# The Iliad, Book 19: The Renunciation of Wrath

Ἰλιάς · Homer · The Ransom of Hector

Achilles and Agamemnon make up. Briseis is returned. Achilles arms, and his horse Xanthus tells him he will die.

Source: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/19. Data: https://1732studios.com/books/iliad/19.json. Audio: https://audio.1732studios.com/iliad/<line id>.m4a.

**1** Ἠὼς μὲν κροκόπεπλος ἀπʼ Ὠκεανοῖο ῥοάων  
Saffron-robed Dawn rose from the streams of Oceanus
> Saffron-robed Dawn: κροκόπεπλος joins κρόκος, the saffron crocus and its dye, to πέπλος, a robe. This is a distinct Dawn epithet from Homer's rosy-fingered and early-born formulas, so the English keeps its color and clothing image distinct.

**2** ὄρνυθʼ, ἵνʼ ἀθανάτοισι φόως φέροι ἠδὲ βροτοῖσιν·  
to bring light to immortals and mortals alike;

**3** ἣ δʼ ἐς νῆας ἵκανε θεοῦ πάρα δῶρα φέρουσα.  
and she came to the ships bearing gifts from the god.

**4** εὗρε δὲ Πατρόκλῳ περικείμενον ὃν φίλον υἱὸν  
She found her dear son clinging around Patroclus,

**5** κλαίοντα λιγέως· πολέες δʼ ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἑταῖροι  
weeping shrilly; and many comrades around him

**6** μύρονθʼ· ἣ δʼ ἐν τοῖσι παρίστατο δῖα θεάων,  
were mourning. She stood among them, the shining one among goddesses,

**7** ἔν τʼ ἄρα οἱ φῦ χειρὶ ἔπος τʼ ἔφατʼ ἔκ τʼ ὀνόμαζε·  
she took his hand, and spoke to him, and called him by name:
> The hand-taking formula: This recurring line marks intimate direct address through three linked acts: taking the listener's hand, speaking, and calling him by name. Greek leaves the actors' gender to context; here Thetis is the female subject and Achilles the male recipient.

**8** τέκνον ἐμὸν τοῦτον μὲν ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ  
"My child, though we grieve, we must let this man

**9** κεῖσθαι, ἐπεὶ δὴ πρῶτα θεῶν ἰότητι δαμάσθη·  
lie, since first he was struck down by the will of the gods.

**10** τύνη δʼ Ἡφαίστοιο πάρα κλυτὰ τεύχεα δέξο  
But you, accept the famed armor from Hephaestus,

**11** καλὰ μάλʼ, οἷʼ οὔ πώ τις ἀνὴρ ὤμοισι φόρησεν.  
very beautiful, such as no man has ever borne upon his shoulders."

**12** ὡς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κατὰ τεύχεʼ ἔθηκε  
So the goddess spoke, and set the armor down

**13** πρόσθεν Ἀχιλλῆος· τὰ δʼ ἀνέβραχε δαίδαλα πάντα.  
before Achilles; and all its cunning work rang aloud.
> Cunning workmanship: δαίδαλα are things intricately and skillfully wrought, especially objects whose craftsmanship inspires wonder. The plural gathers the armor's many elaborate parts and designs into one ringing display of Hephaestus' art.

**14** Μυρμιδόνας δʼ ἄρα πάντας ἕλε τρόμος, οὐδέ τις ἔτλη  
Trembling seized all the Myrmidons, and no one dared

**15** ἄντην εἰσιδέειν, ἀλλʼ ἔτρεσαν. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
look straight at it; they shrank in fear. But Achilles,

**16** ὡς εἶδʼ, ὥς μιν μᾶλλον ἔδυ χόλος, ἐν δέ οἱ ὄσσε  
when he saw it, felt anger sink deeper into him, and his eyes

**17** δεινὸν ὑπὸ βλεφάρων ὡς εἰ σέλας ἐξεφάανθεν·  
blazed terribly beneath his lids, as though a flame shone out;
> As though flame shone out: ὡς εἰ introduces an explicit imagined comparison, not a literal fire in Achilles' eyes. The simile makes the divine armor intensify the wrath already visible in his face.

**18** τέρπετο δʼ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων θεοῦ ἀγλαὰ δῶρα.  
and he rejoiced to hold the god's glorious gifts in his hands.

**19** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ φρεσὶν ᾗσι τετάρπετο δαίδαλα λεύσσων  
But when his heart had taken its delight in gazing on the cunning work,

**20** αὐτίκα μητέρα ἣν ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
at once he addressed his mother with winged words:

**21** μῆτερ ἐμὴ τὰ μὲν ὅπλα θεὸς πόρεν οἷʼ ἐπιεικὲς  
"My mother, the god has given armor such as it is fitting

**22** ἔργʼ ἔμεν ἀθανάτων, μὴ δὲ βροτὸν ἄνδρα τελέσσαι.  
for immortals to make, not for any mortal man to accomplish.

**23** νῦν δʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ θωρήξομαι· ἀλλὰ μάλʼ αἰνῶς  
Now I shall arm myself; but I fear terribly

**24** δείδω μή μοι τόφρα Μενοιτίου ἄλκιμον υἱὸν  
that meanwhile, into the valiant son of Menoetius,

**25** μυῖαι καδδῦσαι κατὰ χαλκοτύπους ὠτειλὰς  
flies may crawl through the wounds struck by bronze,
> Wounds struck by bronze: χαλκοτύπους is a concrete compound: these wounds were 'bronze-struck,' made by bronze weapons. Homer keeps the material cause of battlefield injury visible even in Achilles' fear of what will happen to the corpse afterward.

**26** εὐλὰς ἐγγείνωνται, ἀεικίσσωσι δὲ νεκρόν,  
breed worms, and disfigure the corpse,

**27** ἐκ δʼ αἰὼν πέφαται, κατὰ δὲ χρόα πάντα σαπήῃ.  
now that life has been slain out of him, and all his flesh may rot."

**28** τὸν δʼ ἠμείβετʼ ἔπειτα θεὰ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζα·  
Then the goddess, silver-footed Thetis, answered him:
> Silver-footed Thetis: ἀργυρόπεζα, 'silver-footed,' is Thetis' standing epithet, fitting a sea goddess whose feet flash through the water. The complete reply line recurs from Book 18 and keeps its accepted wording here.

**29** τέκνον μή τοι ταῦτα μετὰ φρεσὶ σῇσι μελόντων.  
"My child, do not let these things trouble your mind.

**30** τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ πειρήσω ἀλαλκεῖν ἄγρια φῦλα  
I shall try to keep the savage swarms away from him—

**31** μυίας, αἵ ῥά τε φῶτας ἀρηϊφάτους κατέδουσιν·  
the flies that devour men slain in battle.
> Men slain by war: ἀρηΐφατος literally means 'slain by Ares': the war god's name forms part of an adjective for those killed in battle. The word turns battlefield death into the direct work of war personified.

**32** ἤν περ γὰρ κεῖταί γε τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτόν,  
Even if he lies here through a full year's course,
> Through a full year's course: τελεσφόρος describes the year as completing or bringing its course to fulfillment. Thetis' promise is deliberately extreme: even a whole completed year will not make Patroclus' flesh decay.

**33** αἰεὶ τῷ γʼ ἔσται χρὼς ἔμπεδος, ἢ καὶ ἀρείων.  
his flesh will always remain firm, or grow better still.

**34** ἀλλὰ σύ γʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν καλέσας ἥρωας Ἀχαιοὺς  
But call the Achaean heroes into assembly,

**35** μῆνιν ἀποειπὼν Ἀγαμέμνονι ποιμένι λαῶν  
renounce your wrath against Agamemnon, shepherd of the people,
> Renouncing the wrath: μῆνις is the exceptional wrath announced in the Iliad's first word. ἀποειπών means disavowing or formally renouncing it: Thetis urges a public end to the poem's central rupture, not a claim that its causes never mattered.

**36** αἶψα μάλʼ ἐς πόλεμον θωρήσσεο, δύσεο δʼ ἀλκήν.  
arm yourself swiftly for war, and clothe yourself in valor."

**37** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα μένος πολυθαρσὲς ἐνῆκε,  
So she spoke and breathed high courage into him;

**38** Πατρόκλῳ δʼ αὖτʼ ἀμβροσίην καὶ νέκταρ ἐρυθρὸν  
then into Patroclus she poured ambrosia and red nectar,

**39** στάξε κατὰ ῥινῶν, ἵνα οἱ χρὼς ἔμπεδος εἴη.  
dripping them through his nostrils, so that his flesh might remain firm.

**40** αὐτὰρ ὃ βῆ παρὰ θῖνα θαλάσσης δῖος Ἀχιλλεὺς  
Then godlike Achilles went along the shore of the sea,

**41** σμερδαλέα ἰάχων, ὦρσεν δʼ ἥρωας Ἀχαιούς.  
shouting terribly, and roused the Achaean heroes.

**42** καί ῥʼ οἵ περ τὸ πάρος γε νεῶν ἐν ἀγῶνι μένεσκον  
Even those who before had always stayed at the ships' gathering—

**43** οἵ τε κυβερνῆται καὶ ἔχον οἰήϊα νηῶν  
the pilots and those who held the ships' steering oars,

**44** καὶ ταμίαι παρὰ νηυσὶν ἔσαν σίτοιο δοτῆρες,  
and the stewards beside the ships, dispensers of provisions—

**45** καὶ μὴν οἳ τότε γʼ εἰς ἀγορὴν ἴσαν, οὕνεκʼ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
even they now went to the assembly, because Achilles

**46** ἐξεφάνη, δηρὸν δὲ μάχης ἐπέπαυτʼ ἀλεγεινῆς.  
had appeared after holding back so long from grievous battle.

**47** τὼ δὲ δύω σκάζοντε βάτην Ἄρεος θεράποντε  
The two came limping, both henchmen of Ares,
> A pair marked in the dual: τὼ, δύω, σκάζοντε, and βάτην all mark a pair; the participle and verb use Greek's dual number for exactly two. The grammar binds wounded Diomedes and Odysseus together as they limp into the assembly.

