The Iliad 11.450–455 — Odysseus speaking to Dead Socus | The Lexicon

The Iliad 11.450–455

Ah Socus, son of wise-hearted Hippasus, tamer of horses, the end of death has been too quick in coming upon thee; thou hast not escaped it. Ah poor wretch, thy father and queenly mother shall not close thine eyes in death, but the birds that eat raw flesh shall rend thee, beating their wings thick and fast about thee;whereas to me, if I die, the goodly Achaeans shall give burial. whereas to me, if I die, the goodly Achaeans shall give burial.

ὦ Σῶχʼ Ἱππάσου υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο φθῆ σε τέλος θανάτοιο κιχήμενον, οὐδʼ ὑπάλυξας. ἆ δείλʼ οὐ μὲν σοί γε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ ὄσσε καθαιρήσουσι θανόντι περ, ἀλλʼ οἰωνοὶ ὠμησταὶ ἐρύουσι, περὶ πτερὰ πυκνὰ βαλόντες. αὐτὰρ ἔμʼ, εἴ κε θάνω, κτεριοῦσί γε δῖοι Ἀχαιοί.

Lattimore commentary

Odysseus’ boast employs the language of laments by the kin of a slain warrior, especially the rhetorical focus on the absence of mourners (cf. 22.86). A similar speaking strategy marked Diomedes’ threat (393).

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