ἸΛΙΆΣ 20

Ὣς οἱ μὲν παρὰ νηυσὶ κορωνίσι θωρήσσοντο
ἀμφὶ σέ, Πηλέος υἱέ, μάχης ἀκόρητον Ἀχαιοί,
Τρῶες δ’ αὖθ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐπὶ θρωσμῷ πεδίοιο·
Ζεὺς δὲ Θέμιστα κέλευσε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσαι
κρατὸς ἀπ’ Οὐλύμποιο πολυπτύχου· ἡ δ’ ἄρα πάντῃ
φοιτήσασα κέλευσε Διὸς πρὸς δῶμα νέεσθαι.
οὔτε τις οὖν ποταμῶν ἀπέην, νόσφ’ Ὠκεανοῖο,
οὔτ’ ἄρα νυμφάων, αἵ τ’ ἄλσεα καλὰ νέμονται
καὶ πηγὰς ποταμῶν καὶ πίσεα ποιήεντα.
ἐλθόντες δ’ ἐς δῶμα Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο
ξεστῇς αἰθούσῃσιν ἐνίζανον, ἃς Διὶ πατρὶ
Ἥφαιστος ποίησεν ἰδυίῃσι πραπίδεσσιν.
Ὣς οἱ μὲν Διὸς ἔνδον ἀγηγέρατ’· οὐδ’ ἐνοσίχθων
νηκούστησε θεᾶς, ἀλλ’ ἐξ ἁλὸς ἦλθε μετ’ αὐτούς,
ἷζε δ’ ἄρ’ ἐν μέσσοισι, Διὸς δ’ ἐξείρετο βουλήν·
«τίπτ’ αὖτ’ ἀργικέραυνε θεοὺς ἀγορὴν δὲ κάλεσσας;
ἦ τι περὶ Τρώων καὶ Ἀχαιῶν μερμηρίζεις;
τῶν γὰρ νῦν ἄγχιστα μάχη πόλεμός τε δέδηε.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
«ἔγνως, ἐννοσίγαιε, ἐμὴν ἐν στήθεσι βουλήν,
ὧν ἕνεκα ξυνάγειρα· μέλουσί μοι ὀλλύμενοί περ.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω πτυχὶ Οὐλύμποιο
ἥμενος, ἔνθ’ ὁρόων φρένα τέρψομαι· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι

ἔρχεσθ’ ὄφρ’ ἂν ἵκησθε μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς,
ἀμφοτέροισι δ’ ἀρήγεθ’ ὅπῃ νόος ἐστὶν ἑκάστου.
εἰ γὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς οἶος ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μαχεῖται,
οὐδὲ μίνυνθ’ ἕξουσι ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.
καὶ δέ τί μιν καὶ πρόσθεν ὑποτρομέεσκον ὁρῶντες·
νῦν δ’ ὅτε δὴ καὶ θυμὸν ἑταίρου χώεται αἰνῶς,
δείδω μὴ καὶ τεῖχος ὑπέρμορον ἐξαλαπάξῃ.»
Ὣς ἔφατο Κρονίδης, πόλεμον δ’ ἀλίαστον ἔγειρε.
βὰν δ’ ἴμεναι πόλεμον δὲ θεοὶ δίχα θυμὸν ἔχοντες·
Ἥρη μὲν μετ’ ἀγῶνα νεῶν καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
ἠδὲ Ποσειδάων γαιήοχος ἠδ’ ἐριούνης
Ἑρμείας, ὃς ἐπὶ φρεσὶ πευκαλίμῃσι κέκασται·
Ἥφαιστος δ’ ἅμα τοῖσι κίε σθένεϊ βλεμεαίνων,
χωλεύων, ὑπὸ δὲ κνῆμαι ῥώοντο ἀραιαί.
ἐς δὲ Τρῶας Ἄρης κορυθαίολος, αὐτὰρ ἅμ’ αὐτῷ
Φοῖβος ἀκερσεκόμης ἠδ’ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα
Λητώ τε Ξάνθός τε φιλομειδής τ’ Ἀφροδίτη.
Ἧος μέν ῥ’ ἀπάνευθε θεοὶ θνητῶν ἔσαν ἀνδρῶν,
τεῖος Ἀχαιοὶ μὲν μέγα κύδανον, οὕνεκ’ Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτ’ ἀλεγεινῆς·
Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον,
δειδιότας, ὅθ’ ὁρῶντο ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
τεύχεσι λαμπόμενον βροτολοιγῷ ἶσον Ἄρηϊ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ μεθ’ ὅμιλον Ὀλύμπιοι ἤλυθον ἀνδρῶν,
ὦρτο δ’ Ἔρις κρατερὴ λαοσσόος, αὖε δ’ Ἀθήνη,
στᾶσ’ ὁτὲ μὲν παρὰ τάφρον ὀρυκτὴν τείχεος ἐκτός,
ἄλλοτ’ ἐπ’ ἀκτάων ἐριδούπων μακρὸν ἀΰτει.
αὖε δ’ Ἄρης ἑτέρωθεν, ἐρεμνῇ λαίλαπι ἶσος,

ὀξὺ κατ’ ἀκροτάτης πόλιος Τρώεσσι κελεύων,
ἄλλοτε πὰρ Σιμόεντι θέων ἐπὶ Καλλικολώνῃ.
Ὣς τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους μάκαρες θεοὶ ὀτρύνοντες
σύμβαλον, ἐν δ’ αὐτοῖς ἔριδα ῥήγνυντο βαρεῖαν·
δεινὸν δὲ βρόντησε πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε
ὑψόθεν· αὐτὰρ νέρθε Ποσειδάων ἐτίναξε
γαῖαν ἀπειρεσίην ὀρέων τ’ αἰπεινὰ κάρηνα.
πάντες δ’ ἐσσείοντο πόδες πολυπίδακος Ἴδης
καὶ κορυφαί, Τρώων τε πόλις καὶ νῆες Ἀχαιῶν.
ἔδεισεν δ’ ὑπένερθεν ἄναξ ἐνέρων Ἀϊδωνεύς,
δείσας δ’ ἐκ θρόνου ἆλτο καὶ ἴαχε, μή οἱ ὕπερθε
γαῖαν ἀναῤῥήξειε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
οἰκία δὲ θνητοῖσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι φανείη
σμερδαλέ’ εὐρώεντα, τά τε στυγέουσι θεοί περ·
τόσσος ἄρα κτύπος ὦρτο θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνιόντων.
ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ ἔναντα Ποσειδάωνος ἄνακτος
ἵστατ’ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ἔχων ἰὰ πτερόεντα,
ἄντα δ’ Ἐνυαλίοιο θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
Ἥρῃ δ’ ἀντέστη χρυσηλάκατος κελαδεινὴ
Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα κασιγνήτη ἑκάτοιο·
Λητοῖ δ’ ἀντέστη σῶκος ἐριούνιος Ἑρμῆς,
ἄντα δ’ ἄρ’ Ἡφαίστοιο μέγας ποταμὸς βαθυδίνης,
ὃν Ξάνθον καλέουσι θεοί, ἄνδρες δὲ Σκάμανδρον.
Ὣς οἳ μὲν θεοὶ ἄντα θεῶν ἴσαν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
Ἕκτορος ἄντα μάλιστα λιλαίετο δῦναι ὅμιλον
Πριαμίδεω· τοῦ γάρ ῥα μάλιστά ἑ θυμὸς ἀνώγει
αἵματος ἆσαι Ἄρηα ταλαύρινον πολεμιστήν.
Αἰνείαν δ’ ἰθὺς λαοσσόος ὦρσεν Ἀπόλλων
ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἐνῆκε δέ οἱ μένος ἠΰ·
υἱέϊ δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονι εἴσατο φωνήν·

τῷ μιν ἐεισάμενος προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
«Αἰνεία, Τρώων βουληφόρε, ποῦ τοι ἀπειλαί,
ἃς Τρώων βασιλεῦσιν ὑπίσχεο οἰνοποτάζων
Πηλεΐδεω Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίβιον πολεμίξειν;»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Αἰνείας ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέειπε·
«Πριαμίδη, τί με ταῦτα καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλοντα κελεύεις,
ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι;
οὐ μὲν γὰρ νῦν πρῶτα ποδώκεος ἄντ’ Ἀχιλῆος
στήσομαι, ἀλλ’ ἤδη με καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φόβησεν
ἐξ Ἴδης, ὅτε βουσὶν ἐπήλυθεν ἡμετέρῃσι,
πέρσε δὲ Λυρνησσὸν καὶ Πήδασον· αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Ζεὺς
εἰρύσαθ’, ὅς μοι ἐπῶρσε μένος λαιψηρά τε γοῦνα.
ἦ κ’ ἐδάμην ὑπὸ χερσὶν Ἀχιλλῆος καὶ Ἀθήνης,
ἥ οἱ πρόσθεν ἰοῦσα τίθει φάος ἠδ’ ἐκέλευεν
ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Λέλεγας καὶ Τρῶας ἐναίρειν.
τὼ οὐκ ἔστ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἐναντίον ἄνδρα μάχεσθαι·
αἰεὶ γὰρ πάρα εἷς γε θεῶν, ὃς λοιγὸν ἀμύνει.
καὶ δ’ ἄλλως τοῦ γ’ ἰθὺ βέλος πέτετ’, οὐδ’ ἀπολήγει
πρὶν χροὸς ἀνδρομέοιο διελθέμεν. εἰ δὲ θεός περ
ἶσον τείνειεν πολέμου τέλος, οὔ κε μάλα ῥέα
νικήσει’, οὐδ’ εἰ παγχάλκεος εὔχεται εἶναι.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
«ἥρως, ἀλλ’ ἄγε καὶ σὺ θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσιν
εὔχεο· καὶ δὲ σέ φασι Διὸς κούρης Ἀφροδίτης
ἐκγεγάμεν, κεῖνος δὲ χερείονος ἐκ θεοῦ ἐστίν·
ἡ μὲν γὰρ Διός ἐσθ’, ἣ δ’ ἐξ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.
ἀλλ’ ἰθὺς φέρε χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα, μηδέ σε πάμπαν
λευγαλέοις ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρεπέτω καὶ ἀρειῇ.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἔμπνευσε μένος μέγα ποιμένι λαῶν,
βῆ δὲ διὰ προμάχων κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ.