**48** Τυδεΐδης τε μενεπτόλεμος καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
the steadfast-in-battle son of Tydeus and godlike Odysseus,

**49** ἔγχει ἐρειδομένω· ἔτι γὰρ ἔχον ἕλκεα λυγρά·  
leaning on their spears, for they still had grievous wounds;

**50** κὰδ δὲ μετὰ πρώτῃ ἀγορῇ ἵζοντο κιόντες.  
and they came and sat down in the foremost place of assembly.

**51** αὐτὰρ ὃ δεύτατος ἦλθεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων  
Last came Agamemnon, lord of men,

**52** ἕλκος ἔχων· καὶ γὰρ τὸν ἐνὶ κρατερῇ ὑσμίνῃ  
bearing his wound; for in the mighty combat

**53** οὖτα Κόων Ἀντηνορίδης χαλκήρεϊ δουρί.  
Coon, son of Antenor, had stabbed him with a bronze-shod spear.

**54** αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δὴ πάντες ἀολλίσθησαν Ἀχαιοί,  
But when all the Achaeans had gathered together,

**55** τοῖσι δʼ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·  
swift-footed Achilles rose among them and spoke:

**56** Ἀτρεΐδη ἦ ἄρ τι τόδʼ ἀμφοτέροισιν ἄρειον  
"Son of Atreus, was this, then, better for us both,

**57** ἔπλετο σοὶ καὶ ἐμοί, ὅ τε νῶΐ περ ἀχνυμένω κῆρ  
for you and me, when the two of us, grieving at heart,

**58** θυμοβόρῳ ἔριδι μενεήναμεν εἵνεκα κούρης;  
raged in heart-devouring strife for the sake of a girl?
> Heart-devouring strife: θυμοβόρος is literally 'heart-devouring' or 'spirit-eating.' Achilles gives the quarrel an appetite of its own: it consumes the inner life of both men while its outward cost falls on the army.

**59** τὴν ὄφελʼ ἐν νήεσσι κατακτάμεν Ἄρτεμις ἰῷ  
I wish Artemis had killed her beside the ships with an arrow

**60** ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἐγὼν ἑλόμην Λυρνησσὸν ὀλέσσας·  
on the day I took her after destroying Lyrnessus.

**61** τώ κʼ οὐ τόσσοι Ἀχαιοὶ ὀδὰξ ἕλον ἄσπετον οὖδας  
Then not so many Achaeans would have bitten the boundless earth
> Biting the earth: The dead 'take the earth in their teeth,' a stark Homeric image for falling face-down in death. English 'bitten the earth' keeps the body's contact with the ground rather than replacing it with an abstract statement that they died.

**62** δυσμενέων ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπομηνίσαντος.  
beneath our enemies' hands while I held back in wrath.

**63** Ἕκτορι μὲν καὶ Τρωσὶ τὸ κέρδιον· αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὺς  
For Hector and the Trojans it was the better course; but the Achaeans,

**64** δηρὸν ἐμῆς καὶ σῆς ἔριδος μνήσεσθαι ὀΐω.  
I think, will long remember the strife between you and me.

**65** ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ  
But let us leave those things accomplished, though we grieve,

**66** θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλον δαμάσαντες ἀνάγκῃ·  
mastering the dear heart in our breasts by force.

**67** νῦν δʼ ἤτοι μὲν ἐγὼ παύω χόλον, οὐδέ τί με χρὴ  
Now I put an end to my anger; I must not

**68** ἀσκελέως αἰεὶ μενεαινέμεν· ἀλλʼ ἄγε θᾶσσον  
rage without cease forever. Come, quickly

**69** ὄτρυνον πόλεμον δὲ κάρη κομόωντας Ἀχαιούς,  
rouse the long-haired Achaeans to war,

**70** ὄφρʼ ἔτι καὶ Τρώων πειρήσομαι ἀντίον ἐλθὼν  
so that I may yet go against the Trojans and test them,

**71** αἴ κʼ ἐθέλωσʼ ἐπὶ νηυσὶν ἰαύειν· ἀλλά τινʼ οἴω  
whether they still wish to sleep beside the ships. But I think one of them

**72** ἀσπασίως αὐτῶν γόνυ κάμψειν, ὅς κε φύγῃσι  
will gladly bend his knee to rest, if he escapes

**73** δηΐου ἐκ πολέμοιο ὑπʼ ἔγχεος ἡμετέροιο.  
from destructive war beneath our spear."

**74** ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἐχάρησαν ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοὶ  
So he spoke, and the well-greaved Achaeans rejoiced

**75** μῆνιν ἀπειπόντος μεγαθύμου Πηλεΐωνος.  
because the great-hearted son of Peleus had renounced his wrath.

**76** τοῖσι δὲ καὶ μετέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων  
Then among them spoke Agamemnon, lord of men:

**77** αὐτόθεν ἐξ ἕδρης, οὐδʼ ἐν μέσσοισιν ἀναστάς·  
from where he sat, without rising in their midst:

**78** ὦ φίλοι ἥρωες Δαναοὶ θεράποντες Ἄρηος  
"Friends, hero Danaans, henchmen of Ares,
> Henchmen of Ares: θεράποντες are attendants or close companions; joined to Ares, the phrase casts the assembled heroes as men in the war god's service. The whole line is a recurring address and returns in its accepted wording.

**79** ἑσταότος μὲν καλὸν ἀκούειν, οὐδὲ ἔοικεν  
it is right to listen when a man stands to speak, and it is not fitting

**80** ὑββάλλειν· χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐπισταμένῳ περ ἐόντι.  
to interrupt him; it is hard even for one who knows his craft.
> Breaking in on a speaker: ὑββάλλειν means throwing words in underneath another speaker—interrupting or heckling him before he can finish. Agamemnon begins his defense by demanding the ordered hearing an assembly owes its speaker.

**81** ἀνδρῶν δʼ ἐν πολλῷ ὁμάδῳ πῶς κέν τις ἀκούσαι  
In the great clamor of men, how could anyone hear

**82** ἢ εἴποι; βλάβεται δὲ λιγύς περ ἐὼν ἀγορητής.  
or speak? Even a clear-voiced orator is hindered.

**83** Πηλεΐδῃ μὲν ἐγὼν ἐνδείξομαι· αὐτὰρ οἱ ἄλλοι  
I shall explain myself to the son of Peleus; but you others,

**84** σύνθεσθʼ Ἀργεῖοι, μῦθόν τʼ εὖ γνῶτε ἕκαστος.  
pay heed, Argives, and each understand my words well.

**85** πολλάκι δή μοι τοῦτον Ἀχαιοὶ μῦθον ἔειπον  
Often the Achaeans have spoken this charge to me

**86** καί τέ με νεικείεσκον· ἐγὼ δʼ οὐκ αἴτιός εἰμι,  
and reproached me; but I am not to blame.

**87** ἀλλὰ Ζεὺς καὶ Μοῖρα καὶ ἠεροφοῖτις Ἐρινύς,  
It was Zeus and Fate and the Erinys who walks in darkness,

**88** οἵ τέ μοι εἰν ἀγορῇ φρεσὶν ἔμβαλον ἄγριον ἄτην,  
who in assembly cast savage delusion into my mind
> Savage delusion: ἄτη is a ruinous blinding or delusion that drives someone into disastrous action; it can name both the condition and, as the speech soon does, a divine personification. 'Savage' preserves ἄγριον, Agamemnon's description of its violence within his mind.

**89** ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ Ἀχιλλῆος γέρας αὐτὸς ἀπηύρων.  
on the day I myself took Achilles' prize from him.

**90** ἀλλὰ τί κεν ῥέξαιμι; θεὸς διὰ πάντα τελευτᾷ.  
But what could I have done? A god brings all things to fulfillment.

**91** πρέσβα Διὸς θυγάτηρ Ἄτη, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται,  
Ate is the eldest daughter of Zeus, who blinds everyone,

**92** οὐλομένη· τῇ μέν θʼ ἁπαλοὶ πόδες· οὐ γὰρ ἐπʼ οὔδει  
accursed. Her feet are delicate; for she does not tread
> Ate's delicate feet: Ate's feet are 'delicate' because they never touch the hard ground. The image is not praise of beauty: it makes her unseen and evasive as she passes over human heads to trip them into error.

**93** πίλναται, ἀλλʼ ἄρα ἥ γε κατʼ ἀνδρῶν κράατα βαίνει  
upon the ground, but walks over the heads of men,

**94** βλάπτουσʼ ἀνθρώπους· κατὰ δʼ οὖν ἕτερόν γε πέδησε.  
bringing them harm; and at one time or another she ensnares each one.

**95** καὶ γὰρ δή νύ ποτε Ζεὺς ἄσατο, τόν περ ἄριστον  
For once, indeed, Zeus too was blinded, though they say he is greatest

**96** ἀνδρῶν ἠδὲ θεῶν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλʼ ἄρα καὶ τὸν  
of gods and men; yet even him

**97** Ἥρη θῆλυς ἐοῦσα δολοφροσύνῃς ἀπάτησεν,  
Hera, though a woman, deceived through her cunning

**98** ἤματι τῷ ὅτʼ ἔμελλε βίην Ἡρακληείην  
on the day when the mighty Heracles

**99** Ἀλκμήνη τέξεσθαι ἐϋστεφάνῳ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ.  
was to be born of Alcmene in well-crowned Thebes.
> Well-crowned Thebes: ἐϋστέφανος, 'well-crowned,' pictures the city's encircling walls like a crown. This is the Greek Thebes associated with Alcmene and Heracles, not the several Trojan-region towns named Thebe elsewhere in the poem.

