νέμεσις

Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν δή σε ἄναξ ἐθέλουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ πᾶσιν ἐλέγχιστον θέμεναι μερόπεσσι βροτοῖσιν, οὐδέ τοι ἐκτελέουσιν ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέσταν ἐνθάδʼ ἔτι στείχοντες ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντʼ εὐτείχε...

the most despised among all mortal men, nor will they fulfill the promise that they made to thee, while faring hitherward from Argos, the pasture-land of horses, that not until thou hadst sacked well-...

οὐ νέμεσις Τρῶας καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς τοιῇδʼ ἀμφὶ γυναικὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄλγεα πάσχειν· αἰνῶς ἀθανάτῃσι θεῇς εἰς ὦπα ἔοικεν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς τοίη περ ἐοῦσʼ ἐν νηυσὶ νεέσθω, μηδʼ ἡμῖν τεκέεσσί τʼ ὀπίσσω πῆ...

neither be left here to be a bane to us and to our children after us.

δαιμονίη, τί με ταῦτα λιλαίεαι ἠπεροπεύειν; ἦ πῄ με προτέρω πολίων εὖ ναιομενάων ἄξεις, ἢ Φρυγίης ἢ Μῃονίης ἐρατεινῆς, εἴ τίς τοι καὶ κεῖθι φίλος μερόπων ἀνθρώπων· οὕνεκα δὴ νῦν δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Μενέλα...

Verily thou wilt lead me yet further on to one of the well-peopled cities of Phrygia or lovely Maeonia, if there too there be some one of mortal men who is dear to thee, seeing that now Menelaus hath ...

τέττα, σιωπῇ ἧσο, ἐμῷ δʼ ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ· οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ νεμεσῶ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν ὀτρύνοντι μάχεσθαι ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς· τούτῳ μὲν γὰρ κῦδος ἅμʼ ἕψεται εἴ κεν Ἀχαιοὶ Τρῶας δῃώσωσιν ἕλωσί τε Ἴλιον ἱρή...

for upon him will great glory attend if the Achaeans shall slay the Trojans and take sacred Ilios, and upon him likewise will fall great sorrow, if the Achaeans be slain. Nay, come, let us twain also...

τοῦ δʼ Ὀδυσεὺς μάλα θυμὸν ἀποκταμένοιο χολώθη, βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ, στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἐγγὺς ἰὼν καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ ἀμφὶ ἓ παπτήνας· ὑπὸ δὲ Τρῶες κεκάδοντο ἀνδρὸς ἀκοντίσσαντο...

and strode amid the foremost warriors, harnessed in flaming bronze; close to the foe he came and took his stand, and glancing warily about him hurled with his bright spear; and back did the Trojans sh...

Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ νεμεσίζῃ Ἄρῃ τάδε καρτερὰ ἔργα ὁσσάτιόν τε καὶ οἷον ἀπώλεσε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν μὰψ ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄχος, οἳ δὲ ἕκηλοι τέρπονται Κύπρίς τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων ἄφρονα τοῦτον ἀνέντε...

while at their ease Cypris and Apollo of the silver bow take their joy, having set on this madman that regardeth not any law? Father Zeus, wilt thou in any wise be wroth with me if I smite Ares in so...

Ζεῦ πάτερ οὐ νεμεσίζῃ ὁρῶν τάδε καρτερὰ ἔργα; αἰεί τοι ῥίγιστα θεοὶ τετληότες εἰμὲν ἀλλήλων ἰότητι, χάριν ἄνδρεσσι φέροντες. σοὶ πάντες μαχόμεσθα· σὺ γὰρ τέκες ἄφρονα κούρην οὐλομένην, ᾗ τʼ αἰὲν ἀήσυλ...

With thee are we all at strife, for thou art father to that mad and baneful maid, whose mind is ever set on deeds of lawlessness. For all the other gods that are in Olympus are obedient unto thee, and...

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

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 ...

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 δίφρο...

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 themselv...

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 βαλέει...

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 chari...

εἰ μὲν δὴ νόστόν γε μετὰ φρεσὶ φαίδιμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ βάλλεαι, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν ἀμύνειν νηυσὶ θοῇσι πῦρ ἐθέλεις ἀΐδηλον, ἐπεὶ χόλος ἔμπεσε θυμῷ, πῶς ἂν ἔπειτʼ ἀπὸ σεῖο φίλον τέκος αὖθι λιποίμην οἶος; σοὶ δέ μʼ...

the purpose of returning, neither art minded at all to ward from the swift ships consuming fire, for that wrath hath fallen upon thy heart; how can I then, dear child, be left here without thee, alone...

οὕτως οὔ τίς οἱ νεμεσήσεται οὐδʼ ἀπιθήσει Ἀργείων, ὅτε κέν τινʼ ἐποτρύνῃ καὶ ἀνώγῃ.

of all the Argives, whenso he urgeth any man or giveth commands.

διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχανʼ Ὀδυσσεῦ μὴ νεμέσα· τοῖον γὰρ ἄχος βεβίηκεν Ἀχαιούς. ἀλλʼ ἕπεʼ, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλον ἐγείρομεν ὅν τʼ ἐπέοικε βουλὰς βουλεύειν, ἢ φευγέμεν ἠὲ μάχεσθαι.

be not thou wroth, for great sorrow hath overmastered the Achaeans. Nay, follow, that we may arouse another also, whomsoever it behoveth to take counsel, whether to flee or to fight.

οὐχ ἕδος ἐστὶ γεραιὲ διοτρεφές, οὐδέ με πείσεις. αἰδοῖος νεμεσητὸς ὅ με προέηκε πυθέσθαι ὅν τινα τοῦτον ἄγεις βεβλημένον· ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς γιγνώσκω, ὁρόω δὲ Μαχάονα ποιμένα λαῶν. νῦν δὲ ἔπος ἐρέων πάλιν...

who it is that thou bringest home wounded. But even of myself I know, and behold Machaon, shepherd of the host. And now will I go back again a messenger, to bear word to Achilles. Well knowest thou,...

αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι, κοῦροι νέοι· ὔμμιν ἔγωγε μαρναμένοισι πέποιθα σαωσέμεναι νέας ἁμάς· εἰ δʼ ὑμεῖς πολέμοιο μεθήσετε λευγαλέοιο, νῦν δὴ εἴδεται ἦμαρ ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι. ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδʼ ὀφθαλμοῖ...

Shame, ye Argives, mere striplings! It was in your fighting that I trusted for the saving of our ships; but if ye are to flinch from grievous war, then of a surety hath the day now dawned for us to be...

Νέστορ ἐπεὶ δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσι μάχονται, τεῖχος δʼ οὐκ ἔχραισμε τετυγμένον, οὐδέ τι τάφρος, ᾗ ἔπι πολλὰ πάθον Δαναοί, ἔλποντο δὲ θυμῷ ἄρρηκτον νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν εἶλαρ ἔσεσθαι· οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ...

Nestor, seeing they are fighting at the sterns of the ships, and the well-built wall hath availed not, nor in any wise the trench, whereat the Danaans laboured sore, and hoped in their hearts that it ...

ἣ μὲν ἄρʼ ὣς εἰποῦσα καθέζετο πότνια Ἥρη, ὄχθησαν δʼ ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοί· ἣ δʼ ἐγέλασσε χείλεσιν, οὐδὲ μέτωπον ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι κυανέῃσιν ἰάνθη· πᾶσιν δὲ νεμεσσηθεῖσα μετηύδα·

When she had thus spoken, queenly Hera sate her down, and wroth waxed the gods throughout the hall of Zeus. And she laughed with her lips, but her forehead above her dark brows relaxed not, and, moved...

μὴ νῦν μοι νεμεσήσετʼ Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες τίσασθαι φόνον υἷος ἰόντʼ ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν, εἴ πέρ μοι καὶ μοῖρα Διὸς πληγέντι κεραυνῷ κεῖσθαι ὁμοῦ νεκύεσσι μεθʼ αἵματι καὶ κονίῃσιν.

Count it not blame for me now, O ye that have dwellings on Olympus, if I go to the ships of the Achaeans and avenge the slaying of my son, even though it be my fate to be smitten with the bolt of Zeus...

Ἶρι θεὰ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες· ἐσθλὸν καὶ τὸ τέτυκται ὅτʼ ἄγγελος αἴσιμα εἰδῇ. ἀλλὰ τόδʼ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει ὁππότʼ ἂν ἰσόμορον καὶ ὁμῇ πεπρωμένον αἴσῃ νεικείειν ἐθέλῃσι χ...

one of like portion with himself, to whom fate hath decreed an equal share. Howbeit for this present will I yield, despite mine indignation; yet another thing will I tell thee, and make this threat in...

Ἕκτορ νῦν δὴ πάγχυ λελασμένος εἰς ἐπικούρων, οἳ σέθεν εἵνεκα τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴης θυμὸν ἀποφθινύθουσι· σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἐθέλεις ἐπαμύνειν. κεῖται Σαρπηδὼν Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀσπιστάων, ὃς Λυκίην εἴρυτο δίκῃ...

are wasting their lives away, yet thou carest not to aid them. Low lies Sarpedon, leader of the Lycian shieldmen, he that guarded Lycia by his judgments and his might. Him hath brazen Ares laid low be...

ὤ μοι ἐγὼν εἰ μέν κε λίπω κάτα τεύχεα καλὰ Πάτροκλόν θʼ, ὃς κεῖται ἐμῆς ἕνεκʼ ἐνθάδε τιμῆς, μή τίς μοι Δαναῶν νεμεσήσεται ὅς κεν ἴδηται. εἰ δέ κεν Ἕκτορι μοῦνος ἐὼν καὶ Τρωσὶ μάχωμαι αἰδεσθείς, μή πώς...

I fear lest haply they beset me round about, many against one; for all the Trojans is Hector of the flashing helm leading hitherward. But why doth my heart thus hold converse with me? Whenso a warrior...

ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες οἵ τε παρʼ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ δήμια πίνουσιν καὶ σημαίνουσιν ἕκαστος λαοῖς· ἐκ δὲ Διὸς τιμὴ καὶ κῦδος ὀπηδεῖ. ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι διασκοπιᾶσθαι ἕκασ...

drink at the common cost, and give commands each one to his folk—ye upon whom attend honour and glory from Zeus—hard is it for me to discern each man of the chieftains, in such wise is the strife of w...

μὴ δʼ οὕτως, ἀγαθός περ ἐών, θεοείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ νήστιας ὄτρυνε προτὶ Ἴλιον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν Τρωσὶ μαχησομένους, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ὀλίγον χρόνον ἔσται φύλοπις, εὖτʼ ἂν πρῶτον ὁμιλήσωσι φάλαγγες ἀνδρῶν, ἐν δὲ θεὸς πνε...

Nay, valiant though thou art, godlike Achilles, urge not on this wise the sons of the Achaeans to go fasting against Ilios to do battle with the men of Troy, since not for a short space shall the batt...

μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε. καὶ δʼ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι. ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε ἵππους· οἳ δὲ τάχʼ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγ...

Nay, sit ye down in the place of gathering, and watch ye the horses; full soon in their eager haste for victory will they come hither, and then shall ye know, each man of you, the horses of the Argive...

σχέτλιοί ἐστε θεοί, δηλήμονες· οὔ νύ ποθʼ ὑμῖν Ἕκτωρ μηρίʼ ἔκηε βοῶν αἰγῶν τε τελείων; τὸν νῦν οὐκ ἔτλητε νέκυν περ ἐόντα σαῶσαι ᾗ τʼ ἀλόχῳ ἰδέειν καὶ μητέρι καὶ τέκεϊ ᾧ καὶ πατέρι Πριάμῳ λαοῖσί τε, τ...

Him now have ye not the heart to save, a corpse though he be, for his wife to look upon and his mother and his child, and his father Priam and his people, who would forthwith burn him in the fire and ...

ὦ γέρον ἤτοι ἐγὼ θεὸς ἄμβροτος εἰλήλουθα Ἑρμείας· σοὶ γάρ με πατὴρ ἅμα πομπὸν ὄπασσεν. ἀλλʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ πάλιν εἴσομαι, οὐδʼ Ἀχιλῆος ὀφθαλμοὺς εἴσειμι· νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη ἀθάνατον θεὸν ὧδε βροτοὺς ...

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...

οἱ δʼ αὖτε σπόγγοισι πολυτρήτοισι τραπέζας νίζον καὶ πρότιθεν, τοὶ δὲ κρέα πολλὰ δατεῦντο. τὴν δὲ πολὺ πρῶτος ἴδε Τηλέμαχος θεοειδής, ἧστο γὰρ ἐν μνηστῆρσι φίλον τετιημένος ἦτορ, ὀσσόμενος πατέρʼ ἐσθλ...

seeing in thought his noble father, should he perchance come from somewhere and make a scattering of the wooers in the palace, and himself win honor and rule over his own house. As he thought of these...

ξεῖνε φίλʼ, ἦ καί μοι νεμεσήσεαι ὅττι κεν εἴπω; τούτοισιν μὲν ταῦτα μέλει, κίθαρις καὶ ἀοιδή, ῥεῖʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀλλότριον βίοτον νήποινον ἔδουσιν, ἀνέρος, οὗ δή που λεύκʼ ὀστέα πύθεται ὄμβρῳ κείμενʼ ἐπʼ ἠπεί...

full easily, seeing that without atonement they devour the livelihood of another, of a man whose white bones, it may be, rot in the rain as they lie upon the mainland, or the wave rolls them in the se...

οὐ μέν τοι γενεήν γε θεοὶ νώνυμνον ὀπίσσω θῆκαν, ἐπεὶ σέ γε τοῖον ἐγείνατο Πηνελόπεια. ἀλλʼ ἄγε μοι τόδε εἰπὲ καὶ ἀτρεκέως κατάλεξον· τίς δαίς, τίς δὲ ὅμιλος ὅδʼ ἔπλετο; τίπτε δέ σε χρεώ; εἰλαπίνη ἠὲ ...

What feast, what throng is this? What need hast thou of it? Is it a drinking bout, or a wedding feast? For this plainly is no meal to which each brings his portion, with such outrage and overweening d...

μῆτερ ἐμή, τί τʼ ἄρα φθονέεις ἐρίηρον ἀοιδὸν τέρπειν ὅππῃ οἱ νόος ὄρνυται; οὔ νύ τʼ ἀοιδοὶ αἴτιοι, ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς αἴτιος, ὅς τε δίδωσιν ἀνδράσιν ἀλφηστῇσιν, ὅπως ἐθέλῃσιν, ἑκάστῳ. τούτῳ δʼ οὐ νέμεσις ...

With this man no one can be wroth if he sings of the evil doom of the Danaans; for men praise that song the most which comes the newest to their ears. For thyself, let thy heart and soul endure to lis...