ἸΛΙΆΣ 7

Ὣς εἰπὼν πυλέων ἐξέσσυτο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,
τῷ δ’ ἅμ’ Ἀλέξανδρος κί’ ἀδελφεός· ἐν δ’ ἄρα θυμῷ
ἀμφότεροι μέμασαν πολεμίζειν ἠδὲ μάχεσθαι.
ὡς δὲ θεὸς ναύτῃσιν ἐελδομένοισιν ἔδωκεν
οὖρον, ἐπεί κε κάμωσιν ἐϋξέστῃς ἐλάτῃσι
πόντον ἐλαύνοντες, καμάτῳ δ’ ὑπὸ γυῖα λέλυνται,
ὣς ἄρα τὼ Τρώεσσιν ἐελδομένοισι φανήτην.
Ἔνθ’ ἑλέτην ὃ μὲν υἱὸν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος
Ἄρνῃ ναιετάοντα Μενέσθιον, ὃν κορυνήτης
γείνατ’ Ἀρηΐθοος καὶ Φυλομέδουσα βοῶπις·
Ἕκτωρ δ’ Ἠϊονῆα βάλ’ ἔγχεϊ ὀξυόεντι
αὐχέν’ ὑπὸ στεφάνης εὐχάλκου, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.
Γλαῦκος δ’ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς Λυκίων ἀγὸς ἀνδρῶν,
Ἰφίνοον βάλε δουρὶ κατὰ κρατερὴν ὑσμίνην
Δεξιάδην ἵππων ἐπιάλμενον ὠκειάων,
ὦμον· ὃ δ’ ἐξ ἵππων χαμάδις πέσε, λύντο δὲ γυῖα.
Τοὺς δ’ ὡς οὖν ἐνόησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη

Ἀργείους ὀλέκοντας ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ,
βῆ ῥα κατ’ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων ἀΐξασα
Ἴλιον εἰς ἱερήν· τῇ δ’ ἀντίος ὄρνυτ’ Ἀπόλλων
Περγάμου ἐκκατιδών, Τρώεσσι δὲ βούλετο νίκην·
ἀλλήλοισι δὲ τώ γε συναντέσθην παρὰ φηγῷ.
τὴν πρότερος προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
«τίπτε σὺ δ’ αὖ μεμαυῖα Διὸς θύγατερ μεγάλοιο
ἦλθες ἀπ’ Οὐλύμποιο, μέγας δέ σε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν;
ἦ ἵνα δὴ Δαναοῖσι μάχης ἑτεραλκέα νίκην
δῷς; ἐπεὶ οὔ τι Τρῶας ἀπολλυμένους ἐλεαίρεις.
ἀλλ’ εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη·
νῦν μὲν παύσωμεν πόλεμον καὶ δηϊοτῆτα
σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχήσοντ’ εἰς ὅ κε τέκμωρ
Ἰλίου εὕρωσιν, ἐπεὶ ὣς φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ
ὑμῖν ἀθανάτῃσι, διαπραθέειν τόδε ἄστυ.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη·
«ὧδ’ ἔστω ἑκάεργε· τὰ γὰρ φρονέουσα καὶ αὐτὴ
ἦλθον ἀπ’ Οὐλύμποιο μετὰ Τρῶας καὶ Ἀχαιούς.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε πῶς μέμονας πόλεμον καταπαυσέμεν ἀνδρῶν;»
Τὴν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·
«Ἕκτορος ὄρσωμεν κρατερὸν μένος ἱπποδάμοιο,
ἤν τινά που Δαναῶν προκαλέσσεται οἰόθεν οἶος
ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι,
οἳ δέ κ’ ἀγασσάμενοι χαλκοκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
οἶον ἐπόρσειαν πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἀπίθησε θεὰ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη.
τῶν δ’ Ἕλενος Πριάμοιο φίλος παῖς σύνθετο θυμῷ
βουλήν, ἥ ῥα θεοῖσιν ἐφήνδανε μητιόωσι·
στῆ δὲ παρ’ Ἕκτορ’ ἰὼν καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«Ἕκτορ υἱὲ Πριάμοιο Διὶ μῆτιν ἀτάλαντε
ἦ ῥά νύ μοί τι πίθοιο, κασίγνητος δέ τοί εἰμι·

ἄλλους μὲν κάθισον Τρῶας καὶ πάντας Ἀχαιούς,
αὐτὸς δὲ προκάλεσσαι Ἀχαιῶν ὅς τις ἄριστος
ἀντίβιον μαχέσασθαι ἐν αἰνῇ δηϊοτῆτι·
οὐ γάρ πώ τοι μοῖρα θανεῖν καὶ πότμον ἐπισπεῖν·
ὣς γὰρ ἐγὼ ὄπ’ ἄκουσα θεῶν αἰειγενετάων.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, Ἕκτωρ δ’ αὖτε χάρη μέγα μῦθον ἀκούσας,
καί ῥ’ ἐς μέσσον ἰὼν Τρώων ἀνέεργε φάλαγγας,
μέσσου δουρὸς ἑλών· οἳ δ’ ἱδρύνθησαν ἅπαντες.
κὰδ δ’ Ἀγαμέμνων εἷσεν ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς·
κὰδ δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀθηναίη τε καὶ ἀργυρότοξος Ἀπόλλων
ἑζέσθην ὄρνισιν ἐοικότες αἰγυπιοῖσι
φηγῷ ἐφ’ ὑψηλῇ πατρὸς Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο
ἀνδράσι τερπόμενοι· τῶν δὲ στίχες εἵατο πυκναὶ
ἀσπίσι καὶ κορύθεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσι πεφρικυῖαι.
οἵη δὲ Ζεφύροιο ἐχεύατο πόντον ἔπι φρὶξ
ὀρνυμένοιο νέον, μελάνει δέ τε πόντος ὑπ’ αὐτῆς,
τοῖαι ἄρα στίχες εἵατ’ Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε
ἐν πεδίῳ· Ἕκτωρ δὲ μετ’ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἔειπε·
«κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
ὄφρ’ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
ὅρκια μὲν Κρονίδης ὑψίζυγος οὐκ ἐτέλεσσεν,
ἀλλὰ κακὰ φρονέων τεκμαίρεται ἀμφοτέροισιν
εἰς ὅ κεν ἢ ὑμεῖς Τροίην εὔπυργον ἕλητε
ἢ αὐτοὶ παρὰ νηυσὶ δαμείετε ποντοπόροισιν.
ὑμῖν δ’ ἐν γὰρ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν·
τῶν νῦν ὅν τινα θυμὸς ἐμοὶ μαχέσασθαι ἀνώγει
δεῦρ’ ἴτω ἐκ πάντων πρόμος ἔμμεναι Ἕκτορι δίῳ.
ὧδε δὲ μυθέομαι, Ζεὺς δ’ ἄμμ’ ἐπιμάρτυρος ἔστω·
εἰ μέν κεν ἐμὲ κεῖνος ἕλῃ ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ,

τεύχεα συλήσας φερέτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας,
σῶμα δὲ οἴκαδ’ ἐμὸν δόμεναι πάλιν, ὄφρα πυρός με
Τρῶες καὶ Τρώων ἄλοχοι λελάχωσι θανόντα.
εἰ δέ κ’ ἐγὼ τὸν ἕλω, δώῃ δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀπόλλων,
τεύχεα σύλησας οἴσω προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν,
καὶ κρεμόω προτὶ νηὸν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο,
τὸν δὲ νέκυν ἐπὶ νῆας ἐϋσσέλμους ἀποδώσω,
ὄφρά ἑ ταρχύσωσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,
σῆμά τέ οἱ χεύωσιν ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ.
καί ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι καὶ ὀψιγόνων ἀνθρώπων
νηῒ πολυκλήϊδι πλέων ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·
“ἀνδρὸς μὲν τόδε σῆμα πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,
ὅν ποτ’ ἀριστεύοντα κατέκτανε φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ.”
ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· τὸ δ’ ἐμὸν κλέος οὔ ποτ’ ὀλεῖται.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·
αἴδεσθεν μὲν ἀνήνασθαι, δεῖσαν δ’ ὑποδέχθαι·
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπε
νείκει ὀνειδίζων, μέγα δὲ στεναχίζετο θυμῷ·
«ὤ μοι ἀπειλητῆρες Ἀχαιΐδες οὐκέτ’ Ἀχαιοί·
ἦ μὲν δὴ λώβη τάδε γ’ ἔσσεται αἰνόθεν αἰνῶς
εἰ μή τις Δαναῶν νῦν Ἕκτορος ἀντίος εἶσιν.
ἀλλ’ ὑμεῖς μὲν πάντες ὕδωρ καὶ γαῖα γένοισθε
ἥμενοι αὖθι ἕκαστοι ἀκήριοι ἀκλεὲς αὔτως·
τῷδε δ’ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς θωρήξομαι· αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε
νίκης πείρατ’ ἔχονται ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κατεδύσετο τεύχεα καλά.
ἔνθά κέ τοι Μενέλαε φάνη βιότοιο τελευτὴ
Ἕκτορος ἐν παλάμῃσιν, ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἦεν,
εἰ μὴ ἀναΐξαντες ἕλον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν,
αὐτός τ’ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
δεξιτερῆς ἕλε χειρὸς ἔπος τ’ ἔφατ’ ἔκ τ’ ὀνόμαζεν·

