THE ILIAD XXIII

So they lamented throughout the city. But the Achaeans, once they reached their ships and the Hellespont, began to disperse, each man to his own vessel. Achilles, however, would not permit the Myrmidons to scatter, but spoke instead to his war-loving companions: “Myrmidons of the swift steeds, my loyal companions, let us not yet unyoke our solid-hoofed horses from beneath the chariots. Rather, let us weep for Patroclus as we draw near with our very horses and chariots, for that is the tribute owed to the dead. Then, when we have taken our fill of bitter lamentation, we shall unyoke our horses and all dine here together.” So he spoke, and they, gathered as one, raised a cry of mourning, and Achilles led their lament. Thrice they drove their fine-maned horses around the corpse, weeping; and Thetis stirred within them a yearning for grief. The sands were drenched, and the armor of the men was drenched with their tears, so great was their longing for such a master of the rout. And the son of Peleus led them in their piercing sorrow, placing his man-slaying hands upon his comrade’s chest: “Hail to you, O Patroclus, even in the house of Hades. For now I am bringing to fulfillment all that I once promised: that I would drag Hector here and give him raw to the dogs to be devoured, and that before your pyre I would cut the throats of twelve glorious sons of the Trojans, in my rage for your slaying.” He spoke, and devised shameful treatment for godlike Hector, stretching him face down in the dust beside the bier of the son of Menoetius. The others then took off their armor, each man his own, of gleaming bronze, and unyoked their high-neighing horses. Then they sat down in their thousands beside the ship of the swift-footed grandson of Aeacus, and he served them a funeral feast to their liking. Many white oxen lay stretched out and slaughtered by the iron, and many sheep and bleating goats; and many white-tusked swine, rich with fat, were singed and stretched over the flame of Hephaestus. And all around the corpse the blood flowed in cupfuls. But the Achaean kings led the swift-footed lord, the son of Peleus, to godlike Agamemnon, having persuaded him with difficulty, for his heart was heavy with anger for his companion. When they arrived at Agamemnon’s tent, they at once commanded the clear-voiced heralds to place a great tripod over the fire, in hopes of persuading the son of Peleus to wash the clotted blood from his body. But he refused them steadfastly, and swore an oath besides: “No, by Zeus, who is the highest and best of the gods, it is not right that water should come near my head until I have laid Patroclus on the pyre and raised a mound for him and cut my hair, for never again shall such a sorrow touch my heart while I remain among the living. But for now, let us yield to the hateful feast. And at dawn, O Agamemnon, lord of men, command that wood be brought, and prepare all that is fitting for a dead man to have as he goes down into the misty dark, so that the tireless fire may consume him all the sooner from our sight, and the men may turn to their duties.” So he spoke, and they listened to him and readily obeyed. Hastily preparing their meal, each man feasted, and no heart lacked its equal share of the feast. But when they had put away their desire for food and drink, they went to their rest, each to his own tent. But the son of Peleus lay upon the shore of the loud-resounding sea, groaning heavily among his many Myrmidons, in a clear space where the waves washed upon the beach. And when sleep took hold of him, loosing the cares of his heart —a sweet sleep that flowed about him, for his glorious limbs were weary from chasing Hector toward wind-swept Ilium— there came to him the spirit of poor Patroclus, like him in all things, in stature and in his beautiful eyes, and in his voice, and clad in the very same garments. It stood above his head and spoke a word to him: “You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me. You were not neglectful of me in life, but in death you are. Bury me with all speed, that I may pass the gates of Hades. The spirits, the phantoms of those who have toiled, keep me at a distance and will not yet allow me to mingle with them beyond the river, but I wander aimlessly through the wide-gated house of Hades. And give me your hand, I implore you, for I shall not return again from Hades, once you have given me my portion of the fire. Never again shall we sit apart from our dear companions and take counsel together, for the dreadful fate that was allotted to me at my birth has gaped wide to swallow me. And you too, Achilles, you who are like the gods, are fated to perish beneath the wall of the wealthy Trojans. “And another thing I will say to you, and charge you, if you will obey: do not lay my bones apart from yours, Achilles, but let them lie together, even as we were raised in your halls, when Menoetius brought me, a mere boy, from Opoeis to your home on account of a grievous slaying, on the day I killed the son of Amphidamas —a fool I was, I did not mean it, in anger over a game of knucklebones. There the horseman Peleus received me in his house and reared me with all care and named me your attendant. So let one urn enclose our bones, the golden, two-handled urn your lady mother gave you.” Then swift-footed Achilles answered him: “Why, dear friend, have you come here to me and laid upon me each of these commands? I will indeed accomplish all these things and obey as you bid me. But draw nearer; for a little while let us cast our arms about each other and take our fill of bitter lamentation.” Speaking thus, he reached out with his own hands but could not clasp him; for the spirit, like smoke, went down into the earth with a faint cry. Achilles sprang up in amazement, and clapped his hands together, and spoke a word of sorrow: “Oh, heavens! So it is true that even in the house of Hades there is some spirit and phantom, though there is no mind in it at all. For all night long the spirit of poor Patroclus has stood over me, weeping and wailing, and told me all that I must do, and it was wondrously like him.” So he spoke, and in all of them he stirred a desire for grief. And as they mourned around the piteous corpse, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared. Then King Agamemnon sent out mules and men from all the tents to gather wood, and a good man was set over them: Meriones, attendant to the noble Idomeneus. They went forth with wood-cutting axes in their hands and well-plaited ropes, and the mules went on ahead of them. Up and down they went, and sideways and aslant, but when they came to the foothills of many-fountained Ida, they at once set to felling the high-crested oaks with the long-edged bronze, hurrying in their task. And the trees fell with a great crash. Then the Achaeans, splitting the logs, bound them upon the mules, and the mules tore up the earth with their hooves, straining toward the plain through the dense thickets. All the woodcutters carried logs as well, for so Meriones, attendant to the noble Idomeneus, had commanded. They cast them down in a line upon the shore, where Achilles had planned a great tomb for Patroclus and for himself. When they had laid down the immense store of wood on every side, they sat down together and waited. At once Achilles commanded the war-loving Myrmidons to gird themselves in bronze and for each man to yoke his horses to his chariot. They rose up and put on their armor, and the charioteers and their comrades mounted the chariots. The horsemen went first, and a cloud of foot soldiers followed, unnumbered; and in their midst his companions carried Patroclus. They covered the entire corpse with the hair they cut and cast upon him, and behind them noble Achilles held the head, grieving, for he was sending his blameless companion to the house of Hades. When they came to the place Achilles had shown them, they set him down and quickly piled up the wood to his liking. Then swift-footed, godlike Achilles had another thought. Standing apart from the pyre, he cut off his tawny hair, which he had grown long and luxuriant for the river Spercheius. And vexed in spirit, he spoke, looking out upon the wine-dark sea: “Spercheius, in vain my father Peleus vowed to you that when I returned to my dear native land I would cut this hair for you and offer a sacred hecatomb, and sacrifice fifty ungelded rams there beside your waters, at your springs, where your precinct and fragrant altar stand. So the old man vowed, but you did not fulfill his wish. And now, since I shall not return to my dear native land, I would give my hair to the hero Patroclus, to take with him.” So saying, he placed the hair in the hands of his dear companion, and in all of them he stirred a desire for grief. And the light of the sun would have set upon their mourning, had not Achilles quickly drawn near to Agamemnon and said: “Son of Atreus—for the Achaean host will obey your words above all —there is a time to be sated even with grief. For now, disperse the men from the pyre and bid them prepare their meal. We, to whom the dead is dearest, will attend to these duties. But let the leaders also remain with us.” When Agamemnon, lord of men, heard this, he at once dismissed the host to their well-proportioned ships. But the chief mourners remained there and piled up the wood, and they made a pyre a hundred feet this way and a hundred feet that, and with grieving hearts they placed the corpse upon the very top. Many fine sheep and shambling, crooked-horned oxen they flayed and prepared before the pyre; and great-hearted Achilles took the fat from all of them and covered the corpse with it from head to foot, and around it he heaped the flayed carcasses. Then he set beside it two-handled jars of honey and oil, leaning them against the bier. And with a great groan he swiftly cast four strong-necked horses onto the pyre. Nine dogs the lord had that ate at his table, and of these he cut the throats of two and cast them on the pyre. And twelve noble sons of the great-hearted Trojans he slew with the bronze, for he was devising evil things in his heart. Then he let loose the iron might of the fire, that it might feed upon all. Then he groaned aloud, and called on his dear companion by name: “Hail to you, O Patroclus, even in the house of Hades! For now I am bringing to fulfillment all that I once promised. Twelve noble sons of the great-hearted Trojans the fire consumes along with you; but Hector, son of Priam, I will not give to the fire to be devoured, but to the dogs.” So he spoke in threat, but no dogs beset Hector, for Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, kept the dogs from him day and night, and she anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses, so that Achilles would not tear his flesh while dragging him. And over him Phoebus Apollo drew a dark cloud down from the sky to the plain and covered the whole space where the dead man lay, lest the sun’s fury should parch the flesh and sinews of his limbs before their time. But the pyre of dead Patroclus would not burn. Then swift-footed, godlike Achilles had another thought. Standing apart from the pyre, he prayed to the two winds, Boreas and Zephyrus, and promised them fair offerings. And pouring many libations from a golden cup, he beseeched them to come, so that the corpses might be kindled by the fire with all speed, and the wood might hasten to burn. Iris, hearing his prayers, went swiftly as a messenger to the winds. They were gathered within the hall of the harsh-blowing Zephyrus, feasting at a banquet, when Iris came running and stood upon the stone threshold. When they saw her with their eyes, they all sprang up and each called her to his side. But she refused to be seated, and spoke her word: “I cannot sit, for I must go again to the streams of Ocean, to the land of the Ethiopians, where they are offering hecatombs to the immortals, that I too may have my share of the sacrifices. But Achilles prays for Boreas and the loud-roaring Zephyrus to come, and promises them fair offerings, that you may rouse the pyre to burn where Patroclus lies, for whom all the Achaeans are mourning.” Having spoken thus, she departed, and they rose up with a wondrous clamor, driving the clouds before them. Swiftly they came upon the sea, blowing, and the wave swelled beneath their shrill blast. They reached the fertile land of Troy and fell upon the pyre, and the divine fire roared mightily. All night long they beat upon the pyre together, sending forth its flame, with their piercing breath. And all night long swift Achilles, taking a two-handled cup from a golden mixing bowl, drew wine and poured it on the ground, and soaked the earth, calling upon the spirit of poor Patroclus. As a father mourns while burning the bones of his son, a bridegroom whose death has brought grief to his wretched parents, so Achilles mourned while burning the bones of his companion, pacing slowly beside the pyre, groaning without cease. And at the hour when the morning star goes forth to announce the light upon the earth, after whom saffron-robed Dawn spreads over the sea, then the pyre began to die down, and the flame ceased. The winds turned back again to go to their home across the Thracian sea, and the water roared with a swelling surge. The son of Peleus, turning away from the pyre, lay down, exhausted, and sweet sleep came upon him. Then the men who were with the son of Atreus gathered in a crowd, and the noise and clamor of their approach roused him. He sat upright and spoke a word to them: “Son of Atreus and you other leaders of the Panachaeans, first put out all of the pyre with gleaming wine, as far as the fire’s might has reached. Then let us gather the bones of Patroclus, son of Menoetius, distinguishing them with care; and they are easy to tell, for he lay in the middle of the pyre, while the others burned apart at the edges, men and horses mingled. Let us place them in a golden urn with a double layer of fat, until I myself am hidden in Hades. And I do not bid you build a great tomb, but one that is fitting. And afterwards you Achaeans who are left behind me in the many-benched ships may make it broad and high.” So he spoke, and they obeyed the swift-footed son of Peleus. First they put out the pyre with gleaming wine, as far as the flame had gone, and the deep ash collapsed. Weeping, they gathered the white bones of their gentle companion into a golden urn with a double layer of fat, and placing it in the tent they covered it with a soft linen cloth. Then they marked out the tomb and laid the foundations around the pyre, and at once they poured the piled-up earth upon it. And having raised the mound, they went their way. But Achilles held the men there and had them sit in a wide assembly, and from his ships he brought forth prizes: cauldrons and tripods, and horses and mules and strong-headed oxen, and well-girdled women, and grey iron. First, for the swift-footed horsemen, he set out glorious prizes: for the first, a woman to be led away, flawless and skilled in handiwork, and a two-handled tripod that held twenty-two measures. For the second, he set out a mare, six years old and unbroken, pregnant with a mule foal. For the third, he set down a fine, fireless cauldron that held four measures, still bright as new. For the fourth, he set out two talents of gold, and for the fifth he set out a two-handled, fireless phial. Then he stood upright and spoke his word among the Argives: “Son of Atreus and you other well-greaved Achaeans, these prizes lie waiting in the assembly for the horsemen. If we Achaeans were now competing for some other man, I myself would surely take the first prize and lead it to my tent. For you know how far my horses surpass all others in excellence; for they are immortal, and Poseidon gave them to my father Peleus, who in turn bestowed them upon me. But I myself and my solid-hoofed horses will remain aside; for they have lost the glory of such a fine and gentle charioteer, who so many times poured smooth oil on their manes after washing them in clear water. Now the two of them stand here and mourn for him, and their manes sweep the ground, and they stand with grieving hearts. But let the rest of you throughout the army prepare yourselves, whoever among the Achaeans has trust in his horses and his well-joined chariot.” So spoke the son of Peleus, and the swift horsemen were gathered. The first by far to rise was Eumelus, lord of men, dear son of Admetus, who excelled in horsemanship. After him rose the mighty Diomedes, son of Tydeus, and he brought under the yoke the Trojan horses he had once taken from Aeneas, though Apollo had saved Aeneas himself. After him rose the Zeus-born son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus, and he brought under the yoke his swift horses, Aethe, Agamemnon’s mare, and his own, Podargus. Aethe had been a gift to Agamemnon from Echepolus, son of Anchises, that he might not have to follow him to wind-swept Ilium but could delight in staying home; for Zeus had given him great wealth, and he lived in spacious Sicyon. This mare he now brought under the yoke, straining eagerly for the race. Fourth, Antilochus made ready his fine-maned horses, the glorious son of the great-hearted lord Nestor, son of Neleus. Pylos-born, swift-footed horses drew his chariot, and his father, standing close beside him, gave him good counsel, though he himself was a man of understanding: “Antilochus, though you are young, Zeus and Poseidon have loved you and have taught you all manner of horsemanship. So there is little need for me to instruct you, for you know well how to wheel around the turning-post. But your horses are the slowest in running; therefore I think there will be trouble. The horses of the others are faster, yet the men themselves know no more than you of how to devise a plan. So come, my friend, cast every kind of cunning in your heart, so that the prizes may not slip past you. By cunning a woodcutter is far better than by brute force; by cunning a helmsman on the wine-dark sea steers his swift ship when it is buffeted by winds; and by cunning one charioteer outdoes another. A man who trusts in his horses and his chariot alone makes a wide turn foolishly, this way and that, and his horses wander on the course and he does not keep them in check. But a man who knows a cleverer way, though he drives lesser horses, keeps his eye always on the post and turns close by it, and he does not forget how to pull on the ox-hide reins from the start, but holds his course steadily and watches the man ahead of him. “I will tell you of a very clear marker, which will not escape you. There stands a dry stump, a fathom or so above the ground, of oak or of pine; the rain has not rotted it, and two white stones are propped against it on either side where the track narrows, and the course is smooth on both sides. It may be the marker of a man long dead, or it may have been set as a turning-post by men of former times, and now swift-footed, godlike Achilles has made it the goal. Drive your chariot and horses so as to pass very close to it, and lean yourself in the well-plaited chariot slightly to the left of the pair. Then call out to your right-hand horse and spur him on, and give him slack with your hands. And let your left-hand horse be guided so close to the post that the hub of your well-made wheel seems to touch its edge. But be careful not to strike the stone, lest you injure your horses and shatter your chariot. That would be a joy to the others, and a disgrace to you. So, my friend, be mindful and on your guard. For if you can pass the others at the turning-post as you drive, there is no one who could catch you by a burst of speed or overtake you, not even if he were driving the divine Arion, the swift horse of Adrestus, who was of heavenly stock, or the noble horses of Laomedon, that were bred here in Troy.” So spoke Nestor, son of Neleus, and sat down again in his place, after he had told his son the sum of each matter. Fifth, Meriones made ready his fine-maned horses. Then they mounted their chariots and cast lots into a helmet. Achilles shook it, and the lot of Antilochus, Nestor’s son, leapt out first. After him, the lot of King Eumelus was drawn. Next to him was the son of Atreus, Menelaus, famed with the spear, and next Meriones drew his place. Last of all, the son of Tydeus, by far the best man, drew his lot to drive his horses. They stood in a line, and Achilles pointed out the turning-post far off on the level plain. Beside it he seated an observer, the godlike Phoenix, his father’s attendant, to remember the running and to report the truth. Then all together they raised their whips over their horses and struck them with the reins and called to them with urgent words. And swiftly they sped across the plain, away from the ships, and beneath their chests the dust rose and hung like a cloud or a whirlwind, and their manes streamed in the blowing wind. The chariots would at one moment touch the bountiful earth, and at the next leap high in the air. The drivers stood in their chariots, and the heart of each man pounded as he yearned for victory. Each called out to his own horses, and they flew on, raising the dust of the plain. But when the swift horses were on the last leg of the course, returning toward the grey sea, then the excellence of each became clear, and the pace of the horses was stretched to its limit. And quickly then the swift-footed mares of the son of Pheres shot forth. After them came the Trojan stallions of Diomedes, not far behind at all, but very close; for they seemed always about to mount his chariot, and with their breath they warmed the back and broad shoulders of Eumelus, for they flew on with their heads resting upon him. And now he would have passed him or made it a dead heat, if Phoebus Apollo had not grown angry with the son of Tydeus and struck the shining whip from his hands. Then from his eyes poured tears of rage, because he saw the mares running even faster than before, while his own horses were hampered, running without a goad. But Athene did not fail to notice Apollo’s trickery against the son of Tydeus, and she swiftly flew to the shepherd of the people and gave him back his whip, and put spirit into his horses. And in her anger she went after the son of Admetus, and the goddess broke his horses’ yoke. The two mares ran wide of the track on either side, and the pole was dragged on the ground. Eumelus himself was hurled from the chariot beside the wheel, and his elbows and mouth and nose were torn, and his forehead above his brows was shattered. Both his eyes were filled with tears, and his strong voice was choked. But the son of Tydeus turned his solid-hoofed horses aside and drove them on, shooting far ahead of the others; for Athene had put spirit in his horses and given glory to him. After him came the son of Atreus, fair-haired Menelaus. And Antilochus called to his father’s horses: “Go now, you two, stretch out with all your speed. I am not bidding you to strive with those horses, the horses of the warlike son of Tydeus, to whom Athene has now given speed and glory to their master. But catch the horses of the son of Atreus, and do not be left behind, quickly now, lest Aethe, who is but a mare, pour shame upon you. Why are you falling behind, my fine ones? For I will tell you this, and it will surely come to pass: there will be no more care for you from Nestor, shepherd of the people, but he will kill you at once with the sharp bronze if through your carelessness we win a lesser prize. So follow after them and make haste with all your speed. I myself will contrive and see to it that we slip past them in the narrow part of the road, and it will not escape me.” So he spoke, and they, fearing the threat of their master, ran faster for a little while. And soon the steadfast Antilochus saw a narrow place in the hollow road. There was a rift in the earth, where winter floodwaters had broken away a part of the track and deepened the whole place. There Menelaus drove, avoiding a collision. But Antilochus turned his solid-hoofed horses aside and drove them off the track, pursuing him at a slight angle. The son of Atreus was afraid and shouted at Antilochus: “Antilochus, you drive recklessly! Rein in your horses! The way is narrow here, but soon it will be wider for passing. Take care you do not wreck both of us by fouling my chariot.” So he spoke, but Antilochus drove on even faster, plying the goad as if he had not heard. And for as far as a discus flies when thrown from the shoulder, by a young man testing his strength, for that far they ran on together. But the mares of the son of Atreus fell back, for he himself willingly slackened his driving, for fear that the solid-hoofed horses might collide in the track and overturn the well-plaited chariots, and the men themselves might fall in the dust in their haste for victory. Then fair-haired Menelaus, chiding him, spoke: “Antilochus, no mortal man is more destructive than you! Be gone! The Achaeans were wrong to say you were a man of sense. But even so, you shall not take the prize without an oath.” So saying, he called out to his horses