Homeric Greek

μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος	001

The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son, Achilles,


οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί᾽ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε᾽ ἔθηκε,	002

that destructive wrath which brought countless woes upon the Achaeans,


πολλὰς δ᾽ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄιδι προΐαψεν	003

and sent forth to Hades many valiant souls of heroes,


ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν	004

and made them themselves spoil for dogs


οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δ᾽ ἐτελείετο βουλή,	005

and every bird; thus the plan of Zeus came to fulfillment,


ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε	006

from the time when first they parted in strife


Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.	007

Atreus' son, king of men, and brilliant Achilles.


τίς τ᾽ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι;	008

Who then of the gods was it that brought these two together to contend?


Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός· ὃ γὰρ βασιλῆϊ χολωθεὶς	009

The son of Leto and Zeus; for he in anger against the king


νοῦσον ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὄρσε κακήν, ὀλέκοντο δὲ λαοί,	010

roused throughout the host an evil pestilence, and the people began to perish,


οὕνεκα τὸν Χρύσην ἠτίμασεν ἀρητῆρα	011

because upon the priest Chryses the son of Atreus had wrought dishonour.


Ἀτρεΐδης· ὃ γὰρ ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν	012

For he had come to the swift ships of the Achaeans


λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τ᾽ ἀπερείσι᾽ ἄποινα,	013

to free his daughter, bearing ransom past counting;


στέμματ᾽ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος	014

and in his hands he held the wreaths of Apollo who strikes from afar,


χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,	015

on a staff of gold; and he implored all the Achaeans,


Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω, κοσμήτορε λαῶν·	016

but most of all the two sons of Atreus, the marshallers of the people:


"Ἀτρεΐδαι τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐυκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,	017

Sons of Atreus, and other well-greaved Achaeans,


ὑμῖν μὲν θεοὶ δοῖεν Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχοντες	018

to you may the gods who have homes upon Olympus grant


ἐκπέρσαι Πριάμοιο πόλιν, εὖ δ' οἴκαδ' ἱκέσθαι·	019

that you sack the city of Priam, and return safe to your homes;


παῖδα δ' ἐμοὶ λῦσαί τε φίλην, τὰ τ' ἄποινα δέχεσθαι	020

but my dear child release to me, and accept the ransom


ἁζόμενοι Διὸς υἱὸν ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα."	021

out of reverence for the son of Zeus, Apollo who strikes from afar.


ἔνθ' ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ	022

Then all the rest of the Achaeans shouted assent,


αἰδεῖσθαί θ' ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα·	023

to reverence the priest and accept the glorious ransom,


ἀλλ' οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,	024

yet the thing did not please the heart of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,


ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δ' ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλεν·	025

but he sent him away harshly, and laid upon him a stern command:


"μή σε γέρον κοίλῃσιν ἐγὼ παρὰ νηυσὶ κιχείω	026

"Let me not find you, old man, by the hollow ships,


ἢ νῦν δηθύνοντ' ἢ ὕστερον αὖτις ἰόντα,	027

either tarrying now or coming back later,


μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμῃ σκῆπτρον καὶ στέμμα θεοῖο.	028

lest your staff and the wreath of the god not protect you.


τὴν δ' ἐγὼ οὐ λύσω· πρίν μιν καὶ γῆρας ἔπεισιν	029

Her I will not set free. Sooner shall old age come upon her


ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ ἐν Ἄργεϊ, τηλόθι πάτρης,	030

in our house, in Argos, far from her native land,


ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην καὶ ἐμὸν λέχος ἀντιόωσαν.	031

as she walks to and fro before the loom and serves my bed.


ἀλλ' ἴθι μή μ' ἐρέθιζε, σαώτερος ὥς κε νέηαι."	032

But go, do not anger me, that you may return the safer."


ὣς ἔφατ', ἔδεισεν δ' ὃ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ.	033

So he spoke, and the old man was seized with fear and obeyed his word.


βῆ δ' ἀκέων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης.	034

He went forth in silence along the shore of the loud-resounding sea,


πολλὰ δ' ἔπειτ' ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἠρᾶθ' ὃ γεραιὸς	035

and earnestly then, when he had gone apart, the old man prayed


Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι, τὸν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ·	036

to the lord Apollo, whom fair-haired Leto bore:


κλῦθί μευ, ἀργυρότοξ', ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας	037

"Hear me, god of the silver bow, who stand over Chryse


Κίλλάν τε ζαθέην, Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις,	038

and holy Cilla, and rule mightily over Tenedos,


Σμινθεῦ, εἴ ποτέ τοι χαρίεντ' ἐπὶ νηὸν ἔρεψα,	039

Sminthian god, if ever I roofed over a temple to your pleasing,


ἢ εἰ δή ποτέ τοι κατὰ πίονα μηρί' ἔκηα	040

or if ever I burned to you fat thigh-pieces of bulls and goats,


ταύρων ἠδ' αἰγῶν, τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·	041

fulfill this prayer for me:


τίσειαν Δαναοὶ ἐμὰ δάκρυα σοῖσι βέλεσσιν.	042

let the Danaans pay for my tears by your arrows."


ὧς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,	043

So he spoke in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him.


βῆ δὲ κατ' Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων χωόμενος κῆρ,	044

Down from the peaks of Olympus he strode, angered at heart,


τόξ' ὤμοισιν ἔχων ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην.	045

bearing on his shoulders his bow and covered quiver.


ἔκλαγξαν δ' ἄρ' ὀιστοὶ ἐπ' ὤμων χωομένοιο,	046

The arrows rattled on the shoulders of the angry god


αὐτοῦ κινηθέντος· ὃ δ' ἤιε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.	047

as he moved, and his coming was like the night.


ἕζετ' ἔπειτ' ἀπάνευθε νεῶν, μετὰ δ' ἰὸν ἕηκεν·	048

Then he sat down apart from the ships and let fly an arrow:


δεινὴ δὲ κλαγγὴ γένετ' ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο.	049

terrible was the twang of the silver bow.


οὐρῆας μὲν πρῶτον ἐπῴχετο καὶ κύνας ἀργούς,	050

The mules he assailed first and the swift dogs,


αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' αὐτοῖσι βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἐφιεὶς	051

but then on the men themselves he let fly his stinging shafts,


βάλλ'· αἰεὶ δὲ πυραὶ νεκύων καίοντο θαμειαί.	052

and struck; and constantly the pyres of the dead burned thick.


ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο κῆλα θεοῖο,	053

For nine days the missiles of the god ranged among the host,


τῇ δεκάτῃ δ' ἀγορήνδε καλέσσατο λαὸν Ἀχιλλεύς·	054

but on the tenth Achilles called the people to assembly,


τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ, λευκώλενος Ἥρη·	055

for the goddess, white-armed Hera, had put it in his heart,


κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν ὅτι ῥα θνήσκοντας ὁρᾶτο.	056

since she pitied the Danaans, when she saw them dying.


οἳ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τε γένοντο,	057

When they were assembled and gathered together,


τοῖσι δ' ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·	058

among them arose and spoke swift-footed Achilles:


Ἀτρεΐδη, νῦν ἄμμε πάλιν πλαγχθέντας ὀίω	059

"Son of Atreus, now I think we shall return home,


ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἴ κεν θάνατόν γε φύγοιμεν,	060

beaten back again, should we even escape death,


εἰ δὴ ὁμοῦ πόλεμός τε δαμᾷ καὶ λοιμὸς Ἀχαιούς.	061

if war and pestilence alike are to ravage the Achaeans.


ἀλλ' ἄγε δή τινα μάντιν ἐρείομεν ἢ ἱερῆα	062

But come, let us ask some seer or priest,


ἢ καὶ ὀνειροπόλον, καὶ γάρ τ' ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν,	063

or some reader of dreams—for a dream too is from Zeus—


ὅς κ' εἴποι ὅτι τόσσον ἐχώσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,	064

who might say why Phoebus Apollo is so angry,


εἴ τ' ἄρ' ὅ γ' εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται εἴ θ' ἑκατόμβης,	065

whether he finds fault with a vow or a hecatomb;


αἴ κέν πως ἀρνῶν κνίσης αἰγῶν τε τελείων	066

in hope that he may accept the savour of lambs and unblemished goats,


βούλεται ἀντιάσας ἡμῖν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι.	067

and be willing to ward off the pestilence from us."


ἦ τοι ὅ γ' ὧς εἰπὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο, τοῖσι δ' ἀνέστη	068

When he had thus spoken he sat down, and among them arose


Κάλχας Θεστορίδης, οἰωνοπόλων ὄχ' ἄριστος,	069

Calchas son of Thestor, far the best of bird-diviners,


ὃς ᾔδη τά τ' ἐόντα τά τ' ἐσσόμενα πρό τ' ἐόντα,	070

who knew the things that were, and that were to be, and that had been before,


καὶ νήεσσ' ἡγήσατ' Ἀχαιῶν Ἴλιον εἴσω	071

and who had guided the ships of the Achaeans to Ilios


ἣν διὰ μαντοσύνην, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·	072

by his own prophetic powers which Phoebus Apollo had bestowed upon him.


ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·	073

He with good intent addressed the gathering, and spoke among them:


ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, κέλεαί με, διίφιλε, μυθήσασθαι	074

"Achilles, dear to Zeus, you bid me declare


μῆνιν Ἀπόλλωνος, ἑκατηβελέταο ἄνακτος·	075

the wrath of Apollo, the lord who strikes from afar.


τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μοι ὄμοσσον	076

Therefore I will speak; but take thought and swear


ἦ μέν μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν.	077

that you will readily defend me with word and with might of hand;


ἦ γὰρ ὀίομαι ἄνδρα χολωσέμεν, ὃς μέγα πάντων	078

for I think I shall anger a man


Ἀργείων κρατέει καί οἱ πείθονται Ἀχαιοί.	079

who rules mightily over all the Argives, and whom the Achaeans obey.


κρείσσων γὰρ βασιλεύς, ὅτε χώσεται ἀνδρὶ χέρηι·	080

For mightier is a king, when he is angry at a lesser man.


εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον γε καὶ αὐτῆμαρ καταπέψῃ,	081

Even if he swallows down his wrath for that day,


ἀλλά τε καὶ μετόπισθεν ἔχει κότον, ὄφρα τελέσσῃ,	082

yet afterwards he cherishes resentment in his heart


ἐν στήθεσσιν ἑοῖσι. σὺ δὲ φράσαι, εἴ με σαώσεις.	083

till he brings it to fulfillment. Say then, if you will keep me safe."


τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·	084

In answer to him spoke swift-footed Achilles:


θαρσήσας μάλα εἰπὲ θεοπρόπιον ὅτι οἶσθα·	085

"Take heart, and speak out whatever oracle you know;


οὐ μὰ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα Διίφιλον, ᾧ τε σύ, Κάλχαν,	086

for by Apollo, dear to Zeus, to whom you, Calchas,


εὐχόμενος Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπίας ἀναφαίνεις,	087

pray when you reveal oracles to the Danaans,


οὔ τις ἐμεῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο	088

no one, while I live and have sight on the earth,


σοὶ κοίλῃς παρὰ νηυσί βαρείας χεῖρας ἐποίσει	089

shall lay heavy hands on you beside the hollow ships,


συμπάντων Δαναῶν, οὐδ' ἢν Ἀγαμέμνονα εἴπῃς,	090

no one of the whole host of the Danaans, not even if you name Agamemnon,


ὃς νῦν πολλὸν ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι.	091

who now claims to be far the best of the Achaeans."


καὶ τότε δὴ θάρσησε καὶ ηὔδα μάντις ἀμύμων·	092

Then the blameless seer took heart, and spoke:


οὔ τ' ἄρ ὅ γ' εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται οὐδ' ἑκατόμβης,	093

"It is not then because of a vow that he finds fault, nor because of a hecatomb,


ἀλλ' ἕνεκ' ἀρητῆρος ὃν ἠτίμησ' Ἀγαμέμνων,	094

but because of the priest whom Agamemnon dishonoured,


οὐδ' ἀπέλυσε θύγατρα καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατ' ἄποινα,	095

and did not release his daughter nor accept the ransom.


τοὔνεκ' ἄρ' ἄλγε' ἔδωκεν ἑκηβόλος ἠδ' ἔτι δώσει·	096

For this cause the god who strikes from afar has given woes and will still give them.


οὐδ' ὅ γε πρὶν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀπώσει	097

He will not drive off from the Danaans the loathsome pestilence,


πρίν γ' ἀπὸ πατρὶ φίλῳ δόμεναι ἑλικώπιδα κούρην	098

until we give back to her dear father the bright-eyed maiden,


ἀπριάτην ἀνάποινον, ἄγειν θ' ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην	099

unbought, unransomed, and lead a sacred hecatomb to Chryse.


ἐς Χρύσην· τότε κέν μιν ἱλασσάμενοι πεπίθοιμεν.	100

Then we might appease and persuade him."


ἦ τοι ὅ γ' ὧς εἰπὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἕζετο, τοῖσι δ' ἀνέστη	101

When he had thus spoken he sat down, and among them arose


ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων	102

the warrior, son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon,


ἀχνύμενος· μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι	103

deeply troubled. With rage his black heart was wholly filled,


πίμπλαντ', ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐίκτην.	104

and his eyes were like blazing fire.


Κάλχαντα πρώτιστα κάκ' ὀσσόμενος προσέειπεν·	105

To Calchas first of all he spoke, and his look threatened evil:


μάντι κακῶν, οὔ πώ ποτέ μοι τὸ κρήγυον εἶπας·	106

"Prophet of evil, never yet have you spoken to me a pleasant thing;


αἰεί τοι τὰ κάκ' ἐστὶ φίλα φρεσὶ μαντεύεσθαι,	107

ever is evil dear to your heart to prophesy,


ἐσθλὸν δ' οὔτε τί πω εἶπας ἔπος οὔτε τέλεσσας.	108

but a word of good you have never yet spoken, nor brought to pass.


καὶ νῦν ἐν Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπέων ἀγορεύεις,	109

And now among the Danaans you claim in prophecy


ὡς δὴ τοῦδ' ἕνεκά σφιν ἑκηβόλος ἄλγεα τεύχει,	110

that for this reason the god who strikes from afar brings woes upon them,


οὕνεκ' ἐγὼ κούρης Χρυσηίδος ἀγλά' ἄποινα	111

that I would not accept the glorious ransom for the girl,


οὐκ ἔθελον δέξασθαι, - ἐπεὶ πολὺ βούλομαι αὐτὴν	112

the daughter of Chryses, since I much prefer to keep her in my home.


οἴκοι ἔχειν. καὶ γάρ ῥα Κλυταιμνήστρης προβέβουλα,	113

For certainly I prefer her to Clytemnestra, my wedded wife,


κουριδίης ἀλόχου, ἐπεὶ οὔ ἑθέν ἐστι χερείων,	114

since she is not inferior to her,


οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν οὔτ' ἂρ φρένας οὔτέ τι ἔργα.	115

either in form or in stature, or in mind, or in any handiwork.


ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἐθέλω δόμεναι πάλιν εἰ τό γ' ἄμεινον·	116

Yet even so will I give her back, if that is better;


βούλομ' ἐγὼ λαὸν σόον ἔμμεναι ἢ ἀπολέσθαι.	117

I would rather the people be safe than perish.


αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ γέρας αὐτίχ' ἑτοιμάσατ', ὄφρα μὴ οἶος	118

But provide me with a prize of honour forthwith, lest I alone


Ἀργείων ἀγέραστος ἔω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·	119

of the Argives be without one, since that would not be proper.


λεύσσετε γὰρ τό γε πάντες, ὅ μοι γέρας ἔρχεται ἄλλῃ.	120

For you all see this, that my prize goes elsewhere."


τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·	121

In answer to him spoke swift-footed brilliant Achilles:


Ἀτρεΐδη, κύδιστε, φιλοκτεανώτατε πάντων,	122

"Most glorious son of Atreus, most covetous of all,


πῶς γάρ τοι δώσουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί;	123

how shall the great-hearted Achaeans give you a prize?


οὐδέ τί που ἴδμεν ξυνήια κείμενα πολλά,	124

We know nothing of a hoard of wealth in common store,


ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν πολίων ἐξεπράθομεν, τὰ δέδασται,	125

but whatever we took by pillage from the cities has been apportioned,


λαοὺς δ' οὐκ ἐπέοικε παλίλλογα ταῦτ' ἐπαγείρειν.	126

and it is not seemly to gather these things back from the army.


ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν τήνδε θεῷ πρόες· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ	127

But give back the girl to the god, and we Achaeans


τριπλῇ τετραπλῇ τ' ἀποτείσομεν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς	128

will recompense you three and fourfold, if ever Zeus grants us


δῷσι πόλιν Τροίην εὐτείχεον ἐξαλαπάξαι.	129

to sack the well-walled city of Troy."


τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·	130

In answer to him spoke lord Agamemnon:


μὴ δ' οὕτως ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν θεοείκελ' Ἀχιλλεῦ	131

"Do not thus, mighty though you are, godlike Achilles,


κλέπτε νόῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐ παρελεύσεαι οὐδέ με πείσεις.	132

seek to deceive me with your wit; for you will not get by me nor persuade me.


ἦ ἐθέλεις ὄφρ' αὐτὸς ἔχῃς γέρας, αὐτὰρ ἔμ' αὔτως	133

Are you willing, so that your yourself may keep your prize,


ἧσθαι δευόμενον, κέλεαι δέ με τήνδ' ἀποδοῦναι;	134

for me to sit here idly in want, while you order me to give her back?


ἀλλ' εἰ μὲν δώσουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοὶ	135

No, if the great-hearted Achaeans give me a prize,


ἄρσαντες κατὰ θυμὸν ὅπως ἀντάξιον ἔσται·	136

suiting it to my mind, so that it will be worth just as much—


εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώωσιν ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι	137

but if they do not, I myself will come and take your prize,


ἢ τεὸν ἢ Αἴαντος ἰὼν γέρας, ἢ Ὀδυσῆος	138

or that of Aias, or that of Odysseus I will seize and bear away.


ἄξω ἑλών· ὃ δέ κεν κεχολώσεται ὅν κεν ἵκωμαι.	139

Angry will he be, to whomever I come.


ἀλλ' ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεσθα καὶ αὖτις,	140

But these things we will consider hereafter.


νῦν δ' ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,	141

Let us now drag a black ship to the shining sea,


ἐν δ' ἐρέτας ἐπιτηδὲς ἀγείρομεν, ἐς δ' ἑκατόμβην	142

and quickly gather suitable rowers into it, and place on board a hecatomb,


θείομεν, ἂν δ' αὐτὴν Χρυσηίδα καλλιπάρῃον	143

and embark on it the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses herself.


βήσομεν· εἷς δέ τις ἀρχὸς ἀνὴρ βουληφόρος ἔστω,	144

Let one prudent man be its commander,


ἢ Αἴας ἢ Ἰδομενεὺς ἢ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς	145

either Aias, or Idomeneus, or brilliant Odysseus,


ἠὲ σὺ Πηλεΐδη πάντων ἐκπαγλότατ' ἀνδρῶν,	146

or you, son of Peleus, of all men most extreme,


ὄφρ' ἥμιν ἑκάεργον ἱλάσσεαι ἱερὰ ῥέξας.	147

so that on our behalf you may propitiate the god who strikes from afar by offering sacrifice."


τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·	148

Glaring from beneath his brows spoke to him swift-footed Achilles:


ὤ μοι ἀναιδείην ἐπιειμένε κερδαλεόφρον	149

"Ah me, clothed in shamelessness, thinking of profit,


πῶς τίς τοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν πείθηται Ἀχαιῶν	150

how shall any man of the Achaeans obey your words


ἢ ὁδὸν ἐλθέμεναι ἢ ἀνδράσιν ἶφι μάχεσθαι;	151

with a ready heart either to go on a journey or to fight against men with force?


οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώων ἕνεκ' ἤλυθον αἰχμητάων	152

It was not on account of the Trojan spearmen


δεῦρο μαχησόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τί μοι αἴτιοί εἰσιν·	153

that I came here to fight, since they have done no wrong to me.


