The Iliad &middot; Book 8

Lines 28–30

But at length there spake among them the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene: Father of us all, thou son of Cronos, high above all lords, well know we of ourselves that thy might is unyielding, yet even so have we pity for the Danaan spearmen who now shall perish and fulfill an evil fate.Yet verily will we refrain us from battle, even as thou dost bid; howbeit counsel will we offer to the Argives which shall be for their profit, that they perish not all by reason of thy wrath. Then with a smile spake to her Zeus the cloud-gatherer: Be of good cheer, Tritogeneia, dear child. In no wisedo I speak with full purpose of heart, but am minded to be kindly to thee.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἱ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι· μάλα γὰρ κρατερῶς ἀγόρευσεν. ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena to Zeus · divine

Lines 31–37

Yet verily will we refrain us from battle, even as thou dost bid; howbeit counsel will we offer to the Argives which shall be for their profit, that they perish not all by reason of thy wrath.

ὦ πάτερ ἡμέτερε Κρονίδη ὕπατε κρειόντων εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι σθένος οὐκ ἐπιεικτόν· ἀλλʼ ἔμπης Δαναῶν ὀλοφυρόμεθʼ αἰχμητάων, οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται. ἀλλʼ ἤτοι πολέμου μὲν ἀφεξόμεθʼ ὡς σὺ κελεύεις· βουλὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ὑποθησόμεθʼ ἥ τις ὀνήσει, ὡς μὴ πάντες ὄλωνται ὀδυσσαμένοιο τεοῖο.

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Lines 38

τὴν δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

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Zeus to Athena · divine

Lines 39–40

do I speak with full purpose of heart, but am minded to be kindly to thee.

θάρσει Τριτογένεια φίλον τέκος· οὔ νύ τι θυμῷ πρόφρονι μυθέομαι, ἐθέλω δέ τοι ἤπιος εἶναι.

Lattimore commentary

Tritogeneia was obscure even in antiquity as an epithet for Athene. It may mean “Triton-born” in relation to various bodies of water so named, although the goddess has nothing to do with Triton, son of Poseidon; more likely it means “genuine daughter” (literally “third-born”).

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Lines 41–55

and touched the horses with the lash to start them; and nothing loath the pair sped onward midway between earth and starry heaven. To Ida he fared, the many-fountained, mother of wild beasts, even to Gargarus, where is his demesne and his fragrant altar. There did the father of men and gods stay his horses, and loose them from the car, and shed thick mist upon them; and himself sat amid the mountain peaks exulting in his glory, looking upon the city of the Trojans and the ships of the Achaeans. But the long-haired Achaeans took their meal hastily throughout the huts, and as they rose up therefrom arrayed them in armour; and in like manner, the Trojans, on their side, armed themselves throughout the city; fewer they were, but even so were they eager to contend in battle through utter need, for their children's sake and their wives'. And all the gates were opened, and the host hasted forth, footmen alike and charioteers; and a great din arose.

ὣς εἰπὼν ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι τιτύσκετο χαλκόποδʼ ἵππω ὠκυπέτα χρυσέῃσιν ἐθείρῃσιν κομόωντε, χρυσὸν δʼ αὐτὸς ἔδυνε περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δʼ ἱμάσθλην χρυσείην εὔτυκτον, ἑοῦ δʼ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου, μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν· τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἀέκοντε πετέσθην μεσσηγὺς γαίης τε καὶ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος. Ἴδην δʼ ἵκανεν πολυπίδακα μητέρα θηρῶν Γάργαρον, ἔνθά τέ οἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις. ἔνθʼ ἵππους ἔστησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε λύσας ἐξ ὀχέων, κατὰ δʼ ἠέρα πουλὺν ἔχευεν. αὐτὸς δʼ ἐν κορυφῇσι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων εἰσορόων Τρώων τε πόλιν καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν. οἳ δʼ ἄρα δεῖπνον ἕλοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ ῥίμφα κατὰ κλισίας, ἀπὸ δʼ αὐτοῦ θωρήσσοντο. Τρῶες δʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέρωθεν ἀνὰ πτόλιν ὁπλίζοντο

Lattimore commentary

Gargaron is the highest peak of Mount Ida, near Troy, and the site mentioned may be where Hektor used to make sacrificial offerings to Zeus (22.171).

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Lines 56–70

But when they were met together and come into one place, then clashed they their shields and spears, and the fury of bronze-mailed warriors; and the bossed shields closed each with each, and a great din arose. Then were heard alike the sound of groaning and the cry of triumph of the slayers and the slain, and the earth flowed with blood. Now as long as it was morn and the sacred day was waxing, so long the missiles of either side struck home, and the folk kept falling. But when the sun had reached mid heaven, then verily the Father lifted on high his golden scales, and set therein two fates of grievous death, one for the horse-taming Trojans, and one for the brazen-coated Achaeans; then he grasped the balance by the midst and raised it, and down sank the day of doom of the Achaeans. So the Achaeans' fates settled down upon the bounteous earth and those of the Trojans were raised aloft toward wide heaven.

παυρότεροι· μέμασαν δὲ καὶ ὧς ὑσμῖνι μάχεσθαι χρειοῖ ἀναγκαίῃ, πρό τε παίδων καὶ πρὸ γυναικῶν. πᾶσαι δʼ ὠΐγνυντο πύλαι, ἐκ δʼ ἔσσυτο λαός, πεζοί θʼ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει. οἳ δʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐς χῶρον ἕνα ξυνιόντες ἵκοντο σύν ῥʼ ἔβαλον ῥινούς, σὺν δʼ ἔγχεα καὶ μένεʼ ἀνδρῶν χαλκεοθωρήκων· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι ἔπληντʼ ἀλλήλῃσι, πολὺς δʼ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει. ἔνθα δʼ ἅμʼ οἰμωγή τε καὶ εὐχωλὴ πέλεν ἀνδρῶν ὀλλύντων τε καὶ ὀλλυμένων, ῥέε δʼ αἵματι γαῖα. ὄφρα μὲν ἠὼς ἦν καὶ ἀέξετο ἱερὸν ἦμαρ, τόφρα μάλʼ ἀμφοτέρων βέλεʼ ἥπτετο, πῖπτε δὲ λαός. ἦμος δʼ Ἠέλιος μέσον οὐρανὸν ἀμφιβεβήκει, καὶ τότε δὴ χρύσεια πατὴρ ἐτίταινε τάλαντα· ἐν δʼ ἐτίθει δύο κῆρε τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο

Lattimore commentary

The scales of Zeus may seem to contradict his recent assertion of total power, since he seems to hand over the fate of the armies to chance. But a balance is not a dice toss: it vividly makes concrete the decision he had already reached in agreeing with Thetis to honor Achilleus. The only other time Zeus employs it, Hektor’s doom tips down: 22.209.

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Lines 71–85

Then himself he thundered aloud from Ida, and sent a blazing flash amid the host of the Achaeans; and at sight thereof they were seized with wonder, and pale fear gat hold of all. only Nestor of Gerenia abode, the warder of the Achaeans, and he nowise of his own will, but his horse was sore wounded, seeing goodly Alexander, lord of fair-haired Helen, had smitten him with an arrow upon the crown of the head where the foremost hairs of horses grow upon the skull, and where is the deadliest spot. So, stung with agony the horse leapt on high as the arrow sank into his brain, and he threw into confusion horses and car as he writhed upon the bronze. And while the old man sprang forth and with his sword was cutting away the traces, meanwhile the swift horses of Hector came on through the tumult, bearing a bold charioteer,

Τρώων θʼ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων, ἕλκε δὲ μέσσα λαβών· ῥέπε δʼ αἴσιμον ἦμαρ Ἀχαιῶν. αἳ μὲν Ἀχαιῶν κῆρες ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ ἑζέσθην, Τρώων δὲ πρὸς οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἄερθεν· αὐτὸς δʼ ἐξ Ἴδης μεγάλʼ ἔκτυπε, δαιόμενον δὲ ἧκε σέλας μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ ἰδόντες θάμβησαν, καὶ πάντας ὑπὸ χλωρὸν δέος εἷλεν. ἔνθʼ οὔτʼ Ἰδομενεὺς τλῆ μίμνειν οὔτʼ Ἀγαμέμνων, οὔτε δύʼ Αἴαντες μενέτην θεράποντες Ἄρηος· Νέστωρ οἶος ἔμιμνε Γερήνιος οὖρος Ἀχαιῶν οὔ τι ἑκών, ἀλλʼ ἵππος ἐτείρετο, τὸν βάλεν ἰῷ δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο ἄκρην κὰκ κορυφήν, ὅθι τε πρῶται τρίχες ἵππων κρανίῳ ἐμπεφύασι, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστιν. ἀλγήσας δʼ ἀνέπαλτο, βέλος δʼ εἰς ἐγκέφαλον δῦ,

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tlao

Lines 86–92

even Hector. And now would the old man here have lost his life, had not Diomedes, good at the war-cry, been quick to see; and he shouted with a terrible shout, urging on Odysseus: Zeus-born son of Laërtes, Odysseus of many wiles, whither fleest thou with thy back turned, like a coward in the throng?Let it not be that as thou fleest some man plant his spear in thy back. Nay, hold thy ground, that we may thrust back from old Nestor this wild warrior. So spake he, howbeit the much-enduring goodly Odysseus heard him not,345.1 but hasted by to the hollow ships of the Achaeans. But the son of Tydeus, alone though he was, mingled with the foremost fighters,

σὺν δʼ ἵππους ἐτάραξε κυλινδόμενος περὶ χαλκῷ. ὄφρʼ ὁ γέρων ἵπποιο παρηορίας ἀπέταμνε φασγάνῳ ἀΐσσων, τόφρʼ Ἕκτορος ὠκέες ἵπποι ἦλθον ἀνʼ ἰωχμὸν θρασὺν ἡνίοχον φορέοντες Ἕκτορα· καί νύ κεν ἔνθʼ ὁ γέρων ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὄλεσσεν εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης· σμερδαλέον δʼ ἐβόησεν ἐποτρύνων Ὀδυσῆα·

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Diomedes to Odysseus

Lines 93–96

Let it not be that as thou fleest some man plant his spear in thy back. Nay, hold thy ground, that we may thrust back from old Nestor this wild warrior.

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ πῇ φεύγεις μετὰ νῶτα βαλὼν κακὸς ὣς ἐν ὁμίλῳ; μή τίς τοι φεύγοντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πήξῃ· ἀλλὰ μένʼ ὄφρα γέροντος ἀπώσομεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα.

