Final Comments

This is only the beginning of the first and greatest work in the history of Western literature, but it it feels as if it is a complete work all by itself. Clyde Pharr calls Book 1 the greatest book of Homer and indeed it does contain all that one could desire: a semi divine hero raging over a lost war prize after an intense quarrel between two monumental figures, a goddess mother comforting her grieving son, an old man trying and failing to calm the passions of two younger and stronger warriors, that same goddess mother pleading before the father of gods and men to avenge her son's lost honor, then that same father of gods and men nodding his assent to this vengeance and shaking the heavenly mountain, and finally the quarrel between Zeus and Hera with Hephaestus intervening in his comic role as peacemaker. What a beginning to this greatest epic of the western world! This poem may have its origins in some long forgotten clash between the kingdom of Akhkhayawa on the Greek peninsula and Hittite allied Wilusa on the shores of the Hellespont at the close of the Bronze Age, but it gave birth in mind and spirit to that thing which succeded in stretching its conquering hand out over all the world, for better or worse, and whose last days we are now watching unfold. But the real secret of Homer, whoever he was, is that he tapped into that vein of feeling which I imagine existed long before him and will most likely continue to exist long after our own demise: no man of I heart can say with any honesty that, when he first heard of fast ships sailing on a wine dark sea, it did not ring some sort of bell deep in his consciousness and the thought did not occur to him that he had hear this somewhere else before, though he couldn't place where...

Book 1 of the Iliad

Rage, goddess, sing the accursed rage of Peleus’ son,
Of Achilles, that put countless woes to the Achaeans
And hurled many valiant souls of heroes forth to Hades,
Then made their bodies spoils for the dogs
And a feast for the birds,
So the will of Zeus was being accomplished;
From that time when the two first stood apart, quarrelling,
The son of Atreus and lord of men, and shining Achilles.

Which of the gods then threw these two into war and strife?
Zeus’ and Leto’s son. Enraged by the king
He let loose an awful plague throughout the camp,
And the armies were perishing. All because Atreus’ son
Dishonored Chryses, that famous priest.
Since he came to the fast ships of the Achaeans,
Seeking to free his daughter and bearing ransoms without number,
Holding in his hands the wreaths of far shooting Apollo
Along with a golden scepter, and kept begging all the Achaeans
But most of all the two sons of Atreus, commanders of the armies:
“Sons of Atreus, and you well greaved Achaeans,
May the gods who dwell on Olympus grant to you
The sack of Priam’s city and a happy return to your homes;
Only free my dear child, and accept this ransom,
Respect Zeus’ son Apollo who strikes from afar.”

Then all the other Achaeans shouted their assent,
And they revered the priest, accepting his splendid ransom;
But not Atreus‘ son, no this did not please Agamemnon in his heart
So he sent him off cruelly, and imparted a harsh command:
“No old man, let me not catch you by the hollow ships,
Neither lingering now, nor coming back again another time,
Truly neither the scepter nor the wreaths of the god
Will help you then. Her I shall not free.
Sooner old age will overtake her in our house in Argos,
Far from this country, plying the loom and sharing my bed.
But be gone, and vex me not, so the safer you may return.”

Thus he spoke, and the old man was struck with terror,
And obeyed the command. He went in silence
Along the shore of the heavy thundering sea.
Then, going off, the old one prayed hard to the lord Apollo,
Whom fair haired Leto bore:
“Hear me O lord of the silver bow,
You who shield Chrysa, and most sacred Cilla,
And rule over Tenedos in power: Smintheus,
Lord of rats and mice, if ever I put a pleasing roof
Upon your temple, or if then I ever burned down
The rich thighs of bulls and goats for you,
Then fulfill my heart’s desire: may the Danaans pay
For my tears with your arrows.”

Thus he spoke the prayer, and Phoebus Apollo heard it.
Down he went from the heights of Olympus with wrath in his heart,
And bearing his bow with a double hooded quiver
Across his shoulders where the arrows rattled with rage.
Then stirred to action, he came on like the night.

Thereupon he set himself away from the ships,
And sent an arrow in among them, so a terrible roar
Went up from his silver bow. First the mules were struck
And the silver footed hounds, then he sent his biting missiles
Upon the men themselves, firing away at them;
And day and night the pyres of the dead burned on.

Nine days the arrows of the god went throughout the camp,
But on the tenth, Achilles called the host to assembly;
For the goddess, white armed Hera, put it in his heart,
Since she grieved greatly to behold her Danaans perishing.
Then when they had gathered themselves together,
Standing before the assembly, swift footed Achilles spoke among them:
“Son of Atreus, now I think we are beaten back, back again towards home,
If that is we may escape death, for war and plague together will
Vanquish the Achaeans. But come now, let us ask some seer
Or holy man or even an interpreter of dreams, for the dream as well
Is of Zeus, who might say what has so enraged Phoebus Apollo,
If then he holds us to blame for a vow left unfulfilled,
Or a hecatomb unfired, or if he should somehow desire
To taste the savor of goats and unblemished lambs,
To ward off our destruction.”

And so speaking he then sat down and Calchas son of Thestor,
By far the best of those who know the birds,
Was made to stand before them: he who knew what was,
What is, and the things that are to come, and who led the Achaean ships
To Ilium through the gift of foresight that Apollo gave him.
Brooding, he rose before the assembly and spoke among them:
“O Achilles you command me, one who is so dear to Zeus,
To speak the wrath of the lord Apollo who strikes at will.
Therefore I then ask you: band together and swear an oath
That you will come to my aid with words and hands, and with zeal.
For indeed I see that a man will be enraged who holds great sway
Over all the Argives, and whom the Achaeans all obey.
For a king is the mightier when he is enraged by a lesser man;
And though that day he may that day press back the anger in his breast,
Even so he will later hold on to that grudge, until it should be fulfilled.”

Then in reply swift footed Achilles spoke to him:
“By all means take heart and speak the oracle,
Whatever it is that you know, for by Apollo, who is dear to Zeus
And to whom you pray Calchas and by whom you reveal your oracles
To the Danaans, I swear that while I live and look upon the earth
No Danaan shall bear heavy hands against you by the hollow ships,
Not even if you should say Agamemnon, who now often boasts
That he is the best of the Achaeans.”

From then the blameless seer took heart and spoke up:
“Neither then does he place blame for a vow nor hecatomb,
But on account of the priest whom Agamemnon dishonored;
Neither did he free his daughter, nor accept the ransoms;
It is for this then that the god who strikes at will gives woes to us,
And will grant still more. Nor will he drive off this unseemly plague
For the Danaans before the bright eyed maiden is given back
To her dear father, unransomed and without price, and a hecatomb
Is led into sacred Chrysa: thus appeasing him we may win him over.”

Then when he had said this he sat himself down, and up stood
The great man himself, Atreus’ son, wide ruling Agamemnon,
Raging, his heart black all around and filling with wrath
And his eyes blazing like fire. Glaring at Calchas with the evilest of looks
He spoke to him: “Prophet of evil, never do you say a helpful thing
For me; it is always dear to you to prophesy evil, nor have you ever
In any way said or accomplished anything good or noble.
And now you harangue the Danaans in this assembly, prophesying
That it is on account of this that the god who strikes at will makes woes
For them, because I was not willing to accept the shining ransoms
For Chryseis, -- since I desire very much to keep the girl herself
At home with me. In fact I prefer her greatly to Clytamnestra,
My wedded wife, since I find that she is inferior neither in form,
Nor beauty, nor in her works, either of hand or heart.
But even so I am willing to give her back, if this is better;
For I desire the army to be safe, rather than destroyed.
But make ready a prize for me at once, in order that I alone
Of the Argives should not be without a prize of honor,
Since this would not be fitting. And you all surely see this:
My prize goes elsewhere and away from me.”

Thereupon shining Achilles swift of foot answered him:
“Most glorious son of Atreus, most avaricious of all men,
Just how will the great souled Achaeans give you this prize?
We do not know of a great common store just lying about,
But what we have plundered from the cities, this has been divided,
Nor would it be proper for the armies to bring it all back here
To be portioned out once more. But you give this one up
For the god, and then the Achaeans, all of us will repay you triply,
Even four times, if ever Zeus should grant us to plunder
Well walled Troy.”

And in reply mighty Agamemnon spoke to him:
“Though you be brave, godlike Achilles, do not attempt to deceive me,
Since you shall not outstrip me, nor will you win me over.
Indeed you desire, in order that you yourself should keep a prize,
That I sit here lacking, so you command me to give her back?!
Now, either the great souled Achaeans will give a prize that suits
My desire and will be in some way of equal value to the one I lost--
And if they do not grant me such a prize, then I will take it myself,
Either yours, or Ajax’ prize, or that of Odysseus, yes I will seize the prize,
And lead it off; and he who loses it will be enraged when I take this away.
But surely we can discuss this another time,
Come now let us launch a black ship into the blessed briny sea,
And let us gather a crew in sufficient numbers,
Then put on the hecatomb, and fair cheeked Chryseis herself.
And a judicious man will be commander: either Ajax,
Or Idomeneus, or divine Odysseus, or you son of Peleus,
Most fearsome of men, so that you can appease the Archer god for us
And perform the sacrifice.”

Then looking darkly swift footed Achilles accosted him:
“Dear me, you are clothed in shamelessness O crafty minded one.
How then will any Achaean be persuaded to set out on the road
With you, or do battle eagerly with men for you?
For I did not come here to fight on account of any Trojan spearman,
Since they are not blamable to me and they never took off either my cattle
Or my horses, nor did they burn the fields of rich clodded Phthia
Who breeds heroes, for surely there is a great deal between us,
Both shadowy mountains and the sounding sea.
But for you, O shameless one, we followed you so that you might rejoice,
Acquiring honor for Menelaus and for you, dogface;
It is for this we followed you to Troy.
And you neither heed this, nor give it your regard;
And now you threaten to take away my prize,
For which I toiled greatly, and that the sons of the Achaeans
Gave to me! As if I ever have a prize equal to yours
Whenever the Achaeans sack some well place Trojan city;
It is my hands that accomplish the greater part
Of the bloody onrush of war, and when there is a division of spoils
Then the far greater prize goes to you, and I go to the ships
When I should be weary of war with something small yet dear.
And now I will go to Phthia, since it is I think much better to go home
With the curved ships, and not to be here dishonored,
And piling up wealth for you.”

And then Agamemnon lord of men answered him:
“By all means flee, if desire drives you there,
Certainly I will not beg you to stay on my account,
For there are others beside me who may do me honor,
Above all wise and prudent Zeus, that counselor to kings.
To me then you are most odious of the Zeus bred kings;
Always dear to you are strife and war and battle,
And if you are so mighty, it is only some god that gave it to you.
Go home with your ships and with your comrades,
And rule over your Myrmidons, since you are no concern of mine,
Nor do I worry over your anger, but I will threaten you thus:
Since Phoebus Apollo deprives me of Chryseis,
Then I will send her along with one of my ships,
And my comrades, then I myself will be going to your tent
To lead off fair cheeked Briseis, this prize of yours,
So that you might well see how much more powerful
I am than you, and this might make it hateful to any other man
To speak against me and to liken himself to me!”

So he spoke and great grief came up in the rough chest
Of the son of Peleus, and in his heart he considered two ways:
Either to draw the sharp sword from his thigh
And stand them all up, so he might kill the son of Atreus,
Or to hold off his spirit and check his rage.
While he turned this over in his mind and heart
He pulled the mighty sword from its sheath,
Then Athena came down from the heavens,
For the goddess, white armed Hera, sent her there,
Since she loved them both in equal measure
And was grieving now. She stood behind him
And seized Peleus’ son by his tawny locks,
Appearing to him alone; none of the others beheld her.
Then Achilles stood aghast and turned around,
Recognizing Pallas Athena; and her eyes flashed terribly at him,
And he spoke to her with winged words:
“Why on earth have you come O child of aegis bearing Zeus?
So that you might see the insolence of Atreus’ son Agamemnon?
Though I tell you of this and I think it shall be accomplished:
Soon he might destroy his own life through this insolence.”

