ἸΛΙΆΣ 4

Οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἠγορόωντο
χρυσέῳ ἐν δαπέδῳ, μετὰ δέ σφισι πότνια Ἥβη
νέκταρ ἐοινοχόει· τοὶ δὲ χρυσέοις δεπάεσσι
δειδέχατ’ ἀλλήλους, Τρώων πόλιν εἰσορόωντες·
αὐτίκ’ ἐπειρᾶτο Κρονίδης ἐρεθιζέμεν Ἥρην
κερτομίοις ἐπέεσσι παραβλήδην ἀγορεύων·
δοιαὶ μὲν Μενελάῳ ἀρηγόνες εἰσὶ θεάων
Ἥρη τ’ Ἀργείη καὶ Ἀλαλκομενηῒς Ἀθήνη.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι ταὶ νόσφι καθήμεναι εἰσορόωσαι
τέρπεσθον· τῷ δ’ αὖτε φιλομειδὴς Ἀφροδίτη
αἰεὶ παρμέμβλωκε καὶ αὐτοῦ κῆρας ἀμύνει·
καὶ νῦν ἐξεσάωσεν ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι νίκη μὲν ἀρηϊφίλου Μενελάου·
ἡμεῖς δὲ φραζώμεθ’ ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,
ἤ ῥ’ αὖτις πόλεμόν τε κακὸν καὶ φύλοπιν αἰνὴν
ὄρσομεν, ἦ φιλότητα μετ’ ἀμφοτέροισι βάλωμεν.
εἰ δ’ αὖ πως τόδε πᾶσι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,
ἤτοι μὲν οἰκέοιτο πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος,
αὖτις δ’ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην Μενέλαος ἄγοιτο.
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, αἳ δ’ ἐπέμυξαν Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ Ἥρη·
πλησίαι αἵ γ’ ἥσθην, κακὰ δὲ Τρώεσσι μεδέσθην.

ἤτοι Ἀθηναίη ἀκέων ἦν οὐδέ τι εἶπε
σκυζομένη Διὶ πατρί, χόλος δέ μιν ἄγριος ᾕρει·
Ἥρῃ δ’ οὐκ ἔχαδε στῆθος χόλον, ἀλλὰ προσηύδα·
«αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες·
πῶς ἐθέλεις ἅλιον θεῖναι πόνον ἠδ’ ἀτέλεστον,
ἱδρῶ θ’ ὃν ἵδρωσα μόγῳ, καμέτην δέ μοι ἵπποι
λαὸν ἀγειρούσῃ, Πριάμῳ κακὰ τοῖό τε παισίν.
ἕρδ’· ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι.»
Τὴν δὲ μέγ’ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
«δαιμονίη τί νύ σε Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες
τόσσα κακὰ ῥέζουσιν, ὅ τ’ ἀσπερχὲς μενεαίνεις
Ἰλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον;
εἰ δὲ σύ γ’ εἰσελθοῦσα πύλας καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ
ὠμὸν βεβρώθοις Πρίαμον Πριάμοιό τε παῖδας
ἄλλους τε Τρῶας, τότε κεν χόλον ἐξακέσαιο.
ἕρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις· μὴ τοῦτό γε νεῖκος ὀπίσσω
σοὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ μέγ’ ἔρισμα μετ’ ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ’ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν·
ὁππότε κεν καὶ ἐγὼ μεμαὼς πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι
τὴν ἐθέλω ὅθι τοι φίλοι ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασι,
μή τι διατρίβειν τὸν ἐμὸν χόλον, ἀλλά μ’ ἐᾶσαι·
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ σοὶ δῶκα ἑκὼν ἀέκοντί γε θυμῷ·
αἳ γὰρ ὑπ’ ἠελίῳ τε καὶ οὐρανῷ ἀστερόεντι
ναιετάουσι πόληες ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων,
τάων μοι περὶ κῆρι τιέσκετο Ἴλιος ἱρὴ
καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο.
οὐ γάρ μοί ποτε βωμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης
λοιβῆς τε κνίσης τε· τὸ γὰρ λάχομεν γέρας ἡμεῖς.»
Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
«ἤτοι ἐμοὶ τρεῖς μὲν πολὺ φίλταταί εἰσι πόληες
Ἄργός τε Σπάρτη τε καὶ εὐρυάγυια Μυκήνη·
τὰς διαπέρσαι ὅτ’ ἄν τοι ἀπέχθωνται περὶ κῆρι·

τάων οὔ τοι ἐγὼ πρόσθ’ ἵσταμαι οὐδὲ μεγαίρω.
εἴ περ γὰρ φθονέω τε καὶ οὐκ εἰῶ διαπέρσαι,
οὐκ ἀνύω φθονέουσ’ ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐσσι.
ἀλλὰ χρὴ καὶ ἐμὸν θέμεναι πόνον οὐκ ἀτέλεστον·
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, γένος δέ μοι ἔνθεν ὅθεν σοί,
καί με πρεσβυτάτην τέκετο Κρόνος ἀγκυλομήτης,
ἀμφότερον γενεῇ τε καὶ οὕνεκα σὴ παράκοιτις
κέκλημαι, σὺ δὲ πᾶσι μετ’ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀνάσσεις.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦθ’ ὑποείξομεν ἀλλήλοισι,
σοὶ μὲν ἐγώ, σὺ δ’ ἐμοί· ἐπὶ δ’ ἕψονται θεοὶ ἄλλοι
ἀθάνατοι· σὺ δὲ θᾶσσον Ἀθηναίῃ ἐπιτεῖλαι
ἐλθεῖν ἐς Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπιν αἰνήν,
πειρᾶν δ’ ὥς κε Τρῶες ὑπερκύδαντας Ἀχαιοὺς
ἄρξωσι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσασθαι.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἀπίθησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·
αὐτίκ’ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«αἶψα μάλ’ ἐς στρατὸν ἐλθὲ μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,
πειρᾶν δ’ ὥς κε Τρῶες ὑπερκύδαντας Ἀχαιοὺς
ἄρξωσι πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσασθαι.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην,
βῆ δὲ κατ’ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα.
οἷον δ’ ἀστέρα ἧκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω,
ἢ ναύτῃσι τέρας ἠὲ στρατῷ εὐρέϊ λαῶν
λαμπρόν· τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἀπὸ σπινθῆρες ἵενται·
τῷ ἐϊκυῖ’ ἤϊξεν ἐπὶ χθόνα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
κὰδ δ’ ἔθορ’ ἐς μέσσον· θάμβος δ’ ἔχεν εἰσορόωντας
Τρῶάς θ’ ἱπποδάμους καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
«ἦ ῥ’ αὖτις πόλεμός τε κακὸς καὶ φύλοπις αἰνὴ
ἔσσεται, ἢ φιλότητα μετ’ ἀμφοτέροισι τίθησι
Ζεύς, ὅς τ’ ἀνθρώπων ταμίης πολέμοιο τέτυκται.»
Ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκεν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε.

ἣ δ’ ἀνδρὶ ἰκέλη Τρώων κατεδύσεθ’ ὅμιλον
Λαοδόκῳ Ἀντηνορίδῃ κρατερῷ αἰχμητῇ,
Πάνδαρον ἀντίθεον διζημένη εἴ που ἐφεύροι.
εὗρε Λυκάονος υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τε
ἑσταότ’· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κρατεραὶ στίχες ἀσπιστάων
λαῶν, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο ἀπ’ Αἰσήποιο ῥοάων·
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱσταμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο Λυκάονος υἱὲ δαΐφρον.
τλαίης κεν Μενελάῳ ἐπιπροέμεν ταχὺν ἰόν,
πᾶσι δέ κε Τρώεσσι χάριν καὶ κῦδος ἄροιο,
ἐκ πάντων δὲ μάλιστα Ἀλεξάνδρῳ βασιλῆϊ.
τοῦ κεν δὴ πάμπρωτα παρ’ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα φέροιο,
αἴ κεν ἴδῃ Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱὸν
σῷ βέλεϊ δμηθέντα πυρῆς ἐπιβάντ’ ἀλεγεινῆς.
ἀλλ’ ἄγ’ ὀΐστευσον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
εὔχεο δ’ Ἀπόλλωνι Λυκηγενέϊ κλυτοτόξῳ
ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην
οἴκαδε νοστήσας ἱερῆς εἰς ἄστυ Ζελείης.»
Ὣς φάτ’ Ἀθηναίη, τῷ δὲ φρένας ἄφρονι πεῖθεν·
αὐτίκ’ ἐσύλα τόξον ἐΰξοον ἰξάλου αἰγὸς
ἀγρίου, ὅν ῥά ποτ’ αὐτὸς ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τυχήσας
πέτρης ἐκβαίνοντα δεδεγμένος ἐν προδοκῇσι
βεβλήκει πρὸς στῆθος· ὃ δ’ ὕπτιος ἔμπεσε πέτρῃ.
τοῦ κέρα ἐκ κεφαλῆς ἑκκαιδεκάδωρα πεφύκει·
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀσκήσας κεραοξόος ἤραρε τέκτων,
πᾶν δ’ εὖ λειήνας χρυσέην ἐπέθηκε κορώνην.
καὶ τὸ μὲν εὖ κατέθηκε τανυσσάμενος ποτὶ γαίῃ
ἀγκλίνας· πρόσθεν δὲ σάκεα σχέθον ἐσθλοὶ ἑταῖροι
μὴ πρὶν ἀναΐξειαν ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
πρὶν βλῆσθαι Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱόν.
αὐτὰρ ὁ σύλα πῶμα φαρέτρης, ἐκ δ’ ἕλετ’ ἰὸν