and spoke: “Do not hold back now or stand still with grieving hearts. Their feet and knees will grow weary before yours do, for they both lack the freshness of youth.” So he spoke, and they, fearing the voice of their master, ran faster, and soon they were close upon them. Meanwhile the Argives, sitting in the assembly, were watching the horses as they flew on, raising the dust of the plain. The first to make out the horses was Idomeneus, leader of the Cretans, for he sat apart from the assembly in a high vantage point. Hearing the voice of a driver from far off, he recognized it, and he made out a prominent horse that was in the lead, which was chestnut all over, save for a white mark on its forehead, round as the moon. He stood up and spoke his word among the Argives: “Friends, leaders and counselors of the Argives, is it I alone who see the horses, or do you also? It seems to me that different horses are now in front, and a different charioteer has appeared. The mares that were leading on the outward course must have come to grief on the plain. For I saw them first as they rounded the turning-post, but now I cannot see them anywhere, though my eyes scan the whole Trojan plain. Did the reins escape the charioteer, and was he unable to hold his course well around the post and failed in the turn? There, I think, he must have been thrown out and wrecked his chariot, and his mares have run wild, when spirit seized their hearts. But stand up and look for yourselves; I cannot distinguish clearly, but he seems to me to be a man of Aetolian birth, and he rules among the Argives, the son of horse-taming Tydeus, mighty Diomedes.” But swift Ajax, son of Oileus, rebuked him shamefully: “Idomeneus, why do you babble on before your time? The high-stepping horses are still far off, racing across the wide plain. You are not so much the youngest among the Argives, nor do your eyes see most sharply from your head, but you are always chattering on with your stories. There is no need for you to be a windbag, for there are others here better than you. The same horses are in the lead as before, the mares of Eumelus, and he himself is aboard, holding the reins.” Then the leader of the Cretans, angered, answered him: “Ajax, you who are best at quarreling, a man of base mind, you fall short of the other Argives in all other things, for your mind is stubborn. Come now, let us wager a tripod or a cauldron, and let us make Atreus’ son Agamemnon the witness between us as to which horses are in the lead, so that you may learn by paying.” So he spoke, and at once swift Ajax, son of Oileus, rose up, angry, to answer him with harsh words. And the quarrel between them would have gone further, had not Achilles himself stood up and spoken his word: “No longer now exchange harsh words, Ajax and Idomeneus, evil words, for it is not fitting. You would yourselves feel indignation at another who acted so. But sit you down in the assembly and watch the horses. They themselves, in their haste for victory, will soon be here. Then each of you will know the horses of the Argives, which are second and which are first.” So he spoke, and the son of Tydeus came driving on, very near, and he plied the whip ever from his shoulder. And his horses rose high, swiftly covering the ground. And always the flecks of dust struck the charioteer, and the chariot, overlaid with gold and tin, ran on behind the swift-footed horses. There was hardly a mark from the wheel-rims to be seen behind in the fine dust, as the two flew onward in their haste. He came to a halt in the middle of the assembly, and the sweat poured down from the horses’ necks and chests to the ground. He himself leapt to the earth from his gleaming chariot, and leaned his whip against the yoke. And the mighty Sthenelus did not delay, but eagerly took the prize and gave the woman to his great-hearted companions to lead away, and the tripod with its handles to carry off, while he himself unyoked the horses. After him, Antilochus of the house of Neleus drove his horses, having passed Menelaus by cunning, not by speed. But even so, Menelaus kept his swift horses close behind. He was as far from Antilochus as a horse is from the wheel of a chariot that pulls its master, stretching out over the plain; the tip of its tail brushes the rim, and it runs very close, with no great space between as it covers the wide plain. So far was Menelaus behind the blameless Antilochus. At first he had been left behind by as much as a discus-throw, but he was quickly catching up, for the fine spirit of Agamemnon’s mare, the fair-maned Aethe, was rising. If the course had been longer for them both, he would have passed him and not left it in doubt. But Meriones, the good attendant of Idomeneus, was a spear’s throw behind glorious Menelaus. For his fair-maned horses were the slowest of all, and he himself was the least skilled at driving a chariot in a contest. Last of all the others came the son of Admetus, dragging his fine chariot and driving his horses before him. And when swift-footed, godlike Achilles saw him, he pitied him, and standing among the Argives he spoke winged words: “The best man drives his solid-hoofed horses in last. But come, let us give him a prize, as is fitting —the second prize; but let the son of Tydeus take the first.” So he spoke, and they all approved as he commanded. And now he would have given him the mare, for the Achaeans approved, had not Antilochus, son of great-hearted Nestor, stood up and answered Achilles, son of Peleus, with his just claim: “O Achilles, I shall be very angry with you if you carry out this word. For you mean to take my prize away, with the thought that his chariot and his swift horses came to grief, and he himself is a good man. But he ought to have prayed to the immortals; then he would not have come in last in the race. But if you pity him and he is dear to your heart, you have much gold in your tent, you have bronze and sheep, you have handmaidens and solid-hoofed horses. From these take something and give him an even greater prize, or give it to him right now, so that the Achaeans may praise you. But this mare I will not give up. Let any man who wishes try for her by fighting me with his hands.” So he spoke, and swift-footed, godlike Achilles smiled, pleased with Antilochus, for he was his dear companion. And answering him he spoke winged words: “Antilochus, if you bid me give Eumelus something else from my own stores, I will do that as well. I will give him the breastplate that I took from Asteropaeus, of bronze, around which a stream of bright tin has been poured. It will be of great value to him.” He spoke, and commanded his dear companion Automedon to bring it from the tent. He went and brought it, and placed it in the hands of Eumelus, who received it with joy. But Menelaus also rose up among them, his heart heavy with grief, furiously angry with Antilochus. A herald placed the scepter in his hand and commanded the Argives to be silent. Then the godlike man spoke among them: “Antilochus, you who were once a man of sense, what have you done? You have shamed my skill and fouled my horses by throwing your own in front of them, though yours are far inferior. Come now, you leaders and counselors of the Argives, judge between the two of us impartially, so that no one among the bronze-clad Achaeans may ever say: ‘Menelaus, having overcome Antilochus with lies, has gone off with the mare, because though his horses were far inferior, he himself is superior in rank and power.’ But no, I myself will be the judge, and I do not think any of the Danaans will find fault with me, for my judgment will be straight. Come here, Zeus-nurtured Antilochus, as is the custom: stand before your horses and chariot, hold in your hands the supple whip with which you drove before, and touching your horses, swear by the Earth-Enfolder, the Earth-Shaker, that you did not willingly hinder my chariot by a trick.” Then the prudent Antilochus answered him in turn: “Bear with me now, for I am much younger than you, King Menelaus, and you are my elder and my better. You know the transgressions of a young man; for his mind is quicker, but his judgment is thin. So let your heart be patient. I will myself give you the mare I have won. And if you should ask for something else even greater from my own stores, I would wish to give it to you at once, rather than fall from your favor for all my days, O you who are nurtured by Zeus, and be a sinner in the eyes of the gods.” So spoke the son of great-hearted Nestor, and leading the mare he placed her in the hands of Menelaus. And Menelaus’ heart was gladdened, as when the dew falls on the ears of grain in a ripening cornfield, when the fields are bristling. So, Menelaus, was your own heart gladdened within your breast. And speaking out to him he spoke winged words: “Antilochus, now I myself will yield to you, though I was angry, for you were not reckless or foolish before. It is only that now your youth has overcome your judgment. In the future, be wary of getting the better of your superiors by trickery. For no other man of the Achaeans would have so easily persuaded me. But you have suffered much and toiled much, and your good father and your brother for my sake. Therefore I will be persuaded by your plea, and I will give you the mare, though she is mine, so that these men too may know that my heart is never overbearing or unyielding.” He spoke, and gave the mare to Antilochus’ companion Noemon to lead away, and then he himself took the gleaming cauldron. Meriones took up the two talents of gold, as the fourth to finish. The fifth prize was left over, the two-handled phial. Achilles, carrying it through the Argive assembly, gave it to Nestor, and standing beside him said: “Take this now, old man, and let it be a treasure for you, a memorial of the burial of Patroclus; for you will not see him again among the Argives. I give you this prize for nothing, for you will not fight with your fists, nor will you wrestle, nor will you enter the javelin contest, nor will you run on your feet, for harsh old age now weighs upon you.” So saying, he placed it in his hands, and Nestor received it with joy, and speaking out to him he spoke winged words: “Yes, my son, all these things you have said are true. For my limbs are no longer steady, my friend, nor my feet, nor do my arms dart out lightly from my shoulders on either side. Would that I were as young and my strength as firm as when the Epeians were burying King Amarynceus in Buprasium, and his sons set out the prizes of the king. There no man was my equal, not among the Epeians or the Pylians themselves or the great-hearted Aetolians. In boxing I defeated Clytomedes, son of Enops, and in wrestling Ancaeus of Pleuron, who rose against me. In the footrace I outran Iphiclus, though he was a fine runner, and with the spear I outthrew Phyleus and Polydorus. Only in the chariot race did the two sons of Actor surpass me, crowding me out with their numbers, jealous for the victory because the greatest prizes were left to be won there. They were twins—one drove steadily, ever steadily, while the other urged the horses with the whip. Such was I once. But now let younger men face such trials. I must yield to grievous old age, but then I shone among heroes. But go now and honor your companion with games. I accept this prize gladly, and my heart rejoices that you remember me always as a man of kindness, and do not forget the honor with which it is fitting that I be honored among the Achaeans. And may the gods grant you a fitting reward for these things.” So he spoke, and the son of Peleus went his way through the great crowd of Achaeans, when he had heard all the praise of the son of Neleus. Then he set out the prizes for the painful art of boxing. He led forth a hardy mule, six years old and unbroken, which is the hardest to tame, and tied it in the assembly. For the loser he set out a two-handled cup. Then he stood upright and spoke his word among the Argives: “Son of Atreus and you other well-greaved Achaeans, we call for two men, the best among you, to contend for these prizes, to strike blows with their fists held high. He to whom Apollo grants endurance, and all the Achaeans acknowledge it, let him lead the hardy mule to his tent. The loser will take away the two-handled cup.” So he spoke, and at once a man arose, tall and strong and skilled in boxing, Epeius, son of Panopeus. He laid his hand on the hardy mule and said: “Let him come near who would take the two-handled cup. I say that no other of the Achaeans will take this mule by defeating me with his fists, for I claim to be the best. Is it not enough that I am wanting in battle? It was not possible for a man to be skilled in all kinds of work. For I will tell you this, and it will surely come to pass: I will tear his flesh to shreds and crush his bones. Let his kinsmen remain here together to carry him out when he is beaten by my hands.” So he spoke, and they all fell to a hush. Euryalus alone rose up against him, a godlike man, son of King Mecisteus, son of Talaus, who once went to Thebes for the funeral of the fallen Oedipus, and there he defeated all the Cadmeians. The son of Tydeus, famed with the spear, attended to him, encouraging him with words, and he greatly wished him victory. First he cast a loincloth about him, and then he gave him well-cut thongs of the hide of a wild ox. The two, having girt themselves, went into the middle of the ring. Raising their strong hands, they came against each other, and their heavy fists met. There was a terrible grinding of jaws, and sweat flowed from all their limbs. Then godlike Epeius rushed in and, as his opponent peered about, struck him on the cheek. And he did not stand for long, for his glorious limbs gave way beneath him. As when a fish, under the ripple of the North Wind, leaps up on a seaweed-strewn beach, and the dark wave covers it, so he leapt up as he was struck. But great-hearted Epeius took him in his hands and set him on his feet. His dear companions stood around him and led him through the ring with his feet dragging, spitting up thick blood, his head lolling to one side. They led him among them in a daze and set him down, and they themselves went and fetched the two-handled cup. Then the son of Peleus at once set out other prizes, a third set, for the painful art of wrestling, showing them to the Danaans. For the victor, a great tripod to be set on the fire, which the Achaeans valued among themselves at twelve oxen. For the loser, he placed in their midst a woman skilled in many kinds of work, whom they valued at four oxen. He stood upright and spoke his word among the Argives: “Rise up, you who will try for this prize.” So he spoke, and there rose up great Ajax, son of Telamon, and up stood Odysseus of many wiles, a man who knew every kind of cunning. The two, having girt themselves, went into the middle of the ring. They locked arms, seizing each other with their strong hands, like the rafters of a high house, which a famed craftsman has fitted together to ward off the violence of the winds. Their backs creaked under the fierce grip of their powerful hands, and the sweat ran down in streams. Many welts, red with blood, sprang up along their ribs and shoulders. And they strove ever for victory and the prize of the well-wrought tripod. But neither could Odysseus throw Ajax and bring him to the ground, nor could Ajax, for the mighty strength of Odysseus held firm. But when at last they began to weary the well-greaved Achaeans, then great Ajax, son of Telamon, spoke to him: “Zeus-born son of Laertes, Odysseus of many devices, either lift me, or I will lift you. All the rest will be in the hands of Zeus.” So saying, he lifted him, but Odysseus did not forget his cunning. He struck him from behind on the hollow of the knee and loosed his limbs, and threw him backward, and Odysseus fell upon his chest. The men gazed upon them and were amazed. Then in his turn the much-enduring, godlike Odysseus lifted him, and moved him a little from the ground, but could not lift him higher. He bent his knee inside his, and both fell to the ground close together, and they were soiled with dust. And now they would have sprung up a third time and wrestled again, had not Achilles himself stood up and held them back: “Strive no longer, and do not wear yourselves out with pain. Victory belongs to you both. Take equal prizes and depart, so that other Achaeans may also compete.” So he spoke, and they readily listened to him and obeyed. Wiping the dust from their bodies, they put on their tunics. Then the son of Peleus at once set out other prizes for speed: a silver mixing bowl, skillfully wrought. It held six measures, and in its beauty it surpassed all others on earth by far, for the Sidonians, men of many crafts, had made it well, and Phoenician men had brought it over the misty sea and set it down in the harbor, and had given it as a gift to Thoas. Euneos, son of Jason, had given it as a ransom for Lycaon, son of Priam, to the hero Patroclus. And now Achilles set it as a prize for his companion, for whoever should be lightest and swiftest on his feet. For the second, he set out a great ox, rich with fat, and half a talent of gold for the last place. He stood upright and spoke his word among the Argives: “Rise up, you who will try for this prize.” So he spoke, and at once swift Ajax, son of Oileus, rose up, and up stood Odysseus of many wiles, and after them Nestor’s son Antilochus, for he surpassed all the young men on his feet. They stood in a line, and Achilles pointed out the goal. The course was stretched out from the starting-post, and soon the son of Oileus shot ahead. But godlike Odysseus ran close behind him, as close as the weaver’s rod is to the breast of a well-girdled woman when she pulls it skillfully with her hands, drawing the spool through the warp, and holds it near her breast. So close did Odysseus run, and his feet struck Ajax’s footprints before the dust had settled over them. And down upon his head godlike Odysseus breathed his breath as he ran ever swiftly. And all the Achaeans shouted for him, urging him on as he strove for victory. But when they were on the last leg of the course, at once Odysseus prayed in his heart to bright-eyed Athene: “Hear me, goddess, and come as a good helper to my feet.” So he spoke in prayer, and Pallas Athene heard him, and she made his limbs light, his feet and the hands above them. But when they were about to dash for the prize, there Ajax slipped as he ran—for Athene hampered him— where the dung of the loud-bellowing oxen was scattered, those whom swift-footed Achilles had slain in honor of Patroclus. And his mouth and nostrils were filled with the dung of oxen. So the much-enduring, godlike Odysseus took up the mixing bowl, as he came in first, and the glorious Ajax took the ox. He stood holding the horn of the field-dwelling ox in his hands, spitting out the dung, and spoke among the Argives: “Oh, heavens! The goddess hampered my feet, she who from of old stands by Odysseus like a mother and helps him.” So he spoke, and they all laughed sweetly at him. Then Antilochus took the last prize, smiling, and spoke his word among the Argives: “I will tell you all what you already know, friends: that even now the immortals honor the older men. For Ajax is only a little older than I am, but this one is of a former generation and of former men. They say he is a hale old man, but it is hard for any of the Achaeans to contend with him in running, except for Achilles.” So he spoke, and he gave praise to the swift-footed son of Peleus. And Achilles answered him with words: “Antilochus, your praise will not be spoken in vain. I will add half a talent of gold for you.” So saying, he placed it in his hands, and Antilochus received it with joy. Then the son of Peleus brought a long-shadowed spear into the assembly and set it down, and a shield and a helmet, the armor of Sarpedon, which Patroclus had stripped from him. He stood upright and spoke his word among the Argives: “We call for two men, the best among you, to arm themselves, take up their flesh-cutting bronze, and test each other before the host. Whichever of the two shall be first to reach the fair flesh and touch the inner parts through the armor and the dark blood, to him I will give this silver-studded sword, a fine Thracian blade that I took from Asteropaeus. But this armor let both men take as a common prize, and we will set a good feast for them in our tents.” So he spoke, and there rose up great Ajax, son of Telamon, and up rose the son of Tydeus, mighty Diomedes. When they had armed themselves on either side of the crowd, they came together in the middle, eager to fight, glaring terribly, and wonder seized all the Achaeans. When they were close, advancing on one another, thrice they rushed forward, and thrice they charged in close. Then Ajax thrust at the shield that was equal on all sides, but did not reach the flesh, for the breastplate within protected it. But the son of Tydeus, over the great shield, kept aiming with the point of his shining spear at Ajax’s neck. And then the Achaeans, fearing for Ajax, called for them to stop and take equal prizes. But the hero gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus, bringing it with its sheath and its well-cut baldric. Then the son of Peleus set out a lump of pig iron, which the great might of Eetion used to throw. But swift-footed, godlike Achilles had slain him and brought it away in his ships with his other possessions. He stood upright and spoke his word among the Argives: “Rise up, you who will try for this prize. Even if his rich fields are very far away, he will have it for five revolving years to use. For his shepherd or his plowman will not have to go to the city for lack of iron, but this will provide it.” So he spoke, and there rose up the steadfast Polypoetes, and up rose the mighty strength of godlike Leonteus, and up rose Ajax, son of Telamon, and godlike Epeius. They stood in a line, and godlike Epeius took the weight and spun and threw it, and all the Achaeans laughed. Second, Leonteus, scion of Ares, threw it. Third, great Ajax, son of Telamon, hurled it from his strong hand and surpassed the marks of all the others. But when the steadfast Polypoetes took the weight, as far as a herdsman throws his staff, and it flies whirling through the herds of cattle, so far did he surpass the entire field. And they shouted aloud, and the companions of the mighty Polypoetes stood up and carried the king’s prize to the hollow ships. Then for the archers he set out dark iron: ten double-headed axes and ten single-headed axes. He stood up the mast of a dark-prowed ship far off on the sands, and from it he tied a trembling dove by the foot with a thin cord, and bade them shoot at it: “Whoever hits the trembling dove, let him take up all the double-headed axes and carry them home. But whoever hits the cord, having missed the bird —for he is the lesser man—he will take the single-headed axes.” So he spoke, and there rose up the might of Lord Teucer, and up rose Meriones, the good attendant of Idomeneus. They took lots and shook them in a bronze helmet, and Teucer drew the first lot by chance. At once he shot an arrow with great strength, but he did not vow to the lord Apollo that he would offer a glorious hecatomb of first-born lambs. So he missed the bird, for Apollo begrudged him that, but he struck the cord beside its foot, by which the bird was tied. The sharp arrow cut the cord clean through. The dove then shot up toward the sky, and the cord hung down toward the earth. And the Achaeans shouted. But Meriones, hurrying, snatched the bow from Teucer’s hand; he had had an arrow ready for some time, as he took aim. At once he vowed to the far-shooting Apollo that he would offer a glorious hecatomb of first-born lambs. High up under the clouds he saw the trembling dove. There, as it circled, he struck it in the middle beneath the wing, and the arrow went straight through. It fell back to the earth and was stuck in the ground at the foot of Meriones. But the bird, perching on the mast of the dark-prowed ship, let its neck hang down, and its thick wings drooped. Swiftly the life flew from its limbs, and it fell far from the mast. The men gazed upon it and were amazed. Then Meriones took up all ten double-headed axes, and Teucer carried the single-headed axes to the hollow ships. Then the son of Peleus brought a long-shadowed spear into the ring, and a fireless cauldron, worth an ox, embossed with flowers. And the javelin-throwers stood up: up rose the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, and up rose Meriones, the good attendant of Idomeneus. And swift-footed, godlike Achilles spoke to them: “Son of Atreus, for we know how far you surpass all others, and how much you are the best in power and in your throw, take this prize and go to your hollow ships. But let us give the spear to the hero Meriones, if you are willing in your heart; for that is what I advise.” So he spoke, and Agamemnon, lord of men, did not disobey. He gave the bronze spear to Meriones, and the hero himself gave the very beautiful prize to the herald Talthybius.

