THE ILIAD II

The other gods and the horse-helmed warriors
slept soundly through the night, but sweet sleep did not hold Zeus,
for he pondered in his mind how he might honour Achilles
and destroy many of the Achaeans by their ships.
And this seemed to him the best counsel:
to send a baleful Dream to Agamemnon, son of Atreus.
Calling the Dream to him, he spoke these winged words:
“Go now, baleful Dream, to the swift ships of the Achaeans.
Make your way to the hut of Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
and report to him precisely all that I command you.
Bid him arm the long-haired Achaeans
with all their host, for now he might take the broad-wayed
city of the Trojans. The immortals who dwell on Olympus
are no longer divided in their counsel, for Hera has bent them all
to her will with her entreaties, and sorrows are poised to fall upon the Trojans.”
So he spoke, and the Dream departed upon hearing his word.
Swiftly it came to the fast ships of the Achaeans,

and sought out Agamemnon, son of Atreus. It found him
sleeping in his hut, an ambrosial slumber poured all about him.
The Dream stood above his head in the likeness of Nestor,
son of Neleus, the elder whom Agamemnon honoured above all others.
In his guise, the divine Dream addressed him:
“You are sleeping, son of Atreus, the wise tamer of horses?
A man of counsel, to whom armies are entrusted and so many cares belong,
should not sleep the whole night through.
Now, listen to me quickly, for I come as a messenger from Zeus,
who, though far away, cares greatly for you and pities you.
He bids you arm the long-haired Achaeans
with all their host, for now you might take the broad-wayed
city of the Trojans. The immortals who dwell on Olympus
are no longer divided in their counsel, for Hera has bent them all
to her will with her entreaties, and sorrows for the Trojans are ordained
by Zeus. Hold this fast in your mind, and do not let forgetfulness
seize you when honey-sweet sleep releases you.”
Having spoken thus, the Dream departed, leaving him there
to ponder in his heart things that were not destined to be.
For he thought that on that very day he would capture Priam’s city,
the fool, knowing nothing of the deeds Zeus was planning.
For the god was yet to lay more grief and groaning
upon both Trojans and Danaans through the ordeal of mighty battles.
He awoke from his slumber, the divine voice echoing around him.
He sat upright and put on his soft tunic,
freshly woven and fair, and threw his great cloak about his shoulders.
Under his shining feet he bound his handsome sandals,
and slung his silver-studded sword from his shoulder.
Then he took up the imperishable sceptre of his fathers
and with it went down to the ships of the bronze-clad Achaeans.
The goddess Dawn was ascending to high Olympus,

bringing light to Zeus and the other immortals,
when Agamemnon ordered the clear-voiced heralds
to summon the long-haired Achaeans to assembly.
The heralds made their cry, and the men gathered with great speed.
But first, Agamemnon convened a council of the great-hearted elders
by the ship of Nestor, the Pylos-born king.
Having called them together, he laid before them his shrewd plan:
“Listen, my friends. A divine dream came to me in my sleep,
through the ambrosial night. It was wonderfully like noble Nestor
in form and stature and bearing.
It stood above my head and spoke a word to me:
‘You are sleeping, son of Atreus, the wise tamer of horses?
A man of counsel, to whom armies are entrusted and so many cares belong, should not sleep the whole night through.
Now, listen to me quickly, for I come as a messenger from Zeus,
who, though far away, cares greatly for you and pities you.
He bids you arm the long-haired Achaeans
with all their host, for now you might take the broad-wayed
city of the Trojans. The immortals who dwell on Olympus
are no longer divided in their counsel, for Hera has bent them all
to her will with her entreaties, and sorrows for the Trojans are ordained
by Zeus. Hold this fast in your mind.’
Having said this, it flew away, and sweet sleep left me.
“Come now, let us see how we might arm the sons of the Achaeans.
But first, as is the custom, I will test them with words,
and bid them flee with their many-benched ships.
It will be your part, from all sides, to restrain them with your speeches.”
When he had spoken, he sat down, and among them rose
Nestor, who was king of sandy Pylos.
With wise intent, he addressed them and said:
“My friends, leaders and rulers of the Argives,
if any other of the Achaeans had told us this dream,
we might have called it false and turned away from it.
But now he who declares himself the greatest of the Achaeans has seen it.
Come, then, let us see how we might arm the sons of the Achaeans.”
So he spoke, and was the first to leave the council.
The other sceptred kings rose up and obeyed the shepherd of the people
and the men rushed after them.
Like swarms of densely packed bees
that pour forth from a hollow rock, ever in a fresh stream,
and fly in clusters over the spring flowers;
some thronging here, some there;
so the many tribes of men streamed from the ships and huts,
filing in companies along the deep shore
to the place of assembly. And among them blazed Rumour,
messenger of Zeus, urging them on. They gathered.
And the assembly was in turmoil. The earth groaned
beneath them as the men took their seats, and there was a great din.
Nine heralds shouted aloud to restrain them, to see if they would cease their clamour
and listen to the kings, the cherished of Zeus.
With difficulty the host was seated, held to their benches,
their shouting silenced. Then lord Agamemnon
stood up, holding the sceptre which Hephaestus had laboured to forge.
Hephaestus gave it to the lord Zeus, son of Cronos,
and Zeus in turn gave it to the messenger, the slayer of Argus.
Lord Hermes gave it to Pelops, the driver of horses,
and Pelops gave it to Atreus, shepherd of the people.
Atreus, at his death, left it to Thyestes, rich in flocks,
and Thyestes in his turn left it for Agamemnon to carry,
that he might be lord of all Argos and the many islands.

Leaning upon this sceptre, he spoke to the Argives:
“My friends, Danaan heroes, squires of Ares!
Zeus, son of Cronos, has snared me in a cruel delusion.
The merciless god, who once promised me and nodded his assent
that I should return home only after sacking the well-walled city of Ilium,
has now devised a wicked deceit. He bids me
return to Argos in disgrace, having lost so many of my people.
Such, it seems, is the pleasure of almighty Zeus,
who has toppled the crests of many cities
and will yet topple more, for his power is greatest of all.
“What a shameful thing this is, for even future generations to hear:
that such a great and mighty host of Achaeans
waged a war to no effect, fighting a pointless battle
against fewer men, with no end yet in sight.
For if we and the Trojans were to swear a faithful truce
and be counted, the Trojans numbering all who have their homes in the city,
while we Achaeans arranged ourselves in companies of ten,
and each company chose one Trojan to pour its wine,
many a ten would lack a wine-pourer.
By so many, I say, are the sons of the Achaeans
more numerous than the Trojans who dwell in the town.
But they have allies
from many cities, men who wield the spear,
who thwart me greatly and will not let me, for all my desire,
sack the well-peopled citadel of Ilium.
“Nine years of great Zeus have already passed,
the timbers of our ships have rotted and the ropes are undone.
Our wives, I imagine, and our young children

sit in our halls and wait for us, while the task
for which we came here remains utterly unfulfilled.
But come now, let us all do as I say:
let us flee with our ships to our own dear native land,
for we shall never now take the wide-wayed city of Troy.”
So he spoke, and stirred the hearts in the breasts
of all the multitude, all those who had not been party to the council.
And the assembly was moved like the great waves of the Icarian Sea,
when the East Wind and the South Wind
rush down from the clouds of father Zeus and lash them into fury.
And as when the West Wind comes and stirs a deep field of corn,
attacking it with violent gusts so that the ears of grain bow down,
so was their whole assembly moved. With a great cry
they surged towards the ships, and the dust rose in a cloud
from beneath their feet. They called to one another
to lay hands upon the ships and drag them into the bright sea,
and they began to clear the slipways. A clamour reached to the heavens
of men eager for home, and they started to pull the props from under the vessels.
Then a homecoming beyond their fate would have come to pass for the Argives,
had not Hera spoken a word to Athene:
“Alas, Atrytone, child of aegis-bearing Zeus!
Is this how the Argives will flee to their own dear native land,
over the broad back of the sea?
And would they leave to Priam and the Trojans their prize of glory,
Argive Helen, for whose sake many Achaeans
have perished in Troy, far from their beloved country?
Go now among the host of the bronze-clad Achaeans.
With your gentle words restrain each man,

and do not let them haul their curved ships down to the sea.”
So she spoke, and the grey-eyed goddess Athene did not disobey.
She sped down from the peaks of Olympus
and came swiftly to the fast ships of the Achaeans.
There she found Odysseus, a man equal to Zeus in counsel,
standing still. He had not laid a hand on his well-benched black ship,
for sorrow had struck his heart and soul.
Standing near him, grey-eyed Athene said:
“Son of Laertes, seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices!
Is this how you will flee to your own dear native land,
flinging yourselves into your many-benched ships?
And would you leave to Priam and the Trojans their prize of glory,
Argive Helen, for whose sake many Achaeans
have perished in Troy, far from their beloved country?
Go now among the Achaean host and hesitate no longer.
With your gentle words restrain each man,
and do not let them haul their curved ships down to the sea.”
So she spoke, and he knew the voice of the goddess.
He set off at a run, casting his cloak aside, which was gathered up
by his herald, Eurybates of Ithaca, who attended him.
Going to meet Agamemnon, son of Atreus,
he received from him the imperishable sceptre of his fathers.
and with it went down among the ships of the bronze-clad Achaeans.
Whenever he came upon a king or a man of note,
he would stand beside him and restrain him with gentle words:
“My good sir, it does not become you to be terrified like a coward.
Sit down yourself and make the rest of the army sit.
For you do not yet know clearly the mind of the son of Atreus.
He is only testing us now, but soon he will strike the sons of the Achaeans.
Did we not all hear what he said in the council?

Let him not in his anger do some harm to the sons of the Achaeans;
great is the wrath of kings, cherished of Zeus;
their honour comes from Zeus, and Zeus the counsellor loves them.”
But whenever he saw a man of the common people and found him shouting,
he would drive him with the sceptre and rebuke him with sharp words:
“You there! Sit still and listen to the words of others who are your betters.
You are unwarlarlike and weak,
of no account in battle or in council.
Surely we cannot all be kings here, we Achaeans.
A multitude of masters is no good thing. Let there be one commander,
one king, to whom the son of crooked-counselling Cronos
has given the sceptre and the laws, that he may rule over them.”
Thus he moved through the army, imposing his authority.
And they surged back to the place of assembly
from the ships and huts with a great roar,
as when a wave of the resounding sea
crashes upon a vast shore, and the ocean thunders.
The others now sat down and were kept to their places.
Only Thersites still babbled on, the loose-tongued man,
whose mind was full of a store of disorderly words,
with which he would rail against the kings at random, not with any decency,
but saying whatever he thought might raise a laugh among the Argives.
He was the ugliest man who came to Ilium.
He was bandy-legged and lame in one foot, and his shoulders
were hunched and drawn in over his chest. Above,
his head was pointed, and a sparse stubble grew upon it.
He was most hateful to Achilles and Odysseus,
for it was they he would always revile. But now, with shrill cries,
he heaped insults on noble Agamemnon.
The Achaeans were terribly angry with him, and their hearts were full of indignation.
But he, shouting loudly, continued to abuse Agamemnon:

“Son of Atreus, what is it now you complain of or desire?
Your huts are full of bronze, and many choice women
are in your quarters, whom we Achaeans
give to you first of all whenever we take a city.
Or do you still lack gold, which some horse-taming Trojan
might bring from Ilium as a ransom for his son,
whom I or another of the Achaeans have bound and led away?
Or a young woman, to mix with in love,
whom you will keep for yourself apart from the others?
It is not right that a leader should bring the sons of the Achaeans into such trouble.
Oh you soft things, you disgraces! You Achaean women, no longer Achaean men!
Let us go home with our ships, and leave this man
here in Troy to digest his prizes of honour, so he may see
whether we are any help to him or not.
He who has now dishonoured Achilles, a man far better than he,
for he has taken his prize and keeps it, having seized it for himself.
But truly, there is no anger in Achilles’ heart; he is too forgiving.
Otherwise, son of Atreus, this would be your last outrage.”
Thus spoke Thersites, reviling Agamemnon, shepherd of the people,
But noble Odysseus quickly came and stood by him,
and looking at him with a dark frown, he rebuked him with a harsh word:
“Thersites, you reckless-tongued man, shrill orator though you may be,
hold your peace, and do not presume to strive alone against kings.
For I say there is no mortal more base than you
among all those who came with the sons of Atreus to Ilium.
Therefore, you should not have the names of kings on your lips as you speak,
casting reproaches upon them and watching for a chance of homecoming.<
We do not yet know for certain how these things will end,
whether we, the sons of the Achaeans, will return in fortune or in ruin.
And so you now sit here reviling Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people,

because the Danaan heroes give him very many gifts,
while you speak with mockery.
“But I will tell you this, and it shall be accomplished:
if I find you playing the fool again as you have done now,
may the head of Odysseus no longer rest upon his shoulders,
and may I no longer be called the father of Telemachus,
if I do not take you and strip you of your own garments,
the cloak and the tunic that cover your shame,
and send you yourself weeping to the swift ships,
driven from the assembly with ignominious blows.”
So he spoke, and with the sceptre struck him on the back and shoulders.
Thersites doubled over, and a hot tear fell from his eye.
A bloody welt rose up on his back
under the golden sceptre’s blow. He sat down, terrified,
and in his pain, with a helpless look, he wiped away a tear.
The others, though they were vexed, laughed heartily at him,
and one would say to his neighbour, looking at him:
“Indeed! Odysseus has done countless good things,
leading in wise counsel and marshalling for war,
but this is by far the best thing he has done among the Argives,
to have stopped this reviler, this blustering fool, from his harangues.
Surely his proud spirit will not move him again
to taunt the kings with words of reproach.”
So the multitude spoke. Then Odysseus, sacker of cities,
stood up holding the sceptre, and beside him grey-eyed Athene,
in the likeness of a herald, commanded the host to be silent,
so that the foremost and the hindmost of the sons of the Achaeans
might hear his word and consider his counsel.
With wise intent, he addressed them and said:
“Son of Atreus, now indeed, O king, the Achaeans wish

to make you the most dishonoured of all mortal men.
They will not fulfill the promise they made to you
when they set out from horse-pasturing Argos,
that you would return only after sacking the well-walled city of Ilium.
Like young children or widowed women
they lament to one another of returning home.
And truly, it is a hardship to be worn out and have to return.
For a man who stays away from his wife for even a single month
grows restless in his benched ship when winter storms
and a surging sea confine him.
But for us, this is the ninth circling year
that we have remained here. So I do not blame the Achaeans
for growing restless beside their curved ships.
But still, it is shameful to remain so long and to return with empty hands.
“Be patient, my friends, and wait a while longer, so that we may know
whether Calchas prophesies truly or not.
For we know this well in our hearts, and you are all witnesses,
all whom the fates of death have not yet carried away.
It was but yesterday or the day before, when the ships of the Achaeans
were gathered at Aulis, bringing woe to Priam and the Trojans,
and we were making sacrifices of perfect hecatombs to the immortals
around a spring, at the holy altars,
beneath a beautiful plane tree from which sparkling water flowed.
There a great portent appeared: a serpent with a blood-red back,
a fearsome thing, which the Olympian himself had sent into the light,
darted from beneath the altar and rushed to the plane tree.
“On the tree were the young of a sparrow, helpless fledglings,
cowering under the leaves on the topmost branch,
eight of them, and the mother who bore them was the ninth.
The serpent devoured the cheeping young, to our pity,

