ἸΛΙΆΣ 5

Τρώων δ’ οἰώθη καὶ Ἀχαιῶν φύλοπις αἰνή·
πολλὰ δ’ ἄρ’ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθ’ ἴθυσε μάχη πεδίοιο
ἀλλήλων ἰθυνομένων χαλκήρεα δοῦρα
μεσσηγὺς Σιμόεντος ἰδὲ Ξάνθοιο ῥοάων.
Αἴας δὲ πρῶτος Τελαμώνιος ἕρκος Ἀχαιῶν,
Τρώων ῥῆξε φάλαγγα, φόως δ’ ἑτάροισιν ἔθηκεν,
ἄνδρα βαλὼν ὃς ἄριστος ἐνὶ Θρῄκεσσι τέτυκτο
υἱὸν Ἐϋσσώρου Ἀκάμαντ’ ἠΰν τε μέγαν τε.
τόν ῥ’ ἔβαλε πρῶτος κόρυθος φάλον ἱπποδασείης,
ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ πῆξε, πέρησε δ’ ἄρ’ ὀστέον εἴσω
αἰχμὴ χαλκείη· τὸν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψεν.
Ἄξυλον δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπεφνε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης
Τευθρανίδην, ὃς ἔναιεν ἐϋκτιμένῃ ἐν Ἀρίσβῃ
ἀφνειὸς βιότοιο, φίλος δ’ ἦν ἀνθρώποισι.
πάντας γὰρ φιλέεσκεν ὁδῷ ἔπι οἰκία ναίων.
ἀλλά οἱ οὔ τις τῶν γε τότ’ ἤρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον
πρόσθεν ὑπαντιάσας, ἀλλ’ ἄμφω θυμὸν ἀπηύρα
αὐτὸν καὶ θεράποντα Καλήσιον, ὅς ῥα τόθ’ ἵππων
ἔσκεν ὑφηνίοχος· τὼ δ’ ἄμφω γαῖαν ἐδύτην.

Δρῆσον δ’ Εὐρύαλος καὶ Ὀφέλτιον ἐξενάριξε·
βῆ δὲ μετ’ Αἴσηπον καὶ Πήδασον, οὕς ποτε νύμφη
νηῒς Ἀβαρβαρέη τέκ’ ἀμύμονι Βουκολίωνι.
Βουκολίων δ’ ἦν υἱὸς ἀγαυοῦ Λαομέδοντος
πρεσβύτατος γενεῇ, σκότιον δέ ἑ γείνατο μήτηρ·
ποιμαίνων δ’ ἐπ’ ὄεσσι μίγη φιλότητι καὶ εὐνῇ,
ἣ δ’ ὑποκυσαμένη διδυμάονε γείνατο παῖδε.
καὶ μὲν τῶν ὑπέλυσε μένος καὶ φαίδιμα γυῖα
Μηκιστηϊάδης καὶ ἀπ’ ὤμων τεύχε’ ἐσύλα.
Ἀστύαλον δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπεφνε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης·
Πιδύτην δ’ Ὀδυσεὺς Περκώσιον ἐξενάριξεν
ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ, Τεῦκρος δ’ Ἀρετάονα δῖον.
Ἀντίλοχος δ’ Ἄβληρον ἐνήρατο δουρὶ φαεινῷ
Νεστορίδης, Ἔλατον δὲ ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
ναῖε δὲ Σατνιόεντος ἐϋῤῥείταο παρ’ ὄχθας
Πήδασον αἰπεινήν. Φύλακον δ’ ἕλε Λήϊτος ἥρως
φεύγοντ’· Εὐρύπυλος δὲ Μελάνθιον ἐξενάριξεν.
Ἄδρηστον δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτα βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος
ζωὸν ἕλ’· ἵππω γάρ οἱ ἀτυζομένω πεδίοιο
ὄζῳ ἔνι βλαφθέντε μυρικίνῳ ἀγκύλον ἅρμα
ἄξαντ’ ἐν πρώτῳ ῥυμῷ αὐτὼ μὲν ἐβήτην
πρὸς πόλιν, ᾗ περ οἱ ἄλλοι ἀτυζόμενοι φοβέοντο,
αὐτὸς δ’ ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη
πρηνὴς ἐν κονίῃσιν ἐπὶ στόμα· πὰρ δέ οἱ ἔστη
Ἀτρεΐδης Μενέλαος ἔχων δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος.
Ἄδρηστος δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτα λαβὼν ἐλίσσετο γούνων·
«ζώγρει Ἀτρέος υἱέ, σὺ δ’ ἄξια δέξαι ἄποινα·
πολλὰ δ’ ἐν ἀφνειοῦ πατρὸς κειμήλια κεῖται
χαλκός τε χρυσός τε πολύκμητός τε σίδηρος,

τῶν κέν τοι χαρίσαιτο πατὴρ ἀπερείσι’ ἄποινα
εἴ κεν ἐμὲ ζωὸν πεπύθοιτ’ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιῶν.»
Ὣς φάτο, τῷ δ’ ἄρα θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔπειθε·
καὶ δή μιν τάχ’ ἔμελλε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν
δώσειν ᾧ θεράποντι καταξέμεν· ἀλλ’ Ἀγαμέμνων
ἀντίος ἦλθε θέων, καὶ ὁμοκλήσας ἔπος ηὔδα·
«ὦ πέπον ὦ Μενέλαε, τί ἢ δὲ σὺ κήδεαι οὕτως
ἀνδρῶν; ἦ σοὶ ἄριστα πεποίηται κατὰ οἶκον
πρὸς Τρώων; τῶν μή τις ὑπεκφύγοι αἰπὺν ὄλεθρον
χεῖράς θ’ ἡμετέρας, μηδ’ ὅν τινα γαστέρι μήτηρ
κοῦρον ἐόντα φέροι, μηδ’ ὃς φύγοι, ἀλλ’ ἅμα πάντες
Ἰλίου ἐξαπολοίατ’ ἀκήδεστοι καὶ ἄφαντοι.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἔτρεψεν ἀδελφειοῦ φρένας ἥρως
αἴσιμα παρειπών· ὃ δ’ ἀπὸ ἕθεν ὤσατο χειρὶ
ἥρω’ Ἄδρηστον· τὸν δὲ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
οὖτα κατὰ λαπάρην· ὃ δ’ ἀνετράπετ’, Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ
λὰξ ἐν στήθεσι βὰς ἐξέσπασε μείλινον ἔγχος.
Νέστωρ δ’ Ἀργείοισιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
«ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος
μή τις νῦν ἐνάρων ἐπιβαλλόμενος μετόπισθε
μιμνέτω ὥς κε πλεῖστα φέρων ἐπὶ νῆας ἵκηται,
ἀλλ’ ἄνδρας κτείνωμεν· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὰ ἕκηλοι
νεκροὺς ἂμ πεδίον συλήσετε τεθνηῶτας.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου.
ἔνθά κεν αὖτε Τρῶες ἀρηϊφίλων ὑπ' Ἀχαιῶν
Ἴλιον εἰσανέβησαν ἀναλκείῃσι δαμέντες,
εἰ μὴ ἄρ’ Αἰνείᾳ τε καὶ Ἕκτορι εἶπε παραστὰς
Πριαμίδης Ἕλενος οἰωνοπόλων ὄχ’ ἄριστος·
«Αἰνεία τε καὶ Ἕκτορ, ἐπεὶ πόνος ὔμμι μάλιστα

Τρώων καὶ Λυκίων ἐγκέκλιται, οὕνεκ’ ἄριστοι
πᾶσαν ἐπ’ ἰθύν ἐστε μάχεσθαί τε φρονέειν τε,
στῆτ’ αὐτοῦ, καὶ λαὸν ἐρυκάκετε πρὸ πυλάων
πάντῃ ἐποιχόμενοι πρὶν αὖτ’ ἐν χερσὶ γυναικῶν
φεύγοντας πεσέειν, δηΐοισι δὲ χάρμα γενέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κε φάλαγγας ἐποτρύνητον ἁπάσας,
ἡμεῖς μὲν Δαναοῖσι μαχησόμεθ’ αὖθι μένοντες,
καὶ μάλα τειρόμενοί περ· ἀναγκαίη γὰρ ἐπείγει·
Ἕκτορ ἀτὰρ σὺ πόλιν δὲ μετέρχεο, εἰπὲ δ’ ἔπειτα
μητέρι σῇ καὶ ἐμῇ· ἣ δὲ ξυνάγουσα γεραιὰς
νηὸν Ἀθηναίης γλαυκώπιδος ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ
οἴξασα κληῗδι θύρας ἱεροῖο δόμοιο
πέπλον, ὅς οἱ δοκέει χαριέστατος ἠδὲ μέγιστος
εἶναι ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ καί οἱ πολὺ φίλτατος αὐτῇ,
θεῖναι Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν ἠϋκόμοιο,
καί οἱ ὑποσχέσθαι δυοκαίδεκα βοῦς ἐνὶ νηῷ
ἤνις ἠκέστας ἱερευσέμεν, αἴ κ’ ἐλεήσῃ
ἄστύ τε καὶ Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα,
ὥς κεν Τυδέος υἱὸν ἀπόσχῃ Ἰλίου ἱρῆς
ἄγριον αἰχμητὴν κρατερὸν μήστωρα φόβοιο,
ὃν δὴ ἐγὼ κάρτιστον Ἀχαιῶν φημι γενέσθαι.
οὐδ’ Ἀχιλῆά ποθ’ ὧδέ γ’ ἐδείδιμεν ὄρχαμον ἀνδρῶν,
ὅν πέρ φασι θεᾶς ἐξέμμεναι· ἀλλ’ ὅδε λίην
μαίνεται, οὐδέ τίς οἱ δύναται μένος ἰσοφαρίζειν.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, Ἕκτωρ δ’ οὔ τι κασιγνήτῳ ἀπίθησεν.
αὐτίκα δ’ ἐξ ὀχέων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἆλτο χαμᾶζε,
πάλλων δ’ ὀξέα δοῦρα κατὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο πάντῃ
ὀτρύνων μαχέσασθαι, ἔγειρε δὲ φύλοπιν αἰνήν.
οἳ δ’ ἐλελίχθησαν καὶ ἐναντίοι ἔσταν Ἀχαιῶν·
Ἀργεῖοι δ’ ὑπεχώρησαν, λῆξαν δὲ φόνοιο,
φὰν δέ τιν’ ἀθανάτων ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος

Τρωσὶν ἀλεξήσοντα κατελθέμεν, ὡς ἐλέλιχθεν.
Ἕκτωρ δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐκέκλετο μακρὸν ἀΰσας·
«Τρῶες ὑπέρθυμοι τηλεκλειτοί τ’ ἐπίκουροι,
ἀνέρες ἔστε φίλοι, μνήσασθε δὲ θούριδος ἀλκῆς,
ὄφρ’ ἂν ἐγὼ βείω προτὶ Ἴλιον, ἠδὲ γέρουσιν
εἴπω βουλευτῇσι καὶ ἡμετέρῃς ἀλόχοισι
δαίμοσιν ἀρήσασθαι, ὑποσχέσθαι δ’ ἑκατόμβας.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν σφυρὰ τύπτε καὶ αὐχένα δέρμα κελαινόν,
ἄντυξ ἣ πυμάτη θέεν ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσης.
Γλαῦκος δ’ Ἱππολόχοιο πάϊς καὶ Τυδέος υἱὸς
ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρων συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι.
οἳ δ’ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντε,
τὸν πρότερος προσέειπε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
«τίς δὲ σύ ἐσσι φέριστε καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων;
οὐ μὲν γάρ ποτ’ ὄπωπα μάχῃ ἔνι κυδιανείρῃ
τὸ πρίν· ἀτὰρ μὲν νῦν γε πολὺ προβέβηκας ἁπάντων
σῷ θάρσει, ὅ τ’ ἐμὸν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος ἔμεινας·
δυστήνων δέ τε παῖδες ἐμῷ μένει ἀντιόωσιν.
εἰ δέ τις ἀθανάτων γε κατ’ οὐρανοῦ εἰλήλουθας,
οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγε θεοῖσιν ἐπουρανίοισι μαχοίμην.
οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδὲ Δρύαντος υἱὸς κρατερὸς Λυκόοργος
δὴν ἦν, ὅς ῥα θεοῖσιν ἐπουρανίοισιν ἔριζεν·
ὅς ποτε μαινομένοιο Διωνύσοιο τιθήνας
σεῦε κατ’ ἠγάθεον Νυσήϊον· αἳ δ’ ἅμα πᾶσαι
θύσθλα χαμαὶ κατέχευαν ὑπ’ ἀνδροφόνοιο Λυκούργου
θεινόμεναι βουπλῆγι· Διώνυσος δὲ φοβηθεὶς
δύσεθ’ ἁλὸς κατὰ κῦμα, Θέτις δ’ ὑπεδέξατο κόλπῳ

δειδιότα· κρατερὸς γὰρ ἔχε τρόμος ἀνδρὸς ὁμοκλῇ.
τῷ μὲν ἔπειτ’ ὀδύσαντο θεοὶ ῥεῖα ζώοντες,
καί μιν τυφλὸν ἔθηκε Κρόνου πάϊς· οὐδ’ ἄρ’ ἔτι δὴν
ἦν, ἐπεὶ ἀθανάτοισιν ἀπήχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιν·
οὐδ’ ἂν ἐγὼ μακάρεσσι θεοῖς ἐθέλοιμι μάχεσθαι.
εἰ δέ τίς ἐσσι βροτῶν οἳ ἀρούρης καρπὸν ἔδουσιν,
ἆσσον ἴθ’ ὥς κεν θᾶσσον ὀλέθρου πείραθ’ ἵκηαι.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖθ’ Ἱππολόχοιο προσηύδα φαίδιμος υἱός·
«Τυδεΐδη μεγάθυμε τί ἢ γενεὴν ἐρεείνεις;
οἵη περ φύλλων γενεὴ τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν.
φύλλα τὰ μέν τ’ ἄνεμος χαμάδις χέει, ἄλλα δέ θ’ ὕλη
τηλεθόωσα φύει, ἔαρος δ’ ἐπιγίγνεται ὥρη·
ὣς ἀνδρῶν γενεὴ ἣ μὲν φύει ἣ δ’ ἀπολήγει.
εἰ δ’ ἐθέλεις καὶ ταῦτα δαήμεναι ὄφρ’ ἐῢ εἰδῇς
ἡμετέρην γενεήν, πολλοὶ δέ μιν ἄνδρες ἴσασιν·
ἔστι πόλις Ἐφύρη μυχῷ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο,
ἔνθα δὲ Σίσυφος ἔσκεν, ὃ κέρδιστος γένετ’ ἀνδρῶν,
Σίσυφος Αἰολίδης· ὁ δ’ ἄρα Γλαῦκον τέκεθ’ υἱόν,
αὐτὰρ Γλαῦκος τίκτεν ἀμύμονα Βελλεροφόντην·
τῷ δὲ θεοὶ κάλλός τε καὶ ἠνορέην ἐρατεινὴν
ὤπασαν· αὐτάρ οἱ Προῖτος κακὰ μήσατο θυμῷ,
ὅς ῥ’ ἐκ δήμου ἔλασσεν, ἐπεὶ πολὺ φέρτερος ἦεν,
Ἀργείων· Ζεὺς γάρ οἱ ὑπὸ σκήπτρῳ ἐδάμασσε.
τῷ δὲ γυνὴ Προίτου ἐπεμήνατο δῖ’ Ἄντεια
κρυπταδίῃ φιλότητι μιγήμεναι· ἀλλὰ τὸν οὔ τι
πεῖθ’ ἀγαθὰ φρονέοντα δαΐφρονα Βελλεροφόντην.
ἣ δὲ ψευσαμένη Προῖτον βασιλῆα προσηύδα·
“τεθναίης ὦ Προῖτ’, ἢ κάκτανε Βελλεροφόντην,
ὅς μ’ ἔθελεν φιλότητι μιγήμεναι οὐκ ἐθελούσῃ.”
ὣς φάτο, τὸν δὲ ἄνακτα χόλος λάβεν οἷον ἄκουσε·

κτεῖναι μέν ῥ' ἀλέεινε, σεβάσσατο γὰρ τό γε θυμῷ,
πέμπε δέ μιν Λυκίην δέ, πόρεν δ' ὅ γε σήματα λυγρά,
γράψας ἐν πίνακι πτυκτῷ θυμοφθόρα πολλά,
δεῖξαι δ' ἠνώγειν ᾧ πενθερῷ ὄφρ' ἀπόλοιτο.
αὐτὰρ ὁ βῆ Λυκίην δὲ θεῶν ὑπ' ἀμύμονι πομπῇ.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ Λυκίην ἷξε Ξάνθόν τε ῥέοντα,
προφρονέως μιν τῖεν ἄναξ Λυκίης εὐρείης·
ἐννῆμαρ ξείνισσε καὶ ἐννέα βοῦς ἱέρευσεν.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ δεκάτη ἐφάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,
καὶ τότε μιν ἐρέεινε καὶ ᾔτεε σῆμα ἰδέσθαι,
ὅττί ῥά οἱ γαμβροῖο πάρα Προίτοιο φέροιτο.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ σῆμα κακὸν παρεδέξατο γαμβροῦ,
πρῶτον μέν ῥα Χίμαιραν ἀμαιμακέτην ἐκέλευσε
πεφνέμεν· ἣ δ' ἄρ' ἔην θεῖον γένος οὐδ' ἀνθρώπων,
πρόσθε λέων, ὄπιθεν δὲ δράκων, μέσση δὲ χίμαιρα,
δεινὸν ἀποπνείουσα πυρὸς μένος αἰθομένοιο,
καὶ τὴν μὲν κατέπεφνε θεῶν τεράεσσι πιθήσας.
δεύτερον αὖ Σολύμοισι μαχέσσατο κυδαλίμοισι·
καρτίστην δὴ τήν γε μάχην φάτο δύμεναι ἀνδρῶν.
τὸ τρίτον αὖ κατέπεφνεν Ἀμαζόνας ἀντιανείρας.
τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἀνερχομένῳ πυκινὸν δόλον ἄλλον ὕφαινε·
κρίνας ἐκ Λυκίης εὐρείης φῶτας ἀρίστους
εἷσε λόχον· τοὶ δ' οὔ τι πάλιν οἶκον δὲ νέοντο·
πάντας γὰρ κατέπεφνεν ἀμύμων Βελλεροφόντης.
ἀλλ' ὅτε δὴ γίγνωσκε θεοῦ γόνον ἠῢν ἐόντα
αὐτοῦ μιν κατέρυκε, δίδου δ' ὅ γε θυγατέρα ἥν,
δῶκε δέ οἱ τιμῆς βασιληΐδος ἥμισυ πάσης·
καὶ μέν οἱ Λύκιοι τέμενος τάμον ἔξοχον ἄλλων
καλὸν φυταλιῆς καὶ ἀρούρης, ὄφρα νέμοιτο.