οὐ γὰρ πώ ποτ' ἐμὰς βοῦς ἤλασαν οὐδὲ μὲν ἵππους,	154

Never have they driven off my cattle or my horses,


οὐδέ ποτ' ἐν Φθίῃ ἐριβώλακι βωτιανείρῃ	155

nor ever in deep-soiled Phthia, nurse of men,


καρπὸν ἐδηλήσαντ', ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ μεταξὺ,	156

did they lay waste the harvest, for many things lie between us—


οὔρεά τε σκιόεντα θάλασσά τε ἠχήεσσα·	157

shadowy mountains and sounding sea.


ἀλλὰ σοὶ ὦ μέγ' ἀναιδὲς ἅμ' ἑσπόμεθ' ὄφρα σὺ χαίρῃς,	158

But you, shameless one, we followed, so that you might rejoice,


τιμὴν ἀρνύμενοι Μενελάῳ σοί τε κυνῶπα	159

seeking to win recompense for Menelaus and for yourself, dog-face,


πρὸς Τρώων· τῶν οὔ τι μετατρέπῃ οὐδ' ἀλεγίζεις·	160

from the Trojans. This you disregard, and take no heed of.


καὶ δή μοι γέρας αὐτὸς ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἀπειλεῖς,	161

And now you threaten that you will yourself take my prize away from me,


ᾧ ἔπι πολλὰ μόγησα, δόσαν δέ μοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.	162

for which I toiled so much, which the sons of the Achaeans gave to me.


οὐ μὲν σοί ποτε ἶσον ἔχω γέρας ὁππότ' Ἀχαιοὶ	163

Never have I prize like yours, whenever the Achaeans


Τρώων ἐκπέρσωσ' εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον·	164

sack a well-inhabited citadel of the Trojans.


ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν πλεῖον πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο	165

The brunt of furious battle do


χεῖρες ἐμαὶ διέπουσ'· ἀτὰρ ἤν ποτε δασμὸς ἵκηται,	166

my hands undertake, but if ever an apportionment comes,


σοὶ τὸ γέρας πολὺ μεῖζον, ἐγὼ δ' ὀλίγον τε φίλον τε	167

your prize is far greater, while small but dear is the reward


ἔρχομ' ἔχων ἐπὶ νῆας, ἐπεί κε κάμω πολεμίζων.	168

I take to my ships, when I have worn myself out in the fighting.


νῦν δ' εἶμι Φθίην δ', ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστιν	169

Now I will go back to Phthia, since it is far better to return home


οἴκαδ' ἴμεν σὺν νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὐδέ σ' ὀίω	170

with my beaked ships, nor do I intend while I am here dishonoured


ἐνθάδ' ἄτιμος ἐὼν ἄφενος καὶ πλοῦτον ἀφύξειν.	171

to pile up riches and wealth for you."


τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·	172

Then the king of men, Agamemnon, answered him:


φεῦγε μάλ' εἴ τοι θυμὸς ἐπέσσυται, οὐδέ σ' ἔγωγε	173

"Flee then, if your heart urges you; I do not beg you


λίσσομαι εἵνεκ' ἐμεῖο μένειν· πάρ' ἔμοιγε καὶ ἄλλοι	174

to remain for my sake. With me are others


οἵ κέ με τιμήσουσι, μάλιστα δὲ μητίετα Ζεύς.	175

who will honour me, and above all Zeus, the lord of counsel.


ἔχθιστος δέ μοί ἐσσι διοτρεφέων βασιλήων·	176

Most hateful to me are you of all the kings that Zeus nurtures,


αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἔρις τε φίλη πόλεμοί τε μάχαι τε·	177

for always strife is dear to you, and wars and battles.


εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐσσι, θεός που σοὶ τό γ' ἔδωκεν·	178

If you are very strong, it was a god, I think, who gave you this gift.


οἴκαδ' ἰὼν σὺν νηυσί τε σῇς καὶ σοῖς ἑτάροισι	179

Go home with your ships and your companions


Μυρμιδόνεσσιν ἄνασσε, σέθεν δ' ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζω,	180

and lord it over the Myrmidons; for you I care not,


οὐδ' ὄθομαι κοτέοντος· ἀπειλήσω δέ τοι ὧδε·	181

nor take heed of your wrath. But I will threaten you thus:


ὡς ἔμ' ἀφαιρεῖται Χρυσηίδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,	182

as Phoebus Apollo takes from me the daughter of Chryses,


τὴν μὲν ἐγὼ σὺν νηί τ' ἐμῇ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισι	183

her with my ship and my companions I will send back,


πέμψω, ἐγὼ δέ κ' ἄγω Βρισηίδα καλλιπάρῃον	184

but I will myself come to your tent and take the fair-cheeked Briseis,


αὐτὸς ἰὼν κλισίην δὲ τὸ σὸν γέρας ὄφρ' ἐὺ εἰδῇς	185

your prize, so that you will understand how much mightier I am


ὅσσον φέρτερός εἰμι σέθεν, στυγέῃ δὲ καὶ ἄλλος	186

than you, and another may shrink from declaring himself


ἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι καὶ ὁμοιωθήμεναι ἄντην.	187

my equal and likening himself to me to my face."


ὣς φάτο· Πηλεΐωνι δ' ἄχος γένετ', ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ	188

So he spoke. Grief came upon the son of Peleus,


στήθεσσιν λασίοισι διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν,	189

and within his shaggy breast his heart was divided,


ἢ ὅ γε φάσγανον ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ	190

whether he should draw his sharp sword from beside his thigh,


τοὺς μὲν ἀναστήσειεν, ὃ δ' Ἀτρεΐδην ἐναρίζοι,	191

and break up the assembly, and slay the son of Atreus,


ἦε χόλον παύσειεν ἐρητύσειέ τε θυμόν.	192

or stay his anger and curb his spirit.


ἧος ὃ ταῦθ' ὥρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,	193

While he pondered this in mind and heart,


ἕλκετο δ' ἐκ κολεοῖο μέγα ξίφος, ἦλθε δ' Ἀθήνη	194

and was drawing from its sheath his great sword,


οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη	195

Athene came from heaven. The white-armed goddess Hera


ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε·	196

had sent her forth, for in her heart she loved and cared for both men alike.


στῆ δ' ὄπιθεν, ξανθῆς δὲ κόμης ἕλε Πηλεΐωνα	197

She stood behind him, and seized the son of Peleus by his fair hair,


οἴῳ φαινομένη· τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὔ τις ὁρᾶτο.	198

appearing to him alone. No one of the others saw her.


θάμβησεν δ' Ἀχιλεύς, μετὰ δ' ἐτράπετ', αὐτίκα δ' ἔγνω	199

Achilles was seized with wonder, and turned around,


Παλλάδ' Ἀθηναίην· δεινὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε φάανθεν·	200

and immediately recognized Pallas Athene. Terribly her eyes shone.


καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·	201

Then he addressed her with winged words, and said:


τίπτ' αὖτ' αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος εἰλήλουθας;	202

"Why now, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, have you come?


ἦ ἵνα ὕβριν ἴδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο;	203

Is it so that you might see the arrogance of Agamemnon, son of Atreus?


ἀλλ' ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τελέεσθαι ὀΐω·	204

One thing I will tell you, and I think this will be brought to pass:


ᾗς ὑπεροπλίῃσι τάχ' ἄν ποτε θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃ.	205

through his own excessive pride shall he presently lose his life."


τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·	206

Him then the goddess, bright-eyed Athene, answered:


ἦλθον ἐγὼ παύσουσα τὸ σὸν μένος, αἴ κε πίθηαι,	207

"I have come from heaven to stay your anger,


οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ δέ μ' ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη	208

if you will obey, The goddess white-armed Hera sent me forth,


ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε·	209

for in her heart she loves and cares for both of you.


ἀλλ' ἄγε λῆγ' ἔριδος, μηδὲ ξίφος ἕλκεο χειρί·	210

But come, cease from strife, and do not grasp the sword with your hand.


ἀλλ' ἤτοι ἔπεσιν μὲν ὀνείδισον ὡς ἔσεταί περ·	211

With words indeed taunt him, telling him how it shall be.


ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·	212

For thus will I speak, and this thing shall truly be brought to pass.


καί ποτέ τοι τρὶς τόσσα παρέσσεται ἀγλαὰ δῶρα	213

Hereafter three times as many glorious gifts shall be yours


ὕβριος εἵνεκα τῆσδε· σὺ δ' ἴσχεο, πείθεο δ' ἡμῖν.	214

on account of this arrogance. But refrain, and obey us."


τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·	215

In answer to her spoke swift-footed Achilles:


χρὴ μὲν σφωίτερόν γε θεὰ ἔπος εἰρύσσασθαι	216

"It is necessary, goddess, to observe the words of you two,


καὶ μάλα περ θυμῷ κεχολωμένον· ὧς γὰρ ἄμεινον·	217

however angered a man be in his heart, for is it better so.


ὅς κε θεοῖς ἐπιπείθηται μάλα τ' ἔκλυον αὐτοῦ.	218

Whoever obeys the gods, to him do they gladly give ear."


ἦ καὶ ἐπ' ἀργυρέῃ κώπῃ σχέθε χεῖρα βαρεῖαν,	219

He spoke, and stayed his heavy hand on the silver hilt,


ἂψ δ' ἐς κουλεὸν ὦσε μέγα ξίφος, οὐδ' ἀπίθησε	220

and back into its sheath thrust the great sword, and did not disobey


μύθῳ Ἀθηναίης· ἣ δ' Οὔλυμπον δὲ βεβήκει	221

the word of Athene. She returned to Olympus


δώματ' ἐς αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς μετὰ δαίμονας ἄλλους.	222

to the palace of aegis-bearing Zeus, to join the company of the other gods.


Πηλεΐδης δ' ἐξαῦτις ἀταρτηροῖς ἐπέεσσιν	223

But the son of Peleus again addressed with violent words


Ἀτρεΐδην προσέειπε, καὶ οὔ πω λῆγε χόλοιο·	224

the son of Atreus, and in no way ceased from his wrath:


οἰνοβαρές, κυνὸς ὄμματ' ἔχων, κραδίην δ' ἐλάφοιο,	225

"Heavy with wine, with the face of a dog but the heart of a deer,


οὔτέ ποτ' ἐς πόλεμον ἅμα λαῷ θωρηχθῆναι	226

never have you had courage to arm for battle along with your people,


οὔτε λόχον δ' ἰέναι σὺν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν	227

or go forth to an ambush with the chiefs of the Achaeans.