while the mother flew about, lamenting her dear children.
But as she circled, crying out, he coiled and seized her by the wing.
Then, after he had eaten the sparrow’s children and the mother herself,
the god who had sent him made him a sign to be wondered at;
for the son of crooked-counselling Cronos turned him to stone.
And we stood there, marvelling at what had happened.
“So when this dreadful portent interrupted the holy rites,
Calchas at once spoke, prophesying in the name of the gods:
‘Why are you silent, you long-haired Achaeans?
To us Zeus the counsellor has shown this great sign,
late to come, late to be fulfilled, but its glory will never die.
As this serpent devoured the sparrow’s young and the mother herself,
eight young and the mother making the ninth,
so we shall wage war here for that many years,
but in the tenth we shall take the wide-wayed city.’
So he prophesied, and now all these things are coming to pass.
Come, then, remain here, all of you well-greaved Achaeans,
until we take the great city of Priam.”
So he spoke, and the Argives shouted aloud, and the ships
around them echoed terribly with the cries of the Achaeans,
as they praised the speech of godlike Odysseus.
And among them spoke Nestor, the Gerenian horseman:
“For shame! You hold assembly like children,
mere infants, who have no concern for the deeds of war.
Where then will our covenants and our oaths go?
Let the counsels and plans of men be cast into the fire,
the unmixed libations and the right hands in which we trusted.
For we strive with words in vain, and can find no remedy,
though we have been here a long time.
Son of Atreus, as before, hold to your unwavering resolve

and lead the Argives into the heart of the mighty battle.
Let them perish, those one or two, who scheme apart from the other Achaeans —
though their plans will come to nothing —
to return to Argos before we even know if the promise
of aegis-bearing Zeus is false or true.
“For I say that the all-powerful son of Cronos gave his assent
on that day when the Argives embarked on their swift-faring ships,
bringing slaughter and doom to the Trojans,
for he flashed his lightning on our right, showing favourable signs.
Therefore let no man be in a hurry to go home
until he has slept beside the wife of some Trojan,
and so avenged the struggles and sorrows of Helen.
But if any man is so desperately set on returning home,
let him but lay his hand on his well-benched black ship,
that he may meet his death and his fate before the others.
But you, my king, take good counsel yourself and listen to another.
The word I speak will not be one to cast aside.
Arrange your men by tribes and by clans, Agamemnon,
so that clan may aid clan, and tribe may aid tribe.
If you do this, and the Achaeans obey you,
you will know then which of the leaders and which of the men is a coward
and which is brave; for they will fight as their own kin.
And you will also know whether it is by divine will that you do not sack the city,
or by the cowardice of men and their ignorance of war.”
And in answer to him spoke lord Agamemnon:
“Truly, old man, you surpass the sons of the Achaeans in debate once more.
O father Zeus, and Athene, and Apollo,
if only I had ten such counsellors among the Achaeans!
Then the city of king Priam would soon bow its head,
taken and sacked by our hands.
But the aegis-bearing son of Cronos, Zeus, has given me sorrows,

casting me into fruitless quarrels and strife.
For I and Achilles fought over a girl
with furious words, and I was the one who began the quarrel.
But if we can ever be of one mind in counsel, there will be no more delay
of disaster for the Trojans, not for a moment.
“But for now, go to your meal, so that we may join battle.
Let each man sharpen his spear well, and set his shield well;
let each man give his swift-footed horses their feed,
and each man, looking to his chariot, prepare for war,
so that all day long we may be tested in grim combat.
For there will be no respite, not for a moment,
until the coming of night parts the fury of men.
The strap of the man-covering shield will be soaked with sweat
on many a chest, and the hand will grow weary on the spear-shaft.
Many a horse will sweat, straining at the polished chariot.
And any man whom I see deliberately shirking the fight,
lingering by the curved ships, for him there will be no certain
escape from the dogs and the birds of prey.”
So he spoke, and the Argives roared like a wave
on a high cliff when the South Wind comes and dashes it against a jutting rock,
which the waves never leave in peace,
from whichever direction the winds may blow.
They rose up and scattered, rushing among the ships.
They made fires in their huts and took their meal.
And one by one they sacrificed to the gods who are forever,
praying to escape death and the turmoil of war.
But Agamemnon, king of men, sacrificed a fat bull
of five years to the all-powerful son of Cronos,
and he summoned the elders, the chief men of the Panachaeans,
Nestor first of all, and king Idomeneus,

and then the two Aiantes and the son of Tydeus,
and sixth, Odysseus, a man equal to Zeus in counsel.<
Menelaus, good at the war-cry, came of his own accord,
for he knew in his heart how his brother was occupied.
They stood around the bull and took up the barley grains for sprinkling;
and lord Agamemnon prayed among them, saying:
“Zeus, most glorious, most great, god of the dark clouds, who dwells in the heavens,
let not the sun set nor darkness fall
before I have cast down Priam’s palace,
blackened with smoke, and burned its gates with consuming fire,
and rent with bronze the tunic of Hector upon his chest,
so that many of his comrades,
face down in the dust around him, may bite the earth.”
So he spoke, but the son of Cronos did not yet grant his prayer.
He accepted the sacrifice, but he increased the endless toil.
Then, after they had prayed and sprinkled the barley grains,
they first drew back the victim’s head, slit its throat, and flayed it.
They cut out the thigh-bones and covered them in a double layer of fat,
and placed the raw flesh upon them.
These they burned on spits of leafless wood,
and piercing the entrails, they held them over the fire of Hephaestus.
When the thigh-bones were burned and they had tasted the entrails,
they carved up the rest, pierced it with spits,
roasted it carefully, and drew it all off.
Then, when they had ceased from their labour and had prepared the feast,
they feasted, and no man’s heart lacked its equal share of the meal.
When they had put aside their desire for food and drink,
the Gerenian horseman Nestor was the first to speak among them:
“Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, king of men,
let us no longer talk here at length, nor for long

delay the work which the god now puts in our hands.
Come, let the heralds of the bronze-clad Achaeans
go about the ships and gather the army,
and let us go together in this way through the wide Achaean host,
so that we may the sooner stir up sharp Ares.”
So he spoke, and the king of men, Agamemnon, did not disobey.
At once he ordered the clear-voiced heralds
to summon the long-haired Achaeans to war.
The heralds made their cry, and the men gathered with great speed.
The kings cherished of Zeus, followers of the son of Atreus,
moved swiftly to arrange the ranks, and with them was grey-eyed Athene,
holding the precious aegis, ageless and immortal,
from which a hundred tassels of pure gold hang,
all finely woven, each worth a hundred oxen.
With this flashing in her hands, she darted through the Achaean host,
urging them to advance, and in the heart of each man
she stirred the strength to fight and to battle without cease.
And to them, at once, war became sweeter than returning
in their hollow ships to their own dear native land.
As a consuming fire burns over a vast forest
on the peaks of a mountain, and its gleam is seen from afar,
so from the marvellous bronze of the advancing host
the dazzling radiance flashed through the air to the heavens.
And as the many tribes of winged birds—
geese or cranes or long-necked swans—
in the Asian meadow by the streams of the Cayster,
fly here and there, exulting in their wings,
and with loud cries settle ever onward, and the meadow resounds;

so the many tribes of men poured forth from the ships and huts
into the plain of Scamander, and the earth beneath them
thundered terribly under the tread of the men and their horses.
They stood in the flowering meadow of Scamander,
thousands upon thousands, as many as the leaves and flowers that come in the springtime.
As the many tribes of swarming flies
that buzz about a herdsman’s farmstead
in the season of spring when milk wets the pails,
so many were the long-haired Achaeans
who stood in the plain against the Trojans, eager to shatter them.
And as goat-herds easily separate their wide-ranging flocks of goats
when they have become mixed in the pasture,
so the leaders marshalled their men on this side and that
to enter the fray, and among them was lord Agamemnon,<
his eyes and his head like Zeus who delights in thunder,
his waist like Ares, and his chest like Poseidon.
As a bull in a herd is by far the most outstanding of all,
a bull pre-eminent among the gathered cattle,
so on that day Zeus made the son of Atreus
conspicuous among many and pre-eminent among heroes.
Tell me now, Muses, you who have your dwellings on Olympus—
for you are goddesses, you are present and know all things,
while we hear only a rumour and know nothing—
who were the leaders and lords of the Danaans.
The multitude I could not tell nor name,
not if I had ten tongues and ten mouths,
a voice that never broke and a heart of bronze within me,
unless the Olympian Muses, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus,
were to recount all those who came to Ilium.
Now I will tell the commanders of the ships, and all the ships.
Of the Boeotians, Peneleos and Leitus were the leaders,

with Arcesilaus, Prothoenor, and Clonius.
These were they who dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis,
in Schoenus and Scolus and the many-ridged Eteonus,
Thespeia, Graea, and the wide dancing-grounds of Mycalessus;
who lived about Harma and Eilesion and Erythrae;
who held Eleon and Hyle and Peteon,
Ocalea and Medeon, a well-built citadel,
Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe of the many doves;
who held Coronea and the grassy meadows of Haliartus,
and who held Plataea or dwelt in Glisas;
who held Hypothebae, a well-built citadel,
and Onchestus, the sacred grove of Poseidon’s splendour;
and who held Arne, rich in vines, and Midea,
and sacred Nisa and farthest Anthedon.
With these went fifty ships, and in each embarked
one hundred and twenty young men of the Boeotians.
Those who dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus of the Minyans,
were led by Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares,
whom Astyoche bore in the house of Actor, son of Azeus,
a modest maiden who went up to her chamber
and lay secretly with mighty Ares.
With them, thirty hollow ships were drawn up in lines.
Of the Phocians, Schedius and Epistrophus were the leaders,
sons of great-hearted Iphitus, son of Naubolus.
These held Cyparissus and rocky Pytho,
sacred Crisa, and Daulis, and Panopeus;
who lived around Anemorea and Hyampolis;
who dwelt by the stream of the divine Cephisus,
and who held Lilaea at the springs of the Cephisus.

With them followed forty black ships.
These leaders marshalled the ranks of the Phocians,
and they armed themselves for battle next to the Boeotians on the left.
Of the Locrians, the leader was swift Aias, son of Oileus,
a lesser man, not nearly so great as Telamonian Aias,
but much smaller. He was of slight build and wore a linen corselet,
but with the spear he surpassed all the Hellenes and Achaeans.
These were they who dwelt in Cynus and Opus and Calliarus,
Bessa and Scarphe and lovely Augeiae,
Tarphne and Thronium about the streams of Boagrius.
With him followed forty black ships
of the Locrians who dwell opposite sacred Euboea.
Those who held Euboea, the Abantes breathing fury,
of Chalcis and Eretria and Histiaea rich in grapes,
of Cerinthus by the sea and the steep citadel of Dion;
and those who held Carystus and those who dwelt in Styra—
of these the leader was Elephenor, a scion of Ares,
son of Chalcodon, chief of the great-hearted Abantes.
With him followed the swift Abantes, with their hair grown long at the back,
warriors eager with outstretched ashen spears
to break the corselets on the chests of their enemies.
With him followed forty black ships.
Those who held Athens, the well-built citadel,
the land of great-hearted Erechtheus, whom once Athene,
daughter of Zeus, nourished, though the grain-giving earth bore him,
and she settled him in Athens in her own rich temple;
where the young men of Athens propitiate him with bulls and rams
as the years circle by—
of these the leader was Menestheus, son of Peteos.

No man on earth was his equal
in marshalling horses and shield-bearing men;
Only Nestor rivalled him, for he was the elder.
With him followed fifty black ships.
From Salamis Aias brought twelve ships,
and he placed them where the phalanxes of the Athenians were drawn up.
Those who held Argos and Tiryns of the great walls,
Hermione and Asine, which command a deep gulf,
Troezen and Eionae and vine-rich Epidaurus,
and the young men of the Achaeans who held Aegina and Mases—
of these the leader was Diomedes, good at the war-cry,
and Sthenelus, dear son of famous Capaneus.
With them as a third went Euryalus, a godlike man,
son of king Mecisteus, son of Talaus.
But Diomedes, good at the war-cry, was leader of them all.
With these followed eighty black ships.
Those who held Mycenae, the well-built citadel,
and wealthy Corinth and well-built Cleonae,
and dwelt in Orneiae and lovely Araethyrea
and Sicyon, where Adrastus first was king;
and who held Hyperesia and steep Gonoessa
and Pellene, and who dwelt about Aegium
and all along the coast and about wide Helice—
of these a hundred ships were led by lord Agamemnon,
son of Atreus. With him followed the most numerous and the best men.
Among them he himself donned his shining bronze,
exulting, and he stood pre-eminent among all the heroes
because he was the greatest and led the most people.
Those who held hollow Lacedaemon with its deep valleys,
Pharis and Sparta and Messa of the many doves,
and dwelt in Bryseiae and lovely Augeiae;
who held Amyclae and Helos, a citadel by the sea;
and who held Laas and dwelt about Oetylus—
of these his brother Menelaus, good at the war-cry, was leader
of sixty ships, and they armed themselves apart.
He went among them, confident in his own zeal,
urging them to war, and his heart yearned above all
to avenge the struggles and sorrows of Helen.
Those who dwelt in Pylos and lovely Arene
and Thryon, the ford of the Alpheius, and well-built Aepy,
and who lived in Cyparisseis and Amphigeneia
and Pteleum and Helos and Dorion, where the Muses
met Thamyris the Thracian and put an end to his singing
as he came from Oechalia, from the house of Eurytus of Oechalia;
for he boasted and vowed that he would be victorious even if the Muses themselves,
the daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, should sing against him.
But they, in their anger, struck him blind, and took away
his divine song, and made him forget his harping—
of these the leader was Nestor, the Gerenian horseman.
With him, ninety hollow ships were drawn up in lines.
Those who held Arcadia under the steep mountain of Cyllene,
by the tomb of Aepytus, where men fight hand to hand;
who dwelt in Pheneus and Orchomenus, rich in flocks,
in Rhipe and Stratia and windy Enispe
and who held Tegea and lovely Mantinea;
who held Stymphalus and dwelt in Parrhasia—

of these the leader was Agapenor, son of Ancaeus,
lord of sixty ships. On each ship embarked many
Arcadian men skilled in warfare.
For the king of men himself, Agamemnon,
son of Atreus, had given them the well-benched ships to cross the wine-dark sea,
since they had no concern for the works of the sea.
Those who dwelt in Buprasion and noble Elis,
as much as is enclosed by Hyrmine and Myrsinus at the border,
and the Olenian rock and Alesion—
of these there were four leaders, and to each man followed
ten swift ships, and many Epeians embarked on them.
Of two contingents Amphimachus and Thalpius were the leaders,
the one son of Cteatus, the other of Eurytus, both of the line of Actor.
Of the third, the leader was mighty Diores, son of Amarynceus,
and of the fourth, the leader was godlike Polyxenus,
son of Agasthenes, the king, son of Augeias.
Those from Dulichium and the sacred Echinades
islands, which lie across the sea, opposite Elis—
of these the leader was Meges, the equal of Ares,
son of Phyleus, the horseman dear to Zeus,
who once settled in Dulichium in anger at his father.
With him followed forty black ships.
And Odysseus led the great-hearted Cephallenians,
who held Ithaca and Neriton of the rustling leaves
and dwelt in Crocyleia and rugged Aegilips;
who held Zacynthus and who dwelt in Samos,
and who held the mainland and lived on the shores opposite.
Of these Odysseus was leader, a man equal to Zeus in counsel.
With him followed twelve ships with prows of scarlet.
Of the Aetolians, the leader was Thoas, son of Andraemon.