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Lines 97–101

and took his stand before the horses of the old man, Neleus' son, and spake and addressed him with winged words: Old sir, of a surety young warriors press thee sore; whereas thy might is broken and grievous old age attends thee, and thy squire is a weakling and thy horses slow.Nay, come, mount upon my car, that thou mayest see of what sort are the horses of Tros, well skilled to course fleetly hither and thither over the plain whether in pursuit or in flight, even those that once I took from Aeneas, devisers of rout. Thy horses shall our two squires tend, but these twainshall thou and I drive straight against the horse-taming Trojans, that Hector too may know whether my spear also rageth in my hands.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἐσάκουσε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, ἀλλὰ παρήϊξεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν. Τυδεΐδης δʼ αὐτός περ ἐὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη, στῆ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Νηληϊάδαο γέροντος, καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

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Diomedes to Nestor

Lines 102–111

Nay, come, mount upon my car, that thou mayest see of what sort are the horses of Tros, well skilled to course fleetly hither and thither over the plain whether in pursuit or in flight, even those that once I took from Aeneas, devisers of rout. Thy horses shall our two squires tend, but these twain shall thou and I drive straight against the horse-taming Trojans, that Hector too may know whether my spear also rageth in my hands.

ὦ γέρον ἦ μάλα δή σε νέοι τείρουσι μαχηταί, σὴ δὲ βίη λέλυται, χαλεπὸν δέ σε γῆρας ὀπάζει, ἠπεδανὸς δέ νύ τοι θεράπων, βραδέες δέ τοι ἵπποι. ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐμῶν ὀχέων ἐπιβήσεο, ὄφρα ἴδηαι οἷοι Τρώϊοι ἵπποι ἐπιστάμενοι πεδίοιο κραιπνὰ μάλʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διωκέμεν ἠδὲ φέβεσθαι, οὕς ποτʼ ἀπʼ Αἰνείαν ἑλόμην μήστωρε φόβοιο. τούτω μὲν θεράποντε κομείτων, τώδε δὲ νῶϊ Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἰθύνομεν, ὄφρα καὶ Ἕκτωρ εἴσεται εἰ καὶ ἐμὸν δόρυ μαίνεται ἐν παλάμῃσιν.

Lattimore commentary

These are the immortal horses which Aineias’ father got from the gift of the gods to Tros (5.265–73).

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Lines 112–126

and the other twain mounted both upon the car of Diomedes. Nestor took in his hands the shining reins, and touched the horses with the lash, and speedily they drew nigh to Hector. Upon him then as he charged straight at them the son of Tydeus made a cast: him he missed, but his squire that drave the chariot, Eniopeus, son of Thebaeus, high of heart, even as he was holding the reins, he smote on the breast beside the nipple. So he fell from out the car, and the swift-footed horses swerved aside thereat; and there his spirit and his strength were undone. Then was the soul of Hector clouded with dread sorrow for his charioteer. Yet left he him to lie there, albeit he sorrowed for his comrade, and sought him a bold charioteer; nor did his horses twain long lack a master, for straightway he found Iphitus' son, bold Archeptolemus, and made him mount behind his swift-footed horses, and gave the reins into his hands.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ. Νεστορέας μὲν ἔπειθʼ ἵππους θεράποντε κομείτην ἴφθιμοι Σθένελός τε καὶ Εὐρυμέδων ἀγαπήνωρ. τὼ δʼ εἰς ἀμφοτέρω Διομήδεος ἅρματα βήτην· Νέστωρ δʼ ἐν χείρεσσι λάβʼ ἡνία σιγαλόεντα, μάστιξεν δʼ ἵππους· τάχα δʼ Ἕκτορος ἄγχι γένοντο. τοῦ δʼ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτος ἀκόντισε Τυδέος υἱός· καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρτεν, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον θεράποντα υἱὸν ὑπερθύμου Θηβαίου Ἠνιοπῆα ἵππων ἡνίʼ ἔχοντα βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν. ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε. Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο· τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου κεῖσθαι, ὃ δʼ ἡνίοχον μέθεπε θρασύν· οὐδʼ ἄρʼ ἔτι δὴν

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menos phren psyche

Lines 127–138

Then had ruin come and deeds beyond remedy been wrought, and they had been penned in Ilios like lambs, had not the father of men and gods been quick to see. He thundered terribly and let fly his white lightning-bolt, and down before the horses of Diomedes he hurled it to earth; and a terrible flame arose of burning sulphur, and the two horses, seized with terror, cowered beneath the car. Then from the hands of Nestor slipped the shining reins, and he waxed afraid at heart, and spake to Diomedes: Son of Tydeus, come now, turn thou in flight thy single-hooved horses.Seest thou not that victory from Zeus waited not on thee? Now to yon man doth Zeus, the son of Cronos, vouchsafe glory for this day; hereafter shall he grant it also to us, if so be he will. But a man may in no wise thwart the purpose of Zeus, be he never so valiant; for in sooth he is mightier far.

ἵππω δευέσθην σημάντορος· αἶψα γὰρ εὗρεν Ἰφιτίδην Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασύν, ὅν ῥα τόθʼ ἵππων ὠκυπόδων ἐπέβησε, δίδου δέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν. ἔνθά κε λοιγὸς ἔην καὶ ἀμήχανα ἔργα γένοντο, καί νύ κε σήκασθεν κατὰ Ἴλιον ἠΰτε ἄρνες, εἰ μὴ ἄρʼ ὀξὺ νόησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε· βροντήσας δʼ ἄρα δεινὸν ἀφῆκʼ ἀργῆτα κεραυνόν, κὰδ δὲ πρόσθʼ ἵππων Διομήδεος ἧκε χαμᾶζε· δεινὴ δὲ φλὸξ ὦρτο θεείου καιομένοιο, τὼ δʼ ἵππω δείσαντε καταπτήτην ὑπʼ ὄχεσφι· Νέστορα δʼ ἐκ χειρῶν φύγον ἡνία σιγαλόεντα, δεῖσε δʼ ὅ γʼ ἐν θυμῷ, Διομήδεα δὲ προσέειπε·

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Nestor to Diomedes

Lines 139–144

Seest thou not that victory from Zeus waited not on thee? Now to yon man doth Zeus, the son of Cronos, vouchsafe glory for this day; hereafter shall he grant it also to us, if so be he will. But a man may in no wise thwart the purpose of Zeus, be he never so valiant; for in sooth he is mightier far.

Τυδεΐδη ἄγε δʼ αὖτε φόβον δʼ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους. ἦ οὐ γιγνώσκεις ὅ τοι ἐκ Διὸς οὐχ ἕπετʼ ἀλκή; νῦν μὲν γὰρ τούτῳ Κρονίδης Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀπάζει σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε καὶ ἡμῖν, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσι, δώσει· ἀνὴρ δέ κεν οὔ τι Διὸς νόον εἰρύσσαιτο οὐδὲ μάλʼ ἴφθιμος, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐστι.

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noos

Lines 145

And in answer to him spake Diomedes, good at the war cry: Yea, verily, old sir, all this hast thou spoken according to right. But herein dread grief cometh upon my heart and soul, for Hector will some day say, as he speaketh in the gathering of the Trojans: ‘Tydeus' son, driven in flight before me, betook him to the ships.’So shall he some day boast—on that day let the wide earth gape for me.

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·

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Diomedes to Nestor

Lines 146–150

So shall he some day boast—on that day let the wide earth gape for me.

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα γέρον κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες· ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει· Ἕκτωρ γάρ ποτε φήσει ἐνὶ Τρώεσσʼ ἀγορεύων· Τυδεΐδης ὑπʼ ἐμεῖο φοβεύμενος ἵκετο νῆας. ὥς ποτʼ ἀπειλήσει· τότε μοι χάνοι εὐρεῖα χθών.

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kradie thumos

Lines 151

τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·

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Nestor to Diomedes

Lines 152–156

nor the wives of the great-souled Trojans, bearers of the shield, they whose lusty husbands thou hast hurled in the dust.

ὤ μοι Τυδέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος, οἷον ἔειπες. εἴ περ γάρ σʼ Ἕκτωρ γε κακὸν καὶ ἀνάλκιδα φήσει, ἀλλʼ οὐ πείσονται Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι μεγαθύμων ἀσπιστάων, τάων ἐν κονίῃσι βάλες θαλεροὺς παρακοίτας.

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pascho

Lines 157–160

Over him then shouted aloud great Hector of the flashing helm: Son of Tydeus, above all others were the Danaans with swift steeds wont to honour thee with a seat of honour and meats and full cups, but now will they scorn thee; thou art, it appeareth, no better than a woman. Begone, cowardly puppet; since through no flinching of mineshalt thou mount upon our walls, and carry away our women in thy ships; ere that will I deal thee thy doom. So spake he, and the son of Tydeus was divided in counsel whether he should not wheel his horses and fight him face to face. Thrice he wavered in heart and soul

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας φύγαδε τράπε μώνυχας ἵππους αὖτις ἀνʼ ἰωχμόν· ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶές τε καὶ Ἕκτωρ ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα χέοντο. τῷ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν ἄϋσε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·

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Hector to Diomedes

Lines 161–166

shalt thou mount upon our walls, and carry away our women in thy ships; ere that will I deal thee thy doom.

Τυδεΐδη περὶ μέν σε τίον Δαναοὶ ταχύπωλοι ἕδρῃ τε κρέασίν τε ἰδὲ πλείοις δεπάεσσι· νῦν δέ σʼ ἀτιμήσουσι· γυναικὸς ἄρʼ ἀντὶ τέτυξο. ἔρρε κακὴ γλήνη, ἐπεὶ οὐκ εἴξαντος ἐμεῖο πύργων ἡμετέρων ἐπιβήσεαι, οὐδὲ γυναῖκας ἄξεις ἐν νήεσσι· πάρος τοι δαίμονα δώσω.

Lattimore commentary

The honors mentioned—privileged seating at banquets and so on—are further expanded in the discussion of heroic rights between Glaukos and Sarpedon (at 12.310). The implicit contract (wine and food in exchange for fighting) is the background for the nearly comic rhetoric of Hektor to his horses (185) urging them to repay their upkeep.

