THE ILIAD XIII

Now Zeus, when he had brought the Trojans and Hector near the ships, left them there to endure toil and misery without cease, and he himself turned his luminous eyes away, looking towards the land of the horse-taming Thracians, of the Mysians who fight at close quarters, and of the noble mare-milkers who drink the milk of their herds, and the Abians, the most just of men. To Troy he no longer turned his gleaming eyes at all, for he did not imagine in his heart that any of the immortals would go to aid either the Trojans or the Danaans. But the lord Earth-Shaker did not keep a blind watch. For he sat marveling at the war and the battle, high upon the topmost peak of wooded Samothrace of Thrace; from there, all of Ida was visible, and the city of Priam, and the ships of the Achaeans. There he had seated himself, having come up from the sea, and he pitied the Achaeans who were being overcome by the Trojans, and he was mightily wroth with Zeus. Straightway he descended from the rugged mountain, striding forth with swift steps, and the great mountains and the forests trembled beneath the immortal feet of Poseidon as he went. Thrice he strode forward, and with the fourth stride he reached his goal, Aegae, where his glorious palace is built in the depths of the sea, golden and gleaming, imperishable forever. Arriving there, he yoked to his chariot his two bronze-hoofed horses, swift of flight, with manes of flowing gold. He himself donned gold about his skin, took up his golden, well-wrought lash, and mounted his chariot. He set forth to drive across the waves, and the sea-beasts gamboled beneath him from all the depths of their lairs, for they did not fail to know their king. The sea in its joy parted before him, and his horses flew on so swiftly that the bronze axle beneath was not wetted. And his leaping steeds bore him to the ships of the Achaeans. There is a wide cave in the depths of the deep sea, midway between Tenedos and rugged Imbros. There Poseidon, the Earth-Shaker, halted his horses, loosing them from the chariot, and cast before them ambrosial fodder to eat. Around their feet he placed golden fetters, unbreakable and indissoluble, so that they would wait steadfastly for their lord’s return. And he himself departed for the Achaean host. The Trojans, meanwhile, like a flame or a tempest, followed Hector, son of Priam, in a throng, raging relentlessly, with harsh cries and shrieks, for they hoped to capture the ships of the Achaeans and to slay all their best warriors beside them. But Poseidon, the Earth-Holder and Earth-Shaker, came up from the depths of the sea to rouse the Argives, having taken on the form and tireless voice of Calchas. He spoke first to the two Ajaxes, who were themselves already eager for the fray: “You two, Ajax and Ajax, if you but remember your valor and not chilling fear, you will save the Achaean people. In truth, elsewhere I do not fear the unassailable hands of the Trojans, who have swarmed over the great wall in their multitude, for the well-greaved Achaeans will hold them all back. But it is there I fear most dreadfully that we might suffer some harm, where that rabid one, like a flame, leads the charge— Hector, who boasts that he is the son of almighty Zeus. May some god so place it in your hearts that you yourselves stand firm and bid the others do so as well. Then you might drive him from the swift-faring ships, however eagerly he attacks, even if the Olympian himself stirs him on.” And so saying, the Earth-Holder, the girdler of the earth, struck them both with his staff and filled them with mighty strength. He made their limbs light, their feet and their hands above. Then, like a swift-winged hawk that soars from a high, sheer cliff and swoops down upon the plain to chase another bird, so Poseidon the Earth-Shaker sped away from them. Of the two, swift Ajax, son of Oileus, was the first to know him, and at once he spoke to Ajax, son of Telamon: “Ajax, since some one of the gods who hold Olympus, in the guise of a seer, commands us to fight by the ships— and he is not Calchas, the prophet and augur, for I easily recognized the tracks of his feet and his calves as he departed; for the gods are plain to see— my own heart within my breast is stirred all the more to fight and do battle. My feet below and my hands above are straining for action.” And Telamonian Ajax answered him, saying: “So too, now, do my own unwearied hands strain upon my spear, and my spirit is roused, and my feet carry me on by themselves. I am eager to fight even alone against Hector, son of Priam, in his unceasing fury.” Thus they spoke to one another, filled with the joy of battle which the god had cast into their hearts. Meanwhile, the Earth-Shaker roused the Achaeans in the rear, who were recovering their spirit beside the swift ships. Their limbs had been undone by grievous weariness, and sorrow had entered their hearts as they watched the Trojans swarm over the great wall in their multitude. Beholding them, they shed tears from beneath their brows, for they did not think to escape from this evil. But the Earth-Shaker, moving easily among them, stirred their strong battalions to life. First he went to Teucer and Leitus, urging them on, and to the hero Peneleos, and Thoas and Deipyrus, and Meriones and Antilochus, masters of the war-cry. Spurring them on, he spoke these winged words: “Shame on you, Argives, young warriors! It was in you I trusted, in your fighting, to save our ships. But if you are to shrink from this grievous war, then this very day, it seems, is destined for our defeat at the hands of the Trojans. O gods! I see with my own eyes a great and terrible marvel, one I never thought would come to pass: the Trojans advancing upon our ships! They who in former times were like frightened deer, the prey of jackals and leopards and wolves in the forest, who wander about witless and without courage, for there is no fight in them. So, in the past, the Trojans dared not stand and face the might and hands of the Achaeans, not even for a moment. But now, far from their city, they fight at the hollow ships, all because of the baseness of our leader and the slackness of the troops, who, being at odds with him, are unwilling to defend the swift ships, and are instead being slain among them. But even if the hero son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, is truly and utterly to blame for having dishonored the swift-footed son of Peleus, there is no way we can now abandon the war. Let us rather make amends swiftly, for the hearts of good men are open to amends. It is not right that you should let fall your furious valor, all you who are the best in the army. I myself would not quarrel with any man who shirked the battle if he were a coward, but with you I am wroth from the heart. My soft friends! Soon you will bring about some greater evil by this slackness. Let each man hold shame and indignation in his heart, for a great conflict has now arisen. Hector, master of the war-cry, fights mightily by the ships; he has burst through the gates and the long bolt.” Thus, with his exhortations, the Earth-Holder stirred the Achaeans. Around the two Ajaxes stood the dense battalions, so strong that not even Ares, had he entered their midst, would have found fault, nor Athena, who musters the host. For the best men, chosen to wait for the Trojans and godlike Hector, stood arrayed, locking spear by spear, shield by overlapping shield. Shield pressed upon shield, helmet upon helmet, and man upon man. The horse-hair crests on the shining helmet-ridges touched as the men nodded, so closely did they stand together. The spears in their daring hands quivered and overlapped, and their minds were set on fighting. The Trojans surged forward in a mass, with Hector leading them, charging straight ahead, like a boulder from a cliff that a river in winter flood dislodges from its perch, when the immense rain has broken the bonds of the unyielding rock. Leaping high, it flies onward, and the forest resounds beneath it; and it runs on, unchecked, until it reaches the level plain, but then, for all its momentum, it rolls no farther. So Hector for a time threatened to pass with ease through the huts and ships of the Achaeans, slaying as he went, clear to the sea. But when he met the dense battalions, he was brought to a sharp halt. The sons of the Achaeans, facing him, drove him back from them, thrusting with their swords and two-edged spears, so that he was staggered and gave ground. And he cried out with a piercing shout to the Trojans: “Trojans, and Lycians, and you Dardanians who fight at close quarters, stand fast! The Achaeans will not hold me back for long, even though they have arrayed themselves like a fortress. I think they will give way before my spear, if in truth the greatest of gods has spurred me on, the loud-thundering husband of Hera.” With these words, he roused the spirit and courage of every man. And among them Deiphobus, son of Priam, strode with high purpose, holding his balanced shield before him, stepping lightly and advancing under its cover. Meriones took aim at him with his gleaming spear and cast, nor did he miss, but struck the balanced shield of bull’s-hide. Yet he did not drive the spearhead through it; far from it, the long shaft broke at the socket. Deiphobus held the bull’s-hide shield away from him, his heart filled with fear of the spear of warlike Meriones. But the hero Meriones drew back into the throng of his comrades, greatly angered both for the loss of his victory and for the spear he had broken. He set off towards the huts and ships of the Achaeans to fetch a long spear that he had left in his shelter. The others fought on, and an unquenchable cry arose. Teucer, son of Telamon, was the first to kill his man: Imbrius the spearman, son of Mentor rich in horses. He dwelt in Pedaeum before the sons of the Achaeans came, and was married to a bastard daughter of Priam, Medesicaste. But when the sea-faring ships of the Danaans arrived, he returned to Ilium and was pre-eminent among the Trojans. He lived with Priam, who honored him as he did his own sons. The son of Telamon now struck him beneath the ear with his long spear and drew the weapon out again. He fell like an ash tree that, on the peak of a far-seen mountain, is cut down with bronze and brings its tender leaves to the earth. So he fell, and his armor, intricately worked in bronze, clattered about him. Teucer sprang forward, eager to strip the armor from him, but as he charged, Hector cast his shining spear. Teucer, seeing it coming, dodged the bronze spear by a little. Hector’s cast instead struck Amphimachus, son of Cteatus, son of Actor, in the chest as he was entering the battle. He fell with a thud, and his armor rang upon him. Hector rushed forward to tear the helmet, fitted to his temples, from the head of great-souled Amphimachus. But as he charged, Ajax lunged with his shining spear at Hector. He could not reach his flesh, for it was all encased in terrible bronze, but he struck the boss of his shield and drove him back with great force. Hector retreated from the two bodies, which the Achaeans then dragged away. Amphimachus was carried by Stichius and godlike Menestheus, leaders of the Athenians, back into the Achaean lines; and Imbrius was carried by the two Ajaxes, eager for furious battle. As two lions snatch a goat from the sharp-toothed hounds and carry it high off the ground through the thick brushwood, holding it in their jaws, so the two warrior Ajaxes held Imbrius aloft and stripped his armor. And the son of Oileus, angered for the death of Amphimachus, severed the head from his tender neck, and swinging it like a ball, he sent it spinning through the throng to fall in the dust at Hector’s feet. Then indeed Poseidon was angered to the core of his heart that his grandson had fallen in the terrible fray, and he went along the huts and ships of the Achaeans, urging on the Danaans and preparing sorrows for the Trojans. He was met by Idomeneus, famed for his spear, who was coming from a comrade who had just been brought from the battle, wounded in the knee by the sharp bronze. His comrades had carried him off, and Idomeneus, having given instructions to the healers, was on his way to his own hut, for he was still eager to face the enemy. The lord Earth-Shaker addressed him, taking on the voice of Thoas, son of Andraemon, who ruled over all Pleuron and steep Calydon and was honored by his people like a god: “Idomeneus, counsellor of the Cretans, where now have vanished the threats with which the sons of the Achaeans menaced the Trojans?” To him Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered in turn: “O Thoas, no man is at fault now, so far as I can see, for we all know how to fight. No one is held back by unnerving fear, nor does anyone, yielding to sloth, shrink from the evil of war. But it must be the will of the almighty son of Cronos that the Achaeans should perish here, far from Argos, without a name. But Thoas, you who were ever steadfast in battle and who rouse others when you see them slacking, so now do not desist, but call upon every man.” And Poseidon the Earth-Shaker answered him: “Idomeneus, may that man never return from Troy, but remain here to be the plaything of dogs, who on this day willingly holds back from the fight. But come, take up your arms and go forth. We must hasten these things together, if we can be of some use, even as just two. Men’s valor is strengthened when they are united, even for the weak, and we two know well how to fight even with the best.” So saying, the god went back into the toil of men, and Idomeneus, as soon as he reached his well-made hut, wrapped the fine armor about his body, took two spears, and went forth like the lightning that the son of Cronos grasps in his hand and brandishes from gleaming Olympus as a sign to mortals; dazzling are its rays. So the bronze gleamed upon his chest as he ran. He was met by Meriones, his loyal squire, still near the hut, for he was on his way to fetch a bronze spear. The mighty Idomeneus addressed him: “Meriones, son of Molus, swift of foot, dearest of my comrades, why have you come, leaving the war and the fray? Are you wounded, and is the point of a weapon vexing you? Or have you come with some message for me? For I myself have no desire to sit in my hut, but to fight.” And Meriones, in his wisdom, answered him in turn: “Idomeneus, counsellor of the bronze-clad Cretans, I have come to fetch a spear, if you have one left in your hut. For the one I carried before I have just broken, striking the shield of the overweening Deiphobus.” To him Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, replied: “Spears, if you wish them, you will find not one but twenty, standing in my hut against the gleaming entrance walls— Trojan spears, which I take from the men I kill. For I do not think I fight my enemies standing at a distance. Thus I have spears, and bossed shields, and helmets, and corslets that shine brightly.” Then Meriones, in his wisdom, answered him again: “I too, by my hut and my black ship, have many spoils from the Trojans, but they are not near at hand to take. For I say that I too have not forgotten my valor, but I stand among the foremost in the battle that brings men glory, whenever the strife of war arises. Perhaps some other of the bronze-clad Achaeans may not know of my fighting, but you, I think, know it well.” To him Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered in turn: “I know what you are in valor; why must you speak of such things? For if all we who are best were now being chosen for an ambush beside the ships, where the courage of men is most clearly seen, where the coward and the brave man are revealed— for the skin of the coward changes color from one moment to the next, and his spirit within him does not allow him to sit still, but he shifts from one foot to the other, and his heart pounds loudly in his chest as he imagines his doom, and a chattering comes from his teeth; but the skin of the brave man does not change, nor is he greatly afraid from the moment he enters the ambush, but he prays to be swiftly joined in grim combat— not even there would anyone find fault with your strength and your hands. For if you were struck by a weapon in the struggle, or hit by a cast, the blow would not fall upon the back of your neck or your back, but upon your chest or your belly, as you pressed forward to join the company of the foremost fighters. But come, let us no longer talk of these things like children, standing here, lest someone reproach us with insolence. Go now to the hut and take up a heavy spear.” So he spoke, and Meriones, swift as Ares, quickly took a bronze spear from the hut and went after Idomeneus, his heart set on war. As Ares, the bane of mortals, goes into battle, and with him follows his dear son Fear, strong and fearless, who terrifies even the most resolute warrior; these two arm themselves and go forth from Thrace to join the Ephyri or the great-hearted Phlegyans, yet they do not listen to the prayers of both sides, but give glory to one; such were Meriones and Idomeneus, leaders of men, as they went into battle, armed in gleaming bronze. And Meriones was the first to speak to him: “Son of Deucalion, where do you mean to enter the throng? On the right of the whole army, or in the center, or on the left? For I do not think that anywhere else are the long-haired Achaeans so wanting in battle.” And Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, answered him in turn: “In the center of the ships there are others to defend them, the two Ajaxes and Teucer, who is the best of the Achaeans in archery, and a good man too in close combat. They will give Hector, son of Priam, his fill of war, however eager he may be and however strong he is. It will be a hard task for him, for all his lust for battle, to overcome their might and their unassailable hands and set fire to the ships, unless the son of Cronos himself casts a blazing torch upon the swift vessels. Great Telamonian Ajax would not yield to any man who is mortal and eats the grain of Demeter, who can be broken by bronze and great stones. He would not give way even to Achilles, the breaker of ranks, in a stand-up fight, though in fleetness of foot there is no way to rival him. So let us keep to the left of the host, so that we may quickly know whether we are to grant glory to another, or another to us.” So he spoke, and Meriones, swift as Ares, began to lead the way until they came to that part of the army he had indicated. When the others saw Idomeneus, his valor like a flame, both him and his squire in their intricate armor, they called out through the throng and all charged towards him. And a common strife arose at the sterns of the ships. As when tempests rush under the shrill winds on a day when the dust is thickest upon the roads, and together they raise a great cloud of it, so their battle came together, and their hearts were set on slaying one another in the throng with the sharp bronze. The man-slaying battle bristled with the long, flesh-rending spears they held, and the gleam of the bronze from the shining helmets, the newly polished corslets, and the bright shields as they came together, blinded the eyes. Truly, he would have had a bold heart who could have rejoiced at the sight of this toil and not been grieved. Thus the two mighty sons of Cronos, with opposing minds, were devising grievous sorrows for the heroes. Zeus willed victory for the Trojans and Hector, to bring glory to swift-footed Achilles; yet he did not wish the Achaean host to be utterly destroyed before Ilium, but was giving glory to Thetis and her strong-hearted son. But Poseidon went among the Argives and roused them, having secretly risen from the grey sea, for he was grieved that they were being overcome by the Trojans, and he was mightily wroth with Zeus. To be sure, both were of the same stock and the same lineage, but Zeus was the elder-born and knew more. For this reason Poseidon avoided giving aid openly, but ever secretly, in the guise of a man, he stirred the army through its ranks. So these two drew taut the ends of the rope of mighty strife and evenly-matched war over both armies, a rope unbreakable and indissoluble, which brought the knees of many to the ground. Then Idomeneus, though his hair was streaked with grey, called to the Danaans and, leaping among the Trojans, roused their fear. For he slew Othryoneus, a sojourner from Cabesus, who had but lately come in quest of the glory of war. He had asked for the hand of the most beautiful of Priam’s daughters, Cassandra, without offering a bride-price, but had promised a great deed: to drive the sons of the Achaeans from Troy against their will. The old man Priam had consented and nodded his assent that he would give her, and so he fought, trusting in these promises. But Idomeneus took aim at him with his gleaming spear, and as he strode proudly forward, he struck and hit him. The bronze corslet he wore did not protect him, and the spear fixed itself in the middle of his belly. He fell with a thud, and Idomeneus boasted over him, crying out: “Othryoneus, I praise you above all mortal men, if you will truly accomplish all that you promised Priam, son of Dardanus, who in turn promised you his daughter. We too would make you such a promise and fulfill it: we would give you the fairest of the daughters of the son of Atreus, bringing her from Argos for you to wed, if you would join us in sacking the well-peopled citadel of Ilium. But follow me now, so that we may come to terms about this marriage at our sea-faring ships, for we are not bad at settling such matters.” So saying, the hero Idomeneus dragged him by the foot through the mighty combat. But Asius came to his aid, on foot before his horses, which his attendant charioteer kept always so close that their breath was on his shoulders. He was eager in his heart to strike Idomeneus, but the other was too quick for him and cast his spear, striking him in the throat below the chin, and drove the bronze clean through. He fell as an oak falls, or a white poplar, or a tall pine, which carpenters in the mountains have cut down with freshly whetted axes to be a ship’s timber. So he lay stretched out before his horses and chariot, groaning and clutching at the bloody dust. His charioteer was struck out of his senses and did not dare to turn the horses around to escape the hands of the enemy. But Antilochus, steadfast in battle, struck him with a spear and pierced him through the middle. The bronze corslet he wore did not protect him, and the spear fixed itself in the middle of his belly. Gasping, he fell from the well-made chariot, and the horses were driven away by Antilochus, son of great-hearted Nestor, from the Trojans into the ranks of the well-greaved Achaeans. Deiphobus, grieving for Asius, came very near to Idomeneus, and cast his shining spear. But Idomeneus, seeing it coming, dodged the bronze spear, for he was hidden behind his balanced shield, which he carried, a whirling thing of bulls’ hides and gleaming bronze, fitted with two rods. He crouched entirely beneath it, and the bronze spear flew over him. The shield rang shrilly as the spear grazed it, but Deiphobus had not cast it from his heavy hand in vain, for he struck Hypsenor, son of Hippasus, shepherd of the people, in the liver beneath the midriff, and straightway his knees gave way beneath him. Deiphobus boasted terribly over him with a loud cry: “Surely Asius does not lie unavenged! I think that even as he goes to the house of Hades, the