And the goddess, owl eyed Athena then addressed him:
“I came down to check your rage, if you will be persuaded,
The goddess, white armed Hera, sent me here
Since she loves and grieves for you both in equal measure.
But come now, cease from this strife, and draw not that sword.
Reproach him with words, and with what will be.
So this I will declare, and it shall be accomplished:
There will be a time when you shall have even three times
The splendid gifts on account of this insolence.
But check yourself now, and obey us.”

And in reply swift footed Achilles spoke to her:
“I must do what you two tell me goddess,
Though I rage on in my heart, since this is better:
He who obeys the gods, to him they turn their ear.”

Then he put his heavy hand on the silver handle,
And drove the great sword back into its sheath,
And did not fail to obey Athena’s command.
Then she went back to Olympus, to the halls of
Aegis bearing Zeus with the other sky dwellers.

But the son of Peleus anew accosted Atreus’s son
With harsh and bitter words, and did not cease his rage:
“You drunken sot, with the face of a dog and the heart of a deer!
Neither do you arm for war with your men,
Nor do you have the courage to go on ambush
With the Achaean chiefs, since this seems to be death for you.
No, far better for you to be about the broad camp of the Achaeans,
Seizing gifts from any man who might speak against you,
O king who rapes his own lands,
Since you rule over a worthless breed of men.
For now indeed, son of Atreus, this may be your last insult.
But I will tell you this, and swear a great oath:
Yes, by this scepter that will bear neither leaf nor branch,
Since it first forsook that stump in the mountains,
Nor shall these sprout again, for bronze has stripped it clean
Of both leaf and bark; but now the sons of the Achaeans
Bear it in their fists as judges, those who draw their laws from Zeus.
Such will be this oath: A great yearning for Achilles
Will come up among each and every one of the sons of the Achaeans.
And then, though grieving, you will be in no way able to give them aid
When so many perish at the hands of man slaying Hector.
And you will be gnawing at your soul while the rage consumes you,
Because you in no way honored the best of the Achaeans!”

So spoke the son of Peleus and he hurled the scepter,
Studded with golden nails, to the earth and sat himself down
While from the other side the son of Atreus raged on.
Then sweet speaking Nestor sprung up, that clear toned orator
Of the Pylians, and from that tongue flowed speech sweeter than honey.
In him already two generations of mortal men had wasted away,
They were born and bred with him in most sacred Pylos,
And he ruled then among the third. Thinking carefully,
He rose up before them and spoke to the assembly:
“Oh dear me, what grief comes up in the land of the Achaeans;
How greatly would Priam and the sons of Priam rejoice,
And all the other Trojans should have great joy in their hearts
If they were to learn of all this: you two contending and striving with each other.
You who surpass all the Danaans in doing battle and in counsel.
But heed this; since you two are both younger than I.
Already in my life I have associated with men who were by far
Braver than you, and even they did not disregard me.
No I will not see men of that sort ever again:
Men such as Pirithous, and Dryas, and Caeneas that shepherd of the people,
And Exadius, and Polyphemus who was a match for the gods,
And Aegeus’ son Theseus, so like the immortals.
That age bred the mightiest of earth born men, the mightiest they were,
Those who did battle with the most fearsome of the wild beasts who
Live in mountain lairs, and they smashed them.
And coming there, I consorted with them, me from the far country of Pylos.
They themselves summoned me. And I fought alone
Against those who no mortal now upon the earth would do battle.
And they would hearken to my advice and heed my command.
But both of you heed this, since it is better to obey.
And you who are so brave, do not take this girl.
But let her be: a prize as the sons of the Achaeans first gave to him.
And you son of Peleus, do not seek to match the king blow for blow,
Since never has a scepter bearing king received an equal share of honor
As this one to whom Zeus gave glory. And even if you are the stronger,
Since a goddess mother gave you life, this one is the mightier
Since he rules over many men. Son of Atreus check your rage,
We beg you to give up your anger at Achilles, who is a great bulwark
For the Achaeans against evil war.”

And in reply mighty Agamemnon spoke to him:
“Yes indeed old man, all of this you say is right and proper,
But this man desires to be above all other men, and he desires to rule over all,
And lord it over all of us, and to command all of us,
But I think that there is one who will not obey.
So what if the gods who are forever made him a spearman,
Did they also grant him the right to shout insults?”

Then breaking in, shining Achilles answered him:
“Indeed I should be called a miserable coward
If I should submit to you in all things, whatever you might say.
Yes command this to others, but do not give orders to me!
For I think that there is yet one more who will not obey.
But I tell you this, and you can toss it about in your heart:
I will not fight you with my hands on account of the maiden,
Neither you nor any other, since you only take away what was given me;
But as for anything else, that which is mine by my fast black ship,
These things you will not bear off, nor seize against my will.
Up now try it! So that all might know these things:
Right off your black blood will flow round my spear!”

Thus the two who battled with hostile words rose up,
And they broke up the assembly by the Achaean ships.
The son of Peleus went to the shelters and the well built ships
Along with Menoetius’ son and his comrades, while Atreus’ son
Put a fast ship into the salt sea and selected twenty rowers,
Then he put on a hecatomb for the god, leading up in
Fair cheeked Chryseis, and finally the commander
Wily Odysseus went in.

When they had gone up, sailing on their watery way,
The son of Atreus ordered the armies to purify themselves.
So they washed and hurled their filth into the briny deep,
And they made sacrifices to Apollo of perfect hecatombs
Of bulls and goats along the shore of the restless salty sea;
And the smoky savor went to the heavens, twisting round the cloud.

So they busied themselves about the camp. But Agamemnon
Did not give up the strife that he first hurled at Achilles,
And spoke fiercely to Talthybius and Eurybates,
Who were his heralds and ready attendants:
“Go to the tent of Peleus’ son Achilles and take fair cheeked Briseis
By the hand and lead her off, and if he does not give her up
Then I will be going there with many men and seize her myself.
And that will be so much the worse for him.”

So speaking he sent them forth, and imparted a harsh command.
So the two went grudgingly along the shore of the barren, briny sea,
And came to the tents and ships of the Myrmidons.
Him they found sitting between his tent and a black ship;
Nor did Achilles rejoice to see them. The two stood frightened,
In awe of the prince, and they neither spoke to him, nor addressed him in any way.
But he saw into their hearts and said this to them:
“Be welcome heralds, messengers from Zeus as well as men.
Come closer, you are not blamable to me in any way,
But Agamemnon, he who sent you out on account of the maiden Briseis.
But come now, Zeus born Patroclus, bring out the girl,
And give her away to them. Then let these two themselves
Be witnesses before the blessed gods and mortal men,
And before that heartless king, if ever a time should arise
Where there is a need for me to ward off grievous destruction
From the rest. For indeed he dashes about in that destructive mind of his,
And does not consider these things completely and all the way through:
That the Achaeans who would do battle for him be safe beside the ships.”

Thus he spoke, and Patroclus obeyed his dear comrade,
Leading fair cheeked Briseis out from the tent, he gave her up to them.
Then the two went right off past the ships of the Achaeans,
And the woman went along with them unwillingly, but Achilles wept
And sat down immediately on the shore of the gray and hoary sea;
Turning away from his comrades he looked out over the boundless sea,
And prayed hard to his dear mother with arms outstretched:
“Mother, since you bore me to a life so short, would that Olympian
Zeus who hurls the thunderbolt grant me honor and renown.
But now he does not honor me even a little. For indeed the son of Atreus,
Wide ruling Agamemnon, dishonors me; he has deprived me
Of my prize, seizing it and keeping it for himself.”

So he spoke, a tear streaming down, and his revered mother heard him
As she sat there in the briny depths beside her aged father.
Suddenly she ascended from the hoary salt brined sea like the mist
Then sat down beside him while his tears streamed down;
She caressed him with her hands and spoke to him, calling him by name:
“Why do you weep my child? But what grief has come up in your heart?
Speak it out loud and do not conceal it in your mind,
So that we both might know.”

And groaning heavily swift footed Achilles spoke to her:
“You know. Indeed why do I tell this to you who know all?
We went to Thebe, Eetion’s sacred city, and plundered it;
Then we brought all the spoils back here. And the sons of the Achaeans
Divided it all up among themselves, and for Atreus’ son
They chose out fair cheeked Chryseis. Then Chryses, priest of far shooting
Apollo, came to the fast ships of the bronze clad Achaeans
Seeking to free his daughter and bearing ransoms without number,
Holding in his hands the wreaths of far striking Apollo,
Along with a golden scepter, and he kept begging all the Achaeans,
But most of all the two sons of Atreus, commanders of the armies.
Then all the other Achaeans shouted their assent, revering the priest
And accepting the shining ransom, but not Agamemnon;
This did not please the son of Atreus in his soul.
But he sent him off with malice, and imparted a harsh command.
Then the old man went away enraged, and Apollo hearkened to
His prayer, since the priest was so very dear to him,
And he sent his evil missiles upon the Argives,
And was killing off the armies in quick succession,
For the arrows of the god were going against them
Everywhere in the broad camp of the Achaeans.
Then a seer, who knows well the oracles of the god who strikes at will,
Spoke to us. Right off I called for us to first appease the god,
But wrath took hold of Atreus’ son, and he stood up immediately
And issued threatening commands which he has now fulfilled.
They sent her away along with a fast ship of the bright eyed Achaeans,
Bearing gifts for the god; and just now his heralds came here
To lead Briseus’ girl from my tent, her whom the sons of the Achaeans
Gave to me! But you, if you are able, protect your valiant son.
Go to Olympus and beg Zeus, if ever at any time you aided his heart
In either word or deed. Often times I heard you in father’s house,
Boasting of when you alone among the immortals beat off
Grievous destruction for Cronus’ cloud wrapped son,
When all the other Olympians desired to bind him hand and foot:
Hera, and Poseidon, and even Pallas Athena.
But you, goddess, going there you loosed his bonds,
And quickly you summoned the hundred hander to lofty Olympus,
He who the gods name Briareus, but all men call Aegaeon.
He is far stronger than his father Poseidon and sat down beside
Cronus’ son, exulting in his glory; and the blessed gods shrank before him,
And did not even bind him. Remind him of this now;
Sit beside him and grasp his knees, if in any way he would be willing
To aid the Trojans so they drive the Achaeans to the sea,
Murdering them, all the way to the sterns of their ships,
So that all might reap this reward from their king,
And even Atreus’ son, wide ruling Agamemnon, might see
His insanity, he who in no way honored the best of the Achaeans!”

Thereupon Thetis answered him with a tear streaming down:
“Oh dear, child of mine, why did I bear you to this pain?
O that you could sit by the ships unharmed and without tears,
Since for you time is so very short and there is not long;
And now not only are you short lived but bitterness engulfs you
Beyond all men; I bore you to this evil fate in those halls.
So I shall go to white capped Olympus to speak this word to Zeus
Who hurls the thunderbolt, if he might be won over.
But you, sit beside the swift sailing ships and rage against the Achaeans,
And hold yourself back completely from the war;
Yesterday Zeus went down to a feast in Oceanus
Among the noble Ethiopians, and all the gods went with.
But on the twelfth day he will return to Olympus,
And on that day I will go for you to the bronze threshold of his house;
I will grasp his knees, and I think he will be persuaded.”

So she spoke and then departed, leaving him there
Raging at heart over a wasp waisted woman, who was taken away
By force and against his will. But Odysseus went to Chrysa
Leading the sacred hecatomb. Then when they came into a deep harbor
They furled the sail and put it in the black ship,
Then drew the mast into its receiver and quickly lowered the ropes
And rowed forward to the moorings. Then they dropped the anchor stone
And they themselves then went out on the seashore,
And led out the hecatomb for far striking Apollo,
And then Chryseis went out from the seagoing ship.
Odysseus led her then up to the altar where he put her in the hands
Of her dear father and spoke to him:
“Chryses, the lord of men Agamemnon has sent me here
To bring your child to you and to bring this hecatomb for Phoebus
That we shall sacrifice for the Danaans, so that we might appease the god
Who now causes the Argives many groans and sends such suffering upon them.