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Lines 167–172

and thrice from the mountains of Ida Zeus the counsellor thundered, giving to the Trojans a sign and victory to turn the tide of battle. And Hector shouted aloud and called to the Trojans: Ye Trojans and Lycians and Dardanians, that fight in close combat, be men, my friends, and bethink you of furious valour.I perceive that of a ready heart the son of Cronos hath given unto me victory and great glory, and to the Danaans woe. Fools they are, that contrived forsooth these walls, weak and of none account; these shall not withhold our might, and our horses shall lightly leap over the digged ditch.But when I be at length come amid the hollow ships, then see ye that consuming fire be not forgotten, that with fire I may burn the ships and furthermore slay the men, even the Argives beside their ships, distraught by reason of the smoke. So saying he shouted to his horses, and said: Xanthus, and thou Podargus, and Aethon, and goodly Lampus,now pay me back your tending wherewith in abundance Andromache, daughter of great-hearted Eëtion, set before you honey-hearted wheat, and mingled wine for you to drink when your souls bade you,sooner than for me, that avow me to be her stalwart husband. Nay, haste ye in pursuit, that we may take the shield of Nestor, the fame whereof now reacheth unto heaven, that it is all of gold, the rods alike and the shield itself; and may take moreover from the shoulders of horse-taming Diomedeshis breastplate richly-dight, which Hephaestus wrought with toil. Could we but take these twain, then might I hope to make the Achaeans this very night embark upon their swift ships.

ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν ἵππους τε στρέψαι καὶ ἐναντίβιον μαχέσασθαι. τρὶς μὲν μερμήριξε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν, τρὶς δʼ ἄρʼ ἀπʼ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων κτύπε μητίετα Ζεὺς σῆμα τιθεὶς Τρώεσσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην. Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·

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phren thumos

Hector to Trojans

Lines 173–183

I perceive that of a ready heart the son of Cronos hath given unto me victory and great glory, and to the Danaans woe. Fools they are, that contrived forsooth these walls, weak and of none account; these shall not withhold our might, and our horses shall lightly leap over the digged ditch. But when I be at length come amid the hollow ships, then see ye that consuming fire be not forgotten, that with fire I may burn the ships and furthermore slay the men, even the Argives beside their ships, distraught by reason of the smoke.

Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταὶ ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς. γιγνώσκω δʼ ὅτι μοι πρόφρων κατένευσε Κρονίων νίκην καὶ μέγα κῦδος, ἀτὰρ Δαναοῖσί γε πῆμα· νήπιοι οἳ ἄρα δὴ τάδε τείχεα μηχανόωντο ἀβλήχρʼ οὐδενόσωρα· τὰ δʼ οὐ μένος ἁμὸν ἐρύξει· ἵπποι δὲ ῥέα τάφρον ὑπερθορέονται ὀρυκτήν. ἀλλʼ ὅτε κεν δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσι γένωμαι, μνημοσύνη τις ἔπειτα πυρὸς δηΐοιο γενέσθω, ὡς πυρὶ νῆας ἐνιπρήσω, κτείνω δὲ καὶ αὐτοὺς Ἀργείους παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀτυζομένους ὑπὸ καπνοῦ.

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Lines 184

ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε·

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Hector to Horses Of Hector

Lines 185–197

now pay me back your tending wherewith in abundance Andromache, daughter of great-hearted Eëtion, set before you honey-hearted wheat, and mingled wine for you to drink when your souls bade you, sooner than for me, that avow me to be her stalwart husband. Nay, haste ye in pursuit, that we may take the shield of Nestor, the fame whereof now reacheth unto heaven, that it is all of gold, the rods alike and the shield itself; and may take moreover from the shoulders of horse-taming Diomedes his breastplate richly-dight, which Hephaestus wrought with toil. Could we but take these twain, then might I hope to make the Achaeans this very night embark upon their swift ships.

Ξάνθέ τε καὶ σὺ Πόδαργε καὶ Αἴθων Λάμπέ τε δῖε νῦν μοι τὴν κομιδὴν ἀποτίνετον, ἣν μάλα πολλὴν Ἀνδρομάχη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἠετίωνος ὑμῖν πὰρ προτέροισι μελίφρονα πυρὸν ἔθηκεν οἶνόν τʼ ἐγκεράσασα πιεῖν, ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι, ἢ ἐμοί, ὅς πέρ οἱ θαλερὸς πόσις εὔχομαι εἶναι. ἀλλʼ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὄφρα λάβωμεν ἀσπίδα Νεστορέην, τῆς νῦν κλέος οὐρανὸν ἵκει πᾶσαν χρυσείην ἔμεναι, κανόνας τε καὶ αὐτήν, αὐτὰρ ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο δαιδάλεον θώρηκα, τὸν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων. εἰ τούτω κε λάβοιμεν, ἐελποίμην κεν Ἀχαιοὺς αὐτονυχὶ νηῶν ἐπιβησέμεν ὠκειάων.

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Lines 198–200

and to the mighty god Poseidon she spake, saying: Ah me, thou Shaker of Earth, wide of sway, not even hath the heart in thy breast pity of the Danaans that are perishing. Yet in thine honour do they bring to Helice and Aegae offerings many and gracious and hitherto thou didst wish them victory.For did we but will, all we that are aiders of the Danaans, to drive back the Trojans and to withhold Zeus whose voice is borne afar, then, in vexation of spirit, would he sit alone there upon Ida. Then, his heart sore troubled, the lord, the Shaker of Earth, spake to her: Hera, reckless in speech, what a word hast thou spoken!It is not I that were fain to see us all at strife with Zeus, son of Cronos, for he verily is mightier far. On this wise spake they, one to the other; and now was all the space that the moat of the wall enclosed on the side of the ships filled alike with chariots and shield-bearing men

ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος, νεμέσησε δὲ πότνια Ἥρη, σείσατο δʼ εἰνὶ θρόνῳ, ἐλέλιξε δὲ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον, καί ῥα Ποσειδάωνα μέγαν θεὸν ἀντίον ηὔδα·

Lattimore commentary

Hektor’s confidence that defeating Nestor and Diomedes will immediately make the Greeks flee prompt’s Hera’s appeal to Poseidon. Of the sea god’s many shrines, Helikē (203) was in territory ruled by Agamemnon (2.575), while Aigai, featuring an undersea palace, may have been imagined as near Lesbos (13.21).

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Hera to Poseidon · divine

Lines 201–207

For did we but will, all we that are aiders of the Danaans, to drive back the Trojans and to withhold Zeus whose voice is borne afar, then, in vexation of spirit, would he sit alone there upon Ida.

ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαιʼ εὐρυσθενές, οὐδέ νυ σοί περ ὀλλυμένων Δαναῶν ὀλοφύρεται ἐν φρεσὶ θυμός. οἳ δέ τοι εἰς Ἑλίκην τε καὶ Αἰγὰς δῶρʼ ἀνάγουσι πολλά τε καὶ χαρίεντα· σὺ δέ σφισι βούλεο νίκην. εἴ περ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλοιμεν, ὅσοι Δαναοῖσιν ἀρωγοί, Τρῶας ἀπώσασθαι καὶ ἐρυκέμεν εὐρύοπα Ζῆν, αὐτοῦ κʼ ἔνθʼ ἀκάχοιτο καθήμενος οἶος ἐν Ἴδῃ.

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phren thumos

Lines 208

τὴν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη κρείων ἐνοσίχθων·

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Poseidon to Hera · divine

Lines 209–211

It is not I that were fain to see us all at strife with Zeus, son of Cronos, for he verily is mightier far.

Ἥρη ἀπτοεπὲς ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες. οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγʼ ἐθέλοιμι Διὶ Κρονίωνι μάχεσθαι ἡμέας τοὺς ἄλλους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐστιν.

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Lines 212–226

huddled together: and huddled they were by Hector, Priam's son, the peer of swift Ares, now that Zeus vouchsafed him glory. And now would he have burned the shapely ships with blazing fire, had not queenly Hera put it in Agamemnon's mind himself to bestir him, and speedily rouse on the Achaeans. So he went his way along the huts and ships of the Achaeans, bearing his great purple cloak in his stout hand, and took his stand by Odysseus' black ship, huge of hull, that was in the midst so that a shout could reach to either end, both to the huts of Aias, son of Telamon, and to those of Achilles; for these had drawn up their shapely ships at the furthermost ends, trusting in their valour and in the strength of their hands. There uttered he a piercing shout, calling aloud to the Danaans: Fie, ye Argives, base things of shame fair in semblance only.Whither are gone our boastings, when forsooth we declared that we were bravest, the boasts that when ye were in Lemnos ye uttered vaingloriously as ye ate abundant flesh of straight-horned kine and drank bowls brim full of wine, saying that each man would stand to face in battle an hundred, aye, two hundred Trojans! whereas now can we match not even one,this Hector, that soon will burn our ships with blazing fire. Father Zeus, was there ever ere now one among mighty kings whose soul thou didst blind with blindness such as this, and rob him of great glory? Yet of a surety do I deem that never in my benched ship did I pass by fair altar of thine on my ill-starred way hither,but upon all I burned the fat and the thighs of bulls, in my eagerness to lay waste well-walled Troy. Nay, Zeus, this desire fulfill thou me: ourselves at least do thou suffer to flee and escape, and permit not the Achaeans thus to be vanquished by the Trojans.

ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον· τῶν δʼ ὅσον ἐκ νηῶν ἀπὸ πύργου τάφρος ἔεργε πλῆθεν ὁμῶς ἵππων τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν ἀσπιστάων εἰλομένων· εἴλει δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκε. καί νύ κʼ ἐνέπρησεν πυρὶ κηλέῳ νῆας ἐΐσας, εἰ μὴ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκʼ Ἀγαμέμνονι πότνια Ἥρη αὐτῷ ποιπνύσαντι θοῶς ὀτρῦναι Ἀχαιούς. βῆ δʼ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν πορφύρεον μέγα φᾶρος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ παχείῃ, στῆ δʼ ἐπʼ Ὀδυσσῆος μεγακήτεϊ νηῒ μελαίνῃ, ἥ ῥʼ ἐν μεσσάτῳ ἔσκε γεγωνέμεν ἀμφοτέρωσε, ἠμὲν ἐπʼ Αἴαντος κλισίας Τελαμωνιάδαο ἠδʼ ἐπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος, τοί ῥʼ ἔσχατα νῆας ἐΐσας εἴρυσαν, ἠνορέῃ πίσυνοι καὶ κάρτεϊ χειρῶν·

Lattimore commentary

The configuration of ships mirrors the character of the leaders: Odysseus, the master of compromise, is midway between the powerful individualists with a taste for isolation, Aias and Achilleus.

