ἸΛΙΆΣ 3

Αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κόσμηθεν ἅμ’ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕκαστοι,
Τρῶες μὲν κλαγγῇ τ’ ἐνοπῇ τ’ ἴσαν ὄρνιθες ὣς
ἠΰτε περ κλαγγὴ γεράνων πέλει οὐρανόθι πρό·
αἵ τ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν χειμῶνα φύγον καὶ ἀθέσφατον ὄμβρον
κλαγγῇ ταί γε πέτονται ἐπ’ ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων,
ἀνδράσι Πυγμαίοισι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέρουσαι·
ἠέριαι δ’ ἄρα ταί γε κακὴν ἔριδα προφέρονται.
οἳ δ’ ἄρ’ ἴσαν σιγῇ μένεα πνείοντες Ἀχαιοί,
ἐν θυμῷ μεμαῶτες ἀλεξέμεν ἀλλήλοισιν.
Εὖτ’ ὄρεος κορυφῇσι Νότος κατέχευεν ὀμίχλην
ποιμέσιν οὔ τι φίλην, κλέπτῃ δέ τε νυκτὸς ἀμείνω,
τόσσόν τίς τ’ ἐπιλεύσσει ὅσον τ’ ἐπὶ λᾶαν ἵησιν·
ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὑπὸ ποσσὶ κονίσαλος ὄρνυτ’ ἀελλὴς
ἐρχομένων· μάλα δ’ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο.
Οἳ δ’ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
Τρωσὶν μὲν προμάχιζεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής,
παρδαλέην ὤμοισιν ἔχων καὶ καμπύλα τόξα

καὶ ξίφος· αὐτὰρ δοῦρε δύω κεκορυθμένα χαλκῷ
πάλλων Ἀργείων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους
ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.
Τὸν δ’ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος
ἐρχόμενον προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου μακρὰ βιβάντα,
ὥς τε λέων ἐχάρη μεγάλῳ ἐπὶ σώματι κύρσας
εὑρὼν ἢ ἔλαφον κεραὸν ἢ ἄγριον αἶγα
πεινάων· μάλα γάρ τε κατεσθίει, εἴ περ ἂν αὐτὸν
σεύωνται ταχέες τε κύνες θαλεροί τ’ αἰζηοί·
ὣς ἐχάρη Μενέλαος Ἀλέξανδρον θεοειδέα
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδών· φάτο γὰρ τίσεσθαι ἀλείτην·
αὐτίκα δ’ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε.
Τὸν δ’ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς
ἐν προμάχοισι φανέντα, κατεπλήγη φίλον ἦτορ,
ἂψ δ’ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρ’ ἀλεείνων.
ὡς δ’ ὅτε τίς τε δράκοντα ἰδὼν παλίνορσος ἀπέστη
οὔρεος ἐν βήσσῃς, ὑπό τε τρόμος ἔλλαβε γυῖα,
ἂψ δ’ ἀνεχώρησεν, ὦχρός τέ μιν εἷλε παρειάς,
ὣς αὖτις καθ’ ὅμιλον ἔδυ Τρώων ἀγερώχων
δείσας Ἀτρέος υἱὸν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής.
Τὸν δ’ Ἕκτωρ νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσιν·
«Δύσπαρι εἶδος ἄριστε γυναιμανὲς ἠπεροπευτὰ
αἴθ’ ὄφελες ἄγονός τ’ ἔμεναι ἄγαμός τ’ ἀπολέσθαι·
καί κε τὸ βουλοίμην, καί κεν πολὺ κέρδιον ἦεν
ἢ οὕτω λώβην τ’ ἔμεναι καὶ ὑπόψιον ἄλλων.
ἦ που καγχαλόωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,
φάντες ἀριστῆα πρόμον ἔμμεναι, οὕνεκα καλὸν
εἶδος ἔπ’, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἔστι βίη φρεσὶν οὐδέ τις ἀλκή.

ἦ τοιόσδε ἐὼν ἐν ποντοπόροισι νέεσσι
πόντον ἐπιπλώσας, ἑτάρους ἐρίηρας ἀγείρας,
μιχθεὶς ἀλλοδαποῖσι γυναῖκ’ εὐειδέ’ ἀνῆγες
ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης νυὸν ἀνδρῶν αἰχμητάων,
πατρί τε σῷ μέγα πῆμα πόληΐ τε παντί τε δήμῳ,
δυσμενέσιν μὲν χάρμα, κατηφείην δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ;
οὐκ ἂν δὴ μείνειας ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον;
γνοίης χ’ οἵου φωτὸς ἔχεις θαλερὴν παράκοιτιν·
οὐκ ἄν τοι χραίσμῃ κίθαρις τά τε δῶρ’ Ἀφροδίτης,
ἥ τε κόμη τό τε εἶδος ὅτ’ ἐν κονίῃσι μιγείης.
ἀλλὰ μάλα Τρῶες δειδήμονες· ἦ τέ κεν ἤδη
λάϊνον ἕσσο χιτῶνα κακῶν ἕνεχ’ ὅσσα ἔοργας.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·
«Ἕκτορ ἐπεί με κατ’ αἶσαν ἐνείκεσας οὐδ’ ὑπὲρ αἶσαν,—
αἰεί τοι κραδίη πέλεκυς ὥς ἐστιν ἀτειρὴς
ὅς τ’ εἶσιν διὰ δουρὸς ὑπ’ ἀνέρος ὅς ῥά τε τέχνῃ
νήϊον ἐκτάμνῃσιν, ὀφέλλει δ’ ἀνδρὸς ἐρωήν·
ὣς σοὶ ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀτάρβητος νόος ἐστί·—
μή μοι δῶρ’ ἐρατὰ πρόφερε χρυσέης Ἀφροδίτης·
οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητ’ ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα,
ὅσσά κεν αὐτοὶ δῶσιν, ἑκὼν δ’ οὐκ ἄν τις ἕλοιτο·
νῦν αὖτ’ εἴ μ’ ἐθέλεις πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,
ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
αὐτὰρ ἔμ’ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον
συμβάλετ’ ἀμφ’ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι·
ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται,
κτήμαθ’ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδ’ ἀγέσθω·
οἳ δ’ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες
ναίοιτε Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νεέσθων
Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα.»

Ὣς ἔφαθ’, Ἕκτωρ δ’ αὖτ’ ἐχάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,
καί ῥ’ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας
μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· τοὶ δ’ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.
τῷ δ’ ἐπετοξάζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἰοῖσίν τε τιτυσκόμενοι λάεσσί τ’ ἔβαλλον·
αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὸν ἄϋσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
«ἴσχεσθ’ Ἀργεῖοι, μὴ βάλλετε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν·
στεῦται γάρ τι ἔπος ἐρέειν κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἔσχοντο μάχης ἄνεῴ τ’ ἐγένοντο
ἐσσυμένως· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετ’ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·
«κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,
μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν.
ἄλλους μὲν κέλεται Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιοὺς
τεύχεα κάλ’ ἀποθέσθαι ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,
αὐτὸν δ’ ἐν μέσσῳ καὶ ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον
οἴους ἀμφ’ Ἑλένῃ καὶ κτήμασι πᾶσι μάχεσθαι.
ὁππότερος δέ κε νικήσῃ κρείσσων τε γένηται
κτήμαθ’ ἑλὼν εὖ πάντα γυναῖκά τε οἴκαδ’ ἀγέσθω·
οἳ δ’ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμωμεν.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
«κέκλυτε νῦν καὶ ἐμεῖο· μάλιστα γὰρ ἄλγος ἱκάνει
θυμὸν ἐμόν, φρονέω δὲ διακρινθήμεναι ἤδη
Ἀργείους καὶ Τρῶας, ἐπεὶ κακὰ πολλὰ πέπασθε
εἵνεκ’ ἐμῆς ἔριδος καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου ἕνεκ’ ἀρχῆς·
ἡμέων δ’ ὁπποτέρῳ θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα τέτυκται,
τεθναίη· ἄλλοι δὲ διακρινθεῖτε τάχιστα.
οἴσετε ἄρν’, ἕτερον λευκόν, ἑτέρην δὲ μέλαιναν,
Γῇ τε καὶ Ἠελίῳ· Διὶ δ’ ἡμεῖς οἴσομεν ἄλλον·
ἄξετε δὲ Πριάμοιο βίην, ὄφρ’ ὅρκια τάμνῃ

