbeit even so might he not raise him up. But now all dewy-fresh thou liest in my halls as wert thou newly slain, like as one whom Apollo of the silver bow assaileth with his gentle shafts and slayeth.
τὼ καί μιν λαοὶ μὲν ὀδύρονται κατὰ ἄστυ,ἀρητὸν δὲ τοκεῦσι γόον καὶ πένθος ἔθηκαςἝκτορ· ἐμοὶ δὲ μάλιστα λελείψεται ἄλγεα λυγρά.οὐ γάρ μοι θνῄσκων λεχέων ἐκ χεῖρας ὄρεξας,οὐδέ τί μοι εἶπες πυκινὸν ἔπος, οὗ τέ κεν αἰεὶμεμνῄμην νύκτάς τε καὶ ἤματα δάκρυ χέουσα.ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γυναῖκες.τῇσιν δʼ αὖθʼ Ἑκάβη ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο·Ἕκτορ ἐμῷ θυμῷ πάντων πολὺ φίλτατε παίδων,ἦ μέν μοι ζωός περ ἐὼν φίλος ἦσθα θεοῖσιν·οἳ δʼ ἄρα σεῦ κήδοντο καὶ ἐν θανάτοιό περ αἴσῃ.ἄλλους μὲν γὰρ παῖδας ἐμοὺς πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺςπέρνασχʼ ὅν τινʼ ἕλεσκε πέρην ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο,ἐς Σάμον ἔς τʼ Ἴμβρον καὶ Λῆμνον ἀμιχθαλόεσσαν·σεῦ δʼ ἐπεὶ ἐξέλετο ψυχὴν ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ,πολλὰ ῥυστάζεσκεν ἑοῦ περὶ σῆμʼ ἑτάροιοΠατρόκλου, τὸν ἔπεφνες· ἀνέστησεν δέ μιν οὐδʼ ὧς.νῦν δέ μοι ἑρσήεις καὶ πρόσφατος ἐν μεγάροισικεῖσαι, τῷ ἴκελος ὅν τʼ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλωνοἷς ἀγανοῖσι βέλεσσιν ἐποιχόμενος κατέπεφνεν.
So spake she wailing, and roused unabating lament. And thereafter Helen was the third to lead the wailing:Hector, far dearest to my heart of all my husband's brethren! In sooth my husband is godlike Alexander, that brought me to Troy-land —would I died ere then!
ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσα, γόον δʼ ἀλίαστον ὄρινε.τῇσι δʼ ἔπειθʼ Ἑλένη τριτάτη ἐξῆρχε γόοιο·Ἕκτορ ἐμῷ θυμῷ δαέρων πολὺ φίλτατε πάντων,ἦ μέν μοι πόσις ἐστὶν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής,ὅς μʼ ἄγαγε Τροίηνδʼ· ὡς πρὶν ὤφελλον ὀλέσθαι.
For this is now the twentieth year from the time when I went from thence and am gone from my native land, but never yet heard I evil or despiteful word from thee; nay, if so be any other spake reproachfully of me in the halls, a brother of thine or a sister, or brother's fair-robed wife, or thy mother—but thy father was ever gentle as he had been mine own—yet wouldst thou turn them with speech and restrain them by the gentleness of thy spirit and thy gentle words. Wherefore I wail alike for thee and for my hapless self with grief at heart; for no longer have I anyone beside in broad Troy that is gentle to me or kind; but all men shudder at me.So spake she wailing, and thereat the countless throng made moan. But the old man Priam spake among the folk, saying:Bring wood now, ye men of Troy, unto the city, neither have ye anywise fear at heart of a cunning ambush of the Argives; for verily Achilles laid upon me this word when he sent me forth from the black ships, that he would do us no hurt until the twelfth dawn be come.So spake he, and they yoked oxen and mules to waggons, and speedily thereafter gathered together before the city. For nine days' space they brought in measureless store of wood, but when the tenth Dawn arose, giving light unto mortals, then bare they forth bold Hector, shedding tears the while, and on the topmost pyre they laid the dead man, and cast fire thereon. But soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, then gathered the folk about the pyre of glorious Hector.