ἣ δ’ ἔτεκε τρία τέκνα δαΐφρονι Βελλεροφόντῃ
Ἴσανδρόν τε καὶ Ἱππόλοχον καὶ Λαοδάμειαν.
Λαοδαμείῃ μὲν παρελέξατο μητίετα Ζεύς,
ἣ δ’ ἔτεκ’ ἀντίθεον Σαρπηδόνα χαλκοκορυστήν.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ καὶ κεῖνος ἀπήχθετο πᾶσι θεοῖσιν,
ἤτοι ὃ κὰπ πεδίον τὸ Ἀλήϊον οἶος ἀλᾶτο
ὃν θυμὸν κατέδων, πάτον ἀνθρώπων ἀλεείνων·
Ἴσανδρον δέ οἱ υἱὸν Ἄρης ἆτος πολέμοιο
μαρνάμενον Σολύμοισι κατέκτανε κυδαλίμοισι·
τὴν δὲ χολωσαμένη χρυσήνιος Ἄρτεμις ἔκτα.
Ἱππόλοχος δέ μ’ ἔτικτε, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ φημι γενέσθαι·
πέμπε δέ μ’ ἐς Τροίην, καί μοι μάλα πόλλ’ ἐπέτελλεν
αἰὲν ἀριστεύειν καὶ ὑπείροχον ἔμμεναι ἄλλων,
μηδὲ γένος πατέρων αἰσχυνέμεν, οἳ μέγ’ ἄριστοι
ἔν τ’ Ἐφύρῃ ἐγένοντο καὶ ἐν Λυκίῃ εὐρείῃ.
ταύτης τοι γενεῆς τε καὶ αἵματος εὔχομαι εἶναι.»
Ὣς φάτο, γήθησεν δὲ βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
ἔγχος μὲν κατέπηξεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ πουλυβοτείρῃ,
αὐτὰρ ὃ μειλιχίοισι προσηύδα ποιμένα λαῶν·
«ἦ ῥά νύ μοι ξεῖνος πατρώϊός ἐσσι παλαιός·
Οἰνεὺς γάρ ποτε δῖος ἀμύμονα Βελλεροφόντην
ξείνισ’ ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἐείκοσιν ἤματ’ ἐρύξας·
οἳ δὲ καὶ ἀλλήλοισι πόρον ξεινήϊα καλά·
Οἰνεὺς μὲν ζωστῆρα δίδου φοίνικι φαεινόν,
Βελλεροφόντης δὲ χρύσεον δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον
καί μιν ἐγὼ κατέλειπον ἰὼν ἐν δώμασ’ ἐμοῖσι.
Τυδέα δ’ οὐ μέμνημαι, ἐπεί μ’ ἔτι τυτθὸν ἐόντα
κάλλιφ’, ὅτ’ ἐν Θήβῃσιν ἀπώλετο λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν.
τὼ νῦν σοὶ μὲν ἐγὼ ξεῖνος φίλος Ἄργεϊ μέσσῳ
εἰμί, σὺ δ’ ἐν Λυκίῃ ὅτε κεν τῶν δῆμον ἵκωμαι.
ἔγχεα δ’ ἀλλήλων ἀλεώμεθα καὶ δι’ ὁμίλου·

πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ ἐμοὶ Τρῶες κλειτοί τ’ ἐπίκουροι,
κτείνειν ὅν κε θεός γε πόρῃ καὶ ποσσὶ κιχείω,
πολλοὶ δ’ αὖ σοὶ Ἀχαιοὶ ἐναιρέμεν ὅν κε δύνηαι.
τεύχεα δ’ ἀλλήλοις ἐπαμείψομεν, ὄφρα καὶ οἷδε
γνῶσιν ὅτι ξεῖνοι πατρώϊοι εὐχόμεθ’ εἶναι.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντε καθ’ ἵππων ἀΐξαντε
χεῖράς τ’ ἀλλήλων λαβέτην καὶ πιστώσαντο·
ἔνθ’ αὖτε Γλαύκῳ Κρονίδης φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,
ὃς πρὸς Τυδεΐδην Διομήδεα τεύχε’ ἄμειβε
χρύσεα χαλκείων, ἑκατόμβοι’ ἐννεαβοίων.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ὡς Σκαιάς τε πύλας καὶ φηγὸν ἵκανεν,
ἀμφ’ ἄρα μιν Τρώων ἄλοχοι θέον ἠδὲ θύγατρες
εἰρόμεναι παῖδάς τε κασιγνήτους τε ἔτας τε
καὶ πόσιας· ὃ δ’ ἔπειτα θεοῖς εὔχεσθαι ἀνώγει
πάσας ἑξείης· πολλῇσι δὲ κήδε’ ἐφῆπτο.
Ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ Πριάμοιο δόμον περικαλλέ’ ἵκανε
ξεστῇς αἰθούσῃσι τετυγμένον—αὐτὰρ ἐν αὐτῷ
πεντήκοντ’ ἔνεσαν θάλαμοι ξεστοῖο λίθοιο
πλησίον ἀλλήλων δεδμημένοι, ἔνθα δὲ παῖδες
κοιμῶντο Πριάμοιο παρὰ μνηστῇς ἀλόχοισι,
κουράων δ’ ἑτέρωθεν ἐναντίοι ἔνδοθεν αὐλῆς
δώδεκ’ ἔσαν τέγεοι θάλαμοι ξεστοῖο λίθοιο,
πλησίον ἀλλήλων δεδμημένοι, ἔνθα δὲ γαμβροὶ
κοιμῶντο Πριάμοιο παρ’ αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισιν·
ἔνθά οἱ ἠπιόδωρος ἐναντίη ἤλυθε μήτηρ
Λαοδίκην ἐσάγουσα θυγατρῶν εἶδος ἀρίστην·
ἔν τ’ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ’ ἔφατ’ ἔκ τ’ ὀνόμαζε·
«τέκνον τίπτε λιπὼν πόλεμον θρασὺν εἰλήλουθας;
ἦ μάλα δὴ τείρουσι δυσώνυμοι υἷες Ἀχαιῶν
μαρνάμενοι περὶ ἄστυ· σὲ δ’ ἐνθάδε θυμὸς ἀνῆκεν

ἐλθόντ’ ἐξ ἄκρης πόλιος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχεῖν.
ἀλλὰ μέν’ ὄφρά κέ τοι μελιηδέα οἶνον ἐνείκω,
ὡς σπείσῃς Διὶ πατρὶ καὶ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισι
πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δὲ καὐτὸς ὀνήσεαι αἴ κε πίῃσθα.
ἀνδρὶ δὲ κεκμηῶτι μένος μέγα οἶνος ἀέξει,
ὡς τύνη κέκμηκας ἀμύνων σοῖσιν ἔτῃσι.
Τὴν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
«μή μοι οἶνον ἄειρε μελίφρονα πότνια μῆτερ,
μή μ’ ἀπογυιώσῃς μένεος, ἀλκῆς τε λάθωμαι·
χερσὶ δ’ ἀνίπτοισιν Διὶ λείβειν αἴθοπα οἶνον
ἅζομαι· οὐδέ πῃ ἔστι κελαινεφέϊ Κρονίωνι
αἵματι καὶ λύθρῳ πεπαλαγμένον εὐχετάασθαι.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν πρὸς νηὸν Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης
ἔρχεο σὺν θυέεσσιν ἀολλίσσασα γεραιάς·
πέπλον δ’, ὅς τίς τοι χαριέστατος ἠδὲ μέγιστος
ἔστιν ἐνὶ μεγάρῳ καί τοι πολὺ φίλτατος αὐτῇ,
τὸν θὲς Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν ἠϋκόμοιο,
καί οἱ ὑποσχέσθαι δυοκαίδεκα βοῦς ἐνὶ νηῷ
ἤνις ἠκέστας ἱερευσέμεν, αἴ κ’ ἐλεήσῃ
ἄστύ τε καὶ Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα,
αἴ κεν Τυδέος υἱὸν ἀπόσχῃ Ἰλίου ἱρῆς,
ἄγριον αἰχμητὴν κρατερὸν μήστωρα φόβοιο.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν πρὸς νηὸν Ἀθηναίης ἀγελείης
ἔρχευ, ἐγὼ δὲ Πάριν μετελεύσομαι ὄφρα καλέσσω
αἴ κ’ ἐθέλῃσ’ εἰπόντος ἀκουέμεν· ὥς κέ οἱ αὖθι
γαῖα χάνοι· μέγα γάρ μιν Ὀλύμπιος ἔτρεφε πῆμα
Τρωσί τε καὶ Πριάμῳ μεγαλήτορι τοῖό τε παισίν.
εἰ κεῖνόν γε ἴδοιμι κατελθόντ’ Ἄϊδος εἴσω
φαίην κε φρέν’ ἀτέρπου ὀϊζύος ἐκλελαθέσθαι.»