«ἀφραίνεις Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
ταύτης ἀφροσύνης· ἀνὰ δὲ σχέο κηδόμενός περ,
μηδ’ ἔθελ’ ἐξ ἔριδος σεῦ ἀμείνονι φωτὶ μάχεσθαι
Ἕκτορι Πριαμίδῃ, τόν τε στυγέουσι καὶ ἄλλοι.
καὶ δ’ Ἀχιλεὺς τούτῳ γε μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ
ἔῤῥιγ’ ἀντιβολῆσαι, ὅ περ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν ἵζευ ἰὼν μετὰ ἔθνος ἑταίρων,
τούτῳ δὲ πρόμον ἄλλον ἀναστήσουσιν Ἀχαιοί.
εἴ περ ἀδειής τ’ ἐστὶ καὶ εἰ μόθου ἔστ’ ἀκόρητος,
φημί μιν ἀσπασίως γόνυ κάμψειν, αἴ κε φύγῃσι
δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν παρέπεισεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως
αἴσιμα παρειπών, ὃ δ’ ἐπείθετο· τοῦ μὲν ἔπειτα
γηθόσυνοι θεράποντες ἀπ’ ὤμων τεύχε’ ἕλοντο·
Νέστωρ δ’ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνίστατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
«ὢ πόποι ἦ μέγα πένθος Ἀχαιΐδα γαῖαν ἱκάνει.
ἦ κε μέγ’ οἰμώξειε γέρων ἱππηλάτα Πηλεύς,
ἐσθλὸς Μυρμιδόνων βουληφόρος ἠδ’ ἀγορητής,
ὅς ποτέ μ’ εἰρόμενος μέγ’ ἐγήθεεν ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
πάντων Ἀργείων ἐρέων γενεήν τε τόκον τε.
τοὺς νῦν εἰ πτώσσοντας ὑφ’ Ἕκτορι πάντας ἀκούσαι,
πολλά κεν ἀθανάτοισι φίλας ἀνὰ χεῖρας ἀείραι
θυμὸν ἀπὸ μελέων δῦναι δόμον Ἄϊδος εἴσω.
αἲ γὰρ Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον
ἡβῷμ’ ὡς ὅτ’ ἐπ’ ὠκυρόῳ Κελάδοντι μάχοντο
ἀγρόμενοι Πύλιοί τε καὶ Ἀρκάδες ἐγχεσίμωροι
Φειᾶς πὰρ τείχεσσιν Ἰαρδάνου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα.

τοῖσι δ’ Ἐρευθαλίων πρόμος ἵστατο ἰσόθεος φώς,
τεύχε’ ἔχων ὤμοισιν Ἀρηϊθόοιο ἄνακτος,
δίου Ἀρηϊθόου, τὸν ἐπίκλησιν κορυνήτην
ἄνδρες κίκλησκον καλλίζωνοί τε γυναῖκες,
οὕνεκ’ ἄρ’ οὐ τόξοισι μαχέσκετο δουρί τε μακρῷ,
ἀλλὰ σιδηρείῃ κορύνῃ ῥήγνυσκε φάλαγγας.
τὸν Λυκόοργος ἔπεφνε δόλῳ, οὔ τι κράτεΐ γε,
στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ ὅθ’ ἄρ’ οὐ κορύνη οἱ ὄλεθρον
χραῖσμε σιδηρείη· πρὶν γὰρ Λυκόοργος ὑποφθὰς
δουρὶ μέσον περόνησεν, ὃ δ’ ὕπτιος οὔδει ἐρείσθη·
τεύχεα δ’ ἐξενάριξε, τά οἱ πόρε χάλκεος Ἄρης.
καὶ τὰ μὲν αὐτὸς ἔπειτα φόρει μετὰ μῶλον Ἄρηος·
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ Λυκόοργος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐγήρα,
δῶκε δ’ Ἐρευθαλίωνι φίλῳ θεράποντι φορῆναι·
τοῦ ὅ γε τεύχε’ ἔχων προκαλίζετο πάντας ἀρίστους.
οἳ δὲ μάλ’ ἐτρόμεον καὶ ἐδείδισαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη·
ἀλλ’ ἐμὲ θυμὸς ἀνῆκε πολυτλήμων πολεμίζειν
θάρσεϊ ᾧ· γενεῇ δὲ νεώτατος ἔσκον ἁπάντων·
καὶ μαχόμην οἱ ἐγώ, δῶκεν δέ μοι εὖχος Ἀθήνη.
τὸν δὴ μήκιστον καὶ κάρτιστον κτάνον ἄνδρα·
πολλὸς γάρ τις ἔκειτο παρήορος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.
εἴθ’ ὣς ἡβώοιμι, βίη δέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη·
τώ κε τάχ’ ἀντήσειε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ.
ὑμέων δ’ οἵ περ ἔασιν ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν
οὐδ’ οἳ προφρονέως μέμαθ’ Ἕκτορος ἀντίον ἐλθεῖν.»
Ὣς νείκεσσ’ ὃ γέρων, οἳ δ’ ἐννέα πάντες ἀνέσταν.
ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
τῷ δ’ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
τοῖσι δ’ ἐπ’ Αἴαντες θοῦριν ἐπιειμένοι ἀλκήν,

τοῖσι δ’ ἐπ’ Ἰδομενεὺς καὶ ὀπάων Ἰδομενῆος
Μηριόνης ἀτάλαντος Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ,
τοῖσι δ’ ἐπ’ Εὐρύπυλος Εὐαίμονος ἀγλαὸς υἱός,
ἂν δὲ Θόας Ἀνδραιμονίδης καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς·
πάντες ἄρ’ οἵ γ’ ἔθελον πολεμίζειν Ἕκτορι δίῳ.
τοῖς δ’ αὖτις μετέειπε Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ·
«κλήρῳ νῦν πεπάλασθε διαμπερὲς ὅς κε λάχῃσιν·
οὗτος γὰρ δὴ ὀνήσει ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,
καὶ δ’ αὐτὸς ὃν θυμὸν ὀνήσεται αἴ κε φύγῃσι
δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο καὶ αἰνῆς δηϊοτῆτος.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δὲ κλῆρον ἐσημήναντο ἕκαστος,
ἐν δ’ ἔβαλον κυνέῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.
λαοὶ δ’ ἠρήσαντο, θεοῖσι δὲ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·
«Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἢ Αἴαντα λαχεῖν, ἢ Τυδέος υἱόν,
ἢ αὐτὸν βασιλῆα πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης.»
Ὣς ἄρ’ ἔφαν, πάλλεν δὲ Γερήνιος ἱππότα Νέστωρ,
ἐκ δ’ ἔθορε κλῆρος κυνέης ὃν ἄρ’ ἤθελον αὐτοί,
Αἴαντος· κῆρυξ δὲ φέρων ἀν’ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ
δεῖξ’ ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν ἀριστήεσσιν Ἀχαιῶν.
οἳ δ’ οὐ γιγνώσκοντες ἀπηνήναντο ἕκαστος.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ τὸν ἵκανε φέρων ἀν’ ὅμιλον ἁπάντῃ
ὅς μιν ἐπιγράψας κυνέῃ βάλε φαίδιμος Αἴας,
ἤτοι ὑπέσχεθε χεῖρ’, ὃ δ’ ἄρ’ ἔμβαλεν ἄγχι παραστάς,
γνῶ δὲ κλήρου σῆμα ἰδών, γήθησε δὲ θυμῷ.
τὸν μὲν πὰρ πόδ’ ἑὸν χαμάδις βάλε φώνησέν τε·
«ὦ φίλοι ἤτοι κλῆρος ἐμός, χαίρω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς
θυμῷ, ἐπεὶ δοκέω νικησέμεν Ἕκτορα δῖον.
ἀλλ’ ἄγετ’ ὄφρ’ ἂν ἐγὼ πολεμήϊα τεύχεα δύω,