αὐτός, ἐπεί οἱ παῖδες ὑπερφίαλοι καὶ ἄπιστοι,
μή τις ὑπερβασίῃ Διὸς ὅρκια δηλήσηται.
αἰεὶ δ’ ὁπλοτέρων ἀνδρῶν φρένες ἠερέθονται·
οἷς δ’ ὁ γέρων μετέῃσιν ἅμα πρόσσω καὶ ὀπίσσω
λεύσσει, ὅπως ὄχ’ ἄριστα μετ’ ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἐχάρησαν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε
ἐλπόμενοι παύσασθαι ὀϊζυροῦ πολέμοιο.
καί ῥ’ ἵππους μὲν ἔρυξαν ἐπὶ στίχας, ἐκ δ’ ἔβαν αὐτοί,
τεύχεά τ’ ἐξεδύοντο· τὰ μὲν κατέθεντ’ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
πλησίον ἀλλήλων, ὀλίγη δ’ ἦν ἀμφὶς ἄρουρα·
Ἕκτωρ δὲ προτὶ ἄστυ δύω κήρυκας ἔπεμπε
καρπαλίμως ἄρνάς τε φέρειν Πρίαμόν τε καλέσσαι·
αὐτὰρ ὃ Ταλθύβιον προΐει κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἰέναι, ἠδ’ ἄρν’ ἐκέλευεν
οἰσέμεναι· ὃ δ’ ἄρ’ οὐκ ἀπίθησ’ Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ.
Ἶρις δ’ αὖθ’ Ἑλένῃ λευκωλένῳ ἄγγελος ἦλθεν
εἰδομένη γαλόῳ Ἀντηνορίδαο δάμαρτι,
τὴν Ἀντηνορίδης εἶχε κρείων Ἑλικάων
Λαοδίκην Πριάμοιο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην.
τὴν δ’ εὗρ’ ἐν μεγάρῳ· ἣ δὲ μέγαν ἱστὸν ὕφαινε,
δίπλακα πορφυρέην, πολέας δ’ ἐνέπασσεν ἀέθλους
Τρώων θ’ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,
οὕς ἑθεν εἵνεκ’ ἔπασχον ὑπ’ Ἄρηος παλαμάων·
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·
«δεῦρ’ ἴθι νύμφα φίλη, ἵνα θέσκελα ἔργα ἴδηαι
Τρώων θ’ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,
οἳ πρὶν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισι φέρον πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα
ἐν πεδίῳ ὀλοοῖο λιλαιόμενοι πολέμοιο·
οἳ δὴ νῦν ἕαται σιγῇ, πόλεμος δὲ πέπαυται,
ἀσπίσι κεκλιμένοι, παρὰ δ’ ἔγχεα μακρὰ πέπηγεν.
αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος

μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσονται περὶ σεῖο·
τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι φίλη κεκλήσῃ ἄκοιτις.»
Ὣς εἰποῦσα θεὰ γλυκὺν ἵμερον ἔμβαλε θυμῷ
ἀνδρός τε προτέρου καὶ ἄστεος ἠδὲ τοκήων·
αὐτίκα δ’ ἀργεννῇσι καλυψαμένη ὀθόνῃσιν
ὁρμᾶτ’ ἐκ θαλάμοιο τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα,
οὐκ οἴη, ἅμα τῇ γε καὶ ἀμφίπολοι δύ’ ἕποντο,
Αἴθρη Πιτθῆος θυγάτηρ, Κλυμένη τε βοῶπις·
αἶψα δ’ ἔπειθ’ ἵκανον ὅθι Σκαιαὶ πύλαι ἦσαν.
Οἳ δ’ ἀμφὶ Πρίαμον καὶ Πάνθοον ἠδὲ Θυμοίτην
Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θ’ Ἱκετάονά τ’ ὄζον Ἄρηος
Οὐκαλέγων τε καὶ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένω ἄμφω
ἥατο δημογέροντες ἐπὶ Σκαιῇσι πύλῃσι,
γήραϊ δὴ πολέμοιο πεπαυμένοι, ἀλλ’ ἀγορηταὶ
ἐσθλοί, τεττίγεσσιν ἐοικότες οἵ τε καθ’ ὕλην
δενδρέῳ ἐφεζόμενοι ὄπα λειριόεσσαν ἱεῖσι·
τοῖοι ἄρα Τρώων ἡγήτορες ἧντ’ ἐπὶ πύργῳ.
οἳ δ’ ὡς οὖν εἴδονθ’ Ἑλένην ἐπὶ πύργον ἰοῦσαν,
ἦκα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔπεα πτερόεντ’ ἀγόρευον·
«οὐ νέμεσις Τρῶας καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς
τοιῇδ’ ἀμφὶ γυναικὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄλγεα πάσχειν·
αἰνῶς ἀθανάτῃσι θεῇς εἰς ὦπα ἔοικεν·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς τοίη περ ἐοῦσ’ ἐν νηυσὶ νεέσθω,
μηδ’ ἡμῖν τεκέεσσί τ’ ὀπίσσω πῆμα λίποιτο.»
Ὣς ἄρ’ ἔφαν, Πρίαμος δ’ Ἑλένην ἐκαλέσσατο φωνῇ·
«δεῦρο πάροιθ’ ἐλθοῦσα φίλον τέκος ἵζευ ἐμεῖο,
ὄφρα ἴδῃ πρότερόν τε πόσιν πηούς τε φίλους τε—
οὔ τί μοι αἰτίη ἐσσί, θεοί νύ μοι αἴτιοί εἰσιν,
οἵ μοι ἐφώρμησαν πόλεμον πολύδακρυν Ἀχαιῶν—
ὥς μοι καὶ τόνδ’ ἄνδρα πελώριον ἐξονομήνῃς,

ὅς τις ὅδ’ ἐστὶν Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε.
ἤτοι μὲν κεφαλῇ καὶ μείζονες ἄλλοι ἔασι,
καλὸν δ’ οὕτω ἐγὼν οὔ πω ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
οὐδ’ οὕτω γεραρόν· βασιλῆϊ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ ἔοικε.»
Τὸν δ’ Ἑλένη μύθοισιν ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν·
«αἰδοῖός τέ μοί ἐσσι φίλε ἑκυρὲ δεινός τε·
ὡς ὄφελεν θάνατός μοι ἁδεῖν κακὸς ὁππότε δεῦρο
υἱέϊ σῷ ἑπόμην θάλαμον γνωτούς τε λιποῦσα
παῖδά τε τηλυγέτην καὶ ὁμηλικίην ἐρατεινήν.
ἀλλὰ τά γ’ οὐκ ἐγένοντο· τὸ καὶ κλαίουσα τέτηκα.
τοῦτο δέ τοι ἐρέω ὅ μ’ ἀνείρεαι ἠδὲ μεταλλᾷς·
οὗτός γ’ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
ἀμφότερον βασιλεύς τ’ ἀγαθὸς κρατερός τ’ αἰχμητής·
δαὴρ αὖτ’ ἐμὸς ἔσκε κυνώπιδος, εἴ ποτ’ ἔην γε.»
Ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ’ ὁ γέρων ἠγάσσατο φώνησέν τε·
«ὦ μάκαρ Ἀτρεΐδη μοιρηγενὲς ὀλβιόδαιμον,
ἦ ῥά νύ τοι πολλοὶ δεδμήατο κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν.
ἤδη καὶ Φρυγίην εἰσήλυθον ἀμπελόεσσαν,
ἔνθα ἴδον πλείστους Φρύγας ἀνέρας αἰολοπώλους,
λαοὺς Ὀτρῆος καὶ Μυγδόνος ἀντιθέοιο,
οἵ ῥα τότ’ ἐστρατόωντο παρ’ ὄχθας Σαγγαρίοιο·
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐπίκουρος ἐὼν μετὰ τοῖσιν ἐλέχθην
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε τ’ ἦλθον Ἀμαζόνες ἀντιάνειραι·
ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ οἳ τόσοι ἦσαν ὅσοι ἑλίκωπες Ἀχαιοί.»
Δεύτερον αὖτ’ Ὀδυσῆα ἰδὼν ἐρέειν’ ὁ γεραιός·
«εἴπ’ ἄγε μοι καὶ τόνδε φίλον τέκος ὅς τις ὅδ’ ἐστί·
μείων μὲν κεφαλῇ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο,
εὐρύτερος δ’ ὤμοισιν ἰδὲ στέρνοισιν ἰδέσθαι.
τεύχεα μέν οἱ κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,
αὐτὸς δὲ κτίλος ὣς ἐπιπωλεῖται στίχας ἀνδρῶν·
ἀρνειῷ μιν ἔγωγε ἐΐσκω πηγεσιμάλλῳ,
ὅς τ’ οἰῶν μέγα πῶϋ διέρχεται ἀργεννάων.»

Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειθ’ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα·
«οὗτος δ’ αὖ Λαερτιάδης πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὃς τράφη ἐν δήμῳ Ἰθάκης κραναῆς περ ἐούσης
εἰδὼς παντοίους τε δόλους καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.»
Τὴν δ’ αὖτ’ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ὦ γύναι, ἦ μάλα τοῦτο ἔπος νημερτὲς ἔειπες·
ἤδη γὰρ καὶ δεῦρό ποτ’ ἤλυθε δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
σεῦ ἕνεκ’ ἀγγελίης σὺν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·
τοὺς δ’ ἐγὼ ἐξείνισσα καὶ ἐν μεγάροισι φίλησα,
ἀμφοτέρων δὲ φυὴν ἐδάην καὶ μήδεα πυκνά.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ Τρώεσσιν ἐν ἀγρομένοισιν ἔμιχθεν,
στάντων μὲν Μενέλαος ὑπείρεχεν εὐρέας ὤμους,
ἄμφω δ’ ἑζομένω γεραρώτερος ἦεν Ὀδυσσεύς·
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ μύθους καὶ μήδεα πᾶσιν ὕφαινον,
ἤτοι μὲν Μενέλαος ἐπιτροχάδην ἀγόρευε,
παῦρα μέν, ἀλλὰ μάλα λιγέως, ἐπεὶ οὐ πολύμυθος
οὐδ’ ἀφαμαρτοεπής· ἦ καὶ γένει ὕστερος ἦεν.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ πολύμητις ἀναΐξειεν Ὀδυσσεύς,
στάσκεν, ὑπαὶ δὲ ἴδεσκε κατὰ χθονὸς ὄμματα πήξας,
σκῆπτρον δ’ οὔτ’ ὀπίσω οὔτε προπρηνὲς ἐνώμα,
ἀλλ’ ἀστεμφὲς ἔχεσκεν ἀΐδρεϊ φωτὶ ἐοικώς·
φαίης κε ζάκοτόν τέ τιν’ ἔμμεναι ἄφρονά τ’ αὔτως.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ ὄπα τε μεγάλην ἐκ στήθεος εἵη
καὶ ἔπεα νιφάδεσσιν ἐοικότα χειμερίῃσιν,
οὐκ ἂν ἔπειτ’ Ὀδυσῆΐ γ’ ἐρίσσειε βροτὸς ἄλλος·
οὐ τότε γ’ ὧδ’ Ὀδυσῆος ἀγασσάμεθ’ εἶδος ἰδόντες.»
Τὸ τρίτον αὖτ’ Αἴαντα ἰδὼν ἐρέειν’ ὁ γεραιός·
«τίς τ’ ἄρ’ ὅδ’ ἄλλος Ἀχαιὸς ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε,
ἔξοχος Ἀργείων κεφαλήν τε καὶ εὐρέας ὤμους;»
Τὸν δ’ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ἀμείβετο δῖα γυναικῶν·

«οὗτος δ’ Αἴας ἐστὶ πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν·
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐνὶ Κρήτεσσι θεὸς ὣς
ἕστηκ’, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν Κρητῶν ἀγοὶ ἠγερέθονται.
πολλάκι μιν ξείνισσεν ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος
οἴκῳ ἐν ἡμετέρῳ ὁπότε Κρήτηθεν ἵκοιτο.
νῦν δ’ ἄλλους μὲν πάντας ὁρῶ ἑλίκωπας Ἀχαιούς,
οὕς κεν ἐῢ γνοίην καί τ’ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην·
δοιὼ δ’ οὐ δύναμαι ἰδέειν κοσμήτορε λαῶν
Κάστορά θ’ ἱππόδαμον καὶ πὺξ ἀγαθὸν Πολυδεύκεα,
αὐτοκασιγνήτω, τώ μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ.
ἢ οὐχ ἑσπέσθην Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς,
ἢ δεύρω μὲν ἕποντο νέεσσ’ ἔνι ποντοπόροισι,
νῦν αὖτ’ οὐκ ἐθέλουσι μάχην καταδύμεναι ἀνδρῶν
αἴσχεα δειδιότες καὶ ὀνείδεα πόλλ’ ἅ μοί ἐστιν.»
Ὣς φάτο, τοὺς δ’ ἤδη κάτεχεν φυσίζοος αἶα
ἐν Λακεδαίμονι αὖθι φίλῃ ἐν πατρίδι γαίῃ.
Κήρυκες δ’ ἀνὰ ἄστυ θεῶν φέρον ὅρκια πιστά,
ἄρνε δύω καὶ οἶνον ἐΰφρονα καρπὸν ἀρούρης,
ἀσκῷ ἐν αἰγείῳ· φέρε δὲ κρητῆρα φαεινὸν
κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος ἠδὲ χρύσεια κύπελλα·
ὄτρυνεν δὲ γέροντα παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν·
«ὄρσεο Λαομεδοντιάδη, καλέουσιν ἄριστοι
Τρώων θ’ ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
ἐς πεδίον καταβῆναι ἵν’ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμητε·
αὐτὰρ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος
μακρῇς ἐγχείῃσι μαχήσοντ’ ἀμφὶ γυναικί·
τῷ δέ κε νικήσαντι γυνὴ καὶ κτήμαθ’ ἕποιτο·
οἱ δ’ ἄλλοι φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες
ναίοιμεν Τροίην ἐριβώλακα, τοὶ δὲ νέονται
Ἄργος ἐς ἱππόβοτον καὶ Ἀχαιΐδα καλλιγύναικα.»