ἀβλῆτα πτερόεντα μελαινέων ἕρμ’ ὀδυνάων·
αἶψα δ’ ἐπὶ νευρῇ κατεκόσμει πικρὸν ὀϊστόν,
εὔχετο δ’ Ἀπόλλωνι Λυκηγενέϊ κλυτοτόξῳ
ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην
οἴκαδε νοστήσας ἱερῆς εἰς ἄστυ Ζελείης.
ἕλκε δ’ ὁμοῦ γλυφίδας τε λαβὼν καὶ νεῦρα βόεια·
νευρὴν μὲν μαζῷ πέλασεν, τόξῳ δὲ σίδηρον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ κυκλοτερὲς μέγα τόξον ἔτεινε,
λίγξε βιός, νευρὴ δὲ μέγ’ ἴαχεν, ἆλτο δ’ ὀϊστὸς
ὀξυβελὴς καθ’ ὅμιλον ἐπιπτέσθαι μενεαίνων.
Οὐδὲ σέθεν Μενέλαε θεοὶ μάκαρες λελάθοντο
ἀθάνατοι, πρώτη δὲ Διὸς θυγάτηρ ἀγελείη,
ἥ τοι πρόσθε στᾶσα βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἄμυνεν.
ἣ δὲ τόσον μὲν ἔεργεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ὡς ὅτε μήτηρ
παιδὸς ἐέργῃ μυῖαν ὅθ’ ἡδέϊ λέξαται ὕπνῳ,
αὐτὴ δ’ αὖτ’ ἴθυνεν ὅθι ζωστῆρος ὀχῆες
χρύσειοι σύνεχον καὶ διπλόος ἤντετο θώρηξ.
ἐν δ’ ἔπεσε ζωστῆρι ἀρηρότι πικρὸς ὀϊστός·
διὰ μὲν ἂρ ζωστῆρος ἐλήλατο δαιδαλέοιο,
καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο
μίτρης θ’, ἣν ἐφόρει ἔρυμα χροὸς ἕρκος ἀκόντων,
ἥ οἱ πλεῖστον ἔρυτο· διὰ πρὸ δὲ εἴσατο καὶ τῆς.
ἀκρότατον δ’ ἄρ’ ὀϊστὸς ἐπέγραψε χρόα φωτός·
αὐτίκα δ’ ἔῤῥεεν αἷμα κελαινεφὲς ἐξ ὠτειλῆς.
Ὡς δ’ ὅτε τίς τ’ ἐλέφαντα γυνὴ φοίνικι μιήνῃ
Μῃονὶς ἠὲ Κάειρα παρήϊον ἔμμεναι ἵππων·
κεῖται δ’ ἐν θαλάμῳ, πολέες τέ μιν ἠρήσαντο
ἱππῆες φορέειν· βασιλῆϊ δὲ κεῖται ἄγαλμα,
ἀμφότερον κόσμός θ’ ἵππῳ ἐλατῆρί τε κῦδος·

τοῖοί τοι Μενέλαε μιάνθην αἵματι μηροὶ
εὐφυέες κνῆμαί τε ἰδὲ σφυρὰ κάλ’ ὑπένερθε.
Ῥίγησεν δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
ὡς εἶδεν μέλαν αἷμα καταῤῥέον ἐξ ὠτειλῆς·
ῥίγησεν δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος.
ὡς δὲ ἴδεν νεῦρόν τε καὶ ὄγκους ἐκτὸς ἐόντας
ἄψοῤῥόν οἱ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀγέρθη.
τοῖς δὲ βαρὺ στενάχων μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
χειρὸς ἔχων Μενέλαον, ἐπεστενάχοντο δ’ ἑταῖροι·
«φίλε κασίγνητε θάνατόν νύ τοι ὅρκι’ ἔταμνον,
οἶον προστήσας πρὸ Ἀχαιῶν Τρωσὶ μάχεσθαι,
ὥς σ’ ἔβαλον Τρῶες, κατὰ δ’ ὅρκια πιστὰ πάτησαν.
οὐ μέν πως ἅλιον πέλει ὅρκιον αἷμά τε ἀρνῶν
σπονδαί τ’ ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαὶ ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν.
εἴ περ γάρ τε καὶ αὐτίκ’ Ὀλύμπιος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν,
ἔκ τε καὶ ὀψὲ τελεῖ, σύν τε μεγάλῳ ἀπέτισαν
σὺν σφῇσιν κεφαλῇσι γυναιξί τε καὶ τεκέεσσιν.
εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·
ἔσσεται ἦμαρ ὅτ’ ἄν ποτ’ ὀλώλῃ Ἴλιος ἱρὴ
καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο,
Ζεὺς δέ σφι Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος αἰθέρι ναίων
αὐτὸς ἐπισσείῃσιν ἐρεμνὴν αἰγίδα πᾶσι
τῆσδ’ ἀπάτης κοτέων· τὰ μὲν ἔσσεται οὐκ ἀτέλεστα·
ἀλλά μοι αἰνὸν ἄχος σέθεν ἔσσεται ὦ Μενέλαε
αἴ κε θάνῃς καὶ πότμον ἀναπλήσῃς βιότοιο.
καί κεν ἐλέγχιστος πολυδίψιον Ἄργος ἱκοίμην·
αὐτίκα γὰρ μνήσονται Ἀχαιοὶ πατρίδος αἴης·
κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιμεν
Ἀργείην Ἑλένην· σέο δ’ ὀστέα πύσει ἄρουρα

κειμένου ἐν Τροίῃ ἀτελευτήτῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ.
καί κέ τις ὧδ’ ἐρέει Τρώων ὑπερηνορεόντων
τύμβῳ ἐπιθρῴσκων Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο·
‘αἴθ’ οὕτως ἐπὶ πᾶσι χόλον τελέσει’ Ἀγαμέμνων,
ὡς καὶ νῦν ἅλιον στρατὸν ἤγαγεν ἐνθάδ’ Ἀχαιῶν,
καὶ δὴ ἔβη οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
σὺν κεινῇσιν νηυσὶ λιπὼν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον.’
ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τότε μοι χάνοι εὐρεῖα χθών.»
Τὸν δ’ ἐπιθαρσύνων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
«θάρσει, μηδέ τί πω δειδίσσεο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·
οὐκ ἐν καιρίῳ ὀξὺ πάγη βέλος, ἀλλὰ πάροιθεν
εἰρύσατο ζωστήρ τε παναίολος ἠδ’ ὑπένερθε
ζῶμά τε καὶ μίτρη, τὴν χαλκῆες κάμον ἄνδρες.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
«αἲ γὰρ δὴ οὕτως εἴη φίλος ὦ Μενέλαε·
ἕλκος δ’ ἰητὴρ ἐπιμάσσεται ἠδ’ ἐπιθήσει
φάρμαχ’ ἅ κεν παύσῃσι μελαινάων ὀδυνάων.»
Ἦ καὶ Ταλθύβιον θεῖον κήρυκα προσηύδα·
«Ταλθύβι’ ὅττι τάχιστα Μαχάονα δεῦρο κάλεσσον
φῶτ’ Ἀσκληπιοῦ υἱὸν ἀμύμονος ἰητῆρος,
ὄφρα ἴδῃ Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον Ἀτρέος υἱόν,
ὅν τις ὀϊστεύσας ἔβαλεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς
Τρώων ἢ Λυκίων, τῷ μὲν κλέος, ἄμμι δὲ πένθος.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἄρα οἱ κῆρυξ ἀπίθησεν ἀκούσας,
βῆ δ’ ἰέναι κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
παπταίνων ἥρωα Μαχάονα· τὸν δὲ νόησεν
ἑσταότ’· ἀμφὶ δέ μιν κρατεραὶ στίχες ἀσπιστάων
λαῶν, οἵ οἱ ἕποντο Τρίκης ἐξ ἱπποβότοιο.
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«ὄρσ’ Ἀσκληπιάδη, καλέει κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,