οὐδ’ ἔλαθ’ Ἀγχίσαο πάϊς λευκώλενον Ἥρην
ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ἰὼν ἀνὰ οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν·
ἡ δ’ ἄμυδις στήσασα θεοὺς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπε·
«φράζεσθον δὴ σφῶϊ, Ποσείδαον καὶ Ἀθήνη,
ἐν φρεσὶν ὑμετέρῃσιν, ὅπως ἔσται τάδε ἔργα.
Αἰνείας ὅδ’ ἔβη κεκορυθμένος αἴθοπι χαλκῷ
ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος, ἀνῆκε δὲ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
ἀλλ’ ἄγεθ’, ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ἀποτρωπῶμεν ὀπίσσω
αὐτόθεν· ἤ τις ἔπειτα καὶ ἡμείων Ἀχιλῆϊ
παρσταίη, δοίη δὲ κράτος μέγα, μηδέ τι θυμῷ
δευέσθω, ἵνα εἰδῇ ὅ μιν φιλέουσιν ἄριστοι
ἀθανάτων, οἱ δ’ αὖτ’ ἀνεμώλιοι οἳ τὸ πάρος περ
Τρωσὶν ἀμύνουσιν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα.
πάντες δ’ Οὐλύμποιο κατήλθομεν ἀντιόωντες
τῆσδε μάχης, ἵνα μή τι μετὰ Τρώεσσι πάθῃσι
σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε τὰ πείσεται ἅσσά οἱ Αἶσα
γιγνομένῳ ἐπένησε λίνῳ, ὅτε μιν τέκε μήτηρ.
εἰ δ’ Ἀχιλεὺς οὐ ταῦτα θεῶν ἐκ πεύσεται ὀμφῆς,
δείσετ’ ἔπειθ’, ὅτε κέν τις ἐναντίβιον θεὸς ἔλθῃ
ἐν πολέμῳ· χαλεποὶ δὲ θεοὶ φαίνεσθαι ἐναργεῖς.»
Τὴν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
«Ἥρη, μὴ χαλέπαινε παρ’ ἐκ νόον· οὐδέ τί σε χρή.
οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγ’ ἐθέλοιμι θεοὺς ἔριδι ξυνελάσσαι
ἡμέας τοὺς ἄλλους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰμεν·
ἀλλ’ ἡμεῖς μὲν ἔπειτα καθεζώμεσθα κιόντες
ἐκ πάτου ἐς σκοπιήν, πόλεμος δ’ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει.
εἰ δέ κ’ Ἄρης ἄρχωσι μάχης ἢ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
ἢ Ἀχιλῆ’ ἴσχωσι καὶ οὐκ εἰῶσι μάχεσθαι,
αὐτίκ’ ἔπειτα καὶ ἄμμι παρ’ αὐτόθι νεῖκος ὀρεῖται

φυλόπιδος· μάλα δ’ ὦκα διακρινθέντας ὀΐω
ἂψ ἴμεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ θεῶν μεθ’ ὁμήγυριν ἄλλων,
ἡμετέρῃς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἀναγκαίηφι δαμέντας.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἡγήσατο κυανοχαίτης
τεῖχος ἐς ἀμφίχυτον Ἡρακλῆος θείοιο,
ὑψηλόν, τό ῥά οἱ Τρῶες καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
ποίεον, ὄφρα τὸ κῆτος ὑπεκπροφυγὼν ἀλέαιτο,
ὁππότε μιν σεύαιτο ἀπ’ ἠϊόνος πεδίον δέ.
ἔνθα Ποσειδάων κατ’ ἄρ’ ἕζετο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι,
ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρ’ ἄῤῥηκτον νεφέλην ὤμοισιν ἕσαντο·
οἱ δ’ ἑτέρωσε καθῖζον ἐπ’ ὀφρύσι Καλλικολώνης
ἀμφὶ σέ, ἤϊε Φοῖβε, καὶ Ἄρηα πτολίπορθον.
Ὣς οἱ μέν ῥ’ ἑκάτερθε καθήατο μητιόωντες
βουλάς· ἀρχέμεναι δὲ δυσηλεγέος πολέμοιο
ὄκνεον ἀμφότεροι, Ζεὺς δ’ ἥμενος ὕψι κέλευε.
Τῶν δ’ ἅπαν ἐπλήσθη πεδίον καὶ λάμπετο χαλκῷ,
ἀνδρῶν ἠδ’ ἵππων· κάρκαιρε δὲ γαῖα πόδεσσιν
ὀρνυμένων ἄμυδις. δύο δ’ ἀνέρες ἔξοχ’ ἄριστοι
ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρων συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι,
Αἰνείας τ’ Ἀγχισιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀπειλήσας ἐβεβήκει,
νευστάζων κόρυθι βριαρῇ· ἀτὰρ ἀσπίδα θοῦριν
πρόσθεν ἔχε στέρνοιο, τίνασσε δὲ χάλκεον ἔγχος.
Πηλεΐδης δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐναντίον ὦρτο λέων ὥς,
σίντης, ὅν τε καὶ ἄνδρες ἀποκτάμεναι μεμάασιν
ἀγρόμενοι πᾶς δῆμος· ὃ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν ἀτίζων
ἔρχεται, ἀλλ’ ὅτε κέν τις ἀρηϊθόων αἰζηῶν
δουρὶ βάλῃ, ἐάλη τε χανών, περί τ’ ἀφρὸς ὀδόντας
γίγνεται, ἐν δέ τέ οἱ κραδίῃ στένει ἄλκιμον ἦτορ,
οὐρῇ δὲ πλευράς τε καὶ ἰσχία ἀμφοτέρωθεν

μαστίεται, ἑὲ δ’ αὐτὸν ἐποτρύνει μαχέσασθαι,
γλαυκιόων δ’ ἰθὺς φέρεται μένει, ἤν τινα πέφνῃ
ἀνδρῶν, ἢ αὐτὸς φθίεται πρώτῳ ἐν ὁμίλῳ·
ὣς Ἀχιλῆ’ ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ
ἀντίον ἐλθέμεναι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο.
οἱ δ’ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
«Αἰνεία, τί σὺ τόσσον ὁμίλου πολλὸν ἐπελθὼν
ἔστης; ἦ σέ γε θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει
ἐλπόμενον Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξειν ἱπποδάμοισι
τιμῆς τῆς Πριάμου; ἀτὰρ εἴ κεν ἔμ’ ἐξεναρίξῃς,
οὔ τοι τοὔνεκά γε Πρίαμος γέρας ἐν χερὶ θήσει·
εἰσὶν γάρ οἱ παῖδες, ὃ δ’ ἔμπεδος οὐδ’ ἀεσίφρων.
ἦ νύ τί τοι Τρῶες τέμενος τάμον ἔξοχον ἄλλων,
καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης, ὄφρα νέμηαι,
αἴ κεν ἐμὲ κτείνης; χαλεπῶς δέ σ’ ἔολπα τὸ ῥέξειν.
ἤδη μὲν σέ γέ φημι καὶ ἄλλοτε δουρὶ φοβῆσαι.
ἦ οὐ μέμνῃ ὅτε πέρ σε βοῶν ἄπο μοῦνον ἐόντα
σεῦα κατ’ Ἰδαίων ὀρέων ταχέεσσι πόδεσσι
καρπαλίμως; τότε δ’ οὔ τι μετατροπαλίζεο φεύγων.
ἔνθεν δ’ ἐς Λυρνησσὸν ὑπέκφυγες· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ τὴν
πέρσα μεθορμηθεὶς σὺν Ἀθήνῃ καὶ Διὶ πατρί,
ληϊάδας δὲ γυναῖκας ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας
ἦγον· ἀτὰρ σὲ Ζεὺς ἐῤῥύσατο καὶ θεοὶ ἄλλοι.
ἀλλ’ οὐ νῦν ἐρύεσθαι ὀΐομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ
βάλλεαι· ἀλλά σ’ ἔγωγ’ ἀναχωρήσαντα κελεύω
ἐς πληθὺν ἰέναι, μηδ’ ἀντίος ἵστασ’ ἐμεῖο,
πρίν τι κακὸν παθέειν· ῥεχθὲν δέ τε νήπιος ἔγνω.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Αἰνείας ἀπαμείβετο φώνησέν τε·