Ὣς φάτο, ῥίγησεν δ’ ὃ γέρων, ἐκέλευσε δ’ ἑταίρους
ἵππους ζευγνύμεναι· τοὶ δ’ ὀτραλέως ἐπίθοντο.
ἂν δ’ ἄρ’ ἔβη Πρίαμος, κατὰ δ’ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω·
πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον·
τὼ δὲ διὰ Σκαιῶν πεδίον δ’ ἔχον ὠκέας ἵππους.
Ἀλλ’ ὅτε δή ῥ’ ἵκοντο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,
ἐξ ἵππων ἀποβάντες ἐπὶ χθόνα πουλυβότειραν
ἐς μέσσον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἐστιχόωντο.
ὄρνυτο δ’ αὐτίκ’ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
ἂν δ’ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις· ἀτὰρ κήρυκες ἀγαυοὶ
ὅρκια πιστὰ θεῶν σύναγον, κρητῆρι δὲ οἶνον
μίσγον, ἀτὰρ βασιλεῦσιν ὕδωρ ἐπὶ χεῖρας ἔχευαν.
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος χείρεσσι μάχαιραν,
ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο,
ἀρνῶν ἐκ κεφαλέων τάμνε τρίχας· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
κήρυκες Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν νεῖμαν ἀρίστοις.
τοῖσιν δ’ Ἀτρεΐδης μεγάλ’ εὔχετο χεῖρας ἀνασχών·
«Ζεῦ πάτερ, Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε,
Ἠέλιός θ’, ὃς πάντ’ ἐφορᾷς καὶ πάντ’ ἐπακούεις,
καὶ ποταμοὶ καὶ γαῖα, καὶ οἳ ὑπένερθε καμόντας
ἀνθρώπους τίνυσθον ὅτις κ’ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ,
ὑμεῖς μάρτυροι ἔστε, φυλάσσετε δ’ ὅρκια πιστά·
εἰ μέν κεν Μενέλαον Ἀλέξανδρος καταπέφνῃ
αὐτὸς ἔπειθ’ Ἑλένην ἐχέτω καὶ κτήματα πάντα,
ἡμεῖς δ’ ἐν νήεσσι νεώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν·
εἰ δέ κ’ Ἀλέξανδρον κτείνῃ ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,
Τρῶας ἔπειθ’ Ἑλένην καὶ κτήματα πάντ’ ἀποδοῦναι,
τιμὴν δ’ Ἀργείοις ἀποτινέμεν ἥν τιν’ ἔοικεν,
ἥ τε καὶ ἐσσομένοισι μετ’ ἀνθρώποισι πέληται.
εἰ δ’ ἂν ἐμοὶ τιμὴν Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες

τίνειν οὐκ ἐθέλωσιν Ἀλεξάνδροιο πεσόντος,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ ἔπειτα μαχήσομαι εἵνεκα ποινῆς
αὖθι μένων, ἧός κε τέλος πολέμοιο κιχείω.»
Ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στομάχους ἀρνῶν τάμε νηλέϊ χαλκῷ·
καὶ τοὺς μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὸς ἀσπαίροντας
θυμοῦ δευομένους· ἀπὸ γὰρ μένος εἵλετο χαλκός.
οἶνον δ’ ἐκ κρητῆρος ἀφυσσόμενοι δεπάεσσιν
ἔκχεον, ἠδ’ εὔχοντο θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν.
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·
«Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι
ὁππότεροι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια πημήνειαν
ὧδέ σφ’ ἐγκέφαλος χαμάδις ῥέοι ὡς ὅδε οἶνος
αὐτῶν καὶ τεκέων, ἄλοχοι δ’ ἄλλοισι δαμεῖεν.»
Ὣς ἔφαν, οὐδ’ ἄρα πώ σφιν ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων.
τοῖσι δὲ Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·
«κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί·
ἤτοι ἐγὼν εἶμι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν
ἄψ, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω τλήσομ’ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι
μαρνάμενον φίλον υἱὸν ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·
Ζεὺς μέν που τό γε οἶδε καὶ ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἄλλοι
ὁπποτέρῳ θανάτοιο τέλος πεπρωμένον ἐστίν.»
Ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐς δίφρον ἄρνας θέτο ἰσόθεος φώς,
ἂν δ’ ἄρ’ ἔβαιν’ αὐτός, κατὰ δ’ ἡνία τεῖνεν ὀπίσσω·
πὰρ δέ οἱ Ἀντήνωρ περικαλλέα βήσετο δίφρον.
τὼ μὲν ἄρ’ ἄψοῤῥοι προτὶ Ἴλιον ἀπονέοντο·
Ἕκτωρ δὲ Πριάμοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
χῶρον μὲν πρῶτον διεμέτρεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
κλήρους ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,
ὁππότερος δὴ πρόσθεν ἀφείη χάλκεον ἔγχος.
λαοὶ δ’ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον,

ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·
«Ζεῦ πάτερ Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε
ὁππότερος τάδε ἔργα μετ’ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔθηκε,
τὸν δὸς ἀποφθίμενον δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω,
ἡμῖν δ’ αὖ φιλότητα καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ γενέσθαι.»
Ὣς ἄρ’ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ
ἂψ ὁρόων· Πάριος δὲ θοῶς ἐκ κλῆρος ὄρουσεν.
οἳ μὲν ἔπειθ’ ἵζοντο κατὰ στίχας, ἧχι ἑκάστῳ
ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες καὶ ποικίλα τεύχε’ ἔκειτο·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἀμφ’ ὤμοισιν ἐδύσετο τεύχεα καλὰ
δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο.
κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε
καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·
δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν
οἷο κασιγνήτοιο Λυκάονος· ἥρμοσε δ’ αὐτῷ.
ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρ’ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
χάλκεον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε·
κρατὶ δ’ ἐπ’ ἰφθίμῳ κυνέην εὔτυκτον ἔθηκεν
ἵππουριν· δεινὸν δὲ λόφος καθύπερθεν ἔνευεν·
εἵλετο δ’ ἄλκιμον ἔγχος, ὅ οἱ παλάμηφιν ἀρήρει.
ὣς δ’ αὔτως Μενέλαος ἀρήϊος ἔντε’ ἔδυνεν.
Οἳ δ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,
ἐς μέσσον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἐστιχόωντο
δεινὸν δερκόμενοι· θάμβος δ’ ἔχεν εἰσορόωντας
Τρῶάς θ’ ἱπποδάμους καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
καί ῥ’ ἐγγὺς στήτην διαμετρητῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ
σείοντ’ ἐγχείας ἀλλήλοισιν κοτέοντε.
πρόσθε δ’ Ἀλέξανδρος προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
καὶ βάλεν Ἀτρεΐδαο κατ’ ἀσπίδα πάντοσε ἴσην,
οὐδ’ ἔῤῥηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμὴ

ἀσπίδ’ ἐνὶ κρατερῇ· ὃ δὲ δεύτερον ὄρνυτο χαλκῷ
Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἐπευξάμενος Διὶ πατρί·
«Ζεῦ ἄνα δὸς τίσασθαι ὅ με πρότερος κάκ’ ἔοργε,
δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον, καὶ ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δάμασσον,
ὄφρα τις ἐῤῥίγῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων
ξεινοδόκον κακὰ ῥέξαι, ὅ κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.»
Ἦ ῥα καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατ’ ἀσπίδα πάντοσ’ ἐΐσην·
διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,
καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο·
ἀντικρὺ δὲ παραὶ λαπάρην διάμησε χιτῶνα
ἔγχος· ὃ δ’ ἐκλίνθη καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
πλῆξεν ἀνασχόμενος κόρυθος φάλον· ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρ’ αὐτῷ
τριχθά τε καὶ τετραχθὰ διατρυφὲν ἔκπεσε χειρός.
Ἀτρεΐδης δ’ ᾤμωξεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·
Ζεῦ πάτερ οὔ τις σεῖο θεῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·
ἦ τ’ ἐφάμην τίσασθαι Ἀλέξανδρον κακότητος·
νῦν δέ μοι ἐν χείρεσσιν ἄγη ξίφος, ἐκ δέ μοι ἔγχος
ἠΐχθη παλάμηφιν ἐτώσιον, οὐδ’ ἔβαλόν μιν.
Ἦ καὶ ἐπαΐξας κόρυθος λάβεν ἱπποδασείης,
ἕλκε δ’ ἐπιστρέψας μετ’ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·
ἄγχε δέ μιν πολύκεστος ἱμὰς ἁπαλὴν ὑπὸ δειρήν,
ὅς οἱ ὑπ’ ἀνθερεῶνος ὀχεὺς τέτατο τρυφαλείης.
καί νύ κεν εἴρυσσέν τε καὶ ἄσπετον ἤρατο κῦδος,
εἰ μὴ ἄρ’ ὀξὺ νόησε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη,
ἥ οἱ ῥῆξεν ἱμάντα βοὸς ἶφι κταμένοιο·
κεινὴ δὲ τρυφάλεια ἅμ’ ἕσπετο χειρὶ παχείῃ.
τὴν μὲν ἔπειθ’ ἥρως μετ’ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς

