THE ILIAD XIX

Now saffron-robed Dawn arose from the streams of Oceanus, to bring light to the immortals and to mortal men; and Thetis came to the ships, bearing the gifts from the god. She found her own dear son clasped about Patroclus, weeping with sharp cries; and many of his comrades mourned around him. The divine goddess stood in their midst, and taking his hand, she spoke and called him by name: “My child, though our hearts are heavy with grief, let us leave this man to lie here, since he was brought low by the will of the gods. But you, receive now from Hephaestus this glorious armor, so beautiful, the like of which no man has ever borne upon his shoulders.” So speaking, the goddess set down the armor before Achilles, and all the cunningly wrought pieces rang aloud. A trembling seized all the Myrmidons, and not one of them dared to look upon it, but shrank away. But Achilles, when he saw it, felt his anger rise all the more, and his eyes, from beneath their lids, blazed with a terrible light, like a flame. He rejoiced, holding in his hands the splendid gifts of the god. And when his heart had taken its fill of pleasure gazing upon the intricate work, he at once spoke to his mother these winged words: “My mother, this armor the god has given is indeed such as befits the work of immortals, and not what a mortal man could forge. Now, therefore, I shall arm myself. But I am terribly afraid that in the meantime flies will enter the bronze-inflicted wounds of Menoetius’ valiant son, and breeding worms, will defile the corpse—for the life is slain from it—and all his flesh will rot.” To him the goddess, silver-footed Thetis, then replied: “My child, let not these things trouble your heart. I shall myself endeavor to ward off the savage swarms, the flies that feed upon men slain in battle. For even if he should lie here for the full course of a year, his flesh will remain sound, or become even fairer. But you, call the Achaean heroes to the assembly, renounce your wrath against Agamemnon, the shepherd of the people, and arm yourself for war at once; clothe yourself in your valor.” So she spoke, and instilled in him a fearless courage. Then into Patroclus’ nostrils she let fall ambrosia and red nectar, so that his flesh might remain incorruptible. But noble Achilles strode along the shore of the sea, crying out in a fearsome voice, and he roused the Achaean heroes. And even those who before had always remained in the camp by the ships—the helmsmen who held the steering oars and the stewards who were dispensers of food—even they came then to the assembly, because Achilles had appeared again, after long refraining from grievous war. And limping came those two attendants of Ares, the steadfast son of Tydeus and noble Odysseus, leaning on their spears, for their wounds were still painful. They went and sat down at the front of the assembly. And last of all came the lord of men, Agamemnon, he too with a wound; for in the thick of combat Coön, son of Antenor, had pierced him with his bronze-tipped spear. Now when all the Achaeans were gathered together, swift-footed Achilles rose among them and spoke: “Son of Atreus, was this truly the better course for us both, for you and for me, when we two, our hearts heavy with sorrow, raged in a soul-devouring quarrel over a girl? I wish Artemis had slain her with an arrow beside the ships, on that day I chose her, when I laid waste to Lyrnessus. Then not so many Achaeans would have bitten the vast earth beneath the hands of our enemies, during the time of my wrath. This brought greater gain to Hector and the Trojans; but the Achaeans, I think, will long remember this strife of yours and mine. But let us leave these past things to be, though we are still in pain, subduing the spirit in our breasts because we must. I now put an end to my anger; it is not right for me to rage on relentlessly. Come, then, and swiftly rouse the long-haired Achaeans to battle, so that I may go forth against the Trojans and put them to the test once more, to see if they wish to spend the night by our ships. But I think that any one of them who escapes the fury of my spear will be glad to bend the knee in rest.” So he spoke, and the well-greaved Achaeans rejoiced that the great-hearted son of Peleus had renounced his anger. And to them, Agamemnon, lord of men, spoke in his turn, remaining where he sat, not rising to stand in their midst: “O friends, Danaan heroes, attendants of Ares, it is good to listen to a man who stands to speak, and it is not proper to interrupt him; that is hard even for a skilled speaker. In the great din of many men, how could anyone hear, or speak? Even a clear-voiced orator is thwarted. I will declare my mind to the son of Peleus, but you other Argives, pay heed, and let each man mark my words well. Often have the Achaeans spoken this word to me, and have found fault with me; yet I am not to blame, but rather Zeus, and Fate, and the Erinys that walks in mist, who in the assembly cast a savage blindness upon my heart, on that day I myself took from Achilles his prize. But what could I do? A god brings all things to their end. She is the eldest daughter of Zeus, Ruin, who blinds all, the accursed one. Her feet are soft, for she does not tread upon the ground, but walks instead upon the heads of men, bringing them harm; and one she ensnares, and then another. Indeed, she once deluded even Zeus, who they say is the greatest of gods and men. Yet even him did Hera, a female, deceive with her cunning, on the day when Alcmene was about to bring forth the mighty Heracles in well-crowned Thebes. For Zeus, making a boast, had spoken before all the gods: ‘Hear me, all you gods and all you goddesses, while I speak what the heart in my breast commands. This day Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, will bring forth a man into the light, who shall be lord over all who dwell around him, one of those men who are of my own blood and lineage.’ But the lady Hera, with deceit in her heart, answered him: ‘You will prove a liar, and will not bring your words to fulfillment. Come now, Olympian, swear me a binding oath that he shall in truth be lord over all who dwell around him, whoever on this day shall fall between a woman’s feet, from among those men who are of your blood and lineage.’ So she spoke, and Zeus, not perceiving her cunning, swore a great oath, and in so doing was greatly deluded. For Hera darted down from the peak of Olympus and came swiftly to Achaean Argos, where she knew was the strong wife of Sthenelus, son of Perseus. She was with child, her own dear son, and the seventh month was upon her. Hera brought the child forth into the light, though his time was not yet come, while she stayed Alcmene’s labor and held back the Eileithyiai. Then she herself went to announce it to Zeus, son of Cronus: ‘Father Zeus of the bright lightning, I have a word to place in your heart. A noble man is born this day who shall rule the Argives, Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, son of Perseus, of your own lineage. It is not unseemly for him to be lord of the Argives.’ So she spoke, and a sharp pain struck deep into his heart. In his anger he seized Ruin by the head, by her gleaming braids, and swore a binding oath that never again should Ruin, who blinds all, set foot on Olympus and the starry heavens. With these words, he swung her around in his hand and flung her from the starry heavens, and she fell swiftly to the world of men. Ever after he would groan whenever he saw his own dear son toiling at some unseemly task under the labors of Eurystheus. So it was with me; when great Hector of the flashing helm was slaughtering the Argives at the sterns of our ships, I could not forget Ruin, by whom I was first deluded. But since I was deluded and Zeus took my wits away, I am willing to make amends, and to give immense recompense. Rise up, then, for battle, and rouse the rest of the host. The gifts are all here, ready for me to provide, as many as noble Odysseus promised you yesterday when he went to your hut. Or if you wish, wait now, though you are eager for Ares, and my attendants will fetch the gifts from my ship, so you may see that I will give what satisfies the heart.” Then swift-footed Achilles answered him, saying: “Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men, as for the gifts, you may present them, if you wish, as is fitting, or you may keep them. But for now, let us think of battle, and with all haste. It is not right to dally here with words, nor to delay, for a great work is still undone. Let a man look to see Achilles once more among the foremost ranks, with his bronze spear destroying the phalanxes of the Trojans. And so let each of you, remembering this, fight his man.” To him in turn answered Odysseus of many counsels: “Do not, godlike Achilles, good man though you are, urge the sons of the Achaeans to go against Ilion to fight the Trojans while they are fasting. For the clash of battle will not be short-lived, once the phalanxes of men engage and the god breathes courage into both sides. No, command the Achaeans to take food and wine by their swift ships, for therein lie a man’s strength and his valor. For no man can fight all the day long until the sun goes down, fasting from food. For though his spirit may be eager for battle, yet his limbs grow heavy without his knowing, and thirst and hunger overtake him, and his knees give way as he moves. But the man who has had his fill of wine and food and fights all day against the enemy, his heart is bold within him, and his limbs do not tire before all have withdrawn from the battle. Come then, disperse the men and bid them prepare their meal. And let Agamemnon, lord of men, bring forth the gifts into the midst of the assembly, so that all the Achaeans may see them with their own eyes, and you may be gladdened in your heart. And let him stand up among the Argives and swear an oath to you, that he never went into her bed nor lay with her, as is the custom, lord, between men and women. And let your own spirit in your breast be appeased. Then let him make amends with a rich feast in his hut, so that you may lack nothing of what is just. And you, son of Atreus, will be a more righteous man hereafter, even toward another. For it is no cause for blame that a king should make amends to a man whom he was the first to wrong.” To him the lord of men, Agamemnon, replied in turn: “I rejoice, son of Laertes, to hear your words, for in due measure have you set forth and recounted all things. I am willing to swear this oath, as my heart bids me, and I shall not swear falsely before the god. But let Achilles remain here for a time, though he is eager for Ares; and let all you others remain assembled, until the gifts come from my hut and we can seal our faithful oaths. And upon you yourself I lay this charge and command: choose the best young men of all the Achaeans to bring the gifts from my ship, all that we promised yesterday to give Achilles, and bring the women also. And let Talthybius make ready for me at once a boar, here in the wide camp of the Achaeans, to sacrifice to Zeus and to the Sun.” Then swift-footed Achilles answered him: “Most glorious son of Atreus, Agamemnon, lord of men, you should attend to these things at some other time, when there is a lull in the fighting and the fire in my breast is not so great. But now they lie mangled, those whom Hector son of Priam slew when Zeus granted him glory, and you two urge us to eat. In truth, I for my part would now bid the sons of the Achaeans to go into battle fasting and unfed, and at the setting of the sun to prepare a great feast, when we have avenged this outrage. Until then, neither drink nor food shall pass my throat, not while my companion lies dead in my hut, mangled by the sharp bronze, his feet turned toward the door, while