**100** ἤτοι ὅ γʼ εὐχόμενος μετέφη πάντεσσι θεοῖσι·  
Then Zeus spoke boastfully among all the gods:

**101** κέκλυτέ μευ πάντές τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,  
"Hear me, all you gods and all you goddesses,

**102** ὄφρʼ εἴπω τά με θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἀνώγει.  
that I may speak what the heart in my breast commands.

**103** σήμερον ἄνδρα φόως δὲ μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια  
Today Eileithyia, bringer of labor pains, shall bring a man into the light

**104** ἐκφανεῖ, ὃς πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξει,  
who shall rule over all those dwelling around him,

**105** τῶν ἀνδρῶν γενεῆς οἵ θʼ αἵματος ἐξ ἐμεῦ εἰσί.  
of the race of men who spring from my blood."

**106** τὸν δὲ δολοφρονέουσα προσηύδα πότνια Ἥρη·  
Then queenly Hera, planning deception, addressed him:

**107** ψευστήσεις, οὐδʼ αὖτε τέλος μύθῳ ἐπιθήσεις.  
"You will prove false and never bring your word to fulfillment.

**108** εἰ δʼ ἄγε νῦν μοι ὄμοσσον Ὀλύμπιε καρτερὸν ὅρκον,  
Come now, Olympian, swear me a mighty oath:

**109** ἦ μὲν τὸν πάντεσσι περικτιόνεσσιν ἀνάξειν  
that the man who on this very day

**110** ὅς κεν ἐπʼ ἤματι τῷδε πέσῃ μετὰ ποσσὶ γυναικὸς  
falls between a woman's feet shall rule over all those dwelling around him,
> Falling between a woman's feet: The phrase is a physical periphrasis for birth: the child 'falls' or comes forth between the mother's feet. Hera repeats Zeus' promise while quietly making the day's timing, rather than the identity of the expected child, control the oath.

**111** τῶν ἀνδρῶν οἳ σῆς ἐξ αἵματός εἰσι γενέθλης.  
of the men who belong to the blood of your lineage."

**112** ὣς ἔφατο· Ζεὺς δʼ οὔ τι δολοφροσύνην ἐνόησεν,  
So she spoke. Zeus did not perceive her cunning,

**113** ἀλλʼ ὄμοσεν μέγαν ὅρκον, ἔπειτα δὲ πολλὸν ἀάσθη.  
but swore the mighty oath, and afterward was blinded greatly,

**114** Ἥρη δʼ ἀΐξασα λίπεν ῥίον Οὐλύμποιο,  
while Hera darted away and left the ridge of Olympus.

**115** καρπαλίμως δʼ ἵκετʼ Ἄργος Ἀχαιικόν, ἔνθʼ ἄρα ᾔδη  
Swiftly she reached Achaean Argos, where she knew

**116** ἰφθίμην ἄλοχον Σθενέλου Περσηϊάδαο.  
the strong wife of Sthenelus, son of Perseus.

**117** ἣ δʼ ἐκύει φίλον υἱόν, ὃ δʼ ἕβδομος ἑστήκει μείς·  
She was pregnant with a dear son, and the seventh month had come;
> The seventh month had come: Homer says that the seventh month 'stood' or had arrived. The phrase establishes the pregnancy's stage before Hera forces the premature birth.

**118** ἐκ δʼ ἄγαγε πρὸ φόως δὲ καὶ ἠλιτόμηνον ἐόντα,  
Hera brought him out into the light though he was born before his term,
> Born before the due month: ἠλιτόμηνος describes a child who has missed the proper month—premature. Hera accelerates Eurystheus' birth so that he, not Heracles, satisfies Zeus' oath first.

**119** Ἀλκμήνης δʼ ἀπέπαυσε τόκον, σχέθε δʼ Εἰλειθυίας.  
but stopped Alcmene's labor and held back the Eileithyiae.

**120** αὐτὴ δʼ ἀγγελέουσα Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·  
Then she herself brought the news and addressed Zeus, son of Cronos:

**121** Ζεῦ πάτερ ἀργικέραυνε ἔπος τί τοι ἐν φρεσὶ θήσω·  
"Father Zeus of the bright lightning, I shall set a word in your mind:
> Zeus of the bright lightning: ἀργικέραυνος combines the brightness or whiteness of lightning with Zeus' thunderbolt. Hera invokes his sky power at the moment she announces that his own oath has trapped him.

**122** ἤδη ἀνὴρ γέγονʼ ἐσθλὸς ὃς Ἀργείοισιν ἀνάξει  
already a noble man has been born who shall rule the Argives—

**123** Εὐρυσθεὺς Σθενέλοιο πάϊς Περσηϊάδαο  
Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, son of Perseus,

**124** σὸν γένος· οὔ οἱ ἀεικὲς ἀνασσέμεν Ἀργείοισιν.  
your own lineage. It is not unfit for him to rule the Argives."

**125** ὣς φάτο, τὸν δʼ ἄχος ὀξὺ κατὰ φρένα τύψε βαθεῖαν·  
So she spoke, and sharp grief struck him deep in the heart.

**126** αὐτίκα δʼ εἷλʼ Ἄτην κεφαλῆς λιπαροπλοκάμοιο  
At once he seized Ate by her glossy-haired head,
> Ate's glossy hair: λιπαροπλόκαμος means 'with glossy or lustrous locks.' Zeus grips the personified power of delusion by that hair before hurling her from heaven, turning an abstraction into a violently handled divine body.

**127** χωόμενος φρεσὶν ᾗσι, καὶ ὤμοσε καρτερὸν ὅρκον  
angry in his heart, and swore a mighty oath

**128** μή ποτʼ ἐς Οὔλυμπόν τε καὶ οὐρανὸν ἀστερόεντα  
that never again to Olympus and starry heaven

**129** αὖτις ἐλεύσεσθαι Ἄτην, ἣ πάντας ἀᾶται.  
would Ate return, she who blinds everyone.

**130** ὣς εἰπὼν ἔρριψεν ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ ἀστερόεντος  
So he spoke and hurled her from starry heaven,

**131** χειρὶ περιστρέψας· τάχα δʼ ἵκετο ἔργʼ ἀνθρώπων.  
whirling her in his hand; and swiftly she reached the works of men.

**132** τὴν αἰεὶ στενάχεσχʼ ὅθʼ ἑὸν φίλον υἱὸν ὁρῷτο  
He would always groan over her whenever he saw his dear son

**133** ἔργον ἀεικὲς ἔχοντα ὑπʼ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλων.  
bearing the shameful burden of the labors imposed by Eurystheus.

**134** ὣς καὶ ἐγών, ὅτε δʼ αὖτε μέγας κορυθαίολος Ἕκτωρ  
So too with me: whenever great Hector of the flashing helm

**135** Ἀργείους ὀλέκεσκεν ἐπὶ πρυμνῇσι νέεσσιν,  
kept killing Argives beside the ships' sterns,

**136** οὐ δυνάμην λελαθέσθʼ Ἄτης ᾗ πρῶτον ἀάσθην.  
I could not forget Ate, by whom I was first blinded.

**137** ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ἀασάμην καί μευ φρένας ἐξέλετο Ζεύς,  
But since I was blinded and Zeus took away my wits,

**138** ἂψ ἐθέλω ἀρέσαι, δόμεναί τʼ ἀπερείσιʼ ἄποινα·  
I wish to make amends again and give boundless ransom.

**139** ἀλλʼ ὄρσευ πόλεμον δὲ καὶ ἄλλους ὄρνυθι λαούς.  
Rise up for battle, and rouse the other warriors.

**140** δῶρα δʼ ἐγὼν ὅδε πάντα παρασχέμεν ὅσσά τοι ἐλθὼν  
I shall provide all these gifts—as many as, after coming

**141** χθιζὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ὑπέσχετο δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς.  
to your huts yesterday, godlike Odysseus promised you.

**142** εἰ δʼ ἐθέλεις, ἐπίμεινον ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος,  
If you wish, wait, though eager for battle,

**143** δῶρα δέ τοι θεράποντες ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἑλόντες  
and my attendants shall take the gifts from beside my ship

**144** οἴσουσʼ, ὄφρα ἴδηαι ὅ τοι μενοεικέα δώσω.  
and bring them, so you may see that what I give will please you."

**145** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·  
Then swift-footed Achilles answered him and said:

**146** Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον  
"Son of Atreus, most glorious, Agamemnon, lord of men,

**147** δῶρα μὲν αἴ κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα παρασχέμεν, ὡς ἐπιεικές,  
as for the gifts, provide them if you wish, as is fitting,

**148** ἤ τʼ ἐχέμεν παρὰ σοί· νῦν δὲ μνησώμεθα χάρμης  
or keep them with you. But now let us remember battle

**149** αἶψα μάλʼ· οὐ γὰρ χρὴ κλοτοπεύειν ἐνθάδʼ ἐόντας  
with all speed; we must not stand here dealing in evasions

**150** οὐδὲ διατρίβειν· ἔτι γὰρ μέγα ἔργον ἄρεκτον·  
or waste time, for a great work remains unfinished:

**151** ὥς κέ τις αὖτʼ Ἀχιλῆα μετὰ πρώτοισιν ἴδηται  
that someone may once more see Achilles among the foremost,

**152** ἔγχεϊ χαλκείῳ Τρώων ὀλέκοντα φάλαγγας.  
destroying the Trojan ranks with his bronze spear.

**153** ὧδέ τις ὑμείων μεμνημένος ἀνδρὶ μαχέσθω.  
With this in mind, let each of you fight his man."

**154** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then Odysseus of many wiles answered him and said:

**155** μὴ δʼ οὕτως, ἀγαθός περ ἐών, θεοείκελʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ  
"Not so, brave though you are, godlike Achilles—
> Godlike Achilles: θεοείκελος means 'like a god' in appearance or stature and is here a vocative direct address. Odysseus honors Achilles' heroic standing even as he firmly rejects Achilles' plan.