τόφρ’ ὑμεῖς εὔχεσθε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι
σιγῇ ἐφ’ ὑμείων ἵνα μὴ Τρῶές γε πύθωνται,
ἠὲ καὶ ἀμφαδίην, ἐπεὶ οὔ τινα δείδιμεν ἔμπης·
οὐ γάρ τίς με βίῃ γε ἑκὼν ἀέκοντα δίηται,
οὐδέ τι ἰδρείῃ, ἐπεὶ οὐδ’ ἐμὲ νήϊδά γ’ οὕτως
ἔλπομαι ἐν Σαλαμῖνι γενέσθαι τε τραφέμεν τε.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ εὔχοντο Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι·
ὧδε δέ τις εἴπεσκεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·
«Ζεῦ πάτερ, Ἴδηθεν μεδέων κύδιστε μέγιστε
δὸς νίκην Αἴαντι καὶ ἀγλαὸν εὖχος ἀρέσθαι·
εἰ δὲ καὶ Ἕκτορά περ φιλέεις καὶ κήδεαι αὐτοῦ,
ἴσην ἀμφοτέροισι βίην καὶ κῦδος ὄπασσον.»
Ὣς ἄρ’ ἔφαν, Αἴας δὲ κορύσσετο νώροπι χαλκῷ.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντα περὶ χροῒ ἕσσατο τεύχεα,
σεύατ’ ἔπειθ’ οἷός τε πελώριος ἔρχεται Ἄρης,
ὅς τ’ εἶσιν πόλεμον δὲ μετ’ ἀνέρας οὕς τε Κρονίων
θυμοβόρου ἔριδος μένεϊ ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι.
τοῖος ἄρ’ Αἴας ὦρτο πελώριος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν
μειδιόων βλοσυροῖσι προσώπασι· νέρθε δὲ ποσσὶν
ἤϊε μακρὰ βιβάς, κραδάων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
τὸν δὲ καὶ Ἀργεῖοι μὲν ἐγήθεον εἰσορόωντες,
Τρῶας δὲ τρόμος αἰνὸς ὑπήλυθε γυῖα ἕκαστον,
Ἕκτορί τ’ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι πάτασσεν·
ἀλλ’ οὔ πως ἔτι εἶχεν ὑποτρέσαι οὐδ’ ἀναδῦναι
ἂψ λαῶν ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεὶ προκαλέσσατο χάρμῃ.
Αἴας δ’ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθε φέρων σάκος ἠΰτε πύργον
χάλκεον ἑπταβόειον, ὅ οἱ Τυχίος κάμε τεύχων
σκυτοτόμων ὄχ’ ἄριστος Ὕλῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων,
ὅς οἱ ἐποίησεν σάκος αἰόλον ἑπταβόειον

ταύρων ζατρεφέων, ἐπὶ δ’ ὄγδοον ἤλασε χαλκόν.
τὸ πρόσθε στέρνοιο φέρων Τελαμώνιος Αἴας
στῆ ῥα μάλ’ Ἕκτορος ἐγγύς, ἀπειλήσας δὲ προσηύδα·
«Ἕκτορ νῦν μὲν δὴ σάφα εἴσεαι οἰόθεν οἶος
οἷοι καὶ Δαναοῖσιν ἀριστῆες μετέασι
καὶ μετ’ Ἀχιλλῆα ῥηξήνορα θυμολέοντα.
ἀλλ’ ὃ μὲν ἐν νήεσσι κορωνίσι ποντοπόροισι
κεῖτ’ ἀπομηνίσας Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν·
ἡμεῖς δ’ εἰμὲν τοῖοι οἳ ἂν σέθεν ἀντιάσαιμεν
καὶ πολέες· ἀλλ’ ἄρχε μάχης ἠδὲ πτολέμοιο.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
«Αἶαν διογενὲς Τελαμώνιε κοίρανε λαῶν
μή τί μευ ἠΰτε παιδὸς ἀφαυροῦ πειρήτιζε,
ἠὲ γυναικός, ἣ οὐκ οἶδεν πολεμήϊα ἔργα.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν εὖ οἶδα μάχας τ’ ἀνδροκτασίας τε·
οἶδ’ ἐπὶ δεξιά, οἶδ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν
ἀζαλέην, τό μοι ἔστι ταλαύρινον πολεμίζειν·
οἶδα δ’ ἐπαΐξαι μόθον ἵππων ὠκειάων·
οἶδα δ’ ἐνὶ σταδίῃ δηΐῳ μέλπεσθαι Ἄρηϊ.
ἀλλ’ οὐ γάρ σ’ ἐθέλω βαλέειν τοιοῦτον ἐόντα
λάθρῃ ὀπιπεύσας, ἀλλ’ ἀμφαδόν, αἴ κε τύχωμι.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀμπεπαλὼν προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
καὶ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον
ἀκρότατον κατὰ χαλκόν, ὃς ὄγδοος ἦεν ἐπ’ αὐτῷ.
ἓξ δὲ διὰ πτύχας ἦλθε δαΐζων χαλκὸς ἀτειρής,
ἐν τῇ δ’ ἑβδομάτῃ ῥινῷ σχέτο· δεύτερος αὖτε
Αἴας διογενὴς προΐει δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
καὶ βάλε Πριαμίδαο κατ’ ἀσπίδα πάντοσ’ ἐΐσην.

διὰ μὲν ἀσπίδος ἦλθε φαεινῆς ὄβριμον ἔγχος,
καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πολυδαιδάλου ἠρήρειστο·
ἀντικρὺ δὲ παραὶ λαπάρην διάμησε χιτῶνα
ἔγχος· ὃ δ’ ἐκλίνθη καὶ ἀλεύατο κῆρα μέλαιναν.
τὼ δ’ ἐκσπασσαμένω δολίχ’ ἔγχεα χερσὶν ἅμ’ ἄμφω
σύν ῥ’ ἔπεσον λείουσιν ἐοικότες ὠμοφάγοισιν
ἢ συσὶ κάπροισιν, τῶν τε σθένος οὐκ ἀλαπαδνόν.
Πριαμίδης μὲν ἔπειτα μέσον σάκος οὔτασε δουρί,
οὐδ’ ἔῤῥηξεν χαλκός, ἀνεγνάμφθη δέ οἱ αἰχμή.
Αἴας δ’ ἀσπίδα νύξεν ἐπάλμενος· ἣ δὲ διαπρὸ
ἤλυθεν ἐγχείη, στυφέλιξε δέ μιν μεμαῶτα,
τμήδην δ’ αὐχέν’ ἐπῆλθε, μέλαν δ’ ἀνεκήκιεν αἷμα,
ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ ὧς ἀπέληγε μάχης κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ,
ἀλλ’ ἀναχασσάμενος λίθον εἵλετο χειρὶ παχείῃ
κείμενον ἐν πεδίῳ μέλανα τρηχύν τε μέγαν τε·
τῷ βάλεν Αἴαντος δεινὸν σάκος ἑπταβόειον
μέσσον ἐπομφάλιον· περιήχησεν δ’ ἄρα χαλκός.
δεύτερος αὖτ’ Αἴας πολὺ μείζονα λᾶαν ἀείρας
ἧκ’ ἐπιδινήσας, ἐπέρεισε δὲ ἶν’ ἀπέλεθρον,
εἴσω δ’ ἀσπίδ’ ἔαξε βαλὼν μυλοειδέϊ πέτρῳ,
βλάψε δέ οἱ φίλα γούναθ’· ὃ δ’ ὕπτιος ἐξετανύσθη
ἀσπίδι ἐγχριμφθείς· τὸν δ’ αἶψ’ ὤρθωσεν Ἀπόλλων.
καί νύ κε δὴ ξιφέεσσ’ αὐτοσχεδὸν οὐτάζοντο,
εἰ μὴ κήρυκες Διὸς ἄγγελοι ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν
ἦλθον, ὃ μὲν Τρώων, ὃ δ’ Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων,
Ταλθύβιός τε καὶ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένω ἄμφω·
μέσσῳ δ’ ἀμφοτέρων σκῆπτρα σχέθον, εἶπέ τε μῦθον
κῆρυξ Ἰδαῖος πεπνυμένα μήδεα εἰδώς·
«μηκέτι παῖδε φίλω πολεμίζετε μηδὲ μάχεσθον·
ἀμφοτέρω γὰρ σφῶϊ φιλεῖ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,
ἄμφω δ’ αἰχμητά· τό γε δὴ καὶ ἴδμεν ἅπαντες.