strong gate-keeper, he will rejoice in his heart, since I have given him an escort for his journey.” So he spoke, and sorrow came upon the Argives at his boast, and it stirred the heart of warlike Antilochus most of all. Yet even in his grief he did not neglect his comrade, but ran and stood over him and covered him with his shield. Then two staunch comrades, Mecisteus, son of Echius, and godlike Alastor, stooped down and carried him, groaning heavily, to the hollow ships. But Idomeneus did not let his great fury abate, but was ever striving either to cover some Trojan in the darkness of night, or to fall himself while warding off destruction from the Achaeans. Then the dear son of Aesyetus, reared by the gods, the hero Alcathous—who was the son-in-law of Anchises, for he had married the eldest of his daughters, Hippodameia, whom her father and lady mother loved with all their hearts in their hall, for she surpassed all the women of her age in beauty and in handiwork and in wisdom, for which reason the best man in wide Troy had married her— him Poseidon now subdued under Idomeneus, charming his bright eyes and fettering his shining limbs. For he could neither flee backward nor swerve aside, but stood motionless like a pillar or a tall, leafy tree as the hero Idomeneus struck him with his spear in the middle of the chest. He broke the bronze coat of mail that had until then kept destruction from his body, and it gave a dry cry as the spear tore through it. He fell with a thud, and the spear was fixed in his heart, which, still beating, made the butt-end of the spear tremble. And there at last mighty Ares let its force be spent. Idomeneus boasted terribly over him, with a loud cry: “Deiphobus, do we now judge it a fair exchange that three men have been slain for one, since you boast so? My good sir, come stand against me yourself, so that you may see what sort of scion of Zeus has come here, who first begot Minos to be the guardian of Crete. And Minos, in turn, begot a blameless son, Deucalion, and Deucalion begot me, a ruler over many men in wide Crete. And now my ships have brought me here, a bane to you and your father and the other Trojans.” So he spoke, and Deiphobus was of two minds, whether to retreat and find some other great-hearted Trojan as a companion, or to try his strength alone. And as he pondered, it seemed to him the better course to go in search of Aeneas. He found him standing at the rear of the throng, for he was ever wroth with godlike Priam, because, though he was a valiant man, Priam did not give him due honor among his warriors. Standing close to him, Deiphobus spoke winged words: “Aeneas, counsellor of the Trojans, now it is truly needful that you defend your brother-in-law, if any care for him touches you. Come then, let us aid Alcathous, who in former times, being your brother-in-law, reared you in his house when you were but a child. And now Idomeneus, famed for his spear, has slain him.” So he spoke, and roused the spirit in Aeneas’s breast, and he went after Idomeneus, his heart set on war. But fear did not seize Idomeneus as if he were a tender boy; he stood his ground, as a wild boar in the mountains trusts in its strength and awaits a great throng of men coming upon it in a lonely place, its back bristling. His two eyes blaze with fire, and he whets his tusks, eager to fight off dogs and men. So Idomeneus, famed for his spear, waited and did not retreat before the advance of Aeneas coming to the rescue. But he called out to his comrades, looking to Ascalaphus and Aphareus and Deipyrus, and Meriones and Antilochus, masters of the war-cry. Spurring them on, he spoke winged words: “Come here, my friends, and help me, for I am alone! I am terribly afraid of the charge of swift-footed Aeneas who is coming upon me, for he is very strong at slaying men in battle, and he has the flower of youth, which is the greatest strength. For if we were of the same age and of this present temper, then quickly would he win great glory, or I would win it.” So he spoke, and they all, with one mind in their hearts, stood near him, slanting their shields upon their shoulders. Aeneas, on the other side, called to his own comrades, looking to Deiphobus and Paris and godlike Agenor, who were leaders of the Trojans along with him. And after them the host followed, as sheep follow the ram from their pasture to drink, and the heart of the shepherd is glad. So was the heart of Aeneas gladdened in his breast when he saw the host of his people following him. Then they rushed into close combat around Alcathous with their long spears, and the bronze about their chests rang terribly as they aimed at one another in the throng. Two men, warriors pre-eminent among the others, Aeneas and Idomeneus, equals of Ares, were eager to cut each other’s flesh with the pitiless bronze. Aeneas was the first to cast his spear at Idomeneus, but the other, seeing it coming, dodged the bronze weapon, and the spear of Aeneas, quivering, went into the ground, since it had leapt in vain from his stout hand. But Idomeneus struck Oenomaus in the middle of the belly and broke the plate of his corslet, and the bronze tore through his entrails. He fell in the dust and clutched the earth in his hand. Idomeneus drew his long-shadowed spear from the corpse, but he could not strip the rest of the fine armor from his shoulders, for he was hard-pressed by enemy missiles. His limbs were no longer steady on his feet for charging, either to dart after his own spear or to evade another’s. So in a standing fight he still warded off the pitiless day of death, but his feet could no longer carry him swiftly from the battle. As he was retreating step by step, Deiphobus cast his shining spear at him, for he bore him a relentless hatred. But he missed him again, and instead struck Ascalaphus, son of Enyalius, with the spear. The heavy weapon passed through his shoulder, and he fell in the dust and clutched the earth in his hand. But loud-roaring, mighty Ares had not yet learned that his son had fallen in the thick of the fight; he sat upon the peak of Olympus under the golden clouds, held back by the will of Zeus, where the other immortal gods were also kept from the war. The men now fought in close combat around Ascalaphus. Deiphobus tore the shining helmet from his head, but Meriones, swift as Ares, leapt upon him and struck his arm with a spear, and the socketed helmet fell from his hand and rang upon the ground. Meriones, springing forward again like a vulture, drew the heavy spear from the base of his arm and fell back into the ranks of his comrades. Deiphobus’s own brother, Polites, put his arms around his waist and led him out of the clamorous battle, until he reached the swift horses that waited for him behind the lines of combat, with their charioteer and their richly decorated chariot. They carried him towards the city, groaning heavily and in pain, and the blood flowed down from his newly wounded arm. The others fought on, and an unquenchable cry arose. Aeneas rushed upon Aphareus, son of Caletor, and as he was turning, struck him in the throat with his sharp spear. His head sank to one side, his shield and helmet followed, and soul-destroying death was shed upon him. Antilochus, watching Thoön turn, sprang upon him and stabbed him, severing the whole vein that runs up the back to the neck. He severed it completely, and the man fell backward in the dust, stretching out both hands to his dear comrades. Antilochus rushed forward to strip the armor from his shoulders, looking about him as he did so. The Trojans, standing in a circle, struck his wide, ornate shield from all sides, but could not graze the tender skin of Antilochus with the pitiless bronze, for Poseidon the Earth-Shaker guarded the son of Nestor even amid a host of weapons. For he was never out of the enemy’s reach, but moved among them, his spear never still, but ever quivering and brandished, as he considered in his mind whether to cast it at someone, or to charge in close. But as he was aiming in the throng, he did not escape the notice of Adamas, son of Asius, who charged from close up and struck the middle of his shield with his sharp bronze. But dark-haired Poseidon, begrudging him his life, weakened the spearpoint. One half of it remained there, like a fire-charred stake, in the shield of Antilochus, and the other half lay on the ground. Adamas retreated into the ranks of his comrades, seeking to avoid his fate, but Meriones, following as he went, struck him with his spear between the private parts and the navel, where Ares is most grievous to wretched mortals. There he fixed the spear in him, and Adamas, writhing around the spear, gasped for breath, as an ox that herdsmen in the mountains have bound with ropes and lead away by force against its will. So he, having been struck, gasped for a short while, but not for long, until the hero Meriones came close and drew the spear from his flesh, and darkness covered his eyes. Helenus, with his great Thracian sword, struck Deipyrus on the temple at close range and sheared off his helmet. It was sent flying and fell to the ground, and one of the Achaeans fighting there picked it up as it rolled among their feet. But dark night enfolded Deipyrus’s eyes. Sorrow seized the son of Atreus, Menelaus master of the war-cry, and he went forward, menacing the hero Lord Helenus, brandishing his sharp spear while Helenus drew the bowstring. They moved at the same moment, the one eager to cast his sharp-pointed spear, the other to let fly an arrow from the string. The son of Priam then struck Menelaus in the chest with an arrow, on the plate of his corslet, but the bitter arrow glanced off. As when, on a wide threshing floor, dark-skinned beans or chickpeas leap from the broad winnowing-fan under the shrill wind and the force of the winnower’s toss, so from the corslet of glorious Menelaus the bitter arrow glanced far away. But the son of Atreus, Menelaus master of the war-cry, struck the hand that held the polished bow, and the bronze spear was driven clean through the hand and into the bow itself. Helenus fell back into the throng of his comrades to avoid his fate, his hand hanging limp at his side, the ash spear dragging from it. Great-hearted Agenor drew it from his hand and bound the hand itself with a sling of well-twisted sheep’s wool, which an attendant carried for the shepherd of the people. Peisander went straight for glorious Menelaus, but an evil fate was leading him to the end of his life, to be overcome by you, Menelaus, in the terrible fray. When they were near, advancing upon one another, the son of Atreus missed, and his spear was turned aside. Peisander struck the shield of glorious Menelaus, but could not drive the bronze through it, for the wide shield held, and the spear shaft broke. He rejoiced in his heart and hoped for victory. But the son of Atreus drew his silver-hilted sword and leapt upon Peisander, who from under his shield took a fine battle-axe of goodly bronze, on a long, well-polished olive-wood handle. And they reached each other at the same moment. Peisander struck the ridge of the horse-hair crested helmet, just below the crest itself, but Menelaus struck him as he came on, on the forehead above the base of the nose. The bones cracked, and his two eyes, bloody, fell in the dust at his feet. He fell, convulsed, and Menelaus, planting his foot on his chest, stripped off his armor and spoke in triumph: “Thus, I think, will you abandon the ships of the Danaan horsemen, you Trojans, overweening and insatiate of the dreadful war-cry! Nor are you wanting in other outrage and shame with which you have outraged me, you evil dogs, you who had no fear in your hearts of the heavy wrath of loud-thundering Zeus, the guardian of guests, who will one day destroy your steep city. You who went away, taking my wedded wife and many possessions for no reason, after you had been welcomed as guests in her house. And now you are eager to cast destructive fire on our sea-faring ships and to kill the Achaean heroes. But somewhere you will be stopped, for all your eagerness for Ares. O Father Zeus, they say you are supreme in wisdom among all others, men and gods, and yet all these things come from you. How you favor these insolent men, these Trojans, whose fury is ever reckless, who cannot sate themselves with the strife of evenly-matched war! Of all things there is satiety: of sleep, of love, of sweet song, and of the graceful dance, things which a man might desire to have his fill of more than war; but the Trojans are insatiate of battle.” So saying, blameless Menelaus stripped the bloody armor from the body and gave it to his comrades, and he himself went once more to join the fighters in the front rank. Then there leapt upon him Harpalion, son of King Pylaemenes, who had followed his dear father to war in Troy, but did not return again to his native land. He then struck the middle of the son of Atreus’s shield with his spear from close up, but could not drive the bronze through it. He fell back into the throng of his comrades to avoid his fate, looking all about him, lest someone should graze his skin with bronze. But as he retreated, Meriones let fly a bronze-tipped arrow and struck him on the right buttock. The arrow passed straight through to the bladder beneath the bone. He sank down on the spot, in the arms of his dear comrades, breathing his last, and lay stretched out on the ground like a worm, and the dark blood flowed out and wet the earth. The great-hearted Paphlagonians tended to him, and placing him on a chariot, they brought him to sacred Ilium, grieving. And with them went his father, shedding tears, but there was no recompense for his dead son. Paris was greatly angered in his heart at his death, for Harpalion had been his guest among the many Paphlagonians. In anger for him, he let fly a bronze-tipped arrow. There was a man named Euchenor, son of the seer Polyidus, rich and brave, who lived in Corinth. He had embarked upon his ship well knowing his own cruel fate, for his good father, old Polyidus, had often told him that he would either perish of a grievous sickness in his own halls, or be slain by the Trojans among the Achaean ships. So he sought to avoid both the heavy fine of the Achaeans and the hateful sickness, that he might not suffer sorrows in his heart. Paris struck him beneath the jaw and the ear, and his spirit quickly fled from his limbs, and hateful darkness seized him. So they fought on like a blazing fire. But Hector, dear to Zeus, had not heard, nor did he know at all that on the left of the ships his men were being cut down by the Argives. And soon the glory would have belonged to the Achaeans, for such was the way the Earth-Holder, the girdler of the earth, spurred on the Argives and aided them with his own strength. But Hector held to the place where he had first burst through the gates and the wall, breaking the dense ranks of the Danaan shield-bearers, where the ships of Ajax and Protesilaus were drawn up on the shore of the grey sea. Above them the wall had been built lowest, and there the battle raged most fiercely, both of men and of horses. There the Boeotians and the Ionians with their trailing robes, the Locrians, the Phthians, and the glorious Epeians, struggled to hold him back as he rushed upon the ships, but they could not drive godlike Hector, who was like a flame, away from them. At their head were the chosen men of Athens, among whom Menestheus, son of Peteos, was leader, and with him followed Pheidas and Stichius and goodly Bias. Over the Epeians were Meges, son of Phyleus, and Amphion and Dracius; and before the Phthians were Medon and Podarces, steadfast in battle. Medon was a bastard son of godlike Oileus and thus brother to Ajax, but he lived in Phylace, away from his native land, having killed a kinsman of his stepmother Eriopis, whom Oileus had married. The other, Podarces, was the son of Iphiclus, son of Phylacides. These two, armed for battle, stood before the great-hearted Phthians and fought beside the Boeotians to defend the ships. But Ajax, the swift son of Oileus, no longer stood apart from Telamonian Ajax, not even for a little. But as two wine-dark oxen in a fallow field strain with one accord at the jointed plough, and about the base of their horns the sweat pours forth in abundance, and only the well-polished yoke holds them apart as they press down the furrow, cutting to the end of the field, so these two stood side by side, very close to one another. Many and brave were the men who followed the son of Telamon as his comrades, and they would take his shield from him when toil and sweat came upon his limbs. But the great-hearted son of Oileus was not followed by the Locrians, for their hearts were not steadfast in close combat. They did not have bronze helmets with horse-hair crests, nor did they have round shields and ashen spears. Instead, they had come to Ilium trusting in their bows and well-twisted slings of sheep’s wool, with which they would then shoot thick and fast and break the battalions of the Trojans. So while the others, in their intricate armor, fought in the front with the Trojans and bronze-helmed Hector, the Locrians shot from behind, in hiding, and the Trojans began to forget their lust for battle, for the arrows threw them into confusion. Then the Trojans would have been driven back in sorry fashion from the ships and the huts to windy Ilium, had not Polydamas stood beside bold Hector and spoken: “Hector, you are impossible to persuade with counsel. Because a god has given you prowess in the works of war, you therefore wish to be superior to others in counsel as well. But you cannot possibly take everything for yourself. To one man a god has given the works of war, to another the dance, to another the lyre and song, and in the breast of another far-seeing Zeus places a wise mind, from which many men profit, and he saves many, and he himself knows it best. But I will speak as seems best to me. For a crown of war encircles you on all sides, and the great-hearted Trojans, now that they have crossed the wall, some stand aloof with their arms, while others, fewer in number, fight against many, scattered among the ships. But draw back, and call all the best men here. Then we can consider our whole plan, whether we should fall upon the many-benched ships, if the god is willing to give us the victory, or whether we should come away from the ships unharmed. For I fear that the Achaeans may yet repay their debt of yesterday, since a man insatiate of war still remains by the ships, and I do not think he will hold back from battle much longer.” So spoke Polydamas, and his prudent words pleased Hector. At once he leapt with his armor from his chariot to the ground and, addressing him, spoke winged words: “Polydamas, you keep all the best men here, and I will go there and face the battle. I will come back quickly, when I have given them clear commands.” He spoke, and set off, like a snow-covered mountain, shouting, and he flew through the ranks of the Trojans and their allies. They all hurried towards Polydamas, the noble son of Panthous, when they heard Hector’s voice. But Hector went among the front ranks, searching for Deiphobus and the mighty lord Helenus, and Adamas, son of Asius, and Asius, son of Hyrtacus, if he might find them. He found them no longer entirely unharmed nor unscathed, for some lay by the sterns of the Achaean ships, having lost their lives at the hands of the Argives, while others were within the wall, wounded by cast or by thrust. But he soon found godlike Alexander, husband of lovely-haired Helen, on the left of the tearful battle, encouraging his comrades and urging them on to fight. Standing close to him, Hector rebuked him with shaming words: “Evil Paris, best in looks, you woman-mad seducer! Where are Deiphobus and the mighty lord Helenus, and Adamas son of Asius, and Asius son of Hyrtacus? And where is Othryoneus? Now all of steep Ilium is utterly lost; now your own sheer destruction is certain.” And godlike Alexander answered him in turn: “Hector, since it is your will to blame one who is blameless, at some other time I might have been more inclined to shrink from the war, since my mother did not bear me to be altogether without courage. From the moment you roused the battle of your comrades beside the ships, from that moment we have remained here and engaged with the Danaans without cease. And the comrades you ask for are dead. Only Deiphobus and the mighty lord Helenus have gone, both wounded in the arm with long spears, but the son of Cronos has kept death from them. But now, lead on wherever your heart and spirit command you, and we will follow with eager hearts, and I do not think we will be wanting in courage, as much strength as we have. But beyond his strength a man cannot fight, even if he is eager.” So speaking, the hero persuaded his brother’s mind, and they went forth to where the battle and the strife were fiercest, around Cebriones and blameless Polydamas, and Phalces and Orthaeus and godlike Polyphetes, and Palmys and Ascanius and Morys, son of Hippotion, who had come from fertile Ascania on the previous morning as relief troops, and now Zeus stirred them to fight. They went like a blast of violent winds that, under the thunder of Father Zeus, descends upon the plain and with a wondrous roar mingles with the sea, and in it many surging waves of the loud-resounding ocean, arching and white with foam, come one after another. So the Trojans, one line after another in close array, gleaming in bronze, followed their leaders. And Hector, son of Priam, led them, like Ares the bane of mortals. Before him he held his balanced shield, thick with hides, and much bronze was laid over it, and around his temples his shining helmet was shaken. He advanced, testing the enemy battalions on all sides, to see if they would give way to him as he moved forward under his shield. But he did not stir the spirit in the breasts of the Achaeans. Ajax was the first to challenge him, striding forward with long steps: “My good sir, come closer! Why do you try to frighten the Argives in this way? We are not so unskilled in battle, but we have been subdued by the evil scourge of Zeus. Surely your heart hopes to destroy our ships, but we too have hands to defend them. And your own well-peopled city is far more likely to be taken and sacked by our hands first. And for you yourself, I say the time is near when in your flight you will pray to Father Zeus and the other immortals that your fine-maned horses may be swifter than hawks as they carry you to your city, raising the dust of the plain.” As he spoke, a bird flew by on the right, a high-flying eagle, and the host of the Achaeans shouted aloud, taking heart at the omen. But glorious Hector replied: “Ajax, you blustering fool, what a thing to say! If only I could be the son of aegis-bearing Zeus for all my days, and my mother the lady Hera, and be honored as Athena and Apollo are honored, as surely as this day now brings evil to all the Argives. And among them you too will be slain, if you dare to withstand my long spear, which will tear your lily-white skin. And you will glut the dogs and birds of Troy with your fat and your flesh, having fallen by the ships of the Achaeans.” So speaking, he led the way, and they followed with a wondrous cry, and the host behind them shouted aloud. The Argives on their side raised a shout, not forgetting their valor, but awaited the charge of the best of the Trojans. The cry of both armies rose to the heavens and the bright light of Zeus.