τέτληκας θυμῷ· τὸ δέ τοι κὴρ εἴδεται εἶναι.	228

That seems to you even as death.


ἦ πολὺ λώιόν ἐστι κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν	229

Indeed it is far better throughout the wide camp of the Achaeans


δῶρ' ἀποαιρεῖσθαι ὅς τις σέθεν ἀντίον εἴπῃ·	230

to deprive of his prize whoever speaks contrary to you.


δημοβόρος βασιλεὺς ἐπεὶ οὐτιδανοῖσιν ἀνάσσεις·	231

People-devouring king, since you rule over nobodies;


ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο.	232

else, son of Atreus, this would be your last piece of insolence.


ἀλλ' ἔκ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι·	233

But I will speak out to you, and will swear thereto a mighty oath:


ναὶ μὰ τόδε σκῆπτρον, τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτε φύλλα καὶ ὄζους	234

by this staff, that shall never more put forth leaves or shoots


φύσει, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα τομὴν ἐν ὄρεσσι λέλοιπεν,	235

since first it left its stump among the mountains,


οὐδ' ἀναθηλήσει· περὶ γάρ ῥά ἑ χαλκὸς ἔλεψε	236

nor shall it again grow green, for the bronze has stripped it on all sides of leaves and bark,


φύλλά τε καὶ φλοιόν· νῦν αὖτέ μιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν	237

and now the sons of the Achaeans carry it in their hands


ἐν παλάμῃς φορέουσι δικασπόλοι, οἵ τε θέμιστας	238

when they act as judges, those who guard the ordinances that come from Zeus;


πρὸς Διὸς εἰρύαται· ὃ δέ τοι μέγας ἔσσεται ὅρκος·	239

and this shall be for you a mighty oath.


ἦ ποτ' Ἀχιλλῆος ποθὴ ἵξεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν	240

Surely some day a longing for Achilles will come upon the sons of the Achaeans one and all,


σύμπαντας· τότε δ' οὔ τι δυνήσεαι ἀχνύμενός περ	241

and on that day you will not be able to help them at all, for all your grief,


χραισμεῖν, εὖτ' ἂν πολλοὶ ὑφ' Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο	242

when many shall fall dying before man-slaying Hector.


θνήσκοντες πίπτωσι· σὺ δ' ἔνδοθι θυμὸν ἀμύξεις	243

But you will gnaw the heart within you, in anger


χωόμενος ὅ τ' ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισας.	244

that you did no honour to the best of the Achaeans."


ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ποτὶ δὲ σκῆπτρον βάλε γαίῃ	245

So spoke the son of Peleus, and down to the earth he dashed


χρυσείοις ἥλοισι πεπαρμένον, ἕζετο δ' αὐτός·	246

the staff studded with golden nails, and himself sat down,


Ἀτρεΐδης δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἐμήνιε· τοῖσι δὲ Νέστωρ	247

while over against him the son of Atreus continued to vent his wrath. Then among them arose Nestor,


ἡδυεπὴς ἀνόρουσε λιγὺς Πυλίων ἀγορητής,	248

sweet of speech, the clear-voiced orator of the Pylians,


τοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδή·	249

from whose tongue flowed speech sweeter than honey.


τῷ δ' ἤδη δύο μὲν γενεαὶ μερόπων ἀνθρώπων	250

Two generations of mortal men had passed away in his lifetime,


ἐφθίαθ', οἵ οἱ πρόσθεν ἅμα τράφεν ἠδ' ἐγένοντο	251

who had been born and reared with him before in sacred Pylos,


ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ, μετὰ δὲ τριτάτοισιν ἄνασσεν·	252

and he was king among the third.


ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·	253

He with good intent addressed the gathering and spoke among them:


ὦ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιίδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει·	254

"Comrades, great grief has come upon the land of Achaea.


ἦ κεν γηθήσαι Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες	255

Truly would Priam and the sons of Priam rejoice,


ἄλλοι τε Τρῶες μέγα κεν κεχαροίατο θυμῷ	256

and the rest of the Trojans would be most glad at heart,


εἰ σφῶιν τάδε πάντα πυθοίατο μαρναμένοιιν,	257

were they to hear all this of you two quarrelling,


οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δ' ἐστὲ μάχεσθαι.	258

you who are chief among the Danaans in counsel and chief in war.


ἀλλὰ πίθεσθ'· ἄμφω δὲ νεωτέρω ἐστὸν ἐμεῖο·	259

Listen to me, for you are both younger than I.


ἤδη γάρ ποτ' ἐγὼ καὶ ἀρείοσιν ἠέ περ ὑμῖν	260

In earlier times I moved among men more warlike than you,


ἀνδράσιν ὡμίλησα, καὶ οὔ ποτέ μ' οἵ γ' ἀθέριζον.	261

and never did they despise me.


οὐ γάρ πω τοίους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὐδὲ ἴδωμαι,	262

Such warriors have I never since seen, nor shall I see,


οἷον Πειρίθοόν τε Δρύαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν	263

as Peirithous was and Dryas, shepherd of the people,


Καινέα τ' Ἐξάδιόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Πολύφημον	264

and Caeneus and Exadius and godlike Polyphemus,


[Θησέα τ' Αἰγεΐδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν·]	265

and Theseus, son of Aegeus, a man like the immortals.


κάρτιστοι δὴ κεῖνοι ἐπιχθονίων τράφεν ἀνδρῶν·	266

Mightiest were these of men reared upon the earth;


κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσαν καὶ καρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο	267

mightiest were they, and with the mightiest they fought,


φηρσὶν ὀρεσκῴοισι καὶ ἐκπάγλως ἀπόλεσσαν.	268

the mountain-dwelling centaurs, and they destroyed them terribly.


καὶ μὲν τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μεθομίλεον ἐκ Πύλου ἐλθὼν	269

With these men I had fellowship, when I came from Pylos,


τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· καλέσαντο γὰρ αὐτοί·	270

from a distant land far away; for they themselves called me.


καὶ μαχόμην κατ' ἔμ' αὐτὸν ἐγώ· κείνοισι δ' ἂν οὔ τις	271

And I fought on my own; with those men could no one


τῶν οἳ νῦν βροτοί εἰσιν ἐπιχθόνιοι μαχέοιτο·	272

fight of the mortals now upon the earth.


καὶ μέν μευ βουλέων ξύνιεν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ·	273

Yes, and they listened to my counsel, and obeyed my words.


ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε καὶ ὔμμες, ἐπεὶ πείθεσθαι ἄμεινον·	274

So also should you obey, since to obey is better.


μήτε σὺ τόνδ' ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν ἀποαίρεο κούρην,	275

Neither do you, mighty though you are, take away the girl,


ἀλλ' ἔα ὥς οἱ πρῶτα δόσαν γέρας υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·	276

but let her be, as the sons of the Achaeans first gave her to him as a prize;


μήτε σὺ Πηλεΐδη, θέλ' ἐριζέμεναι βασιλῆι	277

nor do you, son of Peleus, be minded to strive with a king, might against might,


ἀντιβίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποθ' ὁμοίης ἔμμορε τιμῆς	278

for it is no common honour that is the portion


σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, ᾧ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν.	279

of a sceptre-holding king, to whom Zeus gives glory.


εἰ δὲ σὺ καρτερός ἐσσι θεὰ δέ σε γείνατο μήτηρ,	280

If you are a stronger fighter, and a goddess mother bore you,


ἀλλ' ὅδε φέρτερός ἐστιν ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσιν ἀνάσσει.	281

yet he is the mightier, since he is king over more.


Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δὲ παῦε τεὸν μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε	282

Son of Atreus, check your rage.


λίσσομ' Ἀχιλλῆι μεθέμεν χόλον, ὃς μέγα πᾶσιν	283

Indeed, I beg you to let go your anger against Achilles,


ἕρκος Ἀχαιοῖσιν πέλεται πολέμοιο κακοῖο.	284

who is for all the Achaeans a mighty bulwark in evil war."


τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·	285

In answer to him spoke lord Agamemnon:


ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα γέρον κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·	286

"All these things, old man, to be sure, you have spoken as is right.


ἀλλ' ὅδ' ἀνὴρ ἐθέλει περὶ πάντων ἔμμεναι ἄλλων,	287

But this man wishes to be above all others;


πάντων μὲν κρατέειν ἐθέλει, πάντεσσι δ' ἀνάσσειν,	288

over all he wishes to rule and over all to be king,


πᾶσι δὲ σημαίνειν, ἅ τιν' οὐ πείσεσθαι ὀίω·	289

and to all to give orders; in this, I think, there is someone who will not obey.


εἰ δέ μιν αἰχμητὴν ἔθεσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες	290

If the gods who exist for ever made him a spearman,


τοὔνεκά οἱ προθέουσιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι;	291

do they therefore license him to keep uttering insults?"


τὸν δ' ἄρ' ὑποβλήδην ἠμείβετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·	292

Brilliant Achilles broke in upon him and replied:


ἦ γάρ κεν δειλός τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καλεοίμην	293

Surely I would be called cowardly and of no account,


εἰ δὴ σοὶ πᾶν ἔργον ὑπείξομαι ὅττί κεν εἴπῃς·	294

if I am to yield to you in every matter that you say.


ἄλλοισιν δὴ ταῦτ' ἐπιτέλλεο, μὴ γὰρ ἔμοιγε	295

On others lay these commands, but do not give orders to me,


[σήμαιν'· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγ' ἔτι σοὶ πείσεσθαι ὀίω.]	296

for I do not think I shall obey you any longer.


ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·	297

And another thing I will tell you, and take it to heart:


χερσὶ μὲν οὔ τοι ἔγωγε μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα κούρης	298

with my hands I will not fight for the girl's sake either with you nor with any other,


οὔτε σοὶ οὔτέ τῳ ἄλλῳ, ἐπεί μ' ἀφέλεσθέ γε δόντες·	299

since you are taking away what you have given.