νὺξ δ’ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
«Ἰδαῖ’ Ἕκτορα ταῦτα κελεύετε μυθήσασθαι·
αὐτὸς γὰρ χάρμῃ προκαλέσσατο πάντας ἀρίστους.
ἀρχέτω· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μάλα πείσομαι ᾗ περ ἂν οὗτος.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
«Αἶαν ἐπεί τοι δῶκε θεὸς μέγεθός τε βίην τε
καὶ πινυτήν, περὶ δ’ ἔγχει Ἀχαιῶν φέρτατός ἐσσι,
νῦν μὲν παυσώμεσθα μάχης καὶ δηϊοτῆτος
σήμερον· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθ’ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων
ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δ’ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.
νὺξ δ’ ἤδη τελέθει· ἀγαθὸν καὶ νυκτὶ πιθέσθαι,
ὡς σύ τ’ ἐϋφρήνῃς πάντας παρὰ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιούς,
σούς τε μάλιστα ἔτας καὶ ἑταίρους, οἵ τοι ἔασιν·
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ κατὰ ἄστυ μέγα Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
Τρῶας ἐϋφρανέω καὶ Τρῳάδας ἑλκεσιπέπλους,
αἵ τέ μοι εὐχόμεναι θεῖον δύσονται ἀγῶνα.
δῶρα δ’ ἄγ’ ἀλλήλοισι περικλυτὰ δώομεν ἄμφω,
ὄφρά τις ὧδ’ εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν τε Τρώων τε·
“ἠμὲν ἐμαρνάσθην ἔριδος πέρι θυμοβόροιο,
ἠδ’ αὖτ’ ἐν φιλότητι διέτμαγεν ἀρθμήσαντε.”»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας δῶκε ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι·
Αἴας δὲ ζωστῆρα δίδου φοίνικι φαεινόν.
τὼ δὲ διακρινθέντε ὃ μὲν μετὰ λαὸν Ἀχαιῶν
ἤϊ’, ὁ δ’ ἐς Τρώων ὅμαδον κίε· τοὶ δὲ χάρησαν,
ὡς εἶδον ζωόν τε καὶ ἀρτεμέα προσιόντα,

Αἴαντος προφυγόντα μένος καὶ χεῖρας ἀάπτους·
καί ῥ’ ἦγον προτὶ ἄστυ ἀελπτέοντες σόον εἶναι.
Αἴαντ’ αὖθ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον κεχαρηότα νίκῃ.
Οἳ δ’ ὅτε δὴ κλισίῃσιν ἐν Ἀτρεΐδαο γένοντο,
τοῖσι δὲ βοῦν ἱέρευσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
ἄρσενα πενταέτηρον ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.
τὸν δέρον ἀμφί θ’ ἕπον, καί μιν διέχευαν ἅπαντα,
μίστυλλόν τ’ ἄρ’ ἐπισταμένως πεῖράν τ’ ὀβελοῖσιν,
ὄπτησάν τε περιφραδέως, ἐρύσαντό τε πάντα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ παύσαντο πόνου τετύκοντό τε δαῖτα,
δαίνυντ’, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης·
νώτοισιν δ’ Αἴαντα διηνεκέεσσι γέραιρεν
ἥρως Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
τοῖς ὁ γέρων πάμπρωτος ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν
Νέστωρ, οὗ καὶ πρόσθεν ἀρίστη φαίνετο βουλή·
ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν·
«Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,
πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσι κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,
τῶν νῦν αἷμα κελαινὸν ἐΰῤῥοον ἀμφὶ Σκάμανδρον
ἐσκέδασ’ ὀξὺς Ἄρης, ψυχαὶ δ’ Ἄϊδος δὲ κατῆλθον·
τώ σε χρὴ πόλεμον μὲν ἅμ’ ἠοῖ παῦσαι Ἀχαιῶν,
αὐτοὶ δ’ ἀγρόμενοι κυκλήσομεν ἐνθάδε νεκροὺς
βουσὶ καὶ ἡμιόνοισιν· ἀτὰρ κατακήομεν αὐτοὺς
τυτθὸν ἀπὸ πρὸ νεῶν, ὥς κ’ ὀστέα παισὶν ἕκαστος
οἴκαδ’ ἄγῃ ὅτ’ ἂν αὖτε νεώμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν.
τύμβον δ’ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν ἕνα χεύομεν ἐξαγαγόντες
ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου· ποτὶ δ’ αὐτὸν δείμομεν ὦκα

πύργους ὑψηλοὺς εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.
ἐν δ’ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ποιήσομεν εὖ ἀραρυίας,
ὄφρα δι’ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·
ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ὀρύξομεν ἐγγύθι τάφρον,
ἥ χ’ ἵππον καὶ λαὸν ἐρυκάκοι ἀμφὶς ἐοῦσα,
μή ποτ’ ἐπιβρίση πόλεμος Τρώων ἀγερώχων.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνησαν βασιλῆες.
Τρώων αὖτ’ ἀγορὴ γένετ’ Ἰλίου ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ,
δεινὴ τετρηχυῖα, παρὰ Πριάμοιο θύρῃσι·
τοῖσιν δ’ Ἀντήνωρ πεπνυμένος ἦρχ’ ἀγορεύειν·
«κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδ’ ἐπίκουροι,
ὄφρ’ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
δεῦτ’ ἄγετ’ Ἀργείην Ἑλένην καὶ κτήμαθ’ ἅμ’ αὐτῇ
δώομεν Ἀτρεΐδῃσιν ἄγειν· νῦν δ’ ὅρκια πιστὰ
ψευσάμενοι μαχόμεσθα· τὼ οὔ νύ τι κέρδιον ἡμῖν
ἔλπομαι ἐκτελέεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ ῥέξομεν ὧδε.»
Ἤτοι ὅ γ’ ὣς εἰπὼν κατ’ ἄρ’ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δ’ ἀνέστη
δῖος Ἀλέξανδρος Ἑλένης πόσις ἠϋκόμοιο,
ὅς μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Ἀντῆνορ σὺ μὲν οὐκέτ’ ἐμοὶ φίλα ταῦτ’ ἀγορεύεις·
οἶσθα καὶ ἄλλον μῦθον ἀμείνονα τοῦδε νοῆσαι.
εἰ δ’ ἐτεὸν δὴ τοῦτον ἀπὸ σπουδῆς ἀγορεύεις,
ἐξ ἄρα δή τοι ἔπειτα θεοὶ φρένας ὤλεσαν αὐτοί.
αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Τρώεσσι μεθ’ ἱπποδάμοις ἀγορεύσω·
ἀντικρὺ δ’ ἀπόφημι γυναῖκα μὲν οὐκ ἀποδώσω·
κτήματα δ’ ὅσσ’ ἀγόμην ἐξ Ἄργεος ἡμέτερον δῶ
πάντ’ ἐθέλω δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλ’ ἐπιθεῖναι.»
Ἤτοι ὅ γ’ ὣς εἰπὼν κατ’ ἄρ’ ἕζετο· τοῖσι δ’ ἀνέστη
Δαρδανίδης Πρίαμος, θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος,