his comrades mourn around him. Therefore, these things are not what my heart is set upon, but rather slaughter, and blood, and the grievous groaning of men.” To him in turn answered Odysseus of many counsels: “O Achilles, son of Peleus, by far the mightiest of the Achaeans, you are stronger than I and better by no small measure with the spear; yet in counsel I might surpass you by far, since I was born before you and know more. Therefore, let your heart endure my words. Men quickly grow weary of battle, in which the bronze strews the most straw upon the ground, but the harvest is scantiest, when Zeus, who is the steward of war for mankind, inclines his scales. The Achaeans cannot mourn a dead man with their bellies. For too many are falling, thick and fast, day after day; when could anyone find respite from the toil? No, we must bury him who dies, with a heart of steel, having wept for him for a day. And as many as are left from the hateful war must remember to take food and drink, so that we may all the more fight our enemies, ever relentlessly, clad in our unyielding bronze. And let no man hold back, waiting for another summons, for this is the summons, and it will go ill for any man who is left behind at the ships of the Argives. But let us sally forth as one body, and stir up sharp Ares against the horse-taming Trojans.” He spoke, and took with him the sons of glorious Nestor, and Meges son of Phyleus, and Thoas, and Meriones, and Lycomedes son of Creon, and Melanippus. They went on their way to the hut of Agamemnon, son of Atreus. And no sooner was the word spoken than the deed was done. They brought seven tripods from the hut, as he had promised, and twenty gleaming cauldrons, and twelve horses. And they led forth at once the women skilled in faultless handiwork, seven of them, and the eighth was fair-cheeked Briseis. Odysseus, having weighed out ten talents of gold in all, led the way, and with him other young men of the Achaeans carried the gifts. They set them down in the midst of the assembly, and Agamemnon rose. And Talthybius, whose voice was like a god’s, stood beside the shepherd of the people, holding a boar in his hands. The son of Atreus drew the knife with his hands that always hung beside the great scabbard of his sword, and cutting the first hairs from the boar, he raised his hands to Zeus and prayed. And all the Argives sat where they were in silence, each in his place, listening to the king. And praying, he spoke, looking up to the wide heavens: “Let Zeus be my witness first, highest and best of the gods, and Earth, and the Sun, and the Erinyes, who beneath the earth punish men who swear a false oath: I have never laid a hand upon the girl Briseis, neither desiring her for my bed nor for any other reason, but she has remained untouched in my huts. If any of this is sworn falsely, may the gods give me pains in abundance, all that they give to one who sins against them in his oath.” He spoke, and with the pitiless bronze he cut the boar’s throat. Talthybius then swung the carcass around and threw it into the great gulf of the grey sea, to be food for the fishes. But Achilles stood up and spoke among the war-loving Argives: “Father Zeus, truly you give great delusions to men. The son of Atreus would never have stirred the heart in my breast so utterly, nor would he have led the girl away against my will, in his helplessness; but somehow Zeus willed that death should come to many Achaeans. But now, go to your meal, so that we may join battle.” So he spoke, and swiftly dismissed the assembly. The others then scattered, each to his own ship, but the great-hearted Myrmidons took charge of the gifts, and brought them to the ship of godlike Achilles. They set them down in the huts and seated the women, and the proud attendants drove the horses into the herd. But Briseis, who was like golden Aphrodite, when she saw Patroclus mangled by the sharp bronze, threw herself upon him and shrieked aloud, and with her hands she tore at her breast and her soft neck and her beautiful face. And weeping, the woman like a goddess spoke: “Patroclus, most dear to my wretched heart, I left you alive when I went from this hut, and now I find you dead on my return, O leader of the people. Thus does evil ever follow evil for me. The husband to whom my father and my lady mother gave me, I saw him mangled by the sharp bronze before our city, and my three brothers, whom one mother bore to me, my beloved ones, they all met their day of destruction. But you would not even let me weep, when swift Achilles killed my husband and sacked the city of godlike Mynes; you said you would make me the wedded wife of godlike Achilles, and that you would take me in the ships to Phthia and hold a wedding feast among the Myrmidons. Therefore I weep for you now you are dead, unceasingly, for you were always gentle.” So she spoke, weeping, and the women lamented with her, making a show of mourning for Patroclus, but each one for her own sorrows. And the elders of the Achaeans gathered around Achilles, begging him to eat; but he, groaning, refused: “I beg you, if any of my dear companions will listen to me, do not ask me to sate my heart with food or drink before the time, since a terrible grief has come upon me. I will wait until the sun goes down, and endure it all.” So speaking he sent the other kings away, but the two sons of Atreus remained, and noble Odysseus, and Nestor, and Idomeneus, and the old horseman Phoenix, trying to comfort him in his deep sorrow. But his heart would take no comfort, until he could enter the mouth of bloody war. And remembering, he sighed heavily and spoke out: “Ah, once it was you yourself, my ill-fated, dearest of comrades, who would set a savory meal before me in my hut, swiftly and skillfully, whenever the Achaeans made haste to carry tearful war to the horse-taming Trojans. But now you lie here, mangled, while my heart, for want of you, goes without food and drink, though they are here within. For I could suffer nothing worse than this, not even if I were to learn of my own father’s death, who now perhaps in Phthia lets fall a tender tear for want of such a son; while I, in a foreign land, wage war against the Trojans for the sake of hateful Helen. Or the death of my own dear son, who is being raised for me in Scyros, if godlike Neoptolemus is still alive. For before, the heart in my breast had hoped that I alone would perish far from horse-pasturing Argos, here in Troy, but that you would return to Phthia, so you could take my son in a swift black ship from Scyros and show him everything—my possessions, my servants, and my great high-roofed house. For by now I believe that Peleus is either altogether dead, or else, still clinging to a little life, is afflicted by hateful old age and by waiting always for the grim news of me, for the day he learns that I am dead.” So he spoke, weeping, and the elders mourned with him, each one remembering what he had left behind in his own halls. And the son of Cronus, seeing them weeping, took pity on them, and at once spoke winged words to Athena: “My child, you have altogether forsaken your hero. Is Achilles then no longer of any concern to your heart? He sits there, before his high-horned ships, mourning his dear companion. The others have gone to their meal, but he is without food and fasting. Go, then, and distill nectar and lovely ambrosia into his breast, so that hunger may not come upon him.” So speaking, he spurred on Athena, who was already eager. And like a harpy, swift-winged and shrill-voiced, she leapt down from the heavens through the air. The Achaeans were at that moment arming themselves throughout the camp. She distilled nectar and lovely ambrosia into Achilles’ breast, so that grievous hunger should not come upon his limbs, and then she herself departed for the well-built house of her mighty father, while the Achaeans poured forth from their swift ships. And as when the snowflakes of Zeus fly thick and fast, cold, under the blast of the north wind born in the bright air; so then did the helmets, shining brightly, stream from the ships, and the bossed shields, and the strong-plated corselets and the ashen spears. The gleam went up to the heavens, and all the earth around laughed under the glitter of bronze, and a thunder arose from the feet of the men. And in their midst, noble Achilles armed himself. A grinding of his teeth was heard, and his two eyes blazed like a flash of fire, and into his heart sank a grief that could not be borne. Raging against the Trojans, he donned the gifts of the god, which Hephaestus had wrought for him with his craft. First he placed the beautiful greaves about his shins, fitted with silver ankle-pieces. Next, he donned the corselet about his chest. Then around his shoulders he slung the silver-studded sword of bronze, and after that he took up the great and sturdy shield, from which a light shone afar, as from the moon. And as when, to sailors upon the sea, the light of a burning fire becomes visible, a fire that burns high on the mountains of a lonely steading, while storms bear them against their will over the fish-filled deep, far from their friends; so from Achilles’ shield, beautiful and cunningly wrought, the gleam reached the high air. And lifting the heavy helmet, he set it upon his head, and the horse-haired helmet shone like a star, and the golden plumes that Hephaestus had set thick about the crest were shaken. Then noble Achilles tested himself in his armor, to see if it fitted him and if his glorious limbs could move freely in it. And it was as if he had grown wings, which lifted up the shepherd of the people. And from its case he drew forth his father’s spear, heavy, great, and strong, which no other of the Achaeans could wield, but Achilles alone knew how to handle it; the Pelian ash, which Chiron had given to his own dear father from the peak of Pelion, to be the death of heroes. Automedon and Alcimus busied themselves yoking the horses; they put on the fair breast-straps, and forced the bits into their jaws, and drew the reins back to the joined chariot. Then Automedon, taking the shining whip, well-fitted to his hand, sprang up behind the horses. And behind him mounted Achilles, armed for battle, gleaming in his armor like Hyperion, the sun. And he called out in a terrible voice to the horses of his father: “Xanthus and Balius, far-famed children of Podarge, take care to bring your charioteer back safely to the Danaan host in a different fashion this time, when we have had our fill of war, and do not leave him there dead, as you did Patroclus.” Then from beneath the yoke the swift-footed horse Xanthus spoke to him; and he bowed his head at once, and all his mane, streaming from the yoke-pad, poured down beside the yoke to the ground. The white-armed goddess Hera had given him speech: “Yes, for this time we will indeed save you, mighty Achilles. But your day of destruction is near at hand, and for that we are not to blame, but a great god and overpowering Fate. For it was not through our slowness or our laziness that the Trojans stripped the armor from the shoulders of Patroclus, but that best of the gods, whom lovely-haired Leto bore, slew him among the foremost fighters and gave the glory to Hector. We two could run with the blast of the West Wind, which they say is the swiftest of all; but it is your own destiny to be brought down by a god and by a man.” When he had spoken thus, the Erinyes checked his voice. And swift-footed Achilles, greatly troubled, answered him: “Xanthus, why do you prophesy my death? You have no need. I myself know well that it is my fate to perish here, far from my dear father and mother. But even so, I will not stop until I have driven the Trojans to their fill of war.” He spoke, and with a cry he drove his single-hoofed horses into the front ranks.