**156** νήστιας ὄτρυνε προτὶ Ἴλιον υἷας Ἀχαιῶν  
do not rouse the sons of the Achaeans fasting toward Ilion

**157** Τρωσὶ μαχησομένους, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ὀλίγον χρόνον ἔσται  
to fight the Trojans, since the time will not be short

**158** φύλοπις, εὖτʼ ἂν πρῶτον ὁμιλήσωσι φάλαγγες  
for the battle-din once the ranks of men first meet
> Battle-din: φύλοπις names battle through its collective noise and tumult, not simply through the act of fighting. The fixed 'battle-din' keeps that audible force in the line.

**159** ἀνδρῶν, ἐν δὲ θεὸς πνεύσῃ μένος ἀμφοτέροισιν.  
and a god breathes fury into both sides.

**160** ἀλλὰ πάσασθαι ἄνωχθι θοῇς ἐπὶ νηυσὶν Ἀχαιοὺς  
Instead, command the Achaeans beside the swift ships to fortify themselves

**161** σίτου καὶ οἴνοιο· τὸ γὰρ μένος ἐστὶ καὶ ἀλκή.  
with food and wine, for therein lie strength and valor.

**162** οὐ γὰρ ἀνὴρ πρόπαν ἦμαρ ἐς ἠέλιον καταδύντα  
For no man through the whole day until the sun goes down,

**163** ἄκμηνος σίτοιο δυνήσεται ἄντα μάχεσθαι·  
fasting for want of food, can fight face to face.
> Fasting for food: ἄκμηνος means without food or fasting, and the genitive σίτοιο specifies what is lacking. Odysseus grounds his strategy in the body's physical limits rather than in any lack of courage.

**164** εἴ περ γὰρ θυμῷ γε μενοινάᾳ πολεμίζειν,  
Even if his heart desires to wage war,

**165** ἀλλά τε λάθρῃ γυῖα βαρύνεται, ἠδὲ κιχάνει  
his limbs secretly grow heavy, and there overtake him

**166** δίψά τε καὶ λιμός, βλάβεται δέ τε γούνατʼ ἰόντι.  
thirst and hunger, and his knees fail as he goes.

**167** ὃς δέ κʼ ἀνὴρ οἴνοιο κορεσσάμενος καὶ ἐδωδῆς  
But the man who has taken his fill of wine and food

**168** ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι πανημέριος πολεμίζῃ,  
can fight hostile men all day long;

**169** θαρσαλέον νύ οἱ ἦτορ ἐνὶ φρεσίν, οὐδέ τι γυῖα  
the heart in his breast is bold, and his limbs

**170** πρὶν κάμνει πρὶν πάντας ἐρωῆσαι πολέμοιο.  
do not tire before he has driven every enemy from battle.

**171** ἀλλʼ ἄγε λαὸν μὲν σκέδασον καὶ δεῖπνον ἄνωχθι  
Come then, disperse the army and command them to make

**172** ὅπλεσθαι· τὰ δὲ δῶρα ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων  
their meal ready. And let Agamemnon, lord of men, carry the gifts

**173** οἰσέτω ἐς μέσσην ἀγορήν, ἵνα πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ  
into the middle of the assembly, so that all the Achaeans

**174** ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἴδωσι, σὺ δὲ φρεσὶ σῇσιν ἰανθῇς.  
may see them with their eyes, and your heart may be warmed.

**175** ὀμνυέτω δέ τοι ὅρκον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἀναστὰς  
Let him stand among the Argives and swear you an oath

**176** μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι ἠδὲ μιγῆναι·  
that he never entered her bed nor coupled with her,
> The oath concerning Briseis: The two infinitives are explicit: entering her bed and having sexual intercourse with her. Odysseus specifies what Agamemnon must deny under oath; the line neither erases Briseis' captivity nor recasts it as consent.

**177** ἣ θέμις ἐστὶν ἄναξ ἤ τʼ ἀνδρῶν ἤ τε γυναικῶν·  
as is the custom, lord, between men and women.

**178** καὶ δὲ σοὶ αὐτῷ θυμὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ἵλαος ἔστω.  
And let the heart in your own breast be gracious.

**179** αὐτὰρ ἔπειτά σε δαιτὶ ἐνὶ κλισίῃς ἀρεσάσθω  
Then let him make amends to you with a feast in his huts,

**180** πιείρῃ, ἵνα μή τι δίκης ἐπιδευὲς ἔχῃσθα.  
a rich one, so that you lack nothing of your due.
> Nothing lacking of one's due: δίκη here is the right or due measure in a settlement, while ἐπιδευής means lacking or deficient. The feast is meant to complete the public gifts and oath so Achilles is not left short of the honor owed him.

**181** Ἀτρεΐδη σὺ δʼ ἔπειτα δικαιότερος καὶ ἐπʼ ἄλλῳ  
And you, son of Atreus, will afterward be more just toward another

**182** ἔσσεαι. οὐ μὲν γάρ τι νεμεσσητὸν βασιλῆα  
as well. There is no cause for blame when a king

**183** ἄνδρʼ ἀπαρέσσασθαι ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ.  
makes amends to a man when he was the first to grow angry."

**184** τὸν δʼ αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων·  
Then Agamemnon, lord of men, addressed him in turn:

**185** χαίρω σεῦ Λαερτιάδη τὸν μῦθον ἀκούσας·  
"I rejoice to hear your words, son of Laertes,

**186** ἐν μοίρῃ γὰρ πάντα διίκεο καὶ κατέλεξας.  
for you have gone through and set out everything in due measure.
> In due measure: ἐν μοίρῃ literally means 'within one's portion' and idiomatically praises speech as fitting, orderly, or properly measured. Agamemnon approves not merely Odysseus' conclusion but the measured way he has laid out every step.

**187** ταῦτα δʼ ἐγὼν ἐθέλω ὀμόσαι, κέλεται δέ με θυμός,  
These things I am willing to swear; my heart commands it,

**188** οὐδʼ ἐπιορκήσω πρὸς δαίμονος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
and I shall not swear falsely before a god. But Achilles

**189** μιμνέτω αὐτόθι τεῖος ἐπειγόμενός περ Ἄρηος·  
must wait here meanwhile, though eager for battle,

**190** μίμνετε δʼ ἄλλοι πάντες ἀολλέες, ὄφρά κε δῶρα  
and all you others wait together, until the gifts

**191** ἐκ κλισίης ἔλθῃσι καὶ ὅρκια πιστὰ τάμωμεν.  
come from my hut and we cut the faithful oath-sacrifices.

**192** σοὶ δʼ αὐτῷ τόδʼ ἐγὼν ἐπιτέλλομαι ἠδὲ κελεύω·  
To you yourself I lay this charge and give this command:

**193** κρινάμενος κούρητας ἀριστῆας Παναχαιῶν  
choose young men, the best of all the Achaeans,

**194** δῶρα ἐμῆς παρὰ νηὸς ἐνεικέμεν, ὅσσʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ  
to bring from beside my ship the gifts that yesterday

**195** χθιζὸν ὑπέστημεν δώσειν, ἀγέμεν τε γυναῖκας.  
we promised to give Achilles, and to bring the women too.

**196** Ταλθύβιος δέ μοι ὦκα κατὰ στρατὸν εὐρὺν Ἀχαιῶν  
And let Talthybius quickly range through the Achaeans' broad host

**197** κάπρον ἑτοιμασάτω ταμέειν Διί τʼ Ἠελίῳ τε.  
and make ready a boar to cut in sacrifice to Zeus and Helios."

**198** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·  
Then swift-footed Achilles answered him and said:

**199** Ἀτρεΐδη κύδιστε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγάμεμνον  
"Son of Atreus, most glorious, Agamemnon, lord of men,

**200** ἄλλοτέ περ καὶ μᾶλλον ὀφέλλετε ταῦτα πένεσθαι,  
at another time you two should attend to these things more fittingly,

**201** ὁππότε τις μεταπαυσωλὴ πολέμοιο γένηται  
whenever there comes some breathing-space from war

**202** καὶ μένος οὐ τόσον ᾖσιν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσι.  
and the fury within my breast is not so great.

**203** νῦν δʼ οἳ μὲν κέαται δεδαϊγμένοι, οὓς ἐδάμασσεν  
But now those men lie hacked apart, all slain by

**204** Ἕκτωρ Πριαμίδης, ὅτε οἱ Ζεὺς κῦδος ἔδωκεν,  
Hector, son of Priam, when Zeus granted him glory;

**205** ὑμεῖς δʼ ἐς βρωτὺν ὀτρύνετον· ἦ τʼ ἂν ἔγωγε  
and you two urge the men to eat. No—my command

**206** νῦν μὲν ἀνώγοιμι πτολεμίζειν υἷας Ἀχαιῶν  
would now be for the sons of the Achaeans to fight,

**207** νήστιας ἀκμήνους, ἅμα δʼ ἠελίῳ καταδύντι  
fasting and without food, and then, when the sun goes down,

**208** τεύξεσθαι μέγα δόρπον, ἐπὴν τεισαίμεθα λώβην.  
to prepare a great supper, once we have avenged the outrage.
> Once we have taken vengeance: ἐπήν introduces a future temporal condition, while τεισαίμεθα is an aorist middle optative: the meal is to come only after the Achaeans have exacted vengeance for the outrage. Achilles makes revenge, not mere sunset, the true condition for eating.