ὅ σφιν ἐϋφρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπε·
«κέκλυτέ μευ Τρῶες καὶ Δάρδανοι ἠδ’ ἐπίκουροι,
ὄφρ’ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι κελεύει.
νῦν μὲν δόρπον ἕλεσθε κατὰ πτόλιν ὡς τὸ πάρος περ,
καὶ φυλακῆς μνήσασθε καὶ ἐγρήγορθε ἕκαστος·
ἠῶθεν δ’ Ἰδαῖος ἴτω κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας
εἰπέμεν Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ
μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·
καὶ δὲ τόδ’ εἰπέμεναι πυκινὸν ἔπος, αἴ κ’ ἐθέλωσι
παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος, εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς
κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθ’ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων
ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δ’ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδ’ ἐπίθοντο·
δόρπον ἔπειθ’ εἵλοντο κατὰ στρατὸν ἐν τελέεσσιν·
ἠῶθεν δ’ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας·
τοὺς δ’ εὗρ’ εἰν ἀγορῇ Δαναοὺς θεράποντας Ἄρηος
νηῒ πάρα πρύμνῃ Ἀγαμέμνονος· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι
στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν μετεφώνεεν ἠπύτα κῆρυξ·
«Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,
ἠνώγει Πρίαμός τε καὶ ἄλλοι Τρῶες ἀγαυοὶ
εἰπεῖν, αἴ κέ περ ὔμμι φίλον καὶ ἡδὺ γένοιτο,
μῦθον Ἀλεξάνδροιο, τοῦ εἵνεκα νεῖκος ὄρωρε·
κτήματα μὲν ὅσ’ Ἀλέξανδρος κοίλῃς ἐνὶ νηυσὶν
ἠγάγετο Τροίηνδ’—ὡς πρὶν ὤφελλ’ ἀπολέσθαι—
πάντ’ ἐθέλει δόμεναι καὶ οἴκοθεν ἄλλ’ ἐπιθεῖναι·
κουριδίην δ’ ἄλοχον Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο
οὔ φησιν δώσειν· ἦ μὴν Τρῶές γε κέλονται.
καὶ δὲ τόδ’ ἠνώγεον εἰπεῖν ἔπος αἴ κ’ ἐθέλητε
παύσασθαι πολέμοιο δυσηχέος εἰς ὅ κε νεκροὺς

κήομεν· ὕστερον αὖτε μαχησόμεθ’ εἰς ὅ κε δαίμων
ἄμμε διακρίνῃ, δώῃ δ’ ἑτέροισί γε νίκην.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ·
ὀψὲ δὲ δὴ μετέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
«μήτ’ ἄρ τις νῦν κτήματ’ Ἀλεξάνδροιο δεχέσθω
μήθ’ Ἑλένην· γνωτὸν δὲ καὶ ὃς μάλα νήπιός ἐστιν
ὡς ἤδη Τρώεσσιν ὀλέθρου πείρατ’ ἐφῆπται.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἐπίαχον υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
μῦθον ἀγασσάμενοι Διομήδεος ἱπποδάμοιο·
καὶ τότ’ ἄρ’ Ἰδαῖον προσέφη κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων·
«Ἰδαῖ’ ἤτοι μῦθον Ἀχαιῶν αὐτὸς ἀκούεις
ὥς τοι ὑποκρίνονται· ἐμοὶ δ’ ἐπιανδάνει οὕτως
ἀμφὶ δὲ νεκροῖσιν κατακαιέμεν οὔ τι μεγαίρω·
οὐ γάρ τις φειδὼ νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων
γίγνετ’ ἐπεί κε θάνωσι πυρὸς μειλισσέμεν ὦκα.
ὅρκια δὲ Ζεὺς ἴστω ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀνέσχεθε πᾶσι θεοῖσιν,
ἄψοῤῥον δ’ Ἰδαῖος ἔβη προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
οἳ δ’ ἕατ’ εἰν ἀγορῇ Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες
πάντες ὁμηγερέες, ποτιδέγμενοι ὁππότ’ ἄρ’ ἔλθοι
Ἰδαῖος· ὃ δ’ ἄρ’ ἦλθε καὶ ἀγγελίην ἀπέειπε
στὰς ἐν μέσσοισιν· τοὶ δ’ ὁπλίζοντο μάλ’ ὦκα,
ἀμφότερον νέκυάς τ’ ἀγέμεν ἕτεροι δὲ μεθ’ ὕλην·
Ἀργεῖοι δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋσσέλμων ἀπὸ νηῶν
ὀτρύνοντο νέκυς τ’ ἀγέμεν, ἕτεροι δὲ μεθ’ ὕλην.
Ἠέλιος μὲν ἔπειτα νέον προσέβαλλεν ἀρούρας
ἐξ ἀκαλαῤῥείταο βαθυῤῥόου Ὠκεανοῖο
οὐρανὸν εἰσανιών· οἳ δ’ ἤντεον ἀλλήλοισιν.
ἔνθα διαγνῶναι χαλεπῶς ἦν ἄνδρα ἕκαστον·
ἀλλ’ ὕδατι νίζοντες ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα,
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέοντες ἀμαξάων ἐπάειραν.

οὐδ’ εἴα κλαίειν Πρίαμος μέγας· οἳ δὲ σιωπῇ
νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,
ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν προτὶ Ἴλιον ἱρήν.
ὣς δ’ αὔτως ἑτέρωθεν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
νεκροὺς πυρκαϊῆς ἐπινήνεον ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ,
ἐν δὲ πυρὶ πρήσαντες ἔβαν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.
Ἦμος δ’ οὔτ’ ἄρ πω ἠώς, ἔτι δ’ ἀμφιλύκη νύξ,
τῆμος ἄρ’ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν κριτὸς ἔγρετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν,
τύμβον δ’ ἀμφ’ αὐτὴν ἕνα ποίεον ἐξαγαγόντες
ἄκριτον ἐκ πεδίου, ποτὶ δ’ αὐτὸν τεῖχος ἔδειμαν
πύργους θ’ ὑψηλούς, εἶλαρ νηῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν.
ἐν δ’ αὐτοῖσι πύλας ἐνεποίεον εὖ ἀραρυίας,
ὄφρα δι’ αὐτάων ἱππηλασίη ὁδὸς εἴη·
ἔκτοσθεν δὲ βαθεῖαν ἐπ’ αὐτῷ τάφρον ὄρυξαν
εὐρεῖαν μεγάλην, ἐν δὲ σκόλοπας κατέπηξαν.
Ὣς οἳ μὲν πονέοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί·
οἳ δὲ θεοὶ πὰρ Ζηνὶ καθήμενοι ἀστεροπητῇ
θηεῦντο μέγα ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων.
τοῖσι δὲ μύθων ἦρχε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων·
«Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι βροτῶν ἐπ’ ἀπείρονα γαῖαν
ὅς τις ἔτ’ ἀθανάτοισι νόον καὶ μῆτιν ἐνίψει;
οὐχ ὁράᾳς ὅτι δ’ αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
τεῖχος ἐτειχίσσαντο νεῶν ὕπερ, ἀμφὶ δὲ τάφρον
ἤλασαν, οὐδὲ θεοῖσι δόσαν κλειτὰς ἑκατόμβας;
τοῦ δ’ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τ’ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς·
τοῦ δ’ ἐπιλήσονται τὸ ἐγὼ καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
ἥρῳ Λαομέδοντι πολίσσαμεν ἀθλήσαντε.»