Thus speaking he put her in the old man’s hands, and he accepted his dear child
Rejoicing. Then the sacred hecatomb was put around the well built altar
For the god, and they purified themselves, snatching up the barley corns.
Then Chryses prayed aloud, lifting his hands before them:
“Hear me O god with the silver bow, you who shield Chrysa
And most sacred Cilla, and rule over Tenedos in power:
Truly you heard my prayer then, and you have honored me greatly,
And have punished the Achaean host terribly; now once more
Fulfill this request for me: drive off this unseemly plague for the Danaans.”

Thus he prayed, and Phoebus Apollo heard him.
So they prayed and cast down the barleycorns,
Then drew up the animals’ heads and cut their throats
And flayed them all; they then cut out the thighs
Making a double fold and wrapping them in fat,
Then they placed the meat upon it.
Then the old man burnt them down on split wood
And poured shimmering wine as libation, and the youths
Beside him carried five pronged forks in their hands.
But when the thighs were consumed and they fed on the organs
They then sliced the other parts to bits and skewered them,
And roasting them carefully they drew them all out.
But when they ceased their labor and prepared the banquet
They went to feasting, nor did any soul lack his portion of the feast.
But when they stayed the desire for food and drink
The youthful lords filled the mixing bowl to the brim with wine,
And passed it to all in cups to begin the rites.
Then all day long they appeased the god with their dance,
Singing well their song of praise, these Achaean youths
Chanting the Striker’s hymn; this pleased his ears.
And when the sun went down and the gloom of night came on
They lulled themselves to sleep by the stern of their ship.
Then when early rosy fingered dawn appeared
They set out for the broad camp of the Achaeans
And the Archer god Apollo put a favorable wind to their backs.
Then they stood up their sail and spread out the shining cloth;
The breeze filled up its heart and the wine dark waves
Roared about the stem of the sea going ship;
So it sped on its way crossing through the waves.
But then they came to the broad camp of the Achaeans
And drew the black ship onto the continent,
High up on the dunes, and placed in under the beams,
Then they themselves scattered to the shelters and the ships.

But he raged on sitting beside the swift sailing ships,
That Zeus born son of Peleus, swift footed Achilles.
Neither did he visit the meeting halls that give glory to men,
Nor did he go to war, but wasted his lifeblood away in that place,
And he yearned for the cry of battle and for war itself.

But when the twelfth dawn from that day arose,
Then the gods who are forever came all together to Olympus
With Zeus in front. Thetis did not forget her son’s behests,
But plunged through the sea’s waves early in the morning
And climbed high heaven to Olympus.
She found Cronus’ far thundering son sitting away from the others
On a sharp peak of craggy Olympus. Then she then sat down
In front of him and grasped his knees with her left hand,
And with her right she clutched at his beard, beseeching
Cronus’ son, the lord Zeus, and spoke this to him:
“Father Zeus, if ever there was a time among the immortals
Where I aided you either in word or deed, then grant this appeal:
Honor my son, whom death shall find long before his time;
He whom that lord of men Agamemnon greatly dishonors now:
For he has seized his prize of honor, depriving my son
And keeping it for himself. But you, wise Olympian Zeus,
Make him atone for this outrage; meanwhile give victory to the Trojans
So that the Achaeans might honor my son, and greatly increase his renown.”

Thus she spoke, and cloud gathering Zeus said nothing in reply
But sat long in silence. So Thetis once more laid hold of his knees,
Grasping tightly and clinging to them she asked at once a second time:
“Unerring one, promise me and nod your assent, or refuse me,
Since timidity does not become you, so that I might well know
That I am the most dishonored of all the gods.”

Deeply vexed, cloud wrapped Zeus spoke to her:
“Indeed this is a nasty mess, when you tell me to wrangle with
Hera; since already she torments me with abusive words and insults.
And even as things are she contends with me among the immortal gods,
Telling me that I give aid to the Trojans in battle. But you now
Depart, lest Hera know of this. Let this be my concern,
So that it might be accomplished. But come now
I will nod my head so that you might be persuaded;
For this is the greatest pledge I can give among the immortals.
Neither can it be a lie, nor taken back, nor can it be left
Unfulfilled if I should nod assent with my head.”

Even as he spoke the son of Cronus did nod his dusky brows
So his ambrosia locks fell down over the head of the deathless lord;
This shook Olympus terribly.

Thus the plot was hatched and the two parted ways;
Thereupon she leapt from shining Olympus into the briny depths,
Zeus going towards his house. And all the gods rose as one from their seats
To meet their father, nor did any have the heart to remain in his place
But all went toward him and they all went up to meet him.
So then he sat down upon his throne; nor did Hera fail to notice,
Catching them together making plans,
Silver footed Thetis, the daughter of the old man of the sea.
At once she accosted Cronus’ son with biting words:
“Which of the gods hatches plots with you now, Deceiver?
Always this is dear to you when I am away,
Planning and deciding things in secret; nor do you have the heart
To tell me or speak any word of it, whatever is in your mind.”

And thereupon the father of gods and men answered her:
“Hera, do not desire to know all of my thoughts and deeds.
This would be difficult for you, though you are my wife.
But of that which is right and proper for you to hear,
Nothing will be know first then, either to god or mortal man;
But that which I desire to keep from the gods’ knowledge,
Do not inquire into this, nor into each and every thing that I am about.”

And Hera, the ox eyed queen of the skies, then answered him:
“Most dread son of Cronus, what is this you are saying!
In the past I have neither questioned you nor inquired
Into each and every thing you were about, never!
But you plot and plan in peace and quiet, as you desire;
But now there is terror in my heart that silver footed Thetis,
Daughter of the old man of the sea, may have won you over;
Since early this morning she sat beside you and grasped your knees.
There I saw you nod your head and give a sure sign
That you will honor Achilles, and slaughter many
By the Achaean ships.”

And in reply cloud gathering Zeus accosted her:
“O sky dwelling goddess, truly you see always, nor do I forget you,
But nevertheless this thing will be accomplished, and you will not
Be able to do one thing to prevent it, but will only be that much
Further from my heart: and this will be the worse for you.
And if this is how it is, then it is as I wish it to be.
But sit down and be silent, and obey my command,
For they will not now be able to help you, as many gods
As are on Olympus, nor will they come any closer
When I strike you with invincible hands!”

Thus he spoke, and the ox eyed queen of the skies was struck with terror;
Then she sat down and hearkened to, bending to his desire
And all the sky dwelling gods were vexed,
Throughout the house of Zeus; then Hephaestus forger to the gods
Came forth to harangue them, bringing relief for his dear mother,
White armed Hera: “Yes indeed this will be a nasty mess,
Nor shall we be able to bear it if you two quarrel in this way
On account of mortals, or if you carry on wrangling among the gods;
Nor will this do any good for the feast since then the worst will prevail.
So I tell this to my mother, though it must already be in her mind:
Be kind to our dear father Zeus so that he might not contend with us anew,
And the banquet be ruined. And if the Olympian who hurls the lightning
Should desire to hurl us from our seats… He is far too strong.
But you, speak to him with soft words, then the Olympian will be good to us.”

Thus he spoke and sprung up and brought the double sided cup in hand
To his mother and spoke to her:
“Take heart my mother, and endure this, though you be grieving,
Oh that I should not see you who are so dear to me struck down
Before my eyes; for then, though in anguish, I could do nothing
To help you. For it is a terrible thing to oppose the Olympian.
There was in fact another time where I was eager to defend you,
And seizing me by the foot he hurled me from his divine threshold;
I was borne all through the day until I fell down along with the setting sun
On Lemnos, with my lifeblood drained nearly to the last drop,
But then the Sintian men tended promptly to my sinking self.”

Thus he spoke and the goddess, white armed Hera, smiled,
And laughing she took the cup in hand from her child.
So then he went to his right and poured sweet nectar for the other gods,
Dipping down the mixing bowl for each in turn.
And undying laughter then erupted from the blessed gods
When they saw Hephaestus panting and puffing throughout the house.

Then they feasted the whole of the day until the setting sun,
Neither did any soul lack his portion of the feast,
Nor the enchanting lyre that Apollo kept,
Nor the muses who sang their glorious harmonies.
But when the sun’s shining light went down
They desired to rest and each went to his own house,
That this renowned if bowlegged forger Hephaestus
Had made for each of them with his knowing mind,
And Zeus who hurls lightning from Olympus went to his bed
And lay down; when sweet sleep overcame him
Then Hera of the golden throne went up to lie beside him.

ΙΛΙΑΔΟΣ Α

Μῆνιν ἄειδε θεά Πηληιάδεω Αχιλῆος
οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί' Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε' ἔθηκεν
πολλὰς δ' ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄιδι προΐαψεν
ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν
οἰωνοῖσι τε δαῖτα, Διὸς δ' ἐτελείετο Βουλή,
ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε
Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.

τίς τ' ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μαχέσθαι;
Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός. ὁ γὰρ βασιλῆι χολωθεὶς
νοῦσον ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὦρσε κακήν, ὀλέκοντο δὲ λαοί,
οὕνεκα τὸν Χρύσην ἠτίμασεν ἀρητῆρα
Ἀτρεΐδης. ὁ γὰρ ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
λυσόμενος τε θύγατρα φέρων τ' ἀπερείσι' ἄποινα,
στέμματ' ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ ἐλίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω, κοσμήτορε λαῶν·
"Ἀτρεΐδαι τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐυκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,
ὑμῖν μὲν θεοὶ δοῖεν Ὀλύμπια δώματ' ἔχοντες
ἐκπέρσαι Πριάμοιο πόλιν, ἐὺ δ' οἴκαδ' ἱκέσθαι·
παῖδα δ' ἐμοὶ λῦσαί τε φίλην, τά τ' ἄποινα δέχεσθαι
ἁζόμεναι Διὸς υἱὸν ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα."

ἔνθ' ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ
αἰδεῖσθαί θ' ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα·
ἀλλ' οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δ' ἐπὶ μῆθον ἔτελλεν·
"μή σε, γέρον, κοίλῃσιν ἐγὼ παρὰ νηυσὶ κιχήω
ἢ νῦν δηθύνοντ' ἢ ἥστερον αὖτις ἰόντα,
μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμῃ σκῆπτρον καὶ στέμμα θεοῖο.
τὴν δ' ἐγὼ οὐ λύσω· πρίν μιν καὶ γῆρας ἔπεισιν
ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ ἐν Ἄργεϊ, τηλόθι πάτρης,
ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην καὶ ἐμὸν λέχος ἀντιόωσαν.
ἀλλ' ἴθι, μή μ' ἐρέθιζε, σαώτερος ὥς κε νέηαι."

ὧς ἔφατ', ἔδεισεν δ' ὁ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ.
βῆ δ' ἀκέων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης.
πολλὰ δ' ἔπειτ' ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἠρᾶθ' ὁ γεραιὸς
Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι, τὸν ἠύκομος τέκε Λήτω·
"κλῦθί μευ, ἀργυρότοξ', ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας
Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην, Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις,
Σμινθεῦ, εἴ ποτέ τοι χαρίεντ' ἐπὶ νηὸν ἔρεψα,
ἢ εἰ δή ποτέ τοι κατὰ πίονα μηρί' ἔκηα
ταύρων ἠδ' αἰγῶν, τόδε μοι κρήνον ἐέλδωρ·
τίσειαν Δαναοὶ ἐμὰ δάκρυα σοῖσι βέλεσσιν."

ὧς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
βῆ δὲ κατ' Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων χωόμενος κῆρ,
τόξ' ὤμοισιν ἔχων ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην.
ἔκλαγξαν δ' ἄρ ὀιστοὶ ἐπ' ὤμων χωομένοιο,
αὐτοῦ κινηθέντος· ὁ δ' ἤιε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.