ἤδη γὰρ νῦν μοι τόδε εἰκοστὸν ἔτος ἐστὶνἐξ οὗ κεῖθεν ἔβην καὶ ἐμῆς ἀπελήλυθα πάτρης·ἀλλʼ οὔ πω σεῦ ἄκουσα κακὸν ἔπος οὐδʼ ἀσύφηλον·ἀλλʼ εἴ τίς με καὶ ἄλλος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐνίπτοιδαέρων ἢ γαλόων ἢ εἰνατέρων εὐπέπλων,ἢ ἑκυρή, ἑκυρὸς δὲ πατὴρ ὣς ἤπιος αἰεί,ἀλλὰ σὺ τὸν ἐπέεσσι παραιφάμενος κατέρυκεςσῇ τʼ ἀγανοφροσύνῃ καὶ σοῖς ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσι.τὼ σέ θʼ ἅμα κλαίω καὶ ἔμʼ ἄμμορον ἀχνυμένη κῆρ·οὐ γάρ τίς μοι ἔτʼ ἄλλος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃἤπιος οὐδὲ φίλος, πάντες δέ με πεφρίκασιν.ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσʼ, ἐπὶ δʼ ἔστενε δῆμος ἀπείρων.λαοῖσιν δʼ ὃ γέρων Πρίαμος μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπεν·ἄξετε νῦν Τρῶες ξύλα ἄστυ δέ, μὴ δέ τι θυμῷδείσητʼ Ἀργείων πυκινὸν λόχον· ἦ γὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺςπέμπων μʼ ὧδʼ ἐπέτελλε μελαινάων ἀπὸ νηῶνμὴ πρὶν πημανέειν πρὶν δωδεκάτη μόλῃ ἠώς.ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ὑπʼ ἀμάξῃσιν βόας ἡμιόνους τεζεύγνυσαν, αἶψα δʼ ἔπειτα πρὸ ἄστεος ἠγερέθοντο.ἐννῆμαρ μὲν τοί γε ἀγίνεον ἄσπετον ὕλην·ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ δεκάτη ἐφάνη φαεσίμβροτος ἠώς,καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἐξέφερον θρασὺν Ἕκτορα δάκρυ χέοντες,ἐν δὲ πυρῇ ὑπάτῃ νεκρὸν θέσαν, ἐν δʼ ἔβαλον πῦρ.ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,τῆμος ἄρʼ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν κλυτοῦ Ἕκτορος ἔγρετο λαός.
And when they were assembled and met together, first they quenched with flaming wine all the pyre, so far as the fire's might had come upon it, and thereafter his brethren and his comrades gathered the white bones, mourning, and big tears flowed ever down their cheeks.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τʼ ἐγένοντοπρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσαν αἴθοπι οἴνῳπᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταὀστέα λευκὰ λέγοντο κασίγνητοί θʼ ἕταροί τεμυρόμενοι, θαλερὸν δὲ κατείβετο δάκρυ παρειῶν.
The bones they took and placed in a golden urn, covering them over with soft purple robes, and quickly laid the urn in a hollow grave, and covered it over with great close-set stones. Then with speed heaped they the mound, and round about were watchers set on every side, lest the well-greaved Achaeans should set upon them before the time. And when they had piled the barrow they went back, and gathering together duly feasted a glorious feast in the palace of Priam, the king fostered of Zeus. On this wise held they funeral for horse-taming Hector.
καὶ τά γε χρυσείην ἐς λάρνακα θῆκαν ἑλόντεςπορφυρέοις πέπλοισι καλύψαντες μαλακοῖσιν.αἶψα δʼ ἄρʼ ἐς κοίλην κάπετον θέσαν, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθεπυκνοῖσιν λάεσσι κατεστόρεσαν μεγάλοισι·ῥίμφα δὲ σῆμʼ ἔχεαν, περὶ δὲ σκοποὶ ἥατο πάντῃ,μὴ πρὶν ἐφορμηθεῖεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί.χεύαντες δὲ τὸ σῆμα πάλιν κίον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειταεὖ συναγειρόμενοι δαίνυντʼ ἐρικυδέα δαῖταδώμασιν ἐν Πριάμοιο διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος.ὣς οἵ γʼ ἀμφίεπον τάφον Ἕκτορος ἱπποδάμοιο.