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Lines 227

ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Δαναοῖσι γεγωνώς·

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Agamemnon to Greeks/zeus

Lines 228–244

Whither are gone our boastings, when forsooth we declared that we were bravest, the boasts that when ye were in Lemnos ye uttered vaingloriously as ye ate abundant flesh of straight-horned kine and drank bowls brim full of wine, saying that each man would stand to face in battle an hundred, aye, two hundred Trojans! whereas now can we match not even one, this Hector, that soon will burn our ships with blazing fire. Father Zeus, was there ever ere now one among mighty kings whose soul thou didst blind with blindness such as this, and rob him of great glory? Yet of a surety do I deem that never in my benched ship did I pass by fair altar of thine on my ill-starred way hither, but upon all I burned the fat and the thighs of bulls, in my eagerness to lay waste well-walled Troy. Nay, Zeus, this desire fulfill thou me: ourselves at least do thou suffer to flee and escape, and permit not the Achaeans thus to be vanquished by the Trojans.

αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι, κάκʼ ἐλέγχεα, εἶδος ἀγητοί· πῇ ἔβαν εὐχωλαί, ὅτε δὴ φάμεν εἶναι ἄριστοι, ἃς ὁπότʼ ἐν Λήμνῳ κενεαυχέες ἠγοράασθε, ἔσθοντες κρέα πολλὰ βοῶν ὀρθοκραιράων πίνοντες κρητῆρας ἐπιστεφέας οἴνοιο, Τρώων ἄνθʼ ἑκατόν τε διηκοσίων τε ἕκαστος στήσεσθʼ ἐν πολέμῳ· νῦν δʼ οὐδʼ ἑνὸς ἄξιοί εἰμεν Ἕκτορος, ὃς τάχα νῆας ἐνιπρήσει πυρὶ κηλέῳ. Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τινʼ ἤδη ὑπερμενέων βασιλήων τῇδʼ ἄτῃ ἄασας καί μιν μέγα κῦδος ἀπηύρας; οὐ μὲν δή ποτέ φημι τεὸν περικαλλέα βωμὸν νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι παρελθέμεν ἐνθάδε ἔρρων, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσι βοῶν δημὸν καὶ μηρίʼ ἔκηα ἱέμενος Τροίην εὐτείχεον ἐξαλαπάξαι. ἀλλὰ Ζεῦ τόδε πέρ μοι ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ· αὐτοὺς δή περ ἔασον ὑπεκφυγέειν καὶ ἀλύξαι, μηδʼ οὕτω Τρώεσσιν ἔα δάμνασθαι Ἀχαιούς.

Lattimore commentary

The stopover at Lemnos probably happened when Philoktetes was abandoned there (2.722).

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aidos

Lines 245–259

So spake he, and the Father had pity on him as he wept, and vouchsafed him that his folk should be saved and not perish. Forthwith he sent an eagle, surest of omens among winged birds, holding in his talons a fawn, the young of a swift hind. Beside the fair altar of Zeus he let fall the fawn, even where the Achaeans were wont to offer sacrifice to Zeus from whom all omens come. So they, when they saw that it was from Zeus that the bird was come, leapt the more upon the Trojans and bethought them of battle. Then might no man of the Danaans, for all they were so many, vaunt that he before the son of Tydeus guided his swift horses to drive them forth across the trench and to fight man to man; nay he was first by far to slay a mailed warrior of the Trojans, even Agelaus, Phradraon's son. He in sooth had turned his horses to flee, but as he wheeled about Diomedes fixed his spear in his back between the shoulders, and drave it through his breast;

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ πατὴρ ὀλοφύρατο δάκρυ χέοντα, νεῦσε δέ οἱ λαὸν σόον ἔμμεναι οὐδʼ ἀπολέσθαι. αὐτίκα δʼ αἰετὸν ἧκε τελειότατον πετεηνῶν, νεβρὸν ἔχοντʼ ὀνύχεσσι τέκος ἐλάφοιο ταχείης· πὰρ δὲ Διὸς βωμῷ περικαλλέϊ κάββαλε νεβρόν, ἔνθα πανομφαίῳ Ζηνὶ ῥέζεσκον Ἀχαιοί. οἳ δʼ ὡς οὖν εἴδονθʼ ὅ τʼ ἄρʼ ἐκ Διὸς ἤλυθεν ὄρνις, μᾶλλον ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι θόρον, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης. ἔνθʼ οὔ τις πρότερος Δαναῶν πολλῶν περ ἐόντων εὔξατο Τυδεΐδαο πάρος σχέμεν ὠκέας ἵππους τάφρου τʼ ἐξελάσαι καὶ ἐναντίβιον μαχέσασθαι, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρῶτος Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴν Φραδμονίδην Ἀγέλαον· ὃ μὲν φύγαδʼ ἔτραπεν ἵππους· τῷ δὲ μεταστρεφθέντι μεταφρένῳ ἐν δόρυ πῆξεν ὤμων μεσσηγύς, διὰ δὲ στήθεσφιν ἔλασσεν·

Lattimore commentary

Prayer and pity in response trump the apparent power of Fate (expressed by Zeus’ balance). The sending of a fawn recalls various substitute-sacrifice stories (e. g., Artemis, in one version, accepting a fawn in lieu of Agamemnon’s daughter Iphigeneia). Symbolically, Zeus accepts the animal instead of the human slaughter, for the present.

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Lines 260–274

so he fell from out the car, and upon him his armour clanged. And after him came the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, and after them the Aiantes, clothed in furious valour, and after them Idomeneus and Idomeneus' comrade, Meriones, peer of Enyalius, slayer of men, and after them Eurypylus, the glorious son of Euaemon; and Teucer came as the ninth, stretching his back-bent bow, and took his stand beneath the shield of Aias, son of Telamon. Then would Aias move his shield aside from over him, and the warrior would spy his chance; and when he had shot his bolt and had smitten one in the throng, then would that man fall where he was and give up his life, and Teucer would hie him back, and as a child beneath his mother, so betake him for shelter to Aias; and Aias would ever hide him with his shining shield. Whom first then of the Trojans did peerless Teucer slay? Orsilochus first and Ormenus and Ophelestes and

ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχεʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ. τὸν δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδαι Ἀγαμέμνων καὶ Μενέλαος, τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν, τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ, τοῖσι δʼ ἐπʼ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός· Τεῦκρος δʼ εἴνατος ἦλθε παλίντονα τόξα τιταίνων, στῆ δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπʼ Αἴαντος σάκεϊ Τελαμωνιάδαο. ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὑπεξέφερεν σάκος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἥρως παπτήνας, ἐπεὶ ἄρ τινʼ ὀϊστεύσας ἐν ὁμίλῳ βεβλήκοι, ὃ μὲν αὖθι πεσὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ὄλεσσεν, αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτις ἰὼν πάϊς ὣς ὑπὸ μητέρα δύσκεν εἰς Αἴανθʼ· ὃ δέ μιν σάκεϊ κρύπτασκε φαεινῷ. ἔνθα τίνα πρῶτον Τρώων ἕλε Τεῦκρος ἀμύμων; Ὀρσίλοχον μὲν πρῶτα καὶ Ὄρμενον ἠδʼ Ὀφελέστην

Lattimore commentary

The mother-child simile lends an unexpectedly tender coloration to the relations of fellow fighters. For a similar usage, see 16.7.

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Lines 275–280

Daetor and Chromius and godlike Lycophontes and Amopaon, Polyaemon's son, and Melanippus. All these, one after another, he brought down to the bounteous earth. And at sight of him Agamemnon, king of men, waxed glad, as with his mighty bow he made havoc of the battalions of the Trojans; and he came and stood by his side and spake to him, saying: Teucer, beloved, son of Telamon, captain of hosts, shoot on in this wise, if so be thou mayest prove a light of deliverance to the Danaans and a glory to thy father Telamon, who reared thee when thou wast a babe, and for all thou wast a bastard cherished thee in his own house;him, far away though he be, do thou bring to honour. Moreover, I will declare to thee as it verily shall be brought to pass. If Zeus that beareth the aegis, and Athene shall vouchsafe me to lay waste the well-built citadel of Ilios, in thy hand first after mine own self will I place a meed of honour,either a tripod or two horses with their car, or a woman that shall go up into thy bed.

Δαίτορά τε Χρομίον τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Λυκοφόντην καὶ Πολυαιμονίδην Ἀμοπάονα καὶ Μελάνιππον, πάντας ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ. τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν γήθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων τόξου ἄπο κρατεροῦ Τρώων ὀλέκοντα φάλαγγας· στῆ δὲ παρʼ αὐτὸν ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·

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Agamemnon to Teucer

Lines 281–291

him, far away though he be, do thou bring to honour. Moreover, I will declare to thee as it verily shall be brought to pass. If Zeus that beareth the aegis, and Athene shall vouchsafe me to lay waste the well-built citadel of Ilios, in thy hand first after mine own self will I place a meed of honour, either a tripod or two horses with their car, or a woman that shall go up into thy bed.

Τεῦκρε φίλη κεφαλή, Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν βάλλʼ οὕτως, αἴ κέν τι φόως Δαναοῖσι γένηαι πατρί τε σῷ Τελαμῶνι, ὅ σʼ ἔτρεφε τυτθὸν ἐόντα, καί σε νόθον περ ἐόντα κομίσσατο ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ· τὸν καὶ τηλόθʼ ἐόντα ἐϋκλείης ἐπίβησον. σοὶ δʼ ἐγὼ ἐξερέω ὡς καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται· αἴ κέν μοι δώῃ Ζεύς τʼ αἰγίοχος καὶ Ἀθήνη Ἰλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον, πρώτῳ τοι μετʼ ἐμὲ πρεσβήϊον ἐν χερὶ θήσω, ἢ τρίποδʼ ἠὲ δύω ἵππους αὐτοῖσιν ὄχεσφιν ἠὲ γυναῖχʼ, ἥ κέν τοι ὁμὸν λέχος εἰσαναβαίνοι.

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Lines 292

τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσεφώνεε Τεῦκρος ἀμύμων·

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Teucer to Agamemnon

Lines 293–299

but from the time when we drave them toward Ilios, even from that moment I lie in wait with my bow and slay the men. Eight long-barbed arrows have I now let fly, and all are lodged in the flesh of youths swift in battle; only this mad dog can I not smite.

Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε τί με σπεύδοντα καὶ αὐτὸν ὀτρύνεις; οὐ μέν τοι ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστι παύομαι, ἀλλʼ ἐξ οὗ προτὶ Ἴλιον ὠσάμεθʼ αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ δὴ τόξοισι δεδεγμένος ἄνδρας ἐναίρω. ὀκτὼ δὴ προέηκα τανυγλώχινας ὀϊστούς, πάντες δʼ ἐν χροῒ πῆχθεν ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν· τοῦτον δʼ οὐ δύναμαι βαλέειν κύνα λυσσητῆρα.