They dwelt in Pleuron and Olenus and Pylene,
and Chalcis by the sea and rocky Calydon.
For the sons of great-hearted Oeneus were no more,
nor was he himself, and fair-haired Meleager was dead.
So it had fallen to Thoas to be king of all the Aetolians.
With him followed forty black ships.
Of the Cretans, Idomeneus, famed with the spear, was leader.
They held Cnossos and Gortyn of the great walls,
Lyctus, Miletus, and white Lycastus,
Phaestus and Rhytion, well-peopled cities,
and others who dwelt in Crete of the hundred cities.
Of all these, Idomeneus, famed with the spear, was leader
and Meriones, the equal of Enyalius, the slayer of men.
With these followed eighty black ships.
Tlepolemus, son of Heracles, valiant and tall,
brought nine ships from Rhodes with proud Rhodians,
who dwelt in Rhodes, organized in three divisions,
in Lindos and Ialysus and white Camirus.
Of these Tlepolemus, famed with the spear, was leader,
whom Astyocheia bore to the might of Heracles;
she whom he had brought from Ephyra, from the river Selleis,
after sacking many cities of warriors cherished of Zeus.
When Tlepolemus was raised in the well-built palace,
he at once killed his father’s dear uncle,
Licymnius, a scion of Ares, who was already growing old.
Straightway he built ships, and gathering a great host,
he fled over the sea, for the other
sons and grandsons of the mighty Heracles had threatened him.
In his wanderings and sufferings, he came to Rhodes.
There his people settled in three tribes, and were loved

by Zeus, who is king among gods and men,
and the son of Cronos poured wondrous wealth down upon them.
Nireus from Syme brought three balanced ships,
Nireus son of Aglaia and of king Charopus,
Nireus, who was the most beautiful man who came to Ilium
of all the other Danaans, after the flawless son of Peleus.
But he was a man of no strength, and few people followed him.
Those who held Nisyrus and Crapathus and Casus
and Cos, the city of Eurypylus, and the Calydnian islands—
of these Pheidippus and Antiphus were the leaders,
the two sons of Thessalus the king, son of Heracles.
With them, thirty hollow ships were drawn up in lines.
Now for those who dwelt in Pelasgian Argos,
who lived in Alos and Alope and Trachis,
and who held Phthia and Hellas of the fair women,
who were called Myrmidons and Hellenes and Achaeans,—
of their fifty ships, the commander was Achilles.
But they were not thinking of the clamour of war;
for there was no one to lead them into their ranks.
For he lay among his ships, swift-footed, noble Achilles,
raging for the sake of the fair-haired girl Briseis,
whom he had taken from Lyrnessus at great labour,
after he had sacked Lyrnessus and the walls of Thebe,
and had struck down Mynes and Epistrophus, skilled with the spear,
sons of Evenus, king, son of Selepius.
Grieving for her, he lay idle, but he was soon to rise again.
Those who held Phylace and flowery Pyrasus,
the precinct of Demeter, and Iton, mother of sheep,

and Antron by the sea, and Pteleos of the deep grass—
of these the warlike Protesilaus had been leader
while he lived; but now the black earth already held him.
His wife was left in Phylace with her cheeks torn in grief,
and his house was half-finished. A Dardanian man had killed him
as he leapt from his ship, by far the first of the Achaeans.
Yet his men were not without a leader, though they longed for their commander.
Podarces, a scion of Ares, marshalled them,
the son of Iphiclus, rich in sheep, son of Phylacus,
and full brother of great-hearted Protesilaus,
though younger by birth. The hero Protesilaus, the warlike, was both older and braver.
So the host did not lack a leader,
but they longed for the brave man they had lost.
With him followed forty black ships.
Those who dwelt in Pherae by the Boebeian lake,
in Boebe and Glaphyrae and well-built Iolcus—
of their eleven ships the leader was Eumelus, dear son of Admetus,
whom Alcestis, noblest of women in form,
the fairest of the daughters of Pelias, bore to Admetus.
Those who held Methone and Thaumacia
and held Meliboea and rugged Olizon—
of their seven ships Philoctetes was commander, a man well-skilled with the bow.
In each ship fifty oarsmen were embarked,
well-skilled with the bow, to fight with might.
But he lay on an island, suffering terrible pains,
in sacred Lemnos, where the sons of the Achaeans had left him,
tormented by the cruel wound of a venomous water-snake.
There he lay in agony, but soon the Argives by their ships
were to remember their king Philoctetes.
Yet his men were not without a leader, though they longed for their commander.
Medon, the bastard son of Oileus, marshalled them,

he whom Rhene bore to Oileus, sacker of cities.
Those who held Tricca and Ithome of the rugged hills,
and who held Oechalia, the city of Eurytus of Oechalia—
of these the two sons of Asclepius were leaders,
the good physicians Podaleirius and Machaon.
With them, thirty hollow ships were drawn up in lines.
Those who held Ormenion and the spring of Hypereia,
and who held Asterion and the white crests of Titanus—
of these the leader was Eurypylus, the glorious son of Euaemon.
With him followed forty black ships.
Those who held Argissa and dwelt in Gyrtone,
Orthe, Elone, and the white city of Oloosson—
of these the leader was the steadfast warrior Polypoetes,
son of Peirithous, whom immortal Zeus begot.
Famed Hippodameia bore him to Peirithous
on the day he took his vengeance on the shaggy Centaurs,
and drove them from Pelion and forced them towards the Aethices.
He was not alone; with him was Leonteus, a scion of Ares,
son of Coronus the mighty, son of Caeneus.
With them followed forty black ships.
Gouneus from Cyphus led twenty-two ships.
With him followed the Enienes and the steadfast Peraebi,
who had made their homes about wintry Dodona,
and who tilled the fields about the lovely Titaressus,
which sends its fair-flowing waters into the Peneius,
but does not mingle with the silver-eddying Peneius,
but flows over its surface like oil;
for it is an offshoot of the water of the dread oath, the Styx.
Of the Magnetes, the leader was Prothous, son of Tenthredon.
They dwelt about the Peneius and Pelion of the rustling leaves.

Of these swift Prothous was leader.
With him followed forty black ships.
These were the leaders and lords of the Danaans.
Now tell me, Muse, who was the very best of them,
of the men and their horses, who followed the sons of Atreus.
The horses of the son of Pheres were by far the best,
those which Eumelus drove, swift as birds,
of the same coat, the same age, their backs as level as a plumb-line.
Apollo of the silver bow had bred them in Pereia,
both of them mares, carrying the terror of Ares.
Of the men, Telamonian Aias was by far the best,
as long as Achilles nursed his wrath. For Achilles was much the mightiest,
as were the horses that carried the flawless son of Peleus.
But he lay among his curved, sea-faring ships,
in a rage against Agamemnon, son of Atreus, shepherd of the people.
And his men, along the shore of the sea,
amused themselves with discuses and with throwing javelins
and with their bows. Their horses, each by its own chariot,
stood champing on lotus and parsley grown in the marshland.
The well-fastened chariots of their masters lay in the huts,
while the men, longing for their warlike leader,
wandered here and there through the camp and did not fight.
But the army advanced as if the whole land were being consumed by fire.
The earth groaned beneath them as it does under Zeus who delights in thunder
when he is angry and lashes the land about Typhoeus
in the country of the Arimi, where they say the bed of Typhoeus is.
So the earth groaned loudly under the feet of the advancing men,
and they crossed the plain very swiftly.
To the Trojans came a messenger, swift-footed Iris of the winds,
from aegis-bearing Zeus with a grievous message.

They were holding an assembly at the gates of Priam,
all gathered together, the young men and the old.
Standing near, swift-footed Iris spoke.
She took on the voice of Polites, son of Priam,
who, trusting in his fleetness of foot, sat as a lookout for the Trojans
on the very top of the tomb of old Aesyetes,
waiting for the moment when the Achaeans would sally forth from their ships.
In his likeness, swift-footed Iris spoke to them:
“Old man, rambling speeches are always dear to you,
as once in time of peace; but an implacable war has arisen.
I have already entered many battles of men,
but never have I seen such a great and mighty host.
For like the leaves or the sands they are coming
across the plain to fight against the city.
Hector, to you above all I give this charge, and do as I say.
Since there are many allies throughout the great city of Priam,
and the speech of the far-scattered men is diverse,
let each man give the command to those he leads,
and let him lead them forth, having marshalled his countrymen.”
So she spoke, and Hector did not fail to understand the goddess’s word.
He at once dismissed the assembly, and they rushed to their arms.
All the gates were opened, and the army poured forth,
both footmen and horsemen, and a great din arose.
There is a steep hill in front of the city,
standing alone in the plain, accessible from all sides,
which men call Batieia,
but the immortals call it the tomb of the much-bounding Myrine.
There the Trojans and their allies were then marshalled.
Of the Trojans, the leader was great Hector of the flashing helm,

son of Priam. With him were armed the most numerous and the best men,
eager with their spears.
Of the Dardanians, the leader was the goodly son of Anchises,
Aeneas, whom divine Aphrodite bore to Anchises,
a goddess lying with a mortal in the glens of Ida.
He was not alone; with him were the two sons of Antenor,
Archelochus and Acamas, both well-skilled in all manner of fighting.
Those who dwelt in Zeleia under the lowest foot of Ida,
men of wealth who drink the black water of the Aesepus,
Trojans—of these the leader was the glorious son of Lycaon,
Pandarus, to whom Apollo himself gave the bow.
Those who held Adrasteia and the land of Apaisos
and held Pityeia and the steep mountain of Tereia—
of these the leaders were Adrastus and Amphius of the linen corselet,
the two sons of Merops of Percote, who knew the art of prophecy
beyond all men, and would not let his own sons
go to the man-destroying war. But they did not
obey him, for the fates of black death were leading them on.
Those who lived about Percote and Practius,
and held Sestos and Abydos and noble Arisbe—
of these the leader was Asius, son of Hyrtacus, a commander of men,
Asius, son of Hyrtacus, whom his tall, fiery horses
brought from Arisbe, from the river Selleis.
Hippothous led the tribes of the Pelasgians, skilled with the spear,
those who dwelt in fertile Larissa.
Of these Hippothous was leader, and Pylaeus, a scion of Ares,
the two sons of Lethus the Pelasgian, son of Teutamus.
Of the Thracians, the leaders were Acamas and the hero Peirous,
all those whom the strong-flowing Hellespont encloses.
Euphemus was commander of the Ciconian spearmen,
son of Troezenus, son of Ceas, cherished of Zeus.
Pyraechmes led the Paeonians of the curved bows,

from far-off Amydon, from the wide-flowing Axius,
the Axius whose water, the fairest on earth, is spread over the land.
Of the Paphlagonians, the leader was Pylaemenes of the shaggy heart,
from the land of the Eneti, whence comes the breed of wild mules.
They held Cytorus and dwelt about Sesamus,
and had their famed homes by the river Parthenius,
and Cromna and Aegialus and the lofty Erythini.
Of the Halizones, Odius and Epistrophus were leaders,
from far away Alybe, where silver has its birth.
Of the Mysians, Chromis was leader, and Ennomus the augur.
But he did not, by his augury, ward off black death,
but was overcome by the hands of the swift-footed son of Aeacus
in the river, where he slaughtered other Trojans as well.
Phorcys and godlike Ascanius led the Phrygians
from far-off Ascania; and they were eager to fight in the fray.
Of the Maeonians, Mesthles and Antiphus were the leaders,
the two sons of Talaemenes, whom the Gygaean lake bore.
They also led the Maeonians who were born under Mount Tmolus.
Nastes led the Carians of the barbarous speech,
who held Miletus and the leafy mountain of Phthires
and the streams of the Maeander and the steep peaks of Mycale.
Of these Amphimachus and Nastes were leaders,
Nastes and Amphimachus, the glorious children of Nomion.

He who went to war wearing gold like a girl, the fool;
it did not avail him to ward off a sorrowful death,
but he was overcome by the hands of the swift-footed son of Aeacus
in the river, and the warrior Achilles carried off his gold.
Sarpedon was leader of the Lycians, and flawless Glaucus,
from far-off Lycia, from the eddying Xanthus.