ὄφρα ἴδῃς Μενέλαον ἀρήϊον ἀρχὸν Ἀχαιῶν,
ὅν τις ὀϊστεύσας ἔβαλεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς
Τρώων ἢ Λυκίων, τῷ μὲν κλέος, ἄμμι δὲ πένθος.
Ὣς φάτο, τῷ δ’ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε·
βὰν δ’ ἰέναι καθ’ ὅμιλον ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δή ῥ’ ἵκανον ὅθι ξανθὸς Μενέλαος
βλήμενος ἦν, περὶ δ’ αὐτὸν ἀγηγέραθ’ ὅσσοι ἄριστοι
κυκλόσ’, ὃ δ’ ἐν μέσσοισι παρίστατο ἰσόθεος φώς,
αὐτίκα δ’ ἐκ ζωστῆρος ἀρηρότος ἕλκεν ὀϊστόν·
τοῦ δ’ ἐξελκομένοιο πάλιν ἄγεν ὀξέες ὄγκοι.
λῦσε δέ οἱ ζωστῆρα παναίολον ἠδ’ ὑπένερθε
ζῶμά τε καὶ μίτρην, τὴν χαλκῆες κάμον ἄνδρες.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ ἴδεν ἕλκος ὅθ’ ἔμπεσε πικρὸς ὀϊστός,
αἷμ’ ἐκμυζήσας ἐπ’ ἄρ’ ἤπια φάρμακα εἰδὼς
πάσσε, τά οἵ ποτε πατρὶ φίλα φρονέων πόρε Χείρων.
Ὄφρα τοὶ ἀμφεπένοντο βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον,
τόφρα δ’ ἐπὶ Τρώων στίχες ἤλυθον ἀσπιστάων·
οἳ δ’ αὖτις κατὰ τεύχε’ ἔδυν, μνήσαντο δὲ χάρμης.
Ἔνθ’ οὐκ ἂν βρίζοντα ἴδοις Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον
οὐδὲ καταπτώσσοντ’ οὐδ’ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα μάχεσθαι,
ἀλλὰ μάλα σπεύδοντα μάχην ἐς κυδιάνειραν.
ἵππους μὲν γὰρ ἔασε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλα χαλκῷ·
καὶ τοὺς μὲν θεράπων ἀπάνευθ’ ἔχε φυσιόωντας
Εὐρυμέδων υἱὸς Πτολεμαίου Πειραΐδαο·
τῷ μάλα πόλλ’ ἐπέτελλε παρισχέμεν ὁππότε κέν μιν
γυῖα λάβῃ κάματος πολέας διὰ κοιρανέοντα·
αὐτὰρ ὃ πεζὸς ἐὼν ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν·
καί ῥ’ οὓς μὲν σπεύδοντας ἴδοι Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων,
τοὺς μάλα θαρσύνεσκε παριστάμενος ἐπέεσσιν·

«Ἀργεῖοι μή πώ τι μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς·
οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ ψευδέσσι πατὴρ Ζεὺς ἔσσετ’ ἀρωγός,
ἀλλ’ οἵ περ πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσαντο
τῶν ἤτοι αὐτῶν τέρενα χρόα γῦπες ἔδονται,
ἡμεῖς αὖτ’ ἀλόχους τε φίλας καὶ νήπια τέκνα
ἄξομεν ἐν νήεσσιν, ἐπὴν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.»
Οὕς τινας αὖ μεθιέντας ἴδοι στυγεροῦ πολέμοιο,
τοὺς μάλα νεικείεσκε χολωτοῖσιν ἐπέεσσιν·
«Ἀργεῖοι ἰόμωροι ἐλεγχέες οὔ νυ σέβεσθε;
τίφθ’ οὕτως ἔστητε τεθηπότες ἠΰτε νεβροί,
αἵ τ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἔκαμον πολέος πεδίοιο θέουσαι
ἑστᾶσ’, οὐδ’ ἄρα τίς σφι μετὰ φρεσὶ γίγνεται ἀλκή·
ὣς ὑμεῖς ἔστητε τεθηπότες οὐδὲ μάχεσθε.
ἦ μένετε Τρῶας σχεδὸν ἐλθέμεν ἔνθά τε νῆες
εἰρύατ’ εὔπρυμνοι πολιῆς ἐπὶ θινὶ θαλάσσης,
ὄφρα ἴδητ’ αἴ κ’ ὔμμιν ὑπέρσχῃ χεῖρα Κρονίων;»
Ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων ἐπεπωλεῖτο στίχας ἀνδρῶν·
ἦλθε δ’ ἐπὶ Κρήτεσσι κιὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν.
οἳ δ’ ἀμφ’ Ἰδομενῆα δαΐφρονα θωρήσσοντο·
Ἰδομενεὺς μὲν ἐνὶ προμάχοις συῒ εἴκελος ἀλκήν,
Μηριόνης δ’ ἄρα οἱ πυμάτας ὄτρυνε φάλαγγας.
τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν γήθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
αὐτίκα δ’ Ἰδομενῆα προσηύδα μειλιχίοισιν·
«Ἰδομενεῦ, περὶ μέν σε τίω Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων
ἠμὲν ἐνὶ πτολέμῳ ἠδ’ ἀλλοίῳ ἐπὶ ἔργῳ
ἠδ’ ἐν δαίθ’, ὅτε πέρ τε γερούσιον αἴθοπα οἶνον
Ἀργείων οἳ ἄριστοι ἐνὶ κρητῆρι κέρωνται.
εἴ περ γάρ τ’ ἄλλοι γε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
δαιτρὸν πίνωσιν, σὸν δὲ πλεῖον δέπας αἰεὶ
ἕστηχ’, ὥς περ ἐμοί, πιέειν ὅτε θυμὸς ἀνώγοι.

ἀλλ’ ὄρσευ πόλεμον δ’ οἷος πάρος εὔχεαι εἶναι.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Ἀτρεΐδη μάλα μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐρίηρος ἑταῖρος
ἔσσομαι, ὡς τὸ πρῶτον ὑπέστην καὶ κατένευσα·
ἀλλ’ ἄλλους ὄτρυνε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
ὄφρα τάχιστα μαχώμεθ’, ἐπεὶ σύν γ’ ὅρκι’ ἔχευαν
Τρῶες· τοῖσιν δ’ αὖ θάνατος καὶ κήδε’ ὀπίσσω
ἔσσετ’ ἐπεὶ πρότεροι ὑπὲρ ὅρκια δηλήσαντο.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ παρῴχετο γηθόσυνος κῆρ·
ἦλθε δ’ ἐπ’ Αἰάντεσσι κιὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν·
τὼ δὲ κορυσσέσθην, ἅμα δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν.
ὡς δ’ ὅτ’ ἀπὸ σκοπιῆς εἶδεν νέφος αἰπόλος ἀνὴρ
ἐρχόμενον κατὰ πόντον ὑπὸ Ζεφύροιο ἰωῆς·
τῷ δέ τ’ ἄνευθεν ἐόντι μελάντερον ἠΰτε πίσσα
φαίνετ’ ἰὸν κατὰ πόντον, ἄγει δέ τε λαίλαπα πολλήν,
ῥίγησέν τε ἰδών, ὑπό τε σπέος ἤλασε μῆλα·
τοῖαι ἅμ’ Αἰάντεσσι διοτρεφέων αἰζηῶν
δήϊον ἐς πόλεμον πυκιναὶ κίνυντο φάλαγγες
κυάνεαι, σάκεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι.
καὶ τοὺς μὲν γήθησεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Αἴαντ’ Ἀργείων ἡγήτορε χαλκοχιτώνων,
σφῶϊ μέν—οὐ γὰρ ἔοικ’ ὀτρυνέμεν—οὔ τι κελεύω·
αὐτὼ γὰρ μάλα λαὸν ἀνώγετον ἶφι μάχεσθαι.
αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον
τοῖος πᾶσιν θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γένοιτο·
τώ κε τάχ’ ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
χερσὶν ὑφ’ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δὲ μετ’ ἄλλους·
ἔνθ’ ὅ γε Νέστορ’ ἔτετμε λιγὺν Πυλίων ἀγορητήν,

οὓς ἑτάρους στέλλοντα καὶ ὀτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,
ἀμφὶ μέγαν Πελάγοντα Ἀλάστορά τε Χρομίον τε
Αἵμονά τε κρείοντα Βίαντά τε ποιμένα λαῶν·
ἱππῆας μὲν πρῶτα σὺν ἵπποισιν καὶ ὄχεσφι,
πεζοὺς δ’ ἐξόπιθε στῆσεν πολέας τε καὶ ἐσθλούς,
ἕρκος ἔμεν πολέμοιο· κακοὺς δ’ ἐς μέσσον ἔλασσεν,
ὄφρα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλων τις ἀναγκαίῃ πολεμίζοι.
ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτ’ ἐπετέλλετο· τοὺς γὰρ ἀνώγει
σφοὺς ἵππους ἐχέμεν μηδὲ κλονέεσθαι ὁμίλῳ·
«μηδέ τις ἱπποσύνῃ τε καὶ ἠνορέηφι πεποιθὼς
οἶος πρόσθ’ ἄλλων μεμάτω Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι,
μηδ’ ἀναχωρείτω· ἀλαπαδνότεροι γὰρ ἔσεσθε.
ὃς δέ κ’ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὧν ὀχέων ἕτερ’ ἅρμαθ’ ἵκηται,
ἔγχει ὀρεξάσθω, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερον οὕτω.
ὧδε καὶ οἱ πρότεροι πόλεας καὶ τείχε’ ἐπόρθεον
τόνδε νόον καὶ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔχοντες.»
Ὣς ὃ γέρων ὄτρυνε πάλαι πολέμων ἐῢ εἰδώς·
καὶ τὸν μὲν γήθησεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«ὦ γέρον εἴθ’ ὡς θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν
ὥς τοι γούναθ’ ἕποιτο, βίη δέ τοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·
ἀλλά σε γῆρας τείρει ὁμοίϊον· ὡς ὄφελέν τις
ἀνδρῶν ἄλλος ἔχειν, σὺ δὲ κουροτέροισι μετεῖναι.»
Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
«Ἀτρεΐδη μάλα μέν τοι ἐγὼν ἐθέλοιμι καὶ αὐτὸς
ὣς ἔμεν ὡς ὅτε δῖον Ἐρευθαλίωνα κατέκταν.
ἀλλ’ οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα θεοὶ δόσαν ἀνθρώποισιν·
εἰ τότε κοῦρος ἔα νῦν αὖτέ με γῆρας ὀπάζει.