Τὸν δὲ μέγ’ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·
«ὢ πόποι ἐννοσίγαι’ εὐρυσθενές, οἷον ἔειπες.
ἄλλός κέν τις τοῦτο θεῶν δείσειε νόημα,
ὃς σέο πολλὸν ἀφαυρότερος χεῖράς τε μένος τε·
σὸν δ’ ἤτοι κλέος ἔσται ὅσον τ’ ἐπικίδναται ἠώς.
ἄγρει μὰν ὅτ' ἂν αὖτε κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
οἴχωνται σὺν νηυσὶ φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
τεῖχος ἀναῤῥήξας τὸ μὲν εἰς ἅλα πᾶν καταχεῦαι,
αὖτις δ’ ἠϊόνα μεγάλην ψαμάθοισι καλύψαι,
ὥς κέν τοι μέγα τεῖχος ἀμαλδύνηται Ἀχαιῶν.»
Ὣς οἳ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον,
δύσετο δ’ ἠέλιος, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον Ἀχαιῶν,
βουφόνεον δὲ κατὰ κλισίας καὶ δόρπον ἕλοντο.
νῆες δ’ ἐκ Λήμνοιο παρέσταν οἶνον ἄγουσαι
πολλαί, τὰς προέηκεν Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος,
τόν ῥ’ ἔτεχ’ Ὑψιπύλη ὑπ’ Ἰήσονι ποιμένι λαῶν.
χωρὶς δ’ Ἀτρεΐδῃς Ἀγαμέμνονι καὶ Μενελάῳ
δῶκεν Ἰησονίδης ἀγέμεν μέθυ χίλια μέτρα.
ἔνθεν οἰνίζοντο κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοί,
ἄλλοι μὲν χαλκῷ, ἄλλοι δ’ αἴθωνι σιδήρῳ,
ἄλλοι δὲ ῥινοῖς, ἄλλοι δ’ αὐτῇσι βόεσσιν,
ἄλλοι δ’ ἀνδραπόδεσσι· τίθεντο δὲ δαῖτα θάλειαν.
παννύχιοι μὲν ἔπειτα κάρη κομόωντες Ἀχαιοὶ
δαίνυντο, Τρῶες δὲ κατὰ πτόλιν ἠδ’ ἐπίκουροι·
παννύχιος δέ σφιν κακὰ μήδετο μητίετα Ζεὺς
σμερδαλέα κτυπέων· τοὺς δὲ χλωρὸν δέος ᾕρει·
οἶνον δ’ ἐκ δεπάων χαμάδις χέον, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
πρὶν πιέειν πρὶν λεῖψαι ὑπερμενέϊ Κρονίωνι.
κοιμήσαντ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτα καὶ ὕπνου δῶρον ἕλοντο.