ἸΛΙΆΣ 23

Ὣς οἱ μὲν στενάχοντο κατὰ πτόλιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ
ἐπεὶ δὴ νῆάς τε καὶ Ἑλλήσποντον ἵκοντο,
οἱ μὲν ἄρ’ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,
Μυρμιδόνας δ’ οὐκ εἴα ἀποσκίδνασθαι Ἀχιλλεύς,
ἀλλ’ ὅ γε οἷς ἑτάροισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·
«Μυρμιδόνες ταχύπωλοι, ἐμοὶ ἐρίηρες ἑταῖροι,
μὴ δή πω ὑπ’ ὄχεσφι λυώμεθα μώνυχας ἵππους,
ἀλλ’ αὐτοῖς ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν ἆσσον ἰόντες
Πάτροκλον κλαίωμεν· ὃ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κ’ ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο,
ἵππους λυσάμενοι δορπήσομεν ἐνθάδε πάντες.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ᾤμωξαν ἀολλέες, ἦρχε δ’ Ἀχιλλεύς.
οἱ δὲ τρὶς περὶ νεκρὸν ἐΰτριχας ἤλασαν ἵππους
μυρόμενοι· μετὰ δέ σφι Θέτις γόου ἵμερον ὦρσε.
δεύοντο ψάμαθοι, δεύοντο δὲ τεύχεα φωτῶν
δάκρυσι· τοῖον γὰρ πόθεον μήστωρα φόβοιο.
τοῖσι δὲ Πηλεΐδης ἁδινοῦ ἐξῆρχε γόοιο,
χεῖρας ἐπ’ ἀνδροφόνους θέμενος στήθεσσιν ἑταίρου·
«χαῖρέ μοι, ὦ Πάτροκλε, καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·
πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην,
Ἕκτορα δεῦρ’ ἐρύσας δώσειν κυσὶν ὠμὰ δάσασθαι,
δώδεκα δὲ προπάροιθε πυρῆς ἀποδειροτομήσειν

Τρώων ἀγλαὰ τέκνα, σέθεν κταμένοιο χολωθείς.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἕκτορα δῖον ἀεικέα μήδετο ἔργα,
πρηνέα πὰρ λεχέεσσι Μενοιτιάδαο τανύσσας
ἐν κονίῃς· οἱ δ’ ἔντε’ ἀφωπλίζοντο ἕκαστος
χάλκεα μαρμαίροντα, λύον δ’ ὑψηχέας ἵππους,
κὰδ δ’ ἷζον παρὰ νηῒ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο
μυρίοι· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι τάφον μενοεικέα δαίνυ.
πολλοὶ μὲν βόες ἀργοὶ ὀρέχθεον ἀμφὶ σιδήρῳ
σφαζόμενοι, πολλοὶ δ’ ὄϊες καὶ μηκάδες αἶγες·
πολλοὶ δ’ ἀργιόδοντες ὕες, θαλέθοντες ἀλοιφῇ,
εὑόμενοι τανύοντο διὰ φλογὸς Ἡφαίστοιο·
πάντῃ δ’ ἀμφὶ νέκυν κοτυλήρυτον ἔῤῥεεν αἷμα.
Αὐτὰρ τόν γε ἄνακτα ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα
εἰς Ἀγαμέμνονα δῖον ἄγον βασιλῆες Ἀχαιῶν,
σπουδῇ παρπεπιθόντες ἑταίρου χωόμενον κῆρ.
οἱ δ’ ὅτε δὴ κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος ἷξον ἰόντες,
αὐτίκα κηρύκεσσι λιγυφθόγγοισι κέλευσαν
ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν, εἰ πεπίθοιεν
Πηλεΐδην λούσασθαι ἄπο βρότον αἱματόεντα.
αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἠρνεῖτο στερεῶς, ἐπὶ δ’ ὅρκον ὄμοσσεν·
«οὐ μὰ Ζῆν’, ὅς τίς τε θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος,
οὐ θέμις ἐστὶ λοετρὰ καρήατος ἆσσον ἱκέσθαι,
πρίν γ’ ἐνὶ Πάτροκλον θέμεναι πυρὶ σῆμά τε χεῦαι
κείρασθαί τε κόμην, ἐπεὶ οὔ μ’ ἔτι δεύτερον ὧδε
ἵξετ’ ἄχος κραδίην, ὄφρα ζωοῖσι μετείω.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι νῦν μὲν στυγερῇ πειθώμεθα δαιτί·
ἠῶθεν δ’ ὄτρυνε, ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον,
ὕλην τ’ ἀξέμεναι παρά τε σχεῖν ὅσσ’ ἐπιεικὲς
νεκρὸν ἔχοντα νέεσθαι ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα,