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς ἱππεῦσι μετέσσομαι ἠδὲ κελεύσω
βουλῇ καὶ μύθοισι· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ γερόντων.
αἰχμὰς δ’ αἰχμάσσουσι νεώτεροι, οἵ περ ἐμεῖο
ὁπλότεροι γεγάασι πεποίθασίν τε βίηφιν.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ παρῴχετο γηθόσυνος κῆρ.
εὗρ’ υἱὸν Πετεῶο Μενεσθῆα πλήξιππον
ἑσταότ’· ἀμφὶ δ’ Ἀθηναῖοι μήστωρες ἀϋτῆς·
αὐτὰρ ὃ πλησίον ἑστήκει πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς,
πὰρ δὲ Κεφαλλήνων ἀμφὶ στίχες οὐκ ἀλαπαδναὶ
ἕστασαν· οὐ γάρ πώ σφιν ἀκούετο λαὸς ἀϋτῆς,
ἀλλὰ νέον συνορινόμεναι κίνυντο φάλαγγες
Τρώων ἱπποδάμων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ μένοντες
ἕστασαν ὁππότε πύργος Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἐπελθὼν
Τρώων ὁρμήσειε καὶ ἄρξειαν πολέμοιο.
τοὺς δὲ ἰδὼν νείκεσσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«ὦ υἱὲ Πετεῶο διοτρεφέος βασιλῆος,
καὶ σὺ κακοῖσι δόλοισι κεκασμένε κερδαλεόφρον
τίπτε καταπτώσσοντες ἀφέστατε, μίμνετε δ’ ἄλλους;
σφῶϊν μέν τ’ ἐπέοικε μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἐόντας
ἑστάμεν ἠδὲ μάχης καυστειρῆς ἀντιβολῆσαι·
πρώτω γὰρ καὶ δαιτὸς ἀκουάζεσθον ἐμεῖο,
ὁππότε δαῖτα γέρουσιν ἐφοπλίζωμεν Ἀχαιοί.
ἔνθα φίλ’ ὀπταλέα κρέα ἔδμεναι ἠδὲ κύπελλα
οἴνου πινέμεναι μελιηδέος ὄφρ’ ἐθέλητον·
νῦν δὲ φίλως χ’ ὁρόῳτε καὶ εἰ δέκα πύργοι Ἀχαιῶν
ὑμείων προπάροιθε μαχοίατο νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.»
Τὸν δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«Ἀτρεΐδη ποῖόν σε ἔπος φύγεν ἕρκος ὀδόντων;
πῶς δὴ φῂς πολέμοιο μεθιέμεν ὁππότ’ Ἀχαιοὶ
Τρωσὶν ἐφ’ ἱπποδάμοισιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα;

ὄψεαι αἴ κ’ ἐθέλῃσθα καὶ αἴ κέν τοι τὰ μεμήλῃ,
Τηλεμάχοιο φίλον πατέρα προμάχοισι μιγέντα
Τρώων ἱπποδάμων· σὺ δὲ ταῦτ’ ἀνεμώλια βάζεις.»
Τὸν δ’ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
ὡς γνῶ χωομένοιο· πάλιν δ’ ὅ γε λάζετο μῦθον·
«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη πολυμήχαν’ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὔτέ σε νεικείω περιώσιον οὔτε κελεύω·
οἶδα γὰρ ὥς τοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισιν
ἤπια δήνεα οἶδε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέεις ἅ τ’ ἐγώ περ.
ἀλλ’ ἴθι ταῦτα δ’ ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσόμεθ’ εἴ τι κακὸν νῦν
εἴρηται, τὰ δὲ πάντα θεοὶ μεταμώνια θεῖεν.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν τοὺς μὲν λίπεν αὐτοῦ, βῆ δὲ μετ’ ἄλλους.
εὗρε δὲ Τυδέος υἱὸν ὑπέρθυμον Διομήδεα,
ἑσταότ’ ἔν θ’ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσι·
πὰρ δέ οἱ ἑστήκει Σθένελος Καπανήϊος υἱός.
καὶ τὸν μὲν νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«ὤ μοι Τυδέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο
τί πτώσσεις, τί δ’ ὀπιπεύεις πολέμοιο γεφύρας;
οὐ μὲν Τυδέϊ γ’ ὧδε φίλον πτωσκαζέμεν ἦεν,
ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὸ φίλων ἑτάρων δηΐοισι μάχεσθαι,
ὡς φάσαν οἵ μιν ἴδοντο πονεύμενον· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε
ἤντησ’ οὐδὲ ἴδον· περὶ δ’ ἄλλων φασὶ γενέσθαι.
ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ ἄτερ πολέμου εἰσῆλθε Μυκήνας
ξεῖνος ἅμ’ ἀντιθέῳ Πολυνείκεϊ λαὸν ἀγείρων·
οἳ δὲ τότ’ ἐστρατόωνθ’ ἱερὰ πρὸς τείχεα Θήβης,
καί ῥα μάλα λίσσοντο δόμεν κλειτοὺς ἐπικούρους·
οἳ δ’ ἔθελον δόμεναι καὶ ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευον·
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς ἔτρεψε παραίσια σήματα φαίνων.

οἱ δ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν ᾤχοντο ἰδὲ πρὸ ὁδοῦ ἐγένοντο,
Ἀσωπὸν δ’ ἵκοντο βαθύσχοινον λεχεποίην,
ἔνθ’ αὖτ’ ἀγγελίην ἐπὶ Τυδῆ στεῖλαν Ἀχαιοί.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ, πολέας δὲ κιχήσατο Καδμεΐωνας
δαινυμένους κατὰ δῶμα βίης Ἐτεοκληείης.
ἔνθ’ οὐδὲ ξεῖνός περ ἐὼν ἱππηλάτα Τυδεὺς
τάρβει, μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσιν μετὰ Καδμείοισιν,
ἀλλ’ ὅ γ’ ἀεθλεύειν προκαλίζετο, πάντα δ’ ἐνίκα
ῥηϊδίως· τοίη οἱ ἐπίρροθος ἦεν Ἀθήνη.
οἱ δὲ χολωσάμενοι Καδμεῖοι, κέντορες ἵππων,
ἂψ ἄρ’ ἀνερχομένῳ πυκινὸν λόχον εἷσαν ἄγοντες,
κούρους πεντήκοντα· δύω δ’ ἡγήτορες ἦσαν,
Μαίων Αἱμονίδης, ἐπιείκελος ἀθανάτοισιν,
υἱός τ’ Αὐτοφόνοιο, μενεπτόλεμος Πολυφόντης.
Τυδεὺς μὲν καὶ τοῖσιν ἀεικέα πότμον ἐφῆκε·
πάντας ἔπεφν’, ἕνα δ’ οἶον ἵει οἶκόνδε νέεσθαι·
Μαίον’ ἄρα προέηκε, θεῶν τεράεσσι πιθήσας.
τοῖος ἔην Τυδεὺς Αἰτώλιος· ἀλλὰ τὸν υἱὸν
γείνατο εἷο χέρεια μάχῃ, ἀγορῇ δέ τ’ ἀμείνω.»
Ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ’ οὔ τι προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
αἰδεσθεὶς βασιλῆος ἐνιπὴν αἰδοίοιο·
τὸν δ’ υἱὸς Καπανῆος ἀμείψατο κυδαλίμοιο·
«Ἀτρεΐδη, μὴ ψεύδε’ ἐπιστάμενος σάφα εἰπεῖν·
ἡμεῖς τοι πατέρων μέγ’ ἀμείνονες εὐχόμεθ’ εἶναι·
ἡμεῖς καὶ Θήβης ἕδος εἵλομεν ἑπταπύλοιο,
παυρότερον λαὸν ἀγαγόνθ’ ὑπὸ τεῖχος ἄρειον,
πειθόμενοι τεράεσσι θεῶν καὶ Ζηνὸς ἀρωγῇ·
κεῖνοι δὲ σφετέρῃσιν ἀτασθαλίῃσιν ὄλοντο
τῶ μή μοι πατέρας ποθ’ ὁμοίῃ ἔνθεο τιμῇ.»
Τὸν δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσέφη κρατερὸς Διομήδης·