ἔζετ' ἔπειτ' ἀπάνευθε νεῶν, μετὰ ἰὸν ἕηκεν·
δεινὴ δὲ κλαγγὴ γένετ' ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο.
οὐρῆας μὲν πρῶτον ἐπῴχετο καὶ κύνας ἀργούς,
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ' αὐτοῖσι βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἐφιεὶς
βάλλ· αἰεὶ δὲ πυραὶ νεκύων καίοντο θαμειαί.

ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὤχετο κῆλα θεοῖο,
τῇ δεκάτῃ δ' ἀγορήνδε καλέσσατο λαὸν Ἀχιλλεύς·
τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεά, λευκώλενος Ἥρη·
κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν ὅτι ῥα θνήσκοντας ὁρᾶτο.
οἱ δ' ἐπεὶ οὖν ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τε γένοντο,
τοῖσι δ' ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
"Ἀτρεΐδη, νῦν ἄμμε πάλιν πλαγχθεντας ὀίω
ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἴ κεν θάνατόν γε φύγοιμεν
εἰ δὴ ὁμοῦ πόλεμός τε δαμᾷ καὶ λοιμὸς Ἀχαιοίς.
ἀλλ' ἄγε δή τινα μάντιν ἐρείομεν ἢ ἱερῆα
ἢ καὶ ὀνειροπόλον, καὶ γάρ τ' ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν,
ὅς κ' εἴποι, ὅτι τόσσον ἐχώσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
εἴ τ' ἄρ ὅ γ' εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται ἔ θ' ἑκατόμβης,
αἴ κεν πως ἀρνῶν κνίσης αἰγῶν τε τελείων
Βούλεται ἀντιάσας ἡμῖν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι."

ἦ τοι ὅ γ' ὧς εἰπὼν κατ' ἄρ' ἔζετο, τοῖσι δ' ἀνέστη
Κάλχας Θεστορίδης, οἰωνοπόλων ὄχ' ἄριστος,
ὃς ἢδη τά τ' ἐόντα τά τ' ἐσσομενα πρό τ' ἐόντα,
καὶ νήεσς' ἡγήσατ' Α'χαιῶν Ἴλιον εἴσω
ἣν διὰ μαντοσύνην, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
"ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, κέλεαί με, διίφιλε μυθήσασθαι
μῆνιν Ἀπόλλωνος, ἑκατηβελέταο ἄνακτος·
τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω, σὺ δὲ σύνθεο κσί μοι ὄμοσσον
ἦ μέν πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν.
ἦ γὰρ ὀίομαι ἄνδρα χολωσέμεν, ὃς μέγα πάντων
Ἀργείων κρατέει καί οἱ πείθονται Ἀχαιοί.
κρείσσων γὰρ Βασιλευς, ὅτε χώσεται ἀνδρὶ χέρηι·
εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον γε καὶ αὐτῆμαρ καταπέψῃ,
ἀλλά τε καὶ μετόπισθεν ἔχει κότον, ὄφρα τελέσσῃ,
ἐν στήθεσσιν ἑοῖσι. σὺ δὲ φράσαι, εἴ με σαώσεις."

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
"θαρήσας μάλα εἱπε θεοπρόπιον, ὅτι οἶσθα'
οὐ μὰ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα διίφιλον, ᾧ τε σύ, Κάλχαν,
εὐχόμενος Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπίας ἀνὰ φαίνεις,
οὔ τις ἐμεῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο
σοὶ κοίλῃς παρὰ νηυσὶ βαρείας χεῖρας ἐποίσει
συμπάντων Δαναῶν, οὐδ' ἢν Ἀγαμέμνονα εἴπῃς,
ὃς νῦν πολλὸν ἄριστος Ἀχαιων εὔχεται εἶναι."

καὶ τότε δὴ θάρησε καὶ ηὔδα μάντις ἀμύμων·
"οὐτ' ἄρ' ὅ γ' εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται οὔθ' ἑκατόμβης,
ἀλλ' ἕνεκ' ἀρητῆρος, ὃν ἠτίμης' Ἀγαμέμνων,
οὐδ' ἀπέλυσε θύγατρα καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατ' ἄποινα,
τούνεκ' ἄρ' ἄλγε' ἔδωκεν ἑκηβόλος ἠδ' ἔτι δώσει.
οὐδ' ὅ γε πρὶν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀπώσει,
πρίν γ' ἀπὸ πατρὶ φίλῳ δόμεναι ἑλικώπιδα κούρην
ἀπριάτην ἀνάποινον, ἄγειν θ' ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
ἐς Χρύσην· τότε κέν ἱλασσάμενοι πεπίθοιμεν."

ἦ τοι ὅ γ' ὧς εἰπὼν κατ' ἄρ ἕζετο, τοῖσι δ' ἀνέστη
ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἀχνύμενος· μένεος δὲ μέγα φρένες ἀμφιμέλαιναι
πίμπλαντ', ὄσσε δέ οἱ πυρὶ λαμπετόωντι ἐίκτην.
Κάλχαντα πρώτιστα κακ' ὀσόμενος προσέειπεν·
"μάντι κακῶν, οὔ πώ ποτέ μοι τὸ κρήγυον εἶπας·
αἰεί τοι τὰ κάκ' ἐστὶ φίλα φρεσὶ μαντεύεσθαι,
ἐσθλὸν δ' οὔτε τί πω εἶπας ἔπος οὔτε τέλεσσας.
καὶ νῦν ἐν Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπέων ἀγορεύεις,
ὡς δὴ τοῦδ' ἕνεκά σφιν ἑκηβόλος ἄλγεα τεύχει,
οὕνεκ' ἐγὼ κούρης Χρυσηίδος ἀγλά' ἄποινα
οὐκ ἔθελον δέξασθαι, - ἐπεὶ πολὺ βούλομαι αὐτὴν
οἴκοι ἔχειν. καὶ γάρ ῥα Κλυταιμνήστρης προβέβουλα,
κουριδίης ἀλόχου, ἐπεὶ οὔ ἑθέν ἐστι χερείων,
οὐ δέμας οὐδε φυὴν οὔτ' ἂρ φρένας οὔτε τι ἔργα.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἐθέλω δόμεναι πάλιν, εἰ τό γ' ἄμεινον·
βούλομ' ἐγὼ λαὸν σόον ἔμμεναι ἢ ἀπολέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοι γέρας αὐτίχ ἑτοιμάσσα', ὄφρα μὴ οἶος
Ἀργείων ἀγέραστος ἔω, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικεν·
λεύσσετε γὰρ τό γε πάντες, ὅ μοι γέρας ἔρχεται ἄλλῃ."

τὸν δ' ἠμειβετ' ἔπειτα ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
"Ἀτρεΐδη, κύδιστε, φιλοκτεανώτατε πάντων
πῶς γάρ τοι δώουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί;
οὐδέ τί που ἴδμεν ξυνήια κείμενα πολλά,
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν πολίων ἐξεπράθομεν, τὰ δέδασται,
λαοὺς δ' οὐκ ἐπέοικε παλίλλογα ταῦτ' ἐπαγείρειν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν τήνδε θεῷ πρόες, αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
τριπλῇ τετραπλῇ τ' ἀποτίσομεν, αἴ κε ποθι Ζεὺς
δῷσι πόλιν Τροίην ἐυτείκεον ἐξαλαπάξαι."

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
"μὴ δὴ οὕτως, ἀγαθός περ ἐών, θεοείκελ' Ἀχιλλεῦ,
κλέπτε νόῳ, ἐπεὶ οὐ παρελεύσεαι οὐδέ με πείσεις.
ἦ ἐθέλεις, ὄφρ' αὐτὸς ἔχῃς γέρας, αὐτὰρ ἔμ' αὔτως
ἧσθαι δευόμενον, κέλεαι δέ με τήνδ' ἀποδοῦναι;
ἀλλ' εἰ μὲν δώουσι γέρας μεγάθυμοι Ἀχαιοί,
ἄρσαντες κατὰ θυμόν, ὅπως ἀντάξιον ἔσται -
εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώωσιν, ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι
ἢ τεὸν ἢ Αἴαντος ἰὼν γέρας , ἢ Ὀδυσῆος
ἄξω ἑλων· ὁ δέ κεν κεχολώσεται, ὅν κεν ἵκωμαι.
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι μὲν ταῦτα μεταφρασόμεθα καὶ αὖτις,
νῦν δ' ἄγε νῆα μέλαιναν ἐρύσσομεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
ἐς δ' ἐρέτας ἐπιηδές ἀγείρομεν, ἐς δ' ἑκατόμβας
θήομεν, ἂν δ' αὐτὴν Χρυσηίδα καλλιπάρῃον
βήσομεν. εἷς δέ τις ἀρχὸς ἀνὴρ βουληφόρος ἔστω,
ἢ Αἴας ἢ Ἰδομενεὺς ἢ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἠὲ σύ, Πηληεΐδη, πάντων ἐκπαγλότατ' ἀνδρῶν,
ὄφρ' ἡμῖν ἑκάεργον ἱλάσσεαι, ἱερὰ ῥεξας."

τὸν δ' ἄρ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
"ὥ μοι, ἀναιδείην ἐπιειμένε, κερδαλεόφρον,
πῶς τίς τοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν πείθηται Ἀχαιῶν
ἢ ὁδὸν ἐλθέμεναι ἢ ἀνδράσιν ἶφι μάχεσθαι;
οὐ φὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώων ἕνεκ' ἤλυθον εἰχμητάων
δεῦρο μαχησόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τί μοι εἴτιοί εἰσιν·
οὐ γάρ πώ ποτ' ἐν Φθίῃ ἐριβώλακι βωτιανείρη
καρπὸν ἐδηλήσαντ', ἐπεὶ ἦ μάλα πολλὰ μεταξύ,
οὔρεα τε σκιόεντα θάλασσά τε ἠχήεσσα·
ἀλλὰ σοί, ὦ μέγ' ἀναιδές, ἅμ' ἑσπόμεθ', ὄφρα σὺ χάρῃς
τιμ\ν ἀρνύμενοι Μενελάῳ σοί τε, κυνῶπα,
πρὸς Τρώων. τῶν οὔ τι μετατρέπῃ οὐδ' ἀλεγίξεις·
καὶ δή μοι γέρας αὐτὸς ἀφαιρήεσθαι ἀπειλεῖς,
ᾧ ἔπι πολλὰ μόγησα, δόσαν δέ μοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
οὐ μέν σοί ποτε ἶσον ἔχω γέρας, ὁππότ' Ἀχαιοὶ
Τρώων ἐκπέρσως' ἐὺ ναιόμενον προλίεθρον>
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν πλεῖον πολυάικος πολέμοιο
χεῖρες ἐμαὶ διέπους', ἀτὰρ ἤν ποτε δασμὸς ἵκηται,
σοὶ τὸ γέρας πολὺ μεῖζον, ἐγὼ δ' ὀλίγον τε φίλον τε
ἔρχομ' ἐπὶ νῆας, ἐπεί κε κάμω πολεμίζων.
νῦν δ' εἶμι Φθίηνδ', ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερόν ἐστιν
οἴκαδ' ἴμεν σὺν νηυσὶ κρωνίσιν, οὐδέ σ' ὀίω
ἐνθάδ' ἄτιμος ἐὼν ἄφενος καὶ πλοῦτον ἀφύξειν."