**209** πρὶν δʼ οὔ πως ἂν ἔμοιγε φίλον κατὰ λαιμὸν ἰείη  
Before then, nothing could pass down my throat—

**210** οὐ πόσις οὐδὲ βρῶσις ἑταίρου τεθνηῶτος  
neither drink nor food—while my comrade lies dead,

**211** ὅς μοι ἐνὶ κλισίῃ δεδαϊγμένος ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ  
hacked apart by sharp bronze inside my hut,

**212** κεῖται ἀνὰ πρόθυρον τετραμμένος, ἀμφὶ δʼ ἑταῖροι  
lying turned toward the doorway, while around him his comrades

**213** μύρονται· τό μοι οὔ τι μετὰ φρεσὶ ταῦτα μέμηλεν,  
mourn. So none of these matters has any place in my mind,

**214** ἀλλὰ φόνος τε καὶ αἷμα καὶ ἀργαλέος στόνος ἀνδρῶν.  
but only slaughter and blood and the grievous groan of men."

**215** τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πολύμητις Ὀδυσσεύς·  
Then Odysseus of many wiles answered him and said:

**216** ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ Πηλῆος υἱὲ μέγα φέρτατʼ Ἀχαιῶν,  
"Achilles, son of Peleus, far greatest of the Achaeans,

**217** κρείσσων εἰς ἐμέθεν καὶ φέρτερος οὐκ ὀλίγον περ  
you are stronger than I and better by no small measure

**218** ἔγχει, ἐγὼ δέ κε σεῖο νοήματί γε προβαλοίμην  
with the spear; but in counsel I would surpass you

**219** πολλόν, ἐπεὶ πρότερος γενόμην καὶ πλείονα οἶδα.  
by far, since I was born before you and know more.

**220** τώ τοι ἐπιτλήτω κραδίη μύθοισιν ἐμοῖσιν.  
So let your heart endure my words.

**221** αἶψά τε φυλόπιδος πέλεται κόρος ἀνθρώποισιν,  
Men quickly take their fill of the battle-din,
> Surfeit of battle: κόρος is satiety—the point at which one has had enough—and it governs the genitive φυλόπιδος, 'of battle-din.' Odysseus answers heroic eagerness with the grim fact that sustained killing produces exhaustion and revulsion.

**222** ἧς τε πλείστην μὲν καλάμην χθονὶ χαλκὸς ἔχευεν,  
where bronze has strewn the greatest quantity of stalks upon the ground,
> War as harvest: Odysseus imagines bronze weapons as the reaping instrument and fallen bodies as cut stalks poured over the earth. The harvest metaphor measures battle by the mass of its dead, not by martial glory.

**223** ἄμητος δʼ ὀλίγιστος, ἐπὴν κλίνῃσι τάλαντα  
but the harvest is smallest, when Zeus tilts the scales

**224** Ζεύς, ὅς τʼ ἀνθρώπων ταμίης πολέμοιο τέτυκται.  
Zeus, who is made the steward of war for men.

**225** γαστέρι δʼ οὔ πως ἔστι νέκυν πενθῆσαι Ἀχαιούς·  
The Achaeans cannot mourn a corpse with the belly;
> No mourning with the belly: Odysseus' deliberately blunt paradox separates grief from starvation: the belly cannot perform mourning for the dead. His point is not that the dead deserve no grief, but that living soldiers must eat if they are to bury the fallen and continue fighting.

**226** λίην γὰρ πολλοὶ καὶ ἐπήτριμοι ἤματα πάντα  
for all through the days too many men fall thick and fast—

**227** πίπτουσιν· πότε κέν τις ἀναπνεύσειε πόνοιο;  
when could anyone draw breath from the toil?

**228** ἀλλὰ χρὴ τὸν μὲν καταθάπτειν ὅς κε θάνῃσι  
No, we must bury whoever dies,

**229** νηλέα θυμὸν ἔχοντας ἐπʼ ἤματι δακρύσαντας·  
holding a pitiless heart after mourning him for one day;

**230** ὅσσοι δʼ ἂν πολέμοιο περὶ στυγεροῖο λίπωνται  
but all of us who are left alive from hateful war

**231** μεμνῆσθαι πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ὄφρʼ ἔτι μᾶλλον  
must remember drink and food, so that with still greater force

**232** ἀνδράσι δυσμενέεσσι μαχώμεθα νωλεμὲς αἰεὶ  
we may fight hostile men without ceasing, ever,

**233** ἑσσάμενοι χροῒ χαλκὸν ἀτειρέα. μηδέ τις ἄλλην  
clothing our bodies in unyielding bronze. Let no one

**234** λαῶν ὀτρυντὺν ποτιδέγμενος ἰσχαναάσθω·  
hold back awaiting another summons of the army;

**235** ἥδε γὰρ ὀτρυντὺς κακὸν ἔσσεται ὅς κε λίπηται  
for this summons will bring evil to whoever is left behind

**236** νηυσὶν ἐπʼ Ἀργείων· ἀλλʼ ἀθρόοι ὁρμηθέντες  
at the Argive ships; but gathered together, rushing forward, we

**237** Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισιν ἐγείρομεν ὀξὺν Ἄρηα.  
are rousing sharp Ares against the horse-taming Trojans."

**238** ἦ, καὶ Νέστορος υἷας ὀπάσσατο κυδαλίμοιο  
So he spoke, and chose the sons of glorious Nestor,

**239** Φυλεΐδην τε Μέγητα Θόαντά τε Μηριόνην τε  
Meges, son of Phyleus, Thoas, and Meriones,

**240** καὶ Κρειοντιάδην Λυκομήδεα καὶ Μελάνιππον·  
Lycomedes, son of Creon, and Melanippus;

**241** βὰν δʼ ἴμεν ἐς κλισίην Ἀγαμέμνονος Ἀτρεΐδαο.  
and they set out for the shelter of Agamemnon, son of Atreus.

**242** αὐτίκʼ ἔπειθʼ ἅμα μῦθος ἔην, τετέλεστο δὲ ἔργον·  
At once the word was spoken and the deed accomplished:
> Word and deed together: The compact pairing says that speech and fulfillment coincided: the promised restitution is carried out as soon as it is ordered. The pluperfect τετέλεστο, the past-time counterpart of the perfect, presents the deed as already brought to completion.

**243** ἑπτὰ μὲν ἐκ κλισίης τρίποδας φέρον, οὕς οἱ ὑπέστη,  
from the shelter they carried seven tripods, which he had promised him,

**244** αἴθωνας δὲ λέβητας ἐείκοσι, δώδεκα δʼ ἵππους·  
twenty gleaming cauldrons, and twelve horses,

**245** ἐκ δʼ ἄγον αἶψα γυναῖκας ἀμύμονα ἔργα ἰδυίας  
and quickly led out seven women skilled in blameless handiwork,

**246** ἕπτʼ, ἀτὰρ ὀγδοάτην Βρισηΐδα καλλιπάρῃον.  
and as the eighth, fair-cheeked Briseis.

**247** χρυσοῦ δὲ στήσας Ὀδυσεὺς δέκα πάντα τάλαντα  
Odysseus weighed out all ten talents of gold

**248** ἦρχʼ, ἅμα δʼ ἄλλοι δῶρα φέρον κούρητες Ἀχαιῶν.  
and led the way, while other young Achaeans carried the gifts.

**249** καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν μέσσῃ ἀγορῇ θέσαν, ἂν δʼ Ἀγαμέμνων  
They set them down in the midst of the assembly, and Agamemnon

**250** ἵστατο· Ταλθύβιος δὲ θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος αὐδὴν  
rose; and Talthybius, whose voice was like a god's,
> A voice like a god's: The likeness is carefully limited by the accusative αὐδήν: Talthybius resembles a god in voice, not in his whole person. That distinction gives the herald's public words and ritual role unusual authority.

**251** κάπρον ἔχων ἐν χερσὶ παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν.  
stood beside the shepherd of the people, holding a boar in his hands.

**252** Ἀτρεΐδης δὲ ἐρυσσάμενος χείρεσσι μάχαιραν,  
And the son of Atreus, drawing with his hands the knife

**253** ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο,  
that always hung beside the great sheath of his sword,

**254** κάπρου ἀπὸ τρίχας ἀρξάμενος Διὶ χεῖρας ἀνασχὼν  
first cut hairs from the boar, then raised his hands to Zeus

**255** εὔχετο· τοὶ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτόφιν εἵατο σιγῇ  
and prayed; and all the Argives sat there in silence,

**256** Ἀργεῖοι κατὰ μοῖραν ἀκούοντες βασιλῆος.  
in due order, listening to their king.

**257** εὐξάμενος δʼ ἄρα εἶπεν ἰδὼν εἰς οὐρανὸν εὐρύν·  
He prayed, looked up into the broad sky, and said:

**258** ἴστω νῦν Ζεὺς πρῶτα θεῶν ὕπατος καὶ ἄριστος  
"Now let Zeus be witness first, highest and best of the gods,
> Third-person imperative: ἴστω is a third-person imperative: literally, "let him know." In an oath, that command makes Zeus a witness who knows whether the speaker's claim is true.

**259** Γῆ τε καὶ Ἠέλιος καὶ Ἐρινύες, αἵ θʼ ὑπὸ γαῖαν  
and Earth and Sun and the Erinyes, who beneath the earth

**260** ἀνθρώπους τίνυνται, ὅτις κʼ ἐπίορκον ὀμόσσῃ,  
punish any mortal who swears a false oath:

**261** μὴ μὲν ἐγὼ κούρῃ Βρισηΐδι χεῖρʼ ἐπένεικα,  
never did I lay a hand upon the girl Briseis,

**262** οὔτʼ εὐνῆς πρόφασιν κεχρημένος οὔτέ τευ ἄλλου.  
neither seeking occasion for her bed nor for anything else,
> Neither ... nor: The paired negatives οὔτε ... οὔτε delimit Agamemnon's claim: he says he touched Briseis neither for sex nor for any other purpose. The oath concerns his own conduct while she was held in his shelter; it does not recast her captivity as consent.