ἸΛΙΆΣ 19

Ἠὼς μὲν κροκόπεπλος ἀπ’ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων
ὄρνυθ’, ἵν’ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·
ἡ δ’ ἐς νῆας ἵκανε θεοῦ πάρα δῶρα φέρουσα.
εὗρε δὲ Πατρόκλῳ περικείμενον ὃν φίλον υἱόν,
κλαίοντα λιγέως· πολέες δ’ ἀμφ’ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι
μύρονθ’· ἡ δ’ ἐν τοῖσι παρίστατο δῖα θεάων,
ἔν τ’ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ’ ἔφατ’ ἔκ τ’ ὀνόμαζε·
«τέκνον ἐμόν, τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ
κεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα θεῶν ἰότητι δαμάσθη·
τύνη δ’ Ἡφαίστοιο πάρα κλυτὰ τεύχεα δέξο,
καλὰ μάλ’, οἷ’ οὔ πώ τις ἀνὴρ ὤμοισι φόρησεν.»
Ὡς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κατὰ τεύχε’ ἔθηκε
πρόσθεν Ἀχιλλῆος· τὰ δ’ ἀνέβραχε δαίδαλα πάντα.
Μυρμιδόνας δ’ ἄρα πάντας ἕλε τρόμος, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
ἄντην εἰσιδέειν, ἀλλ’ ἔτρεσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
ὡς εἶδ’, ὥς μιν μᾶλλον ἔδυ χόλος, ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δεινὸν ὑπὸ βλεφάρων ὡς εἰ σέλας ἐξεφάανθεν·
τέρπετο δ’ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων θεοῦ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσι τετάρπετο δαίδαλα λεύσσων,
αὐτίκα μητέρα ἣν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«μῆτερ ἐμή, τὰ μὲν ὅπλα θεὸς πόρεν οἷ’ ἐπιεικὲς