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
"φεῦγε μάλ', εἴ τπο θυμὸς ἐπέσσυται, οὐδέ σ' ἐγώ γε
λίσσομαι εἵνεκ' ἐμεῖο μένειν· παρ' ἐμοι γε καί ἄλλοι
οἵ κέ με τιμήσουσι, μάλιστα δὲ μητίετα Ζεύς.
ἔχθιστος δέ μοί ἐσσι διοτρεφέων βασιλήων·
αἰεὶ γάρ τοι ἔρις τε φίλη πόλεμοί τε μάχαι τε.
εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐσσι, θεός που σοὶ τό γ' ἔδωκεν.
οἴκαδ' σὺν νηυσί τε σῆς καὶ σοῖς ἑτάροισιν
Μυρμιδόνεσσιν ἄνασσε, σέθεν δ' ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀλεγίζω
οὐδ' ὄθομαι κοτέοντος· ἀπειλήσω δέ τοι ὧδε·
ὡς ἔμ' ἀφαιρεῖται Χρυσηίδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
τὴν μὲν ἐγὼσὺν νηί τ' ἐμῃ καὶ ἐμοῖς ἑτάροισιν
πέμψω, ἐγὼ δέ κ' ἄγω Βρισηίδα καλλιπάρῃον
αὐτὸς ἱὼν κλισίηνδε, τὸ σὸν γέρας ὄφρ' ἐὺ εἴδῃς
ὅσσον φέρτερός εἰμι σέθεν, στυγέῃ δὲ καὶ ἄλλος
ἶσον ἐμοὶ φάσθαι καὶ ὁμοιωθήμεναι ἄντην."

ὧς φάτο· Πηλεΐωνι δ' ἄχος γένετ', ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ
στήθεσσιν λασίοισι διάνδιξα μερμήριξεν,
ἢ ὅ γε φάσγανον ὀξὺ ἐρυσσάμενος παρὰ μηροῦ
τοὺς μὲν ἀναστήσειεν, ὁ δ' Ἀτρεΐδην ἐναρίζοι,
ἦε χόλον παύσειεν ἐρητίσειέ τε θυμόν.

ἧος ὁ ταῦθ' ὡρμαινε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,
ἕλκετο δ' ἐκ κολεοῖο μέγα ξίφος, ἦλθε δ' Ἀθήνη
οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ γὰρ ἧκε θεά, λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσα τε κηδομένη τε.
στῆ δ' ὄπιθεν, ξανθῆς δὲ κόμης ἕλε Πηλεΐωνα,
οἴῳ φαινομένη, τῶν δ' ἄλλων οὔ τις ὁρᾶτο.

θάμβησεν δ' Ἀχιλεύς, μετὰ ἐτράπετ', αὐτίκα δ' ἔγνω
Παλλάδ' Ἀθηναίην· δεινὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε φάανθεν.
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
"τίπτ' αὖτ', αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος, εὶλήλουθας;
ἦ ἵνα ὕβριν ἴδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο;
ἀλλ' ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τλέεσθαι ὀίω·
ᾗς ὑπεροπλίῃσι τάχ' ἄν ποτε θυμὸν ὀλέσσῃ."

τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπε θεά, γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
"ἦλθον ἐγὼ παύσουσα τὸ σὸν μένος αἴ κε πίθηαι,
οὐρανόθεν· πρὸ δέ μ' ἧκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
ἄμφω ὁμῶς θυμῷ φιλέουσά τε κηδομένη τε.
ἀλλ' ἄγε λῆγ' ἔριδος, μηδὲ ξίφος ἕλκεο χειρί·
ἀλλ' ἦ τοι ἔπεσιν μὲν ὀνείδισον, ὡς ἔσεται περ.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐζερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
καί ποτέ τοι τρὶς τόσσα παρέσσεται ἀγλαὰ δῶρα
ὕβριος εἵνεκα τῆσδε· σὺ δ' ἴσχεο, πείθεο δ' ἡμῖν."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
" χρὴ μὲν σφωίτερον γε, θεά, ἔπος εἰρύσσασθαι,
καὶ μάλα περ θυμῷ κεχολωμένον· ὧς γὰρ ἄμεινον·
ὅς θεοῖς ἐπιπείθηται, μάλα τ' ἔκλυον αὐτοῦ."
ἦ καὶ ἐπ' ἀργυρέῃ κώπῃ σχέθε χεῖρα βαρεῖαν,
ἂψ δ' ἐς κουλεὸν ὦσε μέγα ξίφος, οὐδ' ἀπίθησεν
μύθῳ Ἀθηναίης· ἡ δ' Οὐλυμπόνδε βεβήκειν
δώματ' ἐς αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς μετὰ δαίμονας ἄλλους.

Πηλεΐδης δ' ἐξοῦτις ἀταρηποῖς ἐπέεσσιν
Ἀτρεΐδην προσέειπε, καὶ οὔ πω λῆγε χόλοιο·
"οἰνοβαρές, κυνὸς ὄμματ' ἔχων, κραδίην δ' ἐλάφοιο.
οὔτε ποτ' ἐς πόλεμον ἅμα λαῷ θωρηχθῆναι
οὔτε λόχονδ' ἴεναι σὺν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν
τέτληκας θυμῷ· τὸ δέ τοι κὴρ εἴδεται ἐναι
ἦ πολὺ λώιόν ἐστι κατὰ στρατὸν ἐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν
δῶρ' ἀποαιρεῖσθαι, ὅς τις σέθεν ἀντίον εἴπῃ·
δημοβόρος βασιλεύς, ἐπεὶ οὐτιδανοῖσιν ἀνάσσσεις·
ἦ γὰρ ἄν, Ἀτρεΐδη, νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο.
ἀλλ' ἐκ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμοῦμαι·
ναὶ μὰ τόδε σκῆπτρον· τὸ μὲν οὔ ποτε φύλλα καὶ ὄζους
φύσει, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα τομὴν ἐν ὄρεσσι λέλοιπεν,
οὐδ' ἀναθηλήσει· περὶ γάρ ῥά ἑ χαλκὸς ἔλεψεν
φύλλα τε καὶ φλοίον· νῦν αὖτέ μιν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἐν παλάμῃς φορέσουσι δικασπόλοι, οἵ τε θέμιστας
πρὸς Διὸς εἰρύαται· ὁ δέ τοι μέγας ἔσσεται ὄρχος·
ἦ ποτ' Ἀχιλλῆος ποθὴ ἵξεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
σύμπαντας· τότε δ' οὔ τι δυνήσεαι ἀχνύμενός περ
χραισμεῖν, εὖτ' ἂν πολλοὶ ὑφ' Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο
θνήσκοντες πίπτωσι· σὺ δ' ἔνδοθι θυμὸν θυμὸν ἀμύξεις
χωόμενος, ὅ τ' ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισας."

ὧς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ποτὶ δὲ σκ=πτρον βάλε γαίῃ
χρυσείοις ἥλοισι πεπαρμένον, ἕζετο δ' αὐτός·
Ἀτρεΐδης δ' ἑτέρωθεν ἐμήνιε. τοῖσι δὲ Νέστωρ
ἠδυεπὴς ἀνόρουσε, λιγὺς Πυλίων ἀγορητής,
τοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ γλώσσης μέλιτος γλυκίων ῥέεν αὐδή.
τῷ δ' ἤδη δύο μὲν γενεαὶ μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
ἐφίαθ', οἵ οἱ πρόσθεν ἅμα τράφεν ἠδὲ γένοντο
ἐν Πύλῳ ἠγαθέῃ, μετὰ δὲ τριτάτοισιν ἄνασσεν.
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
"ὢ πόποι, ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιίδα γαῖαν ἱκάναι·
ἦ κεν γηθήσαι Πρίαμος Πρίαμοιό τε παῖδες,
ἄλλοι τε Τρῶες μέγα κεν κεχαροίατο θυμῷ,
εἰ σφῶιν τάδε πάντα πυθοίατο μαρναμένοιιν
οἳ περὶ μὲν βουλὴν Δαναῶν, περὶ δ' ἐστὲ μαχεσθαι.
ἀλλὰ πίθεσθ'· ἄμφω δὲ νεωτέρω ἐστὸν ἐμεῖο.
ἤδη γάρ ποτ' ἐγὼ καὶ ἀρείοσιν ἠε περ ὑμῖν
ἀνδράσιν ὡμίλησα, καὶ οὔ ποτέ μ' οἵ γ' ἀθέριζον.
οὐ γάρ πω τοίους ἴδον ἀνέρας οὐδὲ ἴδωμαι,
οἶον Περίθοόν τε Δρύαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν
Καινέα τ' Ἐξάδιόν τε καὶ ἁντιθεον Πολύφημον
[Θησέα τ' Αἰγεΐδην, ἐπιείκελον ἀθανάτοισιν].
κάρτιστοι δὴ κεῖνοι ἐπιχθονίων τράφεν ἀυδρῶν·
κάρτιστοι μὲν ἔσσαν καὶ δαρτίστοις ἐμάχοντο,
φηρσὶν ὀρεσκῴοισι, καὶ ἐκπάγλως ἀπόλεσσαν.
καὶ μὲν τοῖσιν ἐγὼ μεθομ/λεον ἐκ Πύλου ἐλθων
τηλόθεν ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης· καλέσαντο γὰρ αὐτοί·
καὶ μαχόμην κατ' ἐμ' αὐτὸν ἐγώ· κείνοισι δ' ἂν οὐ τις
τῶν, οἳ νῦν βροτοί εἰσιν ἐπιχθόνιοι, μαχέοιτο.
καὶ μέν μευ βουλέων ξύνιεν πείθοντό τε μύθῳ.
ἀλλὰ πίθεσθε καὶ ὕμμες, ἐπεὶ πείθεσθαι ἄμεινον.
μήτε σὺ τόνδ' ἀγαθός περ ἐὼν αποαίρεο κούρην
ἀλλ' ἔα, ὥς οἱ πρῶτα δόσαν γέρας υἷες Ἀχαιῶν·
μήτε σύ, Πηλεΐδη, θέλ' ἐριζέμεναι βασιλῆι
ἀντιβίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ ποθ/ ὁμοίης ἔμμορε τιμῆς
σκηπτοῦχος βασιλεύς, ᾧ τε Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν.
εἱ δὲ συ καρτερός ἐσσι, θεὰ δέ σε γείνατο μήτηρ,
ἀλλ' ὅδε φέρτερος ἐστιν, ἐπεὶ πλεόνεσσιν ἀνάσσει.
Ἀτρεΐδη, σὺ δὲ ποῦε τεὸν μένος· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ γε
λίσσομ' Ἀχιλλῆι μεθέμεν χόλον, ὃς μέγα πᾶσιν
ἕρκος Ἀχαιοῖσιν πέλεται πολέμοιο κακοῖο."

τὸν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
"ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, γέρον, κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες
ἀλλ' ὅδ' ἀνὴρ ἐθέλει περὶ πάντων ἔμμεναι ἄλλων,
πάντων μὲν κρατέειν ἐθέλει πάντεσσι δ' ἀνάσσειν,
πᾶσι δὲ σημαίνειν, ἅ τιν' οὐ πείσεσθαιν ὀίω.
εἰ δὲ μιν αἰχμητὴν ἔθεσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες,
τούνεκα οἱ προθέσουσιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι;"

τὸν δ' ἄρ ὑποβλήδην ἠμείβετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
"ἦ γάρ κεν δειλός τε καὶ οὐτιδανὸς καλεοίμην,
εἰ δὴ σοὶ πᾶν ἔργον ὑπείζομαι, ὅττι κεν εἰπῃς·
ἄλλοισιν δὴ τοῦτ'' ἐπιτέλλεο, μὴ γὰρ ἐμοί γε
[σήμαιν'· οὐ γὰρ ἐγώ γ' ἐτι σοί πείσεσθαι ὀίω.]
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνι φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
χερσὶ μὲν οὔ τοι ἐγώ γε μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα κούρης
οὔτε σοὶ οὔτε τῳ ἄλλῳ, ἐπεί μ' ἀφέλεσθέ γε δόντες·
τῶν δ' ἄλλων, ἅ μοι ἔστι θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
τῶν οὐκ ἄν τι φέροις ἀνελὼν ἀέκοντος ἐμεῖο.
εἰ δ' ἄγε μὴν πείρησαι, ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἴδε.
αἶψά τοι αἶμα κελαινὸν ἐρωήσει περὶ δουρὶ."