ὄφρ’ ἤτοι τοῦτον μὲν ἐπιφλέγῃ ἀκάματον πῦρ
θᾶσσον ἀπ’ ὀφθαλμῶν, λαοὶ δ’ ἐπὶ ἔργα τράπωνται.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο.
ἐσσυμένως δ’ ἄρα δόρπον ἐφοπλίσσαντες ἕκαστοι
δαίνυντ’, οὐδέ τι θυμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐΐσης.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,
οἱ μὲν κακκείοντες ἕβαν κλισίην δὲ ἕκαστος,
Πηλεΐδης δ’ ἐπὶ θινὶ πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης
κεῖτο βαρὺ στενάχων, πολέσιν μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσιν,
ἐν καθαρῷ, ὅθι κύματ’ ἐπ’ ἠϊόνος κλύζεσκον·
εὖτε τὸν ὕπνος ἔμαρπτε, λύων μελεδήματα θυμοῦ,
νήδυμος ἀμφιχυθείς—μάλα γὰρ κάμε φαίδιμα γυῖα
Ἕκτορ’ ἐπαΐσσων προτὶ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν—
ἦλθε δ’ ἐπὶ ψυχὴ Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο,
πάντ’ αὐτῷ μέγεθός τε καὶ ὄμματα κάλ’ ἐϊκυῖα,
καὶ φωνήν, καὶ τοῖα περὶ χροῒ εἵματα ἕστο·
στῆ δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«εὕδεις, αὐτὰρ ἐμεῖο λελασμένος ἔπλευ Ἀχιλλεῦ.
οὐ μέν μευ ζώοντος ἀκήδεις, ἀλλὰ θανόντος·
θάπτέ με ὅττι τάχιστα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσω.
τῆλέ με εἴργουσι ψυχαὶ εἴδωλα καμόντων,
οὐδέ μέ πω μίσγεσθαι ὑπὲρ ποταμοῖο ἐῶσιν,
ἀλλ’ αὔτως ἀλάλημαι ἀν’ εὐρυπυλὲς Ἄϊδος δῶ.
καί μοι δὸς τὴν χεῖρ’, ὀλοφύρομαι· οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ αὖτις
νίσομαι ἐξ Ἀΐδαο, ἐπήν με πυρὸς λελάχητε.
οὐ μὲν γὰρ ζωοί γε φίλων ἀπάνευθεν ἑταίρων
βουλὰς ἑζόμενοι βουλεύσομεν, ἀλλ’ ἐμὲ μὲν κὴρ
ἀμφέχανε στυγερή, ἥ περ λάχε γιγνόμενόν περ·
καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ μοῖρα, θεοῖς ἐπιείκελ’ Ἀχιλλεῦ,

τείχει ὕπο Τρώων εὐηφενέων ἀπολέσθαι.
ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω καὶ ἐφήσομαι, αἴ κε πίθηαι·
μὴ ἐμὰ σῶν ἀπάνευθε τιθήμεναι ὀστέ’, Ἀχιλλεῦ,
ἀλλ’ ὁμοῦ, ὡς ἐτράφημεν ἐν ὑμετέροισι δόμοισιν,
εὖτέ με τυτθὸν ἐόντα Μενοίτιος ἐξ Ὀπόεντος
ἤγαγεν ὑμέτερον δ’ ἀνδροκτασίης ὕπο λυγρῆς,
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε παῖδα κατέκτανον Ἀμφιδάμαντος,
νήπιος οὐκ ἐθέλων, ἀμφ’ ἀστραγάλοισι χολωθείς·
ἔνθά με δεξάμενος ἐν δώμασιν ἱππότα Πηλεὺς
ἔτραφέ τ’ ἐνδυκέως καὶ σὸν θεράποντ’ ὀνόμηνεν·
ὣς δὲ καὶ ὀστέα νῶϊν ὁμὴ σορὸς ἀμφικαλύπτοι
χρύσεος ἀμφιφορεύς, τόν τοι πόρε πότνια μήτηρ.»
Τὸν δ’ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
«τίπτέ μοι, ἠθείη κεφαλὴ δεῦρ’ εἰλήλουθας,
καί μοι ταῦτα ἕκαστ’ ἐπιτέλλεαι; αὐτὰρ ἐγώ τοι
πάντα μάλ’ ἐκτελέω καὶ πείσομαι ὡς σὺ κελεύεις.
ἀλλά μοι ἆσσον στῆθι· μίνυνθά περ ἀμφιβαλόντε
ἀλλήλους ὀλοοῖο τεταρπώμεσθα γόοιο.»
Ὣς ἄρα φωνήσας ὠρέξατο χερσὶ φίλῃσιν
οὐδ’ ἔλαβε· ψυχὴ δὲ κατὰ χθονὸς ἠΰτε καπνὸς
ᾤχετο τετριγυῖα· ταφὼν δ’ ἀνόρουσεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
χερσί τε συμπλατάγησεν, ἔπος δ’ ὀλοφυδνὸν ἔειπεν·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ ῥά τίς ἐστι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι

ψυχὴ καὶ εἴδωλον, ἀτὰρ φρένες οὐκ ἔνι πάμπαν·
παννυχίη γάρ μοι Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο
ψυχὴ ἐφεστήκει γοόωσά τε μυρομένη τε,
καί μοι ἕκαστ’ ἐπέτελλεν, ἔϊκτο δὲ θέσκελον αὐτῷ.»
Ὣς φάτο, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφ’ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο·
μυρομένοισι δὲ τοῖσι φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς
ἀμφὶ νέκυν ἐλεεινόν. ἀτὰρ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων
οὐρῆάς τ’ ὄτρυνε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀξέμεν ὕλην
πάντοθεν ἐκ κλισιῶν· ἐπὶ δ’ ἀνὴρ ἐσθλὸς ὀρώρει,
Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.
οἰ δ’ ἴσαν ὑλοτόμους πελέκεας ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντες
σειράς τ’ εὐπλέκτους· πρὸ δ’ ἄρ’ οὐρῆες κίον αὐτῶν.
πολλὰ δ’ ἄναντα κάταντα πάραντά τε δόχμιά τ’ ἦλθον·
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ κνημοὺς προσέβαν πολυπίδακος Ἴδης,
αὐτίκ’ ἄρα δρῦς ὑψικόμους ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ
τάμνον ἐπειγόμενοι· ταὶ δὲ μεγάλα κτυπέουσαι
πῖπτον· τὰς μὲν ἔπειτα διαπλήσσοντες Ἀχαιοὶ
ἔκδεον ἡμιόνων· ταὶ δὲ χθόνα ποσσὶ δατεῦντο
ἐλδόμεναι πεδίοιο διὰ ῥωπήϊα πυκνά.
πάντες δ’ ὑλοτόμοι φιτροὺς φέρον· ὡς γὰρ ἀνώγει
Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἀγαπήνορος Ἰδομενῆος.
κὰδ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπ’ ἀκτῆς βάλλον ἐπισχερώ, ἔνθ’ ἄρ’ Ἀχιλλεὺς
φράσσατο Πατρόκλῳ μέγα ἠρίον ἠδὲ οἷ αὐτῷ.
Αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πάντῃ παρακάββαλον ἄσπετον ὕλην,
ἥατ’ ἄρ’ αὖθι μένοντες ἀολλέες. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
αὐτίκα Μυρμιδόνεσσι φιλοπτολέμοισι κέλευσε
χαλκὸν ζώννυσθαι, ζεῦξαι δ’ ὑπ’ ὄχεσφιν ἕκαστον
ἵππους· οἳ δ’ ὄρνυντο καὶ ἐν τεύχεσσιν ἔδυνον,
ἂν δ’ ἔβαν ἐν δίφροισι παραιβάται ἡνίοχοί τε,

πρόσθε μὲν ἱππῆες, μετὰ δὲ νέφος εἵπετο πεζῶν,
μυρίοι· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι φέρον Πάτροκλον ἑταῖροι.
θριξὶ δὲ πάντα νέκυν καταείνυσαν, ἃς ἐπέβαλλον
κειρόμενοι· ὄπιθεν δὲ κάρη ἔχε δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἀχνύμενος· ἕταρον γὰρ ἀμύμονα πέμπ’ Ἄϊδόδε.
Οἱ δ’ ὅτε χῶρον ἵκανον ὅθί σφισι πέφραδ’ Ἀχιλλεύς,
κάτθεσαν, αἶψα δέ οἱ μενοεικέα νήεον ὕλην.
ἔνθ’ αὖτ’ ἄλλ’ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς ξανθὴν ἀπεκείρατο χαίτην,
τήν ῥα Σπερχειῷ ποταμῷ τρέφε τηλεθόωσαν·
ὀχθήσας δ’ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν ἐπὶ οἴνοπα πόντον·
«Σπερχεί’, ἄλλως σοί γε πατὴρ ἠρήσατο Πηλεύς,
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν
σοί τε κόμην κερέειν ῥέξειν θ’ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην,
πεντήκοντα δ’ ἔνορχα παρ’ αὐτόθι μῆλ’ ἱερεύσειν
ἐς πηγάς, ὅθι τοι τέμενος βωμός τε θυήεις.
ὣς ἠρᾶθ’ ὁ γέρων, σὺ δέ οἱ νόον οὐκ ἐτέλεσσας.
νῦν δ’ ἐπεὶ οὐ νέομαί γε φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν,
Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ κόμην ὀπάσαιμι φέρεσθαι.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ κόμην ἑτάροιο φίλοιο
θῆκεν, τοῖσι δὲ πᾶσιν ὑφ’ ἵμερον ὦρσε γόοιο.
καί νύ κ’ ὀδυρομένοισιν ἔδυ φάος ἠελίοιο,
εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αἶψ’ Ἀγαμέμνονι εἶπε παραστάς·
«Ἀτρεΐδη, σοὶ γάρ τε μάλιστά γε λαὸς Ἀχαιῶν
πείσονται μύθοισι, γόοιο μὲν ἔστι καὶ ἆσαι,
νῦν δ’ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι
ὅπλεσθαι· τάδε δ’ ἀμφὶ πονησόμεθ’ οἷσι μάλιστα
κήδεός ἐστι νέκυς· παρὰ δ’ οἵ τ’ ἀγοὶ ἄμμι μενόντων.»

Αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γ’ ἄκουσεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων,
αὐτίκα λαὸν μὲν σκέδασεν κατὰ νῆας ἐΐσας,
κηδεμόνες δὲ παρ’ αὖθι μένον καὶ νήεον ὕλην,
ποίησαν δὲ πυρὴν ἑκατόμπεδον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἐν δὲ πυρῇ ὑπάτῃ νεκρὸν θέσαν ἀχνύμενοι κῆρ.
πολλὰ δὲ ἴφια μῆλα καὶ εἰλίποδας ἕλικας βοῦς
πρόσθε πυρῆς ἔδερόν τε καὶ ἄμφεπον· ἐκ δ’ ἄρα πάντων
δημὸν ἑλὼν ἐκάλυψε νέκυν μεγάθυμος Ἀχιλλεὺς
ἐς πόδας ἐκ κεφαλῆς, περὶ δὲ δρατὰ σώματα νήει.
ἐν δ’ ἐτίθει μέλιτος καὶ ἀλείφατος ἀμφιφορῆας,
πρὸς λέχεα κλίνων· πίσυρας δ’ ἐριαύχενας ἵππους
ἐσσυμένως ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ μεγάλα στεναχίζων.
ἐννέα τῷ γε ἄνακτι τραπεζῆες κύνες ἦσαν,
καὶ μὲν τῶν ἐνέβαλλε πυρῇ δύο δειροτομήσας,
δώδεκα δὲ Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς
χαλκῷ δηϊόων· κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ μήδετο ἔργα·
ἐν δὲ πυρὸς μένος ἧκε σιδήρεον, ὄφρα νέμοιτο.
ᾤμωξέν τ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτα, φίλον δ’ ὀνόμηνεν ἑταῖρον·
«χαῖρέ μοι, ὦ Πάτροκλε, καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδαο δόμοισι·
πάντα γὰρ ἤδη τοι τελέω τὰ πάροιθεν ὑπέστην,
δώδεκα μὲν Τρώων μεγαθύμων υἱέας ἐσθλοὺς
τοὺς ἅμα σοὶ πάντας πῦρ ἐσθίει· Ἕκτορα δ’ οὔ τι
δώσω Πριαμίδην πυρὶ δαπτέμεν, ἀλλὰ κύνεσσιν.»
Ὣς φάτ’ ἀπειλήσας· τὸν δ’ οὐ κύνες ἀμφεπένοντο,
ἀλλὰ κύνας μὲν ἄλαλκε Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἀφροδίτη
ἤματα καὶ νύκτας, ῥοδόεντι δὲ χρῖεν ἐλαίῳ
ἀμβροσίῳ, ἵνα μή μιν ἀποδρύφοι ἑλκυστάζων.
τῷ δ’ ἐπὶ κυάνεον νέφος ἤγαγε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων
οὐρανόθεν πεδίονδε, κάλυψε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα

ὅσσον ἐπεῖχε νέκυς, μὴ πρὶν μένος ἠελίοιο
σκήλει’ ἀμφὶ περὶ χρόα ἴνεσιν ἠδὲ μέλεσσιν.
Οὐδὲ πυρὴ Πατρόκλου ἐκαίετο τεθνηῶτος·
ἔνθ’ αὖτ’ ἀλλ’ ἐνόησε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
στὰς ἀπάνευθε πυρῆς δοιοῖς ἠρᾶτ’ ἀνέμοισι
Βορέῃ καὶ Ζεφύρῳ, καὶ ὑπίσχετο ἱερὰ καλά·
πολλὰ δὲ καὶ σπένδων χρυσέῳ δέπαϊ λιτάνευεν
ἐλθέμεν, ὄφρα τάχιστα πυρὶ φλεγεθοίατο νεκροί,
ὕλη τε σεύαιτο καήμεναι. ὦκα δὲ Ἶρις
ἀράων ἀΐουσα μετάγγελος ἦλθ’ ἀνέμοισιν.
οἱ μὲν ἄρα Ζεφύροιο δυσαέος ἀθρόοι ἔνδον
εἰλαπίνην δαίνυντο· θέουσα δὲ Ἶρις ἐπέστη
βηλῷ ἔπι λιθέῳ· τοὶ δ’ ὡς ἴδον ὀφθαλμοῖσι,
πάντες ἀνήϊξαν, κάλεόν τέ μιν εἰς ἓ ἕκαστος·
ἣ δ’ αὖθ’ ἕζεσθαι μὲν ἀνήνατο, εἶπε δὲ μῦθον·
«οὐχ ἕδος· εἶμι γὰρ αὖτις ἐπ’ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥέεθρα,
Αἰθιόπων ἐς γαῖαν, ὅθι ῥέζουσ’ ἑκατόμβας
ἀθανάτοις, ἵνα δὴ καὶ ἐγὼ μεταδαίσομαι ἱρῶν.
ἀλλ’ Ἀχιλεὺς Βορέην ἠδὲ Ζέφυρον κελαδεινὸν
ἐλθεῖν ἀρᾶται, καὶ ὑπίσχεται ἱερὰ καλά,
ὄφρα πυρὴν ὄρσητε καήμεναι, ᾗ ἔνι κεῖται
Πάτροκλος, τὸν πάντες ἀναστενάχουσιν Ἀχαιοί.»
Ἣ μὲν ἄρ’ ὣς εἰποῦσ’ ἀπεβήσετο, τοὶ δ’ ὀρέοντο
ἠχῇ θεσπεσίῃ νέφεα κλονέοντε πάροιθεν.
αἶψα δὲ πόντον ἵκανον ἀήμεναι, ὦρτο δὲ κῦμα
πνοιῇ ὕπο λιγυρῇ· Τροίην δ’ ἐρίβωλον ἱκέσθην,
ἐν δὲ πυρῇ πεσέτην, μέγα δ’ ἴαχε θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ.