τῶν δ' ἄλλων ἅ μοί ἐστι θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ	300

But of all else that is mine by my swift black ship,


τῶν οὐκ ἄν τι φέροις ἀνελὼν ἀέκοντος ἐμεῖο·	301

nothing will you take or carry away against my will.


εἰ δ' ἄγε μὴν πείρησαι ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἵδε·	302

Come, just try, so that these too may know:


αἶψά τοι αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρί.	303

forthwith will your dark blood flow forth about my spear."


ὣς τώ γ' ἀντιβίοισι μαχεσσαμένω ἐπέεσσιν	304

So when the two had made an end of contending with violent words,


ἀνστήτην, λῦσαν δ' ἀγορὴν παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν·	305

they rose, and broke up the gathering beside the ships of the Achaeans.


Πηλεΐδης μὲν ἐπὶ κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας	306

The son of Peleus went his way to his huts and his balanced ships


ἤιε σύν τε Μενοιτιάδῃ καὶ οἷς ἑτάροισιν·	307

together with the son of Menoetius, and with his men;


Ἀτρεΐδης δ' ἄρα νῆα θοὴν ἅλα δὲ προέρυσσεν,	308

but the son of Atreus launched a swift ship on the sea,


ἐς δ' ἐρέτας ἔκρινεν ἐείκοσιν, ἐς δ' ἑκατόμβην	309

and chose for it twenty rowers, and drove on board a hecatomb


βῆσε θεῷ, ἀνὰ δὲ Χρυσηίδα καλλιπάρῃον	310

for the god, and brought the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses


εἷσεν ἄγων· ἐν δ' ἀρχὸς ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.	311

and set her in the ship; and Odysseus of many wiles went on board to take command.


οἳ μὲν ἔπειτ' ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,	312

So these embarked and sailed over the watery ways;


λαοὺς δ' Ἀτρεΐδης ἀπολυμαίνεσθαι ἄνωγεν·	313

but the son of Atreus bade the people purify themselves.


οἳ δ' ἀπελυμαίνοντο καὶ εἰς ἅλα λύματα βάλλον,	314

And they purified themselves, and cast the defilement into the sea,


ἔρδον δ' Ἀπόλλωνι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας	315

and offered to Apollo perfect hecatombs


ταύρων ἠδ' αἰγῶν παρὰ θῖν' ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο·	316

of bulls and goats by the shore of the barren sea;


κνίση δ' οὐρανὸν ἷκεν ἑλισσομένη περὶ καπνῷ.	317

and the savour thereof went up to heaven, eddying amid the smoke.


ὣς οἳ μὲν τὰ πένοντο κατὰ στρατόν· οὐδ' Ἀγαμέμνων	318

Thus were they busied throughout the camp; but Agamemnon


λῆγ' ἔριδος τὴν πρῶτον ἐπηπείλησ' Ἀχιλῆι,	319

did not cease from the strife with which he had first threatened Achilles,


ἀλλ' ὅ γε Ταλθύβιόν τε καὶ Εὐρυβάτην προσέειπε,	320

but called to Talthybius and Eurybates,


τώ οἱ ἔσαν κήρυκε καὶ ὀτρηρὼ θεράποντε·	321

who were his heralds and ready squires:


ἔρχεσθον κλισίην Πηληιάδεω Ἀχιλῆος·	322

"Go to the hut of Achilles, Peleus' son,


χειρὸς ἑλόντ' ἀγέμεν Βρισηίδα καλλιπάρῃον·	323

and take by the hand the fair-cheeked Briseis, and lead her hither;


εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώῃσιν ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι	324

and if he give her not, I will myself go


ἐλθὼν σὺν πλεόνεσσι· τό οἱ καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται.	325

with a larger company and take her; that will be even the worse for him."


ὣς εἰπὼν προΐει, κρατερὸν δ' ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·	326

So saying he sent them forth, and laid upon them a stern command.


τὼ δ' ἀέκοντε βάτην παρὰ θῖν' ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο,	327

Unwilling went the two along the shore of the barren sea,


Μυρμιδόνων δ' ἐπί τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην,	328

and came to the tents and the ships of the Myrmidons.


τὸν δ' εὗρον παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηὶ μελαίνῃ	329

Him they found sitting beside his tent and his black ship;


ἥμενον· οὐδ' ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν γήθησεν Ἀχιλλεύς.	330

and Achilles was not glad at sight of them.


τὼ μὲν ταρβήσαντε καὶ αἰδομένω βασιλῆα	331

The two, seized with dread and in awe of the king,


στήτην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδ' ἐρέοντο·	332

stood, and spoke no word to him, nor made question;


αὐτὰρ ὃ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε·	333

but he knew in his heart, and spoke:


χαίρετε κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν,	334

"Hail, heralds, messengers of Zeus and men,


ἆσσον ἴτ'· οὔ τί μοι ὔμμες ἐπαίτιοι ἀλλ' Ἀγαμέμνων,	335

draw near. It is not you who are guilty in my sight, but Agamemnon,


ὃ σφῶι προΐει Βρισηίδος εἵνεκα κούρης.	336

who sent you forth for the sake of the girl, Briseis.


ἀλλ' ἄγε διογενὲς Πατρόκλεες ἔξαγε κούρην	337

But come, Patroclus, sprung from Zeus, bring forth the girl,


καί σφωιν δὸς ἄγειν· τὼ δ' αὐτὼ μάρτυροι ἔστων	338

and give her to them to lead away. However, let these two themselves be witnesses


πρός τε θεῶν μακάρων πρός τε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων	339

before the blessed gods and mortal men,


καὶ πρὸς τοῦ βασιλῆος ἀπηνέος εἴ ποτε δ' αὖτε	340

and before him, that ruthless king, if hereafter


χρειὼ ἐμεῖο γένηται ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι	341

there shall be need of me to ward off shameful ruin from the host.


τοῖς ἄλλοις· ἦ γὰρ ὅ γ' ὀλοιῇσι φρεσὶ θύει,	342

Truly he rages with baneful mind,


οὐδέ τι οἶδε νοῆσαι ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω,	343

and knows not at all to look both before and after,


ὅππως οἱ παρὰ νηυσὶ σόοι μαχέοιντο Ἀχαιοί.	344

that his Achaeans might wage war in safety beside their ships."


ὣς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθ' ἑταίρῳ,	345

So he spoke, and Patroclus obeyed his dear comrade,


ἐκ δ' ἄγαγε κλισίης Βρισηίδα καλλιπάρῃον,	346

and led forth from the hut the fair-cheeked Briseis, and gave her to them to lead away.


δῶκε δ' ἄγειν· τὼ δ' αὖτις ἴτην παρὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν·	347

So the two went back beside the ships of the Achaeans,


ἣ δ' ἀέκουσ' ἅμα τοῖσι γυνὴ κίεν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς	348

and with them, all unwilling, went the woman. But Achilles


δακρύσας ἑτάρων ἄφαρ ἕζετο νόσφι λιασθείς,	349

burst into tears, and withdrew apart from his comrades, and sat down on the shore of the grey sea,


θῖν' ἔφ' ἁλὸς πολιῆς, ὁρόων ἐπ' ἀπείρονα πόντον	350

looking forth over the wine-dark deep.


πολλὰ δὲ μητρὶ φίλῃ ἠρήσατο χεῖρας ὀρεγνύς·	351

Earnestly he prayed to his dear mother with hands outstretched:


μῆτερ ἐπεί μ' ἔτεκές γε μινυνθάδιόν περ ἐόντα,	352

"Mother, since you bore me, though to so brief a span of life,


τιμήν πέρ μοι ὄφελλεν Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξαι	353

honour surely ought the Olympian to have given into my hands,


Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης· νῦν δ' οὐδέ με τυτθὸν ἔτισεν·	354

Zeus who thunders on high; but now he has honoured me not a bit.


ἦ γάρ μ' Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων	355

Truly the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon


ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.	356

has dishonoured me: for he has taken and keeps my prize through his own arrogant act.


ὣς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε πότνια μήτηρ	357

So he spoke, weeping, and his lady mother heard him,


ἡμένη ἐν βένθεσσιν ἁλὸς παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι·	358

as she sat in the depths of the sea beside the old man, her father.


καρπαλίμως δ' ἀνέδυ πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἠΰτ' ὀμίχλη,	359

And speedily she came forth from the grey sea like a mist,


καί ῥα πάροιθ' αὐτοῖο καθέζετο δάκρυ χέοντος,	360

and sat down before him, as he wept,


χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τ' ἔφατ' ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζε·	361

and she stroked him with her hand, and spoke to him, and called him by name:


τέκνον τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος;	362

"My child, why do you weep? What sorrow has come upon your heart?


ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω.	363

Speak out; hide it not in your mind, that we both may know."


τὴν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·	364

Then with heavy moaning spoke swift-footed Achilles to her:


οἶσθα· τί ἤ τοι ταῦτα ἰδυίῃ πάντ' ἀγορεύω;	365

"You know. Why then should I tell the tale to you who knows all?


ᾠχόμεθ' ἐς Θήβην ἱερὴν πόλιν Ἠετίωνος,	366

We went forth to Thebe, the sacred city of Eetion,


τὴν δὲ διεπράθομέν τε καὶ ἤγομεν ἐνθάδε πάντα·	367

and laid it waste, and brought here all the spoil.


καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ δάσσαντο μετὰ σφίσιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν,	368

This the sons of the Achaeans divided properly among themselves,


ἐκ δ' ἕλον Ἀτρεΐδῃ Χρυσηίδα καλλιπάρῃον.	369

but for the son of Atreus they chose out the fair-cheeked daughter of Chryses.


Χρύσης δ' αὖθ' ἱερεὺς ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος	370

However, Chryses, priest of Apollo, who strikes from afar,


ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων	371

came to the swift ships of the bronze-clad Achaeans,


λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τ' ἀπερείσι' ἄποινα,	372

to free his daughter, bearing ransom past counting,


στέμματ' ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος	373

and in his hands he held the wreaths of Apollo who strikes from afar,


χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,	374

on a staff of gold, and he implored all the Achaeans,


Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω κοσμήτορε λαῶν.	375

but most of all the two sons of Atreus, marshallers of the people.