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Lines 300–314

He spake, and shot another arrow from the string straight against Hector; and his heart was fain to smite him. Howbeit him he missed, but peerless Gorgythion he smote in the breast with his arrow, Priam's valiant son, that a mother wedded from Aesyme had born, even fair Castianeira, in form like to the goddesses. And he bowed his head to one side like a poppy that in a garden is laden with its fruit and the rains of spring; so bowed he to one side his head, laden with his helmet. And Teucer shot another arrow from the string straight against Hector, and his heart was fain to smite him. Howbeit he missed him once again, for Apollo made his dart to swerve, but Archeptolemus, the bold charioteer of Hector, as he hasted into battle he smote on the breast beside the nipple. So he fell from out the car, and the swift-footed horses swerved aside thereat;

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλεν Ἕκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός· καὶ τοῦ μέν ῥʼ ἀφάμαρθʼ, ὃ δʼ ἀμύμονα Γοργυθίωνα υἱὸν ἐῢν Πριάμοιο κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷ, τόν ῥʼ ἐξ Αἰσύμηθεν ὀπυιομένη τέκε μήτηρ καλὴ Καστιάνειρα δέμας ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι. μήκων δʼ ὡς ἑτέρωσε κάρη βάλεν, ἥ τʼ ἐνὶ κήπῳ καρπῷ βριθομένη νοτίῃσί τε εἰαρινῇσιν, ὣς ἑτέρωσʼ ἤμυσε κάρη πήληκι βαρυνθέν. Τεῦκρος δʼ ἄλλον ὀϊστὸν ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ἴαλλεν Ἕκτορος ἀντικρύ, βαλέειν δέ ἑ ἵετο θυμός. ἀλλʼ ὅ γε καὶ τόθʼ ἅμαρτε· παρέσφηλεν γὰρ Ἀπόλλων· ἀλλʼ Ἀρχεπτόλεμον θρασὺν Ἕκτορος ἡνιοχῆα ἱέμενον πόλεμον δὲ βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζόν· ἤριπε δʼ ἐξ ὀχέων, ὑπερώησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι

Lattimore commentary

The lyric poignancy is increased by the implied contrast: unlike the flower after rain, the warrior will not lift his head.

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Lines 315–329

and there his spirit and his strength were undone. Then was the soul of Hector clouded with dread sorrow for his charioteer. Yet left he him to lie there, though he sorrowed for his comrade, and bade Cebriones, his own brother, that was nigh at hand, take the reins of the horses; and he heard and failed not to hearken. And himself Hector leapt to the ground from his gleaming car crying a terrible cry, and seizing a stone in his hand made right at Teucer, and his heart bade him smite him. Now Teucer had drawn forth from the quiver a bitter arrow, and laid it upon the string, but even as he was drawing it back Hector of the flashing helm smote him beside the shoulder where the collar-bone parts the neck and the breast, where is the deadliest spot; even there as he aimed eagerly against him he smote him with the jagged stone, and he brake the bow-string; but his hand grew numb at the wrist, and he sank upon his knees and thus abode, and the bow fell from his hand.

ὠκύποδες· τοῦ δʼ αὖθι λύθη ψυχή τε μένος τε. Ἕκτορα δʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος πύκασε φρένας ἡνιόχοιο· τὸν μὲν ἔπειτʼ εἴασε καὶ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑταίρου, Κεβριόνην δʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀδελφεὸν ἐγγὺς ἐόντα ἵππων ἡνίʼ ἑλεῖν· ὃ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐκ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας. αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὃ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρί, βῆ δʼ ἰθὺς Τεύκρου, βαλέειν δέ ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει. ἤτοι ὃ μὲν φαρέτρης ἐξείλετο πικρὸν ὀϊστόν, θῆκε δʼ ἐπὶ νευρῇ· τὸν δʼ αὖ κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ αὐερύοντα παρʼ ὦμον, ὅθι κληῒς ἀποέργει αὐχένα τε στῆθός τε, μάλιστα δὲ καίριόν ἐστι, τῇ ῥʼ ἐπὶ οἷ μεμαῶτα βάλεν λίθῳ ὀκριόεντι, ῥῆξε δέ οἱ νευρήν· νάρκησε δὲ χεὶρ ἐπὶ καρπῷ, στῆ δὲ γνὺξ ἐριπών, τόξον δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.

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menos phren psyche thumos

Lines 330–344

Howbeit Aias was not unmindful of his brother's fall, but ran and bestrode him and flung before him his shield as a cover. Then two trusty comrades stooped beneath him, even Mecisteus, son of Echius, and goodly Alastor, and bare him, groaning heavily, to the hollow ships. Then once again the Olympian aroused might in the hearts of the Trojans; and they thrust the Achaeans straight toward the deep ditch; and amid the foremost went Hector exulting in his might. And even as a hound pursueth with swift feet after a wild boar or a lion, and snatcheth at him from behind either at flank or buttock, and watcheth for him as he wheeleth; even so Hector pressed upon the long-haired Achaeans, ever slaying the hindmost; and they were driven in rout. But when in their flight they had passed through stakes and trench, and many had been vanquished beneath the hands of the Trojans,

Αἴας δʼ οὐκ ἀμέλησε κασιγνήτοιο πεσόντος, ἀλλὰ θέων περίβη καί οἱ σάκος ἀμφεκάλυψε. τὸν μὲν ἔπειθʼ ὑποδύντε δύω ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι Μηκιστεὺς Ἐχίοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ἀλάστωρ νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς φερέτην βαρέα στενάχοντα. ἂψ δʼ αὖτις Τρώεσσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἐν μένος ὦρσεν· οἳ δʼ ἰθὺς τάφροιο βαθείης ὦσαν Ἀχαιούς· Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἐν πρώτοισι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων. ὡς δʼ ὅτε τίς τε κύων συὸς ἀγρίου ἠὲ λέοντος ἅπτηται κατόπισθε ποσὶν ταχέεσσι διώκων ἰσχία τε γλουτούς τε, ἑλισσόμενόν τε δοκεύει, ὣς Ἕκτωρ ὤπαζε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς, αἰὲν ἀποκτείνων τὸν ὀπίστατον· οἳ δὲ φέβοντο. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ διά τε σκόλοπας καὶ τάφρον ἔβησαν φεύγοντες, πολλοὶ δὲ δάμεν Τρώων ὑπὸ χερσίν,

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Lines 345–351

then beside their ships they halted and abode, calling one upon the other, and lifting up their hands to all the gods they made fervent prayer each man of them. But Hector wheeled this way and that his fair-maned horses, and his eyes were as the eyes of the Gorgon or of Ares, bane of mortals. Now at sight of them the goddess, white-armed Hera, had pity; and forthwith spake winged words to Athene: Out upon it, thou child of Zeus that beareth the aegis, shall not we twain any more take thought of the Danaans that are perishing, even for this last time? Now will they fill up the measure of evil doom and perishbefore the onset of one single man, even of Hector, Priam's son, who now rageth past all bearing, and lo, hath wrought evils manifold. Then spake unto her the goddess, flashing-eyed Athene: Yea, verily, fain were I that this fellow lose strength and life, slain beneath the hands of the Argives in his own native land;howbeit mine own father rageth with evil mind, cruel that he is, ever froward, a thwarter of my purposes; neither hath he any memory of this, that full often I saved his son when he was fordone by reason of Eurystheus' tasks. For verily he would make lament toward heaven and from heaven would Zeussend me forth to succour him. Had I but known all this in wisdom of my heart when Eurystheus sent him forth to the house of Hades the Warder, to bring from out of Erebus the hound of loathed Hades, then had he not escaped the sheer-falling waters of Styx.Howbeit now Zeus hateth me, and hath brought to fulfillment the counsels of Thetis, that kissed his knees and with her hand clasped his chin, beseeching him to show honour to Achilles, sacker of cities. Verily the day shall come when he shall again call me his flashing-eyed darling. But now make thou ready for us twain our single-hooved horses,the while I enter into the palace of Zeus, that beareth the aegis, and array me in armour for battle, to the end that I may see whether Priam's son, Hector of the flashing helm, will rejoice when we twain appear to view along the dykes of battle. Nay of a surety many a one of the Trojans shall glut the dogs and birdswith his fat and flesh, when he is fallen at the ships of the Achaeans.

οἳ μὲν δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἐρητύοντο μένοντες, ἀλλήλοισί τε κεκλόμενοι καὶ πᾶσι θεοῖσι χεῖρας ἀνίσχοντες μεγάλʼ εὐχετόωντο ἕκαστος· Ἕκτωρ δʼ ἀμφιπεριστρώφα καλλίτριχας ἵππους Γοργοῦς ὄμματʼ ἔχων ἠδὲ βροτολοιγοῦ Ἄρηος. τοὺς δὲ ἰδοῦσʼ ἐλέησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη, αἶψα δʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

Lattimore commentary

Gorgons petrify opponents with their stare (most famously in the tale of Perseus and Medusa), so depictions were commonly used on shields (e. g., Agamemnon’s at 11.36) or as devices to ward off evil from temples.

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Hera to Athena · divine

Lines 352–356

before the onset of one single man, even of Hector, Priam's son, who now rageth past all bearing, and lo, hath wrought evils manifold.

ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος οὐκέτι νῶϊ ὀλλυμένων Δαναῶν κεκαδησόμεθʼ ὑστάτιόν περ; οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς ῥιπῇ, ὃ δὲ μαίνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτῶς Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, καὶ δὴ κακὰ πολλὰ ἔοργε.

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Lines 357

τὴν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·

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Athena to Hera · divine

Lines 358–380

howbeit mine own father rageth with evil mind, cruel that he is, ever froward, a thwarter of my purposes; neither hath he any memory of this, that full often I saved his son when he was fordone by reason of Eurystheus' tasks. For verily he would make lament toward heaven and from heaven would Zeus send me forth to succour him. Had I but known all this in wisdom of my heart when Eurystheus sent him forth to the house of Hades the Warder, to bring from out of Erebus the hound of loathed Hades, then had he not escaped the sheer-falling waters of Styx. Howbeit now Zeus hateth me, and hath brought to fulfillment the counsels of Thetis, that kissed his knees and with her hand clasped his chin, beseeching him to show honour to Achilles, sacker of cities. Verily the day shall come when he shall again call me his flashing-eyed darling. But now make thou ready for us twain our single-hooved horses, the while I enter into the palace of Zeus, that beareth the aegis, and array me in armour for battle, to the end that I may see whether Priam's son, Hector of the flashing helm, will rejoice when we twain appear to view along the dykes of battle. Nay of a surety many a one of the Trojans shall glut the dogs and birds with his fat and flesh, when he is fallen at the ships of the Achaeans.