παννύχιοι δ’ ἄρα τοί γε πυρῆς ἄμυδις φλόγ’ ἔβαλλον,
φυσῶντες λιγέως· ὁ δὲ πάννυχος ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς
χρυσέου ἐκ κρητῆρος, ἑλὼν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον,
οἶνον ἀφυσσόμενος χαμάδις χέε, δεῦε δὲ γαῖαν,
ψυχὴν κικλήσκων Πατροκλῆος δειλοῖο.
ὡς δὲ πατὴρ οὗ παιδὸς ὀδύρεται ὀστέα καίων,
νυμφίου, ὅς τε θανὼν δειλοὺς ἀκάχησε τοκῆας,
ὣς Ἀχιλεὺς ἑτάροιο ὀδύρετο ὀστέα καίων,
ἑρπύζων παρὰ πυρκαϊήν, ἁδινὰ στεναχίζων.
Ἦμος δ’ ἑωσφόρος εἶσι φόως ἐρέων ἐπὶ γαῖαν,
ὅν τε μέτα κροκόπεπλος ὑπεὶρ ἅλα κίδναται ἠώς,
τῆμος πυρκαϊὴ ἐμαραίνετο, παύσατο δὲ φλόξ.
οἱ δ’ ἄνεμοι πάλιν αὖτις ἔβαν οἶκον δὲ νέεσθαι
Θρηΐκιον κατὰ πόντον· ὁ δ’ ἔστενεν οἴδματι θύων.
Πηλεΐδης δ’ ἀπὸ πυρκαϊῆς ἑτέρωσε λιασθεὶς
κλίνθη κεκμηώς, ἐπὶ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ὄρουσεν·
οἳ δ’ ἀμφ’ Ἀτρεΐωνα ἀολλέες ἠγερέθοντο·
τῶν μιν ἐπερχομένων ὅμαδος καὶ δοῦπος ἔγειρεν,
ἕζετο δ’ ὀρθωθεὶς καί σφεας πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπεν·
«Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἀριστῆες Παναχαιῶν,
πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσατ’ αἴθοπι οἴνῳ
πᾶσαν, ὁπόσσον ἐπέσχε πυρὸς μένος· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
ὀστέα Πατρόκλοιο Μενοιτιάδαο λέγωμεν
εὖ διαγιγνώσκοντες· ἀριφραδέα δὲ τέτυκται·
ἐν μέσσῃ γὰρ ἔκειτο πυρῇ, τοὶ δ’ ἄλλοι ἄνευθεν
ἐσχατιῇ καίοντ’ ἐπιμὶξ ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν χρυσέῃ φιάλῃ καὶ δίπλακι δημῷ

θείομεν, εἰς ὅ κεν αὐτὸς ἐγὼν Ἄϊδι κεύθωμαι.
τύμβον δ’ οὐ μάλα πολλὸν ἐγὼ πονέεσθαι ἄνωγα,
ἀλλ’ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον· ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἀχαιοὶ
εὐρύν θ’ ὑψηλόν τε τιθήμεναι, οἵ κεν ἐμεῖο
δεύτεροι ἐν νήεσσι πολυκλήϊσι λίπησθε.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἐπίθοντο ποδώκεϊ Πηλεΐωνι.
πρῶτον μὲν κατὰ πυρκαϊὴν σβέσαν αἴθοπι οἴνῳ,
ὅσσον ἐπὶ φλὸξ ἦλθε, βαθεῖα δὲ κάππεσε τέφρη·
κλαίοντες δ’ ἑτάροιο ἐνηέος ὀστέα λευκὰ
ἄλλεγον ἐς χρυσέην φιάλην καὶ δίπλακα δημόν,
ἐν κλισίῃσι δὲ θέντες ἑανῷ λιτὶ κάλυψαν·
τορνώσαντο δὲ σῆμα θεμείλιά τε προβάλοντο
ἀμφὶ πυρήν· εἶθαρ δὲ χυτὴν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἔχευαν,
χεύαντες δὲ τὸ σῆμα πάλιν κίον. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς
αὐτοῦ λαὸν ἔρυκε καὶ ἵζανεν εὐρὺν ἀγῶνα,
νηῶν δ’ ἔκφερ’ ἄεθλα λέβητάς τε τρίποδάς τε
ἵππους θ’ ἡμιόνους τε βοῶν τ’ ἴφθιμα κάρηνα,
ἠδὲ γυναῖκας ἐϋζώνους πολιόν τε σίδηρον.
Ἱππεῦσιν μὲν πρῶτα ποδώκεσιν ἀγλά’ ἄεθλα
θῆκε γυναῖκα ἄγεσθαι ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυῖαν
καὶ τρίποδ’ ὠτώεντα δυωκαιεικοσίμετρον
τῷ πρώτῳ· ἀτὰρ αὖ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἵππον ἔθηκεν
ἑξέτε’ ἀδμήτην, βρέφος ἡμίονον κυέουσαν·
αὐτὰρ τῷ τριτάτῳ ἄπυρον κατέθηκε λέβητα
καλόν, τέσσαρα μέτρα κεχανδότα, λευκὸν ἔτ’ αὔτως·
τῷ δὲ τετάρτῳ θῆκε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα,
πέμπτῳ δ’ ἀμφίθετον φιάλην ἀπύρωτον ἔθηκε.
στῆ δ’ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,

ἱππῆας τάδ’ ἄεθλα δεδεγμένα κεῖτ’ ἐν ἀγῶνι.
εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν Ἀχαιοὶ
ἦ τ’ ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα λαβὼν κλισίην δὲ φεροίμην.
ἴστε γὰρ ὅσσον ἐμοὶ ἀρετῇ περιβάλλετον ἵπποι·
ἀθάνατοί τε γάρ εἰσι, Ποσειδάων δὲ πόρ’ αὐτοὺς
πατρὶ ἐμῷ Πηλῆϊ, ὁ δ’ αὖτ’ ἐμοὶ ἐγγυάλιξεν.
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ μενέω καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·
τοίου γὰρ κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπώλεσαν ἡνιόχοιο
ἠπίου, ὅς σφωϊν μάλα πολλάκις ὑγρὸν ἔλαιον
χαιτάων κατέχευε, λοέσσας ὕδατι λευκῷ.
τὸν τώ γ’ ἑσταότες πενθείετον, οὔδεϊ δέ σφι
χαῖται ἐρηρέδαται, τὼ δ’ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.
ἄλλοι δὲ στέλλεσθε κατὰ στρατόν, ὅς τις Ἀχαιῶν
ἵπποισίν τε πέποιθε καὶ ἅρμασι κολλητοῖσιν.»
Ὣς φάτο Πηλεΐδης, ταχέες δ’ ἱππῆες ἄγερθεν.
ὦρτο πολὺ πρῶτος μὲν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Εὔμηλος,
Ἀδμήτου φίλος υἱός, ὃς ἱπποσύνῃ ἐκέκαστο·
τῷ δ’ ἐπὶ Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο κρατερὸς Διομήδης,
ἵππους δὲ Τρῳοὺς ὕπαγε ζυγόν, οὕς ποτ’ ἀπηύρα
Αἰνείαν, ἀτὰρ αὐτὸν ὑπεξεσάωσεν Ἀπόλλων.
τῷ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπ’ Ἀτρεΐδης ὦρτο ξανθὸς Μενέλαος
διογενής, ὑπὸ δὲ ζυγὸν ἤγαγεν ὠκέας ἵππους
Αἴθην τὴν Ἀγαμεμνονέην τὸν ἑόν τε Πόδαργον·
τὴν Ἀγαμέμνονι δῶκ’ Ἀγχισιάδης Ἐχέπωλος
δῶρ’, ἵνα μή οἱ ἕποιθ’ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἠνεμόεσσαν,
ἀλλ’ αὐτοῦ τέρποιτο μένων· μέγα γάρ οἱ ἔδωκε
Ζεὺς ἄφενος, ναῖεν δ’ ὅ γ’ ἐν εὐρυχόρῳ Σικυῶνι·
τὴν ὅ γ’ ὑπὸ ζυγὸν ἦγε, μέγα δρόμου ἰσχανόωσαν.
Ἀντίλοχος δὲ τέταρτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθ’ ἵππους,

Νέστορος ἀγλαὸς υἱὸς ὑπερθύμοιο ἄνακτος,
τοῦ Νηληϊάδαο· Πυλοιγενέες δέ οἱ ἵπποι
ὠκύποδες φέρον ἅρμα· πατὴρ δέ οἱ ἄγχι παραστὰς
μυθεῖτ’ εἰς ἀγαθὰ φρονέων νοέοντι καὶ αὐτῷ·
«Ἀντίλοχ’, ἤτοι μέν σε νέον περ ἐόντ’ ἐφίλησαν
Ζεύς τε Ποσειδάων τε, καὶ ἱπποσύνας ἐδίδαξαν
παντοίας· τὼ καί σε διδασκέμεν οὔ τι μάλα χρεώ·
οἶσθα γὰρ εὖ περὶ τέρμαθ’ ἑλισσέμεν· ἀλλά τοι ἵπποι
βάρδιστοι θείειν· τώ τ’ οἴω λοίγι’ ἔσεσθαι.
τῶν δ’ ἵπποι μὲν ἔασιν ἀφάρτεροι, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτοὶ
πλείονα ἴσασιν σέθεν αὐτοῦ μητίσασθαι.
ἀλλ’ ἄγε δὴ σύ, φίλος, μῆτιν ἐμβάλλεο θυμῷ
παντοίην, ἵνα μή σε παρεκπροφύγῃσιν ἄεθλα.
μήτι τοι δρυτόμος μέγ’ ἀμείνων ἠὲ βίηφι·
μήτι δ’ αὖτε κυβερνήτης ἐνὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳ
νῆα θοὴν ἰθύνει ἐρεχθομένην ἀνέμοισι·
μήτι δ’ ἡνίοχος περιγίγνεται ἡνιόχοιο.
ἀλλ’ ὃς μέν θ’ ἵπποισι καὶ ἅρμασιν οἷσι πεποιθὼς
ἀφραδέως ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἑλίσσεται ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
ἵπποι δὲ πλανόωνται ἀνὰ δρόμον, οὐδὲ κατίσχει·
ὃς δέ κε κέρδεα εἰδῇ ἐλαύνων ἥσσονας ἵππους,
αἰεὶ τέρμ’ ὁρόων στρέφει ἐγγύθεν, οὐδέ ἑ λήθει
ὅππως τὸ πρῶτον τανύσῃ βοέοισιν ἱμᾶσιν,
ἀλλ’ ἔχει ἀσφαλέως καὶ τὸν προὔχοντα δοκεύει.
σῆμα δέ τοι ἐρέω μάλ’ ἀριφραδές, οὐδέ σε λήσει.
ἕστηκε ξύλον αὖον ὅσον τ’ ὄργυι’ ὑπὲρ αἴης,
ἢ δρυὸς ἢ πεύκης· τὸ μὲν οὐ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ,
λᾶε δὲ τοῦ ἑκάτερθεν ἐρηρέδαται δύο λευκὼ
ἐν ξυνοχῇσιν ὁδοῦ, λεῖος δ’ ἱππόδρομος ἀμφίς·

ἤ τευ σῆμα βροτοῖο πάλαι κατατεθνηῶτος,
ἢ τό γε νύσσα τέτυκτο ἐπὶ προτέρων ἀνθρώπων,
καὶ νῦν τέρματ’ ἔθηκε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.
τῷ σὺ μάλ’ ἐγχρίμψας ἐλάαν σχεδὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵππους,
αὐτὸς δὲ κλινθῆναι ἐϋπλέκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ
ἦκ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ τοῖιν· ἀτὰρ τὸν δεξιὸν ἵππον
κένσαι ὁμοκλήσας, εἶξαί τέ οἱ ἡνία χερσίν.
ἐν νύσσῃ δέ τοι ἵππος ἀριστερὸς ἐγχριμφθήτω,
ὡς ἄν τοι πλήμνη γε δοάσσεται ἄκρον ἱκέσθαι
κύκλου ποιητοῖο· λίθου δ’ ἀλέασθαι ἐπαυρεῖν,
μή πως ἵππους τε τρώσῃς κατά θ’ ἅρματα ἄξῃς·
χάρμα δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισιν, ἐλεγχείη δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ
ἔσσεται· ἀλλὰ φίλος φρονέων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.
εἰ γάρ κ’ ἐν νύσσῃ γε παρεξελάσῃσθα διώκων,
οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὅς κέ σ’ ἕλῃσι μετάλμενος οὐδὲ παρέλθῃ,
οὐδ’ εἴ κεν μετόπισθεν Ἀρίονα δῖον ἐλαύνοι
Ἀδρήστου ταχὺν ἵππον, ὃς ἐκ θεόφιν γένος ἦεν,
ἢ τοὺς Λαομέδοντος, οἳ ἐνθάδε γ’ ἔτραφεν ἐσθλοί.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν Νέστωρ Νηλήϊος ἂψ ἐνὶ χώρῃ
ἕζετ’, ἐπεὶ ᾧ παιδὶ ἑκάστου πείρατ’ ἔειπε.
Μηριόνης δ’ ἄρα πέμπτος ἐΰτριχας ὁπλίσαθ’ ἵππους.
ἂν δ’ ἔβαν ἐς δίφρους, ἐν δὲ κλήρους ἐβάλοντο·
πάλλ’ Ἀχιλεύς, ἐκ δὲ κλῆρος θόρε Νεστορίδαο
Ἀντιλόχου· μετὰ τὸν δ’ ἔλαχε κρείων Εὔμηλος·
τῷ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπ’ Ἀτρεΐδης, δουρὶ κλειτὸς Μενέλαος,
τῷ δ’ ἐπὶ Μηριόνης λάχ’ ἐλαυνέμεν· ὕστατος αὖτε
Τυδεΐδης ὄχ’ ἄριστος ἐὼν λάχ’ ἐλαυνέμεν ἵππους.
στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί, σήμηνε δὲ τέρματ’ Ἀχιλλεὺς

τηλόθεν ἐν λείῳ πεδίῳ· παρὰ δὲ σκοπὸν εἷσεν
ἀντίθεον Φοίνικα, ὀπάονα πατρὸς ἑοῖο,
ὡς μεμνέῳτο δρόμους καὶ ἀληθείην ἀποείποι.
Οἱ δ’ ἅμα πάντες ἐφ’ ἵπποιιν μάστιγας ἄειραν,
πέπληγόν θ’ ἱμᾶσιν, ὁμόκλησάν τ’ ἐπέεσσιν
ἐσσυμένως· οἱ δ’ ὦκα διέπρησσον πεδίοιο
νόσφι νεῶν ταχέως· ὑπὸ δὲ στέρνοισι κονίη
ἵστατ’ ἀειρομένη ὥς τε νέφος ἠὲ θύελλα,
χαῖται δ’ ἐρρώοντο μετὰ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο.
ἅρματα δ’ ἄλλοτε μὲν χθονὶ πίλνατο πουλυβοτείρῃ,
ἄλλοτε δ’ ἀΐξασκε μετήορα· τοὶ δ’ ἐλατῆρες
ἕστασαν ἐν δίφροισι, πάτασσε δὲ θυμὸς ἑκάστου
νίκης ἱεμένων· κέκλοντο δὲ οἷσιν ἕκαστος
ἵπποις, οἳ δ’ ἐπέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.
Ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον ὠκέες ἵπποι
ἂψ ἐφ’ ἁλὸς πολιῆς, τότε δὴ ἀρετή γε ἑκάστου
φαίνετ’, ἄφαρ δ’ ἵπποισι τάθη δρόμος· ὦκα δ’ ἔπειτα
αἱ Φηρητιάδαο ποδώκεες ἔκφερον ἵπποι.
τὰς δὲ μετ’ ἐξέφερον Διομήδεος ἄρσενες ἵπποι,
Τρώϊοι, οὐδέ τι πολλὸν ἄνευθ’ ἔσαν, ἀλλὰ μάλ’ ἐγγύς·
αἰεὶ γὰρ δίφρου ἐπιβησομένοισιν ἐΐκτην,
πνοιῇ δ’ Εὐμήλοιο μετάφρενον εὐρέε τ’ ὤμω
θέρμετ’· ἐπ’ αὐτῷ γὰρ κεφαλὰς καταθέντε πετέσθην.
καί νύ κεν ἢ παρέλασσ’ ἢ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν,
εἰ μὴ Τυδέος υἷϊ κοτέσσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,
ὅς ῥά οἱ ἐκ χειρῶν ἔβαλεν μάστιγα φαεινήν.
τοῖο δ’ ἀπ’ ὀφθαλμῶν χύτο δάκρυα χωομένοιο,
οὕνεκα τὰς μὲν ὅρα ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἰούσας,
οἱ δέ οἱ ἐβλάφθησαν ἄνευ κέντροιο θέοντες.
οὐδ’ ἄρ’ Ἀθηναίην ἐλεφηράμενος λάθ’ Ἀπόλλων