ἸΛΙΆΣ 2

Ἄλλοι μέν ῥα θεοί τε καὶ ἀνέρες ἱπποκορυσταὶ
εὗδον παννύχιοι, Δία δ’ οὐκ ἔχε νήδυμος ὕπνος,
ἀλλ’ ὅ γε μερμήριζε κατὰ φρένα ὡς Ἀχιλῆα
τιμήσῃ, ὀλέσῃ δὲ πολέας ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.
ἧδε δέ οἱ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή,
πέμψαι ἐπ’ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι οὖλον ὄνειρον·
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«βάσκ’ ἴθι οὖλε ὄνειρε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν·
ἐλθὼν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο
πάντα μάλ’ ἀτρεκέως ἀγορευέμεν ὡς ἐπιτέλλω·
θωρῆξαί ἑ κέλευε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοι πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν
Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματ’ ἔχοντες
ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας
Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδε’ ἐφῆπται.»
Ὣς φάτο, βῆ δ’ ἄρ’ ὄνειρος ἐπεὶ τὸν μῦθον ἄκουσε·
καρπαλίμως δ’ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν,

βῆ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπ’ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα· τὸν δὲ κίχανεν
εὕδοντ’ ἐν κλισίῃ, περὶ δ’ ἀμβρόσιος κέχυθ’ ὕπνος.
στῆ δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς Νηληΐῳ υἷι ἐοικώς
Νέστορι, τόν ῥα μάλιστα γερόντων τῖ’ Ἀγαμέμνων·
τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσεφώνεε θεῖος ὄνειρος·
«εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·
οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα
ᾧ λαοί τ’ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·
νῦν δ’ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,
ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδ’ ἐλεαίρει.
θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν
Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματ’ ἔχοντες
ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας
Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδε’ ἐφῆπται
ἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσί, μηδέ σε λήθη
αἱρείτω εὖτ’ ἄν σε μελίφρων ὕπνος ἀνήῃ.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπεβήσετο, τὸν δὲ λίπ’ αὐτοῦ
τὰ φρονέοντ’ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ἅ ῥ’ οὐ τελέεσθαι ἔμελλον·
φῆ γὰρ ὅ γ’ αἱρήσειν Πριάμου πόλιν ἤματι κείνῳ
νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὰ ᾔδη ἅ ῥα Ζεὺς μήδετο ἔργα·
θήσειν γὰρ ἔτ’ ἔμελλεν ἐπ’ ἄλγεά τε στοναχάς τε
Τρωσί τε καὶ Δαναοῖσι διὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας.
ἔγρετο δ’ ἐξ ὕπνου, θείη δέ μιν ἀμφέχυτ’ ὀμφή·
ἕζετο δ’ ὀρθωθείς, μαλακὸν δ’ ἔνδυνε χιτῶνα
καλὸν νηγάτεον, περὶ δὲ μέγα βάλλετο φᾶρος·
ποσσὶ δ’ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα,
ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρ’ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον·
εἵλετο δὲ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεὶ
σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
Ἠὼς μέν ῥα θεὰ προσεβήσετο μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον,

Ζηνὶ φόως ἐρέουσα καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν·
αὐτὰρ ὃ κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε
κηρύσσειν ἀγορὴν δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·
οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δ’ ἠγείροντο μάλ’ ὦκα·
Βουλὴν δὲ πρῶτον μεγαθύμων ἷζε γερόντων
Νεστορέῃ παρὰ νηῒ Πυλοιγενέος βασιλῆος·
τοὺς ὅ γε συγκαλέσας πυκινὴν ἀρτύνετο βουλήν·
«κλῦτε φίλοι· θεῖός μοι ἐνύπνιον ἦλθεν ὄνειρος
ἀμβροσίην διὰ νύκτα· μάλιστα δὲ Νέστορι δίῳ
εἶδός τε μέγεθός τε φυήν τ’ ἄγχιστα ἐῴκει·
στῆ δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί με πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
εὕδεις Ἀτρέος υἱὲ δαΐφρονος ἱπποδάμοιο·
οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα,
ᾧ λαοί τ’ ἐπιτετράφαται καὶ τόσσα μέμηλε·
νῦν δ’ ἐμέθεν ξύνες ὦκα· Διὸς δέ τοι ἄγγελός εἰμι,
ὃς σεῦ ἄνευθεν ἐὼν μέγα κήδεται ἠδ’ ἐλεαίρει·
θωρῆξαί σε κέλευσε κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιοὺς
πανσυδίῃ· νῦν γάρ κεν ἕλοις πόλιν εὐρυάγυιαν
Τρώων· οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ ἀμφὶς Ὀλύμπια δώματ’ ἔχοντες
ἀθάνατοι φράζονται· ἐπέγναμψεν γὰρ ἅπαντας
Ἥρη λισσομένη, Τρώεσσι δὲ κήδε’ ἐφῆπται
ἐκ Διός· ἀλλὰ σὺ σῇσιν ἔχε φρεσίν· ὣς ὃ μὲν εἰπὼν
ᾤχετ’ ἀποπτάμενος, ἐμὲ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν.
ἀλλ’ ἄγετ’ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·
πρῶτα δ’ ἐγὼν ἔπεσιν πειρήσομαι, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,
καὶ φεύγειν σὺν νηυσὶ πολυκλήϊσι κελεύσω·
ὑμεῖς δ’ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος ἐρητύειν ἐπέεσσιν.»
Ἤτοι ὅ γ’ ὣς εἰπὼν κατ’ ἄρ’ ἕζετο, τοῖσι δ’ ἀνέστη

Νέστωρ, ὅς ῥα Πύλοιο ἄναξ ἦν ἠμαθόεντος,
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
«ὦ φίλοι Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες
εἰ μέν τις τὸν ὄνειρον Ἀχαιῶν ἄλλος ἔνισπε
ψεῦδός κεν φαῖμεν καὶ νοσφιζοίμεθα μᾶλλον·
νῦν δ’ ἴδεν ὃς μέγ’ ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι·
ἀλλ’ ἄγετ’ αἴ κέν πως θωρήξομεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας βουλῆς ἐξῆρχε νέεσθαι,
οἳ δ’ ἐπανέστησαν πείθοντό τε ποιμένι λαῶν
σκηπτοῦχοι βασιλῆες· ἐπεσσεύοντο δὲ λαοί.
ἠΰτε ἔθνεα εἶσι μελισσάων ἁδινάων
πέτρης ἐκ γλαφυρῆς αἰεὶ νέον ἐρχομενάων,
βοτρυδὸν δὲ πέτονται ἐπ’ ἄνθεσιν εἰαρινοῖσιν·
αἳ μέν τ’ ἔνθα ἅλις πεποτήαται, αἳ δέ τε ἔνθα·
ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
ἠϊόνος προπάροιθε βαθείης ἐστιχόωντο
ἰλαδὸν εἰς ἀγορήν· μετὰ δέ σφισιν ὄσσα δεδήει
ὀτρύνουσ’ ἰέναι Διὸς ἄγγελος· οἳ δ’ ἀγέροντο.
τετρήχει δ’ ἀγορή, ὑπὸ δὲ στεναχίζετο γαῖα
λαῶν ἱζόντων, ὅμαδος δ’ ἦν· ἐννέα δέ σφεας
κήρυκες βοόωντες ἐρήτυον, εἴ ποτ’ ἀϋτῆς
σχοίατ’, ἀκούσειαν δὲ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων.
σπουδῇ δ’ ἕζετο λαός, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθ’ ἕδρας
παυσάμενοι κλαγγῆς· ἀνὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων τὸ μὲν Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.
Ἥφαιστος μὲν δῶκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι,
αὐτὰρ ἄρα Ζεὺς δῶκε διακτόρῳ ἀργεϊφόντῃ·
Ἑρμείας δὲ ἄναξ δῶκεν Πέλοπι πληξίππῳ,
αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Πέλοψ δῶκ’ Ἀτρέϊ ποιμένι λαῶν·
Ἀτρεὺς δὲ θνῄσκων ἔλιπεν πολύαρνι Θυέστῃ,
αὐτὰρ ὃ αὖτε Θυέστ’ Ἀγαμέμνονι λεῖπε φορῆναι,
πολλῇσιν νήσοισι καὶ Ἄργεϊ παντὶ ἀνάσσειν.

τῷ ὅ γ’ ἐρεισάμενος ἔπε’ Ἀργείοισι μετηύδα·
«ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος
Ζεύς με μέγα Κρονίδης ἄτῃ ἐνέδησε βαρείῃ
σχέτλιος, ὃς πρὶν μέν μοι ὑπέσχετο καὶ κατένευσεν
Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντ’ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι,
νῦν δὲ κακὴν ἀπάτην βουλεύσατο, καί με κελεύει
δυσκλέα Ἄργος ἱκέσθαι, ἐπεὶ πολὺν ὤλεσα λαόν.
οὕτω που Διὶ μέλλει ὑπερμενέϊ φίλον εἶναι,
ὃς δὴ πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα
ἠδ’ ἔτι καὶ λύσει· τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον.
αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τόδε γ’ ἐστὶ καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι
μὰψ οὕτω τοιόνδε τοσόνδε τε λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν
ἄπρηκτον πόλεμον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι
ἀνδράσι παυροτέροισι, τέλος δ’ οὔ πώ τι πέφανται·
εἴ περ γάρ κ’ ἐθέλοιμεν Ἀχαιοί τε Τρῶές τε
ὅρκια πιστὰ ταμόντες ἀριθμηθήμεναι ἄμφω,
Τρῶας μὲν λέξασθαι ἐφέστιοι ὅσσοι ἔασιν,
ἡμεῖς δ’ ἐς δεκάδας διακοσμηθεῖμεν Ἀχαιοί,
Τρώων δ’ ἄνδρα ἕκαστοι ἑλοίμεθα οἰνοχοεύειν,
πολλαί κεν δεκάδες δευοίατο οἰνοχόοιο.
τόσσον ἐγώ φημι πλέας ἔμμεναι υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
Τρώων, οἳ ναίουσι κατὰ πτόλιν· ἀλλ’ ἐπίκουροι
πολλέων ἐκ πολίων ἐγχέσπαλοι ἄνδρες ἔασιν,
οἵ με μέγα πλάζουσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσ’ ἐθέλοντα
Ἰλίου ἐκπέρσαι εὖ ναιόμενον πτολίεθρον.
ἐννέα δὴ βεβάασι Διὸς μεγάλου ἐνιαυτοί,
καὶ δὴ δοῦρα σέσηπε νεῶν καὶ σπάρτα λέλυνται·
αἳ δέ που ἡμέτεραί τ’ ἄλοχοι καὶ νήπια τέκνα

εἵατ’ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ποτιδέγμεναι· ἄμμι δὲ ἔργον
αὔτως ἀκράαντον οὗ εἵνεκα δεῦρ’ ἱκόμεσθα.
ἀλλ’ ἄγεθ’ ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω πειθώμεθα πάντες·
φεύγωμεν σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν·
οὐ γὰρ ἔτι Τροίην αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.»
Ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ὄρινε
πᾶσι μετὰ πληθὺν ὅσοι οὐ βουλῆς ἐπάκουσαν·
κινήθη δ’ ἀγορὴ φὴ κύματα μακρὰ θαλάσσης
πόντου Ἰκαρίοιο, τὰ μέν τ’ Εὖρός τε Νότος τε
ὤρορ’ ἐπαΐξας πατρὸς Διὸς ἐκ νεφελάων.
ὡς δ’ ὅτε κινήσῃ Ζέφυρος βαθὺ λήϊον ἐλθὼν
λάβρος ἐπαιγίζων, ἐπί τ’ ἠμύει ἀσταχύεσσιν,
ὣς τῶν πᾶσ’ ἀγορὴ κινήθη· τοὶ δ’ ἀλαλητῷ
νῆας ἔπ’ ἐσσεύοντο, ποδῶν δ’ ὑπένερθε κονίη
ἵστατ’ ἀειρομένη· τοὶ δ’ ἀλλήλοισι κέλευον
ἅπτεσθαι νηῶν ἠδ’ ἑλκέμεν εἰς ἅλα δῖαν,
οὐρούς τ’ ἐξεκάθαιρον· ἀϋτὴ δ’ οὐρανὸν ἷκεν
οἴκαδε ἱεμένων· ὑπὸ δ’ ᾕρεον ἕρματα νηῶν.
Ἔνθά κεν Ἀργείοισιν ὑπέρμορα νόστος ἐτύχθη,
εἰ μὴ Ἀθηναίην Ἥρη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«ὢ πόποι αἰγιόχοιο Διὸς τέκος Ἀτρυτώνη,
οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
Ἀργεῖοι φεύξονται ἐπ’ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,
κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιεν
Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν
ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης·
ἀλλ’ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
σοῖς ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,

μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δ’ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη,
βῆ δὲ κατ’ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα·
καρπαλίμως δ’ ἵκανε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν.
εὗρεν ἔπειτ’ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον
ἐσταότ’· οὐδ’ ὅ γε νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης
ἅπτετ’, ἐπεί μιν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἵκανεν·
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱσταμένη προσέφη γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν’ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
οὕτω δὴ οἶκον δὲ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
φεύξεσθ’ ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι πεσόντες,
κὰδ δέ κεν εὐχωλὴν Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ λίποιτε
Ἀργείην Ἑλένην, ἧς εἵνεκα πολλοὶ Ἀχαιῶν
ἐν Τροίῃ ἀπόλοντο φίλης ἀπὸ πατρίδος αἴης;
ἀλλ’ ἴθι νῦν κατὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν, μηδ’ ἔτ’ ἐρώει,
σοῖς δ’ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρήτυε φῶτα ἕκαστον,
μηδὲ ἔα νῆας ἅλα δ’ ἑλκέμεν ἀμφιελίσσας.»
Ὣς φάθ’, ὃ δὲ ξυνέηκε θεᾶς ὄπα φωνησάσης,
βῆ δὲ θέειν, ἀπὸ δὲ χλαῖναν βάλε· τὴν δὲ κόμισσε
κῆρυξ Εὐρυβάτης Ἰθακήσιος ὅς οἱ ὀπήδει·
αὐτὸς δ’ Ἀτρεΐδεω Ἀγαμέμνονος ἀντίος ἐλθὼν
δέξατό οἱ σκῆπτρον πατρώϊον ἄφθιτον αἰεί·
σὺν τῷ ἔβη κατὰ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.
Ὅν τινα μὲν βασιλῆα καὶ ἔξοχον ἄνδρα κιχείη
τὸν δ’ ἀγανοῖς ἐπέεσσιν ἐρητύσασκε παραστάς·
«δαιμόνι’ οὔ σε ἔοικε κακὸν ὣς δειδίσσεσθαι,
ἀλλ’ αὐτός τε κάθησο καὶ ἄλλους ἵδρυε λαούς·
οὐ γάρ πω σάφα οἶσθ’ οἷος νόος Ἀτρεΐωνος·
νῦν μὲν πειρᾶται, τάχα δ’ ἴψεται υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
ἐν βουλῇ δ’ οὐ πάντες ἀκούσαμεν οἷον ἔειπε;

μή τι χολωσάμενος ῥέξῃ κακὸν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν·
θυμὸς δὲ μέγας ἐστὶ διοτρεφέων βασιλήων,
τιμὴ δ’ ἐκ Διός ἐστι, φιλεῖ δέ ἑ μητίετα Ζεύς.
Ὃν δ’ αὖ δήμου τ’ ἄνδρα ἴδοι βοόωντά τ’ ἐφεύροι,
τὸν σκήπτρῳ ἐλάσασκεν ὁμοκλήσασκέ τε μύθῳ·
δαιμόνι’ ἀτρέμας ἧσο καὶ ἄλλων μῦθον ἄκουε,
οἳ σέο φέρτεροί εἰσι, σὺ δ’ ἀπτόλεμος καὶ ἄναλκις
οὔτέ ποτ’ ἐν πολέμῳ ἐναρίθμιος οὔτ’ ἐνὶ βουλῇ·
οὐ μέν πως πάντες βασιλεύσομεν ἐνθάδ’ Ἀχαιοί·
οὐκ ἀγαθὸν πολυκοιρανίη· εἷς κοίρανος ἔστω,
εἷς βασιλεύς, ᾧ δῶκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω
σκῆπτρόν τ’ ἠδὲ θέμιστας, ἵνά σφισι βουλεύῃσι.
Ὣς ὅ γε κοιρανέων δίεπε στρατόν· οἳ δ’ ἀγορὴν δὲ
αὖτις ἐπεσσεύοντο νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
ἠχῇ, ὡς ὅτε κῦμα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης
αἰγιαλῷ μεγάλῳ βρέμεται, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε πόντος.
Ἄλλοι μέν ῥ’ ἕζοντο, ἐρήτυθεν δὲ καθ’ ἕδρας·
Θερσίτης δ’ ἔτι μοῦνος ἀμετροεπὴς ἐκολῴα,
ὃς ἔπεα φρεσὶν ᾗσιν ἄκοσμά τε πολλά τε ᾔδη
μάψ, ἀτὰρ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν,
ἀλλ’ ὅ τι οἱ εἴσαιτο γελοίϊον Ἀργείοισιν
ἔμμεναι· αἴσχιστος δὲ ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε·
φολκὸς ἔην, χωλὸς δ’ ἕτερον πόδα· τὼ δέ οἱ ὤμω
κυρτὼ ἐπὶ στῆθος συνοχωκότε· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
φοξὸς ἔην κεφαλήν, ψεδνὴ δ’ ἐπενήνοθε λάχνη.
ἔχθιστος δ’ Ἀχιλῆϊ μάλιστ’ ἦν ἠδ’ Ὀδυσῆϊ·
τὼ γὰρ νεικείεσκε· τότ’ αὖτ’ Ἀγαμέμνονι δίῳ
ὀξέα κεκλήγων λέγ’ ὀνείδεα· τῷ δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀχαιοὶ
ἐκπάγλως κοτέοντο νεμέσσηθέν τ’ ἐνὶ θυμῷ.
αὐτὰρ ὃ μακρὰ βοῶν Ἀγαμέμνονα νείκεε μύθῳ·