ἔργ’ ἔμεν ἀθανάτων, μὴ δὲ βροτὸν ἄνδρα τελέσσαι.
νῦν δ’ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ θωρήξομαι· ἀλλὰ μάλ’ αἰνῶς
δείδω μή μοι τόφρα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν
μυῖαι καδδῦσαι κατὰ χαλκοτύπους ὠτειλὰς
εὐλὰς ἐγγείνωνται, ἀεικίσσωσι δὲ νεκρόν—
ἐκ δ’ αἰὼν πέφαται—κατὰ δὲ χρόα πάντα σαπήῃ.»
Τὸν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·
«τέκνον, μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.
τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ πειρήσω ἀλαλκεῖν ἄγρια φῦλα,
μυίας, αἵ ῥά τε φῶτας ἀρηϊφάτους κατέδουσιν·
ἤν περ γὰρ κεῖταί γε τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,
αἰεὶ τῷ γ’ ἔσται χρὼς ἔμπεδος, ἢ καὶ ἀρείων.
ἀλλὰ σύ γ’ εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσας ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς,
μῆνιν ἀποειπὼν Ἀγαμέμνονι, ποιμένι λαῶν,
αἶψα μάλ’ ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσεο, δύσεο δ’ ἀλκήν.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνῆκε,
Πατρόκλῳ δ’ αὖτ’ ἀμβροσίην καὶ νέκταρ ἐρυθρὸν
στάξε κατὰ ῥινῶν, ἵνα οἱ χρὼς ἔμπεδος εἴη.
Αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, ὦρσεν δ’ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.
καί ῥ’ οἵ περ τὸ πάρος γε νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι μένεσκον,
οἵ τε κυβερνῆται καὶ ἔχον οἰήϊα νηῶν
καὶ ταμίαι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἔσαν σίτοιο δοτῆρες,
καὶ μὴν οἳ τότε γ’ εἰς ἀγορὴν ἴσαν, οὕνεκ’ Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτ’ ἀλεγεινῆς.
τὼ δὲ δύω σκάζοντε βάτην Ἄρεος θεράποντε,
Τυδεΐδης τε μενεπτόλεμος καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ἔγχει ἐρειδομένω· ἔτι γὰρ ἔχον ἕλκεα λυγρά·

κὰδ δὲ μετὰ πρώτῃ ἀγορῇ ἵζοντο κιόντες.
αὐτὰρ ὁ δεύτατος ἦλθεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
ἕλκος ἔχων· καὶ γὰρ τὸν ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ
οὖτα Κόων Ἀντηνορίδης χαλκήρεϊ δουρί.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἀολλίσθησαν Ἀχαιοί,
τοῖσι δ’ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
«Ἀτρεΐδη, ἦ ἄρ τι τόδ’ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἄρειον
ἔπλετο, σοὶ καὶ ἐμοί, ὅ τε νῶΐ περ ἀχνυμένω κῆρ
θυμοβόρῳ ἔριδι μενεήναμεν εἵνεκα κούρης;
τὴν ὄφελ’ ἐν νήεσσι κατακτάμεν Ἄρτεμις ἰῷ
ἤματι τῷ ὅτ’ ἐγὼν ἑλόμην Λυρνησσὸν ὀλέσσας·
τώ κ’ οὐ τόσσοι Ἀχαιοὶ ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας
δυσμενέων ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπομηνίσαντος.
Ἕκτορι μὲν καὶ Τρωσὶ τὸ κέρδιον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς
δηρὸν ἐμῆς καὶ σῆς ἔριδος μνήσεσθαι ὀΐω.
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ,
θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον δαμάσαντες ἀνάγκῃ·
νῦν δ’ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ παύω χόλον, οὐδέ τί με χρὴ
ἀσκελέως αἰεὶ μενεαινέμεν· ἀλλ’ ἄγε θᾶσσον
ὄτρυνον πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς,
ὄφρ’ ἔτι καὶ Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίον ἐλθών,
αἴ κ’ ἐθέλωσ’ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰαύειν· ἀλλά τιν’ οἴω
ἀσπασίως αὐτῶν γόνυ κάμψειν, ὅς κε φύγῃσι
δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο ὑπ’ ἔγχεος ἡμετέροιο.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἐχάρησαν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ
μῆνιν ἀπειπόντος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἕδρης, οὐδ’ ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀναστάς·

«ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοί, θεράποντες Ἄρηος,
ἑσταότος μὲν καλὸν ἀκούειν, οὐδὲ ἔοικεν
ὑββάλλειν· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐπισταμένῳ περ ἐόντι.
ἀνδρῶν δ’ ἐν πολλῷ ὁμάδῳ πῶς κέν τις ἀκούσαι
ἢ εἴποι; βλάβεται δὲ λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής.
Πηλεΐδῃ μὲν ἐγὼν ἐνδείξομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι
σύνθεσθ’ Ἀργεῖοι, μῦθόν τ’ εὖ γνῶτε ἕκαστος.
πολλάκι δή μοι τοῦτον Ἀχαιοὶ μῦθον ἔειπον,
καί τέ με νεικείεσκον· ἐγὼ δ’ οὐκ αἴτιός εἰμι,
ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς καὶ Μοῖρα καὶ ἠεροφοῖτις Ἐρινύς,
οἵ τέ μοι εἰν ἀγορῇ φρεσὶν ἔμβαλον ἄγριον ἄτην,
ἤματι τῷ ὅτ’ Ἀχιλλῆος γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπηύρων.
ἀλλὰ τί κεν ῥέξαιμι; θεὸς διὰ πάντα τελευτᾷ.
πρέσβα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἄτη, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται,
οὐλομένη· τῇ μέν θ’ ἁπαλοὶ πόδες· οὐ γὰρ ἐπ’ οὔδει
πίλναται, ἀλλ’ ἄρα ἥ γε κατ’ ἀνδρῶν κράατα βαίνει
βλάπτουσ’ ἀνθρώπους· κατὰ δ’ οὖν ἕτερόν γε πέδησε.
καὶ γὰρ δή νύ ποτε Ζεὺς ἄσατο, τόν περ ἄριστον
ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν φασ’ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλ’ ἄρα καὶ τὸν
Ἥρη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα δολοφροσύνῃς ἀπάτησεν,
ἤματι τῷ ὅτ’ ἔμελλε βίην Ἡρακληείην
Ἀλκμήνη τέξεσθαι ἐϋστεφάνῳ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ.
ἤτοι ὅ γ’ εὐχόμενος μετέφη πάντεσσι θεοῖσι·
“κέκλυτέ μευ πάντές τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,
ὄφρ’ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγει.
σήμερον ἄνδρα φόως δὲ μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια

ἐκφανεῖ, ὃς πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξει,
τῶν ἀνδρῶν γενεῆς οἵ θ’ αἵματος ἐξ ἐμεῦ εἰσί.”
τὸν δὲ δολοφρονέουσα προσηύδα πότνια Ἥρη·
“ψευστήσεις, οὐδ’ αὖτε τέλος μύθῳ ἐπιθήσεις.
εἰ δ’ ἄγε νῦν μοι ὄμοσσον, Ὀλύμπιε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,
ἦ μὲν τὸν πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξειν,
ὅς κεν ἐπ’ ἤματι τῷδε πέσῃ μετὰ ποσσὶ γυναικὸς
τῶν ἀνδρῶν οἳ σῆς ἐξ αἵματός εἰσι γενέθλης.”
ὣς ἔφατο· Ζεὺς δ’ οὔ τι δολοφροσύνην ἐνόησεν,
ἀλλ’ ὄμοσεν μέγαν ὅρκον, ἔπειτα δὲ πολλὸν ἀάσθη.
Ἥρη δ’ ἀΐξασα λίπεν ῥίον Οὐλύμποιο,
καρπαλίμως δ’ ἵκετ’ Ἄργος Ἀχαιικόν, ἔνθ’ ἄρα ᾔδη
ἰφθίμην ἄλοχον Σθενέλου Περσηϊάδαο.
ἡ δ’ ἐκύει φίλον υἱόν, ὁ δ’ ἕβδομος ἑστήκει μείς·
ἐκ δ’ ἄγαγε πρὸ φόως δὲ καὶ ἠλιτόμηνον ἐόντα,
Ἀλκμήνης δ’ ἀπέπαυσε τόκον, σχέθε δ’ Εἰλειθυίας.
αὐτὴ δ’ ἀγγελέουσα Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·
“Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀργικέραυνε, ἔπος τί τοι ἐν φρεσὶ θήσω·
ἤδη ἀνὴρ γέγον’ ἐσθλός ὃς Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάξει,
Εὐρυσθεύς, Σθενέλοιο πάϊς Περσηϊάδαο,
σὸν γένος· οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀνασσέμεν Ἀργείοισιν.”
ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ’ ἄχος ὀξὺ κατὰ φρένα τύψε βαθεῖαν·
αὐτίκα δ’ εἷλ’ Ἄτην κεφαλῆς λιπαροπλοκάμοιο
χωόμενος φρεσὶν ᾗσι, καὶ ὤμοσε καρτερὸν ὅρκον
μή ποτ’ ἐς Οὔλυμπόν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα
αὖτις ἐλεύσεσθαι Ἄτην, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται.
ὣς εἰπὼν ἔῤῥιψεν ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος
χειρὶ περιστρέψας· τάχα δ’ ἵκετο ἔργ’ ἀνθρώπων.
τὴν αἰεὶ στενάχεσχ’ ὅθ’ ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ὁρῷτο
ἔργον ἀεικὲς ἔχοντα ὑπ’ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων.
ὣς καὶ ἐγών, ὅτε δ’ αὖτε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ

Ἀργείους ὀλέκεσκεν ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν,
οὐ δυνάμην λελαθέσθ’ Ἄτης, ᾗ πρῶτον ἀάσθην.
ἀλλ’ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην καί μευ φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,
ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι, δόμεναί τ’ ἀπερείσι’ ἄποινα·
ἀλλ’ ὄρσευ πολέμονδε, καὶ ἄλλους ὄρνυθι λαούς.
δῶρα δ’ ἐγὼν ὅδε πάντα παρασχέμεν, ὅσσά τοι ἐλθὼν
χθιζὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ὑπέσχετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.
εἰ δ’ ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος,
δῶρα δέ τοι θεράποντες ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἑλόντες
οἴσουσ’, ὄφρα ἴδηαι ὅ τοι μενοεικέα δώσω.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
«Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
δῶρα μὲν αἴ κ’ ἐθέλῃσθα παρασχέμεν, ὡς ἐπιεικές,
ἤ τ’ ἐχέμεν παρὰ σοί· νῦν δὲ μνησώμεθα χάρμης
αἶψα μάλ’· οὐ γὰρ χρὴ κλοτοπεύειν ἐνθάδ’ ἐόντας
οὐδὲ διατρίβειν· ἔτι γὰρ μέγα ἔργον ἄρεκτον·
ὥς κέ τις αὖτ’ Ἀχιλῆα μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἴδηται
ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Τρώων ὀλέκοντα φάλαγγας.
ὧδέ τις ὑμείων μεμνημένος ἀνδρὶ μαχέσθω.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«μὴ δ’ οὕτως, ἀγαθός περ ἐών, θεοείκελ’ Ἀχιλλεῦ,
νήστιας ὄτρυνε προτὶ Ἴλιον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
Τρωσὶ μαχησομένους, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ὀλίγον χρόνον ἔσται
φύλοπις, εὖτ’ ἂν πρῶτον ὁμιλήσωσι φάλαγγες
ἀνδρῶν, ἐν δὲ θεὸς πνεύσῃ μένος ἀμφοτέροισιν.
ἀλλὰ πάσασθαι ἄνωχθι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιοὺς
σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο· τὸ γὰρ μένος ἐστὶ καὶ ἀλκή.

οὐ γὰρ ἀνὴρ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα
ἄκμηνος σίτοιο δυνήσεται ἄντα μάχεσθαι·
εἴ περ γὰρ θυμῷ γε μενοινάᾳ πολεμίζειν,
ἀλλά τε λάθρῃ γυῖα βαρύνεται, ἠδὲ κιχάνει
δίψα τε καὶ λιμός, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατ’ ἰόντι.
ὃς δέ κ’ ἀνὴρ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος καὶ ἐδωδῆς
ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πανημέριος πολεμίζῃ,
θαρσαλέον νύ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, οὐδέ τι γυῖα
πρὶν κάμνει, πρὶν πάντας ἐρωῆσαι πολέμοιο.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε λαὸν μὲν σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι
ὅπλεσθαι· τὰ δὲ δῶρα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων
οἰσέτω ἐς μέσσην ἀγορήν, ἵνα πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ
ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωσι, σὺ δὲ φρεσὶ σῇσιν ἰανθῇς.
ὀμνυέτω δέ τοι ὅρκον ἐν Ἀργείοσιν ἀναστάς,
μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναι·
ἣ θέμις ἐστὶν, ἄναξ ἤ τ’ ἀνδρῶν ἤ τε γυναικῶν·
καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἵλαος ἔστω.
αὐτὰρ ἔπειτά σε δαιτὶ ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἀρεσάσθω
πιείρῃ, ἵνα μή τι δίκης ἐπιδευὲς ἔχῃσθα.
Ἀτρεΐδη, σὺ δ’ ἔπειτα δικαιότερος καὶ ἐπ’ ἄλλῳ
ἔσσεαι. οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νεμεσσητὸν βασιλῆα
ἄνδρ’ ἀπαρέσσασθαι ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
«χαίρω σεῦ, Λαερτιάδη, τὸν μῦθον ἀκούσας·
ἐν μοίρῃ γὰρ πάντα διίκεο καὶ κατέλεξας.
ταῦτα δ’ ἐγὼν ἐθέλω ὀμόσαι, κέλεται δέ με θυμός,
οὐδ’ ἐπιορκήσω πρὸς δαίμονος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
μιμνέτω αὐτόθι τεῖος ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος·
μίμνετε δ’ ἄλλοι πάντες ἀολλέες, ὄφρά κε δῶρα