**263** ἀλλʼ ἔμενʼ ἀπροτίμαστος ἐνὶ κλισίῃσιν ἐμῇσιν.  
but she remained untouched within my shelters.
> Untouched: ἀπροτίμαστος is a rare Homeric word meaning "untouched" or "unharmed." Here it is part of Agamemnon's sworn assertion about Briseis, not an independent statement about the justice of her captivity.

**264** εἰ δέ τι τῶνδʼ ἐπίορκον ἐμοὶ θεοὶ ἄλγεα δοῖεν  
If any of this is falsely sworn, may the gods give me pains,

**265** πολλὰ μάλʼ, ὅσσα διδοῦσιν ὅτίς σφʼ ἀλίτηται ὀμόσσας.  
many indeed—all they give a man who sins against them by his oath."

**266** ἦ, καὶ ἀπὸ στόμαχον κάπρου τάμε νηλέϊ χαλκῷ.  
He spoke, and cut the boar's throat with pitiless bronze.

**267** τὸν μὲν Ταλθύβιος πολιῆς ἁλὸς ἐς μέγα λαῖτμα  
Talthybius whirled it and cast it into the great gulf

**268** ῥῖψʼ ἐπιδινήσας βόσιν ἰχθύσιν· αὐτὰρ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
of the gray sea as food for fish; but Achilles

**269** ἀνστὰς Ἀργείοισι φιλοπτολέμοισι μετηύδα·  
rose and addressed the war-loving Argives:

**270** Ζεῦ πάτερ ἦ μεγάλας ἄτας ἄνδρεσσι διδοῖσθα·  
"Father Zeus, great are the delusions you give to men.

**271** οὐκ ἂν δή ποτε θυμὸν ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐμοῖσιν  
Otherwise the son of Atreus could never have roused the spirit

**272** Ἀτρεΐδης ὤρινε διαμπερές, οὐδέ κε κούρην  
within my breast so utterly, nor could he have taken the girl

**273** ἦγεν ἐμεῦ ἀέκοντος ἀμήχανος· ἀλλά ποθι Ζεὺς  
from me against my will, beyond all resistance; but somewhere Zeus

**274** ἤθελʼ Ἀχαιοῖσιν θάνατον πολέεσσι γενέσθαι.  
must have wished death to come upon many Achaeans.

**275** νῦν δʼ ἔρχεσθʼ ἐπὶ δεῖπνον, ἵνα ξυνάγωμεν Ἄρηα.  
Now go to your meal, so that we may join battle."

**276** ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, λῦσεν δʼ ἀγορὴν αἰψηρήν.  
So he spoke, and quickly dissolved the assembly.

**277** οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἐσκίδναντο ἑὴν ἐπὶ νῆα ἕκαστος,  
They scattered, each man to his own ship,

**278** δῶρα δὲ Μυρμιδόνες μεγαλήτορες ἀμφεπένοντο,  
while the great-hearted Myrmidons took charge of the gifts

**279** βὰν δʼ ἐπὶ νῆα φέροντες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο.  
and carried them to the ship of godlike Achilles.

**280** καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν κλισίῃσι θέσαν, κάθισαν δὲ γυναῖκας,  
They set the gifts in the shelters and seated the women,

**281** ἵππους δʼ εἰς ἀγέλην ἔλασαν θεράποντες ἀγαυοί.  
and noble attendants drove the horses into the herd.

**282** Βρισηῒς δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτʼ ἰκέλη χρυσέῃ Ἀφροδίτῃ  
Then Briseis, like golden Aphrodite,
> Like golden Aphrodite: Briseis is compared to Aphrodite in beauty, but the simile does not soften her circumstances: it introduces her return to the mutilated body of the one man in Achilles' camp who had comforted her.

**283** ὡς ἴδε Πάτροκλον δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,  
when she saw Patroclus torn by the sharp bronze,

**284** ἀμφʼ αὐτῷ χυμένη λίγʼ ἐκώκυε, χερσὶ δʼ ἄμυσσε  
flung herself upon him and wailed shrilly, and with her hands tore

**285** στήθεά τʼ ἠδʼ ἁπαλὴν δειρὴν ἰδὲ καλὰ πρόσωπα.  
her breast, her tender neck, and her lovely face.

**286** εἶπε δʼ ἄρα κλαίουσα γυνὴ ἐϊκυῖα θεῇσι·  
Weeping, the woman like the goddesses said:

**287** Πάτροκλέ μοι δειλῇ πλεῖστον κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ  
"Patroclus, dearest by far to my wretched heart,

**288** ζωὸν μέν σε ἔλειπον ἐγὼ κλισίηθεν ἰοῦσα,  
I left you alive when I went from this shelter,

**289** νῦν δέ σε τεθνηῶτα κιχάνομαι ὄρχαμε λαῶν  
but now on my return I find you dead, marshal of the people.

**290** ἂψ ἀνιοῦσʼ· ὥς μοι δέχεται κακὸν ἐκ κακοῦ αἰεί.  
So evil after evil comes to meet me always.
> Evil after evil: The repeated κακόν makes Briseis' losses feel cumulative rather than isolated. Her lament places Patroclus' death in the chain of violence that began with the destruction of her own household.

**291** ἄνδρα μὲν ᾧ ἔδοσάν με πατὴρ καὶ πότνια μήτηρ  
The man to whom my father and queenly mother gave me

**292** εἶδον πρὸ πτόλιος δεδαϊγμένον ὀξέϊ χαλκῷ,  
I saw before our city, torn by the sharp bronze,

**293** τρεῖς τε κασιγνήτους, τούς μοι μία γείνατο μήτηρ,  
and my three brothers, whom one mother bore with me,

**294** κηδείους, οἳ πάντες ὀλέθριον ἦμαρ ἐπέσπον.  
my own kin, all met their day of doom.

**295** οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδέ μʼ ἔασκες, ὅτʼ ἄνδρʼ ἐμὸν ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεὺς  
Yet you would not let me weep when swift Achilles

**296** ἔκτεινεν, πέρσεν δὲ πόλιν θείοιο Μύνητος,  
killed my husband and sacked the city of godlike Mynes;

**297** κλαίειν, ἀλλά μʼ ἔφασκες Ἀχιλλῆος θείοιο  
instead you said that you would make me

**298** κουριδίην ἄλοχον θήσειν, ἄξειν τʼ ἐνὶ νηυσὶν  
the wedded wife of godlike Achilles and take me in the ships

**299** ἐς Φθίην, δαίσειν δὲ γάμον μετὰ Μυρμιδόνεσσι.  
to Phthia, and hold a wedding feast among the Myrmidons.

**300** τώ σʼ ἄμοτον κλαίω τεθνηότα μείλιχον αἰεί.  
Therefore I mourn you without ceasing, dead and always gentle."

**301** ὣς ἔφατο κλαίουσʼ, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γυναῖκες  
So she spoke, weeping, and the women groaned around her,

**302** Πάτροκλον πρόφασιν, σφῶν δʼ αὐτῶν κήδεʼ ἑκάστη.  
using Patroclus as their pretext, but each for her own griefs.
> Patroclus as the occasion: πρόφασιν means that Patroclus supplies the outward occasion for the shared lament. Each captive woman grieves her own losses through the public mourning for him.

**303** αὐτὸν δʼ ἀμφὶ γέροντες Ἀχαιῶν ἠγερέθοντο  
Around Achilles the elders of the Achaeans gathered,

**304** λισσόμενοι δειπνῆσαι· ὃ δʼ ἠρνεῖτο στεναχίζων·  
begging him to dine, but groaning, he refused:

**305** λίσσομαι, εἴ τις ἔμοιγε φίλων ἐπιπείθεθʼ ἑταίρων,  
"I beg you, if any of my dear companions will heed me,

**306** μή με πρὶν σίτοιο κελεύετε μηδὲ ποτῆτος  
do not urge me before then to satisfy my heart

**307** ἄσασθαι φίλον ἦτορ, ἐπεί μʼ ἄχος αἰνὸν ἱκάνει·  
with food or drink, since terrible grief has come upon me.

**308** δύντα δʼ ἐς ἠέλιον μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἔμπης.  
Until the sun goes down I will wait and endure."
> Two futures of resolve: Both verbs are future: Achilles declares that he will remain and will endure. His fasting is deliberate persistence in grief, not a failure to obtain food.

**309** ὣς εἰπὼν ἄλλους μὲν ἀπεσκέδασεν βασιλῆας,  
So speaking, he sent the other kings away,

**310** δοιὼ δʼ Ἀτρεΐδα μενέτην καὶ δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς  
but the two sons of Atreus remained, and godlike Odysseus,

**311** Νέστωρ Ἰδομενεύς τε γέρων θʼ ἱππηλάτα Φοῖνιξ  
Nestor and Idomeneus and Phoenix, the old horseman,

**312** τέρποντες πυκινῶς ἀκαχήμενον· οὐδέ τι θυμῷ  
seeking earnestly to comfort the deeply grieving man; but in his heart

**313** τέρπετο, πρὶν πολέμου στόμα δύμεναι αἱματόεντος.  
he found no comfort—not until he should enter the mouth of bloodstained war.
> The mouth of war: Homer makes battle a devouring mouth into which Achilles means to enter. The image turns his return to combat into an approach toward something that consumes men.