«τέττα, σιωπῇ ἧσο, ἐμῷ δ’ ἐπιπείθεο μύθῳ·
οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ νεμεσῶ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν,
ὀτρύνοντι μάχεσθαι ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·
τούτῳ μὲν γὰρ κῦδος ἅμ’ ἕψεται εἴ κεν Ἀχαιοὶ
Τρῶας δῃώσωσιν ἕλωσί τε Ἴλιον ἱρήν,
τούτῳ δ’ αὖ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιῶν δῃωθέντων.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε δὴ καὶ νῶϊ μεδώμεθα θούριδος ἀλκῆς.»
Ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε·
δεινὸν δ’ ἔβραχε χαλκὸς ἐπὶ στήθεσσιν ἄνακτος
ὀρνυμένου· ὑπό κεν ταλασίφρονά περ δέος εἷλεν.
Ὡς δ’ ὅτ’ ἐν αἰγιαλῷ πολυηχέϊ κῦμα θαλάσσης
ὄρνυτ’ ἐπασσύτερον Ζεφύρου ὕπο κινήσαντος·
πόντῳ μέν τε πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
χέρσῳ ῥηγνύμενον μεγάλα βρέμει, ἀμφὶ δέ τ’ ἄκρας
κυρτὸν ἐὸν κορυφοῦται, ἀποπτύει δ’ ἁλὸς ἄχνην·
ὣς τότ’ ἐπασσύτεραι Δαναῶν κίνυντο φάλαγγες
νωλεμέως πόλεμον δέ· κέλευε δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος
ἡγεμόνων· οἳ δ’ ἄλλοι ἀκὴν ἴσαν, οὐδέ κε φαίης
τόσσον λαὸν ἕπεσθαι ἔχοντ’ ἐν στήθεσιν αὐδήν,
σιγῇ δειδιότες σημάντορας· ἀμφὶ δὲ πᾶσι
τεύχεα ποικίλ’ ἔλαμπε, τὰ εἱμένοι ἐστιχόωντο.
Τρῶες δ’, ὥς τ’ ὄϊες πολυπάμονος ἀνδρὸς ἐν αὐλῇ
μυρίαι ἑστήκασιν ἀμελγόμεναι γάλα λευκόν,
ἀζηχὲς μεμακυῖαι ἀκούουσαι ὄπα ἀρνῶν,
ὣς Τρώων ἀλαλητὸς ἀνὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν ὀρώρει·
οὐ γὰρ πάντων ἦεν ὁμὸς θρόος οὐδ’ ἴα γῆρυς,
ἀλλὰ γλῶσσα μέμικτο, πολύκλητοι δ’ ἔσαν ἄνδρες.
ὄρσε δὲ τοὺς μὲν Ἄρης, τοὺς δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
Δεῖμός τ’ ἠδὲ Φόβος καὶ Ἔρις ἄμοτον μεμαυῖα,

Ἄρεος ἀνδροφόνοιο κασιγνήτη ἑτάρη τε,
ἥ τ’ ὀλίγη μὲν πρῶτα κορύσσεται, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
οὐρανῷ ἐστήριξε κάρη καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ βαίνει·
ἥ σφιν καὶ τότε νεῖκος ὁμοίϊον ἔμβαλε μέσσῳ
ἐρχομένη καθ’ ὅμιλον ὀφέλλουσα στόνον ἀνδρῶν.
Οἳ δ’ ὅτε δή ῥ’ ἐς χῶρον ἕνα ξυνιόντες ἵκοντο,
σύν ῥ’ ἔβαλον ῥινούς, σὺν δ’ ἔγχεα καὶ μένε’ ἀνδρῶν
χαλκεοθωρήκων· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι
ἔπληντ’ ἀλλήλῃσι, πολὺς δ’ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.
ἔνθα δ’ ἅμ’ οἰμωγή τε καὶ εὐχωλὴ πέλεν ἀνδρῶν
ὀλλύντων τε καὶ ὀλλυμένων, ῥέε δ’ αἵματι γαῖα.
ὡς δ’ ὅτε χείμαῤῥοι ποταμοὶ κατ’ ὄρεσφι ῥέοντες
ἐς μισγάγκειαν συμβάλλετον ὄβριμον ὕδωρ
κρουνῶν ἐκ μεγάλων κοίλης ἔντοσθε χαράδρης,
τῶν δέ τε τηλόσε δοῦπον ἐν οὔρεσιν ἔκλυε ποιμήν·
ὣς τῶν μισγομένων γένετο ἰαχή τε πόνος τε.
Πρῶτος δ’ Ἀντίλοχος Τρώων ἕλεν ἄνδρα κορυστὴν
ἐσθλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι Θαλυσιάδην Ἐχέπωλον·
τόν ῥ’ ἔβαλε πρῶτος κόρυθος φάλον ἱπποδασείης,
ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ πῆξε, πέρησε δ’ ἄρ’ ὀστέον εἴσω
αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν,
ἤριπε δ’ ὡς ὅτε πύργος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ.
τὸν δὲ πεσόντα ποδῶν ἔλαβε κρείων Ἐλεφήνωρ
Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων,
ἕλκε δ’ ὑπ’ ἐκ βελέων, λελιημένος ὄφρα τάχιστα
τεύχεα συλήσειε· μίνυνθα δέ οἱ γένεθ’ ὁρμή.
νεκρὸν γὰρ ἐρύοντα ἰδὼν μεγάθυμος Ἀγήνωρ
πλευρά, τά οἱ κύψαντι παρ’ ἀσπίδος ἐξεφαάνθη,
οὔτησε ξυστῷ χαλκήρεϊ, λῦσε δὲ γυῖα.
ὣς τὸν μὲν λίπε θυμός, ἐπ’ αὐτῷ δ’ ἔργον ἐτύχθη

ἀργαλέον Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν· οἳ δὲ λύκοι ὣς
ἀλλήλοις ἐπόρουσαν, ἀνὴρ δ’ ἄνδρ’ ἐδνοπάλιζεν.
Ἔνθ’ ἔβαλ’ Ἀνθεμίωνος υἱὸν Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
ἠΐθεον θαλερὸν Σιμοείσιον, ὅν ποτε μήτηρ
Ἴδηθεν κατιοῦσα παρ’ ὄχθῃσιν Σιμόεντος
γείνατ’, ἐπεί ῥα τοκεῦσιν ἅμ’ ἕσπετο μῆλα ἰδέσθαι·
τοὔνεκά μιν κάλεον Σιμοείσιον· οὐδὲ τοκεῦσι
θρέπτρα φίλοις ἀπέδωκε, μινυνθάδιος δέ οἱ αἰὼν
ἔπλεθ’ ὑπ’ Αἴαντος μεγαθύμου δουρὶ δαμέντι.
πρῶτον γάρ μιν ἰόντα βάλε στῆθος παρὰ μαζὸν
δεξιόν· ἀντικρὺ δὲ δι’ ὤμου χάλκεον ἔγχος
ἦλθεν· ὁ δ’ ἐν κονίῃσι χαμαὶ πέσεν αἴγειρος ὥς,
ἥ ῥά τ’ ἐν εἱαμενῇ ἕλεος μεγάλοιο πεφύκει
λείη, ἀτάρ τέ οἱ ὄζοι ἐπ’ ἀκροτάτῃ πεφύασι·
τὴν μέν θ’ ἁρματοπηγὸς ἀνὴρ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ
ἐξέταμ’, ὄφρα ἴτυν κάμψῃ περικαλλέϊ δίφρῳ·
ἣ μέν τ’ ἀζομένη κεῖται ποταμοῖο παρ’ ὄχθας.
τοῖον ἄρ’ Ἀνθεμίδην Σιμοείσιον ἐξενάριξεν
Αἴας διογενής· τοῦ δ’ Ἄντιφος αἰολοθώρηξ
Πριαμίδης καθ’ ὅμιλον ἀκόντισεν ὀξέϊ δουρί.
τοῦ μὲν ἅμαρθ’, ὁ δὲ Λεῦκον Ὀδυσσέος ἐσθλὸν ἑταῖρον,
βεβλήκει βουβῶνα, νέκυν ἑτέρωσ’ ἐρύοντα·
ἤριπε δ’ ἀμφ’ αὐτῷ, νεκρὸς δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε χειρός.
τοῦ δ’ Ὀδυσεὺς μάλα θυμὸν ἀποκταμένοιο χολώθη,
βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ,
στῆ δὲ μάλ’ ἐγγὺς ἰὼν καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ
ἀμφὶ ἓ παπτήνας· ὑπὸ δὲ Τρῶες κεκάδοντο
ἀνδρὸς ἀκοντίσσαντος· ὁ δ’ οὐχ ἅλιον βέλος ἧκεν,
ἀλλ’ υἱὸν Πριάμοιο νόθον βάλε Δημοκόωντα,
ὅς οἱ Ἀβυδόθεν ἦλθε παρ’ ἵππων ὠκειάων.
τόν ῥ’ Ὀδυσεὺς ἑτάροιο χολωσάμενος βάλε δουρὶ