«Πηλεΐδη, μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς
ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς
ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδ’ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.
ἴδμεν δ’ ἀλλήλων γενεήν, ἴδμεν δὲ τοκῆας,
πρόκλυτ’ ἀκούοντες ἔπεα θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
ὄψει δ’ οὔτ’ ἄρ πω σὺ ἐμοὺς ἴδες οὔτ’ ἄρ’ ἐγὼ σούς.
φασὶ σὲ μὲν Πηλῆος ἀμύμονος ἔκγονον εἶναι,
μητρὸς δ’ ἐκ Θέτιδος καλλιπλοκάμου ἁλοσύδνης·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν υἱὸς μεγαλήτορος Ἀγχίσαο
εὔχομαι ἐκγεγάμεν, μήτηρ δέ μοί ἐστ’ Ἀφροδίτη·
τῶν δὴ νῦν ἕτεροί γε φίλον παῖδα κλαύσονται
σήμερον· οὐ γάρ φημ’ ἐπέεσσί γε νηπυτίοισιν
ὧδε διακρινθέντε μάχης ἐξαπονέεσθαι.
εἰ δ’ ἐθέλεις καὶ ταῦτα δαήμεναι, ὄφρ’ ἐῢ εἰδῇς
ἡμετέρην γενεήν, πολλοὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἴσασι·
Δάρδανον αὖ πρῶτον τέκετο νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,
κτίσσε δὲ Δαρδανίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ πω Ἴλιος ἱρὴ
ἐν πεδίῳ πεπόλιστο, πόλις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων,
ἀλλ’ ἔθ’ ὑπωρείας ᾤκεον πολυπίδακος Ἴδης.
Δάρδανος αὖ τέκεθ’ υἱὸν Ἐριχθόνιον βασιλῆα,
ὃς δὴ ἀφνειότατος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
τοῦ τρισχίλιαι ἵπποι ἕλος κάτα βουκολέοντο
θήλειαι, πώλοισιν ἀγαλλόμεναι ἀταλῇσι.
τάων καὶ Βορέης ἠράσσατο βοσκομενάων,
ἵππῳ δ’ εἰσάμενος παρελέξατο κυανοχαίτῃ·
αἱ δ’ ὑποκυσάμεναι ἔτεκον δυοκαίδεκα πώλους.
αἱ δ’ ὅτε μὲν σκιρτῷεν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν,
ἄκρον ἐπ’ ἀνθερίκων καρπὸν θέον οὐδὲ κατέκλων·
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ σκιρτῷεν ἐπ’ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης,

ἄκρον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνος ἁλὸς πολιοῖο θέεσκον.
Τρῶα δ’ Ἐριχθόνιος τέκετο Τρώεσσιν ἄνακτα·
Τρωὸς δ’ αὖ τρεῖς παῖδες ἀμύμονες ἐξεγένοντο,
Ἶλός τ’ Ἀσσάρακός τε καὶ ἀντίθεος Γανυμήδης,
ὃς δὴ κάλλιστος γένετο θνητῶν ἀνθρώπων·
τὸν καὶ ἀνηρείψαντο θεοὶ Διὶ οἰνοχοεύειν
κάλλεος εἵνεκα οἷο, ἵν’ ἀθανάτοισι μετείη.
Ἶλος δ’ αὖ τέκεθ’ υἱὸν ἀμύμονα Λαομέδοντα·
Λαομέδων δ’ ἄρα Τιθωνὸν τέκετο Πρίαμόν τε
Λάμπόν τε Κλυτίον θ’ Ἱκετάονά τ’, ὄζον Ἄρηος·
Ἀσσάρακος δὲ Κάπυν, ὁ δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀγχίσην τέκε παῖδα·
αὐτὰρ ἔμ’ Ἀγχίσης, Πρίαμος δ’ ἔτεχ’ Ἕκτορα δῖον.
ταύτης τοι γενεῆς τε καὶ αἵματος εὔχομαι εἶναι.
Ζεὺς δ’ ἀρετὴν ἄνδρεσσιν ὀφέλλει τε μινύθει τε,
ὅππως κεν ἐθέλῃσιν· ὃ γὰρ κάρτιστος ἁπάντων.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε μηκέτι ταῦτα λεγώμεθα νηπύτιοι ὥς,
ἑσταότ’ ἐν μέσσῃ ὑσμίνῃ δηϊοτῆτος.
ἔστι γὰρ ἀμφοτέροισιν ὀνείδεα μυθήσασθαι
πολλὰ μάλ’, οὐδ’ ἂν νηῦς ἑκατόζυγος ἄχθος ἄροιτο.
στρεπτὴ δὲ γλῶσσ’ ἐστὶ βροτῶν, πολέες δ’ ἔνι μῦθοι
παντοῖοι, ἐπέων δὲ πολὺς νομὸς ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
ὁπποῖόν κ’ εἴπῃσθα ἔπος, τοῖόν κ’ ἐπακούσαις.
ἀλλὰ τί ἢ ἔριδας καὶ νείκεα νῶϊν ἀνάγκη
νεικεῖν ἀλλήλοισιν ἐναντίον, ὥς τε γυναῖκας,
αἵ τε χολωσάμεναι ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο
νεικεῦσ’ ἀλλήλῃσι μέσην ἐς ἄγυιαν ἰοῦσαι,
πόλλ’ ἐτεά τε καὶ οὐκί· χόλος δέ τε καὶ τὰ κελεύει.
ἀλκῆς δ’ οὔ μ’ ἐπέεσσιν ἀποτρέψεις μεμαῶτα
πρὶν χαλκῷ μαχέσασθαι ἐναντίον· ἀλλ’ ἄγε θᾶσσον

γευσόμεθ’ ἀλλήλων χαλκήρεσιν ἐγχείῃσιν.»
Ἦ ῥα καὶ ἐν δεινῷ σάκει ἤλασεν ὄβριμον ἔγχος,
σμερδαλέῳ· μέγα δ’ ἀμφὶ σάκος μύκε δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.
Πηλεΐδης δὲ σάκος μὲν ἀπὸ ἕο χειρὶ παχείῃ
ἔσχετο ταρβήσας· φάτο γὰρ δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
ῥέα διελεύσεσθαι μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο,
νήπιος, οὐδ’ ἐνόησε κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμὸν
ὡς οὐ ῥηΐδι’ ἐστὶ θεῶν ἐρικυδέα δῶρα
ἀνδράσι γε θνητοῖσι δαμήμεναι οὐδ’ ὑποείκειν.
οὐδὲ τότ’ Αἰνείαο δαΐφρονος ὄβριμον ἔγχος
ῥῆξε σάκος· χρυσὸς γὰρ ἐρύκακε, δῶρα θεοῖο·
ἀλλὰ δύω μὲν ἔλασσε διὰ πτύχας, αἱ δ’ ἄρ’ ἔτι τρεῖς
ἦσαν, ἐπεὶ πέντε πτύχας ἤλασε κυλλοποδίων,
τὰς δύο χαλκείας, δύο δ’ ἔνδοθι κασσιτέροιο,
τὴν δὲ μίαν χρυσέην, τῇ ῥ’ ἔσχετο μείλινον ἔγχος.
Δεύτερος αὖτ’ Ἀχιλεὺς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
καὶ βάλεν Αἰνείαο κατ’ ἀσπίδα πάντοσ’ ἐΐσην,
ἄντυγ’ ὕπο πρώτην, ᾗ λεπτότατος θέε χαλκός,
λεπτοτάτη δ’ ἐπέην ῥινὸς βοός· ἡ δὲ διαπρὸ
Πηλιὰς ἤϊξεν μελίη, λάκε δ’ ἀσπὶς ὑπ’ αὐτῆς.
Αἰνείας δ’ ἐάλη καὶ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ἀσπίδ’ ἀνέσχε
δείσας· ἐγχείη δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπὲρ νώτου ἐνὶ γαίῃ
ἔστη ἱεμένη, διὰ δ’ ἀμφοτέρους ἕλε κύκλους
ἀσπίδος ἀμφιβρότης· ὁ δ’ ἀλευάμενος δόρυ μακρὸν
ἔστη, κὰδ δ’ ἄχος οἱ χύτο μυρίον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
ταρβήσας ὅ οἱ ἄγχι πάγη βέλος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς

ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσεν ἐρυσσάμενος ξίφος ὀξύ,
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· ὁ δὲ χερμάδιον λάβε χειρὶ
Αἰνείας, μέγα ἔργον, ὃ οὐ δύο γ’ ἄνδρε φέροιεν,
οἷοι νῦν βροτοί εἰσ’· ὁ δέ μιν ῥέα πάλλε καὶ οἶος.
ἔνθά κεν Αἰνείας μὲν ἐπεσσύμενον βάλε πέτρῳ
ἢ κόρυθ’ ἠὲ σάκος, τό οἱ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον,
τὸν δέ κε Πηλεΐδης σχεδὸν ἄορι θυμὸν ἀπηύρα,
εἰ μὴ ἄρ’ ὀξὺ νόησε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
αὐτίκα δ’ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖς μετὰ μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μοι ἄχος μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο,
ὃς τάχα Πηλεΐωνι δαμεὶς Ἄϊδος δὲ κάτεισι,
πειθόμενος μύθοισιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο,
νήπιος, οὐδέ τί οἱ χραισμήσει λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον.
ἀλλὰ τίη νῦν οὗτος ἀναίτιος ἄλγεα πάσχει,
μὰψ ἕνεκ’ ἀλλοτρίων ἀχέων, κεχαρισμένα δ’ αἰεὶ
δῶρα θεοῖσι δίδωσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν;
ἀλλ’ ἄγεθ’ ἡμεῖς πέρ μιν ὑπὲκ θανάτου ἀγάγωμεν,
μή πως καὶ Κρονίδης κεχολώσεται, αἴ κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
τόνδε κατακτείνῃ· μόριμον δέ οἵ ἐστ’ ἀλέασθαι,
ὄφρα μὴ ἄσπερμος γενεὴ καὶ ἄφαντος ὄληται
Δαρδάνου, ὃν Κρονίδης περὶ πάντων φίλατο παίδων,
οἳ ἕθεν ἐξεγένοντο γυναικῶν τε θνητάων.
ἤδη γὰρ Πριάμου γενεὴν ἔχθηρε Κρονίων·
νῦν δὲ δὴ Αἰνείαο βίη Τρώεσσιν ἀνάξει
καὶ παίδων παῖδες, τοί κεν μετόπισθε γένωνται.»
Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη·
«ἐννοσίγαι’, αὐτὸς σὺ μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι νόησον
Αἰνείαν, ἤ κέν μιν ἐρύσσεαι ἦ κεν ἐάσῃς
Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ δαμήμεναι, ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα.

ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ νῶϊ πολέας ὠμόσσαμεν ὅρκους
πᾶσι μετ’ ἀθανάτοισιν, ἐγὼ καὶ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
μή ποτ’ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀλεξήσειν κακὸν ἦμαρ,
μηδ’ ὁπότ’ ἂν Τροίη μαλερῷ πυρὶ πᾶσα δάηται
καιομένη, καίωσι δ’ ἀρήϊοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.»
Αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γ’ ἄκουσε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
βῆ ῥ’ ἴμεν ἄν τε μάχην καὶ ἀνὰ κλόνον ἐγχειάων,
ἷξε δ’ ὅθ’ Αἰνείας ἠδ’ ὁ κλυτὸς ἦεν Ἀχιλλεύς.
αὐτίκα τῷ μὲν ἔπειτα κατ’ ὀφθαλμῶν χέεν ἀχλύν,
Πηλεΐδῃ Ἀχιλῆϊ· ὁ δὲ μελίην εὔχαλκον
ἀσπίδος ἐξέρυσεν μεγαλήτορος Αἰνείαο·
καὶ τὴν μὲν προπάροιθε ποδῶν Ἀχιλῆος ἔθηκεν,
Αἰνείαν δ’ ἔσσευεν ἀπὸ χθονὸς ὑψόσ’ ἀείρας.
πολλὰς δὲ στίχας ἡρώων, πολλὰς δὲ καὶ ἵππων
Αἰνείας ὑπερᾶλτο θεοῦ ἀπὸ χειρὸς ὀρούσας,
ἷξε δ’ ἐπ’ ἐσχατιὴν πολυάϊκος πολέμοιο,
ἔνθά τε Καύκωνες πόλεμον μέτα θωρήσσοντο.
τῷ δὲ μάλ’ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Αἰνεία, τίς σ’ ὧδε θεῶν ἀτέοντα κελεύει
ἀντία Πηλεΐωνος ὑπερθύμοιο μάχεσθαι,
ὃς σεῦ ἅμα κρείσσων καὶ φίλτερος ἀθανάτοισιν;
ἀλλ’ ἀναχωρῆσαι, ὅτε κεν συμβλήσεαι αὐτῷ,
μὴ καὶ ὑπὲρ μοῖραν δόμον Ἄϊδος εἰσαφίκηαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κ’ Ἀχιλεὺς θάνατον καὶ πότμον ἐπίσπῃ,
θαρσήσας δὴ ἔπειτα μετὰ πρώτοισι μάχεσθαι·
οὐ μὲν γάρ τίς σ’ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν ἐξεναρίξει.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν λίπεν αὐτόθ’, ἐπεὶ διεπέφραδε πάντα.
αἶψα δ’ ἔπειτ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπ’ ὀφθαλμῶν σκέδασ’ ἀχλὺν

θεσπεσίην· ὁ δ’ ἔπειτα μέγ’ ἔξιδεν ὀφθαλμοῖσιν,
ὀχθήσας δ’ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μέγα θαῦμα τόδ’ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ὁρῶμαι·
ἔγχος μὲν τόδε κεῖται ἐπὶ χθονός, οὐδέ τι φῶτα
λεύσσω, τῷ ἐφέηκα κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων.
ἦ ῥα καὶ Αἰνείας φίλος ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν
ἦεν· ἀτάρ μιν ἔφην μὰψ αὔτως εὐχετάασθαι.
ἐῤῥέτω· οὔ οἱ θυμὸς ἐμεῦ ἔτι πειρηθῆναι
ἔσσεται, ὃς καὶ νῦν φύγεν ἄσμενος ἐκ θανάτοιο.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε δὴ Δαναοῖσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κελεύσας
τῶν ἄλλων Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίος ἐλθών.»
Ἦ, καὶ ἐπὶ στίχας ἆλτο, κέλευε δὲ φωτὶ ἑκάστῳ·
«μηκέτι νῦν Τρώων ἑκὰς ἕστατε, δῖοι Ἀχαιοί,
ἀλλ’ ἄγ’ ἀνὴρ ἄντ’ ἀνδρὸς ἴτω, μεμάτω δὲ μάχεσθαι.
ἀργαλέον δέ μοί ἐστι καὶ ἰφθίμῳ περ ἐόντι
τοσσούσδ’ ἀνθρώπους ἐφέπειν καὶ πᾶσι μάχεσθαι·
οὐδέ κ’ Ἄρης, ὅς περ θεὸς ἄμβροτος, οὐδέ κ’ Ἀθήνη
τοσσῆσδ’ ὑσμίνης ἐφέποι στόμα καὶ πονέοιτο·
ἀλλ’ ὅσσον μὲν ἐγὼ δύναμαι χερσίν τε ποσίν τε
καὶ σθένει, οὔ μ’ ἔτι φημὶ μεθησέμεν οὐδ’ ἠβαιόν,
ἀλλὰ μάλα στιχὸς εἶμι διαμπερές, οὐδέ τιν’ οἴω
Τρώων χαιρήσειν, ὅς τις σχεδὸν ἔγχεος ἔλθῃ.»
Ὣς φάτ’ ἐποτρύνων· Τρώεσσι δὲ φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
κέκλεθ’ ὁμοκλήσας, φάτο δ’ ἴμεναι ἄντ’ Ἀχιλῆος·
«Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι, μὴ δείδιτε Πηλεΐωνα.
καί κεν ἐγὼ ἐπέεσσι καὶ ἀθανάτοισι μαχοίμην·
ἔγχεϊ δ’ ἀργαλέον, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτεροί εἰσιν.
οὐδ’ Ἀχιλεὺς πάντεσσι τέλος μύθοις ἐπιθήσει,
ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν τελέει, τὸ δὲ καὶ μεσσηγὺ κολούει.
τοῦ δ’ ἐγὼ ἀντίος εἶμι καὶ εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικεν,
εἰ πυρὶ χεῖρας ἔοικε, μένος δ’ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ.»