ὧς τώ ἄντιβίοισι μαχησαμένω επέεσσιν
ἀνστήτην, λῦσαν δ' ἀγορὴν παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
Πηλεΐδης μὲν ἐπι κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἐίσας
ἤιε σύν τε Μενοιδιάδῃ καὶ οἶς ἑτάροισιν,
Ἀτρεΐδης δ' ἄρα νῆα θοὴν ἅλαδε προέρυσσεν,
ἐς δ' ἐρέτας ἔκρινεν ἐείκοσιν, ἐς δ' ἑκατόμβην
Βῆσος θεῷ, ἀνὰ δὲ Χρυσηίδα καλλιπάρῃον
εἶσεν ἄγων· ἐν δ' ἄρχος ἔβη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς.

οἱ μὲν ἔπειτ' ἀναβάντες ἐπέπλεον ὑγρὰ κέλευθα,
λαοὺς δ' Ἀτρεΐδης ἀπολυμαίνεσθαι ἄνωγεν.
οἱ δ' ἀπελυμαίνοντο καὶ εἰς ἅλα λύματ' ἔβαλλον,
ἔρδον δ' Ἀπόλλωνι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
ταύρων ἠδ' αἰγῶν παρὰ θῖν' ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο·
κνίση δ' οὐρανὸν ἷκεν ἐλισσομένη περὶ καπνῷ.

ὧς οἱ μὲν τὰ πένοντο κατὰ στρατόν· οὐδ' Ἀγαμέμνων
λῆγ' ἔριδος, τὴν πρῶτον ἐπηπείλης' Ἀχιλῆι,
ἀλλ' ὅ γε Ταλθύβιόν τε καὶ Εὐρυβάτην προσέειπεν,
τώ οἱ ἔσαν κήρυκε καὶ ὀτρηρὼ θεράποντε·
"ἔρχεσθον κλισίην Πηληιάδεω Ἀχιλῆος·
χειρὸς ἑλόντ' ἀγέμεν Βρισηίδα καλλιπάρῃον·
εἰ κδέ κε μὴ δώῃσιν, ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι
ἐλθὼν σὺν πλεὸνεσσι· τό οἱ καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται."

ὧς εἰπὼν προΐει, κρατερὸν δ' ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλεν.
τὼ δ' ἀέκοντε βάτην παρὰ θῖν' ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο,
Μυρμιδόνων δ' ἐπί τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας ἱκέσθην.
τὸν δ' εὗρον παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηὶ μελαίνῃ
ἥμενον· οὐδ' ἄρα τώ γε ἰδὼν γήθησεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
τὼ μὲν παρβήσαντε καὶ αἰδομένω βασιλῆα
στήτην, οὐδέ τί μιν προσεφώνεον οὐδ' ἐρέοντο·
αὐτὰρ ὅ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ φώνησέν τε·
"χαίρετε, κήρυκες, Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν·
ἆσσον ἴτ'· οὔ τί μοι ὕμμες ἐπαίτιοι, ἀλλ' Ἀγαμέμνων,
ὃ σφῶι προΐει Βρισηίδος εἵνεκα κούρης.
ἀλλ' ἄγε, διογενὲς Πατρόκλεις, ἔξαγε κούρην
καί σφωιν δὸς ἄγειν. τὼ δ' αὐτὼ μάρτυροι ἔστων
πρός τε θεῶν μακάρων πρός τε θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων
καὶ πρὸς τοῦ βασιλῆος ἀπνέος, εἴ ποτω δὴ αὖτὲ
χρειὼ ἐμεῖο γένηται ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι
τοῖς ἄλλοις. ἦ γὰρ ὅ γ' ὀλοιῇσι φρεσὶ θύει,
οὐδέ τι οἶδε οῆσαι ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω,
ὅππως οἱ παρὰ νηυσὶ σόοι μαχεοίατ' Ἀχαιοί."

ὧς φάτο, Πάτροκλος δὲ φίλῳ ἐπεπείθεθ' ἑταίρῳ,
ἐκ δ' ἄγαγε κλισίης Βρισηίδα καλλιπάρῃον,
δῶκε δ' ἄγειν. τώ δ' αὖτισἴτην παρὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,
ἡ δ' ἀέκουσα ἅμα τοῖσι γυνὴ κίεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
δακρύσας ἑτάρων ἄφαρ ἕζετο νόσφι λιασθεὶς
θῖν' ἔφ' ἁλὸς πολιῆς, ὁρόων ἐπ' ἀπείρονα πόντον·
πολλὰ δὲ μητρὶ φίλῃ ἠρήσατο χεῖρας ὀρεγνύς·
"μῆτερ, ἐπεί μ' ἐτεκές γε μινυνθάδιόν περ ἐόντα,
τιμήν πέρ μοι ὄφελλεν Ὀλύμπιος ἐγγυαλίξαι
Ζεὺς ὑψιβρεμέτης· νῦν δ' οὐδέ με τυτθὸν ἔτισεν
ἦ γάρ μ' Ἁτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας, αὐτὸς ἀπούρας."

ὧς φάτο δάκρυ χέων, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε πότνια μήτηρ
ἡμένη ἐν βένθεσσιν ἁλὸς παρὰ πατρὶ γέροντι.
καρπαλίμως δ' ἀνέδυ πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἠύτ]μίχλη,
καί ῥα πάροιθ' αὐτοῖο καθέζετο δάκρυ χέοντος,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν, ἔπος τ' ἔφατ ἔκ τ' ὀνόμαζεν·
"τέκνον, τί κλαίεις; τί δέ σε φρένας ἵκετο πένθος;
ἐξαύδα, μὴ κεῦθε νόῳ, ἵνα εἴδομεν ἄμφω."

τὴν δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
" οἶσθα· τί ἦ τοι ταῦτα ἰδυίῃ πάντ' ἀγορεύω;
ᾠχόμεθ' ἐς θήβην, ἱερὴν πόλιν Ἠετίωνος,
τὴν δὲ διεπράθομέν τε καὶ ἤγομεν ἐνθάδε πάντα.
καὶ τὰ μὲν εὖ δάσσαντο μετὰ σφίον υἷες Ἀχαιῶων,
ἐκ δ' ἕλον Ἀτρεΐδῃ Χρυσηίδα καλλιπάρῃον.
Χρύσης δ' αὖθ' ἱερεὺς ἑκατηβόλου Ἀπολλωνος
ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τ' ἀπερείσι' ἄποινα,
στέμματ' ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος
χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ ἐλισσετοο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω, κομήτορε λαῶν.
ἔνθ' ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ
αἰδεῖσθαί θ' ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα.
ἀλλ' οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,
ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δ' ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλεν.
χωόμενος δ' ὁ γέρων πάλιν ᾤχετο· τοῖο δ' Ἀπόλλων
εὐξαμένου ἤκουσεν, ἐπεὶ μάλα οἱ φίλος ἦεν,
ἧκε δ' ἐπ' Ἀργείοισι κακὸν βέλος· οἱ δέ νυ λαοὶ
θνῆσκον ἐπασσύτεροι, τὰ δ' ἐπῴχετο κῆλα θεοῖο
πάντῃ ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν. ἄμμι δὲ μάντις
εὖ εἰδὼς ἀγόρευε θεοπροπίας ἑκάτοιο·
αὐτίκ' ἐγὼ πρῶτος κελόμην θεὸν ἱλάσκεσθαι·
Ατρεΐωνα δ' ἔπειτα χόλος λάβεν, αἶψα δ' ἀναστὰς
ἠπείλησεν μῦθον, ὃ δὴ τετελεσμένος ἐστίν.
τὴν μὲν γὰρ σὺν νηὶ θοῇ ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἐς Χρύσην πέμπουσιν, ἄγουσι δὲ δῶρα ἄνακτι·
τὴν δὲ νέον κλισίηθεν ἔβαν κήρυκες ἄγοντες
κούρην Βρισῆος, τήν μοιι δόσαν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
ἀλλὰ σύ, εἰ δύνασαί γε, περίσχεο παιδὸς ἑῆος·
ἐλθοῦς' Οὐλυμπόνδε Δία λίσαι, εἴ ποτε δή τι
ἢ ἔπει ὤνησας κραδίην Διὸς ἠὲ καὶ ἔργῳ.
πολλάκι γάρ σεο πατρὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἄκουσα
εὐχομένης, ὅτ' ἔφησα κελαινεφέι Κρονίωνι
οἴη ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν ἐεικέα λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι,
ὁππότε μιν ξυνδῆσαι Ὀλύμπιοι ἤθελον ἄλλοι,
Ἥρη τ' ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γ' ἐλθοῦσα, θεά, ὑπελύσαο δεσμῶν.
ὦχ' ἑκατόγχειρον καλέσασ' ἐς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,
ὃν Βριάρεων καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δέ τε πάντες
Αἰγαίων'· ὁ γὰρ αὖτε βίῃ οὗ πατρὸς ἀμείνων·
ὅς ῥα παρὰ Κρονίωνι καθέζετο κύδεϊ γαίνων·
τὸν καὶ ὑπέδεισαν μάκαρες θεοὶ οὐδε τ' ἔδησαν
τῶν νῦν μιν μνήσασα παρέζεο καὶ λαβὲ γούνων,
αἴ κέν πως ἐθέλῃσιν ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρῆξαι,
τοὺς δὲ κατὰ πρύμνας τε καὶ ἀμφ' ἅλα ἔλσαι Ἀχαιούς
κτεινομένους, ἵνα πάντες ἐπαύρωνται βασιλῆος,
γνῷ δὲ καὶ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἢν ἄτην, ὅ τ' ἄριστον Ἀχαιῶν οὐδὲν ἔτισεν."

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἕπειτα Θέτις κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα·
"ὤ μοι, τέκνον ἐμόν, τί νύ σ' ἔτρεφον αἰνὰ τεκοῦσα;
φαἴφ' ὄφελες παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀδάκρυτος καὶ ἀπήμων
ἧσθαι, ἐπεί νύ τοι αἶσα μίνυνθά περ, οὔ τι μάλα δήν.
νῦν δ' ἅμα τ' ὠκύμορος καὶ ὀιζυρὸς περὶ πάντων
ἔπλεο· τῶ σε κακῇ αἴσῃ τέκον ἐν μεγάροισιν.
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέουσα ἔπος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ
εἶμ' αὐτὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀγάννιφον, αἴ κε πίθηται.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροιοιν
μήνι' Ἀχαιωοῖσιν, πολέμου δ' ἀποπαύεο πάμπαν·
Ζεὺς γὰρ ἐς Ὠκεανὸν μετ' ἀμύμονας Αἰθιοπῆας
χθιζὸς ἔβη κατὰ δαῖτα, θεοὶ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἕποντο·
δωδεκάτῃ δέ τοι ωὖτις ἐλεύσεται Οὐλυμπόνδε,
καὶ τότ' ἔπειτά τοι εἶμι Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ,
καί μιν γουνάσομαι, καί μιν πείσεσθαι ὀίω."

ὧς ἄρα φωνήσασ' ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπ' αὐτοῦ
χωόμενον κατὰ θυμὸν ἐυζώνοιο γυναικός,
τήν ῥα βίῃ ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρω. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἐς Χρύσην ἵκανεν ἄγων ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην.
οἱ δ' ὅτε δὴ λιμένος πολυβενθέος ἐντὸς ἵκοντο,
ἱστία μὲν στείλαντο, θέσαν δ' ἐν νηὶ μελαίνῃ,
ἱστὸν δ' ἱστοδόκῃ πέλασαν προτόνοισιν ὑφέντες
καρπαλίμως, τὴν δ' εἰς ὅρμον προέρεσσαν ἐρετμοῖς.
ἐκ δ' εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσι' ἔδησαν·
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης,
ἐκ δ' ἑκατόμβην βῆσαν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι·
ἐκ δὲ Χρυσηὶς νηὸς βῆ ποντοπόροιο.
τὴν μὲν ἔπειτ' ἐπὶ βωμὸν θ]/γων πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεὺς
πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, καί μιν προσέειπεν·
"ὦ Χρύση, πρό μ' ἔπεμψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
παῖδά τε σοὶ ἀγέμεν, Φοίβῳ θ' ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
ῥέξαι ὑπὲν Δαναῶν, ὄφρ' ἱλασόμεθα ἄνακτα
ὃς νῦν Ἀργείοισι πολύστονα κήδε' ἐφῆκεν."