κόρσην· ἣ δ’ ἑτέροιο διὰ κροτάφοιο πέρησεν
αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε,
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε’ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ.
χώρησαν δ’ ὑπό τε πρόμαχοι καὶ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·
Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγα ἴαχον, ἐρύσαντο δὲ νεκρούς,
ἴθυσαν δὲ πολὺ προτέρω· νεμέσησε δ’ Ἀπόλλων
Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ κέκλετ’ ἀΰσας·
«ὄρνυσθ’ ἱππόδαμοι Τρῶες μηδ’ εἴκετε χάρμης
Ἀργείοις, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι λίθος χρὼς οὐδὲ σίδηρος
χαλκὸν ἀνασχέσθαι ταμεσίχροα βαλλομένοισιν·
οὐ μὰν οὐδ’ Ἀχιλεὺς Θέτιδος πάϊς ἠϋκόμοιο
μάρναται, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ νηυσὶ χόλον θυμαλγέα πέσσει.»
Ὣς φάτ’ ἀπὸ πτόλιος δεινὸς θεός· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
ὦρσε Διὸς θυγάτηρ κυδίστη Τριτογένεια,
ἐρχομένη καθ’ ὅμιλον, ὅθι μεθιέντας ἴδοιτο.
Ἔνθ’ Ἀμαρυγκείδην Διώρεα μοῖρα πέδησε·
χερμαδίῳ γὰρ βλῆτο παρὰ σφυρὸν ὀκριόεντι
κνήμην δεξιτερήν· βάλε δὲ Θρῃκῶν ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν,
Πείρως Ἰμβρασίδης ὃς ἄρ’ Αἰνόθεν εἰληλούθει.
ἀμφοτέρω δὲ τένοντε καὶ ὀστέα λᾶας ἀναιδὴς
ἄχρις ἀπηλοίησεν· ὁ δ’ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι
κάππεσεν ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας,
θυμὸν ἀποπνείων· ὁ δ’ ἐπέδραμεν ὅς ῥ’ ἔβαλέν περ,
Πείροος, οὖτα δὲ δουρὶ παρ’ ὀμφαλόν· ἐκ δ’ ἄρα πᾶσαι
χύντο χαμαὶ χολάδες, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.
Τὸν δὲ Θόας Αἰτωλὸς ἀπεσσύμενον βάλε δουρὶ
στέρνον ὑπὲρ μαζοῖο, πάγη δ’ ἐν πνεύμονι χαλκός·
ἀγχίμολον δέ οἱ ἦλθε Θόας, ἐκ δ’ ὄβριμον ἔγχος
ἐσπάσατο στέρνοιο, ἐρύσσατο δὲ ξίφος ὀξύ,
τῷ ὅ γε γαστέρα τύψε μέσην, ἐκ δ’ αἴνυτο θυμόν.
τεύχεα δ’ οὐκ ἀπέδυσε· περίστησαν γὰρ ἑταῖροι

Θρήϊκες ἀκρόκομοι δολίχ’ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἔχοντες,
οἵ ἑ μέγαν περ ἐόντα καὶ ἴφθιμον καὶ ἀγαυὸν
ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὁ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.
ὣς τώ γ’ ἐν κονίῃσι παρ’ ἀλλήλοισι τετάσθην,
ἤτοι ὁ μὲν Θρῃκῶν, ὁ δ’ Ἐπειῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,
ἡγεμόνες· πολλοὶ δὲ περὶ κτείνοντο καὶ ἄλλοι.
Ἔνθά κεν οὐκέτι ἔργον ἀνὴρ ὀνόσαιτο μετελθών,
ὅς τις ἔτ’ ἄβλητος καὶ ἀνούτατος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ
δινεύοι κατὰ μέσσον, ἄγοι δέ ἑ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
χειρὸς ἑλοῦσ’, αὐτὰρ βελέων ἀπερύκοι ἐρωήν·
πολλοὶ γὰρ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν ἤματι κείνῳ
πρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσι παρ’ ἀλλήλοισι τέταντο.