Ὣς φάτ’ ἐποτρύνων, οἱ δ’ ἀντίοι ἔγχε’ ἄειραν
Τρῶες· τῶν δ’ ἄμυδις μίχθη μένος, ὦρτο δ’ ἀϋτή.
καὶ τότ’ ἄρ’ Ἕκτορα εἶπε παραστὰς Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
«Ἕκτορ μηκέτι πάμπαν Ἀχιλλῆϊ προμάχιζε,
ἀλλὰ κατὰ πληθύν τε καὶ ἐκ φλοίσβοιο δέδεξο,
μή πώς σ’ ἠὲ βάλῃ ἠὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψῃ.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, Ἕκτωρ δ’ αὖτις ἐδύσετο οὐλαμὸν ἀνδρῶν
ταρβήσας, ὅτ’ ἄκουσε θεοῦ ὄπα φωνήσαντος.
ἐν δ’ Ἀχιλεὺς Τρώεσσι θόρε φρεσὶν εἱμένος ἀλκήν,
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, πρῶτον δ’ ἕλεν Ἰφιτίωνα
ἐσθλὸν Ὀτρυντεΐδην πολέων ἡγήτορα λαῶν,
ὃν νύμφη τέκε νηῒς Ὀτρυντῆϊ πτολιπόρθῳ
Τμώλῳ ὕπο νιφόεντι Ὕδης ἐν πίονι δήμῳ·
τὸν δ’ ἰθὺς μεμαῶτα βάλ’ ἔγχεϊ δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλήν· ἣ δ’ ἄνδιχα πᾶσα κεάσθη,
δούπησεν δὲ πεσών, ὁ δ’ ἐπεύξατο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
«κεῖσαι, Ὀτρυντεΐδη, πάντων ἐκπαγλότατ’ ἀνδρῶν·
ἐνθάδε τοι θάνατος, γενεὴ δέ τοί ἐστ’ ἐπὶ λίμνῃ
Γυγαίῃ, ὅθι τοι τέμενος πατρώϊόν ἐστιν,
Ὕλλῳ ἐπ’ ἰχθυόεντι καὶ Ἕρμῳ δινήεντι.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’ εὐχόμενος, τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.
τὸν μὲν Ἀχαιῶν ἵπποι ἐπισσώτροις δατέοντο
πρώτῃ ἐν ὑσμίνῃ· ὁ δ’ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ Δημολέοντα,
ἐσθλὸν ἀλεξητῆρα μάχης Ἀντήνορος υἱόν,
νύξε κατὰ κρόταφον, κυνέης διὰ χαλκοπαρῄου.
οὐδ’ ἄρα χαλκείη κόρυς ἔσχεθεν, ἀλλὰ δι’ αὐτῆς
αἰχμὴ ἱεμένη ῥῆξ’ ὀστέον, ἐγκέφαλος δὲ
ἔνδον ἅπας πεπάλακτο· δάμασσε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα.
Ἱπποδάμαντα δ’ ἔπειτα καθ’ ἵππων ἀΐξαντα,
πρόσθεν ἕθεν φεύγοντα, μετάφρενον οὔτασε δουρί.

αὐτὰρ ὁ θυμὸν ἄϊσθε καὶ ἤρυγεν, ὡς ὅτε ταῦρος
ἤρυγεν ἑλκόμενος Ἑλικώνιον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα
κούρων ἑλκόντων· γάνυται δέ τε τοῖς ἐνοσίχθων·
ὣς ἄρα τόν γ’ ἐρυγόντα λίπ’ ὀστέα θυμὸς ἀγήνωρ·
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ σὺν δουρὶ μετ’ ἀντίθεον Πολύδωρον
Πριαμίδην. τὸν δ’ οὔ τι πατὴρ εἴασκε μάχεσθαι,
οὕνεκά οἱ μετὰ παισὶ νεώτατος ἔσκε γόνοιο,
καί οἱ φίλτατος ἔσκε, πόδεσσι δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα·
δὴ τότε νηπιέῃσι ποδῶν ἀρετὴν ἀναφαίνων
θῦνε διὰ προμάχων, εἷος φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν.
τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
νῶτα παραΐσσοντος, ὅθι ζωστῆρος ὀχῆες
χρύσειοι σύνεχον καὶ διπλόος ἤντετο θώρηξ·
ἀντικρὺ δὲ διέσχε παρ’ ὀμφαλὸν ἔγχεος αἰχμή,
γνὺξ δ’ ἔριπ’ οἰμώξας, νεφέλη δέ μιν ἀμφεκάλυψε
κυανέη, προτὶ οἷ δὲ λάβ’ ἔντερα χερσὶ λιασθείς.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ὡς ἐνόησε κασίγνητον Πολύδωρον
ἔντερα χερσὶν ἔχοντα, λιαζόμενον ποτὶ γαίη,
κάρ ῥά οἱ ὀφθαλμῶν κέχυτ’ ἀχλύς· οὐδ’ ἄρ’ ἔτ’ ἔτλη
δηρὸν ἑκὰς στρωφᾶσθ’, ἀλλ’ ἀντίος ἦλθ’ Ἀχιλῆϊ
ὀξὺ δόρυ κραδάων, φλογὶ εἴκελος· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
ὡς εἶδ’, ὣς ἀνεπᾶλτο, καὶ εὐχόμενος ἔπος ηὔδα·
«ἐγγὺς ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐμόν γε μάλιστ’ ἐσεμάσσατο θυμόν,
ὅς μοι ἑταῖρον ἔπεφνε τετιμένον· οὐδ’ ἂν ἔτι δὴν
ἀλλήλους πτώσσοιμεν ἀνὰ πτολέμοιο γεφύρας.»
Ἦ, καὶ ὑπόδρα ἰδὼν προσεφώνεεν Ἕκτορα δῖον·
«ἆσσον ἴθ’ ὥς κεν θᾶσσον ὀλέθρου πείραθ’ ἵκηαι.»
Τὸν δ’ οὐ ταρβήσας προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
«Πηλεΐδη, μὴ δὴ ἐπέεσσί με νηπύτιον ὣς
ἔλπεο δειδίξεσθαι, ἐπεὶ σάφα οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς

ἠμὲν κερτομίας ἠδ’ αἴσυλα μυθήσασθαι.
οἶδα δ’ ὅτι σὺ μὲν ἐσθλός, ἐγὼ δὲ σέθεν πολὺ χείρων.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται,
αἴ κέ σε χειρότερός περ ἐὼν ἀπὸ θυμὸν ἕλωμαι
δουρὶ βαλών, ἐπεὶ ἦ καὶ ἐμὸν βέλος ὀξὺ πάροιθεν.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δόρυ, καὶ τό γ’ Ἀθήνη
πνοιῇ Ἀχιλλῆος πάλιν ἔτραπε κυδαλίμοιο,
ἦκα μάλα ψύξασα· τὸ δ’ ἂψ ἵκεθ’ Ἕκτορα δῖον,
αὐτοῦ δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν πέσεν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἐμμεμαὼς ἐπόρουσε κατακτάμεναι μενεαίνων,
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων· τὸν δ’ ἐξήρπαξεν Ἀπόλλων
ῥεῖα μάλ’ ὥς τε θεός, ἐκάλυψε δ’ ἄρ’ ἠέρι πολλῇ.
τρὶς μὲν ἔπειτ’ ἐπόρουσε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ, τρὶς δ’ ἠέρα τύψε βαθεῖαν.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ τὸ τέταρτον ἐπέσσυτο δαίμονι ἶσος,
δεινὰ δ’ ὁμοκλήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«ἐξ αὖ νῦν ἔφυγες θάνατον, κύον· ἦ τέ τοι ἄγχι
ἦλθε κακόν· νῦν αὖτέ σ’ ἐρύσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
ᾧ μέλλεις εὔχεσθαι ἰὼν ἐς δοῦπον ἀκόντων.
ἦ θήν σ’ ἐξανύω γε καὶ ὕστερον ἀντιβολήσας,
εἴ πού τις καὶ ἔμοιγε θεῶν ἐπιτάῤῥοθός ἐστι.
νῦν αὖ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπιείσομαι, ὅν κε κιχείω.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν Δρύοπ’ οὖτα κατ’ αὐχένα μέσσον ἄκοντι·
ἤριπε δὲ προπάροιθε ποδῶν· ὁ δὲ τὸν μὲν ἔασε,
Δημοῦχον δὲ Φιλητορίδην, ἠΰν τε μέγαν τε,
κὰγ γόνυ δουρὶ βαλὼν ἠρύκακε. τὸν μὲν ἔπειτα
οὐτάζων ξίφεϊ μεγάλῳ ἐξαίνυτο θυμόν·
αὐτὰρ ὁ Λαόγονον καὶ Δάρδανον, υἷε Βίαντος,
ἄμφω ἐφορμηθεὶς ἐξ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε,