ὧς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων
παῖδα φίλην. τοὶ δ' ὦκα θεῷ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην
ἑξείης ἔστησαν ἐύδμητον περὶ βωμόν,
χερίψαντο δ' ἔπειτα καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο.
τοῖσιν δὲ Χρύσης μεγάλ' εὔχετο εῖρας ἀνασχών·
"κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξ', ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας
Κίλλαν τε ζαθέην, Τενέοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις·
ἦμεν δή ποτ' ἐμεῦ πάρος ἔκλυες εὐδαμένοιο,
τίμησας μὲν ἐμέ, μέγα δ' ἴψαο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·
ἤδη νῦν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἄμυνον."

ὧς ἔφατ' εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ' ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,
αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,
μηρούς τ' ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπ' αὐτῶν δ' ὠμοθέτησαν.
καῖε δ' ἐπὶ σχίζῃς ὁ γέρων, ἐπὶ δ' αἴθοπα οἶον
λεῖβε· νέοι δὲ παρ' αὐτὸν ἔχον πεμπώβολα χερσίν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρα κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
μίστυλλόν τ' ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφ' ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα
δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐίσης.
κοῦροι μὲν κρηρῆρας επεστέψαντο ποτοῖο,
νώμησαν δ' ἄρα πᾶσιν ἐπαρξάμενοι δεπάεσσιν,
οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι μολπῇ θεὸν ἱλάσκοντο,
καλὸν ἀείδοντες παιήονα, κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,
μέλποντες ἑκάεργον· ὁ δὲ φρένα τέρπετ' ἀκούων.
ἦμος δ' ἠέλιος κατέδυ καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἦλθεν,
δὴ τότε κοιμήσαντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός.
ἧμος δ' ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότ' ἔπειτ' ἀνάγοντο μετὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν·
τοῖσιν δ' ἴκυμενον οὐρον ἵει ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων.
οἱ δε' ἱστὸν στήσαντ' ἀνά θ' ἱστία λευκὰ πέτασσαν·
ἐν δ' ἄμενος πρῆσεν μέσον ἱστίιον, ἀμφὶ δὲ κῦμα
στείρῃ πορφύρεον μεγάλ' ἴαχε νηὸς ἰούσης·
ἡ δ' ἔθεεν κατὰ κῦμα διαπρήσσουσα κέλεευθον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ' ἵκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν,
νῆα μὲν οἵ γε μέλαιναν ἐπ' ἠπείροιο ἔρυσσαν
ὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δ' ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν,
σὐτοὶ δ' ἐσκίδναντο κατὰ κλισίας τε νέας τε.

αὐτὰρ ὁ μήνιε νηυσὶ παρήμενος ὠκυπόροισιν
διογενὴς Πηλῆος υἱός, πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς.
οὔτε ποτ' εἰς ἁγορὴν πωλέσκετο κυδιάνειραν
οὔτε ποτ' ἐς πόλεμον, ἀλλὰ φθινύθεσκε φίλον κῆρ
αὖθι μένων, ποθέεσκε δ' ἀυτήν τε πτόλεμόντε.

ἀλλ' ὅτε δή ῥ' ἐκ τοῖο δυωδεκάτη γένετ' ἐώς,
καὶ τότε δὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἴσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες
πάντες ἅμα, Ζεὺς δ' ἦρχε. Θέτις δ' οὐ λήθετ' ἐφετμέων
παιδὸς ἑοῦ, ἀλλ' ἥ γ' ἀνεδύδετο κῦμα θαλάσσης,
ἠερίη δ' ἀνέβη μέγαν οὐρανὸν Οὔλυμπόν τε.
εὗρεν δ' εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἄτερ ἥμενον ἄλλων
ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο.
καί ῥα πάροιθ' αὐτοῖο καθέζετο καὶ λάβε γούνων
σκαιῇ, δεξιτερῇ δ' ἄρ ὑπ' ἀνθερεῶνος ἑλοῦσα
λισσομένη προσέειπε Δία Κρονίωνα ἄνακτα·
"Ζεῦ πάτερ, εἴ ποτε δή σε μετ' ἀθανάτοισιν ὄνησα
ἣ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ, τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·
τίμησόν μοι υἱόν, ὃς ὠκυμορώτατος ἄλλων
ἔπλετ' · ἀτάρ μιν νῦν γε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας, αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.
ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μιν τῖσον, Ὀλύμπιε μητίετα Ζεῦ.
τόφρα δ' ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι τίθει κράτος, ὄφρ' ἂν Ἀχαιοὶ
υἱὸν ἐμὸν τίσωσιν, ὀφέλλωσίν τέ ἑ τιμῇ."

ὧς φάτο· τὴν δ' οὔ τι προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,
ἀλλ' ἀκέων δὴν ἧστο. Θέτις δ' ὡς ἥψαστο γούνων,
ὧς ἔχετ' ἐμπεφυυῖα, καὶ εἴρετο δεύτερον αὖτις·
"νημερτὲς μὲν δή μοι ὑπόσχεο καὶ κατάνευσον,
ἢ ἀπόειπ', ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔπι δέος, ὄφρ' ἐὺ εἰδῶ,
ὅσσον ἐγὼ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀτιμοτάτη θεός εἰμι."

τὴν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργ', ὅτε μ' ἐχθοδοπῆσαι ἐφήσεις
Ἥρη, ὅτ' ἄν μ' ερέθησιν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν.
ἡ δὲ καὶ αὔτως μ' αἰὲν ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν
νεικεῖ, καί τέ μέ φησι μάχῃ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγηιν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν αὖτις ἀπόστιχε μή τι νοήσῃ
Ἥρη· ἐμοὶ δέ κε ταῦτα μελήσεται, ὄφρα τελέσσω.
εἲ δ' ἄγε τοι κεφαλῇ κατανεύσομαι, ὄφρα πεποίθῃς·
τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξ ἐμέθεν γε μετ' ἀθανάτοισι μέγιστον
τέκμαρ· οὐ γὰρ ἐμὸν παλινάγρετον οὐδ' ἀπατηλὸν
οὐδ' ἀτελεύτητον, ὅ τι κεν κεφαλῇ κατανεύσω."

ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων·
ἀμβρόσιαι δ' ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος
κρατὸς ἀπ' ἀθανάτοιο, μέγαν δ' ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον.

τώ γ' ὧς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν· ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα
εἰς ἅλα βαθεῖαν ἀπ' αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,
Ζεὺς δὲ ἑὸν πρὸς δῶμα. θεοὶ δ' ἅμα πάντες ἀνέσταν
ἐξ ἑδέων, σφοῦ πατρὸς ἐναντίον· οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
μεῖναι ἑπερχόμενον, ἀλλ' ἀντίοι ἔσταν ἅπαντες.
ὧς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετ' ἐπὶ θρόνου· οὐδέ μιν Ἥρη
ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦς' ὅτι οἱ συμφάσσατο βουλὰς
ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις, θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γεροντος.
αὐτίκα κερτομίοισι Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·
"τίς δὴ αὖ τοι, δολομῆτα, θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλὰς;
αἰεί τοι φίλον ἐστὶν, ἐμευ ἀπο νόσφιν ἐόντα
κρυπτάδια φρονέοντα δικαζέμεν· οὐδέ τί πώ μοι
πρόφρων τέτληκας εἰπεῖν ἔπος, ὅττι νοήσῃς."

τὴν δ'' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·
"Ἥρη, μὴ δὴ πάντας ἐμοὺς ἐπιέλπεο μύθους
εἰδήσειν· χαλεποί τοι ἔσοντ' ἀλόχῳ περ ἐούσῃ
ἂλλ' ὃν μέν κ' ἐπιεικὲς ἀκουέμεν, οὔ τις ἔπειτα
οὔτε θεῶν πρότερος τόν γ' εἴσεται οὔτ' ἀνθρώπων·
ὃν δέ κ' ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλωμι νοῆσαι,
μή τι σὺ ταῦτα ἕκαστα διείρεο μηδὲ μετάλλα."

τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
"αἰνότατε Κρονίδη, ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες;
καὶ λίην σε πάρος γ' οὔτ' εἴρομαι οὔτε μεταλλῶ,
ἀλλὰ μάλ' εὔκηλος τὰ φράζεαι, ἅσο' ἐλέλῃσθα·
νῦν δ' αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα, μή σε παρείπῃ
ἀργυρπεζα Θέτις, θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος·
ἠερίη γὰρ σοί γε παρέζετο καὶ λάβε γούνων·
τῇ σ' ὀίω κατανεῦσαι ἐτήτυμον, ὡς Ἀχιλῆα
τιμήσεις, ὀλέσεις δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"δαιμονίη, αἰεὶ μὲν ὀίεαι, οὐδέ σε λήθω,
πρῆξαι δ' ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεαι, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ θυμοῦ
μᾶλλον ἐμοὶ ἔσεαι· τὸ δέ τοι καὶ ῥιγιον ἔσται.
εἰ δ' οὕτω ταῦτ' ἐστίν, ἐμοὶ μέλλει φίλον εἶναι.
ἀλλ' ἀκέουσα κάθησο, ἐμῷ δ' ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ,
μη νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμωσιν, ὅσοι θεοί εἰσ' ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ,
ἆσσον ἰόνθ', ὅτε κέν τοι ἀάπτους χεῖρας ἐφείω."

ὧς ἔφατ' ἔδεισεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,
καί ῥ' ἀκέουσα καθῆστο, ἐπιγνάμψασα φίλον κῆρ·
ὤχθησαν δ' ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·
τοῖσιν δ' Ἥφαιστος κλυτοτέχνης ἦρχ' ἀγορεύειν,
μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐπὶ ἦρα φέρων, λευκωλένῳ Ἥρῃ·
"ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργα τάδ' ἔσσεται οὐδ' ἔτ' ἀνεκτά,
εἰ δὴ σφὼ ἕνεκα θνητῶν ἐριδαίνετον ὦδε,
ἐν δὲ θεοῖσι κολῳὸν ἐλαύνετον· οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς
ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.
μητρὶ δ' ἐγὼ παράφημι, καὶ αὐτῇ περ νοεούσῃ,
πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐπὶ ἦρα φέρειν Διί, ὄφρα μὴ αὖτε
νεικείῃσι πατήρ, σὺν δ' ἡμῖν δαῖτα παράξῃ,
εἰ περ γάρ κ' ἐθέλῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστρεροπητὴς
ἐξ ἑδέων στυφελίξαι· ὁ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατος ἐστιν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γ' ἐπέεσσι καζάπτεσθαι μαλακοῖσιν·
αὐτίκ' ἔπειθ' ἵλαος Ὀλύμπιος ἔσσεται ἡμῖν."

ὧς ἄρ' ἔφη, καὶ ἀναΐξας δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον
μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει καί μιν προσέειπεν·
"τέτλαθι, μῆτερ ἐμή, καὶ ἀνάσχεο, κηδομένη περ,
μή σε φίλην περ ἐοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωμαι
θεινομένη· τότε δ' οὔ τι δυνήσομαι ἀχνύμενός περ
χραισμεῖν· ἀργαλέος γὰρ Ὀλύμπιος ἀντιφέρεσθαι.
ἤδη γάρ με καὶ ἄλλοτ' ἀλεξέμεναι μεμαῶτα
ῥῖψε ποδὸς τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ θεσπεσίοιο.
πᾶν δ' ἦμαρ φερόμην, ἅμα δ' ἡελίῳ καταδύντι
κάππεσον ἐν Λήμνῳ, ὀλίγος δ' ἔτι θυμὸς ἐνῆεν·
ἔνθα με Σίντιες ἄνδρες ἄφαρ κομίσαντο πεσόντα."