THE ILIAD IV

Thereupon the gods sat in council with Zeus upon the golden floor, and in their midst the revered Hebe poured nectar as their wine. And they, with golden goblets, pledged one another, their gaze fixed upon the city of the Trojans. At once the son of Cronos sought to provoke Hera, goading her with veiled words and cutting speech: “Two goddesses, to be sure, are helpers to Menelaus: Argive Hera and Alalcomenean Athena. Yet they sit apart, content merely to watch and take their pleasure. For the other, however, laughter-loving Aphrodite is ever at his side, and she wards off the fates from him. Even now she has saved him when he thought himself a dead man. But without doubt, the victory belongs to Menelaus, beloved of Ares. Therefore, let us now consider how these things are to be resolved: shall we once more stir up grievous war and the terrible din of battle, or shall we cast friendship between both sides? If this course could somehow be dear and pleasing to you all, then the city of King Priam might remain inhabited, and Menelaus could lead Argive Helen home once more.” So he spoke, and Athena and Hera murmured in dissent; they sat close together, plotting evils for the Trojans. Athena, for her part, remained silent and said nothing, seething at her father Zeus, and a savage wrath took hold of her. But Hera could not contain the anger in her breast, and she spoke out: “Most terrible son of Cronos, what words have you spoken? How can you wish to make my labor vain and fruitless, and the sweat I sweated in my toil, my horses grown weary as I gathered the host to bring ruin upon Priam and his sons? Do it, then! But know that we other gods do not all approve.” Greatly vexed, Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her: “You strange one, what great wrongs do Priam and Priam’s sons inflict upon you, that you rage so relentlessly to sack the well-built citadel of Ilium? If you could enter the gates and the long walls and devour Priam raw, and his sons, and all the other Trojans, then perhaps you might quench your anger. Do as you wish; let this quarrel not become a great source of strife between you and me hereafter. But I will tell you something else, and you must cast it in your heart: whenever I in my turn am eager to destroy a city where men dear to you are born, you must not thwart my anger, but let me be; for I too have granted you this willingly, though with an unwilling heart. For of all the cities of mortal men that are established beneath the sun and the starry heaven, none was ever so honored in my heart as sacred Ilium, and Priam, and the people of Priam of the good ashen spear. For my altar never lacked its proper feast, with libations and the savor of burnt offerings, the tribute that is our right.” Then the ox-eyed queen Hera answered him: “Truly, three cities are dearest by far to me: Argos and Sparta and Mycenae of the wide ways. Sack these, whenever they become hateful to your heart. I will not stand in their defense nor begrudge you this. For even if I did begrudge it and forbid you to destroy them, I would accomplish nothing by my envy, since you are far stronger. But you must also grant that my labor not be in vain. For I too am a god, my lineage the same as yours, and Cronos of the crooked counsels begot me as the eldest, honored both for my birth and because I am called your wife, while you rule among all the immortals. So come, let us yield to one another in this, I to you and you to me; and the other immortal gods will follow our lead. But you, command Athena at once to go down into the dread battle of the Trojans and Achaeans, and contrive it so that the Trojans are the first to break the oaths and wrong the triumphant Achaeans.” So she spoke, and the father of men and gods did not disobey. At once he spoke winged words to Athena: “Go swiftly to the army, among the Trojans and Achaeans, and contrive it so that the Trojans are the first to break the oaths and wrong the triumphant Achaeans.” Speaking thus, he spurred on Athena, who was already eager, and she went darting down from the peaks of Olympus. Like the brilliant star sent by the son of crooked-counselling Cronos, a portent for sailors or for a wide army of men, from which many sparks fly forth; in such a likeness Pallas Athena shot down to earth and leapt into their midst. Awe seized those who looked upon her, both the horse-taming Trojans and the well-greaved Achaeans. And one would look to his neighbor and say: “Surely now there will be evil war and the terrible din of battle again, or else Zeus, who is the arbiter of war for mankind, is establishing friendship between the two sides.” Thus would say a man among the Achaeans and the Trojans. But she, in the likeness of a man, went down into the Trojan throng— that of Laodocus, Antenor’s son, a mighty spearman— seeking godlike Pandarus, if she might find him. She found the son of Lycaon, blameless and strong, standing there; and around him were the strong ranks of shield-bearing men who followed him from the streams of the Aesepus. Standing close beside him, she spoke winged words: “Will you hearken to me now, O wise son of Lycaon? Would you dare to let fly a swift arrow at Menelaus? You would win favor and glory from all the Trojans, and from King Alexander most of all. From him you would be the first to receive glorious gifts, should he see Menelaus, the warlike son of Atreus, brought down by your shaft and laid upon the grievous pyre. Come now, shoot at glorious Menelaus, and vow to Apollo, the Lycian-born, famed for his bow, that you will offer a splendid hecatomb of firstling lambs upon your return home to the sacred city of Zeleia.” Thus spoke Athena, and persuaded the heart of the fool. At once he uncased his polished bow, made from the horns of a wild goat that he himself had once shot under the breast, striking it in the chest as it came from a rock where he lay in wait, and it fell backward on the stone. The horns had grown sixteen palms’ length from its head; a craftsman in horn had worked and fitted these together, polished them all well, and set a golden tip upon the end. He strung it and laid it carefully down, leaning it against the ground, and his worthy comrades held their shields before him, lest the warlike sons of the Achaeans should spring up before Menelaus, the warlike son of Atreus, was hit. Then he took the lid from his quiver and drew out an arrow, unfired and feathered, a source of black pains. Swiftly he set the bitter arrow on the string, and once more he vowed to Apollo, the Lycian-born, famed for his bow, that he would offer a splendid hecatomb of firstling lambs upon his return home to the sacred city of Zeleia. He drew, pulling at once the notched end and the ox-hide string; he brought the string to his breast and the iron arrowhead to the bow. And when he had drawn the great bow into a circle, the bow sang, the string cried out aloud, and the sharp-pointed arrow leaped forth, eager to fly into the throng. But of you, Menelaus, the blessed immortal gods did not forget, and first among them Zeus’s daughter, the driver of spoil, who stood before you and turned aside the piercing shaft. She brushed it from your flesh as a mother brushes a fly from her child when he lies in sweet sleep, and she herself guided it to where the golden buckles of his belt held it fast, and the double corselet met its point. The bitter arrow struck the close-fitting belt; through the ornate belt it drove, and fixed itself in the richly-wrought corselet, and through the armored band he wore to protect his flesh, a barrier against spears— which gave him the most protection—yet it passed even through this. The arrow grazed the surface of the man’s skin, and at once dark blood flowed from the wound. As when a woman, Maeonian or Carian, stains ivory with scarlet to be a cheek-piece for horses; it lies in a chamber, and many horsemen have prayed to wear it, but it is kept there as a treasure for a king, both an ornament for the horse and a glory for its rider; so, Menelaus, were your shapely thighs stained with blood, and your legs and fine ankles beneath. Then Agamemnon, king of men, shuddered when he saw the black blood flowing from the wound. And Menelaus, beloved of Ares, shuddered himself. But when he saw that the sinew-string and barbs were outside the flesh, his spirit returned to his breast. With a heavy groan, King Agamemnon spoke among them, holding Menelaus by the hand while his comrades lamented with him: “Dear brother, it was for your death, it seems, that I sealed these oaths, setting you alone before the Achaeans to fight the Trojans, seeing how the Trojans have shot you down and trampled on the faithful truce. Yet the oath is not in vain, nor the blood of lambs, the unmixed libations and the right hands in which we trusted. For even if the Olympian does not bring fulfillment at once, he will bring it late, and they will pay a great price with their own heads, and their wives, and their children. For this I know well in my heart and in my soul: the day will come when sacred Ilium shall perish, and Priam, and the people of Priam of the good ashen spear. And Zeus, son of Cronos, who sits on high and dwells in the aether, will himself shake his dark aegis over them all in anger for this treachery. These things will not be unfulfilled. But for you, Menelaus, I will feel a terrible grief if you should die and fulfill the measure of your life’s destiny. Then I would return to thirsty Argos in the deepest disgrace. For the Achaeans will at once remember their native land; and we would leave Argive Helen as a boast for Priam and the Trojans, while your bones rot in the soil of Troy, as you lie here, your task unfinished. And some arrogant Trojan will say, leaping upon the tomb of glorious Menelaus: ‘May Agamemnon vent his anger on all his enemies as he has here, for he brought an army of Achaeans for nothing, and has now gone home to his dear native land with empty ships, leaving the good Menelaus behind.’ So someone will say one day. Then may the wide earth swallow me.” But fair-haired Menelaus spoke to reassure him: “Be brave, and do not frighten the Achaean host. The sharp shaft is not lodged in a vital spot; before that, the shimmering belt stopped it, and beneath it the loin-guard and the plated band that the bronze-smiths forged.” And ruler Agamemnon answered him in turn: “May it be so indeed, dear Menelaus. But a healer will examine the wound and apply remedies that might put an end to these black pains.” He spoke, and addressed Talthybius, the divine herald: “Talthybius, as quickly as you can, summon Machaon here, the son of the blameless healer Asclepius, so that he may see Menelaus, the warlike son of Atreus, whom some Trojan or Lycian archer, skilled with the bow, has shot— glory for him, but grief for us.” So he spoke, and the herald heard and did not disobey. He went through the host of the bronze-clad Achaeans, searching for the hero Machaon. He found him standing there, and around him were the strong ranks of shield-bearing men who followed him from Tricca, the land of horses. Standing close beside him, he spoke winged words: “Arise, son of Asclepius! King Agamemnon calls for you, so that you may see Menelaus, warlike leader of the Achaeans, whom some Trojan or Lycian archer, skilled with the bow, has shot— glory for him, but grief for us.” So he spoke, and stirred the spirit in Machaon’s breast. They made their way through the throng, across the wide Achaean camp. When they came to where fair-haired Menelaus had been struck, and all the chieftains were gathered in a circle around him, the godlike man stood in their midst. At once Machaon drew the arrow from the close-fitting belt, and as it was pulled out, the sharp barbs broke. He unfastened the shimmering belt, and beneath it the loin-guard and the plated band that the bronze-smiths forged. And when he saw the wound where the bitter arrow had struck, he sucked out the blood and skillfully applied soothing remedies, which Chiron in his friendship had once given to his father. While they were tending to Menelaus of the great war-cry, the ranks of the Trojan shield-men advanced upon them. The Achaeans armed themselves once more and turned their thoughts to battle. Then you would not have seen godlike Agamemnon slumbering, nor cowering, nor unwilling to fight, but hastening eagerly toward the battle where men win glory. He left his horses and his chariot, inlaid with bronze; his attendant, Eurymedon, son of Ptolemaeus Peiraïdes, held the panting steeds aside. Agamemnon gave him strict orders to keep them near, for when weariness should take his limbs from commanding so great a host. Then he went on foot to review the ranks of men. Those of the swift-horsed Danaans whom he saw hastening, he would stand beside and encourage with his words: “Argives, do not let your furious valor slacken in any way! For Father Zeus will not be a helper to liars. But those who were first to violate the oaths— their tender flesh the vultures will surely devour, and we, once we have taken their city, shall lead away their beloved wives and little children in our ships.” But those whom he saw holding back from hated combat, he would rebuke sharply with words of anger: “Argives, you archers, you men of shame, have you no decency? Why do you stand there dazed, like fawns that have grown weary from running across a wide plain and now stand still, with no fight left in their hearts? So you stand dazed and do not fight. Are you waiting for the Trojans to come close to where your high-sterned ships are drawn up on the shore of the gray sea, to see if the son of Cronos will stretch out his hand to protect you?” Thus, acting as commander, he went through the ranks of men. He came upon the Cretans as he moved through the throng. They were arming themselves around the wise Idomeneus; Idomeneus, like a wild boar in his fighting strength, stood among the front ranks, while Meriones spurred on the rear phalanxes. Seeing them, Agamemnon, king of men, rejoiced, and at once he addressed Idomeneus with gentle words: “Idomeneus, I honor you above all the swift-horsed Danaans, whether in war or in any other work, or at the feast, when the chieftains of the Argives mix the sparkling wine of the elders in the great bowl. For though the other long-haired Achaeans drink by portion, your cup always stands full, like my own, to drink whenever your heart bids you. So now, rouse yourself for war, and be the man you have always claimed to be.” And Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him in turn: “Son of Atreus, I will indeed be a true comrade to you, as I first promised and nodded in assent. But go and urge on the other long-haired Achaeans, so we may fight at once, since the Trojans have utterly broken the oaths. For them, death and sorrow will follow, since they were the first to do wrong and violate the truce.” So he spoke, and the son of Atreus passed on, glad at heart. He came