ἐκ κλισίης ἔλθῃσι καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμωμεν.
σοὶ δ’ αὐτῷ τόδ’ ἐγὼν ἐπιτέλλομαι ἠδὲ κελεύω·
κρινάμενος κούρητας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν
δῶρα ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἐνεικέμεν, ὅσσ’ Ἀχιλῆϊ
χθιζὸν ὑπέστημεν δώσειν, ἀγέμεν τε γυναῖκας.
Ταλθύβιος δέ μοι ὦκα κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν
κάπρον ἑτοιμασάτω, ταμέειν Διί τ’ Ἠελίῳ τε.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
«Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
ἄλλοτέ περ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλετε ταῦτα πένεσθαι,
ὁππότε τις μεταπαυσωλὴ πολέμοιο γένηται
καὶ μένος οὐ τόσον ᾖσιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσι.
νῦν δ’ οἳ μὲν κέαται δεδαϊγμένοι, οὓς ἐδάμασσεν
Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν,
ὑμεῖς δ’ ἐς βρωτὺν ὀτρύνετον· ἦ τ’ ἂν ἔγωγε
νῦν μὲν ἀνώγοιμι πτολεμίζειν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν
νήστιας ἀκμήνους, ἅμα δ’ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι
τεύξεσθαι μέγα δόρπον, ἐπὴν τεισαίμεθα λώβην.
πρὶν δ’ οὔ πως ἂν ἔμοιγε φίλον κατὰ λαιμὸν ἰείη
οὐ πόσις οὐδὲ βρῶσις, ἑταίρου τεθνηῶτος,
ὅς μοι ἐνὶ κλισίῃ δεδαϊγμένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ
κεῖται ἀνὰ πρόθυρον τετραμμένος, ἀμφὶ δ’ ἑταῖροι
μύρονται· τό μοι οὔ τι μετὰ φρεσὶ ταῦτα μέμηλεν,
ἀλλὰ φόνος τε καὶ αἷμα καὶ ἀργαλέος στόνος ἀνδρῶν.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·
«ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, Πηλῆος υἱέ, μέγα φέρτατ’ Ἀχαιῶν,
κρείσσων εἰς ἐμέθεν καὶ φέρτερος οὐκ ὀλίγον περ
ἔγχει, ἐγὼ δέ κε σεῖο νοήματί γε προβαλοίμην
πολλόν, ἐπεὶ πρότερος γενόμην καὶ πλείονα οἶδα.

τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη μύθοισιν ἐμοῖσιν.
αἶψά τε φυλόπιδος πέλεται κόρος ἀνθρώποισιν,
ἧς τε πλείστην μὲν καλάμην χθονὶ χαλκὸς ἔχευεν,
ἄμητος δ’ ὀλίγιστος, ἐπὴν κλίνῃσι τάλαντα
Ζεύς, ὅς τ’ ἀνθρώπων ταμίης πολέμοιο τέτυκται.
γαστέρι δ’ οὔ πως ἔστι νέκυν πενθῆσαι Ἀχαιούς·
λίην γὰρ πολλοὶ καὶ ἐπήτριμοι ἤματα πάντα
πίπτουσιν· πότε κέν τις ἀναπνεύσειε πόνοιο;
ἀλλὰ χρὴ τὸν μὲν καταθάπτειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι
νηλέα θυμὸν ἔχοντας, ἐπ’ ἤματι δακρύσαντας·
ὅσσοι δ’ ἂν πολέμοιο περὶ στυγεροῖο λίπωνται,
μεμνῆσθαι πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ὄφρ’ ἔτι μᾶλλον
ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι μαχώμεθα νωλεμὲς αἰεί,
ἑσσάμενοι χροῒ χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα. μηδέ τις ἄλλην
λαῶν ὀτρυντὺν ποτιδέγμενος ἰσχαναάσθω·
ἧδε γὰρ ὀτρυντὺς κακὸν ἔσσεται ὅς κε λίπηται
νηυσὶν ἐπ’ Ἀργείων· ἀλλ’ ἀθρόοι ὁρμηθέντες
Τρωσὶν ἐφ’ ἱπποδάμοισιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.»
Ἦ, καὶ Νέστορος υἷας ὀπάσσατο κυδαλίμοιο,
Φυλεΐδην τε Μέγητα Θόαντά τε Μηριόνην τε
καὶ Κρειοντιάδην Λυκομήδεα καὶ Μελάνιππον·
βὰν δ’ ἴμεν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.
αὐτίκ’ ἔπειθ’ ἅμα μῦθος ἔην, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον·
ἑπτὰ μὲν ἐκ κλισίης τρίποδας φέρον, οὕς οἱ ὑπέστη,
αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δ’ ἵππους·
ἐκ δ’ ἄγον αἶψα γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας
ἕπτ’, ἀτὰρ ὀγδοάτην Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον.
χρυσοῦ δὲ στήσας Ὀδυσεὺς δέκα πάντα τάλαντα
ἦρχ’, ἅμα δ’ ἄλλοι δῶρα φέρον κούρητες Ἀχαιῶν.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃ ἀγορῇ θέσαν, ἂν δ’ Ἀγαμέμνων