ἸΛΙΆΣ 13

Ζεὺς δ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα νηυσὶ πέλασσε,
τοὺς μὲν ἔα παρὰ τῇσι πόνον τ’ ἐχέμεν καὶ ὀϊζὺν
νωλεμέως, αὐτὸς δὲ πάλιν τρέπεν ὄσσε φαεινώ,
νόσφιν ἐφ’ ἱπποπόλων Θρῃκῶν καθορώμενος αἶαν
Μυσῶν τ’ ἀγχεμάχων καὶ ἀγαυῶν ἱππημολγῶν
γλακτοφάγων, Ἀβίων τε δικαιοτάτων ἀνθρώπων.
ἐς Τροίην δ’ οὐ πάμπαν ἔτι τρέπεν ὄσσε φαεινώ·
οὐ γὰρ ὅ γ’ ἀθανάτων τινα ἔλπετο ὃν κατὰ θυμὸν
ἐλθόντ’ ἢ Τρώεσσιν ἀρηξέμεν ἢ Δαναοῖσιν.
Οὐδ’ ἀλαοσκοπιὴν εἶχε κρείων ἐνοσίχθων·
καὶ γὰρ ὁ θαυμάζων ἧστο πτόλεμόν τε μάχην τε
ὑψοῦ ἐπ’ ἀκροτάτης κορυφῆς Σάμου ὑληέσσης
Θρηϊκίης· ἔνθεν γὰρ ἐφαίνετο πᾶσα μὲν Ἴδη,
φαίνετο δὲ Πριάμοιο πόλις καὶ νῆες Ἀχαιῶν.
ἔνθ’ ἄρ’ ὅ γ’ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἕζετ’ ἰών, ἐλέαιρε δ’ Ἀχαιοὺς
Τρωσὶν δαμναμένους, Διὶ δὲ κρατερῶς ἐνεμέσσα.
Αὐτίκα δ’ ἐξ ὄρεος κατεβήσετο παιπαλόεντος
κραιπνὰ ποσὶ προβιβάς· τρέμε δ’ οὔρεα μακρὰ καὶ ὕλη

ποσσὶν ὑπ’ ἀθανάτοισι Ποσειδάωνος ἰόντος.
τρὶς μὲν ὀρέξατ’ ἰών, τὸ δὲ τέτρατον ἵκετο τέκμωρ,
Αἰγάς, ἔνθα δέ οἱ κλυτὰ δώματα βένθεσι λίμνης
χρύσεα μαρμαίροντα τετεύχαται ἄφθιτα αἰεί.
ἔνθ’ ἐλθὼν ὑπ’ ὄχεσφι τιτύσκετο χαλκόποδ’ ἵππω
ὠκυπέτα χρυσέῃσιν ἐθείρῃσιν κομόωντε,
χρυσὸν δ’ αὐτὸς ἔδυνε περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δ’ ἱμάσθλην
χρυσείην εὔτυκτον, ἑοῦ δ’ ἐπεβήσετο δίφρου,
βῆ δ’ ἐλάαν ἐπὶ κύματ’· ἄταλλε δὲ κήτε’ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ
πάντοθεν ἐκ κευθμῶν, οὐδ’ ἠγνοίησεν ἄνακτα·
γηθοσύνῃ δὲ θάλασσα διίστατο· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο
ῥίμφα μάλ’, οὐδ’ ὑπένερθε διαίνετο χάλκεος ἄξων·
τὸν δ’ ἐς Ἀχαιῶν νῆας ἐΰσκαρθμοι φέρον ἵπποι.
Ἔστι δέ τι σπέος εὐρὺ βαθείης βένθεσι λίμνης,
μεσσηγὺς Τενέδοιο καὶ Ἴμβρου παιπαλοέσσης·
ἔνθ’ ἵππους ἔστησε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
λύσας ἐξ ὀχέων, παρὰ δ’ ἀμβρόσιον βάλεν εἶδαρ
ἔδμεναι· ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶ πέδας ἔβαλε χρυσείας,
ἀῤῥήκτους ἀλύτους, ὄφρ’ ἔμπεδον αὖθι μένοιεν
νοστήσαντα ἄνακτα· ὁ δ’ ἐς στρατὸν ᾤχετ’ Ἀχαιῶν.
Τρῶες δὲ φλογὶ ἶσοι ἀολλέες ἠὲ θυέλλῃ
Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ ἄμοτον μεμαῶτες ἕποντο
ἄβρομοι αὐΐαχοι· ἔλποντο δὲ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
αἱρήσειν, κτενέειν δὲ παρ’ αὐτόθι πάντας ἀρίστους.
ἀλλὰ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος
Ἀργείους ὄτρυνε βαθείης ἐξ ἁλὸς ἐλθών,
εἰσάμενος Κάλχαντι δέμας καὶ ἀτειρέα φωνήν·
Αἴαντε πρώτω προσέφη μεμαῶτε καὶ αὐτώ·
«Αἴαντε σφὼ μέν τε σαώσετε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν

ἀλκῆς μνησαμένω, μὴ δὲ κρυεροῖο φόβοιο.
ἄλλῃ μὲν γὰρ ἔγωγ’ οὐ δείδια χεῖρας ἀάπτους
Τρώων, οἳ μέγα τεῖχος ὑπερκατέβησαν ὁμίλῳ·
ἕξουσιν γὰρ πάντας ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί·
τῇ δὲ δὴ αἰνότατον περιδείδια μή τι πάθωμεν,
ᾗ ῥ’ ὅ γ’ ὁ λυσσώδης φλογὶ εἴκελος ἡγεμονεύει,
Ἕκτωρ, ὃς Διὸς εὔχετ’ ἐρισθενέος πάϊς εἶναι.
σφῶϊν δ’ ὧδε θεῶν τις ἐνὶ φρεσὶ ποιήσειεν
αὐτώ θ’ ἑστάμεναι κρατερῶς καὶ ἀνωγέμεν ἄλλους·
τώ κε καὶ ἐσσύμενόν περ ἐρωήσαιτ’ ἀπὸ νηῶν
ὠκυπόρων, εἰ καί μιν Ὀλύμπιος αὐτὸς ἐγείρει.»
Ἦ καὶ σκηπανίῳ γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος
ἀμφοτέρω κεκόπων πλῆσεν μένεος κρατεροῖο,
γυῖα δ’ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρὰ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.
αὐτὸς δ’ ὥς τ’ ἴρηξ ὠκύπτερος ὦρτο πέτεσθαι,
ὅς ῥά τ’ ἀπ’ αἰγίλιπος πέτρης περιμήκεος ἀρθεὶς
ὁρμήσῃ πεδίοιο διώκειν ὄρνεον ἄλλο,
ὣς ἀπὸ τῶν ἤϊξε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων.
τοῖιν δ’ ἔγνω πρόσθεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,
αἶψα δ’ ἄρ’ Αἴαντα προσέφη Τελαμώνιον υἱόν·
«Αἶαν ἐπεί τις νῶϊ θεῶν οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσι,
μάντεϊ εἰδόμενος κέλεται παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχεσθαι,
οὐδ’ ὅ γε Κάλχας ἐστὶ θεοπρόπος οἰωνιστής·
ἴχνια γὰρ μετόπισθε ποδῶν ἠδὲ κνημάων
ῥεῖ’ ἔγνων ἀπιόντος· ἀρίγνωτοι δὲ θεοί περ·
καὶ δ’ ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι
μᾶλλον ἐφορμᾶται πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι,
μαιμώωσι δ’ ἔνερθε πόδες καὶ χεῖρες ὕπερθε.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·

«οὕτω νῦν καὶ ἐμοὶ περὶ δούρατι χεῖρες ἄαπτοι
μαιμῶσιν, καί μοι μένος ὤρορε, νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν
ἔσσυμαι ἀμφοτέροισι· μενοινώω δὲ καὶ οἶος
Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ ἄμοτον μεμαῶτι μάχεσθαι.»
Ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
χάρμῃ γηθόσυνοι, τήν σφιν θεὸς ἔμβαλε θυμῷ·
τόφρα δὲ τοὺς ὄπιθεν γαιήοχος ὦρσεν Ἀχαιούς,
οἳ παρὰ νηυσὶ θοῇσιν ἀνέψυχον φίλον ἦτορ.
τῶν ῥ’ ἅμα τ’ ἀργαλέῳ καμάτῳ φίλα γυῖα λέλυντο,
καί σφιν ἄχος κατὰ θυμὸν ἐγίγνετο δερκομένοισι
Τρῶας, τοὶ μέγα τεῖχος ὑπερκατέβησαν ὁμίλῳ.
τοὺς οἵ γ’ εἰσορόωντες ὑπ’ ὀφρύσι δάκρυα λεῖβον·
οὐ γὰρ ἔφαν φεύξεσθαι ὑπ’ ἐκ κακοῦ· ἀλλ’ ἐνοσίχθων
ῥεῖα μετεισάμενος κρατερὰς ὄτρυνε φάλαγγας.
Τεῦκρον ἔπι πρῶτον καὶ Λήϊτον ἦλθε κελεύων
Πηνέλεών θ’ ἥρωα Θόαντά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε
Μηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·
τοὺς ὅ γ’ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«αἰδὼς Ἀργεῖοι, κοῦροι νέοι· ὔμμιν ἔγωγε
μαρναμένοισι πέποιθα σαωσέμεναι νέας ἁμάς·
εἰ δ’ ὑμεῖς πολέμοιο μεθήσετε λευγαλέοιο,
νῦν δὴ εἴδεται ἦμαρ ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι.
ὢ πόποι, ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδ’ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι,
δεινόν, ὃ οὔ ποτ’ ἔγωγε τελευτήσεσθαι ἔφασκον,
Τρῶας ἐφ’ ἡμετέρας ἰέναι νέας, οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
φυζακινῇς ἐλάφοισιν ἐοίκεσαν, αἵ τε καθ’ ὕλην
θώων παρδαλίων τε λύκων τ’ ἤϊα πέλονται
αὔτως ἠλάσκουσαι ἀνάλκιδες, οὐδ’ ἔπι χάρμη·
ὣς Τρῶες τὸ πρίν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας Ἀχαιῶν
μίμνειν οὐκ ἐθέλεσκον ἐναντίον, οὐδ’ ἠβαιόν·

νῦν δὲ ἑκὰς πόλιος κοίλῃς ἐπὶ νηυσὶ μάχονται
ἡγεμόνος κακότητι μεθημοσύνῃσί τε λαῶν,
οἳ κείνῳ ἐρίσαντες ἀμυνέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλουσι
νηῶν ὠκυπόρων, ἀλλὰ κτείνονται ἀν’ αὐτάς.
ἀλλ’ εἰ δὴ καὶ πάμπαν ἐτήτυμον αἴτιός ἐστιν
ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
οὕνεκ’ ἀπητίμησε ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα,
ἡμέας γ’ οὔ πως ἔστι μεθιέμεναι πολέμοιο.
ἀλλ’ ἀκεώμεθα θᾶσσον· ἀκεσταί τοι φρένες ἐσθλῶν.
ὑμεῖς δ’ οὐκ ἔτι καλὰ μεθίετε θούριδος ἀλκῆς
πάντες ἄριστοι ἐόντες ἀνὰ στρατόν. οὐδ’ ἂν ἔγωγε
ἀνδρὶ μαχεσσαίμην ὅς τις πολέμοιο μεθείη
λυγρὸς ἐών· ὑμῖν δὲ νεμεσσῶμαι περὶ κῆρι.
ὦ πέπονες, τάχα δή τι κακὸν ποιήσετε μεῖζον
τῇδε μεθημοσύνῃ· ἀλλ’ ἐν φρεσὶ θέσθε ἕκαστος
αἰδῶ καὶ νέμεσιν· δὴ γὰρ μέγα νεῖκος ὄρωρεν.
Ἕκτωρ δὴ παρὰ νηυσὶ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς πολεμίζει
καρτερός, ἔῤῥηξεν δὲ πύλας καὶ μακρὸν ὀχῆα.»
Ὥς ῥα κελευτιόων γαιήοχος ὦρσεν Ἀχαιούς.
ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρ’ Αἴαντας δοιοὺς ἵσταντο φάλαγγες
καρτεραί, ἃς οὔτ’ ἄν κεν Ἄρης ὀνόσαιτο μετελθὼν
οὔτε κ’ Ἀθηναίη λαοσσόος· οἳ γὰρ ἄριστοι
κρινθέντες Τρῶάς τε καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔμιμνον,
φράξαντες δόρυ δουρί, σάκος σάκεϊ προθελύμνῳ·
ἀσπὶς ἄρ’ ἀσπίδ’ ἔρειδε, κόρυς κόρυν, ἀνέρα δ’ ἀνήρ·
ψαῦον δ’ ἱππόκομοι κόρυθες λαμπροῖσι φάλοισι
νευόντων, ὡς πυκνοὶ ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν·
ἔγχεα δ’ ἐπτύσσοντο θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
σειόμεν’· οἱ δ’ ἰθὺς φρόνεον, μέμασαν δὲ μάχεσθαι.
Τρῶες δὲ προὔτυψαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δ’ ἄρ’ Ἕκτωρ
ἀντικρὺ μεμαώς, ὀλοοίτροχος ὣς ἀπὸ πέτρης,

ὅν τε κατὰ στεφάνης ποταμὸς χειμάῤῥοος ὤσῃ,
ῥήξας ἀσπέτῳ ὄμβρῳ ἀναιδέος ἔχματα πέτρης·
ὕψι δ’ ἀναθρῴσκων πέτεται, κτυπέει δέ θ’ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ
ὕλη· ὁ δ’ ἀσφαλέως θέει ἔμπεδον, εἷος ἵκηται
ἰσόπεδον, τότε δ’ οὔ τι κυλίνδεται ἐσσύμενός περ·
ὣς Ἕκτωρ ἧος μὲν ἀπείλει μέχρι θαλάσσης
ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
κτείνων· ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ πυκινῇς ἐνέκυρσε φάλαγξι
στῆ ῥα μάλ’ ἐγχριμφθείς· οἱ δ’ ἀντίοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
νύσσοντες ξίφεσίν τε καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν
ὦσαν ἀπὸ σφείων· ὁ δὲ χασσάμενος πελεμίχθη.
ἤϋσεν δὲ διαπρύσιον Τρώεσσι γεγωνώς·
«Τρῶες καὶ Λύκιοι καὶ Δάρδανοι ἀγχιμαχηταί,
παρμένετ’· οὔ τοι δηρὸν ἐμὲ σχήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί,
καὶ μάλα πυργηδὸν σφέας αὐτοὺς ἀρτύναντες,
ἀλλ’ ὀΐω χάσσονται ὑπ’ ἔγχεος, εἰ ἐτεόν με
ὦρσε θεῶν ὤριστος, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὤτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
Δηΐφοβος δ’ ἐν τοῖσι μέγα φρονέων ἐβεβήκει
Πριαμίδης, πρόσθεν δ’ ἔχεν ἀσπίδα πάντοσ’ ἐΐσην,
κοῦφα ποσὶ προβιβὰς καὶ ὑπασπίδια προποδίζων.
Μηριόνης δ’ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
καὶ βάλεν, οὐδ’ ἀφάμαρτε, κατ’ ἀσπίδα πάντοσ’ ἐΐσην
ταυρείην· τῆς δ’ οὔ τι διήλασεν, ἀλλὰ πολὺ πρὶν
ἐν καυλῷ ἐάγη δολιχὸν δόρυ· Δηΐφοβος δὲ
ἀσπίδα ταυρείην σχέθ’ ἀπὸ ἕο, δεῖσε δὲ θυμῷ
ἔγχος Μηριόναο δαΐφρονος· αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἥρως
ἂψ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο, χώσατο δ’ αἰνῶς
ἀμφότερον, νίκης τε καὶ ἔγχεος ὃ ξυνέαξε.

βῆ δ’ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
οἰσόμενος δόρυ μακρόν, ὅ οἱ κλισίηφι λέλειπτο.
Οἱ δ’ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δ’ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.
Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἄνδρα κατέκτα,
Ἴμβριον αἰχμητὴν πολυΐππου Μέντορος υἱόν·
ναῖε δὲ Πήδαιον πρὶν ἐλθεῖν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν,
κούρην δὲ Πριάμοιο νόθην ἔχε, Μηδεσικάστην·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Δαναῶν νέες ἤλυθον ἀμφιέλισσαι,
ἂψ ἐς Ἴλιον ἦλθε, μετέπρεπε δὲ Τρώεσσι,
ναῖε δὲ πὰρ Πριάμῳ· ὁ δέ μιν τίεν ἶσα τέκεσσι.
τόν ῥ’ υἱὸς Τελαμῶνος ὑπ’ οὔατος ἔγχεϊ μακρῷ
νύξ’, ἐκ δ’ ἔσπασεν ἔγχος· ὁ δ’ αὖτ’ ἔπεσεν μελίη ὥς,
ἥ τ’ ὄρεος κορυφῇ ἕκαθεν περιφαινομένοιο
χαλκῷ ταμνομένη τέρενα χθονὶ φύλλα πελάσσῃ·
ὣς πέσεν, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ βράχε τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ.
Τεῦκρος δ’ ὁρμήθη μεμαὼς ἀπὸ τεύχεα δῦσαι·
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ὁρμηθέντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.
ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος
τυτθόν· ὁ δ’ Ἀμφίμαχον Κτεάτου υἷ’ Ἀκτορίωνος,
νισόμενον πόλεμον δὲ κατὰ στῆθος βάλε δουρί·
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ἀράβησε δὲ τεύχε’ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ὁρμήθη κόρυθα κροτάφοις ἀραρυῖαν
κρατὸς ἀφαρπάξαι μεγαλήτορος Ἀμφιμάχοιο·
Αἴας δ’ ὁρμηθέντος ὀρέξατο δουρὶ φαεινῷ
Ἕκτορος· ἀλλ’ οὔ πῃ χροὸς εἴσατο, πᾶς δ’ ἄρα χαλκῷ
σμερδαλέῳ κεκάλυφθ’· ὁ δ’ ἄρ’ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλὸν οὖτα,
ὦσε δέ μιν σθένεϊ μεγάλῳ· ὁ δὲ χάσσατ’ ὀπίσσω
νεκρῶν ἀμφοτέρων, τοὺς δ’ ἐξείρυσσαν Ἀχαιοί.
Ἀμφίμαχον μὲν ἄρα Στιχίος δῖός τε Μενεσθεύς,

ἀρχοὶ Ἀθηναίων κόμισαν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν·
Ἴμβριον αὖτ’ Αἴαντε μεμαότε θούριδος ἀλκῆς,
ὥς τε δύ’ αἶγα λέοντε κυνῶν ὕπο καρχαροδόντων
ἁρπάξαντε φέρητον ἀνὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά,
ὑψοῦ ὑπὲρ γαίης μετὰ γαμφηλῇσιν ἔχοντε,
ὥς ῥα τὸν ὑψοῦ ἔχοντε δύω Αἴαντε κορυστὰ
τεύχεα συλήτην· κεφαλὴν δ’ ἁπαλῆς ἀπὸ δειρῆς
κόψεν Ὀϊλιάδης κεχολωμένος Ἀμφιμάχοιο,
ἧκε δέ μιν σφαιρηδὸν ἑλιξάμενος δι’ ὁμίλου·
Ἕκτορι δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν ἐν κονίῃσι.
Καὶ τότε δὴ περὶ κῆρι Ποσειδάων ἐχολώθη
υἱωνοῖο πεσόντος ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,
βῆ δ’ ἰέναι παρά τε κλισίας καὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
ὀτρυνέων Δαναούς, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδε’ ἐτεῦχεν.
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ ἄρα οἱ δουρικλυτὸς ἀντεβόλησεν,
ἐρχόμενος παρ’ ἑταίρου, ὅ οἱ νέον ἐκ πολέμοιο
ἦλθε κατ’ ἰγνύην βεβλημένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.
τὸν μὲν ἑταῖροι ἔνεικαν, ὃ δ’ ἰητροῖς ἐπιτείλας
ἤϊεν ἐς κλισίην· ἔτι γὰρ πολέμοιο μενοίνα
ἀντιάαν· τὸν δὲ προσέφη κρείων ἐνοσίχθων,
εἰσάμενος φθογγὴν Ἀνδραίμονος υἷϊ Θόαντι,
ὃς πάσῃ Πλευρῶνι καὶ αἰπεινῇ Καλυδῶνι
Αἰτωλοῖσιν ἄνασσε, θεὸς δ’ ὣς τίετο δήμῳ·
«Ἰδομενεῦ Κρητῶν βουληφόρε ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαὶ
οἴχονται, τὰς Τρωσὶν ἀπείλεον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν;»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ὦ Θόαν, οὔ τις ἀνὴρ νῦν γ’ αἴτιος, ὅσσον ἔγωγε
γιγνώσκω· πάντες γὰρ ἐπιστάμεθα πτολεμίζειν.