Ὣς ἔφαθ’, ἣ δὲ μολοῦσα ποτὶ μέγαρ’ ἀμφιπόλοισι
κέκλετο· ταὶ δ’ ἄρ’ ἀόλλισσαν κατὰ ἄστυ γεραιάς.
αὐτὴ δ’ ἐς θάλαμον κατεβήσετο κηώεντα,
ἔνθ’ ἔσάν οἱ πέπλοι παμποίκιλα ἔργα γυναικῶν
Σιδονίων, τὰς αὐτὸς Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδὴς
ἤγαγε Σιδονίηθεν ἐπιπλὼς εὐρέα πόντον,
τὴν ὁδὸν ἣν Ἑλένην περ ἀνήγαγεν εὐπατέρειαν·
τῶν ἕν’ ἀειραμένη Ἑκάβη φέρε δῶρον Ἀθήνῃ,
ὃς κάλλιστος ἔην ποικίλμασιν ἠδὲ μέγιστος,
ἀστὴρ δ’ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν· ἔκειτο δὲ νείατος ἄλλων.
βῆ δ’ ἰέναι, πολλαὶ δὲ μετεσσεύοντο γεραιαί.
Αἳ δ’ ὅτε νηὸν ἵκανον Ἀθήνης ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ,
τῇσι θύρας ὤϊξε Θεανὼ καλλιπάρῃος
Κισσηῒς ἄλοχος Ἀντήνορος ἱπποδάμοιο·
τὴν γὰρ Τρῶες ἔθηκαν Ἀθηναίης ἱέρειαν.
αἳ δ’ ὀλολυγῇ πᾶσαι Ἀθήνῃ χεῖρας ἀνέσχον·
ἣ δ’ ἄρα πέπλον ἑλοῦσα Θεανὼ καλλιπάρῃος
θῆκεν Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν ἠϋκόμοιο,
εὐχομένη δ’ ἠρᾶτο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο·
«πότνι’ Ἀθηναίη ἐρυσίπτολι δῖα θεάων,
ἆξον δὴ ἔγχος Διομήδεος, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτὸν
πρηνέα δὸς πεσέειν Σκαιῶν προπάροιθε πυλάων,
ὄφρά τοι αὐτίκα νῦν δυοκαίδεκα βοῦς ἐνὶ νηῷ
ἤνις ἠκέστας ἱερεύσομεν, αἴ κ’ ἐλεήσῃς
ἄστύ τε καὶ Τρώων ἀλόχους καὶ νήπια τέκνα.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’ εὐχομένη, ἀνένευε δὲ Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη.
ὣς αἳ μέν ῥ’ εὔχοντο Διὸς κούρῃ μεγάλοιο,
Ἕκτωρ δὲ πρὸς δώματ’ Ἀλεξάνδροιο βεβήκει
καλά, τά ῥ’ αὐτὸς ἔτευξε σὺν ἀνδράσιν οἳ τότ’ἄριστοι
ἦσαν ἐνὶ Τροίῃ ἐριβώλακι τέκτονες ἄνδρες,

οἵ οἱ ἐποίησαν θάλαμον καὶ δῶμα καὶ αὐλὴν
ἐγγύθι τε Πριάμοιο καὶ Ἕκτορος ἐν πόλει ἄκρῃ.
ἔνθ’ Ἕκτωρ εἰσῆλθε Διῒ φίλος, ἐν δ’ ἄρα χειρὶ
ἔγχος ἔχ’ ἑνδεκάπηχυ· πάροιθε δὲ λάμπετο δουρὸς
αἰχμὴ χαλκείη, περὶ δὲ χρύσεος θέε πόρκης.
τὸν δ’ εὗρ’ ἐν θαλάμῳ περικαλλέα τεύχε’ ἕποντα
ἀσπίδα καὶ θώρηκα, καὶ ἀγκύλα τόξ’ ἁφόωντα·
Ἀργείη δ’ Ἑλένη μετ’ ἄρα δμῳῇσι γυναιξὶν
ἧστο καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι περικλυτὰ ἔργα κέλευε.
τὸν δ’ Ἕκτωρ νείκεσσεν ἰδὼν αἰσχροῖς ἐπέεσσι·
δαιμόνι’ οὐ μὲν καλὰ χόλον τόνδ’ ἔνθεο θυμῷ,
λαοὶ μὲν φθινύθουσι περὶ πτόλιν αἰπύ τε τεῖχος
μαρνάμενοι· σέο δ’ εἵνεκ’ ἀϋτή τε πτόλεμός τε
ἄστυ τόδ’ ἀμφιδέδηε· σὺ δ’ ἂν μαχέσαιο καὶ ἄλλῳ,
ὅν τινά που μεθιέντα ἴδοις στυγεροῦ πολέμοιο.
ἀλλ’ ἄνα μὴ τάχα ἄστυ πυρὸς δηΐοιο θέρηται.
Τὸν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·
«Ἕκτορ ἐπεί με κατ’ αἶσαν ἐνείκεσας οὐδ’ ὑπὲρ αἶσαν,
τοὔνεκά τοι ἐρέω· σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μευ ἄκουσον·
οὔ τοι ἐγὼ Τρώων τόσσον χόλῳ οὐδὲ νεμέσσι
ἥμην ἐν θαλάμῳ, ἔθελον δ’ ἄχεϊ προτραπέσθαι.
νῦν δέ με παρειποῦσ’ ἄλοχος μαλακοῖς ἐπέεσσιν
ὅρμησ’ ἐς πόλεμον· δοκέει δέ μοι ὧδε καὶ αὐτῷ
λώϊον ἔσσεσθαι· νίκη δ’ ἐπαμείβεται ἄνδρας.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε νῦν ἐπίμεινον, Ἀρήϊα τεύχεα δύω·
ἢ ἴθ’, ἐγὼ δὲ μέτειμι· κιχήσεσθαι δέ σ’ ὀΐω.»
Ὣς φάτο, τὸν δ’ οὔ τι προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
τὸν δ’ Ἑλένη μύθοισι προσηύδα μειλιχίοισι·
«δᾶερ ἐμεῖο κυνὸς κακομηχάνου ὀκρυοέσσης,
ὥς μ’ ὄφελ’ ἤματι τῷ ὅτε με πρῶτον τέκε μήτηρ
οἴχεσθαι προφέρουσα κακὴ ἀνέμοιο θύελλα

εἰς ὄρος ἢ εἰς κῦμα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης,
ἔνθά με κῦμ’ ἀπόερσε πάρος τάδε ἔργα γενέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τάδε γ’ ὧδε θεοὶ κακὰ τεκμήραντο,
ἀνδρὸς ἔπειτ’ ὤφελλον ἀμείνονος εἶναι ἄκοιτις,
ὃς ᾔδη νέμεσίν τε καὶ αἴσχεα πόλλ’ ἀνθρώπων.
τούτῳ δ’ οὔτ’ ἂρ νῦν φρένες ἔμπεδοι οὔτ’ ἄρ’ ὀπίσσω
ἔσσονται· τὼ καί μιν ἐπαυρήσεσθαι ὀΐω.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε νῦν εἴσελθε καὶ ἕζεο τῷδ’ ἐπὶ δίφρῳ
δᾶερ, ἐπεί σε μάλιστα πόνος φρένας ἀμφιβέβηκεν
εἵνεκ’ ἐμεῖο κυνὸς καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου ἕνεκ’ ἄτης,
οἷσιν ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε κακὸν μόρον, ὡς καὶ ὀπίσσω
ἀνθρώποισι πελώμεθ’ ἀοίδιμοι ἐσσομένοισι.»
Τὴν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ
«μή με κάθιζ’ Ἑλένη φιλέουσά περ· οὐδέ με πείσεις·
ἤδη γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐπέσσυται ὄφρ’ ἐπαμύνω
Τρώεσσ’, οἳ μέγ’ ἐμεῖο ποθὴν ἀπεόντος ἔχουσιν.
ἀλλὰ σύ γ’ ὄρνυθι τοῦτον, ἐπειγέσθω δὲ καὶ αὐτός,
ὥς κεν ἔμ’ ἔντοσθεν πόλιος καταμάρψῃ ἐόντα.
καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν οἶκον δὲ ἐλεύσομαι ὄφρα ἴδωμαι
οἰκῆας ἄλοχόν τε φίλην καὶ νήπιον υἱόν.
οὐ γὰρ οἶδ’ εἰ ἔτι σφιν ὑπότροπος ἵξομαι αὖτις,
ἦ ἤδη μ’ ὑπὸ χερσὶ θεοὶ δαμόωσιν Ἀχαιῶν.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
αἶψα δ’ ἔπειθ’ ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
οὐδ’ εὗρ’ Ἀνδρομάχην λευκώλενον ἐν μεγάροισιν,
ἀλλ’ ἥ γε ξὺν παιδὶ καὶ ἀμφιπόλῳ ἐϋπέπλῳ
πύργῳ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε.
Ἕκτωρ δ’ ὡς οὐκ ἔνδον ἀμύμονα τέτμεν ἄκοιτιν
ἔστη ἐπ’ οὐδὸν ἰών, μετὰ δὲ δμῳῇσιν ἔειπεν·
«εἰ δ’ ἄγε μοι δμῳαὶ νημερτέα μυθήσασθε·