Τυδεΐδην, μάλα δ’ ὦκα μετέσσυτο ποιμένα λαῶν,
δῶκε δέ οἱ μάστιγα, μένος δ’ ἵπποισιν ἐνῆκεν·
ἡ δὲ μετ’ Ἀδμήτου υἱὸν κοτέουσα βεβήκει,
ἵππειον δέ οἱ ἦξε θεὰ ζυγόν· αἱ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
ἀμφὶς ὁδοῦ δραμέτην, ῥυμὸς δ’ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐλύσθη.
αὐτὸς δ’ ἐκ δίφροιο παρὰ τροχὸν ἐξεκυλίσθη,
ἀγκῶνάς τε περιδρύφθη στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε,
θρυλίχθη δὲ μέτωπον ἐπ’ ὀφρύσι· τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
δακρυόφι πλῆσθεν, θαλερὴ δέ οἱ ἔσχετο φωνή.
Τυδεΐδης δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους,
πολλὸν τῶν ἄλλων ἐξάλμενος· ἐν γὰρ Ἀθήνη
ἵπποις ἧκε μένος καὶ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκε.
τῷ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπ’ Ἀτρεΐδης εἶχε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος.
Ἀντίλοχος δ’ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·
«ἔμβητον καὶ σφῶϊ· τιταίνετον ὅττι τάχιστα.
ἤτοι μὲν κείνοισιν ἐριζέμεν οὔ τι κελεύω,
Τυδεΐδεω ἵπποισι δαΐφρονος, οἷσιν Ἀθήνη
νῦν ὤρεξε τάχος καὶ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ κῦδος ἔθηκεν·
ἵππους δ’ Ἀτρεΐδαο κιχάνετε, μὴ δὲ λίπησθον,
καρπαλίμως, μὴ σφῶϊν ἐλεγχείην καταχεύῃ
Αἴθη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα· τί ἢ λείπεσθε φέριστοι;
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, καὶ μὴν τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
οὐ σφῶϊν κομιδὴ παρὰ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν
ἔσσεται, αὐτίκα δ’ ὔμμε κατακτενεῖ ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,
αἴ κ’ ἀποκηδήσαντε φερώμεθα χεῖρον ἄεθλον.
ἀλλ’ ἐφομαρτεῖτον καὶ σπεύδετον ὅττι τάχιστα·
ταῦτα δ’ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς τεχνήσομαι ἠδὲ νοήσω,
στεινωπῷ ἐν ὁδῷ παραδύμεναι, οὐδέ με λήσει.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν
μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην ὀλίγον χρόνον· αἶψα δ’ ἔπειτα

στεῖνος ὁδοῦ κοίλης ἴδεν Ἀντίλοχος μενεχάρμης.
ῥωχμὸς ἔην γαίης, ᾗ χειμέριον ἀλὲν ὕδωρ
ἐξέρρηξεν ὁδοῖο, βάθυνε δὲ χῶρον ἅπαντα·
τῇ ῥ’ εἶχεν Μενέλαος ἁματροχιὰς ἀλεείνων.
Ἀντίλοχος δὲ παρατρέψας ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους
ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ, ὀλίγον δὲ παρακλίνας ἐδίωκεν.
Ἀτρεΐδης δ’ ἔδεισε καὶ Ἀντιλόχῳ ἐγεγώνει·
«Ἀντίλοχ’, ἀφραδέως ἱππάζεαι· ἀλλ’ ἄνεχ’ ἵππους·
στεινωπὸς γὰρ ὁδός, τάχα δ’ εὐρυτέρη παρελάσσαι·
μή πως ἀμφοτέρους δηλήσεαι ἅρματι κύρσας.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, Ἀντίλοχος δ’ ἔτι καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἔλαυνε
κέντρῳ ἐπισπέρχων ὡς οὐκ ἀΐοντι ἐοικώς.
ὅσσα δὲ δίσκου οὖρα κατωμαδίοιο πέλονται,
ὅν τ’ αἰζηὸς ἀφῆκεν ἀνὴρ πειρώμενος ἥβης,
τόσσον ἐπιδραμέτην· αἱ δ’ ἠρώησαν ὀπίσσω
Ἀτρεΐδεω· αὐτὸς γὰρ ἑκὼν μεθέηκεν ἐλαύνειν,
μή πως συγκύρσειαν ὁδῷ ἔνι μώνυχες ἵπποι,
δίφρους τ’ ἀνστρέψειαν ἐϋπλεκέας, κατὰ δ’ αὐτοὶ
ἐν κονίῃσι πέσοιεν ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης.
τὸν καὶ νεικείων προσέφη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος·
«Ἀντίλοχ’, οὔ τις σεῖο βροτῶν ὀλοώτερος ἄλλος·
ἔῤῥ’, ἐπεὶ οὔ σ’ ἔτυμόν γε φάμεν πεπνῦσθαι Ἀχαιοί.
ἀλλ’ οὐ μὰν οὐδ’ ὧς ἄτερ ὅρκου οἴσῃ ἄεθλον.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο φώνησέν τε·
«μή μοι ἐρύκεσθον μὴ δ’ ἕστατον ἀχνυμένω κῆρ.
φθήσονται τούτοισι πόδες καὶ γοῦνα καμόντα
ἢ ὑμῖν· ἄμφω γὰρ ἀτέμβονται νεότητος.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δὲ ἄνακτος ὑποδείσαντες ὁμοκλὴν
μᾶλλον ἐπιδραμέτην, τάχα δέ σφισιν ἄγχι γένοντο.

Ἀργεῖοι δ’ ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσορόωντο
ἵππους· τοὶ δὲ πέτοντο κονίοντες πεδίοιο.
πρῶτος δ’ Ἰδομενεὺς Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἐφράσαθ’ ἵππους·
ἧστο γὰρ ἐκτὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρτατος ἐν περιωπῇ·
τοῖο δ’ ἄνευθεν ἐόντος ὁμοκλητῆρος ἀκούσας
ἔγνω, φράσσατο δ’ ἵππον ἀριπρεπέα προὔχοντα,
ὃς τὸ μὲν ἄλλο τόσον φοῖνιξ ἦν, ἐν δὲ μετώπῳ
λευκὸν σῆμα τέτυκτο περίτροχον ἠΰτε μήνη.
στῆ δ’ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«ὦ φίλοι, Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
οἶος ἐγὼν ἵππους αὐγάζομαι ἦε καὶ ὑμεῖς;
ἄλλοι μοι δοκέουσι παροίτεροι ἔμμεναι ἵπποι,
ἄλλος δ’ ἡνίοχος ἰνδάλλεται· αἱ δέ που αὐτοῦ
ἔβλαβεν ἐν πεδίῳ, αἳ κεῖσέ γε φέρτεραι ἦσαν·
ἤτοι γὰρ τὰς πρῶτα ἴδον περὶ τέρμα βαλούσας,
νῦν δ’ οὔ πῃ δύναμαι ἰδέειν· πάντῃ δέ μοι ὄσσε
Τρωϊκὸν ἂμ πεδίον παπταίνετον εἰσορόωντι·
ἦε τὸν ἡνίοχον φύγον ἡνία, οὐδὲ δυνάσθη
εὖ σχεθέειν περὶ τέρμα καὶ οὐκ ἐτύχησεν ἑλίξας·
ἔνθά μιν ἐκπεσέειν ὀΐω σύν θ’ ἅρματα ἆξαι,
αἱ δ’ ἐξηρώησαν, ἐπεὶ μένος ἔλλαβε θυμόν.
ἀλλὰ ἴδεσθε καὶ ὔμμες ἀνασταδόν· οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε
εὖ διαγιγνώσκω· δοκέει δέ μοι ἔμμεναι ἀνὴρ
Αἰτωλὸς γενεήν, μετὰ δ’ Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάσσει,
Τυδέος ἱπποδάμου υἱός, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.»
Τὸν δ’ αἰσχρῶς ἐνένιπεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας·
«Ἰδομενεῦ, τί πάρος λαβρεύεαι; αἱ δέ τ’ ἄνευθεν
ἵπποι ἀερσίποδες πολέος πεδίοιο δίενται.
οὔτε νεώτατός ἐσσι μετ’ Ἀργείοισι τοσοῦτον,

οὔτέ τοι ὀξύτατον κεφαλῆς ἐκδέρκεται ὄσσε·
ἀλλ’ αἰεὶ μύθοις λαβρεύεαι· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
λαβραγόρην ἔμεναι· πάρα γὰρ καὶ ἀμείνονες ἄλλοι.
ἵπποι δ’ αὐταὶ ἔασι παροίτεραι, αἳ τὸ πάρος περ,
Εὐμήλου, ἐν δ’ αὐτὸς ἔχων εὔληρα βέβηκε.»
Τὸν δὲ χολωσάμενος Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«Αἶαν, νεῖκος ἄριστε, κακοφραδὲς ἄλλά τε πάντα
δεύεαι Ἀργείων, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής.
δεῦρό νυν, ἢ τρίποδος περιδώμεθον ἠὲ λέβητος,
ἴστορα δ’ Ἀτρεΐδην Ἀγαμέμνονα θείομεν ἄμφω,
ὁππότεραι πρόσθ’ ἵπποι, ἵνα γνώῃς ἀποτίνων.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, ὄρνυτο δ’ αὐτίκ’ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας
χωόμενος χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείψασθαι ἐπέεσσι·
καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτ’ ἔρις γένετ’ ἀμφοτέροισιν,
εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον·
«μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν,
Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε, κακοῖς, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.
καὶ δ’ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον, ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.
ἀλλ’ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε
ἵππους· οἱ δὲ τάχ’ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης
ἐνθάδ’ ἐλεύσονται· τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος
ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἱ τε πάροιθεν.»
Ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,
μάστι δ’ αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν· οἱ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
ὑψόσ’ ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.
αἰεὶ δ’ ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,
ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε

ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον· οὐδέ τι πολλὴ
γίγνετ’ ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν
ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ· τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.
στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι, πολὺς δ’ ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς
ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.
αὐτὸς δ’ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,
κλῖνε δ’ ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν· οὐδὲ μάτησεν
ἴφθιμος Σθένελος, ἀλλ’ ἐσσυμένως λάβ’ ἄεθλον,
δῶκε δ’ ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα
καὶ τρίποδ’ ὠτώεντα φέρειν· ὃ δ’ ἔλυεν ὑφ’ ἵππους.
Τῷ δ’ ἄρ’ ἐπ’ Ἀντίλοχος Νηλήϊος ἤλασεν ἵππους,
κέρδεσιν, οὔ τι τάχει γε, παραφθάμενος Μενέλαον·
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς Μενέλαος ἔχ’ ἐγγύθεν ὠκέας ἵππους.
ὅσσον δὲ τροχοῦ ἵππος ἀφίσταται, ὅς ῥα ἄνακτα
ἕλκῃσιν πεδίοιο τιταινόμενος σὺν ὄχεσφι·
τοῦ μέν τε ψαύουσιν ἐπισσώτρου τρίχες ἄκραι
οὐραῖαι· ὁ δέ τ’ ἄγχι μάλα τρέχει, οὐδέ τι πολλὴ
χώρη μεσσηγὺς πολέος πεδίοιο θέοντος·
τόσσον δὴ Μενέλαος ἀμύμονος Ἀντιλόχοιο
λείπετ’· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα καὶ ἐς δίσκουρα λέλειπτο,
ἀλλά μιν αἶψα κίχανεν· ὀφέλλετο γὰρ μένος ἠῢ
ἵππου τῆς Ἀγαμεμνονέης, καλλίτριχος Αἴθης·
εἰ δέ κ’ ἔτι προτέρω γένετο δρόμος ἀμφοτέροισι,
τώ κέν μιν παρέλασσ’ οὐδ’ ἀμφήριστον ἔθηκεν.
αὐτὰρ Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος,
λείπετ’ ἀγακλῆος Μενελάου δουρὸς ἐρωήν·
βάρδιστοι μὲν γάρ οἱ ἔσαν καλλίτριχες ἵπποι,
ἤκιστος δ’ ἦν αὐτὸς ἐλαυνέμεν ἅρμ’ ἐν ἀγῶνι.
υἱὸς δ’ Ἀδμήτοιο πανύστατος ἤλυθεν ἄλλων
ἕλκων ἅρματα καλὰ ἐλαύνων πρόσσοθεν ἵππους.
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,

στὰς δ’ ἄρ’ ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντ’ ἀγόρευε·
«λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους·
ἀλλ’ ἄγε δή οἱ δῶμεν ἀέθλιον ὡς ἐπιεικές,
δεύτερ’· ἀτὰρ τὰ πρῶτα φερέσθω Τυδέος υἱός.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἐπῄνεον ὡς ἐκέλευε.
καί νύ κέ οἱ πόρεν ἵππον, ἐπῄνησαν γὰρ Ἀχαιοί,
εἰ μὴ ἄρ’ Ἀντίλοχος μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς
Πηλεΐδην Ἀχιλῆα δίκῃ ἠμείψατ’ ἀναστάς·
«ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ, μάλα τοι κεχολώσομαι, αἴ κε τελέσσῃς
τοῦτο ἔπος· μέλλεις γὰρ ἀφαιρήσεσθαι ἄεθλον,
τὰ φρονέων ὅτι οἱ βλάβεν ἅρματα καὶ ταχέ’ ἵππω
αὐτός τ’ ἐσθλὸς ἐών· ἀλλ’ ὤφελεν ἀθανάτοισιν
εὔχεσθαι· τό κεν οὔ τι πανύστατος ἦλθε διώκων.
εἰ δέ μιν οἰκτίρεις καί τοι φίλος ἔπλετο θυμῷ,
ἔστί τοι ἐν κλισίῃ χρυσὸς πολύς, ἔστι δὲ χαλκὸς
καὶ πρόβατ’, εἰσὶ δέ τοι δμῳαὶ καὶ μώνυχες ἵπποι·
τῶν οἱ ἔπειτ’ ἀνελὼν δόμεναι καὶ μεῖζον ἄεθλον,
ἠὲ καὶ αὐτίκα νῦν, ἵνα σ’ αἰνήσωσιν Ἀχαιοί.
τὴν δ’ ἐγὼ οὐ δώσω· περὶ δ’ αὐτῆς πειρηθήτω
ἀνδρῶν ὅς κ’ ἐθέλῃσιν ἐμοὶ χείρεσσι μάχεσθαι.»
Ὣς φάτο, μείδησεν δὲ ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς
χαίρων Ἀντιλόχῳ, ὅτι οἱ φίλος ἦεν ἑταῖρος·
καί μιν ἀμειβόμενος ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Ἀντίλοχ’, εἰ μὲν δή με κελεύεις οἴκοθεν ἄλλο
Εὐμήλῳ ἐπιδοῦναι, ἐγὼ δέ κε καὶ τὸ τελέσσω.
δώσω οἱ θώρηκα, τὸν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων,
χάλκεον, ᾧ πέρι χεῦμα φαεινοῦ κασσιτέροιο