ῥῖψ’ ἐπιδινήσας, κόμισαν δ’ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι·
αὐτὰρ ὃ ἂψ ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων
ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ· τὸν δ’ ἐξήρπαξ’ Ἀφροδίτη
ῥεῖα μάλ’ ὥς τε θεός, ἐκάλυψε δ’ ἄρ’ ἠέρι πολλῇ,
κὰδ δ’ εἷσ’ ἐν θαλάμῳ εὐώδεϊ κηώεντι.
αὐτὴ δ’ αὖ Ἑλένην καλέουσ’ ἴε· τὴν δὲ κίχανε
πύργῳ ἐφ’ ὑψηλῷ, περὶ δὲ Τρῳαὶ ἅλις ἦσαν·
χειρὶ δὲ νεκταρέου ἑανοῦ ἐτίναξε λαβοῦσα,
γρηῒ δέ μιν ἐϊκυῖα παλαιγενέϊ προσέειπεν
εἰροκόμῳ, ἥ οἱ Λακεδαίμονι ναιετοώσῃ
ἤσκειν εἴρια καλά, μάλιστα δέ μιν φιλέεσκε·
τῇ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσεφώνεε δῖ’ Ἀφροδίτη·
«δεῦρ’ ἴθ’· Ἀλέξανδρός σε καλεῖ οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.
κεῖνος ὅ γ’ ἐν θαλάμῳ καὶ δινωτοῖσι λέχεσσι
κάλλεΐ τε στίλβων καὶ εἵμασιν· οὐδέ κε φαίης
ἀνδρὶ μαχεσσάμενον τόν γ’ ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλὰ χορὸν δὲ
ἔρχεσθ’, ἠὲ χοροῖο νέον λήγοντα καθίζειν.»
Ὣς φάτο, τῇ δ’ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε·
καί ῥ’ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεᾶς περικαλλέα δειρὴν
στήθεά θ’ ἱμερόεντα καὶ ὄμματα μαρμαίροντα,
θάμβησέν τ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτα ἔπος τ’ ἔφατ’ ἔκ τ’ ὀνόμαζε·
«δαιμονίη, τί με ταῦτα λιλαίεαι ἠπεροπεύειν;
ἦ πῄ με προτέρω πολίων εὖ ναιομενάων
ἄξεις, ἢ Φρυγίης ἢ Μῃονίης ἐρατεινῆς,
εἴ τίς τοι καὶ κεῖθι φίλος μερόπων ἀνθρώπων·
οὕνεκα δὴ νῦν δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Μενέλαος
νικήσας ἐθέλει στυγερὴν ἐμὲ οἴκαδ’ ἄγεσθαι,
τοὔνεκα δὴ νῦν δεῦρο δολοφρονέουσα παρέστης;
ἧσο παρ’ αὐτὸν ἰοῦσα, θεῶν δ’ ἀπόεικε κελεύθου,
μηδ’ ἔτι σοῖσι πόδεσσιν ὑποστρέψειας Ὄλυμπον,

ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ περὶ κεῖνον ὀΐζυε καί ἑ φύλασσε,
εἰς ὅ κέ σ’ ἢ ἄλοχον ποιήσεται ἢ ὅ γε δούλην.
κεῖσε δ’ ἐγὼν οὐκ εἶμι—νεμεσσητὸν δέ κεν εἴη—
κείνου πορσανέουσα λέχος· Τρῳαὶ δέ μ’ ὀπίσσω
πᾶσαι μωμήσονται· ἔχω δ’ ἄχε’ ἄκριτα θυμῷ.»
Τὴν δὲ χολωσαμένη προσεφώνεε δῖ’ Ἀφροδίτη·
«μή μ’ ἔρεθε σχετλίη, μὴ χωσαμένη σε μεθείω,
τὼς δέ σ’ ἀπεχθήρω ὡς νῦν ἔκπαγλ’ ἐφίλησα,
μέσσῳ δ’ ἀμφοτέρων μητίσομαι ἔχθεα λυγρὰ
Τρώων καὶ Δαναῶν, σὺ δέ κεν κακὸν οἶτον ὄληαι.
Ὣς ἔφατ’, ἔδεισεν δ’ Ἑλένη Διὸς ἐκγεγαυῖα,
βῆ δὲ κατασχομένη ἑανῷ ἀργῆτι φαεινῷ
σιγῇ, πάσας δὲ Τρῳὰς λάθεν· ἦρχε δὲ δαίμων.
Αἳ δ’ ὅτ’ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δόμον περικαλλέ’ ἵκοντο,
ἀμφίπολοι μὲν ἔπειτα θοῶς ἐπὶ ἔργα τράποντο,
ἣ δ’ εἰς ὑψόροφον θάλαμον κίε δῖα γυναικῶν.
τῇ δ’ ἄρα δίφρον ἑλοῦσα φιλομειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη
ἀντί’ Ἀλεξάνδροιο θεὰ κατέθηκε φέρουσα·
ἔνθα κάθιζ’ Ἑλένη κούρη Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
ὄσσε πάλιν κλίνασα, πόσιν δ’ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
«ἤλυθες ἐκ πολέμου· ὡς ὤφελες αὐτόθ’ ὀλέσθαι
ἀνδρὶ δαμεὶς κρατερῷ, ὃς ἐμὸς πρότερος πόσις ἦεν.
ἦ μὲν δὴ πρίν γ’ εὔχε’ ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου
σῇ τε βίῃ καὶ χερσὶ καὶ ἔγχεϊ φέρτερος εἶναι·
ἀλλ’ ἴθι νῦν προκάλεσσαι ἀρηΐφιλον Μενέλαον
ἐξαῦτις μαχέσασθαι ἐναντίον· ἀλλά σ’ ἔγωγε
παύεσθαι κέλομαι, μηδὲ ξανθῷ Μενελάῳ
ἀντίβιον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι
ἀφραδέως, μή πως τάχ’ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ δουρὶ δαμήῃς.»

Τὴν δὲ Πάρις μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
«μή με γύναι χαλεποῖσιν ὀνείδεσι θυμὸν ἔνιπτε·
νῦν μὲν γὰρ Μενέλαος ἐνίκησεν σὺν Ἀθήνῃ,
κεῖνον δ’ αὖτις ἐγώ· πάρα γὰρ θεοί εἰσι καὶ ἡμῖν.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε δὴ φιλότητι τραπείομεν εὐνηθέντε·
οὐ γάρ πώ ποτέ μ’ ὧδέ γ’ ἔρως φρένας ἀμφεκάλυψεν,
οὐδ’ ὅτε σε πρῶτον Λακεδαίμονος ἐξ ἐρατεινῆς
ἔπλεον ἁρπάξας ἐν ποντοπόροισι νέεσσι,
νήσῳ δ’ ἐν Κραναῇ ἐμίγην φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ,
ὥς σεο νῦν ἔραμαι καί με γλυκὺς ἵμερος αἱρεῖ.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἄρχε λέχος δὲ κιών· ἅμα δ’ εἵπετ’ ἄκοιτις.
Τὼ μὲν ἄρ’ ἐν τρητοῖσι κατεύνασθεν λεχέεσσιν,
Ἀτρεΐδης δ’ ἀν’ ὅμιλον ἐφοίτα θηρὶ ἐοικὼς
εἴ που ἐσαθρήσειεν Ἀλέξανδρον θεοειδέα.
ἀλλ’ οὔ τις δύνατο Τρώων κλειτῶν τ’ ἐπικούρων
δεῖξαι Ἀλέξανδρον τότ’ ἀρηϊφίλῳ Μενελάῳ·
οὐ μὲν γὰρ φιλότητί γ’ ἐκεύθανον εἴ τις ἴδοιτο·
ἶσον γάρ σφιν πᾶσιν ἀπήχθετο κηρὶ μελαίνῃ.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
«κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδ’ ἐπίκουροι·
νίκη μὲν δὴ φαίνετ’ ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου,
ὑμεῖς δ’ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθ’ ἅμ’ αὐτῇ
ἔκδοτε, καὶ τιμὴν ἀποτινέμεν ἥν τιν’ ἔοικεν,
ἥ τε καὶ ἐσσομένοισι μετ’ ἀνθρώποισι πέληται.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’ Ἀτρεΐδης, ἐπὶ δ’ ᾔνεον ἄλλοι Ἀχαιοί.