τὸν μὲν δουρὶ βαλών, τὸν δὲ σχεδὸν ἄορι τύψας.
Τρῶα δ’ Ἀλαστορίδην,—ὁ μὲν ἀντίος ἤλυθε γούνων,
εἴ πώς εὑ πεφίδοιτο λαβὼν καὶ ζωὸν ἀφείη,
μηδὲ κατακτείνειεν ὁμηλικίην ἐλεήσας,
νήπιος, οὐδὲ τὸ ᾔδη ὃ οὐ πείσεσθαι ἔμελλεν·
οὐ γάρ τι γλυκύθυμος ἀνὴρ ἦν οὐδ’ ἀγανόφρων,
ἀλλὰ μάλ’ ἐμμεμαώς· ὁ μὲν ἥπτετο χείρεσι γούνων,
ἱέμενος λίσσεσθ’, ὁ δὲ φασγάνῳ οὖτα καθ’ ἧπαρ·
ἐκ δέ οἱ ἧπαρ ὄλισθεν, ἀτὰρ μέλαν αἷμα κατ’ αὐτοῦ
κόλπον ἐνέπλησεν· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε
θυμοῦ δευόμενον· ὁ δὲ Μούλιον οὖτα παραστὰς
δουρὶ κατ’ οὖς· εἶθαρ δὲ δι’ οὔατος ἦλθ’ ἑτέροιο
αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· ὁ δ’ Ἀγήνορος υἱὸν Ἔχεκλον
μέσσην κὰκ κεφαλὴν ξίφει ἤλασε κωπήεντι,
πᾶν δ’ ὑπεθερμάνθη ξίφος αἵματι· τὸν δὲ κατ’ ὄσσε
ἔλλαβε πορφύρεος θάνατος καὶ μοῖρα κραταιή.
Δευκαλίωνα δ’ ἔπειθ’, ἵνα τε ξυνέχουσι τένοντες
ἀγκῶνος, τῇ τόν γε φίλης διὰ χειρὸς ἔπειρεν
αἰχμῇ χαλκείῃ· ὁ δέ μιν μένε χεῖρα βαρυνθείς,
πρόσθ’ ὁρόων θάνατον· ὁ δὲ φασγάνῳ αὐχένα θείνας
τῆλ’ αὐτῇ πήληκι κάρη βάλε· μυελὸς αὖτε
σφονδυλίων ἔκπαλθ’, ὁ δ’ ἐπὶ χθονὶ κεῖτο τανυσθείς.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ ῥ’ ἰέναι μετ’ ἀμύμονα Πείρεω υἱόν,
Ῥίγμον, ὃς ἐκ Θρῄκης ἐριβώλακος εἰληλούθει·
τὸν βάλε μέσσον ἄκοντι, πάγη δ’ ἐν νηδύϊ χαλκός,
ἤριπε δ’ ἐξ ὀχέων· ὃ δ’ Ἀρηΐθοον θεράποντα
ἂψ ἵππους στρέψαντα μετάφρενον ὀξέϊ δουρὶ
νύξ’, ἀπὸ δ’ ἅρματος ὦσε· κυκήθησαν δέ οἱ ἵπποι.
Ὡς δ’ ἀναμαιμάει βαθέ’ ἄγκεα θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ

οὔρεος ἀζαλέοιο, βαθεῖα δὲ καίεται ὕλη,
πάντῃ τε κλονέων ἄνεμος φλόγα εἰλυφάζει,
ὣς ὅ γε πάντῃ θῦνε σὺν ἔγχεϊ δαίμονι ἶσος,
κτεινομένους ἐφέπων· ῥέε δ’ αἵματι γαῖα μέλαινα.
ὡς δ’ ὅτε τις ζεύξῃ βόας ἄρσενας εὐρυμετώπους
τριβέμεναι κρῖ λευκὸν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν ἀλωῇ,
ῥίμφά τε λέπτ’ ἐγένοντο βοῶν ὑπὸ πόσσ’ ἐριμύκων,
ὣς ὑπ’ Ἀχιλλῆος μεγαθύμου μώνυχες ἵπποι
στεῖβον ὁμοῦ νέκυάς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας· αἵματι δ’ ἄξων
νέρθεν ἅπας πεπάλακτο καὶ ἄντυγες αἳ περὶ δίφρον,
ἃς ἄρ’ ἀφ’ ἱππείων ὁπλέων ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον
αἵ τ’ ἀπ’ ἐπισσώτρων· ὁ δὲ ἵετο κῦδος ἀρέσθαι
Πηλεΐδης, λύθρῳ δὲ παλάσσετο χεῖρας ἀάπτους.