**314** μνησάμενος δʼ ἁδινῶς ἀνενείκατο φώνησέν τε·  
Remembering, he heaved a deep sigh and said:

**315** ἦ ῥά νύ μοί ποτε καὶ σὺ δυσάμμορε φίλταθʼ ἑταίρων  
"Ah, once you too, ill-fated one, dearest of my companions,

**316** αὐτὸς ἐνὶ κλισίῃ λαρὸν παρὰ δεῖπνον ἔθηκας  
would set a savory dinner ready for me yourself in the shelter,

**317** αἶψα καὶ ὀτραλέως, ὁπότε σπερχοίατʼ Ἀχαιοὶ  
swiftly and eagerly, whenever the Achaeans hastened

**318** Τρωσὶν ἐφʼ ἱπποδάμοισι φέρειν πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα.  
to bring war of many tears upon the horse-taming Trojans.

**319** νῦν δὲ σὺ μὲν κεῖσαι δεδαϊγμένος, αὐτὰρ ἐμὸν κῆρ  
But now you lie mangled, while my heart

**320** ἄκμηνον πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος, ἔνδον ἐόντων,  
fasts from drink and food, though both are here within,

**321** σῇ ποθῇ· οὐ μὲν γάρ τι κακώτερον ἄλλο πάθοιμι,  
in longing for you. Nothing worse than this could befall me,

**322** οὐδʼ εἴ κεν τοῦ πατρὸς ἀποφθιμένοιο πυθοίμην,  
not even if I learned that my father had died,

**323** ὅς που νῦν Φθίηφι τέρεν κατὰ δάκρυον εἴβει  
who now in Phthia surely sheds tender tears

**324** χήτεϊ τοιοῦδʼ υἷος· ὃ δʼ ἀλλοδαπῷ ἐνὶ δήμῳ  
for want of such a son, while I in a foreign land

**325** εἵνεκα ῥιγεδανῆς Ἑλένης Τρωσὶν πολεμίζω·  
fight the Trojans for the sake of hateful Helen;

**326** ἠὲ τὸν ὃς Σκύρῳ μοι ἔνι τρέφεται φίλος υἱός,  
or of my dear son, who is being reared for me on Scyros,

**327** εἴ που ἔτι ζώει γε Νεοπτόλεμος θεοειδής.  
if godlike Neoptolemus is still alive.

**328** πρὶν μὲν γάρ μοι θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐώλπει  
Before now the heart within my breast had hoped

**329** οἶον ἐμὲ φθίσεσθαι ἀπʼ Ἄργεος ἱπποβότοιο  
that I alone would perish far from horse-pasturing Argos,

**330** αὐτοῦ ἐνὶ Τροίῃ, σὲ δέ τε Φθίην δὲ νέεσθαι,  
here in Troy, but that you would return to Phthia,

**331** ὡς ἄν μοι τὸν παῖδα θοῇ ἐνὶ νηῒ μελαίνῃ  
so that in a swift black ship you might bring my boy

**332** Σκυρόθεν ἐξαγάγοις καί οἱ δείξειας ἕκαστα  
from Scyros and show him everything:

**333** κτῆσιν ἐμὴν δμῶάς τε καὶ ὑψερεφὲς μέγα δῶμα.  
my possessions, my servants, and my great high-roofed house.

**334** ἤδη γὰρ Πηλῆά γʼ ὀΐομαι ἢ κατὰ πάμπαν  
For by now I suppose that Peleus has either wholly

**335** τεθνάμεν, ἤ που τυτθὸν ἔτι ζώοντʼ ἀκάχησθαι  
died, or still lives a little while, weighed down

**336** γήραΐ τε στυγερῷ καὶ ἐμὴν ποτιδέγμενον αἰεὶ  
by hateful age and forever awaiting from me

**337** λυγρὴν ἀγγελίην, ὅτʼ ἀποφθιμένοιο πύθηται.  
the woeful news, when he hears that I am dead."

**338** ὣς ἔφατο κλαίων, ἐπὶ δὲ στενάχοντο γέροντες,  
So he spoke, weeping, and the elders groaned around him,

**339** μνησάμενοι τὰ ἕκαστος ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ἔλειπον·  
each remembering what he had left behind in his halls.

**340** μυρομένους δʼ ἄρα τούς γε ἰδὼν ἐλέησε Κρονίων,  
The son of Cronos saw them mourning and pitied them,

**341** αἶψα δʼ Ἀθηναίην ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·  
and at once addressed Athena with winged words:

**342** τέκνον ἐμόν, δὴ πάμπαν ἀποίχεαι ἀνδρὸς ἑῆος.  
"My child, you have utterly abandoned your own man.

**343** ἦ νύ τοι οὐκέτι πάγχυ μετὰ φρεσὶ μέμβλετʼ Ἀχιλλεύς;  
Does Achilles no longer concern your heart at all?

**344** κεῖνος ὅ γε προπάροιθε νεῶν ὀρθοκραιράων  
There he sits before the high-horned ships,

**345** ἧσται ὀδυρόμενος ἕταρον φίλον· οἳ δὲ δὴ ἄλλοι  
mourning his dear companion; the others now

**346** οἴχονται μετὰ δεῖπνον, ὃ δʼ ἄκμηνος καὶ ἄπαστος.  
have gone to their meal, but he is fasting and has tasted nothing.

**347** ἀλλʼ ἴθι οἱ νέκτάρ τε καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν  
Go, then, and drip nectar and lovely ambrosia

**348** στάξον ἐνὶ στήθεσσʼ, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἵκηται.  
into his breast, so that hunger may not come upon him."

**349** ὣς εἰπὼν ὄτρυνε πάρος μεμαυῖαν Ἀθήνην·  
So speaking, he spurred on Athena, who was eager already,

**350** ἣ δʼ ἅρπῃ ἐϊκυῖα τανυπτέρυγι λιγυφώνῳ  
and like a falcon, long-winged and clear-voiced,
> Athena as a falcon: Athena's descent is compressed into a bird simile: she is like a falcon in its long wings and piercing voice. The comparison conveys the speed and predatory force of her movement from heaven.

**351** οὐρανοῦ ἐκκατεπᾶλτο διʼ αἰθέρος. αὐτὰρ Ἀχαιοὶ  
she darted down from heaven through the upper air. Meanwhile the Achaeans

**352** αὐτίκα θωρήσσοντο κατὰ στρατόν· ἣ δʼ Ἀχιλῆϊ  
at once armed throughout the camp; and she, for Achilles,

**353** νέκταρ ἐνὶ στήθεσσι καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴν  
dripped nectar and lovely ambrosia within his breast,

**354** στάξʼ, ἵνα μή μιν λιμὸς ἀτερπὴς γούναθʼ ἵκοιτο·  
so that joyless hunger might not reach his knees;

**355** αὐτὴ δὲ πρὸς πατρὸς ἐρισθενέος πυκινὸν δῶ  
then she went to the close-built house of her mighty father,

**356** ᾤχετο, τοὶ δʼ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν ἐχέοντο θοάων.  
while the men poured out away from the swift ships.

**357** ὡς δʼ ὅτε ταρφειαὶ νιφάδες Διὸς ἐκποτέονται  
As when thick snowflakes fly from Zeus,
> An army like thick snow: The repeated adjective ταρφειαί, "thick" or "close-packed," links the snowflakes to the massed pieces of armor in the lines that follow. The simile makes the army's deployment feel at once innumerable and driven by divine weather.

**358** ψυχραὶ ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς αἰθρηγενέος Βορέαο,  
cold beneath the blast of clear-sky-born Boreas,

**359** ὣς τότε ταρφειαὶ κόρυθες λαμπρὸν γανόωσαι  
so then thick and brightly gleaming helmets

**360** νηῶν ἐκφορέοντο καὶ ἀσπίδες ὀμφαλόεσσαι  
streamed from the ships, and bossed shields,

**361** θώρηκές τε κραταιγύαλοι καὶ μείλινα δοῦρα.  
strong-plated corselets, and ash-wood spears.
> Strong-plated corselets: κραταιγύαλος describes corselets reinforced with strong curved plates. Homer builds the mustering army from named pieces of equipment rather than reducing the sight to a general glitter.

**362** αἴγλη δʼ οὐρανὸν ἷκε, γέλασσε δὲ πᾶσα περὶ χθὼν  
The gleam reached heaven, and all the earth around laughed
> The earth laughed: γέλασσε literally says that the earth "laughed" beneath the bronze flash. The vivid personification turns reflected light into a sudden brightness across the whole landscape.

**363** χαλκοῦ ὑπὸ στεροπῆς· ὑπὸ δὲ κτύπος ὄρνυτο ποσσὶν  
under the bronze's flash; beneath the men's feet a clamor rose,

**364** ἀνδρῶν· ἐν δὲ μέσοισι κορύσσετο δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.  
and in their midst godlike Achilles armed himself.

**365** τοῦ καὶ ὀδόντων μὲν καναχὴ πέλε, τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε  
His teeth gnashed, and his two eyes

**366** λαμπέσθην ὡς εἴ τε πυρὸς σέλας, ἐν δέ οἱ ἦτορ  
blazed like a flare of fire, while into his heart

**367** δῦνʼ ἄχος ἄτλητον· ὃ δʼ ἄρα Τρωσὶν μενεαίνων  
entered unbearable grief; raging against the Trojans,
> Unbearable grief: The force driving Achilles into armor is ἄχος, grief, intensified as "unbearable." His martial fury grows out of mourning for Patroclus rather than replacing it.

**368** δύσετο δῶρα θεοῦ, τά οἱ Ἥφαιστος κάμε τεύχων.  
he put on the god's gifts, which Hephaestus had labored to make.

**369** κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε  
First he set greaves about his shins,

**370** καλὰς ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας·  
fine ones, fitted with silver ankle-pieces;
> Ankle-pieces: The ἐπισφύρια are fastenings or guards fitted at the ankle. The detail begins an exact arming sequence that proceeds upward and outward from greaves to corselet, sword, shield, and helmet.