ἔνθ' ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ	376

Then all the rest of the Achaeans shouted assent,


αἰδεῖσθαί θ' ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα·	377

to reverence the priest and accept the glorious ransom;


ἀλλ' οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,	378

yet the thing did not please the heart of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,


ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δ' ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε·	379

but he sent him away harshly, and laid upon him a stern command.


χωόμενος δ' ὁ γέρων πάλιν ᾤχετο· τοῖο δ' Ἀπόλλων	380

So the old man went back again in anger;


εὐξαμένου ἤκουσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα οἱ φίλος ἦεν,	381

and Apollo heard his prayer, for he was very dear to him,


ἧκε δ' ἐπ' Ἀργείοισι κακὸν βέλος· οἳ δέ νυ λαοὶ	382

and sent against the Argives an evil shaft.


θνῇσκον ἐπασσύτεροι, τὰ δ' ἐπῴχετο κῆλα θεοῖο	383

Then the people began to die thick and fast,


πάντῃ ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν· ἄμμι δὲ μάντις	384

and the shafts of the god ranged everywhere throughout the wide camp of the Achaeans.


εὖ εἰδὼς ἀγόρευε θεοπροπίας ἑκάτοιο.	385

But to us the prophet with sure knowledge declared the oracles of the god who strikes from afar."


αὐτίκ' ἐγὼ πρῶτος κελόμην θεὸν ἱλάσκεσθαι·	386

"Forthwith, then, I first bade propitiate the god,


Ἀτρεΐωνα δ' ἔπειτα χόλος λάβεν, αἶψα δ' ἀναστὰς	387

but thereafter anger seized the son of Atreus,


ἠπείλησεν μῦθον ὃ δὴ τετελεσμένος ἐστί·	388

and straightway he arose and spoke a threatening word, which now has come to pass.


τὴν μὲν γὰρ σὺν νηὶ θοῇ ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοὶ	389

For the quick-glancing Achaeans are taking the maiden in a swift ship


ἐς Χρύσην πέμπουσιν, ἄγουσι δὲ δῶρα ἄνακτι·	390

to Chryse, and are bearing gifts to the god;


τὴν δὲ νέον κλισίηθεν ἔβαν κήρυκες ἄγοντες	391

while the other woman the heralds have just now taken from my tent and led away,


κούρην Βρισῆος τήν μοι δόσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.	392

the daughter of Briseus, whom the sons of the Achaeans gave me.


ἀλλὰ σὺ εἰ δύνασαί γε περίσχεο παιδὸς ἑῆος·	393

But, you, if you are able, guard your own son;


ἐλθοῦσ' Οὔλυμπον δὲ Δία λίσαι, εἴ ποτε δή τι	394

go to Olympus and make prayer to Zeus,


ἢ ἔπει ὤνησας κραδίην Διὸς ἠὲ καὶ ἔργῳ.	395

if ever you have gladdened his heart by word or deed.


πολλάκι γάρ σεο πατρὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄκουσα	396

For often I have heard you glorying in the halls of my father,


εὐχομένης ὅτ' ἔφησθα κελαινεφέι Κρονίωνι	397

and declaring that you alone among the immortals warded off shameful ruin


οἴη ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι,	398

from the son of Cronos, lord of the dark clouds,


ὁππότε μιν ξυνδῆσαι Ὀλύμπιοι ἤθελον ἄλλοι	399

on the day when the other Olympians wished to put him in bonds,


Ἥρη τ' ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη·	400

even Hera and Poseidon and Pallas Athene. But you came, goddess,


ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γ' ἐλθοῦσα θεὰ ὑπελύσαο δεσμῶν,	401

and freed him from his bonds,


ὦχ' ἑκατόγχειρον καλέσασ' ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,	402

when you had quickly called to high Olympus him of the hundred hands,


ὃν Βριάρεων καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δέ τε πάντες	403

whom the gods call Briareus, but all men Aegaeon;


Αἰγαίων', ὃ γὰρ αὖτε βίῃ οὗ πατρὸς ἀμείνων·	404

for he is mightier than his father.


ὅς ῥα παρὰ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίων·	405

He sat down by the side of the son of Cronos, exulting in his glory,


τὸν καὶ ὑπέδεισαν μάκαρες θεοὶ οὐδ' ἔτ' ἔδησαν.	406

and the blessed gods were seized with fear of him, and did not bind Zeus.


τῶν νῦν μιν μνήσασα παρέζεο καὶ λαβὲ γούνων	407

Bring this now to his remembrance, and sit by his side, and clasp his knees,


αἴ κέν πως ἐθέλῃσιν ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρῆξαι,	408

in hope that he might perhaps wish to succour the Trojans,


τοὺς δὲ κατὰ πρύμνας τε καὶ ἀμφ' ἅλα ἔλσαι Ἀχαιοὺς	409

and for those others, the Achaeans, to pen them in among the sterns of their ships and around the sea


κτεινομένους, ἵνα πάντες ἐπαύρωνται βασιλῆος,	410

as they are slain, so that they may all have profit of their king,


γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων	411

and that the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon may know his blindness


ἣν ἄτην ὅ τ' ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν.	412

in that he did no honour to the best of the Achaeans."


τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·	413

Then Thetis answered him as she wept:


ὤ μοι τέκνον ἐμόν, τί νύ σ' ἔτρεφον αἰνὰ τεκοῦσα;	414

"Ah me, my child, why did I rear you, cursed in my child-bearing?


αἴθ' ὄφελες παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀδάκρυτος καὶ ἀπήμων	415

Would that it had been your lot to remain by your ships without tears and without grief,


ἧσθαι, ἐπεί νύ τοι αἶσα μίνυνθά περ οὔ τι μάλα δήν·	416

since your span of life is brief and endures no long time;


νῦν δ' ἅμα τ' ὠκύμορος καὶ ὀϊζυρὸς περὶ πάντων	417

but now you are doomed to a speedy death and are laden with sorrow above all men;


ἔπλεο· τώ σε κακῇ αἴσῃ τέκον ἐν μεγάροισι.	418

therefore to an evil fate I bore you in our halls.


τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέουσα ἔπος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ	419

Yet in order to tell this your word to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt


εἶμ' αὐτὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον αἴ κε πίθηται.	420

I will myself go to snowy Olympus, in hope that he may be persuaded.


ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισι	421

But remain by your swift, sea-faring ships,


μήνι' Ἀχαιοῖσιν, πολέμου δ' ἀποπαύεο πάμπαν·	422

and continue your wrath against the Achaeans, and refrain utterly from battle;


Ζεὺς γὰρ ἐς Ὠκεανὸν μετ' ἀμύμονας Αἰθιοπῆας	423

for Zeus went yesterday to Oceanus, to the blameless Ethiopians for a feast,


χθιζὸς ἔβη κατὰ δαῖτα, θεοὶ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἕποντο·	424

and all the gods followed with him;


δωδεκάτῃ δέ τοι αὖτις ἐλεύσεται Οὔλυμπον δέ,	425

but on the twelfth day he will come back again to Olympus,


καὶ τότ' ἔπειτά τοι εἶμι Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,	426

and then will I go to the house of Zeus with threshold of bronze,


καί μιν γουνάσομαι καί μιν πείσεσθαι ὀΐω.	427

and will clasp his knees in prayer, and I think I shall win him."


ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασ' ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπ' αὐτοῦ	428

So saying, she went her way and left him where he was,


χωόμενον κατὰ θυμὸν ἐϋζώνοιο γυναικὸς	429

angry at heart for the fair-girdled woman's sake,


τήν ῥα βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρων· αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς	430

whom they had taken from him by force though he was unwilling; and meanwhile Odysseus


ἐς Χρύσην ἵκανεν ἄγων ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην.	431

came to Chryse bringing the holy hecatomb.


οἳ δ' ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο	432

When they had arrived within the deep harbour,


ἱστία μὲν στείλαντο, θέσαν δ' ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ,	433

they furled the sail, and stowed it in the black ship,


ἱστὸν δ' ἱστοδόκῃ πέλασαν προτόνοισιν ὑφέντες	434

and the mast they lowered by the forestays and brought it to the crutch with speed,


καρπαλίμως, τὴν δ' εἰς ὅρμον προέρεσσαν ἐρετμοῖς.	435

and rowed her with oars to the place of anchorage.


ἐκ δ' εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσι' ἔδησαν·	436

Then they cast out the mooring-stones and made fast the stern cables,


ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,	437

and themselves went forth upon the shore of the sea.


ἐκ δ' ἑκατόμβην βῆσαν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι·	438

They brought forth the hecatomb for Apollo, who strikes from afar,


ἐκ δὲ Χρυσηὶς νηὸς βῆ ποντοπόροιο.	439

and forth stepped also the daughter of Chryses from the sea-faring ship.


τὴν μὲν ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ βωμὸν ἄγων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς	440

Her then did Odysseus of many wiles lead to the altar,


πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει καί μιν προσέειπεν·	441

and place in the arms of her dear father, saying to him:


ὦ Χρύση, πρό μ' ἔπεμψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων	442

"Chryses, Agamemnon, king of men, sent me forth


παῖδά τε σοὶ ἀγέμεν, Φοίβῳ θ' ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην	443

to bring to you your daughter, and to offer to Phoebus a holy hecatomb


ῥέξαι ὑπὲρ Δαναῶν ὄφρ' ἱλασόμεσθα ἄνακτα,	444

on the Danaans' behalf, that therewith we may propitiate the lord,


ὃς νῦν Ἀργείοισι πολύστονα κήδε' ἐφῆκεν.	445

who has now brought upon the Argives woeful lamentation."


ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων	446

So saying he placed her in his arms, and he joyfully took


παῖδα φίλην· τοὶ δ' ὦκα θεῷ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην	447

his dear child; but they made haste to set in array for the god the holy hecatomb


ἑξείης ἔστησαν ἐΰδμητον περὶ βωμόν,	448

around the well-built altar,


χερνίψαντο δ' ἔπειτα καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο.	449

and then they washed their hands and took up the barley grains.