οὔτέ τινα δέος ἴσχει ἀκήριον οὔτέ τις ὄκνῳ
εἴκων ἀνδύεται πόλεμον κακόν· ἀλλά που οὕτω
μέλλει δὴ φίλον εἶναι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι,
νωνύμνους ἀπολέσθαι ἀπ’ Ἄργεος ἐνθάδ’ Ἀχαιούς.
ἀλλὰ Θόαν, καὶ γὰρ τὸ πάρος μενεδήϊος ἦσθα,
ὀτρύνεις δὲ καὶ ἄλλον ὅθι μεθιέντα ἴδηαι·
τὼ νῦν μήτ’ ἀπόληγε κέλευέ τε φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ.»
Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
«Ἰδομενεῦ, μὴ κεῖνος ἀνὴρ ἔτι νοστήσειεν
ἐκ Τροίης, ἀλλ’ αὖθι κυνῶν μέλπηθρα γένοιτο,
ὅς τις ἐπ’ ἤματι τῷδε ἑκὼν μεθίῃσι μάχεσθαι.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε τεύχεα δεῦρο λαβὼν ἴθι· ταῦτα δ’ ἅμα χρὴ
σπεύδειν, αἴ κ’ ὄφελός τι γενώμεθα καὶ δύ’ ἐόντε.
συμφερτὴ δ’ ἀρετὴ πέλει ἀνδρῶν καὶ μάλα λυγρῶν
νῶϊ δὲ καί κ’ ἀγαθοῖσιν ἐπισταίμεσθα μάχεσθαι.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὃ μὲν αὖτις ἔβη θεὸς ἂμ πόνον ἀνδρῶν·
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην εὔτυκτον ἵκανε
δύσετο τεύχεα καλὰ περὶ χροΐ, γέντο δὲ δοῦρε,
βῆ δ’ ἴμεν ἀστεροπῇ ἐναλίγκιος, ἥν τε Κρονίων
χειρὶ λαβὼν ἐτίναξεν ἀπ’ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,
δεικνὺς σῆμα βροτοῖσιν· ἀρίζηλοι δέ οἱ αὐγαί·
ὣς τοῦ χαλκὸς ἔλαμπε περὶ στήθεσσι θέοντος.
Μηριόνης δ’ ἄρα οἱ θεράπων ἐῢς ἀντεβόλησεν
ἐγγὺς ἔτι κλισίης· μετὰ γὰρ δόρυ χάλκεον ᾔει
οἰσόμενος· τὸν δὲ προσέφη σθένος Ἰδομενῆος·
«Μηριόνη, Μόλου υἱὲ πόδας ταχὺ φίλταθ’ ἑταίρων,
τίπτ’ ἦλθες πόλεμόν τε λιπὼν καὶ δηϊοτῆτα;

ἠέ τι βέβληαι, βέλεος δέ σε τείρει ἀκωκή,
ἦέ τευ ἀγγελίης μετ’ ἔμ’ ἤλυθες; οὐδέ τοι αὐτὸς
ἧσθαι ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λιλαίομαι, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθαι.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖ Μηριόνης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Ἰδομενεῦ, Κρητῶν βουληφόρε χαλκοχιτώνων,
ἔρχομαι εἴ τί τοι ἔγχος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσι λέλειπται,
οἰσόμενος· τό νυ γὰρ κατεάξαμεν ὃ πρὶν ἔχεσκον,
ἀσπίδα Δηϊφόβοιο βαλὼν ὑπερηνορέοντος.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«δούρατα δ’, αἴ κ’ ἐθέλῃσθα καὶ ἓν καὶ εἴκοσι δήεις
ἑσταότ’ ἐν κλισίῃ πρὸς ἐνώπια παμφανόωντα,
Τρώϊα, τὰ κταμένων ἀποαίνυμαι· οὐ γὰρ ὀΐω
ἀνδρῶν δυσμενέων ἑκὰς ἱστάμενος πολεμίζειν.
τώ μοι δούρατά τ’ ἔστι καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι
καὶ κόρυθες καὶ θώρηκες λαμπρὸν γανόωντες.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖ Μηριόνης πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«καί τοι ἐμοὶ παρά τε κλισίῃ καὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
πόλλ’ ἔναρα Τρώων· ἀλλ’ οὐ σχεδόν ἐστιν ἑλέσθαι.
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδ’ ἐμέ φημι λελασμένον ἔμμεναι ἀλκῆς,
ἀλλὰ μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχην ἀνὰ κυδιάνειραν
ἵσταμαι, ὁππότε νεῖκος ὀρώρηται πολέμοιο.
ἄλλόν πού τινα μᾶλλον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
λήθω μαρνάμενος, σὲ δὲ ἴδμεναι αὐτὸν ὀΐω.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Ἰδομενεύς, Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«οἶδ’ ἀρετὴν οἷός ἐσσι· τί σε χρὴ ταῦτα λέγεσθαι;
εἰ γὰρ νῦν παρὰ νηυσὶ λεγοίμεθα πάντες ἄριστοι
ἐς λόχον, ἔνθα μάλιστ’ ἀρετὴ διαείδεται ἀνδρῶν,
ἔνθ’ ὅ τε δειλὸς ἀνὴρ ὅς τ’ ἄλκιμος ἐξεφαάνθη·
τοῦ μὲν γάρ τε κακοῦ τρέπεται χρὼς ἄλλυδις ἄλλῃ,
οὐδέ οἱ ἀτρέμας ἧσθαι ἐρητύετ’ ἐν φρεσὶ θυμός,
ἀλλὰ μετοκλάζει καὶ ἐπ’ ἀμφοτέρους πόδας ἵζει,

ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίη μεγάλα στέρνοισι πατάσσει
κῆρας ὀϊομένῳ, πάταγος δέ τε γίγνετ’ ὀδόντων·
τοῦ δ’ ἀγαθοῦ οὔτ’ ἂρ τρέπεται χρὼς οὔτέ τι λίην
ταρβεῖ, ἐπειδὰν πρῶτον ἐσίζηται λόχον ἀνδρῶν,
ἀρᾶται δὲ τάχιστα μιγήμεναι ἐν δαῒ λυγρῇ·
οὐδέ κεν ἔνθα τεόν γε μένος καὶ χεῖρας ὄνοιτο.
εἴ περ γάρ κε βλεῖο πονεύμενος ἠὲ τυπείης
οὐκ ἂν ἐν αὐχέν’ ὄπισθε πέσοι βέλος οὐδ’ ἐνὶ νώτῳ,
ἀλλά κεν ἢ στέρνων ἢ νηδύος ἀντιάσειε
πρόσσω ἱεμένοιο μετὰ προμάχων ὀαριστύν.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὣς
ἑσταότες, μή πού τις ὑπερφιάλως νεμεσήσῃ·
ἀλλὰ σύ γε κλισίην δὲ κιὼν ἕλευ ὄβριμον ἔγχος.»
Ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
καρπαλίμως κλισίηθεν ἀνείλετο χάλκεον ἔγχος,
βῆ δὲ μετ’ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.
οἷος δὲ βροτολοιγὸς Ἄρης πόλεμον δὲ μέτεισι,
τῷ δὲ Φόβος φίλος υἱὸς ἅμα κρατερὸς καὶ ἀταρβὴς
ἕσπετο, ὅς τ’ ἐφόβησε ταλάφρονά περ πολεμιστήν·
τὼ μὲν ἄρ’ ἐκ Θρῄκης Ἐφύρους μέτα θωρήσσεσθον,
ἠὲ μετὰ Φλεγύας μεγαλήτορας· οὐδ’ ἄρα τώ γε
ἔκλυον ἀμφοτέρων, ἑτέροισι δὲ κῦδος ἔδωκαν·
τοῖοι Μηριόνης τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀγοὶ ἀνδρῶν
ἤϊσαν ἐς πόλεμον κεκορυθμένοι αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.
τὸν καὶ Μηριόνης πρότερος πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·
«Δευκαλίδη, πῇ τὰρ μέμονας καταδῦναι ὅμιλον;
ἢ ἐπὶ δεξιόφιν παντὸς στρατοῦ, ἦ ἀνὰ μέσσους,
ἦ ἐπ’ ἀριστερόφιν; ἐπεὶ οὔπωθι ἔλπομαι οὕτω
δεύεσθαι πολέμοιο κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Ἰδομενεύς, Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·

«νηυσὶ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃσιν ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἄλλοι,
Αἴαντές τε δύω Τεῦκρός θ’, ὃς ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν
τοξοσύνῃ, ἀγαθὸς δὲ καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ·
οἵ μιν ἅδην ἐλόωσι καὶ ἐσσύμενον πολέμοιο,
Ἕκτορα Πριαμίδην, καὶ εἰ μάλα καρτερός ἐστιν.
αἰπύ οἱ ἐσσεῖται μάλα περ μεμαῶτι μάχεσθαι
κείνων νικήσαντι μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους
νῆας ἐνιπρῆσαι, ὅτε μὴ αὐτός γε Κρονίων
ἐμβάλοι αἰθόμενον δαλὸν νήεσσι θοῇσιν.
ἀνδρὶ δέ κ’ οὐκ εἴξειε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
ὃς θνητός τ’ εἴη καὶ ἔδοι Δημήτερος ἀκτὴν
χαλκῷ τε ῥηκτὸς μεγάλοισί τε χερμαδίοισιν.
οὐδ’ ἂν Ἀχιλλῆϊ ῥηξήνορι χωρήσειεν
ἔν γ’ αὐτοσταδίῃ· ποσὶ δ’ οὔ πως ἔστιν ἐρίζειν.
νῶϊν δ’ ὧδ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστέρ’ ἔχε στρατοῦ, ὄφρα τάχιστα
εἴδομεν ἠέ τῳ εὖχος ὀρέξομεν, ἦέ τις ἡμῖν.»
Ὣς φάτο, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
ἦρχ’ ἴμεν, ὄφρ’ ἀφίκοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ᾗ μιν ἀνώγει.
Οἱ δ’ ὡς Ἰδομενῆα ἴδον φλογὶ εἴκελον ἀλκὴν
αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισι,
κεκλόμενοι καθ’ ὅμιλον ἐπ’ αὐτῷ πάντες ἔβησαν·
τῶν δ’ ὁμὸν ἵστατο νεῖκος ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν.
ὡς δ’ ὅθ’ ὑπὸ λιγέων ἀνέμων σπέρχωσιν ἄελλαι
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε τε πλείστη κόνις ἀμφὶ κελεύθους,
οἵ τ’ ἄμυδις κονίης μεγάλην ἱστᾶσιν ὀμίχλην,
ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὁμόσ’ ἦλθε μάχη, μέμασαν δ’ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
ἀλλήλους καθ’ ὅμιλον ἐναιρέμεν ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ.
ἔφριξεν δὲ μάχη φθισίμβροτος ἐγχείῃσι
μακρῇς, ἃς εἶχον ταμεσίχροας· ὄσσε δ’ ἄμερδεν

αὐγὴ χαλκείη κορύθων ἄπο λαμπομενάων
θωρήκων τε νεοσμήκτων σακέων τε φαεινῶν
ἐρχομένων ἄμυδις· μάλα κεν θρασυκάρδιος εἴη
ὃς τότε γηθήσειεν ἰδὼν πόνον οὐδ’ ἀκάχοιτο.
Τὼ δ’ ἀμφὶς φρονέοντε δύω Κρόνου υἷε κραταιὼ
ἀνδράσιν ἡρώεσσιν ἐτεύχετον ἄλγεα λυγρά.
Ζεὺς μέν ῥα Τρώεσσι καὶ Ἕκτορι βούλετο νίκην,
κυδαίνων Ἀχιλῆα πόδας ταχύν· οὐδέ τι πάμπαν
ἤθελε λαὸν ὀλέσθαι Ἀχαιϊκὸν Ἰλιόθι πρό,
ἀλλὰ Θέτιν κύδαινε καὶ υἱέα καρτερόθυμον.
Ἀργείους δὲ Ποσειδάων ὀρόθυνε μετελθών,
λάθρῃ ὑπεξαναδὺς πολιῆς ἁλός· ἤχθετο γάρ ῥα
Τρωσὶν δαμναμένους, Διὶ δὲ κρατερῶς ἐνεμέσσα.
ἦ μὰν ἀμφοτέροισιν ὁμὸν γένος ἠδ’ ἴα πάτρη,
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς πρότερος γεγόνει καὶ πλείονα ᾔδη.
τώ ῥα καὶ ἀμφαδίην μὲν ἀλεξέμεναι ἀλέεινε,
λάθρῃ δ’ αἰὲν ἔγειρε κατὰ στρατὸν ἀνδρὶ ἐοικώς.
τοὶ δ’ ἔριδος κρατερῆς καὶ ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο
πεῖραρ ἐπαλλάξαντες ἐπ’ ἀμφοτέροισι τάνυσσαν,
ἄῤῥηκτόν τ’ ἄλυτόν τε, τὸ πολλῶν γούνατ’ ἔλυσεν.
Ἔνθα μεσαιπόλιός περ ἐὼν Δαναοῖσι κελεύσας
Ἰδομενεὺς Τρώεσσι μετάλμενος ἐν φόβον ὦρσε.
πέφνε γὰρ Ὀθρυονῆα Καβησόθεν ἔνδον ἐόντα,
ὅς ῥα νέον πολέμοιο μετὰ κλέος εἰληλούθει,
ᾔτεε δὲ Πριάμοιο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην,