πῇ ἔβη Ἀνδρομάχη λευκώλενος ἐκ μεγάροιο;
ἠέ πῃ ἐς γαλόων ἢ εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων
ἢ ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι
Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται;»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ ὀτρηρὴ ταμίη πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«Ἕκτορ ἐπεὶ μάλ’ ἄνωγας ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι,
οὔτέ πῃ ἐς γαλόων οὔτ’ εἰνατέρων ἐϋπέπλων
οὔτ’ ἐς Ἀθηναίης ἐξοίχεται, ἔνθά περ ἄλλαι
Τρῳαὶ ἐϋπλόκαμοι δεινὴν θεὸν ἱλάσκονται,
ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ πύργον ἔβη μέγαν Ἰλίου, οὕνεκ’ ἄκουσε
τείρεσθαι Τρῶας, μέγα δὲ κράτος εἶναι Ἀχαιῶν.
ἣ μὲν δὴ πρὸς τεῖχος ἐπειγομένη ἀφικάνει
μαινομένῃ ἐϊκυῖα· φέρει δ’ ἅμα παῖδα τιθήνη.»
Ἦ ῥα γυνὴ ταμίη, ὃ δ’ ἀπέσσυτο δώματος Ἕκτωρ
τὴν αὐτὴν ὁδὸν αὖτις ἐϋκτιμένας κατ’ ἀγυιάς.
εὖτε πύλας ἵκανε διερχόμενος μέγα ἄστυ
Σκαιάς, τῇ ἄρ’ ἔμελλε διεξίμεναι πεδίον δέ,
ἔνθ’ ἄλοχος πολύδωρος ἐναντίη ἦλθε θέουσα
Ἀνδρομάχη θυγάτηρ μεγαλήτορος Ἠετίωνος,
Ἠετίων ὃς ἔναιεν ὑπὸ Πλάκῳ ὑληέσσῃ
Θήβῃ Ὑποπλακίῃ Κιλίκεσσ’ ἄνδρεσσιν ἀνάσσων·
τοῦ περ δὴ θυγάτηρ ἔχεθ’ Ἕκτορι χαλκοκορυστῇ.
ἥ οἱ ἔπειτ’ ἤντησ’, ἅμα δ’ ἀμφίπολος κίεν αὐτῇ
παῖδ’ ἐπὶ κόλπῳ ἔχουσ’ ἀταλάφρονα νήπιον αὔτως
Ἑκτορίδην ἀγαπητὸν ἀλίγκιον ἀστέρι καλῷ,
τόν ῥ’ Ἕκτωρ καλέεσκε Σκαμάνδριον, αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι
Ἀστυάνακτ’· οἶος γὰρ ἐρύετο Ἴλιον Ἕκτωρ.
ἤτοι ὃ μὲν μείδησεν ἰδὼν ἐς παῖδα σιωπῇ·
Ἀνδρομάχη δέ οἱ ἄγχι παρίστατο δάκρυ χέουσα,
ἔν τ’ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τ’ ἔφατ’ ἔκ τ’ ὀνόμαζε·
«δαιμόνιε φθίσει σε τὸ σὸν μένος, οὐδ’ ἐλεαίρεις

παῖδά τε νηπίαχον καὶ ἔμ’ ἄμμορον, ἣ τάχα χήρη
σεῦ ἔσομαι· τάχα γάρ σε κατακτανέουσιν Ἀχαιοὶ
πάντες ἐφορμηθέντες· ἐμοὶ δέ κε κέρδιον εἴη
σεῦ ἀφαμαρτούσῃ χθόνα δύμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ ἄλλη
ἔσται θαλπωρὴ ἐπεὶ ἂν σύ γε πότμον ἐπίσπῃς
ἀλλ’ ἄχε’· οὐδέ μοι ἔστι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ.
ἤτοι γὰρ πατέρ’ ἁμὸν ἀπέκτανε δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
ἐκ δὲ πόλιν πέρσεν Κιλίκων εὖ ναιετάουσαν,
Θήβην ὑψίπυλον· κατὰ δ’ ἔκτανεν Ἠετίωνα,
οὐδέ μιν ἐξενάριξε, σεβάσσατο γὰρ τό γε θυμῷ,
ἀλλ’ ἄρα μιν κατέκηε σὺν ἔντεσι δαιδαλέοισιν
ἠδ’ ἐπὶ σῆμ’ ἔχεεν· περὶ δὲ πτελέας ἐφύτευσαν
νύμφαι ὀρεστιάδες κοῦραι Διὸς αἰγιόχοιο.
οἳ δέ μοι ἑπτὰ κασίγνητοι ἔσαν ἐν μεγάροισιν
οἳ μὲν πάντες ἰῷ κίον ἤματι Ἄϊδος εἴσω·
πάντας γὰρ κατέπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
βουσὶν ἐπ’ εἰλιπόδεσσι καὶ ἀργεννῇς ὀΐεσσι.
μητέρα δ’, ἣ βασίλευεν ὑπὸ Πλάκῳ ὑληέσσῃ,
τὴν ἐπεὶ ἂρ δεῦρ’ ἤγαγ’ ἅμ’ ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσιν,
ἂψ ὅ γε τὴν ἀπέλυσε λαβὼν ἀπερείσι’ ἄποινα,
πατρὸς δ’ ἐν μεγάροισι βάλ’ Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα.
Ἕκτορ ἀτὰρ σύ μοί ἐσσι πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ
ἠδὲ κασίγνητος, σὺ δέ μοι θαλερὸς παρακοίτης·
ἀλλ’ ἄγε νῦν ἐλέαιρε καὶ αὐτοῦ μίμν’ ἐπὶ πύργῳ,
μὴ παῖδ’ ὀρφανικὸν θήῃς χήρην τε γυναῖκα·
λαὸν δὲ στῆσον παρ’ ἐρινεόν, ἔνθα μάλιστα
ἀμβατός ἐστι πόλις καὶ ἐπίδρομον ἔπλετο τεῖχος.
τρὶς γὰρ τῇ γ’ ἐλθόντες ἐπειρήσανθ’ οἱ ἄριστοι
ἀμφ’ Αἴαντε δύω καὶ ἀγακλυτὸν Ἰδομενῆα
ἠδ’ ἀμφ’ Ἀτρεΐδας καὶ Τυδέος ἄλκιμον υἱόν·
ἤ πού τίς σφιν ἔνισπε θεοπροπίων ἐῢ εἰδώς,

ἤ νυ καὶ αὐτῶν θυμὸς ἐποτρύνει καὶ ἀνώγει.»
Τὴν δ’ αὖτε προσέειπε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
«ἦ καὶ ἐμοὶ τάδε πάντα μέλει γύναι· ἀλλὰ μάλ’ αἰνῶς
αἰδέομαι Τρῶας καὶ Τρῳάδας ἑλκεσιπέπλους,
αἴ κε κακὸς ὣς νόσφιν ἀλυσκάζω πολέμοιο·
οὐδέ με θυμὸς ἄνωγεν, ἐπεὶ μάθον ἔμμεναι ἐσθλὸς
αἰεὶ καὶ πρώτοισι μετὰ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι,
ἀρνύμενος πατρός τε μέγα κλέος ἠδ’ ἐμὸν αὐτοῦ.
εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·
ἔσσεται ἦμαρ ὅτ’ ἄν ποτ’ ὀλώλῃ Ἴλιος ἱρὴ
καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο.
ἀλλ’ οὔ μοι Τρώων τόσσον μέλει ἄλγος ὀπίσσω,
οὔτ’ αὐτῆς Ἑκάβης οὔτε Πριάμοιο ἄνακτος
οὔτε κασιγνήτων, οἵ κεν πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοὶ
ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ὑπ’ ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσιν,
ὅσσον σεῦ, ὅτε κέν τις Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων
δακρυόεσσαν ἄγηται ἐλεύθερον ἦμαρ ἀπούρας·
καί κεν ἐν Ἄργει ἐοῦσα πρὸς ἄλλης ἱστὸν ὑφαίνοις,
καί κεν ὕδωρ φορέοις Μεσσηΐδος ἢ Ὑπερείης
πόλλ’ ἀεκαζομένη, κρατερὴ δ’ ἐπικείσετ’ ἀνάγκη·
καί ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν ἰδὼν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσαν·
“Ἕκτορος ἧδε γυνὴ ὃς ἀριστεύεσκε μάχεσθαι
Τρώων ἱπποδάμων ὅτε Ἴλιον ἀμφεμάχοντο.”
ὥς ποτέ τις ἐρέει· σοὶ δ’ αὖ νέον ἔσσεται ἄλγος
χήτεϊ τοιοῦδ’ ἀνδρὸς ἀμύνειν δούλιον ἦμαρ.
ἀλλά με τεθνηῶτα χυτὴ κατὰ γαῖα καλύπτοι
πρίν γέ τι σῆς τε βοῆς σοῦ θ’ ἑλκηθμοῖο πυθέσθαι.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν οὗ παιδὸς ὀρέξατο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ·
ἂψ δ’ ὃ πάϊς πρὸς κόλπον ἐϋζώνοιο τιθήνης
ἐκλίνθη ἰάχων πατρὸς φίλου ὄψιν ἀτυχθεὶς
ταρβήσας χαλκόν τε ἰδὲ λόφον ἱππιοχαίτην,

δεινὸν ἀπ’ ἀκροτάτης κόρυθος νεύοντα νοήσας.
ἐκ δ’ ἐγέλασσε πατήρ τε φίλος καὶ πότνια μήτηρ·
αὐτίκ’ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κόρυθ’ εἵλετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ,
καὶ τὴν μὲν κατέθηκεν ἐπὶ χθονὶ παμφανόωσαν·
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ὃν φίλον υἱὸν ἐπεὶ κύσε πῆλέ τε χερσὶν
εἶπε δ’ ἐπευξάμενος Διί τ’ ἄλλοισίν τε θεοῖσι·
«Ζεῦ ἄλλοι τε θεοὶ δότε δὴ καὶ τόνδε γενέσθαι
παῖδ’ ἐμὸν ὡς καὶ ἐγώ περ ἀριπρεπέα Τρώεσσιν,
ὧδε βίην τ’ ἀγαθόν, καὶ Ἰλίου ἶφι ἀνάσσειν·
καί ποτέ τις εἴποι πατρός γ’ ὅδε πολλὸν ἀμείνων
ἐκ πολέμου ἀνιόντα· φέροι δ’ ἔναρα βροτόεντα
κτείνας δήϊον ἄνδρα, χαρείη δὲ φρένα μήτηρ.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἀλόχοιο φίλης ἐν χερσὶν ἔθηκε
παῖδ’ ἑόν· ἣ δ’ ἄρα μιν κηώδεϊ δέξατο κόλπῳ
δακρυόεν γελάσασα· πόσις δ’ ἐλέησε νοήσας,
χειρί τέ μιν κατέρεξεν ἔπος τ’ ἔφατ’ ἔκ τ’ ὀνόμαζε·
«δαιμονίη μή μοί τι λίην ἀκαχίζεο θυμῷ·
οὐ γάρ τίς μ’ ὑπὲρ αἶσαν ἀνὴρ Ἄϊδι προϊάψει·
μοῖραν δ’ οὔ τινά φημι πεφυγμένον ἔμμεναι ἀνδρῶν,
οὐ κακὸν οὐδὲ μὲν ἐσθλόν, ἐπὴν τὰ πρῶτα γένηται.
ἀλλ’ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σ’ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε
ἱστόν τ’ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι· πόλεμος δ’ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δ’ ἐμοί, τοὶ Ἰλίῳ ἐγγεγάασιν.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας κόρυθ’ εἵλετο φαίδιμος Ἕκτωρ
ἵππουριν· ἄλοχος δὲ φίλη οἶκον δὲ βεβήκει
ἐντροπαλιζομένη, θαλερὸν κατὰ δάκρυ χέουσα.
αἶψα δ’ ἔπειθ’ ἵκανε δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας
Ἕκτορος ἀνδροφόνοιο, κιχήσατο δ’ ἔνδοθι πολλὰς