ἵστατο· Ταλθύβιος δὲ θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος αὐδὴν
κάπρον ἔχων ἐν χερσὶ παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν.
Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος χείρεσσι μάχαιραν,
ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο,
κάπρου ἀπὸ τρίχας ἀρξάμενος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχὼν
εὔχετο· τοὶ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἐπ’ αὐτόφιν εἵατο σιγῇ
Ἀργεῖοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἀκούοντες βασιλῆος.
εὐξάμενος δ’ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·
«ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα, θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,
Γῆ τε καὶ Ἠέλιος καὶ Ἐρινύες, αἵ θ’ ὑπὸ γαῖαν
ἀνθρώπους τίνυνται, ὅτις κ’ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ,
μὴ μὲν ἐγὼ κούρῃ Βρισηΐδι χεῖρ’ ἐπένεικα,
οὔτ’ εὐνῆς πρόφασιν κεχρημένος οὔτέ τευ ἄλλου.
ἀλλ’ ἔμεν’ ἀπροτίμαστος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἐμῇσιν.
εἰ δέ τι τῶνδ’ ἐπίορκον, ἐμοὶ θεοὶ ἄλγεα δοῖεν
πολλὰ μάλ’, ὅσσα διδοῦσιν ὅτίς σφ’ ἀλίτηται ὀμόσσας.»
Ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στόμαχον κάπρου τάμε νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.
τὸν μὲν Ταλθύβιος πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐς μέγα λαῖτμα
ῥῖψ’ ἐπιδινήσας βόσιν ἰχθύσιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἀνστὰς Ἀργείοισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·
«Ζεῦ πάτερ, ἦ μεγάλας ἄτας ἄνδρεσσι διδοῖσθα·
οὐκ ἂν δή ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν
Ἀτρεΐδης ὤρινε διαμπερές, οὐδέ κε κούρην
ἦγεν ἐμεῦ ἀέκοντος ἀμήχανος· ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς
ἤθελ’ Ἀχαιοῖσιν θάνατον πολέεσσι γενέσθαι.
νῦν δ’ ἔρχεσθ’ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.»
Ὣς ἄρ’ ἐφώνησεν, λῦσεν δ’ ἀγορὴν αἰψηρήν.
οἱ μὲν ἄρ’ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,
δῶρα δὲ Μυρμιδόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,

βὰν δ’ ἐπὶ νῆα φέροντες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν κλισίῃσι θέσαν, κάθισαν δὲ γυναῖκας,
ἵππους δ’ εἰς ἀγέλην ἔλασαν θεράποντες ἀγαυοί.
Βρισηῒς δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτ’, ἰκέλη χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ,
ὡς ἴδε Πάτροκλον δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
ἀμφ’ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγ’ ἐκώκυε, χερσὶ δ’ ἄμυσσε
στήθεά τ’ ἠδ’ ἁπαλὴν δειρὴν ἰδὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα.
εἶπε δ’ ἄρα κλαίουσα γυνὴ ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι·
«Πάτροκλέ μοι δειλῇ πλεῖστον κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ,
ζωὸν μέν σε ἔλειπον ἐγὼ κλισίηθεν ἰοῦσα,
νῦν δέ σε τεθνηῶτα κιχάνομαι, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,
ἂψ ἀνιοῦσ’· ὥς μοι δέχεται κακὸν ἐκ κακοῦ αἰεί.
ἄνδρα μὲν ᾧ ἔδοσάν με πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
εἶδον πρὸ πτόλιος δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
τρεῖς τε κασιγνήτους, τούς μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ,
κηδείους, οἳ πάντες ὀλέθριον ἦμαρ ἐπέσπον.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδέ μ’ ἔασκες, ὅτ’ ἄνδρ’ ἐμὸν ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἔκτεινεν, πέρσεν δὲ πόλιν θείοιο Μύνητος,
κλαίειν, ἀλλά μ’ ἔφασκες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο
κουριδίην ἄλοχον θήσειν, ἄξειν τ’ ἐνὶ νηυσὶν
ἐς Φθίην, δαίσειν δὲ γάμον μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι.
τώ σ’ ἄμοτον κλαίω τεθνηότα μείλιχον αἰεί.»
Ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσ’, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γυναῖκες
Πάτροκλον πρόφασιν, σφῶν δ’ αὐτῶν κήδε’ ἑκάστη.
αὐτὸν δ’ ἀμφὶ γέροντες Ἀχαιῶν ἠγερέθοντο
λισσόμενοι δειπνῆσαι· ὁ δ’ ἠρνεῖτο στεναχίζων·
«λίσσομαι, εἴ τις ἔμοιγε φίλων ἐπιπείθεθ’ ἑταίρων,
μή με πρὶν σίτοιο κελεύετε μηδὲ ποτῆτος
ἄσασθαι φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεί μ’ ἄχος αἰνὸν ἱκάνει·
δύντα δ’ ἐς ἠέλιον μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἔμπης.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἄλλους μὲν ἀπεσκέδασεν βασιλῆας,

δοιὼ δ’ Ἀτρεΐδα μενέτην καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
Νέστωρ Ἰδομενεύς τε γέρων θ’ ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξ,
τέρποντες πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενον· οὐδέ τι θυμῷ
τέρπετο, πρὶν πολέμου στόμα δύμεναι αἱματόεντος.
μνησάμενος δ’ ἁδινῶς ἀνενείκατο φώνησέν τε·
«ἦ ῥά νύ μοί ποτε καὶ σύ, δυσάμμορε φίλταθ’ ἑταίρων,
αὐτὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃ λαρὸν παρὰ δεῖπνον ἔθηκας
αἶψα καὶ ὀτραλέως, ὁπότε σπερχοίατ’ Ἀχαιοὶ
Τρωσὶν ἐφ’ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα.
νῦν δὲ σὺ μὲν κεῖσαι δεδαϊγμένος, αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ
ἄκμηνον πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ἔνδον ἐόντων,
σῇ ποθῇ· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακώτερον ἄλλο πάθοιμι,
οὐδ’ εἴ κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἀποφθιμένοιο πυθοίμην,
ὅς που νῦν Φθίηφι τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβει
χήτεϊ τοιοῦδ’ υἷος· ὃ δ’ ἀλλοδαπῷ ἐνὶ δήμῳ
εἵνεκα ῥιγεδανῆς Ἑλένης Τρωσὶν πολεμίζω·
ἠὲ τὸν ὃς Σκύρῳ μοι ἔνι τρέφεται φίλος υἱός,
εἴ που ἔτι ζώει γε Νεοπτόλεμος θεοειδής.
πρὶν μὲν γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει
οἶον ἐμὲ φθίσεσθαι ἀπ’ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο
αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, σὲ δέ τε Φθίην δὲ νέεσθαι,
ὡς ἄν μοι τὸν παῖδα θοῇ ἐνὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ
Σκυρόθεν ἐξαγάγοις καί οἱ δείξειας ἕκαστα,
κτῆσιν ἐμὴν δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.
ἤδη γὰρ Πηλῆά γ’ ὀΐομαι ἢ κατὰ πάμπαν
τεθνάμεν, ἤ που τυτθὸν ἔτι ζώοντ’ ἀκάχησθαι
γήραΐ τε στυγερῷ καὶ ἐμὴν ποτιδέγμενον αἰεὶ
λυγρὴν ἀγγελίην, ὅτ’ ἀποφθιμένοιο πύθηται.»
Ὣς ἔφατο κλαίων, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γέροντες,
μνησάμενοι τὰ ἕκαστος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπον·