**371** δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνεν.  
and next he put on about his chest the corselet

**372** ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ὤμοισιν βάλετο ξίφος ἀργυρόηλον  
and about his shoulders he slung his silver-studded sword;

**373** χάλκεον· αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα σάκος μέγα τε στιβαρόν τε  
of bronze; then he took up the great and sturdy shield,

**374** εἵλετο, τοῦ δʼ ἀπάνευθε σέλας γένετʼ ἠΰτε μήνης.  
and from it a gleam shone far off, like the moon.
> Like the moon: The new shield's first comparison is to the distant light of the moon. The following simile expands that far-seen gleam into a fire glimpsed by sailors at sea.

**375** ὡς δʼ ὅτʼ ἂν ἐκ πόντοιο σέλας ναύτῃσι φανήῃ  
As when from the sea a light appears to sailors,

**376** καιομένοιο πυρός, τό τε καίεται ὑψόθʼ ὄρεσφι  
from a burning fire that blazes high in the mountains

**377** σταθμῷ ἐν οἰοπόλῳ· τοὺς δʼ οὐκ ἐθέλοντας ἄελλαι  
at a lonely steading, while storms carry them against their will

**378** πόντον ἐπʼ ἰχθυόεντα φίλων ἀπάνευθε φέρουσιν·  
over the fish-filled sea, far from their friends;

**379** ὣς ἀπʼ Ἀχιλλῆος σάκεος σέλας αἰθέρʼ ἵκανε  
so the gleam from Achilles' shield reached the upper air,

**380** καλοῦ δαιδαλέου· περὶ δὲ τρυφάλειαν ἀείρας  
the lovely, cunning work; and lifting the helmet

**381** κρατὶ θέτο βριαρήν· ἣ δʼ ἀστὴρ ὣς ἀπέλαμπεν  
he set the massive thing upon his head; it shone like a star,

**382** ἵππουρις τρυφάλεια, περισσείοντο δʼ ἔθειραι  
the horsehair-plumed helmet, and around it streamed the hairs

**383** χρύσεαι, ἃς Ἥφαιστος ἵει λόφον ἀμφὶ θαμειάς.  
of gold that Hephaestus had set thick about the crest.
> Golden crest-hairs: The adjective χρύσεαι completes ἔθειραι, "long hairs," from the preceding line: they are golden strands set around the helmet's crest by Hephaestus. They stream and shimmer around the horsehair plume as Achilles moves.

**384** πειρήθη δʼ ἕο αὐτοῦ ἐν ἔντεσι δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,  
Then godlike Achilles tried himself in his armor,

**385** εἰ οἷ ἐφαρμόσσειε καὶ ἐντρέχοι ἀγλαὰ γυῖα·  
to see whether it fitted him and his glorious limbs moved freely;

**386** τῷ δʼ εὖτε πτερὰ γίγνετʼ, ἄειρε δὲ ποιμένα λαῶν.  
the armor became like wings for him and lifted the shepherd of the people.

**387** ἐκ δʼ ἄρα σύριγγος πατρώϊον ἐσπάσατʼ ἔγχος  
Then from its rack he drew his father's spear,

**388** βριθὺ μέγα στιβαρόν· τὸ μὲν οὐ δύνατʼ ἄλλος Ἀχαιῶν  
heavy, great, and stout; no other Achaean could

**389** πάλλειν, ἀλλά μιν οἶος ἐπίστατο πῆλαι Ἀχιλλεύς,  
brandish it, but Achilles alone knew how to wield

**390** Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων  
the Pelian ash spear that Chiron gave his dear father

**391** Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν·  
from Pelion's summit, to be death for heroes.

**392** ἵππους δʼ Αὐτομέδων τε καὶ Ἄλκιμος ἀμφιέποντες  
Automedon and Alcimus tended the horses

**393** ζεύγνυον· ἀμφὶ δὲ καλὰ λέπαδνʼ ἕσαν, ἐν δὲ χαλινοὺς  
and yoked them; they put the fine neck-straps about them, set the bits

**394** γαμφηλῇς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δʼ ἡνία τεῖναν ὀπίσσω  
between their jaws, and drew the reins backward

**395** κολλητὸν ποτὶ δίφρον. ὃ δὲ μάστιγα φαεινὴν  
toward the well-jointed chariot. Then the shining whip,

**396** χειρὶ λαβὼν ἀραρυῖαν ἐφʼ ἵπποιιν ἀνόρουσεν  
well made, he took in hand and sprang up behind the horses—

**397** Αὐτομέδων· ὄπιθεν δὲ κορυσσάμενος βῆ Ἀχιλλεὺς  
Automedon; behind him mounted Achilles, armed for war,
> The driver's name delayed: The name Αὐτομέδων comes after the verb ἀνόρουσεν across the line break, revealing that he is the one who springs onto the chariot with the whip. Achilles mounts behind him; Automedon remains the driver.

**398** τεύχεσι παμφαίνων ὥς τʼ ἠλέκτωρ Ὑπερίων,  
his armor flashing like Hyperion the Sun,

**399** σμερδαλέον δʼ ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο πατρὸς ἑοῖο·  
and terribly he called to his father's horses:

**400** Ξάνθέ τε καὶ Βαλίε τηλεκλυτὰ τέκνα Ποδάργης  
"Xanthus and Balius, far-famed children of Podarge,

**401** ἄλλως δὴ φράζεσθε σαωσέμεν ἡνιοχῆα  
take better thought this time to save your driver

**402** ἂψ Δαναῶν ἐς ὅμιλον ἐπεί χʼ ἕωμεν πολέμοιο,  
and bring him back to the Danaan throng when we have our fill of battle;

**403** μηδʼ ὡς Πάτροκλον λίπετʼ αὐτόθι τεθνηῶτα.  
do not leave him there dead, as you left Patroclus."

**404** τὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ὑπὸ ζυγόφι προσέφη πόδας αἰόλος ἵππος  
Then from beneath the yoke the swift-footed horse answered him,

**405** Ξάνθος, ἄφαρ δʼ ἤμυσε καρήατι· πᾶσα δὲ χαίτη  
Xanthus; at once he bowed his head, and all his mane

**406** ζεύγλης ἐξεριποῦσα παρὰ ζυγὸν οὖδας ἵκανεν·  
streamed from the yoke-strap beside the yoke and reached the ground.

**407** αὐδήεντα δʼ ἔθηκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη·  
The white-armed goddess Hera gave him speech:

**408** καὶ λίην σʼ ἔτι νῦν γε σαώσομεν ὄβριμʼ Ἀχιλλεῦ·  
"Yes, mighty Achilles, we will still save you now,

**409** ἀλλά τοι ἐγγύθεν ἦμαρ ὀλέθριον· οὐδέ τοι ἡμεῖς  
but your day of doom is near; and we are not

**410** αἴτιοι, ἀλλὰ θεός τε μέγας καὶ Μοῖρα κραταιή.  
to blame, but a great god and mighty Fate.

**411** οὐδὲ γὰρ ἡμετέρῃ βραδυτῆτί τε νωχελίῃ τε  
Nor was it through our slowness or our slackness

**412** Τρῶες ἀπʼ ὤμοιιν Πατρόκλου τεύχεʼ ἕλοντο·  
that the Trojans stripped the armor from Patroclus' shoulders;

**413** ἀλλὰ θεῶν ὤριστος, ὃν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ,  
but the best of the gods, whom lovely-haired Leto bore,

**414** ἔκτανʼ ἐνὶ προμάχοισι καὶ Ἕκτορι κῦδος ἔδωκε.  
killed him among the front ranks and gave Hector glory.

**415** νῶϊ δὲ καί κεν ἅμα πνοιῇ Ζεφύροιο θέοιμεν,  
We two could run abreast with the breath of Zephyrus,

**416** ἥν περ ἐλαφροτάτην φάσʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀλλὰ σοὶ αὐτῷ  
which they say is the swiftest; but for you yourself

**417** μόρσιμόν ἐστι θεῷ τε καὶ ἀνέρι ἶφι δαμῆναι.  
you are fated to be brought down by force, by a god and a man."
> By a god and a man: The two datives express the agents of the passive infinitive δαμῆναι: Achilles is fated to be overcome by both a god and a man. The prophecy distributes agency across divine and mortal power without yet naming either killer.

**418** ὣς ἄρα φωνήσαντος Ἐρινύες ἔσχεθον αὐδήν.  
As he spoke, the Erinyes stopped his voice.

**419** τὸν δὲ μέγʼ ὀχθήσας προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·  
Greatly troubled, swift-footed Achilles answered him:

**420** Ξάνθε τί μοι θάνατον μαντεύεαι; οὐδέ τί σε χρή.  
"Xanthus, why prophesy my death? You have no need.

**421** εὖ νυ τὸ οἶδα καὶ αὐτὸς ὅ μοι μόρος ἐνθάδʼ ὀλέσθαι  
I know well myself that it is my fate to perish here,

**422** νόσφι φίλου πατρὸς καὶ μητέρος· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔμπης  
far from my dear father and mother; but even so

**423** οὐ λήξω πρὶν Τρῶας ἅδην ἐλάσαι πολέμοιο.  
I will not cease until I have driven the Trojans to their fill of war."

**424** ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἐν πρώτοις ἰάχων ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους.  
He spoke, and shouting among the front ranks drove the single-hoofed horses.

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Source text: public domain (Homer, ancient; Greek per the Murray text via the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 3.0). English translation: © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC — original line-aligned draft, pending editorial review. Word-by-word morphology and syntax derived from the Perseus Ancient Greek Dependency Treebank (CC BY-SA 3.0); English glosses and notes © 2026 1732 Studios, LLC.