«Ἀτρεΐδη τέο δ’ αὖτ’ ἐπιμέμφεαι ἠδὲ χατίζεις;
πλεῖαί τοι χαλκοῦ κλισίαι, πολλαὶ δὲ γυναῖκες
εἰσὶν ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἐξαίρετοι, ἅς τοι Ἀχαιοὶ
πρωτίστῳ δίδομεν εὖτ’ ἂν πτολίεθρον ἕλωμεν.
ἦ ἔτι καὶ χρυσοῦ ἐπιδεύεαι, ὅν κέ τις οἴσει
Τρώων ἱπποδάμων ἐξ Ἰλίου υἷος ἄποινα,
ὅν κεν ἐγὼ δήσας ἀγάγω ἢ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν,
ἠὲ γυναῖκα νέην, ἵνα μίσγεαι ἐν φιλότητι,
ἥν τ’ αὐτὸς ἀπονόσφι κατίσχεαι; οὐ μὲν ἔοικεν
ἀρχὸν ἐόντα κακῶν ἐπιβασκέμεν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
ὦ πέπονες κάκ’ ἐλέγχε’ Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτ’ Ἀχαιοὶ,
οἴκαδέ περ σὺν νηυσὶ νεώμεθα, τόνδε δ’ ἐῶμεν
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ γέρα πεσσέμεν, ὄφρα ἴδηται
ἤ ῥά τί οἱ χἠμεῖς προσαμύνομεν ἦε καὶ οὐκί·
ὃς καὶ νῦν Ἀχιλῆα ἕο μέγ’ ἀμείνονα φῶτα
ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.
ἀλλὰ μάλ’ οὐκ Ἀχιλῆϊ χόλος φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ μεθήμων·
ἦ γὰρ ἂν Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ὕστατα λωβήσαιο·»
Ὣς φάτο νεικείων Ἀγαμέμνονα ποιμένα λαῶν,
Θερσίτης· τῷ δ’ ὦκα παρίστατο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
καί μιν ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν χαλεπῷ ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
«Θερσῖτ’ ἀκριτόμυθε, λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής,
ἴσχεο, μηδ’ ἔθελ’ οἶος ἐριζέμεναι βασιλεῦσιν·
οὐ γὰρ ἐγὼ σέο φημὶ χερειότερον βροτὸν ἄλλον
ἔμμεναι, ὅσσοι ἅμ’ Ἀτρεΐδῃς ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον.
τὼ οὐκ ἂν βασιλῆας ἀνὰ στόμ’ ἔχων ἀγορεύοις,
καί σφιν ὀνείδεά τε προφέροις, νόστόν τε φυλάσσοις.
οὐδέ τί πω σάφα ἴδμεν ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα,
ἢ εὖ ἦε κακῶς νοστήσομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.
τὼ νῦν Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν,

ἧσαι ὀνειδίζων, ὅτι οἱ μάλα πολλὰ διδοῦσιν
ἥρωες Δαναοί· σὺ δὲ κερτομέων ἀγορεύεις.
ἀλλ’ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
εἴ κ’ ἔτι σ’ ἀφραίνοντα κιχήσομαι ὥς νύ περ ὧδε,
μηκέτ’ ἔπειτ’ Ὀδυσῆϊ κάρη ὤμοισιν ἐπείη,
μηδ’ ἔτι Τηλεμάχοιο πατὴρ κεκλημένος εἴην,
εἰ μὴ ἐγώ σε λαβὼν ἀπὸ μὲν φίλα εἵματα δύσω,
χλαῖνάν τ’ ἠδὲ χιτῶνα, τά τ’ αἰδῶ ἀμφικαλύπτει,
αὐτὸν δὲ κλαίοντα θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας ἀφήσω
πεπλήγων ἀγορῆθεν ἀεικέσσι πληγῇσιν.»
Ὣς ἄρ’ ἔφη, σκήπτρῳ δὲ μετάφρενον ἠδὲ καὶ ὤμω
πλῆξεν· ὃ δ’ ἰδνώθη, θαλερὸν δέ οἱ ἔκπεσε δάκρυ·
σμῶδιξ δ’ αἱματόεσσα μεταφρένου ἐξυπανέστη
σκήπτρου ὕπο χρυσέου· ὃ δ’ ἄρ’ ἕζετο τάρβησέν τε,
ἀλγήσας δ’ ἀχρεῖον ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ.
οἳ δὲ καὶ ἀχνύμενοί περ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν ἐς πλησίον ἄλλον·
«ὢ πόποι ἦ δὴ μυρί’ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐσθλὰ ἔοργε
βουλάς τ’ ἐξάρχων ἀγαθὰς πόλεμόν τε κορύσσων·
νῦν δὲ τόδε μέγ’ ἄριστον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔρεξεν,
ὃς τὸν λωβητῆρα ἐπεσβόλον ἔσχ’ ἀγοράων.
οὔ θήν μιν πάλιν αὖτις ἀνήσει θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
νεικείειν βασιλῆας ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν.»
Ὣς φάσαν ἣ πληθύς· ἀνὰ δ’ ὃ πτολίπορθος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἔστη σκῆπτρον ἔχων· παρὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
εἰδομένη κήρυκι σιωπᾶν λαὸν ἀνώγει,
ὡς ἅμα θ’ οἳ πρῶτοί τε καὶ ὕστατοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
μῦθον ἀκούσειαν καὶ ἐπιφρασσαίατο βουλήν·
ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
«Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν δή σε ἄναξ ἐθέλουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ

πᾶσιν ἐλέγχιστον θέμεναι μερόπεσσι βροτοῖσιν,
οὐδέ τοι ἐκτελέουσιν ὑπόσχεσιν ἥν περ ὑπέσταν
ἐνθάδ’ ἔτι στείχοντες ἀπ’ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο
Ἴλιον ἐκπέρσαντ’ εὐτείχεον ἀπονέεσθαι.
ὥς τε γὰρ ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκες
ἀλλήλοισιν ὀδύρονται οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι.
ἦ μὴν καὶ πόνος ἐστὶν ἀνιηθέντα νέεσθαι·
καὶ γάρ τίς θ’ ἕνα μῆνα μένων ἀπὸ ἧς ἀλόχοιο
ἀσχαλάᾳ σὺν νηῒ πολυζύγῳ, ὅν περ ἄελλαι
χειμέριαι εἰλέωσιν ὀρινομένη τε θάλασσα·
ἡμῖν δ’ εἴνατός ἐστι περιτροπέων ἐνιαυτὸς
ἐνθάδε μιμνόντεσσι· τὼ οὐ νεμεσίζομ’ Ἀχαιοὺς
ἀσχαλάαν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης
αἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μένειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι.
τλῆτε φίλοι, καὶ μείνατ’ ἐπὶ χρόνον ὄφρα δαῶμεν
ἢ ἐτεὸν Κάλχας μαντεύεται ἦε καὶ οὐκί.
εὖ γὰρ δὴ τόδε ἴδμεν ἐνὶ φρεσίν, ἐστὲ δὲ πάντες
μάρτυροι, οὓς μὴ κῆρες ἔβαν θανάτοιο φέρουσαι·
χθιζά τε καὶ πρωΐζ’ ὅτ’ ἐς Αὐλίδα νῆες Ἀχαιῶν
ἠγερέθοντο κακὰ Πριάμῳ καὶ Τρωσὶ φέρουσαι,
ἡμεῖς δ’ ἀμφὶ περὶ κρήνην ἱεροὺς κατὰ βωμοὺς
ἕρδομεν ἀθανάτοισι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας
καλῇ ὑπὸ πλατανίστῳ ὅθεν ῥέεν ἀγλαὸν ὕδωρ·
ἔνθ’ ἐφάνη μέγα σῆμα· δράκων ἐπὶ νῶτα δαφοινὸς
σμερδαλέος, τόν ῥ’ αὐτὸς Ὀλύμπιος ἧκε φόως δέ,
βωμοῦ ὑπαΐξας πρός ῥα πλατάνιστον ὄρουσεν.
ἔνθα δ’ ἔσαν στρουθοῖο νεοσσοί, νήπια τέκνα,
ὄζῳ ἐπ’ ἀκροτάτῳ πετάλοις ὑποπεπτηῶτες
ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα·
ἔνθ’ ὅ γε τοὺς ἐλεεινὰ κατήσθιε τετριγῶτας·

μήτηρ δ’ ἀμφεποτᾶτο ὀδυρομένη φίλα τέκνα·
τὴν δ’ ἐλελιξάμενος πτέρυγος λάβεν ἀμφιαχυῖαν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτήν,
τὸν μὲν ἀρίζηλον θῆκεν θεὸς ὅς περ ἔφηνε·
λᾶαν γάρ μιν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς ἀγκυλομήτεω·
ἡμεῖς δ’ ἑσταότες θαυμάζομεν οἷον ἐτύχθη.
ὡς οὖν δεινὰ πέλωρα θεῶν εἰσῆλθ’ ἑκατόμβας,
Κάλχας δ’ αὐτίκ’ ἔπειτα θεοπροπέων ἀγόρευε·
τίπτ’ ἄνεῳ ἐγένεσθε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί;
ἡμῖν μὲν τόδ’ ἔφηνε τέρας μέγα μητίετα Ζεὺς
ὄψιμον ὀψιτέλεστον, ὅου κλέος οὔ ποτ’ ὀλεῖται.
ὡς οὗτος κατὰ τέκνα φάγε στρουθοῖο καὶ αὐτὴν
ὀκτώ, ἀτὰρ μήτηρ ἐνάτη ἦν ἣ τέκε τέκνα,
ὣς ἡμεῖς τοσσαῦτ’ ἔτεα πτολεμίξομεν αὖθι,
τῷ δεκάτῳ δὲ πόλιν αἱρήσομεν εὐρυάγυιαν.
κεῖνος τὼς ἀγόρευε· τὰ δὴ νῦν πάντα τελεῖται.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε μίμνετε πάντες ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
αὐτοῦ εἰς ὅ κεν ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἕλωμεν.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγ’ ἴαχον, ἀμφὶ δὲ νῆες
σμερδαλέον κονάβησαν ἀϋσάντων ὑπ’ Ἀχαιῶν,
μῦθον ἐπαινήσαντες Ὀδυσσῆος θείοιο·
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
«ὦ πόποι ἦ δὴ παισὶν ἐοικότες ἀγοράασθε
νηπιάχοις οἷς οὔ τι μέλει πολεμήϊα ἔργα.
πῇ δὴ συνθεσίαι τε καὶ ὅρκια βήσεται ἥμιν;
ἐν πυρὶ δὴ βουλαί τε γενοίατο μήδεά τ’ ἀνδρῶν
σπονδαί τ’ ἄκρητοι καὶ δεξιαί, ᾗς ἐπέπιθμεν·
αὔτως γὰρ ἐπέεσσ’ ἐριδαίνομεν, οὐδέ τι μῆχος
εὑρέμεναι δυνάμεσθα, πολὺν χρόνον ἐνθάδ’ ἐόντες.
Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δ’ ἔθ’ ὡς πρὶν ἔχων ἀστεμφέα βουλὴν

ἄρχευ’ Ἀργείοισι κατὰ κρατερὰς ὑσμίνας,
τοῦσδε δ’ ἔα φθινύθειν ἕνα καὶ δύο, τοί κεν Ἀχαιῶν
νόσφιν βουλεύωσ’—ἄνυσις δ’ οὐκ ἔσσεται αὐτῶν—
πρὶν Ἄργος δ’ ἰέναι πρὶν καὶ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
γνώμεναι εἴ τε ψεῦδος ὑπόσχεσις εἴ τε καὶ οὐκί.
φημὶ γὰρ οὖν κατανεῦσαι ὑπερμενέα Κρονίωνα
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε νηυσὶν ἐν ὠκυπόροισιν ἔβαινον
Ἀργεῖοι Τρώεσσι φόνον καὶ κῆρα φέροντες
ἀστράπτων ἐπιδέξι’ ἐναίσιμα σήματα φαίνων.
τὼ μή τις πρὶν ἐπειγέσθω οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι
πρίν τινα πὰρ Τρώων ἀλόχῳ κατακοιμηθῆναι,
τίσασθαι δ’ Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.
εἰ δέ τις ἐκπάγλως ἐθέλει οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι
ἁπτέσθω ἧς νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μελαίνης,
ὄφρα πρόσθ’ ἄλλων θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ.
ἀλλὰ ἄναξ αὐτός τ’ εὖ μήδεο πείθεό τ’ ἄλλῳ·
οὔ τοι ἀπόβλητον ἔπος ἔσσεται ὅττί κεν εἴπω·
κρῖν’ ἄνδρας κατὰ φῦλα κατὰ φρήτρας Ἀγάμεμνον,
ὡς φρήτρη φρήτρηφιν ἀρήγῃ, φῦλα δὲ φύλοις.
εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί,
γνώσῃ ἔπειθ’ ὅς θ’ ἡγεμόνων κακὸς ὅς τέ νυ λαῶν
ἠδ’ ὅς κ’ ἐσθλὸς ἔῃσι· κατὰ σφέας γὰρ μαχέονται.
γνώσεαι δ’ εἰ καὶ θεσπεσίῃ πόλιν οὐκ ἀλαπάξεις,
ἦ ἀνδρῶν κακότητι καὶ ἀφραδίῃ πολέμοιο.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
«ἦ μὰν αὖτ’ ἀγορῇ νικᾷς γέρον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν.
αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον
τοιοῦτοι δέκα μοι συμφράδμονες εἶεν Ἀχαιῶν·
τώ κε τάχ’ ἠμύσειε πόλις Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
χερσὶν ὑφ’ ἡμετέρῃσιν ἁλοῦσά τε περθομένη τε.
ἀλλά μοι αἰγίοχος Κρονίδης Ζεὺς ἄλγε’ ἔδωκεν,