THE ILIAD XX

Thus, beside the curved-prowed ships, the Achaeans, insatiable for battle, armed themselves around you, O son of Peleus, while on the other side, the Trojans arrayed themselves upon a rise of the plain. But Zeus commanded Themis to summon the gods to assembly from the peaks of many-ridged Olympus; and she, ranging everywhere, bade them gather at the house of Zeus. And so not one of the rivers was absent, save only Oceanus, nor any of the nymphs who inhabit the beautiful groves, the fountains of rivers, and the verdant meadows. When they arrived at the dwelling of Zeus, the cloud-gatherer, they took their seats in the polished colonnades which Hephaestus, with his cunning skill, had fashioned for Father Zeus. Thus they were all gathered within the house of Zeus. Nor did the Earth-Shaker fail to heed the goddess’s call, but came up from the sea to join them. He sat in their midst and inquired of the will of Zeus: “Why now, O wielder of the bright lightning, have you summoned the gods to assembly? Is it that you are pondering the fate of the Trojans and Achaeans? For at this moment the fires of battle and war blaze most fiercely between them.” To him, Zeus the cloud-gatherer replied: “You have perceived, O Earth-Shaker, the counsel within my breast, and for what purpose I have brought you together. I care for them, even as they perish. Yet I shall remain here, seated upon a ridge of Olympus, to delight my heart with the spectacle. As for the rest of you, go forth and descend among the Trojans and Achaeans. Lend your aid to either side, as the inclination of each of you directs. For if Achilles fights against the Trojans alone, they shall not hold back the swift-footed son of Peleus even for a short while. Even before, they trembled merely at the sight of him; and now that his soul is terribly enraged over his companion, I fear lest he breach the wall itself, against the decree of fate.” So spoke the son of Cronos, and stirred up a war from which there could be no escape. The gods then went their way to the war, their hearts divided. To the encampment of the ships went Hera, Pallas Athene, Poseidon the earth-holder, and Hermes the bringer of fortune, preeminent for his shrewd mind. With them also went Hephaestus, blazing with his great strength, though he limped, and his slender legs moved nimbly beneath him. But to the side of the Trojans went Ares of the flashing helm, and with him Phoebus of the unshorn hair, Artemis the archer, Leto, Xanthus, and laughter-loving Aphrodite. For as long as the gods remained apart from mortal men, the Achaeans exulted in their great glory, for Achilles had appeared among them after long abstaining from grievous battle. But a dreadful trembling came upon the Trojans, seizing each man’s limbs, as they beheld the swift-footed son of Peleus, blazing in his armor, the equal of Ares, the bane of mortals. But when the Olympians descended into the throng of men, powerful Strife, the rouser of armies, arose. Athene shouted, at one moment standing beside the dug trench outside the wall, at another crying out from the resounding shores. And on the other side Ares roared, like a dark whirlwind, urging the Trojans on with sharp commands, now from the city's highest point, now running along the banks of the Simois to the hill of Callicolone. Thus the blessed gods spurred on both armies and brought them together, and then broke forth heavy strife among them. The father of men and gods thundered terribly from on high; and below, Poseidon shook the boundless earth and the steep peaks of the mountains. All the foothills of many-fountained Ida were shaken, and all its summits, and the city of the Trojans, and the ships of the Achaeans. And in the depths beneath, Aidoneus, lord of the underworld, was seized with fear. He leaped from his throne and cried aloud, terrified that Poseidon the Earth-Shaker might shatter the earth above him, and reveal to mortals and immortals alike his dreadful, moldering domains, which even the gods abhor. Such was the clash that arose when the gods met in their contention. For against King Poseidon stood Phoebus Apollo with his winged arrows, and against Enyalius stood the bright-eyed goddess Athene. Against Hera stood Artemis of the golden spindle, the archeress who delights in the hunt, sister of the far-shooter. Against Leto stood the mighty helper Hermes, and against Hephaestus stood the great, deep-eddying river whom the gods call Xanthus, and men Scamander. So the gods went to stand against the gods. But Achilles yearned above all to drive into the throng against Hector, son of Priam; for it was with his blood that his spirit most urged him to glut Ares, the warrior of the stout shield. But Apollo, rouser of armies, spurred Aeneas straight against the son of Peleus, and filled him with valiant strength. He took on the voice of Lycaon, son of Priam, and in his likeness Apollo, son of Zeus, spoke to him: “Aeneas, counselor of the Trojans, where now are the boasts you made while drinking wine among the Trojan kings, that you would stand and fight in single combat against Achilles, son of Peleus?” In answer, Aeneas spoke to him in turn: “Son of Priam, why do you urge me, against my own will, to fight against the great-hearted son of Peleus? This would not be the first time I have stood before swift-footed Achilles; once before he put me to flight with his spear from Mount Ida, when he came upon our cattle and sacked Lyrnessus and Pedasus. But Zeus delivered me then, giving me strength and nimble knees. Otherwise I would have been slain by the hands of Achilles and Athene, who went before him bearing a light and commanded him to kill the Leleges and the Trojans with his bronze spear. Therefore, it is not possible for a mortal man to fight Achilles; for always one of the gods is at his side to ward off destruction. And even without a god, his spear flies straight and does not stop until it has passed through a man’s flesh. Yet if a god were to hold the scales of war in equal balance, he would not easily conquer me, not even if he boasts he is forged entirely of bronze.” To him then spoke lord Apollo, son of Zeus: “Hero, come now, you too should pray to the ever-living gods. For they say you were born of Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, while he is born of a lesser goddess; one is a child of Zeus, the other of the Old Man of the Sea. So drive your unyielding bronze straight at him, and let him not turn you back with his grim words and his threats.” So speaking, he breathed great strength into the shepherd of the people, who strode through the front ranks, armed in gleaming bronze. Nor did the son of Anchises go unnoticed by white-armed Hera as he went through the tumult of men to face the son of Peleus. She gathered the gods beside her and spoke a word among them: “Take thought now, you two, Poseidon and Athene, in your own hearts, how these things shall be. Here comes Aeneas, armed in gleaming bronze, to stand against the son of Peleus, and Phoebus Apollo has sent him. Come then, let us turn him back from here at once. Or else let one of us stand beside Achilles and grant him great strength, so that his heart may not falter in any way, and he may know that the best of the immortals love him, while those who have until now shielded the Trojans from war and battle are but as the wind. We have all come down from Olympus to take part in this battle, so that he might suffer no harm among the Trojans today. Hereafter, he shall suffer whatever Fate spun for him with her thread at his birth, when his mother bore him. But if Achilles does not learn these things from a divine voice, he will be afraid when a god comes against him in the war; for the gods are terrible to behold when they appear in their true form.” Then Poseidon the Earth-Shaker answered her: “Hera, do not be angry beyond reason; there is no need. I, for one, would not wish to drive the gods into strife against each other, since we are far stronger than they. Rather, let us go and sit together upon a watchtower, out of the path of men, and let the war be a concern for them. But if Ares or Phoebus Apollo should be first to enter the battle, or if they should restrain Achilles and not allow him to fight, then at once a quarrel of battle will arise for us as well. And I think they will be forced to retreat very quickly, and go back to Olympus to the assembly of the other gods, overcome by the force of our hands.” So speaking, the dark-haired god led the way to the high, mounded wall of divine Heracles, which the Trojans and Pallas Athene had built for him, so that he might escape the sea monster and find safety whenever it pursued him from the shore to the plain. There Poseidon sat down, and the other gods with him, and they wrapped their shoulders in an unbreakable cloud. The others, meanwhile, sat on the brow of Callicolone, around you, O radiant Phoebus, and you, Ares, sacker of cities. Thus they sat on either side, devising their plans; yet both sides hesitated to begin the misery of war, while Zeus, seated on high, urged them on. The whole plain was filled with them and blazed with the bronze of men and horses; and the earth groaned under the feet of the armies as they rushed together. Two men, by far the best, advanced into the space between the two hosts, eager to do battle: Aeneas, son of Anchises, and godlike Achilles. Aeneas was the first to advance, threatening, his heavy helmet nodding; he held his furious shield before his chest and brandished his bronze spear. From the other side, the son of Peleus rushed to meet him like a destructive lion that men, a whole village gathered, are eager to kill. At first, the beast goes on, disdainful; but when one of the swift-in-war young men strikes it with a spear, it gathers itself, mouth gaping, and foam appears around its teeth, and in its heart its valiant spirit groans. It lashes its ribs and flanks on both sides with its tail, and goads itself to fight. Then, with glaring eyes, it charges straight on in its fury, to kill one of the men or be killed itself in the first onslaught. So did his might and his proud spirit spur Achilles on to meet the great-hearted Aeneas. And when they had come close, advancing on one another, swift-footed, godlike Achilles was the first to speak: “Aeneas, why have you come so far out from the throng to stand against me? Does your heart command you to fight me in the hope of ruling the horse-taming Trojans with the honor of Priam? Yet even if you should slay me, Priam will not on that account place the prize in your hand; for he has sons, and he is sound of mind, not witless. Or have the Trojans marked out for you a choice domain of orchard and plowland, a fine estate for you to possess, if you should kill me? A hard task, I think you will find it. I say that I have put you to flight with my spear once before. Do you not remember when you were alone, and I drove you from your cattle down the mountains of Ida with swift feet and in great haste? That day you did not turn to look back as you fled. From there you escaped to Lyrnessus; but I, launching my attack with the help of Athene and Father Zeus, sacked it, and I led away their women, taking from them the day of their freedom. But you were saved by Zeus and the other gods. Yet I do not think they will save you now, as you imagine in your heart. I urge you to withdraw, to go back into the multitude, and not to stand against me, before you suffer some harm. After the event, even a fool knows what is done.” But Aeneas answered him and said: “Son of Peleus, do not think to frighten me with words as if I were a mere child, for I myself know well how to speak both taunts and fitting words. We know each other’s lineage, and we know each other’s parents, from hearing the tales renowned among mortal men; though by sight you have never seen my parents, nor I yours. They say you are the offspring of flawless Peleus, and of your mother Thetis of the beautiful tresses, the daughter of the sea. But I for my part claim to be the son of great-hearted Anchises, and my mother is Aphrodite. Of these, one pair or the other shall this day mourn a beloved son; for I do not think we shall part from this battle and go our way after a mere exchange of childish words. But if you wish to learn of these things, so that you may know my lineage, which many men know: First, Zeus the cloud-gatherer begot Dardanus, who founded Dardania, for sacred Ilios was not yet built upon the plain as a city of mortal men, but they still dwelt on the slopes of many-fountained Ida. And Dardanus in turn begot a son, King Erichthonius, who became the richest of mortal men. Three thousand mares grazed for him in the water-meadows, all of them females, delighting in their tender foals. Boreas himself, the North Wind, became enamored of them as they grazed, and assuming the likeness of a dark-maned stallion, he lay with them; and they, conceiving, bore twelve fillies. They, when they frolicked over the life-giving earth, would run upon the topmost ears of corn and not break the stalk; and when they frolicked over the broad back of the sea, they would run upon the crest of the white-capped waves. And Erichthonius begot Tros, lord of the Trojans; and from Tros in turn three flawless sons were born, Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymede, who was surely the most beautiful of mortal men. The gods themselves snatched him up to be the cupbearer of Zeus, for the sake of his beauty, so that he might dwell among the immortals. Ilus in turn begot a flawless son, Laomedon; and Laomedon begot Tithonus and Priam, Lampos and Clytius and Hicetaon, a branch of Ares. Assaracus begot Capys, and he in turn had a son, Anchises; but Anchises begot me, while Priam begot godlike Hector. Of this lineage and this blood I claim to be. But as for valor, Zeus increases it in men or diminishes it, just as he wills; for he is the mightiest of all. But come, let us speak no more of these things like children, standing here in the midst of the strife of battle. For there are insults enough for both of us to speak, a great store, such that a hundred-oared ship could not carry the burden. The tongue of mortals is a nimble thing, and from it come many words of every kind; the field of speech is wide on this side and that. Whatever word you speak, such is the one you are likely to hear. But what need is there for us to quarrel and rail at one another face to