τοῖσιν δὲ Χρύσης μεγάλ' εὔχετο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·	450

Then Chryses lifted up his hands, and prayed aloud for them:


κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξ', ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας	451

"Hear me, god of the silver bow, who stands over Chryse


Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις·	452

and holy Cilla, and rules mightily over Tenedos.


ἦ μὲν δή ποτ' ἐμεῦ πάρος ἔκλυες εὐξαμένοιο,	453

As before you heard me when I prayed—


τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δ' ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·	454

to me you did honour, and mightily smote the host of the Achaeans—


ἠδ' ἔτι καὶ νῦν μοι τόδ' ἐπικρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·	455

even so now fulfill me this my desire:


ἤδη νῦν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἄμυνον.	456

ward off now from the Danaans the loathly pestilence."


ὣς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.	457

So he spoke in prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard him.


αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,	458

Then, when they had prayed, and had sprinkled the barley grains,


αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,	459

they first drew back the victims' heads, and cut their throats, and flayed them,


μηρούς τ' ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν	460

and cut out the thighs and covered them with a double layer of fat,


δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπ' αὐτῶν δ' ὠμοθέτησαν·	461

and laid raw flesh thereon.


καῖε δ' ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δ' αἴθοπα οἶνον	462

And the old man burned them on stakes of wood, and made libation over them of gleaming wine;


λεῖβε· νέοι δὲ παρ' αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν.	463

and beside him the young men held in their hands the five-pronged forks.


αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρα κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,	464

But when the thigh-pieces were wholly burned, and they had tasted the entrails,


μίστυλλόν τ' ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφ' ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,	465

they cut up the rest and spitted it, and roasted it carefully,


ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.	466

and drew all off the spits.


αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα	467

Then, when they had ceased from their labour and had made ready the meal,


δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.	468

they feasted, nor did their hearts lack anything of the equal feast.


αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,	469

But when they had put from them the desire for food and drink,


κοῦροι μὲν κρητῆρας ἐπεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,	470

the youths filled the bowls brim full of drink


νώμησαν δ' ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν·	471

and served out to all, first pouring drops for libation into the cups.


οἳ δὲ πανημέριοι μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντο	472

So the whole day long they sought to appease the god with song,


καλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν	473

singing the beautiful paean, the sons of the Achaeans, hymning the god who works from afar;


μέλποντες ἑκάεργον· ὃ δὲ φρένα τέρπετ' ἀκούων.	474

and his heart was glad, as he heard.


ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθε,	475

But when the sun set and darkness came on,


δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός·	476

they lay down to rest by the stern cables of the ship,


ἦμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,	477

and as soon as early rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,


καὶ τότ' ἔπειτ' ἀνάγοντο μετὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν·	478

then they set sail for the wide camp of the Achaeans.


τοῖσιν δ' ἴκμενον οὖρον ἵει ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·	479

And Apollo, who works from afar, sent them a favouring wind,


οἳ δ' ἱστὸν στήσαντ' ἀνά θ' ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν,	480

and they set up the mast and spread the white sail.


ἐν δ' ἄνεμος πρῆσεν μέσον ἱστίον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα	481

So the wind filled the belly of the sail, and the dark wave


στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλ' ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης·	482

sang loudly about the stem of the ship, as she went, and she sped over the wave,


ἣ δ' ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλευθον.	483

accomplishing her way.


αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἵκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν,	484

But when they came to the wide camp of the Achaeans,


νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπ' ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν	485

they drew the black ship up on the shore,


ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δ' ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν·	486

high upon the sands, and set in line the long props beneath,


αὐτοὶ δ' ἐσκίδναντο κατὰ κλισίας τε νέας τε.	487

and themselves scattered among the tents and ships.


αὐτὰρ ὃ μήνιε νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισι	488

But he in his wrath sat beside his swift-faring ships,


διογενὴς Πηλῆος υἱὸς πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·	489

the Zeus-sprung son of Peleus, swift-footed Achilles.


οὔτέ ποτ' εἰς ἀγορὴν πωλέσκετο κυδιάνειραν	490

Never did he go forth to the place of gathering, where men win glory,


οὔτέ ποτ' ἐς πόλεμον, ἀλλὰ φθινύθεσκε φίλον κῆρ	491

nor ever to war, but wasted away his own heart,


αὖθι μένων, ποθέεσκε δ' ἀϋτήν τε πτόλεμόν τε.	492

as he tarried where he was; and he longed for the war-cry and the battle.


ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἐκ τοῖο δυωδεκάτη γένετ' ἠώς,	493

Now when the twelfth morning thereafter had come,


καὶ τότε δὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἴσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες	494

then into Olympus came the gods who are for ever, all in one company,


πάντες ἅμα, Ζεὺς δ' ἦρχε· Θέτις δ' οὐ λήθετ' ἐφετμέων	495

and Zeus led the way. And Thetis did not forget the behest of her son,


παιδὸς ἑοῦ, ἀλλ' ἥ γ' ἀνεδύσετο κῦμα θαλάσσης.	496

but rose up from the wave of the sea,


ἠερίη δ' ἀνέβη μέγαν οὐρανὸν Οὔλυμπόν τε.	497

and at early morning went up to great heaven and Olympus.


εὗρεν δ' εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἄτερ ἥμενον ἄλλων	498

There she found the far-seeing son of Cronos


ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο·	499

sitting apart from the rest upon the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus.


καί ῥα πάροιθ' αὐτοῖο καθέζετο, καὶ λάβε γούνων	500

So she sat down before him, and clasped his knees


σκαιῇ, δεξιτερῇ δ' ἄρ' ὑπ' ἀνθερεῶνος ἑλοῦσα	501

with her left hand, while with her right she touched him beneath the chin,


λισσομένη προσέειπε Δία Κρονίωνα ἄνακτα·	502

and she spoke in prayer to king Zeus, son of Cronos:


Ζεῦ πάτερ εἴ ποτε δή σε μετ' ἀθανάτοισιν ὄνησα	503

"Father Zeus, if ever amid the immortals I gave you aid


ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ, τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·	504

by word or deed, grant me this prayer:


τίμησόν μοι υἱὸν ὃς ὠκυμορώτατος ἄλλων	505

do honour to my son, who is doomed to a speedy death


ἔπλετ'· ἀτάρ μιν νῦν γε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων	506

beyond all other men; yet now Agamemnon, king of men,


ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.	507

has dishonoured him, for he has taken and keeps his prize by his own arrogant act.


ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μιν τῖσον Ὀλύμπιε μητίετα Ζεῦ·	508

But honour him, Olympian Zeus, lord of counsel;


τόφρα δ' ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι τίθει κράτος ὄφρ' ἂν Ἀχαιοὶ	509

and give might to the Trojans, until the Achaeans


υἱὸν ἐμὸν τίσωσιν ὀφέλλωσίν τέ ἑ τιμῇ.	510

do honour to my son, and magnify him with recompense."


ὣς φάτο· τὴν δ' οὔ τι προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,	511

So she spoke; but Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, spoke no word to her,


ἀλλ' ἀκέων δὴν ἧστο· Θέτις δ' ὡς ἥψατο γούνων	512

but sat a long time in silence. Yet Thetis, even as she had clasped his knees,


ὣς ἔχετ' ἐμπεφυυῖα, καὶ εἴρετο δεύτερον αὖτις·	513

so held to him, clinging close, and questioned him again a second time:


νημερτὲς μὲν δή μοι ὑπόσχεο καὶ κατάνευσον	514

"Give me your infallible promise, and bow your head to it,


ἢ ἀπόειπ', ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔπι δέος, ὄφρ' ἐῢ εἰδέω	515

or else deny me, for there is nothing to make you afraid;


ὅσσον ἐγὼ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀτιμοτάτη θεός εἰμι.	516

so that I may know well how far I among all the gods am honoured the least."


τὴν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·	517

Then, greatly troubled, Zeus, the cloud-gatherer spoke to her:


ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργ' ὅ τέ μ' ἐχθοδοπῆσαι ἐφήσεις	518

"Surely this will be sorry work, since you will set me on to engage in strife


Ἥρῃ ὅτ' ἄν μ' ἐρέθῃσιν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν·	519

with Hera, when she shall anger me with taunting words.


ἣ δὲ καὶ αὔτως μ' αἰεὶ ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι	520

Even now she always upbraids me among the immortal gods,


νεικεῖ, καί τέ μέ φησι μάχῃ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγειν.	521

and declares that I give aid to the Trojans in battle.


ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν αὖτις ἀπόστιχε μή τι νοήσῃ	522

But for the present, depart again, lest Hera note something;


Ἥρη· ἐμοὶ δέ κε ταῦτα μελήσεται ὄφρα τελέσσω·	523

and I will take thought for these things to bring all to pass.


εἰ δ' ἄγε τοι κεφαλῇ κατανεύσομαι ὄφρα πεποίθῃς·	524

Come, I will bow my head to you, that thou may be certain,


τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξ ἐμέθεν γε μετ' ἀθανάτοισι μέγιστον	525

for this from me is the surest token among the immortals;


τέκμωρ· οὐ γὰρ ἐμὸν παλινάγρετον οὐδ' ἀπατηλὸν	526

no word of mine may be recalled, nor is false,


οὐδ' ἀτελεύτητον ὅ τί κεν κεφαλῇ κατανεύσω.	527

nor unfulfilled, to which I bow my head."


ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων·	528

The son of Cronos spoke, and bowed his dark brow in assent,


ἀμβρόσιαι δ' ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος	529

and the ambrosial locks waved from the king's immortal head;


κρατὸς ἀπ' ἀθανάτοιο· μέγαν δ' ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον.	530

and he made great Olympus quake.


τώ γ' ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν· ἣ μὲν ἔπειτα	531

When the two had taken counsel together in this way, they parted;


εἰς ἅλα ἆλτο βαθεῖαν ἀπ' αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,	532

she leapt straightway into the deep sea from gleaming Olympus,


Ζεὺς δὲ ἑὸν πρὸς δῶμα· θεοὶ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἀνέσταν	533

and Zeus went to his own palace. All the gods together rose


ἐξ ἑδέων σφοῦ πατρὸς ἐναντίον· οὐδέ τις ἔτλη	534

from their seats before the face of their father; no one dared


μεῖναι ἐπερχόμενον, ἀλλ' ἀντίοι ἔσταν ἅπαντες.	535

to await his coming, but they all rose up before him.