ὅς με μετ’ ἀπρήκτους ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα βάλλει.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν Ἀχιλεύς τε μαχεσσάμεθ’ εἵνεκα κούρης
ἀντιβίοις ἐπέεσσιν, ἐγὼ δ’ ἦρχον χαλεπαίνων·
εἰ δέ ποτ’ ἔς γε μίαν βουλεύσομεν, οὐκέτ’ ἔπειτα
Τρωσὶν ἀνάβλησις κακοῦ ἔσσεται οὐδ’ ἠβαιόν.
νῦν δ’ ἔρχεσθ’ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.
εὖ μέν τις δόρυ θηξάσθω, εὖ δ’ ἀσπίδα θέσθω,
εὖ δέ τις ἵπποισιν δεῖπνον δότω ὠκυπόδεσσιν,
εὖ δέ τις ἅρματος ἀμφὶς ἰδὼν πολέμοιο μεδέσθω,
ὥς κε πανημέριοι στυγερῷ κρινώμεθ’ Ἄρηϊ.
οὐ γὰρ παυσωλή γε μετέσσεται οὐδ’ ἠβαιὸν
εἰ μὴ νὺξ ἐλθοῦσα διακρινέει μένος ἀνδρῶν.
ἱδρώσει μέν τευ τελαμὼν ἀμφὶ στήθεσφιν
ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης, περὶ δ’ ἔγχεϊ χεῖρα καμεῖται·
ἱδρώσει δέ τευ ἵππος ἐΰξοον ἅρμα τιταίνων.
ὃν δέ κ’ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε μάχης ἐθέλοντα νοήσω
μιμνάζειν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσιν, οὔ οἱ ἔπειτα
ἄρκιον ἐσσεῖται φυγέειν κύνας ἠδ’ οἰωνούς.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, Ἀργεῖοι δὲ μέγ’ ἴαχον ὡς ὅτε κῦμα
ἀκτῇ ἐφ’ ὑψηλῇ, ὅτε κινήσῃ Νότος ἐλθών,
προβλῆτι σκοπέλῳ· τὸν δ’ οὔ ποτε κύματα λείπει
παντοίων ἀνέμων, ὅτ’ ἂν ἔνθ’ ἢ ἔνθα γένωνται.
ἀνστάντες δ’ ὀρέοντο κεδασθέντες κατὰ νῆας,
κάπνισσάν τε κατὰ κλισίας, καὶ δεῖπνον ἕλοντο.
ἄλλος δ’ ἄλλῳ ἔρεζε θεῶν αἰειγενετάων
εὐχόμενος θάνατόν τε φυγεῖν καὶ μῶλον Ἄρηος.
αὐτὰρ ὃ βοῦν ἱέρευσε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
πίονα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι,
κίκλησκεν δὲ γέροντας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν,
Νέστορα μὲν πρώτιστα καὶ Ἰδομενῆα ἄνακτα,

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ’ Αἴαντε δύω καὶ Τυδέος υἱόν,
ἕκτον δ’ αὖτ’ Ὀδυσῆα Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντον.
αὐτόματος δέ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος·
ᾔδεε γὰρ κατὰ θυμὸν ἀδελφεὸν ὡς ἐπονεῖτο.
βοῦν δὲ περιστήσαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο·
τοῖσιν δ’ εὐχόμενος μετέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
«Ζεῦ κύδιστε μέγιστε κελαινεφὲς αἰθέρι ναίων
μὴ πρὶν ἐπ’ ἠέλιον δῦναι καὶ ἐπὶ κνέφας ἐλθεῖν
πρίν με κατὰ πρηνὲς βαλέειν Πριάμοιο μέλαθρον
αἰθαλόεν, πρῆσαι δὲ πυρὸς δηΐοιο θύρετρα,
Ἑκτόρεον δὲ χιτῶνα περὶ στήθεσσι δαΐξαι
χαλκῷ ῥωγαλέον· πολέες δ’ ἀμφ’ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι
πρηνέες ἐν κονίῃσιν ὀδὰξ λαζοίατο γαῖαν.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἄρα πώ οἱ ἐπεκραίαινε Κρονίων,
ἀλλ’ ὅ γε δέκτο μὲν ἱρά, πόνον δ’ ἀμέγαρτον ὄφελλεν.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ’ εὔξαντο καὶ οὐλοχύτας προβάλοντο,
αὐέρυσαν μὲν πρῶτα καὶ ἔσφαξαν καὶ ἔδειραν,
μηρούς τ’ ἐξέταμον κατά τε κνίσῃ ἐκάλυψαν
δίπτυχα ποιήσαντες, ἐπ’ αὐτῶν δ’ ὠμοθέτησαν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἂρ σχίζῃσιν ἀφύλλοισιν κατέκαιον,
σπλάγχνα δ’ ἄρ’ ἀμπείραντες ὑπείρεχον Ἡφαίστοιο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ κατὰ μῆρε κάη καὶ σπλάγχνα πάσαντο,
μίστυλλόν τ’ ἄρα τἆλλα καὶ ἀμφ’ ὀβελοῖσιν ἔπειραν,
ὤπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα
δαίνυντ’, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
«Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
μηκέτι νῦν δήθ’ αὖθι λεγώμεθα, μηδ’ ἔτι δηρὸν

ἀμβαλλώμεθα ἔργον ὃ δὴ θεὸς ἐγγυαλίζει.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε κήρυκες μὲν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
λαὸν κηρύσσοντες ἀγειρόντων κατὰ νῆας,
ἡμεῖς δ’ ἀθρόοι ὧδε κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν
ἴομεν ὄφρα κε θᾶσσον ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων.
αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσε
κηρύσσειν πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς·
οἳ μὲν ἐκήρυσσον, τοὶ δ’ ἠγείροντο μάλ’ ὦκα.
οἳ δ’ ἀμφ’ Ἀτρεΐωνα διοτρεφέες βασιλῆες
θῦνον κρίνοντες, μετὰ δὲ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
αἰγίδ’ ἔχουσ’ ἐρίτιμον ἀγήρων ἀθανάτην τε,
τῆς ἑκατὸν θύσανοι παγχρύσεοι ἠερέθονται,
πάντες ἐϋπλεκέες, ἑκατόμβοιος δὲ ἕκαστος·
σὺν τῇ παιφάσσουσα διέσσυτο λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν
ὀτρύνουσ’ ἰέναι· ἐν δὲ σθένος ὦρσεν ἑκάστῳ
καρδίῃ ἄλληκτον πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.
τοῖσι δ’ ἄφαρ πόλεμος γλυκίων γένετ’ ἠὲ νέεσθαι
ἐν νηυσὶ γλαφυρῇσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν.
Ἠΰτε πῦρ ἀΐδηλον ἐπιφλέγει ἄσπετον ὕλην
οὔρεος ἐν κορυφῇς, ἕκαθεν δέ τε φαίνεται αὐγή,
ὣς τῶν ἐρχομένων ἀπὸ χαλκοῦ θεσπεσίοιο
αἴγλη παμφανόωσα δι’ αἰθέρος οὐρανὸν ἷκε.
Τῶν δ’ ὥς τ’ ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ
χηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων
Ἀσίω ἐν λειμῶνι Καϋστρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα
ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ποτῶνται ἀγαλλόμενα πτερύγεσσι
κλαγγηδὸν προκαθιζόντων, σμαραγεῖ δέ τε λειμών,

ὣς τῶν ἔθνεα πολλὰ νεῶν ἄπο καὶ κλισιάων
ἐς πεδίον προχέοντο Σκαμάνδριον· αὐτὰρ ὑπὸ χθὼν
σμερδαλέον κονάβιζε ποδῶν αὐτῶν τε καὶ ἵππων.
ἔσταν δ’ ἐν λειμῶνι Σκαμανδρίῳ ἀνθεμόεντι
μυρίοι, ὅσσά τε φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα γίγνεται ὥρῃ.
Ἠΰτε μυιάων ἁδινάων ἔθνεα πολλὰ
αἵ τε κατὰ σταθμὸν ποιμνήϊον ἠλάσκουσιν
ὥρῃ ἐν εἰαρινῇ ὅτε τε γλάγος ἄγγεα δεύει,
τόσσοι ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἐν πεδίῳ ἵσταντο διαρραῖσαι μεμαῶτες.
Τοὺς δ’ ὥς τ’ αἰπόλια πλατέ’ αἰγῶν αἰπόλοι ἄνδρες
ῥεῖα διακρίνωσιν ἐπεί κε νομῷ μιγέωσιν,
ὣς τοὺς ἡγεμόνες διεκόσμεον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
ὑσμίνην δ’ ἰέναι, μετὰ δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
ὄμματα καὶ κεφαλὴν ἴκελος Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ,
Ἄρεϊ δὲ ζώνην, στέρνον δὲ Ποσειδάωνι.
ἠΰτε βοῦς ἀγέληφι μέγ’ ἔξοχος ἔπλετο πάντων
ταῦρος· ὃ γάρ τε βόεσσι μεταπρέπει ἀγρομένῃσι·
τοῖον ἄρ’ Ἀτρεΐδην θῆκε Ζεὺς ἤματι κείνῳ
ἐκπρεπέ’ ἐν πολλοῖσι καὶ ἔξοχον ἡρώεσσιν.
Ἔσπετε νῦν μοι Μοῦσαι Ὀλύμπια δώματ’ ἔχουσαι—
ὑμεῖς γὰρ θεαί ἐστε πάρεστέ τε ἴστέ τε πάντα,
ἡμεῖς δὲ κλέος οἶον ἀκούομεν οὐδέ τι ἴδμεν—
οἵ τινες ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν καὶ κοίρανοι ἦσαν·
πληθὺν δ’ οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ μυθήσομαι οὐδ’ ὀνομήνω,
οὐδ’ εἴ μοι δέκα μὲν γλῶσσαι, δέκα δὲ στόματ’ εἶεν,
φωνὴ δ’ ἄρρηκτος, χάλκεον δέ μοι ἦτορ ἐνείη,
εἰ μὴ Ὀλυμπιάδες Μοῦσαι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
θυγατέρες μνησαίαθ’ ὅσοι ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθον·
ἀρχοὺς αὖ νηῶν ἐρέω νῆάς τε προπάσας.
Βοιωτῶν μὲν Πηνέλεως καὶ Λήϊτος ἦρχον

Ἀρκεσίλαός τε Προθοήνωρ τε Κλονίος τε,
οἵ θ’ Ὑρίην ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐλίδα πετρήεσσαν
Σχοῖνόν τε Σκῶλόν τε πολύκνημόν τ’ Ἐτεωνόν,
Θέσπειαν Γραῖάν τε καὶ εὐρύχορον Μυκαλησσόν,
οἵ τ’ ἀμφ’ Ἅρμ’ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Εἰλέσιον καὶ Ἐρυθράς,
οἵ τ’ Ἐλεῶν’ εἶχον ἠδ’ Ὕλην καὶ Πετεῶνα,
Ὠκαλέην Μεδεῶνά τ’ ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
Κώπας Εὔτρησίν τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Θίσβην,
οἵ τε Κορώνειαν καὶ ποιήενθ’ Ἁλίαρτον,
οἵ τε Πλάταιαν ἔχον ἠδ’ οἳ Γλισᾶντ’ ἐνέμοντο,
οἵ θ’ Ὑποθήβας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον,
Ὀγχηστόν θ’ ἱερὸν Ποσιδήϊον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος,
οἵ τε πολυστάφυλον Ἄρνην ἔχον, οἵ τε Μίδειαν
Νῖσάν τε ζαθέην Ἀνθηδόνα τ’ ἐσχατόωσαν·
τῶν μὲν πεντήκοντα νέες κίον, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ
κοῦροι Βοιωτῶν ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι βαῖνον.
Οἳ δ’ Ἀσπληδόνα ναῖον ἰδ’ Ὀρχομενὸν Μινύειον,
τῶν ἦρχ’ Ἀσκάλαφος καὶ Ἰάλμενος υἷες Ἄρηος
οὓς τέκεν Ἀστυόχη δόμῳ Ἄκτορος Ἀζεΐδαο,
παρθένος αἰδοίη ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα
Ἄρηϊ κρατερῷ· ὃ δέ οἱ παρελέξατο λάθρῃ·
τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
Αὐτὰρ Φωκήων Σχεδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον
υἷες Ἰφίτου μεγαθύμου Ναυβολίδαο,
οἳ Κυπάρισσον ἔχον Πυθῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν
Κρῖσάν τε ζαθέην καὶ Δαυλίδα καὶ Πανοπῆα,
οἵ τ’ Ἀνεμώρειαν καὶ Ὑάμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο,
οἵ τ’ ἄρα πὰρ ποταμὸν Κηφισὸν δῖον ἔναιον,
οἵ τε Λίλαιαν ἔχον πηγῇς ἔπι Κηφισοῖο·

τοῖς δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
οἳ μὲν Φωκήων στίχας ἵστασαν ἀμφιέποντες,
Βοιωτῶν δ’ ἔμπλην ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ θωρήσσοντο.
Λοκρῶν δ’ ἡγεμόνευεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας
μείων, οὔ τι τόσος γε ὅσος Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
ἀλλὰ πολὺ μείων· ὀλίγος μὲν ἔην λινοθώρηξ,
ἐγχείῃ δ’ ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς·
οἳ Κῦνόν τ’ ἐνέμοντ’ Ὀπόεντά τε Καλλίαρόν τε
Βῆσσάν τε Σκάρφην τε καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινὰς
Τάρφην τε Θρόνιον τε Βοαγρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο
Λοκρῶν, οἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἱερῆς Εὐβοίης.
Οἳ δ’ Εὔβοιαν ἔχον μένεα πνείοντες Ἄβαντες
Χαλκίδα τ’ Εἰρέτριάν τε πολυστάφυλόν θ’ Ἱστίαιαν
Κήρινθόν τ’ ἔφαλον Δίου τ’ αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον,
οἵ τε Κάρυστον ἔχον ἠδ’ οἳ Στύρα ναιετάασκον,
τῶν αὖθ’ ἡγεμόνευ’ Ἐλεφήνωρ ὄζος Ἄρηος
Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων.
τῷ δ’ ἅμ’ Ἄβαντες ἕποντο θοοὶ ὄπιθεν κομόωντες
αἰχμηταὶ μεμαῶτες ὀρεκτῇσιν μελίῃσι
θώρηκας ῥήξειν δηΐων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Οἳ δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀθήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον
δῆμον Ἐρεχθῆος μεγαλήτορος, ὅν ποτ’Ἀθήνη
θρέψε Διὸς θυγάτηρ, τέκε δὲ ζείδωρος ἄρουρα,
κὰδ δ’ ἐν Ἀθήνῃς εἷσεν ἑῷ ἐν πίονι νηῷ·
ἔνθα δέ μιν ταύροισι καὶ ἀρνειοῖς ἱλάονται
κοῦροι Ἀθηναίων περιτελλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν·
τῶν αὖθ’ ἡγεμόνευ’ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς.