Κασσάνδρην ἀνάεδνον, ὑπέσχετο δὲ μέγα ἔργον,
ἐκ Τροίης ἀέκοντας ἀπωσέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
τῷ δ’ ὁ γέρων Πρίαμος ὑπό τ’ ἔσχετο καὶ κατένευσε
δωσέμεναι· ὃ δὲ μάρναθ’ ὑποσχεσίῃσι πιθήσας.
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ αὐτοῖο τιτύσκετο δουρὶ φαεινῷ,
καὶ βάλεν ὕψι βιβάντα τυχών· οὐδ’ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ
χάλκεος, ὃν φορέεσκε, μέσῃ δ’ ἐν γαστέρι πῆξε.
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών· ὁ δ’ ἐπεύξατο φώνησέν τε·
«Ὀθρυονεῦ, περὶ δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομ’ ἁπάντων,
εἰ ἐτεὸν δὴ πάντα τελευτήσεις ὅσ’ ὑπέστης
Δαρδανίδῃ Πριάμῳ· ὁ δ’ ὑπέσχετο θυγατέρα ἥν.
καί κέ τοι ἡμεῖς ταῦτά γ’ ὑποσχόμενοι τελέσαιμεν,
δοῖμεν δ’ Ἀτρεΐδαο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην,
Ἄργεος ἐξαγαγόντες ὀπυιέμεν, εἴ κε σὺν ἄμμιν
Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσῃς εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.
ἀλλ’ ἕπε’, ὄφρ’ ἐπὶ νηυσὶ συνώμεθα ποντοπόροισιν
ἀμφὶ γάμῳ, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἐεδνωταὶ κακοί εἰμεν.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ποδὸς ἕλκε κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην
ἥρως Ἰδομενεύς· τῷ δ’ Ἄσιος ἦλθ’ ἐπαμύντωρ
πεζὸς πρόσθ’ ἵππων· τὼ δὲ πνείοντε κατ’ ὤμων
αἰὲν ἔχ’ ἡνίοχος θεράπων· ὃ δὲ ἵετο θυμῷ
Ἰδομενῆα βαλεῖν· ὃ δέ μιν φθάμενος βάλε δουρὶ
λαιμὸν ὑπ’ ἀνθερεῶνα, διὰ πρὸ δὲ χαλκὸν ἔλασσεν.
ἤριπε δ’ ὡς ὅτε τις δρῦς ἤριπεν ἢ ἀχερωΐς,
ἠὲ πίτυς βλωθρή, τήν τ’ οὔρεσι τέκτονες ἄνδρες
ἐξέταμον πελέκεσσι νεήκεσι νήϊον εἶναι·
ὣς ὃ πρόσθ’ ἵππων καὶ δίφρου κεῖτο τανυσθείς,

βεβρυχώς, κόνιος δεδραγμένος αἱματοέσσης.
ἐκ δέ οἱ ἡνίοχος πλήγη φρένας, ἃς πάρος εἶχεν,
οὐδ’ ὅ γ’ ἐτόλμησεν δηΐων ὑπὸ χεῖρας ἀλύξας,
ἂψ ἵππους στρέψαι, τὸν δ’ Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης
δουρὶ μέσον περόνησε τυχών· οὐδ’ ἤρκεσε θώρηξ
χάλκεος, ὃν φορέεσκε, μέσῃ δ’ ἐν γαστέρι πῆξεν.
αὐτὰρ ὃ ἀσθμαίνων εὐεργέος ἔκπεσε δίφρου,
ἵππους δ’ Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱός,
ἐξέλασε Τρώων μετ’ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.
Δηΐφοβος δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἤλυθεν Ἰδομενῆος,
Ἀσίου ἀχνύμενος, καὶ ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ.
ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος
Ἰδομενεύς· κρύφθη γὰρ ὑπ’ ἀσπίδι πάντοσ’ ἐΐσῃ,
τὴν ἄρ’ ὅ γε ῥινοῖσι βοῶν καὶ νώροπι χαλκῷ
δινωτὴν φορέεσκε, δύω κανόνεσσ’ ἀραρυῖαν·
τῇ ὕπο πᾶς ἐάλη, τὸ δ’ ὑπέρπτατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,
καρφαλέον δέ οἱ ἀσπὶς ἐπιθρέξαντος ἄϋσεν
ἔγχεος· οὐδ’ ἅλιόν ῥα βαρείης χειρὸς ἀφῆκεν,
ἀλλ’ ἔβαλ’ Ἱππασίδην Ὑψήνορα ποιμένα λαῶν,
ἧπαρ ὑπὸ πραπίδων, εἶθαρ δ’ ὑπὸ γούνατ’ ἔλυσε.
Δηΐφοβος δ’ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
«οὐ μὰν αὖτ’ ἄτιτος κεῖτ’ Ἄσιος, ἀλλά ἕ φημι
εἰς Ἄϊδός περ ἰόντα πυλάρταο κρατεροῖο
γηθήσειν κατὰ θυμόν, ἐπεί ῥά οἱ ὤπασα πομπόν.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, Ἀργείοισι δ’ ἄχος γένετ’ εὐξαμένοιο,
Ἀντιλόχῳ δὲ μάλιστα δαΐφρονι θυμὸν ὄρινεν·
ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ἀχνύμενός περ ἑοῦ ἀμέλησεν ἑταίρου,
ἀλλὰ θέων περίβη καί οἱ σάκος ἀμφεκάλυψε.
τὸν μὲν ἔπειθ’ ὑποδύντε δύω ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι
Μηκιστεὺς Ἐχίοιο πάϊς καὶ δῖος Ἀλάστωρ,

νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς φερέτην βαρέα στενάχοντα.
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ οὐ λῆγε μένος μέγα, ἵετο δ’ αἰεὶ
ἠέ τινα Τρώων ἐρεβεννῇ νυκτὶ καλύψαι,
ἢ αὐτὸς δουπῆσαι ἀμύνων λοιγὸν Ἀχαιοῖς.
ἔνθ’ Αἰσυήταο διοτρεφέος φίλον υἱόν,
ἥρω’ Ἀλκάθοον, γαμβρὸς δ’ ἦν Ἀγχίσαο,
πρεσβυτάτην δ’ ὤπυιε θυγατρῶν, Ἱπποδάμειαν,
τὴν περὶ κῆρι φίλησε πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
ἐν μεγάρῳ· πᾶσαν γὰρ ὁμηλικίην ἐκέκαστο
κάλλεϊ καὶ ἔργοισιν ἰδὲ φρεσί· τοὔνεκα καί μιν
γῆμεν ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ εὐρείῃ·
τὸν τόθ’ ὑπ’ Ἰδομενῆϊ Ποσειδάων ἐδάμασσε
θέλξας ὄσσε φαεινά, πέδησε δὲ φαίδιμα γυῖα·
οὔτε γὰρ ἐξοπίσω φυγέειν δύνατ’ οὔτ’ ἀλέασθαι,
ἀλλ’ ὥς τε στήλην ἢ δένδρεον ὑψιπέτηλον
ἀτρέμας ἑσταότα στῆθος μέσον οὔτασε δουρὶ
ἥρως Ἰδομενεύς, ῥῆξεν δέ οἱ ἀμφὶ χιτῶνα
χάλκεον, ὅς οἱ πρόσθεν ἀπὸ χροὸς ἤρκει ὄλεθρον·
δὴ τότε γ’ αὖον ἄϋσεν ἐρεικόμενος περὶ δουρί.
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, δόρυ δ’ ἐν κραδίῃ ἐπεπήγει,
ἥ ῥά οἱ ἀσπαίρουσα καὶ οὐρίαχον πελέμιζεν
ἔγχεος· ἔνθα δ’ ἔπειτ’ ἀφίει μένος ὄβριμος Ἄρης·
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ ἔκπαγλον ἐπεύξατο, μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
«Δηΐφοβ’ ἦ ἄρα δή τι ἐΐσκομεν ἄξιον εἶναι
τρεῖς ἑνὸς ἀντὶ πεφάσθαι; ἐπεὶ σύ περ εὔχεαι οὕτω·
δαιμόνι’, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐναντίον ἵστασ’ ἐμεῖο,

ὄφρα ἴδῃ οἷος Ζηνὸς γόνος ἐνθάδ’ ἱκάνω,
ὃς πρῶτον Μίνωα τέκε Κρήτῃ ἐπίουρον·
Μίνως δ’ αὖ τέκεθ’ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Δευκαλίωνα,
Δευκαλίων δ’ ἐμὲ τίκτε πολέσσ’ ἄνδρεσσιν ἄνακτα
Κρήτῃ ἐν εὐρείῃ· νῦν δ’ ἐνθάδε νῆες ἔνεικαν
σοί τε κακὸν καὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοισι Τρώεσσιν.»
Ὣς φάτο, Δηΐφοβος δὲ διάνδιχα μερμήριξεν,
ἤ τινά που Τρώων ἑταρίσσαιτο μεγαθύμων
ἂψ ἀναχωρήσας, ἦ πειρήσαιτο καὶ οἶος.
ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι,
βῆναι ἐπ’ Αἰνείαν· τὸν δ’ ὕστατον εὗρεν ὁμίλου
ἑσταότ’· αἰεὶ γὰρ Πριάμῳ ἐπεμήνιε δίῳ,
οὕνεκ’ ἄρ’ ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα μετ’ ἀνδράσιν οὔ τι τίεσκεν.
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱστάμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Αἰνεία Τρώων βουληφόρε νῦν σε μάλα χρὴ
γαμβρῷ ἀμυνέμεναι, εἴ πέρ τί σε κῆδος ἱκάνει.
ἀλλ’ ἕπεν, Ἀλκαθόῳ ἐπαμύνομεν, ὅς σε πάρος γε
γαμβρὸς ἐὼν ἔθρεψε δόμοις ἔνι τυτθὸν ἐόντα·
τὸν δέ τοι Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτὸς ἐξενάριξεν.»
Ὣς φάτο, τῷ δ’ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε,
βῆ δὲ μετ’ Ἰδομενῆα μέγα πτολέμοιο μεμηλώς.
ἀλλ’ οὐκ Ἰδομενῆα φόβος λάβε τηλύγετον ὥς,
ἀλλ’ ἔμεν’, ὡς ὅτε τις σῦς οὔρεσιν ἀλκὶ πεποιθώς,
ὅς τε μένει κολοσυρτὸν ἐπερχόμενον πολὺν ἀνδρῶν
χώρῳ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ, φρίσσει δέ τε νῶτον ὕπερθεν·
ὀφθαλμὼ δ’ ἄρα οἱ πυρὶ λάμπετον· αὐτὰρ ὀδόντας
θήγει, ἀλέξασθαι μεμαὼς κύνας ἠδὲ καὶ ἄνδρας·
ὣς μένεν Ἰδομενεὺς δουρικλυτός, οὐδ’ ὑπεχώρει,
Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα βοηθόον· αὖε δ’ ἑταίρους,
Ἀσκάλαφόν τ’ ἐσορῶν Ἀφαρῆά τε Δηΐπυρόν τε

Μηριόνην τε καὶ Ἀντίλοχον μήστωρας ἀϋτῆς·
τοὺς ὅ γ’ ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
δεῦτε φίλοι, καί μ’ οἴῳ ἀμύνετε· δείδια δ’ αἰνῶς
Αἰνείαν ἐπιόντα πόδας ταχύν, ὅς μοι ἔπεισιν,
ὃς μάλα καρτερός ἐστι μάχῃ ἔνι φῶτας ἐναίρειν·
καὶ δ’ ἔχει ἥβης ἄνθος, ὅ τε κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.
εἰ γὰρ ὁμηλικίη γε γενοίμεθα τῷδ’ ἐπὶ θυμῷ,
αἶψά κεν ἠὲ φέροιτο μέγα κράτος, ἠὲ φεροίμην.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἕνα φρεσὶ θυμὸν ἔχοντες
πλησίοι ἔστησαν, σάκε’ ὤμοισι κλίναντες.
Αἰνείας δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐκέκλετο οἷς ἑτάροισι,
Δηΐφοβόν τε Πάριν τ’ ἐσορῶν καὶ Ἀγήνορα δῖον,
οἵ οἱ ἅμ’ ἡγεμόνες Τρώων ἔσαν· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
λαοὶ ἕπονθ’, ὡς εἴ τε μετὰ κτίλον ἕσπετο μῆλα
πιόμεν’ ἐκ βοτάνης· γάνυται δ’ ἄρα τε φρένα ποιμήν·
ὣς Αἰνείᾳ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι γεγήθει,
ὡς ἴδε λαῶν ἔθνος ἐπισπόμενον ἑοῖ αὐτῷ.
Οἱ δ’ ἀμφ’ Ἀλκαθόῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν
μακροῖσι ξυστοῖσι· περὶ στήθεσσι δὲ χαλκὸς
σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε τιτυσκομένων καθ’ ὅμιλον
ἀλλήλων· δύο δ’ ἄνδρες ἀρήϊοι ἔξοχον ἄλλων,
Αἰνείας τε καὶ Ἰδομενεὺς ἀτάλαντοι Ἄρηϊ,
ἵεντ’ ἀλλήλων ταμέειν χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.
Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισεν Ἰδομενῆος·
ἀλλ’ ὃ μὲν ἄντα ἰδὼν ἠλεύατο χάλκεον ἔγχος,
αἰχμὴ δ’ Αἰνείαο κραδαινομένη κατὰ γαίης
ᾤχετ’, ἐπεί ῥ’ ἅλιον στιβαρῆς ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὄρουσεν.
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ ἄρα Οἰνόμαον βάλε γαστέρα μέσσην,
ῥῆξε δὲ θώρηκος γύαλον, διὰ δ’ ἔντερα χαλκὸς

ἤφυσ’· ὁ δ’ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.
Ἰδομενεὺς δ’ ἐκ μὲν νέκυος δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
ἐσπάσατ’, οὐδ’ ἄρ’ ἔτ’ ἄλλα δυνήσατο τεύχεα καλὰ
ὤμοιιν ἀφελέσθαι· ἐπείγετο γὰρ βελέεσσιν.
οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ ἔμπεδα γυῖα ποδῶν ἦν ὁρμηθέντι,
οὔτ’ ἄρ’ ἐπαΐξαι μεθ’ ἑὸν βέλος οὔτ’ ἀλέασθαι.
τώ ῥα καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ μὲν ἀμύνετο νηλεὲς ἦμαρ,
τρέσσαι δ’ οὐκ ἔτι ῥίμφα πόδες φέρον ἐκ πολέμοιο.
τοῦ δὲ βάδην ἀπιόντος ἀκόντισε δουρὶ φαεινῷ
Δηΐφοβος· δὴ γάρ οἱ ἔχεν κότον ἐμμενὲς αἰεί.
ἀλλ’ ὅ γε καὶ τόθ’ ἅμαρτεν, ὃ δ’ Ἀσκάλαφον βάλε δουρί,
υἱὸν Ἐνυαλίοιο· δι’ ὤμου δ’ ὄβριμον ἔγχος
ἔσχεν· ὁ δ’ ἐν κονίῃσι πεσὼν ἕλε γαῖαν ἀγοστῷ.
οὐδ’ ἄρα πώ τι πέπυστο βριήπυος ὄβριμος Ἄρης
υἷος ἑοῖο πεσόντος ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,
ἀλλ’ ὅ γ’ ἄρ’ ἄκρῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑπὸ χρυσέοισι νέφεσσιν
ἧστο Διὸς βουλῇσιν ἐελμένος, ἔνθά περ ἄλλοι
ἀθάνατοι θεοὶ ἦσαν ἐεργόμενοι πολέμοιο.
Οἳ δ’ ἀμφ’ Ἀσκαλάφῳ αὐτοσχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν·
Δηΐφοβος μὲν ἀπ’ Ἀσκαλάφου πήληκα φαεινὴν
ἥρπασε, Μηριόνης δὲ θοῷ ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
δουρὶ βραχίονα τύψεν ἐπάλμενος, ἐκ δ’ ἄρα χειρὸς
αὐλῶπις τρυφάλεια χαμαὶ βόμβησε πεσοῦσα.
Μηριόνης δ’ ἐξ αὖτις ἐπάλμενος αἰγυπιὸς ὥς,
ἐξέρυσε πρυμνοῖο βραχίονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος,
ἂψ δ’ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο. τὸν δὲ Πολίτης
αὐτοκασίγνητος περὶ μέσσῳ χεῖρε τιτήνας,
ἐξῆγεν πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, ὄφρ’ ἵκεθ’ ἵππους
ὠκέας, οἵ οἱ ὄπισθε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο
ἕστασαν ἡνίοχόν τε καὶ ἅρματα ποικίλ’ ἔχοντες·
οἳ τόν γε προτὶ ἄστυ φέρον βαρέα στενάχοντα
τειρόμενον· κατὰ δ’ αἷμα νεουτάτου ἔῤῥεε χειρός.