ὣς ὃ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετ' ἐπὶ θρόνου· οὐδέ μιν Ἥρη	536

So he sat down there upon his throne; but Hera saw,


ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσ' ὅτι οἱ συμφράσσατο βουλὰς	537

and failed not to note how silver-footed Thetis,


ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.	538

daughter of the old man of the sea, had taken counsel with him.


αὐτίκα κερτομίοισι Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·	539

Forthwith then she spoke to Zeus, son of Cronos, with mocking words:


τίς δ' αὖ τοι δολομῆτα θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς;	540

"Who of the gods, crafty one, has now again taken counsel with you?


αἰεί τοι φίλον ἐστὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπὸ νόσφιν ἐόντα	541

Always is it your pleasure to hold aloof from me,


κρυπτάδια φρονέοντα δικαζέμεν· οὐδέ τί πώ μοι	542

and to give judgments which you have pondered in secret,


πρόφρων τέτληκας εἰπεῖν ἔπος ὅττι νοήσῃς.	543

nor have you ever brought yourself with a ready heart to declare to me the matter which you devise."


τὴν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·	544

In answer to her spoke the father of men and gods:


Ἥρη μὴ δὴ πάντας ἐμοὺς ἐπιέλπεο μύθους	545

"Hera, do not hope to know all my words:


εἰδήσειν· χαλεποί τοι ἔσοντ' ἀλόχῳ περ ἐούσῃ·	546

hard will they prove for you, though you are my wife.


ἀλλ' ὃν μέν κ' ἐπιεικὲς ἀκουέμεν οὔ τις ἔπειτα	547

Whatever it is fitting for you to hear, this none other


οὔτε θεῶν πρότερος τὸν εἴσεται οὔτ' ἀνθρώπων·	548

shall know before you, whether of gods or men;


ὃν δέ κ' ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλωμι νοῆσαι	549

but what I wish to devise apart from the gods,


μή τι σὺ ταῦτα ἕκαστα διείρεο μηδὲ μετάλλα.	550

of all this do not in any way inquire nor ask."


τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·	551

In answer to him spoke the ox-eyed lady Hera:


αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες;	552

"Most dread son of Cronos, what a word you have said!


καὶ λίην σε πάρος γ' οὔτ' εἴρομαι οὔτε μεταλλῶ,	553

Truly, in the past I have not been accustomed to inquire nor ask you,


ἀλλὰ μάλ' εὔκηλος τὰ φράζεαι ἅσσ' ἐθέλῃσθα.	554

but at your ease you devise all things whatever you wish.


νῦν δ' αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα μή σε παρείπῃ	555

But now I have wondrous dread at heart, lest silver-footed Thetis,


ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος·	556

daughter of the old man of the sea, have beguiled you;


ἠερίη γὰρ σοί γε παρέζετο καὶ λάβε γούνων·	557

for at early dawn she sat by you and clasped your knees.


τῇ σ' ὀΐω κατανεῦσαι ἐτήτυμον ὡς Ἀχιλῆα	558

To her, I think, you bowed your head in sure token that you will honour Achilles,


τιμήσῃς, ὀλέσῃς δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.	559

and bring many to death beside the ships of the Achaeans."


τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·	560

Then in answer to her spoke Zeus, the cloud-gatherer:


δαιμονίη αἰεὶ μὲν ὀΐεαι οὐδέ σε λήθω·	561

"Strange one, you are always suspecting,


πρῆξαι δ' ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεαι, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ θυμοῦ	562

and I do not escape you; yet you shall be able to accomplish nothing,


μᾶλλον ἐμοὶ ἔσεαι· τὸ δέ τοι καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται.	563

but shall be even further from my heart; and that shall be the worse for you.


εἰ δ' οὕτω τοῦτ' ἐστὶν ἐμοὶ μέλλει φίλον εἶναι·	564

If this thing is as you say, then it must be pleasing to me.


ἀλλ' ἀκέουσα κάθησο, ἐμῷ δ' ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ,	565

Sit down in silence, and obey my word,


μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμωσιν ὅσοι θεοί εἰσ' ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ	566

lest all the gods that are in Olympus avail you not against my drawing near,


ἆσσον ἰόνθ', ὅτε κέν τοι ἀάπτους χεῖρας ἐφείω.	567

when I put forth upon you my irresistible hands."


ὣς ἔφατ' ἔδεισεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,	568

He spoke, and ox-eyed lady Hera was seized with fear,


καί ῥ' ἀκέουσα καθῆστο ἐπιγνάμψασα φίλον κῆρ·	569

and sat down in silence, curbing her heart.


ὄχθησαν δ' ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·	570

Then troubled were the gods of heaven throughout the palace of Zeus,


τοῖσιν δ' Ἥφαιστος κλυτοτέχνης ἦρχ' ἀγορεύειν	571

and among them Hephaestus, the famed craftsman, was first to speak,


μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐπίηρα φέρων λευκωλένῳ Ἥρῃ·	572

doing pleasure to his dear mother, white-armed Hera:


ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργα τάδ' ἔσσεται οὐδ' ἔτ' ἀνεκτά,	573

"Surely this will be sorry work, that is no longer bearable,


εἰ δὴ σφὼ ἕνεκα θνητῶν ἐριδαίνετον ὧδε,	574

if you two are to wrangle thus for mortals' sakes,


ἐν δὲ θεοῖσι κολῳὸν ἐλαύνετον· οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς	575

and set the gods in tumult; neither will there be any joy


ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.	576

in the excellent feast, since worse things prevail.


μητρὶ δ' ἐγὼ παράφημι καὶ αὐτῇ περ νοεούσῃ	577

And I give counsel to my mother, wise though she be herself,


πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐπὶ ἦρα φέρειν Διί, ὄφρα μὴ αὖτε	578

to do pleasure to our dear father Zeus,


νεικείῃσι πατήρ, σὺν δ' ἡμῖν δαῖτα ταράξῃ.	579

that the father upbraid her not again, and bring confusion upon our feast.


εἴ περ γάρ κ' ἐθέλῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητὴς	580

What if the Olympian, the lord of the lightning,


ἐξ ἑδέων στυφελίξαι· ὃ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατός ἐστιν.	581

were minded to dash us from our seats! for he is mightiest far.


ἀλλὰ σὺ τὸν ἐπέεσσι καθάπτεσθαι μαλακοῖσιν·	582

But address him with gentle words;


αὐτίκ' ἔπειθ' ἵλαος Ὀλύμπιος ἔσσεται ἡμῖν.	583

so shall the Olympian forthwith be gracious to us."


ὣς ἄρ' ἔφη καὶ ἀναΐξας δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον	584

So saying, he sprang up and placed in his dear mother's hand


μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει καί μιν προσέειπε·	585

the double cup, and spoke to her:


τέτλαθι μῆτερ ἐμή, καὶ ἀνάσχεο κηδομένη περ,	586

"Be patient, my mother, and endure for all your grief,


μή σε φίλην περ ἐοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωμαι	587

lest, dear as you are to me, my eyes see you stricken,


θεινομένην, τότε δ' οὔ τι δυνήσομαι ἀχνύμενός περ	588

and then I shall in no way be able to succour you for all my sorrow;


χραισμεῖν· ἀργαλέος γὰρ Ὀλύμπιος ἀντιφέρεσθαι·	589

for a hard foe is the Olympian to meet in strife.


ἤδη γάρ με καὶ ἄλλοτ' ἀλεξέμεναι μεμαῶτα	590

On a time before this, when I was striving to save you,


ῥῖψε ποδὸς τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ θεσπεσίοιο,	591

he caught me by the foot and hurled me from the heavenly threshold;


πᾶν δ' ἦμαρ φερόμην, ἅμα δ' ἠελίῳ καταδύντι	592

the whole day long I was carried headlong, and at sunset


κάππεσον ἐν Λήμνῳ, ὀλίγος δ' ἔτι θυμὸς ἐνῆεν·	593

I fell in Lemnos, and but little life was in me.


ἔνθά με Σίντιες ἄνδρες ἄφαρ κομίσαντο πεσόντα.	594

There the Sintian folk quickly tended me for my fall."


ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,	595

So he spoke, and the goddess, white-armed Hera, smiled,


μειδήσασα δὲ παιδὸς ἐδέξατο χειρὶ κύπελλον·	596

and smiling took in her hand the cup from her son.


αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖς ἄλλοισι θεοῖς ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν	597

Then he poured wine for all the other gods from left to right,


οἰνοχόει γλυκὺ νέκταρ ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσων·	598

drawing forth sweet nectar from the bowl.


ἄσβεστος δ' ἄρ' ἐνῶρτο γέλως μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν	599

And unquenchable laughter arose among the blessed gods,


ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα.	600

as they saw Hephaestus puffing through the palace.


ὣς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα	601

Thus the whole day long till the setting of the sun they feasted,


δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐίσης,	602

nor did their heart lack anything of the equal feast,


οὐ μὲν φόρμιγγος περικαλλέος ἣν ἔχ' Ἀπόλλων,	603

nor of the beauteous lyre, that Apollo held,


Μουσάων θ' αἳ ἄειδον ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ.	604

nor yet of the Muses, who sang, replying one to the other with sweet voices.


αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέδυ λαμπρὸν φάος ἠελίοιο,	605

But when the bright light of the sun was set,


οἳ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ ἕκαστος,	606

they went each to his own house to take their rest,


ἧχι ἑκάστῳ δῶμα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις	607

where for each one a palace had been built with cunning skill


Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσι·	608

by the famed Hephaestus, the limping god;


Ζεὺς δὲ πρὸς ὃν λέχος ἤι' Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητής,	609

and Zeus, the Olympian, lord of the lightning, went to his couch,


ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθ' ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι·	610

where of old he took his rest, whenever sweet sleep came upon him.


ἔνθα καθεῦδ' ἀναβάς, παρὰ δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἥρη.	611

There went he up and slept, and beside him lay Hera of the golden throne.

The ILIAD

Book I