τῷ δ’ οὔ πώ τις ὁμοῖος ἐπιχθόνιος γένετ’ ἀνὴρ
κοσμῆσαι ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας·
Νέστωρ οἶος ἔριζεν· ὃ γὰρ προγενέστερος ἦεν·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα πεντήκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Αἴας δ’ ἐκ Σαλαμῖνος ἄγεν δυοκαίδεκα νῆας,
στῆσε δ’ ἄγων ἵν’ Ἀθηναίων ἵσταντο φάλαγγες.
Οἳ δ’ Ἄργός τ’ εἶχον Τίρυνθά τε τειχιόεσσαν
Ἑρμιόνην Ἀσίνην τε, βαθὺν κατὰ κόλπον ἐχούσας,
Τροιζῆν’ Ἠϊόνας τε καὶ ἀμπελόεντ’ Ἐπίδαυρον,
οἵ τ’ ἔχον Αἴγιναν Μάσητά τε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν,
τῶν αὖθ’ ἡγεμόνευε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης
καὶ Σθένελος, Καπανῆος ἀγακλειτοῦ φίλος υἱός·
τοῖσι δ’ ἅμ’ Εὐρύαλος τρίτατος κίεν ἰσόθεος φὼς,
Μηκιστέος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος·
συμπάντων δ’ ἡγεῖτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
τοῖσι δ’ ἅμ’ ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Οἳ δὲ Μυκήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον
ἀφνειόν τε Κόρινθον ἐϋκτιμένας τε Κλεωνάς,
Ὀρνειάς τ’ ἐνέμοντο Ἀραιθυρέην τ’ ἐρατεινὴν
καὶ Σικυῶν’, ὅθ’ ἄρ’ Ἄδρηστος πρῶτ’ ἐμβασίλευεν,
οἵ θ’ Ὑπερησίην τε καὶ αἰπεινὴν Γονόεσσαν
Πελλήνην τ’ εἶχον ἠδ’ Αἴγιον ἀμφενέμοντο
Αἰγιαλόν τ’ ἀνὰ πάντα καὶ ἀμφ’ Ἑλίκην εὐρεῖαν,
τῶν ἑκατὸν νηῶν ἦρχε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
Ἀτρεΐδης· ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι

λαοὶ ἕποντ’· ἐν δ’ αὐτὸς ἐδύσετο νώροπα χαλκὸν
κυδιόων, πᾶσιν δὲ μετέπρεπεν ἡρώεσσιν
οὕνεκ’ ἄριστος ἔην πολὺ δὲ πλείστους ἄγε λαούς.
Οἳ δ’ εἶχον κοίλην Λακεδαίμονα κητώεσσαν,
Φᾶρίν τε Σπάρτην τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Μέσσην,
Βρυσειάς τ’ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινάς,
οἵ τ’ ἄρ’ Ἀμύκλας εἶχον Ἕλος τ’ ἔφαλον πτολίεθρον,
οἵ τε Λάαν εἶχον ἠδ’ Οἴτυλον ἀμφενέμοντο,
τῶν οἱ ἀδελφεὸς ἦρχε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
ἑξήκοντα νεῶν· ἀπάτερθε δὲ θωρήσσοντο·
ἐν δ’ αὐτὸς κίεν ᾗσι προθυμίῃσι πεποιθὼς
ὀτρύνων πόλεμον δέ· μάλιστα δὲ ἵετο θυμῷ
τίσασθαι Ἑλένης ὁρμήματά τε στοναχάς τε.
Οἳ δὲ Πύλον τ’ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ἀρήνην ἐρατεινὴν
καὶ Θρύον Ἀλφειοῖο πόρον καὶ ἐΰκτιτον Αἰπύ,
καὶ Κυπαρισσήεντα καὶ Ἀμφιγένειαν ἔναιον
καὶ Πτελεὸν καὶ Ἕλος καὶ Δώριον, ἔνθά τε Μοῦσαι
ἀντόμεναι Θάμυριν τὸν Θρήϊκα παῦσαν ἀοιδῆς
Οἰχαλίηθεν ἰόντα παρ’ Εὐρύτου Οἰχαλιῆος·
στεῦτο γὰρ εὐχόμενος νικησέμεν εἴ περ ἂν αὐταὶ
Μοῦσαι ἀείδοιεν κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο·
αἳ δὲ χολωσάμεναι πηρὸν θέσαν, αὐτὰρ ἀοιδὴν
θεσπεσίην ἀφέλοντο καὶ ἐκλέλαθον κιθαριστύν·
τῶν αὖθ’ ἡγεμόνευε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
τῷ δ’ ἐνενήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
Οἳ δ’ ἔχον Ἀρκαδίην ὑπὸ Κυλλήνης ὄρος αἰπὺ
Αἰπύτιον παρὰ τύμβον ἵν’ ἀνέρες ἀγχιμαχηταί,
οἳ Φενεόν τ’ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ὀρχομενὸν πολύμηλον
Ῥίπην τε Στρατίην τε καὶ ἠνεμόεσσαν Ἐνίσπην
καὶ Τεγέην εἶχον καὶ Μαντινέην ἐρατεινήν,
Στύμφηλόν τ’ εἶχον καὶ Παρρασίην ἐνέμοντο,

τῶν ἦρχ’ Ἀγκαίοιο πάϊς κρείων Ἀγαπήνωρ,
ἑξήκοντα νεῶν· πολέες δ’ ἐν νηῒ ἑκάστῃ
Ἀρκάδες ἄνδρες ἔβαινον ἐπιστάμενοι πολεμίζειν.
αὐτὸς γάρ σφιν δῶκεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους περάαν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον
Ἀτρεΐδης, ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι θαλάσσια ἔργα μεμήλει.
Οἳ δ’ ἄρα Βουπράσιόν τε καὶ Ἤλιδα δῖαν ἔναιον,
ὅσσον ἐφ’ Ὑρμίνη καὶ Μύρσινος ἐσχατόωσα
πέτρη τ’ Ὠλενίη καὶ Ἀλήσιον ἐντὸς ἐέργει,
τῶν αὖ τέσσαρες ἀρχοὶ ἔσαν, δέκα δ’ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ
νῆες ἕποντο θοαί, πολέες δ’ ἔμβαινον Ἐπειοί.
τῶν μὲν ἄρ’ Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Θάλπιος ἡγησάσθην
υἷες ὃ μὲν Κτεάτου, ὃ δ’ ἄρ’ Εὐρύτου, Ἀκτορίωνε·
τῶν δ’ Ἀμαρυγκεΐδης ἦρχε κρατερὸς Διώρης·
τῶν δὲ τετάρτων ἦρχε Πολύξεινος θεοειδὴς
υἱὸς Ἀγασθένεος Αὐγηϊάδαο ἄνακτος.
Οἳ δ’ ἐκ Δουλιχίοιο Ἐχινάων θ’ ἱεράων
νήσων, αἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἁλὸς Ἤλιδος ἄντα,
τῶν αὖθ’ ἡγεμόνευε Μέγης ἀτάλαντος Ἄρηϊ
Φυλεΐδης, ὃν τίκτε Διῒ φίλος ἱππότα Φυλεύς,
ὅς ποτε Δουλίχιον δ’ ἀπενάσσατο πατρὶ χολωθείς·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἦγε Κεφαλλῆνας μεγαθύμους,
οἵ ῥ’ Ἰθάκην εἶχον καὶ Νήριτον εἰνοσίφυλλον
καὶ Κροκύλει’ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Αἰγίλιπα τρηχεῖαν,
οἵ τε Ζάκυνθον ἔχον ἠδ’ οἳ Σάμον ἀμφενέμοντο,
οἵ τ’ ἤπειρον ἔχον ἠδ’ ἀντιπέραι’ ἐνέμοντο·
τῶν μὲν Ὀδυσσεὺς ἦρχε Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντος·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα νῆες ἕποντο δυώδεκα μιλτοπάρῃοι.
Αἰτωλῶν δ’ ἡγεῖτο Θόας Ἀνδραίμονος υἱός,

οἳ Πλευρῶν’ ἐνέμοντο καὶ Ὤλενον ἠδὲ Πυλήνην
Χαλκίδα τ’ ἀγχίαλον Καλυδῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν·
οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ Οἰνῆος μεγαλήτορος υἱέες ἦσαν,
οὐδ’ ἄρ’ ἔτ’ αὐτὸς ἔην, θάνε δὲ ξανθὸς Μελέαγρος·
τῷ δ’ ἐπὶ πάντ’ ἐτέταλτο ἀνασσέμεν Αἰτωλοῖσι·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Κρητῶν δ’ Ἰδομενεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευεν,
οἳ Κνωσόν τ’ εἶχον Γόρτυνά τε τειχιόεσσαν,
Λύκτον Μίλητόν τε καὶ ἀργινόεντα Λύκαστον
Φαιστόν τε Ῥύτιόν τε, πόλεις εὖ ναιετοώσας,
ἄλλοι θ’ οἳ Κρήτην ἑκατόμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο.
τῶν μὲν ἄρ’ Ἰδομενεὺς δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευε
Μηριόνης τ’ ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ·
τοῖσι δ’ ἅμ’ ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Τληπόλεμος δ’ Ἡρακλεΐδης ἠΰς τε μέγας τε
ἐκ Ῥόδου ἐννέα νῆας ἄγεν Ῥοδίων ἀγερώχων,
οἳ Ῥόδον ἀμφενέμοντο διὰ τρίχα κοσμηθέντες,
Λίνδον Ἰηλυσόν τε καὶ ἀργινόεντα Κάμειρον.
τῶν μὲν Τληπόλεμος δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἡγεμόνευεν,
ὃν τέκεν Ἀστυόχεια βίῃ Ἡρακληείῃ,
τὴν ἄγετ’ ἐξ Ἐφύρης ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος
πέρσας ἄστεα πολλὰ διοτρεφέων αἰζηῶν.
Τληπόλεμος δ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν τράφ’ ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ εὐπήκτῳ,
αὐτίκα πατρὸς ἑοῖο φίλον μήτρωα κατέκτα
ἤδη γηράσκοντα Λικύμνιον ὄζον Ἄρηος·
αἶψα δὲ νῆας ἔπηξε, πολὺν δ’ ὅ γε λαὸν ἀγείρας
βῆ φεύγων ἐπὶ πόντον· ἀπείλησαν γάρ οἱ ἄλλοι
υἱέες υἱωνοί τε βίης Ἡρακληείης.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἐς Ῥόδον ἷξεν ἀλώμενος ἄλγεα πάσχων·
τριχθὰ δὲ ᾤκηθεν καταφυλαδόν, ἠδὲ φίληθεν

ἐκ Διός, ὅς τε θεοῖσι καὶ ἀνθρώποισιν ἀνάσσει,
καί σφιν θεσπέσιον πλοῦτον κατέχευε Κρονίων.
Νιρεὺς αὖ Σύμηθεν ἄγε τρεῖς νῆας ἐΐσας,
Νιρεὺς Ἀγλαΐης υἱὸς Χαρόποιό τ’ ἄνακτος,
Νιρεύς, ὃς κάλλιστος ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθε
τῶν ἄλλων Δαναῶν μετ’ ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα·
ἀλλ’ ἀλαπαδνὸς ἔην, παῦρος δέ οἱ εἵπετο λαός.
Οἳ δ’ ἄρα Νίσυρόν τ’ εἶχον Κράπαθόν τε Κάσον τε
καὶ Κῶν Εὐρυπύλοιο πόλιν νήσους τε Καλύδνας,
τῶν αὖ Φείδιππός τε καὶ Ἄντιφος ἡγησάσθην
Θεσσαλοῦ υἷε δύω Ἡρακλεΐδαο ἄνακτος·
τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
Νῦν αὖ τοὺς ὅσσοι τὸ Πελασγικὸν Ἄργος ἔναιον,
οἵ τ’ Ἄλον οἵ τ’ Ἀλόπην οἵ τε Τρηχῖνα νέμοντο,
οἵ τ’ εἶχον Φθίην ἠδ’ Ἑλλάδα καλλιγύναικα,
Μυρμιδόνες δὲ καλεῦντο καὶ Ἕλληνες καὶ Ἀχαιοί,
τῶν αὖ πεντήκοντα νεῶν ἦν ἀρχὸς Ἀχιλλεύς.
ἀλλ’ οἵ γ’ οὐ πολέμοιο δυσηχέος ἐμνώοντο·
οὐ γὰρ ἔην ὅς τίς σφιν ἐπὶ στίχας ἡγήσαιτο·
κεῖτο γὰρ ἐν νήεσσι ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
κούρης χωόμενος Βρισηΐδος ἠϋκόμοιο,
τὴν ἐκ Λυρνησσοῦ ἐξείλετο πολλὰ μογήσας
Λυρνησσὸν διαπορθήσας καὶ τείχεα Θήβης,
κὰδ δὲ Μύνητ’ ἔβαλεν καὶ Ἐπίστροφον ἐγχεσιμώρους,
υἱέας Εὐηνοῖο Σεληπιάδαο ἄνακτος·
τῆς ὅ γε κεῖτ’ ἀχέων, τάχα δ’ ἀνστήσεσθαι ἔμελλεν.
Οἳ δ’ εἶχον Φυλάκην καὶ Πύρασον ἀνθεμόεντα,
Δήμητρος τέμενος, Ἴτωνά τε μητέρα μήλων,

ἀγχίαλόν τ’ Ἀντρῶνα ἰδὲ Πτελεὸν λεχεποίην,
τῶν αὖ Πρωτεσίλαος ἀρήϊος ἡγεμόνευε
ζωὸς ἐών· τότε δ’ ἤδη ἔχεν κάτα γαῖα μέλαινα.
τοῦ δὲ καὶ ἀμφιδρυφὴς ἄλοχος Φυλάκῃ ἐλέλειπτο
καὶ δόμος ἡμιτελής· τὸν δ’ ἔκτανε Δάρδανος ἀνὴρ
νηὸς ἀποθρῴσκοντα πολὺ πρώτιστον Ἀχαιῶν.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ’ οἳ ἄναρχοι ἔσαν, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἀρχόν·
ἀλλά σφεας κόσμησε Ποδάρκης ὄζος Ἄρηος
Ἰφίκλου υἱὸς πολυμήλου Φυλακίδαο,
αὐτοκασίγνητος μεγαθύμου Πρωτεσιλάου
ὁπλότερος γενεῇ· ὁ δ’ ἅμα πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων
ἥρως Πρωτεσίλαος ἀρήϊος· οὐδέ τι λαοὶ
δεύονθ’ ἡγεμόνος, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Οἳ δὲ Φερὰς ἐνέμοντο παραὶ Βοιβηΐδα λίμνην
Βοίβην καὶ Γλαφύρας καὶ ἐϋκτιμένην Ἰαωλκόν,
τῶν ἦρχ’ Ἀδμήτοιο φίλος πάϊς ἕνδεκα νηῶν
Εὔμηλος, τὸν ὑπ’ Ἀδμήτῳ τέκε δῖα γυναικῶν
Ἄλκηστις Πελίαο θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστη.
Οἳ δ’ ἄρα Μηθώνην καὶ Θαυμακίην ἐνέμοντο
καὶ Μελίβοιαν ἔχον καὶ Ὀλιζῶνα τρηχεῖαν,
τῶν δὲ Φιλοκτήτης ἦρχεν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς
ἑπτὰ νεῶν· ἐρέται δ’ ἐν ἑκάστῃ πεντήκοντα
ἐμβέβασαν τόξων εὖ εἰδότες ἶφι μάχεσθαι.
ἀλλ’ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήσῳ κεῖτο κρατέρ’ ἄλγεα πάσχων
Λήμνῳ ἐν ἠγαθέῃ, ὅθι μιν λίπον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
ἕλκεϊ μοχθίζοντα κακῷ ὀλοόφρονος ὕδρου·
ἔνθ’ ὅ γε κεῖτ’ ἀχέων· τάχα δὲ μνήσεσθαι ἔμελλον
Ἀργεῖοι παρὰ νηυσὶ Φιλοκτήταο ἄνακτος.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ’ οἳ ἄναρχοι ἔσαν, πόθεόν γε μὲν ἀρχόν·
ἀλλὰ Μέδων κόσμησεν Ὀϊλῆος νόθος υἱός,