upon the two Aiantes as he went through the throng of men. They were arming for battle, and a cloud of infantry followed with them. As when a goatherd from a lookout point sees a cloud coming across the sea under the blast of the West Wind; to him, far off, it seems blacker than pitch as it moves over the water, bringing a great whirlwind with it, and he shudders at the sight and drives his flock into a cave; so, with the two Aiantes, did the dense, dark phalanxes of Zeus-nurtured youths move into hostile battle, bristling with shields and spears. And seeing them, ruler Agamemnon rejoiced, and raising his voice he spoke winged words to them: “Aiantes, leaders of the bronze-clad Argives, to you two I give no command, for it is not fitting to urge you on. You yourselves drive your men to fight with strength. Father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo—if only such a spirit were in the breasts of all! Then the city of King Priam would soon bow its head, captured and sacked by our hands.” Having spoken, he left them there and went on to others. There he found Nestor, the clear-voiced orator of the Pylians, setting his comrades in order and urging them to fight, around great Pelagon, Alastor, Chromius, lord Haemon, and Bias, shepherd of the people. He placed the horsemen with their horses and chariots in the front, and the infantry, numerous and brave, he placed behind them, as a bulwark for the battle. The cowards he drove into the middle, so that even one who was unwilling would be forced to fight. First he gave orders to the horsemen, for he commanded them to hold their horses in check and not charge recklessly into the throng. “And let no man, trusting in his skill with horses and in his manhood, be eager to fight the Trojans alone before the others, nor let him fall back; for you will be weaker then. But whichever man from his own chariot can reach another, let him thrust with his spear, for that is by far the better way. Thus did the men of old sack cities and walls, keeping this mind and spirit in their hearts.” So the old man urged them on, long skilled in wars. And seeing him, ruler Agamemnon rejoiced, and raising his voice he spoke winged words to him: “Old man, if only your knees could follow as the spirit does in your dear breast, and your strength were as steadfast! But age, which comes to all, wears you down. I wish some other man had your years, and you were among the younger men.” And the Gerenian horseman Nestor answered him in turn: “Son of Atreus, I myself would dearly wish to be as I was when I killed noble Ereuthalion. But the gods do not give all things to men at once. If I was a youth then, now in turn old age is upon me. But even so, I will be among the horsemen and command them with counsel and with words, for that is the right of the old. The younger men will wield the spears, those who are younger than I and trust in their strength.” So he spoke, and the son of Atreus passed on, glad at heart. He found Menestheus, son of Peteos, driver of horses, standing there, and around him the Athenians, masters of the war-cry. And nearby stood Odysseus of the many wiles, and beside him the ranks of the Cephallenians stood, not weak; for the war-cry had not yet reached their people, but the phalanxes of the horse-taming Trojans and Achaeans had only just begun to move. So they stood waiting for another column of the Achaeans to advance, attack the Trojans, and begin the battle. Seeing them, Agamemnon, king of men, rebuked them, and raising his voice he spoke winged words to them: “O son of Peteos, the Zeus-nurtured king, and you, master of evil tricks, you of the cunning mind, why do you stand back cowering, and wait for others? It is fitting for you two to stand among the first and face the heat of battle. For you are the first to hear my call to the feast, whenever we Achaeans prepare a banquet for the elders. There you love to eat roasted meats and drink cups of honey-sweet wine as long as you wish. But now you would be glad to look on, even if ten columns of Achaeans were to fight with pitiless bronze before you.” Then Odysseus of the many wiles looked at him from under his brows and said: “Son of Atreus, what a word has escaped the barrier of your teeth? How can you say we are shirking the battle, whenever we Achaeans stir up sharp Ares against the horse-taming Trojans? You will see, if you wish and if these things concern you, the dear father of Telemachus mingling with the foremost fighters of the horse-taming Trojans. But you speak these words of empty wind.” But ruler Agamemnon smiled at him when he knew the man was angered, and he took back his words: “Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices, I do not rebuke you excessively, nor do I command you. For I know that the spirit in your dear breast knows gentle thoughts, for your mind is as my own. But come, we shall make amends for these things hereafter, if any harsh word has now been spoken; may the gods make it all as nothing.” Having spoken, he left them there and went on to others. He found the son of Tydeus, high-spirited Diomedes, standing among his horses and his joined chariots. And beside him stood Sthenelus, son of Capaneus. And seeing him, ruler Agamemnon rebuked him, and raising his voice he spoke winged words to him: “Ah me, son of Tydeus, the wise tamer of horses, why do you shrink back? Why do you peer down the corridors of war? It was not Tydeus’s way to cower so, but to fight the enemy far ahead of his dear comrades, as they said who saw him at his labor—for I never met him nor saw him, but they say he was above all others. For once he came to Mycenae without an army, as a guest with godlike Polyneices, to gather forces; they were then campaigning against the sacred walls of Thebes, and they pleaded earnestly for renowned allies. The men of Mycenae were willing to give them and approved as they asked; but Zeus turned them back by showing unfavorable signs. So they departed and were on their way, and they came to the Asopus, deep in rushes and with grassy banks. There the Achaeans sent Tydeus forth on a mission. And he went, and came upon the many Cadmeians feasting in the house of mighty Eteocles. There, though he was a stranger, the horseman Tydeus was not afraid, being alone among many Cadmeians, but he challenged them to contests and defeated them all with ease; such a helper was Athena to him. But the Cadmeians, goaders of horses, were enraged, and as he was returning they set a strong ambush for him, leading fifty young men; there were two leaders, Maeon son of Haemon, like to the immortals, and the son of Autophonus, Polyphontes, staunch in battle. Tydeus brought a shameful fate upon these men as well; he killed them all, and let only one go home; he sent Maeon forth, obeying the portents of the gods. Such a man was Tydeus the Aetolian; but the son he begot is inferior to him in battle, though better in council.” So he spoke, and mighty Diomedes said nothing in reply, out of respect for the rebuke of the revered king. But the son of glorious Capaneus answered: “Son of Atreus, do not speak falsely when you know how to speak the truth. We claim to be far better than our fathers. We even took the seat of seven-gated Thebes, leading a smaller host against a stronger wall, trusting in the portents of the gods and the help of Zeus, whereas they perished through their own blind folly. So do not place my father in the same honor as ours.” Then mighty Diomedes looked at him from under his brows and said: “Friend, sit in silence and obey my word. For I do not blame Agamemnon, shepherd of the people, for urging on the well-greaved Achaeans to fight. For great glory will be his if the Achaeans defeat the Trojans and take sacred Ilium, but great will be his grief if the Achaeans are defeated. But come now, let us too turn our thoughts to furious valor.” He spoke and leaped from his chariot to the ground with his armor, and the bronze rang terribly on the chest of the king as he moved; fear would have seized even a man of steadfast heart. As when on a resounding shore the wave of the sea rushed in, rank on rank, driven by the West Wind’s blast; first it swells on the open water, but then it breaks upon the land with a great roar, and cresting high around the headlands it spews forth the foam of the sea; so then, rank on rank, did the phalanxes of the Danaans move relentlessly into battle. Each of their leaders gave orders to his own men; the rest went in silence—you would not have thought so great an army followed, with voices in their breasts— silently, fearing their commanders. And around them all gleamed the ornate armor they wore as they marched in order. But the Trojans, like the countless ewes in the courtyard of a wealthy man that stand waiting to be milked of their white milk, bleating incessantly as they hear the voice of their lambs— so the clamor of the Trojans rose through the wide host. For their cry was not as one, nor was their speech the same, but their tongues were mixed, and the men were called from many lands. These were stirred on by Ares, and those by gray-eyed Athena, and by Terror and by Rout, and by Strife, raging without pause, sister and companion of man-slaying Ares; she who at first rises small, but then plants her head in the sky and walks upon the earth. She it was who then cast an equal hatred into their midst as she went through the throng, increasing the groans of men. When they came together and met in one place, they clashed their shields of hide, their spears, and the might of bronze-armored men; the bossed shields struck one another, and a great din arose. There at once arose the wailing and the triumphant cries of men killing and being killed, and the earth ran with blood. As when winter-swollen rivers, flowing down from the mountains, hurl their violent waters together into a hollow ravine from their great springs, and a shepherd in the mountains hears the roar from afar; so from their mingling arose the shouting and the toil. First, Antilochus killed a Trojan warrior, a noble man among the front fighters, Echepolus, son of Thalysius. He was the first to strike him on the ridge of his horse-haired helmet; the bronze point fixed itself in his forehead and passed on into the bone. Darkness covered his eyes, and he fell as a tower falls in the fierce combat. As he fell, ruler Elephenor, son of Chalcodon, leader of the great-hearted Abantes, seized him by the feet and began to drag him out from under the hail of missiles, eager to strip his armor with all speed; but his effort was short-lived. For great-hearted Agenor saw him dragging the corpse and, as he stooped, stabbed him with a bronze-tipped spear in the flank that was exposed by his shield, and unstrung his limbs. So his life left him, and over his body was fought a bitter struggle between Trojans and Achaeans. Like wolves they rushed at one another, and man brought down man. There Telamonian Ajax struck the son of Anthemion, the blooming youth Simoeisius, whom his mother once bore on the banks of the Simois as she came down from Mount Ida, having followed her parents to see their flocks. For this reason they called him Simoeisius. But he did not repay his dear parents for his upbringing, for his life was cut short, struck down by the spear of great-hearted Ajax. As he came forward, Ajax struck him in the chest by the right nipple; the bronze spear passed straight through his shoulder. He fell in the dust to the ground like a poplar tree that has grown in the low-lying ground of a great marsh, smooth, with branches growing only at the very top; a chariot-maker fells it with his shining iron to bend a felloe for a beautiful chariot, and it lies drying by the river banks. So did Ajax of the line of Zeus cut down Simoeisius, son of Anthemion. Then Antiphus of the shimmering corselet, son of Priam, cast his sharp spear at Ajax through the throng. He missed his man, but struck Leucus, a worthy comrade of Odysseus, in the groin as he was dragging the other body away. He fell upon the corpse, and the body dropped from his hand. Odysseus was enraged in his heart at the killing of his man. He strode through the front ranks, armed in gleaming bronze, and stood very near and cast his shining spear, glancing about him. The Trojans shrank back as the hero cast. He did not let his weapon fly in vain, but struck Democoön, a bastard son of Priam, who had come from Abydos from his swift mares. Odysseus, angered for his comrade, struck him with his spear on the temple; the bronze point passed through to the other temple, and darkness covered his eyes. He fell with a thud, and his armor clattered upon him. The front fighters and glorious Hector fell back. The Argives shouted loudly, dragged away the dead, and pushed forward much further. But Apollo, looking down from Pergamus, grew angry and cried out to the Trojans: “Arise, you horse-taming Trojans, and do not yield the fight to the Argives! Their flesh is not stone, nor is it iron, to withstand the flesh-cutting bronze when they are struck. Nor indeed is Achilles, son of fair-haired Thetis, fighting, but sits by the ships nursing his heart-grieving anger.” So spoke the dread god from the city. But the Achaeans were spurred on by Zeus’s most glorious daughter, Tritogeneia, who went through the throng wherever she saw them slackening. Then fate ensnared Diores, son of Amarynceus. He was struck by a jagged stone beside his right ankle on the shin. The leader of the Thracian men, Peiros, son of Imbrasus, who had come from Aenus, had thrown it. The pitiless stone crushed both tendons and the bones to the marrow. He fell backward in the dust, stretching out both hands to his dear comrades, gasping out his life. And Peiros, who had struck him, ran up and thrust a spear beside his navel; all his bowels gushed out onto the ground, and darkness covered his eyes. But as he rushed away, Thoas the Aetolian struck him with a spear in the chest above the nipple, and the bronze lodged in his lung. Thoas came close to him, pulled the mighty spear from his chest, and drew his sharp sword, with which he struck him in the middle of the belly and took his life. But he could not strip his armor, for his comrades stood around him, the high-crested Thracians, holding their long spears in their hands, and they drove him from them, though he was great and strong and proud. He gave ground and was pushed back. So the two lay stretched out in the dust beside each other, the one a leader of the Thracians, the other of the bronze-clad Epeians; and many others were killed around them. Then no man who entered that fray could any longer find fault with the work, no man who, still unwounded and unhit by sharp bronze, might whirl through the midst, led by the hand of Pallas Athena, who would ward off the flight of missiles. For many Trojans and Achaeans on that day lay stretched out side-by-side, face down in the dust.

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