THE ILIAD VII

With these words, resplendent Hector rushed forth from the gates, and with him went his brother, Alexandros; and in their hearts, both burned with the desire to do battle and to fight. As a god grants a longed-for wind to sailors when they have grown weary of driving their ship across the sea with oars of polished fir, their limbs slackened with toil, so did the two brothers appear to the expectant Trojans. Then they took their toll. The one slew Menesthius, son of King Areithous, who dwelt in Arne; he whom the mace-wielder Areithous had begotten with the ox-eyed Phylomedusa. Hector, for his part, struck Eioneus with his sharp spear in the neck, just below the rim of his bronze helmet, and his limbs were unstrung. And Glaucus, son of Hippolochus and leader of the Lycian men, in the heat of the fierce combat cast his spear and struck Iphinoos, son of Dexias, upon the shoulder as he was leaping onto his swift chariot; and he fell from his horses to the ground, and his limbs were unstrung. But when the goddess, bright-eyed Athene, perceived them slaughtering the Argives in the mighty conflict, she darted down from the peaks of Olympus toward sacred Ilios. And Apollo, who from the heights of Pergamus had been watching, rose to meet her, for he wished victory for the Trojans. The two met beside the great oak tree. And the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, was the first to speak to her: “Why now have you come again in such haste from Olympus, daughter of great Zeus, and what great passion has spurred you on? Is it so that you might grant the Danaans a victory that turns the tide of battle? For you feel no pity for the Trojans as they perish. But if you would listen to me, which would be far better, let us for now put a stop to the war and the killing for today. Hereafter they shall fight again, until they find an end for Ilios, since it has pleased the hearts of you immortal goddesses to lay this city waste.” To him, in turn, the bright-eyed goddess Athene replied: “So be it, Far-Darter; for with this same thought I myself came from Olympus to the midst of the Trojans and Achaeans. But come, how do you propose to halt the fighting of the men?” And to her, the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, replied: “Let us stir up the mighty spirit of Hector, tamer of horses, to see if he will challenge one of the Danaans, whoever he may be, to face him man to man in mortal combat. Then the well-greaved Achaeans, in awe and indignation, will put forth a single champion to do battle with godlike Hector.” So he spoke, and the bright-eyed goddess Athene did not dissent. And Helenus, the dear son of Priam, understood in his heart the counsel that the gods in their conference had approved. He went and stood beside Hector and spoke a word to him: “Hector, son of Priam, in counsel the equal of Zeus, will you now listen to me, who am your brother? Have the other Trojans and all the Achaeans sit down, but you yourself challenge whichever of the Achaeans is bravest to face you man to man in mortal combat. For it is not yet your fate to die and meet your doom; for this is the voice of the ever-living gods that I have heard.” So he spoke, and Hector rejoiced greatly to hear his words. He went into the space between the armies and, holding his spear by the middle, held back the Trojan phalanxes, and they all took their seats. Agamemnon, too, had the well-greaved Achaeans sit down. And Athene and Apollo of the silver bow sat themselves down in the likeness of vultures upon the tall oak of their father, aegis-bearing Zeus, taking pleasure in the ranks of men. The lines sat dense, bristling with shields and helmets and spears. As when the West Wind, newly risen, ripples across the face of the deep, and the sea darkens beneath it, so sat the ranks of the Achaeans and Trojans upon the plain. And Hector spoke out between the two armies: “Hear me, Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans, that I may speak what the heart in my breast commands. The son of Cronos, who sits on high, has not fulfilled our oaths, but with ill intent decrees suffering for both our armies, until either you take the well-towered city of Troy, or you yourselves are vanquished beside your seafaring ships. Among you are the chief champions of all the Achaeans; let him now whose spirit moves him to fight with me come forth from among you all to be champion against godlike Hector. And here is my proposal, and let Zeus be our witness upon it: if that man should slay me with the long-bladed bronze, let him strip my armor and carry it to the hollow ships, but give my body back to my home, so that the Trojans and the Trojans’ wives may grant me my portion of the fire in death. But if I should slay him, and Apollo grants me the glory, I will strip his armor and carry it to sacred Ilios and hang it upon the temple of Apollo the Far-Striker, but his corpse I will give back to the well-benched ships, so that the long-haired Achaeans may give him due burial and raise a mound for him beside the broad Hellespont. And in time to come, one of a later generation of men, sailing his many-benched ship over the wine-dark sea, will say: ‘This is the tomb of a man who died long ago, a champion whom glorious Hector slew in the days of his valor.’ So shall someone speak, one day, and my fame shall never die.” So he spoke, and they all fell to a silent hush, ashamed to refuse, yet afraid to accept. At long last Menelaus rose to his feet and spoke, rebuking them with scorn, and he groaned mightily in his spirit: “Ah me, you boasters! Achaean women, no longer Achaean men! Truly this will be a disgrace, dreadful beyond all dread, if no one of the Danaans now goes out to face Hector. May you all turn to water and earth, you who sit there each one of you, heartless and without glory. I myself will arm against this man; and the threads of victory from on high are held in the hands of the immortal gods.” So he spoke, and began to put on his fine armor. And there, Menelaus, the end of your life would have appeared at Hector’s hands, since he was by far the stronger man, had not the kings of the Achaeans sprung up and restrained you. Atreus’ son himself, wide-ruling Agamemnon, seized him by the right hand and spoke, and called him by name: “You are mad, Menelaus, cherished of Zeus; there is no need for such madness. Restrain yourself, for all your grief, and do not seek out of rivalry to fight a man better than yourself, Hector, son of Priam, whom others besides you dread to face. Even Achilles, who is far mightier than you, shudders to meet this man in the glorious fray of battle. No, go now and sit among the company of your comrades. Against this man the Achaeans will put forth another champion. Though he is fearless and insatiable for the fray, I think he will be glad enough to bend the knee in rest, if he can but escape from the fury of battle and the dreadful combat.” Speaking thus with sound counsel, the hero changed his brother’s mind, and he relented. With joy his squires then took the armor from his shoulders. Then Nestor rose among the Argives and spoke: “Alas, what great sorrow comes upon the land of Achaea! How the old horseman Peleus would groan, that worthy counsellor and orator of the Myrmidons, who once took such delight in his own house questioning me, asking of the lineage and birth of all the Argives. If he were to hear now that all of them cower before Hector, how he would lift his hands to the immortal gods and pray that his soul might depart from his limbs and enter the house of Hades. Ah, Father Zeus and Athene and Apollo, if only I were young again, as I was when the Pylians and the spear-fighting Arcadians gathered and fought by the swift-flowing Celadon, near the walls of Pheia, about the streams of the Iardanus. Among them stood forth their champion, Ereuthalion, a man like a god, wearing upon his shoulders the armor of King Areithous, godlike Areithous, whom men and fair-girdled women alike had nicknamed the Mace-Man, because he fought not with the bow or the long spear, but with an iron mace he would shatter the enemy phalanxes. Lycurgus slew him by craft, not by strength, in a narrow path where his iron mace could not save him from destruction; for Lycurgus, anticipating him, pierced him through the middle with a spear, and he fell backward upon the earth. Lycurgus stripped from him the armor that brazen Ares had given him. And he himself then wore it in the toil of war; but when Lycurgus grew old in his halls, he gave it to Ereuthalion, his beloved squire, to wear. Wearing this armor, he would challenge all our champions. But they trembled and were greatly afraid, and no one dared. Yet my own enduring heart, in its boldness, drove me to fight him; though in years I was the youngest of all. And I fought with him, and Athene gave me glory. I slew the tallest and strongest of men; for he lay sprawling in his great bulk this way and that. If only I were so young again, and my strength were still sound within me, then Hector of the flashing helm would soon find his opponent. But among you, you who are the champions of all the Achaeans, not one has the spirit to go willingly to face Hector.” Thus the old man rebuked them, and nine men in all rose to their feet. First and foremost rose the king of men, Agamemnon, and after him rose the mighty Diomedes, son of Tydeus. After them rose the Aiantes, clothed in furious valor, and after them Idomeneus and his squire Meriones, the peer of Enyalius, slayer of men. After them Eurypylus, the glorious son of Euaemon, and Thoas, son of Andraemon, and godlike Odysseus. All these were willing to do battle with godlike Hector. Then among them spoke again the Gerenian horseman Nestor: “Now let the lot be cast among you all to see who is chosen. For this man will surely bring blessing to the well-greaved Achaeans, and he will bless his own soul too, if he can but escape from the fury of battle and the dreadful combat.” So he spoke, and they each marked a lot and cast them into the helmet of Agamemnon, son of Atreus. And the people prayed, lifting their hands to the gods, and thus a man would say, looking up to the broad heavens: “Father Zeus, grant that the lot fall to Aias, or to the son of Tydeus, or to the king of golden Mycenae himself.” So they spoke, and the Gerenian horseman Nestor shook the helmet, and from it leaped the lot they themselves had wished for, the lot of Aias. The herald carried it through the throng, from left to right, and showed it to all the chieftains of the Achaeans. But they did not recognize it and each denied it. But when, carrying it through the throng, he came to him who had marked it and cast it in the helmet, glorious Aias, he held out his hand, and the herald, standing close, placed it in his palm. Aias saw and knew the token on his lot, and his heart rejoiced. He cast it on the ground at his feet and said: “My friends, the lot is mine, and I myself rejoice in my heart, for I believe I shall vanquish godlike Hector. But come now, while I put on my armor of war, you pray to the Lord Zeus, son of Cronos, in silence among yourselves, so the Trojans do not hear— or pray aloud, since we fear no one at all. For no man by force will master me, willingly against my will, nor by skill either, for I trust I was not born and bred so ignorant in Salamis.” So he spoke, and they prayed to the Lord Zeus, son of Cronos. And thus a man would say, looking up to the broad heavens: “Father Zeus, who rules from Ida, most glorious, most great, grant victory to Aias and let him win bright glory. But if you love Hector too and care for him, then grant to both of them equal strength and honor.” So they spoke, and Aias armed himself in gleaming bronze. And when he had clothed his body in all his armor, he strode forth as comes monstrous Ares when he goes into battle among men whom the son of Cronos has set to fight in the fury of soul-devouring strife. Such was Aias as he rose to his feet, a giant, the bulwark of the Achaeans, smiling with grim visage; and he moved with long strides upon his feet below, brandishing his far-shadowing spear. And the Argives rejoiced as they looked upon him, but a dreadful tremor stole through the limbs of every Trojan, and Hector’s own heart beat fast within his breast. But now there was no way he could shrink back or retreat into the throng of his people, since he himself had issued the challenge to combat. Aias drew near, bearing his shield like a tower, of bronze and seven layers of oxhide, which Tychius had toiled to make, he who was by far the best of leather-workers, with his home in Hyle. He it was who made the gleaming shield of seven hides of stout-fed bulls, and over them hammered an eighth layer of bronze. Bearing this before his chest, Telamonian Aias stood close to Hector and spoke to him threateningly: “Hector, now you shall know for sure, man to man, what kind of champions are to be found among the Danaans, even after Achilles, the breaker of ranks, the lion-hearted. But he lies by his seafaring, beaked ships, nursing his wrath against Agamemnon, shepherd of the people. Yet we are men enough to face you, and many of us. But begin, you, the fight and the battle.” To him, in turn, great Hector of the flashing helm replied: “Aias, Zeus-born son of Telamon, lord of the host, do not test me as if I were some feeble boy or a woman who knows nothing of the works of war. For I know well the arts of battle and of man-slaying. I know how to shift the dried oxhide of my shield to the right, and to the left; therein lies for me the art of steadfast fighting. I know how to charge into the clamor of swift horses; and I know how to