THE ILIAD III

Now when the armies were marshaled, each with its own leaders,
the Trojans advanced with a clamor and a cry, like birds,
just as the cry of cranes that rises to the heavens
when they flee from winter and the relentless rains,
and with a great clamor they fly toward the streams of Ocean,
bringing slaughter and doom to the Pygmy men;
and in the early dawn they bring on the evil strife.
But the Achaeans advanced in silence, breathing fury,
resolved in their hearts to stand by one another.
And as the South Wind pours down a mist upon the mountain peaks,
a mist that shepherds loathe, yet is kinder to the thief than night itself,
where a man can see only as far as he can cast a stone;
so rose a storm-cloud of dust from beneath their feet
as they advanced, and with great speed they consumed the plain.
When they had drawn near, advancing one against the other,
godlike Alexander stepped forward as a champion for the Trojans,
with a leopard skin upon his shoulders, and a curved bow
and a sword. Brandishing two spears tipped with bronze,
he challenged all the best of the Argives
to face him in mortal combat, in the dread crucible of war.
But when Menelaus, beloved of Ares, saw him
striding forth from the ranks with long steps,
he rejoiced like a starving lion that chances upon a great carcass,
having found either a horned stag or a wild goat;
for he devours it greedily, even though
swift hounds and strong young men set upon him.
So did Menelaus rejoice when his eyes fell upon godlike Alexander,
for he thought he would have his vengeance on the transgressor.
At once, he leaped from his chariot in all his armor and sprang to the ground.
But when godlike Alexander saw him
appear among the champions, his very heart was shaken,
and he shrank back into the throng of his comrades, avoiding death.
Just as a man who spies a serpent in a mountain glen recoils,
and a tremor seizes his limbs,
and he retreats again, a pallor seizing his cheeks,
so did godlike Alexander, fearing the son of Atreus,
shrink back into the ranks of the proud Trojans.
But Hector, seeing him, assailed him with words of bitter shame:
“Accursed Paris, you handsome deceiver, you seducer of women!
If only you had never been born, or had died unwed!
That is what I would wish, and it would have been far better
than for you to be such a disgrace and an object of others’ scorn.
How the long-haired Achaeans must be laughing,
thinking you our foremost champion because you possess a handsome form,
when there is no strength in your heart, no courage.
Was this the man you were when you sailed across the sea in your seafaring ships,
gathering your trusted companions,
and mingling with foreigners, you brought back a beautiful woman
from a distant land, a kinswoman of spearmen,
a great affliction to your father and your city and all your people,
but a joy to our enemies, and a shame to yourself?
Could you not face Menelaus, beloved of Ares?
Then you would learn what kind of man he is whose lovely wife you hold.
Your lyre would not help you then, nor the gifts of Aphrodite,
your flowing hair and your beauty, when you lie mingled in the dust.
But the Trojans are too timid; otherwise, you would have long since worn a tunic of stone
for all the evils you have wrought.”
And godlike Alexander answered him in turn:
“Hector, since you rebuke me justly, and not beyond what is just—
your heart is ever unyielding, like an axe
that hews through a timber, driven by a man who skillfully
shapes a ship’s plank, and it magnifies his strength;
such is the fearless spirit in your breast—
do not reproach me for the lovely gifts of golden Aphrodite.
The glorious gifts of the gods are not to be cast aside,
whatever they may grant, for no man could win them for himself by his own will.
But now, if you wish me to do battle and to fight,
make the other Trojans and all the Achaeans sit down,
and pit me in the middle with Menelaus, beloved of Ares,
to fight for Helen and all her treasures.
Whichever of us proves the better man and wins the victory,
let him take all the possessions and the woman and bear them home.
And let the rest of you, sealing a pact of friendship and solemn oaths,
dwell in the fertile land of Troy, while they return
to Argos, famed for its horses, and Achaea, land of fair women.”
So he spoke, and Hector rejoiced greatly to hear his words.
He went into the middle of the armies and held back the Trojan phalanxes,
holding his spear by the middle, and they all sat down.
But the long-haired Achaeans began to shoot at him,
aiming with arrows and casting stones.
Then Agamemnon, lord of men, cried out in a loud voice:
“Hold, Argives! Do not shoot, you sons of the Achaeans!
For Hector of the flashing helm is about to speak a word.”
So he spoke, and they held back from the fight and fell silent
at once. And Hector spoke between the two armies:
“Hear from me, you Trojans and you well-greaved Achaeans,
the proposal of Alexander, on whose account this strife has arisen.
He bids the other Trojans and all the Achaeans
to lay aside their fine armor upon the bounteous earth,
while he himself and Menelaus, beloved of Ares,
fight alone in the middle for Helen and all her treasures.
Whichever of them proves the better man and wins the victory,
let him take all the possessions and the woman and bear them home.
And let the rest of us seal a pact of friendship and solemn oaths.”
So he spoke, and they all fell into a hushed silence.
Then Menelaus of the loud war-cry spoke among them:
“Hear me now also, for this sorrow touches my heart most of all.
I think it is time for Argives and Trojans to be parted,
for you have suffered many evils
for the sake of my quarrel and its beginning with Alexander.
Let him of us for whom death and fate are destined,
let him die; and let the rest of you be parted with all speed.
Bring two lambs, one white ram and one black ewe,
for the Earth and the Sun; and for Zeus we shall bring another.
And bring the mighty Priam, so that he may seal the oaths
himself, since his sons are arrogant and faithless,
lest someone by a transgression should profane the oaths of Zeus.
The hearts of younger men are ever wavering;
but when an old man is present, he looks both before and after,
so that the outcome may be best for both sides.”
So he spoke, and the Achaeans and Trojans rejoiced,
hoping to find an end to the miseries of war.
They reined in their horses in the ranks, and they themselves dismounted,
and stripped off their armor, laying it upon the ground
with little space between the armies.
Hector then sent two heralds to the city
to fetch the lambs with speed and to summon Priam.
And Lord Agamemnon sent Talthybius forth
to the hollow ships, and ordered him to bring a lamb;
and he did not disobey godlike Agamemnon.
Meanwhile, Iris came as a messenger to white-armed Helen,
taking the form of her sister-in-law, the wife of Antenor’s son,
she whom Lord Helicaon, son of Antenor, had for his wife,
Laodice, the most beautiful of Priam’s daughters.
She found Helen in her great hall, weaving a vast web of cloth,
a purple folding robe, and working into it the many trials
of the horse-taming Trojans and the bronze-clad Achaeans,
which they had suffered for her sake at the hands of Ares.
Standing near her, swift-footed Iris spoke:
“Come here, dear lady, that you may see the wondrous deeds
of the horse-taming Trojans and the bronze-clad Achaeans.
They who before brought tearful war against each other upon the plain,
eager for destructive battle,
now sit in silence, for the fighting has ceased.
They lean upon their shields, and their long spears are planted beside them.
But Alexander and Menelaus, beloved of Ares,
will fight with their long spears for you;
and you shall be called the beloved wife of him who is victorious.”
With these words, the goddess cast into Helen’s heart a sweet longing
for her former husband, and her city, and her parents.
Straightway she veiled herself in shining white linen
and hastened from her chamber, letting fall a tender tear;
not alone, for two handmaidens followed her,
Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, and ox-eyed Clymene.
And soon they came to the place of the Scaean Gates.
There, the elders of the people sat at the Scaean Gates: Priam, and Panthous, and Thymoetes,
Lampus and Clytius, and Hicetaon, a scion of Ares,
along with Ucalegon and Antenor,
both men of sound wisdom.
They had ceased from fighting, for old age was upon them, but they were noble speakers,
like cicadas that sit in the woods upon a tree
and pour forth their lily-like voices.
Such were the leaders of the Trojans who sat upon the tower.
When they saw Helen approaching the tower,
they spoke softly to one another with winged words:
“There is no shame that Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans
should suffer so long for such a woman.
She is terribly like the immortal goddesses to look upon.
But even so, for all her beauty, let her go home in the ships,
and not be left here as a sorrow for us and for our children after us.”
So they spoke, but Priam called to Helen with his voice:
“Come here and sit before me, my dear child,
so that you may see your former husband and your kinsmen and your friends—
you are not to blame in my eyes; it is the gods who are to blame,
who brought upon me this tearful war with the Achaeans—
and so that you may name for me this immense man,
whoever he may be, this Achaean so noble and so tall.
There are others, to be sure, who are taller by a head,
but I have never seen with my own eyes a man so comely,
nor so majestic; for he has the look of a king.”
And Helen, divine among women, answered him with her words:
“You are revered in my eyes, dear father-in-law, and I hold you in dread.
I wish that a bitter death had been my pleasure, when I followed your son here,
leaving my marriage chamber and my kinsfolk,
my late-born child and the lovely company of my age-mates.
But these things were not to be; and so I waste away in weeping.
Yet I will tell you what you ask and inquire of me.
That man is the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon,
who is both a good king and a mighty spearman.
And he was once my brother-in-law, shameless creature that I am, if ever that life was real.”
So she spoke, and the old man was filled with wonder and said:
“O blessed son of Atreus, child of fortune, favored by the gods,
truly many are the sons of the Achaeans who are subject to you.
Once I journeyed to Phrygia, rich in vines,
and there I saw the Phrygian warriors in their multitudes with their flashing steeds,
the armies of Otreus and godlike Mygdon,
who were then encamped by the banks of the Sangarius river.
I too was counted among them as an ally on that day
when the Amazons came, women who were the equals of men.
But even they were not so numerous as the bright-eyed Achaeans.”
Then the old man, seeing Odysseus next, asked a second question:
“Come, tell me also of this man, dear child, who he is.
He is shorter by a head than Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
but broader to behold in the shoulders and the chest.
His armor lies upon the bounteous earth,
but he himself moves like a ram among the ranks of men.
I liken him to a thick-fleeced ram,
that makes its way through a great flock of white ewes.”
Then Helen, daughter of Zeus, answered him:
“This is the son of Laertes, Odysseus of many wiles,
who was raised in the land of Ithaca, rocky though it is,
and is skilled in all manner of stratagems and cunning counsels.”
To her, the wise Antenor then replied:
“My lady, you have spoken a most truthful word.
For once before, the divine Odysseus came here
on an embassy concerning you, along with Menelaus, beloved of Ares.
I received them as guests and entertained them in my own halls,
and I came to know the nature and the cunning counsels of them both.
When they mixed with the Trojans in assembly,
Menelaus, when they were standing, overtopped him with his broad shoulders;
but when both were seated, Odysseus was the more majestic.
And when they began to weave their words and counsels for all to hear,
Menelaus spoke fluently,
a few words, but very clearly, since he was not a man of many words,
nor one to miss the mark in speaking, though he was the younger man.
But when Odysseus of many wiles rose to his feet,
he would stand and look down, his eyes fixed upon the ground,
and he would not brandish his scepter, neither backward nor forward,
but held it motionless, like a man of no experience;
you would have said he was some sullen fellow, and a fool as well.
But when he sent forth the great voice from his chest
and words that were like the snowflakes of winter,
then no other mortal could contend with Odysseus.
And then we did not so much marvel at the sight of Odysseus’s form.”
Seeing Ajax for a third time, the old man asked again:
“Who is that other Achaean, so noble and so tall,
towering over the Argives by his head and broad shoulders?”
And Helen of the long robes, divine among women, replied:
“That is the mighty Ajax, a bulwark of the Achaeans;
And on the other side, Idomeneus stands among the Cretans like a god,
and the leaders of the Cretans are gathered around him.
Menelaus, beloved of Ares, often hosted him in our home,
whenever he came from Crete.
And now I see all the other bright-eyed Achaeans,
whom I could well recognize and tell you their names.
But two commanders of the host I cannot see,
Castor, the tamer of horses, and Polydeuces, the skilled boxer,
my own brothers, whom the same mother bore to me.
Either they did not follow from lovely Lacedaemon,
or they came here in their seafaring ships,
but now are unwilling to enter the battle of men
fearing the disgrace and the many reproaches that are mine.”
So she spoke, but the life-giving earth already held them fast
there in Lacedaemon, in their own dear native land.
Meanwhile, the heralds bore the sacred objects for the oaths of the gods through the city,
two lambs, and the heart-gladdening wine, fruit of the earth,
in a goatskin flask. The herald Idaeus also carried a gleaming mixing-bowl
and golden cups.
He went and stood by the old king and urged him on with his words:
“Rise, son of Laomedon! The chieftains
of the horse-taming Trojans and the bronze-clad Achaeans
are calling for you to come down to the plain, so that you may seal a solemn oath.
For Alexander and Menelaus, beloved of Ares,
will fight with their long spears for the woman.
To the victor will go the woman and the possessions.
And the rest of us, sealing a pact of friendship and solemn oaths,
may dwell in the fertile land of Troy, while they return
to Argos, famed for its horses, and Achaea, land of fair women.”
So he spoke, and the old man shuddered, but he commanded his attendants
to yoke the horses, and they obeyed with speed.
Priam mounted the chariot and drew back the reins;
and beside him Antenor stepped into the beautiful chariot.
The two of them drove the swift horses through the Scaean Gates and out onto the plain.
When they had come to the space between the Trojans and the Achaeans,
they stepped down from their chariots onto the bounteous earth
and walked into the middle of the Trojans and Achaeans.
Agamemnon, lord of men, rose at once,
and with him Odysseus of many wiles. The noble heralds
brought together the sacred objects for the oaths of the gods, mixed the wine in the bowl,
and poured water over the hands of the kings.
Then the son of Atreus drew with his hands the dagger,
that always hung beside the great sheath of his sword,
and cut locks of wool from the heads of the lambs. But then
the heralds of the Trojans and the Achaeans distributed them among the chieftains.
And the son of Atreus prayed aloud, raising his hands:
“Father Zeus, who rules from Ida, most glorious, most great!
And you, O Sun, who sees all things and hears all things!
And you, O rivers and you, O earth, and you who in the world below punish the souls
of men who have sworn a false oath! Be you our witnesses,
and guard our solemn oaths.
If Alexander should slay Menelaus,
then let him keep Helen and all her possessions,
and let us return home in our seafaring ships.
But if fair-haired Menelaus should slay Alexander,
then let the Trojans give back Helen and all her possessions,
and pay to the Argives such recompense as is fitting,
one that will be remembered among men yet to be born.
But if Priam and the sons of Priam
are not willing to pay me this recompense after Alexander has fallen,
then I for my part will fight on for that payment,
and I will stay here until I find an end to this war.”
He spoke, and with the pitiless bronze he cut the throats of the lambs;
and laid them on the ground, gasping,
their life’s breath fleeing them, for the bronze had stolen their strength.
Then, drawing wine from the mixing-bowl into their cups,
they poured it out and prayed to the gods who live forever.
And thus a man from the Achaeans or the Trojans would say:
“Zeus, most glorious, most great, and you other immortal gods!
Whichever side is first to break these oaths,
may their brains be poured out on the ground like this wine,
theirs and their children’s, and may their wives be taken by other men.”
So they spoke, but the son of Cronos did not yet grant their prayer.
Then Priam, descendant of Dardanus, spoke among them:
“Hear me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans.
I, for my part, am returning to windy Ilium,
for I cannot bear to watch with my own eyes
my dear son do battle with Menelaus, beloved of Ares.
Zeus surely knows, and the other immortal gods,
to which of them the fulfillment of death has been allotted.”