ἀμφιπόλους, τῇσιν δὲ γόον πάσῃσιν ἐνῶρσεν.
αἳ μὲν ἔτι ζωὸν γόον Ἕκτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ·
οὐ γάρ μιν ἔτ’ ἔφαντο ὑπότροπον ἐκ πολέμοιο
ἵξεσθαι προφυγόντα μένος καὶ χεῖρας Ἀχαιῶν.
Οὐδὲ Πάρις δήθυνεν ἐν ὑψηλοῖσι δόμοισιν,
ἀλλ’ ὅ γ’, ἐπεὶ κατέδυ κλυτὰ τεύχεα ποικίλα χαλκῷ,
σεύατ’ ἔπειτ’ ἀνὰ ἄστυ ποσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πεποιθώς.
ὡς δ’ ὅτε τις στατὸς ἵππος ἀκοστήσας ἐπὶ φάτνῃ
δεσμὸν ἀποῤῥήξας θείῃ πεδίοιο κροαίνων
εἰωθὼς λούεσθαι ἐϋῤῥεῖος ποταμοῖο
κυδιόων· ὑψοῦ δὲ κάρη ἔχει, ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖται
ὤμοις ἀΐσσονται· ὃ δ’ ἀγλαΐηφι πεποιθὼς
ῥίμφά ἑ γοῦνα φέρει μετά τ’ ἤθεα καὶ νομὸν ἵππων·
ὣς υἱὸς Πριάμοιο Πάρις κατὰ Περγάμου ἄκρης
τεύχεσι παμφαίνων ὥς τ’ ἠλέκτωρ ἐβεβήκει
καγχαλόων, ταχέες δὲ πόδες φέρον· αἶψα δ’ ἔπειτα
Ἕκτορα δῖον ἔτετμεν ἀδελφεὸν εὖτ’ ἄρ’ ἔμελλε
στρέψεσθ’ ἐκ χώρης ὅθι ᾗ ὀάριζε γυναικί.
τὸν πρότερος προσέειπεν Ἀλέξανδρος θεοειδής·
«ἠθεῖ’ ἦ μάλα δή σε καὶ ἐσσύμενον κατερύκω
δηθύνων, οὐδ’ ἦλθον ἐναίσιμον ὡς ἐκέλευες;»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ·
«δαιμόνι’ οὐκ ἄν τίς τοι ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐναίσιμος εἴη
ἔργον ἀτιμήσειε μάχης, ἐπεὶ ἄλκιμός ἐσσι·
ἀλλὰ ἑκὼν μεθιεῖς τε καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλεις· τὸ δ’ ἐμὸν κῆρ
ἄχνυται ἐν θυμῷ, ὅθ’ ὑπὲρ σέθεν αἴσχε’ ἀκούω
πρὸς Τρώων, οἳ ἔχουσι πολὺν πόνον εἵνεκα σεῖο.
ἀλλ’ ἴομεν· τὰ δ’ ὄπισθεν ἀρεσσόμεθ’, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς
δώῃ ἐπουρανίοισι θεοῖς αἰειγενέτῃσι
κρητῆρα στήσασθαι ἐλεύθερον ἐν μεγάροισιν
ἐκ Τροίης ἐλάσαντας ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς.»