tread the measure of furious Ares in close-fought combat. Yet I have no wish to strike a man such as you by stealth, watching for my chance, but openly, if I can hit you.” He spoke, and poised and hurled his far-shadowing spear, and struck the terrible seven-hided shield of Aias on its outermost layer of bronze, which was the eighth upon it. Through six folds the stubborn bronze tore, but was stopped in the seventh layer of hide. Then in his turn Zeus-born Aias cast his far-shadowing spear, and struck the shield of Priam’s son, which was balanced on all sides. Through the bright shield the mighty spear went, and drove on through the cunningly-wrought corselet; and straight on, beside his flank, the spear sheared through his tunic; but he swerved aside and escaped black death. Then the two of them, pulling their long spears from their shields with their hands, fell upon each other like flesh-eating lions or wild boars, whose strength is not to be slighted. The son of Priam then stabbed with his spear at the middle of the shield, but the bronze did not break, and the spear-point was bent. But Aias, leaping upon him, drove his spear through the shield, and the force of it staggered Hector in his fury; the spear-point grazed his neck, and the dark blood gushed forth. Yet even so, Hector of the flashing helm did not cease from the fight, but giving ground he seized in his stout hand a stone that lay upon the plain, black and jagged and huge. With this he struck the terrible seven-hided shield of Aias upon the center boss, and the bronze rang all around it. But Aias in turn lifted a far greater stone, and swinging it, he hurled it, putting boundless force behind it. With the stone like a millstone he smashed the shield inward, and his knees gave way beneath him. He was stretched out on his back, pressed under his shield; but Apollo quickly raised him up. And now they would have closed and struck each other with swords, had not the heralds, messengers of Zeus and of men, come forth, one from the Trojans and one from the bronze-clad Achaeans, Talthybius and Idaeus, both men of prudence. They held their staves between the two warriors, and the herald Idaeus, skilled in wise counsel, spoke forth: “Cease now, my dear sons; fight no more. For cloud-gathering Zeus loves you both, and you are both mighty spearmen; that indeed we all know. But night is already upon us, and it is good to yield to the night.” Then Telamonian Aias answered him and said: “Idaeus, bid Hector speak these words; for it was he who challenged all our champions to combat. Let him be the first to speak, and I shall readily obey as he does.” To him then great Hector of the flashing helm replied: “Aias, since a god has given you stature and strength and wisdom, and you are the best of the Achaeans with the spear, let us for now cease from our battle and our strife for today. Hereafter we will fight again, until the divine power parts us and gives the victory to one side or the other. But night is already upon us, and it is good to yield to the night, so that you may bring cheer to all the Achaeans by their ships, and especially to your own kinsmen and comrades who are there. And I, in the great city of King Priam, will bring cheer to the Trojans and the trailing-robed Trojan women, who will enter the sacred assembly to offer prayers for me. But come, let us both give to each other glorious gifts, so that any of the Achaeans or Trojans may say: ‘They fought each other in soul-devouring strife, but then they parted, joined together in friendship.’” So speaking, he gave him his silver-studded sword, presenting it with its scabbard and well-cut baldric; and Aias gave his belt, bright with purple. So the two parted, and one went to the host of the Achaeans, and the other to the throng of the Trojans. And they rejoiced when they saw him approach them alive and unharmed, having escaped the fury and the invincible hands of Aias; and they brought him to the city, scarcely believing he was safe. On the other side, the well-greaved Achaeans brought Aias, exultant in his victory, to godlike Agamemnon. When they had come to the huts of the son of Atreus, the king of men, Agamemnon, sacrificed for them an ox, a five-year-old male, to the all-powerful son of Cronos. They flayed and prepared it, and carved it all up, and skillfully cut the meat into smaller pieces, pierced them with spits, roasted them with care, and drew them all off. Then, when they had ceased from their labor and prepared the feast, they feasted, nor did any man’s heart lack its equal share. And with the full length of the chine, the hero son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, honored Aias. But when they had put away their desire for food and drink, the old man Nestor, whose counsel had before seemed best, was the first to weave a plan for them. With kind intent he addressed their assembly and spoke among them: “Son of Atreus, and you other chieftains of all the Achaeans, many of the long-haired Achaeans are dead, whose dark blood sharp Ares has now spilt by the fair-flowing Scamander, and their souls have gone down to the house of Hades. Therefore, at dawn you must halt the Achaean fighting, and we will gather together and bring the dead here with oxen and mules. And we shall burn them a short way from the ships, so that each man may carry the bones home to his children when we return again to our native land. And around the pyre we will raise a single barrow, building it up from the plain for all, and against it we shall swiftly build high towers, a defense for our ships and for ourselves. In the walls we shall make well-fitted gates, so that there may be a way through them for driving chariots. And outside we shall dig a deep trench close by, which will keep horse and man at bay, surrounding it, lest the battle of the proud Trojans should ever press us hard.” So he spoke, and all the kings assented. Meanwhile, in the citadel of Ilios, an assembly of the Trojans was held, terrible and tumultuous, beside the doors of Priam’s palace. The wise Antenor began to speak among them: “Hear me, Trojans and Dardanians and you our allies, that I may speak what the heart in my breast commands. Come, let us give back Argive Helen and her possessions with her for the sons of Atreus to take away. As it is now, we fight having broken our solemn oaths; for that reason I see no good outcome for us, unless we do as I say.” When he had spoken thus, he sat down; and to them rose godlike Alexandros, husband of fair-haired Helen, who answering him spoke winged words: “Antenor, what you say is no longer pleasing to me; you know how to devise a better speech than this one. But if in earnest you speak this from your heart, then the gods themselves have destroyed your wits. But I will speak out among the horse-taming Trojans: I say outright that I will not give up the woman; but the possessions that I brought from Argos to our home, all of them I am willing to give, and to add others from my own house.” When he had spoken thus, he sat down; and to them rose Priam, descendant of Dardanus, a counselor equal to the gods, who with kind intent addressed their assembly and spoke among them: “Hear me, Trojans and Dardanians and you our allies, that I may speak what the heart in my breast commands. For now, take your supper throughout the city as you did before, and be mindful of the watch, and let each man be vigilant. And at dawn let Idaeus go to the hollow ships to declare to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the words of Alexandros, on whose account our strife has arisen. And let him also make this prudent proposal, to see if they are willing to cease from harsh-sounding war until we can burn our dead. Hereafter we will fight again, until the divine power parts us and gives the victory to one side or the other.” So he spoke, and they listened to him readily and obeyed. Then they took their supper by their companies throughout the army. And at dawn, Idaeus went to the hollow ships. He found the Danaans, servants of Ares, in assembly by the stern of Agamemnon’s ship. And the loud-voiced herald, standing in their midst, spoke his message: “Son of Atreus, and you other chieftains of all the Achaeans, Priam and the other noble Trojans have bid me declare, if it should be welcome and pleasing to you, the words of Alexandros, on whose account our strife has arisen. The possessions that Alexandros brought in his hollow ships to Troy—would that he had perished before then!— all of them he is willing to give, and to add others from his own house. But the wedded wife of glorious Menelaus he says he will not give; though indeed the Trojans urge him to. And they also charged me to make this proposal, if you are willing: that you cease from harsh-sounding war until we can burn our dead. Hereafter we will fight again, until the divine power parts us and gives the victory to one side or the other.” So he spoke, and they all fell to a silent hush. At long last Diomedes of the loud war-cry spoke out: “Let no one now accept the possessions of Alexandros, nor Helen herself. For it is clear even to one who is a great fool that the threads of destruction are now hanging over the Trojans.” So he spoke, and all the sons of the Achaeans roared their approval, acclaiming the words of Diomedes, tamer of horses. And then lord Agamemnon spoke to Idaeus: “Idaeus, you yourself hear the reply of the Achaeans, how they answer you; and so it pleases me as well. As for the dead, I do not begrudge their burning; for there should be no sparing of dead bodies, to grant them swiftly the solace of fire, once they are gone. Let Zeus, the loud-thundering husband of Hera, be witness to our oaths.” So speaking, he held up his scepter to all the gods, and Idaeus went back again to sacred Ilios. The Trojans and Dardanians were sitting in assembly, all gathered together, waiting for Idaeus to return. He came and delivered his message, standing in their midst. Then they armed themselves with great speed, some to gather the corpses, and others to gather wood. And the Argives on their side stirred from their well-benched ships, some to gather the corpses, and others to gather wood. The sun was just then striking the fields, rising from the soft-gliding, deep-flowing stream of Ocean to climb the heavens, when the two sides met. It was hard then to recognize each man; but they washed the clotted blood from them with water and, shedding hot tears, they lifted them onto wagons. But great Priam forbade them to cry aloud; and so in silence they piled the bodies on the pyre, their hearts aching, and when they had consumed them in fire, they returned to sacred Ilios. And in the same way on the other side, the well-greaved Achaeans piled their bodies on the pyre, their hearts aching, and when they had consumed them in fire, they returned to the hollow ships. And when it was not yet dawn, but still the twilight of night, then a chosen host of the Achaeans gathered about the pyre and made one common barrow for all, building it up from the plain. Against it they built a wall and high towers, a defense for our ships and for ourselves. In the walls they set well-fitted gates, so that there may be a way through them for driving chariots. And outside, close by the wall, they dug a deep trench, broad and great, and in it they planted stakes. Thus the long-haired Achaeans toiled. Meanwhile the gods, sitting beside Zeus the lightning-wielder, marveled at the great work of the bronze-clad Achaeans. And among them, Poseidon the Earth-Shaker was the first to speak: “Father Zeus, is there any mortal left on the boundless earth who will any longer declare his mind and purpose to the immortals? Do you not see how the long-haired Achaeans have now built a wall before their ships, and driven a trench about it, and have given the gods no glorious hecatombs? The fame of this will spread as far as the dawn is scattered, and men will forget the wall that I and Phoebus Apollo built with our toil for the hero Laomedon.” Then, greatly angered, cloud-gathering Zeus replied to him: “Peace, Earth-Shaker, you of vast strength! What a thing to say! Some other god might fear such a design, one who is far weaker than you in might and in main. But your fame, surely, will spread as far as the dawn is scattered. Come now, when the long-haired Achaeans have gone with their ships back to their own dear native land, you may shatter this wall and sweep it all into the sea, and cover the great shore again with sand, so that the great wall of the Achaeans is brought to nothing.” While they spoke such things to one another, the sun went down, and the work of the Achaeans was finished. They slaughtered oxen among their huts and took their supper. And many ships laden with wine had come from Lemnos, sent by Euneos, son of Jason, whom Hypsipyle bore to Jason, shepherd of the people. And separately for the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menelaus, the son of Jason had given a thousand measures of wine to be brought. From there the long-haired Achaeans bought their wine, some with bronze, some with gleaming iron, some with hides, some with whole cattle, and some with slaves; and they set up a joyous feast. All night long then the long-haired Achaeans feasted, and the Trojans and their allies in the city; but all night long Zeus the counselor devised evils for them, thundering terribly. Pale fear seized them, and they poured wine from their cups onto the ground, nor did any man dare to drink until he had poured a libation to the all-powerful son of Cronos. Then at last they lay down to rest and took the gift of sleep.

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