ὧς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεά, λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
μειδήσασα δὲ παιδὸς ἐδέξατο χειρὶ κύπελλον.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖς ἄλοισι θεοῖς ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν
οἰνοχόει γλυκὺ νέκταρ, ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ἀφύσσων.
ἄσβεστος δ' ἄρ ἐνῶρτο γέλος μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν,
ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα.

ὧς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐίσης,
οὐ μὲν φόρμιγγος περικαλλέος, ἣν ἔχ Ἀπόλλων,
Μουσάων θ', αἲ ἄειδον ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέδυ λαμπον φάος ἠελίοιο,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἰκόνδε ἕκαστος,
ἧχι ἑκάστῳ δῶμα περικλυτὸς ἀμφιγυνήεις
Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν,
Ζεὺς δὲ πρὸς ὃν λέχος ἢι' Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητής,
ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθ', ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ἱκάνοι·
ἔνθα καθεῦδ' ἀναβάς, παρὰ δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἥρη.

Day 69: The Last Lines

Lines 599-611
ἄσβεστος δ' ἄρ ἐνῶνρτο γέλος μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν,
ὡς ἴδον Ἥφαιστον διὰ δώματα ποιπνύοντα.

ὡς τότε μὲν πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
δαίνυντ', οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐίσης,
οὐ μὲν φόριγγος περικαλλέος, ἢν ἔχ' Ἀπόλλων,
Μουσάων θ' αἳ ἄειδον ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατέδυ λαμπρόν φάος ἠελίοιο,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἔβαν οἰκόνδε ἕκαστος,
ἦχι ἑκάστῳ δῶμα περικυτὸς ἀμφιγυήεις
Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν,
Ζεὺς δὲ πρὸς ὃν λέχος ἤι' Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητής,
ἔνθα πάρος κοιμᾶθ', ὅτε μιν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἱκάνοι·
ἔνθα καθεῦδ' ἀναβάς, παρὰ δὲ χρυσόθρονος Ἥρη.


And this then roused undying laughter among the blessed gods
When they saw Hephaestus puffing and panting throughout the house.

So then they feasted the entire day on to the setting sun,
Nor did any spirit want for their portion of the feast,
Neither for that charming lyre, which Apollo keeps, nor the Muses,
They sang, and in a gorgeous voice they called and answered.
When the gleaming light of the sun then set
Desiring sleep they each went to their homes,
When for each skillful Hephaestus had fashioned a famous house
With a knowing mind, and Zeus the bed toward which went
The Olympian who hurls the lightning bolt, then before he laid down
Sweet sleep overcame him, then going up he slumbered
Beside Hera of the golden throne.


Well now, to my own great astonishment I have completed Clyde Pharr's 'Homeric Greek: A Book for Beginners'. Thus Book 1 ends here and so soon unfortunately must this blog. There will be one more post which will give a translation of the entirety of Book I of the Iliad which I will be putting up in about two weeks and then that will be that. I will probably put some sort of comment on the last post but I would like to take the time here to thank the people who have followed this blog and checked in on it from time to time. You have provided me with a nice motivation to finish this project which I am very grateful for. So, once again, thank you.

Day 68: Tumbling Down to Lemnos

Lines 590-98
ἤδη γαρ με καὶ ἄλλοτ' ἀλεξέμεναι μεμαῶτα
ῥῖψε ποδὸς τεταγὼν ἀπὸ βηλοῦ θεσπεσίοιο.
πᾶν δ' ἦμαρ φερόμην, ἅμα δ' ἠελίῳ καταδύντ
κάππεσον ἐν Λήμνῳ, ὀλίγος δ' ἔτι θυμὸς ἐνῆεν·
ἔνθα με Σίντιες ἄνδρες ἄφαρ κομίσαντο πεσόντα."

ὧς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ θεά, λευκώλενος Ἥρη,
μειδήσασα δὲ παιδὸς ἐδέξατο χειρὶ κύπελλον.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖς ἄλλοισι θεοῖς ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν
οἰνοχόει γλυκὺ νέκταρ, ἀπὸ κρητῆρος ἀφυσσων.


For once before I was eager to defend you,
Then laying hold of my foot he hurled me
From the divine threshold, and I was borne
All through the day and, along with the setting sun,
Fell down on Lemnos, my soul and spirit in dire straits;
Then the Sintian men forthwith attended to my sinking self."

Thus he spoke, and the goddess white armed Hera laughed,
And smiling she took the cup in hand from her child.
Then from the right he pours sweet nectar for all the other gods,
Drawing up from the mixing bowl.


Hephaestus here demonstrates an excellent way to end soften a harsh encounter between two other people: make yourself the butt of a joke. Like Nestor he uses the past to demonstrate his point. But, unlike that ancient king he illustrates how foolish it is to oppose the will of Zeus by telling of the last time he had tried to defend his mother and the rather comical consequences to him of Zeus' reaction. A great way to defuse the tension, though I think that the poet's larger point in this section was still a comparison between the frivolity of the gods and the stern sobriety of mortal men. But I think it still works.

Day 67: Hephaestus Intercedes

Lines 573-89
"ῆ δὴ λοίγια ἔργα τάδ' ἔσσεται οὐδ ἀνεκτά,
εἰ δὴ σφω' ἕνεκα θνητῶν ἐριδαίνετον ὧδε,
ἐν δὲ θεοῖσι κολῳὸν ἐλαύετον· οὐδέ τι δαιτὸς
ἐσθλῆς ἔσσεται ἦδος, ἐπεὶ τὰ χερείονα νικᾷ.
μητρὶ δ' ἐγὼ παράφημι, καὶ αὐτῇ περ νοεούσῃ,
πατρὶ φίλῳ ἐπὶ ἦρα φέρειν Διί, ὄφρα μὴ αὖτε
νεικείῃσι πατήρ, σὺν δ' ἡμῖν δαῖτα ταράξῃ.
εἴ περ γάρ κ' ἐθέλῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος ἀστεροπητὴς
ἐξ ἐδέων στυφελίξαι· ὁ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατός ἐστιν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γ' ἐπέεσσι καθάπτεσθαι μαλακοῖσιν."

ὧς ἄρ ἔφη, καὶ ἀναΐξας δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον
μητρὶ φίλῃ χειρὶ τίθει, καὶ μιν προσέειπεν·
"τέτλαθι, μῆτερ ἐμή, καὶ ἀνάσχεο, κηδομένη περ,
μή σε φίλην περ ἐοῦσαν ἐν ὀφθαλοῖσιν ἴδωμαι
θεινομένην· τότε δ' οὔ τι δυνήσομαι ἀχνύμενός περ
χραισομεῖν· ἀργαλέος γὰρ Ὀλύμπιος ἀντιφέρεσθαι.





"Indeed this will be a nasty mess, nor will it be bearable
If you two quarrel so on account of mortals,
And carry on this wrangling among the gods, nor will it be any use
For such a noble feast, since things will be worse if this prevails.
So I advise you mother, though you yourself must know,
To bring kindness to our dear father Zeus, so that
He may not strive with us anew and ruin the feast.
For if the Olympian who hurls the lightning should desire
To send us from our seats... For he is by far the most powerful among us,
But address him please with soft and gentle words
Then soon the Olympian will be kindly towards us."

Thus he spoke, and darted up and brought the double sided cup
In hand to his dear mother and addressed her:
"Take courage my mother, and endure the great affliction;
Let not me see you who are so to dear to me
Struck down before my eyes. And then I, though grieving,
Will not be able to give you any aid; for it is an awful thing
To oppose the Olympian.



Pharr here makes an interesting point about how Hepahaestus plays the same role in the squabble between Zeus and Hera that Nestor attempted to play in the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles, though to infinitely better reviews. In fact I think that this whole section of the wrangling among the gods is a parody of the quarrel between the two heroes on the beach at Troy. But the key difference here is that the gods are immortal and men are not. This means that the gods never really have to suffer the consequences of their actions. Even for all his threats, what can Zeus really do to Hera besides cause her temporary discomfort that will be alleviated and forgotten once his anger abates, as it usually does rather quickly. After all Achilles recalled the story of the revolt of the gods to his mother, which had this occurred in the world of men all the perpetrators would have been hanged and their bodies displayed at the city gate, yet here they all are feasting with one another and their only concern seems to be that Zeus anger might ruin that feast. The contrast between the frivolity of the gods and the sternness of mortal men is astounding here and this I think is one of the main themes of the epic.

Day 66: Ox Eyed Hera and the Lame Cupbearer

Lines 551-72
τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
"αἰνοτατε Κρονίδη, ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες.
καὶ λίην σε πάρος γ' οὔτ' εἴρομαι οὔτε μεταλλῶ,
ἀλλὰ μάλ' εὔκηλος τὰ φράζεαι, ἅσσ' ἐθέλῃσθα·
νῦν δ' αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα, μή σε παρείπῃ
ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις, θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος·
ἠερίη γὰρ σοί παρέζετο καὶ λάβε γούνων·
τῇ ς' ὀίω κατανεῦσαι ἐτήτυμον, ὡς Ἀχιλῆα
τιμήσεις, ὀλέσεις δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν."

τὴν δ' ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
"δαιμονίη, αἰεὶ μὲν ὀίεαι, οὐδέ σε λήθω,
πρῆξαι δ' ἔμπης οὔ τι δυνήσεαι, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ θυμοῦ
μᾶλλον ἐμοὶ ἔσεαι· τὸ δέ τοι καὶ ῥίγιον ἔσται.
εἰ δ' οὕτω τοῦτ' ἐστίν, ἐμοὶ μέλλει φίλον εἶναι.
ἀλλ' ἄκεουσα καθῆσο, ἐμῷ δ' ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ,
μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμωσιν, ὅσοι θεοί εἰς' ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ,
ἆσσον ἰόνθ', ὅτε κέν τοι ἀάπτους χεῖρας ἐφείω."

ὧς ἔφατ', ἔδεισεν δὲ βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,
καί ῥ' ἀκέουσα καθῆστο, ἐπιγνάμψασα φίλον κῆρ·
ὤχθησαν δ' ἀνὰ δῶμα Διὸς θεοὶ Οὐρανίωνες·
τοῖσιν δ' Ἥφαιστος κλυτοτέχνης ἦρχ' ἀγορεύειν,
μητρὶ φίλῃ ἐπὶ ἦρα φέρων, λευκωλένῳ Ἥρῃ·



Then ox eyed Hera, queen of the gods, answered him:
"Most dread son of Cronus, of what sort is this thought
Of which you were speaking! And in the past I neither asked
Nor did I inquire into each and every thing you were about,
But you plot and plan in calm and quiet, as you should desire;
But now I am terribly afraid at heart, let her not win you over:
Silver footed Thetis, daughter of the old man of the sea;
For in the early morn' she surely sat beside you and grasped your knees,
And there I saw you nod your head so that you will honor Achilles
And slaughter many beside the Achaean ships."

Then in reply cloud gathering Zeus addressed her:
"Goddess who dwells in the heavens, you see always,
Nor do I forget you, nevertheless you will not be able to do a thing,
But will be that much further from my heart,
And this will be so much the worse for you.
If this is so then, you may be sure that it is what I desire.
But sit and listen, then obey my command,
Indeed none of them will help you, not many of the gods on Olympus
Will be coming any nearer if I should strike you with invincible hands."

Thus he spoke and the ox eyed queen of the skies was struck with fear,
Then she sat down and hearkened to, bending her heart to his desire;
And the sky dwelling gods were vexed all through the house of Zeus;
Then Hephaestus, that great forger, came forth to harangue them,
Bearing kindness for his dear mother, white armed Hera:



I wonder how many women today would be flattered if they were referred to as ox eyed? I'm guessing that it would be not very many because such animals are no longer part of every day life for very many of us. But in the age of these poems they were an integral part of everyone's life as a source of food and as beasts of burden. And while the comparison between a beautiful woman and an ox seems reviling at first it is instructive to note that the eyes of oxen and cattle, besides being very large, do have a certain quality about them. Maybe it is because of all that suffering they are forced to undergo.