Οἱ δ’ ἄλλοι μάρναντο, βοὴ δ’ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.
ἔνθ’ Αἰνέας Ἀφαρῆα Καλητορίδην ἐπορούσας
λαιμὸν τύψ’ ἐπὶ οἷ τετραμμένον ὀξέϊ δουρί·
ἐκλίνθη δ’ ἑτέρωσε κάρη, ἐπὶ δ’ ἀσπὶς ἑάφθη
καὶ κόρυς, ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ θάνατος χύτο θυμοραϊστής.
Ἀντίλοχος δὲ Θόωνα μεταστρεφθέντα δοκεύσας
οὔτασ’ ἐπαΐξας, ἀπὸ δὲ φλέβα πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν,
ἥ τ’ ἀνὰ νῶτα θέουσα διαμπερὲς αὐχέν’ ἱκάνει·
τὴν ἀπὸ πᾶσαν ἔκερσεν· ὃ δ’ ὕπτιος ἐν κονίῃσι
κάππεσεν, ἄμφω χεῖρε φίλοις ἑτάροισι πετάσσας.
Ἀντίλοχος δ’ ἐπόρουσε, καὶ αἴνυτο τεύχε’ ἀπ’ ὤμων
παπταίνων· Τρῶες δὲ περισταδὸν ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος
οὔταζον σάκος εὐρὺ παναίολον, οὐδὲ δύναντο
εἴσω ἐπιγράψαι τέρενα χρόα νηλέϊ χαλκῷ
Ἀντιλόχου· πέρι γάρ ῥα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων
Νέστορος υἱὸν ἔρυτο καὶ ἐν πολλοῖσι βέλεσσιν.
οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτ’ ἄνευ δηΐων ἦν, ἀλλὰ κατ’ αὐτοὺς
στρωφᾶτ’· οὐδέ οἱ ἔγχος ἔχ’ ἀτρέμας, ἀλλὰ μάλ’ αἰεὶ
σειόμενον ἐλέλικτο· τιτύσκετο δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσιν
ἤ τευ ἀκοντίσσαι, ἠὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμηθῆναι.
Ἀλλ’ οὐ λῆθ’ Ἀδάμαντα τιτυσκόμενος καθ’ ὅμιλον
Ἀσιάδην, ὅ οἱ οὖτα μέσον σάκος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ
ἐγγύθεν ὁρμηθείς· ἀμενήνωσεν δέ οἱ αἰχμὴν
κυανοχαῖτα Ποσειδάων βιότοιο μεγήρας.
καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτοῦ μεῖν’ ὥς τε σκῶλος πυρίκαυστος
ἐν σάκει Ἀντιλόχοιο, τὸ δ’ ἥμισυ κεῖτ’ ἐπὶ γαίης·
ἂψ δ’ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρ’ ἀλεείνων·
Μηριόνης δ’ ἀπιόντα μετασπόμενος βάλε δουρὶ

αἰδοίων τε μεσηγὺ καὶ ὀμφαλοῦ, ἔνθα μάλιστα
γίγνετ’ Ἄρης ἀλεγεινὸς ὀϊζυροῖσι βροτοῖσιν.
ἔνθά οἱ ἔγχος ἔπηξεν· ὃ δ’ ἑσπόμενος περὶ δουρὶ
ἤσπαιρ’ ὡς ὅτε βοῦς τόν τ’ οὔρεσι βουκόλοι ἄνδρες
ἰλλάσιν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα βίῃ δήσαντες ἄγουσιν·
ὣς ὃ τυπεὶς ἤσπαιρε μίνυνθά περ, οὔ τι μάλα δήν,
ὄφρά οἱ ἐκ χροὸς ἔγχος ἀνεσπάσατ’ ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν
ἥρως Μηριόνης· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.
Δηΐπυρον δ’ Ἕλενος ξίφεϊ σχεδὸν ἤλασεκόρσην
Θρηϊκίῳ μεγάλῳ, ἀπὸ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἄραξεν.
ἣ μὲν ἀποπλαγχθεῖσα χαμαὶ πέσε, καί τις Ἀχαιῶν
μαρναμένων μετὰ ποσσὶ κυλινδομένην ἐκόμισσε·
τὸν δὲ κατ’ ὀφθαλμῶν ἐρεβεννὴ νὺξ ἐκάλυψεν.
Ἀτρεΐδην δ’ ἄχος εἷλε βοὴν ἀγαθὸν Μενέλαον·
βῆ δ’ ἐπαπειλήσας Ἑλένῳ ἥρωϊ ἄνακτι
ὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων· ὁ δὲ τόξου πῆχυν ἄνελκε.
τὼ δ’ ἄρ’ ὁμαρτήδην ὁ μὲν ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι
ἵετ’ ἀκοντίσσαι, ὁ δ’ ἀπὸ νευρῆφιν ὀϊστῷ.
Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα κατὰ στῆθος βάλεν ἰῷ
θώρηκος γύαλον, ἀπὸ δ’ ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.
ὡς δ’ ὅτ’ ἀπὸ πλατέος πτυόφιν μεγάλην κατ’ ἀλωὴν
θρῴσκωσιν κύαμοι μελανόχροες ἢ ἐρέβινθοι,
πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ καὶ λικμητῆρος ἐρωῇ,
ὣς ἀπὸ θώρηκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο
πολλὸν ἀποπλαγχθεὶς ἑκὰς ἔπτατο πικρὸς ὀϊστός.
Ἀτρεΐδης δ’ ἄρα χεῖρα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος,
τὴν βάλεν ᾗ ῥ’ ἔχε τόξον ἐΰξοον· ἐν δ’ ἄρα τόξῳ
ἀντικρὺ διὰ χειρὸς ἐλήλατο χάλκεον ἔγχος.
ἂψ δ’ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρ’ ἀλεείνων
χεῖρα παρακρεμάσας· τὸ δ’ ἐφέλκετο μείλινον ἔγχος.

καὶ τὸ μὲν ἐκ χειρὸς ἔρυσεν μεγάθυμος Ἀγήνωρ,
αὐτὴν δὲ ξυνέδησεν ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἰὸς ἀώτῳ,
σφενδόνῃ, ἣν ἄρα οἱ θεράπων ἔχε ποιμένι λαῶν.
Πείσανδρος δ’ ἰθὺς Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο
ἤϊε· τὸν δ’ ἄγε μοῖρα κακὴ θανάτοιο τέλοσδε,
σοὶ Μενέλαε δαμῆναι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι.
οἳ δ’ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
Ἀτρεΐδης μὲν ἅμαρτε, παραὶ δέ οἱ ἐτράπετ’ ἔγχος,
Πείσανδρος δὲ σάκος Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο
οὔτασεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαι·
ἔσχεθε γὰρ σάκος εὐρύ, κατεκλάσθη δ’ ἐνὶ καυλῷ
ἔγχος· ὃ δὲ φρεσὶν ᾗσι χάρη καὶ ἐέλπετο νίκην.
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
ἆλτ’ ἐπὶ Πεισάνδρῳ· ὃ δ’ ὑπ’ ἀσπίδος εἵλετο καλὴν
ἀξίνην εὔχαλκον ἐλαΐνῳ ἀμφὶ πελέκκῳ,
μακρῷ ἐϋξέστῳ· ἅμα δ’ ἀλλήλων ἐφίκοντο.
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν κόρυθος φάλον ἤλασεν ἱπποδασείης
ἄκρον ὑπὸ λόφον αὐτόν, ὃ δὲ προσιόντα μέτωπον
ῥινὸς ὕπερ πυμάτης· λάκε δ’ ὀστέα, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
πὰρ ποσὶν αἱματόεντα χαμαὶ πέσον ἐν κονίῃσιν,
ἰδνώθη δὲ πεσών· ὃ δὲ λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βαίνων
τεύχεά τ’ ἐξενάριξε καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
«λείψετέ θην οὕτω γε νέας Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων
Τρῶες ὑπερφίαλοι δεινῆς ἀκόρητοι ἀϋτῆς,
ἄλλης μὲν λώβης τε καὶ αἴσχεος οὐκ ἐπιδευεῖς,
ἣν ἐμὲ λωβήσασθε κακαὶ κύνες, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
Ζηνὸς ἐριβρεμέτεω χαλεπὴν ἐδείσατε μῆνιν
ξεινίου, ὅς τέ ποτ’ ὔμμι διαφθέρσει πόλιν αἰπήν·

οἵ μευ κουριδίην ἄλοχον καὶ κτήματα πολλὰ
μὰψ οἴχεσθ’ ἀνάγοντες, ἐπεὶ φιλέεσθε παρ’ αὐτῇ·
νῦν αὖτ’ ἐν νηυσὶν μενεαίνετε ποντοπόροισι
πῦρ ὀλοὸν βαλέειν, κτεῖναι δ’ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.
ἀλλά ποθι σχήσεσθε καὶ ἐσσύμενοί περ Ἄρηος.
Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ τέ σέ φασι περὶ φρένας ἔμμεναι ἄλλων,
ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν· σέο δ’ ἐκ τάδε πάντα πέλονται·
οἷον δὴ ἄνδρεσσι χαρίζεαι ὑβριστῇσι,
Τρωσίν, τῶν μένος αἰὲν ἀτάσθαλον, οὐδὲ δύνανται
φυλόπιδος κορέσασθαι ὁμοιΐου πτολέμοιο.
πάντων μὲν κόρος ἐστὶ καὶ ὕπνου καὶ φιλότητος
μολπῆς τε γλυκερῆς καὶ ἀμύμονος ὀρχηθμοῖο,
τῶν πέρ τις καὶ μᾶλλον ἐέλδεται ἐξ ἔρον εἷναι
ἢ πολέμου· Τρῶες δὲ μάχης ἀκόρητοι ἔασιν.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν τὰ μὲν ἔντε’ ἀπὸ χροὸς αἱματόεντα
συλήσας ἑτάροισι δίδου Μενέλαος ἀμύμων,
αὐτὸς δ’ αὖτ’ ἐξ αὖτις ἰὼν προμάχοισιν ἐμίχθη.
Ἔνθά οἱ υἱὸς ἐπᾶλτο Πυλαιμένεος βασιλῆος,
Ἁρπαλίων, ὅ ῥα πατρὶ φίλῳ ἕπετο πτολεμίξων
ἐς τροίην, οὐδ’ αὖτις ἀφίκετο πατρίδα γαῖαν·
ὅς ῥα τότ’ Ἀτρεΐδαο μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρὶ
ἐγγύθεν, οὐδὲ διὰ πρὸ δυνήσατο χαλκὸν ἐλάσσαι,
ἂψ δ’ ἑτάρων εἰς ἔθνος ἐχάζετο κῆρ’ ἀλεείνων,
πάντοσε παπταίνων μή τις χρόα χαλκῷ ἐπαύρῃ.
Μηριόνης δ’ ἀπιόντος ἵει χαλκήρε’ ὀϊστόν,
καί ῥ’ ἔβαλε γλουτὸν κάτα δεξιόν· αὐτὰρ ὀϊστὸς
ἀντικρὺ κατὰ κύστιν ὑπ’ ὀστέον ἐξεπέρησεν.
ἑζόμενος δὲ κατ’ αὖθι φίλων ἐν χερσὶν ἑταίρων
θυμὸν ἀποπνείων, ὥς τε σκώληξ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
κεῖτο ταθείς· ἐκ δ’ αἷμα μέλαν ῥέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν.

τὸν μὲν Παφλαγόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,
ἐς δίφρον δ’ ἀνέσαντες ἄγον προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
ἀχνύμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι πατὴρ κίε δάκρυα λείβων,
ποινὴ δ’ οὔ τις παιδὸς ἐγίγνετο τεθνηῶτος.
Τοῦ δὲ Πάρις μάλα θυμὸν ἀποκταμένοιο χολώθη·
ξεῖνος γάρ οἱ ἔην πολέσιν μετὰ Παφλαγόνεσσι·
τοῦ ὅ γε χωόμενος προΐει χαλκήρε’ ὀϊστόν.
ἦν δέ τις Εὐχήνωρ Πολυΐδου μάντιος υἱός,
ἀφνειός τ’ ἀγαθός τε Κορινθόθι οἰκία ναίων,
ὅς ῥ’ εὖ εἰδὼς κῆρ’ ὀλοὴν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔβαινε·
πολλάκι γάρ οἱ ἔειπε γέρων ἀγαθὸς Πολύϊδος
νούσῳ ὑπ’ ἀργαλέῃ φθίσθαι οἷς ἐν μεγάροισιν,
ἢ μετ’ Ἀχαιῶν νηυσὶν ὑπὸ Τρώεσσι δαμῆναι·
τώ ῥ’ ἅμα τ’ ἀργαλέην θωὴν ἀλέεινεν Ἀχαιῶν
νοῦσόν τε στυγερήν, ἵνα μὴ πάθοι ἄλγεα θυμῷ.
τὸν βάλ’ ὑπὸ γναθμοῖο. καὶ οὔατος· ὦκα δὲ θυμὸς
ᾤχετ’ ἀπὸ μελέων, στυγερὸς δ’ ἄρα μιν σκότος εἷλεν.
Ὣς οἱ μὲν μάρναντο δέμας πυρὸς αἰθομένοιο·
Ἕκτωρ δ’ οὐκ ἐπέπυστο Διῒ φίλος, οὐδέ τι ᾔδη
ὅττί ῥά οἱ νηῶν ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ δηϊόωντο
λαοὶ ὑπ’ Ἀργείων. τάχα δ’ ἂν καὶ κῦδος Ἀχαιῶν
ἔπλετο· τοῖος γὰρ γαιήοχος ἐννοσίγαιος
ὄτρυν’ Ἀργείους, πρὸς δὲ σθένει αὐτὸς ἄμυνεν·
ἀλλ’ ἔχεν ᾗ τὰ πρῶτα πύλας καὶ τεῖχος ἐσᾶλτο,
ῥηξάμενος Δαναῶν πυκινὰς στίχας ἀσπιστάων,
ἔνθ’ ἔσαν Αἴαντός τε νέες καὶ Πρωτεσιλάου
θῖν’ ἔφ’ ἁλὸς πολιῆς εἰρυμέναι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
τεῖχος ἐδέδμητο χθαμαλώτατον, ἔνθα μάλιστα
ζαχρηεῖς γίγνοντο μάχῃ αὐτοί τε καὶ ἵπποι.
Ἔνθα δὲ Βοιωτοὶ καὶ Ἰάονες ἑλκεχίτωνες,