THE ILIAD VI

Of Trojans and Achaeans the dreadful fray was thus left to rage apart from the main hosts. The tide of battle surged this way and that across the plain, as they aimed their bronze-tipped spears at one another between the rivers Simois and Xanthus. First, Ajax, son of Telamon, bulwark of the Achaeans, broke a Trojan phalanx and brought a light of hope to his companions, striking down the man who was foremost among the Thracians: Acamas, son of Eussorus, a man both tall and valiant. He struck him first on the ridge of his horse-hair crested helmet; the bronze point drove into his forehead and pierced through the bone within, and darkness veiled his eyes. Then Diomedes, master of the war-cry, slew Axylus, son of Teuthras, who dwelt in well-built Arisbe. He was a man rich in substance, and a friend to all mankind, for he lived in a house by the roadside and offered hospitality to every passer-by. But not one of them stood before him then to ward off grievous destruction; instead, Diomedes stripped the life from both master and squire, Calesius, who was then his charioteer. And so the two of them entered the earth together. Euryalus slew Dresus and Opheltius, and then went after Aesepus and Pedasus, whom the naiad nymph Abarbarea once bore to noble Bucolion. Bucolion was the eldest son of the glorious Laomedon, though his mother bore him in secret. While shepherding his flocks, he lay with the nymph in love, and she, conceiving, brought forth twin sons. The son of Mecisteus now unstrung their strength and their splendid limbs, and stripped the armor from their shoulders. And Polypoetes, steadfast in battle, slew Astyalus. With his bronze spear, Odysseus killed Pidytes of Percote, and Teucer killed godlike Aretaon. Nestor’s son, Antilochus, felled Ableros with his shining spear, and Agamemnon, lord of men, slew Elatus, who dwelt by the banks of the fair-flowing Satnioeis in the steep town of Pedasus. The hero Leitus caught Phylacus as he fled, and Eurypylus slew Melanthius. Then Menelaus, master of the war-cry, took Adrestus alive. For his two horses, bolting in terror across the plain, became entangled in a tamarisk branch, and snapping the curved chariot at the pole’s end, they sped on towards the city where the others were fleeing in panic. Their master was hurled from the chariot beside the wheel, and pitched headlong into the dust on his face. Atreus’s son Menelaus stood over him, holding his far-shadowing spear. Adrestus then clasped his knees and implored him: “Take me alive, son of Atreus, and accept a worthy ransom! Great treasures lie stored in my wealthy father’s house— bronze and gold and finely wrought iron. From these my father would grant you a ransom beyond counting, if he but learned I was alive at the ships of the Achaeans.” So he spoke, and began to sway the heart in Menelaus’s breast. And indeed he was about to give him to his squire to lead to the swift Achaean ships, but Agamemnon came running to meet him, and cried out in rebuke: “My gentle Menelaus, why have you such pity for these men? Did you receive the finest of treatment in your own house at the hands of the Trojans? Let not a single one of them escape utter destruction and our hands, not even the boy whom his mother carries in her womb; let not even he escape, but let all of Ilium’s people perish together, unmourned and unseen.” With these words, the hero changed his brother’s mind, for he urged a righteous course. With his hand, Menelaus thrust the hero Adrestus away from him, and lord Agamemnon stabbed him in the flank. The man fell backward, and the son of Atreus, planting a foot upon his chest, drew out the ashen spear. Then Nestor shouted, his voice ringing out to the Argives: “O my friends, heroes of the Danaans, squires of Ares! Let no man linger behind now, eager for spoils, hoping to return to the ships bearing the richest prize. No, let us kill the men now; afterwards, at your leisure, you may strip the corpses that lie dead upon the plain.” So speaking, he stirred the strength and spirit of every man. And then the Trojans would have been driven back up to Ilium by the war-loving Achaeans, vanquished by their own weakness, had not Priam’s son Helenus, the best of all augurs, come to stand by Aeneas and Hector, saying: “Aeneas and Hector, since upon you two, more than any, rests the burden of the Trojans and Lycians, for you are the best in every undertaking, both in fighting and in counsel, make your stand here. Go among the ranks and rally the men before the gates, lest they flee and fall into the arms of their women, becoming a joy to our enemies. And when you have roused all our battalions, we shall remain here and fight the Danaans, weary though we are, for necessity compels us. But you, Hector, go into the city, and speak to your mother and mine. Let her gather the older women at the temple of grey-eyed Athena on the high citadel, and with her key, let her open the doors of the sacred house. The robe that she deems the most beautiful and the largest in her hall, the one that is dearest to her own heart, let her place it upon the knees of fair-haired Athena. And let her vow to sacrifice in her temple twelve yearling heifers that have never known the goad, if only she will take pity on our city, and on the wives of the Trojans and their infant children; if only she will hold back the son of Tydeus from sacred Ilium— that ferocious spearman, that mighty deviser of panic, whom I declare to be the strongest of the Achaeans. We never feared even Achilles so, that leader of men, who they say is born of a goddess. But this man’s rage is beyond measure, and no one can match his might.” So he spoke, and Hector did not disobey his brother. At once, he leaped to the ground from his chariot in all his armor and, brandishing two sharp spears, went everywhere through the army, urging them to fight and stirring up the dreadful combat. The Trojans rallied and stood to face the Achaeans, who for their part gave ground and ceased their slaughter, thinking one of the immortals had descended from the starry heavens to aid the Trojans, so fiercely did they rally. Then Hector’s cry rang out to the Trojans: “High-spirited Trojans and you far-famed allies, be men, my friends, and call to mind your furious valor, while I go to Ilium to tell the elders who give counsel, and our wives, to pray to the gods and promise them hecatombs.” Having spoken, Hector of the flashing helm departed. Around his ankles and his neck, the black hide struck him— the rim that ran around the outermost edge of his bossed shield. Then Glaucus, son of Hippolochus, and Tydeus’s son, Diomedes, advanced into the space between the two armies, both eager for battle. When they had drawn near to one another, Diomedes, master of the war-cry, was the first to speak: “Who are you, mightiest of mortal men? For I have never before seen you in battle where men win glory. But now you have far outstripped all others in your daring, you who have awaited my far-shadowing spear. The sons of ill-fated men are they who stand against my might. But if you are one of the immortals come down from heaven, then I for one would not fight against the celestial gods. For even the mighty Lycurgus, son of Dryas, did not live long, he who contended with the heavenly gods. Once he chased the nurses of maddened Dionysus down the sacred slopes of Nysa, and they all at once cast their wands upon the ground, beaten by the ox-goad of man-slaying Lycurgus. Dionysus, terrified, plunged into the salt sea’s waves, and Thetis received him to her bosom, for a powerful trembling seized him at the man’s rebuke. The gods who live at ease were angered with Lycurgus for this, and the son of Cronos struck him blind. And he did not live long after that, for he was hated by all the immortal gods. Therefore, I have no wish to fight against the blessed gods. But if you are one of the mortals who eat the fruit of the earth, come closer, that you may sooner reach the limits of destruction.” To this, the splendid son of Hippolochus replied: “Great-souled son of Tydeus, why do you ask of my lineage? As is the generation of leaves, so too is that of men. The wind scatters some leaves to the ground, while the burgeoning forest puts forth others, and the season of spring arrives. So it is with the generations of men: one springs forth, and another passes away. But if you wish to learn of this, so that you may know my lineage well—and many men do know it— there is a city, Ephyra, in a corner of horse-pasturing Argos. There lived Sisyphus, who was the cleverest of men, Sisyphus, son of Aeolus. And he in turn fathered a son, Glaucus. And Glaucus fathered noble Bellerophon, to whom the gods gave beauty and lovely manhood. But Proetus plotted evil against him in his heart, and being far the stronger, drove him from the land of the Argives, which Zeus had brought under his scepter. Now, the wife of Proetus, the divine Anteia, was seized with a mad desire to lie with him in secret love, but she could not persuade the virtuous and wise-hearted Bellerophon. So she went with her lies to King Proetus: ‘May you die, Proetus, or else kill Bellerophon, who wished to lie with me in love against my will.’ So she spoke, and rage seized the king when he heard such a thing. He shrank from killing him, for his conscience revered the act, but he sent him to Lycia, giving him baneful signs, many soul-destroying things inscribed on a folded tablet, and bade him show them to his father-in-law, so that he might be destroyed. So Bellerophon went to Lycia under the blameless escort of the gods. And when he reached Lycia and the river Xanthus, the king of wide Lycia received him with all honor. For nine days he feasted him and sacrificed nine oxen. But when the tenth rosy-fingered Dawn appeared, he began to question him and asked to see the token that he brought from his son-in-law, Proetus. When he had received the evil token from his son-in-law, he first commanded Bellerophon to slay the raging Chimaera. She was of divine, not human, stock: a lion in her foreparts, a serpent behind, and a goat in the middle, and she breathed forth the terrible might of blazing fire. He slew her, trusting in the signs of the gods. Next, he fought the glorious Solymi, and this, he said, was the fiercest battle of men he ever entered. Third, he slew the Amazons, women who were the equals of men. And as he was returning, the king wove another cunning plot: he chose the best men from wide Lycia and set an ambush. But they never returned home, for noble Bellerophon killed them all. But when the king realized that Bellerophon was the valiant offspring of a god, he kept him there, gave him his own daughter, and granted him half of all his royal honor. The Lycians also marked out for him a domain, the finest of all, rich with orchards and ploughland, for him to possess. And his wife bore three children to wise-hearted Bellerophon: Isander, Hippolochus, and Laodameia. Zeus the counselor lay with Laodameia, and she bore godlike Sarpedon of the bronze helm. But when Bellerophon himself came to be hated by all the gods, he wandered alone over the Aleian plain, eating his own heart, and shunning the path of men. Ares, insatiate of war, killed his son Isander as he fought against the glorious Solymi, and Artemis of the golden reins, in her anger, slew his daughter. But Hippolochus fathered me, and from him I claim my birth. He sent me to Troy, and charged me earnestly always to be the best and to stand superior to others, and not to bring shame upon the lineage of my fathers, who were by far the best in Ephyra and in wide Lycia. This is the lineage and the blood that I claim to be.” So he spoke, and Diomedes, master of the war-cry, rejoiced. He planted his spear in the all-nourishing earth and with gentle words addressed the shepherd of the people: “Then you are a guest-friend of my father’s house, and from of old! For godlike Oeneus once entertained noble Bellerophon in his halls, keeping him for twenty days. And they gave to each other fine gifts of friendship. Oeneus gave a belt gleaming with purple, and Bellerophon a golden, two-handled cup, which I left in my palace when I came here. I do not remember Tydeus, for he left me when I was still a little child, when the Achaean host perished at Thebes. Therefore, I am now a dear guest-friend to you in the heart of Argos, and you are mine in Lycia, should I ever visit that land. Let us avoid each other’s spears, even in the throng. There are many Trojans and famed allies for me to kill, whomever a god may grant me and my feet may overtake, and many Achaeans in turn for you to slay, whomever you can. Let us exchange our armor, so that these men too may know that we claim to be guest-friends from our fathers’ time.” Having spoken thus, they both leaped from their chariots, clasped each other’s hands, and pledged their faith. Then Zeus, son of Cronos, stole away the wits of Glaucus, who exchanged his armor with Diomedes, son of Tydeus, giving gold for bronze, the worth of one hundred oxen for the worth of nine. And when Hector reached the Scaean Gates and the oak tree, the wives and daughters of the Trojans ran to gather around him, asking of their sons and brothers, their kinsmen and their husbands. He then bade them all in turn to pray to the gods, for sorrows hung over many. But when he came to the beautiful palace of Priam, built with polished porticoes— and in it were fifty chambers of polished stone, built close to one another, where the sons of Priam slept beside their wedded wives; and opposite them, on the other side of the court, were the twelve roofed chambers of his daughters, also of polished stone, built close to one another, where Priam’s sons-in-law slept beside their honored wives— there his gracious mother came to meet him, leading Laodice, the fairest of her daughters in form. She clasped his hand and spoke, calling him by name: “My child, why have you left the raging battle to come here? Surely the ill-fated sons of the Achaeans are pressing you hard as they fight around our city, and your spirit has moved you to come and lift your hands to Zeus from the high citadel. But wait, let me bring you honey-sweet wine, so that you may first pour a libation to Father Zeus and the other immortals, and then refresh yourself as well, if you will drink. For a weary man, wine greatly increases his strength, and you are weary from defending your kinsmen.” Then great Hector of the flashing helm answered her: “Do not offer me mellow wine, my lady mother, lest you unman me and I forget my strength and courage. I shrink from pouring a libation of sparkling wine to Zeus with unwashed hands; nor is it in any way right