face, like women, who, when angered by some soul-devouring strife, go into the middle of the street and abuse one another with many words, some true and some not; for their anger bids them speak so. You will not turn me from my course with words, eager as I am for combat, until we have fought with bronze, face to face. So come, let us without delay make trial of each other with our bronze-tipped spears.” He spoke, and hurled his mighty spear against the terrible shield, and the great shield rang aloud under the blow of the spearhead. The son of Peleus held the shield out from him with his stout hand, filled with fear; for he thought the long-shadowed spear of great-hearted Aeneas would easily pierce it through— the fool, who did not know in his mind and heart that the glorious gifts of the gods are not easily overcome by mortal men, nor do they yield. Nor did the mighty spear of wise Aeneas break the shield then, for the gold, the gift of the god, held it back. It drove through two of the layers, but three still remained, since the lame god had forged five layers in all, two of bronze, two of tin within, and one of gold, in which the ashen spear was stayed. Then Achilles in turn let fly his long-shadowed spear, and struck the shield of Aeneas, a circle of perfect balance, at the very edge of the rim, where the bronze ran thinnest, and the ox-hide was thinnest upon it. The Pelian ash spear shot clean through, and the shield shrieked beneath it. Aeneas crouched and held the shield away from him in fear; and the spear flew over his back and fixed itself in the earth, eager for flesh, having pierced both circles of the all-enclosing shield. He, having escaped the long spear, stood up, and boundless sorrow poured over his eyes, seized with terror that the weapon had planted itself so near. But Achilles rushed upon him furiously, drawing his sharp sword, with a terrible cry; and Aeneas seized in his hand a great stone, a mighty deed, a stone that no two men could carry, of such as mortals are now; but he wielded it easily, and alone. Then Aeneas would have struck him with the stone as he charged, either on the helmet or the shield that had saved him from a wretched death, and the son of Peleus in turn would have closed with him and taken his life with the sword, had not Poseidon the Earth-Shaker been quick to perceive it. At once he spoke a word among the immortal gods: “Alas, I grieve for great-hearted Aeneas, who will soon be slain by the son of Peleus and go down to the house of Hades, persuaded by the words of Apollo the far-shooter— the fool, for the god will in no way shield him from a wretched death. But why should this man, who is guiltless, suffer sorrows for no reason, on account of grievances that are not his own? He has always given pleasing gifts to the gods who hold the wide heavens. Come, then, let us rescue him from death, lest the son of Cronos himself grow angry if Achilles should kill him. For it is his destiny to escape, so that the lineage of Dardanus—whom the son of Cronos loved above all the children born to him of mortal women—may not perish without seed and be seen no more. For already the son of Cronos has come to hate the line of Priam; and now the might of Aeneas shall rule over the Trojans, and his children’s children, who shall be born in the time to come.” To him the ox-eyed, queenly Hera replied: “Earth-Shaker, consider in your own mind concerning Aeneas, whether you will save him or let him be slain, for all his valor, by Achilles, son of Peleus. For we two, Pallas Athene and I, have sworn many oaths in the presence of all the immortals never to ward off the evil day from the Trojans, not even when all of Troy burns in the consuming fire, set ablaze by the warlike sons of the Achaeans.” When Poseidon the Earth-Shaker heard this, he went his way through the battle and the clash of spears, and came to where Aeneas and the renowned Achilles were. At once he shed a mist over the eyes of Achilles, son of Peleus, and drew the spear of fine bronze from the shield of great-hearted Aeneas. He laid it before the feet of Achilles, and then lifted Aeneas and swung him high from the ground. Over many ranks of heroes and many ranks of horses Aeneas vaulted, propelled by the hand of the god, and came to the very edge of the raging battle, where the Caucones were arming themselves for the war. And close beside him came Poseidon the Earth-Shaker, and speaking to him, he uttered winged words: “Aeneas, which of the gods commands you so rashly to fight against the great-hearted son of Peleus, who is both a mightier man than you and dearer to the immortals? Withdraw, whenever you should encounter him, lest even against your fate you enter the house of Hades. But when Achilles has met his death and his own destiny, then take courage and fight among the foremost; for no other of the Achaeans shall take your life.” So speaking, he left him there, when he had made all things clear. And at once he scattered the wondrous mist from the eyes of Achilles. He then saw clearly with his eyes, and groaning, he spoke to his own great-hearted spirit: “Alas, what great marvel is this I see with my eyes! My spear lies here on the ground, but I cannot see the man at whom I hurled it, eager to kill him. Truly, Aeneas must also be dear to the immortal gods; though I thought his boasting was idle and in vain. Let him go! He will have no heart to try me again, he who was so glad to escape from death now. But come, I will urge on the war-loving Danaans and go to face the other Trojans and make trial of them.” He spoke, and leaped into the ranks, and called out to each man: “No longer stand far off from the Trojans, you godlike Achaeans, but come, let man go against man, and be eager to fight. It is hard for me, mighty though I am, to pursue so many men and fight with them all. Not even Ares, who is an immortal god, nor Athene could charge into the jaws of such a battle and toil so. But as much as I can with my hands and feet and strength, I declare I will hold back no more, not even for a moment, but I will drive straight through their line, and I do not think any Trojan will rejoice who comes within reach of my spear.” So he spoke, urging them on. And to the Trojans glorious Hector called with a great shout, saying he would go to face Achilles: “Great-hearted Trojans, do not fear the son of Peleus. I too could fight with words, even against the immortals; but to fight them with the spear is hard, since they are far stronger. And Achilles will not bring all his words to fulfillment; he will accomplish one part, and leave another half-done. I will go to stand against him, though his hands are like fire; yes, though his hands are like fire and his spirit like gleaming iron.” So he spoke, urging them on, and the Trojans raised their spears to face the enemy. Their fury mingled together, and a cry arose. Then Phoebus Apollo stood beside Hector and said to him: “Hector, do not challenge Achilles at all as a champion before the army, but await him in the multitude and from out of the tumult, lest he strike you with his spear or with his sword at close quarters.” So he spoke, and Hector drew back again into the throng of men, seized with fear when he heard the voice of the god speaking. But Achilles leaped among the Trojans, his heart clad in valor, with a terrible cry, and first he slew Iphition, the valiant son of Otrynteus, a leader of many peoples, whom a Naiad nymph bore to Otrynteus, sacker of cities, under the snowy heights of Tmolus, in the rich land of Hyde. As he charged straight at him, godlike Achilles struck him with his spear full on the head, which was split completely in two. He fell with a thud, and godlike Achilles exulted over him: “You lie there, son of Otrynteus, most formidable of all men. Here is your death, though your birth was by the Gygaean lake, where your father’s estate lies, by the fish-filled Hyllus and the eddying Hermus.” So he spoke, exulting, and darkness covered the other’s eyes. The chariot wheels of the Achaeans cut him to pieces in the front line of the battle. And after him Achilles struck Demoleon, a valiant defender in battle, son of Antenor. He stabbed him in the temple, through the bronze-cheeked helmet. The bronze helmet did not hold, but the spearhead, driven on, smashed through it and shattered the bone, and all the brain within was spattered about. So he slew him in his fury. Then Hippodamas, as he leaped down from his chariot and fled before him, he stabbed in the back with his spear. And he gasped out his life and bellowed, as a bull bellows when it is dragged around the altar of the Heliconian lord by the young men who pull it; and the Earth-Shaker delights in them. So he bellowed, and his proud spirit left his bones. But Achilles went on with his spear after godlike Polydorus, son of Priam. His father would not allow him to fight, because he was the youngest of all his sons, and the dearest to him, and he outran all others on his feet. And now, in his childish folly, displaying the excellence of his speed, he was darting through the front ranks, until he lost his dear life. Swift-footed, godlike Achilles struck him with a javelin as he darted past, in the middle of his back, where the golden clasps of his belt fastened and the two halves of his corselet overlapped. The spearhead passed straight through, by the navel, and he fell to his knees with a cry, and a dark cloud enveloped him, and as he sank he clutched his entrails to him with his hands. And when Hector saw his brother Polydorus clutching his bowels in his hands, sinking to the earth, a mist poured over his eyes, and he could no longer bear to keep his distance, but went to face Achilles, brandishing his sharp spear, like a flame. And when Achilles saw him, he leaped up, and spoke in exultation: “Here is the man who has stung my heart most deeply, who killed my honored companion. We shall no longer shrink from each other along the pathways of war.” He spoke, and with a dark look addressed godlike Hector: “Come closer, so that you may sooner reach the limits of death.” But Hector of the flashing helm, unafraid, answered him: “Son of Peleus, do not think to frighten me with words as if I were a mere child, for I myself know well how to speak both taunts and fitting words. I know that you are valiant, and that I am far weaker than you. Yet these things surely lie on the knees of the gods, whether I, though the lesser man, may take your life with a cast of my spear, for my weapon too has a sharp point at its end.” He spoke, and balancing his spear, he hurled it; but Athene with a breath turned it back from the glorious Achilles, breathing very gently, and it returned to godlike Hector and fell at his own feet. And Achilles, eager to kill him, rushed upon him furiously with a terrible cry; but Apollo snatched Hector away, very easily, as a god can, and hid him in a thick mist. Three times then swift-footed, godlike Achilles charged with his bronze spear, and three times he struck the deep mist. But when for the fourth time he rushed upon him like a demon, he shouted terribly and uttered winged words: “You have escaped death yet again, you dog. The evil came very close to you, but Phoebus Apollo has saved you once more, he to whom you must pray when you go into the clash of spears. But I will surely make an end of you if I meet you hereafter, if any of the gods is my helper as well. For now I will go after the others, whomever I can catch.” So speaking, he struck Dryops in the middle of the neck with his javelin, and he fell at his feet. But he left him there, and struck Demuchus, son of Philetor, a great and valiant man, in the knee with his spear, checking his course. Then he struck him with his great sword and took his life. Then, charging upon Laogonus and Dardanus, the two sons of Bias, he thrust them both from their chariot to the ground, striking one with his spear and the other with his sword at close range. Then Tros, son of Alastor—he came to meet him and clasped his knees, hoping that he would take him alive and let him go, sparing him and not killing him, pitying him as one of his own age— the fool, for he did not know that he would not be persuaded. For this was no man of sweet temper or gentle heart, but one utterly possessed by fury. Tros clutched his knees with his hands, desperate to implore him, but Achilles stabbed him in the liver with his sword. His liver slipped out, and the dark blood from it filled his lap, and darkness covered his eyes as his life departed. Then he went and stood by Mulius and stabbed him in the ear with his spear, and at once the bronze spearhead came out through the other ear. Then he struck Echeclus, son of Agenor, full on the head with his hilted sword, and the whole sword grew warm with blood; and down over his eyes came crimson death and relentless fate. Then Deucalion, where the tendons of the elbow join, there he pierced his arm clean through with the bronze spearhead. He waited for him, his arm heavy, seeing death before him. And Achilles, striking his neck with the sword, sent his head flying, helmet and all. The marrow gushed up from the vertebrae, and the man lay stretched out on the ground. Then Achilles went on to pursue the flawless son of Peires, Rhigmus, who had come from fertile Thrace. He struck him in the middle with his javelin, and the bronze was fixed in his belly, and he fell from his chariot. And Areithous his squire, as he turned the horses, he struck in the back with his sharp spear and thrust him from the chariot, and the horses bolted in terror. As a monstrous fire rages through the deep glens of a dry mountain, and the dense forest burns, and the wind, driving it, whips the flame in all directions, so he raged everywhere with his spear, like a demon, pursuing those he would kill, and the black earth ran with blood. As when a man yokes broad-browed male oxen to tread white barley on a well-built threshing floor, and the grain is quickly husked under the feet of the bellowing oxen, so under great-souled Achilles his single-hoofed horses trampled on corpses and shields together. The whole axle beneath was spattered with blood, as were the rails that ran around the chariot, struck by the drops flung up from the horses’ hooves and from the tires of the wheels. But the son of Peleus pressed on, striving to win glory, his unconquerable hands spattered with gore.

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