Λοκροὶ καὶ Φθῖοι καὶ φαιδιμόεντες Ἐπειοί,
σπουδῇ ἐπαΐσσοντα νεῶν ἔχον, οὐδὲ δύναντο
ὦσαι ἀπὸ σφείων φλογὶ εἴκελον Ἕκτορα δῖον,
οἳ μὲν Ἀθηναίων προλελεγμένοι· ἐν δ’ ἄρα τοῖσιν
ἦρχ’ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς, οἳ δ’ ἅμ’ ἕποντο
Φείδας τε Στιχίος τε Βίας τ’ ἐΰς· αὐτὰρ Ἐπειῶν
Φυλεΐδης τε Μέγης Ἀμφίων τε Δρακίος τε,
πρὸ Φθίων δὲ Μέδων τε μενεπτόλεμός τε Ποδάρκης.
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν νόθος υἱὸς Ὀϊλῆος θείοιο
ἔσκε Μέδων Αἴαντος ἀδελφεός· αὐτὰρ ἔναιεν
ἐν Φυλάκῃ γαίης ἄπο πατρίδος ἄνδρα κατακτάς,
γνωτὸν μητρυιῆς Ἐριώπιδος, ἣν ἔχ’ Ὀϊλεύς·
αὐτὰρ ὃ Ἰφίκλοιο πάϊς τοῦ Φυλακίδαο.
οἱ μὲν πρὸ Φθίων μεγαθύμων θωρηχθέντες
ναῦφιν ἀμυνόμενοι μετὰ Βοιωτῶν ἐμάχοντο·
Αἴας δ’ οὐκέτι πάμπαν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς υἱός,
ἵστατ’ ἀπ’ Αἴαντος Τελαμωνίου οὐδ’ ἠβαιόν,
ἀλλ’ ὥς τ’ ἐν νειῷ βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον
ἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντε τιταίνετον· ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρά σφι
πρυμνοῖσιν κεράεσσι πολὺς ἀνακηκίει ἱδρώς·
τὼ μέν τε ζυγὸν οἶον ἐΰξοον ἀμφὶς ἐέργει
ἱεμένω κατὰ ὦλκα· τέμει δέ τε τέλσον ἀρούρης·
ὣς τὼ παρβεβαῶτε μάλ’ ἕστασαν ἀλλήλοιιν.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι Τελαμωνιάδῃ πολλοί τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ
λαοὶ ἕπονθ’ ἕταροι, οἵ οἱ σάκος ἐξεδέχοντο
ὁππότε μιν κάματός τε καὶ ἱδρὼς γούναθ’ ἵκοιτο.
οὐδ’ ἄρ’ Ὀϊλιάδῃ μεγαλήτορι Λοκροὶ ἕποντο·
οὐ γάρ σφι σταδίῃ ὑσμίνῃ μίμνε φίλον κῆρ·

οὐ γὰρ ἔχον κόρυθας χαλκήρεας ἱπποδασείας,
οὐδ’ ἔχον ἀσπίδας εὐκύκλους καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα,
ἀλλ’ ἄρα τόξοισιν καὶ ἐϋστρεφεῖ οἶος ἀώτῳ
Ἴλιον εἰς ἅμ’ ἕποντο πεποιθότες, οἷσιν ἔπειτα
ταρφέα βάλλοντες Τρώων ῥήγνυντο φάλαγγας·
δή ῥα τόθ’ οἳ μὲν πρόσθε σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισι
μάρναντο Τρωσίν τε καὶ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ,
οἱ δ’ ὄπιθεν βάλλοντες ἐλάνθανον· οὐδέ τι χάρμης
Τρῶες μιμνήσκοντο· συνεκλόνεον γὰρ ὀϊστοί.
Ἔνθά κε λευγαλέως νηῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
Τρῶες ἐχώρησαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,
εἰ μὴ Πουλυδάμας θρασὺν Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστάς·
«Ἕκτορ ἀμήχανός ἐσσι παραῤῥητοῖσι πιθέσθαι.
οὕνεκά τοι περὶ δῶκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα
τοὔνεκα καὶ βουλῇ ἐθέλεις περιίδμεναι ἄλλων·
ἀλλ’ οὔ πως ἅμα πάντα δυνήσεαι αὐτὸς ἑλέσθαι.
ἄλλῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκε θεὸς πολεμήϊα ἔργα,
ἄλλῳ δ’ ὀρχηστύν, ἑτέρῳ κίθαριν καὶ ἀοιδήν,
ἄλλῳ δ’ ἐν στήθεσσι τιθεῖ νόον εὐρύοπα Ζεὺς
ἐσθλόν, τοῦ δέ τε πολλοὶ ἐπαυρίσκοντ’ ἄνθρωποι,
καί τε πολέας ἐσάωσε, μάλιστα δὲ καὐτὸς ἀνέγνω.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω ὥς μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄριστα·
πάντῃ γάρ σε περὶ στέφανος πολέμοιο δέδηε·
Τρῶες δὲ μεγάθυμοι ἐπεὶ κατὰ τεῖχος ἔβησαν,
οἱ μὲν ἀφεστᾶσιν σὺν τεύχεσιν, οἳ δὲ μάχονται
παυρότεροι πλεόνεσσι κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας.
ἀλλ’ ἀναχασσάμενος κάλει ἐνθάδε πάντας ἀρίστους·
ἔνθεν δ’ ἂν μάλα πᾶσαν ἐπιφρασσαίμεθα βουλήν,
ἤ κεν ἐνὶ νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πέσωμεν,

αἴ κ’ ἐθέλῃσι θεὸς δόμεναι κράτος, ἦ κεν ἔπειτα
πὰρ νηῶν ἔλθωμεν ἀπήμονες. ἦ γὰρ ἔγωγε
δείδω μὴ τὸ χθιζὸν ἀποστήσωνται Ἀχαιοὶ
χρεῖος, ἐπεὶ παρὰ νηυσὶν ἀνὴρ ἆτος πολέμοιο
μίμνει, ὃν οὐκέτι πάγχυ μάχης σχήσεσθαι ὀΐω.»
Ὣς φάτο Πουλυδάμας, ἅδε δ’ Ἕκτορι μῦθος ἀπήμων,
αὐτίκα δ’ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Πουλυδάμα, σὺ μὲν αὐτοῦ ἐρύκακε πάντας ἀρίστους,
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κεῖσ’ εἶμι καὶ ἀντιόω πολέμοιο·
αἶψα δ’ ἐλεύσομαι αὖτις ἐπὴν εὖ τοῖς ἐπιτείλω.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ ὁρμήθη ὄρεϊ νιφόεντι ἐοικώς,
κεκλήγων, διὰ δὲ Τρώων πέτετ’ ἠδ’ ἐπικούρων.
οἳ δ’ ἐς Πανθοΐδην ἀγαπήνορα Πουλυδάμαντα
πάντες ἐπεσσεύοντ’, ἐπεὶ Ἕκτορος ἔκλυον αὐδήν.
αὐτὰρ ὃ Δηΐφοβόν τε βίην θ’ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτος
Ἀσιάδην τ’ Ἀδάμαντα καὶ Ἄσιον Ὑρτάκου υἱόν,
φοίτα ἀνὰ προμάχους διζήμενος, εἴ που ἐφεύροι.
τοὺς δ’ εὗρ’ οὐκέτι πάμπαν ἀπήμονας οὐδ’ ἀνολέθρους·
ἀλλ’ οἳ μὲν δὴ νηυσὶν ἔπι πρυμνῇσιν Ἀχαιῶν
χερσὶν ὑπ’ Ἀργείων κέατο ψυχὰς ὀλέσαντες,
οἳ δ’ ἐν τείχει ἔσαν βεβλημένοι οὐτάμενοί τε.
τὸν δὲ τάχ’ εὗρε μάχης ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ δακρυοέσσης
δῖον Ἀλέξανδρον Ἑλένης πόσιν ἠϋκόμοιο,
θαρσύνονθ’ ἑτάρους καὶ ἐποτρύνοντα μάχεσθαι,
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱστάμενος προσέφη αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσι·
«Δύσπαρι εἶδος ἄριστε γυναιμανὲς ἠπεροπευτά,
ποῦ τοι Δηΐφοβός τε βίη θ’ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτος
Ἀσιάδης τ’ Ἀδάμας ἠδ’ Ἄσιος Ὑρτάκου υἱός;
ποῦ δέ τοι Ὀθρυονεύς; νῦν ὤλετο πᾶσα κατ’ ἄκρης
Ἴλιος αἰπεινή· νῦν τοι σῶς αἰπὺς ὄλεθρος.»

Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·
«Ἕκτορ ἐπεί τοι θυμὸς ἀναίτιον αἰτιάασθαι,
ἄλλοτε δή ποτε μᾶλλον ἐρωῆσαι πολέμοιο
μέλλω, ἐπεὶ οὐδ’ ἐμὲ πάμπαν ἀνάλκιδα γείνατο μήτηρ·
ἐξ οὗ γὰρ παρὰ νηυσὶ μάχην ἤγειρας ἑταίρων,
ἐκ τοῦ δ’ ἐνθάδ’ ἐόντες ὁμιλέομεν Δαναοῖσι
νωλεμέως· ἕταροι δὲ κατέκταθεν οὓς σὺ μεταλλᾷς.
οἴω Δηΐφοβός τε βίη θ’ Ἑλένοιο ἄνακτος
οἴχεσθον, μακρῇσι τετυμμένω ἐγχείῃσιν
ἀμφοτέρω κατὰ χεῖρα· φόνον δ’ ἤμυνε Κρονίων.
νῦν δ’ ἄρχ’ ὅππῃ σε κραδίη θυμός τε κελεύει·
ἡμεῖς δ’ ἐμμεμαῶτες ἅμ’ ἑψόμεθ’, οὐδέ τί φημι
ἀλκῆς δευήσεσθαι, ὅση δύναμίς γε πάρεστι.
πὰρ δύναμιν δ’ οὐκ ἔστι καὶ ἐσσύμενον πολεμίζειν.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως·
βὰν δ’ ἴμεν ἔνθα μάλιστα μάχη καὶ φύλοπις ἦεν
ἀμφί τε κεβριόνην καὶ ἀμύμονα Πουλυδάμαντα
Φάλκην Ὀρθαῖόν τε καὶ ἀντίθεον Πολυφήτην
Πάλμύν τ’ Ἀσκάνιόν τε Μόρυν θ’ υἷ’ Ἱπποτίωνος,
οἵ ῥ’ ἐξ Ἀσκανίης ἐριβώλακος ἦλθον ἀμοιβοὶ
ἠοῖ τῇ προτέρῃ· τότε δὲ Ζεὺς ὦρσε μάχεσθαι.
οἳ δ’ ἴσαν ἀργαλέων ἀνέμων ἀτάλαντοι ἀέλλῃ,
ἥ ῥά θ’ ὑπὸ βροντῆς πατρὸς Διὸς εἶσι πέδον δέ,
θεσπεσίῳ δ’ ὁμάδῳ ἁλὶ μίσγεται, ἐν δέ τε πολλὰ
κύματα παφλάζοντα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,
κυρτὰ φαληριόωντα, πρὸ μέν τ’ ἄλλ’, αὐτὰρ ἐπ’ ἄλλα·
ὣς Τρῶες πρὸ μὲν ἄλλοι ἀρηρότες, αὐτὰρ ἐπ’ ἄλλοι,
χαλκῷ μαρμαίροντες ἅμ’ ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποντο.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ἡγεῖτο βροτολοιγῷ ἶσος Ἄρηϊ,
Πριαμίδης· πρόσθεν δ’ ἔχεν ἀσπίδα πάντοσ’ ἐΐσην,

ῥινοῖσιν πυκινήν, πολλὸς δ’ ἐπελήλατο χαλκός·
ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ κροτάφοισι φαεινὴ σείετο πήληξ.
πάντῃ δ’ ἀμφὶ φάλαγγας ἐπειρᾶτο προποδίζων,
εἴ πώς οἱ εἴξειαν ὑπασπίδια προβιβῶντι·
ἀλλ’ οὐ σύγχει θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος προκαλέσσατο μάκρα βιβάσθων·
«δαιμόνιε σχεδὸν ἐλθέ· τίη δειδίσσεαι αὔτως
Ἀργείους; οὔ τοί τι μάχης ἀδαήμονές εἰμεν,
ἀλλὰ Διὸς μάστιγι κακῇ ἐδάμημεν Ἀχαιοί.
ἦ θήν πού τοι θυμὸς ἐέλπεται ἐξαλαπάξειν
νῆας· ἄφαρ δέ τε χεῖρες ἀμύνειν εἰσὶ καὶ ἡμῖν.
ἦ κε πολὺ φθαίη εὖ ναιομένη πόλις ὑμὴ
χερσὶν ὑφ’ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.
σοὶ δ’ αὐτῷ φημὶ σχεδὸν ἔμμεναι ὁππότε φεύγων
ἀρήσῃ Διὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλις ἀθανάτοισι
θάσσονας ἰρήκων ἔμεναι καλλίτριχας ἵππους,
οἵ σε πόλιν δ’ οἴσουσι κονίοντες πεδίοιο.»
Ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,
αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης· ἐπὶ δ’ ἴαχε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν
θάρσυνος οἰωνῷ· ὃ δ’ ἀμείβετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·
«Αἶαν ἁμαρτοεπές, βουγάϊε ποῖον ἔειπες·
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν οὕτω γε Διὸς πάϊς αἰγιόχοιο
εἴην ἤματα πάντα, τέκοι δέ με πότνια Ἥρη,
τιοίμην δ’ ὡς τίετ’ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἀπόλλων,
ὡς νῦν ἡμέρη ἧδε κακὸν φέρει Ἀργείοισι
πᾶσι μάλ’, ἐν δὲ σὺ τοῖσι πεφήσεαι, αἴ κε ταλάσσῃς
μεῖναι ἐμὸν δόρυ μακρόν, ὅ τοι χρόα λειριόεντα
δάψει· ἀτὰρ Τρώων κορέεις κύνας ἠδ’ οἰωνοὺς
δημῷ καὶ σάρκεσσι πεσὼν ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.»

Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο· τοὶ δ’ ἅμ’ ἕποντο
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ, ἐπὶ δ’ ἴαχε λαὸς ὄπισθεν.
Ἀργεῖοι δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπίαχον, οὐδὲ λάθοντο
ἀλκῆς, ἀλλ’ ἔμενον Τρώων ἐπιόντας ἀρίστους.
ἠχὴ δ’ ἀμφοτέρων ἵκετ’ αἰθέρα καὶ Διὸς αὐγάς.


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