καὶ λίην οὗτός γε μένος θυμόν τʼ ὀλέσειε χερσὶν ὑπʼ Ἀργείων φθίμενος ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ· ἀλλὰ πατὴρ οὑμὸς φρεσὶ μαίνεται οὐκ ἀγαθῇσι σχέτλιος, αἰὲν ἀλιτρός, ἐμῶν μενέων ἀπερωεύς· οὐδέ τι τῶν μέμνηται, ὅ οἱ μάλα πολλάκις υἱὸν τειρόμενον σώεσκον ὑπʼ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων. ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κλαίεσκε πρὸς οὐρανόν, αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς τῷ ἐπαλεξήσουσαν ἀπʼ οὐρανόθεν προΐαλλεν. εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ τάδε ᾔδεʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσιν εὖτέ μιν εἰς Ἀΐδαο πυλάρταο προὔπεμψεν ἐξ Ἐρέβευς ἄξοντα κύνα στυγεροῦ Ἀΐδαο, οὐκ ἂν ὑπεξέφυγε Στυγὸς ὕδατος αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα. νῦν δʼ ἐμὲ μὲν στυγέει, Θέτιδος δʼ ἐξήνυσε βουλάς, ἥ οἱ γούνατʼ ἔκυσσε καὶ ἔλλαβε χειρὶ γενείου, λισσομένη τιμῆσαι Ἀχιλλῆα πτολίπορθον. ἔσται μὰν ὅτʼ ἂν αὖτε φίλην γλαυκώπιδα εἴπῃ. ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νῶϊν ἐπέντυε μώνυχας ἵππους, ὄφρʼ ἂν ἐγὼ καταδῦσα Διὸς δόμον αἰγιόχοιο τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήξομαι, ὄφρα ἴδωμαι ἢ νῶϊ Πριάμοιο πάϊς κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ γηθήσει προφανέντε ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας, ἦ τις καὶ Τρώων κορέει κύνας ἠδʼ οἰωνοὺς δημῷ καὶ σάρκεσσι, πεσὼν ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.

Lattimore commentary

Athene uses of Zeus the same verb (mainetai, “rage, be furious”) that Hera had used of Hektor’s manic rush (355). As emerges now, Athene keeps track of the deeds for which she is owed thanks, especially her protection of Herakles (hero of the earlier generation, to be contrasted with Achilleus). There are hints of jealous competition between Athene and the sea nymph Thetis.

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menos phren thumos

Lines 381–395

let fall upon her father's floor her soft robe, richly broidered, that herself had wrought and her hands had fashioned, and put on her the tunic of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, and arrayed her in armour for tearful war. Then she stepped upon the flaming car and grasped her spear, heavy and huge and strong, wherewith she vanquisheth the ranks of men, of warriors with whom she is wroth, she the daughter of the mighty sire. And Hera swiftly touched the horses with the lash, and self-bidden groaned upon their hinges the gates of heaven, which the Hours had in their keeping, to whom are entrusted great heaven and Olympus, whether to throw open the thick cloud or shut it to. There through the gate they drave their horses patient of the goad. But when father Zeus saw them from Ida he waxed wondrous wroth, and sent forth golden-winged Iris to bear a message: Up, go, swift Iris; turn them back and suffer them not to come face to face with me,seeing it will be in no happy wise that we shall join in combat. For thus will I speak and verily this thing shall be brought to pass. I will maim their swift horses beneath the chariot, and themselves will I hurl from out the car, and will break in pieces the chariot; nor in the space of ten circling yearsshall they heal them of the wounds wherewith the thunderbolt shall smite them; that she of the flashing eyes may know what it is to strive against her own father. But against Hera have I not so great indignation nor wrath, seeing she is ever wont to thwart me in whatsoe'er I have decreed. So spake he, and storm-footed Iris hasted to bear his message,

ὣς ἔφατʼ, οὐδʼ ἀπίθησε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη. ἣ μὲν ἐποιχομένη χρυσάμπυκας ἔντυεν ἵππους Ἥρη πρέσβα θεὰ θυγάτηρ μεγάλοιο Κρόνοιο· αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο πέπλον μὲν κατέχευεν ἑανὸν πατρὸς ἐπʼ οὔδει ποικίλον, ὅν ῥʼ αὐτὴ ποιήσατο καὶ κάμε χερσίν, ἣ δὲ χιτῶνʼ ἐνδῦσα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο τεύχεσιν ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσετο δακρυόεντα. ἐς δʼ ὄχεα φλόγεα ποσὶ βήσετο, λάζετο δʼ ἔγχος βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν, τῷ δάμνησι στίχας ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων, τοῖσίν τε κοτέσσεται ὀβριμοπάτρη. Ἥρη δὲ μάστιγι θοῶς ἐπεμαίετʼ ἄρʼ ἵππους· αὐτόμαται δὲ πύλαι μύκον οὐρανοῦ ἃς ἔχον Ὧραι, τῇς ἐπιτέτραπται μέγας οὐρανὸς Οὔλυμπός τε ἠμὲν ἀνακλῖναι πυκινὸν νέφος ἠδʼ ἐπιθεῖναι.

Lattimore commentary

The Hours (Horai), which can also be translated “Seasons,” are (in Hesiod, Theogony, 901) Eunomia (Good Order), Eirene (Peace), and Dikê (Justice), names more indicative of their function as regulators of all sorts of rhythms, including (as here) the exits and entrances of the gods, which folklore may have connected with the changes of weather.

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Lines 396–398

τῇ ῥα διʼ αὐτάων κεντρηνεκέας ἔχον ἵππους. Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐπεὶ ἴδε χώσατʼ ἄρʼ αἰνῶς, Ἶριν δʼ ὄτρυνε χρυσόπτερον ἀγγελέουσαν·

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Zeus to Iris · divine

Lines 399–408

seeing it will be in no happy wise that we shall join in combat. For thus will I speak and verily this thing shall be brought to pass. I will maim their swift horses beneath the chariot, and themselves will I hurl from out the car, and will break in pieces the chariot; nor in the space of ten circling years shall they heal them of the wounds wherewith the thunderbolt shall smite them; that she of the flashing eyes may know what it is to strive against her own father. But against Hera have I not so great indignation nor wrath, seeing she is ever wont to thwart me in whatsoe'er I have decreed.

βάσκʼ ἴθι Ἶρι ταχεῖα, πάλιν τρέπε μηδʼ ἔα ἄντην ἔρχεσθʼ· οὐ γὰρ καλὰ συνοισόμεθα πτόλεμον δέ. ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται· γυιώσω μέν σφωϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους, αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέω κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξω· οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς ἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός· ὄφρα ἰδῇ γλαυκῶπις ὅτʼ ἂν ᾧ πατρὶ μάχηται. Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζομαι οὐδὲ χολοῦμαι· αἰεὶ γάρ μοι ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττί κεν εἴπω.

Lattimore commentary

Iris, divine messenger, is (unlike the other go-between, Hermes) associated with the rainbow, whence she lends her name, in English, to the flower and the colored membrane of the eye.

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Lines 409–412

and went forth from the mountains of Ida to high Olympus. And even at the entering-in of the gate of many-folded Olympus she met them and stayed them, and declared to them the saying of Zeus: Whither are ye twain hastening? Why is it that the hearts are mad within your breasts? The son of Cronos suffereth not that ye give succour to the Argives.For on this wise he threateneth, even as he will bring it to pass: he will maim your swift horses beneath your chariot, and yourselves will he hurl from out the car, and will break in pieces the chariot; nor in the space of ten circling years shall ye heal you of the wounds wherewith the thunderbolt shall smite you;that thou mayest know, thou of the flashing eyes, what it is to strive against thine own father. But against Hera hath he not so great indignation nor wrath, seeing she is ever wont to thwart him in whatsoe'er he hath decreed. But most dread art thou, thou bold and shameless thing, if in good sooth thou wilt dare to raise thy mighty spear against Zeus.

ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δὲ Ἶρις ἀελλόπος ἀγγελέουσα, βῆ δʼ ἐξ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον. πρώτῃσιν δὲ πύλῃσι πολυπτύχου Οὐλύμποιο ἀντομένη κατέρυκε, Διὸς δέ σφʼ ἔννεπε μῦθον·

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Iris to Athena/hera · divine

Lines 413–424

For on this wise he threateneth, even as he will bring it to pass: he will maim your swift horses beneath your chariot, and yourselves will he hurl from out the car, and will break in pieces the chariot; nor in the space of ten circling years shall ye heal you of the wounds wherewith the thunderbolt shall smite you; that thou mayest know, thou of the flashing eyes, what it is to strive against thine own father. But against Hera hath he not so great indignation nor wrath, seeing she is ever wont to thwart him in whatsoe'er he hath decreed. But most dread art thou, thou bold and shameless thing, if in good sooth thou wilt dare to raise thy mighty spear against Zeus.

πῇ μέματον; τί σφῶϊν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ μαίνεται ἦτορ; οὐκ ἐάᾳ Κρονίδης ἐπαμυνέμεν Ἀργείοισιν. ὧδε γὰρ ἠπείλησε Κρόνου πάϊς, ᾗ τελέει περ, γυιώσειν μὲν σφῶϊν ὑφʼ ἅρμασιν ὠκέας ἵππους, αὐτὰς δʼ ἐκ δίφρου βαλέειν κατά θʼ ἅρματα ἄξειν· οὐδέ κεν ἐς δεκάτους περιτελλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς ἕλκεʼ ἀπαλθήσεσθον, ἅ κεν μάρπτῃσι κεραυνός· ὄφρα ἰδῇς γλαυκῶπι ὅτʼ ἂν σῷ πατρὶ μάχηαι. Ἥρῃ δʼ οὔ τι τόσον νεμεσίζεται οὐδὲ χολοῦται· αἰεὶ γάρ οἱ ἔωθεν ἐνικλᾶν ὅττι κεν εἴπῃ· ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ αἰνοτάτη κύον ἀδεὲς εἰ ἐτεόν γε τολμήσεις Διὸς ἄντα πελώριον ἔγχος ἀεῖραι.

Lattimore commentary

Iris adds tags on her own insult to what she has been commanded to say. It is unclear whether the goddesses intend to attack Zeus himself, or this is just the chief god’s anxiety. At any rate, Hera’s judgment that saving humans is not worth causing divine conflict—a frequent theme—calms the rebellion.