τόν ῥ’ ἔτεκεν Ῥήνη ὑπ’ Ὀϊλῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ.
Οἳ δ’ εἶχον Τρίκκην καὶ Ἰθώμην κλωμακόεσσαν,
οἵ τ’ ἔχον Οἰχαλίην πόλιν Εὐρύτου Οἰχαλιῆος,
τῶν αὖθ’ ἡγείσθην Ἀσκληπιοῦ δύο παῖδε
ἰητῆρ’ ἀγαθὼ Ποδαλείριος ἠδὲ Μαχάων·
τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
Οἳ δ’ ἔχον Ὀρμένιον, οἵ τε κρήνην Ὑπέρειαν,
οἵ τ’ ἔχον Ἀστέριον Τιτάνοιό τε λευκὰ κάρηνα,
τῶν ἦρχ’ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός·
τῷ δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Οἳ δ’ Ἄργισσαν ἔχον καὶ Γυρτώνην ἐνέμοντο,
Ὄρθην Ἠλώνην τε πόλιν τ’ Ὀλοοσσόνα λευκήν,
τῶν αὖθ’ ἡγεμόνευε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης
υἱὸς Πειριθόοιο τὸν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς·
τόν ῥ’ ὑπὸ Πειριθόῳ τέκετο κλυτὸς Ἱπποδάμεια
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε Φῆρας ἐτίσατο λαχνήεντας,
τοὺς δ’ ἐκ Πηλίου ὦσε καὶ Αἰθίκεσσι πέλασσεν·
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε Λεοντεὺς ὄζος Ἄρηος,
υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο Κορώνου Καινεΐδαο·
τοῖς δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Γουνεὺς δ’ ἐκ Κύφου ἦγε δύω καὶ εἴκοσι νῆας·
τῷ δ’ Ἐνιῆνες ἕποντο μενεπτόλεμοί τε Περαιβοὶ
οἳ περὶ Δωδώνην δυσχείμερον οἰκί’ ἔθεντο,
οἵ τ’ ἀμφ’ ἱμερτὸν Τιταρησσὸν ἔργα νέμοντο
ὅς ῥ’ ἐς Πηνειὸν προΐει καλλίρροον ὕδωρ,
οὐδ’ ὅ γε Πηνειῷ συμμίσγεται ἀργυροδίνῃ,
ἀλλά τέ μιν καθύπερθεν ἐπιρρέει ἠΰτ’ ἔλαιον·
ὅρκου γὰρ δεινοῦ Στυγὸς ὕδατός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ.
Μαγνήτων δ’ ἦρχε Πρόθοος Τενθρηδόνος υἱός,
οἳ περὶ Πηνειὸν καὶ Πήλιον εἰνοσίφυλλον

ναίεσκον· τῶν μὲν Πρόθοος θοὸς ἡγεμόνευε,
τῷ δ’ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
Οὗτοι ἄρ’ ἡγεμόνες Δαναῶν καὶ κοίρανοι ἦσαν·
τίς τὰρ τῶν ὄχ’ ἄριστος ἔην σύ μοι ἔννεπε Μοῦσα
αὐτῶν ἠδ’ ἵππων, οἳ ἅμ’ Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἕποντο.
Ἵπποι μὲν μέγ’ ἄρισται ἔσαν Φηρητιάδαο,
τὰς Εὔμηλος ἔλαυνε ποδώκεας ὄρνιθας ὣς
ὄτριχας οἰέτεας σταφύλῃ ἐπὶ νῶτον ἐΐσας·
τὰς ἐν Πηρείῃ θρέψ’ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
ἄμφω θηλείας, φόβον Ἄρηος φορεούσας.
ἀνδρῶν αὖ μέγ’ ἄριστος ἔην Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
ὄφρ’ Ἀχιλεὺς μήνιεν· ὃ γὰρ πολὺ φέρτατος ἦεν,
ἵπποι θ’ οἳ φορέεσκον ἀμύμονα Πηλεΐωνα.
ἀλλ’ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι
κεῖτ’ ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν
Ἀτρεΐδῃ· λαοὶ δὲ παρὰ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης
δίσκοισιν τέρποντο καὶ αἰγανέῃσιν ἱέντες
τόξοισίν θ’· ἵπποι δὲ παρ’ ἅρμασιν οἷσιν ἕκαστος
λωτὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι ἐλεόθρεπτόν τε σέλινον
ἕστασαν· ἅρματα δ’ εὖ πεπυκασμένα κεῖτο ἀνάκτων
ἐν κλισίῃς· οἳ δ’ ἀρχὸν ἀρηΐφιλον ποθέοντες
φοίτων ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κατὰ στρατὸν οὐδὲ μάχοντο.
Οἳ δ’ ἄρ’ ἴσαν ὡς εἴ τε πυρὶ χθὼν πᾶσα νέμοιτο·
γαῖα δ’ ὑπεστενάχιζε Διὶ ὣς τερπικεραύνῳ
χωομένῳ ὅτε τ’ ἀμφὶ Τυφωέϊ γαῖαν ἱμάσσῃ
εἰν Ἀρίμοις, ὅθι φασὶ Τυφωέος ἔμμεναι εὐνάς·
ὣς ἄρα τῶν ὑπὸ ποσσὶ μέγα στεναχίζετο γαῖα
ἐρχομένων· μάλα δ’ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο.
Τρωσὶν δ’ ἄγγελος ἦλθε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις
πὰρ Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο σὺν ἀγγελίῃ ἀλεγεινῇ·

οἳ δ’ ἀγορὰς ἀγόρευον ἐπὶ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι
πάντες ὁμηγερέες ἠμὲν νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες·
ἀγχοῦ δ’ ἱσταμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·
εἴσατο δὲ φθογγὴν υἷϊ Πριάμοιο Πολίτῃ,
ὃς Τρώων σκοπὸς ἷζε ποδωκείῃσι πεποιθὼς
τύμβῳ ἐπ’ ἀκροτάτῳ Αἰσυήταο γέροντος,
δέγμενος ὁππότε ναῦφιν ἀφορμηθεῖεν Ἀχαιοί·
τῷ μιν ἐεισαμένη προσέφη πόδας ὠκέα Ἶρις·
«ὦ γέρον αἰεί τοι μῦθοι φίλοι ἄκριτοί εἰσιν,
ὥς ποτ’ ἐπ’ εἰρήνης· πόλεμος δ’ ἀλίαστος ὄρωρεν.
ἤδη μὲν μάλα πολλὰ μάχας εἰσήλυθον ἀνδρῶν,
ἀλλ’ οὔ πω τοιόνδε τοσόνδέ τε λαὸν ὄπωπα·
λίην γὰρ φύλλοισιν ἐοικότες ἢ ψαμάθοισιν
ἔρχονται πεδίοιο μαχησόμενοι προτὶ ἄστυ.
Ἕκτορ σοὶ δὲ μάλιστ’ ἐπιτέλλομαι, ὧδε δὲ ῥέξαι·
πολλοὶ γὰρ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμου ἐπίκουροι,
ἄλλη δ’ ἄλλων γλῶσσα πολυσπερέων ἀνθρώπων·
τοῖσιν ἕκαστος ἀνὴρ σημαινέτω οἷσί περ ἄρχει,
τῶν δ’ ἐξηγείσθω κοσμησάμενος πολιήτας.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, Ἕκτωρ δ’ οὔ τι θεᾶς ἔπος ἠγνοίησεν,
αἶψα δ’ ἔλυσ’ ἀγορήν· ἐπὶ τεύχεα δ’ ἐσσεύοντο·
πᾶσαι δ’ ὠΐγνυντο πύλαι, ἐκ δ’ ἔσσυτο λαὸς
πεζοί θ’ ἱππῆές τε· πολὺς δ’ ὀρυμαγδὸς ὀρώρει.
Ἔστι δέ τις προπάροιθε πόλιος αἰπεῖα κολώνη
ἐν πεδίῳ ἀπάνευθε περίδρομος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
τὴν ἤτοι ἄνδρες Βατίειαν κικλήσκουσιν,
ἀθάνατοι δέ τε σῆμα πολυσκάρθμοιο Μυρίνης·
ἔνθα τότε Τρῶές τε διέκριθεν ἠδ’ ἐπίκουροι.
Τρωσὶ μὲν ἡγεμόνευε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

Πριαμίδης· ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι
λαοὶ θωρήσσοντο μεμαότες ἐγχείῃσι.
Δαρδανίων αὖτ’ ἦρχεν ἐῢς πάϊς Ἀγχίσαο
Αἰνείας, τὸν ὑπ’ Ἀγχίσῃ τέκε δῖ’ Ἀφροδίτη
Ἴδης ἐν κνημοῖσι θεὰ βροτῷ εὐνηθεῖσα,
οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω Ἀντήνορος υἷε
Ἀρχέλοχός τ’ Ἀκάμας τε μάχης εὖ εἰδότε πάσης.
Οἳ δὲ Ζέλειαν ἔναιον ὑπαὶ πόδα νείατον Ἴδης
ἀφνειοὶ πίνοντες ὕδωρ μέλαν Αἰσήποιο,
Τρῶες, τῶν αὖτ’ ἦρχε Λυκάονος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς
Πάνδαρος, ᾧ καὶ τόξον Ἀπόλλων αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν.
Οἳ δ’ Ἀδρήστειάν τ’ εἶχον καὶ δῆμον Ἀπαισοῦ
καὶ Πιτύειαν ἔχον καὶ Τηρείης ὄρος αἰπύ,
τῶν ἦρχ’ Ἄδρηστός τε καὶ Ἄμφιος λινοθώρηξ
υἷε δύω Μέροπος Περκωσίου, ὃς περὶ πάντων
ᾔδεε μαντοσύνας, οὐδὲ οὓς παῖδας ἔασκε
στείχειν ἐς πόλεμον φθισήνορα· τὼ δέ οἱ οὔ τι
πειθέσθην· κῆρες γὰρ ἄγον μέλανος θανάτοιο.
Οἳ δ’ ἄρα Περκώτην καὶ Πράκτιον ἀμφενέμοντο,
καὶ Σηστὸν καὶ Ἄβυδον ἔχον καὶ δῖαν Ἀρίσβην,
τῶν αὖθ’ Ὑρτακίδης ἦρχ’ Ἄσιος ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν,
Ἄσιος Ὑρτακίδης ὃν Ἀρίσβηθεν φέρον ἵπποι
αἴθωνες μεγάλοι ποταμοῦ ἄπο Σελλήεντος.
Ἱππόθοος δ’ ἄγε φῦλα Πελασγῶν ἐγχεσιμώρων
τῶν οἳ Λάρισαν ἐριβώλακα ναιετάασκον·
τῶν ἦρχ’ Ἱππόθοός τε Πύλαιός τ’ ὄζος Ἄρηος,
υἷε δύω Λήθοιο Πελασγοῦ Τευταμίδαο.
Αὐτὰρ Θρήϊκας ἦγ’ Ἀκάμας καὶ Πείροος ἥρως
ὅσσους Ἑλλήσποντος ἀγάρροος ἐντὸς ἐέργει.
Εὔφημος δ’ ἀρχὸς Κικόνων ἦν αἰχμητάων
υἱὸς Τροιζήνοιο διοτρεφέος Κεάδαο.
Αὐτὰρ Πυραίχμης ἄγε Παίονας ἀγκυλοτόξους,

τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀμυδῶνος ἀπ’ Ἀξιοῦ εὐρὺ ῥέοντος,
Ἀξιοῦ οὗ κάλλιστον ὕδωρ ἐπικίδναται αἶαν.
Παφλαγόνων δ’ ἡγεῖτο Πυλαιμένεος λάσιον κῆρ
ἐξ Ἐνετῶν, ὅθεν ἡμιόνων γένος ἀγροτεράων,
οἵ ῥα Κύτωρον ἔχον καὶ Σήσαμον ἀμφενέμοντο
ἀμφί τε Παρθένιον ποταμὸν κλυτὰ δώματ’ ἔναιον
Κρῶμνάν τ’ Αἰγιαλόν τε καὶ ὑψηλοὺς Ἐρυθίνους.
Αὐτὰρ Ἁλιζώνων Ὀδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον
τηλόθεν ἐξ Ἀλύβης, ὅθεν ἀργύρου ἐστὶ γενέθλη.
Μυσῶν δὲ Χρόμις ἦρχε καὶ Ἔννομος οἰωνιστής·
ἀλλ’ οὐκ οἰωνοῖσιν ἐρύσατο κῆρα μέλαιναν,
ἀλλ’ ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
ἐν ποταμῷ, ὅθι περ Τρῶας κεράϊζε καὶ ἄλλους.
Φόρκυς αὖ Φρύγας ἦγε καὶ Ἀσκάνιος θεοειδὴς
τῆλ’ ἐξ Ἀσκανίης· μέμασαν δ’ ὑσμῖνι μάχεσθαι.
Μῄοσιν αὖ Μέσθλης τε καὶ Ἄντιφος ἡγησάσθην
υἷε Ταλαιμένεος τὼ Γυγαίη τέκε λίμνη,
οἳ καὶ Μῄονας ἦγον ὑπὸ Τμώλῳ γεγαῶτας.
Νάστης αὖ Καρῶν ἡγήσατο βαρβαροφώνων,
οἳ Μίλητον ἔχον Φθιρῶν τ’ ὄρος ἀκριτόφυλλον
Μαιάνδρου τε ῥοὰς Μυκάλης τ’ αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα·
τῶν μὲν ἄρ’ Ἀμφίμαχος καὶ Νάστης ἡγησάσθην,
Νάστης Ἀμφίμαχός τε Νομίονος ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,

ὃς καὶ χρυσὸν ἔχων πόλεμόνδ’ ἴεν ἠΰτε κούρη,
νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ τό γ’ ἐπήρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,
ἀλλ’ ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
ἐν ποταμῷ, χρυσὸν δ’ Ἀχιλεὺς ἐκόμισσε δαΐφρων.
Σαρπηδὼν δ’ ἦρχεν Λυκίων καὶ Γλαῦκος ἀμύμων
τηλόθεν ἐκ Λυκίης, Ξάνθου ἄπο δινήεντος.


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