So spoke the godlike man, and placed the lambs in his chariot,
then mounted it himself and drew back the reins;
beside him, Antenor stepped into the beautiful chariot.
And so they turned back and returned to Ilium.
Then Hector, son of Priam, and the divine Odysseus
first measured out a space, and then
took two lots and shook them in a bronze helmet,
to decide which of the two should be the first to cast his bronze spear.
And the people prayed, stretching their hands to the gods,
and thus a man from the Achaeans or Trojans would say:
“Father Zeus, who rules from Ida, most glorious, most great!
Whichever of these two has brought these troubles upon both our peoples,
grant that he may die and enter the house of Hades,
and that for us there may be friendship and solemn oaths.”
So they spoke, and great Hector of the flashing helm shook the lots,
looking away. And straightway the lot of Paris leaped out.
Then the men sat down in their ranks, where each man’s
high-stepping horses and his inlaid armor lay.
And he, divine Alexander, husband of fair-haired Helen, put on his beautiful armor
about his shoulders.
First, he placed upon his shins the fine greaves,
fitted with silver ankle-pieces.
Second, he put on the cuirass around his chest
of his brother Lycaon, and it fitted him well.
Around his shoulders he slung his silver-hilted sword
of bronze, and then his great and sturdy shield.
Upon his mighty head he placed a well-wrought helmet
with a horsehair crest, and the plume nodded menacingly from above.
And he took up a valiant spear, which fitted well into his grasp.
In the same way, the warlike Menelaus put on his armor.
When they had armed themselves on either side of the throng,
they strode into the middle of the Trojans and Achaeans
their gazes terrible. And wonder seized all who looked upon them,
both the horse-taming Trojans and the well-greaved Achaeans.
They stood near each other in the measured space,
brandishing their spears in anger at one another.
First Alexander hurled his far-shadowing spear,
and struck the shield of the son of Atreus, which was equal on all sides.
But the bronze did not break through, and its point was bent back
in the strong shield. Then the son of Atreus
Menelaus, rose up in his turn to cast with his bronze spear, praying to Father Zeus:
“Lord Zeus, grant that I may have vengeance on the man who first did me wrong,
the divine Alexander, and subdue him beneath my hands,
so that any man, even of generations yet to come,
may shudder to do wrong to a host who has offered him friendship.”
He spoke, and poised and hurled his far-shadowing spear,
and struck the shield of the son of Priam, which was equal on all sides.
Through the gleaming shield the mighty spear went,
and through the richly-wrought cuirass it forced its way,
and straight alongside his flank the spear tore his tunic;
but he swerved aside and escaped black death.
Then the son of Atreus drew his silver-hilted sword
and, raising it high, he struck the ridge of the helmet; but the sword shattered upon it
into three and four pieces and fell from his hand.
And the son of Atreus groaned, looking up to the broad heaven:
“Father Zeus, no other god is more cruel than you!
I thought I would have my vengeance for Alexander’s wickedness,
but now my sword has broken in my hands, and my spear
has flown from my palm in vain, and I have not struck him.”
He spoke, and springing forward, he seized him by the horse-haired crest of his helmet,
and turning, began to drag him toward the well-greaved Achaeans.
The richly-embroidered strap was choking him beneath his tender throat,
the chinstrap that was stretched taut beneath his chin as a holder for his helmet.
And now he would have dragged him off and won unspeakable glory,
had not Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, been quick to see.
She broke the strap, made from the hide of a slaughtered ox,
and the empty helmet came away in his powerful hand.
The hero then spun it around and cast it among the well-greaved Achaeans,
and his trusted comrades retrieved it.
But he himself sprang back again, intent on killing his foe
with his bronze spear. But Aphrodite snatched Paris away,
very easily, as a goddess can; she shrouded him in a thick mist,
and set him down in his fragrant, perfumed chamber.
Then she herself went to summon Helen. She found her
on the high tower, with the Trojan women crowded around her.
She took hold of her nectar-scented robe and plucked it with her hand,
and spoke to her in the guise of an aged crone,
a wool-carder who, when Helen had lived in Lacedaemon,
used to dress her beautiful wool, and whom she loved dearly.
In this form, the divine Aphrodite addressed her:
“Come! Alexander summons you to go home.
He is in his chamber, on his inlaid bed,
gleaming with beauty and fine garments. You would not think
he had come from fighting a man, but rather that he was going to a dance,
or had just sat down after ceasing from the dance.”
So she spoke, and stirred the heart in Helen’s breast.
And when she perceived the goddess’s lovely neck
and her enchanting bosom and her flashing eyes,
she was seized with wonder and spoke a word and called her by name:
“Strange goddess, why do you delight in deceiving me so?
Will you lead me on to some other well-peopled city,
in Phrygia or lovely Maeonia,
if some mortal man there is also dear to you?
Is it because Menelaus has now defeated divine Alexander
and wishes to take me, a hateful creature, back to his home,
that you have now come here with your cunning wiles?
Go and sit by him yourself, and forsake the path of the gods,
and never again turn your feet toward Olympus,
but always fret over him and watch over him,
until he makes you either his wife or his slave.
I will not go there—it would be a shameful thing—
to attend to that man’s bed. All the women of Troy will reproach me hereafter,
and I have endless sorrows in my heart.”
Then the divine Aphrodite grew angry and addressed her:
“Do not provoke me, wretched woman, lest in my anger I forsake you,
and come to hate you as terribly as I have loved you until now,
and I devise a bitter hatred for you in the midst of both armies,
the Trojans and the Danaans, and you perish by a miserable fate.”
So she spoke, and Helen, daughter of Zeus, was afraid.
She went, wrapping herself in her shining white robe,
in silence, and all the Trojan women failed to notice her; and the goddess led the way.
When they came to the beautiful house of Alexander,
the handmaidens turned swiftly to their tasks,
while she, divine among women, went to her high-roofed chamber.
And for her, the laughter-loving Aphrodite took a chair
and, carrying it, the goddess placed it before Alexander.
There Helen, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, sat down,
turning her eyes away, and she rebuked her husband with a word:
“You have come from the war. How I wish you had perished there,
subdued by that mighty man who was my former husband.
You used to boast that you were a better man than Menelaus,
beloved of Ares, in your strength and with your hands and with your spear.
Go now, and challenge Menelaus, beloved of Ares,
to fight you once again face to face. But I would advise you
to stop, and not to wage war and fight face to face with fair-haired Menelaus
without due thought,
lest you be swiftly subdued by his spear.”
And Paris answered her with his words:
“Wife, do not wound my heart with harsh reproaches.
For now, Menelaus has won, with Athena’s help;
but I will vanquish him another time, for there are gods on our side too.
But come, let us turn to love and lie together.
For never before has such desire enfolded my heart,
not even when I first sailed from lovely Lacedaemon,
having snatched you away in my seafaring ships,
and on the isle of Cranae I lay with you in love and in your bed,
as I desire you now, and a sweet longing seizes me.”
He spoke, and led the way to the bed, and his wife followed with him.
So they lay down upon their corded bed.
But the son of Atreus roamed through the throng like a wild beast,
searching to see if he could catch sight of godlike Alexander.
But no one among the Trojans or their famed allies
could show Alexander to Menelaus, beloved of Ares.
And it was not for love that they would have hidden him, if any had seen him,
for he was hated by them all, as much as black death itself.
And Agamemnon, lord of men, spoke among them:
“Hear me, you Trojans and Dardanians and allies!
The victory clearly lies with Menelaus, beloved of Ares.
So you must give back Argive Helen and her possessions with her,
and pay a recompense such as is fitting,
one that will be remembered among men yet to be born.”
So spoke the son of Atreus, and the other Achaeans roared their assent.

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