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Lines 425–426

When she had thus spoken swift-footed Iris departed; but Hera spake to Athene, saying: Out upon it, thou child of Zeus that beareth the aegis! I verily will no more suffer that we twain seek to wage war against Zeus for mortals' sake. Of them let one perish and another live,even as it may befall; and for him, let him take his own counsel in his heart and judge between Trojans and Danaans, as is meet. So spake she, and turned back her single-hooved horses. Then the Hours unyoked for them their fair-maned horses, and tethered them at their ambrosial mangers,

ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπέβη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις, αὐτὰρ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·

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Hera to Athena · divine

Lines 427–431

even as it may befall; and for him, let him take his own counsel in his heart and judge between Trojans and Danaans, as is meet.

ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, οὐκέτʼ ἔγωγε νῶϊ ἐῶ Διὸς ἄντα βροτῶν ἕνεκα πτολεμίζειν· τῶν ἄλλος μὲν ἀποφθίσθω, ἄλλος δὲ βιώτω, ὅς κε τύχῃ· κεῖνος δὲ τὰ ἃ φρονέων ἐνὶ θυμῷ Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι δικαζέτω, ὡς ἐπιεικές.

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Lines 432–446

and leaned the chariot against the bright entrance wall; and the goddesses sate them down upon golden thrones amid the other gods, with sore grief at heart. But father Zeus drave from Ida his well-wheeled chariot and his horses unto Olympus, and came to the session of the gods. And for him the famed Shaker of Earth both unyoked his horses and set the car upon a stand, and spread thereover a cloth; and Zeus, whose voice is borne afar, himself sat upon his throne of gold, and beneath his feet great Olympus quaked. Only Athene and Hera sat apart from Zeus, and spake no word to him nor made question. But he knew in his heart and spake, saying: Why are ye thus grieved, Athene and Hera? Surely ye twain be not grown weary with making havoc of the Trojans in battle, wherein men win glory, seeing ye cherish against them wondrous hate!Come what will, seeing I have such might and hands irresistible, all the gods that are in Olympus could not turn me; and for you twain, trembling gat hold of your glorious limbs or ever ye had sight of war and the grim deeds of war. For thus will I speak, and verily this thing had been brought to pass:not upon your car, once ye were smitten by the thunderbolt, would ye have fared back to Olympus, where is the abode of the immortals. So spake he, and thereat murmured Athene and Hera, that sat by his side and were devising ills for the Trojans. Athene verily held her peace and said naught,

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα πάλιν τρέπε μώνυχας ἵππους· τῇσιν δʼ Ὧραι μὲν λῦσαν καλλίτριχας ἵππους, καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέδησαν ἐπʼ ἀμβροσίῃσι κάπῃσιν, ἅρματα δʼ ἔκλιναν πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα· αὐταὶ δὲ χρυσέοισιν ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι κάθιζον μίγδʼ ἄλλοισι θεοῖσι, φίλον τετιημέναι ἦτορ. Ζεὺς δὲ πατὴρ Ἴδηθεν ἐΰτροχον ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους Οὔλυμπον δὲ δίωκε, θεῶν δʼ ἐξίκετο θώκους. τῷ δὲ καὶ ἵππους μὲν λῦσε κλυτὸς ἐννοσίγαιος, ἅρματα δʼ ἂμ βωμοῖσι τίθει κατὰ λῖτα πετάσσας· αὐτὸς δὲ χρύσειον ἐπὶ θρόνον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς ἕζετο, τῷ δʼ ὑπὸ ποσσὶ μέγας πελεμίζετʼ Ὄλυμπος. αἳ δʼ οἶαι Διὸς ἀμφὶς Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη ἥσθην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδʼ ἐρέοντο· αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε·

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Zeus to Athena/hera · divine

Lines 447–456

Come what will, seeing I have such might and hands irresistible, all the gods that are in Olympus could not turn me; and for you twain, trembling gat hold of your glorious limbs or ever ye had sight of war and the grim deeds of war. For thus will I speak, and verily this thing had been brought to pass: not upon your car, once ye were smitten by the thunderbolt, would ye have fared back to Olympus, where is the abode of the immortals.

τίφθʼ οὕτω τετίησθον Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη; οὐ μέν θην κάμετόν γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ ὀλλῦσαι Τρῶας, τοῖσιν κότον αἰνὸν ἔθεσθε. πάντως, οἷον ἐμόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρες ἄαπτοι, οὐκ ἄν με τρέψειαν ὅσοι θεοί εἰσʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ. σφῶϊν δὲ πρίν περ τρόμος ἔλλαβε φαίδιμα γυῖα πρὶν πόλεμόν τε ἰδεῖν πολέμοιό τε μέρμερα ἔργα. ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δέ κεν τετελεσμένον ἦεν· οὐκ ἂν ἐφʼ ὑμετέρων ὀχέων πληγέντε κεραυνῷ ἂψ ἐς Ὄλυμπον ἵκεσθον, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτων ἕδος ἐστίν.

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Lines 457–461

wroth though she was with father Zeus, and fierce anger gat hold of her; howbeit Hera's breast contained not her anger, but she spake to him, saying: Most dread son of Cronos, what a word hast thou said! Well know we of ourselves that thine is no weakling strength; yet even so have we pity for the Danaan spearmenwho now shall perish and fulfill an evil fate. Yet verily will we refrain us from battle, if so thou biddest; howbeit counsel will we offer to the Argives which shall be for their profit, that they perish not all by reason of thy wrath.

ὣς ἔφαθʼ, αἳ δʼ ἐπέμυξαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη· πλησίαι αἵ γʼ ἥσθην, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μεδέσθην. ἤτοι Ἀθηναίη ἀκέων ἦν οὐδέ τι εἶπε σκυζομένη Διὶ πατρί, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει· Ἥρῃ δʼ οὐκ ἔχαδε στῆθος χόλον, ἀλλὰ προσηύδα·

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Hera to Zeus · divine

Lines 462–468

who now shall perish and fulfill an evil fate. Yet verily will we refrain us from battle, if so thou biddest; howbeit counsel will we offer to the Argives which shall be for their profit, that they perish not all by reason of thy wrath.

αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες. εὖ νυ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἴδμεν ὅ τοι σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν· ἀλλʼ ἔμπης Δαναῶν ὀλοφυρόμεθʼ αἰχμητάων, οἵ κεν δὴ κακὸν οἶτον ἀναπλήσαντες ὄλωνται. ἀλλʼ ἤτοι πολέμου μὲν ἀφεξόμεθʼ, εἰ σὺ κελεύεις· βουλὴν δʼ Ἀργείοις ὑποθησόμεθʼ ἥ τις ὀνήσει, ὡς μὴ πάντες ὄλωνται ὀδυσσαμένοιο τεοῖο.

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Lines 469

τὴν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·

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Zeus to Hera · divine

Lines 470–483

At dawn shalt thou behold, if so be thou wilt, O ox-eyed, queenly Hera, the most mighty son of Cronos making yet more grievous havoc of the great host of Argive spearmen; for dread Hector shall not refrain him from battle until the swift-footed son of Peleus be uprisen beside his shipson the day when at the sterns of the ships they shall be fighting in grimmest stress about Patroclus fallen; for thus it is ordained of heaven. But of thee I reck not in thine anger, no, not though thou shouldst go to the nethermost bounds of earth and sea, where abide Iapetus and Cronos,and have joy neither in the rays of Helios Hyperion nor in any breeze, but deep Tartarus is round about them. Though thou shouldst fare even thither in thy wanderings, yet reck I not of thy wrath, seeing there is naught more shameless than thou. So said he; howbeit white-armed Hera spake no word in answer. on the day when at the sterns of the ships they shall be fighting in grimmest stress about Patroclus fallen; for thus it is ordained of heaven. But of thee I reck not in thine anger, no, not though thou shouldst go to the nethermost bounds of earth and sea, where abide Iapetus and Cronos, and have joy neither in the rays of Helios Hyperion nor in any breeze, but deep Tartarus is round about them. Though thou shouldst fare even thither in thy wanderings, yet reck I not of thy wrath, seeing there is naught more shameless than thou.

ἠοῦς δὴ καὶ μᾶλλον ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωνα ὄψεαι, αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη ὀλλύντʼ Ἀργείων πουλὺν στρατὸν αἰχμητάων· οὐ γὰρ πρὶν πολέμου ἀποπαύσεται ὄβριμος Ἕκτωρ πρὶν ὄρθαι παρὰ ναῦφι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα, ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἂν οἳ μὲν ἐπὶ πρύμνῃσι μάχωνται στείνει ἐν αἰνοτάτῳ περὶ Πατρόκλοιο θανόντος· ὣς γὰρ θέσφατόν ἐστι· σέθεν δʼ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζω χωομένης, οὐδʼ εἴ κε τὰ νείατα πείραθʼ ἵκηαι γαίης καὶ πόντοιο, ἵνʼ Ἰάπετός τε Κρόνος τε ἥμενοι οὔτʼ αὐγῇς Ὑπερίονος Ἠελίοιο τέρποντʼ οὔτʼ ἀνέμοισι, βαθὺς δέ τε Τάρταρος ἀμφίς· οὐδʼ ἢν ἔνθʼ ἀφίκηαι ἀλωμένη, οὔ σευ ἔγωγε σκυζομένης ἀλέγω, ἐπεὶ οὐ σέο κύντερον ἄλλο.

Lattimore commentary

As Zeus has a role in making the future, this is more a promise than a prediction. Iapetos was the father of Prometheus, the benefactor of mankind who challenged Zeus; Kronos was the violent father whom Zeus overthrew. (Both stories are narrated in Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days.) Zeus seems to dismiss the possibility that an indignant Hera might successfully recruit his old enemies for her cause.

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Lines 484–496

Then into Oceanus fell the bright light of the sun drawing black night over the face of the earth, the giver of grain. Sorely against the will of the Trojans sank the daylight, but over the Achaeans welcome, aye, thrice-prayed-for, came the darkness of night. Then did glorious Hector make a gathering of the Trojans, leading them apart from the ships beside the eddying river in an open space, where the ground shewed clear of dead. Forth from their chariots they stepped upon the ground, to hearken to the word that Hector dear to Zeus spake among them. In his hand he held a spear of eleven cubits, and before him blazed the spear-point of bronze, around which ran a ring of gold. Thereon he leaned, and spake his word among the Trojans: Hearken to me, ye Trojans and Dardanians and allies: I deemedbut now to make havoc of the ships and all the Achaeans, and so return back again to windy Ilios; but darkness came on ere that might be, the which above all else hath now saved the Argives and their ships upon the beach of the sea. So then for this present let us yield to black night and make ready our supper; loose ye from the cars your fair-maned horses, and cast fodder before them;and from the city bring ye oxen and goodly sheep with speed, and get you honey-hearted wine and bread from your houses, and furthermore gather abundant wood, that all night long until early dawn we may burn fires full many and the gleam thereof may reach to heaven,lest haply even by night the long-haired Achaeans make haste to take flight over the broad back of the sea.

ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ οὔ τι προσέφη λευκώλενος Ἥρη. ἐν δʼ ἔπεσʼ Ὠκεανῷ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο ἕλκον νύκτα μέλαιναν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν. Τρωσὶν μέν ῥʼ ἀέκουσιν ἔδυ φάος, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοῖς ἀσπασίη τρίλλιστος ἐπήλυθε νὺξ ἐρεβεννή. Τρώων αὖτʼ ἀγορὴν ποιήσατο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ νόσφι νεῶν ἀγαγὼν ποταμῷ ἔπι δινήεντι, ἐν καθαρῷ ὅθι δὴ νεκύων διεφαίνετο χῶρος. ἐξ ἵππων δʼ ἀποβάντες ἐπὶ χθόνα μῦθον ἄκουον τόν ῥʼ Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευε Διῒ φίλος· ἐν δʼ ἄρα χειρὶ ἔγχος ἔχʼ ἑνδεκάπηχυ· πάροιθε δὲ λάμπετο δουρὸς αἰχμὴ χαλκείη, περὶ δὲ χρύσεος θέε πόρκης, τῷ ὅ γʼ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπεα Τρώεσσι μετηύδα·

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Hector to Trojans

Lines 497–541

but now to make havoc of the ships and all the Achaeans, and so return back again to windy Ilios; but darkness came on ere that might be, the which above all else hath now saved the Argives and their ships upon the beach of the sea. So then for this present let us yield to black night and make ready our supper; loose ye from the cars your fair-maned horses, and cast fodder before them; and from the city bring ye oxen and goodly sheep with speed, and get you honey-hearted wine and bread from your houses, and furthermore gather abundant wood, that all night long until early dawn we may burn fires full many and the gleam thereof may reach to heaven, lest haply even by night the long-haired Achaeans make haste to take flight over the broad back of the sea. as he leapt upon his ship; that so others may dread to bring tearful war against the horse-taming Trojans. And let heralds, dear to Zeus, make proclamation throughout the city that stripling boys and old men of hoary temples gather them round the city upon the battlement builded of the gods; and for the women folk, let them build each one a great fire in her halls; and let a diligent watch be kept, lest an ambush enter the city while the host is afield. Thus be it, great-hearted Trojans, even as I proclaim; of counsel, good and sound for this present, be this enough; but more will I proclaim at dawn amid the horse-taming Trojans. I pray in high hope to Zeus and the other gods to drive out from hence these dogs borne by the fates, whom the fates bare on their black ships. Howbeit for the night will we guard our own selves, but in the morning at the coming of dawn arrayed in our armour let us arouse sharp battle at the hollow ships. I shall know whether the son of Tydeus, mighty Diomedes, will thrust me back from the ships to the wall, or whether I shall slay him with the bronze and bear off his bloody spoils. Tomorrow shall he come to know his valour, whether he can abide the on-coming of my spear. Nay, amid the foremost, methinks, shall he lie smitten with a spear-thrust, and full many of his comrades round about him at the rising of to-morrow's sun. I would that mine own self I might be immortal and ageless all my days, and that I might be honoured even as Athene and Apollo, so surely as now this day bringeth evil upon the Argives.

κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδʼ ἐπίκουροι· νῦν ἐφάμην νῆάς τʼ ὀλέσας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν· ἀλλὰ πρὶν κνέφας ἦλθε, τὸ νῦν ἐσάωσε μάλιστα Ἀργείους καὶ νῆας ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης. ἀλλʼ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν πειθώμεθα νυκτὶ μελαίνῃ δόρπά τʼ ἐφοπλισόμεσθα· ἀτὰρ καλλίτριχας ἵππους λύσαθʼ ὑπὲξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δέ σφισι βάλλετʼ ἐδωδήν· ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξεσθε βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα καρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζεσθε σῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγεσθε, ὥς κεν παννύχιοι μέσφʼ ἠοῦς ἠριγενείης καίωμεν πυρὰ πολλά, σέλας δʼ εἰς οὐρανὸν ἵκῃ, μή πως καὶ διὰ νύκτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ φεύγειν ὁρμήσωνται ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης. μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε νεῶν ἐπιβαῖεν ἕκηλοι, ἀλλʼ ὥς τις τούτων γε βέλος καὶ οἴκοθι πέσσῃ βλήμενος ἢ ἰῷ ἢ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι νηὸς ἐπιθρῴσκων, ἵνα τις στυγέῃσι καὶ ἄλλος Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα. κήρυκες δʼ ἀνὰ ἄστυ Διῒ φίλοι ἀγγελλόντων παῖδας πρωθήβας πολιοκροτάφους τε γέροντας λέξασθαι περὶ ἄστυ θεοδμήτων ἐπὶ πύργων· θηλύτεραι δὲ γυναῖκες ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἑκάστη πῦρ μέγα καιόντων· φυλακὴ δέ τις ἔμπεδος ἔστω μὴ λόχος εἰσέλθῃσι πόλιν λαῶν ἀπεόντων. ὧδʼ ἔστω Τρῶες μεγαλήτορες ὡς ἀγορεύω· μῦθος δʼ ὃς μὲν νῦν ὑγιὴς εἰρημένος ἔστω, τὸν δʼ ἠοῦς Τρώεσσι μεθʼ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω. ἔλπομαι εὐχόμενος Διί τʼ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσιν ἐξελάαν ἐνθένδε κύνας κηρεσσιφορήτους, οὓς κῆρες φορέουσι μελαινάων ἐπὶ νηῶν. ἀλλʼ ἤτοι ἐπὶ νυκτὶ φυλάξομεν ἡμέας αὐτούς, πρῶϊ δʼ ὑπηοῖοι σὺν τεύχεσι θωρηχθέντες νηυσὶν ἔπι γλαφυρῇσιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα. εἴσομαι εἴ κέ μʼ ὁ Τυδεΐδης κρατερὸς Διομήδης πὰρ νηῶν πρὸς τεῖχος ἀπώσεται, ἤ κεν ἐγὼ τὸν χαλκῷ δῃώσας ἔναρα βροτόεντα φέρωμαι. αὔριον ἣν ἀρετὴν διαείσεται, εἴ κʼ ἐμὸν ἔγχος μείνῃ ἐπερχόμενον· ἀλλʼ ἐν πρώτοισιν ὀΐω κείσεται οὐτηθείς, πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι ἠελίου ἀνιόντος ἐς αὔριον· εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς εἴην ἀθάνατος καὶ ἀγήρως ἤματα πάντα, τιοίμην δʼ ὡς τίετʼ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἀπόλλων, ὡς νῦν ἡμέρη ἥδε κακὸν φέρει Ἀργείοισιν.

Lattimore commentary

Hektor’s certainty of killing Diomedes sounds hubristic and short-sighted when contrasted with what we have heard in Zeus’ foreshadowing of events. Some critics have misconstrued his words to assert an equivalence with the gods; in fact, the “if only” wish is a rhetorical flourish highlighting the commander’s confidence for the benefit of his troops.

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nostos peitho

Lines 542–556

and from the city they brought oxen and goodly sheep with speed, and got them honey-hearted wine and bread from their houses, and furthermore gathered abundant wood; and to the immortals they offered hecatombs that bring fulfillment. And from the plain the winds bore the savour up into heaven—a sweet savour, but thereof the blessed gods partook not, neither were minded thereto; for utterly hated of them was sacred Ilios, and Priam, and the people of Priam with goodly spear of ash. Even as in heaven about the gleaming moon the stars shine clear, when the air is windless, and forth to view appear all mountain peaks and high headlands and glades, and from heaven breaketh open the infinite air,379.1 and all stars are seen, and the shepherd joyeth in his heart;

ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἀγόρευʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ Τρῶες κελάδησαν. οἳ δʼ ἵππους μὲν λῦσαν ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ ἱδρώοντας, δῆσαν δʼ ἱμάντεσσι παρʼ ἅρμασιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος· ἐκ πόλιος δʼ ἄξοντο βόας καὶ ἴφια μῆλα καρπαλίμως, οἶνον δὲ μελίφρονα οἰνίζοντο, σῖτόν τʼ ἐκ μεγάρων, ἐπὶ δὲ ξύλα πολλὰ λέγοντο. ἔρδον δ’ ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας κνίσην δʼ ἐκ πεδίου ἄνεμοι φέρον οὐρανὸν εἴσω. ἡδεῖαν· τῆς δ’ οὔ τι θεοὶ μάκαρες δατέοντο, οὐδ’ ἔθελον· μάλα γάρ σφιν ἀπήχθετο Ἴλιος ἱρή, καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο οἳ δὲ μέγα φρονέοντες ἐπὶ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας εἴατο παννύχιοι, πυρὰ δέ σφισι καίετο πολλά. ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἐν οὐρανῷ ἄστρα φαεινὴν ἀμφὶ σελήνην φαίνετʼ ἀριπρεπέα, ὅτε τʼ ἔπλετο νήνεμος αἰθήρ·

Lattimore commentary

The final simile comparing fires on the plain to stars shifts its focus to the all-revealing moonlight in a moving panoramic view. The contrast between the shepherd’s joy and the tense prebattle expectation adds a personal viewpoint to the regular theme (war versus peace) of such comparisons.

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Lines 557–565

even in such multitudes between the ships and the streams of Xanthus shone the fires that the Trojans kindled before the face of Ilios. A thousand fires were burning in the plain and by each sat fifty men in the glow of the blazing fire. And their horses, eating of white barley and spelt, stood beside the cars and waited for fair-throned Dawn.

ἔκ τʼ ἔφανεν πᾶσαι σκοπιαὶ καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι καὶ νάπαι· οὐρανόθεν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπερράγη ἄσπετος αἰθήρ, πάντα δὲ εἴδεται ἄστρα, γέγηθε δέ τε φρένα ποιμήν· τόσσα μεσηγὺ νεῶν ἠδὲ Ξάνθοιο ῥοάων Τρώων καιόντων πυρὰ φαίνετο Ἰλιόθι πρό. χίλιʼ ἄρʼ ἐν πεδίῳ πυρὰ καίετο, πὰρ δὲ ἑκάστῳ εἴατο πεντήκοντα σέλᾳ πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο. ἵπποι δὲ κρῖ λευκὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι καὶ ὀλύρας ἑσταότες παρʼ ὄχεσφιν ἐΰθρονον Ἠῶ μίμνον.

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