ἀμφιδεδίνηται· πολέος δέ οἱ ἄξιος ἔσται.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ Αὐτομέδοντι φίλῳ ἐκέλευσεν ἑταίρῳ
οἰσέμεναι κλισίηθεν· ὃ δ’ ᾤχετο καί οἱ ἔνεικεν,
Εὐμήλῳ δ’ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὃ δὲ δέξατο χαίρων.
Τοῖσι δὲ καὶ Μενέλαος ἀνίστατο θυμὸν ἀχεύων,
Ἀντιλόχῳ ἄμοτον κεχολωμένος· ἐν δ’ ἄρα κῆρυξ
χειρὶ σκῆπτρον ἔθηκε, σιωπῆσαί τε κέλευσεν
Ἀργείους· ὁ δ’ ἔπειτα μετηύδα ἰσόθεος φώς·
«Ἀντίλοχε, πρόσθεν πεπνυμένε, ποῖον ἔρεξας.
ᾔσχυνας μὲν ἐμὴν ἀρετήν, βλάψας δέ μοι ἵππους,
τοὺς σοὺς πρόσθε βαλών, οἵ τοι πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν.
ἀλλ’ ἄγετ’, Ἀργείων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες,
ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέροισι δικάσσατε, μὴ δ’ ἐπ’ ἀρωγῇ,
μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσιν Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων·
“Ἀντίλοχον ψεύδεσσι βιησάμενος Μενέλαος
οἴχεται ἵππον ἄγων, ὅτι οἱ πολὺ χείρονες ἦσαν
ἵπποι, αὐτὸς δὲ κρείσσων ἀρετῇ τε βίῃ τε.”
εἰ δ’ ἄγ’ ἐγὼν αὐτὸς δικάσω, καί μ’ οὔ τινά φημι
ἄλλον ἐπιπλήξειν Δαναῶν· ἰθεῖα γὰρ ἔσται.
Ἀντίλοχ’, εἰ δ’ ἄγε δεῦρο, διοτρεφές, ἣ θέμις ἐστί,
στὰς ἵππων προπάροιθε καὶ ἅρματος, αὐτὰρ ἱμάσθλην
χερσὶν ἔχε ῥαδινήν, ᾗ περ τὸ πρόσθεν ἔλαυνες,
ἵππων ἁψάμενος γαιήοχον ἐννοσίγαιον
ὄμνυθι μὴ μὲν ἑκὼν τὸ ἐμὸν δόλῳ ἅρμα πεδῆσαι.»
Τὸν δ’ αὖτ’ Ἀντίλοχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·
«ἄνσχεο νῦν· πολλὸν γὰρ ἔγωγε νεώτερός εἰμι
σεῖο, ἄναξ Μενέλαε, σὺ δὲ πρότερος καὶ ἀρείων.
οἶσθ’ οἷαι νέου ἀνδρὸς ὑπερβασίαι τελέθουσι·
κραιπνότερος μὲν γάρ τε νόος, λεπτὴ δέ τε μῆτις.

τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη· ἵππον δέ τοι αὐτὸς
δώσω, τὴν ἀρόμην. εἰ καί νύ κεν οἴκοθεν ἄλλο
μεῖζον ἐπαιτήσειας, ἄφαρ κέ τοι αὐτίκα δοῦναι
βουλοίμην ἢ σοί γε, διοτρεφὲς ἤματα πάντα
ἐκ θυμοῦ πεσέειν καὶ δαίμοσιν εἶναι ἀλιτρός.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἵππον ἄγων μεγαθύμου Νέστορος υἱὸς
ἐν χείρεσσι τίθει Μενελάου· τοῖο δὲ θυμὸς
ἰάνθη ὡς εἴ τε περὶ σταχύεσσιν ἐέρση
ληΐου ἀλδήσκοντος, ὅτε φρίσσουσιν ἄρουραι·
ὣς ἄρα σοὶ Μενέλαε μετὰ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«Ἀντίλοχε, νῦν μέν τοι ἐγὼν ὑποείξομαι αὐτὸς
χωόμενος, ἐπεὶ οὔ τι παρήορος οὐδ’ ἀεσίφρων
ἦσθα πάρος· νῦν αὖτε νόον νίκησε νεοίη.
δεύτερον αὖτ’ ἀλέασθαι ἀμείνονας ἠπεροπεύειν.
οὐ γάρ κέν με τάχ’ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ παρέπεισεν Ἀχαιῶν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ γὰρ δὴ πολλὰ πάθες καὶ πολλ’ ἐμόγησας,
σός τε πατὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ ἀδελφεὸς εἵνεκ’ ἐμεῖο·
τώ τοι λισσομένῳ ἐπιπείσομαι, ἠδὲ καὶ ἵππον
δώσω ἐμήν περ ἐοῦσαν, ἵνα γνώωσι καὶ οἷδε
ὡς ἐμὸς οὔ ποτε θυμὸς ὑπερφίαλος καὶ ἀπηνής.»
Ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἀντιλόχοιο Νοήμονι δῶκεν ἑταίρῳ
ἵππον ἄγειν· ὁ δ’ ἔπειτα λέβηθ’ ἕλε παμφανόωντα.
Μηριόνης δ’ ἀνάειρε δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα
τέτρατος, ὡς ἔλασεν. πέμπτον δ’ ὑπελείπετ’ ἄεθλον,
ἀμφίθετος φιάλη· τὴν Νέστορι δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεὺς
Ἀργείων ἀν’ ἀγῶνα φέρων, καὶ ἔειπε παραστάς·
«τῆ νῦν, καὶ σοὶ τοῦτο γέρον κειμήλιον ἔστω,
Πατρόκλοιο τάφου μνῆμ’ ἔμμεναι· οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ αὐτὸν
ὄψῃ ἐν Ἀργείοισι· δίδωμι δέ τοι τόδ’ ἄεθλον
αὔτως· οὐ γὰρ πύξ γε μαχήσεαι, οὐδὲ παλαίσεις,

οὐδ’ ἔτ’ ἀκοντιστὺν ἐσδύσεαι, οὐδὲ πόδεσσι
θεύσεαι· ἤδη γὰρ χαλεπὸν κατὰ γῆρας ἐπείγει.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει· ὁ δ’ ἐδέξατο χαίρων,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·
«ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα, τέκος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες·
οὐ γὰρ ἔτ’ ἔμπεδα γυῖα, φίλος πόδες, οὐδέ τι χεῖρες
ὤμων ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐπαΐσσονται ἐλαφραί.
εἴθ’ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη
ὡς ὁπότε κρείοντ’ Ἀμαρυγκέα θάπτον Ἐπειοὶ
Βουπρασίῳ, παῖδες δ’ ἔθεσαν βασιλῆος ἄεθλα·
ἔνθ’ οὔ τίς μοι ὁμοῖος ἀνὴρ γένετ’, οὔτ’ ἄρ’ Ἐπειῶν
οὔτ’ αὐτῶν Πυλίων οὔτ’ Αἰτωλῶν μεγαθύμων.
πὺξ μὲν ἐνίκησα Κλυτομήδεα, Ἤνοπος υἱόν,
Ἀγκαῖον δὲ πάλῃ Πλευρώνιον, ὅς μοι ἀνέστη·
Ἴφικλον δὲ πόδεσσι παρέδραμον ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα,
δουρὶ δ’ ὑπειρέβαλον Φυλῆά τε καὶ Πολύδωρον.
οἴοισίν μ’ ἵπποισι παρήλασαν Ἀκτορίωνε,
πλήθει πρόσθε βαλόντες, ἀγασσάμενοι περὶ νίκης,
οὕνεκα δὴ τὰ μέγιστα παρ’ αὐτόθι λείπετ’ ἄεθλα.
οἳ δ’ ἄρ’ ἔσαν δίδυμοι· ὁ μὲν ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευεν,
ἔμπεδον ἡνιόχευ’, ὁ δ’ ἄρα μάστιγι κέλευεν.
ὥς ποτ’ ἔον· νῦν αὖτε νεώτεροι ἀντιοώντων
ἔργων τοιούτων· ἐμὲ δὲ χρὴ γήραϊ λυγρῷ
πείθεσθαι, τότε δ’ αὖτε μετέπρεπον ἡρώεσσιν.
ἀλλ’ ἴθι καὶ σὸν ἑταῖρον ἀέθλοισι κτερέϊζε.
τοῦτο δ’ ἐγὼ πρόφρων δέχομαι, χαίρει δέ μοι ἦτορ,
ὥς μευ ἀεὶ μέμνησαι ἐνηέος, οὐδέ σε λήθω

τιμῆς ἧς τέ μ’ ἔοικε τετιμῆσθαι μετ’ Ἀχαιοῖς.
σοὶ δὲ θεοὶ τῶνδ’ ἀντὶ χάριν μενοεικέα δοῖεν.»
Ὣς φάτο, Πηλεΐδης δὲ πολὺν καθ’ ὅμιλον Ἀχαιῶν
ᾤχετ’, ἐπεὶ πάντ’ αἶνον ἐπέκλυε Νηλεΐδαο.
αὐτὰρ ὃ πυγμαχίης ἀλεγεινῆς θῆκεν ἄεθλα·
ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κατέδησ’ ἐν ἀγῶνι
ἑξέτε’ ἀδμήτην, ἥ τ’ ἀλγίστη δαμάσασθαι·
τῷ δ’ ἄρα νικηθέντι τίθει δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.
στῆ δ’ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«Ἀτρεΐδη τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,
ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,
πὺξ μάλ’ ἀνασχομένω πεπληγέμεν· ᾧ δέ κ’ Ἀπόλλων
δώῃ καμμονίην, γνώωσι δὲ πάντες Ἀχαιοί,
ἡμίονον ταλαεργὸν ἄγων κλισίην δὲ νεέσθω·
αὐτὰρ ὁ νικηθεὶς δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, ὄρνυτο δ’ αὐτίκ’ ἀνὴρ ἠΰς τε μέγας τε
εἰδὼς πυγμαχίης, υἱὸς Πανοπῆος Ἐπειός,
ἅψατο δ’ ἡμιόνου ταλαεργοῦ φώνησέν τε·
«ἆσσον ἴτω ὅς τις δέπας οἴσεται ἀμφικύπελλον·
ἡμίονον δ’ οὔ φημί τιν’ ἀξέμεν ἄλλον Ἀχαιῶν
πυγμῇ νικήσαντ’, ἐπεὶ εὔχομαι εἶναι ἄριστος.
ἦ οὐχ ἅλις ὅττι μάχης ἐπιδεύομαι; οὐδ’ ἄρα πως ἦν
ἐν πάντεσσ’ ἔργοισι δαήμονα φῶτα γενέσθαι.
ὧδε γὰρ ἐξερέω, τὸ δὲ καὶ τετελεσμένον ἔσται·
ἀντικρὺ χρόα τε ῥήξω σύν τ’ ὀστέ’ ἀράξω.
κηδεμόνες δέ οἱ ἐνθάδ’ ἀολλέες αὖθι μενόντων,
οἵ κέ μιν ἐξοίσουσιν ἐμῇς ὑπὸ χερσὶ δαμέντα.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπῇ.
Εὐρύαλος δέ οἱ οἶος ἀνίστατο, ἰσόθεος φώς,

Μηκιστῆος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος,
ὅς ποτε Θήβας δ’ ἦλθε δεδουπότος Οἰδιπόδαο
ἐς τάφον· ἔνθα δὲ πάντας ἐνίκα Καδμείωνας.
τὸν μὲν Τυδεΐδης δουρὶ κλυτὸς ἀμφεπονεῖτο
θαρσύνων ἔπεσιν, μέγα δ’ αὐτῷ βούλετο νίκην.
ζῶμα δέ οἱ πρῶτον παρακάββαλεν, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
δῶκεν ἱμάντας ἐϋτμήτους βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο.
τὼ δὲ ζωσαμένω βήτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,
ἄντα δ’ ἀνασχομένω χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν ἅμ’ ἄμφω
σύν ῥ’ ἔπεσον, σὺν δέ σφι βαρεῖαι χεῖρες ἔμιχθεν.
δεινὸς δὲ χρόμαδος γενύων γένετ’, ἔρρεε δ’ ἱδρὼς
πάντοθεν ἐκ μελέων· ἐπὶ δ’ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ἐπειός,
κόψε δὲ παπτήναντα παρήϊον· οὐδ’ ἄρ’ ἔτι δὴν
ἑστήκειν· αὐτοῦ γὰρ ὑπήριπε φαίδιμα γυῖα.
ὡς δ’ ὅθ’ ὑπὸ φρικὸς Βορέω ἀναπάλλεται ἰχθὺς
θίν’ ἐν φυκιόεντι, μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν,
ὣς πληγεὶς ἀνέπαλτ’· αὐτὰρ μεγάθυμος Ἐπειὸς
χερσὶ λαβὼν ὤρθωσε· φίλοι δ’ ἀμφέσταν ἑταῖροι,
οἵ μιν ἄγον δι’ ἀγῶνος ἐφελκομένοισι πόδεσσιν
αἷμα παχὺ πτύοντα, κάρη βάλλονθ’ ἑτέρωσε·
κὰδ δ’ ἀλλοφρονέοντα μετὰ σφίσιν εἷσαν ἄγοντες,
αὐτοὶ δ’ οἰχόμενοι κόμισαν δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον.
Πηλεΐδης δ’ αἶψ’ ἄλλα κατὰ τρίτα θῆκεν ἄεθλα,
δεικνύμενος Δαναοῖσι, παλαισμοσύνης ἀλεγεινῆς,
τῷ μὲν νικήσαντι μέγαν τρίποδ’ ἐμπυριβήτην,
τὸν δὲ δυωδεκάβοιον ἐνὶ σφίσι τῖον Ἀχαιοί·
ἀνδρὶ δὲ νικηθέντι γυναῖκ’ ἐς μέσσον ἔθηκε,
πολλὰ δ’ ἐπίστατο ἔργα, τίον δέ ἑ τεσσαράβοιον.
στῆ δ’ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·

«ὄρνυσθ’ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθον.»
ὣς ἔφατ’, ὦρτο δ’ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
ἂν δ’ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις ἀνίστατο κέρδεα εἰδώς.
ζωσαμένω δ’ ἄρα τώ γε βάτην ἐς μέσσον ἀγῶνα,
ἀγκὰς δ’ ἀλλήλων λαβέτην χερσὶ στιβαρῇσιν
ὡς ὅτ’ ἀμείβοντες, τούς τε κλυτὸς ἤραρε τέκτων
δώματος ὑψηλοῖο, βίας ἀνέμων ἀλεείνων.
τετρίγει δ’ ἄρα νῶτα θρασειάων ἀπὸ χειρῶν
ἑλκόμενα στερεῶς· κατὰ δὲ νότιος ῥέεν ἱδρώς,
πυκναὶ δὲ σμώδιγγες ἀνὰ πλευράς τε καὶ ὤμους
αἵματι φοινικόεσσαι ἀνέδραμον· οἳ δὲ μάλ’ αἰεὶ
νίκης ἱέσθην τρίποδος πέρι ποιητοῖο·
οὔτ’ Ὀδυσεὺς δύνατο σφῆλαι οὔδει τε πελάσσαι,
οὔτ’ Αἴας δύνατο, κρατερὴ δ’ ἔχεν ἲς Ὀδυσῆος.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δή ῥ’ ἀνίαζον ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιούς,
δὴ τότε μιν προσέειπε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας·
«διογενὲς Λαερτιάδη, πολυμήχαν’ Ὀδυσσεῦ,
ἤ μ’ ἀνάειρ’, ἢ ἐγὼ σέ· τὰ δ’ αὖ Διὶ πάντα μελήσει.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἀνάειρε· δόλου δ’ οὐ λήθετ’ Ὀδυσσεύς·
κόψ’ ὄπιθεν κώληπα τυχών, ὑπέλυσε δὲ γυῖα,
κὰδ δ’ ἔβαλ’ ἐξοπίσω· ἐπὶ δὲ στήθεσσιν Ὀδυσσεὺς
κάππεσε· λαοὶ δ’ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.
δεύτερος αὖτ’ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
κίνησεν δ’ ἄρα τυτθὸν ἀπὸ χθονός, οὐδ’ ἔτ’ ἄειρεν,
ἐν δὲ γόνυ γνάμψεν· ἐπὶ δὲ χθονὶ κάππεσον ἄμφω
πλησίοι ἀλλήλοισι, μιάνθησαν δὲ κονίῃ.
καί νύ κε τὸ τρίτον αὖτις ἀναΐξαντ’ ἐπάλαιον,
εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ κατέρυκε·
«μηκέτ’ ἐρείδεσθον, μὴ δὲ τρίβεσθε κακοῖσι·
νίκη δ’ ἀμφοτέροισιν· ἀέθλια δ’ ἶσ’ ἀνελόντες
ἔρχεσθ’, ὄφρα καὶ ἄλλοι ἀεθλεύωσιν Ἀχαιοί.»

Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἱ δ’ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδὲ πίθοντο,
καί ῥ’ ἀπομορξαμένω κονίην δύσαντο χιτῶνας.
Πηλεΐδης δ’ αἶψ’ ἄλλα τίθει ταχυτῆτος ἄεθλα,
ἀργύρεον κρητῆρα, τετυγμένον· ἓξ δ’ ἄρα μέτρα
χάνδανεν, αὐτὰρ κάλλει ἐνίκα πᾶσαν ἐπ’ αἶαν
πολλόν, ἐπεὶ Σιδόνες πολυδαίδαλοι εὖ ἤσκησαν,
Φοίνικες δ’ ἄγον ἄνδρες ἐπ’ ἠεροειδέα πόντον,
στῆσαν δ’ ἐν λιμένεσσι, Θόαντι δὲ δῶρον ἔδωκαν·
υἷος δὲ Πριάμοιο Λυκάονος ὦνον ἔδωκε
Πατρόκλῳ ἥρωϊ Ἰησονίδης Εὔνηος.
καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλεὺς θῆκεν ἄεθλον οὗ ἑτάροιο,
ὅς τις ἐλαφρότατος ποσσὶ κραιπνοῖσι πέλοιτο·
δευτέρῳ αὖ βοῦν θῆκε μέγαν καὶ πίονα δημῷ,
ἡμιτάλαντον δὲ χρυσοῦ λοισθήϊ’ ἔθηκε.
στῆ δ’ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«ὄρνυσθ’ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.»
ὣς ἔφατ’, ὄρνυτο δ’ αὐτίκ’ Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας,
ἂν δ’ Ὀδυσεὺς πολύμητις, ἔπειτα δὲ Νέστορος υἱὸς
Ἀντίλοχος· ὁ γὰρ αὖτε νέους ποσὶ πάντας ἐνίκα.
στὰν δὲ μεταστοιχί· σήμηνε δὲ τέρματ’ Ἀχιλλεύς.
τοῖσι δ’ ἀπὸ νύσσης τέτατο δρόμος· ὦκα δ’ ἔπειτα
ἔκφερ’ Ὀϊλιάδης· ἐπὶ δ’ ὄρνυτο δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἄγχι μάλ’, ὡς ὅτε τίς τε γυναικὸς ἐϋζώνοιο
στήθεός ἐστι κανών, ὅν τ’ εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ
πηνίον ἐξέλκουσα παρὲκ μίτον, ἀγχόθι δ’ ἴσχει
στήθεος· ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς θέεν ἐγγύθεν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν
ἴχνια τύπτε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι·
κὰδ δ’ ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆς χέ’ ἀϋτμένα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
αἰεὶ ῥίμφα θέων· ἴαχον δ’ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ
νίκης ἱεμένῳ, μάλα δὲ σπεύδοντι κέλευον.

ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον, αὐτίκ’ Ὀδυσσεὺς
εὔχετ’ Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·
«κλῦθι, θεά, ἀγαθή μοι ἐπίρροθος ἐλθὲ ποδοῖιν.»
ὣς ἔφατ’ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δ’ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
γυῖα δ’ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ τάχ’ ἔμελλον ἐπαΐξασθαι ἄεθλον,
ἔνθ’ Αἴας μὲν ὄλισθε θέων—βλάψεν γὰρ Ἀθήνη—
τῇ ῥα βοῶν κέχυτ’ ὄνθος ἀποκταμένων ἐριμύκων,
οὓς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πέφνεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
ἐν δ’ ὄνθου βοέου πλῆτο στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε·
κρητῆρ’ αὖτ’ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
ὡς ἦλθε φθάμενος· ὁ δὲ βοῦν ἕλε φαίδιμος Αἴας.
στῆ δὲ κέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο,
ὄνθον ἀποπτύων, μετὰ δ’ Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«ὢ πόποι, ἦ μ’ ἔβλαψε θεὰ πόδας, ἣ τὸ πάρος περ
μήτηρ ὣς Ὀδυσῆϊ παρίσταται ἠδ’ ἐπαρήγει.»
Ὣς ἔφαθ’, οἳ δ’ ἄρα πάντες ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.
Ἀντίλοχος δ’ ἄρα δὴ λοισθήϊον ἔκφερ’ ἄεθλον
μειδιόων, καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«εἰδόσιν ὔμμ’ ἐρέω πᾶσιν, φίλοι, ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν
ἀθάνατοι τιμῶσι παλαιοτέρους ἀνθρώπους.
Αἴας μὲν γὰρ ἐμεῖ’ ὀλίγον προγενέστερός ἐστιν,
οὗτος δὲ προτέρης γενεῆς προτέρων τ’ ἀνθρώπων·
ὠμογέροντα δέ μίν φασ’ ἔμμεναι· ἀργαλέον δὲ
ποσσὶν ἐριδήσασθαι Ἀχαιοῖς, εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεῖ.»
Ὣς φάτο, κύδηνεν δὲ ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.
τὸν δ’ Ἀχιλεὺς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
«Ἀντίλοχ’ οὐ μέν τοι μέλεος εἰρήσεται αἶνος,
ἀλλά τοι ἡμιτάλαντον ἐγὼ χρυσοῦ ἐπιθήσω.»
Ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δ’ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.
αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος

θῆκ’ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων, κατὰ δ’ ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν,
τεύχεα Σαρπήδοντος, ἅ μιν Πάτροκλος ἀπηύρα.
στῆ δ’ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,
τεύχεα ἑσσαμένω, ταμεσίχροα χαλκὸν ἑλόντε,
ἀλλήλων προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου πειρηθῆναι.
ὁππότερός κε φθῇσιν ὀρεξάμενος χρόα καλόν,
ψαύσῃ δ’ ἐνδίνων διά τ’ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,
τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ δώσω τόδε φάσγανον ἀργυρόηλον
καλὸν Θρηΐκιον, τὸ μὲν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων·
τεύχεα δ’ ἀμφότεροι ξυνήϊα ταῦτα φερέσθων·
καί σφιν δαῖτ’ ἀγαθὴν παραθήσομεν ἐν κλισίῃσιν.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, ὦρτο δ’ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
ἂν δ’ ἄρα Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.
οἱ δ’ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,
ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι,
δεινὸν δερκομένω· θάμβος δ’ ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν.
ἔνθ’ Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατ’ ἀσπίδα πάντοσ’ ἐΐσην
νύξ’, οὐδὲ χρό’ ἵκανεν· ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ·
Τυδεΐδης δ’ ἄρ’ ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο
αἰὲν ἐπ’ αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.
καὶ τότε δή ῥ’ Αἴαντι περιδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ
παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν ἀέθλια ἶσ’ ἀνελέσθαι.
αὐτὰρ Τυδεΐδῃ δῶκεν μέγα φάσγανον ἥρως
σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι.

Αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης θῆκεν σόλον αὐτοχόωνον,
ὃν πρὶν μὲν ῥίπτασκε μέγα σθένος Ἠετίωνος·
ἀλλ’ ἤτοι τὸν ἔπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
τὸν δ’ ἄγετ’ ἐν νήεσσι σὺν ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσι.
στῆ δ’ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
«ὄρνυσθ’ οἳ καὶ τούτου ἀέθλου πειρήσεσθε.
εἴ οἱ καὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπόπροθι πίονες ἀγροί,
ἕξει μιν καὶ πέντε περιπλομένους ἐνιαυτοὺς
χρεώμενος· οὐ μὲν γάρ οἱ ἀτεμβόμενός γε σιδήρου
ποιμὴν οὐδ’ ἀροτὴρ εἶσ’ ἐς πόλιν, ἀλλὰ παρέξει.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, ὦρτο δ’ ἔπειτα μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,
ἂν δὲ Λεοντῆος κρατερὸν μένος ἀντιθέοιο,
ἂν δ’ Αἴας Τελαμωνιάδης καὶ δῖος Ἐπειός.
ἑξείης δ’ ἵσταντο, σόλον δ’ ἕλε δῖος Ἐπειός,
ἧκε δὲ δινήσας· γέλασαν δ’ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοί.
δεύτερος αὖτ’ ἀφέηκε Λεοντεύς, ὄζος Ἄρηος·
τὸ τρίτον αὖτ’ ἔῤῥιψε μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
χειρὸς ἄπο στιβαρῆς, καὶ ὑπέρβαλε σήματα πάντων.
ἀλλ’ ὅτε δὴ σόλον εἷλε μενεπτόλεμος Πολυποίτης,
ὅσσόν τίς τ’ ἔῤῥιψε καλαύροπα βουκόλος ἀνήρ,
ἡ δέ θ’ ἑλισσομένη πέτεται διὰ βοῦς ἀγελαίας,
τόσσον παντὸς ἀγῶνος ὑπέρβαλε· τοὶ δὲ βόησαν.
ἀνστάντες δ’ ἕταροι Πολυποίταο κρατεροῖο
νῆας ἔπι γλαφυρὰς ἔφερον βασιλῆος ἄεθλον.
Αὐτὰρ ὁ τοξευτῇσι τίθει ἰόεντα σίδηρον,
κὰδ δ’ ἐτίθει δέκα μὲν πελέκεας, δέκα δ’ ἡμιπέλεκκα,
ἱστὸν δ’ ἔστησεν νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
τηλοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ἐκ δὲ τρήρωνα πέλειαν
λεπτῇ μηρίνθῳ δῆσεν ποδός, ἧς ἄρ’ ἀνώγει
τοξεύειν· «ὃς μέν κε βάλῃ τρήρωνα πέλειαν,

πάντας ἀειράμενος πελέκεας οἶκον δὲ φερέσθω·
ὃς δέ κε μηρίνθοιο τύχῃ, ὄρνιθος ἁμαρτών,
ἥσσων γὰρ δὴ κεῖνος, ὃ δ’ οἴσεται ἡμιπέλεκκα.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, ὦρτο δ’ ἔπειτα βίη Τεύκροιο ἄνακτος,
ἂν δ’ ἄρα Μηριόνης θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.
κλήρους δ’ ἐν κυνέῃ χαλκήρεϊ πάλλον ἑλόντες,
Τεῦκρος δὲ πρῶτος κλήρῳ λάχεν· αὐτίκα δ’ ἰὸν
ἧκεν ἐπικρατέως, οὐδ’ ἠπείλησεν ἄνακτι
ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.
ὄρνιθος μὲν ἅμαρτε· μέγηρε γάρ οἱ τό γ’ Ἀπόλλων·
αὐτὰρ ὁ μήρινθον βάλε πὰρ πόδα, τῇ δέδετ’ ὄρνις·
ἀντικρὺ δ’ ἀπὸ μήρινθον τάμε πικρὸς ὀϊστός.
ἡ μὲν ἔπειτ’ ἤϊξε πρὸς οὐρανόν, ἣ δὲ παρείθη
μήρινθος ποτὶ γαῖαν· ἀτὰρ κελάδησαν Ἀχαιοί.
σπερχόμενος δ’ ἄρα Μηριόνης ἐξείρυσε χειρὸς
τόξον· ἀτὰρ δὴ ὀϊστὸν ἔχεν πάλαι, ὡς ἴθυνεν.
αὐτίκα δ’ ἠπείλησεν ἑκηβόλῳ Ἀπόλλωνι
ἀρνῶν πρωτογόνων ῥέξειν κλειτὴν ἑκατόμβην.
ὕψι δ’ ὑπὸ νεφέων εἶδε τρήρωνα πέλειαν·
τῇ ῥ’ ὅ γε δινεύουσαν ὑπὸ πτέρυγος βάλε μέσσην,
ἀντικρὺ δὲ διῆλθε βέλος· τὸ μὲν ἂψ ἐπὶ γαίῃ
πρόσθεν Μηριόναο πάγη ποδός· αὐτὰρ ἡ ὄρνις
ἱστῷ ἐφεζομένη νηὸς κυανοπρῴροιο
αὐχέν’ ἀπεκρέμασεν, σὺν δὲ πτερὰ πυκνὰ λίασθεν.
ὠκὺς δ’ ἐκ μελέων θυμὸς πτάτο, τῆλε δ’ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ
κάππεσε· λαοὶ δ’ αὖ θηεῦντό τε θάμβησάν τε.

ἂν δ’ ἄρα Μηριόνης πελέκεας δέκα πάντας ἄειρε,
Τεῦκρος δ’ ἡμιπέλεκκα φέρεν κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας.
Αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος,
κὰδ δὲ λέβητ’ ἄπυρον βοὸς ἄξιον ἀνθεμόεντα
θῆκ’ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων· καί ῥ’ ἥμονες ἄνδρες ἀνέσταν·
ἂν μὲν ἄρ’ Ἀτρεΐδης εὐρὺ κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων,
ἂν δ’ ἄρα Μηριόνης, θεράπων ἐῢς Ἰδομενῆος.
τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς·
«Ἀτρεΐδη· ἴδμεν γὰρ ὅσον προβέβηκας ἁπάντων
ἠδ’ ὅσσον δυνάμει τε καὶ ἥμασιν ἔπλευ ἄριστος·
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν τόδ’ ἄεθλον ἔχων κοίλας ἐπὶ νῆας
ἔρχευ, ἀτὰρ δόρυ Μηριόνῃ ἥρωϊ πόρωμεν,
εἰ σύ γε σῷ θυμῷ ἐθέλοις· κέλομαι γὰρ ἔγωγε.»
Ὣς ἔφατ’, οὐδ’ ἀπίθησεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·
δῶκε δὲ Μηριόνῃ δόρυ χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ὅ γ’ ἥρως
Ταλθυβίῳ κήρυκι δίδου περικαλλὲς ἄεθλον.


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