for one spattered with blood and filth to pray to the son of Cronos, who dwells in the dark clouds. But you must go to the temple of Athena, driver of the spoil, with burnt offerings, having gathered the older women. Take the robe that is the most beautiful and the largest in your hall, and the one that is dearest to your own heart, and place it upon the knees of fair-haired Athena. Vow to her that you will sacrifice in her temple twelve yearling heifers that have never known the goad, if only she will take pity on our city, and on the wives of the Trojans and their infant children; if only she might hold back the son of Tydeus from sacred Ilium— that ferocious spearman, that mighty deviser of panic. So you go to the temple of Athena, driver of the spoil; I will go to find Paris, to call him, if he is willing to listen to what I say. Would that the earth might yawn open for him on the spot! The Olympian bred him as a great scourge to the Trojans, to great-hearted Priam, and to his sons. If I could but see him go down into the house of Hades, I might say that my heart had forgotten its joyless sorrow.” So he spoke, and she went to the hall and called to her handmaidens, who gathered the older women throughout the city. She herself went down to the fragrant store-room where her robes of intricate embroidery were kept, the work of Sidonian women whom godlike Alexander had himself brought from Sidon, sailing over the wide sea on that journey when he brought back Helen of noble birth. Hecuba chose one of these to carry as a gift to Athena, the one that was most beautiful in its patterns and the largest, and it shone like a star. It lay beneath all the others. Then she set out, and many older women hastened after her. When they reached the temple of Athena on the high citadel, the fair-cheeked Theano opened the doors for them, daughter of Cisseus and wife of Antenor, tamer of horses, for the Trojans had made her priestess of Athena. With a ritual cry, they all lifted their hands to Athena. Fair-cheeked Theano took the robe and placed it upon the knees of fair-haired Athena, and with a vow she prayed to the daughter of great Zeus: “Lady Athena, guardian of our city, most divine of goddesses, break now the spear of Diomedes, and grant that he himself may fall headlong before the Scaean Gates, so that we may at once sacrifice to you in your temple twelve yearling heifers that have never known the goad, if only you will take pity on our city, and on the wives of the Trojans and their infant children.” So she spoke in prayer, but Pallas Athena shook her head. While they were thus praying to the daughter of great Zeus, Hector had gone to the beautiful house of Alexander, which he himself had built with the help of the men who were then the best craftsmen in the fertile land of Troy. They had made him a chamber, a hall, and a courtyard near the dwellings of Priam and Hector on the high citadel. There Hector, beloved of Zeus, entered, a spear of eleven cubits in his hand. The bronze point gleamed before him, and a ring of gold ran around it. He found Paris in his chamber, tending to his beautiful armor, his shield and his breastplate, and handling his curved bow. Argive Helen was sitting among her serving women, directing their splendid handiwork. Seeing him, Hector rebuked him with shaming words: “Strange man! This is not a noble anger you have nurtured in your heart. The people are perishing, fighting around the city and its steep wall, and it is for your sake that the cry of battle and war blaze around this town. You yourself would quarrel with any other man you saw shrinking from this hateful war. So up now, before our city is soon consumed by enemy fire.” To him, godlike Alexander replied: “Hector, since your rebuke is just and not beyond what is right, I will tell you my thoughts; so listen and understand. It was not so much from anger or resentment toward the Trojans that I sat in my chamber, but because I wished to yield to my sorrow. Just now my wife, speaking with gentle words, has urged me on to war, and it seems to me also that this would be for the better. Victory shifts between men. So wait now, while I put on my armor of war. Or go on, and I will follow; I think I shall overtake you.” So he spoke, but Hector of the flashing helm made no reply. Then Helen spoke to him with gentle words: “Brother-in-law of mine, of a wretched, scheming bitch, would that on the day my mother first bore me, an evil blast of wind had carried me away to a mountain or to the waves of the resounding sea, where the waves would have swept me off before these deeds had come to pass. But since the gods have ordained these evils thus, I wish I had been the wife of a better man, one who could feel the indignation and the many reproaches of his fellow men. But this man’s heart is not sound now, nor will it be hereafter; for that, I think, he will reap the consequences. But come now, enter and sit upon this chair, my brother, since this trouble has encompassed your heart most of all, for the sake of me, the bitch, and because of the folly of Alexander. Upon us Zeus has set an evil fate, so that even in times to come we may be a subject for song among men.” Then great Hector of the flashing helm answered her: “Do not ask me to sit, Helen, though you love me; you will not persuade me. My heart is already straining to aid the Trojans, who feel a great longing for me in my absence. But rouse this man, and let him make his own haste, so that he may overtake me while I am still inside the city. For I am going home to see my household, my dear wife and my infant son. I do not know if I shall ever return to them again, or if the gods will vanquish me now at the hands of the Achaeans.” Having spoken thus, Hector of the flashing helm departed. He came quickly to his own well-dwelt house, but he did not find white-armed Andromache in his halls. She, with her child and a well-robed maidservant, had taken her stand upon the tower, weeping and wailing. When Hector did not find his blameless wife within, he stopped at the threshold and spoke among the serving women: “Come now, maids, tell me the truth. Where has white-armed Andromache gone from the hall? Has she gone to the house of her sisters-in-law, or her fair-robed brothers’ wives? Or has she gone to the temple of Athena, where the other long-haired Trojan women are seeking to appease the dread goddess?” To this, a bustling housekeeper replied: “Hector, since you insist I tell the truth, she has not gone to her sisters-in-law, nor her fair-robed brothers’ wives, nor to the temple of Athena, where the other long-haired Trojan women are seeking to appease the dread goddess. She went to the great tower of Ilium, because she heard that the Trojans were being hard-pressed and that the might of the Achaeans was great. She has now reached the wall, hastening like one who is mad, and the nurse follows with the child.” So spoke the housekeeper, and Hector rushed from his house, back along the same path, down the well-built streets. As he passed through the great city and came to the Scaean Gates, by which he meant to go out onto the plain, his richly dowered wife came running to meet him, Andromache, daughter of great-hearted Eetion, who dwelt under the wooded mountain of Placus, in Thebe under Placus, ruling over the Cilician men. It was his daughter who was wife to bronze-helmed Hector. She met him now, and with her came a handmaid, carrying the tender-hearted child upon her breast, still an infant, Hector’s beloved son, who shone like a beautiful star. Hector called him Scamandrius, but the others called him Astyanax, Lord of the City, for Hector alone protected Ilium. Hector smiled, looking at his son in silence, but Andromache stood close beside him, shedding tears. She clasped his hand and spoke, calling him by name: “My dearest, your own courage will destroy you. You have no pity for your infant son, nor for my ill-fated self, who will soon be your widow. For soon the Achaeans will all set upon you and kill you. And for me, it would be better, having lost you, to go down into the earth, for there will be no other solace for me when you have met your fate, but only sorrow. I have no father and no lady mother. Godlike Achilles killed my father when he sacked the well-peopled city of the Cilicians, Thebe of the high gates. He slew Eetion, but did not strip his armor, for his heart revered the act. Instead, he burned him in his ornate armor and raised a mound over him, and the mountain nymphs, daughters of aegis-bearing Zeus, planted elms around it. And the seven brothers I had in our halls all went down to the house of Hades on a single day, for swift-footed, godlike Achilles killed them all as they guarded their shambling oxen and their white-fleeced sheep. My mother, who was queen under wooded Placus, he brought here with the other spoils, but later he freed her for a countless ransom, and in her father’s halls Artemis, who delights in arrows, struck her down. Hector, you are my father and my lady mother —you are my brother, and you are my flourishing husband. Come now, take pity, and stay here on the tower, lest you make your child an orphan and your wife a widow. Station your men by the fig tree, where the city is most open to assault and the wall easiest to scale. Three times the best of their men have come to assail it there, led by the two Aiantes and renowned Idomeneus, and by the sons of Atreus and the valiant son of Tydeus, whether some soothsayer well-versed in prophecies told them, or their own spirit urges and commands them.” Then great Hector of the flashing helm answered her: “All these things are my concern as well, wife. But I would feel a terrible shame before the Trojans and the Trojan women with their trailing robes, if like a coward I were to shrink from the battle. Nor does my own heart command it, for I have learned to be valiant always and to fight in the forefront of the Trojans, winning great glory for my father and for myself. For this I know well in my heart and in my soul: the day will come when sacred Ilium shall perish, and Priam, and the people of Priam of the fine ash spear. Yet the grief I feel for the Trojans hereafter is not so great, not for Hecuba herself, nor for lord Priam, nor for my brothers, who, many and brave, may fall in the dust before their enemies, as the grief I feel for you, when one of the bronze-clad Achaeans leads you away in tears, having taken your day of freedom. Then in Argos you may be weaving at another woman’s loom, and carrying water from the springs of Messeis or Hypereia, much against your will, and harsh necessity will lie upon you. And someone, seeing you shedding tears, will say: ‘This is the wife of Hector, who was the best in battle of all the horse-taming Trojans, when they fought around Ilium.’ So someone will say one day, and for you there will be fresh grief, for the lack of such a husband to ward off the day of servitude. But may the mounded earth cover me in death before I hear your cries and the sound of you being dragged away.” So saying, glorious Hector reached out for his child. But the boy shrank back with a cry into the bosom of his well-girdled nurse, terrified at the sight of his own father, frightened by the bronze and the horse-hair crest that he saw nodding grimly from the top of the helmet. His dear father and his lady mother laughed aloud. At once glorious Hector took the helmet from his head, and set it, all-gleaming, upon the ground. Then he kissed his beloved son and dandled him in his arms, and spoke in prayer to Zeus and the other gods: “Zeus and all you other gods, grant that this my son may become, as I am, pre-eminent among the Trojans, as strong in might as I, and that he may rule Ilium with power. And one day may someone say of him, as he returns from battle, ‘He is far better than his father.’ May he bring back the blood-stained spoils, having slain his enemy, and may his mother’s heart rejoice.” So saying, he placed his child into the arms of his dear wife. She received him into her fragrant bosom, smiling through her tears. Her husband was moved with pity when he saw this, and he stroked her with his hand and spoke, calling her by name: “My dearest, do not be too sorrowful in your heart for me. No man will send me to Hades before my time. As for fate, I say that no man has ever escaped it, neither the coward nor the brave, once he has been born. But go now to the house and attend to your own tasks, the loom and the distaff, and bid your handmaidens go about their work. War shall be the concern of men, all the men who are born in Ilium, and of me most of all.” So speaking, glorious Hector took up his helmet, crested with horse-hair, and his dear wife went towards her home, turning back again and again, shedding warm tears. She came quickly to the well-dwelt house of man-slaying Hector, and found her many handmaidens within, and she stirred a lament among them all. So they mourned Hector in his own house, though he was still alive, for they did not think he would ever again return from the war, having escaped the might and the hands of the Achaeans. Nor did Paris linger long in his high halls. When he had donned his glorious armor, variegated with bronze, he hastened through the city, trusting in his swift feet. As when a stalled horse, having fed his fill at the manger, breaks his tether and gallops across the plain, accustomed to bathing in the fair-flowing river, and exults; he holds his head high, and his mane streams over his shoulders, and trusting in his own splendor, his knees carry him swiftly to the familiar pastures of the mares. So did Paris, son of Priam, stride down from the heights of Pergamus, all gleaming in his armor like the sun, laughing aloud, and his swift feet carried him. He quickly overtook his godlike brother Hector, just as he was about to turn from the place where he had conversed with his wife. Godlike Alexander was the first to speak to him: “My brother, I must have delayed you in your haste by my dawdling, and did not come at the right time, as you commanded.” Then Hector of the flashing helm answered him: “Strange man! No one who is fair-minded could belittle your work in battle, for you are valiant. But you are willfully slack and have no desire to fight, and my heart is grieved within me when I hear insults against you from the Trojans, who endure so much hardship for your sake. But let us go now. We will make amends for these things later, if Zeus ever grants that we may set up the mixing bowl of freedom in our halls for the heavenly gods who live forever, once we have driven the well-greaved Achaeans from Troy.”

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