μυρομένους δ’ ἄρα τούς γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,
αἶψα δ’ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«τέκνον ἐμόν, δὴ πάμπαν ἀποίχεαι ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος.
ἦ νύ τοι οὐκέτι πάγχυ μετὰ φρεσὶ μέμβλετ’ Ἀχιλλεύς;
κεῖνος ὅ γε προπάροιθε νεῶν ὀρθοκραιράων
ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος ἕταρον φίλον· οἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι
οἴχονται μετὰ δεῖπνον, ὁ δ’ ἄκμηνος καὶ ἄπαστος.
ἀλλ’ ἴθι οἱ νέκτάρ τε καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν
στάξον ἐνὶ στήθεσσ’, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἵκηται.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην·
ἡ δ’ ἅρπῃ ἐϊκυῖα τανυπτέρυγι λιγυφώνῳ
οὐρανοῦ ἐκκατεπᾶλτο δι’ αἰθέρος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
αὐτίκα θωρήσσοντο κατὰ στρατόν· ἡ δ’ Ἀχιλῆϊ
νέκταρ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν
στάξ’, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἀτερπὴς γούναθ’ ἵκοιτο·
αὐτὴ δὲ πρὸς πατρὸς ἐρισθενέος πυκινὸν δῶ
ᾤχετο, τοὶ δ’ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν ἐχέοντο θοάων.
ὡς δ’ ὅτε ταρφειαὶ νιφάδες Διὸς ἐκποτέονται,
ψυχραί, ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς αἰθρηγενέος Βορέαο,
ὣς τότε ταρφειαὶ κόρυθες λαμπρὸν γανόωσαι
νηῶν ἐκφορέοντο καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι
θώρηκές τε κραταιγύαλοι καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα.
αἴγλη δ’ οὐρανὸν ἷκε, γέλασσε δὲ πᾶσα περὶ χθὼν
χαλκοῦ ὑπὸ στεροπῆς· ὑπὸ δὲ κτύπος ὄρνυτο ποσσὶν
ἀνδρῶν· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι κορύσσετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
τοῦ καὶ ὀδόντων μὲν καναχὴ πέλε, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
λαμπέσθην ὡς εἴ τε πυρὸς σέλας, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ
δῦν’ ἄχος ἄτλητον· ὁ δ’ ἄρα Τρωσὶν μενεαίνων
δύσετο δῶρα θεοῦ, τά οἱ Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.
κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε

καλάς, ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·
δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν.
ἀμφὶ δ’ ἄρ’ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον
χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε
εἵλετο, τοῦ δ’ ἀπάνευθε σέλας γένετ’ ἠΰτε μήνης.
ὡς δ’ ὅτ’ ἂν ἐκ πόντοιο σέλας ναύτῃσι φανήῃ
καιομένοιο πυρός, τό τε καίεται ὑψόθ’ ὄρεσφι
σταθμῷ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ· τοὺς δ’ οὐκ ἐθέλοντας ἄελλαι
πόντον ἐπ’ ἰχθυόεντα φίλων ἀπάνευθε φέρουσιν·
ὣς ἀπ’ Ἀχιλλῆος σάκεος σέλας αἰθέρ’ ἵκανε
καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· περὶ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἀείρας
κρατὶ θέτο βριαρήν· ἡ δ’ ἀστὴρ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν
ἵππουρις τρυφάλεια, περισσείοντο δ’ ἔθειραι
χρύσεαι, ἃς Ἥφαιστος ἵει λόφον ἀμφὶ θαμειάς.
πειρήθη δ’ ἕο αὐτοῦ ἐν ἔντεσι δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
εἰ οἷ ἐφαρμόσσειε καὶ ἐντρέχοι ἀγλαὰ γυῖα·
τῷ δ’ εὖτε πτερὰ γίγνετ’, ἄειρε δὲ ποιμένα λαῶν.
ἐκ δ’ ἄρα σύριγγος πατρώϊον ἐσπάσατ’ ἔγχος,
βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν· τὸ μὲν οὐ δύνατ’ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν
πάλλειν, ἀλλά μιν οἶος ἐπίστατο πῆλαι Ἀχιλλεύς,
Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων
Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς, φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν·
ἵππους δ’ Αὐτομέδων τε καὶ Ἄλκιμος ἀμφιέποντες
ζεύγνυον· ἀμφὶ δὲ καλὰ λέπαδν’ ἕσαν, ἐν δὲ χαλινοὺς
γαμφηλῇς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δ’ ἡνία τεῖναν ὀπίσσω
κολλητὸν ποτὶ δίφρον. ὁ δὲ μάστιγα φαεινὴν

χειρὶ λαβὼν ἀραρυῖαν ἐφ’ ἵπποιιν ἀνόρουσεν,
Αὐτομέδων· ὄπιθεν δὲ κορυσσάμενος βῆ Ἀχιλλεύς,
τεύχεσι παμφαίνων ὥς τ’ ἠλέκτωρ Ὑπερίων,
σμερδαλέον δ’ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·
«Ξάνθέ τε καὶ Βαλίε, τηλεκλυτὰ τέκνα Ποδάργης,
ἄλλως δὴ φράζεσθε σαωσέμεν ἡνιοχῆα
ἂψ Δαναῶν ἐς ὅμιλον, ἐπεί χ’ ἕωμεν πολέμοιο,
μηδ’ ὡς Πάτροκλον λίπετ’ αὐτόθι τεθνηῶτα.»
Τὸν δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπὸ ζυγόφι προσέφη πόδας αἰόλος ἵππος
Ξάνθος, ἄφαρ δ’ ἤμυσε καρήατι· πᾶσα δὲ χαίτη
ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν οὖδας ἵκανεν·
αὐδήεντα δ’ ἔθηκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·
«καὶ λίην σ’ ἔτι νῦν γε σαώσομεν, ὄβριμ’ Ἀχιλλεῦ·
ἀλλά τοι ἐγγύθεν ἦμαρ ὀλέθριον· οὐδέ τοι ἡμεῖς
αἴτιοι, ἀλλὰ θεός τε μέγας καὶ Μοῖρα κραταιή.
οὐδὲ γὰρ ἡμετέρῃ βραδυτῆτί τε νωχελίῃ τε
Τρῶες ἀπ’ ὤμοιιν Πατρόκλου τεύχε’ ἕλοντο·
ἀλλὰ θεῶν ὤριστος, ὃν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ,
ἔκταν’ ἐνὶ προμάχοισι καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ἔδωκε.
νῶϊ δὲ καί κεν ἅμα πνοιῇ Ζεφύροιο θέοιμεν,
ἥν περ ἐλαφροτάτην φάσ’ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ
μόρσιμόν ἐστι θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντος Ἐρινύες ἔσχεθον αὐδήν.
τὸν δὲ μέγ’ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
«Ξάνθε, τί μοι θάνατον μαντεύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.
εὖ νυ τὸ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ μοι μόρος ἐνθάδ’ ὀλέσθαι,
νόσφι φίλου πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης
οὐ λήξω πρὶν Τρῶας ἅδην ἐλάσαι πολέμοιο.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐν πρώτοις ἰάχων ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.


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